When I Fall

Chapter 2: The Strange Masked Kid

I didn't have time to wonder where my sword went. Ghirahim grasped a fistful of my shirt and moved to deliver another punch. My muscles tensed as I braced myself for the impact. But his fist froze midair, inches from my nose. Raising an eyebrow, I looked between his widened eyes.
"What?" I asked. "What is it? Why'd you stop? Not that I want you to continue or anything."
He shifted his gaze to his left. "I sense... an intense power."
"Eh?"
My eyes widened bigger than his when he turned around. His grip on my shirt didn't loosen one bit, but he actually took his eyes off me... in the middle of a fight. My head couldn't wrap around that.
"I know you're there," Ghirahim said. "If you'd prefer your throat to remain whole and unscathed, you'd do well to cease your foolish hiding and come out."
I stood on my tiptoes and peered over his shoulder. There wasn't a thing but trees and vegetation for as far as I could see. Perhaps Ghirahim could see farther? Or maybe nobody was there and he was just crazy. After a minute of watching and waiting with nothing happening, I decided to risk pissing him off and speak up.
"I don't think there's anyone—"
"Shut it, Skychild."
"But—"
He jerked his head halfway to me, shooting a side-glare through his hair. "Test me again, and I won't hesitate to cut out your tongue and feed it to my Bokoblins."
My lips pursed. The Bokoblins you don't have anymore, I thought. Because they're dead. Resisting an eyeroll, I sighed, but otherwise remained silent as Ghirahim returned his attention to the woods. That's when the shrubbery rustled and a small shadow stepped out from within them, followed by two strangely-colored fairies.
"Is that..." I squinted "... a child?"
The child let out an unsettling laugh, the unusual heart-shaped mask on their face shaking as if it was having a seizure.
"Guess you found me!" Their voice was high-pitched, in a way unlike any kid I'd ever heard. They laughed again, mockingly pointing a finger at us... and in their other hand was...
"My sword!"
The kid was indeed holding the blade that'd been on my back moments before, sheath and all.
Ghirahim snickered. "Your sword? As if a mere child could've stolen that toothpick of a blade without even me noticing? Preposterous."
I shook my head. There was no denying that was my sword. The leather sheath had a pink flower design near the top where I'd let Zelda doodle.
The child gasped and hid the sword behind their back.
"Hey, Skull Kid," the purple fairy said. "Can I hold the sword? Please?"
The yellow fairy bashed into him. "No way, Tael! You're so clumsy, I'm sure you'd find a way to break it somehow."
"Aw, c'mon, Sis... It's made of steel. Just let me see it for a minute, alright?"
The scene was absolutely ridiculous... and apparently distracting. When I felt Ghirahim's grip loosen some, I took the opportunity and shoved past him.
"What! Link!" He growled from behind.
I didn't know if he was chasing me. I bet he was. But I didn't care; I just wanted my sword back.
The child—Skull Kid, as they called him—turned around and flew—yes, flew!—in the opposite direction with the fairies close behind. I pumped my arms harder and forced my legs to move quicker. It may not have been Fi, but that sword was still important to me. It was a gift from Zelda to celebrate the defeat of Demise. I couldn't lose it!
I chased the Skull Kid until my muscles begged for retirement. He'd remained a few yards ahead the entire time no matter how hard I tried to catch up, so close yet constantly outside of reach.
"C'mon!" He called back with his creepy voice. "You can't be giving up that easily! Not the so-called 'hero!'"
My ears perked up. The Skull Kid, someone I'd never seen before, knew about my title as hero? Had rumors of my accomplishments really spread to foreign lands? They had to have. There was no way this kid was from around here.
"Wh—who are you?" I called between pants.
Their only answer was another giggle.
Gasping, I slowed to a stop and almost collapsed. My body was sweltering. How this kid kept a chase up for this long, I had no idea. I bent over with my hands on my knees, trying to recollect myself. When I looked up again, the Skull Kid was gone. In his place was a giant green tree covered in equally big mushrooms. The shrooms made a pathway up to a large hole in the trunk, big enough for a person to pass through.
I made my way up, staggering only occasionally, and peered inside. There was a seemingly endless abyss of darkness, no sign of the Skull Kid except for the faint echo of his laughter.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. If I returned home without that sword, Zelda might be sad. Sure, she may be happy just to see me safe and sound. But did I want to take that chance?
With a newly born determination, my eyes snapped open and I stepped forward, allowing myself to fall down.