The song of Healing and Mask of the Black Truth: Gaiden

[Librairian]

OoC: Yes, yes, I know the side story shouldn't come out before the main story is finished, but I have an explanation. This is really an assignment for school I whipped up. There may be some censored words, and if you don't want to find out what's going to happen in the original, don't read ahead. Enjoy.

BiC: “It’s so beautiful,” San said as she looked at herself in her mirror, “I don’t know what they were talking about, my face is perfect. In fact, I pity them. They don’t even realize how perfect I am.”

San stood, as she normally did, and admired her own reflection. It had been a few hours since she had last seen her own face, and she had begun to feel a bit jumpy. Now that she had some free time though, she was able to greet that familiar image of herself. On an average day, she looked at herself at least five times, and today she was falling behind. To make up for her lack, she resolved to look at herself longer each time she could get. About twenty more minutes, she thought. A few seconds pass, and she already adds ten minutes more. A few more seconds, and she adds another ten.

Eventually though, thoughts of duty elsewhere tickled the back of her mind. It bothered her greatly that such thought could be as treasonous as to interrupt her, but San knew that duty had to be dealt with. Her duty, or more specifically, her goal, had taken an interesting turn. Just a couple of hours before, she had been spirited away to the foreign country she now stood in. With this new country, came new opportunities. Although, it would take quite awhile to for her to adjust to her new settings, and her business would not allow for a prolonged stay. So her goal here had to be finished quickly.

With a snap of her fingers, her mirror vanished from her hand. Until she needed it again, it would wait back at her home. With that out of the way, she began her walk toward the office of Clock Town’s mayor. However, he was not the person with whom she ultimately wanted to talk with. Her goals would require a higher form of government, and it would most certainly not be contained within the walls of this simple town. For fulfillment, she would need the presence of this country’s King. The easiest way to do that was to get the word in to one of his local subordinates.

Leaving the small garden that housed the laundry pool, she made her way into the town’s main plaza. Even as late as it was, there were several people moving this way and that. This did not surprise her, as from what she had heard, an annual Festival was only a few days away. Some of them were tourists, but most of the people were carpenters, building the tower that would eventually connect with the Clock Tower, around which the entire town revolved. As she walked, she found it quite bothersome that none of them even made an effort to stop and stare at her beauty. Fortunately for her, she would not have to stay very long.

Entering the eastern side of town, she came to the next plaza. Though considerably smaller, this square was more alive than the first. With no construction to get in the way of the festivities, tourists and locals alike were able to dance and play music freely. At that time of night, San had no doubt the ruckus was disturbing the creatures outside. Even with the large stone walls that ran along the perimeter of the town, she was sure one could hear it from no less than fifty paces away. It was not even the eve of the Festival, and the people were still celebrating. Making a sound of disappointment, she quickened her pace.

Soon, her legs had at last carried her to the mayor’s office. Upon opening the door, she immediately approached the receptionist. However, before she could get a word out, the girl behind the counter opened her mouth. “My, look at you,” she said enthusiastically, “Where do you go to get clothes like those?”

“I’m here to see the mayor,” San replied sharply, choosing to ignore the inquiry. To her, the tight, black leather she wore was perfectly acceptable, especially with her lifestyle. “I can’t say the reason.”

“Well, the mayor’s room is to your left, but it kind of sounds like he’s in a meeting at the moment. I think. The room on the right is the drawing room, and it’s also the mayor’s wife’s office. If you have business with the Festival of Time, then you should talk to her.”

With that, she turned to her left and walked to the mayor’s room. From behind the door, she could hear two men arguing, and another that seemed to have his head. The receptionist was right, but it didn’t matter. Disregarding a bit of her social grace, she opened the door and stepped into the room.

“Many of the thieves already have entered the town without waiting for the mayor’s okay,” one of the men exclaimed just as she stepped in, “Even as early as today, reports of robberies have risen above normal Festival time levels. Mr. Mayor and Carnival Committee Members, please order the closing of our gates to anyone who the guard claims to be suspicious.”

“Listen,” a calmer man, this one sitting behind a big desk, responded, “I don’t think…”

“You fools!” another man shouted back, “Do you actually believe this is because of the Merchants? Your Festival is simply drawing a bigger crowd, and a result is a slight rise in crime. The soldiers couldn’t prevent these things, and you say this is our fault? You want answers? The answer is that your gates should open to anyone who has come to work at the Festival. Isn’t that right, Mr. Mayor?”

“Once more,” the calm mayor replied, “I don’t think…”

“Hey!” San interrupted loudly, drawing the attention of each man onto her, “I have to talk with the mayor. If you’re going to be done anytime soon, I’d appreciate it.” Hearing that, the face of the mayor lit up. “You heard her!” he exclaimed, motioning with his arms for the two men and their assistants to leave, “We have a concerned tourist here. We can settle this later. Until then, you two’re dismissed.”

As if struck in the gut by a brute, the men fell silent. Without saying a word, they each left, each giving San an evil look as they did. And as soon as the last one left, the mayor jumped from his seat and walked over to her. With a bit of gusto, he took her hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “Thank you young lady,” he said excitedly, “If you hadn’t come, I would have been stuck in here all night listening to those two go on and on about the Festival.” Releasing her hand, he took a few steps back and sat on his desk. “If there’s anything you need, just ask. Despite what that argument suggested, I do run this town.”

She was getting somewhere faster than she hoped. “Yes, there is something I want,” she said, a bit calmer than she was before, “I want an arrangement to talk to the Monarch of this country.”

“An excellent choice. Now normally, those cost quite a bit, but in your case, I’ll supply one free of charge. All I need is your name.”

“Must I tell you? I’m not going to be here long, and I would like if I could remain anonymous.”

“Now that, I can’t do. If you’re going to meet the King, then he’ll at least need to know your name.”

“Fine. My name is Rockael Sandai, but you can just mark me as San.”

Knowing her name, the mayor retook his seat behind the big desk, and removed a slip of paper from a drawer. Dipping a quill into a bottle of ink, he began to write on the sheet. To San’s dismay, it turned out that he could talk and write at the same time. “So, a surname,” he said, not taking his eyes off of his quill, “We don’t get many nobles that aren’t from Ikana or Romani for the Festival. It’s pretty rare. I’ve never heard of the Sandai house before. Where do you hail from?”

“Like I said,” San replied, adding an acrid sound to her voice, “Anonymous.”

In a few seconds, the mayor was finished with her write up. Without saying anything, he slid the paper over to her, but did not remove his hand. Cautiously, she pried the sheet from his vice. With the paper removed, he gave her a simple wink, and fell back in his chair. It’s about time, San thought as she backed toward the door and thanked him for his gift. Finally, someone was acknowledging her perfection. After all the people she had passed up without receiving nary a glance, she had begun to think the citizens of this land didn’t have any concept of beauty what so ever.

Leaving the mayor’s office, she found herself back on the east side of town. Though she had only been away from the crowds for a short while, she had somehow expected the celebration in the square to have died down. This was, unfortunately for her, not the case. Although she would be rid of them very soon, she had to walk through the now larger rabble to reach the eastern gate. Beyond there lay the quickest route to Ikana Castle, and her goal. So, sucking in her annoyance, she made her way through the congested plaza. Like before, they were all too busy to notice the marvelous woman that was walking among them.

Passing through the crowd, she came to the east gate. Ahead, an armored guard blocked her way forward. “Wait a moment, young lady!” he exclaimed as she approached the exit, “Have you some errand in the canyon? It is dangerous outside the town walls, so I cannot allow a girl like you to go out alone. Until you can find someone who carries a weapon, you cannot pass through here.”

Just listening to that made San grit her teeth in anger. It was by now common for people, especially simple guardsmen, to misjudge her ability. Although her shape suggested her maturity, her stature did not, and as a result, many considered her weak. Bringing the thumb and middle finger of her left hand together, she let off a snap. From out of thin air, a chain appeared in her hand. From its weighted end, it spiraled up her arm and draped down her back. The other end was affixed to the bottom of her mirror’s grip. “I have a weapon of my own,” she answered, turning her mirror to better reflect the light, “Or doesn’t this scythe count?”

With wide eyes, the guard stared at the large, curved weapon she was holding. Standing aside, he motioned for her to go on ahead. “I see it does,” she said, letting go of the chain and snapping her mirror away. Not even bothering to take a look back, she walked through the gate. Now she was beyond the town walls and in the fields. Taking her admission to the King in hand, she read what the mayor had written on the sheet. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, other than the King’s name being Nah’Uhn-Tael De’Lugat, she flipped it over. On the other side, there was a map of the canyon region showing specific directions to the King’s Castle.

Quickly memorizing as much as she could, she folded the admission up and slipped it into her top. With that, she began on her way. Moving at a subdued pace, her legs carried her across the green flat of land between the town and canyon. No further than forty paces out however, the green started to shift to brown. The actual entrance to the canyon region was closer to the town than she thought. Already, she could hear the loud squeaks of the bombchu; rats which were common to the lower ends of rocky regions. A dozen more steps, and brick columns rose up on either side of her path, symbolizing the imperial land she was about to enter.

Soon, she was in a small branch of the canyon, about to pass the proper border of the area. Ahead, there stood a small, metal fence, a soldier standing at each side of the gateway. Beyond, she could see another with a pair of similar looking soldiers standing near it as well. If nothing else, this barren canyon is well stationed, she thought. Continuing to move forward, she came to the gate, expecting to be stopped. To her surprise, she was not even called out to, so she simply walked through and went on. Likewise occurred with the other one. Though this worked to her convenience, it poked at her pride to look behind and see their eyes not following her back.

Ignoring the attention she wasn’t being paid, she came to a more open area. Before her, there sat a pointed sign, signaling in the direction of a split in the canyon’s path. It read very easily.
Ikana Graveyard, to the left.
Ikana Hill, to the right.
That was all it said. Of course, she already knew which way to go from her map, but it was always best to check the signs when traveling in a foreign land.

In her direction, there stood a stone face too tall to climb over. Luckily, there was a moderately sized, covered elevator attached to the face, which would allow her easy access up. At the top, there was another soldier, most likely the operator. “Hey!” she yelled to him as she walked towards it, “I need to get up there. Fire this thing up.”

“I can’t!” he shouted back down, “The men who work the mechanism are taking a break. Just wait in the elevator with the other guy, and we’ll pull you up as soon as we can.”

“Other guy?”

Looking into the covered platform, she saw a person standing and tapping their foot. Normally, San would have just climbed into the elevator and waited impatiently, but now she had a reason to do otherwise. “Hey, get out here,” she demanded the person angrily. Hearing that, the person quickly stepped out and began to scan her body. Though she would have enjoyed being noticed, with this person, it was a different matter. Now that the moon’s light gave her a better view, she knew who it was. They were always dressed in a purple hood and cloak, each with their eyes covered by them.

“What is it?” he asked politely, confirming his sex as male. “You’re one of those people, aren’t you?” San answered, “Yeah, one of Those who can’t Understand my Perfection. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be alone someplace, peering into a crystal ball?”

“I have business with the King.”

“You? Don’t make me laugh. Anyone with a bit of sense in their head wouldn’t waste their time with one of you Cukemen.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t you give me a one word answer like I’m a worthless slime! You’ll consider what I’m saying to you. Now tell me crystal reader, do you act this way to everyone, or just when you can’t comprehend someone’s perfection.”

“What are you talking about?”

This person she was speaking to clearly didn’t know what he had done to draw out her wrath, but that didn’t matter much to her. “Don’t act like you don’t know,” She ordered, “You people are psychic or something, so I’m sure you heard. Just before I came to this country, a couple of you paperbacks had the nerve to deny my perfection.”

“No one’s perfect,” he answered, remaining calm.

“That’s where you’re wrong my shut in non-friend. Just look at me and tell me you don’t want to make love to me. I can tell. When you see me, your heart isn’t the only thing that throbs.”

“It’s true, you are quite attractive, but I would never go for someone like you.”

Though San got the admission she desired, she was not satisfied with how he said it. “What’s that supposed to mean crystal reader?” she asked.

“I’d rather not say,” he answered, turning back to reenter the elevator. Seeing this made her furious. Following him in, she grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. Although he was much taller than her, she was much stronger. She was just about to say something when the covered platform jerked upwards. A second later, it was pulling them up to the top of the face. You’re just lucky my time’s to important to waste on you, she thought as they came to the top.

“Watch out,” the operator said as they got to the top, “They don’t appear that often, but you might see a Nejiron on your way there. Those creatures are like bombs, one wrong move and they explode.” San heard him, but chose to ignore his words. She was too angry from listening to that person to care what he was saying anyways. However, the person in purple gave him a brief thank you before moving on. As it turned out, there was only one way to the castle, and both he and she had to take it. But what they didn’t know was that this would not be the last time they would have to walk the same path.

“Why are you following me?” San asked as the person caught up. “I believe I said I had business with the King,” he replied, his fast pace outmatching hers.

“And I believe I said no one with any sense would ever waste their time on one of you people,”

“You’re wasting your time on me.”

“You’re right. Why am I even talking to you?”

With that, the person in purple was silent for the rest of the walk. San however, was still mumbling curses and obscenities at him under her breath. As it turned out, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. His smug manner was eating away at her nerves, even though he wasn’t saying a thing. He had near mirrored what the other people had said to her, and it took an entire vanity session to erase her annoyance last time. But this wasn’t going to go away. He was going to the same place she was, taking the same route, and was probably going to see the King at the same time she was too.

If nothing else, she wasn’t going to let him beat her there. So, with spite in her heart, she picked up her pace. Sure enough, it didn’t matter how fast she walked. No sooner had she caught up with him, did they reach another place to wait. They now stood at the bottom of a cliff face even larger than the one before. Like last time, an elevator mechanism climbed up its side. Below, a river flowed swiftly and caught the blades of a water wheel, which looked like it gave lift to the mechanism. It seemed necessary, as this covered platform seemed big enough to carry an entire platoon of soldiers.

Unlike their previous ride, it didn’t take long for the elevator to come down and pick them up. Reaching the top, they both stepped out and were almost shocked to find what lay before them. Where everything else in the canyon had just been rock and dust, the town ahead was a vision of architecture. Unlike Clock Town, this place’s streets were narrow, supporting the fairly large buildings being so close together. From where they were, they could barely see a corner of the castle jutting out from behind the structure to their right. Of course a corner was all San needed. Balancing along the edge of the cliff, she sidled over to the other side.

Performing that little act, she separated herself from the person in purple. From what she could surmise, he would not have the courage to slide between the edge and the wall. So not only was she minus one nuisance, she was right in front of the castle as well. And as she walked over to the large doors of the gateway, a little, glowing fairy passed over her head. Looks like I’m in for some good luck, she thought as it flew closer to the ground. But, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it vanished. In its place, there stood the person who she had just gotten rid of. “How did you do that?” she demanded, resisting the look of surprise that was trying to reach her face. “Magic,” he replied.

Hearing that, she decided not to press the issue. San knew that when those people were asked about magic, they only made things more complicated than they had to be. “That’s what you people always say,” she said, covering the last few steps between her and the gateway. Not saying a word, he followed. While they approached the doors, one of the soldiers of the castle greeted them. “Good evening,” he said, picking up the sword he had leaning against the wall, “What brings you two to Ikana Castle on a day so close to the Festival?”

“This,” San said, taking out her admission, and handing it over. The soldier merely held it for a second and handed it right back. “You don’t need one of these,” he said. “Not at this time of the year anyways,” the other soldier standing at the gateway interjected, “Since everyone, including the King, stays awake for the three days before the Festival, they have plenty of time to see anyone.”

“Plus… Now you didn’t hear this from me, but the mayor of Clock Town rules the land during the Festival, even though it’s still in the name of the King. In other words, at this time of year, the King would hear two farmers fighting over a turnip, simply because there’s nothing else to do.”

“Well then,” San said, sounding bored, “Why don’t you open up these doors and I can be on my way.” They responded simply by laughing, while one of them tapped the door with the broad side of his sword. In a few seconds, the gateway began to open up. As soon it was wide enough, she squeezed through, attempting to ditch the person in purple. But, like he seemed to have a knack for it, he followed right behind her. He was now working on her last nerves. If she had not thought her business would eventually get her away from him, she would have done something to make him stay away.

Luckily, the direction of her business was about to appear. Looking across the courtyard, she saw yet another set of soldiers standing in front of the castle proper. “Hey,” she said as she approached, “Where, in there, is the King’s throne room?”

“Just go through the door straight ahead,” he replied, pointing inward, “The King’s minister will stop you, but you don’t need to worry about her. You know, we don’t see many common folk around here before the Festival. You two must have to take care of something pretty important.”

“No, not especially.”

With that, they walked into the castle. Inside, it was not as opulent as one might have envisioned a royal palace to be. Mostly, it was stone in dull shades of red, green, and yellow. A set of four columns, which were holding up the ceiling, were the only decoration in sight. And considering entrance hall was the main judge of a castle’s bulk, it did not speak well for anything else. There were not even any torches burning, making it seem as if no one was in at all. In fact, the person in purple seemed daunted by the darkness. “What’s wrong, Cukeman?” San asked mockingly after she noticed, “Afraid of the dark?” He didn’t answer.

What’s wrong with this guy, she thought as she headed to the door across the room. He was clearly an unexpressive person, but the extent of which he was showing seemed unreal. Thinking about it just made her angrier, and more confused. That comment he made was starting to come back to her as well. “It’s true, you are quite attractive, but I would never go for someone like you,” was what he said. It was still bothering her. What in the world could those people see in her that was so unattractive? Clearly they weren’t blind, and yet they didn’t see the perfection that stood right before them.

“Can I help you?” a voice asked, snapping her back to where she was. Looking to who had addressed her, her eyes met with a rather young, scantily clad woman. Normally, she would have made an informative remark, but decided against telling her that the clothes everyone else in the canyon was wearing made her look like a slut. “I’m here to see the King,” she answered, “Do I need to show admission?”

“That won’t be necessary. Come with me. King Nah’Uhn-Tael De’Lugat will hear you at once.”

With that, the secretary led them into the throne room. In contrast to the entrance hall, this room was well lit, and with good reason. All around the wide chamber, colorful markings were painted on the walls, showing beautifully in the torch’s glow. On the right side, two windows let in the pink light of the coming dawn. And at the end opposite them, a tall throne sat, with a mighty looking King upon it. Immediately, the woman hurried over to him, giving them a signal to stay put. As she talked to the King, two fierce looking soldiers walked in front of them, making it so they couldn’t read what they were saying.

In a second, the soldiers stood down and the woman moved to the King’s right side. Another second and he rose from his throne. “What matters do you have with me, the King of Ikana, ruler of the east and center of Termina?” he asked, his voice loud and commanding. The man in purple took a step forward to speak, but was stopped short by San’s hand. Taking the position as first speaker, she walked into the center of the room. “If your highness would allow it,” she said, making her voice sound as polite as possible, “I would like to beg a request in exchange for a service.”

“I shall allow it.”

“Thank you. I would like to offer my services as a mercenary. Any task you may give me, I shall complete without fail. I will perform any feat, even if no soldier in your army is up to the call. In exchange, all I ask is the most valuable gem in your coffers. I shall do anything to obtain it, even if it means putting my life, and health, in danger.”

Listening to that, the King leaned back into his throne and called one of the soldiers to his side. After whispering to him, he stood back up. “I will consider your request,” he said, signaling for her to stand back, “Now, are there any others who have matters to exchange with me?”

Immediately, the person in purple rushed to the center of the room and gave a bow. “I do,” he said as his forehead touched the floor, “If your highness would be generous enough to hear it.”

“I will hear it.”

“Thank you.” He rose to his feet. “Once the sun rises, two days will have passed since a mask of great power was brought to your kingdom. This mask is pure white, with a frightening black face. It is very powerful, and worth a great deal, but I must humbly request that it be handed over to me. I know it is of great value, but I’m willing to do anything to obtain it. The task must simply be named, and I will perform it. That is all I have to say.”

Like before, as soon as he was done, the King called the soldier to his side. This time, when the whispering stopped, the soldier walked toward them, and left the room. “I will consider your request,” the King said, sitting himself down, “Until I am finished, you both may wait outside the throne room. I will have your answers by the time the sun rises over the horizon.”

With that, the person in purple and San both left the room. Naturally for her, now that she had some free time, she could look at her face again. Snapping her fingers, she summoned the mirrored scythe from its resting place. Before gazing at what little bit of light her mirror reflected, she looked to see her creepy follower’s reaction. If he had done anything, she missed it. Of course, that was of little consequence to her now. Tilting her mirror to get the best view of herself, she began to admire her image. “I don’t know what he was talking about,” she said to herself, “My face is perfect. In fact, I pity him. He doesn’t even realize how perfect I am.”

After the passing of about ten minutes, they still had not been called back. In his boredom, the person in purple began to whistle a tune. It was a slow melody, drawing notes that got lower in each verse. It might have been considered a sad tune, had he not been whistling so enthusiastically. As each note was played, the atmosphere began to feel more peaceful, as if all negative energies were being cleansed. Even San noticed the healing air that was coming from his song. For the first time in a long while, she put aside her mirror. There was something she found in those notes that was familiar.

However, she was unable to recall exactly what it was, as the door to the throne room opened before her thoughts could collect. Right away, the woman called them in, telling them to approach the King. Nearly at his feet, they waited for an answer to their questions. “After conversing with my most trusted minister, Queen Amien Raven De’Lugat,” he began, with his voice more commanding than before, “I have decided the fate of you both. On the eve of the Festival, it will have been one week since a precious artifact was stolen from the castle. That artifact is the Grand Falcon, sword of Igos du Ikana, last of the Ikana line. Its retrieval will earn you your desire.”

“What leads do you have?” San asked when it was clear he was finished. “None,” the King replied, “That is why I am willing to part with such valuable treasures. If you can find it, then you will have earned them.”

[Librairian]

It would seem that San was not on the same side as fate. The sun had risen, and noon had passed, but she still could not find any leads on the whereabouts of the Grand Falcon. Even though her search had taken her back to Clock Town, and away from the person in purple, her effort still amounted to nothing. That is to say, what she was looking for would not be that easy to find. Such a valuable artifact stolen from such a large castle, tells of a very skilled thief. People with that caliber of talent were generally difficult to find. In this case, it would take more than just asking people on the streets to find it.

Of course, no one is completely without favor in the eyes of time. Eventually, she would have to come upon some kind of hint that would point her in the right direction. Until then, she would take a break and get in her usual amount of mirror time. Although recently, her reflection was not as calming as it had been. Many things were happening that were getting in the way of her concentration. From where she was standing in the laundry pool garden, the person in purple’s song was still able to reach her ears. Though she had only heard a few moments of the melody, it bounced around her head like she had listened to it for days.

She knew that tune from sometime in her life. Thinking back, it felt like a time far too long had passed between when she heard it last, and just then. It was definitely a childhood memory, one from before she left her home. She could remember singing, and hearing it sung by someone she knew. It was a soft, yet forceful voice that rang out the melancholy notes of that sad song. However, it wasn’t sad when that voice sang it. When that voice was singing, everything seemed to get better, and all of the sadness just floated away. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember who it was that the voice belonged to. It doesn’t really matter, she thought.

Her memories of the past brought with them elation, as her need to see her own reflection began to return. The song, or anything else, didn’t matter while she was looking at herself. That was, herself and another person. In the reflection, she could see someone else coming up behind her. It didn’t take long for her to identify the particular person, which happened to be easy to do in this case. Tightening her grip on the weapon’s chain, she let it start to fall. When it was about to hit the ground, she spun around, swinging her arm in a wide arc. The effect: her scythe swept the area, the shaft knocking the person off their feet.

Making contact with a tree, the weapon stuck into it, trapping the person between its blade, and her. Raising the chain to block their escape, she approached the person. “What are you doing, following me around?” she mocked person in purple she had trapped, “Is that something else you paperbacks do, or is that just one of your problems?”

“My crystal told me to follow you,” he said, rising to his feet, “I asked it where the Grand Falcon was, and it showed me an image of you. That means you either have it, or I need you to find it.”

“Oh, so you need me? Well too bad, cause I’m doing this by myself. Your crystal can go [Salty Word] itself for all it’s worth.”

“Well, I was told to follow you, so I’m going to follow you.”

This took San a bit off guard. If it wasn’t abnormal the person in purple was following her in the first place, it was downright odd that he would refuse to stop. “Is that a threat?” she asked, giving her chain a fearsome jerk. “No, not at all,” he answered, raising his hands and shying away, “I just need to find it as quickly as possible, and you’re my best lead. If you don’t like the idea, I could always compensate you for your time.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

“Um… I could take you to see the Great Fairy. She’s in a shrine over in the north end of town, so it wouldn’t take too long.”

Hearing that, she became intrigued. Great Fairies were not common, and very hard to make appear, so her interest in finding one was fairly large. Those beings were said to unlock the latent power of anything that came near their fountain, whether it be alive or inanimate. Power wasn’t exactly what she was searching for, but it was always nice to have. And on top of all that, if this person in purple knew how to make one appear, then he could be of use to her. After a brief period of consideration, her answer came to her easily, yet begrudgingly. “Alright,” she said, swinging her weapon out of the tree and back to her hand, “You’ve got a deal.”

With that, she snapped away her weapon, and they headed out to the north side of Clock Town. This time, it was easier to get through the streets, as the night crowds weren’t out yet. Plus, the person in purple seemed set on getting to the shrine, as he walked at a very quick pace. All the while, he didn’t say a word, and only occasionally looked back to see if San was still following him. In fact, he moved so quickly, he led her all the way to the north end in less than a minute. Once there, they were met by a square full of children. This was evidently where they played while their parents saved energy for the coming night. Naturally, getting through that took a bit more time.

Eventually though, they arrived at the entrance of the shrine. Inside, they came into a room that didn’t seem to belong where it was. Made up all with white stone, a shallow pool of water rested in the center. Around it, a circle of arches and columns separated it from the sparkling material that covered the walls. It all seemed fit for a goddess, or some deity close to it, and a Great Fairy happened to fit that description rather well. If they were anything like she had heard about, this would be an encounter she would never forget. Stepping up to the edge of the pool, she prepared for the unknown that she was about to face.

“This is going to happen pretty quickly,” the person in purple said, stepping foot into the water, “So don’t get surprised.” Having warned her, he turned into the fairy he had been the previous night. Slowly, the little fairy floated closer to the center of the pool, but not right over. It then hovered there for a second, and quickly flew back to her side. Suddenly, a loud, shrieking laugh came from out of nowhere, followed by a strange woman swiftly rising from the center of the pool. She twisted in the air for a moment or two, and then set her sights on the two that had called her. This was the Great Fairy.

She was not like she had imagined her. Her skin was like opal, a rare black jewel, and her hair was like amethyst, a lovely purple gem. Beneath her shoulders, she held up a second pair of arms. She was staring right at the fairy who had called her up, her eyes almost lifeless. With a quick wink from her, the person in purple was changed back, and acting as if nothing had happened. He seemed collected, where San felt just a bit small. “Welcome young warriors,” the Great Fairy announced, “I am the Great Fairy of Magic. Because you have taken the time to find me, I will grant you aid on your adventure.”

Leaving no pause for an objection or question, she put two of her hands together, and the other two in a meditation position. With the light she was giving off intensifying, she spread her palms to reveal a lotus blossom. Blowing into it, she let the petals of the mystical flower shower down onto the two. As soon as they felt the first ones touch their skin, they could sense a power awaken within them. When the petals stopped, she spoke up once again. “In you, warrior of the vermilion hair,” she said, looking down to San, “I have imbued the Spin Attack. By holding your weapon at the ready, you can focus magic into it, and unleash it in a powerful spinning strike.”

“And you, warrior of the violet hood,” she continued, shifting her focus to the person in purple, “I have unlocked a small portion of your vast potential. The next time you feel a shock so great your body can barely stand it, your mind with become awash with knowledge. In an instant, you will be more powerful than one of the strongest wizards of your land. As I am now, this is all I can give both of you. But, if you wish, you can seek out the other Great Fairies across the land. They reside in the four compass directions, and would be happy to help a pair of warriors like you. Come back if you ever grow weary from battle. Arrivederci.”

And just as quickly as she spun into existence, she spun back out. The Great Fairy had come, given them a great power, and left, simple as that. Though San couldn’t tell what the person in purple was feeling, her excitement was almost tangible. “The Spin Attack eh?” she said, snapping her scythe into her hands, “I’m going to test this out.” Walking into the center of the pool, she gripped her weapon with both hands. Once there was enough room to perform her new talent, her legs lowered her into a stance, and her arms raised her scythe horizontally. It seemed almost natural when the blade began glowing with energy, showing her charge had lasted long enough.

Standing on her right foot alone, she then released the energy she had built up. With that release, her body made a complete rotation, sending a whirl of energy sliding off of her blade. In a second, the attack was over, but she had already mastered her new talent. It came to her almost as naturally as summoning the scythe itself. Done with the test, her excitement faded, and she started to remember her obligations. Right now, it was mid afternoon, and the sun set at eighteen. Thieves, even ones who had put themselves in seclusion, were always harder to find when they had the night to hide behind.

“Hey, you people are supposed to be smart, right?” she asked as she returned to the pool’s edge, “Well, where do you think we should look for this guy?”

“Umm… I don’t know,” the person in purple replied, stepping out of her way, “This country’s fairly large, so it could take quite a while to find a…”

“Wait, wait, wait,” San interrupted, “The country? Chances are, whoever it was is here in town. You know, there are bazaars, curiosity shops, all those places. If they wanted to make any rupees, they would stay around here.”

“Um, I don’t think so. Something as valuable as the Grand Falcon wouldn’t fetch the price its worth if it was sold in town. If it were priced that high, no one would buy it. Since the Festival crowds wouldn’t have any interest, I assume a nobler crowd would.”

“So you’re saying we have to head back to Ikana? That’s where it was stolen from crystal reader! No idiot good enough to steal something like that would try to sell it there.”

“No, I actually meant Romani Village. It’s mostly rich people that live there, so it would be the perfect place to look. It’s just southwest of town, hardly a walk at all.”

“Hmm… Good thinking Cukeman. Now, let’s go. Oh, and stay out of my way.”

Finished with the Great Fairy’s Fountain, they started their walk to Romani. Leaving town took longer than they would have liked, as they were closest to the north most gate. Their walk took them through the crowd of children, as well as a small rush of carpenters in the town’s central square. All the while, San grumbled at them for not noticing her. But once out, they were placed before a field quite different from the brown path of the canyon. In front of them, trees and tall grasses grew, revealing a forested area directly to the south. Leading straight ahead, many pairs of tall posts marked the way until the trees became too thick to allow any more.

Leading the way, the person in purple led them to the tucked away arch that would lead them to Milk Road. Walking through the tall grass, he heard a strange bird call, making him grow quite wary of their surroundings. She didn’t know what he was concerned with, but took caution none the less. It was always better to heed the fears of someone who was unemotional. Looking up, they saw a strange bird flying towards them. Seeing that, he quickly ran ahead, motioning for her to run as well. When they had gotten past the arch, he stopped and explained his action. “That was a Takkuri,” he said, “Never let one of those get too close to you.”

Now they were on Milk Road. It was a pleasant little path passing between a pair of steep hills. Nearby, a sign, reading Milk Highway, pointed toward a path to the side. This confused both guide and guided. “Which way do we go?” San asked, making no attempt at hiding the irritation she felt over all that was happening to her. “I don’t know,” the person in purple replied, “I just know the village is on the other end of Milk Road. I’ve never heard of Milk Highway before.”

“Well then let’s go that way. Milk Highway sounds faster than Milk Road, and I want this to be over as soon as possible.”

Having decided, they headed onto Milk Highway. Fortunately, they were stopped before they could go too far in the wrong direction. “Whoa there,” someone called out to them before they got very far. From a small shack near the start of the highway, a man came out and walked up to them. “What’re you two doing about to go onto Milk Highway? There’s nothing on that roadway accept a long walk and some horse feed.”

“Thank you,” the person in purple responded, “We were on our way to Romani Village, and got a little sidetracked.”

“So close to the Festival? Well it must be something pretty important, so I guess I’ll stop pestering you.”

Now that they were on the right track, they completed their journey to Romani Village. Upon arrival, they found it to be different than they had expected it. In a large ring, expensive looking houses lined the perimeter of a large field. In the center of that field, another couple, though poorer, houses stood next to a wide corral, which held several horses. Like the town in Ikana, there was no activity whatsoever, making the entire place seem almost like a ghost town. Following a worn out dirt path, they headed toward the biggest building in the entire circle. Surely someone was home there.

On their way, San reserved herself to absorbing the scenery, allowing her to gather her thoughts. To her, this whole situation stank worse than a crypt. While being having to baby sit the person that was with her, she was wasting valuable time on a simple hunch. If this turned out to be a wild goose chase, she would leave him before he could get in a word. She had to get back home before a few days were up, and every minute counted. Looking to one of the smaller structures, she was reminded of home. Or would have been, had a character in strange looking clothes not been casing the grounds.

Leaving the person in purple to his walk, she decided to go over to the suspicious looking youth. Luckily, he did not notice her coming up behind him, his concentration being too focused on the houses. “Hey you,” she said firmly, startling the youth, “You look really suspicious, you know that? Now, sit down and tell me what you were doing, like a good boy.”

“By the Giants lady, you almost scared the life out of me,” he exclaimed, turning to face her, “You shouldn’t sneak up on one of the… Well hello, there. I haven’t seen you around here before gorgeous. What say you and me head to the Milk Bar, and get a drink?”

Normally, San would have taken him up on his offer, even if he was suspicious looking, to receive some compliments on her face, but this was an exception. Not only was she short on time, he was at least four years younger than she was. “I say, act your age,” she replied, shoving him backwards, “Besides, I’m looking for a thief. Know anyone who steals things? You know, you kind of look like him. Maybe you two have met. He’s about your height, wears the same cap, has a number five on the back of his shirt. You really do look a lot like him. Perhaps you two are related.”

The youth didn’t need to hear any more of her pressuring. With a quick spin, he bolted away from her as fast as he could. Of course, San immediately gave chase, marking him as the prime suspect for the theft. They were just about matching eachother when a voice shouted out from behind them. “Duck!” it yelled, making both of them drop to the ground. Seeing him duck at a command that was meant for her, she swiftly grabbed his leg. He struggled as she pulled him in, but was silenced when she got him into a submission hold. From behind, she could hear the loud thump of the footsteps of who had shouted out to her getting closer.

“Are you alright?” the person in purple asked as he stopped. “Of course I’m alright,” she responded, tightening her grip on the youth, “It’s this little worm you should be worried about. I think this kid is the one who stole the Grand Falcon.”

“A Bomber…”

“A what? He has bombs?”

“No, he’s a Bomber, a member of the Bombers Secret Cabal of Injustice. They’re a gang of thieves who prey on people with good lives. He’s probably the one who…”

“That’s not true!” the Bomber shouted, “We used to be a Society of Justice, helping those in need. I used to come here every week and help with the horses. Everyone loved us, but now we’re just a joke. You’re right; I did steal the Old King’s sword. Do what you want with me, because I deserve it.”

This threw both of them off. A direct confession from the mere mention of the theft was not something they had expected. Fortunately, the confession did get one matter out of the way. “First,” San said, putting pressure on the bomber’s arm, “Tell me where you hid the sword.”

“It’s in our secret base,” he answered, letting out a little groan of pain, “But no one can get in there unless they’re Bombers. I’d have to let you in.”

“That’s a shame. Well, it looks like you’re going to be my hostage then.”

[Librairian]

Night had fallen, and three people where back where they had been before. In Ikana Canyon, those three were making their way toward a thieves den. Two were looking to recover a stolen weapon of great value, and the other was looking to settle a matter of honor. Each was doing this for their own reasons, but each was willing to work with the other to fulfill a common goal. Their resolve was stronger than steel, for they were about do perform a feat which each wanted with all their hearts. Even with the risks they knew were ahead, none had a drop of fear, turning their resolve into fierce determination.

“I want to thank you for this,” the Bomber said as they reached the hideout’s doorway, “If you can oust our leader while you get the sword back, I’m sure the Bombers Gang will regain its former integrity. If you do this, I will be in your debt.”

“Don’t worry about it,” the person in purple replied, “It’s a fair exchange. You’re letting us in so we can get the sword. We couldn’t do it without you.”

“That may work for you, paperback,” San interjected, “But if he says he’s in my debt, he’s in my debt. You can start by giving me all the rupees you’ve stolen. You kill two birds with one stone.”

To answer, the Bomber simply nodded. Finished with his preparation, he approached the doorway and began running his hand over it. Finding something, he motioned for the other two to stand back. As he huddled over what it was, they watched him move his hands up, down, and side to side, clearly working on the mechanism that opened the door. In a second or two, he stood up and rushed toward them. With a slow, powerful motion, an entire portion of the canyon wall opened up before their eyes. Once it was fully open, they quickly moved inside. “Hurry, it closes after a few seconds.”

No sooner had they walked in, they were stunned by what they saw. In the small entranceway alone, piles and piles of rupees filled the room. They were of all the colors one could obtain. Greens, blues, yellows, reds, purples, silvers, and oranges, they were all there. But also there, were a trio of Bombers who sprang into activity as soon as they entered. “Well look who it is,” one of them said, walking over the rupees like carpet, “It’s Number Five, and he brought us a couple new members. They look a little old though.”

“They’re not members, they’re buyers,” Number Five replied, easily deceiving the three, “They’ll be out soon.”

“Alright. Secret Cabal of Injustice forever.”

With that, they entered the next room. Right away, they were met with the object they had been searching for. Propped up in a glass display case, the Grand Falcon stood before them. It was a strong looking weapon, full with a sturdy, golden center and a butcher knife shape. Immediately, San made to dash over and take it, but was stopped by Number Five. “Don’t,” he said, pointing to the ground below, “You see that? It’s not an ordinary floor tile. Step on that, and the entire hideout will go into a panic. It’ll be safer if you two handle our leader first. If you can get rid of him, you can take the sword without any trouble.”

“Alright,” she said, unable to hide her annoyance.

Staying his hand, he let out a loud whistle, obviously a sign to let them deeper inside. In a second or two, the doors on each side of the case slid open. Entering the one on the left, they ended up in a hallway full of valuable looking items. These are the kind of things I need to get my hands on, San thought. After passing through a few more doors, they came to the last room. This one was empty though. The only things in it were a small table, a small stool, and a few sheets of paper. Sitting at that table, a boy, possibly even younger that the one in their company, was humming a tune, waiting for them.

“That’s it?” San asked as she walked up to the boy, and grabbed him by the collar, “You built this guy up to be some kind of tough customer, but he’s just as little as you. Next time, if someone’s pathetic as hell, TELL ME THEY’RE PATHETIC AS HELL!”

“You don’t understand!” Number Five began. Unfortunately, his words came too late. In a spiral of orange energy, she was pushed back and forced against the wall. With a thud, she fell to the floor, unconscious.

[Librairian]

By the time the sun was about to rise over the canyon walls, San had awoken. She was still inside the Bomber’s Hideout, still reeling from the strike. On either side, the Bomber, Number Five, and the person in purple were crouching over her. From where she was lying, she couldn’t see the boy that had knocked her out. “Look, she’s waking up,” said Number Five. “How fortunate,” the person in purple replied, removing the hand he had against her forehead. Without saying a word, she sat up and tried to shake the drowsiness out of her head. Unsuccessful, she lay back down.

In a moment of realization, she quickly brought a hand to her cheek. Stroking the smooth skin of her face, she put aside the fear that something had happened. From what she could feel, her face was still the perfect picture of beauty it had always been. Of course, even though she knew her face like a mother knew her child, she still had a small amount of doubt. Snapping her fingers, she summoned her mirror, inadvertently causing her watchers to back off. Lifting the blade before her face, she tried to make out the image before her. What she saw was a blur of color splayed against a metal background. “They busted my mirror.”

Getting up, she was rapidly reminded of her original mission. Turning to the person in purple, she prepared to ask a difficult question. “So, what’s it feel like?” she asked irately. “What do you mean?” he replied, shying away from the presence of her weapon.

“You know, how does it feel to have your stupid mask? The one you wanted, but we worked to get. It’s a lot easier to get things like that when you take all the credit for yourself. You Cukemen are all alike; as soon as your competition is out cold, you steal the treasure out from under them. Oh, and then I bet you just came back here so you could say, ‘Oh Rockael, I sat by your side all night. Please [Salty Word] me,’”

“Hey! The Grand Falcon is still in the display case, and I left it there for you. WE did the work, so I assumed WE should get the reward. Don’t judge that which you don’t know.”

San opened her mouth to answer, but found that she was unable. To what he had just said, she could think of no justifiable response. He had done something genuinely nice for her, without any bribe or incentive to back it up. This was not an action she had not expected someone like him to perform. After a little while of waiting, she was able to conjure up a response. “Alright,” she said, snapping her mirror away, “Let’s drag this thing back to Ikana Castle.”

“Alrighty then,” he replied, turning to face the Bomber, “Bye Number Five, and good luck with the Secret Society of Justice.”

“Thank you,” he responded, “And my real name is James.”

With that, they went to retrieve the Grand Falcon, and head to the castle. After removing it from the display case, they found the blade was heavier than it looked. Since neither could carry it by themselves, each took an end. Wearing a metal glove on his right, the person in purple took the sharp side. Walking at an ungainly pace, they left the hideout and began on their way toward the giant elevator. While they covered the relatively short distance between the two, San thought about what happened while she was knocked out. After running through a few scenarios, she came to the conclusion that she didn’t really care that much.

After a short walk, they ended up back at the covered platform. From there, it didn’t take long for them to come to the front gate of the castle. As they approached the large set of doors, they saw the two soldiers that had greeted them the first time they came through. Of course, their reaction to them was far from normal. No sooner could they tell what they were carrying, they began pounding on the door, and yelling at someone unseen. Just as the two couriers reached the gateway, it opened, and the soldiers issued a solid salute. Judging from that reaction, they could tell they were going to get what they asked for.

Like before, they ventured past the courtyard, beyond the entrance hall, and met with the Queen. Without saying a word, she led them into the throne room. Once inside, they were instructed to wait at the door, while she rushed to talk with the King. As she did, the two fierce looking soldiers exchanged awkward glances, instead of stepping between the guests and the monarchs. It was a hint that their arrival would either be well received, or sent back with proportionate prejudice. It made sense though. Two strangers finding in one day what a royal search took a week to come up with nothing.

In a second, the woman moved to the King’s right side. Another second and he rose from his throne. “Bring the sword to me,” he said, extending an open palm. At the same slow pace they used to get there, they walked over to him and placed the blade in his hand. In a feat of strength neither of them was capable of, he raised the weapon to eye level, and examined the steel. After a moment or two, he motioned for them to step back. “You have done exactly what I asked,” he announced, placing the blade into a sheath at his hip when they got to the center, “And in little longer than a day with no leads to go off of. You have certainly earned your rewards.”

Just as he said that, the two soldiers came towards them, and left the room. This brought great happiness to San. After all her hard work, she could finally go back home, and be rid of this irritating person in purple. The very thought made her want to cheer out loud. “Additionally, I have one more reward to offer,” the King continued, “For your above average performance, I am willing to offer each of you a job here at the castle. In the positions I am offering, you will fulfill the duties of royal hunters. Your payment will be hefty, and the work will be infrequent. You have right to decline, but it is my request to you, that you accept.”

It did not take but half a second for San to come up with her answer. “I’m sorry sir,” she said, trying to sound as polite as possible, “But I’m going to have to decline. I’m already gainfully employed.”

“I’ll have to decline as well,” the person in purple added, “I have other things to take care of. Plus, I’m not qualified for such a high position.”

“As you wish,” the King replied, taking his seat, “But should you reconsider, the job will always be here waiting for you. You are excused from my presence. My followers will present you with your treasures before you leave.”

Both issuing a small bow, they left the throne room. Waiting just outside, each of the fierce looking soldiers held one of their treasures. Just like she had imagined, the stone he was carrying was one of the most beautiful she had ever laid eyes upon. Like a torch in the darkness, the blue glow it gave off lit up the hall. This was it, one of the legendary stones that no longer occurred naturally. It was called the Moon’s Tear; named for the fact that they only fell from what looked like the eye of the moon. At the same time, they held the shape of a tear, perhaps meaning the moon really could cry. Like a hawk snapping a fish out of the water, she quickly took it from his grasp.

Before the excitement wore off, she needed someone to exclaim a cheer of victory towards. Looking for the person in purple, she found that he was no longer standing next to her. By the glow of her gem, she could just see his cloak flutter out of view. This threw her off a bit. Not even a goodbye, she thought. To her, this was exactly something she should have expected, but in her excitement, had not. No longer having the desire to cheer, she simply headed for the exit with a smile on her face. Walking into the courtyard, she got ready to say goodbye to Ikana Castle, when she heard someone come up behind her.

“If you could wait just a moment,” the Queen said as she caught up with her, “Please, tell me what you’re going to do with the Moon’s Tear.”

“Why?” San asked, “Is there something I shouldn’t be doing with it?”

“No, it’s not anything like that. It’s just that is my favorite gem in all of the royal collection, and I’m sad to see it go. Before you take it away, I would just like to know why you wanted to have it.”

“Well… Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll tell you. First, I’m going to go someplace very secluded. Then I’m going to look into the core of this stone long and hard. And Finally, I’m going to realize which is more beautiful; me or this gem. It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time, and also the reason why I became a jeweler. I hope that puts your concerns to rest.”

“Yes, it does. Thank you. Oh, and if you’re looking for a spot to do this, I would suggest the Mountain Village. It’s lovely this time of year, and also deserted because of the Festival.”

“Thank you. Goodbye.”

Issuing another bow, San started once again on her way out, her destination, the mountains. Walking along, her good mood seemed to open up the world to her. The castle courtyard was no longer just a stack of stone, but an intelligently designed yard, which could be terrifying during the night, but serene during the day. That she remembered from her first visit. Outside, the near perfect architecture of the buildings took her eye for the first time. Even with the bumpy landscape of the canyon, the designer seemed to have built the most perfectly symmetrical structures possible. It was like she was seeing everything for the first time.

Taking both elevators and walking past all the gates, she admired all the scope the canyons had to offer. It was really quite impressive that a kingdom would thrive right out of such a desolate place. Eventually, she came to the large field that separated the four directional regions from Clock Town. Facing west from an eastern direction, she turned to her right, which led her to face the mountains of the north. Pep in her step, she started down the gently sloping area before her. After no more than fifty or sixty steps, she came to a little valley, marked by huge, mushroom shaped rocks. From beyond them, she could hear the footsteps of dodongos; dinosaur creatures that lived near mountains and caves.

A short walk and she came to a ramp against the sharply rising mountain face. Climbing the short distance to the first landing, she got a good view of the little valley she had just walked through. It was really a nice area. After taking a good look over the valley, she began up the mountain trail ahead. The Queen was right, it was gorgeous. Of course, it was the middle of spring, and the whole continent, or wherever she was, was in full bloom. It was nice to see such a lively landscape after all of the generally barren lands she had been through.

Taking in everything she could, her legs swiftly brought her higher and higher. All the while, the plant life of the cut in the mountain’s side kept her eyes. She could hardly hear the birds chirping, and the little animals scampering in the background. Things had definitely turned around. Where before, fate seemed to be trying its hardest to make her feel rotten, it now seemed to be sending her to a place of continuous joy. What they say must be true, San thought as she rounded a turn. The thing she was thinking about was the rewards of hard work. The harder the task, the sweeter the fruit it bore.

After a little while, she came to an open area in the mountainside. From where she was, she could hear water running briskly from a waterfall nearby. As soon as she heard that, everything else seemed to melt away. Guided by the sound, she found a fairly large pond being fed by the waterfall’s basin. This was perfect. With her mirror busted, she could use the reflection of the water to perform her pre-examination viewing. But, by a habit she had gained from looking at herself so often, she summoned her scythe anyways. Mildly flustered by the sight of a mirror which had lost its primary function, she buried the blade in the ground.

With that, she got down on her hands and knees and looked into the water. That which she loved more than anything else appeared before her. Her reflection stared back up at her with a warm look, showing that she herself was warm inside. It was just like she remembered, although possibly even better than before. The water seemed to reflect more than her mirror had anytime she looked at it, and she knew how. In her mirror, she was perfect, with every curve and feature of her face exactly the way they should be. In the water, she was above perfect. A force of nature was reflecting a force of nature. Beauty was staring back at itself through the kindest element.

Without her knowing, her body began lowering her head toward the image below. Only after the reflection’s expression changed did she realize what she was doing. She was about to kiss her own lips! Jerking her head back at the thought, she felt her hands slip from the ponds edge. In a second, she had fallen beneath the water. With the allied efforts of her surprise of falling in and her shock at what she had almost done, she suddenly forgot how to swim. Driven by instinct, she let out a scream. Now she was below the water, no breath in her lungs, and no sense in her legs. Unless by some chance her memory came back, this did not look good.

From her submerged position, she looked up above the water’s surface. She noticed her reflection couldn’t be seen from this side. The only things she could see were the slender end of the Moon’s Tear, and the shaft of her scythe hanging out over the edge. This reminded her that the chain was still wrapped around her arm, acting as the one way she could save herself. However, her scream had not only taken away her air, but her strength as well. This is it, she thought as she tried tightening her grip on the ball at the chain’s end. Her thoughts were of dying, and how the goddesses would let her perfection fade from history.

Just as she was about to close her eyes and accept the fact that her end was upon her, she saw someone looking down at the pond. She did not expect them to see her though, for their reflection would cover up her true image. But despite her expectation, she heard a crash as the figure jumped into the water. Though she couldn’t tell exactly who it was, she could feel them tugging on her chain. Her will tried to keep her conscious long enough to see her out of the water, but she wouldn’t last that long. Even as the person set foot on the pond’s bottom and wrapped their arms around her, she knew that she wouldn’t be awake to thank them.

Suddenly, they shot upwards faster than water had shown to allow. A split second passed and they were out of the water, and San was barely still awake. Gently, her savior laid her on the grass. Attempting to find out if she was still alive, they put their head to her chest, trying to see if she still had a heart beat. She felt like announcing that she was okay, but was unable so near unconsciousness. Finding that she was still alive, they looked into her eyes, but weren’t able to tell that she was awake. With that, they began the next step of her revival. Bending down, they pressed their mouth against hers and shot air into her lungs.

Right away, she felt something bubble up inside her. Shooting up, and sending her savior onto their back, she regurgitated all the water she had just got done swallowing. Once she was empty, she fell into a coughing fit, which scratched mercilessly at her throat. Seeing this, her savior got up and kneeled next to her. Bringing their hand to her throat, they shot a flash of light into her. She felt like panicking, but immediately felt something strange come over her. In that instant of light, her lungs were now as they always were, and her head was as clear as the crisp, night air around them. It felt almost like nothing had even happened. However, she had been saved.

Looking to the one who had saved her, she was filled with greater shock than she felt when she had fallen into the water. Soaking wet from the rescue, the person in purple, who she had thought would never enter her life again, kneeled at her side. His normally drawn hood was now clinging to his back, showing a rather unremarkable, but kind looking face. This, San had not even thought of. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the almost unreal scene that she was a part of. Nothing made sense. What she thought and felt: none of it could come up with a reason for what was going on.

“How are you feeling?” he asked in a tone she had never heard him use before. She could hardly think of a response. The only words that came to her mouth were not even ones she knew she wanted to say. “That song…” she breathed, her voice shaken with the confusion running through her, “That song you were whistling back at the castle… Where is it from? Where did you learn it?”

“That song? It’s the Song of Healing. I learned it from a mask salesman. It has the power to heal the soul of whoever listens to it.”

“Could you play it for me?”

“Of course.”

Rising to his feet, the person in purple took a little blue wand out from within his cloak. Standing with his heels together, he raised both of his hands as if he were about to conduct an orchestra. What he was carrying wasn’t a wand; it was a conductor’s baton. After setting a beat, he began to move the baton and whistle with the notes he was striking. It was just like last time, except that the calm of his music came sooner. In fact, just six notes into the progression, San felt something strange. In a moment or two, the strangeness became recognizable. Another moment and she knew what she felt was a memory trying to come back.

Already she was somewhere else, someplace she remembered. It was a stage, or more specifically, a stage was what she was looking at. There were a few others between her and front stage, but none of them were familiar. She realized she was standing at the back of the room, just as a girl who looked just like her took the stage. The audience gave a small but appreciative applause as the girl on stage gave a little bow. Clasping her hands at her chest, the then began to sing the very song that had lulled San into this dream in the first place. As she sang, the person in purple appeared on stage as well, although she could tell he wasn’t part of her actual dream.

In a few moments, the song was over, and the audience gave a hearty applause, almost completely turned around from what they sounded like before. Finished, the girl left the person in purple to conduct mindlessly on stage. “You were great! You were great!” a young vermilion haired child shouted as she stopped the girl a few feet off stage, “You sang really great for your last performance, and you looked really beautiful too.”

“Thanks,” the girl said, completely unaware that the conductor had stopped, “But remember Rockael, it’s the song that matters, and not what you look like singing it.”

Suddenly, San was no longer in the back of the room. Now she was standing much lower than she had been, and at the side of the stage as well. To her front, the girl was looking down on her, showing a smile that she had almost forgotten. Beyond her, she could see the person in purple giving her the very same smile. In their presence, she felt some part of herself that she had not felt in a very long time. Under those smiles she had almost forgotten, she let a single tear slip out of here eye. After that one, she could feel others coming with it. Letting the floodgates of her emotion open full wide, she ran into her sister’s arms. “I’m not bleeding, but it hurts a lot,” was all she said.

Now she was back in reality, no more composed than she was in her dream. Tears were still falling down her cheeks, and she still felt like a child as she knelt before the standing conductor. Just as she had done so many years ago when her sister left home, she jumped into the person in purple’s arms. He responded simply by kneeling down and returning her embrace. “What you said,” She whimpered, clutching him tighter, “Remember, when we first met? I know what you meant now. I’m sorry for all the bad things I said to you. And I’m sorry I didn’t say ‘thank you’ all the times I should have.”

To that, he didn’t say anything at all. He simply held her closer and let her cry, because that was what she wanted. And so she cried for hours, draining all the sadness that she had held in her heart. She cried for every name she called him. She cried for all the things she accused him of. She cried for the power the Great Fairy had given her. She cried for the route he had led her on. She cried for the night he watched over her. She cried for the life he had saved. But most of all, she cried for forgetting the lessons her sister had taught her, and for making mistakes that would make her sister ashamed.

“Tell me,” she said between the tears, “If this song is supposed to heal, why do I feel so sad?”

“Well, it’s my first time healing someone,” he replied, “I probably messed it up somehow.”

“No, you played the song beautifully.”

“Then… I guess there is no reason for you to be sad. It’s okay though. You don’t need a reason to feel anything. As long as that’s what you want.”

Hearing that, she at last pulled away from him. “Then… I want to feel happy,” she said, wiping the last tears from her face, “It’s what I want.”

“Well, if you’re feeling up to it,” he answered, standing and helping her to her feet, “It’s almost the eve of the Festival. Just another hour until midnight.”

“Sounds great.”

With that, they started on their way back towards Clock Town. “By the way,” the person in purple began, “I never got your name. I think it might have been Rockael.”

“Yep, you got it right,” she replied, her voice beginning to regain its former zest, “Rockael Sandai, but my friends can call me Rocky. And what’s your name? I don’t think it ever came up.”

“It’s Shisho, glad to meet you.”



The End