The Hero of Shade sat in the Lost Woods, staring aimlessly into the trees. In the background, he heard children's laughter and knew it was just Skullkid, but his mind went back to a simpler time. When he had a real body, when he was a child and had many friends, when Saria was still there. He heard a noise in his ear and slowly turned his head, where he was met with a fairy. If he had lips, they would be turned upward in a small smile.

Suddenly, there was a presence on his back as Skullkid hugged him from behind. "Hey." Skullkid greeted as he just hung off of the shade's back. "You've been silent, Link. You haven't been as talkative as you used to be." Skullkid said, bringing a hand up to the side of the shade's helm. Skullkid wasn't smiling or laughing as he'd usually be, but instead, he was frowning and worried for his old friend. It's been too long since he became a shade, Skullkid knows this, he knew one day, his old friend would slowly fade away. But now that the Hero of Twilight's journey was finished and the Master Sword was returned to it's pedestal, the Hero's Shade, or the Hero of Time Link, was silent. He often roamed the forest, and on occasion, told Skullkid about the children's laughter he'd hear when he knew it wasn't Skullkid.

"She's right here." Link suddenly spoke up. "Right in front of me. I want to go to her, but if I do, I'd leave you alone." His voice was growing weary and quieter. Skullkid continued to hug his old friend, scared to see him like this, but he knew it was coming.

It was his friend's time.

As Link talked about how Saria was right in front of him, Skullkid went back and retraced his relationship with the Hero's Shade. He had first met him in the Lost Woods when he was only beginning his first journey that the Great Deku Tree sent him on. Then, he met Link again in Termina, where Skullkid had landed and met two fairies. During that time, he was being influenced by the Majora's Mask, but he knew what was going on around him. Link was already the Hero of Time. Then, they both left Termina and sadly Tatl and Tael.

Then, Saria passed from an unknown plague that swept through the forest when the Great Deku Tree got ill.

From there on, Link grew, became on of Princess Zelda's most trusted guards and soldiers, then he passed in battle. It was a small war with the Gerudo, but one of the Gerudo warriors got him from behind, stabbing him with her sword and leaving him to die.

He soon reappeared in the Lost Woods as the Hero of Shade, or the Hero's Shade. He still had his old personality, but as the years wore on, he soon began to fade.

Then he helped the Hero of Twilight, which sped the process up.

Sighing, Skullkid looked at his dear old friend. It was time.

For them both.

Closing his eyes, he took a breath, and when he opened them, he was standing in a field with a younger Link. He was chasing Saria around as a younger Zelda watched with an amused smile. Ruto was hopping around Darunia in glee and Impa was sighing. Rauru was also watching in amusement from where he stood. Navi, Tatl, and Tael flew about the place, dancing in the air. Nabooru was smiling at them as she tried to calm Ruto down.

Skullkid grinned as he joined Link and Saria in the game of tag.

In the Lost Woods, the Hero of Twilight smiled wistfully as he witnessed the Hero's Shade and Skullkid slowly fade into particles of light.

"LINK!" After hearing his name, Link ran off to where Ilia waited for him, hoping the Hero's Shade was finally at rest.