A/N: Apologies for the long hiatus, but I managed to get a new chapter out.
The horsemen rode away from the farm as fast as possible. Eventually, the rock and sand of the desert gave way to the soft green grass of Hyrule Field. After nearly half an hour of non-stop riding, both riders finally allowed their horses to slow to a trot instead of the mad galloping they were just doing.
The male turned and looked at his companion "How's the child?"
The female was awkwardly clutching the baby close with one hand and hanging onto the reins with the other "Um, yeah, he's fine." she responded, a bit exasperated.
The male adjusted his mask slightly and gazed across the open field. "I can see the cliff in the distance, it doesn't look that far".
The female sighed "Well, might as well get into a gallop then, before the sun comes up."
So they did, and they reached the cliff side in only a few minutes. Not all that was left was to find the entrance…..
"Ah, there it is" the male said, pointing out a large amount of vines and bushes covering a part of the cliff face. The riders dismounted and coaxed their horses into entering the opening hidden behind this foliage. For a short while, the two people and infant traveled through complete darkness, which was dead-silent, save for the soft dripping of water on stone in the distance.
The two stopped when they reached the end of the tunnel. The male stepped forward and knocked a couple of times on the door. A voice spoke out from behind the wall.
"What is the fate of the Tormentors?" It asked.
"To be justly consumed in flames" the male responded.
There was a clicking sound on the other side of the wall, and it began to rise. Torchlight spilled out from the opening. The two Disciples stood still for a moment, allowing their eyes to adjust to the sudden light. "Welcome home, Brother" the voice said.
The male's eyes finally adjusted enough to the point where he was able to make out the figure in front of him. It was tall, and wearing the same dark robes and mask as him and his companion, but two large blue fins jutted out from the underside of its folded arms.
"Didn't know you were pulling guard duty tonight, Ahto" the male said.
The Zora simply shrugged "Eh, Soshi said he was too sick tonight. Must have been something in his soup, he said. Anyway, how was your task, Toma?"
The male looked over at his companion "Well, we managed to Release the target, but Hana wanted to bring this thing back" he said, pointing to the sleeping infant.
Hana stiffened up slightly "It's entirely for the good of the Order" she responded, a bit indignantly.
Beneath his mask, Toma rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, anyway…" he said, turning to Ahto "We have to see the Watcher, now."
Ahto extended his arm "I think he's talking with Yuma, probably about that wrist-blade Yuma has been working on, but go ahead."
The two Disciples nodded, and walked inside the doorway. Ahto pulled down on a nearby lever when after they walked through, shutting the door.
Adorning the walls of the Sanctuary were various torches casting a soft glow in the tunnels. In between these torches, blood-red banners displaying the image of Majora hung from the ceiling, with a bit of holy text written underneath. Doorways branched off this long passageway to other rooms.
Toma and Hana casually walked down this passageway, passing by several other Disciples who slowed to look at the infant they were carrying in curiosity. All of them wore the same dark robes, but only some were actually wearing their masks. The others carried theirs at their sides. These unmasked Disciples revealed how utterly diverse the Order was. Hylian, Gerudo, Zora and even a few Gorons walked these halls; Brothers and Sisters united by their devotion to Majora.
Eventually, the two reached the end of this long hallway, and came to a set of iron doors, guarded by a Gerudo.
"Hold it, the Watcher is speaking with a Disciple right now" she said, holding up a hand. She looked at the baby. "What is this?"
"A new Disciple for the Order" Hana responded, nodding. Toma simply groaned.
The Gerudo said nothing more, and the group waited for a few minutes until the iron doors opened. A Hylian Disciple with a grin on his face and his mask being carried at his side walked out.
Toma unslung the bow and quiver from around his shoulders and held them out to this Disciple.
"Mind taking these to the Armory?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh yeah, of course" the Disciple said, taking the weaponry. Toma noticed the leather harness on his wrist. "So did the Watcher approve that thing?" he asked.
The Disciple started smiling again "Yeah, pretty much, but there's still a few more kinks to iron out" he said "I estimate this blade will be combat-ready and reproduced in only a few days."
Toma was about to say something, but the Gerudo guard interrupted "I advise you enter and see the Watcher now, before he retreats to his meditation".
The Disciple looked at Toma and shrugged, before turning and walking off down the hallway with the bow and quiver. Hana took a deep breath, and walked through the iron doors cradling the infant with Toma following behind.
The Watcher's chamber was in the heart of the mountain, and had a massive celling that vanished into the darkness above. Rows of mats were laid out around a raised platform like pews, and on this platform was a large altar, with a small stone totem of Majora. The room was illuminated by two large braziers flanking the stairs leading up to this altar, casting the entire chamber in an unearthly glow. A dark figure stood facing the altar.
Toma and Hana quietly walked in and kneeled down on a mat. Toma reached up behind his mask and carefully removed it, placing it face up on the ground in front of him, to reveal the Hylian face of a man in his late twenties. Hana, who was roughly the same age, did the same.
Toma spoke up first. "Honored Watcher of the Consumer, we have dutifully fulfilled Majora's bidding" he said, holding out the Gerudo armband he removed from the captain.
The Watcher slowly turned around and looked straight at the two Disciples through the eyes of his mask. He wore the same robes as them, but unlike the vibrantly colored masks of the Disciples, his was faded, and looked like it was close to coming apart. However, his mask was never removed, under any circumstances. No one even knew what his face looked like.
"Did you leave any witnesses?" he asked, in a raspy voice.
Toma slowly shook his head "The entire squad was Released, Watcher."
Suddenly, a piercing cry came from Hana's direction. The Watcher shifted his gaze over to see her desperately try to calm the crying baby down. "What is that?" he asked.
Hana stuttered slightly "Its…..it's a new…..Disciple….for the Order"
The Watcher stared at Hana for a moment. "Parents?"
"Ganondorf's forces Released them before we arrived" Hana responded, shooting a nervous glance at Toma.
Another awkward silence followed, until the Watcher pointed at the child, and beckoned the Disciples to come up to the altar. They slowly rose and walked up the steps.
"Place the child on the altar" the Watcher commanded. Hana obeyed.
"Remove the blanket" the Watcher ordered.
Slowly, Hana began to remove the blanket from the now quiet infant. As she unwrapped the blanket from around the child's neck, her hand brushed against a small Triforce hanging from a thread around the baby's neck. Instinctively, Hana's hand jerked back, as if this cheap copy of the Triforce was a red-hot metal. She immediately bowed her head down in a mixture of fear and embarrassment.
"Holy Servant of the Consumer, please forgive me. I should have checked first. I didn't mean to bring this…..sacrilege into your sacred presence…." she begged. Toma quietly watched her with a worried expression.
The Watcher held out a hand "Stop" he said. Hana became silent. The Watcher slowly wrapped his bony hand around the necklace, and gently snapped the Triforce off the thread. He looked at it for a moment, and extended his right hand and gently placed it on the boy's head.
"I will baptize this child in Majora's holy blessing, but you two must raise him as his guardians".
Toma looked up, with a shocked expression "Honored Servant, I don't believe I could do it… it's too soon…" he stammered, staring down at his wrists.
"Have you scars healed?" The Watcher asked. Toma shook his head.
"Then perhaps you will need this child in order to fulfill Majora's will" The Watcher continued.
Toma stood deep in thought for a moment, looking at his wrists. Finally, he took a deep breath and said "Very well. I will care for the child. For the Consumer."
The Watcher shifted his gaze over to Hana. "I accept this responsibility as well" she said.
The Watcher looked down at the boy, quietly staring up at him. "Then I will begin" he announced. The Watcher took a breath, and began speaking; hand on the child's head.
"Innocent youth, thrust into this world of suffering and pain, Majora welcomes you. He will hide you from the piercing light in the safety of shadow. He will free you from the machinations of the Three Tormentors, and will protect you with the light of the moon. You will be protected by the scions of his will, until the day that you too, will finish the work that the Five Exiled started. This blessing shall last until the day when the Consumer finally Releases us all, and end of suffering. The Order of the Moon will be your family. Such is Majora's holy word."
Toma and Hana nodded "Praise be his holy name" they recited.
The infant was still staring into the eyes of the Watcher's mask. The Watcher slowly removed his hand. "I will bestow upon you the name of Deshi. Bask in the moonlight" he finished.
His fist closed around the Triforce in the other hand, strong enough to produce a loud cracking noise. The Watcher turned, and flung the fractured symbol of the Goddesses into a brazier.
There was silence for a moment as the three followers of Majora prayed in silence, until the Watcher held both his arms out. "Go" he said simply.
Hana nodded, and began hastily wrapping the blanket around Deshi. When she finished, she walked down the stairs with him while Toma followed close behind. As they stopped to scoop their masks off the floor, Toma turned and looked at the Watcher. He was turned, facing the stone totem once again, deep in prayer.
Toma quietly sighed, and walked out of the room with Hana. The Gerudo Disciple shut the doors after they left.