Demons, and Nightmares, Endai In Between

Waking of Saturday, May 11, 2019 (comprised of raw note editings from April 5, 2023 through April 12, 2023 that I really hope sound consistent because I left it alone for too long)

 

Demons, and Nightmares, Endai In Between

 

I went to the Coliseum and killed the Lynel. No sweat. It was awesome and I was feeling pretty good!

David said I was just showing off—to which I absolutely preened. Never done better with dodges and flurry rushes before!

However.... there was no shrine in the area. Nothing I could trip or activate to make one appear after clearing the dangerous space.

But I was not left completely without a prize; I took my new spoils to Kaysa to upgrade my Barbarian Armor. Now that I had seven Lynel guts, I could spare two apiece for each of the three armor pieces and still have one left over.

After that.... I went to Cotera, just because I hadn’t seen her in a while. I had her do up my new Amber Earrings all the way—I’d never seen her do the fourth level before—and my new Opal Earrings up three levels. But I would still need more Opal for the fourth level on those ones.

I ran around the Electric Lizalfos Baobab Grove in the Gerudo Highlands.... climbed further up into the range.... circumnavigated Spectacle Rock, just about.... Found a Korok beneath the little land bridge.... And a new Meteor Rod from a Wizzrobe who didn’t look like he really needed it....

No shrines though. Just wolves.

I circumnavigated Lake Mekar. I killed all the baddies on Mekar Island in the middle again. I even stayed on the island a few days waiting for respawns, though none ever came.

But still.... there were no shrines.

....

Hhhhhhh.

Hmm.

I would try Batrea Lake, by the Riverside Stable.

The Riverside Stable was on the west side of the Hylia River, but Batrea Lake lay in a forest on the east. There were two bridges convenient to the area, but.... Owlan Bridge seemed the shorter route. I jogged southward to cross.

On the other side, I found hecktons of Koroks, and megaBUTTtons of mushrooms of all kinds. And a very interesting giant hollow log stump in the middle of the lake.... with metal boxes inside of it.... Why?

But no shrines.

I meandered northward and came back across on the other bridge, Horwell Bridge—where I saw Leekah was in trouble again.

I saved her from her assailants, saw her to her feet, and began to escort her back toward the stable, when—that glowing, that fluttering, that cursed laughter....

We were waylaid by two Yiga and—just to complicate things—a friggin’ Octorok along for the ride.

I killed the archer in short order, but the big Yiga was more.... insistent. Amid the tussle I saw Leekah make a break for it—good. While she moved toward safety I continued to have it out with the big guy, but he was giving me such trouble.... And then as he leapt backward from my advances yet again, he landed shin-deep in the waters of the Hylia River.

I’d taken out my bow by this point and finally just shot the Octorok to get him to leave me alone. I still had the bow in my hands. A Forest Dweller’s Bow. I pelted the Big Yigaman with one of the bow’s triple-arrows, but upon seeing the paltry effect even this had, I fished into my quiver for something a little stronger—shin-deep in the water....

Ah! Shock Arrows!

Switching over to the new stock and aiming low into the current, I took him down in two juddering, spasming hits.

And he was down.

....His rupees must’ve sunk. But I sure as heck got his bananas.

I ran after Leekah, passing Beedle and Spoone on the way—Doctor Spoone—we really were already quite close to the Stable. But I caught up with her and escorted her the rest of the way nonetheless.

“I feel less anxious with you around,” she said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I said back, and I meant it.

That makes me feel good.

 

Uh.... And then I remembered something.... and made a manual save.

 

I wanted to test this Hylian Shield.

Strength 120.

Shield Guard Up +30.

What did it mean?

 

I ventured out into the lands around the Riverside Stable, looking for trouble.... Funny how it never showed up when you were looking for it.... until I finally was able to scare up a couple of Stalmoblins with sticks.

They banged their puny whackers against the brilliant, ringing shield of many ages.

This could take a while, I thought.

Un/fortunately, some time later, another Big Yiga showed up. Now we’re talking.

The sun or my impatience eventually claimed the two stalcreatures, and I faced my new opponent.

Man, that thing took a beating, but the Hylian Shield did not bow or break under the blows of the Yiga Soldier. I followed the man, pressing in close, giving no blows of my own but only allowing him to swing his Windcleaver at me again and again, clanging and banging off the Hylian Shield.... until this one likewise leapt away from me straight backward and into the river.

As it turned out, the river ran deep just there and.... the Yiga Soldier despawned?

But a fresh one showed up just a moment later.

The same one? Did the game recognize that neither of us had yet prevailed in our quarrel? Or was it a newcomer?

I never found out.

I don’t suppose it mattered.

My shield took a BEATING. I could see in my inventories that its pristine sparkle had long since gone away, but still this Hylian Shield would just not die.

As we sported all up and down—well, as one of us sported and one of us did science all up and down the riverbank.... the Octoroks began to crop up again. I didn’t need any stones to the face—I tried to keep the Yigaman in between me and them. They hit him in the back of the head several times. I don’t suppose it was unexpected, but it still made me blink and then give an irreverent little chuckle. The way they just smashed and crumbled off his poor noggin....

My Hylian Shield stood strong against every blow. I never even parried. I just took hit after hit after hit, head-on, every time seeing those tiny sparks fly as the shield’s unplumbable durability was chipped away. Pebbles from a mountain.

Again, and again, and again, and—

 

What in Hylia’s name was that ungodly sound?

 

It was a voice—definitely a voice, and it was coming from the Yiga, but.... inhuman. Layered.... rippling.... Demonic.

Oh my gosh, I thought, had I carried this fight on for so long that the Yiga was glitching out?

“Zwuauzwuzwuzwuaezwaeuwa—” Incomprehensible sounds.

The unholy utterances persisted through the fight now, as long as we ever kept going, the Yiga repeatedly chanting weird demonic things at me as he conjured his ground-burrowing explosions.

Daruk came back to thrice look in on me—what on earth must he have thought?—only to be hammered away once again, and then it was back to shield-beating.

But the Hylian Shield just would not die.

But I wondered whether my game might, at this rate.

But I would like to know the shield’s limits....

But this demon in my ear.... I didn’t want to hear much more of this....

 

I fled into my pause menu and reloaded that manual save.

 

My shield was pristine again.

 

It had never broken.

 

“I’d rather have this guy with me,” the memory ran through my head.

Brother Mow indicated the man who, while he had finished the obstacle course within the time limit, was now so wrung out and huffing and puffing that he had been reduced to puking his guts out onto the ground.

The other course-runners were taken aback. Oh? Not the bigger, tougher man who had aced his way through and finished first?

“I told you to leave it all on the field. I know that this guy [the puker] is willing to push himself until he’s falling over sick on the field, but him? I have no idea what his breaking point is. I have no idea what could make him just snap out on the battlefield, and be unable to carry on when it counts.”

 

Or some such words....

 

That Hylian Shield....

I wanted to know its limits....

I didn’t want it to ever fail me when I needed it....

 

I’m....

I’m going to bed somewhere. Maybe my house.

 

But before I did, I met a man on horseback whom I didn’t think I had ever met before. His name was Endai.

“Ah, I’ve seen that look in your eye before,” he said, “You’ve lost track of what’s important in life, haven’t you?”

Huh. Remarkably.... astute.

“Catching bugs, swimming, infiltrating the castle, sleeping... The possibilities are endless, don’t you think?”

....!?

Who is this guy??

....

Just another man on the road.

And then too soon.... we parted ways.

 

....

 

He was right. I had lost track.

The Princess was waiting for me.

Calamity Ganon.... was waiting for me.

 

But where were the last two shrines....?

 

....

 

I went to Hateno—I went home.

This is my house.

♪  This is my house. ♪ ....

I put on pajamas.

Yes, these are my new pajamas.

Because I’m a girl playing this game.

It was roughly 11:00 pm.

I slept until the morning....

Good night.

 

~

 

And in my dreams.... I was escorting someone.... a woman and child, I think.

It was a dangerous time and place. Near to the castle.

I had to protect them....

A laser was targeting us—But we made it out of range....

Safe for the moment, and for the moment only. We were near to one of the gatehouses.

I could see something.... there near the castle....

There on the base of one of the rock pillars supporting the bridge over the moat... was that.... could that be.... some kind of opening into an inner part?

And on the bridge....

A Golden Lynel.

I had only heard of them in rumor.

But I had to get these people to safety.

Did they go on ahead? Did I send them? Or were they spooked by something?

Did they dash into the gatehouse too quickly? But there were Malice Mouths in there!

Or did a new laser find us?

They moved ahead to where I had thought that they would be safe, because I was busy fending off whatever was behind us, whatever was coming.... but something happened, something new, something spotted our movements.

No!

I was supposed to look after them. I couldn’t let them be hurt.

I had to save them—

Please no—

I had to keep them safe—

 

Castle Goods, COD

Waking of Saturday, March 23, 2019 ~ 2

Castle Goods, COD

I looked back at the castle. The current had carried me far to the west. When—

What? There were.... more Luminous stones? There on the more western side of the castle’s back. I could see them glowing in a little clump.

Did that mean another entrance? Another secret passage?

And what was that hole in the wall over there? Was that real? Or a trick of the polygons? For the polygons had tricked me before, over great, unresolved distances....

I considered the distant gleaming, but.... I had just been INSIDE THE CASTLE.

I had just escaped being inside the castle.

Never mind. I was hungry and my body was tired or it should have been.

I would go to Woodland Stable.

....

No, first.... I pulled up my Sheikah Slate, scoped in on the questionable spot, and tested placing a beacon through it.

The ascending light shaft broke through one of the great stone shelves of the castle’s island.

That was a hole in the wall....

What could it be....?

....

Later.

I hoofed it to Woodland and spoke to Kish, asking him to gimme Memory. It seemed appropriate.

Rode Memory to Riverside Stable, just going by sight mostly. Didn’t even stop for the Korok at Thims Bridge. I did stop for Leekah, though. Like I do.... That poor girl....

I got to Riverside eventually, and boarded Memory with Ember. Good lookin’ guy.

Gotter and Parcy were here, but.... it was raining. I couldn’t cook the royal recipes for Gotter. But I could still visit with Parcy in the Stable.

I showed her the Royal Guard’s Sword.

She was amazed.

So amazed in fact that she gave me 300 rupees for the privilege.

Well that was right dandy!

Then she asked if I’d be willing to trade it for a sapphire.

Dude. Do you know where I went to get this?

I declined.

It was late. I decided I may as well sleep off the rain. I could cook in the morning. Hopefully the wok would be lit....

Ember gave me a bed and I had Blood Moon dreams....

Woke up.

Wok’s not lit.

It wasn’t even raining.

I didn’t have time for this.

I SHOT A FIRE ARROW AT IT.

This startled Gotter, who was standing hard by.

I made a fruitcake. Wheat, sugar, one Wildberry and one Hearty Durian.

(It seemed to be a super-food, as indicated by the extra music and Link’s salivatory anticipation animation.)

Hhhh, and I’d only had two wheats.

That’s okay.

I gave it to Gotter.

“Fruit cake said to have been eaten by the Princess of Hyrule! How can I describe this experience?” he mused as he tried it. “A refreshing aroma reminiscent of galloping across these majestic planes on horseback...”

SSSSSIIIIICCCCC. Planes. Lol.

“No, that undersells the dish’s complexity,” he went on, “It fills me with that heart-thumping intensity that seizes your very soul when you’re spotted by a Guardian!”

Oh gosh I hoped not.

“A truly elegant dish! I never thought I would taste something quite so thrilling.”

And then he told me he must express his gratitude.... and he gave me 100 rupees.

Awesome.

Now for the Chancellor’s dish. Monster Cake—

Oh.... but the quest banner flashed across the screen and said Complete.

....

Maybe I’d make it anyway. Or another fruitcake. For me.

I talked to Gotter to see what he had to say.

“Recipes of the Hyrulean royal family... If there are more of them out there, I’d like to try them.”

Okay then!

One Monster Cake, comin’ up.

There went my last wheat, my second to last sugar, one of only a handfull of butter, and one of another handful of monster exract.

Monster cake!

Said to have been a favorite of the minster of Hyrule.

How had I guessed this recipe correctly when I made it on the first try for Hunnie?

“It tastes...beautiful... How can I put it into words?” said Gotter, “It’s like biting into a Chuchu...”

The heck?? XD XD

“No, no, that would be disgusting and dangerous. It stimulates the brain, much like being pummeled by a Hinox!”

Heh, I like this guy’s way with words. XD

“A truly elegant dish! I never thought I would taste something quite so thrilling,” he repeated, and gave me 100 rupees again.

Nice.

And when I spoke to him again....

“I think I’ll continue to practice my cooking on unsuspecting inn patrons like yourself.”

And that was all.

Heh, good luck, Gotter.

....

I’m going to Hateno to hang up these rare weapons.

Took out Knight.... rode, rode.... Man, rescuing people is a hassle. But I can’t not do it....

I finally get near Hateno, and.... fighting the dang silver Bokoblin what was attacking those sisters.... my weapon shattered.

WAIT.

WHAT.

....

“Your Royal Guard’s Sword broke!”?

NO. NOPE. It was still equipped after talking to Parcy. Nope. I am reloading.

Back to Riverside. Give Gotter the second dish over again.

Just warp to Hateno.

Do. And display all the Royal Guard’s Crap in the center of their respective walls. Bow, Sword, and Shield.

9:50 am. Sleep ‘til noon.

G’NIGHT EVERYBODY!

Goodbye, Memories

Waking of Sunday, November 26, 2017 ~ 5

Goodbye, Memories

I WISHED ALL THESE MYSTICAL ENTITIES WOULD STOP CURSING MY ELECTRONICS.

I turned the TV back on.

But Embry the stablehand didn’t have anything else to say anyway.

Well shoot.

Well....

On to the Wetland Stable, then. That was where I’d first heard tell of this beast between my legs. Quince. That was the man’s name.

I would have to go see Quince....

We plunged on ahead through the night, the Lord of the Mountain and I. I had not dared spur him above a normal gallop, but I did then, to dodge past a whirling Keese flock. And he hearted at me after I soothed him then.

We weren’t stopping for anything.

I hoped the rain would let up....

We made it to the Riverside Stable, but I couldn’t stop there, and still we pressed on toward the Wetland Stable. And Quince....

I spurred him again and was shocked and flummoxed to notice that HIS SPEED CAME BACK IMMEDIATELY.

I KNEW HE WAS POWERFUL FOR THE FIVE WHIPCRACKS HE DISPLAYED BUT I COULDN’T PRESS THEM FAST ENOUGH BEFORE THE FIRST ONE JUST REPLENISHED ITSELF.

I SOOTHED HIM AND HE LOVED ME AGAIN.

WHAT EVEN WAS THIS BLUE SHADOWFAX CREATURE THAT COULD SPRINT FOREVER?

We passed Doctor Spoone between Horwell and Eagus Bridges. Interestingly enough he had nothing to say of my four-eyed alien mount, but he did educate me that Naydra’s scale could cure any illness—the only problem was that Lanayru Mountain, where Naydra dwelt, was just so cold....

Well, thanks, Doc! I had to be on my way.

We passed more people—Tye and Sorelia’s camp was blessedly at peace—

And THERE WAS THE WETLAND STABLE.

However Lawdon, the resident stablehand, gave me much the same reaction as Embry had.

Hmph. ò.O

Where was Quince?

Probably sleeping. It was about 3:00 am when I got there.

I waited for him to wake up.

And looked at my clock....

And watched the time tick slowly by....

And swiveled the camera....

And studied the Lord of the Mountain....

And looked at the stable and all its satellite structures....

And glanced at the sky....

And peered about the landscape....

And peeked inside the stable from the Lord of the Mountain’s back and could see the slumbering masses on the beds in there I NEEDED TO TALK TO QUINCE—WAKE UP ALREADY, QUINCE!

I trotted around, admiring how the sun-colored hooves lit up the grass.

And what was that tinkling sound like tiny metal chimes?

Hanging on by only a hank of ethereal, light blue hair along the spine.

So precarious.

And the sun had risen, and people were moving.

Which one was Quince?

He would pair up with the dog, and they would stand near the woods to gaze at Satori Mountain....

And they DID—I moved in. Got close enough....!

TARGET.

A.

“I wonder what’ll happen today...” Quince said.

WAT—okay despite my immensely deep appreciation at seeing that sentence written with the proper punctuation—no no no no Quince, can’t you see I’m riding your great Blue Beast? Ah, perhaps it’s because he’s on the move, I thought.

And I waited for him to come to a standstill.

And when I spoke to him again....

“What the—seriously? Another guy?” he said. And he went on to lament that there were no girls around here. Just guys. “And when we finally were visited by a Zora, turned out it was just some manly prince guy who’s a dude,” he finished.

I.... admitted a snicker at the funny old line but QUINCE DON’T GIMME THAT I CAUGHT YOUR FRIGGIN’ BEAST WHY WON’T THE STABLES LET ME—

HHHHUUHHHHHHHH.

Wait.

Maybe if I let him tell me about his dog. Like he did before.

And I prompted him to speak at length about how he had gone to the mountain to hunt, and how he’d met Satty (Ah, yes, Satty, not Natty; and Satty was a boy....), and how Satty had protected him from the Blue Beast, and how they’d made their getaway—

“Someday I’d like to go back there and give that glowing beast a piece of my mind!” he asserted. Or something like it.

He said this to me as I sat on the back of said glowing beast.

Uh. -_-

Well, there was nothing for it then but to zip over to the Home menu and upload the ridiculous screenshot to Miiverse.

And I was saddened to discover that Miiverse . . . . had gone.

All the pictures I’d taken.

Well honestly I hadn’t taken very many. Less than twenty I’d say.

But....

They were memories.

I berated myself for not having downloaded them when I had the chance.

For I’d even thought about including them in this log.

Perhaps not those few from Twilight Princess HD –

– That first magnetic wall-walk. “I’d forgotten just how much fun this game is!” Or some such words.

– The somber, masked trio of ghostly Zora, sick with worry as they searched for their prince. “They care so much for their prince. ;.;” Or some such words. And emoticons.

– The most beautiful picture of all of Kakariko, taken from that high bend in the road where you could see the whole village.... I don’t remember what I may have said about it.

But from Breath of the Wild –

– In the dread, dark rain, on Fort Hateno’s high turrets, overlooking the Valley of Terror—and swearing the lightning was flashing me back, those great lumps still crawling, still glowing, as the water slicked over cloak and skin. Hand to my face and sigh at the thought.

– The IKEA houses of Hateno Village that perked me up that weary, weary night.

– Capturing the lightning strike as I weathered the storm beneath the shelter of that first wetland shrine.

– The beautiful dawn above the empty reaches of Zorana, as the music slithered out of the bare rock to run a chill up my spine.

– Sunset warming the red rocks and lying bright on the pond as I left the Shrine of Mirro Shaz triumphant.

– A rainbow away over green hills and against a brooding sky.

– A drippy sky afire from the top of the Woodland Tower.

– The ledge at the end of the world lit by a Thunderblade.

And others I am sure.

Just.... memories.

They were nothing really earth-shattering I suppose. Just sights. Gorgeous vistas that caught my fancy. It’s too bad I won’t be able to look at them again. They were pretty.

I came back to the game, and realized I did at least still have a pictobox on me.

Well that was something.

....

One for the album, then: I was going to take a self-portrait with the beast.

I.... dismounted.

The Lord of the Mountain.... stayed where he was.

Hooooo. ‘Kay. o__o;

That was good.

And I took out my pictobox and put it up to my face.

But I had left it too zoomed in—a blur of distant greenery, leaves and grass.... I’d need to pull back, turn a bit, zoom out to find the blue beast—

Only as soon as my eyes were off it, the instant it had escaped the frame.... there was a snort, and a whirlwind of hooves.... and then....

The Lord of the Mountain was gone.

Well that just iced my 糟糕。

Guess it was like a leprechaun—you look away and they vanish.

.... I woulda called him Lucky.

I putter-putter-puttered in the dismal loss of Miiverse and the loosing of my fine wild Janus Owl Moth Horse.

How could I waste more time.... -_-

No, but I needed to be responsible. I had a full week ahead of me after all.

But I didn’t want to end on such an abysmal note....

....

I knew—I would just try to find that silver Bokoblin again.

I’d seen him on my mad dash over here, between the Outskirt and Riverside Stables, at a T-junction in the plain.

But rare sight though he was, I hadn’t been stopping for anything, remember?

Not even a Silver Bokoblin.

But I went to find him now.

It wasn’t far; I got there quickly even on foot, and found him capering happily before his campfire, quite alone.

I remembered: on my last pass through here the blue beast and I had mowed down his sole red companion.

Guess he wasn’t all that broken up about it.

Concealed by distance and long grass, I tried the beehive first. One arrow brought it down, and sent the swarm buzzing after the silver Bokoblin in an angry cloud.

He outran them, though.

Next I put on my Bokoblin Mask to approach, and he started at my presence before coming over and proceeding to strike up what seemed to be an engaging conversation with me.

I couldn’t tell; I don’t speak Bokoblin.

He wouldn’t stay put when I tried to take a pictograph—they do that, the baddies, when they see you disguised as one of their own. They like to come in real close and just.... look at you.  O_O  And maybe chat a bit.

The fidgets notwithstanding I was able to get a couple of decent pictographs, and my Compendium outlined what this particular breed might drop upon dispatch—

Ore.

Lots of it, and in the rarest varieties.

....

As I could think of no further way to sport with the creature, I laid him out flat with my Flameblade. Just a regular Flameblade, and it took a lot of damage before I was through—the silver Bokoblin had something like seven hundred and fifty hit points. That was more than many Moblins I’d slain.

But I was not disappointed with the spoils: rubies, topaz, sapphires—I think there may even have been a diamond in there.

And with the camp cleared, the treasure chest on top of the tower unlocked with the familiar boxing-match bell—it always makes David and I laugh—

I couldn’t claim the sword within, however; my inventory was full.

.... Hhhhh ....

It was.... a nice little camp. Not too big. And the field was green and lovely....

But.... it was getting late. In the game and on the couch.

Sometimes the days just blow out with a murmur, and you still feel lost and unfulfilled.

I sat by the fire until morning, saved, and quit, and got ready for the week.

Riding the Dragon

Waking of Thursday, May 25, 2017

Riding the Dragon

Hm, maybe I’m getting too in-depth with these entries. I feel like they might be stressing me out. Maybe I’ll try and sparse ‘em up like they were at the beginning....

I warped to the Dueling Peaks Tower, paraglided through the rain over to Giro’s Woods, and made my way back to Deya Village Ruins. It didn’t take too long to recolate the Two Statues memory. Luckily the sun had come out by then, and I was able to get a few decent pictographs.

A wonderfully scudded sky blew indecisive sun and shadow over the hill as I remembered....

But in my memory.... it was raining after all.

Zelda sat beneath the tree, beside the statues. “This won’t let up any time soon,” she said.

I was standing. Moving. Honing my skill. My sword was in my hands, and I cut and sliced through various stances, ending on a deep exhale as I brought the blade in before me.

“Do you ever wonder if you’ll wake up one day and realize you’re not a fighter?”

I didn’t.... quite understand.

I think I still don’t understand. What she was talking about.

Of all the memories I had revisited, I recall this one the least vividly. Perhaps because there was one thing she said that seemed to blot out all others—so strong, I don’t even remember the way she worded it. Just the raw concept rings in my mind:

She said I take after my father.

I have a father.

I was born into a house of the Royal Guard. It had been expected all my life that I would become a Knight.

Then why was Princess Zelda saying these things....?

I took after my father, I had great skill, prowess....

“It’s no wonder that you would be the chosen one,” she said.

Chosen one?

It was always expected that I would become a Knight.

That was how I was raised.

“But if you had been told that your entire life....” she said.

Why did she look so.... sad?

“Do you think you would have chosen a different path?”

Why did she look so sad?

I came back to myself in the half-sun, took a few more pictographs, forgot to scare up the Korok that would have photobombed them, and moved on.

Now that I was so close to it again, I really was curious about that huge, dark-stoned bridge. I climbed the tree over the Two Statues, and leapt from its branches to paraglide across the river toward it....

I bypassed the bokoblin’s treehouse and went for the bridge’s north end. The Bridge of Hylia it was called. An impressive structure.

But the whole time as I crossed it, I kept looking over the edge, and straining my ears for that beautiful erhu.... Where was Farosh? Wouldn’t he rise? He did for David....

I had a brief party with three Lizalfos in the middle of the bridge, and a troublesome scuffle with their stal-counterparts at the south end, and some stalbokoblins. Nearly knocked me off into the lake! That annoying one with the swinging spear....

But I put them all down, and considered the nearby Sheikah Tower....

Nnnnnghyeahhh I would do the tower north of Upland Zorana first. I was pretty sure that would show me Akkala.

But while I was on the bridge I decided to climb up on top of the south bridge-tower just because of.... curiosity.

“That’s a good reason,” David affirmed.

As I climbed onto the last parapet—“Hey there’s an updraft!” I said. It had blown up out of nowhere.

“That’s because—!” David started, but he didn’t need to continue.

As I got on top, Farosh was right there, twining before my eyes!

“Isn’t that a sight!” I beamed.

I remembered—how David had said he’d encountered a simliar updraft when Farosh flew by, and followed it out of curiosity. How he’d said he’d gotten too close to Farosh, and been zapped by one of his little lightning balls.

Well, the next time Farosh came around, erhu in tow, I decided that.... I wanted to see where that updraft would take me too!

I leapt after Farosh and it was a turbulent affair! Getting close! LIGHTNING BALLS! Dodging, dodging—and how he twined all about! And I was too low and he was above me! And there were so many lightning balls! Beeeennnding to the right to follow his course—and I zipped around one lightning ball so close I thought for sure I’d had it—

And then Farosh dipped lower—I was weaving, darting, dodging and—wonder of wonders—I got above his back.

Maybe it was just the lightning balls that were dangerous. Maybe he’d acknowledge me somehow if I actually made contact....

Now or never—I let go of my paraglider.

SIZZLE.

I bounced off his back with a painful choking sound.

But his back was still beneath me.

SIZZLE. “Hlck!”

I bounced again as he continued in his perfect, sinuous course.

SIZZLE. “Agck!”

Bounce.

SIZZLE. “Gmff!”

Bounce.

SIZZLE. “Hrack!”

Bounce.

“Oh my gosh, Farosh! Let me OFF!” If I could just tip down over his flank—

“It doesn’t keep hurting you!” David pointed out. And I looked at my hearts. I was down one from those stal-fiends on the bridge, but I wasn’t going down any further.

SIZZLE. “GYAAAH!”

That was so comforting.

Farosh’s long, long body and tail finally passed out from under me and I fell through the cool, soothing air, and parachuted toward a little dock on the central southern shore. “I RODE THE DRAGON!” I cheered. 8D

“I wouldn’t exactly call that riding,” said David.

I warped to the Bosh Kala Shrine—the shrine by Proxim Bridge—and had a nice visit with Brigo. He wasn’t so skittish this time, but dutifully patrolled the bridge, as it constituted part of an important route.

After that I decided to chase down a beacon I had left in my scope—I had placed it on a shrine just a little north of Proxim Bridge, between Proxim Bridge and the Floret Sandbar.

And heading north from Proxim Bridge, sporting with a few octoroks and a rich little camp of bokoblins, I came upon the Riverside Stable.

So this was the Riverside Stable that bored kid at the Wetland Stable had mentioned!

A couple of people spoke to me, such that I gained a couple of new sidequests:

Gotter, a food connoisseur who was strangely obsessed with beauty and whose grandfather’s grandfather had been the Royal Family’s chef, asked whether, if I ever got inside Hyrule Castle, would I please keep my eyes out for a cookbook?

“Gotter.... you nuts,” I said, and fled inside the stable, where I met Parcy.

She told me she used to sneak inside the castle all the time for all the cool treasure there.

ò__O ????

But no longer, ever since it had become so dangerous.

But she asked me, if I ever went inside the castle—what was wrong with these people?—would I keep my eyes out for the Royal Guards’ gear?

Hey, I was a Royal Guard—you filchin’ my stuff, Parcy?

I spoke to the innkeep, thinking maybe I’d just take a little nap. His name was Ember.

Huh, Embry had been the name of the one at the Outskirt Stable.... I hadn’t been keeping track otherwise. Were all their names somewhat similar?

It was in the nine o’clock hour. I slept until noon.

It was overcast when I woke up.