Chapter 25:

The Romani Ranch

Link hiked through the tall grass, making his way more south. He was sure to keep near the edge of the woods like Tatl had told him. Neither one spoke. It was just silence for several minutes.

Eventually, Tatl had to speak up," Hey kid?"

"Yes?" Link answered. What could the girl want now?

"What were you doing out there in the woods? And alone?" she asked.

Link sighed and replied," Well, before you and your brother and Skullkid ambushed me, I was looking for a lost friend." memories of his old fairy returned to him suddenly. His heart burned with regret because he could never find her.

"What lost friend? Tatl inquired.

"Well, she was this fairy, about like you. Except she was... blue. She was with me in my homeland and helped me in my travels. But then, one day, she ran away without another word. I went looking for her ever since."

"Well that's too bad." Tatl said. Link couldn't decide if she was seriously sad or just faking it.

"Why do you say that? It's not like you would care." Link grumbled.

"Well maybe I do!" Tatl shot back.

"I somehow doubt that." Link said in a cool voice, narrowing his eyes at her.

Tatl opened and shut her mouth several times as if to say something. The words never came," Well, well... you're right, I really don't."

"Yeah, and you know the fairy I was talking about?" Link started, anger welling through him," Yeah, she was a whole lot better than you! She had feelings and a big heart, but you just care about pranks and how to hurt someone!"

Tatl didn't say another word. She just turned her head and kept flying by him.

Link sighed, glad that he had finally got that out of his system. Eventually, he came to a wide trail going through the woods. He turned and went down it. There was a sign on the side of the trail that read - " Ranch ahead"

"Yeah, it's down here." Tatl finally said as Link began walking down it.

Eventually, they came to a fork in the road. They decided to continue going forward. They traveled through a path carved into a large hill, and then to a big gate. It read:

Romani Ranch

Home of Chateau Romani

"Yep, this is it." Tatl told him flatly.

"Okay." he replied, approaching the gate even further. He paused, wondering if he should open it or not.

"Well?"

"I don't think I should."

"Your horse?"

Link couldn't help but shove the gate open. It trespassers were allowed or not, he was going in. He wanted to see his horse again.

He came out into a large, open field. The grass was relatively short, and a few trees dotted the area. Woods surrounded the field, and at the edge of the woods, there was a fence running all the way around the area. There was a barn of to the left, and a path leading to it. A few feet away from the barn, there was a two-story house, with a small gated area behind it, and another in front of it. Link started down the path towards the house.

As he came closer, he started to see the red animal behind the front gated area more clearly. A thrill of hope and excitement traveled through him. He sprinted forward, running ever closer to the gate. The red animal took the shape of a horse. He could make out the white mane and white tipped tail. It whined at the sight of him. Link grinned.

"Epona! Epona!" he called.

Finally, after the long run across the field, he was finally standing before the fence. It's gate was locked tight, and there was a wooden wall behind it, and a small roof above. He could not get through.

"Epona!" he cried again. The horse whined again," Thank the goddesses I found you again, girl!" he looked left and right," I've gotta get you out! I'll think of someway.

"Hey, kid?" Tatl finally said with some emotion since Link had yelled at her," I hear voices coming from the house!"

Link turned to face the front door and braced himself. A young woman in a pale yellow dress and a brown apron walked out, holding a small kitchen knife. A young girl in her image peered around the corner. Link gasped.

"Malon?"

"Huh?" the girl said, raising a brow. She leaned inside and put the knife away, before coming back out," who are you?"

"I'm Link, remember?" he tried to remind her. Of course, it was the red-haired girl he had always known. The one peering around was her! At the young woman looked just like Malon, the farm girl had looked when she was eighteen!

"Um, I don't know a Link." she replied.

Link hesitated," I mean the girl beside you, not you!" he motioned towards her," Malon, you've got to help me get Epona back!"

The girl came around the corner. She was in a small white dress with blue markings at the bottom. She had long red hair and a face that the woman by her had," I'm not M-"

"-Quiet!" the older woman interrupted," Sorry, little boy, but my little sister here isn't this 'Malon' or whatever it is. Her name is Romani, named after the ranch. And my name is Cremia. I'm sorry, but who are you?"

Link's face turned red," M-my name is Link. I-I apologize, but your sister looked exactly like a friend I used to have back at home. She worked at a ranch, too!"

Cremia nodded," Alright. What were you planning to do with that horse over there?"

"I-I, she's my old horse I used to have! I lost her and I want her back!" he quickly explained.

Cremia shook her head," Sorry, but you're going to have to do better than that. You have no proof that you are that horse's owner. A skullkid wearing a mask brought her and left her in the field."

Link sighed. At least Skullkid hadn't killed his horse," Listen, I know it's hard to believe, but that horse is mine! I used to ride her everywhere! She was a gift from my friend Malon! That skullkid stole her from me!"

Cremia shook her head," Sorry, but I can't just give her away without proof. Maybe find that skullkid and bring him here somehow?"

"How can I do that?! He tried to kill me last time I-"

"-Sorry, but I can't give the horse to you without some real proof." she said sternly, interrupting him.

Link's jaw slackened and hung down. He stared at her blankly, filling with rage.

"Good day, little boy! Come on, Romani!" she said, ushering her little sister in the house. She slammed the door shut behind herself.

Link sighed, his face turning red with embarrassment again. Tatl was giggling insanely. Link turned to her and glared," Thanks for the help!" he snapped.

"I'm sorry," giggle," but I just couldn't help but watch! Whoo! You sure can put up a good show!"

Link growled and curled his hands into fists," It's Link for one, and two, why do you have to act like that all the time?!" he roared.

Tatl just laughed louder and flew a bit higher in the air," Oh, you are so funny when you're mad!" she taunted further.

Link jumped up, trying to grab her, but he could not. Tatl laughed even more.

"Okay, fine, I give up!" Link said after a few long moments of glaring at her.

"Good. Now, we've gotta figure out a way to get that horse out. Okay, so you don't know a lot about her little sister. Wait until she leaves the house, and see if you can talk her into freeing the horse or something. She's young like you, except probably not as... whatever you call some fighting-child, so you can probably get her to let the horse free somewhat easily." she explained.

"Alright." Link agreed. He put his hands on his waist and started to wander around the open field, enjoying the almost noon sun. The moon seemed to get closer every few minutes when Link would look up. He returned to the house half an hour later. He leaned up against the wall by the house and sighed. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked over the land. The clouds' shadows traveled swiftly over the grass when the wind would blow. Link took off his hat so the breeze would be better. He always had liked farms ever since he had left his home in the forest.

As he waited there for more minutes, he gradually felt more and more tired. His eyes felt sore from staying awake for seven days. He rubbed his eyes and nodded his head. Finally, the door opened. The young girl, Romani, stepped out, carrying a basket full of hay. She skipped past him, humming a small song, and stopped at the horse cage.

"Ma- I mean Romani," Link started, taking a step towards her. She gasped and snapped her head around," I need to know if you can help me get my horse back." he asked as politely as possible.

"Well..." she started to think. Her eyes wandered for a moment, and then her jaw dropped," Is that a fairy? That's so interesting!"

Link looked up at Tatl, who was starting to blush, and then back at Romani," Yes, it is. But listen - do you-"

She was quick to interrupt when her eyes went back to him," Can I have her?!" she asked.

"Um, well, sorry but, she's with me."

Tatl on the other hand, must have been thinking differently," Well, how much food do you got?" she questioned, flying down in front of the girl.

Romani giggled and replied," I have some. I don't know what you eat though..."

What the heck is she thinking?! Link's mind boomed.

"Anything you h-"

"Tatl!" Link snapped.

Tatl frowned and flew back by Link," Well, sorry but, I'm with him."

Romani gave a sad look," Oh, okay."

Link nodded," Hey, but, do you know of a way I can get my horse back?"

Romani looked thoughtful for a moment. She inspected him carefully for a few seconds. Link could feel her eyes looking over every aspect of him. Finally, her face lit up, as if she had a conclusion," Is that a bow?!"

Link slapped his face, annoyed with the questions," Yes..."

"Great! I can let you get that horse, if you do something for me!" she told him.

Link rolled his eyes quickly so she hopefully wouldn't notice," What?"

"Well, on the first night of the carnival, these monster-type aliens always come and take a cow! I never can fend them off. You think you can help?"

Link thought for a moment. If I help her, I get my horse back. If I don't I have to smuggle Epona out. I guess I'll have to help. he concluded," Okay, I'll help."

Romani squealed with delight," Okay! I can supply you with arrows. We have tons! We use them to hunt sometimes, but I think this is a better cause!"

Link nodded, allowing her to continue.

"Alright, you seem pretty light on your feet, like a fighter or something, so I'm going to call you grasshopper!"

"Grasshopper...?" Link mumbled, his eyes widening, like it was some cruel joke.

"Grasshopper...?!" Tatl exclaimed with a little laugh.

"Grasshopper!" Romani finished.

"So, Grasshopper it is! Meet me tonight at eleven. I'll go over everything with you there." she told him.

"Alright. I agree." Link replied with a swift nod.

"Good. I better hurry up and feed the horse an' get inside! I don't won't Cremia to get mad because I took so long!"

"Okay."

Link watched her as she put the hay in the horse's cage and patted it on the nose, before running inside. He turned and looked up at Tatl, giving her a mean look," Don't laugh at me!"

Tatl at that point, had stopped quietly snickering over the grasshopper ordeal," Sorry! ...Grasshopper...!"

"Shut up!"