After their celebratory breakfast, the morning had been fairly uneventful. Clouds had built up over the last few hours in the sky, and though Link wished to do a little bit more of his snooping around the village (after admitting to himself that old habits die hard), even he had been a bit less eager to venture into the outdoors now that a light snowfall had begun to dance from above. With his last-minute plans now canceled, he had decided to condone his itching feeling of worry by sitting on the bed, watching the gentle swaying of branches from the window to ease his mind. A simple, yet still relaxing pastime, at least to Zelda's view.
Though he had laid on the bed in order to look relaxed in Zelda's eyes, surprisingly she hadn't paid him much mind the entirety of the morning she was around. In fact, she seemed to be in a wonderful mood thanks to the result of her meeting with Prima a few hours earlier. From the loft, Link could hear her humming a sweet tune, dancing around downstairs as she busied herself with the hand-me-down clothing she had gotten from her new workplace. Thinking she would be in such a trance-like state for hours more, Link began to escape deeper into his mind, carefully watching the branches of the trees outside for any unordinary shake, one that might not have been caused by the breeze. What he hadn't expected was for Zelda to dance her way up the stairs before stopping next to the bed with an unusually cheerful smile, even for someone who had heard such great news of success.
"I have a favor to ask," she said the moment she came to a stop, wearing her royal winter gear again.
Link hummed without looking away from the window, a sign that he was listening.
"I want you to come with me into the village," Zelda said simply. Perplexed, Link turned away from the window to meet her eyes.
"You want me to come with you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I do," Zelda said sweetly with an even larger smile. " I don't believe it's that strange of a request. Why do you seem so put off by it?"
"Well, for a little over a week, you've been wanting me to stay home," Link said, sitting up. "To be honest, it's kinda rare you choose not to go into the village or to Purah's alone."
"You make me sound like a guard watching over a jail cell…" Zelda said frowning. "I'm just asking if you would accompany me. Is that so wrong?"
Link stared at her from head to toe before furrowing his brow.
"What are you trying to pull?" he asked.
"Nothing!" Zelda stressed. "Why are you making this so difficult?"
"Because I do this all the time," Link explained, gesturing to her. "I'm just better at it than you… You need me for something, don't you? Something you know I won't like…"
"I… Maybe…" Zelda admitted reluctantly. "But it's not much, I promise!"
"Zelda, I'm not drinking your-"
"It's not potions!" she said quickly, waving her hands in the air. "It's not, I swear. Can you just come with me?"
She clasped her hands together in front of her chest and scrunched her brow. Her large, emerald green eyes began to sparkle as they pleaded desperately with him.
"Please?"
Link frowned. He wanted to fight it. He wanted nothing more than to resist the urge to give in. He knew that if he accepted, he was going to be tasked with something he knew he wouldn't usually approve of. She was being much too secretive for it not to be, otherwise, she would have plainly asked. Despite the obvious signs, Link sighed and lowered his head. It was a losing battle. It was impossible to say no to those eyes.
"Alright… Let's go…" Link mumbled.
Zelda cheered.
"Yes! Thank you!" she said excitedly before hurrying back to the staircase. "Come on! There isn't any time to lose!"
"Can I at least know where we're going?" Link called to her as he swung his legs over to the side of the bed before bending down to slide his boots on. Zelda paused at the top step and turned to him with a large smile.
"It's a secret," she said before rushing down the staircase. Link squinted as he stared at the now empty step.
This can't be good. Well, not for me at least…
...
"The Ventest Clothing Boutique?" Link asked, holding his girlfriend's blue working outfit in his arms as the two looked up at the store's sign. "Why here? We don't need any armor right now."
"We don't," Zelda said cheerfully, brushing off the recent snowflakes that had fallen from the clouds in her hair. "But they have some things I need."
With her smile remaining as bright as it was earlier, she practically skipped her way to the door before eagerly entering. Link frowned.
What is she up to? He wondered before slowly following her inside.
It was a small establishment. The center of the room was a simple open area decorated with a white rug. The back wall happened to be slightly more decorated with all of the shop's clothing and armor sets on display in front of it, all contrasted well with the large orange banners that were hung behind them. Against another wall were shelves and display tables, all filled with fabrics and threadings of a variety of colors. Sitting in the indent of said wall was a little area specifically set up for sewing. A small desk sat in the corner, with its surface covered by half-finished fabrics, threads, and a basic sewing top. Finally, on the wall opposite to the sewing station was an opening that led to a small bedroom, where a hunched-over young woman with a rather large forehead peeked out as she heard the front door open.
"Zelda!" the woman said in a soft voice as Zelda stepped in, followed by an on-guard Link. "Welcome back. I hope it wasn't too long of a wait."
"Not at all!" Zelda said with a smile, curtseying in the shopkeeper's presence. "I'm simply happy you took my order."
"Order?" Link questioned. "What did you buy?"
"A set of fabric that can be turned into a week's worth of clothing!" a much louder voice said from in the room.
From behind the meek woman, a much larger man stepped out of the doorway and into the main room. He was a thick man, with a thin mustache, yet a short thick beard. He too had a large forehead and was significantly balding at the top. Adjusting his overalls, he walked over and gave a slight bow to Zelda.
"I hope it wasn't too much trouble to purchase just the fabrics and threading," Zelda said.
"It wasn't too much trouble at all!" the man laughed. "Though, are you sure you don't want me to whip you up some clothing myself? It wouldn't take me too much time. It is my craft. I'm the one that sewed those Hylian Tunics you both wear, you know?"
"The offer is greatly appreciated, Seldon, but I assure you I can make them myself," Zelda giggled. "It's been so long since I've sat down and made clothing myself. It would be a nice hobby to start back up."
"I can't blame you for that!" the man laughed again. "Sewing is a mighty fine skillset to have. It keeps the mind clear. Give me just a moment and I'll grab that stack for you."
"When did you come here?" Link asked as Seldon walked away.
"Early this morning, on my way back from the inn," Zelda said. "Prima recommended I make a few more simple outfits based on the one you have in your hands. Though, I would have made more regardless."
"Still, a week's worth?" Link asked, looking down at the bright blue dress in his arms. "Why that many?"
Zelda furrowed her brow and turned to look Link in the eyes.
"Can you explain to me why I wouldn't need that many?" she asked sternly.
"Well, because you have this one," Link said simply, gesturing towards the dress. "I get maybe one or two more, but a week's worth?"
Zelda stared at him, eyeing him up and down before suddenly lifting up a hand to his collar. With a tug, she forced him to bend down before taking a light sniff of the sweater he had been wearing for the past few days. Holding back a gag as best she could, she took a step back from him.
"Link!" she said, disgusted by the odor. "Exactly how many days in a row have you been wearing that?"
"Three?" Link answered after a moment of thought. "It hasn't been very long."
"Three?" Zelda repeated in horror. "And you haven't washed it?"
"N-No, I haven't," he answered again, less confident than before now that he realized how upset Zelda seemed to be. "Is there a problem?"
"Is there a-? Yes, there's a problem!" Zelda exclaimed. "Link, you need to wash your clothes! That's repulsive! You can't just- Wait a moment… What do you mean by it hasn't been very long?"
"I mean, it hasn't really been that long since I've started wearing it," Link explained. "While I was traveling, I would go days—weeks even— wearing the same outfit. It's a pretty normal thing."
"Yes, for when someone is traveling, that is!" Zelda said. "Link, I sometimes wear some of your clothes! I hadn't realized they hadn't been washed. That's so gross!"
"You do the same thing!" Link argued. "What about you and your traveling gear? What about the winter clothes you're wearing now?"
"I designed them to be worn without needing to be washed," she explained. "They're made for days of stress thanks to the high-class material! Also, might I remind you that we aren't traveling anymore! We are stationary."
Zelda clasped her hands together and took a deep breath.
"When we get home, I'm doing laundry," she said quietly to him, noticing that Seldon was returning with a stack of cloth in his arms, "and you are helping me."
"Y-Yeah, alright," Link agreed, lowering his head in shame as Zelda put a smile back on at Seldon's presence.
"Here we are!" Seldon said cheerfully, gesturing towards the stack of brown cloth in his arms. "There's enough to make at least seven dresses out of."
"Thank you kindly," Zelda said with a small bow. "Link, can you carry these?"
"No problem," Link said without question, not wanting to disappoint her any further.
He held out his arms, allowing the sewer to hand the stack to him.
"I've put the threads in here," Seldon said, holding up a crudely made satchel. "This should be enough to finish those dresses for you."
"Much appreciated," Zelda said, reaching out to take the bag. Link, however, quickly interjected.
"I got it! I got it," he said.
Balancing half the stack on one of his knees, he took the bag from Seldon and slung it over his shoulder. After a bit of struggle, Link had properly adjusted himself with all of Zelda's purchases. Zelda beamed.
"Alright then! That's everything we need from here," she said in her cheerful tone from earlier. "We best be off to our next destination!"
"There's a next destination?" Link asked.
"There is, and after what you just told me, I don't want to hear any complaining," Zelda said, heading back to the door.
"You two come again, you hear?" Seldon called as Link quickly followed her out the door, now remembering why he had been on guard.
"So, about this next place," Link began as he caught up to Zelda, who was walking at a brisk pace down the snowy road. "What is it we'll be doing, exactly?"
"Well, while that fabric you're holding is great, it seems a bit dull, don't you think?" Zelda asked, causing Link to frown.
"Zelda, you know Sayge won't dye clothing unless you're wearing it," he said. "How are we supposed to wear these? I'm also really not in the mood to get dunked today, especially not with how cold it is. I'm surprised you seem so excited about it…"
"Oh, I never said I was getting dunked," she said, keeping her smile bright. Link immediately stopped in his tracks.
"I refuse," he said instantly. Zelda stopped and turned to face him.
"Link-"
"Nope, it's not happening," he insisted. "It's cold. I'm not being dropped into frozen water."
"Technically, the water isn't frozen," Zelda said. "Come on, I said no complaining after what you just told me! You had me wearing dirty clothing. I believe this is a fair punishment."
"Don't use that as a reason!" Link said loudly. "You planned to sacrifice me before we even left the house! And you know what, I didn't wanna say it, but I will: I've been wearing the same underwear for 100 years. I'm sorry I didn't think a few months mattered all that much!"
"That is even worse!" Zelda argued. "You should absolutely not be proud about that!"
"Regardless, I'm not doing it," he said firmly.
"But, Link-"
"Nope," Link reaffirmed. "What about my sweater? My pants? I like their current color."
"Please, Link?" Zelda pleaded as her eyes grew wide. "I can't jump into the water…"
"No, I'm not falling for that again," Link said, furrowing his brow.
Zelda continued to silently beg.
"Stop. I'm not doing it."
She slowly brought her hands to her chest.
"Zelda, I said I'm not."
...
The aroma of paint and soap filled the air. Splashes of color stained the hardwood floors. The walls of the high-roofed building were decorated with large parchments describing how to make different colored dyes, and the result of those creations was lined on shelves with brightly colored and folded clothes. Against another wall, near the three beds in the corner of the room, was a large desk covered with bottles and test tubes where a curious woman stood overlooking the different colors she had to choose from.
"I believe I'll go with… purple for the first one," Zelda said, picking up a thin bottle filled with a deep purple liquid.
With a quick, but gentle snatch, the owner of the dye establishment took the die and held it up to his eye. He was an interesting man, decorated with a half-shaved head of red hair and a face that guiltily reminded Zelda of a rat. His body wasn't able to escape the rat-like comparisons either, with a thin and lanky-looking top half, yet a bulbous belly at his bottom half. Despite his looks, the man gave a happy buck-tooth grin as he swirled the contents of the bottle.
"Do you have the purple ingredients to make the dye?" he asked. Zelda nodded, bringing up the Sheikah Slate from her belt. "Then this will only take a moment."
Sayge turned to the loft, where Link was standing. He stood completely exposed, holding on to one of the brown cloth pieces Seldon had given them. He sneezed, shivering as the cold air brushed against his skin. He looked down at the trap door under his feet, where he knew a large tub of cold water stood ready for him to be dunked into.
"Don't worry, Link!" he called out. "We'll have this done in no time!"
"F-For every s-second that passes, the bigger the liar I consider you," Link chattered out as snot began to run from his reddened nose.
"You're doing great, Link!" Zelda called out from the first floor, handing Sayge the materials she had pulled from the slate.
"Y-Y-You're welcome!" Link called back grumpily.
"How did you convince him?" Sayge asked curiously as he took the materials in hand and turned to his desk.
"I have my ways," Zelda answered as she smiled innocently towards Link as she adjusted his sweater and trousers that hung over her arm.
"H-Hey, I'm r-realizing s-something…" he stuttered from above. "W-Why am I o-only holding one of them? Shouldn't I be h-holding the whole stack?"
"The purple is ready!" Sayge called out, holding up a newly mixed bottle of dye. Hurrying over to the tub, he poured the purple liquid inside, allowing it to mix with the crystal clear waters. "Are you ready to go up there, Link?"
"Wait, hold on a second-!" Link began to shout, however, the rat had already made his way to the lever.
"All right now, stay like that and don't move a muscle!" Sayge said excitedly with a gleam in his eye. "Three!"
"I said wait a moment-"
"Two!"
"Sayge, wait!"
"One!"
"Zelda!"
Sayge pulled down on the lever. The trap doors opened beneath Link's bare feet and with a yell, he plummeted into the purple waters. Zelda winced. She felt as if she could feel the cold waters from her safe distance away. The water bubbled for a moment before Link's head splashed from underneath. With his teeth chattering, he swam to the edge of the tub and threw his arms over the side to keep him up. His skin and hair were stained purple, yet the most purple of all was the cloth that he held tightly in his hand over the tub's side.
"Yeehoo! We made something very special here!" Sayge called out, taking the now purple rag from Link's frozen grip. After a quick inspection, he turned to Zelda and asked, "what do you believe? Will this color fair you well?"
"It looks wonderful!" Zelda said as she took the fabric into her own hands. "It's a beautiful shade!"
"W-W-Wait, w-w-what about the o-o-other ones?" Link shivered from the frigid waters.
"Oh, don't worry, boy," Sayge said, turning to him with the same gleam in his eye from a moment ago. "The next six shouldn't take long."
"S-S-Six?" Link repeated distressed.
"Don't worry, Link. I'll make the next color choices quickly," Zelda said before facing Sayge's desk, allowing the dyer to explain what materials would be needed for certain colors.
Link slowly slid down and disappeared into the purple water, leaving nothing but bubbles on the surface.
...
"Oh, come on, Link," Zelda said sincerely as the two walked back to the house.
Link had returned to his position of holding the satchel over his shoulder and the stack of now different colored cloths in his arms. Though his clothes had been returned to him, it was easy to see that his skin and most notably his hair both had blotches of different colors staining them. He glanced over at her with disproving eyes before looking forward once more. Zelda pouted.
"I said I was sorry," she continued. "Don't be mad…"
"There is a rainbow in my hair," Link stated sourly, "and my fingertips are blue. We didn't use any blue dye."
"I'm sorry, I really am," Zelda repeated. "It was… Insensitive of me. Okay, then, how do I make it up to you?"
Link paused in his steps and faced her with a raised eyebrow.
"You want to make it up to me?" he asked. Zelda nodded. "Okay, kiss me then."
"K-Kiss you…?" Zelda reiterated. "As in… kiss your lips?'
"Yeah. There isn't an issue, is there?" Link asked with a smug grin.
"Well, I-I mean…" she began nervously. She stared at his lips, counting each of the seven colors that now stained them. She gulped. "I-it's not that I don't want to…"
"Oh, of course not," Link said haughtily, "it's only because you don't want to."
"Hey, I just said that I-" Zelda began to argue, however, her boyfriend had already begun walking away with his nose in the air.
"I don't wanna hear it," he called to her. She puffed out her cheeks in frustration before taking a deep breath.
"...fine…" she said quietly. Link's ears twitched before looking back at her.
"What was that?" he asked. "I couldn't quite hear you over the colored water lodged in my ears. Can you repeat it?"
"I said… fine…" Zelda repeated as her cheeks grew red. "I'll… kiss you…"
"How wonderful of you to offer!" Link teased cheerfully with a rainbow-colored smile. "Well, come here, then."
With her head hanging low, Zelda came forward before stopping in front of him.
"Come on, don't keep me waiting," Link teased.
With her face now completely red in embarrassment, she closed her eyes and lifted her chin, ready to feel his disgusting dye-colored lips against her own. Yet, instead of feeling his warmth there, she felt a peck on her forehead. She opened her eyes in surprise to see Link chuckling.
"There," he said, trying to hold in a laugh. "You're forgiven… After you do the laundry. I won't be helping."
"What? Link, that isn't fair!" Zelda yelled as Link began to run across the snow-covered bridge to the house. "I told you that you'd be helping me!"
It wasn't until after Zelda had finished washing the clothes and started preparing herself for bed did she realize she had a rainbow-colored kiss mark on her forehead.
