Author's Note: All right, here's the first chapter of the last part. The rest of the story will be in the third-person, just because it made the most sense for what I wanted to do.
I recommend 'File Select' from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to listen to while reading.
Link found himself transported back to the bottom of the hole, giving a small smile when he looked up and saw clear, blue skies, sheathing his sword and shield with the knowledge that it was all over.
Suddenly remembering the girl he was attempting to save, Link ran over to where he last saw her to find Groose still holding her, looking at her with concern.
"Groose…" Link started, terrified to even ask the question as he kneeled in front of them, staring down at Zelda with concerned eyes.
Groose inhaled to speak, not knowing what to tell him.
Because what he wanted to say would be a lie.
Out of the silence, Link placed his hand on her cheek and started desperately,
"Zelda, please be okay…Zelda…I…I did it, I defeated him, it's all over now…please…please…just wake up…please…"
Link let out a shaky exhale when he got no response.
"Link…" Groose said, now concerned for Link as well.
Stuck in denial, Link continued, a slight panic in his voice,
"It's okay, she's okay…it…it…she…she's fine."
"Come on, Zelda," Link said as he picked her up, cradling the back of her knees and letting her drooping head lean on his chest, "we're gonna get you back to Impa and we're gonna wake you up. She can…she can…"
Link started a walk up the hill before he stopped in his tracks, a sudden realization overcoming him.
"How long?" he asked, keeping his back turned to Groose, "How long has she been out? How long was I gone?"
"At least an hour, I'd say," Groose replied, "…but that doesn't mean—"
"Groose…" Link started, interrupting him, "she's not breathing…"
Link couldn't help but tear up in that moment, bowing his head as he hopelessly clutched the body of the girl he loved.
"Link, are…are you okay?" Link heard behind him.
"No, Groose, I was too late…I…I failed her."
Groose approached Link and placed his hand on his right shoulder.
The two just stood there for a moment with bowed heads, barely able to accept that Zelda really was gone.
Suddenly a bright light prompted them to look back up.
They watched in awe as Zelda was lifted out of Link's arms, surrounded in a golden light that reflected off their watery eyes.
As her feet met the ground beneath her, the golden light sparkled as it went into her, seeming to renew her very soul before she just stood there, a simple girl with the smallest smile on her face. The golden light had gone away, yet she still possessed a beauty befitting the goddesses of old.
A beauty that left her chosen hero and his eager companion speechless as they stared.
Until, of course, she opened her ocean blue eyes.
"Zelda?" Link said with a hopeful heart and heavy breaths of anticipation.
"Link!" Zelda exclaimed as she ran to embrace him, feeling Link's relieved exhale as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
And she did the same.
"Are you okay?" they both asked at the same time as they let go of the hug, still holding on to each others' forearms.
They smiled, letting out a giggle at their surprising coordination.
Zelda's expression filled with concern as she placed one hand on the slash in Links' tunic and the other on the cut on his cheek.
"You…you were bleeding," Zelda said as she met his eyes.
Link smiled bigger before replying,
"You're worried about a couple scratches? Zelda," Link gently placed his hand on the back of her head, "I…I almost lost you."
Zelda gave a small smile at the warmth of his touch.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Link asked as he moved his hands to meet hers. Their hands clasped into each other as they lowered.
"All thanks to you," Groose said as he came over and gave Link a pat on the back, "what do you say we get back up there? Huh? This place still gives me the creeps."
"Yeah," Link said with a smile as he slowly let go of her hands and started to walk up the hill with Zelda by his side.
Suddenly noticing that Groose hadn't joined them, they looked back to find Groose behind them, standing still with an odd smile on his face.
"You coming, Groose?"
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you," Groose said before they all started a walk up the hill.
After a couple moments, Links' left hand started to move slowly towards Zelda's, aiming to clasp it into her right. Yet, just before her pinkie would have felt his, he retreated his hand, obviously changing his mind.
"Ahem," they heard Groose retort behind them, prompting them to look back in his direction.
Zelda thought nothing of it and continued walking, yet Link kept looking at Groose, wondering what he would do.
Would he run in between them, forcing them apart? He had done it before. They had become some sort of friends, sure, but would he beat Link up for just trying to make a move like that?
Instead, to Link's surprise, all he did was nod with approval.
So, when Link looked forward once more, he clasped his hand into Zelda's, making them both smile to themselves when Zelda tightened her grip.
Their need for each other was fulfilled in that one moment. The unspoken words expressed in that one touch.
