And thus starts the new Fanfic I've been dying to write! Just wanted to add that yes, I intend for this to be longer than All Over (and hopefully better...) I have some great ideas and I can't wait to see it all come together!
Note: Ok so yes this is post Ocarina of Time, but for this fanfic after Ganon was defeated Zelda never sent Link back in time. But, he did go to Termina and the events of Majora's Mask did take place after Ocarina of time, but he was an adult. I hope that makes sense. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series.
I opened my eyes slowly, my body stiff from sleep. As I finally came to, I sat up and looked around me, almost forgetting where I was. The air was hot and the sky was a miraculous blue. My hand brushed over soft grass as the smell of lilies and the chirps of birds carried in the warm breeze. This all seemed so familiar...
Just then something nudged me in the back of the head, interrupting my thoughts. I whirled around, prepared to fight, but stopped as I realized it was only Epona.
"Hey girl." I murmured to her as I ran a hand over her soft mane. She whinnied happily as she tossed her head and I couldn't help but smile to myself. In all of my adventures the one person who was with me the whole time was Epona. And she wasn't even a person... I laughed as she nudged me again, more forcefully then before.
"Alright, alright! Here you go!" I dug around in a pouch until I found a carrot and fed it to her as I took a bite out of another one. I looked around me, more alert now, and finally remembered where I was.
This was Hyrule. With the forest next to me, the sound of the flowing river, and the large mountain off in the distance. I was back. Finally, I was home!
Jubilant, I jumped onto Epona's saddle and chucked my carrot behind me, excitement filling my mind.
"Hyah!" Epona galloped faster and faster, the breeze blowing in our faces and the sound of her hooves pounding on the ground. A smile appeared on my face and a loud yell escaped my lips. This was what life was, and I was just starting to remember it's blissful feeling.
A carpet of green filled my vision until a large hill appeared next to us. I glanced over and gasped at the unforgettable building standing before me. Lon Lon Ranch. Malon, Talon, and Ingo. Memories surfaced: the time I met her by the castle, how she used to call me fairy boy and whistle that lovely song, all of the times I'd find her father snoozing away the hours wherever he could, when I raced Ingo and escaped with Epona, and that look on Malon's face when she found out what I had done... It was joy and excitement and freedom. The same I knew I had on my own at the moment.
Something led me to the trail leading to the ranch, whether it be my mind or an unknown force, but next thing I knew Epona was trotting up to Lon Lon Ranch.
The sun was high in the air by the time we made it to the ranch and a trail of sweat already lined my brow. Wiping it off, I hopped off of Epona and started walking towards what I thought used to be the chicken coop. Only, it looked nothing like the place from before. There was a glass door exposing the view of a polished... Restaurant?
Just then a sign next to the door caught my eye, "Lon Lon Bar and Restaurant"
Inside there appeared to be a large bar surrounded by stools and tables placed around the restaurant. The area seemed larger than that of the old chicken coop, and not only that, but the floor was a dark wood and it just seemed so different. How long was I gone?
However, all of my attention drew to the girl in the sundress arranging seats. Her hair blazed a brilliant red just like I remembered and she had on that relaxed and cheerful smile, never failing to brighten your day. I seemed to be frozen in place, but then I slowly brought a hand to the door and knocked twice.
"Sorry, we're not open ye-" just then she looked over towards the door and froze, her mouth slightly open. She stood up straighter and walked steadily to the door, but opened it cautiously.
"I-Is it you?" She whispered, her hand still on the door. I smiled and nodded once, gazing into her wide eyes. I almost forgot how much I missed her shining face.
Taking me by surprise, she wrapped her arms tightly around me without saying a word. I embraced her back as she whispered through tears, "I thought you weren't coming back fairy boy."
"Fairy boy." I closed my eyes as her words sunk in and then pulled away from her. "Did you really think I wouldn't come home?"
She smiled and wiped her eyes, but then there was silence as we gazed at each other. Her cheeks started to become red and I tried to break the silence.
"So, what's this 'Bar and Restaurant?'" It took a moment for my words to register through all of her excitement, but then she gasped loudly and opened up the door.
"I nearly forgot! Come in!" I followed her into the building, discovering each and every detail, and sat down on a stool while she went to the other side of the bar.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" She asked in a professional manner and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Isn't it a bit early for that?"
"I meant water or milk, but you'd be quite shocked actually!"
We both laughed and I couldn't help but to savor her adorable giggle I had missed so much. "I'll just take a water."
She moved around the bar briskly and passed me a glass, leaning across the counter. "So..."
"So," I started. "How did this happen?" Malon gave me a smile and crossed her arms.
"After Ganondorf's rule ended my father and I started a small bar and it soon grew. Believe it or not, it was actually all of his idea." His idea? I raised my eyebrows and she giggled. "I know! He's really changed for the better!" As if on cue, a noise sounded behind the bar and Talon soon stuck his head out of the small window.
"Malon who are you talking to?" He asked before his eyes caught mine. He seemed to glance twice, as though not believing what he saw.
"Well I'll be damned. Is that you, Link?" I smiled and waved a hand. "Nice to see you sir."
He came out from the kitchen and shook my hand happily. "Long time no see! You liking the renovations?" I had to admit, the place looked amazing. I could hardly believe that the same man I met snoozing on the job had managed to do all of this.
"It's very nice sir! I can hardly believe how long I was gone!" I heard a small noise and looked up to see Malon with her head down. Talon looked from her to me, and shifted his feet.
"Well... I oughta get back to work. I'll leave you two then." I nodded to him as he scuttled back into the kitchen. Malon fidgeted as I watched her, trying to figure out what was up with her.
"Malon," I whispered. "...Are you alright?" She glanced up with a slight blush to her cheeks and let out a deep breath.
"I-I... I missed you Link. You were gone for a long time... Just where were you?" Her eyes seemed to be searching me and I wasn't sure how to answer.
"I was looking for a friend." My breath caught in my throat as I remembered. Sure she could be pestering at times, but she was my friend. She was what brought back my hope. And she left me.
"A friend?" Malon asked. She stepped closer to me. "What happened? Who was it?" I tapped my fingers against the glass in front of me and took a deep breath.
"I don't really know what happened. Do you remember my fairy?" I asked her. She cocked her head to the side and slowly nodded, finally realizing that she was no longer with me.
"You were looking for her?"
"Yes. And I searched for what felt like forever until I somehow found another kingdom I didn't even know existed when I was searching the Lost Woods. It was an odd place really... The people there seemed to be similar to the population of Hyrule, but there was no castle. Instead there was a town in the middle of it, Clock Town actually and there were people I met. This girl, she reminded me of you actually... But I saved that land too! I never did find my fairy however..." It was quiet as Malon contemplated everything.
"Link." Malon was leaning towards me with a strange expression on her face that I just couldn't decipher.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"How can you be sure that this all happened to you...?" She spoke slowly, as though she didn't want to have to say it and I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
"You're saying you don't believe me?" I practically whispered in shock.
"Not that I don't believe you... But that maybe it's just not real."
"Not real?" I asked.
"Look," she started. She took a deep breath before speaking again. "You've been through a lot. I mean, you saved all of Hyrule! Don't you think perhaps you didn't know what else to do? And that maybe going on a journey to find your fairy would be another great adventure? So maybe you were under so much stress that you made up this world that you saved. I mean, you even said that someone looked like me."
"I don't understand what you're saying." Was all I said, and I barely noticed my white knuckles gripping my glass in front of me.
"You said you were in the Lost Woods right? Well maybe you got lost."
I was speechless. Did she really think that I had made this all up? That it was all just in my head? She waiting for me to speak, but I sat in silence.
"Link... We all know what happens to people who go in those woods. They turn into those monsters, the Stalfos..."
"And I'm still me!" I said louder as I stood up abruptly.
"I know! You were gone for a long time Link! Perhaps since you have such a strong soul you managed to find yourself before you became lost."
I was shocked that she was saying all of this to me. That I got lost? "Yeah, you know, after I imagined all of Termina. The place had a name Malon!" I said becoming more irritated. She didn't say anything, she just simply stood there. And then after a brief moment of silence she spoke in a gentle voice.
"Do you remember how you got back?"
Those words took me by surprise. I was about to answer quickly, but then I really thought about it. Because I didn't remember. I mean, I remembered my journey and how I continued searching for Navi after I got back the mask, but I couldn't remember anything about finding my way back to Hyrule...
I simply shook my head and stood up. I couldn't talk about this. She thought I imagined it all! That it was in my head! I knew what I went through, and I knew that it was real! Silence filled the room until there came a small sniffle from Malon. I looked up to see her hands clenched and tears in her eyes.
"Whether it was real or not, did you ever think of us?" The mood in the room shifted as her eyes pleaded with me and I let out a small "Who?"
She wiped her eyes quickly and glanced back down at the ground. "The people who care about you." I noticed her cheeks were now burnt red as she met my gaze. "We were worried. We were scared."
I felt as though this was all a lie. All my life I learned to never become attached to someone... Could it be that along my journeys there were people who cared about me and my well being? As this thought passed me my breath caught in my throat. Here was Malon worried about me, while I was out in Goddesses know where... And she was angry? She actually thought I was lying? Did she really believe that I never went to Termina? And above it all, that I never even thought about Hyrule and her and... My eyes widened and Malon reached out for me questionably.
"Link...?"
"I must be somewhere." I murmured and started heading out the door.
"Link, wait!" Malon chased after me, grabbing my arm from behind. "I didn't mean to make you upset!"
I flinched at her words and turned back around. The last thing I wanted was to make her upset. "You didn't make me upset Malon." I spoke gently. "I just need to go." She froze as I continued walking and watched me as I went to Epona.
"Wait!" I stopped with one foot on the saddle when Malon yelled out again. "You just came. Surely you can't be leaving." As I gazed up at the sky I could see that the sun was about to set and I climbed onto Epona's back.
"Like I said, I have places to be."
"Then at least take this... And Link, I do believe you. I'm just worried, but I do believe that you went through what you said." She handed me a bottle of milk and I smiled as I accepted it. "Thank you Malon. I'll be sure to come back." She gave me a small smile and watched me ride down the trail to Hyrule Field without another interruption. But something told me she still had much to say. However, there was someone I needed to see.
Epona seemed to never slow down as the day drew on and we went across all of Hyrule. But I could already see my destination and there was no way I was stopping before I got there. However, what if it didn't even matter to her? Perhaps Malon's feelings were only hers, but either way I had to find out.
I jumped off of Epona quickly and slipped on a robe to conceal me in the shadows. In this bustling town there was no way I wouldn't be seen on my own. However as I entered the town, it too seemed different. After all, it was nearly destroyed. It seemed bigger, but still being built and repaired. Except I had no time to discover the changes as I raced through.
Finally I got to where I wanted but I didn't know how to proceed. I could make a commotion and appear in front of all the guards as the hero of Hyrule who one day disappeared, or I could do what I did best and sneak around. So I chose to do the latter.
I climbed up the wall of vines and couldn't help the feeling of nostalgia that came over me. This was where it all started long ago when I was only a child. I pulled myself up over the ledge and stood up taking in the view of the castle.
After Ganon was defeated, the kingdom wasted no time already rebuilding the demolished castle. Now it stood larger than the castle that used to be here, with larger towers and at least twice the size than before. Guards still patrolled around the grounds and I made sure to be extra careful as I navigated around their line of sight.
Finally I made my way into the courtyard, which appeared to be very similar to the courtyard before. I smiled to myself thinking about her making sure that her courtyard was as perfect as before; it was surely something she would do.
My heart rate slowly sped up and I had no idea why, as I approached the courtyard. My slow steps were silent against the stone ground as a girl stood before me facing a window. Her back was to me with her head hung and her golden hair cascading down her back. I stopped when I was just by the familiar steps.
She turned her head a bit, and then spun around in shock, placing a hand over her heart. We locked eyes and for some reason as I gazed into her azure eyes I couldn't help but feel nervous. It was stranger because I didn't recall feeling like this around Malon, but now my heart was slamming against my chest and there was a lump in my throat that made it almost impossible to speak. Her eyes were wide and her voice shook.
"Link...?"
I planned out so many responses in my mind. I missed you. It's so nice to see you. But all I could get out of my mouth was a quiet "Princess."
That's chapter one! I'll be sure to try and pick up the pace but I have to get the intro in. Thank you so much for reading and be sure to review please!