A Stable Relationship

A Stable Relationship

 

Malon looked around in awe at the splendor of Hyrule Castle. “Are...Are you SURE the Princess asked for me?" she asked, thinking back to the shock she had felt when a royal messenger had arrived at her farm.



“Yes,” the guard escorting her answered very quickly, in a sharp, clipped tone. The whole way to the castle they hadn’t said a word to her about why she was summoned, or anything thing at all beyond the fact that Princess Zelda had specified her by name. The farm girl could feel her heart pounding hard in her chest. She couldn’t help but worry that maybe she had unknowingly committed some sort of major crime, and was going to receive her sentencing directly from the Princess herself! She quickly pushed that thought aside, though. She couldn’t have done anything. She spent so much of her time working, she didn't have time in her life for nearly anything else; she didn't have time to do anything that could even accidentally break a law. And even then, something like this wouldn’t make sense if she had. She'd have been arrested, not summoned and escorted. All this was too small...almost like they wanted it kept a secret.



A thousand thoughts like these were all buzzing around in her mind, so she barely noticed when her escort suddenly came to a very abrupt stop. “The Princess will explain the…” The guard paused for a second, clearing his throat. “The...problem...to you herself.”



The expression on his face was imposable to read. It was the same stony look that all the very well-trained guards wore all the time. But there was a hint of something that flashed for a second, that seemed almost like desire. Malon may have been the perfect example of the naïve farm girl, but even then, she knew enough about animal husbandry to tell that whatever the “problem” with the Princess was, the guard didn’t see it as such. The guard departed, leaving Malon alone in front of the large, finely carved door. Tentatively, she knocked lightly. Several tense moments of silence passed, and than she heard the distinctive clopping of hooves against a hard surface.



(Why is there a horse in the place?) Malon wondered. The thought temporarily broke her out of her wonder and confusion.



“Who is it?" a soft, melodious voice called out from behind the door. It sounded like gold, if the substance were given voice. She was awestruck for several seconds by the sheer beauty of the voice alone.



“It...It is I, Malon, th-the farmer girl you sent for, Majesty,” she said, curtsying, only to realize that there was no way her action would have been seen. She blushed faintly, and was very glad that, too, was hidden by the door.



“You may enter,” the golden voice called out again, sounding slightly..."tarnished" was the word that fit it best.



Malon opened the door, and, like so many countless others across Hyrule, she fell in love with the Princess at first sight. She had seen many paintings of her and always thought the ruler must surely be the most beautiful in Hyrule, but none had done justice to the splendor that she truly had. Malon slowly looked her over, not really believing the sight in front of her. The Princess had skin so fair it seemed like the freshest milk, and hair as brilliant as the freshest hay in the noon sunlight. Her face seemed almost too perfect to be real, like a character from a story book brought to life. Silken white arm-length gloves did nothing to obscure the perfectly dainty and elegant hands they covered. The paintings Malon had seen the Princess in had only ever shown her in a lovely dress of white and purple, but now she was wearing a fetching white blouse with purple embroidery, which showed that her figure was gorgeous as well--thin, but hardly frail, with (and here Malon could not help but blush at even taking notice) small but perky breasts. But the thing that perhaps stood out the most was how soft and luxurious her flanks looked, the powerful muscles rippling just beneath the ivory hide, complimented by silvery hooves...



Malon took a few seconds to fully process what she had just seen, and now she couldn’t help but see the full picture. There was a slick and magnificent horse standing there, perhaps the most perfect specimen Malon's experienced ranch eye had ever beheld, and an impossibly beautiful princess not next to it, but a part of it. Malon looked her over again. The royal woman's slender waist seamlessly contacted where the horse’s neck would normally be, but it somehow, it did not look out of place. Rather, it seemed to fit so perfectly that it would seem almost wrong for it to be any other way.



Malon stood, completely unable to speak even as the Princess trotted toward her. “I thank you for coming so quickly and with so little explanation, Malon. I feel this situation is strange and serious enough to get straight to the point, so you will, I hope, forgive me for omitting further pleasantries. I was researching some very old magic the night before last, and...” Zelda paused for a moment, leaning forward to gently close Malon’s gaping mouth. “My memory gets hazy after that. Something unexpected happened, of that I am sure, but I remember only waking up in my room as you now see me.”



Malon couldn’t think of anything to say. She was just too overwhelmed. To a girl who had rarely even been beyond the confines of Lon Lon Ranch before, the lavish decorations of the throne room alone would have been enough to render her almost speechless in their finery. The beauty of the princess, and the strangeness of it all, completely took her aback. Zelda was gracious enough to wait patiently for her to gather her thoughts.



After several moments, Malon had managed to collect herself, and spoke. “Wh-What exactly is it that you wanted with me, Princess? I-I mean, how can I serve, Your Highness? I m-mean, what is the wish of h-her royal majesty?” she asked in a very low, humble tone, floundering for how to properly address her ruler and the most beautiful creature she'd ever laid eyes on.



Zelda waved her hand. “Please, there is no need to be formal. It will only get in the way of our communication, and there will be little place for formality between us in what I ask of you,” she said in a soft tone. “It is well known that Lon Lon Ranch holds the greatest experts on equines in all the land, and it is my understanding that of those who labor at the ranch, you have the greatest understanding for the creatures in your care. I find myself at a loss for how to function in this new form. It was my hope that you could aid me in caring for myself and performing my tasks as I am now, until I can find a way to undo this magic, which may, though I hope not, take considerable time,” she said, gesturing down at her altered body.



For a split second, Malon thought that as beautiful as the princess must have been when she was a normal Hylian, it would be a shame for her to change back and lose such a magnificent form. But it was gone in an instant. “A-Alright, um...I...I guess I should start by giving you a looking-over,” Malon said, feeling a bit of confidence starting to build. After all, if there was one thing that she knew, it was animal care...even if this was a bit different than normal. "If that is...acceptable to Your Highness..."



"Zelda. My name is Zelda, and I wish you to call me by it, and it alone. You are a caretaker to me, now, which is as intimate an acquaintance as I have ever known. Why, just this first request of yours as such is by itself far too personal to allow for formality."



Malon gulped. "I'm s--I apologize, Pr--Zelda," she stammered. It still didn't feel right to address her so casually.



Zelda bowed her head with a smile. "Thank you. And yes, please go ahead."

Malon ran her hand along the side of the princess's inhuman body, focusing as her touch gently examined the soft, light pelt and powerful equine musculature beneath. The warmth of her hand sent an odd thrill through the princess, who took a small breath. The beautiful woman dismissed it as just being unprepared for what another human's touch against her new body would feel like, since this was the first time that someone had laid hands on her since the change, but this rationalization didn't make the pleasant shock go away. Focusing on the princess as she was, Malon did not miss Princess Zelda's reaction, but she said nothing about it.



“Well...I don't know for sure, of course, with this kind of situation, but it seems like you're in fine shape...considering your condition, that is,” Malon told her princess. That was an understatement...Princess Zelda's equine side was so strong, healthy, fit, and well-endowed that Malon knew she could even give Epona a run for her money.



She got down and started checking her legs. Malon’s heart was beating as fast as it was when she was worried that she might be executed, but for a completely different reason. (I know she's beautiful, but why am I getting so excited from this? Just looking at her face and her human body makes my heart race, but...but examining this part of her is doing the same thing!) Malon had been around horses all her life and had always loved them, but this was different. The intense attraction that she felt for the human half of the woman before her was mixing with the intense admiration for the fine horse figure the princess owned, creating a strange new feeling, an attraction that was strengthened by and merged with her professional appreciation.



Zelda kept glancing down at the farm girl whose hands were gently caressing her. She was very simple, yet uniquely pretty at the same time. Her skin was very slightly tanned from long hours in the sun and her deep chestnut hair seemed almost like finely polished wood. Her eyes seemed to hold simple, carefree, natural joy within them no matter what expression she wore. Zelda noticed her firm muscles in particular, impressed with how strong she must be while still being undeniably feminine. Zelda was familiar with women with such visible strength thanks to her maid Impa, but even though Malon's toned body was only slightly less muscular than Impa's, she still looked like the quintessential demure, girlish maiden. And although Zelda would never let her eyes drift to improper places, Malon's well-proportioned breasts, which were just peeking out of the loose-fitting shirt, certainly made her look all the more a lady regardless of her strength.



Malon gently ran her hands down one of Zelda’s legs, gently brushing her hoof. She couldn’t help but notice that it felt a bit smoother than she was used to. “Well, for one thing, you’ll need some shoes, to keep your hooves in good shape. If you're going to be spending time like this, then going around without shoes will be very bad for your hooves. I know nothing of magic, so please forgive me if this is foolish, but it might be bad for your feet when you change back if your hooves get messed up,” she said, trying not to think of some horses that she had seen that had gone unshod for too long. It would be especially a tragedy for the Princess, for such beautiful, unblemished silver hooves to be harmed.



“Umm...I’d...kind of like to check your waist?” Malon asked, sounding a bit unsure and gesturing toward the spot where Zelda's torso joined with the horse half.



Zelda nodded and said, “Of course. Let’s continue this in my bed chambers.”



Malon was lead through a twisting series of hallways, until they arrived at another large set of doors. Zelda pushed them open, revealing a room that was easily as big as the barn on Lon-Lon Ranch. The whole room was filled with plush furniture and objects of great finery, with huge windows that filled the room with soft, warm light.



Zelda had the faintest hint of a blush as she toyed with the hem of the blouse for a moment. She seemed unable to decide on something. Then, with in a decisive fashion, she unbuttoned the top and removed it completely. For a second, Malon nearly passed out from surprise; she had expected the Princess to lift the fancy shirt a little, not remove it altogether! But Zelda seemed to think that it would be simpler for Malon to examine her uninhibited.



Before she continued her examination, Malon could not help but let her gaze settle on Zelda's chest. The royal woman's bra, which was a deep purple color (how had it not shown through the blouse? The blouse must have been specially made to block even darker fabrics underneath), was very simple and quite modest, but its rounded shape and proportions could not hide the fact that it must hold breasts so lovely they could be called a treasure. Malon had to force her eyes and imagination away from Princess Zelda's chest, and she let her eyes lower slowly. Silky white skin melded with the ivory coat so perfectly that it was very hard to tell where one truly began and the other ended. Malon gulped as she ran a finger against Zelda's waist, marveling at how soft her skin was, while Zelda couldn’t help but notice the slight roughness of the calluses on Malon’s fingers. So slender and soft-looking, yet they were strong and self-assured.



Malon traced her fingers all the way around Zelda’s waist. “I haven’t found anything wrong yet,” she said. Even though this was considerably different than an exam she had ever done before, she was very confident in her knowledge. A horse was a horse, even when it was also a beautiful woman, after all. "From all appearances, your horse half is perfectly healthy and hearty, and the connection between you and it is basically seamless. If I'd never seen any paintings of you, I'd have a hard time believing you weren't born like this. It all seems totally natural."



She stopped for a second, hoping that the Princess wouldn't be offended to hear of this strange condition as seeming "natural." Of course it must still be very difficult and upsetting to Princess Zelda. But she didn't seem to mind, so Malon continued. “I need to listen to your heart, next,” she said, the nervousness she had felt earlier dieing away and being slowly replaced with the arousal that she kept trying to push away to the back of her mind.



Zelda nodded and asked, "What can I do to help you with this?"



“It’ll be easiest if you're lying down,” Malon told her, considering the difference in heights that existed between them. Zelda went over to her bed, which had been lowered so that she could access it more easily. Even then, it was obvious she found the process awkward and difficult of getting onto the bed without standing on it and damaging it, then lowering herself into a lying position without outright falling onto her side. Something for them to work on together, maybe.



Malon leaned in once Zelda was down and lying comfortably on her side, pressing her head against Zelda’s chest. Her own chest pressed against Zelda’s stomach, and both women tried not to give away the pleasurable jolt the sensation of this intimate connection sent through them. Malon listened intently to Zelda's heart, her head rising and lowering as Zelda breathed deeply. Both women could not help their blush for the minute of comfortable silence.



"You sound fine," Malon said, lifting her head from Princess Zelda's chest, forcing her blush away. "I'm not a doctor, of course, so I don't know for sure, but it sounds alright to me. Now let me check your other one."



"Other one?" Zelda asked, confused.



Malon nodded, and moved lower on Princess Zelda's body, then laid her head against the elegantly powerful equine form. She listened intently for a minute, ignoring the fact that she felt just as thrillingly intimate doing this as she had while listening to Zelda's human heart. She then lifted her head and smiled at Princess Zelda.



"Just as I hoped, your heart down here is working and sounds perfectly healthy. I wanted to make sure you had a heart for both parts of your body...your human heart would get exhausted if it had to work for your whole new body, and your horse's heart would be too powerful to be good for your human half if it had to depend on it. But it looks like both parts of you will take care of themselves just fine without getting in the other's way."



"I see. I wouldn't have thought to worry about that. Very intelligent," the Princess replied. Malon beamed at the praise even as she blushed furiously.



"Th-Thank you...the only thing I'm worried about now is your breathing. I imagine your new half has its own set of lungs, but you still only have one way of taking in air...have you noticed anything with your breath? Do you feel like you're getting enough air? Do you get out of breath, or anything?" Malon questioned.



Zelda thought for a moment, testing her own breathing as she did. A look of surprise came to her beautiful face again. "Now that you mention it...I suddenly realize that I am taking very deep breaths now. Deeper than I've ever taken before, each time I inhale. In fact, I don't think I have ever been able to take in as much air as I'm doing automatically right now. I hadn't even noticed. I haven't felt anything strange about my breathing since the transformation, though...these deeper breaths are automatic, and regular."



Malon watched her closely as she breathed. When she inhaled, her chest rose, but Malon could also see the movement in her lower body that indicated expanding lungs, as well. "Well, it looks like you're automatically taking in enough air for both sets of lungs. In that case, for now, everything seems to be fine. But..." Now that her examination was done and Malon was satisfied that the Princess's condition was in no immediate danger of failure, everything seemed to come crashing back down on her. All the doubt she'd felt earlier, the amazement at everything around her, the overwhelming strangeness of the situation, the amazement, the Princess, seeing everything...suddenly Malon felt completely overwhelmed by everything. Her life had suddenly completely changed.



"I think I might need to take some time to rest, a-and think things over a bit more...I mean, this is all a bit much, being summoned to the palace, meeting the princess and finding out that she’s a centaur, a-and everything...I just...need some time to adjust, if that's okay.” Malon started breathing heavily, feeling completely overwhelmed.



(Not to mention realizing that she’s probably the most beautiful woman in the world...and I now seem to have an attraction to horses, that's going to take a lot of getting used to...well, part-horses, anyways.) Of course she didn't speak that part out loud.

“Right, of course. I apologize for being an inconsiderate host. There is a room just down the hall that has been prepared for you in advance. I hope you do not mind the close proximity, but I would rather have you nearby for the time being as I get used to myself,” Zelda said as she put her shirt back on. Some small part of Malon wished that she hadn’t, but again, that was something she wasn’t going to voice.



Zelda took a few seconds to stand up again. “It is rather difficult to get back up,” she said, adjusting her shirt.



“Well, horses aren’t really built for laying down, especially for long periods of time. It would be best if you just stood, even while sleeping. I’m sure it’ll take a bit of getting used to, though.”



Princess Zelda frowned. "Indeed. I have not yet felt my legs tire, so I can believe that I will find it easier to spend my life standing, but sleeping in such a way will prove difficult. We shall have to see what can be done about it."



Zelda led Malon out and down the hall to her room. “I hope it is to your liking. Essentially it is just a guest room now, but you may consider it your home for the foreseeable future, and have any personal items moved to it as you wish.”



The sight of the lavishly decorated room that was easily as large as the Princess’s own, on top of everything else, was a bit much for the simple farmer girl, and Malon promptly passed out.



“Alright, it seems that everything is still just fine,” Malon said as she stepped back from the Princess. It had been nearly two weeks since she had moved into the castle, and she was starting to get somewhat used to things...although she had not and didn't think she would ever grow used to just how beautiful Princess Zelda was. Every day she’d see something new about the Princess that sparked a twinge of desire in her heart, but she kept it hidden.



Zelda smiled and nodded her thanks. Malon then began helping her get her dress back on. By now, the royal tailors had made dozens of beautiful dresses and other outfits that would work for her new body, but most of them needed the help of someone else to get them on. Although Zelda had many servants who would be pleased to assist her, Malon had the pleasure and pride of being the one Zelda preferred to be dressed by. Today's outfit was Zelda's favorite every-day dress, a return to the standard white and purple dress she had most often wore when she was human. It was, like all her other clothing, separated into two parts now. On her human body was the upper half of the dress, looking exactly as it always had. Draped over the rest of her was an elongated, large version of the dress's bottom, covering her with its draping silk down to her knees. Zelda's dress had always before reached down to the ground, but with four legs to keep track of and less reach to adjust and pull the dress up as needed, it needed to be shorter.



“Malon, I have another favor to ask of you,” Zelda said as they walked out of her room, where all the exams were performed. “The blacksmiths have finally finished creating suitably regal shoes for me. Today is the day that I will have them put on, and...I’m feeling a bit nervous about it. In fact, I am very nervous. I was hoping that you would accompany me during it,” she said, her voice wavering ever so slightly as she clasped her hands together.



The sight of worry on Zelda's face pulled at all of Malon’s heartstrings at once. “Of course I’ll be there with you! Although you have nothing to worry about, I promise. It doesn’t hurt, and most of the time the horses seem to enjoy it.”



A few hours later, the royal Farrier had taken his seat and was busy filing her hooves down a bit, while Malon held her hand. “I don’t really feel much of anything,” Zelda said in a calm voice.



"Of course not. You don't feel anything when you file your nails, right?" Malon responded warmly, trying to banish any further fears Zelda might have with a cheerful tone. "It's the same thing."



The Farrier put away the file, and gathered his tools and nails, along with the first of the royal horseshoes. He gently lifted Zelda's back left leg upwards. Zelda's grip tightened on Malon's hand, and she closed her eyes as she tried to keep her breathing even. Malon held her hand just as tightly back. She was a little nervous, too...she knew it shouldn't hurt Zelda at all, but what if Zelda's new form was just slightly different some way from a horse, and it did wind up being painful? The thought was horrible.



The first nail was lifted, and the farrier began driving it in. Zelda let out a relieved sigh. "I don't feel it. It's just a reverberation from the force. It isn't painful. Oh, thank the Triforce."



“Good,” was all Malon said. Relieved, she was now trying not to think about how warm Zelda’s hand felt through the gloves she always wore.