Ghosts of the Past

by tir-synni

 

A/N:  Originally I wasn't intending to finish this.  I wasn't sure if people were still interested, so I was just going to move onto another project.  But I got yelled at (you know who you are), so for the people who are reading this...I hope the continuation meets your expectations.  Always review.  They get the chapters moving faster.

 

Chapter V: A Duel of Personalities

 

Someone take these dreams away

that point me to another day

A duel of personalities

That stretch all true reality

 

 

      Sheik?  Sheik?  What...What's happening?  I can't...I can't....

      Link blinked dazily stepping back.  Shadows danced before his face.  Their silent laughter mocked him, and he angrily shook his head.  No, no, it was just...What was it?

      Sheik?  Where are you now?  I remember...There was something I was supposed to remember.  Sheik?  What was it?

      "Hee hee...Hee hee...."

      Everything's spinning, Sheik.  What am I supposed to remember?

      "All in your head, all in your head.  Everything, all, it's all in your head...."

      Sheik...?

      Link collapsed to his knees, holding his face in his hands.  His so small hands, chips of ice against his face.  Dizzy, he pulled back and stared at his hands.  They didn't look right....

      "Not right, of course.  Nothing's right.  It's all in your head."

      Huh?  Link shook his head and looked around.  The shadows danced wildly around him, their silent laughter growing shriller and shriller.  It was so dark....

      "The strongest will is nothing when you lose touch with reality.  That last letter never quite reached its destination, don't you think?"

      The tiny blond elf frowned but could do no more.  Everything seemed so dreadfully heavy...and so chillingly light.  Still, he knew that voice.

      "Great hero, legendary hero, let us take you most awesome weapon.  Then you will know what all the others felt."

      That voice....Link scowled blurrily.  It wasn't a voice.  It was a combination of voices.  Majora and...the traveling mask seller?  Hmm?

      "Every sword may be dulled, every arrow may be broken, but all can be replaced."

      The singsong voice echoed crazily through the endless cavern, and Link looked around.  A simple trick to escape, he knew it.  He was a master at puzzles.  But everything seemed so far away.

      "All make you deadlier, but none make you deadly."

      That voice....Who did it belong to again?

      "Your greatest weapon....Hee hee.  The legendary Hero of Time.  Never the Master Sword.  A swordsman to the end!  Your first thought!"

      Thought?  Did he think?  He didn't remember...didn't remember anything....

      "We'll see how well you fight weaponless."

      Weaponless...?

      "We'll see how well you fight mindless."

      "Sheik?"

      Majora's laughter faded away into his memories from which it came, replaced by a bitter cold.  Then Link knew nothing more.

~~~~~

      Within the Lost Forest, the music grew silent.  Eyes glowed from within the depths of Forest Temple.  The laughter of the Kokiri silenced as a cold air swept through their small village.

      The Hero of Time had lost.

~~~~~

      Within Death Mountain, the fires died.  Growls echoed through the burning halls of the Fire Temple.  The Gorons froze and huddled together, their home suddenly dark and haunting.

      The Hero of Time had lost.

~~~~~

      Within the waters of Lake Hylia and Zora's Domain, the liquid grew still.  Menacing bubbles gurgled hissed threats from within the Water Temple.  The Zoras shivered and warily readied themselves.

      The Hero of Time had lost.

~~~~~

      Within the town of Kakariko, the dead walked.  Ghosts arose from the graveyard in untold numbers, and chilling chants arose from the Shadow Temple.  The young elves wept, while the older ones looked on in horror.

      The Hero of Time had lost.

~~~~~

      Within the desert of Gerudo Valley, the winds howled with untouched fury.  Silver weapons glistened within the shadows of the Spirit Temple, metal guards clanking to attention.  The Gerudos armed themselves, bodies tense with alarm.

      The Hero of Time had lost.

~~~~~

      Within the Temple of Time...the Triforce of Courage glowed black, while the Triforce of Power sparkled with menacing strength.  The Master Sword shivered minutely before fading to grey.  The pedestal of time trembled.

      The Hero of Time had lost.

~~~~~

      Sariaís eyes were on Link when his flew open.  Glowing white met her, and before she could do more than shriek, he had her by the throat.  Emotionless, expressionless, Link stared at her.  Then with a simple flick of his wrist, the Sage of the Forest was flying.  Saria called forth her power, but it didn't respond.  Surprised, she smacked the wall.  The last sound she heard was Ruto calling her.

      "Fuck, kid!" Nabooru swore, yanking out her blade.  Link tilted his blond head slightly to gaze at her.  Apparently finding her no threat, he swung his slender legs over the bed and made to stand.

      "Stay down, Brother!" Darunia warned, starting forward.

      Link didnít acknowledge the Sageís presence until Darunia grabbed his shoulder.  With a motion faster than Nabooru's eye could follow, Link snatched Darunia's arm and twisted.  The sharp crack made Nabooru tense and Darunia scream.  The impact when Darunia went flying through the stone wall silenced him.

      "Link!" Ruto called, standing behind Nabooru.  The Sages of Wisdom and Shadow stood on the other side of the bed, Impa protectively standing in front of her charge.  To Rutoís surprise, none of the three women moved to attack.  Wariness darkened their eyes.

      "Link," Rauru whispered.  He stood by their fallen, in case Link moved towards them.  Link did not even seem to hear his name spoken.

      Eerie white eyes scanned the rooms, pausing on the Sages one by one.  He stopped longest on Impa and Nabooru.  Neither of the warrior women moved, their bodies tense.

      "Ruto," Zelda breathed, her eyes never wavering from Link's face.  "Summon your power."

      The young princess shivered, too cautious to nod.  She concentrated for a moment.  Ruto relaxed with surprise.

      "I can't," she hissed.

      Zelda nodded slowly, staring at Link.  He had one hand on his hip in a weird parody of Link's usual stance.  By the minute movements of his head, Ruto guessed he was still checking them out.

      "You won't be able to," Zelda replied softly.  "Within Link is the Triforce of Courage.  He is the Hero of Time.  Whatever possessed him has great power.  It dwarfs us, pushing our magic back into ourselves.  It contains us as surely as a cage."

      Ruto shuddered, but pressed on.  "What are we going to do?"

      "What can we do?" Impa returned.  Her eyes were dark, intent on Linkís face.  "We are mortals, facing a god."

      With one last tilt of his head, the creature wearing Link's face decided these beings were not worth his time.  Like a Wolfos, Link stalked past them, his face expressionless.  Ruto's hand shivered with the urge to reach out to him.  In the end, she did not dare.

      Only when Link had left the small room did anyone dare move.  "I will warn my people to flee to their homes," Zelda declared, taking charge.  "Impa, find Sheik, tell him what has occurred.  Rauru, take care of the others.  Ruto, Nabooru, wait for further word.  No one is to take Link on."

      Without another word, the young queen vanished.

      Nabooru clenched her fists.  "He dismissed us like we were ants," she hissed.  "We are nothing to that creature."

      Quietly, Ruto called forth her power.  Now that the creature had left, it returned easily to her.  Subdued, she banished it.  "If the Sages can't fight him, and the Hero can't fight him, who can?"

      No one answered.

~~~~

      "...I tore it off when the world collapsed around me.  I did it then because I felt it...I guess falter is a good word.  That was my best chance.  I didnít see where the mask flew off to.  Everything just went black.  When I awoke again, I was back in Termina.  I felt--"

      The lights went off before Sheik could finish the sentence.  The journal was dropped and his dagger was in his hands before Sheik could think about it.  The gentle song of Faerie Fountain had transformed into a low keen.  The Sheikah glanced quickly at the fountain, only to see the curious Great Faerie had vanished.

      "Link," Sheik breathed, kneeling down and grabbing the book.  "No."

      Quickly pocketing the dagger, Sheik used his magic to summon forth a ball of light.  He hastily skimmed over the remaining paragraphs.  He had barely finished when Impa appeared in a flash of light.

      "Sheik, Link has--" she began.

      "Been possessed, yes I know," Sheik cut off impatiently.  He clutched the old notebook to his chest.  His mind was working rapidly.  "Quick, tell me what he looks like."

      Impa did not ask questions.  "Like himself, except for his eyes.  They were pure white."

      Sheik nodded.  "Because he's not at full power," he murmured.  "He's not himself yet."

      Any of the other Sages would have demanded to know what he was talking about.  Impa only waited patiently.

      Sheik bit his lip, a very unmysterious gesture that Link constantly teased him about.  Thinking hard, he suddenly came up with the answer.

      "Link threw away the mask!  He threw it away in--"

      Sheik cut himself off and whirled to face Impa.  "I know where Link's going.  Summon the others and follow me."

      His mother nodded and closed her eyes.  Sheik's eyes were hard.

      Within the mask, Link had written, it had been so easy to lose his way.

      Link had lost his way now...with the help of that bastard.

      Sheik knew where he had to go.

 

 

Quick author's note: The beginning scene didn't actually occur.  Majora wasn't speaking with Link.  It was just the interpretation his mind made, building from his memories of the last time period it occurred.  His mind translated it into visual images, a.k.a., dreams.  Easy enough to get, ne?

This is going a little differently than I had planned, but I'm still okay with it.  I'm mainly trying to get on with the story.  Any good?

Oh, and the second-to-last line wasn't a slip.