It was early in the morning on the ranch. The men that worked there were only just getting to work (well, at least one was), and despite the sun barely reaching over the horizon, two children, a boy and a girl, were up during these early hours.
The young boy and girl were in a deep conversation beside a young Mare. The boy had short blond hair that split down the middle, was dressed in a green with a tunic and wore a long, pointed hat, leather boots and a belt across his waist and over his right shoulder. The girl had long crimson hair and wore a long, cream dress with the words "Lon Lon Ranch" in blue Hylian around the rim. She had been helping the boy pack for a long trip. And now, the Boy was ready to leave.
"Have you got you sword?" she asked the boy.
The boy pointed to the sword hilt on his back. "Got it. Shield too, if you were going to ask." He smiled, feeling the weight of his personal Hylian shield, courtesy of the Princess.
"Food?" The girl inquired.
The boy rolled his eyes. "Ye-es. Seven bottles of Lon Lon milk, Apples and some fish from lake Hylia."
The Girl watched him expectantly, waiting for another answer.
"What?" The boy asked, confused by her silence.
The girl sighed. "And for Epona...?" She asked, indicating to the mare.
The Boy's eye's widened. "Oh! Right. Carrots. I have carrots for her." The boy smiled at the girl. "Malon, don't worry. I'm just going to Hyrule Castle. I'll take good care of Epona. I'll bring her around whenever I can. and I can hold my own, remember?"
Tears stung Malons eyes and she wrapped her arms round the boy. "I'm going to miss you." She whispered as she hugged the boy tightly.
The boy was taken back. He had helped on Lon Lon Ranch for the past month, milking the cows, grooming the horses and playing with Malon. He was thankful that they had let him stay. He was in shock that Malon was the one getting emotional.
"Hey, Malon, I can come by too." He said softly.
She looked at him, blinking back her tears. "Promise?"
The boy smiled. "Promise. I'm your friend. And I never break a promise. Ever."
Malon let go right as her father, Talon, left their house and bumped into the boy.
"Oh, sorry son, didn't see you there! You're still rather short!" He chuckled.
Malon blushed. "Dad!"
Talon laughed. "Sorry, Malon. So you leaving Link?"
The boy smiled. "Yeah. Thanks again for letting me stay here."
Talon chuckled. "It's fine. Malon had insisted on it."
"Dad!"
"Ok, ok. Well, come by anytime!"
The boy smiled at Malon as he climb onto Epona. "I plan on it."
And with a final wave, the Hero of Time left the ranch and headed to Hyrule Castle.