Navi stared at the spot where Shadow Link had vanished. She was visibly worried, her knowledge of the Hero's dark side was not extensive but the few times she'd encountered him she'd not known him to be incredibly stable. He had been born out of powerful dark magic, magic as dark as that which created the Mirror of Twilight, strong enough to match the Goddesses in strength. Shadow Link had a vast store of power, the willingness to use it and the mental instability to feel himself justified.

He had made no idle threat, he felt abandoned by Gods and he intended to ensure that Hyrule never forgot it. Navi was the only one that knew he was up to something. I have to stop him. she thought to herself, but another voice reared up battling the first. Cursed to watch without ability to help, banished from the lands of your birth and condemned to watch all you love perish to time. That was the punishment the Fairy Queen had laid down upon her. Sworn never to interfere, the Goddesses had already taken so much from her. What would they do if Navi placed herself in the middle of the Hero's fight once more. Then again some things were worth more than a single life.

If Shadow Link intended to target the royal family and its Princess there was one location he would head for. The Great Hyrule Castle which had its walls at the north edge of Castle Town. Knowing time was not on her side and that speed was of the up most importance Navi closed her eyes. Her entire body began to glow with blue light so bright it blinded any who looked upon it. When the light cleared away Navi the human girl was gone replaced by a gleaming ball of winged light. It had been ages since Navi had inhabited her fairy form. Without access to the fairy fountains it was much easier to maintain a human body compared to her fairy one.

Navi flew fast rising over the rooftops of castle town. Finally making it to the walls of the Castle. As Navi flew over the iron gates she felt a wave of nausea sweep through her. It pasted in a moment. Fairies had a deadly weakness to tempered iron. Proximity made them ill, contact with it burned there skin. It was one of the reasons Navi was pleased that the soldiers of Hyrule were now making use of steal weapons and Armour though old buildings like the Castle still use some of it in mechanism and high security areas.

Navi flew towards a second story window, she intended to land within the castle and seek out Zelda's attendant Impa who would be close at hand to the Princess. Just as Navi was about to pass the threshold however it was as though she hit a barrier in the air. Stunned Navi lost altitude reverting back to human just before she hit the ground. The fall was not serious and fairies healed quickly. Navi had bypassed most of the guards but now standing in front of the main entrance to Hyrule Castle the fairy girl could not enter.

Navi reached out a hand and just as it passed the threshold of the massive doorway into the castle entrance hall she touched something solid, it felt almost electrically charged and seemed to be repelling her. Navi had forgotten the ancient laws. No fairy may enter the dwelling of another with permission from its resident. There were of course some exceptions to this. Fairies bound to a Kokiri child were exempt. The Fairy Queen Titania could relieve a fairy of there need to adhere to this if the situation was grave enough but that was a rare occurrence.

Navi banged helplessly on the solid barrier that would not admit her to the court. She sank down onto her knees wishing there was something that she could do. She didn't have time to formulate another plan. Only Zelda, one of her lineage or a number of the castle personnel who lived on sight could Navi to enter the Castle. The guards did not have that authority. Though they might have a barracks in the castle most had their own homes down in Castle Town.

"HEY YOU! What are you doing?" shouted an authoritative voice from behind Navi.

The fairy girl turned to see one of the guards approaching her. He most likely was either just coming off a shift or preparing to go on one. "Attempting to gain access to the Castle." Navi said dejectedly, she banged on the threshold barrier again. "It not going according to plan."

"Who are you?" demanded the guard.

"It doesn't really matter. I have an urgent message for the Princess, but as you can see I cannot enter the castle. If someone could fetch I would be most obliged." Navi stood to her fullest height which addmitedly was not that impressive, her skin started to glow bright blue which was quite a bit more so. In this day and age fairies were rare. This was a time of peace and the fairy people generally didn't stray outside the Lost Woods unless something was urgent. "Tell you an emissary of the Fairy Court is here with a message."

Link had expected Princess Zelda to tell him he could leave, instead she asked his name. He paused, carefully looking up at the princess, he didn't show it but she was as radiant as he'd heard. He answers in a careful tone, he didn't know what the princess really expected for him. "I am Link, Princess Zelda." He answered before bowing his head once more, his mind wandered. He knew of stories where Princesses picked husbands, he doubted that was case here but one could never be certain.

He thought of other things she might want of him, perhaps a bodyguard? She had not seen his skill with a blade and could have her pick of the castle's guards, that couldn't be it. Perhaps she had a request, in the past villagers had been asked to go into the forest and look for items of legend or artifacts from ages ago. Few of those people had ever returned, he hoped this wouldn't be a job like that. He did know he could not refuse a request from the royal family.

"Thanks!", Skull Kid said gratefully to the salesman. Plucking the bread quite eagerly from the man's hand, the paranormal child sat crossed legged on the ground and dug into the loaf, or more correctly, allowed it to disappear into the shadowy orb he called his face. For the starving child, the stale bread tasted of honey and warm butter, though most of the described tastes originated from the stalfos' gluttonous imagination. Licking the flakey crumbs off the end of his fingers, Skull Kid hauled himself to his feet and held out his hand to his slender acquaintance, it had only taken him a few seconds to devour the food. "Name's Skull Kid. Your's?", he asked.

Just as the shop keeper was to greet and answer the child, or even just gasp at his infamous name, Skull Kid turned quickly on his heel as another particular wear caught his eye. "So, what were you saying? Something about 'it's hard to make ends meet?'", the Stalfos blabbered on as he picked up the outstanding item. The mask he inspected was a Zora ornament almost as gaunt as the salesman himself. It was a very familiar disguise, that jerk link had worn one just like it many years ago. By the goddesses did this craftsman have a knack for recreating masks that held a lot of nostalgia, all of these masks brought at least one memory or another to the forest child. Fitting the item over his already hidden face, Skull Kid looked back at the salesman as almost to say 'How do I look?'. Truthfully he looked extremely odd, vibrant orange eyes burning against a cool blue expression, only to be harshly complemented by a tacky green outfit. Sitting back down on the ground, the decorated Skull Kid intently waited for a response to his run-on questions.

"Er.." The Salesman began, not really sure where to start. So many questions had been asked in a matter of seconds. He ran a hand through his hair and decided to start with the child's last question. "It looks like a lot of fun, but I have a better one for you." He went back behind the counter and into a small storage room.

He rummaged around, thinking. What interesting luck. The child of the legend of Majora's Mask has suddenly appeard in my shop. Surely not something anyone can brag about. Nor would they if they had the opportunity. He huffed half a chuckle to himself as he coninues looking through old masks

The child definitely held his interest. He felt he had a bit of connection with him. If the legend was true, the boy attacked Clock Town years ago because he'd felt betrayed by his only friends. They'd left him to fend for himself. The Salesman could understand that to a point. He himself was, of course, a nobody shop keeper. The only things people thought of when they saw him were how to avoid him so they wouldn't be sucked into a deal or how to come to him for a glorious mask the day of a festival.

People rarely saw him for the Hylian he really was. Surely someone would reach out a hand to befriend him at some point, right? Wrong. The people of Castle Town were always so preoccupied with their own business to think about the person behind the counter.

He grinned as he found what he had been looking for. He pulled out a mask that had been intended for the non-Hylain children that might come through. He hadn't put it out for fear of being chastised. People telling him that this was a Hylian celebration and should therefore be treated as such.

He didn't care who came through his doors - Hylain or not. The value of their rupees were the same. The mask was of a boy. It had a smooth smile curled up into soft pink cheeks. Hollowed out eyes where the wearer's would show through. A mess of dark hair at the top. It was remarkably simple.

He thought of the irony. If the Stalfos child wore it, he would be a foreigner at a Hylian celebration, dressed as a normal Hylian child. He dusted the mask off and thought for a brief moment more before exiting the storage room. "The colors go better with your clothing." He held it out to the boy. "And it's free."

"Link..." Zelda said the name slowly, as if she was testing it out. She found the name to be rather appropriate, if nothing else. She could tell that Link had a million questions on his mind. Certainly this situation was making him nervous if nothing else. Oddly enough Zelda was feeling more at ease than she had in weeks, almost calm. Her visions were slowly coming to pass, Link, the boy clan in green, was here, and somehow that fact alone gave her a sense of peace that she'd been missing for a long while.

"...you'll have to forgive me, I know you were hardly expecting this but...would you accompany me to the garden? I promise to explain everything."

Link slowly rose looking at the king a moment before he looked to the princess. "Of course... Lead the way Princess." He followed her, doing his best not to look directly at her. He was worried this would turn into one of those corny stories told in inns about a farmer and princess. She was beautiful but Link barely knew her and he certainly had no ambition to be king of Hyrule or to sit in a castle growing fat. "Princess, what is this about. I'm quite confused as to why you called me to follow you."

The King was left wondered what had gotten into his daughter as the Princess and Link left the throne room. He merely shook his head.

The garden was but a short distance from the throne room, and even as Link asked his question they had already arrived, Zelda turned to face him. "Before I begin, let me assure you that this will hardly be a corny story told in the inns about a farmer and a princess...unfortunately this is a far more serious and dire matter." Zelda paused, Link was more than likely wondering if the Princess has read his mind. That was a question left unanswered for the moment. "I've been given prophetic visions of what the future holds for Hyrule...they have been dark and ominous at best...they have plagued my mind for weeks..." She paused, letting that sink in. If she fed Link information too fast he'd quickly become overwhelmed.

"A dark man, one of great power, the prince of thieves, he is coming, and he will bring darkness and ruin to Hyrule...I know not how, or why...but this is what the Goddesses have revealed to me." She rubbed her arm, wondered how well Link would take what she said next. "And there was you...a boy clad in green...you appeared in my visions as well, you are the key to saving Hyrule..."

He looked towards the door, he thought to run when finished, even if he to be a hero he didn't want to. Then he realized that sense of dread he felt back before he left, that was because he'd come here. Now he had to, he couldn't turn down the princess or back out, if it was true then soon his home, his friends, his own life would be threatened. "I'll... I'll help, but we can't do much from here in the castle, I'm also going to need a better shield and sword. Mine are alright but they wouldn't stand up to monsters or the even the guard's weapons." He said looking at the gardens.

Link paused a moment. "Princess... I know we just met, but I trust you. Perhaps I can sneak you out in the cart I came? All we would need is disguise for you to wear while we are in town, the festival would make it easy to move around." He said carefully looking at her. Suddenly, she could see a glowing on his hand, the triforce of courage lay within this young man. She had picked correctly even Link stared at it in awe. "So I really am... I'm the Hero..." He said just staring at the mark.

Link had no idea how relieved she was to hear him agree to help. "Thank you Link...I know this is more than a little overwhelming but..." She looked at her own hand as the triforce of wisdom glowed from being in such close proximity to it's sibling. She knew the legends, it was her birthright, she had expected it to appear on her hand sooner or later, but it was still surprising to see.

She could feel both pieces of the triforce now, feel their presence...but she could also feel...yes the third...the triforce of power, it was here, in Hyrule. It was distant, but she could sense it...

But that would mean...so could he, at least for that moment. She thought it was best to assume the enemy would be just as aware of the triforce as they were.

"...I agree...it would be best if I left the castle...I had been preparing to do so..." She rubbed her hands, she was feeling nervous again, the enemy was close. "The sword you brought for the tribute...take it. I think it will serve you far better than anyone else. As for a shield, there are plenty in the armory to choose from."

He nodded as the glowing finally stopped."Come with me, I think we should head to town and spend the night there before we move on. We should put distance between you and the castle, if there is evil he carries the missing piece of the Tri-force. Power, courage and wisdom won't be enough to stop him. If anyone asks who you are in town, we can just tell them you and I are attending the festival together." He looked back towards the castle. "I can go wait by my cart, could you get the sword and meet me there. I can get a shield in town."

He started back towards the throne room, he could see the castle servants whispering, pointing at the farmboy. They were spreading the rumors no doubt, about him and the Princess. He didn't stop them, just returned to his cart waiting for her to come to the cart. He stopped however looking at a strange girl just outside the gate. A fairy, he realized as he stared at her.

With the awakening of the triforce pieces it seemed like Link had already gotten bolder, the work of the triforce of courage perhaps? Who could say really? Either way he seemed to be taking the initiative. With a nod Zelda went off to collect the sword, she stopped in the armory and picked it up before heading to her chambers to change into her disguise.

Once she was finished, she was no longer wearing her traditional gold and pink, her flashy jewelry and crown were gone, they drew far too much attention. Instead she was wearing a simpler outfit, a simple pink dress along with a hood and cloak, it made her look like a lower class noble or even a commoner that was well off, it would work perfectly.

There was one thing she took with her, a rapier with a golden hilt, passed down from Queen to Princess for ages. She wasn't eager to use it, but she knew the wisdom in being prepared.

She was as ready as she'd ever be, she took a secret passageway out of her chambers and headed to where Link's cart resided, Link's sword in hand.

Had the ordeal inside the Magtail Fort been forty minutes earlier, the ground would simply have been slippery, and Gorko's immense weight would have been a blessing as it helped him keep his footing. Now, though, the rain had been falling long and hard enough to turn the less developed pathways of Castle Town to muck. Into this, Gorko couldn't help but partially sink, miring his progress as he hurried through the downpour. It was one of those dirt paths he took, having gone straight into a nearby alleyway between the tavern and the adjacent Bomb Shoppe. Gorko trudged through the alley until he arrived at a little, hidden area.

Littered with crates, boxes, and bags, this secluded spot appeared to be a storage area for the Magtail Fort. A backdoor, little-used judging by its state, helped solidify this conclusion. Such a thing wasn't at all unusual for a grand establishment like the Fort. More unusual by far were the people that inhabited it.

The same trio that had appeared onstage now resided here. Midna, somewhat exhilarated and breathing rapidly, lay sprawled over a spare mattress protected from the air by a layer of canvas. Zant sat on the cobblestone nearby, daring to relax a little against a cask of liquor. The strange corners of his mouth made it impossible for any onlooker to see if he was pleased or upset. There was no question about Groose, however; the young man was laughing his head off. “Did you see their faces when you caught the tomato? Priceless! They're going to be talking about that for months!”

For the first time, the somber, robed Twili spoke. “That is the plan. We have planted rumors and made a big impression. Whether they believe her or not, these people are going to tell a dozen people each, and those dozen another twelve, and each time the story will grow wilder. If you are not a sensation within a day I will be most unhappy. Then we can begin to properly earn their trust. We must...”

The princess permitted herself a genuine smile. “Yes, yes,” she cut in, “I am glad everything went so well.” At the noise of heavy footfalls, she turned and became aware of Gorko. “And it would not have been possible without our dear comrade! I would never have imagined a Goron to be such an incredible actor, but you blasted my suspicions. The rolling attack was particularly convincing.”

Grinning broadly, Gorko rubbed the back of his head. “Well...I was actually trying to hit you, your Grace. Method acting and all that.”

Midna's eyes widened. “By Una! No wonder it was so believable.” She sat up, folding her cloak over herself like a blanket. “And you must really stop with the 'Grace' nonsense. If I am going to be a better ruler than Zelda, I must get to know my people. And you three are my first.”

Embarrassed once again, Gorko gave a thumbs-up and said nothing. Groose, however, jumped forward and grasped Midna by the hands, pulling her up onto her feet. Full of energy, he spun her around in a jubilant dance. Though surprised, Midna didn't seem at all opposed to a little fun. “Our Twilight Princess is heading to the top, yeah!” Groose hooted.

Navi paced outside the gates in frustration. This was ridiculous, the guard had left several minutes ago. Zelda's life was very much in danger. Could he not hurry just a little. It was the Festival of Time. At this very moment Zelda and her father would be accepting tributes from the various areas of Hyrule. Could it really be that difficult to find her?

A figure walked past Navi heading for a cart in the corner and the fairy girl was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost missed who it was. It was Link. The green tunic, the messy hair, soldier's mail. All of it matched. Except it could not be Link. This was a time of peace, Hyrule had no need for a hero. That left one other option. It was the one she had come here hunting, this was Shadow Link once again.

And if he was exiting the castle did that mean... could he already have completed his objective? Regardless of if he had killed Zelda he needed to be stopped before he could do anymore damage. Navi ran on her nimble legs after the figure clad in green. She grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him roughly to face her. "I told you," she said with an edge to her voice. "You are a relic of the past, long discarded. You no longer belong in this world." Navi's other hand lit up with deadly green light and she pressed it to Shadow Link's chest.

When the soft cloth and vibrant coloring did not give way to shadow the light died in Navi's hand. She let go of him and stumbled back a step. It could not be, it simply could not be. It was impossible... Navi scanned him. Searching for any discrepancy she could glean between his appearance and that of the shadow imp she had seen not an hour ago. Then her eyes alighted on it. The sword, it was missing. This Link did not yet wield the Master's Sword for which Shadow Link carried an imitation.

This truly was Link, Hero of the Goddesses, Bringer of Light. The incarnation of an age old friend. Yet Navi did not deserve to be here. She was an outcast. She had been thrown away by the Kokiri, the Great Deku Tree, her own people and the Goddesses themselves. So why did she now stand in the presence of the Hero clad in green.

Navi sunk to her knees, her head bowed, not looking Link in the eye. "Hero of the Gods," she said quietly. "I did not expect your return, forgive me for my folly."

Link shrunk back when the fairy pressed the light into his chest, yet nothing happened. He froze just staring at her, the next thing she had done was fall to her knees and ask his forgiveness. He blushed a little at being called 'Hero of the Gods' it was a title he was not accustomed to. He gently kneeled and offered her a hand up, he smiled at her a little trying to make sense of the events that had just occurred. "It's quite alright, I just recently learned I'm supposed to be a hero myself... You know in my village fairies and supposed to be good luck."

He slowly stood up after a moment his hand still extended. "I'd like to ask for your blessing... I mean fairies are immortal and highly renown creatures... I've heard they can even heal the most serious of wounds." He looked at her then cast his eyes down. "They've also been known to be wise and... I could use the help, perhaps you could accompany me and traveling companion?" He said, hoping to ensure that Zelda's identity as princess of Hyrule remained a secret. He hoped she had remember to come up with a new name along with her disguise.

He sighed and walked over rubbing Epona, the horse seemed to shake it's mane and glare at the fairy, perhaps it did not like the idea of sharing its master's attention. Still Link smiled as climbed into the seat of his cart looking at the girl. "Oh! My name is Link, almost forgot to tell you Miss Fairy." He grinned, blushing a little as he rubbed his head, the hat falling over his eyes.

Navi allowed herself to be helped to her feet. It was such a shock to see him again she'd nearly gone numb. In so many ways he was her old friend back from the grave and yet in so many others he was an entirely new person. He didn't look quite the same, his eyes were a different shade of blue, his hair was a different color, he was an inch and a half taller and he was right handed instead of left. But despite that she could see her friend in the way he walked. The way his sentences trailed off when he was unsure of himself. The little things that you seem to forget about someone until the moment they walk in the room.

As Link walked back to his horse he talked about how his village saw fairies. Navi just had to smile, not exactly unfriendly but it wasn't a kind smile either. It was interesting how the mortal world saw the fair folk. Talismans of good luck, healers of the wounded, wise. It was such a clean image that Navi had to refrain from laughing. Something that few people knew about fairies was that they could not lie or break a promise. Far from making them a more honest race this ensured that the fairies where the most deceitful and duplicitous people to be found. Without being able to tell a complete lie the fairies had mastered the art of half truths and misleading words. Never a direct lie never the whole truth or complete disclosure.

"I suppose all rare things are considered lucky to the young." In that moment though Navi looked around sixteen, younger than Link by several years, you could see her ancient life in eyes. Navi couldn't believe her ears, was the Hero Reincarnate truly inviting her to be apart of the legends once more. "If you sincerely wish me to accompany you I will do what I can to aid you. Though you should know that while I certainly have talents, healing is not one of them. My virtue is knowledge. I never forget anything I see and can recall any memory to the smallest detail. Though I have no doubt you will encounter fairies of healing on your quest I am not one of them." her mouth tugged up in a small if sad smile. "They are the pink ones."

Navi inclined her head as Link introduced himself. Link, it suited him. "I answer to the name of Ciela." she responded. Technically speaking it was by no means a lie. Navi had never claimed Ciela was her own name only that she would respond to it. The art of choosing words carefully and never letting one drop without purpose was a skill all fairies mastered at a young age. Mortals had to be very careful exactly how much they inferred from fairy speak and how much actual fact it contained.

Link nodded to the fairy as he pushed his hat back up on his head leaning back as he waited for Zelda to arrive with his new sword and shield. He hoped the fairy would understand what he was doing. "So... Why did you come to the castle? Did you come to find me or something?" He chuckled, he hadn't known until moments ago he was the hero so he doubted the fairy had known. "Anyway you want to sit in the cart. My friend will be out shortly... She's... Bringing me a few things from the castle. Zelda is sending them with me." He said, Link's left ear twitched as he lied to the fairy.

"It's nice to meet you though Ciela." He told the fairy as he leaned up and petted the horse, the brown mare shook it's mane lifted her front hoof. She was meant for running, jumping, not pulling carts. Her muscles showed under her coat as she glared at the fairy once again. "This is Epona, I've raised her since she was a foal. She's spoiled rotten but I love her and she takes good care of me." The mare shook her mane again and rolled her eyes, the horse might have just been as smarter than her master.

The boy in green leaned back. "Anyway, we won't have to wait long besides a little wisdom goes a long way. Courage and bravery doesn't make me invincible." He told her as he pulled out a sketch pad. What Ciela saw on that would shock her, it was the Great Deku Tree drawn in charcoal along the pad. Yet it was impossible this boy had ever seen the tree, no Hylian but the Hero of Time had ever seen it. Yet here he was marking it down on paper. "I saw this weird tree in a dream a week ago, been trying to make it look right. I just can't get it, it seemed too regal and majestic to put to paper." He told her gently drawing with the charcoal stick.

Navi smiled. "No, until moments ago I was unaware that the hero had returned to this land. I mean no offense to yourself but I had hoped to never see you again. You come at a time of need which means that if you are here the suffering and hardship you were sent to prevent will not be far behind. Though I suppose a little excitement in last hundred years might be good for me." Navi did not elaborate on the reason that she was at the castle. Shadow Link seemed like some distant memory now. Besides she reasoned with herself the Hero always had a connection with the Princess. If she were in trouble he would know. In the meantime Navi could afford to wait for the guard to fetch her.

When Link invited her to sit in the cart Navi took a step back. "If it pleases you I would rather walk. The spokes of your cart are forged of cast iron. It makes me feel ill if I get too close and burns my skin if I touch it. Besides, it may be better if I fly on ahead of you." Navi noticed Link's left ear twitch. The Hero of Time had never been a particularly good liar even when it was demanded of him. That twitch Navi remembered was one of his tells. Though she wasn't sure exactly what he was hiding, based on the content of his words it had something to do with his travelling companion but Navi was unable to glean more without meeting this mystery girl.

As they waited Link pulled out a charcoal sketching of... could that be... Navi moved around, closer to get a better view. It was. It was a rendition of the Great Deku Tree. Not perfectly done, then again Navi had not seen the Forest Guardian in several thousand years. He could have changed substantially. For all Navi knew he had died and his sprout had taken his title.

It was known to Navi though perhaps not common knowledge that the Hero had prophetic dreams. The Goddesses sometimes showed him little glimpses of the future. Nothing as broad as those Zelda received but of specific moments or events.

Navi studied the drawing. "The mustache should be longer." she observed "and his base spreads out a little more before disappearing into the ground." Then something on the drawing caught her eye. Along the edge of the Great Deku Tree's trunk. It looked like a long large gash running from what would pass as his forehead and zigzagging down into the ground. It wasn't deep or by any means fatal but it looked as though he'd been attacked by something large. "What is that?" she asked pointing at the gash, an urgency in her voice.

The farm boy shrugged and looked at Ciela. "It's a crack, tree's sometimes get struck by lightning just start to die. Of course I remember it looking sad as if it were all alone." He studied it then turned to her. "Why have you seen this tree before? It looked like something you hear about in the Lost Woods. That's where blue fairies come from right?" He said with a slight smile. "Because they took care of the forest and were wise, something about children of the woods or something right?" He didn't know much about the forest but legends of the Hero of Time's roots did abound.

"Anyway I'll let you fly and avoid the cart, my friend won't be long. Were going down to the festival for the night, might be a long time before we see anyone this happy again... I'd like to enjoy it, just for a bit. Run away from the trouble, just for a night." He sighed and lay their looking up at the sky. Fire works would start soon, Gorons had brought them. Right now the same stars that each other Hero had looked up at greeted Link, it wasn't much but he felt a sense of pride and joy swell in him. They might have all been different, some young others older but each of the Heroes had looked up at these stars, and thought of the other heroes at some point.

Navi thought about that for a moment. While it was true enough that some trees did get struck by lightning the Great Deku Tree was not some tree. He was the guardian of the forest and could easily deflect the weather around the woods if it suited him. The gash had to mean something, but then Navi would likely never find out what. She was still not welcome in the forest.

Navi smiled when Link started talking about the children of the woods. It was such an innocent description of the Kokiri. In many ways the Kokiri were that innocent but in so many others they were ancient and forever. "Not just the blue fairies of knowledge. All fairies come from the woods. Some are partnered to the Forest Children, the Kokiri, other's roam freely." Of course the forest was not their true home. Deep in the belly of the Great Deku Tree resided the Gateway to the Fairy Courts where all fairies where born. It appeared to most humans however that the Deku Tree himself created them as no mortal had seen the Land of the Fairies in ten thousand years.

The secret passage was long and narrow, full of twists and turns and multiply pathways that would get you easily lost if you didn’t know the way. Fortunately for the Princess, she’d spent her childhood playing in the secret passages, usually to get away from her tuitor. She smiled as she thought back to those times, how she wished she could go back to them…

To get from her chambers to outside the gates was no quick trip from the secret passage, it was designed to be a secret, not convient. It was a good extra ten minutes before she neared the exit she sought for.

She pushed on a certain brick, there was an audible click as part of the wall began to pull away, revealing a small opening. She grunted as she squeezed through, it had been a lot easier to get through as a child. The opening closed as she fully exited the passage. She brushed her dress of dust and cobwebs before surveying the area, she saw the cart in the distance, and made her way there in stride.

As she got closer she found Link...and a girl? She hadn’t been expecting anyone else, Link hadn’t mentioned that someone was with him. Was she a girl from his village? She gave the girl a look over, and quickly decided that wasn’t the case. One of the many perks of having the triforce of wisdom was spectacular insight. She sensed power from the girl, ancient power, she was far older than she looked. Zelda decided she had to be a fairy, though it had been a very long time since fairy’s had roamed the city, much less the castle.

“I have your sword and shield...who’s your friend?”

Link just sighed looking at the fairy a moment before he saw Zelda approaching, she looked a bit puzzled by the fact someone was with Link. Jumping down from his seat on the cart he walked over to stand between the disguised princess and the fairy. "Ciela, this is Ilia she's a friend of mine, she works in the castle. She's coming with me to town... Were going to enjoy the festival a bit, the bridge is already up so were not getting out of the town tonight." He said looking back towards the town he sighed. "Still it will be hard to enjoy the festival with all this looming over my head."

The young boy turned back to the woman Ilia as he called her. "I'll help you on to the wagon, it's awfully nice of you to volunteer to come with me." He told her in a soft tone rather than the respectful one he had used before. He would treat her as an equal, people couldn't know she was the princess. Offering her his hand to help her up on to the cart he smiled. "Ilia, this is Ciela she's a fairy of wisdom I thought it might be nice to have her along with us, she mentioned she even met a past me." He told her as he climbed on to the cart.

"So if were all set I guess all that's left to do is find an inn, enjoy what little time we have and prepare for the journey ahead." He told them, then grinned in an innocent way he didn't seem to mind being the hero, just as if it was another chore. Like how he had to clean the stables or heard goats and cows back home, he didn't seem in awe by it or reluctant like others. He just did, yet at this moment the voices of past heroes called to him, he would need more than just skills of the past Links. He would need their memories and personal abilities, he would need to become them if they were to succeed. He was the Hero to carry the minds of all of heroes.

Shadow Link watched as the trio met each other. He had been following Navi, and knew full well her mastery of half truths, not surprised at all at her cover of her own name. He also immediately recognized Zelda, and was getting pissed about how close to the hero he would have to get just to talk to her. As if that wasn't bad enough, that stupid fairy was getting to help the hero! That was his idea! He said that they should BOTH help the hero! HIS IDEA! HOW DARE SHE STEAL HIS IDEA!

"No... calm down... deep breaths. I am not a monster!" Shadow link breathed. Looking through a pouch he carried with him that had magical properties, he pulled out a dusty relic of a forgotten past. "heh... wasn't that what Navi called me?" He mused as he leaned against the entrance to the palace and waited for the hero's cart to pass. bringing the object to head level, he began to play it expertly. The Ocarina of Time, for that is what it was, even through so many long years still was in perfect tune. Shadow was careful not to play anything too close to a song of legend until the cart drew nearer to him. as it was about to pass, he began to play none other than the Song of Storms. When he was done, the area surrounding the cart and himself was thoroughly drenched, so he smirked and in no small feat played the song backwards, making the sky perfectly clear.

"A pity you have to act the commoner in such festivities, princess!" He said, then fake gasped. "Oh I'm sorry, did I say too much? I'm not known to be one to beat around the bush. Hey Hero! Think Fast!" Shadow Link proceeded to toss the Ocarina of Time up to Link, then smirked. "Hope you're musically gifted! Expect to see me again. Oh, and let your fairy friend know that... Uh... gosh this is hard... I... I'm sorry... for everything." Then he stepped into the shadows and vanished before they could ask him where the hell he found the Ocarina of Time in the first place.

Navi knew right away who it was that approached her. Though the Princess now wore simple clothing and carried herself more like a lesser noble or well off merchant Navi could feel the power emanating from the Triforce of Wisdom. More knowledge than Navi could ever hope to obtain even in her immortal life just beyond reach. It had always been a point of contention between Navi and the Zelda she had known before being disgraced. It was barely even conscious but whenever Navi was around the Princess of Hyrule she felt that the noble was keeping something from her. Navi as a Fairy of Knowledge had an unquenchable thirst for it. It was not logical but because Zelda held the Triforce left behind by Naryu Navi had never quite trusted her, no matter what happened between them Navi always felt something was just a little off.

Right now however Navi respected the fact that Zelda wished her identity to remain a secret. Though using the name of one of the love interests of the Hero of Twilight seemed rather suggestive to Navi. The blue fairy bowed to the disguised Princess. "Your acquaintance is well met, Ilia." Then Navi turned back to Link. "I suggest the two of you shield your eyes. I am told this can be quite blinding to mortals."

Navi closed her eyes and as she concentrated her skin and hair began to glow brighter and brighter blue, until she was so bright that nothing could made out through the light. Some said if you looked directly at a changing fairy you would go blind. Seconds later the light dissipated and where Navi the young girl had stood moments ago floated a blue ball of energy with glittering wings. "I will meet you on the other side of the gates. The iron is not complimentary to my health, so I shall fly well above it."

Navi took off rising higher and higher, when she was at a decent elevation she crossed over the barrier between the castle and the town outside. She was high enough that the iron in the gates scarce effected her. Once she was passed the little fairy began to distend. As she got closer to the ground Navi could sense black magic, dense and stale and ancient. Something she had felt earlier this morning. As she felt this malevolent presence the heavens opened and it started to rain. Frantically looking round the fairy girl spotted Shadow Link leaning on the castle wall next to the cart.

In a panic Navi descended quickly landing on the ground in human form. By the time she reached the cart however the rain had gone and Shadow Link had melted back into the growing darkness of the coming dusk. Navi looked to Link hoping for some answer as to what Shadow Link had been doing and why he had left. That was when she saw the instrument in Link's hand. It was an ocarina, the ocarina, the Ocarina of Time.

In ancient times that ocarina had been crafted by Robin Goodfellow, the Fool of the Fairy Courts, as a gift to the royal family of the newly formed Hyrule. The knave had bestowed upon the instrument the same power of notes that fairies possessed in their voices though without the drain on strength. Because of the Hobgoblin's work the Ocarina of Time could make it rain, shine, turn the day into night, move its player vast distances and even seal the realm of the gods itself. The Ocarina of Time disappeared along with its Hero in the Lost Woods.

"Did the shadow creature give that to you?" Navi asked starring at the Ocarina in awe.

Even as the wielder of the triforce of wisdom, Zelda was having a hard time understanding what had actually just happened. Who was that shadowy doppelganger of Link, why did he have that Ocarina? One that radiated with so much power. Why did he give it to Link?

He had also recognized her as the Princess almost immediately. Was her disguise inadequate? She didn't believe so, something else was at play here, he hadn't recognized her by her clothing. Most people wouldn't know the Princesses' face in town, but the shadow Link had.

"Ciella..." She started out slowly. "Do you know who that was?" The shadow had mentioned her, she had to know something.

Link caught the Ocarina, he could feel it's power in his hands it hummed softly and his head pounded in pain. He placed the in his pocket clutching at his head in pain. It went away moment later, but he felt strange still like something had nearly broken through. "I'm fine... But that was... My Shadow. He was sorry..." He groaned and leaned back. His mind didn't fully understand why the Shadow had come or even given him the Ocarina. He looked at Ciela first, "Were fine and yes... I can fell it's power I think I just need to..." He picked it up his head pounded as notes entered his mind, carefully he put his lips to the instrument.

Zelda heard a melody that she thought only she and Impa knew. It was her lullaby. Link played it perfectly as it he had known the song from birth, of course he had never heard it beofre. Yet another Link, the one whose deeds were remembered most as the Hero of Time knew it. Slowly Link lowered his Ocarina setting it down carefully by Zelda. "That was weird it was as if... As if I knew the song already like I had played it before."

He turned to look at Ciela his eyes felt heavy suddenly. "Why am I so tired... I think... I think need to sleep..." He said as eyes fell shut. His tri-force began to glow brightly as slipped into a dream. He fell through darkness yet slowly he turned and gently floated down the spot he land brightened and the Hero looked around carefully. It was strange, he felt... Like his family was here.

Slowly around him he noticed it, nine lone figures standing around him in a circle two figures that seemed to be groups of four. All of them but one were faded, blacked out and hard to see. Yet one stepped towards him slowly, he was the same age as Link and he extended his hand slowly. Link gasped, the Hero of Time stood before him smiling softly as Link took his hand and shook it slowly in awe. "Your... Your the Hero of time..." Said the newly titled Hero to the most famous of Heroes.

The Hero of time spoke softly, as if to brother. "Link, you are to take up the mantle. You are to be the Hero... You are different, your position is unique. You can reach out, across worlds find pieces of things that maybe aren't yours." He stopped looking at the Hero's around him. "You can fell a connection to Heroes that will never exist in your world because of my actions." The legendary Hero paused looking at the other figures around. "You must forge connections and bring us together. You have talent and some of basic skills we all share, yes, but you lack our individual skills and our talents as a whole." He stopped then slowly stepped back. "Link find artifacts linked to the Heroes. You must bring us together, however should you need me simply reach into pocket and clasp the ocarina and I shall swap minds with you temporally letting me fight in your stead." He smiled suddenly he turned walking Link to the edge of the platform.

The Hero of Time looked out into the dark around them. "Link, this journey... It will take many friends and much Courage. You are not just Hero to Hyrule... Your a Hero to all of us, your the Link that will help us all succeed by giving us a shared skills." He patted Link on the back. "Tell Navi I say hello, I still miss her and I forgive her... and that I was happy in the end." The adult Hero of Time suddenly changed to a child Hero. "And don't wait to long! I owe Navi a hug and I want to talk with her!" He grinned and the child nudged Link off the platform.

Link awoke with a sudden jolt, his Tri-force peace stopped glowing and could feel beads of sweat on his forehead. He froze and looked around then carefully sat up. He tested out the name on his tongue. "Navi." He said wondering who that could be, he knew no one called Navi. Links puzzle solver brain began to think carefully, out of the people he had met it could only be...

Navi watched Link play the Ocarina of Time with perfect clarity. The song he played Navi knew well, to the mortals it was called the song of the royal family or Zelda's Lullaby. But Navi knew it was much older than that. When Robin Goodfellow, sometimes called Puck, had given the Ocarina as a gift to the first king and queen of Hyrule he'd also taught them that melody.

In the fairy kingdom song was taken much more seriously than it was in the human world. It was more than an art form, it was a way of life. Each major house in the Fairy Kingdom had a melody much like the human nobles had a coat of arms. Zelda's Lullaby had been the one that symbolized King Oberon and Queen Titania. Puck had thought it hilarious to see the first Hyleans playing that song with no idea what it meant. The Fairy Royals were less than amused.

Navi was shaken out of her revery when Zelda asked a question of her. Who was the Shadow. That was a complicated question. As Navi started to answer Link drifted off to sleep. "My people call him the Hero's Shadow." It used to be Hero's Shade but after the appearance of a skeletal warrior bearing that title it became confusing. "There are a number of different legends about his origins. He predates even me by decades. My people believe that long ago the Triforce of Courage was hidden away.

One of the heroes had to prove himself worthy of it. He underwent many challenges. The final of which was that being. The protector of the Triforce summoned up a great spell that brought the Hero's Shadow to life. It had his abilities, his weaknesses and his strengths. In order to be worthy of the Triforce the hero had to conquer himself."

Navi sighed and climbed into the back of the wagon, this was looking to be a very long story. "That was supposed to be it but by some fluke of the spell the shadow stayed sentient even after returning to its owner. When that Hero died the Shadow lived on. In order to give him purpose he was tasked by the Goddesses to assist the Hero but he had a very unique way of doing so. He may have had all the Hero's strengths but he was still a pale reflection created by the sun.

He didn't understand the mission. He grew unstable and violent. Then a Wind Sorcerer by the name of Vaati used the darkness within the Mirror of Twilight to corrupt him. It instilled within him all the shattered dreams and bitter defeats of Ganondorf when he was sealed in the Twilight Realm. It also gave the Shadow the ability to copy himself innumerable times. Now that its dormant he can only make pale clones and not full copies but he is still dangerous." Navi looked at the setting sun and all the shadows it brought to the world.

"I don't know how much of what I told you is true but enough of it is that I know he's a threat. He was on the right side once and I think is still trying to be but whatever he says you can't trust him. He has darkness in his heart and black magic in his hands. Before I met you he told me he intended to take your life. That was the reason I was at the castle earlier today. To warn you of him."

Zelda took this information in stride, it was a lot, and when she heard that the Shadow had threatened to kill her it made her heart skip a beat. She'd prepared herself for the fact that great evil would attempt to kidnap her, possibly kill her. Hearing about a threat to your life from someone else though was a different feeling all together.

From what she'd seen of the Shadow, she'd gathered that he was not the great evil that threatened all of Hyrule, he was hardly a man. Still the shadow was a potential threat none the less.

Finally, Zelda just nodded, "Thank you, that clears up a lot. I'm afraid however, that the Hero's Shadow is the least of our worries right now. There is an evil far greater coming, in fact he is already here in the city. The wielder of the Triforce of power."

It had all been building to this. Navi had known it, the reappearance of Shadow Link, the calling of the new Hero, the summoning of the the Triforce of Wisdom and Courage. It had all been spelling out Ganondorf's return. Navi had known that from the moment she realized who Link was. Yet to hear it spoken so plainly as fact somehow brought it out of Navi's mind and into the real world were it could do immeasurable harm.

With a heavy heart Navi said "I suspected as much. Be wary of him. I know this land is full of the cruel and evil deeds of Ganondorf the first holder of the Triforce of Power, they talk of his armies and his battles with the Great Hero of Time. Don't let those tales fool you. The King of Evil is never what he seems and never makes his plans obvious. Whatever happens he won't attack Hyrule directly. He'll be devious and you may not see his schemes come to fruition till it is too late. Be careful."

Zelda nodded, not taking anything the ancient fairy said lightly, it would be foolish to do so. "That's why I must leave the castle, I don't know what Ganondorf is planning, but I cannot simply sit in the castle and wait for it to happen." Somehow saying Ganondorf's name brought a chill to her spine. She looked back towards Link, who seemed to be sleeping soundly. "I don't believe even the Hero should face this threat alone."

"That is a first." seconds after she said it Navi clapped a hand to her mouth. This was the Princess of Hyrule. Regardless of Navi's personal feelings about her or her past incarnations she could not insult the girl to her face. "My apologies, I meant that the previous bearers of the Triforce of Wisdom have all been good and wise leaders but few of them have been fighters."

The first Zelda Navi had known had become Sheik and fought against Ganondorf while Link was locked away. The Princess that had lived during the reign of Twilight had taken up arms when it appeared the Goddesses would not send help. That however was as long as the list of Zelda's heroic deeds went. Most of those that carried Naryu's power had been kidnapped by Ganon or turned to stone by Vaati or imprisoned in the Dark World by Agahnim or trapped in crystal by Shadow LInk.

The list of the prisons that had held Zelda over the centuries was far longer than the list of times she had personally taken up the fight. This however was not something that Navi was willing to share with Zelda. The Princess had long ago banished Navi from Hyrule and though there was no way for this Zelda to know that nor was this the same woman Navi still hesitated to get on her bad side.

The last time she had gotten Zelda angry Navi had been forced to hid herself away in the Temple of Time till that Zelda had died and all those who knew her name in Hyrule were gone or senile. Those years in isolation had not been enjoyable and Navi was not eager to repeat them. Instead she said to the Princess. "I did not mean to offend you. As a fairy of knowledge my greatest skill lies in my words, sometimes my tongue works more quickly than my mind."

"No offense taken." Zelda said calmly, though she was curious to what Ciela had meant by it. "I know many of the wielders of the Triforce before me were often victims of Ganondorf's schemes, often kidnapped or worse...but I don't intent for that to happen to me. Not this time. I'm going to fight him with everything I have." There was intent in her eyes, conviction.

Navi smiled slightly. All or at least most of the Princesses of Hyrule had been strong willed, clear in there convictions, it was one of the things that made them good leaders but very few of them were willing to throw themselves into the conflict themselves straight on. The power the Triforce of Wisdom instilled in its bearer was not a combative one, the Wisdom of ages gave strategy and clear judgement not courage or battle skills. It made Navi happy to know that this Zelda at least would not be treating Link like her soldier in the field as many of the others had done.

Navi moved up to the front of the cart seating herself between Zelda and the unconscious Link. She took the reins and directed Epona deeper into town. "I have a room above one of Castle Town's Bakers. It is only a single bed but you are welcome to it. I will stay in the cart with Link. Just tell the baker that you are a friend of the fairy girl. Few people know my true nature so this should suffice to prove you know me." Navi nodded to Zelda who soon disembarked the cart headed for the Bakers across the street.

Navi parked in a side alley and looked on at the sleeping Link. As a fairy Navi still possessed a mortal body. She required sleep to replenish herself. If she had access to the fairy fountains across Hyrule neither sleep nor food would she need but as it was Navi had to get at least four hours rest to shake off the trials of the day. She still had some time to herself though. Navi watched Link sleep thinking on all the missed opportunities, the misses moments, the forgotten and severed friendships. The fairy girl didn't notice when she nodded off to sleep. It was morning when she and Link woke to the sound of Cuccos.

As the Hero of Memory recovered from unconsciousness, in the place where the eleven figures were kept, a twelfth surfaced. This one had a darker color scheme than the others, and his irises were red. walking over to the ledge and adjacent Hero of Time in his childlike state, the new figure asked that incarnation of Link a question.

"So... I don't suppose I can ask for forgiveness after all these years? We could have stopped Ganon as a team, you know?"

Getting no reaction, he waved his hand in front of The Hero of Time's face. Nothing. "What the? No WAIT! I NEED HIM TO KNOW!" Shadow shouted as he was ripped from the room forcefully by some unseen force. He awoke with a sudden jolt much like the current hero. "How long was I out?" he muttered to himself. Then he remembered the dream. A past Link... in a dark room... something about two of them talking, and... WAIT A SEC! "Did I really just ask a hero for forgiveness? I must really be losing it if that's true... now then, my favorite time of day! Eat and run!"

He walked into an Inn and ordered a plate of Cukko eggs over-easy. When he was done, He got up and ran outside, laughing as the men who owned the place gave chase. "Can't catch a shadow!!!" he smirked as he lost them in a not so well lit area with a bit of magic.

Deciding to take a stroll, he happened across none other than Link's cart and leaned up against it. "You have a rough time sleeping too?" he asked his light wielding counterpart. "Or did 'Old Timer' give you more knowledge than you could deal with?" he finished, using his slang term for the Hero of Time. Noticing Link seemed to not be awake, and neither was Navi, he sighed and said to himself "Now what do I do? I can't just turn into wolfy and sic myself on them..." He shivered at the thought, knowing Midna would most likely kill him if he tried something that stupid.

After thinking it over, he tore a bit of his clothes and lay them next to the hero, Whispering, "I could have hurt you. But I didn't." then faded into the shadows before anyone could wake up.

Skull Kid eyed the mask that the salesman held out to him. It was so plain. Nothing special about it at all. The face itself was fairly nondescript with the exception of the oversized smile. The hair on the top was clearly made with some kind of soft animal fur and the the paint was thick and smooth. It was a fine piece of craftsmanship, but left the Stalfos child unamused all the same.

"I don't want that stupid mask!" He shouted and backed away from the salesman. The taller figure just stood there with an unchanged expression on his face. The ever-present grin was starting to freak the child out. The mask was still held out and the boy stepped slowly forward again "It's so boring. Why would I want to wear something so laaaaame?"

The Happy Mask Salesman retracted the mask, his smile faltering a little "Because it's a gift. One I wouldn't likely be able to afford on other terms." The smile turned completely downward into a frown of equal intensity. "If you don't like it, then fine. Don't take it." He turned away and went back behind the counter, leaving the mask within reach of the boy. It was hard to say whether or not he'd done it on purpose.

The boy stared at the mask, more intrigued by the salesman's reaction to his insults that by the mask itself. He would never admit it to the salesman, but he did like the mask. He could wear it and feel like he was a Hylian, just like the others. Of course, that would defeat the purpose of wearing a mask at the celebration. The point was to not be Hylian.

The salesman went back into the storage room and began rummaging through the boxes. Somewhere in the room was a spare blanket and a pillow. The ones he'd carry when he went on trips. It proved to be rather difficult to locate the bedding.

In the main room, Skull Kid stared at the mask, its intrigue suddenly piquing his interest. He moved towards it and, when he was sure the salesman wasn't looking, picked it up and bolted for the shadows again. He looked at the mask in his hands. How sweet it would be to be Hylian. To be mortal again. To fit in. To have friends. Unfortunately, no mask would ever help achieve such things.

He frowned and flipped the mask over, examining the back. A small "x" was carved into it at the bottom. Skull Kid ran his thumb over the "x" and wondered briefly what it meant. It was clearly not an accident that the mark was present. Perhaps it meant that the mask was imperfect in some way? The salesman had mentioned that it was free.

Skull Kid's eyed suddenly flicked back to the man as he slipped out of the back room with a blanket and a pillow. He huddled a little further into the shadows and watched him with his piercing amber gaze. The man didn't seem to think anything of it.

"When you're done hiding, there's a blanket and a pillow here. I don't know if your kind sleep much, but it's here all the same." He said, laying out the articles as he talked about them. "I personally need sleep myself. So sleep I shall. I'll leave a candle lit for you." He went around the room, putting lanterns and candles out until only one was lit. He bowed towards Skill Kid's corner and then disappeared through another door.

Skull Kid watched him with interest, counting the lanterns and candles as he put them out. When the man was gone, the child's attention went back to the mask. It felt heavy in his hands. Thick, real wood. He stood up and moved towards the bedding and sat on it without removing his eyes from the mask.

He stared a moment more before shrugging. It was just a mask right? He held it up as if he were about to put it on. Then he remembered Link and his magical masks. What if this was one of those magical masks? What if it turned him into a Hylian wen he put it on? Something akin to a smile played at his mouth. If that were the case, he'd never take it off. He wouldn't need Majora then because he would be able to make real friends.

He determinedly put the mask on his face and slammed his eyes shut, waiting for the magic to course through his body. He opened his mouth, ready to scream like Link always did when he'd worn one of his magic masks. Images of him as a Hylian flitted through his mind. Adrenaline pumped through him. It would be amazing-

-But nothing happened. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes opening slowly and one at a time. He looked around the room, the world being reduced to two small circles as the mask hinders his peripheral vision. He jumped to his feet and looked frantically for a mirror. He found one after a moment and ran to it. He looked into it and saw that he had, in fact, not changed at all.

He still wore his tattered forest clothing and two small spots of amber glow peeked through the eye holes of the mask. It was a rather creepy sight to behold. A Hylian child with glowing orange pupils and black sclera. He wouldn't lie to himself, he liked what he saw... to an extent. However, a growl arose from him and he began screaming in anger as he tore masks off of the walls and threw them around.

"ANOTHER FAKE ANOTHER FAKE ANOTHER FAKE!!!!!" He shouted, rampaging through the main room and then bursting through the door the salesman had disappeared into. He stopped mid-rampage when he saw that the room was empty. The window was open and the dreary drapes blew inward as the breeze chilled the room. A shiver ran down the child's spine - a combination of being freaked out, cold and angry. He'd been ditched again

Skull Kid eyed the mask that the salesman held out to him. It was so plain. Nothing special about it at all. The face itself was fairly nondescript with the exception of the oversized smile. The hair on the top was clearly made with some kind of soft animal fur and the the paint was thick and smooth. It was a fine piece of craftsmanship, but left the Stalfos child unamused all the same.

"I don't want that stupid mask!" He shouted and backed away from the salesman. The taller figure just stood there with an unchanged expression on his face. The ever-present grin was starting to freak the child out. The mask was still held out and the boy stepped slowly forward again "It's so boring. Why would I want to wear something so laaaaame?"

The Happy Mask Salesman retracted the mask, his smile faltering a little "Because it's a gift. One I wouldn't likely be able to afford on other terms." The smile turned completely downward into a frown of equal intensity. "If you don't like it, then fine. Don't take it." He turned away and went back behind the counter, leaving the mask within reach of the boy. It was hard to say whether or not he'd done it on purpose.

The boy stared at the mask, more intrigued by the salesman's reaction to his insults that by the mask itself. He would never admit it to the salesman, but he did like the mask. He could wear it and feel like he was a Hylian, just like the others. Of course, that would defeat the purpose of wearing a mask at the celebration. The point was to not be Hylian.

The salesman went back into the storage room and began rummaging through the boxes. Somewhere in the room was a spare blanket and a pillow. The ones he'd carry when he went on trips. It proved to be rather difficult to locate the bedding.

In the main room, Skull Kid stared at the mask, its intrigue suddenly piquing his interest. He moved towards it and, when he was sure the salesman wasn't looking, picked it up and bolted for the shadows again. He looked at the mask in his hands. How sweet it would be to be Hylian. To be mortal again. To fit in. To have friends. Unfortunately, no mask would ever help achieve such things.

He frowned and flipped the mask over, examining the back. A small "x" was carved into it at the bottom. Skull Kid ran his thumb over the "x" and wondered briefly what it meant. It was clearly not an accident that the mark was present. Perhaps it meant that the mask was imperfect in some way? The salesman had mentioned that it was free.

Skull Kid's eyed suddenly flicked back to the man as he slipped out of the back room with a blanket and a pillow. He huddled a little further into the shadows and watched him with his piercing amber gaze. The man didn't seem to think anything of it.

"When you're done hiding, there's a blanket and a pillow here. I don't know if your kind sleep much, but it's here all the same." He said, laying out the articles as he talked about them. "I personally need sleep myself. So sleep I shall. I'll leave a candle lit for you." He went around the room, putting lanterns and candles out until only one was lit. He bowed towards Skill Kid's corner and then disappeared through another door.

Skull Kid watched him with interest, counting the lanterns and candles as he put them out. When the man was gone, the child's attention went back to the mask. It felt heavy in his hands. Thick, real wood. He stood up and moved towards the bedding and sat on it without removing his eyes from the mask.

He stared a moment more before shrugging. It was just a mask right? He held it up as if he were about to put it on. Then he remembered Link and his magical masks. What if this was one of those magical masks? What if it turned him into a Hylian wen he put it on? Something akin to a smile played at his mouth. If that were the case, he'd never take it off. He wouldn't need Majora then because he would be able to make real friends.

He determinedly put the mask on his face and slammed his eyes shut, waiting for the magic to course through his body. He opened his mouth, ready to scream like Link always did when he'd worn one of his magic masks. Images of him as a Hylian flitted through his mind. Adrenaline pumped through him. It would be amazing-

-But nothing happened. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes opening slowly and one at a time. He looked around the room, the world being reduced to two small circles as the mask hinders his peripheral vision. He jumped to his feet and looked frantically for a mirror. He found one after a moment and ran to it. He looked into it and saw that he had, in fact, not changed at all.

He still wore his tattered forest clothing and two small spots of amber glow peeked through the eye holes of the mask. It was a rather creepy sight to behold. A Hylian child with glowing orange pupils and black sclera. He wouldn't lie to himself, he liked what he saw... to an extent. However, a growl arose from him and he began screaming in anger as he tore masks off of the walls and threw them around.

"ANOTHER FAKE ANOTHER FAKE ANOTHER FAKE!!!!!" He shouted, rampaging through the main room and then bursting through the door the salesman had disappeared into. He stopped mid-rampage when he saw that the room was empty. The window was open and the dreary drapes blew inward as the breeze chilled the room. A shiver ran down the child's spine - a combination of being freaked out, cold and angry. He'd been ditched again.

Navi." He tested the word again as he woke up in the cart, he yawned and carefully looked over at the girl beside her. Link thought for a moment, this Navi... It would be someone he had met, the Hero of Time wouldn't give him a name for someone he didn't know. He wondered about it, Zelda couldn't have been Navi. The Hero of Time had said her which ruled out the Shadow of himself... Could it be Ciela? After all she had met a Hero before and lived a long time.

Carefully he moved to look at her, he decided to approach the situation carefully. So he sat up and looked at the fairy girl with a slight smile. "Morning Ciela. Guess who I met in my vision?" He waited a couple second before saying softly. "The Hero of Time!" He watched her reaction to that carefully then continuing on. "He told me to tell a girl named Navi he forgave her... That he missed her terribly." He laughed softly moving to sit beside Navi. "Then he changed into a child and told me he owed Navi a big hug." He laughed a little louder. "I never thought of the Hero as child asking for hugs!"

Navi was woken by the bright gold of the Triforce glowing on Link's hand. Seconds later he also woke muttering a word that Navi could not quite make out. Navi almost froze when he said her name aloud once more. How could he know her name, it was impossible, Zelda had stricken it from all the records and legends of the Hero of Time. He could not have read it or heard a story of her. Then Navi remembered the Triforce of Courage had been glowing. How could Navi have been so foolish. Of course he had had a vision, and apparently talked with Navi's old charge.

Her face hardened slightly when he talked about the Hero of Time. If she had been younger it might have meant a great deal. It more than likely would have brought the fairy girl to tears but she was older now. Her memories of the Hero of Time were burned into her mind. For a warrior he had always been a gentle soul. No doubt even if she had taken up the Master's Sword and stabbed him through the heart with it he still would have forgiven her in the end.

"It is not an image most people remember the Great Hero by. Many of the Heroes were called quite young. The Hero of Time was eleven, the Hero of Winds was Thirteen. The statues they build in Town Square make them look like noble and valiant men, which of course they were, but most started out as insecure, uncertain boys." Navi turned her face away from Link. As a fairy she was a fairly adept liar. That likely was not a credit to her race. However the fairy girl unsure if she could lie about her own identity and history without giving something away in her eyes.

"As for Navi, most of my people do not appreciate hearing that name spoken aloud. I would prefer you kept it off your tongue." Navi did not want to be harsh but that was how it came out. It was not only that Navi was attempting to imitate the tone and manor other fairies used when referring to her, she was more than a little ashamed of the name she bore and what it symbolized to every other member of her race.

Link nodded and shrunk back a little from the fairy. "Sorry to bring it up..." He sighed and stood up, carefully stretching. "So Ciela, apparently I'm to find artifacts linking to eleven heroes some that never even existed in our world." He sighed looking at her. "So is Zelda sleeping upstairs in the bakery?" He asked looking at where they had stopped figuring the bakers had given her room. He sighed and looked back at the fairy girl. "The Ocarina linked me to Hero of Time. He said I could call upon him and... Well he could take over, in a sense I would become him." He looked at her, knowing a fairy of wisdom would want the whole story.

"He told me I was not just the Hero of Hyrule but also Hero among Heroes. Apparently I link all the heroes and let them share in each other's powers and skills." He paused looking at her a little nervously. "I'm no kid but that's a tall order, I have to save the world and give all the heroes the skills they need save their worlds as well." He gulped and looked at the door. "Anyway, I'm gonna go wake up Zelda" He threw her his rupees pouch. "Can you get us some breakfast should be about three-hundred rupees in there." He said starting for the door.

Navi was more than happy that Link did not pursue the issue. She would have been more than capable of explaining her actions back then from the third person and condemning them giving Link the impression that she was speaking of a different fairy. It would not have been a pleasant experience and Navi was happy to be spared from it.

Navi nodded when Link mentioned having to connect the heroes, some that had never existed. It did not surprise her. As one of the only Heroes to travel through years her Link had caused a tear in time, a dividing line that separated out destinies between two paths. Well the Hero of Ages had also navigated the threads of time but he had not wounded time because he traveled by the power of the Oracle of Ages the Caretaker all that was, all that is and all that ever could be. He had righted wrongs of another traveler rather than causing them himself. The Ocarina of Time was far less gentle to the threads of time. This division of time because of Navi's Hero was something that the fairy jester had found unimaginably amusing.

"I may be able to help with that, my people live outside the flow of normal time. As a result we can see and know things that might have happened but never did. Is there a particular hero you wanted to begin with? Most of then had special items that I am sure are still in Hyrule."

When Link said the Ocarina of Time allowed him to call upon to Hero of Time, to let him take over, Navi's heart skipped a beat. Did that truly mean how it sounded. That she could speak to her Link again? Or was it merely that the current Hero would gain the fighting skills of the Hero of Time. She could not be sure till it happened.

Link tossed her a rupee pouch as he went to wake Princess Zelda. Navi did not appreciate being treated like a scullery maid but took it in her stride. More than likely they would all take turns fetching supplies at some point. Navi was just about to leave the cart when she spotted something near Link's seat. It was a torn strip of green fabric. Thinking that it came from Link's tunic, clumsy boy, Navi picked it up. The moment the blue light of her aura touched it however the green melted away revealing a jet black fabric that seemed to swallow all light, Shadow Cloth. The Shadow had been here. But why? Was he taunting them? Showing them he had the power to appear wherever they were and could hurt them at any time. Navi glanced around but she caught no sight of him. She could not feel the presence of shadow magic either.

The blue fairy hopped down from the cart and just as she was about to enter a shop for some breakfast a sickly pain wracked her abdomen. Navi crawled to a nearby alley and wretched. Twelve hours, she was paying for the drinking game she had played with that goron. It had been worth a fair number of rupees but now she was experiencing all the effects of the alcohol in one massive burst as her body expelled it. She wretched again.