Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda.
This story contains major spoilers for Twilight Princess.

Chapter 1
Home

Link was in a daze. Luckily for him Epona had no problem finding the way back home, because he certainly wasn't guiding her. Midna had broken the mirror, would he ever see her again? After all, he had just met her in her true form. She was beautiful. She was the Twilight Princess. He allowed himself a smile. That imp with all of her attitude and her endless supply of insults, was the princess. Figures. And with everything they had been through, she had left. He knew somewhere that it was necessary, but he had so many questions. Zelda seemed to have a better grasp on the entire situation, but he had not known her long. His thoughts drifted to the princess of Hyrule.

She wasn't what he had anticipated. This princess had seemed so far off to him. It wasn't often that the people of Ordon Village talked about her accept in passing. No one spoke of her character or her as a person. The only one in the village to have met Zelda was Mayor Bo. Even then it was to talk about products, trading, and supplies with other community leaders of Hyrule; strictly business. Ordon supplied pumpkins, goat cheese, milk, and the things they could for the kingdom. It was plenty for their small village to survive on. This princess, this far off leader. Link had met her, talked to her. He saved her, or rather helped her save her kingdom. She wasn't the snobbish royal he was expecting.

Zelda wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, and wanted to be a good leader. She wanted to protect her people. Although her situation was dire, she wasn't helpless. When retrieving the light arrows, Link had expected her to give them to him. She went into battle shooting at the very embodiment of evil. Zelda was a warrior, a healer, and had wisdom far beyond her years. There was no denying her presence, her beauty, and her ability to lead. The title of Queen would fit her well.

Epona was walking in Faron woods by now, slowly. Link wasn't pushing her forward, still lost in his own thoughts. Perhaps Epona was as well. There was no need to hurry. Their lives weren't in immediate danger. They were just going home. It was a good feeling.

Finally, Link thought of himself. Did all of this really happen? Who was he that he could do all of the things he had done? Link, the ranch hand from Ordon, the chosen hero, wielder of the Master Sword, and the Devine Beast. This slow trip home was the first time he could truly think. South Hyrule field wasn't swarming with monsters. Although, he noticed a few along the road, but they seemed directionless and none of them came close to attacking. It was just he, his horse, an arsenal of weaponry, and his thoughts. He had saved Hyrule. Link, the goat wrangler, saved Hyrule? He tugged on the reigns absent-mindedly and Epona stopped. She looked over her shoulder at him.

Link threw his leg over her back and got down. He had saved Hyrule. The thought seemed so foreign. Even after Zelda herself had thanked him, and begun to offer him titles and an official ceremony of thanks. He had opted to go home, to Ordon. She had understood his request and asked for him to return to the castle when it suited him. The fact blew his mind. He was the savior of Hyrule? He didn't think the thought it arrogance, just in disbelief. The goddesses had chosen him?

Epona nickered and looked at him and bobbed her head, as if to say "yes, you." Link walked in front of his horse and she followed. They understood each other in a way that no other person ever could. In his wolf form Link had even talked to his trusted mount on occasion. His wolf form. Would he ever return to it again? It was, after all, a part of him. Where was the stone that had allowed his transformation? Midna had kept it for times when it was necessary, was it still with her?

Link breathed in the air, he didn't want to think about never becoming a wolf again, it seemed wrong somehow. The air, however, was right. It had a smell that reminded him of Ordon, of the past, of before all of this insanity had happened. The sun was finishing it's decent over the horizon and the fragrance of burning oil reached his nostrils.

"Hey guy!" A man with a fro that suited him so well, was standing over a pot.

"Coro! How are you?" Link grinned ear to ear. This guy was his friend. Oddly enough, whether he was on two legs or four. Although, Link was sure he didn't know the truth of the blue-eyed wolf. This man just seemed to know animals, probably because he saw more of them than people.

"Good, good. I've just been sitting out here waiting for people like you to come by and buy some oil. How did that lantern work out for ya?"

"It's been more help than you could know." Link laughed. How many times had he needed it to solve a secret entry or burn down things in his path? Coro had saved his life indirectly many times.

"That's great Guy!" Coro's head shook bouncing his fro a bit. "Would you care to buy some more oil? It would be good to have some business around here!"

Link pulled out his wallet and an empty bottle. His lantern was full, and true he probably didn't need the oil, but this guy had helped him out. Link dipped his bottle into a pot of oil and begun filling it. The lantern nearby illuminated Link's figure.

"Are you headed home for a while this time? It seems you're always in a hurry." Coro inquired. Then he noticed something he had been missing. Blood. Old stains and new stains dotted the hero's tunic. He knew Link carried a sword, but he wondered how much of this blood was his green clad friend's.

"Yes. Finally. I think it will be good to rest for a while." Link's face was relaxed. The fire flickered and Coro noticed a deep gash above his eyebrow that had been healing.

"Good for you guy." He paused and looked down for a moment before continuing. "I know there's more to your adventures than you put on. Don't think I couldn't hear you fighting the monsters just up this very pass. Speaking of which there haven't been many around lately." Coro gaze lifted and he squinted his eyes at the hero. Turns out he was a good judge of character, animal or Hylian, it didn't matter. He didn't doubt for a moment that whatever Link had done it was in the sake of good. "Wouldn't know what could cause that would ya?"

Link put the cork in the top of his now full bottle and shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows?" A smirk appeared on his face. "Well, I better get home. I can't wait to sleep in a bed again."

He placed a handful of rupees in Coro's hands and mounted Epona. She started moving forward and Coro called out after him.
"Hey, guy! I think you overpaid!" His eyes were wide on his hand full of Rupees realizing they weren't the usual green but red, purple, and gems of greater value.

"Thanks for everything, Guy!" Link chuckled and rode off.

By now the sky was dark, and Link had dismounted Epona to lead her quietly to the Ordon Spring. There was no need to rouse the village now; he'd let them know tomorrow that he was home. Ordon Spring was glowing, as it usually did. The waters reflected the large round moon above and fairies played happily along the water. Link remembered the Cave of Ordeals and was thankful he had gone through it. For now there were fairies residing in many springs. Suddenly, all the pain and tension in his body hit him. He was tired, really tired. Every muscle ached, and he became aware of the bruises and cuts in his skin.

Link looked at Epona to see she was hurt as well, but not as badly. She had one rather large gash in her front right leg, but it had already begun to heal. The potions he had shared with her had definitely helped her heal from the final battle. Leading her into the cool spring he splashed the healing water over her wounds. A fairy approached Epona and began working on the gash. It started looking better immediately. Link looked at Epona then at a slightly deeper portion of the spring and fell, face first into the water. If a horse could laugh, that's what she did. Her hooves pranced a little in the shallow pool.

Pushing himself back up on his elbows Link sighed. The water was quite cool, and he found himself wishing for the hot springs the Gorons loved so much. But the cool water was home. The fairies tended to his wounds as he lay in the water, not caring how soaked he would be. Red and green, seeped from his clothing swirling in the clear water. The blood, and whatever it was that deku babas had, washed away. Funny how this water cleaned clothing as well as people. His fingers ran though his hair removing grime, dirt, and yes, more blood. He wrung out his hat in the water and looked to his steed.

Suddenly, there was movement behind him and he saw the flicker of a lantern. His hand went to his sword, but didn't unsheathe it. Involunterily, he held his breath as the light grew closer. Whoever they were, they were in no hurry. When the figure was finally in view, Link smiled. Ilia, Link's childhood friend, walked into the area. At first she was startled that someone was there, but then her eyes lit up as she recognized the mare.

"Epona!" Ilia shouted ecstatically, running to the horse.

"Hey, Ilia." Link decided to not be hurt by the fact that she greeted his horse first.

"Link." Ilia replied somber. "I'm so glad you're home, and I'm so glad you're safe." She didn't know how to approach him. He had escorted her, beating off beasts and monsters left and right like a one-man army. Who was this boy… no. Who was this man that she had grown up with? She was standing well away from her friend, the distance was more suited for strangers. Then she noticed Epona's leg wound.

"Link she's hurt! I told you to be more careful!" She was genuinely concerned for the horse, but it was more of a distraction from approaching a million questions that flooded her mind.

Link smiled a little in the night. It was just like Ilia to scold him first thing. "She'll be fine Ilia, and I've been trying to be more careful." He yawned involuntarily. "In fact we are both about to go home and rest."

Ilia decided to let it go, for now. "I can't wait until the others know you are finally home! People have really missed you around here! Especially, Fado. Turns out you are better with the goats than he is." She chuckled. Everyone in Ordon Village was well aware of that fact.

"I'll let them know I'm here tomorrow. Please, keep it a secret until morning."

"My lips are sealed." She promised, and then went over to retrieve a book that she had apparently left earlier. Link wondered why she was out here after sunset. It wasn't late per-say, but Mayor Bo did like to watch after his daughter. He was even more cautious in light of past events.

The trio walked back to Link's house and Ilia went into the village. Link looked at his home. It set high up, more of a tree house than anything, and entrance to the front door was by ladder. After taking off Epona's saddle, he gathered his things and went inside. His things. A sword, shield, bow and arrows, a spinner he'd use for who knows what, and a bunch of other things he never thought he'd own. Those were his things? They were all in a pack that magically held all of his supplies. Something he didn't quite understand, but he was thankful for it anyway. Whatever the case he was home.

After climbing up the ladder, he opened the door and fell into bed. His gaze went around his small house. It was perfect, dusty from his extended absence, but perfect. His journal on the table still was open revealing a drawing that he seemed to have started decades ago. Peering out the window Link sighed, it was a full moon. Thoughts of a blue-eyed beast, his adventures, and two brave princesses flooded through his head as he drifted to sleep. He was home.
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Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading. How will the town react to their ranch hand coming home? How will Link adjust?

I'm relatively new to the Legend of Zelda universe. Twilight Princess was the game that introduced me. I have quickly fallen in love with the series in general and have sense played quite a few of the games. This fanfiction takes place after the events of Twilight Princess. There may be some differences for artistic reasons, or because I merely forgot about an event in the game. I hope you enjoy it.