In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the Royal Family that tells of a boy…
A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, was poised to become the future forefather of the land that had made him a legend…
Done with the battles he once waged across time, he was to be wed to his most trusted of allies. However, during this time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey…
A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend…
A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic destiny and took his place among legends…
Link had never laid eyes on this neck of Kokiri Forest. No Kokiri appeared to have done so either: there was no map beyond a grey area with a picture of an unhappy tree where the woods lay. Link put the map away, confident that it was entirely useless to him, and stroked the mane of his trusty steed Epona.
Good girl, Link thought to his horse. The mare gave a happy whinny, masking the sounds that a trio of observers made for a brief moment. Link looked up, hearing the noise. He slowly revolved about, looking for the author of the noises. Two fairies appeared in front of Epona, startling her and knocking Link clean off the horse. He conked his head on the way down, knocking him out for a bit. The fairies returned to their master… a Skull Kid wearing an intricately carved mask.
"Hee, hee. You two fairies did great! I wonder what this kid has on him…" the Skull Kid said. He inched his way to Link and, confident he was not going to awaken him, started to search Link's pockets. He found a blue object first. It looked like an instrument, and indeed, it made noises when he blew into it. This amused him greatly.
"Ooh, ooh! What a pretty ocarina… Skull Kid, lemme touch it! Lemme touch it!" one of Skull Kid's fairies said.
"You can't, Tael! What would we do if you dropped it and broke it?" the other fairy yelled at Tael. Tael withered away at the other fairy's words. In light of the ocarina, not one member of the party noticed the stirring form of Link… until he politely tapped Skull Kid on the shoulder. Skull Kid turned around, to see Link.
"Uh… Nothing to see here!" Skull Kid said, hiding Link's ocarina behind his back. Link stared at Skull Kid, making him wary. However, this Skull Kid's reflexes were sharp, and he dodged Link's punch. Skull Kid jumped onto the back of Epona, and rode her away. Link ran after her, unable to yell out at his attacker.
Link's chase led him to a large drop. Link barely had time to think about Epona's fate at the hands of this jump, or indeed, if he had gone the correct way, before his speed sent him falling from the great height. Had he not landed on one of the softest flowers he had ever come across, he would probably have died. He neglected to dwell on the fact, instead focusing on the hovering sight of the Skull Kid.
"What's with that stupid horse of yours? It doesn't listen to a word that's said to it…" Skull Kid asked. Of course Epona wouldn't listen. Link and Malon had trained her to listen only to Epona's Song and Link's array of mute commands to prepare for exactly this situation.
"There's no point in riding a thing like that, so I did you a favour and got rid of it… Hee, hee…" Skull Kid said. Link charged at Skull Kid, drawing the Kokiri Sword and slicing Skull Kid into pieces…
At least, that's what would have happened. The mask Skull Kid wore glowed with power, and every single one of Link's blows plinked off. Skull Kid kicked Link in the chest, and sent him to his knees again.
"Aw, boo-hoo. Did I offend you? I'd just thought I'd have some fun… Do you really think you can beat me as I am now? Fool…" Skull Kid said. His mask shook around on his face, and Link's stomach began to feel torturous.
Link looked about. His vision had blurred, and he saw some Mad Scrubs vaguely. He looked down, to see himself in the pond. He was nothing more than a Deku Scrub with his pointy hat. Link looked up at Skull Kid, seething. If he wasn't angry before, he certainly was now. Just the thought of his bride having to worry about this curse was enough to send him into another stabbing frenzy… were Link able to stab. The Skull Kid was overjoyed with Link's rage.
"Hee, hee! Now that is a good look for you! You'll stay here looking that way forever!" Skull Kid said triumphantly. Link charged at Skull Kid, and although he could only do a pointless twirl as an attack, twirl he did. His efforts to follow Skull Kid were in vain, thanks to one of Skull Kid's fairies. A massive slab closed behind Skull Kid and his other fairy, Tael, leaving behind the fairy who tried to stop Link.
"Whoa! Skull Kid! I'm still here! Tael, come back! Help!" the fairy cried out. She rounded on Link.
"If I wasn't dealing with you, I wouldn't have gotten separated from my brother!" the fairy shouted.
Well, that's your own damn fault for trying to stop me in the first place. Now, unless you want to help me escape or figure out what I'm going to tell Malon and how, go find someone else to shout at, Link thought, looking at the useless mitts his hands had become. There would be no elaborate gestures made with these sticks.
"…Well, since you caused this mess, it's you who's going to clean up. Go open that door for sweet, helpless Tatl… please! I'm begging you!" the fairy cried. Link looked between the fairy and where Skull Kid was last spotted. More to shut up this fairy than anything, Link decided to open the door for her.
"Thank you. Well… um… I'm going to apologise now, so take me with you! I know where Skull Kid might be going! You're going nowhere without me! So take me with you and help me out! Now!" Tatl said. Link shook his head in a random direction, and instinctively dived into one of the flowers he saw earlier, which permitted him to fly for a brief moment.
"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" a wise voice with a hint of mischief asked. Link had walked along his path to the inner workings of a mechanical tower, where he heard these words. He turned, to see a man standing behind him. Link was sure this man was not there a few moments ago.
"Who are you?" Tatl asked.
Oh boy, this reminds me too much of Navi. This is going to be just beautiful, I can feel it.
"I? I own the Happy Mask Shop. I am a wandering traveller, seeking many rare and beautiful masks. I guess you may know me as the Happy Mask Salesman. I am here because, during my travels, one of my masks was stolen by an imp. It just so happens that mask is very important, and I should not lose it… Sadly, it appears I have. I have heard of your exploits… in a differing form, obviously… and know you are one of the foremost knights in the kingdom.
"Don't think me rude, but I have been following you… For I know of a way to return you to your former self. If you can get back the item that was stolen from yourself, I will return you to your usual shape. All I beg of you in exchange is that you retrieve the precious mask that was stolen from me. It should be easy for you, mighty warrior. Thing is, um… see, I'm a very busy fellow… I simply must depart from this land after the passing of three days. You simply must aid me before my time here is consumed… But I'm sure that, for you, this is possible. I am counting on you," the wandering mask salesman said. Link nodded vaguely, trusting his mind to sort out what was happening on its own time, as he left the tower behind.
Link and Tatl emerged from the tower, and found themselves in the bustling town called Clock Town. Tatl quickly explained this, and the country's name of Termina, to the confused Link, before discussing more pressing matters.
"What a weird man! Three days? Even if we don't sleep, that's only 72 hours! That is a ridiculous demand! And calling you a hero? One day, you've got to tell me how that happened!" Tatl said. Link shrugged, and looked up idly. The moon in this world had a face, and was larger than the moon he was used to.
Wait a minute… it's morning! Link realised. The moon should not be this prominent! Link looked about, and saw a large object pointed at the moon. He ventured to this building.
"Well, well… a strange-looking child has joined me today…" a wizened man said, looking away from his device. He smiled, and stroked Link's hair.
"Well, now, I've been quite concerned with the behaviour of our neighbour, the moon. Would you like to have a look at it?" he said. Link nodded, and the wizened man quickly taught Link how to use a telescope. Link looked through it, and saw Skull Kid standing atop the tallest tower in Clock Town: the tower Link met the Happy Mask Salesman in. He was looking up at the moon. Link was willing to bet that Skull Kid was to blame for the problems the moon was causing.
"You see him too? That horrid imp? He's been taunting us all for some time now. I wonder what it is he's up to? And how did he get up there? Normally, the only way up is through a set of stairs that open on the eve of the carnival," the old man said. Link left the observatory, speechless. First he turned Link into a Deku Scrub, and now he threatened the land of Termina with impending doom?
Back in Clock Town, he found something new. Two armed guards and two carpenters were glaring at each other, shouting back and forth.
"Most of the townsfolk already have taken shelter without waiting for the Mayor's orders. The only ones left are public servants and committee members... you must order those who remain to evacuate!" the guards shouted.
"You cowards! Do you actually believe the moon will fall? The confused townsfolk simply caused a panic by believing this ridiculous, groundless theory. The soldiers couldn't prevent the panic, but outside the town walls is where the danger is! You want answers? The answer is that the carnival should not be cancelled!" the carpenters shouted back.
"Are you serious, Mutoh? It seems that giant chunk of rock above us hasn't caught your eye! At this time every year, we are overrun by tourists! So why is the town empty? Clearly, it's your job to ensure the carnival's operation, but that's if people are here for it! Don't drag the merchants and soldiers into this!"
"If the soldiers wish to run, then run, Viscen! We councilmen will stick to tradition. This carnival will be a success! I've never heard of a defense unit abandoning its town!"
"All must take refuge!"
"On with the carnival!"
The four men left in disgust at the others.
"Link, did you hear that?" Tatl asked. Link nodded.
"It's going to be a close thing… but Link, we'll have to wait out the three days to get to the eve of the carnival, wait for Clock Tower to open, and get to the top of the tower, confront Skull Kid, and get back your ocarina and the mask!" Tatl explained. Link sighed, but he had to concede Tatl's point. This would indeed be a close shave.
Link spent the sixty-odd hours he had wisely, exploring Clock Town and meeting its citizens. At midnight on the third day in Clock Town, the massive Clock Tower opened its doors. Link ascended the tower, and found himself facing the Skull Kid. The massive moon was looming over their heads even closer than when Link first laid eyes on it.
"Sis! There you are!" Tael shouted.
"Skull Kid, you have to listen to me! We need to return that mask to its rightful owner now! You're making a big mistake!" Tatl said back. Tael shook his head, in the way fairies can shake their heads.
"Swamp. Mountain. Ocean. Canyon. The four who are there. Bring them here," Tael said. Link could make neither head nor tail of this.
"Don't speak out of line! Stupid fairy," Skull Kid said, slapping Tael. Tatl shook indignantly.
"Do you still think we're still friends after everything you've done?" she asked, glaring at Skull Kid. Skull Kid briefly froze in his menacing movements, before resuming them.
"Whatever. Even if those four were to come, it would do you no good. Hee, hee. Look above you. It this is something a Deku Scrub can stop, then stop it already. I'm bored," Skull Kid said. He screamed, and the moon increased the speed at which it was dropping. Tatl roared, and charged straight at Skull Kid. He dropped the Ocarina of Time, and Link ran to grab it. Immediately, the familiar sensation of his memories returning appeared.
"A quest? As long as you can survive it and make it back home, I see no reason why you shouldn't go. Me and Malon will make sure the wedding plans remain on track," Zelda said. Link nodded with happiness. He didn't feel he needed more than the Kokiri Sword and his custom shield, but just in case, he had packed the tools he felt would come in handy in case of danger. The boomerang, the Hookshot, the Megaton Hammer, a bomb bag, his pair of Hover Boots, and the Lens of Truth found their way into his satchel, after their curious appearance after his quest to defeat Ganon. The Medallions, however, had vanished. For this reason, despite his practice, he left his bow behind.
"Link… take this as well," Zelda said. Link looked at it. The Ocarina of Time. Link did not have fond memories with this thing, but he accepted it anyway.
"If something should happen to you… play the Song of Time. I know what happened to you, in that other timeline… but please… let the Goddess of Time know of your fate. She will be able to help you. Please return to us safely…" Zelda said. Link nodded, and placed the Ocarina of Time in a more accessible place. He took out his Fairy Ocarina, and gave it to Zelda with instructions to pass it to Malon. Zelda nodded. Malon didn't like the idea of Link leaving, so she stayed in her room. She had given Link her goodbyes earlier.
Link reappeared in the confrontation with Skull Kid atop the Clock Tower. Tatl was vaguely admonishing him for zoning out, but Link was still trying to recollect himself, catching on only to her last idea.
"Somebody! Anybody! Goddess of Time, help us! We need more time! Please, help us!"
Goddess of Time…
Link pulled out the Ocarina of Time, which had warped into Deku Pipes for use as a Deku Scrub.
YL-RYL-R
Link found himself in a field of white. Clock-like symbols appeared around him, rigidly spinning anti-clockwise. There was only one way to interpret this.
More time travel.
