Hyrule Field panned out in front of Link: a wide, expansive world with a few settlements speckled about the edges, and one major building in the field's off-centre. Link looked about with some concern.
"Yes… one day, we will be exploring this entire thing. But for now, your destination is that castle over there," Navi said. Link glared at Navi for a few seconds, before getting started on the long journey to Hyrule's Castle. He looked down with annoyance at his short, weak legs as he moved.
"We have got to figure out a better means of travel," Navi said. Link nodded.
A few hours of travel later, Link had arrived at Castle Town's Market. There were hundreds of people moving about town, jumping between the varied attractions several times a moment.
"Excuse me! I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!" a man carrying a large sack said, rushing past Link and sending him falling to the ground.
"This is not what you're used to, huh?" Navi asked. Link went to nod, before stopping. He had no idea whether he should nod or shake his head, silently bemoaning his muteness for the thousandth time. He had more or less learned to cope with it, but the occasional confusing negatives cropped up and sent him… well, not quite speechless.
"Hey," a girl said from one of the crowds. Picking herself from the adults around her, a young redheaded girl wearing a homespun dress of a very subdued brown wandered over to see Link. He waved from the ground, and the girl helped him stand up.
"Who might you be?" Navi asked on Link's behalf, more rudely than Link would've phrased it.
"Oh… I'm Malon. Me, my father, and good ol' Ingo run Lon Lon Ranch. We are the number one source of milk in all of Hyrule!" Malon said proudly. Link smiled. He looked around.
"I'm here in town with my father. He went to go deliver some of our famous Lon Lon Milk to Hyrule Castle. He hasn't come back. He probably fell asleep again, the silly-billy. Actually, fairy-boy… would you please scoot up and see what he's gotten up to? It's nearly night, and the Stalchildren come out to play at night… I can't get back to Lon Lon Ranch without him! Can you please help?" Malon asked. Link nodded enthusiastically. Malon reached into her dress, and pulled out a small egg.
"I've been incubating this for a while now. When it hatches, you should be able to use its crow to wake up daddy. There isn't a whole lot else that can do the trick," Malon said. Link nodded, and stowed the egg into his bag.
"It's been nice meeting you, but we must be off now," Navi said, and Link began to walk towards Hyrule Castle. He paused hesitantly, before turning back and grabbing Malon's hand.
"Um, fairy boy?" Malon said in confusion.
"His name is Link… and he's a mute. I can't even make sense out of him most of the time," Navi said. Link escorted Malon through the crowds, and onto the road to Hyrule Castle.
"Freeze!" one of the guards of Hyrule Castle said, stopping Link and Malon in their tracks. Link froze, and waited for either Navi or Malon to ask why. As it turns out, in the wider world outside of Kokiri Forest and Saria's kindness, there were a lot more disadvantages to mutism than he previously thought.
"Yes, what is it?" Navi asked.
"I'm going to have to forbid entry by unauthorised personnel. You two kids should be at home playing with toys, not messing with grown-up affairs-" the guard started, before stopping quite abruptly. His gaze had shifted from Navi to Malon, whose eyes began filling with tears.
"Look, little girl, I'm not the man who invents the laws. Hyrule Castle isn't a playground… and the fact of the matter is, there's some of the nasty types from the desert in today, and you kids could get badly hurt!" the guard explained, but Malon's tears weren't to be stopped. In fact, they exploded into a small flood, with loud bawling to boot. The guard cringed, as Malon let out a few 'DADDY!'s in her tears.
"All right! All right! Get in, but don't blame me if that Ganondorf character hurts you!" the guard said. Link and Malon went past, Navi looking scornfully at Malon. She wiped away her tears, and winked behind her arms.
"I don't want to know how you became so proficient at impromptu tantrums…" Navi said. Malon looked at Link, who was marvelling at his luck. Malon had actually done that performance on the spot, but didn't know how to reassure Navi. She decided she would cross that bridge only if it started to bother Link.
Link and Malon arrived at the doorstep of Hyrule Castle Malon's father was, to see him fast asleep, the two crates of milk laying out in the sun.
"Ah, daddy…" Malon said. Link reached into his bag, and pulled out the 'egg'. On the way here, it had hatched into a Cucco. Link knelt down in front of Malon's father, and held out the egg.
*CA-CAW!*
"What in tarnation? Can't a man get a little shut-eye around here?" Malon's father asked, going from completely prone to wide awake and on his feet in literally the blink of an eye.
"Oh, daddy… you fell asleep on the job again, didn't you?" Malon asked. Malon's father hung his head in shame.
"Aye… one of these days, I'll remember I've got an assistant who can probably deliver these darned crates without falling asleep," he mused. He went over to one, and opened it. A pungent odour emitted from them, as more than one bottle had spoiled in laziness.
"Well, this milk is worthless. I'd better go get some more…" Malon's father said.
"You got lucky this time, dad. I wouldn't have come if it weren't for Link the fairy boy here. If the guards found you with these crates…" Malon said. Malon's father gasped in shock.
"I didn't think of that. Malon, never let me deliver a crate of milk again! Link, was it? You've saved me, my ranch, and my daughter! Come by the ranch later, and I'll see if I can get a reward whipped up for you. Name's Talon. And, uh… if you wouldn't mind, could you please do something 'bout those crates?" Talon said, shaking Link's hand. He took Malon's hand, and escorted her from the castle.
"He's exaggerating. I doubt he would have been hanged for delivering spoiled milk… I mean, didn't the guard mention the king had an audience? For all we know, the Castle has forgotten about this shipment- hey! Link, what are you doing?" Navi said, before turning to Link. Link had pushed the crates onto a small platform in the moat. Stacked on one another, they were level with a small passageway that spilled water into the moat.
"Link, you are either really brave or really stupid!" Navi said. Link climbed on top of the crates, and jumped across to the small passage, sending the boxes tumbling.
"Remember that brave or stupid thing? I know which one it is!" Navi said. Link, ignoring his companion, crawled through the passage and into the Castle Courtyard.
Link passed the guards with ease. The funny thing about wearing a green tunic is that particularly unobservant people tend to not notice you compared to the surrounding hedges. Or at least, that was the explanation Link was going with. He came out in a beautiful dead end, arranged with flowers, and at the far end, gazing into a window, was who he was sent to see. He stepped on a loose tile to make some noise. The girl turned, and gasped.
"What? Who… how did you… um… who are you?" the Princess of Destiny asked. Navi came out to answer her questions, but she interrupted her.
"Is that… that's a fairy… isn't it… then… then you must be from the forest!" she said. Link nodded.
"So… you wouldn't happen to have the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, would you? It's green and shiny…" she asked. Link reached into his pocket, and pulled out the Kokiri's Emerald. The princess took it, and inspected it thoroughly.
"Just as I thought! Just like my dream!" she cried out. Link tilted his head. The princess gasped, and began to elaborate.
"In my dream, dark clouds coated the land of Hyrule. However, just as doom seemed nigh, a ray of light parted the clouds, and lit up on the Kokiri's Forest. A young boy, clad in green and bearing this Spiritual Stone, stepped forth, accompanied by a fairy. I've been having prophetic visions, usually about minute details like what exactly my father would make for breakfast one morning. But this… I can feel that this will become a truth!" the princess said.
"I can't tell if you're paranoid, stupidly lucky or just plain dim. But, the Deku Tree told us to come here, so I guess I'm hearing you out," Navi said. Link glared at her, and hastily mimed what he hoped was an apology for Navi with his hands.
"Oh, yeah, she's fine. Which reminds me, I've forgotten to introduce myself. I am Zelda, princess of Hyrule. And who might you be?" the princess said. Link smiled, satisfied that proper communication had been established, and mimed a chain link.
"Link?" Zelda asked. Link nodded, remaining proud of his accomplishment. "Strange… that name feels familiar… OK, I think I should probably tell you about the Sacred Realm, a story that has been passed down by the Royal Family! Care to listen?" Zelda asked.
"Not really…" Navi said, but Link had nodded. Zelda was explaining it.
"The three goddesses hid the Triforce containing the power of the gods somewhere in Hyrule… the power to grant the wish of the one who holds the Triforce in his or her hands.
If someone with a righteous heart makes a wish, it will lead Hyrule to a golden age of prosperity…
If someone with an evil mind has his wish granted, the world will be consumed by evil… That is what has been foretold…
So the ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce from evil ones."
"That's right… the Temple of Time is the entrance to the Sacred Realm, home of the Triforce. But the entrance is sealed by the Door of Time. And in order to open the door, one needs to first obtain the three Spiritual Stones: those of Fire, Forest and Water. And you'll also need the treasure of Hyrule's Royal Family: The Ocarina Of Time! Do you understand?" Zelda asked.
"No. What does this have to do with anything?" Navi asked. Link, however, nodded. He was beginning to piece together the clues left by both the princess and the talking tree.
"Great! Oh, and I should tell you… this man in here, the man my father is hosting right now… I believe the dark clouds in my dream are symbolic of him… Ganondorf! He leads the Gerudo thieves from the desert in the west," Zelda said. Link used the opportunity to study this potential foe. Navi used it to make a knowledgeable comment.
"Didn't that guard suggest that Link and Malon stay away from this guy?" Navi asked nobody in particular. Link went away from the window.
"Did he see you?" Zelda asked. Link nodded coolly.
"Don't worry… he doesn't know what we're planning. Yet," Zelda assured him.
"I don't like that yet," Navi pointed out. No one felt like addressing it.
"Link… we have never met, but I trust you with the fate of this kingdom. My father didn't believe that my dream was prophetic, just as he brushed aside my other prophecies. But I know that man is shooting for nothing less than the holy Triforce of the Sacred Realm! He must intend to conquer the land… or even the world! Please, Link! You must help me!" Zelda asked. Link didn't answer that request with a simple nod. Instead, he gave Zelda a reassuring and hearty pat on the back, smiling and nodding as well.
"Thank you. But Ganondorf… he has such terrifying power! We must move with as much stealth as possible! Link, you're just a little boy: nobody will pay attention to you. You have to retrieve the Spiritual Stones of Fire and Water, get the Triforce before Ganondorf does, and defeat him!" Zelda asked of Link. Link shrugged, and mimed, as best he could, 'Sure, why not?'
"I knew you would. But first… take this letter. I believe you'll need it," Zelda said. She gave Link a letter with her authentic signature, and Link accepted it, stowing it away somewhere unlikely to be crumpled.
"Please, on your way out… talk to my attendant, Lady Impa. She will help you leave the castle, and from the look on her face, I can tell she has something to give you," Zelda said. Link turned around. A woman clad in intimidating armour was sitting down right behind them. All of a sudden, Link felt embarrassed for his rousing pat on the back, and grateful he hadn't hugged her.
"Good one, Zelda. You're getting better and better at reading people. Of course, you could understand this mute, so I expected nothing less. Link, was it? Zelda here is correct about everything, right down to my little gift from me to you," Impa said.
"Great. Where is it?" Navi asked. Link mimed an apology again, making a mental note of the needed hand movements. He felt he'd need to use that sign a lot.
"Sorry, Link… I don't understand that much of silent languages. Back when I was a proud Sheikah warrior, I was very proficient… but I've needed them less and less… but considering some of the things your fairy said in your conversation with Zelda, I'm going to say it was an apology?" Impa asked. Link nodded.
"Good. You have character. You are definitely deserving of this gift. Listen closely," Impa said. She put her fingers to her lips, and blew out a serene pattern of notes. Link pulled out his ocarina, and played the notes. Impa nodded: the song was correct.
"Good. This is a melody passed down by the Royal Family. I have played it for Zelda as a lullaby ever since she was a baby. Playing this tune will prove your connection to the Royal Family, and should prove your important status. There's some mysterious power in those notes. And now, I really should get you out of here," Impa said.
Link and Impa were now stood on Hyrule Field. It was surprising to Link to find himself out here so quickly.
"We must protect this beautiful land of Hyrule. Over there is Death Mountain, home of the Gorons. They hold the Spiritual Stone of Fire. At the foot of the mountain is Kakariko Village, my own home. You'll have to pass by to get to Death Mountain. And remember, the song I have taught to you is known only to the Royal Family and its associates. Use it when you need to," Impa said. Link nodded. Impa clapped her hands, and created a puff of smoke. She casually walked away from the scene, under the impression Link thought she vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Wow! Is she a ninja?" Navi asked. Clearly, she had fallen for Impa's trick. Link declined to correct her, and headed south.
"Uh, Link? Death Mountain's that way," Navi said. Link continued to head south, to Lon Lon Ranch.
"Wha… oh, hello there, Link! Nice seeing you again!" Talon said. Link had arrived in Lon Lon Ranch to check on Malon, and Talon was seated where Link first looked. Link smiled, and nodded in a silent agreement.
"Well, Ingo's said the cows aren't in tip-top shape at the moment, so our replacement milk shipment isn't going well. But enough about our problems. Link, M… I've been wondering… how'd ya like to marry Malon?" Talon said. Link shook his head solidly: a flat refusal.
"Oh… er, I was just joking, lad! Aren't you and her too young to be thinking about marriage anyway? Heh heh… Erm… Ah, I've got just the thing, as thanks for what you did for me at the castle… here. Lon Lon Milk, at its finest!" Talon said.
"Didn't you say the cows weren't milking right?" Navi asked. Talon nodded dejectedly. Navi didn't ask any more questions, and Link couldn't, so Talon didn't elaborate. Link made a gesture in relation to finding Malon.
"Oh, her? She's in the horse enclosure with Epona. She likes the horses, and they like her," Talon said. Link nodded, and went out to go see her.
Link found Malon standing beside a small horse, singing her heart out. Before he approached her, he listened to her song for a little moment. When he saw fit to finally move forward, he was playing the exact notes Malon was singing. Malon looked up at the sight, and beamed.
"You're a natural with that ocarina, Link!" Malon said. Epona whinnied, and approached Link. Link pulled away from the ocarina to stroke Epona's muzzle.
"Aw, she likes you, Link. You've made a friend for life!" Malon said. Link smiled with awe, as Epona continued to appreciate his touch. Malon edged closer to Link, who wasn't particularly at ease with this arrangement, but couldn't exactly change it.
"So, did you see daddy on the way here?" Malon asked.
"Yeah, we did. He joked that you and him should get married, but I think it flew over Link's head," Navi said. Malon looked at Link.
"He did?" she asked. Link nodded. Malon's smile briefly wavered, before coming back. Link didn't notice it, as he was preoccupied with a small burr in Epona's muzzle he had brushed upon.
"Well, daddy has a wonderful sense of humour! Married, indeed. Like you and I were ever destined to become husband and wife, looking over this ranch together, just you, me, and possibly the fairy…" Malon said, going off on a small tangent. Navi, the more knowledgeable of her and Link, realised what was happening immediately. Link was placidly standing around, learning nothing.
"Uh, Link… don't we have to go and save the world?" Navi asked, a half actual question, and a half plea for privacy. Link nodded reluctantly, and stepped away from Epona. He wished Malon good bye as best he could, and walked away. Navi stuck around slightly, watching Malon unobtrusively. As soon as Malon was sure Link wasn't turning around, tears began to well up in her eyes. Navi resolved to have that conversation with Link as soon as they were on the road.
"Hey, listen, Link… did you notice anything… odd about Malon and Talon when we went to visit?" Navi asked on the road to Death Mountain. Link shook his head.
"Well, I did. Link… I don't think Talon was joking. I think Malon legitimately does want to marry you," Navi told him. Link stopped in his tracks, looking from the ranch to Navi in shock.
"We've gotta go apologise! Link, how do we phrase that in mute?" Navi said, beginning to panic. Link shook his head. Navi gasped in shock, but Link made complex movements with his hands. Even he wasn't quite sure what the gestures meant, but the point he was trying to get across was that he wasn't ready to think about marriage, and the ranchers shouldn't be guilting him into maturing earlier. Thankfully, Navi got this gist.
"Ah, I understand… semi-perfectly. Link, I'm sorry I ever doubted you! If this works out and you see the next seven years, you may be able to cope with this proposal, and then we'll decide whether or not you should accept Malon's hand. Now, though, we should get to work."