Richard was ashamed of himself. He regretted slipping that rum into his milk. He also regretted sharing with Navi. He admitted what he did to Malon and she laughed. Looking at Beat he felt even more embarrassed. He had taken up a bed so his friend had to sleep on the windowsill beside Navi.
"Where is it?" Beat said rummaging through the beds. "It has to be here! If I lost it she's gonna kill me! Sweet Farore, spare me Emilia's wrath."
"Who's Emilia?" Navi asked waking up.
Richard shrugged, turning towards Malon for a hint.
"First I've heard of her." Malon stated. "What are you looking for?"
"My black tunic! I left it on the bed you slept in but now I can't find it!" he cried. He then just collapsed onto the floor shaking. "Richard find the tunic if you want me to live. If it isn't found I will be killed by my adopted mother." he sobbed.

This was the perfect time for Gwen to show up right? Of course! Gwen walked in and saw Beat shivering on the floor. "Oh my!" she gasped, "Mr. Grimsley please follow me, I can make you feel better." she instructed the Gerudo, taking his hand. Before he could refuse she led him up a flight of steps to her room. She sat him down on the bed, cupping his hands in her own. "Just relax." she insisted.
"Gwen I don't, know what your doing, but please stop." he requested taking his hands away.
Before Gwen could respond Malon kicked the door open. "Look bitch! Beat isn't interested!" she shouted.
This angered Gwen, so she decided to jump at Malon. With a short shout she lunged at the farm girl. Malon sidestepped effortlessly making Gwen fly out the door.
"What the hell?" gasped Richard as he was toppled over by Gwen. The girl got up stepping on Richard in a place no man should be stepped on. That's right, she stepped on his... NECK! With a strangled gasp he lifted her foot off his throat.

Beat watched as Gwen ran back inside grabbing Malon by the hair and pulling her towards a wall. Richard staggered in the room clutching his neck. He motioned for Beat to scoot over so he could sit down. Beat obliged and allowed his friend a seat.
"Should we stop them?" Beat asked watching Malon kick Gwen across the room.
Richard shrugged.
"They'll probably fight until noon." Navi stated peeking over Richard's shoulder.
"I'll stop it." Beat said walking towards the fight. Before he could say anything a pot was thrown and it hit Beat square in the forehead, making him pass out. This halted the fight.
"Look what you did you stupid farm tramp!" Gwen shouted rushing over to Beat.
"What I did? You threw the pot! You started the fight! You practically kidnapped him! And don't position his head like that!" she shouted pointing her finger at Gwen burying his face in her breasts.
"Why? Jealous that I'm more endowed than you?" she smugly taunted pointing at Malon's still growing chest.
"I'm thirteen for Nayru's sake!"
"SHUTTUP!!!" wheezed Richard. "Stop your fighting, and let it go. Gwen just let Beat recover, then we'll be leaving."

Beat was unhappy. Here he was standing before Dragmire, listening to his endless insults.
"I can't believe that the Gerudo will have a wimp like you leading them! That's the second time you've passed out!" he laughed.
"I can't help it if Gwen will be the cause of my death!" he shouted.
They were then joined by Nabooru. "Give it a rest Ganon." she ordered.
Ganondorf stuck his tongue out at her and turned his back to them.
"If he was the king, how did we not all die?" Beat asked shaking his head.
"He was surprisingly much more violent, and greedy. Now he's back to the way he was before he had the Triforce." sighed Nabooru.
"Do you think something could have been controlling him?" questioned Beat.
Ganondorf suddenly gasped. "The Skull King! He showed up before I went power-hungry! He said I had to give him my loyalty, but I refused. He had said that I would follow him one way or the other! Then he hit me with this blood red blast of energy, and I lost it!"
Beat was going to say it was a load of bull, but looking at Nabooru he saw that she knew about this Skull King person.
"Beat you go wake up. Ganondorf, you may be getting freed soon if we need to." Nabooru said. Then they all seemed to just turn into dust.

Beat awoke with a shout. His hair was glued to his forehead by his sweat. He gasped realizing what may be happening. This, Skull King, guy was probably the cause of this! He jumped out of bed, and found his tunic laying on the desk, next to a note.
He read the note and it said "Dear Beat, Sorry for making you go through that. I found your tunic, and stitched it back up. It should be hard to notice that it was torn. Sorry for the whole scene back there. Your Friend, Malon."
He sighed and pulled it on over his head. He put his belt on and tied his bombchu bag onto a loop. He put his sheathed knife onto the back loop of his belt, where no one would see it. He then tied a cord around a pouch that held the spell he had gotten last night. He hung that pouch around his neck, tucking in under his tunic. He then put his rapier into it's scabbard on his belt. It hung on his right side, ready to be drawn. He then looped his hookshot into a belt loop that was empty. He was now ready.

Navi was zipping around through the bar. She had to try to get one last drink. Richard had to laugh, she was getting to familiar with alcohol. Malon was waiting outside with the cart, petting the horse she had brought. Grim's Charge had stopped fighting against her. He now let her pet his fur, and let her feed him. He could tell his master trusted her, and so he decided to trust her also. Malon looked at the window where her friend slept. She saw him putting his gear together. She then watched him open the window and jump out of it! She gasped as he landed right next to her cart.
"Enjoy the grand entrance?" he playfully asked.
"You scared me Beat!" she laughed playfully shoving him.
"My apologies, Ms. Lon." he said with a smile. He then headed inside the bar. "Richard get our little puffball and let's go!" he shouted over the roar of the crowd.

Navi heard the name she was called, and turned red. She flew at Beat like a bat out of hell. He carelessly side stepped grabbing her by the wings. This made her angrier. "Unhand me Grimsley!" she shouted as he carried her outside.
"Navi, you're the one that got me into this, so your helping me." Beat stated with a small smile. "And besides, you should come, were going to your old home."
"Kokiri Forest?" she gasped.
"Yeah, but first were stopping at the ranch." Richard added as they climbed into the cart.
Malon took the reigns and started the carts movement. Grim's Charge trotted down the cobblestone path towards the drawbridge. "I'm sure my dad would give you some supplies for how you helped us." she shouted to the passengers in the back.
"We should stop by there Beat." Navi agreed.
"Umm, we already are, we are planning on borrowing Grim's Charge, another horse, and a cart." Beat sighed.

Richard suggested that they should sing to make the trip seem shorter. Malon and Beat obliged happily. Malon sang Epona's song while Beat played it on his violin. Before long they found themselves at Lon Lon Ranch.
Ingo was standing by the gate. He did not look happy. "You're late girl! Do you how much I've had to do because of your absence? Talon left for Kakariko yesterday, so I guess I'll have plenty of time to teach you your place." he smiled cruelly.
"Oh really?" laughed a voice behind Ingo.
Malon looked to see Beat standing behind Ingo. She looked back to see Richard and Navi as surprised as her.
Beat drew his rapier, advancing on Ingo. Ingo tripped onto his face, and looking up in terror staring into pitiless eyes. Beat pointed his blade's point at his victims throat.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you!" he shouted.
Ingo just screamed, too panic-stricken to talk. He couldn't find the strength to lift his arms to hide his face.
Everyone was too shocked to react. Beat was poised to skewer Ingo's scrawny neck. Only one person came to Ingo's aid.
"That's quite enough Mr. Grimsley!" shouted a deep rustic voice.
Beat turned to face Talon. No anger or hatred remained in the golden eyes of Beat. He dropped his sword and collapsed onto his knees, weeping. Malon ran to comfort him but Talon stopped her. Richard helped Ingo to his feet and led him inside. Malon went in the house with everyone else, leaving their friend alone with Talon. Talon walked Beat over to a storehouse in the northeast corner of the ranch. He sat Beat down, on some hay.
"It's ok son. Let it out. You had good intentions, but you went a little too far." he comforted.
"I don't know what came over me." he sobbed. "Just, listening to him, it made my blood boil. I just was filled with hatred."
"Trust me, I was coming around, and heard his little declaration. I was about to strangle him." he said with his rustic voice. "I was charging down the path, but then I heard him scream. Then I saw you, and heard your shout. That was a side of you I never thought you had."
"I've snapped like that only one time before. It was someone close to me, he was killed right in front of me. I just snapped, except then, I had no control I didn't pin him, or threaten him. I just pounced on him, and squeezed his neck."
"Go ahead and tell me son. It's starting to rain so we'll have some time."
"Well, I doubt you'll believe me, because it kinda starts over after a point. I'm going to tell you my life story. Including seven years that I get to live again."

Malon and Richard sat at the kitchen table. Navi was flitting around the windows, looking for Beat and Talon. Ingo was huddled in a corner, shaking faster than a frightened Goron.
"Where are they?" Navi sighed going from window to window.
"Daddy probably took him to the storehouse to talk in privacy." Malon stated.
"What was that? What happened to him to make him snap like that?" Richard sighed holding his head in his hands. "He was a totally different person!"
"I don't know, but I hope he doesn't stay that way." Navi replied.
"He won't." Malon stated confidently. "He was just being protective, that's all!"
"I hope you're right Malon. I hope you're right." Richard said shaking his head.

Beat had finished his story, and now laid down clutching his head. Talon sat in the doorway, digesting the information he had just received. This kid has lived through hell! Talon thought to himself. He walked over to the boy and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, kiddo. I won't tell anyone what you told me." he comforted.
"Can I stay here tonight? I want to avoid Ingo, and Malon, and everyone else." he sighed, smiling weakly.
"Sure thing. Get some sleep. I'll come see you tomorrow. I just hope it doesn't rain like it did when I met you."
"Ok Talon." agreed Beat. He watched as Talon headed outside. "Goodbye." he whispered.

That night the rain started to pour. Everyone slept peacefully, except Beat. He walked up to the cart. He grabbed his violin case, and a bottle of milk. He pinned a note to the door. He unhitched Grim's Charge and rode away silently. He cried as he saw the ranch growing farther away. He had to leave, or else he would hurt somebody. I'll just go to the forest on my own, he thought. He rode until he was about to collapse off the horse. He rode the horse to a river bed and tied him to a nearby spruce tree. He rested his head against the trunk and sighed.
"I'm just like him!" he cried out. He closed his eyes, letting the tears flow down his cheeks. "I'm alone again. Out in Hyrule field, in the rain. Except this time, there's no stalfos to attack me." he laughed to himself.

When Malon woke up she felt a great sadness coating the ranch, like fog. She went to the door, and opened it. As the door came inwards she saw a piece of paper fall to the ground. The rain had stopped, but it was still overcast. She bent over to read the note and gasped. She read it over and over, trying to understand what it meant. She placed the note on the table, and took a seat. She put her arms on the table, and held her head. She silently cried to herself, "He's gone." repeatedly.

Richard could feel something tugging at his insides. He got up and headed towards the kitchen. There he found Malon crying at the table. Navi was hovering over her trying to comfort her. Richard looked to Navi, and she pointed towards the paper on the table. Richard picked it up, and gasped.

The letter was short, and it read like this:
My dear friends, I'm leaving this message to tell you I've left. I'm going to the forest on my own. I beg you don't follow me. I will do what is needed for my people, but then I will leave Hyrule. Malon, I want you to know, you were very special to me. Tell Ingo, I'm sorry. Sincerely Beat Grimsley.
P.S. Goodbye.