Legend, moving past grief, living in the hopeful bittersweetness of repair. He chose to go on another adventure, to be a hero again.
The ocean hummed in the distance, loud, crashing waves beating into his skull. The sun was beginning to dip under the horizon, hidden by the endless sea, painting the sky golden and dyeing the water with iridescent qualities. Sea foam bounced cheerily across the beach, blown by the constant breeze, carrying a taste of salt into his mouth.
Link stared at the foam as it skidded to a halt at his feet.
He'd gotten to the mainland two days ago, but he hadn't moved since. He was almost out of water. He hadn't eaten in nearly an entire day.
But he couldn't get himself to leave.
What had been the point of any of that? Had it been real? He knew it had been real, it had to be, she had to be--
Link squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face into his knees, tucked into his chest.
He'd had to choose. He'd had to choose between living in a dream forever or accepting reality.
Why did reality have to be so damn awful?
Link squeezed his legs even tighter. It had seemed to simple in the heat of the moment. Why wouldn't he want to return to reality? The dream was wonderful, but it was a dream. It was beyond foolish to think remaining there was okay. He woke up on driftwood for heaven's sake, he would have died if he hadn't woken up.
Then why did it hurt so much?
Dreams weren't normally so real, they weren't normally so immersive. The Wind Fish was a spirit for goddess' sake! Magic was clearly involved - what if there had been a way to--to--
To what? Transfer fiction to reality? Make Koholint real?
Make Marin real?
He hadn't slept in two days. What if he went back to Koholint when he closed his eyes? What if this was all still a dream? What if Koholint had been the reality?
Link shook his head. He knew that wasn't the case. He knew it.
Had they been conscious, real people at some point? Had they been lost at sea as he had? Had he just destroyed their chance at escape, destroyed their only remaining existence? Had he freed them from their spiritual captivity? Was he a murderer or a savior?
Did any of it even matter?
Link tasted bitterness in his mouth. He didn't want to move. He couldn't leave. He felt heavy and dizzy and sick.
But sitting here didn't change anything. Being lost in his thoughts wouldn't bring them back, it would only destroy the justifications he made for the decision in the first place.
Because he couldn't live in a dream. He wouldn't just let himself drift in the ocean and die to hide from reality. That wasn't who he was.
He was a Hero of Courage. And no matter how awful reality could be, no matter how terrifying or lonely or cruel, it could be beautiful and amazing and an adventure. He just had to seek it out.
Marin wouldn't want me to be sitting here dying slowly.
Swallowing thickly, Link slowly rose to his feet, feeling dizzy at the sudden change in position after staying there so long. It was growing dark, but the moon was rising, shining brightly on his face. It was cold, but he felt warmth in his heart. It was quiet but his mind was screaming.
One step. Then another. You have to keep moving forward.
And so he did.
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