"Malon…" Link's voice drifted off as he watched the sunlight glint off of her naturally crimson hair, taken by her intense but caring blue eyes.

"Uhh, yeah, I'm fine. We're fine. Right?" he asked while looking around frantically as he attempted to locate Navi, easily located by the shrill but admittedly adorable rant that was ever erupting from her tiny mouth. He gently slid a finger along what he assumed was her back under all the shine, and she came back to reality as he did.

"Fine enough, granted I would have liked to give him a piece of my mind in return for his general lack of hospitality," she pouted, gently drifting down to perch upon Link's shoulder while crossing her arms unseen.

Malon giggled a bit, enraptured by the youthful yet rugged boy who had stumbled in front of her stand. She reached under her stall and retrieved a glass bottle, full to almost bursting with milk if not for the cork wedged into the top. Gently, as if to steel herself from another kerfuffle occurring before her, she made her way to the front of the stand and handed the bottle to Link.

"Here," she offered, "it isn't food, but Lon Lon Ranch Milk will fill you with energy twice over. We fill enough to make sure everyone has a few gulps."

He grabbed the glass eagerly, uncorked it, and downed a gulp with not so much as a word. After panting from his ungentlemanly swill he held the bottle up to his fairy companion, then turned a shade of red to rival the locks of the girl who stood before him.

"Uh, er… thank you! So much… pardon my, ehm… rudeness, and…" he sputtered as he tried to explain his overzealous behavior as Navi lapped up a few sips from upon his shoulder. She took a moment to roll her eyes, hidden by the shimmer that characterized her species, before continuing to drink greedily from the comparatively barrel sized bottle.

The farm girl laughed in a relaxed and inviting manner, waving it off before raising her hand to her lips to stifle any further giggles at the expense of this clumsy duo. "No worries, I can see you've had a rough couple of days. Not used to the town, I take it?" she questioned as she slid back to sit on the stall, legs hanging and kicking childishly. Her head tilted curiously in wait for his response.

"Not really, no. We're trying to make our way to the castle to see the prin-", Link winced in pain as he felt his shoulderside companion digging her heel into his arm. Looking over he thought he could see her shake her head. "Just business."

"Well isn't that a convenient coincidence!" the girl beamed, scooting back off the stall and rushing to the back. The sound of clinking bottles and clanking tools rang out with her clunking against the wood. She poked her head up, eyes barely showing from behind. "You wouldn't mind doing me a favor would you?" her eyes batted pleadingly and rather cutely as she stood, holding forth a large egg. Navi and Link raised a singular eyebrow each, in unison. Malon smiled awkwardly, "My dad is at the castle right now delivering some crates of milk, but knowing him and given that he's still not back yet, I'd reckon he's fast asleep somewhere there. I just need you to bring this little one to him, let it crow, and I'd bet he'll come running back with his lazy tail between his legs."

Link corked the bottle, and held his hand out to trade for the egg. The farmgirl responded by grabbing his free hand and setting the egg in it, denying the return of her wares. "Consider that bottle and its contents a gift if you try to do this. Please." She held her hand against his for a moment, waiting for his answer, before the fairy fluttered down onto the egg, shining brightly enough that Malon had to recoil and cover her eyes, drawing her hand back to do so.

"First of all…" Navi began, smiling to herself as the pretty young redhead gave the hero what Navi believed to be some very necessary space. "This isn't a chicken, it's an egg. You know, the thing that comes first before the chicken?" Link looked to the side as he chewed on the validity of that statement. "Second of all… we're in! It'll be a good lesson to a certain lazy boy I know." she leaned back on the egg, smirking back at her partner. He couldn't see it, but he knew.

Malon laughed slightly once again, less offended and more bemused by the comical actions on display between the adventurers in front of her. "Well it WILL be a chicken soon enough. I appreciate it though." a grateful, closed-lip smile broke onto her face "If you end up finding him, make sure to stop by the ranch at some point so I can properly thank you." Link thought he saw a blush surface on her cheeks, but it just as well may have been the light bouncing off her crimson locks.

The trio sat chatting for a fair amount of time, discussing what Malon's father, Talon, looked like, his favorite spots to nap, and a fair amount of jokes at the man's expense. Even Navi seemed to have warmed up to the rancher's comforting demeanor, after idly listening or adding the occasional comment, all of which Malon would respond to warmly. Eventually, Link knew it was time to continue on (at least before Navi chewed him out again.) Malon rushed forth and gave him a friendly embrace. "Thanks again, little hero. Hope to see you two again soon." She pulled back and waved them off as Link and Navi began the walk towards Hyrule Castle.

A/N: So, I kind of forgot this existed. (Actually I didn't but I sure did pretend to). It's been, what, around 8 years since this was updated? If you couldn't tell, my writing style probably changed dramatically, among other things, but I figured I should try and give it another injection of life to see if anyone still cares about this. If so, I think I'm actually obligated to finish it, but if not, can't blame anyone after all this time. Either way, it's kind of nice to give writing a story a bit of a shot after not doing so for so long. Review if you want me to continue, or just to laugh at the farcical attempt at writing a fanfiction after it's died.