End of Legend of FIVE #2-Legend of FIVE #3

Link returned to the village in silence. Navi trailed right behind him. Somehow, when they met with Jerome, Sheila, and Trevor once more, this wasn’t noticed. Both were privately thankful for that. An uneasy air surrounded the group as they stood together outside the house by the stairs to Death Mountain. They stood in an uneven circle, glancing at one another. Link clutched the hookshot in his left hand and just stared straight ahead after a while. Again, it wasn’t noticed. Trevor was somehow in the circle. He didn’t seclude himself or run away. His eyes sagged with a weariness Link had seen in Dampe’s eyes. The young man crossed his arms and tapped his foot before eyeing the hookshot. “Nice toy,” he said monotonously. Link barely acknowledged the new weapon. “Thank you.” “What does it do?” Sheila asks out of curiosity. Link half shrugged. “It’s called the hookshot. Its point sticks to wooden targets and latches. It might work in a fight too, but I’m not really sure.” “That’s cool,” Jerome said. Link nodded. “I agree.” The sun had already gone down. The moon hung high in the sky, its pale face shining light upon the village’s peaceful rooftops. It may have been the first time Kakariko experienced true peace in the past seven years. The only turmoil existed in front of that humble house. “I’m tired,” Link said. “I need a place to sleep,” “The woman in the cottage is willing to take us,” said Sheila. “She has enough room. There’s blankets on the floor. And pillows.” “I’ll go to sleep now then,” Link said. “I’ll tell her thank you.” “I’m tired too,” Trevor said. And so, the group decided to retire for the night. Trevor and Link made eye contact for a moment. Their shared stare made the rest of the group stop, as if their tempers were about to flare. Sheila suddenly noticed how angry Link looked. She even saw how sad Navi felt and wanted to ask her what the matter was. Something in the forest native’s eyes stilled her tongue. Trevor and Link broke the gaze. Trevor opened the door and retreated inside. Everyone else followed. When Link reached the door frame, he looked back at Navi. Her blue-white glow always remained unmistakably bright except for now. The glow dimmed. Crickets played in the night. Link and Navi now shared a stare, an uncomfortable thought between the two of them that said that they were further apart than ever before. Link went inside. Navi knew it was best for her to keep her distance for now. During the night, Malon appeared to Trevor in a dream. She smiled at him underneath fresh daylight. The two of them were young again, thirteen years old again on Lon Lon Ranch. Serene green pastures surrounded them, along with a dozen horses. They galloped in the distance, something standing on their hind legs while whinnying to the clear blue sky. Malon spoke to Trevor. He couldn’t hear the words, but he knew it was something sweet. After all, she smiled when she was done. Malon reached out to Trevor with her hand. Trevor took it and felt a warm course through his body. His cheeks turned warm and he stared straight ahead at the path before them. Ingo blocked them both. The wicked overseer looked as ugly as ever. He held a whip in his hand and had a wilder look in his eyes than on the day he took over Lon Lon Ranch. Trevor’s stomach flipped. He felt his breath turn shallow and took a step back. His touch on Malon’s hand tightened into a vise grip. When the two tried to run, they stumbled forward. Trevor hit the ground with a thud. When he looked back, Malon was in Ingo’s clutches. He held her by both arms with a sneer on his face. Ingo looked down at Trevor, his cruel eyes glaring in a way that could’ve burned into his soul. Grey clouds billowed high above the ranch. “Boy,” said Ingo. “You don’t belong here. You don’t belong in this place and you’ll never have a place anywhere. You better understand that, boy.” Ingo then turned his attention to Malon. Her blue eyes widened with horror, as if she knew what was coming. Ingo pushed her to the ground and raised his whip high above his head. Trevor screamed, reaching out to try and stop what Ingo was doing. Malon didn’t try to cover herself. Her muted scream ensued as Ingo brought the whip towards her. Trevor couldn’t move. All he could do was plea— He woke up. The night’s darkness still enveloped the land. Moonlight seeped through the house’s only two windows. Trevor heard the restful rhythm of everyone’s breath as they slept. Only his own came out in erratic puffs. Trevor wasn’t able to sleep for another hour. He stared at the ceiling until his wearisome worries made him pass out. When dawn came, a rooster crowed in the distance. Trevor thought of Malon upon hearing the sound. He woke up and made his decision. After taking a walk around the village, Trevor snuck back into the house. He gathered his satchel and checked on everything inside of it. The woman who owned the house looked at Trevor and smiled warmly. He smiled back, not wanting to reveal his heart. After sealing his bag, he went to the door and put his hand on the knob. Navi waited for him on the other side. “Where are you going?” she asked. Trevor gave Navi one look before brushing past her. “Out.” “That’s specific,” Navi commented. “You can come with me if you want, I guess.” Trevor made a beeline for the exit. “If not, just tell Sheila and Jerome where I’m headed.” “I can’t if you don’t tell me.” “Good point. Lon Lon Ranch. I have to go.” “Trevor—Trevor!” For some reason, Trevor stopped at the fairy’s call. “Why are you going that way? Is something wrong with Malon?” Trevor hung his head. Navi and Link weren’t around to hear the story. Jerome and Sheila would be in the know—both Trevor and Talon laid the news on them. Link’s guardian had no clue because she was busy accompanying him in the graveyard. Trevor let out a sigh and turned back to the fairy. “She’s in trouble,” Trevor said. “I…left her behind a long time ago. And…I made too many mistakes. Far too many mistakes. I’m trying to do something right for once.” “You’ve done plenty of good,” Navi said. Her eyes were filled with a sadness Trevor had felt himself. “Don’t blame yourself.” “I should.” Trevor closed his eyes tightly. “Talon got kicked out of the ranch that day. Malon stayed behind. I don’t know what happened to her. Maybe she’s…gone…but I have to get her and I have to make up for leaving her behind. I’m not giving up until I do just that. I never will. You can count on that.” “You need your friends to help you,” Navi pointed out. “Maybe. But this whole thing started with me. At the ranch, I mean. It has to end with me, too.” Trevor turned back to Kakariko gate. He fastened his satchel to his side and trudged on. Then, Trevor stopped once more. His shoulders sagged. “Navi,” he said. “Yes?” Navi asked. “Tell Link that I’m…that…” Trevor pressed his hand against his brow. “Tell him that I’m glad he’s back. Hyrule needs him. And…that’s it. OK? And tell my friends I’m at Lon Lon Ranch.” Trevor quickly left for the ranch. Navi closed her own eyes and shook her head. Trevor was willing to mend matters with Link. The same couldn’t be said between her and the young man she was supposed to be guardian of. Nonetheless, Navi resolved to let the others know where Trevor went off to. That was the least she could have done for their friend, the young man who needed to redeem himself.