Chapter 3: Woodfall, Part 1

Author's Note: I've made Kaepora Gaebora more prominent in this story, and two familiar faces from Hyrule appear in this chapter other than our three traditional ones (Happy Mask Salesman, Link, and Skull Kid).

DAWN OF THE FIRST DAY

72 Hours Remain

Link rushed into the Clock Tower.

"Ho, ho, ho...Were you able to recover your precious item from that imp?" asked the Salesman.

"How do you know of stuff that happened…"asked Link.

"I transcend time, remember?" answered the Happy Mask Salesman.

"Yes, I got back my Ocarina."

"Oh! Oh! Ohhh! You got it! You got it! You got it! You got it! Then listen to me. Please play this song that I am about to perform, and remember it well..."

He promptly pulled a grand piano from nowhere and began to play a song. Link copied it on his Ocarina. He was easily able to return to his former self. A mask with the face of a Deku Scrub landed on the floor. Link was free of the curse.

"This is a melody that heals evil magic and troubled spirits, turning them into masks. I am sure it will be of assistance to you in the future. Ah, yes. I give you this mask in commemoration of this day. Fear not, for the magic has been sealed inside the mask. When you wear it, you will transform into the shape you just were. When you remove it, you will return to normal. Now, I have fulfilled my promise to you... So, please, give me that which you promised me..."

"Erm…"

"Don't tell me...My mask...You did...get it back...Didn't you?"

"I didn't…"

"What have you done to me! If you leave my mask out there, something terrible will happen! The mask that was stolen from me... It is called Majora's Mask. It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals. It is said that an evil and wicked power is bestowed upon the one who wears that mask. According to legend... the troubles caused by Majora's Mask were so great... the ancient ones, fearing such catastrophe, sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse. But now, that tribe from the legend has vanished, so no one really knows the true nature of the mask's power...But I feel it, for I am of that tribe…I went to great lengths to get that legendary mask. When I finally had it...I could sense the doom of a dark omen brewing. It was that unwelcome feeling that makes your hair stand on end. And now...that imp has it...I am begging you! You must get that mask back quickly or something horrible will happen!" exclaimed the Happy Mask Salesman.

"I'll try," promised Link.

"One last thing…"The man handed him a notebook. "It appears to be one of those fancy notebooks the local brats carry around. Perhaps the imp dropped it?"

Link took the notebook and placed it in a bag.

"Thank you."

"Good luck," said the Happy Mask Salesman.

The two returned to Clock Town and rushed to the Fairy Fountain, retrieving the Stray Fairy on their way.

"Oh, Tatl, and you, kind young one! Thank you for returning my broken and shattered body to normal. I am the Great Fairy of Magic. For now, this is all I can offer you. Allow me to ease your weariness as my token of gratitude. Oh, kind young one! Scattered throughout the four temples of this land are broken Stray Fairies like me. Please find a way to save them and return them to their fountains. Surely, they will add to your strength. Allow me to grant you something good so that the Stray Fairies will not fear you."

The Great Fairy handed him a mask in the likeness of her face. He placed it in his bag.

"That is the Great Fairy's Mask…use it wisely."

Link exited the fountain.

"That mask... The Skull Kid uses the power of that mask to do those terrible things. Well...whatever it takes, we've gotta do something about it. ...The swamp, mountains, ocean and canyon that Tael was trying to tell us about... I bet he was referring to the four areas just outside town. There's one in each compass direction. But what do you suppose he meant by "the four who are there?" I have no idea. He always skips important stuff. I guess we should just go and find out...If we go through that gate straight ahead, we'll be heading in the direction of the swamp," Tatl remarked as they returned to South Clock Town.

It did not take long to near the Southern Swamp.

They stopped by a tree stump.

"Oh! I remember this! Tael and I drew this with the Skull Kid when we first met him... He told us that he had been fighting with his friends and that they had left him all alone...I'm sure it was because he was always playing tricks, so nobody wanted to play with him. But to do what he did just because of that... And once he got his power..." Tatl shivered. "Let's go…"

They managed to reach the Southern Swamp quite easily, but were stopped by an old friend of Link – an owl.

"Ho-ho-ho-ho-hoot! This is a rare sight. You are a fairy child, correct?"

Link nodded. "Kaepora Gaebora…it's you…" he said.

"How….did you know my name?" the owl replied.

"Don't you remember me?"

"No…the Hero of Time? I need prove…play the song that is sung to the Royal Family of Hyrule.."

Link retrieved his Ocarina and began to play Zelda's Lullaby.

"Ah! It is you! How did you make it to Termina?" Kaepora Gaebora questioned.

"I was looking for the fairy Navi," informed Link.

"And you wound up here…Hmmm…What business might you have in this poisoned swamp?"

Link explained the situation.

"If you dare not venture further, I shall pass no judgment. It is better that you hurry back to town. This swamp you are in has lost its guardian deity. But it was destined to fade anyway," the owl replied.

"How dare you, the Sage Rauru, say that!" exclaimed Link.

"Let me finish," replied Kaepora Gaebora. "Hoo-hoot...And that destiny is not solely limited to this swamp... If you have the courage and determination to proceed in the face of destiny, then I shall teach you something useful. Before coming here, had you not seen any of the stone statues that bear close resemblance to me?"

"Yes. You're sitting on one."

"…So I am," Gaebora chuckled. "I have placed those throughout the land to aid the one with the power to change the destiny of this land...Wherever he may appear. If you have left proof of our encounter on any of those stone statues... Then the song carved at my feet will certainly be of some assistance... Remember it well and play it wherever the need arises. From the first time you play this song, we shall become eternal friends, transcending time and place!"

"Very well then," replied Link. He memorized the song.

"I have another gift for you…it is a mask, one that will allow you to transform into your younger self…yourself from before you drew the Master Sword from its resting place…" He placed a mask on the ground, and Link placed it in his bag.

"Farewell, Link. I hope we will meet again," replied his old friend, before flying away.

Link proceeded further into the swamp, coming across a river.

Suddenly, another familiar face rose from the water. It was similar to Lord Jabu-Jabu.

"Jabu-Jabu?!" exclaimed Link.

"No…I am Lord Chapu-Chapu. I am the King of the waters of the Swamp…But you know of Jabu-Jabu…you are from Hyrule, are you not? I am a friend of Jabu-Jabu…I can tell…you are the Hero of Time from the legends of Hyrule, correct?" replied the fish.

"Yes," nodded Link.

"Excellent…I have something for you. I have faith in you...therefore I give you this item…the Shard of Agony…if you are ever near a Secret Grotto or a secret Treasure Chest, this shard will ping, and you will know that one is near…I hope you will use it to the best of your ability. I have another gift of you…a Boomerang. It will aid you on your quest…"

Link took the two gifts.

"I await you in the Swamp Fishing Hole, if you wish to catch me. Just so you know, I love to eat smaller fish."

Lord Chapu-Chapu then dived underwater and disappeared.

"That was unusual," commented Link, as the two continued their trek into the Southern Swamp

Author's Note: Yes, this is a short chapter. In addition, I included the Shard of Agony, Young Link Mask, and Boomerang. I wanted Lord Chapu-Chapu and Kaebora Gaebora to play bigger parts, so I expanded their roles here, and in fact added Lord Chapu-Chapu. Those two will appear again, trust me.