cutegirlmayra
Prompt:
Zelda placed her hand gently upon Link's, letting him go was something more difficult than anything else she had been through.
At least when she was Sheik, she could carefully guide and watch over him… but he had to leave. There were so many years stripped from his life… and that beautiful little boy she saw would be lost forever if he wasn't able to relive his childhood.
Withholding tears, she released his hand, and began to play.
"Wait…" his hand outstretched and she paused a moment. The breath she had drawn in refused to part from her lungs, but instead, was tightened and held back.
His eyes scanned hers, a moment of mercy in a rather quick goodbye…
"It's good to see you again… Zelda." His smile was still childlike, but his face had matured into strong masculine features…
She admired his kindness, and how he considered her even now…
All he had to do was ask… and she would have been tempted never to play the song of time again.
After all… how long would it be before she could see him again.
He looked down to the instrument, holding itself still as the river of time they were hovering over…
The lights were brilliant… this moment would soften and ache her heart for years to come… but still, it was the right thing to do.
And Zelda would never allow herself to commit any such action that would go against goodness and fate.
She let the breath out.
His eyes glazed back up to her face, seeing the sorrow within them, and wanting to somehow comfort her even now.
Even now… he was only considering what he could do for others… not himself.
That's why…
She lowered her head, this was a gift, not a curse—
Sending him back… she looked up and noticed the slight pain that was on his face too, seeing her so torn.
He was torn too.
He leaned a hand back up, before lightly placing it behind her back, and smiling to her.
She nodded and came closer, as they shared a small embrace.
"…Live wonderfully, Link…"
There was another moment of silence, before they parted… still staring gently and with a radiant warmth in their faces.
This wouldn't be the end.
The past would be blessed by his presence.
Everyone deserved a new past.
She began to lift the instrument to her lips and played.
She swayed slightly, imagining the many times he had played the same song… the times she had watched and stared at his expression as he played it.
She had taught him that song… and it clearly meant something more than just The Song Of Time to him.
It was more than a song, it was a moment in time, where they truly connected and share a moment together.
He began to look around and his feet kicked slightly from where they hovered, now floating up into the light.
He reached down for her—
But the understanding washed over his face… and he allowed himself to drift up, still worrying more about how she felt than his own feelings.
She watched him float up and away… until the light faded and she herself was lightly released back to the ground… the darkness in the sky burst and faded with the return of sunlight and blue skies…
Music sparked the world again… and Zelda finally… with him gone and her head erected to the sky, let warm tears fall from her face.
"Goodbye… Link…
Until we meet again."
And meet again they did.