Author's Note: This is something I've wanted to do ever since I finished Majora's Mask. Some of the flashbacks may seem familiar (some dialogue is taken out of the game) but there are many new additions. And I'll try not to leave a storyline unturned.
2nd Note: This is the aftermath. It describes the first day of the Carnival of Time before Link goes back to Hyrule.
"As far as I knew, I was out of masks," Link continued. "All the masks I had were left back on the moon before I beat Majora's Mask. The Fierce Deity's Mask was abandoned there, too. I only had three masks left. They would be all I needed, though…for my first day at the carnival."
"What did you do?" Malon asked.
Link grinned. "I got ready for a performance…"
It was the first day of the Carnival of Time. Link slowly made his way past the crowd. It was hard to get through. Clock Town was packed. People came from afar for the carnival; Link could hardly find any standing room. But he knew where to go. He went into the Latte.
The Milk Bar was full of people waiting to see the Indigo-Go's. And Link knew that the band was waiting as well. He could hear Toto panicking from backstage.
"Where is he? He's late! We go on in five minutes! We can't do this without him!"
Link smiled. He just casually walked into one of the porta-potties brought in for the concert, since Mr. Barten knew how packed the house would be. As soon as he was in, he took out the Zora Mask and put it on.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Now in his Zora disguise, Link nonchalantly walked out of the porta-potty. Apparently, people recognized him. The capacity crowd began to cheer as Link made his way to the stage. The ovation was like practically no other Link heard in his entire life. He wished this could last forever. He had never been given this much…respect.
Link got on stage and waved to the crowd. Then he looked to his left to see the impatient Toto and the Indigo-Go's waiting on him. So Link took a bow and walked over to the band.
"Hi, guys," Link said coolly. "You miss me?"
"Mikau, you're late!" Toto nearly shouted. "Where have you been?"
"You were supposed to meet us here an hour ago," Evan, the bandleader, added. "We're on in less than five minutes!"
"Calm down, Evan," Tijo, the drummer, said. "At least Mikau is here now. As long as he's ready, I won't complain."
"We were perfect at rehearsal yesterday," Japas, the bassist, added. "I think we're good to go."
"You are ready, aren't you, Mikau?" Lulu asked.
"You bet," Link said ecstatically. He took out his guitar. "Let's jam!"
"Then get out there," Toto directed. "This is your moment of glory! This is the moment that will make the Indigo-Go's of this generation great! Now get out there and jam!"
The Indigo-Go's waited for Mr. Barten to make the big introduction.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you've all been waiting for. The Latte proudly presents…The Indigo-Go's!!"
The Indigo-Go's each took their place on stage and prepared to play the song they had rehearsed earlier.
"Ready…1…2…"
Evan began while Link and Japas followed with brief solos before Tijo came in on drums. Lulu then started singing. It sounded even better than it did at rehearsal. The audience watched on in adoration as the Indigo-Go's played on for another five minutes. The song ended when Lulu sang the final words to the tune of Link's guitar.
When it all ended, the audience gave them all a standing ovation. Each of them took a bow and walked off stage. Of course, Link couldn't resist the urge to take another curtain call. He went back out and waved to the crowd to a chorus of cheers and walked backstage.
"You were great!" Toto congratulated. "It was the performance of a lifetime. So…I guess that's it. Enjoy the carnival, guys. You've earned it."
Toto took his leave and walked out the backstage door.
"So I guess this is it," Tijo said. "We've got nothing booked for the next few weeks. So I guess we'll rendezvous tonight?"
"Sounds good," Japas agreed. "It's a good time to have some fun."
"Besides, I think Lulu and Mikau want the day to themselves," Evan added.
"Actually," Link cut in. "Guys…I was wondering if I could ask you for a big favor."
"You're not borrowing any more rupees from me, Mikau," Evan assumed.
"No, it's not that."
"I'm not going to the 'guess my weight' booth with you, Mikau," Tijo guessed. "I still haven't forgotten what happened last time."
"No, it's not that, either."
"Then what is it, Mikau?" Japas asked.
Link bashfully scratched the back of his head. "Well, gee, how do I put this? How would you feel about…a special performance?"
"A special performance?" Lulu repeated.
"Yeah. How do you guys feel about…doing weddings?"
"I knew I could take advantage of my disguise," Link continued. "Sure, it was a little deceitful, but it was something I felt I had to do. After watching everything Anju and Kafei had to go through, I felt they deserved something special. So I asked the Indigo-Go's to perform at their wedding.
"Thankfully, they agreed to do it. So I took them to the wedding, which was being held at the gate of South Clock Town. Of course, not everything went as planned."
Malon frowned. "What do you mean? Did something happen at the wedding?"
"You might say that," Link sighed. "It started off just fine. A new Couple's Mask had been made and the wedding was set to go off without a hitch. You should have seen the look on Anju's face…"
Just like the rest of Clock Town, South Clock Town was packed. The difference was, this was for a wedding. Link knew the wedding was due to begin any minute. Though, it looked like Anju's family couldn't quite afford an 'A' band. Of course, Link would solve that problem. Still in his Zora form, he instructed the Indigo-Go's to wait, while Link made the arrangements. Link walked through the crowd until he found Anju's mother.
"Um…excuse me."
Anju's mother turned around. "Can I help you?"
"Miss, I'm Mikau, from the Indigo-Go's. Do you know where I can find your daughter, Anju?"
"You're THE Mikau?" Anju's mother asked, wide-eyed. "W-Why do you want to see Anju?"
Link smiled. "It's a surprise."
Anju's mother stood in silent awe and pointed to a door by the Laundry Pool. Link walked in the door and found Anju and Cremia. Anju had just put on her white wedding dress. Needless to say, she wasn't expecting to see a Zora walk in on her.
"Anju?"
"Um…d-do I know you?" Anju asked.
Cremia answered that for her. "You. You're Mikau…of the Indigo-Go's!"
"That's me," Link said proudly.
"THE Mikau? But…what are you doing here?" Anju asked.
"The Indigo-Go's are here to perform at your wedding," Link answered.
Cremia gasped and looked up at Anju. "I can't believe it! The world famous Indigo-Go's are performing at your wedding! How did you get them?"
"I…don't know," Anju replied. She looked up at Link. "Why would such a famous band perform at my wedding? I'm not THAT important, am I?"
"It's actually a wedding gift," Link said. "It's from your little friend. He said his name was Link."
Anju gasped. "Link did this?"
"Kid sure gets around fast, doesn't he?" Cremia added. "He must have a lot of friends around here."
"You might say that," Link nodded.
"Is he here?" Anju asked.
"He said he'd be along shortly," Link answered. "He's running late, but believe me. He wouldn't miss this for the world."
With those words, Link walked out as he prepared to deliver his special concert. Of course, he also knew it'd be his last concert. After all, he couldn't be Mikau forever.
"I thought you said something went wrong, though," Malon pointed out.
"I'm getting to that," Link said. "Anyway, everything was going just fine at the beginning. I went to see Kafei and you should have seen him. He wasn't the same little boy I saw before. Apparently, when I beat Majora's Mask, the spell wore off. He had grown up again.
"He had just put his tux on, so I went and introduced myself to him. The looks he and the Curiosity Shop man had were a lot like the ones Anju and Cremia had. They couldn't believe the Indigo- Go's were performing at their wedding.
"So after all the introductions, we went and took our positions and got ready…"
The wedding was set to begin. Kafei was waiting by the altar and all that was left was for Anju for come down the aisle. When everybody saw her, Link began to play 'The Wedding March' on his guitar as Anju made her way down the aisle.
Everyone took their seats for the ceremony. The mass went on as it usually did. Anju and Kafei exchanged their vows. Then it was time…
"Do you, Kafei, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? For richer or poorer? In sickness and in health? To have and to hold, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Do you, Anju, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? For richer or poorer? In sickness and in health? To have and to hold, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"If there is anyone who objects to the union of this couple, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
There was only silence. Link was happy to see that these two were finally going to be married. Then he gasped. He looked at the table holding the wedding cake and the Couple's Mask. There was a bush…slowly moving towards it. Link had a sinking feeling about this. Sure enough, the bush reached the table and a hand reached out for the mask.
"HEY! HOLD IT!!"
Link, still in his Zora form, leaped out from where he was standing and made a beeline for the table. The crowd was in an uproar over what was happening. They couldn't see the hand reaching for the Couple's Mask. The hand took the mask. Someone jumped out of the bush and tried to prance out. Link groaned as he recognized the grinning face of Sakon, the thief.
Before Sakon could get too far, Link tackled the thief and knocked him down. Link began wrestling for the mask. Soon, Link and Sakon were both pulling for the Couple's Mask.
"Give it to me!" Sakon screamed. "I stole this fair and square!!"
"THIS doesn't belong to you!!" Link grunted.
"It does now!!" Sakon shot back. "GIVE IT TO ME!!"
Link smirked. "Whatever you say."
Link let go of the mask, in a move that Sakon clearly didn't expect. The momentum of his pulling knocked him back on the ground. Sakon was stunned and Link took advantage. He took out his guitar and clobbered the thief over the head with it. Sakon fell face first to the ground. Link took the Couple's Mask from his hands.
By now, everyone had made their way to the fight scene, but the fight was over. Sakon was down and out, and Viscen had already restrained the thief.
"How dare you interfere in my son's wedding!!" Madame Aroma shouted.
"So you're the notorious Sakon," Mayor Dotour said angrily. "We've been hunting you down for many years. And it looks like you've picked the worst possible place to strike. You dare bring your foul stench into my son's wedding?! Take him away, Viscen! And throw him into our darkest dungeon cell! You'll rot for this intrusion, Sakon!"
Viscen and his soldiers each led a grumbling Sakon away. Link couldn't help but smirk. This thief had finally gotten his comeuppance. He was finally being put away. And the wedding could continue.
But Mayor Dotour approached him first. "You saved my son's wedding. How can I ever repay you, Mikau?"
"Don't worry about it," Link said modestly. "I'm just doing what's right. So should we get on with the wedding?"
"We should," Mayor Dotour nodded. He looked at the altar where the priest, Anju, and Kafei were all still standing. "Please continue, Father."
Link took his place back with the Indigo-Go's where they each congratulated on his feat of bravery. Then the ceremony concluded.
The priest looked at Anju and Kafei. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
All the people in attendance applauded as Anju and Kafei kissed each other for the first time as husband and wife. They walked down the aisle and Anju threw the bouquet, which was caught by Cremia. Link felt good. It warmed his heart to know that he helped make this possible. But Link couldn't help but notice that Anju and Kafei were looking around for someone. Link knew who they were looking for. They were looking for him.
Link looked back at the band. "Uh…thanks a lot, guys. I really owe you big time for this. So I'll see you tonight?"
"What about me, Mikau?" Lulu asked.
"I'll see you in a few minutes," Link answered. "Just wait for me out here. I'll be right back."
Link walked over to where no one could see him and took off the Zora Mask. He walked back out and saw that Anju and Kafei were nowhere in sight. He wandered through the crowd trying to find them, but accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry…" Link began.
The person turned around and smiled at him. It was Cremia, still holding the bouquet. "Hi, little guy. I didn't think you were going to show up. Anju's been looking everywhere for you."
"Where is she?"
"She's right over here," Cremia beamed. "Just follow me."
Cremia led Link right over to where Sakon had been caught by 'Mikau'. Standing there, were Anju and Kafei and they were each holding the Couple's Mask. Cremia was about to say something, but Link motioned for her not to. He wanted to do this himself. So Cremia just nodded and walked away.
"I heard he came back," Link said.
Anju and Kafei turned around and were shocked to see Link there.
"I didn't think you'd come," Anju stammered.
"But we're glad you came," Kafei added. "And yeah, Sakon came back. But it was a good thing that Mikau stopped him. He's a real hero."
"He really is," Link nodded.
"I heard you got the Indigo-Go's to perform for us," Anju said.
"Call it a wedding gift," Link replied.
"You've done so much for us," Anju said softly. "We just wanted to thank you, Link. Kafei?"
Kafei took out a pair of masks. "These may not be like the ones we had, but they're the best we could do on such short notice. They're two masks, of moon and sun. Please accept them…and share them someday with the girl you will marry."
Link took the masks and looked at them. They looked just like the masks that Anju and Kafei had the night before, before they united them into the Couple's Mask.
"Thank you. I'll never forget this."
"And we'll never forget you," Kafei said. "Thank you for everything."
Link looked at his masks again. Then he said his goodbyes and left, knowing that Anju and Kafei would be happy, because they were together. Link was almost ready to leave Termina. There was only one thing left to do, though.
And this wouldn't be easy…
"There was only one thing left," Link added. "I had to become Mikau one last time…and tell Lulu the truth."
Malon hesitated before she asked. "How did she take it?"
"Well, first I had to take her someplace where we couldn't be seen," Link started. "The place I had in mind was Kafei's old hiding place. When I took her there, then it was time…"
"Mikau, what are we doing here?"
Link didn't know what to say. He was in his Zora form for probably the last time. Since the day he first met Lulu, Link knew he would have to tell her the truth someday. That time had finally come and Link still didn't know what to say.
"Lulu…" he began. "There's something I have to tell you. Something…oh, man…how do I say this?"
Lulu walked up to Link and held his hand. "You can tell me, Mikau. We've been through everything together. What is it?"
"You're not making this any easier!" Link moaned.
Lulu backed away. "Mikau…you're starting to scare me. Tell me what's wrong."
Link took a deep breath. "I'm…not…Mikau."
Lulu looked confused. "…What?"
Link didn't say anything. He braced himself for the worst and pulled off the Zora Mask. Now Hylian, Link looked up at Lulu. He could see so many emotions on her face: sadness, anger, shock, but most of all…confusion.
"I'm sorry you have to find out this way," Link said.
"W-Where is Mikau?" Lulu asked.
Link hung his head down. "Mikau…is dead. I found him dying in Great Bay. I pulled him to shore where he died. All he left was this mask."
This sudden shock was sinking in slowly for poor Lulu. "M-Mikau is…dead? How…?"
Link didn't know what to say. He didn't want to have to tell Lulu that Mikau was killed by Gerudo Pirates.
"I don't know how," he finally answered. "All I know is that he died shortly after I found him."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Lulu asked indignantly. "And why the charade? Why did you try to pass yourself off as Mikau?"
"Mikau made one final request of me," Link replied. "He wanted to keep the commitment he made to perform at the Carnival of Time. He didn't want the rest of the band to find out until after the carnival. He didn't want to disappoint the fans…and he didn't want to abandon any of you."
Lulu turned away. She sat down and started crying mournfully. Link hated to see this. This was exactly what he didn't want to happen. He knew that was only one thing he could do. He walked up to Lulu and held her hand.
"Mikau did leave me one last message to give you."
"W-What…is it?"
"He loves you very much."
Lulu tried to dry off her tears. "T-Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me."
"There's only one thing, though," Link sighed. "How am I supposed to explain to the rest of the band that Mikau's dead?"
"You don't have to worry about that," Lulu said comfortingly. "I'll…think of something to tell them. But…I should go." She got up and started heading for the door.
"Are you going to be ok?" Link asked.
"I…honestly don't know," Lulu said grimly.
Lulu walked out, leaving Link by himself. It saddened Link to have to watch Lulu's heart get broken like that. He only wished it didn't have to end that way.
"You did what you had to, Link."
Link turned around to see that he wasn't alone. Floating behind a box was an old friend. It was Tatl.
"What are you doing here?" Link asked.
"I wanted to see how you'd handle this," the fairy answered. "Are you going to be ok?"
Link sighed. "I'll be fine. But I don't know about Lulu. I can't worry about that, though. I have to go home. I've been here too long."
"Home?"
"Back to Hyrule," Link continued. "I told Malon I'd be gone for a few hours. I must've been out for months."
"Actually…you've only been gone three days," Tatl assured him. "Since it's today, it's more like four days."
Link shook his head. "That doesn't really make me feel any better. Malon must be worried sick about me. I have to go back."
Link got up and started to walk out.
"So is this goodbye?"
Link turned around to see that Tatl was saddened. The tone of her voice indicated that she didn't want Link to leave. But he had to. He didn't belong in Termina.
"For now," Link answered. "Maybe we'll see each other again."
Tatl flew over to Link's forehead and kissed him. "…I'll miss you."
Link bid his fairy friend farewell and turned to leave. He couldn't believe it. It was finally over. It was finally time for him to go…home. But he still felt sad. He had made so many new friends here. He befriended Anju, Kafei, Cremia, Romani, the Skull Kid…and Tatl. He couldn't forget Tatl. He hadn't felt this sad since he parted ways with…Navi.
Link shook it off, though. It was time for him to leave…because there was someone back in Hyrule that he missed more than anyone. He wanted to go home to Malon. So he opened the door…but looked back at Tatl one last time.
"I'll miss you, too."
Link looked outside the barn as he remembered these things. All this time, he had been so reluctant to recall his days in Termina. At first, he thought it was because of all the physical pain and angst he had to endure. But now he realized it wasn't just that. Link found it difficult to recall that emotional moment when he left the land he had worked so hard to save.
"It was so hard to leave," he told Malon. "But I kept remembering that I didn't belong there. That wasn't my world. My world was here. So I sucked it up…and left Termina."
"Then you came back?" Malon asked.
"Actually, there was one last thing I did before I came to the ranch," Link went on. "I stopped at the Lost Woods…to bury all the masks. I knew I shouldn't hold, and neither should anyone else. So I buried them deep within the Lost Woods where no one could find them.
"Then I left the Lost Woods and came back." Link sighed deeply. "Do remember how you reacted the moment I got back?"
"Refresh my memory," Malon smirked. "How did I react?"
Link glared at Malon. "I can't believe you forgot…"
Link was starting to think he was better off in Termina. The moment he set foot on Lon Lon Ranch, he was met with a flying bottle. He barely ducked it in time, but he was still afraid of what else was to come. Four days of being MIA had apparently set Malon off.
"Malon…" Link grinned sheepishly. "You miss me?"
The ten-year old Malon only growled angrily and hurled another bottle at Link, again narrowly missing him and shattering on the wall. It was safe to say that Malon wasn't happy with Link being gone for so long.
"Malon…please," Link begged. "I can explain…WHOA!!"
Link ducked another bottle. How many of those did she have? Link figured it would be a good time to hide. He started running, just narrowly dodging yet another bottle. Then he found his saving grace. He ran into the nearest outhouse and shut the door. Malon gave chase and started banging on the outhouse door.
"You come out of there, Link!"
"NO!" Link shouted. "Not until you cool off and give me a chance to explain!"
"Explain what?!" Malon demanded. "You said you were going to be gone for a few hours! It's been FOUR DAYS!! What POSSIBLE excuse could you have for worrying me like that?!"
Link was almost ready to stick his head out, but stayed in. "…You were worried about me?"
Malon sounded a little choked up. "I was worried sick…about you…and Epona. Are you all right? What happened to you? Where did you go?"
Link hung his head down. He couldn't tell her the truth. She would never believe him. He's been the Hero of Time, but even the concept of a parallel world called Termina seemed beyond belief. Not only that, but Link spent hours trying to convince Malon to let him borrow Epona for a day. He couldn't tell her he lost her favorite horse, if even for a short time, after she trusted him. In the state she was in right now, she'd throttle him. And besides that…Link hadn't recovered from his full experience in Termina yet. The whole impact of what just happened still hadn't sunk into his mind.
And frankly, he didn't care to remember, either. Months and months of turmoil were starting to take their toll. Link went three whole days without a wink of sleep. He spent three days on the tightest schedule anyone could ever have. Right now, he just wanted to sleep. But first, he had to get out of this outhouse.
"Can I come out?" Link asked.
Malon hesitated. "Sure. You can come out."
"Promise not to hit me with anything?"
"Promise."
Link bashfully came out of the outhouse. It was time to tell a lie that would hopefully last for a while.
"How do I start?" Link began. "Well…I went to have a day to myself, just like I asked. So I took Epona to…"
Link paused. He couldn't tell her he took Epona to the Lost Woods. Malon knew how dangerous it was there. She wouldn't like that. He had to think of something else.
"…Zora's River. Yeah, that's it. I rode her around the river until I found myself back in Hyrule Field. Then I decided…to…uh…go…FISHING…yeah. I went to Lake Hylia to get some fishing done. Then I almost caught a big…no…HUGE fish. But then it got away. And you know how I get when I can't catch a fish. I just have to stay there until I catch it. So anyway, I lost track of time."
Malon was still suspicious. "You spent THREE DAYS catching a fish. Then where is it?"
Link stuttered. "Uh…uh…I didn't catch it. It never came back so I just gave up. And I didn't spend three days there. I went somewhere else. I…uh…went…um…to…uh…bring back some…um…MILK!"
D'oh. Link knew he slipped up. He groaned in his mind.
"Milk?" Malon asked skeptically. "We live at A RANCH!! You know, full of cows and everything. Why would go looking for milk?"
Link struggled to find an explanation. Then he remembered. "Because this is special milk. That's right. It's like no other milk you've ever had. It's…magic milk."
"What's so magical about it?" Malon asked.
Link knew the answer to that. "Uh…to be honest, I don't know. I haven't tasted it. I…brought it back for you."
Link reached into his tunic and took the only bottle of Chateau Romani he had. It was something Mr. Barten had left for 'Mikau'. It was his only alibi…for now. So he handed it to Malon, who was trying to find what was so magical about it.
"I don't know," Malon said slowly. "I have a feeling there's something you aren't telling me. You may not be willing to tell me now, or even later. But let me you something, fairy boy. Whatever you're keeping from me, you won't be able to hide it forever. Someday, I'll find out what REALLY happened. But for now…"
Malon reached over and kissed Link on the cheek.
"…I'm glad you're ok."
Malon looked back at Epona. She went over to talk to her horse. Link could feel that Malon missed Epona terribly. Link couldn't help but think about Malon's prophetic words. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to tell her anytime soon. But could Link really keep the secret of Termina from her forever?
He didn't think about that at that moment. He just decided to go up to his room and sleep for a while. Maybe he could forget about Termina…in a few years.
Link sighed deeply. "And…that's pretty much it. That was everything that's happened." He smiled at Malon. "I think that's every secret I've kept from you."
"Actually, I have one more question," Malon said, taking Link's hand. "Would you…ever want to go back?"
Link paused for a while. He thought deeply about that question.
"I'm…really not sure," he finally said. "If I had the chance…I might think about it."
"Maybe you will," Malon nodded. "Stranger things have happened, you know."
"And my life just gets stranger by the day," Link added. "Maybe you're right."
Link got up and walked out of the born. Nightfall had set in again, so there wasn't much more for Link to do. As soon as Malon came back out, Link gave her a kiss.
Malon asked Link one final question. "By the way…what did you do with the masks that Anju and Kafei gave you?"
Link smiled. "They're…in a safe place…where I'll be able to find them someday."
"Where?" Malon asked curiously.
"Sorry," Link grinned. "It's…a secret. My ONLY secret."
Link kissed Malon again, only this time, held the kiss a little longer. This would be another night to spend with her under the stars…and the moon.
THE END
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