Interpretation of Epona scene from Himekawa manga helped by lemnlime7
Before the Mountain
A sign pointed towards the central plateau:
Talon and Malon's
Lon Lon Ranch
Link knew he went the correct way. The ranch was rimmed with varying cliffs, so was hard to miss. The rooftop of a large two-story house peeked over the plateau.
Two spires of scaffolding towered at either side of the entryway; a narrow pass through the geological formation. A lone tree grew nearby.
"What are those for?" Link asked, puzzled by the scaffolding.
"Not sure," Navi remarked. "Maybe there was once a gate that has since been removed?"
Link shrugged. He scurried into the entryway, which zigzagged through the cliff side. After another sharp left turn, the entryway ended and he emerged between two buildings: A two-story house to the left, and a simpler structure to the right that smelled funny. Up ahead, the terrain was a field partly surrounded by taller cliffs, sections without taller cliffs blocked off by large fences.
The center of the plateau had a circular fence surrounded by a dirt path, a few short metal fences within. At the other end was a rectangular stone tower, quite an odd structure for a ranch.
Link grinned, pointing ahead. "Look! Like from Talon's wagon...ponies!"
"Horses," Navi corrected. Several more were within the fencing.
Link rushed forth. Nearby stood a grumpy guy wearing white coveralls, holding a pitchfork over his shoulder, a bucket in his other hand. He was partly bald and had exaggerated eyebrows and nose, looking like a taller, thinner, angry version of Talon.
There was nothing about him that looked friendly, especially when he noticed Link. "What? What are you doing hanging around here? You little weirdo!"
Navi frowned, crossing her arms. What a loser...
The little weirdo silently watched the bigger weirdo.
"I am Ingo and I mind the ranch. I've been working working at this ranch for a long time for that lazy bum, Talon. Today, for example, he's gone somewhere for a delivery and he hasn't come back yet! So, I'm doing all the work around here. Oh well...it's tough to be a working man."
The little weirdo had other plans than listen to a guy complaining. When Link turned his head, his eyes brightened and his heart beat with excitement—a tan horse ran the track, hooves clopping against the earth. Link's little feet scurried with rapidity. He soon caught up to the animal, eagerly running alongside his new friend.
Horse and child looked at each other, spurred by the thrill of competition. Despite being so young, Link's pace sometimes outmatched the animal's!
Of course, Navi had no choice but to fly along. "Guess I am the uncredited participant..."
Link and his four-legged friend raced down the track, neither thinking about giving up! Unbothered by hooves hammering the ground, Link sometimes rolled across underneath the horse, startling Navi more than once. Yet, he was never stomped or kicked, agility and timing always perfect as dust fluttered past his ears.
The friends raced around and around, panting under the sun, neither willing to give up!
"Oh—whoa!" Link lost balance, flopping through the air then faceplanting grass.
The horse ran along, neighing triumphantly.
Navi lifted Link's hat up to check on him. "You OK there?"
He lifted his head off the ground, spitting grass out. "Yeah..." He knelt, wiping his dusty face then wondering what happened.
Navi giggled. He's so cute when he looks a little dumb...
The boy got up, brushing himself off then readjusting his shorts. Over yonder was the tower—Link scurried over and entered.
Unexpectedly, two cows ate hay in the tower.
"Mmooo!"
Between the cows and entrance was a cart, lifted to lean against the right wall. Before the left corner, two beams of wood leaned against the wall. A spade and trenching shovel were against the left wall, by two large barrels. After those things, several large crates of milk just like the two at Hyrule Castle.
"Cows in a tower?" Navi asked herself.
"Oh, they're called cows?"
"Yes, Link. It's where milk comes from."
"Oh."
The boy explored the area, touching the tools, hopping atop the crates, then getting an idea. He pushed the crates about, soon uncovering an indent in the wall, revealing a little passageway behind the crates. Link crawled through, soon appearing in a modest dirt chamber with some hay and a...
"You got a Piece of Heart! Collect four pieces total to get another Heart Container. More containers mean more life energy!"
Link smiled big at his prize. Once the Piece of Heart absorbed into his body, Link looked around the chamber. "I wonder what this cave is for?"
Navi's aura flickered. "Maybe to store chickens during the winter? A hideout? An unfinished escape route?"
Link shrugged. "It's quite cosy, actually! I wouldn't mind living here if I had to." He flopped onto the hay, making himself comfortable. "In fact, I think I fancy myself a nice little nap, if I do say so myself..."
Navi hovered closely. "Link, I think we should head to Kakariko Village."
"You're right." He went out the crawlspace and exited the tower, a cow mooing at him.
Link went across the ranch, looking around. He only found Ingo grumpily raking hay. "I wonder where Malon is? Maybe I'll check the houses." He went inside the stables, nothing inside. So he entered the house. "Hello? You home, Malon?" Inside were chickens and a table. Upstairs was a bedroom, empty.
"Looks like no one's home," Navi remarked. "Malon and Talon probably aren't back home yet."
Link sighed. "That's too bad. I really wanted to give Malon her bird back."
"There's already Cuccos here," Navi said, "perhaps just leave her here?"
"You're right." Link withdrew Chicken; she proudly called her presence. Link put her on the floor.
Chicken looked around, confused. She spun around and cocked her head. "Bagawk?!"
Link blinked once, twice. "Cuccos, like you."
Chicken's eyes narrowed. She jumped back into Link's pocket, made herself comfy, and refused to leave.
Link looked at Navi for answers.
"Umm..." Navi hesitated. "I suppose a pocket Chicken isn't a ranch Cucco."
Link shrugged. "Guess we're stuck with her."
Link was walking along Hyrule Field, taking big, long steps, humming to himself. Nearby grew a decent leafy tree by a shrub.
Navi flew along, talking about something, Link not paying any attention.
He stopped, eyes partly closed. "Hm? What did you just say?"
Navi sweatdropped. "..."
S
M
I
L
E
She flew over his smile and, aggressively flying up and down, pummeled her child. "For shame! Your head is full of Princess Zelda! !" Navi was so angry she made another sweatdrop.
He covered his head, left eye seeing a star, Navi pummeling baby boy.
"Did you forget about Saria?"
Link defended himself as best he could. "N-no! I never..."
After Navi finished beating Link up, she calmed down...a bit. "What would Saria say if we told her we're going to save Hyrule?"
He withdrew the Fairy Ocarina. Saria...
A pleasant image of her appeared in his thoughts. Play it sometimes and remember the forest...
Fairy Ocarina held closely, Link smiled small, eyes slightly closed, pausing with calm nostalgia. I wonder what everyone back in Kokiri Forest is doing...
He imagined a dastardly Mido with one of his goons and their fairies, a stump house behind them...memories of where Link came from. He walked along, ocarina to his mouth, playing the Kokiri melody. Soon absorbed into his playing, Link closed his eyes, breathing music into the world.
A foal's ears twitched as she heard music flowing in the wind. Curious, ears up, she cantered after the most pleasant sounds.
CLIP
CLOP
CLOP
Link and Navi turned their heads.
?
A foal happily trotted over, hooves thudding into the ground.
Link stepped backwards, surprised but still playing, the foal sticking her face at him as she tried to get into the music. Once he regained himself, he smiled big. "Where'd you come from? You like this ocarina?"
The foal stared eagerly.
W
H
I
N
N
Y
Link played, sometimes jumping and extending his legs outwards, rather like a frog. Her head sideways, the foal pranced excitedly from the musical joy.
As Link hopped, Epona thrust her head and shoulder beneath him. He ended up sitting on the foal. She charged forth, wind blowing Link's hair and hat back, holding the Fairy Ocarina against his chest.
"WHOA!" Link held onto the horse's shoulders, ocarina nearly dropping. While teetering, Link pocketed the precious instrument.
CLOP
CLOP
CLOP
Link gripped the foal's shoulders again, her speed only increasing. "You're fast! This is great!" The wind intensified, Link feeling like he was thrown across the field, nothing but dust behind him. "Go! Go! All the way to Death Mountain!"
She seemed to know what he meant...
"Epona!" Malon called, running across the field, one hand up to amplify her voice. "Epona!" Worried, Malon looked in every direction, not noticing the tiny figure over yonder disappearing behind the hills.
"Hmph! Has she run off again? Where can she be?"
Link's foal galloped across the vast field, a bridge arching over a river soon appearing. Farther upriver, a falx curled over the river, creating an interesting sight.
The foal galloped over the bridge and past the river. Eventually, an immense stairway appeared, cutting through the cliffs, a decent tree growing nearby. Beyond the cliffs, a large stone windmill and various rooftops peeked.
"Whoaaa!" Link pulled on his steed's mane, slowing her down. She stopped by a sign that read:
Kakariko Village
Death Mountain Trail
Starting Point
"Looks like we are going the right way," Navi cheeped.
The foal calmly walked up the stairs, hooves clacking against the stone. After perhaps twenty feet of incline, there was a right turn and another long stairway...
Link and his ride entered Kakariko Village. Windmill sails calmly spun. A Cucco's clucking echoed. Footfall of villagers thudded along scaffolding.
The foal scurried forth, stopping before the partial wall, where a soldier stood. Link hopped off his steed and approached the soldier.
"Ding dong, ding dong! I'm a clock soldier of Kakariko! The current time is: 14:47.
Hello there, son. Zelda's attendant, the great Impa, opened this village to the common people. We have only a small population now, but someday this place will be as lively as Hyrule Castle Town! Oh, yes! It will!
Climb up the stairs at the north end of the village to find the trail that leads up Death Mountain. But you need the King's permission to actually go up the mountain."
Link wasn't sure about clocks, having grown up in a timeless forest. OK, thanks for telling me.
Navi hovered by Link's ear. "The numbers they speak are about the day."
"Oh. Grown-ups sure are strange."
Link walked past the walls, the foal following him, as curious as he was about everything. The foal watched a Cucco scuttling around, clucking away.
Up ahead, various buildings stood at the sides, the large windmill afterwards.
Link approached a bald, mustached, punchy man by a tree, arms crossed. He wore leopard-patterned shorts, white leggings and shirt, and a blue coat.
"Khhaaaa aaaahh! Hmph."
The foal hid behind Link, the youngsters wondering if the man was angry at them.
"I am the boss of the carpenters that Impa hired to improve this village and make it into a true city! But young men these days don't have any ambition...
Do you know what I mean, kid?
My workers are just running aimlessly around the village, and they're not making any progress at all... Even my own son doesn't have a job, and he just wanders around all day! They're all worthless, I tell you! !"
Link looked at Navi. "I guess grown-ups don't make good workers..." He moved on.
Up ahead, Link ascended a short stairway, leading to a higher tier containing a well, construction project, the windmill, and a few other buildings off to the left. The foal trotted over, dipping her nose into the well to drink.
Nearby was a sign that read:
Dark! Narrow! Scary!
Well of Three Features
Link looked at Navi. "Why is this well dark and scary?"
The fairy shrugged. "Maybe there's something more to it than that?"
While the foal rested, Link walked on, exploring the building under construction. To a boy, a construction zone was a playground! He eagerly climbed the unfinished sections of brick wall, then went atop scaffolding.
A carpenter with white shorts ran to and fro up there. "Look at that poor girl over there. She works so hard taking care of her chickens, even though touching them gives her goosebumps... What a trooper! I would really like to help her! I've just been feeling so charitable these days! Don't you feel that way, too?"
He went back to running along the beams, movement shoving Link off and he fell.
Link faceplanted.
He got up, brushing himself off as if nothing happened.
There was large house nearby the construction site. This next house had a doorless exit on its upper floor leading to a balcony without railings. By a small fenced-in area at ground level, a redhead nervously had her hands to her face. She wore a blue skirt, pale shirt, and brown vest.
"What should I do?! My Cuccos have all flown away! You, little boy, please! Please help me bring them back to this pen!"
Link scratched the back of his head. "Umm, OK..."
He walked around town, grabbing Cuccos and carrying them to the pen, the birds flapping and screaming the entire way. One time, he heard clucking coming from a crate, so did the most logical thing and smashed his head into the crate, shattering the wood, a Cucco appearing.
One by one, Link brought the remaining Cuccos home, sometimes holding them overhead and jumping from fences or rooftops, the foal watching her friend flying around town like that.
Navi flew alongside her child, sparkles and feathers fluttering behind them. "Link, I think that you would make a great fairy!"
He smiled. "If I were, we'd be best friends forever!"
Upon landing, Link scurried to the woman and, after throwing a bunch of Cuccos into the pen, rubbed his hands together.
She opened her arms. "Thank you for finding my Cuccos. I have allergies, so I get goose bumps when I touch them. For helping me, I will give this to you. It's fine glass, and should be useful. Please take good care of it!"
Link held the item above his head.
"You got an Empty Bottle! After you put something in this bottle, set it when you want to use the item inside."
Smiling big, Link pocketed his bottle—clink!
Confused, Link hesitated. "Hm? What was that?"
Chicken poked her head out his pocket, rubbing her face, glaring.
"Oops, sorry... I forgot about you..."
The bird placed her wingtips against her sides. "Cluck?!" She hopped out his pocket and grumpily strutted away.
"Oh, c'mon, Chicken!" He ran after her, offering a hand of friendship.
She scratched at some grass, sat down, crossed her wings, and looked away.
Navi hovered closed. "Link, I don't think you're good at keeping pets."
"Uh-oh..." The boy timidly turned to the lady, hoping she didn't see his ineptitude. "Excuse me, ma'am, but could I ask you a favor? My friend, Chicken, is mad at me. She was a gift from Malon, but when I was at Lon Lon Ranch, she wasn't home. I hope this isn't too much to ask of you, but... Could you look after her for me, pretty please?"
The woman placed her hands on her lap and bowed. "Certainly, young man! You brought my Cuccos back to my pen, how could I saw no?"
Link smiled. He scooped Chicken up from the ground...
"Bagawk?"
...and presented the grumpy birdy over to the lady.
The woman cupped her hands and held her breath. Chicken walked to her new owner. The woman's eyes widened. "Oh, look... Barely any goosebumps..." The lady put her feathery friend in her pocket. "Thank you, kind sir. Because of you, my Cuccos are back, and it looks like Chicken will help me build immunity from my allergies. It may take me many years, but I'll figure something out. Thank you, kind sir!"
Link happily nodded. "You're welcome! And thanks for the bottle."
He took a few steps.
His stomach growled.
"Gosh, I sure am hungry..."
Navi looked around. "Link, maybe we should check that house down there? We never went inside that one."
"Oh, OK." He went down the steps and soon entered the big house.
Inside the home was nice. "Grown-ups sure have big houses!" He smelled food, an oven fired up in the far corner, where a heavier woman cooked.
The lady turned to Link. "Hi, boy! Is this the first time you've visited this village? A great woman, Impa, opened up this village for us poor folk. Well, make yourself at home. The food isn't ready yet, though."
Link just sort of...stared...clueless. "Oh."
"Oh, please, take a seat, handsome! We won't be waiting for too long! I'll get you something served before the carpenters and their angry boss come for supper."
Link sat on a chair, hands on his lap, waiting patiently...
"OK! Food's ready! For today, I made some... Pumpkin Soup!"
Link liked the soup very much! Spoon in hand, he assailed the contents, slurping away, Navi rearing and hoping she didn't get anything on her.
The lady sighed. "Boys will be boys..."
After Link finished, he felt very good. Wiping his mouth, he waddled over to the lady, tugging her skirt. He just silently stared while holding his Empty Bottle.
The lady smiled. "Let's fill that up with Pumpkin Soup, then..."
Full of pumpkin soup, Link thanked his kind host and left her home.
"You know, Link," Navi said, "I think that, one day, I should teach you some table manners."
Puzzled, Link didn't know what to say as he went up the short stairway. He approached the next home, which had a large trellis by the entrance. "I wonder what's inside here?"