The fresh scent of morning dew creeps through the open windows of Hyrule Castle. The pleasant melody of birdsong rouses its residents from their slumber.
Ningan's eyes shoot open with panic. Where am I?
He sits up in bed and scans his surroundings: a ward with bleak grey drapes that hang either side of a glistening glass window. He climbs out of bed and ventures towards it. Outside, he sees the frosted trees of the Castle Grounds; sparrows huddled in their nests and squirrels digging their claws into the frozen ground.
He peers downward to inspect his wrists: the scars from his shackles have almost faded completely. The Medallions, the mansion, the Count, the Sacred Realm…was it all a dream? The last thing he remembers was coming face-to-face with the ghost of his mother. Surely that was a hallucination…
The door of the ward bursts open. Ningan cries out with joy at the sight of a familiar face.
"Imogen!"
The siblings seize each other in a loving embrace. Their journey had driven them across continents, resisting countless adversaries on their pilgrimage to the promised land of Hyrule, only to be scattered by their royal duties. Now, at long last, they reunite at the cessation of a gruelling battle to revel in their victory.
"You did it, Ningan!" Imogen grins. "You defeated the Count! You're a hero!"
"It's strange…" the ninja returns to the edge of the bed. "I don't remember a thing…"
"Alas, Caedis is vanquished, never to return again." Imogen assures with certainty. "At last, Hyrule can savour peace."
His pointed ears stir at the sound of voices conversing outside. Retracting from his sister's embrace, Ningan strides to the door to eavesdrop:
"He's awake. I heard his voice."
"We cannot break the news until he has fully recovered."
Ningan twists the doorknob and marches out into the corridor. There, he meets his beloved companions.
"Ningan!" Dakota beams as she wraps her arms around his shoulders. "You're finally awake! We were so worried about you!"
"You were out-cold for the best part of twenty-four hours." Ezra explains. "A little worse for wear, but nothing that a Hearty Elixir and a good night's sleep couldn't fix."
"It's so good to see you guys." Ningan smiles warmly as he pulls his friends in for an embrace. "Where is Laurel?"
Their elated warmth fades to frigid silence. Ningan looks to Dakota. Dakota turns to Ezra. Ezra draws his breath.
"Laurel…suffered a snakebite wound to the neck. Venom was injected into his bloodstream, paralysing his entire body. The wound proved to be fatal."
Ningan's heart stops. The cold air seeps through his skin, chilling him to his soul. Dakota's eyes water and she attempts to console him.
"I'm sorry, Ningan. He didn't make it."
His eyes glaze over as he absorbs the gravity of the news. He barges between his friends and walks the corridor with deathly silence.
He emerges out into the open air of Castle Courtyard: the familiar fountain has frozen over; the hedgerows are tipped with a delicate layer of frost. The stone memorial of the Hero of Time stands alone in the centre of the courtyard, surrounded by snow. The statue's eyes gaze down upon him with empathy. Ningan unleashes a cacophonous scream that shakes the birds from the trees. Right there, in the sanctity of the sacred garden, his heart shatters.
