Author Notes

I would like to note that I have uploaded quite a bunch of new pictures on my Deviantart account 'Reptileman778', these include pictures of Majora possessing Zelda, young Impa and Ozshen, the Trickster in both of his attires and even a new picture of Lady Duelia.

A Link to these pictures are in my profile page.

Chapter 36: Zelda's Soul

'Where am I? Who am I? How did I become this?

I am lost, lost in this void, this void of lights and cold.

What was my name? Did I ever have one?

Was my name Zelie, Zelania, Zelia, or maybe Zelda?

I just don't know…

Was my name Hylia? That almost feels right…

Who were my friends? Did I have any?

Imp…Impa, was that a friend?

I just don't know…

Why are there so many lights in here, what is the point?

Is there something you are trying to prove to me?

Who are you?'

Ilia slowly took in her surroundings as she opened her eyes.

She could see trees…many trees. She seemed to be in some kind of forest. Streams of light flowed in the gaps between the canopies of the trees above her. The ambient noise of birds singing gently soothed her round ears.

After observing her surroundings, she thought 'Okay…I did not expect this…so, where am I?'

She got up on her feet and observed her surroundings. But soon enough, she noticed that something was different. She wasn't wearing the same clothes as before. 'That was strange.'

Ilia took a look at just what it was she was wearing right now. It seemed to be a sturdy tunic made for adventuring that was…green. 'Why would it be green, and why am I wearing a long floppy cap on my head? What was even stranger was that she seemed to have a sword and shield strapped to her back.

'Just what is going on here? I thought I was going into the moon and now I'm in a forest…and I'm dressed like a hero from a fairy tale. I'm so confused.'

The confused girl shrugged and started to explore this mysterious forest she just ended up in, hoping to make some bit of sense of what was going on.

The forest seemed to be devoid of life aside from the trees themselves and whatever birds kept shattering in the background. But even then…Ilia felt like something was watching her, like something was lurking in the shadows…waiting to come out when she turns her back to it. But there was also something else that bothered her, because this forest looked eerily familiar, like she'd been here before.

Suddenly, a lively and cheerful song echoed through the woods.

'That music…could it be…?'

Ilia immediately ran towards the source of the music, as she knew only one person on the planet that could play like that.

Eventually she found the person playing the music. Sitting on stump and playing on her blue ocarina was none other than Zelda.

When the princess noticed Ilia's presence, she opened her eyes and said "Hello Ilia, I was waiting for you."

Ilia was a bit too confused by this entire situation to really take in what was happening, so she just remained silent.

"Come on, aren't you glad to see me?"

Finally, she managed to stutter out "Well…I am, but…is this real?"

"What do you mean?"

"How did we even get here?"

Zelda got up on her feet and explained "Well the truth is: you went up into the moon itself and came to the world conjured up by Big Bad Majora."

"What?!"

"Um, you are in the moon, don't you remember?"

Ilia glanced around uncertainly before musing "This does not look like a moon to me?"

"That is because this, all of this is nothing but an illusion. We are in fact situated within the subconscious of Zelda's mind. Isn't that weird?"

"Yes, that is very weird. But, I mean…wait, Zelda's mind? Not your mind?"

'Zelda' then let out a wicked grin before she revealed "Well, I'm not Zelda, not the one you know at least."

Ilia eyed the other girl suspiciously before she asked "Then who are you?"

The imposter then revealed her true nature as her colour faded from her body and was replaced with a dark shadowy and slightly transparent tone instead, while her eyes began to glow red.

"I am Shadow Zelda, nice to finally meet you, Ilia."

Ilia backed away slightly and asked "What do you want?"

"I want to cease to be, I don't want to exist. But the only way for me to die is if either Zelda dies or Zelda kills me. Which was good and all since Zelda actually did kill me, but then…then that Majora bitch decides to resurrect me to stop you from interfering. And now, Majora won't let me die until you are dead."

"So are you going to kill me?"

"YES! I! AM!"

"What if I don't want to die?"

"Then that's too bad!"

Just after finishing her sentence, Shadow Zelda drew her sword and struck directly at Ilia. But to the surprise of both of them, Ilia grabbed the shield that was strapped to her back and blocked the attack easily.

Both Ilia and Shadow Zelda simultaneously gasped "What?!"

Ilia was flabbergasted that she actually managed to do that 'Wow, I didn't know I had reflexes like that. Well, why don't I see what else I can do now?'

Ilia then grabbed the sword that was also on her back and began to slash towards her opponent. Shadow Zelda was completely taken off-guard by the sudden assault and barely managed to parry the incoming barrage of attacks.

The demonic impostor jumped back from Ilia's attack and asked "How is this possible? I mean, you're just…Ilia. You have never been this good at fighting."

Ilia made some crazy sword manoeuvres just to show off as she answered "I have no idea, but it feels good…very good."

Shadow Zelda switched to her bow and shot three arrows at once towards Ilia, but she managed to block those as well. However, the demonic version of Zelda wouldn't relent and continued to pepper the young Ordonian with arrows.

Ilia backed away while continuing to use her shield to block her arrows until she found a tree to cover behind.

Shadow Zelda noticed that there would be no way to get a clean shot with that tree in the way and decided to change tactics. She used her wicked power to create four copies of herself before all five of them drew their swords and charged at their opponent.

Ilia heard them run towards her and came out of her hiding place to greet them with her sword.

The first copy was taken completely off-guard and was turned to smoke by a quick slice from Ilia's blade. The second tried to attack her with its blade, but she blocked the attack with her shield while her sword took advantage of that one's exposed stomach and fell just as easily. The two remaining copies tried a simultaneous attack, but she swiftly took them both out with a single strike before they could even reach her.

The real (actually still a fake in some sense) Shadow Zelda used her decoys to distract the now over-powered Ilia while she herself used the opportunity to attack from behind. But due to a work of miracle, Ilia turned around and used her shield to bash Shadow Zelda's sword out of her hand while also making her fall to the ground.

When she hit the ground, Ilia pointed her sword at her throat and asked "Do you yield?"

Shadow Zelda just stared at the girl with a sceptical look before she mused "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"You said that when we…I mean when you and Zelda played knights when you were 11."

"So you remember that?"

"I have all of Zelda's memories. Just that her emotions are a bit jumbled up."

"Then how can you be so eager to kill me? We were best friends."

Shadow Zelda's appearance changed to resemble the real one before she revealed "Ha! To her you are so much more than that."

Ilia grew curious and asked "What do you mean?"

"Did you think that all the time you spent together wouldn't have consequences? During the last few years she started to have feelings for you that weren't meant for just a friend. I envy that feeling…I suppose."

"If that is true, then it makes my previous question even more confusing. And if you can feel what Zelda feels, and if she actually does love me, then why are you trying to kill me?"

"I am a shadow, the false self. All her emotions that were passed on to me are corrupted like decaying food. It doesn't taste the same and makes you sick despite it having the same origin. When I look upon you now, the real Zelda would want to kiss you, while I want to do something very different. Do you want to know what?"

"Honestly, no I don't."

"Good, because then the author would have to change the rating on this story."

Flufux: Enough with the fourth wall-breaking!

Shadow Zelda shrugged and said "Whatever. But now, Ilia, you have to explain something to me: why are you suddenly an action-hero for some reason?"

Ilia thought about that as she was not so sure about it herself.

"Well…I have always dreamed that I was a gallant knight who saved Zelda…rather than the other way around."

"Aha, that explains it!"

"It does?"

"You dreamt that, and we are kinda in a dream right now, nothing has to make sense in here. You wanted to be a hero, in here, you are one. And I don't want to exist, so I'm pathetic."

Ilia sheathed the sword she was given and said "That could make sense. But if that's the case, who's the one dreaming?"

Shadow Zelda got on her feet and answered "Come on, isn't it plainly obvious? Zelda is the one conjuring up this illusion…and me. This forest we are standing in is from her memories, don't you recognise it?"

"It's the forest just outside Ordon."

"Yes, dummy. But…oh, this isn't good."

"Now you sound like Zelda."

"Ha-ha, of course I do. But there is one part of this dream world that is a problem."

"And…what is that?"

"The eyes watching us…"

Ilia was genuinely confused and asked "What are you talking about?"

Before she got an answer, the entire forest turned dark, the trees turned to smoke and the whole world around them faded into nothing. In its place was a bizarre void that glowed in every single colour in the spectrum. Any semblance of anything familiar was now long gone.

To make things worse, a voice that sounded as if several people were speaking in unison began to whisper its way into the void.

"Your delusions will be shattered by your impossible ability to believe in them. Your veil of security shall be washed away after you learn just how meaningless your idol is."

Both Ilia and Shadow Zelda turned their attention to the direction of the voice and saw a pair of massive yellow eyes emerge from the void.

"There is nothing that you can do to prevent what is coming, I have seen the future, and it is beautiful!"

The eyes were soon joined by the rest of the evil mask that materialised around them. Only now, the mask had grown to an enormous size.

"Zelda's soul is gifted with the ability to gaze in the days to come and through her dreams, I see everything."

Ilia took out her sword and shield while declaring "Release her, monster!"

"I will not."

"Then I have to…to destroy you!"

"I am beyond you, assaulting me is pointless."

After finishing those words, Majora grew four long arms from its back along with four gigantic hands at their ends.

Shadow Zelda looked at both Majora, then at Ilia before suggesting "So what are you going to do?"

Ilia answered "Well…I suppose I have to defeat that thing." rather uncertainly.

"You know what? There might be a sliver of Zelda's heroism in me after all, so I'll help you."

"Thanks…Shadow Zelda."

"You're the first one ever to call me that by the way."

Majora simply observed them and mused "Help, with what? There is nothing you could possibly do."

Ilia rather pathetically declared "We have swords you know, fear us!"

"A sword is nothing but a sharp piece of metal. I am a nightmare, the only living nightmare existing in the physical world. But now, you are stepping on my dreams. A dark future is waiting for every soul in this land, I have foreseen it. All hope and happiness that this world retains will be removed as an eternal night settles upon it. All life, all joy, all light will cease to exist as Dethl takes the form of the miserable lady and awaken the servants of darkness. And I? I will feast upon the misery she will bring to existence while the world crumbles."

Shadow Zelda then commented "I personally don't really care, so why don't we end this thing and get this over with?"

"Okay, any ideas?"

"I'm thinking…ATTACK!"

Then Shadow Zelda ran towards Majora head on while drawing her sword, she even used her magic to run straight up into the air to reach the face of the monster.

But Majora expected this and used two of its hands to squash Shadow Zelda like a human squashing a bug. When Majora's giant hands parted, there were no signs of Shadow Zelda anywhere.

Ilia was a bit shocked by what just happened. Even if Shadow Zelda was just a shadow of her long-time friend, it hurt just to witness anyone hurting Zelda, and it did nothing else than fuel her anger at the monster that has caused so much pain to a person she cared about so much.

Majora simply mused "Her destruction was her desire. By ending her life, I lost the ability to make her miserable by merely existing. But she cannot exist if she does not wish to remove you from my dreams. That is why I resurrected her."

"Then maybe you should know Zelda better! Not even her shadow would want to do anything you want!"

"I know Zelda quite well, I have observed her mind, her memories. They are filled with misery."

Suddenly, figures started to appear in their surroundings.

The first one to appear was an illusion of a 12 year old Zelda who was pushed violently by Groose into a pool of mud while the bully's friends laughed tauntingly in the background.

Then she could see an image of Rusl confronting Vaati just before the sorcerer unleashed a spell that transformed him into a statue.

Next was an illusion of Impa running somewhere just before Ghirahim jumped out of nowhere and stabbed her in the back with his sword. And that was soon followed by an image of Zelda holding a dying Impa in her arms.

"She is filled with a misery you can't possibly comprehend, and it will only get much worse. You can't save her soul, she is lost to her own anguish."

"I will not give up, I will save her whether you like it or not!"

"YOU WILL NOT DESTROY ME!"

"Then go ahead and kill me, what are you waiting for?"

"You pest, you are nothing but poison! Leave me alone, flee, scatter, remove yourself from me! I hate your very existence!"

"All the more reason for me to stay, and I will stay until Zelda is free."

"I cannot release her even if I desired to, I am bound to her life force, I can not remove myself from her without ceasing to exist."

"Good riddance, you have caused nothing but grief, misery and pain."

"That is what I am! That is ALL I am! Why would I do anything else? Why do you treasure joy? Why is it so important for people to be happy? TELL ME!"

Ilia then had a very bold idea that might just work.

"If you experience it…truly, you may learn why. It is not something that can be explained."

Majora considered her proposal for a few moments before it asked "Does…Zelda feel joy?"

"When she is in a good mood, yeah."

"And when she is in a bad mood?"

"Then she is not in a good mood, what did you expect?"

"What is so important about joy when it can only be felt in short periods? Why would you defend a moment?"

"If you experienced such a moment for yourself, then you will know. I know Zelda had many such moments, and if you are truly in her mind, then you could experience them as well."

Majora was intrigued by this offer and soon enough, new images started to reveal themselves in the void they were in.

Ilia could see illusions of herself materialise all around her along with the ones of Zelda's family.

She could see when Zelda's mother Uli read her a bedtime story, the first time Rusl taught her how to handle a bow, the first time she was allowed to hold the newborn Colin. All important and joyful memories.

But despite all that, most of the images were moments when Ilia and Zelda spent time together. Such as when they usually sat by the river's edge while doing nothing but enjoying each other's company, or when Zelda gave her that blue ocarina as a birthday present.

"I…I see…joy…I see…happiness…and I see…love. I feel her love for you and I now understand why I cannot kill you. I am infected by Zelda's feelings!"

Ilia used this opportunity to add more pressure to the situation "Yes you are, and can't you see what you have been doing to everyone?"

"I will not become like you! I AM MAJORA, I AM NOT BOTHERED BY THESE FEELINGS!"

"Yes you are! If you weren't, you wouldn't have needed to say that out loud."

"YOU ARE VENOM! I WILL NOT LET YOU CORRUPT ME WITH YOUR FEELINGS! I AM MISERY, I AM DEPRESSION, I AM ANGST, I AM ANGER, I AM SORROW AND I WILL NOT BE TRICKED BY YOU!"

"Then stop me, DO IT!"

Majora became furious and slammed its hands on the ground so powerful that the entire void became fractured around them while it released an extremely high-pitched scream that fractured the space around them even more.

Then the beast sought out the most terrifying thing it could reach from Zelda's memories.

The form Vaati took when he used his full power, the giant red demon eye materialised just behind Ilia.

The illusion of Vaati slowly approached Ilia while staring at her menacingly. Then unexpectedly, the girl simply ran towards him before she made a wide slash against the newly summoned sorcerer. As a result, the illusion of Vaati simply faded away.

Ilia then looked back at Majora while declaring "Things in here are only dangerous if I fear them, and I don't fear you."

Before Majora could even grasp what happened, Ilia made a superhuman jump towards it and viciously attacked it. Sword slash after sword slash the girl cut deeper into Majora and the abomination couldn't do anything to defend itself.

Finally, Ilia landed back on the ground with Majora soon to follow suite.

Nearly ripped to pieces, Majora gasped out "But this…how could your power be this great?"

"You gave me motivation, and in here, that is all I need."

"I should never have allowed you to follow me…now not only did you manipulate me into absorbing these unwanted feelings, but now you assault my soul."

"That is what happens when you do evil deeds!"

"I understand…I am an abomination, I have consumed everything that I should not have. I will not exist like this. This isn't life, this is sickness! I will not exist a moment longer! Not like this!"

Ilia was surprised by this statementand asked "Wait, you're just going to give up, like that?"

"I am consumed by Zelda's feelings for you and therefore I cannot even touch you, while you can touch my mind with sharp fingers. You will keep your idol and escape with your life intact, but I will not stand for this. I will remove myself from the physical realm for all eternity and become but a dream once more, but before I cease my existence, I will mark this soul immune to Dethl. If I cannot have this soul, then neither can she!"

At the end of that sentence, Majora lost its long arms and shrunk back to the size of the original mask. Then the mask in question started to gradually glow into a radiant light that lit up the entire void.

Ilia noticed how her strange new wardrobe and weapons disappeared and reverted back to how they were before. But she found it hard to keep her eyes open as Majora's disappearing form started to glow even brighter, so bright that she had to cover her eyes to prevent herself from getting blind.

But then…the light dimmed slightly and Ilia took a peek at what was going on.

There was no longer any sign of Majora, but now she could see a bright light conjugate at one specific spot. Two golden triangles appeared out of nowhere and both entered the source of light just before something new happened.

The light itself started to gradually form into that of a woman, and the closer Ilia looked, the more she was sure she recognised her.

Eventually, the light faded to reveal who was recreated within it.

Ilia could barely contain her excitement as she exclaimed "Zelda! You're alright!"

The newly revived Zelda slowly opened her eyes and unexpectedly asked "What's a Zelda?"

"What?"

"You said Zelda, what does that mean?"

"That's…your name, isn't it?"

"Is it? It doesn't feel like my name, isn't my name Hylia?"

"Hylia? Uhm…no."

"But I know things as Hylia, I know the name of the Goddess of Darkness, I must stop her."

"Zelda, what are you talking about?!"

Zelda suddenly ran up to Ilia and grabbed the girl's shoulders as she shouted "No time to talk! We're going to fall! Oh, this isn't good. Not at all."

Ilia was more confused now than she had been all day and simply gasped out "Fall? from where?"

"Pay attention! We are in a moon right now, how do you suppose we get down from here?"

Suddenly, both Ilia and Zelda were violently pulled out of the void they were in through some form of vortex and before they knew it, they flew out of the mouth of the possessed moon and were sent falling towards the land below.

As they were freefalling, Ilia could see that the moon's 'facial characteristics' vanished while the small planet flew back into space.

The very confused girl then turned her attention to the ground below her that seemed to be getting bigger and bigger by the second. But before she could panic, Zelda grabbed her arm and said "Don't worry, love, I'll land us safely!"

"How?!" Ilia gasped out.

"I'll have to improvise, but we'll be safe, trust me!"

Ilia looked down and saw that ground got very close and closed her eyes with only one thought in her head.

'I hope you know what you're doing, because we need a miracle to get out of this.'

Author Notes

Another cliff-hanger, I know, aren't I evil? Muahahahahaahahaha!

Now this chapter was a little different from what I'm used to writing, but I hope you enjoyed it.

Yeah, here we have the conclusion to Majora's arc in this story, and now I'll be focusing on the other villains that are still out there.

Speaking of other villains, I just had to find one more to chapter to put Shadow Zelda in, as she was such a fun character to write. I haven't decided if she will appear after this chapter or not, but it is possible. At least if I can find a reason to.

And if you still are confused about Ilia in Link's clothes, well…it's in Zelda's mind, anything could happen. That issue might be touched on more later though.

Anyway, remember: if you have any questions, opinions or anything, do not hesitate to leave a lovely review…please. I'm pulling out my best puppy-dog eyes at you.