The sounds of the market town were painful to the ear. Loud yells and music blasted through the small square, but the natives paid no mind. Link covered his ears as he got closer, squinting his eyes in discomfort.
"HEY!" A loud, young girl's voice rang through the barrier of Link's ears. He opened his eyes completely, and saw a girl with flaming red red hair, dressed in a long dress. He uncovered his ears, and the noise unaffected him. He looked in disbelief at the girl in front of him.
"Malon?" He said in disbelief. Link had thought he might get used to this by now, but it was odd to see her back in the town. Malon looked at Link with a confused and slightly frightened."
"H... How do you know my name?" Link slapped his hand to his face. He had completely forgotten that Malon still had no idea who he was. Link had to think quickly as to not draw suspicion, knowing that Malon might retreat if he acted odd.
"Oh, um... I've spoken to your father before. At the ranch, you know?" Link said, hoping that she would buy it.
"Oh!" Malon's face lit up, and a smile spread across it. "Well, it's nice to meet you! I'm Malon!" Malon paused. "Wait, you already knew that..." Link laughed in relief.
"It's fine. I'm Link, by the way." Link put out his hand. Malon did not shake it. Instead she began to wave her arms to her side.
"Link? That's an odd name. You're clothes are weird too. Are you not from here? I come here a lot. But I live at the ranch, with my father." Malon paused again. "Wait, you already knew that..." Link laughed again. Malon seemed so innocent.
"No, I'm not from here. I'm actually from the forest." Malon looked at him in confusion.
"You're a Kokiri? I thought you guys weren't allowed to leave the forest." Link sighed. It was a very long story that he didn't really have time to explain to her.
"It's a very long story, Malon. I'm not a Kokiri, I'm Hylian. My parents were killed in the war." Malon look at Link reproachfully. She frowned.
"Oh." She said. "I'm sorry..." Link chuckled, and shook his head.
"Don't worry about it, I don't mind. How can I care about people I never met?" Malon's smiled returned. She pointed at the sheathed sword on Link's back.
"Is that a sword? Why do you carry around a sword? Isn't it dangerous? My dad always said, 'Unless it's a soldier, never trust someone with a sword.' I don't know If that's true, but-" Link cut her off.
"Yes, it's a sword." He reached for the blade, his hand grasping the handle. "Do you want to see it?" Malon contemplated for a moment, and slowly nodded her head. She folded her arms to her chest. Link unsheathed the sword, and pointing it directly to the ground. The blade was still stained with blood and venom. Malon gasped.
"Did you... kill something? Link nodded, and Malon gasped again.
"I fought a giant spider inside of a huge ancient tree. He was the guardian of the forest, and he was cursed by Ganondorf." Malon stared at Link for a long time. She smiled.
"Well, it was nice meeting you!" She walked off in the direction of one of the any shops. Link looked at her, confused. He shook his head, and walked off to the castle grounds.
"Never understood her." Link said as he strode towards Hyrule Castle.
"Kid, you can't get in here." The soldier said angrily. "This is the CASTLE. Do you know what a castle is? It's the home of the royal family. The rulers of Hyrule. So, that means you need to GET LOST." The soldier jabbed at Link with his spear, and Link stormed away angrily. "This generation..." The soldier mumbled under his breath.
"Kid... He has no idea..." Link said angrily as he rounded the curve.
"Hi!" Link jumped as Malon greeted him. "How are you?" Link remembered suddenly what he had to do, a grin quickly formed on his face.
"Hey, Malon. Do you have a chicken egg that I could have?" Malon looked at him in confusion and disbelief. "I could find your father for you." Malon suspiciously pulled the egg out, and handed it to him. Link was relieved. He hugged Malon.
"Thank you, Malon!" Link released, and looked at Malon, smiling. Malon's face had turned a deep red. Link turned towards the vines quickly, hoping to avoid further conversation. Malon turned to Link when he was halfway up the vines.
"I'll... Um... I'll see you later.." Malon ran in the opposite direction, leaving Link to pull himself to the top of the ledge. He rolled over into the grass.
"That was awkward." Link said. He jumped up, and ran across to the bridge, jumping in the other side of the gate. He walked toward the moat of the castle, being careful to not be spotted. He came across Malon's father, deep asleep on the ground. He pulled out the egg, which started to crack and shake.
"Oh, now? Really? Okay." The egg burst open, and a fully grown chicken hopped out, crowing loudly. Talon awoke with a start, flailing his arms violently and jumping to his feet.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Link looked up at him, raising his eyebrows.
"You need to get to your daughter." Talon' eyes widened, and he dashed in the other, yelling and screaming about how Malon was going to kill him.
"For such a nice girl, Malon has a really messed up family." Link laughed at his own comment, and crawled through the hole in the wall.
"Time to invade a castle."