Malon
First met in Ocarina of Time, Malon is the daughter of the rancher Talon, who owns Lon Lon Ranch. She has made appearances in other Zelda games, but her character has never been developed as much as in Ocarina of Time. Also, Ocarina of Time is the only game in which she appears as an adult.
Malon could be inspired by Marin, a girl introduced in Link's Awakening, Ocarina of Time's predecessor. Their names are similar, they are similar in appearance and both have a Mario-esque father with a similar name (Talon and Tarin). Ironically, this makes Malon based on Princess Zelda, who was Marin's inspiration.
Ocarina of Time
Malon is a young girl who loves to sing outside the Hyrule Castle's walls at night. She takes care of most of the duties at the ranch due to her father's laziness. Link first met Malon, who called him "Fairy Boy", in the Hyrule Castle Market where she was looking for her father.[1] After Link found Talon asleep and woke him up, Malon returned to Lon Lon Ranch with him. Later, she introduced Link to a young horse named Epona[2] and taught Link Epona's Song, a song Malon's mother had composed.[3]
Seven years later, when Link returned to the ranch, Ingo, another worker at Lon Lon Ranch, had exiled Talon and taken over the ranch. Malon was working for him out of fear of how the animals would be treated if she wasn't around.[4] Link challenged Ingo to a race and defeated him, using Epona, and he escaped the ranch with the horse. Later, Link returned to find Malon had regained control and Ingo had gone back to being "a normal, nice person". Malon did recognize Link, but wasn't sure until he told her his name.[5]
As a mini-game, Malon lets him race around the ranch to compete against her best time.[6] When he's able to beat her time, she rewards him by sending a cow to his house in Kokiri Forest, which may be used as a reliable and free source of Lon Lon Milk.
Ocarina of Time is the only game in which Malon's mother is mentioned. She is most likely dead by the time of the events of Ocarina of Time, but it is clear she had a great influence on Malon and the others on the ranch. She's the one who composed Epona's Song, which is said to be liked by everyone on the farm. Talking to Talon while wearing the Gerudo Mask causes him to say that it reminds him of Malon's mother, but he quickly retracts that statement.[7] Whether this quote merely means Malon's red hair comes from her mother or that her mother was a Gerudo, is unknown.
Oracle of Seasons
Malon played a small role in a trading game in Oracle of Seasons. She requested Link to bring her a Cuccodex, which is apparently an information database of Chickens (possibly a reference to a Pokédex).
The Minish Cap
Malon made a cameo in The Minish Cap. Talon and she were locked out of their house, but Link could help them by using Ezlo's power to go into the house and find the key.
Four Swords Adventures
She also appears in Four Swords Adventures in a brief cameo.
Trivia
- With the Mask of Truth, Link can learn from the Gossip Stones that Malon dreams for a knight to take her away.[8]
- Both Malon and Talon wear "Bowser Medallions".
- The symbols on the bottom of her dress spell 'Lon' in Hylian.
- A Gossip Stone in front of the Temple of Time says that Malon was the original record holder of the Lon Lon Ranch obstacle course, her record being 50 seconds.[9]
- Malon had two equivalent characters in Majora's Mask in Romani and Cremia, two sisters who look similar to Malon, one young and one old.
- In the manga, Malon ends up calling Link Mr. Hero instead of Fairy Boy.
- During the night in Twilight Princess a voice similar to Malon's sings.
Gallery
-
Young Malon.
-
Malon and Talon from Oracle of Seasons.
-
Adult Malon.
-
Malon's "Bowser Medallion".
References
- ↑ The girl from the ranch asked us to find her father...I wonder where he is? - Navi (Ocarina of Time).
- ↑ "Oh, it's the fairy boy again! I heard that you found my dad! How did you like the castle? Did you see the Princess? Hee hee! Dad came home in a hurry after you found him. Hee hee! Oh yeah, I have to introduce you to my friend, fairy boy! She's this horse. Her name is Epona. Isn't she cute?" — Malon (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "My mother composed this song. Isn't it nice? Let's sing together." — Malon (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "Oh...a visitor! It's been a long time since we've had a visitor here... Where did you come from? Since Ganondorf came, people in the Castle Town have gone, places have been ruined, and monsters are wandering everywhere. Mr. Ingo is just using the ranch to gain Ganondorf's favor... Everyone seems to be turning evil... But Dad... He was kicked out of the ranch by Mr. Ingo... If I disobey Mr. Ingo, he will treat the horses so badly... So... There's nothing I can do..." — Malon (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "Thank you very much for the other day... I haven't even asked you your name yet... ........ Really? Link! That's what I thought! You're the fairy boy from the forest! That was years ago! Do you remember me? You do? I was sure it was you because Epona remembered you! Oh, I have to tell you about Mr. Ingo... He was afraid that the Evil King might find out that Epona had been taken away...It really upset him! But one day, all of a sudden, he went back to being a normal, nice person! Now my dad is coming back...I can't believe it, but peace is returning to this ranch! It's all because of you! I owe you so much! Thank you! Thank you, Link!" — Malon (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "How about trying your skill with Epona on an obstacle course? I'll time you for two laps. It's pretty challenging. If you miss jumping a fence in the proper order, you'll fail. How about it? Do you want to try?" — Malon (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "Hey, that reminds me of my wife... On second thought, it doesn't... It doesn't look like her at all!" — Talon (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "They say that Malon of Lon Lon Ranch hopes a knight in shining armor will come and sweep her off her feet someday." — Gossip Stone (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "They say that Malon set the original record in the obstacle course of Lon Lon Ranch." — Gossip Stone (Ocarina of Time)