Inspiration: Lady Jagura and Lord Darcia from "Wolf's Rain," and "Majora's Mask", and Guy Fox from "V for Vendetta."

Author's Note: THIS is the actual beginning of the crucible, sorry.

Word Count: 9,154

Chapter 29

The Moonlight Crucible

~SSS~

Bathory Manor, the gathering of the Interlopers

The time was finally here. Tonight was a night for a millennium of reckoning. The Moon Goddess was going to have her revenge, and I was going to be alive to witness it. I couldn't be happier. To make it so, I faithfully followed the way of the Interloper. I looked for every clue, I searched every book, I looked for every lead, and I prayed every night. Now, she was going to be here. The Moon Goddess was going to be actualized. To celebrate this triumph, a gathering of over fifty nobles, all professed devoted Interlopers, were congregated downstairs waiting for me in the crypt. I sent the invitations out in secret, by aerial transport via carrier hawks. The birds could fly indiscriminately to each location without fear of them being stopped. That vocation took me two days to complete. The result was that all fifty nobles answered without let up. I informed them to be discreet, not to be gaudy, and if possible wear a disguise.

Currently, I was finishing my wardrobe as the priestess as brought out in The Ancient Mysteries of Hyrule. It stated the Priestess Majora should be dressed in colors befitting the moon: purple, blue, white and black. I had a gown made specifically for tonight with all the associated colors. I looked at pictures, examined old relics, and had the finest seamstress in Hyrule make my dress. The gown was designed to look like that of the old world priestess –the first priestess of the first crucible. I relished in desiring to look the part. When the time was appropriate, I would don my mask and fully encompass my role.

I looked myself over several times in my vanity before being satisfied with my appearance. Everything was going as it should. I sought to venture to my crypt via my passageway in my bed chamber. I had no intention of sharing the sacredness of this night with any of my house servants. To keep suspicion to a minimum, I had all of my servants dismissed for tonight and tomorrow. Servants had a way of talking when they shouldn't. My preplanning was perfect, with the exception of my steward. My steward was going to attend. Unbeknownst to all my other servants, my steward was an Interloper like my father, mother, and me. Even after my parents passed away, he was faithful and kept the secrets of the way for many years. He even guided me with covert thoughts and sayings, which took me time to decipher as a young adolescent. It was then I realized he was just as devoted as my family. He also asked me privately several days earlier if he could attend, of course I told him yes. He was able to figure out the date of the lunar tetra, the identity of the Dark Maiden, and who the priestess would be all on his own, without the aid of any of the nobles. I considered that real consecration. Whether or not he was part of the 'aristocracy' was irrelevant because he understood the bigger picture. He came to me yesterday talking of a tale, and he expertly and cleverly told the story of the Interlopers and the Moonlight Crucible. Such commitment had to be rewarded.

It was not without saying, my steward was loyal. Afterwards, I turned and headed for the secret passageway. When I opened it, I felt a jolt of excitement. As I closed the door behind me, the exhilaration seemed super charged and began mounting through my veins. I couldn't hide my delight with each step. I was essentially walking towards the future. Hyrule was finally going to pay for its sin of rejecting the greatest entity known to the underworld. When the Moon Goddess was triumphant again, the first order of business would be to execute the royal family. I might even go the Hyrule myself to kill the queen and her son, and if the king did not want to pledge his life to the new sovereign, he would die to. There would be no discourse in the new history being created, only order. Terror would be the rule of law and death its arbiter. I couldn't wait for it to come to pass… I couldn't wait…. Although, having the Sun Prince surrender and become the Moon Prince would be quite a consolation prize for her excellency. I did respect the Sun Prince, and he was pivotal in making tonight a success. If the Dark Maiden was successfully pregnant with his child, then the Son of Destruction would be born. The great avenger of the Moon Goddess, Demise, would reawaken somehow, perhaps by being purged from the Master Sword. I was not exactly certain, but whatever needed to be done, I would be willing to do to get it done. I would ask for a reprieve for the Sun Prince if he decided to fall in line.

In the distance ahead, I could already see the crystal mound from the vault illuminating. The iridescence was spellbinding, with waves of oscillating light reflecting off all the colorful stones. It was beautiful. When I entered the crypt, my compatriots already gathered here were twirling in unified circles. Their glee could not be hidden. An ignorant bystander would assume that all the nobles gathered now would be dressed in black, when the reality was they were all dressed in white. Each noble from head to toe was dressed in white, with their faces covered in masks. There were three types of masks present: Sun Prince masks, Majora's masks, and masks of the Dark Maiden. They were all uniform, the same, and painted white. The uniformity was to represent the oneness of thought here. The moon was not a dark place, it emitted light. It would be inexcusable not have the crucible be a place of light. Thus the truth in the words of the Ancient Mysteries of Hyrule would be fulfilled: what was, is, and will be; light and darkness will merge. The ambivalence would be fully realized.

I walked up as my comrades continued with their dance. They were doing their part in the pre-ritual. The dance represented happiness, and the circle was that of coming full circle with the events of history: the Moon Goddess was once here, she was defeated, and now she will be upon us again. I continued with my walk until I got to the great crystal mound in the center of the room where the sacrifice would take place. Above the mound was a skylight carved through the rocks of the mountain by my ancestors. The crypt was nearly a hundred feet underground, but the genius of the skylight was that it was an eight feet by eight feet cylinder-like rotunda separated by layers of igneous rock at thirty feet intervals. At each interval, there was an iron grid that looked like cell bars from a dungeon. This allowed for light to come through and for all the Interlopers to see the sky even from underground. The outermost interval, the one on the surface of Mount Hebra, also had a large iron circular door with no grids. The door was to keep the skylight hidden. The heavy snows at times made it difficult to find the door when it needed to be opened. Once a month, my steward commissioned a group of men to remove the snow, but he warned the men never to open the door. Some did not heed the warning, opened the door, and fell to deaths. Unfortunately, this meant that their bodies needed to be removed from the second closest interval thirty feet below, and sometimes body parts from the third or even fourth interval. This was done by harness and extraction, a very tedious method of excavation. Due to the structure of the skylight, every prominent luminary –whether a solar eclipse, a full moon, or a blood moon like tonight– would not be missed.

I was jovial watching my friends, and as I took my position, and raised my hands, they finally stopped twirling. They all slowly came near me. Placed on the center of the mound was a copy of The Ancient Mysteries of Hyrule. There were several passages that needed to be read. This was not part of the usual tradition, but I wanted to make it a part of the evening. The time was getting close for the sacrifice to take place and I wanted everyone's mood to be properly exacted. No sympathy. No sorrow for the girl. No tears. The Dark Maiden would awaken again soon, and all the nights that we as the Interlopers have dreamed of would be realized.

The group gathered was silent.

It was then I spoke.

"Honored guests," I started, "it is of no consequence why we are gathered here. We have waited many years for this moment to come. This is a night for celebration."

My guests remained silent, but I sensed their eagerness.

"As is the tradition of the Interloper, we are going to offer a gift to her Excellency the Moon Goddess," I went on. "The Dark Maiden and her seed, and lo, she is fervent to do so."

The group still remained silent.

"Once the gift is offered, we will watch the destruction of the old Hyrule and wait for the new," I continued. "We will watch a new history being created right in front of us. The Sun Prince will then either surrender or die. It has been written and it shall come to pass. Are there any objections to tonight's events?"

There were no objections, just more silence. I then proceeded to open the book and looked for a particular set of passages. When I found my place, I cleared my throat and read aloud immediately:

"The night of the Moonlight crucible is an ancient edict wanted by those of the Interloper faith for over a millennium. The ritual must proceed as follows: the Dark Maiden must make a sacrifice of her own in her own unique way. She must then lay prostrated on a stone of eminence and be blood let so the energy from the moon can be absorbed into her soul. The conjuring will then take place, and, if successful, the Moon Goddess will come into the world. Celestial wonders will advance during the event. The sun will darken and the moon will turn to blood. Every person living in the land will know the Goddess of Darkness has arrived, along with her avenger, the Son of Destruction. The Moonlight Crucible must be opened by someone…"

After my reading, I closed the book. My steward, the only one dressed in black, then came up and removed the book. My attention was then drawn to the cell across the room with the frightened girl sitting in it. She was dressed in a white gown as well, her knees were to her chest, and she was turned away from the cell bars. Her terror made me smile. It was just how she needed to be. The more frightened she was, the greater the energy she produced.

"It is time to awaken the Dark Maiden," I said to the group.

It was currently ten and a half hours past noon. There were no objections. I walked around the stone edifice and led the group over to the cell. As we approached, the girl heard our footsteps and scuttled herself against the farthest wall from the entrance. My smile widened. Her fear was perfect… I could smell it.

"There is no escape," I said to her softly, "your death will be written about for many years to come. Rest assured that your life will have had meaning."

Upon hearing that, the girl started sobbing. I nearly giggled, but I didn't let her deter me. I then directed my steward.

"Open the cell door," I ordered.

He bowed.

"Of course my lady," he replied.

The time for games was over. The sacrifice needed to begin.

~SSS~

The awakening from Saria's POV

These people were monsters. They had a twisted view of life and the lives of others. The past few days gave evidence of that as they kept telling me how important I was to their cause, though I did not know it yet. I couldn't lie, I was terrified, but I tried to show as little fear as possible. I had been away from my daughter and husband now for two days, though the days felt like an eternity. I missed them terribly. Elincia's little face was all that was giving me hope in my dreams. My daughter was my everything. I had to survive for her, for her and Ralph.

Ralph…

My poor husband was probably beyond panic at this point. He probably had no idea where I was or why I left. He was probably imagining the worst, but not the actual reality of what was going on. He may have sent out a search party looking for me by now. We had our troubles, but I did love him, and if I got out of here I planned on confessing everything to him. I could no longer live a lie. I could no longer pretend everything was perfect between us when I betrayed him so significantly. If Ralph no longer wanted to be married to me because of my actions, I would understand and live with the consequences. However, I could no longer act as if I were some innocent party in what happened with Link. It was not merely an accident. I wanted him that day as much he wanted me. When I came to, I could have told the hero I was not initially myself, but I didn't and that was because deep down I wanted to be in that fantasy with him in that moment. Even after it happened I dreamt about it, so I knew I wasn't innocent. To make matters more complicated, I was pregnant and I had no idea who the father was. I hoped against all hope it was Ralph's. It would kill me if my betrayal had been taken that far. More importantly, if I was pregnant with Link's child this could mean the destruction of Hyrule. The Deku Tree warned me, and though I knew the hero was trying to contact me, I assumed Link was trying to warn me as well.

There was a time when having Link's baby would have given me a happiness beyond compare. We even talked about it one night a couple years ago. Had we gotten married, we wanted to have ten children. I wasn't sure if Link was serious, but I would have loved having a big family with him under the right circumstances. However, all I could think of now was what was going to happen to my family if I died. Would the nobles spare Ralph and Elincia? Would this Moon Goddess destroy everything dear to me? What was going to happen to them? That was when I realized I could not die. I had to survive for them. I couldn't give up because all hope in this moment seemed to be lost.

Admittedly, my strength was waning, but it wasn't because these psychopaths weren't trying to feed me. On the contrary, I deliberately wasn't taking in food or drink because I wasn't sure if it were laced with poison. Although, poisoning me would be counterproductive to their initiatives. Every morning and afternoon they brought me well-oiled delicious looking food. I didn't eat a thing. Though, this morning I was tempted beyond compare. The lady of the house was actually growing impatient with me because of my refusals, but she never lost her temper, stating she was only trying to make me comfortable. She even had the gall to ask me about my family. I just stared at her with open contempt. Lady Bathory just smiled back at me and told me to think of them when I was feeling low. Link was right, this woman was abhorrent.

This morning I noticed a change in the room as her loyal attendant came down early in the morning and made sure the dungeon was clean and functioning properly. I watched him as he cleaned the large mound of crystal that had blood stains on it. I wondered at times how many people died down here for these sick arcane rituals. I tried to shake the feelings, but it did leave me feeling a dread that was deepened with each stroke of the steward's towel. I attempted to speak with him several times as he cleaned the mound, but he ignored me. I asked him if he had a family. It was the only time he stopped and stared at me thoughtfully. He still said nothing and when he was done he left the dungeon.

By the afternoon, I noticed the room get brighter when a skylight opened from above to illuminate the stone mound. I was trying to keep my bearings together, but there was a very real possibility I was going to die tonight. I did not want to die as a coward, and I did not want to give these monsters the pleasure of seeing me beg. Speaking of monsters, I saw the nobles trickle in one by one over the course of several hours. There looked to be fifty in total all dressed in white and all wearing masks. Some of them would come over to my cell and stare at me. They said nothing, and all they would do was stare. I stared back at a few of them, but didn't engage any of them. I saw no purpose in doing so. They were all depraved like that twisted noble Bathory. They wanted destruction when they had no idea what it meant for the rest of the world. This was the evil Link was constantly fighting. This was why he told me to watch my back and be careful. I wish I had listened to him. I wish I answered his ocarina when he was trying to reach out to me. Now it seemed fate had something more in store for me.

The night dragged along as the moment of reckoning drew near. Currently, the crowd was dancing silently, but they all stopped when Bathory read a passage from an old book. After her reading, the crowd made their way over to my cell. I couldn't lie, seeing them all surround my cell made me feel horrified, but I tried to stay strong. Link always told me never to given in to fear, enemies always fed off fear. Lady Bathory was the only one not wearing a mask at this point. She was also the only one in a multicolored dress. She obviously was the matriarch of this event and her clothing had some significance to what was to take place. I didn't bother to ask, because it wasn't a concern of mine. This crazed woman was going to kill me whether I questioned her or not.

I took a step back when she stared at me with those haunting violet eyes of hers. She gave me a long once over before she spoke.

"Good evening," she said softly.

I had no intention of returning her calm greeting.

"Are you going to kill me now?" I demanded.

Bathory looked at me surprised, but then she smiled.

"I wouldn't put it quite like that," she said, "and no, it isn't time for you to die yet. However, you as you are now are no longer welcome here Saria. It is time for us to have the Dark Maiden."

My eyes widened because I knew once that entity took over I may never see my family or Link again. I would simply cease to exist without having a chance to tell the people I love I loved them. Also, the Dark Maiden was unpredictable. She wasn't someone who could be controlled even by these apparent sycophants of the Moon Goddess.

"I don't think you really know what you are asking for," I warned.

Bathory's smile widened.

"You couldn't possible know how wrong you are," she replied, "I have seen her power. I want her to manifest it again before the sacrifice is to take place. Why wouldn't I know?"

A shiver went down my back.

"This will only end badly," I continued, "she cannot be controlled."

Bathory then narrowed her eyes.

"Yes… but not for any of us," she whispered sinisterly, "just for you my friend."

Inadvertently, tears filled my eyes and that was what I didn't want. I attempted to plead with her.

"You don't have to do this," I said, "you don't have to bring about destruction. There is so much more to life than living in darkness."

Bathory showed no empathy to my pleas. She was growing bored of this conversation.

"If I didn't know any better, I would think you were stalling," she said softly. "Come, come now, let's save the pleasantries and get down to business. You no longer have a place here Saria. I say to you now in the name of the Moon Goddess Hellia: Dark Maiden come out!"

I took another step back when she shouted the last phrase. My skin erupted with a piloerection. Her utterance started a chant with the entire crowd.

"Dark Maiden come out!" they shouted in unison.

At that moment, a searing sharp pain came at my forehead. I immediately grabbed my temples and kneeled over.

"Ahhhhhhh!" I screamed.

The crowd continued with their chant.

"Dark Maiden come out!" the crowd shouted again.

The pain coursed through my veins and made me writhe.

"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed again. "No! No! Noooo!"

They were relentless.

"Dark Maiden come out!" the crowd continued. "Dark Maiden come out! Dark Maiden come out! Dark Maiden come out!"

My screaming soon filled the room and drowned out their chants. Then a voice conjured forth from inside me.

"They are calling for me Saria," the voice echoed in my head, "let me come out and answer."

I managed to shake my head through the pain.

"No never!" I screamed.

The voice in my head giggled.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice," it whispered, "it's over Saria, you have lost. Prolonging this will only make you suffer more."

I wasn't going to give up.

"You will never have full control over me!" I shouted back. "Never!"

The voice was now getting impatient.

"You seem to think what you wanted mattered," the playfulness was gone, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to show you I mean business."

The pain intensified and my screams got louder. I nearly lost my voice.

"Nooooo!" I screamed. "Noooo! Pleeeeease!"

The voice was now taunting me.

"Goodbye Saria," the voice whispered.

Soon everything went black.

~SSS~

The event horizon, and celestial wonders with the Happy Mask Salesman

The heavens were eternally dark with its illustrious eminence. However, on this night the moon seemed to sing. It seemed to rove about and move in a cadence of revenge. The more the night went on the more crimson the moon became. The stars darkened in its glow and soon it looked like blood, an occurrence that had not happened in over five hundred years. The dull redness soon became bright redness and a lone rider was out in it to witness it all. The rider finally reached his destination at the foot of the mountain, but had to let his steed go as he started on foot. The rider was not yet the Sun Prince as he had not donned the mask of procession. But lo! His drudgery was that of a true hero. The little boy who once donned the mask was now a great warrior. Nay! A great man wanting to right the wrongs of the world. Such a noble undertaking. Would he be successful? Would he vanquish the evil about to fill the world? I would have to wait and see.

Yes.

I would have to wait and see.

~SSS~

A summoning from Kakariko Gorge

Deep in the confines of Kakariko Gorge was an awakening. A moment in time so significant, that even the goddess Din had to make acknowledgment of it. The land from which I originally resided was a land of darkness and wonder. I used to believe in the edict of the Moon Goddess, but with her Cult of Masks and obsession with darkness, I could no longer call myself a servant of hers. She promised prosperity, but only brought death. She promised protection, but only brought destruction. She promised glory, but only brought misery. She promised so many things and only brought discontent to my people. Now I was acting as an avenger to my country. The land of Lorule would rise again, but not because of the Moon Goddess. I would do everything in my control to stop this Moon Goddess from coming upon the world. I received a scythe of power from Din and I intended to use it to stop this Dark Maiden.

I recalled the conversation vividly I had with Din when she visited me. I still marveled at the goddess of power and what her might truly beheld. Her magnificence was something of a wonder.

"I must speak with you," she said to me.

I wasn't expecting visitors that day, so when she came upon my secret place in the gorge I knew something was afoot.

"To what do I owe this honor?" I asked.

Din's fiery red hair and glowing countenance illuminated the whole room.

"I have a favor to ask you," she said.

I was all ears.

"I'm listening," I said.

Din took in a deep sigh and went on.

"As you know, your connection to the Moon Goddess is what keeps you abreast to what is going on in the world," she started, "it keeps you abreast to what is going on in Hyrule."

I found it odd that she was coming to me with this information now when I just spoke with a woman trying to bring the same entity back.

"My connection with her is unfortunate," I said, "It is nothing like I thought it would be. When she promised me foresight I thought it would be like what Zelda had with Hylia. The connection between those two is like a night and day difference from what I have experienced."

Din sympathized with me.

"You were deceived," she said, "the reason the connection between Zelda and Hylia is so strong is because Zelda is Hylia's descendant. They have a bond as deep as blood. Your ancestors were coerced into believing the Moon Goddess would do for you what Hylia did for Zelda. However, your ancestors were not descendants of Hellia, Hylia's twisted side, but she merely bartered her desires, thinking she would do for you what Hylia did for Zelda. She used the Hilda's of old for her own selfish purposes."

Hearing those words gave me so much vindication for going against her.

"Then you sympathize with me for not following her and holding a rebellion against her," I said.

Din nodded.

"I do indeed Hilda of Lorule," she said, "and I intend to help you get your revenge on her for what she did to your people."

I almost couldn't believe my ears.

"You do?" I inquired.

It was in that moment, Din snapped her fingers and made a large scythe appear. She called it the scythe of power. The scythe itself was three feet long in length, six inches wide, made from goddess ore, and was virtually unbreakable. It was used to purge darkness much like the Master Sword was. The staff holding the sickle was ten feet long and made of elder wood, which made its reach extraordinary. The craftsmanship was unlike any other. When the goddess of power handed it to me, I marveled at the utility of the scythe. It was lightweight but powerful.

"This staff will kill the maiden of the dark," she said directly. "As you know, she is the vessel the Moon Goddess intends to use to bring back darkness in the world. I, nor my sisters, can stop her because we are forbidden to interfere with Hylian affairs. However, you can, and you will be successful if you use this scythe."

I gripped it even tighter at her words.

"If I do this, what will this mean for my people?" I asked. "I want them to be free too."

Din was quiet for a moment.

"If you are successful, your curse with the Moon Goddess will be broken," she promised. "However, if you fail to kill her, you will still be bound to her, even if the Moonlight Crucible does not bring back the Moon Goddess."

Her words were sobering and stung painfully, but I knew that was why I could not fail.

"I will destroy the maiden of the dark," I swore. "I will not let her bring destruction on Hyrule. I will not fail. I will free my people."

Din gave me a small smile.

"I believe you," she whispered, "trust in that confidence and you will be successful."

I nodded, then looked down at the scythe.

Staring at the scythe now I knew what my duty was and it was up to me to go do it. I left the confines of the wall of my world, and entered into the land of Hyrule.

I will stop you maiden of the dark, I promised. I will free my people. I will not let darkness back into the world. I will not let Hellia do to Hyrule what she has done to Lorule.

I walked up the illuminated entrance of the gorge and set my sights north for the Hebra Mountains. Suddenly, with a speed and conviction only given to me by a goddess, I started running north. However, a moment later the scythe started glowed bright red and a burst of energy came through it allowing me to take flight. I was airborne within seconds and saw that my destination would be reached much sooner than I anticipated. I looked up at the sky and saw the blood red moon. It appeared evil with sinister intentions, though it was only a luminary. I needed to make haste. There wasn't a moment to lose. The higher the moon got to midnight the less time I had to stop the Dark Maiden.

"Make my flight faster scythe," I whispered, with my course clear in front of me, "there is a reckoning to had on Mount Hebra."

~SSS~

Link's awakening

The snow was deep and my boots sloshed through as I trudged up the mountain. Bathory Manor was in the distance, but I knew it would be greatly fortified. My first evidence of this was when I nearly got caught in a bear trap in the snow. I noticed several as I continued my ascent, but even more daunting were the arrows starting to be shot my way. There looked to be two guards stationed on top of the gate leading into the manor. They had the high ground, so I was a sitting duck from my vantage point. Anytime I heard a pluck or a twang I knew I needed to dodge as quickly as possible. In the distance was a formation of rock that was large enough to act as a shield. I would use that to formulate a plan. I hurried as I was continually being shot at. I doubled my step when I barely missed another arrow, and behind the rock formation I got a bit of relief. I took in a deep sigh and readied my bow and arrow in return. I countered with my first short, but it was too high and missed. I shot again and had the same problem. It was then I realized what I needed to do. I opened my bag and looked at the Fierce Diety's Mask. I was planning on putting this on once I was in the manor, but it seemed I had to use it sooner as a contingency.

I stared at the mask one last time when I remembered how painful this process was. It would stick to my skin, bind with my blood, and transform my genetic structure. As a child it was excruciating, but perhaps it wouldn't be as painful as an adult.

"There's only one way to find out," I whispered.

I then placed the mask on. A moment later, I felt the mask latch into my skin. The wood seemed to embed into my flesh and bone, and tore at my skin.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" I screamed in pain.

The pain coursed downward through my spin and into muscles like an electrical current. Afterwards, my muscles grew taut and stung like fire as they doubled in size and vigor. My hair went from blonde to bluish white, with the insignia of the sun across my forehead. My clothes changed from a brown tunic to a silver one with the crest of the moon and the Triforce of Courage on the breastplate. Another inch was added to my height and a long helix sword suddenly appeared in my hand once the transformation was complete. However, there was something different about this power now, something more awesome and tenuous than before. I stared at my hands and saw them glowing like the sun. In fact, there was an iridescence all over my body.

"What might is this that flows through my veins?" I whispered.

My voice was different too. I sounded like a bard in some ways.

"Zelda knows and Zelda sees the truth," I whispered staring at my hands still, "a goddess among mortals is she. Divine providence is her marker."

I then took my sword in hand, closed my eyes, said a quick prayer of thanks, then turned and looked to the manor. The two guards were still stationed, still waiting. I then came from behind the rock and felt no fear.

"Your indignation for the lives of others is your folly!" I shouted. "See now and face the judgment of the Goddess Hylia!"

The two guards firing back at me, froze for a moment and looked at me like I was crazy. I then fired up my helix sword and shot two beams of light at the men stationed at the gate. They had no idea what was coming towards them and fell instantly to their demise. Afterwards, I hurried up the mountain. The snow was no longer an obstacle. I could run freely. My strength was extraordinary.

"The full recompense for their sins shall be made manifest this night," I said as I walked through the snow. "No one shall escape the wrath of the Goddess of Light."

However, before heading into the manor, I noticed a beam of light coming from the opposite direction in the ground. There looked to be an opening to the underground vault from out here in the distance. I redirected and went over to the light to find that my summation was correct. It was deep underground, with iron cells acting as barriers at various intervals. I peered down and to my surprise I saw a naked woman with green hair standing in amongst a sea of white robes. She looked vulnerable, but no one was touching her. I felt uneasy, but strangely not for her.

"The Dark Maiden," I whispered as I watched. "What have they conspired to do to you?"

I decided to watch for a moment before I entered.

~SSS~

The Dark Maiden

Finally… it was my time to rise. I was tired of fighting with my host. She was a particularly stubborn woman. Even at this moment she thought she was going to challenge me. I waited five hundred years for this moment. I was not going to allow the insufferable pining of a green haired wench stop me. Once she lost the battle of her mind, my host's body collapsed on the floor. However, soon it was I who opened her eyes. It was I who was in control now. I looked around and saw the sizeable group of people dressed in white gowns with white masks on their faces staring at me. Besides the very sterile looking crowd, there was also a beautiful woman with long waist length black hair dressed in multi-colors. However, she was unmasked. I gave her a quick once over when I recognized her cleric clothes.

"You're… the priestess," I whispered.

The priestess's eyes got big at my utterance.

"And you… are the Dark Maiden…" she whispered back.

I nodded then stretched and levitated myself off the floor. There was a quiet gasp from a few in the crowd when I willed myself to a standing position. My hair illuminated with a bright green essence and my skin glowed with a golden template. There was no need for me to hold back any longer. Tonight was the night for my true power to finally be unleashed. Tonight was the night my master was coming back. Tonight was the night Hyrule would get a reckoning for keeping the goddess Hellia confined to the moon for so many centuries. Tonight was the night the blood moon's thirst for vengeance would be quenched.

It was then I looked around again at the people gathered here… the nobles… the Interlopers. These fools. These fools had no idea. These simpletons surrounded me thinking that their secret meetings and signs of devotion meant anything to Hellia. The Goddess of Darkness was a force for destruction. She cared not for arcane rituals with petulant significance. If they only knew my contempt for them… but they shall know… very soon. I would deal with these puppets first before I readied myself for the ceremony.

I ran my hands through my hair and finally verbalized my answer to the young woman.

"It is I," I said, "and tonight is a night of celebration."

The priestess smiled at my words.

"Yes your grace," she replied, "it is."

I narrowed my eyes slightly and smirked.

"Is everything ready?" I asked.

The young noble nodded.

"Everything is as it should be according to the ancient writings," she replied.

I was pleased to hear that.

"Perfect," I replied, "then we will be successful in our venture tonight."

After my utterance, I slowly undid the white gown I was wearing and let it drop to the floor. When I was naked, I placed both hands over my breasts and pressed down. A moment later, the flesh and bone at the center of chest moved from my sternum and large crystal came forth, the Shadow Crystal. It radiated with a power and speed unlike anything these mortals had ever seen. They all watched in marvel.

"It's glorious," the priestess whispered, "absolutely glorious."

The crowd around her appeared stunned, even beyond the masks. I summoned the crystal in front of me and allowed my flesh to close over to gaping wound. It got bigger as I walked over to the cell door. It soon became the same size as my hosts body when I was at the gate.

I looked the priestess straight in her eyes.

"Open the door," I ordered.

The priestess gazed on amazed and immediately did as I mandated. When I walked out, the crowd dispersed slightly, but unbeknownst to them my contempt for them only grew. How dare they think they had a right to a concession in the Moon Goddess's new world! Hellia was not Hylia. Hellia was a bringer of chaos. An exactor. An avenger. She was not some pagan goddess meant to worshipped in a temple. I would teach them a lesson they would never forget.

You will all pay for your insolent narcissism, I thought.

The priestess bowed when I stepped out of the cell.

"Your magnificence is too much for us my lady," the she said, "your power is beyond radiant."

I stared at her for a moment before I turned my attention to the rest of her compatriots.

"Is that so?" I asked rhetorically, then added. "Would you all like to see a display of my power?"

The priestess looked beyond marveled. The rest of the crowd seemed eager too, but there were some who were hesitant. The hesitators had the best measure of what was to come. They knew they should never be too trusting of something they did not know.

"Yes," priestess replied anyway, "show us all who you really."

With that, I grinned and closed my eyes. This woman had no idea she had just sealed many with hers fate. A moment later, I made the crystal grow larger, but stopped it when it was just the size I needed it to be. Afterwards, I made it glow a bright brilliant white. It was so brilliant that the crowd had to cover their eyes. Soon after, the light broke off into forty-seven equal pieces, and at my bidding I sent them off around them room. The nobles watched the light show dazzled and with a hint of amazement. That is… until the lights started coming in contact with them. The first light pierced a noble right through the forehead. A scream was the only thing that broke the tranquility.

"Great Hylia!" a woman noble cried out next to the fallen man. "He's dead!"

I cut my eyes to the noble woman who screamed and decided she would be my next target.

"Yes… and you're next," I said with a hint of venom in my voice.

At my utterance the light pierced her, and she was slain. Her collapsed body fell down slowly for some odd reason. Then another light hit another noble, and another, then another still. Until all forty-seven lights hit their targets. Screaming flooded the air, as well as pleads for mercy. None was given, as none should have been given. They all knew better. I was certain there were many days when their sacrifices pleaded for their lives too. Their lives were lost, and the next sacrifice came. This was the way of the Interloper.

Soon, there was silence. The only three left standing were the priestess and two other nobles. The two nobles quickly removed the masks from their faces to reveal their identities as Vlad Rue Morgue and Dinivane Filgore. They stared at me with complete disbelief and terror. The priestess was shocked as well, but soon her expression became stoic. The dead bodies left in the room were to serve as a warning and were placed in positions as if they were dancing. An eternal dance of death. The irony. The poetry. The three nobles just stared at me dumbstruck. I took a step forward and gathered the lights of my crystal. When it was reformed, I smirked at the three of them.

"Do you all understand now?" I demanded quietly. "Do you all know the weight of what you are doing?"

The three of them nodded in unison, but admittedly the two men looked the most shaken. However, none of them said anything. I was satisfied with the silence. My attention went back to the priestess.

"Welcome to the Moonlight Crucible," I said, "now hurry, we must make haste to welcome back her excellency."

The noblewoman's shock was only temporary, as she instantly came too and answered me.

"Yes," she whispered, "yes we shall do so immediately."

I looked over at the other two nobles, waiting for their compliance.

"Well?" I asked of them.

They looked horrified. They had no idea what they just got themselves into apparently. However, they conformed just the same.

"We will do whatever you ask of us," they said in slightly trembling voices.

Their fear made me laugh.

"That's what I like to hear," I said, "an obedient slave is a good slave."

It was then I glanced over at the mound in the center of the room. The moonlight was shining halfway on it now. The light was red and visceral; all things a blood moon should be. I couldn't wait to begin the ceremony.

"It is time," I said, "it is time to bring my master back."

~SSS~

The Priestess

Needless to say, I was stunned when the carnage was over. Never did I think the Dark Maiden would first show her power by shedding the blood of the Interlopers. She was indeed unpredictable as the peasant girl Saria said. I wonder if the peasant girl knew. I wonder if she had an inkling of what was truly going to come and attempted to forewarn us. But why would she warn the people who intended to kill her? Even so, seeing the maiden in front of me with all her glory, I had to renege on my stance. She was magnificent. My comrades looked on terrified, but said nothing. It was then the Dark Maiden stepped forward towards me.

I stepped back.

She's mesmerizing, I thought.

The maiden looked upon all of us, but fixed her gaze on me.

"If you claim to be the priestess then you must look the part," she said to me, "where is your mask?"

I was surprised at her calling me out, but I was so in awe of her, I almost didn't know what to say.

"Forgive me my lady," I said, "I shall make sure that I look the part from now on."

With that, I went got the mask I left near the table on the other side of the room. I walked over the dead bodies lifelessly contorted in an eternal dance death, and then realized the carnage was not meaningless. In the book it spoke of a sacrifice by the maiden before the ritual began. The deaths of all these Interlopers must have been that sacrifice. I was fortunate enough to bear witness to it. This would definitely be written down in the history of the future of Hyrule. I would make sure of it as a servant to the Moon Goddess Hellia. When I retrieved the mask, I walked back over to the maiden and bowed before putting it on. However, after the donning, I expected some occurrence to happen, but nothing did.

Even so, the maiden grinned at me and narrowed her eyes.

"Are you certain that that is Majora's Mask?" she inquired.

I felt a shiver run down my back from the doubt in her voice.

"Of course I'm sure of it," I insisted, "the carving matches the description perfectly."

The maiden scoffed.

"Copies can be manufactured," she said. "The finest carpenter can make a fake. Is the wood enchanted wood?"

I felt my heart race for a moment.

"I believe so," I said.

Her cynicism continued.

"Then where is your power?" she taunted. "Why are you merely this… this way?"

I was starting to feel a bit of doubt myself.

"Perhaps… perhaps the crucible must happen first," I reasoned, "perhaps the gift of Majora's Mask is only upon us when the Moon Goddess arrives."

The Dark Maiden laughed.

"Your wishful thinking is amusing," she said, "if this is all you have to offer, I doubt you truly understand the power of the Sun Prince."

My ears perked when I heard that.

"I do understand his power," I insisted, "I've read all about it."

She raised a brow.

"But you have not seen it," she countered, "a fully recognized Majora would know what I speak of."

I was starting to get angry.

"I am the priestess," I reiterated, "I am Majora!"

My two comrades then looked at me with hint of fear.

"I think you better listen to her Elvira," Filgore warned, "you saw what she just did to everyone else."

The Dark Maiden then glanced at Filgore.

"I see you've changed your mind since we last met," she teased.

He nodded.

"Indeed I have," he said, "I believe with all my heart."

The maiden kept her eyes locked on him.

"Do you now?" she asked.

Filgore nodded.

"I do indeed," he said.

The maiden then walked over to him and stared him directly in his eyes. She eyed him several times before she spoke to him further.

"Is that so? Well, then I want you to prove it," she whispered.

Filgore's throat tightened at her utterance.

"My lady…" he trailed.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I can smell your fear," she taunted, "are you afraid good sir?"

Filgore looked her in the eyes, but honestly nodded.

"Y-yes," he whispered back, "yes I am."

The Dark Maiden stared into his eyes for a long time.

"That's good," she replied, "fear means you understand the stakes." She then used her hands to take a piece of her crystal and shape it into a dagger. "Now, use this blade to stab me in the side."

Filgore looked at the maiden stunned by the sudden request.

"What?" he asked.

The maiden raised a brow.

"Use this crystal to blood let me," she repeated, "it is part of the prophecy, it must be done."

Afterwards, Filgore glanced over at me.

I only encouraged him.

"Do as she says," I said, "it is almost time."

Filgore was taken aback again at the request, and I was almost tempted to take the dagger from him and do it myself. His hesitation was infuriating. Even so, Filgore took the dagger and did as he was directed. He forced the blade deeply into the side of the Dark Maiden's body. The wound immediately bled and she merely winced from the pain. Afterwards, she simply smiled and nodded.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Filgore nodded but looked shaken. The Dark Maiden then turned her attention to Rue Morgue, who had been watching quietly. He too was aptly surprised when the Dark Maiden walked over to him. Blood seeped onto her naked body. The wound was tenacious as it bled more with every step. The maiden stopped short of him and stared him straight in the eyes as she did Filgore before him.

"Now it is your turn," she whispered.

Rue Morgue had a similar reaction as Filgore, but he was quicker about getting the job done. He took the bloody dagger floating in the air in front of him and proceeded to stab the maiden on her contralateral side. Like the first wound, it bled profusely, allowing fresh red blood to flow down her body onto the floor. She then turned with her crystal in front of her and brought her attention back to me.

"If you truly want that mask to give you power, complete the rest of the ritual," she ordered, "shackle me to the crystal mound, and allow the blood moon to open the door way for the Moon Goddess. For it is written: 'The moon and the blood must act as one to create a door to the stars.' Let's bring her back together priestess."

Her words were riveting, and the anticipation for the Moon Goddess's arrival was almost too much for me to bear. Even so, I walked over to her.

"As you wish my lady," I whispered.

I gestured for her to take the lead in going over to the crystal mound. Each step became more bloodied than the first. Soon, I thought she was going to bleed out before the actual ceremony could take place. I was concerned and expressed it for a moment.

"My lady will the host's body hold for the ritual?" I asked.

The maiden got on the crystal mound where the red moonlight was almost a mirror image of her blood. Midnight was almost upon us and soon the entire mound would be covered in red light. The maiden then opened her bright blue eyes and stared at me. The glow from her body was mesmerizing and almost looked ethereal. Her green hair was floating like it was cast in water, and there were waves of light interwoven between each tress. She looked enchanting. I was almost sad she had to die.

"This body will be fine," she replied, then put her arms above her head, "now do as I ordered and shackle me to the mound. No matter what you hear from me –begging for mercy or anything– do not unshackle me."

I was mildly confused as to why that would be an issue.

"But why would that even happen my lady?" I asked.

The maiden turned from looking at me to the red moonlight almost reaching her face.

"The reason the Moon Goddess chose this body was because she wanted a special vessel," she explained, "whether I appear to you this way or in Saria's true form, I will always be the Dark Maiden. Her psyche is just as much mine now. I have made it so. I plan on reverting back to Saria right before it begins to terrify her."

My eyes widened while hearing that. That was cruel even to me, but I grinned anyway.

"Sounds incredibly viscous," I whispered, "I like it."

The maiden closed her eyes.

"I imagine you would," she whispered.

With that, I went about finishing the task of shackling her to the crystal mound like she requested. Soon her body started illuminating and I turned to my friends who were awestruck with what was happening.

"It's beginning," I said unable to contain my excitement.

It's really going to happen! I thought. The Moon Goddess is really going to be here!

My comrades walked up next to me and watched as the maiden's body got brighter and brighter. Soon, the entire room turned white, but with centralized red light cast on the maiden's body. The crucible was commencing as the heavens began to show evidence of that. However, a shadow suddenly loomed over the skylight in the shape of a man, a warrior to be specific. The red light was interrupted from the maiden's body, and all that could be seen was the man's silhouette.

I recognize that majestic stance anywhere.

"The Sun Prince," I whispered.

The next chapter will be up soon.