Chapter 7: The Battle

With the two fairies still clinging to his shoulders, Kafei stepped out of the light and into a dimly-lit room. While there was much more light in here than there was back in the Realm Of Shadows, it wasn't much light. Kimani was bravely facing a Deity that had his back turned. It seemed almost as if the Deity had been meditating and channeling his power in some way. When he turned, Kafei gazed deep into his eyes, clutching the Eclipse Stone tightly.

Oni.

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Kimani drew his sword, but Oni merely laughed. "Come now, come now, there is no need for violence. After all, you wouldn't turn against your master, now would you, Kimi?"

Kimani gritted his teeth. "Shut up. It's Kimani to you."

"Oh really now, why do you wish to fight me? You hate humans just as much as I do, now don't you? After all, who was it who killed the little girl in Ikana Valley, now?"

Kafei looked at Kimani with wide eyes. "You…killed someone?"

Kimani sighed. "It was a long time ago, and she was writhing in pain that Oni caused her during a raid. The girl in the music box house…it was her sister. She was about to become a Gibdos, and Oni had tried to kill her, saying that humans should never change, and once they are disgraceful, they stay as a disgraceful human. I had to, I couldn't watch her writhing in pain like that."

Kafei's eyes darted around nervously. Oni was glaring at him, as if ordering him to surrender the stone. Kafei looked to make sure it was still there. Kimani pointed his sword at Oni. Oni drew his sword.

"If you insist on fighting, then we shall fight to the death, you traitor!"

Kafei hid in the corner and shut his eyes, listening to the clanging of swords hitting one another. He didn't know who he wanted to win, the one possessing Link or the one trying to save him. Everything was so confusing he almost didn't hear Kimani yell for him to use the stone. When Kafei opened his eyes, Kimani was on the floor, with Oni's foot pressing down on his back, holding him to the floor, and Oni's sword at Kimani's neck.

"Shut up, you fool, you're in no position to order anyone. Now how about you say some last words and I kill you? Then I'll go get the human boy."

Kimani seemed to be pleading to Kafei for his life. Kafei threw the stone reluctantly at Oni. Oni, who was too busy with holding Kimani hostage, didn't see the stone clatter to the floor. He also didn't see it surround the two Deities in a dark fog, seeming to squeeze them tightly. The aura slowly seemed to envelope them, and Oni was torn away from Kimani. As the aura seemed to fade, it took them with it. Kimani slowly began to fade before Kafei's eyes.

"Kimani! Don't go yet, you're one of the only ones left! The other Garo still need you, you're a great leader!"

"Kafei, I was glad to help you in your quest to save your friend Link. But now it is my time. I knew all along that this would happen, it was my destiny. The only thing I have left to say is this. 'To die without leaving a corpse…that is the way of us Garo…'"

Kafei could feel tears pushing at the back of his eyes as Kimani disappeared at last. Oni glared at Kafei and snapped at him fiercely, taking his attention away from where Kimani had just been.

"You foolish little boy! All of you humans, you are all fools! Someday that shall be your downfall!"

Instead of disintegrating, Oni's spirit came out of Link's body, and a bright light glowed, morphing itself into the shape of Link. When it faded, all that was left was Oni's mask, with a dark tint to it, and Link, standing dazed.

"K…Kafei…what happened? And where are we?"

"I don't know where we are Link. I'm just glad you're safe."

Tatl and Tael both fluttered around Link.

"You were possessed by the Fierce Deity, Link! We're just happy you're okay!"

"The Fierce Deity? Well where is-"

Link looked down at the mask at his feet. He took out his fire arrows and pointed one carefully at the mask.

"Link, what are you doing?" Tael asked him curiously.

"There's only one thing left to do."

Link released the arrow, and the mask began to burn slowly. Everyone could've sworn they heard distant screaming. Then Link pulled out his ocarina, letting Tatl and Tael grab his shoulders, and holding Kafei's wrist. He played the Song Of Soaring once more and disappeared out of the Realm Of Shadows, leaving the wretched, evil spirit inside the mask to burn into nothingness.

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Link sat once again on the steps leading to the Clock Tower, simply gazing at the ground this time around. Tatl and Tael fluttered around, trying to cheer him up.

"Link, it's okay, it wasn't your fault. You didn't know."

"But I still think that-"

"Oh Link, stop fighting us, just admit we're right for once, Hero."

Link smirked. "Alright then, I'll race you to the Stock Pot Inn and back."

Both fairies nodded happily. "You're on!"

As the two fairies and the young boy raced across Clock Town, Kafei watched from his hideout in the Laundry Pool out his window, smiling at the young boy, who was, at last, free from the evil of the mask.

Link had discovered the secrets of the Fierce Deity Mask at last.

And he was glad he had his friends to save him for once.