Chapter 1

"Hey! Link! You there?"

A voice startled Link from his sleep sending him out of his chair and onto the floor. He groaned, standing up, and climbed the ladder to the third floor of his house. He looked out the window to see Fado with his hands cupped around his mouth, shouting up to him.

"Hey, you mind helpin' me herd the goats? They ain't listenin' to me lately!"

Link nodded, rubbing his eyes from the little sleep they had received, and headed down the ladders to the first floor.

" I'm going to make some stairs after that bed." Link grimaced.

As he unlocked his front door he could hear Fado saying, " Hey, where's Epona?"

Of course. Link sighed and dropped down to the earth. He held his hand up to quiet the man.

"I'll go get her. Meet ya' there."

He laughed to himself as Fado scratched his head and walked back to the village. Link headed into the woods. She must have worked late. She usually takes her right around the time I'm done gathering supplies with Rusl. That was supposed to be about an hour ago, so they should have been back by now, he thought to himself. He stopped at the entrance to Ordon Spring and just stood like a stupid boy, awestruck. There in the spring, with the sun's last gleaming rays shining down, highlighting her beautiful face, was Ilia with Epona. Link stepped forward, the sand rolling under his sandals. He stopped and watched Ilia move towards Epona, hand outstretched. It seemed as if time slowly went by as he watched her caress the beautiful bronze colored horse. She turned to look at him, her cowlick in the back swinging out to her right, just making her even more cute.

" Oh, hi, Link."

A blush crept into his cheeks. She sounded like an angel.

"I washed Epona for you!"

Link smiled. " A bit late tonight? I need to herd them goats."

She looked at the ground shamefully.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be closin' the ranch tonight."

Link walked up to her, laughing at how quick she was to apologize sometimes.

"Oh, it's ok. I'm just messin'. Isn't that right girl?"

Link softly pushed his fist into Epona's nose, a soft, playful, punch.

"Epona is a girl too, so you have to treat her nice like one!" Ilia huffed.

Link laughed. Ilia cared so much about his horse. If only she cared about him that much.

"Oh, but listen, Link... could you do something for me?"

He looked at her and smiled "Sure Ilia."

She looked down at the water around her ankles, then back up at him.

"Can you use a piece of grass to play that song for me? You know, the one that Epona likes?" She smiled sweetly.

Oh Nayru, she didn't have to do that! He would have done it anyways. Link shrugged, turned toward the bank and walked over to a patch of Horseshoe Reeds, at least that's what he called them. They were brown on the end and were in the shape of a horseshoe, and Epona loved the sound the reeds made. He tilted his head up, and began to blow the 3-note tune that he used to get Epona's attention. She ran through the water, splashing Ilia in the process, and nuzzled link with her nose. Ilia laughed, making Link's blush grow redder once more. He walked up to the left side of Epona and jumped up into her saddle, looking back at Ilia, whose eyes were drawn somewhere else.

"It's such a nice melody...thanks, Link" She smiled, lost in thought.

"See ya later, Ilia," and with that he struck his heels to Epona's sides and galloped towards the village.

Link and Epona trotted into town. Beth was closing down her mother, Sera's, shop, the mother and daughter rolling their eyes at the father, saying something about being useless.Poor guy. He continued on and saw Rusl practicing near the creek, Uli and Colin watched Rusl, Uli caressing her stomach and Colin looking towards the ground. Link looked down at Uli's ever growing stomach. That baby was going to be due probably by next month. As Link passed the tiny bridge, he waved to Mayor Bo, who was trying to lock up his chicken. Link laughed as the overweight man ran after the fast clucking bird. Link raced up to the ranch, ready to go to bed and wanting to get his work done so he could get some sleep. As Link approached, he felt at home. He sure loved it here. Link had basically grown up on the ranch, helping Fado with the goats. The broad built man was waiting out in the middle of the ranch for Link.

"Sorry to get you over here in such a hurry, Link! These guys have been awful skittish lately. They won't listen to a word I say. Sorry to ask, bud, but how's about you an' Epona herd 'em into the barn real quick? We ain't got much time, so you think you can do it for me?"

Link knew Fado was just as tired as himself.

" Of course Fado. I got this one" Link flashed a lazy smile and turned toward the goats, nodded, and set Epona at a gallop. They started in the back and gathered all of them into a circle in the middle of the ranch. Then Link charged them forward, all of them running for a getaway into the barn. So easy. He yawned his arms stretching out.

"Link, Epona... Much obliged to both of y'all! I can cover everythin' tomorrow without havin' to trouble you, so just sit back an' relax, bud." He scratched his head, grinning from ear to ear.

" Thanks Fado. You be safe locking up now." Link nodded to the large boned man and rode off jumping over the gate as the sky turned dark. Now to get some rest.