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). Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo own the Legend of Zelda series, not me.

Majora laughed, an unearthly, creaky wooden noise. "You think you stand a chance against me?"

"But of course."

"Fool." Majora continued to laugh. "Of course, if you want to join my ranks—"

I charged, casting a fire spell on my sword's blade as I approached. I caught Majora off guard, slashing the mask in two.

Majora reformed, obviously startled by my attack. However, the mask quickly regained its bearings, and its eyes started glowing as it charged. Spontaneously, its eyes emitted a beam of fire.

Perhaps the Hylian shield I held would have worked, were Majora still mortal. However, he was not; the shield evaporated. Quickly I focused my magic, forming a small but powerful shield on the palm of my hand. I threw away the molten shield, and used the magic shield to block the fire. Unfortunately, Majora had the power of a god; I just had the power of a warlock.

Within seconds, the shield collapsed. Fortunately, by then, I had a plan. The second the shield expired, I ducked then rolled out of the way, evading Majora's fiery attack. Immediately I countered, casting a holy magic spell.

Which I didn't get a chance to finish. In a single swipe, the mask advanced and sliced through my chest. I watched as the world spun and darkened while Majora sneered.

"A pity. I had such high hopes for you too."

Infinite darkness swaddled me, an inextricable trap I had fallen into. I was a spirit, liberated from a mutilated body that had once been me. Thousands of voices disturbed my soul.

*He failed…Nooooo… It's over for us all… No hope…he's dead…* Hundreds of voices, hundreds of minds, were crying in the dark over my fate.

A veritable cacophony of screams.

Yet some voices I heard clearly.

*I can't believe it. He was better than I was with a sword…he should've won, if anyone could.*

*My cousin…Zartaris, please…if you can hear me, I'm sorry for everything…*

*Son, I…thank you for trying…*

*Gone? This cannot be! He was my bestest friend...like Grasshopper…*

*I told him he couldn't kill him…I said he was crazy…he wanted to help us all…*

*Willing to die to give me and Anju hope…and a future together…*

*It's over…*

*That's it! I'd rather die a hero like Zartaris than die as a coward! I swore I'd protect to become a town guard…If you're watching from somewhere, help me, Zartaris, 'cuz I'm going to follow your example!* Viscen had faith in me…but not enough.

*Cousin, you can't be dead…you must save us! God of Nobility, I pray to you for protection!*

A voice dominated my mind. "Foolish guard! You shall die, Viscen!" I could see and truly hear the scene now, looking down from above. Majora had become his final form and had slammed Viscen against the side of the clock tower.

"Destruction rains from the heavens!" Majora shrieked as flaming lava poured from the sky at the crowds.

I could see reality slipping from my spirit…I had little time left…

Viscen stood unsteadily and charged, the sword he had given me in his hand. *I shall protect…!* his thoughts ran through his mind rapidly. *If there is a god who approves my action, may he give me aid!*

Majora threw the head of the guards against the clock tower again. He stood, more dead then alive, fueled only by resolve.

Majora laughed. "Well? Are you ready for death, like Zartaris?"

*For you, Zartaris, my final charge…last stand…die to do what you wanted to do…you died for others…as a guard…I can…do no less…* the guard was thinking as he began his next attack.

*Cousin Zartaris, hear my plea! You must get up and fight! I have faith…*

*Son…you must try…*

*Zartaris would never die and leave us like this! Just like Grasshopper wouldn't!*

*You were our last hope…if your alive…help me and Romani…help us all!*

*He can't be dead…he lives forever…inside of us…around us…watching…help us…me and Anju!*

*Zartaris, stand and fight! Help us!*

My vision of Termina was dimming…yet Majora had stopped…lowered his guard…the vision filled with light.

I opened my eyes. I was…myself! Alive! Majora staggered back, and Viscen stood agape as I stood, fifteen feet high. I was cloaked in my Black Armor once again, all damaged repaired by the faith of my followers. I unsheathed the Legend's Flame from its scabbard; when I come back to life, it had inexplicably returned to its owner. I had become the god I had been. I was Zartaris, God of Nobility!

Majora lashed at me with its tentacles, but I dodged with ease. I whipped the double helix blade of the Legend's Flame in a vertical slash, and then a thrust, firing two holy energy bursts at the mask.

Before, the mask would have simply called itself back into existence; however, Majora could no longer blind me with my own lies and hatred. I knew how to take the mask down.

It was not a very spectacular battle; it was exceedingly short lived. Majora was nothing without his deceptions and fallacies. The demon behind the mask was a dead being, deceived by its own lie into believing that it still lived. It was so afraid of death, that it refused to accept the end. In the final seconds of its true life, just before Link had struck the final blow, Majora had sealed his consciousness into the mask it had possessed for so long, rendering him immortal.

Realizing this, I discovered his weakness: the secret of defeating death is life. Before, when I had fought Majora, I had been driven by my own power; now I fought with the hopes and dreams of my people backing me. There was no struggle: the moment Legend's Flame made contact with the mask, Majora was forced to accept the truth, and so, he passed away. It wasn't a fight: it was a mercy killing.

I sheathed Legend's Flame and turned to Viscen. He was badly hurt, but I fixed that in fairly short order.

"You're a god?"

"I am the God of Nobility, Viscen."

"Aw, heck, I never stood a chance when we sparred. Thanks, though, for coming to help us."

"I saw your thoughts when you fought Majora."

"Just doing my duty, I guess…"

"That was very noble of you. I favor all who are noble, Viscen."

"Thank you, Zartaris, but I was only doing my duty."

I turned towards the crowd. Kafei had become an adult again, and was hugging Anju. Cremia and Romani were positively ecstatic.

*We knew you could do it, Zartaris,* I heard Farore say telepathically. I looked at the crowd; my family had vanished, having regained their immortality and godhood after the death of Majora.

Romani ran over towards me from the crowd. "I knew you weren't dead! I knew you would save us!"

I smiled at the child's optimism. These were the people I loved, the people I had dedicated myself to.

"Thank you." Cremia was overjoyed. "I thought you were dead."

"But you couldn't believe it." It was time to leave. I had returned and saved my people. Now, I would return to the heavens and resurrect my son.

As I ascended towards the heavens, I heard Cremia once more. "Farewell…Zartaris…"

I stood at the edge of the heavens, standing above the brink of infinity. I stretched my powers, reaching through time, to that exact moment, the moment of the death of Vulcan. I found him and brought his essence out of the mist of death, his life force. Then, he was here, a single thread of being; I cast a spell, resurrecting his body from eons past. The two slowly combined…he opened his eyes. I was overwhelmed with tears as I felt myself throat constrict.

"Father…Zartaris!" Vulcan whispered.

"Vulcan…my son."

For a moment, we stood. Then, we embraced. I was complete. My people were safe; my son had returned. I was a god, forgiven of my past at long last.

Perhaps paradise is an illusion, at least paradise on earth, in life. Even my attempt at bringing paradise to the mortals had been flawed: it hadn't lasted. Perhaps…perhaps only time could tell what destiny wills; perhaps even a god must bow to the will of eternity.

I can only hope that my fellow gods have learned from there follies and change their ways. Only they can do this; I have learned that I cannot help. If they haven't… I dare not think of the possibilities, lest it jinx me. But if they have learned, perchance someday, paradise will be a reality for all.

Well, what did you think? This was my first work of fanfiction, so feedback on how I can improve (constructive, please,) would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long delay in finishing this; I had started working on a Zelda novel trilogy, and it had distracted my attention. Thank you for taking your time to read this work.