In the mood for a oneshot. I've been watching old Windwaker clips, and this came to mind. Enjoy. I apologize if the dialogue is a bit off—this is more of an 'interpertation'.
Water poured down from the surface above, flooding the cold rooftop of Old Hyrule. It was like reliving the actual flooding—the Goddesses were only finishing the job, sealing away Old Hyrule for good.
A bubble-wrapping surrounded Link and Zelda. There was an undeniable pull—a desire to go to the surface—but they fought it.
"Wait!" Zelda yelled. She looked to the King of Red Lions. There were so many questions and not all of them had been answered. They needed answers. "You—you could come with us."
The King looked at her, his expression eternally doomed and puzzled. "To find the New Hyrule, I mean."
Link grinned and nodded.
"Ahhh," The man sighed. He looked down at his feet—the water was already up to his shins. "But it will not be the New Hyrule, my children. It will be your kingdom."
"Yes," Link told him. Zelda wistfully waited for him to speak. "It will be both. But we need you to come, sir." The bubble-skins yanked Link and Zelda into the water, floating towards the surface. They joined hands and pulled down, struggling to keep floating near the King.
The King opened his mouth to speak, but shook his head and managed a small smile.
"No," Zelda gasped.
The water pulled them up, and there was no time. There was nothing left to do. "NO!" Link yelled, desperate. They could not leave the man who had helped them through all of their quest—the man who had saved them from Ganon—to die in the bottom of the ocean.
"I belong here," The man softly whispered.
Zelda lost control of her bubble, and a scream bubbled past her lungs as she floated towards the surface. "Please-"
Link's bubble, too, was dragging him towards the surface.
He could not understand the King's motives, nor could he comprehend why the man was sentencing himself to die in this watery grave. "A captain always goes down with his ship, m'boy." The King's voice was strong, yet pained.
There was no tune Link could play with the Windwaker to turn back time and erase this. To re-do it again. He had not realized that his time with this legendary man would be cut short.
He reached out, his hand beckoning the King. I can help you, his eyes yelled, you can breathe again.
The King of Red Lions extended his hand, his fingers merely grazing Link's. He withdrew his grasp, and Link floated towards the surface, watching the waters of time erase the King from the world of living.
Yes. A captain always goes down with his ship.
Short, but sweet. I felt that I should write this, for inspiration and other reasons. A big thanks to the Zelda Reorchestrated music. :D Feedback is welcomed.