The night was fairly young. The sun had not completely gone down and he could only wait. Suddenly Epona got restless.
"Calm down girl. It's almost time."
He petted her large head just before the last beam of sunlight shot across the sky. A wolf's howl shined through the night like silver. Link mounted Epona.
"This is it girl. We're going!"
She seemed to be filled with energy tonight. Her gallop felt lightning fast; and a little uncomfortable. Link could see them from the horizon; the gang of thieves that had kidnapped Malon and taken Lon Lon Ranch as their new headquarters. He had a plan; get the girl and get out! Not the night to be playing with thieves or my life! He slowed Epona. From the hilltop he could see two thieves standing guard at the entrance to the ranch. He screamed to Epona to take off again. This time her speed was almost too much for him and he had hoped too much for the thieves, but they were a bit too quick witted for Link for they had drawn their weapons and were charging toward his horse in fighting position. He was surprised they had seen him so early they were thieves after all, but what they failed to realize was that he is the one. As Epona approached the guards, Link charged his gloved hands with Farore's wind. He extended his arms and transported the unsuspecting women to the bottom of the shadow temple. He had no intentions of killing anyone unless need be. He could see two flashes of light headed to the west in the still of the night. Coming up the hill he observed four more guards, but he had no need to attack them at all and instead pulled his hookshot from his belt and lifted himself to Malon's bedroom.
"Go girl! Back to the rendezvous point!"
He whispered down to Epona. She knew her master's words well and with an astoundingly elusive horse's roar she took off back down the hill into Hyrule field with four guards chasing her. Link smiled at his success. She always comes through. I'll have to get her some of those apples from the forest she likes so much later. Link closed the window. He turned around to find Malon lying on one of two beds sound asleep; her brown hair filled with cinders and dirt.
"Malon. Malon wake up."
He whispered to her. Her large green eyes opened slowly. Suddenly she was stricken with glee.
"Fairy bo--!"
She had begun to scream, but Link covered her mouth.
"Shhhhh. Malon I'm getting you out of here. You're father is worried about you."
Link uncovered her mouth. She was overcome with joy.
"My father? He is…okay?"
Link looked into her bulb like eyes. She was filled with so much innocence. How someone could do such a thing to an innocent girl he didn't know. Oh this world Ganondorf has created. He will pay. He assured her:
"Yes. He is in Kakariko Village which is where we're headed as soon as we get out of here."
He grabbed Malon by her arm and proceeded to head out the door and she suddenly stopped him.
"Fairy boy no! I cannot go tonight. HE is coming. That's why they're here. HE will surely know I am gone and Ingo has convinced HIM that I gave away his favorite horse."
Link's heart filled with rage. What Ganondorf had done to the people of Hyrule he could never forgive and he swore to never let this happen to his Hyrule. He looked into Malon's eyes again. Fear shined clearly through her pupils and he hated it.
"Malon he can't hurt you as long as I am here. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Trust me."
She stared into Link's eyes and suddenly felt something new; hope. She reached into the nearby closet and grabbed a large deku stick from it. Link remembered. He had given her that stick 7 years ago, to protect herself in case her father left her outside the market again. He smiled. She was becoming the spiritful girl he knew all those years ago.
"We can not leave this way. Guards surround the bottom floor and all outside."
Link opened the window, Malon over his shoulder.
"What are you going to do?"
Link grabbed Malon by her hip and aimed his hookshot for the stable rooftop.
"Fairy boy wait--!"
She had begun to scream as they hooked across the air and to the rooftop. He returned the hookshot to his hip and looked Malon in her eyes.
"The name's Link."
He smiled.
"What now Link?"
Malon asked humorously. Link pulled out his ocarina and began to play, but just as he hit the last note to transport he and Malon to the graveyard an arrow knocked the ocarina from his hand sending it crashing to the bottom of the stable. Link and Malon turned to the origin of the arrow to notice a dark, shadowed version of Link standing in the middle of Lon Lon Ranch. Malon looked at him.
"Who is that?"
"Ganondorf's right hand creation—a clone of the hero of time."
"But he looks just like you."
"Surprise!"
Link said with a smile as he charged his hands with Din's fire. He stepped in front of Malon and suddenly let out a large fireball blasting his clone to liquid bits.
"We don't have much time before he regenerates."
Link exclaimed as he grabbed Malon and jumped through the stable's sky light. He noticed the ocarina under a cow. As he went for it the cow screamed angrily. Malon giggled. Link sighed and reached for it again, but the cow appeared to be very stubborn and blocked the ocarina completely. Malon had fallen to the stable floor bursting with laughter.
"Hero of Time huh? Cannot even retrieve his sacred weapon from a barnyard animal. Allow me."
Malon reached out and petted the cow. She hugged it. Link sighed. In rolling his eyes he notices a few droplets of water rising to form his mirror image.
"Malon get the ocarina!"
He shouted as he spin kicked his foe. Fighting his clone was not at all one of his favorite past times for Dark Link knew every move Link was planning and mirrored it accordingly. Their feet touched one another's sending Link flying clearly through a stable wall and to the outside where guards surrounded him. Malon snatched the ocarina and put it in her dress. Dark Link approached her striking Malon across the face with the back of his hand. Malon slid across the ground.
"No!"
Link shouted. Malon coughed in pain. Link tried to approach but was suddenly slapped to the ground himself and held down by three guards. Malon opened her eyes and was immediately on her feet. She drew her deku stick and swung it at Dark Link. He dodged accordingly and struck her once again sending her flying to the ground.
"Malon run! Get out of here! He'll kill you!"
Malon had run all her life. She had no intentions of running and leaving him there. She looked around for something; anything! Dark Link drew his sword and began slowly approaching Malon as she crawled on the ground toward Link.
"I won't leave you here. I won't leave you here to die for me."
By now Dark Link was standing above her with his blade
pointing to her back. He raised it. Malon closed her eyes. Link could only
watch helplessly.
"Malon hurry!"
She rose to her feet. The guards let Link go and ran away. Malon pulled the ocarina from her dress and handed it to Link. He smiled at her as he put the flute to his lips and began playing their safety. Dark Link swung his sword in anger, but they were already on their way.