The shape of Lon-Lon Ranch loomed in the near-distance, making the Hylian uneasy. Since the night he and Epona first vanished from Hyrule, Link had made it a point not to go near the place. Too many memories of a dreadful departure were held within those walls, and even then, flashes of those memories could clearly be seen in his mind's eye. Link tried to calm himself. It wasn't as though they were going to be heading in there anyway, but the closeness made him fear that they would be spotted and recognized if those who resided on the Ranch just happened to be out on the field in that moment. He wasn't sure if he could handle the repercussions resulting from his actions when he was there last.
That's when Epona suddenly stopped without warning, forcing Link to lurch forward in the saddle, pressing a hand against the back of the mare's neck to make sure he didn't fall off.
"What is it, girl?" The question seemed redundant after it escaped his lips. He had an inkling about what was going on as the mare restlessly moved about beneath him.
Suddenly, and much to Link's horror, the horse veered 'round to the right, cantering off without any regard for Link's instruction to stop. He continued trying to get her to stop, but he knew it was useless. The mare had made up her mind, and all he could do at that point was grimace helplessly as she turned and rode them straight through the cliff-lined gates and onto the Ranch itself.
Almost as an act of grace from the goddessses, Epona stopped short of the main gate after entering the grounds. She stood just at the threshold of the barn and house, ears cocked forward and moving about, listening to familiar sounds; and likely at least one that Link was very familiar with as well. The Hylian shifted uncomfortably in the saddle, holding his breath and looking around. Thankfully, it seemed as though no one was in the immediate area, so he gently gave Epona a quick kick and emitted a few clicks, instructing her to turn around so that they could leave.
The horse snorted and placed a hoof down defiantly and Link frowned at her. She was being stubborn and was clearly set on seeing her actions through. He sighed, figuring it couldn't be helped at the moment and while he was pondering a different approach to coaxing Epona away from the area, Navi stirred beneath his hat and poked a rather sleepy-looking head out.
"What's going on?" She yawned as she peered at her surroundings, "Why are we at Lon-Lon Ranch?"
Link could feel anxiety rise within him and he pressed his lips together, not responding.
Concerned by his silence, the fairy then flew out into the opened to get a better look at him. Though he was trying to hide it, tension was very apparent on his face. Navi clued in quickly.
"Oh! I think I know what this is about," she said, looking away slightly as she remembered that particular night, "But...It's been a year, Link. I don't think they would remember-"
She was suddenly cut off by a terrible shriek from nearby, and both looked to see that Ingo had supposedly emerged from the Ranch's inn. He seemed to have been carrying supplies for his typical chores, seeing as a pitchfork had dropped abruptly to his feet. The terrified, moustached-man wearing white overalls then flung his arms up in the air, before turning tail and running deeper within the Ranch; all the while screaming:
"HE'S COME BACK FOR MEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"
Link gave Navi a rather unimpressed look. Navi grinned.
"Or not?" She shrugged.
The Hylian breathed out finally.
"It's just as well," he stated, "We should get going then before anyone else sees us."
He tried to coax Epona again. As before, she would not budge. Irritated by her lack of cooperation, Link then dismounted the mare to try and lead her away on foot. He understood why she was being as stubborn as she was, but now was not the time. Epona remained firm.
"Please, Epona," he begged in a harsh whisper, feeling more nervous than ever, "We can't stay here...it's not like it was a year ago. I have no idea if-"
"Epona?"
The voice from behind him made him cringe. He hadn't heard the door to the barn open before then. He shut his eyes and released a slow sigh of defeat. That was the one voice he was hoping not to hear; the one voice Epona was waiting for.
He second-guessed himself, but Link slowly turned around to face who was behind him. The familiar red hair and blue eyes of Malon standing before him sent a mixed spark of calm and dread through him. Her face seemed more gaunt than usual, however, the bags under her eyes indicating that she hadn't slept well in quite some time. She gaped at the horse she long thought was dead as though – and rightfully so – she had seen a ghost and slowly allowed the bucket of milk she had clasped firmly in her grasp, slip and fall to the ground below; her jaw slacking slightly. It was then her attention suddenly turned to Link, and her initial look of shock twisted into one of repulsed rage. Link's heart sank into his stomach.
"You..." She began, "YOU!"
She stormed up to him, stopping just inches away and leaning into him, forcing the Hylian to step back slightly as a startled Navi took refuge in hiding behind his shoulder.
"How dare you show your face here," Malon growled, the anger in her voice as sharp as a Leever's spine, "A year's time has passed and you decide to show up now!? What is your game here? What are you playing at!"
Link's ears pressed back against his skull. He didn't know what to say. What could he say? He knew full-well where Malon's anger stemmed from and its not like he could much defend his point. She had known it was him who laid waste to Epona that fateful day; although, who else could it have been anyway? Even then, the image of her bent over in tears seemed to flood his mind along with the last words she spoke:
"Why? What did you do to my Epona?"
A deep self-loathing stirred within him. Whatever Malon were to inflict on him as punishment for his misdeed, he deserved it. He knew an apology just simply would not suffice at this point.
Tears of frustration started to well up in Malon's eyes.
"Was this all some sort of a sick joke!?" She continued, "Because if it was, I'm not laughing. You see, Link!?" She pointed to her face, "I don't find it funny in the least!"
He winced when she used his name like that.
"...I can explain..." Link started, though his voice sounded like an incoherent mumble, especially when Malon cut in again.
"You can explain? You can explain why she died then, hm? You can explain why my horse suddenly appeared on the Ranch as literally nothing more than skin and bone!" She ran her fingers violently through her hair, blinking back angry tears and trying to regain her thoughts as she let out a small and empty laugh.
"Do you know what it has been like since that day?" She demanded, "Do you know what it's like seeing a skulled face of someone you once loved every time you close your eyes? Do you lose sleep at night because you don't know when they'll be back, or if they'll ever come back? I hear you on the field every night, you know. The screams that have pierced the night air for the past year; I hear it and all I see is you. I see what you both became on that night, tearing through my mind like a waking nightmare and yet, you never came back. Not even once."
Link had long-since lowered his gaze to the ground now. He could have told her that he knew exactly how she felt. He could have told her that he lives the nightmare every day; every hour of his existence and that's why he could not come back. But telling her this would void the point entirely. He had hurt her and he hated himself for it.
She was crying now as her voice raised to a new octave, frustrated and angry at the boy's silence.
"I trusted you! I trusted you with everything; My mother's song, Epona, everything! I trusted you more than I trusted anyone in my entire life and you betrayed that trust! And to think, I once thought..." She trailed off a moment and looked away, her lip quivering, unable to finish the sentence.
"Tell me," she said after a while, turning back to him, her voice now becoming an uneasy calm, "Tell me that the only reason why you're here, is because you fixed it."
Link looked at her and opened his mouth to speak. However, the words he wanted to say just would not come and he found himself choking on silent air. He sighed and looked away again.
"I can't..." he admitted finally, and just as he spoke the words he felt the harsh sting of Malon's hand as it swiftly made contact across his face.
He stumbled slightly after the fact, being caught off-guard. He steadily peered back at her, his expression cold as he could feel a year's worth of pain and hatred from Malon rattle through his being. She stood there, her arm still raised from when she struck him, breathing heavily through her nose in attempts not to cry again. She then allowed her arm to fall back to her side as she glowered at him.
"I suggest you leave then," she said in a deathly whisper.
"Now wait just a minute," Navi protested, deciding that the time was right for her to intervene. She fluttered up from behind Link to confront the farm girl properly, "I get why you're so angry, but Link's not to blame here!"
"Navi..." Link mumbled.
"You speak of torment and betrayal, yet you fail to see what he's had to go through," the fairy continued, "Link has gone through countless tasks trying to rectify what's been lost. That night he was faced with an impossible dilemma. It's true, he did kill the horse you trusted him with, but he was trying to save her. Like he was trying to save you and all of Hyrule. Even now, he's still trying to save everyone!"
"Navi."
"So if you think you have every right to treat him the way you did just now, then you are just an ungrateful little-"
"NAVI!"
The fairy recoiled at the tone of his voice. She had never heard Link snap at her like that before. Hurt, Navi rounded on the Hylian to tell him off for speaking to her in such a manner when she was trying to defend him, but stopped herself short when she saw his face. Link was not looking at her, not directly at least. His brow was furrowed with the most uncomfortable expression of every negative emotion imaginable. His hands had now balled into fists and she could clearly tell that he was doing everything in his power to not attempt something he would likely regret later.
"Just drop it," he told her. He then gave Malon a dark look, "It's clear that we've overstayed our welcome here."
There was a bitter silence between the three for a few moments before Link finally turned away, again attempting to lead Epona out of the Ranch.
"Let's go." He said, but the mare resisted yet again. This time he didn't fight her on it. He stood there and waited patiently for her to complete what it was she came here for. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with any more conflict.
Link could hear the horse nicker affectionately as Malon shuffled toward her. He assumed, based on the sound of movement behind him, that the redhead had approached Epona to make a physical connection. There was a stillness that followed then, before Malon spoke.
"...I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that you had to get dragged into something like this," she whispered to the horse; a sombre, almost guilt-like tone ensnaring her voice, "I've never blamed you for any of it."
Pain gripped Link's chest and he shut his eyes tightly, trying to block it out. Every bit of him burned inside. Of course she never blamed Epona for everything that happened, because she blamed him. She had blamed him for an entire year just like he had been blaming himself. As painful as it was, the situation seemed fitting.
Don't bother trying to explain things, he thought to himself, though the temptation for it was strong. It'll just make it all worse.
Though Link was unable to notice it, Epona's ears had twitched, feeling his thoughts. Malon's hands were gently clasped around the horse's muzzle, and the mare pushed forward against them so that she could gently nuzzle the young girl's cheek; feeling compelled to quell the panging anger which seemed to flow through her.
Malon sighed and peered at her old friend sadly. She had half-hoped that the horse standing in front of her was the current reality, that her death had been a lie. And yet, it was the living image of her dear mare that was the false reality. It hurt, and she tried to focus that feeling anywhere but on herself. She couldn't handle it.
It was then that Epona pulled away from her, the action so smooth that her fingers caressed down to the tip of the mare's nose as she did so. The horse stood there a moment, nostrils flaring in and out slightly from breath as though she was deciding something; or perhaps it was a needed 'good-bye,' since Epona then turned round to join Link and his fairy in their journey outside of the Ranch.
Grief-stricken, Malon bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back the tears as she watched them leave. A part of her, however small, wished for him to look back at least once. However, the moment never happened and as the trio vanished from sight, she felt the inside of herself break apart. Loss overcame her. She knew she had just parted with something that she would never have again.
When her father came 'round the corner, seeking answers for what had gotten Ingo into such an uproar, she found that she couldn't keep her strength anymore. When asked what was wrong, she merely turned to Talon with tears streaming down her face and shook her head. She retreated back into the barn then, no longer wishing to be seen. She needed to be alone for now. She needed to be as alone as she felt.
Meanwhile, Talon was left in a defeated silence, staring off helplessly at the place his daughter last disappeared to. The man scratched his head in disconcerted worry, peering absentmindedly to the field's beyond in wonder. Left to question why it was such a simple event that could throw the world into such chaos.
