Hello everyone, my name is Equinoxwolf. This is the first chapter of my very first fan fiction, which I am excited about. Admittedly it took a bit of tinkering to figure out how to publish this correctly, including a botched up submission that didn't look good.

Anyway, before we get on with the story I just want to say a few things about myself. I'm a huge fan of Link and Midna pairings and got into fan fiction because I was unhappy with how Twilight Princess ended. I mean come on, I know that it's a custom for Link's sidekicks to walk of without warning but that was a d*ck move in that game.

I hope you enjoy The Peacekeepers as well as my future stories. I put a lot of care and commitment into writing them so it would make me happy to hear your reviews.

This is a non-profit fan fiction story. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the property of Nintendo. Please support the official release.

In the face of necessity and desire, no price is too high

Chapter 1: The Fallen Hero

The kingdom of Hyrule is a prosperous nation rich in beauty and wealth. It was a special place said to have been blessed by the goddesses who created this world. The peace was not to last, however, as the kingdom was thrown into turmoil time and time again by those who sought to control the land's sacred power. The most recent of such events was a time when Hyrule was covered by a perpetual Twilight. The people were transformed into spirits, tormented by the creatures of shadow that had invaded their world. When all seemed lost a lone Hero, chosen by the goddesses, rose to push the Twilight and its inhabitants back to the realm from which they came. Freed from their oppression, the people celebrated the Hero for his feats of strength and courage. If only they knew that there was more to the story, that something happened which had destroyed the Hero they believed to be invincible.

"Link! Careful, that goat's about to run loose!"

Link turned his head towards the goat in question. He had been trying to herd the animals with his partner Fado as was his daily routine. But as it had been for the past few months, neither his head nor his heart had been into the chore that had one time been his life. Had his reflexes been as sharp as they should be, he would have charged his horse, Epona, and caught the goat before it made it to the ranch gate. Fortunately Fado was already poised to intercept the stampeding animal and grabbed it by the horns, stopping it in its tracks.

"Fwooh." Fado sighed in relief once the animal had settled down, "Y'know bud, usually I'm the one whole lets the goats run off and you're the one who stops 'em."

Link did not respond. He rarely did these days. He always had his head hung low, staring at nothing with brooding eyes. It was as though now that the incident had passed he had lost all interest in it.

"Link, you never let the goats get away from you like that before. But ever since you came back from saving Hyrule a goat's escaped every other day, or tried to at least. Are you feelin' alright bud?"

Again Link did not respond. What could he possibly say? Fado could never understand what the goddesses' Chosen Hero was feeling or why. No one could save one, but that person could do no more to help him than anyone else in this world. Fado knew he would not get an answer so with a sad sigh he let the matter drop.

"Okay bud, let's call it a day." But Link was already steering Epona to the gate back to the village. Not one word was said.

Link rode slowly through Ordon Village, his mind wrapped in pity and loathing towards himself. He was vaguely aware of passing Ilea's house, his childhood friend. In the corner of his eye he saw her. She did not call to him but merely turned to walk inside. Two weeks ago Ilia had reprimanded Link for the lack of care he had been giving his horse, which she stated was worse than usual. Usually when this happened Link would say that he would take care of Epona better, but that time he said something else.

"Epona is my horse, not yours!" he shouted, "If you have a problem with that then you can take it up with someone who gives a damn!"

Ilia had burst into tears at those words. Link knew he should not have said them. He never yelled at his friends like that. He wanted to apologize ever since but he could never find the words or the courage to do so. They had not spoken to each other at all, stacking another item to the heavy pile of problems in Link's life. Just thinking about it was upsetting him now.

"Hey Link!" It was Talo with the rest of the children, waiting outside Link's tree house. "Link, can you show us your sword techniques please?"

Link dismounted Epona, not giving a single indication that he had heard the young boy's request. Talo eagerly grabbed Link's hand. "Come on Link, you haven't played with us in months. Get your sword and show us some of your moves."

Link angrily yanked his hand free of Talo's grip and turned towards him. "LEAVE ME ALONE TALO!" The younger boy stepped back a few paces, frightened by the outburst.

After a few long moments Talo recovered and glared back at him. "Fine. Go ahead and be boring. Just sit in your house all by yourself like a stinking loser!" He stormed off for home. The other children had been shocked as well by Link and turned to follow Talo. Even Colin, who normally held Link in the highest esteem, gave the older boy a sad look before he followed his friends.

Link climbed the ladder leading to his front door and entered his home. He slumped into a chair at his dining table and held his head in his hands. He should not have shouted at the children. They looked up to him and he knew that they only wanted to spend time with him. He was not angry with them, but he was so frustrated with himself that he did not know what to do, so he took it out on everyone around him.

Unconsciously his eyes turned towards the opening in the floor that led to the basement. Down there was a chest locked with his green Hero's tunic, his sword and shield, and all the other weapons and items that he had collected with Midna on their adventure.

Midna... He never saved Hyrule by himself. Never could have. The truth was he was only able to have done what he did because of the little imp that stood by him every step of the way. She was a Twili, the same race as those who had invaded Hyrule. But unlike her fellows she did not seek to conquer the Light Realm, all she wanted was to free her people of the curse that drove them to serve the evil Gerudo, Ganondorf, along with his henchmen, Zant.

Midna had always been an enigma to him. She was sassy, hot-headed, impatient and bossy. But after they got to know each other he had learned that she was also smart, funny, caring, passionate and selfless. He also learnt later on that she was in reality the princess of the Twilight Realm until Zant usurped her throne and transformed her into an imp. When her curse was broken Link discovered something else about her; she was beautiful, a thousand times more so than anyone or anything else he had ever seen before.

At first she treated him like dirt, but if it had not been for Midna Link would still be locked in a dungeon cell, trapped in a wolf's body and Hyrule would still be blanketed in everlasting Twilight. Eventually he thought of her as his closest friend and when she had to go home, to her world, it pained him to think about it.

"Thank you," Midna told him. "As long as that mirror's around, we could meet again."

It should have been a happy thought but there was nothing but sadness in her words.

"Link. I... See you later," she said sadly.

Then with a tear, she shattered the Mirror of Twilight, the only connection between the Light and Twilight Realms. She did so that the two worlds could stay safe from each other. Tears threatened to flow from Link's eyes now. 'I never even got to say goodbye,' he thought miserably. That was why he locked away his equipment where he could not see them; so that they could not bring back harsh memories. Not that it worked of course. He thought of her constantly.

As the first sob began to break there was a knock at the door. Link jumped in his seat, thrust back into the present. He stood up and hurriedly wiped the tears from his eyes as he walked towards the door. On the other side was a man who looked to be in his mid-forties. He had thick, unkempt black hair and a similarly scruffy beard. He wore a simple brown overcoat that reached past his knees over a similarly simple shirt and pair of trousers. His eyes had a certain look about them that made him look like a fierce warrior, but not an unfriendly one.

"Excuse me. I'm looking for a young man named Link. Are you him by any chance?"

Link only nodded slightly. Who was this guy and what did he want with him? The stranger took the tiny gesture as confirmation and smiled.

"Ah. Good. It's nice to meet you Link. My name is Callum."

"I like what you've done with the place," Callum commented as he gazed around the small living space. "It certainly feels like home." The stranger's hand casually ran along the smooth wood of the kitchen bench.

Link was still trying to process what was going on. This man knocks on his door looking for him, for no reason he could fathom, and let himself into Link's home. Now the guy was admiring the interior decorating.

"I've heard about the things you've accomplished a few months ago," Callum continued, still not looking at his host. "Imagine, a power-hungry warlord banished from the world a hundred years ago returns with an army of monsters and covers the entire country in darkness. Not even Hyrule's greatest knights were able to slow them down and the kingdom fell in a single day. Then when all seems lost a young ranch hand picks up a sword and starts undoing the invaders' work. Not an easy feat for a normal person to be sure. Of course you didn't do it all alone did you?"

Link shifted uncomfortably, trying not to think about her again. "Well... no. You see I had some help from the resistance. They gave me some useful advice and helped me retake the castle."

Callum finally turned to face him. He wore a knowing smile. "Yes indeed, we most certainly can't ignore all that the resistance group did during that time. But I was not referring to them. I'm talking about that other friend of yours, the one who hid in the shadows, whispering into your ear. What was her name again, Midna?."

Link flinched, his mind buzzing with questions. How could he possibly know Midna's name? Link had never told another soul about her. "Who are you?" he demanded angrily, "How do you know about Midna? And what the hell are you doing in my living room?"

Callum gestured an offer for Link to sit down at his own table. "Perhaps we should make ourselves comfortable. This will take some time." Link wordlessly accepted and pulled out a chair, not taking his eyes of the mysterious man. "Now what I am about to tell you may sound far fetched but I assure you that it is the truth." Callum spoke calmly as if the pending conversation was familiar for him.

"I belong to a special group. We call ourselves the Peacekeepers. Our Order operates across the world in secret, unbeknownst by the general population. Our main objective is to ensure world peace and maintain the precarious balance of power between nations. If a ruler becomes a tyrant over their people or decides that they want more land than they already control, we deal with them one way or another.

"We are an elite intelligence force learning as much as we can about the world. To answer your second question, we were watching you and your friend the whole time during your grand adventure. We know that you were collecting the Fused Shadows. We know that Midna's plan to use them against Zant failed miserably. We know that you both hunted the fragments of the Mirror of Twilight in order to enter the Twilight Realm. And we know that it was you who defeated the men who caused all the trouble."

Callum paused to let his words sink in. Link could not believe he was hearing. There was a secret organisation that protected world peace? The idea sounded too crazy to be true. If it was then where were they when Ganondorf brought Hyrule to its knees? But the things these people knew about him... about her... there was no other explanation for it.

"Now as for why I am here," Callum continued. "You see, the Peacekeepers are always searching for people such as yourself to recruit as agents, working in the field to help people. I have come to you with an offer to become a Peacekeeper so that you may use your skills for a greater good."

Link did not need to think about the proposal for a second. "Hmmph. Thanks but no thanks," he said. "I'm done with playing the Hero. It's done nothing for me but cause me pain." Link rose from his seat. "You know where the door is. Don't let it hit you on the way out."

Disappointed, Callum stood up to leave. "Very well, it's a shame though. You're wasting a golden opportunity here." He stopped a few paces from the door and half turned back to Link. "I wonder how Midna would feel if she knew that the man who risked his life for her has given up. Would she be sad? Disappointed? Would she lose her respect for you?"

Link saw red, his body quaking in fury. How dare he talk about her like that? "You bastard!" Link screamed as he threw a left hook at the Peacekeeper's head. Callum made no move to block or dodge the punch. Instead he turned his head fully towards his attacker and spoke with an empowered tone.

"Body Seal!"

In an instant Link's advance was halted, his fist frozen in place mere inches away from the other man's nose. Link panicked, trying to understand what had just happened. He tried to move but his muscles refused to obey him. All he could do was to stare at the strange visitor who had completely immobilized him. 'Is this magic?' Link asked himself.

"Now I admit what I said was uncalled for and for that I am sincerely sorry." There was no sign of anger in Callum's voice or face. "But I strongly suggest that you never try that again." He released the spell that held Link, causing the Hero to stumble to the floor.

Callum lent Link a hand and helped him back to his feet. "Look, I would really appreciate it if you considered my offer. I can tell that you miss the Twilight Princess," he pulled a small mirror out of his pocket, "and I can tell that she misses you too."

Link looked at the reflective surface, seeing his own face. Then the image distorted itself until it displayed something else. In the mirror he could see a water fountain, crafted from black stone. A statue resembling a woman holding an upturned jar stood in the fountain's center with water flowing out of the jar. Sitting on the fountain's side was a tall feminine figure in a black cloak. The cloaked woman was staring absently into the water. The image focused on the woman's hood revealing a beautiful but sad face. It was Midna.

Link grabbed the mirror out of Callum's hand. "Midna!" he called, "Midna!"

"She can't hear you," Callum explained. "This is a scrying mirror, travel size. Not unheard of in some countries. It allows one to view people and places in the present that they wish to see. We use these as part of our primary intelligence gathering. It's possible to use these as a method of communication but that requires another mirror to be synced to this one, which there isn't in this case."

Link continued to gaze at the small object in his hands. "Let's make a deal Link." Callum said, getting the young man's attention. "If you agree to consider joining the Peacekeepers carefully, I will take you to speak to Midna in person. In fact, I'll even hold up my end of the bargain first as a show of goodwill."

Link's mouth opened in surprised, his spirits rising for the first time in months. He could see Midna again? He could not help but feel doubtful though. Was it even possible? Midna had destroyed the only way in or out of the Twilight Realm. Could there really be another way?

He was not sure if this would work but the prospect of reuniting with his dearest friend was too great to pass up. "Alright, if you take me to Midna I'll think about it. That doesn't mean I'll say yes though."

Callum smiled. "That's good enough for me. Now again, I'm sorry."

"For what?" Link asked suspiciously.

"For this. Dream Shroud!" Suddenly Link's legs gave way and his vision turned black. He was unconscious before he hit the floor.

And that is Chapter 1 completed, yay. :D I want to give special mention to Ryuakego and Sirdeon425 who also new authors and have already shown support for me. Please take a look at their works, though they still have a long way to go, they both show great potential as writers. I will update this story on a weekly basis and that's a guarantee.

Until next time,

Equinoxwolf