Chapter Text
Time was not particularly enthralled by ghosts. Not like Malon. But like hell was he going to let this sad, vaguely feral cowboy cryptid and their horse live under a bridge for the rest of eternity. That didn't seem fair.
However, it really didn't seem like Malon had noticed the bridge-ghost yet - if she had, she’d have dropped everything to ‘investigate’. Since Time wasn't about to end his picnic dinner date early, he had decided to ignore the ghost for a while. Judging from the state of the bridge, this spirit had been around for years . They could wait another hour to be laid to rest.
“Link, are you okay? You look like you're away with the fairies.” Malon waved a hand over his face, forcing him to stop glaring at the ghost’s faint blue aura.
He shifted his gaze to meet hers, and chuckled as her eyes widened. “ Are you?”
Time swatted her shoulder playfully. “No. Why would I want to go anywhere else with a fairy when you’re right here? This is the best place to be.” he said lovingly.
Malon’s cheeks reddened. ‘She’s matching with her hair,’ Time thought giddily. Being around her made him feel almost childlike. They could laugh about the smallest things together, they shared secrets, they told jokes, and Time knew he would never lose the butterflies that danced in his stomach whenever she was near.
As if reading his mind, or perhaps the expression on his face, "You’re all mushy and sentimental today, aren't you?" Oh, come here,” she giggled, holding her arms out to embrace her boyfriend. Time was all too happy to wrap his own arms around her, easily picking her up and spinning her around as she shrieked good-naturedly at him to stop. Time laughed, setting her gently back down onto the blue picnic blanket. She reached up to cup his chin in her hands, and he leant down to allow her to pepper his face with kisses, both of them smiling wider with each one. They ended up just laying there contentedly, amongst the tall grass and trees, holding hands and watching the sun slowly sink behind the clouds.
It was so lovely that Time almost forgot about the ghost.
The ghost, however, had definitely not forgotten about him.
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Twilight huffed, kicking the simple wooden beams of his bridge. “I know he can see us, Epona. He’s being so inconsiderate. I’ve been stuck here on this bridge for over a decade! I want to rest! I know you do as well.” He glanced at his ghostly mare, who stood in the gentle waters of their stream. She trotted over and snuffled at his hair, the glowing strands of her own mane floating in a phantom breeze.
“I still don’t even know what’s wrong,” he sighed. “There’s nothing left for us here, the village is...gone.” He patted Epona’s neck, and looked wistfully back at Time and Malon.
“This guy can help, I think, but he’s ignoring us.” Twilight took in the quickly darkening sky. “It’s after sunset. I feel bad, but..” Despite these words, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He held out his hand and a grey scepter flew towards him out of nowhere, resting firmly in his grasp. “Alright,” Twi grinned. “Let’s get this guy’s attention.”