The Ordon Festival

Chapter 1- Troubled Ilia

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

"Link! Show us again!" the three children chorused. Beth, Talo, and Malo had begged for Link to show off his sword moves so he agreed. He had just demonstrated the "helm splitter" on the scare-crow outside of his home.

"Link is SO awesome!" Beth exclaimed, clapping her hands.

"He's the coolest!" Talo agreed.

Malo just shrugged. "Eh."

"Link, can you teach me how to do that?" Talo asked Link eagerly, drawing his wooden sword.

"Sure," Link replied with a friendly smile. "But it's a little difficult."

"Yeah, only Link could do such a trick!" Beth proclaimed, snootily. Talo was about to protest when Colin walked up.

"Who invited you?" Talo exclaimed.

"I-uh...." Colin began nervously.

"Let him stay! I bet he could do Link's trick!" Beth insisted. Talo gasped.

"Yeah, right!" he exclaimed sarcastically. "And since when are you taking Colin's side? He's just a pathetic wanna-be!"

"Look who's talking!" Beth burst out.

"Ugh! Well if I could hit a girl, boy would you get it!" Talo shouted, clenching his fists. Link was about to interfere when Bo came up. Silence spread over the children.

"If, you don't mind, kids, I have to borrow Link for a bit. I need to talk to him," the mayor said.

The children groaned. "Okay," they agreed reluctantly.

"You can stay here and practice on the scare crow," Link informed. Then he and the mayor walked into Ordon Village.

"What's wrong?" Link asked Mayor Bo.

"Well, it seems Ilia thinks you hate her," Bo replied.

"How come?" Link asked casually.

"Well, she found out that Epona hurt her leg. And she thinks that you are hurting Epona on purpose because you hate her, Ilia that is," the mayor replied.

"Oh." Link said. "I don't hate her. She's my friend."

"I tried telling her that but she wouldn't listen. How's about you try," the fat man suggested.

"Um, okay..." Link agreed slowly. He then started for the mayor's house.

Inside her house, Ilia was sulking on the couch. Just then she heard a knock. "Go away!" she said miserably. But she reluctantly got up and opened the door when the knocking wouldn't cease. Much to her surprise, Link was standing there. "Oh...Link," she started nervously. "I didn't know it was you."

"Um, I didn't mean to hurt Epona," he apologized.

"Then you don't hate me?" Ilia asked hopefully.

"Um, no," Link replied.

"Wahoo!" Ilia exclaimed, giving Link a hug.

"Ugh, get off me!" Link thought, but just sort of eased out of Ilia's grasp. Then he walked away.