"Malon." Ingo whispered. "Malon." He hissed.
Malon sat, hugging her knees tight to her body as she pushed herself back further into the corner to the right of the little hole. Her hair was battered and her breathing was hard, but she forced herself to be quiet when she heard the voice. Her eyes were open in terror, her body shaking as she stared at the tunnel.
Ingo grinded his teeth. "Malon, it's me, Ingo."
Still shaking, Malon did not move. She recognized Ingo's voice, but her father strictly said to stay put until he came to get her – he never said anything about Ingo. Horrified at the sight of Ganondorf, Malon knew she saw a man with her, and she could have sworn it was Ingo but she repeatedly told herself she had imagined it.
Ingo was kneeled down by the entrance to the small tunnel with his hand on the wall as he called for Malon. He has to sound gentle or else he knew she would not come to him. He bowed his head and sighed in slowly, trying to manage his anger.
"Malon." Ingo breathed out. "It's over. Well, not over, but the chaos is. The people have all made it out of the castle town and Ganondorf has stopped attacking them as they leave. Your father asked me to come get you."
She still didn't believe him. Her father had told her to stay put until he came for her, that's what he said to do. If her father had really sent Ingo for her and if she didn't listen, she knew her father would be upset with her. She hated when Talon was upset with her. Still, she was hesitant.
Ingo pressed his knees firmly into the flooring and arched his back so that he could be as close to the entrance as possible. With one hand supporting his body, he reached his arm into the hole and beckoned Malon forward; she stared at it, unsure what to do.
"Come now, darling." Ingo said, trying to sound soothing. "I know your father told you to stay put unti he came to get you, but the ruckus has made the cuccos in your house to fly around mad and he is trying to calm them down, especially those three he thinks are special. Come on."
Malon lowered her legs slowly as she watched Ingo's hand beckon her to him. Carefully, she swung her legs behind her back and slid herself across the floor to Ingo. Raising her hand, she reached for him before quickly pulling back. Swallowing, she gently placed her hand in Ingo's.
Smiling sadistically, Ingo carefully wrapped his hand around Malon's small tender wrist. Placing his hand on the wall, Ingo grunted as he pulled his arm towards him. Shocked, Malon shrieked as her body was flung forward. She fell to the ground as he body was pulled forward, her shoulder hitting the wall hard as her body was pulled through the tunnel, the floor rubbing against her skin, leaving skid marks. Breathing in hysterics, she pushed away from Ingo as her body exited the tunnel.
"Let me go!" Malon screamed, tugging her arm away from Ingo.
"Oh, I don't think so." Ingo said, pulling her arm towards him. Malon screamed, letting out a small hiccup as she did. Ingo tightened his grip around Malon's arm as he brought his hand to her face. As his palm touched her forehead, Malon shivered and twitched. He moved the hair from her eyes and raised her chin so she could look him in the eyes. He brought his head beside her ear.
"You're to stay here with me." He whispered.
Malon shook beneath him. A tear rolled down her cheek. "Wh-where's my dad?"
"I sent him away." Ingo grinned.
"B-But my dad would never leave the ranch." Malon said, shaking her head. "He loves it here."
"He'd leave if he was ordered to." Ingo said, pleased.
Malon wasn't sure what to think or what to say. Instead, she just stared into Ingo's dark eyes. Her shoulders rose and fell as she breathed, her back angled, her hair flowing down towards the floor. Enjoying her fear, Ingo wrapped his hand around Malon' yellow scarf and pulled it towards him. Malon's body followed, her neck straining from the fabric rubbing against her neck.
"Confused, are we, my dear?" Ingo said as he wrapped his hand tighter around her scarf. He placed his forehead against hers. "Let me explain it to you." He tapped her shoulder as he twist his forehead against her. "Your father has treated me with no respect over these many, many years and frankly, I'm surprised the two of you didn't see how sick I had become of it many years ago. I heard many rumors about the dark Ganondorf wanting to overrun the King and rule Hyrule and knew that it was only a matter of time before it was going to become true.
"So I looked further into it and found out that all he really wants is the full power of the triforce and in order to have this, he must first find the princess who just so happens to hold a piece of the triforce herself. Not surprising, is it? Seeming as she is royal and everything.
"But he couldn't keep up to her because his horse was too … slow. Naturally, I offered him what he did not have – a strong stallion. I can tame the horses myself, but I know that you can even better than I can, my dear. Especially that pony of yours – Epona. I have seen many ponies and none have been as fast as she has at this age. I want you to tame her, and since I know you love the horses too much and hate to drive them hard, if I find out you are not training the horses and helping me out around the ranch, I will harm them."
Malon stared, petrified. The man she had seen by Ganondorf was Ingo all along, but she wanted her heart to believe otherwise. Swallowing she nodded at him. Ingo lifted his forehead from hers, placing a light kiss on her head. Gently, he let her scarf glide from his hand.
"M-my Father?" She asked, stepping back slightly.
"Ha!" Ingo laughed. "The fool ran away the second he saw Ganondorf, but not before Ganondorf ordered him to turn the ranch over to me. Now, let's go."
Ingo grabbed Malon's shoulders and spun her around. He placed a hand on her back and pushed her forward. Eyes shooting wide, Malon tried to catch her fall, but stumbled to the ground hard instead. Scrambling to her feet, she glanced back at Ingo who had his eyebrows cocked and gaze lowered. Heart pacing, she opened the door and ran to Epona, hugging her for comfort.