I decided I didn't like the moblin/Melody situation. So I fixed it in this chapter. After this chapter, they go back to Hyrule Castle, Link and family go back to the ranch (minus Melody), and Malon finally let's Link hear EXACTLY what she thought of his original "agreement" with King Bulblin. Then Link goes on a ride and Sage Saria contacts him AND THEN WE'RE CAUGHT UP.

Let me know if any of this is confusing or if you have any questions . . .

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 13

A few days earlier . . .

Melody decided she didn't mind boar riding. Actually, she really really liked it. Horses were, to her, boring. And skinny. The boar felt more solid beneath her, and she liked the stomping sound and the snorts, as well as the laborious rocking back and forth. Ilia sat behind her, not enjoying the ride so much, if her death grip around Melody's waist was anything to go by. Melody held pretend reins and muttered, "Hya!" under her breath. In actuality, though, her boar was controlled by the moblin on top of the boar next to her. The moblin watched her curiously. His raggedy blue pointed ears twitched, and clicky shrieky noises left his mouth.

"Huh?" Melody grinned at the moblin. "What's your name?"

"Rraaaah?"

"Don't talk to it, Melody," Ilia said.

"Why?"

The moblin made a repetitive noise. "Krakrak."

Melody ignored Ilia and turned back to the moblin. "Krakrak? Is that your name?"

The moblin sat up proudly.

"Cool! Ilia, did you know regular moblins had names?"

"N-no, I didn't manage to learn that last time."

Melody flipped to a boar on the other side of her. "Hey!" she grinned at the green, short, rotund monster. "What's YOUR name?"

At first he seemed surprised, then he said, "Gropkick."

Melody grinned from ear to ear. "Awesome! Well I'm Melody, as you probably know—my papa's famous!" Then she frowned. "Aaaah, but I want a moblin name, too!"

"You will."

Melody turned to Krakrak. "Huh?"

"You will get moblin name," Krakrak continued. "Moblin get name from sound of first destruction. You get strong, then destroy big thing, get very good name."

Melody hopped in her seat. "Awesome, I can't wait! Hey, where are we going anyway, guys?"

Gropkick sputtered in his speed to answer. "Home! We go home! Not you home, I home!"

"How do you say 'home' in moblin?"

Chest puffing out, Gropkick replied, "Korfka."

"Ooh! Okay, let's go to Korfka!" She pumped a fist in the air.

Krakrak followed the gesture, and gave a mighty shriek. Gropkick growled in agreement.

Ilia shivered.

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Melody held the kabob as far away from her as possible. On it were pieces of blackened meat.

They had stopped for the night, and now she, Gropkick, and Krakrak sat around a fire. Ilia sat there, too. The two moblins seemed confused at her outcry, although Gropkick seemed to think it was a battle cry, and at first answered it—until Krakrak smacked him on his helmeted head with a clonk.

Ilia took the kabob from her and sniffed it. "It's okay. You can eat this. It's just boar."

"They eat their boars?"

"Yes."

But all Melody had to say about it was, "Weird," before taking the kabob back and biting into it. "Mmmmm!"

Ilia's face turned green. The thought that came into her head was herself enjoying a piece of . . . well . . . Epona. She tried not to throw up.

"King Bulblin say," said Krakrak, "that we eat boar because human eat boar and Hylian eat boar."

"Unless they're vegetarian," Ilia responded.

"Do moblins eat vegetables?" Melody asked?

Krakrak stuck out his tongue. "Yeerk."

Gropkick bounced in his seat. "Yum yum pumpkin!"

"You and stupid pumpkin patch . . ."

Melody brightened. "Oh! Gropkick, do you have a pumpkin patch at, er, Korfka?"

Gropkick nodded.

"Can I see it when we get there?"

Gropkick's head almost disappeared into his shoulders as he shrank, then nodded shyly.

"Yay!"

He was well-composed when awake, but Krakrak was a terrible snorer. Melody lay on her sleeping pad and stared up at the stars, which were quickly disappearing into the pinkish light of sunrise. Bokoblins were nocturnal. She wasn't sure about moblins or goblins or . . . well, whatever Gropkick was. A bulbin? He was green like King Bulblin. Maybe they just slept when they felt like it? Ilia slept near her.

Melody put her arms behind her head. Even though she'd already been awake all night while traveling, she couldn't sleep. She was finally starting to feel the nerves come up her throat about the whole situation. When would she get to go home? Could she at least visit?

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She sat up and got out of her blanket. Then she stepped lightly over the sleeping moblins until she reached the large, shuddering form of King Bulblin. She kicked his massive body, his flesh jiggling with a sound to match. "Hey! Wake up, Mr. King Bulblin."

The bulbin king sat up suddenly, and so did about twenty moblins, and suddenly they were all up, holding swords and looking around for trouble. Melody felt herself grabbed from behind and pulled back several paces, and suddenly four bokoblins stood between her and their king, haphazard blades held at her chest.

It had been a moblin that had pulled her back. The big, red monstrosity towered over her, his grip still pulling the shoulder of her dress. "Dude, Porkfic, right? Lemme go."

The moblin started in surprise, then did so.

The four bokoblins in front of her did not look so cooperative, and in fact Porkfic had turned his own spears on them, barking at them to lower their weapons. She felt her insides beginning to churn. She decided staying next to Porkfic was a good idea.

"Melody? Melody!" Ilia's footsteps ran through the camp, but one of the four bokoblins threatened her with a spear to keep her back. She glared at the monster before again stepping forward.

The same bokoblin pulled his spear back, prepared to skewer Ilia right then and there, when suddenly a giant green hand grabbed his head from behind and lifted him on the ground. The hand belonged to King Bulblin, who then proceeded to roar loudly and angrily into the bokoblin's face before throwing him over his head. The bokoblin landed in a crumpled mess several yards away.

A harsh yell reached their ears and a green flash landed in front of Ilia and Melody.

It was Link.

He swung his sword at the remaining bokoblins, disarming them immediately. To Melody's surprise, King Bulblin and others helped him, and soon all four of the bokoblins were shivering on the ground, held back by the rest of King Bulblin's forces.

Once it was over, Link's sword flashed in the morning light and steadied itself right against King Bulblin's neck. "You lied to me. You said they'd be safe!"

Melody's mouth fell open. Of course her father had followed them. She chaffed a little in annoyance, but she was actually quite glad to see him.

"I thought they would." King Bulblin responded calmly. He turned his head to one of the cowering attacking bokoblins. "It would seem some of my people are not as loyal as I thought. Your daughter woke us up just in time to catch these traitors, who were apparently trying to murder me in my sleep."

Melody felt a surge of pride. She'd saved the bulbin king?!

Link slowly lowered his sword, eyebrows crossed. "A mutiny?"

King Bulblin nodded. "From my own personal guards. This I did not expect." He turned serious eyes on Link. "I only hope your people are far more loyal than these-" he made a disgusted noise "-for my Nanaco's sake."

Link nodded. "I'll send word for him to be guarded by my most trusted fellows."

"This is very bad," King Bulblin continued. He barked commands, and soon everyone in the camp began gathering their things to stand in line.

Link turned to Melody. "Well, what have you to say after a day in this nuthouse?"

"It's been great! Well, aside from the last bit. But Papa, I saved King Bulblin!"

Her father seemed taken aback by her enthusiasm.

With the danger over, as far as she could tell, her annoyance was bubbling to the surface, and she crossed her arms. "Were you watching me this whole time?"

"Yes, and don't you expect an apology."

Melody let her arms drop and clenched her fists. "So not only does Ilia have to babysit me, my own FATHER won't let me out of his sight?!"

"Melody," Link said, a tinge of anger in his voice, "You are WAY too young and inexperienced to be on this adventure, which I just PROVED by saving your life!"

"YOU didn't save my life! Porkfic did! He pulled me out of there! You are SO WRONG about the moblins, Papa! SO WRONG!"

"Now listen, young lady-!"

"NO! You were TEN when you went on your first adventure, that's FOUR YEARS younger than I am! I can do this! I WANT to do this! And you CAN'T STOP ME!"

Link had shut up, not because he agreed, but because he couldn't counter what she said logically. He had been ten on his first adventure, and his kids had heard the stories their whole lives, heard his deeds lauded and praised. He pointed at himself. "Do you think I liked it? Do you think it was good for me?! Well let me tell you a secret, Melody."

Melody had never seen her father's eyes look like that. They were so wild, and alert.

"I have nightmares. Horrible ones. I get eaten, ripped apart, smashed, beaten, I die. Every night. Sometimes I get afraid for no reason and all I can do is sit in bed all day! You know why you can't make sudden noises in the house? Because I'd JUMP. I'd think there was a monster and go blind with rage. That's why the swords at our house are locked up. It's NOT just to protect you kids from them. It's to protect YOU from ME, because I got so used to being alone that I can't even FATHOM the people near me being anything but monsters! Is THAT what you want to become?!"

Melody's stomach had dropped out from under her. She felt tears at the corners of her eyes. She had seen that Papa, but only from a distance. Was it really so bad?

"You are NOT alone," Link continued, "You have a mother and father that love you, and I will NEVER let you end up like me if there is anything I can do to prevent it."

The first giant tear fell, then another, and suddenly Melody ran forward and wrapped her arms around her father's chest and cried horribly into his tunic. Link gathered her up in his arms immediately and tried to keep his own eyes dry, and failing. He ran his fingers through his daughter's hair. His beautiful, precious daughter.

After a few minutes, she pulled away from him. "But Papa, you promised."

"What?"

She sniffed. "You promised. You told King Bulblin that I would go live with the moblins and Nanaco would live with the Hylians. You can't go back on your word . . ."

"I'll figure something out."

Melody was silent for a moment. "I really wanted to see Gropkick's pumpkin patch."

". . . Gropkick?"

"Yeah! He's a bulbin friend I made. Also Krakrak."

"You know their . . . names?"

She nodded. She started telling Link about everything she'd learned about the moblins the previous night, everything they ate, everything they did. Eventually Link even met Gropkick, Porkfic, and Krakrak, because her 'friends' wanted to know if she was alright. They eyed Link warily and kept a safe distance, though.

Ilia also came up to check on Melody, and then stood next to her, an arm thrown protectively around her.

"Link!" King Bulblin approached then. "I have a new proposition for you."

"Papa wants me to go home," Melody informed him, putting Link on the spot. "I really want to help the moblins, Papa, isn't there something I can do?"

King Bulblin looked at Link. Link looked back. "I don't want her to go. She's too young."

All the nearby moblins looked at him oddly. One piped up, "She older than you were."

That irked Link. Don't encourage her! He wanted to scream. He hoped grabbed the hilt of his sword tightly was message enough.

It was.

"The agreement still stands," King Bulblin said carefully. When Link began to protest, he waved a hand to silence him. "Among our people, she would have already found a mate and been an adult three years."

Link sputtered, "Yeah, THAT doesn't make me feel better!"

"I am NOT getting married!" Melody yelled, and Link was glad they finally agreed on something.

"We would not expect her to. We fully plan on treating her the same as you do, as far as we are able."

"I'm sorry, King Bulblin," said Link, "I still don't like it."

King Bulblin grumbled in displeasure. He took a few steps forward and stared down at Link. "Do you trust my honor, Hero?"

Eyes slitting, Link considered. "Only as long as I'm winning."

King Bulblin loomed even more over him, teeth glinting. "Then I guess you should start focusing on winning." He stepped back. "This is very bad. These four cannot be the only ones. If there are others who are listening to his voice, then we will have to fight our own. They may already be readying for attack. For that reason, you will need protection at your ranch, and also Ordon, and all other places as soon as possible."

Link nodded. "Isn't it true, King Bulblin, that you really aren't in a position to make demands?"

King Bulblin glared at him distrustfully.

"After all, without our help, you might just get wiped off the face of the earth, either by your old god or your fellows who follow him. Isn't that right?"

Again, King Bulblin snarled.

"If that's the case . . . I see no reason to honor my agreement with you concerning my daughter."

A flash of real sadness crossed his eyes. "You . . . are correct. With this internal strife, I am not certain we could survive on our own. We would rather leave our home than battle our brothers and sisters. We are again at your mercy, Hero."

Melody could feel the weight pressing down on all of the moblins. They had spend countless generations being led and manipulated by vicious sorcerers and gods, given so much of themselves only to be left in the dirt. She left Ilia's side and tugged on her father's sleeve. "Papa?"

"Hm?" Link kept his eyes trained on King Bulblin.

Melody cleared her throat, then took one step closer to King Bulblin and held her hands clasped in front of her. "King Bulblin, I know you've only known me a day or so, but I've already found so many friends among your people, and I want them to be safe, and I hope you believe me. When I'm an adult, I will definitely come visit you all." She heard Link beginning to protest, but she ignored him. "And I promise, I will do everything I can to make sure the moblins have a place in Hyrule after this is all over. I promise."

She felt some of the weight being lifted, and saw many of the moblins relax a little bit. The change startled Link, who hadn't continued his protest from the middle of Melody's speech. King Bulblin crouched down and regarded Melody thoughtfully. "A promise given without wanting one in return is a great promise indeed. Are you sure you wish to make such a promise?"

"Melody," she heard her father begin.

She put her hands on her hips. "Well, duh. That's why I promised!"

King Bulblin nodded. "Very well then. We shall put our faith not in Hyrule's Hero, but in you, little she Hylian."

Melody grinned. She danced over to her moblin friends. "Do you want to come with me?"

Krakrak tilted his head, Gropkick did that thing where his head became part of his torso, and Porkfic just seemed surprised to be included. One by one they looked at each other, then at King Bulblin, and then with surprising confidence, all nodded.

Melody clapped her hands together. "Yes! I'm very excited!"

Link decided he needed to get her away from here before she ended up adopting the entire camp. "Melody, it's time to go home."

She spun around. "I'm not going home. I'm going to Aunt Zelda's. I'm going to help Nanaco learn about Hyrule, and then we're going to work together to save the moblins!"

The look she was giving him told him she was not of a mind to do anything else, and remembering exactly whose daughter she was (his, and more importantly, Malon's), decided that was as close to a compromise as he was going to get. Plus, he was tired and just wanted to get this conversation over with and get his daughter somewhere that wouldn't give him a heart attack. "Alright, but let's get going, okay?"

She finally deflated and had the decency to look as tired as she ought to after being up as long as she had. "Okay . . ."

"Ilia?"

Ilia was standing near, a worried expression on her face. It cleared when Link called her name. "What is it, Link?"

"Are you alright?"

She nodded. "I'm . . . honestly a bit glad. I'm not sure what Father would have done if I didn't arrive home safely. I'm in your debt again."

"Pfft. Hardly." He turned to King Bulblin. "You can trust that no harm will come to Nanaco. As long as he is with us, he will be safe."

King Bulblin nodded, but he did not seem very grateful. "I will send soldiers to protect the fields as we agreed." As he turned away, he looked back and said, "I will remember that you broke your word, Hero."

Hoping he hadn't done permanent damage to their people's relations, Link nodded in return. "I hope one day you'll forgive the insanity of a Hylian father."

"If Hylian parents are insane, then we are all doomed." King Bulblin turned his back on Link and approached his bulbo. All the moblins mounted their boars, and except for Krakrak, Gropkick and Porkfic, they all galloped off across the field.

Link and Ilia stared at the three remaining moblins. The moblins stared back from atop their boars. Krakrak was holding the reigns of a third bulbo, apparently for Melody. Link whistled for Epona, who came running soon thereafter. "Papa!" Melody cried. "I want to ride the boar!"

"I'd prefer to not," Ilia admitted.

"Papa, Papa, you HAVE to ride with me!"

A wry smile broke across Link's face. "Well, it HAS been a while since I rode one of those."

And so, Ilia riding Epona the Second, Link and Melody and the moblins riding boars, they made their way back to Hyrule Castle. Not ten minutes into the ride, Link realized Melody, who sat in front of him, was snoring.

She was asleep.

On top of a galloping boar.

You really WOULD fit in with the moblins, wouldn't you? He thought.