Neither of the two Hylians dared start a conversation. An awkward silence lingered in the air around them. Link was quite content with this, though Zelda wanted to say something, but couldn't bring herself to speak in fear of further angering her knight.

They were lost, but they didn't want to have to tell the other they didn't know where they were. Eventually they crossed an old wooden bridge, but that still didn't jog Link's memory. He just hoped it ended out where he recognised. Somewhere he knew.

Zelda wiped a stray tear from her cheek and looked up. The rocky walls surrounding them were never ending. Until they abruptly did. A coloured mist floated towards them, lighting up their path. Around the corner was what looked like a Great Fairy Fountain to Link, but then again he knew there wasn't one the way they came, so he was confused. A mossy path led them to it, surrounded by large pink and magenta flowers that were submerged in the river. They stood at the fountain edge, peering in. It glowed, an aura lifted up from it, filling the space around them.

Startling them both, the water began to bubble, and a large blur sprouted from it. It stood, towering over them. Unconsciously Zelda stepped behind Link, staring into its endless inky black eye sockets.

It looked familiar to Link somehow, though he'd never seen this beast before. Its head vaguely looked like...

"Ho ho ho..." It's gruff voice boomed. "At last! Free of that tiny bud after so long! If my arms were corporeal, they'd have cramped for sure."

It then noticed the knight and Princess standing below him.

"And you're the ones that set me free, are you not?" It didn't wait for an answer. It's head shook, tilting to the side, beginning to creep Zelda out.

"My name is Malanya. I am the God who watches over the horses of this world. I suppose you deserve a reward for setting me free... What shall I do..."

At the back of his mind, Link realised that Zelda's horse seemed to be perfectly calm, which he found unusual.

Suddenly the Horse God threw back its head and shook its sharp nailed hands.

"SHALL I MAKE YOU MY MEAL?" It yelled at them, lowering down closer to their height, its floating hands looking as though they were about to grab them. Link reached for the hilt of his sword, but the beast simply laughed.

"Hahaha, I only jest... If a horse you love passes away from some sort of tragic, fatal accident, it is within my power to revive that horse..."

Link couldn't believe what he was hearing. It could revive horses? He could have his own horse back!

"However," he carried on, pulling the wielder of the Master Sword from his thoughts, "If I detect vile intent behind the death of your horse... YOU WILL SUFFER MY WRATH!" Zelda muffled her scream, scared of the powerful God in front of her. Link glanced at her, then looked away quickly to avoid her gaze.

"I only jest... Let me see...Neigh! A horse, loyal and true, has fallen during your adventures!"

Link's heart went cold. He could still remember the pure rage that almost blinded him. He wasn't sure if Malanya was guessing this, or really was a God. Either way, he was quite intimidating.

"I COULD END YOU, RIGHT HERE AND NOW!" More calmly, the God added, "I jest of course..." Zeldas wasn't sure if he was telling the truth.

"Shall I bring a companion back to travel with you once more? "

Link stepped forward and without hesitating, answered yes.

"I see your horse, Epona. The most recent of your horses' deaths You would like me to revive this horse? This one, specifically?"

The princess raised her eyebrow. That specific horse? What other horses has he lost? Maybe if they ever fixed their friendship, she would ask him.

The poor knight's eyes shone. Malanya took his silence as an affirmative.

"I can do that, of course! But...what is this...this horse says that YOU killed it! you! How could you?! Do you plan to revive it just to kill it again?"

Link paled. It was his fault his horse was dead. He knew it...

The God continued to shout at him, but unbeknownst to the Mythical creature of Zelda, his soul was shattering with every word.

"Are horses only a tool to you? Do you treat their noble lives so casually that you'd use them and throw them away?"

Link looked away, not wanting them to see his tears that now began to flow freely.

But the God didn't end it there...

"If I were a horse right now... I'D KICK YOU IN THE CHEST!"

He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to listen anymore.

"I..." he hesitated, "Jest."

"Your horse was struck with a mighty bolt of electricity, hardly your fault. Your horse protected you, as you would have done. Would you like me to revive this loyal friend?"

Link just nodded. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Ah, understood! Let me bring back this horse!"

Its hands shook, coming together, swirling with magenta smoke. They swung around its body, head twitching violently, The ripples of the pool he sat in began to turn to great waves, knocking over the side. Its head spun around on its neck, and it flew over to rest about a metre away from Link's body.

A beam of purple ejected from the sky, coming to rest on the side of Link. A shadow reared onto its legs, and once the fog cleared, Link was able to see his oldest friend returned to him. He hugged her neck and muttered soft words into her ear, eternally grateful.

"I was successfully able to bring back the horse! Next time, don't let the horse die! Horses are your partners. Don't forget that. If you're careless with their lives, you may regret it..."

"UNDERSTAND?" He roared at the Hero, who nodded, still stroking Epona's brown head.

"I jest...for now!" Malanya sunk back into the open flower, disappearing from view, where he would rest for a long time to come.

Zelda walked over to Link and patted his arm. He flinched slightly at her touch, which pained Zelda. Sighing, she mounted her horse, Link doing the same, and set off for the next part of their adventure.