Link awakens in his house in the Kokiri woods to the sound of children playing outside. He sits and looks out the window of his treetop home. Happy elf kids are playing tag. He sighs and sits up.
"What am I going to do today?" Link wonders aloud. "There isn't much for a hero to do now. Ever since I saved Hyrule and the whole time travel thing worked itself out I've been bored as all get out." He stands crouched down in the disproportionate home. "But I knew that. I wake up every day and say that. I almost wish I hadn't saved the kingdom so I'd have something to do…" He takes a swig of milk then refills the jar with the aid of his cow then exits sliding down the ladder.
"Should I visit Zelda today? I dunno, I mean whenever I stop by, formal dinner this, recite adventures that. It really gets old fast. She's so stuffy and uptight it's hard to relax around her anyway. Between that and Impa always around I just-"
"Hey Link." A familiar voice calls.
"Huh?" Link replies, train of thought lost looking around.
"Down here, funny man." An impatient Saria glares up at him.
"What? It isn't my fault you're so short!"
"Come on now! You know I won't get any taller, ever!"
"Sure whatever." Link chides. "What's up?"
"You want to go hang out in the forest? Play a game or two?" Saria asks. "We could do all sorts of things just like we used to…"
"Maybe later." The hero replies. "I have plans for today. I was going to visit Zelda."
"Oh…" Saria appears crestfallen.
"But we can definitely do it tomorrow!" He reassures her.
"Really?"
"As soon as I wake up." Link says smiling. "But I have to go now." He walks out of the forest.
X
In Hyrule Field Link walks toward the castle slowly. He can see the cloud kicked up by the amazing running guy and notes staying out of his way.
"I really don't feel very good about lying to Saria. But what choice did I have? I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm too old for those games. Hide and seek and playing with slingshots just isn't what I do anymore. Besides it's not like I'm really lying…I am going to visit Zelda. I just wasn't sure until just then."
Link walks some more. Now he can see the castle in the distance. "I hope she doesn't make a big deal of this. Last time I was here she declared a national holiday. That was the tiniest bit awkward. Ah, that won't happen. After all how could she know I was coming? I'm paranoid." Link walks over the drawbridge.
Link was wrong. The sight that he beheld was crazy but true. Zelda had done impossible things one after another. The whole scene couldn't possibly be. He was going to chalk it up to the princess's sage powers this time around.
"Greetings, Hero of Time!" Zelda yells over a bullhorn.
"I, uh, hi." Link says shakily to everyone.
Zelda had known he was coming. So she did the only thing she thought was fit. She arranged a parade and festival. All at ten in the morning no less and with an amazing turn out to boot.
"We are very grateful for what you have done for us all!" Zelda calls from the top of a float.
Link says nothing. His mouth is still agape at the spectacle before him. A gala had unfolded in his honor very early in the morning. "I wonder what would've happened if I slept in?" He ponders. "Really, I mean how about me being tardy to my own celebration?" It's a point he has a chuckle at to himself.
"Three cheers for Link!" Zelda yells gesturing to Link.
Link boards the float (shaped like his head) amid the cheering and screaming next to Zelda with the same expression. He shakes his head disbelievingly. "Ay yi yi…" He thinks to himself.
"What's wrong, Link?" Zelda asks without the bullhorn. "Smile!" The float begins to move.
The Kokiri raised Hylian looks around at all the people. He spots Impa in the crowd. "Not a bad disguise." He thinks to himself. "She could-" He feels an elbow in the side. He smiles forcefully. The exhibition is making him light-headed though. The cheering, confetti and pyrotechnics (she had managed to get some Gorons to handle that) were giving him a headache.
"I can't believe this. I'm coasting through Hyrule Market on a float shaped like my head with fireworks going off at 10:30 in the morning!" Link thinks incredulously. "This is insane." The float goes into the castle and with one last blast of sound the crowd quiets down.
"So, Zelda how are you?" Link asks relieved to be away from the festival.
"Now, now, Link wait." Zelda replies, climbing down. "There will be time for talk inside."
"Please don't be a formal dinner, please." Link is praying as he hops off the float. They walk into the castle.
"May I take your things?" Asks the doorman.
"What, my gear?" Link says dubiously. "I don't think so."
"Come now, Link. Do you think that is proper attire for dinner?" Zelda asks.
"The lady is quite right. Weapons have no place at a formal dining engagement. It is a pity you do not have any formal wear." The doorman agrees.
"I would really rather not."
"Are you certain? Such a burden cannot be very comfortable."
"I'll manage." Link gives him a hard look. Zelda nods at the doorman and he lets Link pass.
They walk into the dining hall and it is decked out as though he has just saved Hyrule a second time. Golden candelabra and goblets along with freshly polished silverware. The plates and napkins tied and arranged in ways that Link cannot fathom. What has to be a dozen covered dishes weigh the great table down.
"Am I the only one who realizes it's not even noon?" Link wonders looking at the way the table it set. "Pretty fancy way to tie a napkin for breakfast. I can't believe she broke out the good silver for what had better be pancakes. I can't understand what the big deal-"
"Link." Says a voice from behind him. "It is good to see you."
"Hello Impa." Link replies without turning around. "I saw you in the crowd. Nice disguise."
"Hmm, I do not make a convincing old lady?"
"Needs work." Link affirms. "What is all this for? I don't see anyone else."
"It's for you." Zelda says. "It's the least I could do."
"Me? All of this? Are you serious?"
Zelda nods. "Since I didn't know what you felt like eating we've got breakfast, lunch, and dinner of all kinds fresh prepared."
"For me?" Link says still stuck on the volume of food on the table.
"Yes."
"There's got to be some mistake. The townspeople must have my plate because all of theirs are still here."
"There is no mistake." Impa says. "This is for you." She and Zelda look at Link expectantly.
"But I'm not even hungry! I just woke up an hour ago! Why did you throw me a parade?"
"You deserve it. You saved everyone." Zelda replies. "You saved me. I'll never forget that."
Link mulls over that a moment. "So now I can be the cause of the next famine? Lord Jabu-Jabu only asked for a single fish for tribute. This is enough to feed him one good meal!" He turns to his royal hostess. "Isn't this the slightest bit ridiculous? I mean I come by to talk and you throw parades and festivities-"
"Don't you like it?" Zelda asks.
"Not really. I just want to-hey don't cry!"
Princess Zelda has started crying. "All I want to do is show my appreciation and-" She runs from the room. Link moves to pursue her but Impa blocks his way.
"You have upset the princess."
"I know. I'm trying to apologize. I have to explain." Link tries to squeeze past. Impa does not allow it. "Impa!"
"You have done enough. Please leave."
"But-"
"Go."
Link leaves the castle. Though the celebration is still going on no one bothers him as he walks out.
X
In Hyrule Field Link is walking. It's not even midday yet and he hasn't found anything to do.
"That went bad." Link says aloud. "Very bad. I didn't mean to upset her. I was only trying to say that I don't need a hero's welcome. The first time we met I snuck into the castle like a bandit. Not that I wish it were that way again it's just that I'm a Hylian like any other. I'm not that special." He thinks back.
"Nabooru treated me like a no-name kid. She condescended in all kinds of ways to me. She didn't act like I was special. Maybe I should visit her and see how she is doing." He walks over to Gerudo Valley to pay her a visit. It just so happens she's standing around at the brigde to the entrance of the territory and sees him coming.
"Well if it isn't my favorite male Gerudo!"
"Between me and the King of Evil…" Link thinks to himself sarcastically. "Hi Nabooru! What's up? How have things been?"
"I've been hoping to see you." Nabooru says indicating he follow her. "I've been hard at work trying to break your record. You are a great archer but I got a perfect score! Can you match it?"
"Sure! I'm the best!" Link replies, playing Epona's song. Epona gallops up to him and they begin the trial of horseback archery, marksmanship on the move.
Two hours later finds both Link and Epona pooped. His hands are cramped, fingers sore, and his behind hurts something awful. Epona isn't any better. The filly is covered in sweat and winded sides heaving. Neither of them appears as though they plan on continuing.
"I can't go on." Link says falling the seven feet out of the saddle. "Neither can Epona."
"Giving up already?" Nabooru asks teasingly. "Tired from a little riding?"
"My hands hurt, my arms hurt, my back hurts, my legs hurt, and my butt hurts. I don't think she wants to keep going either." Link gets up and gives Epona a couple carrots. "You did great; now go on home before she makes us ride again." He gives her a reassuring pat. She walks off.
"I heard that!" Nabooru says from behind him.
"Good. Can't mistreat my horse. You need to know. You can put me through the ringer but Epona doesn't need that kind of treatment." Link takes a draught of his milk. "That hits the spot!"
"Ready for your next exercise?"
"What? I already got the Ice Arrow?"
"I wasn't talking about that." Nabooru smiles. "But now that you mention it I did redesign the trial. Want to give it a try for old time's sake? You had the best record there too."
"I'm wiped out. There is no way I can-"
"Scared? I would be too. Even though the first time you breezed right through it. Things have changed."
"I'm not afraid! I'm beat! Can't you see? I can barely stand up!"
"Almost every other Gerudo has been through there since then. Don't you want to set the standard?"
"Can't we just talk a while? That archery has me whipped."
"That's no way for the finest male bandit in the world to act! I'll even waive the entry fee, come on."
"All right." Link says grudgingly. "Since you won't take no for an answer."
X
At Lon Lon Ranch Malon is just getting back from the market. After making a couple of milk sales and running her errands she's about ready to take a break.
"Malon, you take alla that food up to the castle?" Talon asks when she walks in.
"Yeah, pa I did." Malon replies. "Took a long while, what was it all for?"
"Some kind of celebration I reckon."
"I know that! What celebration?"
"Something about that feller who went an fixed everything. Can't rightly remember his name…"
"Link, that's what it was."
"That's it! Ain't seen him round here in a good while though."
"Nope. Wonder what he's been up to?"
"I dunno. Now that you're back I'm takin me a nap, I know that much."
"All righ'. One question though pa. Where's Epona?"
"She ran off and jumped the gate again. Does that an awful lot, wonder where she goes?"
"I know where. He had better not be mistreatin' her."
"Say what, pumpkin?"
"Never you mind. Go on to bed." Malon walks out into the yard. "The least he could do is visit if he's gonna borrow my horse all the time." She thinks counting horses in the pasture.
At this time Epona walks into the ranch. The steed is taking her sweet time and whinnies to get some attention. It's not too long before she's obliged and her caretaker is all over her.
"Well you're back. Where have you been?" She gives her mount the once over. "Link been runnin' you ragged again?" She grabs the horse's bridle. "What you need is a rubdown an some cool off time" She takes the saddle off and tethers Epona. "I'm gonna tend to you in a minute. If Link needs to go somewhere right now he's gonna have to walk! I hate to tie you up but I can't have you runnin' off an wearin' yourself out for his sake."
X
In the Gerudo training grounds Link is having a hard time. Having done it before isn't offering him the advantage that he thought it would and that may be due to his forgetting some of the puzzles but it has been a while.
"How did she get more lava in here?" Link thinks rubbing his brow. "Even with my Goron tunic it's way too hot in here."
Link manages to solve the puzzle and a key appears. It is high up and he ponders how to reach it.
"One more and I complete the trial." Link readies the hookshot. "Now which outcropping do I use to latch the hook to?" Judging from his angle and distance he decides the left one and fires the grappling mechanism. "Then I'll have completed this again and I can take a breather." He thinks as he flies toward the silver goal.
At the length of the hookshot in mid travel Link can see that he has made an error. He will not be landing on the platform with the key on it. It's not something he's proud of, especially since he should've know what to do since he's been through it once before. Something he'll be thinking of as he deals with the consequences of his current decision.
"Damn, the edges of the platform are too smooth. I can't grip onto them. I wish I had chosen the other ledge." As the hookshot lets go he uses his left hand to snag the key and pocket it. "This is going to hurt." Link thinks as gravity activates on him.
Twenty minutes later Link staggers out of the training grounds. He is a mess. Holes are everywhere in his tunic, boots almost gone and covered in soot from head to foot.
"Time!" Nabooru yells as Link emerges. "This is the worst I've ever seen!"
"I got the 'Ice Arrow' aren't you satisfied?" Link holds up an arrow with a blue feather in it.
"I guess." Nabooru says disappointed. "I expected better though…"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't do any better." Link replies changing to his Hover Boots.
"I blazed through it." Nabooru says as an afterthought.
"You designed it!" Link thinks angrily but he holds his tongue.
"Looks like you blazed period." She laughs at Link who puts on his Kokiri tunic.
"Well, I'm done."
"That's all that matters. Now to the final trial…"
"Final trial?"
"The Spirit Temple. I made a pact with the spirits. Nobody can solve the puzzles and get to the end the way I have it rigged up!" She says enthusiastically. "Want to give it a try?"
"I'm tired, sore and now burnt!"
"Don't you want to be the first to accomplish it? Nobody else has even come close!"
"No, I'm leaving!" With that Link begins to run as fast as he can with boots that have no traction will allow.
"Come on, don't be a spoiled sport!" Nabooru says pursuing him.
By this time Link has built up some speed and is heading for the bridge. He stops right before the wooden suspension and looks ready to collapse. He's had enough. It's the end of the line and he turns around to face his stalker, on the verge of falling out.
"Sure are running fast to be so fatigued." Nabooru says.
Link turns around. "I can't go any further. This is it. I've reached my limits. I can't take another step."
"Well you should."
"Why?"
"Because you're standing on air."
Link looks down. His no-friction footwear has allowed him to slide beside the bridge and float next to it. Looking down he can see the river below him. Not a comforting sight at all.
"How long does the floating-?" Nabooru begins. But Link's trademark scream cuts her short and answers her unfinished question as he disappears into the canyon.
X
Link wakes up to Princess Ruto staring him in the face. At this unexpected sight he draws back and coughs up water. He shakes his head and looks around, still disoriented.
"Link are you all right?" Ruto asks, concerned.
"Yeah, sure." He recognizes the area around him. "How did I get here?"
"My guess is you came down the river. I found you floating face down in the lake so I dragged you to the island and resuscitated you."
"Resuscitated?" Link says uncertainly.
"Yes. Mouth to mouth as you humans prefer to do it." Ruto blushes slightly. "It's the least I can do for my fiancé. I rather enjoyed it."
Link turns more than a little green at that remark and more water comes up. Ruto laughs. "How long have I been out?" He asks noting the sun's position.
"I don't know. How long can humans last without air? An hour?" Ruto shrugs.
"I guess it depends on how long I was face down. No telling when I turned over, I suppose."
"No matter. I'm glad you visited. Come with me." Ruto dives into the water.
"You just had to 'resuscitate' me! I almost died!"
"You have a point." Ruto replies bobbing back to the surface. "Make sure to wear my keepsake. Wouldn't want you 'dying' on me again." She smiles and disappears back into the lake.
"Cant get no rest." Link grumbles, pulling on the Zora tunic. "Nobody's listening." He laces up the Iron Boots. "I don't even like the water!" He plods into the lake. He sinks quickly. Ruto is waiting for him at the bottom. She swims to the temple entrance. Link follows with a shrug and they enter the temple.
"Here we are!" Ruto says happily.
"The Water Temple." Link says looking around. "What's the big deal?"
"Can't you see?"
"It's your temple. You are its sage. You keep it in working order. I think I covered everything."
"It's our temple fiancé! And when we get married you will help me take care of it!"
"Not this…again with the marriage…" Link thinks tuning her out. "This'll be a while."
Link was right. Ruto took him on a tour of the temple and pointed out everything that needed maintenance and how to do it. The water level rose and fell but it didn't matter. He could still hear her go on and on. It didn't help that she was invading his personal space the whole time. It just served to remind him how annoying Ruto could be. One reason he hadn't planned on visiting her today among many.
"I think that's everything." Princess Ruto says after a while. "You may go."
"It's kind of late I should be- really?" Link says astounded.
"Yes. You look tired." Link moves to go. "Don't forget we're still getting married!"
X
At Lon Lon Ranch Malon is making sure the farm is locked up tight for the night. After doing the evening chores she's all but ready for bed herself.
"Cows locked up." Malon thinks. "Pasture closed up. Fed all the animals. Put Talon to bed." A noise gets her attention. "Epona! I left you all tied up, I'm sorry!" She apologizes. "Wait a second; he's callin' you again isn't he? Hold on an let me put your saddle back on."
X
On the shore of Lake Hylia Link lies on his back. Too exhausted to move he just waits patiently staring up at the sky for his ride.
"I'm completely enervated." Link says up to the stars. "I've been through a parade, torturous training, the entirety of the river and Ruto all in the same day! I don't know how much more I can stand. Heck I can't even do that. I only want to go home. Where's Epona? I played the song a while ago, how can a horse be late?" As if on cue hears the sound of hooves. "Ah." He sits up. "About time!" He turns to Epona.
Malon is sitting astride her. She doesn't look too happy. Link looks immediately contrite but that doesn't wipe the frown off the farm girl's face.
"I'm sorry about earlier! I didn't mean to-"
"What run my best friend half into the ground?" Malon says accusingly, dismounting. "When she got back she was quakin' an shakin' fit to fall!"
"I know!" Link admits. "I didn't want that to happen!"
"I had to tie her up just so she could rest! Cause if you'd a called her again she'd have worn herself out!"
"I wouldn't do that! I know she was tired! Nabooru started it!"
"Huh?" Malon sits across from Link. "Tell me what happened." Link relates what happened in Gerudo Valley earlier. "You fell out of the saddle?"
"Yeah, she kept egging me on and taunting me and I couldn't do any more then bam! I hit the ground."
"Sounds like you had a bad day."
"I go visit people and they keep taking it the wrong way. I merely want to talk but they don't want to hear it!"
"Well, you can talk to me, fairy boy." Malon says shyly. "I'll listen."
"Really?" Link says hopefully.
Malon nods. "Talkin' goes two ways. I done gave you a piece of my mind, now it's your turn."
Link wastes no time in telling Malon about the rest of his day. About how Saria wants him to play childish games and Zelda keeps throwing parties in his honor. He elaborates on how grueling the training was and irritating to be shanghaied into an engagement with someone you don't know well.
"You are kinda big for a game of tag." Malon concurs. "It's pretty obvious to me."
"That's what I'm saying!"
"I remember when we first met an I taught you Epona's song. It was a while ago."
"Yeah, it's been seven years."
"You were such a weird boy. You were carryin' round so much stuff. You would come by and show me it. All the crazy things you kept in jars an all sorts of other stuff."
"Remember the Magic Beans?"
Malon laughs. "How could I forget? You brought a bunch by an dared me to eat them with you. To see who could eat the most." She laughs again.
Link laughs shakily. "You don't remember how it went do you?"
"Of course! You put one in your mouth an spit it out like it was on fire! You made the funniest face an changed all kinds of colors. You were so funny. You drank a whole bottle of milk to get the taste out of your mouth."
"That tasted terrible!"
"I swallowed all the rest of them. Some dare that was."
"How could you eat those things? They were horrible!"
"They were vegetables, ever heard of those?"
Link makes a blank face. "Vega-whats?"
"What would a backwoods fairy boy know about vegetables?" Malon asks herself. "Probably ate nothing but nuts an berries all day. Well I like vegetables, they taste good so there!" She says decidedly.
"If by vegetable you mean magical plant seed that grows super fast and to be pretty big I suppose you have that right. The guy who sold them to me was chomping them up, wouldn't stop crunching on them."
"Magical plant seed?"
"Yeah, they grow into giant lily pads that fly by night."
"You're pullin' my leg!"
"You're right. Must be the exhaustion talking." Link says not feeling like explaining.
"You know what I heard?"
"What's that?"
"That you're a master musician."
"I'm pretty good."
Malon giggles. "I find that hard to believe."
"Why?" Link asks defensively.
"Because when we first me you couldn't play the ocarina at all! I taught you your first song if you remember."
"That may be true but I'm good now!"
"Show me. Play Epona's song for me."
"That song I know best." Link says grinning, ocarina in hand.
"Is that the same ocarina?"
"Yep." Link had returned the ocarina of time to Zelda and had only the simple Deku wood instrument given to him by Saria. "You ready?"
Malon and Link begin to play. She sings along and harmony forms immediately. They make music under the stars awhile, Epona close by. Lake Hylia echoes with the melody until they stop.
"You've gotten a lot better there, fairy boy. You could barely get through the song before. Fairy boy?" Malon looks at Link.
The bard of the hour's chin rests on his chest, instrument still hanging from his mouth. It is apparent that he is finished. His breathing goes in and out of the woodwind item causing a slight whistling noise.
"Plumb tuckered out. I would be too." Malon says sympathetically. "He should get on home. Be a shame to wake him though." She walks over to Link. "Shouldn't be too heavy." She lifts him and puts him across the front of the saddle. "Good thing I ate my vegetables." She mounts behind him and rides off.
X
At the ranch, Malon has just put Link to bed. After tucking him in the bed within the guest house she's ready to do the same.
"Sleep tight." Malon says leaving the room. "It's late; I may need some shut eye myself." She goes to bed.
Malon begins to dream. She is out singing in the moonlight in the middle of the horse enclosure like usual. But then there is something wrong. She begins to grow.
"What is all this?" Malon wonders from her new vantage point. "I don't understand."
She can see Link nearby sitting on the ground. He is staring at the moon and hasn't noticed her transformation. Then he looks up at her. He stands and backs away, eyes big enough to see from where she is.
"Don't be afraid." Malon says moving in his direction. "I won't hurt you." She takes a step. The horses become skittish. "Just wait, please."
It seems that her words reach Link. He stops at the gate and he turns to look at her.
"Thank you." Malon walks over to Link and sits down next to him.
Then the dream ends. Malon wakes up as the rooster crows.
"Odd dream to be havin'." She remarks to no one. "I wonder which one is it." She thinks back. "Ma always said dreams were things you want to happen, things you don't want to happen, or the way things were gonna to happen. I can't be sure which one it is though. But I can't wonder about that all day. Got to get started.
Malon gets up and starts breakfast.