Chapter Seventeen: The Search Begins

When Link was outside of the throne room, Navi buzzed over his ear and asked, "So where do you think Ganondorf is? Not at Astralose's fortress?"

"That's the only place I can think of. If he isn't, then we may be able to find some clue to his true whereabouts there at least." Link turned right onto the main hallway of the castle. He walked over the rickety drawbridge that led to the verdant lawns that blanketed the land in front of the castle. He ignored the knights who glanced after him in suspicion and continued with his hurried pace until he passed through the final gate on the way to Hyrule Castle Town. He was surprised to find that the gate was still open from the last time he had went through it. He rushed under the archway that housed the gate and was about to enter the sleepy town when he heard his name called out by a girl's voice.

It was Princess Zelda and she was carrying a medium-sized Hero's Shield. When she saw him staring at the shield as she approached, she said, "I noticed you didn't have a shield. It's the same type that I gave you when you told me you were leaving for Termina. You'll find it just as helpful as that one." She stared at him quietly before blurting out, "So are you going to tell me what happened in Termina?! You suddenly show up and tell me you're leaving for a far-off land and then you come back a few months later and Ganondorf is suddenly revived. You told me the Sages had sealed him in the Sacred Realm sometime in the future. Was that a lie?"

"A lot has happened since we last spoke Zelda. Far too much to discuss now. I have to hurry and find Ganondorf. It will take many hours for me to tell you what happened and we just don't have the time. Hyrule doesn't have the time." When he saw the disappointment on the young princess's face, he continued, saying, "But don't worry. When I get back, I'll tell you all about it. And I intend to discover Ganondorf's plan before I defeat him with the Master Sword. My story won't truly be complete until I discover what his designs are. And you don't want an incomplete story, do you?"

Zelda smiled. "No. I don't. But you'd better make the story especially good for the extra wait."

Link smiled in return and said, "Of course I will. Now, I'd better go. I will see you when I get back."

"But wait. I can help you."

"How?"

"Ganondorf has a significant head start Link. You will have a much better chance of catching him if you have a horse."

"I know. I'll have to get Epona back somehow, someway."

"But she's already back. That's what I'm trying to say. She's in the village stable."

"How?"

"A Zora messenger came to the castle while you were still in the Temple of Time. He told my father what had happened in Zora's Domain."

"Is King Zora all right?"

"Yes. He is fine. The Zora messenger also told my father that there were still men in the canyon above Zora's Fountain. He sent some of his most experienced knights to Zora's Domain and they were led into the canyon through a hidden cavern known only to the Zora. The men were gone. But there was one horse still there. They brought her to the village stable. The stable boy—a friend of Malon's—recognized her and said that she was yours now, that you had bought her from Malon."

"How do you know this?"

"My father told me in the throne room just now. He wanted me to be the one to tell you."

Link bit his lip softly when suddenly he remembered something. "And Princess Ruto? Has she been found? Is she okay?"

Unexpectedly, Zelda giggled squeakily. "Oh yes. It was she that sent the Zora Messenger. And she told him to make sure that her fiancée was alive and well. What does she mean by that Link?" asked the Princess with a smile.

"Um, err, I, uh, I don't know."

Zelda laughed aloud. "It's okay Link. She was obviously joking."

"Oh, oh yeah. She was joking. That's right." Link was trying his hardest to make his lie unnoticeable, but he honestly felt that he was not particularly successful in this endeavor. "Well, Princess. I have to leave now. Thank you for telling me about Epona. Now I am certain I'll catch Ganondorf before he can begin his evil plot."

"All right Link. Good luck. And be careful. Hyrule needs you." She smiled. Link grabbed the shield from her hands, flipped it over his back, secured it, and turned away. He quickly departed down the dirt path into town.

Link did not know if he would ever see Zelda again, but he hardly had the time to think about anything other than getting Epona back and riding after Ganondorf. The town stable was located in the back alleys of Hyrule Castle Town. Link recognized the structure from his excursions in those same alleys in the days before he had first pulled out the Master Sword. He entered the building and was surprised to see that the stable boy was not there.

The only residents of the stable were Epona and three other horses. Two of the horses were a fine chestnut color while the other one was as black as a thunder-storm-stricken night. Epona stuck out noticeably with her ruddy coat and white mane. Link approached her excitedly and said, "It's great to see you once more Epona. I had thought that I had lost you for good. Are you ready for our greatest journey? Tonight is the night that we ride after Ganondorf, Astralose, and their minions. Their evil ways will come to an end. Tonight we ride for freedom, tonight we ride for the end of evil, tonight we ride for Hyrule." Link mounted his horse swiftly and looked to the open stable door in front of him. Navi rested on his shoulder softly. "On Epona!" he shouted. With an abrupt spurn to the side, Epona galloped off into the darkness that blanketed Hyrule.