-Hyrule Field-

"Didn't catch your name?" Link asked as we rode toward Hyrule Castle.

"Oh, it's Madeline," I yelled above the wind. Dawn was settling, and the gates would be open soon. We dismounted our horses in front of the entrance to the market place and waited.

Link watched as the drawbridge slowly lowered to the stone flooring at the edge of the moat. It settled with a slight bump, and you could clearly hear the lively music from inside. My fingers tapped out the fingerings on my thighs. G, G, G, F, E, F, G, G, A, B, C, G, G, G, G, F, E, F, G, F, E, F, E, D, C

"Come on," Link muttered. He began to move forward onto the wooden drawbridge.

I hesitated. I studied the opening as if I had never seen anything like it before in my entire life. Link stopped. "You coming?" he implied.

"Yeah," I stuttered. "But...there's a little problem."

"And what's that?" he asked.

"Well..." I bowed my head diagonally. "I'm a thief. And...yeah. What if someone recognizes me?"

Link sighed and dropped his chin. "Guess we'll just have to do it this way." He reached to his belt and pulled out a blue ocarina.

"Rocks of the Goron!" I exclaimed. "Is that an ocarina!?"

"Uh, yeah. Do you play?"

My hands were already at the wood instrument. I whipped it out, raised it to my lips, and played the melody ringing in the background.

D, D, D, C, D, E, D, D, E, F, G, F, C, E, D, D, D, D, C, D, E, D, D, F, E, G

"Oh, yeah, I forgot. What's it made of?" Link inquired when I finished.

"Wood from a raunadusk tree. It was..." I trailed off. How should I put this? "A gift from a friend. Yours?"

"Ceramic. But it's also...magic."

I slowly nodded my head. "Go on..."

"Well...let me just play it. This was how he taught me. I'll play it, and then you repeat. Ready?" I nodded.

C, G_, C, G, A, C_

I repeated the phrase, and then he continued.

C, G_, C, G, A, C_, C, G_, C, G, A, C_

A golden light swirled around Link and departed for the heavens, taking Link with it. I almost dropped my ocarina. Where'd he go? I debated on whether to play the song or not. Finally, curiosity gave in and I blew loudly into the ocarina.

C, G_, C, G, A, C_, C, G_, C, G, A, C_

Another light orbited me and carried me up to the sky.

When the light ceased, I stood on a platform with the Triforce plastered on it. The walls of the building were white, and an alter with three craters lay in front of a large door decorated with a symbol resembling the sun. Another gray Triforce was engraved above the frame. "So...this is the Temple of Time, then?" I asked.

"Yeah," Link replied. He slowly walked up to the alter. I watched him with interest as he pulled out three shining stones from his pouch; one an elegant blue split into three pieces like the Triforce, one a fiery red with a golden V as a frame, and the last, a peaceful, emerald green with a curled golden frame. They floated over to the craters from Link's hand and stood above them, spinning like stars. Link then pulled out his ocarina and began to play.

A D_ F A D_ F A C B_ G_ F G A D_ C E D_

The Triforce above the door glowed yellow, and the door opened. A pedestal, with yet another Triforce on it, rested in the middle of a large, multi-layered platform, holding a silver sword with a violet-blue hilt shaped in a W. Link breathed in slowly, and walked through the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Link didn't turn his head. He stepped closer to the pedestal. "Exactly what Zelda told me not to."

.

Have you ever had one of those feelings where you feel really dark inside? Like when your little sister won't stop bugging you, or someone just threw you to the floor for no reason? That's what I felt as Link laid his hands on the hilt of the sword. I couldn't stop it. It took over my whole body until my hands shook, trying to fight it. I grit my teeth and clenched my fists, but I couldn't escape that feeling of hatred. Despite my attempts, I hissed and rushed at Link, arms outstretched as if I meant to strangle him. Link didn't notice at all, and lifted the sword out of the stone where it rest.

The platform holding the sword was lifted up into the sky by a blue flame, and I blacked out.

.

The Eye of Silver lies unbound...

Where Time was found...

Whispers were heard all around me as I slept. I fidgeted for a while until the dark feelings left me. When I was able to relax, I slowly opened my eyes.

I was lying in the middle of a bed of grass, my arms slightly spread out on the ground. I sat up, just to be greeted by an enormous headache. I groaned. If only I could find some feverfew...

I felt something underneath my hand, slithering under my palm and creeping slowly up my wrist. I lifted my hand in alarm and studied what had moved. Under my hand lay a small patch of feverfew. I was confused. I put my hand down again. Another patch started to seep out from the ground. I picked a few swiftly from where they had grown and stuffed the leaves in my mouth, hungrily drinking in the juices. The pain in my head ebbed, and I sighed with relief.

I rose to my feet and looked around. How did I get here?

A blue flame, like the one that lifted the platform into the sky, arose up from the ground in front of me, except taller, but not as wide. I stepped into it, and I was carried into the sky yet again into blackness.

.

-The Chamber of the Sages; Link's POV-

I opened my eyes to find myself standing in front of the six sages. I was holding the Master Sword in my left hand, as casually as I once had, almost eleven years ago. "Hello, Link," Rauru greeted. "It's been quite a while."

I looked around. Madeline lay on the floor next to me. I kneeled down, attempting to wake her up. "Why is she unconscious?"

"Because she cannot be here right now. And what we want to say to you is for your ears alone," he answered plainly.

"Link," Ruto said. "I suggest you've figured out the prophecy?"

I looked down at Madeline guiltily. "You mean the part about the Eye of Silver? Yes. But why is Madeline so special?"

Impa spoke up this time. "Link, your father was a knight. If your parents had survived, you would have become one as well. Madeline's father was very special."

"Who was he?"

"You'll find out soon enough, Brother," Darunia assured me. "But for now, I think we shouldn't scare our guest with the truth."

"The truth of what?"

"Listen, Link," Rauru interrupted. "You must go back to the forest and visit The Great Deku Tree. He will tell you what to do next."

"Now go, Link!" Ruto exclaimed. "And watch over Madeline for me, okay?"

.

DISCLAIMER!!! The following includes a cutscene from Majora's Mask.

_______

-Temple of Time-

When I stood in front of the Pedestal of Time after my meeting with the Sages, Madeline was still passed out next to me on the cold stone floor. I sheathed the Master Sword next to the Kokiri Sword (which, by now, was basically like a dagger to me; I used it for preparing food) and carried her out of the temple. I picked up a tarp I found outside and laid it over her so none of the townsfolk would recognize.

After nodding goodbye to the soldier at the drawbridge, I laid her on her horse's back and mounted him in front of her. I can just call Epona later, I thought. "Hyah." I kicked his sides gently and he set off at a steady pace back towards Kokiri Forest.

Madeline began to stir next to me. I pat the black horse's mane when he turned his head to look. They must have known each other for quite a while. I grinned. I hope she wasn't acquainted with him because of the same reason I was to Epona.

After returning to my original time and warning Zelda of Ganondorf, I returned to Lon Lon Ranch everyday to visit Epona. She wasn't exactly old enough to begin riding, but the day she was, I was the first to mount her. After about two weeks, Talon let me ride off with her.

I wonder if she remembers the time when I defeated Ganon.

After Navi left that day, I had often pondered over what happened to her and where she went. Someday soon I plan on visiting the Great Fairy at the castle grounds to find out. After a few months riding in the fields, I grew more anxious about what happened to my old friend. Many of those I used to know as a kid, like Princess Ruto and Mido think she was kind of annoying, but she helped me a lot on my quest, guiding me through battles and helping me focus on the enemy at hand. She was a loyal friend.

It was too much to bare. One day I departed early to the castle and told Zelda what I was about to do. She then gave me the Ocarina of Time as a goodbye. That really helped me on my quest. I still remember how the Elegy of Emptiness was the song that Madeline had played all those years ago...

I sighed. I felt guilty for lying to her. I knew what the prophecy meant.

In the forest, where the hero of time was found, the Eye of Silver met the forgotten hero.

Me, I thought wistfully.

Then a third shall come amidst, and each of the Three becomes transfixed. But until the eve of year eighteen the Eye from the world would be wiped clean if by a single glance or touch she greets the one who sees too much. Then the darkness plans would finally fail, and the forest will forever fall to ail.

I worried about that next part. I do hope she succeeds, I told myself silently. Because if she fails, the heart of Hyrule goes down with her. Forever.