Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda omnomnom
I think I'm probably one of the worst updaters on this site. Oh well, as long as I finish it eventually, right?
Zelda sighed. They didn't call them the Lost Woods for no good reason. They couldn't find Skull Kid anywhere, even with Saria's help. However, after two days of searching, Saria had one last trick up her sleeve. The forest around them was quiet as they headed to the Grove of Concert, where Skull Kid often played his flute. Impa looked impatiently ahead. She wished to find Skull Kid and find Link as soon as possible. She was always uptight when Zelda left the castle walls. Malon seemed to be enjoying herself though, stopping often to collect flowers and weave them into her crimson hair. She had joined them the day before, after finishing up some duties on the ranch and convincing her father to let her go, which didn't take much convincing at all.
Saria finally stopped and looked around. The forest was deathly quiet, as it always was. The area they had entered was a clearing in the woods with two stumps in the center, one taller than the other. Sunlight broke through the canopy in such a way that it seemed like two spotlights on both the spots. The surrounding trees seemed to lean inward and make a sort of dome around the stumps. The clearing was empty.
"Okay, here's the plan," Saria whispered, reaching into her pack and pulling out an ocarina. She blew quietly into it to make sure the airway was clear, and nodded to herself. "I'm going to go in and start playing and see if it lures out Skull Kid. He can't resist joining someone playing music with his own melodies. Hopefully, he will show. Then when we are done playing, I will ask him some questions. It's best you all stay here, he hates adults and you might scare him away," she said. Her companions nodded and ducked behind some bushes and hid behind trees. Saria walked out into the large grove.
It was huge and could easily fit several Deku Trees. It seemed eerie when it was empty. It was seldom used by anyone besides deku scrubs and the Skull Children, and occasionally the Kokiri. Saria reached the center and pulled herself up on the short stump. The grove was entirely dark besides the two spotlight areas, and the shadows of the stumps stretched out around her. She took a deep breath and brought the ocarina to her mouth and began to play.
The melody was soft and was slow to start. The notes were few and spaced far apart, but eventually thee song picked up. It moved along steadily and seemed to flow over the empty grove. Malon stared at Saria from across the grove, entranced by the song. Zelda also seemed enchanted by the song, but Impa had heard such songs before and was wary not to get caught up in it.
The song began to drag out and Saria was getting tired and was about to give up, when she heard rustling. She perked up and began to play crisper. She gazed through the haze and saw a shadow trot out of the undergrowth and slowly up to the taller stump. The shadow grasped the lower handholds of the stump and crawled up. Saria watched intently and kept playing her tune. The figure reached the top of the stump and stood up in the sunlight. It was Skull Kid. His glowing red eyes looked curiously and Saria and then he smiled. He reached into one of his many deep pockets and pulled out a wooden flute. It had a small twig the came off the tip with a single leaf on the end. Skull Kid bowed to Saria and then joined in with her. He weaved his melody skillfully into hers, the two instruments ebbing and flowing music over the grove. The leaf at the end of Skull Kid's flute fluttered as he played it. Saria smiled and renewed her song with passion, transforming the melody from a melancholy sojourn into a festive dance tune. Skull Kid began to hop up and down and prance around his stump, dancing to the music they channeled. Eventually, the song faded, and the grove was silent once more.
Skull Kid smiled and bowed to Saria. "Thank you for allowing me to play with you," he said, his voice high and squeaky. It sounded wooden, almost hollow. He turned and was about to jump into the forest.
"Wait! I'd like to talk with you for a moment," Saria yelped. Skull Kid stopped and turned. He sat on the edge of the stump and dangled his legs playfully over the edge. "Yes?"
Saria put her ocarina away and sat down as well. "I'm looking for someone, perhaps you know him," she said. Skull Kid clapped his hands and jumped up. He paced the stump rapidly. "I know lots of things. Skull Kids never forget nothing!" he exclaimed, hopping restlessly from one foot to the other. Saria smiled. "Do you know who Link is?" she asked.
Skull Kid giggled and nodded excitedly. "Oh yes! I know Link very well. He used to play music with me here in this very grove. He even saved me once," Skull Kid said. He did a handstand and walked around the stump on his hands.
"Do you know where he is?" Saria asked. Skull Kid stopped and fell forward. He lay on the stump for quite some time before sitting up. He turned his head all the way around like an owl and looked at Saria.
"Yes, I do! He's in a special place, not far from here. It's dangerous to go alone, though, Link isn't who he used to be," Skull Kid said, rolling an acorn around on his shoulders and arms. Saria frowned and scooted towards Skull Kid.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked. Skull Kid turned his body around so it matched his head again and layed back over the stump to face Saria.
"He's big now, and scary. He has white hair and white eyes and is mean to everyone. He carries a big sword around everywhere and has red and blue paint on his face," Skull Kid said, tracing his wooden face to illustrate. Saria leaned back and thought. She'd never heard of anyone with white hair and eyes, besides old blind people, but Link couldn't be over twenty.
"Can you show us where he is?" Saria asked. Skull Kid sat up and looked around.
"Us? There's more of you? We should play again with more voices!" he said excitedly, pulling out his flute. Saria sighed and stood up.
"If I call them over, will you promise not to run away?" she asked. Skull Kid stopped dancing and looked at her curiously.
"Of course I won't run away!" he said, hopping around eagerly on the stump. Saria looked to the bushes and called her friends over. Malon came out first, followed by Zelda, then Impa. Skull Kid didn't notice them in his excitement until they were almost to them. He noticed Malon and stopped dead. His eyes became wide and their soft orange glow turned red. He began to breathe heavily and quickly and shrunk back.
"You didn't say they were old people," he said gravely. His hand shot into his pocket and he pulled out a blowgun which he quickly slipped a pebble into and pointed at Malon. Saria jumped up and ran to Malon.
"No wait, Skull kid, they're not here to hurt you!" she said urgently. Skull Kid's entire body quaked. The bright colors of the clothing he wore had drained to grey. The clothing made of leaves and shrubs that the Skull Children wore were directly linked to their emotions, shifting colors with their moods. He pointed into the northeast into the woods.
"That way, by a big rock, keep going until you reach some stairs, then a cave, it's in there," he squeaked shakily, and then bolted into the woods faster than a jackrabbit. Saria looked into the forest after him and shook her head.
"You guys aren't that scary," she said.
"Oh gee, thanks, good to know I'm one of the most fearsome creatures in Hyrule," Malon said sarcastically. Zelda looked in the direction that Skull Kid had pointed and smiled.
"Finally, we're getting somewhere," she said, and started off.
R&R
