As Sheik and I snuck closer to the broken drawbridge that marked the entrance to the remnants of Castletown, my heart filled with dread. Awful memories of this place invaded my thoughts. I could hear the far off, terrible moans of the creatures that now occupied Castletown. Just those echoes slowed my step, causing me to wonder if there was truth to the rumors of the dead that could freeze a man.

Sheik motioned silently in front of me, leading me away from the drawbridge as we followed the moat's path till we hit the stone wall.

"You can swim?" Sheik asked.

I could. However, I didn't see what good that did me since the entrance that let the water pass was blocked with thick metal poles.

"Yeah," I said, "but I'm not that skinny."

Sheik's eyes crinkled slightly before he began to strip his gear. He left his armor on, but removed his weapons. He raised his eyebrow in challenge before diving into the water. Grumbling to myself, I followed suit, stripping my sword, shield, bow, and quiver before plunging into the freezing water.

The cold shocked my body, peeling open my eyes, and I saw Sheik twisting one of the metal bars. In the time it took me to swim over to him, he had pulled the bar free. Giving me a smug look, he pushed his way through the opening. Getting through was more of a challenge for me, being broader than Sheik, but with a little wriggling, I managed.

I followed him, but it wasn't long before we surfaced, right next to the Temple of Time. It was an awful sight. The grounds themselves had once been a spiritual place, but even though the burning was seven years ago, everything was still dead. Not a single plant had grown in all that time. Even worse than that was the sound of moans. The creatures that made them were much closer now, though none were by the temple. Hearing one made my heart feel as if it were encapsulated by ice. My every movement became heavier. I had no desire to ever be any closer to those monsters.

However, despite the horrid atmosphere, the temple still stood. That was all we needed.

As quietly as I could, I followed Sheik inside. The dread that permeated my body quickly fled as I stood inside. For the first time in a long time, I felt peace. I looked over to Sheik and was surprised to see respect and reverence in his eyes. It's not a look he wore often.

He gestured towards a a big door before kneeling down and bowing his head. I walked uncertainly over to the solid stone door. There was no handle, and it was far too heavy to even think of lifting. I didn't know what Sheik expected me to do. I lifted a hand to see if I could feel any sort of clue as to how to open it when my hand started to glow. The stone vibrated under my hand, and I pulled back as the door slowly groaned open.

I turned back to Sheik to see his reaction, but he didn't even look up from his position on the floor. Whatever he was praying for, it must have been important.

I hesitantly stepped through the dark opening, uncertain as to what I might find. The hallway was dark, but it led to a large chamber, lit by skylight. The light shone down on a sword buried in a raised platform.

As I approached the sword, my body began to buzz as if it were calling me. I wrapped my fingers around the hilt, and my blood rushed in my veins. I could hear echoes of voices in my head whispering to me, calling me. It was hard to make out the individual words, but I could hear my name repeated over and over. Then just as I was about to pull it out, one clear thought sounded in my head.

Use this power wisely.

I ripped the blade from its resting place, marveling at how perfect it felt in my hand. I experimentally sliced the air a few times, loving the balance. It didn't feel like a sword, but more like an extension of myself.

"How does it feel?"

I looked over to see Sheik at the entrance of this hidden room.

"Incredible."

He nodded, and then a glint appeared in his eye. "Would you like to see what it can truly do?"

We escaped Castletown without incident. Part of me couldn't believe it. We had done it. We had ventured into the most dangerous place in all of Hyrule and came out unscathed.

When we got back to our discarded gear, Sheik asked me for Zelda's ocarina. I was about to argue with him when he rolled his eyes and said, "I need to teach you a song, and then I will give it back."

I grabbed it from my belt and handed it to him.

"Were you aware this ocarina is special, Link?"

I shrugged. "Of course. It's Zelda's."

Sheik's eyes crinkled in amusement. "Beyond that, I mean."

I shook my head.

"Well it is full of power. As is this song and the sword you now carry. All three together can combine for something extraordinary."

I asked what, but he remained cryptic as always and instead started playing a song. It was deep and slow and somehow sounded of regret and hope at the same time. He played it a few times so I could memorize the tune before handing it back as promised.

"Play this song, and then strike your sword into the earth."

I thought about arguing, but I knew it would get me nowhere, so I put the instrument to my lips and started to play the song. I was surprised to feel a vibrating sensation throughout my body as I played each note. A song of power indeed.

When I finished I pulled out my new sword and looked to Sheik. He nodded and with a deep breath, I plunged my sword into the ground. Light flashed behind my eyes, blinding me, as my body felt as if it were constricting in on itself. It wasn't a painful sensation necessarily, just strange.

Suddenly, I pitched forward as the sword holding my weight disappeared in my hands. I fell to my hands and knees, my fingers clenching the cool, thick grass. Wait... The grass near Castletown was all brown and dead now.

I blinked hard, trying to regain my sight. When I did, the sight stunned me to my core. I was in the same spot I had been a moment ago, but everything was different. Everything was back to the way it was supposed to be. The grass was green, the moat held clear water, but best of all, I could see Hyrule Castle in all its glory on the horizon.

My mind hadn't quite wrapped around the situation, but my legs were already moving. All I knew was that I had to get there before it disappeared. Nothing else mattered.

As I ran through Castletown, my brain tried to tell me I was hearing things I shouldn't hear, seeing things I shouldn't see, but I refused to pay attention to any of that. I just let my legs take me down the familiar path I had tread so many times during those two years. I didn't even need to think as I avoided each guard, their patterns still etched into my memory.

When I reached the gardens, she was there, like nothing had ever happened, like the last seven years had been a bad dream.

"Zelda." I wouldn't have realized I said her name out loud if it didn't come out in a high squeaky voice I was years past. That's what it took for me to finally take account of my body. It was too small. My hands, my arms, my torso. And my line of sight was too low.

"Link? I wasn't expecting you."

All thought that I was in my pre-pubescent body vanished as I looked back up at her. She was smiling to let me know it was a good surprise. I just stood there stunned. And then a thought occurred to me. If she looked the same as she had the last time I saw her, and everything was back to the way it was before, maybe... maybe I could stop Ganondorf now. Maybe that's what the prophecy meant, that I'd defeat him by warning everyone before he attacked.

"Where's your father?" I asked in a rush.

Her face crinkled in confusion. "Link what's wrong?"

"I need to talk to him. I need to warn him about Ganondorf."

She smiled sympathetically. "If only he would listen. He refuses to hear anything bad about that man no matter how hard I try."

I barely even heard her. I could fix everything bad that had happened, every mistake I had made. I couldn't keep standing here, doing nothing when I could change those seven terrible years.

I took off, faintly hearing her calling my name. But all that was on my mind now was finding her father. However, as I ran, my stomach started to pull and black spots danced in front of my eyes. I tried to ignore the feeling, but eventually it got bad enough that I had to go down on one knee and squeeze my eyes shut.

The sick feeling left, but when I opened my eyes, I wasn't in Hyrule Castle. I was with Sheik, still gripping my new sword. The world was dark again.

"What happened?" I asked, breathing hard. "Why am I back?"

Sheik's face was turned away from me, but the small part I could see was pale and sweaty. He didn't respond for a moment, and I started growing concerned. Why wouldn't he look at me?

Right as I was about to approach him, he cleared his throat and turned to me, his eyes as concealing as ever. "You tried to change the past, didn't you?"

I looked at him accusingly. "Why didn't you let me know what was going to happen?"

"Because it would not have done any good. The ability to travel through time is an incredible power, one the goddesses only allow because they protect it so fiercely. Any attempt to seriously alter history will only result in failure. Even had I told you this, I knew at some point you would be tempted to try, so I thought it was best you learn that for yourself now."

I wanted to be mad at him, but I knew he was right. It hadn't mattered when Zelda tried to tell me it couldn't be done, and it would have mattered even less if Sheik had said something similar. I had to try.

So instead of glaring at him or adding a cutting remark, I just sighed and said, "Alright, explain."

"That sword you hold is called the Master Sword also known as the Blade of Evil's Bane. It is named as such because it has been wielded by every hero marked with the Triforce, and it has the power to repel evil. It has many powers on its own, but the greatest requires the Ocarina of Time, and the Song of Time, both of which you now have in your possession. While the goddesses will not allow for history itself to be changed, small, seemingly insignificant change is possible. Forging new relationships, for example.

"Any such change you do make will be reflected in the memories of the people affected, without them realizing anything is different. To them, their new memory is what has always been.

"I know this is complicated-you will learn better as you experience it-but we should leave now. We need to get to Kakariko as soon as possible."

My head hurt enough from the thought of time travel that I decided to trust that Sheik was right. "Fine. Are you going to explain Kakariko or is that another of your surprises?"

I saw the instinct in his eyes to not say anything, but he overrode it. "I had everything prepared for our arrival, but I recently learned my contact on the inside died. I need you to make another."

Now I understood our detour. It would be near impossible to make another contact in Kakariko given the circumstances. But if we could use the past, our options grew exponentially.

There was so much more about his plan I wanted to know, but I stopped myself from asking. Him telling me anything was more than I expected, and I didn't want to push it. We finally seemed to be forming a kind of trust, as tentative as it might be. He seemed to be trying, so I could cut him a break.

Besides, I'd need all my focus as we crossed bandit country. The stories I'd heard... Well, there was a reason only the truly desperate traveled through. Though if anyone could navigate through without incident, it was probably Sheik.

A/N: Yup, I'm stupid enough to introduce time travel. Because that won't lead to confusion and frustration. Feel free to leave a review or PM detailing exactly how bad a decision this is.

Don't worry, that wasn't what I meant by Zelda making an appearance soon. She'll make a proper, adult appearance in a couple chapters. Next time: Link shows he can make friends even in bandit country.

Thanks for reading. Feedback, as always, is much appreciated.