A/N: This story takes place after Majora's Mask, when Link grows up in a peaceful Hyrule. This is a romance, and may include tasteful lemon scenes much later on. Thoughts are 'sadness joy love'. I own nothing, Nintendo, don't sue me. Enjoy!
CHAPTER ONE
It was a bright sunny day at Lon Lon Ranch. A bright eyed, red-haired woman was out in the pasture tending to her horses, when suddenly, a man of about twenty years of age in a green tunic and floppy hat appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. He leaned on the open gate, looked to the pasture, and smiled. The red-haired woman noticed him.
"LINK!" She shouted and ran towards the man with open arms.
"Malon, hi, good to see you too!" He laughed, genuinely happy to see his favorite female friend.
"Link, I've missed you so much! It's been three years since you stopped by," Malon said, as the two held each other in a tight hug. "It was very nice to get your letters, though," Malon and Like separated from their embrace.
"Yeah, I've been keeping pretty busy lately. Mostly exterminating peahats and Stalchildren while aiding travelers and traders across Hyrule Field," Link said, shrugging his shoulders. 'Eh, it's a living.' "So, how's the ranch now that Ingo's gone?"
"Oh, Link, the ranch is doing better than ever! Dad was able to get Ingo to give up most of the rupees he stole, and used that money to buy new equipment for the horses, as well as milk processing equipment, so now we not only sell milk and offer horseback lessons, but we also rent horses and sell cheese and butter. In fact, Valindar was just rented out last week to the Gerudo...he should be back in a couple days," Malon smiled, proud of what she and her father had accomplished.
"Wow, that's great! Um, listen, do you mind if I stay for dinner?" Link suddenly found his boots to be quite fascinating.
"Of course, that would be wonderful! Is everything okay?"
"Oh, yeah, everything is fine, Malon, I just...need to ask your father something..." 'Yup, those are boots...brown ones, in fact...'
"Well, if you say so...that's okay. Let me just finish brushing Galahad, here, and I'll start dinner," Malon smiled, not sure what to make of Link's odd behavior.
"Great, I'll be inside," Link smiled at her and ran towards the house.
"Link! Good to see you, mah boy!" Talon exclaimed, greeting Link with a bear hug just as the younger man closed the door behind him.
"Before Malon comes in from the corral, um, I need to ask you something,"
"Of course, Link! Anything!" Talon smiled.
"Well, see, the thing is...I really like your daughter. She's the most amazing person I've ever met, and I've met a lot of people..."
"Yeh, what's yer point?" Talon asked, eager to see where this was going.
"Um, would it be okay if I asked your daughter to marry me?" Link blushed at his boots.
"Oh ho! Is that all? The way you were carryin' on, I'd-a thought you were gonna surprise me, or somethin'. Of course you can ask Malon to marry you! I'd be very happy ta have ya as mah son in law, an' been wonderin' when we were gonna have this talk! When're you going to pop the question?"
"I was thinking next weekend at the Palace Gala, in front of most of Hyrule," Link replied happily.
"Do ya have a ring?" Talon raised an eyebrow.
"N-no, not yet anyway. I was going to head to Goron City to see if they had any gems and then I was going to go to Gerudo Fortress to see about fittings..."
"No need, Link. I have mah wife's engagement ring around here somewhere...ah! Here it is!" Talon pulled a burgundy ring box from a drawer in the kitchen and handed it to Link.
Link opened the box, and saw a massive heart cut sapphire in what appeared to be a platinum band "Wow, this is perfect! Wait...was your wife...Malon's mother...a Gerudo?"
Talon sighed as he washed and dried his hands in the wash basin. "Yeah, she was. One o' the best, too. She left the tribe an' married me. The only Gerudo who ever left an' never returned. Her name was Abeeru. Sadly, she passed on when Malon was five. There's a monument dedicated to her on an island in Lake Hylia,"
Link said nothing, put the ring in his pouch, and washed his hands. The two men walked back to the kitchen and sat at the table.
"I'm done with my fieldwork, and am going to start dinner, Dad!"
"Ok, Malon, you go on ahead and Link an' I already washed up,"
"So, what did you two talk about while I was outside?" Malon asked while preparing dinner.
"Oh, it was nothin', sweetie. Just catchin' up, is all," Talon replied, as he gave Link a wink.
Link smiled, and winked back. "Hey Talon, can I rent Ingo's old bed for the night? I get tired of staying at the Inn all the time," he asked.
"Nonsense! You can have the bed for free! Heck, you can stay for breakfast too, if ya want. We got plenty o' food. You want ta pay me back, just bring some salt next time I see ya. We're runnin' low, an' the delivery charges from Death Mountain are insane, what with the volcano actin' all volcano-like these days,"
Link laughed. "Yeah, it has been pretty active lately. Darunia says it's actually two years overdue for a major eruption,"
"Is that right? Well, he would know. I see ya got a Hylian shield, at least,"
"Never leave home without it!" Link smiled.
"Link, where IS your home?" Malon asked.
"Nowhere and everywhere, Malon. Nowhere and everywhere," Link sighed.
"Nonsense! You can stay here with Malon and me!" Talon exclaimed.
"DAD! Link is a very busy man! He doesn't have time to work a farm!" Malon said.
"Well, I ain't gonna make him a farmhand...but we do have an extra bed, an' all. He still has to buy his milk, but his price just went up to 50 rupees a bottle while he stays here," Talon glared at Link, but smiled.
Link smiled. "Still a bargain at twice the price,"
"Dinner is served, gentlemen. Let's eat!" Malon exclaimed, setting a large pot roast with steamed vegetables on the table.
After the three had eaten and heard Link's stories of his adventures helping out Hyrule with infestations of various types, Talon got up and stretched.
"Well, I'm off ta bed. Got a busy day tomorrow. Gotta deliver some milk, cheese, and butter to Hyrule Castle in time for the Gala," Talon headed up the stairs towards the bedrooms.
"Goodnight Dad," Malon giggled.
"Sleep well, Talon," Link said, smirking.
"Don't stay up too late, you kids," Talon retorted before closing his door.
"C'mon, Malon, I'll help you clean up the dishes," Link said.
"Oh, you don't need to do that. I can manage," Malon replied.
"Please, I insist," insisted Link, grabbing his plate and cup and walking to the wash basin.
"Fine, but I'll wash if you dry," Malon relented.
A few minutes later, the dishes were washed, dried and put away. Malon asked,
"Link, do you think you could come up to my room for a little bit? I have a couple dresses, and I'm not sure which one to wear to the Gala. My dad says they both look great, but I'd like a second opinion,"
"Sure, I'd love to help," Link agreed.
Link was nervous standing in Malon's room. With Malon. In her room. With her dad sleeping across the hall. In his room. Nevertheless, he stayed and watched as Malon went to her wardrobe and pulled out two dresses. One was dark blue velvet with gold lace accents . The other was yellow satin with yellow lace sleeves and yellow lace around the midriff.
"Ooh, tough choice. This might be harder than I thought," Link stated.
"I KNOW! I just can't decide which one to wear to the Gala! I don't even have a date! Ugh, why did I agree to go to this stupid thing, anyway?" Malon whined.
"What do you mean, you don't have a date?" Link asked, taken aback by this news.
"No one wants to be seen with a farm girl," Malon explained.
"I do," Link shrugged, muttering.
"Wait, what?" Malon was stunned.
Link smacked his forehead with an open palm. "Did I say that out loud?"
"Yes, you did...Link...are you asking..."
"No...yes...YES! Malon, may I accompany you to the Gala?"
"Of course! But I really don't know which dress to wear..."
"The yellow one," Link said sharply.
"Are you sure?"
"Definitely. Definitely the yellow one. It will look good with my green tunic," Link reasoned.
"Thank you, Link. For the decision, for the date...for everything! Thank you!" Malon gave Link a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, and pushed him towards the door. "Now get out so I can get ready for bed,"
Link opened the door and Malon shoved him into the hall, and slammed the door shut. Link heard the turning of a lock. He shook his head, smirked, and headed to bed, himself.
The next day, everyone awoke to the sound of a cucco. Link and Talon got up first and changed into their day wear, and waited for Malon to come down. Link offered to cook breakfast, and Talon agreed.
"Hey, Link, good morning dad...wait, Link can cook?" Malon was incredulous.
"Yes, I can cook. Out in the wilds, a guy has to eat and doesn't have someone to cook for him. Though I must say, these ingredients are way better than what I'm used to," Link retorted.
"So, what's fer breakfast?" Asked Talon.
"Bacon and omelettes with sausage, cheese, green bell peppers, and forest mushrooms. It's one of my favorite things to cook. And, we're ready to serve," Link answered.
Everyone enjoyed the meal and after Link had cleared the table, Malon and Talon started their busy day. Link washed the dishes, dried the dishes, and put the dishes where he found them. He went outside to announce his departure.
"I'm leaving now!" He shouted loud enough for Malon to run from the field. She tackled him and they both fell back into a pile of hay.
"Don't forget to pick me up for the Gala, Link,"
"No, I won't. I could never forget to accompany such a beautiful woman," Link whispered, combing a stray lock of her hair out of her eye with his finger.
Malon giggled. "Oh Link. That's very nice of you to say, but you don't have to pretend I'm the prettiest woman you've seen,"
"Who's pretending? What? Don't give me that look..." Link replied, losing himself in her smiling eyes.
Malon got off Link, and helped him up. They embraced for a time, then Malon went back to the corral to finish tending the horses.
Link headed off to Hyrule castle for his weekly Royal To-Do-List®.
"Ah, Link, that time already?" The gate keeper asked, fumbling with his keys.
"Yup. I'd hate to be late for tea with the Princess. Worse, I'd hate to miss out on this week's edition, Jerry," Link replied.
"What do ya mean, this week's edition?" Jerry the guard was perplexed.
"Why, the Royal To-Do-List®, of course!" Link replied.
Jerry laughed as he opened the gate, "Boy, that's funny right there. Ha ha...alright, off ya go!"
"See you in a bit, Jerry!" Link waved to the guard, and headed up to the castle.
"Need any help with those crates, Talon?" Link asked as he saw Talon unloading a large cart pulled by four horses.
"Nah. I can handle it. You go on ahead and tend to yer 'Royal Duties', heh heh," Talon replied kindly, making quotes with his fingers where indicated.
Link went inside when the drawbridge was lowered. He headed through the halls, and decided he would have some fun. Instead of taking a right and going out the courtyard door, he would take a left into the throne room. That's what he did.
"Hello, your Highness, I'm just here for my weekly visitation with your daughter, the exalted Princess Zelda," Link said, bowing on one knee.
"Ho ho! Get up, Link, no need for such pageantry from you. The Royal Family knows of your past deeds...how long ago has it been? Ever since the timeline was thrown off, I can't keep track...any way, she's in the courtyard as always," King Harkinian III replied.
Link smirked and went to the window in the throne room, looking out to the courtyard. "Hey. Psst. Zelda! Hey! Look! Zelda! BEHIND YOU!" Link whispered and then shouted.
"EEEK! LINK! You scared me! Din help me, you're going to be the end of me!" Zelda was shaking noticeably.
Link pointed and laughed. "BWAHAHAHAHA! You should see the look on your face!"
"Ugh, you...you...you know what? Here's your weekly list of tasks we need you to complete. Also, don't forget to come to the Gala. Are you coming with anyone special?" Zelda inquired.
"Yes, actually. I'll be arriving post haste with Malon." Link replied in a fake ancient Hylian accent.
"That's wonderful, Link! I do know how much you hate these formal affairs, but it is important for everyone invited to attend. We have a country to run and business to attend to, and the Gala is the most important part of that," Zelda said, handing Link his weekly instructions.
Link waved his hand. "Yeah yeah, I know. Don't worry, I'll bring my tunic to the cleaner's after this," Link opened the note Zelda passed to him through the glassless window. "Ah, dodongos in the cavern...been there, done that. I have some business with the Gorons anyway. Might as well start that first. What else do we have? Wow, only three items this week?" Link raised his eyebrows.
"Well, yes...dodongos in Dodongo's Cavern have been multiplying due to the increase in volcanic activity, the Zora's are dealing with some kind of parasite they have no cure for, and while none have died from it yet, I don't want it to reach that point. Then there's the matter of Deku Scrubs in the Lost Woods...they've pretty much taken over the Sacred Grove. All in all, it should be no problem for the Hero of Hyrule," Zelda smiled.
"I'm a Hero, not a doctor. How am I supposed to get rid of this Zora parasite?" Link was indignant.
"Bring a sample to the Lakeside Laboratory. I'm sure Professor Talvani will be able to help," Zelda replied.