So, what does a Demigod do for the next ten years? Being an observer of the world is both interesting and heart breaking in equal measure. The Civil War between Hylian, Zora and Goron went on for months. Casualties from all sides were a drop in the ocean compared to the devastation of the Shiekah tribe. King Hyrule's sacrificial pawns – apologies, loyal servants, became nothing but mere shadows as their unfortunate namesake suggests. It was this bloodshed that began to quell the appetites of war. The first stirrings of an end to the violence surfaced and King Hyrule jumped upon the chance.
By striking a peace treaty, he formed a brand-new alliance. I suspect this 'miracle' was orchestrated by the Goddesses. A tidy way to readdress the balance of power I must say. Ganondorf was not invited to the party, however, and he slunk back to the desert to lick his wounds. Personally, I was left in no doubt that this troublesome flea would return some day.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Rauru had considered most carefully the Door of Time that I'd breached. He appreciated my suggestions about incantations, portals and pentagrams and promptly ignored them. I didn't take offence. In the end, he'd decided on a simple lock and key system. That is, a marble altar and three spiritual stone keys. Each of the races held a key as proof of trust within the new alliance. An emerald for the Kokiri, to the Gorons a ruby and a blue sapphire the Zora had held for centuries.
As it turned out, the Light Sage and I formed a marvellous, if slightly awkward, friendship. He can turn into an owl, don't you know? I've seen him flying around it is very impressive. Ahem. He answered any questions I had in an honest way. Unlike a certain trigger hammer happy carpenter. She'd been around, oh yes. Trying to worm her way back into my life. Bemoaning that she had little time left and that I really should listen. I did not.
I did reopen my little shop in Castle Town. My regular customers returned, although, they found the new direction of my business rather confusing.
"Sorry, you can only lend me this mask?"
"That's correct, sir." I smiled sweetly.
"And you want me to sell it to someone else and return the money to you?"
"It has to be the right person of course. You will spread a lot of happiness that way. After that, I'll give you the next model."
"Erm…"
Surely a mere trading game could not be so complicated? Yasei had encouraged me to make other people happy until I could be happy again. It was an important promise and I was trying my best to keep it. Making masks and finding the perfect person in the whole kingdom to sell it to would be the perfect adventure for someone. I had done it without any trouble and I wouldn't ask a Happy Mask Salesman trainee to do something that I'm not prepared to do myself.
Still, that was when the unkind rumours started. Who could make a profit from a business like that? The mask salesman is a few heart pieces short of a whole they said. He's odd, I'd stay away from him if I were you.
Had they forgotten the overnight hours of hard labour I'd put into the masks for their fancy balls and parties? I could forgive that. But do you know what upsets me most of all? They had completely forgotten how I assisted General Impa with the capture of Bongo Bongo! This left me flabbergasted and that was when I finally did it.
Well, I thought. If they can't remember that, there's little reason for them to remember anything about me at all. So, I erased their memories of Ronri Okane. They could think me strange to their hearts content. And if they didn't want to visit my shop that was their loss.
So, year after year I stood behind the shop counter developing this sort of demented grin. I find it amusing to watch people try to work me out. They have no idea. I've become quite the enigma. Impossible to understand because I have no history and no one left who knows me. Well, save for those deities with secret identities themselves.
My current purpose is to listen. Listen for the nugget of gold that could help turn Yasei back. I heard and followed a few intriguing leads, but ultimately… nothing. Still, I waited and I hoped.
Then one day, a curious visitor entered my shop. Now you may think that a child clad in forest green with brown boots isn't particularly remarkable. Picture this - a sword swinging from his belt, a fairy trailing behind and an aura that resonated with the Triforce itself! I felt the hairs on my eyebrows hike with an electric charge.
"Hey, listen!" a high-pitched squeak came from the ball of light with wings. "What are you doing now? We have to go and see Princess Zelda."
Princess Zelda… I considered. One child of destiny seeking another, I wonder what those Goddesses are plotting now?
The boy with strawberry blond hair shooed his companion away. He skipped up to the shelves behind me and stared in wonder at the various masks.
"Can I help you?"
He pointed at the yellow head band with little bunny like ears. My only 'mask' per se that did not rest on the face. Did the child not speak? I leaned over the counter.
"Oh, you wish to borrow the bunny hood?" He nodded with twinkling blue eyes full of mischief.
I explained how my shop worked. How trading masks would enable him to acquire the newest model in the range. Only when he had found happy customers for the Keaton, Skull and Spooky masks would I allow him to borrow the coveted hood. He took it surprisingly well, not at all phased by the trickiness of such a task.
"Link, we hardly have the time for a stupid side quest," the fairy wailed as they sped out towards the market.
What a strange pair! I scratched the back of my head. "Wait, did that sprite just say Link?"
"She did." An elderly woman cackled. She pulled the door shut and twisted my sign around. "Same baby you saved ten years ago, by the way. He's about to save the entire kingdom from that Ganondorf baboon or die trying – guess it depends on the timeline."
"He's ten years old. How can he possibly be expected to accomplish such a thing?"
She shrugged. "Goddesses' whim. They get a kick outta their shenanigans. Turning scrawny orphans into heroes is just one of them."
Suddenly, the dust on my shelves had become intolerable. I snatched up a cloth and started swiping in circles like a man possessed. "Why have you come, Akisin?"
The carpenter gave a long sigh. "Still salty after all this time, eh? Kinda hoped you'd mellowed a bit, give this old codger a chance to explain herself."
"Explain what, exactly? Why you lied to me?" I sneezed. "Why you held back crucial information that I so desperately sought?"
"Ronri…"
I fumbled as I tried to replace the bunny hood. "Don't call me that. I have no name, I'm just a-"
"Humble mask salesman, so I keep hearing." She dropped her hammer with an almighty clang and perched on the counter swinging her legs. Akisin tilted her head, the overhead lamp caught her stormy grey eyes. "I've been keeping an eye on you. I know what you did to those poor souls."
"Is that so?"
"Their feelings for you weren't lies. You made their precious memories go 'poof' without so much as a how you do. They never even got a say."
"I'm rather busy as you can see…"
"Nasty business – the whole thing. You can't return memories once they're gone. Never thought you'd be so damn stupid. Job's hard enough without cutting people off who care about you."
"I did it to protect them," I hissed, throwing the cloth away.
"That meant to sound noble or something? You can't protect people from getting hurt, fool. That ain't living. You gotta get hurt to know what matters. Especially for caretakers like us."
"Caretakers like us?"
"Yeah, that's right. Hyrule's caretaker. I tell yer, it's a pain in the arse."
"I don't know why you're telling me this." I waved my arms around in exasperation. "I never signed up to be a caretaker or anything else. It has nothing to do with me. For the love of Nayru, why can't you just leave me alone?"
"No dice, kiddo. You've already met the future sages and set them on their paths. Little Linky, Hero of Time, will have allies when he needs them. That's down to you." Akisin smacked her lips together. "Look, you got any liquor? My mouth's parched and there's still a lot I need to ram down your throat."
We glared at each other.
"I could warp you out of here if I so choose."
"Yeah, I know you could. So how about I make you a deal? Hear what I gotta say and I'll tell you about a mask. A mask that might be powerful enough to bring your sweetheart back. How about it?"
That got my attention. I steepled my fingers together and grinned. "Do tell…"
Events took a dark turn over the next seven years. Ganondorf did return and not only that, he managed to take control of the Sacred Realm. Hyrule morphed into a land of nightmares. Redeads stalked the market square and Princess Zelda had all but disappeared. With a dragon devouring the Gorons and the Zoras frozen in thick ice, there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
No, honestly, I couldn't. Akisin had sworn to reveal what she knew only after the Hero of Time had vanquished Ganon. The trouble was the Hero of Time wasn't a grown man yet. We had to wait for the boy to grow up! What kind of twisted logic is that supposed to be? Not for the first time, I questioned the Goddesses' sanity.
To have the power to make bad things go away, but to be forbidden from doing so is beyond frustrating. Yes, of course I guided survivors to Kakariko. And I'm sure Link appreciated the newly awakened sages' help, but that is not the point. Akisin's warnings were a shackle on me.
'If you want to know about the mask – no interfering.'
Sitting on my hands whilst Hyrule Castle is transformed into a fortress of evil is not my idea of doing a good job! And yet, despite this ridiculous constraint, The Hero of Time did prevail, and Ganondorf was banished into the void of the Evil Realm. I celebrated with the villagers at Lon Lon Ranch until the dawn. All was at peace once again. That is, except the ache in my heart.
I feared my predecessor had lied through her teeth. But no. Akisin had learnt her lesson, even if her clues were sorely lacking in detail. She mentioned a place I'd never heard of. There are doorways in the Interdimensional Realm I haven't explored yet, so I can only assume Termina might be behind one of those. I need to do further research; however, if indeed this mask is the answer to my prayers, Yasei could be returned to me quite soon.
Imagine the look on Mr and Mrs Muryo's faces. We could travel again, have the life we always dreamed of. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but must confess it does sound promising!
Oh, there was one other thing I learnt about the mask in question. It's called Majora's Mask. Curious name, don't you think? Well, perhaps fate will be on my side for once.
It certainly couldn't get any worse…
Author's note: Right, I finished it! Wahoo! Thanks to those who have stuck through this marathon. I never thought I would write such a long story about an NPC from The Legend of Zelda. I appreciate all the reviews and comments. Have a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year in all your own writing.
All the best,
Otwl x
