A/N: The following chapter is my personal fav so far. I hope you like it. THANK YOU to all who wrote me some reviews! Any constructive critism is always welcome! I can't improve unless people tell me what I need to improve on!

Disclaimer: It hurts to say...but I don't own zelda or any of the characters.

Chapter 5: Not so Happy Reunion

Link rode Epona back to Kakariko village. The sun was beginning to set on Hyrule Field. It was never a good idea to wander the field at night, due to the large Poe population. More and more reports of Poes being seen have increased, thanks to Ganondorf and his spread of evil. Another reason Link had to stop him. It just wasn't safe to travel at night anymore.

The path was dimly lighted as he rode into town. Time seemed to slow down here. Link decided to rest for tonight and tomorrow. After all, he had been through quite an ordeal recently. Link tied Epona to the one tree they had in town, located near the entrance. Then he entered the small house that was owned by a kind and caring lady. The lady generously offered her home as a place to sleep and rest.

"Link? Is that you? It is you!" The old lady beamed with happiness even in these dark times.

"Hello, Guineviere. Sorry I haven't been by recently. I've been a little busy."

"Nonsense! Don't you worry your little green hat about it! How are you? You look tired. Are you going to stay the night? Do you need any food? Are you hungry?" Guineviere pumeled Link with questions.

Link began to get a headache, but remained cool and composed. "No thanks, I just need to spend the night."

"Oh, alright. If you need anything, anything at all...you just ask."

"Thank you. I appreciate all that you've done for me." Link offered her some rupees.

"Oh, Link. I can't possibly take these," she refused.

"Please. I want you to have them." He placed the rupees in her hand and walked off before she could refuse again.

Link went to the adjacent side of the room and climbed into an empty bed. His heart was full of worry. He hadn't seen any sign of Malon while he had been at the ranch. Where was she? More questions started to form in his head. He became drowsy and instantly fell into a restless night of sleeping, tossing, and turning.

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Malon continued to stare at the spot where Epona had leapt over the wall. It couldn't have been Link. He was dead. She had made herself believe he was. He never once came by in seven years. They had been good friends...there was no other explanation. There was no possible way that the man, who had just won her favorite horse, was the same man who had grown up from the boy she had been best friends with. Link had been Kokiri. He never would have grown up.

She turned away from the window, just as a single tear escaped. I promised myself there would be no more tears shed for him. He wasn't worth my tears. Malon tried to talk herself into believing that he never was her friend, that he was just someone that she had played with. No one important. She also told herself that he didn't care for her, he never had. Just that he felt obligated to stop and play with her everytime he got some milk from the ranch. Now doubt among everything filled her mind, overpowering all else. Had she been wrong?

"You." The bitterness in Ingo's tone frightened Malon. She turned to face him. A mistake she soon realized as his hand came down and across her face. " I don't know how...but you helped him, didn't you? You knew I was going to sell her...so you hired him to help you." Ingo stressed the word 'hired'.

"I don't know...what you're talking about." Malon struggled to get up but was met with another slap across the face.

"Save it! I know how you pursuaded him to help you!" Ingo spat at her.

"What are you talking about?!" Malon circled Ingo so her back was against the door.

"I know you slept with him to get him to save your precious horse! You little..." He went to slap her again but she opened the door into his face and rushed down the stairs. She almost reached the bottom when he grabbed her and pushed her down. She collapsed against the hard wood walls of the house.

"Please...listen..." she begged.

"I've had enough of your lies! Enough of your excuses! Enough of you!" Malon slipped her hand around a piece of wood. "You think I need you to run this ranch? I don't! You are worthless, useless, and soon to be...deceased."

Malon swung the wood at Ingo in a pathetic attempt to ward him off. He grinned evily as he dragged her outside. Ingo sensed the fear inside of Malon and it made him all the more blood-thirsty. He would finally have this no good wretch off his hands...

"NO! Please, Ingo! Don't do this! The power is corrupting you!" Malon pleaded through tears. His eyes were a light shade of red. Oh, Nayru! He is going to kill me!

Just as Ingo began to swing down the rough piece of wood...and arrow on fire flew through the air right into the wood, enflaming it and burning Ingo. He dropped the now singed piece of wood. Malon looked up, confused.

"Who are you? What are you doing?" she asked the man who now stood in front of her, sword drawn and pointed at the now trembling Ingo.

"Protecting you," he said compassionately.

Oh, Din! It is him! You brought my Fairy Boy back to me! Thank the godesses!

"Don't kill him!" Malon's voice shook.

"I'm not going to kill him. I'm going to talk to him."

"What makes you think I'm going to talk to you?" Ingo sneered.

"Maybe because I have a sword pointed at your throat."

Ingo walked with the man into the barn. Malon struggled to get up, but her legs were shaking too violently to stand. A few minutes later Ingo appeared again, this time wearing his old working outfit with a bright smile on his face.

"Forgive me for the way I behaved earlier, Malon. You were right: the power did, indeed, corrupt me." Then Ingo went back inside the old barn.

"Who are you?" Malon questioned the man while she wiped away the tears from her face.

"Don't you remember me, Malon?" He smiled.

A fairy flew out from under his hat. "Fairy Boy?"

"I haven't heard that name in quite awhile."

"You would have if you had ever stopped by to visit or even say hello!" Malon said angrily.

Link knew he deserved that. "I'm sorry, Malon. It's just...I was busy...I didn't think..."

"That is just it! You don't think! It never occured to you that I missed you? You never even said goodbye!" Malon backed away as he stepped closer.

"You don't understand..." Link started.

"I don't understand! Of all the inconsiderate things to say! Here I was, in my little home, wondering what I did SO WRONG to make you leave me! I cried over you! I cried! But no more. No more tears will go to you," Malon poured her feelings out to him. So many feelings and emotions threatened to take complete control of her.

Link was speechless. He wasn't prepared for this. He honestly didn't think she would act like this. He thought she would be happy to see him...especially after he had just saved her life.

"Is that any way to treat the person who just saved your life?" The words came out before Link had a chance to register what he was saying.

"How dare you?" She hissed at him.

"Malon, I'm sorry...I didn't mean...what I meant was...let me explain..." Link stuttered.

"I don't care. I just don't care anymore!" When in truth, Malon did care...a lot. And it hurt caring about him...it hurt real bad. Tears started to cascade down her cheeks. "See what you've done? I said I wouldn't lose anymore tears over you...and here I am crying again."

Link hated seeing her in this much pain. "Malon, please don't cry..."

"I...I just can't." Malon ran inside the house and slammed the door.

Link stood there for awhile, staring at the hand carved mahogany door. Staring and thinking. Thinking about what he was going to do now. What his next move would be...

A/N: Write me a review! PLEASE! Sorry to leave you all hanging but...I will update as soon as possible!