"It's over. It's finally over." Zelda looked at Link with sadness in her eyes. They stood above the world, among the clouds. "Oh, Link, I'm so sorry for dragging you into all of this. I was young and did not realize the consequences of my decisions. The least I can do is send you back to your own time."
Link nodded absently. He did not want to go, but he had to. "Give up the sword, Link. Put the Master Sword to rest. Return it to its pedestal in the Temple of Time." She extended her hand. "Give me the Ocarina of Time."
Link saw what she was going to do, but he didn't want it. He loved her with all of his heart, but he knew that nothing could come between them. The Ocarina had become a part of him. Regretfully he reached into his tunic, into a pouch and produced the Ocarina of Time. Zelda put her hand over it to grab it, and he reached out to her, but she put her other hand over his. There was pain in her eyes that he felt as well.
She spoke again: "When peace returns to Hyrule, then it will be time for us to say goodbye. I must thank you, Link."
Link saw a tear tumble down her cheek, and he resisted the urge to brush it away. She lifted her hand and took the Ocarina. She then put it to her lips and began to play Zelda's Lullaby, but the notes were slightly different. Suddenly Link found himself entrapped in a crystal with Navi, floating upwards towards the sky.
Navi landed on Link's shoulder for one last time as he became a child again and they landed in the Temple of Time once more.
"It's over, Link," she said. "The Deku Tree only had me stay with you for this adventure. I am bound to the Kokori. I'm—I'm going to miss you, Link."
With that she flew up—up—up out of the Temple of Time. Link held out his arm and cried, "Wait!" but she kept flying upwards. Both cried terribly, but Navi had to leave. Link looked down at the Sword of Time, that accursed sword that had tainted his destiny, and felt a pang of regret. Then he saw a flash of light on the floor.
He stooped and picked up a circular pearl. He recognized it immediately: it was a Fairy's Tear. Saria had once told him that they were shed by fairy's when they were taken from someone they loved. At this he shed another tear, but he regained his composure. He stood tall and walked slowly out of the Temple of Time, his heart torn to tiny shreds.
** ** **
Later that day Link wove his way through the Castle Guards, through the Castle Gardens, to Zelda's Courtyard. She was staring at a window, just as she had the day he met her, but for different reasons. He walked towards her, purposely making his footsteps audible.
She turned, and let out a startled gasp, but not a frightened one. She was still the Seventh Sage, and could protect herself. Link's finely tuned ears heard Impa land behind him, but he didn't care. He took a step closer to Zelda and said, "Hi, I'm Link."