Din's
eye slowly rose up from the distant horizon. The shadow from the
forest crawled away to hide itself in the deep woods witch surrounded
Lake Hylia. Link rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes and sat up. He
cast his blanket aside and took a quick glance over the surroundings.
Lake Hylia's fishery lay on steady ground thirty feet in the water;
he'd have to swim to get there. Epona grassed by some scarecrows.
The crazy old mans house was also nearby, with its high tower rising
from the roof. Link couldn't remember why he was here, but he
arrived late last night. So he let Epona do as she wished, and found
a nice place to build a fire and get some sleep. He slowly rose
stretching his aching muscles. He let out a tired yawn and started
searching his pockets and pouches. He found something wrapped in a
nice piece of paper. He looked at it. It was a note to him, from
Malon!
Dear Link, Please remember this little Task I have given
to you, I know my father would only go to sleep, but this has to be
delivered before anyone can get some sleep. It's a request for
fish, and payment, fifty rupees. We need fish, and you have to return
during tomorrow. With fresh fish!
Link jumped; inside the paper he could feel the smooth, slippery skin of a fat fish. He could never make it in time, not in this heat, he remembered now; he had gotten the fish, and then went to sleep, because he forgot all about it. He slammed his fist in his forehead.
"Damn it! How stupid am I allowed to get! Mighty Din, help me!"
"Why
don't you just go back and get a new fish?" He asked himself, he
didn't know why, he just felt it natural.
As if he
always had one with him he could talk to, but didn't anyway.
"We're kind of short of rupees Link!" He thought with a sad sigh.
"Then catch one!" He thought irritated over his own stupidity.
"Like where?" Link asked, "And How?"
"You have a bow right?"
"I know now, I go to Zoras domain! Through the underground magic stream channel!"
"Yeah! Clever thought Link! I'm proud of you!"
"Okay, let's do this!" He yelled and ran down to the water. Some ruins of some kind rose from the water where the Zoras had their magic underground channel. It would take him three seconds! He plumped into the water, swimming farter and farter out. Then he reached the end of the ruins, and dived.
When he reached the small hole into the ruins, a powerful stream caught him; he shot speed like an arrow through the dark cold water. It was just as scary as any time he had done it. It wasn't often, since he had grown up on Lon Lon Ranch. But he managed to visit the Zoras now and then anyway, often through this channel. Suddenly he hit a wall of warmth, and shot out of the channel and into the Zoras Domain. It was quite far from Lake Hylia; actually, it was across the land, across Hyrule, a mighty big country. He broke the surface and gasped for breath, many Zoras were looking at him when he came up, Link just smiled embarrassed and said hello, before he swam to dry land, or stone. The whole domain was inside a massive mountain, with halls, corridors and a huge waterfall. Link tried to shake the water off him like a dog, but it didn't help much. Instead he twisted the water out of his cap and tunica as he walked around staring in the water for fish. Many of the Zoras whispered as they looked at him, it made him feel unwelcome, and uncomfortable. He ignored them and walked around, eventually, he found a nice place, the water weren't deep, and it barely reached his knees. A huge steam of fish was swimming calmly around, knowing nothing of the approaching danger. From one of his pouches Link drew out a bottle. He opened it and walked slowly and carefully towards the fish. When he knew he was close enough, he jumped forwards and slashed the bottle through the water. Luckily he caught a fish in it, not a big fish, or else he wouldn't have been able to catch it with his bottle. He grabbed a second bottle, and did the same thing, over and over, till he had four nice small fish on bottles. He smiled proudly, now he could sell the fish to the Zoras who used the small fish as snacks, or entertainment. He ran up of the water and into a mighty, huge, hollow column. Inside a Zora shop was raised. He sold the fish for about twelve rupees each, and walked outside again. Now, he could buy a huge fish for Malon. He had disappointed her, and Talon before, he didn't want that to happen again. Not now. Without eyeing any one of the Zoras, he dove into the water and swam towards the channel again. Once there, he was caught of the same magic stream, but it carried him back this time, fast. He shot like an arrow through the water, laying his hands down along his body. Suddenly, a wall of cold water slammed against him, catching him off guard. Shocked he broke the surface of Lake Hylia, and swam directly towards the fishing pound. It wasn't far, and it was no use in getting on dry land again, before returning to the water.
Hours later a proud Link came out of the fishing pond with a nice 20 pound fish. He had used all his money, but it was worth it. He wanted to do it, to see Malon. Talon and Ingo's face when he showed it to them, and then tell them all about it. How he worked hard with both mind and body to please them. He got over to steady ground again, and swung himself up on the saddle. Epona looked glad to see him, and as always, he gave her a carrot when he returned to her. Epona was the fastest horse in Hyrule, no doubt and could jump over tall fences without fearing not to make it. That's what they did now, when they came out of the Lake Hylia province a huge fence blocked their way, Epona jumped over it in a gracious bow, and galloped on towards the second fence. She jumped over it and landed steadily on the other side. Now, Hyrules endlessly green fields were in front of them, and in the middle of the green sea, as Link called it, were Lon Lon Ranch. He couldn't see it from where he was now of course it was too far for a Hylian's eye to see, and there were many hills and valleys to cross before he reached the mighty Nohansens hill, where Lon Lon Ranch lay, on the top. Link didn't want to waste any time, and neither did Epona.
"Let's go home, shall we?" Link asked the steed, and she responded with rearing up, and then speeding over the green sea.
After a good while Din's eye hung low on the sky slowly burning out the last energy before the moon rose at the other side of Hyrule, in North West. Epona had crossed the last valley, and the mighty walls witch surrounded Lon Lon Ranch rose from the top of the hill, like a funny hat on a bald skull. Seeing the Ranch made both Link and Epona more eager to get home. So they both were trying to speed up each other, only Link weren't moving as much as Epona did. He could feel the horse's muscles flex under him. Even through the saddle. He clapped her on the neck.
"Soon home dear, soon home." He said, reassuring her that they were soon home, ready for a good rest.
The smell of new made stew made Links Stomach knot with hunger. Epona was quite ready for some hey, and a good rest in the stable. Malon was the one that met him by the stable, after he had looked after Epona.
"You made it!" She laughed, sounding surprised.
"Yeah, and I didn't want to let you down, not this time. Here's your fish!" He said with a tired voice and gave her the fish, neatly wrapped in Columbas Leaves. Witch was really big.
"How many pounds is this thing?" She asked, weighing the fish in her arms, "Hand how could you afford one this size? It would cost you at least fifty rupees!" She said starting walking towards the ranch house.
"Actually it was forty eight rupees, and I did some work to earn it."
"You did?" She asked even more suspicious, "What kind of work?"
"Fishing, selling." Link said he didn't want to explain the whole episode to her, not now. All he wanted to do was to get a good rest in his bed, before tomorrows work began. Being a farm boy was hard work, but he did earn good health in it though, healthy food, tons of training and exercise.
"You better get some sleep, when you wake up tomorrow I will have a good warm bath ready for you!" Malon said, before she kissed him on his cheek and left for the kitchen. They had built out the whole ranch the last seven years, it took quite the while, but they had a big house with rooms for everyone, and a bathroom. Before they had to ride all the way down to the river to get a bath. Now they had dug a well.
"Yeah, thanks Malon." Link Mumbled before he wrung his swat soaked tunica and washed himself with a wet towel. Then he fell in the bed, already asleep.