Yay! Chapter 18 is up early! …I just realized that it kind of goes too fast but you know what I explained that they are pretty much fully healed and plus they don't have time to stay still really so moving takes place.

Chapter 18: Lon Lon Ranch

Link woke to find himself lying on a bed of hay. It took him a second to realize that there was not only hay around him but horses and walls. He was in a barn he had been in a few times before. He was at Lon Lon Ranch and so far nothing had changed.

"He's awake!" a red headed woman said from the other side of the barn. She had blue eyes and a scarf tied around her neck.

"Malon?" Link asked in surprise. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

The girl laughed and Link noticed the eye patch over one of her eyes. "I have been told that I look a lot like my great-grandmother but no. My name is Akiko. And I'm guessing you already know that you are at Lon Lon Ranch."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I had a feeling you were going to call me that. You're the Hero of Time aren't you?" Akiko was looking at him with wonder and awe.

"How did I get here?" Link put his hand to his head. There was a slight throbbing in his temples and he couldn't remember just why.

"My horse found you. I was riding him and he suddenly changed directions on me. When I saw you and your friend I pulled you both on the horse and brought you here."

"Faith! Where is she!" Link suddenly became aware of what had happened, the Stalchildren, the Stalfos, and dragging Faith until he fell to his knees and played Epona's Song.

"Last time I saw her she was looking at the horses." Akiko looked at Link with interest and amazement.

"Wait a sec; you didn't question why I called you by your great-grandmothers name." Link looked at her confused.

"Your friend explained who you are. She said I shouldn't be surprised if you knew something that seemed like no one would know except someone in my family or someone over 100 years old."

The barn door opened and Faith walked in. When she saw Link awake she instantly ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. "You're okay! I was starting to get worried about you!" Faith let him go and sat down next to him smiling.

"Someone certainly has a lot of energy." Link was surprised to see the only visible bandage on her was the one covering the wound on her cheek. She had received many more that should have been visible. "And your wounds have healed quickly."

"There is a reason for that. A friend of mine from Kakariko Village had stopped by for a few days. He's amazing when it comes to healing. He helped you both," Akiko smiled.

"Do I get to meet this friend of yours?" Link asked. He noticed Navi was now floating by his shoulder again. He smiled at the fairy.

"He's already head back to Kakariko. If you end up going that way I'm sure you'll run into him," Akiko answered. "I can tell you his name though. Ryder is the man who took care of your wounds."

"Eventually we will have to head that way. There are a few temples that lie past Kakariko," Link nodded. "I think while we are there we'll look up this Ryder and thank him properly."

"Can I ask why you two were passing through the Hyrule Field? I know it might be a little noisy of me but I was just curious."

"We're going to the Water Temple. It was the only way we could get there and without horses we had to go on foot," Link said. He remembered the horse he once had gotten from this very ranch. She was a wonderful horse.

"Well if you want you can pick some of my horses my horses. If you can ride 'em I'll let you keep 'em. Shouldn't be too hard with what I've heard about you. I'll leave you two alone to think about my offer," Akiko left with a knowing look on her face.

When Akiko had left Faith opened her mouth. "Do you think there is a catch?"

"They're probably like my old horse Epona. There was only one thing that could tame her."

"What was it?" Faith moved so that her whole body was turned to face Link her curiosity was raising and winning a horse was one thing she always wanted to do.

"It was a song, here let me teach it to you." Link pulled out his ocarina and Faith pulled out hers. He taught her how to play Epona's song.

---

"So, which horses catch your eye?" Akiko said when Link and Faith stepped out into the horse pasture.

Faith already knew which one she liked. It was a silver mare with a black mane and tail. Around her hooves was also black and she had a black diamond on her head. She was also already saddled with a blue saddle blanket under the saddle that had gold trimmings. The mare's eyes were grey. "What's the silver one's name?" Faith asked eying the mare.

"Her name is Dara. There is only one horse that you can't choose. See the one with the grey saddle blanket? He's a special one, and he's mine," Akiko said pointed to a black horse.

Link looked at the horses. He saw one that looked exactly like Epona. The only difference was the saddle blanket. It was green rather than blue like Epona's. "What about the tan mare with the white mane?" he asked.

"Her name is Llamrei and she's a real special one too. After the news had spread that you disappeared, my great-grandmother went looking for Epona to make sure she was cared for. She hoped you would return to claim her but incase you didn't while Epona was alive and still a good strong horse she also breed her. Llamrei is one of the horses descended from Epona. So are Dara, and Knight, my horse. If you two can tame Dara and Llamrei you can keep them," Akiko smiled. Link and Faith had good taste in horses

Link and Faith nodded and stepped into the fenced area. The both pulled out their ocarina's and played Epona's song. Dara, Llamrei, and Knight all walked over to them.

Akiko laughed, "I had a feeling that that was going to happen. You can keep Dara and Llamrei. I knew you'd be able to tame them and I knew that you'd come for a horse like them one day. Times have changed and with it so have what the horses have been trained to do. Link, unlike Epona, Llamrei and Dara will go into the Kakariko village. No one who has ever had a Lon Lon Ranch horse has ever needed to go into the Kokiri Forest so I doubt they'll go in there. And if you're going to make them cross water you'll have to go in first so they can see it isn't deep."

"Thank you Akiko," Link said nodding.

"Yes, thank you very much," Faith added.

"Take these as well. They'll stay fresh for a while but be careful that if you drink some to close the bottle tight or it'll spoil. It's Lon Lon's special milk." Akiko handed them each a bottle of milk.

"Thanks again, Akiko." Faith said taking her bottle and putting it in her bag.

"You guys are probably going to be leaving soon aren't you?" Akiko asked.

"Yes we will, thank you for saving us, for the horses, and for the milk," Link said.

"If you two need anymore help feel free to come back anytime."

"Thank you, we may take you up on that offer next time we're in the neighborhood!" Faith said climbing onto Dara's saddle. Link climbed into Llamrei's saddle as well.

"Be careful you two and good luck!" Akiko yelled as Link and Faith rode out of Lon Lon Ranch. 'May you two be safe and find all of those you need.' She thought in silent prayer.

That's the end of chapter 18! Hope y'all like it. I also hope you are al pleased that what Link heard last chapter was real and for those who didn't figure it out yet it was Akiko's horse Knight that lead her to Link and Faith. Well that's all for now!