Chapter Four: Desert Colossus
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Link: How many licks is it to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?
Sheik: I haven't counted. But I do know that it's only two clicks to the center of an authoresses' heart! One to review and two to submit!
Link: Really? I think I'll give that a try!
Navi/Tatl: Me too!
Sheik: … I don't think even 100 clicks will get you three to the center of her heart.
L/N/T: Oh.
Sheik: OracleVortex doesn't own the Legends of Zelda.
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Link exited the Spirit Temple, thoroughly confused. He'd come all the way out there only to find out he'd have to come back another time with some sort of silver…something… Plunking down on the steps of the temple, he pulled off his hat, wiping his forehead with the back of one hand. "I need to sleep."
"Its good to see you're finally considering my advice."
Link looked up. "Sheik!"
The Sheikah's eyes twinkled in greeting. "Not unconscious, I see."
Link grinned. "No, I'm not." He stood to meet him, drawing him into a handshake and a hug. "It's good to see someone out here."
"Thank you." Sheik murmured.
"For what?"
"My village. Impa. Tank you." Link drew back as he clarified. "I didn't thank you."
"It's nothing. If not for you, I wouldn't be here."
They just stood there, smiling at each other. Sheik was the one who finally pulled out of the handshake. "Then we're even?"
"Completely."
"Good." Sheik drew out his harp. "The Master Sword is a ship in which you can sail upstream and downstream through time's river. The port for that ship is the Temple of Time. To restore the Desert Colossus and enter the Spirit Temple, you must travel back through time's flow." He played the six notes that Link would need. "This is the Requiem of Spirit. It can lead even a child back to the desert."
Link copied the tune on his ocarina a few times before putting it away. "You have quite the fascination with rivers, don't you?" He commented.
Sheik shrugged. "It's an appropriate metaphor." He stepped back, raising a hand. "We will meet once more, Link."
"Only once?"
Sheik hesitated in throwing a Deku nut. "Pardon?"
"I said, only once more?" Link repeated. "Why?"
"Well, I…ah…" Sheik sputtered. "Um."
Link stepped forward. "Why do I see you only rarely? You appear to help me ore a while, then vanish for days. Why?" He pulled the Deku nut from Sheik's hand. "Why can't I have you…around?"
"Link…" Sheik muttered as the Hylian ghosted over his cheek, dipping into the cloth covering around his mouth. "I can't—" Lips met his own, silencing. "Please," he said, turning away. "I can't."
"Why not?" Link asked, fingers nimbly tracing a washboard stomach through the bodysuit. "Why not?"
Sheik pushed him away, producing another Deku nut. "Stop. I have my duty, as do you. We can't. My responsibilities are too complicated, Link. That is why I will only see you once more. Only once."
With a flash of light, Sheik was gone, and Link was left alone on the steps. The dry winds swirled the sand at his feet, removing all signs that another had been there, and that he hadn't been alone.
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