Chapter 2
"Epona, come here," Link called from the steps, interrupting the flow of her memories. She trotted over to him. He patted her neck and pulled himself up onto her saddle. He steered her away from the delicious grass, over the bridge that spanned the stream, and toward the Gerudo's fortress. As they galloped through the fields, Epona could make out the shape of the Lon Lon Ranch. Epona faded back into her memories.
Malon had tried to steer Epona off the road and out of the dark man's way, but Epona would not budge. She hated to disobey her best friend, but Zelda's life was in danger, and every moment she could stall the dark man was another moment's lead for the princess. She stood firm. The man moved forward, and Epona could see his face clearly as a bolt of lightning streaked across the black sky. It was a face that had haunted her most terrifying nightmares.
The man shouted at Malon to move off the bridge. When she did not move, he and his tall black horse galloped forward. Epona could sense Malon's fear as she clung to her back. She moved aside at the last moment. The dark man rushed down the hill and through the city. Epona followed behind him.
Epona followed him to the great wooden drawbridge that protected the city. Malon pulled on the reins to stop. This time Epona obeyed. They watched from the shadows as the dark man stopped. Someone was standing on the road before him keeping him from following the princess and her nurse as they road off on their white horse.
Epona tried to listen to what they were saying, but she was to far from them. The nightmare man's body tensed up with anger. He raised his hand and threw an orb of black energy at the person in the road, knocking them to the ground. She heard the man cackle as he took off again in the direction the princess had fled. The dark clouds disappeared and the sky again grew light.
Malon jumped to the ground from Epona's back. She ran to the figure lying on the ground. As she offered her hand to help him up, Epona saw who it was, the boy with the fairy.
The boy was dazed. He tried to stand, but fell down. Malon sat with him until he could walk again. He walked to the edge of the moat that surrounded the castle. He peered into the moat. He looked like he was searching for something in its clear blue depths. A look of surprise crossed his face and he leapt into its icy waters. Malon tried to stop him, but his motion had been to sudden.
He swam to the bottom and ran his hands along the rocks that lined the moat. The boy resurfaced, holding in his hand a blue, potato-shaped object. His eyes closed and he sank back into the water in a trance. Malon jumped in after him. She wrapped her arm around him, and managed to pull him back to the surface, but his weight was too much for her, and she started to sink.
Epona rushed to the moat. After a moment's hesitation, she jumped in. She clumsily swam over to the boy and her friend. She grabbed Malon's dress in her teeth. She struggled to get to the land, but finally found her footing and dragged the boy and Malon onto the soft grass. Epona licked Malon's face until she gasped and opened her eyes.
Link coughed and sat up, holding the ocarina in his hand. Epona shook the water from her coat and walked over to the bridge. Malon walked over to her and wrapped he arms around the horse's neck. They stood in their embrace for a long time, and Malon thanked Epona for saving them.
Malon walked back to the boy. She knelt beside him and talked for a moment. He stood up and walked over to Epona. He patted her nose and took a carrot out of his pocket. It was a little soft, but delicious. She whinnied in appreciation.
Malon, Link, and Epona sat in the grass under the afternoon sun drying off.