Day 1 - Hyrule

"Ah, you're stirring," Link heard faintly. "Certainly a tough one, aren't you?"

As he opened his eyes, Link gazed into a scarred man's face, very pale yet smiling lightly. All around them, Link could see the flickering of red flames, debris sunken into the ground... and Link was on his back, with this soft-spoken man kneeling by his side. He wouldn't be surprised if he found out he was dead, and this was his descent into the afterlife. But what had he done to deserve this?

"Oh, goodness, look at you," the man spoke in his calm voice. He grasped Link by the arm, pulling him up with all his might. "Huhh... damn, you are heavier than you look..."

Then the man slung Link over his shoulder, and Link felt the world shifting around him. Everything was burning or smoldering – his eyes could barely stay open, and he felt sick to his stomach.

"Talk to me," the man continued. "Or perhaps you're too far gone. Very well – then just listen, keep focused on the sound of my voice."

They climbed up what felt like a hill, Link stumbling over rocks as they went. And each time the man would steady Link, and lend him some strength, keep them moving forward. It was a team effort of sorts – the man would take the first step, then Link would step forward, then the man would take the lead again, then Link, and so forth up the rocky slope.

The man spoke of himself as they proceeded along. "I'm what you call an self-driven entrepreneur, you see. I find worthwhile enterprises, I make deals, I incorporate them into my ranks – and pretty soon, we're in business spreading the good word. The good word, of course, being altruistic capitalism – profiting while also helping the innocent and the weak. They need men and women like us, men like you I'd gather – based on that nifty sword of yours." The man chuckled. "You're a hero to this world, aren't you?"

Link couldn't respond. His throat felt dry beyond belief.

"Oh right – can't respond. Very sorry about that," the man said apologetically, "never wanted this. But you know... progress is progress, and some people just can't see that. I'd like to think that if I could just explain myself, if I could just get the stage for a minute, I could make them see. All of this could be avoided, all this unpleasant stuff... I just didn't get the chance. They wouldn't, couldn't see that my time was still on the horizon."

Then the man looked over at Link, who felt ready to simply drop dead at a moment's notice. "Sorry, sorry – I got carried away. We need to find you a resting place. Where's the peak of this thing?"

At last, the two reached a plateau. The man spotted a small flat stone large enough for Link to lie on, lifting Link over and laying him on his back. Link stared up and saw dark brown eyes with slightly pulsating veins that gave them a purple glow.

"Alright, just... just rest there. My agent is on the way," the man said, looking up at the darkened sky. "My goodness, is the sky red now? I can't tell for sure... but it kinda looks like that, just beyond... can you see, behind that cloud?" Pointing upwards, the man looked back at Link.

Link felt something emerging from his stomach, travelling up his throat. And then he was curled over the rock spewing bile on the dirt, hacking and coughing in pain as blood trailed in the other fluids. His vision was completely blurred, all he could see and feel was sheer agony.

"Christ!" Link saw the man's silhouette quickly run to him, and felt something stab his neck with a pfft. "There – that should ease the pain. Might also help with the nausea, but... I'm sorry, friend." He felt a hand squeeze his shoulder, not roughly but in a soft and careful grip.

Link couldn't understand. Why was this happening? Why could he not see Hyrule, before his end?

Zelda, please – what did I do?

"What... did I do?" Link croaked out weakly, his throat burning.

He felt an arm wrap around him, holding him up slightly. "Nothing. You've done absolutely nothing," the man spoke, "and I truly am sorry. In a different time, in a different circumstance, perhaps justice would win out for us both."

"Now sit tight, and stay quiet," he continued. "You need to save your strength – and remember: you have friends in high places."

Link felt the man release him, lay him back on the rock, and then there was nothing but a grey fog. Link had never before felt so lost, so out of touch with nature, and it scared him. He had seen great injustice, grim violence, terrible beasts – but not being able to even see his hands right in front of him? That shook him deeper. It was beyond his knowledge what had occurred, and he supposed nothing would adequately prepare him for what would come next. That is, if there was a "next".

Suddenly a blinding light shone through the grey fog, accompanied by a deafening sound that made it seem as though something was descending from above him. He heard a squeak as something lowered, and from what appeared to be a ramp marched a strange being. It looked like it had a curved back and a large nose, though Link couldn't discern much more beyond that.

"About time," the man spoke calmly, though there was a edge to his voice – almost frustration. "I need a pickup."

"I figured that much," responded a deeper voice. "Who's the kid?"

"He's the pickup. He's of... interest."

The rounded being grew closer. Link felt a hand grasp his face and feel his cheeks, his nose. "Significance?"

"Purely personal, though... he could also be useful."

The rounded being went back to face the man. "Fine, we've got space... I'll load him aboard the shuttle..."

Link felt the darkness grip him once more. Only this time, there was no image to latch onto – only a slow fade to black.