This may not be the
most emotional moment, but it's one that I feel strongly about and want to convey what I think it means and what it says about the characters involved.
This moment is during the Temple of Time cutscene, when Link leaps into the action to protect Zelda and Impa from Ghirahim. The player is presented with a choice of what to say to Impa at this point: "Go!" "Am I late?" or "Protect Zelda!" I believe that the best choice here, the one that best reflects the relationship Link and Impa have built over the course of their encounters, is "Am I late?"
That phrase makes this the turning point in Impa's approval of Hylia's chosen hero. Up until now, Link had always just missed Zelda, and it was only thanks to Impa that she didn't fall into enemy hands. Impa even
confronted Link about this, expressing her doubt. Was Impa too harsh here? Maybe a little, but such criticism is a common impetus for 'hero's journey'-like characters. "Do my words sting? Let them." Sometimes people need to experience pain in order to use it to better themselves.
Now, seeing Impa at the mercy of Ghirahim, Link has a chance to prove himself. This scene expresses one of the most basic emotions - the desire for approval. Often this comes in the form of a father's approval. In this case, Link wants -
needs - to know from Zelda's protector whether he is worthy as a hero to fulfill his destiny. "Am I late?" Is there a hint of sarcasm in this message? Perhaps, but behind that there's the deeper message which Impa understands.
"...No. You're right on time."