Chapter 3: Ranch And Castle Town
Ralph walked around the ranch on his own wandering aimlessly until he came across a tall slender man with a big nose and a scowl. "State your name and business boy, by the looks of it you haven't got any." The man barked at Ralph. Ralph was about to swear at the man but remembered he was a guest in an unfamiliar place, then he also remembered he was only about the height of a 10 year old. "I'm a guest here at the ranch, I got lost and don't know how to get home." Ralph finally answered as politely as he could. "Guest? We don't harbor guests." The man said. Ralph thought for a second. Talon had mentioned another person who worked on the farm "What was his name again?" Ralph thought to himself. "Anyway Ingo's the name." The tall slender man said as if reading Ralph's mind. "I do most the damn work around here so stay out of my way and everything should keep going as it is." Ingo said as if already frustrated by Ralph's presence. "Sure thing." Ralph said as he continued his pointless stroll around the ranch.
The sun was starting to come all the way out by the time Ralph had taken a lazy stroll of the entire ranch. "Not a single nice tree to climb." Ralph thought to himself disappointed. He walked over to the horse racing track where he saw Malon. "Hey Ralph, I'm all done with my chores!" She called from the other side of the track. She began sprinting from the other side of the track to meet up with Ralph. She was a only few steps away when she tripped over her own feet and nearly landed face first into a mud puddle. Ralph caught her by her shoulders a mere few inches away from the puddle, a feat he was capable of because of his longer than average arms. The ends of her hair still managed to touch the puddle. Ralph lifted Malon back to her feet. She looked down and tried to cover her embarrassed face but her chubby blushing cheeks gave it away. "You okay?" Ralph asked lazily. "Yeah… Thanks." Malon replied in whisper. The two walked back to the farm house as Malon put away her tools. "Dad, I'm going into Castle Town to show Ralph around." Malon said to her father. "Sure thing. Just be careful and don't get into mischief." Talon replied.
Malon and Ralph walked into the Castle Town gates across the drawbridge. "Welp, here it is." Malon said. Ralph looked around in astonishment. He had never left Tenno County before but to be somewhere like Castle Town to him was simply breath taking. "Wow, all my life I've wanted a change of scenery and this place his beautiful." Ralph said with a childish enthusiasm. Malon giggled. "You like this place that much already?" she asked. "What's not to like?" He questioned back. He looked as he saw jugglers, dancers, and other street performers. "Hey let's check out this stand over here!" Malon said dragging Ralph over with her. "What a beautiful young lassie. What can I do you for?" The short hooded woman said in a creepy voice. "How much for this slingshot?!" Malon asked excitedly, she had always wanted a slingshot but never saved up enough money to buy one. She was so excited until she heard the price. "30 Rupees." Said the old shopkeeper. Malon's enthusiasm died. "Darn! All I have is 20. Well thanks anyway." She said disappointedly. "Wait a second, Rupees? You mean those shiny gem looking things, I picked a few up around the ranch, but I didn't know they were money." Ralph pulled out two blue Rupees. Malon gasped. "Ralph! That plus what I have in my wallet is enough to buy the slingshot! Please, oh please, I'll pay you back I promise." Ralph handed her the Rupees and started to think. "Damn, I thought I was in some weird town, but the currency here is different than back home and everyone has pointy ears. Just where and the hell am I?" Malon took the slingshot with joy and gave Ralph a big Thank-you hug. (Which made him feel kinda uncomfortable.) "I know Dad said don't get into any mischief, but think of the pranks we could pull with this!" Malon's cute joyful face went to devious as she began thinking of who her victims would be. Ralph had never been too big on pranks but since he was looked at as a child by everyone is this strange place, he decided he'd be able to get away with it and have a little fun.
Malon and Ralph went around Castle Town with the newly purchased slingshot taking turns shooting at pots and jars on people's balconies. One man came outside and stood on his balcony to enjoy the view, but Ralph fired a plant seed at a jar on the man's balcony… He missed the jar by a longshot "Oof!" The man let out a groan as he hunched over the wooden railing and flipped off the 12 foot balcony to the ground beneath. "Uh-oh!" Ralph and Malon said at the same time. "I think you got him in the deku-nuts!" Malon panicked. "Okay let's just walk back to the ranch and act like nothing happened." Ralph said. "No! We have to see if he's alright, I'll never be able to live with myself if we seriously hurt someone." Malon protested. The two walked over to the house the man had fallen off of but there was no injured person in sight. "Well he's not here. He must've got up and walked away. He's fine." Ralph said trying to convince Malon. Her nervous look faded, her demeanor brightened, and her chubby cheeks formed a big smile. "That crap was hilarious!" She burst out laughing. Ralph joined in her laughter as they headed back to the drawbridge.
Ralph and Malon walked back towards Lon Lon Ranch, the sun was setting quickly and the Castle Town drawbridge was closing up behind them. Malon began to go pale. "Ralph, we have to sprint to the trail." She said to him with a nervous look. "What? Why? I don't like sprinting long distances." He replied. "You aren't from here are you? At night stalchildren appear." Before Ralph could ask a question two popped out of the ground in front of them. "Do something!" She screamed. Time slowed down and Ralph's mind processed two things very quickly, he was no longer on Earth, and they were in a life or death situation. His fight or flight instinct kicked in and as one of the skeletons swiped its arm at him, he gave it a strong nunchuk uppercut, knocking its head off its body. The second one charged him, but he sidestepped it with Malon clinging tight to his left arm and whacked it in the back of its skull, effectively shattering it. The two skeletons were now both running in circles without their heads. Ralph saw this as an opportunity to escape. "Run!" He said to Malon. She obeyed and they both sprinted towards Lon Lon Ranch as fast as they could without stopping. Once they got to the ranch they continued to run, into the gates, through the usual swarm of guay, and into the ranch house. Talon was already asleep when they got there. Once the adrenalin stopped flowing they both felt exhausted and out of breath. Malon caught her breath as much as she could and then threw herself into Ralph's arms and hugged him. Tears began to roll down her round cheeks, she felt safe in his arms as she had never been that close to any field monster other than guay. "I was so scared…" She said, voice muffled in Ralphs long hair. "It's alright Malon, calm down. We're safe now." He said walking her upstairs to her room. "Please feel free to stay another night, it's the least I can offer." Ralph not having anywhere else to go took her up her offer. He grabbed a blanket, spread it on the rough floor, and went to sleep. "Goodnight." She whispered, cutting out all but one candle.
-Author's notes
Okay let's face it. I have a soft side. I really like the idea of Malon and my OC but they're both technically kids so I don't want to get too into that yet.(If it wasn't obvious Malon is crushing on Ralph then sorry I spoiled it.) Anyway thisis not a Malon x OC fanfic. I just need more time to bring in the other characters and the adventure plot. Reviews and suggestions are appreciated.