Author's Note: I recommend 'Fi's Gratitude' for this one.
Yes, it's that chapter.
Not to say that you will cry, but you might want to get some tissues ready. Just the music alone gets me every time.
Now facing the large doors, Link let go of Zelda's hand to quickly hold open the door for her.
Zelda gave him a smile as she walked inside before Groose followed her in, raising his eyebrows expectantly at Link with a smirk.
The heavy doors thudded behind Link as he closed them.
"Link," said Impa, who was standing up the small flight of stairs before them.
Link was prompted by the tone of her voice to step forward, in front of Groose and Zelda.
"It seems you have fulfilled the destiny set before you. I should never have doubted the strength in your courage. You…you have done well," Impa continued with the smallest smile before giving a small bow, "thank you."
"I…I don't…" Link stammered, bewildered by the respect he was receiving.
He looked behind him to Zelda with an incredulous expression, expecting her to mirror his reaction and be equally amazed at what he felt was undeserved attention.
Yet, when he turned around, both Groose and Zelda had bowed to him as well.
"We owe you our lives," said Groose
Link took an exhale to speak, yet he was rendered speechless by his own humility.
"Link…I…" Zelda started before Link could find the composure to object to their respect.
"I want to thank you as well," she said as her head tilted back up, her eyes full of a happiness, a relief she hadn't felt in weeks, "I think it's over…finally it's all over. All because of you…"
Her eyes locked with Link before they started to form tears, eliciting Link to step forward and place his left hand on the side of her arm. His concern for her was almost washed out by the smile on his face.
"Nice going, you two," Groose said as he walked past them towards Impa, "you guys were totally amazing in this little adventure I like to call the Legend of Groose."
Link turned his head and gave Groose a puzzled glare.
"…That's a little joke," Groose said in reply with a slight chuckle before Link turned his head back to Zelda.
"Hey…you okay?" Link asked, his voice softening as he stepped closer.
"Yeah," Zelda said as she lifted her head and wiped away her tears, her eyes locking into his as he took her hands.
"Joke or not," said Impa behind them, "your contributions to our efforts were heroic. You have my thanks."
"Aww, well, you know," Groose replied, "just glad I could make myself useful. I'm happy things turned out okay."
"Hey," Groose continued as he turned to face Link and Zelda, Link turning his head when he heard Groose.
"So things look pretty sewn up here. What do you say guys? Ready to head back to our own time? Grannie was really worried about you two. We don't want to keep the old girl in suspense too long."
Link nodded before a blue light suddenly shot upwards from the hilt of his sword, stealing everyone's gaze as it elegantly turned into the spirit of the master sword.
The spirit of Fi.
"Hylia, Your Grace," she started, "or perhaps you prefer 'Zelda'. It pleases me to know you are safe."
She took an odd pause and then continued,
"…Master, I must speak with you."
Just like the circumstance of their very first encounter, Link was prompted to follow her, to quench his curiosity as to where she was going and what she would do when she got there.
With Zelda following at a slight distance, Link looked upon Fi as he walked, with a suspicion much like he had before, yet this time he was put off by the pause in her phrasing, her slower movement up the stairs, her bowed head.
He knew something was up.
And, as soon as he saw the pedestal at the top of the stairs, he couldn't stop staring at it, frozen by the sight of its' engravings, of the hole in its' center, frozen by the knowledge that his destiny was ending.
"Master Link," he heard, the ears at the sides of his head eager for what it all meant, for what saying goodbye to his destiny really would entail.
"You have successfully protected the goddess reborn and defeated Demise, fulfilling your role as the hero of legend. My purpose here is complete. Therefore, I ask you to dissolve our arrangement as master and servant. Drive the sword into the pedestal before you, and I will return to the sword to enter a sleep without end."
Link looked back up at Fi with a gasp, slowly realizing what she meant.
"Master, you have achieved the purpose you were chosen to fulfill. Please, set the sword in the pedestal and bring the goddess' mission to an end. Now, Master, it is time to conclude our necessary companionship."
Link watched with sad eyes as Fi returned to the hilt of his sword, as she had so many times before.
From the momentum of her spirit, he stood back up slowly with the realization that it was her last.
His head looked to his left, dreading the deed he had been instructed to do, his sad eyes filled with the knowledge that it meant the end of a trusted companion, a friend, even, when he needed one the most.
But, when he looked back and saw her, Zelda, the girl he loved, the girl that his destiny allowed him to save, he knew in his heart that it was time.
They nodded to each other before Link turned back to the pedestal and grabbed the hilt of his sword, taking a deep breath in and out.
He held his sword skyward for the very last time and plunged it into the pedestal. A blue, iridescent glow shining from the beautiful blade as Link released his hold on the Master Sword.
He stared at it for a moment, unsure of how to react to the cold, almost meaningless goodbye he had gotten.
It was so different from what that sword meant to him.
He turned around, starting to head down the stairs, before a familiar chime rang in his ears, stopping him where he stood.
When he turned back around, hopeful yet uncertain, the sword was glowing with a faint, undistinguishable light.
"Link…" he heard a familiar voice say, "Link, hear me. My purpose was to obey the command of the goddess and lead you, the chosen hero of this land, on your quest. When I first awoke and began this task, I perceived it as merely serving my function as a servant to Her Grace. However, I have come to consider the information corresponding to our time together among the most precious data I have on record."
Link walked forward as he saw Fi appear in her spirit form continuing,
"I do not have the capability to fully understand the Hylian spirit, Link…But now, at the end of my journey with you, as I prepare to sleep within the Master Sword forever, I experience a feeling I am unable to identify. I lack sufficient data to be sure of my conclusion, but I believe this feeling correlates closest to what your people call…happiness. Our partnership is at an end, and even as we speak, I feel my consciousness fading away. Before I enter the sleep that calls me to the sword, I wish to relay to you words that I recorded many times over the course of our journey. Many have said them to you thus far, but I now wish to say them for myself…"
"Thank you, Master Link," Fi said as Links' sad eyes blinked slowly, sinking into a bittersweet expression, "May we meet again in another life…"
Link let out a small gasp when she suddenly disappeared, as if she never existed.
But he knew she did.
"You're welcome," he said before turning around and walking down the stairs.
"What?" Link heard Zelda ask Impa once he was within earshot, "Impa, why? Come with us!"
"Zelda, Your Grace," she said in reply, "you possess the memories of the goddess. You must understand why that is not possible. I am a being of this age. My place is here."
"I…I know that," Zelda said as she stepped forward, "but…"
"You must return to your own time," Impa continued, "I will take care of the gate once you have passed through."
Zelda rushed forward and stopped closer to Impa to say,
"I…can't do that. You and I have been through so much together. I don't want to leave you alone. Please, Impa. Come back with us."
Impa then smiled, placing her hand on Zelda's shoulder.
"Zelda, at the command of the goddess, I passed through the Gate of Time. I did so to protect you and aid the fight to prevent the world's destruction. The last remnants of Demise are decaying slowly within the sword. Someone must stay behind to watch over this blade. His spirit must not reawaken. He must never be allowed to threaten the world again. This is the nature of the task given to my tribe. As a member of the Sheikah, the goddess' chosen guardians, I gladly welcome this duty."
Zelda bowed her head in the recognition that Impa was right, that she would have to let her go.
"Zelda, I shall watch over the Triforce. Its' power is too great to leave in the grasp of man. Dependence on its' might is an invitation to disaster. When it has served its' purpose, it must be secreted away to lay dormant once again…the knowledge of its' existence hidden from mortal history. These are the words the goddess spoke to me long ago. I remember them well. As do you, I'm sure."
Zelda looked back up and nodded, her eyes saddened by the sight of her friend, before she quickly removed one of her bracelets.
Offering it to the woman in front of her as a gesture of good will, as a reminder to her friend that she would never truly be alone.
"Do not despair, Zelda," Impa said as she took the bracelet, knowing what Zelda did not, "You and I will surely meet again someday."
They both smiled at the sentiment before Zelda looked behind her and saw Link walking towards her.
They exchanged small smiles in the acknowledgement that they both had to say goodbye to dear friends, yet they now had each other instead.
The two of them nodded to Groose before following him through the gate.
