A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Pair of Time
Chapter 6- A Heart from Time
Hyrule Field; Day
"C'mon, Link! Do I hafta run faster than you, too?"
No, it isn't because of how fast Malon runs. Link simply thinks that not running at all is a nice change of pace. Ever since he woke up on that fateful day when Navi flew in his house, life has been nothing more than running, running, running, and, you guess it, running. Malon is near the bridge that goes over the river to the west, while Link manages to walk up to the drawbridge that leads to the Market.
"You're a slowpoke!"
"What's that?"
"A slowpoke means you're very, very slow!"
Funny how insults works, because Link runs up to Malon so quickly that it leaves a wide gap for slowpoke and Link's speed.
"Well, finally, fairy boy!" Malon exhales. "It's almost sunset! My dad says that Hyrule Field should be stayed off of at night. I wonder what he means by that?"
Link blinks a good number of times. Nothing in the world could really prepare Malon for what happens out here at night. It's like an endless slaughter that keeps on going and going and going and going an-
"What do you think?" Malon asks.
"Well, now that you mention it, we should get to shelter pretty quickly."
"Why?"
"Because of th-"
Night; Wolf cry
Too late. The ground starts to shake, as things underneath are being disturbed.
"Huh? What's wrong with the grou… AAAHHH!"
A hand eaten away of its flesh erupts from the ground and grabs Malon's leg.
"AAAHHH!" Malon tries to pull her leg away. "What is this!"
"Great…"
The hand's brother flies out of the ground to pull its owner out from its grave. A skeleton wearing worn away armor starts to climb out of the earth.
"Hold still!"
Link draws his sword and quickly performs a Jump Attack on the skeleton just as it completely surfaces its body. The undead being breaks into pieces, freeing Malon's leg. She is frozen, again from the lack of monster handling that Link himself puts into second nature. Another skeleton pulls itself out of the ground, stalking towards the two.
"What are you standing still for? Run!"
Malon doesn't need to be told twice, because she's already on the other side of the bridge as Link holds up his shield, Navi hovering around the monster.
"C'mon, Link!" Malon yells.
But, the safety of the other side is never safe. Nor is anywhere in Hyrule Field shall these beings shall not touch. A skeleton arises from behind Malon, coming… Malon doesn't have to turn around; she could feel the empty footsteps coming to her. She tries to make her feet obey her thoughts, but it is as if a blockade is set up to stop this message from coming. The skeleton rears back its arm and lands a blow right to Malon's head, sending her flying forward to the ground. The sickening sound of falling on the ground is heard, accompanied by the hit earlier, with a freaky snicker from the skeleton.
"AH! Link! Link! Help me!"
Link quickly turns around while pulling out his Fairy Slingshot, and shoots two Deku Seeds at the skeleton before it dives its white hand into Malon. This, of course, turns his attention away from the one he's fighting and therefore suffers a back attack.
"Ugh!" Link yells when the bare arm makes contact.
Turning around again, he holds up his shield to stop the second attempt of the monster. Blocking the arm and leaving the skeleton open, Link stabs it, breaking the bones up. He runs up to Malon, who is whimpering with hands on her bruise.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-Y-Yeah… I think s-so."
"Here, let me help you up."
After pulling herself up, Malon turns her head quickly from Link. She doesn't want Link to see the wetness in her eyes, so she wipes the tears away before Link could notice.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine." Malon nods. "What are those things, anyway?"
"Stalchilds," Navi answers. "Don't be afraid of them. You just need to attack it repeatedly."
"How?"
"Slingshots work great." Link holds up his Fairy Slingshot. "I took out the one behind you with it. You should get yours out."
"Okay. Thanks," Malon says as she does as she's ordered. "I'm ready now!"
"Just don't be afraid!" Navi emphasizes. "Being afraid will certainly make enemies have an easier time attacking you!"
"I'm not, okay? I'll be fine! Let's hurry up and get to the village!"
Two more Stalchilds drive themselves out of the ground and towards them. This time, Malon is certain that no Stalchild would catch her off guard. The Stalchilds goes down quickly, as Link could easily do a Jump Attack while Malon can pick them off at a distance.
But all well's does not end well sometimes, as more Stalchilds pop out of the ground. Repeatedly, the two takes care of them, and the next batch, and the one after that, and that, too. A giant one appears, but it's as weak as its smaller counterpart, leaving behind a blue Rupee when Link takes care of it. But, as the fact goes, more Stalchilds come up to get them, for there are a limitless number, as from the wars back then, to the constant addition of another body to the undead, to the fact that the undead can regenerate, if not instantly. Hey, at least monsters leave stuff behind when killed. Hearts, for recovery. Deku Seeds, so that Malon doesn't run out. And Link and Malon are certainly getting some green Rupees…
Malon is still certain that none of these walking undead would ever come up behind her. But, these Stalchilds can appear anywhere, so naturally, one surface behind her. Malon doesn't notices; she's too busy concentrating on picking off the one Link's fighting. The Stalchilds rears back and smacks her, sending her flying again. She tries to roll around and shoot the blasted thing in the head while lying, but the Stalchild hits her again, dismissing the chance.
"AAAHHH!" she shrieks to the top of her lungs. "Link! Link! Li- OW! STOP IT! STOP IT! AH!"
Two hits to Malon, severely damaging her body. She couldn't do a thing; she's trapped on the ground, exhausted, with the deadly thing having no mercy.
"AAHH! NO, PLEASE! STOP! STOP! PLEASE!" Malon cries, curling up with her hands on her face. "STOP!"
Sad as it is to kill a girl, but it doesn't matter. A Stalchild wants nothing more than to take another body down with it. It rears back again, about to do this…
CRACK!
White. All white. Malon doesn't know if she went to heaven or not. She just hears a crack that sounds almost like bones breaking, and then all she sees is white. Is she dead? It seems like it. She can't feel her body, if she's in one. Her thoughts become clear. Colors now begin to swirl around her, forming matter to create something, creating… a world?
Where… Where am I? Am I… Did I… Is this… heaven?
Unsettling as it seems, the colors form a familiar world, a world she left not too long ago.
L… L… Lon Lon Ranch? I'm… home?
Her feet are now on recognizable ground. Sounds of animals fill the air. She's in a corral, with Epona snorting next to her.
I'm… home… So, this is what heaven is like…
"Malon! Malon, where are you!"
Malon gasps, the voice strikingly familiar. "It… It can't be…" Malon could not believe this herself. Then again, this is heaven, and this person she knows of is in heaven, too. "Mom?"
A middle-age woman with the same fiery red hair as Malon comes running up towards her. She is just as beautiful as Malon is, with almost all of her facial features an exact copy of hers. The only differences one could see is the eye color, instead of blue its green, and the cheeks, where hers is a bit more inward.
Mom. It is you. I… I can't believe it… I… I've never thought I've see you again… well, so soon. But… why are you so short?
"There you are, sweetie. I've been lookin' all over for you," Malon's mother said with relief. "Oh, you're such a big girl, now. I don't know where the time's been with you all 'round. Bein' married and all…"
"Yes, I know, Mom. You and Dad's marriage does seem to always get in between the ranch work."
"Me?" she lifts an eyebrow. "Malon, I'm talkin' about your marriage!"
This freezes Malon as still as when that Stalchild managed to sneak up behind her.
Marriage? Me? Me, married? But, I'm too youn…
Malon then notices her body. It's all…
Grown up? What… what the!
Every feminine feature of a female young adult is on her like they've been there their whole life. She's taller, she now has two breasts sticking forward from her chest (Malon blushes at this), has a well curved hip (blushes at this, too), feels that her voice has somehow changed, her clothes are switched from a white dress to a work shirt and a skirt, and that… she's almost a spitting image of her mother, even in her voice.
I… look like Mom… Wow… I just look… like her.
"Are you okay, honey? You look a little lost."
"Mom, how old am I?"
"What?"
"How old am I?" Malon repeats.
"Why, Malon, I can't believe you don't know your own age! Every woman should know her age!"
"Yes, well… I forgot, okay?"
She sighs. "If that's the case… you're 17."
I'M 17 AND I'M MARRIED?
"Mom, um…" Malon knows that married people should not forget their spouse's name. "I… I bet you don't know my husband's name!"
"What? Malon, are you feelin' okay? We have no time for fun and games. You're not 10 anymore…"
Which is exactly the age I should be right now! I'm in heaven! I should at least be my own age!
"C'mon, Mom…" Malon stares into her deep, emerald eyes. "For old times' sake?"
Wow, Mom has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen! I can't believe I've never noticed them until now. But, still… I remember the time she said that I have the most beautiful eyes she's ever seen… I guess one never really appreciates one's self-image.
"Well… Okay, Malon. But just this once."
"Okay." Malon fakes a look on her face. "What's my husband's name, then, Mom?"
Malon's mother laughs a bit.
I also remember that laugh. She says… that I have a laugh exactly like her.
"Malon, do you doubt me?"
"Well, you're not answering me, Mom."
"Do you think that after all we've been through, I don't have a good memory? I've got a very sharp one, don't you remember that?" her mother then looks at Malon carefully. "I thought you did, too, because you remembered my song that I taught you when you were just 3."
Oh, that's right. I remember that. I loved that song so much ever since Mom composed it when I was that little. I kept bothering her to teach me that song until she gave in. That song… I've sung it every day ever since… you've taught me. I sing it for me… for Dad, for Epona, for everybody… but especially for you, Mom… I sing your song for you…
"Malon?"
"Huh?"
"You're ponderin' again."
"Oh, sorry, Mom."
"Oh… You keep ponderin' ever since you've been married. In fact, you've been ponderin' a lot lately, in different places every time."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's makin' me worried."
"Well, I'm real sorry, Mom. I'll try not to ponder a lot next time." even though Malon has no clue to these strange acts. "Speaking of being married, are you about to tell me who I'm married to? Or did you just forget?"
"Oh, no, I've haven't forgot."
Just then, footsteps are heard around the corral. Both turn around to the person that is about to walk into the corral.
"Malon!" he yells out, but it is impossible to hear his voice, only the word that is being carried by a breeze towards them.
But, somehow, this breeze becomes stronger, as it starts to block Malon's sight with dust and mute out voices around her.
"In fact, Malon, here comes your husband. But, to make it fair, just for old times' sake as you've said, his name is…"
Her voice fades to a blur, to where Malon couldn't hear her husband's name. But, she doesn't have to hear, because he's running towards them. She couldn't see who it is, though, despite blocking the sun out of her eyes with her hands and that he's coming. The wind is making it more difficult for Malon's senses to do their job, but… she thinks she sees the color of green approaching her… After that, she couldn't sharpen her vision anymore, as it starts to blur rapidly after that hint of green.
"Malon…" her mother's voice is barely audible. "Follow your heart… Stay true to yourself… I will always watch you… Remember… my song…"
The colors of the ranch start to blur, too, but instead of fading, it's blending in with other colors, colors that are familiar, too. They start to take shape, and then a desperate voice is heard.
"Malon! Malon, wake up!" Link's voice pounds through Malon's eardrums.
"Huh...? What…?"
Malon slowly opens her eyes, seeing Link's blue eyes again staring at hers, coincidentally. She flutters her eyelids, to rid her blurriness.
"Malon! Whew!" Link lets out a deep breath. "I've thought you were a goner!"
"But… I thought…"
"Thought what?"
"I thought I went into heaven."
"Huh? What makes you say that?"
"I heard a crack, and then all went white. I couldn't move at all."
"Oh, that…" Link forces an uneasy chuckle. "That Stalchild was this close to… well, killing you. You should get used to that word."
"Uh…"
"Anyway, I knew that I couldn't make it up there in time, whether sword or slingshot, so I threw a Deku Nut. That would explain the cracking noise, the whiteness, and why you couldn't move. Being stunned, I finished off the Stalchild, but I knew you where stunned, too. But, I think you were knocked unconscious right before the nut broke."
"Or more likely," Navi flies over her face, "you were scared to unconsciousness. That, or that scream earlier."
"Do you always have to point out bad things?" Malon asks bluntly.
"Hey, I just help explain to Link, okay? It's my scared duty by the Great Deku Tree. I have to point out the bad things."
Malon sighs. "Whatever."
Navi returns inside Link.
"Look, Malon, are you sure you're okay?" Link said worryingly. "That Stalchild really hurt you."
It isn't until Malon looks at Link again when she notices his clothes. They are also green…
Green… Wait, so my husband from my… dream… is…?
"Hey, look, the sun's about to rise." Link points to the sky. "That's a good thing. Stalchilds are afraid of the light."
Link smiles. Malon feels her heart beating a bit more than it wants to… She is also starting to feel hot…
Oh… Link… You're that… You're my…
"Hey, let's get moving, best buddy." Link stands up. "Can I call you that, Malon?"
Best buddy? You're my… best buddy?
"Oh, uh, sure!" Malon sits up. "Yeah! Best buddies! But, I prefer best friends. It sounds much better."
"Sure. Whatever you want."
Whatever… I want?
"Hey, I think you're blushing a bit there, Malon."
"Huh?"
"You know, red on cheeks?" Link then thinks for a moment. "Shouldn't you know this kind of stuff?"
Stop blushing! But… I don't know how…
"C'mon, the village is up these stairs." Link stares at the stairs. "Maybe they can figure out how to get up Death Mountain."
This boy is completely dense! Too dense… Too dense that it's… too funny!
Malon giggles a bit. Link notices this, blinking that indicates his confusion.
"Um, what's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just this boy I've met who's a hero, protecting people and protecting a girl that follows him."
"Really?" Link said. "Wow, a hero. Cool. I'd like to meet this boy someday."
I can't believe he's this dense!
Malon throws an uncontrollable fit of giggles.
"This boy must be funny too, if thinking of him makes you laugh this hard," Link said after hard thinking. "But hey, he doesn't know me, and what we're going to do, right? To save Hyrule! Just you and me!"
Just you and me… Yeah, just you and me, Link…
Day; Cucco crow
Malon feels her heart starting to jump up and down from the thought.
Oh, fairy boy… I… I… I really… l… li… lik… I mean…
"Hey, the sun's up. C'mon, we've got a Spiritual Stone to find."
Malon smiles in return. She stands up, then goes up to Link.
Maybe because it was night that he didn't see it, but Link sees that Malon's dress is wet. In fact, it's wet at the bottom…
"Uh, Malon?"
"Yes, Link?"
"I think you wetted yourself."
WHAT?
It cannot get any worse for Malon than this. She frantically sees the wet spot, then puts her hands over the wet, sticky cloth. She blushes again, violently; this time she definitely knows the red is on her cheek.
I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! I… I WETTED MYSELF! OH, WHY DID I HAVE TO BE SO SCARED THAT I-
"Um, let's get you to the village and clean up, okay?" Link suggests.
"Uh, yeah… Let's…"