Chapter 3: Brawl

Link, who was trying desperately to focus on the map and the matching horizon, was finding himself more and more entranced by Malon's beauty, even though she was behind him. It was already beginning to get dark (Link didn't plan on getting far tonight since they left during sunset), and they needed to stop and rest.

Once they cleared a rise that looked over Hyrule Field into Kokiri Forest, Link halted Epona.

"I think we should set up camp now," said Link. Malon nodded and slid off Epona's saddle. Link followed suit and took all the provisions, bedrolls, and his sword from the saddle.

"Why do you need the sword?" Malon asked.

"I told you," said Link. "Hyrule Field isn't safe at night."

Malon nodded, a new expression of worry drawn on her face.

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure nothing bad will happen," said Link reassuringly. Malon nodded softly. She was frightened, he could tell.

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I'll let you hold the sword," Link said with a chuckle. Malon's eyes widened.

"Oh no, I couldn't do that, I have no idea how to use it," she said nervously. Link smiled.

"Well then today is the lucky day that you learn how to use a sword." He unsheathed the sword and placed it in her hands. Then, standing behind her and placing his hands on her wrists, he began to teach her.

"You hold the sword, when you're not fighting, like this," he said, demonstrating the common fighter's stance. "This helps you stay aware and ready for attack."

"Where'd you learn all this?" she asked with a short smile. Link smiled.

"Uked taught me. He's a retired soldier; I guess I thought you knew. But anyway, back to the point."

Malon nodded. "When you attack, you don't swing the sword like a madman. That's foolish," Link explained. "It could very well be sent soaring from your hands, and then you're defenseless. Now, keeping that in mind, don't hold the sword too tight or you'll be limited in your agility. You want to hold it just light enough to keep it in your hands."

All this time he was guiding her hands into the swing needed. He told her of correct stances, dodges, and when to run or not.

"I thought you were teaching me how to use a sword, not Hylian Soldier 101," she laughed. Link laughed with her. Suddenly he found himself staring down at her beautiful face, and she stared right back. That same emotion that had overwhelmed him back at her house began to take place here. Link decided he was going to do it, never mind Mark. He brushed her hair out of her eyes and leaned in. Their lips were inches apart when Link heard a painfully familiar voice.

"Malon!" the voice cried. Malon gasped. They could both hear horse hoofs pounding into the ground at full gallop. Both of them knew exactly who it was.

Mark came riding up the hill on a rather ugly tan horse. Link took good notice of the sword strapped to his saddle. He meant business.

Jumping off the horse's saddle and striding up to Malon, Link could almost see the intense anger rising off of his body.

"I don't know what the hell you think you're doing, but I assure you, it's not going to happen again while we're together!" he screamed. Malon didn't even flinch.

"Yes, you're right," she said calmly.

"What?" he asked impatiently.

"I said, 'yes, you're right.' It isn't going to happen again while we're together, because from this day forth, we aren't together anymore."

Mark was stunned by this remark. At a loss for words, he began breathing heavily.

"But, baby," he said. But Malon didn't let him finish.

"No, Mark, I am tired of you and your aggressiveness! You're too overprotective; you don't even let me breathe! I'm through with you, Mark! I don't even know why I agreed to be with you."

Mark began to seethe with extreme anger. Slowly he turned to Link. He saw this coming a million miles away.

"You!" Mark screamed. Walking over to his horse, he drew the sword there from its scabbard. Without a second's warning, Mark bellowed loudly and heaved the sword in Link's direction. There wasn't enough time to dodge the entire blow. Link jumped backward, but the tip of the blade still sliced across the bridge of his nose, making a good-sized gash in his face.

"Mark, what do you think you're doing?" Malon shrieked. Link touched the slash on his nose tenderly, flicking blood from his fingers.

"Malon, give me the sword," Link said sternly.

"But Link, I—"

"Malon, toss me the sword, now." Malon gulped and clumsily tossed the sword. For a horrifying second, the blade was facing straight toward him, but Link expertly caught it by the handle and spun it into a fighting stance. Mark was a little surprised by Link's expertise; he always thought him to be the wimp whom he beat up.

"You're going down, Link!" he seethed.

"Ready when you are," Link replied calmly. Mark bellowed loudly and, in his blind anger, charged at him at full speed. From six feet away, Mark leaped into the air, sword outstretched. Link skillfully dodged around Mark's tackle and swung a small gash into Mark's lower back. Mark gasped in pain.

Link stood ready as the bully stood to his feet. Mark's anger was only rising.

"You're a dead man!" he shrieked. In an ongoing scream, Mark charged right at Link again. Link prepared for the attack. This time, Mark didn't stop until he was close enough to hit him with his sword. Link parried a blow to his abdomen, another to his arm, and punched the hilt of the sword into Mark's nose. He felt the bone break. Blood spurted onto the grass.

Clutching his nose, Mark stumbled away from the blow and nearly tripped. Wiping blood, he continued his relentless attack. This was getting all too easy.

The two circled around like a couple of wolfos. Link remained ever aware, and Mark's teeth were permanently clenched in his anger. It showed through his jaw muscles.

Mark then unsuspectingly swung at Link's head. Link easily dodged the attack, but it caused Malon a loud scream. Link then took a good swing at Mark's legs. He jumped over the attack and brought his sword down at Link's head. Parrying the blow, Link lifted his knee into Mark's stomach. His annoyance was beginning to show in the way he fought.

Mark recovered quickly and screamed into several different slashes and swings. Link parried and dodged them all, except the last one. It made good contact with his shoulder. Link gasped in pain and clutched the shoulder as he backed away from Mark, who now had a satisfied smirk on his face. Link was beginning to get angry as well.

Link ran toward Mark, who was now running as well. They both took well-aimed swings at each other, but missed, and ended up colliding into each other. They hit the ground hard. Link had lost his sword, but Mark kept a good grip on his.

Link, now unarmed, leaped to his feet just in time to dodge a swing to the head. He tried to kick the sword from Mark's hand, but another swing brought the blade too far from Link's reach. With barely any time to cartwheel away, Link was beginning to get worried. He had to find some way to get Mark's sword from him and turn it on him.

But when the window of opportunity came, Link kicked Mark's wrist too hard and ended up sending the sword soaring. It ended up being a fist-on-fist brawl. Link tackled Mark to the ground and punched his face. Mark punched him back and sent him sprawling. Leaping to his feet once again, he blocked a punch and gave Mark a painful rib shot. Still holding on to his wrist and rendering Mark useless, Link punched Mark's face, stomach, and then slammed down on his triceps. Mark cried out and collapsed to the ground in pain. Link reached out for Mark's sword and placed his right hand on Mark's chest and the other aimed the sword at his throat. Mark held his hands up in fear.

"Link, no!" Malon cried.

"Don't worry about it, I've got it handled!" Link shouted back somewhat impatiently. "Now, you listen to me," he seethed. "You are to go back to Kakariko Village and leave us alone. Got it?"

"Okay, okay, I will," said Mark, still frightened. After a moment, Link released him and handed his sword back to him, wary in case Mark decided to be cheap. He didn't, however, and returned to his horse, sheathing his sword in the scabbard there. Mark took another pained look at Malon, who returned a horribly dirty look. Mark then turned in galloped for Kakariko Village.

Link stumbled over to the bank of the Zora River, where his sword had landed. Malon had the scabbard, so he went back to her. Malon handed him the scabbard and he sheathed the sword. Without warning, Malon wrapped her arms around Link, who, a little surprised, returned the hug.

"I'm sorry he did that to you," she said.

"No, don't be, it's not your fault," Link replied. Malon nodded, knowing it wasn't, but Link could tell she was ready to cry. Again, without warning, she placed her head on his chest and let her tears flow.

After their emotional moment, Link went over to the pile of supplies that he had dropped before teaching Malon to use a sword. He then proceeded to make a campfire, and Malon neatly placed the bedrolls by it. The two worked together, talking of random, stupid things that would be too stupid to depict.

The two lay in their bedrolls, tired from their exhausting day. After a long silence, Malon fell asleep on Link's shoulder. Link smiled before closing his own eyes.