Chapter 2: The First Three Day Cycle

Author's Note: So, what's on the agenda for Link this chapter? Well, he WILL be doing the Deku Scrub minigame this cycle, and will also get to know some of the townspeople while he waits for the Clock Tower to open. This should be a long chapter.

DAWN OF THE FIRST DAY

72 Hours Remain

"He gives me the creeps! That mask salesman was the...Sorry...just thinking aloud," remarked Tatl, as Link closed the door.

"Hey! He's one of the few people I recognize and who recognizes me!" said Link angrily.

"I said sorry! But three days? Even if we never sleep, that still leaves us with a measly 72 hours! Talk about demanding! Well, don't just stand there! We're going to see the Great Fairy!"

"There's a Great Fairy in Clock Town?"

"Yes! The Great Fairy of Magic! Look, you wanna find the Skull Kid, don't you? The Great Fairy will know what he's up to. She watches over everything. And just between you and me, the Skull Kid is no match for the Great Fairy. Go to the shrine near the North Gate. You'll find the Great Fairy in there!"

Link decided to follow Tatl's advice, and attempted to make his way to the North part of town. He was already lost.

Suddenly, a Business Scrub hovered down and landed in the nearby flower.

"Wait! Wait! Hang on! This is my private property. Don't try using it when I'm not around!" said the Scrub.

"I wasn't planning on it," responded Link.

"Oh….The town's carnival is starting to look a little iffy. I've already sold out of my wares, and the carnival hasn't even begun. I'm thinking of closing up shop so I can buy a gift for my wife and return to her in my village! I've heard that a stone called the Moon's Tear shines brighter than any other in the land! If you've got one, I'd really like to get it from you. My wife would love it! If you give it to me, I'll give you my spot here...Deku Flower included! If you have a Moon's Tear, I must get it from you! My wife would love it! If you give it to me, I'll give you my spot here... Deku Flower included! That's a good deal! Don't you have one? You're a Deku Scrub, too, so you know how useful a Deku Flower can be. If you don't hurry, I'll give it to another Deku Scrub! The early Scrub gets the nut!"

"I don't have one!" exclaimed Link. "Leave me alone!"

"Oh, alright. Just come see me if you get a Moon's Tear!"

"I will…"

Link noticed a man scoffing at a poster nearby. He ran over to him.

"This poster's an eyesore! What a sorry collection of cowards! Bluh-yek! Foo!" the man said angrily.

"We should leave him alone…" whispered Tatl.

"Good idea," replied Link.

"Hey, apprentice! Don't just stand around lookin' at the sky all day!" the leader of the carpenters building a tower in the center of the town yelled at his apprentice, who was standing atop the tower and staring at the sky.

"Huh? The moon? It's gotten bigger again. Th-this is bad.." panicked the apprentice.

Link looked at the sky, and was promptly startled.

"The Moon…it's got a face…and it's huge!" remarked Link.

"Can we just get to North Clock Town? It's behind the tower!" exclaimed Tatl.

They made their way there, and entered the fountain.

"Oh no! The Great Fairy!" exclaimed Tatl, upon noticing that the fairy was broken apart.

"Young one! Please hear my plea! I have been broken and shattered to pieces by the masked Skull Kid. Please find the one Stray Fairy lost in town, and bring her to this Fairy Fountain," said the voice of the fairy, scattered apart.

"Okay, I'll try," promised Link.

They eventually found the Stray Fairy in East Clock Town.

"Please, hear my plea! The masked Skull Kid has broken me apart and scattered my pieces! Please find a way to return me to the Fairy Fountain in North Clock Town," begged the fairy.

Link managed to return her to the fountain. She coalesced back into the Great Fairy.

"Tatl, and you, young one of the altered shape...Thank you for returning my broken and shattered body to normal. I am the Great Fairy of Magic. I thought that masked child was helping me, and I grew careless. All I can offer you now is this: I shall grant you Magic Power as a sign of my gratitude. Please accept it! The man who lives in the observatory outside of town may know of the Skull Kid's whereabouts. But be careful! You must not underestimate that child's powers, kind young one. If ever you are returned to your former shape, come see me. I shall give you more help. As a Deku, you can use Magic to shoot bubbles which can pop balloons and the like…" the Great Fairy informed him, then returned to the water.

They returned to the town itself.

Night had fallen.

NIGHT OF THE FIRST DAY

60 Hours Remain

"Hmm…we have about 60 hours left, probably," commented Tatl.

Link noticed a kid practicing with his blowgun trying to pop a balloon. He used a bubble to pop it himself.

"Are you the one who just popped that up there? Not bad for a Deku Scrub! My name's Jim. We Bombers have a hideout that leads to the observatory outside town. You need a code to get in. Maybe I'll tell you what it is! But don't think you're getting it that easily! I can't just tell you what the code is... You'll have to pass my test first. Are you ready?" Jim asked.

"Yes," responded Link.

Jim whistled. "All right! Line up, guys! If you can find all five of us by tomorrow morning, I'll teach you the code! Are you ready?"

Link nodded, and the kids dispersed.

It took just a little while to find them. He was heading back to North Clock Town when something caught his eye. A balding man was hiding behind the playground.

"I'm not doing anything suspicious...Really," assured the man. Link just walked away and spoke to Jim.

"You did it! So what's your name, guy?"

"Link."

"Link, huh? All right! That Skull Kid broke our rules and he's been doing all kinds of bad things lately. Starting today, he's out! I'm making Link a Bomber! You guys don't mind, right? Right! All right, then. I'll teach you our secret code. Ready?"

Link put the code to memory.

He quickly went and had a little bit of fun at the Deku Scrub Playground.

He managed to beat their record for Rupee collecting.

"Oh, so your name is Link! I'll give you this," said one of the two Business Scrubs, as he handed him a Fishing Hole Pass.

"Thanks!" said Link, as he exited the playground.

Link made his way past the Bomber guarding the hideout and entered the observatory, meeting the astronomer there.

"Well, well...A strange-looking child has joined me today...Are you a new friend of the Bombers gang? My name is Professor Shikashi," said the astronomer.

"Yes, I am a new Bomber," replied Link.

" ...Hmmm. Your manners seem much better than those of your mischievous friend from the other day. Hrnf, hrnf, hrnf!"

"Tell me more about this friend," requested Link.

"That ill-mannered troublemaker from the other day said he'd break my instruments... He said he'd steal my Moon's Tear... There was no stopping him. Even now! Just watch him! He's probably causing trouble around the clock tower. Will you gaze into the telescope?"

Link nodded, then looked into the telescope, to find a surprising sight.

The Skull Kid was on the Clock Tower. He mocked Link, then looked at the Moon. Link followed his gaze to notice a rock fall to the ground outside the observatory. He let go of the telescope.

"Well, did you find that troublemaker? And that loud noise...What was that? Perhaps another Moon's Tear has fallen nearby...Go through that door and take a look outside."

Link did so, and came back with the Moon's Tear.

"He's on the Clock Tower's roof," informed Link.

"But I wonder how that troublemaker got on top of the clock tower? The only way up there is through the clock door, and that opens only on the eve of the carnival. What could that troublemaker be doing atop the clock tower? I just hope he's not plotting another one of his no-good tricks..."

Link left the observatory, returning to the town, and then headed to town.

The sun had just risen.

DAWN OF THE SECOND DAY

48 Hours Remain

Link didn't have much planned for today. He exchanged the Moon's Tear with the Town Title Deed to the Business Scrub's flower. The Scrub was very happy, and left with the Tear.

He also played in the playground and set another record, earning another Fishing Hole Pass.

Other than that, he simply waited in front of the Clock Tower, grabbing a Piece of Heart which made him physically stronger.

The day passed, and so did the night, there was not much to tell about that day.

DAWN OF THE THIRD DAY

24 Hours Remain

The day quickly passed. The only thing of note that Link did was complete the game at the playground again. To get him to leave, the Business Scrubs gave him another Piece of Heart. They believed he was a professional, and from that point on, hid from him.

NIGHT OF THIRD DAY

6 Hours Remain

The Carnival of Time had begun. The Clock Tower's top descended, and the doors became steps. Link made his way up to the roof, and climbed the steps. Tael and the Skull Kid were on the roof.

"Sis!" exclaimed Tael.

"Ah! Tael! We've been looking for you two," remarked Tatl.

"Hey, Skull Kid, what if you gave that mask you're wearing back now?" she asked, but the Skull Kid ignored her. "Hey, c'mon, are you listening?"

Suddenly, Tael began to speak…"Swamp. Mountain. Ocean. Canyon. Hurry...The four who are there... Bring them here..."

Suddenly, the Skull Kid smacked Tael. "Don't speak out of line! Stupid fairy!" he scolded.

"Nooo! What are you doing to my brother? Skull Kid, do you still think you're our friend after that?!" asked Tatl, crying.

"...Well, whatever," responded Skull Kid. "Even if they were to come now, they wouldn't be able to handle me...Hee, hee. Just look above you... If it's something that can be stopped, then just try to stop it!" He let out a screech, and the moon began to fall faster.

Link had an idea. He spit a bubble at Skull Kid, causing him to drop his Ocarina.

Link grabbed it, and was overwhelmed by memories.

"You are already leaving this land of Hyrule, aren't you?" Zelda said to him. "Even though it was only a short time, I feel like I've known you forever. I'll never forget the days we spent together in Hyrule...And I believe in my heart that a day will come when I shall meet you again... Until that day comes, please... Take this...I am praying...I am praying that your journey be a safe one. If something should happen to you, remember this song..."

Zelda began to play the Song of Time. Link repeated it on the Ocarina, then turned to leave.

"The Goddess of Time is protecting you. If you play the Song of Time, she will aid you..."

"Snap out of it! What are you doing lost in memories?! Get yourself together!" scolded Tatl, snapping Link back to the present. "Getting that old ocarina back isn't gonna help us! Somebody! Anybody! Goddess of Time, help us please! We need more time!"

Link attempted to pull out the Ocarina of Time. Instead he pulled out a bunch of pipes, as in the instrument.

"Huh? When did you get that instrument?!" questioned Tatl.

Link knew what to do. He played the Song of Time, and everything rewound.

He was back at the Dawn of the First Day, intact.

Author's Note: So, that's Chapter 2. I know I skimmed over some parts, but those parts are really kinda insignificant. Next chapter: Link and Tatl go to Woodfall and Link meets two familiar faces.