Disclaimer: You get the idea by now.
When Link awoke the following morning, he felt as if he only got six hours of sleep last night. He could hear the shower running, signifying that Keith was already up and about. Getting out of his bed, he walked over to the bathroom door. "Keith, hurry up. I have to take one too." Link then walked over to where his clothes hung. 'That was a weird nightmare.' As soon as he gathered his clothes, the bathroom door opened and Keith walked out. "It's all yours."
Link locked the door behind him and turned the water on. The water felt refreshing over his body, as if it was washing away not only the dirt, but bad memories from yesterday. After he was finished, he pulled his clothes on and stepped out. Keith was sitting on the edge of his bed watching the TV. "Hey Link, that storm yesterday was really messed up." "I know that already." "No, even more than that. They said it was going to go on for at least three days, but it stopped around midnight."
Turning the TV off, they went down to the dining area to have some breakfast. Link chose sausage, eggs, and hash browns while Keith took pancakes. They got a table and started eating. "So Link," said Keith between bites, "when's your dad coming to pick us up?" "Don't know." Sitting in silence, they finished their meal. After putting their dishes in the wash bin, Link suggested that they look around the ranch until his dad got there.
After looking at the extremely boring cows and cuccos, Link and Keith were watching the horses when they were surprised by a visitor. "Hi, I haven't seen you two around here before." Turning around, they were met by a red head who had on a working outfit. "Who are you?" "My name's Malon Lon, my family owns this ranch. Who are you two?" "I'm Link Kokirin." "And I'm Keith Subron." Malon extended her hand which Link and Keith shook.
"So, what brings you two out here to the ranch?" "The way home got flooded last night. We're waiting for my dad to come and get us." They watched in silence as a bunch of horses ran by. "Horses are such magnificent creatures." Malon said, almost in wonder. "Have you ever ridden one?" "Nope." "Not me." A smile came over her face, "Well, I'll let ride one if you want to. "Keith shook his head violently. "No way." Link, on other hand, gave it a shot.
After Malon had explained to him how to ride a horse, Link was gently riding around the fence while Keith and Malon watched him. "Your friend seems to have a natural talent for riding a horse." "Maybe, but you don't know Link." Malon turned her head in question. "What do you mean? He seems like a nice guy." "Oh, yeah, he is. But he has guts like you wouldn't believe." She simply turned her back to watching Link, who decided to show his guts right then.
Link gave the horse a good smack, sending from a steady canter, to full run. "LINK! YOU STUPID IDIOT!" Keith yelled out. Link ignored him though, the rush of doing something new filled him. However, he failed to take into account the fact that he was a novice at doing this. The horse veered off of the dirt track and headed for a corner. "Whoa, boy! Whoa!" It didn't do any good though, as all it did was cause the horse to stop, sending Link flying through the air. After being airborne for a second, he landed in a small section that thankfully had a roof over it.
"OOOHHHHFFF!" Link landed with a thud and stopped when he hit the wall. Keith and Malon ran over to where he was laying. "I told you he had more guts than common-sense." Bending down, Malon examined him for any external wounds. "Are you crazy? You could've been killed!" Link got up and brushed himself off. "Well, at least this section was dry." His comment got him a smack in the head from Keith. "Stupid." Link simply gave him a silly smile and walked off.
Twenty minutes later, Link saw his dad pull up in his van. "My dad's here. Nice meeting you Malon, and thanks for letting me ride a horse." Malon waved as the two boys got into the van and drove off. "Who was that you were waving to?" "Malon Lon." Link's dad gave his son a smile. "So, when's your first date?" "DAD!" His father simply laughed. "Thanks for picking us up Mr. Kokirin." "Hey, no problem."
The van pulled up into Link's driveway and the passengers got out. "I guess I should go home. My parents are probably worried about me. See you later Link." "See you later." They waved and Link went into his house. As soon as he got inside, he was immediately hugged by his mom. "I'm glad you're home. I got so worried when it started pouring." "Mom, I'm okay. I was with Keith the whole time. We could survive a war together." Link didn't know that his words would be put to the test.
Keith tried to open the door to his house to find it locked. 'Figures. No one's probably up yet.' Getting out his house keys, he unlocked the door and went inside. Locking the door behind him, he went up to his room and got changed out of yesterday's clothes. Putting on clean ones, Keith lied on his bed and tried to get some more sleep. 'That nightmare was weird as all hell.' Thinking about all the good things in his life, he soon drifted off to sleep.
Once again, Keith had the same nightmare. Upon waking up, he felt even more tired than when he first lied down. Getting up, he went out to the living room. Inside, he found his parents sitting on the couch and watching television. "Hello." "It's about time you woke up. I guess that the hotel didn't suit you?" "No, the hotel was fine." "By the way, Link called about an hour ago. Be sure to call him back." Putting on his sneakers, Keith walked the two blocks from his house to Link's.
Link was in his room, listening to some music when he heard a knock on his door. "Come in." He stopped the tape as the door opened. "Hey man." "Hey Keith. What did your parents do when you got home?" "They were still sleeping." Link put the tape back on and Keith sat in his beanbag chair. The two sat in silence as they wound down from yesterday and this morning. Keith went to tossing Link's football up into the air and catching it while Link played a few notes on his ocarina.
"Hey Link, about that instrument of yours." Keith said as he put the ball down. "What about it?" "What was it called again?" "An ocarina." "Can I see it for a sec?" Link tossed it to him. Keith examined the instrument with an eagle's eye. "Why do you want to look at it anyway?" "Remember the name of that thing that Princess Zelda tossed to your younger self?" "Yeah, it was called the Ocarina of Time. What about it?" "Well, before my vision clouded, I got a good look at the it." He tossed the ocarina back to Link. "I think you're holding it right now."
"No way! That was the past that we saw. If it was still around, it'd be nothing but dust right now." "How long have you had that ocarina?" "It's been in my family for generations." "Well, if it's that true, than it should show signs of aging, shouldn't it?" "Yeah." "Well, does it?" Link looked at his instrument. Running his hand over the surface, it felt as smooth as the day it was carved. "I'm not saying that it is the Ocarina of Time, but it's the same color and it seems like it was made just yesterday. Another thing which caught my eye is the fact that it has the symbol of the Triforce near the mouthpiece.
"Well, even it IS the Ocarina of Time, what good does that do us?" Getting off of the beanbag, Keith looked out the window. "According to that 'recording', if the Song of Time is played in front of the altar in the Temple of Time with the Ocarina of Time, something will happen." Link chuckled a little bit. "Time seems to be a recurring word." "I'm serious Link." He sighed at his friend's persistence. "But what is the something, hm?" "Well, there's only one way to find out." Keith looked straight at his friend.
Linked rolled his eyes. "Well, for one, we don't even know if this temple exists anymore. And two, if it does, we don't know where it is." The look on Keith's face was replaced with one of pride. "Oh, it still exists. And we've been there before." "Yeah, when? I don't recall on religious buildings in Hyrule City." "It's not being used as a place of worship any more. I'm pretty sure that what was then the Temple of Time, is now the hall of records in the governmental district."
"You are crazy. I'm not going back there today." "Well, then how about tomorrow?" Link thought it over and agreed. "So, what do we do until then?" "You said that in your first vision that you heard a different tune, right?" "Yeah, it was the song of the royal family." Opening the door, Keith responded. "Why don't you play it somewhere a little more private and out of the way?" "Okay, where?" "How about on the island?"
What Keith meant by 'on the island' was the large island in the middle of the lake. Ridding their bicycles, Link and Keith reached it in half an hour. Standing on top of a small, stone platform, they could see all of the lake. No one went out to the island at all. It had no retail value due to the fact that the platform couldn't be destroyed. Standing on top of it, Link put his ocarina to his lips and started playing.
The tune echoed across the lake, reaching the ears of all in the area. Everyone stopped to listen to it. After three minutes of continual playing, Link stopped. "Wow." Was all he was able to say. "I'm not sure Link, but I think I saw the ocarina glowing while you were playing it." The two boys sat down and started discussing possible events that would happen when they played the Song of Time.
The day went by rather quickly and they biked home to have dinner. As he sat eating his meatloaf, Link's parents were noticing his unusual quietness. "So, Link, what did you do at the ranch last night when you got there?" "Nothing much, watched TV for a while then we went to bed." His parents looked at each other. "What did you make of that music this afternoon?" Link stopped at its mentioning. "What music?" His mom got a little exasperated. "Link, we heard you play that song on your ocarina." "Oh, THAT music. What about it?" "Where did you learn a song like that?" Link's mind raced to make up a suitable excuse.
"I found it yesterday in the trash bin at school. The paper was too dirty for me to take home, but I was able to memorize the notes." "Okay." Their dinner continued without further incident. That night, Link lay in bed wondering exactly what was going on and what he and Keith were getting themselves in to. 'I really hope that this is going to be worth it.' He fell asleep, and once again three people across Hyrule shared a nightmare.
Link woke up, got changed, ate breakfast, and said goodbye to his mom. "Keith and I are going out for today." "Alright, but be back before dinner. Have a good time." Keith did the same, with the exception of leaving a note for his still sleeping parents. Taking his moped out of the garage, he grabbed his helmet and went over to Link's. Link was gassing up his moped when Keith came up his driveway. "Hey Link, almost ready to go?" "Yeah, just a sec."
Link topped off his tank and put the gas can back in his garage. Walking out with his helmet, he called out to Keith, "Equipment check." Keith nodded and put his helmet on. A few months ago, he had rigged up a radio in their helmets so they could talk to each other while ridding. "Link, can you hear me?" "Loud and clear." "Great, let's get going." Climbing on their mopeds, they started up the engines and sped off to the governmental district.
While they were riding, Link decided to ask Keith a few questions. "Hey, how do you know that the hall of records is the Temple of Time?" "Well, a while ago, I looked through the back room door while an employee went back there, and I saw what looked like an altar. The vision reminded me of it." "Oh, okay. So, how do we get in? It's closed on weekends." "Remember, I've got a lockpick." Link fell silent and the rest of the ride continued without any talking.
An hour later they parked their mopeds and walked up to the hall of records. Looking up at it, Link could tell that it easily as old as the castle, maybe older. "Who knows, you might be right Keith." "Yeah, maybe. Could you give me some cover?" Link stood in front of Keith as he worked on the lock. A minute later, Keith gave the all clear and they slipped inside. Locking the door behind them, Link flipped on the lights.
"This place is HUGE!" "Yeah, I know." They quietly walked down the center aisle as they observed the racks of books on the wall and in bookcases. "Hey, check this out, another one of those stone platforms." Keith looked down and saw it. Taking a piece of paper and pen from a nearby desk, he made a copy of the symbol on it. "This symbol is different than the one out by the lake. There might be a connection." "Let's just hurry and get out of here before someone sees us."
Opening the back room's door, Keith looked in triumph. ""What did I tell you? This place IS the Temple of Time." Link was stunned. Only ten feet away from him, was the altar from the vision. When they walked up to it, Keith let out a gasp. "What the hell?!?" "What? What's wrong?" "The inscription, I can read it!" "What? Impossible! That's ancient Hylian, only a few people are ever allowed to learn it." "I know, but somehow, I can understand it." "Well, what does it say?" Keith read it, loud and clear.
The Hero's Triumph, on Cataclysm's Eve Wins Three Symbols of Virtue The Master Sword, He Will Then Retrieve Keeping the Knight's Line True
They both felt a shiver run down their spine. "Keith, are we sure we want to do this?" He thought long and hard on that. "Yes." Link couldn't believe his ears. "Are you nuts!?! The poem said 'on Cataclysm's Eve'. That means when the world comes to an end. I don't know about you, but I sure as hell don't want to be responsible for the end of the world." Keith turned to him. "Link, I think I know why we saw what we did. Cataclysm's eve is already here! We were meant to do this. Remember, it say's 'Eve'. The cataclysm isn't here yet. If we just sit back and ignore it, then it will happen!"
Link fell silent at that. "So, what do we do?" "What we came here to do. Stand in front of the altar and play the Song of Time." Unsure of anything, Link stepped in front of the altar and played the Song of Time. The haunting song echoed throughout the building, but nothing happened. They just stood there. "That was rather, anticlimactic." Keith said. It then hit Link. "Duh! No wonder why nothing happened!" He smacked himself mentally.
"What?" "We need the three Spiritual Stones. I remember from the first vision that that's what Princess Zelda said what you need to get in here. My younger self had the Spiritual Stone of the Forest." Keith looked with bewilderment. "And the only place where that could be is the forest to the east of the ranch!" "That makes sense, in an odd, twisted manner." Energy flowing through him like never before, Link started running back to the entrance. "Then what are we waiting for? It's only eleven o' clock, we've got tons of time left in the day!" Keith caught up to him as they ran out, got on their mopeds, and sped away.
"Now Link, how do you know that this stone is in the forest?" "In my vision, that's where my younger self came from and he had it." "What if it's in some sort of private collection or something now?" "Then we're fucked." By one they had reached the entrance to the woods. They slowed their mopeds as they avoided the dense foliage. "What are we looking for?" "Not a clue." What they didn't know is that they were stalked the second they entered the forest.
A cry pierced the air, immediately followed by rustling in the bushes behind them. "Wolfos!" Link looked behind to see the gray form of one catching up to him. "Shit, we got to lose it!" "How do you propose we do that?!?" Link thought for a moment and he got an idea. Not even bothering to tell Keith, he zoomed off in a separate direction. The Wolfos followed him. He looked around, trying to find something to use against the thing.
Looking up ahead, Link saw the perfect weapons. The Wolfos followed closely, just as he expected. When he reached the tree, he grabbed hold of an outstretched branch and quickly let go. The branch hit the Wolfos right in the head, the blow killing it. Link stopped his moped and looked back. "YES!" Keith heard his cry of triumph over the radio. "You killed it?" "Oh, yeah." "Great! But um, where are you?" Link suddenly realized that he was lost.
"Link, rev up your bike, I'll locate you by the sound." Keith turned of his moped and took of his helmet. He heard the distant 'vroom' of Link's moped. Putting his helmet back on, he let Link know that he was about a mile and a half away. Keith made his way through the undergrowth to Link's location. As he was riding, he got an eerie feeling, like he was being watched. Looking around, he could see no one around though. It didn't come to him that his watchers would be using camouflage until the dart hit his arm. He had just enough time to stop his bike and get off until he passed out.
Link opened his eyes to find himself lying on a grassy field. The last thing he remembered was that he was waiting for Keith and then felt something prick his back. Shaking his head, he looked around and saw Keith standing a few feet away from him. "Keith!" He turned at the sound of Link's voice. "You're finally up. You've been out for two hours." Standing up, Link walked over to Keith. "What happened?" "Our mopeds disturbed the Kokiri, and they came and knocked us out. We're lucky that the tranquilizer is only short lived."
"Kokiri? What are they?" *They art the children of the forest.* Link spun around. "Who said that? Show yourself!" *Ha ha ha. Such bravery against what is unknown to thee.* Link still looked around for the source of the voice. "Keith, do you hear it?" "Yeah, I hear it. Link, meet the Great Deku Tree." Keith motioned to the tall tree in front of him. Link looked in awe. It was the biggest tree he had ever seen. But that was the least of things that he noticed. It had what appeared to be a mustache and two eyebrows.
*I am the Great Deku Tree, guardian of these sacred wood and of the Kokiri. I have been talking with thy friend Keith for some time. Thou art on a quest, according to him, to find the three Spiritual Stones." Link found it a little weird to talk to a tree. "Uh, yeah. We don't know how far we'll get, but that's the plan. I know that one of them is called the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, so I thought that it was here in the forest."
*How did this knowledge come to thee?* "I had a vision in which someone who looked like a younger version of me had it." Link then felt as if someone was looking inside of him at something. *Ah, yes. I can see that thou art his descendant. Thou hast proven thy courage in undertaking this quest. I shall give to thee the stone which you seek. Thou shall need to find the other two spiritual stones if thee is to open the way. I know not the location of the other stones however. Their names are the stone of fire and the stone of water.*
A green light appeared in front of Link that materialized to become a shining green stone. He reached up into the air and it fell into his hands. "Keith, hold this. My pockets aren't big enough." "Sure thing." Keith took the stone and put it in his sweatjacket's pocket. *A Kokiri shall show thee the way out. I wish thee good luck and safety on thy journey.* "Thank you, Great Deku Tree." Link heard footsteps behind and saw what must be a Kokiri.
He had nothing but green clothes on, and with brown hair that covered his eyes. "Come with me. This isn't a good place to get lost for a Hylian." "Okay." Link and Keith followed the Kokiri through a short tunnel and exited in his village. "Wow, you kids live in trees?" "Yeah, so what?" "Well, I thought you might have a regular house or at least a grass hut." The Kokiri remained silent as he led them down a dirt path to the other end of the village.
Leaning up against a tree was their mopeds. "Go through this tunnel and over the bridge and you'll be back in the forest. Just go straight and you'll get out. "Okay, thanks." Getting his gear back on, Link told Keith that this was enough for one day and that they should head back home. "Sure, It's almost three o' clock anyways." Starting up their mopeds, Link and Keith sped through the tunnel and over the bridge. An hour later they pulled onto the road where they live.
"Gotta go now. See you tomorrow Link." "See you tomorrow Keith." Link got off of his moped and walked it into his garage. 'I hope that Keith will hide the stone.' Wiping his feet off, he went inside and announced his return. When he fell asleep that night, the dream altered. When it normally ended, it didn't, and Link found himself standing on the field. A chill covered his body as the wind blew harshly and never ending. "Hello! Is anyone out there?" He called out. Lightning flashed and all of a sudden, he was surrounded by six beings. Each of them was wearing a brown cloak and they all had a medallion with a different symbol hanging around their necks.
"What's going on around here?" Link asked to them. They then began to speak at the same time, their voices converging into one.
The time is now, The destiny is yours, Go forth and take it.
Link was confused at this. "What do you mean?"
The time is now, The destiny is yours, Go forth and take it.
"Stop it! Tell me! What the hell is going on?!?"
The time is now, The destiny is yours, Go forth and take it!
Link was then hit with a pain like no other that manifested itself in his head. He dropped to his knees and screamed in pain as images flashed through his head, to quickly for him to remember. At last he couldn't take it anymore. The pain stopped and Link's dream ended.