AN – Here's the second story! Be warned that it focuses on a more angsty and graphic story. It isn't explicit in its violence but there are mentions of injuries and such.

So if you need to skim/skip over this story because of that, feel free. :)

TW for blood and description of injuries.

Goodbye, My Love

The land was deeply scarred from the battle.

There were craters and cracks in the ground, smoke filled the air, and there were corpses everywhere – surface-dwellers and demons alike.

This greatly saddened Hylia, even though she knew that sacrifices were necessary to bring peace to the land.

This didn't mean she had to like it, though.

Thankfully, their sacrifice had not been in vain. Demise had been defeated, his lackeys driven away and her people, the Hylian's, were now safe high up in the clouds.

The main threat had finally passed, even though she knew this could not last forever. She would have to make preparations for when Demise inevitably returned.

"Your Grace…"

She felt her body go cold at the strained voice of her hero. She hesitantly turned around and saw him kneeling on the ground, clutching his side as blood seeped through his fingers and onto the ground where one of the demons had used a dagger to stab him. He had other injuries as well. Gashes and cuts were on his face, there were rips in his tunic from their claws tearing at him, and he had some deep bruising from being hit by rocks and fists, especially on his stomach.

She knew that he wouldn't last much longer.

And sure enough, he collapsed onto the ground, causing her to hurry over to him.

As she gently lifted his head, he weakly glanced up at her.

"Is… Is it o-over?" He hoarsely asked.

"Yes." She soothed him. "You can rest now. You have fought well."

He let out a mirthless laugh, causing him to cough up blood. Once he'd stopped, he told her, "I-I wasn't able t-to destroy him…"

"That would've been impossible." She assured him. "Even if we had destroyed Demise, another would've risen in his place. Light cannot exist without darkness, after all."

He let out a weary sigh. "S-So… is the work w-we do… never-ending?"

She sighed. "I'm afraid it is."

"So… w-what should w-we do?"

"We can rest for now." She gently told him, caressing his face. "We have fought long and hard for this peace, even if it's not everlasting. That shall be our reward."

He weakly smiled. "Alright…" His voice was little more than a whisper at this point. "Rest… that sounds… nice…"

Her lip quivered as she could feel his life fading from him.

However, before he left, she knew what to say to make his passing easier. "I promise we will meet again. It will not be in this life, but when we are needed, we shall awaken."

He didn't respond, his breathing getting shallower…

"I'm… I'm sorry that it had to end like this." She choked out, stifling a sob. "But… I promise you that our bond is everlasting. We will… meet again and again whenever we are needed. And we will always be together, even if we can't remember why…"

She sniffled and said, "But for now… goodbye."

And then, he was gone.

She squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming down her face. She took a moment to mourn him, soft sobs rising from her throat even as his blood stained her hands. Eventually, however, she knew that she still had work to do.

After gently setting him on the ground, she kissed his forehead before sighing and standing up.

The battle may have been over but it had taken immense sacrifice from everyone involved…

And she would do her best to honor that sacrifice.

AN – I hope you enjoyed! See you tomorrow for the next story!