The shifting of gravel beneath Epona's hooves echoed in Link's ears as they traveled over the mountain path. With the mare's reins in one hand and the Sheikah Slate in the other, Link carefully guided their way up the mountain, occasionally glancing at the Slate's illuminated screen to read the map on display. It was no wonder many people were unable to find Lover's Pond; the path leading up to it was nearly impossible to follow. Even for someone as skilled as Link in the art of travel and exploration, alongside owning the most intelligent horse ever he'd ever known, it would've taken months for him to find had he not had the Sheikah Slate's map.
They continued onward along the path until Epona could go no farther. She skidded to a stop and reared up on her hind legs, neighing in confusion before dropping back down onto all fours with an audible clop. After calming Epona down, Link looked to see the path had ended at a wall of stone. It was too high for Epona to climb over, yet he knew he'd be able to climb it just fine. Swinging his leg over and sliding off the saddle, he gave Epona a pat on the neck before looking down at the Sheikah Slate still in his hands.
"Yup, it's right over this," Link said to himself, looking at the heart-shaped spot on the map before turning to his horse. "I'll be back, alright, girl? Don't stray too far."
The horse snorted and shook her mane in agreement. Smiling, Link brushed her chestnut coat one last time before turning toward the rocky wall. With a "hup," he jumped and gripped the stone blocking their way, his fingernails digging into the tiniest of crevices. Adjusting his grip, he climbed up the stone wall, one leg and arm at a time, quickly reaching the top. Heaving himself over the ledge and dusting himself off, he surveyed the view before him.
It was a small, secluded, grassy field, enclosed by cliffs and peaks surrounding the perimeter. The grass was tall and vibrant, with several types of flowers in varying shades growing all around, and a pond in the shape of a heart situated in the very center. There was no doubt about it; this was Lover's Pond.
"So it is real," Link murmured to himself, stepping to the water's edge. He felt the stirring of a gentle breeze, causing the clear water to ripple. "A perfect heart, just like everyone said. I guess I should have known, since it looks like a heart on the Sheikah Slate map, but still…"
As he continued to survey the area, he realized he wasn't alone. There were two others standing on opposite sides of the pond—one a Hylian man and the other a Gerudo. Link raised an eyebrow. Was it true? Did the pond really have the power to reveal the perfect partner? Curious, he looked back and forth between them. He wanted to speak to one of them, yet the Gerudo made him uneasy.
There was a reason he was so curious about Lover's Pond; a subconscious goal he hadn't even revealed to himself. Along his journey in the wild since he had awakened, something had been building in his chest; a curiosity that grew stronger as more memories of Princess Zelda had returned to him. While he was remembering his encounters with her, he was remembering his feelings as well.
Did he…feel something for Princess Zelda?
Of course, he knew they had become friends-–close friends even. That much was clear from what he remembered. But the more he thought back to those memories, the more he wondered how he felt about her. Of course, that was all that had been on his mind. He was only thinking about his own feelings, for that was all that mattered. There was no way the princess of Hyrule felt something more for him. At least, that's what he'd thought. It wasn't until he'd heard a particular song that his belief came into question:
A princess's love for her fallen knight…
It was a simple song he had heard not long ago, one that had been constantly replaying in his mind. What did love mean? Was it a fancy word used to describe the importance of the princess's actions in that moment? Was it supposed to represent simple care for him, just like the rest of her people? Was it love for a close friend? Or was it love in its purest form for…him?
To him, there was no way the princess was romantically attracted to him. It was already a surprise to learn that one princess had love for him before. There was no way the Hylian princess would feel the same way.
And yet, despite his reasoning, he still felt talking to the Gerudo across the pond would be unsettling. After a pause, he walked along the side of the pond that led him to the Hylian, who noticed him only when he heard footsteps coming his way.
"H-hey!" he called the moment Link stopped before him. "Another Hylian! A guy, though… Are you here to find true love, too?"
"I…" Link hesitated. "I'm here because of a promise. I told someone I'd find the pond for them, and I guess I have. I dunno about finding my own true love, though…"
"Whew, that's good," the man said, wiping sweat from his brow. He was an unremarkable man, with hair styled in a simple buzz-cut, a teal tunic, and a large backpack. "You see her over there?"
"The Gerudo?" Link asked, looking across the pond at the tall, dark-skinned woman. "Yeah, I saw her."
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" the traveler asked. "I arrived at the pond this morning and she was already there. I've been trying to work up the courage to talk to her, but… Ah, it's so nerve-racking! Talking to a woman is hard these days… I was afraid you'd go and talk to her first."
"Hm. I dunno; now that you mention it, she is very pretty," Link said. "It might be rival time…"
"Huh? W-w-wait, but–!" the man began to stammer nervously, but Link simply laughed.
"I'm kidding," he assured the traveler. "The name's Link."
"Wabbin…" the man replied nervously. "So, you'll let me talk to her, yeah?"
"No problem," Link answered. At this, Wabbin sighed.
"Whew, I'm so glad," he said. "When I saw her, I thought I was dreaming. I had assumed the legend of this pond was a mere fairytale; but maybe it's true, or I'm just lucky. Regardless, it's not every day you run into a gorgeous woman in the middle of nowhere."
Folding his arms, Wabbin broke eye contact with Link to look at the woman on the other side of the heart-shaped pond.
"It may sound silly to you, but it was love at first sight," he said. "Ever since this morning, I've been trying to gather my courage and go confess my feelings to her."
"Sounds like you've been trying to gather your courage for a few hours if you've been here since this morning," Link said, looking up at the afternoon sun.
"Ugh, I know…" Wabbin said sheepishly. "Honestly, it's not just my nerves getting in the way. I… I've had this fantasy since I was a little kid, that when I meet the girl of my dreams, I'll hand her a blue nightshade and confess my love! But…"
"You don't have a blue nightshade?" Link asked. Wabbin shook his head.
"I don't. The ones I picked on the way here started to droop—more than they're supposed to, you know," Wabbin explained. "I can't give my true love a wilting flower! That would look terrible. If I had a fresh blue nightshade, I'm sure I'd head straight over to that woman…"
"Mhm," Link hummed in reply.
"I mean, imagine her holding a blue nightshade," Wabbin continued, a goofy smile appearing on his face. "That'd make a beautiful scene, don't you think?"
"I'm…sure it would be a special moment for you," Link said. After a moment of thought, he looked down at the slate before continuing. "I think I can help you out."
"What? Really?" Wabbin asked in awe. "How?"
"I have a few fresh nightshades on me," Link said. "But, I have one condition."
"Anything!" the traveler said excitedly.
"You need to let me go talk to her."
Wabbin's face fell.
"W-what? I thought you weren't going to be a rival!" he cried out, yet Link placed his hands on his hips and shook his head.
"I'm not going to be a rival," he clarified. "But, the last time I tried to help someone with their romantic problems, he ended up giving the woman a ton of crickets. I'm sure you can imagine how that went."
"Crickets? Why would anyone think that was a good idea? Not very many women like crawly things like that," Wabbin said, to which Link nodded.
"Exactly, and even without the crickets, the woman wasn't interested anyway," Link said. "So, let me go talk to her and see if she's actually interested, deal?"
Wabbin hummed, his eyes filled with reluctance. After a pause, he nodded.
"Alright. I trust you'll keep your word about not being a rival," he said. "I just hope she is interested…"
"Only one way to find out," Link said.
With a nod to Wabbin in confirmation that he was good to go, Link journeyed to the other side of the pond, where the Gerudo was gazing at the flowers that surrounded them. The woman was quick to notice him, waiting until he approached to greet him.
"Sav'otta," the Gerudo said. "At least one of you has the courage to come speak to me."
"Ah, so you noticed my friend over there?" Link asked, coming to a stop before the tall woman.
"I did. He's been here since morning," the Gerudo said. "We arrived here at the same time. I thought it was fate, but if he doesn't have the courage to speak to me… I wonder instead if you are the voe I am destined to meet?"
"I… Uh…" Link said awkwardly, yet the Gerudo shook her head.
"No. I doubt it," she said. "This pond is said to reveal the one you're destined to be with, and I arrived with the other voe, so he must be the one."
Link internally sighed in relief.
"Yet, that same voe I arrived with remains on the other side, refusing to speak to me," the Gerudo continued. "I wonder if I'm at the wrong pond… They say there's a similar one that can be confused for Lover's Pond. Is this it? Was this all coincidence?"
"Nah, I'm pretty sure this is the right one," Link said. "Hey, this might be a little sudden, but do you like flowers?"
"I do, very much actually," the Gerudo said. "However, I believe I said you might not be the one I'm destined to meet. My apologies."
"I heard," Link chuckled. The Gerudo raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me, are you trying to help that voe across the pond?" she asked. "For a voe not to gather the courage on his own—"
"It's nothing like that," Link assured her. "I promise. I think you'll be surprised."
"Hm… Usually I find it a sign of incompetence if a voe can't speak to the vai he's interested in," the Gerudo said, "but, if this truly is Lover's Pond, then maybe this is fate at work. I'll trust your words, little voe."
With a smile and a nod, Link stepped away, returning to Wabbin across the pond.
"Any luck?" he asked.
"All of it," Link replied, taking the Sheikah Slate off his hip.
After tapping the screen a few times, there was a flash of light before a large flower appeared in his hands. It had a long, curved stem, with petals shaded a beautiful deep blue. Wabbin gazed in awe at the flower and the blue light it appeared from.
"This is… This is perfect! It's exactly what I needed!" he exclaimed.
"Good luck," Link said, holding the flower out to him. Wabbin reached out to take the flower, but paused, his face falling.
"I… I dunno," he began. "I just… When I look at her, my legs freeze up. My throat goes dry. I… I don't think I can do it. I thought this pond was supposed to be magical; I thought it would give me the courage needed… I thought my fantasy would give me the courage I needed, but—"
"If you can't do it, then that's fine," Link said casually, catching the traveler off guard.
"D-do you mean you're going to go after her?" Wabbin asked, but Link shook his head.
"Nope. She doesn't want me, not that I tried to gain her interest," he said, his face devoid of emotion. "But, she thought I was trying to, and she turned me down because she believes this pond paired her with you."
"She… She thinks that?" Wabbin asked.
"She does," Link nodded. "Look, I dunno if this pond is magical itself or not, but you two did arrive at the same time, and you're both interested in one another. She's been waiting this entire time for you to say something. Are you really gonna let her down like that? The person you say you fell in love with at first sight?"
Wabbin's face fell even more at Link's words.
"Are you…speaking from experience?" Wabbin asked. "Do you have someone you're in love with?"
"Um…" Link hesitated. "I… I don't know much about love, but I have a person I don't want to let down. I want to do everything I can for her, and right now, she's counting on me. I'll do whatever it takes to put a smile on her face."
Link looked down at the Sheikah Slate. The screen was still illuminated, showing its inventory, and there, next to the blue nightshade icon, was another flower, one with white and blue petals.
"If that's anything like how you feel," he said, "then I say you take this flower and go over there."
The traveler pondered Link's words for some time before swallowing. He took the flower in hand and turned to face the Gerudo across the pond. After taking a deep, fortifying breath, he walked around the edge of the pond's rippling water, stopping just before the tall woman. Link, after waiting a moment, followed in Wabbin's steps, stopping when he could only just barely hear their conversation.
"So, you finally came over," the Gerudo said.
"I... I did," Wabbin said in a shaky voice, holding the nightshade behind his back. "Uh, I'm…uh… I'm sorry for keeping you waiting all day. I…was nervous. You're so beautiful; I didn't think I would be good enough for you. But, my friend over there helped me realize I was being stupid. So… Here I am, and… I brought you something."
Pulling his hand out from behind his back, he revealed the blue nightshade to the Gerudo.
"I hope you like blue nightshades," he said. "I've always longed to give the woman of my dreams my favorite flower, and so… I'm giving one to you."
"A blue nightshade," the Gerudo repeated, taking the flower from Wabbin's hands. She stared down at the flower, her expression unreadable.
"Could it be that you don't like blue nightshades?" Wabbin asked.
"Why would you say that? This is my favorite kind of flower!" the Gerudo said. "Are you being deceitful? Did you already know it was my favorite? Are you a Yiga spy?"
"Wha–what? N-no! Not at all!" Wabbin stammered, yet the Gerudo merely laughed.
"I'm teasing you, little voe," she said with a kind smile. "So, blue nightshades are your favorite flower as well… It seems the power of this pond is real; that, or destiny has a way of guiding those who follow it. My name is Perda, little voe."
Wabbin's eyes widened.
"Perda…" he repeated gently. "O-oh! I-I'm Wabbin! So if this is destiny, then d-does that mean–?"
"Now hold on there," the Gerudo said. "You still have to speak your piece."
"My piece? What does that mean?" Wabbin asked.
"You're the voe that destiny has chosen for me, therefore special words must be spoken between us," Perda explained. "You know, something like, 'I like you,' or 'please go out with me!' Something like that."
"Wha-what? You, you really want to go out with me already?" Wabbin asked in surprise.
"What? That isn't the right order for these things! You're supposed to be the one that—!" Perda tried to say, yet Wabbin had already excitedly turned to Link, who was still standing a distance away.
"Do you hear that, Link? She asked me out!" he cheered. "She really asked me out! Oh la la! Ha ha haaa!"
Both Link and Perda sighed.
"Well, if this is what fate has chosen, so be it," Perda said, yet a smile still remained on her face. "It's different from what I expected, but he is cute."
"Here, Link," Wabbin said, gesturing for Link to come closer. Upon Link's arrival, he reached into his backpack pouch and pulled out a red rupee. "Please, take this for your trouble. You deserve it after helping me get over my fear—"
"Now hold on!" Perda suddenly called out before Wabbin could extend the rupee. "Is that all you're willing to offer him after all he's done for you?"
"A-ah! Uh, n-no! Of course not! Here—" Wabbin said, reaching back in and pulling out a silver rupee. "This is what I meant to give you!"
"Much better," Perda nodded.
"I don't need money for helping out," Link said, looking down at the silver and red rupee, but Perda shook her head.
"Nonsense. You helped both of us out," she said. "Please accept it."
Reluctantly, Link took the rupees and awkwardly pocketed them.
"I hope you have as much luck finding someone as I did," she said with a bow. "It's thanks to you I'm so happy. I never knew getting a present from a voe would make me feel like this, hee hee!"
Smiling, she looked over at Wabbin.
"Little voe—erm… Wabbin," she asked. "The village, Lurelin, is nearby. Would you…like to venture along the beaches together, and maybe…check into an inn afterward?"
"E-eh? Seriously?" Wabbin asked. "Y-y-yeah! Yeah, sure!"
Together and now holding hands, the two ventured down the mountain, leaving Link alone at the pond. Lost in his own thoughts, he reached down and pulled the Sheikah Slate off his hip. After a few taps and another flash of light, the white-and-blue petaled flower appeared in his hand. Sitting down, he remained by the pond until the sun started to set.
No one else arrived at the pond.
...
The radiant golden rays of the sun brightened the desert, illuminating the sandstone walls of Gerudo Town. Sitting on the inside of the town, leaning against those walls, was an older Gerudo, with a Hylian sitting next to her.
"So, you found the Lover's Pond, huh?" the old lady, Muava, asked as she glanced over at Link.
"You got it," Link replied. "It wasn't easy, though; I can understand how you got lost before."
"I see. And you're telling me you managed to help two people who also found that pond find true love?"
"Yeah," Link said, his eyes gazing skyward at the few clouds drifting by. "It felt nice, helping two people fall in love like that, even if I didn't understand at the time. Now that I do… It feels even better to look back on."
"Heh heh, you're one heck of a voe," Muava chuckled. "Finding Lover's Pond just so I feel better about my life choices, and then actually returning to speak to me about it. You have a heart of diamond, little voe."
"I hope it being real doesn't make you regret not finding it," Link said, but the old lady shook her head.
"It only makes me feel even stronger about my decisions," Muava answered. "I chased after Lover's Pond and had quite the adventure doing so. To know I wasn't chasing a fantasy fills me with joy."
"Good. You shouldn't regret it," Link said, looking over at the elderly Gerudo. "Adventures are pretty great."
With a smile, he stood and began dusting off his silky clothing.
"Well, I better get a move on," he said. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay and talk longer."
"Ah, nonsense. I appreciate you for returning and humoring me with your presence. You know I love speaking to you, even if it's just for a bit," Muava said with a small smile, waving him away. "I do want to ask though; that lover you mentioned… Did you meet her at Lover's Pond when you arrived?"
"Nope," Link said, stretching his back out. "I sat at the pond for hours and no one ever showed. At first I thought maybe it was because the pond was just a pond, or that I wasn't actually in love yet. It turns out, it was probably because I was already in love, and the one I was in love with felt the same way. I didn't need the pond."
"Well, what a lucky voe you are," Muava chuckled. "She's a lucky vai."
"I am a lucky voe," Link said. "But… I think I still wanna take her to the pond. I think she'd really enjoy seeing it."
"Is that where you're off to now?" Muava asked. Link looked back, and though his face was covered by a veil, the old lady could tell he was smiling. "Ha, I wish you a wonderful time, little voe. You'd best be on your way so as not to keep the little vai waiting."
"Right. I'll be back and tell you all about it," Link said with a nod.
After waving to the old lady, he ventured through the sandstone town and departed through the front gate, saying goodbye to the two Gerudo guards before disappearing into the desert.
"Alright, girl," Link said quietly to his horse, stroking the chestnut mare on her neck. "We can do this. It's just another fun ride, no matter what the outcome is, alright?"
Link stared confidently into Epona's dark eyes as she snorted. He grinned. Leaning forward, he placed his forehead on hers and closed his eyes. After a long pause, he lifted his head and patted her coat one last time. Turning around, he stared out into the lush green fields of Hyrule, the light breeze caressing his skin, and the water of the large pond beside him sparkling in the early morning sun. His eyes locked onto the dirt path before them, his brow furrowing in concentration, preparing for the upcoming challenge.
"Let's do this."
Stepping to the side, Link took hold of Epona's reins and placed his foot into the stirrup. Pushing himself up into the saddle, he gently tugged on the reins to properly align Epona with the path ahead of them.
"We're ready," he called out, his eyes never leaving the road.
While his heartbeat was slow and steady, he could feel it pulse against his ribcage with every beat, and he imagined he could feel the blood itself flowing through his veins. So attuned was he to his physical state that even the singular drop of sweat on the side of his face could be felt, leaving an imperceptible trail as it slowly traveled down his skin. The light breeze echoed in his ear, until finally, he heard it:
A whistle.
With a loud "hiyah!" Link spurred Epona forward, her hooves clopping powerfully upon the path as she galloped. The breeze became a constant wind across his face as he was propelled forward, refusing to even blink as they rounded the bend, his eyes watering and burning as they rode. Soon, he tugged on the reins, guiding the mare off the road and into the tall grass.
Now, instead of there being an open road in front of them, there was an obstacle blocking their way—a wooden fence painted in blue, red, and white. Rather than slowing down or avoiding the fence, Link only spurred Epona on faster, trusting his mare. As if sensing her owner's faith in her, Epona neighed, and just before they could crash into the fence she jumped, her powerful leg muscles clearing the hurdle with ease. Impressively, the pair flew over the top with room to spare, landed back in the grass with a thud, and continued on without ever slowing. Though Link was proud of Epona's jump, his face remained impassive and completely focused as he continued to guide her through the grass.
That was only one fence out of the many they were headed for.
He gave Epona's side a light tap, at which the mare snorted in response before galloping even faster than before. With an iron grip on the reins, Link guided her carefully around the tight bends as they circled the pond, lining her up with every upcoming fence to make the next jump easier on her, and jump she did. It was as if she had wings each time she soared over the fences, landing ever more gracefully after each fence was cleared.
After a total of ten fences jumped, Epona reared around the pond, heading back toward the final fence ahead of them. This fence was much thicker and sturdier than any of the others she had jumped, because it wasn't made for jumping. It had been built to protect the stable it surrounded, and behind that fence, standing near the open gate, was a stable worker who was cheering them on as they drew closer.
"Come on, Link!" the stablehand shouted. "You're gonna beat your record! Bring her home!"
"Go, Epona! Let's go!" Link shouted above the wind. Gritting his teeth, he leaned forward, trying to make himself as aerodynamic as possible as Epona galloped. "We're almost there, girl!"
Whinnying in response, Epona darted through the stable's entrance gate. Link tugged the reins, and she skidded to a stop, kicking up dirt as her hooves slid. Immediately, Link twisted to face the stablehand.
"The time?" he asked.
"One minute and six seconds!" the man replied. "That's incredible! I wouldn't be able to hit that time in my dreams!"
Link laughed proudly before jumping out of the saddle, hurrying to Epona's front.
"Look at you, girl!" he cheered, hugging Epona's muzzle. "I'm so proud of you!"
The horse nickered in reply, apparently happy with the attention. Still chuckling, Link pulled away and reached into one of his back pouches. Pulling out an apple, he held it out to the mare, who happily accepted and chomped it in one bite.
"That is one amazing horse you have there, Link," the stablehand said, closing the distance between them. "I didn't think you'd ever get below a minute and ten seconds. I thought it was practically impossible."
"Well, Epona likes to make the impossible happen," Link said, having returned to rubbing her muzzle. "I was in the desert for two days and only got back yesterday evening, so she's been itching to get a proper ride in. Did you like that ride, Epona?"
The mare shook her mane, whinnying in pleasure. The stableman brought a hand up to his hat in awe.
"She's a smart horse, too!" he said. "Obvious answer to this question, but you wouldn't wanna sell her to me, would you?"
"Not a chance, Blynne," Link said with a smile. "Epona is the only horse for me."
"Hey, you can't blame a fellow horse lover for trying," Blynne replied. "Especially when you witness such a crazy record happen right before your eyes. It's not all Epona either; you have quite the riding skill. Who taught you to ride like that?"
"If I remember correctly, my father might've taught me a bit. He was pretty good with horses too," Link said, trying to remember his childhood. He could remember the dark horse his father used to own, always carrying sticks on her back alongside her owner. "Though, I've always had a knack for riding. I've been riding since I was a kid, and yet… I dunno, it feels like I've ridden for much longer than that, especially with Epona here. Even today while running the course…"
Thoughtfully, he looked out at the fields and ponds they'd ridden around.
"It feels like I was just doing some horse races a few days ago," he said in a pensive, musing tone.
"A few days ago? Is there someone else in Hyrule hosting horseback obstacle courses like I do? Because you haven't been here in months," Blynne said, but Link shook his head.
"Nah, I think it was a dream or something," Link said, turning his attention back to Epona. "I'm just having a hard time remembering it."
"Ah, I know that feeling," Blynne chuckled. "I always dream of riding horses, learning how to ride faster or coming up with ways to take better care of them. I get ya."
Link hummed in response. Though the stablehand said he understood, what he was describing felt different. No, Link felt he was forgetting something far more special… Suddenly, the scent of hay and milk filled his nostrils, but before he could focus on it, Blynne continued to speak.
"One day, I hope to find myself a horse like Epona here," Blynne continued, placing his hands on his hips. "I'm sure I could at least get under my own record of a minute and fifteen seconds."
"Yeah… maybe you could," Link said, only half-heartedly listening as he looked around.
His eyes wandered over to one of the other stablehands currently pouring milk and dropping wheat into a cooking pot. After staring at her for a moment, he turned his attention back to Epona and Blynne.
"Good luck finding a horse like this one though," Link answered properly. "She's one-of-a-kind."
"Well, maybe there's another one-of-a-kind out there," Blynne replied. "What happened to that other special horse I heard about before?"
"Other special horse?" Link asked.
"Yeah. Remember Straia?" Blynne asked. "I think he's still out there trying to find that giant horse he heard about."
"The giant horse…? Oh shoot–" Link exclaimed before quickly jumping back into Epona's saddle.
"Oh shoot? Oh shoot what?" Blynne asked. "Where are you running off to so quickly? Are you already bolting off to Lurelin? You said you were headed straight there, didn't you?"
"I was supposed to, but I forgot about Straia," Link said. "The giant horse is real."
"What? The giant horse is real?" Blynne exclaimed.
"Yup. We tried to catch it, but I wasn't strong or skilled enough when we first found it. I told Straia I'd come back and never did." Link said. "I've only got about a day of extra time left, so it's now or never!"
"I–well, good luck, I guess," Blynne said, watching as Link tugged on his horse's reins, ready to ride her out of the stable. "If you catch it, bring it here for me to see! You know I can't go without seeing an incredible horse like that!"
"I will. I'll see you later today, Blynne!" Link said, kicking Epona's side.
Neighing in response, Epona began to gallop, darting through the fence and onto the dirt road. As they traveled, Link hummed in thought.
"If I remember correctly, that horse likes to graze near the Taobab Grassland," Link said to himself, his bangs once again blowing in the breeze. With a confident smile, he looked up at the early morning sun. "I've got time… It's about a day's ride to Lurelin from here. We can catch this thing."
For a couple of hours he rode, traveling through the winding, rocky valleys before eventually seeing a forest in the distance. There, he spotted a lone tree with a campsite at the base of its trunk. Reaching the camp, Link tugged on the reins and pulled Epona to a stop, startling two men at his sudden appearance.
"Link?" One of the men called as Link jumped off the horse. "There you are! Where have you been?"
"Busy," Link said simply, jogging up to the man. "Hey, Straia. Jini."
"Busy?" the man named Straia asked as the other man seated at the cooking pot waved in greeting. Straia was a tall, burly man, with greenish-hued hair styled into curtain bangs, and a small soul patch beard on his chin. "I know how much you like horses, so what took your mind off the giant horse?"
"A giant pig," Link answered, "and a woman."
"A woman?" Straia again repeated, ostensibly ignoring the part about the pig. "To think you'd let a woman pull your mind away from catching the biggest horse ever seen!"
"Oh, come on, Straia," Link sighed. "To be fair, she's an amazing woman. I didn't have what it took to catch the horse back then anyway, but now I do."
"Really? You think we can finally catch this thing?" Straia asked.
"I think we can, but we have to catch it today," Link said. "I'm off to Lurelin to see my lover, so it's now or never."
"Ugh… As much as I'd like to make fun of you for it, your lover is important," Straia said, folding his arms. After a moment, he smiled, holding a hand out to Link. "Then today, we catch the giant horse."
With a confident chuckle, Link took the man's hand in a firm grasp.
"I'm assuming you have a plan, having rushed all the way here this morning only to say we have one day to catch this horse," Straia said.
"I do. We're gonna do the same thing as last time," Link said. Straia frowned.
"What? That didn't work last time," he said. "How is today different from before?"
"Let's just say I prayed for it," Link replied cryptically. "You in?"
Though Straia looked dubious, he simply shrugged.
"May the Goddess Hylia answer your prayers," he said. "Shall we get a move on? We're wasting good daylight."
"Ready when you are; though, I have to warn you," Link began, signaling for Epona to come to him. "I don't have my regular gear, so fighting those two lynels will take forever, and that's time I don't have. We'll have to ride past them and hope they leave us alone."
"Really living on the edge today, huh…?" Straia asked nervously. "Alas, for the giant horse, I'm ready to take such a risk."
"Good," Link said as Epona stopped next to him.
Once again, he pulled himself into the saddle before holding a hand down to Straia. Once it was firmly grasped, Link heaved Straia into the saddle behind him.
"Alright, hold on tight!" Link said with a grin.
To Straia's surprise, Epona reared onto her hind legs before bolting off into the forest heading for the grassland, beginning the hunt for the giant horse.
...
The Taobab Grassland was an interesting part of Hyrule. While most of the fields throughout the land were green and lush, with many oak trees grouped into clusters of varying sizes ranging from small copses to large forests—omitting the fields that had been destroyed by the Calamity a century before—this part of Hyrule was colored in yellows and browns. The grass was a faint gold hue, much of the soil was loose and dusty, easily caught and carried by the breeze, and the trees were tall, thick, and widely-spaced. It was behind one of these thick trees Link and Straia were currently hiding, having left Epona near the edge of the forest.
"I can't believe we managed to ride by those two lynels…" Straia muttered incredulously, a frisson of terror evident in his voice from the high-speed ride they'd just taken. "They shot so many arrows at us…"
"Don't lose your nerve now," Link said, peering from behind the tree. "We still have a horse to catch, and I see it right there."
"You see it?" Straia asked, to which Link nodded.
"Horses have their favorite grazing spots," he said, "and the last time we found it here, it was grazing around this area. So, it's no wonder it would be back. Look—"
He pointed out toward a clearing in the middle of the sparse forest, where a herd of horses were grazing in the golden grass. While most of the horses were of the usual type, there was one horse that stood out among the rest. It towered over the other horses, its coat darker than the shadows of the trees around them, contrasted by its fiery-colored mane. Its hooves were so bulky, they sank into the dirt with each step. Even with its head lowered as it grazed, it was still clearly visible standing behind the herd.
"There he is, as big as ever," Straia mumbled, looking at where Link was pointing. "You sure you're ready to tame that beast of a horse?"
"Straia, I've done some crazy things since we last went after him," Link explained. "I've battled literal giants… Giant men… Giant pigs… Giant hinoxes… If I can take all of them on and come out on top, I can tame this horse."
"Well, when you put it that way, it's hard not to have faith in you," Straia said. "Though, I don't even know what half of those giant things you just listed are. Giant men and…pigs? What's with you and pigs?"
"Long story," Link said simply, still peering out from behind the tree at the giant horse. "For right now, focus on this."
"You say that, but what do you want me to do?" Straia asked.
"Do you have any stamina elixirs on you?" Link asked in reply.
"I have a few," Straia replied.
When Link extended his hand, Straia reached into his bag and pulled out a few bottles filled with a bright green liquid before handing them over.
"I'm going to outlast its energy," Link said. "What I need you to do is keep it in the field. It'll try to ram into the trees in order to knock me off. If you see it trying to run toward any of the trees, I need you to scare it back and keep it in this clearing. Can you do that?"
"You can count on me, Link!" Straia said confidently. Looking back, Link gave him a confident grin and nod.
"Alright then. It's time," he said, facing the herd of horses again. "Wish me luck."
Receiving a nod and a thumbs up from Straia, Link unbuckled his broadsword and shield from his back. Leaning them against the tree where they hid, he crouched and began inching his way toward the herd. Each step was careful and quiet, doing his best to make as little noise in the golden grass as possible. He inched past the grazing horses, careful not to startle them, until eventually he was in position directly behind the dark giant. Silently twisting his waist, he looked back at Straia, who had begun creeping through the grass himself. He inched along the perimeter of the clearing behind the trees, doing his best to anticipate where the stamina battle would lead. Once Straia seemed prepared, Link took a deep, deep breath.
With a leap, he grabbed onto the horse's rear and pulled himself onto its back. Instantly, the giant horse voiced a powerful squeal, its terror evident in the force of the reverberating echo throughout the widely-spaced trees and mountains surrounding them. The other horses around them reared, emitting their own screams of terror as they began fleeing in all directions, divots flying up into the air. As a dust cloud covered the field, the giant horse flailed around, jumping and bucking its body, trying to free itself from its rider's clutches. Link leaned down, pressing his body against the horse's dark coat, where he could feel the beast's muscles flexing and pulsing as it tried to shake him off. It was like holding on to a living boulder with legs, for its body was dense and solid as rock.
Realizing it wasn't going to be able to shake the rider, the giant horse squealed once more and dashed forward, heading for one of the large trees at the perimeter of the clearing. Link gripped its body even tighter, preparing to be rammed into the trees, but thankfully, Straia was ready. The man jumped out from behind the tree, shrieking as loud as he could at the oncoming giant. In fear, the horse skidded to a stop and reared again, returning to the center of the clearing and heading for the opposite side.
Risking his stability, Link reached up and took the horse by its thick mane, pulling against it as if they were reins in order to stop the horse from dashing to the other end of the clearing. Straia needed time to prepare and move, and in order to buy him as many seconds as he could, Link knew he had to try and soothe the beast.
"It's okay… It's okay…" Link murmured, stroking the horse's neck as he tried to pull it to a stop.
Again, the horse skidded, centered in the clearing, but instead of calming down, it only started jumping and flailing again, trying to buck Link off its back. Gripping its body again, Link dug his fingers into its ebony coat, gritting his teeth as he struggled to stay on its back. Soon, just as before, the horse began to dart toward one of the trees, but this time, Link could see Straia preparing to jump out again. Clinging to the horse, he reached down and pulled out one of the bottles Straia had given him.
It's about to be a long day, he thought, barely managing to bring the bottle to his lips.
Sloppily, he drank the liquid, some of it splashing onto his chest before he had to discard the bottle. Nearly falling, he gripped the orange mane again, his tunic now drenched in stamina elixir. Again, Straia jumped out from behind the trees, scaring the horse before it could ram Link off, and just as before the horse began galloping back to the center of the field.
Alright horse… Link thought as he gripped the horse's body tighter, preparing for it to flail about. Let's see who can last the longest!
The plaintive cry of seagulls echoed over the sparkling sand of Lurelin's beaches, the waves crashed upon the shore, and the villagers of the fishing town were cheerfully at work. As they carried barrels of fish, pulled in or pushed fishing boats out to sea, or prepped the buildings for the upcoming celebration, the largest Zora on the beach stood with his webbed hands on his hips, watching the progress being made.
"Prince Sidon!"
With a cheerful, sparkling smile, the prince turned to see his chief secretary, hurriedly walking toward him with a clipboard in hand.
"Laflat! Tell me, how are preparations coming along on your end?" he asked.
"We're right on track," Laflat said, her tone confident but quick. "I believe we have enough fish not just for the celebration tomorrow, but for the domain as well! In fact, I believe we have a surplus."
"Splendid! To think, after only two days of hard work, we've managed to come this far," Sidon said proudly. "It's owing to all of our efforts, having come together as one community. This certainly will show Muzu that unity is the answer to the Domain's future prosperity."
"I believe you're correct, Prince Sidon; not that I find Councilor Muzu inept," she said quickly, to which Sidon laughed.
"No need to clarify. I understand what you mean," Sidon said, looking down the shore toward where the other two Zora were. "Do you happen to know where Miss Celessa and the princess are?"
"I believe Miss Celessa was helping Paya and a few of the villagers with decor," Laflat said, turning to look back at the part of the village from whence she came. "And the princess is still out at sea."
"Still out at sea you say… She's been out there for the past two days. I do wonder what it is she's searching for," Sidon mused, looking out over the ocean. Squinting his golden eyes, he scanned the surface of the water before noticing a dark, shadowed speck bobbing on the waves. "Ah, there she is; still going at it I see."
"I commend her spirit," Laflat said, shielding her eyes from the sun to focus on the raft in the distance. "I do hope she finds whatever it is she's looking for."
"Indeed. I pray for her success," Sidon said, "though, she has that slate of hers with her. I wanted to send the fish we've gathered to the Domain in order to declutter the area, but it seems like we'll have to wait for her return. If you could ask Gruve to take the Domain's portion of fish and move them to the entrance of the village, that would be great. We'll use the princess's device later to transport them."
"Understood, My Prince," Laflat said with a slight bow. Having received her next assignment, she hurried off through the sand to find her target Zora, with Sidon chuckling as he watched her disappear.
"So, you're Prince Sidon of the Zora," a new woman's voice spoke. Turning, Sidon looked down to see a Hylian standing behind him, pen and notebook in hand.
"Ah, you must be Miss Traysi!" he said energetically. "The author of the Rumor Mill, yes?"
"So, you were warned about me, huh?" Traysi asked, twirling her pen between her fingers.
"Less of a warning, and more of a heads up," Sidon said kindly. "You wish to speak to me about the princess, is that correct?"
"I do; and I'll be straight with you, I've had my doubts these past few days," Traysi said directly. "Look, if there's anyone in Hyrule right now that would know the truth, it's the Zora, and maybe a few old Sheikah. You're the best source I have, and I need you to be honest with me… Is that really Princess Zelda?"
"Ah, so that's what this is about," Sidon mused aloud. Traysi raised an eyebrow.
"They didn't tell you what I wanted to ask you about?" she asked.
"They did not," the prince answered. "Only that you'd wanted to have a few words with me. So you find it hard to believe the princess is who she claims to be?"
"Can you blame me?" Traysi asked. "Look at it from my perspective; a woman who vaguely fits the description of the Princess of legend suddenly appears, declaring she wishes to claim the throne, yet she has no powers, no crest, or anything else that would prove her lineage. She doesn't even look a century old. She appears to be just a normal seventeen-year-old girl."
"I see…" Sidon said, a smile still on his face. "That does make things challenging on you, doesn't it?"
"It does," Traysi nodded. "I'm being asked to write a story verifying her claims, a story that the people of Hyrule would read and trust in order to unify our fractured population under her leadership… It's a heavy responsibility—one I'm willing to do—but only if I can really trust what I'm being told."
"Hm… That is quite the weight on your shoulders, isn't it?" Sidon asked. At this, Traysi nodded, yet she also looked confused.
"Yeah… Yeah, it is," she said, surprised that the prince understood her position. Sidon nodded.
"Shall we walk?" he asked, gesturing at the expanse of the beach. Though she seemed hesitant, the reporter nodded.
The two moved toward the shoreline, their feet sinking slightly in the moist sand, leaving tracks behind as they progressed.
"So, are you gonna tell me if that's the real princess or not?" Traysi asked, tapping her pen against her open notebook's pages. "You've been avoiding my question."
"I assure you, Miss Traysi, I haven't been avoiding your question at all," Sidon said. "But, before I answer, I must ask: do you believe she's the real princess?"
"I just told you, I can't put anything down before—"
"I didn't ask what you intended to put down," Sidon interjected. "I asked what you believe."
Traysi furrowed her brow, clearly frustrated with what she felt was merely a runaround. Regardless, she sighed.
"I'm…inclined to think so," she said. "She's smart. She has a way with people that's kind and gentle, yet she makes herself known. She's a bit awkward at times, but her heart is strong. Honestly, it all tracks with what the princess was said to have been a hundred years ago. I know she had a tough time unlocking her powers, and that she wasn't really well liked…"
"That she wasn't," Sidon laughed. "I remember those gossip mongers. Even as a little fry, I heard what they said about her. Regardless, she worked hard and did everything she could to unlock that power of hers, and in the end she did unlock it. Unfortunately, it was a tad too late."
Sidon slowed to a stop, looking out at the raft floating in the middle of the ocean.
"Even though she was late to unlock her power, thus losing everyone she cared about, and possibly knowing the horrendous experience she was about to put herself through, she still went to the castle and held the Calamity at bay, all so her knight could revive and finish their duty," he explained. "For a hundred years she stayed strong, right up until the last of her power was used to seal the Calamity for good. Tell me… Do you believe the girl out there would do that for her people in this era?"
Furrowing her brow once more, Traysi looked out into the ocean, spotting the raft for herself. She could just barely make out Zelda with the Sheikah Slate in her hands, pulling up metal debris from the ocean floor, inspecting it, and placing it in a discard pile with other junk behind her before aiming the slate back out into the water. The reporter took a deep breath.
"She would…" she finally answered. "I don't want to admit it, but after all I've seen her do, there's no doubt she'd make that kind of sacrifice."
Sidon nodded.
"That's the princess, Miss Traysi," Sidon said. "I could tell you that's her because I saw her a century ago, or that my father has vouched for her, or I could even lie and say that I've even seen her use the power that courses through her blood, though I would never do such a thing. Instead, I'd rather tell you what I see in her that proves she is who she says, because anyone that looks into her eyes can see that she is Princess Zelda, the same one from a hundred years ago, who put everything on the line to keep us safe."
"So I should have just trusted what she said, then?" Traysi asked in a slightly disgruntled tone, but Sidon shook his head.
"Nonsense," he answered. "I respect your decision to seek me out before simply going along with what you were told. I just want to ensure you know who it is I've truly put my faith in. I'm not putting my faith in the princess simply because she was royalty a hundred years ago. No… She has my trust because of who she is."
With a bright smile, Sidon stepped forward, standing directly in front of the reporter. Placing a hand on his heart, he closed his eyes and gave her a slight bow.
"Miss Traysi of the Rumor Mill," he said in a confident tone. "I, Sidon, Prince of the Zora, son of Dorephan, King of the Zora, assure you that girl is indeed Zelda Daphnes Hyrule, the rightful princess of Hyrule and the true heir to the Hylian throne."
Traysi stared at the bowing Zora, his hand still on his heart. With an inscrutable expression, she looked down at her notebook—still open in her hand—before looking out at the raft floating upon the ocean water. With another deep breath, she closed the notebook and stored it back in her pouch.
"Well, I guess that's all the clarification I need," she said in a casual tone. "I can't argue against anything you just said; at least, not without looking foolish. Still, I think I'll write my story after our event here for that knight of hers. That's what she's focused on right now, and I might as well make myself useful."
Upon hearing this, Sidon opened his eyes and straightened himself up, giving Traysi a sharp, sparkling smile.
"You have the heart of a true reporter, Miss Traysi!" he said happily. "I'm sure the princess will be most happy to hear your decision!"
"Yeah, yeah," Traysi said, waving the Zora's words away. "Let's just get back to it. What needs to be done next?"
...
The ocean water took on an orange glow, reflecting the twilight sky as the sun began to set. Standing in the sand, both the pilgrim and the Sheikah watched as Zelda's raft continued to bob along the ocean in the distance. With her hands clasped over her chest, Paya hummed in worry.
"Do you think she's alright out there?" she asked Celessa without taking her eyes off the raft. "She's been at it nonstop for the past two days… Has she eaten?"
"She has, but usually it's at the crack of dawn or super late at night," Celessa said, her hand shielding her eyes as she peered out into the ocean. "Time is running out, and she knows it."
"Still…" Paya said anxiously. "Is it really best to let her keep going on like this? Wha–what if… What if it isn't out there? M-Master Link is going to arrive any day now, and she's going to be exhausted…"
"Yeah, but… You know the princess," Celessa said, lowering her hands. "She's not going to stop until she's certain it isn't there. She'll keep going right up until Link arrives, no matter what we say."
Paya hummed nervously in response. With the waves splashing at their feet, the two remained watching the raft upon the ocean until someone called out to them.
"Celessa! Paya! We have incoming visitors!" one of the villagers called, prompting both the pilgrim and the Sheikah to turn around.
Gesturing for Paya to follow, Celessa jogged away from the beach, meeting the villager that had called out to them.
"Did you say more visitors, Numar?" Celessa asked the dreadlocked Hylian.
"I did. This fellow right here says he knows you and was invited," Numar said, gesturing to the ship-shaped inn near the shore with the oar he held in his hands.
Both women turned and peered at the inn, where a man had stepped from its shadows. Celessa's eyes widened.
"Hoz!" she cried in excitement, hurrying through the sand toward the man. At the call of his name, the armor-clad man looked around before spotting the pilgrim running toward him.
"Celessa!" he exclaimed as the pilgrim came to a stop before him. With a laugh, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's great to see you in good health! Ah, and I see your friend is here as well!"
"H-hello, Master Hoz," Paya said upon her arrival, giving the man a slight bow in greeting. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance again."
"Miss Paya. It's my pleasure as well," Hoz said, returning her bow. "Forgive my tardiness; I know I'm a few days late."
"That's not a problem at all! In fact, we're actually a bit behind, so you're technically right on time," Celessa said.
"I see! Glad to know I haven't missed the event," Hoz said. "Tell me, is the princess here? I'd like to greet her properly."
"Uh… Well, she is, but she's extremely busy right now," Celessa said. "She's actually out at sea, so we can't exactly fetch her at the moment."
"The princess is out at sea? Well, judging from our last encounter, she doesn't seem like the type of royal to sit still and let others do the work for her," Hoz exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "Still, since I'm here, I'd like to introduce myself to those who have arrived. Is there anyone I should introduce myself to first?"
"Oh, there's Prince Sidon!" Celessa said excitedly. Hoz's eyes widened with disbelief.
"The Zora Prince is here?" he asked incredulously. "Why, I'm not sure why I expected anything less!"
"He sure is!" Celessa said before turning to locate the large Zora at the other end of the village. "Hey, Sidon! There's someone I'd like you to meet!"
Upon hearing the call of his name, Sidon looked over to them and waved in acknowledgement. After finishing his conversation with the fisherman he had been working alongside, he hurried over.
"I believe I heard my name!" he said cheerfully upon his arrival. "How may I be of assistance?"
"Sidon, this is Hoz," Celessa said, gesturing toward the armor-clad man. "He's a knight who was trained by his family, who were descendants of knights from before the Calamity."
"Why, that's splendid!" Sidon said excitedly, looking down at Hoz with a hand outstretched. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Are you here to help the princess with her plan for reconstruction?"
"I am, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Prince Sidon. To think I'd have a chance to meet with the Zora prince," Hoz said, shaking the Zora's large hand with gusto. "I will do everything in my power to ensure this kingdom is rebuilt, and I believe Princess Zelda is the perfect woman to lead. I can promise you that!"
"Well said, good sir! Well said!" Sidon exclaimed happily, his hand completely encapsulating Hoz's as he gave it a mighty shake. "Your help will be most appreciated by the princess, I can assure you of that!"
"I sure hope I can make her and my family proud," Hoz said.
Before anything else could be said, the ground suddenly began to vibrate. Though it was just a slight tremor, it was enough to put those near the center and entrance of Lurelin on alert.
"W-w-what's that?" Paya stammered in fear. "W-what's happening?"
"I'm not sure," Celessa said, her face showing concern. Immediately, Hoz pulled a spear from his back, while Sidon fixed his gaze firmly on the entrance.
"It sounds like we're about to find out," he said. "It's coming from the entrance. Everyone, prepare and brace yourselves for whatever may come from that path! Those who are defenseless, stand behind me!"
Fearfully, Paya dashed behind Sidon, followed by Celessa, who wanted to stand her ground but realized she hadn't any of her gear on hand. As Sidon prepared his fins, the fisherman held out his oar in a defensive stance. The tremors became a steady rumbling; the sound of an earthquake thundering throughout the village. Suddenly, a ball of orange came barreling from behind the mountain, rolling down the pathway and passing through the gate. With a leap the ball unraveled, its glowing flames extinguishing as the creature landed in the sand on its tiny feet.
"I'm sorry I'm late! I'm really sorry, goro!"
Recognizing the soft, but anxious voice, Celessa peered out from behind Sidon, recognizing the latest arrival standing in the center of the village.
"Yunobo!" she called, jumping out from behind the Zora prince.
The Goron looked down to see Celessa heading toward him. With a nervous smile, he stepped toward her.
"Celessa! Aw man, it's good to see you!" Yunobo said as she stopped in front of him. "I'm sorry I'm late. I, uh…got lost on the way here… I've never been so far away from Death Mountain!"
"You're alright, Yunobo, we were just telling Hoz how we're a bit behind," Celessa assured him before turning toward the Hylians and Zora. "Everyone, this is Yunobo of the Gorons! He'll be the representative for Goron City in place of their boss!"
"Yunobo of the Gorons?" Sidon asked as the group lowered their defenses. His stern expression was instantly replaced with his familiar, exuberant smile. "Hello there, my friend! Link has told me much about you! In fact, you're a descendant of Daruk the Goron Champion, aren't you?"
"I-I am, yes!" Yunobo said as the Zora stepped toward him. "Link told you about me?"
"He sure has!" Sidon said, taking one of Yunobo's large hands into his own. "I am Sidon, prince of the Zora! I also happen to be the brother of the Zora Champion of a century ago, Lady Mipha."
"Woaaaah, you're related to a champion too? That's amazing, goro!" Yunobo replied with a smile, until suddenly, his eyes widened, though it looked more like his pupils shrank. "Wait, you're a prince?"
Sidon laughed, still shaking the Goron's hand. As the rest of the group offered their greetings to him, Yunobo raised his hand and placed it on the top of his white curls.
"Hey, so… Where's the princess?" Yunobo asked. "I'm surprised I haven't seen her yet…"
"She's a little busy at the moment," Celessa answered awkwardly. "You'll have to wait a while to speak with her—"
"While you're waiting—for the two that just arrived—why don't I show you around and get you caught up to speed with the current plans," someone spoke. Everyone turned around to see Traysi approaching. "You can speak with the princess when she finishes her current task. Let's give her some space."
"O-oh! Great, yeah, goro!" Yunobo called. "Show me what needs to be done, uh… What's your name?"
"Traysi," the reporter said, placing her hands confidently on her hips. "Author of the Rumor Mill. Come on, you two, we still have some daylight left; come give me and a few others a hand."
Traysi beckoned for them to follow, and both Yunobo and Hoz accompanied her to another part of the village, leaving Celessa and Paya with Sidon and Numar.
"I believe I'd better get back to my tasks as well," Sidon said.
"Same. If the festival ends up being tomorrow, then we really need to double-check that everything is in order," Numar added.
With a parting wave to Celessa and Paya, the two vanished, leaving the women alone on the sand. Suddenly, a thud sounded nearby, followed by the clanking of metal, causing the women to jolt in surprise. As the twilight faded and the sky darkened, they hurried to the shoreline where the thud originated to see Zelda jumping down from Armes' raft into the sand.
"Princess!" Celessa called as they hurried toward her. Before they even reached her, Zelda was already in the water, pulling pieces of rusted metal out from the pile she had created. "Princess! You're back sooner than usual! Did you find it?"
"I'm not sure yet," Zelda said, placing the metal in the sand after waddling out of the water. "Celessa, will you help me bring my findings onto the shore? I'll be looking through them now."
"Yeah, but…are you sure you don't want to rest? Even for a few minutes?" Celessa asked, continuing to talk as she stepped into the water. "Hoz and Yunobo arrived. They want to say hello to you."
"I'll greet them in the morning, I promise," Zelda said, hurrying back into the water herself. "Link could arrive anytime between now and tomorrow. I have to use every chance available to try and find it—"
"Th-th-then will you let us help you?" Paya suddenly spoke up as Celessa carried some of the metal back to shore. "If there's a possibility it's here in this pile, then you still are the one who found it, yes? At least let us help you clean and check to see if it's here…"
"Paya…" Zelda said, stopping with a rusted metal sword in her hands, her ankles still covered by the ocean water.
"Yeah, let us help!" Celessa said. "You have a big haul here, Princess. You'll be here all night if you try scraping away at all of these. Let us help you."
"Celessa…"
Zelea looked between the two women, before giving them a warm smile.
"Thank you both. Please…help me check these," she said.
At this, both Paya and Celessa smiled. Quickly, the pilgrim hurried back into the water, grabbing more of Zelda's findings to bring back to the shore, while Paya sat in the sand, grabbing one of the larger rusted metal objects.
"We only need to check the shields," Zelda said, carrying more of the rusted shields back to shore. "It has to be one of these… Please… Please be one of these…"
Soon, the embers of twilight vanished, leaving the moon as their only source of light. Moonlight sparkled across the black water while Celessa, Paya, and Zelda all sat together in the sand beside the ocean, scraping the rust and seaweed off every shield as best they could to see what lay beneath the grime.
After hours of scraping, Celessa suddenly shouted.
"Hey… Hey!" she said excitedly. "Princess! This looks and feels different from all the others! Is this it?"
"Hand it to me please," Zelda said quickly, dropping a rusted knight's shield she was holding into the sand.
Quickly, Celessa stood, kicking up sand as she stepped around Paya to the princess, holding the shield out to her. Taking the shield, Zelda inspected its surface, using her nails to scrape more of the grime off. None of it was rusted over. Only dirt and other plants from the sea covered it, and all of it was easy to wipe off, as if the surface underneath was smooth. After a few wipes, a shine of blue and red glistened in the moonlight. Zelda's eyes filled with joy.
"It is… It truly is," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "We found it."
As the moon shone down upon the lush, green grassy fields of Hyrule, Blynne walked around the pond situated in front of his stable, taking down the fences of the obstacle course that had been put up earlier that morning. As he broke down the last fence, his pointed ears perked up. Being the horse connoisseur he was, he instantly knew what the sound was: the clopping of horses in the distance. One of the horse's hooves, however, sounded far heavier than the other.
Curious, Blynne stood and looked down the road he could hear them coming from. Soon, the two horses came into view—one was the fast, chestnut mare he had seen Link riding earlier that day, while the other was an absolute beast; sturdy and strong. The stablehand's eyes widened as he watched the horses and their riders approach. The horse was far more than just sturdy; it was a boulder, its black coat shining in the moonlight, its fiery mane practically glowing, and its hooves leaving deep indentations in the dirt.
"By the three golden goddesses above…" Blynne murmured as the horses came to a stop in front of him. "Link? Straia? Is that you two?"
"It sure is, Blynne," Straia called back from on top of the giant horse. "You wouldn't believe the day we had."
"It was…something," Link added.
"You say I wouldn't believe you, but seeing this giant, I think I'd believe anything," Blynne said. "Plus, you two look awful."
This was something neither could deny. Both were dirty and covered in bruises, with pieces of tree bark sticking out of their hair. They laughed.
"This one right here put up quite the fight," Straia said. "Honestly, I thought Link was crazy when he came to me and said he could catch it today after disappearing for months on end, but man did he prove me wrong. You should've seen it, Blynne; he wrestled this horse from noon to sunset. It was incredible."
"Hey, don't give me all the credit," Link chuckled from Epona's saddle. "If it weren't for you, I would've been slammed against way more trees."
"However you guys managed, it paid off. Look at the size of this guy," Blynne said, patting the black horse's coat. The beast shook its mane, followed by a powerful blow of air from its nostrils.
"Careful, it's still a little…wild," Link warned.
"I can tell…" the stable hand said, taking a step back. "Well, uh… Did either of you want to register it?"
"I think Straia will be registering it—" Link began, but Straia cut him off.
"Link is the true owner of this horse," he said. "I may have helped, but Link was the one that was on its back taking most of the beating. I barely helped at all."
"But, Straia, you wanted to study this horse," Link debated. Straia simply nodded.
"You're right, I did," he said, "and I ask, as a personal favor, to let me study it while you're off in Lurelin. Once I'm done, I want you to take him. You deserve it."
Link stared at Straia, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight, his sincerity clear. After a moment, Link smiled.
"Thank you, Straia," he said. "I think that horse will help me out a lot, knowing what my lover has planned for us in the future. I really appreciate it."
"I should be thanking you," Straia said. "You didn't have to help me catch this giant, but you did. I owe you more than just ownership of this horse."
"Well, if Link is the owner, then let's get him registered," Blynne said.
Waving for them to follow, he began walking back to the stable, followed by Straia and the black horse. Link remained in place, sitting on Epona's saddle. He gazed up at the moon, its pale luminescence shining on him.
Tomorrow… he thought to himself. Tomorrow, I get to see you, Zelda. I'm almost there.
After taking another moment to himself, he gently tapped Epona's side with his heel. In a slow walk, Epona began following the giant horse to the stable, where Link was ready to lay down for the night. He needed a good rest, for he planned an early start in the morning, needing to leave right at the crack of dawn.
It was time for him to head to Lurelin Village.