"We'll always be friends, I know it."
Saria's words rang through his heads. Yes, they would always be friends. But it would be nothing more than a lingering memory. Unattainable, untouchable, and, in a sense, unreal. She would be there, she was still alive, in more ways than one, but the truth of the matter was that he wouldn't be able to come to her. He wouldn't be able to ask for her help, to sit with her. She would be his eternal friend and he… he would be an ever-changing terrestrial being.
Link dismounted his horse and patted her flank. He led her gently into the familiar, narrow entranceway. The main gate was opened again and there, standing in an old uniform, was Ingo. His face still held minimal traces of bruising. He was slumped and sweaty, bending to pick up a bale of hay at his feet, obviously heading back towards the stables. Link eyed him warily, hate still burning the back of his throat with an acrid, bitter taste. Ingo looked up and saw him standing there. There was an instant, pleasant smile.
"Good morning, sir," he chirped happily, bowing slightly in greeting. "Welcome to the illustrious Lon Lon Ranch, home to the magnificent Lon Lon Milk. Feel free to look around. If you should need any help, please call me. My name is Ingo. I'm very pleased to be of service, sir."
Link stared at him a little longer, then, finally, her murmured, "Thank you."
Ingo continued on into the stables with his bale of hay. Link waited until he was out of sight, staring at the door for a while. Something had happened after he left a couple of weeks ago. He shook his head and put that aside. Epona tossed her head impatiently beside him and he caressed her cheek. With a heavy sigh, Link stepped past the gate, the precious, green expanse of the Ranch greeting his eyes.
He searched the premises, looking for the flare of red. There, coming from the corral, was a shock of fire. In the air came the softly hummed notes he knew so well. He let go of Epona's reins, walked a few steps further, and stopped, staring at her. She was walking forwards with her head bent, humming, and carrying a now empty pail with her.
Malon looked up, her eyes sliding past the figure standing in front of her, and then snapping back. She froze. The pail slipped from her fingers and her hands came up to cover her gaping mouth. Tears brimmed in her beautiful, powder-blue eyes.
Link stood, simply staring at her. He waited, a look of pain, of yearning, of helpless hopelessness written over his features. Time stood still. The breeze ceased to blow, the noises in the background filtered out, and it suddenly felt as if the world had come to a grinding halt beneath their feet.
And then, with a sudden, choked, tear-filled gasp, Malon surge forward. She lunged at him, suddenly there. She threw her arms around Link's neck and squeezed tightly. He responded instantly, wrapping her up just as tightly. He ignored the pain in his side and the fresh wounds that were being ripped at. Her suddenly, wonderful warmth made all that disappear, nonexistent, not important. He buried his face in the slope of her shoulder, thick, flaming locks sliding over his nose. He heard her whimpering in his ear, felt wet tears dripping onto his neck.
They stood like that for a long time, oblivious to anything else that was going on around them. Finally, the grips slackened and Malon slipped back down onto the flats of her feet and stared up at him. Link gently drew a calloused thumb under her eyes, wiping the remnants of
tears clean. She cupped his face carefully, pushing the shaggy locks of blond hair out of his eyes for a mere moment.
"I missed you," she said.
Link nodded.
"I missed you too, Malon," he said softly. "More than you know."
