Mmm. I'd like to try some Lonlon milk. I thought I'd add it to this chapter as a nice little reminder of Malon and co.

So, sometime soon, I'm going to go back and try to add to some of my previous chapters. Especially the first two. Hopefully I"ll be able to get around to it soon. Who knows. Sigh. Stupid school. And a test coming up and everything. Grumble.

Chapter 37:

Since we warped to Hyrule Castle Town, the snow that had gathered on link's head and shirt during the battle with monster Yeta didn't get a chance to melt. He didn't even notice the frosty powder covering him, but everyone turned to stare as he passed through the town.

The mailman stopped us to hand us a letter from Yeta. She said she was sorry she couldn't help us much and that she felt better now. She also invited us to come and visit again. Heehee!

As Link walked into Telma's bar, she eyed the snow coating him.

"Have a nice trip to the mountains?" she asked.

"Oh, yeah," Link replied. "I got what I needed." He gave a little shiver from the leftover chill.

"You look cold," Telma commented. "Did you even notice that you're covered in snow?"

Link looked down at his shirt and grumbled in annoyance. He started to knock the snow off of his hair and clothes.

"Sit by the fire and warm up," Telma offered. "I'll bring you a drink. Then you can go meet Rusl. He's in Hyrule's southern wood right now, checking out the lay of the land. He mentioned a sacred grove."

Link sat by the fire, shaking the rest of the frost off him. As he warmed up, Telma walked over and handed him a mug.

Link started to take a sip, but stopped, looking startled. "It's MILK."

"That's right. And the highest quality milk in Hyrule," Telma said. ""Provided by a very old ranch just beyond Lake Hylia. Guaranteed to warm you to the bones, and it's a smooth as silk."

"Huh. I just thought that a bar would serve…"

"You're a hero, Link," Telma interrupted. "Heroes can't get their heads muddled with alcohol."

"Oh, I know," Link assured her quickly. "I just…" He shut himself up and took a sip of the milk.

"Oh, it really IS good."

"I thought you'd like it," Telma said, smiling. "Have all you want. It's on the house. It's the least I can do for ya since you're traveling all over Hyrule to fight this darkness."

Thanks to me, he didn't have to travel too long. We could just warp most places. Poor Epona wasn't getting much exerciset. But Renado promised to look after her until we needed her again. My warping can only take us so many places.

Link finished his mug of milk and then handed Telma an empty bottle to fill up with more milk.

When we were outside, he sat down on a bench.

"Hey, Midna, come and try this. I brought you a bottle of Telma's milk."

I emerged, grinning, and sat beside him.

"For me? You shouldn't have! I'm flattered."

Link rolled his eyes and held the bottle out to me.

I accepted it and took a sip.

"Ah. Nothing like milk to rejuvenate a hero, huh? Heehee! It is pretty good though, isn't it?"

"Yep."

I finished the bottle and handed it back to Link. "Now you can put another fairy in that bottle. You never know when you'll need one."

"Yeah," Link sighed, hooking the bottle onto his belt. "Well, now we should go try to find Rusl. He's in Faron Woods, huh? Well, we've been there quite a bit so far."

"One trip to Faron, coming up!"

I turned Link into a wolf and we warped to the woods.

And what do you know. Rusl was standing at the place where we had gotten into Skull Kid's forest. So, we had to go through there again. Would Skull Kid give us another grand tour? I hoped not.

Rusl greeted Link without even turning around. "It has been a while since we took a walk in the forest, huh? Yes, and how our world has changed."

For a moment the two of them gazed out into the woods.

"Say…" Rusl continued, "Do you know about the far side of this deep gorge? Some say there is an ancient temple deep in the woods that guards a sacred power. The ancestors of the Hylians created the temple… Signs of their civilization—ancient, but very sophisticated—are everywhere." So that's why there were those ruins deep in the woods. They must have been the ones that left the Master Sword there.

"If someone could obtain the power of those ancient people… Well, I am sure it would go a long was toward saving Hyrule."

That sounded like another cool weapon! I wonder what it'll be this time?

"Link… Would you take on this task? Would you cross the gorge and find the ancient power sleeping in the temple?"

"Of course!" Link assured him.

"I knew you would! To cross the gorge, just use my partner here."

Rusl whistled out the tune used to call birds.

There was a rustle of feathers and something gold hovered towards us. I stared.

Link did a perfect job of summing up my thoughts.

"It's… a chicken. A cucco."

"…Do you doubt my partner's skills? He flies like a dream! Believe me! Well, you will definitely make it across the gorge. Wait and see, my doubting friend."

Well, if it could carry Rusl, it could surely carry Link. So, Link lifted the cucco and jumped off the ledge. The cucco's beating wings let Link float down the route he had taken as a wolf.

The moment we stepped into the shady woods, Skull Kid leapt out of a tree and landed in front of us. He gave a blast on his leafy trumpet and we immediately found ourselves surrounded by his puppet monsters.

Well, great.

So, we had to fight our way all through the Lost woods again, once more ending in a spectacular archery showdown with Skull Kid deep in the forest.

Once Link defeated his little friend, Skull Kid gave one final little giggle and vanished. His voice echoed through the leaves.

"Hee hee hee… That was fun! I'll tell you what: I'll let you into a secret place!"

Finally! He leads us through this crazy forest twice. Grumble.

So, Link walked in through the doorway Skull Kid opened.

This was the same area where we had gone through that strange puzzle. But we were standing in an area overlooking that clearing. In front of us was a doorway standing by itself. No doubt remnants of the ruins Rusl had mentioned. But there was a statue blocking the entrance. Not that there would be anything through those doors. There was very clearly nothing on the other side. Or so I thought.

I emerged from Link's shadow.

"The sacred, ancient forest… So this was what they were talking about."

Link climbed down, not sure where to look. We'd been here before and hadn't seen any temple.

Link walked to the place where he'd drawn the Master Sword from its pedestal, hoping to find a clue there.

I'm not sure what made him do it, but he took his sword and slid it back into its original resting place. There was a thrumming sound as the statue that blocked the empty doorway vanished. So… it was gone. Now what? Was there really more to that doorway than meets the eye?

He drew his sword again and sheathed it.

Shadow beasts ambushed us as we headed back to the doorway. Link killed them and we got another portal. At least now we can warp here whenever we need to. No need to go through Skull Kid's obstacle course any more.

We returned to the doorway to make sure it really was what it seemed. It looked normal enough: a door standing alone, remnants of some long crumbled building. It SHOULD have opened onto thin air.

But as Link pushed the door open and stepped through, we did not end up back in the forest. Instead we were standing inside of a vast temple.