You've probably heard the rumors floating around the stables in Tears of the Kingdom. Some weird, multi-horned creature is supposedly hanging out with Princess Zelda, and the local press is having a field day with it. If you’re trying to wrap up the "Potential Princess Sightings!" questline for Penn and the Lucky Clover Gazette, you’ll eventually hit a wall called The Beast and the Princess.
It sounds like a fairy tale. It isn't.
Most players stumble into this one near the New Serenne Stable, but the actual meat of the quest happens far to the south. You’re looking for a specific species that honestly looks like a cross between a buffalo and a nightmare, but they’re actually pretty chill. They’re called Dondons. Getting the "Beast and the Princess" quest completed isn't just about finding them, though; it’s about understanding what Zelda was actually doing with these prehistoric-looking hulks.
Where is the "Beast" anyway?
Don't waste your time scouring the snowy peaks or the Gerudo Desert. You need to head to the Bronas Forest. Specifically, look across the river from the Lakeside Stable in the Faron region. If you warp to the Joju-u-u Shrine, you’re basically there. Just paraglide across the ravine to the north.
You'll see a small tropical clearing.
There, you’ll find Cado. He’s standing around looking a bit confused next to a small herd of large, glowing-eyed creatures. These are the Dondons. They are the "beasts" the rumors were screaming about. People thought Zelda was riding a monster or commanding an army of man-eaters. In reality? She discovered a rare species and was just trying to keep them from going extinct.
Typical Zelda.
The quest itself is deceptively simple. You talk to Cado, he explains that Zelda was caring for them, and then you just... realize that's the answer. There’s no boss fight. No complex puzzle involving Ultrahand or Rewind. You just have to witness the truth to debunk the tabloid gossip Penn is worried about. Once you’ve stood in the enclosure and realized the "beast" is just a rare herbivore, you can fast-travel back to Penn at the stable to clear the rumor.
Why Dondons are the secret MVP of your inventory
Okay, so you finished the quest. Great. But if you just leave, you’re missing the entire point of the Dondons.
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These guys are gemstone factories.
I’m serious. Zelda wasn't just hanging out with them because they're cute in a "looks like a mossy boulder" kind of way. If you drop a Luminous Stone in front of a Dondon, it will sniff it, look at you with those huge eyes, and eat it.
Do this for all five of them.
Now, go away. Leave the area. Go finish a shrine, fight a Hinox, or just go sleep at an inn for a full day cycle. When you come back to the Dondon pen in Faron, you’ll find little sparkling surprises on the ground. The Dondons "process" the Luminous Stones and poop out gems. We’re talking Flint, Amber, or even high-tier stuff like Rubies, Sapphires, and Diamonds.
It’s the most passive way to get rich in Hyrule.
Is it guaranteed to give you a Diamond every time? No. Honestly, sometimes you just get a pile of Flint and feel cheated. But considering Luminous Stones are everywhere in the depths and caves, it’s a low-risk investment. It’s basically the Hylian stock market, but with more scales and less stress.
Debunking the rumors and the Lucky Clover Gazette
The whole point of the "The Beast and the Princess" quest is to build the reputation of the Lucky Clover Gazette. Penn, that lovable, oversized Rito, is obsessed with "the scoop."
This specific mission is one of 12 linked to the Froggy Armor set. If you’re tired of Link sliding down wet rocks every time a thunderstorm starts—which, in Faron, is every five minutes—you need this armor. Completing this quest gets you one step closer to the set bonus that makes you completely slip-resistant.
The storytelling here is actually kind of brilliant. Throughout the game, NPCs talk about Zelda doing reckless or "dark" things. The rumor at the New Serenne Stable was that she was seen "commanding a beast to attack." By the time you get to Faron, you realize the "attack" was just Zelda being a nerd about zoology.
It’s a recurring theme: the world sees a monster, Zelda sees a creature that needs protection.
Things that might trip you up
- Weather: Faron is notoriously rainy. If you try to climb over to the Dondon pen without the Froggy Armor or some sticky elixirs, you’re going to have a bad time. Just use the bridge or glide from a high point.
- The "Wait" period: The gems don't appear instantly. If you stand there staring at the Dondon waiting for it to give you a Ruby, it won't happen. The game's internal clock needs you to be in a different "zone" for the transformation to trigger.
- Quest Trigger: You have to actually talk to Penn at the New Serenne Stable first. If you just find the Dondons on your own, the quest won't "complete" because you haven't technically heard the rumor you're supposed to be debunking.
The game doesn't hold your hand on this. It gives you a vague hint about "the south" and expects you to explore. Faron is dense, dark, and full of electricity-breathing Lizalfos, so it’s easy to get turned around. Just look for the glow of the Luminous Stones near the sanctuary.
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How to maximize your Dondon visits
If you want to be efficient, keep a travel medallion at the Dondon pen.
Every time you finish a major story beat or clear a few shrines, warp in. Drop five Luminous Stones. Pick up whatever gems they left from your last visit. It takes thirty seconds and ensures your wallet stays fat enough to afford those insanely expensive Great Fairy upgrades.
Honestly, it’s better than mining.
Mining breaks your weapons. Feeding Dondons just uses up those stacks of glowing rocks you have 200 of anyway.
Taking the next steps
Once you've cleared the rumor and reported back to Penn, don't stop there.
- Check your quest log for the remaining Lucky Clover Gazette stories. You need to finish all 12 to get the full Froggy Set, and some of them—like the one at the White Bird Trading Post—are way more cryptic than this one.
- Stock up on Luminous Stones. Hit the caves in the Sahasra Slope area or the Depths. You want at least 5-10 stones ready for every time you pass through Faron.
- Upgrade that Froggy Armor. Take your gems to a Great Fairy. The slip-resistance is good, but once you upgrade the whole set to level two, you get the "Slip Proof" set bonus. At that point, rain basically stops existing for you. You can sprint up a vertical cliff in a monsoon.
The "Beast and the Princess" isn't just a quest; it's an introduction to one of the most useful resource loops in the game. Stop listening to stable gossip and go get your gems.
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