From The Horse's Mind
The sun's warm rays filtered down through the leaves of the tall tree that stood by the entrance to Kakariko Village, making a pattern of shadows on the rich green carpet of grass beneath Epona's hooves. She arched her long brown neck down and bit off a mouthful of the sweet grass. She chewed it slowly, savoring its strong flavor, only found in the grass that grew along the stream's banks.
Link had walked up the long fight of steps leading up to the village several hours earlier. She would wait for him patiently, as she had many times before. Epona was a faithful horse, and the thought of leaving never crossed her mind. She always waited for him, even if it meant spending the night in the dessert alone. Link wasn't a bad master, but he was nothing like her first master, Malon.
Oh, the adventures she had shared with Malon. They had sent their days roaming the fields of Hyrule, and their nights in the horse barn dreaming of the adventures the next day held for them. They would stop at the top of one of the many moss covered hills. Malon would take a book out of the small leather satchel she always carried with her on these trips. Epona stood and listened to Malon's pleasant voice as she spoke of the deeds of the heroes in her book., and when they tired of reading, Malon would sing.
It was always the same song, taught to Malon by her mother before she had died. The song was simple, but beautiful. There may have been words once, but they had been long forgotten. Occasionally Malon would make up words. She sang of the land, the trees, the ranch, and the princess Zelda. Malon and Zelda were close in age, and Malon often daydreamed of being Zelda's friend.
One day, after Malon and her father had returned from the city, the words had changed. Malon now sang of a boy in green clothes with a fairy. This boy became all Malon talked about. She told Epona how wonderful and nice he was. She said that he had been able to sneak past the guards of the castle. He had awoken Talon so that they could go home. She also talked of how wonderful he looked. Epona found her conversation boring and redundant, where it had once been interesting.
A few weeks after Malon had met him, the boy visited Lon Lon. Malon became so excited that she did the unthinkable. She taught him the song.
If it had been any other song, Epona would not have cared, but this was their special song. It was the song that Malon's mother had sang to Epona's mother. It was a song that would be past to their children. The song was the last thing she had heard from the woman that had raised her. It was Epona's song, and now Malon has taught it to a boy she hardly knew.
For a few days, Epona had been angry. She stayed in her stall all day, but eventually her anger had cooled and she joined Malon again on he plains of Hyrule. They once again traveled the paths that lead through trees and hills. They stopped by the stream to drink. Talon often sent them to the castle to deliver the milk and pick up supplies for the ranch.
It was on one of these trips when Malon and Epona learned of the troubles that were about to descend upon Hyrule. The trip had at first seemed normal, exactly like those they made every week. The roads had been a little empty, but other than that the road over had been normal. Usually horses were not allowed in Hyrule, but they made an exception for Epona. Without her Malon would not be able to get the milk to the castle.
The first strange thing Epona noticed was the crowd in front of one of the buildings. On any other day it would be crowded with people trying to make a good deal, but today it was almost empty. The smell of the air was also different. It seemed less fresh, as if it was covering some darker, sick smell. Animals can sometimes sense when things are out of place, and on this day Epona knew something was very wrong.
They walked toward the castle pulling the cart loaded with milk. As they crossed the bridge, a shadow fell across them. Zelda's horse reared up and ran past them. A second horse appeared., and sitting astride it was a man so dark Epona could barely make him out against the suddenly stormy sky.