-That night, somewhere in Mitagi-

A particular man hurried about in his shop. He loathed traveling again, but times were urgent. First, King Ganondorf Dragmire appeared in the Mitagi gates and disappeared just as quickly. Then, Zelda, Heir to the State of Qin, appears. An assassin tries to strike, and suddenly the whole city is shaken. Guards and soldiers filled Mitagi. The city was a fortress and the military capital of Qin, so soldiers are to be expected, but not like this. There was always a strictness in everyone's behavior, but never like this. The city was almost under martial law. There was no curfew, but the man could not help but feel like he was being watched by the soldiers who stood at every corner. Soldiers who were ever watchful and wary.

It was a subtle thing, how air changes. The people were oblivious, and the orchestrator of this quiet state of martial law was a genius. The man gave the hidden general great credit, but unfortunately for him, he was no simple man. He had experience in subtly, in hidden wars, and battles inside the confines of cities.

The man smiled widely. "May the Ice Queen bitch get what's coming to her."

What fortune! The man thought. Of all things, for the Ice Queen's friend and man-servant to come, seeking a mask exclusively for her. What was it but fate! His smile grew even wider at the thought.

"She has met with a terrible fate."

It was a subtle thing, the art and craft of the Majora. A subtly he quickly learned, and desired to learn further. For example, when some masks were placed together, the combination could be something more. Taking two masks, the man placed them together. They were both empty masks, lacking in what bound them like other Majora masks. But he had found, stumbled actually, upon the truth of their special combination.

As a trigger.

His task done, the mask salesman piled his coin and rupee on his back with his mask collection. He also pulled a mask out, and after looking down on it, placed it on his face. Instantly, he transformed. He shapeshifted into a great wolf, larger than even the wolves of the Majora or Kokiri. The mask salesman became a wolf once considered so great it was a monster amongst wolves. His bulk filled the room and he quickly became as large as a house.

With the subtly and strength a great wolf wields, the mask salesman fled into the night and disappeared.

He went far and succeeded in avoiding attention, but a scent hit his nose. The wolf-mind rose and snarled at the scent. The metallic odor of blood mixed with something else, something unnatural. It smelled close. He peered into the night and followed the trail a short distance. He soon came across chewed and mangled guards on the ground. That explained the scent of death, he realized. But where was the-

Something jumped onto his back and bit into his flesh. The mask salesman roared in pain, spun, and tried to thrash the invader off. The beast on his back clawed back at him and bit him over and over. The wolf-mind roared louder, beating at the mask salesman's mind, and demanding to react. The mask salesman believed in keeping control, but he was a survivor first. He let himself go, and the wolf-mind leapt to the forefront of his perceptions.

The great wolf jumped into the air, spun, and slammed the earth with its back. The attacker let go, stunned. It was a moment, but it was enough for the wolf to act. It rolled to its feet and faced its opponent.

The monster was a beast with glowing orbs, akin to blinking eyes, covering its back, sides, and legs. Its underbelly was exposed and open, showing organs barely held by a protruding rib cage. Its legs were thin and numerous, and its hide was a hash of fur and scales at once. The space not occupied with the orbs bore hooked claws and thorns, and its mouth glowed alongside its many eyes.

The wolf and the mask salesman both paused in surprise. The man-mind was petrified of the horror before it. While the wolf-mind did not fear, it was uncertain of what manner of beast it was. The wolf-mind did not hesitate to know it was 'enemy,' but it did not know what arsenal this 'enemy' had.

The monster rolled back onto its legs, but it took far too long. The wolf noticed its struggle. The many spines and thorns kept it from rolling properly. Then the wolf noticed its organs were openly exposed. In quick decision, the wolf lurched forward and sank its teeth deep into the exposed rib cage and organs. The monster roared in agony before falling silent.

The lights all over the monster's body exploded, and bright lights flew into the sky like small fireflies. The wolf yelped in surprise and stepped back. A mighty gash grew across the beast's back and more lights flew from it into the air. The monster turned to black as the light fled. Smoke rose from its body and organs. The wolf noticed the blood in its mouth became unnaturally hot, burning even.

More sounds arose from nearby, and the wolf faced the source. Its eyes widened but quickly narrowed. Its ears peeled back and a snarl rose from its throat. More monsters appeared out of the darkness. The wolf could not count the same way a man could, but the man-mind first counted three, then five, then seven. Several were just in front, while others hid deeper in the alley's shadows. Every one smelled unnatural and of death.

Slowly, they crawled forward, pressing hard on their bellies. Some were smaller, and some were larger. Some had few lights on their back, while others had clusters. They walked forward as one, and the wolf, step by step, went back. The wolf-mind did not fear, but it was wary. It recognized the smell very slightly now. It was the smell of someone the man-mind knew very well.

Ganondorf Dragmire.

But how could that be? The man-mind speculated. How could these monsters smell that man, Ganondorf Dragmire?

The monsters reached the center of the newly made arena, and with a great snarl, lunged past their dead comrade. The wolf snarled in return, its fur raised. One monster jolted forward incredibly fast, yet the wolf was still able to snap down on its neck when it neared. The monster squealed in pain. It felt the wolf's teeth sink deep, its burning blood filling its attacker's mouth and throat. The many thorns and spikes adorning the beast (for the wolf gleaned this was the alpha) pierced the wolf's gums and tongue. Having enough, the wolf put a paw down and ripped its head off with a snap.

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The other monsters stepped back. The ones who feasted on the dead monster licked their glowing lips, pulsed, and grew before the wolf's eyes. Several glowing orbs appeared on their backs like eyes opening from sleep. More spikes shot out of their hides and their overall masses just increased. For several of the beasts, there were other changes. One had flesh grow over its ribs and more muscle on its back legs, so it could rise onto its hind legs. One grew wings like a giant fly, and they fluttered about while their owner growled. A third monster's mouth grew brighter, changing to a reddish hue, and with a deep breath, fire flew from it.

The wolf yelped as flames licked its fur, and it fled into the alley. The wolf-mind and the man-mind shared one thought: they should flee the city. It was now under Ganondorf Dragmire's shadow.

-Zelda-

Having calmed and composed herself, Zelda allowed Link to return and resume his place. Night fell, and Zelda retired early. Sarah and Malon would come in to sleep later, but since Zelda felt the burden of events and expectations heavier than them, she wanted to sleep now. Link lay on the rug by the fireplace. Zelda insisted as much, not wanting him to be in pain again.

Zelda didn't know what to do or how to feel. His 'gift' shook her deeply. To be able to look at herself, acknowledge herself, and think about things other girls were obsessed with without feeling disgusted was unsettling to say the least. Zelda was used to holding disgust, resentment, towards seeing herself. This mask presented something else, something she didn't know how to process or feel. And this confusion was Link's idea of something positive...

At the very least, Zelda appreciated the thought of Link's gift. He wasn't one to give wealth, land, animals, or slaves. His presents focused on things more meaningful. Moments like this drove a knife into her gut, twisting and churning her around.

One moment it sounded like he was hinting at 'Prince Link,' and the next he was 'Friend Link.' He had failed her multiple times, yet he was doing his best despite it.

Zelda sighed. If Link was one thing, she knew, he was resilient and stubborn. Zelda would move on and forgive him quickly enough. 'Friend Link' was a good foundation to rely on. Having enough of these thoughts, she closed her eyes to sleep. Something tickled her nose at some point, but she curled up tighter and ignored it.

Zelda heard the metallic step of a boot and the clinking of armor. She opened her eyes and found a surprise. A soldier stood in the moonlight of the window, a sword in hand. Zelda could not see his face, for he was armored from head to toe. He looked as tall as a mountain, veritably towering over her.

Zelda began to panic. How had he entered the room? There was no door on that side. The window was closed, and they were in a tower. Had he climbed all the way up the side?

The soldier's helmet shifted left and right. The man inside likely just scanned the room. He took another step towards the bed.

Behind Zelda, the guard on point, unfortunately not Link, but a female soldier who replaced his shift, rose and drew her weapon. She dashed towards the interloper. The man snapped his attention to her as she yelled and charged.

The guard's yell was cut short as his blade protruded from her neck. Zelda shook fearfully. It was the assassin. Had she not witnessed it herself, she would never have believed what happened. He was in front of her one moment and behind her the next. His speed was purely unnatural. Zelda could not follow it at all. It was as if he could teleport.

"Quiet," The assassin whispered in a hoarse and dry tone.

He drew his blade back and the guard fell over. He turned his attention once more to the room around him. He opened the closets and ran a hand through the clothes within. Then he approached the bed where Zelda lay. She kept shaking, unable to move. Terror filled her and left her numb. The assassin stretched forward, his blade dripping blood.

He took hold of the bed and upturned it. Zelda fell onto the floor with the mattress and sheets over her. Zelda groaned painfully. She reached a hand forward and tried to crawl out. She expected a blade to go through the mattress and into her back, but with each second, it did not happen. She heard him walking around the room, to and fro, searching for something. Since it never ceased, Zelda gathered he never seemed to find his quarry.

He had clearly seen Zelda. She wondered if she wasn't even his target.

Zelda popped her head out of the mattress and gasped for air. She looked up. The room looked massive to her current view, and the man towering over her was nothing short of a giant encased in thick armor. He scanned the room, his feet barely a few inches away from her face.

In a flash of green light, he disappeared.

Zelda lay there, stunned, and tried to understand what had just happened. The assassin had spontaneously appeared in her room. She realized he must have possessed a power greater than the Sheikah and a speed greater than Link. Zelda had seen Link using his Gift: he was a blur. This man wasn't even a blur. He was gone. He was clearly searching for something or someone in her room, though. Zelda presumed it was her, as he was willing to murder to get to his quarry, yet he looked directly at her and did not kill.

Zelda felt Link and Ganondorf's heartbeats pick up with her own racing heart. Ganondorf was very distant, but Link was drawing closer to her by the second. After a moment, Link, in his typical blur, slammed the door open and ran across the room. He looked down at the dead guard and searched the room. Just like the assassin, Link opened every closet.

"Zelda!" Link cried out.

"I'm here," Zelda answered.

Link turned around, his eyes understandably wide and panicked. His head continued to search the room. Finally, he approached Zelda. For some reason, she thought he looked abnormally large. He stepped in front of her, threw the mattress to the side and froze.

His spear dropped from his hands.

"Oh... shit," Link muttered.

"Am I injured?" Zelda inquired.

Before Zelda could do anything, Link bent down and picked her up. She squirmed uncomfortably by being suddenly curled in his arms, but he ignored her and all but ran headfirst out of the room to Geoffrey.

Link slammed open Geoffrey's door. "General! We got a problem!" He exclaimed.

Geoffrey jumped from his bed. He lacked a shirt but was otherwise decent. He reached for his sword. "What's the matter?"

In answer, Link held Zelda by her armpits. Zelda was not amused.

"You got a pet?" Geoffrey asked, confused, and a little angered at being disturbed for this.

"Excuse me, who are you calling a pet?!" Zelda demanded, but was unheard.

Link dropped her. Now she was miffed. Zelda shook her head. She looked up, and suddenly gasped. Geoffrey was huge to her, too! She spun around and whisked her tail to-

Zelda stopped and stared. The white tail froze.

Zelda spun, and the tail also moved. She sat and looked at herself. She had white paws. The triangle lit up her right one, so she knew she was still Zelda, at least. Zelda looked up and discovered she was about waist level to Link. Then she finally saw a reflection of herself in Geoffrey's shield.

She was a white fox.

"This is not a pet. This is Zelda," Link said.

Geoffrey shook his head. "Link... what are you going on about?"

"Yeah... I might have had something to do with this. I did something... something bad."

"Did you make the red-head cry again?"

"No...well, yes...but I did something else. Something far worse."

"Okay, this I have to hear. I can see you have come to me for urgent advice. I promise I will respond appropriately."

-Outside the city-

The mask salesman stopped his escape and looked back. It sounded like he just heard a man yell 'OH, YOU F***ED UUUUP!'