Links POV:
I slammed the door so hard behind me.
YOU IDIOT!
What is WRONG with you?!
"Linny! Are you alright?! You're as red as a salmon!"
I nod my head to Kodah, who now has two full trays of steaming hot food, I quickly go to her side and take them off her hands. As I take them away, Kodah begins to giggle.
I lost my cool, I was about to do something I couldn't come back from…
"Linny…were you and the princess being…naughty…?"
"N-No! What makes you say that?!" nearly dropping the trays from her statement.
She boasts out in laughter, "Sorry! But I just couldn't resist!"
Yeah, tell me about it.
I roll my eyes, trying to calm myself down. Setting down the trays on a nearby table. Grabbing a small bowl of rice from one of them. But for once I don't have an appetite.
I tried to kiss her.
Why would you ever try that Link? Why?
It felt as though I was being pulled in by her beauty. Captivated by her emerald eyes. My whole body just acted on its own…
Like I've done that before…
The doors to the washroom open up slowly, Zelda steps out wearing the bright blue Champion's tunic, it clings to her chest and falls loosely over her upper thighs, she tugs at the end of the tunic to keep it riding up on her anymore, her whole face is a shade of cherry red.
She's wearing my clothes…
Must…look…away…
She looks over to me, catching me staring at her figure, and immediately looks at Kodah, acting like I don't even exist.
"K-Kodah! The food looks so amazing!"
She narrows her eyes to Zelda, looking from top to bottom and then over to me with a small smirk.
"How kind of you Linny! Sharing your clothes with the princess…if you'd like, you can hand me your dirty clothes and I can wash them for you! I'll have them ready for you in the morning!" She says to Zelda.
"O-Oh yes! That would be great!" She goes back to the washroom and hands her her muddied clothes,
"You'll just…be stuck with wearing Linnys clothes all night," Kodah snickers.
"T-That's perfectly fine…I-I don't mind wearing his clothes…" she blushes, quickly glancing over to me.
"And you?" Kodah turns to me, with her hand out.
"What?"
"Are you gonna strip?"
"W-WHAT?!"
"YOUR TUNIC LINNY! HAND IT OVER!", I look over to Zelda who is holding her hands covering her mouth.
"I-It's not even that dirty…"
"Well you stink! So your tunic stinks!"
I stink?!
"...okay fine…can I get a little privacy?"
Kodah rolls her eyes, "Alright fiiine, you Hylians are so…modest," exiting the room.
I look over to Zelda, looking in every other direction except at me. "Don't worry, I-I won't peek…" she whispers quietly, turning around, looking out to the view of the lake.
"Oh, have you never seen a bare-chested man before?" laughing nervously. Trying to brush off my stupid actions from earlier. She remains silent, shuffling her shoulders, embarrassed.
"W-Well I…except y-you…" she whispers out.
So…cute.
I start to undo all the buckles and straps I have on my tunic. Unequipping the Hylian shield and Master sword that rest on my back. Placing it near my bed for the night. Rolling my shoulders from the weight being lifted off.
Undoing the tunic, I look down at all of the faded scars around me. It astounds me that I don't remember even half of these.
Closing my eyes, I see a swamp of Guardians, climbing on Hyrule castle and sieging the old Castle Town ruins, lasers firing off everywhere, some from the castle itself. Calamity Ganon's blight swirling menacingly around us. Zelda's face was filled with terror, I grabbed her hand as we ran away from the castle, a feeling of fear overtook me for a moment, as if I was stuck in that moment in time. It was pouring rain…and I just remember words echoing through my head.
Protect her…
Don't get spotted…
We need to get to Hateno—
As soon as the thought passes, a Guardian's eye stares directly at me, immediately firing off at us, my vision going white, it feels like I stopped breathing.
"Link…"
Zelda's voice had me open my eyes, shaking my head lightly.
"Zelda–!"
Taking in the Zoran suite we're in. I feel so short of breath, looking back at my reflection, I can see her staring at me in the corner with her brows furrowed in concern.
"Are you…okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine…I was just…thinking…"
She continues to shuffle her shoulders around, still avoiding making eye contact with me, understandably. She begins twiddling with her fingers, whispering behind them.
"...I…don't think you stink…"
"What?"
"A-Are you deaf?! I said—" ''WHAT?" I exaggerated.
"I-I said—!
…I don't think you stink…THERE!" she grabs a plate of food, starting to bite into the first thing she sees.
My face feels so hot, I need to calm down. But her reaction is priceless. I burst out in laughter from nervousness.
"Well I'm glad you think so, but if one person thinks I stink, then it probably means I do," smiling softly. Walking towards the washroom and closing the door behind me. Kicking myself, because I just had to make things so awkward.
Looking at the tub while getting the hot water ready once again, just reminds me of my actions from mere minutes ago.
AHHH!
Grabbing my bangs, ruffling my hair around. Trying to shake the memory out of my head. Thinking back on the face she had before I tried …that…she seemed so sad.
"Do you think…you would have accepted her proposal…? If she had survived?"
Would I have married Mipha?
I just don't remember any past feelings for her…I don't feel the same way I do with…Zelda.
Was I wrong to answer what I did so quickly…?
Looking out to Polymous Mountain, an air of tension looms over me. The lynel must have reanimated during the last Blood Moon. But Sidon had said there was something different about it this time. Describing it to have a pink-purple aura surrounding it. It could only mean one thing.
Malice.
Zelda understood when she heard it too. But it begs the question, why?
How can malice still remain if Ganon has been sealed…?
Are we…missing something…?
Besides the blights that killed the Champions, I've never fought a malice possessed monster before. I can't be certain of its power, but considering it's a lynel…it's on par with the strength of a Guardian…probably even more powerful.
It's more than concerning.
I finished washing up, noticing all the dirt and grass that was hiding in my hair and on the rest of my body. My stomach knots from embarrassment, something I'm not quite used to. But considering I was so…close with Zelda earlier, I can't believe I tried doing…that, with how dirty I was.
Drying up, and getting dressed in some more comfortable clothes, I take in a deep breath, staring up at the large doors leading back to the room. I'm gonna have to face her, should I just make something up? It was so uncalled for…she won't buy any excuse I give her, she's too smart for that.
Just. tell. her.
I swing the door open, preparing myself to confront her, and look around. It doesn't take long for me to spot her, she looks like took a few bites from her food…but she has completely crashed out.
I walk over to her bed, and watch over her sleeping body. Her eyes completely closed shut, and light snoring coming from her, taking in heavy breaths. For once, she doesn't seem to be crying in her sleep. My mouth curls up to see her look so…peaceful. She must've been so exhausted after everything that happened today…meeting with Dorephan, the Guardian attack…and the Yiga attack.
Another concern of mine, how are we going to get rid of them? I would have hoped that after sealing the Calamity that they would have gone into hiding, but it appears not. Malice possessed monsters and the Yiga…I wonder if they have anything to do with each other…
…
No…
There's no way, the Yiga don't even possess that kind of magic. Most of them are just normal Hylians or traitorous Sheikah. There's nobody that I've ever come across who has the ability to control malice, besides Ganon.
So what is it?
Or…who is it…?
I carefully take my hand and stroke her long golden hair softly, being careful not to awake her. I almost jump when she instinctively lays her hand on mine, still sleeping away. A heat forms on my cheeks. But I just kneel down and lean against her bed for a moment. I cup her head with my trapped hand and gently pull her face closer to mine, letting my lips press against her soft forehead gently.
Zelda,
I'm sorry…that I couldn't protect you back then. So I can't let myself have you because of that…but…I will never stop caring for you.
…
Even if you never feel the same way back.
I regrettably pull back along with my hand from her light grasp, once again taking in her breathtaking beauty. There's one thing for certain…
I can't let her go up that mountain tomorrow.
….
The sun had barely begun to rise, its light starting to glow on the mountains surrounding us. Sparkling light glistening off the nearby waterfalls. My body felt so heavy from waking myself up from a deep sleep. I rock back and forth from the buoyant water bed. Ruffling my hair with my palm pressed against my forehead, and begin rubbing the tired out of my eyes. Over to my side, near where the exit is, there's a pile of clothes folded neatly near the door. Kodah probably placed them here during the night.
Over to the other side of the bed and across from me is the other single bed with Zelda still sleeping away peacefully. I got up carefully, trying not to move the bed around too much. Making my steps as light as possible, picking up the folded clothes; and begin getting dressed. Placing the leather vest over top of my tunic and buckling things back into place, strapping the Master Swords hilt to my back and securing the Hylian Shield on me. Looking back every now and then, checking to see if there are any slight movements Zelda has made. While traveling alone, I've never noticed how much noise I can make until now. Luckily, it looks like she hasn't moved an inch.
I look in the long mirror, checking to make sure everything is secured. Then lightly walk towards Zelda's side. Kneeling down and taking one last look at her face. Lightly brushing the out of place hairs out of her face.
It feels wrong leaving her like this without a word, but the sooner I get rid of this lynel, the better. I look over to the nightstand in between the two beds, taking note of the Sheikah slate laying there, glowing faintly in the dimly lit room.
Grabbing it as I quietly exit the room. Taking one final look back to Zelda.
…
I'll be right back.
…
Closing the door behind me, making sure it leaves no sound. Kayden is the only one at the desk, smiling when he sees me.
"Good morning Link! You're up rather early!"
I quickly place my finger up to my mouth. Hoping that he realizes I want him to be quiet. He looks astonished by my quick movements, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"...is the princess joining you this morning?"
"Not…necessarily, but I'll be back,"
A look of confusion falls on his face, taking a moment to analyze my face. Seeming to understand that I plan on going this alone.
"Kodah packed you both a lunch, why don't you take this for your morning?" handing me a wrapped bento box. "I'll have her pack you another one for later," he says quietly.
"Be careful out there,"
Nodding my head as I walk out of the inn. Only a few Zora are out in the plaza, Sidon is nowhere to be seen.
Good.
He'll be able to keep an eye on Zelda while I take care of this. The lynel may have shock arrows that he can't get near anyways. Hopefully no Yiga clan can make it this far and deep into the Domain. I begin heading towards the mountain, and start climbing the waterfalls quickly.
I'll take on the heat Zelda will inevitably dish out on me. But as long as she's okay, it won't matter to me.
While ascending the mountain, the Master Sword begins to pulsate. A tall tale sign of the presence of Ganon's malice.
Just what is going on here?
This isn't good. But I've gone against lynels before, I can do this.
We can do this.
Looking down to the Master Sword, which pulses quickly in response to that thought. It's times like this when I wish I could understand it. Just like the Hero of Old…the same one whose spirit can only possess this sword. I'm sure he could understand it. But I never could…maybe if I did, things would have turned out differently with the Calamity.
But I can't think about that now.
I'm already here.
Spotting a silver-maned lynel. Which is already strange. As opposed to the normal red-maned one that usually rests up here.
"What the—?" I trail off, looking on in horror. It's hard to miss the aura of malice surrounding the monster. It lets out low growls, erratically emitting roars. The ground shakes slightly below my feet with every step it takes, malice sludging around its entire body.
How is this possible?
From the safety behind a large boulder. I open up the Sheikah slates camera and zoom in closely. Taking a better look at it, it looks…dead.
Part of its body looks like rotted flesh, its jaw, while mostly intact, still has a small hole gaped open on the side of its mouth. Its eyes look lifeless, the pupils glazed over. But the grip on its bow still looks tight. Still alert for any movements nearby.
It's like the malice is controlling it.
I snap a picture of it, I'm sure Zel is gonna want to at least see it. Saving it to the slate, I look up and notice that it spots my movements. It's time to get rid of this thing. I take a deep breath and get my bow ready. I'll start with that first.
Its roar mimicked that of a lynels, but sounded much more…demonic. It was so loud it could have woken up the whole Domain. I jumped up on top of the boulder I was hiding behind, showing myself completely. It wastes no time starting to limply run at me. Starting to pull back my bow.
"Let's start off with a bang…"
Releasing the hissing bomb arrow I had ready, making a direct shot on its face. Through the plume of smoke, I see its figure still rushing towards me, completely unfazed. Holding out its bow and shooting down three shock arrows. One of them landed right on me. The pain of the electricity runs through my whole body, effectively making it go numb, my arms and legs have gone completely limp and I fall to the ground.
Well shit.
It continues to rush at me, putting away its bow and taking out its massively large curved sword. Already down, I try to regain some movement in my body, and roll over to the side, missing the broad swing of its sword by a hair. It's so fast.
I take in a deep breath, inhaling its grotesque smell. It's definitely a walking corpse. So how is it moving at such speed?
The malice clings to its body, as if it's telling the lynel where to go next. A low growling sound emits from it. I can't mount it and get it from behind. The malice burns my skin and won't let me near it. Quickly getting up, I run out in the center of the field, creating as much distance as I can. Taking out the glowing Master Sword out and readying my shield. It turns around staring at me with its lifeless eyes, the grip on its sword goes limp. It scuffs its hooves to the ground, kicking up the dirt and with no warning, charges towards me again.
This time, I'm more ready, I parry the incoming beast making it lose its footing briefly. With precision, I start slashing at the lynel, trying to cut off its arm quickly, thinking it will easily come off since the body is already deceased. But the malice keeps its whole body intact, regenerating any deep cuts I make. But I'm obviously hurting it. It's having a hard time keeping up with my movements now that I've got it in a combo of precise swings. If I keep swinging at it, maybe it'll come off and the malice won't be able to keep up with the regeneration. .
I finish off with a charged spin attack, and its arm slices clean off, falling to the side. That was so much effort just to take off its arm. My chest is heaving from the strength that it took to take that off, but I've gotta brush it off. It roars demonically, piercing my ears. To say it's angry would be an understatement.
At least it can't use its bow anymore.
It swings its other arm in a circular motion, my shield blocks its blade, but the amount of force it brought down flung me across the field. My body aches from the impact, and I let out a cry in pain.
Gotta get up.
Now.
It jumps back with such speed, and a heat comes from its mouth followed by a bright light, it's about to let out a fireball. I can't run that distance that fast to get to its blind side. I reach for my hip to grab the Sheikah slate, maybe I can freeze it with Stasis. I feel around my hip, and am alarmed to find that the Sheikah slate got detached from my hip.
Impossible.
Where is it?
Scanning the area quickly, my vision falls on the faint orange lights coming from the tablet. It must have fallen when I got flung.
Damn it.
It lets loose a huge fireball corrupted with malice coming straight at me. I'm able to parry the first incoming one, but it released another one faster than a normal lynel, making me lose my footing, again. My shield flung out of my grip on the previous one.
The last one is coming straight at me. And it looks even bigger and hotter than the rest of them.
This one's gonna hurt—
"TRIPLE–ZORA–CYCLONE!"
Out of nowhere three large water cyclones form in mid-air, it looks like they're coming from the side. Extinguishing the fireball.
That was a close one.
I look over to my familiar sounding savior. Sure enough it's the tallest Zora I know–well, aside from Doraphan or course. Sidon expertly twirls his two Zoran spheres, controlling the water tornadoes, keeping the lynel pushed back, as it lets out its offensive roars.
My body is slow to get up. Still feeling numb from the shock arrow impact. A soft set of footsteps approach me from behind quickly.
"Link!"
A light touch rests on my shoulders, aiding me up, I look around and of course it's Zelda. Her eyes puffed up and glossed over.
"Thank goodness you're alright…"
"Zelda…" my hand instinctively clasped hers.
For a minute there, I thought I was a goner.
She looks like she's been crying all morning, I definitely upset her. Seeing her brings me a moment of peace for a moment until I immediately hear the lynel roaring once again in protest. The malice begins to cover even more of its body, fortifying its defenses.
"You need to get out of here! Now!" Her jaw drops upon my demand. "Is that how you thank me?!"
"Zelda, this lynel, it's–it's not normal!"
"Obviously," Her brows furrow. When a pulsing pain thrashes my head, I place my hand on my forehead, trying to shake off the pain.
"Ack…"
"Link! Are you alright?" Zelda yells out concerned. Sidon gasps hearing her cry for help. Turning around to face us.
"Is something wrong?!" he asks.
"No, no, I'm alright, but the Sheikah slate…" shaking my head. Zelda's grip on my arms slightly tighten, when I try to pull away from her, trying to maintain my balance. "I-I've got it, I saw it on the ground, what happened?"
The lynel notices Sidon is distracted, and leaps forward with its large sword in hand, with the malice covering the entire blade, bringing it down about to impact the ground below us.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
I roll out of the way with my arms wrapped around Zelda. The force of the impact makes the ground below us shake. I hold Zelda close to my chest as I look up and see the exact place we were just standing in, is utterly destroyed. It looks like Sidon also got out of harm's way, barely. Struggling to pick himself up.
"Sidon! Are you alright?"
"I'm just fine!" he responds, looking back to the lynel, twirling his two tridents confidently, intimidating the beast. "I will not let you bring harm to MY PEOPLE!"
It roars in response to his confident demeanor, Sidon charges towards it, swinging his tridents conjuring slashes of water pushing the lynel back. He's able to hold it off, but not for long. I've gotta help him turn the tide and destroy it.
"You've gotta get somewhere safe," pulling Zelda up.
"No! I'm not going anywhere, not when I can help!"
"Zelda, this lynel is different!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"Look, I'll explain it later but right now, you've gotta get to high ground!"
Her eyes are filled with desperation, like she wants to fight me on this. But now is not the time. She takes one last look at me and then runs off towards the peak of the mountain. Thankfully, the lynel doesn't notice her running off. I unsheathe the Master Sword once again, and run towards the Hylian shield, picking it up and joining Sidon in the fight. He's holding back the lynels strong swings, beating against his tridents, slowly breaking away his grip.
I run in between Sidon and the lynel and parry the lynels incoming swings. Knocking it back, it looks startled from the sudden counter.
"It's wonderful to once again fight by your side, Link!"
"Pleasure's all mine Sidon,"
A strong wind blows ominously through the air as the lynel stares us down. Pacing around, waiting for the right moment to strike. Letting out a low growl. I quickly look to the mountain top, scanning the area for any sign of Zelda. She's barely made it to the top.
She'll be safest there.
"Do you know that it's—"
"Dead? Yeah…I noticed…"
"Link…what are we going to do about this?"
I don't have an answer, no matter how hard we hit it, how can we kill something that's already dead? The malice is the one controlling it…but where is the source? Think, Link.
"The eye…"
"Pardon?"
Gripping my sword, looking around the whole mountain top. Searching for any other pools of malice nearby.
It can't be far.
Where is it?
"Where there is malice, there's an eye that serves as a control point. If we get rid of that, we may be able to destroy it,"
"But we can't get past its defenses, how can we get close to it?"
The Master Sword begins emitting a low pulse when it points to the lynel. As if it's reacting to my own thoughts, like it's trying to tell me something. Until—
I see it.
An eye of malice, right on its back. Peering right at us. It's presence sends shivers down my spine. How did I not see it before?
The Master Swords pulsing quickens when the eye is exposed. Now…how do I get close to it?
"There—right on its back,"
"Extraordinary…but it's probably not going to let us destroy it that easily…it appears to have shielded itself," Sidon exclaims, pointing to the barrier of malice now surrounding the dead beast. Taking a deep breath,
"I guess we're gonna have to wing it!" Charging straight towards it, bringing the Master sword up, I can feel its power through the hilt. And strike down with speed and power, trying to strike its face and hoping to create an opening for Sidon.
If we keep attacking it, maybe it'll let down its defenses. The lynel doesn't anticipate my reckless offensive attack and barely misses my deadly slash. I don't miss a beat though—and start swinging in a set combo of attacks, offsetting its counter slashes.
Sidon slides in, using his trident to kick up a nearby large stone and launches it towards the lynel. The projectiled stone lands straight onto its chest, now with an opening he charges towards it, pinning sword in the three pronged weapon. He swings the sword away with the trident, effectively breaking the blade.
It's a small victory, but it's pushed aside immediately when the lynel roars once again, unexpectedly slashing us both with its sharp claws. He tears through my tunic and a large gash forms across my chest, then punches me straight in the gut. Causing my vision to black out for a second, and my breath escaping me. It sends me flying back, with Sidon being the next victim of its forceful punch.
"Link! Sidon!" Zelda cries out.
I start to pick myself up, rubbing the blood coming out of my mouth, and sidestep over to Sidon, my eyes never leaving the lynel. It's now charging another fireball attack in an act of desperation from now being completely disarmed. I hold out my hand letting Sidon use me for leverage to get up. I ready my shield getting ready to parry. The size of the fireball is the largest I've ever seen it get. I don't think I can protect us both. But if we survive this…maybe we can get through to it. Its defenses are starting to slowly go down.
I hear a whistle in the wind followed by the demonic sounds of the lynel crying out in pain. Malice sputters out from behind its back. Tainting the earth below it.
"What the…?"
"Link look up there!" Sidon points to the mountain side. I look up and see Zelda in her bow stance, aiming at the struggling lynel and shooting at the eye of malice on its back once again. The lynel screams in pain, the shot now bringing it to its knees. The malice starts to dissipate from the corpse.
"Now's our chance Link!" Sidon reacts. In one last push, we rush straight towards and we both swing down to the defenseless lynel piercing the eye of malice. Destroying it completely.
The lynel falls over and goes limp, malice evaporating from its body.
So it's over?
I quickly scan the area and don't see any other signs of danger. I slowly begin sheathing the Master Sword behind my back, which is still pulsing continuously.
Something doesn't feel right…
"Link! Sidon! Are you alright?" Zelda shouts, sounding worried. I look back over to her, we wouldn't have made it the shape we're in if it wasn't for her.
"We are! Thanks to our combined efforts!" Sidon says gleefully. She sighs in relief, glad to see the danger averted. A cool breeze blows by, giving me a brief sense of calm. But that is then interrupted by the sounds of maniacal laughter echoing through the wind. I grip the hilt of the Master Sword once again.
"Well done, but you have made a very critical mistake, Chosen Hero…"
That voice—
"Link!" Zelda cries out, I look in horror when a cloud of malice forms directly in front of Zelda. A sorcerer emerges from the cloud, who is in possession of a corrupted giant ancient core. I've never seen this person before. But I can't let him near her. My legs ignore the sharp pain in my body and begin running up the mountain. At this distance, I know I can't hold her, but my hand is held out reaching out for Zelda.
The sorcerer conjures a body of malice, when a familiar looking figure forms from it. The silhouette is of Mipha in possession of a weapon looking like the Lightscale Trident, their eyes glowing faintly. I pause—is that really…?
"Sister—!"
"Kill her…" the sorcerer says in a low voice, pointing towards Zelda. With no hesitation, the hollow of Mipha goes straight towards her. The hollow raises her malice formed trident, I can't help but look on in horror. Seeing Zelda, slowly back away to the edge of the mountain. I'm begging my legs to take me faster and reach her before it strikes down. My arm reaches out for her, wishing I could pull her away.
"Z-E-L-D-A!"
A clanging sound pierces my ears, Zelda was able to defend herself against the attack with the bow. Holding it in between her and the weapon. She looks over to me in horror. Like she isn't even sure of how she survived either.
"M-Mipha…I'm so sorry…" she shutters.
The hollow wastes no time in striking down again, even harsher this time. Zelda struggles to continue holding the bow in place. Her grip slowly giving away.
"I-I suppose…I deserve this then…" Zelda whimpers, slowly losing her balance.
No.
Please don't say that.
"Get away from her!" hoping it will at least distract the fake Mipha. But it's like I'm not even there. The sorcerer has a haunting smile and looks back at me.
"You left your little Goddess, unattended,"
When the bow suddenly breaks in half as it gets caught in between the trident. Zelda looks over to me in desperation, holding out her hand to me.
"Link! I-I—!" when her voice gets cut off by her coughing up blood.
No.
No. No. No.
The hollow—it impaled its trident right into Zelda's chest. Blood starts forming around the wound, and the life in her eyes begins slowly fading away. She still reaches for me, mouthing my name in silence and slowly starts bringing her arm down.
I see nothing but red, letting out a battle cry,
"YOU BASTARD!"
My hand swings out the Master Sword and strikes at the sorcerer hiding behind the hollow. I've lost all sense of resolve. This wizard has signed his death sentence.
He sways to the side, and tauntingly begins floating up, laughing maniacally.
"Don't worry Chosen Hero, you'll soon be joining her…Kill them both," he says,
"GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD!" I scream out as he fades away into a mist of malice, cackling away.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Sidon launches a spear in the air, in a last ditch effort to strike the murderous sorceror. But he disappears before the trident makes a hit. I slash down on the hollow still focused on getting to Zelda. The fake Mipha turns around, mercilessly taking out the trident out of her chest, now covered in her blood…looking straight at me. As I'm about to lay down a charged swing, the hollow's face morphs, appearing…normal.
She has the face of Mipha and…I stop.
"Link…why?"
H-Huh?
"Why weren't you there to protect me?"
What is this? It sounds just like her.
"You weren't there…"
No, this really can't be her.
"Don't you remember…?" She slowly approaches, laying her trident to her side, her hand slowly cupping my cheek.
"We were supposed to spend more time together…"
I know…but…
"I-I…"
"Or was that just another lie…?" she says in a much lower, less innocent voice.
"Mipha…I–I'm sorry—"
"You couldn't protect me. And you couldn't protect her…"
This can't be real, this isn't real. Her touch paralyzes my body. I can't even pull away from her now.
"Link…please join me in the afterlife…" pulling me closer and closer to her face.
"Mipha…this…isn't…you…"
"We can finally be together, forever…"
"I can't—"
Her lips are so close to touching mine, when I'm suddenly pushed away, and a deathly scream screeches from the imposter Mipha. An arrow tip is pierced through her chest, and bright light emitting from behind her. This light…it feels so…warm…Her body begins to dissipate slowly, and my body is allowed to move freely once again.
I waste no time and slash down towards the weakened hollow. The Master Sword slices through the body of malice with ease.
I…I'm sorry Mipha…
Once the body of malice completely disappears. I see Zelda's body hunched over, holding the arrow that saved me from the hollows trance. The faint light is emitting from Zeldas palms, is that…her power?
She slowly raises her head, the life in her eyes fading away, and blood covering her chest. The grip she has on the arrow loosens as she drops it, and struggles to keep her balance. Slowly backing away, blood falling from her chest.
"Link…" she says weakly, I begin to start rushing over to her, all I want is to just hold her. When she leans too far back, falling over off the edge of Shatterback Point. I waste no time and hold her close to me, taking myself off the mountain with her.
The fall down the mountain is endless, wrapping my arms around Zelda carefully, trying not to cause her any more pain. My body feels so weak from the battle, Zelda's breathing is slowly fading away.
Please…not like this…
"I'm gonna get you help…just hang on…and hold your breath,"
"Link…I'm so…sorry…" she said quietly.
No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you. I shouldn't have let you leave my side…this…wouldn't have happened.
I failed her.
Again.
The impact from the lake stung, leaving our already weak bodies paralyzed underwater, but I kept my iron grip on her. My body is too weak to swim to the top, looking down to Zelda, I see pools of blood slowly floating up to the surface coming from her chest. Her eyes now completely shut.
This isn't happening.
This isn't what I wanted.
What kind of hero am I? When I can't even save her…the woman that I…
I…
…
My vision starts to go dark, and everything around me starts to fade away. The strength in my body is leaving me.
I…can't…breathe…
