Chapter 46 - Make a Wish

Summary: Link emerges from the Gate of Time. The Yiga Clan tests one of the newly discovered weapons.

Link felt himself running and gaining ground, but the narrow, winding tunnel from the Gate of Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Some instinct made him rush, his footfalls echoing against the mysterious walls. The eerie darkness was dizzying, and he was tempted to turn back at one point, thinking his path led nowhere. But then he caught a glimmer of light in the distance, and his heart leaped excitedly. As he pressed on, the light grew larger and brighter until it filled his vision like a beacon guiding him out of the shadows. He quickened his pace with renewed determination until he finally emerged into blinding sunlight.

He had to shield his eyes for a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness, and when he lowered his hand, he found himself standing in the open air. The portal behind him disappeared with a soft whirring sound, leaving only the same ratcheting wheel he had entered back at the Forgotten Temple.

As his vision returned, his eyes widened in wonder as he took in his surroundings. No longer was he inside the dark, Forgotten Temple. Instead, he found himself in a clearing surrounded by towering trees and vibrant foliage. A beautiful melody played on a string instrument filled the air, accompanied by the joyous chirping of birds. Overlooking it all was the same grand statue of Hylia, now gleaming white and untouched by time. But it wasn't just its appearance that had changed. Resting upon the statue's chest was a dazzling golden triangle, emitting its own brilliant light and adding to the already mesmerizing scene before him.

At first, he considered returning and informing the others of what he had found. But then he at once thought better of it. What if this device was built for use only once? Then, he would have squandered whatever hope this structure offered. So, he had to stay and explore on his own, returning when he either found something useful or confirmed there was nothing to be found.

Meanwhile, the air inside the Yiga Clan hideout buzzed with excitement and triumph, starkly contrasting with the heavy gloom weighing down the Forgotten Temple.

"We lost a couple of soldiers, but the operation was a success, Master," the lead on the raid reported. "We captured what we overheard their scientist describing as powerful weapons," he said proudly, prompting cheers to fill the room.

"Excellent!" the Yiga Clan master exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction.

"Now we can finally destroy all of Hyrule," said his second in command, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

But the master's expression quickly turned stern.

"You are still such a fool!" He reprimanded his second. "Our goal is the conquest of Hyrule, not its destruction. We need it to thrive if we wish to continue thriving ourselves. Are you going to grow or hunt your own food, mend your own clothes, repair bridges and roads? And where will our organization's next generation of recruits come from?"

"But with these weapons in hand, we can easily defeat our enemies!" His second argued.

"Yes, but we will use them strategically," agreed the master. "Sometimes, the threat of their use can be more powerful than the actual use itself. With these weapons, we can negotiate Hyrule's surrender without having to cause unnecessary destruction."

"Queen Zelda will never surrender if I know anything of the royal family. Nor will her hero Link or even the other races, especially not the Gerudo," interjected another member of the clan.

"I believe otherwise," said the master confidently. "Zelda almost lost her kingdom once before. She may be more willing to make concessions now."

"And if she doesn't?" asked his second.

"Then we will show her our strength," replied the master chillingly. "We will use these weapons to destroy her people one race at a time, starting with Lord Ganon's traitorous former followers, the Gerudo. It may sway Zelda to capitulate when she sees what is happening to her people."

"But what do we do with these weapons right now?" Inquired one of their members.

"Let us test one of them," the leader suggested, his gaze fixed on the ancient artifacts that lay before him. "It would be embarrassing if they no longer worked after centuries buried in the ground."

"I will do it," said his second in command as he eagerly nodded in agreement, itching to wield one of the Zonai-made weapons.

He reached for a sword adorned with a shimmering Sapphire and lifted it from its resting place. With a flash of light, he teleported out of the sealed room and emerged at the entrance of the old hideout.

The night sky was clear, with stars twinkling above like diamonds strewn across black velvet. He took a moment to study the sword, unsure at first how to use it as he was accustomed to hand-to-hand combat. But recalling what he had seen in the temple, he raised the sword towards the heavens. The Sapphire pulsated with power, and as its glow intensified, he swept the sword downward.

He nearly fell backward as a rush of cold air erupted from the gem and surged down into the Karusa Valley like an icy tsunami, freezing everything in its path.

Meanwhile, two Gerudo warriors kept watch from a clifftop further down the valley. Huddled next to a crackling campfire, they suddenly heard a powerful gust of wind approaching.

"What is that?" one exclaimed to the other.

And then, they were hit by a blast of frigid air, freezing them to their very core. They surely would have perished in the onslaught if they had not been sitting so close to the fire's warmth. It took several minutes for them to thaw enough to move once again.

The two guards instinctively huddled closely together, trying to generate some warmth by rubbing their arms against each other. Their breath appeared in white puffs in the chilly air.

"Are you alright?" one guard asked the other, concern etched on her face.

"I'll be fine, but on the souls of my ancestors, what was that?!" exclaimed the second guard, still shaking from whatever had just happened.

"It came from the north, the direction of the Yiga Clan hideout. It must be some new powerful magic they have. We must report this," said the first guard, her eyes scanning the dark horizon.

As they hurried to rekindle a fire and warm themselves up, a lone Yiga warrior returned excitedly to their hidden enclave.

"One swing of this sword froze the whole Karusa Valley as far as the eye can see, Master!" he eagerly reported.

"Excellent!" said the Master, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Now, I need to nap before working on Hyrule's terms of surrender. Leave the weapons by me - and no one dare lay a finger on them! I don't want one of you fools destroying us all with your carelessness."

The warrior reverently placed the weapon back with the others near their leader and backed away slowly, afraid to even breathe too loudly in front of him.

Meanwhile, Link cautiously peeked out from behind the wall and was taken aback at the sight before him. Standing before the statue was a beautiful young Hylian woman strumming on a golden harp. She had long, blonde hair that flowed down her back and soft blue eyes, and she was dressed in a simple but elegant white dress. On either side of her head, she wore a pair of lavender lattice-shaped hair wraps and matching bracelets on both her wrists. A group of brightly colored yellow, blue, and red birds frolicked at her feet.

"Holy Hylia!" Link whispered to himself, and at the same moment, his sword chirped.

Whether it was his whisper, the sound of the sword, or something else, the woman suddenly stopped playing the harp and turned to her left to look at him.

"Link! Come here!" she exclaimed loudly, and for a moment, he thought she was somehow calling to him.

But then a young man emerged from nearby and rushed to her side, taking her hand. He wore a dark green tunic with tan pants and darker brown boots, and he had sandy brown hair and deep blue eyes that studied him carefully.

"Please excuse me if I startled you," Link said as he approached them, his hands open in front of him to show he was not concealing a weapon. "I mean no harm, but my presence here is complicated."

But as he drew closer, his sword made a strange noise, and the figure of a young blue woman clad in purple appeared before them, floating in the air. She bowed and spoke to the other woman in a high-pitched, unintelligible language that resonated in his mind.

"Your Grace, or Zelda, if you still prefer, I can explain things more clearly in our native language. And hello again, my former master Link," said the figure.

"Fi!" exclaimed the other Link in green, who seemed to know this apparition. "I never thought we would see each other again. I hope Demise hasn't returned already."

"No, my love, not in our time at least. I would sense it," said Zelda.

Then she turned to Link.

"Apologies for our lack of hospitality, but it would be best to hear what Fi has to say to me first."

Without waiting for any response, the being known as Fi began to explain the entire situation in a very precise and factual manner, at least to the extent Link could understand it. But her account seemed to jump around from one topic to another, leaving significant gaps in the story he heard. It was as if the Hylian translation in Link's mind struggled to keep up with her quicker and more concise language. In the end, Fi disappeared back into his sword.

"I'm sure Fi omitted many details from what you heard, including some she would consider unimportant," said Zelda. "If we have time, I would love to learn more about your life and the land you come from."

"And you are obviously also a hero chosen by the Goddess since you wield her sacred sword," said the other Link. "I also would love to learn more about your life. But it seems you are unfamiliar with the spirit of the sword named Fi?"

"I have never seen her before, though I gather I have heard her on occasion," said Link. "Perhaps what sounded like a chirp to me meant much more in her own more concise language."

"Forgive us for straying from the point, but it seems your journey here carries with it some urgency," said Zelda. "So, perhaps we should discuss that first."

"Yes, it does," said Link. "But I'm confused. Are … are you perhaps Princess Zelda?"

"Princess?" laughed Zelda. "No, just the daughter of our Knight Academy's headmaster, who was mildly disappointed Link and I never returned to class in order to graduate. But he agreed our experience was far more valuable than any classes they offered."

"He still teases me about it sometimes," laughed Link. "And our former classmate, Grouse, has never let me forget that I am a dropout as if that will make him more of a knight than me. But he's much more good-natured about it now."

"But if you are no more than the daughter of a school headmaster, why did Fi address you as 'Your Grace'?" Link asked.

"Ah, that is a long story, perhaps for another time," said Zelda as she smiled at him.

Link took a deep breath and lost his balance, overwhelmed with a sudden wave of exhaustion.

"Let's go inside the Sealed Temple and sit down," said the other Link, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "Sitting always rejuvenates me."

They made their way through two massive doors into a building at the edge of the grounds, and he was led to a stool on the left. As he sat down, he slowly began to feel better. Zelda returned with some fruit and water, which he gratefully accepted and consumed.

"Thank you. I feel much better now," he said. "But as Fi mentioned to you, my home, Hyrule, is in grave danger from those still loyal to a great evil. I traveled through a Time Gate here in search of a means to save our land. I fear I am Queen Zelda's and Hyrule's only hope."

"Queen Zelda?" questioned Zelda.

"Yes, the ruler of our land and a blood descendent of the Goddess Hylia," explained Link.

Zelda smiled at her Link, and he couldn't help but grin back in return.

"That is quite interesting news," remarked Zelda. "You have told me something valuable today. But let us focus on your dilemma. There is one possible way I know to save your land. It is how we saved ours."

"But you must first undergo a trial to prove your worthiness," added Link. "Considering you already wield the Goddess's sword, it is evident that you possess courage, wisdom, and power; therefore, completing those trials should not be necessary. However, the final trial, known as the Goddess Trial, is required to demonstrate your worthiness."

"Worthiness for what?"

"Worthiness to lay your hand on the sacred Triforce atop Hylia's statue and make a wish," replied Zelda with a serious tone. "Its power is immense."

"So if I successfully pass this trial, I can make a wish for anything, and it will come true?"

"No, not anything," responded Zelda. "You cannot wish to undo something that has already happened in your time. However, you can wish for something to be different in your present."

"And it will happen at once?"

"It will happen when you return to your own time," said Zelda.

"This is a lot to understand," sighed Link. "But if it means saving my land without violence, then I am willing to try. What kind of test must I pass to prove myself worthy?"

"I will explain everything," said Zelda's Link. "But first, you should rest. If you attempt the trial now, you will only get frustrated. Come with me, and I will prepare a place for you to sleep."

Meanwhile, back at the Forgotten Temple, Robbie broke the somber silence.

"I think some of us should get some rest while others keep watch," he explained. "We don't know how long Link will be gone. The flow of time wherever he is could be slower or faster than ours. He might return any minute or not for some time, even days."

Unspoken, though in everyone's mind, was also the possibility he might not return at all.

"A sound idea," agreed Zelda. "I may not be able to sleep, but I must prepare messages to the other rulers. And if Link does not return by morning, I will need to inform Mipha. Goodnight, everyone, and please pray for our success."

Zelda ended her video call, and the group at the temple agreed to take shifts.

Meanwhile, it was early evening at the Sealed Temple, and exhaustion overcame Link's nervous energy. He quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.

Zelda and her Link stopped by to check on him and saw he was sound asleep, his sword by his side.

"You must have learned more from Fi than either of us Links did."

"Yes, my memory of the ancient tongue returned after my pilgrimages to the three springs," said Zelda. "I hope this Link can prove himself worthy. From what Fi told me, the threat to his land is grave."

"I hope so, too," said Link. "I suspect his land is our land many years from now."

"And apparently, we will have a child someday," said Zelda as she squeezed his hand. "Maybe even someday soon. Which means you need to do something for me."

Link blushed, and Zelda laughed.

"That's not what I meant. You need to propose to me, silly! While Fi is here, shall I ask her to explain what to say? You always valued her guidance."

"Very funny, and I can't imagine what a Fi proposal would sound like. But I've just been waiting to summon up the nerve to speak with your father and ask for his blessing. I will, though, sweetheart, I promise. You know I love you with all my heart."

"Come then! Fi will watch over her new master, and we will help him when he awakes tomorrow," said Zelda as she pulled him by the hand. "Let's see if sharing some kisses will motivate my brave hero to summon up the courage to speak with my father."

"Great idea! We can start on the way," laughed Link as he pulled her close and they kissed while leaving together.

The next morning, Link awoke completely disoriented, thinking for a moment that all that had happened was a dream. He found himself inside a building, but a glance revealed it was not the Forgotten Temple. And the realization hit him all at once that he hadn't been dreaming at all.

He stood up, picked up his sword, and briefly walked around, then heard laughter and voices coming from a smaller door to the side of the building. Making his way there, he opened the door to see Zelda and Link sitting together while some blue butterflies flitted about. They both rose upon seeing him.

"Ah, you're finally awake," said Zelda.

"It's good you slept long and well," added Link. "It will prepare you all the better for your ordeal."

"But come, sit with us first, and have some breakfast," said Zelda. "We have eggs, bread, milk, and a bowl of our famous pumpkin soup."

"Thank you, but where did you get all this food?"

"A delivery from Skyloft, our old home in the sky," said Link. "We can also prepare our food here but thought perhaps this would be more to your liking. The soup will strengthen you, though it would have been better consumed earlier."

"It's delicious, thank you," said Link as he ate. "But perhaps we could discuss the trial I must undergo to prove my worthiness?"

"Yes, I understand time is of the essence, no pun intended," said Link. "I completed the trial and can tell you what it entails. However, I imagine your trial could well be in a different location, perhaps someplace you are familiar with."

"Very likely," said Zelda. "It would hardly be fair otherwise, and I … I mean, I believe the Goddess is always fair to her hero."

"She is, though not always easy on him," laughed her Link. "But let me get more specific."

He then went on to explain the trial.

"We will return to a spot in the Sealed Temple, and Zelda will play a special melody, which Fi will sing along with. A blue medallion or symbol of sorts will gradually appear on the ground, and when it is complete, the trial will be ready. You will thrust your sword into the medallion, and your spirit will be separated from your body as you are transported into what is called a Silent Realm. Only the Goddess's chosen hero may enter a Silent Realm. You will receive a Spirit Vessel, which represents your spirit, and you need to fill it with fifteen Sacred Tears that are scattered about the location. But the task is not as easy as it may sound. For one thing, you are weaponless. You begin inside a protective circle. But as soon as you step outside, powerful knight protectors of the area known as Guardians come to life and will relentlessly hunt you down. One blow from their sword, and you fail the trial. Besides that, there are ghost-like creatures with lanterns called Watchers patrolling the area. Should one of them spot you, they will alert the Guardians. Collecting a Sacred Tear halts the Guardians for ninety seconds. There are also glowing objects called Llight Fruits scattered about, and picking up one will illuminate the location of Sacred Tears for a time, helping you find them. Oh, and if you see any red-colored water, do not touch it. Doing so will also alert the Guardians. The trial starts with an overview of the area and the location of the Sacred Tears so you can plan how best to collect them. Once you have collected all fifteen tears, you must safely return to the protective circle from which your trial began."

"Thank you, that is a very clear explanation," said Link as he finished the last of his breakfast. "Since, as you say, time is important, perhaps I should attempt it at once."

"I will go get the harp and meet you inside the Sealed Temple," said Zelda as they all rose.

Zelda left, and Link escorted Link to a spot inside and not far from the entrance to the Sealed Temple.

"What happens if I fail the trial? Can I attempt it again?" Link asked.

Zelda's Link glanced around and, seeing Zelda had not yet returned, moved closer to whisper in Link's ear.

"Most certainly!" said Link. "I never told Zelda how many times I failed before finally figuring out the best route. I think she would tease me no end if she knew! Just think about your route and use the position of the Sacred Tears to avoid triggering the Guardians if possible. I tended to leave one Sacred Tear at an easy-to-reach location in case I was being chased by the Guardians. They are quite fast and relentless!"

"Very well, I will do my best," said Link as he saw Zelda returning bearing the golden harp she had been playing earlier.

"Let us begin," said Zelda. "And good luck."

Zelda strummed on the harp as Fi appeared and sang in her strange tongue. Link watched a blue circular symbol appear, and twelve leaf-like appendages individually attach themselves to the circumference. When the symbol was complete, Zelda stopped strumming.

"Now, if you're ready, thrust your sword into the symbol," said Link. "Then you will enter the trial."

Link nodded, drew his sword, and plunged it into the heart of the symbol. Then, all around him seemed to vanish until he found himself standing before Hylia's small statue in some otherworldly blue-shaded version of Zora's Domain. As Link had explained, what looked like a plant with fifteen buds emerged from him, and he was told that it represented his spirit. Across the domain, the Sacred Tears glowed bluish-green as he had a vision of all their locations. Here and there, he could make out tall Guardian knights in gold wielding massive swords and the creepy Watchers with lanterns sweeping back and forth. He took a few moments to consider what path to take, for there were tears on all three levels he would need to recover. All the water he could see was milky red, meaning he dared not touch it. And avoiding water in Zora's Domain was not easy. With a deep breath, he left the protective circle.

All at once, the sky and domain changed into an angry yellow-orange color, and his heart pounded as the Guardians all came to life, eager to track him down. There was a Sacred Tear nearby, however, and that halted their attack for now.

He managed to recover seven tears, including one on the lower level, which required climbing down and up a ladder. But then, on the western bridge, he inadvertently wandered too close to a Watcher. With an angry shake of their lantern, they signaled the Guardians. He tried to escape, but the nearest tear was too far, and the Guardians were too fast. He sensed the blow of their sword without feeling pain, and he suddenly found himself back in the Sealed Temple.

"I failed," he lamented to Link, who was waiting for him, although Zelda had apparently left.

"As I said, it is no shame to do so, even several times, until you discover a route to avoid getting attacked. Do you wish to try again?"

"Yes, I will try until I drop," he said. "I never give up."

"I know exactly how you feel," laughed Link. "And now that you've seen a trial, you will better understand which paths to take."

Meanwhile, the morning dawned in Hyrule, and Zelda picked up her Sheikah Slate for the umpteenth time as if doing so would make her wish for a message saying Link had returned appear. But there was no such message, and she knew that soon she would have to call Mipha with the news her husband had run off to places unknown in hopes of saving their land, perhaps never to return. She had just sent messages by Rito carrier to all the leaders, and a message from the Gerudo suggested the Yiga Clan had tested at least one of the weapons with dramatic effect.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her office door, and Zelda said to enter.

"Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty, but I was told this is an urgent message for your eyes only," said one of the Royal Guards.

"Thank you, Daldon," said Zelda as she took the envelope. He bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.

The envelope was indeed addressed to her and marked for her eyes only. She tore open the envelope, pulled out the document, unfolded it, and held it up to read.

Your Majesty,

We will get right to the point. You know we have acquired weapons able to destroy your kingdom, finishing the job our Lord Ganon left undone. However, we would prefer not to inflict such unnecessary carnage on so many of your innocent subjects.

Therefore, we will forego causing such suffering in exchange for your surrender. Our terms are as follows.

You are forbidden to have any children. The bloodline of the Goddess must end now.

Those most responsible for our Lord's defeat must accept their punishment. We will spare you, but Link and surviving Champion Mipha must serve time in prison.

Your people must lay down their arms as we will guarantee everyone's safety.

We hope you will see the wisdom of accepting our terms. But if not, prepare to watch your kingdom's destruction race by race.

You have 48 hours to reach your decision.

Yiga Clan Master

"Outrageous!" Zelda exclaimed as she finished reading the note, and her anger flared. Accepting these terms meant Hyrule was doomed, perhaps not quickly and all at once, but eventually. And how could she expect Link and Mipha to surrender? However, could she stand by and watch her subjects slaughtered by the merciless Yiga Clan? She could only hope Link would return soon with some way of defeating this terrible enemy.

And now, as if things were not already grim enough, she owed Mipha a call. Soon the Rito would deliver her message to King Dorephan, and he would no doubt speak to his daughter. She owed Mipha an explanation before that. With a sigh, she picked up her Sheikah Slate and called. Mipha answered at once.

"Zelda? Is something wrong?"

"Not wrong, I hope, but unexpected," said Zelda. "Besides the terrible weapons we discovered in the small room, Robbie identified something else called a Time Gate. We hope that since it was kept secret together with the weapons intended to protect Hyrule, this Time Gate might also serve the same purpose in some way. However, it appears that only the one who wields the sacred sword can activate the gate, which Link did. He then volunteered to explore where it led, hoping to find something to aid us. The Yiga Clan has already demanded our surrender. Link entered the gate last night but has not yet returned. Robbie said time may move slower or faster wherever he is, so that is not necessarily a cause for concern. Forgive me for rambling on, but I wanted you to hear all this from me and give you the chance to vent your anger at my decision to explore the Forgotten Temple, which resulted in your brave husband venturing off into the unknown. I am sorry."

Mipha struggled to find words to answer Zelda as the idea that Link had wandered off to where she could not hope to aid him made her feel sick inside. But as was her nature, she also understood what Zelda must feel about what happened.

"I know my husband, Zelda. He could never risk a dare as a child or a challenge as a young man. And I know he would do anything in his power to save Hyrule and all of us he loves. That duty came with bearing the sword that he wielded, as he said many times. So I don't blame you at all, Zelda. I blame our enemies. But it will be hard on the children until we learn what happened. They are very close to their father."

"I will, of course, let you know of anything I learn," said Zelda. "And though you are gracious in not blaming me, I am deeply sorry for what has happened and pray only good will come of it in the end."

"I understand," said Mipha. "Now I need to find the right moment to tell our children where matters stand. They will see right through me if I pretend all is well."

They ended the call, and now Mipha faced the difficult challenge of explaining she had no idea when or even if their father would return. For she knew he was not above sacrificing his life for them if need be.

Meanwhile, Link tried once again to complete the Goddess Trial in an ethereal version of Zora's Domain. His path took him from the eastern bridge to the western bridge, the throne room, the site of the Sheikah Shrine, and several other locations. There was even one Sacred Tear inside one of the flower-shaped structures he had to climb into to collect. But he either chose a poor path, inadvertently stepped on water, or wandered too close to a Watcher, each time failing the trial. To make a long story short, it was on Link's fifth attempt that he finally managed to collect all the tears and returned triumphant to the Sealed Temple.

"Congratulations!" said Link. "I can tell from the look on your face you succeeded."

"Yes, and I hope to never have to do it again," said Link. "I think I will have nightmares over it. Now, what is the next step?"

"Come with me," said Link as he led him outside the Sealed Temple. "Zelda has been waiting by the statue for you."

"Congratulations!" said Zelda as they approached her, standing at the foot of Hylia's statue. "Now it is time to cleanse your mind of all else and wish with all your heart what you want to accomplish as you lay your hand on the sacred Triforce."

"I will do just as you say," said Link. "But I guess first I must climb up the statue."

Just then, Fi appeared from his sword.

"That will not be necessary, Master," Fi said. "I will summon some assistance to lift you directly there."

Fi glanced at the sky, and a moment later, there was a whirring sound as a small robot flew down from above the clouds.

"Forgive the delay, Mistress Fi, but I have not seen you in some time, and your summons caught me by surprise."

Zelda's Link explained while Link looked on in surprise.

"This robot is named Scrapper and was invaluable in many of my quests," said Link. "For some reason, it formed a strong attachment to Fi."

"My full designation is LD-301S Scrapper," said the robot, looking at Link. "But who is this?"

Fi explained in her native tongue.

"What!? There are two of them?" Scrapper exclaimed.

Then, turning to Link, he inquired, "What is your model number?"

"Um, I don't have one," said Link.

"Such inefficiency! But what is it you wish me to do, Mistress Fi?"

Fi responded.

"Oh, lift this new model to the top of the statue? That is no problem at all!"

Then, turning to Zelda's Link, he said, "Now step aside, older model, so you don't interfere."

The next thing Link knew, the robot lifted him in the air, flew him up to the small platform in front of the TriForce, and then flew back down.

"If there is anything else you wish, Mistress Fi, just call."

The robot flew off into the clouds and disappeared while Fi vanished into his sword.

Link's heart raced with anticipation as he gazed upon the legendary golden TriForce. The pulsing energy emanating from it was palpable, filling him with a sense of both wonder and trepidation. He had pondered what he should wish for once he gained access to this powerful artifact. His first instinct was to wish away the Calamity that had ravaged the kingdom, but Zelda had warned him that such a wish would be impossible to fulfill.

So, instead, he closed his eyes and focused all of his thoughts on the wish he had chosen, letting the sacred TriForce guide him. As his hand made contact with its surface, he felt a brief surge of energy and then nothing. There, the deed was done. Though nothing seemed to have changed in that moment, Link knew that the true fulfillment of his wish could only occur when he returned home.

Getting down from the statue was easy, as he used his paraglider.

"I cannot thank you enough," said Link, his heart overflowing with gratitude. "Without your help, I fear my land would have been lost."

"It was your courage and determination that proved you worthy of invoking the power of the ancient gods," replied Zelda.

"I should return to my own time now," Link said. "There are people there who will be worried about me, including my wife and children, as well as Queen Zelda."

"I understand," said Zelda. "If fate allows it, I hope you will come back to visit us. There is much we could discuss and learn from each other. But if, as I suspect, this gate can be used only once, then go with our blessings."

"It has been an honor and a pleasure to meet both of you," said Link gratefully. "I hope to return someday, for there is still so much I wish to discover - like why Fi referred to you as 'Your Grace.'"

"Perhaps you will find the answers in your land's history books," suggested Zelda. "And I sense that there are two important women in your life waiting for you in your world. Please accept these bracelets as a memento of your journey here."

With a thankful smile, Link accepted the bracelets from Zelda.

"Thank you," he said sincerely. "Now, I must take my leave."

With a final wave, Link made his way to the Gate of Time. He touched it, and once again, the mysterious tunnel appeared. Then he ran as fast as he could until he emerged from the gate in the Forgotten Temple.

"Linky!" Purah's voice rang out in her excitement as it was her turn to watch for his return. Her shout awakened the others.

"We must inform Her Majesty at once," said Purah as she took out her Sheikah Slate.

Robbie rushed over to join them but stopped suddenly, pointing towards the Gate of Time. It was slowly turning black and fading away into nothingness. In a matter of minutes, it was gone completely, and then the ancient energy fueled lanterns on the walls went dark as well.

"I feared we could only use this once," said Link. "A pity."

Just then, Zelda came on the call Purah placed.

"Link! Thank Hylia! Were you able to discover any way of combating our enemy? They have already sent me terms of Hyrule's surrender," said Zelda.

"Perhaps, if wishes come true," said Link. "We should know soon. Forgive me for answering so vaguely; the full story will take some time. In the meantime, I would like to let Mipha know I am alright."

"Yes, yes, of course," said Zelda. "I told her you were missing. We can speak later."

Link then used Purah's Sheikah Slate to call Mipha.

"Purah? Do you have any news? I was about to speak with our children," said Mipha.

"It's me, sweetheart," said Link. "Tell the children I'm fine and coming home soon."

"Oh! Thank Nayru, you are well! You put me through a whirlpool of worry! We can't wait for you to come home."

Just then, Purah's Sheikah Slate buzzed, indicating a call from Zelda.

"I need to go, sweetheart," said Link. "Love you."

"Love you too," said Mipha.

Link answered Zelda's call.

"I have incredible news," Zelda exclaimed. "The Yiga Clan Master wants to return the weapons and negotiate a way for them to turn away from their evil ways and live in peace with us. It must have something to do with your actions, Link."

"I was given the chance to make a wish on the legendary Triforce. At first, I wanted to wish for their complete destruction. But then I realized that Goddess Hylia would not want that, as they were still her people and could be redeemed. So instead, I wished for their transformation, and it seems to have come true."

"That's unbelievable!" said Zelda. "You will definitely have to share the full story with us after you have a chance to reunite with your family. And Robbie, let's put work on the temple on hold for now and give everyone a week off with wages while we figure out what to do. I am overwhelmed with excitement and don't know what to say. We can discuss further later."

Zelda ended the call.

"And now I can finally return to my research," said Purah as she prepared to leave. "You know how I hate interruptions! And it seems I may no longer need a Royal Guard escort."

"I'll gather up my things now," said Robbie, but Purah was already on her way out, walking with Link and the four soldiers.

The temple was now peaceful as Robbie gathered his notes and the ancient manuscripts he had brought with him. He glanced towards the spot where the Time Gate used to stand, feeling a twinge of disappointment that it was no longer there. Then he chuckled to himself. For when he told everyone he recognized what a Time Gate was, he neglected to mention all the details of how he knew.

Among the old scrolls written in ancient Sheikah text, there was one titled On the Construction of a Time Gate. It described gathering a large number of Time Shift stones, making the construction of a Time Gate no easy feat. But he liked a challenge. And both Zelda and Purah would be so impressed if he could somehow succeed!

"Hey, wait for me!" Robbie shouted as he rushed to catch up with the others.