This
was it. Link stood, once again, on the observation platform of the
clock tower. The moon hung overhead like the roof of a tent, sagging
low with water. It's great, grimacing face glared at the world.
Hanging in the air between Link and that terrible face was the silent
Skull Kid. He too glared at Link, at least he seemed to from behind
that terrible mask.
“Sis!”
came a tiny, ringing voice. A reddish, purple fairy darted to the
Skull Kid's side. Tatl tensed. “Tael!”
Tael
zipped forwa

“Can
you keep a secret?” the boy in the kitsune mask asked. He and Link
stood alone in a storage room at the rear of the Curiosity Shop, only
the ticking of a clock to accompany them in this secret place.
Without hesitation, Link nodded. Still, the boy in the mask was slow
as he reached up, small fingers closing around the yellow wood of the
mask. Then, he said, “Anju trusted you. I shall trust you.”
The
boy pulled away the yellow mask, revealing a youthful face, bearing
an aged and worr

The
last room of the Stone Temple Palace reminded Link a lot of that
final room of Woodfall: a bare chamber with a large pit in the
center. However, while Woodfall's had led to darkness, the pit at his
feet now led down into a pool of blue and yellow light. Not the sky
but something like it. Link felt a wave of vertigo wash over him at
the thought of this topsy-turvy world he was in. But he was ready.
“This
is it,” said Tatl. “The last evil spirit. Whatever is beyond
here, if we can face i

Returning
back from the Great Bay Temple, Link first waved good bye to the
guardian spirit of the bay, the massive turtle who'd helped him get
to the Temple. Then, he took some time to just catch his breath. He
was tired. It was the third day of what had felt like the longest run
through Termina so far.
Tatl
seemed to share his fatigue. She let out a “Whew!” and said,
“Let's take a breather.”
The
two went into Zora Hall. The band was milling about on stage; they
paid Link no mind since

Deep
in the heart of the Great Bay Temple, Link stood on the edge of a
great hole. He could not see the bottom; it was too dark. Tatl
fluttered next to him, saying, “Guess it's down, huh?” The temple
had not been easy on them; Link was tired and showing it. As he
prepared to take the leap, the fairy said, “Link!”
The
little hero looked at her. Tatl nodded. “Let's be careful... and
show whatever's down there who they're messing with!” Link grinned,
nodding. He jumped into the hole, Ta

Standing
on a rampart of the pirate fortress, Link peeked out stealthily,
taking in the scene below. There were four guards in the main area of
the fortress, a great open area with a tower in the center connected
to one of the surrounding buildings by a rope bridge. The four guards
patrolling the area were tall, darkly-tanned, red-headed females, all
wearing the same exotic gear and carrying sharp lances. They
patrolled the area in a swift, military fashion, never slacking or
yawning, always kee

Link
perched in the tree over looking Northern Clock Town. In the dark of
the late night, it was quiet. Nothing but a lone cicada, rattling
eerily in the gloom. Tatl peeked out from under Link's hat, hiding
inside to keep her light from revealing them.
“Think
this is the way she comes?” Link nodded. He was sure of it. They'd
missed her the past couple of tries, but he had a feeling about it
tonight. This was the way the old woman from the bomb shop would
come. He heard the clock tower, dista

“You
know, now that we have your horse back, we can go to the bay.” Tatl
waited for Link to respond, but, as always, he just kept walking. The
fairy fluttered along after her companion, past the Stock Pot Inn and
into East Clock Town. Trying again, Tatl said, “It's wide open. We
can jump that fence and be there in a flash. Don't you want to see
what strange new adventures await us in the west?” When Link didn't
answer, just looking around East Clock Town, deep in thought, Tatl
tried agai

The
wide open fields and rustic buildings lent a simple, comely air to
the ranch. Link walked up the dirt path towards the house seated atop
the hill, looking around at the cows lazily swaying through the grass
and bushes. He felt at ease here. The moon seemed far away, the sky
seemed big enough for three moons, and the wind seemed to carry a
tune on it like the breath of the wild. He wished he'd discovered
this place before now. He'd have visited more often.
As
the two made their way up the hi

“Ohh,
well aren't you cute? Are you here on a field trip to see Madame
Aroma?” Link nodded fervently to both questions, smiling widely and
innocently at the receptionist. The receptionist for the mayor's
office was a green-haired woman, cheeks dotted with freckles. She
leaned over the counter, wiggling her hips side to side. She was
scrumptious, and it was clear to Tatl what Link had in mind.
Groaning, she said, “No, we are not! We're here to see the mayor.”
“Ohh,
well if you're taking

Deep
in the caverns of Snowhead temple, a murmuring, whimpering voice
echoed up the tall, rocky chamber. The voice would whine, low and
pitiful, for a moment before suddenly spiking in a gritting, gasping
grunt of effort. A moment later, a loud, wet thulnk
would sound through the chambers.
Link stood leaning against a lamp post, panting. Behind him, at his
feet, lay a large, firm log of waste. The hero was sweating heavily
despite the cold, the effort it had taken to push out the remains of
his

“We
suck at this,” Tatl said. She and Link stood in the middle of Clock
Town. Overhead, the clock tower tolled the seconds loudly throughout
the square. High above stood the moon, retreated after Link played
the Song of Time. Though the hero enjoyed being able to go back in
time over and over, he hated losing the feeling of satisfaction from
his meals. It made his hunger all the worse.
Tatl
went on, “I can't believe you ate that poor monkey, Link. You know,
I'm starting to have reservation

In
the innermost chamber of Woodfall temple, Link found a massive open
room. The walls ran up high above him, creating an arena. Behind him,
a set of bars slammed down over the door. The Hyrulian pulled out his
sword, cautiously stepping into the room.
From
above, there came a sound that tightened his gut and made his skin
crawl. A sort of high, chattering chanting. A shape descended, tall,
gangly, erratic. A warrior, three time Link's height, covered in
painted markings on his gray body, droppe

A
heady aroma hung over the Southern Swamp. It was cloying and
scratched the throat. Link coughed at the scent of it, waving away
the odor. It was the poison infesting the waters of the swamp. The
waters, instead of green and healthy, were purple and swirling. Link
dared not touch them; he doubted such a miasma would be at all
healthy.
“The
lady running the swamp boat ride should live near here,” said Tatl
as they moved deeper into the Southern Swamp. She floated around
Link's head, looking

“W-what
just happened?! Everything has... started over...”
Tatl
flew out into the middle of the Clock Town square. Link waddled after
her, his Deku legs carrying him as fast as they could. He couldn't
believe it. The town looked just as it had when he first arrived,
walking out of the clock tower three days ago. The observation
platform was barely off the ground. The carpenters were still milling
about. And, up in the pale sky, not yet streaked with red and black,
the Moon was high enough th