The Legend of Zelda – The Scepter of Darkness
Chapter 7: Shocking Events
Link paced along the ground, thinking the situation over. Now he began to look at things along a different light, attempting to piece everything together. However, all he got was a heaping mass of confusion and nausea. At last, he stopped and turned to face the horse, which was now apparently Malon, sitting on the ground nearby. "Okay, then, so let me get this straight… You are actually Malon, turned into a horse?"
Malon nodded her head.
He sighed. "Alright, then, so… I got that down… I see that you can understand me, but you've never said a word. Its obvious now why you reacted that way back at the ranch—you recognized me, correct?"
She nodded, again.
Link nodded back. Now he began to walk around a bit more, turning his back to her for a bit, then turning back. "So… If you are Malon, and you recognize me, and you can understand me, as well, why don't you speak? Can you speak?"
This time, she shook her head, neighing out a bit. It didn't sound like a good one, either, so he guessed that she was irritated about that little aspect.
He nodded. "I see. Well, Ingo mentioned that your father, Talon, died about seven years—"
Malon gave off a sad cry, though obviously it sounded nothing like she would've if she was in her normal form.
Link lowered his head and sighed. "I'm sorry," he stated.
He took a step back and glanced around. "Hmm… I never was all that trusting of Ingo, due to something he did before, but then I lost further trust when Saria told me how you were still there about two years ago, while Ingo said you left after your father died. What I'm trying to say is…" he turned back to face her, again. "Did he have something do to with this?"
She jumped up and nodded, neighing loudly, but in a harsh, course tone. It was clear to him, now, that she was furious.
Link nodded, again. "Mmm, I see. It figures. How did he do it, though…? I remember how Ingo gained the favor of Ganon—oh, wait… Uh, nevermind… Ingo would've needed a source for the power, though. You may not be able to tell me anything, but can you give me a clue or hint of some sort…?"
She raised her head up and down, again, nodding. She backed away and raised her right, front leg up, scratching her hoof through the dirt. She brought it in a straight line, but angled to the left slightly, padding it down. She then brought it right, again in a straight line, and then returned it to the top. After this, she went to the bottom left of the figure, bringing her hoof up in an arc, until finally ending up at the opposite side of the bottom, forming a strange symbol.
Link walked over to her side, staring intently at the symbol. It seemed familiar, somehow, but he just couldn't picture it. It looked like… an upside down "U" inside a triangle. Wait a second…
Sighing, mouth opening, trying to speak, but suddenly speechless… A beautiful girl flashed before his eyes. Two years younger than he; garments of fine, green silk. Eyes light green; hair pure white, as snow. A pendant, silver in color, triangular in shape, hung from her neck, a "U" inside.
"The pendant…" Link muttered under his breath.
Link nodded his head, realizing what this was, now. The pendant must have been some sort of magical item. Likely, there were actually two; the one Sheila has, and another somewhere else. Ingo put one on a horse, then gave the other to Malon as a gift, not knowing what it really was. The two then switched forms; the horse becoming human, and the human becoming a horse. Who was the other, though…?
He slapped his face. Well, duh! He turned back to Malon. "Is Sheila really a horse herself?" he asked.
Malon nodded her head, showing similar reactions to the comment as with Ingo, just not as fierce.
He sighed. "Hmm… It's sad, too… and she was so beautiful…"
Malon poked him in the side with her snout, grunting.
Link pushed her away. "Hey, hey, hey, I didn't say anything about you! You're beautiful, too!"
He sighed, again. "Most likely, she didn't have any say in this, just like you. It's not her fault that this happened. Ingo seems to order her around a lot, like she's his slave, despite calling her his 'niece.' She only obeys him because she doesn't want to have to return to her old life. Unfortunately, in order to set things right, we will have to do just that."
Malon now lowered her head, a sad look on her face. Link guessed that she never thought of it that way, before.
Link shook his head, rubbing her mane. "Hey, hey, don't feel that way! You didn't have a choice in the matter, either. We have to set things right. We must get Sheila to understand that, as well."
The horse let off a light breath of air, almost like a sigh. She nodded her head once again. She herself wanted to be back to normal, but at the same time, she didn't want to hurt another in the process…
A flash of white revealed itself in the clouds above. Suddenly, a loud boom echoed across the field, startling both of them. Malon let out a neigh, though she wished she could do something else.
Link groaned. "Great… just great!" he proclaimed, irritated.
Lightning flashed, thunder roared, rain fell… He wasn't paying attention to the weather, before, but apparently it was just the time for a thunderstorm. The day had been spent, already, and now it was darkening, furthered quicker by the ominous clouds overhead. Rain water rapidly poured down from the sky, and now, Link was already drenched.
He gripped onto the reins of the horse, nodding his head. "We have to get to the castle, now. Are you willing? I want to restore you as soon as possible, but we can't do anything just yet."
Malon nodded her head, understanding.
Link nodded and smiled. He pulled himself up onto her back, and then leaned forward, whispering into her ear. "Let's get going," he stated.
She immediately rode swiftly onward, racing through the grass and mud. The rains kept beating down harder and harder, but she did not falter. A small hillside came, but she managed to climb it without slipping on the softened ground.
In the distance, Hyrule Castle appeared at the far end of the field. It revealed its majestic glory, even from such a distance. The gates would be closing soon. They had so far to go in so little time.
Thunder roared outside. A guard stood watch as another soldier came along through the bitter rains. The first looked to the other, nodding his head. "That time already?" he asked.
The second nodded. "Yep, it seems so," he proclaimed.
The first nodded back. "Mmm, I see. Our guest hasn't arrived yet, though. She said he'd be here by now. Should we wait longer?"
The second shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not one to deny authority, but how did she know that this man would be coming? I haven't seen anyone, anyway, and it is already well past time."
The first sighed. "Well, let's get this over with, then. He's not here, so she'll just have to deal."
The second stared blankly. "You would deny the authority of the queen herself?!"
The first snarled back. "If it gets me out of this blasted rain, I'll do anything!"
The second shrugged his shoulders, again. "Whatever you say," he stated.
They went into the separate sides of the gate and each reached for the winch that pulled the two sides of the drawbridge up in order to keep the night monsters from coming in. They turned and turned, pulling the gate closed.
When the bridge was nearly halfway up off the ground, a figure rode swiftly down towards it, coming at a fast pace. The two soldiers watched through small windows in the inner sanctums of the gate, stunned beyond all belief. As the drawbridge continued to rise, the figure raced up and the horse jumped from the ground up and over the closing bridge. The horse and rider landed firmly onto the wooden bridge, then promptly pushed itself off and onto solid ground as the gate shut tightly behind them.
The two guards quickly ducked out of their stations inside and into the rain, seeing the rider safe from harm. Both were utterly speechless.
The rider chuckled. "Heh, you've never seen someone do such a thing, before?" he asked, slyly.
The two looked at each other, giving the other a strange expression. Then, they nodded their heads and stepped out, overlooking the rider. The first raised his fist up to his mouth and cleared his throat. "Ahem, may I ask your name, sir?"
The rider nodded. "Link," he stated.
The second turned to the first; both nodding, again. He turned to face Link. "Ah, I see. So, you came after all. We didn't think you'd actually show up."
Link raised an eyebrow. "Wait… how'd you know I was coming?"
The first shrugged his shoulder. "We didn't. It is by order of the queen herself that we were told to look out for you. In fact, she specifically stated that you would arrive just when night came, and so it seems that she was correct. She has requested an audience with you."
Link was stunned. He dismounted the horse, looking over the two of them. "O-kay… So since when have I been in the favor of the queen?"
The first soldier shrugged his shoulders once again. "I have no idea! Why don't you ask her?" he nodded his head and motioned for the town. "This way, if you will…"
Link nodded, holding onto the reins of the horse. "Of course," he stated, starting to move forward.
The second guard shook his head and walked over. "I'll take care of your horse and make sure he gets suitable—"
"She," Link corrected.
The main lowered his head, slightly irritated. "She," he said, correcting himself. "I shall take care of your horse and make sure that she gets suitable lodgings. The inn has stables for travelers. You will find her, there. You may also stay at the inn for free, by order of the queen."
Link lowered his head. "Thank you for your hospitality…" he stated.
There was a pause, but then Link immediately swung out his sword, placing it next to the guard's neck as he guard reached for the horse's reins. The other guard removed his sword, too, but did not strike. "Don't you dare hurt her in any way, or you'll have hell to pay!"
The guard nodded and raised his hand to the second guard, telling him to lower his weapon. "Agreed," he stated.
Link held the weapon there for a bit, but then quickly retracted the blade; sheathing it once again. He turned to the other guard and nodded his head. "Let's go," he proclaimed.