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

A Pair of Time

Chapter 26- The Old Times, Part 3

Lon Lon Ranch; Day

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" Malon's voice rings through Link's head.

Oh, so generous of Malon to wake up first, so that she has the hassle of waking up her partner. They spent the night inside their hideout. How? Ingo had so kindly, before they came, to enlarge the hole to the Cucco's nest, with the forced help of Talon, of course. Why? No reason. Ingo just wants to make Talon suffer a bit more. Seeing as there's no other way to spend a safe night, our two Heroes of Time snuggled up inside their childhood hideout. Being best friends, snuggling up together was no problem, as long as they didn't get to the point of… well, gender-based things. But, they don't know that, pointing to the fact that they did skip seven years into the future.

Link isn't used to waking up to a set time. Every time they set up camp, they normally wake up whenever they want to. But Malon insisted that they should get up first thing in the morning, just as the crow of the Cucco burst into the silent air.

"No…" Link responds groggily, waving Malon off. "Just ten more minutes…"

"I'll give you ten more minutes!"

Malon grabs some hay around them and shoves them into the back of Link's tunic.

"Yaow!" Link quickly sits straight up. "Hey, that itches!"

"There's more of where that comes from if you don't help me save the ranch." Malon crosses her arms in excitement.

"Right, right…" Link starts to dig the dry, itchy grass out. "Ow…"

They crawl out, seeing crates of Lon Lon Milk in front. Climbing out, they find the same old cows from seven years before, lazily chewing on fodder like always.

"Hey, Bessie, Lori." Malon pets them both. "We're gonna make sure that we set Mr. Ingo straight, okay?"

MOO! (Does it look like we care?)

"Okay. C'mon, fairy boy, let's go!"

They thought up the plan last night. Simply, they just go up and talk to Mr. Ingo, ask him what's going on, how did he come to own the ranch, why he's forcing Talon to-

"Hello, you two," Ingo's face greets them when Link opens the door. "I hope you had a goooooood sleep in there."

Ingo saw the two in the corral the night before. Like them, he always sleeps whenever he wants to since taking over. And last night he felt like sleeping late. So, it's somewhat unfortunate that he happened to notice Malon in the corral, crying from what he saw of her. Then, he found Link silently walking past his house, to Malon. The rest is talk, then surprisingly, some naughty playing around from what Ingo saw. Then, later on, the two headed to the storehouse to sleep in.

In Ingo's mind, he thinks that, hey, they've just broken up, then gotten back together again, and finally, they decided to 'get it on' in the storehouse to tie the bow nicely.

Oh, the adult mind so far contrasts what Malon and Link were doing that night. Ingo decided to take care of it in the morning. So, he woke up early to 'greet' them.

"Mr…" Malon pauses. "Mr. Ingo, is it?"

"Ah, yes. I am the famous Ingo." Ingo puts on a grin of interest. "So, did you two have a good time in there?"

"What?" Alas, Link's knowledge really didn't extend this far. "What do you mean?"

"Yes, Mr. Ingo, what do you mean?" Nor does Malon's mind that far, too, for that matter.

"Don't play dumb with me. You two did it in there."

"Did what?" Link is really confused.

"Did we do something wrong in the storehouse?" Malon looks back inside the building. "Besides sleeping in there?"

"That's exactly the point. You two slept together in there."

"Yeah, so?" Link slowly said.

"So… did you two have a good time?"

"Well, sleeping with your best friend is… a good time, I guess…" Malon said slowly, too. "But, why is it so important?"

"Because it is." Ingo's eyebrow lifts. "Don't you two know how pleasant it is?"

"Uh, yeah, it's pleasant… to sleep with your best friend…" Link answers.

"So, who got on top?"

"Wha…" Malon doesn't see the point in this question, "what do you mean?"

"I mean, who was on top of the other?"

"We… weren't… on… top… of… each… other…" Link said with an even slower tone.

"Ah, so you did the old side by side, right?"

"Yeah…"

"So, did you thrust in and out really hard?" Ingo asks Link.

This is getting too weird, Link thought.

"… Uh… Huh?" Link gives this incomplete answer.

"Oh, so you really gave her a good time!" Ingo said, mistaking Link's words for an answer. "Musta gave you an orgasm, did he, Missy?"

Wha… What…? Poor Malon. Her head hurts. What's… What's an orgasm?

"Too embarrassed to say yes, eh, Missy?" Ingo again makes another mistake, this time taking Malon's silence as a yes.

"Mr. Ingo…" Malon can't take it anymore. She has to know what he's talking about, "what in the world are you talking about?"

"What, don't you know?"

"Know what?"

"That you had sex with him?"

"Sex?" that word isn't in Malon or Link's vocabulary. "What's that?"

"Eh?" Ingo's eyebrow lifts again. "Don't you know what sex is?"

"Uh, no, sir…" Link answers.

"Young adults these days, I really don't know what word they use for sex now…" Ingo shakes his head. "Well, I'm letting you two off for sneaking in here because you two had a good time. Never make really happy people go off with a bad day, I say."

"Uh, okay…" Malon nods slowly. "So, um… tell us about yourself, Mr. Ingo."

"Hah. Follow me to the corral. I'll tell you about myself there."

Even if Malon and Link are grown-ups, their sense of adulthood hasn't reached them yet.

"There are some people in Kakariko spreading rumors that I cheated Talon into working for me on this ranch…" Ingo starts.

"But, did you real-"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Ingo cuts off Malon. "That guy Talon was weak! I, the hard-working Ingo, poured so much energy into this place!"

Ingo stops suddenly when he reaches the corral's entrance. He turns around, a threatening look on his face.

"I don't want any strangers like you saying anything bad about me!" Ingo states clearly.

"But, what you're doing, sir…" Link starts before himself being cut off.

"Listen. The great Ganondorf recognized my obvious talents and gave the ranch to me!" Ingo points a thumb at himself. "I will raise a fine horse and win recognition from the great Ganondorf!"

The name courses through Malon and Link like poison. Ganondorf actually gave the ranch to Ingo, and he's taking advantage of it. And Talon is one of his main advantages…

Ganondorf… It looks like he's using people corrupted by evil for his own gain, Link figures. What a bastard.

"Say," Ingo's face returns to a nobility look, "do you want to ride one of my fine horses?" he asks for a sudden change of subject.

A different atmosphere appears, not to tranquility, but to silent anger.

"I will," Malon responds firmly.

Epona… Malon sees her maroon-colored horse galloping in her mind. How I miss you… I want to see you again…

"Pay me 10 Rupees and you can ride, Missy." Ingo stretches out his hand.

"Fine. Here."

"Thank you so much." Ingo counts the money in his hand. "Heh heh!"

Ingo pulls out a ring of keys, using one to unlock the corral's gate, having the smug picture of him on it. Malon walks through, hearing the gate shut behind her. Ingo, inside the corral with her, locks it, to make sure Link doesn't come barging in. Malon quickly scans the area, but she can't see her favorite horse among the others.

I guess I'll have to call her.

Loudly, Malon begins to sing her mother's song. The notes beautifully resonate throughout Lon Lon Ranch. Ingo hears her in surprised, feeling that he heard this song before. Epona, however, hasn't forgotten, as she shows by galloping towards Malon. Malon's heart warms at the sight of an old friend.

"Hey, Epona…" Malon caresses her cheek against Epona's. "How's it been?"

"Eh-hem!" Ingo interrupts this moment, despite how unexpected it is. "You only have a little bit of time, Missy."

"Shoot. Epona…" Malon whispers to her horse, "just let me ride you, okay? Until I can come up with a plan."

The horse snorts for an answer. Malon climbs up on her, saddle already there. Guiding Epona, Malon easily makes six perfect jumps over the two fences set up inside the corral. All the feelings of the old days at the ranch rush back to her with each jump. It feels good to relive those moments in this one-minute ride.

Malon rides over to Ingo and stops, sending Epona to rear back. A surely impressive sight she makes to Ingo and Link.

"Hey, young lady!" Ingo calls up to her. "Do I know you?"

"Um… no." Malon shakes her head to lie.

"Because you look like somebody I knew a long time ago. Er, I think Talon's bratty and annoying daughter…"

Though Ingo can't see her face because of the sun in his eyes, a red face of anger would greet him if he could see through.

"Never mind that." Ingo shakes his head. "You're a very good rider, young lady. How about a little race with me?"

"A race?"

"Yes. Just one lap around the corral with that horse you're riding."

Malon wants to save the ranch, but who says she can't have some satisfaction in making Ingo's life a little miserable by beating him? A small revenge, that's all. She understands Ingo's problem and why he did all this, but… just one small revenge, to make sure she doesn't explode in anger.

"Alright, you're on," she answers with a hint of fierceness.

"Ah, now that's the spirit." Ingo smirks. "I rarely have visitors with such youth. But, let's have some more fun. Let's make a little wager, say 50 Rupees?"

SHOULDN'T I HAVE A SAY IN THIS? Link mentally yells.

"Sure, 50 Rupees," Malon agrees with no hesitation.

That's a good amount of Rupees you're betting there, Malon! Link's mind said, as if he and Malon are telepathic.

Ingo unlocks the gate, entering. Taking his time, he finally chooses a strong horse that has a fine coat. After a while, Malon and Ingo bring the horses to the starting line next to the corral's entrance. They lean in, ready to ride off.

"You, young man!" Ingo points at Link. "Start us off!"

"Uh, sure," Link answers. He stands out of track around the corral. "On your mark… get set…"

I'm counting on you, Epona, Malon's last second thought said.

"Go!"

Ingo gets a head start with a whip, leaving dust in front of Malon. Not a problem, though, because Malon catches up a quarter of the way around the track and cuts in front of Ingo.

"What!" Malon hears Ingo's voice behind her.

Moments later, Malon emerges as the victor, with Ingo coming up behind her seconds after Malon crosses the finish line. Beating Ingo with a good distance between him and her sure makes Malon's day.

"There. That settles it," Malon declares. "I beat you."

"Sh-shoooot!" Ingo yells, grabbing his head in frustration. "If the great Ganondorf found out about this humiliation… Hey, you! How about another race! If you win…"

Ingo thinks for a second, then decides on it.

"You can keep… the horse!" Ingo makes a bad, hasty decision; he just wants to tempt Malon into another race.

"Really?" Malon's eyes are on fire. "You're on! For this horse!"

Long story short, she literally leaves Ingo in the dust.

"KAAAHHH! What's up with that horse!" Ingo does his same head-grabbing frustration. "Is that Epona?"

"Yep," Malon answers with a smug smile. "It is."

"How did you tame that wild horse right under my nose!"

"Well, that's a secret." Malon strokes Epona to show off.

"Argh! I was going to present that horse to the great Ganondorf… But I bet it on the race and lost! Shoot!"

Ingo stops, his body trembling in anger and humiliation. Suddenly, he jumps off his horse and bolts to the pasture entrance. He then looks at Malon with himself a smug smile. Standing oddly in his usual nobility stance, he laughs maliciously.

"Hah ha hah! As I promised, I'll give the horse to you…" Ingo restates the bet. "However…"

Ingo puts each of his hand on the pasture gate.

"I'll never let you leave this ranch!"

Ingo slams the gate closed, then locks it.

"What…" Malon is alarmed by this. "Hey! What's the deal!"

"As I said, you can keep the horse. But, I keep you!"

"Why, you ungrateful coward!"

"Ha hah! Call me all you want, but you'll never see the outside world again!"

"Urgh! What a worm…"

I've got to find a way out of here, even if it is my own home… Malon tries to think of an escape route. Oh, man, I can't seem to think of anyway out of here… I'm locked in! Well, like fairy boy says, where there's a will, there's a way… Wait, where's Link?

Through all the things that had just happen between now and the beginning of the second of Malon's race, Link is taking a snooze nearby. Anything that doesn't involve him doing a thing ends him up sleeping. Malon's temper rises, seeing that no matter how desperate the situation is, Link does something out of the ordinary.

"Fairy boy!" she calls irritably. "Wake up!"

"I'm just asking for… ten more minutes…" Link mutters.

"I'm gonna give you a world of hurt if you don't wake up!"

"What…?" Link finally stands up in response, still groggily. "Did you…" he pauses for a yawn, "win already?" Being so sleep-deprived because he had to wake up at a set time, Link makes a mental note of dozing off earlier if he has to sleep like that again.

"Yeah," Malon replies exasperatedly, repelling Link's doubt, "but Mr. Ingo locked us in!"

This shakes him up from his half-sleep condition. "Say what now?"

Malon points to the locked gate, with a self-satisfied Ingo behind it. Ingo waves at him in greeting. Link waves back in response.

"Don't WAVE at him, Link!" Malon sees this stupid, contradictory scene. "He wants to keep us here forever!"

"Hey, you two!" they hear Ingo call to them. "Maybe you can continue your sex here! I would enjoy watching it!"

"I don't know what that word 'sex' means," Link scratches his head, "or why it's enjoyable…"

"I'm starting to have a sick feeling about it," Malon said.

"Look, Malon." Link turns his attention away from the word. "Epona can jump these fences, right?"

"Yeah…" Malon answers slowly, not getting Link. But, it comes about a minute later, like a brick to the face. "Oh, I get it."

Sometimes, even Malon gets a little slow in the head. But, still, she gets Link's plan. Urging Epona on with a hit to the flank, Malon starts galloping off, riding around the corral. She heads straight for the fence Ingo's behind of. Before Ingo realizes what Malon's trying to do, she has already jumped the gate and is galloping her way out.

"Jerk…! What a coward of a worm you are…!" he hears her voice before it fades.

Hyrule Field

NEIGH! (You're an insane Hylian, Malon! What have you been doing for the last seven years!)

Epona gallops her way from Lon Lon Ranch out to the field of Hyrule. Malon halts her, letting her rear back again. The sun above shines upon the two gracefully. Malon pats her on the side.

"Good girl. You came through for me…" Malon then scratches Epona behind the ears. "Now, we just go back and deal with Mr. Ingo, for what he's done. Just talk some sense into him. Then, we can go save Hyrule. Just you, me, and fairy boy… Oh, no! Link is still in there!"

Malon turns Epona around and gallops straight back into her home.

Lon Lon Ranch

"So, what's with the sudden friendliness, Ingo?" Talon asks.

Link, Ingo, and Talon are standing outside the barn. Talon just came out, now with a brand-new happy face on, but a bit of confusion. Link, past through the gate strangely by Ingo, is standing with the same confusion, too. Ingo's face has changed; it became happy, in a good way, and peaceful. This affects his tone, and, to an extend, his personality.

"Oh, nothing," Ingo replies happily. "I just feel so glad to work here."

"Are you sure?" Link peers curiously into Ingo's eyes. "You won't complain that you have too much work?"

"Oh, no. I won't complain at all."

"It's okay." Talon puts a hand on Ingo's shoulder. "I'll work hard, too. I realized what my laziness caused. I'm gonna turn over a new leaf."

"That's great, sir." Link wears a self-conscious smile.

"By the way, I saw the whole thing that happened out here. Who's that friend of yours that just rode on out of here?" Talon asks. "She's ridin' my daughter's favorite horse."

"Well, sir…" Link extends his hand, "allow me to introduce myself first. I'm Link."

"Link?" Talon slowly shakes his hand. "Gosh darn it, that sounds awfully familiar…"

"You should know. I'm the forest boy…"

"The forest boy? You mean…"

"Seven years ago, that's right. I'm your daughter's best friend."

"But, that means… that person that just rode out…"

"Yes, that was… your daughter, Malon. I'm hoping she doesn't forget to come back here…"

This is answered by the sounds of hoofs reaching them. Epona, with Malon on her, trots back into the ranch. Malon sees all of the males standing together. Now, this really baffles her.

"Dad?"

Talon couldn't believe it. But, an exhale shows differently. "Malon…"

She jumps off quickly and dashes to Talon, grabbing his large body.

"Malon…" Talon strokes her familiar bright red hair and her back. "I thought… I've lost you…"

"No, Dad…" Malon sobs in joy. "I'm still here…"

"Golly… I think… I have somethin' in my eye."

Talon takes out a handkerchief and wipes his little tear away.

"Seven years…" Talon said. "It's been too long for me…"

"I know…"

"But, gosh!" Talon pushes Malon back, for a better look. "You've grown up now, Malon! Look at you! You look almost like your mother!"

"I guess so…" Malon stares down at her feet in unnoticeable embarrassment.

"And… you're still happy, right?"

"Of course I am!" Malon looks up with a smile. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I see." Talon turns to Link with a big grin. "Thanks, Link."

"It's nothing, really." Link puts a hand on his neck.

"Oh, Dad! You're embarrassing the both of us!"

"So, ya two musta had a long adventure together, right?"

"Uh, yeah… I'll explain everything to you later, Dad."

"And me, too, Malon?" Ingo asks.

Malon looks at the now new Ingo, having the oh-so-glad face. How bizarre is that?

"Uh, Mr. Ingo?"

"Haw haw haw!" Talon laughs. "Don't ya worry a thing, Malon. He's changed for the better."

"Yeah. Yeah, changed for the better is a good word…" Link nods slowly.

"Oh, yes, Malon." Ingo nods quickly. "I feel so honored to be allowed to work here."

"Malon…" Talon's face soften, "please… if ya have the time from your adventure… just… stay home… for a while."

"I would, Dad," Malon accepts gratefully. "I haven't slept at home for such a long time. It would be nice to sleep in my own bed again. And… just be at home."

"That's great… Of course, Link, you're welcome to stay here, too."

"Oh, sure," Link said with appreciation. "I would really want a bed to sleep on after all I've been through."

"Sorry, fairy boy!" Malon giggles. "We don't have an extra bed. You'll have to sleep in the loft in the barn."

"Oh…" the hope of comfort is now crushed.