The Skull Kid and the Mask

Part 1

When the Deku Nuts turn red and pop open, everyone in the Kokiri Forest prepares for the annual Deku Festival. They hang beautiful decorations, practice their singing and dancing, and busy themselves night and day.

Many Kokiris worked amid the Great Deku Tree. A boy ran, arms up and back, carrying an immense string of Deku Nuts flying behind him. Another boy chopped firewood, quite tired. Two girls carried a basket full of Deku Nuts, large sacks full of woody edibles...

Link left his house, Saria waiting for him down below.

Hands clasped behind her back, Saria happily stepped to Link. "Excited for the festival?"

Link nodded.

Saria grinned, revealing her pearly teeth. "C'mon!"

It was not long until a skinny redhead boy and his friend arrived.

"You are just too ugly for a fairy!" a Kokiri boy teased, open hands at either side of his face, knees apar, tongue sticking out.

The skinny redhead raised his arms. "Ugly!"

Saria raised her hands to her cheeks, too surprised to react.

Link's arms tensed as he took a step, left hand gesturing anger. "Shut up!" Forehead sweating, eyes blazing, face red, teeth clenched, Link gripped a stone...

Saria grabbed Link's arm with both her hands, their arms shaking. Eyebrows crooked, Saria's face flushed with anger but also pity. Although her eyes were fierce, she calmly said, "Don't let them bother you..."

Upon seeing Link's rage, Mido and his friend went off laughing.

Link's arm dropped.

Saria calmed down, reverting to gentleness. "One day you will get a visit from your own fairy..."

"I hope so..."

Smiling, shoulders raised, Saria gestured towards the village center, where many Kokiris had gathered. The Fado currently present was dressed like the other Kokiri, in green only. Her hairdo consisted of two large masses over either shoulder, her fairy sitting on one.

Saria sat on a small log, looking around, wondering where Link went. Still angry, he sat cross-legged away from everyone. Saria was concerned but did not bother him, respecting his boundary. Cheek resting on his palm, he seemed bored and lonely.

Someone in the gathering said, "OK, now let's decide who's gonna star in the play. For the fairy princess..."

Many Kokiris cheered for Saria. "YAAY!" "YAAY!" "Right on!"

"We're unanimous for Saria!"

Saria's eyes twinkled, her palms on the log and her back straightening.

"And Link...?"

He sighed, then rested his hands on the grass.

"Well, that's no surprise." Mido smugly stood behind Link, arms crossed. "Link, what are you going to do?"

Saria held her breath. Link seemed to have taken her advice to heart.

"I'm no good at theater... Hope I get a role without any lines," Link replied wearily. "How about you, Mido?"

Eyes proudly closed, Mido pointed his thumb to himself. "The lead role of fairy prince, of course!" He envisioned himself as a caped hero, bracelets around either wrist, sword in hand. SH-SHING!

Mido's fantasy depicted him slashing Link away from Saria, Link's Skull Mask flicking off, Saria as a princess in a dress with her hands balled up under her chin. Then I'll beat the bad guys and save Saria!

Mido raised his hand to his mouth, snickering to himself. Who knows what might happen? "HEE HEE HEE..." In Mido's imagination, Link stomped his foot, "DRAT!" and stormed off. Mido stood proudly by an enthralled Saria. "Mido... You're so much cooler than Link!"

While Mido fantasied, the shopkeeper's plump, bored face emerged from behind a log, the characters of the play and names of the role players scratched into the bark. "OK, next is the prince."

Fado raised her hand. "I think Link would be good!"

Mido's face looked like a thrown turnip.

Link turned his head. "Huh?!"

Saria smiled big at him. "Yeah, Link would be perfect!"

The Kokiris cheered. "I agree!" "Me to!" "Me to!"

Link was a bit shy. "Hey, wait..."

"W
A
I
T
! !" Mido pulled Link's shirt, pointing at him with his other hand. "Why is he the fairy prince? He doesn't even have a fairy!"

Link frowned. "Grr..." He stood, leaning into Mido who clenched his teeth. "Hey! What's that got to do with the play?"

"I'm more suitable to be the prince!"

A Kokiri girl, apparently wearing some sort of skullcap, shoulders of her dress bulbous, raised her arms. "Okay, we'll have an audition. Both of you, swing a sword..." Link and Mido fetched sticks. "...And pose!"

Mido and Link swung. "YAAH!"

All Kokiris held up ballets with Link's name. "It's unanimous! Link will be the prince!"

Mido aggressively ran on the spot with such vigor a dust cloud formed. He angrily pointed at the villagers. "TRAITORS!"

SHOCK gripped Link, his tongue hanging. "Whoa... Uh-oh..."

The Kokiris ignored Mido's stagnant rage. "All right, now each of you make your mask for the play!"

Fado carried a basket full of art supplies. She said to two boys carving masks, "There isn't much time, so hurry!"

Link sat nearby, whittling at a rounded chunk of wood. "Aw, man... This stinks!" A few bits of wood were cut off. "What should I do?"

A boy showed off his mask to a girl pointing at him. "Woo-hoo!"

Meanwhile, Mido skulked. "But why..." He put the Skull Mask down. "...Am I the villain?" He wildly ran on the spot. "It's not fair!"

Two of the Know-It-All Brothers stood nearby. "It's the perfect role for him." "Yep."

Wood chips flicked around Linl's boots.

Saria's bubbly face appeared from the side. "How's it going, Link?"

He looked up. Saria was leaning, hands behind her back, pleasantly attentive.

"It's a big honor and I'm doing my best, but..."

Two boys carried a small log for firewood, passing Link as he carved away.

Saria knelt on both knees. "Oh, that's no good! Don't carve it like that!"

Annoyed, he angrily carved away, ignoring Saria as she reached for his project.

Mido was nearby, preoccupied with his disagreement of everything. He did not even notice Link and Saria slightly fighting over an unfinished mask. Ai! That Link!

Saria knew what to do, eventually getting her way with Link's project. She explained, "The prince's mask is made from a branch of the Great Deku Tree. It's a magical mask..." The finished product was rather spooky, engraved with a nasal, resembling something beyond Hyrule. "...Driving out evil spirits who come into the forest."

Most Kokiris had already finished up for the day, though Saria and Link sat together. She continued, "The play is all about keeping peace in the forest..." Her fairy and Link listened attentively. "...So you've got to treat the mask like it's important, too!"

Link stared upon the mask in his hands. "Hmm..." Upon noticing everyone else had gone, Link thoughtlessly put down the mask. Yawning, he and Saria got up and walked off together.

"Let's take a break!" Saria said.

They hadn't noticed a sneaky arm emerged from a bush, hand over the Prince's Mask...

"It's gone!" Link's voice yelled. He stared, unblinking. "Gone?!"

A Kokiri girl with a headband washed clothes in the pond and, upon hearing voice, looked sideways, a boy on the shoreline alarmed. Startled, Fado was jogging over, Mido snickering behind a tree.

Link turned his his. "My prince mask is gone. Has anyone seen it?"

Hand on the tree, Mido pretended concern as he looked over. "Maybe a bird flew off with it or something. It's probably being used right now as a bird's nest."

Fists balled, eyes shut, mouth wide open, Link cried.

Mido put his hand on Link's shoulder. "Don't worry, pal! I'll help you look for it!"

"I spent all day making it!" Link whined.

Saria stood nearby, awkwardly observing. "..."

Mido covered his grin, eyes closed, and snickered, "Hee hee hee."

Saria was unimpressed. "Mido."

He froze.

Hands on her hips, Saria leaned over Mido, frowning. "Bet you hid it! In fact, I know you did!"

Mido tilted back, one arm slightly raised. "Would I really do a thing like that?"

The vein in Saria's temple throbbed as she glared through her boss. "Yes, you would, and everyone knows it! Now give it back!"

Mido grumpily submitted, even his fairy's wings wilting. "Okay, already. I was just playing a little trick."

Arms crossed, Saria walked behind Mido, Fado's hands clasped behind her back. Link fumed as he trudged along, two other boys behind.

Mido led everyone to a bushy log. "I'm sure this is where..." He rustled through the leaves. "Huh?" He searched harder, swaying amid the bushes, yet could not find the Prince Mask. "Maybe under here?"

"What are you doing?" Link complained, "Hurry up!"

"It's gone!" Mido straightened, face full of goofy despair as realization cracked his mind. "It's really gone..."

Fado was unamused. "Cut the act!"

Impatient, Link felt his forehead. "C'mon, where did you really put it?"

Mido looked back, pointing where the mask once was. "I hid it right here! Someone stole it!"

Link growled, "I worked so hard on that!" He grabbed Mido's shirt, "Stop lying and hand it over!"

Wham! Mido shoved Link off. "I'm not lying!"

Link grasped Mido's shirt again, other arm raised. Mido grabbed Link's chin, other hand clenched. Their teeth gritted, the two boys punched each other. THCK-THCK! THCK!

The Kokiris were startled. "WHOA!" "EEK!" "They're at it again!"

Link and Mido exchanged furious blows. They fell, wrestling and kicking. Despite being skinny, Mido was quite tough. Soon, Kokiris pulled the boys off each other.

"Stop, Mido!" the Kokiri girl with a headband cried, she and a panting boy grabbing Mido's arms and yanking him back.

Scraped up and bruised, Mido angrily wheezed, but said nothing, scowling at Link. Saria angrily yelled something, she and Fado restraining Link's arms.

Left eye closed, Link was more ruffled up than Mido. "What's your problem?! You're always picking fights with me!"

"Shut up!" Mido screamed, swearing from anger. "Weirdo! It's like you're not really a Kokiri! You're a little brat! And you have no fairy!"

Link just stared, angry and hurt.

Link stood, his foot stomped to the earth, Mido flinching, his arms bent and ready for more fighting.

Fists balled, Link raised an angry hand. "I'll show you! I'm just as good as you...as anyone!" He darted off.

"Link!" Saria yelled, reaching out to him then running after him. "Where are you going?"

He gripped vines, climbing up then running off.

Saria went after him. "That's the Lost Woods!" She caught up to Link, who abruptly stopped, staring into a dark passageway.

Saria gently stepped towards her friend, arm up to console him if he turned. "Link, let's just make the mask again. I'll help." Her hand neared his shoulder. "We had a lot of fun making that last one..."

Link frowned at the darkness ahead. "There's a rumor that a monster lives deep in the Lost Woods."

Saria froze, holding her breath.

"I'm going to defeat it and bring back proof!"

"No!" Saria exclaimed, "People get lost in those woods and never come back!"

Link sternly charged forth.

"Link, don't go! Link!"

He disappeared into the darkness...

Mido was grumpily sitting on a stump, hand on his cheek. He wiggled the Skull Mask in his other hand, his fairy's wings wilting. "GRRR! Why do Saria and the Great Deku Tree care so much about Link?" He muttered, "And why did everyone want me to be the villain?"

"Yo, Mido!" a boy shouted, "Something awful has happened!"

The other lad pointed across himself. "Saria ran after Link into the Lost Woods!"

"What?!" Mido yelled, quite alarmed.

The two boys looked at each other. "They may be lost forever." "Yeah."

"Don't say that!" Mido retorted, arms bent. He paused, putting his thumb and first finger across his mouth. Just wait. This could...

Mido's imagination envisioned a ghostly monster swipe Link down, Saria panicking with her hands under her chin. "Hiyah!" Mido yelled, flying forth and kicking the beast down. A much taller Mido proudly stood as Saria adored him, their closed eyes.

Golden opportunity!

Mido confidently stood, Skull Mask in one hand, other arm pointing. "We'll go rescue them!"

"We?" a boy asked, a dumpy boy with a plump next to him.

Alone in a darker region of the Lost Woods, Link walked down a narrow path flanked by immense, spooky trees, definitely an unfamiliar section of the mysterious forest. Some trees had large gaps in their trunks, as if distorted grimaces. He looked up, the gloomy branches seemingly making claws against him.

Fists tight, Link was frightened, unsure where to go. Yet, anger next flowed in his blood. Frowning, Link clenched his teeth. "I'm... I'm not afraid. I'll show—that Mido! I'm gonna prove he's wrong about me!" He jolted forth.

"Link! Link!"

Link stopped, turning around. "Saria?!"

She happily ran to him, her fairy as brave as her.

"What are you doing here? It's dangerous!"

Saria stopped by Link, hands on her knees as she huffed and puffed. "I was worried about you!" She caught her breath, sweetly staring at Link. "Let's go back now, OK?"

Link looked perplexed. "I'm not going back. But you really ought to."

Hands behind her back, eyes partly closed, Saria looked away. "I'm not leaving until you do."

The friends bickered, "Go home!" "No way!" "I said shoo!" "Big talk, but you're scared!"

Eyes shut, Link's fists balled. "I'm not scared, I'm..."

FWOOSH!

Something ran through between them, Saria's hair briefly waving.

"Hide!" Link yelled, moving his arm over Saria, the startled girl falling onto her bottom.

They stared into the woods. SHTAK! SHTAK!

Link didn't blink. The monster? "Agh!"

The Prince Mask stared back at Link.

A silhouette wearing a wide-brimmed hat ran off, the Prince Mask on his side.

Link angrily pointed. "It's my mask! He has it!" He chased the thief.

Saria chased Link. "W-Wait, Link!"

"Wait!" Link yelled, "Gimme back my mask!"

They ran deeper into the woods, soon coming upon a strange section where trees grew curved over a glowing area.

"HEH HEH HEH HEH."

Strange silhouettes resided within large floating bubbles bouncing about. BYOING!

"HEE HEE HEE!"

Link and Saria went farther. Some trees grew sharply curved, branches curling further yet, the largest trees piercing blackness above. Rocks slowly flew in a circular pattern, multiple Prince Masks floating with them.

"Turn back! Just flee!" the closest Prince Mask warned, "This is no place to roam! You're in the Lost Woods. Wander too far and you'll never get home! Trapped in the Lost Woods..."

The next Prince Mask spoke, "Roads lead to nowhere. You'll go round and round, here in the Lost Woods. Walk till you drop, but you'll never be found... Deep in the Lost Woods..."

The third Prince Mask floated a short distance away. "Your spirit will flag. You'll give in to fear. In the dark of the Lost Woods, your soul will be mine, I've so many here... The ghosts of the Lost Woods."

A moon-like area glowed in the blackness above.

Afraid, Saria walked past a bush. "Where are we?"

Link stepped through shrubbery. "Darn it! I lost sight of him!"

Saria nervously walked behind Link. "You know, the legends say... ...the Lost Woods is home to a horrible monster... ...that captures anyone who enters and never lets them escape..." Saria paused, eyes stiffly open. A single sweatdrop rolled down the side of her face. "Maybe we've already... ...been caught by the forest!"

Link and Saria stood, slightly looking in opposite directions.

"If so," Felicia chimed, hovering between them, "that sucks."

Clomp, clomp...

Clomp, clomp, clomp...

Mido grumpily marched forth, elbows bent, arms apart, like an ape. The three boys he spoke with earlier came with him.

The dumpy boy with a plump face was quite bored, picking his nose. "Why do we have to go, too?"

Mido grumpily looked back over his shoulder. "Doofus! A prince always has attendants!"

The two other boys looked at each other. "It's actually 'cause he's scared."

Mido turned around, shoulders spread, elbows bent. "Hurry up, you two!"

Something rustled.

The boys hugged into each other in utter terror.

Mido's eyes went huge from horror. "GYAH! It's a giant monster!"

A sleepy snake with big eyes and a scruffy hairdo wormed along.

Mido punched a kid, POW! "Don't scare me like that!"

"I didn't say anything!"

Nose runny, the dumpy boy pointed up without looking. "M-Monster. There's a monster."

Mido turned, thinking hard, hand under his chin. "Hmmph! I can't let Link steal all the glory! What about me?" He confidently pointed up. "Hold on, Princess Saria! A true prince is coming to save you! Charge!"

Thud, thud.

Boom, boom!

With a face like a bulldog yet tusked, an immense and muscular Moblin spearman stood where Mido pointed. He wore spiked pauldrons, the backs connecting behind his neck and curling over to his forehead.

Mido's courage vaporized. He tried chuckling the situation off, his pointing nothing but awkward and goofy.

The monster just angrily stared back. GHAK!

Spear forwards, the monster charged.

R
O
A
R
R
R!

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Mido was ahead of the group, the dumpy boy behind, smiling hysterically with a runny nose.

"Link, did you just hear something?" Saria looked around the spooky forest.

Link put his hand to his ear. "Nope, not a sound."

"Shh!" Saria looked over. "There it is again." Unblinking, she listened. "It's music. Someone...is playing a flute." She walked away.

Link reached to her. "Hey, Saria?" He walked after her. "It's dangerous to wander off alone!"

Saria and Link came upon a moonlit section of the woods, their faces surprised.

The area was surrounded by cliffs, half the moon visible behind them. A tree cut a dozen feet off the ground, a single large branch sticking out, stood near the center of the area. Standing atop the sawed portion was a dancing flutist, kicking his legs out as he swayed.

"It's a Skull Kid!" Saria stated.

"With my mask!" Link added, his mask sometimes visible when the Skull Kid tilted.

The flutist stopped playing, standing still. "Hee hee! Are you Kokiris?"

Link ran forth, pointing up, Saria following. "That mask is mine! Give it here!"

The Skull Kid grabbed the mask from his hat. "This?"

Link stopped, Saria with him. "Yes."

The Skull Kid frontflipped off his tree, SPIN! FWUMP! He landed right in front of Link, who reared.

Mask in his hands, Skull Kid presented it to a dumbstruck Link. "I didn't know. Please have it back."

Link pleasantly accepted, great weight rolling off his shoulders. He gladly held the Prince Mask, "Th... Thank...you?"

Chin up, the Skull Kid just stared at Link.

"Do you always come here to play the flute?" Saria asked, ending the awkward silence.

The flutist smiled. "Hee hee!"

"Will you play some more?" Link proposed.

Skull Kid eagerly raised his flute, ready to dance.

"I thought he'd be a scary monster, but he's a nice guy!"

Saria happily closed her right eye, holding her own instrument. "Great!" She sang, "And I'll play my ocarina!" She played by ear, mimicking the Skull Kid's tune as he and Link gleefully danced side by side, Felicia joining.

Once the flutists finished their last note and lowered their instruments, Link noticed Skull Kid was staring at him blankly. The skull stare was quite unnerving.

Link sat on the stump. "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Saria giggled. "He really likes you, Link."

Skull Kid didn't blink. "You seem familar..."

Link's mouth opened a bit. "Huh?"

"...But I've never seen you before!." Skull Kid spun himself sideways, cartwheeling without using his hands. "Hee hee hee!"

Link watched in confusion. "What a weird guy..." Link became happy again. "But people often say I'm strange or weird. We may be alike."

Saria became worried at the thought of her friend being like a Skull Kid. "Link."

Skull Kid sat by Link, flute in hands. "Hey, let's be friends."

Imagery of the festival popped in Link's mind: Fireworks. Food. Friends...

"Oh, right! We're having a festival in our village soon. You should come!"

"Festival...?"

"It's the day the Great Deku Tree bears lots of fairy balls! It's pretty, like the whole forest is lit up with lamps."

Skull Kid looked away.

"Everyone plays and eats great food...it's really a lot of fun! Would you like to come?"

...

"No way!" Skull Kid replied, BOING! BOING! He bounced around.

Link was shocked. "W-Why not?!"

Skull Kid leapt upon the branch of his tree. "'Cuz I have no face."

Link approached. "No face?"

"Look how plain my face is..." Skull Kid raised a foot and wiggled it. "All of your friends have complete faces, right?"

Saria came, concerned. "So...did you take the mask to be your face?"

Link pondered. "Oh..." He looked at the mask in his hands, a little sorrow swirling. He lifted it up to Skull Kid. "Please take the mask as my present. Now you can come to the festival with pride!"

Skull Kid cocked his head, smiling as he slowly touched the Prince Mask. "A p-pres-ent?" He accepted. "Hee hee!" He jumped from joy, going to great heights. "Hee hee hee! A face!" He landed beside Link and they ran with joy.

The clifftop trees rustled.

Skull Kid abruptly stopped. motionlessly holding the Prince Mask.

Link turned, happily asking, "What's the matter, Skull Kid?"

Skull Kid remained motionless. But... But he can't be my friend. He's an enemy. When he grows up he'll destroy us all!

"..." I must attack... Attack the enemy!

A
T
T
A
C
K
!
!

Skull Kid's eyes shone like stars. He threw down the Prince Mask, BONK. Link put his hand forth, SHWIP. Skull Kid leapt forth, SPIN, legs bent back and up. Spinning airborne, Skull Kid shot a dart out his flute, FOO. Link reared, THAK—it grazed his right cheek and hit the tree behind him.

"EEK!" cried Saria, eyes shut. WOOSH—Skull Kid took her! Mouth open, she outstretched her arms, trying to get away from her captor. Despite his small size, Skull Kid was quite strong.

Skull Kid's eyes glowed like vengeful stars. "I hate that mask! Bring me a mask that I'll like!" He slid his finger down Saria's frightened visage. "If you don't, I'll take her face!" He leapt away, carrying her.

"EEK! Link... ...Help!"

Felicia rang aloud, flying after her child and disappearing...

"Saria!" Link ran over, filled with betrayal and despair, the cut on his cheek bleeding. "What happened, Skull Kid? One minute you were my friend then... What happened?" He stopped, clearly unable to get over the cliffs. He stood, startled and confused. "Why does everyone hate me?"