Link's breath rattled in his throat as his elderly eyes watched the Poes that, for the first time since Midna had left, he could see the full form of. He was dying and after a long life he felt at peace with that. After his adventures, he had settled in the Forest Temple, despite Zelda's urgings for him to stay at the castle. But he knew he didn't belong in a crowd of people after roaming the land for so long. Here, where his only companions were the animals and occasional visitors, he belonged here.
The wind began to blow outside and the bridges creaked as they moved. Skulltulas watched him from the vine-covered walls, waiting for him to die. But suddenly they froze before skittering away to hide from the dark presence that was congregating in the room. Link's eyes focused on the portal and he slowly drew himself up off the bed, hand resting his sword's handle, even old and dying he was the Hero of Time and had a duty to vanquish evil.
A shadowed form appeared in the depths of the portal, walking towards him, and then a chuckle echoed around the room, bouncing off wooden walls. He knew that laugh; it haunted his dreams even now, after so many years. The broad armor covered shoulders were the same, not even the trim of his beard had changed. Ganondorf had emerged from the darkness.
He regarded Link, took in every winkle on his face and the way his hair had went from blonde to silver. Then his gaze, almost bored now, fell upon the wavering metal blade, he smirked and Link knew why. Compared to the glow of the Master sword this blade seemed dull in comparison, though it had brought him through many battles Link knew it would not be enough. As if to prove his thoughts right the sword was batted aside with so little effort. Panic welled up in Link's gut, there were no Light arrows to save him now, no helpful imps and the approaching death that he had been so at ease with was now a mortal enemy.
The Gerudo came closer and Link wondered if he had always been for huge, had time simply worn away the memory of the gut wrenching terror this man instilled or was it new, a side effect of being powerless before him? A hand closed around his throat, strength undiminished, dark skin in stark contrast to his pale throat. "Hello Hero, it seems I have come a little too late or too early, I assume the Princess, or did she become a Queen, is already dead?"
Link could only nod and hated his failing body for not being able to fight this monster. Ganondorf continued, "The triforce of courage has already left your body, it is waiting for you to go to claim it in a place I cannot go." He put his face close to Link's and starred into his eyes as he asked, "What is it like to die? I can tell you what it is like to wish to die but not death itself."
His tone was proud but in it Link could hear a faint trance of envy that he could find rest while the warlord could never be at peace. Link tried to speak but his voice was gone and his vision following, the man before now nothing more than nightmare blots of red, tan and black with streams of gold glinting. The Gerudo admitted, "Conquering Hyrule means nothing without you and the Princess. I'll wait for you both to come again but let me hurry you along." He twisted his hand and Link's spine snapped, setting his soul free to be reborn.