Alright, this chapter's a little longer and more interesting, and I don't own Zelda, so read what I wrote about it instead.
Chapter Two
Epona
The morning after, Link woke up with a brighter sun than he had seen during all four years of living in Termina. Of course, because of the position in which he had fallen asleep, he had a kink in his neck and his legs and back were sore, but he still strode through town with a very joyful smile on his face. He was very happy to be home.
But he knew he had to leave soon, as his spirit was still pulling him towards Hyrule castle. So he said goodbye to all his friends, and walked outside Kokiri Village, across the bridge, and out into Hyrule Fields, where he played Epona's song on his ocarina, a slow tune he had learned almost six years ago now.
Almost as soon as the last melancholy note escaped the ocarina, he heard the galloping of hooves, and a beautiful and graceful chestnut horse, with a snow-white mane and tail, galloped closer and closer to Link's smiling face. As it approached him, it slowed into a trot, and stopped short in front of Link, and proceeded to nudge his shoulders and lick his face.
"Aw, Epona," Link said, trying to elude her wet nose. "You haven't forgotten me in the four years since I sent you home."
Link jumped on the already saddled Epona and, with a yell, kicked her sides and rode off towards Lon-Lon ranch.
As link reached Lon-Lon ranch, Malon was working outside, looking like she was breaking a pony, but Link didn't know enough about horses to know what she was doing. She glanced up at Link as he trotted towards Lon-Lon Ranch, and then looked back at her work. But a look of surprise came across her face, and then a wide smile. She ran as fast as she could towards Link and Epona, and the first thing she said when she reached them was, "What do you think you're doing with my horse young man?"
To this, Link's only reply was," I missed you too, Malon." And he jumped off his horse. But before he had even reached the ground, he was grabbed up in a great bear hug that knocked the wind out of poor Link. Without letting go of Link, Malon whispered, "Where have you been for the last four years, Link? And what did it have to do with Epona for the first year?"
Link replied, "Sorry, Malon. A mask kidnapped her." He could still hardly breathe, and Malon refused to let go of him. No matter how he wriggled, her hug grew tighter.
But with Link's reply to her question, her hug loosened just enough for him to step back, and then she said, in a louder voice, like she was calling to some one, "What does that mean, Link? What have you been doing for the last four years?"
"That question would take some answering, Malon. It's not a conversation that can be had in less than an hour." He was smiling (and almost laughing) now, and wished he was still in Malon's tight hug; he needed more hugs than he had gotten in the past two years.
"Then come in, Link! You must be starving, and we're starting dinner now! You must tell me everything!" With that, she ran back inside, with skips and twirls along the way. The white pony, still standing in yard, appeared triumphant as if it had won a great victory against Malon, and walked back into the stables and fell asleep.
When dinner was finished, and Link, Malon, and Talon were sitting about the table, Link was immediately bombarded with questions from both of them, mostly about Epona:
"Where has Epona been?"
"What was all that about the mask?"
"Was she kept safe?"
"When did you send her back?"
"Was she sent back on her own?"
"How did she get back?"
"Did you send her back?"
Then came the other questions:
"How much later did you come back?"
"Where have you been the past four years?"
"When did you return?"
"Where have you been since you came back?"
And lastly, from Malon:
"Why haven't you written?"
At this, Link knew no good answer to all these questions, so he resolved to telling his whole story, from the time he entered Termina, to the time he killed Majora's remains.
At the end of the story, everything was quiet for a moment. After about half a minute, Malon made the reply, "At least now I know why you haven't written!" This caused Link to laugh.
"But what has happened from the time I have gone?"
"Many things. It has been relatively quiet since Gannondorf broke loose, though." Replied Talon.
At this, Link was very taken aback. "I'm sorry; can you run that by me one more time?"
"Yes," said Malon, "Gannondorf broke free last year. Many were killed, and no one has seen him since that day. But strange things have been seen."
"What kind of strange things?"
"All kinds of things. People see armies of Re-Dead march across Hyrule Field, and then disappear in the blink of an eye. Some have even seen… apparitions of things you killed."
Link's face turned ghost-white. "Which things? The monsters… or the monsters?
"Both," said Talon. "Some have even seen the wandering spirit of the Fierce Deity itself, running like a wolf, howling at the moon."
"I have had previous experiences with the Fierce Deity. He skipped that part of the story; it was too evil to speak here. But he told it now, in full.
"Before I came home, I burned the mask, so no evil would find it and use it to their advantage. It can do terrible things to a soul… It causes you to become like a monster, makes you lose most control over your body. It gives you unimaginable power, but terrible things come with it. I could not let it fall into the wrong hands. But I guess, in burning it, I set the Fierce Deity's soul free… Who knows what I've caused…"
To change the subject, he turned the conversation back to Epona, which, as he soon learned, was a mistake. "So, has Epona been doing well since I left?" He was then assaulted with far too much gibberish to understand, so he gave a laugh and finished his dinner while they babbled mercilessly.
After dinner, Malon led him to the guest room, and told him that he could sleep there tonight. Afterwards, he went outside for fresh air, as it was stuffy in their house because of all the cuccos that lived there. As he left, Malon followed him out, and found him leaning against the tall ranch fence, made of sharp logs.
"I missed you, Link. We all did. All of Hyrule came looking for you, a few times. I think Zelda missed you the most."
"I know, Malon. I think… I think I will visit her tomorrow. But I'm not sure yet, so much has happened…
"Alright, you can leave. But remember to visit sometimes, and don't suddenly disappear. And, if you do, please, remember to write."
"I do not hope to disappear again, at least not any time in the immediate future, or ever, if I'm lucky. But if I chance upon ever having to disappear again, I will definitely remember to write." At this they both laughed, though neither of them knew why."
"Malon?"
"Yes, Link?"
"Can I borrow Epona for a while?"
"Of course you can, Link, just remember to let her come back to eat, and sleep," She gave him a tight squeeze, and walked back inside to go to bed.
"Good night, Malon!" he yelled after her, but he didn't think she hard him. So he retired to the guest room and fell into a deep sleep."
Link woke up in a black castle, chained to the wall. He heard a cry, and a terrible scream, and knew immediately what it was. "Zelda!" he screamed. All he heard in reply was another scream. His chains fell from his hands. He was dropped six feet to the ground, and fell on his back. He hardly felt the pain. He ran as fast as he could to the next room, where he saw a black stone table and Zelda chained to the wall. It looked like she was being whipped, but thee was nothing whipping her. The cuts appeared on her dress nonetheless.
Upon further inspection of the table, he saw a very dusty, black, hand mirror with rose designs around the circular glass. He looked into the mirror, and instead of his own reflection, he saw a terrible soul in it. The soul smiled, and then Link's consciousness was engulfed.
Link woke up in his guest room in Malon's house, shivering and covered in sweat. He was terribly cold and clammy, and his voice was hoarse, like he had been screaming, and he felt as though he had been crying.
Just then, Malon entered his room. "Link, I—" Then she glanced at him. "Link, what's wrong?"
"I'm not sure, Malon. I… I had a nightmare. I don't remember." He was still shivering.
Malon didn't know what to say. "Well, do… do you need anything?"
"No. I need to leave. I need to see Zelda. I think… I think terrible things are about to happen.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not that I know of, except that I can keep Epona for a little longer."
"Okay, but can you at least stay for breakfast?"
During breakfast, Link and Malon talked about nothing in particular, and pretty much left Talon out of it. Then came the question Link hoped Malon wouldn't ask.
"Link, what did you dream last night, anyway?"
"I'm… I'm not sure. Something… something about… a mirror… and chains… I don't remember now." But that was only a half-truth. He couldn't have explained it, but he could almost remember the whole dream, word for word. But he wished he couldn't remember, and he certainly did not want to tell Malon.
From that point on, breakfast proceeded normally, and presently Link had to leave. He saddled Epona, who was still excited to see him from yesterday, and climbed on her back.
"Goodbye, Link. If you disappear for long, remember to visit some times, or at least remember to write."
"Don't worry, Malon. I will write, if it kills me."
At this point, he kicked Epona's sides, and rode off towards Hyrule castle. As he rode away, the last thing he heard was, "Remember to write, Link! Don't Forget! Don't forget…" And with that, Link was off, with images of his nightmare still flashing through his mind.
