Well, I might as well say this first because it hit me while I was lying in bed last night…

Epona is hella old. I mean, she's a foal when Link finds her, making her around one, and eighteen years later, she's nineteen. Now, that's not too bad, considering some horses live to be around thirty. But, she's too old to be jumping and running and such. She can be ridden, but not pushed hard. Sorry, I studied horses for a science project and now I know tons of facts about them.

Hmm…so in this story, I shall make it a young horse of five years, with Epona as its dam. And it will be also called Epona and look like her! There! I hope that solved everything…

Thanks to all of you who answered my Zora question!

SnowCrystal: Yes, by now I've read the manga sic times over (and still counting!). The artist is truly brilliant, and now I aim to get the Majora's Mask one!

Ayadin: As cute as it would be for Ruto to return, she'd be around the same age as Zelda and Link. But I'm glad you still like it all!

UszumakiNaruto: Wow, some nice back-to-back reviews from you. :) I'm glad you like the story.

Alli-dunno: Ah yes, I remember the end. (I haven't played the game for two years…) Well, I'll keep writing if you keep reviewing!

maximushyrule: Hmm…I'm okay with suspense, I guess. LoL. Anyway, I'm glad you like. I wonder why I always say "glad you like". Maybe because it's true. LoL.

TheGoddessKnight: LoL, I guess you're no MaLink fan. That's okay. And Zach and Link may have some more bonding…

Link Fangorl01: Yay, another fan! LoL. I'm glad you like. Wow…all I say is that phrase "glad you like". Hehe…

Living the Legend

Chapter Six: A Change of Course

The meal did not pass off in silence, fortunately. Link questioned Zach much about his family and past, and Zach found it easy to make up lies, and surprsingly, none were contradictory to his previous ones. Glad it was that way, Zach continued to elaborate on his stories, knowing they were getting more convincing as he did. Link sure looked convinced. He raised it eyebrows many times with a questionable, "Really?" In turn, Zach asked Link about his past.

"My father died, and soon afterwards, my mother followed. I was raised by a good friend, and in time I got a sword and shield. My friend died a horrible death…he had been poisoned by an evil man who wanted a treasure from him."

Zach frowned at the shortness of Link's story, but passed it off as he gave in to his hunger, eating ravenously.

"Soon, when the sun rises, my parents will discover me gone, and my father will be after me," Zach explained. "I do not want to be found. Please, take me where I may be safe."

"Unless you want to venture up Death Mountain, where no one ever goes," Link said, "we are as safe as we can get here."

"Death Mountain?" Zach said in wonder. He had heard of it in his mother's tale; he didn't think it was real.

"Yes, Death Mountain. I don't know if you saw it while we were riding, but it's only to the north. A smokey ring always circles the opening of the volcano."

"What's up there?"

"Gorons."

Zach was taken aback again. Gorons? Again, from his mother's story. So maybe the legend was real. Zach pondered this deeply. He knew his mother had mentioned something special about the lake, besides the Zoras. The Hero had come to do something, yet Zach forgot what it could be.

"Did the Hero of Time ever come to this lake for anything?" Zach asked.

"Well…" Link drawled. "Yes, he did."

"He did?"

"You said your mother used to tell you the tale. Did she not mention the temples the Hero had to visit?"

"She did."

"The water temple is below that island, over there. You can see a pedastal with the Triforce sign on it."

Zach looked and saw an island off in the distance, and a sliver of white marble. His eyes grew wide.

"Are we allowed to go there?"

"Well, the Zora's treasure that place. I don't know if they would let us in."

"But the danger there has been destroyed, correct?"

"Yes, but it is still a sacred place to them."

Zach nodded.

"It is getting late. Let us retire, now, shall we? I shall keep the fire burning to keep us warm."

Zach nodded again, and curled up by the fire like a cat. Link laid the blanket over him again, and soon Zachary was asleep.

Dawn came faster than Zach thought it would. He opened his eyes, first seeing the glowing embers of the dying fire. Link lay on the other side, asleep. Getting up, he grabbed his sword and shield, and wandered down to the lake to wash his face and get a drink. Then something caught his eye.

It was blue and yellow, and it stood on the water. It had one eye and four spindly arms. Zach stared at it for a moment, and soon it came hopping over the water to him. Zach wondered what it was until the creature was upon him, bashing him. Zach let out a cry and cut the creature with his sword. It began to bleed, but it still bounced around Zach, attacking him. Zach finally rolled behind it and stabbed it in the back. Letting out an agonizing cry, it shriveled up.

"That was a tektite." Link spoke so suddenly, Zachary turned and almost beheaded the man. Link smiled at the boy. "You're quite a fighter."

"It's hard to fight up close. I should have brought my slingshot," Zach sighed.

"I have some items that may be of use to you," Like smiled at the boy, and went to Epona's saddlebag. He pulled out a small sack, and brought it back. "These are items I have earned but have no use for, as I have gained other items that are somewhat better."He handed the bag to Zach.

Zach opened it, eyes wide. First he pulled out something sharp, with a handle.

"What's this?" he asked.

"The hookshot. I have no need for it, as I have one already, the longshot," Link explained.

Zach stared at it. "Why is it called the hookshot?"

Link took the item and aimed it at a tree, and after pressing something, the sharp end flew out with a chain behind it, thudding into the tree. Link pressed the same thing again, and it pulled the chain in, bringing Link to the tree. Zach stared, jaw dropped. Link pulled the sharp end out of the trunk and tossed it to Zachary. The boy caught it, and then went back into the sack. A smile applied itself to his face at the sight of a slingshot. It was a much better slingshot than his. The wood was smooth and strong, not brittle like his old one. The sling was made of some undistinguishable fiber, but it stretched far. He looked in the sack again, this time finding myriads of tiny, hard seeds.

"They're Deku seeds," Link explained. "Perfect bullets. The bigger ones are Deku nuts, good for stunning an enemy. I'll need some of the nuts, but you can keep everything else."

Zach cried, "I cannot keep these items. They are too valuable, and besides, you barely know me."

Link's eyes softened at Zachary's last statement, but shook his head. "Keep them. I have no use to them and they are a burden to me anyway."

"I thank you," Zach spoke. "I will use them honorably in battle."

Link laughed. "Such a noble character you are. Now, if you want to practice, you can aim at that Octorok sitting just under the surface. They're quite evil, as they spit rocks out at you a lot, but they're easy to defeat. Try it."

Zach waded into the water, put a Deku seed carefully in the sling, and pulled it back. He aimed at the Octorok as it jumped out. Zach let the seed fly before the Octorok spat the rock out. It struck the Octorok just as Zach brought his shield up. The rock knocked him back slightly, but he held his ground, and aimed again. In time, the Octorok perished.

"Very good," Link called.

"Link," Zach came back. "I have made my decision. It is dawn now, and in hours they will discover me missing. Can we use those hours to get to Death Mountain?"

Link thought carefully. "It will be a three hour ride, but if you are up to it, I suppose we can go. You're that desperate to get away?"

Zach nodded. Link agreed, then kicked the remnants of the fire to dust. After everything was put away, they mounted.

"You left no sign of making a fire," Zach mused.

"Well, you said you didn't want to be found," Link replied. "Now, we're going to have to go back over the fences. I know it's a hassle, as we just came from there."

"That is alright," Zach said. "It was my decision anyway."

They rode in giant circles at first, to gain speed. At Link's signal, they started down the pass again. Link flew over the fences again easily. Zach cursed because the hard one was coming up first, but he prayed to the Goddesses he's be alright. His foot grazed the fence again, but with no injury this time. With that overcome, the next two fences were nothing. Link winked at Zach as they continued on. After traveling for half an hour, the sun released its brilliant rays on Hyrule, announcing the morning. Zach knew that no one would be awake for a few more hours at least; judging from the position of the sun, it was around 6:00. Only the earliest wakers among the servants would bother getting up.

Death Mountain loomed ahead, ominous and intimidating. It stood like a sentinel of Hyrule. They stopped at a small river to water the horses, and soon they were on again, crossing a stony bridge and galloping towards some stairs carved in the mountainside.

"These stairs will lead to Kakariko Village," Link said. "We must leave the horses here. Take what you want with you."

"But Shadowbrooke may run home," Zach spoke.

"Tie his reins to Epona's. She never leaves me, but grazes nearby. If Shadowbrooke tries to leave, she'll keep him back." Link answered. He approached Epona, speaking softly to her. All Zach heard was, "Stay hidden." and the sorrel mare pulled Shadowbrooke to some nearby shrubbery, out of sight. Link smiled at his horse, then gestured Zach forward. "We must climb these steps to reach the village at the base of Death Mountain. It will take two days to climb if you want to see all of Hyrule from the top."

"Will we see the Gorons?" Zach asked excitedly.

"Well…no. They are busy creatures. They are kindhearted, but usually mind their own business. Besides, many people still fear Death Mountain and none climb it."

Zachary agreed as they started up the steps. In a half an hour they came upon Kakariko Village, a quiet place with a towering windmill above. Link waved to the villagers, who nodded in return. Link pulled Zach up another flight of stony steps, past some houses, and then yet another staircase. A great iron gate stood, then entrance to the path that would lead up to Death Mountain.

"Is it true that the Fire Temple is in Death Mountain?" Zach asked as Link pulled the gate open to emit himself and Zach.

"Yes, but deep inside. You would need special armor to go into the fiery depths of Death Mountain."

"Are there avalanches?"

"Many."

Zach gulped involuntarily, but Link did not hear him. Link closed the gate again, and they proceeded up the path.

Tada! I really have nothing to say, so I'll just say this, and write the next chapter. It'll be up before you know it!