'A better idea' he said. Sure, one that could get us killed, I thought with exasperation as I looked around the Sealed Temple. Of all the ideas in the world, Ghirahim's was the most insane. Not seeing the old woman or anyone else in the temple, I stepped toward the Gate of Time that was situated in the middle of the room.

Ghirahim had told Link and I that it would send anyone back in time and through it, the Triforce could be retrieved. I had not told Ghirahim that I had one part of the Triforce already in my safe keeping. Nor did I tell him that Link had the other. Not even Link knew he had it, but I could see that it had been kept safe in him since the day I had put it there. It was a piece of me, a piece of my heart and I had given him that. The Triforce was a heavy burden but he carried it with grace and strength without even knowing it.

Now the third piece… I thought to myself and sadly sighed. It would take a large amount of effort to get. However, the need for it was greater than the risk and so with a flick of my hand upon my harp I played a tune that Ghirahim had taught me.

As the last notes faded, the column of the Gate of Time lit up and rearranged itself into a large gear. In the middle of the gear, blue light shone out. It made me nervous and I looked to where Link had appeared. He nodded to me and stepped to my side. Ghirahim also appeared and stood on my other side.

As I stepped forward and placed my hand into the Gate of Time, Ghirahim said, "Ah! How I relish going back in time! Let us meet it with victory this day!"

With his words ringing in my ears, the three of us stepped through the Gate of Time together. I stepped onto lush green grass and as I looked before me, I saw the largest castle I had ever laid eyes on.

Ghirahim whistled at the sight of the castle and said, "You know, I didn't believe she actually lived in a castle that large."

Link asked who he was talking about and I replied for Ghirahim, "The sorceress, Cia. She protects the Triforce and makes sure that its power stays balanced. I wouldn't be surprised if Demise had tried to take the Triforce of Power from her. We should hurry."

As we ran, we encountered the forces of Demise. I admitted to myself that without Ghirahim, Link and I would have consumed by the enemy. With Ghirahim's power alongside Link's and my own, we easily defeated the forces that were overflowing from the castle. As I slaughtered the last Bokoblin, I felt a large wave of air hit me from behind. I steadied myself on my feet and turned to see what had caused the airwave. A beautiful woman stood with her purple eyes gazing at Link. Her white hair adorned her face and her white clothing showed off her figure becomingly. A belt hung at her slim waist, which was latched with a purple jewel. In her hand she wielded a black and gold scepter, which had a headpiece of purple quartz.

"How may I be of service, Hero?" she said to Link, completely ignoring me and Ghirahim. Link did not answer but looked to me.

"We have come for the Triforce of Power, Sorceress Cia," I said formally in reply.

Unwillingly, Cia took her eyes off Link and looked at me. I felt jealousy arise in me and I fought it back down, knowing that Link's heart couldn't be taken from me. Cia looked at me critically for a moment, trying to gauge my thoughts. I must have revealed something because she smiled and said, "To get it, you must pass a test of strength."

"Against what, your Prettiness?" came Ghirahim's smooth voice.

Cia looked at him with amusement and laughed as she said, "Against me."

I unsheathed the skyward sword and readied myself as Cia held out her scepter and cracked it as a whip. She grinned and suddenly charged at me. I veered to the left and slashed at her, hitting her back side. She grunted and turned to face me. Her grin was gone and was replaced by a look of contempt. She lashed out her whip and it caught on my cheek. I winced as the skin tore away from my cheek and blood oozed out. I shook off the pain and concentrated on Cia's movements. She shifted her weight to her right foot, indicating that she would strike from the right. I feigned to the right and she fell for it. I brought myself quickly to the left and struck her squarely on the chest with the flat part of the blade. She keeled backwards and landed on her back in the dust. With one fluid movement, I walked over and held the tip of my sword to her bare throat.

"I yield," came Cia's voice and I took my sword away from her throat and sheathed it upon my back. I helped her up and she brushed herself off.

"You are far stronger and have a greater spirit than I had expected," she finally said and looked at me with newfound respect. She waved her scepter toward me and the wound on my cheek was completely healed. I bowed to her in thanks and she inclined her head in acknowledgement.

"Now, for your well-deserved prize," she said.

With a wave of her hand, a golden triangle appeared, hovering in her palm. She blew it to me and I grabbed it as it flew in the air. It shone bright for a moment in the palm of my hand and then took its place next to the Triforce of Wisdom upon the back of my hand.

Cia looked at Link once more and reached out as if to take his arm. She stopped herself and turned away. She walked a couple steps, stopped, and said without turning, "I will be seeing you again. In this life or another."

She walked on again and disappeared, leaving behind purple tipped feathers that floated to the ground. I looked at Ghirahim and he had the most trance-like look on his face as he looked upon the spot where Cia had been. He walked over and took a feather in hand. He took a whiff of the feather and smiled.

If a relationship blossomed between them, it would be the most interesting thing I have ever encountered, I thought, hiding my amusement.

"Back to the present time, my friends," I said and walked toward the Gate of Time.

"What about the other parts of the Triforce, Heroine? Won't they be found here?" asked Ghirahim.

"They are already where we need them to be," I replied, took Link's hand in my own, and walked through the Gate of Time.

As my eyes laid upon the Sealed Temple once again, I uttered to myself, And so, the real battle begins.