This chapter may seem slow and as if it is just a filler chapter, but it is not. Please enjoy. Please review! Please note that I do not own the Legend of Zelda or any related characters. I do not own "Link" or "Zelda" or "Malon" or "Ganondorf" or "Navi" or...you get the point. As much as I wish I owned these awesome characters, alas, I do not. Have pity on me.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The sun was setting, and Malon went to go lock the gate. Link couldn't help the smile plastered on his face. Malon and he had played almost all day (apart from the three hours when Malon had to do some chores.) It had been so long since he had had so much fun. Although, he couldn't help but wonder about the other two sages he had to wake up. Oh well. I've got seven years to worry about that.

"Link?" Navi asked. "You do know that we should probably start worrying about those sages now.

"Why? We've got seven years!"

"Yeah, but Ganondorf has already attacked the castle, and Zelda has already fled. If we don't do anything, he will undoubtedly take over, with or without the Triforce."

"Good point. But 'shadow and spirit?' I understood the whole 'forest, fire and water' thing. But where is 'shadow and spirit?'"

"I don't know. Maybe you should ask Malon. She might know something about Hyrule's history."

"What does history have to do with anything?"

"You know. Prophecies and stuff like that. There's probably some kind of hint we need in history."

"Well, okay then." Malon was headed back up the hill to the ranch. "Hey, Malon, I have a question for you."

"Sure, what is it?"

"Have you ever heard of the Sage of Shadow, or the Sage of Spirit?"

"Um…I think I read about sages in my History class…"

"Ha!" Navi exclaimed.

"Let me go get my book." Malon ran to her house and pulled out a dusty history book. "Sages...sages…sages…"

Link followed after her. "Malon?"

"Yes?" Malon answered while still flipping through her book.

"So, you really don't remember anything about the future?"

"I wasn't there silly! Of course I don't remember!"

Link hesitated before asking Malon, "What's my name?"

"Fairy Boy." Malon replied naturally.

"No, Malon…my real name."

Malon looked up from her book. "Your real name…oh! I…I never asked you for that, did I?"

"No."

"I've been calling you 'Fairy Boy' this whole time and I never even knew your real name!"

"I don't mind the name at all."

"Well, are you going to tell me?"

"It's…'Link.'"

"'Link?'"

"Yeah."

"Do you want me to call you that from now on?"

"It…doesn't matter. I've grown attached to 'Fairy Boy.'"

"Well, I'll call you 'Fairy Boy' then…unless I'm mad at you. Then I'll call you 'Link.'"

"Why would you be mad at me?"

"You never know! Tee hee!" Malon kept searching her book until she came across a small paragraph on sages. "Ah! Found it!"

"What does it say?"

Malon quoted the paragraph. "'Hyrule has been home to six temples since it's beginning. Each temple is guarded by it's respective sage. The six temples are represented by elements and are known as the temples of forest, fire, water, shadow and spirit. The Forest Temple is located deep within the Lost Woods. Though no archaeologists have been able to find it, due to the mystical forest…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know about forest, fire and water. What about shadow and spirit?"

"Um… 'The Shadow Temple is a mysterious temple located behind the Sheikah village 'Kakariko Village. The Spirit Temple is the furthest from Hyrule's main roads, for it does not exist within the political boundaries of the Royal Family. The Spirit Temple can be found in the middle of the desert that lies beyond Gerudo Valley.'"

"I know about Kakariko, but where's Gerudo Valley?"

"Like I said, Geography's never been my strong suite."

"Okay then. So, tomorrow I'll need to head to Kakariko Village."

"You'd better get some rest, Fairy Boy."

"I will. Thank you so much, Malon! You've been a big help."

That night, Link stayed awake considering all that had happened. Navi flew up to him. "Link? Are you awake?" she whispered.

"Yeah. I'm awake."

"Look, you do realize that you can't go to the temple like this."

"Like what?"

"You know. As a kid."

"But…why not?"

"Because in this time, there is no sage to wake up. There won't be for another seven years."

"There won't? So, I have to go back to the future?"

"It would seem so."

"Ugh… So I guess it's back to the Temple of Time."

"Yep."

"Navi, does something feel…not right to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's Malon…I feel like I barely know her…"

"I think that's because you've been through more with her as an adult. She saved your life, you saved her ranch, etc. In fact, because of everything that happened in the future…we were really part of a family more than we are now. I mean, right now, you're a boy who saved Malon from a stalchild. You and her are friends. You are really no more than acquaintances with Talon and Ingo. They do feel a little more distant, I'll say that."

"It's weird. This whole time travel thing gives me a headache."

"You're not the only one."

"Navi? When you heard that you were assigned a child, what was your reaction?"

"Where did that question come from?"

"It's been on my mind since you told me about your past."

"Oh. Well…at first I was excited. But then, when I found out how much responsibility you were being given, I was getting a little nervous. I felt like a second-class fairy being asked to guard the King of Hyrule. It's just a load of responsibility."

"Now how do you feel about it?"

"Link…you are my best friend. You're like a younger brother."

"Funny. You were pretty annoying at first, but I've grown to you in the same way. You are like my older sister. I mean, you know a lot about things I never knew before. You've protected me…you've been there for me this whole time."

"I always will be, Link."

"Are you going to keep to that?"

"Absolutely."

"Good night, sis."

"Good night, bro."

The next morning, Link and Navi got an early start for the Temple of Time. When they reached the city, they found it to be in ruins. Dead corpses were lying in the middle of the streets. "Three guesses where those futuristic redeads came from." Link said to Navi."

"Yeah. That's just scary."

Link found the temple and the Master Sword just as he had left it. "Are you ready, Navi?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Link pulled the sword and a flash of blue engulfed him. As time sped up, he heard voices calling out to him.

Thanks kid…

The Triforce of Power was all I needed…

I am Rauru…

You were too young…

My name is Sheik…

Fairy Boy! You've returned…

I will always be your friend…

You are a Hylian…

Now, we are TRUE brothers…

If you see Sheik, give him my thanks…

You rejected my blessing…

What's next on your agenda…?

You're leaving?

You haven't even finished here…

Good one, Hero…

Good luck, Hero…

Good luck, Hero…

Good luck…

"I'm back… We're back!" Link looked at himself, once again in his grown-up body.

"We made it!"

"Come one! Let's get that next sage!" Avoiding the redeads, Link ran out to Hyrule Field and called Epona with her song. After waiting for about ten minutes, Link was starting to get impatient. "Where is Epona?"

"I don't know. She usually comes when you call."

"Oh, forget it. Let's start walking." After the three-hour trek back to Lon Lon Ranch, Link desperately needed something to drink. He knocked on the door.

Malon opened the door. "You know, it was only a little funny the first time. Would you go already?"

"I already did."

"Sure you did."

"No, I did! I went back, got the information I needed and now I'm back!"

"You did?"

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

"Giving me the information!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"…When did you learn my name? My real name?"

"About a week ago, after you saved the ranch."

"You mean you don't remember me telling you my name seven years ago?"

"No…"

"Why don't you remember?"

"I don't know. Now, are you going to explain what's going on, or no?" Link entered the house and told Malon the story of how he returned to the past and what happened with Malon's younger self. "Wow! I honestly can't remember any of that!"

"That's weird…"

"So, if you have to go to the Shadow Temple, why are you here?"

"Epona didn't show up when I played her song. I came here to find out why. That, plus I could use something to drink."

"Epona is here. She's in the stable and I'm willing to bet she's asleep from all the running around she does for you. I'll go get you some milk." Malon got up and walked over to the ice box where the milk was kept.

"Malon, about me leaving...you know, to go back to the past, I'm sorry-"

"No…I'm sorry, Link. I was wrong."

"Why are you sorry? ...And what did I do wrong?"

"…Nothing…why?"

"Well, you said you would only use the name 'Link' when you were mad at me."

"Well…maybe my younger self said that, but I sure didn't."

"…Oh right!"

"Perhaps you should get going…"

"Okay but…we're still friends, right? I didn't—"

"Fairy Boy, you will always be my friend, and you will always be welcome on this ranch. That goes for you too, Navi."

"Thanks, Malon." The two heroes said in unison.

Link asked his question again as Malon handed him a glass of milk. "So why are you sorry?"

"I...I felt a little betrayed when you said you were going back in time...and it...it wasn't because you hadn't finished the job."

"Well...why was it?"

"...It's a selfish reason, but I don't want you to leave."

"Oh, Malon...I'm sorry. Please don't feel that way. I wouldn't leave you."

"I know...but...I'm thinking now...if you go back to the past to stay when all this is over, doesn't that leave me without you in the time? I mean, if what you just did in the past has no effect on me now..."

"I...don't...know..."

"Well, you'd better get going! Do your hero thing! Wake the sage and everything! Take Epona with you."

Mounting Epona, Link and Navi were on their way to Kakariko Village. But there was no way that they could have been prepared for what awaited them.

A/N: CLIFFHANGER! What's going to happen next? Well, if you've played the game (unlike a certain reviewer) you have an idea of what's coming up. But you have no idea what kind of a twist that I'm planning.

Plus, if you feel like this was just filler and are upset about it, please note that this chapter had a point. I was establishing the fact of the split-timeline. What happens in the past won't affect the future that's already been created.