bijoukaiba: Since this update is long over due, I won't say anything. Just read. I claim no ownership of "The Wind Waker" and its characters, nor The Lion King and its story.

Chapter 10: He Lives in You

Komali paced angrily through the grass after his argument. Who would've thought that after seeing his old friend after sixteen years would make him so angry?

"She's wrong." the Rito told himself. "I can't go back. What would it prove, anyway? It won't change anything. You can't change the past."

Komali stopped and looked up into the night sky. It felt like all the stars, the 'great kings of the past', were staring down at him.

"You said you'd always be there for me!" Komali shouted, then softened his voice. "... But you're not. And it's because of me. It's my fault... it's my... fault..."

He sniffled, trying to fight back the tears that hadn't plagued him for most of his life. Komali sat down in the grass, staring sadly at the ground.

That's when... he heard a voice, chanting. There was an old man leaning against a tree behind him.

"Anata wa baka, to boku dewa arimasen. Anata wa baka, to boku dewa arimasen. Hohoho!"

Komali decided to ignore the old man, stepping over to the pool of water at the top of the waterfall than ran alongside the forest. He sighed as he gazed at the stars reflected in it, until a large deku nut splashed into the pool, creating ripples.

"Anata wa baka, to boku dewa arimasen!"

The Rito shook his head, finally annoyed by the old man.

"Guh, knock it off already!"

"I can't! It'll just climb back up! Hohoho!"

Komali tried to walk away, but the old man continued to follow him.

"Crazy old... look, will you stop following me already? Who are you?"

"The question is, who... are you?" the old man asked in reply.

Komali frowned. "I thought I knew. Now... I'm not so sure."

"Well, I know who you are." the old man stated. "Ssshhh, come here. It's a secret."

He whispered into Komali's ear. "... Anata wa baka, to boku dewa arimasen!"

"UGH! Not that again!" the Rito groaned. "What's that supposed to mean, anyway?"

"It means you're a fool... and I'm not. Hohoho!" (1)

Komali shook his head. "... I think you're a little confused."

"Wrong!" the old man replied, stepping in front of the Rito prince. "I'm not the one who's confused! You don't even know who you are!"

"Psh, and I suppose you do," Komali retorted, changing direction.

"Sure do! You're the son of Mukato!"

Komali froze, quickly turning back to the old man.

"... Bye." the old man dashed away quickly, into the forest.

"Whuh? W-wa-wait!"

Komali chased him into the forest, finally spotting him by a large, purple flower bud. He stopped to catch his breath, then asked the elder, "... You knew my father?"

"Correction: I know your father." he replied.

Komali frowned and sighed. "... I hate to tell you this, but... he died. A long time ago..."

"Nope! Wrong again!" the old man laughed, much to Komali's surprise. "Hoho! He's alive, and I'll show him to you. Now follow me, follow Orca, and I'll show you the way! Come on!"

He jumped into the flower bud, propelled upward to an upper branch. Komali hadn't tried to fly in a while, so he decided to try and follow him by leaping into each purple bud. He landed successfully on the same branch as Orca, only to find that he was now several branches above him.

"Kraah! Don't dawdle! Hurry up!"

"Wait! Would you slow down?" Komali asked as he leapt from bud to bud.

He now found himself at the mouth of a tunnel, leading outside. Orca pulled a magical deku leaf from a pouch on his belt, and used it to fly in the wind back towards the front of the island. Komali stretched out his wings and followed him, landing at the base of the waterfall in the tall grass.

"Stop!" Orca ordered. He beckoned the Rito prince over to the pool of water amidst the grass and reeds. Now he spoke in a softer, more mysterious voice, like a whisper. "... Look down there."

Komali stepped over to the old man, then decided to take his advice, kneeling on the rocky bank to gaze below him. When he looked down, he saw the water beneath him as well as his apprehensive expression. The Rito frowned.

"That's not my father," he stated, disappointed. "That's just my reflection."

"No," Orca reassured. "Look... harder..."

Komali gazed back down into the water as Orca placed the blunt end of his spear into the water and made a stirring motion. This time, the Rito face that gazed back up at Komali appeared older and more stern, the type of stern expression that came from holding great power and bore righteous pride.

The Rito recognized it as his father's face.

"You see..." Orca explained to Komali as he stared into the pool. "... He lives in you..."

Komali's brow furrowed as he stared into the water.

"Komali.."

The Rito looked up, thinking briefly that the old man had addressed him. But he hadn't. Impossible or not, he knew who that voice belonged to. Komali looked up into the sky as the winds toyed with his snowy hair.

"... Father?"

The winds did not toy with the clouds; they seemed to be conjuring something. They swirled together, forming a large image. For some inexplicable reason, a bright light shone from them, like a ray of sunlight. In the light, he could see the mysterious figure of Mukato. The spirit of his father.

"Komali. You have forgotten me," the spirit stated.

"No," Komali denied, shaking his head. "After everything...? How could I?"

"You have forgotten who you are, and so, forgotten me," Mukato explained. "Look inside yourself, Komali. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place... in the great Circle of Life."

"How can I go back?" Komali questioned. "I'm not who I used to be."

"Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true King," Mukato declared. The clouds swirled around his upper body.

Komali was silent, watching his father in awe. Even after death, there was still a powerful and inspiring air about his spirit that would humble anyone that beheld him.

"Remember... who you are..." Mukato's voice faded as his spirit faded into the swirling clouds.

"No! Please!" Komali cried out, standing abruptly. "Don't leave me!"

"Remember..."

"Father!"

"Remember..."

"Don't... leave me..."

"Remember..."

The clouds finally settled. Mukato's spirit was gone. Komali stood there silently, gazing up into the sky in wonder.

"Ohoho! Crazy weather, don't you think?" Orca asked.

"Yeah. I think the winds are changing," Komali replied.

"Ahh... change is good," the old man agreed with a nod.

"Yeah, but it's not easy," Komali added. "I know what I have to do, but... going back means I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long..."

Before the Rito could muse over this any further, the old man whacked him on top of the head with the blunt wooden end of his spear.

"OWW!" Komali shouted. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Does it matter?" Orca asked. "It's in the past!"

He cackled. He seemed to enjoy hitting people with his spear.

"I know, but... it still hurts!" Komali shot back, rubbing the tender area of his head.

"Yes, yes. The past can hurt," the old man agreed, gently patting Komali's shoulder. "But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it."

He swung the spear at Komali again. The Rito leaned backwards, almost in a limbo pose, to avoid another painful strike.

"Hohoho! See? Now, what are you going to do?"

Komali smirked. "First... I'm taking that spear!"

He grabbed it suddenly from the old man and threw it to his left, into the tall grass.

"Kraaahh! No, not my spear!" Orca shuffled through the grass, searching for it, finally finding it. He turned around, expecting to find Komali standing there, but he was gone. The Rito was now in the air, flying towards the north.

"Hey! Where are you going?" the elder yelled.

"I'm going back!" Komali called over his shoulder.

A huge grin passed over the old man's face.

"That's right! Get out of here! Go!" he cackled in delight and raised his spear over his head.

Success.

Makar and Linder were sleeping peacefully the next morning when Medli came in to check on them. She knelt down and leaned over, tickling Linder's 'stomach'.

"Psst! Wake up!" she whispered.

Linder's eyes flickered open, seeing two bright red eyes staring down at him. He screamed. Soon Makar woke up, screaming too.

"Ssshhh! Shh! Calm down, it's okay!" Medli assured. "It's just me."

"Don't do that again!" Linder barked. "Omnivores... agh."

"Have either of you seen Komali?" the Rito asked.

"I thought he was with you," Linder replied.

"He was... but now I can't find him!" Medli explained.

"You won't find him here! Hoho!" laughed an old man, watching them from a tree branch. "The King... has returned."

Medli gasped, a smile spreading over her face. "I can't believe it. He's gone back!"

"Gone back? What do you mean?" Linder asked, standing up. He looked up at the tree branch, but the old man was gone. "What's going on? Who's the old guy?"

"Komali's gone back to challenge Skett!" the Rito exclaimed.

"Who?"

"Skett!"

"Who drew a sketch?" Makar asked.

"No, it's his uncle," Medli corrected.

"His uncle drew a sketch of the old guy?" Linder asked.

"NO!" Medli nearly shouted from exasperation, then explained more clearly. "Komali's gone back to challenge his uncle to take his rightful place as king."

Linder and Makar exchanged a look. "Ohh..."

bijoukaiba: I had to finish this chapter. I'm finishing all remaining chapters on my home computer, so I can start the new ones on my new MacBook. EEEE! Besides, this story is nearly two years overdue for an update. I know how this should end, so what's taking me? Here's a list-

Swordplay

The Falsebound Kingdom

The Culprit Is...? (almost completed)

Mostly the former two have occupied my time, especially the first one. I'm going to try and work on this more often. It would be so easy to finish, so I should!