Work Text:
A door is pushed open. Morning light. Link opens his eyes.
A town wakes up around him, peaceful and merry. There’s a weariness to it, but it keeps going all the same.
Above him, the moon hangs fat and low. It grins, and foretells of death.
He puts away the Ocarina of Time, but the Song of Time still whistles in his ears.
So it goes like this:
Link exits the base of the Clock Tower at 6 am on the dot. The Mask Salesman stands behind him, expectant and waiting for the return of his mask. He is ignored, and Link begins to weave through the town.
The construction crew stands before him, insisting on working on a tower that will never be complete, for a doomed festival. Their hubris will leave themselves, and the soldiers forced to stay behind, stuck to die. They will have nothing to show for it.
He ducks to the left, off to the side street. He passes a Bomber Squad kid patrolling and approaches another standing guard. A code is recited, and Link heads off into the sewers of the town. He doesn’t think the Bomber Squad will have any new rumors, but he might go around to check anyway.
He weaves through the tunnels and winds up in the Astral Observatory. It’s a breath of fresh air as always, something about it pouring life back into his bones. It’s one reason that he prefers to visit here first thing after a loop.
Though, he thinks, watching Skull Kid mock him through the telescope, there are other advantages .
The Moon’s Tear is hot in his hands, and weightless in his bag. It’s handy to have.
So it goes like this:
He’s currently in Snowhead Temple, heels sliding against ice. Changing into a Goron hurts , but he must do it frequently. So he prevails. It takes all of the second day, traversing and planning and making his way through.
He falls. Many, many times.
He's aching. Pain laces through his bones.
In comparison, the bull that lies in wait as the final boss is easy. Goht simply runs in circles. Link races after it, dodges, and attacks. It's almost fun.
But it's tedious, and tiring, and the gong of a clock rings out part way through. It's properly morning by the time Goht is dead. The awakening of a Giant is awe-inspiring, but Link just wants it over.
He is only halfway done.
He makes it to Castle Town by noon.
Just for something to do, he gives the Deku Scrub within the main square his Moon's Tear and receives the deed for his flower. He doesn't need it now, but it passes the time.
He could restart now, but the thought of doing so, so early in the day, makes his chest ache. Sometimes he wonders if a miracle might happen, if a hero other than himself may swoop in and save Termina if given the chance.
The clock strikes midnight, and there is no hero to be had.
So it goes like this:
Link is in the dead center of the apocalypse. The moon is mere miles away from him, dangling in the sky. He feels like he could reach up and touch its nose.
He pulls out the Ocarina of Time. The Song of Time echoes, plays clear in the pandemonium.
Nobody dies. Nobody remembers, besides Link and Tatl. He can't bring himself to pity the fairy, not when she was one of the ones to set this in motion.
He pushes open the door, opens his eyes. Ignores the Mask Salesman, and steps out of the Clock Tower.
So it goes.