Hello everyone. Man it's been a while, but I'm still here! I'm so sorry this took so long, but I wanted to finish the story before I posted another chapter. It's almost done, thank goodness! But I also went and updated the other chapters as well! Check them out (mostly because it has been a while). Nothing's really changed, just written better. Onward!
Rosie flew across Hyrule field as the castle came into view. The midday sun glared as we followed the scorch marks in the grass to the castle's seared outer bridge. Link urged the horse on into a running leap over the smoldering timber of a bridge, landing gracefully in the market.
"Come on," Link said, jumping off and helping Saria down, "This poor horse has been through enough today."
I jumped off Rosie as well, giving her a gentle pat in appreciation for carrying the three of us. Then I took off after the other two as we started toward the castle.
Malon met us just outside the door. "I knew you were coming," she said with a smile. But her smile soon dropped. "Follow me," she said. We didn't need to think twice.
"Where is he?!" Link shouted as we burst into the throne room. The lot in front of us jumped at the sudden noise as they turned to look.
Gyo started towards us, "I'm right here. I don't know why you're angry. I did what you said. I watched Princess Zelda and Malon till Impa came back with Princess Ruto. Nabooru came with Karih and Darunia not long after and the Goron Link showed up just before you did." The small Zora motioned to each as he mentioned their name. "I only let Malon out of my sight for a second, when she heard you coming and went to meet you."
'Hail, the gang's all here,' I thought, 'but where is Majora?'
Link shook his head. "I'm sorry Gyo. It wasn't you I was talking about. Did you see Majora?"
"Not here," Zelda answered, shaking her head.
It didn't make sense! How could the monster be here one minute but then not the next!?
"I thought I saw something slink off toward the Temple of Time while I was waiting for you," Malon offered, "I thought it was a dog, but I bet it was Majora!"
"That's as good a place as any to look," Link said, taking a head count. All his Sages were here save one. "We need to call Rauru," he said, nodding to his sister.
She nodded back before the twins shut their eyes and started to concentrate. My eyes widened as the symbols on their hands started to glow. A man started to appear before us, shrouded in light. When the light faded, I saw him smile.
"Summoned by both the keepers of the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Courage!" Rauru said heartily, "This must be important."
"It is," Link answered. "Majora is running rampant through Hyrule, destroying everything in its path! It has disappeared but we believe it's at the Temple of Time."
Rauru's smile disappeared. "It can't! Time is still broken! If it gets a hold of the Master Sword, Majora will have the power to not only destroy this world, but all the others connected to it!"
"Then we must get there right away to stop it!" Malon shouted, and started towards the door.
The rest of us paused a beat at Malon's sudden valor, before taking off after her.
Until something caught my ankle.
'AHH!' I shouted in my head as I started falling toward the ground. Catching myself with my hands, I looked back to see what was wrapped around my ankle. There was nothing there.
'Huh?' I thought, confused. 'I can feel something there, but I don't see anything. Could it be a Poe?'
"What are you talking about?" Milo asked from under my hat. But suddenly he hissed with pain.
A jolt ran through me, a tingling sensation alike to static electricity. "AHHH!" Milo yelled out, receiving the brunt of the shock.
"Fief, what's wrong!?" Link shouted running back towards me.
'Something is shocking Milo!' I shouted but to no avail. Milo wasn't able to translate. So I started pulling with all my might to free my ankle from whatever was holding it.
Link ran over and started to pull on my hands to try and help free me. Link's actions attracted attention and soon Gyo, Karih, and Goron Link were helping. With their combined strength, they pulled the Poe right out of the floor.
"Poe!" Link shouted, before drawing his sword.
"No, wait!" the Poe shouted before becoming fully opaque as he stood. My breath caught in my throat.
"Zelda?" Link said, thoroughly confused, his sword held down.
"No," the Poe said with smiling red eyes, "Sheik." There he stood, fully formed, just as he had looked in the game. But instead of Zelda's tuft of blonde sticking out from under his headdress, his own white hair stuck out.
My face lit up. 'Sheik! You're alive!'
He looked at me with questioning eyes.
'You know what I mean,' I thought, 'I thought you were gone.'
'As did I,' he answered, 'until those whom I was supposed to watch pulled me through the ground.' He winked.
'The man and wife!' I realized. I'd have to thank them later.
'It is good to see you again young one.'
It really was Sheik! He'd made it through. I could have hugged him but…
"So cold," I heard whisper from atop my head, and felt Milo shiver under my hat.
'Milo!' I thought, reaching up to see if I could find him. Under my hat, I found a small form and gently picked it up. I held him in my hands, the dim light revealing a young boy, wings sprouting from his back as he curled up to try and conserve heat. He was freezing.
'Hang on Milo,' I thought, gently tucking him into my hair and pulling my hat down over him. I reached over and soundly punched Sheik in the shoulder before heading toward the door, the others following me.
'I'm sorry,' Sheik apologized, 'I reached up to the closest energy source and used it to get through the floor. I didn't mean to drain him.'
'But you did!' I said, 'And he better be okay.'
"D-don't be mad," Milo shuddered, "It will be okay. And you were so happy to see him just a moment ago." There was a slight chuckled associated with this.
'Sorry. I'm just worried.' I walked outside into the afternoon sun, feeling the its warmth.
"That's better," Milo said, almost sleepily.
'Just rest,' I thought.
"Are you alright?" Goron Link suddenly said to my right.
Startled, I jumped a bit and looked over to him. There were those eyes again, like he could look into my very soul. I softly smiled and nodded. The Goron smiled in return.
"This 'Sheik' person isn't bothering you, is he?" Karih said protectively as she came up on my left.
I chuckled a bit and shook my head no.
"We're here for you if you need us Purple," Gyo said as he squeezed between me and Goron Link.
I couldn't help but match his determined smile.
'I like your friends,' Sheik said as he came up behind the lot of us.
"Me too," Milo said with a yawn.
I chuckled even more. Yep, these friends I'd made were amazing. 'Wait a second? Milo did you just agree with Sheik? Can you hear him too?'
But the only response I got was a soft sigh, followed by a snore.
We quickly arrived at the Temple of Time to see the destruction Majora had caused. Scorch marks and gouges covered the building. I felt a twinge of guilt when I saw 'Fief' carved into the wall. I know it wasn't my fault, but still…
Zelda was outside waiting for us. We saw her jolt with recognition as a look of unbelief crossed her face. Sheik walked up to stand in front of her.
"It's good to see you Zelda," Sheik said.
"You… but… I… and…" she started, in shock.
"Yes, it is very strange," Link admitted, "But where is everyone?"
Zelda shook her head as if to clear it and turned to her brother. "Malon saw a shadow under the door. The Sages are preparing for the battle. We are just waiting for you."
"But how will we get in?" Link asked as we walked into the first room, "We don't have enough time to collect the… jewels?" The three precious stones were already in place. "But how?"
"Brought it just incase," Darunia said, showing the Goron's Ruby.
"Thought we might need it," Saria said, pointing to the Kokiri's Emerald.
"I always have it with me," Ruto admitted, standing by the Zora's Sapphire.
'Well, that's convenient,' I thought, 'now all we need is…'
"Do you still have…?" Link started.
"Of course," Zelda answered, holding out the Ocarina of Time. Then the princess turned to the group. "Everyone ready?" she asked.
Each of the six Sages tensed, ready to go. Malon gave a determined nod, bound to not be afraid. I looked quickly to my friends. Each of them nodded as my eyes went past them, finally landing on Link. Sword drawn and positioned to fight, he gave a quick nod. Zelda's eyes finally landed on me.
I gulped as I pulled my bow from my back and knocked an ice arrow to it. 'Well, here goes nothing,' I thought, giving Zelda my nod of approval.
The Song of Time rang true through the cathedral-like building as the princess played. Gyo, Karih, Goron Link, and I watched in wonder. I'd never realized how beautiful the tune was until it gracefully lit through the rafters; something you really had to see in person to understand.
The doors to the inner sanctum scraped opened.
And nothing happened.
"What?" Gyo said, stating what all of us had been thinking.
Impa was the first to go in, followed by Rauru, Nabooru, and the rest of the Sages. Zelda and Link exchanged a bewildered look before going in as well. I let my bow ease down as I looked to my friends. Gyo looked thoroughly confused, Karih shrugged, Goron Link scratched his head, but Sheik was focused as ever.
"The illusion is nearby, I know it," he said.
"Perhaps it's hiding from us," Gyo suggested.
"There is quite a few of us," Karih added.
"Well, if all six Sages, the Hero of Time, Princess Zelda, and the lot of us were coming after me, I'd hide too," Goron Link agreed.
The four of us had a chuckle as Sheik looked over at the last remaining member of our party. Malon was trembling by the doors to the inner room, a look of shock on her face.
"I was sure it was here," she mumbled, almost to herself, "I was sure I saw it."
"The room is empty," Impa announced as the Sages began to leave.
"Everything's as it should be," Link said in a quiet tone, standing in the center of the room looking toward the only window as sunlight beamed through.
'No it isn't,' I thought. Something was bothering me about this though. Something I should have noticed.
Zelda walked over to comfort the trembling girl. "It will be okay," she soothed.
"I guess I was wrong," Malon admitted, "But maybe… Maybe we should take the Master Sword with us. If that's what Majora is after, then perhaps it would be safer with Link."
What was it? What was I missing? Some of the things people had said just didn't add up.
Link looked back at the Master Sword, and then looked up at us. He gave a quick nod before sheathing his other sword and grabbing the Master Sword's handle. "This hasn't been moved since Zelda turned back time," he said.
'She was waiting for us, but he said she'd heard us coming,' I thought, 'and she had seen a shadow under the door, but there is no way to see under those massive doors. They scrape the ground when they open. And something about this whole situation bothers me.' I wracked my brain to try and solve this mystery, until… 'Wait! Didn't Ganondorf do the same thing?! Tricked Link into removing…'
One look at her smiling face and I knew.
"Sorry old friend," Link said to the sword, "But it's time to work again."
'NO!' I screamed in my head as I rushed toward the Hero of Time, but it was too late. The Master Sword came from its pedestal with a glorious 'shing' and the room exploded with evil laughter as it dropped into darkness. For a moment, all that could be seen was the shine of magic coming from the Master Sword as Link charged it, the glowing Tatl, and a dim glow from beneath my hat until Rauru was able to summon light to the area.
The lot of us stood stock still, poised to attack, as we stared at Malon, who was now laughing manically. She locked eyes with me as she shifted to shadow form as the real Malon fell to the side. Zelda reacted quickly, catching the farm girl before she hit the ground.
"Sorry," I heard the real Malon slowly whisper, "I couldn't move, couldn't speak, or warn…"
"Shh," Zelda said reassuring, "It's alright." But the princess never removed her glare from the transforming shape right in front of her. The shadow was twisting and growing back its tentacle-like limbs and ever terrifying mask.
"That's much better," Majora said with a horrible ease, "Without the wretched sword in place, I can find what I'm looking for." It paused a beat before continuing. "Aht," it said, a sound meant to stop and scold at the same time, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
A glance revealed that Link was moving to return the sword to its pedestal but froze when a tentacle shot out and wrapped around Zelda's neck, lifting her in the air, the real Malon falling to the side. "I can snap her neck before you'd put that sword down," Majora threatened as Zelda grit her teeth and squeezed her eyes in pain, scratching at the tentacle to no avail. "No one move."
Three things happened at once. Rauru caused the lights to flicker as Nabooru and Impa disappeared into the shadows. Sheik was already invisible.
Link seethed under Majora's watchful eye, unable to move without causing possible harm to his sister. His pent up anger was causing the Master Sword to glow fiercely.
"Temper, temper," Majora taunted. It only received a growl in response. The monster shrugged, turning its attention back to Zelda. "Now Princess, as this is your kingdom, I'd like you to show me around." It chuckled.
"Sorry," Zelda breathed out, opening one eye to see her captor, "No tours… today."
Majora growled, a ripple of anger flooding through its system. "I'll have none of that from you! Where is the rift!? This hole in time!?" it demanded.
"T-temper, temper," Zelda taunted with a faint smile.
Majora roared at the insult, tightening its hold around the princess's throat. She kicked and dug her nails in even further, mouth open wide in an attempt to suck in air.
'What is she doing!?' I thought desperately.
'Keeping him distracted,' Sheik answered.
'Whatever you guys are gonna do, do it soon,' I said.
'Already on it.'
"One last time, where is it!?" Majora practically screamed, shaking his victim. But Zelda's arms fell to her side and her body relaxed.
'No!' I thought desperately.
'Don't worry,' I heard Zelda answer in my mind.
'Huh?' I thought.
Suddenly Zelda's hands flew up to make a gesture I'd seen her perform several times before in Super Smash Bros. It was her transforming move. Her now red eyes opened to wink at her captor before disappearing in a cloud of smoke and magic.
"Now Link!" Impa shouted as she and Nabooru leapt from the darkness. Impa scooped up the fallen Malon and darted away as Nabooru swung her scimatar sword at Majora's neck.
But that millisecond warning was all Majora needed to react. Ducking quickly, Nabooru's sword flew over its head. A tentacle was sent flying, hitting Link in the stomach and knocking the hero away before he had a chance to replace the sword. The tentacle wrapped around Link but he drove the Master Sword into it, causing Majora to drop him. The monster swung wildly, trying to get the sword out of his tentacle.
"We have to get the Master Sword!" Link shouted unsheathing his other sword as everyone suddenly swung into action. The Gorons started to pound and crash onto the thrashing tentacles with Zoras dodging to get close, biting and scratching with razor sharp teeth and nails. Rauru used light flashes to blind the creature as Link, Impa, and the Gerudos attacked with what weapons they had on hand. Saria tended to Malon, but was ready with healing knowledge should anyone need her.
Sheik suddenly appeared next to me, but with a tuft of blonde hair instead of white.
'Zelda?' I thought.
'Fief!' I heard Zelda's voice resonate happily inside my head, 'It's good to hear from you!'
'But how…?' I thought.
'All thanks to Sheik here,' Zelda answered, looking over at me with smiling red eyes and a playful wink.
'It is my duty and my pleasure to protect you Princess,' I heard Sheik comment.
'Working together, just like old times,' Zelda said with a clear giddiness, 'or old dreams. Time to teach this monster a lesson, right Fief?'
'Uh, right!' I answered. Sheik… er, Zelda disappeared from next to me, dodging and weaving through the tentacles, attacking with her chain-like weapon.
"Fief!" Link shouted a warning, but it was too late. A tentacle crashed down next to me and wrapped around my stomach before I started whipping through the air. All of the arrows fell out of my quiver, but I was unable to fight anyway at this velocity.
'I should know better than to stand still!' I thought as I flew through the air at dizzying speeds, blazing past tentacles and friends in battle, both right side up and upside down. I grabbed my hat, holding it to my head so I wouldn't loose poor Milo, who was swinging around inside of it.
Then I spotted it. 'The Master Sword!' I thought as it swung past me. Perhaps if I could just reach it…
Stretching out a hand, I reached out to try and catch the sword as both it and I were still being thrashed about. I missed it several times, and had several close calls with it almost cutting my hand, before I finally caught the handle.
'Got it!' I shouted as the sword came free from the flying limb. Hanging upside down, I was so proud of my accomplishment. 'Zelda! I've got the Master Sword!'
'Use it to cut yourself down!' she shouted back to me.
'Oh, right,' I thought. But that was much easier said than done. I only had a one hand grip on the sword as the other was preoccupied holding my hat. I could hardly lift it, much less cut through the tentacle. But I had to try.
'Hold on!' I warned Milo, pulling my hat off my head and holding it with my mouth. I grabbed the sword with both hands and swung it as hard as I could. It made contact with the tentacle holding me, digging deep into its flesh.
The world stopped. Time froze for a second before I was whipped up to the face of Majora's Mask. The eyes bore into me with such hatred it stunned me. I was unable to move. Then the mask lifted, revealing that horrible mouth again.
'NO!' I screamed in my thoughts, opening my mouth in a silent scream, dropping my hat in the process. 'At least Milo will be safe,' was my last thought before the tentacle unraveled and sent me toppling into dark oblivion.