Chapter 14: Temple of Spirit

Many traps activated as Link raced towards the exit. Arrows shot out at him, and he managed to barely dodge them. Trapdoors leading into spiked pits opened up, but the Hylian managed to jump over them all in time. Such was the determination in his heart.

I've come too far to fail now!

A Great Staltula began to drop from a hole in the ceiling, but Link managed to roll forward, dodging it with great speed. Returning to his feet without slowing down, the boy aimed his Longshot back and fired, giving a satisfied grin as he heard the overgrown spider hiss in defeat, fading into smoke.

It's right ahead! I can make it!

As he continued to rush forward, his eyes suddenly widened as the ceiling ahead became spiked, and began to fall to the ground. Pouring on the speed, the Hylian let out a determined yell, lunging for the doorway. He narrowly managed to make it through, the spiked ceiling slamming down behind him.

"Spirits..." he groaned, breathing heavily. "That was way too close. Navi, I think it's safe to come out now."

The fairy peeked out from under Link's hat, before flying out in front of him and giving a relieved sigh.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "Did you get hurt at all?"

The boy shook his head and gave a slight smile.

"No..." he replied, to which Navi smiled back in response. "I just... need to catch my breath..."

The fairy nodded, before glancing around. Her good mood suddenly vanished as she noticed something troubling.

"Uh, Link..." she murmured. "There doesn't seem to be a way out of this chamber."

Having caught his breath, Link stared around and noticed that indeed, they seemed to be boxed in. A strange statue stared at him. Making a face at it, he glanced around the chamber, suddenly noticing a nearby inscription.

"Let's see here..." he muttered, inspecting the scrawled text. "Only one with sacred sight can leave this hall of endless night. However, be thee surely warned, be sure thou art rightly adorned. Without the strength of golden glove, thou shalt never see the land above. Hmmm... cryptic."

Puzzling over the clue, the green-clad male sat down, cross-legged on the floor. He rested his right cheek on his hand, thinking out loud.

"It's obvious that sacred sight means the Eye of Truth..." he murmured. "I have that. Golden Glove can only mean the gauntlets... but I don't have them... they don't fit me yet..."

Standing up again, he stared at the statue. Without saying a word, he brought the Eye of Truth up and peered through it. Sure enough, the midsection of the statue revealed a heavy stone block. Narrowing his eyes, he cast a glance at his fairy partner.

"Navi?" he pondered. "Any ideas?"

The fairy gave an enigmatic smile and shook her head.

"Try pushing it, maybe?" she suggested. "You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Link. Go ahead, try it. I believe in you."

Giving his own smile in response, he reached for the stone block, pushing with all his might. A golden glow formed around his wrists as he pushed, causing the boy to gasp.

I still have the power, even without the gauntlets?

His smile returning, Link continued to push the block, grinning from ear to ear as the block moved into place, the statue beginning to move to the side. With a nod to Navi, he began to walk forward.

"We're in!" he cheered. "The entrance to the Temple of Spirit!"

Sure enough, he was standing inside the entrance hall, in front of the serpent statue which read If you desire the future, return with the power of silver that was received in the past. He scanned the room with his gaze, his expression solemn once again.

"Let's go..."


Damn it! We're lost!

The Hylian glanced around the sealed room, his eyes narrowed. It hadn't taken him long to lose his bearings. Navi hovered beside him, a look of exasperation on her face.

"Don't tell me..." she muttered. "Lost again?"

The boy gave a sheepish smile and shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry..." he mumbled. "It's changed so much. This place is so confusing, with so many trick chambers. It's almost as if this place is... a tomb."

Suddenly, the light within the room began to fade, the blond drawing his sword and taking up a defensive posture. From the centre of the chamber, a small orb began to shimmer, brightening as it took up shape. Blinking, Link sheathed his weapon in realisation.

"It is..." he breathed out. "It is a tomb... the resting place... of the ones that came first..."

Staring at the orb as it formed a ghost, a sad smile came to the boy's face, the spirit mirroring his expression, extending its translucent arms.

"You have searched both far and wide..." the spirit said softly. "Facing dangers from every side. As you know, this sacred space is our final resting place. We had hoped our peace would last, but betrayal spread in that distant past. Now, the spirits feel despair. Evil power flows through the air. But with the courage you know best, please guide us to eternal rest."

A charm suddenly appeared in the ghost's hand, adorned with the symbol of spirits. Gently, Link took the charm into his hand and stared at it. Remembering all the loss he had suffered in each previous temple, he began to feel a sudden chill. Looking back up at the spirit, he gave a slight nod.

"I know what I must do..." the boy murmured. "But... I don't understand why..."

The ghost's smile widened.

"At this time, you cannot know..." it said in its whispery voice. "...but keep your courage as you go. Break the curse upon our friend and in due time, you'll understand."

The ghost faded, leaving Link to contemplate its words.

What could this all mean? Even better, how am I supposed to leave this chamber?

A soft chuckle sounded within his mind.

Oh, come now, farkas. The answer lies within the darkness. Embrace it.

Eyes widening, the blond gasped as he saw an apparition of himself appear before him. The glowing red eyes that met his showed an amused gleam.

Allow darkness to bring you to the solution. As the light fades, you will feel the way back. Otherwise, you know the only other way to go.

His doppelgänger vanished, and the boy instantly realized the truth.

He and I really are one now. I didn't just imagine it. So that must mean...

Navi glanced worriedly at Link, noticing the boy had a faraway look in his eyes. But before she could utter a sound, the Hylian glanced at her, before closing his eyes.

"Open your heart..." he muttered to himself. "Open your heart... to darkness."

Navi let out a cry as Link suddenly darkened, actually becoming his doppelgänger. Eyes opening, he smirked up at Navi.

"Don't despair, fairy... I have no intention to harm you, or my kicsi farkas. He needed my help to find a way out of this chamber."

Shaking, the fairy remained silent, watching as the shadowy form searched the room, giving a satisfied chuckle as he found what he was after.

"Ah, who would have thought that the only way out was inside a sarcophagus? I say, this is awfully familiar to me."

Casting a glance up at Navi, he nudged his head towards the sarcophagus, indicating for the fairy to join him in entering it. As he lay down, Navi reluctantly joining him, he let his eyes close. Suddenly, the bottom dropped away and he fell.

Okay, farkas... I return you to yourself. You can thank me later.

Dropping into another chamber, the darkness around Link began to ebb, revealing his true form. Eyes opening, he glanced around to notice a treasure box right in front of him, a door on the other side of the chamber. Fighting back a smile as Navi hovered in front of him and checked him over, he opened the treasure box, lifting out a scroll.

"Let's see..." he murmured. "If light is what you're hoping for, my friends and I shall tell you more. Hnn... what is it with these cryptic...--wait, maybe the ones that came first are the clue. If that is the case, there's only one more thing to do."

Casting a glance at Navi, the boy finally allowed his smile to show.

"Navi..." he continued. "We're almost there. All I have to do..."

"Come on, Link..." the fairy interrupted. "We both know what must be done."

With a sigh, Link let his eyes fall upon the charm he had received from the spirit, before gripping it tightly. Walking forward, he opened the door to the final chamber and stepped through. As the door closed behind him, he tensed as a blade came whizzing straight for his face.



End of Chapter 14.