Epona went to graze by the bushes as Kamari and Link climbed up the ladder.

Kamari went up last, smiling and nodding as Link held the door open for her.

"Welcome! Come to ride in the boat, young-un's?" A great burly man with a rugged beard asked heartily from behind the counter to the left.

Link nodded. "Yup!" He walked over to the booth in the far right corner. "Two passengers, please," he asked the eyes and nose poking out from the darkness within the booth.

The nose and eyes went up, down, then returned to their original position. Link slipped the required rupees and led Kamari back outside.

Link jumped into the boat, then held his had to help Kamari. Kamari hopped onto the boat and sat down.

A bell rang from nowhere. "Welcome to the Boat Cruise! Please enjoy the swamp scenery to your heart's content!" The boat began to move.

Kamari gazed with eager eyes left and right. When they passed the jumping frog, she laughed in delight. She seemed to be expecting something when they passed through the tunnel that led toward the Deku Palace. Link almost thought she expected to see a big octork like before he saved the swamp. He smiled at that. "She'll tell me later. She promised," he thought to himself firmly.

The boat stopped. "Now arriving at Deku Palace. Will you disembark?" The voice asked. Kamari looked at Link hopefully. Link got the message.

"Yes." Link said, jumping off the boat. Kamari followed him. Link was half way to the gate when he stopped.

"Um… Kamari? The Deku Tribe might not let us in. Well… They will let ME in, but not you. Will you put on this mask for me?"

Kamari looked at the mask in his hand. "Ok!" Kamari piped. She snatched it.

Link nodded. "Now, I must warn you, that mask is magical. It will turn you in…to…" Kamari had already put it on.

"GWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" A little Deku girl screamed, falling over. "That feels WEIRD!" She prattled over to the water, and looked at her reflection. If she could have smiled, she would have. "What do you think, Link?" She asked, spinning.

As a Deku Scrub, Kamari was a little shorter than Link. She had hair green as grass, and glowing yellow eyes. She wore a green dress under a shall of silvery leaves. Link gapped.

"You- You look-" Link couldn't find the words. He wasn't sure what he thought. Kamari giggled.

"I guess I do look a little silly. Well, lets go!" She prattled through the gate. Link followed.

The first thing Kamari did was hop across the water. " 1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6-AHH!!" Kamari fell into the water.

"KAMARI!" Link jumped in after her. The water wasn't deep (he could stand on the bottom without a problem) but it went above her Deku head. Kamari was thrashing in the water, trying to swim and failing. Link waded as fast as he could (she had hopped far). By the time he got to her, the thrashing had stopped. She lay on the ground, unnervingly still.

Link slapped on the Goron Mask, and quickly carried her over to the grass in front of the gate.

"Please- Don't die on me- Kamari…" Link panicked. He laid Kamari on her back, then tore the mask off and dashed for the palace. The guards ducked out of his way, seeing the expression on his face.

Link ran straight up to the Deku King. "There is a Deku Scrub who almost drowned! I don't know what to do!"

The Princess looked disturbed. "Butler! Please accompany Link to see this Deku Scrub."

The butler bowed. "Yes, Princess." He opened his parasol. Link ran back to Kamari without a moment's hesitation. The Butler was more than fast enough to follow after.

The Deku Butler knelt by Kamari's still form. He shook his head. "What a reckless stunt. What compelled this child to risk-" He stopped himself. Slowly, he pushed and banged on Kamari's chest. A little spout of water came out. Kamari seemed to cough (but bubbles came out – she was still a Deku).

"Li-Link?" She asked, sending out another bubble. Link stood on her other side. He looked a little mad.

"I was worried about you. NEVER do that AGAIN!" He growled in a whisper. Kamari nodded, then jumped up to hug his leg.

"I- I'm sorry… I… I…" She started to cry. Her little body convulsed as she buried her face in his hip.

Link's anger seemed to melt away. He put his hands on her head. "It's ok. Just don't scare me like that anymore, ok?" He asked, softly. Kamari looked up at him. She nodded.

The Deku Butler left them with a bow.

Kamari hopped about as they left the Deku Palace. Link laughed. Then he fell over, crying out.

"What?!" Kamari spun around, looking almost fierce.

The Deku Princess was on top of Link, a little dazed.

"Mr… Link… Please… Father… Give him… Give him back…" The Princess seemed to be crying.

Link looked startled.

"WHY DID YOU TAKE FATHER AWAY?! PLEASE! GIVE HIM BACK!!!" The Princess bawled, her beady eyes leaking.

Kamari went to help Link up. "I'm sorry, but Link didn't even touch the Deku King. Are you sure it was him?"

The Deku Princess nodded feebly. "He had his sword, and his hat, and everything… Who else could it be?" She got up, whipping her tears away. "But, it didn't act like him… He had an evil grin, and seemed darker…"

Kamari froze. "Which way did he go?!" She hissed.

I thought I saw him go toward the Temple, but only Deku Scrubs can get up there so I… I assumed I was mistaken…"

Kamari helped Link get to his feet. "Don't worry, Deku Princess. Link and I will find your father and bring him back."

The Deku Princess nodded. "Good luck." She left.

Kamari looked up at Link. "O.K, listen. You go up to Woodfall by climbing up the vines across the way. I'll go through the Deku Scrub's way via Deku Flowers. I'll meet you in front of Woodfall Temple." Kamari darted off.

Link watched until she was out of sight. He shook his head. "She'll explain later… She'll explain later…"

Link went to climb up the vines.

Kamari hopped across the water, making sure to get on a lily pad before the sixth landing. She stood on the flower on the nearby ledge, and spun. Kamari stayed in the flower for a moment, then shot up and out.

Kamari made her way from one Deku Flower to the next, moving steadily closer to the waterfall. Link was waiting for her at the gate to Woodfall. Kamari nodded to him, then raced through. Link followed.

Kamari was making her way, flower by flower, bridge by bridge, around to the tower that stood in front of where woodfall temple would appear. Link watched her go, marveling at her technique. She had obviously done this before.

Kamari presently fell on her face on the tower. Link looked away. "If she has done this before, why is it she doesn't know her Deku body all that well..?" Link shrugged. "She'll explain later."

Link was about to play the Song of Soaring to take him to the tower when a familiar tune echoed across the water.

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Link gapped. "Where did she learn that song?!?!?!" He was about to call out to her, but he was thrown back be the water. The temple was rising, sending great waves in every direction. Link held what little breath was left in his body, gripping the frame of the doorway for dear life.

The water slowly receded. Link sang to his knees, coughing up swamp water.

When he got to the Tower, Kamari was face down, the Deku Mask a few inches away from her human face. Her breathing was normal, but there was a bruise on her neck. Someone had knocked her out.