A Quick Rest
A/N:Lil skip ahead to avoid rehashing dialogue from the game. Don't worry, Sheik's getting some good scenes later, promise.
A few hours (And seven years, a small voice in her head says) later, she's slumped against the wall outside of town, shaky and out of breath.
"I hate redeads." She sighed.
Navi nestled into the crook of her neck, the little bit of warmth still comforting enough to help her relax. "At least we got away."
"Barely." She said, slumping a bit farther down the wall. "I couldn't even fight them off…"
"Well… you still need time to get used to your new body. You're a lot bigger now!"
The smile came back to Linkle's face, and she hugged her knees close. "And I'm… me." She managed to say, her smile so wide it almost hurt.
"Mmhmm!" Navi chimed happily. "Besides, all we need to do is find a good place for you to train… and a good meal wouldn't hurt, either."
"Hmm." Linkle said absentmindedly, weighing her breast in her hand to reassure herself that, yes, they were really there.
"The forest?" Navi offered, and she shook her head.
"Too dangerous, at least until I can fight again. Kakariko?"
Navi bobbed from side to side. "The only place I can think of to train would be in the graveyard, and you don't need poes attacking you or Dampé bothering you."
Linkle nodded, chewing on a surprisingly full lip… and then it came to her. "The ranch!"
Navi bobbed excitedly, producing a chinkling sound. "Good idea! And Talon definitely won't mind feeding you for the night!"
Linkle nodded, and pushed herself off from the wall.
/
The sun had long since set by the time she passed through the gates of the ranch, the moon hanging high overhead.
There was a bit of a chill in the air, but she hardly noticed, her mind preoccupied with trying not to wonder why there were poes in Hyrule Field… until all thoughts are wiped from her mind, replaced with wonder.
The cool wind carries with it a familiar tune, sung in a heart-achingly beautiful voice, and she can't help but hum along.
The woman is stacking bales of hay when she rounds the corner of the barn, and Linkle doesn't recognize her at first.
She's beautiful, tanned skin looking almost ethereal in the moonlight, long red hair sticking to the side of her face from sweat, and she gasps as it hits her all at once that this is Malon, that she's not the only person to have aged, and the knowledge nearly bowls her over.
Malon turns around, and she swallows as her eyes light up with recognition.
"It's you!" She blurts, and her face cracks into a wide grin as she practically tackles her into a hug. "I never thought I'd see you again!"
Linkle doesn't get a chance to respond, between the breath being forced out of her lungs by the hug and intelligent thoughts being replaced with amazement at the muscle Malon possessed.
Malon pulled away eventually, and held Linkle at arm's length, examining her closely.
"Yep, it's really you, isn't it? Fairy, uh, Fairy Girl!" She slugged her in the arm, and Linkle has to try not to wince. "Why didn't you ever tell me you were a girl?"
"I, uh…" She manages, before giving up and shrugging. "Never came up?"
Malon smiles. "Well, in any case, it's good to see you. What brings you around here?"
Linkle shrugged again. "I, uh… I'm out of practice, and need a place to do some training."
"Well…" Malon started, looking around the farm. "If you help me finish up some stuff, I might be able to rig something up for you?"
Linkle nodded eagerly, a smile coming easily to her face, and the two of them got to work.