Chapter Two – Moonlit Battle

The sun set as young Valorer climbed mountain, his pace steady. It wasn't a large mountain, but the winding path and jagged edges of the rocks made it unforgiving to anybody who didn't pay attention to their destination. Various monsters crept out of the labyrinth-like caves which ran through the mountain, but a heavy blow from Valorer's sword ended their mischief. The young warrior looked up at the sky, which was now an ominous gray colour, somewhere between twilight and night. The moon hung heavy in the sky, and Valorer fancied he could see an angry face in it's depths.

The silence of the night was occasionally shattered by a blood curdling howl from atop the mountain. A shiver ran down Valorer's spine as he wondered weather the Beast was howling out of hunger. Squaring his shoulders and gripping tight to the sword in his left hand, the young warrior reminded himself that it didn't matter and that, should he fall tonight, at least his village and his Father would be safe for another ten years. And if he won the battle...well, then his village would be safe forever.

The the moon rose higher and the Beast's howls louder, Valorer realized that he was at the foot of the summit. A large open area was laid out before him, almost like a battle ground. Beyond it, at the very top of the mountain was a cave in which shadows danced and the young warrior caught a glimpse of the great Beast's eyes. Gripping his sword still tighter, Valorer stepped onto the summit.

A low grumbling sound issued from the cave before the voice boomed, "Young one, do you seek a battle with the mighty Beast of the Summit?" The voice sounded like two boulders smashing into each other.

"I do." Valorer responded without hesitation. "On the first full moon of the year, I have come to liberate the people of my village, either through victory or death!"

Something that sounded almost like laughter rolled out of the cave before, slowly, the Beast itself clawed its way out into the open moonlight. "Very good, very good..." The Beast grumbled, smiling gleefully at the young warrior with teeth sharper than any sword forged. The Beast seemed to grow with every passing moment until Valorer was sure it was larger than the mountain itself. Eventually, the Beast knelt down on all fours so that it took the shape of a lion, albeit a very large one. Feathered, rainbow coloured wings stretched out from its back.

The Beast raised a hand to its mouth, apparently scratching it's chin in a thoughtful manner. "Tell me, young warrior of the village, do you know how many of your kind I have taken in the battle over the years?" Though it's voice was a terrifying sound, Valorer was surprised by how intelligent it seemed. He had known monsters to have near human intelligence, Imps and the like, but the Beast's words were precise. Even it's huge yellow eyes held a wisdom Valorer had never seen.

"Eleven." The young man replied, certain of his answer yet confounded by the Beast all the same.

"Yessss, eleven. It has been such a long time, hard to keep track." The Beast mused more to himself than to the young man before him. "You will be number twelve, then." A vicious smile crept onto the lips of the giant Beast before he added, "Time to die then, human."

Valorer barely had time to react before the Beast's giant claw came at him, yet he was able to roll out of it's way. When the Beast swung again, Valorer held up his shield. A normal wooden shield would have shattered at the Beast's attack, but the ceremony had granted his shield near invulnerability, and his sword the ability to cut through even steel, as long as the moon shone on them. However, the Beast's attack was still powerful enough to send young Valorer flying across the summit and nearly over the edge.

The fight seemed to last forever, the Beast launching it's powerful claws and teeth at the young warrior, Valorer deflecting them to the best of his ability. Every now and then the Beast would call out what sounded like encouragement to the warrior, but Valorer learned to block out the taunts of his enemies. Still, as the hours crept by, the sword in Valorer's hand became heavy and the Beast, although he had managed to land a few blows, seemed only to be amused by the warriors efforts.

"You fight well, young warrior!" The Beast bellowed through it's dark grin. "But I fear your time has come. It was a pleasure doing battle with you, Valorer!" Spreading it's wings, the Beast took to the sky. The slow beating of its wings kept it airborne as it opened its jaws impossibly wide. Out of its mouth came a burning blaze of fire which could been seen from the village. Valorer, not knowing if it would work or not but having no other option, hid behind his shield. Thankfully the shield held, though it was becoming impossibly hot and the young warriors legs, the only part of his body partially exposed, were being burnt badly.

Valorer, knowing the battle had come to an end, decided to try one last, desperate attack before his death. The warrior stood up, pushing back the flames with all his might and, with a mighty throw, aimed his sword at the Beast's heart. The flames ceased abruptly as the Beast let out a terrifying roar of pain. Opening his eyes, Valorer saw that he had hit his mark and that the Beast was falling to the ground, wings beating uselessly. Once again, Valorer hid behind his shield as the Beast landed only meters away from him with a loud crash.

Cautiously, the warrior approached the fallen beast, which had landed on its side. The night was so silent that Valorer could hear his own heart beating, thudding against his chest. Though the Beast didn't seem to be moving, the warrior decided he'd better be sure of it's death before he descended the mountain. He moved slowly, holding his shield out before him in case the Beast launched a surprise attack on him. The Beast, however, did not stir. Protruding from the Beast's chest was the hilt of Valorer's sword. Valorer took hold of the hilt and pulled the blade out of the Beast's heart. As he did so, however, the Beast suddenly awoke and opened its jaws again. Valorer held up his shield, knowing that a blast of fire this close would burn him into nothingness even with the magical enhancements.

No fire came though, only a strong wind that seemed to pull the warrior towards the Beast. Before he could run or even speak, Valorer felt himself be swept off his feet and, with a terrified scream plunged into the open jaws of the Beast. Moments passed. It seemed like an eternity that Valorer lay there, expecting the teeth of the Beast to rip him in half. No pain came though, and when the young warrior finally opened his eyes, he thought he'd entered the afterlife without ever feeling the pain of death.

Valorer found himself within what looked to be an ancient chamber. There were odd drawings and pieces of scripture that he couldn't make out, and at his feet Valorer was faced with the bones of the long dead. However, the most surprising thing in the room was a man hung from the far wall by his wrists. The mans feet didn't quite reach the ground so that he dangled slightly. His body was thin and his hair midnight black and very long. Valorer assumed the man was dead until, slowly, he raised his head and in a weak, almost whisper quite voice, pleaded, "Help...me."

"You're alive!" Valorer blurted, unable to restrain his shock. "But-but how? Where is this place? Who are you?"

Speaking slowly and with great effort, the man replied, "It...it is a long story. We are inside the Beast." The man's head dropped, as if his neck wasn't used to the strain of holding his head up. "And my name...my name is-is Majora."