Chapter 5 (From now on) - sorry the addition of the prologue made things confusing :P
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Link felt something very important had just transpired as he walked down the path of Death Mountain with Saria and Amber. It was a strange feeling, since he was not the one actually involved in this incident. In fact, even when he arrived he had not really done anything. It had been the rabbit mask entirely that saved them in the end. Still the situation did not sit right with him the more he thought about it.

"I should have been paying more attention," he said imagining all the things he could have done.

"What do you mean?" asked Navi in a kind tone. The fairy was the only one close enough to hear him.

"Navi. I thought- I mean I should have known something was going on. If I was paying more attention, I might have been able to help more. I just assumed that Hyrule was safe forever now." No matter how far he pushed, Hyrule always seemed to tether on the edge of an abyss.

The fairy pulsed in her light blue aura. "No Link, There was no way we could have known. Besides, everything turned out okay. Whoever that ghost seller was, he is now trapped with Gannondorf."

Link knew Navi was right. Still, his instincts were not settled that the sacred realm had been turned into a prison for all of Hyrule's darkest of souls. What were they going to do next, turn it into a dumping site? He honestly thought he could just be normal from now on, but it was unlikely that could happen.

"You guys were so incredible!" Amber said to them excitedly and pausing Link's thoughts as she tugged at his Kokiri garb. "I've never seen anyone with the magic you have. What was it you said, Din's fire? As in the Goddess Din? And that arrow of light! That was incredible. Can you show me how to do it too?"

Link felt shy at the adorations of the child. "It's just a little practice," he said modestly.

"It looks like you have a fan," said Saria laughing lightly giving a playful poke with her elbow.

Link groaned a little.

"You two play the Ocarina really well. How did you know my father's song anyway? I never knew it could do that."

"You father?" Link questioned astonished. "You mean the windmill guy is your father?"

"Uh huh. It usually makes a storm happen, I had no idea it could zap ghosts. Did you teach him that song or something? It's weird, because it's like he knew it inside already. He's quite good with the music box, he has even made other songs … but he's become weird about it." Amber trailed at this point, the young chatter became silent as if she had said too much.

"Magical songs can be dangerous Link," advised Navi quietly. "Without any knowledge, he is asking for trouble. He may have lost his mind."

"Is there anything we can do?" He continued to converse with Navi at this.

Amber shifted her mood back to her perky self, centring her attention to Saria. "So are you his girlfriend? Where are you two from anyway? Are you from a nearby village? I didn't know there was another village around." She questioned incessantly.

Saria tried to explain. "Yes, we live- Well we used to live not too far away from here."

"Really? I didn't know there are any villages close by." Amber was confused and asked again.

Saria smiled. "I'm not surprised, it isn't a well known village. It's in the lost woods."

"The forest!" Amber nearly screamed. "Y-You're both from the forest?"

"Well yes," said Saria not understanding Amber's increased distressed.

Amber nearly tripped over. How could she have missed it! Those green clothes alone should have made her realise. Nobody wore anything like it. "Please! Don't hurt me!" She distanced herself from them.

Link's eyes widened. "Calm down Amber, what's wrong?" He asked gently.

"Y-You're from the forest! No wonder you have such powerful magic, you must be demons!" Amber kept a good distance from them. She wished she had the rabbit mask now more then ever.

Saria looked at Amber worried. She had never seen anyone so afraid of her. "We're not demons Amber," she said sincerely. "Actually, we are both Hylians… really."

"No way! Everyone in the village knows you can't go in the forest. You change into a demon or something. Nothing but demons live there. Nothing!"

"We lived there too," said Link soothingly. "There aren't only demons in the woods."

Amber didn't see any signs he was lying. It was still hard to believe him however.

"We are friends of the Mask salesman too," Saria offered. "He gave me a fairy mask to use once. I think I still have it, see?" she showed it.

"I suppose…" Amber felt a little better. "He wouldn't sell you masks unless he likes you. I'm his friend too. I… guess that means we can be friends too." She was still slightly ill at ease with them.

Amber cautiously came back to them, but they started to trail back down the path with little comment. Eventually, Saria broke the silence.

"Amber, does everyone think this about the woods?" she said concerned about this.

The little girl nodded. "Well… yeah. Kakariko blames everyone that was lost on the Great Forest."

Saria sighed sadly. "I see. Well, judging by your reaction, I think we may have a problem." They would not be welcomed there, even if they had a house for them all set up. She wasn't sure if there was a place for them. The legends of the woods were everywhere.

Link nodded. "I was thinking that too. What do you say Amber, can you keep our secret? We want to live in Kakariko from now on you see."

"Sure!" said the young girl. After all, she did owe them her life. "I won't say a thing, you can count on it."

"Thanks," said Saria and Link.

Saria momentarily wondered about this. She was not really one to keep secrets, always being honest with everyone and herself. She wasn't sure she could keep her origins from everybody. It didn't come natural to her.

The two forest children were now towards the end of the mountain trail.

"Link, Saria" said Amber. "Why don't you come and meet my dad? I want to thank you for your help back there. He talks about some kid in green clothing that started him working on music all the time. It was you, wasn't it! I know it had to be. Please come!"

"Okay" Link nodded accepting the invitation. "Come on Saria, we could get a good night sleep in a real home after this, yeah?"

"Okay Link."

"Great!" laughed Amber. She would make sure they had a proper welcome.

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"How long will this take?"

Gannon was not at all pleased. He stood still, with his face wet with perspiration. In front of him was the golden Triforce, accepting his mind's will and shaping his thoughts with raw power. All that power and energy was being directed into this one spot in the centre of his pyramid.

The Ghost seller continued to watch impassively, not requiring rest or sleep. Eventually, his eye glowed red once more and he tapped his staff to the ground. "That will suffice for today."

Gannon waved his hand, and the triforce relic vanished, back into its safe hold. "Look here! I will not be ordered by you! Never forget just who the master of this world is!"

"You are free to do as you wish for you have the Triforce, remember?"

"Then you remember it as well!" Shouted Ganon but let his anger subside. "How long must I do this?"

"Patience. Even the Triforce is limited when considering what we are doing. We are attempting to breach into the very fabric of the universe. Not only is there natural resistance to this, we are also fighting the seal of the sages. It will take time."

"I must know how long." Ganon stated with clenched teeth.

The dark figure's red eye dimmed in concentration. "It is uncertain. However, if everything goes according to plan… at least a year maybe two."

"Years!" The dark king spat.

"Years," the Ghost seller said flatly. "Well within the life time of mortals. What do you care if it takes years? And only two at that?"

Gannon mulled it over. "I have an empire here to run. You are telling me I must waste my days doing nothing but this?" This session alone required hours of concentration, he couldn't fathom doing it every day for the next couple of years.

"If you wish to conquer Hyrule, yes. The seal is self healing, Gannon. With my powers and yours, we are breaching the barrier far faster then they can compensate for. You will push the Triforce to the very depths of its powers. I will sustain your spirit as I have done today so you may try again. Go now and rest."

The ghost seller vanished.

Gannon snarled. The hylians that imprisoned him would play dearly for this.

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Ruto and the mask salesman trailed the path down towards kakariko at a far slower pace then Link's party. Simply, there were not in a hurry. Also, they tended to talk a lot more. Ruto wanted to know more about the enigmatic individual she both feared, yet felt profound curiosity for. Now that he no longer teleported away, it was a good chance for her to get to know him better.

The one thing she couldn't get was more information about his past.

"Come on! We all know you are much more then just a salesman!" the zoran said with passion and interest.

"I have always been the mask salesman." He said simply.

"You were once god-like! You had the power of the Triforce behind you! You commanded the essence of creation and I think you may have even seen Din Farore and Nayru at one point! You don't get more godlike then that. Come on, can you at least tell me what it was like?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Ruto stopped at that question. "Umm I don't know. I'd just like to know. Nothing wrong with that is there?"

The salesman chuckled. "Dearest princess, the being you see before you is not god like. I never was. People… have a spectrum about them, like a multitude of ghosts surrounding them. You could say I am but one such ghost. But even so, light splits infinitely- fractal in nature. Gods have but one light to them, it makes such a being confused and even dangerous within the mortal realm. No, I could not tell you what it was like since I am not the same person."

"I don't understand!" said Ruto almost disappointed at herself. "You still speak in riddles. Can't you be… more forthcoming? It's not as if you can plead insanity now."

"I was never insane, simply… devoted and sometimes coerced by forces in truth I knew little about. Now, I have more masks to sale- nothing funny I assure you! Come to my shop and I will show you if you care to see."

"I have to see my father," decided Ruto. "He'll be worried about me."

"But of course! Give him my regards. If he wants a mask, be sure to come to me."

Ruto coughed lightly. "I'll… tell him." Not really about to.

As they parted for their separate ways, the salesman gave an uneasy glance toward the top of the mountain. "Who were you… really?" He questioned now forever alone. The dark creature knew him somehow. Also, when the mask salesman thought about it, somehow deep down he knew of its existence too. "It's almost as if… we are brothers, by the business I held so dear. Yet you despise the code, relish in destruction and spread misery."

He was glad that creature was trapped away from Hyrule. Such a salesman should not exist.

The ghost seller was… evil.

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Link, Saria and Amber had at last reached Kakariko. Link yawned a little fatigued by their brisk of short conflict with the Ghost seller and his poes. Still, they had an invitation to go to.

"So where are you guys going to live?" asked Amber.

"The- uh- mansion over there," said Link hesitantly pointing it out.

Once again Amber felt a pinch of fear. "You mean the demon infested house that nobody- oh forget it, I don't want to ask." Her new friends were weird that was for certain.

"Well we haven't started decorating it, really." Link didn't know what more to say apart from that.

Saria wondered just how difficult living here was going to be. She envisioned herself adapting to their village and their life style. It was becoming apparent the hylians would also have to accept and adapt to them.

Dusk was starting to approach. Amber led them to a house near the windmill. It was not exactly as large as the house Link planed to live in, but neither was it small. Four rooms adorned it, a large main room, a kitchen and two bedrooms.

"Dad! I brought guests" called amber as she entered her home.

Saria remarked at how warm it was inside. These Hylians knew how to make comfortable homes, as well as fine clothing. Still there was something here that made her feel a little worried. She couldn't place the source of the feeling.

Link was looking around, interested in seeing the 'windmill guy.' "By the way, what is your father's real name?" He couldn't call him that he figured.

"You know, he never told me. I just call him dad." She explained. "Dad! Come and see. It's that kid in green clothing you always sang about."

"Sang?" the Hylian boy thought.

"The problem might be deeper then I thought," said Navi.

"He must be in his room." Amber went into another of the limited rooms they had.

The windmill guy was in the corner, winding his music box with careful precision. His eyes were wide, in a trance like state. The music he played was disjoined and incredibly off key. Saria and Link, who were sensitive to the music, had to actually back away from the emanations he played.

"Oh no, he's doing it again," said Amber upset. She went to him carefully. "Dad, it's me. Come on, we have guests and I was hoping they could have dinner with us. Please snap out of it…" she begged. She gave a quick glance to her friends. "Its okay, this happens to him sometimes. Just give him a minute…" there was no hiding the panic in her voice.

"This is awful," said Saria fearfully. The musical power was everywhere, toying and teasing their senses. She really hated being here; the music was polluted beyond recognition bringing confusion and chaos.

"Navi can we help him?" asked Link.

"I don't know… he is special with a strong innate ability to play magical music like the stalkids and Kokiri… But it has taken him over."

"I want to try," he decided. He couldn't turn away someone that needed help.

"What? Are you saying you can help him? Asked Amber hopefully.

Link looked into her pleading eyes. "I don't know for sure… but we can try."

"Can you really?" she said feeling a hope she had almost lost long ago. "Recently he's become harder to bring out of it. The music, it's like it's addictive. All he does is play." She wanted to cry.

"It's alright," said Saria. "Link and I will help."

"Thank you, Thank you." She was starting to feel desperate. "Do you need anything?"

"No, but can you wait in the other room? Please?" said Link as nicely as he could. He wasn't sure how this would turn out, and didn't want her to see in case things turned badly.

Amber turned to her father, who was continuing to sing oblivious to their conversation. If Link could do anything, she wasn't going to stand in the way. "O-Okay. I trust you. Please do what ever you can." She walked back to the first room.

"I'll stay with her," said Saria. She looked like she could use a friend.

"Actually Saria, I think I will need you for this" said Link stopping her.

"How come?" she asked.

"Music," explained Navi. "In order to save him, you must play the music back to him and change it. You will have to draw on the music from your own souls. If we were in the forest, this would be a lot easier but we must use our own source instead."

"But Link knows all there is about music," said Saria. She didn't see how she could contribute.

Navi floated towards her. "Both of you can create music together far stronger then alone. You need to counterbalance and anchor each other. It will be like falling into a stormy sea."

Saria nodded. "So, this is like our duet huh?" she smiled shortly but knowing they were about to do something dangerous.

"I guess it's like that," said Link as he brought out the Ocarina of Time carefully. In response to the magical emanations already present, it started to glow slightly orange. He looked at it in slight surprise.

"What do we play?" She asked getting her own ocarina ready.

Navi explained what they had to do. "First, you must listen to his song. Let it become a part of you."

"Part of it? No way! I can't!" said Saria nearly dropping her. She was doing all she could to block the sounds from her mind.

"Do not fear," said sayl responding to her protectorate. "I understand Navi's plan. We will do our best help you. You will both then take control of the song, turning it away from chaos. But you must be strong."

"We can do this Saria," said Link convinced. "Believe me, I know we can do this. Remember those ghosts in the mountain? They tried to attack our minds before. But since we were together, they couldn't hurt us."

Soon they were prepared for the task at hand.

As instructed, Saria and Link first listened. They listened for almost fifteen minutes. They tuned themselves to the music of the windmill guy, allowing the power to take form in their minds. Saria could see the storm, full of emotion and pain. She stared it right in the eye, knowing if she turned away they would have lost.

* Link, are you there * Saria's voice was like a point of light in the darkness.

* Yes. I see the music too… * his voice serene and comforting in this musical world.

Time passed as they saw the song. The two both wondered simultaneously, how any soul could create such pain and anguish with no end and no light. The song was like a cycle, never ending in its torture. This had to be changed at once.

Almost intuitively, they began to play.

They started at the same time, playing the exact same notes. The darker music now took the form of a snake, caught by the tail with the hand of their own pure forest music.

The windmill guy played faster, fighting back as they took away from his song. He pulled viscously, fighting them every step of the way.

* I can not hold it * said Saria with utmost calm in her voice.

* I know. We have to work differently. * responded Link, with the same mono-toned voice. "Counterbalance *

Slowly, they started to drift away in their song. Despite this, they remained locked, as the notes they played reinforced the other. The apparent 'hand' melded into the snake's tail, becoming a part of it. Slowly, it spread upward, changing it from the inside out.

* We are one with the music * said Link relieved. They continued to change it on the brighter path.

* My song! Why have you done this? * a harsh and piecing voice interrupted.

Link and Saria nearly skipped a note, but continued playing. The mouth end of the snake bit into its transformed tail, taking advantage of their momentary lapse. The world took a new shape. The forest Hylians were staring at infinity now, playing for a way to break out of it. Try as they might, there was no way for them to do so.

* This is your song, * said Link. *We need your help to break the cycle. Listen to our song, and play with us or we will all be trapped. *

* I am not good enough * the windmill guy said with anguish. *I'm never good enough! This world is all I deserve. *

*Believe* whispered Saria. *Just listen to our song and you will understand. Do not let negative thoughts into your notes.*

* Think of your daughter… * said Link strongly.

"A-Amber… I- I had forgotten… how could I forget? No!" He screamed in anguish.

"See past it all. Step outside with us," said Saria. Her notes opened the path towards them; a path taken in gratitude by the windmill guy.

Another had now joined in their new song.

Slowly, the Windmill guy started integrating his own chords and melodies into their song. With Link and Saria leading him with their own notes, he was soon with them viewing the world objectively yet intertwined with it. He was yet another balance in the song. The dark circle of chaos started breaking apart, turning brighter and brighter. In an instant it shattered into millions of drops of light.

*Good. Let the music end now* echoed Saria. She knew it must end properly.

The drops of light fell, gleaming of all the hopes and dreams shared though their notes. It formed into a great sea, totalling all of their ideas and infinite facets. With this great finality, the song ended gracefully.

********

Link opened his eyes aware that he had fallen to the floor under the stress. A blanket was draped over him. "Did it work?" he saw Navi's light. "Navi, did we do it? Is the windmill guy alright?"

"Yes Link." Said the fairy.

Saria got up first, and helped Link rise to his feet. The both looked at the windmill guy, who was fast asleep.

Amber came in. "Oh good, you're awake." She was full of worry and looked like she hadn't rested.

"How long did we sleep?" asked Saria.

"You were playing throughout the night. The music was… strong. I could actually see the notes and the story they told." The story had already faded from her memories. "At some point you stopped and I found you all asleep. It's mid afternoon now."

"We slept the entire day?" thought Link. He stretched out his arms which were still stiff.

Is my father alright now?" Amber asked hopefully. "This is the first time I've seen him sleep in a long time."

"I believe so," Navi said assuredly. "Let him rest."

Amber felt as if a great pressure was released. "I can not thank you enough. Thank you thank you!" The girl cried tears of joy. She felt as if a burden was lifted.

"I hope that is it," said Saria suddenly. "He is still gifted with music, and he can still create bad music again." She never thought it possible for someone outside the woods to play magical notes. Without a guardian such as a fairy, it was incredibly dangerous.

Link nodded. "Listen Amber, you must stop him from playing music like that. Darkness has its place in even the purest of music, but it must never be the only voice."

Navi floated towards the Windmill guy, analysing him carefully. "For now, its best we all rest. He should be fine now."

"You are my saviours," said Amber. "Please, you can stay with us for as long as you like. I doubt you have your house all set up yet. It is the least I could do for you. I'm sure we can give you some furniture for your new home too."

Link looked at Saria as she nodded.

"We were glad to help. Thanks for your offer; you could really help us get settled." It would be a relief to have some added help.

"Anything. You name it, you have it."

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A/N I thank you humbly for reading so far. I am finding this story becoming tricky to write. Please, if you have any comments, they would be appreciated.