Note: It says the server is down, so Ao3 is getting updated first.

Somewhat problematic material here, yet it serves the story and character development. Plus, it's kinda a reflection of some attitudes still held around where I am, unfortunately.

Kakariko Village

"G-Green?" Ingo questioned, quickly glancing at his overalls. "Oh! I assure you, ladies, I've only been near the valley to get supplies for the Ranch! I'd never consider stealing from you!"

"Relax, old man," the Gerudo woman in pink told him. "You're not the one we're looking for, not even close. Still…" her eyes turned to the back of the wagon. "Is it only the two of you?"

"Oh us? Well…" the mustached man paused, somewhat relieved, yet he realized what the younger woman had called him.

Although, just as he then understood the question asked of him, the woman continued. "Aveil," she commanded, the woman in red turning her head. "Mind taking a small look in the back?"

The woman in red grinned. "Gladly, Commander Nabooru," she said, trotting to the end of the wagon, coming to find that, indeed, the two men were not alone. Although, what met her eyes was a sight she deemed rather peculiar. "Commander," she called out. "Come look at this."

Before either Talon or Ingo could protest, the woman in pink followed in the direction her subordinate had gone, she too coming upon just what had given her comrade such a reaction.

There was no one in sight, let alone any sign of a green thief, yet there was a small, redheaded girl situated underneath the white cover of the wagon, sitting by a large collection of wares and goods to be sold in the village that day. Nabooru couldn't be sure, yet the collection of products held an air of suspicion to it as well. A perfect place to hide, at least as perfect as a hiding place could be, given the circumstances. Still, she needed to draw them out.

"You," Nabooru called to Malon, the girl freezing up upon hearing the Gerudo address her. "Come closer."

She was reluctant, at first not willing to move at all. Yet a small glance at the pile of goods seemed to change the child's mind, whatever lay nearby or behind giving her the resolve to obey the foreign stranger's command. Crawling slowly toward the larger woman, Malon turned her head to face Nabooru, sapphire irises contrasting greatly with sharpened topaz, pale peach striking against darkened tan.

"Are you with them?" the Gerudo questioned the girl.

Malon gulped. "Y-Yes," she answered. "The guy in red is my father."

"Father?" Nabooru raised a brow. "You live at the Ranch?"

"Y-Yeah, that's right," Malon nodded. "I…I was born there."

Nabooru eyed the girl. The ranchhand had never mentioned the owner had a daughter. Let alone a girl that looked as she did.

Eyeing the pile of goods, the Gerudo then took Malon by the chin and began to turn her head, analyzing her from every angle, taking in every feature she could catch and account for. "Hmm…" she hummed as she continued her examination. "Interesting."

"W-What is?" Malon asked, eyes wide and heart beating in her throat.

Nabooru was quiet, continuing to stare at the girl. Then, in an instant, she released her. "Commander?" Aveil asked, clearly confused.

The woman in pink then trotted back to the front. "Pardon the intrusion, gentlemen," she apologized to Talon and Ingo, shocking both men greatly. "It seems that there's nothing of interest here. Be on your way."

Aveil whirled her head around, baffled by what she had just heard. "But Commander-"

"They're free to go, Aveil," Nabooru said firmly, turning to the rest of her squad. "Does anyone have any protests?"

No one answered.

"All right then, off with you then. Go about your business."

Not wasting the chance, Ingo quickly got the steed pulling the wagon to go forward, pulling the contents to sell and the redheaded girl away, steadily growing more and more distant.

"What was that for?" Aveil inquired, wanting an explanation for her superior's actions. "You didn't even search the wagon itself to see if he was there!"

"There was no need," Nabooru answered. "Our little Hero is riding with them."

"What?!" the woman in red exclaimed. "Then why didn't we grab him then and there?! It's not like they would be able to overpower us all!"

"I have an idea," the other Gerudo told her subordinate. "One that'll require the boy to be alive."

"And what sort of idea would that be? Letting him get the Stones before any of us?"

Nabooru presented Aveil with a coy grin. "Exactly," she said.

Aveil went silent.

"But first," she continued, looking back in the direction of her homeland. "I'll need a bit of help from our Lord's attendants."

"Those old hags? That's a bit of a steep order," Aveil mentioned. "Will they even see you?"

"They will when they hear how what I have in mind will lead our King right to the Triforce," Nabooru responded confidently.

"And how will that go? You're already suggesting that the brat beat us to the Door with the Stones."

The other woman chuckled. "Oh, he'll get the Stones," she answered. "It'll just be Ganondorf that will stand at the Throne of The Power of Gold."

Further Away

Malon peeked out, spotting no sign of any Gerudo, let alone any person for miles. "I think they're gone," she whispered to the product pile in the wagon. "You can come out now."

The pile shifted a little, a few cheese wheels dislodging before a green-dressed blonde emerged from the collection of goods, his fairy finally free to come out from underneath his hat.

"Finally!" Navi wheezed. "As good a hiding place as it is, it can get a little stuffy in there."

Link was about to retort, yet noticed Malon had her eyes on him, studying and watching as if he were some sort of stranger. "What business do you have with them?" she asked. "Did you really steal something from the Gerudo?"

Link shook his head fervently. "Uh-uh!" he answered. "N-No way!"

"Then how do they know who you are?" she continued to question. "The King might be trying to be friendly with the other peoples of this country, but even he knows better than to displease the Gerudo in any way," she said, averting her eyes for a second. "Anyone that crosses them ends up dead."

Link bit his lip, turning his attention to Navi. "Unfortunately, it seems that our task from both The Great Deku Tree and Princess Zelda has gotten us into some hot water with some unsavory characters," she observed. It was also then that she noticed her charge present her with an inquisitive look. "What? You don't believe them to be so?"

Link didn't answer, not entirely confident in his ability to communicate at the moment. However, it appeared that his silence was enough of a response for Malon.

"You seriously think that?" she asked, clearly baffled. "How? They're trying to hunt you down!"

It was only because they were doing what Ganondorf told them to do, Link thought. If they weren't following him, then maybe they wouldn't be part of the problem. If they were a problem at all. From what Link saw, despite looking somewhat different, he couldn't tell any difference between the Gerudo, Kokiri, or Hylians in terms of just being living beings.

"You're far too trusting," Malon told the boy. "You'll need to be a lot more cautious if you plan on getting up Death Mountain, let alone trying to get the Gorons to listen to you."

It was then that the girl felt a surge of guilt upon looking at the boy, he seemingly believed her doubt was a sign of a lack of faith in him.

"Hey, I'm not saying you technically CAN'T do it," Malon assured him. "But, I won't lie, it's not going to be easy," she warned. "You'll have to be on the level of the Royal Family to probably get them to even think of seeing you."

Link tilted his head. Why was that?

"Look, it's…just always been like this. Ever since I was younger," Malon informed the boy and fairy. "And, honestly, even if the King is trying to make things better," she paused, biting her lip. "I'm not sure he'll succeed."

Moments such as these were when Link cursed his tongue, let alone his difficult relationship with using it properly. Yet, even if he were to communicate what he wanted, he couldn't help but wonder if it would do any good, which only frustrated him greater.

While Malon acted like she hated them, Link couldn't help but notice that, even as she spoke of the Gerduo, her voice was full of anger. Yet her eyes appeared so sad.

"Hang on, you two! The stairway is coming up!" Talon's voice spoke up, gathering the attention of both the children and the fairy.

Before anyone could say anything more, the wagon was jostled and the two kids were temporarily airborne as their transport vibrated up and down as it went up the chiseled pathway up the rocky surface of the hollowed-out section of the mountain. Wait a moment, Link thought, mountain?

Was he there? Death Mountain? And if that was the case, then were they…?

"All right, here we are!" Talon declared, the wagon finally growing still, fertile grass serving as a better resting place for the two posts that held up a wooden sign that Link couldn't understand, yet the owner of the Ranch declared what he had hoped for. "Kakariko Village!"

At the gate stood a soldier similar to those seen in Castle Town, the armored Hylian quickly taking notice of the approaching wagon. "Halt!" he called out, the transport stopping upon command. "Who are…" he narrowed his eyes, the sun momentarily blinding his vision, yet not for long. "Ah, Talon!" he greeted. "And Ingo! I take it you're here to sell some extras you've got lying around?"

Talon nodded with a smile. "You got it," he replied. "Rupees are a little tight this month, so we're trying to be a little more secure in our finances."

"It's not easy for many around here, even for those in the capital," the soldier mentioned. "Anyway, go on in. I'll alert Mutoh that you're coming."

Who was that? Link didn't get a chance to ask as the wagon moved the moment the gate was opened, allowing Talon and company safe passage inside. However, as the wagon continued past the open wooden barrier, Link couldn't help but notice the soldier eyeing Malon in the back, regarding her with a degree of suspicion.

"It looks like things like that run deep here," Navi whispered to her boy. "But I think it's best we mind our own business."

Maybe, Link thought. Still, even if this was how things were in Hyrule, it didn't take long for him to decide that none of it sat right with him.

Again, he was greeted with the sight of the strangest trees he had ever seen, only these abodes appeared to be more reliant on wood than stone or brick, the lack of abundant forest life contrasting greatly with the Kokiri Forest, yet there was an openness that couldn't be found in Castle Town.

Grass and soil were in abundance here, the few trees there were relatively healthy looking, and in the distance, it appeared as if some sort of large structure was at the most northern portion, large blades slowly spinning with what Link could only assume was the wind.

"There's a guy we meet around here that helps out with things," Malon explained to Link, the wagon making a stop nearby a solitary tree residing in the center of the small gathering of people living in the area. "He has a family that lives here, including a daughter and son. She helps take care of the village cuckoos, and he…well, he…hangs around."

Hang around? From a tree? Link didn't entirely understand what the redhead girl meant, yet, before he could ask, a bellowing male voice shouted, reverberating throughout the area.

"Talon! Good to see you!"

Link, Malon, and Navi made their way to the front to see an older Hylian man dressed in a blue, short-sleeved vest, and striped, yellow pants with simple brown shoes approach the wagon. His barrel chest was bare and, despite his age and balding head, a white mustache, and eyebrows the only hair on his face, his arms were still heavily muscled and it appeared he still used that strength daily.

"Ah, Mutoh!" Talon greeted with a wave. "Good to see you too!"

"Here to get some extra Rupees for your buck?" the older man questioned with a rise of his brow.

"Just a little to get through the month," the man in red and blue answered, Ingo rolling his eyes as he and Mutoh continued to converse and exchange small talk.

Then, the vest-wearing village dweller noticed the two children—particularly the one in green. "Who's this? A friend of yours, Malon?" Mutoh questioned.

"Uh, yeah, sure," the red-haired girl answered. "I met him back in Castle Town yesterday."

"Huh, is that so?" Mutoh rubbed his chin, studying the blonde a little more. "Well, if he's willing, he can help get all your stuff set out, right kid?"

If by "stuff", he meant the pile that served as a means to conceal himself earlier, then sure, Link nodded.

"All right, then it's settled," he said. Then, he took a moment. "My men are currently busy with a new project going on at the moment, a shooting gallery I think. It's supposed to bring more people here, although we've already got one of those in Castle Town." he mused.

"Well, it's true," Ingo added. "Money makes the world go round."

Mutoh rubbed his chin. "Regardless…it seems that's what's motivating anyone nowadays," he then went to the back of the wagon, spotting the goods brought to be sold. "Hmm, not a bad haul you've got here. Although," he said. "It'll probably take more than just us to gather it all," he then looked over, spotting a figure in the distance. "Hey, you!" the old man called out. "Come here!"

A few moments later, a burly individual with a proud dark mustache, hair fashioned to where it resembled two horns and a similar blue vest to Mutoh's own approached the wagon and older man. "Yeah, Boss?" the younger of the two asked. "What's up? Need another beam moved?"

"Actually no," Mutoh answered. "Bremor, I need you to get Bret, Doyle, and Mack to help get these fine folk's things to the selling stand."

The man, Bremor, appeared delighted with this news brand upon seeing who had come to the village. "Oooh, those nice folks from the Ranch are here? Oh, they have some of the best stuff!"

"Some of the only stuff since the war ended," Mutoh whispered, finding his worker's joy somewhat foolish, yet he couldn't bring himself to damper the mood entirely. "The point is, they're going to need help setting up, so you all are taking a break from what you're doing and helping out here!"

"Well, it's been an hour or two since I last had a chance to sit down for a bit-"

"You can do that later! For now, help these folks! That's your new assignment!"

"Yes sir." Bremor sighed, wiping his forehead. "Back-breaking work never ends for the working man…" with that, he ran off to get his fellow workers.

Mutoh glanced back at Link once again. "So, where are you from, kid?" he questioned.

Link tried to speak, yet Navi came out from underneath his hat, seeing the boy's difficulty. "He comes on behalf of The Great Deku Tree and Princess Zelda," the fairy answered. "We're here to save Hyrule."

Mutoh stopped, stunned by what was before him. "A fairy?" He then chuckled. "Well, I'll be. I've always heard of the Forest Children, but I wondered if they ever existed," he crossed his arms, in awe but also bemused. "So, you're on an assignment, are you?"

Link nodded, then drew out his sword and shield to show he truly meant business.

"Huh, armed too, huh?" Mutoh squinted. "That knife actually looks real too."

Knife? Link studied the Kokiri Sword's length. It wasn't that short, was it?

"Well, if you're here on behalf of the Princess as well," the older man stated. "Then maybe you can start by assisting her people by helping to set things up."

Later

"And, it looks like that's it!" Mutoh declared with pride, gazing at the stand filled with goods from Lon Lon Ranch.

With Bremor were three other men, each dressed similarly to both himself and Mutoh, yet with different colored pants and hairstyles that distinguished one from the other. Nevertheless, they all still bore the same muscled figure, as well as the apparent exhaustion present on each of their faces.

"Thanks for your help, Mutoh," Talon told the older man, momentarily stretching. "That was a bit of a workout!"

Workout?! You didn't even set one cheese wheel! Ingo inwardly fumed.

Malon only sighed while Link found the man in green's reaction sort of funny.

"Glad to be of service," Mutoh responded with pride, then turning to his workers. "Isn't that right, boys?"

"Oh uh, yeah! Sure thing, Boss!" One of the burly men sporting green trousers and a full head of puffy hair responded. "Guess it's break time now?"

"What do you mean? Helping these folks WAS the break!" Mutoh answered. "We've still got stuff to do, so get on it!"

"Y-Yes, Boss!" All four men raced away.

Mutoh turned back to the Ranch owner and his family. "That's all you need?" He questioned.

"Yeah, we can take it from here, thank you," Talon told the Head of Kakariko. Then, he turned toward the children. "We can take things from here, why don't you two go play somewhere?" It was then that the brunette man in red and blue noticed the bulge in the sack his daughter carried. "Malon? What's that?"

"Oh! Uh, just some stuff from home," she answered, albeit hesitantly. "Mom's here, isn't she?"

"Well, yes, she is," he said. "Have some things you want to plant?"

"Sort of," Malon answered. "It's more of dropping some things off. May I?"

"Sure, go ahead."

With his approval, Malon went off, carrying the sack with her, as well as whatever was inside.

Link looked to see the red-haired girl ascend a nearby staircase in the rock wall nearby, seemingly spotting something that caught her interest, much to Talon and Ingo's confusion.

"Where does she think she's going? The graveyard's on the opposite end of the village." Ingo observed.

Graveyard? Link remembered hearing of such a thing once, in one of The Great Deku Tree's stories. While he and the rest of the Kokiri were assured that such a thing was of no worry or worth to them, the prospect of it all still chilled the blonde to a degree.

A place for the dead.

"You wouldn't happen to know the way to Death Mountain, would you?" Navi asked Talon, redirecting Link to his current task.

"The same way Malon went," the Ranch owner answered. "Although, I can't say that you'll get past the gate."

No worries, Link thought, pulling out the letter he received from the Princess.

"Hm?" Talon took the letter to examine it. "Oh wow, this is…" he turned his eyes to Link. "How did you get this?"

Link opened his mouth, determined to at least answer for himself once, yet he never got the chance to even try.

"Stop!"

"No!" That voice. Malon?

"She's carrying something with her!" And those sounded familiar as well, but Link couldn't exactly place them.

Navi, on the other hand, had no problem remembering. "It's those brats from Castle Town!" She hissed. Great, she thought. She was NOT in the mood to go get her wings nearly pulled off again.

"It's nothing!" Malon shouted back, another girl protesting her claim.

"Get the bag!"

Soon, sounds of distress were heard, Talon was about to step in, yet before he could make a move, the boy in green rushed toward the source, far quicker than any of the three men.

"Is he really from the Lost Woods?" Mutoh asked, Talon in turn shrugging.

"That's what he said. Well, sort of."

Ingo bit his lip. He wouldn't interfere, knowing well that it was pointless. Still, despite the situation, he couldn't help but find it comforting that, Forest Child or not, at least Malon had something of a friend now.

This is why she hated coming here.

So far, however, she had managed to evade all three, making her way toward the house of Mutoh's daughter, the small fenced-in area for her cuckoos. She was nowhere near where she wanted to be, yet she had to get those guys off her trail if she was ever going to take Sparky-

"Ahh!"

"Got her!"

Her waist was tackled, and Malon found herself sent to the ground with another girl in yellow atop her. The sack carrying Sparky was underneath them both, the combined weight of both girls forcing the baby dragon to escape his confines, worming his way out and crawling until he finally got some fresh air.

"Ew! What is that?!" Eda questioned, Liam and Otto approaching beside her to study the strange creature.

"Looks like some sort of lizard," Otto observed, feeling the small dragon's skin. "A really big lizard."

"Maybe it's some sort of reptile?" Liam questioned. "Some type of Dodongo mutant?"

"No way! Dodongos are green!" Eda protested, glancing over at Sparky. "This guy is mostly black and reddish orange."

"He's neither of those things! He's mine!" Malon said, rising once Eda got off. "I bought him, and I'm taking him to Death Mountain!"

"Ha! I knew it! I knew you were hiding something in there!" Otto shouted, pointing an accusing digit in the redhead's direction. "What else are you hiding?!"

"Nothing!" Malon protested. "Now, leave me alone! I gotta-"

"No way!" the red-capped boy grabbed the girl's arm. "My dad says you may have Hylian ears, but you've still got the hair of those desert filth!" he said. "All you Gerudo-spawn are the same! Trying to work your way in so you can screw up everything!"

"I am not!" Malon hissed, trying to wrench her arm from the boy's grasp. "Get off me!"

"Fine!"

She soon realized why he had obeyed her demand so readily.

The yanking motion she had made forced her down into a small puddle of fresh mud, her backside coated in a viscous combination of water and soil. She tried to rise but was forced down, finding herself flipped over to where her face rested right above the puddle.

"Last chance!" Otto called out, holding Malon by the back of the head. "What else are you hiding!?"

"Nothing! I'm not-"

"Liar!"

Before another word could be said, whether barking back an insult or forming a plea, Malon found her face shoved into the wet, brown substance, rendering her speechless and unable to do anything but flail her arms wildly, trying in vain to get herself up. Eventually, after a few moments, Otto pulled her up by the back of her head, releasing her from the puddle and allowing her to breathe, yet her face was coated in a thick, brown coating.

"There!" Otto remarked. "Now your face matches your hair, you filthy half-breed!"

Malon didn't answer, too shocked to speak, let alone retaliate at that current moment. Not taking her silence as a satisfactory answer, about to repeat what he had done just moments previously.

Only he never got that far.

A blow to the side of his face sent the boy flying a few feet, he landing on the fence that held the cuckoos, the white birds were immediately startled by the suddenness of the crash, scattering and leaving the area as soon as possible, lest they be potentially crushed next. Otto looked up to see a boy in green with blonde hair glowering down at him, clearly not hiding that he was the one responsible for what just happened.

"You…you're the guy from…?" Otto stammered, massaging his sore cheek, eyes glancing at Link, then back at Malon. "Heh, I should've known that a weirdo like you would know someone like this."

Upon rising, Link rushed forward, jostling Navi from her place underneath his hat and sending her out in the open, now witness to the outright brawl taking place between the two children. "Oh great," she sighed, shaking her head. "Hey! Link! Knock it off! We didn't come here for…"

The fairy paused, eyes then falling on Malon, who was rising from the ground, motions somewhat janky yet she eventually got to her feet. The redhead girl said nothing, only staring at the ground with a face caked in fresh mud, her red hair still quite visible atop of her head.

"Malon…"

Hitching, the girl couldn't stop tears from falling down her cheeks as she began to tremble, fists shaking as she soon found herself unable to stay any longer, grabbing Sparky and running through an entryway to another part of Kakariko in complete distress, all the while Link and Otto continued to fight.

She hated coming here.

Note: Poor Malon...

Ngl, even if this story will have both Girls from Castle Town have moments with Link, I'm finding that the sympathetic angle is kinda working in her favor.

Next up, however, Gris will appear, along with a mysterious house!

Alert me of any errors I may have missed!

Thank you for reading!