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"Link, I didn't expect to see you back so soon. How have you be-"
Link cut off the jovial sage and cut straight to the point...
"Please Rauru, I've no time for pleasantries... I have need of the Master Sword. Ganondorf's forces are amassing. I fear they will be here by sunup...I must leave long before then to make it back to the Kokiri Forest without being attacked as such."
Link looked out the stained glass window. It was still dark. AS far as he could tell, the sun would rise in three hours. He needed to get what supplies he needed from Hyrule Castle Town and leave. Rauru moved swiftly to the back of the Temple of the Light. He stood in front of the altar that unlocked the room to the Master Sword...He needed the three spiritual stones.
"Rauru...don't you need..."
"The stones? Yes but no worries. I can get them from Impa without her leaving the others..."
Link watched as Rauru closed his eyes and chanted to himself. The room filled with a brilliant light and Link had no choice but to shield his eyes. When the light subsided, the Spiritual Stones were in place. Rauru said one final chant and the door to the Master Sword opened. Link ran up to the altar of the sword. The Master Sword...Legendary blade of evil's bane... The altar sat in the middle of a column of light and the sword reflected that light much like a mirror.
"If I....take this...won't time shift forwards seven years?" asked the hesitant Link.
"Well since your last adventure, we Sages found a way to remedy that. Time is a river. One can travel upstream or downstream in that river. Normally all would be affected by this change...This time around, those you want to make the journey through time with will age seven years as you do when you wield the Master Sword. Merely think of who you wish to make the journey as you pull the sword and only they will age... The effect won't be instant like your but it will occur in time. Patience you must have until they make their journey upstream as well." explained the sage.
"I think I understand...." said Link.
Link thought of those he wanted to age seven years with him. Dante, Raine, Kaylin, Zelda, and Impa...Epona too. A larger hero needs a larger horse after all. The teens wouldn't be of much use until they got used to their older bodies but at least Link had Impa to help protect them. Zelda's pwers as a sage would only increase which could be very helpful. Link closed his eyes and pulled the sword from the altar. He felt the energies of ages coursing through his veins once again. He felt his bones shifting, becoming older....longer....bigger. When Link finally opened his eyes, he no longer had the features of a teenage boy. He had the feature of a man. A man who was ready to save the world once again. Rauru came back with two swords and a fine bow. Link took them in hand and rushed out of the Temple. He felt bad for saying nothing but Link knew Rauru would understand. The now grown man quickly bought his supplies and ran out to Hyrule Field where he saw his grown steed waiting for him. Link hopped on and pointed in the direction of the Kokiri Forest. Epona took off like lightning. She was even faster this time around and soon he was across the vast expanse of the field and outside the entrance to the Kokiri Forest. Link quickly dismounted and walked through the old log into the village. He started to head back to his house along the path. He had made it back with one hour to sunrise. Hopefully, the changes in the others would occurred in that hour... They would be needed.
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Dante looked at the crying Kaylin and stood up brushing the grass and bark from his back. He looked at her solemnly and drew his hand back. He watched as Kaylin readied herself for the blow. He swept his hand forward but didn't smack her with that force. He placed his hand on her cheek as gently as she did to him the previous night and wiped her tears.
"Stop crying, Kay. I'm not going to smack you." said Dante consolingly.
"My response is that....I love you too. I always have...since I saved you from being raped that day so long ago." said Dante smiling.
The smile was suddenly erased from Dante's face and he turned away from Kaylin and walked a few steps away. He looked up at the branches of the Great Deku Tree sprawling out into the night sky.
"But why did you leave? I thought you heard my answer earlier. Well, I guess you were pretty tired. You did fall asleep on me....but... then, I wake up and you're gone...I just found it a bit odd for someone who professed their love for me. Why Kay? What spooked you so much that you left me laying there alone? What was it?" asked Dante as he stared up at the stars flickering in the sky.
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