A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A Pair of Time

Chapter 31- The Spirits Later

Kakariko Village; Day

Reaching the village has now grown less of wasting time. With Epona around, the two Heroes of Time can speed up their progress throughout Hyrule. Link rides her, while Malon just sits behind him.

"Now, why in the world do I have to ride her?" Link asks as they argue who leads Epona.

"Because… you need practice. Badly."

"Yes, so?" Link still prefer not riding this wild animal. "I really don't want to be in front."

"Well, Epona is my horse. And I get the last say when it comes to her, so you're still going to be in the front, fairy boy. Practice comes first."

NEIGH! (WHAT! Malon, how could you do this to me! I thought I trusted you!)

This is Malon's main reason to why Link has to be guiding Epona. Well, most of the reason. Malon has another one that she would like to keep to herself. So, the two agreed on this from now on.

Kakariko Village has changed dramatically since they last laid their eyes on it. The once small village has grown to at least twice its size and density. This goes the same for the population, for many familiar faces from Hyrule Castle Town are now residents in this new home. A more urban sight, yes, but the dark clouds overhead provide the unnecessary evil as it is.

"Now, Sheik said that something in Kakariko Village should help us," Link reminds. "Where do we start off?"

"I don't know," Malon answers. "He did seem a little vague on the details. How are we supposed to save Hyrule if we don't know what to do?"

"What is it with that? I mean, yes, we're out to stop Ganondorf, but why do they have to speak in riddles, nonsense, or in little detail? Would it kill them to speak clearly?"

"I think they're just trying to live by the mystical ways. It's their life, isn't it?"

"I guess so. But it wouldn't hurt just to say what's what…"

"Hey, sir!" Malon asks the man in red next to the now grown up tree. "Do you happen to know any treasure here in Kakariko?"

"Wah hah hah hah hah hah!" the man cracks open a laugh. "This timid guy over here might help you!"

"I tell you, I saw him!" the man in blue next to him states with his hands out.

"You saw what?" Link asks.

"I saw the ghostly figure of Dampe the gravekeeper sinking into his grave! It looked like he was holding some kind of treasure!"

"A treasure? What treasure is this?"

"It looks blue with a handle and a sharp point! That's all I saw!"

"You don't think…?" Malon asks Link.

"It could be. Let's pay a visit to the Graveyard again."

Around the village, new buildings sprung up where leveled earth used to be. The red building in progress seven years earlier now houses a shooting gallery. But, old houses still remain, including the famous home of Impa. And behind it, the Cucco pen. It's empty, however, even though the Cucco lady is standing next to it.

"Hello!" she waves. "I remember you two! You helped me with getting my Cuccos back long ago, didn't you?" she said with a smile.

"Yes, ma'am." Malon nods.

"You've grown up to be fine young people! Where has all the time gone by?"

"In our case, ma'am…" Link said nervously, "they all went by in a very short moment."

"Where's all your Cuccos, ma'am?" Malon asks.

"Oh, they're all okay," the lady assures. "But, I bred a new type of Cucco! A miniature one! I call it the Pocket Cucco! I don't get goose bumps from this baby."

"Really?" Malon has an interested look. "So, you're raising a Pocket Cucco?"

"Yes, but… it's not entirely happy right now, even before it's born."

The lady pulls out a Cucco egg. Difference is, it's much smaller.

"Maybe when it crows, it'll be happy," Malon suggests.

"Mmm, maybe. You…" the lady has a slightly hopeful face, "You look like you're good at handling Cuccos."

"Oh, yes."

"Here, take this egg." she extends the Pocket Egg to Malon. "After the Cucco hatches, please bring it back when it's happy, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Take good care now!"

Graveyard

"So, uh…" Link doesn't see the point in carrying an egg. Then again, not a lot of things make any sense to him.

"I'll take care of the egg, fairy boy." Malon puts the Pocket Egg away. "You don't have to do a thing."

"Oh… okay, then…"

"So, where do you think Dampe's grave would be?"

"Must be one of these… Hey."

Link finds a familiar book on the ground.

"This…" Link picks it up, "it's the gravekeeper's diary…"

"He must have dropped it. Here, let me see it."

Malon takes the diary out of his hands and flips it with the same style back then.

"Alright, here's the latest entry…" Malon stops on the last page, "'Whoever reads this, please enter my grave. I will let you have my stretching, shrinking keepsake. I'm waiting for you… Dampe.'"

Malon's head slowly rises.

"Now, that's just too weird. Dampe's expecting us, fairy boy."

"Well, expecting anyone who's reading his diary."

"But, this doesn't leave any clue at all to where he is… Wait. 'P.S. My grave is the bottom grave of the first column on the left.'"

"Let's get down there, then."

"Do we have to? I never like graves anymore ever since I followed you into some of them…"

It doesn't matter much; the whole Graveyard has free Poes wandering around. But, they are simple targets, except when they disappear, though. Finding Dampe's grave, they pull it open to find a hole, just like every other grave they had pulled open back then. Inside the crypt underneath, they find Dampe, a halo above his head, floating, and holding a Poe's lantern. A hundred percent ghost, yep.

"Heh heh heh!" he laughs as they walk up to him. "You youngsters. Are you fast on your feet?"

"Uh… yeah… Yeah, sure…" Link answers.

"I may not look like it, but I'm confident in my speed! Let's have a race!" Dampe declares. "Follow me if you dare!"

Having little choice, the two follow him through the crypt. Dampe isn't kidding; he's extremely fast for a guy that trudges only back then. Malon and Link has to sprint to keep him in sight. To make it all the more interesting, Dampe's dropping flames to hinder them.

"Hey!" Malon yells after him. "I thought this was a race, not a death run!"

"I don't think it's a death run at all, considering my state!" Dampe's voice ahead replies.

It's difficult to keep up, considering he's flying and they're not. Another thing is that Dampe's crypt is enormous, and is more of a maze. They had to push their limit to catch up. Finally, they end up in what seems like the last room. Fortunately, Dampe makes his stop in there. He laughs when he sees our heroes in physical stress. Link is panting, leaning against a torch, while Malon is spread out, lying on the ground.

"The time of this race was 1 minute!" Dampe announces. "Exactly one minute! Hehehe… The both of you were very quick to be able to keep up with me! Hehehe!"

"Oh… that's nice…" Malon exhales the words.

"You're not… kidding…" Link forces his lungs to talk, "when you said… you're confident… in your speed…"

"As a reward, I'm going to give you my treasure," Dampe said. "It's called the Hookshot! Its spring-loaded chain will pull you to any spot where its hook sticks. Doesn't that sound cool? I'm sure it will help you!"

"Thanks… just leave it… here…"

"I live here now, so come back again sometime. I'll give you something cool! One more thing! Be careful on your way back! Heheheh…"

Dampe snaps his fingers. In a flash, he disappears in a screen of smoke, and a treasure chest appears.

"You… get that… fairy boy…"

A small, blue object with a handle and a blunt hook reaches Link's hand. He gazes at it in wonderment. He points the Hookshot, finding a laser aim.

"Wow. So this Hookshot thing stretches and shrinks…" Link admires, "and grapples onto to things…"

Malon sighs at this delight. "What's so interesting about it?"

Link points the Hookshot at a nearby torch and triggers the button. The Hookshot's spring-loaded chain flies out at the torch at an amazing speed. When the hook hits its mark, it grapples on and pulls Link towards it. Surprised, he almost lost his balance when the hook lets go and returns to its mechanism base.

"Cool!" Link now has an even more astonish face.

"That's yours to keep, then," Malon waves a hand at him. "I don't want it…"

Exiting the room, they find two blue blocks stacked together, stopping their way forward. In an instant, the room behind them is shut off by a stone door.

"What!" Malon feels the air rushed behind her. She whirls to find the door. "We're trapped! No! We're stuck in here! NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE THIS WAY!"

"Hey…" Navi flies out to examine the blocks. "Isn't that the same design that's on the Door of Time?"

"NO!" Malon bangs her hand on the stone blockade. "LET ME OUT, YOU HORRIBLE CREEP! DAMPE! I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T LET ME OUT!"

"He's already a ghost, Mal…" Link responds to Malon's claustrophobia. "I think this is the same symbol, Navi… Maybe…?"

"Yeah, the Song of Time should do the same thing?" Navi suggests.

"AH! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR DEAD BUTT, DAMPE, IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!" Malon proceeds to kick the door for a sign of escape.

Link, ignoring Malon's useless threats, plays the Song of Time. The familiar feeling of time beyond fills the room. Suddenly, the blocks begin to fade in its solid matter to a blue light. An opening appears, shining light into the room.

"There! It's unblocked!" Link declares. "You can, uh, stop kicking, Mal."

"Huh?" Malon turns around to find the way clear. "Whew! Good thing we didn't panic, did we?"

"Er, sure… Whatever…"

Going up the stairs and out of the crypt, they find themselves… in the village windmill? Anyway, they jump down to find the same music man seven years earlier. However, he doesn't have that same happy face like long before.

"Grrrrrrrrr!" he growls when the two went up to him. "How did you two get in here?"

"Um…" Link points at the opening above.

"Stupid opening. But, nothing more stupid than seven years ago…"

"Seven years ago?"

"I'll never forget what happened on that day, seven years ago! Grrrrrrrrr!"

"What happened back then?" Malon asks.

"It's all that ocarina boy and singing girl's fault! Next time they come around here, I'm gonna mess them up!"

"You mean…" Link pulls out the Ocarina of Time, "this?"

"What!" the man is taken back at this. "You've got an ocarina! What the heck! Back then those mean kids came here and played a strange song! It messed up this windmill!"

"What song is this?" Malon questions.

"Grrrrrrrrr! The song… I'll never forget this song!"

Cranking his music box, he emits a melody that seems to wrap itself within the windmill. Link and Malon repeats it, their tones revolving around the rotary pillar. It goes around fast, along with the pillar, faster… faster… faster… even faster… It keeps gaining speed with each second, the windmill following after. Then, a storm brews, inside the place. Rain begins to fall from the interior storm.

"Oh no!" the man's voice goes further in anger. "A storm again! I can't believe I was dumb enough to play the song again! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Get the hell out of my face, dammit!"