When Link got back to the village, he realized just how bad it was.
Everyone, except for Sera of course, had stopped working. Everyone was looking for the missing kids. The fact that Link had been gone for awhile hadn't helped much either.
"And someone stole the sword we were going to offer to the royal family..." Bo had told Link with a solemn look on his face. But his expression changed. "But I'm glad to see that you found it! Great going Link! And the shield too!" Link then realized that he was wearing both the shield and sword. Link felt odd, knowing that he had stolen them in the first place.
After saying his hello's, and good-bye's, Link left the village and headed toward the temple. He knew where it was, because Talo had been trapped there a few days earlier.
It was slightly easier to get through all of the strange creatures with the sword and shield. He cut through them like grass.
Link reached the clearing of the temple concealed in a giant tree. He rounded the wooden bridge that gapped the canyon between the temple and the tree.
Link stopped.
He could hear something singing. As he listened, the song seemed to penetrate his body. It was so beautiful that he wished it wouldn't stop.
Then it did.
Link looked up in confusion. The language in which the song had been song was unrecognizable to him. He hadn't understood it, yet it was beautiful and indescribable.
There was a girl standing in front of the entrance to the temple. Her black hair skimmed the ground behind her. She turned around.
Only someone as beautiful as she was could sing the song Link had just heard.
"Hello?" She said to him. Her voice was soft, with a slight accent.
"H-hello..." Link mumbled. He slowly walked toward her.
Her beauty intimidated him.
"Have you come to see the monkeys as I have?" She asked him. Link noticed that she was wearing a simple white dress that ended just above her knees.
"N-no. I've been sent here..." He felt like he could trust her. "There's something bad in there and well...I've been sent to take care of it." She stared at him, her eyes searching him like x-rays. She then nodded.
"I wondered why the monkeys did not come when I called. Usually they come when I bring them treats. Whatever is in there is stopping them from coming to me." She turned her back to Link and stared at the gap that led into the innards of the tree.
There was a pause.
"Well, I'd better go in now..." Link unsheathed his sword and started to enter, when he felt her hand touch his shoulder.
A sensation he couldn't describe bolted through his body. Her touch seemed so familiar...
"I want to go in with you." She demanded. It wasn't a question.
"It could be very dangerous. You might get hurt."
"I won't get hurt." Her eyes were confident, and showed a courage greater than his own. "And I won't get in your way." It seemed as though she had read his mind.
Link paused as he thought. Her hand was still on his shoulder, and he found himself concentrating on the contact more than anything. Finally, he nodded.
"Okay, you can come. You promise you won't get in my way?" She nodded.
Link entered, the girl followed him.
"What is your name?" He asked her as darkness surrounded them. He could feel that she was close, almost touching him.
"Maple." She said. "And yours?" Her name seemed familiar also.
"Link." He felt her hand touch his arm.
"Nice name." She said.
They continued to walk in the uncomfortable silence. When Link saw the light appear ahead, he let out a deep breath.
They emerged into a large room, full of monsters. Link immediately pulled out his sword and attacked, slashing at the nearest one.
He moved on to the next one, taking it down easily. He was running at the third when he heard Maple yell.
Link looked up in time to see some kind of monster coming down from the ceiling. It was going to fast, and Link ducked.
There was the sound of rushing wind, and a giant thump next to him.
Link turned his head to see the dog-sized spider on the ground, and arrow through its middle.
Link turned and saw Maple standing posed, a bow in her hand.
"T-thanks." He said, somewhat confused. She just nodded.
"You get the ones on the ground, and I'll take care of the spiders above." She said as she shot down another one, which just barely missed his head.
And take care of them she did. She was done before he finished off his last target. He felt somewhat embarrassed because she had almost three times as many targets has he had.
"Look!" She yelled and pointed toward the next door. There was a monkey trapped in a cage not too far ahead. "We have to set it free!" She yelled as she ran toward it. Link chased after her.
She climbed a vine wall to get to the caged monkey, and Link was not far behind.
"Don't worry sweetie, you'll be out soon." She calmly said to the monkey as it shook and rattled the cage. Link walked up and easily cut open the wooden cage with his sword.
The monkey jumped and clapped as Link sheathed his sword. The monkey then leaped over to the door leading to the next area.
"It wants us to follow it." Maple said to Link. Link nodded.
"Then let's follow it."
Link and Maple opened the door for the monkey, and she bolted in. The monkey ran a few feet before stopping and covering her head.
Up ahead, there was a huge spider, bigger than both Link and Maple put together.
Link and Maple looked at each other and nodded.
Link ran toward it as Maple readied her bow. The spider lunged at Link, but toppled over as an arrow met one of its eyes. Link stabbed it a few times while it was squirming. The spider screeched and threw Link aside. Another arrow met its target. Link quickly caught his balance and stabbed it once more.
The spider squirmed and squealed. It kicked at Link once more, but the hit was weaker. Link stabbed his sword once again, and the spider finally fell.
Maple ran up to Link as the spider curled its legs around its body.
"You're hurt!" She touched his arm. Link looked down. He was bleeding through his sleeve. He hadn't even felt the skin tear.
"I guess I am." Link said calmly. Maple pulled up his sleeve and lightly ran her finger over the cut.
Maple cupped both her hands over the gapping wound. She mumbled and then let go.
The cut was gone!
"How?" He muttered. She smiled.
"I study magic." Her voice was very matter-of-fact. She then shrugged. "Healing is my specialty."
"That can come in handy, later." Link said as he pulled his sleeve back down.
At that moment, Midna popped up from Link's shadow.
Three things happened at once. One, I screamed. Two, both Link and Midna gasped as they looked at me; apparently, neither of them had expected me to see Midna. Three, I realized that I knew the strange imp, and why her voice had seemed so familiar when I had heard it in the spring.
Midna and I glared at each other as we recognized one another. Midna was in a different form from when I had last seen her, although I still recognized her.
What was the Princess of the Twili doing in the realm of light? How had she taken over Link's shadow? And, most importantly, what was her business here in this temple? I had sealed away the Princess' descendants for a reason.
But, I could say nothing, out of fear that I would reveal my true identity. When I said nothing, Midna grinned out of satisfaction.
I couldn't stop her.