The hinges groaned as my hands pushed on the rough wooden door, its surface scarred by time. The air inside was filled with the aroma of inscents and burning candles. A red runner divided the thirty long rows of pews down the center. My footsteps were muffled by the thick material as I stepped forward towards a marble alter toped with black granite. Behind the alter was an intricately carved slab of stone fifteen feet high and crowed with the holy symbol, the Triforce itself.

Yes, the Temple of Time. My presence there brought back memories of the past. No, I reminded myself. Memories of a past that never occurred. I sighed and traced a finger along the edge of a hollow in the altar; the hole that had one kept the Goron ruby.

"Link?" a kind voice behind me inquired. I spun around to face a portly old man with whitened hair. His crinkled smile was kind and disarming. He wore a simple brown robe with the sacred triangles embroidered on the chest with gold, the typical priest garb.

There were a few oddities after my quest had ended in the land of Hyrule--and undoubtedly other places as well. Only a very select few knew about the events that had occurred after I had pulled the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time; the sages, a few others, and myself that just seemed to know. One of these oddities was that the man that stood before me was not only Sage of Light, but also pastor of the temple.

"Oh, Father Rauru, it's only you…" I said, voice strained and tired.

"Who did you expect," He chuckled slightly "Ganondorf?"

I said nothing, just stared back at him gravely. My current condition added to the effect. I must have looked dreadful; purple circles under my eyes, two days worth of stubble on my face, not to mention my clothes stained with blood from the day before. Rauru's smile quickly faded into a thin line.

"Is there something I should know?"

"Well, I-I really can't say, it's hard to explain…" I stammered. Every word seemed to be magnified ten fold as it echoed across the stone walls of the temple.

"Is it your dreams?" I was startled for a minute, surprised by his answer.

"Yes. How did you--" He cut me off with an impatient gesture towards a nearby pew. I followed him to a seat that would be occupied by a worshiper in a few hours for early Sunday services. We sat down facing the altar and the Door of Time. After a few moments, he spoke again.

"Princess Zelda has come to me often reporting what she thinks may be prophetic visions."

I looked away for a moment. I had loved Zelda deeply and still did at the time. Almost two years to the day, I had asked for her hand in marriage. But she refused claiming that her father would never approve of his daughter marrying a peasant. She also stated that marriage would shatter the friendship we shared. Apparently, so did rejection. I was utterly heartbroken. We didn't see each other as often as we once had. Whenever I saw her, it was usually on business or across a crowd. Even after a few years the mention of her name was like a stab in the chest.

"You've been speaking with her?"

"Only as often as her father permits," he answered with just a hint of disgust. It was common knowledge to everyone that the priest disliked the king of Hyrule. I'm sure the king would have removed Rauru from his position, if it were not for his popularity with the people. He shook his head and continued. "In these visions--though she could not remember in detail--Ganondorf escapes with an army of powerful demons. Is this similar to your dreams?"

"No…" I recalled what I had born witness to only an hour before as I gazed at the door. "It was like Hyrule Field, only it wasn't, I was somewhere different entirely. I felt weird, like it wasn't me--and I guess it was someone different. I was dressed in rags. I was ridding a black horse and had a sword at my hip. It felt like I was hit in the back with lightning--then I woke up."

I looked back to the old Sage. He interlocked his gnarled fingers and sighed deeply. "And I suppose you think that this 'lightning' was caused by Ganondorf."

"Yes."

"And you came to check if the seal was broken."

"Yes."

"Very well."

With another heavy sigh, Rauru got to his feet and I followed him quietly up to the altar. His fingers pried where the granite and marble met. After struggling for a few moments, I stepped in.

"Here, let me help you with that." I said. With ease, I lifted the black stone top a few inches, a cloud of dust billowed out of the crevice; making me cough violently but I didn't loose my hold. After the dust had settled, Rauru reached in and pulled out a leather bag. I set the top back in place just as Rauru pulled open the drawstrings. He lifted out something and handed it to me. The Ocarina of Time. The small egg-shaped instrument was as perfect as I remembered. I ran a callused finger along the smooth surface that seemed to resemble a sky with wisps of clouds strung across it. The three golden triangles on the mouthpiece reflected back miniature versions of myself.

"Link?" My head jerked up. Rauru had set up the three spiritual stones in their corresponding hollows. "Do you still remember the song?"

"How could I forget?" I answered.

Standing on the red carpet, I faced the altar and put the ocarina to my lips. I blew into it softly and without even having to think, I began to play. The slow mournful melody of the Song of Time filled our ears. With a slight hum, the Spiritual Stones began to spin rapidly and reflected the golden light of the Triforce symbol above the carved slab. A rift down the center of the Door of Time appeared and widened even farther with every note. The pews shuddered and creaked as the door opened completely and went back into the walls. The way was cleared.

"Shall we proceed?" questioned Rauru, staring ahead into the gloom. I nodded and let down the ocarina to my side as we stepped behind the altar and through the door. Small clouds of dust rose up at our feet as we entered the hidden chamber. The huge room was displayed before us with a ceiling so high you couldn't see its end. The only source of light came from a window somewhere near the top. Its single shaft of golden light fell upon a sword unlike any other. Half embedded in a pedestal of solid stone, the Master Sword gleamed as brightly as the moon.

I could still remember so clearly how I had entered the same room so long ago, a mere child filled with awe and scared out of my wits because of Ganondorf. Once again, I had to remind myself that it never happened. My guess was that its hilt of blue metal had not been touched in hundreds of years.

"Well, it's still in place," I said softly. "The seal's still strong--right?"

"Go and see," murmured Rauru as I stepped up to the pedestal. There were no cracks in the stone or gaps revealing a ghastly under world, as I had feared. "Touch the sword, does it feel hot?"

I placed my hand on the hilt. It felt cool as ice. I felt a tingling sensation run through my arm that just seemed to beg me to yank the sword from the marble. "No." I answered and quickly removed my hand. Instinctively, I whipped my hand on the thigh of my leg like I had touched something nasty.

"Good. Then all is well, the seal shall hold for hundreds of years--but by then that vile creature will have died."

"But, could there be another exit from the realm?"

"Very unlikely, the very thought is almost laughable. This is the only way in and out of the Sacred Realm." He clapped me on the shoulder reassuringly. "Now, be troubled no more. I'll inform you if I feel that there is such a danger. Keep the ocarina. Would you like me to leave the door open for you so you can check for yourself from time to time?"

"Sure."

***

Soon after talking to Rauru and saying a few prayers, I exited the temple where my horse was waiting outside. I tucked away the ocarina in my pocket as I came up to her. The horse was a mare with a blood-bay coat and white mane and tail--blacker towards the roots. I came to the war-horse's head and untied her from the hitching post. I could hear the sound of pots and smell breakfast wafting from the nearby townhouses. The market would soon be bustling with activity; it was best if I left before hand.

I smiled as I lead Epona past the dwellings and wished that I shared in their blissfully simple lives. They were ignorant to the hell that I had gone though to restore order to their land. Even Rauru's assurance could not part the dark clouds of doubt and uncertainty that hung over me.