Epilogue

Zelda wasn't dead.

It was a strange sensation: knowing her body lived separately from this power coursing through Zelda. However, she was the pure light, flowing and halting the darkness of Calamity Ganon no matter how much it fought against her.

She'd tethered them to Hyrule Castle, keeping It from spreading Its malice across Hyrule. Other than that, Zelda wasn't sure where she was. Only that she existed still. Somehow, the Goddess's power was preserving her day by day, month by month, year by year. The light was a constant, and it kept her from crushing under the weight of Calamity Ganon.

With Ganon captive, its influence had dispersed from the Guardian army. A hive mind. All across Hyrule, Guardians had collapsed where they were, lifeless shells once more. The Divine Beasts' assault had stopped, the people of each region safe from their destruction. Hyrule could begin to rally and rebuild.

The beast was furious. It roiled and seethed, lashing out at every turn with infinite energy against Zelda. The light of the Goddess kept her safe and kept it contained. But…Zelda could feel her power waning.

It started like the ticking of sands in a glass, grain by grain. The light was seeping away. The diminution was infinitely slow, but there was a diminution. Ganon sensed this.

Despite her efforts, it regained control of some of the Guardians, positioning them around the castle and in vacant parts of Hyrule. It took back the Divine Beasts, sending all four of them to rampage and cause havoc within their own domains. Calamity Ganon still resisted Zelda, but now, it kept itself contained in the Sanctum of Hyrule Castle, forming a physical body for the malice to inhabit.

No matter how hard Zelda held on, the light kept slipping away and she knew it wouldn't be long before she was completely depleted. And Calamity Ganon would be free.

Time passed as it would for an eternal being, a year equaling a minute or a day one second. That's why Zelda didn't age, didn't progress. She was trapped in this moment, and either Calamity Ganon or her must give way for this battle to end.

Zelda didn't want it to be the latter. It must not be the latter.

She must act or all would be lost. Hyrule's final hope and hers needed to awaken.

Reaching her mind out past the castle, over the Great Plateau and into the Shrine of Resurrection, Zelda felt him.

He was still asleep. Had been for what she now knew was 100 years. While his consciousness slept, his body had healed. Gone were the marks of his last battle. And gone were his memories. He was like an empty vessel.

But he would learn. He would remember his skills, remember his purpose, and hopefully, he would remember her.

It was time. Zelda could no longer fight this battle by herself. She needed her Champion.

"Link…Link…Open your eyes."