This is a pure LinkxMalon moment for a while.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Nighttime Conversations
They met outside the palace.
"I'm staying here. I smell a rat. Swiftblade, you, Link, and Zelda go. We'll keep our eyes peeled here. Something's wrong."
"Alright."
They went to Albrook, the Empire's harbor town, and went to the ship bound for Thamasa. On board, they were met by General Leo.
"The Emperor sent word that you three were coming. My name is Leo. I am the commander-in-chief of the Empire's troops, second only to Gestahl. I assume you're aware of the task?"
"We are." said Zelda.
"Good. We will be accompanied by another of our generals, General Malon," Malon came out of the cabin. She wouldn't make eye contact with any of them. "and a man I hired in town. He says his name's Shiek."
Shiek came out and nodded briefly at Swiftblade.
"I have arranged for us to stay the night at the inn free of charge. We will leave tomorrow morning."
They slept uneasily that night. Link woke up and decided to go get some air.
He exited the inn and saw Malon standing there, leaning on a stone rail.
"Couldn't sleep either?" he asked. He leaned on the rail next to her.
She hung her head and didn't speak.
"Malon, listen."
She sniffled.
"Link, you listen! I wasn't a spy! It was all a rumor perpetrated by Kefka!"
"Malon-"
"You must think so poorly of me after that."
Link shook his head.
"I didn't want to believe it. Not at all. When Gestahl confirmed you weren't, you have no idea how happy I was."
She gave a small smile.
"But you still must think poorly of me after how I kept trying to pry into your personal life. What happened between you and Rachel is your business."
Now Link hung his head.
"It still hurts to talk about it." he said softly.
"The only way to dull the pain is to become used to it. I'm here. Talk if you want."
He looked at her, blue eyes staring into brown.
They began to lean forward, little at a time, until they both caught themselves and backed off.
"I'm sorry Link." she said before going back inside.
"Wait. Malon!"
But she was already gone.
In the morning, they boarded the ship. The trip would last two full days.
As they entertained themselves while waiting, Zelda couldn't help but notice that Link and Malon wouldn't look at each other. She wondered what had happened to them.
That night, it was Zelda who couldn't sleep.
She walked onto the deck of the ship. Leo was laying awake in his bunk, so he followed her.
She was leaning upon the side of the ship.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"Just needed some air?"
"Yeah."
"Zelda, you may think of me as an enemy and as a personal adversary, but don't. When I was using you the way I did in Vector, I was under Gestahl's orders."
"I don't blame you. Not at all. It's just, because I was wearing that Hypno Crown, I have no idea what emotions feel like. I can't feel sorrow, I can't even love. I've been so jealous of the others. They can love and hate, cry and laugh, and many other things, yet I cannot. It feels as though I am on the verge of understanding something so important, but it is just an inch out of my reach."
"Zelda, you will not know how it feels the first day. No one ever does. But you will someday. I know it for a fact."
He began to walk inside. He was passed by Shiek.
"But I want to know now." she mumbled.
Shiek stood next to her.
"I overheard." he said simply.
"Hm." she said before heading to the cabin.
"Zelda."
She turned around.
"There are people in this world who have chosen to kill their own emotions. I am one of them. You are not like us, so don't make that mistake. Never forget that."
She nodded and went in.
As she closed the door, another opened and Link ran out. His face was green.
"Ohhh man... What did I eat? Bleaugh!!"
He vomited over the side.
"The world's greatest treasure hunter reduced to this..." He vomited again.
Shiek said nothing but gave a strange look at Link and went inside.
R&R!