As they walked up the hill to the ranch, nothing appeared to have changed, at first! But there seemed to be a sound missing among the sounds of farm animals, and the light breeze blowing through the trees and rooftops. Link realized that Talon's snoring was the missing sound. Even knowing what his father told him, it was still a surprise. Link first went to the cucoo coop, which butted on to the house. The coop was completely empty! Not only was there no Talon, but there were no cuccos! He then went across the path to the stable. He found Malon there, tending to some of the horses and cows.
Link entered the stable to find Malon cleaning a stall, and almost crying. He asked "What's wrong, Malon?"
She turned around, startled. "Who are you? Do you ride for Ganondorf? Or are you just a traveller?"
Link answered, "I'm a friend to you and your father. If you don't remember me, that's fine. But you were saddened almost to the point of tears when I walked in to the stable. And I haven't heard your father's snoring, which is odd because he normally napped at this time of day. What's wrong, Malon?"
She answered, "Friend, if that's what you are, you are most perceptive." She looked at him for the first time. She almost recognized him, but not quite. "You do look familiar, friend! I don't forget a face, yet I don't remember yours. But I know I've seen you before, and that you are a friend. Have you been travelling long?"
Link answered "I've been away from this part of the realm for several years. I've returned to find that times have truly become strange."
Malon replied, "Yes, they have!
"Two months ago, Ganondorf helped Ingovard steal the ranch from my father! Dad was forced to leave here, and he moved to Kakariko Village. I would have left too, but I'm afraid for the animals! Ingo is a good rancher, but he has no heart anymore! He's casually cruel to the horses, cows, and other animals. I've stayed on so far to try and curb Ingo's worst instincts. But I have to do exactly as 'Mr. Ingo' says! If I disobey 'Mr. Ingo,' he will treat the horses so badly…" She broke out in tears. Link let her cry on his shoulder without saying anything for several minutes.
She recovered herself and said, "I'm sorry to be so bold with you, sir! But I'm at my wit's end! I love my dad, and I feel I shouldn't stay here! But I feel responsible to our animals, too! And if I leave…"
Link answered, "I would have been hurt if you hadn't been 'bold' with me, Malon. But I have already heard of Ingo's treachery! I came here to touch his heart. Your dad will return here late tomorrow morning, and the ranch will once again be his!" Malon looked at him in shock! Link continued. "No, I am neither mad, nor a boaster. And I will not hurt Ingovard! But his treachery stinks to the heavens! I will not let it stand. Don't worry—I will not fail you."
Malon looked at him again closely. She said, "Traveller, looks can be deceiving. But you look like a man who does exactly what he says he will do! Please be this man. Don't let him hurt Dad or my horses again! You will find him at the corral! He's trying to groom my horse as a gift to Ganondorf."
Link asked "Has he promised the horse to Ganondorf?"
She answered, "I don't think so."
Link replied "Good. It wouldn't stop me if he had, but it would have made things more difficult. Thank you, Malon!"
She answered "If you do what you say, it is I who must thank you, friend. Go with fortune." Link left the stable and walked to the corral.
Ingo was standing by the gate to the corral. He looked seven years older, which was to be expected. His receding hairline had receded further, leaving him almost completely bald on the top of his head. But it was the clothes he wore that made him look truly comical.
He was dressed as a nobleman might dress to go see the King! No one would dress like that to work on a farm. He wore a starched ruffled collar, a blue shirt with gold brocade on the sleeves, a crimson sleeveless tunic, and white tights. His black boots were so highly shined that it was obvious that he had never worked while wearing them! When he had seen Ingo seven years ago, the man had thrived on running the ranch, though his heart was bitter from Talon's laziness and lack of gratitude. But now, he was a fop, and almost a pansy!
Link walked up to Ingo and said "Sir, I'm interested in horses. I've heard this ranch raises fine ones. Would you be the owner?"
Ingo answered, "Yes. I am Ingovard. I've just taken over the ranch recently, but have run it for several years before that."
Link said, "I am Link. I've heard of this ranch, but I thought the owner was Talon."
Ingo replied huffily "There are some people in Kakariko spreading rumours that I cheated Talon out of the ranch, but the great Ganondorf himself recognized my hard work and that it was I who ran the ranch! He took the ranch out of Talon's hand, and placed it in mine!
"To keep you from spreading these lies yourself, I will let you ride the horses for a while. But it will cost you ten rupees!"
Link felt anger starting to well up in his soul. Navi told him silently "Pay the money, Link! You'll show him up soon enough!"
Link answered Navi "I'd like to cut him down where he stands, what right has he to run this place as a livery stable?"
Navi replied "None. But he can't see that! You must open his eyes, Link."
Link told Ingo "Sir, I would be grateful to ride one of your horses." Link gave Ingo ten rupees.
Ingo asked, "Do you know how to ride, Link?"
He answered "Yes, sir. Thank you." Link entered the corral and walked up to the nearest horse that was saddled.
He asked Navi "Do you know how to ride?"
She answered, "What would you do if I didn't?" Link started to get nervous. Navi continued. "I know how, Link! Steady yourself. The harness the horse wears on its head is called the bridle. The piece of metal on the bridle that is in the horse's mouth is called the bit. The leather straps attached to the bit are the reins. You sit on the saddle, which is the seat tied to the horse's back. The blanket underneath the saddle is the saddle blanket. The horn on the front of the saddle is the saddle horn. The things hanging down from the saddle are the stirrups; you put your feet in those. Walk to the horse's left side."
Link did this, and Navi continued. "Grab the reins in your left hand, then place your left hand on the saddle horn." Link did this. She said "Place your left foot into the stirrup, and climb onto the horse, placing your right foot in the right stirrup." Link did this. Navi said "I'll help you control the horse at first. Don't do anything yet. To make the horse go, kick both feet back. To make the horse turn to the left or right, put more pressure on the side of the horse you want to turn to with your knee, pull the reins to that direction, or both. To make the horse go faster, slap its rump with your hand, or slap its side with the end loop of the reins. To make the horse stop, pull back evenly on the reins. As you get more skilled with reading hearts, you will be able to control a horse with just your mind. But if you tell it to do something in its mind, and tell it to do something different through the ordinary ways of controlling it, it will become confused! A horse's mind is simple. If you confuse it, you will scare it, and it could do almost anything except what you want it to!
"Ok, Link. Lean your weight forward just a little, and make the horse walk forward." Link was startled when the horse started walking briskly, but managed to hide his astonishment from Ingo, who watched from the gate. "Good, Link. Make the horse turn left with your knee." Link did this. Navi said, "Now make it turn right with your knee." Link did this. The fairy said, "Now, ride to the left and right with your reins." Once Link did this, she said, "Now, make it stop." Link was already sensing the animal's mind. He pulled just hard enough on the reins, and the horse stopped quickly. Link was put slightly off-balance by the horse's stopping, but hid this from Ingo.
Navi said "Good! Now, take off at a full gallop!" Link took off and was exhilarated! He rode to the left, the right, then rode a lap around the corral! As he approached Ingo, the rebellious stable-hand said "Time's up, Link!"
Link rode up to Ingo, and dismounted in reverse of how he mounted the horse. He said, "I should like to ride for a while longer, sir. Is the price for more time ten rupees?" Ingo answered, "For you, sir, I'll accept that!"
Link paid Ingo the money, then he walked back toward the first horse. Navi said "Call Epona now, Link." Link took the Ocarina of Time and played 'Epona's Song.' Epona ran to Link at a full gallop from the other end of the coral. Link hadn't even noticed her before; he was so intent on his first riding lesson!
Navi said, "You did good figuring out how to dismount on your own, Link! Remember that if you try to mount or dismount a horse the wrong way, it will get scared and throw you! Mount Epona as you did the other horse." He did this. He noticed that Epona felt stronger than the other horse. Her mind was also more open to Link's reading it. Navi said, "She's your horse, Link! She will always be more open to you than a strange horse! Ride a lap of the corral with her." He did this, noticing that Epona was much faster than the other horse.
As he came around back to the gate, Navi said "See that fence over there Link?"
He answered "Sure, Navi. Why did they put those short pieces of fence in the middle of the corral?"
She said, "Those are to practice jumping, Link! Ride to the nearest one and jump it. To jump, ride straight at the fence. If you approach at too much of an angle, the horse will stop! As you get real close, get the horse running as fast as it can! It will jump the fence on its own."
Link rode straight at the fence. Navi said, "Speed up, now!" Link accelerated to full gallop, and they jumped the fence easily.
Link was even more excited than he was on the first horse! He exclaimed silently "Navi, this is great fun!"
She answered "Yes, but it's also serious business!
"Accelerate to full gallop, and keep urging Epona on." Link did this, and felt her tire. He felt as she slowed down, got another wind, and speeded up a little again.
Navi said, "Feel how she got winded? You need to feel when you are pushing her too hard, and not push her as much! If you urge her forward a little less, she will keep running faster! If you need that last burst of speed, it's there. But only ask that of her at the end of a run, when you really need that extra burst of speed. Now, we are ready to challenge Ingo. Ride up to him, and he will challenge us." Link rode up to Ingovard.
Ingo said, "You seem to be quite a rider! How would you like to race me around the corral?"
Link answered "Certainly, sir! I'd be glad to."
Ingo continued. "Let's make a little wager, say… fifty rupees?"
Link answered "Of course."
Ingo whistled, and a third saddled horse galloped up. Link could tell that this was Ingovard's regular mount. The horse, unlike the others, was not afraid of him. Ingo had not mistreated this one! He could also tell it was a powerful horse, but not nearly as powerful as Epona.
Ingo said, "Since this is my ranch, I'll let you have the inside. I'll start us." The two lined up even with the east post of the corral gate, Link on the inside. Ingo shouted, "On your mark, get set, go!" The two riders took off at full gallop! Ingo tried to crowd Link and Epona into the fence of the corral. But Link out-accelerated Ingo, and got in front of him. Epona felt like she had energy to spare! He patted her rump just enough, and kept her two to three horse-lengths in front of Ingo. By the time they had finished their one clockwise lap of the corral, they had won by four lengths! Ingo was furious, and embarrassed!
He howled in frustration! He then said, "If the great Ganondorf ever found out about this humiliation… Hey, you! How about another race! If you win… You can keep… the horse!"
Link replied sarcastically, "Ok. I wouldn't have you lose face with the great Ganondorf." Ingo failed to recognize Link's scorn, and remounted his horse. They lined up again and this time Ingo not only started them again, but gave himself a one-length lead!
Link was furious! He drew the Master Sword and rode not to win, but to cut Ingo out of the saddle one piece at a time! Navi had to think fast—she couldn't allow Link to kill Ingo, or lose the race! She clouded Link's mind, which was already difficult for her as strong as Link had become! She made him think he was controlling Epona, but controlled the horse herself. She made him see Ingovard in the lead, even when he had passed Ingo, riding like the wind with sword drawn and murder in his heart! She opened Link's eyes again only as they crossed the finish line, six lengths ahead!
She said silently "Link! Sheathe your sword, you've won!" He was surprised. She continued, "I couldn't let you kill Ingo! He must live, whether he deserves to, or not!" He sheathed the sword and cantered up to an even more humiliated Ingovard.
The stable-hand looked at the horse Link was riding. "What's up with that horse? Is that Epona?" he said in shock.
He exclaimed, "How did you tame that wild horse under my nose? I was going to present that horse to the great Ganondorf! But I bet it on the race and lost! Shooot!" Ingo thought for a moment then laughed!
He said smugly, "As I promised, I'll give the horse to you. However, I'll never let you leave this ranch!" Before Link could say anything, Ingovard closed a set of iron gates that ran between the stable and the ranch house. As Ingo turned to go in the house Link drew the Master Sword again and said, "Wait, brigand!" At this, Ingovard turned around.
Link said, "You once could have become a real Knight! But instead, you've become a fake brigand, and a pawn of the beast! You prance around in the suit of clothes your boss wore when he was married! You give orders, and push around a young maiden, whose father you defrauded! You act like you could run a ranch, when you can no longer even dress yourself, much less tend to the animals in your charge!
"Your life has already been spared once this day. It would be inconvenient for me to deal with you now. But I shall return in a few days time! Perhaps the keese will be hungrier then, that they may dine sumptuously on a fat traitor!"
Link wheeled about, and charged the west wall of the ranch at full-gallop! Navi exclaimed silently, "Link, you should practice first!"
He answered in kind, "I will, Navi. I'll jump the wall for practice. Then, If I'm still in the ranch, I'll jump it again for real!" As the reached the wall, Link urged Epona on even faster! She responded by giving Link every bit of reserve she had! She easily cleared the wall, and landed smoothly in Hyrule field, in spite of the fact that on the outside the wall was almost double the height it was inside! She then slowed down to catch her breath. Link slowed her down to a walk and headed her toward the stone bridge.
Ingovard watched the stranger wheel about and jump the west wall as if it were a short fence. He had tried it himself several times, and was never able to do it. He knew of only one other person who could do that. He was suddenly gripped with terror! And it was not a fear of Ganondorf! He was glad that he hadn't actually told Ganondorf that he would give him any horse, much less Epona! But the stranger who jumped the wall was no ordinary traveller! This horseman rode like his old liege-lord, the Duke of Hyrule, and as much as said that he would kill him!
Ingovard then took to heart the words the stranger said. He had been horribly wrong in what he did, and Talon's ingratitude was no excuse! He collapsed on the ground, struck by a wave of remorse over old oaths broken and old friends betrayed. He begged the fates for a chance; just one chance to make amends for what he had done.
Link asked "Navi? Where will we keep Epona, when I go where I can't ride her?"
Navi answered "She is a strong horse, even slightly enchanted, like her owner. Take good and proper care of her when you have the time. But she's strong enough that she will be fine out in Hyrule field, at least for the time it takes to liberate the realm! If she gets that ill, she can be healed by a healing fairy while you ride her."
Link rode at a slow easy gallop to Kakariko Village. He dismounted at the base of the stairs, and petted Epona on the side of the neck. She nuzzled him affectionately. He said, "You're a good girl, and a strong one." The horse sensed Link's affection and concern, and enjoyed it. Link wanted to tend better to the horse. But he had just enough time to get the blue fire before the potion shop closed.