Legend of Zelda-Desolate

Link thrust the sword forward, up to the very hilt. A weary satisfaction overcame him as the beast that was Ganon flailed about, filling the night air with sharp cries. And as Link was watching the strongest being in the world, the wielder of the Triforce of Power, he felt an intense pain around his stomach, and immediately collapsed. The Blade of Evil's Bane fell to the ground beside him.

"Link? Link!"

Link tried to call out to the princess, but no sound would come. He pressed his hands against the wound he had acquired earlier, pulling them back only to find that they were covered with thick red blood. Link laughed, a small, timid laugh, as Zelda ran towards where he lie.

"No way," he said quietly, finding his voice. "There's just no way I've come this far, just to die."

Visions of his childhood as a fairyless Kokiri washed over him. Fighting with Mido, befriending Saria, then finally meeting Navi and beginning his quest. And what a quest it was. He started thinking that maybe he really was fated to die here.

"Link!" cried Princess Zelda again, falling to the ground beside him.

Link opened his eyes, only to find that it didn't do much good. He could barely see. He realized that he had only a few minutes left to live, perhaps only a few precious seconds of consciousness left.

"Princess-"

"Don't talk!" she interjected, grabbing his left hand in both of her own. "We need to hurry back to the town, there has to be a potion shop still open there."

"It's no use," managed Link. "His sword… cut right through the chain mail… and I can't feel a thing…"

"But, that can't… You can't die!" she cried, the tears falling from her eyes, landing on his cheeks. "Not you, the only man who really truly knows me. Not the only man I've ever felt any love for. Oh, if only Navi were still here."

Link grimaced. "A companion fairy… cannot give up their life. Besides, I wouldn't let her."

Link became aware that his vision was completely gone, his heart beat fading rapidly. Anything left to say had to be said now.

"Princess Zelda, know that I… hold no regrets. And that I… I do-"

Zelda stopped him, pressing her warm lips against his cold ones.

"And know that I do too," she said, resting her head on his chest. "I do too."

Link stopped responding after that. Zelda felt his heart stop beating two minutes later. But in those two minutes, she had been contemplating, and she now walked over to Ganon and picked up a small golden triangle. It had been nestled beneath his cold left hand.

As she walked back to where Link lay, the tears started to fall again. Her golden-haired forest boy, who had snuck past the castle guards, found the spiritual stones and the sage medallions, and had grown to be the man that she loved. Looking down at him now, at his broken and bloody body, it struck her how little she actually knew about him. There hadn't been much time for idle chitchat throughout their journey.

Fate had robbed them of that.

Zelda picked up his left hand, uncurling the fingers. There she found the last one, the Triforce of Courage. As she took hold of it, she felt the wind pick up and change direction. The Triforce Shards scorched her hands, and as she dropped them to the ground they became one again, right before her eyes.

She almost picked it up without thinking. Whoever touched the Triforce would have their deepest wish granted. If she wasn't careful, she'd make a selfish wish. If she wished for Link, the world would remain in this state. But if she wished for the world, it meant that she would lose Link.

Zelda prayed to the gods, asking for their guidance, before she took the Triforce in her hands…

:-::-:

Zelda could smell the flowers and feel the cold, stone window ledge under her arms. But for the life of her, she couldn't remember what she had just been dreaming about. A desolate wasteland, a bright light shining in her bloodstained hands… the rest escaped her. A sound at the courtyard entrance surprised her, and she turned around to face a blonde haired boy, clothed in green.