Journey's End - Chapter 1

Lon Lon Ranch appears as it always had: humble, old and welcoming in a “here we live the simple life” way. The sign needs painting. In fact, it looks even more worn down since the last time you saw it. It probably hasn’t seen a fresh lick of paint since before you left the country. 

The air has a particular scent to it. There is a chill, yes, for indeed the harvest season was settling in. But there is also a sharp, heated smell on the wind. Burning leaves, dying vegetation, smoke. The combination of scents whips you back to a cold harvest day when you were a child, after your quest, living on the farm. Talon had always burned the old leaves and grass, to make a compost mix for the coming crops in the growing season, but especially for his daughter and her little friend, he would throw a couple of yams into the middle to bake within the heat. The taste suddenly comes back to you. The fluffy, potato-like texture, slightly sweet and earthy taste, and the crispy skin that sometimes had natural sugar from the vegetable stuck on it. A real treat. The memory teases your appetite, and your stomach makes a tiny grumble in acknowledgement.

You whisk your hands to urge Epona forwards, but she doesn’t need it. You can sense from her that she knows she is home. Under your saddle, her muscles poised to trot in that happy way she does when she is about to get an apple or when she hadn’t seen you in a while. For a second, you feel guilty from taking here away from this place, but she is also the only one to welcome you by the fire after a hard fight. The Hylian saying “Care for your steed, for she is your shelter in a lonely field” was indeed, in this case, true. You give her mane a soft ruffle in appreciation as you both pass under the worse-for-wear sign.

“Link!” a melodic voice brings a nervous lump to your throat. Looking up, you see her. Red hair, long and glossy, flowing behind her as she runs to you. She is… taller than before, and… shapely. Her blouse bounces with each step and the ruffles of her skirt give you a quick glimpse of thighs, pale and full. You dismount from your horse and turn to greet her, only to be caught half way with a heavy snatch of a hug. 

“I can’t believe you’re really here!” she trills, a wave of emotion on her voice. Her grip around your chest tightens as she buries her face into your chest. You awkwardly put a hand on the top of her head, petting her soft red mane. You try not to focus on the pressure of her breasts against you. The wind blows a few of those fiery strands into your mouth, and you brush them away with a faint smile as she looks up at you. Her eyes, bluer than ever, are full of gleeful tears. She shifts her gaze to Epona, and a tear runs down her cheek.

“Hey there girly,” she sniffs, pressing her forehead against the horse’s snout, “You’ve become so beautiful, just like your mama was. I hope you thought about us while you were off galivanting with this fairy boy here.”

She turns back to you, and wipes her cheek.

“I… can’t believe you’re here… Welcome home, Link. And in time for the Festival of Harvest! So you did get my letter!” 

She throws her arms around you again, and snuggles into you one last time. You could swear she took a fraction of a second to take in your scent from the old days. She feels so tiny against you. Have you really grown so much in all those years?

“I didn’t know you’d come today, so you’ve caught me by surprise,” she grins, that little wrinkle on her nose still there, “Are you hungry? I was about to cook.”

You smile and nod your head. Malon’s eyes light up with enthusiasm, “Let me put Epona into the stable and I’ll meet you indoors!” She rushes off with your horse, both trotting happily. 

The farmhouse hadn’t changed much. Less cuccos, maybe. It was an old but well cared for building, made from dry woods and comfortable. You smile to yourself as you look around, only to be interrupted by a certain young lady barging through the door.

“Epona remembers me,” she beams, heading over to the stove. She lights a match and gets the fire under the stove going, “I’m so happy to see her. She looks great, too. You’ve taken really good care of her.”

She signals for you to sit as she fetches a pumpkin from a crate in the corner.

“So please do tell me,” she huffs as she cuts the vegetable through the middle, “about your adventures in the strangelands. Was it dangerous?”

You describe the change in the land, the new trees and plants that grow outside Hyrule, the animals and monsters, the villages and towns, their culture and traditions. All the while, she buzzes around that stove and within minutes, a delicious smell fills the room. You stomach gives an eager grumble.

“That’s so bizarre, all that adventure and danger” she laughs, stirring a now full pot, “I would love to see all that some day. But I also love my home here… maybe I’m just a little home bird. You’re so brave to go out there all on your own…”

She places a full bowl of a steaming orange broth in front of you. Your mouth begins to water as she offers you a piece of buttered bread.

“I guess you never did find your friend,” she says, her eyes sympathetic.

Taking the bread from her and dipping it into your soup, you tell her about all the false leads you had, and all the wild goose chases. She nods her head, listening intently, sometimes sighing as she hears of your struggles. It was bitter to talk about, but the pumpkin soup was just what you needed. The taste of home.

*****

Art by R3dFiVe

Story by Redeemer and R3dFiVe

Writing by Redeemer

EXTRA NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: The soup that these two are eating actually exists! This is my own private creation and I would like to share it with you, the readers of Journey’s End! So, here we go!
 

Redeemer and Malon’s Pumpkin Soup Recipe
You will need a BIG pot! This makes a lot! If you want to make less, simply half it all!

Ingredients:

1 Hokkaido Pumpkin (the ones I buy weigh between 1kg-1.3kg)
200g Parsnip
250g Potatoes (Or if you’d prefer meat, 250g chorizo sausage goes nicely)
300g Bell Pepper (I like to use red and yellow)
200g Carrot
200g Onion
200g Leek
2 Vegetable Stock Cubes
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Pinch Dried Chili Flakes (optional)
2 Tablespoons Tomato Puree
 

Instructions:
TIP! To cut up the pumpkin easily, poke it a few times with a fork and bake it at 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit?) for half an hour then let it cool. Then, once it’s cooled, you can open it and take out the seeds.

 

· Chop up all the vegetables and throw them all into the pot with the salt, stock, pepper and chili and add enough water to barely cover them

· Cook at a high temperature and as the water begins to bubble, reduce heat to medium

· Some vegetable froth might gather at the surface, you can spoon this away easily and it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s harmless and I actually just leave it there now hurhur

· Cook for around half 45 minutes with the lid on, but leave it open a little on one side otherwise the soup might boil over and make a mess

· When the vegetables are all cooked, you can either leave them nice and chunky or take a hand mixer to them and make them a smooth puree

· Add the tomato puree and stir it in

· Serve with buttered bread