I wonder if anyone has caught on to where I'm going to go with this yet. To think that this was one of my more random ideas. I'm glad the people are liking it so far.

Malon's Decision

Link decided to rest up at the ranch like he used to before his big adventures, but this time he wanted to stay for a few days since he knew this journey was more dangerous and he didn't know when he would be able to come back again. Thankfully things calmed down, so Link was able to rest like how he wanted. Navi was sort of against the idea of resting for so long, but she gave in once she saw how happy Link was.

Malon was happier too. It seemed like being with Link after so long rejuvenated her spirit, and she had returned to her old perky self. After Ingo found out what she had to go through because of him, he and Talon decided to work together and give Malon a break for a while, so she spent all of her time either with Link, Epona, or both.

It was Link's second night at Lon Lon Ranch. Malon was sleeping peacefully, but Link was unable to sleep. He couldn't shake the feeling like something was wrong, and that as much as he wanted to stay, he had to move, and soon.

He walked downstairs to get something to drink from the kitchen. Once he made it to the kitchen however, he saw Shiek of all people standing at the window staring at him. Shiek walked away still looking at Link as if asking him to follow, so that's exactly what Link did.

Once outside he saw Shiek standing at the entrance of the Ranch with back turned to Link.

"What's going on? Is something wrong with my forest?" Link asked.

"So you do sense it, that Ganondorf has gone on the move," Shiek said turning to Link.

"Yeah, I sense it," Link said looking down, "And his first target is going to me my forest."

Shiek walked forward, "Your period of rest was well needed, but it's time for the Hero of Time to begin his journey," he explained.

Link sighed, "And that means once again I have to leave her, not knowing when I'll see her again," Link looked up in agony. Why did this always happen? Why did he always have to leave Malon with a promise that he wasn't even sure how long he could keep? Why did the Master Sword have to choose him, and not someone else? "It's not fair Shiek..." he said. Shiek looked down in sadness, wishing he could tell Link he could stay, but know that wasn't possible.

"Destiny is as cruel as time. No one gets to choose their destiny, but everyone is a slave to it to some extent," Shiek turned around to leave, "You should take a little more time here and think. You won't be able to save anyone if you're in turmoil yourself," and with that Shiek left the ranch.

Link fell to his knees, pounding the ground, wishing the Master Sword hadn't chosen him.

Unknown to Link and Shiek, Malon was looking out her window, listening to the whole conversation. She sat back in her bed, knowing full well what was about to come, but wondering if she was willing to go through it again.

"Not again..." she said closing her eyes, tears flowing freely from them, "I just got you back..." Sadly Malon cried herself back to sleep.

The next morning Link was in the stable practicing his sword techniques on an old scarecrow. He was thinking of what he was going to tell Malon. Why he had to leave again, and that this time he might not come back for a while.

"Damn it!" Link said thrusting the Master Sword into the chest of the scarecrow, "It's not fair to Malon!" Navi was perched on a fence near Link watching him, and was getting worried.

"Link, how do you really feel about her?" she asked, making Link stop, "Whenever it comes to her, you begin to act irrational."

"I do not," Link said continuing his sword practicing, but Navi wasn't going to let it slide.

"Come on Link, don't try to deny it, not with me at least. Every time we get involved with that girl you get emotional. You were willing to put the fight against Ganondorf on hold to save her, and don't think I didn't see the Master Sword left here when you went to race Ingo," Link stopped and just stood there as Navi continued, "What is it Link? Do you love her?" Navi asked.

"I don't know!" Link said turning to Navi. He then looked down thinking, "Maybe..." he said. Truth was, he didn't know how it felt to be in love. He always thought Malon was cute, even when they were kids, but ever since he came back from the Sacred Realm he felt different around Malon, closer. Was he falling in love with Malon?

It was then that the stable door opened, Malon standing right at the door. When Link saw her standing there he froze. Malon looked really serious, almost like she was about to cry any second.

"Um, Navi, could I talk to Link alone?" Malon asked. Navi nodded, and then flew out the stable window, leaving Link and Malon in the stable alone. Malon stepped into the stable and closed the door, and for a second they were just silent.

"Malon... I..." Link started.

"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?" Malon asked looking down.

Link sighed and looked down too, "So, you overheard?" he asked, Malon nodded in response.

"Do you really have to do this?" she asked.

"Malon, I'm the Hero of Time. As much as I want to stay here I can't, Hyrule needs me," Link explained.

"But I need you too Link!" Malon said looking at Link, "You don't know how hard it was for me these past seven years! I thought you were dead!" she then started crying, "And then, seven years later, you walk back into my life just to tell me you're leaving again?! I can't keep doing this Link! I can't keep waiting here for you to come back, praying that this isn't the time some monster takes your life!" she then turned her back to Link, "I don't want letters every week Link! I want you here, with me!" Link walked over to Malon and hugged her from behind.

"You have no idea how much I want that too, honestly. I wish I could give this destiny to someone else, but it doesn't work that way," Link said softly. Malon turned around and looked into Link's eyes.

"It's not fair Link," Malon said.

"I know Malon," Link said holding Malon closer, "I know..."

The next morning, Link was standing at the entrance to the ranch, Malon, Talon, and Ingo there to see him off, but Malon was looking down and was silent the entire time.

"Link, thank you so much for helping to bring my family back together," Talon said.

"I feel that it's my family too Mr. Talon," Link stated looking at Malon, who was still looking down.

"Can't you stay for a little while longer?" Ingo asked, not realizing how hard that questions answer was for both of them.

"I'm sorry sir. I want to stay, really I do, but my life is for Hyrule. I have to do this," Link explained, looking at Malon again.

"Well then, have a safe journey Link, and be sure to come back here soon," Talon said. Link looked up at Talon and nodded.

"I will, I promise," Link said, even though even he wasn't sure when he would be back this time. Link looked at Malon again, "Good bye... Malon..." Link said softly, Malon remaining silent. Link then turned, and left the ranch, which he was starting to feel was his home.

Talon put an arm around Malon trying to comfort her, but she pulled away and ran into the house.

"Just give her some time Talon," Ingo said, "She just got him back after seven years, and now he's gone again. She'll talk to us when she's ready."

"Yeah," Talon said. The two of them then went off to start work for the day, knowing that Malon probably wouldn't want to leave her room for anything.

That afternoon however, they were in for a shock. Talon knocked on Malon's door to check on her, but was worried when no one answered. He slowly opened the door to see what was wrong, but to his surprise, the room was empty. He looked around and saw a letter on Malon's bed. He skimmed over it for a while, his eyes getting wider and wider. He then ran out of the room to the stable where Ingo was.

"Ingo! Ingo!" Talon cried running into the stable.

"What is it?" Ingo asked. Talon handed Ingo the letter and he read it:

Dear Daddy and Mr. Ingo,

Do you remember how Mom always said to follow your heart? Well, my heart is guiding me to Link. I'm sorry for leaving like this, but I knew that if I asked, you would never let me leave. I have to be with him, otherwise I feel like I'll die without him.

Don't worry about me, I'll come back once Link's journey is done, and I know he'll protect me. Daddy, don't fall asleep on the job. You have a responsibility to the ranch, and I'm counting on you to handle things while I'm gone.

Mr. Ingo, keep an eye on my dad. He can be such a handful sometimes, and I'm not there to wake him up. And don't beat yourself up over what happened. That was Ganondorf, not you.

Epona, don't give Daddy and Mr. Ingo a hard time. I know that they aren't me, and that you hate that about them, but I need you to be strong for me.

Finally, please promise me that you'll take care of yourselves while I'm gone, and that you'll stay close. I love you all so much.

Love,

Malon

Talon and Ingo looked at each other, shocked by what they just read, and not too sure how to take it.

As for Link, he was taking one last look at Lon Lon Ranch in the distance, thinking about the person he was leaving behind, again.

"Come on Navi, let's go," Link said turning away from the ranch. He and Navi walked for a few seconds when something made them stop.

"Link!"

"Huh?" Link asked turning around, shocked by who he saw running up to him, "M, Malon?!" sure enough, wearing a red cloak over her normal attire, was Malon. She ran into Link and held him tightly, "What are you doing here?" Link asked.

"I don't want you to leave me Link," Malon replied, "I let you leave the ranch like this last time and you disappeared for seven years. I refuse to go through that again," she looked into Link's eyes seriously, "So I'm going with you."

Link and Navi were shocked by what she just said, and Navi flew forward.

"Are you nuts?!" she asked, "This isn't a road trip! We're fighting Ganondorf!"

"I know that!" Malon stated looking at Navi, "But I want to fight too!" she looked up at Link, holding his tunic earnestly, "Please Link, take me with you! I promise I won't get in the way, and I won't slow you down!"

Link looked like he was really thinking about it, but what he said next no one was ready for.

"Okay," he said after a while, shocking Navi.

"Link!!!" Navi shouted.

"I want her to be with me too. If I can't defend her then how can I defend Hyrule," Link looked into Malon's eyes, "Besides, she was hurt by Ganondorf too. Who are we to deny her desire to fight?" Link held Malon lovingly, "Let's save Hyrule, together," he said.

Malon looked into Link's loving gaze, returning the feelings, "Yes. Together," she said.

And that was the start of their adventures together.

Didn't expect that, did ya? (laughs triumphantly) I told you this is a remake of Ocarina of Time, which I haven't finished yet, but I know the basic gist of the story, and I can look at the manga too for ideas.