Chapter 4: A Threat Is Unveiled
Zelda was crouched down, picking at the flowers on the ground, being very un-Zelda-like, as the Zelda he knew was a tomboy at heart, and never resorted to girlish things unless she wished something of her father. Link had to admit these plots to gain something were very unresistably adorable, and Link found himself laughing whenever he saw one of these events; they were priceless. He stared for a second, then realized somthing was approaching from behind. At this time, there was an earshattering noise, and Link reacted by trying to dive into the small stream of water that surrounded this patch of the garden Zelda spent time in, and wasn't pleased when he was painfully reminded that it wasn't even six inches deep. He tripped, fell over, and splashed around helplessly in his confusion. He then heard nervous speech. "Sorry! Bomb storage had an accident. No damage, just a few less bombs than before..." The thing behind him wasn't a person at all; it was a cat that wandered onto the grounds somehow, and Zelda was staring wide-eyed at Link, smiling. "So. Going to complain about your hat again?" She said with a broad smile. "I've been waiting for you; it's been forever." She still smiled, and walked over to Link and offered a hand.
Link lie there, utterly bewildered. Yes, his hat was feeling heavy, and his white leggings unholily uncomfortable. But he was confused as to why she was greeting him as such. When he inquired so, she smiled ever wider, in a basking glow previously unseen in Hyrule's history. "I had dreams of you. It just seems so... Humorous. These prophecies of mine come in handy. We were all worried, but I knew..." Her smile faltered a little, "I predicted that nasty hit on your head. Are you OK?" Link said he was fine. "I'm glad you're back," she said, then balled her hand into a fist, and punched Link over the head. "But you put yourself in too much trouble!" She still smiled at him, regardless. Link was rubbing the pain off the back of his head; she had hit where the wagon left its mark. "Yes, I even knew where the wagon would hit you. I'm just glad you're back. We've had a lot of trouble without you. Things are out of order. But don't read too much into it; it's just a bit chilly."
Link was wondering if she had even been outside. Link got up out of the water with Zelda's assistance; the water was cold, and his limbs felt slow. Zelda began to speak, "I sense something sinister approaching. The feeling's really vague, but it's a bad feeling. Link. You may have come back for a reason. We need to know if that's true or not." Link sighed. Had the Goddesses sent him yet again to save a land? Would he never regain his precious peace? "I've sent some of the Hylian guards to look upon the subject. If they return safely, then I believe we have nothing to fear. However, if they don't return, or return with bad news, the King may have to make you help us, lest you be an outcast of Hyrule. I should have never told him of my dreams of your return. He's getting desperate." Zelda's smile had vanished. "We don't want to force you to; you're just the most valuable warrior of this world. If you decline, I can help you escape or hide yourself, but I fear you may have to." She sighed. "I guess you can't escape your fate, then." Link absentmindedly touched the back of his left hand. He got up, and walked to the window looking into the castle. He saw the throne, empty for the moment, sitting there with the Triforce on its back. He sighed deeply, still wet, and cold in his cloak that yet again failed to properly protect him from things he encountered. He started trying to wring it out. Zelda watched with concern. "What was it like? This... Termina place? What really happened there?"
Link was silent for a few more seconds of wringing his cloak a bit more, and looked Zelda in the eyes.
Link was at the edge of everything. He stood in front of the one thing that might have destroyed everything, including himself. He was on the edge of the apocalypse of the new land he'd entered. In his panicked state, everything seemed to slow down. The maniacal laughing of the possessed Skull Kid in front of him seemed to falter. The sound was leeched from everything. In this supernatural state, he remembered his last reunion with Zelda. She'd given him the powerful artifact known as the Ocarina of Time once again, and taught him the song that meant salvation for the world.
She was genuinely concerned, and Link knew it. He took a deep breath and slowly related the adventure to Zelda. Not skimping on some of the facts such as the resident's strange likeness to everyone from Hyrule, and the places he went through. He told her of Kafei and Anju, and of the Windmill man's counterpart, and the wonderful masks, and of Skull Kid, and the frustration he felt of when he tried to return. She was a good listener, not making any emotional signs, but showing the eyes of concern. He told her of the Fierce Deity Mask, and of Majora, and the strange transformations these masks produced, and the unfortunate souls that made them possible. He told her of the moon, of the field inside it, of the children that were so disturbingly peaceful in a moon that was so evil. He told her the awful things he experienced, and she gave no hint she did not believe him.
Zelda did not ask for proof of these transformations, of this Fierce Deity Mask, of the awesome powers it contained, and his inability to use it without great danger near him. When he completed his tale, she merely nodded and stood up. "You have had your share of hardships as well. I apologize for scolding you." The cat behind them was licking its paws. Zelda clapped her hands together, and spoke. "Well, guess you need shelter tonight. I have some places in the castle; they're well hidden and insulated." Link pondered the thought. More adventure, or settle down, hiding from it all? He'd experienced enough moments like these. It always ended up as him continuing through the trouble. He told Zelda so, and she nodded. "I expected nothing less from you, Link. You're more of a hero than anyone in this world." Link was used to praise like this, but from Zelda, it seemed to have more meaning than the rest of them. He felt cold in his tunic, so he agreed to rest in one of the rooms.
Zelda lead him to a comfy room with a dresser, straw mattress bed, a fireplace, a basin of water, and a carpeted floor. It did feel warmer. Zelda spoke when he turned to close the door. "Link. I'm really happy you're back." She hugged him, and left down the corridor. Link felt a warm feeling inside, and he looked at the fireplace. Looking through the drawer, he found a red tunic outfit. It wasn't made in the same design, but it would have to do. Link changed into the red tunic outfit, and set his green tunic up near the fireplace to dry with his cloak. Link lied down on the bed, and started to doze off. The last thing he saw before falling into unconsciousness was his cloak. There was an odd eye-like pattern on the back. Link couldn't care less. He had already started dreaming.
- - -
Link awoke to find his tunic dry, as well as his cloak. He stretched, and changed into his green tunic, feeling fresh in his inadvertently washed and dried tunic. He looked to the water basin. He took out his bottles, with their stains and past occupiers. He tried to wash them, but couldn't; they were pretty old stains. When he was guest to the many people of Termina at the dinner table, they insisted he use their clean cups. This had lead to the neglect of his previous drink storage. He hadn't used them for years. Link would just have to clean them later. Link got up, strapped his sword to his back, and chose to wear his Hylian shield. His Mirror Shield was a bit disturbing to most; it had the pattern of a screaming man holding his face. Link adjusted his belt, made sure his hat was on straight, and walked in the direction of the King's throne room. When Link was within visible range, the King upstarted. He jumped in his chair, and peered in Link's direction, as if it was all just a joke, and he was seeing someone else in green. Even Link's silhouette was unmistakable; the Hero of Time had returned. The King whispered something to the guards beside him, and they approached Link, bowing before confronting him, and they tried to get his sword from him.
Link started, and struggled to prevent them from taking his beloved defenses. Zelda was also next to the King, and Link looked imploringly at her. They locked eyes, and she nodded. Link understood, and stopped struggling. They took the Great Fairy's Sword and his Hylian Shield away from Link. Link felt bare now. Almost naked without the familiar weight of his precious items against his back, Link was determined to keep a proud face, and walked up to the King. Link wasn't in the mood for kneeling, so he just looked the King in the eye, as if to ask, "Well?". The King cleared his throat; he obviously was intimidated by the glare. He spoke, "Link. You have served Hyrule most loyally in the past, and we know you've been through hardships. Zelda has told me of what you were experiencing in that world from the dreams she has had. Trusting she was being truthful, I was ecstatic to hear that she said you were going to return in the near future. We have also faced hard times, and we suspect it is because of a malevolent being. In the past, you had aided us because it seemed you were protecting the well being of your Forest, and the people you cared for. Even in this new land Zelda had described to me, you were protecting those you cared for from the immediate danger. We have to assure you will heed our pleas. This is a hard time, but getting rid of this odd pattern in which our daily lives happen is more of a luxury than saving the world." Link nodded. It was true he merely wanted to protect the residents of Hyrule, but saving them from bad weather seemed unimportant.
"We understand that you would probably like a nice peaceful life, but this threatens our well being. The townsfolk don't know it, but,", he paused, "We found this in an unexplored cavern." He nodded to the guard on his right, and he ran out of the room, returning with three other guards, who were carrying something very heavy. It was under a large cloth. They set it down. "This may mean nothing, but it may mean everything." He grabbed the cloth, and pulled. Link was unphased; it was a block he had seen so many of from the many temples he has explored, Gerudo symbol and all. "Yes, this may seem unsurprising, but there is another reason this block is a sign of danger. Apparently, you're the only one in Hyrule who holds this with meaning." He nodded to the guards again, and they hurried over to the block, picked it up, and turned it to the other side.
On that side, there was a different symbol. It was shaped like a heart with spikes protruding out of it. It had ominously drawn eyes.
It was the mark of Majora.
-Chapter End-
