Ordon Village

Two persons were walking down a forest path. One was honey-blond and the other straw-blond. One was young the other was in his thirties. Green eyes scanned the path absentmindedly as the teen followed the older man. The man had found him in the forest earlier in the day and insisted that he'd come with him to his home village. According to the man it wasn't all that much farther to go.

Rusl looked back at the teen behind him. The boy hadn't spoken yet. He just kept staring at the ground as they walked. He had tried time and time again to get the boy to open up but to no avail. He turned his gaze back to the path before them and sighed.

Link moved his arms together over his chest. He didn't really feel like going with the blond man in front of him, but he knew that he couldn't just stay in the forest. He had no idea what lived out there. He looked up at Rusl, the man had introduced himself earlier, and shifted uncomfortably.

"Can you at the very least tell me your name young one," Rusl asked the green-eyed teen.

The boy looked up at him, his eyes hollow. "Link," he said quietly not bothering with his last name.

"Link," Rusl said. "Well, Link welcome to Ordon Village."

They had been walking along a cliff-face for some time now. Link had been watching the moss hanging from the stone as they walked. He blinked almost blinded by the last sunrays of the day as the cliff-face gave way to an open area. When he could see again he looked out over the village. It was small. There were no more than five or six houses. He noticed vaguely that one of the houses was built into the trunk of a tree and another had pink tiles on its roof. He didn't actually want to go down there. He looked behind him. There was a rather big tree with twisted branches standing there. A part of him – the more practical one – wondered if he could build a house there. Maybe he could even convince the tree to cooperate with him. He might not be as good with plants as his uncle Mikau but he was decent enough.

Rusl had started walking again, and Link followed slowly. Soon enough they were standing in front of a small but cosy looking house. "You can stay with us for now. I know that Uli my wife won't mind, and I'm sure Colin will be happy," Rusl said with a smile before he opened the door.

Link didn't step in though. They were way too happy for his liking right now. He stepped back from the open door. That tree that he'd seen earlier seemed like a good place to go. He wrapped his arms around himself and hurried his steps. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He stopped in front of the tree with its twisted branches and placed the palm of his hand against the tree trunk. He pushed his magic into the wood smiling sadly as it slowly started changing the tree's shape. He would have to be careful so he didn't overdo it since there probably wasn't any healer around here.

…

Hours later, Rusl walked around the village looking for the blond. He hoped that the child hadn't left the village since the forest around them could be very dangerous at night. He had searched everywhere else and was currently heading towards the village exit hoping that the kid would show up. He stopped as he arrived in the clearing just before Ordon Woods.

The boy was laying in a juncture created in the big tree's trunk.

Rusl blinked surprised. He couldn't remember the juncture being there before, but then again he was so used to the tree that maybe he just didn't notice it anymore. He ran the fingers of his right hand over his dark moustache. The night air was warm. 'Can I really leave the kid out here?' he wondered. His wife wouldn't be too happy, but he had the feeling that the kid needed some time alone. Whatever had happened to him had been traumatic and he needed time. The man sighed, shook his head and started heading back home. He didn't notice the green eyes that followed his movements.

Link wasn't asleep – not yet anyway. He was laying there studying the leaves above him his mind wandering. He had once wished that he could go on an adventure like Grandpa Harry and Granddad Link, but now he just wanted to go back home. He wondered how much time had passed here… in Hyrule. Was Salazar still alive? If he was then maybe he could help… but then again he could be dead too. Right now even a map of Hyrule would help him. He could compare it to what he remembered from the stories. He guessed he couldn't just stop living though. He turned his head to the side and looked at the small village. Giving up wouldn't get him home.

He didn't know if he was ready to talk to anyone though. And he didn't quite know what on Earth he'd tell them. "Hi my name is Link and I'm from a different planet. My Granddad was from Hyrule though so that's how I know the language. My family was trying to close off magical rifts in our world that were being created because of wild magic released in the Magic World War. I kind of fell through a rift, and that is how I ended up here," he muttered. Then he sighed. He couldn't tell them that. They wouldn't believe him.

Eventually sleep overtook the teen. His dreams were restless and confusing. They had him tossing and turning throughout the night.

Link hummed as he walked back from Hyrule Field to Ordon Village. He had eventually opened up a bit to the Ordonians. As far as they knew his family was dead, and he didn't feel like correcting them. His family wasn't around anyway.

It had been a bit over a year now he guessed. Time didn't move quite the same here as it had done on Earth. He had finished building his house months ago, and now he was helping at the village ranch. That day, however, Fado had given him the day off. The Mayor probably wouldn't be too happy, but the blond couldn't help but take advantage of the situation and do some exploring.

It was getting late though. He needed to get back to the village before sunset.

He stopped suddenly. 'What was that?' he wondered. He thought he'd heard a cry in the distance. "Link, Link are you starting to…" he stopped talking as he heard it again, closer this time. He grabbed the wooden sword Rusl had taught him how to carve. The man had no idea that Link had been trained in swordsmanship for years by his Granddad and Uncle Aidan. He was following his Grandpa's advice though, "Never flaunt your abilities. You never know when you're amongst those who would judge you for them."

Link had been moving quietly between the trees. He stopped before entering a glade. There were two monsters with moss-green skin and glowing red eyes attacking a horse. The blond didn't even hesitate. He pulled his wooden-sword and dashed forward, slamming the blade against the closest monster's neck. He heard a satisfying crunch and moved the sword over, blocked the second monster's club and aimed his strike at the throat. Once the monsters were downed he dropped the wooden blade and hunched down. He moved up to the mare and touched the wounds that the monster's had inflicted on her with a light hand. There was so much damage done to her. He placed his palms against her belly and focused on his magic. His hands started glowing faintly as he pushed healing magic into her.

He continued until his breathing got laboured. He knew he had to stop. Green eyes opened. He looked down at the horse. Some of the wounds looked a bit better than before, but it was still bad. "Come on girl. I can get you help, but you need to stand up for me," Link said softly. He helped the horse up slowly.

Then the horse neighed.

Link's magic acted on its own when a club impacted with the back of his head. It flared out, and as he fell forward, his magic burst out and burned the monsters that hit him.

…

Green eyes blinked open slowly. Everything was green. The blond sat up slowly. Next to him a brown mare stood on shaky legs. He reached up and touched the sore spot on the back of his head. "Ouch," he hissed. He looked back up at the horse. "I guess I should get you back to the village as soon as possible," he told her. He stood op slowly, trying to keep his bearings as his head started spinning.

Once steady, he placed a hand on the mare's neck and started walking with her.

The grass beneath their feet darkened, and the sky had turned orange some time ago. The only sound apart from their steps was bird song.

Link led the mare to his house. He helped her down and ran into the village.

"Oh, Link there you are. Rusl was going to go out and look for you," Uli said as the blond came up to their small house.

"Well here I am. I found something when I wandered around though…" he told her about the horse and Uli was on her feet almost immediately. She walked in to the house and came back out with a basket. "Show me," she said her voice business like.

Link led the gentle woman back to his house and showed her the mare. He was told to make a small fire and warm water which had him rolling his eyes. Even with the amount of magic he'd used already that day he could still cheat with those tasks easily. The fire was up and going within seconds. He sat down next to the flames and stared into them.

Faint footsteps could be heard after a while and a young boy came walking up to the fire. Link didn't look up but he knew who it was. "Hey Colin," he said. He looked up at the boy. The little blond looked a lot like his mother. Their facial features unfortunately had them looking rather sad most of the time. The boy's hair was messy telling Link that he'd most likely been in a fight with Talo again.

"Hey Link, what are you doing?" the shy boy asked.

"I'm warming water for your mother so she can help the mare I found earlier today."

"Oh," Colin said. He looked down into the flames.

Link reached out and ruffled the seven-year-old's hair. Then he lay back. "Do you want to hear a story?" he asked.

"Yes!" the smaller boy exclaimed excitedly. He loved Link's stories.

"O.K." Link said with a warm chuckle. "Once upon a time…

…

"Link, I need your help," Uli called.

The blond stood up from his position by the fire quickly. He walked over to Uli and kneeled down. "What do I need to do?" he asked her.

"Her foal isn't coming out you need to pull it but be careful," Uli said her face twisted in concentration.

Link nodded. He moved down and took a deep breath. He grabbed the foal's body in a firm but gentle grasp and pulled slowly. The little horse was slimy with blood and – Din knows what else – but that didn't stop the blond from helping her. He sat back with the little foal in his lap and looked up at Uli. "What is it?" he asked as he noticed the sad look on her face.

Uli sighed. "She didn't make it," she said.

Link looked at the mare, saddened by the news. "At least her little one made it," he said.

Uli nodded slowly. "It will be hard to raise it without the mother though," she said.

"Catch it, Link!" Fado cried as one of the Ordon goats broke out off the pen.

The blond turned around and upon seeing the wayward animal started running. He speeded up as the goat past the Mayor's house. He threw himself forward, grabbed the goat by the horns and yanked it to the side making the animal fall over. "Where do you think you're going, huh?" he asked the goat as he helped it back up on its feet. "Come on let's get you back to the ranch." He took a firm grip on the hors that connected above the goat's head forming a perfect circle.

"Good catch there Link," Mayor Bo said from his porch. "It was a hurdle to get a hold of them before you came around." He chuckled.

"Glad to be of service Mayor," Link said with an extravagant bow.

Bo started laughing heartedly. Once he calmed down somewhat he said, "You should probably get that goat back up to the ranch before she decides to run off again."

Link slammed his heels together and saluted. "Yes sir," he said before he started leading the goat back up the path. He came up to the gate where Fado stood waiting for him. "I see that you made it alright," he said.

Link nodded. "It isn't too difficult if you're agile," he said with a shrug.

Fado snorted. "If you say so," he said.

They led the goat in to the stable and into a pen.

"There girl," Link said softly stroking her grey-blue coat. The goat bleated at him and the blond chuckled. He followed Fado back out of the stables and closed the doors.

"So how's Epona doing?" Fado asked as they walked down to the village.

Link shrugged. "Ilia decided that since Epona is a girl she should be cared for by a girl. She's doing O.K. I guess but she won't let me near her," he said. It was stupid really. The horse liked him better than Ilia. Once they knew that the little foal would survive, Link had named her after his Granddad's horse in Hyrule. It had felt right. The foal even looked like Granddad's Epona with her brown coat and light almost white mane and tail.

Ilia had been a bit put out when everyone had agreed that it was a great name.

Fado chuckled. "Let her have her fun she likes nursing the little one," he said.

Link rolled his eyes. "I'll have to start halter breaking her soon and she needs to move around more or her muscles and bones won't develop properly. I guess I'll have to make certain that happens," he said.

Fado shook his head. "I've got no clue how you know so much about horses but I guess it is good you do," he said.

"My grandparents had horses and they taught all of their grandkids how to handle them," Link said. "We all knew how to ride and how to take care of the horses both before and afterwards." His gaze turned towards the forest where he'd arrived in Hyrule. He missed his family.

Fado allowed him his peace. There was very little the man could say or do. What did you tell a young man that had lost everything?

…

Link walked over to Ordon Spring where Ilia could most often be found with Epona. He stopped by the gate and looked in. The spring was beautiful with its cascading clear water and lush trees. There was an almost constant rainbow hanging in the air above the water and horse grass was growing in clusters in the sand.

Ilia was petting Epona softly, but the blond could see that the pony was restless. He walked forward. "You know she needs to get a chance to run around Ilia," he said.

The Green eyed girl looked up. "She is just a baby she needs to be take…"

"She needs to move around or her bones won't develop the way they should. From tomorrow onwards she will be spending time with me during the day so she can get the exercise she needs," Link cut her off. "Up until now the amount she's been running around when she's with you has been plenty enough but she's getting bigger and needs more now." His tone was short not necessarily because he disliked Ilia but because his message had to get across.

The thirteen-year-old girl narrowed her eyes at him. She didn't like being told what she could and couldn't do. She was the Mayor's daughter after all. She was about to open her mouth and tell the rude boy off when Link started talking again, "Look I've handled horses since I was like four I know what they need Ilia. You don't," he said bluntly. He hummed a tune his granddad had taught him. It was called Epona's Song.

Epona trotted over to him. She threw her head about and neighed. "Hey girl, you know I think there'll be rain tonight we should go to the stables with you," Link said softly. He placed a hand on her neck gently and started walking back to the village leaving a confused and fuming Ilia behind.

The brush moved in long strokes over the mare's side. They had been out trotting around the forest and getting a feel for the saddle. Epona was a great horse. Link had never felt as connected to a horse as he did to her. He now understood what his grandfathers had been on about when they spoke of Epona and Seidan.

Fado had been hoping that Epona would be able to help them with the goats, and Link was pretty certain he could manage that. It would take some training but they'd get there. He placed the brush back in its bucket when he was done. He stretched and looked up at the sky. It was clear and warm Epona could stay out tonight. "There you go girl," he said and ran his fingers down the bridge of her nose. He made certain that she had enough water before heading into the main part of the village.

"So, you're back now Link. Talo was looking for you earlier," Jaggle said from his position on top of a rock. Jaggle was Talo and Malo's father and generally a lazy layabout. He tended to stand on the very same rock he was standing on right this moment and look down at the river. He called it keeping watch but most people knew better. His sons Talo and Malo were eight and two years old in that order. They were both brunets with green eyes. Their mother, Pergie, could more often than not be found in their house. She was an excellent cook.

Link sighed. He hoped that Talo hadn't gone off to bully Colin when the brunet couldn't find him. The boys were the same age, but they didn't get along very well. Two years in Ordon had taught the blond the best way to handle the boys was to tell them a story. They would both listen and shut up. It was the most civil anyone could get them. "I better go find him then," he told Jaggle.

The man chuckled. "That is most likely a good idea. He and Beth were heading over towards the mayor's house last I saw them," he said.

Link thanked Jaggle for the information and started walking. His suspicions about what the two kids were up to were confirmed when he saw them and Colin standing together behind the Mayor's house. Beth the only girl among the younger children was standing off to the side while Talo was ridiculing poor Colin. Beth noticed Link and told the boys, "Stop it you're so childish." She turned to Link fully. "Hey Link where have you been?" she asked.

The blond rolled his eyes before he walked closer and gave Talo a pointed look. "I was out riding Epona," he answered her.

Beth was two years older than the boys, and Link really couldn't understand why she was hanging around Talo. The boy was mean and immature and frankly tended to get on his nerves something awful. He normally didn't let his irritation show though. He might have a temper but Harry had taught him how to control that years ago because of his elemental ability. An angry Link just wasn't healthy for anything in his vicinity.

Beth's mother, Sera, owned the only shop in town and her father, Hanch, was the supplier. They didn't really sell anything that people needed which reminded Link of the Kokiri shop that his Granddad had told him about.

The kids eventually managed to convince him to tell them a story. Not that he was that difficult to convince. He was going to tell them a story about a magical child in a strange land.