Chapter 22: The Mask of Shadow

He put mask down when he heard foot steps on the grass to his right, "You know, Maiku…" he heard a voice of a young boy say, "I was thinking…" it was Link.

Navi flickered, "He's human again…?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"He…" Navi started but was interrupted by Maiku

"I am not a Zora by blood; it was by magic, Link… very strong… magic…." He said, placing the mask in his tunic

"Oh…"

"That's that other mask…" Navi said suddenly when she noticed the mask in his hands

"What do you mean?"

"He… found two masks… one enabled him to be a Zora… and I don't know what the other one was for."

"But… you may find out…" Maiku said, "If you wish to stay and stick around, Navi."

"I don't think that's a very smart think to do, Maiku. You don't know what that thing is capable of!!!"

"That's why I'm going to try it on!"

"No!"

"You have no say in this!!!"

"But I care about you, Maiku! I believe that you are a really good person! You just need some anger management!!"

"Shut up!!!"

"Maiku, please think this over!!!"

"Enough!!!"

Maiku…he heard an ominous voice say in the back of his mind

"What…?" he said aloud

"Maiku…?" said Link, "Are you okay?"

"Who are you…?!" he said seemingly to himself

I am… your psyche…or the mental state you are currently in.

"My… what?"

"Maiku?" Navi said, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Your mental well being...

"What do you want?"

"Hello…?! Hyrule to Maiku!!!" Navi screamed out, "Wake up!!!"

"This feeling he has…" Link said, "Is it… fear?"

Maiku started to sway as if in a trance. "What are you talking about…?" he said in an oddly soothing tone, "I feel fine… Never felt better…"

"But…" Navi said, "I feel strong energies of darkness around you!"

"I feel… great…. You're just overreacting… calm down, Navi…."

"This is unlike you Maiku! You would usually hit me or something!"

"What are you talking about…? …. I would never harm you…"

"… There's something wrong with you, Maiku… Snap out of it!!!!"

"…." He stopped swaying, "Agh!! My head!!!" He took out the mask from his tunic and held it in front of himself, the Mask of Shadow, the mask that he strangely knew of its presence and power, the mask of absolute dark and evil energy… the Mask of Shadow.

The mask itself was black and had no fancy designs or colorations decorating it like other masks he had seen in his lifetime; two slanted rectangular eye slits where the only openings that separated the wearer's face and the outside world, a single red line ran down the center after leaving two and a half inches of space, dark crimson designs of spikes under the eyeholes and on each side of the center line, and a black crystal on the very top in the center; there was no mouth hole.

"Please Maiku!" Navi screamed, "Please reconsider this decision of putting that mask on! Remember, you almost died as a Zora when you on Death Mountain!"

"That is the past…" Maiku replied as he moved the mask closer to his face, he took a deep breath and placed the mask onto his face.

As soon as he placed the mask upon his face, five black and red tentacles emerged from the mask. They snaked themselves around his head and just like the Zora mask, the tentacles excreted a black oily liquid that enveloped his whole body, the liquids penetrated his skin and instantly flowed into his veins, sending an extremely excruciating burning sensation within his whole body, he screamed out but only his muffled voice blocked by the tentacles.

"Maiku!!!" Link yelled out as the mask bound itself to Maiku's face, "Navi, can you do anything for him?"

"Not a thing." Navi replied

Maiku's heavy breathing suddenly emerged, but not his human voice, this breathing was more animalistic and dark than a human can bring out; he screamed out in pain and collapsed, his body drained of energy from the sudden change again.