Disclaimer: Rinaidran Warrior koe Ysoni'hyne Zelda. Translation: I dun own Zelda. Duh.

THE SPORKS ARE COMING!

Oh yeah, and anything between ' ' indicates someone whispering. I know I wasn't doing this before, but from now on I'll use 'em. Thankies!

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Link is still pacing the floor of our cell. I swear, he's gonna wear holes in the sandstone. I tell him that, and order him to spare the poor floor and sit down. He smiles half-heartedly at me and obeys.

"Malon, why don't you try to get some sleep? We're probably gonna be here for a while."

"I'm...not tired." I glance at the Gerudos.

"You look exhausted."

"I...I'm not exhausted..." I try to stifle a yawn.

"Malon, I promise I won't let those freaks hurt you if you go to sleep." The Gerudos frown at Link, and he sticks his tongue out. They look at each other and shrug. I hear them conversing in whispers.

'Is he really the Hero of Time?'

'I think so...'

'How old is he?'

'Dunno. If he didn't look seventeen, I'd swear he was ten...'

Link and I exchange a glance, and start to laugh.

'What about the redhead?'

'I don't know what's wrong with her.'

'Maybe she's been in her cell too long?'

'Nah, she only arrived here yesterday.'

'I think they're both crazy. What do they feed the prisoners again?'

By now me and Link are making stupid faces at the guards. I cross my eyes and stick out my tongue, and we both collapse on the floor laughing. Maybe the night isn't going to be so long...

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At about five o'clock, I wake up. I had to every morning at the Ranch, and the habit is sticking. But part of the reason I woke up is because I have a brilliant scheme.

I poke Link, who's still asleep. He swats at my hand and rolls over. 'Link! Get up!' Link turns his head towards me and his blue eyes open slowly.

"Malon?"

'Shh. Try to whisper.'

'Oh. So why did you wake me?'

'I have a plan!'

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After I finish whispering to Link, a slow smile spreads across his face. Then we put our plan into action.

First Link takes out his sword. He hits the bars with all his might, and hacks away at them. The metal isn't even scratched, but I grab the metal bars and pull on them. We both yell at the top of our lungs.

The Gerudo Guards look startled. One turns to the other.

"Should we put them in a bigger prison?"

"You mean the other prison outside? The big one?"

"Yes."

They walk into the cell and tie us up. Link quickly puts his sword away so they won't take it, and luckily they don't see his other weapons. Then one of them slings me over her shoulder, and the other does the same to Link. They carry us outside and towards a big building with only one window. I grin as I see the wooden windowsill.

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Finally, me and Link are in the big prison. I skip for joy.

"It worked, Link!"

"Now for part two of your plan..."

As he says this, Link takes out a little thing with a metal tip.

"Wow...so that's the Hookshot?"

"Yeah. It's pretty cool."

"Do you think it'll reach that far?"

"Guaranteed."

Link aims the Hookshot, and smiles. I look up at the sill and suddenly shiver. Link notices.

"Don't worry, Malon, I'm afraid of heights too."

"How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Know exactly what I'm thinking."

"I guess we just have a lot in common."

"Hmm...are you sure the Sages didn't give you some kind of telepathic power?"

Link doesn't answer, but puts his arm around my waist. His grip tightens as he aims the Hookshot...and suddenly I'm hanging off the wooden sill by four fingers.

"Oh no! Malon, hang on!" Link says to me. He's perched on the sill, and he extends a hand towards me. I look down, and immediately wish I hadn't. I never realized how high up the sill was!

I stifle a scream as one of my fingers slips off the edge. Link inhales sharply.

"Malon, try to swing your left hand up so I can grab it."

I swing my left hand up, and almost get it within reach of Link's hand. I try again, and another finger loses hold of the sill.

Link hooks his feet over the opposite edge of the sill that I'm holding on to, and lays flat across the wooden boards. He grabs my right wrist. Then he reaches down, and I swing my left hand up. He catches hold of it.

Link pulls me up, and I climb shakily onto the sill. I'm breathing quickly, and my heart is pounding. I'm shaking all over.

"Malon...I'm sorry, I miscalculated...are you okay? I'm so sorry!"

Link puts his arms around me and hugs me tightly. He doesn't let go until I stop shaking.

"I'm sorry too, Link."

"For what, Malon?"

"I guess I'm just being a nuisance...You always have to save me from something. I'm really sorry for slowing you down. I got you into prison in the first place. It seems that everything I do makes things worse..."

Link shakes his head in disbelief. He brushes a strand of blond hair away from his crystal eyes, and looks at me sadly.

"Malon..."

"I can't do ANYTHING without needing to be saved! I'm just wasting your time."

If Link looked sympathetic before, he sure doesn't now. In fact, he looks downright mad. He lets go of me and faces me.

"Malon, that is not true! Every moment I spend with you is valuable to me! You are not wasting my time! And you're one of the most capable people I've ever met. Who else you know could spend seven years being abused by that...that...devil's spawn, Ingo? Or do backbreaking chores all day just to get supper? Or bear this all without complaining?"

I stare at Link. His blue eyes are narrowed angrily, and I lower my eyes.

"You..." I whisper.

I stare at my lap. I have no idea what else to say. But my seven years with Ingo seem like nothing compared to Link's quest. He fights a variety of monsters every day, and the only monster I've ever seen is Ingo. I do backbreaking chores all day to get supper, but Link does twice the work I do in a day and rarely gets anything to eat. I don't complain, but if I did Ingo would probably kill me. It's fear, not bravery.

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I slowly raise my eyes to meet Link's. He still looks mad.

"Come on, Malon. We haven't got all day. Let's go."

He's frowning at me, but when he puts his arm around my waist, he's very gentle. He aims his Hookshot at a wooden post, and we fly towards it.

I slam into the post, but not too hard. I grimace, but remember our argument and suck it up. Link lets go of me, and starts to walk out of the Fortress. I follow quickly.

We walk along in silence for a while, then we reach the bridge. A beautiful red horse is standing near a tent, and I remember how Link and I escaped from the Ranch on a horse. Link walks over to the horse.

"Hi, Epona." My eyes widen. "Epona?" I repeat. I run up to my old horse, ignoring Link. Epona sniffs me, then nuzzles me as she nickers happily.

I step back from the beautiful mare, and Link gets on. He sticks out his hand, but I ignore it and get on myself. Link frowns again and turns Epona towards the bridge.

"What-" I'm cut off in mid-question as Epona starts galloping towards the bridge. My eyes widen as she arrives at the edge and doesn't stop.

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We soar over the gap in the bridge, and I resist the urge to gasp and put a hand to my heart. Epona stops, and I jump off before Link can help me. I lean against a large rock, and watch Link.

"Well, thank you, Link. I'm going to go back to the Ranch, and try to work things out with Ingo. Good luck on your quest. Goodbye." Link just stares at me. I turn my back and start to walk away.

I step out of Gerudo Valley, and into the sunshine of Hyrule Field. Then I hear horse's hooves behind me. Why can't Link leave me alone? But deep inside me, I'm glad he's following me. I shove that feeling away and walk faster.

Link catches up with me anyways. I try to ignore him.

"Malon..."

I keep going.

"Malon."

I walk a bit faster.

"Malon!"

The commanding tone of Link's voice makes me stop. I turn and look at him, my eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?"

"To know why you're going back to Lon Lon Ranch."

I sigh, and look away.

"Why do you care?"

I start walking again. Link rides beside me on Epona.

"Why are you following me?"

"To make sure you get to the Ranch safely."

"And you think I can't get there alone?"

"I'm just worried!"

This makes me stop dead in my tracks. Link is still worried about me, even though he's mad at me?

"Why?"

"Because I'm your friend."

'I...I thought you were mad at me.' My voice has dropped to a whisper. Link's eyes close briefly.

"I am. Why are you always beating yourself up? You're a strong person, but it's just not enough for you...Why do you think you need to change?"

I don't answer.

"But you're not the only person I'm mad at. I'm just frustrated...Goddesses, I hate Ingo...and I guess I sort of took it out on you." Link sighs tiredly, rubbing his eyes.

"Link...it's not Ingo's fault. He was a greedy person, and Ganondorf promised him great things. He...didn't mean any harm...until Ganondorf brainwashed him. Please, don't hurt him or anything...if we can break Ganondorf's hold on him, he'll return to the way he was."

"How...why are you not mad at Ingo after all he did?"

"It's not his fault."

"Well, if you can forgive Ingo so easily, then could you...forgive me?"

I look up at Link.

"Of course."

Link smiles from ear to ear, and I smile back.

"Well then, how about a ride to the Ranch?"

He extends his hand, and I take it.

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