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"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Link's scream echoed in every corner of Hyrule Field. It woke Navi up immediately, and before she could protest with an indignant, "Hey!" she saw what had caused his reaction. That scream might have even saved her life.
Snow fell from the sky and dusted the ground. It was already starting to pile around her too, and she would have been buried if she hadn't woken up in time. Link, already confused by the cold winter air, shivered and pointed to the white clouds above their heads. What IS that? he signed.
"Oh, that's right. You grew up among the Kokiri. They don't get snow in the forest, do they?" she recalled.
Link shook his head. It had been difficult enough to get used to the cold. Kokiri Forest had the same pleasantly warm temperature every day, never too hot and never below freezing. When Link first left home, it had been late summer in the rest of Hyrule, so he hadn't noticed the difference much at first. That changed when he realized that he no longer felt comfortable sleeping outside with nothing but his light green clothing.
Now, the peaceful green fields had become a world of white, one that Navi could barely see through. "We can't stay out here," she said. "You'll freeze to death, and I'll get buried alive before that happens. But where can we go? It's too far away from your forest, or Kakariko Village."
Link signed, "Lon Lon Ranch?"
"Oh! Great idea! Hopefully, they'll let us stay. If they don't, we can always hide out in the barn."
"And we're running low on Lon Lon milk anyway." Link held up a half-empty bottle to prove the point.
"You're right. Let's go!"
It was a good thing that they'd purchased winter clothes and boots for Link during their last visit to Kakariko Village. He never would have made it through the snow without them. Navi guided him along as best she could, though it was hard for her to see too. They didn't realize they were approaching the sign to Lon Lon Ranch until Link bumped into it. Then it was a matter of walking in the general direction of the road - completely covered by snow - towards the large, dark shape in the distance that resembled a sleeping Biggoron.
Link collapsed in front of the wooden gates to catch his breath. But he couldn't rest, not now. Navi bopped him on the head until he finally groaned and pounded on the doors.
No one answered.
Link beat against the doors. "HEY!" shouted Navi. "HEY! LISTEN! Will someone let us in?"
A cranky voice answered within, "I AM listening! I heard you the first time!" The doors opened. Ingo glared down at them, wielding a pitchfork. "All night! Back and forth! Can't even stop to enjoy New Year's, 'cause someone has to take care of the animals on a night like this! Talon's too lazy to do it and Malon's just a little girl! Now I gotta shoo off trespassers too?"
"Hey!" Navi shouted. "We're not trespassers! We're friends of Malon! We need a place to stay to get out of the snow and your farm was closest. Won't you help us?"
"No, I won't! The castle's up ahead. Go that way."
"But the drawbridge is closed!" Link protested.
"You can wave your hands at me and glare all you want. The answer is no."
Fortunately, Malon came out of the farmhouse to see what was going on. "Oh! Fairy Boy! Welcome back! Have you come to celebrate New Year's with us?"
"Oh!" cried Navi. "Is it New Year's Day already?"
Link tilted his head in confusion, but before he could ask, Ingo interrupted. "No, they're not. They're going back the way they came from, and you're going back inside, young lady! Does your father know you're out here?"
Malon pouted. "You can't just send them back out in this. C'mon, Fairy Boy! You can sleep in the room that I share with Dad. Your fairy too! It's nice and warm in the farmhouse, and tomorrow we can play in the snow and you can watch the New Year's horse races with me!"
She grabbed Link's hand and pulled him into the light of the farmhouse, Navi trailing behind them both and Ingo shouting protests at the gate.
Inside, the ground was covered in squawking Cuccos, all clustered together to keep warm. Paper chains decorated the path up the stairs, in colors of blue, red, green, purple, and gold. "This way! This is where we're celebrating!" Malon told them. She led them up to the much cozier second floor. More paper chains lined the walls and matching paper stars hung from the ceiling. Malon's father had fallen asleep at the table in the center of the room, but he snapped awake as soon as Malon slammed the door shut.
"Wha…? Huzzat…? Happy New Year!" He raised a glass and accidentally tipped his drink into his lap. "Yowch!"
Malon giggled. "Careful, Dad. You'll burn yourself that way."
"Burn yourself? How?" asked Navi. Link shrugged. If she, who at least had some experience with the world beyond the forest, didn't know, there was no chance that he would.
"It's in the name, isn't it? Hot chocolate," said Malon. "Drink it too soon and you'll burn your tongue." She glanced back at her father and giggled again. "Or your lap."
Talon cleared the sleep from his eyes. "Oh, Link, and Navi, too! Have you come to celebrate New Year's with us?"
"I asked them the same question," said Malon. "They didn't even know it was New Year's Eve!"
Link scratched his head. But of course, Navi realized, he wouldn't know about the holiday any more than he knew about the seasons. The Kokiri never aged. They had no concept of the passing of time. Why would they celebrate the beginning of a new year?
"It's a special holiday celebrated in Hyrule," she explained. "It's…um…" How to even explain it to him? As his appointed guide, she felt determined to at least try. "You know how you grow bigger and bigger every day?"
Link kicked at the floor in response. He knew. It was one of the many things that set him apart from the Kokiri and led to teasing.
"That's how it is for most people who live in Hyrule. They get bigger and older each day," Navi continued. "A lot of days together are called a 'year,' and after a certain number of days pass, we start a new year. People think of it as a chance to start over."
"Right!" Malon chimed in. "We make promises to ourselves that we're going to do one thing better than we did last year. Usually we have a big bonfire too, and we drink hot chocolate and talk about the best things that happened to us last year. Only we can't do the bonfire now because it's snowing too hard."
Talon finished his glass of hot chocolate and licked his lips. "We'll do it next time, Malon. I promise. That's my New Year's resolution to you."
"Ingo would say that your resolution should be to stop sleeping all of the time," she replied.
Talon scoffed. "Well, his resolution oughta be to relax a little more. The animals are taken care of. Why doesn't he come inside to celebrate with us?"
Malon shrugged. "At least we have some new friends here tonight. Come on, Fairy Boy, come have some of our hot chocolate. It's made with fresh Lon Lon milk!"
Navi floated curiously behind Link as he followed Malon over to the family stove, where a jar of brown powder waited next to several jars of milk and a few empty mugs. For once, his fairy guide was just as mystified as he was. "Hot chocolate" wasn't something that her fellow fairies ever drank. She watched closely as Malon heated a jar of milk and then mixed some of the brown powder inside.
"Go ahead. Try it."
Link took a long gulp - and another - and another. By the time he came up for air, the mug was empty and a huge grin had spread across his face, from ear to pointed ear.
"You like it? Can I try some?" asked Navi.
Link held out the mug for more, and Malon obliged. Navi floated cautiously down to the rim. The smell overwhelmed her, a rich, sweet scent that made her dizzy. She steadied her tiny hands against the porcelain surface of the mug, and when her head had cleared, she dove down to take a sip.
The scent was nothing compared to the taste. Its warmth spread from her toes to her wings. She staggered around in midair, too overjoyed to think or fly straight. Link scooped her out and placed her on the table next to Talon's mug, where she lay in a happy daze. He must have signed, Thank you, or expressed his gratitude in some other way, because she heard Malon say, "You're welcome! I'm so glad you like it!"
They spent the rest of the night by the windows, sipping more hot chocolate as they watched the snow fall. "This is my favorite holiday," said Malon. "Tomorrow, people from all over will come to Lon Lon Ranch for the New Year's horse races! Most of them come from Castle Town and Kakariko Village, but some come all the way from the Gerudo Desert! Dad and Ingo say I'm too young to race, but that's okay because it's fun to watch. And I get to be the judge when it's a close call at the finish line. You can come sit next to me and we can judge together!"
Link smiled and nodded. He seemed pleased to be included.
"It must be nice," Navi noted, as they got ready for bed. Malon and her father had spread out extra blankets and pillows for them to use to make the floor more comfortable. "She doesn't laugh at you when you don't know something like some of the Kokiri used to do."
Link agreed. "Princess Zelda is nice too," he signed. "Is that how people are outside of the forest?"
Navi shook her tiny head. "Not all of the time. There are bullies anywhere you go. And friends too, like Saria."
"Yeah. I guess so." Link curled up under his blankets. "Do you think Princess Zelda celebrates this…" He frowned. Having only just learned the concept of New Year's Day, he didn't know how to say it in his own way.
"I think so. Most people in Hyrule do. It's a way to look back at everything you did in the past year and hope that you'll be able to do things better in the next."
Link took a moment to ponder what she had said. She knew he hadn't fallen asleep because his breathing hadn't become slow and deep, like the morning when they first met and she had to try several times to wake him up. At least he didn't snore like Talon.
"I think Zelda must be worried about…" He reached into one of his pouches to reveal the Sacred Stone hidden inside.
Navi understood. "Yes, that must be what she's wishing for this year - that you'll find all three Stones and save the Triforce." She gave him a little nudge on the chin. "We can do it. The princess believes in us. So we can't let her down, no matter what."
Link nodded. The room was mostly pitch black, but she could see the determined expression on his face through the soft glow that she gave off. "Right," he signed. "Good night, Navi."
"Night, Link."
The next morning, Navi awoke - not to the sound of Link screaming at snow - but to Malon groaning.
"I'm sorry," Talon said to her. "But there's no way anyone can come up to the ranch in this weather, and no way for Ingo and I to clear out the track in time. We would risk injuring the horses."
"Tch." Ingo now sat at the table with their little family; he spat out some milk. "Just as well. Those races are a waste of time."
"You just say that because you lose every year," said Malon.
Link stifled his laughter; he still lay wrapped in his blankets from the previous evening. Ingo scowled. "You oughta make a resolution to fix that smart mouth of yours!"
"Hmph." Malon ran over to one of the windows and laid her head against the wooden frame. "Please, Dad? What if I helped clear out the snow around the track?"
"Didn't you hear your father?" Ingo snapped. "It wouldn't matter if we got the track cleared this morning. The snow's too deep for anyone to travel out here."
Malon let out another loud groan. Link sat up and stretched, then went to join her by the window, Navi following behind him. She could see what Talon and Ingo meant. The snow covered everything on the farm. Tools barely poked out from underneath the drifts. Either Talon or Ingo had created a path between the house and the barn, and the snow was packed deep on each side. "That's too bad," she said. "I guess you'll have to see the horse races another time, Link."
"Oh, but I wanted to show you today," Malon sighed. Her breath fogged the glass. Link reached out to touch it, and after considering for a moment, drew a frowning face. Malon giggled and drew one of her own. "At least we can still play in the snow," she decided. "Let's go out after breakfast!"
Their plans decided, the two children quickly made their way through eggs, bacon, pancakes, and some more hot chocolate. Then they put on their warmest clothing and dashed outside.
"We can make snowmen, and snow horses, and I can show you how to build a house, and we can have a snowball fight later!" Malon chatted away, her spirits coming back despite the crushing disappointment about the horse races.
Link followed her lead. His eyes were wide and eager, taking in the strangeness of a familiar location looking so different. It was like a puzzle, figuring out where things were now hidden. He reached down to touch the snow and jumped back. "I don't know what you expected," said Navi. "It's cold, like everything else." He flicked some snow in her direction.
As they broke through the snow drifts and reached the open space that used to be the horses' pasture, Malon's face fell once more. Link sighed. He scanned one end of the ranch to the other, clearly looking for something that might cheer her up. Navi decided to help and flew in a wide arc over the buildings and fields.
In the distance, she saw a few people out and about, though none of them were on their way to Lon Lon Ranch. The castle guards seemed to be working on lowering the drawbridge, which must have frozen over in the cold. Some children had made their way outside, presumably from some unseen side entrance. They got chased away from the bridge after they started throwing snowballs at the guards' backs. Elsewhere, closer to Kakariko Village, the tiny figures of villagers worked on creating a path beyond the town walls. And farther away, near Kokiri Forest, a lone traveler made their way through the snow on some kind of sled, pulled by their horse.
"Hey!"
Navi floated back down to Link and whispered what she'd seen. His face lit up and he stumbled back over to the house and barn. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked him.
He was. Link searched all over the barn until he found something close to what he was looking for: a large, flat piece of wood that had been left discarded in a corner. Next, some rope. And finally, Epona, snorting in her stall. He called to her with his ocarina, and she came willingly out into the snow.
"Fairy Boy? What are you doing?" asked Malon.
He responded by showing her: gently tying one end of the rope around Epona's reins, then gesturing for Malon to sit on the wooden board and hold the other end of the rope. "Yah!" he shouted.
Epona trotted down the path that they'd created through the snow, pulling Malon along on the makeshift sled. "Wheeeeeeee!" she laughed. "Oh, this is the best idea, Fairy Boy! And I have another!"
She hopped off and ran into the barn. Minutes later, she was back with her own plank, rope, and another colt. "This is Misty!" she told them, patting the colt's black and white nose. "Now, let's see if we can get the track clear. You ride Epona, since she likes you so much, and I'll ride Misty, and we'll have our own sled race!"
The two of them got to work. Navi wasn't able to help other than to provide words of encouragement. All the while, the sun rose higher and higher in the sky, and when it began to sink behind the farm walls, they had their track ready to go.
Soon they were racing across the snow. Malon started to pull away, and Link, grinning, scooped up some snow and flung it at her sled. "Ack!" she sputtered. He laughed as Epona rushed past Misty. "Oh no you don't, Fairy Boy!" Her own snowball struck him in the back. He yelped as he fell off the sled.
Navi hovered over his fallen body. "Serves you right for pulling a trick like that." Link grumbled into the snow. Then he got back on his feet and ran back to Epona. He and Malon spent the rest of the afternoon racing back and forth, until Talon called them back inside.
"So: how did you like your first New Year's?"
Navi sat on Link's shoulder by the second floor window. A fresh mug of hot chocolate warmed his hands. They both looked out at the starry skies and the full moon, bright enough to light up the tracks they'd made all day.
Link beamed. "It was fun!" He took a sip of hot chocolate and sighed. "This is delicious. Do you think we could take some with us?"
"I don't see why not. They've let us buy their Lon Lon Milk. I wonder if hot chocolate has healing powers too?"
"I think it does." Link shifted against the window, looking in the direction of Hyrule Castle, though it wasn't visible from the position of the farmhouse. "Let's ask them if we can have some right now."
"Now? But you haven't even finished the mug you have right now, you greedy pig! Hey!"
Link ignored her and hopped down from the window. In his excitement, his hands moved too fast for Navi to read, much less Malon. "I don't know what you're talking about, Fairy Boy."
He huffed and grabbed a piece of paper, where he drew a rough sketch of a castle. Then he pointed to his mug of hot chocolate and held up some empty jars. "You want to take some with you up to the castle?" said Malon. "Oooo, that sounds like fun! Can I come too?"
"Now wait just a second!" exclaimed Navi. "It's the middle of the night! You can't go to the castle now! The drawbridge will be closed!"
Link drew a stick figure that looked somewhat like Impa. "Oh. Right. The secret exit. I don't know if that will work, Link." He pouted. Navi sighed. "But I guess we can try. Why do you want to go so bad anyway? It's not like we have what the princess wants yet."
He didn't answer. Instead, he went over to the stove to fill as many empty jars with hot chocolate as he could. Malon ran to fetch a basket to make it easier to carry.
"You don't need to worry about it staying hot either," she said, as they got ready to leave. "That's part of what makes Lon Lon milk special. It will stay warm as long as you need it to."
Together, they set off into the snow, Navi leading the way with her fairy glow. The snow glistened in the moonlight, as though it had its own kind of magic. It's a shame, Navi thought, The way humans wreck it by stomping all over it with their feet. At least I can fly over the snow and leave it just as smooth as before.
At last, they made it to the hidden entrance and snuck inside. It was cold from drafts through the open windows along the castle walls, and snow drifts lay here and there on the staircases. Not until they reached the castle proper did they see more signs of life: snow cleared away, torches warming the hallways, evergreen garlands decorating the interior walls, and wreaths on every door. The delicious smells of roast chicken, spices, and pies from a New Year's feast still drifted through the air.
They knew that they had almost reached their destination when they heard the soft voice of Princess Zelda singing her lullaby in one of the inner courtyards. She stood alone next to a small snowman that she'd made, about the same height as her. Navi flew on ahead to alert her of their presence, and as she did so, she noticed how familiar the snowman looked. He wore a green scarf on his head that had been shaped to look like a certain droopy hat, held a toy sword in one hand and an emerald in the other. There was even a little snow fairy on his shoulder.
"Oh!" The princess gasped when she saw the real Link standing before her, accompanied by Malon. "Link! You're back! Did you find the other Stones? And who is this?"
"We haven't found the last one yet," Navi said, with a little hmph. "Don't ask me why he wanted to come back early."
But Princess Zelda beamed. "I'm glad you did! Happy New Year! Let us hope that this will be the year when we stop Ganondorf's plans."
Link stepped forward, awkwardly holding out one of the jars. "For me?" asked Zelda.
"Ohhhhhhhh, I see why you wanted to come all this way. Is she your girlfriend?" Malon teased.
Link spun around with a yelp, dropping the jar into the snow as he signed over and over again, "FRIEND! FRIEND!" Zelda's laughter filled the little courtyard.
"Wait, I think I have seen you before, from a distance," she said, looking curiously at Malon. "Your father is the one that brings milk to our castle, isn't he?"
"That's right! Pleased to finally meet you, Princess Zelda." Malon curtseyed. "And now we have a special delivery just for you! Happy New Year!"
Zelda picked up the fallen bottle, opened the lid, and breathed in the rich scent. "Oh, it smells like chocolate! I love chocolate!"
"It's hot chocolate," Link told her. Unlike with others, he didn't need Navi to translate for him. Princess Zelda was well-versed in many languages, including signing. She took a polite little sip, and her smile grew. The next thing they knew, she, like Link, gulped down the whole bottle.
Not the way I'd expect a dignified princess to drink something, Navi thought. But I guess she's still just a little kid, after all.
"That was delicious! Thank you so much! What a wonderful way to end New Year's Day!"
"Who says it has to end just yet?" Malon glanced up at Link with a mischievous smile, then her eyes went to the snow lying all around them.
He seemed to understand, but hesitated. After all, they were in royal company.
"Oh, c'mon, Fairy Boy. Even princesses should get to play too." Malon scooped up a handful of snow. "Unless you're scared?"
Zelda tilted her head. "What are you…?"
"Snowball fight!"
Malon let it loose and the snow hit Link in the face. He wiped it off and immediately chased after her. Zelda let out a delighted laugh, lifted her skirts, and ran after them as well while Navi watched.
Though no winner was ever declared, they threw snowballs late into the night, until they finally collapsed in a pile. It wasn't long after that when the princess heard Impa calling for her. "I must go!" she whispered. "Thank you, Link. Thank you, Malon. And you too, Navi. I hope to see you soon. Happy New Year!"
Then she was gone.
They didn't defeat Ganondorf that year. Or the year after that. It would be seven whole years before Link could wield the Master Sword and fight the evil spreading throughout Hyrule. By then, Princess Zelda had vanished and Lon Lon Ranch had fallen under Ingo's leadership.
Link and Navi couldn't afford to stop and enjoy the secret festivities that people celebrated where they could. There was no snow to play with either. The weather was simply cold and dry. Freezing winds blew across dead grass. Link shivered and offered Navi a warm place to rest under his hood.
As night fell, they saw it once more: the dark shape of the ranch looming up ahead. Link stopped. Navi came out from under his hood. "What is it?"
He pointed to the shape. "I want to see how Malon is doing."
Navi sighed. "She's probably celebrating New Year's all alone. Just her and that awful Ingo and the animals."
"Right. Let's go celebrate with her."
"We have to be careful, Link! If Ingo sees us, he might tell Ganon…annnnd you're already gone." With another sigh, she followed after him as he sprinted across the field. That was Link for you.
All of the lights were off in the farmhouse and the barn. All of the windows were shut, all the doors locked tight. But one lone figure stood in the middle of the field, singing her favorite song, Epona grazing by her side. She turned her head when she heard Link approaching, and the same old smile lit up Malon's face. "Hello, Fairy Boy! Happy New Year!"
Link smiled too. "Is it happy?"
Navi translated, just as she'd done long ago, but Malon held up her hand. "I know. I've been practicing." She signed, "It's good to see you again, Link."
His smile widened. "You too."
"As Princess Zelda would say, let us hope that this will be the year when we overthrow Ganondorf."
"We will," Navi insisted. "Link has the Master Sword now. We have a better plan this time. It won't take long, and then you'll be free."
"As long as the animals are safe, that's all that matters to me," said Malon.
There was a solemnity in her tone that hadn't existed as a child. "You've grown up," Navi observed.
"So has Link. So have Epona and Misty." Malon giggled suddenly, and it was not unlike the laugh she'd had before. "You haven't changed at all, Navi."
"Heeeeeeey!"
"Yes? I'm listening."
All three of them laughed, even Navi. Epona stepped up to Link and nuzzled his face. "I wish we had some snow," he said. "We could have another sled race."
"Me too." Malon flopped down into the grass; Link soon joined her. "At least we have the stars."
Link pulled out his ocarina. "And music." He played a few notes of Epona's song, much to the horse's delight, and Malon sang along. Then he switched to Saria's upbeat tune, the haunting Song of Time, and the peaceful lullaby of Princess Zelda.
"I remember that one," said Malon quietly. "That was the song that the princess sang when we went to visit her in the castle." Link nodded. "No one's seen her in seven years. Some people say that she was killed by Ganondorf, but I don't believe it. Do you know what happened to her?"
Link shook his head.
"That's okay. I just thought I'd ask. I miss her. I know that sounds silly. We only met once. But I do."
Link patted her hand. "Me too."
Malon returned the gesture. They sat in silence for a time, while Navi watched over them. She wasn't quite sure of what to say. It wasn't as though she knew where Zelda was hiding. Perhaps the Great Deku Tree would know, but he was gone. There was no way for Navi to ask him for help.
It left her feeling a little lost. Not that she would ever admit that to Link.
Suddenly, Malon stood up. "Wait here and guard Epona. I've got an idea." They watched her sneak back over to the farmhouse, and a faint light soon glowed in the upstairs window.
A fresh, cold breeze blew through them, knocking Navi backwards into Link. He gently placed her back inside his hood to rest. "No, no, I want to see where Malon went," she told him, peeking out from underneath the green fabric. And there she was already, running back across the pasture from the house. She carried a basket under her arm.
"Ta-da!"
Inside the basket were jars of hot chocolate. Malon held one out to Link. "At least there's one thing about New Year's that doesn't have to change."
"Thank you." He reached for the jar with both hands and took a long drink. Malon resumed her place next to him and opened a second bottle to share with Navi.
"Happy New Year." She raised her bottle towards the stars. "Let's give a toast to Princess Zelda. Wherever she is, I hope she's safe and happy."
"Here, here!" chimed Navi.
Link raised his bottle too, and clinked glasses with Malon. Perhaps, in another day, in another year, Zelda would join them once more. In the meantime, all that they could do was hope.