On every hand are the enemies of individuality and mental freedom.

- Robert Green "Bob" Ingersoll "The Great Agnostic", Individuality, 1873


As Luna headed home, Vera dried and tidied herself up again. After combing her hair, Vera went to Mido's house. His house was one of the hollowed-out trunks, towards the entrance of Kokiri Forest, after the pond and before the cliffs that go to the Lost Woods. His tree trunk home had an overgrown top, many branches arching over.

Vera's pacing slowed.

"Just think about later, this will be over soon!" Nina comforted, sitting on Vera's shoulder.

"I don't really care what Mido has to say." Vera steppd through the branches and drapes of the doorway.

A lush red carpet graced the floor. Large pots in a corner. Chests and sacks along the sides. War gear upon the walls. Large pedestal-like stumps enthroned the end of the home, Mido sitting there, in low spirits.

Mido's guardian fairy and Nina met mid-air to chat.

"Hey, Vera," Mido greeted softly as she walked over. "I'm sure you know why you're here."

"Mhm."

"Tell me what happened."

"I hit her."

"I know that. Tell me everything, from the beginning."

"From the beginning? Well, basically no one knows anything good about Luna. She's always been a loner who runs away all the time. She does nothing for our community. She never works, but she sure does take anything she wants to. After seeing that for so long, I got mad at her about it. Called her some names that she deserved. Her fairy went in my face so I slapped him aside, and then she swatted at me so I knocked her down on her ass."

Mido's eyebrows rose a bit, freckled face stoic. He turned his head, a replica of the Kokiri Sword mounted on the wall.

"At least you're honest."

Mido's fairy jingled, Nina nodding about something the kids didn't overhear.

"I felt bad for hitting her fairy, though. That was the only reason I considered apologizing to her, but she kicked me into the pool from behind like a coward. She doesn't deserve to be respected."

"Vera, if you keep a grudge, you will end up regretting it for your entire life." Mido's head lowered. "I used to be arrogant and jealous. I used to get people to do my work and even lying about it. Whenever I think about my old me, I regret all of it."

"Hmmph." Vera crossed her arms. "If Luna disappeared, would anyone really care? She makes no difference."

"Every time I hear a Kokiri trash talk another Kokiri, it feels like it is directed at me, and it hurts me. Every time you insult someone, I feel insulted. When you hurt someone, you hurt me. This isn't the first time you've put yourself in trouble with someone else. If you disappeared, would anyone really care?"

Vera's eyebrows furrowed, her fists tightening. I'd usually just slap you for that… "Someone has to do something! You don't really do anything for us, why don't you solve problems instead of leaving us to do it?" Vera's tattoos emphasized her facial expressions. "Maybe I should grab you by the shirt and smack you around a bit?"

Unbothered, Mido stayed blank. He sighed. "Because last time I tried to solve problems, I made everything even worse... But you're right. Maybe it's time for me to smarten up and move on. I have to be more active, too. Heh… I can't drown in regret, either."

"Wait, you made everything worse? When?"

"Oh, long ago. Long before you were here... When baddies roamed our homes… I don't really want to talk about it."

"I've been honest and open with you, Mido. I've never lied to you, I've never lied to anyone. Don't you think it's dishonest to leave things out?"

"Alright." Mido looked at his fairy, who nodded. "Well, long ago… there was a boy without fairy. I made fun of him for it, I called him Mr. No Fairy. I got into fights with him often. One day, the Great Deku Tree back then summoned him, which irritated me. The Great Deku Tree died afterwards, and I blamed him for it. Most of us blamed him, except for Saria, who always defended him. She was always nice to him. I don't really know what happened, but... He sometimes came back for awhile, but then he disappeared, as did Saria seven years later, when the baddies came. I don't know what happened, but… I wonder if they will ever come back…"

"Link and Saria ran away? Like, for real?"

Mido nodded.

Vera flicked her hair. "Well, i even he ran away like a little prick, we don't need him."

"Oh, believe me, Vera, I would wait forever to see them again… I want to tell him how sorry I am... To tell Saria how much I want to be her friend again… It might take you many years before you feel it, but when you do, you won't lose it. That deep regret...it stays with you, forever."

"If you say so. But what you have to realize is she doesn't want to be like us. That's something we cannot change, Mido."

Mido sighed. "Maybe we can't change Luna, but you can be changed, Vera. I want you to be nice more often. Just accept everyone for what they are, love them, and love yourself. The forest belongs to everyone, and the forest shares with everyone. We need to be like the forest. We can handle a few problems, just as a granary can handle a few mice."

Vera frowned. "I am only nice to people who are worthy of respect. Luna is not one of those kinds of people."

Nina tilted with a wheezing sound, Vera shaking her head at her. "You don't say anything, Nina."

"You are a very stubborn girl, Vera. I think know what to do about that…"

"You'll sooner get a rock to do work than Luna."

"You'll have to wait before you find out what I have in mind."

Mido's fairy and Nina flew over. "Excuse me Mido, but I spoke with Kibou, Luna's fairy. He told me to tell you some things. He knows a way to get Luna to stop running away!" Nina turned to Vera, jingling.

Vera rolled her eyes.

Mido, however, raised his eyebrows excitedly. "Oh? You should have spoken sooner! Let's hear it."

"Basically, he wants everyone to leave Luna alone. He says she hates being around people. She wants to be alone. I think he thinks that, as long as Luna is left alone, she will not run away. Not sure how it works, but that's what he thinks."

"Hunh? What a weird idea. I plan to wake up early next morning and meet everyone, so that everyone treats her very nicely, so that she feels like she's part of us. I'm thinking that a play or festival in a few days will work."

"I can go get Kibou, he knows more than all of us about Luna."

"No, he should stay with her, to make sure she won't run off into the night. I think I've talked enough, though. Vera looks bored, so this is all for today. Thank you for talking to me, Vera, but if you ever hit anyone again, expect punishment."

Vera evilly grinned. Nina jingled into her ear. Vera took her leave.

"Oh, Vera…" Mido called. "You said his name. Did you… know him?"

"Not really. I was sitting atop the cliffs and saw Saria stop Link on the bridge. She gave him her ocarina, taught him how to play. She knew he'd run away all along. I didn't care much, tho. Our tribe preferred minding our own business."

Mido nodded. "See you later, Vera."

Vera left without saying anything.

Nina looked at Mido. "Sorry about how she's acting lately."

"Maybe you can change her for the better?" Mido's fairy asked.

"I'll try."

Mido nodded, smiling. "I'm sure you can."