Chapter 2


Link and Saria had finished exploring Lake Hylia. Link wanted to dive into the water itself, to show Saria the entrance to the water temple. He wasn't going to enter it. They couldn't since it was sealed. Also, he didn't have a blue tunic and there was no way they were going to use any masks having had their fill of that kind of power.

They explored further around the lake, but Link was starting to feel bored. While here, there was only one thing to do to alleviate boredom.

"Don't let him go that way!" Navi called.

"Why not?" said Saria.

"That's where Link likes to fish. If you let him go there, you could be here for weeks!"

"Navi!" said Link indignantly. "I don't take weeks!"

"Sure," Navi said with a hint of sarcasm. "Remember this?" The fairy started buzzing around the hylian boy. "Hey! Listen! Hey Listen! Hey!"

"Okay! I give up!" Link laughed.

Saria also laughed. "I bet I can catch a fish this time. Why not let me give it a try?"

"Not you too!" Navi put on a look of faint, as well as a fairy could.

"Speaking of fish, I wonder what happened to Ruto," she thought insightfully. "What do you think?"

Link grinned. "I bet she's enjoying while she can to boss people around!"

"You think so?"

"To be honest, I don't know" said Link. "I wouldn't want to be anything I'm not. Even though time."

"Tell me about it;" said Saria rhetorically, "After what happened in the Island of Time, I'm glad we don't grow up that fast." It was weird to say the least.

"I remember…" he smiled again as that image came to his mind. "I thought you looked really good as a grown up."

Saria blushed at the compliment. "So did you," she said.

An uncomfortable silence descended.

"Ruto stayed as an adult," Link summarised thinking aloud. "Personally, I doubt it would do any harm. She'll be fine. I bet the salesman already changed her back by now."

"I guess. Where too now?" asked Saria.

"Let's just see where the road takes us; how about that?"

"How adventurous!" Saria giggled again.

*****************

After walking the rest of the way, the mask salesman approached the gates of Hyrule castle. There was a clean-up operation, due to the celebrations of the other day. He wasted no time, and reached his shop. There was a notice on the door. The salesman read it aloud.

"Warning. The proprietor has not paid up for this months rent. He/she was unavailable to make arrangements. By the laws of King Hyrule, this is a formal eviction notice. All stock found will be sold to the highest bidder, or discarded?" The salesman took a deep breath. "I have no time for this!"

"You're the mask salesman, aren't you?"

The salesman looked down to see a girl in a yellow dress. He recognised her. "I know you; you are that girl always chasing chickens." She was a strange one, he remembered.

"Can I buy a mask?" she asked. "I think I should have a chance now."

The salesman arched an eyebrow. "You must have seen this notice. I fear I am out of business."

"But you are the mask salesman!" she said as if that should make him immune to such mundane things.

"Yes, and I am quite penniless right now" he explained.

"But… I want to buy a mask."

"A mask? Really?" He rubbed his hands. "I see. Well… let me sort this out with the market guild, and you can step into my office! I'm sure when I talk with them we can make a deal of some sort. As you say, I am the mask salesman!"

*********************

The market guild was situated as one of the buildings in the market place. The Mask salesman had not really used it, only going in once to lease the building though the general post.

"Name." stated the male bureaucrat.

"Mask salesman" he answered promptly.

"That's your business. What's your name?"

"My name? I- It's the mask salesman…" he repeated.

The clerk sighed. "That's your name? Well… ah," he looked though his files. "Here you are. What an odd name… anyway, you owe us 1000 rupees, to be paid by next week."

"Yes, about that. You see I've been out of town. But I'm ready to work-"

"Do you have the money?"

"Not as yet… but I'm sure we can cut a deal… What if I gave you a mask?"

"Oh really? And what's so special about your masks? I doubt they're anything valuable."

The salesman's eyes glittered and he almost hesitated in his next choice of words. He could feel the masks in his bag were almost insulted. He tried to keep control of himself. "Value is relative…" he said with a piercing gaze.

"Ha Yeah relatively cheap- Your masks are certainly not worth a space in the market place of Hyrule castle! Why, even if I let you have the shop, you would never be able to make the money to pay the rent!"

The masks almost started to vibrate. There was certainly anger inside now.

The mask salesman realised things were going to get difficult. "I must insist you apologise" he said with finality.

The bureaucrat ignored him. "Request for an extension is denied. You can keep the worthless masks; I doubt we can even 'give them away'. We will keep your deposit to pay of what you owe, and take the rest."

"You can't do this!" The masks in his bag vibrated even more. The shake was now visible. "And unless you apologise to my masks, you may find yourself in a sticky situation…"

"Your masks? What are you trying to pull? You lost your shop. But I tell you what- you can re-apply next year. I suggest trying something other then masks. Perhaps something people can actually use and actually care about."

"Oh… you did not mean that…" The salesman said at the edge of insanity.

"Yes I did. Kindly vacate the premises."

"Please… just apologise…" The salesman gave it one last shot.

"Get a move on!"

The masks had had enough. There was a blinding flash.

"I did warn you…" The mask salesman watched impassively.

*******************

There was no further trouble, and they gave him the key to the new locks. The girl was waiting as he led her inside.

"Wow, how did you do it? I thought you had no money," she said.

"Just a little negotiation and a little persuasion, I am a man of business after all…" He waved it aside.

"Look! It's a clown!" The girl laughed at the clown juggling a mixture of bombs and Bombchus. He had a comical face, as if not really happy with what he's doing.

"Indeed," nodded the salesman. "Quite entertaining, if I don't say so myself" he grinned a little. That mask spell will wear off in an hour he guessed. After all, it was only recently made. He led the girl inside his shop, dropping his bag onto the floor with a thump. "Ah, much better. Now then, you are my first customer of the day! I have so many masks, but really I don't have much time. There is a lot for me to do, you see and I have a big journey ahead of me."

"Well, can I have one of the ones that give you powers?"

The salesman stopped and studied her, raising an eyebrow. "How would you know about that?" he asked.

"I want to try one of them. I'd love one that maybe… made you go really really fast? Those chickens get faster and I can't catch them anymore. I like chasing them. It's my favourite game."

The salesman shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I am no longer selling masks of the ones you describe. I wish it made people happy, but they have a tendency to make people unhappy. I only want people happy."

"But what about that clown?" she said.

"Ah, well you see that was for a greater happiness- a simple domino effect if you will- Hey! How would you know what I just did?"

"Please? Just one small mask? I only want to see it. I won't wear it."

"Why?" He tried to probe into her mind. However, he felt himself surprisingly blocked easily. The girl didn't seem to notice. She clearly had some tie to the masks. Then again, perhaps he was still tired and his powers were weaker then ever.

The girl put her arms around her back, uncertain and hesitant as she tried to explain. "I see people… but I see them with masks… when they wear one, I still see them. When they don't wear them, I sometimes see their masks. But with your masks, people seem… different. I want to know why… That's how I knew that clown was not really a clown…"

The salesman paused as he eyed her. A moment passed between them. "You must leave; Now. Never discuss this with anyone, ever." His voice was full of fear.

The girl fell back disappointed. "You… you understand what I mean, don't you. I'm not crazy, am I?"

"No. You are not, but if you pursue this, you may find yourself becoming so. Please, this is for your own benefit. Go home, and forget all about this."

"But I want to know more. Please, you are the only one I could think of to help me."

The salesman started to wonder. If she didn't understand the nature of her powers, it could bring misery and misfortune to her and those around. "Very well, I will explain to you, so you understand the danger."

The girl listened anxiously.

"You have a power, unlike most in Hyrule. You are connected to a power I like to call Mask Magic, a very potent power that can be very dangerous. Let me explain." He held out a mask. "These powers are not part of the creation of Hyrule, they are not from the three goddesses, at least not directly. Using this power sets you apart from the world… I have only now rejoined…"

"Rejoined? But-"

"You must never use them, the salesman continued. "Else you may find yourself trapped away from Hyrule yet still in Hyrule like I was; an immortal shell in a mortal existence. What you see in others, the separation of a person with a mask could start to happen to you, except it will be to the world. Do you understand?"

"I- I made some masks in school. They do weird things…"

The salesman stood straight up. "You must keep them safe! Where are they? Tell me quickly!"

"I brought them with me…" she held out a Kojiro mask, made out of paper and coloured in crayons. "This one seems to make the chickens like you. It's my favourite." She brought out a few more.

The salesman scanned through them.

Some of the paper masks were torn a little, while others were alright. She had made masks of people, animals, and even a flower. Most did not have any power; although would have if done correctly. Only the Kojiro mask actually had the halls marks of being a completely magical mask. She had made it with a lot of love.

"You are certainly gifted." The salesman said while admiring them. "Tell me, what's your name?"

"Amber."

"Well Amber, I must ask not to make any more masks. I beg you. This Kojiro mask you made is quite good for a beginner, but it was luck more then anything. In time, your powers are likely to fade as are mine. Hyrule will be as it should be, once I seal all traces of it. Go home, and we should forget this. Is that alright?" he smiled encouragingly.

"I was hoping we can make masks together," she said.

"If it were possible, I would enjoy doing so. However, Masks such as mine- and yours, are too dangerous. Go home, okay?"

"Okay," Amber stepped out of the store sadly.

The salesman shook his head. It was inconceivable that someone else could use his magic. If anybody could, it would just have to be an innocent child. He considered it unlikely there was anyone else. Yes, he remembered that child was one of the few children that played continually in the market place. Perhaps it was her proximity to the shop… it was too coincidental that such a person existed right outside his door.

It was not outside the realm of possibility that she was his 'replacement' to the void he left behind. It was the way of the world to replace a being of such power when descended.

Nonetheless, it did not matter. Already, the powers of the masks were beginning to fade, as he had hoped. Cut of from the source of their power, his former self, they and all masks would never be able to curse or make someone unhappy. It was also a hindrance, since he needed those powers for his journey. There was not much time.

He placed the masks from his bag pack to his shelf. "So long masks," he whispered to them. He put them gently, ensuring each was happy in their respective places. He once again felt saddened that they would loose their powers. After all, masks, for all the trouble they cause, they were a lot of fun…

The rabbit mask fell back from the shelf into his bag. Noticing this, he put it back up. The mask just fell again.

"Look here," he said picking the stubborn mask up again. "I know being on a shelf is a little boring, but this is serious work. You know I dislike wearing masks myself, and since I am not going on a business trip- no! I can not give you to someone! No! Out of the question- I can not play favourites. If I take you, I'll have to take you all… Now, stay here with the others."

This rabbit mask was starting to get on his nerves. It was certainly the liveliest of the masks. This time, it stayed in its place. He eyed it for a second, but it did not fall from the shelf.

The salesman blew out the candles, and closed the windows. He drew the simple curtains on them as well. With a note of finality, he closed and locked the shop.

*******

Once outside, the mask salesman expected to see Amber once again playing with the chickens as she always had. This time, she was nowhere to be seen. He didn't want to disappoint her, she was so eager to know about his powers. She must have run home. A good sign, he thought.

He felt strangely empty without his bag of masks. He carried now some simple provisions to help him on his journey as well as a tent. He knew this was likely to be a rough journey but was confidant it would be over the sooner he got started.

********

Amber watched the salesman leave his shop from the ally. She tried to keep her eye on him, but a person in the crowed blocked the sight from her view. One second later, the salesman was gone. She was confused at the sudden disappearance, but reasoned he must have left in the crowd.

Now was her chance! She walked past everyone and reached into the window of the mask shop, frustrated that he had locked it. "Oh come on! Open!" but it wouldn't budge. She had to get inside and understand these masks. She didn't know why, it was just an instinctive feeling inside her.

She took out a wire, and carefully placed it through the frames of the window shutters. She didn't want to get caught doing this, but she noticed everyone in the market place seems to ignore this shop for the most part. She unhooked the doors, and was inside quickly. She jumped from the sill to the floor.

"Whoa," was her first words. In the eerie darkness, each of the masks glistened strangely. She found the candles, but didn't have a match to light them with. One item seemed to glow as she approached it. It was the rabbit hood.

"What power do you have?" she wondered as she held it. * Speed * came instantly to her mind. Startled, she dropped the mask. It stopped glowing as soon as it hit the floor. "I'm sorry!" she said, instantly wondering why was she talking to a mask? The other masks did not glow, although she thought there was something special about them too.

"What am I doing here," she suddenly asked. She bent down, and picked up the rabbit mask. She wasn't sure what to do with it. "Why wouldn't the salesman tell me about you?" she wondered. If it did give speed, this is exactly what she asked for.

She hoped to find some clue about what these other masks do and how they were made, but the salesman didn't look like he kept any notes here. She decided to leave and wait for his return.

She put the mask back on the top shelf, and headed for the window. She was unaware that the rabbit hood had fallen immediately and found itself on her head. Before she could get out, she heard a knocking on the door.

"Open up! I know you're in there Mask Salesman! You'd better undo this right now!" A female voice shouted.

Amber didn't know what to do. She ducked from the view of the window, hoping the person would go away. She then saw the person's shadow as it peered into the window.

"Come on! Mask salesman please change me back!" the voice called again.

Amber tried to move along the wall to the side of the door. Her foot brushed against something, probably a sweeping brush. She watched horrified as it moved and fell on the floor with a sharp thump.

"Ah ha! I heard you! Trying to hide from me? I got you now!"

Amber felt a wave of fear. She couldn't get caught trespassing! She had to get out of here. In an instant, she felt something tingle on her head. It was the rabbit mask. * Run * the feeling pulsed inside her.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion for her. She got up, and ran to the open window. With one hand and an agility she never thought she had, she somersaulted outside in a flash landing on her feet. Everyone was moving incredibly slow. Even the zoran woman knocking at the door didn't seem to notice her yet. The sounds of the market also grounded to a halt leaving a very eerie feeling. It was a relative instant, where she was back in the ally way zipping through the slow crowed.

*******************************

Ruto felt someone brush past her. "Watch where you're going!" Whoever it was was long gone. Hylians were so impolite and inconsiderate; always invaded your personal space. There was still no answer from the shop. Something must have been in there, when she heard that noise.

"Where is that guy!" she thought defeated. She sat at the door, wishing he was here. A second later she got up and tried to pound the door open, smashing the strong wood with all her might. "Open up! Because of you I'm about to start having eggs!"

Everyone in the market place stopped and stared at her. The silence was unbreakable.

"Don't you people have something better to do? Move it!" Ruto shouted.

There was a slight mumble as everyone got back to their daily business.

Ruto couldn't believe the salesman wasn't here.

"Where is the jerk that turned me into a clown?" a short hylian shouted.

Ruto perked up at this. "Do you mean the mask salesman?"

"Yeah he turned me into a clown! Do you know how many pies I've thrown in my face? And I could have been killed juggling bombchus!"

"Was he here?" Ruto asked quickly.

"You mean he's not in the shop? Why the dirty cheater! He promised me 1000 rupees by the end of the week. That's it! This shop is toast."

"Before you do that, let me pay the bill" said Ruto. She couldn't afford to have the shop gone. The salesman would never come back if it was gone.

"You? Do you have the money? In cash?"

Ruto nodded.

The bureaucrat thought about it. Money was everything to him. Someone rich enough to pay 1000 rupees didn't come often. "Very well, the shop can stay for another month. I need 500 rupees by the next week. If I don't get it, either from you as a silent partner or the mask salesman, this shop is for sale. Understood?"

"Sure, fine. Just send future bills to the zoran caverns." She felt her father wouldn't mind. She handed 1000 rupees.

The bureaucrat nodded with a smile. He had just made a great profit from a worthless shop. "The paperwork will be processed. Goodbye." He left for the market guild, anxiously rubbing his hands.

"I've got to find the salesman quickly!" Ruto realised.

********

Amber couldn't believe what she did. The free feeling of movement this mask had made any action almost like dancing. She pulled of the rabbit mask, coming off easily. "Speed is an understatement," she said to it. "Thanks for your help."

From that tiny display of power, she knew this mask could potentially transport her across vast distances in a sheer instant. She didn't mean to take the mask, but now that she had it, she wasn't sure what to do with it. She felt the mask liked being worn. Weird.

She decided to take it home, and maybe figure out how it was made. She was sure she could make similar masks too.

***********************

Gannondorf felt it. A sudden claustrophobia filled him, as if his prison just became even more closed from Hyrule. He didn't understand what had happened. He stood up from his throne as he felt a presence.

"You are being sealed once more, Gannondorf."

Ganondorf looked to see the hooded figure. "Who are you? You dare to breach my fortress? How did you?" He wasn't really angry. What did he have to fear, with the Triforce in his hand?

The hooded figure carried a long staff. He tapped it impatiently on the floor silencing the dark King. "I know all about you, Keeper of the Triforce. You are Gannondorf, once former ruler of the Gerudo of the land of Hyrule... but that feels like a life time ago, doesn't it?"

"True," Gannondorf grinned, crossing his arms impatiently. "You know quite a bit about me, yet I know little of you; strange for one such as me."

The hooded figure bowed curtly. "You are not a god, Gannondorf. You merely wield powers akin to the gods."

"I am as close to a god as any mortal can be," he said. "Sealing me will not matter. I will reach Hyrule and rule all."

"Unlikely. Even for now, while the seal is weaker then it has ever been before, you can not. Already someone has started to close away the vortexes. You will be stuck here for a very long time. Perhaps that is the one limit you must remember above all else: The sage's seal prevents any action against Hyrule- while it holds."

Gannon sat back on his throne. "I see. But I also see something else… You are not affected by the Triforce either… You are not a part of the world I created." It was a statement. Not a question.

The hooded figure nodded. A single red eye blazed under the cowl. "Oh, that is quite true. I have seen people use the Triforce before throughout history. I am always nearby; when I feel someone will gain possession of all three parts and has a heart such as yours, as rare as it is. Foolish wishes intrigue me."

"I fail to see how my wish was anything but foolish. Look around you, all is mine!"

"You can never truly have all Gannon. There is always something… Nevertheless, the Triforce will grant your wish as best it can, it can do no less. But you must be aware of the legendary hero that will someday come and undo this wish- if it ever comes to pass."

Gannon laughed. "Yes. The foolish Hylians spoke of this legend in the Triforce. I know all about it, nothing but a superstition. No mortal could fight someone such as me! It is a story to keep people away from true power. Ha!" It was a joke of the cosmic scale.

"Most thought the same was of the Triforce. Yet it is quite real."

Ganon didn't much care about it. "You have yet to tell me who you are" he said again.

The figure once again tapped his staff on the floor. "I am not a mortal, Gannon, nor am I one of the gods."

"A demon then?" said Gannon intrigued.

"No, not even that. Perhaps the ghost of a demon… I am old, Gannon, as old as the Triforce you hold. But we are allies…"

Gannon raised an eyebrow. "What need have I of an ally? I hold the Triforce!"

"Because… I can traverse the seal."

Gannon stood up with contempt. "You? Impossible! How can you accomplish this where I fail?"

"I spoke of the vortexes… you sensed them as fractures throughout your realm. I know their powers. They are not of Hyrule's goddesses, not even the Triforce can touch them. The sages themselves can not block them or interfere with them. They are much like my own powers. I can travel through them in any direction. I admit it is harder to travel into Hyrule then here, but I am not barred in the same way as you. I can also make it so that you will also travel to the light world and spread your might throughout the land. It may even be possible with my aide to alter fate itself. You could reign forever."

"You promise all this… What is in it for you?"

"Simply the misery, pain and souls of many beings. Your coming will greatly increase my trade."

Gannon didn't really understand. But he relished the chance to take Hyrule. Misery and pain were things he understood too. "What is your plan then? Can you simply take me to Hyrule now?"

The hooded figure shook his head. "Impossible. No living being may enter Hyrule at present from here. The sages ensured that much. You, however, can gain people from Hyrule and trap them here. I have a plan. Given time, you shall escape faster with my help then without it."

Gannon mulled it over. "Very well. I shall see if you can do as you promise."

"I thought you would see it that way. It is agreed then."

In a puff of back smoke, the hooded figure disappeared.

*******

To be continued.