Twilight was falling on the forest of the Ordona Province. The sound of hooves startled the birds and small animals into hiding. The horse's rider swayed in the saddle. He kept his mount going at a slow walk, slowly pulling the cart attached to her harness. Neither had been able to rest for a while.

"Sorry about this Epona," the rider said, leaning forward to stroke her mane. "We're almost there. We can rest at the spring okay?"

Link looked ahead and saw a small hut. It belonged to the lantern salesman. He continued on, wanting the long journey to finally end. He could finally see the bridge marking the way to Ordon Village.

After crossing, they entered a small clearing where a single tree house stood. Link slowly climbed down, mindful of his exhausted body. He detached the cart and removed Epona's saddle and harness, leaving only the bridle and reigns. He led her through a gap in the bushes on the northern side of the clearing to a mystical spring that was the resting place of a Spirit of Light. Epona drank from the clean water as Link rubbed her down.

"Drink up girl," Link said with a grin. "Best not to let Ilia see you looking so exhausted or I'LL be in trouble."

Leaving Epona where she was, knowing she wouldn't wander off, Link headed back to the tree house. He noticed the cart and pulled it nearer to the base of the tree, which was a bad idea. He collapsed, utterly drained.

Why on earth did I accept that delivery request from Zelda? he thought, blacking out.

Link awoke at daybreak, still feeling tired but much better than the evening before. He realized with embarrassment that he'd passed out against the tree. Before he could even lift his head, he saw a girl enter the clearing. She stopped, looking at the cart for a few moments before noticing Epona, who had wandered back to the cart sometime in the night. She looked at the tree house quickly but looked back down at Link, lying against it. She dropped the bucket she was carrying and ran over to him.

"Link!" she cried as Link stood up. "You're back! You're finally back!"

She embraced him, nearly knocking him down. Her short blonde hair partially hid her face, but Link could still see the tears running down her cheeks. He wrapped his arms around her gently.

"Yes Ilia," he said softly, noting how strained his voice sounded. "I'm home."

Ilia looked up, a look of concern on her face. "What happened? You look exhausted!"

"I am. Like a fool, I accepted a request from the Princess to deliver some important things to a few people at Lake Hylia, and then tried coming here without stopping. It was definitely a big mistake. As you noticed no doubt, I fell asleep out here."

Her face became stern as she took a step back. "You should know better than that Link! How could you push yourself like that? And Epona too?"

Link flinched. Ilia was the last person he wanted to anger, but he could never find it in himself to lie to her.

"Ilia," he started, looking at the ground. "I'm really sorry. You right. You'd think the great Hero of Hyrule would know better huh?"

It was at that moment that his legs gave out on him and he fell backward onto the grass, he still wasn't doing to well. Ilia knelt beside him, her expression much softer.

"It's okay Link. I forgive you. I'm just so glad to see that your home! Are you staying here?"

"Unless the Princess needs me for something," Link managed to say. He really needed to get more rest, or at least a red potion. "Hey, Ilia? Could you help me get to the cart?"

Ilia nodded and helped him to stand, showing surprising strength for such a skinny girl. Link hobbled over to the cart and rummaged around inside before finding one of his precious bottles that still had red potion inside. He pulled the cork and drank the bottle dry.

"Ah," he sighed, feeling strength come back to him. "Much better."

He put the bottle back and checked the cart's contents, making sure nothing was missing. Ilia stepped up and he shoved a particular box out of sight.

"What's all this for?" she asked, noticing all the strange items Link had brought.

They're all gifts for 'the hometown of the great hero,'" Link laughed. "I need to take most of it to your dad, but some of it is mine." He grabbed some of his equipment he gathered from his adventures, including the Master Sword, his Hylian Shield, and the special box. He awkwardly carried the stuff up the ladder to his tree house and laid it on the table. Ilia had waited outside, so he stuffed the box into one of his magic holding bags on his belt before going back outside, dragging a chest out with him. He shoved the chest to the ground and leapt down.

"What's that for?" Ilia asked.

"To hold the rest of my stuff. There's quite a bit, and I don't need any of it disappearing."

After stashing his goodies, he locked the chest and hung the key on a necklace around his neck. Ilia noticed the charm hanging from it as the flute she had given him awhile ago.

"You still have it!" she said, her eyes lighting up.

"Well of course!" Link said, looking a little hurt. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I'm sorry, I just didn't know if you'd lost it on your adventure."

Link smiled, and then turned back to the cart. He had to get it into town, but he didn't want to use Epona, as she was still tired. He walked up to the front of it and gave it a little push, surprised out how light it was now. Guess these magic bags hid all that stuff's weight. He grabbed the two arms that held it to a harness and began pulling, walking with Ilia back to town. He noticed that Ilia kept looking at him with an odd expression and smiled, feeling exactly the same way.