Blood ran down Time's face, and for the first time since he got it (or rather lost it), he was thankful for his dead eye. The blood was harmlessly trailing over it, causing an otherwise disorientating injury to be a mere discomfort. Of course, a head injury that resulted in blood cascading down your face wasn't exactly anyone's idea of harmless, but he was still in fighting condition.
A condition that not many of the other Heroes could boast.
The shadow had proven, is proving to be a wily opponent. When they weren't dealing with the vast horde of empowered stalfos he kept reviving, they had to combat an enemy who moved like water, disappeared into darkness, and otherwise could match each and every Link move for move.
Warriors had been the first down, surprisingly. He had taken a blow meant for Wind, who had been surrounded. Wind was next, though he defended Warriors long enough for Wild and Twilight to take the pressure off. Twilight had nearly been overwhelmed, but used his wolf form to escape. Wild, simply seeing Twilight disappear beneath a horde of enemies, assumed the worst and desperately charged in. This caused Hyrule to chase after him, knowing full well the trouble Wild was getting himself into.
Four had Split in order to keep Dark Link busy with his flawless coordination and experience with shadowy foes. Legend and Time guarded Sky's back as they hacked around the perimeter, since only the Master Sword was capable of banishing the stalfos permanently.
Due to his focus on said task, Time had missed exactly how Wild and Twilight were knocked out of the fight, though he could tell it happened near simultaneously and that they were safe for now.
The remaining stalfos being neatly herded by the trio, Hyrule set about stabilizing the fallen. It was looking a little rough, what with about half their number unconscious or unable to move, but they were winning.
A notion Time felt like revising after a veritable punch of pure, focused energy caught him square in the stomach. It was as he careened through the air did he realize that all four Fours must be down, and Dark Link had come for him. It was pure luck that Sky had just banished the last stalfos at that moment, and so along with Legend could he keep the aggressor from finishing the job.
Then a stone brick wall caught him with all the comfort and grace of… a brick wall.
As Time fought to draw in air (and keep his vision from darkening further), Sky and Legend stabbed at the specter caught between them. Despite being trapped between two very skilled and very pissed off Heroes, the shadow danced between their blades, only lashing out to remind them that he wasn't entirely on the back foot. Taunting them with his utter control. Toying with them.
One over-zealous thrust from an infuriated Legend was all the opening Dark Link needed. He let loose a vicious uppercut with his shield, clocking Legend right on the jaw. The veteran actually lifted off the ground from the force of it, before falling to the floor hard. Legend was out cold. Time wasted no time rushing in to fill the gap.
Dark Link had turned his back to Time in order to focus on a flagging Sky. Seizing the opportunity, Time thrusted out with his Biggoron Sword, attempting to run the copy through. Unfortunately, Dark Link appeared to have some sort of clairvoyance (or he just managed to hear the armored clad behemoth sprint up behind him), and dematerialized seconds before the tip would've made contact.
The umbral image coalesced behind Time with a wicked grin of victory, sure that he had caught the eldest hero unawares.
But Time was no slouch. He had seen Dark Link's penchant for teleporting (he had nearly taken out Red with this exact trick), and he knew just how much noise he made when running in his armor (the others had likened it to a kitchen being shaken violently by a hinox).
So when Dark Link moved to impale him, Time slid his foot back and neatly tripped him up.
The next few moments appeared to stretch on forever, but must have really been just in the span of seconds.
Dark Link's shocked face starting to smear as he attempted to fade away.
Sky leaping upwards, performing his Finishing Blow.
Hyrule casting out his hand from where he was tending to Wild, aglow with golden light.
The Master Sword shines with its usual power, before erupting into a blue so bright it's white, forcing Time to look away.
The camp was quiet. Eerily so. Only three Links were upright, the rest lay injured on their bedrolls around the crackling fire. The conscious ones were too stubborn to let their discomfort be known, and the unconscious ones were… unconscious.
Thankfully, no one was in any serious danger, despite the seemingly dire injuries. Like any good Hero (times nine), the boys had absolutely stuffed every nook and cranny of their considerable collective storage with all manner of healing items; knowing full well the coming boss fight, the culmination of months of traveling and battling, would be really quite dangerous. Difficult, even. Needless to say, each Hero could down ten red potions and there would still be a significant stockpile.
So unlike in past times where a somber attitude after a fight was the result of some grievous injury and/or lack of medical supply, this one was... different. Deeper. Unfixable.
Their fight was over, so now what?
Staring deep into the tumultuous flames, Time knew only one thing awaited them; the one thing he had steadily grown to dread.
It was time for the parting.