Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Chapter 3

It was only when we were inside the temple that I opened my eyes and saw that the night was normal here. The large, open doors of the temple revealed a beautiful and starry night. I blinked, and took a breath as though I hadn't breathed in years. I must have been holding my breath the entire trip. Link was next to me, and I let go of his arm as he put the ocarina away.

"Well, I guess were safe here." I said.

"Thank the Goddess'." Link let out an exasperated breath.

"Oh, they're here! Quick! Come! They're here!" someone said. It seemed to resonate through the whole temple. I looked around; the voice was not mine or Link's. It had sounded neither male nor female.

"Anna…what did you do?" Link looked angry as he stared around. I shook my head.

"Nothing. I don't know what's happening." I said.

"Well, this hasn't happened before." Link looked at me, his expression confused and slightly angry.

"Oh, don't fight children. You are going to have to learn how to get along. Another adventure waits for you, Hero of Time, and for you, Traveler. The Shadows have come to take Hyrule, and eventually the world. You're the only ones who can help." The voice was childish and young. It gave me a sense of nostalgia, and I hugged myself at the memories making their way into my head.

"The Shadows? What do you mean?" Link asked his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"A Prophecy, Heroes. One that cannot be ignored." This voice was old and filled with wisdom. It seemed to shake the whole temple.

"What exactly is this Prophecy?" I looked up to the ceiling because it seemed as though whatever was speaking, was way higher than us.

"There is no time, young one. Now quickly retreat to the greenest and most sacred part of the land. You will be safe for the time being." The Old Voice boomed.

"They're coming now. Quickly, leave. All of Hyrule is counting on you." Said The Young Voice.

I looked over at Link who had his ocarina out, ready to play. Before he left me behind (which I don't think I should have doubted) I placed my hand on his arm. He played a song, and the stillness of the temple became even more so. I turned and looked out the open doors of the Temple into the courtyard, and a black cloud was descending over the sky. The light took us away before I could see the dark shadows emerging from the ground.

---

This time, the light wasn't so bright. I didn't think it would take this little to get used to such magic. By the time the light cleared, we were in The Sacred Meadow. Although there were many trees, the sky through the branches was a starry night. No dark clouds covered the sky, and I relaxed.

"Anna, who are you, exactly?" Link asked, and I had to come back from my thoughts.

Who was I? I looked at him blankly. Why did he want to know something like that? Obviously, the confusion in my eyes made him reword his question.

"You knew about the Ocarina's abilities to transport us anywhere. How? Why did the Voices in the Temple call you 'Traveler'?" he asked his blue eyes boring into mine.

I opened my mouth, and then shut it. Was there any way to tell him?

"Young Heroes, you are safe from the shadows for now." The Old Voice said, resounding throughout the meadow.

"Before they get confused, we must explain ourselves." It was The Young Voice again.

"Yes, please." I stated sarcastically. One of the Voices laughed loudly.

"Of course, Traveler. You have traveled through a door to this world, and it would be rude of us not to tell you about it." The Young Voice replied in an amused tone.

There was a silence as Link regarded me in a new light. His eyes seemed to take and understanding, but with it came a completely new set of questions. I flashed him a shy smile.

"Sorry. No one would have believed me." I said. Link shrugged.

"The Traveler, The Hero of Time, and The Elementals must save Hyrule from the shadow that is born with light." The Old Voice said. "To create a new Age of Light in Hyrule we must first cut through the Darkness. Only when the Darkness is sealed away, can Hyrule enter the new Age of Light."

"The Sages foresaw this happening just as they saw your adventure, Hero of Time." The Young Voice said. "You are both destined to defeat these dark creatures and bring Hyrule back from the darkness that will eventually consume it."

I looked at the ground, trying to make sense of everything. Elementals? Darkness? I didn't understand.

"What is wrong young one?" The Old Voice asked.

"What do you mean? Elementals? Am I to go on some journey to save this world I don't even belong to?" I raised my head to the trees, and saw nothing. "What if I don't want to?"

There was a silence, then I felt a sharp object on my throat and a bruising grip on my upper arm. I didn't move, and took a guess that Link was pretty pissed. He had his hand gripping my arm and the blade was hard against the skin of my neck.

"Don't be selfish." He said sharply. I narrowed my eyes.

"I'm not trying to be. This isn't my problem! What if I can't get home? My mother needs me." I said. Link slackened the sword for a second, and I ducked down below it and flew forward and out of his grip.

I turned and looked at him, my eyes wild. He looked angry as well, but there seemed to be some kind of sadness in there too. I huffed and looked up at the trees.

"FINE! I'll do it. Damnit, how am I going to? I know nothing!" I said.

"We will bestow upon you a sword that will teach you its ways. Only you will know its secrets." There was a thud in the grass next to me as The Old Voice spoke.

"Thank you." I murmured, and reached for the hilt to pull it out. The Voices stopped me.

"Malon is waiting for you in the Temple in the Sky. She is the first of five Elementals. Please hurry, the whole of Hyrule, nay, this World, is dependent on your success." The Voices seemed to merge together and then fade.

I looked over at Link, who had put his sword away and was pushing a hand through his hair. His cap was off, and his blonde hair stuck up in every direction. I would have laughed, only his sword was at my throat just moments ago and I knew I couldn't.

"Sorry." He said suddenly. I glared at him. "I didn't understand that you're just about as lost and confused as most of us."

"And you?" I asked.

"And me, what?" Link looked at me.

"Are you lost and confused?" I asked.

He didn't answer. Instead, he walked towards the sword in front of me and pulled it out of the ground. It seemed to glow for a second, and then Link handed it to me.

"I really am sorry. Hearing where you are from didn't help much for the situation you put me in. Prophecies really are meant to be obeyed. Trust me." He said.

"You would know?" I asked, but I knew. His failure as Ganandorf came and used the stones to create a sinister world that Link was only destined to travel into and save.

There seemed to be a darkness to his eyes, and he spoke, "I would." He motioned for me to take the sword.

I placed my hand around the handle and felt warmth spread up through my arm and into my head. The blade felt so familiar in my hand, I turned away from Link and swung it a few times.

"You are forgiven." I said, not wanting to bring the subject up any longer.

---

We stayed in The Sacred Meadow until dawn, taking shifts to watch for oncoming clouds. They never came. By the time I fell asleep, it must have been early morning. When I woke, the sun was shining through the trees, and the forest was alive around the Meadow. It was absolutely breathtaking; I had to remind myself where I was.

"Oh, you're awake." Link stated, looking up from a map of some sorts. I quickly stood up and walked towards him, intent on seeing the map.

"Where, exactly, are we going Hero Boy?" I asked.

Link raised his eyebrows at the nickname. "Hero Boy?" he asked. I gave him the straightest face I'd ever used and he turned back to the map with a sigh.

"Well, The Temple in the Sky is obviously in the sky. However, we have no idea how to get there. The only clue they left us was 'Shoot once again from the sun, and the sky will open revealing steps of stone.'" He said. I raised an eyebrow.

"When was this?" I asked.

"Oh. When I picked up the sword, the information was somehow placed in my head. I've learned not to question the methods of some things." He said with a hint of humor in his voice.

"Okay, so we must go to Lake Hylia and use your light arrows." I stated simply, recalling the stone slab in the midst of the Lake.

He looked at me for a moment, and then he smiled. It transformed him totally, his cheeks revealed dimples that made me want to smile with him. I looked away so as not to stare.

"You're genius. Maybe you could be of some use." Link said.

I gave him a dense glare, "What makes you think I would be featured as a Hero in a Prophecy next to the almighty Hero of Time and be completely useless? I have my skills and you have yours." I said.

He regarded me with a little amusement in his eyes, and I realized he'd been joking. "Okay then, let's go." He said, and dug for his Ocarina.

I grabbed my sword from the ground where I had been sleeping and stood next to him as he played the song to transport us to Lake Hylia. There was a blinding light, and then we were on the green grass with the smell of fish in our nostrils. The blue sky was eerie, almost out of place.

"Let's get this over with before they get here." Link said, and he didn't have to tell me twice.

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