Sparks flew from the two warrior's blades whilst they fought.  Both were tired and bloody, but neither was ready to admit defeat.  Vermilion stained the green grass and the coppery scent of their mixed blood drifted in the air.  Link ran an arm across his brow and saw the blood on his tunic sleeve.  His forehead was bleeding horribly.  But, despite his deep wounds, he had just enough strength to get in a few good blows before stamina would fail him. 

Kirek was not doing well whatsoever.  He had fought opponents this challenging before, but something else was wrong.  His massive loss of blood was quickly killing him but he would never give in.  Not as long as he was breathing.  He wished for nightfall, wished for it with all his heart.  Except it was still morning.  What he wouldn't give for the soft, pale moonlight and sensation of power it brought. 

"You are strong," Link panted.   

Kirek licked the blood from the corner of his mouth.  "You just figured that out, huh?" 

"Why don't we just stop here?  We aren't going anywhere…"

"I refuse to surrender."

"I never said 'surrender', I said—"

"I heard what you said," Kirek snapped, clutching his dagger tighter.  "I'm not deaf."

Link sheathed the Master Sword and spread his arms wide in attempts to make peace.  "I don't want to fight you anymore."

            "You don't want to fight, but I'm not done with you yet.  I have a promise to fulfill, and you're preventing me from carrying it out."

            "I told you, I'm not going to fight with you anymore!" Link said calmly, his anger rising slowly.  Then he found he was being held at dagger-point.  Link didn't dare to move; he wanted to keep his head on his shoulders.

            Kirek's voice was menacingly dark.  "Now, if you cooperate nicely, I won't separate your pretty head from the rest of your body.  Where can I find the fugitive."

            "Fugitive," Link snorted.  "I have no idea what you're talking about."  He winced as the dagger's point dug into his throat.  He felt blood trickle down his skin and meet with his white collar.

            "Don't lie to me, I know you know what I'm talking about.  The one you helped to escape from the Hyrule dungeons.  Where is he?"

            "He's…stepped out," Link answered, partly truthful.  "I think that if you tried to find him now, you'd be dead before you could say 'Rupee.'"

            With a snarl, Kirek twisted the dagger around in a full circle and was rewarded with a smart blow to his stomach by Link's foot.  Unsheathing the Master Sword, the two engaged fully in combat, and neither was going to yield this time.

*           *           *

Rowen gazed in awe at the inside of the Temple of Time.  There was soft music playing in her ears, but she could not see where it was coming from.  Navi, who had been resting in her scabbard, peeked out; Zelda stood in front of a large stone door with a triangle on it.  "Rowen," she said, "please come up here."

"Huh?  Oh, right!" Rowen replied, half spacing out.  She drew Navi out of the scabbard and allowed her to perch on her shoulder.  The tiny fairy entangled herself in Rowen's silky black hair with a giggle, and then sighed happily.  Rowen smiled and looked behind her.  He still wasn't there.  She frowned.  Where was he?  She was beginning to worry…

"Are you all right?" Zelda's voice said in her ear.  Rowen looked up.  How did she get up by the door?  Duh, she must have walked.  "Rowen?"

"Fine, just, uh, thinkin'."

"Are you nervous?"

"A little…a lot.  I've never been in such a big place.  It's kinda cool and kinda scary…  What did you say this place was called again?"

"This is the Temple of Time, a holy place where Link drew the Master Sword out of the Pedestal of Time and became the Hero of Time.  This is the entrance to the Chamber of Sages, the place where we are to meet Rauru, the Sage of Light," Zelda answered, running her hands over the stonework.  "I don't know if I can open it without the Triforce of Wisdom, though."

"Hey, I wanna see it!" Rowen said and Zelda moved aside.  The teen inspected the door with amazement and grinned.  "Who do ya think made such a huge door?  Wish I could make stuff like this."  She placed the palm of her hand flat on the stone door.  "Brrr…it's cold."

The doors rumbled and Rowen drew back.  Zelda stared at her friend with perplexity.  "What did you do?"

"I didn't do nothin'!  I just touched it and it moved!"

Zelda dropped the subject hesitantly.  "Well, it's open.  Let's go."  The three of them entered into the smaller room, a single ray of light shone in through a small, circular window and six symbols were carved into the floor.  There was an empty pedestal up on a low platform; memories raced back to both Zelda and Navi's minds…memories of the coming of the Hero of Time.

"So, what do we do now?  There's nothin' in here but…nothin'!"

Zelda approached the middle of the room.  If I couldn't open the Door of Time, then I cannot open the path to the Chamber of Sages.  But Rowen…somehow she can.  "Rowen, come here.  I want you to try something."

"Comin'."

The princess motioned at the pedestal.  "Hold your hand above this."

Rowen did as she was told.  "Like this?"  The pedestal glowed blue.  Rowen gasped as the three companions were engulfed by the blue light.  And they disappeared.

Rowen came to with a headache.  "Urgh…wha-?  Where am I?  How'd I get here?  Heeeey!  Where is everybody?!"

"Calm down Rowen.  We're right here," Zelda said from behind her.  Rowen spun around and smiled.  Zelda was holding Navi in her hand; an elderly man with a white beard stood at her side.  "I'd like you to meet Rauru, the Sage of Light.  He's the one we came here to see."

Rowen enthusiastically shook the Sage's hand.  "Nice ta meet ya, I'm Rowen.  Gee, this is a big place ya got here and what's with all the water?"

Rauru was startled slightly by her perkiness and cleared his throat when she let go of his hand.  She aimlessly wandered about, surveying the Chamber.  Turning to Zelda, he spoke.  "Is this the one who opened the Door of Time and lead you here?"

"Yes."

The old Sage fell deep into thought.  "Mysterious, indeed.  Only one who holds a piece of the Triforce can open the path.  Do you think this girl, Rowen…?"

"It's very possible but I'm not sure."  Zelda looked fondly at the Kakarikan.  "You can't judge someone by their appearance, though."

Rauru summoned Rowen to him and studied her face.  She cocked an eyebrow and began to feel nervous.  Why's this old dude starin' at me?  "What?  Is there somethin' on my face?"

"Oh my…" Rauru suddenly piped up.  "Oh my, oh my…"

"What's the matter?" Zelda asked him.  "What's wrong?"

"This is no ordinary girl, Zelda."

"Whaddaya mean by that?" Rowen snappishly replied.  "I'm as ordinary as they get."

Zelda hushed her and Rauru continued.  "I did not think that I would live to see the day she returned here.  Centuries have passed since Din, Nayru, and Farore went to rest.  Originally, the Triforce was made of five parts, Wisdom, Courage, Power, Life, and Darkness.  All of these traits made up the all-powerful symbol of evil, the Black Triforce.  In the struggles against the god who wielded it, four of the pieces were broken from the god's grip and scattered.  Four others, chosen by the fates, obtained the other four and became goddesses who would create this world and protect it.  One of them was Rhapsody, the Goddess of Life.  She was a beautiful young woman, almost like an angel.  The other goddesses, the ones who we often tell tales of, adored her.  Rhapsody gave life back to the world and purified all those the evil of the Triforce had tainted.

"When the god, known as Malice, found out about these occurrences, he became enraged and a war started between them.  In the end, Din, Nayru, and Farore could do nothing to prevent his destruction and went to rest, hiding the power of the Triforce from Malice.  Only Rhapsody remained, but even her attempts were failing.  But she had to protect the life she loved so dearly.  So she sealed Malice away in a mortal body, but the Triforce of Darkness tainted his human form.  She had no choice but to put him into eternal sleep until the one of Nayru's bloodline found him.  That would be you, Zelda. 

"Soon after, Rhapsody, too, put herself into a human body and quickened the flow of time, allowing the world to heal in peace.  She slowly aged into the young woman we see now.  She had not expected Malice to reawaken so soon and her guard was down.  She did not go to rest for she knew that Malice would be revived in the future and wreak his havoc on the world once again.  So, from inside a human, she tore the elements away from the Black Triforce and gave them to six chosen ones, the Sages.  And now he has returned.  But all is not lost.  We have the Hero of Time, and the Goddess of Life, Rhapsody.  Rowen, you are she."

 Rowen collapsed to the floor.

*           *           *

Nightfall.

A light glow emitted from a candle sitting on the nightstand next to the large bed Link was asleep on.  The deep green curtains were closed and the door was shut.  Kirek ran a hand over his face and over the top of his head, then sighed.  He never thought they'd make a pact after the story Link told him whilst they fought.

Kirek crossed his arms and closed his eyes in contemplation.  There were so many questions that he wanted to ask the Hero.  That would be for when he woke up.  He yawned, feeling sleep come into his mind.  He could not sleep now, though; there were more important things to take care of now.  The two who had been with him, the females, where had they disappeared to?  Link had called them Zelda and Rowen and had told them to go to the Chamber of Sages.  He would force this information from the sleeper.

Finally, Link stirred with a groan and opened his eyes.  He turned over on his side, facing Kirek with question.  "I know what you're thinking," Kirek said.  "Why you?  It was a desperate move.  Nothing against you, of course," Kirek said, only being partly truthful. 

Link's misty blue eyes stared at him.  "What are you?"

Now Kirek smiled, revealing white fangs.  "I am a demon."

"What did you do to me?"

"Nothing.  Fatigue put you in this state.  I only helped out a bit.

"If you call this a bit then you would have been better off killing me."

"If I wanted you dead, I would have killed you when we met, damn it!  I don't like you in the least, and I know that you aren't fond of me either.  But you don't have a fucking choice anymore!  You are what you are and there's nothing you can do," Kirek growled and Link painfully sat up.

"If it weren't for you, I'd be with Zelda, Rowen, and Navi right now!  Do you have the faintest clue of what you've done?"

"Enough!" Kirek hissed, pinning Link down on the bed by his shoulders.  "I could kill you right now and make sure that you never save another life again.  Hyrule would fall into hell, and the sun shan't shine ever again!  Is this what you want?  Answer me!"

Link's reply was hesitant and almost inaudible.  "No."

Kirek relaxed and stepped back.  "I didn't think so.  I suggest you just lie there and be quiet.  Unless you want me to lose my temper."

Link did as he was told and fixed his gaze on the ceiling.  He wondered how the others were faring…

*           *           *

"You're awake."

Rowen sat up and shook her head wildly, her black hair flying every which way.  "Yeah, I'm awake now.  What happened?  What am I doin' on the floor?"

"You collapsed after hearing my tale, Rhapsody dear," said Rauru gently.

"My name ain't Rhapsody; it's Rowen!"

"On the contrary.  You are indeed Rhapsody.  Here, let me show you something," he replied, taking her left hand. 

Rowen smacked his hand.  "Leggo, you perv!  I don't need no help to take off a glove!"  And Rauru was taken aback.  Rowen grumbled as she removed her black glove and tossed it in Rauru's face.  He could only hold it and watch her expression change.  She leapt up excitedly and jumped up and down.  "Look!  Look look look!  It's a thingamajig!  Funny, I don't remember getting a tat."

"A what?"

"Ya know, a tattoo.  A markin' that stays on your skin forever and ever and ever…a tat!"

"Ah," said Zelda.

"No, my dear, this is the Triforce of Life.  With it comes great power and responsibility.  You must not let this fall into Malice's hands or any damage he has done cannot be undone.  Do you understand?"

Rowen studied the Triforce on her hand.  "Yup, I gotcha.  Big 'sponsibility.  Uh-huh!"  She began to dance around rather childishly while chanting: "Goddess, goddess, goddess!"

Zelda and Rauru could only sigh.

Suddenly, she stopped dancing and sat down.  "Whew!  I'm tired.  And hungry.  Is anyone else hungry?  I feel like havin' a nice green salad…just thinkin' about it makes me hungry.  Do ya have any food in this place?  There's lotsa water; if I get thirsty, can I just, ya know…"

"No, I'm afraid you can't," answered Zelda, sitting down beside her.  "If you want anything to eat or drink, you'll have to go into the marketplace."

"Gee, what I wouldn't give for an apple.  I love apples."

Navi, who had almost fallen asleep on Zelda's shoulder, moved.  "I like apples, too."

Rowen smacked her forehead.  "Dang, I almost forgot.  Navi's got a broke wing that needs fixin'.  Does anyone here know medical crap for fairies?"

Rauru pointed to her.  "You should be able to help her.  The Goddess of Life can not only bring the dead back to life, but has the ability to heal wounds and purify tainted minds."

Zelda's head shot up at the mention of purifying minds.  "Would…would something like that work on Malice?  Purifying tainted minds, that is."

The elderly Sage shook his head sorrowfully.  "Rhapsody tried that during the war.  It had no effect on him, and he has no known weaknesses."

Rowen tossed her hair playfully.  "Do ya think he'd surrender if he got a good look at my prettiness?"  Zelda stifled a giggle and Rauru almost rolled his eyes.  The goddess shrugged.  "Whaaat?  It was only a suggestion.  It ain't like I was tryin' to say somethin'."

"At least you gave it shot," Zelda said, and Rowen heard the encouragement in her voice.  "Now, about Navi…"

"Oh, yeah, right.  So whaddoIdo?  Spit on her?"  The fairy seemed to shrink at the declaration of being spit on.

Rauru rubbed his white beard thoughtfully.  "Erm…my memory seems to be fading, but I believe that Rhapsody's tears were the key to her healing powers.  I may be wrong, but that's what sticks in my mind."

Rowen blinked.  "But I ain't sad."