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The Bond
15 years ago
This is a story of a friend and I. What did was sent him a picture that I found on Google and a story to go with it. The story resembles us. And the picture is Link and Epona.
There he was. Sword in one hand, a strong shield in the other; ready to take on the world. He didn't like it- the hand that was dealt to him. His world was filled with demons and shadows that sought to devour his dreams and all the good that was inside him. But there he stood; ready to take on every challenge, every obstacle no matter what happened to his heart. His intention was brave and noble; his stature fearless in every face of danger.
But one day, that all changed.
After an intense battle to save a girl from the clutches of a demonic spirit, the girl thanked the boy in the green tunic with a sweet kiss. He smiled, thinking nothing of it...until she turned and ran into the distance-right into the arms of her love; exchanging embraces and their own dance of kisses. It was a gesture of true love...that's what tore into his heart. That's what changed his entire world and made his heart yearn for more than the heroic life that he lived in.
Placing his sword back into his worn leather sheath, he walked off; trying so hard to keep his head high and proud as he let the couple indulge one another's arms. It was hard for him to keep his stature tall as his heart sank with every footstep as he grew further and further away from the life source surrounding the happy pair. He soon sighed it off; knowing that a heroes life was a lonely life. But no sooner had he brushed off the feeling of forgotness that the seemingly harmless cloud over the filed of Hyrule suddenly let loose with a downpour of droplets. He stopped in his tracks; lifting his head up in a state of stress to seek out shelter from the shower. Sure, just his luck. Stuck in a field with no cover or willows to hide under. He raised his arm up to shelter his eyes and stared straight ahead, He saw the only close shelter that he could manage to run to: the farmhouse. It was a run, but he needed to get out of the cold waterfall
draining from the clouds. He took a deep breath and ran for the entrance.
Using his shield to cover most of his head and torso, he ran into the wooden door. He pulled at the slippery handle- locked, He turned each way; finding a broken notch on the left side of the fence. He closed his eyes and ran for it; jumping clear over it without a stumble-getting his boots covered in mud. That didn't stop him as he gritted his teeth, eyes half opened and ran onto the path of another building. He saw that the door was opened slightly. He barged through; squeezing himself between the crack of the sliding door and into the dry shelter. He slumped onto the cold ground and let out a sigh of relief as he began to breathe back to normal. He then opened his eyes.
He was in the barn of the farmhouse. It had a cozy feel to it. Stacks of hay lined the corners, riding equipment dotted the walls and tools laid on tables and racks. a soft glow of white light came from the center of the stables roof. He got himself out and wrung out his tunic; plucking the dampness from his skin. He breathed in the scent of alfalfa as he wandered into the what seemed to be abandoned stalls. But as he turned the corner, something bellowed. Instinctively he drew his sword and became alert; seeking out the source of the noise.He walked slowly down to the end of the hallway and lifted his sword. The noise came back, but it was much louder. He held the sword to his head, turning the corner and just as he was going to bring the sword heavily down on the creature that stirred- he stopped dead in his tracks.
It was a mare. Fire-red in body and heavy in muscle. Her white mane caressing her neck as he ribcage heaved raspy breaths. Her hoofs were curled up into her belly, her black and white tail laying across her flanks.But what awed him the most was her eyes. They seemed to be filled with pain and stress. tracing his eyes back to her unsteady chest, he looked around. On the side was a large wool blanket. He grabbed it and gently laid it onto her. He sat right next to her neck; petting her gently to calm her. Without saying a word, just gazing into her eyes, he seemed to know that there was something troubling the creature. And somehow, she knew there was something wrong with him. For then the mare placed her soft nose into the palm of his shaking and still damp hand and nickered into it. He let in a deep breath, biting down on his lip as he lost control of all emotions and buried his face into her fire-red fur. He began to cry on her neck; letting go of all his loneliness and pride that was slowly eating him alive. He was just glad that no one except the sick mare saw him weep. For if anyone saw him, he believed his image of a hero would be no more.
******
A rooster crows. He suddenly awakes by the birds rude call. For a spilt moment, he forgets where is is. The stable is bright but still retaining its hominess in the blinding sunlight. He turns to see the place where the mare was. But to his dismay, she is no longer there. Frowning, he sits up and brushes the hay from his pants, his shirt, his hat....Grabbing for his head, he realizes his hat is not on. He searches for it in the circle of where he woke up, but cant seems to find it, He knits his browns and turns around-jumping in the air slightly as the mare stands in front of him; his headgear in between her lips. He took a second to behold her beauty. Strong and stocky yet elegant on her feet. He could not believe that a few hours ago this horse seemed like she was dying. Smiling, he reached out a hand to retain his hat back, As he did, the mare snorted into his open hand; covering it in a mess of snot a saliva. She then dropped the green cloth into his messy hand. Shaking his head, he took it and placed it on his head as the mare seemed to whinny a laugh.
Turning around, he saw the door that he came into last night. He walked up to it and saw that sunshine was seeping through the crack. The storm had receeded and that meant he could leave and go back on the journey to his home. But for some reason, he didn't want to leave that mare behind. there was something about her that made her very special to him. Was it the fact of they shared their pain with one another? Was it because this horse saw him cry when all believe heroes don't? Or was it just the beauty in her eyes that made him so attached to her souls grace?...As he thought, he turned back to see the mare nickering and swishing her tail happily; ears perked as she gazed into his eyes as she walked forward to him. As his eyes were stll upon her, he opened the barn door to walk out-
" IT'S YOU!" bellowed a girls voice. This sudden outburst caused him to bounce back on his heals a bit. This too must have scared the mare to for when the door opened she bolted out and into the open field that laid in front of her.Dazed by the mare running in the field he barely noticed the girl that was still next to him.
"You're the one who saved me from that Shadow Demon yesterday!" He took a good look at her. It was true the girl standing in front of him was the girl that he saved. He nodded; not knowing what else to say since he basically tresspassed into her land. But before she could say anything, she turned and saw the horse galloping happily in circles in front of them.
"my my," she said, "I've never seen Epona so happy...'' She turned to face the man in the green clothes "She lost her whole herd to some Shadow Demons a couple of months ago. She's been getting sick ever since...'' she paused as her eyes seemed fixed on the mare grazing ''We thought she was going to die today.''
He gasped in air so suddenly that he thought the girl might look at him strange; but thankfully the girl was too transfixed on Epona to really care about anything. He stared at her then back to his equine friend, then proceeded to the exit. Just a few steps forward, he heard the mare nicker. He turned to see her staring back with a low head and crooked ears. He just stood to stare at her with amazement. She lost all her barn mates. They all thought she was going to die. And there she was; standing tall as if nothing happened. He walked up to her with shaken legs, reached out a hand and touched her dark muzzle. The mare seemed to enjoy the affection; for then she nudged into his arm. He could not hold it in. The hero walked up to her neck and hugged her tight; sharing a silent exchange of "thank you's" from one to another. He cupped Epona's face in his hands as they gazed into each others eyes for a brief moment before he let her go. Heturned away slowly to see the girl right in front of him again
"Take her.'' He tilted his head slightly to the left "Take her.'' She said again as she placed a hand on his tattered shoulder. " I have not seen her this happy in a long time; even with her barn buddies. She needs that love and companionship back. And with you-" She took his hand and laid it back onto her velvet muzzle that nickered as her eyes closed and her body seemed to be at peace- "I think she'll always have it." He stood frozen in awe. Choked up, he turned to the girl and hugged her tight, then turned to his new friend and love and jumped right on her with no hesistation. She reared a bit in excitement then stormed off in a thunder of clashing hooves to the opened gate as the hero laughed and cried with a lighter heart holding onto the reins of his wild friend as they shared a bond of understanding, trust and love as he cantered into the sunset; ready to take on the world and face every obstacle life had to offer. But this time, Link wasn't alone and never would be again.
There he was. Sword in one hand, a strong shield in the other; ready to take on the world. He didn't like it- the hand that was dealt to him. His world was filled with demons and shadows that sought to devour his dreams and all the good that was inside him. But there he stood; ready to take on every challenge, every obstacle no matter what happened to his heart. His intention was brave and noble; his stature fearless in every face of danger.
But one day, that all changed.
After an intense battle to save a girl from the clutches of a demonic spirit, the girl thanked the boy in the green tunic with a sweet kiss. He smiled, thinking nothing of it...until she turned and ran into the distance-right into the arms of her love; exchanging embraces and their own dance of kisses. It was a gesture of true love...that's what tore into his heart. That's what changed his entire world and made his heart yearn for more than the heroic life that he lived in.
Placing his sword back into his worn leather sheath, he walked off; trying so hard to keep his head high and proud as he let the couple indulge one another's arms. It was hard for him to keep his stature tall as his heart sank with every footstep as he grew further and further away from the life source surrounding the happy pair. He soon sighed it off; knowing that a heroes life was a lonely life. But no sooner had he brushed off the feeling of forgotness that the seemingly harmless cloud over the filed of Hyrule suddenly let loose with a downpour of droplets. He stopped in his tracks; lifting his head up in a state of stress to seek out shelter from the shower. Sure, just his luck. Stuck in a field with no cover or willows to hide under. He raised his arm up to shelter his eyes and stared straight ahead, He saw the only close shelter that he could manage to run to: the farmhouse. It was a run, but he needed to get out of the cold waterfall
draining from the clouds. He took a deep breath and ran for the entrance.
Using his shield to cover most of his head and torso, he ran into the wooden door. He pulled at the slippery handle- locked, He turned each way; finding a broken notch on the left side of the fence. He closed his eyes and ran for it; jumping clear over it without a stumble-getting his boots covered in mud. That didn't stop him as he gritted his teeth, eyes half opened and ran onto the path of another building. He saw that the door was opened slightly. He barged through; squeezing himself between the crack of the sliding door and into the dry shelter. He slumped onto the cold ground and let out a sigh of relief as he began to breathe back to normal. He then opened his eyes.
He was in the barn of the farmhouse. It had a cozy feel to it. Stacks of hay lined the corners, riding equipment dotted the walls and tools laid on tables and racks. a soft glow of white light came from the center of the stables roof. He got himself out and wrung out his tunic; plucking the dampness from his skin. He breathed in the scent of alfalfa as he wandered into the what seemed to be abandoned stalls. But as he turned the corner, something bellowed. Instinctively he drew his sword and became alert; seeking out the source of the noise.He walked slowly down to the end of the hallway and lifted his sword. The noise came back, but it was much louder. He held the sword to his head, turning the corner and just as he was going to bring the sword heavily down on the creature that stirred- he stopped dead in his tracks.
It was a mare. Fire-red in body and heavy in muscle. Her white mane caressing her neck as he ribcage heaved raspy breaths. Her hoofs were curled up into her belly, her black and white tail laying across her flanks.But what awed him the most was her eyes. They seemed to be filled with pain and stress. tracing his eyes back to her unsteady chest, he looked around. On the side was a large wool blanket. He grabbed it and gently laid it onto her. He sat right next to her neck; petting her gently to calm her. Without saying a word, just gazing into her eyes, he seemed to know that there was something troubling the creature. And somehow, she knew there was something wrong with him. For then the mare placed her soft nose into the palm of his shaking and still damp hand and nickered into it. He let in a deep breath, biting down on his lip as he lost control of all emotions and buried his face into her fire-red fur. He began to cry on her neck; letting go of all his loneliness and pride that was slowly eating him alive. He was just glad that no one except the sick mare saw him weep. For if anyone saw him, he believed his image of a hero would be no more.
******
A rooster crows. He suddenly awakes by the birds rude call. For a spilt moment, he forgets where is is. The stable is bright but still retaining its hominess in the blinding sunlight. He turns to see the place where the mare was. But to his dismay, she is no longer there. Frowning, he sits up and brushes the hay from his pants, his shirt, his hat....Grabbing for his head, he realizes his hat is not on. He searches for it in the circle of where he woke up, but cant seems to find it, He knits his browns and turns around-jumping in the air slightly as the mare stands in front of him; his headgear in between her lips. He took a second to behold her beauty. Strong and stocky yet elegant on her feet. He could not believe that a few hours ago this horse seemed like she was dying. Smiling, he reached out a hand to retain his hat back, As he did, the mare snorted into his open hand; covering it in a mess of snot a saliva. She then dropped the green cloth into his messy hand. Shaking his head, he took it and placed it on his head as the mare seemed to whinny a laugh.
Turning around, he saw the door that he came into last night. He walked up to it and saw that sunshine was seeping through the crack. The storm had receeded and that meant he could leave and go back on the journey to his home. But for some reason, he didn't want to leave that mare behind. there was something about her that made her very special to him. Was it the fact of they shared their pain with one another? Was it because this horse saw him cry when all believe heroes don't? Or was it just the beauty in her eyes that made him so attached to her souls grace?...As he thought, he turned back to see the mare nickering and swishing her tail happily; ears perked as she gazed into his eyes as she walked forward to him. As his eyes were stll upon her, he opened the barn door to walk out-
" IT'S YOU!" bellowed a girls voice. This sudden outburst caused him to bounce back on his heals a bit. This too must have scared the mare to for when the door opened she bolted out and into the open field that laid in front of her.Dazed by the mare running in the field he barely noticed the girl that was still next to him.
"You're the one who saved me from that Shadow Demon yesterday!" He took a good look at her. It was true the girl standing in front of him was the girl that he saved. He nodded; not knowing what else to say since he basically tresspassed into her land. But before she could say anything, she turned and saw the horse galloping happily in circles in front of them.
"my my," she said, "I've never seen Epona so happy...'' She turned to face the man in the green clothes "She lost her whole herd to some Shadow Demons a couple of months ago. She's been getting sick ever since...'' she paused as her eyes seemed fixed on the mare grazing ''We thought she was going to die today.''
He gasped in air so suddenly that he thought the girl might look at him strange; but thankfully the girl was too transfixed on Epona to really care about anything. He stared at her then back to his equine friend, then proceeded to the exit. Just a few steps forward, he heard the mare nicker. He turned to see her staring back with a low head and crooked ears. He just stood to stare at her with amazement. She lost all her barn mates. They all thought she was going to die. And there she was; standing tall as if nothing happened. He walked up to her with shaken legs, reached out a hand and touched her dark muzzle. The mare seemed to enjoy the affection; for then she nudged into his arm. He could not hold it in. The hero walked up to her neck and hugged her tight; sharing a silent exchange of "thank you's" from one to another. He cupped Epona's face in his hands as they gazed into each others eyes for a brief moment before he let her go. Heturned away slowly to see the girl right in front of him again
"Take her.'' He tilted his head slightly to the left "Take her.'' She said again as she placed a hand on his tattered shoulder. " I have not seen her this happy in a long time; even with her barn buddies. She needs that love and companionship back. And with you-" She took his hand and laid it back onto her velvet muzzle that nickered as her eyes closed and her body seemed to be at peace- "I think she'll always have it." He stood frozen in awe. Choked up, he turned to the girl and hugged her tight, then turned to his new friend and love and jumped right on her with no hesistation. She reared a bit in excitement then stormed off in a thunder of clashing hooves to the opened gate as the hero laughed and cried with a lighter heart holding onto the reins of his wild friend as they shared a bond of understanding, trust and love as he cantered into the sunset; ready to take on the world and face every obstacle life had to offer. But this time, Link wasn't alone and never would be again.
