Time Stands Still

The Temple of Time loomed before them. Zelda stepped forward, laying her hand on the sculpted woodwork of the door.

"It is time." she said softly.

Keahi looked at Zelda confused.
"Time? Time for what?" he asked.

Alena cocked an eyebrow at Zelda's remark.

Link smiled weakly.

'Well...should we...go on in?" he asked timidly. Zelda laid a hand on his arm. "Yes..." she said quietly.

Slowly, she ascended up the stairs and opened the door, entering the cavernous temple.

Airas followed behind Link, Aqua was behind Keahi and Alena, And Kadomi brought up the rear just behind Leru.

Zelda stepped up on the pedestal.
"They were here..." she said remorsefully. "I am afraid that there is no choice..."

Keahi stood back.
"Woah, no other choice but what?" he asked cautiously.

Alena stood in the back knowing that Kiara and Vaati had been there. But where they had gone to, she didn't know.

Zelda face the Sages.

"Take my hands..." she said quietly, grabbing Link's hand on one side, and Airas on the other. They formed a large circle.

Zelda began to chant, and a forcefield surrounded the group. Suddenly, Zelda took out the Ocarina of Time, her precious family heirloom, and began to play a few haunting notes. The Song of Time poured out from the ocarina, and everything slowly began to come to a stop.

Soon, there was no sound. Time stood still.

Alena looked around her quietly. SHe heard not a sound. She kept quiet, but it was Keahi who broke the silence.

Kehai looked around himself.
"What happened ?" he asked looking a bird in mid-air outside the window.

Zelda led them to the door, and opened it. Out in the marketplace, no one moved. They were frozen mid-action, like picturesque statues, perfectly preserved.

Link let out a low whistle. "Fancy that..." he said softly.

Airas's eyes grew big. Aqua frowned. "So, as of now...time's frozen?"

Zelda nodded slowly.

Alena caught up to Zelda.
"Even Kiara?"

Keahi walked over to people pouring a drink and moved the man's arm to where he was pouring the drink on someone else instead of the cup.

He urned back to the Sages and folded his arms hoping they hadn't noticed.

Zelda shook her head sadly.
"They are on another place of existence, so my magic could not reach them. However, since the Sacred Realm is a dark, mirrored Hyrule, it is frozen. Just not Kiara." she said.

Alena nodded and continued on with hte rest of the group.

Keahi snickered while he walked along with the group.
"Well, what are we doing with time frozen? What's the point?"

Link looked up, suddenly understanding.

"If...if we've frozen time...we can develop our strengths to face Ganondorf...and if Hyrule is frozen here...no one can get to the place where the Seal should be in this world."


Zelda nodded.

Alena nodded.
"Unless they're unfrozen somehow..." she said as her voice trailed off.

Zelda held up the Ocarina.

"This is the only way." she said resolutely.

Alena nodded.
"Then there are no problems."

Keahi looked around his surroundings for more to play around with.
"Okayl so where is this Seal supposed to be anyway?"

Link looked grim.
"I don't think we've figured that part out yet..." he said.

Airas touched a butterfly that was frozen midair, giggling.

Alena smiled at Airas patting her on the back.
"That's what we're looking for." she said to Keahi.

Keahi smirked at her and Link.
"I know, I was just wondering if you had and idea of where it might be."

Alena ushered Airas along.

Kadomi leaned bodily against a tree.
"Dunno. So what're we doing to train for this Ganondorf? He's a legend in our tribe."

ALena rested ehr ahnds lightly on her hips.
"He may be a legend, but not in a good way," she said as she walked past Kadomi," If you know what I mean." she whispered.

Kadomi glowered.

"I didn't say that, ya little snot-nosed uppity Hylian brat. You insinuating that we Gerudo are some kind of lowly dog?" Kadomi snarled, hand on scimtar.

Alena smirked at her.
"Well, you are what you eat." she said cooly and walked calmly to Zelda.

"Zelda, where exactly do we go in order to develop our powers?"

Kadomi made an obscene hand gesture.

"That must be why you're a such a fat cow." she muttered, leaning back up against her tree.

Zelda ignored their bickerings.
"It is different for each induvudual."

Alena brushed the comment off.
"How so?" she asked.

Keahi stood in the background and watched the drama taking palce between everybody.

Zelda sighed.

"Well, for instance, the Water Sage isn't going to work on fire abilities, now are they?"

Alena nodded her head.
"Makes sense. But, how do I develop mine?" she asked.

Keahi saw a small boulder set on the side of the mountain and moved it to where he could sit on it.

Zelda looked thoughtful.

''Well, you're the Light Sage...I cannot tell you what you must do...that is something you must figure out on your own, Alena."