A/N: Ok, I know I still need to write Vampire's Curse, but the chapters are so hard to think of and, to be perfectly honest, I'm kind of sick of the storyline. On top of that, there's no reviews, and while people have favorited it, I still don't know what people think of it. C'est la vie. I'll get back to writing it eventually.

I seriously cannot think of a name for this, so that's its name for now until I can. This is a prequel to Alys Lynn's wonderful series "Forbidden Love". This was done with her permission, so no saying it's copyright infringement. Hopefully it lives up to her expectations as well as those of her fans.

Disclaimer: I don't own LoZ:MM. Kafei would've been with Link if I did.


Chapter 1

After exiting the clock tower, Link leaned against the stone, happy to have his body back and digesting everything he had just heard. If Majora's Mask was so dangerous, why had the Happy Mask salesman been so careless with it? Tatl interrupted his thoughts by making that bell sound of hers, and he looked over at her. "What?"

"That mask…the skull kid uses the power of that mask to do those terrible things…" she said, more to herself than to Link judging by her soft tone. He could almost imagine a forlorn look on her face and was about to say something when she continued. "Well, whatever it takes, we gotta do something about it. The swamp, mountain, ocean and canyon that Tael was trying to tell us about…I bet he was referring to the four areas just outside of town. There's one in each compass direction." Link nodded, then frowned as he remembered something else Tatl's brother had said.

"But…what do you suppose he meant by 'the four who are there'?" He heard Tatl snort, more with annoyance than amusement.

"I have no idea. He always skips the important stuff. I guess we should just go and find out…" Link nodded again and kicked himself off the wall, rotating his shoulders. It felt good to be human instead of a Deku. At least he didn't have to worry about the dog in town attacking him anymore. They looked towards the gate in front of them.

"If we go through that gate straight ahead, we should be headed in the direction of the swamp…" Tatl muttered. Link headed to the gate, eager to get this over with so he could continue on his own journey to find Navi. But, being the nice guy he was, he couldn't leave the Mask salesman like this after the man had helped him. Plus, if he didn't do something, the world would most likely be destroyed. He looked up at the moon, wondering how long it would take to fall this time. Before, it had only taken three days, but this time it seemed much further away then it had been. He figured it would take at least three or four months if not longer to fall, which was a huge relief to him. At least he wouldn't have to play the Song of Time often. He continued walking, still looking up at the moon, and ran headlong into someone. That someone caught his arm before he fell and he looked up to see…A Keaton? Wait, Keaton's didn't have hands. Or hair. And if they could have hair, it certainly wouldn't be blue. He blinked and his eyes refocused on a boy his age wearing a Keaton mask.

"Are you alright?" the boy asked. Link nodded and smiled, a little embarrassed about not paying attention to his surroundings.

"Yeah, sorry about that, it was my fault anyway." The boy released Link's arm and nodded, then turned and walked up some stairs Link hadn't noticed previously. He blinked and tilted his head to the side, surprised by the boy's attitude. He felt Tatl land on his shoulder and heard her scoff.

"What a snob. Didn't even apologize for running into you." Link raised an eyebrow at her.

"Tatl, I ran into him…"

"So? He should still apologize! Oh well, whatever. Come on, we have a swamp to get to."

-x:x-

Link jumped to the side to avoid the temple boss's sword, rolling forward under his shield to attack his legs, which unfortunately was the only thing he could reach while this small. The huge monster growled and managed to get his shield back between him and Link, sending the boy flying when he pushed him away. He landed on his back with a solid thud, his left shoulder gushing blood from where the other's sword had thrust into it without him noticing, successfully getting the wind knocked out of him. As he gasped for air, he heard the monster begin to chant again, summoning more of his moths.

Link pushed himself to his feet and ran over to one of the bomb plants circling the area. As he pulled one out, it lit itself and the moths swarmed it. A few bit him, but he rushed towards the boss once again, charging his sword with his magic. Letting the energy go, he spun on his heel, and with that final spin he defeated Odolwa. Link stared at his fallen enemy for a moment before falling to his knees himself.

-x:x-

"Link! I told you, you should've gone to the Great Fairy near Woodfall Temple!" Tatl exclaimed as her young partner fell yet again due to his wounds. It had been hours since they had left the temple, since Link had been hurt, unable to leave the swamp thanks to that pushy Deku Princess demanding to be taken to her father. Holding his aching shoulder that was caked with dried blood, Link had to agree with her. He really should have gone to the Fairy, but he didn't feel up to flying in his deku shrub form. Not with the wound on his shoulder as bad as it was, along with his other various cuts and bruises. He looked at it again, trying to see how bad it was, but with the sun already down and it being covered in blood, there was no way to tell. And it was too late to turn back now.

"We're almost to the town… There's the Great Fairy there… I'll go to her." He stood, his legs muscles screaming in protest, and began to stumble towards Clock Town's southern gate. As he reached it, he was overwhelmed by dizziness once again and would've collapsed if he hadn't already reached the wall. Using that as support, he continued down the tunnel until the guard stopped him.

"Sir! You're wounded! Please, stay here and allow me to get help for...Sir?" The guard seemed confused as Link continued to walk forward, ignoring him completely. The guard would've forcibly stopped him if Tatl hadn't gotten in his face.

"Leave him alone! He knows what he's doing, so shove off!" And, even though he couldn't see it, she stuck her tongue out at him. Turning her back to the guard however, she looked at her companion in worry. At least I hope so…

Link continued to stumble through south Clock Town, almost tripping over the deku flower near the western entrance of town.

"Stupid thing…" He muttered as he passed it, still feeling dizzy. His shoulder throbbed painfully and he gritted his teeth. Hopefully I can make it to the Fairy before I pass out… He slowly made his way up the steps, holding his shoulder, and when he got to the owl statue, he had to pause for a moment to catch his breath. This is crazy! I can't have lost that much blood… He pushed off of the owl statue and continued up the second set of steps to the north side of town, not noticing that his shoulder was freely bleeding again and that he had left a bloody handprint on the statue's head.

-x:x-

The boy heard a guard shouting. He stopped to listen to what was going on just inside the entrance to the Laundry Pool, wondering who would be causing trouble at this time of night. He frowned deeply behind his mask and cursed his luck softly. He knew he should've gone to the Great Fairy earlier, but he didn't like traveling through town during the day. Someone could recognize him, even with his mask. It wasn't as if blue hair was a common color in his town. He shook his head and forced himself to listen to the guard, but he wasn't shouting anymore. The boy smiled. Maybe now it would be safe to go. Gripping the strap of the bag he had over his shoulder tightly, he exited the Laundry Pool and started to head towards the Fairy.

As he was walking up the stairs that led to the second entrance to west Clock Town, however, he noticed water droplets on them. No, something darker than water. He paused briefly, kneeling down to examine what they were and pushing the front of his mask up, revealing narrowed crimson eyes. He touched one of the droplets and was surprised to find the liquid warm. With a strange sensation crawling it's way into his stomach, he raised his finger up to his nose to smell it and gasped. Blood.

He stood quickly, now able to identify that strange sensation as fear and nausea. Slightly disturbed, he continued up the steps until he came to the owl statue. His eyes widened when he saw an almost perfect handprint of blood on the statue's head. Shivering now, he quickly made his way up the rest of the steps, pushing down the Keaton mask to hide his disgusted look. When he looked at the ground again, there was even more blood, and this time bloody footprints. Whoever was hurt was hurt bad and was loosing blood rapidly.

"Lucky they're headed in the right direction," he mumbled softly as he saw that the footsteps were going the same way he was. Which meant he might have to wait to see the Fairy. But if it meant the choice between someone's life and him being a child for just a little while longer, he could wait. Despite what some may think of him, he wasn't heartless. Again, he shook his head and continued into North clock town.

As usual, that kid was there again, still blowing that stupid blowgun at that same balloon. The boy stopped when he saw him, though.

"Hey, kid!" He stopped and closed his eyes, counting to ten before turning around. He hated being called a kid, even when he had been a child.

"What?" The other boy was looking at him strangely, like he had never seen anyone in a mask before. Then he blinked and frowned.

"Why are you wearing a mask? Where are you going?" The blue haired boy raised an eyebrow, even though he knew the other couldn't see it.

"Why does it matter?"

"Well, if you're going to see the Great Fairy, you gotta wait. Another kid wearing a green hat went in there about a minute ago. He looked like he was banged up pretty bad, too…Hope he's ok." And with that, the boy turned back to his balloon and continued to try to pop it. The blue haired one blinked at him a few times then thought back on his words. A kid with a green hat? It couldn't be the one he bumped into at the beginning of the week, could it? He shrugged it off, turning to the Great Fairy's Fountain. Looks like I'll have to wait.

He walked over to the tree near the deku shrub playground and sat down, leaning against it with his bag close to his side. He glanced down at it briefly before turning his attention back to the Fountain. Maybe…I shouldn't have brought this with me. But if the Great Fairy is able to break my curse, then I must go to Anju immediately. Still, he frowned, unable to keep away the sensation that something bad might happen to it. Sighing and getting annoyed with himself for being paranoid, he relaxed against the tree, wondering how long he was going to have to wait.

Even though it had only been about five minutes since he sat down near the tree, the boy was starting to feel tired. He hadn't been able to sleep properly since this curse had been placed on him, and it was starting to take its toll. His head kept nodding forward, despite his best efforts to stay alert. He blinked a few times, his eyes stinging a bit, and looked over to the Fountain again. There was a silhouette at the entrance and the boy smiled tiredly. He got up and grabbed his bag, starting to head over to the earthen ramp leading to the fountain when a man stepped in front of him, grinning widely. The boy stepped back to avoid running into him and went to side step him, but the man blocked his way again.

"Excuse me," he muttered, trying to pass the man again. This time, instead of blocking him, the man grabbed his bag and tore it from his grip. "Hey, wait!"

The grinning man literally danced away from his flailing hands, preventing him from grabbing the bag back, then started to head towards the gate leading to Ikana Canyon. "Stop!"

-x:x-

Link felt better. Not a hundred percent, but at least he wasn't close to passing out. His shoulder was still sore from being injured for so long, but the mild pain would pass after a good night's rest. Tatl was certainly relieved, too, although she showed it by griping at him as usual.

"Next time, go to the Great Fairy before leaving the area if you get hurt." Link rolled his eyes and rubbed at his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get -"

"Stop!" Link's head shot up as he looked around for who had shouted. It was the Keaton masked boy from earlier that week, and he was being robbed from! Link gritted his teeth and pulled his sword from the sheath on his back, jumping from the ramp to attempt to cut the man off at the same time the guard stepped forward, spear at the ready. The man's grin faltered a little when he noticed he was surrounded, but then it returned to full strength as he pulled a small dagger from behind his back and lunged at the guard, who didn't see him move in time. The man knocked the guard's helmet off first, then slashed at his face. As the guard howled in pain, Link stepped forward, ready to strike, but the man was too quick for him even, in this weakened state. He sidestepped the sword and plunged his dagger into Link's already sore shoulder. He cried out in pain and dropped his sword, clutching at his shoulder. He heard a grunt and then someone land on the ground next to him hard, then running footsteps. The thief had escaped.

"Damn it…" Link opened his eyes and saw Keaton-boy sitting on the ground next to him, face turned down. The boy was bent over, holding his stomach, and Link assumed the grunt he had heard had been the thief kicking him. Link winced as he tried to move his shoulder, his arm going slightly numb. Great…I just got it healed, too. Momentarily ignoring his pain, he turned towards Keaton-boy again.

"What was in the bag?" he asked softly. The other boy's head shot up and around towards him, like he had forgotten anyone else was there. Then he looked down again.

"A mask. An important mask." Link frowned and cocked his head to the side.

"If it was so important, why did you have it with you? And more importantly, why are you out so late at night?" Link knew he was being nosey, but he couldn't help it. Keaton-boy stood abruptly, ignoring his questions and heading back to southern Clock Town. Link stood as well, albeit a little slower. "Hey, wait, don't go." The boy didn't stop. Link was about to follow him, but Tatl got in his way.

"Link, wait! You need to get your shoulder fixed up again," she said, tugging at his hair to get him to the Fountain again. Link scowled.

"Fine, but you follow him and tell me where he went later, okay?"

"Got it." She took off after Keaton-boy, leaving Link to sigh at the mess he had gotten himself into again. Pierced twice in the same shoulder on the same day. Just his luck. He heard a groan to his left and was surprised to see the guard just barely picking himself up off the ground. He sighed again, wincing when his shoulder muscles stretched, then walked over to the guard. Might as well have company this time.

-x:x-

'Keaton-boy' ran back to the Laundry Pool, cursing himself a fool for bringing the mask along with him. He had just known something bad was going to happen to it, and he had been right. He sprinted across the small bridge and over to the door where he had been staying since he had been cursed. He took a small silver key from his pocket and unlocked the door, quickly locking it again as soon as he was inside. Then he ran up the stairs, ripped the Keaton mask from his face and threw himself upon the small bed that was in the corner of the room, punching the pillow occasionally as he cried into it.

"Damn it all!" He punched the pillow harder, but it did nothing to relieve his anger and frustration at his carelessness.

-x:x-

As soon as he came out of the Fountain, (after getting berated by the Great Fairy for getting injured right after she had healed him) Link was almost blinded by the ball of yellow light that was Tatl. Link clamped his eyes shut to block out the sudden brightness, scowling once again.

"Tatl, are you trying to blind me?" He heard her scoff and opened his eyes a fraction, making sure she was no longer directly in front of him, opening them fully once he did.

"Here I am, trying to tell you something you told me to find out, and you're complaining about me being too bright? Well, fine. That's the last time I do something helpful for you." She showed him her wings (and back), and his scowl faded into a concerned smile.

"I'm sorry. I was kidding, you know." He resisted the urge to touch one of her wings, knowing from Navi that fairies didn't like that very much. She turned back to face him, and he guessed she was no longer angry. "Can you please tell me where he went?"

"He headed to the Laundry Pool. You remember the door that was there, right?" Link thought for a moment.

"The one that was always locked?" Tatl bobbed up and down, and he could only assume she had nodded.

"That's the one. He had a key for it, but before I could follow him inside he shut it again. He's fast, that one." Link nodded to show he had heard her, then headed down the ramp and to the entrance to south Clock Town. "Wait, you're going there now?!"

Link turned, walking backwards into the tunnel. "Yeah, why not? I wanna find out who he is and help him get that mask of his back."

"Link," Tatl began, sounding irritated. "I wouldn't bother. He doesn't seem worth the headache. And you shouldn't walk backwards, you might- " Link stumbled and almost fell down the steps leading to the clock tower and owl statue. " -get hurt again… You know, why do I even bother warning you about certain things? Do whatever you want." He grinned sheepishly at her.

"Whoops. I'll be careful from now on, don't worry. The Great Fairy wasn't too happy with me, either." Tatl snorted.

"I can imagine."

Link's smiled widened a bit before he turned around, then felt it fade completely as he looked down at the ground. "Whoa…I really did loose a lot of blood, didn't I?"

"You could say that." Tatl said, noncommittally. "It's little wonder you didn't pass out." He stopped near the owl statue and looked around in amazement at how much blood was around and on it. Looked like something had been maimed by a wild animal and then eaten, there was so much. He shook himself, then sidestepped the rather large puddle of blood in front of the statue before continuing down the steps.

"You said he headed for the Laundry Pool?" He felt Tatl land on his shoulder and heard her give a small yawn.

"Yep." He looked at her, blinking at the brightness of her being so close again, waiting for her to continue. When she didn't, he frowned, but ignored it and continued to his destination.

As he was crossing over the bridge at the Laundry Pool, he looked over at the little door in the corner. He had wondered for the past three days what was behind it, always being unable to open it. Well, I'm about to find out. He slowed his pace as he neared the door, his steps becoming somewhat hesitant, even though he had nothing to be nervous about. Knock it off, Link. You're acting weird. Blaming the strangeness on blood-loss, he knocked on the door and waited. When no one answered, he knocked again. And again. And again. He scowled at the door, contemplating kicking it in if he had to knock again when it opened a bit and he could see one red, bloodshot eye and a startling pale face beneath messy blue hair.

"What do you want?" There was no mistaking the voice, even if it was thick with emotion and un-muffled by a mask. It was Keaton-boy.

"Mind if I come in? It would be kinda awkward to talk to you through a door." The eye narrowed at him.

"Yes, I mind. Leave me alone." The face moved away and the door started to close before Link stopped it with his foot. He could hear a soft growl from behind it. "Go away."

"I want to help you. I feel like it's my fault you lost your mask. Please?" He heard the other boy sigh, then heard footsteps moving away. Link smiled a little and he entered the…hallway? Well, that certainly wasn't what he had been expecting. He blinked a few times, trying to get used to the dim lighting, then followed a staircase leading up to a small room. Keaton-boy was sitting on a small bed that was nestled in the corner of the room, with his Keaton mask lying on the floor, the string that held it to his face broken.

The boy looked miserable. His hair was a mess and his eyes were blood-shot and Link assumed he had been crying. But, aside from that, this boy was the prettiest boy he had seen in his life, even over Sheik. His skin was almost porcelain in color, and his crimson eyes were breathtaking. Link shook his head, trying to clear it, then smiled at him. "Mind if I sit down?"

The boy looked up at him, then shrugged and made a 'go ahead' gesture while looking down once more. Link crossed over to the bed and sat next to him. "Um… I'm sorry about your mask. Like I said before, I'd like to help you get it back."

"You don't have to. I can get it back on my own."

"I know, but I want to." The boy looked up at him again, blinking a few times. Then he sighed a bit and smiled softly.

"Thank you. What's your name?" Link smiled back.

"My name's Link, and this- "

"I'm Tatl." The yellow fairy interrupted, making Link frown at her.

"I was about to say that..." He sighed, then looked back at the other boy, who was now grinning. "Anyway, what's your name?" The boy's smile faded a little and he looked away briefly before meeting Link's gaze once more.

"Kafei."


A/N: To be honest, I'm surprised this chapter is as long as it is. Please don't kill me if future chapters aren't as long. Also, this is my first time writing for this fandom as well as any sort of fight scene, so hopefully it's not too horrible. Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this, and leave reviews if you do!
~Renrin~