I can't praise Matt enough for helping me: thanks for letting me
steal..err..borrow some of your ideas! *kisses Matt's feet*
Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda or any of its characters, but this story was my original (and Matt inspired) idea.
Li raced his horse up through the gates of Lon Lon Ranch and jumped off before he was completely stopped. Running to the door of their house he spotted Ingo walking from the stables. It was nearly midnight, and Li guessed that Malon's father was well asleep by now.
"Excuse me, sir. Is Malon still awake? I need to speak to her." Ingo gave Li a cold look and continued walking. "Excuse me, did you hear what I said?"
"Yeah, I heard you loud and clear, you nosy brat. That damned girl went off somewhere, over to Lake Hylia. I can't understand why she'd go so late at night. I bet ya she's up to something..." Li was already mounted and gone by the time Ingo had said Lake Hylia. Malon was right about Ingo...
He had to tell Malon everything, even though it sounded crazy. Whether she would believe him or not, he had to tell her.
Stopping outside the entrance to the ranch, he looked from left to right trying to remember which way to go to get to the lake. He remembered passing by the gates on his riding trip with Zelda, he just couldn't remember where those gates were. He was losing time and it began to anger him...As the anger grew stronger his body weakened and he felt a wave of restlessness wash over him. There were hints of a red fire burning beneath the green of his eyes, and in an instant he knew the exact location of the lake.
"Go!" Li squeezed his horse and they took off to the right, down the dusty road. Dark Link's knowledge of the land led Li straight to his destination. "At least you're good for something, you dark demon." Li growled at the evil elfin he now knew was growing within him and tried to subside his anger. As he felt the presence within him struggling to take complete control, Li tried harder to relax himself. Closing his eyes and taking big breaths, Li realized that it was also the dark elf that had led him to Malon before. He wouldn't have found Lon Lon Ranch otherwise, having not ever been there. He let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "Unbelievable." Li could feel the tension rising again, and he tried to steady it.
...give in to your anger...
Li's eyes shot open as he heard the words echo through his head.
...you will never last...
...your anger will destroy you...
"You haven't defeated me yet and you never will, because I won't let you. So shut...the hell...up." Li smiled and sat atop his stationary horse, awaiting the demon's reply, but it never came. He felt control over his own body again. I'm winning so far, but that won't last for long...he thought to himself.
Only a few feet away from the entrance to the lake, he yelled out to his horse and they shot off, gaining speed to jump the gates. Once inside, he proceeded to look for Malon and was surprised at how large the lake was. It would have been nice if Zelda had let him look at it...
"Don't let yourself get angry...don't let him control you..." Li told himself. He concentrated on finding Malon and headed off toward a long wooden bridge. It led to a distant island, and Li was pretty sure he spotted someone there.
"Malon!" Li jumped off his horse and ran over to her. She was standing near a very tall tree on the island, and she spun around upon hearing her name.
"Li!" He grabbed her in a strong embrace and did not let go for quite a while. She returned his hug and rubbed his back.
"Why are you out here all by yourself so late? " Completely ignoring his question, she continued to stroke his back.
"Good to see you so soon. Are you alright? You seem upset." He loosened up a bit and looked into her eyes. It felt so good to be held by her...
"Malon, I know I've only met you once, but I feel as if I've known you for a lifetime. I must tell you something."
"Of course, Li. I will tell you right now that you have my trust." She gave him that warm smile of hers, and he relaxed immediately, smiling back at her.
"I went to the ranch looking for you..." She sighed and just shook her head.
"It was Ingo, I think he was drunk again. I don't like to be around when he's drunk, even though my father's there. Besides, I like it out here."
"I'm sorry.."
"Don't be. It's not your fault." Her smile immediately returned. Li felt so comfortable with her, so...safe. "So..you were going to tell me something? I'm all ears."
Li felt relaxed as her told her his entire story, though he was afraid she wouldn't believe him. But..Malon was open and compassionate, and when he was through she didn't look at him like he was insane. Li really appreciated that. He also appreciated the fact that she never once interrupted him; let him spill his guts right there in one long breath.
"I'll understand if you think I'm crazy...but I had to tell you the truth." Malon's smile had faded a while ago, and she sighed.
"Li," He prepared himself for the worst. " I don't think you're crazy."
"You....you don't?" She laughed and her eyes lit up.
"Of course not. The first day I met you, you told me you were Link. Right then and there I knew something weird was going on. And the resemblance..." She tilted her head and stared into his eyes. "It was your eyes; they told me you were not Link." Li blushed and was all of a sudden at a loss for words.
"You believe me? You actually believe me?" He breathed out.
"Li...this might sound a bit awkward, but I already knew most of what you told me."
"What? How?"
"Link told me...he told me everything. He told me about the enchantment and the Sword. I'll admit that even then I didn't entirely believe him, but I do now." She stroked his cheek with her hand. "And I believe you." Li closed his eyes at her touch and let out a deep sigh.
"Malon, do you...have feelings for Link?" He opened his eyes so he could see her response.
"Not the kind you think. We're best friends, Li. I don't have the feelings for him like the ones I have for you right now. It is if I have known you for a lifetime, also.." Li's heart leapt at her words and he didn't know what to do, so Malon did it for him. Leaning forward, she draped her arms around Li's neck and kissed him so deeply, he thought he'd die right then and there. His emotions swirled inside of him and for 5 seconds he completely forgot about the demon inside him; he was lost forever. Or so it seemed. Breaking the kiss, Malon opened her eyes and looked into Li's. "I wanted to do that before it was too late." Taking in her words, Li's heart sank as he realized he could not be with her forever. Seeming to read Li's mind, Malon said, "Li, sit with me here for a while. Please." Li smiled sadly at her and kissed her cheek.
"Of course." Taking her hand, Li sat against the tree with Malon and stared out across the lake. "Do you ever swim in there?" Li asked Malon, putting his arm around her and pulling her close to him.
"Oh no, the water is enchanted. You'd surely die unless you had a special type of tunic."
"The Zora Tunic?"
"Yes." Malon turned her head and stared at Li. "I know what you're thinking." Returning her gaze, Li raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What am I thinking?" Malon turned away and sighed. Li jumped to his feet, pulling Malon with him. "You listen to me...you're not going anywhere. I won't let you!" A jolt of pain coursed throughout Li's body, and he felt the dark elf trying to take over him again.
"Li!" Malon caught him in her arms and started sobbing over him. "I can't live without you, you promised me I would never be lonely again. Please..." Li regained control and weakly straightened himself.
"I can't withstand much longer." She smiled and brushed back a strand of his black hair. "There's no changing your mind, is there?" Li asked as he wiped away her tears.
"Not a chance." She looked at him desperately for a moment, and he read her mind. He put his hands on her face, stroking it, then leaned forward and stole another kiss. This one laseted for a much longer time, and was much more passionate. Malon brought her arm around and let her fingers play on Li's neck, begging him never to let her go. They would remain in each other's arms forever.
The water swallowed them whole, and they floated down and down....their lips never parting. At the last second they both opened their eyes and at last broke the kiss, and there was an unspoken 'I love you' as their souls were swept away.
Epilogue
Link got onto his horse, Epona, after watching the woman he loved join Li in death. If only he had told her...
Riding back to the castle he immediately found Zelda and told her what had happened. She cried endlessly, telling him that it wasn't just the fact that he had died, but in the arms of another woman. She never even got to say goodbye.
Link felt somewhat sorry for her, but he knew it was for the best. He would always regret losing his best friend like that, not ever telling her how he really felt. He wondered if it was actually worth it, enchanting his Sword to allow Dark Link to harvest his power there, for the price it had cost him. Zelda was right, the Sword would not have allowed Dark Link to do that, not without Link's help anyway. He probably could have defeated Ganon by himself, but the power of the dark elf in his Sword reassured his victory. He sighed thinking about this and lay down in his bed after a hard day's work...the Master Sword resting safely at his side once again.
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Eep! Well, that was kinda...*ahem* Me and my twisted brain. Heh, evilness pays off...sometimes.
Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda or any of its characters, but this story was my original (and Matt inspired) idea.
Li raced his horse up through the gates of Lon Lon Ranch and jumped off before he was completely stopped. Running to the door of their house he spotted Ingo walking from the stables. It was nearly midnight, and Li guessed that Malon's father was well asleep by now.
"Excuse me, sir. Is Malon still awake? I need to speak to her." Ingo gave Li a cold look and continued walking. "Excuse me, did you hear what I said?"
"Yeah, I heard you loud and clear, you nosy brat. That damned girl went off somewhere, over to Lake Hylia. I can't understand why she'd go so late at night. I bet ya she's up to something..." Li was already mounted and gone by the time Ingo had said Lake Hylia. Malon was right about Ingo...
He had to tell Malon everything, even though it sounded crazy. Whether she would believe him or not, he had to tell her.
Stopping outside the entrance to the ranch, he looked from left to right trying to remember which way to go to get to the lake. He remembered passing by the gates on his riding trip with Zelda, he just couldn't remember where those gates were. He was losing time and it began to anger him...As the anger grew stronger his body weakened and he felt a wave of restlessness wash over him. There were hints of a red fire burning beneath the green of his eyes, and in an instant he knew the exact location of the lake.
"Go!" Li squeezed his horse and they took off to the right, down the dusty road. Dark Link's knowledge of the land led Li straight to his destination. "At least you're good for something, you dark demon." Li growled at the evil elfin he now knew was growing within him and tried to subside his anger. As he felt the presence within him struggling to take complete control, Li tried harder to relax himself. Closing his eyes and taking big breaths, Li realized that it was also the dark elf that had led him to Malon before. He wouldn't have found Lon Lon Ranch otherwise, having not ever been there. He let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "Unbelievable." Li could feel the tension rising again, and he tried to steady it.
...give in to your anger...
Li's eyes shot open as he heard the words echo through his head.
...you will never last...
...your anger will destroy you...
"You haven't defeated me yet and you never will, because I won't let you. So shut...the hell...up." Li smiled and sat atop his stationary horse, awaiting the demon's reply, but it never came. He felt control over his own body again. I'm winning so far, but that won't last for long...he thought to himself.
Only a few feet away from the entrance to the lake, he yelled out to his horse and they shot off, gaining speed to jump the gates. Once inside, he proceeded to look for Malon and was surprised at how large the lake was. It would have been nice if Zelda had let him look at it...
"Don't let yourself get angry...don't let him control you..." Li told himself. He concentrated on finding Malon and headed off toward a long wooden bridge. It led to a distant island, and Li was pretty sure he spotted someone there.
"Malon!" Li jumped off his horse and ran over to her. She was standing near a very tall tree on the island, and she spun around upon hearing her name.
"Li!" He grabbed her in a strong embrace and did not let go for quite a while. She returned his hug and rubbed his back.
"Why are you out here all by yourself so late? " Completely ignoring his question, she continued to stroke his back.
"Good to see you so soon. Are you alright? You seem upset." He loosened up a bit and looked into her eyes. It felt so good to be held by her...
"Malon, I know I've only met you once, but I feel as if I've known you for a lifetime. I must tell you something."
"Of course, Li. I will tell you right now that you have my trust." She gave him that warm smile of hers, and he relaxed immediately, smiling back at her.
"I went to the ranch looking for you..." She sighed and just shook her head.
"It was Ingo, I think he was drunk again. I don't like to be around when he's drunk, even though my father's there. Besides, I like it out here."
"I'm sorry.."
"Don't be. It's not your fault." Her smile immediately returned. Li felt so comfortable with her, so...safe. "So..you were going to tell me something? I'm all ears."
Li felt relaxed as her told her his entire story, though he was afraid she wouldn't believe him. But..Malon was open and compassionate, and when he was through she didn't look at him like he was insane. Li really appreciated that. He also appreciated the fact that she never once interrupted him; let him spill his guts right there in one long breath.
"I'll understand if you think I'm crazy...but I had to tell you the truth." Malon's smile had faded a while ago, and she sighed.
"Li," He prepared himself for the worst. " I don't think you're crazy."
"You....you don't?" She laughed and her eyes lit up.
"Of course not. The first day I met you, you told me you were Link. Right then and there I knew something weird was going on. And the resemblance..." She tilted her head and stared into his eyes. "It was your eyes; they told me you were not Link." Li blushed and was all of a sudden at a loss for words.
"You believe me? You actually believe me?" He breathed out.
"Li...this might sound a bit awkward, but I already knew most of what you told me."
"What? How?"
"Link told me...he told me everything. He told me about the enchantment and the Sword. I'll admit that even then I didn't entirely believe him, but I do now." She stroked his cheek with her hand. "And I believe you." Li closed his eyes at her touch and let out a deep sigh.
"Malon, do you...have feelings for Link?" He opened his eyes so he could see her response.
"Not the kind you think. We're best friends, Li. I don't have the feelings for him like the ones I have for you right now. It is if I have known you for a lifetime, also.." Li's heart leapt at her words and he didn't know what to do, so Malon did it for him. Leaning forward, she draped her arms around Li's neck and kissed him so deeply, he thought he'd die right then and there. His emotions swirled inside of him and for 5 seconds he completely forgot about the demon inside him; he was lost forever. Or so it seemed. Breaking the kiss, Malon opened her eyes and looked into Li's. "I wanted to do that before it was too late." Taking in her words, Li's heart sank as he realized he could not be with her forever. Seeming to read Li's mind, Malon said, "Li, sit with me here for a while. Please." Li smiled sadly at her and kissed her cheek.
"Of course." Taking her hand, Li sat against the tree with Malon and stared out across the lake. "Do you ever swim in there?" Li asked Malon, putting his arm around her and pulling her close to him.
"Oh no, the water is enchanted. You'd surely die unless you had a special type of tunic."
"The Zora Tunic?"
"Yes." Malon turned her head and stared at Li. "I know what you're thinking." Returning her gaze, Li raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What am I thinking?" Malon turned away and sighed. Li jumped to his feet, pulling Malon with him. "You listen to me...you're not going anywhere. I won't let you!" A jolt of pain coursed throughout Li's body, and he felt the dark elf trying to take over him again.
"Li!" Malon caught him in her arms and started sobbing over him. "I can't live without you, you promised me I would never be lonely again. Please..." Li regained control and weakly straightened himself.
"I can't withstand much longer." She smiled and brushed back a strand of his black hair. "There's no changing your mind, is there?" Li asked as he wiped away her tears.
"Not a chance." She looked at him desperately for a moment, and he read her mind. He put his hands on her face, stroking it, then leaned forward and stole another kiss. This one laseted for a much longer time, and was much more passionate. Malon brought her arm around and let her fingers play on Li's neck, begging him never to let her go. They would remain in each other's arms forever.
The water swallowed them whole, and they floated down and down....their lips never parting. At the last second they both opened their eyes and at last broke the kiss, and there was an unspoken 'I love you' as their souls were swept away.
Epilogue
Link got onto his horse, Epona, after watching the woman he loved join Li in death. If only he had told her...
Riding back to the castle he immediately found Zelda and told her what had happened. She cried endlessly, telling him that it wasn't just the fact that he had died, but in the arms of another woman. She never even got to say goodbye.
Link felt somewhat sorry for her, but he knew it was for the best. He would always regret losing his best friend like that, not ever telling her how he really felt. He wondered if it was actually worth it, enchanting his Sword to allow Dark Link to harvest his power there, for the price it had cost him. Zelda was right, the Sword would not have allowed Dark Link to do that, not without Link's help anyway. He probably could have defeated Ganon by himself, but the power of the dark elf in his Sword reassured his victory. He sighed thinking about this and lay down in his bed after a hard day's work...the Master Sword resting safely at his side once again.
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Eep! Well, that was kinda...*ahem* Me and my twisted brain. Heh, evilness pays off...sometimes.