Save Me from the Dark

It is easier to make someone believe something that isn't there is, than to make them believe something that is there isn't.

I read that once in a book, and I remember it now clearly. It was written as a foot note, tiny letters I had to squint to see, and almost entirely faded. But the words, they rang so deeply in me, that I knew I would never forget them. Those words were the reason I doubted my mother in my dream, and they were also the reason I doubted seeing the fairy boy a few days ago. Right now, it's as if I can see them floating in the air. Tempting me.

When I woke up this morning, it was with the same lethargic enthusiasm as all the other times. I went through my daily routines and expected nothing to be out of order. Just another day, a few changes in the people, but over all the same. I wasn't expecting anything different. Of course, that's exactly what the Goddesses had decided was to happen. Big Elba, the biggest cow in the ranch, though not the best milk provider, was dead.

So I stand now, thinking those words, mulling them over in my mind. As far back as I can remember Big Elba had been in the ranch. She was the worst cow to milk, I never liked milking her, but I never expected to see her dead. I know that's ridiculous, after all, a cow doesn't have the same life expectancy as a human, and if I weren't to see her die, then she was to see me die. And that would mean I'd have to die young. And looking at her there I realized, I didn't want to die young.

Minutes later I realize I haven't moved since I entered the small tower, and that it's starting to reek. Or maybe the stench was there for a while and I was only beginning to smell it. A bit unstable, I walk out the door and look around for Mr. Ingo. I make a hasty scan over the ranch, and I don't see him. What if he didn't come back? I shake my head. Silly thoughts. Why wouldn't he come back? He lives here.

I run as quickly as my dress allows, and reach the stable. He's in there, taking his horse out and once he looks at my disheveled self, frowns.

"What happened?" he asks, leading the horse out carefully.

I gasp, trying to catch my breath. It's been a while since I ran so much, I've been lazy lately. "Big Elba… she's… dead."

I see his eyes widen a bit, but he continues leading the horse out. I move to the side and let him pass. Once he's out, he mounts and looks down at me.

"Are you sure?"

I roll my eyes at the question, "Of course I'm sure. I stopped playing those game when I was six."

"You might've been bored." He says, and rides towards the tower. When he gets there I see him dismount and go inside. Sighing I hug myself and walk to the house. Poor Elba.

After what seems to me like few minutes, but it probably was about a few hours, I go back outside to see how Ingo is dealing. There's no one in the ranch. That means Elba was already taken to the same place all other dead animals of Hyrule are taken. Not even a proper burial. There's nothing to do now, so again I look around the ranch. Oh Epona, where are you?

And then, as if she could hear me, and sometimes I think she does, Epona trots into the ranch. Now see, that is one heck of a horse. Even when she was small I could tell she was special. My father used to say that if she was human she would probably look a lot like me, except with white streaks on her hair. I used to say that it was better if she stayed as a horse. That she would be better for humanity that way. I thought she was the best. Still do.

"Hello girl." I say as she stops besides me. I pass my hand and caress her. And she nuzzles me and I swear she wants me to mount her. Not one to shy away from a good galloping, I mount her and she walks a little. We start making laps around the ranch, just like the old days.

There's nothing more exhilarating than running on a horse. The wind hits your face, and your feel almost as if nothing could stop you. It' a steady rhythm, and though not smooth, with Epona it almost feels like gliding. Almost. It's been a while since I rode Epona so freely. I look up and deduct that its still early enough for a ride outside. Increasing her speed, we leave the ranch. Open doors behind, open grass ahead.

When I return to the ranch, almost sunset, and Epona is already roaming around, I realize that that afternoon I became poetic again. Something I don't quite understand, but it happened nevertheless. As I passed along Hyrule's fields I noticed the sky's darkening tones, and the way the grass moved. The songs the wind sung and the birds in the sky. Gag me please. I can't help it – I smile.

Shaking my head at the silliness of it all I sit in the middle of the horse track. I used to come here all the time, before the whole depression thing, and sing. I remember it was the first place I talked to the Fairy Boy. It was the place I learned to ride Epona. The place my daddy explained, through his blushing and stuttering what the Madam had already told me about the birds and the bees. It was the place where I let go of my emotions.

But right now?

Now I want to sing.

Silly isn't it? I mean, nothing has changed. I haven't discovered some great truth, no one has shown me the light. I have no reason to sing my song. My mother's song.

But who cares, if this is rock bottom, I only have room to go up.

As my mouth forms the familiar words, I can almost make myself believe I've never been better.

~Fin~

Last Note: Yes, it's over, and I know it doesn't really explain everything, but it seems like one of those stories where really, nothing was supposed to change it for the better. I'm not trying to teach anything and I like it like this.

Thanks for reading. ;)