Ruto said she wanted to go to bed, so the three companions rode together, slowly, in silence; twilight coming on quickly, the skies having long lost their beautiful red and pink hues in the west. No one said anything until they were out of the lake, "Do you want us to stay at your place tonight, Malon?" Krystal asked innocently. Malon's heart throbbed and her answer was caught in her throat. She half turned her head but immediately hesitated. Krystal leaned in.
The three looked quite silly sharing a horse, and Malon, becoming self conscious about it and regaining her usual grace, she turned back and smiled. Krystal leaned back into Link and Malon replied, "That's a pretty good idea, actually." Her heart too heavy to convey her genuine excitement. Krystal snapped her handheld open and selected a contact. While she waited she teased Link "How come you're the only boy in in Hyrule who doesn't have a GameBoy?" Link smiled, but said nothing, just shaking his head and shrugging.
Krystal laughed, "Whatever..."
She spoke into her mic, "Hi, mom? - yeah, i kn- - yes- - i know. I'm sorry. we're fine. Yes... yeah, i know. We're fine, Ruto was eaten by the lake monster again, and Malon was eaten by her horse." She patronized. Link admired the silly relationship between Krystal and her mother. Something about it had a sneaky feel to it and made him wonder at times what was really going on. Krystal continued her call, "yeah, I know" she laughed, "Call Link's house, okay? We're staying at Malon's tonight. She needs her friends, and we cant say no." and hung up without a goodbye. "Your mom lets you get away with everything, Krystal! Mom would've had me cleaning the barn and stables from sun up till sun down for a month if I made demands like that!" she laughed.

Her similar admiration for her family's friends lifted her heart. "Link, you want to grab anything from home on the way?" She asked as they approached his house at the settling in of starlight. "Grab the satchel, Link!" Krystal said excitedly. A themed gift she had bought him to go with his newly acquired movie and video game. Link was slightly embarrassed, he thought it was more like a purse; but couldn't deny his friends, and nodded. Krystal nudged Malon "He'll be just like the Link in the movie!" She giggled. Malon's expression became serious and concerned, but she said nothing.

Chapter III: Country aint never modern

I don't think, even if we're going to get him to talk, we'll be getting get any info out of Link.
Better start pumping his friends, instead, get them to talk and explain this...
What a strange place for a new chapter...

It was nearing twilight before the trio arrived at the dilapidated overhang that had two huge L's and two huge R's with tiny fine print in between that read out as "Lon Lon Romani Ranch" across the unmaintained wood. Malon hated to see her home go to such waste like that, and tried not to look. Link stared at it, incredulous. So much worn away in such a short time. No 'c' or 'h', two small "o"s in 'Lon' and 'Romani', and two missing 'n's made the sign look like it said "L n Lo R ma i Ran ."... It had only been a couple years since he and Malon met, and he only remembered being there once, and it was such a pristine place! He couldn't help but think this mystery illness had something to do with it, and couldn't shake the clamps he felt gripping his heart at the thought.

"How come you never invite me to your house, Krystal?" Malon perked, not really even asking, but Krystal fell silent and just curled her green bangs with a finger. Link abruptly dismounted and startled the girls, "Whoa!" Malon called, half to her horse, half to Link, "A little warning next time okay, hero?" She joked, at the satchel. Link smiled and patted the satchel. He thought he really did look like the Hero of Time; just with darker hair, no tunic, and no equipment. Okay so he hardly looked anything like the hero, but Link liked to think he did. His mother always told him he had the blondest hair in the world when he was born, never the less.

Link jogged alongside Epona and his friends down the drive to the Ranch House. Ingo was sleeping on the porch, arms folded sternly over his chest, and a seemingly permanent scowl painted his lips. Malon and Krystal dismounted Epona and Malon told them to wait at the porch while she took her horse to the corral and close it up. Krystal was being very self conscious ever since Malon's innocent question, and Link saw her contemplative eyes, stepped to her and broke her focus. He smiled with his eyes, looking into hers. "Oh link, you always know what to say, don't you?" She smiled. This comment was just loud enough, it shocked Ingo out of his sleep and he shouted out "Who's there, thieves?! Brawlers?! Mafioso?! Get off my property!"
He was still dreaming but didn't know he was awake, and took off after Link and Krystal. Link grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the corral, and they took off running for Malon. "Malon! Ingo's gone nuts!" Krystal called out ahead. Looking back, Link could see Ingo veer off toward the stables. Probably getting a horse, he thought. Link ran ahead faster and cleared the gate as Malon was closing it. He bolted to the horse, and jumped on Epona's back, turned her around and galloped to the gate. Krystal and Malon traded places with Link and Epona, and Link rode off toward Ingo, to distract him from the girls. "Thief!" he called out when he saw Link riding.
Link lead Ingo around the corral for a few laps before Talon stormed out of the house, ranting and spouting, "What in tarnation is goin' awn out here? I had better notta heard someone stealin' my horses!" He belted. Just as Link and Ingo were coming around their third lap. Link halted Epona and stopped in front of Talon, who glared at him furiously. Ingo came around a little too quickly and halted the horse a little too late. The horse compensated, Ingo did not. Ingo was flung off the horses back and directly into Talon's huge belly, knocking the both of them to the ground.

Inside the ranch house, The three friends and Talon sat at the dinner table, and Ingo stood awkwardly in the threshold between the dining and living rooms. Talon's demeanor was reversed; calm, collected. Happy, as to cater to his daughter's guests, but upset given the circumstances of his wife's health. "I got no qualms puttin' y'all up for the night, but I'd appreciate more warning next time you come home at 3 o' clock in th'mornin' with friends! Coulda put out fresh milk for y'all." Malon recoiled at the thought of giving away free milk while the cows starved, turned to say something but couldn't bring herself to fault her father's generous hospitality and looked down into her lap instead. Talon yawned big and loud "Y'all get some sleep. I'll letcha sleep-in, given schools out this summer and yer up so late. Ya need yar rest." He said as he got up from the dining table, beckoning Ingo toward the porch.
The kids wandered into the living room, but could hear Talon sternly lecturing Ingo about making hasty decisions and acting recklessly. Malon and Krystal were totally wiped out and could barely keep an eye open as they took opposite arms of the couch and laid their heads down. Link draped the enormous quilt lain across the back of the couch over the two and retreated to the arm chair beside Krystal's head. He heard Malon murmur something about her mother's knitting as she fell unconscious. "Mom knitted thi- quilt... When Marion was..."

Everyone had settled in for the night. The witching hour was a fascinating time for Link. He felt very alive and alert, and couldn't sleep, just waiting for his friends' breathing to even out so he could quietly make his escape into the night air. He dozed off, briefly, for half an hour or so, but was awakened by a faint sound from outside. He opened his eyes and listened. It sounded like... laughter? Link quietly crept out of the arm chair and snuck toward the front door. There it is again, but it sounded distant. He hesitated at the doorknob.