Link opened his eyes with a heavy gasp, panting and panting as he sat up, his hands braced against whatever he was laying on.
His hectic vision cleared to find himself in the Sealed Temple, the real one, grounded in his reality. His breathing heaved until it calmed to a sigh of relief, burying his face in his hands.
He was back, he was fine, the Triforce was fine, and he could live his life.
Link silently rejoiced in it until the silence became louder, something he couldn't ignore.
His brow creased, looking up to see no one.
No Zelda, no Groose, no Indigo.
The Master Sword, sure, but…
"Zel?" He asked to an empty temple, his voice echoing.
He chuckled nervously.
"This isn't funny," he continued, waiting for a reply.
Link wondered why they weren't here. They, from his perspective, had just been standing right where he was looking.
Had he been gone longer than he thought?
Link finally looked down at what he was sitting on.
A bed, an actual bed.
He quickly rummaged away from it with heavy breaths, now fearing how long he had been there.
"Okay!" He called out to the temple as he walked away from the room behind the Master Sword, soon passing it. "Very funny!"
"Not sure why this is a joking matter, but fine," he half-mumbled as he walked down the stairs. The weapons he placed down were even gone. "It's not like I expected you guys to ever grow up completely, but maybe a little."
There was still no reply as he reached the end of the stairs, Link's eyes swimming with fear as he looked around. He took a shaky deep breath, loneliness creeping upon him until it settled.
Of course he couldn't expect them to wait for him. They likely stepped away.
Suddenly he heard the side doors open, Link looking quickly to Groose.
The red-haired knight stepped through the doors casually, his gaze slightly downward. Even as he closed the doors behind him, he didn't seem to notice Link at the bottom of the stairs.
Groose took a couple steps before he finally looked up at a confused Link.
Groose immediately brought a hand to his mouth and started to tear up. His eyes glistened with an approaching wetness as he looked at Link with so many emotions that only confused Link more.
"Groose…what…?"
Before he knew it, Groose had taken him in a desperate hug, clutching him as Link's arms floated at his sides.
Link had come to know Groose as quite the softie, showing his emotions quickly because he took pride in communication, but somehow this was different. This wasn't his usual over-the-top, dramatic embrace just for the whimsy of it. It was the way Groose looked at him, and just sank into his friends embrace as if he never thought he would again.
But that was silly, Link figured, looking for the levity. That familiar levity that he depended on Groose's friendship for.
"Groose," Link said with a laugh, "what…what's going on? Where did everybody go?"
Groose released him, a sadness in his yellow eyes that Link had never seen before.
"You've been asleep for a…long time, Link," Groose said in all seriousness.
"What do you mean, long time? How—"
Link's blue eyes widened.
"Zelda!"
Groose took a pause, thinking over his words.
"Zelda is recovering."
"Recovering?" Retorted Link. "What do you mean, recovering? It can't have been more than—"
"Link," Groose interrupted. "You've been asleep for six months."
Link let out a sharp exhale.
"Six…how…"
His lips formed into a smile, forgoing the question he would sort out later.
"That means she's at term," Link said excitedly. "She's going to have the baby soon. I…I have to see her."
Link started a walk off, towards the doors that would lead him outside.
Groose's expression melted as he looked upon him, that melting sensation descending deep down into his heart.
"Link," he prompted.
Link had just placed a hand on the door, his intent to exit interrupted before he turned back around to face Groose.
"Yeah?"
The expression on Link's face made Groose resist continuing. The hopefulness, the casualty, the candid and soft smile at what he thought lay before him. After all this man had been through to achieve happiness, and he would be the one to destroy it.
"I have to tell you something."
"What?" Link asked, Groose bowing his head.
"Groose, you're scaring me," Link said, taking a step forward. "Whatever it is…"
"I didn't want to be the one to tell you."
"Well, you are, so get on with it," Link said, starting to get frustrated. "What? Did I miss the birth? Did my house burn down? I've never seen you this serious."
The type of levity Link had pained Groose, thinking of how damned far Link had come to not automatically assume the worst.
It was like Link was from a different era entirely, the way he was reacting. It reminded him achingly of how things were six months ago and Link was about to be pulled right into the truth that would end it.
"Zelda," Groose started. He took a shaky deep breath, in and out. It was just two words.
"She miscarried."
Author's Note: Hi, please be nice.