Gamer4 in. Well, as you could probably tell, this is a retelling of the game Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask in the world of Warriors. (Haven't I said something like this before?) Though Majora's Mask is one of the lesser-known and less-popular games in the Zelda series, it does have quite a few devoted fans, including myself. (After Twilight Princess, it's my favorite in the series.) So, I decided to give it a tribute that just about anyone who reads my stories could probably foresee: novelize it in another fandom. In this case, as I've said, and as you could probably tell, it's Warriors. I hope you'll enjoy.

Disclaimer: I'll say it for you one time, and one time only: I don't own either Warriors or Majora's Mask. Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter, and Majora's Mask belongs to Nintendo.

Legend of the Warriors: Mapleshade's Mask

Prologue

The Happy Mask Salescat

It was a bright day. The sun shone over the forest below, reflecting off of the lake in the center. It seemed a normal day. Then again, it always does when strange things happen.

In the forest nearby the lake, there was a clearing. In the middle of this clearing, something strange was occurring. Any onlooker wouldn't be able to say exactly what it was that was so strange, only that something wasn't right. If an observer was standing in the center of the clearing, they might say that they felt an odd breeze, though the air was entirely still that day. The air around that one spot, however, wasn't. It seemed to be swirling around, pushing fallen leaves away from the spot. Any observer's next thought might be that they could see a vague outline in the clearing's middle. As time passed, the outline seemed to become more and more solid, until the air once again stood still, and the outline had taken on a full form.

In the center of the clearing stood a cat. Even discounting the fact that cats didn't usually appear out of thin air, the cat was strange. He was tall and slender. His eyes, as the gazed around at his surroundings, were narrowed so much that it was hard to tell that they were open at all. A wide grin seemed permanently stuck to his face. His pelt was a color not normally seen on a cat, and most would say that it was impossible for a cat to be colored that way. Yet, nevertheless, his pelt was a deep purple, with a couple very thin orange stripes running down his sides.

However, the strangest feature of this cat was not his eyes, grin, or even his oddly-colored pelt. It was the bag that he carried. The bag was very large, comparable to a bag a twoleg might take with them on a camping trip. Odd enough as it was that a cat would carry a bag at all, it seemed too heavy for any cat to willingly carry for too long. Inside, one would see that it was stuffed full of masks of varying size and shape.

The odd cat stood in the clearing, gazing happily around, taking in his surroundings. Finally, he hoisted the bag onto his shoulders and left the clearing, heading deeper into the forest, bent over slightly, likely from the bag's weight. As he headed through the forest, he hummed a cheery tune to himself.

He had been walking for a few minutes when he happened upon a small silvery-white she-cat stalking through the forest. She looked up, shocked at the sight of him. "Hello!" he said brightly to her. "What are you doing in the forest today?"

"I'm... I'm hunting," she stammered, apparently off-put by his strange appearance. "Wh- who are you?"

"I am a simple traveler, my fine she-cat," he said. "I travel the land, spreading happiness with my masks!"

"Masks?" the she-cat asked, confused. "What are those?"

"They are truly wonderful things," he answered. "I'm sure they may bring you happiness. May I ask your name?"

"I'm Ivypaw, an apprentice of Thunderclan," the she-cat said, straightening up at the last words.

"Thunderclan?" the strange cat asked, excitement and anticipation entering his voice. "I'm certain that there are cats in your clan that would be interested in these masks. Could you lead me to your clan?"

XXXX

Not that long after this, the strange cat found himself being led into a gorge. Looking around, his smile brightened even further. Various cats were emerging from dens to see their visitor. On top of a rock in the center of the camp, a ginger tom was conversing with a dark brown tabby; both turned to look at him as he strode in. "Who's this, Ivypaw?" the dark tabby asked.

"I found him in the forest," Ivypaw answered. "He asked to be taken to camp."

"Who are you?" the ginger tom asked of the stranger.

"Names are not important," the stranger said. "However, there are those that call me the Happy Mask Salescat."

There was some muttering around the gorge. One cat, another dark brown tabby, snorted. "The Happy Mask Salescat?" he muttered. "What kind of a name is that?"

"They call me that because I travel the world, searching for cats to spread happiness to, through my masks."

"Masks?" the ginger tom asked.

"Am I to assume that I speak to the leader of this fine group of cats?" the Salescat asked of him.

"I'm Firestar, leader of Thunderclan," the ginger tom said. "What are masks?"

"Well, they are things that you can use to hide your face!" the Salescat said with almost unreasonable enthusiasm. As he spoke, he slipped the bag off of his back, and turned to rummage through it. There was some dark muttering around the gorge about how this strange cat was most likely a kittypet come to take some shelter and food for the night. Finally, the Salescat withdrew from the bag, and turned to face the clan, and on his face was another face, one that seemed catlike, but was somehow wrong: the fur was yellow, with high ears that were tipped with black. Several of the onlookers drew back in shock. The Salescat, satisfied, removed the mask with an upraised paw. "That is the Keaton mask," he said brightly. "It is very popular with the younger crowd!" Here, he flashed a grin at what he assumed was the nursery, where there were several kits struggling to see the visitor, being held back by their mothers. On another side of the camp, there were two other cats watching, one with gray fur and obviously blind, who looked, for some reason, uneasy. Next to him was a golden tabby whose eyes were sparkling with interest.

"Well, I... appreciate the offer," said Firestar, looking uncertain, "but I don't think we need-"

"Not your style?" the Salescat asked, undeterred. "Perhaps you appreciate a darker style?" With this, he delved once again into the bag, returning the Keaton mask, and coming back out again. This time, the face covering his own seemed to be made of bone. "The Skull mask!" he announced. "I've seen many who appreciate this fine work! A very fine trick to pull on your friends!"

"Well, that's... interesting," Firestar started again, "but I really don't think we-"

"Ah, tricky customers!" the Salescat said. "Don't worry, we'll find one that suits you somewhere! Now, this one," he said, turning back into the bag, "is a piece that I like to call-"

However, when he once again withdrew from the bag, he froze. He wasn't wearing the next mask, merely holding it, and looking at it, as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It had a vague heart shape, with large, piercing amber eyes that seemed to gaze into the soul. It had spikes coming from it's head, like horns, and similar spikes on the sides. He quickly returned the mask to the bag, saying, "Never mind that one, that's not important, but this one, on the other hand-"

"Enough," the dark tabby next to Firestar said. "We don't need any masks."

"You're welcome to stay the night, if you want," Firestar put in, "but you will have to leave tomorrow, and take your masks with you."

The Salescat stood, hoisting the bag onto his shoulders once again. "Very well," he said. "If you truly don't want any, then I'll leave right now. I don't wish to take advantage of your hospitality. I'm sure there will be other cats that will want these fine masks. Take care." With a slight nod of his head, still with that large smile on his face, the Salescat turned back into the forest, striding away.

XXXX

Night had fallen. Mist curled around the forest as the Salescat strode forward. He had found three more clans of cats: Windclan, Riverclan, and Shadowclan. Riverclan had given him about the same reception as Thunderclan, Shadowclan had been openly hostile, demanding that he leave without hearing about his wares, and Windclan had openly chased him off of their territory. However, he wasn't discouraged yet. He was certain that there were cats somewhere in the clans that would be interested in his wares. That golden tabby from Thunderclan, at least, seemed to have been interested. He wouldn't give up after just one day. No, it was worth a few day's more effort, at least. But for now, he had to find shelter for the night.

Suddenly, he felt eyes on his back. He turned to see a small, strange-looking cat standing there. It seemed to be made out of straw. Behind it were two strange orbs of light, floating along with wings. To any other cat, this would be a strange sight, but the Salescat had traveled far and wide, and had seen many strange things. This cat and those spheres of light were nowhere near the strangest things he'd seen before. One light was bright yellow, the other an even deeper purple than his own pelt.

"Forgive me if I'm mistaken," he said, gazing at them, "but you are a skull child with a couple of fairies, are you not?"

"You... know about us?" the Skull Child said, gazing up at him.

"You? I wouldn't say I know about you, though I have met with your kind before. I don't suppose you would be interested in a mask?"

"A mask?" the Skull Child asked, gazing up at him.

"I am the Happy Mask Salescat," the Salescat repeated for the fifth time that day. "I seek to spread happiness through the world with my wares. Would you like a mask?"

"What kinds do you have?" the Skull Child asked.

"Well, this particular one," the Salescat said, reaching into his bag for a random mask, "is-"

Suddenly, he cut himself off. He had, once again, come up with the heart-shaped mask. "Never mind," he said, turning to stuff it back into his bag again. "That mask isn't important."

"What is it?" the Skull Child asked, interested.

"It's not for sale," the Salescat said. "It is a most curious piece called Mapleshade's Mask. It is rumored that this mask has the ability to make whatever its wearer desires a reality."

"What do you want for it?" the Skull Child asked, suddenly sounding eager.

"You do not want this mask," the Salecat said. "Though it is said that it can grant its wearer's desires, it is also said that terrible things will happen if it is used. Even besides all that, it is the rarest piece in my collection. I went to a great amount of trouble to get my paws on it. I couldn't bear to part with it after all that. No, forget about it. However, I have many other masks that may interest you."

"That's the only mask that I'd want," the Skull Child insisted.

"Then we don't have anything else to say," the Salescat said politely. "Take care of yourself."

"Thank you," the Skull Child said, turning away from him.

The Salescat turned and began to set off back into the woods, when suddenly, he felt a great blow from behind. He collapsed, unconscious. Behind him was the Skull Child, who quickly began going through the Salescat's bag.

XXXX

When the Salescat awoke, he immediately feared the worst. He began rummaging through his bag, searching for what he knew wouldn't be there. "No!" he said to himself. "No! No!"

Sure enough, Mapleshade's Mask had disappeared.

XXXX

So, what do you guys think? I hope you enjoyed it, but to let me know, please R&R, constructive criticism accepted, as it can make the story better, flames are not appreciated, Gamer4 out.