The morning light peered through the curtains of the Stock Pot Inn. Kafei was still in Anju's arms, having been reunited by a boy named Link. He momentarily stood back, sensing something changing about him. A blinding flash of light emitted from his body as he restored to his true age. Anju laughed to herself, noticing that his hair had not changed in the slightest. She threw her arms around him once more. She could not believe the cruel trick of fate he had been inflicted with, then again, neither could believe that Termina would live to see another day. They were prepared for their demise and strong enough to withstand it. So long as they were in each other's arms one last time.
For a moment Kafei looked at Anju, now he was reunited he realised just how much he missed being with her. Moving in he kissed her gently on the lips and smiled "Isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bridal gown?"
Anju shyly beamed back "We've already exchanged masks," the ivory oval etched with a rune of love laid on the nearby bed "So… we're already husband and wife."
"Do we bother with the ceremony or just enjoy the carnival?"
"Seeing as we're not dead, I think our families will be expecting us."
Kafei leant in for another kiss before parting from his bride once more. He left the inn to tell his parents of the events that had transpired regarding his disappearance. It was not all severity and picking up the pieces of a world almost ruined. After all, today was his wedding day and he intended to enjoy every moment of it.
In the early hours of the morning East Clock Town was still relatively deserted. However Kafei assumed this would change as the day progressed. Large shadows cloaked the ground as two giant feet stood within the city walls. He held his scream as he looked up to see one of the Giants walking over through the Clock Town and returning to the east. It was beyond him how something so massive could walk with such grace and not damage anything.
From their vantage point at the observatory, Sable and Shikashi watched the Giants march back to their respective temples. They parted from the centre of Termina and took a hundred steps to the north, south, east and west. Both were still in shock from the sheer power they had witnessed and more importantly, the fact they live to tell the tale. Sable was the first to speak, her voice was utterly surprised "The Giants saved us… but how? The Great Fairy of the Great Bay said the Giants were possessed by their shadows."
"That means a third deity intervened." Shikashi nodded wisely, he smiled to Sable "If the old tales are to be believed, the Oni has beaten the Man-Eater once more."
"Why do they fight anyway?"
"I don't think it's fighting, I like to believe that the deities are as complex as us mortals. They are not purely good or evil and can have flaws."
"So… the Oni and the Man-Eater are just playing?"
He shrugged to her "Who knows?" Shikashi turned and approached the door "I'm going to take a nap and head to the carnival later."
"The carnival… of course." Sable glanced in the direction of Clock Town, at the same time she felt apprehensive. There would be no avoiding Onox or Veran while the carnival was on. At the same time she had missed it for the past few years due to her training.
"Don't be so down, we've just survived an apocalypse. Smile and be happy."
Sable nodded back to him and headed inside. After she had sorted her belongings out her first order of business was to acquire a new mask for the event. From rummaging through the various stacks of books she came up with the sum of twenty rupees. She hoped it would be enough to purchase one as she headed out into the tunnels to make it back to Clock Town.
The streets were starting to fill as survivors emerged from their hiding places. Although it was not yet anywhere near the usual size of the crowds who attended the carnival. Sable walked through the streets as merchants and musicians set up their respective areas for the days of celebration ahead. Already the town began to smell of various sweet treats and roasted meat as every chef and street cook prepped for the attending masses. Frustratingly, Sable could not locate any mask merchant willing to sell her anything within her budget. They had all hiked up their prices now the carnival was back on and the world had not ended.
She heard someone call her name from nearby, turning around she saw Veran setting up her caravan. The tall maiden waved back to her with a warm smile. "Come help me with the stall tonight, Onox is… having a tantrum and can't be reasoned with."
"But I don't have a mask or costume. How can I advertise such artesian wares looking like this?" Sable gestured to her outfit only to have a heavy sack shoved in her outstretched arms. From unveiling contents she found herself staring at the face of a dragon. Its face was contoured with metallic scales that resembled plate armour. The robes to match were a mix of costume armour and a long cloak divided to resemble reptilian wings.
"I call it the mask of Argorok. Get in the caravan and get changed quickly."
Sable asked as she ushered into the cart "What about you?"
"I'll change after you, alright?" Veran closed the door, turning around she nearly crashed into Onox who had somehow snuck up on her. From the looks of him, he had not slept since storming off and there was an arrow imbedded in his shoulder that he could not be bothered removing. "So… calmed down now?"
He nodded to her like a child who was being lectured by their parent.
She wrapped her fingers around the arrow and pulled it out, he did not even wince at the pain "Good, now get your costume on, you'll be working with Sable for the rest of the carnival." Veran was so distracted by the fact that his wound was being ignored that she forgot Sable was getting changed right that moment. The scream followed by the elated cheering did not go unnoticed by the nearby merchants.
When night finally fell, Link found himself mesmerised by the colours and costumes of the carnival. He had every intention to leave Termina and continue his search for Navi. But upon seeing Clock Town slowly coming back to life he figured a reprieve was more important at that moment. The moon had returned to its alabaster hue as it continued its usual path of travelling from east to west. He felt slightly out of place as Terminans, Gorons, Zoras and Dekus donned their various masks and all manner of costume. Some chose to dress in fancy gowns while others wore the twisted caricatures of monsters and deities.
Never before had he seen so much colour and life in a town. Fireworks studded the sky overhead and accompanied by the laughter and cheering of the crowds. Music wafted through the air as people danced in the streets and played the festival games. Few villagers even climbed the clock tower in its transformed state to offer prayers to the Giants. In that moment Link felt something peculiar as the remaining masks he had begun to glow in his pack. He quickly retreated through the door beneath the clock tower to avoid suspicion.
The moss covered ancient gears creaked to their own rhythm. Lost in the darkness they kept turning as Termina's pulse and livelihood. He had lost track of time but had never forgotten the eeriness of this place and his first encounter with Mask Salesman. The air was heavy with something, like there was magic present that he could never comprehend. Two wisps of light then left his pack and wafted before them. They became the spirits of Darmani and the Deku Butler's son wreathed in shadows. They offered a final smile and wave or bow to him as they vanished. Immediately Link checked his pack once more to find the Goron and Deku masks missing.
Strangely only the Zora mask remained when Link recalled Mikau's final request. The Zora did not wish for justice or revenge, he just wanted to play a final song with his band. Link then decided the don the mask one more time, shifting into the body of a Zora. He then left the clock tower once more and headed to the Milk Bar where the Indigo-Gos were setting up for their concert. The concert went ahead without a hitch, although Link was unsure if it was really him playing the guitar or if Mikau was using him as a puppet from beyond the grave.
After the concert, Link could feel his Zora form beginning to weaken. He quickly escaped backstage and tried to find a way out of the bar. "Mikau, that was great," Lulu remarked as she followed after him, she then stopped in her tracks as she informed "But you're not really Mikau, are you? We saw his grave on the way to town… we just played along because… well…" she wiped her tears on her silky fin "I guess we're still not ready to accept it."
Link saw no point in lying as he removed the mask from his face. At that moment the mask crumbled into nothing as it released Mikau's spirit. The tattooed Zora smiled at Link, bowing his head before turning to Lulu and blowing her a kiss. He then vanished into the ether as his soul finally came to rest. "I promised him I would play a final song with you all."
"I don't know who or what you are," Lulu knelt down to his level, she then threw her arms around him and held him close "But thankyou… thankyou for giving us one last chance to play alongside him, and for me to, well, to see the father of my children one last time."
It was well after midnight by the time Link had finished receiving gratitude from the rest of the Indigo-Gos. Evan, Tijo and Japas were insistent on buying him drinks from the bar. The argument that followed between them and bartender provided a perfect reason for Link to disappear into the streets again. It was confusing though, that people would even want to thank him, he was so used to remaining unnoticed. The final straw was when Zelda did not share the friendship they had cultivated over Ganondorf's reign. Then again with time reset that future had never happened and the Gerudo king had been chased off before any damage could follow.
The knowledge and memories of such a future were still lucid, much like the memories he had formed by travelling Termina. He doubted he would ever be able to carry such a burden alone and it was torture that he would never be fully recognised. Link did not care for the pageantry of being a hero, but at least he wanted those that mattered to him to actually remember as he did. So that it felt like he actually knew them and was not a distant stranger.
"Look up there!" exclaimed a voice
Another cheered "Yeah! Real witches!"
Link turned wildly to see the magic hags, Koume and Kotake fly overhead. They waved to the crowd, Koume fired a few colourful flames into the air while Kotake scattered snowflakes over the streets. He shivered, still adjusting to the idea those two hags could be good natured.
"All of this happened because you made it happen."
He found himself looking up at a blue skinned woman. Her elegant visage draped with silk etched with spider webs and various pieces of gold and black cloth to create a stunning gown. The arachnid mask upon her face was terrifyingly detailed and only revealed her lips.
She bowed to him "Thankyou for saving Termina."
Link was shocked to say the least as he tried to hide his dread "How do you even know?"
"I guess you could say you're the spitting image of an old friend of mine." She handed him a mask with a Cheshire smile "Here, you look foolish without one and it's on the house. Enjoy the carnival."
The familiar war painted face of the Fierce Deity was staring back at him. Before he could ask her anything else she had vanished into the crowds without a trace.