That character that Link beat up will come into major play later on in the story. He is mentioned in this chapter. In the meantime, enjoy chapter 2.
Chapter 2: A Job Offer... And More
He rode in slowly. He didn't hear the familiar singing that he had come to miss. He supposed Malon was selling milk somewhere.
He saw a burly man with overalls carrying a few crates into a storage silo and hailed him.
The man saw him and looked puzzled.
Then Link remembered that his hood was still up and removed it.
Talon still didn't seem to know who he was, but he recognized Epona and hurried over.
"Who're you?"
"What? You don't remember me?"
"How did you get Epona? Did you meet a traveler with green clothing and a funny hat with her?"
Link said nothing, but removed his cloak.
Talon faltered as his eyes widened with understanding.
"Link? Link, is that you!"
Link smiled and nodded.
"Hey Talon." he said.
"LINK! And you brought Epona! Malon's gonna be pleased as punch when she sees you! She's been worried sick about you since you've left."
For some reason, Link was pleased by that statement, but he didn't know why.
"So, have you come to honor the bargain?"
"Sure have." he said.
"Well, then, I suppose I'll have to get you settled in. Where're you gonna sleep?"
"I don't care, really. The barn's fine. It's more comfortable than anywhere else I've stayed at lately."
"Well, sure!"
He went inside humming something happily.
Link yawned.
Then he heard humming that sounded like Malon.
He had put the cloak back on after Talon recognized him, so he put his hood up, in case any guards accompanied her.
She rode up and Link was stunned.
Her hair was longer, and a richer shade of red. Her blue eyes looked beautiful in the sun, and her rosy cheeks almost made his heart stop.
He was completely breath taken by her.
She grinned at him.
"Hello stranger. Welcome to Lon-Lon Ranch. I'm Malon. How are you?"
"I'm fine." he said.
"Excuse me for a moment. Dad! Daaaad!"
Talon came out.
"Oh. Hello Malon. How was market work today?"
"Fun. It wasn't boring at all. Someone beat up Fenwick and his bodyguards, or so says Lenna. Apparently Fenwick had been mugging some poor old woman and he completely beat up the three, then left when guards arrived."
"Who would fabricate such a thing? Fenwick would never mug a poor old woman." said Talon, shaking his head and going back inside.
Malon grinned at Link again.
"Personally, I'm glad someone taught that sorry ass a lesson. He spends all his time flirting with me like he's obsessed, but he'll never have me."
Link chuckled.
"What's your name, anyways?"
Link smiled under his hood and removed it. He wasn't wearing his cap (it was in his pocket), so she didn't recognize him.
"That doesn't help me." she said.
He laughed, pulled the folded material from his pocket, and put it on.
At the sight of him, her eyes shot so wide, it looked as though they were the size of dinner plates.
"L- Link!"
Link smiled, then faltered as Malon embraced him in a bone-crushing hug that left him gasping for air.
"Mal- Malon- I can't- can't breathe!"
She was actually crying into his tunic.
"I've missed you so much! You used to come all the time, but then you went to-"
"Malon? What's the meaning of this?" came Talon's voice.
Malon jumped off of Link.
"Sorry Dad."
"Anyway, Link and I made a deal before he took off with Epona. I would give him the horse if-"
"If I came and worked here at the Ranch for a few years. Nayru knows I could use something relatively relaxing for work now that I'm done being a professional Hero." he said.
"You're coming to work here? With us?"
"Yep."
She grinned even wider now.
"Well, we have a lot of catching up to do, Fairy Boy."
Unfortunately, Link won't be in Hyrule for very long. R&R
