Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Nintendo; I have no claim to any of the characters in the story below (except for the name Zartaris, Julios, Darlen, Eris, and Laura.) Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo own the Legend of Zelda series, not me.

I was very surprised (not to mention a lot pleased) to discover that Clock Town's democratic government, still running the exact way I had designed it, had mobilized countless fire brigades to extinguish the fires Majora had sent. As a result, the town had emerged, almost completely unscathed, from the attack; there were no fatalities, only scorched and blackened wood here and there. I couldn't help but be very proud of my people.

However, I had to remind myself that it was no longer my place to be the benevolent father figure of Termina, as I had been. I was truly one of them now, as much as I would have wished it wasn't that way. How could I protect my land and those I counted as my children if I lacked the godly advantage?

I would figure out a way. Until then though, I would have to figure out what to do in Termina. So I sat down on a crate near an inn, and plotted my moves.

Eventually, I decided that food and water were the biggest and foremost musts. Water was taken care of, for there were several public water fountains and wells in Clock Town. However, unless I was going to beg, food meant that I had better get some sort of job. I quickly decided that with my build and past experience as a swordsman, I could find employment with the town guards.

Employment with the guards meant I would also receive money and shelter. Perhaps the shelter wouldn't be first class quality, but it would be better than nothing at all. With a little time, I could save enough to buy my own home, get a more likable vocation, and figure out how to become a god again, if possible.

My thoughts were unexpectedly interrupted. "Oh no!" shouted a familiar voice.

I looked up to see a small crowd in front of me. They were, in human form, Julios, Darlen, Din, Nayru, Farore, Eris, Aries, and Laura. They did not look pleased at seeing me.

"Zartaris…then, you have failed?" said Farore.

"I have failed all. Myself, my family, our creations, and… my son. I was beaten by the Mask of Majora. It has become the master, and we are its servants. But I will never submit to it!" I got up, my fists clenched.

"Calm down son," Julios didn't seem angry at all.

"Why aren't you furious with me? I lost it all! Everything!"

"We all had a talk, my son. We've decided that we shouldn't be angry with you for anything, because you were never the one who was truly to blame. We were."

"You were?"

"From the start of it all," Darlen started. "We were on the wrong track. When you controlled our minds with your powers, we all blamed you for it. Yet the fault was with ourselves; we had abused our creations, turning them into entertainment, and forgotten our responsibilities to our creations. Continued, this could have only stirred up problems, and eventually it did."

Aries continued. "After we overthrew you, it was my stupid idea to create Majora to haunt your world. We did just that, and we turned Termina into a giant arena, with periodic gladiatorial fights between the forces of evil, Majora, and the forces of good, your people and the Four Giants of Termina. Finally though, it caught up with us; our creation was utterly destroyed, yet in death, it somehow grew in power, and it returned."

"At the same time, you returned. Instead of realizing our mistake during your ten thousand year imprisonment, we grew even more resentful of you, and when you arrived, we were most unwelcoming, even hostile. When you took back your power, we once again blamed you for everything, instead of realizing that we'd stolen it from you, and that it was your right. Finally, we had become so weak and slothful from our own behavior, we were completely unable to resist Majora, and you were the only one able to fight. Had we all been ready, we might have stood a chance against it," Laura concluded.

"So that's it?"

"I guess what we're trying to say is that we are sorry. Can you forgive us, Zartaris?"

I could tell that they were sincerely sorry and truly apologetic. For me to refuse forgiveness to them would be as wrong as their imprisonment of me. "I forgive all of you. That was long ago, and as I said, gods do change. Let us forget that past."

It was like a family reunion, only one that had been held back much too long. I don't think there was as much as one dry eye there. I finally got rid of that secret pain in my soul, that yearning to get even. I could finally rest easy with my family. Now was not the time for this though. No longer were we on a 'gravy train.' In Termina, we would have to make our own ways.

"Have any of you found a job?" I said.

Julios replied. "We've been looking. Only Aries has found employment."

"Yep. I'm now Aries, Clock Town guard third class. That might be the lowest there is, but I'll work my way up. At least it is enough to provide me and Darlen with food, a room in the inn, and a little to save."

"You were the God of War, Aries. Why didn't you dazzle them with military prowess?"

"Because, Zartaris, while I know the technicalities and mechanics of war making, I never actually participated in it. I just sat back and watched, and I watched myself to the bottom of the heap. I learn fast, though."

"How about you, my son," asked my mother, Laura. "How have you been doing. After Majora, that is."

"I was at the Romani Ranch outside town. I was badly wounded but they responded to my telepathy and brought me there. They fixed me up, and they brought me here."

"You still have telepathy?"

"Just telepathy, mother."

"Some of us have retained small fragments of our former power," said Darlen. "For instance, I can heal creatures with a thought, and Farore can put courage into a coward at will, or make a brave man whimper in fear. That's all we've got."

"Well, the necessities are food and shelter. It is only about noon, so I suggest we spend the rest of the day looking for ways to obtain both, other than the obvious, begging and such, and then meet under the town clock at sundown." Julios suggested. It was a good plan, and we agreed.

I left my perch on the crate and read a recruiting poster I had seen earlier. They wanted ten swordsmen, to be paid depending on their skill level. Report to the newly built Guard Station, read the poster, located in West Clock Town, next to the Lottery Shop.

I followed the directions and crossed from my current location, East Clock Town, through South Clock Town, to West Clock Town. I found the address and entered.

"What can I do for you, Mr…" a guard at the desk started. He wore armor with crimson chevrons on the shoulder; obviously, he was of high rank.

"Call me Zartaris. I am interested in applying for a position as a guard."

"Swordsman?"

"Yes. I saw that the pay depends on skill; how shall I be tested?"

"We'll have you take a training course, and depending on how well you do, we'll put you in a 'war-game' with one of our best fighters. Pay ranges from one-fifty to two thousand rupees a week."

"Where and when will the tests be held?"

"Three o'clock, today, here."

"When will I know if I have been accepted?"

"After you've been graded, there's a mandatory three day waiting period. Then you'll be able to sign on."

"Then I should like to sign up for the tests."

"Fill out this application then, Zartaris. Put your name, age, weight, and previous employment record on it." He handed me a pen and a blank paper on a clipboard.

I began to fill it out, but I then remembered that I hadn't seen Terminian writing in ten thousand years. Most likely, it would be completely different than the modern form…but then again, I had shown the Terminians how to run schools, so with luck, the school system had kept the writing style pure and unchanged. In the old Terminian runes I remembered I filled out the application and handed it back.

"Hmmmm…little hard to read, but it'll do. Be here at three, and be prompt, because there is competition for these slots. You have a sword, right?"

"I did, but it was lost."

"Very well. We will have spares at the trials, but it helps to be acquainted with your weapon."

"I can acquaint myself to any sword, as long as I can handle it."

"Excellent, then, Zartaris. I'll be seeing you later."

As I left the Guard Station, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It seemed to read one-thirty, but I couldn't be sure if it was true; the way they told time might have changed over the years. Outside I glanced at the sun and breathed a sigh of relief. It might have been thousands of years, but I still knew Termina like the back of my hand. When the sun was there in the sky, it was one-thirty.

I had time to kill, so I decided to explore a little. I left Clock Town through the west entrance, and looked at the Snowhead mountain range. The path was blocked by a wall of ice, but I had no intention on using it, for if I did, I would be late for the tryouts. Then, I remembered that we needed money, and a plan came to mind.

When I had created Termina, I had put my all into it. Hidden in various places around the land, I had scattered secret grottos; each containing a little something for whoever was lucky enough to find them. Perhaps it would be a few rupees, a bomb bag, or something similar. However, here and there I would place a trove of larger proportions. Near where I stood, I had placed one. I ran to the location, only to be greeted by an empty hole. There were only five rupees left; so much for the easy way to get rich.

I walked back to town, arriving at two-thirty. With thirty minutes before the trials, I decided it would be better to have something in my stomach than fight hungry. The last time I had eaten had been yesterday, and that's if you are willing to stretch Cremia's red potion from drink to food. Five rupees bought me a bowl of soup, a loaf of bread, and a small whiskey at the cheapest restaurant. The soup and bread were sub-par, yet tolerable; but I have never been a fan of strong alcohol, so I skipped the drink.

As I left, it was five till three. It was time for the trial. With a hope in my heart and a spring to my step, I returned to the Guard Station, ready for anything.