Link laid there on the bed, barely breathing and motionless. Zelda sat in a chair by the side of the bed. Link was covered up to his neck; otherwise he'd have been freezing. But not because it was cold, in fact it was a scorching summer day. No, it was because he was cold even then.
Many weeks ago, Link had contracted a rare disease. For months, he fought it to stay alive, but he held out for as long as he could. Dr. Mario had created both a cure and a vaccine. Donkey Kong, Roy, Samus, Zelda and Sonic had also contracted the disease, but Dr. Mario was able to cure them and vaccinate everyone else. Link, however, could not be saved. The disease had spread too far. And so, he was doomed to leave this world.
The vaccinations were going on, so Zelda was the only one by Link's side. Her eyes were red from weeping for her doomed love one. Link did not have the strength to lift his arms or move at all really. He could barely even speak.
"Do…not…give…up…" Link managed to say, "Don't…give up…living..."
"How can I not?" Zelda asked, "How can I live on without you?"
"You… lived on… before… you met… me…"
"Before then, there was an empty space in me," Zelda said, "You filled it. And with you gone, the space will be empty again. And even more so, I don't doubt."
"Promise me…" Link said, "Promise… you'll move on… and find someone else… to fill that empty space… to love… as I loved you…"
"Link, I…" Zelda said, "I don't see how I could ever love someone else as I loved you. I don't see how I can live without you."
"You… can… you… must… not… give up…"
After a moment, Zelda said, "All right. I promise you Link."
Link did not say anything else. He only smiled for a moment. Then his eyes started to close as he slumped his head to the side. He never moved again.
Zelda sat in shock. She gave into tears after a moment. Her love, Link, the Hero of Time, was dead.