Four years had passed since Fi and Ghirahim had met each other. Fi now was 16, Ghirahim 14. The two lived together in a small hut, build on the open place in the woods. It was a very basic house, as they had to cook outside above a campfire and the house existed practically only of their two beds and a little table.
Ghirahim mostly was responsible for the food. He went out hunting and sometimes he even snuck into town to steal bread.
Fi on the other hand did most of the thinking, which Ghirahim carried out. She thought of plans to enter the city, of how to expand their little house and anything else where they needed brain. Sometimes she went back to town to take blankets and clothes from her grandmother's house. She didn't want to show herself in public, so she didn't buy any new things, not that she'd be able to if she wanted, she didn't have any money, but instead, she sent Ghirahim out to steal at night.
They formed a perfect team, as what Fi lacked, Ghirahim possessed and the other way around.
It was early in the morning when the two sat just outside the door of their house, eating the leftovers of their food of last night. Ghirahim watched the smouldering fire while he slowly consumed his food.
Fi looked at the still sleepy demon boy. She couldn't imagine life without him anymore. It was as if her dream had come true, living in the woods, having a best friend, and... maybe even more than a friend. She stared at him. To her, their friendship was beyond just friendship. She had learned to love him, beyond a friend way.
He raised his head, looking her in the eye. Fi felt a light blush appearing on her cheeks, as he might have noticed how she had been watching him. Ghirahim smiled, but it was more of a smirk, which meant he had noticed. Fi's blush only became worse.
"Do I have to question where you've been looking at exactly?" Ghirahim asked. Fi's blush only grew, her head must've been totally red by now. Though she didn't do anything, she had just looked at his face, his beautiful face.
He still was young, but he didn't look like a child. If she didn't know him, she would've thought of him being someone of her own age. He had grown a lot since they met. He had become muscular, strong, handsome... He didn't act like a child either, neither did Fi, but she considered that only normal, since they had been through so much, since they had learned to live on their own.
Fi stared at the ground. She didn't like when he played with her feelings.
"Hey, Fi," Ghirahim said, moving closer to her and laying an arm around her. "What's wrong?" He whispered in her ear, his head touching hers.
Fi gasped. They had never been this close before. She could feel his lips move against her skin as he spoke.
"I..." she stuttered, "I... uh..."
He moved his head in front of hers, still closer than she was used to.
"Do you love me?" he asked, as he saw she wouldn't tell him on her own. Fi only nodded. "I love you too," Ghirahim said, moving forward for his lips to make contact with hers. Fi immediately started kissing him. She had been waiting for this moment for too long. It was like a dream that came true to her.
After some time, the two split again. "I love you," Ghirahim whispered, "Very much..." Fi could only smile. This had to be the best moment ever. She hugged him, nearly knocking him down onto the ashes of the fire.
Ghirahim could avert just in time and the two landed on the earth, side by side, still in a hugging position.
"I fear I have to go hunting by now..." Ghirahim said.
Fi's smile faded slightly, "I can go with you," she tried.
Ghirahim thought about it for a moment, "We've tried that before, remember? I couldn't catch anything that day. You distracted me, distracted my prey... It's better you stay here..."
Fi sighed disappointed, "You're right... I had to go to town after all to get us some new bottles. We have only two left now. But I will bring you something nice, something special."
Ghirahim arose and helped Fi to rise as well, "Then we'd better go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we're back together."
He entered the house to gather his weapons, a long sword and a bow, both stolen from the city of humans.
"Bye, my love," he said as he parted. Fi waved him goodbye. Even though he wouldn't be away for long, it hurt. She wanted to just be with him all day... But he had been right, things had to be done and the faster they were done, the sooner they could be together.
Fi took the cape she always used to go to town, one which hid half of her face, to prevent of being recognized, and she set off to the city.
...
When Ghirahim was on his way back home, carrying three fish he had wrapped in his shirt he had taken off before because it was too warm, he could already feel something was wrong. He didn't know why, he just felt it.
It was too silent. Not even birds were making noise. But maybe it wasn't bad. Maybe that was because of Fi's surprise she had taken from town.
"Fi!" he called as the house came back in sight, "Love, I'm home!"
There came no answer. He felt his stomach turning. There was something wrong, he knew. And it was no use telling himself it was only normal. He was perfectly aware it was bad.
He walked up to the house, once more calling out for Fi. Again no answer. What was it that had happened?
Ghirahim knew it was more than just the fact that Fi hadn't returned from town yet. He entered the house. Empty. He started to feel worried. Something had happened, something bad.
He left the house again. And then he saw Fi. Right in front of him. But she wasn't alone. Two masked persons were holding her.
He stared at them. Fi was crying softly, her eyes red of crying. What had they done to her?
She didn't look him in the eye. Her expression was blank. It reminded Ghirahim of the first time he saw her, when she was broken of sorrow.
"Let her go," he said. But none of the two masked men moved even one least bit. "Let her go!" Ghirahim repeated, his voice now raised. Still no reaction.
He still had his sword resting in his hand. That might come of use now. He stepped forward, clenching his sword. When he approached the two men, he heard something cracking behind him. Quickly, he turned around, only to see three more masked men walking upon him, holding swords in their hands.
"Get rid of this filth," the middle one said, pointing at Ghirahim. The other two lunged forward. Ghirahim ducked to dodge the attack, swords flashing above his head. He jumped upright again, and started to attack the two. He had learned how to fight, as his dream had always been to become soldier in the demon army.
It didn't take him that long before he landed a first blow on one of his opponents. The man screamed and dropped his weapon, clutching the deep scar in his shoulder. But Ghirahim didn't show him any mercy. This man was responsible for Fi's hurt. He stabbed the wounded man again, who fell to the ground.
The other one stared at him, shocked by this unexpected fighting skills. Ghirahim turned to his other opponent, charging forward. The man was too slow to block the attack and he, as well, had to put down his cap.
Ghirahim turned to the last man standing, the one who had ordered the others to kill him. He growled as he approached his enemy.
The man stared at him, also shocked by the sudden fall of his friends. "R-Run!" he yelled to the two holding Fi.
Ghirahim looked over his shoulder, seeing the two running away, carrying Fi with them. He turned around swiftly, setting off in pursuit.
He had almost reached them, his sword already darting out at the two men. But then, suddenly, an arrow hit him, piercing through the back of his knee. With a scream, he sunk to the ground.
He tried to raise again, but it hurt too much and he couldn't move his wounded leg. "Fi!" he screamed in pain as he saw her disappearing out of sight. "Fi!" He fell to the ground once more.
The one who had shot the arrow, didn't turn up beside him, didn't show himself anymore. He just let the demon lay there, pinned to the ground.
...
In the early evening, Ghirahim sat in front of the campfire he had made beside his house. Tears stung in his eyes. It wasn't because of the pain in his leg, but because of the pain of being alone, of being alone without Fi around him. It was the first time he was alone when it was dark. He cried. He missed Fi, his friend, his love... She was gone. She was hurt. She was alone...
Who had done this? Demons who sought revenge? It could've been the demons who used to pester him back when he lived in demon town. They had their faces hidden. It could also have been humans, but why would those hurt Fi? Why would those kidnap her?
He couldn't stay here any longer. He had to find her. He arose and tried to walk, which was difficult with one knee being wounded, but he managed to walk away from the house, straight through the forest. It hurt very much, but he kept going. He had to, for Fi. He had to find her, rescue her.
...
It was past midnight when Ghirahim arrived at the demon town. It was dark, so he couldn't see much. There was on odd smell surrounding the town. It smelt like fire, ashes, or something similar.
He entered through one of the open gates. That wasn't normal, open gates. They should've been long closed. He limped through the first street. His house wasn't that far from here. He felt the urge to visit his parents. He had missed them, that for sure. And now would be the perfect time to pay them a visit. No one else would spot him. And most of all, the markings under his eyes had almost faded, so with the darkness surrounding them, they wouldn't notice.
He passed a few streets, which he all recognized and all brought back bad memories. He still hated demons, that hadn't changed. Maybe a bit less, since a lot of time had passed since he had fled, but still, he could feel the hatred burning in his veins.
He had taken his sword with him, just in case he'd be attacked, but this also brought up the sick idea in his mind to search Thorin and the others and finish them off. They just had to be punished, they just had to.
He finally reached his house. The streets had been remarkably calm. Normally, even at night, demons were crossing the streets. There even were some of them who were onlyactive at night. It was odd there wasn't even one of them now.
Ghirahim hesitated a few moments before entering his house. Maybe visiting his parents wasn't the right thing to do. That wasn't the reason why he had come up here. He looked at the stone carving on the ground, welcoming visitors. And then he noticed something that was total out of place. Dark stains covered half of the sign.
He looked around the street, and as if it had just appeared there, he now noticed more stains and even pools of this liquid spread across the street. Was that... blood? He felt fear creeping up his back.
Without hesitating any longer, he opened the door, not even knocking before entering. It was dark inside. "Mum? Dad?" he asked. Then he heard a soft noise.
"Help..."
Quickly he turned the lights on, no longer waiting for them to give a sign. The lamp fuelled with magic flickered before it remained lit.
Immediately Ghirahim spotted his mum and dad, both lying on the floor, surrounded by a pool of red. He gasped at the sight of his parents. Were they dead? He walked over to his dad. He didn't move anymore.
Ghirahim felt his sadness return. He knelt down to take his dad's pulse. Nothing. No heartbeat. Tears fell down his face. The body was still slightly warm, which meant he wasn't dead for long. Ghirahim felt guilty, so very guilty. If he had been here earlier, they would still be alive...
"Help..." he heard again.
He turned his head to see his mother. She moved! He jumped up and ran towards her. He fell because his wounded knee couldn't handle his sudden movement. But nothing could stop him and he crawled closer to his heavily injured mother.
"Mum!" he exclaimed as he grabbed her hand. She slowly turned her head, watching him.
"Ghirahim?" she asked, her voice very weak, "Is that you love?"
He nodded, "It's me, mum! I'm back!"
She just stared at him, smiling. But soon, her staring eyes didn't move anymore. Ghirahim felt her hand sliding down. All strength had left her body.
"No! Mum!"
He collapsed as he realized she had passed away as well. He fell down on her dead body, face first. He cried. It was all his fault. If he hadn't left them... It all became too much for him to handle. First Fi, now his parents.
He lay down in the pool of blood, crying, and maybe even wishing he was dead.
...
After some time, when thoughts of Fi, who was still alive and waiting for him to rescue her, crossed his mind, he found the strength to stop his crying. Slowly, he raised, one last time watching his parents. Then he left.
He walked through the empty streets. On his way to the centre of town, he saw dead bodies lying on the streets. Bodies of innocent demons, who couldn't fight, as well as bodies of soldiers, still holding their weapons. There had been an attack. He saw some demons, still alive, trying to fight their death, but he ignored them. They deserved to die. They all deserved to die.
When he had reached the market place, he noticed the other side of town had been burnt down completely, only ashes remaining.
Demon society was dead. He smiled. Perfect, just perfect.
He looked up at the moon. Still, he felt so much pain. He knew not all demons were dead, but mostly, he knew the murderers of his parents weren't dead. The kidnappers of Fi weren't dead. And they had to die as well. It were humans. Those filthy humans, who were responsible for all this suffering.
Ghirahim tried to suppress his sadness, but that only worked when he converted it into anger, hatred. He felt such an amount of hatred now, such an amount that it would never be fully gone again.
He growled, clenching his sword tightly as he cursed humans, cursed demons and every other being that inhabited this cruel world.
While he was looking at the moon, he saw something descending from the sky. No, he must've imagined that. A black spot passed his sight and grew bigger as it neared. Ghirahim blinked to make sure he wasn't imagining this.
The shadow had the shape of a heart, two pins on its top and four pins at each side. Flashing red eyes looked down on him as the thing came to a halt and floated in front of him.
Ghirahim stared at it. It was beautiful, wonderful, even though he couldn't see anything but a silhouette of this heart-like object. Slowly he reached out to it.
It descended further, coming within reach. The demon felt his fingertips touching the object. It was hard, and it felt to be made of wood.
His other hand reached out to it as well. He grabbed it and pulled it closer. The flashing red disappeared as it lay in his hands.
He looked at it closer. It was a mask, such a beautiful mask. Two big round orange eyes stared lifeless at him, almost hypnotizing it was. Ghirahim stared into them, the many different colours of the mask blending together as he heard a voice speak in his mind.
...
They say that the Mask from beyond the moon is one of destruction. It inhabits an evil spirit that longs for death. Said Mask is called Majora. It takes control of the one who wears It, taking over the wearer's mind and causing him to carry out Its evil wishes. It's motive is unclear. They say said Mask longs for destruction, for death, without any particular reason. They say It will act in name of it's wearer, following his motives for destruction. They say all It wants to do is 'play'. It wants to play an endless game of destruction. None have ever been able to fight this Mask. None have ever been able to find It's true goal. They say It appears only once a hundred years, searching a new victim to play with. They say this Mask comes from another world, a world inhabited by only this Mask itself, as It does not tolerate others living without destruction. They say that when It descends from beyond the moon, an eon of devastation will follow. They say every time It descends, one part of the world is ruined. They say it is a god. They say it in invincible. They say so much. But what they say, is it true?
...
"I will help you..." Ghirahim heard echoing in his head. He blinked. Who was it talking to him?
"We will bring destruction. We will bring death. We will destroy those who deserve it..."
"Who are you?" the demon asked.
"Do not question me,"
the voice replied, "As I am more powerful than any other being existing. I will grant you power. I will grant your wishes of destruction..."
Ghirahim stared at the mask, "You will help me? Why? What makes you want that? Of what use can I possibly be to you?"
"Do not question me, Ghirahim. Put me on. Let me lead you to victory."
Ghirahim felt the urge to listen to whoever was talking to him and put the mask on. Slowly, he turned the object, moving it closer to his face. If this mysterious person truly was going to help him, it would be a gift of the gods.
He placed it on his face. It didn't fall back when he removed his hands, just as if it was meant to be there.
"Good..." the hypnotizing voice spoke, "We will head to the city of humans, bringing destruction and death to anyone who crosses our path..."
Ghirahim looked around, inspecting the empty market place. It felt so comforting, wearing this mask. It was as if it took away all of his pain, as if it turned his hatred into a good feeling...
"Move on..."
He walked away, back through the streets he had passed earlier. He soon noticed a demon, stretching his hand out to him, begging for help. Ghirahim smirked behind his mask as he approached this demon. He hadn't seen him before, or he didn't recognize him after all this time, but what did it matter? It was a demon, and so he deserved to die.
He halted in front of the wounded demon. "Help me..." he whispered.
Ghirahim knelt down, "I will," he whispered in his most loving voice, "I most certainly will..." He looked in the demons pleading eyes. Such a lovely sight... Slowly he moved the tip of his sword up to the demon's throat.
"I will gladly help you... On your way to death!"
With those words, he pushed the sword forward, piercing through the demon's throat. The helpless being widened his eyes, but soon died.
Ghirahim watched the demon die and smirked, "What a lovely ending, don't you think?" he asked, though he was aware the one he was talking to was no longer able to reply. "Now that's exactly what you deserve... What all of you worthless demons deserve..."
He arose and turned his back to the dead body. Any other demon that lay on his way would receive the same punishment. Although it wasn't a real punishment, as their life was ended quickly, even quicker than when Ghirahim did nothing. But it was just humiliating, being killed by one of the same race, one who they didn't expect to be their enemy, their worst enemy even...
He continued walking, heading for the gates. And not only demons would be dead when they crossed his path, anyone would be dead, anyone who would just dare to even look him in the eye.