6.2
[X] You have a wonderful voice, who taught you to sing?
Malon's ears and face turned a bright shade of crimson, as she looked away, mumbling as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, "My mother taught me before she passed away, it really isn't that great. I mean unless you think it is... being in a noble court and doing knight things you must hear a lot of bards and know a lot of singing and-"
Maaaybe you should change the subject, Malon was beginning to ramble.
[X] What's the story with you and Epona?
[X] ...What kind of books do you like?
"So how do you know Epona?" You ask, leaning up against a fence post.
Malon stopped rambling, going silent as she inclined her head with a distant expression, a slow smile creeping onto her face, "Oh. Well... She was born here."
That takes you aback. This is where Epona was born?
Malon doesn't seem to notice your shock, walking up to the mare and gently stroking her head, "Lon Lon Ranch wasn't always known for its milk. We used to raise horses for the Knights of Hyrule and the royal family here, the greatest horses in Hyrule. I was too young to know what happened to all of them, father always seemed so angry about it though he always said, 'when the Princess takes the throne go to the Sheikah Malon, with their help the ranch will be known for their horses again!' Course, that was before..." Malon trails off, pausing in her stroking of Epona's mane as her expression falls. You notice that her accent shifted to a more rural one you'd heard among the Hylian farmers in Ordon, her natural accent, "Anyways, Epona was the last foal of that line. She had such an attitude, no one could approach her. Except well... me..."
Epona snorts slightly as she leaned into Malon's hands as Malon began to hum softly for a moment, lost in her memories, "Then one day, this duke shows up with his son in tow. As father and the duke went to discuss things I remember the boy, dressed in fine clothes just... sitting there. Never saw someone so... sad looking before. Ha, this must sound silly to you Sir Link!" Malon chuckles, looking back to you with a smile.
You didn't find it silly at all, and softly you ask, "What was the boy sad about?"
Malon's smile falters, and she looks back to Epona, "He... told me he won't be able to see his friend and mom again. He talked about how his friend lost her mom too and he wanted to cheer her up. I remember pulling the boy up by his arm and dragging him off, scolding him about how could he cheer his friend up if he was sad too? Then well, I made him play with me. I know, I know, but I was a little kid at the time..."
You laugh, "Don't beat yourself up over it, seems like you were the intervention he needed. So what happened next?"
Malon's smile goes wide, and with a laugh she continues, "Well, we played together for hours and then well, one thing lead to another and we ended up at the stables. Epona was getting restless and I wanted to show her off. Ha! I wish I had a mirror to see my face when the boy walked right up to her and started petting her. All the people Epona seemed to hate and just... this boy she had an instant connection with."
Malon let's out a long wistful sigh, "I was... sad when it lead to my new friend and Epona leaving together. I mean, part of me was glad the boy would have something to keep him company but... part of me now... nevermind, it's nothing."
"What'd this boy look like?"
"Oh... it's been forever Sir Link, I can scarcely remember," Malon tells you, going back to focusing on Epona, "Blonde hair, really blue... eyes..." She trails off, freezing suddenly in place as you almost see her mentally put things together. Slowly she turns to look at you, her blue eyes as wide as saucers as she stared at you.
"You know, I'd say this was almost out of a book but now that you've jogged my memory I think I remember your idea of cheering me up involved us charging a mudfort with an army of cuccos, you tackling me to avoid "cannon fire" and us being chewed out by our parents when they found us," You tease your apparent long lost friend with a smirk.
Sadly, she doesn't seem to be as amused by the coincidental meeting as you were, as she just dumbly nods as a blush spreads from her cheeks to her ears as she mumbles "Yes... just like... book..."
Oh... Yeah, Malon and Zelda definitely have exactly the same tastes in books.
[X] We... ran into your sister. What happened?
You sigh as you recall why you are here and what you'd encountered before meeting Malon, "I wish our reunion could be under more pleasant circumstances, but... there are reasons I'm here and people I need to help."
She doesn't seem shocked or taken aback when you say this, instead Malon gives you a sad smile, any joy or embarrassment from your chance reunion vanishing in an instant, "You don't have to explain, I can see it in your eyes. A proper knight... or... I guess Lord couldn't let that stand."
"What happened?"
Malon looks away, eyes shut tight and fist clenched as she quietly says, "I... I don't know. One day..." Malon takes a shuddering breath, "One day Romani never came home. I looked and looked but couldn't find her. I was so worried a-and then..." She holds back a sob, "S-she was just lying in the field, face down and all scratched up and no matter how many times I cried her name she wouldn't respond... I..." Tears were falling now, fast and heavy as Malon tightly gripped her arm with her other hand, "I-I don't know what to do! Sometimes she just starts screaming and I can't do anything! W-what kind of sister am I that I can't help her? I was supposed to protect her and now she-"
She jumps slightly as you put a hand on her shoulder, and Malon suddenly looks up to you with bloodshot eyes. It strikes you then how exhausted she looks, how pained and utterly defeated the girl in front of you is. What will held Malon together finally breaks and she practically collapses into your arms, sobbing and clinging to you as though you were the first sure sign of comfort and reassurance Malon had experienced in a long, long time.
Some part of you realized that probably was true.
"Malon," You say, your voice soft and calm, "We'll help cure your sister. One of my friends, she... she suffered a similar affliction in her youth and now she's fully recovered. Whatever it takes we'll help you."
Malon pulls away, sniffling and rubbing her eyes, her face red, "T-thank you. I... Sorry for just breaking down... you've just been the first person in so long too..." She then whirls on you, eyes wide, "Wait! Someone had the same- We? There's more of you? And they got better?!"
You nod, "Yeah, in fact it sounds like she's coming over here now," You tell Malon as you hear a familiar voice call out your name as the familiar form of Zelda comes into view, her face uncovered as she scans for your presence before spotting you and making a beeline over to the two of you.
"Ah! There you are Link! And you must be the girl's sister," Zelda says as she walks up to both of you, "I see you've met my companion. I'm not sure how much he's explained, but we've heard you're in need and come to aid you. My name is Shei-"
"P-P-P-PRINCESS ZELDA?!" Malon screamed, pointing a finger at the ruby-eyed princess who froze midsentence, utterly stunned.
"Uhm, perhaps we should speak of this out of any potential earshot?" You offer, as the farm girl whirls on you, her face twisted into mix of different emotions; Shock, disbelief, confusion and something that caught you completely off guard.
Hope.
Malon's ears and face turned a bright shade of crimson, as she looked away, mumbling as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, "My mother taught me before she passed away, it really isn't that great. I mean unless you think it is... being in a noble court and doing knight things you must hear a lot of bards and know a lot of singing and-"
Maaaybe you should change the subject, Malon was beginning to ramble.
[X] What's the story with you and Epona?
[X] ...What kind of books do you like?
"So how do you know Epona?" You ask, leaning up against a fence post.
Malon stopped rambling, going silent as she inclined her head with a distant expression, a slow smile creeping onto her face, "Oh. Well... She was born here."
That takes you aback. This is where Epona was born?
Malon doesn't seem to notice your shock, walking up to the mare and gently stroking her head, "Lon Lon Ranch wasn't always known for its milk. We used to raise horses for the Knights of Hyrule and the royal family here, the greatest horses in Hyrule. I was too young to know what happened to all of them, father always seemed so angry about it though he always said, 'when the Princess takes the throne go to the Sheikah Malon, with their help the ranch will be known for their horses again!' Course, that was before..." Malon trails off, pausing in her stroking of Epona's mane as her expression falls. You notice that her accent shifted to a more rural one you'd heard among the Hylian farmers in Ordon, her natural accent, "Anyways, Epona was the last foal of that line. She had such an attitude, no one could approach her. Except well... me..."
Epona snorts slightly as she leaned into Malon's hands as Malon began to hum softly for a moment, lost in her memories, "Then one day, this duke shows up with his son in tow. As father and the duke went to discuss things I remember the boy, dressed in fine clothes just... sitting there. Never saw someone so... sad looking before. Ha, this must sound silly to you Sir Link!" Malon chuckles, looking back to you with a smile.
You didn't find it silly at all, and softly you ask, "What was the boy sad about?"
Malon's smile falters, and she looks back to Epona, "He... told me he won't be able to see his friend and mom again. He talked about how his friend lost her mom too and he wanted to cheer her up. I remember pulling the boy up by his arm and dragging him off, scolding him about how could he cheer his friend up if he was sad too? Then well, I made him play with me. I know, I know, but I was a little kid at the time..."
You laugh, "Don't beat yourself up over it, seems like you were the intervention he needed. So what happened next?"
Malon's smile goes wide, and with a laugh she continues, "Well, we played together for hours and then well, one thing lead to another and we ended up at the stables. Epona was getting restless and I wanted to show her off. Ha! I wish I had a mirror to see my face when the boy walked right up to her and started petting her. All the people Epona seemed to hate and just... this boy she had an instant connection with."
Malon let's out a long wistful sigh, "I was... sad when it lead to my new friend and Epona leaving together. I mean, part of me was glad the boy would have something to keep him company but... part of me now... nevermind, it's nothing."
"What'd this boy look like?"
"Oh... it's been forever Sir Link, I can scarcely remember," Malon tells you, going back to focusing on Epona, "Blonde hair, really blue... eyes..." She trails off, freezing suddenly in place as you almost see her mentally put things together. Slowly she turns to look at you, her blue eyes as wide as saucers as she stared at you.
"You know, I'd say this was almost out of a book but now that you've jogged my memory I think I remember your idea of cheering me up involved us charging a mudfort with an army of cuccos, you tackling me to avoid "cannon fire" and us being chewed out by our parents when they found us," You tease your apparent long lost friend with a smirk.
Sadly, she doesn't seem to be as amused by the coincidental meeting as you were, as she just dumbly nods as a blush spreads from her cheeks to her ears as she mumbles "Yes... just like... book..."
Oh... Yeah, Malon and Zelda definitely have exactly the same tastes in books.
[X] We... ran into your sister. What happened?
You sigh as you recall why you are here and what you'd encountered before meeting Malon, "I wish our reunion could be under more pleasant circumstances, but... there are reasons I'm here and people I need to help."
She doesn't seem shocked or taken aback when you say this, instead Malon gives you a sad smile, any joy or embarrassment from your chance reunion vanishing in an instant, "You don't have to explain, I can see it in your eyes. A proper knight... or... I guess Lord couldn't let that stand."
"What happened?"
Malon looks away, eyes shut tight and fist clenched as she quietly says, "I... I don't know. One day..." Malon takes a shuddering breath, "One day Romani never came home. I looked and looked but couldn't find her. I was so worried a-and then..." She holds back a sob, "S-she was just lying in the field, face down and all scratched up and no matter how many times I cried her name she wouldn't respond... I..." Tears were falling now, fast and heavy as Malon tightly gripped her arm with her other hand, "I-I don't know what to do! Sometimes she just starts screaming and I can't do anything! W-what kind of sister am I that I can't help her? I was supposed to protect her and now she-"
She jumps slightly as you put a hand on her shoulder, and Malon suddenly looks up to you with bloodshot eyes. It strikes you then how exhausted she looks, how pained and utterly defeated the girl in front of you is. What will held Malon together finally breaks and she practically collapses into your arms, sobbing and clinging to you as though you were the first sure sign of comfort and reassurance Malon had experienced in a long, long time.
Some part of you realized that probably was true.
"Malon," You say, your voice soft and calm, "We'll help cure your sister. One of my friends, she... she suffered a similar affliction in her youth and now she's fully recovered. Whatever it takes we'll help you."
Malon pulls away, sniffling and rubbing her eyes, her face red, "T-thank you. I... Sorry for just breaking down... you've just been the first person in so long too..." She then whirls on you, eyes wide, "Wait! Someone had the same- We? There's more of you? And they got better?!"
You nod, "Yeah, in fact it sounds like she's coming over here now," You tell Malon as you hear a familiar voice call out your name as the familiar form of Zelda comes into view, her face uncovered as she scans for your presence before spotting you and making a beeline over to the two of you.
"Ah! There you are Link! And you must be the girl's sister," Zelda says as she walks up to both of you, "I see you've met my companion. I'm not sure how much he's explained, but we've heard you're in need and come to aid you. My name is Shei-"
"P-P-P-PRINCESS ZELDA?!" Malon screamed, pointing a finger at the ruby-eyed princess who froze midsentence, utterly stunned.
"Uhm, perhaps we should speak of this out of any potential earshot?" You offer, as the farm girl whirls on you, her face twisted into mix of different emotions; Shock, disbelief, confusion and something that caught you completely off guard.
Hope.
++++
"Princess Mipha. THE Princess Mipha," Malon numbly said, looking towards the Zora Princess.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Malon," Mipha responds, giving a small curtsy, "Thank you for having us in your home."
She then numbly pointed to Paya, who was hiding behind Zelda, "A Sheikah, a real live Sheikah."
Paya shyly gave a small wave, before with what seemed a great deal of effort managed to stutter out, "H-h-hello."
Malon then looked towards Irene, who was standing with her hands on her hips, "Witch. An actual Maple-like Witch."
Irene puffs her chest out, chin held high, "That's because Maple was my Grandmother AND I'm her star pupil!"
She then looks down towards the small figure of Proxi on the table, who was chewing on a dried strawberry, "F-fairy."
"HI! I'M PROXI!" Was the cheerful response.
This proved to be the final straw for Malon's composure as she slumped on the table, head held in her hands, "Oh my gods, this is happening. This is real..."
"Would this be a bad time to mention there's one more of us?" Irene whispered to you out of the corner of her mouth.
"As amusing as it would be, I believe you want this girl functional?" Came the whispered reply from your shadow.
"Uh, how are you able to tell who we are?" Zelda asks, before she mumbles, "I thought my disguise was quite good..."
Malon, muffled by her hands, tonelessly replies "I went to the castle once and remembered your hair and eyes, and you look just like the que- your mom your majesty I am saying your majesty to the actual LIVING Princess Zelda-"
Zelda blinks a few times, before slumping back in her chair, "Aaaaaaaagh! Don't tell me I have to keep my mask on more now!"
"Uhm, what about me?" Mipha asks, "I mean, red scales aren't that uncommon-"
"Trident... Isn't that your brother's?" Malon says, looking up from the table, a single blue eye visible.
"Ooooooh... right," Mipha responds, looking over at her Trident, "...We are REALLY bad at being undercover, aren't we?"
"I don't stand out," You say, trying and failing to hide your grin, "I'd have to take off these clothes to actually turn heads!"
Malon immediately shoots up straight, "Take off- I mean this is all really overwhelming. All of you together... Why? Why come here?"
"We're here to get you and your sister to safety, in Kakariko village," Zelda says, her expression turning serious, "Your family was always loyal to mine and with recent events... I feared terrible things will come to you. Though I must admit we have less altruistic motives. We're barely clinging on, and need a Non-Sheikah to gather supplies while we're on expeditions to find sacred relics, allies and undo the curses that have befallen Hyrule. With few friends... you're our only hope."
Malon nods, her expression unreadable as she asks, "And... you had what my sister has?"
Zelda closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding, "Yes... After... after the castle. It took... many painful years. But we've gathered many powerful friends who can help your sister in ways I didn't have. She doesn't... I won't let her suffer like I did."
Malon looked taken aback at the conviction in Zelda's voice, just as a tiny hand began pulling on her sleeve. "You don't have to worry! These people know Navi, the Great Fairy Queen of Nayru! I don't know exactly what your sister has, but us fairies... we know the perfect ways to help people and Navi will cure her!"
Malon stared at Proxi for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes before she reached up past her forehead and ran her hand nervously through her bangs, saying through the tears, "I... I don't know what to say. This is all so much... Of course I'll help you all. Just give me the word and I'll start packing, I'm good with a pitchfork so maybe I can-"
"Actually, do you know of any nearby Sheikah ruins? We might be able to speed things along," Zelda interjected, "You see, there are Sheikah ruins capable of opening gateways to different locations. We have one in Kakariko village, so we could easily take you there. They look like gateways or arches-"
"You mean like that big archway in the middle of the pasture?" Malon asked, jerking her head towards the window.
There was a pause, followed by a scrapping of several chairs as you all rushed to the window to peer out, squeezing together to try and get a glimpse. Sure enough, you could see a Sheikah Gateway surrounded by cows out in the middle of the pasture. The very, very open pasture.
"Well... it's close by atleast," Mipha said, looking down to you and Zelda.
"Yeah, but everyone and their mother could see us turn that thing on. I don't think those dozens of guards patrolling the roads are going to ignore a big blue glowing hole opening up," Irene said as she walked back to her chair.
"Come now Irene, we'll just do it at night. What are the chances people are watching this ranch in particular?" Zelda asked, looking back to Malon. Only to slump as Malon shook her head.
"No, I am being watched. I wouldn't doubt there's going to be even more eyes on me now that you all showed up..." Malon quietly said, hanging her head, "We can't escape..."
"What if we waited for when visibility was non-existent? Sure it might take time to get all the animals through the gateway, but no one's going to keep a close eye on this ranch in a thunderstorm," You say, keenly remembering just how devastating a Hyrule thunderstorm is. While lightning can be drawn away and grounded by most buildings it wasn't at all rare to find a shed or tree reduced to a singed crater from an unlucky lightning strike. You weren't sure if you'd read it somewhere but apparently, Hyrule was one of the only places in the known world with thunderstorms that devastating.
Malon expression brightened immediately, her eyes practically sparkling "That'd work perfectly! Link's also the only guy among the five of you so they probably won't get suspicious!"
Wait... why is you being a guy an issue with who's watching her-
"Bad news though," Zelda says as she whips out her Sheikah Slate, "It doesn't look like it's going to rain for at least a couple days, though I have no proper way to tell the weather for the whole week."
Malon waved a hand, "Psh, a few days isn't that long to wait for guaranteed freedom, especially if you five will stay."
Zelda scratched her chin awkwardly, "A-actually, there's six of us."
Malon blinked, "Six?"
With a sigh you shuttered the window, plunging the room into shadows. Almost immediately the eye-catching form of Midna emerged from your shadow, reclining with a hand under her chin as she looked Malon up and down with half-lidded eyes. Malon, of course, shot up from her seat at Midna's appearance and pointing at her screamed "AAAAAH! HALF-NAKED DEMON GIRL!!"
Zelda jumped in front of Malon, frantically waving her arms "WAIT! She's a friend! Her name is Midna and she'll be helping us-"
"I am NOT pretending to be a farmer. I have atleast SOME dignity," Midna cooly replied, eyes narrowed.
"...Have you ever actually been on a farm before?" You ask.
Midna bristles, a slight blush creeping into her face, "No! My people had no need for enslaving animals to do our bidding!"
Malon, with wide-eyes and a disbelieving expression, slowly looks over to Zelda, "I... I need to be honest with you, your Majesty. I never imagined meeting you would be this weird and involve this many people wearing so little."
Mipha just looks confused, "I don't understand, why are you calling that out specifically?"
Malon claps a hand over her mouth, "Oh! Was that offensive? I didn't mean-"
"Alright, alright let's focus!" You shout, stepping into the middle of everyone, "We need to keep this place running and not raise suspicion. Let's figure out what needs to be done and begin to settle in. I'm sure Miss Malon could use a couple of hours to process everything."
There was muttered agreement, and slowly everyone paired off leaving you alone. Paya and Midna were chatting in a corner, or rather Midna was speaking and a slightly intimidated Paya was nodding along. Mipha and Irene had brought in all your belongings after stabling the horses and seemed to be just resting and occasionally chatting while drinking from water skins. Zelda seemed to be regaling Malon with tales of your adventure, Malon just numbly nodding along. Romani... Romani was just sitting in a corner, Malon constantly looking over to her. Proxi was in your hat, you weren't sure if she was hiding or just napping. Probably napping.
Is there anyone you wished to speak too?
[] Zelda and Malon
[] Midna and Paya
[] Irene and Mipha
[] Wake up Proxi
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Malon," Mipha responds, giving a small curtsy, "Thank you for having us in your home."
She then numbly pointed to Paya, who was hiding behind Zelda, "A Sheikah, a real live Sheikah."
Paya shyly gave a small wave, before with what seemed a great deal of effort managed to stutter out, "H-h-hello."
Malon then looked towards Irene, who was standing with her hands on her hips, "Witch. An actual Maple-like Witch."
Irene puffs her chest out, chin held high, "That's because Maple was my Grandmother AND I'm her star pupil!"
She then looks down towards the small figure of Proxi on the table, who was chewing on a dried strawberry, "F-fairy."
"HI! I'M PROXI!" Was the cheerful response.
This proved to be the final straw for Malon's composure as she slumped on the table, head held in her hands, "Oh my gods, this is happening. This is real..."
"Would this be a bad time to mention there's one more of us?" Irene whispered to you out of the corner of her mouth.
"As amusing as it would be, I believe you want this girl functional?" Came the whispered reply from your shadow.
"Uh, how are you able to tell who we are?" Zelda asks, before she mumbles, "I thought my disguise was quite good..."
Malon, muffled by her hands, tonelessly replies "I went to the castle once and remembered your hair and eyes, and you look just like the que- your mom your majesty I am saying your majesty to the actual LIVING Princess Zelda-"
Zelda blinks a few times, before slumping back in her chair, "Aaaaaaaagh! Don't tell me I have to keep my mask on more now!"
"Uhm, what about me?" Mipha asks, "I mean, red scales aren't that uncommon-"
"Trident... Isn't that your brother's?" Malon says, looking up from the table, a single blue eye visible.
"Ooooooh... right," Mipha responds, looking over at her Trident, "...We are REALLY bad at being undercover, aren't we?"
"I don't stand out," You say, trying and failing to hide your grin, "I'd have to take off these clothes to actually turn heads!"
Malon immediately shoots up straight, "Take off- I mean this is all really overwhelming. All of you together... Why? Why come here?"
"We're here to get you and your sister to safety, in Kakariko village," Zelda says, her expression turning serious, "Your family was always loyal to mine and with recent events... I feared terrible things will come to you. Though I must admit we have less altruistic motives. We're barely clinging on, and need a Non-Sheikah to gather supplies while we're on expeditions to find sacred relics, allies and undo the curses that have befallen Hyrule. With few friends... you're our only hope."
Malon nods, her expression unreadable as she asks, "And... you had what my sister has?"
Zelda closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding, "Yes... After... after the castle. It took... many painful years. But we've gathered many powerful friends who can help your sister in ways I didn't have. She doesn't... I won't let her suffer like I did."
Malon looked taken aback at the conviction in Zelda's voice, just as a tiny hand began pulling on her sleeve. "You don't have to worry! These people know Navi, the Great Fairy Queen of Nayru! I don't know exactly what your sister has, but us fairies... we know the perfect ways to help people and Navi will cure her!"
Malon stared at Proxi for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes before she reached up past her forehead and ran her hand nervously through her bangs, saying through the tears, "I... I don't know what to say. This is all so much... Of course I'll help you all. Just give me the word and I'll start packing, I'm good with a pitchfork so maybe I can-"
"Actually, do you know of any nearby Sheikah ruins? We might be able to speed things along," Zelda interjected, "You see, there are Sheikah ruins capable of opening gateways to different locations. We have one in Kakariko village, so we could easily take you there. They look like gateways or arches-"
"You mean like that big archway in the middle of the pasture?" Malon asked, jerking her head towards the window.
There was a pause, followed by a scrapping of several chairs as you all rushed to the window to peer out, squeezing together to try and get a glimpse. Sure enough, you could see a Sheikah Gateway surrounded by cows out in the middle of the pasture. The very, very open pasture.
"Well... it's close by atleast," Mipha said, looking down to you and Zelda.
"Yeah, but everyone and their mother could see us turn that thing on. I don't think those dozens of guards patrolling the roads are going to ignore a big blue glowing hole opening up," Irene said as she walked back to her chair.
"Come now Irene, we'll just do it at night. What are the chances people are watching this ranch in particular?" Zelda asked, looking back to Malon. Only to slump as Malon shook her head.
"No, I am being watched. I wouldn't doubt there's going to be even more eyes on me now that you all showed up..." Malon quietly said, hanging her head, "We can't escape..."
"What if we waited for when visibility was non-existent? Sure it might take time to get all the animals through the gateway, but no one's going to keep a close eye on this ranch in a thunderstorm," You say, keenly remembering just how devastating a Hyrule thunderstorm is. While lightning can be drawn away and grounded by most buildings it wasn't at all rare to find a shed or tree reduced to a singed crater from an unlucky lightning strike. You weren't sure if you'd read it somewhere but apparently, Hyrule was one of the only places in the known world with thunderstorms that devastating.
Malon expression brightened immediately, her eyes practically sparkling "That'd work perfectly! Link's also the only guy among the five of you so they probably won't get suspicious!"
Wait... why is you being a guy an issue with who's watching her-
"Bad news though," Zelda says as she whips out her Sheikah Slate, "It doesn't look like it's going to rain for at least a couple days, though I have no proper way to tell the weather for the whole week."
Malon waved a hand, "Psh, a few days isn't that long to wait for guaranteed freedom, especially if you five will stay."
Zelda scratched her chin awkwardly, "A-actually, there's six of us."
Malon blinked, "Six?"
With a sigh you shuttered the window, plunging the room into shadows. Almost immediately the eye-catching form of Midna emerged from your shadow, reclining with a hand under her chin as she looked Malon up and down with half-lidded eyes. Malon, of course, shot up from her seat at Midna's appearance and pointing at her screamed "AAAAAH! HALF-NAKED DEMON GIRL!!"
Zelda jumped in front of Malon, frantically waving her arms "WAIT! She's a friend! Her name is Midna and she'll be helping us-"
"I am NOT pretending to be a farmer. I have atleast SOME dignity," Midna cooly replied, eyes narrowed.
"...Have you ever actually been on a farm before?" You ask.
Midna bristles, a slight blush creeping into her face, "No! My people had no need for enslaving animals to do our bidding!"
Malon, with wide-eyes and a disbelieving expression, slowly looks over to Zelda, "I... I need to be honest with you, your Majesty. I never imagined meeting you would be this weird and involve this many people wearing so little."
Mipha just looks confused, "I don't understand, why are you calling that out specifically?"
Malon claps a hand over her mouth, "Oh! Was that offensive? I didn't mean-"
"Alright, alright let's focus!" You shout, stepping into the middle of everyone, "We need to keep this place running and not raise suspicion. Let's figure out what needs to be done and begin to settle in. I'm sure Miss Malon could use a couple of hours to process everything."
There was muttered agreement, and slowly everyone paired off leaving you alone. Paya and Midna were chatting in a corner, or rather Midna was speaking and a slightly intimidated Paya was nodding along. Mipha and Irene had brought in all your belongings after stabling the horses and seemed to be just resting and occasionally chatting while drinking from water skins. Zelda seemed to be regaling Malon with tales of your adventure, Malon just numbly nodding along. Romani... Romani was just sitting in a corner, Malon constantly looking over to her. Proxi was in your hat, you weren't sure if she was hiding or just napping. Probably napping.
Is there anyone you wished to speak too?
[] Zelda and Malon
[] Midna and Paya
[] Irene and Mipha
[] Wake up Proxi
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