A/N: Thanks to all those who submitted reviews! You have no clue how much I appreciate them!

Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda or its characters. I wish I did...cause than it would be sianara Princess zelda...but i don't own the games or the characters.

Chapter 4: A Fire Temple and Temper

Link rolled to the side just as more rocks came crumbling down towards him. His side hurt like heck, but he was too busy to focus on his throbbing side. Then he leaped once again to the adjacent side just as a burst of flaming fire came shooting towards him. Thankfully he had his Goron Tunic on so the intense heat didn't hurt as much as it would have. The dragon dove back into the small puddles of lava located randomly around the rocky platform. Link made a run towards the tiny puddle that was now bubbling with red flames. He pulled his Megaton Hammer out, ready for the head of the dragon to pop out. Than as suddenly as the bubbling had started, it stopped.

Oh no...

Link turned around to meet the dragon's tail. The force of the impact sent him flying roughly across the platform, and then over it. He grabbed hold of a small boulder, one of many that made the platform, and held on for his life. Not far below him was a large pit of boiling lava. He tried several times to pull himself up, but his side was now bleeding profusely, and so Link was busy trying to stop the gushing blood.

"All you have to do...is slay a...dragon, Link! It will...be easy, Link! The Hero of Time should...have no problem...with it!" Link mumbled to himself, repeating the words that Darunia's son had spoken to him, before he had departed." Yeah! Well, you never had to deal with a throbbing side and a two ton dragon!" He said to no one in particular.

The dragon made a sharp turn before preparing to serve Link some more fire. Link knew it was now or never. With the little strength he had left, he climbed onto the platform and charged right under the dragon and stabbed his sword, the master sword, right into the stomach of the firery monstrocity that Ganondorf had resurected. The dragon let out a blood curling howl before it spontaneously combusted. All that remained of the beast were a few scorched bones.

Link breathed a sigh of relief. "Navi, remind me to thank Ganondorf for this little party." Navi chuckled slightly.

Link limped over to the small heart container. After collecting it, he felt instant relief wash over him. The pain subsided as he walked into the blue aura of light.

-----

"Dumb horse!" Malon could hear the shouting from inside the barn. She quickly ran outside and found Ingo holding his whip above his head, threatening the horse who had stubbornly disobeyed him.

"Ingo, no!" Malon cried from where she was standing." Leave Epona alone! You promised you would be nice to the horses as long as I did as you asked. I haven't disobeyed you once!"

Ingo gave her an icy glare that sent a shiver through Malon. Ingo was now a powerful man. He could do a lot of damage to not only the horses, but to her as well. Malon couldn't let him hurt the horses, especially her favorite. Almost everything had been taken away from her, once Ingo had cheated her father out of the ranch...Malon had nothing but her dignity and the horses left. Her father had been kicked out and she was forced to work there. Ingo held knew how much she loved and cared for the horse...he exploited that weakness.

"This stupid horse nearly killed me just now!" His voice lowered and he wore a sinister smile on his face." I promised not to harm the horses...I didn't say anything about selling them."

Malon was stupified. She hadn't even considered that possibility. Sell the horses? How could he be this cruel? "You wouldn't."

"You are right. I wouldn't sell them," Malon relaxed slightly but kept her guard up," I would hire more workers who would handle any of my horse problems. You said that I couldn't harm the horses. So if someone else was, technically I wouldn't be the one doing it, so technically I wouldn't be the one to blame."

"You snake!" Malon spat at him." You double-crossing, lying, cheating, swindler of a man!"

"Now, now, now. Let's not resort to name-calling." Ingo brought the whip up and then crueling brought it back down onto Epona's backside. The horse neighed in pain. Ingo raised his arm again, preparing to beat the horse again.

Malon couldn't stand seeing Epona wincing in pain. Malon charged Ingo and sent him flying against the corral gate. Ingo was furious, angrier than Malon had ever seen him. He stood up and walked over to Malon.

Malon started to utter an apology. "I am truly sorry...I didn't mean to...it's just..."

"Save it, you witch!" Ingo brought his whip up once again, this time slamming it against Malon with so much force that it sent her to the ground with a sickening thud.

Malon cried out in pain. She gently touched the spot where the whip had caught her. She floowed the trail of blood leading from her cheek down the side of her neck. The pain was almost unbearable, but instead of crying or beating Ingo to a pulp. Which I would much rather do at this point. She smiled. This angered Ingo even more. He slapped her with the back of his hand, sending her back onto the ground. Still, she continued to smile. She knew this was far more effective than shouting names or anything else. She would not give Ingo the satisfaction of seeing her in pain and reduced to nothing.

"What in Din's name is wrong with you! Get out of my sight, you wrech!" Ingo yelled.

Malon's smile did not falter, nor did she show any signs of giving up. Her smile sent a unsettling feeling into Ingo. She could tell by the way he looked at her, and the way he took an almost unoticable step backwards. "Will you leave the horses alone?"

"You are in no position to order me to do anything!" Malon noticed a large vain protruding from Ingo's forhead. It looked like it was ready to burst. "I could kill you where you stand."

Although Ingo's voice was low and menacing, Malon held her ground. "I know."

Ingo's didn't hide his shock. "Than why aren't you afraid!"

"You need me to run this ranch with you. Without me...you can't do it. The horses won't listen to you."

"FINE! I will leave the damn horses alone!" He regained his posture. "But you will have to do double the work."

Malon simply nodded before heading back to her room to clean the large, winding wound on her cheek and neck.

-----

Link sat in the tall grass, just outside Lonlon Ranch. How he desperately wanted to go see Malon again. But everytime he finally was able to muster up the courage to go talk to her...something came up. Why am I so afraid to go talk to my childhood friend? She was my best friend, no doubt she would be happy to see me. But then again, what if she has forgotten me? What if she has moved on? The same questions constantly rotated around inside Link's mind.

"Are you going to sit here all day? It isn't hard...you either go in or we continue to the next temple. In case you hadn't noticed...YOU are the Hero of Time, and we do have things to do," Navi's annoying voice broke into his thoughts.

Link looked at the small fairy who wouldn't seem to shut up. "One of these days...when you least expect it. I'm gonna squash you."

Navi backed away from Link.

"I was kidding, Navi!" Link laughed. "You need to lighten up."

Navi remained quiet.

"Fine, I'm sorry, okay? Sheesh...I guess some fairies just can't take a joke." Navi still remained quiet. "I said I was sorry! Let it go!"

"Sssh, Link! Look..."

"Ganondorf." The King of Thieves was just leaving Lonlon Ranch. Link lowered himself into the grass, unsheathing his sword.

"What do you think you are going to do? You aren't strong enough to fight him yet, Link. It would be suicide!" Navi said vehemently.

"I'm going to go over there. Malon could be in trouble...or worse." Link got up.

"Oh no, Mr. Hero! You aren't going to be any good to anyone if you're dead. Wait until Ganondorf leaves." The evil king rode off shortly after. "Now, you can go. And you say I'm impatient."

-----

Malon sat on her bed, brushing her long red hair. She had just finished her evening bath and was preparing supper, when she heard a familiar tune outside. Her mother's song! No one knew that song, but her! And Link. She found herself thinking about him a lot nowadays. She didn't like that she thought about him because it brought back painful memories. He was more than just a friend to her...he was...

"How in the world! How could you tame that wild horse under my nose?!" Ingo was shouting again.

Malon sighed and peaked out the window. She let out a large gasp. Green clothes? It couldn't be...he was Kokiri. They never grow up...it isn't possible. Fairy Boy? She rushed downstairs right as Ingo was closing the gate and laughing maniacally.

"You can keep the horse, as I promised. But you will never leave the ranch!" Ingo smiled at his own genius.

"Ingo, you can't..." Malon pleaded.

"I can...and will!" Ingo said as he prepared to walk away.

Link knew that there had to be a way out of this place. Than he remembered. When Malon and him were little they climbed over the fence around the ranch to get to the stream outside. The only way they were able to climb out way because it was the same size as the horse jumps for the obstacle course. That was it! Link turned Epona around and charged for the surrounding fence. At the last possible moment, he urged Epona over the fence. They were free!

Malon started to yell "Fairy Boy!" But was cut short due to Link's amazing escape. With him went her hopes and her fears...

A/N: Submit a review! The button is sooo close! It isn't hard! The more reviews, the quickerI update...so please review! The next chapter is going to be a lot of Malink action so...you have something to look forward to!