Chapter Two: A Rancher's Tale
Navi had felt the malevolent energy from inside the Temple of Time, but it was not until Link stepped outside that he felt it as well. It was more intense than he had expected it to be, and he flinched when it hit him. Navi suddenly groaned and winced, and dropped onto his shoulder; clearly she was affected far more strongly by it.
"You OK Navi?" He asked, bringing his hand up to her when she actually sagged forward.
"Ugh, I feel like I'm going to be sick. I didn't think it was going to be this bad. Are you alright with me hiding until we get out of here?"
"Of course, I'll try to be quick too." He added, and she gratefully slipped under his cap.
Link took the time to observe his surroundings now, beginning to make his way out of the now-dilapidated town. A clearer view of the sky revealed that it was in fact daytime, but the only indication of that was a sun that struggled futilely to break through the dark heavy clouds above that swirled menacingly and unnaturally. Most of the buildings about the town showed evidence of burning, and some he saw even the stonework was dismantled, either from explosives or some other great force. The cobblestone also showcased an impressive array of potholes and torn up dirt patches. Not a sound disturbed the stillness of the square that he entered, even the wind was hushed and silent. It was the kind of silence that encouraged oneself to maintain it, and he did so, treading softly enough to barely register his steps and instead his own heartbeat and breathing dominated his hearing.
Seeing the town in this state fouled his mood, and in his mournfulness of its condition he once again found himself keenly aware that this was likely his own fault. Pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time may have proven him a hero, but his absence immediately afterwards, allowing Ganondorf's conquest, made him feel the farthest thing from that.
To the north, he could see where Hyrule Castle had once stood proud, overlooking the town. The castle was no longer present at all, instead a black tower had been erected in its place, and the clouds above swirled about the very peak of it. He stared at its black form, wondering if Ganondorf was in that tower at this moment. How would he react when he discovered that he had returned? He had proven to be capable enough to overcome the Evil King's challenges and curses as a child, after all. What more could he do now that he was an adult? Would he be considered a threat to his power, or was he so sure of himself he would allow him to run free again? He turned away and headed south, towards Hyrule Field. If Ganondorf was there and found him here, he was done for, as he was now.
The gate was raised, but the wooden drawbridge that had reached over the river that traced the high walls was destroyed. The chains hung limply against the walls, rusting from being exposed to the elements for so long, and the wooden beams, still held together by the iron fastenings on either end, were nearly snapped clean in two, and the center rested within the river, the submerged wood rotted considerably. Beyond, Hyrule Field stretched out, and Link was saddened to see how it had fallen into decay. The field had once been covered by a sea of tall grass, but now short and dying grass covered the landscape as equally as dust and dirt did, and the wind that blew here was dry and stale. Life had once graced this land, but now it was a shell of its former glory. He hoped the whole field was not like this. Hyrule Field was massive enough to house more than one ecosystem, perhaps the southern plains fared better and still housed greenery.
"How are you feeling Navi?" he asked, beginning his trek east.
"A little better, thank you," she responded, sounding weaker than her usual self. The dark energy must have taken a greater toll on her than he realized. "Where are we?" she asked after a few seconds had elapsed.
"Hyrule Field, I'm following the river east," he shortly explained. "Everything looks so…frail?" he added, struggling to find the right word. "Like it's all about to give up and die."
"That's...terrible. Even the land has become sick from his influence then."
"Yeah…so much has changed, it's a lot to take in. It's a lot different to see it than it is to hear of it, y'know?"
"I understand. Maybe we'll find somewhere or something that hasn't changed, I'm sure there has to be."
"Mm…You're probably right."
Conversation was sporadic after that. A little while passed before Navi felt well enough to fly again, and when she came out from hiding she looked about their surroundings with sad eyes, but said nothing. She understood what he had meant better now, and she hoped as he did that there was better life somewhere.
A few hours passed and the sun began to set into the west, and they were pleased to see that things were perhaps not as bad as they had believed. The clouds above had lightened considerably, with patches of sky showing through, and the grass began to thicken and show green. They came to the bridge that crossed the Hylian River, marking Kakariko Village as not too far off.
"I wonder how much Kakariko has changed," Link said aloud. With conditions improved, things here felt more normal, and his forced march pace from before was replaced by a steady and relaxed gait. There was still some time yet before the sun set, and with the village near, he felt safe travelling with no rush. Navi sat on his shoulder, equally enjoying the change of scenery and looking perfectly healthy again.
"I'm wondering the same thing. We know it's safe, but we never did find out anything other than that."
"I'm glad it is though, it's nice to know there's at least one place to go we can be safe. I wonder how they managed to do it?"
"That's…actually a good question," Navi answered, her curiosity piqued now. "The last time we were here, they didn't exactly have much in the way of security, remember? Just a few guards and some wooden fencing."
"I remember…I guess we'll find that out too," he said with a dismissive shrug. "It's funny though, the last time we were here to us was, what, like a week ago? This whole time jump thing is going to take a while to get used to."
"I hadn't thought of that, but you're right," Navi said after chuckling at his remark. "To us, time passed but we never experienced it."
"What does that mean for us then?" Link asked, not really expecting an answer. She had touched upon something in her response that made him think deeply about himself.
To him, seven years had passed in what had felt like a night's sleep. While everyone else had fully felt that passage of time, aging, or growing up, and all the experiences and memories that came with it, he had aged and had acquired nothing from it. He lacked experience, knowledge, and wisdom he would otherwise have gained. What did that mean for him? How would that affect his relationships with his friends, when he met them again? And how would that affect him personally? He was, in effect, a child living in an adult body, he realized. But not a child's mind; an adult mind with only childhood experiences and wisdom, rather. With that being the case, how quickly could he adapt to living as an adult? He wasn't sure.
Navi noticed the change of expression, deep in thought. Had it been something she said, or was he still grasping the new state of things? Learning seven years had passed was a shock, but it was not so much of a change for a spirit as it was for a mortal being like a Hylian. Learning his efforts had been in vain had been a hard blow, for both of them. She had had no idea, but ignorance as a reason seemed….wrong. It was almost a slap in the face. For her partner, driven by a purpose and duty, seeing his efforts come to nothing was surely a blow to his pride. And now that they were awakened, not knowing anything about the people they knew was worrisome for both of them. Once they were safely in town, she decided, they would have to sit down and talk things over properly, and once they had information, plan their next course of action.
The village's entrance sat within a steep wall face, where stairs had been carved into the rock. This made for an excellent defense, it occurred to Link as he set his sights on it now. The village proper hidden from view, set within a valley as it was, provided an additional natural defense. Perhaps that had been one of the reasons it had survived, as it had remained unchanged after seven years. Much of the village was cast in shadow from the setting sun, but plenty of lanterns were lit throughout to light the way. A number of people were still about, and he noticed a few new buildings had been constructed. He even recognized a few of the faces at a glance, many native to the small village, others from Castle Town.
Link frowned more the longer he took in his surroundings by the entrance. Castle Town had been abandoned, rendered inhospitable by dark forces and energy, and there were few other places considered safe enough for residence. Kakariko Village was by far the safest, yet in seven years the village had hardly grown much at all, not at the rate it should have. How many had escaped Castle Town?
In any case, they had arrived to Kakariko Village safe and sound, and the village seemed to be in good spirits. He allowed himself to put away those troublesome thoughts for the time being and smile towards his partner.
"Well, we made it. I guess we should find somewhere to stay, huh?"
"Since it's getting dark, I imagine that's a good plan. Did you have any ideas?"
"Not really, I was thinking of trying the place Talon recommended to us last time, remember?"
"The lady who rented out beds and cooked? If she's still in business with that, that's a good idea. How many rupees do you have?" Navi asked, curious. "We never even bothered to check what you have on you, did we?"
"No, you're right," Link answered, curious himself now of his own finances. As a child, he had not made much use of currency at all, procuring a Hylian Shield had been his chief purchase. The Gorons and Zora had offered him monetary gifts, which he had honestly not bothered to count all up. So it was that when he did find his wallet, he found it rather full, and unless the economy of Hyrule had collapsed beyond saving—something he doubted, seeing as the town was visibly thriving—he was at least not wanting. When he showed Navi, she nodded, satisfied.
"I suppose money is no objection, at least. Let's see what we can find."
Hiding his wallet safely away, the two of them headed into the village. Being so near Death Mountain, being at its feet, Link cast his gaze upwards towards its peak, and saw an unfamiliar sight that left him slightly unsettled. In the dimness of the night fast descending, the top of the mountain glowed, and he recognized that glow, for he had seen it on that same peak, beneath the earth in Dodongo's Cavern. He recalled how once before he had been told how Death Mountain had at one time been an active volcano, but had long since been dormant. Sometime in between his seven-year absence, that mountain had become active again, Sheik had told him, and part of him was certain it was not by coincidence.
Returning his attention to the village surrounding him, he noticed that several people had their eyes on the two of them, with more than a little suspicion in the looks they bore. It wasn't enough to influence the warming general atmosphere of the village, but it was enough that he took note, and likely Navi did as well. The village may have prospered some, he thought to himself, but not without its own troubles as well. Those eyes likely recognized him as a stranger, and in dark times, strangers were dangerous. Doing his best to ignore them, he passed by the lone tree that still stood in the center of a wide grassy stretch from the entrance to deep into the village, when he heard a familiar voice call out from his right, and he turned to see who it was.
Drawing near, slowing from a jog, was an older Mr. Talon, his hair and mustache beginning to show flecks of grey. Now that he was an adult, he saw that he was a little taller than the man standing before him, still catching his breath as he stared up at him with eyes wide with excitement and a little hesitation.
"You…you're Link, yes?" Talon asked, almost pleading. He glanced at the fairy that had come to land on his shoulder. "Navi?"
Link smiled wide, glad to see a face he knew from before.
"Aye, It's been a while, hasn't it sir?" Link answered, holding out his hand. Talon grabbed his hand with a strong grip and pulled him in to a rough hug.
"Link! Oh Goddesses be praised you're alive! I thought the day you left us, after what happened at Castle Town..." The older man began to sob, and he took a few minutes to calm himself, holding Link at arm's length. When he had managed to control himself again, he looked up with a smile. "But you're here now, after all these years. You've grown so much lad, I scarcely recognized you. Where have you been?"
"That's…an interesting story," Link finished after a second, deciding it was probably better to discuss that topic in a more private setting. "I'm sorry I've been gone for so long though. You seem to be doing well, are Malon or Mr. Ingo here too?" He asked, hoping he could meet them again as well. Of all the people he wanted to meet again, they had been whom he wished to see more than most anybody else. Talon had saved his life and had opened his ranch to him, and his daughter and he had grown close in next to no time at all, and Mr. Ingo…well, was Mr. Ingo. He had been perpetually irritable, but not unkind to him, and he had been grateful for all of their acceptance of him.
At the mention of the two of them, however, Talon's demeanor shifted, becoming downcast. He shook his head, while motioning for him to follow, heading now towards his original destination.
"I wish I could say so, but unfortunately not. You see, about three years ago I was driven from the ranch, and I've been here ever since." The man opened the door, politely stepping aside for Link to enter first. The inside was much the same as he remembered it, though now with additional beds and a larger table, leaving little room for maneuvering much. The same woman stood by the wood burning stove across the room, tending to a pot on the surface. Another rather large woman was there as well, one he recognized from Castle Town. He stepped aside to allow Talon to enter as well, giving himself a second more to accommodate himself to the change of brightness.
"What happened? Are they alright?" he asked. Talon shrugged, sitting himself down at a small sitting table next to the door, beside a window, which Link followed suit. Navi hopped down onto the table.
"I can't say how they are, I only hear word from others who've been there and passed through here. Last I heard, Ingo has been faring well for himself, but he's a changed man, I'll have you know. He went bad somehow, don't know why either. My daughter Malon is still there as well, and Ingo has her working as a ranch hand, but I've heard she's often kept out of sight and when she has been seen she looks miserable." Talon, who had been speaking with his hands folded together at the table and head lowered slightly, allowed his hands to break their grip on each other and bunched them into fists. "I swear, if I hear he has laid one hand on a hair of hers…"
Link found himself able to share his anger, hearing about Malon. She was a free spirit and kind-hearted, and he could not deny that he had developed an affection for her that, at least in the past, she had returned. Hearing of her plight left him with a desire to head straight to Lon Lon Ranch and…well, do something about it. Talon had said Ingo had gone bad, but to treat Malon in such a way, a young lad that he had watched grow alongside her father, was not only strange, but cruel. He could only imagine what sort of restraint Talon was enforcing upon himself, and he held a respect for the man.
"Why can't you go back?" Navi asked. Talon shook his head and took a breath, and leaned into the back of his chair, his expression blank and eyes staring absently into the table. His overall appearance was that of a man dejected, and Link felt some sympathy for him. He did not speak immediately, but neither pressed him, letting him sift through his thoughts in relative silence. Even when he did begin speaking, his countenance hardly changed.
"Seven years ago the Gerudo king Ganondorf launched a coup on the Hylian Royal Family, and a week after he had done so Castle Town was set fire and raided as well. I can still remember seeing the flames from the ranch…" Talon shifted in his seat, shaking his head. "I heard stories from some of the survivors, and it made me afraid, I won't lie. I knew I should have packed up and moved then, but that ranch is everything to me, as much as my daughter is, so Ingo and I decided to stay. After that, over the course of a few months monsters began to show up more often, and stronger too. With Castle Town destroyed, I took my business here, hiring veteran soldiers and mercenaries for protection and leaving Malon back at the ranch. It worked for a good long while, about three years, until it was simply too dangerous to continue. We were in no short supply of meat, and we had begun our own vegetable garden some time before then, so there was little worry about supporting ourselves. For a few months we lived like that, and while it became somewhat dull having no visitors, there was peace too, so we were content. But Ingo, after a few months, he started acting funny, not himself."
"How do you mean?" Link asked, leaning in a little. Talon had yet to tell them how he had been removed from his own ranch, and he had a feeling that he was about to. Ingo had something to do with it, he was certain, but how? Talon again shook his head.
"It's hard to say when it began happening, given his, uh, usual disposition. He's always been gruff, but he never harbored any ill will. But about that time, he became more angry than grumpy, and he began expressing his dissatisfaction with a level of contempt I've never seen. I had to shout him down a few times, let me tell you, and I won't lie either that it broke my heart a little that my daughter had to hear me do that. She avoided him as much as she could during this time, and she also began to complain to me that the horses and cows were unhappy, believing Ingo was responsible. By this point a few more months had passed and I had a mind to say finally enough was enough and let him go, but…"
"But something happened and you were forced out instead?" Navi suggested, finishing the statement. Talon nodded.
"A certain man entered the ranch one day." Talon leaned in now himself. "That man was none other than Ganondorf."
Link stared back at Talon, stunned by his words. Ganondorf, the King of Evil, had come to Lon Lon Ranch?! Navi was shocked as well, enough to audibly gasp.
"Aye, I can see you understand. In his presence I was terrified, it took everything I had to even speak." Talon spoke with a level of fear in his voice as he recalled his memory. "Ingo though, he was almost at ease as he greeted the man and introduced himself, I couldn't believe it. That evil usurper king then said that he was in need of a new horse and had heard that we had some of the finest horses in the land, and demanded to see our herd. Ingo was more than happy to oblige, while I was only able to follow along."
"I'm amazed you were able to even do that," Link said to the rancher, leaning away from the table. "Navi and I, well, we actually met him too, seven years ago, after he attacked the castle, and faced him."
"You did what? Oh how terrifying that must have been!" Talon shuddered, imagining what that must have been like.
"It was. I was just a child, and I was powerless in front of him, no question about that," Link grimly replied, recalling the event. Seven years ago? To him, it had happened like yesterday. The wound to his pride was still fresh, no matter his convictions and new hope. The fear still lingered, too, whispering threats of failure and ineptitude that echoed within his thoughts. "I'm not even sure how I survived."
Navi looked back at her partner, and seeing the look in his eyes made her concerned for him. The level of guilt and fear that burdened him had grown, and if left unchecked, the dark energies slowly corrupting the world would fester within him too. Ingo had likely fallen prey the same way, she suspected. Link was strong, unusually so, but that only meant it would take far longer for the darkness to hold him. Of course, that also meant it would be easier to stave off. Thus far, their talks and meditations had been more than enough. With a little time and a confidence boost, she was sure he would be alright.
"Blessed by the goddesses surely, with a little luck on the side I'll wager," Talon answered. "You're a braver man than I, Link." Link offered a small smile in response to the compliment, grateful for it.
"What happened then?" he asked, returning to the tale Talon was telling.
"Ah yes, well, he actually said he was pleased what he had heard was true, after visiting our stable. But then, he asked about Epona, who at the time was still young and not quite yet mature. I tried to say that she was not for sale, as she belonged to my daughter, but he laughed me off and then asked Ingo the same thing, and would you believe he practically started advertising the poor beast like she was for sale! If it had been anyone else I would have thrown Ingo out then and there, the bastard, but with Ganondorf there I couldn't do a thing. He said he would return for her in a few years, thanked Ingo, and then—this is the real tragedy—he said by authority of his kingship, the ranch was now Ingo's, and he banished me then and there! I had no choice but to listen to him, I ran as fast as I could, I never even got to see my daughter one last time!" By then Talon had been moved to tears, and his head fell to the table to hide his face. "What I wouldn't give to see her again, to tell her I am so sorry. I should have done more, even if it would have meant nothing but my life."
Link reached across the table and placed a hand on the man's shoulder, giving what little comfort he could. Having encountered the Evil King in opposition and witnessing how casually he had treated him as one would, say, play with a pet, Link understood all too well that Ganondorf was dangerous not just because of power he wielded, nor his cunning intelligence, but also the almost whimsical—yet deliberate—way he operated. In one fell swoop, he had shattered this rancher's way of life and had rent him from his only child, for really no other reason that he could see other than he had felt like it.
Link looked down at the table to where Navi sat, and she returned his gaze. She must have read his mind, or perhaps she simply just knew what he would say next, because she nodded towards him silently, and he returned the gesture before returning his attention to Talon. He had been charged with the restoration of Hyrule, not just freeing the sages and defeating Ganondorf. Talon and Malon's misfortune, and Ingo's change of heart, was partially his burden to bear as well, as he had allowed Ganondorf to rise to power, in errancy as it was. After hearing Talon's story, and knowing Malon's plight and Ingo's subversion and perfidy, he could not in good conscience leave things be.
"Mr. Talon, sir, you've done more than you realize for me in the past, and now I think I can repay you. I can't let this go and call myself a man of courage. Give me a week…no, three days, and I swear you will see your ranch and your daughter again."
Talon threw his head up and stared at him as if he had seen the Triforce itself. Tears still welled in his eyes and streamed into his still-remarkable mustache, but now his sobs came from a smile.
"You…you would do this for me, Link?" he asked, nearly choking on his own words. Link nodded, giving him a comforting smile of his own.
"Of course. You both mean so much to me, you and Malon. I will set this right, and I swear to you Ganondorf will pay for his crimes."
"Your words are the answers to my prayers, you have no idea," Talon said, trying his best to compose himself. "Before we were separated, Malon still thought often about you, you know. I'm sure she would be overjoyed to see you again as well. She told me stories about you, too, of what you said you had done. I have to ask, not that I doubt your honesty, are they really true? The forest, meeting the princess, aiding the Gorons and the Zora, did you really do all those feats as a child?"
Link was surprised Talon had learned of his childhood adventure, he had honestly not really expected Malon to say anything. But then again, knowing how she had been as he had known her, he really should have seen it coming. He allowed a chuckle to escape at the thought, and nodded.
"Aye, I gave her the truth. And now I'm caught up in another grand adventure, as it happens. I'm sorry I never got the chance to tell you myself before I went off and disappeared, but now that I am back again I would like to be more honest with you."
"Another adventure eh? Because your first attempt to stop Ganondorf failed, am I right?" Just how much had Malon told her father, he wondered, everything? It certainly seemed that way. He nodded.
"More than you know. Once I have you reunited with your daughter, I'll tell you both about it." Talon leaned back in his chair, staring at Link with a look of admiration.
"You're something else, my boy. I've lived a decent amount of years and heard some stories, but never had I heard a tale like yours when Malon told me about you. If anyone can take down that bastard of a king, I believe you can."
Talon's assurance in him was moving, inspiring his own self-confidence. Perhaps he wasn't prepared to take on the Evil King just yet, but even the smallest acts of good could change the world for the better. That was exactly what they were trying to do, Navi and himself, just like she had told him on top of Death Mountain.
