A/N: Hi everyone. It's been too long. I'm sorry school and other things kept getting in the way. So this is the second to last chapter unless you fabulous people want an epilogue. Thank you Doress for favoriting and following this fic.
-11lol11- Thank you. I'm glad you liked the last chapter.
Skull Kid walked beside Hans keeping in step with the taller man's larger strides. "What do you do for a living, Hans?" Skull Kid ask trying to break the silence that fell over the group like a dark storm cloud.
The smiling Hylian turned his squinting gaze at the forest imp. "I sell masks. I collect them from all around Termina and then sell them for a profit," Hans answered bobbing his head up and down. "Many of these masks have unique abilities. They would be fine tools for an explorer or a hero," Hans added.
"What sort of abilities?" Kareena asked from behind Skull Kid, speaking up for the first time since the last whistling stone.
"Some can change the form of the wearer and others could increase your speed," Hans said as he continued to bob up and down.
"What about that purple mask?" Kareena asked pointing to a sinister looking mask on the back of the pack.
Hans looked around and saw the mask that the Deku Shrub was pointing at. "Oh, that doesn't do anything, my dear. That is just a plain mask," the mask salesman said smoothly.
Kareena tilted her head but said nothing further. Skull Kid briefly wondered why the deku shrub was so interested in the odd mask. He shook off the question as unimportant as he nearly tripped on the dry ground. "Welcome to the forgotten kingdom of Ikana," Hans said waving over the desolate landscape. "It was once a thriving land, but was cursed by the Goddesses when the people of Ikana tried to build a tower to reach the heavens," Hans continued to explained. Throughout his grim explanation, his grin never faded.
The mask salesman continued through the desolate land without any fear. Kareena and Skull Kid, on the other hand, proceeded cautiously. Skull Kid looked at the landscape feeling a dark energy over the land. "Let's hurry up and find that stone," Kareena said beside him also looking around nervously. "This place gives me the creeps." Skull Kid just nodded his agreement.
After five more minutes, Hans made an excited noise and ran forward. Kareena and Skull Kid picked up their pace to keep him in their sights. The mask salesman stopped at a large stone with a hole through its center. Kareena stepped forward as she pulled out her lute. Skull Kid closed his eyes as he listen to the smooth sounds of the instrument. "Day to night, dark to light," Kareena started to sing, "fall the sands of time." Skull Kid opened his eyes to see the peaceful expression she had as she played. "Let the years like the gears, Of a clock unwind. In your mind walk through time Back to better days. Memories, like a dream, Wash tears away. Cast away your old face; Let go your spite, With this song I'll ask, to set things right." The girl finished singing and continued to strum the song. Skull Kid grinned that even he felt better and more joyful at the sound of the song.
Kareena gasped and Skull Kid watched as she was engulfed in a bright light. When the light faded, a Hylian sat cross-legged on the ground. Skull Kid looked over her; the girl looked up at him and gave him pearly smile. It made his mouth go dry. "Skully, are you okay or has my good looks made you a mute?" the Hylian asked in Kareena's voice.
Skull Kid stuttered slightly, "You look very pretty, Kareena." He lowered his head in a blush.
At this moment, Hans cleared his throat. "As sweet as this is, you promised me the song," the mask salesman said.
"Of course," Kareena said standing up. When the girl stood up, something clattered to the ground. Skull Kid picked it up to see that it was a mask of a Deku Shrub face.
"Where did this come from?" Skull Kid asked. Kareena shrugged after replying that she didn't know.
"It must have appeared after you turned back into a Hylian," Hans said, "I can take it off your hands if it brings back too many bad memories." Kareena shook her head negatively and reached out with a free hand. Skull Kid gave her the wooden mask and watched as she examined it.
"I would like to keep it," she said softly and proceeded to put it into her pouch. "I'll teach you the song now," Kareena said turning to Hans who rubbed his hands longingly. The girl ran through the notes of the song and the mask salesman followed along. After two run throughs, the older man was able to repeat the song perfectly. "Thank you so much for helping me back there," Kareena said throwing her arms around the older man in a tight hug. Skull Kid narrowed his eyes jealously, but didn't comment.
Hans separated from the Hylian girl. "It was nice doing business with you two," the mask salesman said waving good-bye as he walked away from the pair.
Once the man was out of sight, Kareena breathed a sigh of relief. Skull Kid recognized the way she stood: it was the way she stood after she took something. "Kareena, I thought you weren't going to steal anymore," Skull Kid said disappointedly.
Kareena moved her hands to her front so Skull Kid could see the purple heart-shaped mask. He almost smiled at the thought that the hug she gave Hans was just to pickpocket him. "I know and I didn't intend to. But, I don't know how to say it, but I didn't think this should be in anyone's hands," the girl said looking down at the mask.
"But it's harmless; it has no special abilities," Skull Kid said slightly angry.
The girl sighed, "here, then you can return it." Kareena stepped closer to him to give him the mask. Skull Kid noted, very sadly, that she was now a lot taller than him.
Skull Kid pocketed the mask to give to Hans if he caught up to him. "I'm going to give this back to Hans and you can go retrieve your brother," Skull Kid said about to run in the direction the mask salesman took off in.
"Wait," Kareena called out. She reached into her bag and pulled out the Deku Shrub mask. "Can you keep this for a little while? At least until I get back with my brother?" she asked. Skull Kid took the mask and held it close to his heart. The girl smiled and bent down to kiss his forehead.
"We'll meet where we first met in a week's time," Skull Kid said as she pulled away.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Kareena responded before the two went their separate ways.