#firstfallenchild

He nodded- she’d told him that before, after all. But hedidn’t mind when Malon would repeat things. After all, just in general, Lon Lonranch was some place relaxing to him.After Ingo’d gone back to normal, the place seemed to be just like it’d beenseven years ago- in the strange reality that seemed to be his life now, it wassomething he could understand.

Kakariko was too busy for such a small village, the survivorsof the Castle Town attack always huddled close and looking over theirshoulders, just in case- just in case.Would Ganondorf’s minions find them again? Would monsters overrun the town?Even with the protection of the Sheikah, nothing was guaranteed in Ganondorf’s Hyrule.

Zora’s Domain had frozen, and the Gorons had only justreturned to their city, but the sound of empty stone halls and not but onegoron child still haunted the back of his mind. He hadn’t been able to tell thegoron Link about Darunia yet- he knew he had to, but he hadn’t been able tofind the words. After all, how could he explain that his father wouldn’t becoming back yet- and may not for a very, very long time?

Link didn’t know, and the pain still felt a little toopersonal, so he had yet to decide what to do.

As well, the Kokiri Forest… it felt wrong to be there as anadult. It was no place for adults, no place for hylians­- by the goddesses, he wasn’t even a kokiri. The forest washis home, and he missed it more than he could put into words- but he didn’t trulybelong there. Perhaps he never had. Staying there didn’t bring him any sort ofpeace, and that alone hurt him more deeply than any wound he’d had to bare.

And so, Lon Lon Ranch was where he found himself goingwhenever he needed a few moments of peace- aside from growing older, nothinghad really changed. Everything had gone back to normal, and sometimes he neededthat normal to ground himself.

“Say, Fairy boy- I never did thank you for bringing myfather back, did I?”

Link tilted his head- he hadn’t really thought much aboutthat. Talon had just been sleeping in Kakariko, all he’d done was wake him up.

“And there’s been rumors too- people are sayin’ it’s thanksto you that Death Mountain cleared up. Is that true?”

Link scratched at the back of his head, nodding. It was mostcertainly true, and he had no reason to lie- but to be asked so plainly was alittle embarrassing.

“Why, it’s like you’re a genuine hero! Should I startcalling you hero boy instead?” Malon laughed, not expecting an answer. “Well, Iguess it doesn’t matter much. But either way, you’ve helped us out here a ton.We all owe ya one, fairy boy.”

Link smiled, attempting to brush it off- he’d admit, thegratitude was appreciated, but it wasn’t why he was doing any of it. He justneeded to fix things- it was his own fault for sleeping those seven years. He wantedto fix his own mistakes.

It was later that day when Link rode off on Epona, headedfor Lake Hylia. Navi liked to sit on his hair when he rode, sometimes needingto grab onto his bangs- she was quick, but Epona was quicker. He didn’t want toleave her behind, so hiding in his hat or resting on his clothes always seemedsafest. Not to mention the poes that liked to show themselves when he was onhorseback.. it was certainly safer for Navi to be with him.

“Well, Hero Boy?” Navi poked his cheek after he finally gotoff Epona, leaving her by the lakeside laboratory. The scientist there was agood man, if a little strange sometimes- he looked after her. “Are you headedto the water temple now?”

Link found himself laughing- the nickname had been oddenough from Malon, but from Navi it just sounded funny. He was a hero, sure, buthe didn’t really think the name fit him well. But then again, Malon just seemedto like giving him nicknames.

“Hey! Why are you laughing?”

Navi gave a huff, and he found himself laughing more. Hecouldn’t help it- her blue glow turned almost red when she was grumpy, and italways looked so silly. It wasn’t like he triedto make her mad, it just happened sometimes.

“Oh, you- you child!”

Link just stuck his tongue out- so what if he was? He’d beenten what felt like only moments ago, after all. And he certainly still didn’tfeel like an adult, even if he lookedthe part.

Taking a few moments to finally stop laughing, Link turnedand signed an apology to Navi. Even if she did look a little funny when she wasglowing all red, he didn’t want her to really be mad. She just sighed and nodded,flying closer to Link.

“It’s fine. Now, be sure to put that zora tunic back on- witha name like the water temple, it’s probably flooded.”

He nodded. While he considered himself decent at holding hisbreath, he was no zora- he wondered what it’d be like to swim like they did, sofree and fast. Perhaps he could ask Ruto once he found her.