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Wolf Link
Wolf Kagome
"So, now where do we go?"
"You said that the sages' clues sounded familiar, I think the next one was 'an ancient grove'."
Kagome furrowed her brow and thought about what it could mean. Something shining caught her attention.
'It's just the Master Sword,' she dismissed. Her eyes widened as her thoughts came to a halt.
"Link," she cried excitedly. "I think I know where we need to go!"
"Where?"
"I think the clue was talking about that grove where we found the Master Sword!"
Link gave her a wide smile.
"Back to Faron we go!"
Arriving in front of the Forest Temple, they ran into Rusl.
"It has been a while since we took a walk in the forest, huh? Yes, and how our world has changed..."
"Not by much."
Rusl smiled.
"Say... Do you know about the far side of this deep gorge? Some say there is an ancient temple deep in the woods that guards a sacred power. The ancestors of the Hylians created the temple... Signs of their civilization-ancient, but very sophisticated-are everywhere. If someone could obtain the power of those ancient people... Well, I am sure it would go a long way toward saving Hyrule. Link... Would you take on this task? Would you cross the gorge and find the ancient power sleeping in the temple?"
Link raised a mocking eyebrow.
"You have to ask?"
Rusl lets out a bark of laughter.
"I knew you would! To cross the gorge, just use my partner here...Do you doubt my partner's skills? He flies like a dream! Believe me! Well, you will definitely make it across the gorge. Wait and see, my doubting friend. Restore the peace! Reclaim the power of this ancient civilization that has slept in the temple for ages beyond count! My partner will definitely get the job done! No doubt in my mind! Give it a shot!"
Link looks skeptically at the bird.
"Alright Kagome, let's grab on to the magical flying cuckoo."
Link was rewarded with a slap on the arm.
"Will you quit hitting me woman?!"
She gave him a dry look.
"I will stop when you stop being such a sarcastic ass."
"Asking for miracles, are we?"
Rusl was doubled over laughing as the two flew away.
(And because I don't feel like going through the whole Skull Kid thing again, bippity-boppity-boo, they kicked his creepy little ass.)
Going through the new door, Link and Kagome found themselves back amongst the ruins that held the Master Sword. Looking around, they tried to find some clue as to the location of the Temple. Noticing a set of closed doors on a ledge, Kagome turned her attention to Link.
"How crazy and weird has this whole adventure been for you?"
"Pretty so, why?"
"Would you think it outside the realm of possibilities that if we walk through those doors up there, we'll find what we're looking for?"
"At this point, I'm willing to believe, and try, anything."
Climbing up the ledge, they stood before the closed stone doors. Each placing their hand on a door, they opened them and stepped back into the Temple of Time. The sight that welcomed them was a large antechamber. Stepping down the stairs, they observed the ancients building. In the middle of the floor was the symbol of the Triforce, bold and true. The guards stood new and proud before the door that would lead them to where the Master sword once rested. Entering the next area, they found themselves in a circular room. The stone walls stood high, supporting the stained glass windows that painted the room in various colors. In the middle of the room, was the pedestal which housed the Master Sword for so long. Looking around, Kagome voiced the question on everyone's mind.
"How do we get in?"
Link was staring at the pedestal. Walking towards it, he drew the sword.
"I have a hunch."
Stabbing the sword back into its resting place, a set of stairs appeared before them in glowing blue. The steps rose up to rest at the edge of one of the windows. Hearing Kagome squeak in surprise, Link turned to see a small bird looking thing run by. They watched as it ran up the stairs and through the window.
"What in the…?"
"I have no idea."
"Well, grab your sword and let's go."
"Pushy pushy."
Placing the sword back in his scabbard, he held out his elbow.
"Shall we?"
Kagome chuckled at his silliness, but still took his arm.
"We shall."
Arm in arm they walked up the stairs and were mildly surprise when it turned out to be an illusion which hid the door to the entrance. The next room was just as large and grand as the ones before it. In the center of the room was a giant bell. On the wall opposite of them was another door, but something was strange with it. Walking closer, they saw only one statue, but there was an empty stand matching the other. Midna appeared to take a closer look.
"Link... Don't you think there's something odd about that statue? In the grove and in the temple entry, there were always matching ones on each side, but there's only one here... Why don't you use your senses to take a look around?"
Following Midna's advice, they honed their senses.
"I knew it... There was one more here originally. We need to find the other statue in this temple that matches that one."
"Erm! Not so fast!"
They all turned to see Ooccoo standing there.
"Goodness! Wait a second! Young man, could you be...the one they call the hero? Goodness. I thought so! Just as I suspected! I have to tell you, my son and I have been looking for something. We can't return home until we find that thing. Oh, gracious no! You must need something here, too. Shall we try working together for a while, fellow adventurer? You may not think I look like much, but I can be quite helpful! I can even warp you out of here if you want to leave! So don't think of me as a burden! Now let's get started!"
And so, Ooccoo hopped into Kagome's pack and they all set off.
~* Time Skip *~
Link sat on a step in front of Kagome with his shirts off as she tried to rub the soreness from his shoulder.
"And what did we learn from this?"
Link groaned and dropped his head.
"Don't let giant armored things with big weapons hit you."
Kagome silently laughed.
Link sighed and looked at the rod lying beside him.
"At least we got this thing."
"True, being able to animate statues seems like it would be very helpful."
Sitting back, she patted Link on the shoulder.
"You should be ok for now, let's get that statue back so we can get that shard."
Link grunted, but stood and pulled his shirt back on. Activating the rod, he animated the rod and they began to trek the maze to return it to its rightful place. After returning the statue, the doors opened up and they entered the darkened corridor. Stepping cautiously, Kagome drew her bow and shot the beamos that had just opened its eye. The entire corridor was full of traps. There were beamos, rolling spike logs and swinging pendulums. But our heroes worked together to overcome each obstacle. And what waited them at the end?
Gasp!
A door!
We sure didn't see that coming.
The room beyond the door was dark as night, with only small beam of light shining through the ceiling. Looking up, they came face to eye with one of the biggest spiders they had ever seen. Link shot a worried look at Kagome and saw her skin become pale as she began shaking.
"Kagome?"
She turned her fear filled eyes to him. Grabbing her hand, he tried to reassure her.
"It'll be ok, I won't let it get you, but I need your help."
She nodded and took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Feeling herself calm down, she drew her bow with a determined look upon her face.
"I'll be fine, let's just kill the thing."
It took a combination of Kagome's arrows, the rod and Link's sword, but they were finally able to defeat the giant arachnid. As the beast dissolved, Link took Kagome in his arms and held her close, having a mild understanding of how terrified she truly was.
Midna appeared and collected the shard before turning to address them.
"Three of the mirror shards are ours! Just one left! Link...Kagome… You saw how nasty that monster was, right? The evil within the shards is more powerful than you can imagine... You know we could be assembling something truly terrible here... It could be something that we'll ultimately have to destroy... We have to hurry! Let's fine the last shard! We have to reach the sky! That's where the last shard is supposed to be! I'll get you out of here. You're sure there's nothing else you need to do, right?"
Link nodded.
Once outside, Ooccoo reappeared.
"Well done, adventurer! Ooccoo sees what she was looking for. Goodness, yes! It's the Dominion Rod you found in the temple! But that thing has been around for quite some time. I can see from here that its magic has been exhausted. Ooh, what am I to do... I thought at last I could return to the sky... And I have completely forgotten the spell that would once again bestow it with magic... It can't be helped. I suppose I'll just have to look for the statues that respond to the rod... It's decided! That's what we'll do! That's what we'll do, indeed! Well, Ooccoo is on her way! See you again!"
Midna appeared as Ooccoo ran off.
"Hey! Wait! What did you do to the Dominion Rod? ...She's gone. I suppose a useless rod is really just more baggage, but...what are you going to do? Hmm... Did she just say something about returning to the sky? The last piece of the mirror is also said to be in the heavens... If we can restore magic to the Dominion Rod, maybe it'll come in handy!"
"We should find Shad."
Link looked down into honey colored eyes.
"Why?"
"Didn't he mention something about sky people?"
Link thought back.
"He did, didn't he?"
Kagome nodded.
"Alright, let's go to Telma's and see if Shad is there."
Calling on Midna, they teleported away.
