Link appeared in Clock Town, and immediately went south to Romani Ranch. He quickly travelled to reach his horse, and the two ranch girls Romani and Cremia. Well, Romani. Cremia was elsewhere at the moment.
"Oh, hello there, little Grasshopper! My name is Romani, like the ranch!" Romani said.
…Was Malon always this unbearable, or is it just what Romani is like? Link wondered to himself. He found himself amused by falling in love with pretty much this exact girl.
"The ranch… Romani must protect the ranch… when tonight… They come…" she said, immediately changing the mood. Link raised an eyebrow, curious as to what she was saying.
"They… They come at night… every year when the carnival approaches… They come riding in a bright, shining ball. A whole lot of Them come down… And then… They come to the barn…" she explained eerily. She then promptly switched to bubbly child.
"Romani will save the ranch! Because Romani has been practicing with the bow! Romani will save the ranch! Romani want assistant! Will Grasshopper be my assistant?" Romani asked. Link nodded.
"Good. Listen here, and you can ride the horse! Big sister won't let Romani ride… but Romani will let you ride. The horse likes you," Romani said.
That's because she's mine, Link thought. Romani began the song, which Link stopped her.
"Huh?" Romani asked. Link pulled out his ocarina, and played.
AXY-AXY
"Oh. Come along at two tonight. We need to fend off Them. They vanish at the sight of dawn," Romani said.
Link was sceptical, but he was at Romani Ranch at two a.m. Romani came out of the barn, and stood still, holding out her bow. Link did likewise. After a few moments, a red orb descended from the sky, and several purple shapes appeared at the points the ball stopped. They had arrived. Link no longer had any disbelief in Romani's ridiculous story.
"Grasshopper! Use Epona, and stop them! I'll get the ones who get too close, but be careful!" Romani cried. Link stepped atop Epona's back, feeling her familiar shape from hours and hours of horse-riding and bonding in Lon Lon Ranch and later Hyrule Castle. He gently kneed Epona in the side, and began his charge, firing his bow. He slowly shot each one, making his shots accurate. However, he wasn't shooting enough arrows.
"Grasshopper! They're getting too close!" Romani said. Link decided on Plan B.
YRA-YRA
He played a song he heard in the Royal Family's court. It was a melody that summoned the sun and the moon. In the night, this would be the sun. They turned to the sun, screeching as they slowly dissolved.
"Grasshopper… you did it! We saved the cows!" Romani said, pulling Link into a small hug. Link was conflicted a bit inside.
"…I'll need to go back to bed. You come back any time you want!" Romani said sweetly.
Taking advantage of taking his time, Link spent that second day in Termina going back to his rancher days. Although it didn't seem fair to poor Malon, this opportunity would never rear its head again, and Link was going to take it. Cremia didn't ask too many questions about where he popped up from, and accepted his appearance. That night, she even invited Link to a ride on her wagon into town. She made only small talk, before she noticed something odd about the road.
"This isn't good… Link, get out your bow. I'll try to get us out of here! Can you hold off any pursuers?" Cremia asked. The honest answer was no, but Link said yes, to calm the nerves of Cremia.
"Good. Let's go," she said. Two masked horsemen came charging forward, as Cremia's wagon picked up speed. Link took a stance, and pulled out his bow. The two horsemen made a squawking noise that reminded Link heavily of Ingo, and raced forward. Link focused, and fired…
*CLUNK*
The wagon jostled, throwing off Link's aim. Link growled, and focused again. He fired, but he was getting a bit intimidated, and his second arrow missed. He silently growled, and pulled out his third arrow. He nocked, drew, aimed, and released. The shot hit one of the horsemen's left arm, dealing no critical damage.
*SMASH*
One of the milk bottles was smashed!
"You doing all right back there?" Cremia asked. Link didn't respond. He aimed, nocked, and released five arrows in rapid succession. Each and every one was perfectly aimed, striking at the weak points of the two horsemen. They squawked again, falling back. Link looked at his bow surprise. He never remembered being that much of a sharpshooter. Cremia turned back onto the main road, the detour having been completed.
"How did you do?" Cremia asked.
One milk bottle smashed… and then the best firing I have ever seen anyone do, Link thought. This wasn't exactly what he signed to Cremia, but she got the gist.
"Wow… Romani was right. You are a good archer!" Cremia said. Link again deigned to correct her. Mostly because he wasn't sure he hadn't just spontaneously become a master archer.
"It isn't very big, but accept my thanks," Cremia said. She stepped forward, and pulled Link into her hug. Link got a faceful of Cremia, again reminded of Malon.
I have absolutely no idea what to feel about this situation, Link thought.
Another day passed on the ranch, and it was already the night of the final day. Link looked at the moon with some concern.
"Listen, Grasshopper… would you like to stay at the ranch? You could have Romani's bed!" Romani said cheerfully.
"That's a nice offer, Romani, but please… let me talk to him," Cremia said. Romani nodded, and went back to sit at the table.
"Link… I know. The moon's going to crash into Termina, and there's nothing we can do about it. We're just going to have to sit here and take it. I wonder what we did wrong…" Cremia said, an arm on Link's shoulder.
I don't think it's you… but I'm going to stop it the only way I know how! Link thought.
"That's a good thought to have… but please. Run. Run and save yourself. You're a good kid. You deserve a life. Me and Romani… we need to stay here. For Anju's sake…" Cremia said. Anju was a woman who arrived at the ranch that day, to seek refuge from the moon. Link knew it was a pointless endeavour. The moon would wipe out Romani Ranch as well.
I'll stay here for the night. I leave tomorrow morning. Where? Who knows… but I might go see the ocean, Link said.
"I suppose that would be for the best. Don't tell Romani… I'm going to make her last night one to remember. It would be great if you could help.
This'll only be your last night if I falter in my step. And I haven't faltered yet.
Link and Cremia entered the house again. Cremia walked over to the cupboard, and pulled out a bottle of milk. Link had become a bit of a connoisseur on milks, and this milk was better than any milk he had seen in his life.
"Is that…" Romani asked.
"Chateau Romani. I know I've said it's only for grownups… but you've become a grownup now, Romani. I want you to see what Chateau Romani is like," Cremia said. Romani grabbed the bottle, and took a sip.
"Wow… thanks, Cremia!" Romani said. Cremia smiled happily, her fears etched onto her face. Romani took another gulp, drinking in the flavour of the bottle. Link asked Cremia to move so that Romani couldn't see his hands.
Cremia… if I told you that I knew a way to save this ranch, what would you do? Link signed to her. Cremia looked back at Romani, who was smiling happily.
"…Do it. Romani deserves more than this," Cremia said. Link nodded. He pulled out his ocarina.
YL-RYL-R
Link found himself in a field of white. Clock-like symbols appeared around him, rigidly spinning anti-clockwise. There was only one way to interpret this.
More time travel.
