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Aurora was dying.
Death was near. She could feel it. She could see her vision darkening. Dawn's muffled sobs into the blanket grew fainter as she gripped the hand of her older sister. Hyrule's whispered comforts faded as she slipped away.
She was at peace. Many people don't make it to ninety after all.
Aurora had lived a full, long, and happy life. Hyrule and Dawn's children and grandchildren visited her often, despite their busy schedules. It never failed to warm her heart. Though she never had children, she loved her nieces and nephews like her own.
The kingdom was flourishing, finally recovering from the Decline. Hyrule was a great king.
...
Aurora was dying, and here - surrounded by loved ones - she was content.
She wondered who would greet her on the other side.
Her father?
Impa?
Lueberry?
Maybe even Minister Lefte or General Wright?
Link?
...
Ba-dump
Her heartbeat slowed.
Ba-dump
Every breath was a struggle.
Ba-dump
She closed her eyes.
Ba-
Silence.
The Sleeping Princess had entered her eternal rest.
...
She didn't open her eyes right away. Wisdom's bearer kept her bright green eyes shut, taking a moment to just be, and savour being free of the aches and pains that had marked her at that point in life.
Eventually, Echo's eyes blinked open.
They were suddenly filled with tears.
What greeted her was a sight she never thought she would see again.
It was Suthorn Forest, lush, beautiful, and green as it had once been oh so many centuries ago. She could see Suthorn Village just ahead, as bright and vibrant and warm as she remembered. A breeze ruffled her strawberry blonde hair, carrying with it the flowery scent of spring.
When the princess looked to the right, she saw a large tree brimming with reddish pink flowers and heart-shaped leaves. A redbud. Their tree.
A wave of nostalgia crashed into her. In her mind's eye, she could see the carved heart surrounding their initials etched into the redbud's rough bark. She could feel the sunlight warming her face, and his calloused hand in hers.
Echo had just been about to turn away when she noticed a figure sitting at the tree's base. They were too far away for her to see them properly, but she couldn't help the sudden pang of familiarity.
The figure got up and started walking towards her. The Priestess stayed rooted to the spot. As they drew nearer, Echo could finally see their face.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He was a young man of about eighteen with sandy blond hair that covered one eye, framing his handsome face. He wore a blue tunic lined in pale yellow, stitched with blocky swirls. A shortsword with a hilt the same shade as his tunic clanked at his right side. His ocean eyes were filled with affection, and Echo felt like she was drowning in the blue.
Link stopped right in front of her, their faces mere inches away.
They stared at each other for a long moment, emerald gazing into sapphire.
Then Link smiled that little smile that always made her stomach fill with butterflies, leaned forward, and caught Zelda in a bone-crushing hug. Zelda held back him just as fiercely, basking in the feeling of his arms around her once again. He smelled of petrichor, of the parched land after a rainstorm. She melted into him, sobbing in relief and happiness. Link just kept holding her. He managed to drag them both under the tree at one point, and he leaned against the trunk, Zelda's head on his chest.
Zelda broke the silence, throat raw from crying. "I never thought I'd see you again. It feels so surreal to be with you right now. This honestly feels like a dream."
Link tilted her chin up so that they were eye to eye.
"Zelda," he started, voice rough. Zelda's eyes widened in surprise. He almost never spoke. "I promise, I'm real."
"Sounds like something a dream would say."
Link's visible eye sparkled with mischief.
"Oh, really?" He leaned in closer. "Well then, could a dream do this?"
He closed the gap between them. She didn't doubt him again.
Zelda was dead. She had never felt so alive.