As Tatl soon learned, Link was not kidding about looking for Kafei.
He went about Clock Town for the next few hours, asking people about the lost man. It was pretty odd to be wearing a mask modeled after a specific person like this. Sure, there was the Great Fairy's Mask, but that had powers that were surely tied into how it looked. Kafei's Mask was somehow more uncanny, not even looking like a person. The mask had no color to it, and no expression at all. It was just a mostly blank slate with three black circles for the eyes and mouth.
Unfortunately, no matter how many people Link asked, no one knew anything. He tried the guards, store owners, stall owners, and then just random citizens that were willing to stop and listen to him. It was also stressful for Link to go up to strangers and initiate conversation like that. Still, it was for a good cause, so he sucked it up and did it anyway. Alas, nothing he learned was helpful at all. Several different people gave several different accounts on what happened.
One man said that Kafei was dead but offered no cause of death. Another man said that he 'ran away' with someone named Cremia…whatever it meant to run away with another person. Link certainly didn't understand that! Another guy said that Kafei left Termina altogether, never to come back since was afraid of the Moon. Either way, Link felt a bit frustrated after a while. Dozens and dozens of people asked, but no one knew anything. Though he supposed if it was that easy, Kafei would've been found a while ago.
Tatl, on the other hand, was getting downright angry about this. Weren't they supposed to be resting? Hadn't Link said he needed to rest up because of what happened n the Temple? What happened to that? "We can't waste time with this!" The fairy scolded, nearly going red with anger. "This guy probably ran off to avoid that monstrosity coming down on our heads!" She hissed directly in Link's ear as he glanced up at the grimacing face of the Moon.
Link knew Tatl would each an anger point eventually. She had sighed a number of times very noticeably as the search went on. "Maybe. Shouldn't we at least try?" Link asked, ignoring the groan Tatl let out directly into his eardrum. "Can we waste time if we have an infinite amount of it?" He asked with sincerity. Truth be told, he didn't like to wear the mask. Even though it wasn't the intent or the effect, it almost felt like Link was masquerading as Kafei, someone still alive out there, when he wore the uncanny thing. The lack of features, like a pale corpse, disturbed him as well. It was almost as if Madame Aroma had given up hope already…
Tatl bobbed erratically in front of Link's face. "That doesn't mean I want to spend time looking for one runaway husband-to-be when we have an entire world to save! When we stop the Moon, he'll probably come back!"
"We don't know that." Link argued, preparing to put the mask back on. "What if he's somehow in trouble?" Maybe he should go to West Clock Town again. He had already been that way, and even bought a Bomb Bag full of bombs for a hundred Rupees. Tatl was annoyed at his spending, but he felt like they could come in handy…
"No! Come on! Sure, maybe we can't technically waste time here, but what about Hyrule?! Who knows if time is resetting there?!" She didn't actually care about Hyrule, she just wanted to use any leverage she could. "Don't you have someone waiting for you?" The fairy let out a "Tsk!" when Link simply stood there, looking up at her. "Who am I kidding, of course you don't! You're probably a freaky little loner with no friends. No one is waiting for you."
This was the first time that Tatl's words truly stung Link, though he did his best not to show it. He did have people waiting for him; Malon, Zelda, Saria…They all awaited his return, all unaware that he was thrust into another adventure. Yet…maybe it was best if he never came back. What use was he to them as a broken, miserable boy? They desperately wanted to put him back together again, but the pieces just didn't fit. Link felt his mouth go dry as he pondered Tatl's words, having to swallow several times to get his speech working again. "It's a Break Cycle. We won't be going North anyway." He retorted in a soft voice.
Tatl let out a rather dramatic sigh. "Fine. Sure, whatever. You do whatever you feel like, but I'm going to take a nap!" With that, she dove into his hat and nestled into his soft hair. Link glanced back down at the mask in his hands and felt sick to his stomach.
Maybe he'd continue his search later…
Rather than keep looking for Kafei, he placed the mask back in his bag and slowly made his way back to East Clock Town. Thinking of it, he was feeling pretty tired. He had no idea how long he had been walking around for, but it felt like hours. While he could look up to get a view of the sun, he tried to avoid doing that when he could. It was nearly impossible to do so without glancing at the Moon, after all. Remembering he wanted to go to an inn anyway, he reached into his hat and gently prodded at Tatl.
The fairy had just started to fall asleep with Link's finger jolted her awake. Groaning, she flew out from under his hat. "What?! We just finished talking, what do you want?!" She demanded.
Ignoring Tatl's hostility, Link looked around. "I need you to help me find an inn. I can't ready any of the signs, so I can't do it on my own." And despite how nasty the fairy could be, he'd rather ask someone familiar than a total stranger.
"Yeah, I know you can't read." She replied haughtily with a roll of the eyes. "But the main inn in town is the Stock Pot Inn. Everywhere else is probably full…" Tatl explained. "Come on, I'll take you but then you let me nap, okay?"
"That's fine with me." Link replied, starting to follow Tatl as she took him through the crowds. Before long, the two came across a building with a large bell on its upper balcony. It seemed very comfortable, and not all too big. The boy wondered why the fairy thought this place would have a room, but not other inns. Before Link could even thank her, Tatl dove back under his hat.
Withholding a sigh, the Hylian opened the door and went into the inn. The front desk area was comfortable as the building's exterior. There was the desk of course, but with no one behind it, and an open book lying on it. On the desk's corner was a small statue depicting four humanoid figures, most likely a shrine to the Giants. Large masks adorned one of the walls, apparently just for decoration, and there was a green, cushioned bench across from the desk. There was also a large clock on the wall, ticking away, but Link still had no idea how to read it.
Link knew enough about inns from Zelda that there should be someone behind the desk, ready to take in guests. Since this person wasn't there, Link decided to just wait. Shedding his gear and placing it on the bench, he sat next to his things and patiently started to wait. He kept his sword, sheathed, on his lap. Even though he was in a secure place, having his weapon ready to use at a moment's notice helped make him feel more secure.
He remembered how Zelda didn't like him having his sword or shield near him at all during his two years in the castle. It was difficult, at first, Link never truly feeling safe because he had no means of defending himself. He had found himself constantly looking over his shoulder, trying to spot some hidden danger that didn't actually exist. Sometimes the paranoia got so bad he threw up…
Now that he had his sword and shield again, he felt more secure with them. Over the two years he did feel less and less paranoid about perceived dangers, but he felt much better than he did now that he had his weapon again. Link despised having to rely on it, but it was the only surefire way he had to make himself feel just a bit less stressed.
As Link pondered this, a person came up behind the desk from another part of the inn, causing him to look up. This person was a young woman with red hair and tired blue eyes, obvious shadows under her eyes. For a second, he just studied her, then his own eyes widened as he recognized this stranger…or at least her counterpart in Hyrule.
She was the Cucco Lady, the woman who introduced Link to chocolate. Since she wasn't very prominent in his quest, it took a second for him to recognize her. She was there in Kakariko Village with the windmill…the graveyard…the well…the Shadow Temple…
Link felt his heart race as horrid memories forced themselves into his mind. A piercing red eye swam into his vision as the cries and forms of unspeakable creatures invaded his thoughts. He could feel the dampness of the Bottom of the Well and hear the drums within the Shadow Temple! His breathing became shallower, the Hylian finding it hard to even breath at all!
The woman seemed surprised at the boy, his eyes transfixed on her. Her own eyes darted to his sword and then back to his face. "Young man? Your face is pale, are you okay?" She asked a bit nervously. It seemed that she wasn't sure how to handle the situation at all.
Her voice partially snapped Link out of his trance, looking at the redhead as if for the first time. Shaking his head a bit to try and get the thoughts out, he took some deep breaths. "I'm fine. I just don't feel well." He said, essentially telling the truth. "I was hoping to get a room here."
That seemed to appease the woman, at least a bit. She still seemed rather fidgety. Maybe that was how she usually was? "Oh! I see. Um…do you have a reservation?" She asked, fiddling with her hands a bit.
Link was a bit surprised at her demeanor. She seemed like a total bundle of nerves, which made him wonder why she had a job where she had to talk to a lot of people. Of course, he still didn't understand jobs and working very much. He also had no idea what a reservation was. "No, I don't. Does that mean I can't have a room?"
The woman shook her head. "I'm afraid so. All the rooms are booked, and the only vacant one is reserved." She frowned a bit, looking about the foyer as though looking for something. After a second, she looked back to Link. "So, your parents aren't at the inn? Are they nearby?"
The Hylian almost felt tempted to tell the woman he was an orphan. It was true, after all, but there was no need for that. He found it hard to look her in the face too much, swearing he could hear the distant beating of a drum every time he did. Link forced himself not to grip the hilt of his sword, not wanting to freak the poor stranger out.
"No, they're not. So, there's no way I can get a room?" He asked, for once wishing Tatl was with him. Alas, she was still asleep under his hat. Even if, unlike Navi, she was happy to let him handle social situations, her presence would at least be mildly comforting.
"I'm sorry, but no. The last guest should be arriving today. I suppose if he doesn't, you can have his room." The woman said, bowing lightly. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
Well, at least Link had his backup plan of sleeping near the Great Fairy. Even back when he lived with the Kokiri, he only ever took naps outside. He never actually slept overnight under a tree or anything. And of course he knew that the next morning there'd be rain. "Alright. Can I sleep here then?" He asked, deciding to try that. After all, there was this comfy bench inside, and no one seemed to be using it…so he failed to see any issue.
The woman shook her head. "I'm afraid not. That's not allowed, but…" She hesitated, almost like she was actually considering changing her mind. On top of that, she seemed to want to ask him something, surely about his parents. Instead of that, she just went on. "…I suppose it's okay if you stay until closing at six."
That was better than nothing. Link settled into the couch more. "Thank you, miss." He said politely, glad he could rest somewhere inside for a while. At six he'd leave and find something to eat for dinner.
At that, the woman gave Link a small, friendly smile. "Of course. I can't get you a room, but if you need anything else, please ask." She said, giving another small bow towards Link.
Nodding, the Hylian held onto his sword, leaned his head back, and rested his eyes. The next few hours were uneventful as Link faded in and out of sleep. The woman behind the counter didn't bother him, and Tatl remained under his hat. At one point, he opened his eyes to see the woman talking to a man with a red hat but didn't pay attention to their conversation. Later, however, he was a bit startled to see a Goron walking into the inn. He had a large pack on, and Link somewhat recalled actually seeing him before.
The Goron approached the desk, the woman there reading a book until she was approached. "I should have a reservation-goro. The name is Link. Don't you have it-goro?" The Goron said, speaking in a bit of an odd accent.
Smiling politely, the woman took a key from under the desk, handing it to him. "Ah, Mr. Link, is it? Our afternoon arrival? Your room is our 'Knife Chamber' on the second floor. Here is your key." She handed the key over, getting a polite nod from the Goron who passed by her and went up the stairs.
The Hylian was pretty startled, another Goron with his name. He recalled the same situation in the other timeline with Darunia's son. Even in this timeline, the Goron Chieftain had said he was going to name his future son after Link, much to the boy's distress. After all, he felt he didn't deserve such an honor. It made him wonder why this Goron was named Link. Maybe it just so happened to be a Goron name in Termina?
"Wait, did that Goron have the same name as you?" Tatl's voice called from under Link's hat. She poked her head grinning widely as she looked down at the Hylian. "That's hilarious! Maybe he's your brother or something!"
Not amused by the joke, Link ignored it. "It's a strange coincidence." He noted but didn't want to think about it otherwise. "You were napping for a while."
"I wasn't napping the whole time. I poked my head out and saw where we were, and then went under. It's dull here, what are we doing here anyway?" The fairy asked, wishing Link was more fun…
She didn't like him asking people about Kafei, and she didn't like him doing nothing. What, exactly, did she want from him aside from going North? "I was just going to stay until six, then we can get some dinner."
"Good! I know a good place!" Tatl said, floating out from the hat. The woman behind the counter seemed a bit surprised at the fairy's appearance but didn't say anything. "It's cheap, I think, so let's go now!"
Link wasn't sure what time it actually was, but he supposed he had rested up enough. "Okay, fine." He said, gathering his gear and getting to his feet. "Thanks for letting me stay here." The boy said to the kind woman behind the counter.
She offered a small smile back. "Of course. Sorry we were full. We hope to see you again." The redhead replied, giving a third small bow.
At that, the boy and fairy left, and Tatl showed Link a small restaurant to eat at. It was almost a pleasant time, actually. The fairy ordered for them, and Link had some pasta and meat while Tatl had the same thing, in smaller portions, with some cheese. After that, they went to the Great Fairy's Fountain and hunkered down there.
"So, we're not going to look for Kafei again tomorrow, will we?" Tatl asked Link as they settled down, the boy once more keeping his sword on his lap.
"I will, at least for a bit." Link replied. After a pause, he looked to Tatl. "Was there something you wanted to do instead?"
Tatl really wasn't sure if he was being sincere or sassy. His freaky lack of emotion made it pretty hard too tell. "Well, not going on some fool's errand. Whatever. Just do what you want." She huffed, diving under Link's hat before he could reply.
Holding back a sigh, the Hylian got as comfortable as he could within the rocky area. He closed his eyes, trying to sleep. It felt odd knowing that it would rain the next day…seeing a pattern repeat itself wasn't soothing at all like one would expect, at least not to Link. Knowing things that will happen that others don't made him feel…off. It wasn't in a way he knew how to describe…
It took him a while to fall asleep, thoughts of what he still had to do lingering in Link's mind. All the stresses he had to go through and the sure dangers he'd have to face. Yet, even with those, exhaustion took him, and he eventually passed out.
The next morning, as the rain fell from the heavens as it always did on the Second Day, Link decided to look for Kafei some more. He promised the fairy they could get some breakfast after just a bit of searching. She was, naturally, annoyed, but relented. They went to West Clock Town first, and Link spotted a man and a woman with some bags, heading towards the gate. He approached them, ready to don Kafei's Mask when he heard the two start talking.
"Shouldn't we head South? There's so much more room!" The woman said.
The man shook his head. "It's too poisonous, we'd never make it far! Besides, I heard the Deku King's in an uproar about something!"
These words made Link and Tatl freeze in place, both staring as the couple went past the guard and out of Clock Town. For a few moments, neither the boy nor the fairy spoke. Did…they hear that right? "The swamp…poisonous?" Tatl murmured, baffled. "But…we cleared it. You cleared it!" She said, turning to the Hylian.
Link wasn't sure what to make of it either. There was never anything that explicitly let him know that the Giant he freed would stay that way…but he just sort of assumed and hoped that would happen. After all, it was a deity, so he thought maybe it would be resistant to the flow of time. "Maybe they haven't heard it's clear now." He suggested, trying not to panic.
Tatl was a bit more emotional, remembering how long it took them just to free one Giant. It took over a day! And something told her the others wouldn't be any easier to help. "What about that mask you got, from that warrior? Do you still have it?"
Shaking his head, Link opened up his bag where he kept his masks and showed it to Tatl. "No. I noticed it was gone after we were transported from the Giant's realm." He said. "I didn't think it was important, so I didn't say anything."
"Well, we have to check it out!" The fairy ordered. "We have to go South and see!" It was out of the way, but if it turned out the swamp was still poisoned, it meant the Giant wasn't freed. And that meant that they did something wrong! Or, in Tatl's perspective, that Link did something wrong.
The boy didn't argue, starting to head to South Clock Town. "You're right. We just have to double check." He knew he'd never stop thinking about the situation until he saw it for himself.
Rushing, the boy and fairy got permission to leave from the guard at the South Clock Town gate. Running and flying through the wet field, the two went towards the swamps as fast as they could. They soon reached the tree where the Keese were. And, as they passed, one actually swooped down at Tatl.
She was caught off guard, yelling as the animal came at her. In an instant, though, it was cut clean in half by Link's sword. As she panted, freaked out by what happened, she glared at the Hylian. "Geez, you let it get so close! Didn't you see it coming at me?!" She yelled, not really meaning to. Tatl was just so scared that she felt angry as well.
Link almost let his jaw drop at that response. He just saved her life…and she yelled at him? The boy didn't expect her to get on knees and thank him or something, but…at least some sort of acknowledgement that he stopped her from being eaten. Forcing himself to ignore his anger and disgust, he turned towards the swamp and just kept running without a word.
Tatl winced to herself, suddenly realizing how awful that was. He did just save her and she…yelled at him. Still, she swallowed back any sort of apology she may have given and simply followed the boy in green onward.
Like before, the pair felt and smelled the swamp long before they saw it. The oppressive atmosphere and the smell of rot. They tried to remain hopeful…but that was dashed as they saw the swamp water and their worries were confirmed. The water was a disgusting shade of purple, just as it had been when they first got to the swamp in the last Cycle.
"…I don't understand. How could this happen?" Link said after a pause. He freed the Giant…he cleansed the Temple! The water was clear, and the curse was gone! Was the guardian deity really unable to stand against the tides of time?
"Don't you get it?!" Tatl snapped, frustrated at the situation, and her emotions going out of control. "It doesn't matter if we free the Giant, it'll just…be sealed away again when time's turned back." That was the only explanation.
Without a word, Link put on the Deku Mask, morphing into his wooden form once more. "We have to try again. There has to be a way. Something we missed." He said, approaching the water, ready to hop across the lily pads.
"Are you serious? What will that do?" Tatl asked, nearly turning red from anger.
"Do you have any other ideas?" The boy asked sincerely, looking up at Tatl. "We can't just ignore this."
The fairy paused before letting out a sigh. "…Yeah. You're right. We can't." She relented, just feeling so awful that they had to go through all this again! Or at least Link did. Tatl started to feel bad for the boy, since he put himself in all the danger and did all the fighting…
And so, the two went.
They had to go the potion shop first because Koume was injured in the nearby forest. Thankfully, the shop was open when they got there, and Kotake gave Link the Red Potion that was needed. Soon after, the two entered the woods and was led to the witch by a monkey. And, just as before, when they left the woods, the other monkeys told them of their plight.
This string of familiar events was surreal to the boy and fairy both, who tried their best to ignore the strange feelings in their stomachs. At the very least, they knew all the steps they had to do right away, so things actually went by a bit faster. Though, on the return trip to catch their boat ride, the two got a tad turned around due to the darker skies and the rain.
They found themselves on a small island of sorts in the middle of the swamp, standing and floating in front of an orange structure that immediately went downward after the entrance. Normally, they would've gone on, but Link noticed something. "Wait." He said, taking off his Deku Mask and looked to the structure. "Do you feel that? It feels cursed."
Tatl noticed it too, a wafting sort of cursed air that came from the inside of the structure. "Yeah? And? The whole swamp is cursed! Come on, we have to move!"
"No, this is different." Link replied, the sensation of déjà vu washing over him. It wasn't the type of cursed air from the swamp but something he had felt before. "I want to take a look." He said, approaching the entrance.
"What? Why?!" Tatl was confused now. They had to cleanse the Temple again, so why was he wasting time with this?!
Link stopped to look at the fairy. "This curse is different. Whatever is going on here might not be helped by the Temple being cleansed." Granted, even with his previous quest under his belt, he wasn't exactly an expert on curses. Still, what if someone in there was in trouble? He couldn't just leave without taking a look…
Tatl groaned, knowing that no matter what she said, he'd just go inside anyway. "Fine. Whatever. Just make it quick you freaky doll!" She scolded, wanting to insult and make Link feel bad for wasting their time.
Ignoring the insult, Link went inside, Tatl following behind despite her complaints.
The inside of the structure was dimly lit by torches, and a staircase went downward. It wasn't very far in, though, and soon the two were inside an entrance room of sorts. The walls were made of natural rock and grass, but there was a doorway attached to a manmade wall that was clearly part of some sort of building. The door had a spider-like symbol on it, which the two found unusual.
What was even stranger was there was a dog there! It was a scruffy thing, lying near the corner and whimpering as the boy and fairy drew close. Wanting to make sure the animal was okay, Link approached. As he did so, however, a Skulltula descended from the ceiling, right near the dog! Stepping back, Link drew his sword, ready to protect the poor canine…at least until the Skulltula spoke.
"Wait! No! I'm not a monster!" It yelled in a distinctively human voice, one belonging to an adult man. "Please, don't attack me!"
"It talked!" Tatl blurted out, chiming in alarm as she floated backwards and away from the creature.
Link paused, getting a better look at the Skulltula. This had happened to him before…a talking Skulltula! Squinting, he got a better look at the creature in front of him. To his horror, he saw the monster, if he could even call it that, was more familiar than he realized. The creature looked like one of the cursed people in Kakariko Village, how they were turned into Hylian-Skulltula entities.
This creature…this man…was the same way. Link could see that one of the spider legs was in fact a man's arm. The eyes that would normally be at the bottom were replaced with a mouth with humanoid teeth. And, oddly, it was actually wearing a mask! Link was shocked to see this was the Mask of Truth! But…how? Those were tied to the Sheikah! Were there Sheikah in Termina too? There were Dekus, Gorons, and Zoras…so maybe…?
Link also realized this was why the cursed air felt so familiar. This curse was the same, or at least similar to, the kind that was present in Kakariko Village. "…How did this happen?" He asked, stepping back a bitt despite himself. He knew, or at least assumed, the cursed man wasn't dangerous, but he still felt the need to be cautious.
The cursed man let out a noise of relief. "Oh, thank you! You listened!" He said, letting out a strangled noise that Link realized after a moment was him attempting to laugh in his disfigured form. "I heard of a great treasure here and tried to steal it…and when I left the Spider House with it, I was deformed! Please, you must kill the Golden Skulltulas inside…every single one! There should be thirty…and when all are gone, I'll be saved!"
Yet another parallel. Not only was there signs of the Sheikah in here, in the form of that mask which seemed to be the treasure in question, but a Golden Skulltula-centered curse. Link tried to ignore all these similarities and simply nodded. "I'll help you, don't worry."
"Oh, thank you!" The Skulltula-Man replied. "I'll make sure to repay you when this is done!" With that, he went up back towards the ceiling and stopped talking.
Tatl was baffled at what she saw. Link just…didn't react to anything, did he? A deformed man cursed to become a Skulltula…and he just shrugs it off. "Does anything phase you?" She asked, shaking her head in mild disbelief.
"Of course things do." Link replied, looking over at Tatl. "I didn't expect that at all." It never crossed his mind he'd run into the same minor curse in Termina for sure!
Sighing, Tatl just threw her hands up in defeat. "Okay. Whatever. Let's just get this done. This place gives me the creeps…"
Nodding, Link opened the door and went through with Tatl. The two found themselves in a large room with red pillars on either side. In the middle of the room was a golden pillar of sorts, depicting a Skulltula. It seemed like some sort of grand hall, or even a place of worship, perhaps. Either way, the two felt like dozens of pairs of eyes were watching them…and they also heard the scuttling. Throughout the room, scuttling sounds rang out, coming from distinct and numerous sources.
It wasn't long before Link found his first Golden Skulltula, the entity stuck on the side of the ramp leaning down into the room proper. Like the ones in Hyrule, they didn't defend themselves or run from Link. Instead, it just stood there as he stabbed it and, still like the ones in Hyrule, it left no corpse behind.
So, the hunt went. A number of Gold Skulltulas were in that starting room along certain walls or along the pillars. Tatl would fly around, searching for ones up above to help get the situation done faster. They'd have to go into other rooms, some of which were oddly very outdoorsy. One room even had a large tree in it that somehow grew despite not being exposed to sunlight. Another room had a strange pillar in it that was incomplete. It had faded text on it, so faded in fact that even if Link could read, he'd never be able to make out what it said.
It was in that room where the pillar stood where they found the last Golden Skulltula. After slaying it, the air instantly felt lighter and cleaner. Whatever sort of curse had lingered was gone. "I didn't expect a cursed place within the swamp." Link noted, starting back to the entrance room.
"I guess." Tatl replied, just glad the ordeal was over. This house gave her the creeps. "How much of this sort of stuff have you done anyway? You just go with it so casually!"
There was that questioning again. Link looked up at Tatl. "How do you want me to react?" He asked sincerely. Did she want him to scream in horror and panic? That wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"I don't know! Just…like a normal person!" Tatl said, letting out a groan. "Giants abound…you're ridiculous!"
Shrugging her words off, Link soon reached the door to the entry room and left with the fairy. The Skulltula-Man had been healed, a normal man in his place, the Mask of Truth on the floor. Petting at his happy dog, the man sat on the floor, beaming up at Link. "You did it! The curse is lifted! Please, by all means, take the mask as a reward! I don't think I really want it anymore anyway. With those Gold Skulltulas gone, the curse shouldn't hurt you."
That certainly made sense, so Link decided he should take the mask. While he hadn't seen any Gossip Stones so far, he might come across some later. Maybe they'd be able to tell him something useful? He touched the mask, and when nothing happened, he picked it up. "Thank you, sir." The boy said, minding his manners.
"Yeah, that's great. Can we go now?" Tatl asked, not caring about the surprised look the curse-free man gave her.
"Yes. We can go." Link said, turning from the man he just saved without hesitation and walking out as he put the Mask of Truth in his bag.
When the two emerged back into the rainy swamp, Tatl sighed. "That took at least thirty minutes! I mean I guess we know we can cleanse this Temple in about a day but still! Why do that? And why keep that ugly mask?!"
"He needed help." Link replied simply. "And the mask was a gift." He wasn't one to turn down a gift, even if it was potentially useless. After all, he even kept the Mask of Scents despite it being useless to him and stressful to even look at.
The fairy rolled her eyes. "Fine. Whatever. Let's just go! No time to waste!" Tatl scolded, not wanting to acknowledge they technically had infinite time…
"I know. It was something I had to do." Link replied, putting on his Deku Mask again. At least, that's what he felt. He couldn't just turn away someone in trouble…
So, Link and Tatl continued retracing their steps. They went back to the tourist spot, got their boat ride, watched a Big Octo get cleaved in half, and arrived at the home of the Dekus. Rather than talk to the monkey, they just went straight to Woodfall. Notably, Kaepora Gaebora didn't show up this time…
After fighting his way to the platform again, Link donned the Deku Mask and played the Sonata of Awakening and once more the Woodfall Temple rose from the bog, just as imposing as it had been the first time. After shedding his mask, the Hylian stood on the platform, staring at the structure.
Tatl noticed Link pausing and looked to him. "Well? Come on, let's go! We have to free that Giant! For real this time..."
Link was just…afraid. He stared at the Temple, knowing exactly what awaited him inside. Despite what one may think, this didn't make him feel much better. In fact, he felt himself starting to panic, barely even aware of the raindrops that hit his face as he looked to the terrifying structure. At Tatl's words, he snapped out of it. "I was just thinking what could be done differently." He lied, his flat tone of voice helping his fib impossible to detect.
"Heck if I know…but standing here won't do anything, so let's go!" Tatl declared, flying towards the Temple. She was scared too, but it wasn't like they had any choice…
The second trek through the Woodfall Temple was easier to get through than the first. After all, Link knew everything it'd throw at him. The fact he had his enchanted tunic helped a lot as well. Oddly, in the Dinolfos room, the bow and quiver were missing, but there was a big bundle of arrows n their place. One thing he was disappointed to see was that the Great Fairy was broken apart once more, so he had to gather the Stray Fairies once more. The Hylian combated the Boes, the Dinolfos, the Gekko and its Snapper…and then once more arrived at Odolwa's door. Unlike last time, he didn't see or hear anything unusual…which made him question if that thing he saw was even real. It could've just been his mind making him see things. It wouldn't be the first time…
Link's fight with the jungle warrior went a bit smoother than last time. He knew the warrior's tricks, like how it'd kick at him if he got in too close or how the moths it spawned couldn't hurt Link as a Deku. Overall, he got through the fight with a lot less injuries, though the warrior had managed to get a good kick or two in.
As Odolwa disintegrated once more and the curse was lifted, Link and Tatl stared at the mask. They weren't warped away to the Giant's realm as they looked it over, so apparently that's what triggered their transportation. "I still don't know how to fix this." Link said, staring at the piece of wood, its face snarling up at him.
"I don't know! Maybe…uh…destroy it?" Tatl suggested, not sure what else to try on the spot.
Link wasn't so sure about that, but…if it didn't work, he could still try again…as much as that thought made him sick to his stomach. Readying his sword, he stabbed at the mask. As soon as the blade made contact, the two were enveloped in a white light.
Rather than meeting the Giant in its realm again, the two were taken right to the room where the Deku Princess was imprisoned. The curse was lifted like last time…but it didn't feel any different. "I hope that worked." Link mused. "I wonder why we didn't meet the Giant, though."
"I guess since we already met it once? I don't know! Let's just hoped that worked! Come on, free the princess and let's go!" Tatl urged, feeling almost desperate to see if this worked.
Link did just that. He cut the vines of the Deku Princess' prison, and told her what happened with her monkey friend. Once more, she stormed off to confront her father, leaving the Hylian and fairy to put the Great Fairy back together. Like with the one in Clock Town, this one didn't offer him a boon either, as if sensing he already got one from her.
"We should go back now. No need to linger." Link felt like watching the monkey being freed was pointless. The Deku Princess had it taken care of pretty well the last time.
"Yeah, let's go." Tatl said, feeling anxious. What if it didn't work? What would they even do?! There was no way the two of them could gather four Giants in just three days!
So, Link played the Song of Time, and the two were sent back once more. Before they headed to the swamp to check in on it, they got a quick bite from one of the stalls that was open in East Clock Town and then went through the South gate.
Link sprinted towards the swamp, Tatl flying alongside him. Neither of them said a word, too nervous to speak. Due to the speed they went, the Wolfos that had attacked Link the first time didn't do so again. Apparently it wasn't close enough to notice him or deem him worth the effort due to how quickly he reached the area this time.
And as they went past the dead tree with the Keese, the sickening feeling of a curse hit them like a rock to the head. They arrived at the swamp…and saw how purple and poisoned the water was.
"But why? What happened?" Link asked, frustration and despair filling him as he stared at the water. "Attacking the mask didn't work…so what will?" He looked to Tatl, desperate for some sort of answer.
"I don't know! I just…augh!" The fairy groaned out, rubbing her temples. What was going on?! Why wasn't this working?! Shouldn't the Giants be immune to this sort of thing? Should the curses really be resetting so easily?! Sighing, she looked to Link. "…We'll just have to try again." She said, knowing that Link would have to go through the trials once more. And…she really felt bad for him. She knew it wasn't her fault, but she almost felt like she was condemning him to some sort of punishment with her words. Sure, he could be a brat, but…he didn't deserve this.
A childish part of Link wanted to refuse. He wanted to say this wasn't fair or wasn't right, but he knew that wasn't the right thing. The boy was just so frustrated and so exhausted…but he knew there was no other option. "I know. We have to keep going." He said, droning flatly as always. Withholding a sigh, he donned the Deku Mask again as he looked for the nearest lily pad…
Weeks passed.
At least it felt like weeks. Honestly, neither the boy nor the fairy was sure.
The two went through the steps once more. They saved Koume, freed the cursed man from the Spider House, gathered the Stray Fairies, and cleansed the Temple. Yet, as they went back in time and headed South, they saw the swamp was poison. Despite being exhausted, Link kept going after a nap near the tourist center door.
Over and over, the two went to the Temple and cleansed it, but no matter what, this never stuck. Whenever they went back in time, the curse would come back. Link even tried playing the Song of Healing to the mask once…but it didn't make any difference. They tried again and again, but nothing changed. The swamps would be cleansed but would then go right back to their horrid state once the Song of Time was played.
Link and Tatl would take breaks too, short naps not able to give the boy enough energy to tackle the Woodfall Temple. They would spend a day or two in Clock Town, trying to unwind and rest. They'd utilize the reappearing Moon's Tear to get more money, so they could always get food when needed. He didn't look for Kafei again, focused on either going to the swamp or resting.
During one Break Cycle, Tatl actually convinced Link to try and steal the Knife Chamber at the Stock Pot Inn. "Come on, I mean Gorons can sleep on the ground and stuff, he'll be fine!" She insisted as the two stood before the inn. "You need an actual bed to sleep in, you know."
The Hylian was exhausted, feeling like he had only slept a few hours over the course of the last few days. His body barely wanted to move, so he knew he desperately needed some sleep. Fighting monsters over and over never really got easier, and all the death he caused in such a short frame of time was making him feel miserable and disgusting. But…he felt bad for the Goron…but Tatl also had a good point. It was just a room. No one was getting hurt. And it'd just get undone anyway. Maybe it was his sleep-desperate brain speaking…but it seemed so harmless…
Nodding, he withheld a yawn. "Fine. Okay." He said simply, entering the inn. The redheaded woman was behind the desk as they entered this time, who looked over to boy and fairy.
At first she smiled politely, then a look of worry crossed her face, followed by her straightening out and clearing her throat. "Good morning. Are your parents guests here?"
Ignoring the look the woman gave him and the beating of drums in his mind, Link approached the desk. "I have a reservation." He said, hating how he had to lie. "My name is Link."
The woman seemed a bit surprised but checked the book on her desk. "Oh, we have you for an afternoon arrival, but…well, I guess there's no harm…" She replied, seeming almost unsure. Still, she fetched the key like last time. "Your room is the 'Knife Chamber' just upstairs. Thank you for staying with us." She said with a bow.
Link was surprised that work, but didn't complain or reply as he took the key and went upstairs. He used it on the first door he saw, having seen servants in Hyrule Castle using keys before. The boy mimicked what they did, and the door was soon open. The Knife Chamber, despite the name, was very pleasant. Two beds, an unlit fireplace, and a window to the outside with the curtains drawn open.
"Wow, that worked!" Tatl exclaimed as Link closed the door. "That Goron will be fine, I bet…" She trailed off as Link walked by her, shedding his gear. As he got to one of the beds, he slipped off his boots, collapsed onto it, and fell asleep. "…Y…Yeah…I bet you're tired…" She murmured.
Tatl wanted to hate Link, she really did. Yet as she watched the boy throw himself at danger over and over…she couldn't help but start to respect him. He just kept going and going, and not once did he complain. At first she thought it was weird and a bit freaky…and sort of still did…but it was respectable too. And, most of all…she just felt bad for him. Of course, she'd never admit this to his face, but she was finding it harder to snap at him or be mean. Sighing to herself, she went to the other bed and nestled on its pillow. Exhaustion taking her, she too fell asleep.
The boy and fairy stayed at the room for two days, the woman with red hair feeding them lunch and dinner, Tatl complaining about how awful it tasted. Link wasn't bothered, so he ate every bite. Sleeping in an actual bed and staying in a real room did wonders for his exhaustion. It didn't make it all go away, but it really helped.
Still, they had to go back to the swamp.
Link and Tatl lost count of how many times they cleansed the Woodfall Temple, only for it to just revert back to normal. It had to be at least ten times, though. And every few tries, they'd take a Break Cycle for a day or two. They never did this for three days, and they both knew the reason, but never talked about it. It was because they were terrified of the Moon, especially as it grew too close…
After another attempt at the swamp, when the two arrived before the Clock Tower, Link put his instrument back on his belt. "Okay, let's go. We-"
"Alright, no!" Tatl interrupted, feeling her anger at the situation reach a boiling point. "No more! Let's just go North, okay?!" She demanded, more furious with what was going on than at Link himself.
"But what about the swamp?" The boy asked, feeling an intense anger towards their predicament as well. "We need to cleanse it."
Tatl sighed. "That's clearly not going to work! Let's just…keep going. Maybe we'll find a way to break these curses in a permanent way. Maybe one of the other Giants will tell us!" She had no way of knowing that for sure, but she was just desperate. Doing the same things over and over was really starting to get to her…
He knew she was right to an extent. There was nothing they could really do at the swamp, so maybe they should go North. "Okay. I understand. We'll go North this time." Link said, starting to go to North Clock Town. "I hope we can find some answers." It had been a few weeks, and of course the boy still had no idea if time went back in Hyrule as well. What if time just kept going as normal there? What if he was stuck in Termina for months and that same time passed in Hyrule? What would his friends think…?
"I hate this! I hate having to go around with a freak like you!" The fairy snapped. While, yes, she had grown to respect Link more, she still wasn't nice to him. She felt the need to pretend she despised his guts, not able to show that her opinion of him had changed. It was nasty, and she knew it was, but she couldn't help herself. She realized what she said must have struck a nerve when Link stopped in his tracks and looked up at her.
"Then stay here. I don't care if you follow me or not." Was all Link said in response. Normally he never really fought back against Tatl, but the anger and stress he felt over the many attempts at permanently cleansing the swamp just got to him. With that, he just kept walking.
Tatl was a bit stunned. It wasn't much, but that was the nastiest thing Link had said to her. Instantly, she felt regret at what she had said, but her nature wouldn't allow her to just apologize. Instead, she scoffed. "…Whatever…" Was all she could think to say, feeling more sheepish than she put on.
Link and his unwanted companion went through the more naturistic part of Clock Town, going by Jim and the strange man hovering above on his balloon. Like in South Clock Town, the guard stopped Link at first, but relented when he was shown the boy's sword.
Preparing himself for the worst, Link went by the guard and headed North.
Looks like things aren't going to be so easy for Link. I changed a few things with the timeline and how long they were trying to cleanse the swamp and all that. Anju has been met, and Link realizes the perks of stealing hotel rooms.
And, yeah, I very heavily skimmed over the return trips to the swamp. As you can imagine writing out the same interactions but with a few added lines of how Link and Tatl are unnerved by these same interactions isn't exactly the most fun thing to write or read. I'll only write out stuff like that in detail if something especially different or important happens, which may not be too often. In any case, Link and Tatl can finally head North now...
For those who haven't, consider checking out this work's Trop page, shared with the prequel story. I can't actually link it here, but I did the closest I can on my profile.