Hello, all. This story is indeed a sort of novelization…kind of. After I get a hold on it, you probably won't recognize it as the Majora's Mask that we all know and love. This first chapter seems ordinary, but it only gets better from here on. That's a promise. Keep reading and don't forget to review!
Starry
What Happens in Termina…Stays in Termina: Chapter One--Our Story Begins
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, crept away from that land
that had made him a legend...
Done with the battles he once
waged across 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...
The only sound heard in the forest was that of Epona's gently trotting hooves. A boy of twelve years sat astride, peering amongst the trees, searching for…something. About a foot off of the horse's path, behind a large tree, two fairies hovered in wait. As soon as the horse was right beside them, they gave each other a curt nod and darted out, startling the poor animal. Epona reared and emitted a high-pitched whinny. The surprised Link was thrown from the saddle, hitting his head rather nastily on the ground.
A strange creature scuttled out from amongst the forest growth. It seemed to be a deformed humanoid scarecrow-thing. It waddled over to the fallen Link and kicked him, just to make sure that he was truly out cold. Satisfied, the scarecrow-thingie, later to be known as Skull Kid, began to feel down his pockets and was rewarded with the appearance of a large blue ocarina. He blew a note into the instrument and laughed a resonating cackle. The smaller fairy flew over to him and stared at the prize.
"Oh, Skull Kid, please let me see it! Please?" The larger fairy scowled at his pleas.
"Leave him alone, Tael. You'll drop it or completely destroy it, like you did last time." She gave her little brother a stern glare. He quailed slightly under the fierce look, but repeated his query to the scarecrow-like Skull Kid. The two bickered back and forth until movement distracted them. Link was sitting up slowly, putting a hand to his head. The fairies tinkled a warning to the Skull Kid, who turned around slowly, unpleasantly surprised. Link looked at Skull Kid; the Skull Kid looked at Link. Suddenly Link lunged for his ocarina and the scarecrow-like child jumped onto the belated horse. The horse bolted and bore him away into a large portal.
Link immediately followed him, still weaving a bit from his fall. When he emerged into the other side of the darkness, the Skull Kid was waiting for him, floating on his side, tossing the ocarina from hand to hand. The fairies from before flanked him on either side, looking solemn.
"That horse of yours doesn't listen to a word that's said to it! I don't see why anyone would want to ride it. I did you a favor…and disposed of it for you." He leered evilly in the dim light. Link gave a start, horrified. The Kid laughed again, his jeers echoing in the chamber. "Now, what to do with you…?" He thought for a second, and then smiled. "Ah, I know." The Skull Kid flipped right side up and pierced the stillness with a loud, beastly screech.
Link's vision began to blur. A strange sensation started to creep up his arms, chilling him to the bone. He looked around and saw giant Deku Scrubs begin to close in on him; he screamed as they buried him, but no sound came out.
When he came to, Link looked up at the Skull Kid. The Kid was now laughing himself to death over…what? Link looked in the shallow pool of water that stood below the rock where he stood, only to be greeted by a face so very unlike his own! He had been transformed to a Deku Scrub! He now gave an audible whinnying sound, which served to incite even more laughter from both the fairies and the Skull Kid. The three began to float backwards, out of a door directly behind where they had hovered. The Deku boy scurried across the floor to give chase, but was stopped in his tracks by the larger fairy, who smacked his face numerous times.
Just before the door closed, Tael turned back and cried,
"S-sis!!" Link's assaulter turned and squeaked.
"Tael! Skull Kid! Wait for me!" She turned and hurried towards them, too late. The door fell sharply, cutting them off. She seemed to swell and then threw herself at the door. "WHAT THE OCTOROK? Skull Kid, you Goron backside, come back here right now! Take me with you, #$ it! Come BACK! Summoning bishop, don't you DARE leave me here with this fuzzle wizzen deku thing! If you don't return this +#& second I will hunt you down like a animal! Do you hear me? An ANIMAL! A rizzle frazzen ANIMAL!" She continued to spout more increasingly foul obscenities until she was nearly hoarse. Once it became clear that her brother was not returning for her, she whirled around to face Link.
Link was astounded. He had learned exactly 17 ½ new words, by way of her angry tirade. The fairy flew up to his face and shouted into it.
"What are you staring at? Is there something on my face?" When he didn't respond, she resumed a sense of decency. "Er, about that stuff…I'm…sorry. Okay? My name is Tatl. I'll be your friend now that I have been ruthlessly abandoned by that fo shizzle Skull Kid. Ohhh…he doesn't know what he has awakened." She said, fire again lighting up her eyes. Link had the sense to see that there was now no escape from this obviously unstable little critter and agreed telepathically.
You see, Link had never been able to talk himself. He directed his thoughts to something or someone around him, who translated it for him. Navi did this occasionally, but was usually too caught up in her own conspiracy theories.
Link and Tatl followed the Skull Kid's trail through the door into a large room filled with platforms. After much trial-and-error, Link succeeded in flying over to the next door by way of his flower-copters. He opened the door…and seemed to fall through time itself. Colors zoomed past his face, strange smells and feels were closing in on him, not unlike the sensation of changing to a scrub.
When his feet touched floor again, he was in a totally different place…a different world. He was inside of a large clock, or so it seemed. It appeared to be deserted. Link's first instinct was to panic and panic he did. Tatl was forced to kick him out of hysterics, propelling him towards the door. He put out his hand, but was stopped by a voice.
"You appear to have met with an ugly fate, young one." Link turned to find a man dressed in purple, toting a monstrous pack, from which hung numerous masks of differing sizes and colors. His face held a kindly look and his hands were clasped almost pleadingly. "I believe I can help." Tatl looked skeptical.
"Oh yeah, mask boy? How?"
"If you return the precious item that was stolen from you, I can return you to your former shape." He said quietly. "The only thing I ask of you in return, is that you return that which was stolen from me." Tatl looked at Link; Link looked at Tatl. They both looked at the Happy Mask Man, who reciprocated the look as well.
"Alright, say we take this deal. What is it that you want?" Tatl asked.
"I want only the mask that is worn by that scoundrel. He and a couple of hideous, smart-aleck fairies stole it from me." Tatl again puffed up. After a few moments of self-containment, she floated back around Link's head.
"Deal." The Man smiled widely, and motioned towards the exit.
"Good luck, then, children." Link stepped up the stairs to the heavy wooden door. He put a hand on the worn wood and, with a quick motion, swung it open.
-Dawn of the First Day-
-72 Hours Remaining-