Darunia rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. "It's time, is it...?"
Link nodded, a hand massaging the bridge of his nose. "Yeah. Darune, I don't want to go back to that old man. He's... I don't know, I don't like him. I trust him, sure, but... he's just dislikable." He sighed. "He offered me something I would never accept in a million years—that leaves a bad impression."
"I understand," Darunia nodded. "Link, brother, I think you should go. Even if you don't like him, if there's anything you could do about the situation as it currently stands... more than you've already done, anyway... then I say, go ahead and do it. I'll take care of the townspeople until you return."
Link was thoughtful a moment, then the ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "Yeah... Thanks, Darune." They shared a Goron hug, and the Hylian set down the mountain, believing he was mentally prepared for what Raoru would have to say.
Unfortunately, the thought of Raoru made him shudder, so he switched his train of thought to a different track. The cuckoo lady, as she was referred to, came up to him and asked him to help her with her cuckoos. She'd lost them again. He was glad to help her, as always, but... he did have somewhere to be.
Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, the cuckoos tended to each favor one specific spot, so he was able to get them to her quickly and be out the gate. He sighed, unsteady, watching the sun set beyond the mountains far in the distance. Vaguely, he wondered if he would ever feel the need to travel those mountains. Knowing the big journey in store for him, he would.
"Link?"
He blinked, his gaze shifting from the mountains to the person in front of him. There, an elderly, stocky man stood. He was balding, and the hair that was left were thick strands of brown. He was covered head to toe in dirt, almost encasing his blue overalls and red t-shirt.
"Talon?"
The man let out a huge breath of relief. "I made it here, then?"
"Yeah..." Link blinked. "Are you okay? Where's Malon?"
Talon moaned. "My Malon... my dear, precious Malon... Link, Ingo forced me out of the ranch."
A surge of rage charged through him. "He what?!"
"Oh, and he kept Malon... Link, it's just terrible..." Tears were springing in Talon's eyes, before he sighed and wiped them away. "I'm going to sleep my troubles away, lad..." Talon pat his back. "I'll be seeing you in a while... I'd bet my bottom dollar you're leaving here for somethin' important. I can smell it. Well, good luck with that, and just know we're always here for you."
This was why Link liked Talon. Talon could tell when he was upset, and as a bonus, comfort him without really knowing the problem. Often, Link found him to be the dad he never had. Grinding his teeth together in thought, he continued his journey, deciding that as long as he got to his destination, it didn't matter what detours he took.
- -
"Hiiiiiiiiiiii! Welcome to Ingo Ranch! Haha, what can I do fer ya?"
Wincing, Link rubbed his ears. Ingo sounded a lot like a goat for some reason... "Um, I'm here to buy a horse," he lied, taking in the changes of the ranch. The size didn't change, yet it seemed smaller. The horses were caged in to the pen, which was something Talon never did, even at night. And the worst news was that Malon wasn't anywhere to be found.
"Of course you are!" Ingo grinned. He wore light blue overalls with a gray shirt, happily rid of the pitchfork he used to always swing around. "However, I have a few conditions. You can only be in the pen for, say, thirty minutes, before I have to let you out whether you've chosen her or not. Either way, you have to pay a down payment of thirty rupees, and if you like your horse, then pay me fifty rupees, and she's yours."
Link nodded, wondering why in the world Ingo had decided that he had to be a rip-off artist. "Alright. Oh, and... I'm an old friend of Talon's. It looks like he's sold off the Ranch, and I saw him on the way here. But do you know where his daughter, Malon, is?"
"Eh? The brat?" Ingo shrugged. "She's doing her chores—decided she didn't want to leave with her dad." Then he scrutinized Link, narrowing his eyes. "Hey... do I know you from somewhere?"
"Uh, this is the first time we've met," Link lied. "Can I speak with Malon before I see the horses? I have a message for her from her father."
Ingo's eyes narrowed even further, near to slits. Obviously, he was against it, but he was trying to decide whether or not it would be good for his image to decline. After a moment, he sighed. "Okay. But make it quick—she's busy."
Thanking him with false gratitude, Link hurried to the barn, where he expected Malon to be—and there she was. He couldn't stop himself from gasping in amazement the first time he saw her. She was so... beautiful, even in misery. This wasn't at all like he thought she would be. Her long, smooth red hair outlined her rosy cheeks perfectly and caressed her form like a mother would caress her child. And her eyes, so wondrous and yet so sad, sparkled a rebellious jade-green. Her face was round, yet mature.
She swerved to him in alarm from her work: changing the hay in the stables. "O-oh," she breathed in relief. "Are you a customer?" Her voice was like an exotic music he'd never heard before, and he longed to hear her speak again. But this was another matter.
"No, I'm—" Before he could get another word out, Navi scurried out, excited, practically shoving herself into Malon's face.
"Hey, Malon! How's it going? I heard Talon left and Ingo took over! That's awful! But you're okay, right?"
Malon stared at the fairy incomprehensibly for a moment, and Link panicked. Maybe she didn't remember? But then she beamed and hugged Navi to her chest. "Ohmigosh! Navi! I've missed you, girl!"
Link's eyes followed Malon's hands—and then stopped. Oh... goddesses. He'd been around women his age before, but... goddesses! She had huge...
"Oh, and then—you're the fairy boy from the market!" Malon jumped up from her kneeling form and grinned at him, releasing Navi. "Wow! You've grown!" And then she hugged him.
Link was in heaven for a moment as he returned the hug. "S-so have you," he replied with an awkward smile. Navi whacked him on the head and he released Malon, rubbing his poor, poor scalp. "Ow! Navi!"
"I'll be talking with you, young man," she scoffed. "You're not here to enjoy yourself."
His face heated and he cleared his throat. "I—I know that! Uh, Malon, I want to know what happened. I mean, Talon said Ingo made you stay, but Ingo says you chose to. And Talon is so worried about you."
Malon's eyes softened. "Ingo... I don't know what happened to him. He was called away for a meeting with Ganondorf, and when he returned, he kicked Talon out. He said that Ganondorf gave the ranch and... me to him." She shuddered. "Who does he think he is?! How can he have the right to give me to Ingo?! Uh, anyway," she coughed, "Talon was resolute. He said he wouldn't leave without me—but I wanted to stay."
"Why?" That bewildered Link. "How could you want to...?"
"I couldn't leave Epona behind." She made eye contact with him for what Link felt was the first time today. "Can you help me?! Please, save Epona!"
"W-wait," he stuttered. "Why does Epona need saving?"
"Ingo's cruel!" Malon cried. "He treats the horses terribly! And, what's worse, he's going to give her to Ganondorf! I can't stand the thought! Please, you have to buy her! I know Ingo will probably try to trick you out of it, like race you, but you know Epona's song! Epona likes you! You can beat him! I know you can!"
After a quiet, tense moment, Link gathered his thoughts and answered with a smile, "I'll do it. But after I do, you'll have no reason to stay. I want you to run when I leave. I'll meet you at the path east of here. Deal?"
Malon grinned, tears tearing at her eyes. "D-deal. I'm indebted, Link. If you need anything—just ask. Please."
He laughed softly and ruffled her hair. "Of course."
With that, he left her and soon found Ingo in the same place he was before. Coming up to him, he grinned, getting ready to pull out Saria's ocarina. "All right then. What was the down payment?"
"Thirty rupees," Ingo replied greedily. "For every thirty minutes."
Link reluctantly handed him the rupees and stepped through the gate. There were many horses, but none of them looked particularly happy. His gaze swept past each and every one of them, until they settled on the one he was looking for. Epona was a tall, majestic mare with a proud, vibrant sanguine coat and a fierce white mane. Slowly, he approached her, cautiously, making sure she recognized him.
She turned when she saw him approaching, neighed, and trotted off. Obviously, Link realized with a small laugh, she was the 'lone wolf' of them. Hearing Ingo snicker behind him, a fire sparked in him. He was laughing? Oh, this was funny, eh? Well, he'd show him.
Taking out the ocarina, he softly played a melody. If you were to stand there next to him, you would hear the love and compassion he held for his horse, which was so strong that even Ingo stared in amazement. The horses turned to one another, wondering which one he would choose—for such an owner was much better than the one they had now.
Link continued playing, eyes never leaving Epona. Realizing she was the one, and that he was the fairy boy from years before, she neighed in joy and raced toward him, barely stopping from colliding with him. Grinning, he gently caressed her muzzle, and she chuckled in appreciation.
He used the stirrups to help himself onto her—she was great and tall, fitting her personality. Jokingly, she reared and he nearly fell. And in return, she snickered. Laughing with her, he got back up on her, more forceful this time. After all, he did have a limited amount of time. He guided her over to Ingo using the reins, who looked as if he might swallow a fly at any moment.
"This one," Link announced confidently, "is the one I want."
Ingo's eyes bugged out of their sockets, then he quickly regained himself and shook his head rebelliously. "No! How could... she won't even listen to me!" 'There's a reason for that,' Link thought with a dry smirk. "Alright, how's this—pay me fifty rupees and I'll race you for her! The winner gets her!"
Malon was right. Link sighed. "Deal. Here."
He gave him the rupees, and Malon came out to start the race. "On your mark!" she cried. "Ready, set! Go!"
Link snapped the reins.