Legend of Zelda
The Red Thief
Chapter 1
Zelda laughed with Malon in the Lon Lon Ranch, a bunch of chickens had accidentally made their way into the horse ranch and were squawking loudly as hooves trampled the ground around them, feathers flying from the chickens.
Finally Ingo ran out of the stables and picked the chickens up and out of the ranch. But their fun hadn't ended just yet, just as Ingo was putting the chickens back in their area, he yelped as one of the chickens bit down on his arm.
"Serves him right, taking my fathers' ranch." Malon smiled.
The sun was setting on the horizon and Zelda let out a sigh. "Its getting late now, I have to go soon." She said. Malon sighed as well. They watched Ingo bring all the horses in until the very last colt entered the stables. Zelda was about to get up when they heard the sound of hoof beats drawing near.
They turned to the entrance gate to see a rider talking to Malons' father. They could hear her father laughing as the rider handed him a few rupees. The two couldn't see the face of the rider for he stood in the shadow of the house the whole time, and his voice was so low that it was bearly audible. One thing was for sure, the rider was a boy.
The rider then shook Malons' fathers' hand and walked with him to the ranch. As they drew closer, the two girls could hear the rider.
"I'm sorry, I can come back later. I just want to test out Eponas' speed. There's no need for you to stay up and watch. You must have a lot to do during the day." Said the rider. "Oh very well then. Let me just fetch my daughter and her friend and I'll get out of your hair." Malons' father chuckled. "Thank you." The rider added.
The two girls rose and walked out of the ranch, meeting up with Malons' father and the rider just as they came to the gate.
"Oh, Zelda, I have called for a guard to come and fetch you. Come now, let's be off." He said to Zelda, motioning her to lead. Zelda looked up at the rider on his horse, in the shadow of his long red hat; she could see two deep blue eyes. The moon appeared from behind a could to reveal the rider.
He wore a red tunic with a red mirrored shield on his back that held a long bladed sword. He looked like a knight from the Gerudo's fortress, but everyone knew that the Gerudos' were all females and they didn't have knights. The rider looked down at Zelda; his eyes seemed distant and cold. Almost as if he had never smiled a day in his life.
Malons' father led her out, making the rider turn away. He nudged his horse and it walked into the ranch, Zelda watched as she left the rider and his horse jumping over the fences with ease inside the ranch.
The next morning, Zelda rode into Lon Lon Ranch on her white horse. As usual Malon was waiting for her in the field. Once Zelda dismounted she sat by her friend, ready to ask questions. Malon knew this was coming and waited for the princess to start.
"Who was that guy and what was he doing here so late?" She asked. "His name is Link, he's Nabooru's son. He usually comes here at night but not that late, not like last night. Usually around nine or ten. Wonder why he was late. Anyway, he comes here to train his mare, Epona, since he's always on the road he needs to keep her active. Or so he says." Malon finished.
"Nabooru's son? Then that would make him-" Zelda began. "-The prince of Gerudo's" Malon added. "Wow, you should invite him to come riding with us." Zelda said, smiling. "Are you interested in him already?" Laughed Malon, seeing her friends' face go red. "Well I can't really do that. You see, he lives in Gerudo's fortress. Do you know how hard it is for anyone to get in there? Plus, he only seems to come out during the night." Malon added, continuing. "He isn't royal like you. He's not, er, proper I guess." She finished.
"What? What do you mean he isn't proper?" Zelda asked. "He's a thief." Malon blurted out. Zelda laughed. "Now now Malon, stop playing games." She giggled. "Uh right, well he comes again tonight; maybe I can ask him if he wants to hang out tomorrow. He might be busy." Malon struggled. 'How the hell am I gonna do this!' she yelled at herself. "Okay, I'll meet you here tomorrow night."
Malon paced back and forth at the gate, waiting for the rider named Link and trying to think up a way to ask him to join her and Zelda tomorrow night. And soon enough, he rode into the ranch upon his mare.
As he slowed, she skipped up to him and smiled. "Hi." She greeted. Link looked down at her bewildered. "Hey." He mumbled, rummaging around in his pocket. "Ah, here we are. Can you give this to your father? Its payment." He handed her two blue rupees. "Yeah, but I have to ask you something first." Malon replied. Link raised his eyebrows. "Ask away." He answered.
"Do you remember my friend from the other day?" she asked. Link nodded. "The blond one that kept staring at me?" He smiled. "Uh yes. Well I was wondering, well we both were wondering if you would like to hang out tomorrow night?" Malon asked. Link seemed to think about it for a few seconds before nodding. "I guess so. But not during the night. I'm busy." He added more to himself then to her. "So then you'll come during the day?" Malon couldn't help but let a disbelieving note fall from her tongue.
Link laughed. "Yes, it's not as if I only exist during the night." Malon flushed with embarrassment. "So what do you do during the day anyway?" She asked. Link started to walk Epona towards the ranch, making sure to go slow enough so that Malon could follow easily. "I'm usually asleep. In Gerudo's fortress daytime is much warmer then anywhere else. And I cant just go around in the middle of the day practicing my skills." Link grinned. "I'd loose my image." He added. Malon shook her head with a sigh.
"So I'll be here at sunrise." He said, trotting Epona to the field. Malon smiled. "Yeah!" She called, turning into the house. Link smiled to himself, patting Epona's neck. "So the princess wants to meet a thief like me? Hm. I wonder how she'll react when she finds out. Should be funny eh Epona?" He asked the mare. Epona snorted. "Yeah, maybe I shouldn't say anything. But Malon might. Oh well, I just hope that she doesn't send the guards on me. I'm not in the mood to be playing with those idiots." Link laughed.
The River Dragon: Hello everyone, this is my first fanfiction ever! I posted things up on Fictionpress before but i find that the stress of my readers approval of a fanfiction is much more intense lol. Anyway, as the i said before, this story is a tamer version of OoT, Gannon doesnt exist and Link -our favourite character- is a trained thief. I thought this would be a wicked twist from the 'Link the hero' to 'The Link who is both good and bad'. I hope you enjoy this, i will probably put up the next chapter within a week, depending on my reviews!