A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Pair of Time
Chapter 54- Requiem of Spirit, Part 1
Haunted Wasteland; Day
"'One with the eye of truth shall be guided to the Spirit Temple by an inviting ghost,'" Malon reads off the tablet on top of the bunker. "Ghost, huh? Well, Lens of Truth, let's see what you're gonna show me…" She does not know why, but her reliable instincts told her to take specific items on the journey, those that proved needed on the way. The Lens of Truth then would be no different. She gazes through it, almost falling back when the glass reveals to her the supposed ghost, hovering on the tablet.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" the Poe sniggles. "Eye of truth then, eh? Follow me then, if you may." Speedily, the ghost flies off towards the vast expanse of the desert unmarked by Gerudo flags.
"Whoa, wait!" Malon jumps off the bunker, then dashes after the Poe with the Lens of Truth still held.
"I'll be your guide on your way, but coming back, I won't play!" the Poe, relentless in its celerity, rhymes.
The redhead manages to keep within a good distance away from the spirit, but as she draws closer, the ghost speeds up as so not to be caught. For several minutes, Malon tags behind the Poe, unable to see anything other than the spirit itself. They soon near a crate, where the ghost ceases movement for a second. During that second, however, Malon feels the sands underneath become disturbed. The next second, a green, cactus-like monster spikes through the ground and charges at Malon.
"Leever!" Navi yells to Malon from a few meters away. "Malon, run! Don't take time to deal with it!"
Obeying the advice, Malon quickly side jumps out of the way as the monster continues a straight path instead of homing. A quick breather follows, but sounds of ground being unburied send the redhead fluttering her feet after the ghost.
Some more minutes pass, and Malon becomes sure that she is running in circles. The same crate appears, and she almost thought of skewering the Poe with arrows for misleading her across the desert.
"Ha ha ha!" she hears the Poe's loud laughter despite the clamor of the sandstorm. "I know what you're thinking, am I unworthy to be not let sinking? But, ah, I know the only path, so I have no fear of your wrath!"
In an easy altercation of thoughts, Malon has to settle with the one where the ghost is right, and that she has no other way to go. "Fine, but don't go around in circles!"
"I will not again, my wandering friend. Now I'll show you the only way to go, so follow me and don't be slow!"
The two advances through the desert, one who may say lies while one who doesn't know the way. Soon, however, Malon spots two flags through the sandy wind, marking what she believes to be the entry into the Colossus. If the Gerudos are correct, the sands of the Spirit Temple will be much calmer than that of the Haunted Wasteland. With this desire in mind, the redhead picks up her pace, forcing the Poe to glide swifter towards their destination.
Her ease, however, becomes interrupted when a Leever pops right underneath her feet. Malon shrieks, feeling spikes, like that of sandpaper, run through her boots and slash her feet and legs. On these pains, she trips from the lack of control of her nerves in her running limbs. Coming into a bodily crawl, Malon limps to the side as the Leever plows through the sand behind her in its straight path, passing by before disappearing under the surface. The Hylian cries weakly to alleviate stress upon herself, then pulls up the Lens of Truth to her eye. Faintly visible behind the wall of blowing particles, she discerns the Poe fading into the distance between the two flagpoles. As soon as the ghost is out of sight, she steadily sets herself onto her feet, vigorously ignoring the physical agony.
"Malon!" Navi calls to her over the storm. "We're almost there! Come on, just a few more steps!"
The thrusting sound of the plant being reaches Malon's ears, almost throwing her into a state of panic. Against the consequences caused by the injuries, Malon dives away from the spot. Her wounds sense the sands being disturbed by the Leever going on its course. When she hears no more of the monster, Malon relieves her lungs of the held breath, followed by heavy, coarse intakes. Navi's light blinds her as she flickers in the air before her eyes.
"Are you okay!"
"I'm fine…! I just need to… stand up and- The canteens!" Malon's eyes dart the surroundings, coming upon the three flasks on the ground. Each is disappearing rapidly under the sand. Malon quickly moves towards them, but Navi blocks her by flying into her face.
"Malon, forget about them!"
"No! I gotta-"
"They're as good as gone! You can't retrieve them without being attacked by the Leevers!" Navi said. "It's too dangerous out here; we have to get to the Colossus!"
Malon hesitates, then accepts the choice and follows Navi. Against what she believes as impossible odds, the two of them advances slowly towards the flagpoles, finally reaching it after several minutes. Navi then continues beyond the standards, leaving the redhead to chivy her bioluminescent composition. With each step, however, Malon's vision starts to blur, adding more to the obscurity of the sandstorm. The gouges on her legs force pain to siphon her energy, along with the presence of extreme heat aiding the process, causing more and more feelings of fainting to occur. If she doesn't find medical attention or even a source of water soon…
Desert Colossus
Malon heaves herself next to another Gerudo flag, then takes time to behold her spinning sight. The calm air untouched by the wind reveals a large valley, carved long ago supposedly by the goddess of the sand. It would be a plain valley had it not been that the Colossus was formed in this area. The plateau is giant in vision far away, even larger up close. The Colossus has on its face a carved section, the behemoth figure of the Gerudo goddess sitting against it, facing the sacred desert she created with Din. Peacefully perched on her watch, the beautiful goddess inspires a deep breath from Malon. Below the statue is an opening, which Malon believes lead into the edifice known only as the Spirit Temple.
"We're here!" Navi remarks in front of her. "We made it, Malon! Let's get up to the Colossus and-" She notices that Malon's skin is unusually pale. "Malon, are you alright?"
"Yeah…" Malon breathes hoarsely. "I… I'm okay… I… I just feel… woozy, that's all." Her wooziness comes in the form of intense spinning in her perspective.
Navi doesn't take this in and flies up to her forehead, feeling Malon's spirit in fiery torment. "Malon, you're burning up!" She then flits around her body. "You're overheating! Oh, my goddess, you're having a heat exhaustion!"
"I'm just… dizzy… I'm not… having… a… a… a…" Her sentence is cut off as her body flimsily hits the ground.
"No! Malon!" Navi rubs her face. "Malon, no! Don't lose conscious! No, please! Wake up!"
The redhead's mouth barely shapes into a smile. "Just… a… a little… little… rest… Navi…"
"Don't rest! Keep your eyes open! Don't drift off!"
"Don't… worry… Navi… Don't wor…" Malon closes her eyes with the incompletion of the sentence.
"No! Malon! Malon! Please, wake up! Please, Malon!" The fairy roughly keeps pressing against Malon's face, finding her efforts in vain. "Malon, no! No, don't… don't die! Wake up! Don't go! Wake up, please, Malon! Wake up… please!" She suddenly begins to sob. "No…! Please…! Wake up…! Malon, please…! Please…" Minutes pass as Navi keeps pushing against Malon's limp head. Soon after, she stops in submission, landing next to Malon's face and crying. "Malon… No… My friend… My… friend… Malon…"
Suddenly, a shadow blocks the dense light of the deadly sun from reaching Malon's head and Navi. With it comes a strong, familiar presence, and an even more familiar voice, "May I provide assistance, ethereal being of the forest?"
Hearing this, Navi alarmingly turns towards the figure, gasping at her discovery. "Sh… Sh… Sheik!"
The person, still donned in his Sheikah clothing, nods at the fairy. "It is I, Navi."
Navi propels herself up to his face. "Wh… What are you doing here?"
"For a reason far less of value than of yours and Malon."
"Malon!" Navi darts to her now red body. "Sheik, Malon… she… she collapsed from…"
"Now is no time to explain." Sheik hastily proceeds to pick Malon's body off the ground. "She is beginning to suffer from heat stroke. We must hurry to the far side of the valley."
"Far side? What will that…"
Sheik leaves the question blank as he dashes to the west side of the valley, sending Navi off after him. After a few minutes, palm trees are sighted from a distance. Soon, Sheik and Navi reach the plants circling around a depression in the middle.
"We are here."
"What good would this place do!" Navi queries.
"It is the only oasis for leagues around." Sheik gently puts Malon under the shade of one of the trees. "Returning to the Gerudo's Fortress via the Haunted Wasteland is of no use. This area must do."
"But… Malon! Keeping her out of the sun isn't going to save her!"
"That is why…" The Sheikah turns to the sky, "we shall invoke a favor from the desert goddess." He draws his golden harp, then serves himself a moment of breathing. Then, with his agile fingers, he plucks the pearly strings, one after the other. A low pitch followed by a strong one provokes the arid, fervid air, tuning into a melody Navi knows only as the Song of Storms. Its unusual composure echoes the deep valley and the desert beyond, calling upon the forbidden weather of the land. With what seems like the acceptance of the goddess of the sand, the azure sky rapidly darkens with gray clouds, filled with anticipation to quench the thirst of the desert once more. As the last note empties itself into the air, a lightning cracks open the dark heavens, tearing a gash to release rain upon the land. Sheik, pleased with the results, returns his harp from eyes, and closes his as the rain continues to fall. "She is merciful, the goddess of the sand. The Heroine of Time will not perish under her hand."
"Rain… Of the Divine Trinity, it's raining in the desert."
"Soon, this arid patch of ground will flourish back into its right state as an oasis."
Moments lead to the depression supplying itself quickly with water from the gracious rain, until it could be called a pool in an oasis.
"We have our liquid life in our hands," Sheik said, "but first, I must attend to Malon's injuries." He extracts from his inventory a Bottle with Blue Potion inside. Kneeling down next to Malon, he takes her head and tips it, bringing the cure-all content onto her lips. Involuntarily due to unconsciousness, her lips accept and open to drink in the medicine. For several seconds after the liquid has gone down her throat, nothing seems to come as an effect. The first sign of change, however, is the color of her skin, shifting from fleshy red to sun-kissed white. Soon, excessive heat dissipates from her body, and Malon's breathing turns to normal.
"That is good; she no longer is under the power of the sun." Sheik moves to the pool, filling up the Bottle with the fresh water from the sky. With this, he again kneels next to Malon. Having to regain her grip on surviving, Malon senses his presence, and slowly opens her eyes to take a glimpse.
"S… S-Sheik…?"
"Do not wake yourself… Drink water, and recuperate." He leads the water away from the container into Malon's mouth. The redhead shuts her eyes again as she gulps the liquid in desiring thirst. Her eyelids lift to see Sheik and Navi once more, but they become heavy and soon Malon reposes, comfortably and safely under the cover of the palm tree.
"Oh, thank goddess." Navi sighs. "Thank you, Sheik. I… I don't know what would have happen if… well… but, thank you."
"Anything necessary to repair the wheel of Fate…" Sheik responds, then turns to Malon, "and to aid a friend."
"Will you… Will you-"
"I must take my leave…" The Sheikah interrupts by standing up. "Navi, I'll see you again…" A flash by a Deku Nut and the young man is gone.
"Oh…" Navi lightly searches the surrounding for Sheik, but to no avail. "Well, like always… I guess I'll stay here and watch over Malon."
Night; Wolf cry
Luckily for the redhead and the fairy, the combination of the past rain and the emptiness of the night provide a cool temperature the desert hasn't felt in such a long while. Leaning against one of Malon's hands, Navi stares on at the moon, awaiting her friend's rise to consciousness.
I wonder what Link is doing… It's been nearly a day already. I hope he doesn't accidentally go insane from the lack of adventure and go through the Gerudos. I hope he has something to do back in the tent…
However, the fairy is bored herself. Watching over Malon is one thing, but for an hour or two is another. Knowing that she looked after her friend for more than a certain amount of time, Navi casually flies into Malon's head and bonds with her spirit. A dream might do well to aggravate the speed of time.
Inside, the other world disembarks Navi in a place she's already familiar with: Lon Lon Ranch. Curious, she surfs around to find Malon among the scenery. She doesn't have to look far; the Hylian is found sitting by the gate of the coral. Navi's about to rush to her when she spots another lady leaning on the opposite side of the gate. Deciding to let her friend talk to this person, the fairy quietly roosts on top of the gate.
"I… I really can't explain it. He… really makes me happy every moment of my life…"
"I know. I watch ya from above, Malon. That boy seems so sweet of a person I've ever seen. The only one who I ever met that's just like him is Dad, honey."
"Really, Mom?"
"Humble, carin', kind. Heck, Malon, they're both even handsome! Only difference is that your dad was so lazy, I coulda sworn you weren't his daughter!"
"Oh, Mom… always gotta make a laughing moment, don't ya?"
"It's like that that gave ya the happiest moments of your life, Malon!"
"Well, I got some more, Mom. Much more."
"Aw, I know, sweetie. Like that time at the Fishin' Pond?"
"Yeah, caught me a 3 pounder when we were there!"
"Ah, but there was that other time, Malon."
"What other time?"
"Malon, I watched you from heaven, even when you slept those seven lazy years in that temple. You don't think your mom knows anythin' that went in that pond?"
"Oh, when… when I and…?"
"Yep, when you and that Link boy said you like each other."
"I can never get privacy now that you're watching all the time, huh, Mom?"
"Oh, well, now, it's not like I'm gonna embarrass you or anythin', honey."
"But… But I'll never feel secure now that you're watching every move I make!"
"Still not gonna matter much, Malon. It's your happiness that counts, and I certainly don't want ya sad."
"Yes… I know."
"That boy… Naw, I should call him by his name, Link. Anyhoo, Link… Malon, I think Link's the one for ya…"
"Mom!"
"'Kay, okay, maybe I shouldn't have said that, now you're gonna get these ideas… But, again, he does make you happy, doesn't he?"
"… Yes… Definitely. Ever since I met him… Mom, I just can't describe how it just felt when… when I saw him. Well, when I count out how silly he looked. But, I felt so happy when he became my friend. My first friend… My first true friend! My… best friend…"
"But you know how close you've gotten with him when Dad let ya go?"
"Oh, Mom… that was the best thing that ever happened to me. Dad just letting me travel with Link, travel and explore the whole world!"
"Was it the best thing that ever happened to you? Or is it more as Link is the best thing that ever happened to you?"
"MOM!"
"Your dad sure made a good choice lettin' ya be with your best friend, because look what it became now, just because Link's always there for ya and makin' ya happy every time. And like your dad, if you're happy, I'm happy."
"Mom, do ya hafta?"
"Oooh! Your dad thought that maybe Link would be the one who would take care of ya and always get ya out of the gloomy lonesome. I'm beginnin' to see he ain't wrong…"
"Mom, you're lucky it's just you and me here. Else, I woulda really wrestled you down to the ground, now that I'm all tough from the journey."
Navi couldn't help but release a silent snicker.
"Ah, Heroine of Time, this one bein' so toughy and brave…" Malon's mother laughs. "I still can't believe my daughter is the Heroine of Time!"
"Well, I am, ain't I, Mom? I didn't help Link awaken those Sages for nothing. Plus, I'm said to wield my archery just like the legends of the Heroine of Time had predicted."
"Of course. I shoulda been more expectant of ya now that you're a hero. I'm just still in disbelief that you are the Heroine of Time. A child of destiny. Now why ain't I a heroine, if I gave birth to one?"
Malon giggles. "Oh, Mom, ya just keep finding ways to make me laugh."
The two keeps themselves in a stop, then Malon's mother continues, "Ya almost done with your adventure, Malon. Just this Spirit Temple, then the Shadow Temple, and then it's off to kick Ganondorf's arse."
"So long… My quest. When I look back, it seems short in words, but it felt so darn long 'til this moment. And I'm feeling that it's still long ahead, too."
"There's more, honey. The Heroes of Time ain't what ya would say finished when this is over."
"What do you mean, Mom?"
"What I'm sayin' is is that my daughter's adventures are far from over."
"Wait… adventures?" Malon stresses on the letter "s."
"Of course! Ya didn't think your life would just be this one part, do ya?"
"What…?" Her voice is in deep disbelief. "Well, what other adventures do I have later on?"
"Worlds… You and Link will get yourselves lost in a strange sort of world that's different, but the same."
"Well, how do you know this, Mom? Did Fate tell ya or something?"
"Malon, when you're the mother of a chosen one of Hyrule, the goddesses will look down on ya more favorably, and be more willin' to tell ya all sorts of things."
"Okay… Well, what's this other world I'll be going to?"
"That's somethin' you'll have to see, honey. Though, if I were you, I woulda soon forget about it anyway, since you're gonna be so concentrated on savin' Hyrule."
"Um… I guess. Anyway, while we're on the subject, any other worlds I'll go to after the second one?"
"Oh…" A hesitation occurs, striking an atmosphere of anxiousness, in both of them and Navi above.
"Mom? What's… What's wrong?"
"Nothin', Malon."
"Then, why didn't ya answer me?"
"Oh, honey… I… I was just…"
"Mom, what's wrong? What world is it that… you're not gonna tell me?"
"Malon… I… I'll just keep it a surprise for ya to find out, 'kay?"
"But, Mom, what's the matter? Is there something bad on that world…? Is something gonna happen… to me when I get there?"
"Just… Just act your age and don't ask your poor mom these questions."
"Mom…"
"It's better for all of us, 'specially Fate and the goddesses, if you don't know anymore of the future as it is."
"M… O-Okay… Okay, then, if it's better off like this…"
"Malon, dear, don't worry about the future. If ya keep lookin' at it all scared, ya won't get on with life, and then what will happen?"
"Okay, Mom. I'll… I'll try not to think what you told me."
"Now, now, let's not get all sad from all this. I still have some time left with ya, so do you need anythin'?"
"Well… no."
"Aw, c'mon, Malon! I believe goin' from ten to seventeen years old is bound to make ya itch for a lot of things answered!"
"No, Mom, I really… I really don't have anything to ask for."
"Malon, you do have somethin' on your mind and I as your mother can tell."
"Mom…" Malon halts for a moment, then her breathing becomes ragged. "I'm… I'm… I'm still thinking… thinking and… reliving that moment… a moment I want to forget… It hurts… It's so painful… I dream of it whenever… I feel alone at night. Mom…" Her voice aches with a shudder, "I miss you."
"Oh… Oh, sweetie…"
Navi hears a rustle that she believes to be the two of them embracing each other.
"I miss you so much… Mom," Malon sobs.
"I miss you, too… Even though I watch you, everyday it hurts me, too, to not be there for you…"
"Mom…"
"Malon…"
"I-I-I wish… I wish… I wish that… that…"
"Shhh… I… I wish that, too, honey… I wish for it, too…"
Navi, in her pitied state, shakes abruptly when the vision of the imaginary world starts fading away. Oh, no, she's waking up!
"Malon… I hafta go…"
"Now? But… But… why!" Malon cries, looking up at her mother. "You… I… I… I never see you… It-It was just that d-dream seven years ago, and this! That and this… were the only time I ever saw you again! Why! Why do you have to leave me!"
"I'm so sorry, Malon…" Along with the surrounding, the woman's image starts to bleed with the disturbed colors. "The goddess can only give so much to me, much more than to those whose daughters are not you, a person of great importance…" Unable to stay solid, her body begins to melt away with the air, distancing from Malon towards the fusion of images.
"Mom!" Malon runs after her. "Don't leave me! Please! Don't leave me alone!"
"Malon… you know… you're never alone… I'm always… there for you… just like the one… who you call… fairy boy…"
A trip, something Malon fears too often, ceases her movement. "Mom…! No…! Please come back! Come back!"
"Remember… Always remember me… Always remember… what I've told you… and remember… my song…" Following that is her mother's voice singing a blurred tune of her melody, while Malon continues weeping at the renewed grieving of the loss of her parent.
"M… Mom… I miss you… I-I miss you… so much… M-Mom…"
Navi dives out of the dream and enters the corporal dimension, exiting Malon's head. Her pity again resurfaces as she observes the tears seeping from her friend's eyelids and streaming away. A soft, mournful cry emanates from the redhead's mouth as she still lives inside her phantasm. Soon after, her bedewed eyes flutter open sluggishly, seeing a bright fairy hover above.
"Hey," Navi greets. "Are you… Are you okay?"
"Navi…" Malon sits up, still staring at the fairy. "… I… I… I'm okay." She deftly tries to erase the tears.
"Malon, I know. I know… how much you lament for your mother…"
"Navi… you… you saw my…?"
"Yes… One of the fairies' unique abilities is to enter people's dreams…" Navi explains. "Malon, I'm so sorry about you and your mother."
"It's… It's nothing, Navi… I… I just really miss her…"
"I… have feelings almost similar to yours, Malon. We fairies of the Kokiri Forest… We never saw our parents again after our birth. I know it's not as greatly emotional as yours is, since we fairies truly never took time to develop a bond with our parents, but… I just want you to know… you're not alone."
Malon almost lets the tears break again. "Navi… thanks."
"Hey, come on… we got to get to the Spirit Temple." Navi awaits her to stand, then makes a line drive to the Colossus with the refreshed, hard-driven Malon trailing behind. The redhead takes a short interlude to marvel at the structure, much larger on a grand scale but still has complex details on the surface area, particularly the statue of the goddess. Even the moonlight seems to enhance the Colossus rather than darken the light.
Fairy boy would have love this… this lovely valley… this beautiful statue… Oh, fairy boy… It's so hard not to miss you… Malon thought before darting into the Colossus.
Spirit Temple
If Malon thought the Forest Temple is eerie in the way of spirits whispering around her, then she had experienced nothing. One step on the sacred ground of the temple and suddenly the surreal beings cloud the atmosphere with their words, audible but not decipherable. It's not limited to talking either, as Malon's spine shivers by the groping of her soul by others.
It's like a free molestation.
"Spirits probing you?" Navi questions.
"I think they're doing more than probing…"
"Ignore them. They shouldn't be any more of a bother than being cold or hot."
She dismisses the idea to avoid conflicts with aversion, rather to press on with the thought of the temple. As long as the spirits pose no threats, she shouldn't have a problem. "What's this…?" She treads over to an inscription carved onto the neck of a stone statue of a snake. "Well, here's the one time when I should have reconsidered learning ancient Gerudo dialect."
"Hmm…" Navi studies the symbols. "Actually, it's a combination of that, and the dialect of the deities, namely the desert goddess."
"… Well? Could ya read it? You said you could read any language."
"I said this is a combination, not a single dialect, so it'll take a moment!" the fairy snaps. "Jeez, do I ask for you to rush…? No…" she mumbles to herself, then carries on with the analysis. After a few minutes, she turns back to Malon. "It says, 'If you want to proceed to the past, you should return here with the pure heart of a child.'"
The Hylian gives a simple blink. "And it means…?"
"How am I supposed to know? Do you see me explaining?"
"Uh, well… what about that other one?" Malon points at another inscription on the right side of the room. "That may help…"
Again, Navi takes her time to translate the symbols. "Um… I think it says, 'If you want to travel to the future, you should return here with the power of silver from the past.' As for what it means, I have no idea."
"… Future… Past… The power of silver… Huh…" Malon ponders for a while, then shakes her head. "It's too much to think about. Let's see what we can do here."
Several moments pass as the two inspect through the room, finding no way forward. There's no trigger or switch, and even though Malon sluggishly finished off two Armos, nothing could be seen activated. They settle themselves near a strange, silver block, conjecturally barricading the way to a room behind it.
"There's really no way to go on!" Malon declares. "What kinda temple is this if nobody can get through it?"
"The Sages always built ways around their mazes and puzzles…" Navi mutters to herself, yet Malon could hear her. "They always do… Just have to be astute, have to be shrewd… Not thinking hard enough…"
"I don't suppose you have a plan?"
"Well, unless you can move that block…"
"Navi, I doubt even Link could move this darn thing." Malon grunts as she attempts to budge the silver obstacle. Predictably, it does not change position, not even a diminutive distance. "It's like trying to move a wall."
"Let's think this over. What do we know?"
"Okay, there's this block that is impossible to move. And on the other side we have a hole that is impossible to fit through because I'm too big. Which reminds me, there's still that other plan where you could navigate through the hole and go through the temple by yourself, Navi."
"I told you, I'm too minuscule to do the mystical puzzles of the Sages. Only you and Link could do it, but you're simply too large to journey farther."
"And we can't go back here as kids either, because one: The Gerudos won't let us through since we'll be in the past. And two: I don't think we'll have the luck crossing the desert like I did without shriveling up."
"We're literally stuck. How can we awaken the Spirit Sage when we cannot advance any further?"
Malon sighs. "I don't know, I don't know…"
"What else do we know?"
"The inscriptions. Still useless. Going to the past of the temple by being a child?"
"Now that I think about it, it probably means you should come here as a ten-year old, to crawl through the tunnel, or 'proceed to the past.'"
"What about the other one?"
"Well, from what I can gather, I can't see ourselves going forward in time anymore, especially since you are the age of the Heroine of Time, so traveling beyond this time is not a choice. I believe this is the future, from your youth's point of view."
"Okay, so we fill in one part, the future. What about the power of silver?"
Navi meditates for a moment before replying, "I think… I think it vaguely refers to an item I've heard of before. It may be a long shot, but I think the power of silver is the Silver Gauntlets, supposedly lost here in the Colossus. If returning here with the Silver Gauntlet from the past means that we retrieve the mystical gloves during your youth and travel to the future with them, I believe we have solved the temple's first puzzle. Very extensively, I must say."
"Not to mention it can't be done. I can't return here as a kid, remember?"
"Then it's a lost cause. The Spirit Temple cannot be liberated from Ganondorf's evil. The Sage of Spirit cannot awaken. We… We cannot save Hyrule."
Malon groans loudly, almost causing herself to cry. "I can't believe it. We lost. Ganondorf… can't be stopped. Hyrule's… doomed."
They float in the miserable absence of noise, both completely disheartened with the conclusion.
"C'mon, Navi." Malon depressingly starts for the stairs with dilatory. "Let's… Let's get outta here… Let's… get back to Link…"
Desert Colossus
Ah, so the Heroine of Time has found out.
Above, casting a shadow as strong as the light from the sun, Sheik monitors the visitors coming out of the Colossus with nary a happy expression on themselves. As he continues his post, he feels the gentle breeze tossing itself onto him and his face, bringing words that he recognizes.
Goddess of the sand, for centuries you have watched over the impenetrable temple with persevere. Now you bring news by the Divine Trinity that wished of you to ask me to intervene? How humble is your holiness before me… Let down your safeguard of this edifice, and I shall guide the Heroes of Time to heal your wounds.
As he completes his offer, the wind stops, as if to hesitate. Then, it carries an answer that immediately sends Sheik to jump off the stone formation he's on. He briskly lands on the bare patio, feeding a startle to the two in front of him.
"Sheik!" Malon cries his name, reverting her expression away.
The young man stands to glance, then walks towards the heroine. "Past, present, future…" he speaks in his usual tone of enigma, while in the midst of the sky a familiar owl soars through. "The Master Sword is a ship with which you can sail upstream and downstream through time's river… The port for that ship is in the Temple of Time… To restore the Desert Colossus and enter the Spirit Temple, you must travel back through time's flow…"
"Sheik… I need help… I can't… I can't come back here as a child… The only way to even get through is if I come back here young again… which I cannot do."
"That is why I am here to assist you, Heroine of Time…"
"How… How can you help?"
"It is not the end, Malon. As long as time flows like the desert sand, there is no end… Listen to this Requiem of Spirit… This melody will lead a child back to the desert," he said as he pulls his instrument out. His fingers halt at the touch of the harp's string, then carefully he bends a selection sequentially. A low tone fills the night valley like a groan of a spirit, changing the air to comforting and uncanny at the same time. Arousing the living and the dead, Malon's voice joins in the mournful song of the harp, turning the tone into an arcane harmony. Sweet but bitter the melody goes, enough to cause compassion from anybody for the spirits.
Listening above the two is an owl that has not seen the heroine for seven years. Seven years he wandered the free skies of Hyrule, doing nothing more than watch as the act of Fate unfolded. A message of the goddess of the sand beckoned him here, and now he curiously eyes the girl once more like long ago. "Excellent work… Heroine of Time." As the song comes to a close, he flies off his perch, satisfied that he could see what had become of Malon and Link. As so, he soars into the horizon, acknowledging that this is the last time he will ever be in their presences again.
When the requiem ends, Malon slowly opens her eyes, glad that Sheik has not decided to take off yet. "Sheik…" she utters. "Sheik, I…" The redhead takes a step forward, urging herself to say what she wants to say. The wind, however, breaks open, and begins to agitate Malon's eyes. The Sheikah backs away in his familiar pace, causing Malon to panic. "Sheik! I…! I…!" She moves forward, but the gust blocks any attempt by her feet. Soon it dies down, the sand hanging for a split second before dropping. Malon removes her hand from her eyes, then holds her breath in dismay as Sheik is gone.
"Sheik…" she said, hoping that the enigmatic person would hear among the endless world of sand, "thank you."