Link was beneath Hyrule castle. Master Sword on his back and Zelda's torch in hand. He listened intently when Zelda told the story of the wall mural, which detailed some of Hyrule's most ancient history, the imprisoning war, and the mysterious people known as the Zonai. Link knew that name, he'd come across Zonai ruins in the Faron region. He'd have to explore them with Zelda after they were done here. More importantly was Zelda's story of the Demon King. Even though Link had never heard of such a being, the man in the mural seemed familiar, and also very dangerous. However, Zelda seemed to be having the time of her life.
"Link, let's keep moving deeper." Zelda said, and Link felt a shock of panic. This place felt like Hyrule Castle before he defeated the Calamity. He felt like he was breathing in Gannon's evil. His throat closed against the feeling but he nodded to Zelda and led the way down more stairs. As they descended, Link's unease seemed to grow louder in his ears, making it harder to ignore his anxiety and remain stoic for Zelda.
Great Hylia, this was difficult. He was trapped in this small cave, descending closer to something that radiated the same darkness as Calamity Gannon. He wanted to tell Zelda that they should turn around but his throat was still closed. He couldn't run, and Zelda wouldn't run either. He had to keep going even though it felt like he was back in those cursed Divine Beasts.
Suddenly the tunnel opened into a large cavern and Link saw a glowing spiral of green magic piercing the darkness. His breathing became labored and fast, but Zelda took his hand. It was okay. She was here. She wasn't trapped. She was here.
As they moved closer Zelda spoke.
"That green light in the distance, I'm having the strangest sensation… This is all so ominous.. But we must see what that is. Let's continue, Link, but we must be extremely careful. Are you ready?"
Link thought about it. His throat was still closed, but he knew that they had to face it. They had to- He nodded, and they continued on.
"What is that?" Zelda asked, her voice trembling a little. The torch light combined with the green magic to reveal a corpse of a tall being bent over backwards, across what looked like a dias. The magic was radiating from a disembodied arm attached to the corpse's chest, which seemed to be holding it down. The Gloom mist was leaking from where the hand touched the corpse. As Link and Zelda approached, the arm shuddered and fell to the floor. A small stone that had been attached to the wrist of the hand fell at Zelda's feet and she picked it up. The stone glowed with a familiar golden power, but they were distracted by an ominous heartbeat echoing through the chamber. The corpse began to creak and move, the Gloom thickening around it as it tried to stand. It fell back into the bend position. It turned its skull towards Link and Zelda, as glowing malice eyes appeared in empty sockets.
Link's soul screamed in terror, those eyes looked so much like the Malice eyeballs. Still Link, himself, simply drew the Master Sword, which emanated a blue glow which seemed to cut through the Gloom. Gloom then exploded from the corpse and went straight for Zelda. Link moved, and deflected the Gloom with his sword. The Gloom swirled around the Master sword and then crawled up his sword arm.
Pain exploded in his arm and pierced his chest, sucking his life force out of him, and leaving him feeling weak and faint. He put a hand on his arm and felt the raw skin. The Master sword was covered in Gloom. Another Gloom attack came and Link readied himself for the attack.
He blocked it with the Master Sword, and it shattered.
The tip of the blade flew towards the corpse and scratched its cheek.
"Link!" Zelda shouted. But a gravelly voice interrupted her.
"Was that the Sword that Seals the Darkness? A blade that shatters so easily against my power cannot save you from me." as the corpse spoke it lifted itself into a sitting position.
"Zelda…" The corpse said and Link's heart dropped. "You, who carries that fragile sword… are Link." The corpse continued to rise as Link felt bile rising in his throat. The room seemed to flicker around him, changing back and forth from the room he fought the Calamity Gannon in seven years ago.
The corpse spoke again, "Rauru placed his faith in you… and that was all you could do?" The corpse was now fully risen, and he looked down and Link and Zelda like they were nothing but ants to crush beneath his heel.
"How… how do you know our names?" Zelda asked. She received no answer.
The corpse summoned a wave of Gloom and smashed it into the top of the chamber. The ground underneath Link's feet began to tremble. For the moment he forgot about the strange corpse and searched for Zelda. A great throb went through his sword arm and he fell to his knees.
"Link!" Zelda's voice. She was still behind him, good.
The ground trembled again and began to fall. Link heard Zelda scream and he turned to see her falling down a forming pit of darkness. Without thinking Link jumped down towards her, reaching for her with his injured hand.
Time seemed to slow as he reached for her. No. No. No. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't lose Zelda. Not again. Their fingertips touched and then she was out of reach. Link nearly screamed aloud as Zelda's hand started to glow. The light enveloped her whole body, and then she was gone. Link really screamed then but someone caught Link's arm. He looked up and saw the green glowing disembodied arm before the pain of everything overwhelmed him and he lost consciousness.