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In his mind, Rock was thinking, "why am I falling for her?"

But he smiled softly when she assured him that he would have some mission to do after this. Then he said, "Well, I might be able to help you with that. Just, not right now."

The forest they had wandered into was filled with purple fog and this fog was affecting Rock's breathing. Wheezing a bit, Rock said, "I should have brought a lanturn because it looks like we've entered the poisonous swamp. Lanterns destroy this fog and I can barely see where I am going through this stuff."

Rock wanted to call out to Link, but his body wouldn't let him. It was obvious though that he needed help soon or he would collapse. Luckily, Rock had a map of where they were in the forest and a unique compass where there were icons to show where they needed to go next. He trusted Jinxi enough that if he were to fall in this muck, that she'd navigate through the fog since she seemed immune to its affects, and find Link. Hopefully, she'd remember about the lantern.

Nearby, some monkeys were watching from a tree. In their language, one of them said to another, "Is that Rock Howard, eek eek?"

The reply was, "Yeah, but he wit' someone who no damage with swamp. Best leave alone for now."

The female monkey saw Rock about to fall then shrieked loud for the enemies of the forest to go away and she raced with Link's old fallen lantern from long ago and found a way to light it. She hopped down from the tree, and using her language she encouraged Jinxi to hold onto Rock while the monkey guided them through the poisonous swamp.

(OMG, that was absolutely perfect! That scene right there would be awesome for an anime if it would be made into one.)

Eventually, the monkey led the two to a natural hot spring where there was a goat made entirely of Forest sprites. The monkey explained to the goat what had happened and the goat nodded as if to say that it was okay that Rock take a moment to heal in his waters.

The goat's name was Ordon and he was the guardian of the forest. The swamp the two had managed to get through is a security measure if anything. Those that do not know the secrets of the swamp are subject to fall to its toxic fumes. The monkeys oversee the swamp to help those that do know the secret, but do not come prepared as was the case here.

As Rock rested in the tiny pond, he encouraged that Jinxi too rest up a bit. When he was able to talk, Rock explained who the goat was and who those monkeys were. He also told her that it wasn't far now before they met up with Link. Rock also made sure to remind Jinxi that Link is Dee's son and his half-brother.

(If you don't recognize the game setting here, Joy...I am basically navigating you through Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Not bad for not having to play the game in a while huh? I have the map memorized.)

Rock chuckled, "It didn't affect you as much because of where you would be from on this world. The equivalency of where you are naturally from. The swamp has toxic fumes and depending on your level of tolerance to poisons will depend on how fast you fall. It is true that you were affected a bit, but me...well, I should have remembered to bring a lanturn or at least some sort of a light to blow away the fumes. It is your radiance, Jinxi that prevented the toxins from hurting you as much."

After crossing a wooden bridge, Rock showed Jinxi a little crawl space where hidden rupees were. As Rock collected the gems, he answered Jinxi's other question, "Ha ha ha ha, no, not yet. Link is still growing though. He's maybe a few inches smaller than I am. He has been growing like these weeds you see here."

Using his arm like it was a sword blade, Rock's elbow cut down a few blades of grass that represented weeds where they were. A few rupees were revealed too including a rare 20! When Rock picked it up, just before the entrance to Link's place, he showed Jinxi the bright red gem.

"This, Jinxi is a 20 rupee coin. Rupees here are like money. The more you pick up the more money you have. The value of this coin is rarer than the yellow ones worth 10. The blue ones are worth 5. And the green are worth 1. Think of these like dollars. There are no pennies, dimes, nickels or quarters. In my leather pouch that I use for a wallet here, I have collected a total of 35 dollars worth of rupees. I'll ask Link if he will get you a rupee wallet before we go, okay? If you find rupees you are going to want to collect them if you are going to buy stuff here. They even sell horses for you to ride here! Can you believe it? That's a new thing for this place. I just saw the advertisement. Epona must have foals of her own now."

Knowing that Jinxi was trying to make a joke in the ironic sense, Rock laughed heartily. He then replied, "Okay, the rupee amount is determined by its color. A silver one for example, if we ever find one, is worth a whopping 200 rupees! A gold rupee, which is even rarer than a silver is worth 500 rupees."

As Rock and Jinxi entered the ranch where Epona was, where Rock said, "This beautiful horse here is Epona. She is a chestnut mare."

Epona whinnied happily at Rock's compliment. The horse knew she was aging, but beautiful? Yeah, the horse was flattered.

Link came out of the giant tree fort that was his home and greeted Rock with a secret like handshake. When Link saw Jinxi he elbowed Rock and said, "You never told me that Jinxi was this attractive, Rock! You sneaky little monkey you."

Bowing before Jinxi with respect, Link said to her, "Welcome to Ordon Village. I am Linken Bogard, but please, call me Link. I specialize in combat, in making lunches, and being gay. I am one of the many princes to the throne of the Renaissance Galaxy, but I have no interest in ruling it."

Link had been dressed entirely in green, which he seemed to blend in with the surroundings. If it wasn't for his skin tone or his shiny shield, sword and archery set, Jinxi would have been spooked by hearing voices.

Epona allowed for Jinxi to pet her for a few minutes as Epona grazed on some wild grass that was growing. Rock managed to pick up a green rupee that appeared earning the taller blond a rearing horse.

Link settled Epona before Rock could be trampled. Then Link gave Rock a swift kick in the butt for startling the horse. Rock blushed at his error. Then said to Link, "Best that rupee be in my pocket now rather than in a pile of horse poop and having Epona complain about the money exiting her butthole."

Ignoring Rock, Link then saddled Epona while saying, "You came at a time of peace, which is why most people are friendly. If you two don't mind, could you wait in the tree house while I finish up some ranching duties? A rancher's work doesn't stop even when guests come by to visit. It shouldn't take too long to herd the young goats and foals into the paddocks for the night. Maybe a couple of minutes."

Fado was working already trying to calm the goats and smiled when he saw Link gallop up. "Ya sure have a 6th sense when these critters be agitated, me boy. They be finicky again. Me thinks a new danger will be arisin' soon. And I don't believe its that pig Ganondorf neither that's got these hoofers all riled."

"I think I understand," Jinxi said. "There was a dance competition to show off moves, and a nasty man was somehow in charge of telling people which way to dance and was also looking for a wife inappropriately. And Dee joined the team you and Terry were on so you'd have the same number of girls because she was grateful for a previous favor Terry had done for her and for the fun of it."