Late Afternoon
Immediately after the trial, Armaros was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment with his magic disabled until his release. The dungeons were located just beneath the well where he would reside, and though he had pled not guilty to the charges, the King however wasn't very lenient.
Through Roshan, they learned that Armaros had pled innocence as he was only trying to protect his people from the dark powers residing inside the mask. It was also said that he had been fighting with another person who called himself Emmett, but that Emmett had escaped before Armaros was apprehended. Unfortunately, Igos Du Ikana had not believed a word of it, and the court was just as skeptical.
After the sentencing, Link, Kagome and Inuyasha learned that the Mask had been carefully looked upon by the Royal Magic Users. Within only a couple hours, it had been confirmed that a great evil emitted from the relic. Cautious of the dangers emanating from it, King Igos Du Ikana ordered for the mask to be locked away. For a time, it would remain inside the impenetrable strong hold of Stone Tower until later when he would look upon it himself. For as of right now, his attention was shifted to his rebellious citizens.
Unfortunately for the King, the gang already knew that placing the mask within Stone Tower would prove futile. After all, it was stolen by the Happy Mask Salesman not long after. But this time, hopefully, they would stop that from happening and possibly, by doing so, they would alter history; however, preventing a war was doubtfully uncertain.
With the news of the mask now in the possession of the Royal Family, it did however lesson a little of their built up tension. Perhaps time was still on their side. If they were willing to put a stop to the peddler from stealing the mask from Stone Tower, then The Happy Mask Salesman would fulfill his end of the bargain, by helping them summon the Goddesses. Perhaps it seemed a little farfetched, but what more could they lose; after all, they had already come this far, and they were willing to do anything to save Termina from its inevitable end.
After having discussed their plans earlier that day, Link and Inuyasha left the Palace that late afternoon. They followed the trail that Link knew from memory up to the Stone Tower. The path was aligned with tall fences of strong iron. From behind, the city appeared very small as they climbed the steep hill to the large monument ahead.
However, their walk up to the tower was cut short when they were stopped by a couple soldiers on patrol there.
They looked upon Link and Inuyasha with uncertainty, hindering their approach with the threat of their swords. Though Inuyasha had the urge to smack them upside the head, he held himself back. Link on the other hand approached the guards without hesitation before he retrieved a small letter from his satchel which he held out to the young men before him, eyeing him and Inuyasha suspiciously.
It was with Link's quick thinking that he managed to acquire a written letter from the Princess, stating that she gave permission for him and Inuyasha to freely observe the tower, assuring they would respectfully remain outside. It was surprising she had even allowed them and without a second thought either. Cathleen had explained that they had done much since their arrival to her Kingdom and that there was no harm in exploring the city before their departure soon.
One of the guards took the missive into his hands, and as he opened it, a sweet scent filled his senses. The writing was very small but beautifully written nonetheless, but he had to squint in order to read it.
'These two young men have my permission to wander freely within the city and to explore the outside of Stone Tower until their hearts are content. They are also granted permission to come and leave the Palace at any given time. Should any complaints surface, then those complaints will be brought before me.'
By Order of the Princess of Ikana
After reading the missive, the guards shared a glance. There was no denying it. It was the Royal Seal stamped at the bottom of the letter. They weren't entirely keen on having outsiders so close to Stone Tower, especially after its final completion, but they stepped aside, allowing them entrance where no other but the Royal Guard was allowed.
After continuing up the hill past the guards on watch at the bottom steep, both Inuyasha and Link stood for a moment, staring up at the structure, imposing and impossible yet threatening.
Stone Tower.
As they walked across the red earth, they stood upon the edge of a cliff, separating them from the structure directly ahead. Below them, there saw many suspensions of paths that seemed to lead downwards with a series of large boulders falling out from the walls beneath them. Inuyasha had questioned the reason for that, but Link only explained that it was merely a pit fall that would help yield thieves from entering the tower. He explained that only the King knew of the secret to entering the tower.
As Inuyasha looked upon the Stone Tower ahead of him, he saw a rather large rounded statue of a naked man sitting on his hands and knees with his mouth agape. A painting of its tongue, a deep shade of scarlet, was drawn out upon the stone, extending long enough where it covered its private parts. The entrance way appeared to lead through its open mouth.
The statue was indeed strange to Inuyasha, especially when it seemed to depict a tribal person with war paint drawn all over its face. In place of eyes, lighted torches flickered in the empty spaces on either side of the face.
On each corner surrounding the tower were four very large pillars, each symbolizing the Four Great Protectors of Ikana, the Four Giants whom the King and some of the citizens worshipped. And right behind the tower on the right side was a giant statue of a hand pointing towards the sky with its finger ablaze and burning hotly.
Inuyasha crossed his arms as he looked upon it. "So what's with that statue over there?"
Link examined the burning finger across the cliff where they stood. "Inuyasha, do you remember the legend the Great Fairy told to us before our journey began?"
He blinked. "You mean the long one about ancient ones? Yeah. Why? Does this have some kind of connection?"
Link nodded. "Yes, in fact, the ancient ones told within the legend are the very ones here in Ikana. The tower that was mentioned to reach high into the Heavens is this tower right here, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha listened, taking in the entire landscape and all the structures around it. "I just asked a simple question…I don't need a whole history lesson on it."
Link sweat dropped.
Despite the fact that he didn't care to hear it, there were some aspects of the ancient past that baffled him, especially since it connected with the Great Enchantress's Legend. "I remember she said these Goddesses, who we are supposed to summon, created this world and after returned to the sky. But why have a tower reach for the Heavens?" Inuyasha asked. In truth he didn't entirely remember the legend the Great Fairy had told to them many weeks ago.
"Well…" Link began, recollecting his thoughts from an earlier time back at the Fairy Fountain. "The legend went like this, to put it in simplest words. After the Goddesses returned to their kingdom in the sky, evil soon befell the world in which they created. The hearts of all the people became corrupt with wicked desires. During the time when Ikana's Kingdom was beginning to fall because of the wickedness, it was shortly after that Majora's Mask surfaced."
Inuyasha narrowed his gaze. "That mask…I don't know much about it, but I did sense something foul coming from it. You told me earlier there was a demon sealed inside it?"
"That's right. It was that very evil that brought the curse upon all of Termina. And we both know who was responsible for causing such a curse," Link fisted his hands.
"That peddler!" Inuyasha growled.
Link nodded. "After Majora's Mask surfaced, so too did the Garo."
Inuyasha turned to the young swordsman next to him. He remembered him mentioning those strange people, but he didn't entirely know anything about them. "That's right. Very soon they plan to wage war with this land. Then again, it makes sense. After all, Ikana is a powerful land with much territory. I guess I can see why there would be a power struggle."
"Ikana is already falling," Link explained with a shake of his head. "The King is in denial, refusing to listen to his people. Right now would be the perfect opportunity for the Garo to invade."
Inuyasha nodded. "So after the war, the Kingdom fell and both sides lost." That much he already knew.
"And the Goddesses saw the land had become wicked in heart and they punished their children, cursing the land to an eternity of doom. The Goddesses would wait for one of a pure and kind heart to save the land once more and only then would forgiveness shine on Termina."
Inuyasha looked upon the tower once more. "So this tower symbolizes the might of Ikana, I take it."
"Well yes but it was also built as a means to reach for the Heavens. If you remember correctly from the Great Fairy's story, she mentioned that those who had built the tower had been punished by the Goddesses, thus the entire universe was flipped upside down," He explained, causing Inuyasha to nod somewhat in understanding. Link pointed to the gray sky overhead above Stone Tower. "Do you see that green light there?"
The raven haired Inuyasha looked up in the direction his companion pointed. He saw what appeared like a strange vortex of green colors spiraling above the Tower. "What the—"
Link continued on. "That portal is the entrance way into the Realm of the Goddesses. The main reason for the construction of Stone Tower was a means of reaching that portal to slay the Goddesses."
"Wait what? How the hell…That was their idea? Talk about stupid…Didn't work in the end. Idiots."
Link nodded. "You're right. They were foolish; especially into thinking they could kill such powerful deities…"
Inuyasha then turned to stare at the boy before looking back at statue with the burning finger pointed towards the sky. He put the legend and the story behind the construction of the tower together and it finally made sense. "So I take it that burning hand is resentment towards the Goddesses then."
Link nodded. "That's right." Realizing they were getting carried away with the legend, and though it was good Inuyasha was informed of everything regarding the legend and Stone Tower, Link felt it was best to return to their previous matters. "So now that Majora's Mask has been sealed inside the tower, we only need to make sure no one sneaks inside."
Inuyasha smirked. "Well that won't be too difficult!"
Smiling at his enthusiastic reply, Link unsheathed his sword before handing it over to Inuyasha, who stared at it for a quick second before looking back at Link. "Take it. Since you are without a weapon, you may make do with mine. Grated however, I shall return later this evening to switch shifts."
Taking the sword from his outstretched hand, Inuyasha flashed a smirk at Link. "Sure. So I take it you're going back to the Palace?" He asked as he weighed the lightness of Link's sword in his hand; it was a lot lighter than what he was used to, but it would still get the job done if anyone tried to get inside the tower. Well, it wasn't as if he was planning on killing that sneaky peddler or anything. Yet if he tried to, Inuyasha would injure him slightly in order to stop his advancements towards the tower.
"Before that, I plan to have a look around town. The gossip there might help to inform us if anything should arise from the rebellion. Perhaps there might be a chance the peddler may be lurking around as well," Link explained. "I won't spend too long looking. There are only a few more hours until sunset. I shall return to the Palace to check on things there before returning to cover the next shift."
Understanding, Inuyasha positioned himself in front of the cliff separating himself from the tower across the gap. He nodded to Link and after which, the young swordsman turned away from his friend before trekking down the steep slope towards the town. There were a couple guards on patrol near the entrance down the slope, and he could only hope that nothing would go amiss during his absence.
When Link heard the gate shut from behind him, he couldn't help but turn his stare to the sky over head. Something didn't feel right.
OOO
The King pounded his fist upon the arm of his chair harshly, his voice of exasperation echoing off the walls of the Royal Throne Room causing the entire room to shake. The court and all of his advisers cringed at the velocity in his voice. Of course they had all been just as shocked at their King.
Not but a few minutes ago, one of the King's soldiers, who had been stationed to watch over the perimeter of the Kingdom, had abruptly rushed into the Throne Room while the King had been in a very important meeting with his advisers. Though his entrance was terribly rude and looked down upon by his peers, the soldier nonetheless lowered himself into a rushed bow before the seated King, who looked upon him with confusion.
Breathing rather heavily and sweat falling off him, he was anxious to speak of great importance to his Majesty. "Your Highness! Terrible news! A large army has crossed over into the borders of your land! They are armed, your highness! I fear they mean war!"
OOO
From outside the room, Cathleen and Kagome had gasped at the news. They'd been standing outside the Throne Room, awaiting permission to speak with his Majesty, however they had not intended to overhear this.
Cathleen had her hands over her mouth and she suddenly felt great distress fall upon her shoulders. She couldn't believe it. A war! What would they do?
Kagome had her back pressed up against the wall, a knot forming in her abdomen. It was just as she suspected. It was going to happen yet she fretted hearing of it. Soon she would even witness the event unfold, if she and her friends stayed long enough in the ancient past. From inside the room the vociferous voice of the King grew more loudly, so much so that she wanted to cover her ears.
Even the servants and maids who were wandering the halls continuing their tasks and chores had stopped at the velocity of their angry King.
As Kagome attempted to console the frightened Princess beside her, who was very nearly close to crying, loud footsteps caught the priestess by surprise. Kagome whipped her head to look over her shoulder, but she had not intended to see a giant of a man, cloaked in armor and adorned in much weaponry that she completely stilled at the sight. Kagome's mouth fell open as the large person, similar in size of the King, lowered his head into a bow before her and the Princess.
"My ladies…" He said in acknowledgement before turning to enter into the Throne Room.
As soon as he was gone, Kagome could hardly believe her eyes, and Cathleen saw this. "That was Captain Keeta…H-he must be here to ask permission of father to send the army out…" She sobbed.
Kagome continued to console her.
After a few minutes, Roshan exited the very room Captain Keeta had shortly entered, and at the sight of the Princess crying into Kagome's shoulder, she crossed her arms. "I take it you have both heard. As of right now, the captain has asked permission to take his army into battle in hopes of slaying the enemy that is fast approaching," She explained with all seriousness.
Cathleen turned away from the priestess and threw herself into her nurse maid's arms. "Please say it isn't so! What are we going to do? Will we be—"
Roshan bent down, noticing her tears falling from the young princess's eyes before wiping them away. The guard shook her head at the very thought before looking Cathleen in the eyes. "What will happen is this. Whether or not our army should prevail or succumb to those heathens, we will have already made preparations to evacuate the Palace. His Majesty has told me that you are his first priority above all else and you shall flee from here immediately."
"But father!" She cried out. "I can't leave him behind!"
The guardswoman only lowered her eyes to the floor. "You know how adamant your father can be. Even when faced with the direst of circumstances, he is not one to run away from his problems. He has made it clear to everyone, if anything should happen to the army as well as the Kingdom that you are to escape by all means necessary. It's an order, your highness. After all, you are his last surviving child. He would not wish anything terrible to befall you."
Cathleen sniffled as Kagome looked on with anxiousness. "Then…I shall…flee then…if father wishes me so," She wiped at her tears. "But what of my people? Am I also to abandon them as well?"
Roshan sadly nodded. "I'm afraid that even our own people have turned against the King. I'm sure by now you've heard of the rebellion just outside, your highness…"
Even though she didn't want to believe it, she knew what her nursemaid said was true. But it felt cowardly to run away, even if the battle should prove victorious or not. Abandoning her people, even though they despised her father, felt wrong. Her honor would not allow that, but she realized she didn't have a voice in the matter, as she was not the one sitting upon the throne.
Kagome suddenly felt the urge to interrupt the two. "It might be best to escape while you can. There's no telling what could happen very soon. It could be two hours or less."
Cathleen sent a sorrowful look at the priestess. "You and your friends might get caught up in all of this very soon…I'm sorry your visit to our Kingdom turned out like this. If the worst should happen, we can all flee together…"
Kagome frowned. The Princess looked so distressed. Everything she had loved was now turning dark and sinister. What's more, even her own father refused to abandon the Kingdom. Even though he would perish, he knew his daughter would be sent away someplace safe and away from the dangers already spewing in the land.
Roshan stood up at this point before pushing her burgundy hair over her shoulders. "You highness, please come this way and we shall make the preparations," She explained as she led the Princess down the hall with a hand on her shoulder.
Yet as Cathleen was guided away, she couldn't help but stop and look back at Kagome. "Oh, Kagome, aren't you coming?"
She only shook her head, offering a slight apology. "I was hoping to take a little walk around the gardens while I wait for the guys to get back."
Nodding, Cathleen and Roshan continued on their way before disappearing around the corner of the long hallway. Kagome turned and walked down the opposite hall towards the gardens.
As she was making her way down the second flight of stairs, she couldn't help but stop short on her walk when she noticed a familiar composer pacing back and forth in front of one of the windows. Dressed in his all too familiar gray long-sleeved tunic and his vibrant green sash tied nicely around his waist, his mustache groomed and his hair light colored red hair falling just above his shoulders in a straight manner, Kagome recognized him as Flat, the youngest Composer.
"Flat?" She called out, and when the tall brother noticed the priestess, he offered her a small yet weak smile. "Is something wrong? You seem a little pale."
Scratching his head slightly, Flat could only nod as he faced the priestess now standing in front of him, her face full of concern. "Yes, well it's nothing really…It's just, I've been trying to locate my brother, Sharp. Sadly it seems that whenever I try to call out for him, he either ignores my calls or doesn't hear me," He explained despondently.
"Oh I see. Would you like me to help you search for him?" She asked, but he only turned her down on that with a shake of his head.
"I'd rather not get you involved, Miss. Kagome," He replied with much seriousness. Sighing, he leaned against the window, his eyes scanning the gardens just outside. "After I had composed a song from your land to his Majesty, Sharp disappeared. He didn't even attend the court meeting after. I suspect he is upset with me."
Kagome canted her head in confusion. "Why would your brother be upset with you? Because you played for the King?" She asked, and at this he nodded.
There were times Sharp could act very temperamental and also very jealous; after all, Palace life had spoiled him with some riches. "I'm afraid so…Sharp likes it when we play together, and I feel that he may have thought I was competing for favor of the King. It was not my intention of course. But I fear that may be what my brother believes…"
"That's insane," Kagome couldn't help but admit aloud. When she realized she might have hurt Flat with her reply, she covered her mouth apologetically. "I'm sorry…but if he were really upset about that, it seems a little childish. But he's your brother, Flat. I'm sure Sharp will get over it soon."
Her words brought him comfort. However, he knew that Kagome didn't truly understand his brother. Perhaps it was true for others where she and her friends came from, but here in the castle, it wasn't the case. There was a side to Sharp that made him shiver in his own clothing. His brother was always calculating, was always one step ahead of him, and when he grew wary or suspicious, sometimes his mind would…
Flat shook his head at the thought, hoping that perhaps Sharp wasn't truly upset with him. Maybe his brother was out for a stroll and that he had found lunch with the Royal Family boring.
Maybe.
Because the composer was deeply bothered about the subject of having most likely upset his brother, Kagome couldn't help but approach Flat. Gently she reached out and placed a delicate hand upon the young man's shoulder, but the moment she touched him she pulled her hand away as if burnt by fire.
Immediately after feeling the burn upon her hand, Kagome no longer saw herself standing in the hall beside the young composer. Instead, she found herself standing within a desolate graveyard clutching her neck in great fear. Kagome fell to her knees upon the freshly dug dirt before one of the many tombstones in front of her, desperately attempting to free the invisible icy grip from choking her to death.
Above her, shrilling an ear piercing shriek, Kagome heard the black birds circling the sky, as if they sensed their next meal would collapse right below them.
Unable to continue focusing on breathing, Kagome threw herself overtop the tomb, with one hand clutching the rough surface while the other clawed at the invisible death grip wrapped around her neck. But she hadn't intended on hearing someone call out for help.
Abruptly, Kagome no longer saw the ravenous birds or the graveyard any longer. She saw nothing. Nothing but suffocating blackness, and all she could feel was a cold, heavy wall surround her. The space was quite small and especially very cramped. Pulling herself up, she placed her hands upon the wall encased around her, as her voice called out for help. However, the voice was not her own, but it was rather a desperate rasp as she felt the air literally sucked from her lungs.
Kagome's chest felt tight and her body reacted with multiple twitches and spasms, and desperate to escape, she wildly thrashed her fists upon the sturdy and firm wall that smelt of death. Her fingernails cracked as she scraped them against the wall, only then realizing it was dirt.
The claustrophobia weighed itself upon her and she suddenly lost all thought of who she was. Her mind raced with memories and haunting images that were not her own…
His brother!
His own brother had forsaken him! The last face he had seen was his brother's; the last horror his eyes had witnessed was a large, gnarled, wooden post clutched tightly in his brother's fists, hurtling towards his head. The short pain in the side of his head, a pain that had resurfaced once he regained consciousness, had not hurt near as much as the murderous darkness that surrounded him now!
He had to get out!
He HAD to!
"BROTHER! BROTHER LET ME OUT! DON'T DO THIS! BROTHER!"
Despite the blood spewing from his injury, the young man urgently clawed at the dirt enclosed around him. He had to get out! He had to warn his Majesty! For hours it seemed he screamed his own voice cracking as he called out desperately for a plea of help. But no one heard him. He felt cold and very tired, but despite the fact that his fingers were raw and bleeding, he continued scraping at the dirt. He felt like an animal, locked up.
His own brother! His own brother had set out to kill him—to bury him alive!
To bury him alive!
Buried!
Under the earth! Under the cold, hard, deaf ground!
He knew no one could hear his dying gasps, and the only sound from the world of the living above ground was the nightmarish whine of a ghastly violin that sent shivers down his already quivering spine—a whine that echoed like his own personal demons in his underground deathbed.
The moment Flat saw Kagome collapse upon her knees, gasping and unable to breathe, he was at her side in an instant. It had happened so suddenly that he hadn't been sure what was ailing the girl despite her wide eyed stare, and her inability to regain oxygen within her lungs.
Her fist found his tunic and with all her might she clutched onto it as tightly as she could. All the while, she somehow managed to regain control of her breathing, yet as he felt her pulse, he realized it was thumping rather quickly, and it frightened him.
"Miss Kagome! What ails you?!" He asked worriedly, and when he saw she found it difficult to speak, he immediately turned his head to stare over his shoulder to where he saw a couple maids watching the girl confusedly. "Help her! For the love of the Four Giants, get her a doctor!"
On account of his voice, they jumped and one of them fled down the hall while the other attended to the girl beside Flat. However, Kagome protested the many hands upon her, attempting to lift her to her feet.
As soon as she was capable of talking, her voice a little raspy, she placed all of her weight upon the composer. She laid her head upon his chest, much to his confusion.
"Miss Kagome? What's wrong?" He asked.
"S-stay a-away from y-your…brother!" She warned him, but her voice came out so softly that it was somewhat difficult to hear the priestess.
The composer grasped her shoulders to pull her away from him, but her grip was firm. "Stay away? From who?"
The haunting image of seeing Flat's desperately calling out for help beneath the graveyard caused her to pale suddenly. Kagome had felt the fear and the pain he had felt through that strange vision; she literally felt as if someone were choking the life right out of her! It felt so real, as if she had almost experienced her own death. Was it possible she had a premonition of the young composer's ultimate end?
Reaching her arm up, she placed a gentle hand upon the young man's face. His face was warm and so full of color, unlike the vision of him gasping for air and the color drained from his face.
"BROTHER! BROTHER! LET ME OUT! DON'T DO THIS! BROTHER!"
Immediately she pulled away from him, clutching her head with her eyes tightly closed. Those images! If only she could erase them from her thoughts! All the while, tears fell from her eyes, and it took all of her self-control not to break down. The feeling of someone's hand upon her shoulder, attempting to shake her free of the terrible images passing through her head caused the priestess to look up at Flat.
Sharp had done it! His own brother had buried him…ALIVE! It couldn't be true.
"Miss Kagome? Miss Kagome please snap out of it!" Flat cried out, shaking both her shoulders.
In a burst of tears, she once again threw herself upon him, both her arms wrapped around his neck as she released all of her emotions. "Please, don't go near your brother. Stay away from him!"
The composer scrunched his nose in confusion. What was Kagome saying? "Stay away from Sharp? But wh—"
"Y-you were right to b-be wary of him…Please listen to me!" She cried, her tears wetting his tunic as she held him tighter. If only she could save him. If only she could save everyone who would soon get caught up in war! She'd already lost those important to her. Even Serena, a close fairy friend of Link's who had literally had her fairy magic zapped away from her a few days ago. "I-I can't bear to have another friend…"
To Flat and the maid's surprise, the young priestess immediately fell unconscious. With the servant's assistance, Flat returned the priestess back to her room where he placed her into her bed to catch some much needed rest. After pulling the soft blanket over her form, he couldn't help but notice the stressful look gracing the sleeping girl's expression.
Pushing away a lock of her hair from her face, Flat gently placed a kiss upon her forehead before moving away from the bed to look outside her balcony. Perhaps the stress of Palace life had caught up to the young girl; she had not acted like herself at all and it worried him. Though he had only met the girl earlier that day, he found her company rather enjoyable and pleasant; she was a good person with a kind heart; she was a fine friend.
As Flat noticed the sun in the distance slowly fall, he realized night was fast approaching. While he had rushed to take Kagome to her room, the maid had informed him of an army quickly approaching the Kingdom and how the King had already sent his army into war. So much was happening and he feared for the safety of the Royal Family as well as Kagome and her friends.
A movement from down in the gardens had caught Flat's eye unexpectedly and when he recognized the red tunic and short posture of his brother walking along the path near the fountain, Flat narrowed his eyes. Looking back at Kagome sound asleep in the bed, he couldn't help but apologize to her before stepping out of the room. There were some things he and his brother needed to sort out privately.
Yet as he left the room, he never noticed the priestess turn in her sleep from a restless nightmare of Sharp playing his ghastly violin while standing over a freshly dug mound of dirt in a graveyard.