Hello again. I am terribly sorry for not posting a chapter in such a long time but I have been very busy with the finals at college and there are some things at home that had to be done and there are other matters that I am currently having to deal with at the moment that draw me away from writing. I thank all of you for your patience and I hope that you will continue to read, review, and most importantly enjoy.
Chapter 12
Link walked up to his tree house and climbed up the ladder to his room. He lit some candles and began to put his stuff down. After setting the Master Sword and Hylian Shield down he found some food and made himself a small meal. When he was finished he cleaned it up and brought the candle over to his bed and set it on a stand, laid down and blew it out. Darkness encompassed the room as he closed his eyes and he fell asleep.
As he slept Link began to get very restless as he started to toss and turn in his bed. Suddenly Link felt a small wind blow into his ear. Link woke up and walked over to the entrance to the tree house that he lived in. Much to Link's surprise the weather was very calm and there was no breeze blowing. What did I feel then, Link thought. He turned around and walked back into the tree house and fell asleep. Hours later Link could feel the sun entering in through the windows and woke up. He blinked several times letting his eyes adjust to the light and got out of his bed. He made himself a quick meal and left. After he exited the Kokiri Forest he got onto Epona and rode off in the direction of the Lon Lon Ranch. When he found himself in front of the entrance he rode Epona up the hill and into the ranch. Link dismounted Epona and looked around for Ingo so he could talk to him. When he could not see where Ingo was he went over to the home that Talon had been living in and started to knock.
"Who is it," a voice from inside asked.
"It is Link," Link answered, "Sent here from Hyrule to talk to Ingo."
Link waited as the door opened and he saw Ingo standing on the other side of the door. He was wearing overalls over an old dirty shirt. His hair was brown and messy as were his heavy eyebrows and mustache. Link waited as Ingo stepped outside and shut the door behind him.
"What is all of this about," Ingo asked rather annoyed.
"I think you know the answer to that question," Link replied, "I am here to talk to you about what you have been doing with Hyrule."
"What I have been doing with Hyrule is simply making the best situation for myself given the circumstances," Ingo stated.
"What you are doing is extorting the kingdom of Hyrule," Link replied, "What you're doing is very low."
"You see that is where you are wrong," Ingo said.
"How so," Link asked crossing his arms.
"What I am doing is smart," Ingo answered, "I am in the perfect situation. A kingdom that needs supplies to rebuild itself and the closest source of supplies is here and there are supplies that they cannot afford to go without which means that they will pay whatever they need or they will not get the supplies that they desperately need which means that I can set the prices as high as I want and they have to pay or otherwise they will run out of their precious supplies."
"That is not being smart," Link replied, "That is being opportunistic trash and in the end it will backfire on you."
"How," Ingo laughed.
"When they have all the supplies that they need they will have no more need for you and when that happens they will come here take you, arrest you, and give you the punishment that you deserve for this atrocious act," Link answered.
"I am the one who determines how fast that growth and recovery is because if they were to get supplies from someone else then they would have to go even further away from here which means that it would take longer and the risk of getting attacked by the Gerudos is even greater because of the longer distance," Ingo replied.
"Then what you can do is to find a price that is both reasonable for the kingdom to pay and profitable for you," Link told him.
"What do you think I am doing," Ingo laughed.
Link was quickly losing his patience with Ingo when they both heard a noise. They heard a door squeaking open and the both turned to look at who it was and the saw Malon going out of the barn. She was wearing old work clothes that were very dirty. She kept her eyes down. In both of her hands she was carrying some very heavy looking buckets of milk.
"Hurry it up you useless girl," Ingo yelled at Malon when he saw her coming out of the barn.
Malon nodded slowly as she went on with her work.
"Is that really necessary," Link asked.
"Is what really necessary," Ingo replied.
"Treating Malon like that," Link answered, "She has been through a lot and you just stand there yelling at her."
"She does what I say or else she has no home to go to," Ingo replied, "That is just how it works and quite frankly it is none of your damn business."
Suddenly there was a loud crashing noise and both Link and Ingo turned to see what it was. They saw Malon on the ground after having tripped and fell over because of the weight of the milk cans being too much for her to carry.
"You stupid bitch," Ingo yelled as he went forward, "Look at this mess that you have made. Clean it up and get some more and try not to spill it this time."
Malon slowly stood up and started to walk away. Link got a look at her face which was very dirty and Link could see the tears that were flowing down her cheeks as she kept her head down and walked into the barn.
"You go back and tell that Royal Family that they better stop worrying about what I am doing here and should start worrying about the bigger things such as the Gerudos because if I am going to be delivering these supplies then I am not going to do it cheap when my life could be in danger," Ingo stated turning towards Link.
"You are in no danger," Link snapped back, "You were a supporter of Gannondorf so they would not attack you."
"Not necessarily besides maybe they should not have been spending all that money on restoring just the castle and all the perks of their position," Ingo replied, "They are just getting something that's been coming to them."
"You are robbing the people of Hyrule as well," Link answered, "You are playing with them like a puppeteer."
"Their problems are not my problems," Ingo stated, "Now get out of here before you try my patience any further."
"You will see me again," Link replied, "I can promise you that."
Link left for Hyrule and once he got there he went to the castle and the guards let him in. He found his way to the throne room where he saw Zelda sitting on the throne. He approached the throne and then stopped before it and knelt until Zelda motioned for him to stand up.
"I have just come here to inform you of the situation at the Lon Lon Ranch," Link started.
"Go on," Zelda replied.
Link proceeded to tell the princess everything that had taken place at the ranch when he had gone to visit from the way that Ingo described what he thought about the situation to the incident that had occurred with Malon and the milk. When he had finished he stood there quietly waiting for what the princess had to say.
"Link," she started, "We must not give up. I want you to keep going there until we can get a good handle on this situation."
"Understood," Link replied.
After the meeting was over Link turned around and left the castle and headed for home. By the time that he stood outside the Kokiri Forest it was already dark outside. He moved into the forest and climbed the tree that he had built his home in and went to sleep. While Link was sleeping he started to toss and turn and when Link opened his eyes he lay still in his bed. All was quiet until suddenly Link heard the whistling sound that he had heard the previous night but this time it was different, this time it was saying something.
"Link," the whistling voice began to say.
Link immediately lit a candle and grabbed the Master Sword and looked around his room. All he saw was the same things that had always been there. Link then went outside and looked around. After a very careful and thorough search Link could not find a single thing that pointed to someone sneaking around the house or going up into it. Link then went back into his house and tried to lay down for some sleep but found that he could not sleep and lay there awake until dawn. When the sun started to fill the room Link got up and headed out rubbing his eyes and yawning. He grabbed his sword and shield and headed out to the ranch. When he got there Ingo was just getting out and he could see that Malon was out feeding the horses. Her bloodshot eyes and messy hair showed that she had been up for much longer than Ingo was. Ingo looked at Link and spat into the grass.
"What do you want," Ingo asked as he rolled his eyes at Link.
"I am here to talk to you about lowering those prices that are hurting Hyrule," Link replied.
"Not happening," Ingo replied.
Link could feel that this was going to be very difficult as he continued to tell him that he should lower his prices. Link argued with him until the midafternoon in which he left to go tell the princess. By the time that he had gotten done with that he headed for home. When he got off of Epona outside the forest he heard the voice again.
"You could kill him," the voice told him.
"Who are you," Link asked.
"You know," the voice replied.
"No I don't," Link answered.
"You will soon enough," the voice answered, "Kill him."
"NO," Link shouted as he put his hands over his ears.
Link lowered his hands looking around and noticed that he was the only one there. Who was that or what was that, Link thought. He entered into the house and slowly lowered himself onto the bed. He let out a sigh as he sat on the bed tired from the day that he had with trying to deal with Ingo. He contemplated how he would be able to get Ingo to lower his prices to something that would be both beneficial for him and the kingdom of Hyrule. He soon found it hard to keep his eyes open and started to fall asleep.
"Link," the voice came.
Link's eyes shot open and looked around the room. Link though that he would have a heart attack when he saw to big glowing red circles staring at him from the foot end of his bed. Link rapidly lit a candle and unsheathed the Master Sword and looked around the room and was shocked to discover that the two lights were no longer there and there was no noise of anyone running away. Link took another look around the house and then went back in to bed. He sheathed his sword and blew out the candle then when he climbed into bed he broke into a cold sweat as he looked up and saw the two red glowing eyes staring at him again.
"Kill him," the voice stated.
"No," Link answered immediately.
"Kill him," the voice repeated.
"No," Link answered.
"KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM," the voice shouted over and over.
Link curled up into a ball and put his hands over his ears as the voice grew louder and louder. Why isn't anybody else hearing this, Link thought as his eyes grew wide and darted around the room quickly expecting to see someone coming in to tell him to stop making all the noise but not a soul showed up and the voice kept yelling and demanding. Before Link knew it the sun started to fill his room and the voice had started to recede to a murmur. Link rubbed his eyes and got himself something to eat. He slowly got out of his house and stood looking around the forest he headed toward the ladder and when his foot came down he slipped and he immediately grabbed onto the little fence that went around the outside of his home. I'll try to go and talk to Malon today, Link thought. He stepped outside and Epona seemed to be a little nervous as Link got onto the horse.
"It's okay," Link told the horse, "I just did not sleep well is all."
Link rode off towards the ranch and when he got there he dismounted and headed up the path. Link let out a sigh of relief since Ingo was not around. He saw Malon heading out towards the area where they let the horses run around. Link started to walk over to her. When Link got there she was feeding a large, strong looking brown horse with some oats that she had in her hands. Her eyes looked calm and at peace but most of all the looked very tired. Link took a step and Malon immediately turned in his direction looking scared.
"Malon," Link began, "It's okay, it's me."
Malon's shoulders dropped as she let out a sigh of relief and put a hand over her heart.
"You scared me Link," she replied with a soft voice.
"Sorry," Link apologized," I didn't mean to."
She nodded and smiled a little sad smile. Link walked over to her and rubbed the head of the horse that she was feeding.
"How are you holding up," Link asked.
"Okay," Malon replied.
"I heard about your father," Link started, "I'm really sorry."
"Thanks," Malon replied.
"I want to ask you something," Link stated.
"What," Malon questioned.
"Has Ingo been hurting you," Link asked.
Malon's faced turned to one that was of surprise as her eyes widened and she actually took a step back.
"W-W-What do you mean," Malon questioned.
"If he is then we can help," Link started, "We can have Ingo arrested and you can be put in charge of the ranch like your father would have wanted, but you need to say that he is the one who is abusing you."
She quickly put her hands over her ears and started to shake her head violently.
"No," she stated, "No, no no no."
"Come and let us help you," Link pleaded.
"No," Malon repeated, "You must leave."
"But-," Link started.
"Leave now," Malon practically shouted at Link.
Suddenly Link heard the doors of the house behind him open. He turned to see a very angry looking Ingo stepping out of the house.
"What the hell is the racket at this time in the morning," Ingo shouted, "Girl if you don't shut up I will shut you up and you will never say another word again. Now get back to work."
Malon quickly nodded her head and ran off and into the barn. Link turned to Ingo furious at what was unfolding before him.
"And as for you," Ingo still shouting pointed at Link, "Get the hell off of my land before you regret it."
Link slowly walked out of the ranch and got onto Epona and rode away. Link could feel his heart beating rapidly and his face growing red from the anger that he was feeling. He even started to breath heavier from the anger that he was feeling when suddenly the voice returned to him.
"See," it began, "If you want the people and that girl to be happy you must kill him."
Link was so tired that he didn't say anything. The voice continued to speak even though there was nobody there but Link.
"You killed another man to save people why is this so different," the voice began, "What good is a hero if he cannot protect one innocent girl."
By now Link was outside of Kokiri Forest and he immediately dismounted and ran into the forest with his hands over his ears while the voice continued to mock him.
"You're no hero," the voice mocked, "Can't even save an innocent girl."
Link climbed up the ladder to his house.
"Kill him," the voice stated.
"No," Link replied.
"If you don't kill him then they will continue to suffer," the voice jeered, "And it will be all your fault because you knew and yet you did nothing."
"I'll find a way," Link shakily replied.
"There is no other way," the voice answered, "Kill him. Kill him. Kill him."
"Fine," Link shouted as he dropped to his knees in his home and began to sob, "I'll do it."
He looked around as the voice left and began to take off the Golden Gauntlets that were on his hand. After he had taken them off he reached back to grab the Master Sword, but when his hands made contact with the hilt of the sword a stinging sensation went through his hand and eventually his whole arm felt like it was burning. Link let go and unstrapped the sword and shield from his back. After they landed on the floor he kicked them aside as he looked down at his hand and his eyes widened. There was a red burn across his hand where it had made contact with the hilt of the sword. He rushed over to his chest where he kept the things that he did not take with him. He rummaged around until he grabbed the handle of what he was looking for. He very slowly lifted the Megnaton Hammer out of the chest. This'll work," Link thought as he propped it up against the wall, he then turned and grabbed a big bag full of rupees in it and set it by the hammer. He then blew out the candles that lit the room and lie down in bed and saw that once again the two red eyes were there. He pulled the covers up to his chin as the voice returned repeating the words 'Kill him' as Link lay sleepless for another night.
When morning came Link sat up in his bed his eyes were bloodshot and his movements slow. He looked like a zombie when he shambled out of bed. His movements were slow and his mind focused on one thing. If I can't negotiate with Ingo and Malon will not let me help her, this is the only course of action, Link thought, if anyone asks what happens it can always be said that a gang of Gerudo attacked him. Link smiled as he thought of his plan and then grabbed something to eat. As he left he grabbed the bag that held the rupees that he had kept in case he would need to go back to his home to get some more. When he got outside he got onto Epona and rode toward the Lon Lon Ranch. When he got there he dismounted and tried to shake of the tiredness that he was feeling. He slowly walked into the ranch. When he got there he could see that Ingo was not yet out so he walked up to the house. He knocked on the door several times before the door opened up.
"What do you want now," Ingo started looking rather annoyed, "I'm telling you that I am not going to lower the prices that the kingdom of Hyrule has to pay to receive shipments of supplies."
"That is not why I am here," Link replied.
"Then what do you want," Ingo asked as he eyed Link up and down.
"I am here to tell you that the kingdom of Hyrule needs an emergency shipment of supplies that needs to be delivered tonight," Link answered.
"They will have to pay extra since this is so unexpected," Ingo answered.
"That is understood," Link replied as he handed him the bag of rupees, "There is 500 rupees in this bag and you will be given much more for the delivery tonight."
Link stood there and waited for Ingo to answer. Link watched as he looked through the bag and think. After a little while Ingo gave his answer.
"Fine," Ingo began, "I'll do it, but the rest of the payment is going to have to be much more than a measly 500 rupees."
Link nodded as turned around and left. He rushed to the forest and grabbed the Megnaton Hammer from his room and went back into Hylian Field. Link looked around and saw a very big rock Link went over to it and using the Golden Gauntlets lifted it up. Link saw a hole where he could fall down. Link smiled as he turned to the trail that led from the Lon Lon Ranch to the kingdom of Hyrule. He walked over to what he thought was a good distance and pulled out the Megnaton Hammer and with the pointed end started to make a hole that the wheels of the wagon that he would be taking would hit. After a while he had the hole made and ran behind the rock and waited. After several hours it began to rain and soon it started thundering and lightening. Link was getting soaked but he remained hidden behind the rock unmoving. Soon Link though that he could start to see a silhouette in the distance. He could hear the sound of horses and wooden wheels and Ingo cursing the weather. Link watched as it became closer and Link could see the lanterns that were on the side of the cart to help light the way. He looked on as Ingo came closer and closer to the hole that Link had made. Soon there was a loud CRASH and the horses could be heard making noise. Ingo could be heard cursing very loudly as he got off of the spot where he steered the horses. Ingo grabbed a lantern to help him see. Link then pulled out the Megnaton Hammer and rushed up to the wreck. He stopped behind Ingo who was looking to see if any of the crates had fallen off. When Link stopped behind Ingo, Ingo turned around. When Ingo turned around to face Link he was surprised at what he saw. Link's eyes were filled with a burning fury that would scare off the worst of monsters and he seemed to be breathing heavily. Then he noticed the hammer in Link's hand. Link then swung and hit Ingo square in the head sending him to the ground Ingo's head now covered in blood from where the hammer hit. He started to crawl away and then Link swung with all his might and landed a heavy blow to one of his legs which let out a loud crack indicated that the bone had been broken.
"AAAAAH," Ingo yelled out in pain.
Link then swung and hit one of Ingo's arms and crushed the bone. He flipped Ingo over and looked at the terrified expression on his face. Ingo's eyes were wide and even though it was raining it was clear that he was sweating terrified.
"Please don't kill me," Ingo pleaded.
Link lifted the hammer over his head oblivious to the pleas of Ingo. Link held the hammer over his head with both hands and then quickly swung it down onto Ingo's torso. The second that the hammer hit Ingo started to spit up blood indicating that he was bleeding internally. Link then looked at his face and by this point Ingo was in tears pleading for his life.
"Please don't kill me," Ingo pleaded, "I'll do whatever you want, I'll lower my prices and give Malon ownership of the ranch. I-I-I'll disappear and never bother Hyrule again. Don't kill me PLEASE!"
Ingo's life was something that Link had decided he would not let Ingo have as he swung the hammer down one last time crushing Ingo's face sending blood flying into the air. Link continued to hammer Ingo's face into the ground like a man possessed until he stopped for air and took a good look at what he had just done. Ingo was no longer recognizable, his face a bloody mess with one of his eyes now resting on his cheek. Teeth were missing from Ingo's mouth, his hair was soaked in his own blood, his nose practically pushed back into his skull and the rest of his face was nothing more than a bloody puddle. Link quickly drug the body over to the rock that he was hiding behind and lifted the rock up and set it to the side as he dropped the body down the hole that was being covered up he then went back to the cart and grabbed all the crates that were being 'delivered' and dropped them into the hole before putting the rock back on top of the hole. Link then cut the horses loose and when cut loose they took off running. Link grabbed a hold of the empty cart and brought it over to the bridge that crossed into the Gerudo territory and shoved it off of the edge. Link then went to the stream that flowed out of Hyrule and put his hands and the Megnaton Hammer into the water in order to wash the blood off. He went over to where he had hid Epona and mounted her and started to ride off. As he was riding he heard footsteps behind him, by now the rain had ceased and all was quiet so Link stopped Epona. Looking around he saw no one and then rode on knowing that the footsteps belonged to the voice that he has been hearing.
