He was the one they called "The Hero of Time".
He was the one who saved the land of Hyrule from certain ruin and an everlasting darkness.
He was the one who saved another land, similar to Hyrule, but not quite, from a falling moon in just three days.
He had slain many a monster.
And yet, here he lay, on the forest floor of the Lost Woods, dehydrated and tired, so very tired.
Something was beckoning him to sleep, to forget about the world, forget his friends, forget the princess, and just sleep.
And for the first time in any of his journeys, he gave in.
And he slept.
When he had finally awaken, it was on an endless white plain, with a forest, and various landmarks that were similar to Hyrule.
In fact Hyrule Castle lay just beyond, in the distance.
But it was different.
No, no, this was't the same Hyrule he knew.
Not the same castle.
He looked down at his hands, to find that they were bone.
Old, ancient bone.
How long had he slept?
It felt no more than a few minutes, just a harmless nap…
He was dead.
Or asleep.
Maybe it was a bad dream.
Or…maybe it wasn't.
His heart, or rather, his emotions took a leap.
He would never have the pleasure of admiring the princess' face again…
Never laugh with her in the gardens where they had first met as children.
Never feel the wind on his face when riding his trusty steed…
It was all gone.
Gone.
But maybe, just maybe, there was still hope left.
The goddess had kept him in this plain for a reason, hadn't they?
Until his final task was complete…
Then maybe..
He would find her again.
He would find peace, someday.
