Hello readers, Chapter 133 is here! This week Link and his friends enjoy a fine country feast, and Talon has a nice surprise for them, but Malon has a surprise to show herself!

"Woooaaah, can we really have all of this?" Aviel asked with wide eyes.

Everyone was sitting at an outdoor picnic table that evening, which was covered with all kinds of tantalizing foods; from roast cucco, mashed potatoes with garlic, buttered corn on the cob, some thin pork sausages in bread buns and smothered in sauce, racks of marinated beef ribs, and even apple pie.

"That's right! We work hard 'round here, so we eat good n' hearty!" Talon laughed, "Dive in everyone!"

"With pleasure!" Link said with a cucco wing already halfway eaten in his mouth.

The girls all took Link's lead and started eating. Their eyes widened with delight at the taste.

"This is sooooo good!" Kesuta said with sparkling eyes.

"I'll say, my compliments to the chef!" Nabooru said, "Who do we owe the pleasure?"

"We got a pretty good team of chefs, but Malon here did quite a bit of this herself." Talon grinned proudly, "Takes right after her mom!"

"Jees Dad, don't embarrass me." Malon said with a blush, "I just picked up on a few things here and there..."

"Sis was such a great cook, wish I coulda picked up on some things mahself!" Togau laughed, "Now I just burn everything!"

Sarami glanced over at Ingo who was piling up a portion of food, then going off to the silo on the other end of the ranch.

"Is Mr. Ingo going to eat alone?" Sarami asked.

"He always does," Talon nodded, "He doesn't like hanging around with the rest of us after the day's work is done. He always goes off by himself for the night."

"I use to try to coax Mr. Ingo into eating with us, but he was never interested, so we leave him be." Malon spoke, she was just finishing up eating from a surprisingly large plate of food, "Hmph, I wish he'd at least be a little more grateful that we even put up with that attitude of his!"

"..." Sarami didn't say anything else in reply, but stared at Malon in thought.

"I'm certainly grateful, this food is delicious Malon! I bet all the guys are lookin' ta go out with ya!" Togau said merrily as she ate a big mouthful of potatoes.

"Uh, yeah... sure." Malon spoke awkwardly, she paused for a second, before grabbing another large helping of food for herself.

"Buuuuurp!" Reirousa belched out as she laid back with a full stomach, "Damn, that was great stuff!"

"Yeah, the farm work really builds up your appetite! I never thought I'd see even Nemisa pig out like that!" Aviel snickered, looking over at her bodyguard partner.

"Oof..." Nemisa groaned with dizzy eyes and a taut stomach.

"Now that dinner's done, we got a special treat as a welcome to the ranch! A little taste of our most popular product!" Talon said proudly as he placed down a large keg. He pulled the tap which started pouring the contents into mugs, and slid them down the table to everyone at the bench.

"It's... just milk?" Korume asked, "Wait, I sense something unusual about it..."

"Yeah, I kinda feel it too..." Faete spoke.

"Wait Talon, would this happen to be...?" Link trailed off.

"That's right, it's a big mug of Chateau Lon-Lon!" Talon nodded, "We started making and selling it out in Hyrule Town, and it's become a huge sensation over there!"

"Chateau Lon-Lon... and you know about this Link?" Nabooru asked.

"Yeah, I gave Talon the idea to make this when I came back to drop Epona off after my seven-year journey." Link said, "It's based off a milk-based mix drink I had while I was out in Termina. It's considered a real delicacy out there, so I had to bring it here to Hyrule!"

"How fascinating." Nabooru said with a grin, "Now I think I know where you get your tastes from..."

"Well, bottoms up then!" said Togau, lifting up her mug, as they all drank down the milk.

"Whooo! This is delicious!" Aviel said brightly, "I can feel my energy coming back to me already!"

"Talon, this is impressive! It tastes even better than I remember from Termina!" Link said in astonishment. He recalled the bartender of the Milk Bar in that distant land, and the resemblance he had to a certain someone who was currently at the table...

"Took a bit of trial and error, but we got the perfect mixture based on the recipe you told us before!" Talon chuckled, "Glad you like it!"

"Here, you have some too Imra!" Togau said, pouring a saucer of milk for her. The cucco stared down at it for a moment, before drinking it.

"You gotta give us the recipe Talon-bro!" Togau said.

"Haw haw! Sorry Togau, but I can't go giving away our secret recipe all that easy!" laughed Talon, "It's been a secret for three whole years and-"

"One cup of milk, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, carbonated soda water, some honey, a dash of both cinnamon and nutmeg... and if I'm not mistaken, two shots of whiskey." Nabooru spoke, rolling the drink on her tongue.

Talon stood still with a pale face and a blank expression, even Malon seemed shocked.

"Am I mistaken?" Nabooru asked with a knowing smirk.

"That's our Great Lady of The Drunkards for you." Nemisa shrugged.

"H-How on Din's earth did you...?" Talon stammered, he rushed over and covered Nabooru's mouth, "Y-Ya can't go telllin' anyone somethin' like that, y'hear?! We'll be out a load of rupees if people know the recipe!"

"Weeeell... if you're willing to make a deal I might be willing to keep my lips shut..." Nabooru put a finger to her lips.

"Oooh, maybe Lady Nabooru can get us out of all the farm work?" Kesuta asked hopefully.

"...if you can give me a bit of a discount on buying that mighty steed Thunder from you!" Nabooru said cheerfully, causing Kesuta to fault backwards.

"Gosh, I wouldn't mind one bit!" Talon admitted, "Knowing Thunder would have a good strong keeper like you would be nice in fact! Just make sure you don't tell no one about the recipe!"

"Mmm... it's sooo good. I feel so uplifted from it!" Saria said licking her lips, a strange sensation arising within her, but she was too engrossed in the taste to notice, "Don't worry, we promise we won't tell anyone Mr. Lon... as long as you give us another helping!"

"Heh, of course little lady!" Talon said with relief as he started refilling their mugs.

"Whoo!" Malon gasped out after taking a drink of her mug, "Now that's the stuff!"

"Never had you pegged as a drinker Malon." Link grinned.

"You kidding? It's been a while since I've been allowed to enjoy some liquor!" Malon said cheerfully, "I'm gonna make up for a lot of lost time!"

"Why haven't you been able to drink?" Korume asked.

"Ah!" Malon realized what she blurted out and looked away, "I-I got my reasons..."

Link clanked his mug against Malon's, "Well whatever the reason, you do a lot for this ranch, so you should enjoy yourself!"

"...th-thanks." Maon said with a light smile, but remembered she was still annoyed with him. She turned away from Link, taking a long sip of her mug.

"Ooooh, can you pour me anadder shot Talon-broooo?" Togau asked, holding up her mug to her brother-in-law.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" Nemisa asked.

"I'mma just fine lover-boy!" Togua laughed out, hanging off of Nemisa as she gave her a kiss.

"I'm not Link!" Nemisa shouted with an angry blush, pushing her into Link.

"You sure you put the usual amount of whiskey into the milk Dad?" Malon asked.

"It's fine, Togau's just a light drinker." Nemisa rolled her eyes, she then felt Aviel leaning against her with dopey grin on her face.

"Heeeeee... this... this is pretty good meeee-elk!" giggled Aviel, "You want a sipsky Neemy-miza?"

"Aaand now Aviel is drunk too." Nemisa sighed.

"Ha ha ha! I'm not dwunk, you're too silly Nemmy! You're silly!" laughed Aviel, slapping her back, "I'm just havin a little sip, a little sippy of milky! Hee hee hee!"

Aviel's eyes started to spiral, she went swaying around before she fell over backwards to the ground with her legs sticking up in the air.

"Whoops, watch that step there Aviel!" Saria said with a drunken giggle.

"Let em enjoy themselves Nemisa." Link grinned, "They worked real hard today."

"Guess you're right." shrugged Nemisa, "There's no real harm in it I suppose..."

"Woooooo! Who wants ta go fer a horsey ride? Na ha ha!" Togau shouted, waving her mug around.

"Togau, the horses are already in the stable." Malon pointed out.

"Oh okay." Togau said, after a moment she shouted out, "Then I'll be the horsey!"

"Wait Togau-!" Link exclaimed, but it was too late.

Togau brought up her arms and thrust them out, and in a flash of wind she had transformed into her Lynel form. Her wild red hair flowed around as she let out a mighty roar.

"T-TOGAU?" Malon shouted.

"WHAT IN TARNATION?" Talon exclaimed.

"Yeeee-haaaaa!" Togau shouted out, hoisting Link onto her back and galloping around the area.

"Woooah! Slow down Togau! Stop!" Link exclaimed, gripping onto her shoulders for support.

"What the heck just happened to her?" Malon shouted, "She looks like one of those scary Lynels!"

"She's fine." Nabooru assured them both, telling the two the story of how Togau was turned into a Lynel by a cursed headdress, and how she eventually gained the ability to switch forms at will.

"I can't believe it..." gasped Malon, "How did she manage to cope going through all that?"

"You'll be fascinated to know it was because of Link she was able to accept herself." chuckled Nabooru, "It's how they came to admit their love for each other, even before Togau had any hope of changing back to normal."

"Yer kiddin' me..." Malon spoke as she watched Link trying to soothe Togau to get her to stop.

"She was worried about bringing this sort of thing up to you." Nabooru said, she gave Malon a wink, "We all have some sort of secrets we keep after all, right?"

"...!" Malon saw the knowing look in Nabooru's eyes, and she tried to avert her gaze.

"If you think Togau's trick is cool, check this out!" Kesuta said in a drunken state, bringing up her index fingers and leaning over at Korume, "Fuuusiiiiooon-hooooooo!"

"Not a chance Kesuta." Korume spoke, feeling a little tipsy herself.

"Well flock you then!" Kesuta said angerly, grabbing Imra off the table and throwing her into Korume.

"..." Imra and Korume both slowly and silently scowled at the fire mystic, Imra's feathers were ruffled while Korume was engulfing herself in an icy aura.

"Uh oh." Kesuta said backing off, before being chased around the area by the two.

"Idiots..." sighed Nemisa, only to start getting kicked by Aviel wiggling her legs around, "Get those away from me!" she complained.

"Cooome on Aviel, rise n' shine!" Saria hiccuped as she grabbed Aviel's leg and tried to pull her up, only to fall down herself.

"Idiot drunks..." sighed Nemisa as Togau and Link rode by wildly.

Sometime later Link managed to get Togau under control and change back to normal, while Kesuta and Korume both ended their fight and went back to the house to get some rest.

"I still can't get over how Togau has that weird power." Malon spoke, as she stared at Togau leaning against Link in a drunken daze, "I've heard horrifying stories about the Lynel and their strength."

"Yeah, I know that too well. But she's been using that strength to protect everyone at Gerudo Town." Link smiled, patting Togau on the head.

"Guess she's been through a lot more than I figured..." Malon said.

"Well it's getting' late." Reirousa said lifting the unconscious Aviel and Saria up in her arms, "I better get these two to bed so they can sleep off the liquor."

"Thanks Rei." Link nodded, "Have a good night's sleep."

"Y-You too..." Reirousa muttered with a light blush, carrying the two girls into the house.

"She's so good with them." giggled Sarami, "I think you're going to have a fine time making her into a mother Link-honey!"

"That's going to be up to her." Link said, unable to keep himself from smiling at the thought, "She's pretty insecure about the idea right now, and I'm not going to try pushing her into it."

"Just as I expected from you." Sarami said, giving Link a kiss, "But you shouldn't keep a girl waiting for too long!"

"Dully noted." Link smiled to the doctor.

Malon looked over at Link and Sarami. She was a clearly an older woman compared to Togau and the rest, but the way Link treated her was no different than any of the others.

"Well if you girls don't mind, I have to use the washroom real quick." Link said getting up.

"Can I join ya?" Togau asked drunkenly.

"No." Link said as he walked off, making Togau sulk.

Malon waited until Link was clear out of earshot to speak to Nabooru, "Um, so tell me... does Link really treat those girls well?"

"Indeed he does, he loves them and all the people of Gerudo Town." Nabooru nodded, "His charms have even won over a number of rebel Gerudo we've been fighting."

"It's just so strange, three years ago I could have never imagined him being a playboy like he is now, let alone dating anyone." Malon frowned, "He always used to be so modest around women, but even I've been catching him gawking at my chest since yesterday."

"Well those hooters of yours aren't exactly hard to miss." chuckled Nabooru, making Malon blush red.

"I'll say!" Togau said, reaching up from behind and grabbing at Malon's chest all of a sudden, "Can I borrow some of these fer maself?"

"H-Hey, get your hands off Togau!" Malon shouted slapping at her hands, making Nabooru and Sarami laugh, "Maybe this is why he's become so bold! You girls're way too shameless!"

Nabooru chuckled, "I suppose a lot of his change was indeed my fault. I'm the one who claimed his virginity when he first came to our town, and I've been training him in the ways of charming and making love to women." she took a sip of Chateau Lon-Lon, "That said, he's surprised even me at times with how he can win women over."

"I... see." Malon spoke as Togau was hanging off of her.

"What about you, does he strike your fancy?" Nabooru smirked, "I saw the looks you gave him when he was shirtless."

"Not at all." Malon bluntly said shaking her head, "He's got a nice body, but I can't bring myself to like someone who sleeps around with women like he does, It's just wrong, and I don't really like the idea of Togau marrying into a harem. I can see Link's still a great guy with a good heart n' all, but he's changed so much..."

"But hasn't Togau here shown to have changed herself?" Nabooru pointed out, referring to her Lynel form, "Link even admitted you didn't use to have such a nice figure as you do now."

"W-Well..." Malon blushed heavily, placing a hand on top of her chest.

"A lot of people go through changes you might not expect as the years go by." Nabooru spoke, "But the important thing is what qualities they have that are the most important to you."

Malon was taken back by those words, and looked down in thought.

Sarami cleared her throat, "Listen Ms. Lon, I know this might not be my place to say, but if you want Link to understand you, you should introduce him to you-know-who."

Malon almost dropped her mug at Sarami's words, she looked over at the older woman with wide eyes.

"W-What?" Malon exclaimed. "H-How did you...?"

"I am a doctor after all, I picked up on a few things about you since I've been here." Sarami said adjusting her glasses. Nabooru nodded knowingly as well, "I recommend that you just show him."

"Show me what?" Link asked walking up to the table after having relieved himself. He noticed the shocked stare in Malon's eyes, and he was quickly catching on even without knowing exactly what they had been talking about.

"I..." Malon paused, and nodded, "Y-Yeah, maybe you're right. Come on y'all."

Malon led Link, Togau, Nabooru and Sarami into the home of her and Talon, going up the staircase, and into her private bedroom. It was a quaint little room, though it had a queen-sized mattress bed. Link also noted an old book on a table that he swore looked familiar.

But what really got the group's interest was an older woman standing over what looked like a makeshift crib in the corner of the room, and some small noises coming from inside it.

"Oh, hello Malon," the old woman said, "Are you turning in for the night?"

"Yeah, thank you Mrs. O'Leary. I know how troublesome I can be about this." Malon said.

"Nonsense, you've had guests to entertain after all. It was a pleasure to look after her." the woman known as O'Leary smiled.

"H-Huh...?" Togau exclaimed "HER?"

"So it is true..." Link spoke with wide eyes as Malon silently walked over to the crib where a small baby was laying inside.

"Yeah, this here is my daughter, Meli is her name." Malon said.

"No way, this has gotta be a joke! Like, it's gotta be a cousin of yers or somethin' right?" Togau asked.

"I picked up on it since yesterday." Sarami said adjusting her glasses, "Malon's body proportion is very similar to what I've seen and experienced with a number of pregnancies I've assisted with in the past."

Nabooru nodded, "So if you don't mind me asking, who is the father?"

"It's... kinda of difficult to say." Malon whispered.

"Wait, it ain't Link's kid is it?!" Togau asked, causing Link to fault over.

"There's no way it is!" Link exclaimed with bugged-out eyes.

"...his name was Zusso," Malon said with a sad smile, "He was a ranch hand my father hired about two years ago. He was a strong and hard worker, plus a real kind and handsome guy too... The two of us got along real good during that time; we'd go riding on the horses, sharing the chores, partying at the bonfire, it was a fun year together..."

"Then one night, the two of us were hangin' out in the stable with the horses, one thing led to another, and soon enough he laid me back on the hay and took me for my first time..."

"Woah." Togau spoke.

"A month later, I found out I was pregnant." Malon said, "Needless to say, Dad was pretty peeved at him for puttin' his seed in me. Dad insisted that Zusso get married to me as soon as possible. I thought he would panic and run away, but he accepted, and I had my wedding with a baby bump showing." she giggled a little.

"Mally, that's so great...!" Togau said with teary eyes of happiness,, she always wanted Malon to find a husband and have a family of her own. She looked around eagerly, "So where's this husband of yers anyway? I wanna congratulate him!"

There was a heavy silence as Malon hung her head down, "He's... not around any longer..."

"Not around? What happened?!" Togau asked, suddenly fearing the worst, "Don't tell me he got sick and-?!"

"No, he's not dead..." Malon spoke softly, "He left me a little more than a year ago."

Everyone's eyes widened, all aside from Nabooru, who had her eyes closed in thought.

"He... left you?" Togau spoke, "How, how can he do something like that?! I outta track this bastard down and drag his sorry rear back here pronto!"

"Well, there's a reason he left. Take a look for yourself." Malon spoke, she lifted up her child, and turned to show her to everyone,

"By the goddess Aifet...!" Sarami exclaimed, "Your kid is a..."

It was a cute baby girl dressed in pink fuzzy pajamas with little cows printed on it. But what really caught their attention was that Meli had deep tanned skin and short red hair. Her ears were round rather than pointy, and she had bright golden eyes.

"Your daughter's a full-blood Gerudo?!" Link gasped out.

"Yes, I think I get it now." Nabooru nodded, "Your husband left you because he realized you were a half-Gerudo, didn't he?"

"But why would he do that?" Togau exclaimed.

"It's the law, remember?" Nabooru said, "The Gerudo Banishment Law included a clause that prohibits Hyrule citizens and Gerudo from having children together."

"Aw yeah, that dang law. Almost forgot..." Togau groaned, "Ugh, think I had a little too much to drink tonight."

Nabooru continued, "Malon was already supposed to have been deported to Gerudo Valley after the law passed, but she avoided it because Togau took her place all that time ago."

"...yeah, it's true. I never told him that I was a half-Gerudo. I thought since I looked enough like a regular Hylian that my child would be the same." Malon said.

"It's understandable you'd think that way." Sarami nodded, "If a Gerudo conceives a child with a Hylian, the child can either be a half-blood or full-blood. There's no guaranteed way of getting either one, as it's randomly based on genetics. If your husband didn't know about your heritage as a Gerudo, it must have been a great shock to see his child born like that."

"And if it was found out that he had an illegal child with a Gerudo woman, knowing or not, he could easily have been persecuted by the Parliament for breaking the law." Nabooru said, "As loathsome as it was to abandon his wife and child, I can understand why he'd leave."

"He promised he'd never tell anyone about Meli, but it still hurts a lot... Even worse, he didn't just betray me, I betrayed him by not telling him the truth about myself." Malon said, "It made me realize how important it is to be upfront and honest about things..."

"..." Link stared at Malon and her daughter Meli silently.

"You poor dear..." Sarami spoke, "Who else knows about her?"

"Just Dad and Mrs. O'Leary. I've been keeping her secret from most of the ranchers, especially Mr. Ingo, I don't want to think of what would happen if he of all people saw her." Malon gave a heavy sigh, "It hurts to have to be so secretive of her..."

She held Meli to her face, "And if the Parliament finds out about my daughter, what will they do to us...? What will they do to Dad and the ranch...?"

"It seems you have a heavy burden, in more ways than one." Nabooru spoke, "But you realize you can't keep her secret like this forever, right?"

"Course I do..." Malon said, "I love her so much, but I don't know what to do..."

Togau herself was in shock by all she came to learn. She thought about what she said to Link back when they had first met, that she knew Malon was going to have no problem meeting a nice guy and starting a family with him...

The Gerudo rancher also remembered her original plan to meet a man during the caravan trip to have a child with. Even if she had been a single mother, she thought it would was all she could have...

...but now she stood alongside her husband-to-be and planning to have a family together in the future, while she saw Malon now abandoned by her husband and all alone with a child...

"Mally..." Togau whispered.

Late that night, everyone had settled down and gone to bed for the night.

In Saria and Sarami's room, the Kokiri was laying back on her bed sleeping off the Chateau Lon-Lon she had drank.

She was having a dream of her and Link together, the two holding hands as they looked out at a number of young children running around together at a playground. They all had pointy ears as well as either blonde or green hair, and all of then had bright blue eyes.

"Ooh, it's moving Link!" Saria spoke up.

"Let me feel it." Link said, placing his hand on her large, round stomach, and he could feel the active movement inside of her.

"What do you think it's going to be, a boy or a girl?" Link asked.

"I'm putting fifty rupees on girl!" Saria said, happily patting the sides of her swollen stomach.

"Sounds great, hope she grows up to be as beautiful as you." Link spoke, cupping her chin and giving her a passionate kiss on the lips.

"Ewww, Mom and Dad are kissing again!" shouted one of the children, making the others laugh.

"Hey you!" Link said in mock anger, running at the kids who squealed out in equally mock terror as he chased them around.

Saria being a bit too weighed at that moment to play with her children and her man-child of a husband, just sat back and giggled as she patted her belly, enjoying the movement within...

Back in reality, Saria was laying on her bed asleep with a deep smile on her face. She was patting at her flat stomach like in the dream, unaware there was a strange glowing sensation coming from within her.

Faete was sleeping on the nightstand beside the bed. The light coming from Saria's body shined bright enough that it caused her to stir and look at the Kokiri, only to see her still sound asleep in bed and covered in her bed sheet. The fairy put it out of her mind and drifted back to sleep.

If she had remained awake for a moment longer though, she might have noticed Saria turn to her side as her green hair grew out longer from behind her...

In the living room, the Gerudo were all laid back under their sheets sleeping soundly. Reirousa was once again sleeping in the center of the room. This time the girls put a large glass bottle down over her head to block out her snoring, though she didn't even seem to notice.

Togau was laying back on the sheets with her arms folded, staring up at the ceiling as she thought about Malon's situation. She gave a deep sigh as she pulled her straw hat over her eyes and went to sleep.

"Braaaawk bawk-bawk-bawk... braaaawk bawk-bawk-bawk..."

Sleeping by Togau's side was Imra. She wasn't particularly too fond of Link hogging up her master again that night and slept beside her. She rustled her feathers a little in her sleep.

Imra was dreaming of herself as a giant cucco, hopping around a war-torn battlefield and pecking at thousands of monsters that threatened Gerudo Town. She flapped her wings with such might that it blew a large crowd of them into the sky, and her mighty talons scratched across the ground with such force that they created deep chasms, the monsters falling down them to their doom.

Finally she confronted her arch nemesis; the evil King Link, who cackled evilly as he was eating the meat off a barbecued cucco wing, tossing the bone away without even a hint of remorse for the one he had eaten.

Imra let out a mighty cluck and charged right at Link, who laughed out maniacally and dashed at her with his sword.

Then in one mighty blow... Imra grabbed Link in her beak and goggled him up whole.

The giant cucco let out a small burp in satisfaction as many cuccos from across the land gathered to rejoice in the death of the evil king Link by the power of their great savior. There was great tidings of cucco feed for all, and Imra ate her own lion's share of the feast.

Back in reality, Imra licked the curve of her beak as she was having her pleasurable dream, unaware of a strange glow similar to Saria coming from within her...

"Let's go Epona, we can win this!"

"Neeeiggh!"

"Don't let them catch up Thunder, leave em in the dust!"

"Nyaeeeh!"

Link and Nabooru were out in the fields of Lon Lon Ranch that night, riding on their horses Epona and Thunder respectively. They were darting through the corral, leaping over any barricade or fence they encountered, and making mighty splashes as they dashed over water puddles.

Nabooru had the lead in their little race, prompting Thunder to leap over a barrier, while Link and Epona took the wide path to avoid being stuck behind them.

"What's the matter Link? Getting tired?" Nabooru smirked.

"We're just getting started!" Link grinned, "Go for it Epona!"

Epona neighed out and charged forward to race alongside Thunder. The black male horse snorted at her and bit down on her tail, giving it a yank. Epona neighed out in pain, allowing Thunder to dart ahead of the two.

"Hey, that's cheating!" Link protested, Epona looking just as peeved.

"Sorry, I can't take into account things my steed does!" Nabooru shrugged with a knowing smirk.

Epona fumed at the two, before she neighed out and charged forward. She pulled her reins from Link's hands, before swinging her head to the side, causing the reins to whip Thunder in the butt. The horse shouted out from it and stumbled a bit.

"Hey!" Nabooru exclaimed.

"Sorry, can't take into account what Epona does!" Link grinned, "Alright, now we can- uh oh!"

But Thunder suddenly tripped and fell over with Nabooru, Epona couldn't stop at her speed and tripped over the black-haired horse, sending her and Link falling over and tumbling into a pile. When the dust cleared, all four of them were laying on the ground in a daze.

"Ugh, smooth one Epona..." Nabooru groaned as Link was laying on top of her.

Thunder snorted as he laid face-first in a mud puddle. He got himself and glared at Epona, who was just sporting a wide toothy grin. Link and Nabooru both looked to each other before breaking out into laughter.

"That was pretty fun." Nabooru grinned, "Even if our horses are both cheaters."

"Yeah..." Link chuckled. He then dwelled on the word 'cheater' and found himself thinking.

"That whole thing with Malon bothering you?" Nabooru asked.

"I just can't help but feel bad for her." Link stared up at the ranch house, "I can understand now why she's so bothered about me having so many wives, not to mention Togau being involved in it..."

"Indeed. To her it would probably feel like an insult after what she went through." Nabooru nodded.

"But I just wonder... if that's really all it is...?" Link pondered.

"Hey, what do you two think yer doin'?!" shouted a voice, as the two looked up to see one of the ranch workers looking down angerly at them.

"Oh hey there! Didn't know you were up!" Nabooru said with an innocent smile.

"Don't give me that, we're on overnight guard duty, trying to keep an eye on things around here incase any cows get stolen again!" the worker said leaning forward at Nabooru, "Yer horse ridin' is getting' in the way with our job! Wait'll Mr. Lon hears about this!"

"Uh, we can explain-" Link started, but Nabooru put her arm up to stop him.

"Hmmmm..." Nabooru sniffled the air for a moment, before reaching out and taking an unopened bottle of liquor the man was holding, "You're on guard duty you say? I wasn't aware all-you-can-drink booze was part of the job!" she shook the bottle with a knowing smirk.

The rancher gulped at the realization that she could smell the alcohol on his breath, "Uh... n-never mind!" he said in a panic, running off.

"Nice save Nabooru." Link grinned, then yawned out "But I guess that does it for the night. Wanna have our rematch later and go turn in?"

Nabooru didn't respond right away, but looked over the bottle's label for a moment before yanking the cork out with her hand. She took a long smell of the liquid, and quickly downed it all in one go. She wiped her mouth and let out a satisfied breath, before she turned and gave Link a firm kiss on the lips. Link's eyes widened as he felt her tongue rolled around with his. When she pulled away, he could still taste the liquor from her mouth.

The Gerudo leader gave Link a devilish grin, "Sure, but I'm way too frisky right now to just sleep!"

"Hooboy." Link said as Nabooru threw him over her shoulder and went off to the horse stables for a fun time together...

Epona snickered at how well Link and Nabooru got along. In a way, it reminded her of the time Link had spent with his sorceress friend Lana. He had been sulking for a while after having to leave Lana to go back to their own time, so she was happy to see Link had found plenty of new mates that he bonded with so well.

"Neeeeiiigh..."

Epona turned to see Thunder glaring at her annoyingly with mud dripping off him. The female horse just snorted at him and kicked some dirt up from behind in Thunder's face. She trotted away, leaving Thunder standing blankly while covered in dust.

Shortly after Link and Nabooru left, a lone figure slowly crept over to the cattle stable. They looked around to make sure the watch guards for that night were still distracted from drinking and partying to relieve their boredom. The figure took a key from their person and unlocked the gate, quietly taking a cow out into the middle of the field.

The cow wasn't sure why it had been led out at that time of night, but it went ahead and started grazing, while the mysterious figure watched the cow carefully within the shadows.

Then it happened, a strange ball of light flew overhead, it moved around the area before coming up just above the cow. The cow was too busy grazing to notice the light, before it was suddenly lifted up from the ground by some strange force. The cow mooed out as the light seemed to levitate it high into the sky and off out of the ranch.

The figure stepped out into the moonlight, showing it to be the surly ranch worker Ingo. He stared up at the light as it carried the cow away. He gazed down at the grass the cow had been eating, and started writing some notes.

"Not gonna be long now." Ingo spoke, "If that Old Man Jalolf is right, I might finally get the chance I've been waiting for..."

And that ends this week's chapter. Next time the farm work continues, but it seems a strange new phenomenon has occurred, and some more unwanted visitors are arriving...

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