Ch VII
Dawn of a New Day
Link opened his eyes to reveal bright daylight all around him. He was standing right outside of the Clock Tower, and he felt completely refreshed. He no longer felt the hunger that he had felt during the three days that he had been searching for the Skull Kid, and he was also not tired anymore. Link looked around and saw Tatl floating in the air in front of him, looking shocked.
"W-what just happened? Everything has… started over", she said. And she was right too. LInk saw the moon in the sky was much farther above them than when they had finally found the Skull Kid. It seemed that the people who had fled Clock Town when the moon began to fall had come back. It even seemed like everyone was in the same place as when Link first saw them.
"Thank the Golden Goddesses", Link sighed with relief, "I was afraid that it wouldn't work.". Tatl looked even more shocked.
"You did that? How? How did you manage to travel back through time?".
Link grinned.
"It's just a trick I learned during my adventures. It's called the Song of Time! It only turns back time when it is played on my Ocarina, the Ocarina of Time. It was given to me by a friend for me to guard.". At this, Tatl looked doubtful.
"Really? Why would anyone give you something that holds that much power? And why did they give it to you, of all people? You are just a kid!". Link sighed. He decided to tell Tatl his tale later, but for now, he needed to get to Halvard.
When Link checked inside of the Clock Tower, he was surprised to see Halvard waiting there, with his hands clasped together.
"Oh ho ho, hello there Link! Have you recovered your ocarina from that imp?", he said.
"Yes, I managed to get it!", Link replied. This made the Mask Salesman shake with excitement, and he rushed towards Link and began to shake him. Yes! You got it! I shall now uphold my part of the bargain. As Halvard said this, he walked towards the organ that was on the far side of the Clock Tower.
"I shall now teach you a song. Listen to me, and learn it well. This is a song that can heal any wound, no matter how deep, break any curse, no matter how powerful, bring back a lost soul, no matter how far gone, and eliminate sadness, to be replaced by joy. The Song of healing.". He then played a song that was in time with the grinding of the clockworks. (Link to the song here) The song was a soothing melody, yet filled with mystery. After the Mask Salesman finished the song, Link pulled out his ocarina, which promptly turned into the wooden pipes that he saw earlier. Or was it later? He could never get things straight about time travel. Tatl had told him that the name of the pipes are the Deku Pipes, and was popular among the Deku race.
He copied the song that Halvard played and all of a sudden he found himself in a dark room in his mind. There was a giant Deku in front of him, but it displayed no malice. It looked sad. It simply nodded its head at Link and began to walk away. Link felt a surge of sadness as he understood. He had not been the only prisoner in the Deku form. He understood that the Deku that he saw was a spirit that was filled with an overwhelming sadness. They had somehow been bonded and formed a prison that neither of them could escape.
As the Deku left, Link began to wave at it in his mind. It got smaller and smaller until Link could no longer see it. Link's eyes snapped open, and he noticed that he was much taller now. A wooden mask fell from his face and landed on the floor. It looked exactly like he did when he was a Deku! It had a round face with a tube-shaped mouth, and small amber eyes, along with a small clump of leaves on the top of its head like hair.
"This is a melody that heals evil magic and troubled spirits, turning them into masks. I am sure that it will assist you in your future.". Halvard stared down at the wooden mask and continued.
"Ah yes, I give you this mask in commemoration of this day. Fear not, for the magic has been sealed inside the mask. When you wear it, you shall turn into the shape you just were in. When you take it off, you shall return to your natural form. ". Link was stunned by this remark. He has had some powerful items before, but this mask would give him incredible power alone!
Link had always wanted to explore, but his own Hylian body had its limitations. For example, he had always had to wear a fireproof tunic when he was exploring Death Mountain. Now, he could explore even further! With this mask, he could turn into a Deku at any time, and quickly turn back!
"Thank you, Halvard.", Link said excitedly.
The Happy Mask Salesman cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Now I have fulfilled my promise to you. Please give me that which you promised me.". Link began to feel uncomfortable.
"Well", he said, "not exactly.". Halvard's grin began to quickly fade.
"Don't tell me… my mask… you did get it back, didn't you?". Link began to edge away from Halvard.
"Well… No, I did not get the mask.". The Happy Mask Salesman snarled
"You fool! Do you realize what will happen if you leave my mask out there?". The Happy Mask Salesman sighed.
"The mask was stolen from me… It is called Majora's Mask. It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals. It is said that an evil and wicked power is bestowed upon the one who wears that mask. According to legend, the troubles caused by Majora's Mask were so great, that the ancient ones, fearing a catastrophe, sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse. But now, that tribe from the legend has vanished, so no one knows the true nature of the mask's power...But I feel it."
"I went to great lengths to get that legendary mask. When I finally had it...I could sense the doom of a dark omen brewing. It was that unwelcome feeling that makes your hair stand on end. And now...that imp has it. I am begging you, please find the mask before it is too late!". The sudden overload of information stunned Link until Tatl cried out:
"Are you serious? Why would you take the mask in the first place if you knew it would do this?". The Mask Salesman sighed and looked miserable.
"I thought I could control its power, or perhaps change it. I am quite skilled at making and enchanting masks, after all. I discovered an ancient text in the lost woods many years ago. It was a manuscript of an adventurer who was trying to find Majoras Mask. He must have turned into a stalfos before he got there though. I had bought a very powerful charm that makes me immune to most of the Lost woods affects, and I went searching for the mask, and I succeeded in finding it. It was sealed within an ancient temple created by an ancient tribe that is now known as the Interlopers. They were powerful sorcerers and loved to create powerful masks in particular. However, they disappeared many, many years ago. I had to escape many traps within the temple, and when I finally got to the mask that was placed on top of an altar, I ignored the warning. It said "Death will claim all who disturb the mask.".".
"When I picked up the mask, I could feel its dark power. I took the mask from the pedestal, and I traveled deep into the woods so that I would not be bothered. I had stopped to rest one day, but yet I did not do so. I simply held the mask, examining it, feeling it. I am afraid that it had corrupted my mind by then. I passed out then, overwhelmed by the power of the mask. That is where that imp comes in. He had been following me for the past few days, I'm certain. When I came to, I saw him put the dreaded mask on, and saw the eyes begin to glow. I cannot tell you the terror that I felt at that moment. I had to run, and I did. I had almost gotten lost in the woods when I came upon you."
"So that is how you were following us then.", Link said.
"Yes, I am afraid so. I am terribly sorry.", said the Happy Mask Salesman.
"Ok, I will continue my quest to get Majora's Mask back to you.". At this, Link left the building to get the stolen mask back before the world ended.
