Behind the door lied a vast expanse of sky with floating islands of platforms and fans sprinkling the area. The winds roared with astounding gusts, and pinwheels on the islands spun rapidly. Rainbow Dash’s eyes and mouth were open in awe of the sight. Towards the left, there was a long, stone wall with a thin ledge and towards the right was a rather large building floating above void space. The door on the building was large and decorative, but was locked with the same gold chain and lock used in the Forest Temple. Link looked back towards Rainbow Dash, who just stood there.
“Ummm, are you alright Rainbow Dash?” Link asked. Rainbow Dash shook her head in response and took towards Link.
“That was weird.” She stated seriously. She looked towards the scenery before her and frowned at some of the decay present in the area. “This place used to be so awesome. So many different kinds of ponies gathered here in the past. They hung out here, did awesome tricks, researched for even more ways on improving life and lived together peacefully. When I look at it now, it looks like everypony abandoned this place a very long time ago.” She stated mournfully. “What happened here?” Link put his hand on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder.
“The flow of time is always cruel. Beings die and civilizations erode. Time is a river that cannot be stopped nor can be reversed. However, we can direct the flow of time and create our own futures. Those visions of the past shall be your guide to tomorrow.” He said with a straight face. Rainbow Dash raised an eye in confusion.
“I don’t get it.” She said.
“What I’m saying is that everything has to come to an end one day. When something comes to an end, a new beginning happens. Anyways, that wall looks like something we can sidle across.” Link said. Rainbow Dash looked towards the left and then towards the front. She laughed.
“Did you forget I have wings Link? I can just take us across!” Rainbow Dash said as she grabbed Link by his wrists and lifted him in the air. She flew up into the sky before a gust of wind blew her towards the direction of the wall. Link lost his grip and flew against the wall. “Ummm, on second thought, maybe sidling might be a better option for you.” Rainbow Dash sheepishly said. Link fell off the wall and grabbed the thin ledge with his hands. He lifted himself up and placed his back on the wall. He slid along the wall until he reached larger portions of ground. Rainbow Dash flew down towards Link and giggled nervously.
“Well, now that we are done with that, it is time to move through the temple.” Link stated. The two of them went on through a door towards the north wall. As they entered beyond there, there were spirals of cream-colored bridges that twisted throughout all the levels of the room. These bridges were decorated with black lanterns and copper rails. “Rainbow Dash, do you know what this place is?” Link asked.
“Not… really? I think that we should just find where the Element is. But, for some reason, something is telling me that the left bridge is going to lead to somewhere important.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Well, if that is what you feel, then I guess I will take your word on it.” Link said. The both of them walked down the left spiral bridge. As they did, wings on the lanterns revealed themselves as Keese and flew towards Link and Rainbow Dash. Link looked back and took out his crossbow. He shot each of the Keese with bolts, eliminating them. “Clever bats. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised.” He said as he put his crossbow away. The two of them continued down the spiral until they came upon a new door. As they entered past it, Link noticed a straight path surrounded by several blowing fans suspended in the air. At the end of the bridge was a treasure chest. Rainbow Dash grinned widely and ran towards the chest. However, Link blocked her back with his arm. “It’s way too easy.” He said. He found a rock and threw it across the bridge. As it landed on the bridge, a large press came dropped down onto the rock, shattering it. Rainbow Dash and Link looked at the smashed rock with wide eyes.
“That looks like it will hurt.” Rainbow Dash shakingly said.
“Well, at least we know that we have to be fast. On the count of three.” Link began. Link and Rainbow Dash prepared their bodies to sprint. Link held his hand and three fingers up in the air. As the fingers dropped down to the last finger, Link and Rainbow Dash sprinted across the bridge with presses going down faster than lightning. However, the presses were unable to catch their victims. Link sprinted over towards the chest. He opened the chest as a lime-green light flashed from within it. He reached around until he felt a cape-like cloth. As he pulled it out, the cloth revealed itself to be a white cape with blue highlights.
“You got the Roc’s Cape! Now you can jump and get past gaps that you couldn’t have before!”
“That looks cool but… what is it?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“It’s a Roc’s Cape apparently.” Link responded. He wore the cape and felt a surge of energy pass through his body. The bridge crumbled away, which left Link stranded on the islet. Suddenly, a red, bat-like creature swooped down from the ceiling. It had four claws and talons on it. It clashed its claws together as the fans turned off.
“It seems that Mistress Nightmare Moon was right about intruders being in this part of the Temple. I guess I’ll have to finish you all off myself.” The creature said itself.
“Link, you wouldn’t happen to know what this creature is, do you?” Rainbow Dash said.
“It feels like it is something I should know. I can tell that it’s native to Hyrule, but I have never seen a creature like this before.” Link said as he pulled out his sword and shield. “Regardless, it’s another enemy that shall fall before my blade and our teamwork.” He finished. The Vire screeched as it rushed towards Link. Link slashed at it vertically. The Vire disappeared in a puff of smoke and a group of four Keeses appeared in its place. Rainbow Dash took towards the air and kicked one of the Keese over into another Keese. Link smashed one of the Keese with the hilt of his sword into the combining Keese. The remaining Keese tried to fly away until Rainbow Dash roundhouse kicked it across the room and into the group.
“You’re not going to run away on my watch!” Rainbow Dash said. The four keeses became a Vire in a purple smoke.
“How ever did you find out my secret of attacking me that quickly?! It’s unheard of!” The Vire shouted. Link ran up to the Vire and sheathed his sword. When he went behind the Vire, he quickly unsheathed his sword and slashed the creature. The Vire let out a pained scream.
“Logic, that’s how.” Link stated as he slashed away at the Vire. The Vire took blow after blow before it split into four Keeses again. The four Keeses flew into different parts of the room. Rainbow Dash smirked and flew after a group of two Keeses. Link took out his crossbow and aimed it towards one of the Keese in the air. A bolt fired through the air and struck a Keese within its heart. Rainbow Dash grabbed two of the Keeses and punched them towards the Keese that Link shot. The lone Keese looked around in fear before its flesh met with a swift aerial strike from Link’s sword. Link safely jumped onto the platform using the properties of the Roc’s Cape equipped. Being struck by the sword, the Keese retreated back into the group of defeated Keeses before transforming into the Vire. As the Vire materialized back, it was met with a swift dive kick by Rainbow Dash. It screeched before the Gilded Sword punctured its chest. Its mouth was opened wide in shock.
“I’ve underestimated the both of you!!!” It said in a shriek before it died within the blue flames. The door that was barred close at the other side of the room had its metal bars lifted open, and the fans that were turned off began to blow again. Rainbow Dash took a look at the cape on Link’s back.
“It feels strange, but it feels like I have seen this item before.” Rainbow Dash stated.
“Apparently with this, I can jump and hover into the air. With these fans blowing, it doesn’t matter if the bridge is down. I can jump across the gaps with this wind.” Link said. Using the power of the Roc’s Cape, he jumped into the air and hovered over the fan. The fan blew him high into the air, but the power of the Roc’s Cape allowed him to steer and fly towards the other side of the room. Finally, he landed onto the other side of the room on his feet. Rainbow Dash flew close behind him.
“That cape is pretty cool. It still doesn’t beat a pegasus’s wings, but it’s pretty close. You steered through the air like a master!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Don’t get too excited now Rainbow Dash. There are still several other areas of the temple to explore, and this cape will allow us to do so.” Link said. The two of them went through the door, which led back outside.