Victory Gallop (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link/Malon, # 25)
Title: Victory Gallop
Author/Artist: Jameva
Pairing: Link/Malon
Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Theme: #25; Fence
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and make no profit from this piece.
The crate creaked loudly beneath her feet. Malon froze with a grimace, hoping -rather irrationally, she knew- that the sound would not attract unwanted attention. When it was obvious that Ingo would not come barging in, she allowed herself to breathe and shifted her balance on the crate, holding most of her weight on the windowsill she held in a death’s grip to be able to peer outside.
As soon as Link had made his appearance down the gates of Lon Lon Ranch, Ingo had locked her inside the barn to prevent any contact between the two. There was only one reason that she suffered Ingo’s attitude and hadn’t fled like her father: the animals. Someone had to stay to make sure they were treated as well as possible. Except now Ingo was giving Epona away to Ganondorf. She was still trying to figure out a way to prevent that.
From her precarious perch, Malon could see Link talk to Ingo shortly before heading inside the coral. It wasn’t long before Epona came to him. She smiled sadly and watched them ride and jump fences. Giving that horse to Ganondorf would be the biggest waste she’d witness in her life.
She couldn’t see much from the window. She could just barely make out Ingo’s figure by the gates of the coral, but half of the coral and track was lost to her. As such, her heart fairly leaped in her chest when she saw Link and Ingo suddenly bolt by, racing their horses neck to neck, only to disappear again out of her sight.
Why was Ingo racing? He rarely did anything without profit in mind, no matter if he lost or won. Malon could hear the sound of the horse’s hooves but could not make out who might be first. What was happening?
Seemingly an eternity later, the horses reappeared as their pace slowed back down to a walk. From Ingo’s angry shouts and ugly mug, he’d lost. Somehow, she couldn’t feel any relief despite that. When Ingo bullied Link into another race, she knew why.
Epona might be a better horse than Ingo’s, but the man had far more experience than Link. It showed right at the beginning. Ingo was angry, and he would not lose easily again.
As the horses ran out of her sight, Malon tried pulling herself higher so she could see, licking her lips nervously. Please, please, whatever was happening and would happen, let Link be alright. The horse’s hooves beat steadily, running around the coral, coming back closer towards her.
Epona appeared first. Ingo screamed outrageously. Link had won despite all. She knew it wouldn’t be so simple, that for the man to be so out of himself for two races, there had to be more than just fun on the line. But Malon was unbelievably relieved and happy. Link had won.
She had not expected what happened next. She heard the ranch gates close with finality and Ingo’s laugh. Malon’s smile melted off. He’d locked Link inside, she could tell. And she was still locked tight in here, unable to go outside and help. She hated this feeling of uselessness as she watched Link consider Ingo silently, then spur Epona back towards the heart of the ranch at a comfortable trot.
Link ran the full circle of the ranch, though she Malon could not guess at what good it could ever do. No holes, no other hidden gate, nothing. He was locked in.
And then, as if he had not considered the risks, Link heeled Epona into a fast gallop, using the flat of his blade to urge her faster. Straight for the fence. Malon gasped in horror, seeing the sharp spikes skewer her precious horse, send Link vaulting overhead to break his neck when he fell. Yet she could not tear her eyes away. She made herself look, because hadn’t she always believed in Link? Hadn’t she always known that if one could save them all, it would be him? So she watched, biting her lips till they bled, and prayed to the Goddesses that she would not lose them both.
Epona reached the fence and gathered all of her speed and strength in her hind legs, Link crouched in the saddle and, with a never a whinny or protest, the horse jumped neatly over the fence almost twice her height. As far as Malon could see, they’d cleared it with no injury. She couldn’t help a cheer of pure happiness and relief. That was her horse, alright. She was so proud she thought she’d burst with it.
Despite that, the small, fond smile she wore at the end was not for her beloved horse. It was for Link who had unexpectedly provided the answer to her problem by taking Epona out of the ranch and out of Ganondorf’s grasp, and Malon doubted that any other rider could have coaxed Epona over that fence.
Gently, Malon pressed fingers to her lips and waved them out the window. Thank you.
Author/Artist: Jameva
Pairing: Link/Malon
Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Theme: #25; Fence
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and make no profit from this piece.
The crate creaked loudly beneath her feet. Malon froze with a grimace, hoping -rather irrationally, she knew- that the sound would not attract unwanted attention. When it was obvious that Ingo would not come barging in, she allowed herself to breathe and shifted her balance on the crate, holding most of her weight on the windowsill she held in a death’s grip to be able to peer outside.
As soon as Link had made his appearance down the gates of Lon Lon Ranch, Ingo had locked her inside the barn to prevent any contact between the two. There was only one reason that she suffered Ingo’s attitude and hadn’t fled like her father: the animals. Someone had to stay to make sure they were treated as well as possible. Except now Ingo was giving Epona away to Ganondorf. She was still trying to figure out a way to prevent that.
From her precarious perch, Malon could see Link talk to Ingo shortly before heading inside the coral. It wasn’t long before Epona came to him. She smiled sadly and watched them ride and jump fences. Giving that horse to Ganondorf would be the biggest waste she’d witness in her life.
She couldn’t see much from the window. She could just barely make out Ingo’s figure by the gates of the coral, but half of the coral and track was lost to her. As such, her heart fairly leaped in her chest when she saw Link and Ingo suddenly bolt by, racing their horses neck to neck, only to disappear again out of her sight.
Why was Ingo racing? He rarely did anything without profit in mind, no matter if he lost or won. Malon could hear the sound of the horse’s hooves but could not make out who might be first. What was happening?
Seemingly an eternity later, the horses reappeared as their pace slowed back down to a walk. From Ingo’s angry shouts and ugly mug, he’d lost. Somehow, she couldn’t feel any relief despite that. When Ingo bullied Link into another race, she knew why.
Epona might be a better horse than Ingo’s, but the man had far more experience than Link. It showed right at the beginning. Ingo was angry, and he would not lose easily again.
As the horses ran out of her sight, Malon tried pulling herself higher so she could see, licking her lips nervously. Please, please, whatever was happening and would happen, let Link be alright. The horse’s hooves beat steadily, running around the coral, coming back closer towards her.
Epona appeared first. Ingo screamed outrageously. Link had won despite all. She knew it wouldn’t be so simple, that for the man to be so out of himself for two races, there had to be more than just fun on the line. But Malon was unbelievably relieved and happy. Link had won.
She had not expected what happened next. She heard the ranch gates close with finality and Ingo’s laugh. Malon’s smile melted off. He’d locked Link inside, she could tell. And she was still locked tight in here, unable to go outside and help. She hated this feeling of uselessness as she watched Link consider Ingo silently, then spur Epona back towards the heart of the ranch at a comfortable trot.
Link ran the full circle of the ranch, though she Malon could not guess at what good it could ever do. No holes, no other hidden gate, nothing. He was locked in.
And then, as if he had not considered the risks, Link heeled Epona into a fast gallop, using the flat of his blade to urge her faster. Straight for the fence. Malon gasped in horror, seeing the sharp spikes skewer her precious horse, send Link vaulting overhead to break his neck when he fell. Yet she could not tear her eyes away. She made herself look, because hadn’t she always believed in Link? Hadn’t she always known that if one could save them all, it would be him? So she watched, biting her lips till they bled, and prayed to the Goddesses that she would not lose them both.
Epona reached the fence and gathered all of her speed and strength in her hind legs, Link crouched in the saddle and, with a never a whinny or protest, the horse jumped neatly over the fence almost twice her height. As far as Malon could see, they’d cleared it with no injury. She couldn’t help a cheer of pure happiness and relief. That was her horse, alright. She was so proud she thought she’d burst with it.
Despite that, the small, fond smile she wore at the end was not for her beloved horse. It was for Link who had unexpectedly provided the answer to her problem by taking Epona out of the ranch and out of Ganondorf’s grasp, and Malon doubted that any other rider could have coaxed Epona over that fence.
Gently, Malon pressed fingers to her lips and waved them out the window. Thank you.