Chapter III.

The Clockworks

After a while of Link and Tatl walking down the tunnel, they soon came to a small cavern. It had several of the same large flowers that Link originally landed on around the edges, and a very deep chasm dividing it. For some reason, Link could see in the room, despite seeing no torches.

"Those are Deku flowers. Hylians can't use them, but Deku's use these as a form of common transportation. You can use them as small cannons to launch you into the air, using their petals as a parachute.", said Tatl.

"Huh, I haven't seen these before in Hyrule. This must really mean that I am in Termina.", Link thought. He grabbed two large petals from the flower and then jumped inside of the small hole in the center. Link felt the flower squeeze around him, then suddenly he was launched skyward! He had never done this before, and he almost ran into a wall.

"Look out!" shouted Tatl. Link pulled the petals more to the right, and then he floated onto the platform on the other side of the room.

"You almost fell off a cliff! Be more careful!" Tatl said.

"I'm doing my best. Besides, It isn't exactly easy to move when I am trapped inside of the body of a Deku scrub, Tatl!". Tatl wanted to argue with that, but she decided to drop the matter.

"Fine, just be careful. I just don't want to get trapped down here because you can't open any doors for me.", she said. Link ignored her sarcasm and just continued through the next couple of caves. It was a very strange cave system, and just as link though he would never get out, he came to a hallway leading to some huge clock wheels. Right beside the entrance was something very strange. There was a small tree that looked like it was twisted in agony, and it was only a little taller than Link in his Deku form. It also had a face carved into it that looked vaguely like a Deku Scrub with sad eyes and an open mouth.

"Well, this is strange", said Link. He and Tatl stared at it until she said "I can feel dark magic emanating from this tree… I wonder what happened to it?"

"I dunno, but I think we should keep moving.". With that, Tatl flew down to rest on his shoulder, and Link walked into the hallway.

When he walked through the hallway, Link entered a dark room with a waterwheel being pushed by a canal that extended to the left and right. There were some stairs on the left, so Link walked up to them in hopes of finally getting out of the cold tunnels. Link shivered when he entered the next room. It looked up into the clockwork gears of what appeared to be a giant clock and had a huge organ on one wall. Link saw the double doors, and excitedly ran towards them when he heard a chuckle from behind him.

"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?". Link quickly turned around, reaching for his sword, and then he remembered that he was now too small to use it. He had put it into his satchel of holding that seemed to hold a vast amount of equipment without weighing anything. He turned and saw a man wearing blue robes with a gold collar and wearing sandals. He wore a large backpack, and decorating the outside of it were various masks. The most important thing about him though was his face. He had red hair that was neatly combed, and he was grinning merrily as he stood next to Link.

"Who are you?", said Link.

"My name is Halvard, but you can call me the Happy Mask Salesman. I believe we have met before, am I correct?"

"Y-Yes, I think I can remember meeting you. Don't you have a shop in castle town?", Link inquired.

"Ah, yes, I do. The truth is, I travel far and wide in search of masks to research and sell. I recently acquired a very powerful mask, but it was stolen from me by an imp in the woods. So, I am at a loss. That is where you come in.

Now, don't think I'm rude, but I've been following you. I know a way to turn you back into your former self.".

"Really!? How!", Link exclaimed.

"Patience my boy. If you get the ocarina that was stolen from you, I can teach you a way to turn back into a Hylian. However, I need you to do something for me."

"And that is…?"

"All I wish is for you to retrieve the precious mask that was stolen from me. To someone like you, it should by no means be a difficult task." Link looked surprised.

"How do you know who I am?", he said.

"I have my own ways of going back and forth along times wheel, Hero of Time. Link was about to ask the Happy Mask Salesman about that when he continued talking.

" There is but one problem. I am a very busy man, and I have to leave in three days. I would be very grateful if you would return the mask to me before I leave.

"Three days!?, Tatl interjected, Even if we both didn't sleep the entire time, that would still only leave us seventy-two hours to get the mask!" The Happy Mask Salesman's smile was beginning to unnerve Link, as he had been merrily smiling throughout the entire conversation

"Unfortunately little sprite, you are correct. I am certain that you will find it right away. I'm counting on you. I must find a place to rest now. I will be renting a room in The Stock Pot Inn. Tata!". He then walked outside of the doors and left them open for Link and Tatl to go through.

"Well, he was weird., Tatl said, and now we only have about seventy-one hours to find the Skull Kid? Ohh, I wonder if Tael is OK…"

"I'm sure that your brother is OK, let's just focus on the present right now.", Link said.

"Ok, let's go out there and see where we are then.", Tatl said as she flew outside of the door. Link followed her into the light and stepped outside into the land that was called Termina.