Chapter Seventeen: Recounting, Part Two
It was still dark when Link awoke, but already he could hear activity on the ranch. He also heard the rain, but it was light, and the wind that had been so strong the day before was gentle. He pushed himself up, stretching his limbs. Navi stirred to life as well, and her blue light flared from dim to bright, gently lighting the room.
"Morning partner," Link muttered, stifling a yawn.
"Good morning yourself. How do you feel?" she asked, fluttering over to the window to inspect the outside.
"Really well, actually. And no restless dreams this time," he added with a smile.
"No? That's a surprise," Navi said, returning to his side. Probably just a fluke, though undoubtedly a welcome one."
"I'll say," Link answered, "Having that same dream is kinda' depressing after a while."
"I can imagine." Link sat at the edge of the bed and slipped on his boots, and also belted his tunic. Grabbing his cap last, he plopped it on and stretched again after he finally stood up.
"Join me outside Navi? If it's not too wet out, I think I can use some more practice with my aura." Navi smiled and landed on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you take it so seriously. I'll join you, yes."
Satisfied he had everything he needed for now, he headed downstairs, past all the cuccos, and stepped outside.
The rain had died into a drizzle, and the wind was nonexistent at this point. The sky above was a uniform grey in all directions though, and for now, at least, it didn't appear it would let up anytime soon. Still, it didn't stop the two of them from finding a dry patch on the side of the house, underneath a tree.
Link with his back to the trunk, cross-legged- and for a moment just sat there and looked around, taking in the sights and sounds, the scents, and even the feel of the grass below him. His Kokirian upbringing had honed his observations of nature, and while this was no forest, he could feel this was good land, and that played no small part in the ranch's success. He was content here, and he enjoyed that feeling immensely. He remembered Malon the last time he had been here asking him to stay on the ranch, and how he had even lightly considered it out of fancy. Thinking critically though, it still wasn't such a bad idea. He smiled. When his task was over, whenever that would be, he would return and think about it again, seriously.
He began his meditation with these thoughts in mind, and he was quite surprised with how quickly his aura came to him. Normally, in the short time he had practiced, his time was now pretty consistent with hovering around 40 seconds, but today, he had barely even needed to give it more than a whim when it came, and he could feel it was stronger too. He wanted to tell Navi, rather pleased with this new development, but he decided to wait until after. That was the ritual they had established, after all; they would meditate, then talk. So instead, he devoted his time to exploring the possibility of why, within his own reasoning. His thoughts would affect his aura, but he was finding it easier every day to maintain his control without losing it to a stray thought. Exploiting that, he simply followed the thoughts that affected his aura the strongest in a positive way.
As before, as they had discovered, his general sense of duty and responsibility was essentially the backbone of his magic. Straying from that in any way immediately caused his aura to falter. In a sense, he almost considered this a weakness. If his moral character was different, or at worst compromised, would he still be able to use his magic? Another question for his mentor; he pocketed it away for discussion.
He turned to his thoughts prior to his meditation then. Again, his aura grew in strength. The land he had taken in with his senses? No, that wasn't it. But it was close, he could feel it. It wasn't the ranch either. His aura grew stronger with those, but it didn't feel as rich or deep as it had minutes before. The last thing he had thought of was Malon's proposal to stay on the ranch. His aura deepened then, and it clicked. Malon. Somehow she had become a key element to his aura. He smiled, letting his aura simply flow with that knowledge. He wasn't sure what that meant for him, but he was content to let that be for now. He would ask Navi about it.
Navi herself had also been paying attention to Link's aura, and she was distinctly aware of his growth, and the fluctuations that had occurred. She was able to gather it wasn't loss of control, but experimenting. She approved of it, as knowing oneself was vitally important for magic, and it was healthy for everyday life as well. But his growth was what piqued her interest. No doubt he was curious about it as well, knowing her partner, and they were sure to discuss it after.
About an hour later, footsteps prompted Link to open his eyes, and he saw Malon standing in front of him, looking at him rather strangely.
"You know, you told me the first time we met you weren't a fairy, right?"
"Uhh…yes? Why?"
"'Cuz you're glowing just like Navi."
Link stared back, too perplexed to know how to respond. Navi sighed.
"Link, you're still channeling your aura. And it's strong enough now for her to see it."
"Wait, what?" Link looked at her, severing his connection. Malon let out a small gasp. Navi nodded in her direction.
"See? You didn't tell her yet, did you?"
"Tell me what?"
"I hadn't gotten around to it yet," Link answered rather sheepishly. Navi shook her head but said nothing.
"Gotten around to what?" Malon asked again, looking between the two. Link sighed and stood up. Meditation was over anyway.
"I, uhh, might have learned on Death Mountain that I can, umm…..I can use magic."
Malon stared at Link, then Navi, then pointed at him, mouthing soundlessly a single word. Him? Navi nodded, rather amused by how this was unfolding. Malon looked back at him, still shocked. Link, quite embarrassed now, averted his gaze, instead pretending to be thoroughly interested in staring at a bit of dirt on his left boot. Magic wasn't exactly a common thing, he had been told. What would she think of it?
"Link, that's…That's so cool!" She exclaimed, rushing forward and hugging him, laughing. Link was thoroughly taken by surprise by her reaction, having expected something more…subtle. Navi was laughing now as well, and even Link, the initial shock over, smiled.
"That's incredible Link, it's like you can do anything!" She told him, leaning back, but still not letting go. "So what were you doing?"
"That was just meditation and aura training, nothing crazy," he answered, still a little embarrassed. She was really close to him. Still, she didn't pull away yet.
"Aura? Was that why you were all glowy?"
"Uh-huh."
"Wow…Can you do that again? Please?" she added when he looked back at her. He looked at Navi, unsure how to proceed. She shrugged.
"It won't affect her if that's what you're worried about. Not unless you want it to."
Link looked back at Malon again, who was still smiling, perhaps rather too sweetly. She was totally begging him without saying a word. Fortunately for her, it was working. He sighed, finally relenting. He nodded, and she nearly squealed with delight. She pulled away now, but she still held his hands.
"I want to see what it feels like," she explained cheerfully, bringing their hands up, fingers locked.
Link took a deep breath, doing his best to keep his heart from pounding as much as it had been the past few minutes. It was difficult to concentrate with Malon right there though. But then, he thought, wasn't she an influence on his magic now? He opened his eyes, and stared back at her, looking into her own. And finally, he called on his magic.
Just like with his meditation, he felt the warm sensation of his aura suffuse him almost immediately. Now that his eyes were open, and his hands in front of him, he saw his aura now as well. Before, it had seemed to come off of him like wisps of smoke off a candlewick after it was extinguished. Now it was more substantial, if that was the right word, for it was still very much ethereal in nature. Like the flame itself rather than the smoke. And his aura now encompassed him entirely, like an extra layer of clothing, still the same light-infused green, still as rich and vibrant as before.
Malon watched his aura surround him, and gasped when his hands were enveloped, but she didn't pull away. After a second, she even squeezed her grip stronger; not tightly, just firm. She looked away from their hands and back at him.
"It's warm," She said simply. She gently released her grip, but instead of letting go, she stepped forward and embraced him again. "It feels…safe."
Link held on to his aura for a few moments longer, then released it. While he had been entirely in control of its flow, with Malon so close he could feel his magic…yearning. Yearning to flow freely. He could probably perform his magic spin attack with devastating results with that amount of magic, more than he had used against Barinade. He wondered what else he could do with that much magic.
Even after he released his aura, she held him for a moment longer, before she stepped away again. To his surprise, this time it was Malon who looked embarrassed.
"So that's what magic feels like?"
"Well, mine anyway, I can't do much with it yet though," he looked away, feeling a little shy again. He had shared his magic with another person, and Malon no less. It was…rather personal.
"I like it," she said. "I feel like I understand you better now, it's strange. You're…kind, brave, and loyal."
"That sums him up pretty well," Navi piped up from the side, causing them both to jump. She grinned. "What, you two in your own little world now?" She chuckled as she watched them both blush. Children, both of them, she thought to herself with amusement. "She's right though, when you touch someone else's magic, you can often gain some insight into the individual themselves. Magic is part of you, after all."
"I thought you said it wouldn't affect her?" Link asked. Navi nodded.
"I did. And it didn't. I wasn't wrong. I never said she couldn't feel you through your magic."
"And you didn't say so why?" He asked, a little embarrassed now. He knew it had felt personal. She shrugged.
"No reason. I was curious to see where it would go."
Link stared at her, incredulous. She smirked.
"What? It was fun, and besides—" she flew over to his ear then, "—I'm pretty sure I just did you a favor, you're welcome." She dashed away before he could swat her, turning even redder than before. He sighed, shaking his head, and looked back at Malon.
"I'm sorry, it's not like I actually mind or anything, it's just, well…Navi." He said simply. "I'm still learning about magic too, I just didn't know that would happen."
"I understand. It was nice though, thank you for sharing that with me." She smiled, taking his hand. "C'mon, you haven't eaten yet, right? We can pick up where we left off last night, I didn't forget."
"I'd like that, sure."
The rain had finally ceased entirely he noticed as they walked back around the corner to head inside. He wondered when that had happened. Navi also met them at the door, and the two of them shared a moment of playful hostility before stepping, in her case flying, inside.
Breakfast was a simple helping of eggs with jam and toast, and it was only the three of them. Mr. Ingo and her father, Malon explained, were already busy elsewhere on the ranch and had already eaten. She had been up predawn as well, but she preferred to, as she liked to cleverly describe it, have her breakfast like her eggs: sunny side up. Navi shared a nibble of everything, hardly needing to eat much given her size, and excused herself to explore the farm some more.
"This is your telling, after all, I'll leave you to it," she said, and winked before taking off.
"Does she really have to tease me so?" he muttered, shaking his head. Malon, sitting across from him at the table, giggled.
"Has she been doing it that much?"
"For the past 4 days now," Link answered, "Ever since I rescued the Zora princess."
"A princess, huh? Is she pretty?" she asked. And now she was teasing him. He sighed.
"I can give two answers to that…no, one answer. I'm afraid to say it." She laughed at that.
"Try me then, I dare you."
"…OK," he said, kicking himself now. Why did he have to say anything about Ruto? But then he would have had to eventually anyway. "She…she's pretty, I guess, but you're prettier," he finally said, blushing.
"Oh? You think I'm prettier than a princess then?" she teased, giggling. "Thank you. Maybe you'll have to rescue me someday too, I'd like that."
"Not inside a patron fish-deity, I hope." Malon laughed.
"Rescuing princesses in fish-gods and saving the Goron race. You'd best start telling me your adventure again, I'm dying to know the details."
"Alright, Castle Town then, after we parted ways."
So he told her how he had met a girl who showed him around town, after he had met the Sheikah, and how that night they had been attacked by Gerudo assassins. After he hadn't been able to find the girl, who had said she would bring them to the castle, he had instead gone alone, and had had to, under cover of darkness, bypass the guard around the castle grounds, avoiding the front gates, and had, in no uncertain way, quite assuredly, stolen into the castle by way of a drain hole: He had invaded Hyrule Castle.
And, even worse, had successfully infiltrated the Castle Courtyard, sneaking past all the guards, and had, most criminally of all, spoken with Princess Zelda, a member of the Royal Family of Hyrule.
Who, it turned out, was the same girl he had met in Castle Town. He was an acquaintance of the princess.
Safe from the dungeons then, he told her of how he had told her of his order to see her by the late Great Deku Tree, and had come to learn of Princess Zelda's prophetic dream which had foretold his coming to her, and his possession of Kokiri's Emerald, the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. The Princess believed him trustworthy enough because of this to divulge secrets and legends privy only to the Royal Family and those they chose. He was forbidden from revealing these secrets, of course, and Malon acknowledged this without objection. Knowing these things, however, and learning of Ganondorf's arrival in Hyrule, and Zelda's sense of his betrayal, led them to their plan to thwart him, requiring he to find and collect the other two spiritual stones, while she remained in possession to the Royal Family's treasure.
Meeting the same Sheikah the day before, he had learned she was Zelda's attendant, caretaker, and protector, Impa, who then, with the princess's permission, taught him the melody of the royal family, also secret, before finally being escorted secretly out of the castle and told the Gorons held the second spiritual stone.
He told her of his journey to visit Kakariko Village for the first time—Malon found this delightful as well, as she had only been there once, and much younger to remember it much—and his deal with the gate guard to gain admittance to the mountain. After traveling back to Castle Town, he had visited the Happy Mask Salesman, in all his strangeness, and the Bazaar shopkeeper.
"And after that was when you found me," Link said. "If it wasn't for you guys Navi and I probably would have had to reach Kakariko at night, with more stalchildren after me."
"It's funny how you were worried about stalchildren last time enough to come here, but then yesterday you killed seven." Link shrugged.
"I guess after everything else that's happened, stalchildren don't seem so tough. It's annoying how they keep popping up though."
"Isn't it? If they'd only go away, then we could travel at night. I've always wanted to see the stars from other than here too," Malon smiled, looking out the window, "Remember when you said you wanted to see the world? After you left I started thinking, and I realized I like that dream too. I want to see more of the world than this ranch and Castle Town."
"I'm sure you'll be able too someday," Link reassured, "Maybe once I'm done with my mission I can take you to Kakariko, or even Goron City!"
"Oh really?! That would be wonderful! I've always wondered what the Gorons lived like! They look so scary at first, but they're really friendly and kind, I like them. You don't see them very often though, they come to Castle Town to deliver bombs, and once I heard that they had a Goron come down to inspect a building project. Oh, and an em…emi…someone who went to the castle!" Malon finished excitedly.
"They really are a great bunch, I met their chief, and now he and I are Sworn Brothers, whatever that means," Link said.
"Sworn Brothers? So then that's like, you guys are really good friends?" Malon suggested.
"I guess, but you should have seen him the first time we met, he wasn't happy at all."
Link resumed his tale then, starting first with his ascension of Death Mountain's base to their city, and described the city in detail for Malon, who was fascinated by it. It wasn't every day you saw a city built underground, after all, let alone hear of one. She liked as much as he did that they painted their walls, and she was amazed to hear that Gorons had the capacity to, and also enjoyed he later learned, rolling. When he described Darunia and their first encounter, she was quite surprised. Mostly, which they both agreed on, due to the fact that he was unique in comparison to his fellows. And of course, their negotiation was no trifling matter either. Ganondorf had sealed off Dodongo's Cavern, which housed the bulk of the Goron's food supply and materials for their bombs, and had brought back the extinct dodongos that had once made that cave their home. Clear the cave, Darunia had said, and the Spiritual Stone would be his. Link had accepted these terms readily, not just to get the stone, he told her, but to help the Goron people as well.
He had opened the cave with one of their special bomb flower crop, and embarked on his first spelunking adventure. He told her of what he had found in the cave, and how both he and Navi had sensed the darkness once housed there, and after further exploring, his encounter with two Lizalfos, Malon gasped.
"Those things still exist? I thought they were only in scary stories now."
"Either they lived there or Ganondorf had summoned them, probably to keep the Gorons out if the boulder hadn't."
"I'm amazed you managed to even survive, just how good are you?" Link shrugged, a tad embarrassed by the praise.
"It's not like it was one-sided though, one almost got me and the other I made fall into one of the lava pits, kinda' dirty, but they fought dirty too."
"Still. I'm glad you were safe after that. What happened then?
Link then told her of his first encounter with dodongos. Babies that they were, they were as large, and some larger, than he was, he described, and he had had to rid them all, and he did so with a bomb, which he didn't go into detail how he had found other than he had picked up a sack of them he had found in the cave beforehand. Then came the final challenge for him. He told her of his battle with the behemoth King Dodongo, and his triumph over it. While the battle had been, in hindsight, far easier than Ghoma, or even his encounter with the Lizalfos, slaying basically a fire-breathing dragon was no small feat, which Malon was quick to point out beyond her astonishment.
"So you really did save the Gorons! A King Dodongo though, by the goddesses Link, if people knew you did that you'd be some kind of hero!" Link smiled.
"Well the Gorons know, does that count?"
"I'm serious though, you could probably see the king himself, or be a Hylian knight, and they're all nobility!"
"I guess so…but I don't mind, just being able to help everyone is good enough for me," Link said. Malon smiled, shaking her head.
"You really are kind, Link. But I bet they threw a party for you right?"
"Oh they did, it was crazy!" Link told her about the celebration they had held for him, with games, music, being made a Sworn Brother, which had really just been a proclamation, and how after the celebration was over, and after a little sleep, Darunia had given them the Goron's Ruby, the Spiritual Stone of Fire. Link pulled out this stone now to show her, and she called it beautiful. She also decided after a moment she like the emerald better, which made Link laugh.
He then went on to tell her of his climb up Death Mountain at the chief's suggestion, and his harrowing ordeal with its eruption. He told her of how he had watched the sun rise that morning, and seeing the world stretched out below, and even his observation of the world being round, which she found fascinating as well. And just as fascinating, was his meeting with a giant talking owl. Kaepora Gaebora, he had introduced himself as, and it was he who informed him who lived atop that peak, the Great Fairy of Power, the leader of the fairies. And it was she—after describing the fountain and his calling to her with his ocarina—that had awakened his magic potential, and had also taught him a sword technique, both as thanks for freeing the Great Deku Tree from his curse. She had also called him friend of the fairies, which Navi had indicated was an honorary title few ever received.
"So is she like, Navi's queen or something? How does that even work?
"I have no idea, honestly," Link answered. "I never asked her about it. She seemed to treat her with a lot of respect though."
"Huh. The Great Fairy of Power. I bet if you went back and asked or went searching you could find the other fairies too!"
"That's…not a bad thought, actually. She was on top of Death Mountain, maybe there was another near Zora's Domain and we missed it."
"That's the second time you've mentioned Zora's Domain. I've never heard of that, where is it?"
"It's way east of here, past Hyrule Field. The Hylian River starts as Zora's River, it flows through this canyon, and at the end of it is this big waterfall, and behind it is the Zora's Domain. They don't let anyone in without proof you're from the royal family though."
"So you went there too? Is that where this King Zora and princess you met are?"
"Uh-huh. But I didn't go there right away, I stayed in Kakariko Village for a few days and learned how to use some of my magic a little, like what I showed you earlier."
"That was still really cool," Malon said, "You gotta' let me see you do that again. Please?" she asked, almost pleading.
"Sure," Link said, not even sure how he could possibly say no. Malon was delighted by this, and then asked if he would like to see Epona again while he continued to tell her about his adventure at Zora's Domain, to which he also agreed.
The sky was still overcast above when they stepped outside, and the sky showed no breakage either. They were not so dark as to threaten any rainfall, however, and so the horses were roaming free now, and the stable doors were open wide to allow fresh air in. Mr. Ingo was busy taking the opportunity to clean out the empty stalls; Malon's father was nowhere to be seen. She giggled.
"I bet he's already snoozing somewhere. Really, dad's so lazy sometimes, but he takes really good care making sure this place can stay up."
"I like your dad, he's been really great to us. I wouldn't have made it up Death Mountain if not for him, in a way."
"In a way?" she asked, curious. They stepped into the field inside the track, easily spotting the foal grazing nearby the fence at the other end. As they walked over he explained to her how, on their arrival to Castle Town the first time, it was Talon who had given him his first wallet, with some currency within. It was enough for him to get the Hylian shield he needed, which by all accounts had saved his life more than once.
"He never told me he did that, that was very kind of him," she said when he finished. "I think he likes you too, he was really happy with the work you did last time." Epona spotted them as they neared and trotted over, happily nuzzling her snout against her owner. Link was pleasantly surprised to see Epona respond the same when he approached as well; clearly she remembered him with favor.
"And Epona likes you too of course," Malon giggled. "She doesn't like being left out."
The three of them walked back towards the stable, Malon and Link beside each other, Epona following after her owner. Malon had decided the foal needed a grooming, but with the stables currently inaccessible, they would simply be doing the deed outside beside it. With the sun barred from beating down and the gentle breeze, it was fine weather for the task. Malon was happy to receive some assistance from Link, under her direction; he had helped last time with the feeding and some stall work, but he had not a clue as to how to care for a horse.
While they did this, Link described to her Zora's Domain, and what the reclusive Zora were like. While the Goron race were much more proactive in forming a prosperous relation with the kingdom, the Zora were content with their pledge of loyalty, and kept to themselves otherwise. As such, hardly anyone even knew what a Zora looked like, although there were plenty of fanciful rumors regarding them. So when Link did describe them in detail as best he could, Malon was quite intrigued, and asked plenty of questions.
Link lastly spoke to her about his meeting with their monarch, King Zora Do Bon, formally, King Zora the Sixteenth. She found the enormous difference in size their king had in comparison to the typical Zora frame as strange, and rather amusing, as he did, but despite his appearance, he described him still as dignified, proud, and well-spoken. After learning of their own trouble, with more evidence of Ganondorf's influence, he told her how he had pledged to aid them, the danger not just facing the Zora people, he explained, but the whole of Hyrule as well, with their patron god ill. When she had heard this, Malon had looked almost frightened.
"This Ganondorf man would go that far? How come no one else is trying to stop him?"
"King Zora made a good point about that," Link answered. "Ganondorf himself has made no moves against anyone, and has denounced these Gerudo that showed up to them and the Gorons as rogues, and claimed they did not act under his authority. With no proof otherwise, neither can do anything without being accused of slander and libel, and with tensions being as they are, neither can afford to provoke any kind of conflict during negotiations, because then Ganondorf could simply call a declaration of war and be justified."
"But that's just wrong though! No one can do anything at all?"
"That's why I am," Link said, grinning. "Think about it, officially, no one can do anything. So when I showed up in front of Princess Zelda with one of the keys he was looking for, we planned to get them all and thwart his plan to take them by force. None of what I'm doing is official business approved by the Royal Family, so I was also free to help them without crossing any lines."
"Oh wow, that's crazy, it's like you're a secret spy or something!"
"Kind of, since I'm beholden to no one, being a Kokirian, I can act freely. I don't think Ganondorf thought someone like me would mess up his plans.
"Aren't you worried he'll find out about you?" Malon asked, to which he shrugged.
"I've thought about it sure, but I'm not scared. The stones mean nothing without the Royal Family's treasure. Having these just means he'll come after me instead of everyone else, if he wants them so bad." Malon frowned.
"I don't like the sound of that though. If he comes after you…"She shook her head, letting the sentence hang. He understood what she meant though. He was making himself a target, he knew, up against a very powerful enemy. If Ganondorf was really serious, he stood no chance, and there was no telling if his life could be spared. "Just, stay safe Link. You're kind and noble, don't let that ruin you."
"I won't, I promise," Link reassured her, giving her a quick hug. This cheered her up considerably, and he resumed his narrative, starting with telling her about their patron deity, Lord Jabu-Jabu. Even the name elicited a giggle, and she laughed when she learned he was quite serious when he called him a fish-god. Both disgust and hilarity were her reactions to him having to be swallowed by their god. Not going into much detail describing the innards, he instead recounted his exploration, and his near-fatal mishap with the Biri. Of course, the Biri was nothing compared to the Barinade he next encountered and described, which she found particularly horrifying, more so than Queen Ghoma.
He also recounted his prompt rescue of the Zora princess, and she seemed quite interested to know more about her. Even Link had good sense to downplay the princess. Quickly briefing her with a short description and her side of the story, Link then described his battle with his most dangerous foe yet, the Barinade. Link had been pushed to use his magic for the first time in battle, and its destructive force had left the Barinade in pieces, a feat even Malon knew was amazing.
"You must have some crazy amount of magic to be that strong, I bet you'll be able to do more with it in no time!"
"You think so?"
"Uh huh, then you can beat up lots of monsters and we can go exploring!"
"We?" Link asked with a smirk.
Malon nodded, and with a wink added, "I wouldn't trust anyone else, so it's gotta be you, OK?"
"Alright then, one day we will."
"Yay! Yes Epona, you can come too," She added, and the young horse tossed her head in an approving sort of way. Sufficiently cared for, Malon sent her off back to join the rest of the group, and invited him to help her feed the cuccos inside. It was quick work, and after the two of them sat side by side on the counter while he told her about the celebration the Zora had held for him, whom they had made abundantly clear was a hero for the history books. He also showed her the Zora's Sapphire Princess Ruto had given him. With all the stones in his possession, he had departed, and had decided to come to Lon Lon Ranch instead of Kakariko as originally planned, "Just because," he said. Of course Malon picked up on that right away, and she immediately teased him for it.
"'Just because?' You totally have a real reason. C'mon, tell me!"
"Well, I figured, you know, we're closer to the castle from here than from Kakariko, so..."
Malon shook her head, not buying it. "But if you had gone to Kakariko you'd probably be at the castle by now, but here you are." She giggled, hopping down. She wasn't wrong either, Link admitted, she had seen right through it like Navi had. He had never been good at lying back in the forest either.
"Alright, you win," Link said, "I just thought it would be nice to see you again, that's all."
"How sweet. You're on your way to see the kingdom's princess, and you'd rather see me first, that's adorable," She chuckled, making Link blush. "I like that reason better." She skipped over to the door and paused in front of it with her hand on the knob. "I'm going to go find my dad, I'll be right back." Two second later, he was alone. Well, unless he decided to count the cuccos. Rather than do nothing, he decided to go and check through his stock of supplies. They would leave tomorrow, and he wanted to be prepared before then. And besides, counting Deku seeds would help get Malon out of his head.