Chapter 12: Temple of Time
Towering pillars held up the immense vaulted ceiling high over their heads. Large stained glass windows projected bright, colourful light onto the white marble tiles. An image of the three golden triangles of the Triforce, hung above the altar. The vast hall of the Temple of Time was spectacular.
Ashwin was very impressed by his first visit to the city of Hyrule. The sizable walls stretching around the perimeter, the crowded and lively marketplace, and the majestic backdrop of Hyrule castle, all seemed very grand to Ashwin.
The balcony was filled with members of a choir, dressed in hooded robes. As Ashwin waited in the centre of the hall, Princess Zelda emerged from behind the altar. She was back in her royal attire, the white and pink dress, decorated with golden jewellery. Zelda motioned for Ashwin to ascend to the altar. Once he climbed the steps, Zelda gently took him by the shoulders and turned him towards the hall of the temple. He felt the colourful light shining on his face.
The choir began to chant the Song of Time. The lyricless notes rang out in perfect harmony, echoing throughout the hall.
"How far back am I going?" Ashwin asked.
"The Triforce will decide. Raise it up." Princess Zelda spoke softly.
Ashwin held his hands up and materialized the Triforce of Courage. The light in the temple reflected off its smooth golden sides.
Zelda held up a sword to Ashwin with the blade resting across her upturned palms. It was a magnificent longsword. The hilt was a deep blue from its pommel to a pair of jagged wings that acted as a guard. The three triangles of the Triforce were engraved into the base of the blade. "Take this, the Master Sword. It will unlock for you the door of time. Trust in it to serve you on your quest."
With the Triforce of Courage in one hand, Ashwin grasped the handle of the Master Sword. The blade seemed to dazzle with the reflection of the coloured light. In fact, the whole Temple now seemed to shine bright. The white marble was now almost blinding. The chant of the Song of Time continued, with its notes ringing high, then low, then climbing up again, in an endless cycle. It began to sound muffled with a loud ringing in Ashwin's ears. Princess Zelda was now standing in front of the altar, off to one side, holding the glowing Triforce of Wisdom.
As the scene began slowly slipping away, Ashwin noticed a figure march in through the front entrance. It was Shadow Ashwin. Within Ashwin, the disorienting effect of the Temple of Time was quickly replaced with panic and alarm. Shadow Ashwin drew his sword and marched up the hall towards Ashwin. Halfway up the room, he stopped and turned towards Zelda. Ashwin could not hear anything, only the ringing in his ears and the faint chanting of the Song of Time. He could see Shadow Ashwin approach Zelda and reach for the Triforce of Wisdom. By this time, the whole scene was so blinding white, Ashwin was forced to close his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, all he could see was pitch black, and could hear only complete silence. When his eyes started to adjust to the darkness, the vast empty hall looked dilapidated. The stonework was cracked and overgrown with vines. Had he been accidentally sent to some future time when the Temple of Time had fallen into a state of disrepair? He stood atop a pyramidal structure. No, he recognized this place. This was the Farore Temple. The Triforce must have sent him back to when he first obtained the Triforce.
Ashwin started hopping down the side of the stone pyramid. He immaterialized the Triforce but kept the master sword in his grip. His only regret from this time is that he had let the other Kokiri boy get away. The other boy must be Shadow Ashwin. Maybe Ashwin could catch him this time.
As he neared the bottom of the pyramid, he realized he was at the end of the hall with the entrance still unobstructed. Exiting the structure, he scanned the forest before him. Not seeing any signs of anyone else, he continued running through the forest.
Ashwin ran for quite some time before he realized that Shadow Ashwin had slipped through his grasp yet again. Where did he go?
He stood there in Kokiri forest, catching his breath, still holding the Master Sword. He now had a chance to admire the adept craftsmanship that could produce such a fine weapon. It was much larger than the Kokiri sword, but it was well balanced and felt good in Ashwin's grasp as he swung it through the air. He slid it behind the Hylian shield on his back.
Ashwin was severely irritated by the escape of Shadow Ashwin. He worried about what had taken place in the Temple of Time, right before he left. Could Shadow Ashwin have taken the Triforce of Wisdom? Was Zelda okay? If Shadow Ashwin was already in possession of this mysterious fourth Triforce, how powerful would he become with the Triforce of Wisdom? Perhaps this expedition into the past will grant Ashwin another chance to stop Shadow Ashwin once and for all.