LoZ: Majora's Rebirth Ch. 18

Majora's Mask stares down at Link and Faust with its cold eyes, observing them with the upmost concentration.  Link readies his Gilded Sword and Mirrow Shield and Faust two of his swords.  Both Link and Faust await for Majora's Mask to make the first move.  Link's sights swap from Majora's Mask to Kassandora, bound and uonconscious on the wall, and back to the cursed mask.  Suddenly, the silence breaks with a warped, echoing voice.

Majora's Mask: Who are you?

Link: ... What?  I'm... My name is Link.

Majora's Mask: I don't know that name. .... Wait.

In the mask's sight, a small boy in green stands in front of him with a yellow fairy at his side ready to fight.  Slowly, Link takes the place of the small boy where he stands.  The yellow fairy vanishes too, and Faust floats in its place.

Majora's Mask: It's you.  You've grown into quite the man, haven't you?  Where did your weak fairy go?

Link: Excuse me?

Faust: He thinks you're the same boy who defeated it centuries ago.

Majora's Mask: So, you've come back.  Do you want to play a game?

Link: What... what game are you talking about?

Majora's Mask: Everyone loves games.  Let's play.  (dives down spinning) Hurrrr...!

Link: (backflips away) Yah!  That mask is fast.  Faust, are you ready to end this?

Faust: Are you kidding?  I've been waiting for this day for a long time. (draws all of his swords) You keep him busy.  I'll strike from behind.  That will give you plenty of time to attack.

Majora's Mask: Do you think you can win my game?  (dives down spinning again)

Link: (jumps to the side, then uses the Jump Attack) Haah... (Majora's Mask attacks him back) Guuooaaah!

Faust: Link! (floats behind Majora's Mask as his attack stops) Take this!

Majora's Mask: Guh! (floats downward) ....

Link: Thank you, Faust. (runs over and slashes Majora's Mask) Teyah!

Majora's Mask: Uhhh...! (backs away shuddering) Urrrrrr!

Majora's Mask dives back down spinning around towards Link again.  Link backflips and dodges the attack again.  Majora's Mask turns around to continue the attack again.  It knocks Link down again.  Faust moves in for another attack, but Majora's Mask brushes him off.  Link pulls out the Element Boomberang and throws it at the mask.  The boomberang hits Majora's Mask from behind and stuns it.  Link uses the Jump Attack on the mask.  It moves backwards and away from Link.

Majora's Mask: You!  Enough of this. (a beam fires from each eye to one focal point in front of it) Burn! (fires a beam at Faust)

Faust: Oh! (the beam shoots him down) Aahh! (floats down to the ground.  His cloak begins to smoke) Link... that beam...

Link: Faust, your cloak.

Faust: I'll be fine.  Use your shield, Link.

Link: My shield?  Oh, right, got it.

Majora's Mask: (fires another beam) Burn!

Link: Hup. (deflects the beam with the Mirror Shield back at Majora's face)

Majora's Mask: Hrrruurrr! (floats around as its body burns for a few seconds) You keep the game interesting.  Just like did before.  However, I will win this game.  Now BURN!

Link: Oh! (raises his shiled again.  The beam is reflected at the wall) Guh... it's not working.

Majora's Mask: How long before you burn?  I wonder...

Link: Come on. (the beam moves as his shield moves) That's it.  If I angle this just right. (angles the beam and hits Majora's Mask) Yes!

Majora's Mask: (struggles to get back up) ....

Link: Now's my chance.  (jumps up and attacks with the Final Blow) Terriahh!

Majora's Mask: GURRRRRRRrrrrrr.... (its eyes grow dull) .....

Link: (steps off the mask) Alright.  Faust, are you going to be alright?

Faust: (floats back up) That seemed too easy.   Hmmm.... Link, let's take Kassandora out of here.  Without her, the Mask's power will fail.

Link: My thoughts exactly.  I won't let that mask decieve her anymore.

Faust: Link, I know you think that the mask is making her do this, but it's impossible.  All traces of the mask was exsponged when that boy defeated him.  There is no way it could have ever reached out to anyone.

Link: what about those Offspring she summons?  How do explain how she's been able to call on them?  If they're a part of the mask, wouldn't it have some say into how they come to be?

All of a sudden, Majora's Mask jumps back into the air letting out a terrifying screech.  It's eyes glow brighter than ever.  It glares menacingly at Link.  A crack along the top center of the mask breaks along to the center of the mask.

Link: Darn it.  It regained its strength sooner than I hoped.

Majora's Mask: My power... is incomplete.  I must have the seed.

Link: What seed?

Majora's Mask: I remember now... I remember a game I played.  Yes... it was with a man who wanted to be wedded on the morn of the Carnival.  The game I played was that I turned him into something unsuitable for matrimony.... I turned him into a child....

Link: (aside) That's the story Kafei told me.

Majora's Mask: It's all coming back to me.  Even after my defeat... I left something behind....

Faust: What?

Majora's Mask: I left a seed inside that man's body.  That seed laid dormant within him.  Then.... he passed it on to his child.... and that child passed it on again.... from generation to generation, the seed remained dormant in each born child, waiting for the time to exact my vengence on the four guardians.

Link: You waited for this night, didn't you?   A night when the giants wouldn't be able to stop you.... (gasps in shock)

Faust: Link?

Majora's Mask: The seed soon found the perfect opportuntity for me to consume everything.  The seed was awakened..... WHEN MY MESSENGER WAS BORN!

Faust: WHAT?!  Kassandora?  That's... that can't be. (looks back towards Kassandora) It's impossible.

Majora's Mask: The seed taught my messenger what she must do in order for my power to rise again.  All was ready... for my rebirth.... Now, once the seed returns to me, my power will be restored, and the moon shall fall on this land with no one to stop it.

Link: ... And what of her?  What do you plan to do with Kassandora?

Majora's Mask: Once her purpose is fulfilled, she'll be nothing more that garbage to be tossed aside.

Link: (tightens his grip on the Gilded Sword) Faust, I think it's clear what needs to be done.

Faust: (nods) Stop the mask from regaining that seed.

Majora's Mask: You want to stop my game like before?  Fool.  I have something I hadn't before.  Thanks to my messenger, I... shall be.... REBORN!

At the call of the mask's voice, one hundred of Majora's Offsprings rush into the room and enter into Majora's Mask.  As the last one enters the mask, it grows legs and arms.  Parts of its legs and arms seem to float in mid-air severed from its body.  Its arms grow out at great lengths with hands at each end.  Tenticles grow from its back in numbers.  Then, a deformed head with one eye on its forehead appears, floating from its body with no neck and at an angle.  The disfigured monster lets out a twisted cry.

Link: This is not good.  The idols were challenging enough with one Offspring powering it.

Faust: Even with its added power, its form is incomplete.  I fear that if it obtains that seed.... it'll be unstoppable.

Majora's Madness: In the wake of my MADNESS, you insects will feel true pain and suffering.  Now... (sing-song) Let's play....!

From its back, Majora's Madness flings its tenticles at Link.  Link and Faust swing their swords ferociously to fight back Majora's Madness's tenticles.  As they each cut off tenticle after tenticle, more take their place and attack.

Link: (swinging like crazy) There's just no end to this barrage.

Faust: Don't you give in just yet.  Keep fighting.

Majora's Madness: Isn't my game fun?  How I love games... Let's make things interesting. (extends both its arms, grabs Faust, and throws him aside)

Faust: Aaaahhh!

Link: Hey!  I'm your opponent, not him.

Majora's Madness: Really? (turns his head towards Link) Then I'll crush you first.

Link: Just try and- (Majora's Madness's arms grab Link) Guh! (slams Link on the wall) Uuuaaah! (slams Link in the walls again and again) Uuuaaah!  Uuuaaah!  Aaaah!

Majora's Madness: Yes, scream!  Scream!  Hah, hah, hah, hah.  Aren't you having fun?

Link: You're twisted... (Majora's Madness drops him) Uhh... (struggles back on his feet)

Majora's Madness: Still breathing, are you?  This game has been fun, but sadly, all games must end. (the tenticles form spears at their ends) Hah....

Link: I won't let you... get away with what you're doing... (Majora's Madness thrusts its spear-like tenticles) Huh! (Link raises his Mirror Shield.  Nothing hits the shield) ... Huh?  Faust?

Faust: (uses his four swords to block the tenticles) Grrrr.... (pushing back) Link.... you have to stop that mask... stop it before it gets that seed... I'll hold him off.

Majora's Madness: You interupted my game! (the tenticles wrap around Faust's swords and break them in half) I'll make you pay for that!

Faust: Hurry, Link! (Majora's Madness extends his arms and grabs him) Get Kassandora and- (Majora's Madness tears Faust's cloak into pieces) Bwaaaaaaaaa....!

Link: FAUST!!! (the remains of his cloak float to the floor) ...No.  No, I... I won't allow you to destroy any more lives!  (charges for Majora's Madness) Haaaaaa.....

Before Link can land a move, Majora's Madness grabs Link again and throws him against the wall.  The impact on the wall makes Link drop some of his equipment.  He, the Elemental Boomberang, the Bow, the Odd Stone, the Cane of Dementa, the bottle of Romani Chateau, and the Pegasus Boots fall onto the floor.  Link struggles to get back up.

Majora's Madness: You certainly know how to keep the game interesting.  I was going to destroy you, but... (turns to Kassandora) I must reclaim the seed.  When I am at perfection, you shall be the second one I consume.

Link: You... monster... (clenches his fist.  Majora's Madness begins chanting in a gibberish-like language) You tormented Kassandora all her life, and after reviving you, you're going to throw her away like garbage.  That's not right!  I must stop you... but how?  I can't let this evil win...  I won't!

???: Do you fear power?

Link: (gasps) That voice again.  Where is it coming from?

???: My power is one that is too immense for the world of Termina.

Link: (looks around) Where are you? (looks over at the Odd Stone) Are you... talking to me?

???: My power is so great, it is feared by many.  It is way my power is known as an evil power.

Happy: (flashback) But only true evil will prevail.

???: You, who has ventured through the darkest depths of this world and gone against the mask's forces, if you do not fear power.... then you may use mine.

Link: (the Odd Stone cracks in half) This stone has what it takes to defeat Majora's Mask?  (begins gathering his equipment again) Should I even use it?  I don't even know how vast its power is.

As Link gathers the last of his equipment, he recalls something he told Kassandora before.

Kassandora: (flashback) Fear pushes you forward?  Liar.

Link: (flashback) I push forward even though I am afraid.  That is true courage. (flashback ends) If I was afraid of power, then I wouldn't be here fighting this mask to save her. (pulls the stone apart from the crack) ... It's another mask.

Majora's Madness: (its chanting suddenly stops) Can it be? (turns around quickly) Ah!  My favorite game!  A game of good guys and bad guys.  You want to play that game again?  Splendid!  You play the bad guy.  Remember, you stand still while I beat you to a pulp. (cackling laugh)

Link: All this is a game to you, isn't it? (drings the Romani Chateau. He then stands up and puts the bottle aside) You want to play that badly?  Alright, let's play.

Kassandora: Hmmmm... (begins to stir) Hmmm?

Kassandora's eyes open as Link places a humanoid-like mask with tribal markings on its face onto his face.  Suddenly, this mask's power unleashes itself onto Link.  As Link lets out a horrifying war cry.  The release of power pushes Majora's Madness back and releases Kassandora from the wall.  She lands on the floor, then looks up to see a double-helix blade plant itself into the floor.  Behind the sword, Link's hair turns snow white.  He wears light blue and white armor and tribal marks on his face.  He then grabs the hilt of the sword with both hands.

Kassandora: What... what's going on?  (backs away to the wall) What is that thing?

Fierce Deity Link: So... this is the power of a Fierce Deity.

Majora's Madness: The seed can wait.  I want to play my favorite game.  Play with me NOW!

Majora's Madness grows more tenticles from his back and extends them at Fierce Deity Link.  Link takes his sword, and with one swing, he severse each tenticle.  Majora's Madness steps back in shock, but then grows more tenticles.  Fierce Deity Link swings his sword three times, and each swing lets out a disk of energy.  Each energy attacks hits Majora's Madness and stuns him.  Fierce Deity Link then runs towards Majora's Madness and attacks it with more swings of his sword.

Majora's Madness: You're not playing fair.... (wraps its tenticles around each of Link's legs and arms) You're the bad guy.  YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO STAND STILL! (wraps his arms around Link's waist and chest.  One hand grabs hold of Link's throat) Play fair!

Majora's Madness makes Fierce Deity Link drop his sword, then starts swing him around with all its might, slamming him into wall after wall, into the ceiling of the room, and onto the floor.  Majora's Madness laughs maniacally as he swings Link around.  Kassandora can only watch the torture Majora's Madness puts on Link.

Majora's Madness: (ceases swinging him for a moment) Have you had enough?  Are you going to play by the rules now?  Tell me....

Fierce Deity Link: ... Are you finished?  Good.  Now I'll take you seriously.

Majora's Madness: YOU!  Nnnrrrraaaa.....

Fierce Deity Link: Hmmph. (grabs the arm with the hand around his neck and throws Majora's Madness aside) Hrrrrruuaaah!

Majora's Madness: Nrrraaah! (it lets go of Link) I will consume everything.  You can not stop me.  You're nothing but garbage!

Fierce Deity Link: (picks up his sword) Stop talking and fight.

Majora's Madness transforms its hands into spears and unleashes a barrage of attacks with its arms and tenticles.  Fierce Deity Link meets each attack from Majora's Madness and counters each of them with his energy attacks.  Majora's Madness backs away as Fierce Deity Link steps closer and closer with each of his attacks.  Majora's Madness laughs at all of Fierce Deity Link's attacks, even with its back against the wall.  All of a sudden, its laughter stops.  It looks down to see Fierce Deity's sword thrusted through its dismembered chest and into the wall behind him.  Fierce Deity Link gives Majora's Madness a cold and blank stare.

Majora's Madness: I... I don't understand...  We were only playing a game.  Everyone loves games....  Why don't you?  Why... Why do you hate games?  TELL ME WHY!

Fierce Deity Link: The game is over.  You lose. (executes the Spin Attack) Terrriyaaaah!

A surge of energy slices right through Majora's Madness and breaks the plane of existence the world they stand in.  Majora's Madness lets out a blood-curdling scream as its body deteriorates into the void of nothingness created from Fierce Deity Link's attack.  Slowly, the walls around him break apart into this void following Majora's Madness.

Link: (takes off the mask and reverts to normal) Without its power, this empty world Majora's Mask made is falling apart before us. (looks at the mask) I don't know who you are or what your role in this tale is, but thank you for lending me your power.  Please understand.... (drops the mask into the void) I can't allow your power to escape as well.

Kassandora: It's... it's all over... all my efforts... my happiness... (the floor breaks up underneath her.  She begins to fall) It's gone...

Link quickly grabs Kassandora's wrist and pulls her back to safety.  Meanwhile, back in Old Clock Town, the impact of Majora's Mask's defeat crumbles part of the Clock Tower, but not enough to topple it.  Carrying Kassandora on his back, Link jumps out before the rubble blocks the doorway.  After the destruction ceases, Link carefully sets Kassandora down.  Kassandora has temporarly lost consciousness.

Link: Kassandora... Kassandora, can you hear me?  Wake up.

Kassandora: Huh? (shakes her head) Where I am?  What's going on?

Link: We're back in Old Clock Town.  Don't you remember what happened?

Kassandora: The mask! (jumps up to the rubble and starts digging through it) I have to find it.  I have to... It's still here!

Kassandora carefully picks up Majora's Mask in her hands once again.  A second later, a crack moves along the middle of the mask vertically.  The mask then breaks in half right in front of her.  Kassandora lets out a gasp of fear.

Link: Kassandora, that mask lied to you.  It wanted some sort of seed it left in one of your ancestors.  Once it claimed what it wanted, it was going to toss you away like garbage.

Kassandora: ...

Link: The evil power of that mask is gone.  I made sure of it.  You're free, Kassandora.  It will never torture you again.

Kassandora: ....hmmmm...

Link: Kassandora...?

Kassandora: ... hmmmmm... (turns around and kicks Link in the stomach extra hard) Hrraaaah!

Link: Goooaaawww! (flinches in pain) ....Why did you do that?

Kassandora: YOU IDIOT!  I wanted the mask to come back.  I wanted it to make everything disappear!  My only happiness was to crush everything under the very moon it controls, but you took that away from me!

Link: What? .... Buy why?

Kassandora: This world has no place for me.  I hate this world for taking everything that gives me joy.

Link: Kassandora, let me explain.

Kassandora: No, I'm done listening to you! (pulls on her own hair) I never should have listened to you.  I'm such a fool for even thinking what you had to say to me was true.  I honestly thought you were different, but I saw your true face.  It's just like everyone else's.

Link: Kassandora, don't be like this. It's not what you think.

Kassandora: GRRR!  I thought you were different. Why didn't I cut you when I had the chance? Why did I ever think that I could...

Link: Could what? (slowly approaches her) You can tell me.  If it's something you don't want others to hear, then I won't tell anyone else.

Kassandora: Huh?!  Just stay away from me... (under her breath) I hate you... (starts screaming) Do you hear me?  I hate you. (breaks out into tears) I hate you. I HATE YOU!

Kassandora realizes that she's crying in front of Link.  She turns away and runs off towards the southern gate, tears falling from her face.  As the tears fall onto the ground, two of Majora's Offspring materialize from where the tears landed.  They mutter something in gibberish in anger at Link, and then follow Kassandora.  As the sun rises on this new day, Link contemplates on what Kassandora had just told her and the Offspring that appeared before him when he hears a voice he thought he would never hear again.

Faust: All this time, Majora's Offspring were born from her tears.  I had no idea how miserable she truly is.

Link: Faust?! (turns around) You're-you're alive, but how?

Faust: I'm already a spirit, Link. I'm already dead.  One moment, Majora tore me apart, the next, I find myself hearing Kassandora yell at you.

Link: There was nothing left of you when it tore you apart.  I thought Garos die without corpses.

Faust: I've been thinking about that.  Garos are creatures of regret.  We want nothing more than to rid ourselves of regret before moving on to the other side.  I theorize that when a Garo gives its wisdom, it is free from it's regret, and since Garos are not meant to linger in the world of the living, we die without a corpse so we may go where we belong.

Link: Why haven't you?

Faust: I'm still bound by regret.  I thought I had overcome it, but it became my arrogance.  I think... I regret that arrogance.  ... I'm sorry, I don't know what's going on.  You must have been successful in stopping the mask.

Link: I am, but Kassandora... she... The mask still has a hold on her.  I couldn't free her.  That darn seed is still inside her.  ... She ran off with the remains of Majora's Mask.

Faust: Link.... Majora's Mask said that once it regained its seed, it would throw her away.  What if removing that seed means that her life is forfeit?  We don't know how deep the roots of that seed go into her mind.

Link: ....

Faust: Link, you did a good thing. You saved an entire world from a catastrophy. You changed so many lives just by wanting to help them. That happiness you shared with others saved them, even Kassandora, whether she wants to admit it or not.

Link: (sighs) You're right. I tried to help everyone, and yet I ended up hurting someone who really needed a little happy.  She just needed a little kindness.

Faust: Don't let one loss get to you.  That regret may turn you into me.

Link: (light chuckle) Alright.  Where do you think she's going?  What is she going to do now?

Faust: I can't say.  She may try another way to bring the mask back to life.  I now know it's not impossible.  If she does come back, I'll be ready.

Link: No matter what she does, I hope she find true happiness one day. (Epona walks up to him) Epona.  Well... I should be going now.  I have much more about the world to find on my own.  That's how I ended up here Newmina in the first place.

Faust: I understand.  As long as I'm here, I'll see what I can do to help others.  Who knows what will happen.  Maybe that's how I'll do away with my regrets.  Link...

Link: Faust. (a semi-bandaged hand comes out from Faust's cloak.  Nothing appears through the holes of the bandages) Oh...

Faust: I'll never forget you.  We must part, but don't let it last for long.

Link: (smiles) Let's meet again... soon.  

Link and Faust shake hands with each other.  Link jumps onto Epona and embarks out of Old Clock Town.  Faust watchs Link and Epona dash away until they disappear from his sight.  Faust jumps into the shadows and disappears himself, ready to defend Newmina from the shadows he is so accustomed to.

It seems that the four giants of Newmina knew what would happen.  They could have come and helped stop the mask I once held in my hands in life, but they had faith in this hero, a faith that let them know that Newmina would be in good hands while they slept, even helping the messenger.  The door closes on this tale, but this also opens many more doors.  What will become of this hero and the messenger?  Hmmm, hmmm, hmmmm.  Now what would be the fun in that?  I've served my purpose, so back to where I now belong.  They part ways now, but the length of their departure is soley up to them.  Perhaps a mask full of happiness may have both of them cross paths again.  Believe....

Hours later, inside a thick forest as a thick fog begins to disappear, Link rests upon a stump as Epona grazes.  He drinks water from the bottle Ol' Bailey gave him.  He stands back up, feeling something engraved on the stump he sits on.  He stands up and takes a look.

Link: Hmmmm... whoever drew this, it looks like he has lots of friends. (mounts onto Epona) I won't forget the ones I have and the ones I've met.  Kassandora, if you can hear me... You're my friend too.  Hopefully, I can help you just a little bit more.

And thus, Link rides off once again, continuing on his journey of self-awareness, hoping one day, he'll meet Faust again, and maybe, if he's lucky, meet Kassandora too.  Maybe then she may know what happiness truly is.