Much to Malon's horror, the doppelganger managed to tell Saria what the words damn, bitch, shit, bastard, and sex meant. She did not find this out until they reached Epona and she overheard Saria asking more about why people would not tell her about the words. Malon and Navi both berated Dark Link for teaching her such words, especially since she was a child. However, he merely smiled and ignored their shouts of rage.
"And where are we to go to find him?" Dark Link asked.
"The Gerudo Fortress. If we take Epona, we should reach there before night falls. If we do not reach him by then, we will miss our opportunity," Malon replied.
"Let me guess, Epona is some sort of large pack animal?" Dark Link asked.
"Epona is Link's horse. We are borrowing her for a little while," Malon replied in annoyance. Dark Link frowned and was about to say something until he saw Epona. He stared at the horse in a mixture of confusion and anger. Epona stared back at Dark Link, not at all happy with his presence.
"And how do you expect to control this beast?" Dark Link asked, reaching out to grab her reigns. Epona quickly made it clear that she was not about to let him ride on her back. She snapped at his fingers and bit down hard. Dark link growled angrily as he shook her off. Epona snorted in rage and quickly trotted to Malon's side.
"I don't think you can ride her," Malon stated nervously.
"Really? I did not notice. I thought it was just being shy and would eventually accept me," Dark Link snarled, nursing his bitten hand bitterly. Malon smiled before turning to the horse.
"Epona, wait here. We will be back hopefully in a few days," Malon said. The horse butted her head against Malon before trotting around her towards to the lake.
"So we are to walk. Fine. Let us go then," Dark Link said, turning and walking away from Epona.
"Saria, was he like this down in the temple?" Malon asked nervously.
"No, he was not. He attacked us in the temple before we could explain why we were here. I think he is trying to be nice," Saria replied back. Malon frowned and stared at Dark Link's retreating back, astounded that someone would dare attack children.
"And he threatened us too! He was gonna hurt Saria and he hurt that girl that kind of looked like a fish! Do we have to have him come with us? I don't like him," Saria's fairy yelled.
"Unfortunately yes. We need him if our plan is going to work," Malon replied. Saria nodded and then frowned as she remembered.
"Oh, and he thinks he's gonna kill Link. Sorry," Saria quickly stammered. Malon blanched as she realized there was now another kink in their plan to save Link.
"It is not your fault. We will figure out how to do this without him discovering what is going on," Malon replied quietly. She quickly ushered the green-haired girl forward and started walking towards to Hyrule Field, not wanting to annoy the doppelganger any more and risk him discovering their scheme.
The day went by slowly as they trekked across the large field. Dark Link did not speak, only watched the expanse with a wary and wondering eye. Malon was not perturbed by it. In fact, she was grateful that he did not ask her questions that would be hard to answer, such as what the plan was to kill Link and why he was at the Gerudo fortress. Saria, on the other hand, was not used to such silence. Having spent her entire life in a forest village overrun by children that would never age, she had gotten used to always hearing voices and noises.
"How long have you been in that temple?" Saria asked quietly.
"It is hard to say how long. It is also none of your concern, sage," Dark Link .
"You can tell me. It's okay, we won't tell anyone else if that is what you want," Saria said, hopeful for an answer.
"If you must ask, then ask the sage in charge of the wretched temple and leave me alone. I am already bored of the questions," Dark Link growled.
"Has anyone ever taught you to mind your manners?" Malon asked, annoyed that he was being rude to Saria.
"I have been taught many things, manners were not necessary. Enough of the questions," the doppelganger stated, quickly trying to end the conversation before it got out of hand and he ended up talking about things he really should not speak of.
"Just cause you're some evil doppelganger of Link doesn't mean you can be a big jerk to everyone, you know!" Navi called out from Saria's shoulder. Dark Link scowled and pulled the fairy off of the girl's shoulder by her wing. The fairy squealed in pain and surprise, not expecting to be grabbed in such a manner.
"How sad would your precious Link be if I showed him your squashed body?" Dark Link asked, a wide grin spreading across his face as he watched the fairy struggle to free her wing.
"You wouldn't hurt me! Nope! You wouldn't dare!" Navi shrieked.
"How about you pick on someone your own size, you big bully!" Saria's fairy yelled, zooming off of Saria's shoulder and ramming full-force in between Dark Link's eyes. He hissed angrily at the fairy's attack and swiped at the attacking fairy with his free hand. Malon quickly took advantage of the distraction to grab at the hand holding Navi and freeing her. The released fairy immediately flew to safety and hid in Malon's hair. As soon as Navi was out of sight, the other fairy dodged the clawing hands and hid in Saria's bag. Dark Link snarled, glaring at Saria and Malon.
"Bring them out,"
"We don't have the time for this. We have to keep going or else we will miss our chance, so be silent and keep walking!" Malon yelled angrily. Dark Link raised his eyebrows in surprise at being shouted, but that surprise quickly vanished and was replaced with annoyance.
"I'm surrounded by stupid loud-mouthed bitches. If this didn't mean the hero's death, I would..." Dark Link grumbled, his voice shifting to unintelligible grumbles of anger as he stormed off.
"But I'm not a dog..." Saria mumbled to herself.
Nabooru sighed as she watched more and more of her sisters return from Hyrule field and the lands beyond, all with their catches and news of the lands. Several of them had brought her news of the gerudos that had been caught by the guards. Many of them had been sentenced to the stocks in the markets, unable to finish their role and return. Those that had not been sent to the stocks were imprisoned, waiting to be tried. While some of them would be pardoned by the Goddess due to their inexperience and youth, the older women that had the misfortune of getting caught were not going to be as lucky. They will be the ones assigned to the duties no one else wanted, such as latrine duty and mucking out the stalls.
"Nabooru, it is getting close to sunset. How are the preparations?" Nabooru jumped and turned to see that it was one of the elders.
"They are going well, Elder. Most of our sisters have returned. You may start getting ready," Nabooru replied, smiling warmly to the older woman. The elder smiled and left to tell the others, leaving Nabooru to her tasks.