"Chapter 16: A Third Confrontation"

Morning, The day after Link and Sheik went to the Twilight Realm

The party found places to sleep in the cabin, as it was a bit past midnight when Link and Sheik returned from the Twilight Realm. There was only one bed, which was taken by the Mask Salesman. Everyone else made do with the floor, and using any soft object they could find as a cushion. Frederick, Lucina, and Link rotated night watch every so often, which also left each of them to be alone with the forest. Each of them could tell that the forest wasn't exactly normal. They could talk to it and feel as if it responded with gusts of wind.

Link, in particular, noticed the forest's peculiarity. The animals, mostly birds, that passed by would always stop and gaze at him, partly due to the calming effect he had on animals. Then they seemed to beckon him to follow them to somewhere farther in the forest. He questioned this, though he tucked it into the back of his mind once Lucina came out to switch with him.

When morning came, Frederick was currently keeping watch, and he saw two people and two wyverns walking through the forest towards the cabin. He then knocked on the cabin's greyish-brown door and said with his noble voice, "Gerome and Cherche have returned!"

Unable to fit everyone and both wyverns inside the cabin, the party met outside to discuss Gerome and Cherche's findings.

"Both kingdoms seem to be mobilizing most of their soldiers," Cherche said. "Many units were encamped towards the city gates in New Gerudo City."

"I saw the same in Clock Town," Gerome added. "They seemed even more vigilant, so I couldn't get closer."

"So the mask is making use of it's position as the advisors to both rulers," Chrom said.

"All that'll happen is that they'll kill each other in the center of this island, where that desert spontaneously turns into grassland," the Mask Salesman said. "That's all that the Mask wants."

"Actually... I saw something different," Gerome said. "The Clock Town soldiers were prepared to leave from their eastern exit, not the southern one. And it looked like there were scouts coming back from somewhere to the northeast of the town."

Everyone looked to Gerome with interest.

"That's... peculiar to say that least. The only thing of note to the east of Clock Town is a large ship port. But it's not like anyone leaves this island," the Mask Salesman responded.

"I doubt that the Terminans are suddenly deciding to skip out of town," Link said. "A surprise attack from the sea wouldn't work on the Gerudo either."

"How does this affect our next move?" Lucina asked. "The mask is surely going to appear at that battle, and at this rate both groups will be killed by the mask."

A brief silence overcame the party, leaving only the sounds of the wind moving through the forest. It was then broken by Link, when he suggested that "Perhaps Sheik and I could explain this to the Gerudo."

Chrom replied with "He seems hellbent on this battle. Could one even reason with him on this matter?"

"While he does make a point to display his enormous sword to all before him, it's not as if he cannot be reasoned with. The survival of his tribe is one of his priorities in addition to the battle with the Terminans," Sheik explained.

"He still seems like the person that you'd keep at arms length though," Frederick said. "He could turn out to be another Validar."

Sheik and Link were visibly unaware of who Frederick just referred to.

"Oh, right, you wouldn't know him. Back during the long war in which we met Robin and eventually fought the Fell Dragon, Validar backed our war effort with funds and ships. But in the end, he was the one who helped to resurrect Grima," Chrom explained.

"Precisely," Frederick added. "We can present ourselves as allies to Nagiri, but he could easily turn around and betray us, especially given his aggressive demeanor."

"That's one of the risks of allying with another kingdom, in that both are vulnerable to each other," Sheik said. "Though in this case, it's somewhat harder for Nagiri to betray us. Given that he doesn't exactly know what we're doing on this island."

"She's right. This forest only seems to accept us. Others are warded away somehow," the Mask Salesman said. "They don't know what we're doing or planning as long as we're here."

"So in all, negotiations will slightly be in our favor?" Lucina asked. "And what if the mask decides to interfere?"

"The power that forged it is also that which can kill it," Link answered, slightly pulling his Twilight-sword out. "It should be fine with both Sheik and I there."

"If you're going to the Gerudo, does that mean the rest of us are to spy on the Terminans again?" Cherche asked.

"If you can do so without getting spotted, go ahead. Although there is something deeper in the forest that I want to investigate myself while they're out," the Mask Salesman said.

"Splitting into three groups now?" Chrom said. "I suppose that's better than just waiting in this cabin."

Outside New Gerudo City

Link and Sheik approached the front gates of the city. The outside of the city was the same as ever, being a barren desert whose monotony was broken only by the city itself. The two of them stopped in front of the gates, and were halted by the two guards in front. As with all of the adult Gerudo women, they were a few heads taller than the two hylians, and their skin was a fair tan, darker than the walls behind them. When they were stopped, Link slightly shifted, nervously taking a glance and the ground below and behind him.

"Tis the Hylians," the guard on the left said. "What business do you have here?"

"We ask to see Nagiri," Sheik answered. "It is about a rather urgent matter."

The guards looked at each other, then one of them looked back into the city for a moment. She then turned back and said, to the party,

"To Lord Nagiri, and Lord Nagiri only."

Link and Sheik began to walk through the gates, when Link said, "Perhaps the soldiers behind us would like to accompany us as well?"

At that instant, three soldiers jumped up and emerged from the sand. These three were dressed differently. The normal clothing for a Gerudo woman often left the abdomen, arms, and head exposed, but the three Gerudo spies had their heads wrapped in white cloths, not too different from Sheik's wrappings, and a sand-colored garment covered their shoulders and down to their forearms.

"Stay on the central road," one of the Gerudo spies said.

The three Gerudo, Link, and Sheik started walking to Nagiri. As they walked, Sheik looked to either of her sides and noticed the increased presence of Gerudo soldiers. All of them seemed to be coalescing on streets near the front gates as well. Once they were on the streets closer to the Gerudo Palace, Sheik and Link noticed the presence of some children. Sheik and Link weren't unaware as to how Gerudo women reproduced, but that made them more confused. Which men were they having children with? Are there men besides the Terminans, because they doubted that they had children with their enemies.

After walking the long central street and up the long staircase, they arrived at the throne room. As per their previous experiences, Nagiri was imposingly sitting on his throne, with his right hand gripping his equally imposing two-handed sword. The three spies turned around and left, leaving only Nagiri, Sheik, Link, and the two spear-wielding guards who stood right outside the room.

Link and Sheik approached the throne, and Nagiri leaned forward.

"You Hylians can certainly keep things interesting," he said. "I was not expecting a visit right before the battle. I truly hope you haven't come to dissuade from doing this."

"What is this battle for?" Link asked.

"Our spies have intercepted that the Terminans are planning to retake the port at the northeast coast of this island," Nagiri said. "We've tolerated their presence for now, but this is the one thing that I cannot accept."

"All of this, over something that happened between people who have not been alive for decades?" Link asked.

Nagiri slowly stood up, while tightly gripping his sword, and he said "Considering you two are representatives of Hyrule, I would hope that you place value in the people that you lead."

"Though what has happened in the past is a tragedy, this battle will only cause more," Sheik said. "That is what we came to warn you about."

Nagiri's tone shift from slightly irritable to slightly irritable yet intrigued. "Oh? What should I be weary of?"

"Majora's Mask was only one of five masks that the tribe tried to subdue," Sheik said. "Another had been lying dormant. One much more powerful and just as sinister as Majora's Mask."

"Do enlighten me," Nagiri said.

"How much do you know of Majora's Mask?" Link asked.

"It possessed a forest-dwelling person, and tried to bring the moon crashing down upon the land. A man who could harness the power of other masks then stopped Majora and prevented Termina's destruction," Nagiri answered.

"That same hero uncovered the existence of a mask that could possess people, just as Majora. However, this mask can possess two people at once," Sheik explained. "And it is active now."

"And just who has been possessed by it?" Nagiri inquired.

"Your advisor, Sobuil," Link answered. "And the Terminan mayor's advisor, Luibos."

Nagiri responded, though surprisingly without anger, "That is a daring accusation. Just what reason do you have to suspect my trusted advisor?"

"Does she have the ability to use magic?" Link asked.

"Magic? Nothing of the sort. She used to be a soldier, but she only used a scimitar," Nagiri said. "Also, I think it'd be obvious if she were wearing a mask."

"The mask can conceal itself. And in my encounters with it, it used the same magic used by Luibos," Link explained.

"If you would be so kind as to summon her here, perhaps we could resolve these suspicions," Sheik said.

Nagiri, holding his sword with the blade pointed down at the ground, raised it and struck the ground three times. It produced a clanging, reverberating sound across the entire room. If Link had heightened his senses at that moment, he would have been recoiling on the ground with his hands over his ears.

After a few moments, Sobuil entered the room. She wore an outfit similar to all Gerudo women, with a dark grey top covering only her chest, and large, breathable and purple pants. She however was not wearing sand-shoes. She actually wasn't wearing shoes at all. Around her shoulders was a grey, cape-like garment, similar to Chrom's white cape, and it covered the area just below her shoulders, and flowed down her back. The grey colors and the purple clashed with the signature vibrant red Gerudo hair, for which hers was short and only flowed down to cover her neck.

Sheik noticed that Sobuil had a slight look of surprise and confusion on her face when she first entered, though only for an instant. Link and Nagiri did not notice.

"Ah, the two Hylians. I believe we haven't met in person," Sobuil said. "I am the advisor to the Gerudo Throne, Sobuil."

Sheik leaned towards Link and said in Old Hylian, "She looked surprised when she saw us here."

Sobuil walked closer to Nagiri and said to all of them, "If you'll excuse me, there's something I must say to Lord Nagiri."

She leaned in and began to whisper in his ear. Sheik did the same to Link again, saying "Look at your Twilight Sword. Is it slightly shaking?"

Link didn't need to look back to feel the sword slightly vibrating on his back, rattling quietly with his Master Sword. Sheik's two daggers were doing the same. If they were constructed with the purpose of destroying the Forbidden Masks, perhaps they were forged with a spell that caused it to shake when a mask was near.

The four of them turned back to each other, and Nagiri said "Sobuil tells me that some people have been seen working with the Terminans. Those people being the rest of your party." There was a slight tone of bitterness in his voice. Then he began to walk down the steps that elevated his throne, while striking the ground with his sword as if it were a cane.

"Sobuil," Nagiri said as he got off the last step. "May I inquire if anything significant happened in your life in the past two years?"

"Where is this coming from, my lord?" Sobuil responded.

"To me... it seems that your personality and advice changed two years ago," Nagiri answered. "Suddenly, you liked the idea of us going wiping out the Terminans, and all of your efforts seemed to be focused on that goal specifically."

"We've always been at odds with them. I merely reconsidered the situation."

"But you were quite adamant that we shouldn't, because it would needlessly lead to the deaths of many Gerudo."

"You're not wrong that I have changed my beliefs, regarding that topic, but I do not see what is so important about it."

"Because you rarely ever changed your mind about things. Nor did you wear our enchanted sand cloaks, which you seem to be doing a lot lately."

"Miss Adviser," Link said. "Are you able to use dark magic at all?"

"No, I cannot," she answered. "Moreover, my lord, these two are spies for the Terminans! Where else could they get those strange looking weapons of theirs?"

Nagiri walked forward a few steps, distancing himself a bit from Sobuil.

"All of you have come to me with conflicting claims. For one, you Hylians have told me not to trust my own advisor. But, that same advisor claims that you're spies for this city's enemy, and I also can't overlook those peculiar new weapons of yours..." Nagiri said. "I evidently can't trust either of you at the moment."

He began to step further away from the other three, and said "If all three of you are the people I think you are, then a brief battle would resolve this."

"A duel? You cannot be-" Sobuil said, before she was interrupted by Link charging at her shield-first.

Link got close to her, though he didn't swing his Twilight Sword. It was just a shield bash, to which Sobuil gripped the top of the Hylian shield with both of her hands and pushed back. While the two of them were locked in this deadlock, Sheik jumped above the two of them and landed behind Sobuil. With one of the Twili daggers in her right hand, she used her left arm put Sobuil into a hold while pointing the dagger just centimetres away from Sobuil's face.

The tip of the blade was seemingly stopped and pressing against something, even though it hadn't reached her face yet. Sobuil began to groan in pain. In response, the two guards who were standing outside rushed in, but Nagiri halted them. Sheik continued to press the dagger against the seemingly invisible object on Sobuil's face, and she ultimately confirmed their suspicions.

Sobuil let out a dark shock-wave that sent Link flying across the room. She then jerked her upper body forward which sent Sheik in the same direction. Sheik landed behind Link, and Sobuil prepared her arms for another shock-wave attack. Link stood up and charged forward again, with his shield and the Twilight Sword in front of him. Sobuil unleashed the shock wave, and Link absorbed the brunt of it. He landed on his back and in front of Sheik, who was seemingly unaffected by the shock wave.

Link said, "Go, before he uses the spell again!"

Sheik sprinted towards Sobuil, who was preparing to unleash another dark shock wave. But Sheik intercepted it by throwing one of the daggers into Sobuil's left leg. Sobuil collapsed to a kneeling position, and Sheik attempted her previous strategy again. She jumped behind Sobuil and grappled her by the neck. She then took her other dagger and tried stabbing it into the actual mask. The mask made itself invisible, but when Sheik pressed the dagger against it before, she could see that her dagger was stopped by some invisible object on Sobuil's face. This time, she tried prying the mask off using the dagger. The dagger and the mask vibrated from the tension, which intensified when Sheik grabbed her other dagger out of Sobuil's leg and used both daggers to pry it off.

Sobuil grunted and screamed as this happened, and eventually, a black mist erupted from the mask, and it ripped off of Sobuil's face. Sheik fell back from the mask's release, as did Sobuil, who then fell unconscious on top of her.

The mask flew up and into the middle of the room, and it addressed Sheik, Nagiri, and Link (who was still on the ground). The black mist shrouded the fine details, but they could discern the much more humanoid-head shape and how it was only half of a mask.

"You refuse to see the impending doom, and instead choose to get involved in centuries-old squabbles," the mask said, with a notably feminine-sounding voice. "Your time is limited. Resolve your conflict and realize what is truly needed for the survival of this civilization."

Before disappearing into a black twilight portal behind it, it said "The coming ruin of this island is nigh."

...

...

...

A deafening silence hung throughout the room. Nagiri lowered his sword, and the two guards from before rushed in. One pinned her spear against Link, who was still lying on the ground. The other rushed over to Sobuil and lifted her up. She carried her out of the room through the exit in the back of the throne room.

Sheik broke the silence by saying "Is that not enough to see that there are things you should be more concerned about?"

"Does that immediately dismiss the problem that has been in front of our eyes since the demise of Ganondorf?" Nagiri responded. "The one of how the Terminans brought about our ruin generations ago? Besides, I'm sure what I just saw is a problem that is well within the grasp of you and your other allies."

"Wait, what was that about the Terminans?" Link asked, to which the guard above pointed her spear closer to his face.

"Sobuil told you an exaggerated tale," Nagiri said. "When you two first came to me, it surprised me that you claimed that Hyrule was completely guilty for the genocide committed against the Gerudo."

"Is that not the case?" Sheik asked, sheathing her blades.

Nagiri walked and sat back down on his throne.

"In truth, I was always willing to make amends with Hyrule. Hyrule carried out the genocide, but they only did so at the behest of another group: Termina. Hyrule was merely a lapdog to Termina during the attacks on the Gerudo," Nagiri explained. "They are the ones orchestrated our demise. And all of these years, they have yet to pay reparations of any kind. And they actively dissuade any such conversations."

"Why was Hyrule doing the bidding of Termina?" Link questioned.

"That is something even I do not know," Nagiri answered. "That secret likely died with those who were sympathetic to the Gerudo. You're well aware of what their works, judging from those mystical weapons that both of you have."

"The Interlopers?" Sheik responded, making her doubt and surprise clear.

"The Interlopers' crimes were a plenty, but Termina was concerned with two in particular: sheltering the Gerudo, and leading an assault on the Desert Prison," Nagiri continued. "It was at that point that Termina demanded that the Interlopers be banished.

...

"Now tell me, what exactly does Termina deserve. Should we forgive and forget? Or hold them accountable for all they have done? Or at the very least, demand some form of reparations?"