I'm back with another chapter. Here's where the story starts to pick up, and where I really have to start putting my own spin on things. This is a LONG chapter for me, so don't expect to see an update for at least a month.

As a side note, I've changed the rating from "K+" to "T".

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Change is inevitable.

I guess I should have listened to that old quote. "Expect the unexpected." Then again, I don't think anyone could have foreseen what happened. We live out in the country, where it's quiet and secluded. I mean, Link's trip was probably the most exciting thing that had happened in Ordon in the past couple years. Until that morning...

I woke up to the gentle, yet sturdy sound of a horse's hooves on solid dirt the next morning. I listened to the sound for a few minutes. After years of living in close proximity with horses and the like I could easily recognize what was going on. The horse was not galloping, nor was it walking either, but trotting at a relaxed pace. What're Epona and Link doing out so early in the morning? I thought sleepily, yawning and snuggling back down into my warm, comfy bed as it beckoned me to go back to sleep. As my head hit the pillow, a feeling of dread washed over me. Link would be leaving for Castle Town today. This was the first full night of sleep that I had gotten in a long time, and as much as I wanted to relax, I needed to give Link the Horse Charm before he left. Maybe afterwards I could take a nap or something.

Throwing off the covers and swinging my legs over the side of the frame, I willed my self to stand. The cold, drafty air stung my body through my light nightdress. Looking for my robe, which I had apparently misplaced, my eyes fell over my open dresser. Neatly folded inside were my favorite short brown pants and long shirt, which I had laundered the night before. Quickly, I changed into them, feeling a bit more comfortable in my favorite clothes. Yawning, I trudged down the wooden stairs, absentmindedly fixing breakfast, the usual morning routine.

As I was frying eggs I felt warm breath and a deep, ragged voice over my shoulder.

"Whatcha makin'?

I yelped and knocked over the pan of partially uncooked eggs. I whipped around and clutched the wall behind me, my heart racing.

"DAD!"

"What? What'd I do?" He looked alarmed.

"You don't ever do that!" I shouted at him.

"Oh, come on, don't make such a big deal out of it. You're overreacting."

"Father, you just don't do that to girls! It freaks them out."

"How so?"

"It just...ugh. Never mind." I rolled my eyes, bent down, and started scraping up the spilled egg in my hands. "What're you doing up so early anyway?" I asked him. Father is not known for being an early riser.

"Well, I thought I'd give Link some, eh, last minute advice before he sets off. Just...wanna make sure he presents the gift to the Royal Family properly. We don't wanna be gettin' a bad reputation, now. By the goddesses, I hope he at least brushed his hair."

I chuckled at this. Father would worry about things like that. I made a mad dash for the trash barrel, my cupped hands full of wet, sticky egg. Wiping my hands on a nearby dish towel I headed outside for some new eggs.

Our "backyard" was small, just big enough for our Cuccoos to be comfortable in, and it was set on a small, sloping cliff. As I bent down near the birds nests and gathered some of the eggs I could hear Link's shouts in the ranch.

"Hyahh!" A neigh from Epona followed. I hope he wasn't pushing her too hard. That poor horse does enough work as it is...

After a quick breakfast Father and I walked out the front door just in time to see Link riding Epona down the gentle slope from the ranch. I smiled.

"Father, he's ready!"

I jogged up along side Link, feeling his excitement.

"Hey! I guess today's the big day, huh?"

"Yeah." He answered back modestly. "Hopefully I won't mess up anything. I mean...the Royal Family...wow." His humbleness aggravated me.

"Oh, come on, you know they'll love you. Hey, when you get back be sure to tell me all about Castle Town, alright?"

"Of course." He gave me another brilliant smile. Out of the corner of my eye I saw father motion Link to come to him. Obliging, Link hopped off Epona. I turned to her and petted her forelock.

"The path before you is a long one, my sweet horse…but please bear Link safely along it." I felt the horse charm that I kept in the pouch above my knee bump the side of her front left leg, and she gave a soft whinny and shied away from me. I was immediately alarmed, this was unusual behavior for Epona. I leaned down and examined her leg. Involuntarily I gave a short gasp.

"Wait...what's this? What's happened?"

Across her knee there was a raw, red scrape. Dirt and dust was caked around the edges, and gnats and flies flew angrily around the wound. Anger bubbled inside of me. I thought back to what Father had said about Link going into the forest yesterday...I remembered those fences that had been put up ever since I could remember...the only way over was to...

"She's injured, isn't she?!?!" I stood up, and stomped over to him, staring him in the eyes. "Link, how could you?" He glanced down at the cut and winced apologetically.

"I'll bet you hurt her leg jumping fences, didn't you?" Link looked up. I saw his expression change from regretful to defiant. His eyes narrowed, and he started to protest when Father cut him off.

"Now now, Ilia. There's no need to get so hot with him..."

This really set me off.

"FATHER! How can you be so easy on him? You're the MAYOR! You should start acting like one!" I turned back to Epona.

"You poor thing...It'll be alright Epona. I'll take you to the forest spring right now." I took her reign and began to lead her out of the village.

"Once we sooth you in the spirit's spring, you'll feel better in no time!"

I heard Father shout behind me. "W-w-wait! Ilia! Why, without Epona the gift won't get delivered in time!" I ignored him. Father...he would worry about this stupid gift delivery. And Link! He knew Epona was up for a long journey soon...he shouldn't have been so careless...

My cheeks were warm with emotion. As I entered the pass in front of Link's house, Talo, Malo and Beth ran up to me, hammering me with questions. Colin stood back, looking guilty.

"What was all that yelling, Ilia?"

"Why do you have Epona?"

"Shouldn't Link be delivering the gift right now?"

"Move." I said in a low, quiet voice. They all fell silent and moved out of the way. I continued to lead Epona to the spring. I turned back for a moment.

"Keep Link out."

I had known Link for as long as I could remember. He would try to talk me out of this, try to get Epona back, and try to persuade me to forgive him. No. I wouldn't do it. His charming personality got him out of everything. He was a stuck up, manipulative jerk who would do anything to get what he wanted....

Guilt started to plague me as I washed out Epona's wound. I knew Link wasn't like that. He was exactly the opposite. I thought of the Horse Call I'd spent so long making for him weigh down the pouch above my knee. I had worked so hard on that for a reason....

"Ilia?" I looked up.

"Colin? What are you doing here?" Colin, scared and meek, looked up at me through the vines on the spring gate. He hesitantly walked in and closed the it behind him. "Lock it." I ordered. Colin obeyed. I knew what was coming, and I was right. Moments later Link walked up behind to the entrance. My eyes narrowed.

"If you came to take Epona back, you can FORGET it! Why don't you think about what you've done for a change? I won't open the gate until you've changed your attitude!" Somehow, when I looked at his face all the anger surfaced through again. Link, exasperated, rolled his eyes, an annoyed expression on his face. Colin sighed.

"Ilia, you don't know what happened yesterday..." He turned back to Link, and I couldn't make out what they were saying. I turned back to my work.

"Ilia, please listen to me. The only way to get to Talo was by jumping a fence with Epona. He was kidnapped by a couple of monsters, who knows what they would have done to him... You know that Link would have been more careful in a different situation..."

I was mildly surprised by this. Father had really downplayed the situation. I could feel my cheeks burning red again, this time with a mix of shame, embarrassment, and annoyance at myself for overreacting. I cleared my throat.

"I had no idea...I hadn't heard the details about Talo's capture...But, Colin..." I stared nervously at my feet in the water...something in the back of my mind kept nagging me. How...how was I supposed to say this? I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.

Link stood, brushing the dirt off his clothes, at the entrance of the small tunnel on one side of the spring. When we were kids we used to play in that tunnel all the time...I had forgotten about it.

Unable to look at his face, I turned back to Epona and reached for her long, graceful neck, but she whinnied, snorted, and turned her head away. I glanced downwards.

"So you still prefer your master over me, huh, Epona?" I turned to Link with a knowing smile. "Don't worry about your horse, Link. Fortunately, it looks like the injury isn't too serious. You two can go on together. But, Link...Can you at least promise me this?" I paused a moment. Flashes of Link's sword fighting sessions and monsters ran through my mind.

"No matter what happens on your journey, don't try to do anything...out of you league. Please...just come home safely."

Link's face softened, and he smiled that wonderful smile again. I could feel the tension between us fade away.

I reached for my pouch. Now would be the perfect time to give Link the horse charm...

My hand froze.

Everything happened so fast.

In the distance, there was thumping. Sort of like a horse's trot, only loud, more thunderous, heavy. Epona gave a frightened whinny, and reared up. I turned to calm her when I heard an earsplitting crash.

A huge, ugly bulbo crashed through the frail wooden gate. On top of it were two Bulbins, who were shouting and grunting. With it's enormous snout the bulbo hit Colin, and he fell to the ground, knocking him out cold. Epona reared up again and dashed off. One of the monsters locked eyes with me.

I couldn't move. I could only watch as it aimed it's bow at me. My legs were frozen in place, and I forgot how to breath. Everything seemed to go in slow motion, even as the arrow soared towards me. I found the will to move, and I turned around, in an attempt to escape.

A blinding pain like lightning struck my shoulder. I fell to the water, face down. I'm going to drown, I'm going to drown... I thought wildly. Water filled my lungs. I couldn't feel anything except for pain...couldn't move...I heard Link shout and a splash...not him too...Someone lifted me out of the water, and I hung limply, my legs dangling in the spring. I found the strength to open my eyes a bit.

The last thing I saw was a cloud of blood staining the spring where I had lay moments ago.

Then everything went black.

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-Peaches732