VOLUME III: Healing My Song

)) Chapter 9: It's a Small and Smaller World ((

Clock Tower, Termina, 7:42am, Second Day

Ankoku's line of thoughts was swiftly interrupted by Dodo nudging his side, making him snap back to reality as he looked at the imp, whose name had been revealed to be Kitoran, he had been dealing with for all the night… only that he now had a completely different attitude, clear from the fact his smug expression was replaced with a frown further matched nervous tapping of his foot.

The Skull Kid looked at the surroundings with narrowed eyes, further scowling as he saw Ankoku.

"An Hylian…", he snorted upset crossing his arms, dismissing the young boy with a glare which made him yelp in cluelessness.

I have been called Wind-child and even Child of Hylia's, but never have I been appealed as such… admittedly though it does possess a nice rig on it, the Skyloftian mused while the imp quickly turned at Aria, recognizing at sight her magical roots, more akin to the deity who had fathered him unlike the other presences in the room and, still with a weary expression and hand at the hilt of his sword, finally speaking.

"Who are you?" - he questioned her with a clearly suspicious look at the girl repeating the same questions – "and where am I?"

The Goddess of Shadow with her amused look and her usual light but pleasant smile, as if she were ignoring Kitoran's nebulous attitude: "Hello Kitoran, I am Aria, one of the Guardians of Termina and you are in my abode, about to free you off your course"

At this the imp raised a brow at the word course and looked at his hand and his stare quickly widened in utter horror at how his skin had turned black and straw-like.

"Man…", the imp said. While the tone was rather stoic, from his eyes it was clear he was quite embittered at this, a veil of disdain clouding over his eyes.

'When did this happen?', he pondered bitterly, only the comforting pat of his back from Aria making him snap back, turning his grim expression to the Goddess. They did not need to speak to each other to make a dialogue. After a few second which Ankoku and Dodo observed with calmness, the Guardian of Termina broke the silence to talk to Ankoku.

"Okay, little rabbit, time to help him out of this course", she cheered with a smile, making Ankoku raise a brow.

"I… am not a rabbit", was Ankoku attempt of a rather confused and weak comeback, Aria answered by jumping over his head and make him don somehow between his head and his hat a hood with two floppy rabbit-like ears and giving to her speechless interlocutor a wink. In the meanwhile Kitoran had sat down watching all that was happening with an amused toothy grin.

"How am I supposed to assist you in such an enchantment?" – Ankoku answered, having somehow been convinced in the process to switch topic – "Alas, I know no magic whatsoever nor I am a holder of any arcane art"

While Aria had been pulling out of her shadows a giant organ, she just quipped back: "True enough, but I have been hiding in your shadow for a relatively little while, and some magic was left over there… So I think the soles of your shoes, having been in constant contact with me… might have been enchanted"

Giving Ankoku some time to blink incredulous., Aria giggled and placing her slim and graceful fingers said: "Well, little rabbit, time to tip tap dance, I saw your soles are ironed, follow my rhythm with your feet"

Ankoku blinked confused, although his studies at the Knight Academy of Skyloft, that music was but one of the way of the Old Gods to speak and express Their word to Their creation… therefore Aria's proposal was worth a try.

The Kokiri's grin in the meanwhile had widened more at this, amused at the comicalness of the duo, although such entertained expression on his visage quickly morphed into a genuine smile as he felt the relaxing aria coming from the organ accompanied by the lightly off-key tapping of the Skyloftian. She did not need to look what she was doing. At the sweet melody, Dodo slowly relaxed and for once, did not freak out.

Her only thought were: Cast away your old face, let go your spite, with this mask I'll ask to borrow your light

B - A – F – B – A – F – B – A

These were the notes he heard slowly cradling him, as if he felt as let the years unwind like the gears of the very clock tower they were in. Ankoku could see that slowly glowing light blue marks were appearing on Kitoran's black straw-like skin, slowly enveloping it into a bright light everywhere except his face, which seemed it had had grown over a thick white layer, which the imp immediately tore off with an hand, revealing it had become a skull-faced mask which had covered a lightly sharp-lined, yet clearly youthful face of what could barely be a pre-teen.

Finally the light faded away from the room with the young Skyloftian and his Loftwing tilting their head in curiosity looked at what seemed to be now nothing more but a mere child in black clothes and with, incredibly enough, the same bright pink hair and crimson tint on the eyes that he had already in his Skull Kid form, a delighted smile adorning his boyish face. The atmosphere had something ethereal and dreamy… which meant that it was suddenly and absolutely shattered when Aria all of sudden snatched the mask from Kitoran chortling a childish: "Mine"

After a brief beat of silence the Guardian of Termina used to hang the new mask along her collection on the wall, Kitoran finally stretched amazed at having returned normal, still wondering exactly what had happened. All he could remember were those cerulean flames seizing while he was in the fields him and then… He had found himself with a lesser Goddess and one of the people of the race he despised the most.

"Well, time to return to the Kokiri Forest" – Kitoran said dusting himself off – "I think I need some new clothings. Goddess Aria …. Hylian… bye!"

As the pink haired person was about to leave, Ankoku, having heard the word 'Kokiri', caught up to him and chirped: "Wait, what, Kokiri? What? Why?"

Raising a brow, Kitoran answered with a light deadpan: "Well, it's been a while since I have been there,

which is unusual for a Kokiri like me… and my clothes kind of resent this. Look at them"

"Uh? How?" – Ankoku said complying the Kokiri's request surprised at discovering the truth – "they might be a bit torn off, but they look quite elegant with such a deep black color and…"

"… they were green!", Kitoran cut him off from what he took was an attempt to kiss up to him, Aria busting in laughter at hearing such and Ankoku embarrassed for having made once more a fool out of himself. Shaking his head in shame, he quickly set his priorities straight and switched topic.

"My apologies… Still, a Kokiri? Excuse me, Mr. Jarreth, but I might need your assistance, for I have to reach that place as well, and I… well, discovered I have no talent when it comes to orient myself through the Lost Woods…", Ankoku said, only to have the Kokiri in black interrupt him once more.

"… no wonder. Still, why should I help you, Hylian?"; he asked narrowing his eyes, only to Ankoku to show him with a gesture Dodo's broken wing, a thing which struck the Kokiri, who, while he might have had a deep dislike for Hylia's children, he was still taught to love animals and nature by the Great Deku Tree.

As she felt his conflict, Aria caught up the opportunity and pointed out: "Remember that you owe him your life. Without him, I could have never found you"

That was a bad blow for the Kokiri, and clenched his teeth. To owe something? To a child of Hylia's?

NEVER!, was Kitoran's inner answer, the answer impressed in his mind in big burning capital letters at which he turned at the boy and answered with a sigh

"Okay, I suppose you have no hope otherwise not to fall into the Curse of the Lost Woods. Come with me, we will reach the Kokiri forest in no time", Kitoran said looking at Aria for further indication, to which she gave a quick reply.

"Outside that door you are led to your Lost Woods, you should find the way easily after that" – the child like Goddess answered, at which Kitoran started to leave with a nod, but she needed to talk to Ankoku at which she cheered - "Hey little rabbit, a last thing before leaving… can you make me a favor?"

As he nooded, Aria continued: "Can you bring me… whenever you have time…. a few Gratitude Crystals.. not too many… around one hundred? They are for a friend of mine… you know, a rather happy fellow who likes to collect masks like me… although I don't understand why, he even likes to sell them… oh well, I am diverging the conversation… so can you help me?"

Ankoku blinked in confusion and was about to ask exactly what a Gratitude Crystal was and how to get them, but before he could speak Kitoran yelled: "I am getting goooing"

At this both Ankoku and his Loftwing rushed all of sudden to the point the latter picked the former with its beak, forcing the Skyloftian to answer as fast as he could: "Okay, sure enough, I will take this sidequest. Might I wish good riddance, Lady Aria, bye"

And so, as the Guardian of Termina waved at them before resuming to play with her now larger collection of asks before resuming again her duties and investigate further of what had happened that night, the trio left in the darkness which belonged to the gap between Hyrule and Termina.

Kokiri Forest, The Surface, 8:42am, Second Day

Thanks to Kitoran's help and experience, Ankoku and Dodo did not get lost again in the Woods and quickly made their way towards the entrance of the Forest they had looking for, hopeful the magical race of children of the forest could help them.

"Therefore, you have to go left, right, three other right…", Ankoku asked cheerfully trying to remember the pattern they had taken, only for Kitoran to give off an important information.

"The woods change their form every time to trap fools like you, Hylian", he deadpanned as he walked further, seeing some Deku Nuts and picking them up.

"What are those unique seeds?", Ankoku asked picking them up and raising them over his head to show the Kokiri what had picked up.

"Well" – the pink haired kid answered - "You got a Deku Nut. It will flash and stun the enemy… wait a second: have you never picked them up despite you have been here for so long? They are the first thing Kokiri pick up here…"

At this finally Kitoran questioned him: "… How did you survive so far?"

The answer came from a shrug from Dodo which convinced the three of them to remain silent in the sweet and enchanting atmosphere in the forest until they reached the entrance of the village, where a figure seemed to be waiting for them. It was another child, lightly older than Kitoran, but still younger than Ankoku, with a round face, rosy cheeks and dressed in green, with lightly torn greens short , a loose shirt and a comically small hat which oddly resembled a smaller version of Ankoku's idol, and was carrying a Deku Stick. As he saw the group of three people, his eyes narrowed and stood on, ready not to make them pass, especially the boy in blue. In theory, he should have let the other Kokiri pass… but still…

"Ankoku, are you ready to get past Mido?", Kitoran asked with a grin ready for the new challenge which he had missed for so long. Of course, he did not expect Ankoku to succeed in this, knowing his old rival's trick.

Indeed, Ankoku not understanding, simply walked towards the new Kokiri, trying to observe past him: so many children clad in green like the luscious grass enveloping the landscape with mighty trees and small houses of wood which seemed to have been built like the house tree of a common kid's dream, and with many fairies dangling around those cheerful little people.

So far but in the end the place I poured so much blood and sweat for

He immediately bowed down before him and resumed speaking with his usual flowery speech pattern: "My humblest greetings, Mido my name is…"

As he was continuing, the Kokiri swung his Deku Staff hitting hard against the fork of his legs, making his voice turn into a high pitched yelp.

"It's 'great Mido' to you, Hylian… with weirdly floppy ears" - the Kokiri answered – "and, for your interest, only I decide who gets past here in the village and…"

As Mido was speaking Kitoran helloed him from behind with a big grin, sticking his tongue childishly at him: "Everyone but me, apparently!"

"Kitoran" – Mido growled, imitated by his pale green colored fairy – "Again here? I thought you had run again off once for all"

Stepping back, Ankoku heard Kitoran snap back with a grin, crackling his knuckles: "I missed owning you every time I am here"

"Own me? Really" – Mido said hands on his hips with a smirk, their rivalry quickly lighting up once more – "last time I won, if I remember correctly. A well placed hook at your face"

His pride hurt, Kitoran quickly clenched his fist with a fast snap back, not noticing a dark pink, almost purple colored, fairy: "I had been up all night, otherwise I could use you a doormat any day"

"Details" – the taller Kokiri bragged puffing up his chest as Dodo rolled his eyes at such squabble, Ankoku standing speechlessly puzzled – "I could do it even now. Wanna try me?"

"Any place, at any time", the pink haired Kokiri quipped challengingly, but all of sudden a third voice raised from them both, a voice of a pretty girl which looked thirteen at most with short green hair gathered with a dark green hairband, her blue eyes looking at the small group of boys and with a voice which fit her age, although resounded somewhat more mature and wise than an average child, cheerfully helloed them.

"Hi Kitoran, Hi Mido", the Kokiri girl, said with a bright smile, as the two Kokiri had a vivid blush upon their cheek and all of sudden their attitude changed as they hugged each other and started acting as if they were best friend.

"Oh my Kitoran, how much I missed you. I was so worried"; Mido said in a somewhat higher pitched voice.

"Same for me, Mido" – Kitoran said badly acting as well, hugging back as if trying to strangle him – "I just could not wait to see my best friend"

Done with their embrace, the duo unconvincingly attempted to look like they had just noticed her and both of they answered in way which sounded nonchalantly roughly in unison: "Oh hello Saria, what's up?"

"It's okay" – she said with a bright laughter with a matching smile and her fairy letting out a joyous trill – "just strolling around with Gate. I am glad to have you back Kitoran. Are you going to disappear for long again?"

Kitoran let out a chuckle, trying to hide his blush by getting in a thinking position and with a shrug quipped with his usual grin: "Who knows? I am likely to change my clothes first"

As a jealous Mido was about to attempt to get Saria's attention, the green-haired Kokiri's stare shifted to the fairly confused Skyloftian and his mount.

"And who might you be?", she gently asked them stepping forward looking at the bunny-eared Hylian, while both the other Kokiri made a step aside. Once out of her range of sight, they both exchanged a lightly playful punch in the loins.

"Anyway, that move against that Hylian was not bad at all, I give you that", Kitoran whispered at to his rival who gave him a begrudging but proud thank you as they both turned at Saria, both upset that she seemed more interested at the newcomer, an Hylian, to boot.

Ankoku, surprised, pondered aloud pointed at himself and with a bow greeted her: "Who, me? Oh my where are my manners? Sorry for my impoliteness and please accept my humblest greeting, my name is Ankoku Yami, son of Kage Yami and Shini Goroshi from Skyloft, a mere student of the Knight Academy"

With a giggle the little girl answered politely mirroring his kindness and answered: "Nice to meet you Ankoku, my name is Saria, Kokiri born from the Deku Tree… "

As her gaze shifted to Dodo, her eyes lit up in surprise as she continued to question the Skyloftian and making a gesture to the bird to come closer: "Is that a Solcanubi?"

"That is correct, Lady Saria, I am amazed you know the scientific name of the Loftwing" - Ankoku said following Dodo as Saria petted his soft plumage, noticing his broken wing and looking concerned as his owner continued – "and indeed, I hate to detain your kindness, but my forthcoming here is not a travel done out of my leisure: my Dodo has been forced to walk here with a wounded wing he unfortunately deceived in an accident as we crash landed in the woods nearby and…"

Saria immediately figured out where the speech was going to end up, and she interrupted him with her kind answer, looking at both of them: "No need to speak no more, I will gladly accept to assist the healing of your plumed friend, although you seem quite battered yourself. I suppose you have gone through a rash travel"

Ankoku, preferring not to bother her with the details of the misadventure he went through the godless world known as Termina, and summed up his answer as: "As I aforesaid, there was no leisure travel. But my health care need not to be looked over at the moment, for, although I have already administered the broken wing an impromptu healing, it hold primary priority"

Smiling at this noble hood, Saria said: "Very well, then, follow me to my house, I will comply your request"

The two Kokiri boy, green in jealousy and envy, glared at the fact the Hylian was going to their crush's place, with Kitoran going so far to give Ankoku a gesture which meant he was keeping an eye on him, although, much to his dismay, the blue clad boy seemed not to have understood, as he had replied with a gentle bow st before parting ways with Saria, looking in amazement at her fairy thrilling around her somewhat cheerfully.

"Truly I am bewildered by the number of fairy. It seems that all of you but Kitoran have one", the Skyloftian said, making the pink haired Kokiri in black widen his eyes realizing what he had forgotten since his awakening.

Mido, realizing thig, teased him with a smirk: "Indeed, Kitoran… where is your fairy?"

"Mido, you would never dare …", the other Kokiri said his facial strenuous clearly strained, creeping out by the thought.

The hat wearing Kokiri did not answer him, he just yelled four words: "Naaavi, Kitoran is back"

If glare could kill, Kitoran would have obliterated the guardian of the entrance of the village while growling: "Mido, I swear this time I will kill …"

Unfortunately, he would have not been able to finish the sentence as a sapphire colored orb with the insect like wings immediately pounced on him, first cheering then reprimanded the Kokiri: "HEY, Kitoran. Oh my I had lost you. I swear I am never going to stand how you disappear, do you have any idea how much time I have to spend asking for everyone in the Lost Woods. Now listen, young man …"

As the pink haired Kokiri clad in black groaned at his fairy's chiding, Ankoku amd Saria reached the green-haired Kokiri's house

Saria's House, Kokiri Village, The Surface, 9:00am, Second Day

"Kimiko, I am home", Saria cheered at her friend, a pale skinned, bright green eyed girl, taller than most Kokiri, with waist length silver hair held back by a braided grass headband, dressed with a knee-length dark green tunic belted at the waist with softened deku bark, followed by Ankoku who instead opted for a far more colorful greeting.

"My humblest greeting, my name is Ankoku Yami, son of…", he said, quickly interrupted by Dodo's exasperated squawk, which made everyone yelp in surprise.

The silver haired Kokiri silently looked at her friend puzzled wondering what an Hylian was doing there, but Saria quickly calmed her down with her mature yet kind tone of voice: "Hey, Kimi, can you help us? This poor Solcanubi is wounded. After all, you are the best potion maker here"

Kimiko blushed and looked in surprise at this then her main concerns turned to Dodo, examining his wounded wing and with a timid smile answered with a smile: "Sure, I can do it, Kiya, bring me a Blue Potion"

At this a dark maroon colored fairy complied with such with a joyous sound mimicking a thrill of bells. It was a quick operation as Dodo was given the potion first down his throat then applied on the wound. It was an operation of almost an entire hour and extreme care which Ankoku witnessed all the time, his heart beating soundly in the hope his steed would have been healed, and all while Kitoran and Mido occasionally peeked through the windows to check them. In the end, he even ended up doing his best trying to hold up the structure of the broken wing.

Finally, after a bit, Saria and Kimiko looked at such, and the former turned at the Skyloftian telling him: "Your Dodo is a very strong birdie, he will resume flying in less than an hour"

Overjoyed at this, the young Skyloftian smiled and let out a child-like cheer at this hugging Dodo and answered: "Here we are Dodo, one step forward the Ceremony of Wings, we just misses my scarf, thanks for everything, Lady Saria and Kimiko"

Both Kokiri giggled at this, the silver haired one blushing as well and commenting: "Well, such potion come from Ezlo's teaching, you should thank him as well"

"Sure enough" – Ankoku answered with a cheer, then could not help but ask – "which Kokiri is Ezlo?"

Saria looked at him and quickly replied: "Ezlo is not a Kokiri, he is a Minish"

Seeing his puzzled stare, the green haired girl explained further more of what she meant: "The Minish resemble anthropomorphic mice that have long pointy ears like us, invisible to adults, it is said that only good children can see them… or us Kokiri. They helped us a lot in building the village, teaching us everything they could from handcraftsmanship to magic"

Ankoku looked at her amazed and then he realized what she meant, linking such story to another fable he heard as a child, cheering in world: "Oh my… then you mean the Picori. My God, I ended up for so many days in hope to see them and talk. Unfortunately, failure had been the fate which befell upon my attempts"

Saria, saddened at hearing such, patted him in the floppy ears of the Bunny Hood and with a smile, looked outside the widow, then her look shifted to Kimiko and they nodded with a smile asking: "Would you like to see them?"

At this both the Loftwing and the Skyloftian turned puzzled at this and Saria continued: "I know, you should be already too adult, but I think there is still… quite the inner child within you. Do this, close keep open only the left eye, the one closest with your heart… you might take a look at them this way"

Incredulous, Ankoku obeyed this covering his right eye with his hand, trying to shift his stare as much as possible with his inner child, at first the world did not seem to change. He then looked casually at the window and then he saw them: three small figures which were peeking outside the window, no bigger than a thumb.

"Oh my, what a sight, thanks Saria", he said looking better at them, admiring their peculiar appearance. All of them were dressed in flowing robes with a big floppy hat, and looked indeed like a unique mix of a mice with Skyloftian, with nice snouts and big eyes. As soon as he crosses eyes with the tallest one, brunette w ith yellow eyes and clad in red, she shyly hid behind the shortest one, with honey blond long hair who instead walked up in front of him and cheerfully waved, her tail shaped like a small feather happily waving back and forth. The third just looked confused and surprised at the newcomer being able to see them so easily.

""My humblest greeting, little Minish" – the clad blue boy answered going before them bowing down at their height to give them a better look - "my name is Ankoku Yami, from Skyloft, whom do I have the honor to talk with?"

"Hello there Ankoku, I am Zadi of the Forest Picori, nice to meet you" – she said with the cutest smile Ankoku had ever seen in his life, combining animals like a rabbit with a happy child then turned at the other Minish, which, while she was as tall as Zadi, due to her ears looked like to be the tallest of the group, and spoke encouragingly at her – "and this one is Lili. Come on, Lili, say hello"

At this, the dirty blonde haired Minish blushed, a bit intimidated by the bigger interlocutor and before hiding again behind with a bright blush adorning her cheek she only managed to muster: "Hmm… hi"

"My humblest greetings you too, Lili" – the Skyloftian said finally facing the third one – "and who might you be?"

The Minish did not seem to talk and just mimicked Ankoku to get closer. Ankoku obeyed, looking straight at his crimson eyes until he was finally so close he could touch it. The Minish looked straight at him, adjusting his hat so to show the mark of a moon upon it, then looked inquiring at Ankoku and rose his small clawed four fingered hand closing a bit.

Finally, he spoke.

"I AM VAATI", he answered and then punched Ankoku straight in the eye.

Trivia: Solcanubi is an existing term in Italian, which means Cloudsailer, and it's also the name of the Loftwing in Italy.

DISCLAIMER:

The history of Zelda, Skyloft, Hyrule and Termina, alongside its characters and setting, just like its spin-offs are (c) Nintendo

Aria and Zadi are (c) LuvIsAThing

Kimiko and Kiya are (c) SZF

Kitoran is (c) Kitoma Foxx.

Lili is (c) Maanga

Ankoku Yami and the story are all (c) Xantospoc

Thanks you all for having read this fic, read and review please. See ya for the next chapter :)