I don't own Majora's Mask. I only own my invented characters, like Dekubler :P.
Chapter 4: Garo Tales, Joy Pendants and Sudden Sprints
"Sara, are you completely sure is her?" asked Owen for the fifth time to his sister, who was pacing in front of him right and left.
"Yes, Owen! I'm sure!" shrieked Sara, quite desperate at this point.
"Okay, but lower your voice," pleaded Owen with a whisper, looking at the front door as if suddenly Mrs. Davids would come out asking what was wrong with them.
Sara didn't respond. She was shaking in a quite notorious way, and it had nothing to do with the rain that started pouring down. The heavy, thick droplets were starting to bother Owen, so he decided to try to calm Sara as quick as possible. He approached her and grabbed her firmly by the arms to stop her from shaking.
"Listen," Owen said, looking at Sara directly in the eyes, "I promise you I will help you investigate this matter, but for now, please, let's go back inside and try to behave as normal as possible. Later we can investigate on this… Zaila."
Sara once again didn't say a thing, but she nodded heavily and started walking toward the house, with Owen following her. When they entered the kitchen, their father and Mrs. Davids were animatedly deep in conversation while a sulky Mr. Davis kept looking at them with a non-friendly stare. Aden looked quite bored, playing with his fork. The only one who seemed so focused on eating Mrs. Davids' Special Pasta was Zaila, acting quite normal as if no guests were in her house. When Owen and Sara stepped into the candles' range of light, everyone instantly stopped what they were doing to look at them.
"Did you find your bow, sweetie?" asked Mrs. Davids with a maternal tone.
"Yes, I did," said Sara grinning, masquerading the fear she felt inside. "It must fell off because of the wind or something; thanks for asking Mrs. Davids."
"Ohh, no problem, sweetie," said Mrs. Davids, "Please, have a seat and eat your Pasta before it cools off!" she added dramatically, pointing the two seats left, one beside Owen and the other, to Sara's horror, beside Zaila.
Owen was planning to sit in the chair next to Zaila, so that Sara would feel relieved to be away from her, but the he thought it would be rude to Aden and it would look suspicious, so he merely sat down beside Owen. As no option was left, Sara sat uncomfortably next to Zaila, who hadn't stopped looking at her since she came back.
"What's wrong with her?" Aden whispered to Owen, as he saw him looking worryingly at Sara, who was trying to eat her pasta with no success, as her trembling hand kept making the pasta slip off the fork.
"Nothing," Owen lied, "It just seems she caught a cold outside in the rain, that's all."
Aden looked at Owen for a few more seconds with an eyebrow slightly raised before returning his attention to his plate, half-finished.
"Aden, what you know about the Ikana Castle?" Owen asked trying to sound casual, remembering the talk he had with Sara that morning.
"Okay, in first place, it's the Ancient Castle of Ikana," replied Aden indignantly, as if he found Owen's wrong naming an insult to his lands. "And why do you want to know about it?"
"Oh, for curiosity," Owen lied again, "I found it in a book about Ikana."
"Owen, you wouldn't touch a book even by mistake," laughed Aden, "Really, why are you asking?"
"Well, okay," admitted Owen, "Sara told me about it. She was the one who read the book."
"Well, if Sara read Ikana's Hidden History, I think I know as little as her," said Aden, "What I can tell you that isn't in the books, is that is inaccessible."
"No way!" replied Owen disappointed, "Why?"
"The front gates are firmly closed, and it was the main entrance," explained Aden, "The two remaining ways to get in is through secret passages."
"What secret passages?" asked Owen immediately, curious and excited.
"Well, one is through an open crack on one of its walls, but as soon as you enter there's this enormous block with a sun image on it blocking the way," told Aden, "And the other one is by an underground tunnel, but its location is unknown to me."
"Then how do you know there's an underground tunnel, if you have never seen it?" asked Owen puzzled.
"Ages ago, the castle was in perfect state," told Aden, "No cracks, or crates. If that discards the first secret passage I told you, the Garos must have used an underground tunnel to reach the fort and invade it."
"But then, the Garos succeeded in taking over the castle?" asked Owen confused, remembering that Sara told quite the opposite.
"One day you should read Ikana's Hidden History, Owen," said Aden, smirking. Owen merely rolled his eyes, and Aden continued, "It worked for a while. They took over the keep, but the king, Igos du Ikana, and his two most loyal servants managed to escape. With the king out of the way, the Master Garo and his ninjas started to kill everyone in the castle showing no mercy.
Miles away from there, Igos knew through his personal spy that the castle was full of Garos, and that no townsfolk known remained alive. He was decided to take revenge."
Owen kept staring at Aden, urging him to go on. Aden, on the other hand, made a pause to eat some pasta and drink some Deku Juice from his glass. One quarter of the candle placed in the center of the table was already consumed, and the rain outside was still falling down, the heavy drops crashing noisily on the windows. This was good, though, as no one could hear what the others were saying outside of their conversations. Owen took a minute to look around while Aden ate his pasta. Mrs. Davids was gone, and Aden inferred she might have gone to the bathroom or to the kitchen. Mr. Davids and his dad were conversing, though neither of them looked too enthusiast. Owen could see Zaila trying to talk to Sara, but Sara replied to whatever Zaila was saying only with nods, not looking at her but rather playing with her fork. Owen kept looking at them until Mrs. Davids came in, carrying a peach tart carefully on a tray. She then placed it on the table and started to cut the tart skillfully and gave each a slice.
"Sorry, where was I?" asked Aden disconcerted as Mrs. Davids sat between his husband and Mr. Anderson.
"Where the king decided to revenge his people" remembered Owen, before eating some of his peach tart: it was one of the most delicious desserts he had ever tasted.
"Oh, right" said Aden, recovering the flow of the story, "So Igos and his two servants spent weeks manufacturing an enormous bomb. A poisonous bomb, actually."
"But why the king would want to destroy his own castle?" questioned Owen. "I mean, I know he wanted to get rid of the Garos but, he was willing to ruin his own castle?"
"The castle was already falling apart, as the Garos were damaging the walls without consciousness. Plus the bomb wouldn't hurt the castle walls at all," explained Aden, "It would simply release a toxic gas which would weaken any human exposed to it, killing them slowly and painfully. It is said that the very same gas wanders in the cave located east from your house these days, from which it is also inferred that the very same gas was the cause of the river drying up."
"So… they succeeded?" asked Owen, intrigued.
"Yes," nodded Aden, "Thrown from a catapult in a nearby, well-hidden hill, the poisonous bomb killed the Garos in the castle. Though it is said that a few of them escaped just in time, which includes the Master Garo running away to the Stone Tower unharmed, though there isn't enough evidence to prove that.
"No corpses were left behind, though. Not a single body, none. It is said that the poisonous gas the king released, called the Death's Breath by scientists and historians, was cursed. They weren't alive, but not quite dead. They were bound to wander these lands as empty shells of their former selves, thinking they are still alive.
"A week or so after the bomb was thrown, the king and his servants returned to the castle that belonged to them. They all died eventually. Investigators say that it was because of the Death's
Breath. Ones say that, because the essence of the Death's Breath was still present in the air, it started to kill them slowly. Others said that the weakened form of the Death's Breath caused hallucinations on the king and his servants that they ended killing each other. Others say it was both."
"So, the reason why ghosts still wander these lands is because… of the Death's Breath?" concluded Owen. Aden nodded slowly. "But, Sara told me that the book says that it was someone from the Stone Tower who cursed the lands, preventing the death from resting in peace."
"Well, that's part true, part false," said Aden, "They story says that someone in the Stone Tower managed to control the people cursed with the Death's Breath. Though, this character is known. Some even say it was a Garo who dominated the arts of dark magic. And, remembering the story, we know that the Master Garo might have escaped the Death's Breath, so he might be the responsible of all this. But of course, all of these are speculations."
"Wow, so Sara didn't read correctly?" asked Owen surprised, "Haha! I'll be glad to tell her." Aden merely laughed.
"Still, you should read that book sometime," suggested Aden, "It's really interesting."
"What's the point?" asked Owen incredulously, "When I want to know something about it, I can simply ask you. You already know it by heart."
Aden smiled.
The rest of the dinner went smoothly fine. After they all finished dessert, they all went to the sitting room and continued talking, more like a group and less in separate conversations. After an hour or so, the Anderson family was going back home, walking through the creepy, dark forest.
"You know, next time we should bring a compass" suggested Mr. Anderson after walking in circles for almost an hour in the forest.
"I'm really tired, Dad!" complained little Eric, "I want to get home!"
"We are almost there, Son, almost there…" trying to cheer Mr. Anderson, while carrying his smallest son in his arms.
Eric kept complaining, and Owen took that opportunity to talk to Sara while his father was distracted. He pulled her by the arm to distant her from his dad and brother so they were out of earshot.
"Come downstairs at midnight," whispered Owen in her ear. "There's so much to tell."
"Owen, no way!" whispered Sara back, shaking her head with disapproval, "That's what got you grounded this morning! What if we get caught again?"
"This time we'll be more careful," assured Owen, "Just come downstairs at midnight."
Sara kept staring at him for a few more seconds before nodding slowly, not looking quite convinced.
When they arrived home, it took a few minutes for Mr. Anderson and Eric to fall soundly asleep, both of them really exhausted. Sara went downstairs at midnight, as they had planned, first assuring his father was really asleep.
As Sara entered the sitting room, Owen was sitting in the couch, waiting for her. His face was lit under the candle he put on the table in front of the sofa, and it was clear he missed sleep, as he had bloodshot eyes. Sara sat in the sofa in front of Owen across the table, and looked at him eagerly.
"So, what do you wanted to tell me?" rushed Sara.
Owen started telling Sara everything Aden had told him, all about the secret passages, the whole story of how the Garos invaded the castle, and most importantly, he enjoyed telling her she didn't read the book correctly.
"It was seven in the morning!" said Sara angrily, trying to justify herself, "My mind wasn't in complete focus!"
"Yes, Sara, like you say," laughed Owen, and suddenly remembering something, "Anyway, what about this… Zaila, are you sure she really is the same girl you saw in the window?"
"Quite sure," nodded Sara, "She was trying to get me into conversation; it was creepy."
"You might have looked rude, ignoring her," pointed Owen.
"Maybe," agreed Sara, "But I really didn't care. I just couldn't look at her in the eyes! She has this penetrating look."
"What if she is the dead daughter of the old man that lives by the forest?" ventured Owen.
"True!" exclaimed Sara brightly, "So if she's really dead…"
"Then her corpse should be in the Ikana Graveyard!" said Owen, amazed of his own brilliance.
"But there's a big flaw there," noticed Sara.
"Which one?" asked Owen disappointed.
"How can she be that old man's daughter if she is supposed to be the daughter of Mrs. Davids?" pointed Sara out, "That doesn't make any sense."
"She could be adopted," suggested Owen, "The Davids could have adopted her without knowing she is already dead."
"That could be true," admitted Sara, "But first we need evidence to backup these theories of ours.
"So tomorrow we're checking two things," remembered Sara after yawning in exhaustion, "The Ikana Graveyard to check if Zaila is really dead, and the Ancient Castle of Ikana, to see if we can find a way in."
"Fine," accepted Owen, "I can tell Dad you are joining me to catch some fish."
"Eww, fish again?" said Sara less than happy.
"Have a better idea?" asked Owen a bit pissed off, "Octoroks are way harder to catch."
"We can collect Deku Nuts; Deku Soup's excellent" suggested Sara.
"Fine," agreed Owen not fully convinced, "We can go around midday."
"Agree," said Sara, "So for now, good night. I'm really tired."
"Okay, seeya"
"So you have everything we need?" asked Sara for the third time.
"Yes," nodded Owen, opening his backpack to check, "One compass, an Ikana map, a bag for the Deku Nuts, thirty rupees and a middle-sized sword."
"What's the need for a sword?" asked Sara shocked.
"You never know…" said Owen mysteriously.
"Do you even remember how to use one?" asked Sara in mistrust.
"Of course I do!" said Owen indignantly, "It was me who won the Disarming Contest back in school".
"That happened almost a year ago!"
"I still know how to use it," said Owen honestly, "Trust me."
"Fine…" muttered Sara, "And where did you find a map?"
"I bought it from a weird man dressed like fairy in the entrance of the canyon the first day we came," explained Owen, "I had forgotten about it; I found it this morning in my stuff."
"Nice! It can be of great use," uttered Sara, "Now we're ready to leave."
"I see you packed some things too," said Owen, noticing Sara was also carrying a backpack, way smaller than his.
"Well, yes," admitted Sara, "Just a few things… a bottle full of red potion and another one full of water, Ikana's Hidden History, Beluosus and a Joy Pendant."
"What's the Joy Pendant for?" asked Owen with an eyebrow raised, "It's totally unnecessary."
"It's my lucky amulet!" said Sara defensively.
Owen shook his head in disapproval. Sara laughed and punched his brother softly in the shoulder. In that moment Mr. Anderson came walking in, carrying a cup of hot tea in his hands.
"So you are ready to go?" he asked with a smile. "Is sweet to see two of my children hanging out together."
"Yes, Dad, whatever," said Owen indifferently. Sara merely smiled.
"Take care!" shouted Mr. Anderson as Sara and Owen disappeared through the door. "And be sure to come before it gets dark!"
"Okay!" responded back Owen and Sara in unison.
"So we are we going first?" Sara asked Owen after both of them crossed the bridge over the dried river.
"I think the Ancient Castle of Ikana first," proposed Owen, "Is the closest one from here."
"Okay, fine with me," said Sara.
Owen removed his backpack from his shoulders and searched for the map and the compass.
"So, according to these," said Owen, holding the map in one hand and the compass in the other, "We need to head south to reach it, and south is supposed to be in that direction." He pointed a trail that lead into the southern woods of the canyon.
"So, let's go" said Sara with enthusiasm, walking at a fast pace towards the trail.
Aden quickly put the compass and the map back into his backpack and carried it again on his shoulders. He had to trot a little bit to catch up with Sara, who was already standing before the trail that led into the woods.
"Well, at least these woods have a trail to follow," motivated Sara, "Unlike the northern one."
"Yes…" nodded Owen.
They ventured into the woods, and Sara was literally running along the trail.
"What's the rush?" asked Owen worryingly, inferring that his sister had gone mad.
"We need to catch up with time," said Sara, slowing her speed a bit to be able to speak clearly. "Dad thinks we're only collecting Deku Nuts, which would only take us an hour at much. If we do things at a normal pace, visiting the castle and then the graveyard would take us like three hours at least!"
What she said makes sense, Owen thought. He started sprinting too and took the lead in no time.
"Eww!" exclaimed Sara suddenly. Owen stopped in his tracks and returned to where Sara stood, lifting her leg and looking at her left shoe with disgust.
"What happened?" asked Owen worried.
"I stepped on a dead Guay…" she said pointing the dead bird on the forest floor. Its body was full of blood, and so was Sara's shoe. The blood looked perfectly fresh.
"You shouldn't be worrying about that…" said Owen looking at the surrounding trees in alert.
"What do you me—?"
But Sara's question was answered before she could formulate it. There was a sound of someone or something moving behind the bushes.
"Run," whispered Owen to Sara.
"What?" said Sara scared.
"RUN!" repeated Owen louder. Sara hesitated for a moment, but after she saw a murderous-looking Wolfos jumping out of the bushes, she obeyed and ran with all her might along the trail. She didn't stop for half-minute, until she decided to glance back. There was no sign of Owen. Sara panicked and started running in the opposite direction, fearing something might have happened to Owen. At last she found him, his back against a tree, holding the sword firmly in his hands and looking at the Wolfos with such concentration. He had a serious cut in his arm, and the Wolfos' furry belly was dripping blood. The Wolfos was walking on his four legs in front of Owen, looking at him with its pair of yellow eyes and showing its sharp teeth at him, as if looking for a good moment to attack.
Sara stood there, shocked. I have to help him, she thought. At first she didn't know how, but then she had an idea. She remembered reading in Beluosus that Wolfos were attracted by sparkling things. She put her backpack on the ground and desperately started looking for something.
The Wolfos suddenly lunged at Owen, with its long claws stretched in front. Owen reacted just in time and jumped out of the way, but he lost the grasp on his sword and it fell on the ground some feet away from him. The Wolfos' claws barely missed Owen and hit the tree instead. After recovering from the impact, the Wolfos returned back its attention to Owen, who lay on the ground, armless, and exposed to its next attack.
The Wolfos was about to jump into Owen when something shiny distracted it. Its head turned in the direction of the source of light, and saw Sara clutching her Joy Pendant in her hand and holding it aloft for the Wolfos to see.
"Come here, you monster!" teased Sara, waving the Joy Pendant above her head. Owen took this moment to grab his sword while the Wolfos was distracted, and in a swift movement he thrust the blade inside the Wolfos right into its heart. The Wolfos howled in pain and fell on its back. After a few seconds it lay completely still; it was dead.
"Owen!" Sara screamed running to his brother and hugging him as hard as she could, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," said Owen trying to sound manly, "I had it under control."
Sara made an attempt of laughing, and let go of his brother. "I was seriously worried."
"Well, I wasn't at all," said Owen immediately, "Because I knew my sister would come and help me out."
Sara beamed at him. "And you said the Joy Pendant was unnecessary!"
Both of them laughed hard. But the heartwarming moment didn't last, as more moving sounds behind the bushes started to be heard again.
"More are coming!" shrieked Sara.
"Run!" shouted Owen, and this time, both of them started sprinting along the trail. Neither of them stopped for ten minutes, as they wanted to make sure no Wolfos were following them. At last they stopped.
"You aren't used to run, right?" said Owen comprehensively to her, who was sitting on a rock, breathing hardly. Owen removed Sara's backpack from her shoulder and took out the bottle full of water. He offered it to Sara, who immediately grabbed it, opened it, and started drinking as if she had never drank water in her life. When one quarter of the water was gone, she let go of the bottle, looking more relaxed.
"Sure you don't want?" asked Sara incredulously, offering the bottle to Owen.
"Completely sure," said Owen firmly, sounding a bit full of himself "I have had longer runs than this one."
"Okay…" agreed Sara, putting back the bottle inside her backpack. She then looked up, and opened her mouth in amazement. She was so busy gasping for breath and running away from the Wolfos that she haven't noticed the magnificence of the Ancient Castle of Ikana was welcoming them in front. The outer walls were painted in brown, with some stripes of different colors and weird drawings and writings here and there. Despite it looked quite old and the walls were damaged, it was still something beautiful, if not surprising, to see. It was so big that it casted an enormous shadow over all the trees to its right. So colossal that Owen and Sara looked like small ants in front of it. In the very center of the wall they were facing, a big stone gate of almost the same height as the castle intimidated them from above, with its doors tightly shut. Sara took a moment to look at Owen, who was as shocked as she was, looking at the castle as if he had never seen something similar in his life. Sara returned her attention to the castle and wondered how they could have missed something this big since the moment they were in front of it.
End of chapter. Thanks for reading! And if you review it thanks too! ;)