A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A Pair of Time

Chapter 5- A New Day, Part 2

Lon Lon Ranch; Day

Time passes as the two do other things in the ranch. Link, while managed to win Epona's trust, is edgy whenever a horse neighs at him.

"Looks like you still have a long way to go, fairy boy!" Malon giggles.

"Um, I guess so."

They're near the house, when Link hears a familiar sound… of scuttling.

Scuttling… here? But, there shouldn't be any Skulltula around this peaceful place… unless…

Link searches for the source of the sound. His ears point him to the only tree in the ranch.

"Link?" Malon asks when she saw his attention shift. "What's wrong?"

"Stand back…"

"Huh? Why?"

"Just stand back."

Malon does as asked, but has no idea why Link is saying this. Could it be? Has he… grown tired of her?

"Link, why?"

Link draws his Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield. Now this scares Malon. He's not going to… is he? Is her best friend that crazy?

No, it can't be. You can't hurt a best friend. No, you can't. Can you? Malon is terrified at this.

Quite the contrary to her thoughts, Link rams himself into the tree. It shakes, then a large, yellow spider flies out and lands right next to Malon. Gasping, Malon freezes. Link wastes no time, so he does a Jump Attack on the spider, slashing deep into its body. It stops moving immediately, then vaporizes, leaving behind a gold, thin skull. Link sheathes his equipment, then picks up the item.

"What… What was that?" Malon says a moment later, catching up to what she saw.

"It was a Golden Skulltula, I think."

"G-G-Gold Skulltula?"

"Yeah. These little bugs have a gold 'xsoskeliton'. It's kinda rare to find one."

"Why does a person want to find one?"

"I don't know. I just find one and kill it."

"Are you… that strong? To do that?"

"Yeah. I killed monsters much worse."

"Monsters? So… there are monsters on your journey, too?"

"Yep."

"And you aren't scared to fight them?"

"Well, I am. But, I still fight them."

Wow, so that sword and shield isn't for fun. It's for really killing things!

"I have this Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield to help me," Link says as if he's reading Malon's mind. "And I got some other things, too!"

He empties his whole inventory of these combat items on the ground.

"Deku Stick for a torch, though I find it useful sometimes as a weapon," Link describes as he picks up these long, sturdy sticks.

Malon couldn't believe it. This boy has more weapons?

"Deku Nut, flashes to stun a monster." he holds the nuts with a dim, yellow light inside. "My Fairy Ocarina, you saw that. But, my favorite is this Fairy Slingshot and Deku Seeds I found in the Great Deku Tree. Great weapon!"

"A slingshot?" Malon snaps out of her daze. "Hey, I have one, too!"

"You do? They're cool, aren't they?"

"Yeah! I practice all the time! I'm real good!"

"Not as good as me!"

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, let's have a little contest, shall we, fairy boy?"

Before Link knows it, Malon runs inside her house and back out with some Bottles.

"Isn't your dad not going to like that?"

"Oh, it's okay!" Malon reassures. "He can always get some more!"

They start to walk to the middle of the corral.

"Hey, Link… Did you win my dad's Super Cuccos challenge? You have that Bottle there with our milk."

"Yeah. It was a little difficult to find them, but I managed to get them all."

"And he gave you that?"

"As the prize."

"Did you two talk about anything?"

The flashback to where Talon and Link were having the conversation floods Link's mind.

How'd you like to marry Malon? D'ya like Malon? It's just that, I haven't seen Malon this happy in a long time, not since my wife… well, not since she can't see her mother anymore… When I saw her with you, she looked so happy. She's waiting for you, fairy boy, outside. You shouldn't break a promise like I did.

Link stops in his tracks. It's hard to come up with the answer with all of Talon's talk about Malon in his mind. Very hard. For half a split second, Link stares after Malon, seeing how much she's been through despite how little he knows about her, how tough she has to be to cope with losses and loneliness, and how she's now best friends with him. Link never saw anybody like her. She has a strong will and a flame of courage for a girl. An amazing person, and now she's acting like all is okay and that they're having a shooting contest. Malon notices that Link stops, and spins around.

"Link? What's wrong?" Malon asks. "Did Dad tell you something funny or somethin'?"

Link blinks a few times, then shakes his head.

"Oh, um, I just forgot about what your dad and I talked about a bit," Link replies. "I asked where you were."

"Oh. Well, I'm right here now, ain't I?" Malon giggles a bit.

When they reach the middle of the corral, Malon starts to put the Bottles in a mixed up order. She walks around, deciding if it's a good place, randomly placing a Bottle here and there.

"Link… when you took out all your weapons and things, I saw a letter with the Royal Family's crest on it," Malon said. "Did you get that from the Princess?"

"Yes. She said that it could help me on my quest somehow."

"You kiddin'? If it has the Royal Family's crest on it, it's really important! I bet it could get you somewhere important!"

"You think so?"

"Yeah. Probably Death Mountain, I think. You need special permission to go up there."

Malon sets down the last Bottle, takes a glance around, and then stands on a certain spot.

"I'm done, fairy boy!" Malon waves. "Come stand over here!"

"Okay, fairy boy, I go first," Malon instructs as Link reaches her, "then you go second. We take turns, choosing which Bottle we want to shoot at until there's none left! Whoever gets the most Bottles broken wins!"

"Okay." Link nods as they both pull out their slingshots.

Malon grabs a Deku Seed and readies her slingshot. After a moment, she lets loose, shattering a Bottle nearby.

"Hey, you got an easy one!" Link notices the distance.

"Hee hee! Okay, your turn, Link!"

Link readies his Fairy Slingshot, then chooses which Bottle to break. After careful consideration, he breaks one far off.

"Hah! You can't beat that!"

"I can, and I will, fairy boy!"

(Malon : Link) 1:1. 2:1. 2:2. 3:2. 3:3. 4:3. 4:4. 4:4 again, for Malon missed the shot. 4:5. 5:5. There's only one Bottle left, and Link aims for it.

Just get this last one, and I'll win!

But, something is dragging at his mind. He could win, of course, for this bottle is close. But… something is taking up all his concentration. Something tugging very hard at him. Something telling him to… miss this shot…

WHEW! The Deku Seed barely touches the Bottle. It ricochets off the ground and into the air.

"Aw, man!"

Malon gasps. "You missed, fairy boy!" Malon's little hope shines through for her. "Now, it's my turn! And I'm not going to miss this one!"

Like she says, she breaks the last Bottle, landing her in the winner's circle. Link sighs, but somehow… he feels good inside for Malon being the winner. But he wonders about what just happened when he was aiming for the last Bottle. Is Malon really better than him? Or did he… let her win?

"Yay! I win!" Malon lets her arms fly in the air. "I'm better at shooting than you, fairy boy!"

"Um… um… I… I-I-I…" Link stutters, "I… let you win…"

"Huh…? You did?"

"Y-Y-Yeah…"

"Oh. You didn't have to… You know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I'd still be better than you!"

"You only won because… because Epona surprised me!"

Actually, Epona came galloping in after Malon won. She snorts (Yeah, right. And I suppose that the moon will fall).

"I'll win next time!" Link declares.

"Oh, no, you'll not!"

"Yes, I will!"

"No, you'll not!"

"Yes, I will!"

"Not!"

"Will!"

"Not!"

"Will!"

"Not!"

"Will!"

"Will!"

"Not...! I mean…"

Malon giggles again. "Looks like I win again, Link!"

"Aw, I keep losing at everything!"

"Link!" Navi flies out and rings at his ears. "Come on! We got to get to Kakariko Village before sundown! That's where we can go up Death Mountain, remember?"

"Oh, that's right…" Link said.

Link looks up at the sky. It isn't showing, but the sun is close to hitting the horizon. The color of dusk is placed over the ranch. The day is about to be over.

"Oh… you have to go…" Malon said sadly.

"Yeah…"

Malon, with Epona behind her, follows Link up to the entrance of Lon Lon Ranch. Talon is up; he's outside the house checking on things. He sees the two, and knows that they're about to go. Somehow, he knows that Link won't come back tomorrow, or the next day, or the days after that.

"I hate to go… but, I have to," Link says to Malon.

"I know… You're going to save Hyrule…"

"Yes, I know… Good-bye."

"By…" Malon takes a deep breath. "Bye."

Link turns around and slowly walks out. Link knows it, too. He's not going to see Malon again for a long time.

Even Malon knows. Link's not going to come back even after he collects the three Spiritual Stones. Not for a long time, for Link has to stop Ganondorf now. This may take some days, but yet, somehow it won't. It feels like it'll take… years. Several years. Malon knows all of this. She doesn't want to be all alone again. No, no more. She doesn't want her best friend to leave.

"Malon…" Talon comes up and puts a hand on her shoulder, "you know he's goin' away for a long time, too?"

A tear drops from her eye as Malon nods slowly.

"It… Malon… It hurts me badly to see you sad like this…"

"I just… don't want him to go…"

A farfetched idea comes into his mind. It may sound wrong, but… to see his daughter sad like this… Talon knows he's going to regret this idea, years from now on.

"D'you… wanna…" Talon has a difficult moment to say this, but it's now or never, "go with him?"

Malon responds with a gasp. A choice?

"What… what do you mean, Dad?"

"I just… I just can't see you like this. I wanna make you happy. And that forest boy…" Talon shakes his head, "I know he really makes you smile."

"Go with… Link? But, Dad! What about you, and the animals?"

"Don't worry about me, Malon. I can take care of myself, and Ingo will help me, too."

"But… what about… what about you, Epona?"

Epona is close by. It snorts a bit, then it neighs.

(Hey, I can't stand to see you sad, either! Do you think I like to see you sad? I'll be fine!)

"Looks like Epona will be okay. She'll be sad, yes, to see you go, Malon, but I think she'll like it if you're happy followin' Link."

"But… but…"

Malon knows if she leaves, she might not come back for a long time, too. She'll miss everything in Lon Lon ranch; her dad, Epona, the horses, the cows, the Cuccos, the vegetable fields, the flower patch that she secretly grows, Ingo. Well, maybe not Ingo. But, still, these great worries plague her mind. However, on the other hand, there is the benefit of traveling with Link. She would have great adventures, see the world of Hyrule, do exciting things, have unforgettable memories, but best of all, she would be with her best friend, Link. After all, she did have fun with him at the castle. Malon goes up to Epona and strokes her neck and head. Epona returns it by nuzzling Malon's face. Malon then looks at her dad, a look of confidence in her eyes.

"Are you sure that you and Epona'll be okay, Dad?"

"I'm sure."

"… Thanks, Dad."

Talon chuckles. "Now, Malon… Please promise me you'll be careful out there, okay?"

"I promise, Dad. Link's been fighting monsters, and he's now saving Hyrule!"

Now, whether this is true, or child's play, Talon has no idea. But, seeing as how Link is honest when he first met him, it could be the first choice.

"Here you go, Malon." Talon hands her a sack. "It's the best I can give you now. It's empty, but you can fill it up as you travel."

"Thank you, Dad."

Malon is about to run out, but hesitates for a moment. She turns around, seeing her dad and Epona. She waves at them, feeling like she's waving them good-bye… forever.

"Bye, Dad! Bye, Epona! I love you all!"

Epona neighs while Talon waves back.

"Good-bye, Malon!" he smiles.

Then, she was gone. She ran down the slope of the entrance of Lon Lon Ranch. Talon sighs, seeing his reminder of his wife go out on an adventure. Epona nuzzles Talon, sad to see Malon go, too. One person, however, wasn't as emotional as them to see her go. He closes the crack of the barn door, then chuckles.

"Heh heh. Well, the owner's annoying daughter won't be around anymore. Maybe I'll have some peace and quiet around here without her… singing…" Ingo mutters to himself. "But, soon, I, the great Ingo, will be in charge of this ranch. And, with the daughter out of the way, it might be easier than I expected. She won't go running around telling people that I will soon… cheat Talon into working. Hah hah hah!"

"Uh, Ingo? What's so funny?" Talon asks as he came in to see Ingo shaking in his laughs.

"Er, d'you hear the rumor about 'ghosts' abducting cows nowadays? I find that funny."

"Haw haw! It sure is!" Talon laughs along. "Anyway, Ingo, my daughter will be gone for a… while. I need you to take over the chores she has from now on, the ones with taking exceptional care of how the animals are and watering the vegetables. I'll add more Rupees to your pay."

"Oh… well, more Rupees for me, I guess."

"Your shift's almost over, Ingo, so see ya tomorrow."

Talon leaves with hardly a suspicion. Ingo continues to look on at the door.

I have to stop muttering to myself! Ingo thought. Damn you, you lazy excuse of a rancher! MORE unnecessary work! Soon… soon, fool, I will take over, and you'll work for me! I will force you to work under the harshest conditions possible! I will force you to do ALL the work! Ha ha ha ha ha ha...

--

Hyrule Field

Link sighs as he reaches the tree next to Lon Lon Ranch's entrance. He won't see Malon for a long time. To not being able to see your best friend for what he fears to be maybe ages is hurtful to one's spirit. He hangs his head, staring at the dust he's kicking up with his feet.

"Aw, don't be so sad!" Navi flies out and says. "You'll see her again!"

"Yes, but how long until I see her again? And how long will I have to play with her?"

"You really miss her right now, don't you?"

"Yeah…"

Link is about to walk on when he hears that one voice, the one voice that sends his feelings going in great lengths, the one voice that he thought he would never hear for a long time after he steps out into Hyrule Field, the one voice that could only be,

"Fairy boy! Hey! Wait up!"

There she is, when Link turns around, Malon running up towards him. He couldn't believe his eyes, seeing Malon. Malon dives at Link, hugging him and sending both of them tumbling backwards, with Navi flying after them. After skidding to a stop, Link looks up at Malon, who is on top of him, gentle laughter in her eyes.

"I win again, fairy boy! Tee hee! You're much too easy!"

"Ma… Malon! What… What are you doing here?"

She got off of him, letting him stand up.

"I… I decided I'm coming with you!" Malon quickly answers.

"What? Coming with me?"

"Yeah, Link! You're my best friend! I want to go with you! I want to see the world! And save Hyrule!"

Link couldn't believe this either. Malon is coming along?

"Well, that's great! I like it that you're coming along!" Link grins.

"Yep, that is great!" Navi spirals around Malon and Link. "We could use all the help we could get!"

"Yay! We're going to have so much fun! Me, and you two!"

"Wait, are you prepared?" Link asks.

"Yeah, I am, silly! I've got a sack, and I'm bringing along my slingshot, since I'm better at shooting than you are!"

"Hey, that's great! We're heading for Kakariko Village right now!"

"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Malon grabs Link's arm and pulls him towards the sunset.

"To Kakariko Village!" Malon yells out.

"Um, Kakariko Village's the other way…"

"Oh…" Malon sheepishly laughs. "I knew that."