Link bobbed in his saddle as he guided his newly-caught horse down the paths of Necluda. Honestly, he didn't exactly catch this horse, for it had more or less decided to come along of its own accord. This didn't bother Link in the slightest. In fact, it was practically love at first sight. The horse seemed so familiar… It felt as though he had brushed her chestnut coat and white mane before. She didn't need any training, she didn't fight against the buckling of the saddle; and in a way, she almost seemed to respond when spoken to. She was a gentle horse, yet energetic and fast, able to gallop at higher speeds than any steed he had ridden before. This horse was special, and she needed a special name.

"Epona," Link said as he rode, reaching out to brush her mane. "How do you like the sound of that name? Does Epona work?"

At the sound of this, the mare neighed and galloped even faster.

"Alright! Epona it is then," Link cheered, laughing as the horse carried him through the mountains. "Now then…"

Trusting that Epona would follow the road properly, he released his grip on the reins and reached down for the ancient device on his hip. With a tap, the screen illuminated, and with a few swipes the glowing map was displayed.

"Lurelin Village," he read after zooming in on one of the map's corners. "I don't get to go there often since it's so far out…"

He looked up at the mountains. According to the map, a fork in the road was coming up—one which would take him to Lurelin and the other which would take him up the mountain to the pond he had been so curious about for the past few days. Humming in thought, he continued to ride until the fork in the road was visible ahead. Finally, Link nodded to himself.

"I might as well stop in Lurelin. Some of the locals might be able to tell me if the power of this pond is real or not," he said.

Placing the slate back on his hip, he lightly tugged on the reins and headed down the left-hand road. He passed through the rest of the mountains, carefully but easily steering Epona through the twists and turns of the path until it eventually sloped down, taking the rider and his horse out of the pass. They arrived at a small village on a beach, the houses of the residents a collection of huts built around the trunks of tall, swaying palm trees.

Link brought Epona to a halt before her hooves reached the sand and slid off the saddle. The sand audibly crunched underfoot as he stepped into the village, leaving his mare unattended. While he would usually wait until he'd been with a newly-acquired horse for some time before leaving them unattended, something inside told him Epona would wait for him to return.

He explored the village, watching as kids played in the sand and adults walked around carrying crates of fish and oars for boats.

"Well, hi there!" a voice suddenly called out.

Link turned to see a man standing by the shoreline, his hand raised in greeting, a large smile on his face. He was a darker-skinned man, with green eyes that matched his vest and a head full of short, curly hair.

"Armes," Link called, walking up to the fisherman. "It's good to see you."

"And you as well!" said Armes, holding his hand out, which Link took. "What brings you all the way out here? Lookin' to do some fishing? I could use the help today."

"Fishing, huh?" Link asked, placing his hands on his hips. He hummed, looking up at the white, puffy clouds above as they drifted overhead. "You know what, sure. The pond can wait a few more hours."

"The pond?" Armes asked as Link unstrapped his weapons from his back.

"I'll ask you about it later," he replied, grabbing the slate from his hip. With a few taps, the weapons disappeared in a flash of blue light, leaving Link in just his tunic and trousers. "Are we taking the raft, boat, or the canoe?"

"Raft this time around," Armes said, grabbing an oar. "We'll have a bit more room to move around. That'll be better with your method of fishing. Follow me, I'll take you to the nearest raft."

The two began to walk along the shore, the ocean waves roaring in the distance as the plaintive cry of seagulls echoed above them.

"It's not very windy today," Link remarked as they walked.

"It isn't, that's why it's been a little tough," Armes replied.

"Is that why you wanted me to come along?" asked Link, raising an eyebrow. "You want me to use the leaf, don't you?"

"You read me like a book!" Armes laughed. "If you have one, that would be great! That would make life so much easier!"

"Yeah, I have one," Link chuckled as they arrived at their destination on the shore.

Floating in the water near the docks was a large raft, built from heavy wooden logs tied together with thick rope. In the center of the logs was another log sticking straight up, creating a mast where a very old, large piece of cloth was tied. Though it had a few tears in it, Link knew the raft would still sail.

"If you get that leaf ready, I'll load her up with baskets we can put the fish in!" Armes said, raring to get a move on.

"You're excited," Link laughed, pulling the slate from his hip again.

"Are you kidding me? I get to fish with you, one of the greatest fish-catchers I know, even amongst everyone living here!" Armes said, grabbing a basket. "I'm in for a big haul now that you're helping!"

As the fisherman loaded up the raft, Link tapped and brightened the slate's screen once more. With a few swipes, he gave another tap, and in a flash of blue, a large leaf appeared in his hands, so big its petiole could be held with two hands.

"Hey, what is that thing anyway?" Armes asked, placing a third basket on the raft.

"A Korok leaf," Link answered, inspecting the large leaf's blade. "This is one I found in the forest not too long ago, so it should last us a while. Are you ready to go?"

"I sure am!" Armes said, standing on the raft with all the baskets loaded.

With a nod and a following splash, Link climbed onto the raft himself. After adjusting his feet and properly aiming, he held the leaf high before giving it a strong swing. Powerful gusts of wind erupted from the leaf's surface, blowing against the raft's rapidly-expanding sail. The raft jolted, causing Link and Armes to stumble as it began to move, pushed by the winds of the Korok leaf. Grinning, Link swung the leaf again, and a few more times after that. The raft picked up speed, bobbing and splashing among the ocean waves as it sailed.

"Off we go!" Armes said, holding on the mast with one hand while keeping his baskets steady with his other. "Out into the greatest of seas, the Faron Sea!"

"You consider Faron Sea the greatest of them?" Link asked over the winds as he continued to swing, adjusting his aim to ensure their course remained straight.

"I sure do! Though I may be a little biased because I live next to it," Armes laughed back. "But, hey, can you blame me? You've tasted the fish this sea gives us! I'd rename it the Great Sea if I could!"

The two continued to sail further out into the ocean, until eventually Link put his leaf down.

"Do you think this is far enough?" Link asked, shielding his eyes as he looked back at the beaches of Lurelin in the distance.

"I do! We'll make some great catches here," Armes said, "and I doubt we'll get too many unwanted catches being this far from the shore."

"Unwanted catches?" Link asked.

"Old weapons, old chests, stuff like that," Armes said, preparing a net he'd pulled out of one of the baskets. "You know, things that flow down from Akkala."

"You call those unwanted? That stuff seems pretty valuable to me," Link said, pulling his white undershirt and blue tunic off his body. "You never know what you'll find in those chests, and a spare sword or shield never hurts to keep around."

"Maybe to someone like you, but what does Lurelin need with weapons like those? Monsters don't come around here," Armes said, moving to the edge of the raft with his net in hand. "Who needs weapons if there's nothing to fight? Nah, all I need is to catch a good number of fish."

"I guess," Link said, sitting on the raft to take his boots off. Once off, he stood back up and began to stretch, watching as Armes threw a net out into the water. "You didn't bring a net for me?"

"What do you need a net for?" Armes asked with another laugh. "You're gonna do what you did last time, aren't you?"

"You're right, I am," Link said, stepping to the edge of the raft himself.

"What do you do that for anyway? Why not use a net like I do?" Armes asked. Link paused, gazing at the sparkling water before finally answering.

"I'm not entirely sure," he said. "I'd like to say it's just a good workout, but truthfully… I dunno, it's just the way I've always done it."

"You're one strange guy, Link," Armes said, watching the net carefully. "But hey! Whatever brings the fish in!"

Link chuckled lightly before clapping his hands together.

"Welp, let's get to it," he said, and dove into the water, swimming back and forth, reaching out and grabbing whatever fish he could find.

He continued to swim underwater, bringing his catches up to the raft while Armes occasionally pulled his net in, filled with different colored fish, which they both dumped into the baskets. For hours this continued, with them laughing and occasionally cracking jokes, until the sun began to set, its orange light reflected upon the water.

Tired from the hours of swimming, Link sat on the side of the raft, his feet dangling in the water with his arms resting on his thighs, his drenched trousers sticking to them. He shook the salt water from the tips of his bangs, then looked back toward the land they'd sailed from.

"We brought in a good haul today!" Armes said cheerfully, his hands on his hips as he looked at the three baskets filled with fish. "I really do appreciate your help, Link. This will really help the village out."

"Huh? Oh yeah, no problem," Link replied, looking back at the fisherman. "Hey, can I ask you something? It has to do with that pond I mentioned before."

"A pond? The only pond I can think of worth asking about is Lover's Pond," Armes remarked, to which Link nodded.

"Does it actually work?" he asked. Armes hummed.

"I dunno if I can say if it 'works' or not," he said, tying the net he'd used over the top of the baskets to keep the fish in place. "They say you can find your true love there, but it could just be that people go there because they heard the story about it. It could just be some pond that strangely resembles a heart. Pretty romantic, I'd say, but I couldn't tell you if it has special abilities or not."

"Pretty romantic, huh?" Link asked.

"Why do you ask?" the fisherman asked. "Do you wanna meet your true love?"

"More like… I guess I wanna prove something to myself," Link said. "I dunno, I could be acting really dumb here, but… I can't help but be curious about it. I guess I'll find out tomorrow…"

"I see," Armes said. "Well, I wish you the best of luck! If you do find true love, tell me! I may head up there to find a wife of my own soon!"

"Ha, I'll let you know," Link said with a smile. With a grunt, he pulled his feet out of the water and stood. "Shall we head back?"

"I'm ready when you are! My bottom line will be great today!" Armes said excitedly as Link grabbed the leaf from the floor of the raft.

With a swing and a blast of winds, the raft began to sail back to the sandy beach it had departed from earlier that day.

...

The sand Link walked through now was not that of the cool beaches of Lurelin, but the dunes of the scorching desert of Gerudo. Wiping sweat from his brow, he glanced up at the blazing sun and sighed. After such a harsh winter and having just left Rito Village, jumping back into the heat was quite the shock. Regardless, he pressed on, forcing his way through the heat, his gaze fixed on the shimmery sandstone palace in the distance. When the front gate and the guards came into his distorted view, he instinctively reached down to his hip for the Sheikah Slate in order to summon the silky vai clothing he was required to wear within the town walls. It wasn't until he felt only air that he realized his error.

"I don't have the slate," he sighed, "meaning, I also don't have my Gerudo outfit. That's not good."

He stopped in his tracks, turning to look back at the path he'd just traveled. Far in the distance, barely visible from where he stood, was another, much smaller sandstone tower. This one was in the Kara Kara Bazaar. He knew that was where he could get another vai outfit—not that he wanted to walk that far, but what other choice did he have?

Before he began his trek back, he reached into one of the pouches on his belt, sifting through the rupees he had left. He frowned.

"I can't afford to spend six hundred rupees right now, even if I had that much. Especially not on another Gerudo outfit," Link mumbled. "I have so many already. Ugh, what am I supposed to do now? I came all this way…"

He couldn't bring himself to turn back and head to Lurelin now; his guilt wouldn't allow him. To have visited all his other friends in the other regions, only to skip Riju, felt cruel. It would simply add to the list of previous excuses to not fulfill his promise to tell her stories of his adventures. He couldn't leave—not now—but that meant he had to find a way in.

Humming in thought, he placed his hands on his hips and looked back at the front gate of Gerudo Town. Sneaking in wouldn't work; the guards were diligent, as if they could see him from a mile away. Still, that was before his special privileges. They knew him now, so would they perhaps allow him to sneak in and make it to the palace, as long as he wasn't seen by anyone else in town? That was a large amount of trust to put in him, though; and he doubted they would even consider it. This, however, did give him an idea. If they knew him, and knew he had special permission to go in, why not just ask them for assistance?

Deciding this was the best course of action, he continued on his way to the sandstone city, stopping only once he reached the gate. As expected, the two guards held out their hands upon his arrival.

"Halt," they called in unison, both slamming the ends of their spears into the sand. They looked down at the little Hylian before one of them said, "Link! Forgive us; it's hard to recognize you sometimes without your vai outfit on."

"Dorrah, Merina, it's good to see you both," Link said with a nod of his head.

"You as well, but I do have to ask, why don't you have your vai outfit on?" the guard Dorrah asked. "I doubt you stopped by just to say hello to us guards."

"Actually, uh… It has to do with that," Link said, rubbing his hand against the back of his head. "I don't have my outfit on me. It's in that little piece of ancient tech I had, and it's not on me right now…"

"Oh, now that you mention it, didn't the princess have that little Sheikah thing on her hip when she visited?" the guard, Merina, asked Dorrah, who nodded in confirmation.

"So Zelda beat me here too, huh?" Link asked with a smile. "She's really moving her plan to reconstruct Hyrule along quickly, huh?"

"She is, though she took on some questionable assistance with that Traysi woman," Dorrah said.

"I am grateful to her. Now we don't have to babysit that reporter," Merina added.

"She took Traysi with her? Oh man, I know she's getting hounded with questions right about now," Link said, thinking back to the few experiences he'd had with the reporter. "She's…special."

"She is," agreed Dorrah. "Returning to your original dilemma—you need an outfit, yes?"

"I do. I was hoping to speak with Riju," Link said. "There's nothing crazy going on this time, I just have a promise to her I need to keep. I just need to disguise myself so I can head to the palace and see her."

The guards looked at each other before nodding.

"I'll stay while you inform the chief of the Champion's needs," Dorrah said. "I can handle watching this gate alone for a few minutes."

"I mean, I can technically help," Link chuckled.

"Appreciated, but we have to keep up appearances," Dorrah said as Merina disappeared into the town. "If we look too friendly with you, other voe will try to sweet-talk us into allowing them entry thinking it's possible."

"It's not though, right?" Link asked.

"Not at all. It's not a matter of whether they'll sway us or not, but of how annoying they'll be while attempting," Dorrah explained.

"Ah, yeah that makes sense," Link said, thinking back to all the men he knew of who wanted to get inside the Gerudos' walls.

"Speaking of which, here comes one now," Dorrah sighed. "Forgive me if I sound harsher toward you than usual."

"Who's coming?" Link asked curiously, looking around to see who it was. At the sight of the voe coming towards him, his eyes widened. "Oh, not him."

The man approaching was a Hylian, with tanned skin and shoulder-length, greasy-looking hair. He wore thick-framed black glasses to help him see, and his body was covered in the usual Hylian traveling garb, though his feet were bare.

"Hey… Bozai," Link said awkwardly, looking away from the Hylian as he came to a stop in front of the guard. The man merely glanced at him before rolling his eyes.

"I didn't come to speak to you," he said rudely. "I'm not in the mood right now. If you were a girl, maybe you'd be worth my time."

"If you mean to say you came to speak with me, then please end your visit here," Dorrah said in a deep and stern voice. "Voe are not allowed in the city. In fact, I believe we've told you numerous times to pack your things and leave your little camp outside the perimeter walls. You've been loitering there for far too long."

"I wish I could, but as you can see, I don't have any shoes!" Bozai said, his voice much softer and sweeter now that he was talking to the Gerudo woman.

"It is your own fault you donated your shoes to some random vai you met," Dorrah said coldly. "Only a fool would freely give such valuable footwear to someone they barely know."

"Hey, she was not just someone I barely knew!" Bozai argued. "We had something special! We bonded so deeply over the boots we shared, and let me tell you, her thirst for boots just couldn't be slaked! If anyone was going to give her the boots she needed, it was I! Alas… She… She dumped me."

At this, Link—who was still looking away—covered his eyes with the palm of his hand.

"You two were together, then?" the guard asked.

"I… Well… I mean, we were never actually dating, but still, it felt like a dumping," Bozai said. "Regardless, I still cherish the times she and I spent together. The love I experienced for her still burns so bright, I could survive off it for another few months, I'm sure."

"Wonderful. Hopefully that brightness can carry you back through and out of the desert. Begone with you," Dorrah said, pointing her spear toward the other end of the desert.

"I can't while barefoot!" Bozai complained. "It already burns just standing here! I can't cross the desert like this…"

"Then find the vai who dumped you and demand your boots back," Dorrah said. "We are not a charity."

"I would…maybe, but I haven't seen her around," Bozai said. "She vanished and hasn't been back for months! Unless she's avoiding me…"

"What does she look like," Dorrah asked. "If she's in Gerudo Town, I might be able to send a guard to find her and demand your boots be returned, if it means sending you home."

"Uh… Well, I mean, as long as I'm not the one demanding them, then her heart won't be broken too badly, right?" Bonzai muttered to himself before returning his attention to the guard once more. "She's got sandy blonde hair, about…this guy's height right here, with blue eyes. She wore a light blue silky Gerudo outfit, and her face was always covered by a veil. She was also really strong, too; always had weapons on her back and traveled a lot—she even went to the highlands for me."

"Uh…huh," Dorrah said, her eyes squinting at Link, who was suddenly sweating profusely, this time not because of the sun. "And did you happen to get her name?"

"Um, embarrassingly, she never told me her name," Bozai revealed. "She was a very in-and-out kind of person. Oh no, wait… You don't think… You don't think I was used, do you?"

"With how foolish you are, I wouldn't be surprised," Dorrah sighed. "Head back to your little camp and we'll see if she's within our walls. Off with you. I will not ask again."

Seemingly happy he had gained himself a bit more time to sit against the sandstone walls and a possible opportunity to get his boots back, Bozai returned from whence he came, leaving Link and Dorrah alone once more.

"I'm assuming that voe's boots are also in your little ancient device the princess currently has?" she asked sternly. When Link nodded, she sighed. "We'll get him some footwear. You're lucky we enjoy your company, Champion."

"Thanks. Sorry about that…" Link mumbled.

After such an awkward exchange, the two stood around quietly for some time, longer than either of them had expected.

"Merina sure is taking a while…" Link thought out loud.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Dorrah replied. "It's unusual to take such a long time for something like this, even if the request is a bit out of the ordinary."

"I wonder what the hold up is—" Link mused, yet as if on cue, Merina reappeared through the front entrance.

"Forgive the delay," she said, holding her spear in one hand and a bag in the other. "Our original plan has changed."

"What do you mean? The plan was just for me to swap outfits and head inside," Link said, taking the bag from her, yet the guard simply gestured her spear toward the shrine situated a short distance from the town's entrance.

"I recommend changing in there. There aren't any others around currently, but many visitors like to come by throughout the day," she said. "Change quickly, if you will."

Confused, Link looked to Dorrah for explanation, yet she simply shrugged and gestured for the nearby shrine as well. Deciding it would be best to simply obey, Link journeyed to the shrine and disappeared into its shadows. When he stepped into the sunlight again, he was no longer in his Hylian tunic, but in a blue silky outfit perfectly sized for him. Slinging the bag holding his original clothing over his shoulder, he walked back to the gate, half of his face now covered by a veil. Upon his return, the guards nodded to themselves once more and stepped aside. Still curious, Link walked through the gate and entered the town, where all his questions immediately doubled.

"Welcome, Hylian vai, to Gerudo Town," a booming voice said the moment Link was inside. "Friend of the Princess Zelda, and friend to our very own chief."

"Buliara?" Link asked in a high-pitched voice, coming to a stop before the large bodyguard. He noticed the attention of the townsfolk on him due to receiving such a greeting. "What are you doing here? Why the formal greeting?"

"Because, little vai," Buliara said, her voice still echoing. "Due to the impending reconstruction of Hyrule's kingdom, we'd like to show our kindness and willingness to help and be a part of this new generation of prosperity. That is why, during your visit, we will be showing you the greatest parts of our town."

"What?" Link asked, the list of questions growing longer. "Wait, we?"

"We, my friend," a much younger and familiar voice called from behind the large bodyguard. Stepping aside, Buliara revealed the young chief, who gracefully took a step toward Link, a smile on her face. "Welcome to Gerudo Town, friend of Princess Zelda, and my friend as well. I will personally be showing you around my home to ensure your visit is wonderful."

Suddenly, everything made sense. Playing along, Link gave the best curtsy he could.

"You have my thanks," he said, making his voice more feminine than before, trying his best to hold back a laugh. It seemed as though Riju was doing the same, for Buliara once again spoke loudly to cover for her.

"The chief herself will be walking around our town," she proclaimed. "Be prepared for if she and her friend wish to stop by your shop! Work hard to impress them!"

A cheer came from the shopkeepers and any passersby as Riju waved to them all, having gathered her composure. Chuckling, Link stepped a bit closer to her.

"This was your idea, wasn't it?" he asked in a whisper just loud enough for her to hear, to which she nodded, though her eyes were still on the crowd as she waved.

"You didn't come for a specific reason, right?" she asked. "Merina told us you came simply to chat, and I took that as an opportunity to get out of the palace for once. It took quite some convincing for Buliara to allow it."

"So that's what took so long," Link said, looking around at the cheering Gerudo.

"Don't make me regret it," the bodyguard chimed in, resting her hands on the pommel of her claymore as if she were still in the palace. "Link must still remain a vai to the rest of the Gerudo in town. Make sure it stays that way."

"Of course, Buliara," Riju said. "Do you not trust me?"

"Or me?" Link asked, his eyes filled with mischief.

The look the bodyguard gave both of them was a clear answer, so the two of them merely shrugged.

"Shall we be off then? It's been quite some time since I've explored my own town in depth," Riju said. "You most likely know it better than I do by now."

"Well, I'm always up for adventure," Link said, grinning from behind his veil. Riju smiled excitedly, more than Buliara would be pleased with in public.

"Let's check out every shop in Gerudo Town," she said cheerfully.

With a nod from Link, the two began their adventure around the sandstone town, followed and watched closely by the bodyguard as they went.

Checking every store would be good, Link thought, walking beside the cheerful Gerudo chief. Maybe I'll be able to find something nice for Zelda here…

"So, this is where we'll be performing? What a marvelous place!" Mastro, the rotund leader of the Stable Trotters, skipped merrily through the sand, followed by his group of musicians.

"Have none of you ever been to Lurelin Village?" Celessa asked as she led them across the beach. When they all shook their heads, she hummed. "Gotcha… Well, uh, welcome to Lurelin, and I hope you enjoy your stay!"

"Are you from Lurelin?" the purple-haired violinist named Violynne asked. "You're welcoming us as if you are."

"Nope, I'm not," Celessa said with an awkward laugh. "I just don't know what to say since the princess isn't here… Hey, there's the elder of Lurelin! Why don't you all go talk to him? He may have a nice greeting prepared for you."

"Well, let's hope this greeting doesn't take too long. We still have much practice to do!" Mastro bounced. "Come along, Stable Trotters! Let us greet, and then play!"

As the troupe walked toward the dock where the Lurelin elder usually stood gazing upon the sparkling water, Celessa sighed and placed her hands on her knees.

"You really handled that like a champion," a voice said from behind. "Walk them around the village in circles before pawning them off on the elder. Wonderfully done."

"I can hear the sarcasm, Traysi," Celessa groaned without looking back at the reporter approaching.

"Actually, I had a little more faith in you than you think," Traysi replied, coming to a stop next to Celessa. "Out of the three of you, I saw you as the best natural speaker."

"No way, that definitely goes to the princess," Celessa said, straightening her back, yet Traysi shook her head.

"Natural speaker, not all 'proper' and 'princess-like'," she clarified. "She was raised to know how to speak like that—if her past is true—and she's good at it, but when she's just being herself, Zelda is a little bit…awkward, truth be told."

"Well, her past is true, and can you blame her for being a little awkward at times?" Celessa asked. "She's still only been around us common people consistently for a little over half a year. I think she's doing great, having only known life in the castle before."

"Mhm. You, on the other hand, are the exact opposite of her supposed upbringing, and even Paya's if she's a Sheikah. It just doesn't suit you," Traysi said. "So why bother trying to act 'proper' when you're more laid back?"

"Are you implying that I can't act 'proper'?" Celessa asked. Catching Traysi's unwavering gaze, the pilgrim frowned. "Fine, you're right; I'm not good at it. I thought I could act 'proper', but as it turns out, it's a lot harder than it looks. Honestly, I'm surprised the princess can do it so well, even if she was raised to…"

"Why not greet them the way you usually would, then?" Traysi asked curiously, her arms folded.

"Because, the princess trusted me with greeting them!" Celessa said. "This isn't just some celebration for giggles—it's a special event that signals the beginning of the kingdom's reconstruction! While she's gone, it's up to us to show that importance!"

"She really has you sold on this, hasn't she?" Traysi asked skeptically.

"I'm surprised you still aren't sold on this," Celessa retorted, her brow furrowed in annoyance. "Your proof is literally being transported here—In fact, I know that you know the truth! Why do you have to be so negative?"

"I'm not being negative, I'm being practical," Traysi said simply. "Until I get my proof, I can't commit to any thought process or rumor, even if I may want to. This story is important, probably the most important piece of writing I've ever done."

At this, Celessa grinned mischievously.

"Oh, so you do want to believe her," she said cheekily, causing Traysi to frown. "Come on, just because you can't commit to an idea, doesn't mean you have to be all cynical about it!"

"I take it back," Traysi groaned, rolling her eyes. "Keep trying to act 'proper'. You were easier to deal with that way."

"Oh, come on, you love us," Celessa said, nudging Traysi's arm with her elbow. "All of us. You can't fool me."

"And suddenly, I wish I was still counting fish with the locals," Traysi sighed.

"Right; did you finish that already?" Celessa asked, looking back at the fishing boats on the other side of the shore.

"It didn't take too long. The fishermen bundled them together in groups, so it was easy to count," Traysi said, pulling out her little notebook. "Though, that was just their morning haul. They'll be headed back out to sea once the Zora arrive. Speaking of the Zora…"

She flipped to a page in her notebook before stabbing her index finger to the page.

"I'd better be getting an interview with their prince," she said sternly. "That's what Zelda promised me, so I'd better be getting it."

"Hey, promises are important to the princess," Celessa said, placing her hands on her hips. "If she promised you Prince Sidon, then you'll get Prince Sidon. Besides, even if she didn't promise it, he would want to come on his own. He adores both her and Link; there's no way he'd miss something like this."

"You'd better be right, though they sure are taking their time getting here," Traysi said, looking up at the noon sun directly above them.

Celessa hummed, guiltily agreeing that Zelda was taking a worryingly long time to return. With a frown, she turned away from the ocean and looked back at the entrance of the village where sand became path and mountains. Suddenly, she grinned.

"Well, it looks like the Goddess wants to allay your lack of faith, because here they come now!" she cheered excitedly before dashing off through the sand toward the group of colorful Zora now entering the village.

Hearing Celessa's words, Traysi turned herself, watching as the pilgrim ran to greet the Hylian princess, who had been guiding the Zora into the fishing town. With a suspicious eye, she inspected the Zora. The largest member of the group was finely dressed in ornate jewelry and fabrics. There was no doubt in her mind; that was Sidon, Prince of the Zora.

As much as she wanted to dash over with Celessa to get her confirmation—and any other stories the prince may be able to provide her with—she forcibly held herself back, deciding it would be best to wait for a more opportune time. This wasn't just another person—this was true, confirmed royalty. With her notebook still in hand, she observed from a distance, watching as Celessa took Zelda's hands into her own.

"Welcome back, Princess!" Celessa said cheerfully. "You were gone for a little longer than I anticipated!"

"Sorry for the wait, Celessa," Zelda said with a smile. "It took awhile to get everyone gathered—"

"That would be my fault," Sidon interjected with a light bow. "Please blame our tardiness on me, for I wanted to choose only those I knew were best for the job. Forgive me, Miss Celessa."

"O-oh! You remember my name?" Celessa asked awkwardly. "I'm sort of surprised."

"Of course I remember!" Sidon said cheerfully. "I could never forget a friend of the princess. It's a pleasure to make your reacquaintance."

Gently, he took Celessa's hand into his and gave her kind nod in greeting. At this, Celessa giggled, a blush forming on her cheeks.

"Now then, where shall we begin our preparation?" Sidon asked excitedly, releasing Celessa's hand as he scanned the shoreline.

"Do you see where the fishing boats are? I believe that's where we shall begin our work," Zelda said.

"Then let us go forward, shall we?" Sidon said excitedly, immediately stepping onto the sand toward the Hylian fishermen in the distance.

As the other three Zora followed him, Celessa watched as Sidon walked away, still somewhat giggling at his greeting. Zelda raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen you get flustered so easily," the princess said curiously.

"You are the second-to-last person I want to hear that from," Celessa said, giving her a glare. "I've seen you get far more flustered than that when we were back at Hateno."

"And hearing that, I'm surprised I'm only the penultimate," Zelda replied. "Who's the first?"

"Paya," Celessa answered simply.

"Ah, that makes sense," Zelda said. At this, the two women giggled amongst themselves before following in the Zora's sandy footprints. "So, how did greeting the Stable Trotters go?"

"As well as it could have, I guess," Celessa replied. "I am certainly not you, though. Traysi and I were just talking about how you are definitely more prepared for this sort of thing."

"Only because I was born into it all," Zelda admitted. "I still have a lot to learn. I received a small lesson from Muzu about keeping promised dates when I arrived in the domain earlier. Hm… How is Traysi?"

"How's Traysi? As in…her well being?" Celessa asked.

"More specifically, how do you think she'll approach Sidon?" Zelda clarified.

"The way she approaches everyone," the pilgrim answered immediately. "Bombard him with a multitude of questions while furiously scribbling in her journal. Though, if you're asking, I assume you're debating that."

"Yes… I find it quite strange that she hasn't chased after him already," Zelda replied. "You were just speaking to her, right? Did she see Sidon arrive?"

"No doubt about it; I pointed him out to her and everything," Celessa said. "Now that you mention it, she didn't come charging over with me… That is strange. What do you think happened? There's no way she's intimidated, right?"

"I find that highly unlikely with her personality…" Zelda said thoughtfully. Suddenly, her smile reappeared. "If I had to take a guess… She's being meticulous; she wants to make sure this story comes out the best it could possibly be."

"She did say she holds this story in high regard. This could be life changing—not just for her, but for everyone in Hyrule," Celessa said. "She mentioned it earlier, how important it was."

"And she's treating it as such," said Zelda. "I thought I'd have to worry about her harassing Sidon with questions, but maybe I have nothing to fear after all."

"I dunno. I'd still keep an eye on her," Celessa said, placing her thumbs under her belt. "She may be patient, but she could burst with questions at any moment. As much as I like her, and respect her work, it can be overbearing at times."

"I know, but in this case…" Zelda said thoughtfully. "Tell me, did she finish taking count of the fish the locals caught today?"

"Huh? Yeah, she did actually. She said the fishermen made it easy for her by tying them into bundles," Celessa answered. "Why?"

At this, Zelda's smile grew warmer.

"Then I truly don't think we have anything to worry about," she said. "We can put all our focus into the festival. Let Traysi do what she needs to do."

Though Celessa appeared to want to question further, she simply shrugged.

"Whatever you say, Princess," she said. "I guess if anyone could handle such intense energy, it's Prince Sidon."

"That's true," Zelda giggled.

The two followed the Zora right up until they reached the water, where boats and rafts were beached in the sand, and baskets of fish were gathered near trees and huts. While a few fishermen were at work, still unloading baskets of fish from their morning haul, Armes was the first to notice and call out to them.

"Hey there!" he called out as the Zora and the two Hylian women approached. "Woah, the Zora are here! I thought they'd never get here!"

"My apologies for the delay," Zelda said with a slight bow. "But your assistance has now arrived."

"I'm just pulling your leg, Princess!" Armes laughed before turning to the prince. "Welcome to Lurelin. It's great to see some Zora in town! It's been years since your people have come to visit these parts!"

"I'm glad to finally end such a lengthy period!" Sidon said happily, holding a hand out to Armes. "Sidon of the Zora, at your service."

"Sidon? As in Prince Sidon?" the fisherman asked in awe, almost missing Sidon's palm as he grasped his hand in greeting. "You're him? Y-you're a legend around here!"

"A legend, you say? The prince is?" Gruve asked. "I mean, I know Prince Sidon is an incredible Zora, but to be known as a legend here in Lurelin Village?"

"Haven't you heard the stories?" Laflat asked. Prince Sidon once saved this village from a monstrous octorok the size of a lynel. It threatened to destroy the entire town, yet our prince was the one who fended the beast off!"

"You make it sound far more impressive than it actually was," Sidon laughed. "I was swallowed whole by that beast. If I hadn't had my trident on me, I would've been done for, and in such a foolish manner as well."

"But you weren't, and that's what matters," an elderly voice said from behind the group. Everyone turned to see the village elder walking toward the prince.

"Elder Rozel! This is the prince who saved your family all those years ago?" Armes asked as the hunchbacked elder came to a stop before Sidon.

"It sure is. I'd remember that smile and scar on his fin no matter how long it's been," the Lurelin elder answered. "It was at the tail end of the Age of Burning Fields. That tentacled beast threatened not only Lurelin, but Hateno Bay as well. It would've put us all out of fishing for good had it not been for the Prince here. I know I thanked you long ago, but I'll do it once more, as our village is prospering to this day thanks to you."

The elder bowed his head, to which the Zora cheered.

"That's our prince for you!" Kodah and Laflat chanted happily.

"Please, it truly wasn't a big deal at all," Sidon said. "Any person with a heart would've gladly given their assistance. I simply try to be as helpful as I can, inspired by our Hylian hero, whom this festival is supposed to be for; however…"

Looking down at the elder, Sidon put a hand on his chest and bowed.

"I'm happy to have been able to ensure your village's survival. It's a wonderful place, and I expect nothing but joy while working together over the next few days," he said.

While the Zora and locals clapped, Celessa leaned in close to Zelda's ear.

"I'll never understand how an octorok was able to swallow him," she said quietly. "That thing must've been massive!"

"Well, it did threaten the entire town and a bay," Zelda replied as Sidon straightened.

"Now then," he said loudly, his arms outstretched again. "Shall we all get to work preparing this festival for our dear friend Link?"

The crowd of Zora and Hylians cheered once more, with Zelda and Celessa giggling and clapping along.

"All right! Prepare yourselves, you three! We'll be getting started right away!" Sidon commanded passionately to his trio of Zora helpers. "Laflat and Kodah, I want you to coordinate with the elder regarding finances, distribution of fish, and any other assistance he may need. Gruve, you and I will be helping out at sea catching fish with the fishermen—"

Suddenly, he turned to Armes.

"—if that's alright with you, of course," he finished.

"Absolutely!" Armes said excitedly. "It's a dream come true to say I went fishing with the prince of the Zora! I believe we're almost done unloading this morning's haul. I think all that's left to unload is the junk we collected."

"Junk?" Zelda spoke up. "Are our ocean waters polluted?"

"Not heavily," Armes said, stepping into one of the boats. "But just enough that we always return with a good pile of old metal while fishing."

He crouched down, and with a heave, picked up the last of the baskets, which was filled with old, rusted pieces of metal. Carrying it off the boat—assisted by Sidon—he placed the basket in the sand, where Zelda stepped closer to get a better look.

"There's really just a ton of weapons and shields in our parts, usually near the shore," he said, picking up a rusted shield from the basket.

"Where does it all come from?" Celessa asked, reaching in and pulling out a rusted sword.

"Most of it comes from Akkala," Armes explained. "Stuff tends to fall into the rivers or straight into the ocean and the currents bring them here. Sometimes you can find some cool stuff, but mostly it's just all this useless weaponry. I think a lot of this stuff probably comes from that big place… Uh… What's it called? The…citadel, or something like that. Maybe these are weapons knights and soldiers used from the days before and against the Calamity?"

"Woah," Celessa said, now rummaging through the basket. "A lot of these could have some historical value if that's the case…"

"Who knows?" Armes shrugged off. "While that'd be interesting, that still doesn't make it a fish, and that's what I need. Besides, I'm sure a lot of it could also just be stuff travelers have dropped—"

"Armes, may I accompany you on this next fishing trip out to sea?" Zelda suddenly blurted out, surprising everyone around them. The fisherman blinked.

"Uh, sure!" he answered, a little taken aback by the abrupt request. "What's the sudden interest? I thought you were a little too busy to come fishing at the moment."

"I can't explain. It's something I must do," Zelda said, gazing intently out over the ocean. "An old mistake I just may have an opportunity to correct."

"Do you need to find something that fell in the water?" Sidon asked. "If so, I'd be most happy to help—"

"I'm sorry, Sidon, but I need to find what I'm looking for alone," Zelda said. "In fact, Armes, during our trip, if you could teach me how to sail, that would be wonderful."

"I…yeah! Yeah, no problem here," Armes said. "To think, I'll be fishing with two royals! If you're searching for something though, I recommend the raft. There's a lot more room to move around, though it is easier to fall off."

"The raft it is," Zelda said, now focused on the raft floating on the water. Immediately, she stepped toward it, pulling the Sheikah Slate off her hip.

"Hey, that's the thing Link used when we went fishing before," Armes said, pointing to the slate. "If you have one of those big leaves in there, that'll make this a lot easier on us!"

"Then let us get going!" Zelda said. "If you're ready, that is."

"I believe we all are!" Sidon said with a sparkling, toothy grin. "Alright, everyone! You know what your job is! Laflat, Kodah, I'm counting on you two! Gruve, let us head out to sea with the fisherman and princess!"

"Right!" his trio and the locals cheered.

As the Zora jumped into the sea and the Hylian fishermen began to push their boats into the water, Zelda jumped onto the raft, doing her best to stay balanced as it rocked among the waves.

"Alright, Princess!" Armes said, stepping onto the raft with ease, an empty basket in his hand. "I need to fish, so give me a second to load up, and then we'll be good to go! If you could, get one of those big leaves Link likes to use!"

"Of course," Zelda answered, tapping on the slate's screen. As she did so, Celessa came to the raft's side, her feet deep in the salty water.

"Princess, do you really think you'll be able to find it?" Celessa asked, knowing full well what Zelda was heading to find. "Won't it be rusted just like the others?"

"Not that one, I'm sure of it," Zelda said, tapping on the screen. In a flash of blue, a large leaf appeared in her hands. "It may be just a slim chance, but I have to try. Keep things in order here while I'm out at sea, and greet any more guests that come. I'll be asking for a report when I return."

"Wow, you're going full princess on me right now," Celessa said before grinning. "Aye aye, Princess…Captain? I'll do the best I can!"

"Alright, Princess! We're ready to set sail!" Armes called out, an oar in his hands as he climbed back onto the raft, now carrying a few baskets. "Aim that leaf and give it a nice swing to blow wind into the sail! Make sure you aim it so we're pushed out to sea! We'll return by sunset!"

"Okay!" Zelda said, gripping the leaf's stem with two hands.

With as strong of a swing as she could, winds gusted from the leaf, causing even Celessa's hair to fly around. With a full sail, the raft began to depart from the shore, following the other boats into the open sea. Celessa watched as the princess sailed out, stumbled, and fell onto the floor of the raft, unable to keep her balance. Though she had fallen, the pilgrim could see Zelda picking herself up and steadying herself before giving the leaf another swing. With a wide smile, Celessa brought her hands up and cupped them around her mouth.

"Good luck, Princess!" she called out as loudly as she could. "You'll find it, no problem!"

The heat wave gripping the Gerudo desert had finally begun to cool as the sun began its descent, the sky above turning from bright blue to an impressive array of red and gold. From a high enough vantage point, one could see the full spectrum of colors on display throughout the desert, one spot in particular being the balcony right outside of the chief's palatial bedroom. It was here that Link and Riju talked, leaning against the sandstone wall as they continued their hours-long conversation.

"—and then, Urbosa snapped her fingers!" Link said, holding his arm over the wall before making a snap of his own. He chuckled, bringing his arm back and crossing both of them to rest his chin on. "Zelda was so surprised, being awakened by a literal shock. She was even more surprised to find me standing behind her while Urbosa laughed."

"You sound like a real charmer Link, stalking the woman you love until she falls for you," Riju giggled. "Quite the cliche, wouldn't you say?"

"Hey, you say that like I was given a choice," Link shot back. "Besides… Zelda seems happy with me."

"She does, and you know what, the last time you were here, you didn't mention at all that you two were together properly!" the little girl scolded. "I was waiting in suspense for so long to hear about that, and you didn't say a word."

"Sorry… I was a little… preoccupied last time I was here," Link said guiltily. "But yeah… We're together, and it's great."

"Hm. Well, you'll be forgiven…if you tell me more stories about your relationship," Riju said with a cheeky grin, at which Link laughed.

"Maybe next time," he replied, placing a hand on top of her thick mane of red hair. "You know Buliara will end me if I keep you distracted for much longer. I'm sure she'll rip me a new one anyway thanks to our many side quests today. Besides, it's late. Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed and stuff like that?"

"Excuse me, I am still the chief of the Gerudo!" Riju exclaimed.

Furrowing her brow, she tried to move Link's hand off of her head, yet his grip was too strong. Laughing again, he released his hand after a few moments, just in time for Riju to stumble slightly due to still pushing with all her might. Catching her balance, she glared at him.

"To think you'd treat a lady as su...su—" her words turned into a massive yawn, though she tried and failed to suppress it..

"See, you're tired," Link said with a more mellow chuckle. "It's time to call it a day. It's been a long time since you've been so active around the town."

"I suppose you're right. I concede defeat," Riju yawned again. "Will you be leaving tomorrow?"

"I will be," Link answered. "I've got someplace to be. Zelda wants to meet in Lurelin for some event, though I'm not sure what all the details are. It might be some time until I see you again, now that she's planning reconstruction."

"I wouldn't count on that, "Riju said, her eyes watering after another, much wider yawn. "You may see me sooner than expected. You never know."

"If so, I'll still be ready," Link said with a smile. "You'd better head to bed, or Buliara will kill both of us."

With a nod, followed by a stretch, Riju turned toward the entrance of her room. Before stepping inside, she turned back.

"Link…"

"Hm?"

"Do you… Do you think I'll become a great chief the way Lady Urbosa was?" she asked.

"What, you don't think you will?" Link asked. Catching Riju's eyes, he continued. "Why do you ask?"

"I met Lady Urbosa once," Riju said, leaning against the doorframe of her bedroom entrance. At this, Link stiffened slightly, paying even closer attention to her words. "Buliara said it must've been a dream, but I'm sure she was real. She…asked me to watch over Gerudo Town in her stead, along with you and Zelda, of course."

"Yeah, that sounds like her," Link chuckled, relaxing as he returned his gaze to the desert.

"So… You believe I met Lady Urbosa?" Riju asked.

"I don't need to believe," Link said. "I know you did. It was right before winter began, right? During one of our stays?"

"Yeah, it was. Did it have to do with your trials back then?" Riju asked. Link nodded.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," Link said. "Urbosa can see right through a person, and if she put that kind of faith in you, then there's no question about it. Besides, if there's anyone like Urbosa, it's you. With how you act, I'd say you're already halfway there to becoming as great as her."

"Halfway? You think I'm that great of a chief already?" Riju asked.

"Well, half the responsibility of being chief is teasing me and Zelda," Link chuckled. "So, yeah, I do."

At this, Riju giggled.

"Thank you. Good night, Link," Riju said, giving him a little wave in farewell. "Until next time. I expect to hear more stories from you in the future."

With a kind smile, Link waved back. Happy, Riju disappeared into her room. Now alone on the balcony, he looked out into the setting sun of the desert again before stretching himself. Leaving the balcony, he headed down the stairs to the throne room to find the bodyguard waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs.

"I take it our chief has turned in for the night?" she asked, her voice more relaxed than it had been since they had met up in town. When Link nodded, Buliara hummed. "I see. I take it you plan to head for the beaches of Lurelin soon?"

"Tomorrow morning, actually," Link said. "It's time I go see Zelda again. I miss her…a lot."

"I believe you still have a little spare time," the bodyguard said. "At least an extra day or so. You are welcome to stay a bit longer if you so choose."

"Oh? I thought you'd want me out after today's fun," Link chuckled, yet the bodyguard glared at him.

"Don't mock me, Champion," she said sternly. "You know very well I am fond of you, even if you do tend to cause a ruckus every time you stop by. The fact you're able to stand within our walls without repercussion is a sign of that."

"You're right, and I thank you for that," Link chuckled.

"Of course. We are in your debt, Champion, even after all this time," Buliara said. "To help with Vah Naboris, the Yiga, and the kindness you've brought to the people within our walls; if there was ever any voe worthy of being allowed within our borders, it is you. Regarding the Yiga, I heard the last free one is still out there somewhere."

"Yeah, he is," Link said. "I'll have to catch him at some point."

"A pretty relaxed plan, if I am to be blunt," Buliara said.

"Yeah, but… I lost myself worrying so much about him," Link said, looking out through the entrance of the throne room and into the town of the Gerudo. "It's what gave him the edge he needed to almost succeed in his plans. It's one thing to acknowledge and be aware, but it's another to obsess. It almost cost me my life."

"Do you think he could cause problems in the future?" Buliara asked.

"Yeah, no doubt about it," Link answered. "But, at least now I'm in the proper headspace to deal with it instead of being rash. I made a lot of mistakes a month ago. Not my finest moment… I'm sorry you both saw me like that before."

"We all have our moments," Buliara said. "As warriors, sometimes the responsibility grows to be too much for one person to bear. I'm happy you were able to come to your senses. Riju was worried about you. She looks up to you, Champion, and a great deal so."

"Another reason why I can't afford to lose myself again," Link said with a guilty smile. "You know, I had a sister once, a hundred years ago, and Riju reminds me a lot of her. Patient, but with a mouth on her, eager to tease and yet caring. She'll make a strong leader in the future."

"She will," Buliara said. "I'm proud of the person she's shaping up to be. Soon, she'll have to carry the full weight of the Gerudo on her own, and I believe she'll become one of the greatest leaders in Gerudo history. When that time comes, she'll be a great ally to you, and she'll also need support from the few who will be able to understand the responsibility she will have."

The bodyguard looked down at Link with a smile.

"I hope you and the princess will continue to look after her for a long time to come," she said.

"Yeah, though I don't think you have anything to fear," Link chuckled. "It's not like you're going anywhere."

"But of course," Buliara said. "I'll stand at her side as long as I can."

With that, the bodyguard raised her claymore and pointed the blade toward one of the throne room's doors.

"Save the money and rest here for tonight," she said. "You remember the spare bedroom? I believe you and the princess shared an intimate moment there once."

"You knew about that?"Link asked guiltily.

"I know all, Champion," Buliara said. "Nothing slips past me. Go get some rest so you'll be prepared for your journey in the morning. I bid you a good night."

"R-right," Link said awkwardly. "You too, Buliara…"

Leaving the bodyguard, he crossed the throne room and exited through the door she had pointed out. There, he saw an open courtyard filled with sand, where Riju's pet sand seal was resting peacefully on its side in the makeshift dunes that had been built for it. Walking down the stairs and past the seal, he opened a smaller door that led into a small room. Though it had quite a number of storage bins and barrels, there was a single bed waiting for him.

At the sight of it, he thought back to earlier days, where he and a drunken princess had stayed there for the night, awkwardly kissing before sharing a meal the next day. With this in mind, he smiled as he walked over and sat on the bed. Removing his veil and headpiece, he ruffled his hair before taking a deep breath.

I wasn't able to find anything worth giving to Zelda in town today, he thought to himself, looking down at his empty hands. She doesn't seem like the kind of person to like jewelry. Sure, she'd appreciate it, and I think she'd still love whatever I got her, but… I think she'd only like it because I got it for her. For someone so complex and thoughtful, she sure is simple when it comes to fashion.

With a sigh, he unbuckled his weapons from his shoulder, placing them next to the bed before laying down, his eyes focused on the ceiling.

"I'm coming, Zelda," he whispered, looking down at the empty spot on the bed beside him. "I'm just a horse ride across Hyrule away, meaning that's how long I have to figure out what you'd want…."