Chapter 23: A Gamble to Race For

Liberation of the Country Plantation Arc

Disclaimer: I don't own The Legend of Zelda, this is just a Fanfiction.

Featured Music: "Uncharted Fates" - Fire Emblem 10: Radiant Dawn OST. Chapter Briefing.

"Morale Fades" - Fire Emblem 10: Radiant Dawn OST. Scene 1 (First Half).

Roused from a seven-year long sleep, Link and Navi awaken to a world of pure ruin and desolation. Greeted by a religiously dressed man by the name of 'Rauru', he informs the heroes of their destiny and even elucidates them on a horrifying premise.

That Link is only the fourth in a line of reincarnated heroes.

Near unable to believe having been both used by his country's princess and by the desert king Ganondorf, Link finds himself reeling in response to the horrifying news he is delivered with. When sent back to the Temple of Time he meets with the last known contact of the country's princess Zelda; a young man going by the name 'Sheik', of the Sheikah clan. Realising the breed of warriors he comes from Link discovers that he is a relative of the missing Impa, guardian of Zelda.

In asking the newly re-awakened Link and Navi for their assistance with their efforts in their rebellion of Ganondorf's monarch, Sheik hopes to eventually overturn the Gerudian king and his law of the land. Though reluctant to join in the knowledge of having been manipulated not once or twice but three times, Link at last agrees but only under the condition that his services are temporary. In hoping to clear his childhood home, the Kokiri Forest, of Ganondorf's threatening presence Link agrees to join forces with the hopeful alliance and heads out south.

Having won the large country of Hyrule in his successful coup seven years earlier with the assistance of his aide Scaverin, Ganondorf Dragmire now rules Hyrule with an iron fist. Though the country has seen peace from any outward source of war the signs of struggle are fierce from within; the civil war that has been borne as a result of the oppressive authority rages on for time without end.

Though confident in his intelligence and death-like grip on the country, Ganondorf decides to loosen his hold in an effort to reveal the one woman he has searched for seven long years... Daphnes' Nohansen Hyrule's only daughter.

The royal princess Zelda.

Scene 1

"Place it on the table; thank you Aran." Sheik spoke over his shoulder, a smile in his casual and thankful tone. Nodding, the young Hylian boy similarly smiled as he put down the long scroll he was carrying. Leaning against one of the walls in the small house they resided in, Link watched from his shadowed corner with his brawny arms folded. Eyes narrowing over at the scroll on the table, the green-garbed youth ruminated on its possible information.

"I-If you need anything else Mr. Sheik p-please don't hesitate to ask!" The young Aran called over as he backed on out of the domicile to shut the door in front of him.

Left in the bathing orange illumination of the candlelight, Link and Sheik turned their eyes to face one another. Swivelling around from the occupied bed in the top-right corner of the small area, Sheik marched over to the table and gestured to the leaning Link to come closer. Sure enough, though he was still hesitant, the blonde youth unfolded his arms and stepped forward to join his new ally. Before Link could even open his mouth however the door knocked, surprising him; swerving his narrow-eyed frown over in the door's direction, he glared. Sheik laid a hand gently across his own perhaps in an attempt to calm the tension, unnerving him further.

"Come in!"

As if listening to the Sheikah's voice as Link had half-expected, the door to the small house re-opened for the second time since little Aran had left. Standing in his place was a tall narrow-eyed figure. Similarly broad-shouldered and built to the watching Link, this young man appeared to be weathered by combat; numerous scars evidently marred his otherwise agreeable complexion. Catching sight of the long and sharp axe-like blade of the halberd the young man carried, Link found himself glaring down at it suspiciously.

He's probably a friend of Sheik's, Link thought.

Calm down.

As the nameless youth stepped in Link got a look at the unruly staccato mess that was his ebony black-haired head; a common hairstyle, especially in days of war. Resting behind his hair however was a peculiar kind of headband, seemingly tied across his forehead. On his body he carried black-plate armour on his left shoulder, a pair of similarly-shaded gauntlets across his arms and a practical but weathered brown tunic and trousers. A long and scraggly grey cape rested across his shoulders as if to compliment the rest of his unfashionable appearance.

"Link, this is Raynard of the Van Garrick clan," Sheik introduced, a calming tone in his voice to compliment the placid harmony of the orange light that washed over the small house's insides. "Raynard... this is Link." The Sheikah finished, using his two free bandaged arms to gesture toward the two young men. Though the frowning Link outstretched his broad arm forward to be shaken in greeting, the watching Raynard turned his nose up at the blonde.

"Hmph...," the listening Raynard began, narrowing his eyes as he re-folded his arms stoically. "So... you are the Hero of Time...?"

"Charming..." Navi muttered from a safe distance, hiding on the watching Kokiri's shoulder. Link raised a curious straw-haired eyebrow up as he lowered his arm in response to the youth's hostility.

"Much younger than I thought...," the black-haired youth pondered on outwardly as he seemingly examined the green-garbed boy. "Sheik why are we wasting our time with him?" Raynard spat, turning his scowl on the red-eyed Sheikah next to him. "We don't need any outside help."

With an audible but soft-sounding sigh, Sheik set his frown behind the wide scarf he wore so well. "Yes we do Raynard," the Sheikah replied just as boldly, narrowing his one visible crimson eye as he set his right hand to rest on his right hip. "In seven years we haven't even been able to put a dent in Ganondorf's reign," the rebellion's co-founder reminded with a hardened tone to his normally feminine-like voice. The listening Raynard swept his eyes away from his leader's as if in silent defeat. "Besides... you know this is Zelda's wish."

"Tch..." Raynard rolled his eyes as he turned his head away from the group, clearly in disapproval.

Though he found himself inherently disliking the young Raynard, Link opted to keep his distrust and opinion to himself as he re-faced the frowning Sheik.

Not as if it matters, he thought.

I'm only fighting with them as far as Kokiri Forest and then they're on their own.

"All right..." Sheik started as he about-turned to eye the scroll on the table below him; reaching down with his left arm he flattened it out across the hardwood. Watching over the blonde Sheikah's shoulder, Link rose an eyebrow as he examined the scroll's contents; finding a map laid out with Hyrule's landmarks, he managed to recognise key areas he had been to.

Just as he had expected his home, the Kokiri Forest, had been highlighted with a spherical quill-pen, indicating it was their first destination.

"Our enemy's rule has extended even as far as your home Link," Sheik began in addressing his new ally as he swept his arms across the hardwood table beneath the three men. Furrowing his brow as he listened, Link nodded. "I've had scouts' intel tell me that the place is a mess," Sheik explained in a negative shake of his head. "Multiple units of Moblins have been sighted as deep as the Lost Woods."

Link found himself lowering his blue eyes in a worried frown, narrowing in thought.

"Saria..." He ruminated on silently, thinking of his missing green-haired companion.

He wondered how she was doing or even if she was still alive.

"How many men is that?" Raynard threw in from his folded-armed stance, frowning heavily as before. "Roughly?"

Turning to face the black-haired youth Sheik re-opened his mouth. "Hard to say but we estimate at least five."

"Good god..." Raynard hissed out in blaspheme, turning his eyes away as if in pure shock.

"It's... bad out there," Sheik agreed as he nodded, turning his head back to the front. "To go now would be sheer folly, so..."

"So... what?" Link pressed, curious as he raised up an eyebrow.

"We need to prepare," the Sheikah answered, his blonde head lowered to match his shut red eye. "And so..."

Almost as if triggered and cued by his words, both Sheik and Raynard swivelled their gazes toward the blinking Link.

Suddenly I feel worried, he thought.

"Ever hear of... Lon Lon Ranch?"

Slogging his brown boots across the once lush field of Hyrule, Link's brooding scowl remained ever constant on his facial expression. Opting to hover close-by, the similarly frowning Navi matched her charge's pace.

Having been explained that the resistance's resources are so lacking in that they need manpower and horses, Sheik sent the new Hero of Time in the ranch's direction. Although Link insisted he'd make the journey to his old childhood home on foot, extremely anxious to see his old friend Saria, he was unfortunately turned down.

"I guess it gives me a reason to go see Malon one last time..." The blonde youth thought to himself silently, his hardened glower eventually creasing into a softened frown. Memories of the flame haired mare tamer managed to calm his angered nerves, having been stressed eternally since his re-awakening a mere day ago.

"How are you feeling?"

Edging his sapphire-like eyes to his left he registered the soft voice as Navi.

"Yeah... fine," he answered, his hardened frown slowly returning to him, re-facing the front. Soon however, mid-march, his scowl twitched as he snorted. "As well as I can be I guess." The young man rectified with the matching derisive response. Though she was put off by his words, Navi soldiered on.

"I know you feel manipulated...," the little ball of light acknowledged, a saddened tone in her voice. The sardonic grin on his face told her all she needed to know. "But... maybe you're wrong Link."

Halting his march out of sheer shock, the youth about-turned to face his partner, eyes widened. "What...?" He hissed over incredulously.

"Well... put yourself in their shoes," the guardian fairy ventured as she hovered in front of the bewildered boy. "You know what kind of person Ganondorf is. They've had to deal with this for seven years...," she pointed out, her tone emphatic. Though Link listened, his anger began to bubble away once more; he turned his eyes away from hers, clenching his fist at his side. "It'd be enough to break anyone."

"I... I understand that, but..."

"Did you mean what you said to Sheik?"

Turning his eyes back up to face her, Link initially blinked back before furrowing his brow in recognition. "You mean... about only helping until we free Kokiri Forest?"

She nodded.

"Yeah." Link shot back, a similar gesture to register his confirmation.

"Link it's not a question of if anymore like when we were after the Spiritual Stones...," Navi began once more as she slowly hovered forward. "Things are really bad now."

"I know."

"Slavery... death..."

"I know Navi."

"For all we know Saria, Mido and everyone at the forest is-"

"NAVI!"

Stopped in her tracks, the cerulean sphere of light gasped so quietly it was nearly inaudible; she caught the tortured look in her partner's eye as he recovered from his calling.

"I get it...," he muttered out. "But I'm only one man," the green-clothed boy reminded her as he swept his head to his left. "And you remember how strong he was..."

Silent in her response, Navi lowered her eyes; a telling show of disappointment.

"Even if I wanted to...," Link began again, shaking his head as he furrowed his brow down at the deep emerald of Hyrule Field beneath him. "I wouldn't have the ability."

–

2

Half-expecting to be greeted by Malon as he entered the walls of Lon Lon Ranch, Link swept his right arm across his eyes to block the glaring sun as it set over the horizon.

It had taken almost all day just to get this far, he thought.

Shame Sheik and his entourage couldn't join me.

"Hi! Welcome to the ran-?"

Surprised by the soft voice's interruption, Link swerved his straw-haired head to the stable barn he remembered in search of its source. Unfortunately however due to the sun's glare he could not make the form out.

"F-Fairy boy...?"

Suddenly he knew who it was; he couldn't help the smile growing on his face as he recognised the voice's owner.

"Fairy boy!"

With the sound of a small bucket dropping water to the green field beneath them, the listening Malon suddenly erupted into a padding run presumably for him.

CRASH

Gasping with a laugh, Link found himself in a sudden smashing embrace with the flame-haired maiden. Surprised he vaguely noted their new height difference; his head now just barely overtook hers. She also wore a much more complimenting purple-shaded dress; resting across her lower half was a brown pullover with some ancient Hylian letters visible atop it. The simple brown boots she wore complimented well with the short but practical white blouse she wore. Though Link half-expected to find the dragon-like amulet she used to wear he remembered that she had given him it seven years previous.

It hung across his neck as proof of their friendship.

Noticing it, Malon pulled back from her cradling to smile back at him.

"I knew you'd come back to me," she whispered out, her tone as soft and silky as the feel of her hands across his hips. Feeling her touch a little more familiar than he'd have liked, he chuckled nervously as he turned his red-shaded cheeks away from her. "I missed you... these long seven years."

Re-facing her with a smile of his own, Link nodded. "I missed you too...," he replied. "Zora's Domain... wasn't it?"

Malon, similarly in a cheerful tone, nodded also. "Yeah," she answered. "You said you'd take me back to the Kokiri Forest... remember?" She asked him, turning a side of her grin up at him as she did so. Link chuckled a second time, lowering his sky-blue eyes once more in embarrassment.

"I remember..." He laughed good-heartedly, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly with his free left arm.

"That may happen sooner than you think."

"Navi!" Malon grinned in the guardian fairy's talking direction; nodding back in greeting, the little blue ball of light flitted briefly above her charge's left shoulder. "It's so good to see you both," the ranch-hand claimed, a warm smile returning to her face as she ran her likewise balmy gaze across Link's person, leaning herself to the side as she gripped his hips close. "Especially after... daddy..." She trailed her sentence off, avoiding his eyesight with her own by lowering them; her newly saddened frown reformed on her face and Link had to blink in initial confusion.

Soon his mind caught up however when he recalled finding the sleeping and gloomily depressed Talon resting in Kakariko Village.

"Who is that?!"

The voice, so sharp and taxing on the nerves, managed to make the listening Malon jerk her hands away from the gasping Link's body. Surprised, he swept his cerulean-shaded gaze horizontally to find another familiar figure standing in the doorway to the ranch-house. Though he was dressed in far more luxurious wear than Link remembered, it was him.

Ingo of Lon Lon Ranch.

Standing dressed in what appeared to be a crimson-shaded torso piece; a pair of blue and white arm sides lay decorated in a criss-cross pattern on his two top limbs. Resting below on his legs were similar white breeches to the ones Link himself wore. The emerald-green shoes he was clothed in went well with the odd white scarf around his neck.

"What the hell is Ingo dressed in...?" Link whispered, narrowing his right eye at the bushy-moustached man not far from their position. "It looks-"

"I know, I know but sh!"

Hissed to remain quiet Link opted to do just that as he reset his hands to his sides; Malon brushed her indigo dress off as she turned her body to face the marching Ingo, standing side-by-side with the curious-faced Link.

"Who in the...?" Ingo began, frowning heavily as he narrowed his eyes in his forward march. Seemingly examining the similar-faced Link, the new ranch owner widened his eyes as he finally recognised the youth. "Ah!" He exclaimed, his thick dark-brown eyebrows raising up as he did. "I remember you... Link was it?"

"Good memory," the listening Kokiri had to compliment, a grin on his face as he outstretched his right arm forward. This time he was obliged; the nodding Ingo reached ahead to grab his fingers within his own in a firm handshake. "Yeah... nice to see you again Ingo."

"I remember you when you were just a boy," the man grinned back as he retracted his hand to rest behind his back. "A man remembers those that truly work."

Though Link smiled back in good sociability he couldn't help but notice the hardened frown on the listening Malon. Seemingly also taking note of her, Ingo swerved his hard-eyed glare on her.

"Did you finish feeding the animals?" He questioned her with a cold-hearted glower to his tone.

"Yes, Ingo," Malon shot back, glaring similarly in response. "I wouldn't forget to do that no matter how many times you ask."

"Hmph... we'll see...," Ingo muttered lowly as he eyed the farm girl carefully before soon sweeping his eyes over to the blonde youth before him. "So... what brings you to this abode?"

"A... few things," Link answered, his eyes on his close companion next to him temporarily before soon re-facing the man ahead. "Can we discuss this inside?"

Ingo allowed a smile to crease his older features, his hands still resting behind his back. "I don't see why not."

"Ahh... so you and Sheik hope to do business hm...?" Ingo ventured forth from his seat across the table they sat at, his hands joined together and elbows resting on the hardwood. Sitting far crosswise to the older ranch-hand was the frowning Link, his hands resting comfortably by his sides. "No matter how much you offer boy I am not willing to part with one of my ranch's horses," he shot back, turning his moustache up at the Kokiri, as if in disinclination. "Lon Lon Ranch is fully committed to our great lord Ganondorf!"

Link's eyes narrowed in response and recognition.

Had Ganondorf's rule extended even as far as this place?

Seven years, he reminded himself a second time.

Even Talon isn't running things anymore... which means doing this will be difficult.

Especially if Ingo has allied the farm with Ganondorf, he thought worriedly.

"Please, we're not asking for much," Link pressed, frowning as he rose up his two hands to gesture forward on the table he once ate with. "We just need one horse; can't you make an exception just this once?"

"Hmph... do you really think there is room to wiggle in this new regime?" Ingo growled back, re-raising his head to look down on the blonde youth. "I thought you'd be smarter than that my boy..." He finished with a chuckle, tilting his head to the side in a display of his derisive amusement. Link's listening frown twitched in growing anger; he held himself back from spitting back his venom-filled tone for sheer worry of being pushed back even further from his long-term goal.

It's setback after setback, he thought. The more time I spend on this the higher chance Sheik will ask me to stay with them.

And that's the last thing I want to do.

"U-Um... master Ingo..."

His attention called, the hard-frowning ranch-hand spun his disapproving scowl on the flame-haired Malon standing ever present behind him, her coarse fingers threaded together. "What...?" The bushy-moustached man muttered incredulously in her direction, as if shocked by her intrusion into the conversation. "What's wrong? Something happen with the animals?"

"N-No...," Malon stammered back in response, shaking her head dismissively. "I mean... I know of a solution for you both so that everyone wins."

Surprised by her helpful insight and commentary even the listening Link looked up from his earlier deep thought to take heed.

"Go on..." Ingo pressed, narrowing his beady little eyes at the fair maiden, scrutinising her with his threaded-fingered stare.

"You remember... Epona... don't you?" She asked, frowning back at the older man; with a very quick glance she gifted Link with a swift wink, one that not even Navi would have been able to catch. Link watched her studiously, the cogs in his brain working intensely to find a method to her madness.

What are you doing, he thought.

Ingo snorted, swivelling his brown-haired head from hers. "A useless mare," he grunted miserably. "For a horse with such potential to be so unruly... such a pity," the man admitted, shaking his head once more. "I would have saw fit to entrust her to the great lord Ganondorf; curry our ranch some favour."

Perhaps thankful for the horse's wild nature, Malon continued. "Given she belongs to me... I was thinking of gifting her to Link."

"What?!" Ingo screeched angrily, swerving his scowl back on the young woman. Similarly shocked, Link rounded his bewildered frown on her, unable to find the words to speak to her with.

"Malon!" Navi's sudden call made the listening pair of ranchers swivel 'round briefly before re-facing one another.

"What's wrong?" The listening young woman frowned back nonchalantly, her hands still joined at her midriff. "Hasn't Epona always belonged to me?"

Though Link was unsure on the history of the people he once broke bread with, the look in Ingo's tortured scowl told him all he needed to know.

Malon was right and he knew it.

"You can't be serious...," he growled back at her, lowering his hands to rest his elbow on the table as he glared up. "We have this group over a barrel and you want to gift them what they want...?"

"Epona is mine to do with what I please isn't she?" The farm girl clarified once again, shrugging her slim shoulders back at the man as calmly as she had done before. Link couldn't help but grow a very small smirk upon his face as he listened intently.

"Very well...," Ingo at least let go of, grimacing with defeat as he turned to re-face his customer. "If you can tame her...," he added this time with a knowing smirk. "You may be gifted with Epona."

"Are you a betting man... Ingo?"

His curiosity piqued one step further, the listening man's moustache twitched in reply before a bushy eyebrow shot up slowly.

"Perhaps...," he carefully sidled into the conversation with. "What are your thoughts boy?"

"I'm thinking...," Link began, his blonde head held lowly before he very gradually rose it back up to face the man, a confident grin on his facial expression. "That Epona and I could beat you in a race."

Silence.

And then, suddenly, Ingo's boisterous laugh echoed noisily across the ranch-house's walls to match the sound of the wood being slammed; a full display of the man's hilarity.

"Did you take some mushrooms out there in the field son?!" Ingo laughed insultingly, barely able to take the Kokiri seriously. Undeterred, Link's eerily confident smirk remained as constant as the air between them.

"If Epona and I win... you forfeit ownership of Lon Lon Ranch." He offered onto the hardwood table before him. Perhaps cowed by the young man's words Ingo's laughing almost immediately subsided and, as it did, the low angry scowl he was known for returned to his expression.

"And if you lose...?" He pressed in a whisper, narrowing his eyes threateningly.

Link leant his head to the side in his bold and sly smirk. "Then I'll join your workforce... this time for good."

Malon, horrified, stared over at the exchange unable to do anything to stop the men from their discussion.

Another round of silence pervaded the air between the group before, finally, Ingo regained his own smirk and stared back at the youth.

"We have an accord."

–

3

"What the hell was that?!" Malon shot out with for what felt like the umpteenth time since they left the ranch-house. Pacing up and down the barn-house she had her slim arms folded in a show of her anger with the similar-standing Link. Leaning against the taut ladder laying behind him, the smiling Link folded his arms in a corner of the house. "You have no idea how to ride, this is the first time you and Epona have even considered doing this by the way," the farm girl shot over rapidly, narrowing her eyes briefly at him before continuing. "It's crazy!" She finished with a swift and angry spin of her head; beautiful sparks of red filled the air as she did.

Link couldn't help but laugh very quietly to himself through his nose as he watched and listened. Growing exasperated with the responses she was receiving, Malon narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side as she glared back at him.

"Oh I'm sorry; have we left planet earth?" She asked him sarcastically, scowling back at him as she threaded her arms together. "What's so funny?"

With a charming smile still upon his lips, Link shook his head as if to dispel the farm girl's worries before pushing himself off of the ladder he leant on. Pressing forward he managed to draw a curious raised eyebrow from the quiet and listening Malon.

"What are you...?" She began, an unsure frown etched across her expression. She searched for some kind of reasoning behind his actions hidden amongst the odd look in his smiling eye; as he leaned forward she chose not to lean back or away from him.

Sure enough, just as within the Zora's Domain seven years previous, the two shared a very soft and delicate kiss with one another. Resting his hands directly on the young woman's lower hips to hold her close, Link pulled back still with the boyish smile he wore so well plastered to his face. Perhaps disappointed by the brief nature of their closeness, Malon found herself leaning further forward and re-opening her eyes in a frown, as if caught within a dream.

"U-Um...," she began with a gulping frown adorned to her face. "G-Good point...," she managed out, lowering her eyesight from his with a visible red shade of embarrassment to her cheeks. Link couldn't help but grin back as he listened. "But I think you might still need practice."

The listening Kokiri pulled his green-hatted head back to laugh good-naturedly, almost as if he was waiting for her to say those words.

It was all Malon could do but gain a slow-growing grin of her own in response.

"Now... let's see if Epona recognises you fairy boy." The smiling Malon began softly as she stepped similarly smoothly across the lush green field of Lon Lon Ranch's large pen.

Ever close-by, Link stopped just as his partner did, placing a thoughtful hand by his hip. As if sensing the pair, the fiery-looking Epona double-took in their direction before swiftly jogging off away presumably to safety. Malon sighed in light defeat as she tilted her head ever so slightly, a sad smile to her face.

"Sorry fairy boy but it doesn't look as if-"

Before she could even finish her sentence, the faint sound of an instrument filled the air around her; surprised, Malon swivelled 'round to find the shut-eyed Link with an ocarina in his two-handed grip. Gently rocking from side to side as if to generate some kind of rhythm the blonde youth commenced the notes to the melody that Malon had once taught him in his last escapade. Genuinely shocked Malon could do little but stare at her close companion with widened aqua-blue eyes. As if by sheer magic itself, the sound of hooves fast-approaching them made her snap her head in Epona's jogging direction.

Sure enough, he managed to overcome the barriers that Malon had been so confident in of his failure; realising he had remembered the very melody taught within the confines of her family, Malon shot the smiling Link a knowing smirk as she watched him cup Epona's face affectionately.

"That's impressive," the fire-haired girl grinned in complimenting, finding herself folding her arms back at him. "Most people can barely replicate that on harp let alone an ocarina."

"It's not as difficult as it used to be," Link shot back in his own little knowing grin. "With practice... I think you can do anything."

"Won't get an argument from me," Malon replied as she leant her fiery-haired head to the side. "Aptly put!"

Knowing in what she was referring to, Link nodded as he turned once more to face the taller Epona. Rubbing his hand across her back as a gesture of good faith the loyal mare snorted appreciatively. Link put on an excited light grin as he narrowed his eyes and re-opened his mouth to speak.

"I guess there's a first time for everything... huh Epona?"

–

4

"I hope you're ready to lose boy."

Called to attention the frowning Link swerved his head 'round to face the slow-marching Ingo, heading toward his position. Though he sat atop Epona with all the basic gear he had received from Malon, Ingo appeared to be decked out in some luxurious riding gear of his own.

Certainly the odds are stacked, the young Kokiri thought to himself cheekily.

"I think we might just surprise you," Link shot back as he drew a small grin atop his complexion. "We been practicing."

"Oh is that right...?" Ingo asked, his tone sarcastic and mocking; with the derisive turn of his head he eventually managed to pull himself up on the similarly sized horse of his own, grunting as he did so. Briefly swivelling his brown-haired head to face his younger opponent he gave the watching Link a withering glance. "It's going to take more than just sheer practice to beat me." He warned in a hardened narrow of his eyes.

"We'll see..." The listening Link thought to himself, staring directly back at the glaring Ingo.

"Racers ready?"

His attention pulled a second time and this time by Malon, Link shot his frown downwards to find her standing offside of the course, frowning up at them both.

"Yes you idiot girl; now give the call!" The ranch-hand angrily shouted back down at her. As always Malon let his comments go; in spite of the growing anger Link found himself with, he opted not to respond.

Raising her left hand to reveal a small green flag she opened her mouth to signal the beginning of the competition and indeed the bet itself.

"Go!"

With a single soft kick to Epona's sides Link and his mare were off and running; plastered a grin on his face he found himself far exceeding his opponent's pace. Noticing it almost immediately, Ingo's eyes widened and he yelled out multiple obscenities as he slapped his riding crop into the poor horse's rear as if to spur it on.

Renting the air with an echoing neigh the dark-brown stallion began to speed up and, as it did, its passenger raised up his free left arm into the air; adding a war-cry like scream to his horse's sprint, Ingo sounded every bit the madman.

Fingering Epona's reins carefully, Link managed to turn the fiery mount like a professional; though he was sleep-deprived at having been up all night, his practice with the once wild horse had at last paid off. Swiftly swivelling 'round the corner into the back of Lon Lon Ranch and the horse's pen, the pair of heroes found themselves easily overtaking Ingo.

"This is incredible!" Navi called from within the grinning Link's long green cap. Raising a straw-haired eyebrow, Link listened further as he briefly turned his eye in her direction close-by. "I can't believe you did this!"

"They did this," he corrected her, his tone surprisingly calm as he re-faced the front. Narrowing his eyes at the final four turns of the race, he widened his confident smirk. Nipping at his heels was the screaming Ingo; desperate in his attempt to prevent his younger opponent from winning the bet. "Malon and Epona!" The Hero of Time exclaimed in a display of sheer excitement as he pressed his partner one final push. Gasping as he watched his adversary 'round the last corner and pass the white chalked line, Ingo's eyes remained fixated and widened as if horrified.

Pulling the reins back but only for confirmation of their victory, Link grinned widely as Epona neighed in effort as she pulled her hooves up before eventually crashing back down to the grassy ground beneath them.

–

5

"Amazing!"

Catching Malon's words, Link turned his smile to his left as he stepped slowly off of Epona's saddle. Barely with enough time to react he couldn't help but laugh as she crashed into him with a similarly chuckling hug, wrapping her arms 'round his neck and broad-shouldered back.

"I'm so proud of you!" She smiled brightly, washing her joy over him. Re-turning her smile on the recovering Epona however she nodded over at her. "Both of you."

"Hey if anything it was all you," Link batted her compliment back with an upward nod of his own head, resting his hands softly upon her hips. "I would have easily crashed and burned and you know it." He challenged her with a narrow of his right eye, mischievous but well-meaning. With a similarly impish grin on her face, Malon hung her her slim arms around the youth's neck as she slowly leaned forward.

"Yeah...," she answered, tilting her head ever so slightly to the right. "Maybe..." The flame-haired girl grinned on as she found herself very slowly and carefully hovering toward him. Realising her intent, Link's eyebrows lifted in recognition before he began to grow a red-shade of embarrassment to his cheeks.

"Impossible!"

Catching the sound of the interruption, Link and Malon almost instinctively let one another go as they turned in the direction of the noise; sure enough, as he pulled himself off of the brown horse he had used in their race, Ingo marched toward them in an angry growl.

"You must have set this up!" He shouted emphatically as he pointed accusingly at the frowning Malon. "There's no other explanation!"

"I helped Link if that's what you mean," Malon opted to respond with in her business-like frown. "Things were pretty bad for him after-"

"How dare you!" Ingo exclaimed, his face positively full of the crimson-shaded rage he wore so well. As he began his approach he rose up his right back-hand, presumably to strike her with. Narrowing his eyes with light effort Link intercepted the assault by raising up his right hand to catch Ingo's. Surprised, the ranch-hand's eyes widened as his arm was halted in mid-air. "What the-?" He began, purely unable to believe it. Link glared back wordlessly at the surprised-expressed ranch owner before Ingo soon regained his rage to match the words that came out. "Let go of me you mindless ur-!"

In spite of his passion-filled insult, Ingo soon found his words tripping over themselves; his eyes widened once more as he gasped. Now, presumably in pain, the older man drew in his breath sharply; seemingly finding his strength failing him, he dropped very quickly to one knee, using his other free hand to claw at his opponent's own arm gripping his. Narrowing his oceanic eyes down at the man beneath him, Link's hardened scowl made even the watching Navi disquieted with concern and unease.

"Link... Link it's okay..." Malon attempted to soothe her companion from behind.

Though she placed a hand softly on his right shoulder, the sudden abrupt turning glare she received made her suddenly wrench her hand away, the folds on her face creasing as if in fear. Suddenly realising the look on her face, Link furrowed his brow at her before turning back to face the whimpering Ingo in his pained and wriggling grip. At last in comprehension of himself and his actions, Link abruptly let go of the gasping Ingo, allowing him to drop to the grassy ground and crawl away in fear.

Realising in horror that he only had himself to blame for that small fit of rage and he couldn't just point the finger at Kage Narumono a second time, Link stared down at the open palm of his right hand, lightly twitching in dread. Curling his fingers very slowly into a fist he briefly shut his aquatic eyes and attempted to relocate his cheer from earlier.

I can't let Sheik find out about this, he thought.

With that fear-driven rumination, he about-turned to frown sadly at the watching and silent Malon, ready to explain himself.