Ablah! Well, I tried my best to get this up sometime BEFORE Christmas and I THINK that I might have done it. Sorry for the disappointment guys… and I even just told you that I'd update faster. All I can say is sorry… so… I'm sorry.

But now, I give you… Chapter 11!

Goodbyes stay unsaid

Not a day pasted that Malon didn't think about what was going to happen. She was forced to remain silent, and it hurt everyday. She found that she wasn't acting like herself. She had forced herself to be more secretive and barely spoke to anyone at the ranch, even her own father. The only person she could talk to was Sheik. She constantly went to him just to let out her angst. He would listen excellently to her rants and offered her advice.

At thirteen years old, Malon was no longer unaware of their tight financial situation at the ranch. She started to pay more attention to her father's fights with Ingo ever since Ganondorf had come and left. The ranch was not doing well. Sales were down lower then they had ever been. No one came to buy from the ranch, or anywhere. A great depression swept the land and the ranch paid for it.

Malon hadn't gotten a new dress in ages. She began using her old one as a top and made a skirt out of some old material she found. They couldn't afford anything new and Malon had become more independent by having to fend for herself.

She had formed an outer shell; one that she could hide behind and use to brace herself for all the bumps that life was throwing at her. She had taught herself not to cry about meaningless matters and pushed down all her anger and fear. She thought that she could now handle anything that Ganondorf would do to them.

It was strange to Malon that even though Ganondorf was ready he still hadn't taken over the ranch. It bothered her to think about what he was planning and how he was going to take control. She had been playing the waiting game for so long now, that she was starting to believe that he was going slowly.

Malon hurriedly finished her work in the stables. She replaced the brush back into the leaking bucket and stood back to admire her work. Once again, she had to wash the floor with dirty water, and once again it looked… dirty.

Sighing at what she hoped would look somewhat clean, she turned to leave the stables.

"Bye, Ingo." She muttered as she walked past him. He grunted in return. They had not had a real conversation with one another in years.

She entered the house and walked up the dusty stairs to her bedroom. Shutting the door silently, she tried to locate her nicest apron amid the mess. Finding it tucked under her bed, she fumbled to put it on properly.

Malon planned to go visit Sheik again late that afternoon. She hadn't gone to see him all week and things were getting rather hard to bare at the ranch. It was getting harder to sneak out now too. Malon knew that her father wasn't stupid enough not to notice that she would disappear for hours on end… But he was thick enough not to confront her about it. She just had to be extra careful coming in and out and making up excuses.

She left her room, now somewhat presentable, and shut the door silently as before. She crept down the stairs slowly and reached out for the door handle.

She stopped as she heard someone clear their throat very loudly and obviously. Malon gritted her teeth and turned around. Talon stood in the shadows of the corner of the room, looking at her.

"Where you of to, Missy?" He asked, suspiciously.

"I'm not quite finished in the stables yet." She replied in her monotone voice, "I'm just going out to tie up lose ends."

He raised his eyebrows. "In that?"

Malon looked down at what she was wearing. They were dirty, old and slightly frayed articles of clothing, but the were no doubt her nicest. "What about it?" She asked trying to sound confused.

"Isn't that a bit formal… to be cleanin' in?" Talon asked.

"A bit formal?" Malon asked, still in monotone, "None of my clothes- no sorry, rags- are formal."

"Don't lie to me anymore girl." He said seriously, "Now, I've been waitin' for ages for you to come to me and tell me that you've been lyin', but you haven't. Don't you think I'd notice? I thought that I taught you better then to lie to your own father, Malon."

Malon said nothing. She cast her gaze to the floor. He didn't know what she was going through… he'd never understand.

"I don't want you to sneak off anymore to go see that boy."

"How… how did you know?" Stuttered Malon.

"Do you honestly think that I'm stupid enough not to know about my daughter? You've changed so much Malon. I don't want you to see him again." He told her.

"Why? So that I won't ever have any friends?" Malon noticed that she was dropping her monotone. She couldn't keep her cool like Sheik could. "Sheik's been more help to me than you have!" She cried to her father. As soon as the words escaped her mouth, she regretted them. Not only had she told her father about who she had been going to see, but she had insulted him.

"Double chores this week, girl." He said slowly, looking down at her heavily, "And I want you paint the fence around the stables today."

"Today?" Malon asked, dumbfounded, "That'll take me all day! I'm not doing it."

"You will. And if I catch you goin' out again, you'll find yourself painting the corral fence by yourself too."

Malon let her mouth hang open. The whole stable fence? She'd never finish. She shook her head. "I'm not painting your fence. I'm going out… and you can't make me paint the corral fence either."

"Malon-" her father began.

Malon slammed the door with all her might as he was speaking to her. She sprinted across to the stables and opened Epona's stall. She mounted her horse quickly and ran out the door. Her father was now also outside the house and he held up his hand to stop her. Malon ignored him and steered the horse around him.

"Malon! You get back here!" Yelled Talon.

"I don't need to listen to you. I don't need you to tell me what to do!" Malon cried at him. She pulled on Epona's reins and they galloped down the declivity of the ranch and out into Hyrule field.

Malon took in a deep breath. She had just completely disobeyed her father… on purpose. Her hands began to shake and the reins vibrated violently. She debated about going back… but she knew she'd be punished. She would go back in a few hours… after they had both calmed down.

Until then, she'd go to the lake and talk to Sheik. He'd know how she could get back on her dad's good side quickly enough.

She rode down her usual path to the lake. Thick, heavy clouds swam tempestuously above her. It would soon start to rain and Malon hadn't brought a blanket in her haste. Rolling her eyes at her stupidity, Malon reached the tall gate and tied Epona. She then climbed up the ladder as always and made her way towards the lake.

She entered the clearing and looked to see if Sheik was about. She walked to the shoreline but couldn't find him. Malon strained to see in the distance if he was on the island. She didn't bother to search in the lake to check if he was swimming. No one ever swam anymore. The water in the lake was now unclean and dangerous. The amount of water had also slowly been going down over the years and it was barely half full anymore.

Malon gave up looking and decided he was probably in his cave. That was where he usually was when she couldn't find him outside. She walked over to the cliff face and peered inside the gloomy household.

"Sheik?" She called into it.

A mumble could be heard inside. That was him alright. She entered the cave and waited for him to come out. A loud bang exploded in the cave. Malon jumped and screamed as loud as she could. Another bang erupted behind her. Malon screamed once again and whirled around. A large puff of blue smoke hung in the air in front of her. It dispersed with a wave of a hand and Sheik walked out from it. His eyes were glinting and he gave a short laugh.

Malon was now highly embarrassed that he had frightened her. She pushed him into the wall of the cave. "You think that was funny do you?" She asked him.

He rubbed his arm where she had hit him. "I learned a new trick. I was waiting for you to come so that I could show you. But you took so long I thought you deserved that." He said with almost no emotion.

"A new trick?" Asked Malon. She circled around him, looking him over. He seemed to be the same. "So… you can teleport then?"

Sheik nodded.

"That's amazing. How did you do it then?"

"Sheikah magic." He answered shortly.

"I see."

Malon took a seat next to a small, dying fire. Sheik followed.

"So what happened?" He asked.

"Sorry?"

"What happened? Why did you come here? I thought you weren't going to come back you took so long." He elaborated.

"Oh. My dad… he found out about you and he didn't want me leaving to come see you…ever." Malon said, "Then I… Then I ran out on him. He's so angry with me."

Sheik silently poked at the fire.

"I'm sorry Sheik. I didn't mean to tell him about you, really."

"That's fine." He said.

"I know that I shouldn't have run off, but I needed to talk."

"That's fine too." He said.

"The ranch is getting worse by the second. It's been five years now and everyday I've wondered when he'll take over. It's been so long. I don't know what he's up to anymore. I thought I knew once… But not anymore." Said Malon. Sheik would of course know who she was referring to, everyone would know. His answer, however, seemed completely irrelevant.

"Only five. Only… Is that all it's been?" He mumbled.

Malon stared at him. She had expected somewhat of a more helpful answer.

Sheik looked down at his own hands and sighed. "It seems like so much longer… when you're waiting."

"Sorry?" Asked Malon, thinking that he might be going somewhere with this.

He snapped his eyes away from his own hands and looked at Malon. "I said… Don't wait around for it. It hasn't happened yet… so why bother? There's no need to get upset."

Malon raised her eyebrows. "Don't bother?" She repeated.

"Yes. Don't bother. There's no point. You'll only get let down in the end anyway." He said. He turned his gaze to the fire again.

Malon looked him over. Something obviously was bothering him. Something she couldn't help but ask about…

"What are you waiting for then?" She asked.

Sheik looked at her then back at the fire, then at her again. He breathed heavily out his nose. "Everything that I once had." He whispered.

Malon, confused, furrowed her brow. Silence filled the cave. A steady drip from a leak in the roof echoed softly. She searched for a change of subject, but he beat her to it.

Sheik cleared his throat. "I found out what's causing the water in the lake to be so cold." He said.

"Oh really." Said Malon, "What?"

"Zora's Fountain has completely frozen over. Probably has been like that for years now. The icy currant flows through an underground tunnel and out into the lake."

"Do you know why the level has gone down?" Asked Malon.

"I think I might." He said. "I have a guess that all the water in the lake is running down into a deep reservoir underneath the center island. I don't know what triggered it though."

"That's weird" Said Malon. "I wonder why it would just go down all of the sudden."

Sheik poked at the fire.

"If it's underground… then we can get it back right?" Asked Malon. "I mean, it's still there, it just needs to come back up again. Do you think we could bring it back? "

"I think one day someone might be able to." He said.

A loud rumble came from outside. Malon looked out and notice that the sky was covered in dark clouds.

"I should get back home before it rains." She said, "Maybe my dad'll forgive me and I won't have to paint in the rain."

Sheik lifted up his hand to say goodbye and Malon quickly ran off in the direction of Epona. She turned around to wave goodbye.

"No matter what my father says, I'll always come and talk to you." She told him.

He simply kept his hand up in the air.

Malon got to Epona in good time and set of home at a very fast pace. She would have to get home before it started to rain or her favourite outfit would be ruined.

She arrived at the ranch soon and the rain had only just started to come down. Tiny droplets fell around her in small amounts. She could put Epona away and then get inside before it really started. She led Epona up the slope and into the ranch's open space… But something was already there.

A large black horse, decorated in heavy armor and red material stood in the middle of the small clearing. Malon recognized that horse… Ganondorf.

Now becoming nervous, she led Epona around the huge beast and opened up the stables to find…

A huge mess was made. All the stall doors were broken, the floor was covered in slops and hay, dead cuccos were scattered about and there were holes in the ceiling letting the rain in.

Malon dropped Epona's reins and ran back out the stable door. Something was very wrong. She ran right past the horse again and reached for the door handle of her house.

Before her hand even touched the handle, the door violently swung open. Malon jumped out of it's way just in time.

The rain grew thicker now and Malon was getting wet. She slipped on the ground and fell into a puddle that had formed. She scrambled to her feet and saw what she had suspected.

Ganondorf had emerged from the house and he was dragging with him-

"Daddy?" Cried Malon. She pushed her sopping hair out of her eyes. Her father had a large bump on his head and blood ran down his face. "Hey, wait! No, Stop!" She screamed.

Ganondorf stopped and turned to look at her. "Here she is." He called out, into the house. "Sorry, girl, but your daddy's not been very helpful lately. Have you seen your stables? Quite unsafe. It's dangerous for him to be around you or the ranch anymore. I've placed you in the caring hands of Ingo. I'm sure he'll do a much better job. But you already knew this was coming, didn't you?" He smiled evilly.

"Let my dad go!" She said, "Those stables weren't like that this morning! I don't know what happened there, but it wasn't his fault!" Malon felt tears run down her cheeks. She hoped that Ganondorf couldn't see them through the heavy rain.

He looked at her and shook his head. "Don't speak to me in that manner."

"I hate you!" Screamed Malon. With all her might she pulled her leg back and kicked his knee. She felt her toes crumple on impact and tried not to yell out. He stood, however, unfazed by her attack. His red eyes beat down on her.

She felt thick fingers grasp her throat tightly and her feet left the ground. She coughed and kicked her legs. Ganondorf slammed her against the wall and held her at eye level. "Don't try anything like that again, wench, or I'll have the pleasure of killing you." He pressed his fingers deeper into her neck and Malon tried to cough again but found she couldn't. Her vision blurred and his face swam in and out of focus.

He let go and she collapsed to the floor. Malon drew in a deep breath and held her sore throat. Rain fell around her in thick sheets. She could hardly see. She got to her feet and staggered over to her father.

"Dad? Dad wake up." She pleaded.

His eyes fluttered open.

"Mal. Mal, don't worry I'll be fine. I'll be back soon. I'll-" He was cut off as Ganondorf supplied a hard kick to the head. Malon began to scream wildly and held on to her father as he was hauled onto the horse. Ganondorf grabbed her by her shirt and threw her to the floor again. She scrambled up and tried to catch the horse as it ran off.

She stopped and fell to the wet, soggy ground and began to sob. "Dad!" She screamed out. "Dad! Come back!"

She pounded her fists into the mud and hot tears poured down her face. She heard footsteps squelching behind her. She whipped her head around and her wet hair stuck to her face. Ingo walked up by the side of her and pulled her up of the ground.

"There, there." He said. "Come on now, Malon. The only one to blame is you really. If you hadn't of left, your father wouldn't have gone mad and destroyed the stables."

Malon glared at him. "He would ever do that!" She cried.

"He did. And that's why he's gone now." He responded.

"I- I didn't… I didn't even get to say goodbye."

With that, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed as a large fork of lightning flashed above her and thunder rolled in the distance and rain came down, down, down.

Awww. So sad. Well, this is where it starts to get rolling. I hope that you guys aren't too mad about the update speed… At least I updated!

Well. Review please. Every one is appreciated!

Thanks!