To anyone who has been waiting for an update on this story, I am truly sorry, there really is no excuse for me go a year without updating this story. So, to make up for that, I'm going to put it all up right now.

Chapter 16

Horse Thief

The next morning:

Lya is out in the stables taking care of Gypsy Lace. She happens to duck down behind the stable door just as Zelda walks in.

Zelda – (walking right past Lace's stall) Now, where did I put that saddle…(walks into the tack room)

Lya – (standing back up and leaving Lace's stall) Be right back, Lace. (walks to the tack room; passes Zelda, who is on her way out) Zelda.

Zelda – Lya. (Lya walks into the tack room; Zelda is about to pass Lace's stall again, when Lace sticks her head over the door and snorts) Aaah! What are you doing here?

Lya – (walking out of the tack room) What do you mean what is she doing here?

Zelda – This is my horse!

Lya – (looking slightly confused) No, she's mine.

Zelda – (spinning to look at Lya through narrowed eyes) She can't be yours. She was a gift to me from my father. Where did you find her?

Lya – She was in a field that Link and I passed by one day. The people there said that I could take her.

Zelda – (gasp) You STOLE her! I can't believe I've been staying in the same house as a horse thief!

Lya – Great Tektites, Zelda, you know that that's not true.

Zelda – (freaking out) I'm going to call the palace guards! Then you'll find out what happens to horse thieves in Hyrule! You'll be in the dungeon so fast, you won't know what hit you!

Lya – C'mon Zelda, that's ridiculous. You can't be serious.

Zelda – You just wait and see! You'll never get away with this! (runs back to the house)

Lya – (turns to look at Lace) This is going to be a long day.

At the house:

Zelda is frantically explaining everything that just happened in the stable to Link and the others. Lya runs in and stands quietly behind the others while Zelda talks; after she finishes, Lya moves in front of the others.

Lya – You guys know that I never would have taken the horse if I had known she belonged to Zelda. But still, why was she even in that field, which was out in the middle of nowhere? Do you even ride her, Zelda?

Zelda – Of course I do! (sniff) At least, I did, before she went wild. We sent her to that field because no one could tame her.

Midna – Well, Lya has tamed her. So don't you think it would be fair if Lya kept her, since she's the only one who can ride her?

Zelda – No. Now that she's tamed again, I'll be taking her back.

Aryll – (disgusted) Zelda –

Lya – No, Aryll, let's respect the princess's wishes. (they turn to see that she has a mysterious light in her eyes) C'mon Zelda, let's see you ride her. If you can, then you can have her back. But if not, I get to keep her.

Zelda – Fine. Let's go.

A few hours later:

Zelda – (limping into the house, covered in mud and grass) You probably have her trained to throw off her rider if it's anyone but you!

Lya – does that mean you want to try again?

Zelda – (backing off a few steps) No.

Lya – Okay then. Are you going to drop this whole horse thief thing?

Zelda – (hesitatingly) I suppose.

Lya – Good. (walks upstairs to her room)

Zelda – (after Lya is out of earshot; disgustedly) Horse thief gypsy girl. (turns and goes into another room)