In that lonely dormant state that stretched for a vast expanse of time, Zelda had only her dreams and memories to accompany her. Memories faded in and out of her consciousness.

"Your Grace, let me help you." A tall, slender woman with light blonde hair stood before her. A grim expression crossed her features that made Zelda uneasy.Zelda looked down and realized she was not herself. This was one of Hylia's memories. Zelda, or rather Hylia's hands were covered in blood and her dress was stained crimson."The seal binding the demon king won't last forever, but I'll do everything in my power to ensure he never returns... You will see me again." Hylia feigned a reassuring smile, but the pain in her side was becoming too great."...Your Grace?" Impa's voice became distant and Hylia couldn't hear her anymore. Everything went black.

The memory faded out and was replaced by a new one.

"I'm going to play with Link now, Daddy," a little girl with bright blonde hair giggled."You two are becoming inseparable. Have fun and be back in time for dinner, both of you!" A man with thick white eyebrows and a piercing gaze that somewhat resembled an owl's said with a warm smile.

The memory faded out and was replaced by a recent memory, this one more vivid than the previous two.

She's a young woman now, being dragged somewhere she does not want to go. She pleads with her captor, a man with sleek white hair. He grasps her wrist firmly with one hand. Even when she tries her hardest to pull away, she finds she can't. He soon tires of her struggle. He sighs and clicks his tongue as if scolding a pet and picks her up. Her heart pounds against her chest as the strange man carries her the rest of the way down the slope towards a spike impaled in the ground.

The memory faded out.

Something was disturbing her peaceful sleep as of late. Zelda sensed she wasn't alone. There was some sort of unsettling presence in the void now.

"Hylia...I see you have joined me." A malicious, calculating voice interrupted her calm.

...Demise?

"Yes," the demon king answered, reading her thoughts.

Why are you here?

"To talk..."

I have nothing to discuss with you. Leave me be.

"You gave up your immortal form just to keep me imprisoned. How pitiful and unfortunate for you."

I did what I had to...to protect my people from you.

"You vile excuse for a goddess. How can you justify taking what is rightfully mine; my own sword, my servant... And to think...I created him to find you, knowing that your soul could bring me back. It was the perfect plan. I'd carry out my revenge on the goddess who sealed me away, and then there would be no one to stop me from taking the Triforce."

You were cruel to create him only to serve your own lust for power. Give up, Demise. I won't let you win.

"Where does this overconfidence come from? My servant may have betrayed me, but I won't let that hinder me from my goal. I can still break this seal time and time again, until your pitiful human form can't hold it any longer. And when that day comes, I won't show any benevolence. I almost feel pity for you." Demise's laughter pealed through the void.

Zelda was alone again, but she no longer felt peaceful. The void became nightmarish, filled with visions of the world Demise would create, and it drained her of her hope. It was as if the void had become tainted. Eventually there were no more memories, just nothingness. She wanted to remember, but she felt so weak.

Please hurry, Link...

The old woman, Impa trembled. In the past few hours, she sensed Zelda's aura growing dim. Would Zelda die in front of her just as Hylia had? Long ago, she had made an oath to watch over the seal and the goddess reborn. She had even traveled through the Gate of Time as her younger self in order to keep Zelda safe and to see that she carried out her destiny. She had been truthful when she introduced herself as Impa, but she hadn't let on that she was one and the same as the old priestess back in the Sealed Temple. Perhaps it was better that way.

She had once admired Hylia's wisdom when the goddess decided to become a mortal. It seemed like the right thing to do to ensure the demon king would remain sealed away. Now Impa had her doubts. Things hadn't turned out as Hylia originally planned. Indeed, things had gone awry at the Temple of Time and were now terribly out of control.

Even the demon lord's aura within the girl was weakening. She still wasn't sure of its meaning. She couldn't explain why, but she felt a sort of grief for Zelda. Was Zelda even aware of it? If she did, Zelda would surely cherish it. Something about it made Impa's usually calm demeanor roil. She was utterly repulsed by the implications.

And then it happened. The timing couldn't have been worse. The ground began to shake. There was no denying what it was. The Imprisoned had once again broken the seal binding it.

Please...oh goddess, no...

The rumbling grew more violent. Impa pushed away the human urge to flee.

I must protect Her Grace until death. If I run, I am nothing more than a coward.

Impa shut her eyes tight. Where was Link? Had he found the Triforce yet? What was taking him so long? A single tear rolled over the teardrop tattoo on her cheek.

So this is how it ends...

There were footsteps now; loud, thunderous foot steps. Then it sounded like it was right on top of them. The foundation itself began to shake, and then there was a deafening crash.