A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Pair of Time
Chapter 12- Friends' Moments
Kakariko Village; Night
"So, what does the owl mean when he said that Saria's Song has mysterious powers?" Malon asks.
"Hmm." Link thinks over this for a minute. "Probably the same reason with Zelda's Lullaby. It could help us."
The two are spending their night at the same house that belongs to the generous woman. The night blankets the village with a veil of shade. Sitting on a bed, Malon recalls the second encounter with the owl, just when they left the Sacred Forest Meadow.
"He also said that there could be other songs that are just that mysterious, too," Malon remembers.
"Like yours?" Link can hardly see the power in Epona's Song, except for the nice soothing it carries. "I really can't see how Epona's Song could be that mysterious."
"Maybe it is. So much animals love that song. They are easily tamed with just one play of it."
"Well, maybe what he said is going to be a… a foreshadow of something. Maybe we'll learn some new songs later on."
"Probably."
"Dinner!" the owner yells out. "Come and get it!"
Serving up potato stew and two loaves of bread, Malon and Link sits down with the owner and many of the carpenters that came by and begin eating.
"So…" the woman starts to whip up a conversation, first with Malon and Link, "how were your days?"
"Um…" Malon responds, "we… did some stuff in the forest, Miss."
"Really? How was it?"
"It was… okay," Link answers.
Malon remembers the whole day after Link's reunion with Saria.
Kokiri Forest; Day
They were just heading back to the Kokiri Forest when they met a ragged-looking kid on a tall stump playing a flute.
"Whoa, a Skull Kid." Navi is slightly surprised to see one. "Is this what happens to kids who get lost in the forest?"
"I think so," Link said. "Some of them that I've seen were Kokiris I knew of."
"Hmm…" Navi gazes into the Skull Kid's face for a moment. "He might be our friend if we do something…"
"Do what?"
"I don't know. But, he looks like he's playing music with the forest…"
"Okay, then. I guess we should play that new song Saria taught us," Link suggests. "Oh, wait, Malon, you don't know the song…"
"Um, well, I…" Malon searches for a lie, "you just play the song, and I'll sing along after you."
"All right. Now, let's see, I put the Fairy Ocarina somewhere in here…"
A traveler's obvious mistake of putting instantly needed things in his pack is occurring right now. Link empties the content of his pack onto the ground.
"Here it is." Link pulls out his Fairy Ocarina from the pile.
"C'mon, let's stand up here." Malon jumps onto a shorter stump nearby.
Playing Saria's Song, the Skull Kid smiles, and plays along. Three different tones playing, filling the air of the trees and animals nearby.
"You know Saria's Song!" the Skull Kid said. "We should be friends! Here, take this!"
He throws a Piece of Heart at them, for a set of three.
"Hey, friends!" he calls after the receiving. "You have a nice looking mask there!"
The Skull Kid points to the Skull Mask lying along with Link's other items. He jumps down, moving up to the pile.
"Quite an unusual mask you have there! Hee hee! I like it! It may make me look a little bit tougher." the Skull Kid then gives them a look of interest. "Hey, why don't you give it to me?"
"Give it?" Malon repeats the words angrily. "It's not for free!"
"Oh, fine." the world is so cruel. "I'll pay you then."
"Okay, then." Link nods.
"Yowza!" he jumps with joy. "I'm gonna wear this all the time!"
He picks up the Skull Mask and wears it, while leaving behind the Rupees. He then does a back flip, mysterious disappearing during mid-jump. Link and Malon walk over to the pile to see how many Rupees the Skull Kid paid.
"10 Rupees?" Malon counts in disbelief. "This mask cost 20 Rupees, and he paid us 10?"
"Hey, as long as we sold it, it's okay."
"Okay? The difference will have to come out of our pockets!"
Link sighs in frustration. "We can make up for it… in a while…"
Link decided back in the forest that he should show her his house, located inside a tree in the middle of Kokiri Forest.
"Well… this is my house." Link extends his arms.
"Oh! No fair." Malon crosses her arms. "You have your own house!"
"Yep. Every Kokiri has a house of their own."
"No fair… I just have a room…"
"It's not so great. My house only has one room, and it's kinda like yours."
"But, still… it's a house. Someplace you can live in that's not near your parents. Someplace where..." Malon has a slight dreamy look on her, "you can make up your own rules…"
"It's not all that fun. I have to take care of the house, and myself, too." a sigh escapes his mouth in hopelessness. "Do you really want one that badly?"
"If it means that I can do whatever on my own, yeah."
"Well, you're not a Kokiri…"
"Then, I'll… I'll… I'll just…"
A moment of silence for Malon's hopeless plan.
"Maybe when you're older, Malon, well, at least that's what the books say when Hylians are old enough."
"Aw… I want one now…" Malon's eye catches a child's carving on one of the roots of Link's house. "Say, what's that?"
"Oh, that? Something I carved out when I was little."
It depicts a little kid's picture of a figure holding a sword fighting against a monster 5 times the figure's height. Above their heads is what looks like a shining ball. Heroic, yes, but still a little too young for Link now.
"It's… something I dream of doing when I was little," Link explains, crouching down to his little childhood carving. "Um…"
"What is it about?"
"That's me…" Link points at the tiny figure, then at the monster, "that's a monster that will destroy the world… so it's me fighting him…"
"But… isn't that what you're doing now? Being a hero?"
"Yeah… yeah, I guess it is…"
"Whoa, you dream of becoming a hero, and now you are!" Malon giggles in amazement. "I guess dreams do come true."
"I didn't fight a 20-foot monster."
"But still, here we are, saving Hyrule. That means you qualify as a hero! And that means me, too!"
"So… you're a hero, too?" Link has a mischievous look on his face. "And I suppose that you think you're a better hero than me?"
"Yeah."
Link rolls his eyes, hearing the sweet giggle of Malon.
"What about that ball above you, in that picture?" Malon points after her giggling ceases.
"That? It's my own fairy, which I have, Navi." Link grabs onto his ladder. "C'mon, are you going to see my house or what?"
Climbing the ladder to the terrace, the way inside Link's home is only blocked by a drape. The inside of the house consist of only one room, like Link said. It is the living room, kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and storage all crammed inside one room built in a tree.
"Well, this is it." Link looks around his house. "Welcome to my home."
"Oh, wow… It certainly is nice here."
On the dining table is a bowl of fruit, the contents rotting away with black over it.
"Oh, great." Link walks up to the bowl. "I forgot to eat this. What a waste…"
"So… what's with the… farming equipment?"
"Those?" Link points at the various tools lying against the circular wall.
"Yeah. What, are you trying to farm or something?"
"Uh… maybe…" Link answers as he searches for another bowl.
"How would you farm if you don't know a thing?"
"I've got books." Link points to a shelf jammed with an assortment of these reading materials. "Books that I grew up with. They teach a lot of things."
"But… why would you farm…" Malon said distractedly as she glances at the bookshelf, "when the forest provides you with the things you need?"
"I don't know. Something I would like to try out, I guess. Try to grow something by myself instead of the forest doing it."
"Wow! You've got so many different kinds of books here!" Malon guides her finger through them. "Time before Existence, The World of Hyrule, The Legend of the Sword of Evil's Bane, How to Find Rupees, The Three Goddess, Farming… for Dummies?"
Malon stops reading and glares at Link, whose stops searching when he hears the surprised indication.
"Farming for Dummies?" Malon puts her hands on her hips. "Are you kidding me, fairy boy?"
"Well, I am new to it…"
"You've coulda just ask me! Or my dad!"
"That was before I met you."
"URRRGGGHHH! Whatever…"
Link goes back to search for the other bowl that's somehow elusive, while Malon continues scanning the shelf, reading the titles.
"The Effects of Evil, Diseases and Illness Encyclopedia, The Supposed Existence of a Parallel World besides Hyrule, Time Travel and its Laws, How to Win a Girl's Heart and Love… What!"
Link freezes like a block of ice when she reads the title of that book.
Damn, I forgot to get rid of that book!
Malon pulls the book off the shelf, and clearly reads the title out loud, finding it interestingly fun and humorous. Link, in a lightning-fast pace, stands up and gazes at her, finding the unparallel horror unfold before him.
"How to Win a Girl's Heart and Love?" Malon puts on a playful face, accompanied by a giggle of the same playfulness. "Oh, fairy boy! A book like this?"
"Uh… Look, it's not really for… for… um…"
No… No… This isn't happening… Link thought. Maybe it shouldn't. Maybe she'll just put it back and everything will be ok-
"Oh, what's this?" Malon begins to read off the cover. "'Instant, 100 percent guaranteed love in just a week?' Oh, boy, you really outdid yourself this time, Link. Tch tch tch… You know that love isn't made from a book, right?"
"It's… it's… it's not for-"
"Oh, what's this!" Malon says out loud. "A bookmark? Let's see…"
She turns to the page the bookmark was left on. A drop of sweat is rolling down Link's face, which is very rare for him to do that. Malon eyes the sweat with a sudden surprise. This might be more fun than she realizes. However, for Link… he's about to press his panic button, once his mind has the sense to unfreeze on him.
"'Best friends: The best, most affectionate and rewarding type of love.' Oh… I see." Malon gazes back at Link with those same eyes of gentle laughter. "So, fairy boy, because we're best friends…"
Malon slowly walks up close to Link, pretending to be attracted. This makes him back against the wall very uncomfortably. She leans in towards his face, seeing the redness glowing on Link's cheeks, the embarrassing fear in his blue eyes. Her emotions of fear by showing her feelings for Link is easily replaced by this naughty one having fun exposing Link of this secret.
"Do you love me?" is all Malon said in her question.
Oh, man, why in the world did I leave that book here! And why did the bookmark have to be on THAT page! Link desperately tries to think of a way, but this is NOT one of those puzzles he often encounters.
"Well, do you, fairy boy? Do you love me? Do you love me as it says…" Malon skims through the page, "'With all your heart, the time we spent together, for there's no one like me? We will spend time together forever with this greatest of feelings, this bond of heaven, paradise, and all alike, for because you love me from the time we're friends to best friends to this.'"
Why are you reading out of that page! Link screams mentally. Oh, the horrible torture…
Link doesn't respond, however. Malon's heart gives a leap of faith. Can it be? Does he? Does he think they're more than best friends?
"Do you love me, Link?" Malon's eyes and voice soften suddenly. "Just tell me. You're my best friend."
Link is having the most excruciating time finding the answer. All he has to say is no, but Malon just happens to turn to that page… No. That's the answer. But, why doesn't his mouth move? Something's wrong. Usually, he can just say no, like he did back in the Graveyard. But, right now, it's a completely different situation. His feelings are exposed, amplified by the finding of the book by Malon. The feelings are grabbing onto the word, "No," and pulling it away from his mouth like it's a deathtrap.
Yes, or no? Yes, or no? Just say it! But, if I say yes, that will mess everything up! I can't do that! Hyrule depends on me! The whole world depends on me! I can't let this get in the way! Link thought. But, if I say no…
"Link… just say the answer. Do you love me, or not?"
Since when did this go from being playful to being serious? Malon thought.
"Uh… um… I… I…" Link isn't even close to a stutter, just sputtering out words with no timing and preparation.
Silence fills the room, this time a cloud of disappointment and disbelief.
"I see…" Malon lowers her head and backs away. "I guess you don't want to say the answer then, fairy boy…"
"Malon… I…"
"Never mind, Link… It was a stupid thing for me to play on you." Malon puts back the book. "I teased you about something private, and I made you feel bad. I'm sorry… I shouldn't have done that…"
Malon turns back to him with a renewed smile.
"Forgive me, buddy?"
"Oh…" Link clears his thoughts behind this sentence. "Yeah, sure. I forgive ya."
"Thanks… But still…" the playful face returns, "why did you have that book, anyway?"
"It… it just came with the rest of the books."
"Well, you don't need it. Love is something that no book can write about, you know. It's not something as understandable like… like farming, for instance."
"How would you know?" Link raises an eyebrow.
"Because… I know. It's a girl thing, okay?"
"Er, right… whatever, then…" Link said, then the bowl he's looking for catches his eye. "Hey, here it is."
He places it on the table, setting it back to what it should look like. Malon looks at the sink nearby, seeing her reflection on a wall mirror.
"Boy, I would love to live here," Malon gives a heavenly sigh.
"If you want to, you can."
Malon quickly spins around to him.
"Are you kidding? Me, a girl, living here with you, a boy?"
Link shrugs, then takes a look on a paper nailed to a wall.
"Do you want me to live here?" Malon hastily asks.
"If you don't want to, that's okay."
"The house is fine, but I can't… You can't possibly think that a girl can live together with a boy, even if they're best friends."
Though it is possible, Malon just doesn't like the idea. It could turn wrong more ways than right.
"Okay, then." Link waves a hand behind him. "You made your point. A girl can't live together with a boy."
A sigh of relief is heard behind him. "Good, because I thought you were serious for a moment."
"Yeah, well, I didn't know, okay?" Link then looks at her. "But, you can come over whenever you want to."
"That's fine by me."
"Okay, let's head to the Market to pay up for the Skull Mask and get a new one. Then, onto Death Mountain."
Happy Mask Shop
"Oh, great! You sold it! Please pay me back 20 Rupees for the Skull Mask now."
"Mister, I've got a question," Malon asks the owner after he takes the money.
"Yes?"
"Shouldn't we tell the people who are buying the masks the price of it?"
"Oh, no. It's not in the Happiness Policy."
This man seriously needs a LIFE, both Link and Malon thought.
"Code 2, Paragraph 7 of the Happiness Policy states that the buyer will pay as much as to make him or her happy," the owner states with pride.
Just walk out the door. You don't need to do this…
"So, no." the owner shakes his head. "We cannot tell the price of the mask they are buying."
"Um… okay, then…" Malon answers awkwardly.
"Now, here's your next mask." he hands a mask that resembles… a ReDead? "This is the Spooky Mask, a sad, wooden mask. Price is 30 Rupees."
Graveyard
"We're wasting time just doing this, fairy boy," Malon said as they enter the Graveyard. "I don't think wasting time to sell masks is a good thing to save Hyrule."
"I just want that mask that the owner has on his left. It could be useful…"
"Whatever…" Malon crosses her arms. "Now, the Graveyard kid did want a scary mask, so that's the reason why we're here, right?"
"Right."
"We're not here to go into any more graves or tombs, right?"
"Right. Don't be so worried. I'm not going to do anything rash."
"But, yet, how do we get ourselves into this, hmm?"
"Well, that…" Link then pauses for a reason.
"I thought so."
Link sighs, then puts the Spooky Mask on. He walks up behind the Graveyard kid, and taps him on the shoulder. The kid slowly turns around and gives a jump.
"Gyaah!" he shouts. "It's Dampe the gravekeeper!"
Link slowly pulls off the mask with a mischievous smile.
He kinda deserved that, after teasing me and Malon days ago, Link thought.
"Huh?" the kid notices Link's face. "Oh, it's just a mask. I get a different kind of fright from that mask than I get from Dampe…"
"Well, hey, I just wanted some payback."
"Oh… So… are you two what I think yo-"
Link and Malon gives him an aggravated look.
"Okay, okay!" the Graveyard kid back off the subject.
"So, here's a mask to cover up that cute face of yours," Malon said.
"Aw, you two are mask salesmen. I've gotta pay you guys." the Graveyard kid pulls out 30 Rupees. "Here you are."
"And here's your mask." Link trade hands.
"Yea! With this mask, I'll be just like Dampe!"
He wears the mask, but despite what he said, Malon and Link can still see the cuteness behind the horrifying cover.
"I'm gonna dig and dig!" he pokes his stick into the ground. "Just like Dampe!"
Happy Mask Shop
"Seriously, do you think that Graveyard kid is a bit…?" Malon starts.
"Crazy?" Link nods at once. "Yeah. Who would want to be like that gravekeeper?"
"Oh, great! You sold it!" the owner said with a tone that its only choice is to be happy. "Please pay me back 30 Rupees for the Spooky Mask now."
Doesn't this guy have anything to say other than that? Malon thought.
"This should be your last mask to sell." the owner hands them their fourth mask.
"It's… it's…" Link gazes at it in disbelief.
"It's rabbit ears!" Malon finishes with a hint of excitement.
"Correct." the owner nods. "It's the Bunny Hood! With swinging rabbit ears! The price is 50 Rupees, don't forget that!"
Hyrule Field
"Let's see how it looks on you, fairy boy!" Malon takes the Bunny Hood.
"What!" Link protests. "I'm not going to wea-"
Too late. It's stuck on his head. Now, Link is a walking, talking green boy with rabbit ears.
"Aw, see?" Malon stands back to look at Link's new addition. She couldn't suppress the giggle after that. "Doesn't that look cute?"
Link blushes to the word, "cute."
"Are you blushing, fairy boy?" Malon gives that playful look. "Are you afraid to be cute?"
"No… I mean… I'm not…"
Malon giggles again.
"Can I take it off?" Link asks quickly.
"No."
"Why? C'mon!"
"Because I like it on you!"
"C'mon, please?"
"No, it just looks so cute on you!"
"Well, if you think it looks so cute on me… why don't you wear it?"
"Okay, fairy boy, if it makes you feel any better."
Malon's cuteness plus the Bunny Hood's cuteness equals… well…
"I wish I had a mirror to see myself," Malon said after putting on the Bunny Hood.
"Well, let's just… go to that generous person's house to stay for the night. I'm pretty sure she has a mirror somewhere…"
Kakariko Village; Night
And that is what Malon remembers for the whole day. Not dramatically eventful, but still it's something to remember for a lifetime. And who says that one can't write it down in a diary?
Thank Goddess nobody noticed that I'm carrying and writing in my diary.
"And then he said, 'Ma'am, the price is 20 Rupees. The food being imported is getting more hard to get, they say,'" the owner continues her riveting conversation without any attention from the two. "I cannot believe him! He was lying, I could see it in his eyes! He wants to rip me off, so I said…"
"I'm finished," Malon whispers to Link and jumps down from her stool. "I'm going to take a bath, okay? No peeking like last time!"
"Uh, I didn't peek…" Link reminds.
Malon doesn't hear this sentence as she rushes off to the bedroom. First, she wants to write down her latest entry in her diary first. After doing this, she quickly walks to the bathroom and fills up the tub. Proceeding to taking off her dress and undergarment, she jumps into the tub, making a splash. She surfaces, then sighs.
Thank the people who invented indoor plumbing…
Later, Link finishes his meal, leaving the bowl empty. He heads to the bedroom to stretch out on his given bed. He takes a relaxing sigh, feeling something soft against his back to sleep on. His eyes wander the room, laying them on the beds next to him. Malon's bed is next to his for some reason, and for all he knows, he doesn't care, as long as there's no one sleeping next to him, to kick him or smack their arm on his face. He spots a brown, worn book on her bed. At first, Link discards the thought of reading it, mostly because it's Malon's and it's probably too boring of a subject to read it. So, he averts his eyes elsewhere.
Moments pass, and curiosity is but a constant, nagging thing. He decides that it couldn't hurt just to look, to make sure that curiosity is put to rest. He picks the book up, seeing no title, and proceeds to opening it. The first page is not of writing of an author, but of a person who writes of a young age. Yet, the writings of the pencil are very good for a young person.
'1st Entry,
I don't know why I'm writing in a diary. It's not for me. A diary is for other people that have exciting things to do. Like the Princess. She always has to have her hands tied at something. Something new happens to her everyday, and that's enough to have a whole stack of diaries next to her. I don't know why Dad brought me this the day after… the day after… Mom died… He says that it's going to be important since Mom's gone. I don't know why, because with Mom, I… I had fun with her, something I could write about everyday or most of it if she was too busy. But… I have nothing to write here. Except the words behind this sentence, yeah. Well, maybe I could introduce myself or something? Well, I'm Malon, the owner of this diary, then. I'm five, but my handwriting and language is good, better than most kids I know of. That's because of Mom; she wanted me to know this stuff when I was little. So, I can read and write pretty good for a little kid, thanks to Mom. Oh, Mom… I missed you so much…
Let's see… I live on a ranch called Lon Lon Ranch. I work on it somewhat; it's more like an endless list of chores everyday. I have my dad with me, though he's so lazy I can't stand it. The ranch is so big and hard to work in, so I don't know why he sleeps on the job. I have animals who are my friends. I don't have any Hylian friends. I feel so bad every time I know that. But, I have friends, still. They're just… animals. I have a best friend, if that's possible. She's a little pony that I call Epona. She can't walk yet, but Dad says she will. I'm going to try and help her walk. It's not so hard to walk. But, why do little babies have a hard time? I don't know why. I'm still going to help.
Dad says that he might be hiring a ranch hand to help us out now that… Mom's gone. I know a ranch hand is there to help us, but I can't stop the feeling that it sounds like a replacement of Mom. Mom… I don't want to write about it down here. I don't need a diary to remind me. It was too horrible to forget. And this ranch hand is going to replace Mom. I don't like it one bit. I hate it. I hate writing this down, because it's making me think about it. I hate this diary. Hate it. Why did Mom have to die…? Why? Why must the goddesses and Fate take her away? From me? I'm so lonely…'
So, this is Malon's diary… Link looks up to the bathroom door. I still have time. I just hope she doesn't come out and just…
With that, Link remembers the last time he read someone else's (before Dampe's) diary. It was one afternoon at Kokiri Forest, and he thought that he should visit his friend Saria. Finding that Saria isn't home, he looked around and accidentally found the diary. He picked it up, and read it. It was mostly about the everyday life, and the fun that he and she had together, but on the last entry, it reads,
'Maybe I should tell Link. Maybe I should. Can I? Will it hurt him more than me? That he's not really-'
A diary forced to close and a slap across his face happened before he read the last word. The red on Saria's face when he saw her greatly contrast the green she wore and has her hair colored to. But Link knew what that last word was. But, he still has doubts about it. Maybe he isn't, or maybe he is. Link shakes his head and continues reading Malon's diary.
'2nd Entry,
A man named Mr. Ingo was hired by my dad as the ranch hand. He seems okay, but he's a bit hot-tempered after I met him. He's good around with the animals and vegetables, but he seems to like not doing so much work. He doesn't really care about how much pay he gets with the work he does. Oh, well, it's nothing to be bothered with. My sixth birthday's coming up, and Dad promised to make a cake. I know he's lying, because he has no idea how to make one. But he seems determined to make sure that I will have one on my birthday, so I think he's gonna buy one from the Market. Okay, I guess, but… Mom's cake was always the best… No, I can't let it haunt me. I can't.
One thing's for sure is that Dad can cook, and that he's going to make my favorite breakfast, blueberry pancakes. Oh, that reminds me, I have to pick some wild blueberries today. No presents, though. I never do get any. That's okay. I have everything here on the ranch, except Mom. My birthday is not going to be the same without her… I need to get over that…'
So, that's how Ingo came. Sad, birthday without a mother. Link can imagine the emotions that Malon felt that day. But, isn't birthdays a bit more… festive? The book says that a party is to be celebrated, and that presents should be given to the person of the birthday. But, Malon here… I guess it's not that all true.
'3rd Entry,
Same old same old, even four years from now. Goddess, I'm sorry about not writing that much in here. I couldn't find my diary for that many years. I finally found it stuffed inside my bed. How silly of me, to leave it in there. Well, let's see what happened during those four years.
Epona learned to walk easily; she can gallop at such a fast pace! I'm ten, the 'high point' of childhood, people said, and the beginning of a word I'm unfamiliar with, 'adolescent,' something about growing from a kid to an adult. I don't feel myself growing into a lady. I still feel like a girl. I'm taller than I was back then. That's the only thing I think I grew up from. The strange thing is, is that every time I go to the Market with Dad, I feel like hanging around with the girls, even though they don't want me with them and so I don't either. I'm knowing all this weird stuff of love from them, and somehow from myself. Boys, well, instead of thinking of them as the beholders of cooties, I feel a bit more… embarrassed whenever I see a boy. Weird. Just weird. But, other things still remain the same. I still have no Hylian friends that wants to talk to me, because I'm never around the Market that much like they do. They don't want to travel all the way from Hyrule Castle Town up to the ranch. That's fine. I don't need them. They were a bit too mean and weird for me. I never do like them. I have everything back at the ranch. The animals, my dad, Epona. They make me feel happy and okay.
Dad's still lazy as ever. Except for days where we go up to the Market to deliver and sell Lon Lon Milk, which he still sleeps while doing it, he's always stuck in the house taking a snooze whenever. It's okay with me, but there are times when I want to wake him up and tell him to sleep earlier at night, and maybe drink some coffee. We're growing the coffee beans, why can't he just grab some, brew, and drink? Adults… I'll never understand them.
Mr. Ingo is doing a good job here at the ranch, but the more he does a good job, the more he loses his temper. Every time something bad happens and he has to take care of it, he yells like crazy. And every time I see him, he just tells me to get my dad off his lazy butt and work. And there are times when I hear him muttering to himself about taking over the ranch. Now, that… is really weird. But still, I don't blame Mr. Ingo; Dad is just too lazy. I mean, if you're lazy enough to sleep the whole day, and only wake up for food, that's just too much. Snoozing, waking up when somebody comes by. He even makes this crazy game of his, where visitors or customers can pay a fee to play it, catching his "Super Cuccos." It's a strange way to make money, 10 Rupees if they lost, a 20 Rupee lost of profit if they win. Lon Lon Milk is 30 Rupees, but he gives it for 10 if they win. That's not good. Good thing Dad wins most of the time.
I've gotten over Mom being gone, if you haven't noticed. I miss her, yes, but it's not haunting me now. Because I'm pretty sure Mom wouldn't like that. The best way I found remembering her without being scared or sad is singing her song. Everyday, I sing it, to remember her. Epona's really grown attached to this song. I guess she really knows how I feel when I sing it. It makes me happy. And I'm pretty sure it makes her happy, too. I always love this song, just singing besides Epona inside the corral. Now if only those strange Cucco sounds coming from inside the storehouse would go away…'
Wow, what a long time since she has written in this diary. Four years… A lot has changed over four years. Link remembers the maximum age of Kokiris. He just read it right before he and Malon left for the Market. The oldest Kokiris can be is ten years old. Then, they can't grow up anymore. So, I can't experience this 'adolescent' thing she's talking about.
Then, it hits him.
Great… she's going to be older than me…
'4th Entry,
Something strange happened today. I haven't noticed it earlier, but these dark clouds were hanging over the forest to the east. These clouds were weird, too, because I see no rain or lightning coming from it. It's just blocking out the sun. It still worried me, though, because it's not good if those clouds come over and not provide one drop of rain. The vegetables will choke from the lack of sunlight. But, since it wasn't over here, it's actually choking the forest. That's bad to me because I kinda like the forest, with all the trees and life growing in it.
But, I'm not done yet. The strangest of all I saw was that later on, the clouds parted for this ray of light from the sky. I know I saw that, but the thing that I'm not sure is where the light landed. It landed on this person holding this shiny, green thing, with a sorta blue ball of light hovering around the person. It wasn't forever, though, the light disappeared with the person. I think it's nothing. Maybe I'm just seeing things. But, the one thing that wasn't a trick of the mind is that the dark clouds were gone, along with the person. All I know is it's not there anymore. What a weird thing today.
Dad and me are going to the Market again, this time to deliver the weekly Lon Lon Milk to the Royal Family. Dad said to me that he wouldn't sleep during the delivery. He said he's starting to sleep early, and that he's going to make sure that I'm not going to wait by the foundation like always when he delivers to the castle. I would highly doubt all of this, but he promised. And I know that promises shouldn't be broken, no matter what.'
Link blinks at the part, 'this person holding this shiny, green thing, with a sorta blue ball of light hovering around the person.' In the forest?
Was it me that she saw? Because that could be the Kokiri Emerald I'm holding and Navi flying around. What am I saying, it IS me. Who do I know that has that description?
'5th Entry,
Oh, wow! Something really great just happened to me! Yesterday, when I went to the Market with Dad, I met this most interesting boy! His name is Link, and he's so nice and friendly and…
Oh, maybe I should write up things before that. I waited by the foundation, as usual. Golly, I waited more than it was needed for Dad to make the delivery. Either something happened to him, or he slept again, and I hardly doubt it's the latter one. I don't like waiting, especially by myself. All these people around me in the Market make me uncomfortable when I'm alone. I just had to sing silently.
Then, he came. The boy I was talking about earlier, Link. I laughed at him, wearing green like that and a sword and shield. It was even funnier when he started asking around about where the Princess was and being turned down. But, I was so surprised to find a fairy with him! I was so embarrassed when he found me laughing on the ground. But… something about him, it made me feel better somehow. I don't know why, but when he came up to me, I had this feeling like he's someone I know of for a long time, like Ingo. Maybe it's the way he expresses himself, so casual everywhere. Maybe it's the way he talks to me when we met. He didn't treat me like a nobody like those other kids. But, then again, everybody treats him like a nobody, so I'm like him. I think that's what made it so much easier to talk to him. He's a nice boy, but I found out he's a Kokiri, which explains his clothes, his fairy named Navi, and his… lack of knowledge. But, I find this funny, and I didn't make him feel bad of that. I ended up calling him fairy boy. I'm not sure he likes that or not, but it doesn't seem to bother him. Well, I hope not, because I find the name really cute to call him.
I pointed Link where the Princess was, in the castle, and asked him to find Dad. But, it was dark, so I waited near the main gate. Seeing that Link can't get past the gate, I showed him these vines to climb up to this cliff to pass the gate. And then… he… asked me if I wanted to come. Oh, man, he had this thing in his eyes that made me trust him so easily. I don't know what it was, but I just came along. We found Dad, sleeping again, and I felt hurt that he broke my promise. After waking up and apologizing, me and Dad went back to Lon Lon Ranch while Link was going to find the Princess… But… I… I asked him if we wanted to be best friends or not. Oh, Goddess, I felt so great when he said yes. And he promised to come over to play… today!'
Link looks up from the diary and at the bathroom door.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE? Goddess, does everybody think that Kokiris are dumb! Link sighs at this discrimination. And the name 'fairy boy' is cute? I thought she was calling me that to try to annoy me…
He has just read for 30 minutes and Malon still hasn't come out. Unless she's already drowned, she's really putting relaxing time to a stretching limit.
'6th Entry,
So much has happened after the 5th one, I can assure you. So much. But I guess I should start off.
So, Link came over to play, just like he promised. Now, isn't that what true best friends would do? I found out about his quest of going after Ganondorf, which I have to admit sounds a bit scary. I taught fairy boy Epona's Song, which is what I think it should be called, and Epona's now attached to him like she is to me. Isn't that sweet? We finally found where that Cucco that crows a lot lives, though, it's long gone by now. Link and I decided that it should be our hideout! And that no one tells anybody else where it is. It's our place, and it stays as our place.
There was this one scary moment where Link knocks a Golden Skulltula from a tree, and for a moment, I thought that Link was going to hurt me or something, but he just wanted to get rid of the spider. The way he killed it… was almost as noble as a knight. But, what noble knight has a slingshot? I beat Link at a shooting contest with some Bottles, but he said he just let me win. I don't know about that, but I still won, anyhow.
Sad part is, Link was about to leave. I wanted to go, but… Oh, what the hey, I did! Dad and Epona would be fine, and I'm pretty sure the ranch would be fine, too. I was so happy to go along with Link. He was happy, too. He should be, because we're best friends! We were off to Kakariko Village. I thought it was going to be okay and fun, but when night came, it was anything but those words. These Stalchilds appear out of nowhere, and I was knocked unconscious, I think by Link's Deku Nut.
Anyway, a strange thing happened. I thought I was dead during that unconsciousness, because of the bright whiteness, sound, feeling, and all. But, I wasn't. I had a dream. The strangest one I've ever had, yet… heavenly. I was seventeenth, back at home. I saw… Mom… again. Oh… I was so happy and relieved to see her again! But, funny thing in the dream was I was married. And… I was married to a man… a man in green… and… I knew who it was… it was-'
Link hears two squishy thumps on the ground, signaling that Malon is done. Link almost jumbles himself, the diary jumping up and down in his hands. He quickly lays the diary down where it was before, and dives for his bed, head hitting the wall with a hard PANG!
"Ow!" the curse of the sharp pain covers Link's head.
"Fairy boy?" Malon's voice flies through the bathroom door.
"Owww… Yeah, it's me."
"What happened?"
"Sorry, I was… sleeping and I think I hit the wall with my head…" Link lies.
"Oh." to this, Link could hear her giggling inside the bathroom.
"Do you have to laugh?"
"Sorry, just imagining you hitting your head against a wall. It's a funny picture."
Link hears her put her clothes on.
"By the way, fairy boy… Did you read that… book on my bed?"
"Huh? Uh, no."
"Good. You wouldn't want to read it… It's… just boring stuff…"
She opens the door to find Link on his bed, his back to her.
"Are you sure you haven't read it?" Malon asks again.
"No… no, I haven't."
"Hmm. Well, if you're lying…"
"I haven't read it at all. What's the title?"
"Um… The Study of… Cuccos!" Malon says one of her cheesiest lie ever.
"Okay. I wouldn't read such boring stuff, then." Link accepts this unbelievable title. He turns to lie on his back, then stretches. "'Night, Malon."
"Um, yeah." Malon stashes her diary in her pack, then flops herself on her bed. "Good night, Link."
Thinking that Link is just that dense enough to believe that her diary is something else, Malon relaxes herself. Besides, if Link has read it, he would be honest and tell her.
Link, on the other hand, feels bad and shock. Bad because he lied, but mostly shock because…
That guy that she's married to in that dream… He's… he's…
His heart feels like it can soar among the stars when he says this word, which is absolutely the weirdest thing to him right now.
Me.