Chereads / Nextgen Kids: Legend of the Nine Newborn / Chapter 93 - Her Truth and Her Lie

Chapter 93 - Her Truth and Her Lie

505 years ago

The three Maidens were preparing a feast of ice cream, frosty cake, drinks served as ice cubes, and frozen, uncooked meat. The dining chamber of the Tower of Change was covered in a blanket of snow, pine trees were growing, and the spirits of polar bears and reindeer roamed the halls. "Don't tell Ari, but I fried a couple turkey legs before the feast." Flaru said. "This frozen stuff just don't do it for me."

"Tee hee, eating the remains of your own people, how naughty~" Lyara teased, the Kokiri shifting on her feet.

"What?! What makes you think I'm eating Gerudo?!"

"Um, I, I think she was talking about…" Evea spoke softly and quietly.

"Oh, you mean the Rito. Well, the Rito eat poultry too, y'know. Just like the Zora eat non-intelligent fish. Ain't that how nature works, Lyara?"

"Well, of course. But I've always wondered if Rito approve of humans eating poultry as well."

"Whatever, these are just spiritual versions, anyway. …When's Araea gonna show up, even?"

"I don't know. She's been keeping to herself an awful lot. Of course, that's the norm for Araea, anyway. Winter always has a slow start, hehe!"

"Honestly, this is why most of the Terminans have a problem with winter, Araea never takes her job seriously."

"Um, to be fair…" Evea spoke, shyly brushing her hair of leaves. "She kind of had power before the rest of us did… and she didn't have seasonal duties back then… This is probably an inconvenience to her…"

"I guess she just doesn't care about ensuring a peaceful winter for Termina." Lyara shrugged, smiling casually.

Evea frowned, feeling uncomfortable about talking about their friend this way. "Maybe she doesn't wanna come. I'll go bring the sword to her myself." She picked up the Sword of Four Seasons.

"Hey, we went to the trouble of setting this up, we need to do this properly!" Flaru stated. "Just go and see what's keeping her, but don't give the sword to her."

"Um…okay…"

Somewhere hidden in the Snowcap Wastes

An infant's cry echoed from the dark depths of the mountain. One would find it amazing that new life could exist in such a sad, forgotten zone. The Frosolite baby was held comfortably in the arms of the Sheikah man, her own tears freezing to her face. "It's a girl." the man said.

"Then we'll call her Avis." Araea decided, panting after the experience. "Finally… I can toss this shell aside. Anyway, you know I can't raise her myself. If the other Sheikah ask, tell them you found her abandoned."

"I cannot keep the secret for all in my clan. After all, we will need to see if this 'hybrid' can truly adapt well to warm weather. For now, I will keep her in cold storage. Still… it's sad to think we will have to limit our interaction because of this. And depending on how she ages, I may not even live long enough to really speak to her and explain everything."

"For now, I just hope she lives a peaceful life. I don't want her to be mentally burdened with things like 'Project Hylia,' her Maiden mother, or whatever… Sigh, but then again, who knows what will happen in these circumstances."

"I promise to take good care of her, and my clan will do the same. …But isn't there something you're meant to be doing?"

"Araeaaaaaaaaa! Are you out theeeeerrrre??"

"Oh…right." Araea quickly abandoned her mortal form, rushing up the snowy mountainside. Any other being would struggle immensely in these harsh conditions, let alone in such a heavy dress, but it posed no problem to Araea. She followed the energy signal of the Fall Maiden and found Evea's soft, twilight glow within the snow.

"Araea! I thought I felt you out here. …Um, so… how is it…"

"It's been done, Evea. …I'm not pregnant, anymore."

"You…You gave birth?!" Evea gasped with a delighted expression.

"Yes. It's a girl."

"I bet she looks so beautiful! Can I see her??"

"No, not yet. Let's just get to the Winter Feast."

"Ah, yes. The others are waiting. I'm glad you were able to have her in time."

Tower of Change

When Evea and Araea had returned, they saw Flaru laying lazily on the couch and reading a book. Lyara had minimized to Minish size and was digging into the frosty cake, stuffing her little mouth with sweetness. "Huh?" Flaru looked up. "Finally. You know, these parties can go a lot faster if you'd just show up."

"Excuse me if I've gotten a bit tired." Araea stated. "We've been doing the same thing for nearly 500 years, four times a year. It starts to feel a little less sacred."

"You might not think it's a big deal, but your duty is the most important. You're the one who's supposed to carry us into the New Year. The one who first raises the sword at the top of the tower during the Carnival of Time."

"In shome partsh of the w'rld," Lyara talked through a glob of frosting in her mouth, and that plus her small size made her inaudible, "it'sh actually shummer at thish time of year."

"Why don't we just start?" Evea asked. She walked in front and faced Araea, presenting the sheathed sword. "'I relinquish my duties as the Maiden of Fall. No longer will I decorate the earth with fallen leaves.'"

"…" Araea calmly took the sword. She unsheathed it and held it perfectly vertical. "'I promise a gentle Winter for the people of Termina. The children will play happily across a blanket of snow. The animals will rest peacefully with plentiful food. Termina will wake to a brand new year.'"

The Sword of Four Seasons possessed a neon glow, with the colors of orange, green, yellow, and red. The central area of the sword had a stain-glass window-like design of flowers, snowflakes, rain, and sun. "Great! Now, let's dig in!" Flaru cheered. "Or, continue digging in!"

The Maidens sat at the table and ate as Lyara danced across their toenails, decorating each one with designs befitting them. Araea was talking to Evea about miscellaneous complaints regarding the Sheikah while Flaru only tried to talk to Lyara. Araea would turn the floor into an ice rink as they skied around and played hockey. They would fill the room with snow again and build snowmen and snow angels.

Current time

Araea and Link walked out of the temple, the hero carrying Avis on his back. "The older you get, the less entertaining ceremonies become. Especially when they're so often. And after being 'gone' for… 500 years, was it? It hardly feels like time moved at all, so I still don't miss it."

"Then… what was that mask?" Avis asked. "Where did it come from? You said it was sent by Majora…"

"I never actually met Majora himself, but that's what everyone else was saying. And the dark power eclipsing me… It felt like the tales of Majora that I've read about. Anyway, I'll explain the rest of my story after we meet up with the other Maidens. They need to know, too."

"Are we going back to the temples?" Link asked.

"No, we're going to the Tower of Change. I'm certain the Maidens will have sensed my return, so they'll be there. And also… perhaps we can use the Sword of Four Seasons to destroy that mask once and for all."

"I'm gettin' me a s'ooooooorrrrrrd!" Link's eyes spiked in excitement.

"My analysis reads that you're a very big fan of swords. …Anyway, considering the journey we have to make, I doubt you'll be able to carry my daughter the whole way."

"I know what that means." Link set Avis down and took out the Minish Cap. "Now it's your turn~!"

"Mmmm…" Avis nearly blushed as she put the cap on and became a Minish. Link grinned and held a bottle down, Avis climbing inside with greater embarrassment.

"This seems like a good way to ground her at least." Araea remarked. The little princess fumed in anger inside the glass prison.

With the bottle tucked safely in his pouch, Link easily made the journey (or rather Rito glide) down the mountains. However, he remembered an empty statue on the Armos stairway and had 'Araea' possess it, moving it aside to reveal a Heart Piece. They at last returned to the Ancient Lion and sailed onto the White Sea, Link blessing his skin and lungs with warm weather.

The Tower of Change was built directly to the south of the sky. It was a short way past where Picori Island was on the map (as well as being thousands of meters higher than it, of course). Link docked his boat at the stairs to the tower. It was built with Island Cloud bricks, but had green moss, flowers, colored leaves, and frost around parts of it. Link released Avis as she resized, the three of them marching up the stairs. The entrance to the temple was sealed, but there were four spaces before it.

Araea stood on the snowflake. Pillars of light appeared on the others: Lyara appeared on the flower, Flaru on the sun, and Evea on the autumn leaf. "A-Araea!" Evea gasped. "You're alive?!"

"Well, technically we were already spirits. It's just that you destroyed my soul." Araea corrected.

"But how did you come back?" Lyara asked. "And that girl… isn't she…?"

"She's my daughter, Avis."

"You had a daughter?!" Flaru exclaimed.

"Listen, there's been a misunderstanding." Link intervened. "This mask… it wasn't made by Araea." The hero withdrew the mask from his pouch. The Maidens flinched to attention. "We want to use your sword to destroy it completely."

"W-Wait a moment!" Lyara shouted. "This is all so sudden! If Araea didn't make the mask, who did? And why did you attack us all those years ago?"

"I was under control. What really happened was…"

500 years ago

Araea was alone in her chamber, viewing an ice-made mirror. She was in the process of painting a mask she had carefully carved out, representing her own visage. She smiled, having finally finished. "…Huh?" She sensed a presence outside. Araea hid the mask under her altar, crossing the arena floor to the large entrance. She opened the door… and didn't find anybody. Araea walked forward- "?" she stepped on something. Past her dress, under her foot, there was a dark mask with blue eyes and a snowflake design.

Araea picked the mask up. She could almost feel like it were actually, creepily staring at her. …In fact, it might've just looked up her dress! She would blush at the idea. Araea studied the mask from all angles, but couldn't detect anything weird about it. She simply placed it over her face. "…Mmmhh, mmnng, AAA-AAAAAAAAHHH!"

Her cries of anguish echoed across the mountains.

Picori Island

A month had passed since Araea entrusted the sword to Lyara, signaling the start of Spring. The Maiden wore the sword at her back, going for a merry stroll through the woods. She loved the scent of spring filling her nose, the plants feeling fresh and new. Petals rained on her from the treetops, dropped by millions of happy Minish that were honoring their guardian. Lyara closed her eyes and only let herself hear the sounds of nature, let her soles be soothed by the pleasant grass, let the snowflake tickle her nose…?

Lyara opened her eyes with confusion. The sun had gone in, and flurries were falling. It was getting cold. The Minish were confused, too. …Snow started to fall heavier. The Minish were crying and fleeing, the giant flakes threatening to cut them. Lyara gasped, seeing a figure appear from the snow: they wore an eerie dark mask with glowing blue eyes, but that dress could only be…

"Araea?! What… are you doing? You know it's my turn… right? …Heh heh, did you want to have a snowball contest?"

"Give it to me."

"Give… what?"

"Your power. Give it to me."

"P-Power?!"

"I'm sick of my people having to live in solitude, trapped on a dreary mountain. I want an eternal winter where they can roam the world free; I don't care what happens to the other species. I'll steal your powers so you can never stop me!"

"A-Araea… stay back…" Lyara backed away from the slow, approaching Frosolite. "D-Don't make me draw this…" She held the sword's sheath in her left hand, and the handle in her right, twitching as she slowly unsheathed. "D-Don't… make me…"

With an impulsive burst of power, Lyara dramatically accelerated the growth of the plants, grabbing and pushing Araea toward the shore, but she swiftly froze the ever-growing plants. Araea climbed atop them and skied across. Lyara drew the sword and held it nervously, clashing with Araea's ice blades, but was hesitant to attack her fellow Maiden. Araea knocked the sword away, Lyara falling on her rear as she watched it stab into a tree. Araea formed a giant icicle, Lyara bracing herself for its piercing blow.

A blast of fire forced Araea away, then melted the icicle. Flaru had come to the rescue, Evea behind her. "ARAEA! What the heck are you doing?! I thought I sensed a weird spike of cold weather, but I didn't think…"

"Why are you attacking… Lyara… Araea?" Evea asked.

"She said she wants to steal my power!" Lyara yelled. "That mask she's wearing… I feel a dark power inside it."

"It couldn't be… Majora's Mask, could it?!" Flaru asked.

"No, it looks different. Araea… how did you make a mask with such a dark power?!"

"I crafted it with the rage I've been building up for centuries! It's all your faults we have to live in solitude! I'm claiming my revenge! Your powers belong TO ME!"

Evea mustered a powerful gust of wind to blow Araea off the island. The Maidens flew after her: Araea had frozen a platform on the sea, and the Maidens engaged. A tornado was spun by Evea, catching fire thanks to Flaru. Araea mixed her frost in with the wind to douse the fire, and Lyara attached seeds to the traitor to grow roots in attempt to bind her. Lyara raised the sword to attack, but was still hesitant to harm her friend. This resulted in Araea breaking free and throwing an icicle at her.

Little did you all know that I was being controlled by the mask. I was forced silent, yet conscious. That battle lasted an entire day, and I remember every detail well.

"Can we skip to afterward maybe?" Link asked awkwardly.

Anyway, though they were hesitant, they landed some blows on me with the Sword of Four Seasons, slowly draining my stamina, or rather, the mask's. The mask, fearing for its host, forced me to retreat. Fortunately, someone else bore witness to the event and followed after me.

Araea returned to the Snowcap Wastes, but with the mask falling short of power, the Maiden mustered her strength and tried desperately to tear it off. "GET OFF ME! What are you?! Why are you making me do this?!"

"I will destroy this wretched world with the power of the Maidens. You will be my host. There is nothing you can do! I shall consume everything!"

"ARAEAAAAA!" Somebody pounced the Maiden, ripping the mask off and throwing it away. It was the father of Araea's child. "It couldn't be… Majora's Mask from the old legends?!"

"It suddenly showed up at my chamber! It controlled me, I-I wasn't…"

The mask grew spider-like legs made of ice. "Where do you think you're going?! A mask is nothing without a host! I would hate for our fun to end so soon, Frost Cheeks~"

Araea conjured a huge dome of ice to seal it. "Impezzio, this way!" Araea grabbed the Sheikah and skied away swiftly. The mask was steadily cracking the ice, desperate to escape.

They stopped far away to recollect their selves. "Impezzio… I don't know what that thing is, but it's already bonding with my Ice Chi. I feel it growing more powerful. We have to destroy it now!"

"The other Maidens should get here eventually."

"There's no time to wait! Impezzio, listen, I need your Sheikah Slate."

The Sheikah held up the slate. Araea molded a huge chunk of power and placed it inside the device. "What are you doing?"

"I'm dividing my power. I'm going to let it possess me again, but I won't have the power to defend myself when the Maidens arrive. They'll destroy me, and if the mask loses its host, it might lose power."

"You're going to sacrifice yourself?!"

"No… not completely. Impezzio, record a message for me."

Impezzio prepared the message function as Araea mustered more power and willed it to return to her chamber. "Evea… by the time you listen to this message, I'll already be gone. I've done something terrible to you and the others. But I want you to know you're my best friend, the only one I could share all my secrets to. You made me feel warm. And it's because I trust you that I'm going to tell you… inside this slate, my-"

Impezzio was stabbed in the back by an ice shard. The mask chucked him away, along with the slate, and they tumbled down the slippery mountain before falling, falling, falling all the way to the sea.

The mask then forced itself onto Araea once more. The mask sensed the three other Maidens arrive and turned. They were all holding the Sword or Four Seasons.

"This is your last chance, Araea!" Flaru yelled. "Stop what you're doing and explain yourself… or else!"

"DIE!" Araea unleashed twin blizzards from her hands… except they were soft flurries. "What?! How did she lose this much power—AAAAHHH!"

The Maidens slashed down Araea's body with their combined power. The mask was pushed off by the force, while Araea's soul split in half… and disappeared. All that remained was her mask. The Maidens tried to stab it, but the mask was durable.

"I still feel the darkness in this mask." Lyara said. "But it looks like it's asleep. The power it had is dwindling."

"But… Araea…sniff…" Evea began crying.

"I'm sorry, Evea." Flaru patted her back. "I can't believe this happened either… but we couldn't let her get away with this."

"Sniff…I'm locking this mask in Araea's chamber." The Twili picked up the fallen mask. "Now that she's gone, her temple will soon be sealed completely. I'll lock this away before then so no one can find it. Not even us…" And she flew as fast as the wind.

Current time

"I don't know how the Sheikah Slate found its way to Link's hands…" Araea continued. "But my temple was, indeed, supposed to be sealed. It seemed that Avis was able to reopen due to having my DNA. It also recognized my chi inside the slate and allowed Link to enter the doors as well."

"But you know what was weird?" Link asked. "According to Avis' story, when the Frosolites were massacred, there was one Frosolite woman still alive. She knew who Avis was, as well as that dark mask, and she told Avis to avenge them. Isn't that right?"

"Yes… it was some green-eyed Frosolite. Shortly before she died… and then I realized that I could enter the temple."

"I don't have any idea who that could've been…" Araea said. "Unless… it was a trap set by Majora's followers. That's the only thing that would make sense. …Regardless, we can't wait much longer. Even though Avis is still alive, the mask seems to be dormant at the moment. Perhaps it's due to old age. If the four of us combine our power into the sword, it may be strong enough to destroy it this time."

"Then let's do it right away." Lyara said determinedly.

The Four Maidens opened the gates to the tower. Link and Avis followed them, the hero holding tight to the mask. "W-Wait! Please don't kill me! You still don't know! You still don't know where my master is! You need me!"

"We'll find them." Link stated. "After we finish you."

They arrived at an altar with a great stain-glass window resembling the design on the sword. The Maidens floated onto their platforms in the seasonal order. "Link… I would like you to conduct us." Araea said. Link nodded and stood on a symbol in the center. "We're going to sing our sacred song: The Four Seasons. Please, follow carefully…"

Although it was Link's first time hearing and playing the song, Cheren recognized it as "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi. Perhaps Vivaldi composed the song based on having learned about it from ancient tales of Termina?

Link conducted the Wind Waker precisely, knowing one slip-up would ruin the performance and have to start again. Truthfully, he was hoping to solve some sort of puzzle. But now his arm was getting tired. …And the song just went on and on. Seriously, was this the longest song in the history of forever?! It would be a miracle if he could survive this!

Link glanced down to his left foot, seeing Vito's spirit appear. The Minish hero began following along on his ocarina halfway through the Spring section. When he made it to Summer, Ko'an was playing on his harp. At the Fall section, Kigo appeared, tapping the Shadow Keys. It became such a marvelous harmony between the Maidens' voices and the instruments. Avis even wished to join in the song as well. So, she created an ice-made triangle with a stick, ringing along to the rhythm when they reached the Winter section.

Finally, to Link's extreme relief, the song was over. The stain-glass window shone with a beautiful, heavenly light. The design on the window morphed, shrank, and became three-dimensional. It had transformed into the very sword itself, situated into the altar.

"Link… the honor is yours." Araea smiled.

"YES, I get a new sword!!"

The Maidens giggled at his excitement. Link raced up the altar eagerly. Taking a breath and assuming a calm composure… Link placed both hands to the hilt. (Play "Get Master Sword" from Breath of the Wild!)

Link pulled up. The sword moved. Link smiled as a small light poked out from beneath it. He pulled more strongly, but calmly. The sword flawlessly raised from the ground, settling in Link's grasp. Feeling the awesome power coursing into him, Link raised the sword skyward. It brimmed and shone with the power of Four Seasons!

You got the Sword of Four Seasons! This sacred sword is treasured by the Maidens of Termina! Wield it and defend Termina from the forces of evil!

"…" As much as he wanted to take this around and destroy all the enemies, Link had business to take care of. He set the cursed mask on the ground. "You're making a mistake! Please, help me, Master!"

Link glared at its hopeless protests. He held the sword firmly and turned it with the blade pointing down. Positioned directly above the mask, he readied to stab. "HELP ME, MASTER EVEA!"

Link stopped. With a shocked expression, he turned to Evea, as did the other Maidens. "W…What?!" Evea gasped.

"Evea…?" Flaru asked. "What is it talking about?"

"I have no idea! I'm not its master!"

"She is! Evea is my master! She is Majora's disciple! She attained her position after Majora cursed the Twili!"

"IT'S LYING! I'm not responsible for this! Araea, you have to believe me!"

"I…I do believe you, Evea. You're my closest friend." Araea replied earnestly. "I know you wouldn't sabotage me."

"Then why is it trying to pin the blame on her?" Flaru asked.

"She is the only one who knew about Avis." Lyara thought aloud.

"Then, she's also the one who set Avis up with the mask?"

"Possibly…"

"No, it's all wrong!" Evea yelled with pleading eyes. "You have to believe me, it's lyi-…"

She fell dead silent. …Her pleading expression was replaced with confusion. "…Lyara… how did you know that I knew about Avis?"

"Huh?" Lyara raised a brow. "Well, I…okay, you got me." She blushed. "Sometimes, I like to shrink myself and sneak up on you two." She demonstrated by shrinking. "See? You can barely see me! I just like to eavesdrop on you sometimes, so… I pick up a few things. I'm sorry to have intruded…"

When Lyara shrank, Araea could only faintly pick up her energy. Almost like it disappeared. "… . . . . ." Araea narrowed her eyes. She approached and cast an ominous shadow over the tiny Spring Maiden. "Then did you shrink back then?"

"W-What?"

"When I felt that presence outside my chamber… before I got the mask… did you shrink? Is that why that presence disappeared?"

"I don't know what you're talking about…"

"And, while you were bringing that mask to me, did you happen to read the message outside my room? Where I mentioned Evea's knowledge of my daughter?"

Link gasped: he remembered reading that very message, just before fighting Avis.

Lyara grew back to normal. "Araea, I know you don't want to suspect Evea, but don't just turn the blame on me. I'm your friend, too. Please, just calm down…"

"…" Link approached the Maiden. "Hey, Lyara, I just remembered something weird. When I saved Flaru and Evea, I had to play the song to restore them. But when I defeated that Mothuking monster, you were restored automatically."

"Well, don't forget you were Minish size, so the monster was relatively small and weak. You didn't need to play the Song of Healing."

"What's the Song of Healing?" Flaru asked.

"It's the song I played to heal you two."

"Oh, I remember…" Evea said. "I vaguely recall hearing that song in the past, but I didn't know it was called that."

"…So, how did you know its name, Lyara?" Link asked. "I don't recall playing it around you, so you couldn't know what I was talking about."

"I read about the song in an ancient text. I knew what it could do, so I just… associated the 'song' you mentioned with that, since… we were cursed by masks."

". . . . ." Link fixed his eyes. "Hmm…weird coincidence. Almost as weird as… that 'green-eyed' Frosolite that told Avis to avenge them."

"I don't understand why you're obsessing over me! Just because I happen to know a few things, I have nothing to hide! I'm not the criminal here! It can only be Majora! Only Majora has power that dark! It must've come from him!"

"I remember when I was forced to attack you, you assumed that I 'made' the mask." Araea said.

"You were wearing it, so I assumed! Araea, why are you trying to blame me?!"

Link raised the sword at Lyara's neck. Two souls were glaring fiercely at her, and two spoke: "Who are you… really?"

Lyara froze under the cold gaze of the hero. Araea's gaze felt even colder, while Flaru and Evea looked questioningly. "W-What are you… saying… I am… Lyara… I'm the Spring Maiden… and friend of the Minish…

"I-I am… Lyara…" She was shuddering, despair flooding her eyes. "I'm… Lyara… Lyara… Lyara…"

Clutching her vibrating head, she turned around. "Ly…ara… Li…ara… Li…ar… I-I am . . . . . . Lyara . . . . . . I am . . . a liar . . . . I am . . . . I am . . . . . I am . . . ."

Clip, clip, clop.

A green mask hit the floor at Lyara's feet. A cold air filled the room… colder than even Araea. Link, Avis, and the Maidens felt their hearts freezing in fear. A cloud of black seemed to cast over Lyara's bowed body. …She faced them and finished her sentence.

"MAJOOOOOORAAAAAAAAA!"

Her mouth was cut into a wide grin, the teeth on her white face sharp, and her dry, lidless green eyes burning with madness. (Play "Majora's Incarnate.")

Her arms exploded into whips, slashing the Maidens with blinding speed—she grabbed Link and brutally slammed him around the room before bringing him to her horrific, demonic face. "WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Do ya remember, Link?! Remember when I fucking killed your horse?! And when I killed Darmani, and that nameless Deku brat, and I fucked up that little girl's daddy, and that other little girl, AND I TALKED JUST… LIKE… THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!"

Her voice grew extremely pitched and made Link's ears bleed. She SLAMMED him to the ground and retracted her whips into arms. "Majora" grabbed what remained of their flesh and, "WOOKIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!" tore it clean off, exposing the inner flesh. "You were right! It was me!" They spun like a mad top and snatched the dark mask off the ground. "This mask was mine! It was mine, mine, mine mine MINE! I wanted all the Maiden power for myself! I stole a Kokiri's form and tricked the Spirit of Forest into giving me their God Chi! First, I wanted Araea's power, then I wanted Flaru's and Evea's! But I couldn't just give myself away, so I submitted a chunk of my power into this little mask and tricked Araea into putting it on! She took all the blame for acting out MY plan! YOWZAAAAAAA!"

They unloaded a swarm of bladed tops, dicing the Maidens up and riddling Link with cuts as blood spilled. This also reflected on Cheren, Hat Kid gasping in horror at her friend's sudden pain.

"But then Araea threw her power away and we had to 'stop' her! The mask began to wane, and worse, Evea took it and locked it away! There was no way for me to get to it… unless I could find Araea's daughter. It took a good while, but I found her and waited 'til she was ripe! And yes, I'm the one who led that genocidal charge! Those masked maniacs were MY followers, acting under MY orders! And I tricked little Avis into entering the temple, reclaiming the mask, and restarting my heinous plan! I even let you keep your free will, and you acted out as perfectly and brilliantly as I had planned, AHA HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

They fell on their back, kicking their skinless feet in the air as they cackled uncontrollably from the sheer irony. Avis bowed her head in shame. "And now, this time, all the Maidens' powers have been absorbed in the mask. The chi I've stolen will develop and make me ULTRA STRONG!"

Link grabbed the sword, fighting his pain as he ran to stab them, but a brutal kick made the attempt fruitless. "Now, I'm gonna do what I was gonna do years ago! I'm gonna KILL 'EM ALL! I'll turn this world into a wonderland of mayhem and fun until every damn Terminan dies! I'll let their misery fuel me until that time comes! SMELL YOU LATEEEEEEERRRRRRRR!!!!"

The creature burst out the window and blew into the sky. Link, having lost too much blood, faded into unconsciousness…