Time's Moving Faster Than I Can Count

The Final Words

Take everything you can from the ranch and leave Hyrule, please. It pains me to say, but it's safer. I'd rather risk living and never seeing you again than to find you dead. You deserve to live, Malon, so please do. Don't tell anyone where you're going, there's probably spies in the kingdom now, and they might hunt you down. Give yourself a chance.

If I had to guess, I'd say at least one of our boys has or will figure out that something is up, but I won't say anything. I'll deny it if they ask, and I won't give any indication that anything is wrong. They don't need to worry about this, Malon.

Sky is doing much better, as you'll be glad to know. His lungs aren't bothering him as much now, Hyrule had him on a strict, three day bed rest. He cleared up pretty quickly after that. Wild's magic cooking did him wonders as well, that boy knows how to cook you better alright.

Don't ever tell him I said this, but I much prefer your cooking.

Link had to stop reading momentarily. First, to laugh for a moment at the cooking comment. Of course Time would prefer Malon's cooking (not that he didn't love it, oh boy, he did), and then to worry. What war? What was going on back in Time's era that was causing him to worry for Malon's life? What had he been hiding? He picked up the letter again.

I don't know what Nabooru is doing, but if things are like they were in that other time, she's likely not on his side. That doesn't mean she's on ours, nor does it mean she's alive. For all we know, he's killed her like he has with everyone else he's deemed a traitor. However, there's still a lot of Gerudo that are still on that bastard's side. He has many people loyal to him, regardless of what we do. His mothers are still alive in this time, Malon. Who knows what they've done to people. Avoid the desert. Not only is it inhospitable, but Ganon's followers are likely still lurking there. Avoid it at all costs.

You cannot trust anyone, Malon. Not at a time like this.

Don't tell anyone, not even Zelda or Impa, where you're going. And do NOT trust Ingo. I know you think it's just skepticism on my part, but I know what he did to you in that time. He will take this situation as a means to try overpower you and your father. Leave him behind. He hurt you, and I won't allow it to happen again.

Go South, but not through the Lost Woods. You know which way I mean, I told you about it. You still have the map, right? Use it. Avoid the roads I marked out, they won't lead you anywhere safe. Take every single precaution you possibly can. Whatever I left behind, take it with you. Anything can be of use to you, Malon. Please, be careful. I'm not taking any risks here in case someone intercepts this letter.

You're going to be a wonderful mother, Malon. I wish I could be there to see it. Find happiness again. Find someone, my love. Don't wander life alone.

We both know I'm going to die. Tell our baby I'm so sorry, Malon. To both of you. I'm so sorry.

Please don't feel like you have to bear life alone. I may be gone, but you shouldn't die with me, my heart. Find someone again, Malon, and know I'll be with you.

I love you, Malon. I'll never say otherwise. Protect yourself. Don't reply to this letter, for the sake of your safety. If you never receive this letter, I'm glad the last thing I ever said to you was that I love you. Just get yourself out of Hyrule, go anywhere else. Hopefully they won't come looking for you.

I love you. I'll always love you. I miss you. Something tells me I won't be going anywhere for a while, and I think we both know why.

This is my final goodbye, and I'm so, so sorry.

I love you, Malon. Goodbye.

- Link,
Your Fairy Boy.

The letter fell from Link's hand. It didn't even hit the ground before a sob tore itself from him. Ugly tears started immediately, and he just couldn't help it. It hurt so bad. That was the final goodbye of his teacher, his Old Man, his grandpa. He crumpled to the ground and wept. He knew that if anyone walked in on him, he'd probably get laughed at, but he just didn't care.

He had just read the last words Time ever wrote. That's why he had felt so full of grief. He knew he was going home just to die! Why didn't he say anything?

Because he was a stubborn, and selfless hero who put everyone else before him. That's why.

Link curled up into a ball and wept harder. His cries made him hiccup badly, and it scratched his throat raw. He couldn't imagine the pain Malon went through when she read it. He would have been shattered if he'd have been the one receiving that letter. He wondered when he found someone - if he ever did - would she have to deal with this too? Would she worry about him dying every time he left the house? Would he die and no one would know for sure? Anger at the gods spiked again, even if he knew it was just from grief. He was allowed to be angry.

He couldn't take it. Why did everyone else get a happy ending?

He read the letter, again and again and again, until his eyes were red, raw, and swollen from crying. His throat ached, his chest heaved, and his heart was broken once again. It made him even more glad to have had the book written. He wiped his eyes and sighed heavily, his head pounding.

He slowly sat himself up and gathered all the old things. That was enough for the day. He ached all over. With shaking hands, he tenderly put all the things away back into the box they belonged to. He hears footsteps from outside coming in, and he turned in time to see Zelda walk in and close the door. He turned back and carefully placed the box next to the other letters, and just sighed heavily.

"I take it things didn't go so well?" She asked.

He merely held up the letter with a shaky hand, and blinked away fresh tears. She stood there, reading the letter herself, and she felt her own heart drop. She gently placed the letter back, and took Link to her room.

As night fell outside, the two sat on the balcony of Zelda's room. Looking up to the sky, Link saw another shooting star. This one was gold with giant strings of orange, and the sight of it felt like a hug from both Time and Malon. A new sense of peace washed over him, the Song of Healing played in his head again. He closed his eyes and thought about the hug from both of them.

Something he knew he'd never get again.