Ingo watched as a dark cloud rolled over the castle as the citizen's fled from the front gate. He watched from the edge of the entrance of Lon Lon Ranch, watching the scene unfold with him arms crossed. Guards tried to get the citizens under control, but they all ran, screaming in horror as the dark cloud became darker, engulfing more of the place they knew as home.
He lowered his eyebrows and snuffled his nose. Rocking back and forth, he turned his head as he heard footsteps hit heavily on the ground as they made their way down the hill that led to the ranch. Trailing shortly behind, Malon held her father's hand.
"Ingo." Talon said as he reached him. "Do you know what's happening?"
Ingo smirked. "It seems obvious, doesn't it?" He replied, glancing back at Talon. "Not long ago was Princess Zelda taken from the castle with the help of Impa in a rush because the man residing in the castle, Ganondorf, tried to kidnap her. He has succeeded in becoming King."
Ingo looked down at Malon, whose eyes were shot wide as she hugged the back of her father's leg, grasping onto his hand. He watched Talon's face dropped as he took another step forward for a better view of the castle. Sighing, he looked over at Ingo.
"I wonder what this means for the fate of Hyrule." Talon said and watched as Ingo nodded his head slowly, appearing to be lost in though.
Ingo brought his hands to his chin and rubbed it gently. Letting out an exasperated breath, he covered his mouth. "I think I'm going to go investigate."
"No!" Malon protested, but Talon pushed her back.
"Ingo," Talon said concerned, "I see why you want to go see what's happening, but just look. People are fleeing from the castle in chaos. It isn't safe, you could be hurt."
Thinking about it for a moment, Ingo shrugged his shoulders and passed his pitch fork to Talon. Waiting a moment, Talon reluctantly took the pitch fork. Smirking and nodding his head to the side, Ingo folded his hands behind his back and began a light stroll to the castle.
As he neared, the screams of the citizens got louder, the guards hollered over them asking them to stay calm, and the draw bridge shook violently from the weight. When he met the running crowd, Ingo elbowed his way through, pushing past the billowing crowd. The moment he came free at the other side of the bridge, a guard grabbed his shoulder.
"You cannot enter the castle." He said, firmly grasping Ingo. "It is too dangerous. The dark Ganondorf has overrun the King and is taking over Hyrule. He is setting demons and creatures loose upon Hyrule as we speak, you must get to a safe place!"
"I'm going inside." Ingo said sternly.
"I can't allow that." The guard pulled Ingo's shoulder back, causing him to almost trip over his footing.
Ingo grabbed the guards hand and threw it from his shoulders. He lowered his eyes and glared at the guard. "Watch me."
The guard was speechless and watched with his mouth agape as Ingo walked into the town. Not sure what to do, the guard continued to yell orders, carefully guiding people out of the castle by pointing and shouting to the bridge. As he yelled, a thunderous scream came from the bridge. The weight of the citizens running had caused it to collapse and a pile Hylian's were crushed under each other. Pushing and shoving, the citizens crawled from the water, pulling their selves up from the bridge, and running the second they hit ground. Shaking, the guard turned his attention back to the man who had walked into the castle. He had to try to get him to safety.
Ingo walked into the castle town and saw the windows and signs of the stores broken and fallen down. The well in the middle barely spat water and there were still few people scrambling their belongings together, scavenging for anything they could find on the ground before they ran off. Standing in front of the fountain, Ingo looked around. He noticed a reoccurring thunderbolt pattern shoot up to the clouds around the castle. He knew if he were to find Ganondorf anywhere it would be there, so he pushed on.
Walking into the castle grounds, he stared awestruck at the dark skinned man hovering few feet above the ground with his hands raised above his head. He grumbled in concentration as the balls of energy shot from his hands, creating the darkness around them. Ingo looked down into the chasm that had been created and saw the pit of lava begin to be filled.
He stared mesmerized at the lava, not noticing that Ganondorf had turned his attention towards him. Without notice, Ingo felt his body be lifted from the ground and pushed back violently, crashing against the rock wall. Wincing, Ingo turned his neck and focused on his breathing as Ganondorf tightly held his throat. Ganondorf grinned slyly as he saw Ingo's face become purple. Letting him go at the last moment, Ganondorf stood back and watched as Ingo fell to the ground, gasping for air.
"I thought I ordered all of the citizens to leave the castle." Ganondorf hissed at Ingo. "Why are you still here?"
"I came from the outside, to see what was happening." Ingo pleaded.
"Is that so?" Ganondorf lowered his gaze. "Why?"
"I became –" Ingo coughed and rubbed his neck. "Mesmerized in what was happening and had to see it for myself."
"Now that you've seen it, go!" Ganondorf said before throwing his hand to the right. As he did, Ingo's body followed, dragging across the gavelled ground. Feeling his face and arms become burned from the gravel, Ingo groaned at sat up.
"There is one more thing." Ingo said, holding himself up with one arm and holding his chest with the other, breathing in deep.
"Make it quick before I decide to kill you." Ganondorf said sadistically.
"I've come to make a deal." Ingo said, and turned his head to Ganondorf who looked down at him, clenching his fist.
"What sort of deal, peasant?" Ganondorf spat.
"The last time you tried to capture Princess Zelda was on a horse that was too slow to keep up." Ingo began. "Is that correct? I work on the Lon Lon Ranch under the idiot owner Talon. He has fine breeds, and many would serve fine to you, my King. If you help me gain ownership to the ranch, I will push the stallions harder into breeding and training and hand over the strongest, fastest horse to you on your command at the time."
Ganondorf hummed and watched Ingo closely. Ingo moved his body to Ganondorf so that he kneeled in front of him. "I will be faithfully yours, my King. I will do as you please, my King. All I ask from you in return is ownership of the ranch."
He smirked. "I do have to clear out the rest of the castle town for straggling citizens." Ganondorf chuckled. "Let's go see this ranch of yours."
Smiling viciously, Ingo scrambled to his feet and walked few paces behind Ganondorf. He watched as he stormed into the town, his dark cloak swinging from his body. The last remaining citizens cowered at his presence and ran to the closest shelter they could find.
Staring at them, unable to believe what he was seeing, was the guard who had tried to stop Ingo. Laughing with a deep voice, Ganondorf held his hands in front of his body and shouted as he released a yellow ball of energy. As it hit the guard, he screamed in agony as his body shook violently. Falling to the ground, he twitched and watched helplessly as Ganondorf walked up to him and wrapped his hand around his neck. Lifting the guard from the ground, he threw him aside violently. The guard hit cement wall before falling to the ground motionless.
At the gate, eyes swam to him, pleading to be left alive. Enjoying the power he held, Ganondorf brought his hands close to his chest and absorbed energy around him. The ball in his hand was deep purple and became larger and larger until he shot it forward. The citizens who got hit flew in every direction, clearing a path for him and Ingo.
"Dad." Malon said, tugging at her father's arm. "Is that him?"
Talon looked down at his daughter and watched as she pointed towards the castle. Standing outside of it, Ganondorf laughed into the sky. Eyes widening, Malon lifted his daughter and ran into the ranch. He ran with his daughter around the horse track and opened the door to the milk supply room.
"Malon, you listen to me carefully." He said panicking, looking back at the entrance to the ranch. "You go in there and crawl through the hole and do not leave until I come for you. Do you understand?"
Scared, Malon nodded her head and threw her arms around her father, hugging him goodbye. Shaking her head up and down as she let go, Malon turned into the keep and climbed over the crates of milk, moving into the hole. Pleased, Talon turned back and made his way to the entrance of the ranch. Just as he met the sign attached to his house and the housing of the animals, he stopped dead in his tracks.
The Dark King stood in front of him, laughing eerily. Standing just behind him was Ingo. Shocked, Talon's face dropped before turning his attention back to Ganondorf. Shaking in fear, Talon stepped back slightly. As he did, Ganondorf let out a loud growl and threw his hands out to Talon.
Immediately, Talon's body shot into a spread eagle position with his arms held away from his body. His head was held to the sky and he couldn't move a muscle. The only thing he could do was barely breath, but even so his throat muscles barely moved.
"Talon, is it?" Ganondorf said. "I've heard you've been treating …" He turned to Ingo. "What did you say your name was again?"
"Ingo." He said quickly.
"Ingo." Ganondorf continued. "I've heard you've been treating Ingo unfairly, working him to the bone. Though I admire that strenuous work thrown upon one person, Ingo and I are on the same page, where you are not. This ranch is no longer yours. It now belongs to Ingo. You will answer to Ingo and do what he says. If I hear a word from him that you have disobeyed, you will not see a lick of this farm again. Understood?"
Talon wanted to cry, but the tears would not flow from his eyes. Still shaken even though he was frozen in spot, Talon used all his strength to barely nod his head. Pleased, Ganondorf released his grip. Breathing in heavily, Talon dropped to the ground.
"We'll be in touch, Ingo." Ganondorf said, backing up. "You know where to find me."
Ingo's face changed from innocence to a pure devilish grin. He folded his hands behind his back and walked to Talon, kicking his legs forward too much with each step. Talon sat, bent on the ground, holding his throat. He looked up at Ingo, silent.
"Leave." Ingo said plainly.
"Wh-What?" He said, trying to catch his breath.
"You heard me." Ingo snapped back. "Leave the ranch and do not return until you've heard word."
"What of my daughter?" Talon said, terrified for their fate.
"She shall remain here."
"What?!" Talon said appalled, pushing himself from the ground. "But she is my daughter."
"I don't care what she is, she's staying." Ingo said, shoving Talon back to the ground. "Where is she?"
Talon remained silent. Angry, Ingo moved closer to Talon and lifted his boot. Waiting a moment, Ingo grunted as he shoved his foot into Talon's back, pushing him lower onto the ground. Shouting, Talon rolled on his back, scrunching his face in pain.
Ingo lifted his leg again. "Where is –"
"In the storage!" Talon shouted. Realizing what he had done, Talon burst into tears for the safety of his daughter. "I swear Ingo, if you harm even one strand of her hair, I will kill you."
"Excellent." Talon rubbed his hands together. "Now leave."
Without questioning, Talon stood and ran from the ranch. Laughing, Ingo turned to the ranch and starred back at the storage shack with the crates of milk. How silly of him to send her there. He was the one who put the crates in there, so he was well aware of the hole and small room Malon was hiding in. He made his way towards the door.