Chapter 4: Rumors

2 Weeks Later.

Cremia strode up to the East Clock Town Gate in her wagon and parked it. She got down and went pat and gave her horse a carrot in thanks. She then and began to bring in the large bottles of Milk into town and into the Milk Bar, Mr. Barton soon helping out. When finished Mr. Barton handed Cremia a pouch full of rupees of various sizes and colors.

"Thank you Mr. Barton." Cremia said with a warm smile.

"No, thank you Ms. Cremia, doing business with you is always a pleasure. But you must be tired from your trip, please come in and relax. It's a busy night and you haven't actually come in to relax in a long time." The owner said with a smile but the ranch owner raised her hands in protest.

"No, I mean; I would love to but my sister is back at the ranch and—"Cremia began but Barton interrupted.

"Please, you and your family have helped out this establishment for many years and I don't thank you enough beyond paying." The owner insisted. Cremia wanted to object but she decided it wouldn't kill her to relax for once.

"Alright, fine. I'll come in for a drink and maybe catch up to see how things have been going lately."

"That's the spirit!" the owner exclaimed as he led her inside. Barton went to his post behind the counter as Cremia awkwardly took a seat at the counter not far from Barton. "Now, what can I get for you?" he asked.

"Well I guess a Chateau since you were so insistent on me coming in." she sighed but with a smile.

"Coming right up!" the bartender said as he went and got the drink, meanwhile Cremia took a look around her and saw many familiar faces that she had not seen for a long while but she wasn't feeling too social so she decided to just sit from her spot and listen in. Most of it was just idle gossip; what new plans the Mayor and his wife had in mind now that the Carnival of Time was over, the recent wedding that was the talk of the town; Anju and Kafei's wedding, the swords master turning out to be a sham. None of it really interest her so she just sipped at her milk and enjoying the flavor. Even though her farm was the place where this milk was produced she didn't often have it since honestly it didn't have the same feeling if it wasn't drunk here in the bar. Most people usually jugged it down in one gulp but she preferred to sip at her drink. She was about half way through her drink when a bit of gossip that she heard from other customers made her ears perk up. It wasn't something she had ever heard about that wasn't usual so she turned to see that the guard who usually was stationed at the South exit whom was now off the clock was the one whom was talking about this particular story.

"I mean it; I was standing there at my post a few hours after the moon vanished when all of a sudden a HUGE tall demon carrying a large sword tried to cut my head off! I tried fighting him off but he was too strong! I called for the other guards and we all came after him but the demon ran off! But now I have been seeing him wander around that large log near the swamp. Every time I catch sight of him he glares at me like I am his prey or his next meal! I immediately requested to be transferred to a different post but Vincent won't allow it! I swear he just wants me there as a meat shield so that when that demon decides to strike I will die first like I almost did last time!" the soldier had told, making more emphasis on specific parts of his tale. Cremia could tell from the slurs and hic-ups in his speech he had already had one too many drinks.

"Yeah I've seen him too!" said another guard. "He wanders all around the fields killing those whom dare step foot out there! Not even the wildlife and monsters are safe from that demon!" whom also appeared to have too much.

"Oh my!" said some flirtatious woman with very large breasts and revealing clothes that Cremia instantly assumed was one of those women who liked selling her body for sex that have begun to pop up in town. "I am so happy that I have you two brave knights to protect me!" she said as she hugged the soldiers. Cremia could just sense the lust in the drunken men.

Ugg… men… all they want is sex! I wish I could find a guy that is… different. She thought as she took a gulp of her drink. "I bet they are just making it all up. I've been outside the walls along with those annoying Gorman's and none of us have seen anything like 'a demon with a large sword'." Cremia mumbled to herself as she began to felt the effects of the alcoholic drink. She had forgotten how low of a tolerance she had for alcohol but she was glad she only ordered one since she was now finished with it. She had more than enough wits to take her carriage back to the ranch in her current condition. She looked over to Barton whom came over to see Cremia's finished glass. "Thank you Mr. Barton. I've enjoyed my drink but I need to head back and check on Romani. I would normally be home by now." She exclaimed with a smile and began to fish in the pouch with the earnings but Barton raised a hand.

"No, no Cremia. It's on me. But alright, go home and take care of your sister." He said with a smile as he took the glass. "But between you and me; I have heard this story of some demon in the field from more than just those guys. Even the fisherman from the coast whom came here the day after the carnival said he saw some tall guy with war paint on his face, and a long sword out there. I don't know if it's a demon but be careful out there."

"I will, but even then; you know I don't put much stock in rumors. As I said; neither I nor the Gorman's have seen anything out there. We may not be on the greatest of terms with the Gorman's due to our rivalry but I'm sure they wouldn't be still bringing in their deliveries either if they saw some 'demon' out there."

"Well you do what you think is right Cremia. Take care of yourself."

"I will, thanks for the drink." Cremia said as she got up, left the Milk Bar and approached her carriage. She commanded her horse and soon it began pulling on the carriage back towards Romani Ranch. The ride felt longer than usual since even though she didn't much stock in rumors she still couldn't help but wonder about the supposed 'demon' that was roaming the field. At that thought thunder was heard as rain began to pour down hard. She was still pretty far from the entryway to Milk Road and was now coming up on the giant log. She could feel her clothes beginning to get soaked and decided she needed to get her and the horse out of the rain. She brought the carriage up next to the log, got out and unhooked the horse from the carriage and brought it inside the log and out of the downpour. "Shit… this storm is bad… I should have been paying attention to the weather and not stayed at the Milk Bar." She mumbled as she looked outside at the torrential rain that showed no signs of stopping soon. "I hope Romani doesn't worry about me… but she's a big girl and will take care of herself." She stepped away from the opening and moved towards the center of the log when she noticed the ground under her felt odd. She looked down to see that there was oddly a small perfect circle that appeared to be a hatch. She looked down and pondered at the hatch when all of a sudden the horse being to neigh loudly and she heard footsteps enter the log behind her. She slowly turned to see a tall man in a distinct light grey tunic and armor that was adorned in stars and moons just mere feet from her. The face had red and blue lines resembling war paint on it – almost complimenting the strong features of the face. Silver hair that was covered in a funnel shaped grey hat matched the pure white eyes that looked down at her. She almost screamed but something held her back – some sense of familiarity came from the features of this man but she couldn't place where…

"Cremia?" the tall man asked as an eyebrow cocked in surprise.

"Y-you know me?" the ranch girl asked taking a nervous step back but still; she did not run as for the sense of familiarity ate at her as she searched her memories when after a few moments it struck her who this being looked like… "You… look like that boy who helped me two days before the carnival…" she said. The tall man's eyes went wide in surprise but instead he stepped back and looked away, but something kept him too from running. "You are… you are that boy… Link, right?" she asked. The tall man seemed to grimace at the sound of the name. "You must be… you look just like him… but… what happened to you?" she asked, now taking a step forward towards him.

Link wanted to run. Ever since he scared the guards and was carelessly spotted by the fisherman from the coast he had been more careful about avoiding people – especially Cremia and the Gorman Brothers when they made their deliveries to the Milk Bar. He knew the Gorman's were the type who would likely join in the townspeople in calling him a demon and maybe, in time; eventually forming a search party to hunt him down. He avoided the ranch for a different reason though. There were very few people Link got close to in Termina during his cycles and two of those people were Cremia and Romani at the ranch. He spent several cycles staying at the ranch when he needed to take some time to rest. He always helped them out in every cycle he went through after he met them. The last time he saw Cremia was on the final day. He had come to make sure that the girls would be okay during the final 24 hours and had a dinner with them before he left to go help Kafei in Ikana. In that final cycle something happened that never happened in the previous cycles where he helped Cremia; she had hugged him. As he stared down at the beautiful woman whom had hugged him that night he felt blood rush to his face.

"Please tell me; are you Link?" Cremia pleaded. Link noticed something in her eyes that had not shown in any other person besides the Skull Kid, Tatl, Tael and Epona since he was cursed to be stuck in this form; fear. Fear was no longer present in her gorgeous blue eyes that looked up to him. He opened his mouth and croaked.

"Y-yes…" he barely whispered. He was barely audible to both himself and the woman whom stood before him; unafraid. Cremia's eyes went wide as the sound of that one word Link spoke had begun to impact her thoughts and when it did; tears began to well.

"Link… have you been here…" she looked around at the log which Link could barely fit in. "All alone?" Cremia asked mindlessly as she just then began to feel a tear run down her cheek. The droplet of water had surprised her and she wiped away with it in confusion and looked at it in her hand. Why am I crying? She asked herself within her thoughts.

"Y-yes… I have… Ever since… the carnival I have been stuck this way and… well…"

"I know. I heard in town. They think you are… a demon. What happened to you? Why are you like this?" she asked as she again looked him up and down, now noticing that despite how imposing the form was he didn't look that bad.

"It's hard to explain…" He said as he once more looked away from her blue eyes. Cremia looked around again to the log and then the hatch that was beneath her feet.

"Have you been living here this entire time?" Cremia asked as she turned back to him who simply nodded. "You've been… hiding away in here… there's been no where you could go?"

"No… I can't. There's no where I can go except Ikana and well… that place is rather unwelcome. Anywhere else has people who will fear me." He explained.

"I don't fear you." Cremia said abruptly, startling both Link and herself. Where did that come from? She pondered. "I'm not afraid of you. You helped me, and according to Romani; you helped her too. I don't know you too well but I can tell you are not a bad person let alone a demon like everyone else is calling you." she explained. A small smile – the first during this encounter – formed on Link's face but quickly; it vanished.

"Thank you Cremia…" he said as he looked away from her and towards the outside world and noticed the rain had stopped. "Looks like the rain has stopped for now, but it doesn't look like it'll stay that way for long so you should head home Cremia. I'm sure—"

"I'm not letting you stay here Link." She burst out with.

"What?! This isn't much but… I do have my grotto here… it's not much but—"

"No 'buts'! I can't under a clear conscious let you live here any longer. You… are too good of a person to live out your days living in a hole waiting to die!" she exclaimed, suddenly taking a large hand and pulled him with her towards her carriage. Link despite being about 2 feet taller than her and having the strength and power to destroy god-like demons did nothing but command her gestures. As much as he thought it was a bad idea to go with her to live on the ranch with her and Romani, he didn't object because deep down over the past couple weeks he had almost come to hope something would save him from the life he had begun to live. He imagined only death would take him and save him from the damnation the Fierce Deity Mask and Majora's Mask had placed him in. He wanted an escape and now someone whom had oddly not grown to fear him was now taking his hand and leading him to a better life. It wouldn't likely be one in which he would ever have his old body back but… he didn't mind that. He welcomed it.

Cremia guided him into the back of the carriage which was very cramped for his new body but he could still fit and hide in it. She took a sheet that had been in the carriage and threw it over the Deity. Link took it and hid under it – understanding her plan of hiding him. She went around and hooked the horse back up to the carriage and got in and took the carriage back to Romani Ranch.

Author's Note: Wow I am just blowing through this story very quickly! Its 5:15 AM 9/19/15 and I just uploaded Chapter 3 several hours ago, Chapter 2 yesterday and the first chapter 2 days before that and the night before that I had gotten the request for this story. And PLUS this story is already getting a good amount of followers, favorites and reviews within such a short amount of time! All I can imagine is that either it's the premise of the story, the pairing or the fact that I said in Chapter 1 that this will eventually turn into a lemon – which I still will do. Also whoop whoop for another long chapter! LOL