Fan Fiction ❯ For A Song ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link, Epona, and everything else associated with our favorite Hyrule hero belong to Nintendo. All I own is a tattered, much-loved game cartridge.

Backdating: This was written in February 2005.

The attackers leapt out of ambush so suddenly that Link didn't get more than a glimpse of dim shapes in the moonlight before they were upon him. Epona whinnied in alarm and reared as he had his sword half-drawn; he grabbed at her mane, but the few strands he managed to catch slid through his fingers as he plummeted towards the ground. He struck the grass of Hyrule Field hard, and everything went black.

He could only have been out for a few minutes at most, because the fight was still raging when he returned to consciousness. Epona stood over him, trumpeting her fury as she struck out at the attackers with hooves and teeth. She was bred and trained to run, not to fight, and the sight of her hooves flashing so close above him made him cringe, but they never so much as brushed his clothing.

Whatever they were, the three mystery attackers were wearing down the valiant horse, and drops of her blood spattered the ground around him. Link's first attempt to roll out from beneath her sent him reeling dizzily, and she danced sideways to cover him again as he knelt gasping for breath. His second attempt succeeded, and he sprang to his feet with his sword and shield in hand.

Faced with a real opponent, the attackers quickly broke and fled before he could strike a finishing blow to any of them. Without a body to examine, he couldn't tell what they had been, whether they were some of his normal enemies venturing beyond their usual haunts or creatures new and strange that he might have to face again. Putting up his weapons with an exclamation of disgust, Link turned back to Epona.

She stood unsteadily, trembling slightly with her head hanging low. Now that he was on his feet, he could see how much damage she'd really taken; her golden coat and white mane were stained with her blood. Protecting him had hindered her from moving freely in her own defense. She seemed on the verge of collapse, and Link quickly scrambled to pull a jar from his gear. Releasing a fairy, he set it to work on the horse.

Epona stood tall again when the fairy had finished, wounds and blood alike gone from her beautiful form. She gleamed gold and silver in the pale light of sunrise, flicking her silky tail in delight. Her brown eyes turned upon him, and she nickered softly.

Link needed a moment to figure out what she wanted, but eventually the message got through. Raising the ocarina to his lips, he began to play. As the sweet strains of Epona's Song drifted through the morning air, Epona herself circled him joyfully, prancing and galloping as the mood took her. He played it three times, out of gratitude for her loyalty.

As the sun topped the horizon, Link and Epona galloped across Hyrule Field. The last hope of Hyrule would go on with his quest - thanks to a horse who raced the wind, and had given up her freedom in exchange for a song.