Popping the cork...

[dekuinabottle]

Popping the cork? That is a terrible title. And what is with that username? I was in a bottle ONCE in my life. ONCE. And it was only so that hero boy Link could carry me back home quickly so my friends wouldn't get roasted by my idiot father.

And playing me with all of two pages of canon review is as insulting and presumptuous as papa jumping to conclusions about Mr. Monkey kidnapping me!

You could have at least gotten more than six icons made or replayed the game.

Comments

[dekuinabottle]

That's a blessing, then. Let's hope she continues to think so... so you don't have any terrible pranks pulled on you. Mr. Monkey has missed you.

[childhero]

I think I'd rather have pranks than more serious things happen.

[blinkblink] He has?

[dekuinabottle]

[There's a giggle from her.]

Of course he has! We were all very impressed by how you stood up to father on his and my behalf. And he was so sad that you had to run off so soon after helping. He wanted to thank you and to play with you in the swamp like his friends got to. We both understand you had very important things to do, but he missed you all the same. And so did Mr. Butler.

...and so did I.

[The last was said sadly, despite her cheerfulness. She missed the person he reminded her of far more than she actually missed him.]

[childhero]

[Link scratches the back of his neck.]

I'm sorry I couldn't stay. There's just... too much to do.

[And the swamp isn't his forest. Even with all his new friends there, it would feel empty and wrong to him somehow. But he's not going to tell her that.]

[dekuinabottle]

That's alright. We know you would stay for a little longer if you could. You're such a nice person, Mr. Hero.

[childhero]

[Link smiles.] Th-Thanks.

So, how are things in the swamp now?

[dekuinabottle]

Oh that father of mine! He let Mr. Monkey go but he still doesn't want to let them in to see me again! I have to keep sneaking out just to see my friends!

I shouldn't have to.

[childhero]

Have you tried talking to him about it?

[dekuinabottle]

He won't listen! He refuses to let anyone near the palace that isn't a Deku... and even then he's been doubling the guard and making sure they're really a Deku and not wearing a mask like you were!

That monster in the temple is gone. There's nothing he has to worry about now.

[childhero]

[Hmmmm. If he was around, how would he solve this problem?]

Maybe you could do something to prove to him that outsiders are okay. [Since he doesn't listen when other people talk...] You'd have to show it to him somehow, with something... over-the-top, to get his attention.

[dekuinabottle]

[Her father had always been the kind to jump to conclusions and make assumptions, sadly.]

I just don't know how I could do something like that when he won't leave the palace and no one who isn't a Deku isn't allowed inside. It's hard enough to sneak out just to see my friends.

[childhero]

Would any of the other Deku help you? The guards? The Butler, maybe?

[If you can guess the assumptions he'd jump to, then he could be led...]

[dekuinabottle]

[She'd never been good at guessing which assumption he'd jump to before an incident occurred. After the fact, when she's not there to see it and has only other people's reactions to go on? Those she had more than enough experience 'interpreting']


Mr. Butler is the one that helps me sneak out. He knows the schedules the best so he can make sure I'm gone when I'm expected to be doing something away from father or a lot of guards. But I don't know if any of the guards will help me. They're very afraid of father's wrath. With good reason, you've seen how he can be.

[childhero]

Maybe Mr. Butler will be able to help you figure something out, then. [Because if something isn't done about the king now, then for all Link knows, he may do something crazy like take offense at the slightest thing or another misunderstanding and declare war.]

[dekuinabottle]

[That would be absolutely terrible, too. The Princess didn't think jumping up and down on his stomach would stop a full out war.]

I'll ask him, Mr. Hero. I hope we'll be able to come up with something. I worry about what father might do all the time.

[That might have been an exaggeration. But not by much.]

[childhero]

[Link doesn't even think it's an exaggeration. He'd be worried, too.

He nods.] I don't know if there's anything I can do to help, but... Let me know if something comes up.