Five years later…
Slowly but steadily, a large group of moblins emerged from the shadows of the forest, almost smiling sadistically as they brandished their spears and heavy clubs. A taller, heavier moblin slowly worked his way through their dishevelled ranks, the late afternoon sun dimly reflected off the greasy and stiff armour. The chief moblin grunted quietly as he stopped the group, out of sight of anybody.
They had been given their commands, and they knew their target. Soon it would come by, and they would strike fear into the hearts of all Hyrulians. All they had to do was wait.
Link took an aggressive bit from the apple he was holding, as he sat cooling down after a particularly intense training session with the other knights. Even though he was too young to be a knight of Hyrule, he still trained extensively with the other knights, which was evident in his well-developed muscles. He was a match for any of the fully trained knights, but that was when he was on his own. When he was fighting with Shade at his side, not even the bravest and fearless of the Hyrule Knights wanted to be in the arena with them, as the combination of their attacks was near unstoppable.
Shade had also grown, albeit at the same rate as Link had. Shade was now a fully grow beast, with huge razor sharp claws, and huge teeth that could render any thin armour useless, as he could now bite down and rip the armour as if it was a sheet of paper. His sheer size as well was a weapon, as he charged into any training opponent's legs, and they crumpled to the ground. Despite causing several injuries, the two together were preparing to take on basic guard duties, mainly to be in a relatively close area of Hyrule field to the walls of Castletown.
Link heard water splashing all around him and glanced everywhere to see where it was coming from. He chuckled as he realised the cause of the splashing, hearing the furious lapping from a water bowl near him. It seemed that Shade was just as hot as Link was, as he drained a large bowl of water in no time at all. Satisfied, Shade collapsed at Link's feet, stretching out and settling down into a comfortable position. His eyes were closed, but his ears were still alert, twitching at all the noises that wafted through the air, the heavy clangs of swords on shields from other knights, and the snorts and clomping hooves of the horses in the stable nearby.
Link shifted his head up as he heard the familiar heavy footsteps of his mentor, Captain Flank walking up to his chair. The Captain smiled kindly as he stopped near the pair. "Done training for the day?"
"I think so." Link replied, wiping a small bead of sweat from his forehead. "Just cooling down."
"Well then, may I ask you to do me a favour?" the captain asked, glancing over at the busy knights training behind him.
"Of course!" Link replied, as Shade opened his eyes, staring up at the towering Captain above him with his blue eyes.
"I'm too busy today to head over to LonLon ranch to check on the moblin situation in the fields as something important is happening that I need to oversee…" the captain stated, "so could I ask you to go in my stead? Just ask Talon if he has seen or heard anything. I doubt that he has, it has been very quiet in recent days, but something just doesn't seem quite right about it." The captain paused briefly, before continuing with a more light-hearted tone in his voice. "Plus, you'll get to see…"
"Yeah, yeah…" Link said, waving his hand, knowing what the captain was going to say. "It will take me a while to get there, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"Ah, about that…" the captain interrupted, beckoning Link to follow him with a finger. Link and Shade eased themselves to their feet, and tailed that captain into the stables, where their eyes were drawn towards an empty stall. "You'll notice that we have a vacant stall, and I was thinking that you will need a horse as well in the near future, or rather, now."
Link looked at his captain, the gears grinding in his head. "What are you suggesting?"
"Well, whenever we both went over there, Talon and I kept noticing that you spent time with Malon and Epona, and since that horse is now fully grown, we thought that you might want to have Epona, as your horse."
Link stood there, contemplating. He had always had a connection with Epona, as did Shade, so it made logical sense. But what would Malon think, as he would effectively take her horse away...
"I'll talk to Talon about that when I get there…" he replied.
"Well then, you'd better head off." The captain replied, before remembering. "Oh yes, you'd be wise to take your bow and sword, just in case anything crazy happens, which it probably won't."
"Of course, sir." Link replied courteously, before leading Shade out of the room stables, to retrieve his equipment.
Back at the group of moblins at the edge of the forest, the atmosphere was getting more and more impatient, until a messenger arrived, stating that their target was approaching, and that a scout had entered the ranch.
All was going to plan.
Link's legs were started to tire, as he reached the gates of LonLon ranch. Apart from the occasional guay buzzing around overhead, the long trek to the ranch had been uneventful, and Link was glad that he might get Epona at the end of the visit, which would save Shade and himself a lot of legwork.
Shade had been walking in front of Link, sniffing the ground as he went, smelling traces of rabbits and other small animals. However, he stopped in his tracks as they entered the gates of the ranch, ears pricked up. Link noticed this, and slowly made his way next to Shade.
"What is it?" he whispered quietly. If Shade was acting like this, it meant that trouble was rearing its ugly head. Shade let out a small guttural growl, barely audible, and started creeping forwards, silently. Link followed suit, crouching low and drawing his bow, readying and arrow.
Both kept up this stance as they edged forwards, making their way towards the farmhouse, scouting for the danger. Both of them stopped again as they heard a high pitched whinnying come from nearby. Link readied his bow as Shade crouched low, hair stood on end, ready to strike. However, their fears were relieved as Epona cantered around the side of the farmhouse, and caught sight of them. Link stood up as they both rushed over to the panicked horse, soothing her. Link checked all over Epona's body, in case she was hurt, but a new thought sprung to his head. "Where's Malon?" he breathed, anxiety building up.
His question seemed to be answered, as all 3 of them heard a loud male voice shouting whilst a female screamed in total fear. "Malon!" he thought worriedly, as Shade growled again, baring his gleaming teeth. Epona whinnied quietly, moving closer to Link.
Link decided to stop everything, before it got any worse. He saw that Epona already had a saddle and reins on, so was ready to be ridden. He had ridden Epona before, and it had been said by Malon that they worked together like a perfect team, just like Shade and himself. Link calmly stroked Epona's flank, and then steadily mounted her, keeping her still and under control. Once he had settled down, he started moving off slowly, as Shade walked alongside them, ready to pounce. He edged out to the pasture, and his eyes widened at the sight before him.
A large moblin wielding a heavy blade was pointing the tip at Talon, who was wearily pointing a pitchfork in retaliation. It was clear who was winning the war of attrition though, as Talon was breathing heavily and red faced, whilst the moblin was trying to remain cool and collected. He patience was being tested, as Link realised that the moblin was restraining a squirming Malon, having one thick red arm wrapped aggressively around her waist.
Epona and Shade kept moving forwards silently, not disturbing the scene before them. A short distance from the sparring duo, Link halted Epona, drawing his bow and an arrow.
"Keep going." He thought to Shade. "When I shout, go and do anything to protect her, staying low." Shade nodded his head quickly in acknowledgement, before continuing to creep forwards, the front half of his body almost touching the ground.
"Let her go you bastard!" Talon shouted furiously, thrusting his pitchfork forwards. The moblin grunted, and blocked the oncoming pitchfork easily. The force from his counter knocked the pitchfork clean out of Talon's hands, and sent the large rancher sprawling onto the ground.
It was at this moment that Link let loose. Pulling back the arrow, he let out an angry bellow, firing the arrow straight at the base of the moblin's skull. Hearing the shout, the moblin spun around quickly, releasing his grip on Malon, and sending her sprawling onto the grass as well with a loud yelp. The moblin had no time to react, as Link's arrow pierced itself through the moblin's thick cheek, making it squeal and grunt in pain, dropping its blade to clutch at its face. Malon was able to turn around in time to hear and see Shade charging forwards, an image of pure terror. His claws were fully extended, his flashing jaws menacing, his thick dark fur stood fully on end. The bestial roar that he was emanating was truly a thing of terror, that would have sent even the bravest knight running for safety.
Shade slammed into the moblin at full pelt, his claws raking across the exposed belly, leaving ugly red wounds trailing across the skin as the moblin tumbled to the ground, pinned down by Shade's sheer weight. Remembering what Link asked him, Shade leapt off the trembling moblin and instantly changed into a completely different character as he trotted up to Malon, licking her hand caringly, with no trace of violence at all in his system. She crumpled, overcome with emotion, and let out loud sobs into his thick fur, while he whined happily, having seen no severe injuries. Talon had now recovered from his fall, and scurried over to his daughter, who stopped crying and flung herself into her father's arms.
All three turned around as they heard loud neighing, and were transfixed as Link approached, mounted on Epona with sword drawn. Link did not glance at them, instead dismantling Epona, and walking over to the moblin strewn on the ground, which had blood flowing freely from multiple claw wounds and most obviously, the arrow through his cheek. Link had been trained by the knights that no matter how much anger or grief your opponent has given you, you give them a respectful death, meaning that he had to put the moblin out of its misery, rather than leave it to die slowly. But something inside him was niggling at him. "They killed your family Link, he deserves to suffer…" Link raised his sword high, and plunged it through the chest of the moblin, as it breathed its last, eyes slumping to the back of their sockets.
After a few moments, Link pulled his sword out of the moblin, and was immediately hit with the realisation of what he had just done. His first kill. His attention was drawn to the group watching him, and he hurried over, a concerned look written all over his face. "Are you two alright?" he asked, searching for any injuries on either Malon or Talon.
"I think… we're fine." Talon winced as he shifted pressure on his legs. "Though I might have cracked a rib from that last fall."
"What about you, Mal?" Link asked, searching Malon's face for any sign of distress, although it was difficult to do so when her face was covered with mud and tears. The only response he got was a small sob as she flung her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder. "Oh, thank you Link!" she sobbed, emotionally worn out from what had just happened.
Link did his best to console her, whilst taking control of the situation. "When did that moblin arrive her?"
"Not long before you arrived…" Talon replied, glancing over at the firmly dead body. "We were both doing our normal routines around here, when I hear Malon screaming. I turn around and I see that she is being pursued by that ugly bastard over there. That alone sent Epona packing, but I didn't think too much of that at the time. I grabbed my pitchfork as it grabbed Malon and tried fending it off. You then arrived, saving me and my daughter…"
"Why would a solitary moblin come and terrorize you two?" Link interrupted quietly, trying to figure it all out.
"What do you mean?" Talon asked, as Malon broke off from Link, and started stroking Shade generously.
"Well, whenever I've experienced moblins or heard reports from the other knights, they have all been together in big groups, never sending single moblins. So why would one now come here…" Link said, before his eyes started widening.
"What, Link?" Talon asked, seeing the realisation flood over Link's face.
"What if, it was scouting the area, in preparation for something… bigger?" Link said, stepping backwards.
"Something bigger?" Malon asked, looking up as Shade licked her face gently, clearing some mud off of it.
Link paused, as Captain Flank's words started to rekindle in his memory. "Something important… I have to oversee…"
"Talon, is anything major happening today?" Link asked, almost shouting.
"Y-Yes," Talon replied, amazed at how serious Link was being. "The royal family is returning…" he stopped. "Oh my Goddesses! The royal family!"
"What about them?" Malon asked, as Shade sprung up and ran to Link's heel, knowing what Link had realised.
"The moblins are going to ambush the royal family's return in Hyrule field!" Link shouted, as he sheathed his sword and leapt onto Epona's back. He turned back towards Talon. "Talon, light the emergency fire, alerting the town guards that trouble is afoot. When the knights arrive here, tell them what's happened and what I am doing, so they can back me up!"
"What are you going to do?" Malon shouted, as Epona whinnied, apparently understanding the nature of the conversation.
Link looked towards Malon one last time. "I'm taking Epona, and going to try and stop any attempt on the royal family! Take care!" he yelled, before turning Epona around hurriedly. Holding out one arm, Link whistled at Shade, and told him mentally "Jump!" Shade immediately leapt at Link's arm, which wrapped around his Shade, and pulled him onto Epona's back. With both safely atop Epona, Link urged Epona into a full gallop, rushing past Talon and Malon and out of the ranch gates, in search of the royal family's carriage and their inevitable fate.
Not too far away from the edge of the forest, a large, spectacular carriage was calmly making its way forwards, accompanied by a small group of lightly armed soldiers. The carriage itself was adorned with the royal crest of Hyrule, and adorned with two pristine white stallions. The carriage itself contained the 15 year old Princess Zelda and her father, the King of Hyrule. Despite the princess being a carrier of the legendary Triforce of wisdom, both of them and all the guards present were unaware of the huge horde of moblins that had now caught sight of the carriage, and was moving into position.
The stallions reared up, halting the carriage as they saw the multitude of moblins, clearly outnumbering the soldiers that accompanied the carriage. The huge armoured moblin that was in charge of the assembled fighters smiled as the panic started set in, and the moblins closed in. The trap had been set off, and his master's command would be fulfilled. His dark master's plan would now begin.
A/N: Well, the action is certainly starting to pick up now, isn't it? Will Link be able to get to the royal family in time? Will he die horribly and painfully in the process? I hope not, otherwise this will be a very short story!
Anyways, thanks for reading this chapter. Please consider leaving a review, letting me know what you did or didn't like, or what you might want to see in the future. I'm open to suggestion, just letting you know…
Thanks again, and see you next time!