Chapter 3: Welcome Home, Mr. Hero

Malon chewed her lip in contemplation. Did the goddesses hate her so much, that when she finally decided to forget the green clad hero, they brought him back, as if mocking her with what she could no longer have?

As much as she wanted to love him again, she knew she couldn't. She wouldn't allow herself to be hurt like that again. She wouldn't let herself hurt the new man she had welcomed in her heart. It wasn't fair that he returned, it wasn't fair that after all this time, he expected everything to be the same, but it wasn't. It never would be.

She felt sudden warmth around her waist and smiled at the contact. "How is he?" She asked, leaning her head on her fiancé's shoulder.

"Sleeping." He breathed against her ear making her shudder, thankful for the contact. She needed to remember who was important in her life now. She thought she had forgotten the past, but could she? "He should wake up soon though…" He squeezed her slightly and kissed the top of her head. "Are you alright?"

She turned in his arms, so that she was facing the dark haired man, his strange crimson eyes shining with concern. "I'm fine…I just…need to talk to him I think."

"Then go." He kissed her softly and reassuringly, before he ran his hand through her red locks. "I'll be in the room."

Malon smiled up at the man and reluctantly pulled away. "You know I love you, right Dark?" And she did, the diamond ring on her finger was proof of that. She loved him more than anything, than anyone.

He smiled down at her and laughed quietly. "I know…" Her love was true, regardless of what Link thought, they loved each other and nothing could change that. She shuddered as the cold metal of her necklace brushed against her neck. Pulling it out, she admired the turquoise ring on the silver necklace before sighing. Why then, was she not able to part with this yet?


Link groaned loudly, clutching his throbbing head. The first thing he noticed when he had awoken was the distinct smell of the red headed farm girl. Her scent was everywhere; he opened his eyes to the white walled room around him. Family photos of Malon and her father decorated the small room creating a welcoming aura. A large dresser was placed on the other side of the room, opposite to the white rocking chair that was placed at the side of the medium sized bed. Link blinked in confusion. This seemed way too personal to be a guest room but he was sure he had never been in here before. Although he had lived at the ranch for some time, rarely did he roam around the house save for the kitchen, living room, and Malon's room.

He swung his legs off the side of the bed and jumped slightly at the sudden thump on the floor. He furrowed his brow in confusion, picking up the familiar pendant from the cold hard wood floor. He had forgotten to return it to her after all of the confusion. He ran his fingers along the edges of the pendant, feeling tears burn at his eyes. 'Didn't she promise too?' He hastily whipped the tears that threatened to pool over his eyes and chewed on his bottom lip to stop him from crying out.

She had forgotten him…And to make matters worse, she had fallen for the one being in this entire world that he hated more than the once great Gannondorf. His shadow, his demon, had stolen her from him, and he had no doubt in his mind that it was for his own selfish gain. He didn't love Malon. He couldn't.

Link slammed his fists against the innocent pillow beside him as anger overwhelmed him. Malon couldn't love him; she wouldn't do that to him, because she still loved him…Right?

He felt his hands shaking and his breathing becoming ragged. Why was she doing this to him? He covered his eyes with his fists in anger, and continued to punch the pillow, allowing all of his rage to be absorbed with each blow. He would never allow Malon to see him so weak…but he had to let out his anger somehow.

He quickly composed himself, whipping away angry tears that had dared to stream down his cheek. Slowly, his limbs stopped shaking, and the only evidence of his tears was that damn burning in his eyes. "Goddesses Malon…" He breathed, to no one in particular. "Why…?"

A sudden knock on the door, pried him from his thoughts. "C-can I come in?" A shaky voice bellowed from behind the door. "We need to talk…"

Link bit his lip. He really didn't think he was ready to see her yet. Every fiber in his body begged for him to shut out the hurt and wallow in his own self-pity, but Link had never been the type to mope. And despite the intense pain burning in his heart, he wanted more than anything to hear her voice, to see her face. So her gingerly made his way to the door and pulled it open to reveal the smiling farm girl.

"You're awake." She beamed. "I was beginning to think you were still asleep. If you want to head back to sleep I ca-"

"No…" He interrupted her feeling the familiar tug at his heart whenever she was near. "Its fine…" he let his words trail off, lost in Malon's eyes. So perfect, so innocent, so pure. He hated himself more than anything, for causing those green eyes to pool with tears yesterday. He hated himself for being so angry at her. He hated himself for ever leaving in the first place.

"Link… We need to talk…please." He nodded his head, moving aside so she could enter the room and sit on the white chair by the bed. "Sit…" She motioned to a spot on the bed that Link reluctantly took. "Link…I-"

"Why?" He asked bluntly, cutting off Malon's words. "Why did you… How could you move on and forget about me…about us?"

She shook her head, playing with the hem of her skirt. "That isn't what this is…"

"Really Mal? Then what is 'this'" He hated the aggression, the anger in his voice as he spat each word at the confused farm girl. "You know, he tried to KILL ME!"

"Link, would you ju-"

"Just what Malon…? Leave him alone? Leave you and your perfect life alone? Red, Your boyfriend is INSANE! He's going to hurt you…The only reason why he's with you is to get to me."

"LINK STOP!" Link jumped back at the sudden outburst. He had done it again; he had caused pain to return to those green eyes he adored more than life. "He's not my boyfriend, he's my fiancé! I love him Link. I was hoping this would be a civilized discussion, but apparently that's not going to happen."

"You…" The world around him suddenly turned hazy. 'Fiancé..? Mal, was going to marry him?' "Red…I…"

"You can't stay here…" Link locked eyes with judging green irises. "I don't want you here." Link felt each word like a punch in the gut.

"Malon…I-I love-"

"I DON'T CARE OKAY?" Link searched her eyes, and shook his head.

"You don't mean that Red, you're just-"

"Stop calling me that!" She stood up angrily, knocking the chair over. "That's not my name okay? Stop calling me that!" her hands balled into fists, she angrily stormed out of the room, leaving Link alone with his own self-loathing.


She couldn't have meant it. She couldn't have meant any of those things she screamed out in anger. Link reassured himself as he slowly stepped out of the house and made his way gingerly to the barn. He wasn't sure why, but it seemed as if it was calling for him all day – as weird as that sounded – and with all that happened that morning, Link decided that weird was better than the pain he would feel if he stayed in that house.

Pulling open the door he stepping into the barn and smiled as nostalgia washed over him. This was where he had last said his goodbyes to Malon. He laughed at the cruelty of it all. He would never have peace, would he?

His thoughts were interrupted as a familiar whinny echoed through the barn. "E-Epona?" Link smiled brightly, making his way to his lost steed. He wrapped his arms around the brown mare's neck, who snorted in response. "Goddesses, I've missed you." It seemed like the goddesses had pity after all. After all the pain he had faced, he was simply happy that he wouldn't have to bury another friend, or have to mourn for another lost love. Link grinned and pulled the horse out of her stall, rubbing her back affectionately. His smile dropped as his hand felt a bump on her stomach that made him pull back in shock. "Epona?"

"She's pregnant…" Link turned to the unwelcomed visitor, and stepped protectively in between the man and Epona – who seemed to be roused by the man's presence. The man laughed at this and stepped closer. "That horse never did like me."

"I wonder why?" Link spat at his shadow. Like every other time Link had seen his rival, his darker counterpart grinned wickedly at him surrounded in a dark aura that seemed to engulf the light around him - how anyone could be oblivious to this was beyond him – he crossed his arms around his chest and smiled triumphantly. "You really upset her you know." He said matter-of-factly, like he even cared about how Malon was feeling.

"Shut up! Everything that has happened is because of you!" Link stepped closer to his demon, and like looking in a mirror, gazed at his shadowed refection staring back at him. "Why are you here? Why did you choose her? Why won't you just leave. me. ALONE!" He moved closer with each word until he was roughly shoving the shadow demon.

The shadow simply laughed, brushing off Link as if he were nothing but an inconvenience. "Why? Because I hate you." Link stepped back at the anger that rolled off his tongue. "I hate everything about you. You don't deserve to be happy, and it seems as if the best way to obtain that would be to steal everything from you. Though I guess I underestimated how much Malon is everything for you." He shrugged. "It's highly entertaining."

Link shook his head as realization hit him. That couldn't be possible, and yet… "Were you the one who…"

"Brought you back to life? No…" He sighed slumping on a chair by the horse's pen as if the conversation were boring him. "Though I did have something to do with the one who attacked you. Sadly, you were brought back by your own determination. It all worked out well though, didn't it?"

"So you'd hurt her in the process?"

Dark Link shrugged again, grinning wickedly at the distressed hero in front of him. "If anyone should be guilty it should be you." When Link blinked in surprise, Dark laughed at the stupidity of his counterpart. "I can only imagine what she would have done if I wasn't there."

"You're crazy." Link growled pushing past him, while dragging his now pregnant mare behind him. "Just leave me alone. I don't care anymore… Just leave me alone." He said in almost a whisper.

"Aw… Giving up already? I was expecting a fight."

"Like hell I am!" Link snapped behind him. He spun jabbing a finger towards his demon. "You may have stolen her heart, but you do NOT deserve to love her!"

Dark laughed at the sudden show of spirit and curled his lip in disgust. "Is that so, 'Mr. Hero'? Then what is it that makes you so worthy of this woman's love? You, the one who has hurt her more than you can ever heal? Did you think she would welcome you with open arms like you were her savior? Link, you are too naïve to see that she no longer needs you."

"Maybe…" He breathed, looking down at a gloved hand. "I didn't deserve her to begin with…" He looked up locking eyes with his rival. "But neither do you." He gritted his teeth, causing an ache in his jaw. "I don't care what I have to do. You will not have her."

The shadow smirked, leaning closer to the hero. "I do love a challenge."


Yes people... IT IS ON! (hehe sorry)

Anyways tell me what you think? Things will get more angsty in later chapters and new people will be intoduced. You'll also get to see what happened to Ingo and Talon (did anyone notice they wern't there?)

YES I MADE EPONA PREGNANT! :) I love that horse, I really do...