Author's Note: "Grasshopper" is a nickname given to Link by Romani in Majora's Mask. Malon's mother is theorized to be Gerudo given her hair color and Talon's comment to Link's Gerudo Mask...but the same can be said wearing a Goron Mask too lol. Ouch.

...

Chapter Two: A Missing Companion

Link watched as Malon closed the door behind them. It was pitch black at first. She swiftly lit a few lanterns on the walls, and it was then that the awkward silence began to thicken. It only took a few minutes speaking to each other to turn out alone like this. Link was all too familiar with situations like these. It's worse for Malon not having memories of him, so he understood why she would feel uncomfortable in this predicament. It is the consequence of turning back time.

"Er…Grasshopper?" Link chokes out, "Is that what you just called me?"

Malon points to Link's tunic, "Its green."

"Ah." He looks down at himself. No argument there. Without a fairy anymore, the tunic should still show to many in the Kingdom of Hyrule he is of Kokori standing. None of it mattered now though; they were being followed. The ranch girl was careful not to knock any gardening equipment scattered around before reaching the opposite wall. Link walked through the clutter to find she was pushing crates of milk. He did not waste a second helping her.

"Mr. Ingo… would ground me forever if he saw me talking to someone from town..." She huffs as the weight of one crate gave her struggle. Link slides it aside for her and they continue to expose the back wall of the tower together.

"He isn't a nice person?" he asks.

Malon frowned, "F-Far from it. Here." She points at the hole in the wall.

Wow. Link never knew that was there.

"Malon!" Approaching was Ingo's voice. Malon ushered Link into the open space and quickly followed suit. Her hands grasp at the handle of a large board, and with that smart action, two smaller milk crates slide to cover it. This mimicked a concealing door and hid their location. Both were panting like dogs. Link forgot how exhausting things were without magical gauntlets and a mature body. He never spent enough moments with Malon to notice she was this mischievous either. It was a nice hideout. Hay in one corner had fabrics lining its top; perhaps it worked as a bed, the size was suitable for a small child anyway. A broken wagon was filled with weaving material and cracks from the ceiling illuminated the space with pale moonlight.

"Phew…we should be safe now." She breathes. A tie around the ranch girl's wrist helped to get hair off her neck.

"Safe?" Link dusts himself off.

Malon had not answered him. In the silence of this newly found room, faint noises of someone searching took minutes to finally settle. Link waited patiently for Malon to respond, "…He's a bad man." She hugs her knees to her chest. The white skirt of her dress was smudged with dirt, "My father was kicked out of the ranch because he overslept on an important visit by the Gerudo. They were searching for new mounts. Mr. Ingo wants no one from Hyrule Castle Town to learn about their exchange."

Link cocked his head.

More silence. Both youngsters sat solemnly together. They listened to the sounds of pitter-patter outside. Rain was pouring much harder against the stone tower now; it was a good decision to have visited, or he had been drenched to the bone. Still, Link could not believe what he was hearing. None of this made any sense to the former Hero when comparing timelines.

Malon picked up on his confusion. She continues with her chin resting on her knees, "He took charge of the situation and the Gerudo liked him. I saw how angry Mr. Ingo was at my father and heard he isn't allowed to come back until he makes enough money to help with the ranch." Her eyes began to water again, "And…well… we watched as he gave up my closest friend as a 'bonded pair' with another steed."

And then it clicked him.

Epona.

"What?" Link scooted much closer. Anger roared like a fire in his chest. Ganondorf was the one who turned Ingo into a man of bad character, at least in his past timeline. The Demon King had been sealed away early, but the bloodied history of Gerudo versus Hylians still stands. Was Lon Lon Ranch really in that terrible of a situation? Did they have to rely on the Gerudo regardless of Ganondorf? There should be more visitors from Hyrule Castle Town.

"…I'm sorry." Was all the former Hero could mutter; he watched in guilt as Malon was crying softly into her hands.

She sniffles, "Do you know what it's like to lose a dear friend? I had no control of anything…"

He nods. Link's thoughts were set on Navi; furthermore, all the past relationships with those he'd come across were gone. It pained him to know Epona was dragged to the desert. She was just a filly. He knew of his steed's likes and dislikes, her strengths and weaknesses, fears and confidence. Link had to get her back and not just for himself.

"I do."

Malon lowered her gaze, "Oh…I should be sorry too, then…" A change of subject would do the ranch girl better. She did not look like she had enough sleep, just like he had the past couple of days. There were notable scratches on her arms and legs. Old mud flaked Malon's elbows and ankles. Link digs into his tunic pocket and pulls out his map. He lays it flat between them. Malon was immediately curious by his gesture, "A map…?"

"I wanted you to guess where I am from. I'm not really a grasshopper."

Malon blinks with sudden interest. She traced her finger over the cheap doodle of Lon Lon Ranch. "The woods, right? I only ever heard of kids in the forest wearing green like you do."

Link nods again. He points to the south-eastern part of the worn paper, "I-er… can tell you all about what it's like in Kokori Forest, if you're interested…?"

Malon's saddened smile turns upwards. She leans over to see where Link drew Kokori Forest. "Yes…! I-I'd love to! Thank you!"

...

Bright sunlight shined onto Link's face. He was stirred from his sleep by the sound of galloping outside. That's right, he fell asleep while speaking to Malon. Getting carried away with talking to someone felt nice in a way. Loneliness did not help him sleep back at home.

Link sat up and a heavy woven blanket fell from his chest. The former Hero takes it from his lap and examines it.

So soft…

Malon must have placed this on him.

"You're awake!" she chirps.

Link jolted. The ranch girl was seated beside him with a plate of breakfast in her hands; there were eggs and seared slices of pork belly. How exhausted was he to not notice when she left?

"You were hungry, Grasshopper. I heard your stomach grumbling all night!"

The remark made him blush. Link leans away and covers the lower half of his face, "I-I ate prior to coming here!"

"You walked a long way from what you've shown me! I insist!"

"But-!" He could not refuse; the plate was shoved into his hands. The former Hero stares hungrily at it. It'd be rude to eat before Malon in the first place. After all, he did not expect to spend the night with a girl. Princess Zelda and Navi would scold him for forcing such hospitality, "I..."

She interrupts, "I was reading more of the details to your map. Kokori don't travel as much as you do."

"Y-Yeah…they're under the protection of the Great Deku Tree. All is given to them by Him, so Kokori don't have to travel outside of the forest for anything."

"Ohhh…! I think it's so cool." Malon folded her hands on her lap. She watches Link finally comply and take a piece of pork belly into his mouth, "You must really know a lot of people from Hyrule Caste Town. It was a good thing I hid you from Mr. Ingo, then."

Link coughs. The grease was hot on his tongue.

"Careful!" Malon pouts, "Gosh, you look like you haven't eaten in days!"

"What about you, though? Did you eat?"

She nods to Link's surprise, "I waited for Mr. Ingo to leave the ranch. He's locked all the horses in the Riding Arena and went to search for me."

The former Hero stares at her, "...You have him on a man hunt for you."

"Well… I wouldn't say that." She looks away nervously, "I'd rather he not be present with my father's horses. Besides…" her smile fades, "He treats them so terribly whenever I'm not around."

"I see…"

They spend minutes together in silence. Link consumes the entire breakfast served to him; each bite satisfied him further. An experienced adventurer should always travel with snacks in hand, but he was so rushed to leave his small tree house. His own home was suffocating him. Something about that detail seemed a little more… careless about him?

Regardless, Link should repay Malon the favor whenever he can.

She was humming to herself. The former Hero glances over to hearing this familiar tune. He recognized it as Epona's Song and could replay the notes backwards if he wanted to. This melody eased him; it was soft and catchy. There was no question as to why Epona felt just as comfortable around her as...he did. His grip over the plate's edges tightened, "If… it doesn't bother you asking…" Link sets it down, "Your father, do you know where he is staying now if it's not here?"

"Hm?" Malon tucks some hair behind her ear. She was thinking to herself for a moment. An answer Link did not want to see was a shrug. She looked like she had no idea, "…I want to say he could be in Hyrule Castle Town, but it would be hard for him to find a job there. Its full of people and it costs a lot of money to stay in a room near nobles..."

"He could possibly be in Kakariko Village then." Link stands and brushes the dust off his tunic skirt, "I want to find him."

"H-Huh?! You do?" Malon takes the empty plate and stands too. She was very stunned, "But why?"

"Bad men shouldn't run the ranch, right?"

She sighs, "You'd get me in a lot more trouble, we just met!"

Link shakes his head, "I'm guessing he'd know where your horse is too."

It made her pause. She watched Link's eyes with a mix of hope and confusion in her stare, "You're going to bring her back?" Malon's voice went weak, "Really…?"

"I don't see why not." He smiles.

"But—Grasshopper—I mean-!" The former Hero's words must have overwhelmed her, "What is your name?!"

"It's Link."

"Link, and I, Malon! I owe you everything!" She drops the plate and moves herself close to Link's front, "You have to promise me you'll bring them both home! Their names are Epona and Talon! Epona and Talon!" She takes both his hands between them, "Please don't forget!"

He swallows. Link was starting to get memories of when they were older. She was so grateful the first time he saved Lon Lon Ranch. He turned his head away to avoid blushing harder, "This means you'll stay here then?"

The ranch girl nods, "Yes! My animals need me here. I'll do what I can to make them comfortable while Mr. Ingo is away." Malon hesitantly looks towards Link's sword and shield on the floor, "…I would feel terrible if anything bad happened to you."

The former Hero couldn't respond. Something about watching Malon's face in that moment made his chest tight and their hands pull apart. He crouches down to collect the broken shards of porcelain on the floor. The ranch girl follows, gathering the last of the sharp pieces.

"I need to do something to pay for the meal and stay..." Link says calmly. He passes Malon the shards in a piece of fabric, "It'll be like repaying the favor. I won't be long."

"Then it's a deal, Link. I'll see you soon."

He nods shyly.

...