The Heroes' Rebirth - REVISITED | BOTW Sequel/Zelink (The Legend of Zelda)

Chapter 22: Healing in Time

The malice hit Sheik square in his exposed face. The force from the contact was so great he flew back from the doorway and slammed his body against the wall. All three bolted from the ground.

"Sheik!" Paya yelled.

Link, knowing that Dark had a clear view of outside the door, quickly picked Sheik up and carried him away. He gently set him down away from the door. He carefully propped him up against the wall and floor.

Sheik heaved, causing his chest to rise and fall dramatically. He gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes tight. The malice covered the entire right side of his face and it pulsed as Sheik felt even more pain. The sensation was indescribable. The pain was so much that his whole body tightened. His hands curled into fists.

"Sheik!" Paya cried. "Oh Hylia, Sheik!"

He clenched his fists tighter. His nails began to dig into his own palms causing small amounts of blood to leak out. All he could muster was a groan.

Link frantically dug into his bag.

"It has to be in here. It has to be," he said as he carelessly threw items to the side until he finally found it: a fairy in a bottle. He had been saving it for a time like this. He started to open it.

"No... Stop," Sheik gritted. He raised a twitching hand to his face and pulled his scarf down.

"Don't waste that on me." He continued to breathe heavy. "It won't work."

"What are you talking about?" Link asked. "This is what you did with me."

Sheik shook his head. "No... The fairy only made the p- process faster. The real reason you s- survived the malice is... is because Dark Link was born from you. You have the spirit of... of the hero in you and... the Goddess favored you." He coughed violently. "I'm no one- no one special."

Link clenched his own fist. "There has to be something we can do," he cried.

Sheik coughed again. "No. There's nothing you can do for me here."

"No. No! Sheik don't talk like that," Link pleaded.

"Hero," Sheik's voice was beginning to go quiet. "The only way for light to return is for you to prevent the darkness from flowing. Without light, the people will be lost and unable to see the truth." Sheik winced sharply as his breathing became slower.

"Sheik! No!" Link pounded on the ground.

"Paya," Sheik whispered.

Paya dropped to her knees and leaned down.

"Yes?" Her voice shook.

Sheik slowly reached behind him and took out his golden harp. He held it up to her.

"Wha- What are you doing?" Paya asked.

Sheik faintly smiled. "Take it."

Tears streamed down her face. "No. That's yours, Sheik. It'll always be yours."

Sheik opened his eyes and pushed it into her hands. "Take it, Paya."

Paya shoved her face into her hands. "No! Don't do this. Please!" She looked into his pain filled eyes. "I'm not strong enough! I can't lose you, too! Oh, Goddess!"

"Paya," he whispered. "My book of songs is at the... the house. There is a song in there th- that I know will bring peace and healing to you." He held the harp up. "Now take it. Please, Paya."

Paya wiped her face and took the harp in her hands.

"Sheik," she sniffed. "Please, no."

Sheik began to relax his body. His fists fell to open hands, the lines in his forehead disappeared, and he slid slowly down the wall.

"There is healing in time," he said before he closed his eyes and finally rested on the floor.

They all sat frozen on the ground. Link tried swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. He looked upon his friend. Even though it was only for a little over a month, Link had grown to love Sheik. Now, he was gone.

"Oh, Hylia," Zelda cried, covering her mouth.

Paya sobbed. She clenched his skintight shirt and wept into it.

Link couldn't stand to see everyone like this. He thought about what would happen if more people continued to die. The pain and sorrow it would bring. The hurt it would cause...

The darkness that it would spread.

"Darkness," Link whispered.

"What was that?" Zelda asked.

"Prevent the darkness," he whispered again.

"What are you saying?"

Link swiftly stood up and drew his sword. He then marched to the door where Dark Link resided.

"Link, wait!"

Zelda ran to catch up with Link. She grabbed his arm and turned him around.

"I'll go with you," she said. "We can fight him together. The two of us."

Link shook his head. "No, Zelda. It has to be me."

"But you've trained me! I'm good enough!"

"Zelda," he sheathed his sword. "I have to do this."

"No, Link," she grabbed his shoulders and shook him gently. "Let me fight."

He sighed and placed his hands on her torso and looked into her eyes intently. "We both know that it has to be me."

Tears welled up in the princess' eyes. She knew. She always knew.

"I just don't want to lose you again," her voice cracking at 'lose.'

"You won't," he assured. "I promise I'll be back.

Zelda weakly smiled. "Ok."

Both of them pulled each other into a tight embrace. They rested their heads on the other's shoulder and silently savored the time they had together.

Link looked over to Paya, who still was down on her knees, crying into Sheik's lifeless chest. He thought about all that was lost: his house, his most loyal companion Epona, the wise Impa, the Gerudo who had fallen during the battle, and now Sheik, who had saved him because of the person he was. Sheik had risked his own life for Link's. Without him, he wouldn't have ever been here.

He needed to win.

Link stroked Zelda's flowing golden hair before reaching up to the top of her head and lightly kissed it. He then separated from her and looked at her through tears. She had some of her own as well. They both reached out and wiped each other's tears away. They quietly laughed at their actions. Link took one more look at Paya, and turned to walk in the door.

Zelda watched as Link slowly stepped into the room. He took out the master sword and the hylian shield.

"Zelda."

Link turned around for the last time. He looked into her emerald green eyes.

"I love you."

Then, the metal door slammed to the ground.