[NEWLY EDITED AND REVISED: 11/9/2018]
I decided to change the story a little bit. Everything in this version will remain the same, but I have some different ideas for certain things, like for one enigmatic character for example...so I deleted all the recent chapters and decided to make some new and improved ones that follow this new version. Sorry everyone for the constant editing and revising, but I feel like I can do a little bit better with this story and adaptation...I just need some imagination and a good outline! So bear with me once more folks, cause I'm gonna have to start this from the ground up again! XP
But like I said before, I REALLY hope all of you will like this! I'll try to make this as different as possible and make good content out of it! Also, I hope I can entertain you all with my writing. I try REALLY hard to write well, so maybe this will be practice for me when I get back to this. In the meantime, here's (again) the prologue! :D
Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.
-Walter Anderson
-oOo-
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
MAJORA'S MASK
-oOo-
ACT 1: THE JOURNEY
Link sighed. He's getting kind of nervous...
'Well, there's no turning back now...'
He's standing next to a tall, well-toned, attractive and mature looking woman, whose name is Impa, her silver-white hair tied into a ponytail as she's wearing her stealth-like Sheikah attire. She stood in front of a grand wooden doorway and knocks on the right door, opening the door just a tad as she looked inside, "Princess? You have a visitor. It's Link."
Link strains to hear what the Princess of Hyrule might've said. It probably wasn't anything imperative, she could've just accepted him into her room.
...That didn't come out right.
'Goodness, I am nervous...' Link thought to himself.
"Princess Zelda will see you now, young lad," Impa said to him, interrupting his thoughts.
"Oh! Um, thanks, Impa," Link said.
Impa smiled at the young boy. "You're most welcome," She then looks at the door that was opened just a crack. She closes it slightly and says to Link in a quiet voice, "I hope that you find your friend in your journey, Link."
Link smiled back at the older woman. "Thank you, Impa. I hope so too."
Impa smiled with a nod and moves aside for Link to enter Zelda's room. He made his way inside, Impa closing the door behind him.
Zelda was standing in front of the open window of her room, her back facing Link. She had the same apparel she wore when he first met her at the courtyard garden...and again during the second time he met her in this reality.
It was strange...being brought back as a child. On the one hand, he's happy to relive his childhood days again. On the other hand...he now has the mind of an adult...a person who seen countless things no mere child should see...
He remembered everything that he had to endure...the people he lost...the enemies he killed...the people he cared most that were left behind in that future...
In that reality.
The Zelda in that timeline, the older Zelda, brought him back to the past...his past. This Zelda whom he's about to speak now doesn't remember him. He's been brought back to a reality where he first entered Hyrule Castle Town, to warn Princess Zelda about...him.
And that he did.
It was all averted. There were no repercussions, no casualties. Everything that was deemed a threat had been avoided.
...Except for the future.
A part of him wished that he stayed. To help Zelda and everyone else to cope with what they'd lost. To rebuild what the Kingdom of Hyrule once was...
But instead, he's back as a child who's now all alone in the world...
That's right...he's alone now.
Which is why he has to do this.
The young boy took a deep inhale of breath and let it out through his nose. He then spoke out. "Zelda?"
For a moment, she didn't do or say anything. She still looked out the window, her back facing Link.
The young Hero of Time took a few cautious steps towards her. "Um...I came by to tell you that..."
'Be strong...' Link thought to himself.
"...that I'm going now. I'm going to search for my fairy."
Zelda stood there, unmoving. "...You really have made your decision then?"
Link blinked in confusion at the question. "Um...yeah. I...I told you that I was going to do this yesterday...didn't I?"
"You did," Zelda says, not turning around. "I just...didn't expect you to go so early. It's not even noon yet."
Rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, he said, "Yeah...I just have a long way ahead of me."
Zelda hums in agreement.
...Silence surrounded them for a while...
Link cringed at the lengthy quietness and decides to start explaining, "I-I know, I shouldn't be worried about her. I mean, she chose to leave. She said..." he frowned, remembering those words she said to him, "...that I have no need for her now since she fulfilled her purpose...as well as mine." he muttered that last part. "...But," his eyes start to water. He wiped them with his arm.
'No, don't. Not in front of Zelda.'
"I...I don't know...I...I just feel so alone now. I need...I need my friend. I-I need to know if our time together meant anything to her. She...she was like a sister, maybe even a mother to me...the only mother that I ever had," His voice was starting to get shaky and without even realizing it, he starts to choke up. "I want...I want to know if she cared."
The princess still stood there, albeit it looked as if her head was lowered down.
Link kept going. "I know it's selfish, but she was my family. She was the only one that I had left that I can call family! And she just...abandoned me," he looked down, trying to hide the tears that are trying to escapes from his eyes. "I...I have to find her. And ask her...why? Why did she go?" He couldn't contain the tears anymore as two of them stream down his face. "I just want to know and ask why?"
"...It's alright, Link..."
Link looks up, eyes still wet as he blinked. "What?"
Zelda turned around to face him, letting him see her melancholy expression. What he also saw was a blue ocarina grasped in her small hands.
The Ocarina of Time.
Link looked at the sacred instrument and glanced up at Zelda, seeing her forlorn eyes staring back at him. Instantly, it made him worry, "Zelda?"
She glanced down at the ocarina in her hands. "I understand..." She looked up to meet his eyes. "You have to do this...and I respect that."
"You do?" Link asked, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.
Zelda nods. "I know you have to find her. You told me you had to...and I respect your decision."
Two haunting eyes staring down at a condemned land...
They were filled with anger and hatred, resulting everyone to be in despair...
It spread like a consuming fire...causing death everywhere...
Fire...it was everywhere.
The despair consumed them all.
Consume...I shall consume...everything.
Zelda quickly looks down at the ocarina again, her face slightly troubled.
Seeing her expression, Link looked at her curiously. "Are...are you sure?"
She glanced up, startled. "Y-...Yes, Link. I'm absolutely sure."
You must go, Link. You must.
Link didn't look too convinced on her statement. "Zelda...I-"
"Link," Zelda interjected, "It's fine, really. I won't stop you. It's just...I feel like I've known you for such a long time."
His eyes widened, filled with hope. "You...do?"
"Yes. I know we just met four days ago, but...I feel like...I truly know who you are."
Link gazed at her, wishing to say that she does know him, that they have met before, in a different time, a different reality. That way, he'll feel like he isn't alone in the world...but he didn't. All he could do was just stand there in silence, listening to the princess's every word.
Zelda continued, "I don't know why, but those four days showed me that...you are someone that I can truly trust. Someone...I could confide to, to talk to...someone...I could really call a friend."
He felt tears starting to form in his eyes again as he smiled, touched that Zelda could trust him so deeply, even after getting to know him again...perhaps she still has some remembrance of their time back in the old timeline. He smiled melancholily at the false hope. If only he can dream. The Zelda he once knew was left behind, as she brought him back here with her Ocarina of Time. He wishes Hylia, The Goddess of Time Herself, could bring back the memories to Zelda somehow...but alas, he was hoping for too much.
The princess smiled back at him poignantly. "Link...I want you to know that you shouldn't feel alone. I know...it must be hard to just find out that you're not who you say you are, being a Kokiri...but, know that you do have a family here. Back here...with all of us...with me."
A tear fell across Link's left cheek, the feeling of relief coming over him. A relief that told him things will be better from here this point on.
"And...when you...when you do come back...we'll be waiting," Zelda said with such conviction and heart. Tears were starting to form in her eyes as well. Noticing this, it made Link step closer to her form.
"Link," she said, making him stop. "...Follow what your heart says. Don't let anyone stop you, not even me. If you need to go find her, then...go find her."
This time, Link let another tear roll down his right cheek as he sniffled.
"I know you need to do this," she said, her eyes watered up with more tears. She took a deep shuddering breath to ease her emotions. When she collects herself, she said in an authoritative but soft tone, "Link...as your princess...I order you to go and search for your friend."
Do not doubt yourself, young Hero...
It was then the Hero of Time gazed at her in awe. He shook his head to clear away any coming tears that would form in his eyes and came up to Zelda to embrace her, enveloping his arms around her delicate frame with the ocarina still in her hands.
Zelda's eyes widened. She then let the tears slide off her face, not being able to hold them anymore. She struggled to wrap part of her arms around Link's torso with the ocarina in her left hand.
When Link let go of the embrace, he had both of his hands on her shoulders, looking at her with determination. "I'll come back soon. I promise."
"I know you will," she said, her tone a little shaky, but strong as she smiled warmly at him. Link shares the same smile to her as well.
He WILL come back...
Zelda glanced down at the ocarina. "Link...I want you to have this...for your journey." She then held out the Ocarina of Time in front of him.
The boy's eyes widened in shock, "Your...your ocarina? Zelda, I can't take this."
"I insist," Zelda stated. "This ocarina is very special to the Royal Family. It's been passed down for generations when the Royal Family was first formed." She lowered the ocarina and glanced down at it. "Have I ever told you what it's made of?"
"No," Link shook his head. Although the Zelda he knew from the different timeline said the ocarina that he held at the time had magical properties, she never told him what it was made of.
She looked up at him with a smile. "To be honest, I don't know the name of it. But what I do know is that it's said to be made of a special stone that never erodes or wears off, keeping it's natural shape unless someone forges it into an item by human hands. It's also said in ancient times it also has the power to control time."
"Really?" Link asked inquisitively, "A stone that controls time?"
"Mm-hm. And with that, it has special properties," she looked down at the ocarina once more. "Do you remember the Song of Time I taught you?"
Link nods and said firmly. "I do."
He actually still remembers it, even before Zelda taught him the song a second time. She played it again to him while he stayed at the Castle, in gratitude for taking that monster Ganondorf into custody.
Every time he thinks about that...monstrosity of a person, whatever he was...
No. He pushed the thought at the back of his mind. He doesn't want to think about him, not at this moment.
Zelda still has her eyes on the ocarina as she continued to tell him, "I don't know why I taught you that song. Whatever it may be...I just felt like you have to know it. Something about it...it just...reminds me of us in a way. Like..." she chuckled softly, "This...seems silly, but...it feels like I've known you forever...like we were friends for a very long time."
Link smiled tenderly at her observation. "Yeah...I understand that. It actually does feel that way, doesn't it?"
Zelda smiled happily as she gazed back at him. "Yes...it does," she held the ocarina to her chest. "But I do want you to have it to remember me by. And whenever you need help...play that song. Hylia, the Goddess of Time, will aid you whenever you need it."
"Really? Hylia?" he asked in curiosity.
He heard and learned about that name from the Great Deku Tree, the father of the Kokiri, as well as his when he was even younger.
Whenever a Kokiri is born, they stay in their Father's meadow for four years, until they have their own dwelling at the time when they reach the age of five. He always took great care of them, protecting them from any danger of the forest, and when they reach the age of four, their Father would always do a 'story time' before they go to sleep. It was at that time in Link's life that the Great Deku Tree told the fellow Kokiri and him the story of the Three Golden Goddesses' Divine Servant, Hylia, who fought against an evil demon king in ancient times. He only heard it once, but for some reason, that story really stuck to Link.
Zelda gave him a cute smile. "Yes. Play that song when you need help or guidance. I can assure you that She will help you on your journey."
Link smiled at his friend. He glanced at the Ocarina of Time and took it from Zelda. He observed it, remembering the dark bluish color and the holes that were present, as well as the silver band wrapped around the neck of the flute with the golden Triforce embedded on it.
"You know..." Link began to say as he lowered the ocarina and put it in one of his tunic pockets, "I know...we just met four days ago...but, I feel like we'd known each other for a lifetime as well."
Zelda gazed at him, her eyes widened at his statement. Her lips curved upward into an emotional smile, feeling elated with gratitude.
She then came forward and hugged him.
Link froze at the close contact of her embrace, blushing a bright red.
Zelda then said quietly in his ear, tears spilling from her eyes. "Thank you, Link. For everything."
As soon as Link's heart-rate went down, his eyes softened as he too was shedding tears. He soon gave her a hug as well. "Thank you, Zelda."
They both stood there hugging each other, not wanting this moment between good friends - or perhaps something more – to end.
But it has to end soon enough. The only thing that gives them comfort, is that they know they're somewhat connected through this whole thing.
Zelda looks on at the fleeting young hero during the last hours of the morning as he sets off out to Hyrule Castle Town with his trusty young steed, Epona, along with his bag of supplies strapped onto the small horse. She stood there outside in front of the castle's entrance, remembering the conversation while they walked back to his horse.
-O-
"Where will you start searching?" asked Zelda to Link.
"Well, I'm thinking maybe if I go to the Kokiri Forest, I can have a better chance of finding her. She could be in the Lost Woods for all I know. I mean, she was born in that region, so she could've gone there," Link theorized.
-O-
Zelda's eyes looked far-cast, seeing her newfound friend going further into the distance.
...He will come back.
-O-
"Then...I think you should find her there. The forest sounds like the best bet. Just...be careful."
"Hey, don't worry, I know the forest my whole life. The only thing there that's mildly a problem is this Imp who lives in the forest, and he's just misunderstood from what my friend Saria says."
-O-
...Imp.
Zelda recalled that vivid dream she had last night...
What could it mean?
It was like her dream with that man Ganondorf she had five days ago...it felt so real. While she can see the threat clearly in her last dream, this one was more cryptic.
The dream showed a dark red sky...and a gigantic object of what appeared to be...the moon.
Consume...
It was getting closer to what looked like...some sort of a city, the tallest structure being in the middle of it all.
And on top of the tall structure was someone staring up at the sky...right at the falling moon.
I shall consume...
The air turned warm and thick while the ground shook. The sky turned in an even darker shade of red.
Particles of land cracked, trees were set on fire, and people...
People were screaming...dying from this horrible catastrophe.
And the figure that was standing...no...that was now floating where the tall, ready-to-collapse tower once stood...began to turn its head to Zelda, who was watching all of this happen in her dream...
It turned to her direction to reveal...only two glowing yellow-orange like eyes...staring right into her being.
These eyes carried no emotion, no feeling...all except for one. If she were to find an emotion, these soulless eyes displayed it in a small way.
These eyes...showed hatred.
She couldn't help but feel...afraid. Afraid of these eyes that stared into her soul.
The land crumbled and shook violently, the unknown city being demolished by the force of this giant object breaking into the sky...
And fire...consumed everything.
Destruction and despair were everywhere...
I shall consume...
EVERYTHING.
"I really hope he finds his friend," said a mature woman's voice.
Zelda snapped out of her trance and turned to her caregiver Impa, who stood right beside her.
"If he doesn't...well, I hope he finds a new one," Impa said with a slight smile. With a tilt of her head and a shine to her red eyes, she places a hand on the young princess's shoulder. "He's a brave boy, Princess. I'm certain he'll come back."
She looked at her caregiver, her eyes filled with so much hope. She averted her attention back to Link, who was already halfway in the distance to Hyrule Castle Town.
"...Yes...he will," Zelda said resolutely.
Impa smiles. "Come, Princess. It is time for more of your lessons."
Zelda nodded and followed Impa back into the castle. As she walked back to the Hyrule Castle grounds, only one thought was in her mind...
'What could that dream mean? What was it about? It had to mean something. Those eyes...they were filled with such...such darkness.'
She frowned as she made her way to the palace.
'I don't know what it could represent. Is this a sign of the future? And if it is, where will this take place? Will Link...'
Shaking her head, she sighed as she entered inside Hyrule Castle.
'...I have to have faith. In Link and in Hylia...'
She said a silent prayer.
'Dear Goddess of Time...protect Link from whatever comes his way...help him find not only who he's looking for, but what he's looking for.'
As soon as she said that silent prayer...she paused in her walking.
Impa, who was next to Zelda, stopped as well as soon as she ceased to walk. She was about to ask what is wrong when she saw her face.
Zelda had an expression that seemed...almost conflicted...yet, she looked like she was at peace.
"Princess? Are you alright?" Impa asked Zelda in concern.
Dazed for just a bit, she blinked and answered, "Y-...Yes Impa, I'm fine. I just...miss Link already."
Impa smiled understandingly. "Do not fret, young Princess. You two seem to have made a special bond that could probably last through a lifetime."
"A lifetime..." Zelda remembered those words that Link told her. She looked up to her caregiver. "How would you know?"
Impa chuckled. "I actually don't. It does though, however, look like you're both connected somehow."
"Connected? How so? I've only known him for four days."
"That is true...but when I was a child just like you, my great-grandmother told me what her great-grandmother had once told her: Life's breath is the wind, and if your soul follows the wind, it will guide you who you're looking for in due time." Impa smiled warmly. "And I think Link followed that wind."
Zelda mused those words of advice as she stood there. "...That...makes sense somewhat."
Impa chuckled once more. "I do have more teachings on Sheikah philosophy if you're interested."
The princess looked back at Impa with glee. "That would be nice, Impa!"
The woman grinned. "Well then, follow me, young Princess."
As they go to the study, Zelda reflects on what she felt.
'Yes...he will return again someday. Do not worry, Link...Hylia will be by your side.'
-O-
"Link..."
Link, who mounted Epona, turned to the princess. "Yes, Zelda?"
"...I'll miss you."
He gave her a warm smile. "Hey, we'll see each other again. But...I'll miss you as well."
Zelda returned his smile. "Yeah. Then...I'll see you later, Link."
Link nodded with that same smile. "See you later, Princess Zelda."
-O-
Farewell, My Knight...however, I will see you again soon. Until then...may I still be by your side.
End of Act 1: Chapter 1
Well, there you have it! New and improved! NOW, what do you all think of it so far? :)
I hope you all like how this new version of my MM novel starts! Tell me how I did with a review(please do, I crave those), OR if you want to follow and fave it, then be my guest! ;
Until then, I'm gonna try and plan this out more properly while I write my other projects. Sorry! I got to get some of those done and whatnot. ^^; But I will get back to this soon, and it'll be better than ever! I PROMISE YOU THAT! ;D
Thank you all for reading, and keep on rocking everyone! ^_^
-TSP