Link lay in the grassy field. Epona grazed nearby. He had removed her saddle and bridle, and Ilia sat next t him, humming softly.

He was seventeen, now.

Two years had passed. It was late spring, and the trees were covered in blossoms. He had made an agreement with Ilia. She taught him archery, and in return, he taught her piano and drawing (Ilia had threatened him, so he agreed to both).

All was well. Actually, it wasn't. Absolute chaos was taking place around him in the form of Fado and the goats.

"Link?"

"Yeah?"

"Rusl said that the Princess of Hyrule asked for a specially crafted sword. Made specifically by Rusl."

"As tribute for Hyrule's protection?"

"Yeah. What do you think about it?"

"I think she's being extremely kind by only asking for a sword."
"Of all things, why a sword?"

"I'm sure she has her reasons."

"Yeah..." She laid down next to him and placed her ear on his chest. Ba bump. Ba bump. Ba bump.

"Ilia..."

"Yeah?"

"If I left, would you miss me?"

She looked up at him. "Yes, of course I would."

"O-Okay."

"Why?"

"Just wonderin'."

"Oh."

As they talked, Fado tried desperately to keep the goats in the field, to no success. Finally, Link sighed.

"Hey, Fado!" he called.

"Need any help?"

"Yes!"

"What? No?"

"I said YES!"

"I guess not, Ilia." She giggled.

"LINK, I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T HELP ME!" Fado cried.

"Will you be alive to do that?" he called back to him.

"Link, I think you should help him." Ilia said, giggling.

"Alright, fine. Epona!"

She came up to him and gave him a look.

"What?"

She huffed. He mounted bareback.

In a few minutes, the goats were in the barn. Quiet. Finally.

As Link headed back, Colin, now eleven, ran up to him.

"Link!"

"Yeah?"

"My dad wants you to help him gather firewood. "

"Okay. Thanks."

Colin smiled.

"C'mon!"

"Do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls? They say it's the only time when our world intersects with theirs..." Rusl said quietly.

Link nodded, curious of what he had in mind. They were at the Faron Spring, and Epona was laden with wood.

"The only time we can feel the lingering regrets of spirits who have left our world. That is why loneliness always pervades the hour of twilight..."

Oookay, right, Link thought.

"But enough talk of sadness...I have a favor to ask of you, Link. I was supposed to deliver something to the royal family of Hyrule the day after tomorrow..."

"The sword? Didn't the mayor give you that task?"

"Yes, it was a task set to me by the mayor, but...would you go in my stead? You have...never been to Hyrule, right?"

"Well..." Rusl smiled and looked up at the pink sky.

"In the kingdom of Hyrule there is a great castle, and around it is Castle Town, a community far bigger than our little village. And far bigger than Hyrule is the rest of the world the gods created. You should look upon it all with your own eyes."

"O-Okay. Yeah, I'll do it, if it's alright with the mayor."

Rusl looked at him and smiled.

"I knew you would."

He looked back up at the swiftly setting sun.

"It is getting late... We should head back to the village. I will talk to the mayor about this matter."

Link nodded and stood. Epona moved closer to him, and he led her out of the forest with Rusl. Uli and Colin were waiting for them when they got there. Uli was pregnant. Six months pregnant. Link smiled as Rusl and his little family walked home. As he watched them, he got this feeling, a desire... He'd been getting it a lot. Especially now... Before they rounded the corner, Colin turned to him, smiled and waved. He waved back. As soon as they disappeared from view, he climbed up the ladder to his house. As soon as he got inside, he collapsed on the bed. Outside, he could hear Fado calling him.

"Hey! Link! You there? Hey, you mind helpin' me herd the goats? They ain't listenin' to me lately!"

Link poked his head out of the window.

"I thought I already herded them in a few hours ago!"

Fado rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, right. Could ya do it again? Please?"

Link sighed. "Sure, just gimme a sec."

"Hey, where's Epona?"

Link smiled. He knew. She had been doing this a lot recently. He climbed down the ladder and headed for the spring. Ilia. She turned to face him, surprised to see him. Epona was clean and brushed.

"Oh, hi, Link! I washed Epona for you!"

Link smiled. "Yeah. Thanks. Wow, you did a much better job than I could ever do."

Ilia smiled and blushed. "Thank you. Oh, are you going to herd up the goats? You better be nice to her, Epona's a girl, too, ya know." she added with a wink.

Link smiled at her and nodded. "Oh, but listen, Link..."

"Yeah?"

"Could you do something for me? Can you use a piece of grass to play that song for me? You know, the one that Epona likes? I tried to play it for her, but I just can't seem to play it the way you can, Link."

He laughed. "All right, Ilia. You know," he added, "you like that horse too much."

She laughed. "That's not possible." Link smiled and picked the reed whistle that grew naturally on the bank of Ordon Spring. He blew into it lightly and played the pretty melody that Ilia had requested. Epona whinnied in response.

"It's such a nice melody...Epona looks happy. Well, she's all prettied up now, so I suppose you can ride her back. But don't you make her do too much, Ok?"

Link nodded and pecked her on the cheek. "And Ilia..."

"Yeah?" "I'm probably going to be gone for a while..."

"...Where to?" "Castle Town. Remember the sword Rusl's making? He asked me to deliver it. He's gonna ask your dad if it's alright.."

"O-okay. How long are you going to be gone?"

"I dunno..."

Ilia frowned. "Well, you better find out. I'm gonna miss you," she said, pecking him on the cheek.

"And anyways," she added, "isn't Fado waiting for you at the ranch?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Then you should probably go."

"Alright." Link mounted Epona and rode off to the ranch. As soon as he go there, Fado ran up to him.

"Sorry to get you over here in such a hurry, Link!" Fado said relived. "These guys have been awful skittish lately. They won't listen to a word I say. Sorry to ask, bud, but how's about you an' Epona herd 'em into the barn real quick? We ain't got much time, so you think you can do it for me?"

Link nodded. "Sure."

"Much obliged there, bud! OK, then, go on an' herd all these little scamps into the barn for me!"

Link nodded and spurred Epona forwards. The goats were in the barn within a few minutes.

"Link, Epona... Much obliged to both of y'all! I can cover everythin' tomorrow without havin' to trouble you, so just sit back an' relax, bud. Oh... But, uh, how 'bout today? Wanna practice with fences?"

"Sure. You okay, Epona?"

She whinnied her response.

Fado laughed. "Just wait a spell, bud. I'll get them fences set up." Link nodded. "Thanks, Fado!" he called. "Y' welcome, bud!" Fado called He went inside the barn and pulled out the fences. After a few minutes, Link dismounted and helped him set up.

"Ho, thanks, Link!"

"You don't have to set up all of them."

"You sure?"

Link laughed. "Yeah, Ilia would hurt me if she thinks I'm jumping to much."

"Ah."

They finished putting up the fences and Fado sighed.

"Hoo, sorry that took so long! OK, then! Y'all ride all you want! Y'all get tired of ridin', just jump the gate an' head back into the village, OK, bud?"

"Alright. Thanks, Fado!" He gently dug his heels into Epona's side, and she jumped the first fence. Link kept his back straight and heels down, as Rusl had taught him.

"Good job, girl!"

They jumped for a few more minutes, then Link dismounted and gave Epona some rest. He handed her an apple which 'magically appeared' in his pocket. She ate it hungrily, and Link laughed. "You did a good job today, girl." She nuzzled him, and he laughed again. Then he mounted her and jumped the gate to leave the ranch.

"So, Mayor..."

"Why do you call me that? My name is Bo, Rusl. You know that."

"I do, but you're the Mayor." He groaned.

"Okay, fine. Is there something you wanted?"

"Yes, actually. So, earlier today, I spoke to Link about the royal gift to Hyrule..."

Ilia listened from the stairs.

Please say no, Father. Please say no.

"I was thinking...what if we sent him to go instead of me?"

"Rusl..."

"I know, it sounds kinda crazy, but he is seventeen, now. And-"

"And he needs more room. He needs to see the rest of the world. Right?"

"Y-Yes."

"How long would he be gone?"

"'Bout a month."

Please say no. Please, Father, please. Don't make him leave me, Father. Not for a whole month.

He paused to consider the situation. Bo had to admit, it was a good idea, other than he being gone for a month. After a few minutes, Rusl became impatient.

"So, can he go?"

"Yes."

Rusl laughed.

"I knew you would say that, Bo."

No. No. No, no, no, no, no, no! Why, father?! Why?!

"I'm sure he'll like it."

"Yeah. I'll tell tell him later. Thanks again."

She heard the door close as Rusl left. She sighed and stood up to go to bed. As she changed into he nightgown, an idea struck her. I should make something for him to take with him. She smiled. When she finished changing, she went downstairs.

"Father..."

"Yes, Ilia?"

"If Link comes by tomorrow, don't let him in, okay?"

"Sure. Um, why?" She smiled.

"I'm gonna make something, and I don't want him to see. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Night, Father."

"You, too, Ilia."

"Hey, wake up, Link! It's morning already!" Link groaned and fell out of his bed. Morning already! He sighed and looked out the window. Talo, Malo and Beth stood outside. He waved. "C'mon down, Link!" He nodded and climbed down the ladder. He quickly changed and washed his face, then went outside.

"Oh, Link! Didja hear? They're selling a slingshot at the store right now! A SLINGSHOT!"

"I wonder how powerful it is... I... I need... I must try it..." Malo said, stretching his hands experimentally.

"Talo, if you and Malo want it so badly, just buy it at my parents' shop!" Beth said, annoyed.

Talo turned to her and frowned. "Do you see any rupees in my hand? I can't afford that thing! C'mon, Beth, can't you just loan it to us for a while?"

"You know I'd get in trouble for that! If you two want it, save up your allowances or something."

"But... our allowances are terrible... Aww, I wish I was born into a family with a slingshot instead of one with a waterwheel..." Malo said sadly.

"C'mon, Beth. We just want to LOOK at it a little! So can you get it? The slingshot? From the shop?" Talo asked.

"...Yeah, and if you can't do that, let's just trade families, OK?"

"KNOCK IT OFF!"

Link chucked and turned to check on Epona. Colin was gently stroking her mane.

"Hi, Link... You have the day off work today, right? So...I finished the fishing rod I was making. Link, I figured I'd give it to you first thing in the morning, but my dad said, "You just wait until Link comes to get it!" So I didn't bring it to you..."

"It's also the first day off in a while for Epona, right? She must be happy..."

"Yeah, she is." he said, handing him a carrot.

"Here. Hold your hand out like this...no, flatten it all the way, or else she might bite you...yeah, see?"

Colin giggled as she ate the carrot out of his hand. "It feels kinda...weird...in a good way."

"Yeah."

"Hey, Talo and Malo really want that slingshot...Maybe you should get it for them...I mean, it'd still be yours, so you can make sure they don't hurt each other. Or Beth."

Link smiled. "Good idea. Maybe I should do it."

Colin nodded, and Link headed down tho the main village.

"Well hey, 'morning, Link."

Hanch said when he saw him. "Got a day off from work today, m'boy?"

Link smiled and nodded. "First time in a long time. You?"

"Not me. The wife's been hassling me... Today's the day to restock our store. Look! See? Up there in that tree...Yeah, some Ordon bees built themselves a fine nest up there, and I was thinking about knocking it down...Our cat hasn't come home since yesterday, so the wife's in a bad mood. At the very least, I need to bring something home to her..."

"Yeah." Link said lazily.

He headed for Rusl's house to ask if he had finished fixing his sword, when Uli stopped him.

"Oh, um, good morning to you. If you are looking for my husband, he took his sword and left early this morning. But I must ask, Link...You have not seen a cradle come floating by here, have you? It is a baby's cradle made of finely woven tree bark...Oh, such a misfortune... How far could it have drifted, I wonder..."

"I'll try to find it for you." Uli looked up.
"Really, Link? Oh, thank you so much!" He smiled and headed downstream to look for it. As he walked, he could hear a monkey faintly screeching...something. Curious, he followed the sound to the pond. The pond? Slightly confused, he climbed the vines that grew along the rock face of one of the several rocks that jutted out of the water. Yes, the pond. He could see the monkey, a female, holding the cradle Uli had been looking for. He spotted a plant growing on the farthest rock. If he could get over there... He jumped onto the next rock, then the roof of Sera's shop, then the rock with the plant. He played a simple tune on the reed whistle, and a hawk flew down and landed on his arm. He whispered something to it, then released it. It flew towards the monkey and grabbed the cradle with its talons. He grabbed it as the hawk passed nearby.

"Oh! Link! My thanks to you for finding it for me! Oh, that reminds me! There is something I am supposed to give to you...Do you think you could carry that cradle and come with me back to my house?" Uli said happily.

"Sure."

He followed her up the path. She looked tired. She sat down on the step when they got there, and Link set the cradle next to her.

"My thanks to you, Link. Oh, I had nearly forgotten... I am supposed to give you this...All right... Here you go!" she said as she handed him the fishing rod Colin had made.

"It is a little...unpolished. My son, Colin, made this under the instruction of his father. You can use it if you like. When my son Colin grows up, I want him to be just like you. He really is a sweet boy... He can just be a little...timid."

"It's a pretty good rod, if you ask me."

"Really? Oh, Colin will be so happy to hear that."

"I'm sure I would be, too, if I were him."

"Well, why don't you tell him?" Link laughed.

"Yeah I'll go do that."

"And Link?" He turned around.

"Yeah?"

"New song: Canon in D, by Johann Pachelbel. Okay?"

"'Kay. Thanks, Uli."

"You, too, Link."

As he walked back to his house, Jaggle called him from above. He was standing on top of the rock that Link had climbed to get the cradle for Uli earlier.

"Yo! There you are! Check this out... You know Sera, at the general store? Well, isn't that her cat over there? He's just been sitting there next to my house, having a staring contest with the creek. You don't suppose he's thinking he's gonna catch a fish, do you? Ha ha ha! A cat can't catch no fish!"

Link laughed.
"Maybe not, but you never know."

"Hey, why don't you tell her about her cat, bein' over there and all...or better yet, catchim' a fish!"

"Sure."

He walked over to the cat. When he got close, it ran away, and he laughed

"Stupid cat..."

He got out the rod that Colin had made and cast it. After a while, a fish swam up to examine the bait. Then it bit. Link pulled against it, and after a while the fish was out if the water. He held it out to the cat.

"Here, kitty, kitty..."

It slowly crawled close, then when it was within a few inches, it grabbed he fish and bolted away. Link laughed.

"Stupid cat..."

He went over to the Mayor's house to see Ilia, when he realized that he had not sen her once all day.

Is something wrong? he thought as he went over to her house.

"Eh? Oh, did you need Ilia for somethin'?" the mayor said as Link tried the doorknob.

"Naw, I just wanted to see her. She hasn't been out at all, today."

"Sorry, sonny, but I was told that if you came by today, I wasn't to let you inside. She's locked herself in her room, workin' like crazy on somethin' or other..."

"Well, can't you just let me in to talk to her?"

"Sorry, sonny...but Ilia told me not to let you in today. She'll be awful sore at me if I break my word. She's the spittin' image of her late mother, that girl... Right down to her strong will..."

"Yeah..."

Link sighed. Then he remembered Colin's suggestion about the slingshot. He got up and headed to the store. Gee, Colin sure is nice to suggest that, considering the fact that Talo and Malo tease him all the time... Sera greeted him happily as he entered.

"Oh, my! Link! Come in! Oh, you simply MUST here this! My little kitty cat is so amazing! Today, he caught a fish all by his little old self! How do you think he caught it? Maybe he's a genius! Ohhh, just look... Isn't he so cute, the way he laps up that milk? Say, m'dear, why don't you have some, too! I'm in a good mood, so it's on the house today!" she said, handing him a bottle half full of milk.

"Oh, don't worry, you don't have to return the empty bottle, m'dear. You can reuse it—you know, put something else in it. Recycling is a very important thing, m'dear! I'm sure YOU'D never do anything of the sort, but kids these days toss things out like the whole world was disposable! It's criminal! So, what do you say, m'dear? Is there anything you want today? Feel free to look around."

Link smiled. She was right about being in a good mood.

"How much is the slingshot?"

"The slingshot is 30 Rupees. Do you want to buy it, m'dear?"

"Sure."

"What are you doing buying a slingshot, you naughty thing? You're too old for toys! Will you at least let the kids play with it? Oh, I should tell you, if you happen to run out of pellets, you can also use pumpkin seeds."

"Thanks, Sera." Link said with a smirk as he handed her the money.

He left and headed back to his house. Rusl walked by as he went.

"Ah, just in time, Link! I just delivered something to your room! Oh, I see you got the fishing rod. Colin will be pleased. And it works better than you would think, right? Well, have a good one..." "You, too, Rusl." "Oh, and I asked the mayor about the trip to castle town..."

"And?"

"He said yes, and it's going to take a month at most."

"Okay. Thanks, Rusl."

"Y'welcome, Link." He headed up to his house. Beth, Talo and Malo were still arguing over the slingshot. Link smiled as he walked by, reminded of how he and Ilia used to be. He climbed up the ladder and went inside to get his sword. Rusl had fixed it for him. He smiled and went outside.

"Link has a slingshot! WHOA!" Talo said, running up to him.

"Wow! You had enough money to buy it, Link?" Beth said excitedly.

"Yeah."

"Preparations complete..." Malo mumbled.

"OK, wow, this is great! Let's see how powerful that slingshot is! Hit the targets AND those scarecrows!"

"I can't believe you two brats are so obsessed about this. It just shows what little boys you both still are. These two will never let it go, Link. Just show them." Beth said, annoyed.

Link sighed, then smiled and shook his head as he pull it back and shot. The target wasn't made well, so it shattered on contact.

"Whoa! You hit it! You hit it!" Beth said happily.

"I thought you weren't interested, Beth..."

She turned around and stuck hr tongue out. "Shut up, Malo."

Link sighed again and hit the rest of the targets.

"Gee, you really are amazing, Link!" Talo said

"Yeah, you are! You can use swords and slingshots and everything!" Beth said.

"Hey, yeah, that reminds me, you've gotta teach us how to use a sword, too. Seriously! Lately these monkeys have been coming out of the woods and playing tricks on us! We want to get them GOOD! C'mon, teach us how to use a sword!"

Link smiled. "Okay, fine." "All right!" Talo said, throwing his arms into the air. "First off, we wanna see THAT move! The slice!"

Link swung at the scarecrow horizontally. He was kinda tired.

"Wow! A horizontal slice! Was that it? Was it? I think I've seen you do a vertical slice before, too. All right, next..." Talo said.

"Ooh! Ooh! I wanna see that other move, Link! The one where you...um...like, move your arm like this...and...yeah." said Beth.

"...Oh, please. The stab?" Malo said, bored.

Link laughed. "Alright, Beth. I'm sure you can do it."

She turned bright red. "N-No I can't."

Link sighed and stabbed it.

"Ooh, Link! Just amazing! Since you're at it, how about you show us that other move...Y'know, that little twirly thing you..."

After Link had finished giving the kids a basic tutorial on sword fighting, Talo and the rest of the children ran off, chasing a monkey. Or, to be more precise, the monkey that had taken Uli's cradle. He was now walking through Faron woods, looking for Talo. He's probably headed up to the Forest Temple, he thought. He turned around and headed north towards the temple. Two Bokoblins stood in front, Talo and the monkey trapped in a cage made of wooden bars.. When they saw him, they ran to him, clubs ready. Link pulled out his slingshot and hit one in the nose. While the one he had hit stood there, holding his bleeding nose, Link whacked the other on the head, the turned to the other and hit him in the nose again. It fell down. He stabbed the second one in the back, and it jumped up and charged at him. He hit it with the slingshot on the shin, and then hit it in the back of the head. It passed out.

After the fight, Link walked over to Talo and the monkey and broke the wooden bars. Talo jumped out and hugged him, and Link took him home.

"If you hadn't come, Link... Gee, me and that monkey would've gotten eaten, probably! She's actually a pretty nice gal, that monkey... She tried to protect me, so we got captured together."

"Huh. That's nice..."

"Um, Link..."

"Yeah?"

"You're not gonna mention this to my dad, are you? He's always telling me to never, EVER go into the forest, 'cause he says it's dangerous... So you really can't tell him! Really! You have to promise!"

"All right, fine." Talo hugged him and ran off. Rusl came by. At that point, Link noticed that the sun was setting.

"Link! My son told me Talo disappeared into the woods and had not returned. I came as soon as I heard...But it looks like you have brought him home already... I apologize. Such a task should not fall to you."

"Heh. Don't be too confident."

Rusl laughed, them is face turned grim.

"Tell me, have you noticed how strange this wood seems lately? I feel... uneasy about what may lie in wait...Anyway, Link...Tomorrow is finally the day. You will be departing for Hyrule. I think it is a good thing I have given this task to you...Good luck! And return safely! If you are lucky, you may even get to meet Princess Zelda! Ah ha ha!"

"Yeah..."

He and Rusl walked back to the village in silence. Ilia stood in front of Link's house, waiting for him. She came up to him and pecked him on the cheek when she saw him.

"Hey."

"Hey. What were you doing all day?"

"Stuff."

"Like?"

"Making things."

"Like?"

"Stuff that you will find out about tomorrow, mister."

He sighed. "I'm impatient. You know that."

She slapped him.

"Hey..."

"Yeah?"

"We haven't played together in a while..."

"Played?"

"You know, like piano and violin. Do you wanna?"

"Sure."

He smiled and pecked her on the cheek, and they walked down to Rusl's house.