"So, what exactly is your relationship with Princess Zelda?" Prince Alistair asked, as he and Link walked into Castletown, Link constantly looking around him.
"Good friends." He replied.
"Meaning what?" Alistair questioned, raising an eyebrow. Link laughed at this.
"In short, together we separated the Twilight and Light realms, which had become one due to very complicated reasons that would take too long to explain right now."
Alistair shrugged. "Fair enough."
Walking into the town market square, Link was glad that he wasn't being swarmed by people. Having been a fair while since he had been knighted, he assumed that his name was no longer a household name…
"Hey, it's Link!" came a shout from one of the merchants nearby, making everyone stop what they were doing, and look around excitedly at him. "So much for that…" he grumbled, before walking hurriedly off, Alistair in quick succession.
Having escaped from the oncoming crowd, Alistair looked at Link incredulously. "Most people would have loved seeing an enormous crowd of fans coming towards them. Do you find them annoying?"
Link sighed. "It's complicated. I am flattered by the attention, but…" he stopped, lowering his eyes slightly.
"But what?" Alistair asked, as they continued up to the Castle Gates.
"Again, it's complicated. After everything I went through, I wanted to return home, to Ordon, and stay there. I had everything I needed there, but now, for the safety of those who I love, I can't stay in one place for too long. I'm sure the Princess will explain if you ask, but it is nothing you need concern yourself with."
"I see." Alistair replied, as they came up to the gates, the guards standing to attention. "Well, I thank you Link. Not many could have done what you did, saving me from the bulblins. I just hope that you don't have to deal with any more, since you look like you could do with a break."
"Hopefully, I can get one soon…" Link sighed, before extending his arm. "Take care Alistair. I think the Princess will like you quite a bit…" he smirked at the last comment.
Alistair chuckled. "She may do, or she may not. That's not for me to say." He met Link's hand, and shook firmly. "Thank you Link." With that, he smiled once more at Link, before going up to the guards, leaving Link to go back down the hill to the town.
Ghirahim's half of Majhim was relishing in the new found power he had access to. "I knew you had access to great power, but I never imagined it would be this strong…" he giggled, stretching a long slimy tendril.
"I like keeping things undercover." Majora replied. "If you are thinking of taking the cursed hero now, it would be foolish, we are not used to this form…"
"I suppose you are right…" Ghirahim sighed defeatedly, before his eerie smile returned. "Or, we could send something after him in our stead…"
Majora's spirit cackled at this prospect. "What do you propose?"
"How about something that he is used to, and would normally not be afraid of?" Ghirahim leered. "It seems this Link is competent with goat farming, so how about…"
"I like this!" Majora sneered, but stopped as Ghirahim teleported their conjoined form to behind the goat farm in Ordon village, where they noticed a fresh section of earth. "Are we digging it up?"
"Why dig?" Ghirahim laughed, lifting up both arms, concentrating on the goat that they had killed when fighting Link earlier on in the week. Slowly but surely, the earth started moving, and the goat's corpse emerged from the ground, its flesh half rotted off.
"It could do with some, 'fixing, don't you think?" Ghirahim whispered, summoning pulsing black diamonds. He summoned more and more, until they completely surrounded the now floating corpse, blotting out the view of the body. He then mentally forced the diamonds into the body, piercing into it.
Nothing happened for a second, and Majora was about to spite Ghirahim, when they both heard an unearthly demonic sound, but it was still quiet enough not to draw the attention of the villagers. The goats once glazed eyes glowed bright red, and black armour starting forming all over the goat, apart from its breast and forehead, where large bright red diamonds flashed. It's horns became even more gnarled and twisted, a true image of devilry.
"I'm impressed with your handiwork…" Majora noted, "Although, the hero could probably easily defeat it as it is."
"I didn't say I was finished…" Ghirahim chuckled, before teleporting them to Hyrule field. He snapped his fingers, and the goat started pulsing visibly, and swelling up to 20 times its original size. Now towering over Majhim, the goat's bleats became deafening, the sheer force ripping leaves off their stems. "This will surely catch the hero's attention…" Majhim cackled, the masked face glowing maliciously. Unfortunately, they failed to notice the golden wolf, who had spotted the goat, and was now charging full pelt towards Castletown, to warn Link.
Link had been hoping to get out of Castletown without getting distracted by anything going on in the market, but his attention was drawn to a large crowd surrounding a large stall selling Pumpkins. "Must be the Ordonian stall…" he thought, and thought he had time to see it. He halted, as he thought he heard a far off explosion, but shrugged it off, thinking it was from somewhere in Castletown, possibly from the Malo-Mart. As he got closer to the Pumpkin stand, he heard voices shouting loudly over the usual rabble of the market.
"What would Link want with someone like you?" a feminine voice sneered.
"You aren't anything special to look at, in any department…" Another voice shouted. Link thought he heard another voice sniffling. Creeping round behind the crowd, he caught sight of Ilia, who had been left in charge of the stall, and was now struggling to keep composed during the onslaught of insults. "Please just go away…" she whispered, dropping her head.
"Ooh, getting stroppy now are we?" one girl jeered, making the others join in with her. Ilia looked like she was about to break, so Link chose this moment to step in. Walking forwards, he cleared his throat loudly, making the entire crowd turn around and shriek at the sight of him. Link saw the relief and joy flush over Ilia's face, but he gestured for her to remain seated.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked loudly, to which the crowd of girls jumped back. One girl spoke up with a wavering voice, "Oh, Link. This girl…" she gestured towards Ilia, "was badmouthing you in front of everyone, so we were putting her in her place…"
"Really?" Link said sarcastically. He took a step forwards and continued. "I think the only people that are badmouthing are you, trying to make my 'GIRLFRIEND'…" he emphasised this world, making their faces drop, "feel like complete crap and worthless. That's pathetic." He shook his head, and turned around.
"Link…" one of them piped up.
"Go." He replied flatly. He heard them trudging away, and could feel some of the angry glares aimed at Ilia, although his back was turned. After a short while, he turned around, greeted by Ilia, tearfully smiling at him. "Thank you…" she whispered, before running straight into his arms, letting out gentle sobs into his chest. He slipped his arms around her, kissing her head lightly, and shushing her crying.
"Did I catch the worst of it?" he whispered, soothing her.
"Y… Yeah." She whispered, breathing deeply." She looked up at him, her eyes still wet. "Am I nothing to look at?" she asked quietly.
"Ilia, listen." Link answered, staring intently down at her. "Don't you dare listen to what other jealous people might say. People will have different opinions, which they are fully entitled to. The views may become skewed with what they feel at the moment though, so don't listen."
"But am I nothing to look at though?" she asked.
Link sighed, before pulling her into a deep kiss, which she gladly returned. Remembering that they were still in a public place, Link lifted his lips off hers, enjoying her now familiar taste. "Does that answer your question?" he asked, to which she just smiled, her doubt gone.
"Link?" another familiar voice came from behind him, at which Link turned the two of them, facing Bo and Rusl. "Is everything alright?"
"I think she's fine now…" Link sighed, loosening his hold on her. "Just some people harassing her for being…"
"Shameful." Rusl replied. "I think we shouldn't leave her alone at the stall anymore, in case they come back…"
"I think they got the message" Link smiled, winking. He was about to go on and say more, but stopped when he saw the golden wolf land in front of him, making the crowd gasp and scatter. To everyone else, the wolf barked, but Link heard what the shade really had to say.
"Link, big problems. Ghirahim and Majora…"
Link's eyes widened. He drew in a sharp breath, and stepped back, releasing his hold on Ilia.
"Link?" she asked, fearing the stunned look in his eyes.
"Gotta go!" he shouted, before charging off to the nearest exit to Hyrule Field, with the wolf in tow.
"What were they doing?" Link shouted, as the two charged across a bridge.
"It seems like they have joined together. Literally." The shade replied, running at Link's heels. "Majora seems to have attached himself to Ghirahim's face, and they have summoned the goat they killed when fighting you recently."
"What?" Link shouted, glancing down at the wolf, as they reached the grass.
"When Ghirahim unleashes his true form, he covers himself in black armour, that cannot be damage by any sword, even the Master Sword. And he has covered the goat in this, apart from a few red diamonds."
"Great…" Link replied, stopping. "I probably can't call Epona now, this is an emergency." He reached into his satchel, and pulled out the spinner. Jumping onto it, he set off, withdrawing his bow, attaching it to his side. Slowly, he saw a dark shape start to appear on the horizon, and started recognizing the goat-like figure. "Is that it?" he asked.
"Yes!" the shade replied. "Oh shit! It's charging you!"
"Wha…" Link started, before he too saw the demonic looking goat charging towards him, it's horns lowered at his head. He veered left, narrowly avoiding the goat as it attempted to ram him. The goat turned and faced Link, as he leapt off the spinner, putting it back in his bag. He heard a cackling noise above him, and saw what he thought was Ghirahim standing on the goat's head, but with Majora's mask on his face.
"Greetings Hero!" Majhim shouted. "You know Ghirahim and Majora separately, but you do not realise the strength of our combined powers! Feast your eyes on this!" The demon spread his arms, and laughed. "A once simple goat that you cared for will now help end you! Have fun!" With that, Majhim clicked his fingers disappearing.
"Great." Link seethed, staring up at demonic goat, who boomed again, and charged at Link once more. Link rolled in-between its legs, launching into a spinning attack on its legs. Infuriatingly, he found that Excalib's razor sharp edge just clanged off the armour, just as the shade had warned.
"What the hell can I do to kill this bastard?" he shouted mentally at the shade, who had now morphed into his skeletal form, his sword drawn.
"We've got to attack the red marks on its chest and forehead!" he shouted, before getting knocked down by one of the goat's forelegs.
Growling, Link ran behind the goat, who was still focused on the shade's body. He noticed a rough edge where the goat's tail would have been, but seemed to be amiss. Link quickly reached into his satchel, pulling out a single clawshot. Aiming at the edge, he fired, and found himself rushing into the goat's armoured hide. Pulling himself up, he started running along the goat's back, which drew the goat's attention. It started bucking and shaking up and down, trying to remove him, but Link kept low, getting all the way to the nape of its neck. He leapt high over the crown of the goat's head, bringing Excalib point downwards. Yelling, he brought it down with all his force, slamming the sacred blade into the middle of the red diamond, sacred white light erupting from the piercing.
The demonic terror bellowed loudly in pain, as Link withdrew Excalib, and slashed violently at the mark on its head, releasing more blinding light. The beast writhed in pain, and thrust its head from side to side, throwing Link off. He managed to land on his feet, but stumbled backwards with the force. Regaining his footing, he heard the shade whisper to him "Take out your bow, with light arrows! NOW!"
Complying, Link quickly withdrew his bow, rolling to the side to avoid the oncoming charge. He heard running behind him, and knew the shade was charging up behind him.
"Get closer to the front of the goat!" the shade roared, brandishing its sword. "When I say, crouch down, and I'll jump onto your back. Stand up, and I'll leap off you, so I can reach the mark on its chest. Otherwise, I'm not sure what we can do against this!"
Link said nothing, but drew the attention of the goat by firing a normal arrow at the goat's head, it safely pinging off a horn. The goat started charging the two of them, and Link withdrew a light arrow, and primed it.
"NOW!" the shade yelled, running up behind Link. At this, Link kept the bow drawn, crouching down on one knee. He felt the shade's foot press down on his back, and he pushed upwards from his knees. The shade was sent soaring up, straight into the path of the oncoming goat. Spinning himself around, he unleashed a devastating backslash into the red mark on the beast's chest, making it reel back in pain. Link used this opportunity to unleash the light arrow he had been saving, and sent it straight into the red mark on the goat's head, brilliant yellow light bursting out from the arrow wound.
The combined force of the two attacks stunned the armoured goat, which started charging off in a completely different direction to Link and the shade, who had now landed. Link's eyes widened with horror as he saw it pelting down towards Castletown…
"We need to stop the bastard!" he shouted, and rapidly pulled out his spinner, and set of in pursuit, the shade turning back into wolf form and following behind as quickly as possible.
The pair quickly caught up to the goat, which was rapidly approaching the southern entrance to the town. Guards had been watching the carnage that had already happened, and were firing in vain at the goat with crossbow bolts.
"Use me, Link…"
Link glanced quickly down at the wolf, who was running alongside him. "Was that you?"
"I heard it too." The wolf replied, before staring at Link's satchel. "I think that it was the deity…"
Link felt himself tighten up, but carried on, overtaking the goat and leaping off the spinner. He turned and adopted an aggressive stance towards the goat, which finally stopped in its tracks, sending gravel and dust flying all around.
"Should I?" Link asked telepathically. "Is it safe?"
The wolf sidled up next to him and replied, "For the good of the town, and our safety, do it."
"Don't be afraid, Link…"
Link quickly reached into his bag, and found the shape of the deity's mask. Steadying himself, and seeing the goat lower its head and move in to ram him, he lifted the mask onto his face, and let the power embrace him.
A/N: The deity returns next time! And believe me, I'm making him as overpowered as possible, in response to Majora's Mask coming to the 3DS. Expect lots of crazy manouvers and lots of goat destruction!
Reviews are always appreciated. I swear I won't rip your head off, even if it is critical. For now.