11A/N: Wow. Three years since I've updated this? Wow... Well, reading over these first three chapters, I can see now that I did a pretty bad job of explaining things, and I relied too much on crisp, hard-to-follow dialogue for that. Hopefully these edits will make reading this more enjoyable. Edited January 2011.
I'm only doing this because everyone else is... (Do we really have to?) All "Legend of Zelda" characters, places, and objects belong to Nintendo. (Sure, like anyone would believe me if I said otherwise...)
Chapter 1 – Link's Return
"How many more farewells will there be, Epona?" Link wondered aloud to the horse that was carrying him at a leisurely pace through Hyrule Field. "I can't fit in with the Kokiri like I used to…"
"You're welcome any time, Link," Saria had assured him just that morning when he had taken leave of his childhood home.
"It's as though she knew I wasn't going to stay in the forest," he mused. Epona continued her walk.
Link had long ago outgrown his Kokiri tunic, and had bought new clothes during his time in Termina. "Let's face it," he continued to talk aloud, "I've literally outgrown my Kokiri life."
"I never told you what an honor it was to be your companion on your quest," Navi had said earlier. Link was pleased to have found her at last, in the Sacred Forest Meadow with Saria. But Navi's partnership with Link had run its course, and she had been called home to the forest to be the fairy for a new Kokiri child. (Why Navi couldn't have simply told Link this, instead of flying from his sight with no explanation, Link would never understand.)
"Saria and I have become close friends, Link," Navi had said. "She says that only the Princess Zelda, the sages, and I can remember our adventure with the Ocarina of Time… besides you, of course. And Ganondorf." Link was still having a challenge grasping the implications of this information. When Princess Zelda had sent him back to his young age, the damage that Ganondorf, the evil Gerudo king, had done was undone and erased from time. In fact, those seven years that Link had lost were completely undone and restarted, to be lived anew by the entire world without Ganondorf, who had been sealed away in the Evil Realm by the six sages. However, no one in this reset world retained any knowledge or memory of the adventures, the intrigues or the terror of the erased seven years... No one, that is, except the three bearers of the Triforce, the six sages and Navi the fairy.
Link had thought about staying in Kokiri Forest with Navi and Saria. At least there would have been two people who shared his memories of those experiences, now erased from time. Navi had been his near-constant partner throughout the whole ordeal, and Saria (in addition to being the Sage of Forest) was his oldest friend. But after returning from his unplanned seven-year sojourn in Termina, Kokiri Forest did not feel like the home it had once been. Link was not a child of the forest.
Epona walked on through Hyrule Field, her rider losing himself in thought.
Although he did not fully understand it, Link felt strangely drawn to Princess Zelda. So much had happened between them in the lost years, and Link received so little explanation from her then. After Zelda had reset time, the two met again as children. They had talked at some length about the battle with Ganondorf and about the Triforce that bound the three of them together. But they still knew relatively little about the mysterious Triforce and its power and purpose. The two children became close friends during the course of a year, until Link felt compelled to search for his fairy companion.
That had led to his being unwillingly sidetracked in Termina, where he spent the next seven years. At first, Termina had felt to Link like a nightmare from which he would never escape. But then it had become home to him. Only recently had the way of return to Hyrule been opened to him. It was then that Link was ready to go back and meet with Zelda again.
It was when he was with Zelda that he felt the closest to understanding who he was and what his purpose was. He knew his identity was bound up with the Triforce somehow, and he knew it because of the Triforce that he and the princess were drawn to each other. He just wished he knew more...
"Let's see," Link resumed his train of thought aloud. "I had to say good-bye to all my friends in Termina—do you miss them, Epona? It was hard after living with them all those years. Then I said good-bye to Navi and Saria and all the Kokiri. And I still remember that farewell I made to Zelda so long ago… Eight years, has it been? Well, I'm going to make that right soon. But now, Epona, you want to see your old friends, don't ya, girl? Can you tell where we're going? Come on, let's ride! Lon Lon Ranch, here we come!"
ZZZ
Epona picked up speed, and soon, the ranch came in sight. Link stared in surprise at the sign out front that read Kender Family Ranch. He hadn't expected new management. He rode up to the main gate and looked in.
"Hello there, Mister!" A man greeted Link, coming toward him from the ranch house. "I'm Kender," he said, opening the gate. "Come on in an' have a drink."
"Thank you," said Link, willing to accept the man's hospitality. "This shade feels good," he remarked as he rode in.
"Yes, nice day we're havin'," said Kender cheerfully. Then he raised his voice and called, "Hey, Glen! Bring a cup o' milk out here!"
"Will do!" a voice from within the house replied.
"My son Glen," Kender explained, gesturing toward the living quarters. "Come an' sit down."
Leaving Epona in the shade of the ranch house, where there was water available, Link followed Kender onto the porch.
"Fine horse ya got there," said Kender approvingly.
"Thank you," Link replied.
Glen appeared promptly with the glass of milk. He set it down on the porch table, nodded briskly to Link, and quickly went back into the house before Link had time to say "Thank you" again.
"Pardon Glen," Kender said apologetically, while Link drank the milk. "He's got a lot of business to take care of. So what can I do for you, Sir?"
"Well," Link began, setting the cup down, "the last time I was here, this place was called Lon Lon Ranch, and I'm wondering what became of Talon, the owner."
"Talon retired from the ranch," said Kender. "I bought it from him about a year ago. He was gettin' weary of all the work needing to be done around here, and wanted to settle down to a more retired life. He didn't care for the hustle an' bustle of Castle Town, so he got a place in Kakariko Village. That way he could be a little closer to his daughter."
"Closer? What do you mean?" Link asked, becoming even more interested as he recalled the sweet-natured, red-haired, horse-loving girl.
"Ah, I suppose you haven't heard? Malon was married a little over a year ago." Kender slapped his thigh in frustration. "Arrgghh, and I can't remember the man's name now! He was an older fellow, with darker hair, I think. Anyway, he and Malon are both employed by the Royal Family as stable keepers, so they live in Hyrule Castle. Talon is settled nearer to them in Kakariko Village; he just keeps a few cuccos now."
"This is news to me," said Link, intrigued by this new revelation. "I guess that's what happens when you're gone for a long time."
"I guess so," Kender agreed. "Well, I'm glad you stopped in, Mister…"
"Link."
"Mister Link. Glad to have you! My wife and three sons and two daughters are all helpin' me run the ranch; we're expanding our milk production to meet the demands of Hyrule's growing population. If there's anything else I can do for you, let me know."
Link bought a bottle of milk from Kender, and then took his leave. The afternoon was stretching toward evening, and Link wanted to make it to Castle Town before nightfall to avoid being shut out by the nightly closing. He felt the temperature drop, enjoying the cool breeze while watching the sky gradually darken. Link was, from habit, always alert for signs of hostile entities, but this evening, there were none. It was a rather lovely ride through Hyrule Field—pleasant weather, and no hindrances.
At last, Link and Epona crossed the drawbridge into Castle Town, where Link found accommodations for both of them for the night. What the dawn would bring, he wasn't sure, but he was looking forward to reunion.