Hmm,yeh, over here, you have your next chapter! Well, i actually wanted to upload it the other week, but took too much time to rewrite some mistakes and such, that when i finished, BAM! it's Wednesday already! Trust me, i have my reasons to upload them on Sunday...

It started like a normal day, and it'll end up like a normal day I think. A normal day of routine. I was somewhat excited though; this day I'll go to Clock Town to deliver milk as I do every week.

This was my favorite day of the week just because is something different from the other six days of the week. See the people around Clock Town passing was thrilling compared to the loneliness of the ranch.

What am I thinking? I'm not alone, I have Romani at my side. A small family of two is still a family. A family that has decreased in numbers in a short while, I guess.

I carried the basket full of just cleaned clothes that were still wet and left it on the ground and hanged the clothes in the space between the house and the stable, where they'll get the sun directly.

While hanging cloth after cloth, I grabbed a garment in particular that didn't belong to us; Alex's sleeved shirt. He left it here on his last visit.

I don't blame him though, he was in a hurry. I hope that his search has gone all right.

I extended the shirt and hung it like every other cloth, but this one was interesting. I made a closer look at its shoulders. Like the rest of the shirt, was covered in blue patterns, but its shoulders said something with that very same color. I grabbed it and gave it a closer look.

"Lon?" Both shoulders said.

After that, Epona, who was eating some grass, not too far away, raised her head on alert and sighted to the entrance of the ranch.

I turned to see after hear an almost annoyed snort; Epona ran out of the ranch. I raised an eyebrow.

That mare is special. I can say without hesitation that she is way more intelligent than a regular horse. Her expressions are almost human-like. I'm convinced that she has complete knowledge of the human speech.

I heard the door of the stable open. Romani, with her wooden bow on hand, got out and glanced all over the ranch. "Wha? Where's Epona?" She asked in confusion.

"She just left. Hmm… why do you ask?"

She made a disappointed face. "Oooh… I wanted to try horseback archery with her…"

"What!? You know she's too big for you! You may get hurt!" I continued to hang the clothes.

"But SIS!... what if Alex gives me permission to ride her? Will you let meeee?"

"Uh, don't do the puppy eyes again! That doesn't work on me anymore…"

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and grunted in defeat "Now, help me hang the clothes please."

She placed her bow on the ground and pretty much obliged, helped me hang the clothes passing me a garment at once. She giggled when noticed the presence of Alex shirt.

"Tee hee, Alex is funny, don't you think?"

"He's an OK-guy…"

…..

In not many minutes, we hanged all the clothes, (not that we have many clothes anyway…) now the thing is wait for them to dry. Now, that's easy.

"Sister, you think he'll come back soon?" Romani asked.

"I'm sure he will, he won't leave his shirt here." I responded her with a warm smile while staring at Alex's shirt.

Romani gazed in the distance. "Romani wonders where Epona went…"

As if she had called her, not too far away, the sound of hooves was heard. We both glanced at the entrance of the ranch. "Look, Alex is here!" She shouted in amusement.

When he glanced at us, he directed Epona towards us. and jumped off from Epona. "Hi!" He waved while walking towards us.

(This may not be normal day after all) I thought with a slight relief.

"Welcome again Alex!" I waved back. "What brings you here again?" I asked something I already knew, but said it anyway.

He blushed and scratched his head embarrassed. "Well, I a… didn't I…left my shirt in here? I don't find it anywhere and… I thought I may have left it here…"

"You sure did!" Romani said pointing her finger towards his shirt that was now drying itself in the sun.

"Uh… so I did leave it here…am truly sorry for the inconvenience, I'll get it and be going now." He stepped forward to the laundry.

I put my hands in my hips."No no no, can't you see it's still damp?" and stopped him from grabbing his shirt.

He looked at me like a little child trying to excuse itself with its mother. "What? B-but Cremia! I-I need-"

I shook my head in negation. "No buts. You'll have to wait for it to dry."

"How much time is that?"

I looked up, no clouds in the horizon. "Two hours maybe."

He looked down and sighed. "I guess it's okay…"

I could swear that Epona would have chuckled if she could.

Romani ran to him and grabbed his hand playfully. "Alex! Can I ask you something?, pleaseeee?"

"Romani! Don't bother him!" I commanded.

"No, no! it's not a problem at all!" He responded cheerfully.

Giving me a mocking smile, Romani took Alex by the hand again. "You'll show me to how to ride Epona while shooting arrows?"

He raised a black eyebrow. "Horseback archery? I don't know how to do that! Hey w-wait!" Romani ran off towards Epona, dragging Alex in the process.

I giggled at Romani's playfulness. It's good to see that Romani has someone to play with.

But, to be honest, I wanted to ask Alex if he could help me to get ready the wagon to this day's delivery. But asking a guest to help in the chores seems a little inappropriate.

I saw how Alex helped Romani to get on top of Epona, which made me desire to play with them too.

But then, I looked back at the stable that inside of it had yet, work to be done. I sighed.

"Let's get this done." I said to myself.

…

Ok, now, almost everything is set, only if knew where I left the reins, need em' to foe Jack… think I left them in the house…

I got out of the stable and saw Romani riding Epona with her bow on hand pointing towards one of those ghost shaped balloons that I buy in Clock Town every once in a while. She shot an arrow and effectively exploded the balloon that was far away at the side of the tree in front of the house. I gasped at her accuracy.

"Good one Romani!" Alex shouted, who sat with his legs crossed on the grass in front of the house. "Now go and get the one at the entrance!"

I walked up to him. "Excuse me, Alex." I said with a demanding tone.

"Cremia! Hi!" He smiled.

I frowned at his unconcern. "Don't you think that letting Romani ride Epona is a little too dangerous?"

"That's why I'm checking her from here." His smile didn't wear off after talking; he kept calm and easy as always.

My frown faded when knew he was right, he was checking for her. I had no reason to talk to him like that. I looked down. "Sorry…" then, I caught the sight of a pretty blue ocarina on the ground. I rose an eyebrow.

(I've seen that instrument before…)

"Umm… what a cute looking ocarina you got."

He looked at me first, and then glanced at the ocarina. "This old thing? Ha, yeah, it's fun to play it sometimes when bored…" He stared up, where the sun was still high in the skies.

"Can you… play something for me?"

"Why, sure!" He grabbed his ocarina and positioned his fingers on its holes, gently closed his eyes and played it with his breath. I closed my eyes to listen. His fingers danced on the surface of the ocarina.

A high note, then a lower note followed by a note even lower, and repeated in that order three times and finally repeated the two final notes.

The sweet and noble sound of the instrument echoed around the ranch. Epona passed nearby and looked like if she were about to check something, but turned quickly with Romani on her back.

(I've heard that before…)

I opened my eyes. "What a beautiful music you make Alex! You play the ocarina pretty good!"

"Thanks! It takes some time to learn to play this thing, you know." he chuckled flattered.

I couldn't keep my curiosity anymore. "By the way, you know someone named Link?" I asked.

His smile changed into a concerned frown, but quickly changed back into a smile, "The only Link I know is my grandfather."

He looked sincere with no doubt on his words. But his mare, the ocarina, that song, even his face are too much to be a mere coincidence.

"Why do you ask?"

"Err.. Just mere curiosity that's all."

He stood up. "Well, I'll check if my shirt is dry."

I nodded and went to the house.

"There you are." I said after find the reins over the pile of hay at the side of the entrance door. Now I'm all set to go. I left the house with the reins for Jack in hand when glanced at Alex folding his shirt and putting it inside of his strange looking pouch.

(I'd like some company…I might as well ask him…)

"I'm going by wagon to town. Would you like a ride?"

He turned confused. "Huh?" He stared at me some seconds before I broke eye contact in embarrassment.

"Y-you don't have to come if you don't want…" I sheepishly said.

He immediately reacted at the tone of my voice. "I- I'm not going to town, but I'll surely keep you company."

That brightened my mood a little bit, which made me smile. "Thanks!"

"Let's get the wagon out then, shall we?" He amusedly said.

…

I saw that Alex got along well with our chocolate colored horse, Jack. He even let him put the reins and hook him with the wagon. "Good guy!" He petted Jack.

Alex being good at taming horses easily is not a surprise. He turned to me. "I got an idea. What if we take Epona with us too?"

"Only if you want, of course." I responded.

"Sure thing!"

After make sure all the milk jugs were inside the wagon, we both opened the gates of the stable and got the wagon outside. Romani came towards us still riding on top of Epona. "You are going with her Alex?"

"I'll just make her company" He chuckled.

She pointed at us with her finger, like accusing us for a crime. "You can't fool Romani. You two are going out on a DATE!" She shouted.

We both blushed like tomatoes. "NO!" I shouted.

"Uhhh, sorry-but we are taking Epona with us." Alex said with a wry smile that broke the embarrassing situation.

Romani's grin fell at his words. "Why?"

"If we use two horses we'll do the trip faster and Cremia will return quickly to the ranch."

Romani knew that there was no use arguing, so she got off from Epona with a jump and landed on the ground safely. "Okaaaay, but you'll come back right?"

"Don't worry, I will, and Epona will be here most of the time."

"Cool!" She then sighed wearily. "I'm exhausted! Romani's going to take a nap. Romani wants to see sister in here when she wakes up, alright?"

I got the message very well and nodded. Romani then waved us two goodbyes and went inside the house.

When I turned, Alex had already tied Epona with her saddle and hooked her to the wagon at the right side of Jack. (Dang, he's fast!)

He climbed to the wagon and offered me a hand to get on. "Shall we go?" he said with his hand on the air which I accepted almost immediately.

The carriage moved at a faster pace than never with two horses hooked. I took the reins of the two horses and Alex sat inside the carriage, along with the numerous bottles of milk.

(Background: Zelda: Majoras Mask - Cremia's Carriage)

"So, how has it been your quest? You found that sword?"

"I did find it, but the sword it's useless as it is now…"

"How's that?"

"To put it simple, it has gotten old, and lost its power, so now I have to get some weird things called elements to make it work again…"

"And now you are after those things… what will happen when you have all of them?"

He took some seconds to answer. "I'll go home."

I don't know if it's a bad habit of mine to always see the bad side of the things; "What will happen if it doesn't work?"

"I'll be stuck here I fear. Now, gathering the elements is my best bet; don't see any other way around it…"

He spoke with true sincerity. He has placed all his bets on this. I really hope that in the future he can go back his home. I can't imagine how lonely he must have felt in the beginning. At least I still have Romani and she's all that matters to me. Losing your parents is one thing, but lose all your family and home must be a big hit that he has endured all along.

"Why did you asked me about someone named Link?"

"Uh…" He got me out of my trance. "It's nothing. I knew someone named Link before and, to be honest, you really look a lot like him…"

"You are not the first person who tells me that… who was Link anywa-" The horses stopped suddenly.

He quickly stood up and I glanced forward. "…The road is blocked…"

And it was. A large metal fence was blocking the other end of Milk Road.

I facepalmed. "Not this again…"

"Who would place that fence in there, blocking the road like that?" Alex asked.

(I might have the slightest idea…)

"We'll have to take a detour."

"Through where?"

"The Gorman Track. Yikes" I directed both Epona and Jack to the passage of the track.

I heard a grunt. "I don't like those guys."

"Me neither. Don't you have a bow?"

"Nope. I know nothing about archery."

We entered the track. An ominous loneliness was in the ambience. I know well what to expect.

"Listen to me, I'll try to get through as fast as I can. Tell me if you see someone coming nearby."

I expected an answer, but heard nothing.

"Alex?" I turned. There he was, but he looked different. His pupils were dilated making them have a total dark color blue.

He stared at nothing in particular until he muttered. "…Someone's watching us."

I needed no other word to get moving the carriage faster in that moment.

A long, seemingly eternal minute of silence broken only by the sound of the carriage against the dirt passed.

Until…

"Bandits!" He shouted.

(Oh dear… why now…)

"How many of em'!?"

"Just two, but we have nothing to keep them away!"

I turned back and saw these two bandits riding on horses with black hoods that covered completely their faces and were chasing us. The two of them were holding big pitchforks.

"What do they want!?" They were coming nearer and nearer by the second.

"They surely want to steal the milk! Do what you can to keep them away!" I shouted after forcing the horses to go faster.

Again, he maintained silence but still gaped. He was thinking. I cannot imagine what thoughts were passing through his head on those moments. He stared at Epona with awe.

"I don't think they are after the milk…"

"What!?"

"Let go of Epona's reins!"

I obeyed him. I let go my grip of Epona's reins and just after that, Alex jumped off from the wagon, to Epona's back.

(Background: Conker's Bad Fur Day Angry Pitchfork Extended)

"Neigh!" (You are nuts!)

"EA!" He directed Epona to the right so she wouldn't get in the way of the wagon. He got a fierce grip on Epona's saddle with his right hand and unsheathed his sword with his left one.

(Is he crazy!?)

He turned at me while riding Epona at the side of the carriage. "Go as fast as you can!"

"Ok!"

After that, he turned Epona right ways and slowed down to get into the bandits position.

I turned to see what was happening. The bandits now were inches away from the milk bottles, but turned their total attention to Alex, who had lowered his mare's pace to get down where they were.

The bandit at the right turned its attention to Alex and tried to attack him with the pitchfork, but Alex slashed back too and the pitchfork got stuck by its teeth by Alex's sword; Alex just had retract it, and threw a direct slash to the bandit's chest. A grunt of pain was heard and the bandit grabbed its chest, slowing down the fast pace that its horse had until it got out of scene.

Now, the other one immediately threw a stab with its pitchfork directly at Alex which unfortunately hit him right in the stomach. I gasped.

Alex didn't care for the hit; it looked like it didn't hurt him. As he got closer to the bandit to prepare his attack, the bandit threw another stab that hit Alex in the shoulder, but he didn't even cared for blocking it; it didn't hurt him.

"What the heck!?" The hooded bandit cried.

"Chain mail!" He shouted back.

Alex slashed the pitchfork and cut it in half, leaving the bandit holding a simple wooden stick on hand.

"Whaaaaaaa!" The hooded bandits choose the best for him and ran away.

My heart skipped after seeing him dealing with those bandits as easily as he did. He sheathed his sword back. "Slow down! I took care of them already."

I stopped the carriage and let Alex tie Epona again to the carriage and climbed in. "They were after Epona…"

I gasped. "How do you know?"

"They didn't try to break the containers. If they wanted to, one had to battle me and another one would be breaking them. They weren't interested in the milk. They were after Epona." He handed me Epona's reins while still looking back.

"We better get outta here quickly." I replied.

"You stole the words from my mouth."

…...

Finally, after their failed attack, we got out of the Gorman Track and ended in the other side of the gate blocking the path in Milk Road.

I sighed in relief. "Phew. You were pretty good out there!"

I turned and saw Alex still staring back at the road, jealously checking with a frown.

Didn't he hear?"Alex?"

"Uh?" He was still cautious and thoughtful.

"They are gone already, don't worry."

"They might show up again." He hasn't turned to me yet. "I'll accompany you back to the ranch to make sure you'll be okay."

I slightly blushed at his display of concern for me. "That isn't necessary…"

He turned and I saw his big and determined azure eyes. "It is." He completed, not expecting a no for an answer.

I couldn't argue with him. It's incredible how he changes when he fights. A second personality rises upon him when the situation requires it. Has he always been that impulsive?

The constant rumble of the carriage stopped when we reached the grassy southwest of Termina Field to my relief.

"Let's just forget that." He eased his look after a sigh. "Tell me more about this—Link…"

No more delays, next chapter will be up next Sunday, i promise. Next stop: Alex's POV of course.