Chapter Text
Finally it was over, the moon was no longer threatening to crash into Termina, the evil held within Majora's Mask had been dispelled and the Happy Mask Salesman had gotten it back, Skull Kid was no longer under the influence of the mask and all the curses he put on the land of Termina and it's people had been lifted, finally; it had been the longest three days of Link's life and he could really use a nap. He bids farewell to Skull Kid and Tatl, and plans to make his way back to the entrance to Hyrule, but he's stopped in his tracks when he sees a small figure with a mess of purple hair, collapsed on it's hands and knees near the south entrance to Clock Town, recognizing the figure immediately as Kafei he brings Epona to a halt and jumps off, something was definitely wrong, wasn't he supposed to be bigger now? And why was he out here and not with Anju? Link had to see what was going on. As he got closer he could hear sobs, and he could see now that Kafei was shaking, so he quickened his pace to a sprint, worry filling his body. Upon reaching Kafei he dropped to his knees beside him and gently put a hand on the other's back, to which he jumped and shot his head up, looking to link with wet eyes full of fear, confusion, and sadness.
'What is going on?' Link signed quickly, his worry clear on his face.
To say Kafei was scared would be an understatement. The flurry of emotions he felt at the moment were downright indescribable; the Festival begun and the clock tower fell, and before anybody realized it, the giants of legend came to stop the moon from crashing into the town. He knew deep down it was from Link calling to them for their aid, and they answered. He'd done it. Time seemed to stand still while the night passed, everybody waiting with bated breath, and next thing they knew, everything calmed. The moon dissipated into the sky, and everything returned to its former glory as the sun began to rise. Almost everything, though. Kafei looked to Anju, whose eyes welled with tears as she looked at him. He almost asked her what was wrong, but his voice got caught in his throat when he caught a glimpse of himself in her mirror. He was still a child.
Why?
Before she could say anything, Kafei bolted out the door, heading out of town as the townsfolk rejoiced around him. He ran quite a ways, lungs burning in his chest and mind racing. He didn't stop until he tripped and tumbled down, frustration finally escaping as he screamed. Why was all of this happening? What was going on? When his voice finally gave out, he curled into himself, shaking as the tears wouldn't stop. He didn't know how long he sat there until he felt something touch him, startling him as he jumped. It was Link, concern clear as day.
"What's going on?" He croaked out, biting his lip. "Y-you fixed everything, why am I still... Like this?"
'I-' Link began to sign but his fingers stalled, looking over Kafei he was still very clearly a child, but that doesn't make sense, Link had beaten Majora, the curses Skull Kid placed should have been broken. Link blinked hard, hoping that maybe he was seeing wrong and when he opened his eyes Kafei would be an adult again, but alas, the image before him remained the same, so slowly he continued to sign.
'I thought I did,' Link signed as sweat beaded on his brow, this has never happened before, once he beats the evil things go back to normal, that's how it worked, so why didn't it work? He looked over to Epona then back to Kafei, Link couldn't leave now, Kafei needed his help, they needed to figure out a way to get him back to normal, and moreover, Link could understand better than anyone how he feels right now, Kafei needed him.
'I do not know why this happened, but I will stay and help, I will not go anywhere until you are normal again, I promise. We will fix this,' Link signed, looking into Kafei's red eyes as he did so to show he was serious.
Kafei watched as Link struggled for words. He felt a bubble of rage in his stomach, but pushed it down. He knew that Link didn't have anything to do with his predicament, and that he'd done everything he could have to help. Link didn't owe any of them anything. He was a foreigner who came and saved all of them, and for what? He hadn't asked for anything in return, so there was no way snapping at him would help, no matter how frustrated Kafei had been.
Even now, when peace had been regained and things were righted for all the other people of Termina, Link offered to stay and help. Kafei bit his lip for a moment. He'd already asked so much of the hero that he felt it wouldn't be right to ask of more from him. Not after everything he'd already done for him and Anju.
Anju.
Kafei's eyes widened as he realized what he'd done, leaving Anju alone in the Inn after promising to greet the morning sun together. "Oh, goddesses, I'm so sorry Link, yes, I'm sorry," he stammered out, groaning to himself as he began to explain. "I left Anju by herself, come on." In his frazzled haste, Kafei grabbed Link's hand, beginning to head back toward town. He hoped with everything he had in him, that between the three of them, they could figure out why exactly he was still a child and how to fix it.
When Kafei took Link's hand he felt a pang in his chest, the same feeling he got when he saw Zelda for the first time in her garden. For a moment he dwelled on it, his cheeks heating up ever so slightly, but he shook it out of his mind and buried it down, Kafei had Anju, once Kafei was back to normal they would get married and Link would leave, having feelings like that would only get in the way, so he chose not to think about, instead focusing on the task at hand; but he did not pull his hand away, letting Kafei keep his grip on his hand as he lead them through the streets of Clock Town. Link told himself that it was because Kafei was seeking comfort, but the grip Link had on Kafei's hand as well would call him a lair.
When they arrived at the inn they quickly made their way to the staff room, where Anju sat on the edge of the far bed, her head down staring at the pattern of the wood floor boards below her; upon hearing the creak of the door however she picked her head up.
"Kafei! You came back!" She exclaimed as she shot up from the bed.
As they got to the Inn, Kafei couldn't stop the rising blush from creeping onto his cheeks. He couldn't believe he'd forgotten about the love of his life in his personal turmoil. She must have been worried sick having him come back to her just to leave again. The thought that she deserved better than that lingered on the edge of his mind as he bolted upstairs, Link in tow.
Bursting into the room, she looked so miserable and confused, and he couldn't blame her. He could only imagine how she felt in that moment.
"Anju, I'm so sorry," Kafei gasped, out of breath from all the running. He finally let go of Link's hand as he ran up to her, taking hers in both of his.
"I don't know what's going on, why I still have this form, but Link's promised to help us figure out why the curse hasn't lifted yet. I know we're supposed to get married, and we will, even if it takes a little longer than we thought," he explained, chewing on his lip for a moment before mumbling out another apology. He turned to Link in a moment of loss, unsure of what else to say. They were going to fix things, of course, but the question of how they were going to do that was a mystery since they still didn't know why everything except himself had been returned.
Anju squeezed Kafei's hands gently when he took her own, giving him a soft smile at his apologies and reassurance. While she would continue to hold onto hope it pained her to see Kafei this way, and it pained her to have to be apart, but the best she can do is stay optimistic in the face of adversity. She had to stay strong, if not for her sake then for Kafei's.
"If it isn't the same curse as what changed the rest of the world, then what exactly is going on? And, if there's something else that's keeping me like this, then who's to say the rest of Termina is back to normal? Shouldn't we find out?" He asked as he looked between Link and Anju, the sudden realization that it might be something bigger than just him still being a child.
Link pondered for a moment, holding his chin in his hand. Kafei is right, just because everything appears to be back to normal on the outside doesn't mean it truly is, there could be something still lurking in the shadows, and Kafei being stuck like this could just be the first sign.
'We should start by checking the southern swamp, make sure everything is how it should be, and we can talk to the sisters, Kotake and Koume, they are witches so they might know something,' Link signs, mostly watching his hands as he did so, sorting through his thoughts and signing at the same time, but he looks up and catches Kafei's eyes at the end of his sentence; they were wide and frantic, desperately wanting answers, but Link had none, and that fact settled uneasily in the pit of his stomach.
Kafei watched Link's hands, nodding along to the hero's suggestion. "That's as good a start as any," he admitted, turning back to Anju with a sad smile. "If you can take care of things here, we'll be as quick as we can. I just need you to stay strong for me for just a bit longer," he murmured, looking from her eyes down to their joined hands. He hated having to leave his love once more, even if it meant for their eventual marriage. "I promise I'll come back to you," he tells her, looking back into her eyes. With a quick kiss to her forehead, he turns to Link, feeling a pang in his chest.
Kafei knew if he didn't get going soon, the situation would start to get the better of him and he would end up getting just as frustrated as before. He was determined though; with Link's help, there was no way they wouldn't be able to fix everything, once and for all. He quickly headed out of the room, thinking of what he had in his hideout that might help them on their quest. He just wanted to get everything figured out and be able to go home to Anju. Why things weren't solved yet were beyond him, but he was ready to get to the bottom of it.
Link waved a goodbye to Anju and followed Kafei out the door, quickening his pace a bit to walk beside him and tugging lightly on the others sleeve to get his attention.
'If you are going with you need a weapon, have any?' Link signs, cocking his head to the side a bit to indicate he's asking a question.
Kafei watched Link sign the question, sighing. "I have a small dagger, but not much else. I've also got some rope stashed away, that might help," he said, still thinking about what might help in the swamp. When he'd followed Sakon to Ikana, most of the monsters hadn't paid him much mind so he was able to slip past them without having to try to fight anything. He was also a fast runner, so the ones that did have any interest quickly gave up after he outran them.
"Maybe we could see if Minji has anything that could help us," he suggested, changing his direction for West Clock Town. The man in the Curiosity Shop usually wouldn't open his door right after daybreak, but Kafei had grown up with him, and with everybody celebrating he didn't think anybody would pay much mind to who was going in and out.
Almost an hour later and Kafei was satisfied. Minji was able to help them out a great deal with supplies for their journey. He'd been shocked at first seeing Kafei was still a child, but agreed to help them out. Now, Kafei had a bag full of supplies ready to trek out toward the swamp, and a slingshot on his hip. It seemed like a pretty durable weapon, but also light enough that he wouldn't have too hard of a time learning how to use it.
Kafei turned to Link, forcing a smile. "I think we should be good to go. We should probably get going now so we can get there before nightfall. I'm not sure what sort of creatures are in that area, but I'm sure it can't be any better when the sun's gone down," he stated, wanting to get going immediately. The sooner they could get things figured out, the better. He didn't want to remain a child forever, after all.
"C'mon, let's get going."
Link was still for a moment, he understood why Kafei was in such a hurry, but still he worried, he didn't want Kafei to run himself into the ground after all; but he nodds in agreement anyways, knowing that Kafei wouldn't listen if Link voiced his concerns anyways.
As they left Clock Town Link took the lead, slicing through the Chuchus and Deku Babas that impeded their path, usually if Link was alone he would run straight past them, but with Kafei in tow he opted to fight, to ensure the other wouldn't get hurt. Kafei followed close behind Link as they made their way through the fields, watching as the hero mowed his way through monsters with ease. His ears tinged pink, looking at the slingshot fastened to his hip. He knew he would need to learn how to use it if he wanted to be any help in a fight. Being the mayor's son had kept him sheltered enough that he never got into a scrap with other kids, and never needed to learn, and the fact slightly embarrassed him.
As they arrived at the swamp Link surveyed the area, everything seemed to be in order, the water ran clear and the shrubbery was lush and green, by all accounts everything was as it should be, but Link worried his bottom lip nonetheless, what could be wrong that he's not seeing? After looking over everything he turned to Kafei.
'So far things here look okay, but we will have to go through the water to get to the potion shop, but it is not deep so we can walk' Link signed before motioning at Kafei to follow as he turned to trudge through the knee deep water. The swamp was beautiful by all accounts, but there was something about it that put Kafei on edge. He continued to follow Link through the water, watching as the dirt clouded the otherwise clear water with their steps.
It took a bit of time, but the two finally arrived to a tall building, colorful smoke billowing out of a chimney at the top. A ladder led them up to the entrance, and just outside one could hear shouting, but as soon as the door opened, it suddenly stopped. There were two witches sitting behind a counter, quickly turning from glaring at each other to looking at the two boys.
"Oh, Koume, what have we here?" The one in blue asked, peering at them with a grin. The red one, Koume, cackled as she craned her neck toward them.
"Why, Kotake, it's the boy hero! Very intriguing, the world seems right, yet here you are," she hummed, voice cracking with age. She caught sight of Kafei, who had instinctively stepped behind Link, and let out a chuckle.
"And the man in the body of a child," Kotake noted. "Most interesting, the two of you here. Most interesting indeed."
Link smiled and waved in greeting as he stepped closer to the counter the sisters sat behind.
'Can you help with a curse? Kafei should have turned back to normal, but he is still a child, we do not know why,' Link signed before turning to glace at Kafei, his expression a bit solemn as he started to play with his fingers before continuing.
'He is getting married soon, so we have to turn him back, and if there is a bigger reason why he is still like this, then we have to stop it, do you know anything?' He asked peering over the counter, hoping the two witches could give them some answers.
Koume leaned back in her seat, rubbing at her chin. "The man-boy indeed is still cursed, yes," she hummed as she turned to Kotake. "A very powerful curse at that, too." Kotake nodded in agreement.
"A curse not connected to that of that little imp's doing, yes," Kotake added, tapping her fingers together. The two witches smiled as they went back and forth about the curse with nonsense. Kafei frowned at their repetition.
"Do you two know anything?" He finally asked, stepping to stand beside Link. They looked to him curiously.
"We know quite a lot, we do," Kotake told him, squinting. "We know how powerful a curse can be, and how difficult they may be to break."
"We also know when fate has other plans, and how you've got quite some time before you will return to your life as before," Koume admitted, her grin returning. "Quite some time, and a long journey ahead."
Kafei looked to Link, brows furrowing with concern. He didn't want to make Anju wait, and he didn't want for Link to be stuck in Termina longer than he planned. Yes, he was grateful for the hero's help, but there had to be a point where he would want to go home, and Kafei couldn't expect Link to want to stay the entire time.
"What do we have to do?" Kafei asked, turning back to the witches. They looked from Kafei to Link, then back to Kafei.
"The answers you seek may not be what you want to hear," Koume told him, "but you must find out what fate holds for you in time. There is one who can help you, if you wish to accept it. You will need to head to see the Deku King, he may have something for you."
Kafei sighs at their answer as they begin to babble about curses once more. The witches seemed like they knew something, but couldn't get more information from them. He turned to Link with a shrug.
"To the Deku King, then?"
Link nodded and waved a goodbye to the sisters as they made their way out the door, though neither of them were paying much attention to them anymore. After making their way back through the water to the Tourist Center they rented a boat and set off for Deku Palace, usually Link had no problems with swimming but he didn't want to ask that of Kafei, so he splurged the ten rupees.
'It will take about forty minutes for us to get there, so we have some time,' Link smiled as he signed before sitting down and patting the spot beside him. 'The swamp is very pretty,' he added as he looked around at the scenery.
Kafei settled down on the seat beside Link, not feeling too excited about sitting around for almost an hour. "It is," he said a little more passively than he intended, looking at the surroundings. There were little fish swimming around the water, feeding on the remnants of algae. There were octoroks off a ways, watching as they slowly passed. A fair breeze tickled Kafei's cheeks, and he could already feel irritation brewing about being stuck on the boat. He just wanted to get things over and done with, and sitting idly by caused him to fidget restlessly.
After a few minutes, he turned to Link. "How are we supposed to get an audience with the Deku King? I've read that they only accept their kind into the palace," he asked, tilting his head. If there was one thing Kafei excelled in, was reading and learning. The Dekus were a very secluded race, not usually open to outsiders. Nobody he knew, not even those his father knew, had been. They preferred to communicate through messengers, so how were they even going to get in?
Link could tell that Kafei wasn't happy about sitting for so long, but Link thought it would be good for him anyways, and himself, they've both been running on empty for a while now. He had been watching the small waves in the water the boat caused when Kafei had asked about getting into the palace, turning his attention to the other he smiled a bit sheepishly at the question.
'They allow me entrance, I saved the princess so I am on good terms with the king, as long as you are with me they will let you in too,' Link explained.
Kafei nodded in response, smiling a little. "So you're more of a hero than you've already let on, saving people outside of having saved the world. I don't know how you do it," he admitted, humming as he turned his attention back toward the water. "I can't imagine leaving your home and going to the lengths you did for us," he stated softly, relaxing back in his seat a little. He was still unhappy that he was still on the boat, but at least they could find ways to pass the time with conversation.
"What made you even want to come here, anyway? I'm sure saving us from total annihilation wasn't your plan from the start," he asked, raising a brow. Nobody actually planned to risk their life to save others, right? Kafei let out a soft laugh, rubbing his hands over his face. "I can't believe this is happening. I'm still a kid and now I'm going to places I've only read about in books. Surely this Deku King can get the answers for us. He's got to, since he's the King."
Link's cheeks heated up a bit at the praise as he scratched the back of his head, the tips of his ears turning pink to match his face. Even if he was deserving of it he always felt a bit awkward when people acknowledged the things he did.
'I did not plan on coming here at all actually, I...' Link's hands stalled, unsure of how much he should tell Kafei, he was already dealing with a lot, telling him that his world is an alternate one to his own might be too much for him to handle at the moment, so he settled on only saying what he had to.
'I stumbled onto this place by accident, but I am glad i did' Link admitted with a smile. He chuckled a bit at Kafei's comment about the Deku King, thinking back to his rash behavior and short temper.
'I am unsure of what he might know, but we will have to see,'
Kafei settled for the answer Link gave, sated for the moment. He sat for a minute, enjoying the warm weather from the sun, the sound of frogs croaking around them. The afternoon sun was warm on his skin, and not unappreciated after everything he had been through until that moment. He couldn't wait until he would be able to sit in the sun with Anju, getting to enjoy being together as a couple and passing the days with ease and comfort.
"What's the Deku King like? You said you saved the princess, what happened?" He asked, thinking for a moment. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Everybody's got something they don't want to share, I understand," he added, knowing there were some things that couldn't be talked about. Especially if it involved hardships in life. It had been hard enough to tell Anju why he'd disappeared, there had to be things Link wasn't ready to share about his adventures.
'I can talk about it, I do not mind,' Link reassured the other before thinking back to when he had taken on the Woodfall Temple, it seemed like forever ago, though technically, it had just been three days ago.
'The Deku King is very... Brash, to say the least, when the princess went missing he had blamed a monkey, planned on executing him publicly without any proof; he is quick to anger and does not like most people. The princess is very sweet though, she had gotten captured by the creature that had poisoned the waters here, thankfully she was not harmed and I was able to bring her back safely, though i did have to put her in a bottle,' Link giggled a bit as he thought about how ridiculous it sounded that he put the Deku Princess into a bottle. Though being a hero was no doubt stressful he was grateful for moments like these, where he could sit and pass the time by reminiscing on the more lighthearted side of his adventures.
While it was somewhat surprising to hear about how the Deku King was, Kafei appreciated the heads up for what the two of them were about to get into. Being as reclusive as they were, he could wrap his head around the Dekus having their own traditions and ways of handling things. He couldn't hide his shock about the princess getting put into a bottle, though. "How did you manage to put her in a bottle?" He questioned, wondering just how small the princess actually was. Or how big the bottle had been. He'd seen the size of the Business Scrubs that would set up shop in town occasionally, so it was hard to imagine her being much different in size. "Although it is noted about the King's demeanor. I will try my best not to do anything to offend him."
Kafei thought more about what Link told him, saving the princess. "What kind of creature was able to do that? Was it part of the curse, would we have to see anything like it out here?" He asked, trying to prepare himself mentally for what they were about to encounter. He had been so quick to be able to find a cure for his own curse, he hadn't truly thought about what could be coming or what they might be up against. While Link had saved Termina, they had still seen monsters out in the fields that he was able to defeat easily enough, what would happen if they were to come across something stronger? Kafei wasn't against doing whatever it took to fix himself, but he couldn't help the feeling in the pit of his stomach that there might be potential danger that would pose as a real threat to them.
Link couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at Kafei's bewilderment before signing an explanation.
'She was able to shrink down to fit inside,' he signed with a smile, which dropped when Kafei asked about the monster that had resided in the temple.
'Odowla,' he finger spelt slowly, 'one of the monsters created by Majora, the evil being that influenced Skull Kid... We do not have to worry about things like that though, I defeated them; while it is likely we will run into danger it should not be anything like that, if it is I can handle it,' Link signed, hoping to reassure the other. He knew Kafei didn't know how to fight, not properly, and in a real battle with something the size of Odowla Kafei wouldn't stand a chance, so if they did end up running into something like that on their journey it would be best for Kafei to take cover while Link took charge.
Something about Link's laughter reassured Kafei about the situation. Surely, if Link could take on the world, there wasn't anything they couldn't accomplish together. He could tell the seriousness of the situation by the way Link's smile fell at his concern, the way his fingers slowly worked their way through his explanation. "Odolwa," he repeated, humming thoughtfully. "Well, thankfully that's been taken care of. Besides, Mr Hero, if you can do that, what can't you do?" He teased, smiling. It had been the most relaxed he'd felt since getting on the boat, the conversation helping to distract from the problem at hand.
"How did you even know of the trouble the Deku people were in? And they don't like anybody else, so I doubt they just told you about it," he mused. He realized he was asking a lot of questions, but Link really was an enigma, showing up out of the blue and solving all the world's problems.
Link smiled in return, happy to see Kafei had relaxed at least a little.
'I could tell the water had been poisoned when I first came to the swamp, and a monkey told me about the situation with the princess, luckily she was where I needed to go to get rid of the poison,' Link signed, humoring Kafei's curiosity, but purposefully leaving out the use of the transformation mask, unsure of how Kafei would react to it. Most people would find it disturbing or even accuse him of using dark magic, because while the use of masks was customary here, transforming into another being through them was not.
Kafei leaned back in his seat, watching Link's signs. "That really sounds like being in the right place at the right time. Sounds like a gift, or maybe even a curse of your own," he stated, shutting his eyes for a moment as they drifted along the water. He felt himself feeling a little drowsy, and really downright exhausted from all of their running around, but he wasn't about to succumb to his fatigue. Not when they were just getting started. He hoped that Link was right, and that the Deku King would allow him in with Link. He didn't like the idea of it, but if it came to it he could use his father's position as the town mayor to try to gain entry. He hated how people suddenly would accept him or deny him due to his father's status, as if it translated onto himself. They would treat him as if he were entitled, or as if he were Royalty, when they never even bothered to get to know him. Sometimes it couldn't be helped, and if it could aid them in getting the results they needed sooner, then it may be what he had to do.
Link thought about what Kafei had said, and he agreed, while it was a good thing that he's able to be there when people need him most, having the weight of the world on his shoulders so often is a heavy burden to bare, and even he gets tired.
Link glanced over to Kafei as the water gently rocked their boat, he looked peaceful, this was probably the most relaxed Link had ever seen him, so he decided to leave him be for now so he could have a moments rest. He didn't bother him until they neared the dock to the palace, seeing it come into focus in the distance he gently put his hand on Kafei's shoulder to get his attention.
Kafei blinked blearily up to Link when he felt his hand. He hadn't intended on nodding off for the end of the ride, and he felt the heat of the sun on his cheeks as he looked up to see the entryway to the palace. It was very bright and cheery, much like the rest of the swamp. He stretched in his seat and rubbed the sleep from his eyes as the boat pulled to a stop, stretching his legs for the first time in what seemed like days before standing and disembarking. He waited for Link before heading into the opening.
On the other side of the doorway was a long, narrow path of logs, and at the end were two very stern looking Deku scrubs. They were thinner than any other Kafei had seen before, but looked like they could hold their own if needed. He looked to Link, feeling somewhat nervous for the first time on their trip. "And you're certain they'll let us in?" He asked, not wanting to doubt Link in any way after everything he'd done for them. They'd come this far, after all, and just on the other side of those guards was the Deku they were needing to see.
Link gave Kafei a smile and nodded before taking the lead, stepping over the log bridge and waving to the two Deku scrubs as they greeted him. Without trouble they passed them and entered the palace, walking down a long narrow hallway as they came to the entrance to the throne room, and without halting Link stepped through the doors and was greeted by the King's booming voice.
"Link! What a pleasant surprise to see you here again!" The King shouted, but stopped in his tracks upon seeing the second body that followed behind the green clad hero.
"What's this?! You brought an outsider into the palace?! This is unbelievable! Absolutely unforgivable!" The Deku King ranted from his perch on the throne as an exasperated sigh came from beside him.
"Stop it, father! It's fine, any friend of Link's is a friend of ours, he saved me after all, the least you can do is trust him," The Deku Princess spoke, obviously tired of her fathers unaccepting behavior.
"W-well... I suppose that is true..." The King backed down sheepishly as his daughter stepped forward.
"So Link, what brings you and your friend here?" The princess asked sweetly, to which Link smiled.
'My friend is cursed, he is an adult but-' Link started to explain but was quickly interrupted by the princess.
"What?! He's an adult? But he's barely taller than you! Are all humans so small?" She laughed in surprise, and Link scratched the back of his head nervously as he gave an awkward smile.
'He is an adult, but he was cursed to look like a child, it was supposed to have been lifted, but, as you can see, it did not. We were told that you might have information that could help us,' Link continued, looking between the king and princess, who thought quietly for a moment.
"Unfortunately, I know nothing of curses, so I cannot be of service to you," The Deku King admitted, to which the princess nodded solemnly.
"Neither do I, I'm sorry, Link," she added, looking to Kafei sadly.
Kafei was immediately caught off guard by the King's loud voice, causing him to jump. He seemed well enough, until he caught sight of Kafei, and did not hide his anger. His daughter, the princess, quickly put him in his place however, and addressed the two in a much calmer tone.
He let Link explain the situation, feeling smaller than he already was. He wasn't sure what to expect when walking into the palace, but he had still been surprised to be disregarded so fast.
"I'm sorry to ask of something so big of you, your majesty," he sighed, bowing down at the waist. He was disappointed that the witches seemed to be wrong, if the King and Princess didn't know anything, then what were they going to do now?
There was a noise to the side, a butler to the King stepping up to face them. "I may know of somebody," he admitted, and Kafei looked to him with wide eyes. "You see, when my son disappeared, I was distraught, but Master Link gave me a reminder not to lose hope, so I began to search for him. In my journey I came across a shaman up in the northern mountains, who was able to provide me aid in how to better my search and help me to find answers. They might be able to help you as well," the Deku Butler told them, and Kafei brightened up at the news. He spun around to Link, almost feeling giddy. It was a clue, a step in the right direction!
"Thank you so much, sir!" He practically shouted to the butler, grabbing onto Link's hands. He realized he was acting like a child in that moment, but he was too excited to care. He was going to be an adult again, and continue his life as normal soon, and he couldn't wait. He silently prayed for Anju to be able to wait just a bit longer, that he would be home, to her, as an adult before they knew it.
Link smiled widely both at the new lead and how excited Kafei was, squeezing his hands lightly when Kafei grabbed his own; seeing Kafei so happy and optimistic was like a breath of fresh air, after their whole adventure so far has been full of the opposite it was a much needed change of pace.
'To the mountains we go!' Link signed with a smile after taking his hands away.
"Good luck you two!" The princess exclaimed as she waved a goodbye, her father also bidding his farewell with a wave. Link signed a quick thank you before taking Kafei's hand again and making his way back through the entrance.
They were back on the boat and on the path back to the Tourist Center in no time, excited and optimistic. Kafei felt a little antsy on the boat ride back, but nowhere near the amount on the ride to the palace. With a new lead, he was looking forward to finding this shaman and getting answers. About 10 minutes into their ride however Link noticed the sun had started to set, and dread settled in the pit of his stomach uncomfortably.
'It is getting dark...' Link signed slowly, remembering the monsters that lurked in the dark, though he tried not to show his worry, not wanting to concern Kafei. He took a breath and though to himself, he's dealt with Wolfos before, as long as Kafei stayed a safe enough distance away he would be able to take care of it, it would be fine.
Link pointed out the setting sun, and Kafei looked to the sky. It was a beautifully deep orange hue, hints of purple of the coming night. He couldn't believe how the first day of peace had gone by so quickly. While they still had more time ahead, he hoped things to go by quickly enough so that they could enjoy it.
'We should head back to Clock Town once we get back, so we can get some rest. We will head to the mountains first thing in the morning,' Link signed quicker this time, shooting Kafei a reassuring smile, though he's not sure if it was believable.
"Yes, I'm sure Anju would like to know about our plans," he agreed, practically daydreaming of everything good upcoming. He couldn't help but almost space out during the rest of the boat ride, too excited to get back to town.
After the ride was over and they thanked the Tourist Center employees for the boat, they began to head back north toward town.
It was slightly eerie how quiet it was at dusk in the edge of the swamp. Keese flew around a massive tree, not paying them much mind, but something about the area made the little hairs on the back of Kafei's neck stand up, and he felt goosebumps on his arms as he looked around, before turning to Link. "This place is pretty safe, right? I know you said we shouldn't have too many problems with monsters," he asked, unsure of why he felt so uneasy.
Link didn't respond, his brow furrowed as he listened intently, suddenly his ear perked as he heard the shifting of dirt, whirling around he grabbed his shield from his back and drew his sword. He motioned at Kafei to get back as five Wolfos rose from the ground, howling shrilly as they did so; Link let out a grunt of annoyance before lunging at them, blocking a slash from the one directly in front of him with his shield while slashing at the one beside him with his sword. Link then felt a harsh tug at his shield, the Wolfos in front of him had hooked its claws around the shield and yanked it out of its way, sending Link to the ground as he was caught off guard, thankfully he was able to get his bearings and put his shield up again to block the Wolfos as it pounced, but it continued to weigh on his shield and slash and snarl wildly at him.
Link was able to bring his legs behind his shield and push off against the Wolfos, sending it backwards so Link could get up, getting his footing back he let the other Wolfos draw close to him, waiting for them to surround him to perform a spin attack, doing so made them fall around him, howling in defeat as they died; but in his haste he failed to notice a single Wolfos had slipped away, only realizing his mistake when he heard Kafei let out a shriek, Link's heart immediately jumped into his throat at the sound, whirling around to see the single Wolfos on top of Kafei.
Without skipping a beat, though he felt sick to his stomach, he lunged onto the beast, planting his feet on its back and grabbing onto its shoulder with his right hand, his sword ready in his left; grabbing a fist full of its fur and using his body weight to pull the Wolfos back he got it off of Kafei, and as it reared up Link stabbed his sword through its head, jumping off as it fell to the ground.
Throwing his sword and shield to the side he ran to Kafei, skidding on his knees as he got down beside him, and it felt like his heart stopped upon seeing the blood that ran down his face and soaked into his shirt. Link was all but hyperventilating as panic filled his entire body; Kafei had gotten hurt, Link didn't protect him and now he's hurt because of him. Link desperately grabbed Kafei's arm and shook it, trying to ask if he was okay, not trusting his shaking hands to sign anything clearly.
Everything happened all at once. From the silence of the woods, Link's tense body drawing his sword and shield, then the hoard of Wolfos appearing as if out of nowhere. Kafei's heart lept to his throat. Even if Link knew how to fight, Kafei knew five Wolfos at once were a lot to take on. He tried to run off to where Link could take on the enemies, trusting in the hero to win, but not to get in the way.
Just as Link was getting to the final kill, Kafei could see one of the Wolfos turn and see him standing there, almost frozen in fear. Voice catching in his throat and not wishing to be a distraction, Kafei turned and began to run, looking over his shoulder to see the Wolfos quickly gaining on him. He hadn't ever encountered something like that, he didn't even know the weakness of an enemy like that, other than a sword would do the trick.
Then it happened. Kafei tripped over a branch as he turned to look once more, and just as he hit the ground hard, the Wolfos lept through the air and landed on top of him, claws ripping into his cheek. The pain was excruciating; it burned just as the scream that ripped out of his throat and lungs.
Just as the Wolfos was about to sink its teeth into his neck, Link wrestled the beast off of him, but the blood pouring out of his cheek left him disoriented. He barely registered Link emerging in front of him, breath shallow in his chest. He could just stare at Link for what felt like several minutes but was really only just a moment or two, trying to get his bearings on what was happening in that moment. He could see Link trying to form words with his mouth, but the wound and adrenaline were making his ears pound.
"Sorry," he managed to mumble out, finding Link's hand with his own. The shock from everything was starting to seep in, and he couldn't feel the tears that pooled in his eyes, only that his vision had watered and fractured through them. "Sorry." He tried to look around, but the motion made him dizzy so he settled for focusing on Link.
Link shook his head, Kafei shouldn't be sorry, it was Link's fault, Link was the one not paying close enough attention, Link was the one who let him get hurt. When Kafei began to cry tears welled up in his own eyes and threatened to spill over, but he held them back, he needed to focus on Kafei.
Taking off his hat he gently pressed the green fabric onto the wound, trying to soak up the blood and apply pressure to stop its flow, using his other hand to wipe away at the tears that streamed from Kafei's eyes. He could see Kafei flinch and his heart ached, he felt so horrible; suddenly his tears were getting harder to suppress as they bubbled in his eyes and he needed to tell kafei he was sorry, both his hands were occupied but he needed to tell him he was sorry.
"I'm so sorry..." Link spoke, his words quiet, barely above a whisper, and his voice broken and catching in his throat both from disuse and from the emotions overwhelming him.
Kafei managed to take a deeper breath, and with Link covering the wound with his hat, he felt himself calming down. He flinched as Link began to wipe at his tears, only just realizing he'd been crying. He looked to the slightly tousled blond hair that was normally hidden away, to Link's eyes, to his mouth when he heard the tiniest voice croak out. It was almost startling, as Kafei had never heard Link actually speak before. It had always been through sign language, he hadn't known Link to ever use his voice, though it sounded distantly familiar.
He let Link cradle him close, focusing solely on the other, feeling as if he weren't really there. It felt as if he were watching himself from a different angle, catching sight as his hand lifted up and his fingers traced Link's lips. They were soft, he could register that much. He slowly blinked, his eyes crinkling as the unharmed side of his mouth twitched upward a bit.
"'M sorry," he mumbled again, coughing slightly. The movement caused him to wince, the wound flaring in pain once again. More tears stung at his eyes, as a coughing fit took over. It took a moment to recover, but he turned into Link a bit for comfort and to hide the oncoming tears that began to spill out once again. How he was letting Link see all these raw emotions honestly scared him a bit. He took things in stride when he was turned into a child by the imp, and aside from going into hiding he was generally okay after Sakon stole his Sun Mask. Now this? He could barely move but the pain he felt was overbearing and he couldn't stop himself from letting it all out, no matter who was around. He couldn't help but find solace in the fact that it was Link who was by his side and nobody else.
Link's body froze and his stomach flipped when Kafei's fingers touched his lips, he could feel his face and the tips of his ears burning as his eyes widened, and the tears he had been trying desperately to hold back began to fall freely.
He was pulled back into reality when Kafei began coughing, at that moment he remembered he still had a red potion packed away, so quickly he reached into the pouch on his belt and pulled out the bottle of red liquid, while still holding his hat to Kafei's face he used his teeth to bite the cork off while tears still ran down his face. He spat the cork to the ground and gently put the bottle in front of Kafei's lips, hoping he would understand that he had to drink it.
Kafei finally stopped coughing long enough to catch his breath long enough to turn back to face Link, seeing a bottle in hand. He accepted whatever it was, the slight sweetness washing over his tongue and coating his throat. It sated the feeling of the cough, and also tingled as it numbed whatever it came into contact with. While he was still dizzy, Kafei felt well enough to be able to sit up. Link hastily wiped the tears from his face as Kafei sat up, trying to compose himself somewhat though his heart was still pounding in his chest.
"Sorry," he rasped out once again, subconsciously feeling his mouth with his tongue. He'd never had red potion before, so the foreign taste and feeling of it had an interesting effect.
Kafei turned to look at Link before looking down to his blood-soaked hat. His blush was barely visible underneath the blood covering his cheek. Wiping a hand over his cheek, he could still feel how sticky it was, but there were also ridges from where the Wolfos had attacked him. He couldn't believe he'd been taken down so easily, so early on in their journey. If something like that happened, who knew what else they would run into.
"Are you okay? There were so many of them, all at once," Kafei asked, looking over Link for his own injuries. He still was adjusting to sitting up, but he couldn't hide his concern about Link's safety either.
'I am fine, I am more worried about you,' Link signed, his hands still shaking slightly, but he was able to form words. His cheeks still felt hot but he ignored it in hopes that Kafei wouldn't take notice to it, or at least wouldn't mention it if he did.
Kafei nodded, still concerned. Maybe a bit frazzled, but Link didn't seem to be harmed in any way, so it brought Kafei a bit of relief to see he wasn't hurt. He looked around warily, not trusting that there might not still be anything in the area that might try to attack them still. The keese still flew around overhead, and even those he were not keen on letting get too near.
"We should probably move away from here, find somewhere safer to stay," he suggested. He tried to stand, but was still too weary and stumbled a bit as he tried to remain upright. While the red potion had stopped the bleeding and healed the wound, he'd still lost quite a bit of blood. He sat back down for a minute, burying his face in his palms. He felt pathetic like that, as weak as he was. "We can't stay here all night, we need to find somewhere safer to camp out," he added, looking toward Link once more. While he wasn't excited about the idea of being out in the open all night, it had already been proved not safe enough to travel. At least if they could find somewhere to camp out, they could try to cover up and be safe.
Link agreed, staying here wouldn't be safe, and his clothes were soaked with a mixture of the Wolfos blood and Kafei's, he needed to get washed up, as did Kafei. Link stood with Kafei, catching him slightly as he stumbled and supporting him as he sat back down, he knelt down beside Kafei again and thought about where they could go that required little travel but would be safe enough for them to rest.
'Romani Ranch? It is close by, when you can walk we can head there for the night,' Link suggested with a small smile, trying to comfort the other at least a little.
Kafei appreciated the support from Link, head still tingling. It was already getting late, and while he hated the imposition, the girls at Romani Ranch would be the perfect place to be at the moment. It was closer than town, only about an hour from where they were, and he knew them well enough that, even in his diminished state, Cremia would recognize him and Link and take them in.
"Yes, that sounds good," he agreed, taking a deep breath. He really wanted to wash the grime and blood from himself, and he was sure Link would want to as well, and he would even accept sleeping in the hay in the barn than the cold ground outside.
After a few minutes, Kafei stood, and while he was still unsteady, he was still regaining strength. A couple of times he'd lean on Link for support, but wanted to get to the barn quickly, as late as it was getting.
As they entered the ranch, Kafei could feel himself getting weary once again, almost completely leaning on Link for support, and he blanched as his stomach gurgled loudly. Between everything that had happened, eating seemed to slip his mind entirely. Once they were almost there, he could see a flash of red up ahead. While he knew it wasn't her, all he could see was Cremia playing around, as they used to when they were younger. Kafei knew that was Cremia's sister Romani, and was amazed at how big she'd gotten since he'd last seen her.
The redhead caught sight of the two approaching, and had a horror-stricken face as she looked at them. Quickly, she began screaming for her sister, running for their home.