All scream for Shigeru Miyamoto and his awesome Zelda and Mario games! Without those, this story wouldn't exist, seeing as Legend of Zelda belongs to him and not me.

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This story is (go figure) packed with crazy things that would never happen in a Zelda game. For example, Link gets shot with an arrow (don't worry, it'll all become clear if you read it). Of course, crazy and messed-up as it is, I still like it because it's my first Link story that I'm writing, and in my opinion it's much better than other things I could think of.

Pikasqueaks: Hey, are you talking about me?

Thecrazyfanficcer: Of course.

(Pikasqueaks blushes and sweatdrops)

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Link, after a long and hard adventure, was returning to the humble home he'd made himself in Kokiri Forest even after he'd discovered that he was the Hero of Time. Royalty is kind of annoying if you're not born into it, and Link preferred the forest to a big ol' castle any day.

Something on the horizon loomed deep and dark. Death Mountain? Link thought. No, it's farther off in Hyrule field. Link abruptly changed his course and started trotting towards it.

Link had an idea. Pulling his ocarina thoughtfully out of his pocket, he fixed the mountain with a determined stare and began to play the notes, softly blowing through the holes.

The song lingered in the air even after Link lowered it from his lips. A four-legged figure was arising on the horizon. Link's heart soared. Even though he knew she would come, he always felt happy when he saw that proud roan horse galloping on the horizon.

Epona stopped smoothly in front of him, gracefully ending her effortless gallop. Link clucked softly and reached out into the back pocket of his tunic, handing her a carrot. Epona munched it softly while Link put a foot lightly on her back.

Link hoisted himself on the beautiful roan-colored, white-ankled horse. Epona had grown a lot stronger and faster since Link had been exploring Hyrule, but she wasn't the only one. Link was getting stronger too. Being a wayside wanderer can do that to you.

Link swung a leg over her other side once he had raised himself onto her arching back. Leaning down confidently, he grabbed the reins and Epona shot off like a bullet.

Link needed no whip as he rode Epona toward the mountain. He barely needed to hold the reins. But sitting up straight on the saddle would have been showing off. Anyway, it was cooler this way.

Before long, snow started falling, sprinkling Link and Epona in the face. At least, that was in the beginning. The farther forth they went, the more it snowed until Epona's whole head was pure white.

Shaking all the white sprinkles free of her face, Epona started to make her way up the mountain. But Link stopped her.

"Stop, Epona," he said, putting his hand on her flank. Epona stopped immediately. He didn't even have to say anything; just put his hand in the right place and Epona would obey.

"We can't go on," said Link softly. 'I'll have to go alone." He easily swung off the saddle and turned to face her. "Sorry, Epona, but you'll die up there," he said to Epona's remorseful look. He felt really sad to leave Epona alone, but it was for her. And those big black eyes looking sadly at him weren't helping. "Epona," he said, softly stroking her nose (Horses don't have snouts). "I know you want to come with me, but you can't go. You'll probably die of cold."

Epona gave a snort as if to say, "What about you?" but she hung her head, crestfallen but understanding, anyway.

"That's a good girl." Link patted her to cheer her up. "Look, Epona, do you like the snow?"

In answer to his question, Epona sneezed. She held up her head as if to say, "I'll do anything for you."

Link nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be okay. Now scoot before you die of listening to me." He nudged her with his foot.

Epona, head hanging, set off at a trot. Link sighed, turned to the mountain looming up ahead of him, and began to walk. Before he started scaling the hill, however, he turned and saw the roan fleck disappearing into the horizon.

Link sighed again. "Bye, Epona," he whispered, and began his snowy ascent.