Alright! I finally had the guts to post this story, or rather what I have of it .

Of course, being a first time poster, I had that little nervous trip, but I got over it quickly, and here it is! First the formal stuff. I do not own Legend of Zelda or any of the characters. They belong to Nintendo. Okay, for this story, I wanted to do a Link x Malon pairing. I always thought it would be better if the hero and unofficial knight picked the ranching, 'peasant' girl over the royal heiress to the thrown. Malon is just much more beautiful and better than Zelda, not that she's bad or anything. Well, here's the first chapter. Enjoy(or not ;) and criticism is always appreciated. Oh, and a little bonus! A good song from the new movie, Hancock, orchestrated by John Powell, called The Moon and the Superhero, is what I listened to while writing this song. It's a great song. Look it up on youtube and give it a listen.

--

"It's time, Link! Let's go and finish this" came the voice from over his shoulder. He looked back. She was right. It was time to finish this. Although it had only felt like a week and a half, it had been seven years. That was the thing that got him. Seven years! In the blink of an eye, seven years of his life were erased so he could mature into what he was today. When he had pondered about it, Saria had told him to be thankful. "You should be happy! You fixed everything as a kid, and now you can continue to fix this. Be thankful for what the sages have made you" she smiled. Link closed his eyes. The serene atmosphere in the Temple of Time was calming. As he sat on the white stone steps, he felt as if he could hear the voices, hear the footsteps, and feel every presence in the sacred building since ancient times. "You go ahead Navi, I have something I need to think for a couple minutes" she was about to say something, but he held up his hand "Alone, please" he said in an unusually calm voice. She looked at his hands. They had been so small and smooth when their journey first started. Now they were larger, and worn leather gloves covered his now scarred hands. She quickly flitted out of the room, her little wings beating as fast as they could to get her out the door.

As soon as she left, Link sighed, lying back on the cold floor. He removed the sheathed Master Sword from his back, and set down the ancient Hylian Shield he had gotten from Impa. He looked at its worn, scratched surface. Amazingly, the symbols were still clear and showing just fine. He brushed his hand over it. Impa said it had belonged to his father. He wasn't sure if he could believe her at first, but after so many battles with using it, it had a protective aura about it, and now he had no doubts. He had his mother's life that she gave so he could live, and his father's shield to protect that life. He had so much given to him, and so much taken from him. But being made into something? "You were wrong, Saria…" he stood and gathered his things, before he made his exit, glancing back at the small room that had been his house for the seven years. "… I made myself. Not somebody else…"

The air outside was as stale as ever. The normally bustling Castle Town was silent. Link thought back to the first time he had came back out here. The silence had been unnerving. It didn't bother him at all anymore. He looked over the horizon, seeing Ganon's Tower out there. "Finally! C'mon, let's get going! We have a world to save, right?" Navi flitted back over to link, sitting on his shoulder. He looked over to the fairy. Her wings folded behind her back, and she crossed her legs. It had been hard for Link to adjust to having a six inch tall, naked woman around him when he was a child, but he didn't so much mind it now. He chocked that down to 'puberty'.

Her big brown eyes and her amber hair fell down in a waterfall of tresses. Her question made him smile. It was what she always said when he was discouraged. Every time he had messed something up, or was nervous, she was there. He reached over and stroked her head with a finger. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go do what we do best" he smiled brighter as she moved to her usual spot behind his neck, under his hair. Being put to sleep for seven years might rest the mind, but not the body. His rather short blond hair had grown out. He had it cut, but not much shorter. He liked his hair like this. Impa had given him something to tie it back with. It hung down from beneath his cap. "I've been wondering, Navi…" Link said aloud as they moved through one of the back alleys of the market town. "Why don't you hide in my cap like you did when I was a kid?" he wanted to ask the question for the longest, but he didn't. Navi froze, the locks of Link's hair she smelled still clutched in her hands. "I-uh…." She hesitated, laughing nervously. "It's just more comfortable here. You've got all that extra hair now, how am I supposed to ride up top?" she covered up with a joke.

Link laughed "I suppose you're right" the little fairy knew just how to cheer him up. He looked up the hill towards where Hyrule Castle had stood. Rauru told him about Gannon's Tower. He decided to sprint the last part. He wanted to kick Ganondorf's ass. He was coming over the home stretch, a smirk on his face, when he noticed a huge gap, and a pit of lava. "Woah!" he stopped, teetering on the edge. "Great! Now what? Do I have to learn to fly?!" Link screamed, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration.

Link sighed as he walked back through the market town. "Aw, cheer up, champ! We've figured out stuff harder than this before. We can do it again!" the little fairy patted the side of his head from her shoulder perch. "Yeah, you're right, Navi" he smiled softly, looking up and nodding, as if to confirm it with himself as they stepped through the decimated doorway to the castle town and waded through the broken middle of the drawbridge. Link sighed once again as he saw the plains. The plains used to be so full of life, and now they were deadened. "We should head towards Death Mountain. We've already saved Saria, now we should go check up on Darunia" Navi tried to get him out of this little down spot by giving him a suggestion on what to do. He was never down when there was something to do. He was the complete opposite, actually. He was the strong, courageous man that everyone had come to know. Link nodded, but stopped as he spotted Lon Lon Ranch. On his way to save Saria, he forgot about everything else. "Wait… I think I'm going to check up on Talon and Malon first. I always did like the Lon Lon milk" he chuckled as he thought back yet again. He took off in a slow jog at a steady pace and made his way across the middle of the Plains towards the ranch.

Malon struggled against the ropes once again. It was pointless, really. Although a life of working on the ranch with her father had given her a better build than most girls, this was the rope her father and Ingo had woven themselves to prevent the horses from running wild if they were spooked. She groaned. 'This sucks…" she whined. She heard the footsteps outside again. Oh goddesses, he's coming back again… her struggling was renewed, despite the fact that she knew it wouldn't work. She just wanted out before Ingo got back. The door creaked open. She froze up, her eyes glued to the door. Too late. "Oooooh Malon…" Ingo sang, his voice filled with a sort of dark humor.

He stepped in the stables slowly, shutting the door behind him. Her eyes went wide at the whip in his hands, but her mouth failed to produce any words. "Shall we get back to-" Ingo was interrupted by a call from outside. Malon knew it was one of the Gerudo farmhands Gannondorf had lent him "Dammit… Hold on" he growled, walking back outside and shutting the door. Malon sighed. Saved for the moment… but she knew that wouldn't last. She was thinking about what to do and freaking out about what she couldn't, but her thoughts were interrupted by a part of the roof collapsing. "Ooof!" a groan came from a bale of hay that had boots sticking out of it. "Yeah… don't try to be like Sheik again…" Navi muttered, clutching her head and getting her bearings. Link sat up, a little dazed himself. He straightened his cap and shook his head. "Malon! I'm here to save you" he smiled, drawing his blade and cutting the ropes.

He held out his hand to help her up, but she was still a little hesitant. Even though this man was saving her from Ingo's wrath and whatever disgusting…. Things he was planning to do, too many trips around the new Hyrule had taught her not to trust strangers all over again. "And just who are you?" she asked, giving him a slightly edgy look. She kept her hand back. Link looked confused and a little hurt. "I'm Link!" he said with a confident smile. "Un-uh, sorry. Doesn't ring any bells" Malon declared. Link's jaw dropped slightly, the confident smile completely gone. "Remember? From seven years ago?" he pulled out the Ocarina of Time, and played the song she had taught him quickly. "Huh? Oh! The fairy boy from back when I was a kid?" she asked, seeming blissful to finally see him again. He knew it wasn't for nothing. "Yeah! Now c'mon, let's get the hell out of here" he looked around, wary of anything that could happen. "Sorry, but I'm waiting for my Prince Charming" she turned her head to the side with a smile on her face. Link couldn't help but smile at her little joke from seven years ago.

"Thanks again for helping us out, Link!" Talon chuckled as he clapped the boy on his back. "Ah heh heh, not problem, sir" Link rubbed the back of his head as he spoke. "Now, now! I told you to call me Talon! Don't bother with that 'sir' stuff" the middle aged man smiled. Link took another drink of a glass of famous Lon Lon Milk. They were laughing and speaking loudly as Talon told Link about the old days when he would help his father on the ranch. Malon sighed. It was always up to her to keep the order around here. "Will you two be a little quieter!" she snapped. That got their attention, as it silence both of them. "Thank you" she smiled. Finally some quiet. "Well, it's late, so I'm gonna turn in" Talon nodded, scratching his balding head. "You gonna go out and sing under the stars with Epona an' the bunch?" he asked, referring to the horses.

Malon nodded, smiling. Talon chuckled once again, stretching. "What about you, Link? It's getting' kinda late. Why don't you stay for the night?" he asked. Link didn't want to turn down his kind offer. That, and the fact that he had no desire to find a soft spot in the dirt or under a tree to sleep tonight. "Thanks, si- I mean, Talon" he grinned and flashed a thumbs up. Talon laughed loudly, walking up the stairs and waving his hand at them. "You go out there and make sure she ain't attacked by no monster, alright young man?" he joked. "You can count on me!" Link pumped his fist into the air. Malon shook her head, a stupid smile on her face.

It was a cool, calm night as the two walked out to the horses holding area. Malon kept the gates open, as she knew none of the horses would run for it. They liked this place. They were treated well, fed well, and Malon and Talon were so kind to them. Malon walked to her usual spot in the middle of the field and Link took his spot next to her. She cleared her throat with a little 'ahem' and took a deep breath. The horses looked up, knowing that the singing would soon start. Link was eager to hear her sing as well. As the first notes slipped from her mouth so smooth he was sure it had to have been Zoras diving from her vocal chords into the proverbial ocean of her song, he closed his eyes, leaning back against the grass. It instantly made the night even calmer than he had been before. She swayed slightly as she sung. Her mother's song reminded her of the old days.

Link reached into his pack, removing his ocarina. He slowly accompanied her on it as she sung her beautiful song. The two mixed and melded together to make a beautiful sonata in the pale moonlight. As the singing and playing came to a close, the chickens crowed, the horses neighed, and even the cows could be heard, giving their thanks in their own form of a standing ovation. Link stood up, taking Malon's hand in his own, and they bowed, laughing as they did so. Link sat back down, about to take his hand from hers, but as his fingers started to slip away she tightened her grip. She looked away from him as he peered over at her. A slight smile was on his face as he put his hand back in place and tightened his grip in return. Her face flushed red as she turned back to him. She was trying to say something, anything to break the silence, but she couldn't find her words.

"Nights like this…" Link began, musing over thoughts in his head. "… are precious. They're gifts. So it's fitting that we enjoy them with the people we care about, right?" Link turned to her and smiled. The young rancher girl didn't expect this from her. He was usually goofy and idiotic. Something so insightful coming from his mouth surprised her in every sense of the word. "Y-Yes…" she finally found her voice "They are. Link… I know it's kind of stupid to worry about it, but when ever me and father go out to deliver to places, we always talk with our clients. People have been… saying things. I know he was just joking earlier when he was talking about protecting me from monsters, but… From what people have been saying, that could actually happen" she put emphasis on the actually.

He nodded as she spoke. "I… I hate monsters. They're scary, and… that's how my… mother died…" she closed her eyes. Link looked at her. She was trembling softly, she seemed ready to cry. He moved closer to her, putting his arms around her as they lay beneath the starry night sky. Every time she or Talon had ever spoken of her mother, they never said much about her. Just that she was a good person, kind and sweet, and saw good in everyone and everything. Malon opening up about her mother's death was something he wasn't expecting. Looked like it was his turn to be surprised. "Don't worry…" he stroked her head as she curled up closer to his chest. "Link… you'll protect me, just like father said, right?" she asked, looking up slightly. Her brown-orange eyes locked on his. He took a second, then nodded. "Of course! I promise!" he clenched a fist in front of himself and her. "You swear? You swear that when I'm in trouble, you come in and sweep me off my feet and rescue me from danger as my Prince Charming?" she moved her head up further, their noses practically touching. They stared at each other for what felt like years, and Link slowly smiled, putting his hand on the side of her face. "I swear"