Link wakes up in his treetop loft, late as usual. Some things never change.
"What time is it?" Link wonders, getting up. "Looks like around nine o'clock." He looks around and sees his cow. "I could use some fresh milk." He opens the jar and begins to fill it. "Malon!" He remembers. "I've got to check up on her!" He leaves his house.
Now on the field Link is walking as fast as he can limp.
"Epona can't come; she's still stabled for the night." Link thinks. "Talon must've put the horses in and isn't up yet so he hasn't let them out. Malon can't operate that door so I'm going to have to walk." A shadow crosses his path. He draws his sword. "Who's there?" He demands.
"As though you don't know." A voice says from behind him. "You've known I was behind you for some time now."
"Your point, Impa?" Link asks sheathing his custom sword.
"You are wanted at the castle. Zelda wishes to see you."
"Do you know why?"
"No, but it shouldn't matter. The princess has requested your presence."
"What if I have more pressing matters?"
"I assure you that you do not. There is nothing more urgent than the summons of the princess."
"I think I may have more urgent business elsewhere."
"She will be fine a few moments without your supervision. She can fend for herself I'm sure."
"Then you know about Malon?"
"Indeed I do. Fine job on hiding it from everyone."
"Does Zelda know?"
"I haven't told her as of yet. I did not deem it relevant."
"I would like to accomplish whatever this is and be done with it as soon as possible."
"I understand but I make no promises."
They hike the rest of the way to the castle in silence.
X
On Death Mountain Darunia is pondering something. It's been on his mind since three days ago. With no word from Link he's got nothing to go on and the curiosity is eating him alive.
"I told brother to come back and tell me how this thing turned out." Darunia muses to himself. "Those ladies blew through here looking fit to skin him. I hope he's alright because if they caught him who knows? They can be downright mean if you push them…" He pauses.
"But he is the Hero of Time. His skills as a warrior are only rivaled by his resourcefulness. Brother may yet be slippery enough to avoid catastrophe." He laughs heartily. "I hope so for his sake!"
X
At the ranch Malon is waiting for Talon to come back with her lunch.
"Malon!" Talon calls. "I'm back, come and get it!"
"Thanks pa." Malon walks over to the carriage. "It's bout time you got back."
"So I was a little late, quiet down! The important thing is I'm here now."
"After you dozed on the way to and from the market I'll bet!" She says accusingly towering over Talon.
"Don't you give me no lip! You may be tall but you still my daughter and she ain't no smart mouth!"
Malon has to laugh at what he just said. He's telling her off while standing in her shadow. A funnier sight she's never seen. "Sorry pa." She replies with a straight face. "I didn't mean to mouth off."
"I don't see why that Link feller didn't do this if I'm gonna get all these complaints. I really don't feel like doin' all this…"
The enlarged young lady rolls her eyes and sighs. "Because he isn't here. Nobody did the mornin' chores either in case you haven't noticed."
"I don't see why he ain't come round yet. He's right in the middle of the market posin' for some kinda statue or somethin'. He could stop by and do the chores right quick."
"He's in the market doin' what now?" Malon asks.
"Posin' for a sculpture or somethin', I seen him just now when I went to get your lunch."
"I know he cain't hardly stand stuff like that." She makes a decision. "I'm marchin' over there an givin' that Zelda a piece of my mind!"
"Huh?"
"I'm goin' out a while. I've got somethin' to say to the princess."
"Be home before dark and be careful."
"Okay." Malon walks off.
X
In the marketplace Link is in a lot of pain. Posing for a statue for the center of the market square is not what he planned on doing with his morning, especially given the condition he's in.
"OW!" Link yelps. "I told you I hurt this leg yesterday, I shouldn't be resting all my weight on it!"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Zelda admonishes. "Statues don't talk! Hold your position."
"I can't; it hurts too much!"
"We're almost done." The sculptor informs him.
"Wha-ow!" Link falls over.
"I said hold your position!" Zelda snaps.
"You can only expect so much from him in that state." Impa mentions. "Physical limitations prohibit him from following your command."
"Done!" The sculptor declares. "At least with you anyway. I don't need you here to finish."
"Now can I go?" Link asks.
"No, Nabooru wants to see you." Zelda replies. "We're going to pay her a visit."
"I think you should let Link go. He's done what you asked of him."
"No, he's been putting us on the back burner for this red haired girl too much lately. You and I both know it."
"With good reason though, I assure you."
"What could that be?"
"Princess you should really hear him out. I'm sure-"
"Sorry we have to go. We have quite a bit of catching up to do." Zelda and Link disappear in a green flash of teleportation magic.
"He has a good excuse…" Impa says to now empty air.
X
In Hyrule Field Malon is walking along. She's headed somewhere she's never had to walk to and it gives her more time to take in the scenery.
"Sure is hot today." She thinks plodding along. "Ain't hardly no shade neither." Hyrule Castle comes into view. "For a second I thought I was lost." She walks up to the drawbridge. "Here goes!" She walks into the market.
People are screaming and fleeing at her approach. They're running into each other and other things staring at her. It's generating it's own chaos. She's been there thirty seconds and a riot has already broken out.
"Monster!" Cries a citizen.
"Demon!" Yells another townsman.
"Evil!" A third person screams.
Malon stops and looks around. "I'm lookin' for Link, have any of you seen him?"
"She's come to get the Hero of Time!"
"Who will protect us then?"
"Evil!"
"I guess I'll have to find him myself." Malon begins to take measured steps forward so as not to injure people. "Please move out of my way."
As though bent on suicide a man runs right in front of her. Malon, not wanting to step on him, moves to step somewhere else. She finds traction in a market stand, which gives way and turns slippery with fruit juice. She loses her footing and falls forward driving her hands into a building to support herself and avoid crushing those under her. These people look up and are not consoled by the fact that the titanic teenager is suspended above their heads instead of on top of them.
Malon pushes herself out of the building with some effort and additional damage to the structure. "Where the heck is he?" She wonders knocking over an additional stand with a distracted step. "This is gettin' out of hand…" Suddenly she spots something.
"That's the statue of Link!" Malon thinks. "That guy messin' with it has to know where Link is!" She picks up the artist. "Where is Link?"
The artist is too scared to reply. He shudders uncontrollably. "…"
"Where is Link?" Malon repeats.
"…Please don't hurt me." The man begs.
"Then tell me where Link is!" Malon demands giving the man a squeeze.
"The princess said something about Nabooru, catching up, then vanished! I don't know! Please spare me!"
"Okay." Malon sets him down. "Sorry."
"Malon, is it?" Comes a voice from the ground. "Perhaps I can be of assistance?"
X
At the Desert Colossus Nabooru is explaining to Link and Zelda how she has renovated the Spirit Temple. Since it's been her pet project she's proud of herself.
"Since you've been through it I've been wondering how I could use it." The Sprit sage begins. "Was it meant only as a trial for the hero?"
"I thought so." Link replies.
"Me too." Nabooru agrees. "Especially since there is only one Mirror Shield. But I got around that pretty quick, take a look at these!" She gestures at a pile of shiny plates of metal.
"What are those?"
"Replicas of your shield. For the purposes here it is perfectly fine."
"Ingenious!" Zelda remarks. "I couldn't have thought of anything better!"
"There is one problem though." Nabooru says slightly less enthused. "Even with these shields nobody has completed the trial. I don't know if I made it too hard or what. That's why I need your help."
"You want me to go through there?" Link asks in disbelief. "Again?"
"Just to see if it's doable." The gerudo lady cajoles. "If anyone can do it, you can."
"No, the Spirit Temple gives me a headache. If it is anything like before floor tile and pottery will form a coalition against me and my skull."
"Come on, I need you to do this."
"No. I am not having my head ring for days on end again." The valiant one seems adamant. "It's not happening."
"I know you don't like fighting anymore. That's why I thought this would be the perfect exercise. Plus I really need your help on this, you're the expert!"
"No, I-"
"Nonsense." Zelda butts in. "He'd love to help, isn't that right?"
Link is shaking his head. "No, I-" He repeats.
"You can do her this simple favor can't you? It should only take a minute."
"It should be a breeze for you, Hero of Time!" Nabooru agrees.
Link sighs and trudges toward the entrance. "No matter what, they never listen." He thinks to himself.
X
In Kokiri Forest Saria is just waking up.
"I wonder if Link is awake." Saria says leaving her house. She climbs the ladder and enters his dwelling. "Yeah, looks like he left early. Probably to check on Malon." She leaves his house.
"Or maybe not. He could be going to visit the sages and explain what's happened and how he feels like he did for me. He should, it would clear up a whole lot of confusion. But I guess it depends on whether they understand or not. He said they don't listen. I listened last night, why can't they?" She gives it some thought.
"It is different for them I suppose. I've known Link the longest, I understand him best. I suppose he's right, they probably don't listen. If you think about it though you can understand why. They hardly know the guy. From here all I can do is wish him luck."
X
In Hyrule Field Malon and Impa are moving pretty fast. They've got somewhere to be and somebody is serious about getting there on time.
"Where is he now?" Malon asks of the sheikah hanging from her hairpin.
"In Gerudo Valley somewhere." Impa replies. "I'm pretty sure of that, Malon."
"How do you know my name?"
"I read the note Link left you."
"So you're the one followin' him round." She doesn't even miss a step wondering or sound angry. "Why?"
"The princess asked me to. She wanted to see him."
"Don' she know he cain't stand the red carpet treatment?"
"No, though I have begun to notice."
"Why haven't you tol' her?"
"It is not my place."
"I'm givin' her a piece of my mind when we get there. Inconsiderate spoiled brat…"
"She is a princess." Impa says tiredly. "What could you expect?"
"For her to treat her subjects better!"
"How can you get any better than the way she treats Link? It is as though he is a prince!"
"But does she listen to him?"
"…no."
"He jus' wants to talk most of the time. Relax and jus'…well relax."
"You seem to know a lot about Link, are you two an item?" Impa sounds intrigued. "I've been wondering…"
"No, what made you think that?"
"Well I thought you and he maybe because of what he said." Impa relates what Link said.
"What did you think we were-oh." Malon gets Impa's drift. She laughs about it. "No, no, nothin' like that, dirty mind!"
"What exactly happened?"
"A massage. Nothing like what you're thinkin' either I know. I hurt his leg a bit that's all."
"Why are you going out on a limb like this for Link then? Risking detection and what that means? There's got to be more to it."
"He's been so kind to me and we've been friends a pretty long time. After all he's done for me lately if I can help him get across to you people I'll feel like I've paid him back. Why are you helpin' me?"
"I couldn't have you standing in the market place scaring everyone. I am doing it because is the right thing to do. I have another question."
"Go head."
"You don't want to hurt the princess do you? There isn't much I can do but…" The princess's bodyguard sounds resolute. "I'll do my duty."
"Goodness no! I plan on screamin' her stupid but that's about it. I don' want to harm anyone."
"What about the sculptor?"
"He was squirmin'; I didn't want him to fall!"
The explanation seems to meet with Impa's approval and she let's the subject drop. "There's Gerudo Valley, right across that bridge." She says suddenly.
"You think that'll hol' my weight?" Malon asks dubiously. "I'm heavier than I look."
"Only one way to find out."
Malon takes a tentative step onto the bridge. It creaks but holds strong. She walks two more steps to the center of the connection. That's when it starts to break up. Her feet go through the planks and she grabs the support ropes to avoid falling in the river. The anchor lines stretch and snap sending her and the majority of the suspension into the canyon wall.
"Ow! That hurt some." Malon pulls herself up hand over hand and grasping the edge. Upon clearing it she dusts herself off and looks around. "So this is the place where the bandits live? Never been here before."
"There should be a guard here. That is strange." Impa says. "Something isn't right…"
"This is where Link is?" Malon walks into the Gerudo Village. "Doesn't look like anybody's here." She says peering into the adobe buildings.
"The Spirit Temple is the only other place they could be."
"Which way is that?"
"Through the desert over there. I don't think we can get through though."
"Yes we are. Ain't no breeze an dust turnin' me round." Malon declares trekking through the sand.
X
In the new and improved Spirit Temple Link is having a very irritating experience. Having already been through it as a child and an adult he's tired of it.
"She didn't change the puzzles at all." Link thinks sourly. "She just made it so that every piece of floor and debris would eventually attack you. That hurts." He takes a swig of milk.
"To top it off because of all that I've fallen down to the other floor a half dozen times. I can add sprained ankles to my contusions this place was kind enough to replace. If I could just make it clear that I don't want to do this stupid crap, I didn't like it then and I don't like it now." Link gripes as he solves the last puzzle. He walks into the last room.
"She made some kind of boss?" Link says exasperated. "Will this ever end?" He looks around. "Aw crap."
Four Iron Knuckles are advancing on him. They are black, gray, silver, and gold. They have hammers instead of the normal axes.
"She went and found all the armor she could reanimate and did." Link says. "I guess they have hammers so they don't cut your limbs off. She wouldn't want to seriously maim her own people I suppose. Pounded to powder beats removed I guess…" He draws Biggoron's Nail. "Great."
X
A good while later a very bruised Link is teleported outside the Spirit Temple. He arrives on the platform facedown glowing a dim blue color. He doesn't look so hot.
"You did it!" Nabooru rejoices. "I knew somebody could! I guess these slackers will just have to raise up their skills if they want to compete with the male bandit, huh?"
"Good job." Zelda states. "You are still worthy of your title."
"How did you survive?" Nabooru asks. "I thought four Iron Knuckles would surely slay anyone?"
"Nayru's Love is a powerful spell." Zelda explains. "Its magic surrounds him even now. It would not let his bones break."
"I bet it still hurt a lot, he looks pretty rough. I think he's been through enough for one day, that temple can really take it out of you. Let him go."
The ruler of the kingdom shakes her head. "We've still got one more stop to make. Ruto asked us all to come by if you remember. She has something special planned but didn't say what."
"Oh yeah, that. I guess he can sit through that and go home. He looks really exhausted."
"Come on, let's go." Link stumbles to his feet wobbly and they all disappear in Farore's Wind.
X
Malon and Impa are plowing through the desert. Despite the warning of the shadow sage and the legend that only the ghost of the sands can lead you to the Spirit Temple she's stubbornly pushing forward.
"How much further?" Malon asks.
"Not like I can tell you. I can't see." Impa replies.
"There!" The redhead says. "I see it through the storm!"
They emerge into the area of the Desert Colossus. Many worn out Gerudo women are lying on the ground. They are too tired to make any kind of fuss over the huge Hylian. They are too busy moaning and writhing about. They've been through the Spirit Temple and found their skills lacking so they have all seen better days.
"Ask them if they've seen Link." Malon requests of her passenger. "I don' want to bother em."
Impa leaps down with ninja agility and questions a fallen thief. In practically no time she is back with an answer. "They have been here and gone." Impa states. "I know where they are now as well."
"Where?"
"Lake Hylia."
"That's a heck of a ways from here! Runnin' everywhere in the world ain't no easy thang!"
"Can you swim?" Impa asks, seemingly out of the blue.
"What?"
"Can you swim? You're going to have to take the river to the lake because the bridge is out. It will take you right to where you want to be though."
"Where in Lake Hylia? Which shore? Don't get me swimming laps around the pond!"
"I have a hunch you'll know." Impa whistles the Serenade of Water and disappears in a crackle of blue energy.
X
At Lake Hylia on the island of the Water Temple many people are gathered. It's a special occasion and has an amazing turnout. It's no wonder; this isn't the type of thing that happens every day or ever as a matter of fact. This would be the first time in the country of Hyrule that something like this has ever happened and history is in the making.
"I can't believe she's actually going through with this." Darunia whispers to Saria while keeping one eye on the water.
"Me neither, the whole thing is really weird." Saria replies.
"I never thought it would get this far." Impa agrees.
"Or that she would have the nerve to do it." Nabooru says disbelievingly.
"Is it me or does this not seem correct?" Zelda says unsteadily. "I always thought she was kidding so I never really gave it any thought."
"Me either." Saria says.
"I feel the same." Impa vocalizes.
"Same here." Darunia affirms.
"Ditto, but here we are…" Nabooru concludes.
"You'd think brother would have something to say about this." Darunia says.
"He can't be too crazy about the idea." Nabooru agrees. "Seriously."
"Have you seen him?" Impa asks. "Look at him, he's dead on his feet!" She gestures at Link tottering drunkenly.
"I don't think he's going to be saying anything…" Saria says quietly.
"Thusly we shall witness this event for the travesty that it is powerless to do anything." Zelda declares hopelessly.
"Shh!" A Zora commands. "The ceremony is about to start!"
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join this pair in holy matrimony." The Zora priest begins. "The hero Link and Princess Ruto are here to make the bond that lasts forever. As this is a particularly auspicious occasion many may have misgivings. I ask that you speak now or forever hold your peace."
"We've let this nonsense to go on for seven years." Darunia realizes. "Now brother will pay the price."
"We've had so long to set her straight." Impa contemplates. "To inform her of the right path that it is our fault."
"It is as though we encouraged it by allowing this day to come." Nabooru ponders. "Though we were just pretending that it wouldn't."
"I always thought he and I would be together someday." Zelda reflects. "Eventually but now…"
"Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong?" Saria wonders.
"Then you all consent to this union?" The priest continues. "Do you Ruto take this man to be-?"
"I do." Ruto kisses Link who tilts askew.
"And do you Link take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"Uh, da…" Link mumbles shell-shocked.
"Then I pronounce you both man and-"
"Ya'll stop all this foolishness this minute!" Malon roars emerging from the water to stand on the crowded isle. "What do you think you're doin'?" She spots Link who has decided to take a tumble off the altar. She steps into the middle of the ritual and catches him before he cracks his head on the ground. "What have they done to you?" She whispers enveloping him in her arms.
"What is that?" Darunia asks, looking like . "I missed something."
"Red haired girl." Saria and Impa say together.
"Wouldn't want to mess with her…" Nabooru comments.
"Why wasn't I informed?" Zelda demands of her guardian.
"I did not deem it worthy of your attention." Impa says guiltily. "I am sorry."
"I'm trying to get married!" Ruto yells, addressing the enormous wedding crasher. "And you have no part in it!"
"You're right." Malon acknowledges. "But then again neither do you!" Everyone gasps.
"I'm not letting you stop me from marrying my beloved!" Ruto declares.
"For cryin' out loud honey, he's a hylian! You're a fish!" This gets some snickers from the other sages.
"You dare insult me on my wedding day?" Ruto glows and a pillar of water strikes Malon. She doesn't flinch under the stream.
"Sweetie I'm already soaking wet. I don' care." The rancher informs her.
"Let him go!"
"So he can fall on the floor? He cain't even say his own name much less stand up straight! If you got to rope em in half dead you're pretty pathetic anyway if you ask me. You might as well marry a statue, least it won' leave you as soon as it wakes up. They've got a new one in the market that'd suit you darn well!"
"No, We're supposed to-" But one glance at the scornful look on Malon's face pushes her to the breaking point. Ruto bursts into tears and dives into the water. The Zoras look at Malon angrily.
"Go on before I eat the lot of you!" The gargantuan girl threatens. "Get out!" The rest of the aquatic people exit, not willing to see if she's going to back up her ultimatum. "Dang on high-falutin fish fillets…"
"She was pretty hard on Ruto." Saria says to her sage companions. "I feel sorry for her."
"Those words had to be said." Impa begins. "She needed to hear them."
"She had to get set right one way or another." Darunia agrees.
"The whole idea was pretty crazy." Nabooru affirms. "Someone had to say something."
"Sometimes people's feelings have to be hurt to get a point across." Zelda concludes. "There was no other way."
"Hey you down there!" Malon calls. "Don' think I'm lettin' you off easy!" The sages look uncomfortable. "Yeah I'm talkin' to you! It's your fault Link got into this mess in the first place! What kind of friends are you that ya'll didn't say nothin' when his life nearly got ruined?" She stares at the elemental avatars that look even more ill at ease with a hard gaze.
"You wouldn't catch me anywhere near you if you would let somethin' like that happen to me after we supposed to be friends." Malon continues. "But you're lucky Link isn't like that. He's a great person; he'll even forgive Ruto in time so he'll forgive you too I guess."
"What right do you have to judge us?" Saria asks. "I've been there for Link longer than anyone and we're good friends!"
"Then you know he go into this because of you." Malon says.
"What?"
"Because of you. Link hops out of bed an plans on doin' nothin'. You come along an suggest you play a game. He tells you he's visitin' Zelda then he does. All because he didn't want to hurt your feelings. He didn't feel like playin' a game and didn't think you would understand."
"…I do now." Saria says quietly. "He explained it to me. I know."
"He cain't be your childhood friend anymore. He's grown up." Saria nods and disappears in a green burst of energy.
"Well I guess I'll be going. I haven't done any wrong by my brother yet so-"
"You're full of it! You gave him the stupidest advice you could. Because of you he jus' bout got killed in a sword fight!" Malon snorts derisively.
"I meant well…"
"That means a lot when you're damn near dead." Darunia disappears in a flash of red.
"I'm next…" Nabooru says uneasily. "I know it…"
"You've pushed Link to his limits again and again! First you run my horse half to death then you put him through the mangle. If that ain't enough the next day you cut him to ribbons!"
"He could've done better!" Nabooru says. "It's not my fault he was holding back!"
"Yeah it was! You are his friend and friends don' hurt friends. Not to mention you're a woman and Link wouldn't hit a woman."
"I wanted to test his skills…"
"Because he's the male bandit, I get it. That's gonna be the death of him one of these days and you're gonna end up dealin' with me then." Nabooru nods nervously and exits via orange light. Malon glares at Impa next.
"What could I have possibly done to Link?" Impa asks. "We've had no contact."
"All the things you didn't say. You knew what was happenin' an kept your mouth closed."
"It is the sheikah way."
"How many of you are there left? Maybe there's somethin' wrong with thinkin' that way!" Impa dissipates to shadow.
"What do you have to say to me?" Zelda inquires. "I'm ready."
Malon looks at Zelda then shakes her head. "You are the most immature and selfish person I have ever seen in my natural born life, you should be ashamed."
"What? How dare you say that to me!"
"Is that all you think about? Me?" Malon asks. "I shouldn't be surprised, you castle-born, spoiled brat…"
"Well I never…" Zelda seethes. "Who do you think you are?"
"I'm his friend." She replies, looking down at the person in her arms. "How about you?"
"We are more than that! You couldn't understand our relationship. We have an understanding of each other so deep-" Malon shakes her head at this statement. "You cannot tell me what Link and I have!"
"Okay. Since you all are such good friends…tell me something about him."
"What?"
"You heard me. Tell me something you know about him."
"I don't have to put up with this! It isn't a pop-quiz!"
"I'm beginning to wonder if you even know Link at all…"
"Certainly!" Zelda says hastily. "We talk all the time!"
"Okay, then tell me his favorite color. That's an easy one." The princess looks unsure and on the spot. "I'm sure you know that much, right? You are real close aren't you?" The lass with the fiery mane teases.
"We are, make no mistake there!" Zelda snaps back. "And his favorite color is…yellow!" She says triumphantly.
Malon doesn't say anything. The moment is pregnant with tension. The lake is nearly still since there are no other people around and there's the tiniest bit of an echo of the princess's declaration drifting across the water. The hush is broken by laughing, seemingly out of nowhere and soon the entire pond is alive with the noise
"No, it's red." Malon says, pulling herself back together. "I bet yellow is your favorite color." She giggles again. "You've never met this man have you? You've been so busy with festivities and parades in his honor that you've never exchanged words once? Link said as much but I didn't believe him." The country bumpkin shakes her head.
"Amazin', you have never spoken to him and would've let him marry a fish yet you are good friends." The pale hylian sovereign is speechless after hearing all of this and looks positively mortified. "It was an honor meetin' you, Princess Zelda." Malon says wryly, accenting the statement with a curtsy. A yellow gleam of light denotes the princess's exit.
Malon looks down at the person she has wrapped in her arms. "Sorry I was late, it took a while catchin' up to you."
Link's eyes open and meet hers. "…Just glad you came…" He falls back asleep.
X
Link is resting held tightly against Malon in the center of the horse enclosure. The sun is setting and they are sitting together bathed in its light. It's a picturesque moment that would be captured in the minds of any who witnessed it.
"Sure is nice." Link says absently.
"Mm hm." Malon agrees. "You said it, Fairy Boy."
"You got all of them to calm down?" He asks to be sure. "The last thing I remember was something at Lake Hylia…"
"Don't worry about it. I took care of it."
"I can just kick back and rest?"
"Yep. I got somebody else doin' the chores today so take it easy."
"I could do this forever."
"It doesn't have to end." Malon squeezes him a bit more and he smiles with her arms all about him. That's when he realizes it isn't a dream.
Fin