When I was first born, I was given a name that would make me the best one of my kind. I was named for the Celtic goddess of horses, a woman travelers depended on greatly. As I took my first steps, a song was whispered in my ear. I grew so fond of the song that almost anyone could sing or play it on their instrument and I would come forth, like a dog to a high pitched whistle. In time, it would be a great tool to the only man whom I would let rest high on my back. We became almost inseparable.

I was just a colt when my mother's master gave me to his young daughter. She would pet my rust colored fur for long hours. It was not her that I was interested in. Yes, she constantly cared for me, and even bathed me in the sacred spring of the forest. Her young male companion would watch as she cared for me.

"Link, I think she likes you."

"I guess I have that animal magnetism." He turned his head just in time to see a pair of young goats making their way towards him.

He was absolutely right. The goats adored him, and even a hawk could be called to his side, in the same manner he calls to me. The chickens were the only animal in this forest who would avoid him.

Link pat the goats right below the place their curved horns were sprouting. "I would not trade my ways with animals for anything in the world," he said.

I brushed my long nose against his back. He turned and pet me on the neck. "Do you think she understood me?"

"She's just a horse," the girl said laughing. "She doesn't speak our language."

I cannot speak, but I do understand, Ilia. How I wished I could speak.

Years passed and I became fonder of my male caretaker, Link. I was more than his ride, I was his companion.

We began herding the goats into their small barn. The goats would become displeased at being ushered. Several times they would crash into my body and throw Link from my saddle. Each time I would stomp my hooves on the ground.

"Be careful, you stubborn mules."

The goats would laugh at me. "Well, isn't someone protective of her human."

Link collected himself and returned to the saddle. "Come on, girl. We have a lot of packing to do."

That was right. Link was on a special mission to deliver weapons to the castle. They had been crafted by the finest men on this side of the world. After the next day, there would be no more goats, no more kids poking me with toys, no more Ilia. I froze in my path.

"Link!" Ilia stood there tapping her foot.

As she spoke rather harshly with Link, I began to think of how much I would miss her. It was Ilia who raised me from a colt. Link was by greatest companion, but she was like a mother to me. I was shaken out of my thought when she tugged my reins. I knew she was leading me to the spring.

At the spring, she poured water over my joints. "There girl," she whispered quietly. The healing powers of the water made me feel rejuvenated.

A young boy of the village watched as Ilia bathed me. He reminded me of a younger Link. Colin sat by the edge of the water and watched silently.

I heard a rustling. On the south side of the spring was a tunnel. It was the only way in due to Ilia locking the gate. Link emerged for the tunnel, covered in a light coating of dirt.

"Link, now don't you even-"

"Ilia, calm down for a moment. I have no intention of taking Epona from you."

Ilia brushed my fur. "Yes you do, Link. Tomorrow, you'll be taking her away. You'll be gone so long." I brushed my nose against her shoulder. "My two greatest friends will be gone."

"I will take good care of her, and she will be caring for me, right girl?" I nuzzled against him. "That's my girl." He put his hand on Ilia's shoulder. "I will stay safe, I promise."

The sound of pounding hooves made me lift my head. There were many creatures headed this way.

The locked gate burst open. Several large boars carrying riders barged into the spring. They grabbed an unconscious Ilia and Colin. The largest rider gave Link a blow to the head, knocking him over into the water. As I stepped toward him, my reins were grabbed, pulling me away. I whinnied and kicked, but the monsters would not let me free. I looked at Ilia and Colin and knew that I had to protect them. I looked ahead. The monsters were headed to the village.

The adults fired arrows and brandished swords, but it was to no avail. The other children of the village were taken as well. As we were ushered from the village, the adults hung their head in shame.

We passed the spring again. Link was no longer in the water. He had been taken. I began to buck once more.

The children cried out. "Easy, girl!" They looked at me with their sad filled eyes.

I looked ahead once more. We were headed out of the forest. If only my first time away from home had been with Link, instead of being kidnapped by monsters.

As we reached the field, I felt Ilia stirring. The monsters had no so cleverly placed her over my saddle. Slowly she sat up and looked around. The children gasped quietly. She placed a finger to her lips.

"Stay together. I'll get help," she whispered. She shifted her body so that she was sitting on my saddle. She squeezed her legs together.

I raised my front hooves. The reins had been released. Ilia pushed me to gallop, and I did so, going faster than I had ever gone before. We pressed on towards the small village to the east. The monsters chased us, firing arrows with tips glowing red with fire. I made my way into the village.

Ilia began crying out. "Help, save us!" Two men looked at us as we passed through.

The monsters continued to gain on us. Four sounds of something hitting the ground rang in my ears. They dropped the children. I pressed on.

North of the village was the great bridge. We made our way across.

"We have to find another village, girl." Ilia said. She pulled suddenly on my reins, almost throwing herself off. "Look, girl. There's a village. I can barely see it through this tunnel." She jumped down. "Stay here. I'm going to see if I can get some help." She pat me on the neck, and headed through the tunnel.

It seemed like a long time had passed. I heard hooves again. It was the pounding hooves of a boar. My reins were grabbed again, and I was being pulled against my will. No matter how hard I planted my hooves, I was moving. I had failed Link, Ilia, and the children.

Everything around me seemed to go dark. I looked around and saw a creeping darkness washing over the land. My captors seemed not to notice. The world was being swallowed my darkness. I looked up at the orange sky. I understood why the humans pray to Din, Farore, and Nayru. I prayed for help to come to everyone I loved. Please send us a hero.