AN: The ending is a bit abrupt...sorry. But it's finally complete! And poor Skull Kid...he was always one of my favorite characters! ^_^

Chapter 4

"I can't walk anymore!" Mido said as he leaned against a stump. "I'm tired of walking!!"

His friends followed suit and collapsed next to Mido.

"How far does this freakin' forest go, anyway?"

Mido leaned back on his elbow when suddenly, he felt a mask.

"Hunh?" Mido picked the mask up and examined it, "Hey! It's Link's mask! So it was here, of all places!"

"Who cares about a stinkin' mask?" one of the Kokiri boys said, "How're we gonna get home?"

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"

Mido jumped in surprise. "What was that!?"

"T-that sounded like Saria, Mido!"

***

"Link!" Saria cried, "Oh no!!"

They were surrounded by the trees gnarled roots and the monsters of the forest. The Skull Kid lay unconscious next to Saria, but Link was panting heavily, trying to keep the wolfos away from Saria.

Suddenly, Mido came running in, with many of the other Kokiri boys behind him, all of them wearing their masks.

"HYAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" Mido shouted as he and his friend kicked back the monsters.

"Mido!" Link shouted in surprise as Mido approached him.

"Heh, I have my cool moments, too, you know," Mido said as he winked at Link.

"You're wearing my mask," Link said jokingly.

"Yeah!!!" Mido jumped back at the tree and held out a Deku Stick threateningly, "You're facing a real prince now, you know!"

"Ahhhhhhh," the tree hissed, "My magic...is going..."

The tree withered and gave in and soon became a normal tree once again.

Mido! You rescued us?" Saria cried, but soon turned her attention to the Skull Kid that lay in her arms.

"Please...Skull Kid..." Link whispered, "We're friends...right?"

"I can see the scene in my head, now..." the Skull Kid whispered as all the Kokiri boys gathered around him.

"Don't run off into the forest!" a young Hylian woman called, "You'll get lost!"

"I'm just gonna catch a fairy, mama!"

The Skull Kid shivered, "But...why's it so cold? And dark? It's so...dark...."

"My face!? It's black!!!"

The Skull Kid shook violently, "But if my face is black like the forest...I won't be scared anymore..."

"Papa! Mama!"

"No one ever came for me..." the Skull Kid whispered, "So I left into the darkness and breathed easy..."

"You...can have this," Link took his mask out of Mido's hands and pressed it into the Skull Kid's trembling hands.

"Link!" Saria cried, "It's...a fairy orb..."

"The Festival has begun," Mido said happily. "Look!"

Little bright orbs danced around them, lighting the forest. Saria pulled out her ocarina and began playing a slow, beautiful melody.

"Oh..." the Skull Kid said, "So...pretty...so nice..." he reached for the orbs in wonder, but suddenly fell back on the ground, stiff.

"Skull Kid!?!" Link cried, "Please! Be okay!!"

(Do not worry, my children,)

"Great...Great Deku Tree?" Mido asked, looking around.

(The Skull Kid won't die over something like that...)

"You were watching us this whole time!?" Link asked.

(There is nothing in this forest my eyes cannot reach. Just let him sleep for a bit, I am sure he is having nice dreams...)

"Mido," Link said, facing his rival, "You saved us back there,"

"Yes, we owe you our lives!" Saria giggled.

"It...was nothing. You weren't so bad yourself," he said before adding hastily, "I guess,"

Link shook Mido's hand and grinned, "Thanks, Mido,"

***

"Prepare yourself, you filthy scum!" cried the prince as he lunged at the villain.

"Oh! My prince has come to rescue me!" Saria giggled as she watched Mido beam with delight. "I, the fairy prince, will protect both the forest and the princess!"

"Oh yeah!?" Link said from underneath the villain's mask, "Don't think you'll get away that easy!"

The fought bravely and valiantly until Mido's sword had finally penetrated Link's weak defenses. "Hah! And I, the Fairy Prince, am victorious!"

"Link!" cried some of the Kokiri girls as he walked past them, "Why did you let Mido have the prince's role? We wanted to see you!"

"Because," Link said, "I think it suits him better, though it's a little frustrating,"

"Skull Kid didn't come, did he, Link?" asked Telar and Edgar.

Link shook his head. "I wonder what he's up to now..."

"Are you sure you don't want to come to the festival?" Link asked.

The Skull Kid nodded. "Yeah, I'll just stay here and play my flute. It's better that way, I guess."

"Please," Link said, "Please take this mask,"

"LINK!" Mido said angrily, "Without that mask, there'll never be a play!"

"No," said the Skull Kid, "I told you I don't like that face anyway," he snickered, "I want that one!" he said, pointing to the mask that hung from Mido's belt.

"T-this one?" Mido asked, confused, "But this is the mask of the villain!?"

"I think it makes me look tough! I'll show it off to my friends!" the Skull Kid snickered as he placed the mask on.

***

(Well done, Link. In some ways, you've proven yourself to be a true hero at heart. That Deku Stick has helped me watch over you. Until it is completely burnt away, I will still watch over you. It seems you've become closer to becoming an adult...Link.

(The Fairies and the insects of the forest spoke in unison...

"This year's festival is wonderful, isn't it? That flute in the distance...it makes me feel like we've all been included in it, huh?"

(Even though the sun rose and fell three times, the dances and the games continued. Though Link did not yet meet his own fairy that year, he was going to meet his very soon now...his own little Navi...)