Sometime later, the pair woke from their nap. Link was starving and was very thankful for the bowl of stew the army had given him. There had been more casualties than expected and Link couldn't help but feel guilty about that. Here he was giddy with the idea of victory and marriage to the woman he'd loved since he was 14, and people's lives were destroyed. Paya had been trying to get in contact with Impa for the past few hours, but all she'd gotten was a message saying Impa was alright.

"I'm worried, I feel like someone needs to go check on her," Paya said. It wasn't just pragmatism of the chief court scientist going missing, there was a personal fear there. Sheikah usually weren't so sentimental, but Link did forget sometimes that the two were cousins. There was a lot about Impa that Link forgot.

"Go," Zelda said, "We have the main terminal here, so we can still send and receive messages. If you use instant transport you can get there quickly."

Paya was clearly reluctant, and Link sighed. He really didn't want to leave Zelda now, but as it was he was of little use there. "I can go," he said, "the transport doesn't bother me as much."

Zelda's eyes flashed in defiance, but another glance at Paya softened her resolve.

"I don't think she's in danger, but I worry what she has made in the shrine of resurrection. I don't remember her having any special plans, but I never paid close attention."

"There were a few things that she had ideas for, but... " Zelda though hard, "It was mostly for the future, shrines to help future heroes, things like that."

"Maybe this fight interfered with something and she's just righting it. She does get consumed in her tasks wholly," Link said, "Either way, I should go."

"If it is just repairs, tell her they can wait." Paya said, handing the Sheikah Slate over.

Link nodded. Before he could leave, Zelda touched his arm. He looked to her.

"Don't take too long," she said. Then, in a moment of boldness, kissed him on the cheek.

He was shocked speechless and mechanically he selected the new instant transport location. Finding his voice finally, he said, "I won't." before being dematerialized in a rush of blue light.

…

He rematerialized in a dark room lit by blue light. A figure he made out to be Impa stood near a terminal, working frantically. In the center of the room was a pedestal, with a person on it. The person was still.

Link took a step, the splash of his footsteps echoing loudly throughout the room an Impa turned around quickly. She looked a mess. Her hair was at all angles, and she was covered in dirt and debris. Her clothes were torn and he realized her eyes weren't just sheikah red. She sniffed and stifled another sob.

"So the great hero has graced me with his presence," she choked out bitterly.

Link was at a loss. "Impa, what is this place?"

"Oh, it's just a pet project of mine," she said, turning back to the terminal, "I was worried about if either you or the princess died, like, what would happen?" She snorted. "Turns out I was worried about the wrong thing."

She blew her nose on a handkerchief, but sobs still occasionally wracked her body.

"What is this place?" he asked again.

"The Shrine of Resurrection," she announced loudly. "I know, medical care, not exactly my area of expertise, but you see, it's not exactly healing per say. The Temple of Time is just a hop and a skip away." Now describing her work, Impa was able to talk clearer. "I already have one prototype with time manipulation working, I thought, why not study the Temple of Time and see if I can use it to reverse death. Time stones can do something similar…" she gazed at the body on the slab, and Link put two and two together finally.

He took a closer look to see a man in torn clothes, covered in wounds. They were the savage stabs and bashes of monster weapons, and only clean due to him having bled out. He was nearly unrecognizable, but clearly a Sheikah. It was Impa's husband.

"How did–" Link started, but Impa answered before he could finish.

"I'd be curious as to the death count of civilians due to monsters in the coming days." She refused to look away from the terminal. "But it wasn't that. The fool died trying to protect me. Me!" Tears fell on the glowing lights. "After all this, all of this will have very little purpose, right? We're just going to seal it all up so whenever Ganon comes back, because he'll always come back, the people in that time will have it to help as well. That's all we can do right? Help prepare the future."

"Impa–" Link started, reaching out.

"Don't try to stop me!" she shouted.

Link lowered his arm. "I wasn't going to stop you. I… I understand how you feel I think."

Impa snorted. "Sure you do, you get to marry the princess now, don't you? I'm sure that's a huge let down." She shook for a moment, then crumpled to her knees. "I didn't mean that. I'm sor–"

"It's fine." It was painful to see her this way. She was hurting worse than she could ever hurt him. It was lashing out of an injured animal. "How can I help?"

"Honestly?" she asked, "Pray."

So Link did just that. He'd never gotten any direct answers really, but indirect ones… Being their chosen one must mean something.

Impa needs this, he pleaded, please.

Impa connected two wires and the lights flickered. She typed something final and hit the panel with her palm. The lights suddenly whirled to life, blindingly so. They stayed that way for a full minute. The machines were deafening as well. Link worried for a second it would all go up.

Finally, it dimmed to let Koshia be seen, but he was as limp as before.

Link approached Impa to steady her. At her first glimpse of the pale and lifeless face, her sobs erupted like a geyser. Link inspected her husband closer.

It was nearly imperceptible, but his wounds were closing up, and slowing knitting together.

"Impa, Impa," Link tried to console, but she was despondent. "Impa, it's working. Not all at once, but it's working, look!"

Slowly she was able to open her eyes and see what he meant. "Its– but his vitals–"

The terminal beeped soothingly and she tore herself out his arms to look at it. "His heart is beating–" she started crying again, but a smile was on her face. "And his brain."

She made her way over to Koshia and stroked his face lovingly. Link couldn't bring himself to part the two of them. "I'll talk to the temple, they should be able to bring you food."

Impa nodded, but he doubted she actually heard his words. Smiling to himself, he left to go do what he'd said he'a do, and after that, selected the castle to return.