"Link? Link, wake up."

Link opened his eyes a crack, observing the familiar surroundings of his bedroom. He was lying in his bed, Impa standing over him, along with the cyan-haired woman from before.

The Triforce!

Link tried to sit up but a stab of pain went through his right arm when he moved it. He fell back with a gasp. Impa quickly laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Try not to move. We gave you something for the pain, but it won't be gone entirely."

Link glanced down at his sword arm and his stomach dropped. It was bound tightly in cloth and laid in a splint.

"Impa," he said hoarsely, "How bad is it?"

Impa's scarlet eyes betrayed her concern.

"I'm afraid it's broken."

Link's chest rose and fell in hurried succession, his eyes never leaving the Sheikah's face.

"It may never heal fully," Impa continued, "Which means—"

"I might never be able to fight again."

Lana stepped forward, a nervous smile on her face.

"You still have your left arm," she said weakly.

Link turned his gaze on her.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm...I'm Lana."

She extended a hand. Link didn't take it.

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"Maybe I should explain a little better than that," she murmured uncomfortably, "I used to be the Overseer of Time, along with Cia. We're two halves of the same person. I'm the good half, she's the...well, other half. Ganondorf was the one who forced us apart."

"Ganondorf?" Link echoed.

"He's a reincarnation of Demise. You, Zelda, Demise, you're all to be reincarnated till the end of time. Majora killing Demise in this timeline however, sent him somewhat prematurely into his cycle of death and rebirth."

"So I get to kill him over and over again till the end of time. Great."

"Well, not you—"

"Specifically. I know."

Lana shifted her weight from one foot to the other, "Anyway, Cia wants the Triforce so she can summon Ganondorf's armies from the other timeline and rule over all the realms. Her lust for power is making her tear herself apart. She must be stopped."

"Where's the Triforce?"

"I managed to drive her off. It's safe."

"It should not be left unguarded for long," Impa pointed out.

"What's the point?" Link snapped.

Impa and Lana exchanged a look.

"What do you mean?" Impa queried.

"What's the point of waiting around for her to come back and try again? Look at me. I'm useless. One of you should go and make the stupid wish. I went through all the trials. I got all the necessary tools, but you don't need me anymore, so make the wish."

"Link," Impa said gravely, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, yes!" Link almost screamed, "Just do it! I don't care which of you does it, but just do it!"

There was a long silence. Link could feel the sting of tears but he furiously blinked them away.

Please, he silently pleaded, Someone just do it. Bring Zelda back. I just want her back.

"I-I guess I'll do it," Lana volunteered.

She opened her book, sending a bright white light splashing across the ceiling. Then, suddenly she was gone. Impa seemed perplexed but she said nothing. The silence stretched on, hanging over them. Link turned his face away from the Sheikah, only to see his sword resting against the opposite wall. The pain in his arm spiked again. It was almost as though the Master Sword, the weapon he had worked so hard to perfect, was taunting him.

There was a shout, causing Link to nearly jump out of his skin, but as his body reactively jerked in surprise, another stab of pain ran through his arm, making him yell in pain.

"Oh, oh, Link, I'm so sorry!"

Link's eyes found Lana again, back in the exact spot she'd been standing just seconds prior.

"It's gone!" she wailed, "I never thought Cia would return so soon! It's all my fault! What are we going to do?"

Link couldn't take it. Lana's hysterics, Impa's shocked silence, his broken arm, and his dead best friend all seemed to hit him at once and he broke under the pressure. He couldn't hold himself together anymore; he couldn't hold back the tears.

So he cried.