The Hero's Death

I do not own Zelda, and I likely never will. But nothing is impossible.

The Hero of Time had never expected to visit this place ever again. Yet, here he was, fighting his way almost nostalgically through the stench of the shadows. How long had it been since he had those nightmares about Ganondorf, when he still lived in ignorance and safety?

Of all the temples he had freed, this one was the most mysterious, most evil. To most, it was a legend, hidden deep beyond the graveyard of Kakariko. The Shadow Temple. When he had approached that eyetear carved into the ancient doors for the second time in his life, he felt his old fears, of not knowing what to expect, of failure, and of death, wash over him again. They were familiar, because they had been so constant during his adventures. Now he could brush them off. He was the Hero of Time! A legendary figure, talked about in two different worlds. The most glorious position a man could have!

They were wrong. All wrong. So wrong.

It was the loneliest burden that could ever be, being a hero of destiny, so huge that it must have broken him by now. He couldn't escape it if he wanted to. But why was he journeying through the Shadow Temple? No evil resided here anymore, and Impa, the guardian, was not a particularly close friend. He had in fact vowed to never set foot in this place again. Then why was he here?

He was a complete slave to his fate.

His job was never-ending, to help others, and destroy evil. No acknowledgement, no assistance, no company. It was his job, the mantle of the Hero. He had experienced countless horrors no one could imagine, and even had his lifespan rearranged. All because he was the Hero of Time. He couldn't complain about it now. After all, his life was almost over.

The powerful swordsman strode through the narrow and dark corridors, undeterred because of his strength. He walked without a hurry, but with a purpose. He was heading into the depths of this evil place, so well-known to him from his youth. Though obviously aged, with his once-golden hair now grey, the hero surpassed all obstacles he came across, moving slowly, but unmistakably downward.

Link emerged in a chamber where a mammoth boat bobbed gently on the grey mists. He noticed the block he had pushed to the wall decades ago, when he was young. It served the same purpose of letting him up onto the floor above. Link boarded the boat, and stood on the Triforce symbol. He took out the Ocarina of Time, borrowed from the palace just for this instance. Closing his eyes, he began to play, the tune memorized in his mind. He had stood in this exact place, ages ago. He remembered it well.

Link played Zelda's Lullaby. The magical melody was a beacon of sanity to him, and he was glad for it; there weren't any others in the whole temple. "At least those monsters can die," he reassured himself. As the last note lingered and echoed off the stone walls, escaping to the netherworld underneath, the sound of bones cracking behind him was heard. He spun around, and saw two Stalfos advancing toward him, just as the ship started to creak forward. Link pulled out the Master Sword. "Here we go again."

This time, like the temple itself knew his intent, no enemies appeared, and no sound was heard, just silence. As the ship drifted along into the darkness ahead, Link took these last moments of peace to settle his mind and resolve. As all old men do, he reminisced, and regretted.

Unjust. The people and the land both, they are rescued from disaster, but the rescuer himself… Why was I bestowed with the Triforce of Courage? Why couldn't I just accept that I have a destiny to fulfill, and not change it? Where is my famed courage now, when I most need it?

My burden is large. My burden is to help, and it is in my nature. Madness had surely taken over me in the world of Termina; in each cycle started anew, I could not ease everyone of their pain, and I had to press on despite the pain, pressing through enemies and temples in a frenzy as I sought to end this torturous period at last. All this I have accomplished. I have lived so long, adventured more than anyone can imagine, saved countless people, and yet-- was never allowed to save myself. It chose to end everything here now, conquering the unknown as I die, a final adventure. This has gone on for too long…

As the boat ground to a stop, Link froze, hesitating for the first time since entering the temple. Did he have to do this? This was his last chance to turn back.

Link stumbled out of the broken gate, sweating. Where was he? The marketplace he had just left must have been the Hyrule Town square. It was always full of people, but now it was deserted. Why were Redeads in… As he lifted his head up, he could only stare. The wasteland that was once his kingdom, the pure evil darkening the land…… Link felt like weeping. All hope was lost. No. He was the only hope.

As Link comprehended the situation, his mind shattered with the explanation.Travel throughout time, again and again? Otherwise….what? The end of the world? It was so unreal, but as Link glared defiantly at the moon filling the sky with its leer, and the clouds tinted blood red, he could believe. This was Hyrule again. The land had the feeling of destruction. He had completed his destiny in one world, and trying to escape his country, faced it again inverted, but with the same stakes. It was truly the end of the world. And again, he was the only hope. Link lifted the ocarina to his lips, and began to play. He was going back in time.

It was hopeless. Too much for one person, one man, only a human. Even as the ship started to sink, and the cavern rumbled, he stood there in agony. He could hear the screams of the citizens whom he failed to save during his life, whom he had watched slowly die in misery. Growing slowly, the dead within the Temple cried out too, the shrieks undistinguishable, the sound driving him mad. His mind spinning, he painfully walked to the edge of the ship, dangerously low in the chasm. He halted for a moment, gazing into his death. Then without hesitation, he leapt into the unfathomable depths, into the unknown. The screams died immediately. Seconds later, the ship collapsed also. The room became dead silent.

He was the Hero of Time. And he was no more.

A lot of thanks to Perfect Soldier 01 for beta-reading this fic. Without the advice, the story would be painful to read.

Read the last chapter for the Author's Note