A/N: Kay, am I the only one who's eating ice cream during this time of weather? I don't know where you guys live since where I live I still have freakin snow and it's supposed to be SPRING! Can you beat that!? We have snow on SPRING! Like come on! I swear: my city only has two seasons: Winter and Summer…and a bit of fall. Grow up, Calgary! Just grow up! *angrily munches ice cream* Thanks to Zelnyx for your review! You get a cookie and everyone else gets a cookie! *hands*

Chapter 33: A Long Time Ago (A/N: cheesy, I know DX)

Crunch

I made a face while staring at a corner from the wall. People would think that I was having some kind of a staring contest with it.

Crunch

Hopefully, everything will die down today and I won't have to deal with the fangirls. Sheesh, woman and girls get way too excited…

Crunch

I wonder how the people in Ordon are doing. I should go visit them. After all, they're the ones who took me in first. Well, Uli and Rusl did but you get the point.

Crunch

"By the Goddesses, Link." an annoyed, irritated voice came. "Can you minimize the crunching?"

I glared at Ashei who glared back. Smirking, I placed the toast inside my mouth.

"Don't you dare." Ashei hissed.

Crunch.

"Argh! LINK I'M GOING TO GET YOU!" she exploded with rage before she lunged at me.

Hehe…

I swiftly dodged the lunging while stuffing the last piece of toast into my mouth before I ducked down to avoid another of Ashei's lunging.

"I swear! You're more annoying than…than…a monkey!"

I frowned. "Hey! That's not nice."

"What? Would you want me to say that you're more annoying than a Stalfo?" Ashei offered, earning the "ooo" from the two men.

I scowled. "At least I'm not some imp."

Silence clung the air as if Death itself had just entered in.

"What…what did you just say?" Ashei asked, furiously.

I smirked. "At least I'm not some imp." I repeated.

With a yell, Ashei bellowed furiously. "Link! YOU BETTER HOPE THAT I DON'T COME OVER THERE AND RIP YOUR LIMBS AND USE THEM AS CHRISMTAS DECORATIONS!"

Ashei started to lunge but something held her back. I looked up to see Auru who was struggling to hold Ashei back but she was struggling way too furiously.

"I do believe, Ashei, that violence is not the answer." Shad began. "If you want to solve things, then I suggest you guys talk it out rather than sending out death threats to one another."

"Yeah, Ashei." I taunted.

"That goes for you too, Link."

I made an 'o' with my mouth.

"And shut up, Shad. No one asked for your opinion!" Ashei snapped, her eyes were still on me.

I rolled my eyes. "Hey, leave the guy alone. Last time I checked, everyone has the right to voice out their opinions."

"It is okay, Link. I kind of get used to this." Shad replied before he picked his books up then left.

I gave Ashei a stern glare.

"What?!" she snapped.

I de-transformed back into a human for what it felt like a gazillion times. With slump shoulders and with defeat, I just rested on the ground with a moody expression.

"I can't find the poor guy anywhere, Midna. Ashei really took a toll on him." I sighed.

"You know," Midna started. "Some people just want to be left alone. Link, I think it's best if you leave Shad for a while. You've done everything you could."

"But—"

"No, really Link. He just needs some time alone right now."

I glared at the ground as if it was its fault for everything that happened before letting out another sigh.

"Alright…But, Ashei really didn't need to be so hard on him though. He was just saying what he thinks it's right." I mumbled as I got up.

We were currently in Zora's Domain. I just thought that maybe he would be here since this is a nice place to be alone…just to think. Unfortunately, Shad isn't here as you know.

Where could the poor guy be? I just hope that he's somewhere safe.

Midna warped us back to Castle Town so that I could find out where to go next. Once I did, I got warped to N. Faron Woods to where I found Rusl who was gazing ahead.

I remember that part too…

"It has been a while since we took a walk in the forest, huh? Yes, and how our world has changed…"

We both looked out beyond while I slightly shuddered when I found myself staring at the Forest Temple.

I hated that temple…

"Say…" he began. "Do you know about the far side of the deep gorge? Some say there is an ancient temple deep in these 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 sacred people…Well, I am sure it would go a long way toward saving Hyrule."

I was still mute throughout his speech until he addressed to me.

"Link…Would you take on this task? Would you cross the gorge and find the ancient power sleeping in the temple?"

I smiled. "Of course."

"I knew you would! To cross the gorge, just use my partner here." he then whistled the tune that I used to summon the hawk.

I really need to change the tune since so many people can play it…

We waited for a while until I heard something fluttering and a tinkle sound. Pretty soon, the animal came into the view and landed right on Rusl's shoulder. I stared at the Golden Cucco—yes, you read it—then looked back at Rusl.

"…A…Golden Cucco?" I finally uttered.

"…Do you doubt my partner's skills? He flies like a dream! Believe me!"

"Um…"

"Well, you will definitely make it across the gorge. Wait and see, my doubting friend."

Speaking in riddles, are we?

I took the Golden Cucco then stared at the chasm and the gorge. Will he make it? Will I make it? What happens if he fails? I don't want to die. I'm too young to die!

Taking a deep breath, I walked backwards a bit to give myself a good distance then ran and soon, I got myself a liftoff. I closed my eyes shut tight but when I felt firm ground, I opened my eyes and saw that we actually made it to the other side. Well, I was still at the first platform.

Eyeing the rest of the platforms, I did the same thing until we were at the rotating wind bridges. You know, the bridges that need the wind in order to be rotated? Yeah, those bridges…

I took out my Boomerang to turn them around before picking up the Cucco and proceeded until I reached the part where it had two huge swinging axes. Timing it right, I flew towards the platform that stood in the middle then timed the second axe before flying to the other side.

I breathed out a sigh of relief when it was done then continued to go through the very familiar tunnel. It was dark except for the two torches that were lit up. If I listened very closely, I could hear faint music playing. It sounded familiar though but I just don't know where I heard it. (A/N: Saria's Song! :D)

In front of a tree, something landed on the ground and I figured it out that it was the Skull Kid since he had blown his horn to summon the pesky wooden puppets.

I really hate them…

Like last time, I started to follow him wherever his lantern light shines. After many twists and turns (while sometimes being lost but that's beside the point), I was finally at what it looked like to be the "very main chamber" since it had a few closed tunnel doors and platforms were scattered throughout the room.

After hitting the Skull Kid with arrows a couple of times, the Skull Kid finally was defeated. Before he left, he spoke and opened an entrance.

"Hee hee hee…That was fun! I'll tell you what: I'll let you into a secret place!" the light returned back to the Sacred Grove and as if by magic, an entrance revealed itself.

I automatically spotted an old box but before I pushed it down, I gazed at the drawing that was imprinted. It was the Triforce Crest that looked very old. Well, the drawing looked old. I ran my hand over the rough surface before pulling myself out of it so I pushed it down in order to go to the "lower level".

I can see the three statues. Two of them were at a spot that was guarding the entrance to where it led to the Master Sword. A few centimeters (diagonally) ahead of me was another statue that looked exactly the same as the other two. It seemed that the three statues both had the same purposes.

They were guarding something.

I already knew that the two statues that were at the already opened entrance were guarding. They were guarding the Master Sword that once rested in that place. Now for this one…I'm not really sure.

"The sacred, ancient forest…So this was what they were talking about…"

"Midna…don't you recognize it? We had already been here before. Remember?" I withdrew my sword.

She stared at the sword then back at the place. "But…" she paused. "This is really weird."

"I know. I feel like I had been transported back in Time." I muttered before going down the path.

I then went to the spot where I had gotten the Master Sword and when I reached it, I stared at the pedestal. It felt like it was telling me what to do. As if in a trance, I struck the base feeling the same tingle as before. I then got out of the place only to meet with the shadow beasts once I was standing in the middle of the Triforce.

The shadow beasts were quickly destroyed and I was able to get back on track. I then went back to the "upper level"…you know... the place where I was before when I had to push down the box.

I've noticed that something was gone which was the statue. Curiously, I walked towards the old doors that magically opened the moment I reached them. Blinking, I stared at the strange, white-ish greyish void and I glanced behind me as if I would be getting caught.

With a deep, shaky breath I went inside.

A/N: Yay! We had finally reached the Temple of Time! My favorite temple! What's yours? And aweh, poor Shad :( don't worry, he will be alright.