My eyes struggle to adjust to the bright light that floods the room when I wake up. My skin is patted with sweat and my hair full of tangles. There is an uncomfortable cloud of humidity hanging in the air as I sit up to stretch my back. I'll never get used to having no AC.
I look to my left. Link is gone, I never noticed him leaving. I wonder if he got up early to help his father and uncle with their work.
After a couple more stretches, I get up and search for something suitable to wear in this heat. The forecast predicts that it will remain hot for the rest of the day with occasional showers in the evening.
I plug my phone in to charge and put my hair up with a hair claw, then I open the sliding doors to the backyard and I am overwhelmed by the picturesque scene before me. The view spans across meadows, forests, small towns, and rice fields, as far as my eyes can see. What a view! This even tops the view from the ski lodge in Mammoth Lakes.
Barefoot, I step down into the highgrass, feeling a tickle between my toes. I absolutely adore nature. This is such a pleasant change from my backyard in California where every blade of grass is measured and hand-cut by professionals.
I allow my eyes to wander the area. There is a beautiful garden that surrounds the house, complete with a small pond and a traditional stone lantern. The air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of running water from the pond adds to the peaceful atmosphere.
It takes me a while but I finally spot Link down the hill on a field, harvesting leaves with his uncle and father. I grab my hiking boots and make my way down the slope to join them on the field. Link is crouching in a sea of greens, picking leaves and placing them in a large, woven basket.
"Ohayou, gozaimasu," I greet them, eyes pinched in the bright light. The uncle lets out a hearty laugh and compliments my Japanese with a thumbs up.
"Good morning to you too," Link smiles up at me, enjoying the shade I'm offering with my body. "Happy fourth of July."
"Oh, I nearly forgot that today is Independence Day," I say.
"You should give your dad a call," he reminds me.
"I will." Although I don't think that Father celebrates Independence Day. He usually resents the days on which the stock market is closed. "You're harvesting Camellia sinensis?" I ask Link to change the topic.
"What?" He looks at the leaves in his hands.
"Green tea," I say.
"Yeah. How'd you know this is green tea?"
"I study biology for a reason."
"Which is?" he teases with a chuckle.
"I fancy it." I stick out my tongue and before I can process it, Link has placed a leaf on it. I spit it out while he laughs shamelessly. "Blah," my mouth is so dry now! "Just you wait! There will come a time when I will avenge myself."
"Oh yeah?" his smug grin grows unfazed.
"That's right. You won't even see it coming. It could be today, maybe tomorrow. Or maybe I will wait 10 years. But one thing is for certain: it's coming for you and there's nothing you can do to stop my–" he tries to place another leaf in my mouth but I use my samurai skills to dodge his attack and gracefully plunge down on the dirt next to him.
"You okay?" he asks between his laughter.
"Yes," I say, rubbing the earth off my palms.
"Good," He places the leaf on my head.
"Rinku!" his uncle hollers to get our attention. Link and I freeze on the spot and look up at the uncle. He continues to speak in Japanese and Link just nods in response. Link gets up without a word, making me wonder if we're in trouble for goofing around.
He pulls me up and tells me to follow him. He explains to me that his uncle suggested we should take the dog for a walk if we're going to play around anyway. I have yet to meet Twilight, and when Link tells me that he's usually at the stables to watch the horses, I get all the more excited.
We walk along a slim path until we reach the stables behind some trees. The smell of horse is nostalgic to me and sends memories of my time as an equestrian through my mind, some of which were less than pleasant. The pressure to perform, the ill-treatment of the horses behind the scenes, the arrogance of other competitors, the thunderous cheers, the fear of failure, and the disappointment etched on my father's face are all still vivid in my mind. However, I can't deny the beauty and majesty of these incredible animals, and the profound bond that can be forged between a human and horse when treated with the utmost care.
When I ask Link if I am going to meet his horse, he just smiles at me.
"Actually," he says when he opens the stable door, "I was hoping we could go on a little trip together."
"Would that really be alright?" I ask full of excitement!
"Why wouldn't it be? They're my horses," he laughs.
He swings open the old wooden door to allow the sun to fall into the dark stable. As he approaches his horse Epona, a mare with a glossy brown coat and a distinctive white stripe along her nose and forehead, she greets him with a gentle nicker. Link returns the greeting, reaching out to pet her and wrapping his arms around her strong neck.
My attention is drawn to the horse next to her. A white stallion with a blonde mane. He exudes an almost fairytale-like quality, with a regal posture and an intense gaze that seems to penetrate my very being. Despite his intimidating presence, I feel a sense of calm wash over me. I've dealt with bigger, more unbridled horses before.
"You like him?" Link asks with a huge grin on his face. "His name is Shiroiou. It means White King, because he likes to act a bit... Eh, let's just say he can be a bit royal sometimes."
"Royal?" I meet the stallion's fierce gaze with a soft smile. "Then I think he and I will get along splendidly."
"I thought so, Princess." He hands me the bridle, a brush, and hoof pick. "Because you'll be the one to ride him today."
We groom and tack up the horses to prepare them for a ride through the woods. Once we are ready to go, Link mounts his horse and waits for me to do the same but I hesitate. It's been years since I've ridden a horse... Is this really a good idea?
"Are you nervous?" Link asks me.
"Just a bit," I admit.
"You know... Horses are able to sense that. If you're nervous, he'll feel that."
"Great," I gulp.
"But you just have to put your trust in him."
My foot hooks into the stirrups, my hand grips the saddle, then I push myself off the ground and adjust myself on the horse's back. He takes a step backwards and kicks his head when I grab the reins.
"Woah," I try to calm him but he seems a bit upset.
"You're doing great," Link assures and leads the way onto the hill.
As we stand in a serene clearing, a sense of calm enveloped us. It's a peaceful day and the sun feels amazing on my arms. I close my eyes to enjoy the serenity for a moment until a piercing whistle suddenly breaks the stillness!
Startled, I look at Link, who has his fingers placed on his lips as he calls for his furry friend. From the tall grass, a majestic dog with the build of a wolf starts galloping towards us with an infectious smile on his face.
"Zelda, meet Twilight," he says, pointing at the panting dog.
"Pleased to meet you, Twilight," I give a respectful nod. "Will you be joining us today?"
He responds with an enthusiastic bark. I return a smile and prompt my horse to move forward.
He's a bit stiff and refuses to walk, but when I prompt him again, he seems to understand. As we begin our adventure through the forest, Twilight remains by our side, his presence filling the air with a sense of safety and protection. He is the perfect companion and I can tell that he shares a deep bond with Link.
Sunshine is cascading down through the saturated leaves, and the songs of the birds accompanies us melodically. This day is starting off great.
Until my horse begins to walk toward the left. I pull the reins, trying to keep us on the path. He throws his head in annoyance and huffs at me. He's acting a bit petulant! It's difficult to walk in a straight line with him but when it is time to make a turn, he suddenly wants to go nowhere but straight.
"Want some advice?" Links says. "Take time to sooth him so he knows how you feel. You're the one on his back, not the other way around."
In bewilderment, I study his majesty. My equestrian trainer always told me to be confident and be sure to assert your position on the horse's back. They may be bigger, but you're the one on the top. That's what she would tell me. Quite the opposite of Link's advice.
Shiroiou looks irritated and he has every right to be. Link is right... I'm the one on his back, so I should show some gratitude and respect to the one carrying me.
When Shiroiou follows my directions, I praise him and run my hand along his neck as a little thank you. He seems to enjoy that more.
I'm not exactly sure where Link is taking us but I follow him without questioning it. We travel mostly uphill and eventually leave the forest when we reach the top of the mountain. We overlook an open meadow and can hear the surging and splashing of a nearby stream. The wind brushes the high grass, creating waves that make me feel like I'm floating in a sea of nature.
I take a breath of the wild to fill my lungs with the woodsy fragrance of the cypress trees and the sweet and floral scents of wild flowers that are carried by the mountain air.
"Wanna race?" Link says to me as we move parallel to the stream.
"Race? I don't even know where we're going."
"Just follow the water," he says. "Ready?"
"No, I–" but he's already galloping across the plane. "Wait!" I call after him.
Shiroiou huffs, then he lifts his forelegs and paws the air with his hooves. He wants the challenge. He wants to compete. And I have no more say over him when he starts galloping to catch up with Epona.
"Whoa, easy there!" I exclaimed, desperately attempting to halt his relentless charge.
With the reins firmly clasped within my grasp, and my knees against the stallion's ribs, I try to maintain my position on top of the magnificent creature.
That's when Link's words echo through my head. I'm the one getting carried and if I show Shiroiou my trust, he will give me his. My hands loosen their grip and my posture relaxes. With the wind in my hair and the summer breeze brushing my skin, I feel invincible and free. I feel fearless. I feel ready. I am in the present... And... I am happy!
I've never ridden a horse like this, without rules and restrictions. Without a goal at hand. And I'm loving how freeing it feels to just let go and let the horse carry you. The sky is bright and blue, butterflies are dancing in the shade of the trees, and the high grass is brushing my ankles as we fly through the meadow. It brings a smile to my face.
As the wind ruffles through Shiroiou's mane and the gentle summer breeze graces my skin, an overwhelming sense of liberation overcomes me. Fearlessness surges within my very being. I feel free of worry and sorrow. I feel strong, I feel brave, and I feel a sudden desire to exhilarate.
"We're almost caught up," I tell Shiroiou breathlessly, encouraging him to go faster.
Never before had I experienced the sheer delight of riding a horse in such a carefree manner. I look up at the sky, a brilliant canvas of azure and clarity, while delicate butterflies dance in the shade of swaying trees. For a fleeting moment, an irrepressible smile takes over my face.
Link mirrors my smile when I am caught up with him. Riding side by side now, he lets go of the reins, sharing his full trust with Epona.
"You're better at this than I thought," I pant, breathless from the exhilarating ride.
A mischievous smirk unfolds on his smug face. "Oh, really?" he teases. "Wanna see something really cool?"
Before I can answer, he grabs something from the back of his saddle. It takes me a moment to identify the object, and when I do, I am rendered speechless. He draws an arrow on a bow and aims it north.
"Is that... real?" I manage to stammer, but his concentration remains unbroken. The arrow soars across the meadow, striking the bark of a lone tree.
"Impressed?" he asks with that charming smirk of his.
In awe, I fight to keep my composure. "Anyone could've made that shot," I shrug, focusing on keeping up with his tempo.
"Give me a more impressive target then," he challenges confidently.
I swiftly scan the surroundings, my eyes settling on a tree ahead. But instead of aiming for its trunk, I challenge Link to pierce the apple that is delicately hanging from one of its branches. Raising an eyebrow, he accepts the dare and directs his aim toward the tree.
"Not a chance," I taunt skeptically.
"Doubt is your greatest enemy," he says. With one eye closed, he releases the string, propelling the arrow toward the approaching tree. At first, it appears as though he missed his mark, but I am soon proven utterly wrong.
With pinpoint accuracy, Link masterfully slices through the stem of the apple, cleanly detaching it from the tree. Epona accelerates towards the falling fruit, and in a breathtaking display of agility, Link catches the apple midair, his grip flawless and sure.
I've never seen anything like it. I am so shocked that seconds later, I still don't have a proper response for Link. I knew he was a skilled archer, but never did I imagine him to have such accuracy, let alone on a galloping steed! The sheer magnitude of his skill leaves me awestruck, my mind grappling to comprehend the sheer impossibility of what I have just witnessed.
"I see now why Revali loathes you," I say to Link as he offers me the apple. "It must be frustrating to compete against someone like you."
I remember the spiteful comments from my competitors back in the day. "Spoiled little rich girl who bribed the judges," I remember one of them saying when I got first place. During another competition, Father complained about the inadequate depth of the sand that covered the stadium ground, and one of the other equestrians said to me: "Entitled snob, why don't you just ask daddy to buy you the stadium and save us all the trouble?"
"Everything okay?" Link pulls me back into the moment.
I rid my head of the negative thoughts and respond with a smile. "Care to witness something impressive on my part now?"
"The stage is all yours," Link says intrigued.
I lean closer to Shiroiou's ears while soothing him, and I whisper determined, "Let's show him how it's done."
Witnessing Link's exceptional archery skills has compelled me to showcase my own equestrian prowess and leave him equally spellbound.
Guiding His Majesty with a subtle nudge of my heels, we surge forward, our bodies becoming one with the rhythm of the gallop. I rise from the saddle, extending my body into a standing position and stretch my arms outward, embracing the caress of the wind as it weaves through my fingertips. I am giving Shiroiou all my trust. And he seems to handle it with great respect for his rider.
With a subtle shift of my weight, I communicate my intent to Shiroiou, and together, we transition seamlessly from a gallop to a remarkable series of leaps. I praise him with each jump, each bound taking us higher, defying gravity.
Ahead, the narrow stream is crossing our path, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sunlight like a thousand diamonds. My heart is racing even faster than the horses! At the very edge, I muster every ounce of courage and urge Shiroiou to take flight.
Apart from golf, this is the only sport I've ever been good at. Unlike Link, who's good at almost every discipline, I've taken great pride in the hours of dedication I've put into perfecting equestrianism. I used to be able to perform all sorts of tricks, like the handstands vault. This trick would surely leave Link speechless. But considering that I haven't been on horseback in many, many years, impressing Link might not be worth paralyzing myself. It's especially questionable with a horse I've just met. That being said, Shiroiou has won my trust and deserves this apple more than me.
As we land on the other side, water droplets spray through the air, a testament to our triumph. I come to a stop and make it my priority to thank my stallion for his cooperation and faith. I find my seat in the saddle again and try to catch my breath. What an experience.
Shiroiou gladly accepts the red apple as his reward, and as he savors the refreshing treat, I take a moment to survey our surroundings. The stream ends here and flows into a large pond, embraced by large rocks and lush greenery.
I am confused and surprised when I spot Link sitting in the water, fully dressed.
"What are you doing?" I laugh.
"Epona and I don't usually do jumps like that," he says. "She made a sudden stop and I took the dive."
"Thank goodness the water was there to catch you."
"It's actually really refreshing," he says. "Join me."
"I'll take your word for it," I kindly decline.
"What? Scared to get your clothes wet?" He mocks.
When he places his fingers on his lips to call his stallion in a loud whistle, Shiroiou begins to trap toward the water. The bond we built over the past hour does not exceed that of him and Link, and no matter how hard I try to make him stop, Shiroiou just keeps on walking toward Link until we are knee deep into the water.
I lift my feet to avoid getting my boots wet but Link views it as an invitation to pull me down from my saddle and there is nothing I can do to save myself from plunging into the cold water!
I let out a quick scream right before I tackle Link, soaking him from head to toe. We burst into laughter and battle each other until Twilight joins the fight and gets both of us wet by shaking his fur right next to us.
"We have a winner," I say, eyeing Twilight as I wipe the water from my face.
"Hey," Link gives me an excited smile, "I had no idea you could ride a horse like that! When you stood up, I thought I'd have to catch you. But then you do all those jumps and... Just wow!"
"Your archery skills are pretty impressive, too," I say.
....
The horses rest and graze the tufts of grass while Link and I dry off in the sun. Lying in the high grass and getting parched by the summer heat is our reward. We lie there while the sun wanders the sky, not many words are exchanged between us.
When I sit up to stretch my back, I suddenly notice something peeking out from the grass. Intrigued, I bring my eyes closer to be sure.
Those look like nemophila menziesii! A beautiful blue flower, also referred to as Baby Blue Eyes! But they are not native to Japan, which sparks my curiosity. I quickly snap a photo of them on my plant app to identify the flower.
"What are you doing?" Link asks, following my curious actions on his knees as he shuffles through the grass to get a closer look.
"The flowers you have in Japan aren't just beautiful, they're also quite useful as ingredients for a variety of things," I say, reading the info that the app is giving me. Eagerly, I snap a couple more photos of the flowers that surround us, when suddenly, my eyes catch sight of another flower–a flower so rare that it takes me a moment to grasp its existence.
Could it be? An omphalodes japonica flourishing in the meadows of Japan...
Drawing a breath filled with wonder, I turn to Link, my voice tinged with awe. "This one here is called the Silent Princess. It's a rare, endangered species. Despite our efforts, we can't get them to grow domestically yet."
Link edges closer to study the flower's delicate form.
"The princess can only thrive out here... In the wild," I add, my fingers tenderly grazing the pedals. "All that we can hope is that the species will be strong enough to prosper on its own."
A poignant sadness settles within me as those words resonate deeply in my heart. And judging by the expression on Link's face, a similar sentiment echoes within him. Both of us have dedicated ourselves to fulfilling the expectations of others, never realizing that our true purpose lies elsewhere. Perhaps the time has come for us to release the notion of conforming to a place where we don't truly belong.
Through the challenges we've faced, we've grown stronger, and now, we stand poised to thrive independently, liberated from the weight of others' expectations.
My heart skips a beat as I stumble upon yet another extraordinary spectacle. With bated breath, I can't help but gasp in awe, an involuntary reaction to the sheer wonder before my eyes. The sadness is gone and its place is taken by wonder!
"Is that what I think it is?" I exclaim, my excitement propelling me forward as I crawl nearer to capture the little amphibian. Its delicate body is nestled in my hands and I can't wait to share my discovery with Link! Positioning myself on my knees, I excitedly edge closer towards him.
"I don't believe it but I actually caught one! This delicacy is known to have very, very potent effects under the proper circumstances!"
Curious, Link leans in to catch a glimpse of the creature concealed within my palms. With a flourish, I reveal the captured frog,
"Tada!" I cheer. "Research from Hyrule's labs shows ingesting one of these can actually augment certain abilities!" The opportunity of research is too tempting and I can't help but bring it closer to Link's face. "We wouldn't be in a controlled environment here, but with your level of physical fitness you'd be a perfect candidate for the study!"
Link's expression undergoes a rapid transformation, his curiosity contorting into a mixture of surprise and repulsion. His eyes widen as he instinctively leans back, creating distance between us.
"Go on," I say, nudging the frog closer to Link. "Taste it!"
Link, however, shakes his head resolutely and raises his hands in surrender. "My physical fitness hasn't been that great since the coma," he stammers.
"Then this shall enhance your capacities," I argue.
"N–no way," he protests and I can't help but laugh at his reaction. It is true that this frog has been used in research, but I would never encourage the raw ingestion of one.
"I thought you're a glutton!" I tease Link a little more.
"I'm converting to vegetarianism!"
Vegetarianism? I burst into laughter. "Just give it a lick then!"
"What for? Superhuman strength?"
"Stamina," I say in a convincing tone. "You see, the skin of this remarkable amphibian harbors a multitude of bioactive compounds, intricately designed to enhance human physiology. By modulating neurotransmitters and cellular signaling pathways, these compounds unleash a cascade of events that culminate in a remarkable boost to speed and agility. Unlocking this potential through careful utilization offers a distinct advantage in the pursuit of exceptional–"
A kiss interrupts my speech. His lips are pressed against mine and I know full well that it is meant to shut me up.
"Physical performance," I conclude my sentence and kiss him back. My arms snake around his back to pull him closer. I lean back, bringing him with me as he positions himself on top of me. His body pressed against mine, I feel the desire to slip my hands beneath his shirt, eager to explore more. But instead, I bring the hot-footed frog between our heads and watch as Link kisses it before he can process that it is there.
The tension is broken and while Link tries to wipe his tongue in disgust, I laugh as shamelessly as he did when he places that leaf on my tongue.
"I told you I'd avenge myself!" I cackle and stick out my tongue in a playful manner while the frog leaps back into the water.