Jet returned to the area where Zelda and Link were sitting, eagerly eating the Guay. He sat down, saying nothing. He looked into the fire, and suddenly wondered where he had gone wrong. He sat, head in his knees for awhile, thinking to himself. He raised his head and looked around slowly. Zelda had removed her mask of bandages and let her hair down. She now stared straight at Jet. It made him uncomfortable, but at the same time it made him feel better. He was now confused. He looked down again.
“Hey… where’s Kari?” Link asked, knowing full well what Jet was going to tell him.
“She’s… gone now…. forever… we… both wanted different things. But hey, I’m fine! Gimme some of that bird Link! Serve me up a big ol’ helping! I’m hungry tonight,” Jet said in a happy tone.
“Jet… are you okay?” Zelda asked in a concerned tone.
“Yeah man, you sure you’re okay?” Link asked, reinforcing Zelda’s question.
“Hey… I said I was fine… happy even… I’m single now,” Jet said cocking an eyebrow, trying very hard to seem happy, and pulling it off splendidly.
“Heh okay. You sure are good at handling bad things. I admire that. Seriously,” Link said, handing Jet a piece of the Guay.
“Yeah….really good at it,” Zelda repeated, staring at the fire.
“So… when are we goin to set out again? I wanna see more of Hyrule… it’s so amazing! This has got to be the most beautiful place I have ever been to,” Jet said in an excited tone.
“ There is a lot more I can show you. I think I’ll take you to Kokiri forest and lake Hylia tomorrow. You should like those places. Quiet and bright with just a hint of darkness around the edges. Kinda fits you,” Link said.
“ Lets go there tomorrow then!” Jet said with excitement.
“Okay… but now lets get some sleep,” Link said, yawning.
“Yeah… tomorrow we’ll go there…. good night,” Zelda said.
“Good night….”Jet said quietly, still thinking about this nights events.
Jet had many dreams that night, dreams about Kari, dreams about all the new places he finally had a chance to see, and dreams of Ganon, of the evil threat that was moving to kill them.
He awoke, weak and in pain. He had no idea how his relationship had gone wrong so suddenly. A single tear dripped down his cheek, hitting the grass without a sound. But he thought to himself again. He believed that everything happened for a reason. He would not cry over Kari again.
“I knew you weren’t happy,” Zelda called out from behind him.
“How so? I’m perfectly happy. Just can’t sleep,” Jet said, hiding behind the fake tone again.
“I saw it in your eyes. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve seen your cool exterior crack and those hard blue eyes show any hint of humanity. It relieved me,” Zelda said, sitting by Jet.
“It hurts…a lot,” Jet said, sighing.
“I can’t say that I know what it’s like, because I’ve never been in love, and I’ve never had my heart broken,” Zelda said quietly.
“Neither have I…until tonight, anyway,” Jet answered to the statement.
“I’m sorry. I see you cared greatly for her. But…there are other people out there Jet,” Zelda said, avoiding eye contact.
“Yeah, but I really dunno if I’ll ever be able to love anyone again,” he said, hiding his head in his hands.
“I’m gonna try to sleep again. Good night, or good morning or whatever,” Jet said, lying back down.
When morning came Jet was well aware of it. A cucco, the Hylian chicken, crowed very loudly in Kakoriko Village, and its sound echoed all over Hyrule by unknown means. Link had slept well, and was now pacing around the circle of rocks quickly, wanting to head to Lake Hylia.
“There is the greatest fishing spot over by Lake Hylia,” Link began.
“I’m listening,” Jet said, his hands on his waist.
“It’s a pretty well open place. It’s surrounded by stone walls but there’s no roof, so even when it’s raining you can go fishin’ and enjoy nature to the fullest. Ah it’s a great place to go to blow off some steam,” Link said, exhaling loudly.
“Yeah…that sounds cool and all, but…,” Jet began.
“But?” Link asked curiously.
“Could you show me some of those sword moves?” Jet asked sheepishly.
“I thought you’d never ask. Some of them? Heck, I’m gonna make you a Knight!” Link said, unsheathing his blade and twirling it around proudly.
“Yeah, but…I’m unarmed,” Jet said nervously.
“So?” Link asked, slashing the air with his sword.
“Don’t hurt him, Link. He’s new to this,” Zelda said in a worried tone.
“Zelda, is that you? Why be worried? He’s a grown man. He’ll make it,” Link said, laughing.
“Well…never mind,” Zelda said, blushing.
“Ha. Okay. Anyway, come over here, Jet. Let’s start with unarmed evasive maneuvers,” Link said.
“…K,” Jet said.
Link then began to teach Jet several moves, from the proper back flip to a forward roll. They eventually moved on to the tree in front of Lon Lon Ranch. Breaking several branches off, Link took one in his hand and wielded it like a blade.
“Take one. This is your first step in moving to a sword,” Link said, twirling the stick around.
“All right. Now what?” Jet asked, grabbing the stick tightly in his hand.
“Now you fight in rhythm. The key is to not pay attention to the blade. Look at your opponent’s eyes. Straight into them. That’s how you anticipate an attack. Now attack me,” Link said calmly.
Jet rushed forward quickly slashing Link with the stick. Link countered easily, and jabbed Jet in the chest with the stick. He fell to the ground, out of breath.
“That’s a perfect way to lose,” Link began.
“How so?” Jet asked.
“Hmph…You struck angrily and way too quickly. Now fight in rhythm, one…two…three,” Link said, starting to fight in rhythm to the numbers he said. They fought awkwardly at first, then Jet began to make eye contact with Link, and the battle went much smoother. The two sticks now came together rhythmically, and the two fighters both appeared very skilled.
Jet was catching on quickly, and indeed he would very soon be able to take out weaker opponents with the sword skills he was learning.
The two continued their clash for several moments, then Link spun around and hit Jet in the arm with the stick.
“What was that for?” Jet asked, surprised.
“I did it to teach you one thing. When you fight with a sword, ninety-nine percent of the time your opponent will have one, too. That means sooner or later you’re gonna get cut. Most people when they first get hit just…freeze. And I’m tryin’ to make you get used to the idea of getting hit,” Link answered.
“Oh, okay…makes sense,” Jet said, shrugging off the matter.
“Again!” Link yelled.
Jet moved forward, hitting the stick against Link’s again, still in perfect rhythm. Link taught him how to parry, and the jump attack. After several hours Jet collapsed.
“Okay…a little intense…but I feel stronger,” Jet gasped out in between breaths.
Zelda sat beside him. Link and Jet had been training all day, and Jet was completely wasted physically. She looked at his face. His blue eyes were closed, sweat streaming down his face, his blonde hair wet and matted down from perspiration.
“So that was your first time?” Zelda asked.
“…Yeah…and it wasn’t even a real sword…I’m gonna be a great warrior,” Jet said, his face turning red.
“You will…I see it in your eyes. You have the eyes of a leader. Cold and unconcerning on the outside, deep and caring on the inside,” Zelda said.
Jet then looked at her. For the first time she saw his eyes filled with care and compassion. She was absorbed by his gaze and forgot everything.
“Kari wasn’t right for you,” she said suddenly, in spite of herself.
“What?” Jet asked, surprised at how suddenly she spoke.
“Nothing…We should be going,” Zelda said, getting up quickly and walking away.
“Hey, Jet, lets go to Lon Lon Ranch and take a break. You earned it,” Link said.
The ranch was a very large area, a green field with a large fence in the middle. Many horses ran through the field, some fenced in, some free. Of the free horses were Epona, and Link mounted her quickly, quickly going around the ranch.
“Link can be rude like that sometimes,” Zelda said, looking at Jet.
“Nah, it’s fine,” Jet said, returning her gaze.
“I’m sorry about him. Let me show you around. I’ll show you my horse later,” Zelda said, smiling warmly.
“All right,” Jet said, smiling back and following closely behind her.
They walked past the green field and into a small area between two houses. Normally it would make a great spot for shade from the sun, but on this day Ingo the ranch worker was rebuilding the roof of the stable and sunshine poured through the gaping holes. Jet shielded his eyes.
“The house that Ingo is working on is the stable. That’s where my horse and all of the cows are. We can go there later. The one on the left is Talon and Malon’s house. That’s where we’re going,” Zelda said cheerfully.
“All right. You know this place better than me,” Jet said, following Zelda into the house.
“Ah, Zelda. Hiya your highness. And who is this? A friend?” the man asked.
“Yes. We met him in our travels. His name is Jet,” Zelda said, pushing him through the doorway.
“Hey. You are…Talon?” Jet asked.
:Yesiree bob, and this is my daughter, Malon,” Talon said.
Jet looked the two Hylians up and down. Talon was short, and wore a red shirt with blue overalls and patched up holes in several areas. He was mostly bald, and had a large mustache with round red cheeks.
“Hee haw! Well come here now! I’m gonna give you the finest Lon Lon milk we have to offer,” Talon said in his cheery tone.
Jet looked at Malon. She seemed about the same age as Link and Zelda, and wore a tan dress with blue designs on the bottom. She wore the same type of boots as her father, and also had the same smile. Her eyes were green and her hair was as red as fire. She spoke “Zelda, Jet, come over here and sit down,”
“All right….,” Jet said, following her to the table. She handed him a bottle full of white milk labeled in the Hylian language, of which Jet could read very little. He very carefully removed the cork, and sniffing the milk cautiously, put the bottle to his mouth and drank.
“Wow…. It is better than the stuff on Earth,” Jet muttered, almost speechless from the taste.
“That’s because of the wonderful cows we breed up here,” Malon said cheerfully.
“Haha! Hey Malon, why don’t you show Jet the stable! Ingo should be done with replacing the roof by now,” Talon said.
So Zelda and Jet went out of Talon’s house, and indeed Ingo was done repairing the roof, so the two went inside the stable.
The area had a woody scent to it, and sawdust shavings were lying on the dirt ground. Jet walked over to one side of the stable. There three of the cows Malon spoke of stood, eating hay. They were very nice looking cows with clean hair and a good weight. Jet’s attention was drawn to the horses. One horse was white with black eyes, and it seemed to glow.
“What’s this one’s name?” Jet asked Zelda.
“Her name is Moonlight. For as long as I can remember this has been my horse. She’s very old, but incredibly fast,” Zelda said, rubbing the horse’s mane.
“She’s… very beautiful,” Jet said.
“Thanks….,” Zelda said, slightly nervous.
“So… will I ever get to see the castle?” Jet asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah…. Hey can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, sure,” Jet said.
“Your real name isn’t Jet is it?” Zelda asked.
“Nah…it’s William. William James Prescott. I started calling myself Jet after my parents died. I always had to steal food and clothes real quick, so people would call me Jet. I guess the name just kinda stuck with me,” Jet answered.
“William…. Pretty name if you ask me,” Zelda said, staring at Jet.
“Thanks….. for everything,” Jet said slowly, gazing at Zelda.
“Hey, there’s trouble… we have to go,” Link said, entering the stable out of breath.