One Moment:Part 3
Full Part (Chapters 18-27) here:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/17659280/chapters/42186179
“No!” I yelled in desperation as my hands met the newly formed amber that encapsulated her.
“Zelda!” I continued as I hit my hand repeatedly against the glowing surface, hoping on the mere chance that my might would break her free, “Please! Listen to me! You didn’t use me! I would have done it all anyway because…I love you! I should have said it before but I love you more than anything! Please!”
But she didn’t respond.
“Please…” I said once more as I hit my hand against the amber stone once again, slowly accepting that it was no use.
“She can’t hear me, can she?”
An overwhelming sadness overcame me as I looked upon her silhouette, her figure motionless, her expression still riddled with that damn guilt.
“Will I ever be able to say those words to her?”
“Would she even listen?”
“While it’s true that I am Hylia reborn,” I heard her say, her voice somehow producing an echo that reached my greedy ears and wide, attentive eyes, “I’m still my father’s daughter and your friend. I’m still your Zelda.”
My eyes started to water at the echoed sound of those words. The thought of her being mine, the thought that we were so close, yet so far away, rendered distant by the destiny unknown by those two children of Skyloft. It was too much for me to bear as the stoic facade that I put up to everyone else faded away by the words of that one girl.
“When Demise is finally gone, there will be no more need for the seal that binds him and then I’ll be able to wake up. So, I’m going to ask you a favor, sleepyhead. Ever since we were kids, I’d always be the one to wake you up when you slept in. But this time, when all of this is over, will you come to wake me up?”
Without a doubt in my mind, I started to slowly mouth the words,
“I promise," so that she would understand.
I gave a shaky inhale as I steadily watched her reaction, keeping my focus on the small smile that meant that she really did understand. That smile that I used to know, that used to brighten any day like the shining sun and give me such joy in even the darkest times, instilled just a flicker of hope in my very soul.
Yet, as a bright light washed out her expression I was prompted to look away from its’ blinding cascade.
It was as if the light washed out my hope as well as I looked back up at Zelda, immobile, frozen in the promise I made to her and trapped in the destiny she was bound to.
“I miss you so much,” I thought to myself as the shaky exhale of my lungs brought with it a tear down my cheek, my head tipping forward.
I took a step back, not knowing what to say, what to think of all that had transpired, what to do with myself.
That habit had overcome me yet again, the habit to stay silent, the habit to internalize my emotions.
Because it was my emotions that had just torn me apart.
“Don’t worry, Zelda, I’ll try to keep my promise. Until then…”
I took a deep breath.
“Goodbye…” I said before turning around, my thoughts stopping me where I stood.
“I almost can’t believe…”
“She was right in front of me, I was so excited to see her after everything I’ve done to save her.”
“And look where that got me.”
I started a walk back to the gate of time.
“No, I did it for her, I’m doing it for her, I’ve already accepted that, but…”
“But she was so distant, like something was off or wrong. Like it wasn’t the Zelda I knew, but it was.”
“And, of course, I was too stupid to do anything to stop her until she said that she wanted to be with me forever, until it was too late.”
“None of that should have mattered…”
“And I guess it didn’t.”
“It doesn’t.”
The large stone doors closed behind me as I passed through them, that thud ringing in my ears as a stark reminder that she was gone, away from my grasp.
“Only our destinies matter…for now…”
When I locked eyes with Impa, I nodded in the acceptance that the deed was done.
“I see you’ve said goodbye,” Impa said once I approached her, “now you must keep the promise you made to her. You must find the Triforce. Return to your time. There is work to be done there.”
“Will she be safe here?” I asked.
“Do not fear for Zelda,” replied Impa, “I will watch over her here. Go now and fulfill your destiny.”
I nodded in understanding before heading towards the gate.
“Link,” Impa said, her voice stopping me before I touched the gate, “I feel like I should let you know…if she would have thought you…”
I heard a sigh.
“She wanted to—“
“No,” I interrupted as I looked over my shoulder, “I don’t want to know what she would have done. I already…I already have to deal with what she did do.”
“And what I must do because of it…”
