Izzy: What did I tell you?

Roecliff: Wait! You just posted the last one, like...a few minutes ago!

Izzy: Told you it would be faster. Also, I'm not working with betas with editing. Because this is a shorter story and I'm more familiar with this setting (OoT), I pretty much should have this in a nutshell.

Roecliff: You are taking chances, aren't you?

Izzy: Next chapter, please?

Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda, but I did have a big influence in this chapter set up!


Malon sat on the fence, singing her mother's song. Her best friend, Epona, stood nearby listening happily.

Malon loved to sing. It was her favorite past time when she didn't have other things to do. Everyday, she had to help Ingo muck the stalls, milk the cows, and feed the cuccos and horses. And everyday, she hears Ingo grumbling about him running the ranch instead of her father, Talon, because he was a devoted hard worker while the actual owner sleeps all day long. On top of all this, the little ranch girl also had to do the laundry, cook for the three mouths to feed, and clean the house from top to bottom. It was tedious work and she actually had to make a schedule of it.

Even with all the business, her ranch life was boring.

She had dreams and she told those dreams to her father. She wanted more adventure in her life. She wanted to be swept off her feet by a handsome knight and carried away into the sunset. She wanted to get away from the ranch and live happily ever after with her dashing true love.

She was stroking Epona while singing her song when she noticed someone approaching the entrance of the ranch.

It was a little boy in a green tunic. He had blonde hair that was covered by a long cap and wore a small sword and a wooden shield on his back. He sort of staggered into the ranch as if he was exhausted.

"Hey, Epona!" she spoke to her horse. "We have a visitor! Wait right here!"

She leaped off of the fence and she ran over to greet the newcomer.

"Hi!" she greeted with a smile. "Welcome to Lon Lon Ranch! I'm Malon!"

The boy looked up. His deep blue eyes were deep in thought for a moment, but then sparked as he saw her.

"Malon!" he said with a small smile. "It's good to see you again."

"Again?" Malon said quizzically. Where had she seen him before? Then she remembered. "Oh, you're the fairy boy from the marketplace! I gave you an egg so you could wake up my dad!"

"Don't you remember anything else?" the boy asked.

Malon thought really hard of where else she had seen him, but nothing came to mind.

"No," she replied.

The boy's eyes grew dimly as he looked down.

Why is he so sad? Was it something I said? Malon questioned to herself.

"What's wrong, fairy boy?" she asked concerned.

The boy shook his head.

"I'd rather not talk about it," he told her.

"Well, are you hungry?" Malon asked the boy. "I'm making cucco stew and cornbread. There's plenty if you want to join us for dinner."

The boy smiled weakly.

"I would like that," he replied.

"Come with me," the little redhead declared as she took him by the hand. "I'll introduce you to my father. Do you have a name, fairy boy?"

"Link," he told her. "My name is Link."

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Dinner was delicious and the company was kind, but Link still felt depressed. He couldn't believe that Malon didn't remember him. Oh, sure, she remembered him at the marketplace and giving him an egg to give to her dad, but what about all the other things that happened between them? Why don't they remember him saving the ranch and beating Ingo at a race and escaping with "Ganondorf's gift", Epona? What about the visits he made to get Lon Lon Milk and just to spend time with them in the middle of his quest?

All of a sudden, he felt...alone.

Where was Navi when he needed her? Why, of all the people that didn't remember him, it was Malon? A part of him really...like her...is that the right word?

He shook his thoughts out and got comfortable on his bed. Talon had offered him a place to sleep in the loft of the house and he much obliged for it. He was just about to blow out the candle.

"Fairy boy?" he heard Malon call quietly from the doorway.

He sighed. He didn't want to talk about anything, but he knew she would be persistent. That's just how she was and he knew it.

"Come in," he answered.

The door opened and in walked the little redhead that he remembered well. Her long, creamy white dress had blue designs on the hem and sleeves. A yellow scarf hung around her neck and was held together by a pendant of a monster's face. Her eyes were a brighter blue from his and they sparkled in the candlelight.

"Are you alright, fairy boy?" she asked him softly.

"I'm alright," Link told her, but a part of him knew better.

He could tell from Malon's expression that she knew better as well.

"I'm worried about you," she expressed. "You hardly talked since you came here. You seem...distant. Like something is bothering you. What's going on?"

Link didn't really want to tell her, but he felt she was the only person who can listen to his woes. Even Princess Zelda is unavailable to him.

"Well, it all started with the Great Deku Tree," he began.

He told her everything: how he met Navi, the princess, even his quest to find the Spiritual Stones. He then told her about Ganondorf and his evil plans to take over Hyrule. He told her about what happened when he pulled out the Master Sword and everything he did in the future. He told her about how he defeated Ganondorf in the future and how Zelda sent him back to the past to have his childhood back.

"Now, I've lost my closest companion, Ganondorf is still out there trying to gain the Triforce, and the King doesn't believe anything I told him," Link finished.

"Wow…" Malon said shocked.

"And you probably thought I dreamed all this," Link sighed as he laid back in the bed. "After all, everything I told you hasn't happened yet."

"I believe you," Malon informed.

Link sat up surprised. She believed him?! All those things were unbelieveable to the king, but she actually believed his story?

"Really? You believe me?" Link asked.

"Of course," Malon assured. "You seemed to know what you were talking about. And you do seem different than you were back at the marketplace. Something big must have happened to you, but I would have never imagined that!"

"Yeah," Link said with a smile. Perhaps there was a part of her that knew somehow.

"I'm sorry about your friend," Malon sympathized. "After all, you can't be called fairy boy if you don't have a fairy. I hope she comes back someday."

"Me, too," Link replied with a sigh.

Malon yawned.

"Well, I feel better knowing what's going on," she told him as she stretched her arms out. "I hope you get some good sleep. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Malon," Link told her as she walked out of the room.

Link was grateful for the conversation with her. It made him feel better. Knowing what he had to do tomorrow, he leaned over and blew out the candle.

8888888

Malon was up just as the sun rose and milking the cows and collecting eggs for breakfast. She had just put down the last of her wares when she noticed Link walking out of the house and heading toward the ranch exit.

Now, where is he going this early in the morning? she wondered.

She followed after him.

"Fairy boy!" she called out.

Link stopped and turned toward her.

"Oh, Malon," he said, acting surprised. "I wasn't expecting you to be up this morning."

"Well, who else is going to make sure that breakfast is ready in the morning?" Malon informed rhetorically. "Now, why are you up so early? Where are you going?"

"Well…" the boy hesitated, "I...uh...was, uh…"

"Come on! You can tell me!" Malon huffed. She was getting sick and tired of him not coming out forthright what was on his mind.

"I was going to Gerudo Valley," the boy cringed.

"What for?" the girl wondered nervously. She knew about Gerudo Valley and the women there. She heard that they weren't very nice people...and sometimes dangerous.

"I have to find evidence that Ganondorf is plotting against Hyrule," Link informed the girl. "If I can find some kind of proof, then the king will believe me and help us stop him."

That sounds like a fun adventure, the girl thought to herself. I wish I can go with him…

Then, she thought more on it. Why couldn't she go with him? She was capable of defending herself. And her father wouldn't notice and Ingo would care less if she left. What was stopping her from doing it?

"Let me go with you," she suggested.

Link stared at her shocked.

"You? Go with me?" Link said dumbfounded. "What would your father say?"

"Oh, he wouldn't mind!" Malon informed the boy. "He won't even notice I'm gone!"

"But it's dangerous in Gerudo Valley," Link informed.

"I know," Malon assured. "I can handle myself. I can use a bow. You might need me."

Link still looked unsure of the situation.

"Please, Link!" she pleaded. "I'm sick and tired of being stuck on this ranch! I want to help you and do something besides feed cuccos all day! I'll even bring Epona along if it helps!"

The boy thought for a little while, then smiled at her.

"Okay," Link agreed. "As long as you can help, I could use the company."

"YAY!" Malon exclaimed. "Wait right here! I'm going to grab some things!"

The ranch girl ran inside her house and looked in the closet. Leaning against the wall inside was her precious bow and quiver of arrows. She grabbed them and placed them on her. Then, she ran outside, letting Link know she was almost ready, and rushed over to the fence. She sang her song and brought Epona near her. She hopped on and rode toward Link.

"Ready?" she asked the fairy boy.

He grinned as he climbed up on Epona in front of her.

"Ready when you are," he told her. "HYA!"

Epona took off with a full bolt out of the ranch.


Izzy: Woohoo! Excitement! Drama!

Roecliff: Wait a sec! Is this the prequel to your story?

Izzy: Huh? Oh, right! Well, you see, originally, this idea was to fill in the gap between Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, but in a way, it kind of turned out to be something of a prequel to "The Curse of the Deity Mask".

Roecliff: So, it was coincidence?

Izzy: *dramatic* No...it was...destiny!

Roecliff: ...okay...Readers! Review, please!