Inspiration: "Homecoming," by Jeff Marsh of Audiomachine.
Author Note: I am so sorry. It took me weeks to write and rewrite this chapter. Thank you for your patience.
Word Count: 9,659
Chapter 30
The Moonlight Crucible Part II
~SSS~
The Sun Prince
I stared back at the woman wearing Majora's Mask and realized she did not have the power she so coveted. Her lack of aptitude was a clue to something of greater importance. I stood above the large iron gate and looked heavenward. The moon was the reddest it would ever be. Midnight was quickly approaching, so the climax of the crucible was about to begin. Turning my attention back down into the crypt, the Dark Maiden's body began to glow exponentially on the mound of crystal she was chained to. The particles casting from her skin actually merged with the red moonlight. Slowly, she was disintegrating. With the castoff coming in contact with the rubicund luminosity, a beam of concentrated energy then shot from the heavens. I turned again and followed the pathway of incandescence. Substantively, a portal started opening in the atmosphere. The Goddess of Darkness was attempting to touch landing.
My eyes narrowed slightly at the sight.
"If this continues, all is lost," I whispered.
The prophecy was clear that the night sky would part and the Moon Goddess would ride in on the luminary like a chariot. Her hair would be gleaming silver, and her beauty would be unmatched anywhere in the land. The power she was supposed to posses was tenfold of the Triforce of Power. It was no wonder the other goddesses desperately wanted the Moon Goddess at bay. The sanity of her mind would have reached submersive levels of dread. She would immediately seek revenge on the residents of the land. She was known to have a song on her lips, cascading the night sky with tales of her previous reigns of terror. She would sing of suffering, loss, and vengeance. There would not be an area of Hyrule that would not know of her comeuppance. It had been many many years since a true Hylian gazed their eyes upon the goddess Hellia, and she would take apt pleasure in making her presence known. The mask I was wearing prayed often for Hylia to keep her sanity. It was a mainstay of keeping the land of Hyrule aware of what was going on with this singular deity. The enchanted wood it was carved from had a hint of a whispered voice captured within its xylem. The soul of the mask perhaps, but it was conveying something even to me now.
A clue.
'It is not to be...'
I paused, realizing I disparaged my thoughts too soon, because suddenly the beam concentrating into the crypt abated and the portal disappeared from the sky. Surprised at this instance, I turned my attention back to the mound and saw that the maiden's glow was now at a peak radiance. Although, it was slowly starting to taper off and stagnate. Something was off. If the Dark Maiden were pregnant with the seed of destruction, the crucible would not falter this way. The Moon Goddess would have touched landing by now and the sacrifice would have been made. Therefore, having realized all this, what was currently transpiring verified to me that the Dark Maiden was not pregnant with my child. The seed of destruction was not within her. She was indeed pregnant with a child from the true host's marriage. Hyrule was not in imminent danger. Knowing this, I took immediate consolation. I was grateful. Unbeknownst to Ralph, he had saved the world by simply giving his wife a seed of honor. He would never know he was an unconventional hero, but he would forever have my thanks. Even so, at this time Saria was still in danger. I needed to protect her and her child at all costs. The twisted devils down there with her would kill her in spite once they realized she was no longer of any use to them. I could not allow that.
"I will not permit them to desecrate you," I whispered to myself.
My standing silhouette was now casting a concealing shadow over Saria's body from the moonlight. The particulates started reintegrating with her countenance, but the regeneration would not protect her for long. As Saria's body continued to be eclipsed, Lady Bathory looked up once again at the skylight to me. Her masked visage didn't reveal her nature, but I imagine she was confused, very confused. The opposing diffraction made her colleagues peer up with her. They were astonished at my sighting.
"That's the king!" one of them said with a hint of fear. "But why does he look that way?"
The rhetorical question was never answered. Their astonishment was about to be magnified. It was time I went down and disrupted their depraved ceremony.
I finally spoke to them directly.
"The prince of legend is here Interloper scum," I announced. "The life you are bound to will be a recompense for your treachery."
Their stunning dispositions never wavered. One of the older men pointed up in fear.
"He has a sword!" he shouted. "He's going to kill us!'
Bathory turned her attention to the two men and snapped.
"Stop acting like cowards you fools!" she retorted. "There's nothing he can do now. Nothing! The ritual has already begun! The blood letting has already started! The portal has instantiated! Do you not see? Victory is ours!"
I took aim with my helix sword as she spoke.
"You could not be more wrong priestess! How imprudent you are!" I warned. "You are not aware of the danger that lies ahead of you! I fret not about bars of iron, for I have a sword of light. You will beg for mercy this night and none shall be given!"
With that, I stepped back and shot a beam of energy at the iron bars. The bars simply did not melt, they disintegrated away. Afterwards, I jumped down the first thirty feet drop like it was child's play. The extra muscle and power granted to me was unlike anything I had ever beheld. I then destroyed the next set of bars, followed by the next, and the next, until I was at the last set leading into the crypt. The nobles waiting down below were dumbstruck with fear, and by my last blast, I finally burrowed through to the ground below. The two older men scuttled away from the mound when I slammed down hard into the rock creating a small crater within the igneous. I was several feet from the mound, so no harm came to Saria's body. Although, when the plum of dust dissipated I saw there was blood everywhere. At the foot of the mound the plasma cradled in a cistern surrounding it. For a moment a part of me thought I was too late. I took note of Saria's weak state and saw that she was still breathing, but her countenance was barely hanging on. She would not last long from the blood letting even as the Dark Maiden. Even so, it was that said maiden who opened her eyes and gazed upon me.
The impervious apparition seemed to marvel at the sight of me.
"You are the Sun Prince!" she whispered, then gave me a long once over. "How perfect you are!"
I did not reply to her compliments. Instead, I looked around and saw the ground of dead corpses. They appeared in a twisted dance of death. The scene was haunting, as there were still masks on their faces. The poor fools played with fate and lost. What twisted piece of irony for them; assuming they were in the safest place in the world, when this room was the farthest place from it. The Dark Maiden no doubt showed them a glimpse of her power. She was done pretending to be some meek entity. This was nothing compared to some of the bloodbaths she created in the past. I locked eyes with her for a moment and had to remember that creature was inside the woman I loved. Saria's possessed eyes haunted this exchange, but thinking she was going to intercede, Bathory, with Majora's worthless mask still on her face, attempted to stand in front of the mound. I suppose she thought she going to act as a barrier. However, she was alone in her efforts. Her comrades did not join her. Even so, Bathory had to know her resistance was futile. It was almost comical how she appeared standing here with that mask on her face.
I spoke up finally to help the noblewoman see that.
"Step aside," I warned, "for you know not what you are up against. You will be vanquished with a single blow my lady. It is best for you to free the maiden and forget this madness you have started."
However, Bathory kept her ground. She appeared angry.
"I am not going anywhere!" she seethed. "The ritual will take place and the Moon Goddess Hellia will be realized! You have no power here!"
My eyes narrowed at her.
"I only offer warnings once," I swore, "step aside or I will step you aside."
Bathory remained stubborn.
"I will not!" she insisted. "You have no power here Sun Prince!"
The poor woman was deluded. I honestly believed she thought that to be true. Even so, it was my duty to set the matter straight.
"It is you who lacks the power," I corrected. "It would be a humbling experience for you to realize that you are not within your right wits," I said, "you have essentially lost. It is over, and I will tell you why. The maiden of the dark was not successful in her seduction of me. The seed in her belly is not one born by me, but that of the peasant girl's husband. The requirements needed for the Moon Goddess to be realized are not here. Even if you were to successfully open that portal in the heavens, nothing would come about."
The two nobles listening nearby looked over at Bathory shocked by my words.
"What?!" one demanded.
"Is what he saying true?!" the other asked.
The lady was silent for a long time, staring back at me defiantly from behind her mask. She was not going to yield.
"No," she whispered, convincing more herself than anyone, "no, it can't be."
I stared deeply into her eyes.
"Do not think that self deception will work for you here?" I warned. "You have nowhere to hide. The evidence is right in front of you. You know what I am saying is true."
Bathory's breathing quickened at my utterance.
"He's lying!" she whispered to herself in disbelief, then directed to me. "You're lying! You have to be lying!"
My gaze never wavered.
"And what good would it do me to lie to you my lady?" I reasoned. "You do not even have the power that was promised you while you wear Majora's Mask. It is nothing but a piece of wood, a relic of a time long past. Without the seed of destruction it is useless."
Bathory gasped as she stared at me, finally understanding the dearth of her situation. She gambled with Hyrule and lost. All of scheming, all of her plans, and all for naught. She thought her money and her influence would prevail her into a divine aristocracy that would purge the rest of the world, and leave only her and her devilish friends. What a contemptible monster. It was a long time coming that this noble had a humbling moment. Afterwards, I looked beyond Bathory to Saria once again, who was still not herself.
"I will get you out of here my friend," I promised anyway. "There are people waiting for you who love you and need you."
Before the maiden could answer, Bathory growled at me being dismissive of her. She reached out and pushed on my chest, but then was astounded by how solid it was. I did not budge.
"You bastard!" she cursed anyway. "The Moon Goddess will come back!" She then turned to look at Saria. "She will come back and you will be sacrificed to her!" She turned back to me. "You are not leaving with her! Our plans are not foiled!"
The desperation in Bathory's words seemed to propel more with each moment of realization. Even with all her words she saw that nothing was happening, yet insisted that something would. What was worse was that she was pleading her case alone. Her comrades more or less were staying away from her. They were petulant and silent. That told me all I needed to know about them, they were cowards. What spineless swine! They come together to torture a young woman, but cringe in fear when someone appears with significant preponderance to engage them. What gutless pigs they were. The only thing worse than a traitor in my opinion was a coward. I despised cowards. They had absolutely no integrity.
It was then I raised my helix sword and pointed it at them.
"You leave your friend to plead her case alone?" I demanded. "Where is your valor?"
The two men looked at me shocked. Their spinelessness showed even more.
"We hadn't realized-" one of them tried.
"Silence!" I interrupted. "I consider you worse than her in many ways."
They froze and fear seized them. I then cut my eyes back to Bathory.
"Unchain the girl," I ordered redirecting the subject.
Bathory still did not budge.
"Never," she said.
I took a step forward and then aimed my sword at her. I was done with her heathen delusions.
"I will only say it once more before I am done negotiating," I warned, "unchain the girl."
Bathory still did not budge, but in that moment she also received a little help pleading her case. The Dark Maiden spoke up from behind her.
"I have no desire to leave," the maiden retorted.
I glanced over at the mound.
"You do not speak for the host you have captured you poisonous snake," I replied. "It is just as before with you: you find a host, you kill it, you move on –you're like a disease that needs to be cut out."
The maiden stared at me defiantly.
"And yet I live on," she teased.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Not for long," I warned, "you will not keep making this girl suffer for long."
The maiden got emboldened by my words.
"Then cut me out Sun Prince!" she taunted. "End this girl's suffering and kill me."
I was not going to be baited by such talk.
"You will not allow her to be killed with you still being inside her," I replied. "You are every bit the coward as the goddess Hellia. The Goddess of Darkness shifts and hides, pretending to be act on goodwill to her servants, when all she does is drive them mad. It is not so different from you Dark Maiden. This happened five hundred years ago, and even a millennia before this day. Hellia has been successful only once. She will not be successful again."
The maiden looked to be seething at my words now.
"Liar!" she screamed at me. "You spewed that light bitch's indoctrination like dogma! I hate her almost as much as Hellia does! The Goddess of Darkness will have her vengeance!"
I pointed my helix sword at the Dark Maiden.
"You know it to be true," I said. "That is why you are stalling. That is why there is fear in your eyes. You know you have lost."
With that, I powered up my sword and Bathory looked on panicked.
"What are you doing?" the noblewoman demanded.
I ignored her for the moment and kept my eyes on the maiden.
"You will not kill Saria as you will not kill me," I went on to the apparition. The energy was coursing through the adamantine and goddess ore blade. I then turned my attention back to Bathory. "Since you failed to unchain the Dark Maiden with the hope of mercy, none when be given when I, the Sun Prince, break her chains."
At my words, Bathory finally started to realize the gravity of her situation. She truly began to understand that she had no power here and never would. She actually for the first time looked afraid behind that mask and began stepping back and away from the mound. When my blade charged with sufficient power, I sequestered four equally allocated orbs of light. The lights dispersed and quickly went to their intended targets. Afterwards, the chains holding Saria's body down were finally unbound. Once unhinged, the Dark Maiden attempted to attack me with her power anyway.
"She is mine!" the maiden screamed. "Hellia will have her vengeance!"
She shot a beam of energy at me from her crystal. I countered with another limited shot of energy of my own and the conflicting powers dispersed and canceled each other out. During the distraction, I sent another low energy beam of light towards the maiden, but this time it was to stun her. I hesitated for a moment because I knew this could potentially hurt Saria, but I had no choice. The maiden needed to be bound.
"Forgive me," I whispered to myself, and let the beam release.
The energy aimed straight for her chest and the impact sent the maiden back on the mound writhing in agony.
"Ahhhhhh!" her scream echoed through the vault.
It went on for several seconds and soon there was silence. The Dark Maiden passed out from the attack and the three nobles witnessing it were all astounded. Bathory looked the most mortified of all. The noblewoman even went to address her.
"My lady?" she whispered with a hint of desperation. "My lady, are you alright? My lady, please answer me!" None was given to her and Bathory gasped. "No!"
The other two nobles were equally bewildered, but had a bleaker summation.
"Dear goddesses," one of them whispered, "is she dead?"
I cut my eyes to the one who spoke.
"No, she is not dead," I replied, "I would never harm the host, nor would I ever allow her to die by the likes of such vermin like you."
Bathory gritted her teeth when she turned to stare at me and nearly spat at my reply.
"That's because your own idiotic host loves her!" she seethed. "You will pay for this!"
I felt no fear from her words.
"Your words, like your actions, mean nothing," I said simply, "they ring hollow."
Bathory's disposition did not change, but she was finally wise enough to clamp her mouth shut. She was getting nowhere with her grandstanding. Afterwards, I turned my attention back to the two nobles slowing trying to make their way to the exit by the inch or a foot at the time. They halted when I pointed my sword at them. They stared at me shocked.
"My lord-" one of them attempted.
"Silence," I interrupted. "It is time for you to say your prayers and meet your maker. You two will not survive this night, I will make sure of that. The only blood to be shed here will be yours."
Abject terror suddenly filled their features.
"You can't be serious!" the one named Filgore demanded. "What about your mercy?! Surely you could spare some in Hylia's name."
I narrowed my eyes at his reply.
"You thought to give none to this girl who was stuck in your care for days and pleaded for her life," I replied. "You gave none and none will be given to you. The decision has been made."
The one named Rue Morgue fell on his knees and started quivering.
"Pl-please! Please I beg you! Spare our lives!" he pleaded. "We will never do this again!"
His cries were falling on deaf ears. With that, I fired up my blade once more. I had heard enough. This was going to be quick. However, before I could shoot off a beam, I allowed my attention to be diverted because something strange happened. Saria's skin began to glow again, but not in the same manner as before. It was now midnight and the red moonlight bathed the mound. The glow from Saria's skin was iridescent, almost rainbow-like. The wounds at her side suddenly closed up and the scars on her body healed, but just as the light reached its heights, it plateaued. Surprisingly, through all this Saria did not react at all. Her eyes were still closed, her countenance was still subdued, and her voice was stilled, but abruptly her body began to convulse. It was not a violent convulsion, but rather a convulsion of release. After a few seconds, an energy left her body in the form of a woman.
The Dark Maiden.
The transmogrified energy stared at me with an anger I could only imagine it was wishing to take out on me. I could see the hatred in its eyes.
"You will pay for this Sun Prince," it whispered, "I promise you."
I did not flinch.
"You have said that before," I replied, "you will not kill me, just as you will never see Hellia again."
It hissed at my words.
"Your conceit will be your undoing," it went on.
I got into my fighting stance.
"Your faith in darkness will be yours," I said.
The wicked essence stared at me for a long time without a reply. Rather than attack me the way I assumed it would, it zoomed with lightning fast speed to its right… to the noblewoman standing closest to her, to Bathory. Bathory did not have time to react or brace herself. The maiden went straight into Majora's Mask. Bathory's eyes suddenly widened, and her body stiffened at the possession before she ultimately passed out and fell to the floor. I looked on, not necessarily stunned, but guarded. What was she going to do next? I knew the Dark Maiden would make a move, I just did not think it would be one of such obvious desperation. She was willing to sacrifice Bathory, a faithful servant, to attempt to bring her decrepit ruler back. In many ways, Bathory was a more apt vessel of darkness. The noblewoman's zeal and devotion to the way of the Interloper was proof of that. However, without a seed of destruction, she was useless; a mere pawn in a deadly game of cat and mouse. I kept my eyes on Bathory's collapsed body, but then another instance drew my attention. A shadow suddenly loomed over the skylight covering Saria's body.
"What is this?" I whispered to myself.
The shadow was a silhouette of a woman, but there appeared to be something in her hands. I turned and looked up to see what was happening. My eyes widened with surprise for the first time this night.
"My word, the Queen of Lorule," I whispered.
The beautiful raven haired girl stared down the skylight with a stoic expression. I could see now she had a scythe in her hands. Our eyes locked for only a moment, when she then jumped into the chasm and hurried down into the vault. She seemed to be floating. When she touched ground she took an immediate swipe at me. Surprised, I dodged it and immediately got into my engaged stance. I took my position in front of the mound and pulled out my helix sword.
"What madness is this?" I demanded. "Your place is not here. Leave now your excellency."
The Lorulian did not reply right away and stared straight into my eyes.
"I'm afraid that is not the case," she said quietly. "I must ask you to move aside. The Dark Maiden is mine."
It was a preposterous request.
"You know I cannot," I replied, "and there are certain things you do not understand. You must leave."
Her stoic expression remained.
"Move aside," she said again, "my quarrel is not with you Sun Prince."
Her speaking this way was futile.
"I am afraid it is," I said, "if you have come to murder this girl your quarrel is indeed with me."
Hilda narrowed her eyes.
"I understand your position your highness," she started. "You are the defender of the realm of light. Hylia is your heroin. But alas, I too have a reckoning, and it is with the Goddess of Darkness. She has made my kingdom a laughingstock and a place for fools and thieves. She promised my people happiness and she brought us nothing but untold misery and pain. This woman, whom you are protecting, is her servant and I was sworn that if I killed her, my people would be freed of the curse of the Moon Goddess."
I stood my ground.
"Whoever informed you is wrong," I replied.
Hilda readied her scythe.
"Tell that to the goddess Din," she replied.
My eyes widened at the revelation.
"You were sent here by the goddesses?" I demanded.
Seeing she said too much, Hilda did not bother to answer me.
"Move aside!" she said with more determination.
I remained immobile.
"There is no need for you to kill this woman because she is not the threat you thought she was," I replied. "She is not going to bring the Moon Goddess back. The goddesses know this! Why would they send you when they know interference with Hyrule is forbidden?!"
Hilda was unchanged.
"Ask Din yourself," she replied, "I was commissioned to kill this woman to free my people. It has been prophesied to happen on a night such as this. Everything thus far has come true."
I shook my head.
"Not all elements of the prophecy have been met," I tried to reason, "stand down."
Hilda stared at me with indignation now.
"Step aside," she said again.
This was becoming circular.
"I told you, no," I replied.
Hilda's grip tightened on her weapon.
"Then I am afraid I must do what I must do," she said, "I will kill you Sun Prince if it means getting the maiden."
I kept my stance.
"So be it," I replied, "but you will not kill me Hilda of Lorule. It is not in your nature to kill."
With that, the Lorulian moved forward slowly and raised the weapon in her grip. Afterward, she leapt at me without giving a warning. I quickly dodged and parried her attack. Her scythe was a powerful weapon, but it was limited in its attack versatility; strike left, right, forward, backward, and defensively. Hilda stammered back and looked at me surprised when I withstood her strike. However, her shock soon turned to anger as she lunged at me again. I deflected her attack once more and locked weapons with her.
I tried to reason with her.
"Stop this," I said, "you know you cannot win."
Hilda was gritting her teeth.
"I will not be stopped," she replied, "I won't let you or anyone stand in my way."
I pushed her back when I regained my footing and she stumbled to a near fall. Her eyes widened in anger and again she lunged at me. I knew she was no combatant, so her attacks were predictable. Her frustration was mounting when she could not best me. When she was unable to overpower me again, she then attempted to avoid me altogether and go after Saria. She swung the scythe at the mound, but not before I clashed her blade once again with my helix sword. I then forced her backwards with a slight pulse of energy. It was not strong enough to harm her, but just enough to subdue her. She lost her grip on her scythe and fell to the ground. I in turn caught her weapon and pointed both my sword and her scythe at her. Hilda looked at me beyond upset. Frustrated tears filled her eyes just then, but she remained determined.
"You cannot protect her forever!" she shouted. "That witch is the key to my people's freedom! I will not allow her to live."
I kept the weapons pointed at her.
"I have told you before," I said, "she is not the one you want. The Dark Maiden's evil has left her body. You want peace for your people, but you are willing to take an innocent life to have it? What kind of reasoning is that?"
Hilda stared at me indignantly when an unsolicited voice then came into the conversation.
Filgore scoffed from behind me.
"Are you mad?" he demanded suddenly. "Look around you! That heartless tramp killed all these people in this room! She's a monster!"
I cut my eyes to him.
"The words from your mouth are a droll fiction," I said. "You all schemed to have her brought here. You plotted to kill her, and you have the nerve to say that she is the monster? The true monsters are you, you who are involved in this vile cult to bring back an ancient evil. The fact that you would summon a demon to rule over you is proof of your insanity in and of itself. Speak no more."
Filgore stared at me angrily and went to test me.
"You-" he tried.
"I said speak no more!" I shouted. "You forget there is already to be a reckoning with you!"
The noble tensed up slightly, but was wise enough to clamp that stupid mouth of his shut.
I turned my attention back to Hilda and gave her this warning, "I beseech you to stand down, this is no longer your fight," I said. "If you insist on going in this path you are forcing me to destroy you."
Hilda stared at me indignantly.
"What about my people?" she demanded. "What about their future?"
As I stared at her, I saw the pain and frustration she was trying to conceal.
"I will help you liberate your people," I promised, "I will figure out a way to protect your lands with you, but only if you stop this recklessness. You have my word as the King of Hyrule and the Prince of the Sun."
It was only then she seemed to finally take heed.
"I have heard those words before," she said anyway, "they mean nothing to me. They are merely empty promises!"
I shook my head.
"Not from me," I replied, "you have not heard these words from me. I swear by my son's life, I will help you."
Hilda gasped slightly at my words at looked at me stunned. I did not know all the tales of her country, but from what I was able to read, Lorule suffered immeasurably. It was a land covered in perpetual darkness, with monsters roving about, and thieves and villainy were everywhere. It was no wonder it was written that Hilda was said to be looking for a hero for her people. She wanted a liberator to free her kingdom from the reign of the Moon Goddess. An iteration of Hilda had been tricked years ago into thinking the Moon Goddess was going to make Lorule beautiful, as beautiful as Hyrule she retorted. The princess's trust was marred when the results were the exact opposite of what became the kingdom's permanent reality. Legitimate forces of evil now resided in Lorule, attempting to overtake it. It was no wonder Hilda was looking for someone, anyone, who could give her a solution without any needless judgement. I could see even in this moment that there was a flicker of hope in her eyes, but she dared not let it show completely. She had been through too much to let it show completely.
"You swear by your son's life?" she repeated.
I nodded.
"I do indeed," I said, "it is as good as done."
Hilda hesitated again, but seemed more reassured the second time around.
"Then... then I will trust your words Sun Prince," she said, "but only because your conviction seems without deficit."
With that, the Lorulian decided not to engage me any further. Further, after viewing the carnage around her, I believe she made her own deduction as well: killing Saria was not going to give her what she wanted. Din may have promised her freedom, but only if the threat to the world was eradicated. Currently, there was no threat to the world to be had, other than three foolish nobles. Killing Saria, who was no longer the Dark Maiden, would do nothing, but I was certain Din left that bit of information out when she recruited Hilda. The Goddess of Power was an intriguing entity, and I wondered at times what her true objectives were. Din could be a force for good or evil. I was in no position to question the deity directly, but the goddess's actions did initiate necessary pondering. What did Din truly want here? Even so, I still gripped the scythe, but I had no intention of using it on Hilda. I moved to protect Saria's body in response only. My dear friend's eyes were closed and she seemed subdued by the energy drawing through her. I had to get her out of here and to safety.
Saria... my dear Saria, I thought.
Nevertheless, as soon as I turned back around from checking on the Hylian, Bathory's body suddenly levitated off the ground to a standing position nearby. The comeuppance was a complete surprise. I stared at the noblewoman's rigid body stunned. Majora's Mask seemed to be seared onto Bathory's face, as if embedded into her flesh. It was a grotesque sight. The gown she was wearing glowed with a mild purple luminescence, but this was not power from the Moon Goddess. This was the Dark Maiden trying to wield a last stand. Her efforts would be meaningless, but she seemed unwavering nonetheless. Bathory then raised her hand and summoned the ancient book to her from across the room. Still cowering in fear, the old men the projectile was close to had to fall to the ground to avoid contact with it. Hilda too backed up, but kept her guard when the noblewoman opened the book to a very specific page.
The Lorulian appeared to know exactly what she was going for.
"She's going to incite the sanctum!" she said stunned.
I glanced over at Hilda for a moment.
The sanctum? I thought mildly perplexed.
I was confused as to what she meant, but I didn't bother to ask. Instead, I kept my guard.
"Just stay back," I told Hilda.
She hesitated.
"You might need my help," she said.
I shook my head.
"I will let you know if that is necessary," I told her, "please, just heed my words."
Hilda hesitated again, but she nodded and followed my directions for now. Afterwards, Bathory began chanting this mantra in ancient Hylian:
"Per virtutem nati sumus. Per virtutem nati sumus. Per virtutem nati sumus. Per virtutem nati sumus!"
I immediately engaged my fighting stance. Protecting Saria was my priority. Majora may attempt to enter her again, and be using Bathory as a decoy. Even still, I listened carefully to what the noblewoman was chanting and deciphered it. I almost pitied the state Bathory was in.
"'Through power we are born,'" I translated. "That is not going to save you my lady," I warned anyway. "You have lost the Moon Goddess is not coming back! It is over!"
Hilda behind me spoke again. She was about to alert me to what I was suspecting.
"Be careful!" she called. "She's going to try to cast a spell!"
I narrowed my eyes at the mutilated Bathory and kept my guard. I could not fend her off if I was still primarily concerned with protecting Saria. I needed to Lorulian to assist me.
"Duly noted," I replied, then ordered, "Lady Hilda, it seems I need your help after all. Come over here and look after Saria."
Hilda looked at me surprised at my quick turnaround.
"What?" she asked. "You would trust me that easily with what I attempted earlier?"
Now was not the time for this.
"What choice do we have now?" I countered. "And I made my promise to you. If you keep your end of this bargain, I shall keep mine, agreed?"
Hilda immediately nodded.
"Agreed," she replied.
To show my good faith, I tossed her back her scythe. Hilda was even more astonished when she caught it with one hand.
"Do not disappoint me," I warned, then added, "now let us work together."
Hilda nodded again and held the scythe determined.
"Yes my lord," she replied.
Hilda then quickly came up beside me.
"I will make sure no harm comes to her," she promised.
I glanced at her.
"I am counting on that," I replied.
Bathory stared at us in complete disgust. She sneered at Hilda.
"You are useless to us!" the noblewoman said. "We will have our revenge for your treachery!"
Bathory's voice sounded like several entities were inhabiting her at once. I took the point position so that Hilda was behind me.
I tried to reason with the noble.
"If you can hear me Elvira, know that you are being used as a puppet!" I said. "You cannot win!"
However, there seemed to be no reaching Bathory. In fact, the noblewoman did not appear to be completely Hylian anymore. The mask was emitting a small glow and her humanity seemed to be hanging on by a thread.
"Stop speaking to us like you know us Sun Prince!" she screeched.
Her voice was nearly unrecognizable.
"Elvira you have lost," I continued, "it is over!"
She covered her ears at my words. It was a futile attempt. Even so, the grotesque noble attempted to lunge at me with a scream.
"Ahhhh!" she cried out.
However, I dodged her reckless attack and she nearly stumbled into Hilda. The Lorulian on the other hand did a quick swipe of the air attempting to strike Bathory's mask, but her timing was slightly off and she missed. Sensing what Hilda was trying to do, Bathory stuck her hands out and a sudden flow of caustic power ran through her body. The energy manifested as purple lightning, but Hilda guarded the strike with her scythe. It was then I knew I needed to take more drastic measures. Bathory had no real power and the Dark Maiden was stalling for time. She had to know at this point that the vessel was tainted. The Moon Goddess would have appeared by now. I struck my helix sword two times to the ground and powered it up. Afterwards, I gave this last and final warning:
"This is your last chance to surrender Elvira Bathory of Hebra," I stated. "At this point I can no longer account for your safety."
Bathory pivoted on her heel to face me. There seemed to be no sanity left as her reply was hasty and foolish.
"I will never surrender to you!" she screeched. "Never!"
At that, Bathory lunged at me again and this time I allowed the energy in my sword to be released. The energy strikes hit on contact, right on Majora's Mask. The wooden mask snapped in two immediately and fell to the floor. The rest of the energy went through the noblewoman's body and stunned her for a few seconds. The true deformity could now be seen. The mask forever embedded the sigil of Majora on her face. The sides of her eyes were seared. The once beautiful violet color she was known for was now a piercing red. Her once flawless perfect skin was now sallow and varicose, mimicking the look of a living corpse. Her black hair began streaking white, until her tresses were forever changed to silver and grey. Bathory now resembled to true insanity that was Majora's Mask. The woman she once was, was now gone. The noblewoman's scream of agony echoed throughout the vault.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Finally, the noblewoman's body collapsed onto the ground, unmoving, but she was still alive. The relic that was Majora's Mask was now broken. Lady Bathory's zealotry had cost her dearly. Staring down at her now, I saw no remnants of the woman who I first met. The charm, the grace, and the beauty that was once a mainstay of the noble was gone. Now she would have to live in the shadows like the demons and imps. Her outside now resembled the person she was within, a monster. There was no telling how many people she squandered and killed for her deviant desires. She deceived the Zoras, manipulated Prince Squallous, threatened to start a war, usurped the law, attempted to undermine the economy, and tried to purge the world in darkness. The transformation was complete. The monster within was now on full display. I wanted to feel pity for her, but then all I had to do was remember the near countless lives she was going to destroy and it quickly left me. The silence was deafening and Hilda was looking on stunned as she stared at Bathory then over to me. In that instant, she suddenly got down on one knee and bowed.
"Never… never in my life have I seen such deeds," she whispered. "Please forgive me for my impulsiveness only a moment ago."
I stared down at the subdued noblewoman and shook my head. I then stretched out my hand to Hilda to help her up.
"There is nothing to forgive," I said, "you have already made your promise."
Again, Hilda looked up at me stunned.
"My lord…" she trailed, and took it, "I thank you with all my heart. I thank you for helping me see past my own revenge. I was foolish."
I helped Hilda to her feet and stared into her beautiful eyes.
"You were worried about your people," I replied. "One cannot fault you for that."
Hilda's face looked hopeful just then.
"I appreciate your understanding nature sire," she said.
I nodded.
"Of course," I said.
Afterwards, I looked at the mound Saria was still bound to. My friend was still and exposed to the elements. This would be humiliating for any person. Her nakedness was made to be shameless, but it was perverted more than anything. I was just grateful she was still asleep. I walked past Hilda, went over to Saria, and covered her naked body with the first sheet of cloth I could find. I stroked her green hair when she stirred slightly.
"I'm going to get you out of here at to safety," I swore, "I promise you."
Saria did not reply, but I was confident she heard me. Not to be forgotten were the two nobles Filgore and Rue Morgue. They probably thought I could not see them slowly trying to scuttle away. They were wrong. Having witnessed everything tonight, and with their willingness to go along with many innocent people dying, there was no other just decision for me but to sentence them to die. I had briefly been interrupted, but nothing was going to deter their fate. I stroked Saria's hair again, as if confirming my decision, then cut my eyes to the two nobles across the room. As soon as we locked eyes they knew what was about to happen.
"Vlad Rue Morgue and Dinivane Filgore make yourselves known to me," I ordered.
~SSS~
Moments earlier, Filgore's perspective
Elvira's body had just fallen to the ground and she was unmoving. At that point, I looked over at my friend and thought of the only reasonable thing possible, escape.
"We have to get out of here," I whispered to him, "the king has already made it clear he will kill us once the opportunity arises. We must leave."
Rue Morgue was completely in agreement with me.
"Yes," he whispered back, "I was just thinking that."
I kept my eyes on the king and the apparent princess he was talking to.
"His attention is diverted now," I said, "we are going to slowly make our way to the staircase."
Rue Morgue nodded, not taking his eyes off the two dignitaries talking.
"Yes, let's go," he replied.
We got up as cautiously as possible and started for the staircase. We tried to be careful about the bodies displayed about the room. However, out trek was short lived because when the king spoke again we stopped in our tracks.
"Vlad Rue Morgue and Dinivane Filgore make yourselves known to me," he ordered.
Dear goddesses, I thought, it's over... it's over.
~SSS~
The Sun Prince
The two old men hiding in a corner nearby, shook with fear as they heard my cadence. They paused, but only came to me when I cut my eyes in their direction.
"Now," I added forcefully.
The two men looked stunned, but immediately then did as I ordered. Filgore was the first to approach and he fell down at my feet almost like in obeisance. Rue Morgue was closely behind him and prostrated next to him.
"Have mercy my lord!" Filgore begged. "Have mercy!"
His colleague begged to.
"Please!" Rue Morgue added. "For we know it is within your heart to do so!"
I was not going to hear it. They were not merciful, so in no way would I ever show them mercy. Their attempts were futile. I then powered up my sword one last time. At the sound, their trembling intensified.
"Because you were unwilling to look out for your fellow countrymen, you have forfeit your lives," I solemnly. "It is in this moment that I Link, King of Hyrule, Prince of the Sun, and the Keeper of Hyrule's Gates sentence both of you to die. Do you have any last words?"
Both men were stunned by my poignant speech. They attempted to beseech me one last time.
"Your majesty please!" Filgore begged.
It was then I decided Dinivane Filgore would be first. I found him the most repulsive.
"So be it," I said and raised my sword.
The blade came down swiftly and Filgore's head with it. His screams were silenced. The corrupt official was gone along with his loathsome tendencies. Rue Morgue stared at his dead comrade stunned, but he had more dignity as death stared him in the eyes. He looked up at me and swallowed hard.
I merely stared back.
"Do you have any last words Vlad Rue Morgue?" I asked him.
One tear went down Rue Morgue's cheek and he shook his head no. Instead of begging for his life, he knelt over and accepted his fate. He was calm, and beseeched for the execution to be swift.
"I am ready," he whispered.
I nodded.
"So be it," I replied, afterwards I swung my sword and he too was now slain.
Two of the most repugnant individuals in Hyrule were now gone, and the aftermath would be tremendous. They had assets everywhere and the economy would would have a ripple effect. The other nobles here this night would also impact the economy, for they all had an interweaving stake in minerals, commodities, and land. It would take months for the full extent to really show. Bathory was alive. Bathory was still breathing, but her plans were foiled she had no power now. Even with this night being over, she was a shell of who she once was. No one would believe she was who she said she was until she had proof. Also, the Dark Maiden was no longer a threat, as Saria was now healed and no longer a vessel. I was contemplating ending Bathory's life too, but realized the noble would suffer more living in the state she was in now. Never being beautiful again. Never having the influence she had again. Prince Squallous would quickly dissolve his engagement with her once news of her downfall spread. She would have to explain her transformation and why she no longer appeared to be the woman she once was. She would cower away in this manor with her riches and loneliness for the rest of her days. She was no longer a threat to anyone.
Reassured with my thoughts, I took Saria in my arms as she still was subdued. I was grateful her nightmare was over. However, Hilda stepped in front of me when she saw I left Bathory alive.
"What of her?" she asked.
I looked over at the fallen noble.
"She has no more power," I said, "it is better for her to be alive and suffer."
Hilda raised her brow.
"I'm not so sure of that my lord," she warned, "if she does not die there is a possibility of the Dark Maiden coming back."
I groaned.
"How?" I demanded. "Majora's Mask is destroyed."
Hilda looked down at Bathory.
"It does not matter," Hilda said, "the maiden is not bound to the mask, nor is the priestess. For it is written: 'The Priestess Majora is a faithful servant to the Goddess of Darkness. She is so faithful that she sacrifices her own life as she goes deeper and deeper into madness. The illumination that comes from the Sun Prince will ultimately be Majora's end. Like the first in the land of Termina, to the secret edicts that happened in the land of Lorule, Majora will meet her end by the hands of the Sun Prince. Since there was no seed of destruction by a merging of light and darkness, the avenger is now an avenger of light.' If you do not kill the priestess now, she will not give up her endeavor. Her life will be forfeit to this cause. She will attempt to the thwart the world of light again. I do not think you should spare her. Think about this before you lose this opportunity. She cannot be saved. She has a diseased mind."
I understood the conviction in her words, but I was not certain she was correct. Bathory would have nothing to draw from. There was no vessel left, and I would not fall for her schemes even if she did attempt them again. I wanted to quell Hilda's worry, but it seemed I could not.
"The last thing a creature like Bathory would be expecting is to be kept alive," I said. "Her madness is her comforter. Let her have it and let her live with her sins."
Hilda drew back slightly and showed her uncertainty.
"My lord…" she started, "I think you should reconsider."
I was done speaking on this. My mind was not going to be changed.
"The decision has been made, I am not going to kill her" I said with a hint of finality.
Hilda stared me in the eyes for a long time before taking in a deep sigh and looking away. I understood her disappointment, but I think she was overestimating the power of the Moon Goddess and the Dark Maiden. The Moon Goddess was not able to touch landing, and with Saria now in my protection, I was never going to allow myself to be tempted again. Even so, I thought to change the subject.
"Besides, I already have news regarding my promise to you," I redirected.
Hilda gave me a puzzled expression just then.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
I cut my eyes from her to Bathory for a moment before I spoke. This retribution was going to come full circle.
"I want you to return to your people and prepare yourself for an ally I would like you to meet," I instructed.
Hilda's perplexity never left.
"Why?" she asked. "What ally?"
I paused for a moment.
"He is a dignitary," I said, "a prince to be exact, his name is Leon Squallous and I think you would find him an exceptional friend. He is going to need one after he hears about what happened to his fiance."
The Lorulian astonished by my words.
"His fiance?" she repeated.
I nodded, holding Saria tighter, gestured towards the fallen noblewoman. Hilda followed my line of sight and her eyes widened.
"Lady Bathory was his fiance?" she whispered shocked.
I nodded again.
"Indeed she was," I said, "he is going to need a friend, could you possibly be that for him?"
Hilda's cheeks reddened for a moment.
"Sire... what are you asking of me?" she whispered.
"He's important to Hyrule," I went on, never answering her question, "he will be important to your people too."
She stared into my eyes once again.
"I had no idea you were so spontaneous," she said.
I grinned briefly at that, but it quickly faded. The setting was hardly appropriate for smiles.
"Sometimes that spontaneity has a way of finding you," I replied.
Hilda in that instance grinned at me too, but hers too faded quickly.
"Prince Squallous," she said more to herself than to me, "I look forward to meeting this ally. Thank you for your first guiding step. Until then, I bid you farewell and hope that this was the right decision."
I looked over at Bathory's body again, registering her deformed state once more.
"It was," I whispered, "it was. Now I must go, I made a promise to get this girl home in one piece. Her husband is worried sick about her."
Hilda curtsied.
"Of course sire," she whispered.
With that, I nodded and took my leave. Hilda did not leave right away, and I sensed she had her reasons. However, as I stated before, the fallout would be immense from this incident. The massacre of over fifty nobles at the Bathory Manor would be a scandal that lived on in infamy. The Bathory name would be scarred forever. I wanted her to wake up and realize the nightmare she caused for herself. Her colleagues were gone. Her cult was gone. Her plans were foiled. She was permanently disfigured, and she was forever going to be a shadow of who she was. In many ways, Bathory's fate was going to be worse than death.
It is what she deserves, I thought. Her madness would have brought untold suffering the many people of Hyrule.
I went through the manor as my way of exit. There was no one in the house which made all the deaths below all the more eerie. What would Bathory constitute as an explanation? The aftermath would be tremendous for her, but also for Hyrule. The economy would shake for a minute. Stories of the nobles' disappearances would quake the kingdom for years. I would have to plan a faux investigation with Zelda. The people could never know what happened here tonight.
As I exited the manor, I took in a deep breath and held my dear friend tighter. I stared down at her. Saria's eyes were closed. Her breathing was shallow and I knew each breath meant her life. So, without further delay, I quickened my step and hurried down the mountainside. I hurried through the snows of Mount Hebra.
~SSS~
The final narration of the Happy Mask Salesman
"In the distance a warrior emerges from the bowels of a different kind of hell," I whispered as I wrote. "A hell so specific it could only be called Bathory Manor."
The moon, the lights, the lore -everything was as it should have been this illustrious night. It seems the Sun Prince was once again victorious. The Moon Goddess was not in this world. What was going to happen now? What would be the fate of the green haired girl? What of the world, and what was the future of such? Perhaps I should read what was already written to find out. I turned in my favorite ancient book and found the passage of verses. It read:
"Should the Moon Goddess fail to come upon this world, let the people rejoice in the Sun Prince. The Sun Prince is the avenger of truth and justice. He has stopped the land from being purged into darkness. Bu lo! Should the Priestess Majora still have breath in her body, she will attempt another coup of the kingdom. Her efforts will be more covert than they were initially. She will wait years until another vessel is available. Until then the avenger of light must never lose sight of his role. If the Priestess Majora seeks the Goddess of Darkness again, her ultimate end will be at the hands of the light avenger. However, the light avenger too will suffer a loss; a loss that he does not expect, and in a way he does not expect it. The recompense is to serve as a reminder what his actions with the Dark Maiden could have cost the world. The Moonlight Crucible is a lesson for all to ponder over, and once again, it must be opened by someone… and has been."
I closed the book afterwards and watched the kingly figure in the distance make his way deeper into the Hebra Mountains. A young woman was clutched in his arms. What awaited them still this night?
I took in a deep breath of the night air and pulled my cloak closer around me.
"I bid you farewell sweet prince," I whispered, then started down the mountain myself, "may we meet again at the crossroads of life."
~SSS~
A few moments later, the Happy Mask Salesman disappeared into the night, never to be seen again. At least... not until another opportune time presents itself.
Farewell.
The last chapter will be up soon.