When he stepped out of the gate, he was back in the temple of time. It didn't smell any different, didn't even really look any different, aside from being… perhaps a little less moss-covered. Standing ahead of him was Impa, her arms folded. She looked as if she'd been waiting for him.

"...at last," she muttered, as Link stepped down the stairs from the gate. "I've been waiting for you, Link. You are doubtless overwhelmed, so I will explain things as simply as I can."

She seemed tired, somehow. Link, biting back his endless questions, stayed put.

"This is the Temple of Hylia, though it will come to be known as the Sealed Temple in the future," she explained, lifting a hand to gesture to the stone building around them. Link lifted his gaze to study it, and saw details and colours he hadn't noticed before. "You stand in the past. Here, the goddess Hylia has only just sealed away Demise… and little time has passed since the goddess sent the outcropping of rock into the sky that will one day become Skyloft."

After taking a surveying look around the temple, Link glanced behind him at the gate, as if making sure it was still there.

"It is true to its name," Impa continued. "You have passed through the gate of time to an era in the distant past. You will have many questions… but to get your answers, you must proceed through the great doors behind you. There, the person you have risked life and blood for to defend… waits for you."

Link followed her gaze to the grand doors at the other end of the room, looming over everything else, with the hylian crest carved upon them. His heart lurched, and he took a shaky step forward, and then glanced sideways to Impa as if to make sure he was good to go. If it wasn't just his imagination, he was sure he saw the slightest smile on her lips as she nodded, and with that, he took off running up the steps towards the doors.

Despite how massive they were, as Link pushed on them, they swung slowly open. What he saw next took his breath away. Standing at the end of the room was Zelda - Zelda - in her white prayer gown, and bathed in sunlight spilling in from the rooftop. He wanted to run to her, to embrace her immediately, but when she turned to look at him, the sad look in her eyes gave him pause.

"You've come so far, Link…" she said, as he slowly approached. "I'm glad you made it."

His lips dropped open, but again, he didn't know what to say; Zelda looked… distinctly heartbroken.

"I'm sure Impa filled you in on everything," she said, with a breath of almost-laughter. "We have traveled very far from home, to the distant past. Here, the wounds inflicted on the world by Demise have not yet healed."

She lifted her eyes to the sunlight, and surveyed the room. When her gaze locked with Link again, a sad smile pulled at her lips.

"All the fairy tales we heard about that war we heard growing up in Skyloft… it seems they were all too real."

Link took another step forward, but Zelda turned away from him once more, looking up.

"I think it's time you learn the whole story," she cautioned him, looking up towards the sunlight and letting her eyes fall shut. "Let me try to explain."

He paused, and took in a deep breath, willing his heart to stop racing. He had been so impatient to see her again, so excited, that now… the reunion felt completely anticlimactic. But if he was supposed to help her, he needed to know what was going on… and so he waited. Zelda, her head still tilted up towards the ceiling, let her head fell sideways a bit to glance at him. He watched her, and she smiled to herself before continuing.

"The old gods created a supreme power that gave anyone who possessed it the ability to shape reality, and fulfill any desire," she began. "They called it the Triforce."

She paused, and then turned to face the wall behind her.

"In his thirst to make the world his own, Demise readied a massive army of monsters for war. He sought to take the Triforce by force. The Goddess feared for her people, so she used her power to send both them and the Triforce into the sky on a slice of earth she cut away from the land."

Skyloft. The same as what Impa had mentioned, just moments ago.

"After a long and fierce battle, the Goddess - Hylia - succeeded in sealing away Demise. However, it soon became clear that the seal would not hold long against his fearsome power," Zelda added. Her head dipped. "Hylia suffered grave injuries in her battle. She knew that if he broke free again, there would be no stopping him. It would be the end. In order to put an end to him, she devised two separate plans."

Finally, she turned to face him, and began slowly walking down towards him, her sandals clicking softly on the stone steps as she went.

"First, she created Fi, the spirit that resides in your sword, to assist her chosen hero. Her second plan… was to abandon her divine form and transfer her soul into the body of a mortal," Zelda continued, lifting her gaze slowly up to meet Link's as she came to a stop in front of him. Link's mind was racing, but slowly, it was all beginning to make sense.

"I'm sure you've figured it out," Zelda said with a small smile, "that you're the chosen hero, and I'm… the Goddess reborn as a mortal."

Link stared at her wordlessly. The bitter part of his mind was saying, "you're just a tool," and the other part was saying "she's always looked divine." Altogether, none of his thoughts at the current moment were very useful. If he was going to be honest with himself, he just wanted to know whether this changed anything; he just wanted to know what he had to do next, what they had to do to get things back to normal.

"All of this… all of these plans, all of my praying, the memories, it's all part of a great effort to prevent the revival of Demise," Zelda explained, taking one more step forward. Her eyes were stuck on Link's, and he hated seeing her looking so sad.

"Stripped of his true form, he takes the shape of an abomination. Even so, he threatens to swallow up the whole world if we let him do what he desires. This is why-" she cut herself short, shut her eyes, and swallowed before continuing- "this is why I intend to remain here, in this time and place, to sustain the seal as best I can."

Link's breath caught in his throat. What?

"Zel-"

"I must maintain the seal that Hylia - rather, that I - created so long ago," she interrupted him, now unable to meet his eyes, "and keep it strong for as long as I am able. This is my purpose."

"You can't be serious-"

"Link- Hylia crafted that sword and chose her chosen hero… for a very specific reason. You are the only one that can defeat Demise."

She looked at him as if it were a request, like she felt guilty, like he could refuse it if he wanted; but he knew that wasn't the case. So they each had a role to fill. And each was horrifying. Bitter acceptance settled in his chest, and he shut his eyes, and nodded once. Fighting that cursed beast back at the sealed temple, that, he could do; he had done it before, and he could do it again, even if it became harder each time. He would fight through a thousand monsters if it meant saving her. Perhaps his focus should have been more on saving the world, but-

When he opened his eyes, and saw her looking back at him with such grief, he knew where his motivation truly came from. It was all her.

She held out her hand, and instinctively, Link reached forward to take it, and then saw her waiting for him; so he knelt down onto the stone floor, and dipped his head.

"Valiant hero," she began, her voice shaking, "you have endured many hardships and journeyed far in your quest to reach this place. Along your travels you have found wisdom, power, and courage, and for this I shall bless your sword with the Goddess' power. May it give you and your sword the strength to drive back the abomination that threatens this land."

The words were crafted, and not by her, but Link was nonetheless distracted by three triangles glowing together on the back of his hand. The mark of the Triforce. His lips dropped open in shock, and he looked up at Zelda to see her smiling down at him.

"Stand up, and draw your sword."

Link obliged, and as he drew the sword and lifted it up, saw the hilt open up like a set of wings and the blade glow an otherworldly blue light, brighter than before. Strength surged through his arm and body. Lifetimes flashed through his mind, brief glimpses of reincarnations to come and battles to be fought, all with this sword - but just as quickly he sheathed it again, his focus returning to Zelda.

"Before I say anything else, I feel like I owe you an apology," she said, turning sideways from him and clasping her hands together. "The mark on your hand is one of unspeakable power. Among the countless souls in this world, only a select few - those with an unbreakable spirit - can wield its might. It's impossible to know the true reason why the old gods created the Triforce, but… I have a theory of my own."

Link waited, patient, to hear what she had to say, though he felt decidedly like an apology was not necessary, never, not from her.

"They designed it so that their own kind could never use it. I think it was their way of giving hope to the mortal beings of this land. ...Which brings us back to you," she added, looking back at him sadly. "To face Demise and give the land hope, Hylia needed someone with an unbreakable spirit. That someone is… you."

"Zel," Link said, letting out a frustrated breath. "I know, it's okay-"

"But spirit alone wasn't enough," she interrupted him, shutting her eyes. "You had to overcome so many trials and awaken the hero within yourself so you could wield it. And so, Hylia - I mean, I - I knew... that if it meant saving Zelda, you would throw yourself headfirst into any danger, without a moment's doubt."

Link's eyes widened. His mind, for a moment, felt at war with itself. She - Hylia, that was - was completely right. He would throw himself headfirst into danger, without a moment's notice. It was a given. But if that was the case, was her whole plan… simply to dangle Zelda in front of him, like a carrot on a stick? He wouldn't have been so upset if that was all it was, but the fact of the matter was that Zelda was obviously in immense pain over all of this, and also… she was putting herself at risk.

"I… I used you," Zelda continued, her voice breaking.

"It wasn't you," Link argued.

"I can't begin to say how sorry I am for all of this, but this is a war," she continued, stepping further up the stone steps as Link watched helplessly. "I need your strength to tip the scales in our favour. It may be well intentioned, but it doesn't mean it's right, and doesn't excuse my actions. But I'm prepared to pay the price for what I've done."

"Zel, please, just talk to me," Link pressed, beginning to walk forwards to the stone steps. "You're not your past life, it's not- it's not your fault, Zel!"

But she wasn't listening.

"To ensure that the seal holds, I will remain here in this time, deep in sleep for thousands of years," she said, and when she turned around, Link could just make out the sight of tears brimming in her eyes. "I can't say it enough. I'm so, so sorry, Link. I had no idea that we were fated to carry such a heavy destiny."

His heart was breaking. Why did she feel responsible for something she hadn't actually done? He understood, in a way - of course he did - but seeing her like this was unbearable.

"Before this, I was happy just spending my days hanging around with you in Skyloft. I wanted that feeling to last… forever," she said, sounding happier now, but the way she spoke made him feel like she was saying goodbye. He broke into a run, even as light began to envelop her.

"Stop- please-" he choked, tripping up the steps as he came closer, but the light had formed a wall. He slammed his fist against it, staring desperately through the orange light towards her. Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and he could tell, just a little bit, that she was smiling. Just barely.

"I'm still my father's daughter, and still your friend, Link," she said, her voice muffled. "I'm still your Zelda."

Link stopped, hands slowly dragging down the glass, and dipped his forehead against the glass wall that was quickly solidifying.

"When Demise is finally gone, there will be no need for the seal that binds him, and I'll be able to wake up. So I'm going to ask you a favor, sleepyhead."

Link lifted his eyes up to meet hers. "When all of this is over, will you come wake me up?"

He could see tears rolling down her cheeks, but had no idea that he was doing the same until he spoke and his voice almost completely gave out.

"I promise."

The light intensified, and Link took a shaky step backwards as the glass solidified. Zelda was left motionless in front of him, sealed away as if in amber, her eyes shut and a smile etched on her lips. He stared at her until the realisation dawned. That was it. He was alone. He dipped his head, clenched his right hand into a fist, and then turned.

Impa was waiting for him, back at the gate. The stone doors to the sealed temple slid closed behind him as he left, and he stopped for a moment, biting back the bitterness that threatened to rise out of him. He wanted to blame her. But he had to swallow it.

"You knew," he said simply, and Impa only nodded once in return.

"I see you've said your goodbye. Now, you must keep your promise. Return to your time - there is work to be done there."

Link looked back at her wordlessly, somewhat surprised at her complete lack of sympathy, but he realised then that he shouldn't have been. She was always this blunt. However, before he could turn to walk away, she stopped him.

"Do not fear for her. I am here to watch over her. Go, and fulfill your destiny."

Link's mouth fell open. He wasn't sure what to say. After what Zelda had told him, it seemed clearer than ever that really, he had no say in any of this. He was left with no choice, and to her credit, neither was she. He would fight to save her. Always. Always.

He nodded back to Impa, a silent thank you, and then left back to the gate of time.

I'll see you soon, he thought, looking over his shoulders at the massive stone doors that led the way to where Zelda stood, sealed in time. And then he walked back through the gate. Impa was right; there was work to be done.

The old woman was waiting for him when he returned, her hair braid swinging side to side as usual.

"So, you're back. Then you know everything… on the other side of that gate, Zelda waits, suspended in a sleep without end. But do not despair, for she is alive and well."

Not exactly how I'd describe it, Link thought to himself, but he bit his tongue.

"We do not know much of the Triforce," the woman continued, frowning. "It is thought to have been hidden within Skyloft for the Goddess. Look there for the key to finding it - all other clues have been lost to the ages."

Skyloft? At least it was close to home; better than searching the desert again.

"Yo! C'mere, Link," Groose called suddenly, "there's something I gotta tell you."

He was standing in one of the rooms covered in moss, looking restless. Link smiled briefly to the old woman, and then jogged over to Groose, who was wringing his hands.

"So, Zelda - how's she holding up? Was she ok when you saw her?"

He looked worried. But not like Link might have expected. He looked… genuine.

"She's… sealed away for thousands of years until I can defeat Demise," Link said honestly, and Groose's shoulders drooped.

"That's terrible. Gotta be so hard for the poor girl. You're gonna do something about this mess, right?" he asked, looking determinedly towards Link, who nodded quickly back in response.

"Link… I'm not going back," Groose continued, staring thoughtfully upwards. "I'm staying here with Grannie. Don't look so bummed out - do I look sad? Nah! I don't know how to explain it. I got this feelin' in my belly like there's work to be done here."

"Same," Link muttered.

"Someone's gotta watch that big ugly monster, and make sure Grannie's doing alright. It ain't as action-packed as what you're doing, but maybe this is my destiny, you know?"

"Yeah," he replied, surprised to hear such sense coming out of Groose's mouth. If even a bumbling fool like Groose could accept his destiny, Link figured he'd have no problem.

"Plus, it smells nice down here. What?" he countered, seeing Link's eyebrows raise. "Anyways, look. Zelda and Grannie have brought life back to the land here. I bet a tree could grow here. It'd brighten this place up a bit too. So yeah… let the people in Skyloft know that I'm doing okay."

Realisation dawned on Link slowly, and then all at once. Groose wasn't just talking a load of shit. He was never planning on going back. Maybe this was where he really was meant to be; maybe he wouldn't be so insufferable down here. So far, so good.

"I will," Link said, after a pause. Groose looked back at him gratefully.

"Thanks, Link."