Any soldier watching from the wooden palisade of Lon-Lon Ranch at sunset that evening would have been treated to a truly bizarre sight: Queen Zelda, the Sages, the Hero of Time, and a young man in strange garb, riding at the head of fifty Hylian knights and three hundred Gerudo warriors. As I rode next to Zelda at the head of the column of troops, I looked back and saw that many of the Gerudo were tense upon approaching the ranch. But no challenge came from within. It was plain to the sentries that these Gerudo were under our protection, allies rather than adversaries. It took three minutes for the whole force to make its way through the gates.

When they arrived, the Gerudo chose not to sleep in any of the barrack buildings, though many of them were completely empty. Half of them had brought, rolled up and strapped to their backs, small canvas shelters, only as long as they were tall, as wide as two of them put together, and just barely tall enough to crawl into. These were pitched in what had, up to that point, been the training area; each shelter was shared by two warriors each, a tight space, but functional.

The fact that the ranch could hold so many newcomers (besides those that already were stationed there), as well as all of their horses, proved just how much grander it was than it seemed in the video game in which it appeared, much like the rest of this charmed land. Not for the first time, I found myself wishing that I had brought a camera with me. Such things were well worth taking pictures of and showing to Kaylee when all of this was over.

It was then that my hand brushed against a pocket of my shorts. I felt something thick and hard inside. Curiously, I reached in, and pulled out, of all things, my cell phone. The memory came back to me of putting it in my pocket the morning of my departure, almost unconsciously. Though the last time I'd used it to take pictures felt like generations ago, I recalled that it took rather good photos. As soon as I realized this, I turned it on. The screen came to life, showing no bars (obviously) but a full battery. I touched the camera icon on the screen, causing that bit of hardware to turn on. Looking around, my gaze passed over Link and Ruto, who were sitting together near the horse pens, saying nothing but enjoying each other's company (they were holding hands, and Ruto's head was resting on Link's shoulder). I quickly snapped a photo of them, before putting my phone back in my pocket; I would have time enough to take pictures later, but for now, I had other matters to attend to.

Near Link and Ruto was the leader of the band of Gerudo. I made my way over to the horse pens, where she was standing, stroking the head and mane of her horse. "That's a fine mount you've got there," I commented as I approached.

She looked at me as I walked over. "She isn't for sale, if that's what you're wondering," she responded.

"I wasn't thinking of buying or taking her," I reassured. "It was just to make conversation."

The Gerudo's expression softened. Then she said, "I saw you before. You were with the Hero of Time. Who exactly are you?"

"I'm Brian Glenn," I answered. "I'm afraid I may also be responsible, in part, for Ganon betraying you." When the lady looked curiously at me, I went on: "I came up with the plans that led to the Hero of Time being rescued."

I had expected to receive a good amount of anger from her at that. But she merely nodded, her face blank. "I would assume you are about to ask something of me," she said at length.

"Your assumption would be correct," was my reply. "I have proposed the idea of creating a force of horse archers within Hyrule's army. I've heard that's something your people excel at. Would you and your people be able to train whatever volunteers come here?"

Her eyes widened. "It isn't often when a Hylian respects our abilities," she answered. "It has been long since we Gerudo have been respected for anything among them."

"Well, I'm not a Hylian either," I told her. "I'm from a land called Oregon. I was brought here specifically to rescue Link, but also to help in the war against Ganon."

After some more thoughtful nodding on her part, the Gerudo said, "It would be a pleasure and an honor to train your recruits."

That got me grinning widely, and I said to her, "Thank you so much…uh…I don't think I caught your name."

"I am Azeru," she replied, holding out her hand.

I took the handshake as gratefully as I had accepted the one Link had offered me when first we'd met. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance," I said as we shook hands, eliciting a gracious smile from her.

We talked through the next half-hour of twilight, alternately discussing the Gerudo territory and Oregon. This small talk lasted until the dull pink remnant of the sun's presence in the sky faded, and the sky darkened. With one final nod of gratitude, I parted with her and walked over to the barrack in which I had spent the nights prior to rescuing Link. I found Zelda already there, already fully clad in her nightclothes, and preparing to lie down on one of the beds there. Without a word, I unslung my backpack, sword, and shield next to another bed before removing my boots and clambering into it. Once I was beneath the blankets, I discarded my shirt, socks, and shorts before laying my head on the pillow, blowing out the candle which lay on the rough stand next to the bed, and shutting my eyes.

Sleep came upon me quickly, almost as quickly as it had on my first night in Hyrule.