Chapter Sixteen
We left Skyloft about three days ago, and are now about fifteen minutes away from the Great Deku Tree. Link and I (Navi sleeping under his hat, as always) ride on Epona, while Sheik rides his horse a few feet in front of us. Link says he's considering me a close friend now, because he doesn't wear his scarf anymore and acts himself around me. I'm glad, he's a nice guy. Who'd have thought?
Sheik put his scarf back on when we got about an hour away, though. I don't know why he doesn't want people to see his face. It's not like he's the Phantom of the Opera, he's actually pretty good-looking. It must have something to do with him being Sheikah.
When I ask Link about it, my suspicions are confirmed. "All of the Sheikah do it, I'm not really sure why. It's just what they do. They're a secretive people. That is, until you get to know them. Then they're like anyone else, just very good at hiding their emotions. Some of the Hylians are a little against Sheik and Zelda getting married, since Sheik will become the next king and they're a little wary of having a Sheikah ruling them. It's never happened before. But he'll win them over, if he learns to be himself in front of other people and take off that stupid scarf."
When I look at Sheik something nags at the back of my mind, that there's something wrong with his appearance. I can't put my finger on what it is, though. Then, about ten minutes away from the Great Deku Tree, it hits me.
"Hey Sheik, could you turn around?"
He does, looking a little confused. "Why?"
That's it. It's his eyes. "Your eyes are blue, like Link's."
He shrugs. "Yeah, last time I checked."
"Is that normal for a Sheikah?"
He laughs. "Yeah, I guess. Our eye colors vary, but blue's not uncommon. Why?"
"They're crimson in the game."
He makes a face. "Crimson? That's like, evil."
It's my turn to shrug. "It looks awesome in the game, you're like a ninja, disappearing with Deku Nuts and doing crazy flips and stuff. That's what makes you one of the most famous Zelda characters, even though you've only appeared in one game. It was just bothering me that something looked off about you. Now I know."
He shakes his head. "I have red eyes, I'm a Sheikah ninja, and I'm Zelda incognito. Whoever created me is an absolute idiot."
Link laughs. "You do use those Deku Nuts from time to time though."
"Yeah, all Sheikah do. What's your point?"
"Do you think crimson eyes glow in the dark?"
"I doubt it."
"I wish you had crimson eyes now."
"Yeah, and the people of Castletown would resent me even more than they do now. They'd think I was some demon sent from the depths of the Underworld."
"But then you could just give them the death stare with your glow in the dark red eyes and they'd shut up. Problem solved."
"Yeah, that would definitely solve everything."
Then we're in front of the Great Deku Tree. "Hero chosen by the goddesses, how art thou?"
"Fine, Great Deku Tree." Link yells up to him.
"Thou brings the girl and another. A Sheikah, the future king."
Sheik looks surprised. And a little scared.
"Yes, I do." Link says.
"I know why thou art here. Thou seeks access to the Temple of Time, to speak to the second Chosen Hero. Thou must play the Goddess's Harp. With the power of the harp, I will be able to send thee to the temple."
"How does he even know when to use thou and thee? I thought they meant the same thing." Navi whispers from under Link's hat.
Link takes out the harp. "But what song do I play?"
"It matters, Hero. Simply strum."
Link shrugs and begins to play the harp. He's not half bad. Why does he always have this ability to play every single instrument he finds perfectly on the first try? When I took piano I couldn't play it properly for two years. After a few moments of strumming the Great Deku Tree shudders, and a golden Triforce gateway appears.
"This is the gate that shall give thee access to the Temple of Time. The second Chosen Hero awaits thee there. Good luck, heroes." The Great Deku Tree rumbles.
Link is the first to go through, followed by Sheik, and then me. It's like walking through a glittering furnace, as hot as Disneyland in July. Then, I'm standing next to Sheik and Link, inside the Temple of Time.
~X~
The Temple of Time looks like does in Twilight Princess. A little smaller, but it still manages to feel huge. Chipped white stone surrounds us and tall stained glass windows let in sparkly rays of sunshine. The floor is faded marble with a huge golden Triforce engraved in the middle of the floor. It's old, but not anywhere as ancient as anything in Skyloft. A flute plays the Temple of Time song, sans the men's choir. No, not a flute, an Ocarina. The music stops.
"Oh good, you came." A bright, friendly voice says. "I mean, I knew you'd come, but you came sooner than I thought so now we can get right to things!"
A 17-year-old boy stands before us. A mischievous but friendly crooked smile on his face. He has lighter hair with a more prominent part down the middle, his outfit is a little different, and his nose is a bit more pointy. But he's definitely another Link. Of course he would be one of the Chosen Heroes. I should've guessed. After all, he's the one most famous Links, if not the most famous. It's Ocarina of Time Link.
Link takes a deep breath. "So, you're another me?"
Other Link (I've decided I'm just going to call all the other Link's that) smiles again. "Yep. Sorry, this must be kind of strange for you, seeing two different versions of yourself, huh?"
Link laughs. "Yeah, just a bit."
Other Link glances at Sheik, then laughs a little. "Wow, you look pretty different then you did in my time."
"Are you the Link that knew me in the life when I was a red-eyed ninja girl?" Sheik asks.
Other Link laughs again. He's so happy. It's like watching a little kid roam around a candy shop. "You know, you totally did remind me of a ninja! I'm guessing it's even stranger for you, to find out that you used to be the girl you're in love with."
It's Sheik's turn to laugh. "You have no idea,"
Other Link now turns to me. "And you're in a video game. Pretty fun, right?"
"Barrels of fun, definitely." I smile at him. Jason's gonna be jealous, Ocarina of Time is his favorite game.
Navi flies out of Link's hat, yawning. "Are we there yet?"
Other Link's grin gets bigger when he sees her. "Navi!" He yells in joy.
Navi yelps in surprise. "Uh, you know me?"
"Well, yeah kind of technically. My fairy companion was named Navi too. She was exactly like you! I'm pretty sure you're her."
She looks surprised. "Wait, I'm a reincarnation too?"
"Yep!" Other Link says cheerily.
"You're different than the other Link," Sheik says, examining Other Link.
"Just because we're reincarnations, doesn't mean we all have the same personality." Other Link shrugs. "We just look similar and have the same mission in life and house the same soul."
"Oh, is that all?" Navi mutters under her breath.
"That Link was the first one out of us all, and like, 24 or something. Well not during his quest, he was, um, I think 17 or 18 then? Not to mention he grew up over a thousand years before me. Don't know why he chose to appear so old, though. You're 17, right? That was a fun age. I miss being a teenager sometimes."
"You're not one?" Link asks.
"Not technically. I'm literally a 10-year-old stuck in a 17-year-old's body. I was a lot more mature when I went on my quest, of course. I actually acted like an adult. But now that I can just roam around the Sacred Realm, as a Chosen Hero, I like to act my real age."
"But you went back in time after you defeated Ganon," I say. "You saved Termina, then I thought you grew up."
He shrugs. "Yeah, I did. But the goddesses turned me back into the Hero of Time when I was chosen. I can't complain, it's pretty cool. I did grow old and die and all that stuff, but now I'm 17 and 10 all at once. It's awesome!"
"So, what about our quest?" Navi asks, fluttering around Link.
"Oh, it's not your quest, it's Link's quest." Other Link says, becoming a bit more serious. But I don't think he can lose that sarcastic tilt to his mouth. "You were allowed to go with him in the Silent Realm, but this quest is for Link specifically. You can watch and give him pointers, but you can't fight this battle with him. I'm sorry, but that's just the way the goddesses want it. It is his spiritual growth after all."
"What does he have to fight?" I ask.
"Me. Well not me, but something like me." He answers.
I frown. Does that mean what I think it means? Because if it does, Link's in trouble.
"Do I know what it is?" I ask him slowly. Do I really want to know?
Other Link smiles. "Oh yeah."
Of course I do. Of freaking course it's it.
"This enemy will be pretty hard, even harder than the Guardians." Other Link says. "I almost died fighting him. I'm sorry you have to fight him too." He turns to Sheik, Navi and I. "You can't physically help Link fight. But like I said before, you will be able to talk to one another. Nicole, you should probably give him as much insight to the enemy as you can, since you've fought him before. Well, not really, but you know what I mean. And Sheik, I'm sure you can help with some moves to take him down. Use your super awesome ninja fighting sense. Navi, just cheer him on, you're good at that," He gives Link that crooked smile, but it's a little strained this time. "Good luck, Link." He puts the Ocarina to his lips and starts to play a song. Dark and sad. He disappears. Suddenly Sheik, Navi and I are trapped behind an invisible barrier, leaving Link alone in the center of the room. We pound on the barrier as hard as we can, but it doesn't budge.
Link looks around, startled and confused.
"Link!" I yell. He turns to face me.
"What's happening?" He shouts back. His voice sounds muffled.
"Link, I know what you're going to fight! He's going to copy every move you make. You wouldn't be chance have a hammer on you?"
"Why would I have a hammer with me?" He asks, taking out the Master Sword and his shield.
"What about a sword made by a 30 foot Goron? That works too."
"What are you talking about?"
"That's the only way to beat him in the game. He knows every move you're going to make with the Master Sword!"
"Who in Hyrule am I fighting Nicky?"
"Me." A deep, ringing voice echoes throughout the room.
Link whirls around to face himself. A shadow of himself, really. This Link is completely black, from his sword, to his tunic. Even his face. Except for his eyes. He has glowing red eyes, and a psychotic grin on his face. The exact opposite of Link.
"What the...?" Link's voice is shaky. "Is that... me?"
"Yeah," I answer. "Dark Link."