The Legend of Zelda

Return of Evil

The next morning, Kiri woke up with Sare in her face. Her green fairy seemed anxious. "What now, Sare?" she asked groggily.

C'mon! Get up, Sarie is already awake! Remember your quest. Get up! What would Mido say if he found out about the Spiritual Stones?

"I'm gettin' there, I'm getting up." Kiri grumbled and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Sare was bobbing near the door, but Kiri noticed a chain with something gleaming on it. She picked it up and found a small piece of paper attached to it. Kiri tore off the paper and unfolded it. It read:

Kiri,

The time has come for you to journey. Beware; your mission is harder than you think. Take care and respect those who care about you.

Yours truly,

Asinormana Kerityamalie

I wonder who that could be, Asinormana, Kiri thought. She looked back at the chain and realized that the gleaming figure on it was a silver Triforce. "Huh, pretty. I think Mido would like this, don't you Sare?" Kiri said.

Then come on Kiri! Didn't Queen Zelda say that the first Spiritual Stone was in the Kokiri Forest? Sare flew back to Kiri than to the door again.

"Alright Sare, just a moment." Kiri mumbled. She stretched and got out of the bed. Kiri yawned and ran out the door. She saw Sarie waiting happily at her door.

"Daddy told me not to wake you. He figured that your fairy would do it around dawn. What kept you?"

"Let's just say, I got a gift." Kiri replied, putting on her necklace. "Do you know anyone named, Asinormana Kerityamalie? My gift was from that person."

"No, I don't. But don't worry, I'm sure we'll find them, whoever they are." Sarie replied happily. When she turned, Kiri saw that she wore her bow and a quiver full of arrows. She ran down the stairs after Sarie. They found Link and Zelda waiting for them.

"Honey, remember to visit Malon at Lon Lon Ranch for Farina." Zelda said, kissing Sarie's forehead.

"Here's Nayru for you both to ride to Lon Lon Ranch." Link said and hugged his daughter.

"Bye Mother, Father! I'll be back soon! I promise." Sarie said, waving as she got onto Nayru behind Kiri. Kiri snorted and urged Nayru into a trot. They plodded on, not saying anything as it was the hottest part of the day. Hours after they left, they saw a large building in the distance.

"Is that Lon Lon Ranch?" Kiri asked Sarie.

"It sure is, like it? Inside are many horses that are well taken care of by Malon." Sarie explained to the Kokiri girl.

"Funny, I feel like I've heard that name before." Kiri said, puzzled but she shook it off, thinking it just her imagination. She set Nayru into a run and relaxed a bit. It was no good worrying when the person behind you would flip out if they saw or felt you. Kiri sighed, why couldn't she just go straight to Mido and tell him the news?

"Stop Nayru." Sarie said when they arrived; Kiri nearly fell asleep so she had taken over guiding the young horse. Kiri woke from her daze, startled that they were already here. She had been almost asleep for almost three hours.

Kiri climbed off the horse and drew her sword, trusting that the princess could get off a horse by herself. "So we just barge in?"

"Yep, that's the idea anyway." Sarie replied, swinging her leg over to the rest of her body. She ran ahead waving back to Kiri and smiling. Kiri groaned and pulled on Nayru's rope. With Sare asleep in her cap, she needn't worry about the fairy bothering her until she woke.

"Hello Malon. Is Farina here?" she asked, bowing slightly.

Malon almost laughed as the noble bowed to her, "Yes, she is. Although she isn't very happy right now, she just got over being sick."

"Oh, Poor Farina." Sarie mumbled and followed Malon into the stables.

Later, Kiri walked in dragging an irritated Nayru behind her and flying around her head was an even more ticked off green fairy. Kiri looked rather angry herself.

"You know, I could dump you here and be on my jolly well way but your parents would hunt me down. I shouldn't be the one who baby-sits you all the frigging time!" Kiri yelled, making both Malon and Sarie jump, "I don't have the time nor patience to deal with the likes of a lazy Hyrulian like you! I don't care how good with a bow you are, you will do your fair share of work!"

"Did you not realize that I was driving Nayru while you were dozing off and nearly fell twice?" retorted Sarie.

"Is that . . . it can't be! Kiri!" Malon interrupted, rushing over to the red haired girl. "Was Mido nice enough? Did he feed you well? What was he thinking, letting you go Din knows where for Faorae's sake!" she said very fast while hugging Kiri who was looking at her like she was insane.

"Uh, look, I don't know you but Mido was good to me and the Deku Tree . . . wait? How do you know my name and about me and Mido?" Kiri said.

"I know because I was there. Sarie, would you excuse us please?" Malon said happily, her emotions spilling out of her deep blue eyes. Sarie nodded and ran out into the field where the horses ran until night.

"I told the Deku Tree to give you to Mido, I knew I couldn't take care of such a young baby here at the ranch. I told them not to tell anyone that I was your mother. Anyway, I would've come to visit, but it got really busy a day after that. The king and queen insisted on a baby horse for their daughter, spoiled from day one. That took a while and then I had to raise it myself because none of the horses here could nurse her themselves." Malon explained slowly.

"So who's my father? The Deku told me I was Hyrulian and that my mother entrusted me to him, but nothing else, except I was to go on a dangerous quest."

"I don't know for sure, but the only possible conclusion would be that it was Link. I miss him. I used to call him 'my fairy boy' when I was younger, back when I was your age. He woke up my father, and later took Epona to go save the world. Not that most people remember that though. They went back in time after ridding the world of almost all evil. Although I fear that Link still has the master sword, and shoved a Deku stick in its place. He said he might, in the Kokiri forest." Malon explained further, tears welled up in her eyes and Kiri wiped them with her cap that Sare flew off her head with when she woke.

"Mom, how could Link be my father when he's Sarie's?" Kiri demanded, although her voice was as gentle as a fresh rose petal on one's skin.

"Simple, he left the night after and found Zelda and . . . and . . . " Malon began to weep silently.

"Sush, mother. I'll make sure I do my best. I'll come back with Mido and we can throw a big party, just the three of us and the Deku Tree. I promise, just don't be sad." Kiri mumbled, not at all sure of what she was saying but that it quieted her mother enough so she could talk again.

Sarie pressed her ear against the door again, hoping to hear more about Malon's theory. She heard nothing but Kiri's soft words. So Malon and Link are Kiri's parents, and mine are Link and Zelda so that means . . . we're sisters! Not only that, but I'll bet we're twins too! Sarie thought happily. Better not mention it now though, Kiri was already angry with her and she didn't want to push her luck.

When Kiri and Malon came out, it was near dark and Sarie was grateful for something else to do. Sarie had been chasing cucco's into their pen.

"It's about time you came out!" Sarie scoffed. She didn't like that they kept her from something she ought to know also.

"Sush, we should go now. Malon has a headache but we've got to get those Spiritual Stones! And I must see Mido." Kiri said in a hushed voice, half dragging the older woman. "Here's you horse, meet me by the gate." Kiri thrust a large rope into the princess's hands and walked Malon to her room. Sarie stared after them, rather shocked that the Kokiri girl was actually rude to her. No one had ever had the guts to be that rude, ever.

YYYYYYYYYYYYY

The next morning Kiri and Sarie were well on their way to the Kokiri forest. They had ridden through the night and were exhausted. Only the thought a nice warm bed, and in Sarie's case a wash basin, kept them up and awake. The moment the forest was in sight; Kiri forgot about being asleep on her feet and urged Nayru faster. Nayru too could smell the familiar scent of the Great Deku Tree and the Kokiri.

YYYYYYYYYYYYY

Malon raced to the lake, weighed down with a large bag that held everything she needed. On the beach she opened her bag and pulled out the blue water tunic she took from Link eight years before. Malon yanked it on over her clothes and, with some difficulty, pulled out the iron boots she had nicked from Link at the same time. She knew Link wouldn't need them, despite his role as' Hero of Time' he wouldn't leave Hyrule ever again, or go on any other missions. Shoving her feet into the boots Malon stood up and pulled the bag over her shoulder once more and looked back at the dry land she would want as soon as she went into the Water Temple. Malon still had one key, for the door Link told her to never open. She wanted to see what was inside, what was so dangerous. She ran into the lake and dived for the bottom. It took a few seconds before she could walk into the temple. At the bottom of the lake she ran forward, barely dodging one of those iron spike-balls that dwelled in the depths of the lake. Once inside, Malon replaced the iron boots with her own ranching boots and floated to the top of the water. She took a deep breathe and climbed onto the ledge that was in front of her. She turned around and pulled out a larger version of the hookshot she had made herself and shot it across to the eye. It hit its target and the eye opened slowly, with it the gate that blocked her path. Again she shot, only this time she aimed for the small black and white target. Malon released the small button and was flung to the other side, the gate crashing down behind her. Giddy with relief, Malon shot the hookshot at another target and was yanked up there. A few minutes later Malon found herself in front of the door Link told her to never open. Feeling rebellious she opened her pack and pulled out a small, gleaming silver key. Smiling evilly, Malon shoved the key into the hole and turned it. Peering inside she found that the floor was seven inches high and on the opposite side was a small island; a larger one was in the center.

After taking a few steps inside, the door swung shut. Out of nowhere a very angry looking Link appeared on the center island. Growling he said, "What is a simple ranch girl like yourself doing in my domain?"

"Doing exactly what I was told not to do, what are you doing here Link? I thought you were at the castle with your precious Zelda. And you were the one who told me not to open that door!" Malon retorted walking slowly over to the island. She noticed that the man's skin was a pale gray and his eyes black with red pupils. Realizeing her mistake at once she gasped, then smirked waiting for his reply.

"Link? Link? You honestly think that I could possibly be that retched hero? You are terribly mistaken, girl. And if you mention that . . . that idiots name again by the goddesses I will see that you die a horribly gruesome death." Dark Link replied, wondering what the ranch girl was thinking, coming into his domain.

"Nice to know someone in Hyrule agrees with me." Malon grunted and continued walking toward the stranger, "What's your name?" she asked kindly.

Dark Link bit his tounge and answered truthfully, "Dark Link." He said the name with utmost hatred and despise.

"That explains why you look so much like Hyrule's Hero. I'm Malon." She replied and finally sat down near Dark Link's feet. "Sit," she said, "How did you appear from nowhere like that?"

Dark Link sat angrily, "None of your business, it would just confuse you puny mind," he growled. To Dark Link's surprise, Malon laughed.

"Puny mind, haven't heard that one since Link and his precious Zelda killed off Gannondorf." Malon continued to giggle.

"Say either of those names around me again and I swear you will regret your being alive and beg me to kill you!" Dark Link replied.

"You know? That actually sounds pretty good right now." Malon sighed, "I've lost my daughter to that fool, he can't even go and do something he's already done before! Not only that but I'll bet the princess heard me talking to my daughter." Malon sighed again and curled up her legs and rested her head on them.

Dark Link smirked, "Who is your daughter? And who is this princess? Last time I heard anything Zelda was princess."

"The princess is Zelda and his daughter, Sarie. My daughter is Kiri, unfortunately she too is his daughter." Malon replied quietly, her eyes filling with tears. She leaned on Dark Link's shoulder and he, not knowing what to do, awkwardly patted her shoulder.

"Guh, you never should've gotten mixed up with the likes of him. That bastard cares about no one but himself." Dark Link replied. He was ranting again; talking out his anger to a total stranger he had seen once in Link's memories.

"I know, I know . . ." Malon whispered softly into Dark Link's shoulder.

A.N.- Yay, another chapter down! I added the Dark Link thing to make up for the original shortness of the chapter, although it was going to be the beginning of the next chapter. Review please! So far I've got only one person reviewing. I feel so sad.