Chapters 5 through 9 were written by Redbrush, not by me. He adopted the story when I abandoned it a while back, but since he has disappeared from ffnet I have taken the reigns again. All other chapters are written by me, with some brainstorming help and suggestions from Kenju.
His step faltered as he struggled against the desert wind. He held his hand in front of his eyes to shield himself from the blowing sands. It almost hurt as the hot sands clashed against the bare skin of his face. He kept a hand on his freshly blood-bathed sword. To put it shortly, Leevers weren't unheard of in the Desert, and he'd rather not chance one of those things chomping his foot off on his way back. It would be smart to wipe as many as he could on the way there so they couldn't get him in-case the journey from the Temple made him weary.
Link wiped the sweat off of his face slowly. If it hadn't been for the scorching heat, he would have shuddered thinking that this was the easy part. He'd long since crossed the River of Sands. He was pretty relieved that they provided the hookshot this time around. He hadn't acquired one yet. Then again, if they didn't, how did they expect him to cross it?
And on the subject, just what was he supposed to do at the Spirit Temple? All Ladina said was, "If you're truly a Gerudo, you'll be guided to the Spirit Temple. If you're not... well, I don't need to explain it." Just what was the purpose? He'll die if he couldn't find his way there. On the other hand, if he's guided to the Temple, then... then what? Did they forget to tell him?
No. She said she had been doing this for a while. She wouldn't have forgotten. He remembered his last time there. Did they expect the Mirror Shield? Or the Silver Mittens?
He sighed in confusion. He wasn't given any kind of instructions at all. And on the note of his task- weren't Twinrova sent back to the Temple? Of course they were, he sent the two. Did they expect their heads? He cursed under his own panting.
The hero found himself torn from his inquest, trying to realize just what he was standing in front of. What seemed to be... some type of shrine in front of him, surrounded by the posts used to mark the path through the desert. He noticed a spiral staircase going from the side up to the top.
He took a moment to absorb the situation. Last he remembered, this was where he had to use the Lens of Truth to find the guide to the Spirit Temple. He didn't have that this time around. Then again, how did everyone else get there? He surely wasn't the first, though he may have been the first to rely on the Lens of Truth... That thought didn't warm up to him at all.
... Up until he chuckled at the terrible pun he made in his head. The heat was definitely getting to him.
Link climbed the steps to discover the same carved writing on the plaque as he remembered. He smiled at the familiar words.
"I'll be your guide on your way, but coming back, I won't play! I'll show you the only way to go- so follow me, and don't be slow!"
His head snapped towards the direction of the echoing voice, whilst the grip on his blade's handle tightened. A Poe floated on equal level with him- though, it was just out of his reach, unless he leaped off of the shrine. This Poe... seemed familiar. Those words did, to be exact. The Poe who guided him to the Temple last time said that, but he had to use the Lens of Truth to see it. Why not now?
The Poe had started to float backwards, as if leaving somewhere, though it came to an abrupt halt after looking Link over briefly.
"Wait, wait, wait. Are you who I think you are, or is this just a cruel illusion played by fate?"
Link blinked. Part of him expected the Poe to disappear when he opened his eyes. Part of him wanted to think that the heat had him hallucinating... but apparently not. Instead, the Poe, the manifestation of a troubled spirit with pent-up rage against the world, wasrhyming to him. Last time he heard those words- he thought it was by coincidence. He was pretty sure it was on purpose, now. He didn't know what to think of it. Most Poes he'd encountered had either attacked him or played some kind of trick on him.
"Oh, goody, goody! It's been so many years since I've escorted somebody! Especially a Gerudo!"
Link stepped back as the Poe floated up to him, a little to close for comfort, and studied him closely.
"Though, you don't look as if so... Unless..."
The ghost-like being circled around Link a few times, slowly, mentally taking note of every recognizable detail. Only after a few times around had the Poe floated back to eye-level with Link and displayed some time of sadistic grin...
"The Fierce Deity- Oni, you must be, yes?"
The hero sighed impatiently. He glared at the Poe- obviously annoyed. The ghost seemed to have taken the hint, needless to say.
"Grumpy, aren't we? No matter. It's proof enough that you didn't need the Lens to see me." The Poe seemed to smile- or that could have been Link squinting too hard. That last part seemed to catch the Hylian's attention, but he was cut off before he began to question the spirit. "Even if you're not of any relation, I'd be happy to help. Allow me to guide you to your destination. I'd assume the Spirit Temple, correct?"
Before Link could ask what he meant by being able to see him without the Lens, the Poe floated backwards into the sandy winds. The Hero really didn't have any kind of choice but to jump off and hurry to catch the spirit.
"Aaaand~, here we are! The Spirit Temple, a danger to all!" Link found the Poe's cheerfulness a little annoying. He turned to thank the Spirit for helping, but he found that he had already disappeared.
Link sighed again- what did he mean by that? "It's proof enough you didn't need the Lens to see me"? What was that supposed to mean? Link shook the thought out of his head for now- he had something to do. He wasn't sure what, but he couldn't come back empty-handed.
Great. He looked ahead at the Temple- it was quite a sight. He smiled. Call him crazy, but he couldn't help but feel a little happy. So many familiar sights.
He took a step forward, and kept his hand on the handle of his blade, sheathed on his back. It seemed clear, but he wasn't going to take any chances. Link readied his weapons and made way for the Temple.
Upon entering the first door and getting into the dungeon- he didn't see much change. It was virtually the same place as it was last time. Two passages- one he cleared as a child, the other as an adult. He could very well kiss the chance at conquering the temple goodbye, but that's not what he was here for. At least, that's what he thought.
He bit his lip. He wasn't sure what he was here for- he wasn't sure what to do. He knew he had to be here, but what else was there to it? Link tightened his grip on his blade and moved his shield in front of him- he slowly climbed the steps leading to the two passageways. His eyes scanned the platform in front of him for any kind of potential threat.
Part of himself felt that he was getting paranoid- he had done this once before. It wouldn't be hard this time. Though, truth be told, he didn't really want to be here. Twinrova would detect his presence sooner or later and he wasn't sure if he could survive a second encounter with the two without the Master Sword or Mirror Shield.
Then again, did he even have to encounter the twin witches? There was no point in it- at least, none that he could think of. Ladina did tell him to come here, kind of, but what for?
Maybe she meant to leave him clueless. Maybe he was supposed to figure it out. But then again, what was here that the Gerudo would want? Mirror Shield? Silver Mittens? Those were the only items of value that he could remember being here.
"Psst! Hey, over here!" Link heard behind him. It was a loud whisper, if that was possible. Like somebody was trying to keep quiet, but was obviously upset. Link turned his head in the direction of the voice- and discovered a Gerudo woman stepping out from behind one of the two statues- she was dressed in white and gold clothing. She looked average compared to the ones he saw back at the Fortress- enough hair for a pony-tail, big nose, aggressive-looking. Though, she had on quite a lot of facial paint. She waved him over to where she was at quickly- like they were about to be caught by someone.
He recognized her immediately. Nabooru.