Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or any other LoZ properties. They are the property of Nintendo and any other owners. Nor do I own undeadpenguin37's fanart, I use it with permission.
Betaed by: Zim'smostloyalservant and Trackula.
Chapter 2
Familiar And Strange
"Why. Visit. A. Ranch?" Fi asked Saria from her spot in the scabbard at Saria's belt.
"I want to see if Malon is okay. Also, I don't have any rupees, so I need some supplies to travel, and maybe I can work out something with Mr. Talon."
"Mistress. Has. A. Job," Fi noted.
Saria nodded to that, but her focus was on the field left to weeds she was walking by. The farmhouse had been burned years ago, it looked like. Checking behind the ruin she nodded, finding an old vegetable garden. Enough had reseeded and grown that she could pluck and pull fresh vegetables up to stuff in her belt pouch.
"The. Sun. Is. Setting. Soon. You. Should. Start. A. Fire."
"Can't, the undead will be out."
"…What?"
That night:
Saria leaned around the gate, scanning the horizon, looking behind her into the thickets, and up into the tree branches overhead as the moon shined down on Hyrule Field.
"This is weird, no Stalchildren at all."
"It. Is. Abnormal. For. Undead. To. Rise. So. Regularly. In. Common. Places. This. Is. Normal."
"Well, I'm not letting my guard down, we're going through the night."
X X X
Saria had napped when the sun rose, curled up next to a stone fence, holding the sheathed sword to her chest. Fi had promised to make a very loud chime if something dangerous came along.
Saria had eaten a raw carrot the night before to settle her stomach. But she decided to forgo breakfast, hoping to at least have the chance to wash her veggies before eating them. And maybe get some details on what happened to the farmers; it didn't look like they'd been all burned out at once.
Trudging along, feeling grimy and hungry, she crested a rise and smiled, seeing Lon Lon Ranch standing proud and strong over the grasslands. It was still there. Picking up her pace slightly, she made her way to the road leading to the ranch's gate.
Saria didn't recognize the men who were slouched by the open gate as the cows grazed in the distance. She recalled Malon telling her they could maintain the cows just on the inner field.
The men straightened up as she approached, and she noted the heavy-looking clubs hanging from their belts by leather straps. The men looked her over, taking in her appearance from a day and a half's travel on foot and sleeping outdoors, and only slightly. They weren't impressed, though the taller one's eyes lingered on her chest as she drew near.
"Well, who do we have here?" the tall man asked, barely glancing to her face.
"Fado, I'm here to see Malon."
"Never heard of ya. You got money?"
"No, not a rupee," she told them.
"Boss doesn't have time for anyone who ain't a customer. As for that girl, she don't have any friends, everyone knows that."
"Yeah, hit the road, this ain't a charity outfit. Go bum off some priest."
"Hold on now, she's rather suspicious, wouldn't you say? Girl traveling alone with a sword like that. Maybe we should question her, out of civic duty."
"What questions?" Saria asked. Fi had said she would stay silent, as talking swords stood out, and Saria was missing Tuia's warmth under her clothes as unease griped her, as the two men exchanged looks.
"Just making sure you're not trouble. Won't take long, just come behind the sheds with us."
"Yeah, we'll even pay ya. Boss said Malon was off limits, but nothing about road tramps."
"No, you're creepy," Saria huffed, nodding and planting her fists on her hips.
Her tone and simple sincerity gave them pause, then they frowned.
"We're being nice, girl, we don't have to be," the shorter one said, walking up to look down at her. She saw the lunge coming, and while her sidestep was not nearly as deft as she'd hoped, he did miss her, and Fi came from her sheath easily, letting her turn to hit him in the back of the head with the flat of the blade.
"Wench!" the tall one shouted, raising his fists as his friend crumpled. Saria faced him, putting both her hands on the hilt.
"Be nice," she commanded.
That only seemed to make him angrier, turning red in the face and crouching slightly, getting ready to charge.
Then a whip cracked through the air.
"What is going on here?" Ingo demanded. He held the whip, and with a flick brought the coiled leather back to his side, his attention more on the brutish man than Saria. He hadn't changed much in the face, but his clothes were quite different, being fancier than the Castletown folks', with bright red and blue colors, shiny shoes with brass buckles, and some kind of cloth frill that reminded Saria of a lizard around his neck.
"Boss! This bandit attacked us! You gotta ring the bell for the boys."
"Bandit? Women bandits have red hair, first of all, and secondly if she was a bandit, why is that fool not dead along with you? Bah! No doubt you were trying to take advantage again! In fact, I'm certain. You cretins have exhausted my patience, disgracing the Grand Ingo Ranch for the last time. Collect that fool and your belongings and get out," he ordered.
"But she's just some rupees-less wench!"
The man cried as the whip struck him across the chest, cutting through his tunic.
"Begone, cretin! And don't even think about defying me! King Ganondorf has my back, rebellion against me on this ranch is tantamount to defying him in his own tower!"
"Heh, you bastard, fine. Working fields is better than putting up with a lousy turncoat like you. Good luck replacing us, no one with any prospects wants to work for a bastard like you who practically worships that monster."
Ingo cracked the whip again, and the big man grabbed his companion by the shoulders and dragged him inside, shooting a final dark glare at Saria. Ingo now turned his attention to her, stroking his mustache and taking a few measured steps toward her.
"Thank you," Saria said with a bright smile. Ingo stopped dead and looked at her like she had sprouted a second head. Clearing his throat, he composed himself.
"So, not many girls with green hair around. In fact, I only saw one before, years ago. Recently displaced, are you?"
"Yeah, I was hoping to find help here."
"Hmm, we have nothing to spare for charity. But I just lost two hands, worthless as they were. If you can swing that sword so easily, you must be strong. So I'll offer you decent wages to be paid in rupees or a horse at the end of term, with room and board meanwhile. But don't go thinking you will be sitting pretty! You work for Ingo, you work hard. No slacking and no stealing food or drink from the pantries. And you'll be sleeping in the stable with the cowgirl; mattresses are for the worthy, and only hard work can show your worth. And at the first sign of trouble, I'll see you thrown out with not a rupee paid for the trouble you cause me," Ingo said firmly.
"Okay. Is Malon here?"
"Er, yes, that's the cowgirl, she'll be in the stone storage tower counting the empty bottles. She'll tell you in detail how things work here! And what's your name, girl?" he huffed, reminding Saria of a grumpy frog that had lived in a pond next to the village.
"Fado. Thanks again, Mr. Ingo, it will be nice to not have to worry about Stalchildren tonight."
Ingo watched her go and scratched at his cheek.
"That name… nah, couldn't be," he huffed to himself and started to walk toward the cow herd, mind already turning to the many things he'd have to scold the cowherds on.
X X X
The ranch seemed different from last time, Saria thought. Everything seemed in the same place. The buildings, the fenced in meadow for the horses and other animals, and of course the storage tower she was heading for.
It was a relief to find something familiar, even if she'd only visited the ranch twice. But it seemed off in a way she couldn't put her finger on, which was a different and unwelcome form of uncomfortable for the Kokiri woman.
"Maybe it's just because I'm taller?" Saria wondered aloud, as she reached up to touch the top of the inner fence, something she'd have needed to climb to reach before.
"Will. You. Be. Riding. A. Horse?" Fi asked. Saria shuddered, recalling the horror of being forced onto the back of one of those animals. The only way that would work would be if Malon was the one steering. Huh, there was a thought. Could she ask Malon to join her? Malon always seemed pretty tough…
She'd reached the tower door, and Fi was talking.
"Horses. Are. An. Inferior. Mode. Of. Transport. I. Recommend. Loftwing. Red. For. Preference."
"What's that?"
"…I. Am. Sad."
"Sorry, but maybe be quiet now," Sara said, pulling the sword out of the sheath to give a hush sign to it.
Opening the door, she was greeted by a Hylian woman facing away from her, kneeling over a box stuffed with straw, one among many.
"And ten in that box. That's one hundred forty. Not a broken one yet. Not that Ingo will be happy about that. Honestly, you'd think he likes bad news, with how he always finds something to complain about. And I have to step up when those thugs he hires upset the animals; it's a wonder our milk hasn't turned sour," the red-haired woman grumbled.
"Is Malon here? Saria asked.
"Huh?" the Hylian said, turning to face Saria halfway.
She had bags under her eyes, and her skin was dark from the sun, though not near so dark as the Gerudo, and her cheeks had a certain hollow look to them. The hair was tied back into a loose tail, and the eyes snapped to suspicion.
"I'm Malon, who…?" The woman said. Then something shifted in her eyes, and the empty bottle she was holding slipped to fall to the stone floor and audibly crack.
"Saria?" she said. Saria looked agape and kicked herself mentally. Of course, Hylians were supposed to look different over time.
Before she could make a proper greeting, Malon was upon her and Saria gasped, being locked in a tight hug that lifted her barely but clearly off the ground.
'Tall, and strong,' Saria realized.
"You never came back after everything went wrong! I was sure you were dead somewhere!" Malon cried.
"I did get stabbed."
"What?"
"I got better,"
"Well, that's good," Malon said, letting her go. Saria almost fell off her feet.
"Sorry. Heh, still taller than you," Malon said, putting her hand on Saria's hair and bringing it over to the base of her own neck to show how much taller.
"Yeah, um, so Ingo sent me here?"
"Huh?"
"I guess I'm working here now?"
"Oh. Ohhh," Malon's face lit up with a smile that looked a bit too out of place on it.
X X X
The day was then spent following Malon around the ranch, being shown the chores to be done. Saria nodded along, paying attention. She'd often been tasked with helping new Kokiri learn the chores for the village back home, so this was similar. Still, it seemed like Malon was doing an awful lot. She'd interrupted Malon once to point this out, only for the girl to glance to the side and say Ingo didn't trust the bums with the horses. And mutter something about the poor cows.
Saria assumed they were too busy for a lunch break, and pitched in as best she could, and as the sun went down they made their way to the cow barn.
"More chores?" Saria asked, surprised. Malon wiped her brow and shook her hand.
"Some, but this is where I sleep. You too now, I guess," she said.
The barn smelled as much as Saria remembered, which she supposed explained Malon's own pungency. Malon went over some matters of the cow barn before showing a stall with a blanket folded up on straw and a thin sackcloth cushion.
"You can have those, you're my guest."
"No need for that," Ingo said. He walked down the barn, still dressed nicely, with a tray in one hand and a sack in the other.
"Here, bedding. And dinner for you two."
He threw the sack at Saria's feet and sat down the tray. Two plates on it, two clay cups and a pitcher of water. On the plates were slivers of bread with a slice of cheese and onion on each and some diced carrots.
"Is that all?" Saria asked.
"Don't whine! Business is tight. And Malon has gotten by on such for years now, and she's fine. Isn't that right?" Malon looked the man in the eye; Saria realized she was at least as tall as the Hylian man.
"Yes, fine, Mr. Ingo," Malon said softly, but her eyes met his. He looked away first and walked away, saying they'd share the same stall. Room enough for two.
"I had hoped you would get more," Malon said, sitting down on the floor. Clasping her hands, she muttered something about the three goddesses and tore into the half sandwich, wolfing it down in an instant before starting to pour a drink of water.
Saria took a seat next to Malon, and took her own bite. It was no meat pie, but it was the first food she had had that wasn't raw vegetables.
"Oh! Here, you can have these," Saria said, opening her pouch to pour the vegetables on the tray. Malon's eyes widened, and Saria was worried she had been rude until Malon grabbed a radish and ate it in two bites and moved onto the carrots and turnips.
"…Are you alright?" Saria asked.
Malon inspected one of the potatoes and set it aside in favor of the carrot.
"I'm better off than girls on the road or selling themselves in villages for a bit of bread. Just ask Ingo."
"Well, it is good bread, and cheese," Saria remarked.
Malon took a bite out of a small onion, and seemed to straighten up at the flavor before finishing it off.
"He's not wrong, but still…" Malon said.
"Where's your father?" Saria asked. She hadn't seen him since she got here. Malon closed her eyes and leaned back, with only potatoes left on the tray.
"When the capital fell, things were in chaos for weeks. No one rightly knew what was going on. Then the monsters came again in force… Well, you would know that part," Malon said, looking to Fi at Saria's belt. Saria didn't, but nodded anyway.
"The ranch survived, but Ganondorf came here personally, with his two witches and a squad of Gerudo. He kicked Dad out right there and then, with nothing but the clothes on his back, and said I'd die if he every returned. No one could do anything; I can still hear the witches laughing as they sent him running on his way with fireballs. Then he singled out Ingo and called him to speak with him in the house. When they came out, they had a deal. It's the Ingo Ranch now, and under King Ganondorf's protection, so long as he gets his tribute. But Ingo's rule here has another pillar — he told me that night that Ganondorf wanted me to suffer, and if I left or wasn't miserable, he'd kill Ingo and burn the ranch to ashes along with all the animals. So, much as I hate this, I can't leave. But Ingo's trapped too, isn't he? He might act like some lord of the manor and try to dress like one, but he's a slave just like me, when you get down to it."
"What's a slave?" Saria asked. Malon didn't answer, instead pulling her into a hug.
They didn't speak anymore that night. Saria set up her bedding next to Malon's own, and swiftly fell asleep.
X X X
The morning brought a pair of porridge bowls, two slices of apple each, and a slice of fresh bread. It turned out there would be no lunch.
Malon drew a bucket of water out of the well, which they shared to wash their faces, hair and feet. Clothes got washed every three days. Apparently Malon also had only one outfit.
The ranch's staff met in front of the house porch everyday for assignments, apparently.
"Though it's usually just business as usual. Ingo still gets his hands dirty when something goes wrong, and he usually only changes assignments to punish people or cover firings. Guess he'll introduce you, too."
"Uhh, he'll be introducing me as Fado," Saria told her friend.
"Got it," Malon said, giving her a thumbs up and wink.
"You don't find that weird?"
"I'm pretty sure most of the men here don't go by their real names. I don't intend to ask you what you've been doing these years. No one has good stories about it. In fact, the only good stories these days seem to be Ruto stories," Malon remarked.
"Huh?" Saria said, glancing over sharply. But they'd reached the porch, and Ingo began making his morning speech. He wasn't happy, Fado was the new hire, and what they all were required to do before the sun set again, even though it hadn't finished rising.
And apparently now that Malon had help, the workload was going to increase.
Taking a noon break, sharing a waterskin with Malon, who was napping with her head against Epona, Saria wondered how someone who'd never eaten a heart container kept this pace for years. Malon had been much smaller, and she had a feeling the workload had not been that much less.
Pulling out the Ocarina of Time, she decided some music might help her friend sleep. The now grown mare Epona leaned her head over, sniffing at the ocarina.
"Shh, Epona! This is not a treat! And don't wake her," Saria said to the horse. Though she recalled Epona liked ocarina music. She patted the horse on the nose, smiling; another familiar face.
"Can. Horses. Understand. You?"
"I think so," Saria shrugged, put her lips to the ocarina's spout, and began to play Epona's song. Malon stirred in her sleep at the soothing melody, relaxed, then frowned. And frowned deeper. Her eyes snapped open, and she stood up and smacked the ocarina nearly out of Saria's hand.
"Hey!" Saria said, pulling the innocent instrument against her chest. Malon blinked.
"Ingo hates music. No singing or playing or he'll have us on half rations. I've been on half rations for five years," Malon said, looking sadly at the ocarina.
"Oh dear. I should get you out of here."
Malon tilted her head, seemingly confused by the words, then laughed in a way Saria didn't like.
"You don't need to be some knight for me, Saria. We can survive here, that's better than most can say. Besides, maybe if we do a good enough job, Ingo will increase both our rations. Besides, tonight I'll show you something nice. Out in the horse field."
X X X
Malon's singing was lovely under the moonlight. Away in the field but still safe behind the ranch walls, Malon sang Epona's song with a soft, strong passion, and even shifted to Saria's own song, picking it up promptly. The young woman seemed far from everything as she sang; Saria smiled, seeing more of the girl she'd first been rescued by in the market square.
Malon had invited her to play along with the ocarina, but Saria had other ideas.
"Fi, I need to train. Get really used to everything for that first temple."
"Mistress. You. Said. Not. To. Talk. In. Front. Of. Others."
"I trust Malon."
"Very. Well."
"Malon, I have to say something," Saria said, drawing her sword and walking to her friend, who stopped singing with a start and looked puzzled at Saria advancing on her with the sword drawn while they were alone in the field. After a moment she smiled, letting out a breath.
"Yes?" Malon said.
"I have not introduced my sword to you, this is Fi. Say hello, Fi."
"Mistress. I. Can. Currently. Only. Be. Heard. By. You. Or. Those quite magical."
"Hey, that last part you said without stopping every time. Neat. Can you do that more?"
"In. Time."
"Uhhh," Malon slipped, watching her friend talk with her sword. Sighing, she muttered, "Well, I guess she has been through some stuff after all. It's okay, Malon."
"Anyway, this is Fi. She's a very important sword, but she can't talk very well right now. But she's very nice and a new friend. I hope you two can be friends," Saria said, handing the sword hilt fist to Malon.
"Hello, Fi."
…
"Fi apparently doesn't like people other than me or her old master holding her. But I think she would like to be friends."
"Okay, uh, how about tomorrow I get you a whetstone to take care of her?"
"Oh, yeah, we had to sharpen some tools back in the village. That's right. But right now while you sing, I can train. I have work to do out there, and I can't just spend all my time sleeping or working. And you say Ingo is deaf asleep after his evening wine, right?"
"Yes. He actually prefers ale, I think, but he's convinced successful people drink wine."
Saria nodded, noting it, and took back Fi and decided to start by trying the old charged spin attack.
X X X
It was the next night, as Saria trained and Malon sang, they got their visitor.
Not even the horses seemed to notice him coming. Saria was trying to obey Fi's slow instructions and then a casual glance, and someone was there.
"Hey!" Saria said, lifting Fi reflexively.
"Who are you?" Malon demanded, getting to her feet and raising her fists.
The figure looked like a young man wearing white over blue. A wrap of white cloth covered all but a single red eye and a few locks of stray blonde hair. A symbol that was familiar to Saria was displayed on the white tabard he wore. Malon's eyes narrowed at it in the moonlight.
"A Sheikah?"
"Correct," the young man spoke. The voice wasn't raised, but it carried well to them, "I am Sheik, a shadow walker of the Tribe of Shadows. Lady Impa sent me to seek you out, girl out of time."
"Impa?"
"Hey, don't be quick to trust a stranger, Saria. He could be working for Ganondorf; the Sheikah have practically deserted us anyway."
"The tribe has its reasons, and point of fact, several do still resist and many have perished for their valor. Mind your words, daughter of Talon."
"Where's Impa? And Zelda?"
"That knowledge is best left by the wayside for now, woman of the Kokiri. Your course is homeward, yes? But you need to train yourself to fight and live in a new body. I will aid you in this, let us spar," Sheik said, pulling out a long thin dagger.
"I don't think so," Malon said, stepping between them, "Saria, he could be anyone after anything. And you shouldn't just clash weapons with him when no one can speak for him."
"I. Concur."
Saria looked to the young man with the dagger and shrugged.
"Sorry, Fi and Malon say I should be careful. And really, I don't know you."
"I admit, I wasn't expecting this. Very well then, until next time," Sheik said, reaching behind his back. He pulled out a bomb, already lit, the fuse quite short, Saria realized.
"I knew it!" Malon shouted as Sheik dropped the bomb to the ground.
BOOM
Saria sat up in the dirt and looked around, ears ringing slightly. Frowning, she watched the horses run away, save for Epona, who was running back and sniffing at Malon, who was also getting to her feet. The mare licked Malon's face.
"Epona, you're a horse, not a dog," Malon objected.
Saria brushed herself off with one hand and sheathed Fi. Looking to the charred grass, she glanced around, not seeing Sheik anywhere.
"Looks like he left. Think we upset him?"
"This is why you shouldn't trust people who go around in masks," Malon huffed.
"…Think Ingo slept through that?" Saria asked.
"Back to the barn, quick!" Malon shouted, grabbing Saria's hand, dragging the Kokiri behind her until Saria found her stride and was practically dragging the taller girl.
Three Weeks Later:
"This. Will. Have. To. Do," Fi said, as Saria sheathed her at the end of their session. Despite the pace of working during the day hard on chores and nights half spent training, she felt fine. Saria smiled, standing on tiptoes and settling back down. Her clumsiness and surprise at her grown body seemed well and truly gone. Surely she was back where she had been, as far as handling herself.
"So, I'm ready to fight?"
"Fighting is the only way to know for sure. I. Will. Cut. Well. For. You," Fi answered. Saria hummed to that; Fi was now speaking at least one regular sentence a day. Give it time and she'd be chatting with the best of them, Saria was certain.
"Well, guess we just sharpen you for the night, then." Fi made a buzzing sound to that. Saria recalled the first time she used a whetstone on Fi.
Sitting in the barn, Saria put her tongue between her teeth, repeating the motion with the stone Malon had demonstrated on a scythe.
"Oh. That. Feels. Odd."
"Sorry."
"Mistress. I. Did. Not. Say. Stop."
Ever since then, Fi had not let Saria forget to sharpen her once a day at least. She was just glad it made the sword happy. Though Malon, despite suggesting it, seemed to be a bit uneasy about how much Fi liked being sharpened.
"Malon, it's time, I should leave soon," Saria said as they walked back. Malon stopped, and Saria took a few steps before stopping herself to turn around.
"Oh, well, I suppose you have learned enough for riding."
Saria winced at that.
X X X
"No! Traitor, I thought you were my friend!" Saria struggled in vain, Fi in the dirt as Malon lifted her by her hips and carried her to an unamused Epona.
"If you are going to travel when you are done here, you will need a horse! Even with a sword, it's much safer for women to travel riding in Hyrule these days. So there!" Malon declared, planting the whining Saria on top of the mare.
"I don't wanna," Saria cried as Malon put her feet into the stirrups.
"Honestly, you carry on like you weren't seven years older than last time I got you on a horse. You know I'm the only other person that Epona lets ride her."
"It doesn't feel like seven years to me. Besides, I'm taller now, so I'm even further off the ground," Saria said, grabbing Epona's neck and wrapping her arms around it.
"This may take awhile. But it would take you a year to earn a horse anyway."
X X X
"I did prove to be a good student, didn't I?" Saria said, brushing a bit of hair from her shoulders. Malon gave her a long look.
"Yes, who would have thought you started learning after you stopped making such a big deal out of it."
"Maybe Epona really is a magical horse?" Saria wondered.
"I. Miss. Loftwings. Especially. Red ones."
"Fi still wishes I could ride on birds. Ugh, that'd be worse than horses."
"And yet you can jump fences now."
"Epona can jump fences. I just had to realize she's in charge and I'm just politely asking without words."
"Well, you aren't contracted, so you can leave when you like. But Ingo won't give you a horse after such a short time working here. So I guess you'll just have to work here for the full year," Malon said, nodding to herself.
"Actually, I got an idea watching the ranch hands playing dice."
X X X
"You want to wager a year's service of only room and board for your pick of the horses?" Ingo asked. He was in his office in the house. Which was decorated with paintings of Hyrule Field, a portrait of him with a smaller nose, and several paper cabinets around his desk.
"That's right."
"I don't do dice."
"I was thinking a horse race. Like the ones Malon and the ranch hands do to train the horses."
"Hmm, you against me?"
"Yes."
"Absurd, Malon has only recently started teaching you to ride. I could practically ride before I could walk."
"How about all your rupees too, then?"
"…Two years work with only room and board. I get first pick of horses."
"Deal."
X X X
They waited until sunset, letting Ingo call in most of the hands from work; apparently he wanted witnesses aplenty. He picked out a stallion named Fleet that Malon spoke highly of, saddling and prepping the horse himself. All while still dressed fancy, even. Saria, for her part, was assisted by Malon in getting Epona ready.
"Don't be stupid. No one can ride that stubborn mare but Malon. That's one reason the King wants her," Ingo scoffed. Malon ignored him, so Saria just put her foot on the crossed hands Malon provided to step up and take the saddle.
"…been holding out on me, girl?" he demanded calmly of Malon as he took his own place on Fleet.
"No, it's just Epona likes her."
"Well, they won't be able to get acquainted over the next two years; the King will be expecting his new horse quite soon. To the starting line!"
They lined up at the starting line, a thick line painted across the packed dirt, refreshed for the occasion. Leaping fences had been set up around the course, which simply followed the fence line of the inner meadow.
Ingo was adjusting himself on his stallion. Saria settled on her saddle and rubbed Epona's neck. As a ranch hand stood nearby, Saris shifted in the saddle, recalling everything Malon had taught her, and Ingo glanced sideways, noting her change.
The burly man in the vest counted down and raised a hand. At one, Ingo put the spurs to his horse and took off. Saria was stunned; Epona did not delay.
Saria was not a match for Ingo on a horse, she realized, but Epona was more than a match for the other horse. Ingo took the lead at the first fence jump, but Epona hugged the inner fence, gaining distance. And when Ingo closed to try to force them into the fence, Saria lent her weight to Epona, forcing him back and away.
By the final jump, the lead was small but secure. With a whoop from Saria, they passed over the chalk line several hands ahead of Ingo, and Epona slowed to rear up, Saria holding on and laughing at the horse's thrill in victory.
As Epona settled down Saria glanced to Ingo cursing, holding his own head. It reminded her of a few times Mido had taken losing a game particularly bad.
Saria let out a breath and leaned forward to pat Epona on the neck.
"It. Was. No. Loftwing. Flight. But. It. Will. Do," Fi spoke up.
"Epona, I think Fi is warming up to you," Saria said. The stallion came up by them, and Ingo swung down from the saddle, red in the face.
"Of all the beginner's luck. King Ganondorf really does have a good eye for horseflesh, I suppose. Alright then girl, pick your horse and collect your rupees, then get out," Ingo snapped, tossing a purse to Saria, who caught it. Yes, there was the familiar tinkle of rupee on rupee.
"Epona is coming with me, thank you." She hated to leave Malon like this, but she'd been asked not to make trouble.
"Don't be absurd! That mare is promised to the King of Hyrule, I will be out of my hide if I fail to deliver it!" Ingo protested.
"So much for it all being for the well being of the ranch, Mr. Ingo," Malon remarked, stepping out from among the ranch hands.
"Quiet, girl! Listen Fado, you're more than a bit of a fool, so I will explain it to you. Take that horse and you'll be stealing from the man who brought the old kingdom down. You may as well pick a fight with that unstoppable man,"
"That's alright," Saria answered. Her tone even set Malon aback, and now Saria tilted her head to stare deeply at Ingo. Gulping, the man stepped back then straightened.
"Bet's off, a half year's salary upfront to the one that gets her off that horse!" Ingo commanded.
"Hey!" Malon said as two men grabbed her arms, while the rest advanced toward Saria, knives coming from their belts.
"Wonderful, finally time for us to get a few rides," one of the men cackled.
"I did not say-" Ingo objected, only for one of them to shove him down.
"Shut it, you need us now, you pay in full!" one of the biggest men said. He turned, grinning, only to barely see Epona's hoof heading for his face.
The next man went down from Fi's pommel crashing down on his temple.
"Mistress? Shall. I. Cut?" Fi asked, as Saria beat down on the men with the flat of the sword.
"Maybe," she said, as Epona reared up in front of the men holding Malon. One fled, the other turned his head to call the runner a coward. Which worked well enough for Saria, who brought the flat of the sword down on one of the arms holding Malon and felt the bone snap from the blow. The man screamed, and Malon punched him in the face.
The ranch hands had hostility, but no courage. At swift and fierce resistance, they fled before the stern gaze of the girl they'd boasted over in private, and the horse that none of them had been able to mount.
Ingo soon found himself standing alone, with Saria riding up to him and Malon walking beside her.
"Girls, listen. If Fado takes that horse, it will be trouble for all of us. If you want to survive, you need to do as you are told."
"I'm done just surviving, I want to live. This ranch is my birthright, Ingo, and I'm not letting you treat me like a prisoner anymore."
"Fool! When the King hears of this-" he began. Malon's left hook cut him off. He lay senseless on the dirt tract, his neck ruffle unrolling under the shining sun.
"I guess I'll help you drag these three out?"
"Two, that one Epona kicked is dead," Malon pointed out, running a hand down her face. Epona wickered, and Saria thought the mare seemed entirely too pleased with herself.
"What now?" Saria asked, after they dumped Ingo and the other man outside the gate. They'd stripped them of weapons and money; Malon, for her part, had already tucked three daggers into her belt and had a sling dangling from it as well.
"You have somewhere to be, right?" Malon said.
"Sure you'll be alright alone?"
"I don't intend to be alone for long. Besides, if I can't set this ranch back in order without you holding my back, I'd hardly be worthy of it. Just… if you see my dad, tell him he's still not the boss, but please come home, okay?"
Saria dismounted and gave Malon a hug the ranch boss hardly returned, already staring into the distance. When Saria rode off with Epona, Malon watched them go, then kecked the unconscious ranch hand hard in the side. She glanced at Ingo, but let him be. Walking back inside, she barred the door to the ranch and let herself slide down back to the gate and shake at the turn the day had taken.
X X X
The peddler sat before his fire, warming his hands, watching the dancing shadows. The dead no longer stalked the night on clanking horses, but Hyrule by day or night was no safe place in this era.
"Should try and sleep," he muttered. He knew he wouldn't. The eyes upon him since dusk began to gather weighed too heavily.
"Hello the fire!" came a call from the dark. Squinting against the night blindness of his fire, he made out three figures coming down the road.
"Hello the road! Who comes?" the peddler called, sliding a dagger from its sheath at his belt. The smart thing would be to unstrap his pack. But all he owned, he carried on his pack. His own poverty aside, he had to pay that innkeeper to take on his son for another half year. The boy wouldn't survive the road or the streets.
Three, he thought as they approached, not answering. They might settle for rupees and rations.
With a thunk, the fourth bandit struck him over the head with a rock. The peddler collapsed, vision spinning.
"Only one, and look at his cloak; split four ways, it'll hardly be anything."
"Better than nothing."
"Dump out his pack already. I don't like being out in the open like this."
"What, scared of Ganondorf's patrols? All they do is escort work, they don't care about anything that doesn't have his mark on it."
"Something cut up that group on the the fork of the crossroads. Five strong men wiped out."
"Eh, probably just a peahat that snuck up on them while drunk."
"Ain't no peahats in these parts anymore, and besides that wasn't a peahat. They chip, those fellas was stabbed and slashed."
"Speaking of which, cut this fool's throat already. Don't leave loose ends."
KASHUNK
The bandit that had ordered the death stumbled forward and fell with a pained gasp, a curved blade embedded in his back.
"There!" one of the bandits pointed, and another such blade hit him in the face.
"Back to back," one of the two remaining bandits grabbed the other, holding up a club and axe respectively.
"We got nothing worth taking. You can have this guy's stuff! Just let us go!" the club bandit begged, while axe grit his teeth. A figure stood up in the brush, taller than both of them and firelight catching on blue scales outlining a wide head.
"A Zora?" Club said.
"The Zora," Axe muttered, moving to stand next to his comrade. The Zora woman drew a spear that had been strapped to her back that was even taller than her, and strode out of the brush.
"You were going to kill him even with the spoils in your hands. I knew you were dogs, but I've been waiting to see what kind. You're the kind that need to die for the sake of Hyrule. So prepare for your shiny execution," the Zora said. She didn't charge as they stood ready, instead she twisted and the spear sped across the distance, taking Axe off his feet as it went clear through him.
Club gaped and looked back in time to see her bent low and rushing him, drawing a dagger.
The sharp teeth bared in her mouth were the last thing he saw as he turned and ran.
X X X
Ruto dropped the last bandit corpse into the ditch and let her shoulders droop. The peddler would be fine; she'd saved a life tonight. But what was worse? That there would be more bandits, or how easy it had become to kill them.
"A Zora, not 'the' Zora," she said, drawing her favorite weapon to inspect it in the moonlight.
It was a work of art, but so simple. Never needed sharpening, forged in magics. Called a sword but between a dagger and knife in her hands. A memento of what was lost.
Glancing to the side, she reprimanded herself, as if she still expected to see her last companion there, the one entrusted to her. But no, she was alone in the night. Again.
At least no one was here to see how poorly polished she had become, she thought, sheathing the Kokiri Sword and making her way back to where the peddler awaited further attention for his head wound.
Author's Note:
Well got a bit of backlog built up, so I decided to start posting. I hope you are all well and the story continues to entertain. Saria had one more reunion than she realized this chapter and there's still, more to come next chapter as she explores the dark days of Hyrule.
Long days and pleasant nights you all.