Shadow: Back in time we go.

Static: We don't own Legend of Zelda

Chapter 6: Healing

Link and Nadai and Tatl reappeared in the basement of the Clock Tower. Link and Nadai glanced about, recognizing almost instantly where they were. Tatl's hand slipped from Link's face and she sunk to the floor.

"What?"

"That's new." Nadai put away her flute. "Your Ocarina never turned into that before."

Link held the saxophone gingerly. "You're telling me." He let it hang from the strap around his neck. "But it worked, right?"

"What?" Repeated Tatl.

"I guess so? Are we back in time?"

"What?"

Link looked at the door. "There's only the Mask Salesman's footprints leading out. So maybe we have gone back in time?"

"Back to square one then."

"How the hell did you do that!" Tatl's cries finally pierced through their conversation. The fairy was flittering about, her eyes wide and unbelieving.

"We went through time." Link stated.

"But how! That's impossible!"

"Oh, we've done it plenty of times."

"But why would the Goddesses send us back to now?" Nadai asked.

"Maybe they want us to stop Skull Kid?"

"Maybe." Nadai shrugged. "But three days? And the whole thing with the moon to think about."

"True." Link nodded. "My bubble pierced him, but there's no way we can get to him until the night of."

"And even if we do get to him, your little bubbles might be the only thing that could get to him." She patted her daggers. "My daggers didn't even get to him."

"Maybe it's a physical and not a magical barrier?"

"Could be."

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?"

Both kids turned to Tatl. "We're going to stop Skull Kid, cause we have to."

"I don't think anyone can stop him." Tatl sniffed, tears coming to her eyes. "Tael is dead. Skull Kid won't listen to me now, not if he didn't listen to Tael."

"Uh, Tael is alive."

"Wha?"

"We're gone back to the first day of our search." Link explained. "It's no longer sundown of the third day."

"I don't believe you." Tatl shot up. "It's still got to be dark. I've got to do something."

Link shrugged. "Alright."

"Alright?"

"I said you could follow along until we met back with Skull Kid. You know where he is now, you can easily get to him. This is where we part ways."

Tatl looked at them. "I guess it is." Silence came to them. They looked between each other. Finally Tatl gave a little wave. "I guess I'll see you guys around."

"Good luck stopping Skull Kid." Nadai nodded. "If you don't then we'll see you on the third day once more."

Tatl left, slipping through a crack in the door.

"So what first?" Link asked.

"Well, we could always scale the tower and fight him prematurely." Nadai began to stretch out her arms. "Though I don't know how we'll fight him."

"I can't with this body." Link looked down at himself. "Now, if I was a Hylian again we could break down the door and stop him easily."

"That's if we could get your body back."

Link got an idea, and a cruel smile came to his lips. "I think I know how."

"How?"

"That Mask Salesman."

"He could," Nadai slowly nodded, catching on to the idea.

"And I think it was time we knew just what we were fighting."

"That mask."

"That mask." Link agreed.

"If I remember right, he's in the music room."

"Then let's pay a visit."

Link led the way, his little wooden body going up the steps quietly. Nadai went behind him, her own steps undetectable. They came to the music room on the ground floor. Link burst through the door.

The Mask Salesman looked up and saw Link. "You've returned already? I—"

His words were cut off as Link rushed in and body slammed the man. Despite his light weight, he pushed the man onto the ground. Link struggled for a brief second with the much larger man, before he slammed the man's head into the ground.

"In the Goddesses name, what do you want!"

"Answers." Nadai said softly.

The man tried to turn around but Link slammed his head into the ground again. He groaned in pain but stayed still.

"What kind of answers?"

"Turn me back to Hyllian."

"I can revert you to your original form, but it would—"

"Just do it."

"But my payment!"

"Can wait until I'm back to normal."

The man was quiet. "Fine." He said shortly. "Let me up."

Link eased off the man's head and the man got up. Link landed on his feet. Nadai had her daggers out. The man turned and saw Nadai.

"It's you?"

"Just turn him back."

The man shook his head as he sat back down at the piano. "I never thought my best helper would have me at sword point." He sighed. "Listen well, because I'll only do this once."

The man's fingers glided over the keys. There was something soothing in the notes that were played. Link gasped in pain. He brought his hands to his face. It felt like it was burning. He clawed at it as the music wore on. As the notes finished playing and hung in the air, Link felt his face begin to fall off. He pushed it away as if it burned him.

Almost instantly he felt taller. He glanced down at his hands and they were Hylian once more. The Saxophone around his neck fell to the ground as an Ocarina. He could feel his sword and shield back, the familiar weight calming him.

"I'm back!" Link shouted.

The man turned around to see him and his mouth fell open. "So that explains it." He whispered.

"So then what's that?"

Link looked down to where Nadai had pointed. On the ground next to his Ocarina was a mask in the shape of a Deku Scrub.

"That was the Song of Healing." The Mask Salesman said. "It collected the curse placed upon you and put it into the mask. You put the mask back on and you return to a scrub."

"So it's cursed." Link picked up the mask and his Ocarina. He turned to the salesman and held out the mask. "You should have it."

"While I appreciate the sentiment, I don't have use for a mask that turns someone into a scrub, you can keep it." The man narrowed his eyes. "But where is my mask."

"I had questions about it."

"And that included you slamming me into the ground to find out about it?" The man shot back. "That mask is dangerous and needs to be brought back to me!"

Nadai examined her daggers, letting the sun reflect them onto the man's face. "Tell me all about this mask."

The man grimaced. "I don't see how that's relevant."

"That Skull Kid tried to kill us. That mask is powerful, but I need to know why." Nadai took a single step forward. "While we were your helpers at one point, that doesn't mean we're are benevolent all the time."

The man was silent.

"Almost getting killed puts a damper on my day." Nadai continued. "You know what extremes I go to. You don't want me to get angry."

The man grimaced. "Alright. I'll tell you the legend."

"Legend?"

"The story goes that eons ago, when the world was still young, there was a powerful sorcerer. He subjugated most of the world. This was a time of unrest and pain, as no one was happy with the world and the state of things. It took many many years, but a small group of musicians got together and created the Song of Healing. By playing the song to him, it forced the man to become a mask.

"But the power of the man is held in that mask. Majora's Mask. It is stronger and more powerful than any who own it. The last owner was a Hylian man who was captured by Gerudos. He had been killed but the mask survives. I procured the mask from the Gerudos over ten years ago. I've been holding it until I can destroy it properly."

"So Majora holds the wearer under control?"

The salesman nodded. "Majora controls the wearer. At first it's subtle, but soon enough they become fully subjugated. No one has ever given up the mask willingly. All owners have to be killed."

"And Skull Kid is wearing that same mask."

All of them looked up to Tatl who was flying by the window.

"I'm right, aren't I? Skull Kid has to die."

"Not necessarily." The man answered. "There is a hope that by playing the Song of Healing to him that it might release the control on him. But there is still Majora to think about. He might manifest himself in a physical body. Whether that be in Skull Kid's body or in a different one."

"So we need to stop him in three days." Link muttered.

"A week."

"He plans to destroy the world in three days' time with the moon." Nadai corrected. "We need to stop him by then."

The man whimpered. "Then I have no choice but to run."

"Running won't do you any good." Link stated. "We stop Skull Kid, that's all there is to it."

"Then, what? You run in and play the song and fight him?" The man asked. "It's folly!"

"Not folly. It might be the only way other than to kill him outright."

"I would prefer if we didn't kill Skull Kid." Tatl whispered.

"Listen, the Song of Healing best works when the participant is willing." The man said quickly. "Or if he is unwilling, distracted."

"Distracted?"

"Fighting him might have his guard down." The salesman said. "But if most of his attention is also distracted that might help."

"And how do you suggest that?"

"What if you strike when he is bringing down the moon?"

"That's…that could work." Nadai said slowly. "But if he could be too strong then."

"Then you go back in time!" Tatl shouted. "If you fail, then try again."

"What?" Asked the Mask Salesman.

Link shrugged. "Either or," he ignored the man's question. "What if it takes too long? We might be fighting long enough that the moon could fall on us."

"Then get someone to hold up the moon!" Tatl breathed out excitedly. "Rouse the Giants!"

"The giants?"

Tatl flitted about. "There are four giants in Termina, who helped reshape the very world! We can rouse them, they can help us!"

"But where would we find them? Are they even real?" Link asked dubiously.

"Does it matter?" Tatl shouted. "You can travel through time itself! Just start again if it doesn't work out!"

Nadai groaned. "As much as I hate to say it, but she's right."

"So rouse the giants, and fight Skull Kid before three days are up." Link said. He turned to Tatl. "So why are you here?"

The fairy blushed. "Um, I realized something."

"And?"

"That you were right. If Tael can't stop Skul Kid, then my presence won't do much. He ignored the fact I was even gone!" Tatl swallowed a lump in her throat. "I think the best way to help him is to help you guys. That is, if you would have me."

"Why would we want you?" Nadai asked. "So far all you've done is complain and whine and hide from the Great Fairy."

"But you two are new to Termina!" Tatl argued. "I know Termina and its customs and its people! I know where things are! I can help!"

"There is that." Link sighed. "I hate to agree, but we don't know this place at all. We need a guide."

"Link…" Nadai whispered.

They both knew why it would be hard to take Tatl into the team. It had been half a season or more without Navi. Navi, their dearest friend and guide in Hyrule. Navi who was gone missing. If they took on Tatl, that would be almost as good as saying that Navi was truly gone.

"Besides, you might know where we could go and all." Link said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You could point us to where we could go. We can see pretty much see all of Termina this way."

Link and Nadai exchanged knowing glances. "Then I guess it's settled."

"Where first?" Tatl asked.

"Does it matter?" Link answered. "Don't worry, we'll have the mask soon enough."

The man slumped back against the keys of the piano. A disjointed cord played. "I sure hope so."

"You won't even know we're gone." Link smiled.

"I guess we're back in business."

They went through the open music room door, and to the front door. Link opened the door, and went outside.

Dawn of the First Day.

Wang: Yo yo yo, we are pirates!

Time Stop: What?

Wang: Pirates!

Time Stop: We don't own Legend of Zelda.