Farmgirl
Metallic shuffling sounded. Two guards hurriedly arrived, standing at either side of the northern market section, totally doing their job.
Navi huffed. "Why does this place even have guards..."
Link shrugged. Chin low, he wondered what to do now. That girl... I hope she's alright... He sighed, feeling quite lost for some reason. Without that blondie, life already felt different.
He went from building to building, checking the doors.
Happy Mask Shop
Now hiring part-time
Apply during the day
Medicine Shop
Closed until morning
Bazaar
Open only during the day
Link looked around.
A man in white clothes stood at an open window of the second storey. "It seems like it's taking forever for dawn to come... The view of Hyrule Castle in the morning sun is so fantastic!"
Link turned, looking northward. "Looks like we've got some time before sunrise."
Navi flew to Link's ear. "That's why we should have gone when it was daytime. How will we find the princess of destiny when it's so dark... Looks like we'll just have to kill time until morning."
Some life returned to the town. The happy couple twirled around each other. Some pooches scurried about. The two guards stood like they were about to fall asleep. And then...a pretty voice sang a wordless tune underneath the moonlight, notes crisp and clear.
The singing notes softly echoed amid buildings. Surprisingly, nobody asleep seemed to mind, maybe soothed by the crystalline voice?
Link thought, Who could be singing? "Hm. Maybe I go this way..."
Link followed the resonance, wondering where it came from. He paused, holding his breath. "...Malon?"
The redhead had a crystalline yet grownup singing voice, quite unlike her talking voice, which was girly. Link couldn't figure out how she could do so, yet she turned.
Malon turned, smiling, eyes shut. "Do you like my voice, fairy boy?"
"Uhh..."
Navi flew in. "Link, tell the girl yes... That is all you must do."
"No."
Navi facepalmed.
Malon giggled. "My mother taught me to sing. Maybe one day I'll be as good as her!" Eyes opened, she readied her next note—then paused, breath held. "Is there something wrong, fairy boy?"
Link just stood there, hat crooked, kinda dumb. "I had a friend but she left."
Malon's eyes softened. "Oh? Your girlfriend left you, did she?"
Link blushed. "Uhh, n—no! She isn't my girlfriend!"
Malon smiled sympathetically, grabbing his hand. "It is OK, fairy boy. I'll be your girlfriend for tonight."
"Wha—what?"
"C'mon, let's go find something to do!"
Once again, Link was pulled by some girl across the market.
Navi flew alongside Link's ear. "You have this thing with girls, hunh?"
His blush deepened.
Malon reined Link around the fountain, the next building rather big with two storeys of lighted windows. "Oh, look! This looks like a mini game place! And already so close by!"
Treasure Chest Contest
Temporarily Closed
Malon frowned. "Ughh... Not fabulous."
Link's ears tilted back. "All the other places are closed, too. What are we gonna do?"
Malon pushed her hand through her hair. "Do not worry fairy boy, we'll find something else to do! I am something of a nighttime gal anyways. Let's go this way!" She headed to the back alley.
Images of those fearsome swordswomen flashed in Link's mind.
Malon looked back. "Come on, fairy boy! Let's go!"
Hiding nervousness, Link followed her. I hope those mean ladies aren't there...
They went to the back alley, a few dogs running around—no mean ladies. The alley was narrow, vines growing over some portions of homes, a few barrels alongside the right wall.
"Look!" Link gestured to the left. "There's two doors." He tried opening the first one. Strange...this door doesn't open...
Malon giggled. "Because it's locked."
Link looked back at her, wondering how girls could read minds. "Alright, let's try this one."
Malon raised her eyebrows. "Do you just walk into peoples' homes at night?"
Link indeed did so, as the next door opened as it should.
Inside the apartment was rather spacious, a crate in the corner. A table made of planks, cut roundly, sat in the center. Chair and drawers alongside the right wall. A bed in the corner, desk and chair next. A few large pots shelved near the ceiling. A tree stump table, reminding Link of...home. Two huge jars by a stone oven, a large pot atop.
The only inhabitant was the large woman wearing a white dress with purple decor. She was not troubled by random kids entering her home, apparently. She faced Link. "I can't find my puppy anywhere! I need you to look for it! Please!"
Navi looked at Malon. "People here are quite...punctual."
Malon pushed her hand through her hair. "When people need something they want, definitely." She looked at Link. "Alright, fairy boy! You heard the pooch lady, let's find her puppy!"
Link found himself meandering around the market and alleys, illuminated by moonlight and Navi's aura. Malon sometimes hummed to the various dogs to get their attention, many happily following her around and barking. Pretty soon, many attentively followed Link, too.
Malon chuckled. "Dog people, hunh?"
Link stared cluelessly. "So instead of fairies...people here have dogs?"
Malon giggled. "Sure. Who doesn't love dogs?"
"Well, they are pretty cute..." Link took turns holding up the pooches, happiness shared. "We just gotta figure out which one's hers." They brought the horde of happiness to the back alley. "Alright, let's see..." Link picked up a brown dog, the first one who followed him. The animal's tongue hung as he panted happily. Link entered the home.
The lady raised her arm in disbelief. "That's not my Richard! How could you mistake my precious puppy for a mutt like that?"
Link deflated, though his furry friend didn't mind. Would be nice if you described your dog with more detail...
Malon was waiting for Link outside, petting the dogs who were very fond of her. She looked back. "No luck?"
Link shook his head. "I think she's mad at me..."
Navi sat on his shoulder. "Oh! Remember when we first came? The pooch lady mentioned her puppy runs faster than the others, and has a distinct coat."
Link scanned the puppies, many attentively waiting to be pet. "They're only different by color. How can we tell which puppy is hers?"
Malon's ears twitched. "Hmmm..." Hands on her hips, the farmgirl leaned over, poochies sitting politely and eagerly waiting. After examination, Malon picked up a greyish doggy who licked her face, she and the pooch then looking at Link.
"That one?"
Malon nodded, handing him over.
Link entered, hoping for the best.
"Richard!" the lady cried. The puppy jumped out Link's arms and into his owner's, licking her face. "This is my little Richard! Thank you! Thank you! I'll give you this as a reward!"
A Purple Rupee soon sat in Link's little wallet, his face beaming.
"At night it's dangerous to go out with all the wild dogs around..."
Link turned around.
"No, I wasn't warning you! I'm worried about my puppy!"
He smiled innocently. "Oh, OK." He exited.
Malon quietly waited for Link outside, her hands clasped behind her back, the other dogs all around her.
He smiled. "We did it."
"Yyyess! Well done, Link!"
The dogs barked in unison, their cheering.
Smiling, he showed Malon the Purple Rupee. "She gave me this, but...you deserve it more than me." He straightened his arms, presenting the treasure.
Malon shook her head. "No thanks, fairy boy. My dad and I already make plenty of money selling milk."
"Oh?" Link looked at the big Rupee for a few seconds, then stashed it.
Several dogs stared at him attentively. Once he made eye contact, they stood, wagging their tails. "Well, I guess we have some doggos to keep company!"
Navi hovered close. "I can definitely see you as a dog person, Link!"
Link looked over his shoulder. "Oh? No! A wolf!"
"Ohhhh? A wolf boy, eh?" Malon inquired, leaning in, eyes becoming fierce. "Grrrrrrr!"
Link's ears bent backwards, eyebrows furrowed, and he returned a fierce glare. "Grrrrrrr!"
The pooches around them also growled! Link and Malon laughed together, the dogs reverting to their playful nature.
Smiling big, eyes closed, Malon caught her breath. "You're such a fun, funny person to be with, fairy boy!"
Eyes closing, Link beamed. "Thanks! You too!"
Malon pushed her hand through her hair. "Oh? I think that the dogs are bored of us. Off they go."
The pooches scurried off here and there, prancing about, the full moon high in the sky...
The two friends happily walked across the market, chatting about silly things.
Navi kept close to Link. I should remind him to find the princess of destiny, but he's so happy...
"I know!" Link said, "Maybe we'll find something out in the field?" They slowed down upon realizing the drawbridge was raised. "Uh-oh..."
"Looks like we will be staying in the town for tonight," Malon remarked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Link walked to the guard house, the drawbridge guard noticing the children though not appearing upset. "Let's go in here."
The children entered a building with many pots along the floor. To the left, a few large crates. Hanging on the wall, a round shield, two pikes, and an immense harpoon by a wall torch. To the right, three raised sections with arrow-slits separated by arches reaching halfway to the ceiling, a pot atop each. At the end, two more large crates by a guard near another wall torch.
Curious, Link went to the guard.
The guard looked at Link. "Man, I am SO bored... Things would be more interesting if there were more... troubles in the world..."
Navi paused mid-air, Link and Malon also rather confused.
The guard seemed to sense their discomfort. "Hey, that's just between you and me, OK? Anyway, maybe we can let off some steam by breaking these jars."
After the guard's brief explanation of lifting and throwing jars, Link scanned the jars.
Malon was a bit confused. "What are you thinking about, fairy boy?"
Link's face and smile changed impishly...
Navi hovered between them. "What are you two rascals thinking about?"
"Yeah! Throw it here!" the guard said, waving his spear in the air.
"Hohh!" Link threw a pot, Navi flying away for cover.
"Hyahh!" The guard thrust his spear, breaking the jar, a Green Rupee flying out.
Malon was sitting atop a crate by the entrance, elbow on her knee, chin on her hand. She just watched the boys make a total mess, Link and the guard swinging their weapons like disruptive rascals, breaking everything.
Link threw a pot; the guard rolled beneath the airborne menace, throwing his spear through the pot, spearhead stabbing into the ceiling.
"Look out!" Link cried, "A few more over here!" He leapt over a few stairs, breaking the pots by a window.
The guard got up and jumped, grabbing his spear mid-air, pulling it out the ceiling. "Hyaahhh!" He rammed his spear into a single pot.
Link ran up the guard's back and leapt off his shoulders. "Haaahh!" He Jump Attacked, annihilating another pot.
Remaining kneeling, Link turned his head and paused—a jar came flying at him. On the last moment, Link backhanded his shield into the deadly projectile, shards raining around him.
...
The farmgirl sighed disappointingly.
Navi sat on the girl's shoulder. "Boys will be boys, hm?"
Malon chuckled. "Men never grow up." She looked over. "Are you guys done yet?"
The boys battled remaining jars ferociously, complete with overacting and additional sound effects.
She just raised an eyebrow.
Navi's wings wilted. "Guess not..."
Gradually, the clinks of breaking jars dwindled. Eventually, the boys stood triumphantly, all jars slain at their feet. As abruptly as the battle began, everything silenced. Link sheathed his sword and shield, eagerly picking up strewn Rupees.
The guard shuffled back to his spot. "Man, I am SO tired! The night watch is so boring! I wish some ghosts would come out or something..." He watched Link gather Rupees. "Hey, I'm really interested in ghosts! Studying them is a hobby of mine, but you never know...the time might come when that kind of knowledge might be useful!"
Link didn't pay attention. He rolled forth to fetch the last Blue Rupee—his head slammed into a crate, Link falling onto his bottom. Amid dust and fluttering debris of the disintegrating crate, a golden spider flopped across the air landing nearby and scratching the floor.
"Watch out!" Navi chimed.
Malon covered her mouth. "Eeewww! What is that?!"
"Not a ghost coming out," the guard commented, "but spooky!"
Intensified by Malon's discomfort, Link narrowed his eyes and wildly hacked away. He stepped into the gilded critter and flinched from pain. "Nnuh-ah!"
"Link!" Malon cried, "Are you OK?!"
"Let the boy win his medal," the guard stated.
Gritting his teeth, Link slashed with greater vigor—blue flames briefly spurted amid a warbling noise. All that remained of the monster was...
The guard tapped his spear to the floor. "You destroyed a Gold Skulltula. You got a token proving you destroyed it!"
Malon clapped. "Well done, Link!" Navi flew up and down, adding sparkles to the celebration.
Link dramatically put away blade and shield. "I've slain far worse, darling..."
Overacting, Malon covered her mouth. "Oh, my goodness!"
The guard laughed. "You were SO great, man! If more troubles come in the world, you might be a fine knight someday!"
"Precisely." Link returned to normal. He noticed Malon slide off the crate, not smiling anymore. "Hm? Malon?" He followed her outside. "Malon?"
She faced him, more serious than Link liked. "I hope you had fun, fairy boy." She smiled softly. "I know it's your thing, but... Let's not break jars anymore, OK? It's...unprofessional."
Bewildered, Link just stared.
The drawbridge guard looked down the road. "Kids shouldn't be wandering around town at nighttime! Stay indoors until morning!"
Link frowned. "Why aren't kids allowed to be outside? People sure are odd around here."
Malon chuckled. "City people do like everything under control, hunh?"
Navi hovered between the kids. "Let's pretend we're heading home so he doesn't pester us."
"Good idea," Malon said. "The guards rarely patrol the back alley. They won't find us there..."
Link and Malon were sitting under a tree in the back alley. Above them across the second storeys, blankets hung from a clothesline. Behind them, a few barrels, a few crates behind the barrels against the wall. Several tall white bottles lined across the front of the barrels.
"The stars are looking so pretty tonight!" Malon chirped.
Link yawned, stretching his legs.
Malon stargazed. "I sometimes imagine how faraway they are. I wonder if it is possible to touch them?"
Navi shrugged. "Maybe. Perhaps, one day, I'll fly so high and see for myself."
...
"You're awfully quiet, fairy boy." Malon turned her head. "Fairy boy...?"
Link was slouched against the crate, head back, mouth open, snoozing. Some pooches returned, already making themselves comfortable around him.
"He can be a bit of a sleepyhead," Navi admitted.
Malon smiled. "He's so cute when he is sleeping..." She leaned over, gently tilting Link's hat over his eyes. She softly whispered, "Good night, fairy boy." She stood, brushing herself off. "Oh, and you too, Navi."
The fairy nodded. "Good night, Malon."
At that, the farmgirl nodded and left.
Navi swayed in the air, yawning deeply. She noticed that, one by one, more puppies came to make their bed on Link. "Well, if everyone else is going to sleep..." Navi squirmed under Link's hat, making herself comfortable. May as well get a little shuteye myself.