"A Moment of Reflection"

As the group made their way to safety, Zelda's gaze lingered on Link, who was still recovering from his ordeal, his face smudged with soot. The realization of what she had almost done to him hit her like a ton of bricks, and a wave of regret washed over her. She felt a pang of sorrow and guilt, her eyes welling up with tears as she approached Link, her hand reaching out to gently touch his arm. "Link, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think... I wasn't thinking. I could have lost you." But Link flinched at her touch, his eyes narrowing slightly as he pulled his arm away. "It's okay, Zelda," he said gruffly, his voice still hoarse from smoke inhalation. "I'm just glad to be alive." Zelda's hand hovered in mid-air, unsure of what to do next. She took a step back, her eyes scanning Link's body, and that's when she saw it - a small glob of lava stuck to his left shoulder, glowing like a tiny ember. "Oh no," Peach gasped, rushing forward to examine Link's shoulder. "We need to get that off him, now." Zelda's eyes widened in horror. "Why? It's just a small bit of lava." Peach shook her head. "There are seven reasons why Link can't keep that small bit of lava on him, Zelda. First, it's extremely hot and can cause severe burns. Second, it's sticky and can adhere to his skin, making it difficult to remove later. Third, it can continue to cause damage even after it's cooled down, as it can retain heat for a long time. Fourth, it can infect his wound, leading to serious complications. Fifth, it's a tripping hazard - what if he slips on it and falls? Sixth, it can melt his armor, weakening its protective capabilities. And seventh, it's just plain uncomfortable - can you imagine having a molten rock stuck to your shoulder?" Zelda's face went pale as Peach explained each reason. She looked at Link, who was watching her with a mixture of discomfort and annoyance. "You're right," Zelda said, her voice firm. "We need to get it off him." Peach nodded. "I'll get some water and try to carefully remove it. Donkey Kong, can you help me?" Donkey Kong nodded, and together, they carefully poured water over the lava, trying to loosen its grip on Link's shoulder. It took a few moments, but eventually, the lava came off, leaving a small patch of burned skin behind. Link winced as the lava was removed, but he didn't say a word. Zelda's eyes lingered on the burned patch, feeling a pang of guilt once again. "I'm sorry, Link," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise to be more careful in the future." Link looked at her, his eyes softening slightly. "I know you will, Zelda. Let's just focus on getting out of here and finding a way to heal this."