"So you've been hiding in the woods all this time," Ghirahim said, his chin propped on his fist, his eyes fixed on Val.

Val, her back facing him, said nothing. Ghirahim frowned.

"How long do intend to ignore me, Val? I, who poured so much time and—"

"I got a lot farther on my own, I'll have you know," Val snapped.

Ghirahim lifted his head, letting his arm dangle between his legs.

"You know, you gave me quite the fright when you didn't return from your encounter with the sky brat. I was convinced you had met your fate at his hands."

"I'm sure you were devastated," Val muttered sardonically.

Ghirahim, tired of staring at her back, got to his feet and started circling her.

"So did you run into that masked freak again?"

Val's eyes narrowed, "Am I being interrogated?"

"You seemed quite taken with him when last we spoke. What exactly did he tell you?"

Val's arm whipped out, her fingers closing on the collar of his cloak and yanking him forward. Ghirahim was so stunned he was speechless.

"Maybe you should back off," Val snarled.

Ghirahim glared, shoving her away.

"How dare you!" he shouted, "Touch me again and I'll make sure you regret it."

"Really?" Val demanded, a challenge in her voice, "I'd like to see you try."

"Don't be so absurd as to think you've surpassed me," Ghirahim glowered, materializing a blade in his hand.

"Really, you two. I leave for five minutes and you're at each other's throats," Cia's voice cut in.

Ghirahim turned to face her, reluctantly dematerializing his blade.

"I need some space," Val said, not even bothering to offer a proper greeting.

Without waiting for an answer, she vanished. Ghirahim tsked.

"I hardly remember when she became so disagreeable," he grumbled, "No doubt it was all that time she spent without my guidance." He focused back on Cia. "So how'd your little errand go?"

"Well," Cia answered shortly, a smile on her lips.

"I don't mean to be impatient, but you got what you wanted. Now you have a certain promise you must keep."

"All in good time," Cia answered, shifting her grip on her staff, "You and Val will both get what you want. You may count on it."

"I'm afraid I would not advise such a thing," a voice said.

Ghirahim recognized it at once. He and Cia whirled to face the masked creature, but its attention was primarily on Cia.

"It seems you made a promise you cannot keep," Majora informed the sorceress.

"Oh?" Cia queried, "Yes, that's right. It would be most disadvantageous for you if I were to restore Val's master to his proper form, wouldn't it? Unfortunately for you, you cannot stop me." She raised her free hand, the three pieces of the Triforce appearing in her palm. "I possess the ultimate power of the Triforce." She shifted her hand, lifting it palm outward. The Triforce began to glow brighter. She raised her voice. "I command you to return to your imprisonment, fell creature!"

A burst of light shot out of the Triforce, forcing Ghirahim to cover his eyes. He could feel Cia's aura inflate, stretching boundlessly. The light intensified, shooting forth and enveloping Majora. Ghirahim struggled to catch a glimpse of what was happening, but all he could see was that blinding light, Cia's outline cutting through it like a shadow.

Yes...YES! My Master shall be avenged! That wretched fiend shall suffer what he deserves!

Finally, the light began to die. The demon lord strained to see what remained of Majora, his anticipation building till he was practically giddy with excitement.

Then the golden luminance dissipated, revealing the tall, spindly personage just as he was before, untouched, unfazed. He flicked his long fingers across his shoulder, as though brushing away a bit of dirt. Ghirahim cowed.

Cia was just as horrified. She stumbled back, almost tripping over her ally.

"No," she said, her voice trembling, "No, no. It should've worked. What are you?"

"Cia," Majora chided, taking a step toward her, "You ought to know. That Triforce you cherish is merely a relic of old gods, old gods that—and I hate to brag—never once compared to me, old gods that I outlasted by quite a considerable amount of time, my dear. You have overseen time for an impressive spell, but it seems you don't know everything. A shame. I personally believed you held such promise. Oh well. We all make mistakes, don't we?"

"No," Cia shuddered, "Stay away from me!"

She didn't get far. Majora lifted his hand and the ground disappeared from beneath Cia's feet. She rose into the air like a spectre, a dark cloud encasing her. Her staff dropped to the ground, her hands flying to her throat. Ghirahim could hear her gasping, choking, but he was frozen to the spot. Cia thrashed wildly, her strangled noises growing increasingly frantic.

Then, she stopped moving, her arms falling to her sides, her head hanging forward. She thudded onto the turf, her head lolling lifelessly in Ghirahim's direction. Ghirahim stared in utter terror at a pair of blank, white eyes.

"I'm terribly sorry you had to witness that," Majora said casually, "I hope you understand it's crucial for me that Valentina doesn't know about this. I'm afraid she would be upset with me. So—"

Ghirahim didn't give Majora the chance to finish. He teleported away, clamping a hand over his mouth in an effort to keep down the torrent of emotions trying to well to the surface. He doubled over, staring at the ground beneath his feet, breathing noisily through his gloved fingers.

"It's terribly rude to interrupt someone."

Ghirahim's skin crawled at the sound of Majora's voice. He turned his head slowly, spying the creature out of the corner of his eyes.

No.

He teleported away again, surveying his surroundings with terror in his eyes. Sure enough, Majora appeared just seconds later.

"It seems to me that you are wilfully ignoring—"

Ghirahim teleported again, waiting for Majora to inevitably appear. He wasn't disappointed.

I'm a fool, he thought, I can't escape. Cia did the same thing effortlessly. How could I expect any different from this aberration?

He relocated again, despite knowing it was useless.

I'm going to die at the hands of this fiend.

As soon as Majora materialized, the sword spirit vanished again. Only this time, as his new surroundings solidified around him, he stumbled against someone. He whirled, expecting to find Majora towering over him, but instead it was Val glaring up at him.

"Can't you just leave me alone?!" she snapped.

Ghirahim felt a sudden spark of hope, reaching out and seizing Val's arms in an attempt to keep her there.

"Val!" he gasped, startling her with his forcefulness, "Majora—Majora killed Cia!"

"What?"

"Oh dear. You weren't supposed to find out."

At the sound of Majora's arrival, Ghirahim dodged behind Val, gripping her shoulders tightly as he peered past her.

"What did you do?" Val demanded of the masked creature.

"I assure you, Val, I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Now allow me to take care of this pretentious demon lord for you."

He took a step forward, but Val didn't budge. There was a flash of silver as she summoned her sword from thin air.

"Don't come any closer," she warned.

Majora paused.

"Oh dear. I was afraid this might happen. I don't think you understand, Val."

"Then explain!" she yelled, raising her sword threateningly.

"I don't wish to fight you, my dear, but the truth is I simply could not allow your master to be freed from his imprisonment. I told you once already that he didn't appreciate you nearly as much as I do, and I was hoping you'd be able to infer his character from that, but perhaps I did not speak plainly enough for you. Your master is a bully and a brute."

"Well, isn't that interesting," Val said, taking a step toward the creature, "First you tell me he's a worthy master, then you tell me he's a bully."

"And a brute," Majora reiterated, "And I didn't say he was a worthy master, I simply said he was worthier than our Time Goddess."

"You know, I think I've had enough of your riddles," Val concluded, taking another step forward, "When I asked you about my Master earlier, you dodged my questions, and now you tell me outright that you won't allow me to reunite with him. You said yourself that we were enemies before I lost my memories. Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Why, Valentina, I have been nothing but honest with you."

Val took another step, her eyes narrowed, her sword at the ready. Majora contemplated her for a moment.

"It seems you are intent on fighting. It would pain me to have to come to blows with you, my dear, when by all rights nothing should stand between us, so I'm afraid I must deny you your wish." He swept a bow. "Till next time."

Then he was gone. Val lowered her weapon, letting it dissipate. Ghirahim stepped back, still reeling.

"What are we supposed to do now?" he asked, "The sorceress is dead. The Triforce is gone."

"I'll tell you what," Val said, turning to face him with an unshakable look in her mismatched eyes, "Majora's not getting off that easy."