The Ocarina of Time

by Crimson Water

Ocarina of Time, retold as a novel, with a few new characters and events. UPDATE: Chapter 29 complete! Link and Sheik set their sights on the Fire Temple, while an ancient and forbidden curse stills the waters of Zora's Domain.

21. The Grey Skies of Lon Lon Ranch

21

The Grey Skies of Lon Lon Ranch

Although the glass fogged the view of the horizon, it was still quite clearly seen through the orange and red colours. The muffled rumble of the occasional booms of thunder rarely rattled the windows, but they appeared to have gained strength these past few days. It was if they were trying to communicate to him, somehow, but they had been gaining and loosing their energy quite frequently over the years. It was symbolic in that sense, as they were changing in harmonious synchronicity with the constant changing of the world.

He stood in front of the stained-glass window, one hand behind his back and the other stroking his chin delicately. The only light that entered the room was the faint luminosity that was blocked by the thick glass anyway. Thus, the only place one would see themselves clearly, even though the light was faint. The rest of the room was pitch-black; just the way he liked it. He felt secure in the obscurity for reasons unknown to him. It may have been the fact that he could not be seen, and he knew that others were afraid of the dark because they could not see what may be lurking beyond the shadows. Perhaps the dark could either be thought of as a protective barrier, or an infinite screen that blinds the weak.

It was the fear or love of the dark that determined what universal force one was loyal to.

His eyes averted from the window when a long, slow creak of an opening door was heard behind him. Cautious, yet somewhat hurried footsteps were now present as the light outside the door began to flood the room. It was the familiar click of metal soles, entering his presence with no such hesitation. It was obvious to him now who was entering the room.

"Ah, Lord Kanakana," he greeted him.

"My liege…" Kanakana replied as he stopped his approach.

"Thy presence is long missed, old friend," Ganondorf said slowly. "What brings you here?"

"I come bearing news," Kanakana answered. "I believe it is of your interest."

Ganondorf chuckled. He snapped his fingers, and suddenly the room was clearly alit in candlelight. He had the power to control heat in any area he pleased, so he needed no fire to light candles. He turned around to see his general clearly, but was drawn aback slightly when he realized his state. His coat was ripped and torn, dirt and blood smudged everywhere. He was limping somewhat, and was still kind of catching his breath. He was obviously attacked, but by who?

"I know what you're thinking, my lord," said Kanakana before Ganondorf could inquire. "It has been long since any such small resistance has been made, but now that has changed." Kanakana exhaled. "The prophesized Hero of Time has returned."

A huge grin swept across Ganondorf's face. It was far too good to be true, but then again Kanakana never lied to him. For so long had he awaited the Hero's return, and now he could finally carry out his master plan.

Ganondorf laughed. "Has he now? Back with a vengeance, I presume?"

"Oh, er…yes, I suppose…" Kanakana mumbled as he briefly surveyed his wounds.

"Excellent. We can finally move forward. Are you absolutely positive it was the Hero of Time?"

Kanakana nodded. "It would be the only explanation of the energy rift I detected near the Temple of Time. There was an unmistakable energy flowing through him, strong and vibrant."

"Perfect!" Ganondorf explained. "Ah, wonderful! This will surely be a day to remember. The youth will have no idea what hit him once we're through."

Kanakana bowed his head. "I see. I will ensure the man is captured immediately-"

"No!" Ganondorf said, cutting Kanakana off. "No…not yet. This definitely not a situation that needs to be rushed."

Kanakana fell silent as Ganondorf put his hands behind his back.

"Careful steps and planning we must take in order for this to work," he explained. "It is a very delicate situation, and we must not make ourselves suspicious as we carry out; the young man is much more cunning than you believe, General."

Kanakana raised his right hand slightly as he was drawn aback.

"You don't mean to say…" Kanakana whispered. "We're carrying out…"

"Yes," Ganondorf confirmed. "This event marks the commencing of Operation Sacrifice. This time, there can be no mistakes."

Kanakana nodded hesitantly. "Should…should I warn the Guardians?"

Ganondorf shook his head. "Their unawareness is key to the success of this operation, unfortunately. As long as they do not know that the plan is under way, the Hero of Time will be completely oblivious as well."

"But…" Kanakana muttered. "…wouldn't that…"

Ganondorf crossed his arms. "You know full well what it means, and so do I. It is the way of things, and if we're going to get what we want, that is what will come to pass."

Kanakana's hands were shaking. It looked like he didn't wish for this, but it was what his master wanted, and he had no choice but to carry it out.

"I…I understand. As you command, my king."

"Good," said Ganondorf coolly. "Good, I knew I could count on you."

Ganondorf began to pace away from the window. He head was lowered slightly, pondering something. He scratched his chin as he passed Kanakana and headed toward the middle of the room. Kanakana was silent as Ganondorf paced on the velvet red carpet that spread across the floor. His heavy boots clunked with every step, making the ground jolt. His eyes burned brighter than the candles throughout the room, standing out like two bright stars on a cold night. His nostrils twitched as he went deep into thought.

"Isn't it funny…?" Ganondorf mumbled.

"Isn't what funny?" Kanakana asked.

Ganondorf turned to his second-in-command. "Isn't it funny how everything seems so simple when you look at the big picture?"

"And…" Kanakana muttered. "What would you be referring to?"

Ganondorf chuckled. "Everything." His eyes turned to the many statues standing throughout the throne room: on one side, statues of angels, holy creatures and sprits, and on the other, wicked creatures, demons, and gargoyles to make a sinister contrast.

"It all comes down to two things…" Ganondorf continued. "…Light, and Dark: the two universal forces, condensed into the pitiful and disgusting creation which we call our universe." He turned back to Kanakana. "They war with each other, constantly, in an unstoppable struggle to become superior over the other. It has been like this since the dawn of time."

Ganondorf stopped and continued to pace.

"…and?" Kanakana inquired.

"And…" Ganondorf continued. "They never come close to an absolute victory. Sometimes it seems one way or the other, but the opposing force always returns, with a crushing vengeance that almost always overthrows the force which seems dominant. It's almost poetic in a sense."

"What do you mean?" Kanakana asked, somewhat intrigued.

"Whenever night falls over the land…" Ganondorf went on. "There are always torches lit and fires started, so the kingdom is not totally engulfed in darkness. When all of the torches and fires are doused and put out, it is only because the sun has risen in the sky and in light the realms lie."

Kanakana scratched his chin, listening.

"However," said Ganondorf as he changed his tone of voice. "All that may change…"

Kanakana jumped. "Change?"

Ganondorf clenched a fist. "With the power I wield now, and the power I will relish when I acquire the true force…it will all end. The constant struggle for superiority will come to a climactic finish, and the eternal war will finally have a victor! One force will at last reign supreme! Time will stand still, and everything the universe was based upon will collapse into a void of pure darkness! The world will spin out of control, destroying the hideous abomination that is itself! The universe as we know it and all the things that it holds dear will vanish! Then, once everything is gone, I can create a new world…a new Hyrule! Perfect in every way…flawless! I will reign ultimate for all time!"

Ganondorf exhaled, and his tensed face slowly relaxed. "And then we will have…" he continued calmly. "…peace."

Kanakana said nothing, and didn't budge. Ganondorf was slowly regaining his breath as he recollected himself. He exhaled one more time, and slowly approached his leading general. He put a hand on his shoulder, and gave his orders.

"Send out the stealth spies. I want full coverage of the Hero of Time's actions. If they are made aware of or are attacked, their orders are to flee, and we'll use something else. Understood?"

"Understood, my king," said Kanakana as he bowed and quickly turned towards the door. He hurriedly headed out of the room, and the next thing Ganondorf knew, he was gone.

Ganondorf exhaled through his nose quickly, and once again snapped his fingers, putting out all the candles in the room and once again surrounding himself in darkness.

---

Link burst out of the city borders, but was stopped suddenly. He could only get even angrier when he realized that there was another thing destroyed because of Ganondorf. When he ran out of the city gates, he expected the drawbridge to invitingly lead him into the vast plains of Hyrule Field. Instead, however, he was shocked to find that not only had it been not as pleasing as it was before, but completely destroyed. The thick wood was ripped in half by a single, devastating cut, with char marks on the edges of the severed and splintered timber. The chains that once raised and lowered it were now brutally snapped, the rings twisted where they were ripped. They were obviously broken by brute strength alone, judging by how the rings warped before they were shattered. Link pondered who could've possibly had that much strength to do such a thing, but at the same time it was obvious to him. The two halves of the drawbridge were still attached to either side of the river, but the severed ends fell into the running stream, constantly eroding under the rushing waters. Chips and fragments of the severed wood clung onto either side of the moat, since all of the splinters that landed in the middle most likely floated downstream. Link could've sworn that there was still smoke rising from the broken wood, but it could only have been his imagination.

It was symbolic in a sense, representing the transformation of Hyrule Castle Town's peaceful and welcoming metropolis into the military stronghold that it had become, refusing to let outsiders in. It disgusted Link, but he wasn't going to sand here and look at the broken bridge all day; the enemy soldiers could catch up to him any moment.

Link sighed and began to carefully step down the first half of the drawbridge, being precautious with every step he took, for he didn't know how stable the wood was when it was unsupported. Luckily, Link noticed that as he went down further, the bridge was not wobbling at all. He began to go down a little more quickly, but slowed down once he began to approach the water running between the two halves. He cautiously hopped over the foot-wide gap, and stopped for a few moments once he was on the second half just to make sure that it was just as stable as the first. Once he confirmed its stability, he went ahead and proceeded up the steep incline to the official border of Hyrule Field. He went a little faster this time since he was slightly more confident. He watched the wood pass by his feet as he climbed, not really wanting to look forward, for he feared that Hyrule Field was probably even more devastating than Hyrule Castle Town. He got around to the top, stepped off the wood and onto the tall grasses.

The tall grasses? Link was somewhat perplexed as to why they looked exactly the same as when he saw them last. Link thought it was out of the question, but could it be true? There was only one way to find out.

Link slowly looked up, and let his eyes scan every bit of the new Hyrule Field. The tall grasses swayed in large waves created by the light breeze that constantly blew. The sun shone through the spaces in the clouds, creating giant rays of sunlight that made the grasses sparkle with the fading morning dew. The rolling hills were cast in shadow in certain places due to the sun moving away from the centre of the sky and the ones that were in prefect position literally gleamed majestically in the afternoon light. The sky flew over the horizon, the clouds slowly disappearing behind it and into the bordering mountain ranges. The wind moved from the mountains and into the field, moving Link's hair as he stared into the distance. The smell of wheat and flowers were strongly abundant here, and maybe a slight scent of wild berries. It was quite hot out here, but the constant breeze served as a natural air conditioner for the sticky heat.

Link couldn't believe it, but Hyrule Field seemed physically untouched by Ganondorf's influence. When he turned around to face the ruins of Hyrule Castle Town, they were still as they were, black and radiating with evil energy. The cruel guard towers ominously cast shadows over the still smoking remnants, trembling under their intimidating height and twisted architecture.

It was beyond his comprehension that something so proximate to a place of such evil would be so unharmed. It seemed almost impossible, but there it was. Ganondorf's power was seemingly condensed into wherever his power was close. It looked as if he hadn't any instalments in Hyrule Field yet, but Link could not be absolutely certain about the rest of Hyrule. The five temples that Sheik mentioned may be the other concentrations of evil that transform the surrounding area into a place of death and fear. Now things were starting to make a little more sense. Ever since Ganondorf obtained the Triforce, the places where the Sages made their homes began to radiate with energy as a signal to awaken the new generation of Sages in a desperate hope to stop him. Since Ganondorf detected the cry for help from the gods, he unleashed his most powerful servants to guard each and every temple to block the awakening signal. This was what Ganondorf feared, and he was willing to do anything to keep someone like Link from breaking his seal.

A grin emerged on Link's face. It now all made sense. If Ganondorf was so protective of the temples, then there was no other explanation but them being his weak point.

If Link could liberate the temples, then there could be a strong chance of Link defeating the Great King of Evil! With the Sages by his side, they would add their power to his, just like Rauru did at the Temple of Time. If he had the full power of the Sages, his power might be able to match Ganondorf's, which would be diminished without the temples under his control.

Link felt much more confident now, but he couldn't help but feel worried when he thought about the guardians themselves. If Ganondorf was really desperate to keep the temples under his control, there was no telling what the guardians were or what they were capable of. They would obviously be willing to fight to the death...if they were living, breathing things of course. He could feel his heart sink into his stomach once he thought of the fact that he was going to have to fight these things, and it was definitely not going to be easy. Not only were the guardians themselves protecting the temples, but most likely rather large hoards of Ganondorf's foot soldiers, patrolling the area as an extra blockade so one wouldn't be able to even reach the guardian at all.

Link shook those thoughts out of his head. He had the Master Sword; nothing could stand between him and Ganondorf's defeat. If it was truly the sword of evil's bane, then nothing could defeat him.

Navi scrambled out of Link's hat and fluttered around for a bit before hovering in front of his face. She looked around momentarily, and then looked back at him.

"Well, here we are."

Link nodded. "Where to?" he asked. "Sheik said that we-"

"We have to find a place to stay the night. I know," Navi cut him off. "Would you consider that to be a problem?"

Link shrugged. "Yeah, probably," he said. "It could be a bit hard to find a place to stay that would be safe from Ganondorf's subordinates."

Navi bit her lip. "Well…what place is safe?" She looked behind her, surveying the perfectly clear plains of Hyrule Field. She turned back to him. "Well…Hyrule Field doesn't look so bad, don't you think?"

"I suppose so," Link agreed.

"Well…" Navi mumbled. "Maybe we could just sleep on the field? You know…under the stars?"

"That would be nice," Link said. "But we have no idea what the enemy patrol routes are. Who knows? They could trip on us in the middle of the night while they are exchanging troops from one area to the other."

"Oh…" Navi said glumly. "Yeah, you're probably right. Well, there has to be somewhere safe other than here."

"I highly doubt that," Link replied. "The five temples are in every corner of Hyrule. I think the only place that has been untouched is Hyrule Field, since there is no temple located here."

Navi tapped her chin for a moment. "There has to be a place in Hyrule Field somewhere where Ganondorf wouldn't direct his troops. There has to be somewhere that doesn't need to be watched. It could even be a place that would actually be a waste of time to go as far as military issues are concerned."

Just then, it hit him.

"Lon Lon Ranch," Link declared. "We can go to Lon Lon Ranch."

Navi's eyes widened. "Yeah…it has to be safe there!"

Link sighed. "If it isn't, I have absolutely no idea what part of Hyrule is secure these days. I'm sure they'd let us in. They're friendly people, after all.

Navi nodded her head affirmatively. "Alright! Off to Lon Lon Ranch, then!"

Link smiled as his eyes turned south. "It's about a three hour walk. Are you up to it?"

Navi rolled her eyes. "What do I care? You're the one who's going to do all the walking."

Link laughed as he nodded. "Yes, I suppose so. Alright. I'll get going right away then, since I want to be there in the afternoon."

Navi threw her arms up. "Well, let's go!"

Link quickly flicked Navi, sending her flying back a few feet with a loud squeak, and began to run ahead. Navi cursed as she regained her flight pattern and hurriedly chased after the running Hero of Time.

---

Kanakana burst out of the castle gates and sprinted towards the military camps. He ran at top speed, not tripping at all, his trench coat whipping behind him wildly as he dashed.

He jumped the barricades and exploded through the many gates that surrounded the black castle. One by one, he passed the walls that lead to the military grounds, not one guard or soldier questioning him for clearance, for his army feared him as much as they feared Ganondorf. He passed a few Moblins and Stalfos as he made his way through the final gates. One last doorway, and he was in the military encampment. It was the same field in which they had their outstanding victory against the Hylians, seven years ago. Obviously, the field of battle had changed much since then. There was now barely any grass here; mostly dry rocks and withered bushes. The hill on the horizon used to be muddy and slippery, but now it had dried up into a greyish, brown mountain of cracked mud. The ground was slightly uneven, since the Great Ganondorf did not care so much in the grounds keeping as the previous king did. Trampled terrain and dead plants were all to be seen here. There were remnants of old trees, bare and cut down, rotting into the bone-dry soil. The ground here was far from fertile, making the only use of this place the highest concentration of soldiers in Hyrule.

This field was around two or three miles wide, and it was full to the brim of moving soldiers. Campfires dotted the plain, making columns of black smoke, filling the sky a thin fabric of darkness, not that the permanent dark overcast already blocked out the sun. Amidst all of the solders, many wooden structures were erected for different purposes. From siege weapon manufacturing, to food preparation, to armour blacksmiths, to torture mechanisms for deserters or soldiers that question direct orders from high ranks.

There was always noise here, whether it was officers barking orders, soldiers laughing while they ate, or the ear piercing screams from the poor souls that were sentenced to torture.

Kanakana rushed down the hill, not one soldier he passed hushing up and bowing his head as he ran by. Kanakana eventually approached a lone soldier standing guard by a trap door, which opened up a chamber deep within the earth. The Lizalfos seemed to be sleeping, for he was sitting down with his head lowered, snoring. Kanakana did not have the patience for this; this was a direct order from the Great Ganondorf himself.

"Hey! You!" Kanakana barked at the snoozing soldier. Abruptly awoken, the Lizalfos flinched and scrambled to his feet and picked up his spear. When he noticed that it was Kanakana who woke him, he hurriedly straightened his posture and saluted.

"My apologies, sir!" said the Lizalfos. "Guarding the trap door does get slightly boring, sir!"

"Shut up!" barked Kanakana. "I would have you beaten for sleeping on the job, but you've caught me in a good mood! Consider yourself lucky, scum!"

"A thousand thank-you's, sir!" said the Lizalfos, wincing.

"Never mind that!" said Kanakana. "I want you to open the trap door!"

Suddenly, the Lizalfos' expression changed from nervousness and fear, to that of shock and confusion.

"…excuse me, sir? I thought you wanted me to open the trap door…"

"That's correct," Kanakana growled. "You heard me…release the Guay!"

"Why…" the Lizalfos stuttered. "…but…we haven't used our spies since…"

"…since the Second Year Revolts, I know," replied Kanakana. "However, this is a direct order from the Great Ganondorf. We shall not question it."

"What do they need to spy on, Lord Kanakana?" the Lizalfos asked.

Kanakana grumbled. He couldn't believe he was answering so many questions. "The prophesized Hero of Time has returned from beyond the void. The Great Ganondorf wishes for full reports on his actions."

"The Hero of Time?" the Lizalfos laughed. "Have you lost it or something? That's all just a big fairy tale. I seriously don't think we should release the Guay just because of some stupid superstition."

Kanakana walked up to the snickering Lizalfos, furious. The Lizalfos covered his mouth, trying to hide that he was laughing from the fuming Kanakana. When Kanakana got close, he wasted no time in brutally backhanding the Lizalfos across the face. The Lizalfos grunted as he was knocked off his feet, landing face-first in a muddy puddle beside his post. Kanakana approached the fallen Lizalfos, who was slowly beginning to lift his body up out of the muddy water, couching and spitting out the filthy water. Before it could get up, Kanakana slammed his boot onto the Lizalfos' back, making it yelp and once again fall into the disgusting water. Kanakana pressed down hard on its back as it flailed around and gurgled in the water. He eventually reached down to the back of the Lizalfos' had and yanked it out of the water. Its eyes were shut as it coughed up water and struggled to regain its breath. Kanakana leaned in close to its ear.

"Hey…you know what?" Kanakana yelled menacingly. "You look thirsty, coughing like that. How about you take a break and…" Kanakana brutally slammed the Lizalfos' face back into the water. "…have a drink!"

The Lizalfos once again struggled and flailed around as it gurgled in the water, bubbles appearing beside its head as it blew air into the muddy water.

"Drink it!" Kanakana screamed as he yanked the Lizalfos' head from side to side. After a while, the Lizalfos' fingers curled as the bubbles faded, and Kanakana noticed its neck moving. Gulp after gulp, the Lizalfos drank the water in a desperate hope that Kanakana would give him some air. Kanakana eventually pulled its head out of the water, and the Lizalfos immediately threw up into the already disgusting water. It gasped and wheezed as it desperately sucked in air.

"How does it taste?" Kanakana asked. All that came out of the Lizalfos' mouth was wheezing and coughing. "I said, how does it taste, you piece of trash!" he screamed.

"Mugph…puh…awful…" the Lizalfos barely managed to blurt out.

"Oh…" said Kanakana disappointingly. "That's a shame. I guess dirty water is more of an acquired taste. Hey…I have an idea!" he said as he began to aim the Lizalfos' head towards the water once again. "I'll let you drink it again, but this time you have your own special ingredient that you yourself so kindly added!"

The Lizalfos began to shake his head as he looked at the vomit floating on top of the filthy water.

"No…no…NOOOOO!"

Kanakana once again slammed the Lizalfos' face into the water, splashing the revolting mixture everywhere. The Lizalfos screamed underwater as its arms and legs flapped helplessly, splashing in the water. Kanakana noticed that he was still gurgling in the water.

"Drink it, or I'll cut your head off!"

The Lizalfos started to slow down, its arms now laying flat on the ground. The gurgling slowly disappeared, and Kanakana gradually leaned his head in to check on the Lizalfos' neck. It was still. It looked like it had drowned because Kanakana was cutting off its air supply for too long. It was a shame. Kanakana really wanted to see him drink it. Just before Kanakana was about to let go, he suddenly burst into laughter as he saw the Lizalfos' neck take in large amounts of vomit-infested water. Soldiers passing by stopped to watch as the Lizalfos drink his own spew, with Kanakana on its back, pounding his fist into the ground in hysterics. Kanakana laughed wildly as the Lizalfos continued to drink. Even some of the Stalfos and Moblins that were watching began to snicker as well. Unable to contain himself, Kanakana let go of the poor Lizalfos, making its head leap out of the water, gagging and continuing to throw up. It was rolling on the ground, coughing and wheezing, covered in vomit. Kanakana then kicked it in the stomach, shutting it up.

"Let that be a lesson to you!" Kanakana barked at the Lizalfos, curled up in a ball, unable to even moan. "And let that be a lesson to all of you as well!" he shouted at the spectators. "If you ever defy my orders, or the orders of the Great Ganondorf, you will drink from this very cesspool! Do you understand?"

"YES SIR!" the crowd shouted as they slowly backed off.

Kanakana then silently turned toward the trap door, and approached it. He stepped on top of the wooden shutters and reached toward the lock that held them shut. With one fierce yank, he broke it off, and tossed it aside. He backed up off of the wooden shutters, just so he could reach down to the bottom sides. He found a good grip, and with one swift motion, threw the doors open. They crashed on either side of the hole, spreading dust everywhere. Kanakana leaned over, and stared into the black void that the trap door once hid.

"Guay!" he shouted into the black. "Spies of the Great Ganondorf! The Hero of Time has returned from the sky, and now is the time of total victory! Find him, track him, and memorize everything that he does. I want full, daily reports to the Great Ganondorf himself! Now…fly! The fate of our plans lies in your hands!"

A few echoed, small squawks were heard from the hole, before a rumble of hundreds of flapping wings. In a huge explosion of energy, the hundreds of black crows burst out of the hole, making the ground shake. In a solid black pillar, they began to fill the sky as they took flight into the dark sky. Kanakana cackled as the Guay spread out into the air, beginning their tracking measures.

A Moblin approached Kanakana from behind, bowed and spoke.

"Excuse me, Lord Kanakana, but by the releasing of the Guay, are we in a situation currently?"

"No…" Kanakana replied, still watching the column of Guay launching into the sky. "No, but we will most likely in the near future."

The Moblin flinched. "Are you serious, sir…? A search and destroy mission?"

"No…" Kanakana said once more.

"…war."

---

After three hours of walking in the blistering heat of Hyrule Field, Link finally arrived at Lon Lon Ranch. He was extremely exhausted, but was glad that he had made it in the time in which he estimated. Since it was around 1:00 when he left Ganondorf's stronghold, it should've been somewhere around 4:00 now. Link's nostrils familiarised themselves sweet scent of the country air. When he looked at the sky, however, he was confused. It was grey…a monotone grey that did not change shade in any point of the heavens. Link couldn't help but get chills up his spine as he casually walked into the ranch. Something had happened here, but what? There were no signs of attack, no used arrows or spears, and the structures which Link remembered from when he was a child were still fully intact. However, and eerie atmosphere loomed over him as he continued to walk forward. It wasn't visible or even apparent, but Link was almost certain that something bad had happened at the ranch since he left.

Then, he noticed something. The last time he was here, there was the constant sound of Cuccos clucking in distance, and the pounding of the hooves of the many horses that ran across the fields. However, when he listened, there was nothing. All he heard was silence. Not even the wind passing over his head made any sound. The only thing he could hear was the jingling of his equipment in his pockets and on his back. An odd feeling came over him, like he expected something to jump out of the bushes and scare him half to death. The silence put him in a state of insecurity and uncertainty, not knowing what was going to happen. The cheerfulness of this place had seemingly gone, and was replaced with a dead, unwelcoming atmosphere. Link wondered more and more what could've possibly happened that could've made a place as lively as Lon Lon Ranch as still and ominous as it was now. When Link recalled memories of the utterly destroyed Hyrule Castle Town, it didn't seem as improbable as it was. Link wanted to find out what happened here that gave him such an ill feeling, whether or not it was going to put him in danger.

Link turned the corner of the path that lead into the ranch, and looked carefully forward as he continued to proceed. On the left of him stood the farm house, looking clean and well tended to. Curtains were hung behind the windows, making it impossible to see what was behind them. It didn't seem that odd to Link, so he figured he'd have to look somewhere else. On the right, there was the stable. From when Link could remember, he recalled it being dusty, worn down, and not really used so much. Link figured it was that way because the horses spent most of their time outside; not in the stable. However, now, it was even more worn down, and it wasn't as dusty as before. A path had burned into the ground that wasn't there before, leading into the stable. It looked like it was being used a lot more often than it was seven years ago. When Link really listened hard, he could actually hear many horses' grunts and cow moos, muffled from behind the old wood. Maybe that's why it was so quiet. However, Link was confused…why were all of the animals in the stable all of a sudden? Link thought that they were let outside to run and enjoy the country air until nightfall. It was but four in the afternoon; why weren't they running around? This was quite odd. Link was more determined than ever to find answers to the ranch's strange state.

Link picked up his pace slightly as he passed the two structures calmly, stepping into the main field of the ranch where the animals were free to roam. As he expected, the plain was bare, except for two or three horses calmly grazing in the fenced area. He walked into the open, looking around for anyone. His eyes moved from left to right, scanning the horizon, looking for movement other than that of the horses. He continued to walk offhandedly into the open, maybe even expecting something to happen if he did so.

"Eh…who…who are you?" came a low, stony voice from behind him. Link spun around to see the side of the stable which he had overlooked. A man was sitting on a stool, leaning back onto the outside wall of the shed. His head tilted from side to side, looking like he had just woken up. A bottle of whiskey was beside him, empty, lying down on the brown grass. He coughed frequently, and maybe even hiccupped a few times. Maybe he had a long night last night. Link immediately recognized him; it was Mr. Ingo, the caretaker of the ranch.

Link remembered him clearly from the last time he was here, but he looked a lot different that when he last remembered. He was a lot better dressed now, at least compared to the old, worn out white overalls he wore seven years ago. He now wore a beautiful scarlet vest, over a royal blue long-sleeved shit, along with a fancy frilled collar. His face was a little more well-groomed, since not a lot of grain was visible compared to his old, unevenly shaved chin. His highly recognizable, large moustache was still there, crooked as always. His large, oversized, bushy eyebrows were still furrowed and constantly moving. His thinning, greasy hair was combed back, barely even visible to someone who looked at him straight on. Is cold, malicious eyes were fixed upon Link, in an icy stare.

Link decided it was best to speak with him, seeing as that he was the only one on the ranch right now.

"Hello," said Link. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

Ingo shook his head sluggishly. "Nah, I've been awake for like…oh…uh, five minutes, or something?"

Link's eyes narrowed. "Uh…sure."

"Well, kid," said Ingo as he began to lift himself off of the stool. "Welcome to Ingo Ranch. Take–"

"Ingo Ranch?" Link repeated. He thought it was Lon Lon Ranch…was the name of the place even changed? Why was it Ingo's name? Link had to speak with Talon about this; something wasn't right. "Excuse me, may I speak to the owner of the ranch, please?"

"You're looking at him," Ingo replied.

Link jumped. What was he talking about? "You…you're…the owner?"

Ingo nodded. "Yeah, for the past seven years. Ever since the Great Ganondorf rose to power, things have been going great for me."

Link shook his head in disbelief. Had this guy totally lost it or something? He was obviously nuts. "Look," he said. "I know you aren't the manager; Talon Lon-Lon is."

Suddenly, Mr. Ingo looked all irritated. It was like he heard this every day.

"Ugh…don't tell me you've been listening to all of those rumours going on about me in Kakariko Village!"

Link raised an eyebrow. "…Kakariko Village?"

Ingo ignored him. "You kids…always taking these things seriously." Ingo sighed. "I suppose I should explain what really happened, yet again," he added with an aggressive tone. "There's a buzz going around that I cheated Talon out of the ranch."

Link's eyes widened. "You cheated Talon out of the ranch?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" snapped Ingo. "That guy, Talon, was completely and utterly weak. I, the hard-working Ingo, poured so much energy into this place!" Ingo crossed his arms. "Where can I begin to start, anyway? I tended the fields, fed the horses, cleaned up after them if you know what I mean, milked the cows, packed the exports, moved the hay, fetched the water, and even did most of the housework! And for what? So some guy could sleep all day? I barely even got any pay!"
Link scratched his chin. "Well, I just suppose it's tough being a working man, then. At least Talon let you work here; you could've been another one of those souls caught in the carnage at Hyrule Castle town that Ganondorf started."

"The Great Ganondorf, if you don't mind," Ingo growled. "I don't want strangers like you going around saying anything bad about me, you got that?"

Link shrugged. "Well, quite frankly I don't know anything about the situation. Let's just say I've been away for a long time. How did you even become the owner of the ranch, anyway? I don't think Talon would just give it away to you; he's not like that. From what you just said, I'm not surprised that there are rumours about you cheating him out of the ranch."

Ingo snarled. "Listen," he said, very irritated now. "The Great Ganondorf recognized my obvious talents, and gave the ranch to me. We discussed it at a meeting we had the day before the attacks took place at Hyrule Castle. I kicked Talon out of the ranch, and things have never been better!"

Link's heart dropped. He clearly remembered Ingo going out for a meeting when he stayed here. He left early in the morning, and since Link woke up at noon, Ingo was coming back with a smug look on his face just as Link went out the door. Now, all of a sudden, Ingo didn't seem as crazy as Link made him out to be. Why else would a working man like him go to see Ganondorf, and not Talon? It was so preposterous, and yet so obvious now. So, it was true; Ingo really did take over the ranch. Now, to Link, it seemed that not one place in Hyrule had not been touched by Ganondorf's evil. Everything was affected. Everything. Not one life unchanged, not one blade of grass not discoloured.

"Hey, kid!" Ingo yelled. "Are you paying attention? I don't want you to get the facts mixed up so the rumours don't get even worse!"

"Just…" Link muttered under his breath. He looked up and stared straight into Ingo's hard eyes. "Just what do…what do you plan to do with the ranch?"

Suddenly, Ingo's attitude totally changed, and a grin appeared across his face. "Heh heh…glad you asked that, boy. Well…" he began. "Ever since the Great Ganondorf became king, the people from the Castle Town had gone, places destroyed and ruined, and monsters have been roaming around everywhere. It's quite a pity to see Hyrule in such a state, but it is for one reason and one reason only," he said as he raised a finger into the air, making it seem that he really knew what he was talking about. "People don't like him. Personally, I do not see what is so bad about the Great Ganondorf, since he gave me the ranch. All you have to do to protect yourself from his…let's just say his bad temper, is to simply not question him. If you defy the Great Ganondorf, it is simple: you're punished. Quite an effective way of keeping order, in my opinion."

Link's lips curled; he did not support Ingo's opinions at all. Ingo did not seem to realize why places were destroyed. It wasn't because they were defying him; it was because that his evil power radiated from the temples. That's why everything was so messed up: Ganondorf's evil mind, not some political system.

"So," Ingo went on. "Since I want to keep the ranch the way it was…"

The ranch had already been changed for the worse, anyway.

"…I want to earn the Great Ganondorf's favour," Ingo explained. "So, using the ranch, I will raise a fine horse, and win recognition from the Great Ganondorf himself!"

Link felt his stomach churn. What a horrible thing to do. Horses were living, breathing things that needed love and care. They weren't meant for training and taming procedures for the sole purpose of getting credit from some monarch. Link couldn't believe what Ingo had done to the ranch. He had turned it into a place where animals could live out of harms way, with affection and nurturing, into a prison, where all the animals could do was simply become better at serving humans. No wonder there was such an eerie atmosphere over the ranch; it had been converted to evil, like the rest of Hyrule. Link was obviously not welcome to stay overnight. Maybe the best thing to do was sleep under the stars tonight and hope for the best.

Link nodded slowly, and began to walk towards the exit of the ranch, not even bothering to ask if he could stay.

"Hey, boy," said Ingo, making Link turn his head around. "How would you like to ride one of my fine horses?"

Link bit his lip, and slowly looked over to the fenced area where three horses grazed. He didn't really want to support the ranch now, since it was now only for the purpose of Ingo's own self-satisfaction. However, ever since he was a young child, he had always dreamt of riding a horse. People just really looked important whenever they were on one. Memories of his incomplete childhood rushed back to him, along with all of his faded dreams and interests. Horses always fascinated him, mostly because he was never proximate with them in the forest, where he spent most of his life. He found the animals completely majestic, and he longed to be able to mount one, one day, and be able to ride it around all day, travelling great distances, exploring the world and what it had to offer. He really didn't want to mistreat the animals any more than there were here, but he couldn't help but let his inner child take over him.

"Well, okay, I guess. I've never ridden a horse before, though."

Ingo laughed. "Ah, no worries. I'll teach you the basics. That'll be ten rupees, please."

Link jumped. He didn't have any money on him. Even though he didn't want to give any to Mr. Ingo anyway, he really wanted to ride a horse.

"Erm…sorry, I don't have any money on me."

A frown swept across Ingo's face. "Well, then I guess you can't ride a horse, now, can you?"

Link bit his lip. "Is there any way that I can ride for…free?"

Mr. Ingo looked like he was going to explode on Link, which he feared, but only for a second. Suddenly, he began to scratch his chin, thinking of something. He looked intently at Link for a moment or two as he pondered. He soon stopped scratching his chin, once again bearing an ominous grin.

"Tell you what, kid," he said. "I'll let you ride for free, but under only one condition."

Link nodded, listening. Ingo tilted his head toward the stable behind him.

"Follow me…" said Ingo, as he turned around with his hands behind his back. He began to walk in the direction of the space between the stable and the farmhouse. He walked calmly, not even looking back to see if Link was following or not. Link did follow, though, for he was curious what Ingo wanted him to do.

---

"Do you think he's suspicious?"

"No," Rauru replied. "No, I doubt it highly."

Sheik was having a meeting with Rauru in the middle of Hyrule field. Rauru cast a hologram of himself on the surface of the living world, allowing for more coordinated conversation. Sheik was sitting on the crest of a hill, looking over the vast landscape of Hyrule. His eyes drifted across Lon Lon Ranch quite often, for he knew that was where Link currently was. One hand was on his raised knee, the other behind him, supporting his body as he leaned back. His fingers lightly drummed on the ground nervously, really worrying about what Link was putting himself into at the ranch.

"Are you sure?" Sheik asked, turning to Rauru's hologram.

"He's completely oblivious. We have nothing to fear at the moment."

"Still…" Sheik mumbled. "It worries me. Link has the ability to crack the greatest of puzzles and conspiracies; he's done it in the past."

"Yes, that is true," Rauru agreed. "That is where your role comes in, Sheik. It's your job to make sure that Link does not find out the truth."

Sheik eyed Rauru. "…the truth?"

"About Princess Zelda," Rauru replied. "It is imperative that Link is unaware of it."

Sheik sighed glumly and looked back towards the ranch, the soft winds making his golden bangs wave majestically. "I still don't understand," he said. "Why must Link be unaware of the truth?"

"Sheik, you are wise. I would expect you to know of such reasons," Rauru said, disappointed slightly. "Link's uncertainty of Zelda's status is key to the success of this mission. He must awaken all of the Sages, and then the truth will be revealed to him. If we were to tell him the truth now, he would lose all incentive to continue on with his quest."

Sheik blinked. "Do you really think he would completely lose all reason to defeat Ganondorf?"

Rauru nodded slowly. "It would not surprise me at all. Maybe you do not know it, Sheik, but Link loves her. His reason for awakening the Sages and bringing order to Hyrule is not for himself, nor the people of this beautiful land, but Princess Zelda. Since he does not know if she is alive or not, he sets his sights on liberating every realm of Hyrule, and hopefully find some answers along the way. If it is revealed to him before he dispels the five evil barriers, then he will see no point in moving on, since his ultimate goal would be achieved. You have to understand, Sheik; Link doesn't care for the fate of the land anymore, since it has already been tossed into such a dark void."

Sheik sighed. "It's a pity, really. We are forced to keep secrets from him just to keep him moving forward. I wish we could tell him everything, but I guess you're right."

"It's only human nature, Sheik," said Rauru. "When all hope is lost, and inevitable seems the death of one's home country, then one would only seek out the one that one loves most. In Link's case, it's Zelda, and he will not rest until he finds out if she is alive or not."

Sheik closed his eyes. "The obdurate determination of youth…beautiful in its way when it comes to the eternal search for love. It brings a tear to the eye."

"Very brittle, as well, Sheik," Rauru added. "That obdurate determination is exactly what he needs to overcome this great burden, and if we so much bend it out of proportion, it will shatter. That is the last thing we need, so completely avoid any risk of damaging him, or it will be the death of us all."

Sheik reopened his eyes. "So, that's what Hyrule's fate comes down to…" he muttered. "It all rests on a tiny thread that connects Link to Zelda, and the powerful lust that grows so vibrantly within him to find her. Such a simple thing…that ultimately results on something so great. It's overwhelmingly profound."

Rauru breathed deep. "The first barrier will be the easiest one of all, but it still won't be easy," he said as he looked toward the east. "I do not think that Ganondorf is aware of what we are planning, but he will more than likely be enraged if we successfully smash down the first barrier."

"I am aware of this," said Sheik. "No matter how stealthily and quickly we destroy the energy, Ganondorf will feel its pulsing energy halt abruptly, therefore making him aware that the final revolt against him has begun, and his enemies have gotten much wiser."

"He will move swiftly," Rauru sighed. "Not much can be done about the constant shifting of his ranks. As they move, they grow, and their numbers have increased greatly over the years. This is an issue that troubles me, because although we know Ganondorf's weakness, we are not at all invincible. This is something that I fear, and once the first mission is over and done with, there is no turning back."

Sheik nodded. "I am also aware of this. It is completely up to Link to decide to all the way. I will tell him tomorrow that if wishes to fulfill his oath, he either succeeds, or…"

"Or he will die trying," Rauru finished.

Sheik breathed in and let out a long sigh. "I wish there was a simpler way to do this, Rauru, but we have no choice. It must be done or the land will be in even more peril than it already is."

Rauru nodded. "Indeed, Sheik. However, I myself would be willing to sacrifice my own life for this beautiful land. However, my role is too important in this, and I must remain the Sage of Light. Remember that."

Sheik blinked. "I understand."

"Get some rest," Rauru advised. "I want you to have a good night's sleep; it will be a long day tomorrow. Tomorrow, the evil forest barrier falls, and the revolution shall begin."

Rauru's hologram flickered, and the light that projected his body soon vanished. Sheik was alone once again, and his thoughts still did not drift away from the task at hand. It could not be undone now, and he simply just had to go along with it. After all these years of waiting in the age of darkness, it would finally be time destroy the darkness and bring light to Hyrule once again.

Sheik calmly reached into one of the pouches attached to his waist, and pulled out a piece of bread. With the free hand, he moved away some of the bandages around his mouth to make it exposed. He took a bite out of the soft bread, and chewed slowly. He wasn't going to sleep just yet on an empty stomach.

---

"You what me to what?" Link yelled.

Ingo chuckled. "That's right. I'll let you ride for free if you use that horse. As you can probably see, the catch is that this horse is the wildest one of them all. Even I am having a hard time trying to tame it."

Link and Ingo were in the stable of the ranch, looking at the horses in their cubicles. There was a large, musky smell in here, which Link didn't like. The cows were stationed on one side of the stable, and the horses on the other.

Link could feel sweat building up in his leather gauntlets as his fingers fidgeted nervously. He looked in fear at what was before him, for he knew the task at hand. He delicately licked the front of his upper teeth, but kept his mouth shut as he didn't want to show his tenseness to the smug Ingo beside him. He was obviously giving Ingo what he wanted: the sense of fear and hesitance, and he could feel Ingo's cold stare coming his way, like an icy wind howling quickly in a winter night. Link was reluctant to admit that he was indeed somewhat edgy, but determination still flowed through his blood, as it had never left him since the very start.

The horse before him was definitely not like the others, and there was no question why Ingo would only let him ride it if he were to gain access to his steeds free of charge. The horse reared constantly, neighing in anguish, ramming its hooves against the thick, splintering wood of its stall. Its wild, white mane whipped around violently as it shook its head, still focused on escaping this prison. Every time its hooves slammed against the bark, it was like a cannon firing, followed by a distinct rumble bouncing off the walls of Link's ear canals. The horse's coat was beautiful, and gleamed in the copper sunlight leaking through the small cracks between the wooden planks that made up the stable. It was a striking ginger colour, distinguishing it significantly from the common walnut tinge of the other horses. Its eyes flickered madly in the constant changing angle of the sunlight making contact with them. They were black as the deadest of nights, blending in with an outer halo of lavender.

Those eyes…Link had never been so mystified by the eyes of a horse before, but he wasn't exactly sure if it was their beauty that was so arresting about them. It wasn't so much of a sense of wonder that made Link's eyes lock onto the horse's, but more of a sense of familiarity. He had seen this horse before…but from where?

Link flinched; it was Epona, the small pony which he met when he was a child.

What a horse it had become over the years. The small foal, from which he was barely introduced so many years ago, had grown into a find steed fit for a proud warrior. She wielded such power and potential now, with muscles bulging on all of her legs and her chest. She had grown beautifully, and was now a magnificent horse, among the best Link had ever seen not that he had seen many though. The look in her eyes…it was not of that of anguish, fear, nor the mind-drilling agony of imprisonment, but that of hope, in zealous desperation for freedom. It was something Link had never seen in her before, and it bewildered him.

Epona was now equipped with a saddle, with leather straps going all around her–a harsh reminder of Ingo's cruel effect on the ranch. Her saddle was rather elegant, standing out from most of the other ones that were mounted on the wall on rusty hooks. The seat was not just plain, brown leather the whole way through, but had an elegant, royal blue ring around the outside of the seat, gleaming brilliantly. A small, golden crest of the Triforce was fixed on the bottom edge of either side of the saddle. Below them, two white cloths of silk hung lightly over the sides of the seat.

She continued to flail viciously in her stall.

Ingo grumbled. "Hmph…such a wild horse. Even I have had a hard time taming it…"

Link turned his eyes toward the man. "How come?"

Ingo grunted as he stared at Epona. "The normal techniques work quite well on the other horses, but not this one. I just don't understand."

Link shrugged. "Well, not all horses are the same."

Ingo glared at Link, as if he had just slapped him the face. "And what would you know about horses, boy? I would be surprised if anyone walking around without change in their pockets knew anything about anything!"

Link raised an eyebrow. From what he could tell, Ingo was most likely self-conscious about his inability to tame Epona. Perhaps it would be humiliating to him if such information was slipped to Ganondorf?

"Okay," said Link. "I'm sorry. I suppose I don't know much."

"No, you don't," said Ingo smugly, regaining some of his previous composure. "Now," he continued. "Let's get underway, shall we? Mount the horse, boy!"

Link swallowed. He nervously returned his gaze to Epona, now viciously ramming her head on the gate. She flailed around uncontrollably, as if she feared that they were going to hurt her. How was Link supposed to mount her if getting within one foot of her would be a death sentence? This was absurd.

"Alright, give me a break," complained Link. "How am I supposed to even get within touchable distance of this horse?"

Ingo shrugged, and stared at him with a sinister grin. "Heh…I don't know. That's your problem, boy. If you really want to ride for free, this is what you get."

Link's lips curled as he continued to stare at the wild beast before him. Now what was he supposed to do? Link was not about to back down now, for he wasn't a coward. There had to be some way to calm her down…there had to be. There was something Ingo did not know about her, and Link just had to find it. Ingo did not raise Epona since she was small, and she seemed pretty calm back then. It was something she was lacking now. It was something that she longed for ever since he took over. It was love and care, of course, but Link had to find a way to express it without getting near her. There had to be something, something that would make her realize that Link was not here to harm her. There was one thing that could tame her. There was one thing that could show that Link was here to love and care for her, and not to abuse her for the purpose of Ganondorf's favour. What was it? What could it possibly be? It existed, but Link had absolutely no lead on where to start.

Link lowered his head as he pondered. It had to be a reminder of the good old days. The only way he could calm her down was to show or give her something that would take her back to the days when peace hovered above the ranch. What did she enjoy back then? Was there any event that brought her to joy or comfort? Was there something done to her on a regular basis?

Link scratched his chin. Epona…she must've had parents. Maybe he was on to something. Maybe Epona didn't know her parents very well, but there must've been some vague memory of them. A father…and a mother.

Link's eyes narrowed. A mother…something rang a bell when he thought of a mother. Was it something about Epona's mother or someone else's…Link jumped.

…that song…

It was that song…the one that Malon's mother wrote. It was so clear to him now. Malon always sang that song, and Epona seemed to enjoy it every time he heard her voice. Epona's Song…that's what she called it. Link had found it. That's what Epona longed for. She longed to see Malon. Since Talon was kicked out, he must've taken his daughter with him. So, ever since then, Epona has been without the one who had cared for her the most. That's why she was so desperate to break free, for she wanted to look for and find her, and hopefully once again share the love they had for each other so many years ago.

Malon had taught Link that song when he stayed overnight here. Maybe…just maybe, if he played that song on his ocarina, he may have some chance of giving Epona hope, and hopefully calm her down, making her trust him. Link knew it was pretty far-fetched, but he had to try. If playing that song didn't work, the nothing would, and Epona would remain an untamed horse.

Link began to slowly reach into the pocket that contained his two ocarinas: The Fairy Ocarina and the Ocarina of Time. As he stared into the open pouch, he carefully examined the two. The Fairy Ocarina reminded him of his childhood as well, but the Ocarina of Time caught his eye, with its modest blue radiance. He decided to use the Ocarina of Time; for whenever he played it he noticed that the sounds were much smoother, making it easier to play. This was probably because the ocarina was made with much more care, as it was sacred.

Link removed it from his pocket with his left hand, and let it fall by his side. It was now time to cautiously approach Epona, but not to get close enough to let his face meet Epona's hoof. He vigilantly crept toward her, watching her every move, making sure she did not get even more feral. She rammed her hooves into the gate once more, making Link flinch. He could hear Ingo chuckling in the background, but he ignored him, for he wasn't important right now. He looked into the eyes of Epona, who stared back at him with obvious fear. It was the look of an abused animal, intimidated by any human approaching it. Link tried winking at her to reassure her, but to no affect. She continued to thrash hysterically as Link began to draw near. It looked like Epona was somehow thinking that this was her death, seeing as how stealthily Link approached. He didn't want to scare the horse, so Link knew he was going to have to hold his ground soon. He did, eventually, cancel his advance, and stood there, trying his best to stare into the horse's eyes as a friend. Epona stopped flailing and was now still, shaking with fear.

Link bit his lip as he began to raise the ocarina towards his mouth. He didn't blame Epona for thinking that it was some instrument made to hurt her, for she began to panic again. Link was not about to stop now, for he was so close. In time, he brought the mouthpiece of the instrument to his mouth, and closed his eyes. It took him a few moments to bring the song back to the fore, but it eventually came to him. Epona now thrashed harder than ever, thinking that this instrument was about to hurt her. Link took a deep breath, and began to blow smoothly into the ocarina.

The second Link began to play the melody, it was as if the ocarina played itself. He was unsure if he would play the melody perfectly, but as he went on, the notes just came to him right before it was time to play them. When he was halfway through the song, he opened his eyes to look at Epona. She was now perfectly still, not even shaking, and to what Link could tell, not even blinking. She stared at him in awe, not believing what she was hearing. Link could almost visibly see all of her memories as a young pony return to her. Visions of Malon, her father, and maybe even Link as a child, flashing before her eyes in an instant. Link was overjoyed to see her finally calm, but he tried his best not to smile, because that would make it impossible to play the ocarina correctly. It was even harder to smile when he began to hear stutters of disbelief from Mr. Ingo. When the melody was over, the stable was completely silent. Even the wind that soared by the cracks between the wooden planks of the walls seemed to had ceased.

Link returned the Ocarina of Time to his pocket, and stared intently at Epona. She was now breathing normally, and was staring into Link's eyes, not with fear, but with shock and bewilderment. She looked completely harmless now…but did Link's idea really work? There was only one way to find out.

Link took a step forward, but Epona didn't budge. She continued to gaze at him, not looking hostile. Feeling a little more secure, Link picked up the pace. He took a few more steps toward the gate, at a point where he would've easily been struck down if Epona was still flailing. He bit his lip as he was almost close enough to reach out and touch her. As he got even closer to her, Epona began to lean forward, sticking her neck out of her stall. Link stopped advancing once she began to sniff his face. He bit his lip as Epona continued to smell his scent, not able to determine what her intentions were. Soon, he couldn't help but laugh as Epona began to lick his cheek. Link knew now that Epona remembered him, and had already taken a liking to him. It was now safe.

Link stroked Epona's mane for a little bit to reassure her even more that he was her friend. He then removed the hook from the ring on the gate, unlocking it. He slowly swung it open, the gate creaking noisily. Epona remained calm, shaking her head every so often, which was normal horse behaviour as far as Link knew. Link slowly approached the side of her, where he saw the foot harness on her saddle. He supposed this was the best way to mount a horse as big as Epona. With a little hesitation, he placed his right foot in the harness, securing it in place. Once it was fixed in place, Link grabbed onto the seat of the saddle, and hoisted himself up. He swung his left leg over to other side of the horse and locked his other foot in the other harness. He was now comfortably seated on Epona's back, and he actually felt much taller and powerful from up here. He saw Ingo at the other side of the room, speechless and dumbfounded. Link couldn't help but sneer at him. Link found the reins of the saddle, and gripped them tightly. Now, Epona seemed keen on staying where she was…or was she waiting for some kind of command? Link thought briefly about how to get a horse to move. He remembered seeing people hit the horses sides with their heels, and that would make them move. He decided to try it, because he knew that as big as Epona was, there was no way that he could hurt her. He lifted his feet away from Epona's body, ready to strike it, when he saw Ingo at the back of the room. He was shaking his head in disbelief, almost waving a hand in front of him to tell Link to stop. Link gave him a wicked grin, and kicked hard against Epona's sides.

With a loud neigh, Epona reared. Link held on tight as he leaned forward, attempting to keep his balance. Her front hooves ran for a moment, before she went back on all fours and burst out of the gate with an explosion of speed. Link was shocked at how fast Epona was able to go, and he had never experienced travelling at this speed before. Ingo screamed as he ran and dove out of the way of the galloping horse, just before Epona trampled him. Link and Epona burst out of the gates of the stable that were thankfully already open, and out into the open air. Link pulled the reins to the right sharply, and Epona responded. She turned on a dime and burst out into the open field, slowly increasing her speed. Link laughed like he never had in ages as Epona sped over the yellow grass. The wind whisked past him, his bangs flying back, like hundreds of small, golden whips. His tunic and hat waved and flapped in the strong wind, and Link squinted to keep his eyes from watering. Link thought it would be best to not actually sit on the seat, because Epona's back lifted up and down when she galloped. He was now pretty much crouching on her, but it didn't slow him down, and that's all that Link cared about right now. He could hear the pounding of Epona's hooves, and the wind howling past his ears, and it was the most amazing thing he had ever experienced. This was easy! This was amazing! Link ripped through the fields like it was pure air, travelling at the same speed as falling off a tall cliff. Epona galloped faster than ever, and Link just could not stop smiling.

Link tugged on the reins to the left, and did not stop until he made a 180 degree turn back the other way, towards the stable. He wanted to see the look on Ingo's face when he found out how good he'd already become at horseback riding. Link could swear that dust was billowing behind him as he raced back toward the shed. He could see it in the distance, and he now realized how far he had travelled in such a short time. He narrowed his eyes as he concentrated on his goal. Within moments, Link was already closing in on the stable. When he looked hard enough, he saw another horse coming out of the gates. Was it Ingo? What was he doing? The horse stopped just between the farmhouse and the shelter, right at the opening to the open field. Link gradually pulled on the reins, slowing Epona down from a gallop to a canter. As he drew near, he saw that there was indeed someone on the horse. Link slowed down even more from a canter to a trot. How he could see clearly that it was Ingo on the horse. He was staring at him ominously, and looked like he was somewhat angry. Link pulled back even more, slowing to a walk. He slowly approached Ingo, who looked like he had something in store for him. When he was in speaking distance, Link halted Epona all together.

"Very good, kid," said Ingo sternly. "Maybe I was wrong about you. It looks like you have a gift for getting animals to like you."

Link smiled. "Thank you."

"Hey kid, you're pretty good," complimented Ingo. "It's not every day that I see someone who's never ridden before catch on so quickly. It looks like you might be gaining skill, and a lot of skill at that."

"What are you saying?" Link questioned.

"While you were speeding away on that horse, I got an idea," Ingo explained.

"I'm listening," said Link, eyes narrowing.

"Here," said Ingo, coolly. "Follow me and keep close, will you?"

Ingo kicked his horse off, and he began trotting out into the field. Link could only wonder what Ingo's idea was as he steered Epona out of the area and in Ingo's direction. He built up his speed to a trot as well so he could keep up, and followed Ingo's horse closely. As they rode out into the open, Link began to see that they were heading toward the large fenced area, shaped like a giant oval. What was Mr. Ingo possibly planning? It had something to do with Link's skill with horseback riding, since he got the idea when he saw him riding around. If he was heading towards the fence, and his idea was to do with Link's skill, and if he was on a horse as well…Link couldn't put his finger on it. He became eager to know what Ingo expected of him. Ingo's horse seemed to be getting a little ahead of him, so Link adjusted his speed to remain the same as him.

After a minute or so, they arrived at the fence structure. Ingo slowed his horse down to a halt, and made a hand gesture to beckon Link forward. Link made Epona walk beside Ingo's horse, and made her stop by pulling back.

Ingo pointed toward the ground by the fence. When Link looked in that direction, he saw what Ingo was pointing out to him. It was a white line, made of lime or chalk, extending out from the fenced area.

"Line up your horse behind that line, closer to the fence," Ingo instructed. Still not knowing what his intentions were, Link did what Ingo told him to do. He walked Epona over to the line painted on the ground. He turned her to the left, so he was parallel with the black, metal fence. He aligned her close to the barrier, as Ingo directed. He made sure that he front hooves were not over the line, because Link didn't like being corrected all the time. Once he was in position, Ingo lined his horse up to the left of him. Both of them were a mere two inches apart, both facing the same direction. Link shifted uneasily in the saddle as Ingo stared at him.

"Well, here's my idea," said Ingo. "As you can see, I don't have a lot of help around here, you know what I mean?"

Link looked at him. "As in a lack of workers?"

Ingo nodded. "Precisely. Kid, I don't say this much, but I believe you'd make a fine worker here. You have all the qualities of a horse breeder, you know. Let me ask you this: would it be in your interest to work for me here?"

Link paused for a moment, but ultimately shook his head. "Sorry."

Ingo grinned. "Ah, I thought so. This is where my idea comes in."

Link looked at Ingo intently.

"Since you are already fairy good at riding horses," Ingo continued. "How about a race?" He pointed to the right, and his finger followed the entire loop of the fence. "One lap around the fence, and the first one that crosses the line wins."

Link nodded. "Sounds good, but what's the catch?"

"Heh…you're a clever one," Ingo praised. "If you lose, you work for me for the next two months, under minimum wage."

Link frowned. "Is this your idea of some kind of revenge?"

Ingo laughed. "No, not exactly. It's just that I think that things will go a lot more smoothly around here if you lose this race."

"And if I win?"

"Perhaps I'll give you fifty rupees, seeing as that you're short on cash."

"Okay, it's a deal then," Link agreed. Ingo outstretched his hand, and they shook.

"It's official, then! If you win, I'll give you fifty rupees, and if I win, you work for me for the next two months," exclaimed Ingo. "Heh heh heh…it's going to be great with you on the ranch, kid. I can see you slaving away in the shed already!"

Link's nostrils flared. "Doing what, exactly?"

Ingo grinned mischievously. "Heh…learning how to really tame a horse. You have to control it with fear, otherwise it may turn against you. Pain and agony is all that these animals know, and that is their role in life. They are meant to serve us, and if they are disobedient, they are of no use! You will learn first-hand, the torture these animals go through, to become my own perfect steeds!"

Link felt like he was going to be sick. He thought things couldn't get any worse for the animals here, but he was horribly mistaken. Torture…what kind of twisted place was this? Ingo, that monster. Link would show him. He was going to teach him a lesson. Pain doesn't make an animal strong, it made it timid and broken. Only by love and care will any living thing be really great.

"You truly are a villain," said Link with disgust.

Ingo laughed for what seemed like minutes. "Okay, kid. Whatever you say. Get ready."

Link looked ahead down the track. There was no backing down now. He was going to show Ingo that Epona, a horse that was loved and cared for, was far greater than the poor animal he had "trained". He could feel sweat building up in his palms as he gripped the reins tight. He purposely began to breathe hard to get his adrenaline pumping. Ingo rolled his shoulders to get ready as well. Link lowered his head as he began to lift his feet away from Epona's body, ready to go.

"Ready?" said Ingo. "Three…two…one…GO!"

Link slammed his heels into Epona, and she immediately burst over the starting line. Ingo was slightly late, as he had to bring his feet up and down at the go. Link was already at a good start; about a neck ahead. He continued to kick Epona's sides, encouraging her to go faster. She reacted almost immediately, and began to put more energy into her run. Link concentrated on the path ahead, but tried to be as weary as possibly of Ingo's current location. He could hear eight hooves slamming into the dry dust, so Ingo was still very close behind. Link curled his lips as the first corner began to come close. They were racing clockwise, so Link knew he had to keep to the right if he wanted to take the inside corner, therefore giving him the advantage.

The turn came, and Link steered toward the right, but not too far because he didn't want to grind against the fence at the speed he was going. He listened closely to the hooves behind him, and with his developing warrior instincts he could tell that they were falling back. Ingo was forced to take the outside corner due his proximity with Link, therefore letting Link gain ground. The wind intensely went by, and Link was surprised his hat still was on his head. There was no time to ponder that; he had a race to win, and a ranch to save. The turn was almost over, and Link knew he had to build up his speed in order to stay in the lead on the next straightaway. He whipped the reins a little bit, and Epona brought up the speed just a little bit.

The turn ended, and now it was just a straight dirt path to the next one. Link briefly looked over his shoulder to see where Ingo was, and sure enough, he was advancing quickly from the rear. The determination and rage in his face was almost intimidating, but Link was not about to let Ingo's emotions get to him. Link could hear the hammering of Ingo's horse growing louder, drawing closer, and he found himself in a bit of a panic. If he lost, he would have no choice but to support this abomination of a ranch. He was not going to let it happen; he would not stand for it. He was going to win this race even if it killed him. Suddenly, Link had an idea. He carefully watched where Ingo was, because he would eventually have to shift over if he were to pass him. He kept up his speed, but was still watchful of what Ingo was doing behind him. Ingo was now catching up at an incredible rate, and seemed to be ready to pass him at any second. Then, Link saw it: Ingo began to shift over to the left to make his move. That's when Link made his as well. Link also moved over to the left, once again blocking Ingo's path. Link looked back and saw that Ingo was moving to the right now, trying it again. Link used the same strategy and copied his pattern. Amongst the constant beating of the hooves, Link could hear Ingo cursing. He obviously was frustrated that even though he could pass Link, he was not able to. Link now looked ahead, and saw the second and final turn approaching. He was now in a good spot at the right of the track; if Ingo took the outside turn, he would surely fall behind once again, and if he took the inside, he still wouldn't be able to pass Link.

They hit the turn, and Link would not let Epona slow down, not now. He carefully tugged the reins so he remained perfectly positioned to take the inside. He could hear the hammering of Epona's hooves grow more rapid, and it could only be a good thing for the homestretch. Link could see the dirt being kicked up by Epona, and it gave him just the adrenaline he needed.

The path once again became straight, and the finish line was just in sight. Link let his heels make contact with the horse as many times as possible, bringing her to her fastest speed yet. The wind howled by his ears like a giant monster roaring in pain. Link might've even bared his teeth as he raced toward the white line. He could hear Ingo pounding from behind, in a desperate race to get there first. Link would not let it come to pass; the race was his to win. Epona leapt across the finish line, and it was all over; Link had won.

He heard Ingo scream as he brought Epona to a stop. It sounded like Link had humiliated him, and Link could hear that fifty rupees jingling in his pockets already. Link steered Epona around to catch a defeated Ingo flailing around on top of his horse, ripping the hair out from his head. Link chuckled at the rather amusing sight. He had to admit that it was quite satisfying to see a fiend such as Ingo wallowing in defeat. It might've even been the way he reacted that brought a smile to his face. Ingo looked like he was about to pop a vein in his forehead as Link got Epona to slowly approach him.

"You!" he screamed. "You…you cheater! You cheated! How dare you!"

Link raised an eyebrow. "Cheated?"

"You cut me off!" Ingo bellowed. "On the second straightaway! When I moved left, you moved left. When I moved right, you moved right! That's cheating!"

Link smiled and shrugged. "Well, you didn't explain that before. Now, who's fault is that?"

Ingo was furious. He was being talked down to like he was a child. Quite frankly, however, Link was enjoying it.

"It doesn't matter!" Ingo yelled. "You still cheated, and that makes it an unfair race!"

Link frowned. "The rules you explained were that we take one lap around the fenced area, and the first one across the finish line wins. You never said anything about cutting each other off, so how is that breaking the rules?"

Ingo drew in breath, his head shaking with fury, but all that came out was a quick exhale, for he didn't know a good comeback for that. Link had him, and now it was time to reap the rewards.

"Now," said Link calmly. "I believe I've earned a little bit of money from my victory." Link outstretched his palm, ready to receive the cash. Ingo stared at his hand, his face beat-red, and then harshly swatted it away.

"I'm not paying you anything! I demand a rematch!" he roared.

Link frowned once more. "Now what is the justice in that?"

"I'm not giving you anything until I get my rematch, and that's final!" Ingo said sternly. "If you refuse to race again, then I am automatically declared the winner!"

Link's eyes burned. Ingo was desperate for a rematch, and the consequences for not accepting his demands would be dire. However, Link was pretty confident that he would be able to trap him.

"Alright," he said. "I'll race you again, but under one condition."

"And what's that?" asked Ingo, still fuming.

"You have to give me an even bigger prize if I win. Something a lot more valuable than fifty rupees."

Ingo's eyes widened, and they almost looked like they were bloodshot.

"So," Link went on. "What'll it be, Mr. Ingo? It's your call."

Almost every vein in Ingo's forehead was pulsating. Link could tell that he was about to explode in fury. Link knew he had to accept his offer though, for he was desperate.

"You…you…little" Ingo growled. He eventually exhaled and let himself think. He was still steaming, however. "If you win…" he began. "You can keep…"

Link leaned forward slightly on the saddle, eager to hear what Ingo was going to say.

"…the horse!" Ingo screamed finally. "There, is that what you want, you smart little kid? If you beat me again, which I assure you, you wont, you can keep the bloody horse!"

Link grinned, fully satisfied. "I accept your wager, Mr. Ingo. Care to explain the rules a little more clearly this time?"

Link was sure Ingo's head was going to explode after that statement, but it came just short. All Ingo's face did was get even redder than it was before.

"One lap around the fenced area," Ingo began. "No cutting off, no physical contact, no dirty tricks, and the first one over the finish line wins. Is that clear?"

"Clear as mud," Link responded. For some reason, though, that line that Link just said sounded somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

"Okay!" exclaimed Ingo, now very impatient. "Now, can we get this underway, please?"

"Very well," said Link, as he aimed Epona once again to the starting line. He brought her up to a trot and approached at a moderate speed. Link felt really good about this. If he won, he could keep Epona! His very own horse…Link only dreamt about it as a child. Now, a good dream was coming true for once. All Link had to do was beat Ingo to the finish, and she would be his. Link knew that Ingo would be a lot harder to beat, since he couldn't cut him off and a lot more than fifty rupees was on the line right now. Maybe Link couldn't save the ranch, but he could at least save one animal from this torture chamber.

He arrived at the starting line again, in the same spot. Ingo once again started to the left of him. Link took in a deep breath, and exhaled as he once again looked down the straightaway. He could hear Ingo muttering under his breath as he himself got ready as well. Link wasn't doing it for himself this time; he was doing it for the very thing he was on top of right now. He saw Ingo swallow, looking like he was ready to start the race. Link waited for the countdown, so he could bring his feet off Epona's sides once more so he could get the head start.

"GO!" screamed Ingo, and he burst ahead of Link before he even started.

It looked like Ingo didn't give Link any warning of the beginning. So far it looked like he was the dirty player this round. Link kicked off the starting point, and quickly sped up to a gallop. Ingo was around ten feet ahead of him, and that gap wasn't lessening. Link kept behind him, however, and decided that he would make his move on the second straightaway. Ingo was brutally hitting the horse with his hand, trying to get it to speed up. Link shook his head at the cruelty, but he had to keep going. If he concentrated too much on that horse's agony, then he wouldn't have enough attention to win this race. He managed to pick up his speed a little more, and the howling wind was once again present. The first turn was drawing near, and Link drifted to the right to take the inside turn, just as Ingo was doing. All Link wanted at this point was to maintain his distance between him and Ingo.

When they hit the turn, Ingo got to it soon enough so that Link could only see him through the bars of the metal fence as it curved to the right. He squinted as he tried his best to concentrate on keeping to the right of the curve so he wouldn't lose any ground on Ingo. He could tell he was losing it anyway though, for the sound of Ingo's Horse's hooves were slowly becoming more tranquil. Link had to pick up the pace soon if he were going to catch up. He whipped the reins a little to increase his speed just a notch, but not too much to make Epona lose her energy. Ingo had just started on the second straightaway, and now was the time to bring up the pace a lot more, even though Link wasn't quite finished the turn. He began to whip the reins and kick Epona's sides to accelerate her speed dramatically just as he came off the turn.

Epona galloped so much faster, Link didn't realize how fast he was catching up to Ingo, who was just going over the halfway point of the second straightaway. His sight transformed to tunnel vision, exclusively focused on Ingo and his horse. Every second, Link gained a foot on his opponent, and Ingo looked back at him occasionally, possibly realizing this. Ingo went a little faster, but he couldn't get any faster than Epona was going right now. It felt like Link was tugging a rope, slowly pulling Ingo towards him, ready to push him behind and take the lead. Link was now less than three feet away from him, and felt that now was the time to shift over and pass him. However, before Link could even act, Ingo's horse kicked up a lot of dust, and it flew right into Link's face, blinding him and temporarily cutting off his air. Although Epona continued to run, she neighed in pain, as it appeared that she got dust in her eyes. Ingo cackled as he sped toward the final turn. Epona slowed down significantly, and Ingo was gaining a lot of ground. Epona almost seemed like she was about to stop and give up all together. This couldn't be happening, now of all times. Ingo…he knew that his horse would kick up that pile of dust. Ingo was cheating against the rules he clearly stated. Now, he was going way ahead and Epona continued to slow down as she gradually got the dust out of her eyes. Link couldn't lose, not after all this. He couldn't work here, he just couldn't. He could not support such evil. Ingo was so far ahead of him now that victory for Link now seemed utterly impossible. Link had to try. He had never failed anything on his quest without trying. If he was going to lose, he wasn't going down without a fight.

"Come on, Epona," Link encouraged her. "I know you can do it. Just try."

Epona didn't seem to be speeding up at all, as she was still in pain. She continued at the slow pace she was at. Ingo was now closing in on the halfway point of the turn.

"I believe in you, Epona. Just run. Don't let someone like Mr. Ingo humiliate you like this."

Still, no effect. Link felt hopeless. There was nothing he could do to speed Epona up, and Ingo had just passed the halfway point of the turn. Now he would have to work for Ingo, torturing animals against his own will. What a fate for the Hero of Time…he screwed everything up. He wished the ranch never became what it was. He wished it was still as it was back in the good old days…

Link flinched. The good old days…that was it! He had to remind Epona of Malon! He quickly leaned toward Epona's ear. He summoned up the melody in his head, and made an effort to whistle Epona's Song. He wasn't the greatest whistler, but he got the basic melody out.

Before Link could even finish the melody, Epona neighed and reared triumphantly, hope flowing through her again.

"No, Epona!" Link screamed. "Run! Run!"

Epona landed on all fours, and exploded into a gallop. Link's heart almost flew out of his mouth when he realized how fast he was going. This was the fastest Epona ever ran. In fact, it might've been twice the speed of Ingo's horse.

In a matter of two seconds, they had already ripped onto the turn, and Link almost forgot to direct Epona around it by using the reins. Ingo had just come off the turn, and was now speeding toward the finish line. As Epona continued to pick up even more speed, all of the objects surrounding became blurred. The wind howling by his ears was now overwhelming. Epona violently slammed her hooves into the ground, determined to go beyond her full potential. She was going so fast…Link felt that they were about to take off and fly.

Epona flew onto the final straightaway, and Ingo was in clear sight. He was almost at the finish line, and seemed pretty confident that he was going to win. As long as Link was around, he wasn't going to win that easy. Link kicked Epona's sides as hard as he could, making her do the impossible and run even faster. The blurs all around him blended with each other, for they were so spread apart. Every second, Link must've gained ten feet on Ingo. He must've been inches from the finish now. Suddenly, Ingo looked around in horror as he saw Epona running directly at him as fast as lightning. He screamed in absolute terror as the steed blew right past him, and ran right across the finish, seconds before he did. Link couldn't believe it, but he won. He won…

Link was so happy. He had freed Epona from her imprisonment here, and she was his. All his. She was his to love and to care for, like she had been so many years ago. She would surely accompany him on his new quest, and just maybe get him through it easier. Maybe, just maybe, there was a little hope after all. If Link could save one life, even if it were not human, it was worth it in the end. Epona slowed down to a happy trot, as if she knew what had happened as well.

Link heard Ingo scream behind him. He turned Epona around to get a good look at the man who he had humiliated twice. Ingo had turned his horse toward the house again. He cantered for a bit, once again pulling the hair out of his head. It was pretty dangerous not holding onto the reins with your horse going that fast. Eventually he leaned back to far, and he fell right off the saddle, almost hitting the horse's back hooves in the process. He slammed into the dirt, and the horse ran off in the other direction, now free of his control. Ingo frantically scrambled to his feet and began to hold his hip in pain. He limped forward, trying to get within the premises of the house and stable. Once he was between the two, he stumbled over to the side. He staggered around for a few seconds, for what reason Link was unsure of. He eventually had to put a hand on the stable to support himself. His head lowered as he began to catch his breath, but Link knew that he must've been devastated. He decided it would be best to confront him.

He brought Epona up to a trot, and made his way toward Ingo's position. As he closed in, he saw that Ingo was pounding his fist into the wall, making loud thuds. Link's bottom lip curled as he thought of what Ingo would do now. If he called for a rematch for the last race, he could do it again. Link wouldn't accept, since he won fair and square, and Ingo was the one who cheated.

Ingo eventually saw him coming, staggered off the wall, and accidentally collapsed on the ground again. He looked completely out of it, probably shattered due to his lost gamble. Link stopped his horse just short of the two buildings, and stared at the ranch's crippled owner. Ingo once again got to his feet, tugging on his thinning hair.

Ingo looked at him, his eyes now definitely bloodshot.

"What's up with that horse!" he screamed. It seemed like he was almost hyperventilating with rage now. "Is that Epona?"

Link smiled and nodded, answering affirmatively to Ingo's question.

Ingo shook his head in disbelief. "How…how did you tame that horse right under my nose! No horse becomes that obedient and that fast in an instant!"

Link shrugged, not telling him what he actually did with that song.

Ingo staggered around, still tugging on his hair. "Epona…that was the horse I was going to present to the Great Ganondorf…but I bet it on the race and lost! Shooot!

Link grinned. Now without his prized horse, Ingo was finished. His goal had been eradicated due to his reckless actions. Link wouldn't know what he would do with the ranch now, but perhaps his intentions would be much different now that all hope was lost on gaining recognition from Ganondorf.

Ingo ran his fingers through his oily hair in frustration.

"If the Great Ganondorf found out about this humiliation…" he muttered under his breath. He looked up at Link with his icy eyes. Link could see right through them; he was getting an idea. Link's heart sunk once Ingo lifted his head up, bearing a wicked grin. He suddenly began to laugh, and began to walk over to the side of the path, towards an open gate that Link just noticed.

"As I promised…" said Ingo as he began to reach for the gate. "…I'll give the horse to you. However…" he said with a wicked tone. He unhooked the gate, setting it lose. "…I'll never let you leave this ranch!"

With that, Ingo threw the gate to the side, letting it swing out it Link's direction. It creaked loudly as it moved, making Link's ears hurt. It eventually slammed into a lock attached to the stable, and blocked Link's path from exiting the ranch. Link's eyes widened when he finally realized what Ingo was doing. By blocking his way of exit, Link was to never leave the ranch, and never to expose Ingo's humiliation.

"I can't just let you run around Kakariko Village and tell everyone what just happened, can I? So many rumours…I won't allow my reputation to lessen even more over there."

Link stared at him, eyes narrowed. Ingo had clearly lost his mind, and was now making a foolish attempt to save himself. He could not accept the fact that he lost, and did not to let his miserable failure to be spread around the public. If such information was released, his career would be finished.

Ingo stared at him through the black bars of the gate, laughing hysterically. He evidently was getting quite a kick out of seeing Link trapped in there, as if he felt that he defeated him in the end.

One side of Link's mouth lifted, and a smug grin was created. He had an idea to wipe that smile off Ingo's face for good. He leaned forward toward Epona's ear, and whispered into it.

"Okay, Epona. You'll know what to do when you see it. Just follow my lead."

Link kicked Epona's sides hard, and she burst into a gallop, towards the gate that Ingo closed. Suddenly, Ingo was not laughing anymore, and his face sagged. His eyes must've grown to the size of tennis balls when he saw the confident look on Link's face. Link got Epona to go even faster, and she gradually increased her speed as well, most likely now realizing what Link wanted her to do. Her hooves beat the ground with incredible force as she continued to race towards the gate. Ingo began to slowly back away from the gate, thinking that they were about to ram right through. In a matter of seconds, Link and Epona would smash right into the gate, but Link already had a plan.

"Now, Epona!" yelled Link when they were just about to make contact. Hearing Link's command, Epona kicked off the ground, and jumped right over the black fence. Link felt like he was in slow-motion as he flew over Ingo's head. As he heard Ingo scream, he chuckled modestly. Their altitude eventually decreased, and Epona landed. She ran for a bit before Link pulled hard on the reins, and halted her completely with a skid.

Link lifted himself off of his horse, and dismounted. When his feet touched the ground, he felt actually quite short, for he was already so used to being on Epona's back. He stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders, getting used to being on foot once again. He turned is head, and saw Ingo cowering by the gate, now speechless. Link began to approach him on foot, and he could see Ingo visibly panic. As he closed in, Ingo was going to pieces more by the second. Link could only imagine what could've been going through his mind was he backed away from the man who he had tried countless times to get rid of. Now, Link had the upper hand and Ingo was the one that was defenceless.

"No…no! Get away!" Ingo screamed.

Link grinned. "Why should I?"

Ingo tripped and fell onto the ground once more, and scurried against the wall in fear. He cowered before Link, whose shadow was now being cast over him. He was trembling all over, shrinking against the wall.

"Please…" Ingo pleaded. "Don't…don't tell anyone…"

Link reached down and grabbed Ingo by the collar. He yanked him up and slammed his body against the wall, pinning him while still keeping a strong grip. He reached back and pulled the Master Sword from its sheath. It rang once it was removed, like a high-pitched singing note. Link held its sharp blade horizontally across Ingo's neck menacingly. Ingo moved his head away from the blade, but he could not take his eyes off of it.

"No…don't…don't kill me! Please!" Ingo begged.

"Why do you think you deserve to live?" asked Link, breathing hard. "You mutated and twisted this place from a peaceful ranch into something of evil. Torturing animals, using them for your own profit. Why shouldn't I kill you?"

Ingo breathed through his teeth as sweat began pouring down his forehead, unable to speak.

Link could suddenly feel Navi moving down the top of his head, eventually lifting up his cap and hanging upside-down in front of his right eye.

"Link, leave him alone," she said. "You've already done enough damage to him as it is."

Ingo stared at Link's guardian fairy in disbelief. "That…that fairy…" he muttered. "I've…seen it before…" Ingo suddenly looked at Link with wide eyes. "You're that kid…Malon's friend!"

Link roared, and flung Ingo off the wall, sending him rolling on the ground to the right.

"I'm not a little kid anymore!" Link bellowed. "How dare you even mention those times as if they weren't precious!"

"Link, stop it!" Navi screamed.

Ingo tried to sit up, but Link put his boot on his chest before he could act, once again threateningly pointing the tip of his blade at his throat.

"No…no!" Ingo screamed, thinking it was the end.

"Stop it, Link! Stop it!" Navi continued to cry. "Leave him alone!"

Link couldn't stop, not now. He ignored his guardian fairy and took great pleasure in seeing Ingo at his mercy. A wicked grin appeared on Link's face, as even he could feel himself loosing his mind. All he had to do to kill him was to thrust forward, and the ranch would be saved. He was going to do it. He didn't care what anyone thought. This was what he wanted to do, and it was what was going to happen. He slowly drew back the blade, ready to rip through the soft flesh of Ingo's neck.

Suddenly, Link screamed. He fell back a few steps and the tip of the Master Sword was taken away from Mr. Ingo's neck. Link clutched his chest in agony as white-hot spears of pain crackled outward from that point. It was the same feeling he had when he was talking to Rauru. Link gasped for air as the pain began to affect his lungs. His skin felt like it was splitting apart, as if some alien presence inside him was trying to escape. His ribs felt like they were bending and twisting out of proportion. He went down to one knee and plunged the tip of the Master Sword into the ground for support. He breathed hard through his teeth as he attempted to take the pain. He began to pound the side of his fist to his chest, trying to keep whatever was trying to escape at bay. He began to feel his limbs failing him, as they were quivering as they supported his body. He desperately rammed his fist even harder, in some thoughtless struggle to defeat this agony.

As quickly as it had started, it stopped. The same thing happened to him again as it did earlier. This only made Link wonder even more what this bloody thing was. What was inside of him that tried so desperately to escape? Many questions buzzed in his mind right now. Link feared, however, that most of them could not be answered.

Navi flew towards him. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Link coughed. "I'm fine for now. Thanks for asking."

"What was that?" Navi asked.

"I don't know," Link replied. "I supposed I'll figure it out in due time. I'm also certain it's not going to be the last one."

He once again looked at Ingo, who was slowly getting to his feet. For some reason, after the pain Link just experienced, he didn't have so much of an urge to kill anymore. Instead, he had a better idea.

"You!" Link called out, making Ingo jump. "I won't tell anyone about you losing the race, under one condition."

"Yes!" said Ingo. "I'll do anything."

"Give up the ranch," Link ordered. Ingo stared at him, blank faced. The reason he didn't want Link to tell everyone about what happened today was the fear of losing the ranch. Now, the only way to keep that from happening was giving it up.

"But…" Ingo stuttered. "But…what will I…I mean, who will I give it to?"

"Find this ranch's previous owner," Link explained. "Find him, and tell him you're giving the ranch back to him. Tell him that running it was far too hard, and you are offering to work for him again."

"But…what about the Great Ganondorf? If he ever finds out about this he'd surely kill me!"

"Keep a low profile," Link instructed. "Ganondorf has a lot more things to worry about than a little ranch on the hill. Believe me, he does. Now, go!"

Ingo nodded quickly. "Yes…yes, okay! I'll give the ranch back to Talon. Thank you, thank you, sir. Thank you for sparing me!"

"Go on," said Link, waving his hand. "Get out of here."

Ingo nodded, and silently turned around toward the exit. He then sprinted down the path that lead to Hyrule Field, and within moments, was gone. Link had far surpassed his own expectations by saving the ranch. He now had his own horse, Talon and Malon would surely be returning now, and hopefully he now had a place to stay to rest for the long day ahead. Well, at least he had ground to stand on now to begin the liberation of Hyrule. It may have not been that large, but it was something to build from.

"Navi," said Link. "Sorry about me freaking out back there."

"Pfft…" Navi sighed. "Yeah, you better be. You really scared me."

"I'm sorry," Link apologized again. "I can't really explain it. It was as if some demonic part of me awakened on the outside, sucking my true self deep within. I suppose that's a simple way of putting it."

"I still don't understand what came over you," said Navi. "I mean, I've never really seen you so aggressive to someone who's defenceless. It's just not like you, you know what I mean?"

Link nodded. "I know. Like I said before, I wasn't being myself."

Suddenly, a sound was heard behind him. Navi flinched and scrambled under Link's cap, while Link got to his feet. He hurriedly put the Master Sword back into his sheath, and turned around to see what was behind him. It was the door of the farmhouse, and it was open just a crack. A chain lock from the inside kept it from opening all the way, but the gap was big enough for Link to see through. However, behind the door, something caught his eye. There were two eyes, human, and they were staring straight at him. It looked like someone was inside the house, but Link couldn't tell who. They glared at him intently, with a unique shine. Whoever this person was, they must've seen what had happened here.

"Um…I don't know how to say this, but thank you," said the person. It was a woman, and she had the most beautiful voice. It was smooth and warm, comforting in a way.

"Oh, uh, sure, no problem," Link replied bashfully, not really knowing what to say.

"Is…is Mr. Ingo coming back? Where did he go?" the woman asked, almost worriedly.

"I sent him to go get Talon, the previous owner of the ranch. He's giving the ranch back to him, since he doesn't want me telling everyone what happened here."

The woman was silent for a moment. Link couldn't even hear her breathing. Did what he just say shock her? Suddenly she spoke again, softer than before.

"That's…that's great. Wonderful, actually," she said. She paused. "Wait…how did you…how did you know the name of my…father?"

Link's heart must have flipped and spun inside his chest ten times before his brain registered what the woman just said. Did she just say…her…father? Talon was her…father? It couldn't be, that was impossible. But yet, how was it not possible?

Link's jaw tremble, as he slowly opened his mouth. "…Malon?"

The eyes of the woman suddenly widened dramatically, and her pupils shrunk to the size of breadcrumbs. They began to quiver, as she stared at him with the same disbelief that that Link was expressing to her.

"…Fairy Boy?"