VOLUME III: Healing My Song

)) Chapter 10: Rock Out And Roll Along, Brother ((

Outside Saria's House, Kokiri Village, The Surface, 9:37am, Second Day

"Look Ankoku, I know that we healed you" – Saria answered slightly concerned at the Hylian, his Bunny Hood lying at her side – "and I understand you are grateful of me and Kimiko healing you as well after that punch from Vaati, but there is no need to trim the grass outside my house"

Ankoku just waved at both her and the incredulous Kimiko , too embarrassed to speak further, with Mido and Kitoran watching him as they had, on their own words, happened to stroll around there, and the Zadi was chiding Vaati, who had sat on the edge of the window with his arm crossed, while being used as a cover by Lili.

"Indeed" – Zadi answered with a frown looking at the purple clad albino Minish, although her angry voice just made her nose twitch cutely – "why did you hurt him like that, Vaati? He acted so peaceful"

"Now he knows who is in charge", Vaati answered looking at the short Hylian, lightly pushing the Lili back to the other Minish who gladly took her back.

"I don't get why he is so obsessed with the eye though", the shiest of the trio muttered to Zadi, who just shrugged innocently, inwardly admitting that still that quirk had helped them a lot when that Gohma spawn had attacked them, then switching the stare to the Bunny Hood set next to her, as she heard a small tingle before Ankoku finally answered.

"It's a pleasure to uphold such task to appease you and pay you back", Ankoku answered as he finished his self-appointed task. It was a decent work for one who had never taken on gardening.

'I will have to make more Kokiri act like him', Mido mused in his mind, with Kitoran glaring at that scheming look. Saria, understanding the Skyloftian's real efforts, smiled again at him and decided to give him a little reward with one of the most peculiar sight the Kokiri had to offer any stranger and walked up to him with her kind smile, letting the trio of Minishes to sit on her shoulder, with Lili hiding behind her hair and Zadi whispering something at her. Vaati instead turned at Kitoran and Mido who, recognizing who had given them tips to fight dirty (and how to punch people in the eye), and received a militaristic salute, and gave them a thumb up.

"Ankoku – the green-haired Kokiri said, making him turn as she picked up the Bunny Hood – you have been so kind, do you want to follow me to wake up the Great Deku Tree?"

"The … pardon, the what?", he asked puzzled blinking quickly his eyes, but before he could ask further Saria took his hand and, despite he was taller and stronger, successfully dragged him away with a cheerful giggle, as bright as the thrill of her fairy, while Mido immediately rushed and Navi was carrying forcefully Kitoran pulling his clothes.

"Navi, really, I want to go on my own…" the pink haired Kokiri muttered annoyed by the overbearing fairy, who had immediately cut him off with quick trill which could have belonged to a bell.

"Listen, Kitoran– the winged cerulean orb chirped, showing amazing strength of a being whose size was comparable to a Minish – you will visit the Great Deku Tree and LIKE IT. My, I how did I get I need to call every second"

With a sigh, the black clad boys were both dragged towards what Ankoku considered to be the largest tree of the Kokiri forest and, by extension, the tallest he had ever seen in his life, even dwarfing the size of the one he had glimpsed where the Kikwi were living. And, even more curiously, such arboreal construct, surrounded by so many thrilling fairies… seemed to have a natural formation shaped like a human face, coming with even two wooden mustaches below a thick nose and a thin and small mouth, although given its size it could have swallowed a whole person.

As Ankoku looked in amazement at the giant plant, Saria smiled at them all, took a deep breath while pulling out an ocarina and started blowing in it, cheerfully playing a song slowly copied first by Gate, then by every of the lesser spirit of the forest, with even Ankoku lightly tapping it to rhythm, trying to understand the notes of that music, as the fairies joined mimicked it and Kitoran fondly whistled it, tapping the Ocarina he had tapped at his side, inwardly complained how there were too many people to exploit such opportunity and play it with Saria.

A – B – F – A – B – F – A –B

As the young man was amazed at the beauty of the melody, he felt a slow him as the other fairies thrilled and, much to his disbelief, the tree's eyes opened , showing the glint of the Farore's gift of life. All the Kokiri and the three Mininshes made a bow of respect in a moment of solemnity, as the arboreal spirit awoke and spoke

"Greetings, my children of the forest, and, Picori Picori Picori"-The Great Deku Tree announced, awakening from his slumber, his voice deep and mysterious like the hidden forest he ruled, then turning to the Minishes and saying something which Ankoku was not able to make up, but at which the trio bower before, with Lili letting out a bright blush and a shy squeak.

"Picori Picori", the trio said with a respectful bow as the Deku Tree turned at Saria.

"As usual, thou hast given me a delightful tune, Saria, my humblest praises"- The Protector Deity continued as his His gaze had turned to the one whom he had never laid eyes upon, standing slightly taller than the Kokiri and dressed in a garb that wasn't from the forest -"Oh? What is this? Oh, I sense you are a child of the Goddess Hylia, am I correct in guessing?""

Ankoku couldn't help but bow before the great deity of the forest, and to be addressed as a child of his own goddess he didn't feel worthy of the title bestowed upon him by the Great Deku Tree and spoke: "I... It is a pleasure to finally meet the father of the Kokiri Forest. Please, I must apologies for my intrusion and..."

"Fear not, young Hylian." The Great Deku Tree spoke, his voice commanding and full of wisdom "I sense you do not wish to bring harm to this sacred forest, and for that, I grant you passage."

Ankoku couldn't help but sink into a lower bow, given permission to enter the borders of the Kokiri Forest was a wonderful gift "Thank... Thank you, wise arboreal ancestor."

"Now, young Hylian." - The Deku Tree began -"What may I do for all of you, my guests?"

Ankoku looked in utter awe at the deity, about to ask more about many other things, but all of sudden a voice belonging to a body incredibly small boomed to interrupt him: "I AM VAATI, and I am one of Ezlo's apprentice, sent on a mission to look for the ores of Din's Irons. Might you tell us, please?"

Vaati's tone sounded incredibly arrogant considering the circumstanced, and had almost shocked every other person around, only the Deku Tree managing to keep his composure, inwardly amused at how that Minish could speak Hylian so fluenty, and he answered calmly and kindly: "Apprentice of Ezlo, the ores your master are looking for lay far away from this forest, deep towards one of the mountains nearby the Eldin Volcano, where the Goron have taken residence and have been building their mines since they have settled down from their nomadic way"

As Vaati answered by silently cursing and weakly stomping the ground, but this was the time of Ankoku to speak and question the wise guardian: "My apologies, Guardian of the Forest, but am I somewhat confused by your statement: from what I read of the recounting of the tale of the Hero of Legend, should be the Mogma be living around the Eldin province?"

"That is supposedly correct, young child of Hylia's, at that time it had been Mogma who had been scavenging the area looking for treasures and riches, but, several decades ago, they have sold the area for the Gorons to inhabit, for the Eldin Volcano is both their ancient home and the grave of one the proudest figure of the Rockbiters, the Wielder of the Megaton Hammer. Since then those rogue treasure hunters have not been seen again in Hyrule, but I think they might be lurking around in some nearby land. Such a nomadic race can be rather resistant and difficult to keep forever underground", the Deku Tree answered, with everyone with the exception of Vaati listening in glee at the short gem of knowledge from the Great Deku Tree. In particular, Kitoran had been smirking, as he already knew this due to his many travel around, and Navi, misinterpreting such reaction as him being not attentive, and immediately trilled him to wipe off that smile off his face and listen to the Tree.

In the meanwhile, Ankoku, in the greatest glee, listened at such cheering at the hints of the bigger legend going on in the tree of the lesser god: "A grave to a mighty hero, you state? Such is a great trivia of a land I knew so little about"

At this the Arboreal guardian let a small laughter as he kept speaking: "Oh oh, just let me state, young Ankoku, there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Dozen are the myths I could speak to you about: the dreadful tale of the Tor siblings, something about the first race who built a city in sky well before Hylia did the same, the story of the first Crimson Loftwing… or even a few interesting bits of Trivia of the small creatures which are honoring my sight"

Understanding he was talking of them, Zaid and Lili blushed, while the purple clad Minish puffed his chest in pride, Saria smiled as she sat next to Kitoran who was blushing while Navi let out a loud 'hey', turning into a massive moment killer, Mido went next to the Deku Tree to whisper something at him and finally, Dodo took action and nudged his owner in the shoulder, making him bolt a memory in mind: the Wing ceremony, it was to start this very evening. He was lucky that for this occasion the contest was held at night, for he still had to find his scarf. Truly, he had no idea how such day could get worse….

With one more bow, Ankoku had to unfortunately to part ways with the Arboreal ancestor and spoke: "I apologize for cutting off early such an interesting dialogue between all of us… unfortunately, I should be leaving this forest as soon as possible due to matter of utmost urgency. Such a shame, for I enjoyed our conversation… but alas, I must part ways. I apologize to leave, might we see each other again"

At this, the three Minishes remembered their own job to do, and Zadi decided to speak to avoid another one of Vaati's arrogant assortments: "I do apologize, Great Deku Tree, but we too should go: for Minishes like us, a travel to the Eldin Province is so tiring… please forgive us"

The Great Deku Tree nodded, understanding the hurry in his voice, but he answered: "Best wishes for your journey, spirits of the microcosm. And I do understand, Wind Child , I will not delay you any further, but please, before you leave, might you Take this gift from us with you?"

Seeing the blue clad boy nodding, while all the Kokiri sighed in relief as they had easily figured out what their Guardiant meant, as a treasure chest magically appear out of thin air and opened before Ankoku who, taken by surpirised, peeked his head to get a glimpse of it and looked at it in shock as he took it and lifted it, revealing it was a slingshot, green in color, resembling a muscle-bound Tingle in a flexing pose.

"DON'T DARE TO POINT THAT THING AT ME", Vaati yelled clenching his fist while Lili retreated scared first behind him and then Zadi as she was pushed off by the purple clad Minish, all the Koki looking in light disgust at the horrid looking weapon, while Ankoku looked inquiringly at the Arboreal Deity, while Dodo squeaked in fear

"Has a man who looked like this been here? I ask because… well, he does come from where I live", he asked somewhat confused as he kept looking at the weird-looking slingshot.

"What? You lived in the same city as Tingle?" – Saria asked concerned, looking genuinely worried for the Skyloftian – "I … am so sorry"

"He has been somewhat close at reaching our village, but took a wrong turn in the Lost Woods"- the Great Deku Tree answered him –"Since then we have not seen him again, but that Slingshot has creeped many of my children out. Might you… bright it as far away as possible?"

The young man, although confused, nodded as he placed the weapon in his belt and, with a polite bow, greeted everyone asthree small Picori joined him, for they were among the few creatures able to venture through the Lost Wood without getting lost, and finally took their leave.

Faron Woods, The Surface, 10: 22 am, Second Day -

As they had to get to the forest pretty much together, the trio of Minish had decided to exploit Ankoku's relatively bigger size to walk faster to their destination: Lili had been hiding inside Ankoku's hat, her head occasionally peeking inside but as soon as she felt as much as a little bird chirping she was to hide again inside her protection, Zadi felt more adventurous, so she was standing on one of the ears of the Bunny Hood, occasionally relaxing on its fluffy ears, remaining still alert for Lili, knowing of her shyness. Vaati, instead, was just standing atop the Deku Stick Ankoku was using as a support for walking, acting with his though attitude as if he was the boss of the group. Luckily for them, Ankoku did not mind being used for such, just enjoying to be again with Dodo and how the both of them were fully healed, although there were two things which had been bugging him, the most important of which was the excessive quietness of the area. Again, it had been a few hours since they bad been walking and, again, no hostile creature to attack him. How come?

As he was about to ask any of them, Lili all of sudden got out of the hat, her ears twitching convulsively as she squeaked all of sudden with her meek and shy tone: "Oh no!"

Ankoku was to turn his stare, but immediately Zadi with her rodent-like quickness had reached her friend and asked concerned with her big eyes: "What's up Lili?"

"Oh no!", the shyest of the small spirits kept squeaking in fear as all of them heard sounds in the bushes. Ankoku didn't know what to do, Dodo hissed as if to scare whatever was about to attack, and Vaati cracked his knuckles ready to punch everyone's eyes out

"Oh n-", Lili cried again now fully sure of what was that presence, but before she could end her sentence a loud POOF covered her sound, the shape of a familiar fox-like animal with Ankoku's red scarf around its neck appeared

"Hehe… Oh yes! "Hehe… Oh my, not happy to see me?", the Keaton asked with his mused tone, his grin wider than ever.

Dodo and Vaati just drew an annoyed sigh at him, while Zadi was the most relaxed of all of them as she smiled at the curious looking creature, while Ankoku, having the most recent memory, just bolted and pointed at him, his only word coming up in light annoyance was: "You!"

The three tailed fox tilted his head with his usual smirk and eyes always shut as first he turned around, faking ignorance, then as he looked back at the Sky Child he pointed at himself innocently repeating: "Heh heh, yes me!"

Before Ankoku could speak, the mischievous critter teleported again closer at him flipping Lili away from the boy's head and making her hold on his snout as she yelped in fear as he teleported outside and started running quickly at her.

"And little Lili, how are you?", the Keaton asked to the minuscule adorable critter with nonchalance at her yelp until she finally gained the courage to speak.

"K-k-k-k-keaton!"; she cried with a blush as she kept getting balloted right and left by her playful companion, who answered with an over the top pout at this: after all, he loved pranks, but hated to act mean-spirited.

"Well well! And do you like my scarf?", the Keaton asked with a wink as he teleported and let her land gracefully on Ankoku's hat, and finally turned at the Skychild with a big grin, playfully wriggling his eyebrows, and waggled his tails in joy

"Hehe, both old friends and good friends" – the Keaton mused aloud looking first at Lili, then Ankoku, his ears twitching as if to give different emotions due to his eternally struck grin on his fox-like visage – "Amusing!"

"Please, you – Vaati growled in Ankoku's ear upset at the newcomer, loud enough that the prankster could hear him – just get away from this son of a Picori Pi Vixen!"

"Me? Oh my!" – the Keaton said for a second acting over dramatic at Vaati's insult – "And I suppose you will leave me here!"

"We can, and we will", Vaati said crossing his arm, uncaring of the animal's pleas as it turned back. Of course, they were all just a ploy for the Keaton to strike the purple-clad Minish's weak spot.

"Oh my, little Minish, aren't you a coward?", Keaton asked, his challenging grin now betraying his performance, as Vaati became red in embarrassment at this and growled in a failed attempt to look intimidating, at which the three tailed fox laughed loudly.

Finally, while Zadi, who had admittedly grow fond of the Keaton's joking attitude, took Vaati away from the prankster before he could bust in anger, Ankoku managed to insert in such dialogue and politely spoke to the Keaton: "Uh… excuse me Keaton… now… might I have my scarf back?"

Of course, the Keaton's answer was nothing but a playful flap of the loose ends of the scarf and a grin as he wriggled his brows and let out his standard laughter: "Hehe! You really want it back?"

"Ah… is there no other way?", Ankoku asked slightly exasperated, at which the Keaton answered with a slightly not-so-innocent shrug before shaking his head.

"No!", the Keaton teased him with a wink.

The Skyloftian, deciding to use a different approach from his usual, took out Tingle's slingshot at the Keaton, which, looking in amusement at the horrible looking weapon, let out a laugh and said: "Oh my please, Sky Child, don't point that at me"

Blinking, Ankoku thought that after all, to use that, even against a prankster, was in fact a bit too much, and mumbled an apology as he set it back in his belt, with Keaton playfully winking again at him.

Accepting his fate, the young child of Hylia's set the bunny hood, with all three the Minishes on Dodo's head as he took off in an attempt to once more catch the scarf off that Keaton's neck

Faron Woods, The Surface, 10: 37 am, Second Day -

It was all thanks to Dodo the three Minishes could witness the skirmish, with Vaati yelling and overreacting, Lili hiding inside Dodo's plumage, Zadi enjoying the scene as she had sat down on the edge of Dodo's beak, comically waving her feet with her cat-like smile at full display, and overall remaining nice and quiet and letting anyone who wanted join them to look the spectacle. Unfortunately for Ankoku, between his perilous travel in Termina and how he had never rested he had spent a massive amount of energies, a thing which was quite clear how he was barely trying to be subtle in his attempt to charge at the nameless Keaton.

He even had a moment where the stopped in the middle of running as if he had forgotten for a second what it was doing, a thing which even Keaton had been inwardly raised an eyebrow at, although had not shown any outward worry, but, as he saw Ankoku tripping after his last attempt to attack he teleported on the boy's back and shook his head.

"Hehe, you missed me, Hylian", he mocked the young child looking at him. Ankoku had clearly gone through a bit of tension, as he had a face on one who was outright obsessed with that clothing.

That scarf… must be… mine… again… - Ankoku's fragmentary thoughts were as he was touching nervously his own neck, trying to calm himself, but without the scarf to caress, he felt into a frenzy and had an incredible non sequitur – I…. need… the…

"….The… Megaton Hammer!" – Ankoku said in a sudden frenzy, almost as if he were possessed, remembering what the Great Deku Tree had told him, then pointed at the Keaton telling him – "I … will smack… that grin off your face WITH the Megaton Hammer!"

At hearing this Dodo's jaw dropped and overall everyone but the mischevious three tailed mammal had a surprised reaction. Of course, Keaton had not quite expected a reaction like this from what looked to be a kind boy, but he just tilted his head in amusement.

"Oh my?", he asked again with a light mockery tone, while in his brain formulated again one more plan, slightly more benevolent. This boy wanted the Megaton Hammer and needed a rest, the Keaton knew how to give him both, quickly he teleported over Dodo's back and with his paw made a gesture to Ankoku.

"Come over here, Wind Born", the Keaton said for once dropping any gesture which could hint at a second end, deciding to leave the surprise for later as the Skyloftian stood up and did as he obeyed, setting his hand on the soft plumage of his Loftwing

Very well… this is amusing, The prankster mused as with a mere wink at his friends, he used his teleport, making everyone disappear along with him in a quick movement

Base of Eldin Volcano, The Surface, 10: 43 am, Second Day -

All the other looked incredulous at the change, with the exception Lili, as she had already been teleported with the Keaton in other occasions, but as shy and easily scared as she was, she was squeaking in fear while holding on the stunned Dodo's head, Lili patting her defensively.

"What sorcery is this?", Vaati angrily growled pointed at the Keaton: even though he knew the innate power of that species, due to the studies with Ezlo, he hated being manipulated like that, while Ankoku just raised a brow at the prankster.

Giving a parting nod and wink to Lili, at which she nodded back with a bright blush, the Keaton forbid everyone to ask him any further question just chuckled and disappeared with a loud: "Hehe, THAT ALL FOLKS!"

Most of them confused and disoriented at the what quick pace everything had been going on, Ankoku trying to wonder where else could he have met that mischievous trickster to get his scarf back finally Zadi was the one to break the silence, moving over the Dodo's tail and looking enthusiast and her smile got wider and her big eyes let a big gleam: "Wow, Eldin Volcano is so tall…"

Pointing this out made Lili widen her eyes as she tried to look up at the top of the mountain, her ears twitching in fear at the size of that place, while Ankoku looked uneasy at such…

"Oookay"-, he said in unease, wondering how to climb the mountain, but then realized he had his Loftwing and looked up at Zadi, having seen her healer skills and called her out –"Hey, Zadi, do you think Dodo is able to fly right now?"

Zadi tilted her head but quickly went over the check on the wing of the steed and nodded: "Maybe he can't reach Skyloft, but I think he should be able to"

"Thanks Zadi… and what about you Dodo?", the Skyloftwing asked his companion which let a hesitant squawk at first, but nodded. With a jump, the young man got on Dodo's back and finally resumed to fly up in the sky, such was the nature of his race.

"Time to reach Goron's City", Ankoku asked. His Minish companion needed still to get the ores of Din's Iron, while Ankoku had yet to get an hammer big enough to scare off Keaton. All in a single place, as the Great Deku Tree had told them: Goron City

"WEEEEEE!", Zadi said letting the wind caress her face, as Vaati kept looking at the panorama with his stern face and Lili kept holding tight on the Loftwing, frozen and still. Ankoku instead was hugging Dodo from behind, musing of how it was working as a warm up for the Wing Ceremony. He had lots of opponents there. Kody was not the most prepared, yet his loftwing Narculus was always unpredictable, and while Saro, Ai's steed, was by a fairly good margin the fastest of the most, almost able to catch up to Crimson Loftwing, what was the favorite was Allard's brown Loftwing on the account it was essentially a war machine with wings, being able to kill Kargarocs on its own, unsurprising considering that his owner was the best in combat class.

Might Hylia give me the strength to ensure my victory… but I can't do it with my scarf. I miss them, must be quick, the young man grimaced, ignoring the Minished who were curiously peeking down to admire beauty of the ground as Dodo kept flying around the mountain to scoop over and find the entrance of the Goron City. Vaati immediately peeked over and noticed an unnatural rock formation, of course, on closer look, two Goron guards guarding a cave which was most likely the entrance to the city, and tugged the rider's clothes to make him notice such.

With a polite thank Ankoku made his Loftwing descend on a nearby rocky platform stable enough to stand, where Zadi steadily checked on Dodo's wing to still make sure he had not gotten any injury. Before the child of Hylia's could wonder how to speak to the Goron without disturbing him, Vaati had already jumped down and was knocking on one of the rock eater's feet, trying to be noticed, making Ankoku rush to pick him up…

Least to say, Ankoku was slightly intimated by the size of the large individuals, being well over two feet taller than him, with their appearance of jagged stone and his tribal marking on the front, with the hard shell of his back made of sharper rocks of a darker hue, but needlessly politely bowed before them: "Uh… greetings sirs, , my name is Ankoku Yami, son of Kage Yami and Shini Goroshi from Skyloft"

"Hello, I am Zadi", the blonde Minish quipped, as she and her friends used Ezlo's magic to turn visible before the Gorons.

"Uhmmm… Hi", the shier one said covering herself with her big ears and blushing, fearful of the giant

"And I AM VAATI", the last one yelled to be noticed.

While both of the Gorons accepted pretty calmly the weird group of people, only rising a brow at Dodo's presence, as such race was not very common from the surface, they looked visibly startled at their presence as if somewhat worried and confused and the first spoke with a weird thick accent: "Uh… yeah, hello there too"

Ankoku bowed down and asked: "Forgive my intrusiveness, for I fear to be a bother to you at the moment but might I have access the city?"

Both of the Gorons looked at him massively confused before busting in a loud and fat laughter after which the second just gave him a big pat on the shoulder strong enough to make the young boy almost trip as he received an answer a somewhat brotherly: "HAHA! Sure enough, mate, no need to ask ya, have fun here and don't distract us from our job"

Ankoku smiled and, not minding the Picori climbing and getting all inside his hat, gave the Goron Guards proper thanks, after which he and Dodo rushed inside the city

Goron City, Eldin Volcano, 10: 49 am, Second Day -

Ankoku was … kind of amazed by the uniqueness of Goron City. At first it was giving a somewhat eerie feeling for, he was not used at a city inside a hollowed out mountain. It was so weird to see such a large place with no visible sky, with the exception of a few cracks in the stone to give some faint sunlight… but still the city was so lively, with so many Goron, literally rolling around the four floors which structured the city below him. Situated at the center of the city was a platform suspended by ropes where a crimson pearl with the symbol of the Goddess of power was displayed and used to light up the city by reflecting and magically amplifying the light which shone through the splits in the rock

And the many fresh representations of Gorons, Dodongoes, and other abstract shapes painted the city walls were to the Skyloftian mesmerizing enough that he almost got trampled by one of rolling inhabitants of the area, making him comically yelp. He did not want to know what would have happened if he ended up flattened by one of those things.

With more caution he just started walking around, not noticing how the Goron who had almost run him over had stopped and had stood up to look at him revealing he was much older than the guards, with grey colored hair a small goatee undeath and overall withered and aged appeared.

"Hey little fella! Are you alright?", he yelled loudly with that weird Goron accent which made Ankoku turn at him, just in time to receive another spine-shattering pat.

"My greetings sir" Ankoku coughed at him, making his new interlocutor laugh revealing a missing front teeth

"Oh bud, no need to be so formal, goro – the rock biter side – I am surprised to see one of your kin here. Name is Gorko the Goron, I was an archeologist back when I was young and hip, and I met one of your kin, riding a crimson colored of those birds. Did not expect one of you to come in this city"

Ankoku blinked at the quick and talkative Goron, but his eyes widened when he heard of a Crimson Loftwing, having a theory about whom he could be, but decided not to state it, just pointing out: "Wow, that individual had to be somewhat important"

"No doubt, goro" – Gorko replied and laughed a bit coughing due to his old age – "He was your so-called Hero of Legend"

At hearing this, Ankoku made a wider smile and cheered loudly: "Oh, by her Grace, are you stating you have crossing path with Link?"

The last name was said with such an high pitched voice Ankoku could have very well been mistaken for a pre-adolescent girl as many questions went thjrough his head, wishing to know as much as possible of the one warrior he blindly idolized, only coming with a somewhat awkwardly worded: "Was he really as great as the legend about him say"

The former archeologist Goron, amused by the cheerful Skyloftian, nodded and answered: "He was a very cool guy and a real warrior, a true bro of the Goron race. He once even brought me to your island so I could see the Isle of the Goddess. Not quite what I was looking for, goro, but he fulfilled a dream of a lifetime"

With a dreamy sigh, Ankoku nodded and said: "He has always been and will always be the greatest man who walked upon this land, epitome of sheer perfection "

Raising a brow at the somewhat excessive adoration, Gorko nodded and resumed: "Oh well, the past is the past, as awesome as it was… and it's always good to have one of you here. I don't know why are you here, but we love to have new guests"

This statement was no hyperbole, as, while they had been talking, a group of around a dozen of Gorons had come over and gathered, all to greet and chat with the newcomer. Ankoku looked somewhat embarrassed at being at the center of attention. The Minish hidden in his hat were confused at such friendliness… except poor Lili, who felt about to faint as she was surrounded by what in her eyes were walking mountains

Why are there so many big people?, she inwardly cried with her ears twitching. It was so unusual even for a race which was supposedly known as a textual gentle giants so many voices: "Hello!"; "Hey, goro"; "How are you"; "Whassup, Hylian, goro?"; "You alright, goro?", "How is the Surface"; "Anything weird happened nearby, goro?"; "You look hungry, do you want to eat something?"

Ankoku finally managed to answer at the last question, looking somewhat puzzled at the rush of all those voices, but his hunger, having not eaten for almost a day, made him gather enough courage to answer: "Uh… yes, kindly so"

He was presented with a rock half the size of his palm. Inwardly, he regretted to have just accepted such, but he had to fit the costumes of the places he visited.

A laughter was heard as the Goron who had given him the rock quipped taking a normal fruit which grew from the branches of the one of the few brave trees which could grow grow despite the dim light of Goron city: "Just kidding, goro, I know you don't eat rocks… here, get this ap-"

He stopped in the middle of his sentence as he joined the group of laughter with the other of his kin as he saw the Hylian blushing for having swallowed whole that rock just a few seconds before he had been told it was all a joke

"Oh my…"- Ankoku said with a nervous chuckle – "This … has been rather awkward"

Fortunately, the Gorons just laughed this off such, just as one of newest joined, around a head taller than most, wearing a flat helmet and a loincloth, unique for the hair which grew out of his bulky forearms which were in stark contrast of his stubby legs, an expression of surprise on his large flat face, looked over at the young fellow and spoke in a blunt way managing to silencing the other thanks to his piercing question: "Hey Hylian, why are you here?"

At this, Ankoku looked over the much taller rock eater and nodded at such a piercing question: "Well, I have a pair of questions. First of all, I have a few friends here…"

At this he lifted his hat showing the three Minishes, who each waved at the loud group of Gorons, Lili in shy meekness at seeing the giant, Zadi cheerfully waving her arm and Vaati with what looked like a dismissive gestur.

"… they have been looking for a few ores of Din's Iron. And we have been directed here by the Deku Tree. While I have come for… well, another specific reason", Ankoku said trying to get a way around such due to the difficulty of wording his request so it did not look too pretentious.

"… might you borrow me for a few hours the Megaton Hammer?", he finally asked with a big blush.

While all the other laughed at such, thinking it was a joke, Darbus, the Goron in question, just raised a brow at this and asked: "Why would you want the treasure of the Gorons, the Megaton Hammer?"

Ankoku dropped silent. He just realized why what he had just done was an idiotic move: how could he even ask something as sacred just to quell a personal grudge. He actually was trying to get out of this situation, but all of sudden, he felt someone knocking on his head.

"Let me speak at your place" – Vaati asserted to the Hylian before turning to the Darbus and answering on the behalf of the young man – "I AM VAATI! And this young man wants your Megaton Hammer because he needs a weapon worthy his problem: a matter of pride and HONOUR"

'That Keaton is gonna get smacked so hard', the short-tempered albino mouse-like spirit the size of a thumb thought as he kept his determinate stare to the almost eight fool tall mass of rock solid muscles, who looked more confused than anything. He took a deep sigh before letting a laughter which felt almost forced.

"Okay, goro, I admit you have a big spunk to be so small. But – Darbus said turning to Ankoku – understand this, young man, you asked for something we Gorons hold very important. And, no offence, I doubt you could even lift it…"

"I understand, and I apologize for my overly arrogant request", Ankoku said bitterly, more ashamed for the fact he had made such a daring question in the first place than its inevitable refusal, while covering again the Minishes with his hat

"However – Darbus continued, rolling his eyes at the young man's long-winded speech – I am not the leader of the Tribe, and Darunia is busy at the moment with another guest. I am guaranteeing you nothing… but come on, no time to sulk, goro. Just tell me your name, and call me Darbus"

At this Ankoku got a much pat much more stronger than the others, no doubt, with Dodo looking somewhat worried for his owner's safety this one would leave a bruise on his back, while he repeated in pain: "…my name is Ankoku Yami ..."

"So Ankoku… do you want to spend some time … with a sumo match?", Darbus jokingly proposed with a big grin cracking his knuckles while he started walking down the floors of Goron city

Under Ankoku's hat, Vaati who had heard this, cracked the knuckles the same way as Darbus ' and boasted to Zadi: "Uh, Sumo? I could defeat every one of this overgrown rocks anytime"

"Suuuuure…", Zadi said rolling her eyes at her friend's statement. She had to admit, his confidence was really something to behold.

Ankoku and Dodo instead, looked at each other: Ankoku fully knew how sumo worked and he remembered that, any time they had done extra lessons about this at the knight academy, he had never had a good winning streak, mostly because of his height of five feet and three inches of height paired up with his not so outstanding one hundred and twenty pounds of weight.

"Uh…"- Ankoku inquired slightly intimidated at Darbus' size – "Against you?"

"Oh come on, goro, I don't think we are quite on the same level", Darbus answered shaking his head trying to hold back another laughter as the big group reached the bottom of the City while Ankoku drew a sigh of relief.

"Just go in that room to take off those floppy clothes and let your friends rest"- he said pointing at a small cave like space – "I will be calling your opponent, goro?"

Of course Ankoku obeyed setting everything down a small, letting himself be in only his black and slightly loose jumpsuit as he got out and reached the place, while his friends moved all on Dodo's head, before looking at Gorko, who was being a spectator, if he could stay at least dressed like this, at which he got a big smile and a proud thumb up.

Then he finally received news of his opponent from a now eerily grinning Darbus as the big guy announced: "And now, Ankoku… meet your opponent, BIGGORON"

And so the young Hylian looked over at the largest of the many caves at the bottom, where his opponent crawled out and his eyes widened as he discovered there were no words able to convey how that name was accurate and the number of many, many feet which you would need to state Biggoron's height.

"Uh… goro… - the humongous rock eater said looking down trying to sound kind despite his booming voice – hello there, goro"

Dodo's jaws dropped. Lili outright fainted. And all the others screamed. Even Vaati.

END OF VOLUME III

DISCLAIMER:

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

Zadi is (c) LuvIsAThing

Kitoran is (c) Kitoma Foxx.

Lili, the Tor Sibilngs and the nameless Keaton are (c) Maanga

Kody is (c) DreamsTheHylian

Allard is (c) RobotOwl

Ai Lang is (c) SZF

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 :)