I Don't Want to Lose You
Chapter 10
Malon mistress of the night-mares

Epona neighed as she stopped before Lonlon Ranch. She hung her head low and stomped her hoof. Link sighed, leaned forward and patted her neck tenderly.

"I know girl...This is going to hurt you too. Let's do this... for Malon." Epona nodded her head before starting off again. Link could feel her muscles tense under his hand that he refused to move from her neck. He wondered what she was thinking.

He looked at the mud on her nose and hoofs and the soot on her mane and tail. It was Impa's idea, a way to disguise Epona. After all if someone saw a Shiekah riding Epona it wouldn't take three guesses to know who it really was.

Link looked over at the empty barn; the door swung slowly on its hinges and creaked eerily. Cows were absent which only made it more ominous.

As they entered the racing ring Epona's ears perked up at the melodic voice that sung her song. Epona's fear disappeared as she happily started galloped toward a cloaked figure.

"Epona, no. calm down." Link whispered but it was too late. Epona came to a stop in behind the person and happily nudged them.

"As if mud and soot would fool me...Link." It was her voice... and it caused Epona to shrink back again. Her voice that was usually cheerful and friendly was suddenly harsh and lacking any emotion. Link's face hardened as she turned, her beautiful red hair flowed out over her shoulders as the hood fell from her head. Her eyes were dull and her skin slightly pale.

"Malon..." He whispered as he stared at her sad face. Link took a green pebble and tapped it on Epona's saddle, the green tunic returning to his body.

"Fairy boy. That was the name I gave you when we first met."

"And you taught me Epona's song. Who knew that very song would save me seven years later." Link added to her little memory. The ten year old boy and the eleven year old girl that stood in this very paddock, this very spot all those years ago. So innocent... Who would have thought they would be preparing to fight.

"Sorry fairy boy, I have no control left within me. Are you ready for this nightmare to begin?" Link took his bow and arrow and nodded his head slowly.

"Zelda... Please let your faith in me not be in vain." Link whispered beneath his breath.

"No Dirty thoughts in battle." Malon plainly stated as she climbed onto a nearby horse.

"WHY DOES EVERYONE ASSUME I THINK DIRTY THOUGHTS?" Link yelled as a blush of both anger and embarrassment swept against his face. Epona turned her head and looked back at him; if a horse could raise an eye brow I'm sure she would be right now.

"YOU TWO! You're meant to be my companion...my partner!"

"HEY! So what am I?" Navi asked as she bopped in front of Link's line of sight. He scratched his head as he thought deeply,

"My other companion and partner?" or annoying little bug... He thought to himself.

"HEY! LOOK OUT!" Navi called as she flew up. Link blink as he watched all the horses turn dark, fog rolled in and the horses stampeded toward them. Their red eyed blazed like fire and their manes and tails seemed to trail off as smoke. If Link was by himself he could have used his hook shot to escape the stampede but Epona, his oldest friend, was with him.

With a hurried flick of his wrist the reins tugged at Epona, waking her from her fear induced paralysis state and causing her to rear up on her hind legs, turn, and gallop off around the race track. Link was grateful of one thing; Epona has always been the fastest horse the country has ever seen. Sadly though she couldn't run forever and Link had to free their friend.

Link looked over his shoulder.
In the middle of the stampede was Malon, skilfully riding one of the frightful black mares. As she rode she sung and the higher her pitch the faster the horses ran.

"NAVI!" Link yelled and watched the little glowing ball dart out from behind his shield and quickly zip over to Malon. After a moment Link had done a complete lap and could se Navi floating in front of him a little ways up. He stuck out his hand and grabbed her on passing.

"THERE! The gem is holding the hooded cape around her neck!" Navi happily exclaimed as she darted behind Link's shield yet again. "Why are you hiding?" Link asked as he searched the area for any idea of getting close to her.

"She said she would rip off my wings and feed me to her horses while the cucco's ate my wings." Navi whispered. Why is it every friend of Link's can think of ways to shut up the annoying little fairy and yet for years Link had to deal with that 'HEY! HEY! LISTEN!' He would have to take notes for future reference.

"Link why are you smiling like that?" Navi asked as she peeked over his shoulder.

"Oh, n-nothing really. Just thinking." Link Replied as he leaned forward so his mouth was near Epona's ear.

"Here's the plan; that cloak looks really thick and may take a couple of goes to cut it off. I will jump off your saddle, when I do run as fast as you can around and meet me at the back of the stampede, got it!" Epona neighed quietly and nodded her head.

Link took a deep breath and jumped onto his feet, standing steadily on Epona's saddle as he turned and faced the black mass that followed. Epona slowed slightly so the stampede could catch up and just as they were reaching Epona's tail Link leaped over onto the saddle of another one.

As that horse reared he leapt to another one and then another one till Malon was one horse away. He took out his sword, sliced at her cape, and continued leaping from horse to horse. Just as planed Epona had caught up and Link happily leapt to her saddle, taking hold of her reins and turning her as the stampede had turned and was running toward them again. This little routine was repeated another two times and finally on the third time as Link sliced at her cape the whole cape ripped and blew with the breeze into the air. Malon's eyes shone brightly and all the horses returned to their usual forms.

"Fairy boy..." Malon whispered before falling sideways. Link quickly scooped her up before she fell from the saddle and held her limp body in his arms as he landed quite heroically on the ground. If there was a conscious female around they would have probably been squealing in the utmost fangirl way.

Malon's eyes fluttered open and looked up at her father as he smiled down at her.

"FATHER!" She exclaimed as she sat up straight.

"Yes dear. I'm okay. Link found me tied up in the house and freed me. His been waiting for you to wake up." Her father smiled warmly as he turned his gaze onto the hero asleep in the old wooden chair, His feet were crossed on the kitchen table and the chair only leaned on its two back legs. Epona was asleep on the floor next to him and Navi was snoozing, curled up on his green hat. Malon's smile spread from ear to ear as she leaped out of bed and dove on the hero of time,

"FAIRY BOY!" she squealed as she hit him. Link never had been so shocked in his life. Last he remembered watching Malon sleep soundly next thing he knew she had her arms wrapped around his neck and he was falling backwards!

A loud crash sounded throughout the house as Link groaned in pain, the back of the wooden chair digging into his back, his head pounding from the impact it received from the floor and he felt crushed beneath the girl that lay on top of him hugging him so tightly she could have crushed his ribs. If his Goron brother found out a girl who raised horses crushed his ribs he would never hear the end of it!

"Malon! I have been fighting for days and have had hardly any sleep. Do you mind?" Link coughed out.

As Malon got off of her friend link slowly sat up and rubbed his sore head.

"How long was I out?" He asked.

"Only about ten minutes." Malon's father answered with a yawn. Link sighed. In a way he was relieved because he didn't have much time to rescue Zelda so avoiding sleep was the best way and yet he was so exhausted a few more minutes sleep would have been nice.

"Link...Is Zelda okay?" Malon asked with concern dripping from her voice. Link frowned slightly as he recalled his love barely being able to stand, the paleness of her face, the dull look of her eyes. He started at the touch on his hand and looked up at the sorrowful eyes of Malon.

"It's tearing you to pieces... seeing her like this. But I can tell. There is something else on your mind." Malon whispered. Her father had once again fallen asleep and Epona yawned lazily as she laid her head on the wooden floor once again. She could easily get used to living in a house.

"I-I haven't told her I l-love her." He whispered as quietly as he could. Malon was surprised. Not that she didn't expect them to be in love, it was kinda obvious to everyone that had seen them together. She was surprised Link was actually telling someone else how he felt. He wasn't one to go telling these kinda feelings to friends. Epona was probably the only one, and maybe the Goron king.

"Does she know how you feel though?" Malon asked. Link smiled sheepishly as a blush gave away his thoughts.

"Did something happen between you two?" Malon teased as she prodded his arm playfully.

"Oooooh how scandalous! The princess and a commoner doing something naughty!"

"We just k-kissed!" Link stuttered as his blush deepened. Malon blinked before a playful smile returned to her face,

"You sure that's all? You are blushing awfully deeply for just a little kiss..."

Link went redder, standing and throwing a blue pebble to the ground, hoping the sheikah mask would cover his blush. Malon stood, knowing it was time for him to leave.

"Well. I guess that means only one thing, fairy boy."

"What?" Link asked as he scratched Epona behind the ear.

"You will just have to beat the master, save the princess and tell her you love her." Malon smiled brightly and Link found that smile simply infectious. He smiled broadly as he agreed.

"Okay, Malon please let Epona rest. I'm going to warp to the Lake Hylia. Next is princess Ruto." Link said as he pulled the ocarina from his pocket. Malon nodded and watched as his fingers danced across the small instrument.

Authors note: A special thanks to two awesome reviewers that are keeping this story in my mind (without their reviews I will probably have forgotten I was writing this story. I get so easily distracted) YOU ROCK NinjasWillRuleTheWorld & LinkLuver3

Please look forward to the next chapter: Dreams of better times 2. A sweet memory from the past always haunts our hero when he warps...what will it be this time?