"Oh." Meghan said, for a lack of a better thing to say.
"You're probably wondering why."
"I guess."
"Well," She started, looking to the floor, and then to Meghan, "I think that he really deserves it. I really have not much need for it. The only reason I took it back…was so I could return him to his rightful time. But know that you're here, I don't think that I need to. Link still needs to put the Master Sword back, so Ganon doesn't escape, but I don't think that…he really needs to go back in time. The only thing is, I really have no control over that. If he does, well I don't know, but…I think he should at least take it while we are here."
"Wow. We're so unsure of everything. It's like we're helpless to whatever happens."
"Yes, a lot of things are uncertain in these times. But," she extended her hand to Meghan. "can you give it to him for me?"
"Yes, but why me?"
"Although it may not seem like it, every time I see Link it hurts me deeply." She pulled the ocarina back towards herself. "It's like we're brother and sister, I can't stand to see him hurt, emotionally, physically, or anything. And when I see him, it reminds me that maybe we won't remember, or maybe I won't remember, or he won't. I just can't. Please, you must do this for me."
"OK, I will." Meghan took it from Zelda, remembering what it was like. She had held it sometimes, and through the battle with Ganondorf, but today it felt different. Like it was holding Zelda's sadness. But it still confused Meghan why, if she worried about Link so much, Zelda would not take joy in seeing Link. Maybe there was something deeper than just their friendship. Or maybe she was imagining things?
Meghan carefully put the ocarina in her backpack, and zipped it closed carefully.
"Thank you so much. Even if it's only for a little while."
"Zelda, what do you think will truly happen when Link puts it back in?"
"Well, I can't be certain. And I want you to realize anything I say could happen, or may not happen. I don't want you to get your hopes up, or down, when I say this.
"Most likely, since the Master Sword is the passage through time for Link, he will return to his child form. He may or may not remember these events, but most likely will. It is you, however, that I am unsure of. Because you were not here, you may return to your old world. Or you may remain here, and just be younger. But there is so much possibility of what may happen, depending which way you look like it. I do not believe that you will return to your old world, because it was through the gods that you got here. They would have to bring you back, and I doubt that replacing the Master Sword would have enough power to.
"But, since you were not here seven years ago, it would be strange if you became a child. So…really where you will go is a mystery. And I'm so sorry if it seems harsh…but sometimes where life takes us is. And you do realize that we have to put the sword back, right?"
"Of course. I don't care. I mean, I don't really…it doesn't effect me. Well it does…but…I realize that it is important." Zelda nodded in understanding.
"For that I am glad. I would not want to put you through this if you didn't know why we had to. I'm sorry." She looked at the floor. "But for now, we must forget it. Enjoy what we are certain of for now. Oh, I'm sure Link is waiting by now. Let us go." Zelda stepped past Meghan. She walked to the door. After a few seconds, Meghan followed her. Zelda locked the door and returned to her room. With Meghan still following, they left the room and turned some halls. Finally, they got to an exit. They walked in silence side by side until they reached the outside of the castle. They walked into the town a little bit.
"Now Meghan, I must return to the castle. There are so many things I need to do, I can't really help it. I will see you again very soon. Will you be OK if I leave you here? I am sorry."
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll see you soon. Bye."
"Good bye, Meghan." Zelda gave her a quick hug and turned. Meghan turned and walked the rest of the way out of the town.
Once in the field, Meghan looked around. She hoped Link wasn't there, for once in a very LONG time she wanted to be alone. And she hoped Link didn't have Epona with him. OK, so she didn't want to be completely alone, but at the moment Epona seemed to be a good choice of company…
She took the Ocarina of Time from her backpack. Being very careful, she played Epona's song. She was relieved to see that Epona was by herself. She trotted over to her, snorting as she came to a stop.
"Hello, do you mind if I ride you?" Epona gave a small sound. "Was that a yes or a no?" Epona made a larger noise of the same kind. "OK, I'll take that as a yes." She made her way to the side of Epona, and used the stirrups to hoist herself atop the mare. "Epona, can you…go some where?" she asked hesitantly, not knowing if Epona would understand. But with a shrill whinny, Epona took off. She went to the part of the field where the empty forest was.
In the game, this was just a spot that you couldn't go in, but it looked like woods from the outside. However, Epona went right into it, down a path that seemed to have been made by her hooves, and only hers. Meghan had to duck out of the way of branches a few times, but managed to get through with just a cut on her forehead.
Epona kept going until they reached a cave. Meghan got off, thinking that Epona might be afraid of going in it and was going to go in by herself. But she was surprised that when she got off, Epona went forward again into the cave. She kept going into the darkness.
"Epona, come back!" Meghan yelled after her, and followed. Just before she entered, though, she realized that this cave wasn't very long. Where did Epona go, then?
Meghan ran through the almost total darkness, following the sound of Epona's foot steps. She heard her slowing, so she did too.
Meghan saw light before her, and soon the cave opened up. She saw Epona drinking from a fountain. But this was no ordinary fountain.
It looked like a Great Fairy fountain, but the torches with the colored flames were not there. What made it unique, though, was the three statues of unicorn heads facing different directions in the middle of the fountain. Epona lifted her head, lips dripping, from the sparkly water and nickered a hello to Meghan.
"Hi silly, I just saw you. What is this place?" she walked to Epona and rubbed her neck. Epona tossed her head towards the stone unicorn heads. "Heads?" Epona tossed her head side to side then towards the heads again. "Unicorns?" Epona made a small noise. "What do they have to do with anything?" Epona walked back over to the fountain and began to drink again. "You're confusing me again. I need Link to translate."
Epona continued to lap up the water. Then she stopped. Meghan walked over to the fountain and sat on the top step leading to the fountain. She looked into the clear, crisp, clean water sparkling in the lights. She put her hand in the water. It was cool, and looked good enough to drink. She cupped some in her hand smelled it. Smelled like water. What did she expect? Epona came over, seeing something in her hand and nudged it. The water spilled on Meghan's lap.
"Epona! You silly horse. Oh, well." She brushed herself off and stood. "This place is cool. Does anybody else know about it?" Epona tossed her head. "Are you sure?" Epona didn't do anything. "Come on," Epona just looked at her, standing slightly to her side. "Can we keep it a secret?" Epona brought her head up and down and turned in a circle.
"You must be the smartest horse ever. So it's a secret?" Epona made her little noise again. "Good. Do you like to be rubbed?" Without waiting for an answer, Meghan moved her fingers to Epona's neck and moved them around in little circles, something called T-touch. Many horses love it, so why not a Hylian one? Epona's lip twitched and soon she rested her head on Meghan's shoulders. Meghan told her of her problems softly.
"Zelda wants me to stay at the castle. But I don't know what to do. I can't, but I can't turn her down, and I can't continue living at Saria's house when I've had this offer. And also, I don't want to be so far from Link. Every morning I would have to go all the way across the field just to see him. And that in itself takes a while. Just think…I couldn't wake him up…but then what happens if I have to go back? Then it wouldn't really matter. I would only be in the castle for like one day. Maybe I'll tell Zelda to wait until after…you know. But then what if I turn into a kid? That'd be really strange. Would I remember? Would anybody remember? Hey, Maybe everybody would remember." Epona's eyes closed. "Oh, you're not listening." Epona gave a snort of protest while still leaning on Meghan. "You're so cute." She whispered, still moving her fingers in circles over Epona's neck. "What am I ever gonna do?" Epona removed herself and looked at Meghan.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Epona stepped backwards. "What?" Epona moved herself parallel to Meghan. Meghan stared for a second. "What are you doing?" Epona sidestepped into Meghan. "Hey!" Meghan stepped back. Epona did it again. "You confuse me." she looked for a few more seconds. "Do…you want me to ride you?" Epona stepped towards her again. "I'll take that as a yes." She pulled herself into the saddle, and as soon as she was on, Epona took off back out through the cave. Meghan had to duck down to avoid hitting her head. Once they were outside, Epona kept going through the woods the way they had come. It must have been much later, the sun was almost down.
"Now what were you telling me?" Epona went faster. Meghan grabbed the reins tightly. "Epona!" She kept going. Before long, she realized what she was trying to do. Well, maybe. She saw Link over the hill. "Epona, do you want me to tell him?" she whispered into the mare's ear. She slowed down, getting closer to Link. "Really?" She stopped. Link walked over. "OK…HI!"
"You've been with Zelda this whole time?"
"I don't even get a HI?"
"Oh, right. Sorry, HI. Where have you been?"
"With Zelda." Meghan lied.
"You could have just answered that in the first place." Meghan gave him an odd look.
"Are you OK?"
"Yeah," he replied. "Why?"
"You seem irritable."
"Just worried."
"About what?"
"Nothing."
"If you tell me what you're worried about, I'll tell you what I'm worried about." Silence. "Link…"
"What?" he asked suddenly, as though he wasn't paying attention.
"God, never mind." The sun was completely down now, and just a bit of light lit the field up ever so slightly. "Are you awake?"
"I think so."
"What is up?"
"I don't know. Nothing."
"Wow. Do you realize the sun went down?" There was bit of silence. Link walked to Epona and rubbed her.
"So what did Zelda tell you?" he asked. Meghan knew something was wrong.
"Uh," she said "Nothing really. I just…well…Link, what's the matter?"
"Nothing. Why do you keep asking?" he said, not looking up from where he was rubbing Epona.
"You don't seem to be paying attention to anything."
"I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
"Things I think about." He said. They couldn't tell each other what was on their minds… "But. Really, go on."
"It's dark outside. Shouldn't we be going back?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Are you gonna sleep tonight again?" He finally looked at her.
"Why do you ask such strange questions?"
"Why are you acting so weird?"
"Why am I acting weird?"
"Why do I ask strange questions? It's the same answer for both, I suppose. This conversation is really going nowhere."
"Yes, I suppose."
"Come on." She said, taking Epona and leading her towards the Kokiri Forest. Should I tell him? No, he's too worried thinking about something else.
What am I going to do…? He thought. Her birthday is the day after I have to return the Master Sword. He continued thinking this way…until…
"Here, Epona. Return to the ranch." Meghan told the horse. It just occurred to me that Epona seems to like Meghan today. Not that she didn't before, just more.
Meghan also whispered in the horse's ear "Remember, don't tell a soul." Epona whinnied, and then ran off. They walked into the forest. Link walked Meghan to Saria's house.
"Good night." He said, waiting for her to go inside.
"Uh, Link, can you come in for a second? I have to give you something, but I don't want to do it out in the open."
"Nobody is here. It's OK, you can give whatever it is to me here."
"No, please it's REALLY important."
"OK, I guess." He followed Meghan inside Saria's house. Saria never cared if he came in. Meghan took off her backpack and opened it.
"Zelda…Zelda wanted me to give you this." She took the Ocarina of Time out gently and put it in Link's hands.
"Oh, no. Why would she do that?"
"She said that you deserve it."
"But I can't have this, really, it's too important! I have to give it back. I'll do it first thing tomorrow."
"No! I mean, Zelda seemed really sincere; she really, REALLY wanted you to have it. Just take it, please. It would make Zelda happy. Please." Link looked at her for a while, and thought about what he should do. He looked at the familiar instrument in his hands, the one he used throughout his adventure. He did want to keep it, but knew it was better off with Zelda. Still, Meghan wouldn't tell him to keep it if Zelda hadn't really seemed serious about him keeping it. So he decided that he would, at least for now.
"Alright, I think."
"Good. And one more thing I need to tell you. I…" she was going to ask him about staying in the castle. But what would his answer be? Most likely something like "do whatever you want, it's your decision" or something else that wouldn't help her much. Especially when he was so distracted.She stood with her mouth open, then closed it, quickly thinking about something to say.
"I'm sorry about this morning." She said quickly.
"…Just promise not to do that again..."
"OK. No more."
"Never fail me."
"OK. You must too."
"Yes. I won't either." He squeezed the ocarina in his hand. After a few seconds, he said "Good night."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow." Just as he was about to leave, Meghan stepped over to him and gave him a big hug. He hugged her back. "Bye."
"Bye." He left. Meghan got ready to sleep. Today was an embarrassing sort of day. She realized how embarrassed she was doing what she did this morning. What had ever possessed her to do such a thing? (A/N -Ironically. She pretended to be possessed and thenwonders what possessed her to pretend to be possessed.)
MEANWHILE
Link stared at the Ocarina in his hands. Why had Zelda given it to him? There must have been a deeper reason than just he deserved it. After much more staring and thinking, he put the ocarina on the table. He sat back on his bed, picking up the book once again. He began to read. He had only a few more chapters left.
MEANWHILE
Meghan fell asleep. She had a dream about a unicorn. And Epona. She was riding a unicorn? What?
MEANWHILE
Epona trotted over to the ranch. Epona was lonely. She wished she could go with Link into the forest, but he had once said that she was too big, and the kids in there would not know how to handle her. She wanted to find Malon, but Malon was probably inside, almost. She gave a big horsey sigh and made her way in the ranch. She was surprised that Malon was still out, just walking back to her house.
"Epona! Oh there you are! I was just about to go inside! Come on!" she took Epona's reins and led her to the stables. She led her in, and removed the saddle and bridle. She brushed her for while longer, then finally said goodnight. She left Epona's stall door open. She knew she wouldn't go anywhere.
Epona yawned and lay down. She wasn't lonely anymore. She loved Malon, especially when she groomed her.
Yup, this was the life.
So…do you like it? Hmm…
I know I made Epona's intelligence a bit supernatural, but that was the whole point. I was trying to show that Hylian horses are very intelligent.
OK, there were a few questions that many people asked, so I'm gonna answer them here instead of individually:
1 ) What was Link doing at the ranch/with Malon: Well, I can't tell you!
2 ) Why does Zelda want Link to have the ocarina: I think I answered that…MWAHAHAHAHA! No seriously, I did. Link is just 'paranoid'.
3 ) Why does Zelda want Meghan to stay at the castle: Well…I have no clue! You'll just have to ask Zelda…but it's really not that hard…wait didn't I answer that question in the story? My brain hurts.
OK, Now:
Serenity: THANK YOU! Yes Rauru is silly. And senile. (Questions answered above) Uh, THANKS AGAIN!
Meowzi: Thanks for giving your opinion. It will help in future parts of the story. I'll answer all your questions in order: yes, see above number 1, see above number 1, OH THAT'S SICK! (Nervous laughter) hey, don't rush me! NO REALLY, LIKE YOU SAID I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE SICK BUT THAT'S SICK! But don't worry. I have some parts of this story written in my head. You'll see. BUT THAT'S JUST GROSS! (Giggle)
DrippingInk: OH MY GODDESSES! Thank you ever so much! Wow, I love your review... thank you! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Tizami: Yeah, I can't keep one either. Notice she WAS laughing through some parts of it. Just evil laughter. Like this: MWAHAHAHAHA! You fell for my joke! Only she didn't say that. Thank you for your opinion on staying/leaving. Tell those brothers of yours that TVs are for watching and listening, not just listening. Or…you know what, just ignore me. THANK YOU!
Princess Kathleen: If only, if only. Now, if you would just finish the sentence…seriously, what were you going to say? I really have no clue. Unless I'm planning to do the chicken dance, unless I'm planning to eat tofu, really, WHAT? (Tee hee) But thanks for the review anyway!
EmeraldDestiny: Hey, new reviewer! Thank you! LOTS AND LOTS! Tee hee!
OK, that's done…I think…
Now I REALLY need you to tell me something! What do Gorons do for fun? I really need to know…
This is not what you think I'm asking! No…just ignore your brain and tell me…or else I can't write more! Don't think I'm telling anything about future chapters…I'm not!
