Time's Moving Faster Than I Can Count

Time's End

"Well, this is it, huh?" Legend's usual snark was replaced by genuine solemnity.
"It would seem so." Time nodded. "For what it's worth, I'm proud to have been with you boys. I'm proud of all of you, even if you were sometimes a pain in my neck." He smiled lightly.

Wind and Hyrule ran straight into his arms, tears in their eyes.

"It's okay, you two. We're just going home, remember? It'll be alright."
"I'll miss you!" Wind cried.
"I'll miss you too!" Hyrule held on tighter.
"I'll miss you too. All of you."

It was then that all of the others joined the hug. Without Time, they were going to have to try manage themselves until the last of them went home. Time held each of them close, his heart ached at having to say goodbye, but he knew he had to. Once they all separated, he gave each of them a hug separately. Every single one of them deserved to feel seen and deserved to have their own comfort.

"Wherever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. However, that parting need not last forever. Whether a parting be forever or merely a short time, that is up to you." He smiled weakly, and Twilight saw grief flash in his eyes for barely a second before it was gone again. "I'll see you boys again, I know I will."

Time smiled through the lie, watching all but one smile genuinely. That boy always knew when something was up. He pulled Twilight to him again, kissing the top of his head, and holding him close once more.

"It's gonna be okay, Pup. I promise."

What an awful person he was. What a lying sack of shit. He was giving the group hope when he knew damn well that there was absolutely none to be had.

The portal flickered behind him, he knew it was time to go. He turned to go, and spared one last smile to the teary-eyed boys before he walked through the portal for the very last time. The portal fizzled out and died behind him, and immediately he was greeted by fire, yelling, and screaming. Drawing the Biggoron sword, he rushed into the fray. Monsters, demons, and assassins were running rampant all across the kingdom, and even from where he was, he could see Hyrule Castle in almost ruins. He rushed away from where he was, a quick glance behind him let him know he was just outside Kakariko, and down into the fight. He cut down monster after monster, hoping everyone got out safely. He knew this was the work of those loyal to Ganon.

He looked across the field to see LonLon burning, the flames licked the cloud like a horrific, demonic tongue. He could only hope Malon got herself, Epona, Talon, and their unborn child out safely. It pained him that he would never know.

He worked with those fighting to push back the beasts, thankful that these things were avoiding Kakariko for the most part, and by extension it seemed they were avoiding Zora's Domain too. Gorons rolled down the side of Death Mountain and through the village, out into the field. They swatted away Bokoblins like flies.  Zora stood tall, masterfully spearing through Lizalfos and Octoroks. Big Blins, Poes, Bubbles, Iron Knuckles, Gibdos, ReDeads, Like-Likes, Stalchildren, and Stalfos began attacking in swarms. At the head of it all, standing near the Lost Woods, seemed to be a strange, shadowy sorcerer.

Time rushed towards it, cutting through whatever he could. Something sliced down his leg, from the centre of his thigh down to just below his knee, and he stumbled. He cried out and dropped to one knee momentarily, but he hurried himself to get up and moved just in time to miss a swipe from a Stalfos' sword. He landed awkwardly on his bad leg, and managed to slice the Stalfos in half. Returning his attention to the sorcerer, he limped his way towards it.

He fought his way through things as much as he could, the sound of arrows flying overhead in both directions, and forced himself forward. Once he was close enough, he swiped its head off with his sword. It immediately tried to put itself back together, but he hurried to stab through its head. Thankfully, it fizzled out into darkness and didn't come back.