Chapter 10:

"Wake up," said a soft voice.

Zelda blinked. She looked around.

"Where am I?" she asked. Her voice sounded strange.

"You are in the Sacred Realm, Zelda," replied the voice. It was an old man, his face round, friendly.

"Am I dead?" she whispered.

"No, child. However, brace yourself."

"Zelda!" Navi suddenly came out from her pocket. "Zelda you're all grown up!"

She looked down at herself. She still wore a similar outfit, but her legs were long. She was tall. Her hair was in a tight braid. She had the body of a young woman.

"What happened to me?" she demanded.

"Time, my dear. Seven years have gone by. Ganondorf has the Triforce." Zelda flinched. She could feel her eyes tearing up.

"Then it's over."

"Not quite. There is still hope. It rests within you, and in Linkathan." Zelda looked up at him.

"Me? I'm just a girl."

"You are not just a girl. You hold the power of the Triforce of Wisdom, you are the Sage of Time, our leader, and are no longer a girl."

Zelda looked up at Navi. Navi fluttered, and sat on her hand.

"Tell me what I must do," she commanded. The old man smiled.

"You must protect him. But not as you are." He raised his hands above his head.

"I Rauru, Sage of Light, call on the powers of Light! Grant the Sage of Time the ability to change her shape between her true form, and the form of a Sheikah male!" Zelda felt suddenly tingly.

Rauru stepped out of his pillar of light.

"My power dwindles, even now. I cannot hold Ganondorf out of the Chamber of Sages alone much longer. Linkathan is going to liberate the other five Temples. Help him." He pulled out a harp.

"This is the Minuet of the Forest. Play it to transport yourself to the Forest Temple. Teach it to Link once he reached the Forest Temple."

"I will," Zelda promised.

"Good. One more thing. You must never transform in front of Linkathan. That would make the powers of the two Triforce parts within the two of you revibrate, and Ganondorf would find you in a matter of of moments. No where is safe, except Temples which have been freed, and even then your Triforce pieces will still reveal you to him."

"Then I won't transform before him," Zelda replied softly.

"Fair thee well, Sage of Time, Zelda, good luck."

Zelda blinked, and the Chamber of Sages disappeared.