The landscape changed gradually, bit by bit until it had shifted completely from plains to desert. If either of them had looked down for half an hour and then back up, they might have thought they were in a completely different country: only by looking back at the receding grass could they be certain of where they'd come from. But slowly but surely, sand began to be kicked up by Epona's hooves and the land in front of them was replaced by rolling sand dunes.

Link relaxed into the feeling of the gallop, although the new and slightly distracting feeling of Peach's arms holding onto him was still a little hard to get used to. Not that he didn't enjoy it.

"It's not so far," he called back to the princess. "Maybe another couple hours? But it'll be worth the ride. The Desert Palace is a very big, and very impressive place. I'm sure your castle puts it to shame, but it's still a very interesting sight. You--" but he quieted suddenly, silenced by a whinny from Epona, who was slowing down all of a sudden. She cantered, then trotted, then slowed to a walk. And as Link glanced carefully around them, the sand began to shake.