The dead, cursed, still air of the Castle Town almost felt welcoming in comparison to that of the frozen wasteland that was Zora's Domain. Of course, that was a very stern almost. Still, the air at least didn't threaten to solidify Link's blood or chip his skin from the severe coldness. It didn't stop him and Navi from leaving as quickly as possible, dodging around the horrific creatures that prowled the once bustling community.
When the two got to Hyrule Field and saw the sky clearly, they were shocked to see the sun was still high up in the air. The journey through that icy cavern felt like it had taken hours upon hours from both their perspectives. Ganondorf's dark magic just seemed to have a way of bending time and making these trips seem a lot faster or slower than they truly were. It was something that the two found quite disturbing.
Still, no time to think of that. The pair started across Hyrule Field, Navi leading the way towards Lon Lon Ranch.
"Do you think Malon is okay?" Link asked, looking to the fairy as his mind raced. From the way Talon talked, it didn't seem like things were too awful at the ranch…but maybe things had changed? At the very least there didn't seem to be monsters there…
"Surely she would be…Talon wouldn't just leave her if her life was actually in danger…" Navi wanted to think the best of Talon in such a situation. The ranch owner was no warrior nor was he even much of a rancher. But he was still a father! "Thankfully, we'll get there long before the sun sets. We'll get everything settled, alright?"
Link wanted to feel as confident as Navi did…but he just couldn't. Paranoia filled his mind as nasty thoughts of what could be happening to his old friend swam in his skull. The last two times he thought his friends may have been okay, they died! It made him worry for Ruto, too, but she said she'd wait, and he had to at least believe that much…
Shaking the thoughts away, Link broke out into a run as determination filled him and a newfound energy coursed through him. His sword and shield were at the ready, for any creatures that may have attacked them in the field…
The trip, though, was rather uneventful. Just as Navi had said, the sun was still shining as Lon Lon Ranch came into view. From what little of the ranch they could see, nothing had changed. The stone wall surrounding the area still stood strong, and the air was clean and lacking the horrid nature that the cursed places the two had to traverse held.
"You should put your weapon away." Navi whispered as the two got closer. "Ingo might get real defensive if you have your sword out…" The fairy looked about the entrance when the two approached. "But where's Talon…?"
"Maybe he's inside already." Link suggested, looking around as well as he put the Master Sword and his shield away. There was, of course, the chance that he hadn't made it to the ranch at all…but he didn't want to entertain such thoughts more than he had to.
Navi nodded, landing on Link's shoulder. "Maybe he got here before us and things are settled. Come on, let's take a look…"
Stepping into the ranch proper, the boy and fairy saw…little of interest. Lon Lon Ranch had changed very little in the seven years since they last visited. The buildings showed a bit more wear and tear, but aside from that, all was fine. The grass was green, the Cuccos clucked as they milled in their area, the horses ran free in the massive fenced off area…
Nothing seemed amiss at all.
"Where is everyone? I don't see anyone…" Navi murmured, no actual people around the main part of the ranch. "Things seem fine, at least. I'm surprised how well the ranch has done given the rest of Hyrule." It was almost suspicious, even. Sure, the ranch was far from the Castle Town and hardly a target for Ganondorf…but things were practically perfect. If it hadn't been for Talon's words, Navi wouldn't suspect anything had gone wrong in the seven years since Ganondorf took Hyrule for his own.
Link didn't think quite as hard about these things. He was just glad to see that things were peaceful at the ranch, just as he had left it! Still, what Talon had said made him worry, and no amount of lush grass or neighing of horses could make it go away fully.
"The barn, maybe…" Link turned and went towards the barn, deciding to just let himself in. The smell of hay and the stench of animals hit him and Navi as they walked inside, the air practically humid. There was the mooing of cows and the sound of someone murmuring to themselves.
Investigating the murmuring, the boy and fairy saw there was another person in there with them! This person was clearly a woman, her back to the pair. Her face wasn't visible, and she seemed to be sweeping up some dirt and dust on the floor. She wore a dirt-stained dress with a purple skirt, long red flowing hair going down to her mid-back.
"Um…Excuse me…" Navi piped up, clearing her throat and taking to the air.
Apparently, the woman hadn't heard the two entered, jumping a bit as she whipped around to look at them. She was a very pretty young woman, though she had shadows under her eyes, which were red and a pit puffy. It was clear she had been crying not long ago. "What? What is it? Are you here for Ingo?" She nearly snapped, seeming more exasperated and tired than actually mad.
Link flinched a bit at the harsh tone of her words but stopped and stared at the woman. She seemed so familiar…and that hair…it had to be…
"Malon…?" The boy asked softly, looking at the girl in her pretty blue eyes. For some reason, he felt his face get kind of warm. Was this really her? His friend? A small part of him almost forgot that she'd actually look older. Saria and Darunia hadn't changed in the seven year gap, so he hadn't even imagined what changed Malon may have gone through!
The young woman's reaction wasn't quite like Link's. If anything, she just seemed more annoyed. "I'm Malon, yeah. Ingo's the one you'll want to talk to. He owns the place now…" She was clearly trying to sound strong and confident, but there was a tinge of sadness and hurt in her voice she couldn't quite erase.
The boy felt his heart race as Malon's identity had been confirmed. She was just so…different than when they had last met! She was about a head shorter than he was and looked a lot more like the other adult ladies of Hyrule. It was hard for him to really describe, but…her skin seemed fairer, and her face was a lot prettier. He noticed she was wider in the hips…and on her front she had those big things that the women Hylians had on their chests!
Link cleared his throat, feeling suddenly very warm, especially in his face. It actually took him a second just to form the next, simple sentence. "Malon…uh…don't you recognize me…?"
Malon's face shifted drastically to one of confusion, the tension seeming to melt away in an instant. Her lips parted lightly as her blue eyes roamed Link's form from head to toe before glancing over to Navi. Her jaw dropped open, eyes widening as she stared Link in the face. "Fairy…Boy…?" She practically whispered, as if she were seeing a ghost.
The nickname stung after everything that had happened…after everything Link had learned. He was no 'Fairy Boy' anymore, and he wouldn't ever be. But he knew that Malon wouldn't insult him on purpose, instead just feeling a blooming comfort that she recognized him. Nodding, a sort of shy, small smile formed on his face. "That's right…"
He practically gasped out in shock as Malon rushed to him, wrapping her arms around his midsection and held him close, her head resting on his chest. "Fairy Boy! I knew those clothes were unique, but…I didn't think I'd see you again!"
Link felt almost trapped, heart slamming against his ribcage as he was trapped in the hug. He looked to Navi for help, only to notice she was holding back laughter. What was so funny? Was his face super red? It felt red…
Hesitantly, he wrapped one arm around Malon, not used to hugging anyone at all aside from Saria. It felt kind of strange…but nice. "I…I'm sorry it's been so long…uh…" What exactly did he say? He couldn't really explain the situation very well, and chances were the ranch girl wouldn't believe him anyway.
Malon separated from the hug as quickly as she started it, going red in the face herself. "Uh, sorry. About the hug, I mean. I was just…excited! I mean…" She seemed rather flustered as well! "I didn't really think first…" The young woman cleared her throat. "But you've got some explaining to do! You said you'd come back, and it's been seven years!" Her voice was an odd mix of accusatory, playfulness, and a bit of sadness…
This stung at Link, a feeling of guilt spreading through him and he found it a lot harder to look her in the eyes. Once more, he looked to Navi for help, not sure just what he should say…
Thankfully, Navi actually stepped in this time. "It's been a bit of a hassle. Things haven't exactly been safe in Hyrule these past seven years…"
Malon looked to the fairy as if she had just realized she was there, despite glancing at her earlier. The ranch girl nodded, humming and seeming less distraught. "You're right. I guess that wasn't a fair question. Past seven years haven't been kind to any of us…" She looked back to Link, looking him over once more. "But you seem to be doing good for yourself, Fairy Boy! A real Fairy Man!" She laughed lightly at her own joke, seeming almost relieved as if she hadn't had much to laugh about lately.
For some reason, the comment made Link's heart hammer hard once more. "Oh. Um…It's fine. And…thanks. You look…different. Good. I mean. Good." He was so tongue-tied! But why? It wasn't like he was lying. She looked very…very pretty, he just couldn't spit it out for some reason. Navi, meanwhile, was trying not to laugh once more, actually having to hold her hand over her mouth.
Unlike Link, Malon took the compliment a lot better, beaming at him brightly. "You really know how to flatter a girl, Fairy Boy." Once more, she let out a light laugh. All of a sudden, she got serious, glancing to the barn door as if expecting something. "I have to ask though…do you know what's going on here? With Ingo?" She spoke in an almost hushed tone, as if Ingo could be hiding and listening in.
Oh! Right. The reason the two had gone to the ranch before the Water Temple! Link sobered up, his face feeling less hot and his heart calming down. "We saw Talon. In Kakariko Village." The boy explained. "He said that Ingo sort of…took over and kicked him out…"
"I could hardly believe it myself. Talon's such a nice man, why would his own brother do that?" Navi added in, crossing her arms. "He was a bit cranky, but that seemed beyond Ingo!" Then again, she hardly knew the disgruntled man…
"That's the gist of it…" Malon replied, nodding solemnly and sighing. "It's worse than that though. He doesn't actually help with the ranch work at all anymore, but won't hire anyone to help, so it falls on me. I don't mind working, mind you…but he yells and screams and even beats the horses! He even kicked at Scamp once and he's still sore from that…" She teared up a bit, quickly wiping the tears away. "It's awful…this isn't like him at all…"
Why would he hurt the animals?! That made no sense! Link felt himself growing angry, wondering if Ingo had hurt Malon too. But even with his lack of social experience, he knew that was hardly the right question to ask. He was so familiar with how it felt to recall harmful experiences.
It was Navi that replied, confused at the explanation. "There's no reason? Did something happen to start this? There has to be something, right?" She'd like to think there'd be a trigger, rather than Ingo just being a nasty person.
Malon hesitated, gripping at her skirt and seeming to contemplate whether or not to say what was on her mind. "I'm not exactly positive, but…I think my uncle might be working with Ganondorf. That's why the ranch has been safe all this time…"
"What?!" Navi exclaimed without meaning to. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "Sorry. It's just…that's a pretty big accusation. What makes you think he's doing this?"
"Like I said, I'm not positive." Malon reminded the boy and fairy. "But I've seen him talking with real shady characters, talking about food shipments and even about finding a 'replacement horse' for someone. No one's name got mentioned but…who else has those kinds of funds these days? No one in Kakariko Village from what I've heard."
A replacement horse? Right away, Link recalled the massive steed that the phantom within the Forest Temple rode upon…and how he had killed it. The memory and those related to the Forest Temple in general made the boy want to throw up, but he pushed such emotions down. "That makes sense…" He murmured, appalled at the idea that any Hylian would willingly work for Ganondorf. "I mean I don't know what else it could be."
Nodding, Malon gripped at large handfuls of her skirt, breathing heavily and looking like she was fighting away tears. "I just don't know what to do! I can't run away…the field is too dangerous and I'm afraid if I leave, Ingo will really hurt the animals! He already beats the horses, like I said, but he might start killing them! I-I don't like to talk about my uncle so harshly, but with the way he's acted…the things he's said…"
It became clearer with each word that Malon was bottling up her emotions. She even stammered a bit, and she kept gulping and twisting at her skirt in a mild panic.
Link felt so bad for her…having the idea that she felt a lot of the things he felt when under stress or recalling bad memories. It was an awful sensation, like the world was shrinking around him and like a hand closed around his heart. Slowly, he placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling pity when she flinched. "We'll help…I'm not sure how, but we'll fix this."
"Talon said he would meet us here…hopefully he's on his way now…" Navi added on, also feeling really bad for the young woman. The fairy liked Malon, the sweet and usually upbeat farmgirl. She especially liked her because of how much Link clearly cared for her deeply.
Malon nodded again, letting go of her skirt and seeming to calm down at Link's touch. "You'll really help? And my dad's on his way…?" She sniffled a bit, clearing her throat and managing to not shed any tears. "Oh, Fairy Boy…Ms. Fairy…I don't know what to say…Thank you so, so much…!"
Once more, Link felt his face heat up a bit, but he fought back his nervousness, or at least tried to. He really hoped his face wasn't too red! "Um…O-Of course. I mean, we're friends. But uh…do you have an idea of what we should do?" He felt silly asking, but honestly he had no idea.
It didn't seem like Link's lack of a plan bothered Malon. "I can tell you one thing…I don't want Uncle Ingo hurt. He's done awful things, but…he's still family. I can see how armed you are, but I don't want you using tools like that against him, okay?"
Link would never do that! He'd kill monsters and beasts if he had to, but killing a Hylian, an actual person, was unacceptable for him.
Except, perhaps, with one exception…
"Don't worry, we won't do that." Navi said, speaking for the both of them. She knew Link well enough to say he'd never actually try and hurt another person if he could help it. Even if they were doing awful things like Ingo.
"That's right. I wouldn't hurt him like that…" Link agreed, nodding and trying to reassure Malon as he removed his hands from her shoulders. "But what do you think we should do instead?"
The farmgirl let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you both…" She then started to think, crossing her arms as she did so. "Like I said, no violence. Uncle Ingo has become more prideful lately…that's a big weakness…"
Navi pondered along with Malon, trying to come up with a plan. "Maybe some sort of bet?" The fairy offered. "Do you think he would bet the ranch or the animals in some sort of contest?" It was hard for her to think of another non-violent solution. She doubted they could trick Ingo in any other way. Taking a ranch back from a backstabbing brother wasn't exactly something she and Link had ever thought they'd have to help with!
"I think he might…" Malon murmured, thinking more. "I don't know about the whole ranch, but…wait…" She suddenly gaped both in realization and light horror. "Epona! Remember what I said about a 'replacement horse' before? I think Epona might be that horse! She's so much faster and sturdier than the others…and she's the one horse Ingo has never laid a hand on!"
Link was at least a bit glad that Epona was alive and well. He didn't know how long horses lived, and he was fond of the animal. "So…if we make a bet and take Epona, that might help?"
"I think it would!" Navi said, catching on to what Malon was thinking. "If Ingo doesn't have his prized horse, he might give up the ranch and flee or something. I sure wouldn't want to make Ganondorf angry if I were him…"
"That's the plan then! A horse race would be your best option." Malon said, seeming to have a massive weight off her shoulders and more hope in her gaze. "He prides himself on his horse riding, so he'd probably take a bet on a race!"
A race? "I don't know how to ride a horse though." Link remarked, though it hadn't looked too difficult the few other times he saw someone else do it. "Is it hard?"
"Well, you usually need a lot of training, but Epona rides like a dream. If you use her in the race, you'll win no problem!" Malon assured, apparently quite confident in both Link and her favorite horse.
"It's settled then, we'll challenge him to a race." Navi was glad they managed to get a plan together! She just wished Talon were there since that would probably help the situation. Though knowing Ingo's shady dealings, the word of his brother probably held little weight to the usurper at this point.
Malon beamed at the two, especially at Link. "I'm so lucky you two came back! I know you can do it, Link." She blushed lightly as she said the boy's proper name. The farmgirl even put emphasis on it.
"Th…Thank you. I'll do my best." Link promised, feeling flustered himself. "Where is Ingo, though?"
"He should be making his rounds about now." Malon said, composing herself a bit more. "I reckon he's out by the horses. Just go out there and challenge him, he'll surely accept."
"Don't worry Link, I'll do the talking." Navi suggested, knowing that Link would have more trouble with such dealings than her.
The boy felt relief wash over him, giving a thankful look to the fairy. He was still upset with her for what she did, not ready to fully forgive her yet. That being said, he had to be grateful for the things she did for him, such as dealing with social situations he wasn't prepared for. "Thank you, Navi."
"Good luck, you two. I know you can do this!" Malon lightly cheered, voice strong with confidence and faith in the boy and fairy.
Feeling at a light loss for words, Link just gave a nod as he exited the barn, a tittering Navi following behind.
"I'm really glad she's okay…" Link said, calming down as he closed the door behind him. "Things really haven't changed here much. I mean, compared to the rest of Hyrule." And he was so thankful for that, if only the rest of the kingdom could be this well off.
Navi couldn't help but grin to herself, finding almost endless amusement at how Link was with Malon. He had no idea how to handle a pretty girl, and it showed so much! The fairy had to wonder if Link was merely flustered by her or was crushing on the farmgirl. She wanted to think the latter, having a strong feeling that Malon returned those feelings. Even after seven years, it seemed.
"I'm glad too, Link." Was all Navi said, however. There would be plenty of time for her to tease the boy later on. At the moment, they had to focus! "Now, let's go find Ingo."
Nodding, Link went over to where Malon had directed, towards the horses. Just as the ranch girl had said, Ingo was mulling about and making his rounds. The man had changed since the pair last visited the ranch. No longer did he wear dirty overalls and boots with a tired and unruly demeanor.
Instead, Ingo was dressed like he were of great importance. He wore a fancy, red suit with blue sleeves fit with a collar that Link found very unusual. It was white and went around the man's neck. With spotless white pants and pointed green shoes, it was certainly clear that the new ranch owner had money to spare. His mustache and hair were finely groomed, and his face was clean, and it seemed as though he hadn't lifted a finger in years.
His eyes, though, were far worse than before. Before, Ingo had merely been a rude and curt man with an annoyed glare. Now the new ranch owner had daggerlike, sinister eyes. He looked at the horses almost hungrily, as though he were planning on slaughtering the beasts and devouring them. The man was mumbling something to himself that the boy and fairy couldn't hear, but he apparently found it amusing as he gave off a chuckle.
It wasn't until the pair were mere feet away that Ingo noticed them. He whipped his head around, jumping lightly as he registered what was going on. That sinister look never left his eyes, and unlike Malon he didn't seem to recognize Link and Navi. Apparently they had been too unimportant for him to remember.
"Hm?! What? What is it, what do you want?! Never seen you lot here before…especially a fairy…" Ingo barked, staring at Navi especially. He muttered something else under his breath that the two couldn't quite hear, but the word 'valuable' was a part of the statement.
Navi had to stop herself from shivering, feeling like Ingo would take out a bottle and trap her at any moment. She bit her tongue, nearly telling the awful man off, but that would surely ruin their plan. "We're new around here. We heard there were a lot of good horses at this ranch." The fairy explained, gazing at the horses as if trying to pick out which one seemed the fastest. She spotted a familiar red horse off on the far side of the area, which just had to be Epona!
"Is that so?" Ingo replied, calming down a bit at the idea he could make a profit. "Most of these beasts aren't worth it, but I'm sure I can accommodate you." His voice was surprisingly slick, as if he had been a salesman all his life. He looked to Link, raising a bushy brow curiously. "Since you'll actually do the riding, what are you looking for? You seem to have a lot of junk, so certainly a strong steed…"
Put on the spot a bit, Link wasn't sure what to say, so he simply agreed with Ingo. "Th…That's right. A strong steed. A lot of the horses look strong…" Was that the right thing to say? It sounded dumb to him!
"Can we go inside for a closer look? I think it'd help us decide which horse would be best for us." Navi lightly insisted, looking at Epona intently.
"Hmph. I suppose. Don't try anything funny, though. I have some dangerous friends, you know." Ingo grumbled, but still lead the two to the gate, unlocking it and entering the horse's area with them. A number of the animals looked to Ingo with clear fear in their eyes, a few even trotting away. A few of them had marks on them, sore remnants of beatings with what seemed like whips or belts. It was a sight that made both Link and Navi furious with the horrific ranch owner.
"Friends? What kinds of friends?" Navi asked, holding back her emotions and wanting to truly confirm if Ganondorf was involved here or not. It was good information to have, after all.
Fortunately for Navi, Ingo seemed very confident in himself. "You don't know? You really must not get around much! Why, the great King Ganondorf, of course!" He declared, clearly having no shame in siding with such a villainous spawn. "While he treats himself as a god, he is still a man like anyone else, needing food and provisions for himself and his minions. What he desires that I can give, I trade with him. So don't try anything funny, got it?"
Link felt a great sense of disgust at Ingo's rant. The man really had no qualms with openly admitting he worked with such a horrific person. Didn't he have any shame or remorse at all? The boy had the rising urge to yell at Ingo, to hit him and ask him what he's thinking. But he swallowed his rage down, simply nodding at the ranch owner's demand.
Navi too had to stop herself from giving Ingo a piece of her mind. He would really willingly supply Ganondorf with food and a new steed? Was he really so selfish and short-sighted? Did he think that the Gerudo would spare the ranch forever? Along with Link, she forced down her anger. "We won't do anything funny." Was all she could muster.
"Good!" Ingo remarked, smirking as if he did something very brave and amazing rather than lowly and revolting. "Now, which horse do ya want anyway?"
The fairy withheld a noise of disgust at Ingo's tone, looking around as if she really had to decide. Her gaze fell upon Epona once more, and she pointed the mare out as though she had only seen her for the first time. "How about that one? The red horse there?"
Ingo looked over to Epona, furrowing his brow and turning to Navi, shaking his head. "No. That one isn't for sale!"
"Why not?" Link asked, playing dumb. He was glad to see his animal friend, having to hide the recognition in his expression.
"Because she's for King Ganondorf, not for you!" The ranch owner sneered, as if that should have been obvious. "Pick another one!"
"She really seems like the perfect fit for us, though." Navi lightly argued, being careful with her words and tone, not wanting to be too forceful. "I think we can make an arrangement, right?"
The man was about to shout at the two, but at the mention of an arrangement, he seemed cautiously curious. "An arrangement? This I have to hear…"
"My friend here is great at riding horses." Navi lied, gesturing to Link. "I was thinking a wager! I bet we can beat you in a horserace. If we win, we get that mare. If you win…we give you everything we have and leave." She threw in that last part at the without really thinking it through, feeling she had to sweeten the deal for Ingo to comply. "If you think you can beat us, I mean."
Link's eyes widened as he turned to his companion. That hadn't been a part of the plan! What was Navi thinking?! "Everything?" He squeaked out, unable to help himself.
Ingo ignored the boy, his eyes shimmering with unhidden greed and confident. A wide grin spread across his face, the man chortling and rubbing his hands together. "Now that's a wager I can agree to! You think he can beat me, eh?" It seemed he wasn't bothered by Navi's last statement, it seeming to urge him on if anything. "It's a deal! We'll have one race! Around the fence three times! I'll even be generous, and let you pick any horse you want." He laughed again, as if he knew something the other two didn't. Ingo stuck out his hand to seal the deal.
Gulping, Link hesitated for a moment. Why did Navi have to wager everything they had?! Was she really that confident he would win? If he lost, Link wouldn't dare do something as stupid as give away all his things. He'd just have to flee. Not wanting to really touch Ingo even with his leather gauntlet on, Link had to force himself to shake the ranch owner's hand. "D…Deal…" The boy managed to choke out.
"Deal!" Ingo echoed, gripping the boy's hand hard before letting go. "Now, as I said, you get first pick. You can have any horse you'd like, just make it quick!" Once more, he chortled, apparently having some sort of secret.
Link walked through the area with Navi landing on his shoulder, the boy heading straight for Epona. He knew he had to follow Malon's advice and use her in the race! As he approached, the mare whined lightly and trotted away from him. That made him frown in confusion. Why was Epona avoiding him? They were friends, right? Didn't she recognize him? "Epona…It's me…" He whispered to the horse, thinking she could understand what he was saying. It didn't quite click with him that not all animals could understand human speech.
But Epona didn't seem to care what Link had to say, trotting off even further away from the boy.
At this, Ingo let out a cruel laughter. "What's wrong? Can't get near her? She doesn't like anyone but that useless niece of mine!" The man shouted out. "King Ganondorf can tame her, I'm sure, but surely not you!" That was what he was laughing about earlier, clearly knowing such a thing would happen.
Link was worried about what was going to happen but was also angry at Ingo. He didn't know what a 'niece' was, but he had to assume he was talking about Malon!
Navi, meanwhile, was one step ahead of Ingo. "Link, play the song. You know, the one Malon taught you?" She whispered in the boy's ear. "That'll make her come around. I'm sure of it!"
He had nearly forgotten about Epona's Song! But as Navi mentioned it, the notes ran through his mind…along with Malon's singing. Getting the Ocarina of Time from his belt, he took a deep breath and concentrated as he played that lovely song.
The notes echoed through the ranch, seeming to practically fly across all of Hyrule, the power of the magical Ocarina giving the song more strength! This caused Epona to turn her head around and stare at Link, seeming far calmer than she had mere moments ago. She trotted around a bit more, as if unsure still. The mare would pause again, staring intently as Link kept the song going. After a few more moments, though, Epona nickered softly, seeming fully relaxed. She trotted over to Link and rubbed her head gently at his shoulder.
Link couldn't help but laugh lightly at the action, putting the Ocarina away before patting at Epona's neck with a bright smile. "That's a lot better! It worked!"
Ingo was far less amused, gawking at the sight before his face contorted into a mix of realization and anger. "Wait a minute! It's…It's you! That brat from seven years ago!" He shouted out, pointing an accusing finger at Link. "I remember now! Malon went on and on about you for the longest time! About you and that blasted Ocarina you played!"
Link and Navi both felt their stomachs drop, neither of them thinking Ingo would remember something like that! After all, he hadn't recognized them earlier!
The fairy winced lightly, but quickly composed herself, arms crossed. "Well, that hardly matters! We got Epona to come over to us fair and square."
"You cheat! You're working with that worthless niece of mine, aren't you?!" Ingo demanded, practically snarling as he stared the boy and fairy down.
Gritting his teeth for a moment, Link glared at Ingo with equal intensity. He really hated that man talking about Malon like that! "We're not cheating!" The boy argued. "You said we could pick any horse, and I pick Epona!"
"That's right! What's wrong, scared you'll lose the race?" Navi added on, feeling like goading Ingo would actually have a better chance of making him accept the wager. "We shook on it and everything, it's not our fault you didn't recognize us!"
Ingo's hand twitched, as if he were about to reach for something hidden on his person. Instead, though, he took a few deep breaths before giving off a cruel laughter and composing himself. "Fine! It doesn't matter. Even if you use that horse, I'll still win! I've never lost a race, you know! Now hurry up and saddle up!"
Saddle…? Link didn't know what that meant! He looked to Navi for guidance, and the fairy would help Link fetch a settle from the nearby rack and get Epona situated. He fumbled and felt increasingly nervous as he got the mare ready to race. Thankfully, the steed was exceedingly patient with him, standing almost like a statue as he fiddled with the straps and the like. Ingo, meanwhile, had his horse ready to go before Link was even halfway done, laughing to himself as the boy struggled.
Soon enough, Epona and Ingo's horse were both ready to race! Shedding his gear, and with Navi's guidance, Link mounted Epona. It felt very odd for him to be riding an animal, nothing he ever thought he'd do. To his surprise, it wasn't so bad as Epona trotted forward, Navi whispering advice in his ear about how to ride, steer, and other things. Apparently she had watched a lot of Hylians on horseback in the past…
The nasty ranch owner would chortle to himself at Link struggling, shaking his head as in amusement and disbelief. "Finally ready?" Ingo asked, already upon his own horse. "Mazura and I will leave you in the dust! You've clearly never ridden before in your life!" He looked down upon his steed, a horse about the same build as Epona, but was more of a white and red color with a matching mane. It seemed nervous, fearful, clearly not wanting Ingo riding it.
"We'll see about that! Come on, Link, nice and easy…" Navi gently urged, helping Link guide Epona to the starting line with Ingo and his own horse.
"Rules are simple." Ingo started, looking smug and confident as if he had already won. "Like I said before; three laps around the fence. Another rule is you have to stay on the dirt path, can't stray any farther. Not that doing so would help you. And finally…you have to stay out of this." He pointed at Navi in an accusatory manner. "No whispering in the boy's ear or flying in my eyes or something! You stay here by the starting line, and if you leave, the boy loses!"
"Hey, that's not fair! I wouldn't fly in your eyes!" Navi retorted, though granted she'd only avoid doing that so Ingo wouldn't take the wager back. If she thought she could get away with it, she'd blind the horrid man in a heartbeat! "And it's his first time riding! He needs advice!"
"Too bad. Not my fault he's never ridden before!" Ingo snorted, crossing his arms defiantly. "I don't have a fairy helping me with the race, so neither does he!" He kept talking about Link as if the boy were too stupid to understand he was even being talked about. "Agree to the rules or the wager is off!"
Navi felt that goading Ingo further, saying he was too scared to race if Link got advice wouldn't be a good idea. After all, the man's ego could only be pushed so far, at least that's what she felt. Sighing, he flew over to the fence and took a seat on it. "Fine. We don't have any other choice. Just remember the advice I already gave you, Link."
Link gulped, feeling secluded even though Navi was mere feet away. Could he do this on his own? He relied on his fairy companion for so much, for almost everything since he had met her. It was like she said, though, there was hardly any choice in the matter. Navi had given him quite a bit of advice in the short amount of time that she was able to. She had told him things like how to stay on a speeding horse, how to make Epona go faster, how to steer, among other bits of help.
"Okay…Okay…" The boy muttered to himself, trying to remain calm and collected. He gripped Epona's reigns as he kept taking deep breaths. "I'm ready."
Ingo once more laughed to himself, apparently getting endless amusement from Link's worries. "Fine then! Get ready now! Three…two…one…!" As he counted down, he raised a hand in the air. When the countdown finished, he slapped onto the flank of Mazura harshly, causing the poor horse to whinny and charge forward.
Link was startled by that action, Ingo making his horse go in a completely different way than what Navi told him! He followed the fairy's advice, squeezing lightly at Epona's ribs with his calves, letting out a "Hyah!" to urge her forward. And it worked! The mare started to run forward with an intense speed.
The boy found it hard to keep steady, but he gripped Epona's reigns and kept his legs tight around her torso to stay on the mare's back. To his surprise, she caught up with Ingo and his own horse rather quickly. Like Malon said, Epona rode like a dream, seeming to know where to go and what to do on her own. He still had to steer her as the curve came, but he found things so much easier than he expected!
Ingo seemed surprised to, looking over to Link as the horses rode side-by-side. He growled out to himself, raising a hand and smacking his horse again, shouting as he urged it to go faster. Seemed the backstabbing ranch owner didn't expect Link to even catch up at all!
Link watched as his competitor surged ahead, his horse whinnying out in pain but apparently too afraid to resist doing what Ingo wanted. Epona didn't relent but didn't quite catch up to Mazura as the pair neared the checkpoint.
Navi observed from her spot, feeling nervous as she was forced to simply sit on the fence and let things play out. She shouldn't have bet all their things on this race, but she had somewhat panicked! She withheld a wince as the two horse riders passed by her, finishing the first lap with Ingo in the lead. The fairy wanted to shout out advice, but couldn't risk losing the race for them…
Thankfully, Link remembered one tip that Navi had told him. The boy leaned forward, ducking down to help with the race. The fairy had told him it'd make him more aerody…something. He couldn't remember the word, but she said that doing this would help make them go faster!
This worked, Epona catching up to Mazura and even passing by! Ingo yelled out in anger, as he kept slapping the flank of his poor steed, making the animal whinny out again and again as it strained itself to catch up.
But this didn't let Ingo get ahead as he had wanted to, the two horses tied up as they passed by Navi the second time!
Link felt his brow grow wet with sweat as the final lap started, he and Ingo tied as their horses charged forward. Malon really had been right about Epona, the mare seeming to know exactly what to do as if she knew what the stakes were. But in Link's panic, however, he pulled at the reigns in the wrong way as they made a turn.
Epona whinnied out, nearly stopping as she thought that's what Link wanted. The boy cried out in fear, using his legs to urge the mare forward again, but the distance between the two had grown so large! "Come on…Come on…!" He whispered in the horse's ear, as if that would help.
The red steed galloped onward, pushing herself harder than Link had even intended. Ingo gazed straight ahead, laughing at his perceived victory as the final turn of the fence came up ahead! The ranch owner yelled out in anger as Epona managed to catch up to him and Mazura.
"You stupid animal!" The man roared, actually leaning a bit so he could kick at Link and Epona! He hit at Link's side, kicking over and over while screaming at the top of his lungs, red in the face in fury.
"Stop that! What are you doing?!" Link yelled out, wincing and trying to use his own leg to block a kick that came at Epona's side. Not even thinking, the boy grabbed at Ingo's leg as he came in for another kick and yanked on it, just wanting him to stop!
The result was a bit more drastic than the boy had planned, though. With a startled shout, Ingo fell off of Mazura, tumbling on the ground and crying out in pain. The poor horse veered off of the track, the strained beast not stopping until it reached the barn where it stopped and rested.
Moments after this happened, Link and Epona crossed the finish line, the boy pulling on his steed's reigns on purpose this time and bringing her to a halt.
Navi couldn't help but cheer, flying over to Link as he got off of Epona. "You did it, Link! Or I guess…you and Epona both did it! You won the race!"
"But Ingo…" Link murmured, looking to the fallen ranch owner. The man was horrible, but the two had promised Malon they wouldn't use violence.
"Uncle Ingo?!" Malon's voice rang out. The boy and fairy to see the redhead had been watching in secret the whole time! She came from behind the barn, rushing to her Uncle who was slowly standing up.
Link and Navi went over to the ranch owner too. "Malon! I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" The boy started, guilt heavy in his voice.
"Oh, I don't blame you, Link. I saw the whole thing!" Malon assured, helping Ingo to his feet. "Are you alright? That was a nasty fall…"
Rather than being grateful for the help, Ingo wrenched himself from Malon's grip, shaking a bit as he recovered from his injury. At the least he didn't seem permanently hurt. "You…! You knocked me off my horse! You cheated! You lose the race!" The crooked ranch owner yelled, managing to glare almost ferociously at Link despite his injured state.
"Not so fast! I saw it too!" Navi retorted, crossing her arms. "You tried kicking at Link and Epona! He was just trying to make you stop! You've got no one to blame but yourself!"
"I hate to say it, Uncle Ingo, but she's right." Malon said, her tone gentle for her injured family member, but stern as well. "You cheated first, so Link wins the race fair and square!"
"No! I won't let that happen!" Ingo reached into a pocket of his shirt, pulling out a sheathed dagger. Getting the blade out proper, he snarled at the three of them as he held the weapon at Link. "I need that horse! Get out of here or I'll run you through!"
That caused Link to start panicking, the boy's gear off inside the fenced area. For the first time, he had no weapons against an opponent! How did he deal with a man with a dagger when he had nothing but his bare hands?!
"Uncle Ingo! What are you doing?!" Malon demanded, backing away with a horrified look on her face. "Put that thing down right now, are you crazy?!"
Navi was about to slam into the man's eyes when the sound of heavy footsteps rang out. The four turned to see Talon charging at his brother! Before anyone else could do anything, the rightful ranch owner punched Ingo square in the face, dropping the man to the ground and sending the dagger off to the side.
"Talon?!" The fairy cried out, surprised at the rescue. She hadn't even seen or heard the large man coming!
"Dad! You came back!" Malon cried out, hugging her father as her uncle groaned in pain on the ground, his nose bleeding heavily.
The rightful ranch owner was panting heavily, sweat coating his brow. "I'm sorry it took me so long…those fields are dangerous…" Talon replied, hugging Malon back and letting out a sigh. "Didn't think I'd come back to my brother pulling out a weapon like that!"
Ingo once more stood up, snarling as Link quickly went and stepped on the dagger, robbing the man of his only weapon. "Talon, you useless lump!" He shouted, wiping his upper lip of his blood. "You show back up now of all times?! Get out! You never did anything for this ranch! It was me, the hard-working Ingo, that did everything! I deserve this place more than you ever will!"
"I may not have been the hardest worker…" Talon admitted, letting go of Malon and putting her behind him in case Ingo did something. "But to drive out your own brother…that's not right, Ingo!"
"He was going to give a horse to Ganondorf, too…" Navi added in, almost feeling bad in how good it felt to talk ill of Ingo. "But we won Epona fair and square, so you can't give her away anymore!"
"And he beat the horses." Link said, clenching his fists and too wanting to give Ingo a good blow to the face. It wasn't like him to get so mad at another Hylian, but this was an exception!
Talon furrowed his brow, a far cry from the jovial man he usually was. He almost seemed ready to punch Ingo again. "Go on! Get out of here! You really think that horrid Gerudo would keep the ranch safe for a horse?! You're a bigger fool than I ever was! Go on! Get!"
Ingo looked like he wanted to scream some more, to rant about his brother's foolishness or try and snag the dagger from beneath Link's boot. It seemed, however, that he realized he had lost. Without another word, and a look of pure terror on his face, the man turned tail and sprinted to the ranch's exit, not once looking back.
The four watched him go, a mix of both relief and sorrow on their faces. The latter emotion more with Talon and Malon. "Poor Uncle Ingo…" The farmgirl said with a sigh. "He did awful things, but…it's so dangerous out there."
"If he comes back and seeks forgiveness, he's welcome to stay." Talon said with a sigh. He held Malon close in a sideways hug before looking to Link and Navi. "And I have you two to thank for helping us out!"
"Oh, no…um…I mean it was Malon's idea…" Link blushed at the praise, rubbing the back of nis neck.
"And the plan was that Ingo might be so scared about losing Epona, he'd run off. Who knows if he would've done that without you showing up like that?" Navi agreed, not having expected Ingo to pull out a weapon like that. He had seemed the sort to run at the first sign of real trouble…
"Hey, you still beat him in a race, even when he tried to cheat!" Malon argued, giving the duo a grateful smile. "I mean all that really matters is things are back to normal…mostly. I still hope Uncle Ingo is okay…"
Talon sighed, patting his daughter's arm to try and comfort her. "Like I said, if he comes back and apologizes, I'll give him another chance. He's my brother, after all. And…well, he was right a bit. I didn't do nearly enough as a ranch owner, and that's going to change!" He beamed between Malon and the two guests. "But not today! After all that, we all need a chance to just breathe…"
"Agreed!" Malon said, sounding more chipper, most of the worry leaving her eyes. A small part of it, lingered, however, the young woman's empathy just too strong. "Come on, Fairy Boy, we can catch up a bit!"
Once more, Link found a blush creeping on his face, but the idea was a good one. But…there was the Water Temple…
Navi spoke up before Link could, however. "That sounds like a good idea. We can't stay for long, though, just until tomorrow morning." The fairy had an idea that Link would try and leave early to help Ruto…but he needed a rest. A real rest, not hunkering down in an inn for a night or some abandoned shack in the middle of Hyrule Field. Ruto had promised she'd wait for Link, another evening wouldn't hurt, right?
Link had a pretty good idea what Navi had in mind, and that arguing would be useless. He relented, also thinking a bit the same way the fairy was. The boy had missed Malon a lot, and a quick visit would be nice after the events since he got this new body especially.
"Y…Yeah. Sorry. We'll have to leave right in the morning." Link said, feeling bad as Malon pouted a bit.
"Aw, that's no fun! It's been so long!" The redhead lightly whined, looking to Link with those pretty blue eyes.
Talon chortled a bit, patting Malon's arm again. "Hey, he can't help it! But hey, I'll leave you guys be. I'm going to check around how the rest of the ranch is, okay?" Without waiting for much of a response, the proper ranch owner went over to the barn, stopping to ease the still-frazzled Mazura.
"S…Sorry I can't stay for long." Link really did feel bad about disappointing Malon. He wanted to stay too! "But once I get some things done, I can visit again!" No reason why he couldn't visit the ranch again when…if…he managed to stop Ganondorf.
"You promise?" Malon asked with some faux accusation in her voice. "I'll be holding that to you, Fairy Boy, and if you make me wait another seven years, I'll have to smack ya!"
Link honestly couldn't tell how serious the young woman was, not noticing Navi titter to herself as he raised his hands in surrender. Honestly, he couldn't even blame her for being mad. "Okay! Okay! I promise!" He just hoped it was one he could keep. There had been so many other promises he had unintentionally broken since all of this began…
That seemed to instantly cheer Malon up, the young woman apparently not as mad as she had appeared. "Good!" She chirped. "Come on inside, I'll make us something to eat!"
It was only then that Link realized just how hungry he was. Taking a quick moment to gather up his gear, he and Navi followed Malon inside. The family home had changed little over the years. It was still a nice, cozy interior and the boy felt a sort of sense of ease as he placed his gear by the door. From the corner, a familiar looking dog slowly made his way to Link, sniffing the boy's boots.
"Hey, Scamp…!" Link greeted, slowly and gently petting the dog, remember what Malon said about his injury.
"Looks like he remembers you a bit." Malon said with a toothy grin. "He's moving better than yesterday, too! Ain't that right Scamp?" She'd go over to the kitchen area, putting on an apron. "Now, you two take a seat and I'll get us something to eat, okay?"
Well, Link could hardly argue with that. He didn't really know how to use Hylian kitchens anyway. So, he took a seat, looking to Scamp as he rested by the boy's feet with a huff. "I'm really glad things were more…stable here." The boy commented, looking to Malon. "I mean, compared to other parts of Hyrule. I've seen some…" Link hesitated, withholding a shudder. "…I've seen some really bad things…"
Malon frowned, nodding solemnly at the boy's words. "I can't say I've seen much of Hyrule recently, but I believe it. The rare visitors we've gotten the past seven years always take about the worst things…" She sighed as she started to get some kitchen utensils and food ready. It seemed like second nature to her, chances quite slim that Ingo ever cooked any of his own meals.
"It's probably worse than you've heard." Link replied, not being able to help but vent lightly about the things he had seen. At least, in a vague manner. Talking about the specifics was still quite hard for him.
"So, is that where you've been? Going on around Hyrule? You sure seem like a knight with that sword and shield ya have." Malon said, perking up a little bit at her joke. "Probably going around saving a bunch of damsels, right?" She laughed a bit to herself.
Link raised his brows in confusion. "Uh…Damsels?" What the heck did that mean?
"You know, ladies in trouble? Like me. It's just a bit of a joke, Fairy Boy." Malon explained, laughing again.
"Oh…Uh…Not quite…" Link wasn't really sure how to answer, memories of Saria flooding into his mind that he had to shake off.
Malon turned to Link, confusion apparent on her face. "I know I was joking, but what were you doing all this time? It's been seven whole years!"
"It's been pretty complicated." Navi interjected. She was petty satisfied with just letting the two talk amongst themselves, but she'd help Link when he needed it. "And it hasn't been pleasant, so I think this is a subject to be avoided."
The young woman seemed surprised at Navi's interruption, as if she had forgotten the fairy had even been there. "I guess you're right. Things haven't been good for any of us this past while. Can you at least tell me where you're going tomorrow?"
"Lake Hylia." Link answered, feeling inclined to answer but not sure how else to word it. "Things are…bad there…and I want to help…"
Malon seemed lightly frustrated at the vagueness but nodded with a light sigh. "You do have a big heart, you know that Fairy Boy? When I was a little girl I thought you'd join the guard or the army or something. Seemed like a good place for you."
Feeling his face go red once again, Link felt touched at Malon's words. "Oh…Uh…You really think so?"
"Yeah! That's where I thought you had gone at first, before Ganondorf took everything over. You had the sword and shield and everything. You're a real sweetheart, you know?" The young woman's own cheeks tinted with a blush as she spoke.
Was it getting really warm in there? It felt very warm in there! Why did Malon's words have such effects on Link? He felt his face growing almost hot, but he couldn't help but smile. "Um…Th-Thank you. You were always really nice too…that's why I liked you so much." He felt like his throat was full of cotton, stumbling over his words and not sure of what to say.
Navi, meanwhile, was hiding her face in her hands, holding back laughter. Oh, it was just so adorable! When this was all over, the fairy just had to teach Link how to talk to girls! Or just one girl in particular.
Malon liked it, though, clearly evident with the smile that forced its way onto her face. "Thank you, Link…Fairy Boy…" She said, practically correcting herself. "I hope whatever's going on, things turn out okay for you. I can tell you've been working hard."
That took Link off guard, his blush vanishing and a frown making its way onto his face. "You…can? What do you mean?" Was that a bad thing? He couldn't really tell by her tone.
"Mhm! I can tell when someone's working hard. That's how Ingo was back before…yeah. But with you, it's different. You just have that air about you. Ya look tired, like you need a big, long rest." Malon said almost casually as she read Link like a book while she got the food nearly prepared.
Link felt his chest tighten at the very accurate observation. Was it that obvious? He did have those horrible shadows under his eyes for sure, but still. Gulping a bit, feeling like he had something in his throat, he nodded. "You're not wrong, Malon. But I can't rest yet."
"But when you're all done with whatever you're doing, you drag your behind right back here, okay?" Malon nearly demanded, eyeing Link like she'd whop him one good if he refused. "You promised, remember?"
Honestly, Link didn't know how to feel. Her practically demanding he go back for rest and to unwind really touched at his heart, even if Malon had no idea what was going on. It sounded so good, though, living at the ranch like that.
Maybe…that's where he could belong when this was all done. He couldn't go back to the Lost Woods, and the crowds of Kakariko Village or what used to be the Castle Town were too much for him. He'd be too out of place, even more so, with the Gorons and Zoras so they hardly felt like an option.
But the ranch…it was so comfortable, with so few people…
It was a bit early to be thinking about that, though. Not a decision Link could make lightly. After all, it wasn't as if he was invited to stay there or anything, it was just wishful thinking on his part. It did sound really nice, though, something he'd love to have happen…
The boy snapped himself out of his thoughts, remembering that Malon had asked him a question. "R-Right. I'll come straight here. I promise." He meant to keep this promise, especially since he had already made the poor farmgirl upset before with his tardiness.
"Good! Now we just have to let it cook for a while…" She murmured the last part to herself, putting something in what looked like some weird box on the counter. A thing that Link didn't realize was an oven. At that, the redhead went and joined the two at the table.
Things went by well enough from there. Malon was heating up some Cucco for the two of them, and they both really enjoyed the cooked meat when it was eventually done. It had been so long since either of them had a properly cooked meal, after all. For most of their adventure they had to deal with bread, fruits, vegetables, and berries. Nothing wrong with those, but a homecooked meal was practically a royal feast in comparison.
The rest of the day had been the rest and relaxation that Link had been needing since pulling out the Master Sword. He had a hiatus after failing to save Saria, but this time he wasn't going through so much mental anguish. After the meal, Link surprised Malon by suggesting games they could play, the farmgirl not aware that the man in front of her had the mentality of a child.
Still, she followed suit and the two played some tag, Malon really getting into it and mentioning how nice it felt to just let loose like a kid after all that time. They also laid back and looked at the clouds as they talked, groomed some of the horses, sung and played the Ocarina for Epona as well. Link felt that the girl's singing had only improved over time.
"Your voice is uh…really pretty…" Link sputtered out as he took a break from playing the Ocarina, feeling incredibly awkward as he did so.
Malon only laughed at first, a toothy grin spreading across her face. "Thanks, Fairy Boy, you've gotten a lot better at that Ocarina too."
As all this went on, Navi hung back and let the two have their time together. She felt almost like a third wheel…and of course got more than enough entertainment just watching their relationship blossom. Link's stunted mental state would be an issue, but it was something that would have to be dealt with eventually. That was something that could be figured out much later.
Time went on, and in almost the blink of an eye, the sun had set, and the stars were out. The two Hylians lied on the nice cool grass, staring up at the stars. There weren't many clouds to obscure the view, and the moon was nice and full. Navi gave the two some privacy, staying up on the barn roof as she also stargazed.
"You really have to leave tomorrow?" Malon asked, looking over to Link. "I suppose I couldn't make you stay an extra day or two, right?"
Once more, pangs of guilt coursed through Link. "Sorry, but I have to. This really can't wait any longer." He already felt bad about making Ruto wait, but at least he had a song that could take Navi and himself straight to Lake Hylia.
"And you're leaving first thing tomorrow?" The farmgirl prodded, shifting a bit to get more comfortable on the ground.
"Yeah…First thing. Probably before the sun comes up." Link answered, staring up at the stars rather than looking to Malon. He felt…flustered if he looked at her for too long.
Malon hummed, her brow furrowing a tad in thought. Whatever she was considering, she apparently came to a decision with a light nod to herself. She'd look back up to the stars once more. "And, let me guess, I can't talk you into sleeping in the house?"
The subject had cropped up earlier in the day, Link refusing to sleep in the house but instead in the barn. The main reason being he was scared he'd have nightmares and scream out in the middle of the night. Though the reason he gave to Malon was not wanting to intrude.
"Yeah…Sorry. It's just for a night, I'll be fine. I had to sleep in shacks in the field before…so a barn will be a lot better in comparison." Link assured, not wanting the farmgirl to feel bad.
"Stubborn as a mule…" Malon murmured, smiling a bit as she reached over and took Link's hand, the boy having shed his leather gauntlets earlier.
Navi tittered as she looked down from the roof, seeing Link's face go quite red even with the limited light of the stars.
Soon after, the two Hylians said their goodnights, Malon going into the house while Link and Navi went into the barn. The cows were asleep by then, things nice and quiet as they settled down in some hay.
"I saw your face out there, Link. It was pretty red!" Navi teased, watching as Link lied down and got as comfy as he could.
The boy frowned a bit, looking off to the side rather than at the fairy. "So? Doesn't matter…does it?" Before the revelation in the Lost Woods, he'd normally take Navi's teasing just fine…but at the moment he really didn't want to deal with it. His emotions towards her were still a bit jumbled…
"Hey, it's fine! I was just teasing a bit. It's…natural to be like that." The fairy assured, trying to get back on Link's good side.
It was natural? Seemed odd to him, but there was a lot about being a Hylian he didn't know. Sighing, Link gave a nod as he settled in and closed his eyes. "Right. Good night."
"…Good night." Navi replied, withholding a sigh as she settled in too and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, the fairy awoke, staring into the darkness of the barn. Glancing at the door, she could tell it was still night from the lack of light from underneath. She'd toss and turn a bit, unable to get back to sleep again. Her mind was just filled with so many worries about the hardships the two of them still had to go through. There were still three Temples they had to cleanse…and then of course they had to deal with Ganondorf himself.
Though, saying 'they' wasn't even very fair to Link. He had to do all the hard work. A majority of the time, it was him that got hurt during the fights. Navi wished she could be more helpful in that regard…
With a light huff, she took the air, flying towards the door and squeezing to the outside so she could get some fresh air. The night was still, and the sky above was still free of clouds, letting the stars and moon shine down on the ranch. There was a pleasant breeze that made the night the perfect amount of cool.
Navi sat upon the doorknob of the door to the barn, sighing as she gazed up to the heavens. What was she going to do about Link? There were so many 'when this was over' situations that kept cropping up. So many things that Link had to learn, so many aspects of Hylian life he'd have to get used to. Getting a job, for instance. Managing his Rupees, finding a place to live, making connections...
Hyrule would hopefully slowly, but surely, get back on its feet when Ganondorf was defeated, and Link would have to deal with that life. He was still only ten in his mind, how was she supposed to teach him about adult concepts? Would he mentally age just as slowly as he would normally? Would it take another ten years before he was mentally twenty? Would he stay a child in his mind forever?
The fairy was so wrapped up in these thoughts that she didn't notice the door to the ranch's home open, only hearing the sound of gently closing. She jerked her head towards the noise, surprised to see Malon there. The farmgirl was wearing a simple white nightgown that went down past her knees. She seemed very nervous about something, looking back and forth as if expecting to see guards patrolling the ranch.
Malon slowly made her way to the barn door, still looking about as she reached for the doorknob where Navi was sitting. Flinching, the fairy cleared her throat, startling the redhead. With a light gasp of surprise, Malon finally noticed she wasn't alone, putting a hand over her chest as she got over the scare.
"Ms. Fairy! Oh, you startled me!" She loudly whispered, taking a few deep breaths. "What um…what are you doing out here?" Her face was a bit red, like Navi caught her doing something private.
"I was getting some fresh air." Navi said, breathing a bit quickly herself at almost getting crushed by Malon's hand. "I could ask you the same question, though. Why are you trying to get into the barn?"
Malon fiddled with her fingers, swallowing a few times before answering. "Well, I was hoping to talk to Fai…to Link. I wanted to talk to Link."
"In the middle of the night? He needs to sleep." Navi asked, suspicions growing. Just what was this girl up to? "Is it important?"
"I know he needs to sleep." Malon insisted, clearing her throat, her hands still fidgeting. "But like I said, it's important. A-Actually…I hate to ask, but since you're out here…could you stay out here? Or you could go into the house. Nice and warm in there."
That just made Navi's suspicions flare up quite a bit. Taking to the air, the fairy gave Malon a confused look. "Not unless you tell me what it is you need to talk to him so urgently about. Alone. In the middle of the night." Surely, she wasn't thinking about…
That made Malon's face grow redder, her hands going to her nightgown and taking fistfuls of it. "Alright, alright. I reckon you won't move unless I come clean." The farmgirl relented, taking a shuddering breath. "I don't know when Link might come back…especially with how long he stayed away before. I was…I was hoping to make things…memorable for him before he left. In a way only I can…"
Navi's jaw dropped at Malon's explanation. The fairy had wanted the answer to be anything but that! She felt disgust and anger towards the farmgirl, emotions she knew weren't fair. It wasn't like Malon knew Link's unique situation. "I can't let you do that, Malon. You can't…seduce him like that." She managed to keep her voice even and leveled, despite her emotions.
The girl practically jumped at the word 'seduce', as if saying the word out loud was too scandalous for her. She got over it though, seeming more upset than nervous. "Why not? I know he needs rest, but he can go back to sleep when we're done. He can even sleep in a bit…right?"
"No, you can't do this, Malon. He isn't ready for something like this." Navi couldn't really explain why, unfortunately. She had to remain vague. "This is something he can handle right now…"
That got Malon more upset, the girl letting go of her nightgown, placing her hands on her hips. "With all due respect Navi," she'd start, dropping the nicknames entirely. "I'd rather hear this from Link's own mouth. He's a grown man now, he doesn't need you to speak for him."
"I've known him a lot longer than you have, Malon." Navi retorted, voice growing increasingly stern. "You saw how he acts around you; how nervous he is. Do you think he has any sort of…experience?" It wasn't the main issue, but still a relevant one without bringing up time travel.
"That's fine. Everyone has to learn at some point. Not like I have any experience myself." Malon argued, sighing as she started to calm down a bit. "Look, let me talk to him. Like I said, I want to hear it from his own mouth. If he ain't ready, I'll respect that and leave him be."
"Do you think he needs to be worrying about emotions like this, or the things you two would do together as he goes back out there?" The fairy asked, really starting to get mad. It was just more frustrating that she couldn't explain all the details she needed to! "It's dangerous no matter where we go in Hyrule, he needs to remain focused! The less distractions he has, the better. Please, for his sake, let him rest. Tomorrow is going to be more dangerous and terrifying than I'm sure you could even imagine." If the Water Temple was anything like the previous two, those words were quite accurate.
Malon didn't answer at first, thinking over Navi's words as her hands fell to her sides, gripping at her nightgown again. "…You're right. I was being selfish." The farmgirl relented, sighing. "This wasn't just for him. I mean…it was for him, but for me too. I was hoping if things ended like this…he'd want to come back sooner."
Navi sighed, glad that Malon understood. "Look, you're not a bad person or anything, Malon. I understand what you were trying to do. He's just…not ready. This isn't a good time for him getting into this sort of situation, okay? I promise when everything is over, I'll march him back here to see you." Granted, he and Malon still couldn't do anything obscene, but Navi would have to figure things out when the time came.
That got a small smile to tug on Malon's lips. "Okay. Thank you, Navi. I'm sorry about…all of this. I'll go back to bed…and you'll keep this between us, right?"
"Of course. I won't tell Link. It'll be our secret." Navi promised, fully calming down.
"Right…Right…" Malon murmured, clearing her throat, seeming a bit awkward. "I don't know if I'll be up when you two leave. Good luck to the both of you in whatever you're doing. Tell him I said that, okay?"
After Navi agreed, the farmgirl turned around and slowly went back into the house. Letting out another sigh, the fairy went back into the barn. She hadn't expected that to happen and tried not to think about how Malon may have approached the situation if she had been asleep.
The conversation must have exhausted Navi more than she realized, because in mere minutes, she fell asleep.
In the morning, the sun barely having risen, Link awoke. Getting his gear together, he woke up Navi as the two had a quick breakfast. The fairy seemed a bit distracted, but she insisted that it was nothing. So, the boy just shrugged it off.
As the two left the barn, Link looked about. "Oh…Malon isn't here…I was hoping she'd be up to say bye." The boy murmured.
"It's okay. I'm sure she'll understand. I actually ran into her last night." Navi said, clearing her throat. "We both, uh…just needed some air."
"Really? What did you talk about?" Link hadn't noticed Navi leaving, having slept all throughout the night.
Goddesses, this was awkward for the poor fairy! "She just wished us luck, that's all. And…she wanted to remind you to get your butt back here when everything is over." Okay, she made that last bit up, but it'd be a bit odd if it seemed a good luck message was all the two talked about.
Link rubbed the back of his neck, trying not to smile. "R-Right. Okay. We shouldn't linger, then, Ruto is waiting for us!" He hoped she was, at least. Link really needed her to still be waiting outside the Water Temple for him…
"Yeah! Come on, let's get going!" Navi pushed, leading Link out of the ranch.
After the two left the ranch grounds, Link lifted the Ocarina to his lips. Playing the Serenade of Water, the two were enveloped in a brilliant sapphire light as they were whisked away…