Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the midst of fog and water sat a single pillar.

A tall, dark figure appeared atop it, double helix blade strapped to his back. All alone he stood, though not for long, as four colossal figures, each with long legs and arms attached to a round head with a large nose, appeared to the North, South, East and West of the pillar and slowly walked towards it.

"How good to see you again, my friends," the Fierce One greeted with a smile.

All four bowed their heads. "The pleasure is ours, oh Fierce One," all four said simultaneously.

The smile never left his face, but his next words were filled with grief. "My only regret is that this lasts so little. But that is why we must savor this meeting."

"Well spoken, oh Fierce One," North complimented.

"How fairs the other Gods, Oh Fierce One?"

"Let us get the important parts out of the way. Starting with North, how fairs your region?"

"The Gorons prosper, their minds healthy and their mines more so. They continue to honor your words, and enjoy doing so."

The Fierce One nodded. He turned to West. "How fairs the coast?"

"The West also thrives. The Zoras are faithful, and attacks from neighboring pirates have been successfully thwarted. The Temple remains unopened."

"Now you, South."

"The Swamp is content. No problems, oh Fierce One."

"Excellent." The Fierce One turned to East. "How fairs the Kingdom of Ikana?"

"I regret to inform you, Oh Fierce One, that things are dire in Ikana Canyon."

The smile left the Fierce One's face. "Explain."

"Igos Du Ikana, reigning King, has gathered his troops from across the land and positioned them on the far borders of his kingdom. A kigndom outside the land's borders has started sending spies to monitor Ikana's troop numbers and defences. I believe they intend to invade."

"Igos Du Ikana has plenty of soldiers to hold off an invasion."

"Indeed, Oh Fierce One, however, that is not the only issue."

"Well, what is it?"

Aside from most of the soldiers on the border, a few squads remain in the village, tasked with... making sure all who follows your teachings be punished."

The Fierce One was silent, his head bowed down and eyes closed. When he raised them, his eyes had turned from a colorful blue... to blank white.

"Why have they broken my agreement?"

"I do not know, Oh Fierce One."

"Long has the Royal Family of Ikana kept my covenant. They know the words. Remind them, East, and let us hope they return to their righteousness."

The Fierce One addressed all the Giants in his final statement. "What is in store for Ikana, we must wait and see. North, South and West, keep a close eye on your regions. In ten more years, we will convene again, and judge the Kingdom of Ikana with due process. If they are ruled to be holy, I shall stay my wrath. If not... I will do what must be done."

The Giants bowed, and the Fierce One began to fade. Before he departed, he brought to attention the one calamity on everyone's minds:

"We cannot let Majora awaken."

Chapter Text

The night sky hung over Ikana Canyon as two soldiers on nightwatch patrolled the inner courtyard of Ikana Castle, swapping family stories and gossip as they did so.

"... she's been getting on my case about it for weeks," one of them complained."

"Why doesn't she get a carpenter to fix it?" The other asks. "She must know your schedule keeps you busy."

"That's what I don't understand! Get an expert to fix the floor, woman. Hell, I don't make as many Rupees as the stone masons are about to be, but surely its enough to do a bit of repair work."

"Masons? What're they up to?"

The complaining soldier glanced at his partner. "You don't know?" He asked, immediately answered by the shake of a head.

"Well, King Igos is planning a build. A GIANT one. So much stonework will be required."

"What is he building?"

"I have no idea, but by the looks of it, it'll be bigger than this castle. We're not supposed to talk about it much, so that's all I'm gonna say. Why, if Captain Keeta caught wind of me sharing private info... I hate to guess what'll happen."

"True, true. Better keep our voices down, I suppose. Those spies could be lurking."

"Oh yeah, the hooded figures. What the hell do they want with our kingdom, anyway?"

"No one knows. Every time we've captured one, they pull out a bomb and kill themselves before we can stop them, uttering something about 'dying without leaving a corpse.' Bunch of freaks, if you ask me."

"ATTENTION!"

A loud, booming voice sounded out over the courtyard, one the two soldiers instantly recognized. The pair instantly snapped to attention as an armored man taller than anyone in the kingdom stomped over to the pair.

"You maggots are awfully chatty this evening, aren't you? Care to share what it iwas you were chatting about?"

"Speculation on the intentions of the invaders, sir!" The two shouted in unison.

"While I appreciate your strategic thoughts, you maggots are not the strategists! Go about your duty in silence, and save the chit chat for the knitting circle! AM I CLEAR?!"

"SIR, YES SIR!"

"Good! Dismissed! Back to work!" With a salute, Captain Keeta turned, walking towards the main keep.

"That was-"

"Shush! You want him to come back?"

"No."

"Then shut up."

The two soldiers turned south, walking along the front wall in silence, with only the chirping of insects and the caws of crows filling the void. The full moon glowed in the night sky, illuminating the courtyard with an ethereal glow.

Eventually, the west wall met the south wall, and the guards turned, and as they did, one of them gazed at the top of the wall, and froze.

The other guard stopped as well. "What's wrong?"

The frozen guard pointed to the wall. "I could've sworn I saw someone standing up there."

The other guard stared, taking in every inch. "I don't see anything."

The frozen guard cleared his throat, and the two resumed their patrol. "Must've been my imagination," he said, not even believing it himself.

The guard had seen someone, and that someone had reacted with inhuman speed, running silently down the wall until the guards were out of sight.

'That was too close for comfort,' he thought as he jumped over the edge of the wall, landing hard outside the castle's boundaries.

The spy quickly made his way East, to the current staging camp to report back to his master.

Twenty minutes later, the spy was amongst his own, giving quick greetings to his comrades on his way to the Garo Master's tent.

"Enter," came a voice as he approached. He did.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor in the middle of the tent was the Garo Master, his status symbolized by his purple robes and golden mask. The Garo Ninja knelt on one knee, head bowed.

"Report."

"I bring good information, master. The residents of Ikana are in a state of disarray. The soldiers are executing some of the citizens almpst every day. Civil unrest is brewing."

"Why are they doing this?"

"Religious reasons, I believe. Something about a 'Fierce Diety' and 'Guardian Giants.'

"Heathens. Killing in the name of a fake god."

"Actually, master, they are killing the Diety's supporters."

"... strange. Continue."

"I have also discovered an entrance into the castle we may be able to use in the future. The guards in the castle speak of a well in the village which connects to the castle underground."

"Very good. Is that all?"

"The king is planning a build. From what I've gathered, it's some sort of tower. That is all I know at this time regarding that, however there is one more piece of good news."

"Then spit it out."

The Garo raised his head, his eyes meeting the Garo Master's.

"I may have found an ally amongst the Ikana."

Chapter Text

"By the Gods, Flat, you've done it again! Another marvelous composition!"

The words were spoken by Flat himself, who was prone to talk to himself when alone in his study.

"Now, I must assemble the orchestra to begin practice. I just know his Majesty will adore this!"

Packing all the notes he'd written into a folder, which disappeared into a briefcase, Flat left his study in Ikana Castle, stepping into the outside hallway, His footsteps muffled by the carpet on the floor as he walked. He passed guards, servants and a few of the king's concubines before stepping out into the inner courtyard. A quick command, and the guards opened the front gate, allowing the composer to exit into the village, and what he saw chilled him to the core.

The town was nearly lifeless. Barely a soul walked the streets, as opposed to last week. Or had ot been a month? Flat tended to lose track of time when working.

Gone were the women's beautiful singing, and the children's playful laughter. They were replaced with the moaning of the wind, and cawing of crows.

"Good heavens. What has happened here?" Flat wondered aloud. "Did the invaders do this? Or-"

Just then, a woman's cry of despair filled the air, and Flat watched in horror as Ikana soldiers dragged the woman, her husband and two crying children into the street. Frozen in place, all Flat could do was watch.

"Kill me if you must, but spare my family!" The husband pleaded. "Banish them, send them away from Ikana! Do anything but kill them!"

"Silence!" One of the guards barked, slapping the man in the face, and the wife equally as hard when she attempted to go to his side. "The King's orders: all caught following the ways of the Fierce One are to be executed! Now be silent and accept your punishment!"

The family was bound hand and foot and carried to a nearby stump, which was stained with the blood of past victims. Watching the events unfold, Flat could only wish this was a nightmare. But it was all too real.

'Why are they doing this?' Flat wondered. 'King's orders? Renouncing the Fierce One? The King would never order a thing like this! There must be an explanation!'

A scream unlike anything Flat had heard before brought him out of his thoughts.

He wished it hadn't.

On the ground by the stump lay the eldest son, dead, his severed head several feet from his body. Flat felt his lunch returning to his mouth.

"Damn you!" The father roared.

The soldier with the bloodied axe turned to the father. "You are the head of the household. You allowed forbidden religious acts to be performed in your house, and as punishment, you shall watch your family die before your own head rolls! The next child!"

"Dear merciful heavens!" Flat exclaimed.

The soldiers finally noticed Flat standing nearby. "Maestro, this isn't the type of thing your eyes need see. Please leave."

Flat wished their was something he could do for the poor family, but he knew his own head would be removed should he object.

A wave of rage came over the composer, boiling his blood like a fresh batch of red potion. How had things changed in such little time? How could the once loving Igos Du Ikana allow such a tragedy?

Casting a final sympathetic look to the family, Flat turned back to the castle, intent on finding his brother. Maybe he would know what to do.

Flat eventually found Sharp in his study, working away on a new composition. "Brother! I must speak with you!"

Sharp turned, a look of happiness on his face that made Flat a bit nervous. "Dear brother. Whatever is the matter?"

Flat started to speak, but stopped himself, turning towards the door. He peeked out into the hallway, looking both right and left, before closing it and walking closer.

"I just saw the guards behead a young boy in the middle of town! On the orders of the King!"

Sharp made a 'tsk tsk tsk' sound, turning back to his notes. "Such a tragedy. However, he was a believer in the Fierce One, so it was inevitable."

Flat couldn't believe his ears. His brother - his own flesh and blood - approved of this?!

"Have you lost your mind? In no circumstances should an eight year old lose his head! And they killed the others in that family, too!"

Silently, Sharp reached over to a new invention of his, which he called a phonograph. He switched it on, and a dark, disturbing melody began to play. "A purge is necessary. We must rout the heathens, Flat."

"The other kid was four, Sharp. FOUR!"

Sharp was silent, the room filled only with the eerie, captivating melody. "Heathens are heathens, no matter the age."

"You are insane, as is the King!" With that, Flat stormed out of the office.

After his brother left, Sharp let out a curse. "The melody should've converted him. Why is he still normal? Could his heart... be too pure?"

****

"How long will it take to complete?"

The architect ran his hand through his hair, considering what to tell the King. "This is a big project, your Majesty. It could take years. Decades, even. And with the strange invaders, progress could be delayed even further."

Igos Du Ikana scoffed at the architect's concerns. He sat upon his throne, his two lackeys on either side. "You let me deal with the invaders. I care not how long it takes. Commence construction on the Stone Tower."

With a submissive sigh, the architect folded his plans, placing them into a bag. "One cloud height tower coming your way, Milord." He started for the door.

"Worry not," the King comforted. "As long as construction proceeds smoothly, I will ensure your family and your employees' families are well taken care of."

The architect turned, giving a bow. "Many thanks, your Majesty." He turned back toward the door, which now hung ajar, a short man with a mustache standing in the frame. Without a word, the man walked by, and bowed before the king as the architect left.

"Sharp. How goes your plans?"

"Proceeding smoothly, your Grace," Sharp informed. "Composition is going well. However, there is another matter which I must speak with you about."

"Speak your mind."

"It concerns Flat. I fear... he will not side with us."

"Are you certain?"

Sharp nodded. "His heart is too pure. He has proven immune to my... melody."

Igos lowered his head, eyes closed. "Very well." Raising his head, he gave his orders. "I will give you three weeks. If you cannot convert him by then, I will have my lackeys execute him. I cannot have a potential traitor in my court."

Sharp nodded. "Very well."

Unbeknownst to the king and Sharp, Flat stood outside the open throne room door, just out of sight. He'd heard every word. Memories of his brother and him composing music together, playing in the cave as kids, and becoming royal composers side by side flashed in his mind. Tears formed in his eyes, and he felt a sob coming. So as not to be heard, he swiftly a softly left the hallway and scurried back to his office to pack essentials. He could no longer stay in the castle. And he would never condone the murder of children.

Flat didn't know why, but the King's aim seemed to be the complete forsaking of the Fierce Diety, Termina's kind yet ruthless God. Flat being a believer himself, he knew what was in store for this land in the coming years.

Destruction.

In order to keep the Evil One sealed away, all four areas in Termina must remain in peace, and the Temples in each region closed. With war on the horizon, and the atrocities being commited in the streets, Flat knew the Fierce Diety would decimate everyone in Ikana to prevent the Evil One from awakening. He hadn't forgotten the covenant passed down since ancient times:

"My servants are forever watching. Keep my peace, and thou shalt have prosperity, peace and protection from Evil. However, should thou break my peace, my servants will remove their hands, and my wrath will be poured out upon you."

Flat wanted to be nowhere near Ikana in the coming times. Pulling out a map, he memorized the way out of Ikana, for he had never left this place. With a final goodbye to his office, he took his paper and pens, leaving his office behind. He decided to go back to his quartes until nightfall, then make for the nearby graveyard. He had friends there who would hopefully keep him hidden. He had to be careful, though. Should he be discovered...

well, there would be no quicker way to die.

Chapter Text

It was time.

Opening the doors to his quarters slowly to avoid making any noise, Flat stuck his head out into the hallway, looking left and right to confirm the absence of guards. Confirming the hallway was empty, he picked up his suitcase and strode into the hallway, closing and locking the door behind him.

Torches on the walls flickered and crackled, providing enough light to see in the dark hallway. Occasional Suits of armor stood steadfast, backs against the wall, some wielding spears, some swords, and others axes. As Flat walked quickly through the hall, he noticed something strange. Two sets of armor at the end of the hall were missing. Weird. Flat had no time to investigate, so he moved on.

The hallway changed direction, going left. Flat rounded the corner, and stopped at the large wooden door. Behind it was the main entrance chamber, and Flat knew there were always two or more guards here.

Cracking the door ever so slightly, Flat peered through the hole. He saw nobody. This wasn't surprising. The guards usually stood near the path to the throne room, which Flat couldn't see from this angle. Thankfully, a pillar in the room should obscure their view of him, so Flat took the chance and sliiped through the door.

Once he was safely hidden, Flat listened for any sign of the guards. When he heard none, he glanced around the pillar.

The two guards stood in their post, one on each side of the hallway entrance. Neither made a sound as they stood still as statues.

This was a problem. He couldn't exit the front door with those guards there. They'd see him. There was no way to distract them.

Flat began pondering his options. Should he return to his room and plan a different escape? Should he make a break for it? Or should-

"Wait a minute."

Something about the guards was off. They wore heavy armor instead of the lighter stuff. And they seemed... too still.

Taking a big chance, Flat placed his case on yhe ground behind the pillar and stepped out into the open, in direct view of the guards.

They didn't move.

"What is the meaning of this?" Flat whispered aloud.

Every ounce of his soul wished to figure out what was going on, but his sense of danger was a louder voice. He ran back behind the pillar to grab his case, but froze when doors opposite the ones he'd entered creaked open.

"This place is a joke," a voice said.

"Say that a bit louder. I don't think everybody in the whole castle heard you," another chastised.

"Shut up."

"We have what we came for, it's time to leave." Rushed footsteps followed, and the doors to the courtyard opened and closed.

Finally feeling it was okay to move and breath again, Flat walked over to the soldiers. Upon further inspection..

"What in the name of..."

It was the suits of armor that were missing from the hallway.

"Then the soldiers were... and those voices are..."

The invaders.

It was time to leave.

Flat ran to the courtyard door and pushed it open slowly. Once outside, he scanned the area.

No guards were in the courtyard or on the wall. An instant red flag.

There was no way Flat could leave by the front gate without making a scene. However, one route existed not many people knew about. Around the corner near the wall was an old well, which connected to the one in town. It had dried up a long time ago, however, so it was the perfect escape route.

Glancing around a final time, Flat descended the well, preparing himself for the troubles ahead.