I gasped as I had almost been crushed by rocks. Being alone, I pulled down my scarf in order to take in the amount of air I needed. In my hands was a golden harp.

Laying down on the ground, I lifted the harp above my head to examine it. All that for an instrument. It wasn't even halfway over. I still needed to bring the harp to the Temple of Time. 

It had been two years since I was visited by Rauru in that first dream. Since then Impa trained me without mercy. Retrieving the harp was Rauru's final task before he deemed me ready to find the other Sages. It was only last night he came to me in another dream, telling me where the harp was.

Slowly, I got to my feet, placing the scarf around my nose and mouth again. I made my way to the exit of the tomb. Before I could leave, however, my muscles froze on me as my ears rang with the sound of a scream. I could hear the steps of the redeads behind me.

When the stiff sensation was gone, I quickly moved my hands down to where I kept a handful of long sharp knives. As soon as I turned around, I threw four, hitting all of my targets. They didn't die that easy though, as I sprinted forward with another knife. The best option was to make quick work of them.

Blue blood came out of them as I sliced at their legs. They groaned as they tried to follow my pace. Unfortunately for them, I could have run circles around them all day, that was if their cry didn't pierce my very core again.

After all four were down on the ground like corpses, as they should be, I let out a breath. I turned to leave once more.

Soulless eyes were right next to mine as I met face to face with an uncounted redead. The awful scream shook my bones. I couldn't move as the redead got the opportunity to strangle me. It didn't hesitate.

I squirmed inside its grasp. My hands searched for a knife. Finding one, I plunged it into the redead. It let go of me. I backed away, kicking the redead into the stone wall. The impact slammed it against the wall, and as it fell forward, the knife pushed deeper into it.

Before any more could magically appear, I got out of the tomb. I was glad to see that it was morning when I got out. Dusting myself off, I went behind the gravestone and pushed it back into place. I was grateful that I wouldn't have to go through that maze of tunnels again. I knew though, that one day, Link would have to.

Looking across the graveyard, I saw Dampe heading inside for the day. To myself, I whispered how grateful I was he didn't push the gravestone back in place while I was down there. If he had, I'd be searching for hours to find another way out.

It was known that his health had been weakening since Ganondorf took the throne. But Dampe was just getting old. Within time, he'd be in one of these graves. I hoped he would survive long enough to see the world set in place again.

Suddenly, I got the urge to go speak with him. After all, I found it strange that he had placed a gravestone in for himself already. I had a feeling that he was the one who made all those tunnels.

I went into his little shed. He jumped as I came in rudely. Becoming Sheik made me forget my manners sometimes. I muttered an apology, but I was surprised to see a grin form on his face as he chuckled weakly. Coughs could be heard in the mixture of his laughter.

"Have you finally come to greet me . . . Princess?" he wheezed out.

I backed up, "How?"

"A wild guess," he answered, which I could tell wasn't the truth.

I sighed, "I just wanted to know why you made a series of tunnels under the gravestone you made for yourself. And why this was in there along with another item." I held the golden harp up.

He squinted at the harp and began to laugh again as he said, "Who knew the Princess would already be robbing my grave when I haven't died yet?"

If had my regular patience with me, I would have found his joking amusing. "This isn't the time. How long have you been working on those tunnels? Where did you get this harp?"

He coughed, spitting some mucus into his fire. "The tunnels have always been there. I just discovered it and added to the fun at the request of your mother. She placed the harp in there."

"My mother," I whispered, staring at the instrument in my hands. I looked him straight in the eyes as I said, "Thank you."

He nodded, "I told her I would protect it even in my death, but it appears that is no longer required."

"But there still is the other item inside there. What is it?"

"You didn't take that too did you?" he asked, seeming greatly concerned.

I shook my head quickly, "No, no, no . . . I was just wondering what it was. I didn't even open the chest."

He relaxed, "It's a hook shot. It can get you across the greatest trenches and out of them. My special treasure."

I nodded, "Thank you again. I wish you well."

"As do I, Princess."

Looking back at him for a time, I shook my head firmly. There was more that needed to be done. I walked out of the lowly shed and then out of the dismal graveyard.

When I entered the village, houses were billowing with smoke. There was a frenzy of panic as everyone ran around, trying to put the fire out. Impa stood in the middle, leading the crowd the best she could. Her eyes landed on me. It had been some time since we had seen each other.

She was about to yell my way when her eyes widened at something behind me. I turned around to see nothing there. Then a lone shadow danced along the ground. I jumped out of its way as it ran across the village. I watched in shock as the shadow picked up one of the villagers, tossing them.

Impa ran to catch them with success. Behind me, Dampe came running out of the graveyard. I looked at him with my deep red eye, the other one covered by hair.

"What happened?" I asked him.

"The Shadow . . . I think it came from the temple."

"Ganondorf," I breathed out.

"Watch out!" someone yelled as the shadow came back towards us. I pushed Dampe out of the way as the shadow picked me up.

It slammed me back to the ground. I groaned as I slowly pushed up with my hands. I heard the cries of the Dampe, bringing my senses back. The shadow had gotten to him. It flung him the hardest of all. I ran after him, right into the graveyard.

He was still falling. It didn't look good. The only way I could possibly save him was by jumping before he got impaled by the fence. There was no time to think as I acted, pulling him away from the fence. We both landed on top of a slanted gravestone. I rolled off it, and he did as well, right after his head cracked against the edge of the stone.

I crawled over to him. There was no stopping it. He had already lost too much blood. I sobbed as the image reminded me of my father--his blood leaking out with Ganondorf standing over him. Dampe took his final breath.

A minute later, Impa came running into the graveyard. "Zelda," she said, forgetting herself, "Do you know where the Shadow came from?"

I looked at the cave above us. She locked eyes with me and before leaping, she said, "Protect the village from it as best you can!"

Feeling sick that I would have to leave Dampe's body there, I tried to compose myself. I dashed back out to defend the village while trying not to use the sacred power within me. At a time like that, it was harder than ever to stop myself from using it.

It got to the point where I had to draw the shadow down into the dry well. Thankfully, its attention was on me as it followed me down there. Soon I was cornered. With it being so dark, there was no telling where it was. My hands trembled as I lit a torch.

In front of me, the shadow could be seen. It took the shape of a beast. I closed my eyes as it ran at me. I planned to roll last second. I waited for the howling sound of the strange shadow to approach, but then it grew dead quiet.

I opened my eyes to see that I was no longer in the well at all. I knelt down outside. Impa stood next to me, staring into the depths of the well. It became clear to me what she did. She sealed it in there. There was only one way she could have done that. She was a sage. The Sage of the Shadow Temple.

"Impa," I began, but then I remembered Dampe. I quickly ran to the graveyard just as I had gotten her attention.

When I made it there, the villagers had already placed Dampe's body in his massive tomb. I bit my lip, wishing him farewell. I returned to Impa who was in the same spot I had left her.

"It will be some time before I can see you again," I said.

Impa placed her hands on my shoulders, "I know what you're thinking. I can barely believe it myself."

Since all the villagers were occupied in the graveyard, I decided it wouldn't look too strange if I hugged her. She laughed a little. It sounded bitter and forced.

"You may be the Sage, Impa, but only Link can awaken your full potential."

She pushed me back a little, "That may be true. Before you go, Sheik, there is one final thing I need to teach you."

Impa placed two fingers in her mouth and whistled a tune. It sounded cold and ghostly. Her whistle was a wild blow. However, in the end, it somehow came to a conclusion. Like a ghost making peace with the world it left behind.

"The Nocturne of Shadow," she said as she pressed a paper in my hands, "It's a song that has been passed on from generation to generation to those who have guarded the Shadow Temple. Be safe as you continue your search."

I nodded, before stepping away from her. She watched as I bowed to her. Then I ran out of the village, daring to go to the one place I had avoided for so long.

Inside Castle Town, redeads were scattered across the square. I avoided them as I went to the Temple of Time. I tried not to think about how lively the town was beforehand. The dogs that ran about. The strange couple that could have danced all day and night with each other. It was too much.

Walking into the temple, I noticed that the back wall was missing and that the three jewels were spinning on the altar. Link had done all that work just for it to be ruined. I headed up the stairs into the room that I had never seen before until then. I stared at the empty pedestal.

I pulled out the harp. My fingers stroked the strings as I played the lullaby Impa had learned from my mother. Light began to encase me. In a blink, I stood--as Sheik--in the Chamber of Sages. Rauru was in his spot on the golden platform. Link was still being kept asleep above me.

"You made it," Rauru said.

"What is it that you needed me to do?" I asked.

He closed his eyes for a short time, "As I am sure you are aware, each race has a temple which needs their protection, and with those temples is a song like the one Impa taught you."

"Yes, I understand that. Learn the songs, and pass them on to Link. Why do you need me physically here in this realm?"

"When Ganondorf came here, I was only able to keep this area of the Temple of Light secure. You see, there is a coin that will be needed on Link's quest. The coin will allow him to have my spirit aid him."

"Why me?"

"Because you are pure in heart and full of light. I will warn you, the temple will not be easy and you can't enter this room again without the coin. There is also a song written somewhere in the temple as well."

I nodded, "I'm ready."

He extended his arms. I watched as shimmering stairs appeared and the waterfalls parted as blinding light shined down on me. Slowly, my foot stepped on the stairs to make sure it was solid. Besides the shimmering effect, it was almost invisible.

I walked up the steps as confidently as I could. It also felt like I was giving up on life. Like I was walking into Heaven. When I reached the light, I shut my eyes and walked into it. The sounds of the water from the chamber disappeared.

My eyes opened to see everything around me was a white marble color. Along the walls, there was also an accent of gold. The floor was much like how it was in the Chamber of Sages, covered with an inch of water. Looking down at myself, I realized that I was no longer dressed as Sheik. Instead, I wore a white dress.

It wasn't long before my attention went elsewhere. In the nearby window, there was a crack. Looking out of it, I saw the outside of the Sacred Realm. It was covered in darkness. Impa had told me the legend of how the Sacred Realm would reflect the heart of whoever touched the Triforce.

I willed myself to continue down the long hall. It amazed me how beautiful the temple still appeared. Of course, I only thought that until I ran into the monsters that lurked around. I made it to the first room when I caught the reflection of a hand crawling on the ceiling through the water below me. I gasped as I jumped out of the way before the hand fell down on top of me.

The hand crawled like a five-legged spider. I ran to the other door in the room, only for the hand to catch my feet. I fell down in the water. Then the hand started to drag me. My mind raced.

I had no weapon of any kind. Those had been taken away from me when I turned back into my normal self. It hit me hard. Ganondorf wasn't in the Sacred Realm. I could use my power.

The hand lifted me a couple of inches into the air. I had to act before I got too high. Extending my hand up, a golden light shot at the hand. It dropped me on my back. From what I could tell, it wasn't dead. I ran out of the room when I had the chance.

In the next room, there was no light at all. Darkness clouded the area. I was afraid to step anywhere. For all I knew, the floor was missing. I could hear water moving around, but that only meant there was something else in the room with me as I stood completely still.

Gulping, I took a step. The other sloshing water died. They had stopped moving. I waited quietly again, hoping they couldn't hear the hammering of my heart. When their steps resumed, I moved another step. Again, they stopped to listen. I stood patiently as they drifted around.

The next chance I dared to move, I took three steps. Their steps stopped once more. Then I could hear whatever it was sniffing the air. I closed my eyes, though there was no difference. They got closer as the water sloshed. Soon I could hear their breath. They were to my left, about a foot away.

If I didn't move, they would eventually find me. I ran, causing whatever it was to roar as its suspicion was confirmed. I put my hands out in front of me so I wouldn't run into a wall. I could only hope that the floor wasn't missing. Finally, I felt the cool touch of the wall. I stopped moving and became silent.

The anger of the creature echoed in the room, telling me that it was a larger room with a high ceiling. Quietly feeling along the wall, my hand felt a ledge, big enough for my feet to stand on. I smiled as I climbed on it. All I had to do was walk along that until I found another door. Whatever the creature was, it wouldn't be able to track me as well as when I was in the water.

Grateful that my training hadn't been taken away from me, I was able to balance while searching for a door. I made it to a corner of the room, becoming doubtful that there were any other doors at all. The creature's steps continued to vary as it tried to listen for me.

Then I felt something in front of me. It startled me, nearly knocking me off into the water. I soon realized that it was a curtain. My mind debated if it was a good idea to open it. If I did, the room would surely get some light and I could find the door faster. It also meant the creature could find me easier too. But why was the room dark in the first place . . .

I yanked on the curtain. It tumbled to the ground and light flooded the room. My eyes scanned the area, locating the door I had come through, and then I spotted the door I had been searching for. It was locked. Finally, my eyes found the creature of the dark. I had every right to be scared as it had the key I needed. I would have to face it.

The creature was my father. His face was distorted and his eyes were pits. He couldn't see at all. The loud noise of the curtain falling, however, told him my location. He bolted towards me with a large jagged sword. I waited there, by the window as he came at me. I dodged, as he slammed into the window.

He gruffly turned around much faster than I anticipated, ruining my chance to steal the key. Slowly, I backed away from him as he followed the sound of my steps.

"Father, this isn't you," I pleaded.

He said nothing, only lifting his sword. I tried using my power to defend myself, but nothing happened. I continued to back away. Then I recalled what Rauru had said. I was allowed in the temple because of the light inside me. What was something that could bring out the light in my father?

The power came back to me. Instead of acting as a weapon, it brought forth the golden harp. He couldn't see, but he could hear. I started to play the lullaby.

He kept advancing. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I willed myself to keep playing until the end. At the end of the song, I said, "I love you, Father."

His sword rose, ready to strike me. Then golden light burst out of the harp, slamming into him. I watched as the armor he wore vanished. His skin became healthy again and when I could see his face, his eyes were back with no damage. He stared at me affectionally.

"Thank you, Zelda," he whispered as he disappeared with the light. The key dropped to the floor. I sank to my knees, quivering. I clutched the harp close to me. It was one thing seeing his murder, but another to witness the torment he faced as a puppet.  

When I was ready to move on, I took the key and walked to the golden door. I unlocked it and went through it. I was brought out to a courtyard. It had the same setup as the Temple of Time, except with no roof. I walked forward onto marble ground. The only water on the floor was a small pool shaped like the Sacred Triangle. Going onward, I met with golden statues that stood by the opening to the rest of the temple. I tried going through the doorway, but suddenly the statues blocked it off with their spears.

"One cannot enter without proving themselves worthy of one of the sacred triangles. Your task is Wisdom," two voices echoed out, coming from everywhere.

"I accept," I said.

"You will answer five riddles. If you get one wrong . . . your spirit will be trapped here for eternity with no progression," the voices said, "Riddle one: what has two ends, yet no