The Demon Lord's Inner Battle

Chapter 13

When we arrive at the light beam, it's already complete dark.

"Be careful on your way back, buddy. See you soon."

I pet Crimson's beak and jump off.

Once I land, I call out to Fi and she jumps infront of me.

"Yes, master?"

I look to the ground. I'm afraid of what I will do now and it's totally against the goddess's wish...

"Master. No matter what you will decide to do, I will always be with you. I will walk along the path you choose."

I raise my head, looking at her.

"You know what I'm about to do, huh?"

She nods.

"I can't fully understand your human emotions but I sense them still. I take it, talking with a different human helped you admiting to these emotions, that's why we're here."

I nod.

"Yeah... it did... thanks Fi. For everything. I'm happy we met."

I smile at her and I could have sworn I see her smile a second too.

"Me too, master. Now let's go. I can sense Lord Ghirahim's presence nearby. I am to 90% sure, he is already aware of your arrival."

I nod and she heads back into the sword. The forest at night sure feels different. Atleast there are no monsters around.

The clear air helps me loosining up a little and clear my head. I stop at the waterfall were I met him last time I came here.

"Here goes..."

I take a deep breath before shouting his name and immediatly hear his chuckle and feel his hands on my shoulders from behind.

"My my, sky child. Do you know how late it is down here?"

I try to turn around but his hands prevent me.

"No... don't do that. Say. What do you want from me, now?"

Why doesn't he let me turn around...? Is he still hurt? Or angry even...? I feel pain in my chest not being able to see his face and swallow.

"I...uhm... I wanted to apologize..."

I feel his grip on my shoulders tighten, making me clench my teeth from the pain.

"Sigh. Sky child, look. I appreciate it, really but we're enemies. And you know that just as much as I do. We have to stop with whatever we're doing here and you have to stop coming here to see me."

I ball my fists at his comment and pull away to face him. This time, I'm grabbing his shoulders, gaining a surprised sound from him.

"No! I refuse! I don't want us to be enemies! I don't want to hurt you! I don't want to fight you! I... I lo-!"

Ghirahim shuts me up with his finger on my lips.

"That's enough, sky child. Go back home."

I slap his hand away.

"No! Listen to what I'm saying! Please! Ow!"

He grabs my arms and forces them behind me, holding them with one hand. The other he holds at me neck, choking me and looking straight into my eyes.

"I said go home. Or do you want me to kill you right here, sky child?"

His voice sounds so cold... his eyes are serious... would he really kill me...? He tightens his grip on my neck, making me squeeze my eyes shut. Then he throws me on the ground and turns around.

I hold my neck, trying to catch my breath.

"Take that as a warning. I will revive my master and for that I need your precious friend. The only way to stop me is to face me as an enemy. You should be prepared for a fight next time we meet, sky child."

I try to reach out to his back but before I do, he dissapears into thousand crystals.

"N...no... I don't want to... why... why...why doesn't he listen to me...?!"

I smash my fist into the ground, screaming.

"F...friend? Are you hurt?"

I raise my head and see Machi looking at me.

"Oh... Machi..."

He comes closer to me and looks around.

"Did that demon hurt you?"

I smile weakly and shake my head.

"No... I'm okay. We just talked."

"You seem sad... Come home with me friend, kwee... it's late already. You should rest a bit."

He pulls on my hand with his cute tiny paw and I smile and nod.

"Alright. Thanks, Machi."

I walk to the giant tree with him and lay down next to him and close my eyes as he snuggles to my side...

I wake up with the sun shining through the hole in the giant tree's leafs and look to my side to see Machi curled up to me. I pet his soft fur with a smile as he makes a cute sound as he slowly wakes up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't wanted to wake you."

I look at him apologetically as he blinks at me sleeply.

"Hrm. It's okay, friend. Do you feel better now, kwee?"

He rubs his eyes with his tiny paws and I smile at him and nod.

"Yeah. Thanks."

I remember the events of yesterday and am overwhelmed by sadness... Ghirahim...

"C'mon, friend. Let's go eat."

Machi got up while I was lost in thought and pulls on my tunic. I can see worry in his eyes again. Damn. What a hero I am, making everyone around me worried constantly. I curse myself silently as I nod to him and get up to eat with the Kikwis.

After we're done eating, the elder approaches me.

"We hope we were of a little help to you, friend. We can never repay you for what you did for us but if you're ever in need for friends or a place to sleep, you can always come here."

I nod and look around the kikwis, my friends and smile.

"Thank you friends. I really appriciate it. I'm happy I met you guys."

The little kikwis cuddle up to me while the elder smiles. After a while he clears his voice.

"Now now my little kikwis. I'm sure our friend has some business to attend to and must return home."

They step away from me and I nod. Before I go I kneel down to Machi.

"Thanks for finding me, Machi. That was really brave of you."

I pet his head and he hugs me. Then I get up and wave to them as I head to the goddess statue.

Back in the sky I get greeted by Crimson like always and lay on his back the fly back to Skyloft. He has probably notice my gloomy mood. Once we're there, he gets down to the ground so it's easier for me to get off him and nugdes my shoulder.

'Cheer up' it's almost as I can hear him say these words through his eyes. I smile at him and pet him, not even needing to say thanks. He can feel it.

Then Crimson pushes me towards the dorms. He wants me to rest. I nod and head to my room. As soon as my head hits the rock hard bed I fall asleep, the events of the Woods still fresh in my mind.