Author's Note: Hello again, Blackcat8991 here! If you're still reading, I guess that means you enjoy my story…YAY! Keep reading, and don't send good reviews, I LUV critique.
Chapter 1
One Month Earlier
The News had traveled quite quickly in Hyrule that the Sorcerer King was dead, and Ganondorf's "Reign of Terror" was over. Everywhere, the people were throwing parties and having a grand old time. Lon Lon Ranch was no exception.
All of Talon's relatives were there, and even Ingo was wearing a smile (but that might have been from all of the Lon Lon milk he had been drinking). Yes, everyone was happy. Everyone, that is, except Malon. To her, the air had an empty quality to it. And she knew why.
When Princess Zelda had returned to the throne, she had told the tale of the Hero of Time's brave deeds in defeating the Sorcerer King. However, she gave no hint as to where the Hero was now. In fact, when Malon had asked that very question, the Princess had averted her eyes and quickly started talking about how everyone could do there part to help rebuild Hyrule.
Malon knew one thing; she could feel it in her bones. Link, the Hero of Time, was gone. Not dead. Just gone. It was like he had never existed.
Why did this bother Malon? It did, because she loved Link. Malon remembered how Link had saved her when the ranch was taken over by Gerudo Thieves. She could still fell Link's strong arms around her as they hook-shoted to the top of the barn.
Talon's words broke into her thoughts. "Come and join the fun Malon!"
"No thanks" Malon was sitting on the fence, petting Epona. "I'm okay".
Talon shrugged and walked away.
Malon sighed. She was remembering when the Gerudo Thieves had fled and Ingo was lying on the ground, moaning. Link had saddled up Epona.
"You're leaving?" Malon had asked
"Yes".
Malon was still blushing from the kiss they had shared on the roof-top.
"I-I wish you would stay".
"I would, but I have to find Zelda".
"Oh..." This made Malon blush even fiercer.
"Malon..."
"Yes."
"I, I want you to have this". Link took off his cloak and handed it to Malon.
The cloak? The cloak! Malon's mind had just formed a plan. If no one would tell her where Link was, she would just have to find out herself! She jumped off the fence and dashed to the house. She ran to the bedroom and pulled a dust covered chest out from under her bed. Malon coughed, but somehow managed to open the lid and dive in.
The chest was mostly full of her mother's things. But at the bottom, Malon had gently placed Link's cloak under a pile of sheet music. Malon used to pour over this sheet music, hoping she could somehow decipher it. Now, she shoved it aside to get at the cloak.
Malon threw the cloak over her shoulder, then heard the clink of metal against the floor. Looking down, she saw a sheathed knife had fallen out of Link's cloak's pocket. Malon tucked the knife in her belt and ran outside. Hurriedly, she saddled up Epona, pulled the cloak's hood over her face and jumped on Epona.
"Yah!" She called to get Epona moving. The party guests heard her coming and quickly got out of the way to let her pass. Epona's hoofs thumped loudly as she gained speed. Just a little farther, and she would clear the fence.