Author's Note: This chapter has been revised for the sake of added action much later in the story. Trust me, it will turn out much better in the end.
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Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Oathkeeper
With the battle won everybody found themselves standing in the fields of Lon Lon Ranch near the storage tower where Epona and Shen were being kept earlier, the two Sheikah seemed to find it correct that the blades of the defeated decorate the small lot near the back of the ranch. Malon was still clutching to Garen's side with everything that had happened, things were not exactly going normal for her. Seth stepped away from the group and looked toward the East narrowing his eyes "So the old man thinks the first sage is within the forest. This guy's partner is going there too. When you last saw him how did he fare?" Seth asked his sworn sister.
Sheik crossed her arms as this was asked of her "I already told you. He has already reached the temple and simply needed to enter, I gave him all that he would need for the moment, but the rest he will have to do on his own. We should head out at once." Seth nodded "Agreed. Being seen here wouldn't be good for the rebellion." Garen nodded his head "Whatever happens. I'm with you too." Garen said before he noticed there wasn't a noise from behind and he turned swiftly to see only ranch, not a soul but he and Malon was there.
"Damn it where did Sheik get to?" he cursed silently to himself. Garen looked around as well "I have too many questions that seriously need to be answered and those two won't stand still long enough." he said as he noticed Seth's disappearance as well. Malon pulled on Garen's arm and then looked at his wounds "I'm fine Malon." he said feeling he had to get on to the forest.
She smiled before lightly hitting him upside the head "Seven years change nothing when it comes to you and your injuries. We still have a room for you Garen, you should probably stay the night before you die of exhaustion." she said. It became as clear as glass that he wasn't going to just be able to walk away, he trusted Link's abilities but he didn't trust that he would be able to get across the field bleeding out his side.
Garen looked back at Malon "I remember you being a cute little girl. Though I do like the trade in for beauty that rivals Din herself." he added quickly with a smirk. Malon giggled "Well arn't you a little tall for a twelve year old Garen?" Garen chuckled lightly at this "I suppose so." they both laughed and eventually retired after Malon insisted to check his injuries.
The sun rose high over the ranch that next day as it seems the clouds that had been looming over the field had finally fallen back. Garen was the first to awaken on the second floor of the house having actually rested in one of the two beds there. He stepped lightly careful not to disturb Malon who rested in the other bed her closed eyes turned toward him. He stepped outside lacking his sword, shield and Malon's company to spy Ingo standing at the entrance dressed back in his working cloths for a change. Link looked at him as he noticed that all the horses were running freely around the corral and seemed to be very happy, this included Epona and Shen who were the center of the coral.
Garen then noticed a messenger dressed in a white tunic and a red hat move away from the ranch and toward Hyrule Castle Town rather swiftly as if he had been threatened. Garen then heard the yelling "And if that bastard asks if its right tell him that I'm as clear as the nose on his face!" Ingo shouted at the messenger. Garen spoke up "What was that all about?" he asked, Ingo turned to see him and gave a bow of respect almost at once "Oh your Malon's friend, look sorry about the other days its just...Ah for Nayru's sake, those tyrants have been keeping me so deeply under their thumb, but last night tears it! We don't need his contract and Talon can come back if he wants, this place got so much business because he knew the business." Garen nodded his head commenting that it was very bold of him. Ingo waved his hand as if it was nothing before moving off to tend to some of the animals.
Garen looked up at the window knowing that Malon had spent an hour or two in the upper room patching him up. He knelt slightly picking up a rock off the ground tossing it up in the air once, Ingo stretched as he spoke up "So things have become peaceful around here again, I wonder how the shop owners will deal with this change. I hope they'll forgive me." he thought out loud. Garen shrugged lightly "Meh. Everybody has their bad days, they'll get over it." he explained as he caught the rock and tossed it at the wooden shutter outside Malon's room knowing that would get her attention.
Malon winced his eyes as he heard the sound of something solid against the window, she rolled over lightly on the single person bed having slept that night without bothering to sleep under the sheets she was just too exhausted. She sat up noticing that there was a sun glazed smell of grass in the air. She looked toward where Garen had been sleeping and noticed he was missing, she gave only a sigh along with a smile. It was just like old times. He gets hurt, she patches him up and tells him to be more careful and then he runs off. If only he listened to her every time he'd probably be impossible to get the drop on.
She turned her head as she heard movement from across the room but didn't look up as she heard a door open and a few foot steps approached her. She lightly closed her eyes as she heard the footsteps getting closer a few moments later she felt one hand run along her cheek causing her to open her eyes to look up at her teaser. She looked up at Garen with those big blue eyes of hers and gave a smile "Good morning." she said through her smile "Good morning yourself." Garen said back with one of his own rare smiles.
Malon smiled as she sat up and looked at him "Can't you knock on the door like a normal person?" she asked as she gave a giggle. Garen chuckled as he looked toward the field "I think we may have done more good than we thought." he said. He began outlining what the outside looked like. The buildings had been washed by hand, the animals were grazing, the gates were open and the bodies had all been cleaned out.
"And unless I missed my guess he just had a message sent to Gannondorf telling him in his own special way 'piss off, we're doing this our way.' Oh and he says your father is welcome to come back." Malon clapped her hands together "Everything is finally coming back to normal." she then took a breath and started to walk toward the coral "Garen. Come with me." she said as she walked, as always Garen gave no hesitation in following her.
They walked into the coral ignoring the several horses that were running around before approaching the small structure near the back of the coral. As Malon stopped there both Shen and Epona came up to their former masters somehow recognizing them as if by some miracle. Garen chuckled "Kind of forgot to mention that I found both of them earlier." Malon sat down on a small bend running her hand over Epona's side before speaking "You have quite a bit of explaining to do." she said rather suddenly taking a very serious tone.
Garen looked at her lightly scratching the back of his head. His own common sense had to come out and just tell him that she was asking what happened to him and Link. "You want to know exactly what is going on." Malon nodded as she stood up "Bingo.Garen Sheikan, where in the hell have you been the last seven years?!" she shouted out. Several of the horses looked up, took a look at her and then proceeded to move away from the scene.
Garen breathed before motioning her to sit "It's a long story Malon." Malon shrugged her shoulders before speaking "I was raised in the countries of Hyrule and associate with all the races of Hyrule Garen, I'm used to long stories." Garen breathed before he started "It pretty much picks up right after I left this ranch after the Battle of Hyrule Castle..."
Garen went long into the morning and afternoon explaining exactly what had happened to him and Link right up to the point where they split up and he came back to the ranch to find her. Malon breathed as she absorbed all of this and hung off of every word, she had been among the few who had read some of the ancient scrolls in the castle thanks to Zelda so she had recognized the Millennium Saber and knew a lot about the sacred realm. But she couldn't believe what Garen and Link were trying to do. Defeat a man who had actually claimed the Triforce for his own.
Garen breathed as he finished up "I know it all sounds crazy but it's the truth. There is very little I can do at this point but continue fighting, otherwise Gannondorf's own ambition will destroy him and the rest of Hyrule. I cannot allow that to happen, as the Hero of Time it is my duty to stop him...as much as I'd rather not be so deeply involved." he breathed clearly still not enjoying his given role. Malon breathed as Garen spoke, though he had slept all those years he had somehow grown and become mature and serious to the scenario, she could only connect it to the Millennium Saber or his own determination.
Malon breathed as she shook her head "I will not stand in your way Garen and neither will anybody at this ranch. Gannondorf has caused nothing but misery for those outside his own race and even the Gerudo are in discomfort these days. If there is anything we can do just let us know." Garen crossed his arms as he closed his eyes mentally putting together a list "Aside from your prayers Malon I need a few things. I need one high quality shield to go with Link's style, I need a horse if I am to be any help to him at all and I need a new blade if I am to fight effectively." he explained. The fact that Seth had to take back his blade wasn't helping him and he couldn't bear using a shield with his blade any longer. It was too much of a strain on his body and the Sheikah style.
Malon took a deep breath as she reached behind her back "I'll be happy to continue lending you guys Shen and Epona, I'm sure that Jock can spare at least one shield from his already over stocked store and as for your tanto you can have mine." she said before she removed that same shimmering silver tanto and sheath from behind her waist. She gripped it tight in her hands as she spoke to him "It belonged to my mother apparently, Dad gave it to me when he thought I might be in danger going outside the ranch. After all those monsters began to appear even in the day." she explained grasping the beautiful blade she had clearly grown accustomed to.
She continued speaking "I read up on its history once and I still have a hard time believing it. The Sheikah that used this tanto was the lover and partner of the Millennium Saber's original master. This blade is the Oathkeeper. It and the Millennium Saber work hand in hand together and I feel it will be of more help to you than me." she said holding it out. Garen looked at it before speaking "Are you sure?" he asked, she nodded almost at once before she looked into his eyes "Please Garen, don't be afraid to use it. It has survived the generations and my treatment and I feel so much more of myself is in this blade." she explained grabbing his hands "When you strike out with it, do it for me." she begged him.
Garen reached out and hugged her "I will Malon. You have my promise." she hugged him back. It wasn't much later that Garen found himself at the entrance to the ranch standing next to a saddled up Shen and Epona. Malon was inside making the deals and she wanted to hand deliver Epona to Link so she could give him her threatening speech of the responcibility he had. Garen had a new set of mythril lace on which replaced the out dated ones that Blackwood had slashed up, his side was tender but feeling better after Malon's treatment. He grabbed another set for Link as well knowing that he would need them later on, with the reckless nature of his style.
Malon soon stepped back out wearing some pants and a backpack which seemed to have supplies, a normal tanto also replaced the Oathkeeper on the reverse of her belt. Ingo came out holding a finely crafted Hylian Shield from the ranch's Bazaar "Well this is the best I was able to get you, it's a little heavy but I don't think it will be a problem to another guy like you. Made of steel from the deeper parts of Dodongo's Cavern I think it will serve you well." he said strapping it to Shen's saddle.
Ingo stepped off to the side as the two prepared to move on ahead "Garen, please bring Malon back in one piece. Talon may be a mellow guy and all but there have been a few rare occasions where he has wanted to get up and hurt me. I think such an incident would push it." they all laughed and Garen looked at the man he had once called Hyrule's biggest headache "You have my word." he promised before they both rode off toward the forest in hopes of finding Link "And if you see any of that bastard's men, give them a blow on my behalf, eh!" he shouted as they rode out of sight.
Next Chapter: Return To Kokiri Forest
Link and Navi finally return to the place where both of them grew up finding that it has become infested with monsters and all the Kokiri blame one person, and it sure isn't the current ruler of Hyrule. So Link moves forward to find Saria and clear his name not that any of them would believe that he truly was himself.