NO! I'm late AGAIN! I'm sorry. Thanks to everyone for reviewing!!

'Into the Action'

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Malon woke up early to find Link staring her in the face. She smiled and stretched. "Hey, sunshine," he whispered and kissed her cheek.

"Link, we don't have a whole lot of time to hang around," Malon said. "I know," Link sighed. "But we have a while. It's only five."

"Five?" she exclaimed. "Wow."

"Yea, really." He grinned and kissed her lightly. "So, what did Zelda want?" She smiled. "I'm not telling."

Link smiled and kissed her again. "Please?" he asked innocently.

"Link!" Malon laughed. "Knock it off! I know you're trying to bribe me!"

He gave her a look of mock horror. "I am not!" "Are too!" "Am not!" "Are too!"

"Alright!" Link fell back on the bed. "I am!"

"Thank you," Malon said. "I'll tell you, since you admitted it." He rolled his eyes.

"She apologized, and I apologized, so now we're friends again." She cocked her head at him. "There. Are you happy?"

"Yes," he said. He pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair.

"Why are you suddenly so romantic and kissy?" Malon asked.

Link looked at the ceiling for a minute. "I don't know. Since I found you, I just haven't wanted to let you out of my sight." He wrapped his arms around her. "I lost everything I loved for three years. I don't want to lose it again," he whispered in her ear.

She felt silent tears dripping onto her shoulder and looked up. His eyes were closed, and tears trailed down his cheeks. She sat up and wiped them away.

"The Hero of Time has never cried," she whispered. "What's wrong?"

He opened his eyes. "When I was in Termina, I met a girl. Her name was Romani. And she looked just like you when you were little."

"I thought she was you. Until she said her name was Romani. She was my best friend there." He sighed. "I feel torn. What should I do?"

Malon looked into his eyes. "You mean, you want to stay with me, but be there?"

"Well, either that or they come live here," Link replied. "She's only seven, but she's really smart. Her older sister, Cremia, looks like you do now."

She kissed him. "We'll figure that out later. Let's go to sleep." They did.

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Link woke up to find himself alone. He quickly got up and left the room.

"Malon!" he exclaimed as he walked into the large dining room. "I thought something happened to you!"

She looked up from her food. "No, Link, I'm right here."

Zelda and Karienif sat at the far end of the table. Karienif smiled wearily. Link saw the dark circles under his eyes.

"Rough night?" Link asked as he sat down.

"Well, when you're daughter's been kidnapped by a power-hungry maniac, you don't get much sleep," Karienif said sadly. Zelda took his hand. "Sweetheart, she'll be fine. Link's a great swordsman, and Malon, I know, is a really good archer."

Malon blushed a little. Link flashed her a grin. "Yes, we all know that," he said.

Malon finished eating and stood up. "Hurry, Link. We need to head out."

He looked up, startled by her eagerness. "What's with you, Mal?"

"Don't call me that, Link. It's almost nine!" she stated.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "What?"

Malon sighed. "I woke up at eight. I left you alone. Does that explain?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you." Link gobbled down his food and jumped up. "Thanks, guys. Bye!" He and Malon disappeared out the door. Zelda sighed.

"I hope they'll be careful, and I hope they get Aevia back safely," she whispered.

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"Hey, Epona," Link said as they approached the young horse. Epona whinnied.

"Are we just going head-first into battle?" Malon asked as he swung his body over Epona's back. He smiled down at her.

"Of course," he teased. "Right after we see Akanai." He held his hand out, and she took it.

"Alright," she said as she hopped into the saddle behind him. "But let's hurry!"

"You bet!" Link said. He flicked the reins and dug his heels into Epona's flanks. Soon, they were a dot in the distance.

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"Akanai, how dangerous is this guy?" Link asked the Queen of the Gerudos.

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Link, my friend, he is nearly as powerful as Ganon himself. That is still dangerous."

"Uh, Akanai? I'm just curious. What will this person do to Aevia?" Malon asked.

"Most likely, he'll just use her to lure Link to him." Akanai slowly looked up. "But, knowing my brother, if you do not arrive soon, he may move on to more evil intentions."

"I don't want to know," Malon muttered.

"Akanai, wish us luck!" Link grabbed Malon's wrist and pulled her along. Akanai watched them leave.

"Not luck, but strength," she murmured.

"Link! Do you even know where this guy is?" Malon asked as he pulled her towards the desert gate.

"No, but I've been here before," he said through gritted teeth. "My guess is that he has some sort of fortress inside that cloud of sand."

"What cloud of sand?" she asked. Then she looked straight ahead. "Oh, my God."

"Yea," Link said. A huge sandstorm swirled in the middle of the desert.

"Malon, there's quicksand out there. I've got to use my Longshot, so just hang on to me, okay?" She nodded.

"Alright." He took her hand and lunged into the desert.

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Malon coughed as the sand came into her mouth. It stung her eyes and face.

"Oof!" She fell over. Link turned and helped her up.

"We're getting close to the quicksand!!" he yelled. "Stay close!"

She clung to him, as close as she could. They slowly walked ahead. Then Link stopped and pulled out his Longshot.

"Hold on to me!" he yelled to Malon. She clasped her arms behind his neck and he wrapped a hand around her waist. Then he shot at a faint wooden pole.

Malon squeezed her eyes shut. She felt the wind whipping her dress around her. Then they landed. She rolled straight into the pole.

"Oh," she groaned. Then she stood up. Link grabbed her around the waist. Then he shot again.

'Oh, no,' thought Malon as they flew through the air. She felt his hand slipping. She reached up to grab his neck, but it was too late.

"Link!!" she screamed. Malon landed in the sand feet first. Immediately it shifted under her. "LINK!" she screamed again. She couldn't see anything except sand.

"Help!!" She started to struggle. Suddenly, a strong pair of hands grabbed her and heaved her out onto solid ground. Looking up, she saw a face she hoped never to see again.

"Let go!" she yelled. Jessin just smiled and pinned her to the ground. "So you know," he said, "Link can't find you." He laughed. Her eyes widened in horror and anger.

"You see, Harienif couldn't stand the thought of him getting there so easily. I mean, the Hero of Time deserves a challenge, right?" Jessin smiled wickedly. "So last night, I went out and moved the posts! Isn't that ingenious?"

Malon could feel the tears trickle down her cheeks, to her shock. He smiled and wiped them away.

"I love you, Malon," he mocked. "Don't you love me?"

All the anger she ever felt; to her father, her friends, everything; welled up inside her.

"NO!" she screamed. "I won't let you take him away from me!" With that, she kicked him in that one place guys don't like to be kicked. He groaned and rolled over.

She jumped up and scanned the horizon for Link. She couldn't see him. Suddenly she felt a swift kick hit her in the back of the knees. She collapsed.

"So, you think you could get away that easy?" Jessin asked, rolling over onto her. "I don't think so." He pressed his mouth onto Malon's. She struggled, but he held her down.

"Malon!" Her eyes flew open. Jessin was lifted off of her, and Link raised his sword to his throat. "Do you want to die this way, or fight first?" Link snarled.

Jessin grinned evilly and drew his sword. "Fight."

The two started, first clashing their swords together. Then Jessin moved his and thrust it at Link. Link moved and slashed at Jessin's arm. He struck it just above the elbow, causing it to bleed.

"AAAGHH!" Jessin raised his sword, only to pitch forward, dead. Link saw an arrow sticking out of his back and looked up. Malon still stood with her bow poised. She let her arm drop.

Link hurried to her. "He moved..the posts," she mumbled. "I know," Link said. He put her bow on her back and grabbed her waist. This time, she grabbed his neck. He took a careful aim and shot. They were gone.

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Yay for another chapter! Please review! Thanks again!