Defeat.

They were ready. Link, after countless shrines, freeing the Divine Beasts, gathering an arsenal, couldn't defeat him. Ganon, his magnificent terror, gazed down at this "hero". After all this time Ganon now got what he wanted, a defeated Hyrule. What he would do now he, had no idea. In fact, you couldn't really say Ganon was truly there. Ganon was an entity to his own at this point, just a husk that was fueled on the thought of bringing down those that put him down. He had now won. Even the hero wielding the Bane of Evil could not stop him. The world was his to destroy. He looked down at this hero.

Link lay on the ground, mortal wounds gushing blood. He let Hyrule down. He let the people down. He let the Champions down. He let Zelda down. He moved, trying to get up, to do what he was born to do. His form gave way and he fell, pushing blood out from his wounds even more. He stared up at his destiny. Ganon's cold eyes stared back, an empty hatred. Link had to get up, Zelda was still there fighting for his sake. He reached for the Master Sword. Ganon stepped on it, his gigantic body breaking the already fractured blade. Link's body failed and he fell once again. So pitiful, he thought as he watched the stars. One-hundred years of waiting, for this.

"Link… rest… you do not have to fight anymore…"

Maybe that was the true pain. After recovering his memory, he thought of Zelda constantly. His goals became clear once he remembered what he was fighting for. He didn't want to save Hyrule for Hyrule. He was selfish, he wanted to see her. To look upon Zelda's face once more. He grabbed the bow. Maybe if he could draw an arrow, maybe if a lucky hit caused an opening he could stop Ganon. He readied an arrow, but couldn't find the strength to pull back the arrow. Ganon roared, triumphant with his victory.

Link lay there, feeling his energy quickly drain. He could make out the champions in the sky. He reached out. His mouth opened to speak. Link's lips twitched, struggling to find the power to pull words. He watched Daruk, Urbosa, Revali, Mipha all reach out for him. His eyes filled with tears. The bow faded from his hand. In the middle of them Zelda appeared, reaching out.

"Link… join us… rest with your friends…"

Link was shaking. Reaching out he mustered the power to find words. "Forgive… me." His arms fell back, too weak to hold them up. His eyes shut. He couldn't help but feel selfish for his actions. He accepted the fate of Hyrule for what was to come, but he didn't care. Link was leaving the world, joining his friends among the stars.