"I really wanna go back home, in the forest," Link said longingly, as he looked southeast, to the green trees of the woods.
"We will in time," Ukyo sighed. "To tell you the truth, I am worried about Saria and the others... who knows whatever happened to them during our absence. I don't really know why Ganondorf would be interested in in our village, but you never know."
"Let's just hope he doesn't know about the sages," Navi said in a worried tone of voice.
"Nevertheless, we will go back, as soon as we helped Malon. We promised Taro we would do something."
Tatl smirked. "I guess this won't take much time. Ingo is a wimp. One tiny smack with your spatula, and he'll beg for mercy."
"I dunno..." Ukyo mumbled. "I have the feeling it won't be that easy..."
They walked through the big gates of the ranch. Upon entering, they noticed the big sign which had previously read 'Lonlon Ranch'.
Now it read 'Ingo Ranch'.
Link frowned. "How can he do that to Malon and her father? The ranch was everything to them..."
"Well, we'll ask him," Ukyo said.
When they walked past the farmhouse, they suddenly heard a loud crash coming from the inside of the barn, followed by a startled cry of a girl.
Link and Ukyo nodded at each other. "Quick!"
They entered the barn... and saw Ingo sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. He was dressed in expensive clothes, but now they were dirty and covered with straw.
In front of him, they saw... Taro. The muscular man towered over the dazed Ingo and shook his fists in fury. Behind him, a cute-looking girl with red hair was standing.
'Wow, Malon really got pretty in those seven years...' Link thought to himself and blushed.
"I told you, don't lay your hands on Malon again, or you'll be sorry!" Taro snarled.
"Taro, don't!" Malon shouted with desperation.
Ingo slowly stood up, wiping his hands on his pants. "You know, she is right, bozo. That was a foolish move. You know that I am under protection of the great Ganondorf, right?"
"I don't care!" Taro snapped. "This time you went too far. Stay away from her, or Din help me I'll..."
"You'll do what?" Ingo asked and put his hands down to a bottle that was hanging from his belt. It was filled with... water.
Cold water.
"You know you are under my control when you change," Ingo hissed. "And what hinders me from just throwing it at you? You wanna show sweet Malon your true face?"
"IT ISN'T MY TRUE FACE!" Taro thundered. He stepped up to Ingo and almost punched him, but he stopped himself in time as he saw Ingos hands wandering to the bottle.
He lowered his arms and sighed. "You... you bastard..."
Ingo grinned. "As long as the great Ganondorf is on my side, this ranch belongs to me!"
"Hey, I believe that's enough!" Ukyo then shouted with a loud voice, startling the three people in the barn.
"I-it's you guys!" Taro shouted in surprise.
Link pulled out his new hookshot and carefully aimed it at the bottle. He pressed the button, and the long chain shot out of the handle.
Ukyo wasn't the only one that expected the bottle to be broken in pieces, but surprisingly, the hook hit the soft cork that kept the bottle closed. And when the chain retracted again, the bottle got pulled out of Ingo's grasp.
"What do you think you're doing?" the former farm worker yelled. "Give that back!"
"I don't think so," Link said, pulled out the cork and poured the water on the floor of the barn.
Ingo looked around the barn, but the nearest water was inside the cow's water bucket. Which was standing behind the tall form of Taro.
"You better not lay a hand on me," Ingo grumbled. "The great Ganondorf will hear about this and..."
"Ah, shut your trap!" Ukyo growled. She walked over to Taro and Malon. "Hey, are you two all right?"
"Y-yeah..." the redhead answered, still a little shaken. "Um, who... who are you?"
"What you don't remember us?" Tatl asked as she flew in front of Ukyo. "C'mon... green clothes, two cute lil' fairies... How many people like that did you met in your life?"
Malon frowned and pondered over it. Then her face brightened. "You... you're the fairy-girl from the forest, aren't you?"
"I told you once, don't call me that!" Ukyo snapped in irritation.
The farm girl giggled. "Yup, it's you, alright! Thanks for the help, by the way. Still... I think it would be better if you let Mr. Ingo go."
"Why?" Taro wondered. "That creep caused nothing but trouble. And he was stalking you day and night, remember? He made you work like a slave, while he didn't move a finger."
"Yes, but... I don't want you to get into trouble because of me. If... if Ganondorf hears about this..." She sobbed. "I don't want you to be killed."
"Hey, no worries about that," Ukyo tried cheering her up. "We can take care of ourselves, right, Link?"
"Sure," the blonde body nodded. "If Ganondorf wants some, he can come and get some!"
Malon smiled. "You two are sweet. But still, if you anger him, he will probably never lift the curse he put upon Taro."
"No one can lift a Jusenkyo curse," Ukyo insisted. "That much I learned from Ryoga."
Taro shook his head. "That's not what she meant... She meant the spell that put my monster form under Ganondorf's control. When I get splashed with cold water again... he will make me go on a rampage again." He looked down at Malon. "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore..."
He then looked over at Ingo with a grimace. "Except maybe him."
"Are you all finished with your small talk?" Ingo grumbled. "Because I want you to leave my ranch. Now!"
"Say, sugar..." Ukyo suddenly smirked. "You sure there isn't a way how we could settle things?"
"Ukyo, what are you doing?" Tatl hissed into her ear. "We're here to save the farm, not to encourage that creep!"
"I know," Ukyo whispered back. "But we need to get Malon out of danger first."
Ingo thought about it. "Well, there's always the possibility of a small gamble... If you win, I'll let Malon go and try to find someone else to work on my farm. If you lose... well, I don't know..."
Link pulled out his wallet. "I'll give you 100 rupees if you win."
Ingo's eyes glinted with greed when he saw the sparkling rupees. "Deal!" he said.
----
Some time later, they were all standing next to the circular racing track that was going around the horse pasture. Both Ingo and Link were sitting on two brown horses. The mane of Ingo's stallion was black, while Link was sitting on a mare with a white mane.
"You ready?" Ingo asked with a sly grin.
Link shot him a dark glare. "Ready when you are, creep!"
Ingo chuckled. 'That fool will never win the race,' he thought. 'I made sure to let him ride that wild beast Epona... she will never do as he says. And while she makes him some trouble, I will win... and the cash will be mine! The great Ganondorf would be proud of me!'
Ukyo raised her hand. "Ready... set..."
She brought down her hand. "GO!"
And with sharp whinnies, the two horses dashed along the racing track.
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(Posted Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:33)
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