Chapter 6

Teba carried Link and the cat up to where Epona was waiting for them. Link mounted the horse and together they set off towards the mountains leading to Gerudo desert. The closer they got to the boundary the hotter it got until Link could take no more of it.

"We need to turn back, I need to find a way to keep cool"

"There's a merchant over there maybe he'll sell some hydro-melons they're great for keeping you cool. To be honest I'm struggling right behind you Link I have feathers" Teba said

Link approached the merchant but when the merchant saw that Link had a Triforce symbol on his hand he immediately switched and became ninja like.

Link was taken aback and knocked off his horse but held his guard up and used his senses to slash at him with his master sword enough to get the merchant to stand back.

This fight went on for at least a minute until Link finally got him, he screamed and dropped his goods which included two silver rupees and 4 hydro-melon, two stacks of wood and pot.

Link made a fire, Teba helped to fan the flames by flapping his wings and soon Link had made enough for him, Teba and even the cat.

A sign above their heads stated they'd have 10 minutes with the effects of this drink not to feel the heat and carry on on their journey.

At the half way mark they found that their path was cut off by a broken bridge.

A carpenter was hammering away at the sand stone wall nearby.

"Excuse me" Link said, the carpenter looked up, "What happened here?"

"Oh, the Gerudo don't like men but they tolerated us for years, we'd do bits and bobs for them but then the other day one of them turned on us, they locked up all my brothers and then broke this bridge once I was across it. I ran to get help but there's something wrong with Castle Town, it's encased in a weird barrier. So I figure if I could find some tools I'll make a bridge the Gerudo can't destroy but with just me here it's taking an awful long time"

"We can find you some help!" Link said

"We can!?" The cat asked disbelievingly

"Yes but I do need to find a way across, we're looking for someone, a way to the desert temple, it's going to take the three of us, no point in me sending Teba on ahead"

"The Gerudo have no quarrel with the Rito, if you could conceal yourself somehow about his person you might get through, though why do you want to do that?" The carpenter asked

"Our friend was taken and they went this way towards the desert Temple from the old tales, they also say there are three mirror shards hidden there and if I'm going to help the people of Castle Town and the Castle itself I'm going to need what's been housed in that mirror. I'm a knight from Skyloft" Link said

"Why is it up to you to save us?" The carpenter asked

"I'm Link"

"Nope, that doesn't explain it" The carpenter said

"What? It explains everything, this curse has gone through the generations!" Teba flapped

The carpenter took a gasp,

"Ganondorf! This explains the sudden turn, we mind the lime and now all of a sudden our camping up here is a problem!"

"I don't think it's the Gerudo that plan on bringing him back this time. That barrier is from the Twilight" Link said

"They will want to be the ones, who raise him, they won't want him infected by the Twilight, he belongs to them"

"True but they won't listen to the likes of us. Is there a way Link and I could get across?"

"Any good at climbing cliffs?" The carpenter asked

"Uh...my ancestor was" Link replied

"I can't carry you up there, that's too far, I'd need to find a ledge half way to rest on, is there a tower nearby?" Teba asked

"The other side of the valley...I know, I could cut steps out for you, into the rock face to the top but you'd have to find an alternative route down"

"Getting down isn't the problem" Teba said

"Very well, come back in three days and I'll have the stairs calved out for you" The carpenter offered, "You're welcome to take any supplies you find in the tent if you reach it"

Link and Teba opted for this and reluctantly decided to rest up and head over to Kokiri Forest instead, hoping above all hope that Corey would be alright for that length of time.

"He once fasted for days you know" Teba said impressed

"Really?" Link asked

"Though he was right next to the river so he could have snuck a trout here and there and we'd never have paid any mind" Teba replied doubtfully

When Link and Teba reached the mouth of Kokiri Forest they were greeted by The Wise Owl and a tune familiar to anyone around when the Hero of Time was around would know this tune anywhere. The cat poked his head out of the satchel to see him,

"Well, well, look at you Link. I have watched you since the day you left here for the world above the clouds"

"I'm a Kokiri?" Link asked in surprise

"No, you are a Hylian but there were forces working against you and it we needed to get you as far away from them as was physically possible. I have information about the Shadow Princess but that is for a later time. You must go to the Deku Tree and obtain the map within, it'll show you the way to the Forest Temple"

"Isn't the road ahead blocked?" Link asked

"You have the Ocarina don't you?" The Wise Owl asked

"Yes" Link said

"Once you reach the mouth of the trunk tunnel across the other side of the bridge that passes through the Lost Wood play the song of time backwards" The Wise Owl said, "Would you like me to repeat that?"

"No, I've got it" Link insisted, "Thank you"

"Very well Link, we'll meet again" The Wise Owl said and with that he flew off

Link walked Epona towards the bridge but Epona wouldn't go across it.

"I'll be alright here" Epona said

"Alright" Link nodded

Link and Teba walked across the bridge, into the mouth of the trunk tunnel and with a nervous breath Link played the song of time backwards.

Link and Teba fell through a vortex that appeared behind them.

Link and Teba fell out of the vortex and landed right by Saria, who screamed in shock,

"Link!?" Is that you?"

"A version of me" Link said

Suddenly Teba was gasping for air and losing his feathers. His wings became fins and he turned into a Zora,

"Quick! We need to get him to Lake Hylia, I know a short cut!" Saria said

"Have you any water?" Link asked

"Not enough!" Saria cried

Link panicked and carried Teba the Zora and followed Saria through this maze of tunnels until they found a pool of water with tiles down the wall on one side leading to an opening.

Link put Teba in the water and waited anxiously.

Suddenly Teba woke up and swam about under water before eventually coming up to the surface.

"Teba! You're a Zora!" Link cried

"Well, we went back in time to the hero's era before the great floods, it makes sense but that owl could have given me a bit of warning, Id have stayed with Epona" Teba the Zora said

"Sorry, can you wait for me here? I'll figure things out I swear!"

"Can I get to Zora' Domain from Lake Hylia?" He asked and then he looked at Link in horror. "No! Link, I can't leave this place, I go through that tunnel it'll take me to the lake we know now!"

"You'd turn back into a Rito wouldn't you?" Link asked

"What're you talking about?" Saria asked

So Link explained.

"Oh my. So there's two of you, a grown up you and little you" Saria said

"Can we be sure I'd turn back?" Teba the Zora asked, "If you can only go back three days in Castle Town, why did we go back so far now? Here in Kokiri Forest?"

"I'm hoping the Great Deku Tree can tell me that" Link said

"The Deku Tree died but his sapling might be able to tell you something, it houses all his memories" Saria said

"Take me to him!" Link pleaded