"Hey! Link! You there?" Link grumbled to himself as he felt sleep slowly drifting away from him. 'Yes, Fado, I'm here. Would it have killed you to wait just a little bit longer? I was having a nice dream...' Groggily, he walked to the window and looked down at Fado.

"Hey, you mind helpin' me herd the goats? They ain't listenin' to me lately!" Link sighed tiredly, then yawned. 'Just make sure you remember to give me more Rupees since you're asking for help last-minute.' Then he left the window and got himself ready for helping Fado.

From inside the house, suddenly he heard Fado shout "Hey, where's Epona?" Link froze for a brief moment. 'What? But she was there last night, what happened? It's not like her to wander off.' Then realization hit him. 'Ah. Ilia stole her again, didn't she.' He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. 'Gonna need to have a little chat with her later. Again.'

Link briskly walked down the path to the spring nearby his house, where he knew Ilia would be. 'It's like she wants me to find her trying to steal my horse. You'd think she'd try to find a different hiding place after she's been caught so many times.'

As expected, he found Ilia standing in the center of the spring with Epona. He watched as Ilia reached out to pet Epona. 'You know, Ilia, if you wanted to do that you didn't have to sneak her over here.' Ilia turned to look at Link and smiled.

"Oh, hi, Link." Link sighed. 'Hello Ilia. What's today's excuse?' Ilia paused for a moment, then turned to look at Epona.

"I washed Epona for you!" She turned back to looking at Link, who raised an eyebrow. 'Do you think I don't know how to take care of my own horse? I was going to do that myself - when I woke up.' He sighed. 'At least she's not hurt.' Ilia looked away for some time, then back at Link.

"Epona is a girl too, so you have to treat her nice like one!" Link snorted. 'Is she really trying to go with the 'Link doesn't know how to take care of his horse' angle?' Ilia looked at something beside Link, as if lost in thought.

"Oh, but listen, Link... Could you do something for me?" Link crossed his arms. 'You want me to do something for you, when you got caught stealing my horse again? You're lucky I'm not telling Bo about this.' Ilia pointed to something next to Link. He turned to look, seeing the reeds he often used to play small songs on.

"Can you use a piece of grass to play that song for me? You know, the one that Epona likes?" Link looked back at Ilia. 'Not sure what you think will happen, but sure. I'll humor you, horse-thief.' He sighed, bent down, and grabbed one of the reeds. The melody came naturally to him, a small song he'd taught Epona to understand meant treats and attention.

As expected, Epona trotted happily over to Link. He smiled at her, fondly scratching her behind the ears. He heard Ilia sigh disappointedly, as if she'd been hoping Epona would stay by her side.

"It's such a nice melody... Epona looks happy." Link nodded, for a moment lost in giving Epona the attention she deserved for being so patient with Ilia.

"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 rolled his eyes. 'Not sure what kind of things she expects me to do on the trip to Hyrule Castle. Or around the village for that matter.' He hopped up onto Epona's back and nudged her to start moving. Epona, ever the cooperative horse, obliged and began trotting happily towards Fado's ranch.

As Link and Epona rode into the village, he saw Sera, Beth, and Hanch standing along the side of the road. Sera nodded to Link.

"Ah, if it isn't young Link. Are you going to close down the ranch for the day?" Link nodded.

"I just closed the shop, myself." She sighed and shook her head. 'Is something wrong, Sera?'

"I'm sure you know all about the mischievous monkeys that've been coming into the village lately... Those things worry me a bit." Link shrugged. 'They're just monkeys. What's the worst they'll do?'

"I'd better lock up tight here... I couldn't stand to have any more goods stolen..." Link felt the sharp sting of guilt settle into his chest. 'Ah.' Sera grunted.

"Can't trust that good-for-nothing husband to do anything right..." Link frowned. 'That's a little harsh, Sera, don't you think?' Beth giggled at her father.

"C'mon, Dad! You can't catch a silly little monkey?" Hanch winced and looked away from his daughter and wife.

"Uh... Well... No. No, I can't." Sera sighed, either out of disappointment or exasperation, Link couldn't tell.

"Oh... Listen to us babble on. I didn't mean to keep you." Link shrugged again. 'It's fine.'

"All right, off to work with you!" Link chuckled, nudging Epona forwards once more.

He and Epona soon came to the small wooden bridge across the stream that cut the village's land in halves. By the river, Rusl was practicing with his sword while Uli and Colin kept a safe distance. 'I wonder if Colin will grow up to be a swordsman like his father.' Colin turned around, and, seeing Link, shyly waved.

"Oh... Hi, Link. I'm making you a fishing rod, you know!" The child's voice still had some nervousness, but Link could tell Colin was doing his best to be confident. Link smiled, nodding. 'Uli told me that Rusl has been helping you learn how to carve wood. She says you've been doing well so far.' Colin grinned excitedly.

"All I have left to do is paint it, so get ready for fishing!" Link grinned back at Colin. Rusl stopped his practicing and turned around, smiling when he saw Link.

"Ah, great timing, Link! There was something I had forgotten to tell you." Link glanced over at Rusl, his curiosity piqued. 'Oh? What is it? Is it about the wooden play sword that Talo broke?'

"My son Colin is making a fishing rod so the two of you can play together. He should finish it today, so you come get it at the house tomorrow." Link sighed. 'Yep, Colin just told me, Rusl. Getting my hopes up for nothing I guess...' He again nudged Epona to trot onwards to Fado's ranch, stopping when he saw Bo. The mayor turned to greet him.

"Oh. Link. Looks like you're goin' to help Fado. Good job." Link raised an eyebrow. 'Bo? You seem kind of... distracted. Is something wrong?'

"He headed up to the ranch ahead of you." Bo's voice became more clearly tired, until he finally yawned. "You go finish up your chores before the sun goes down." Link stifled a small laugh. 'Yessir, Mayor Sleepy.' He and Epona continued up the hill towards the ranch.

Link sighed in relief when he got to the ranch. 'Oh good, there's less goats this time. I guess Fado sold a few after realizing he couldn't manage that many of them.' Fado glanced up at Link.

"Sorry to get you over here in such a hurry, Link!" Link shrugged. 'Hey, as long as you remember the extra Rupees you promised for last-minute goat herding.' Fado gestured to the goats lazily munching away at the grass.

"These guys have been awful skittish lately. They won't listen to a word I say." Link raised an eyebrow. 'Skittish? These guys? They look more like they're a breath away from falling asleep where they stand.' Fado gestured towards the barn.

"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. 'That's my job now, isn't it?'

"Much obliged there, bud! OK, then, go on an' herd all these little scamps into the barn for me!" Link nodded once more. 'Just don't forget my Rupees, Fado.'

Link rode Epona around the ranch's land, yelling to the goats to usher them towards the barn. To his surprise, all ten of the lazy goats obediently meandered into the barn without a complaint. 'Would ya look at that, they all went in willingly. Maybe your problem, Fado, is that you don't have a horse.' He smirked.

"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." Link nodded. 'Now, Fado, where are my Rupees?' Fado paused.

"Oh..." Link huffed. 'Yes, the Rupees, Fado. Where are they?' Fado glanced around the ranch.

"But, uh, how 'bout today?" Link stared blankly at Fado. 'Today? What about today?'

"Wanna practice with the fences?" Link glared at Fado. 'Are you kidding me.'

"Just wait a spell, bud. I'll get them fences set up." Somewhere, in a corner of Link's mind, he dragged his palm across his face in exasperation.

In only a few minutes, Fado had the fences set up in a circle along a slight path on the ranch. Link raised an eyebrow. 'Pretty fast for a guy who can't handle ten goats. You sure you're not just having me do all the goat-herding because you're too lazy to?'

"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?" Link sighed and rolled his eyes. 'Maybe I'll have a chat with Mayor Sleepy in the morning, about you forgetting my Rupees again.' Epona effortlessly leapt over the gate, and the two were back on their way to the village.