Hello, everybody. I'm pleased to welcome you to Mercy's Shadow, the third (and final!) installment of the TriShadow series. This shall be quite an adventurous fic, which I'm pleased to say will have twists of suspense and fluffy moments of romance.

I don't want to spoil too much, however. So, with that said, I'll quickly list an inspirational song, get on with the small teaser summary, disclaimer, and then get on with the chapter.

Inspirational song of Mercy's Shadow: Justice & Mercy by Flyleaf.

Teaser Summary: "The war you wage is dangerous," Zelda cautioned. I met her gaze. "A war far bigger than Dark Link's death. The Goddesses themselves shall fight against you."

Disclaimer: I do not own Nintendo, Legend of Zelda, or any such things. I make no profit from this.


"Mercy screams its violent love, justice and mercy, this is where they kiss." -Justice and Mercy, by Flyleaf


"Relax," The menacing voice uttered. My blurred vision and state of mind made it sickening to try and focus on Dark's voice—I could not hope to fight with Link if it came down to a fight. "I'm not here to pick a fight."

"You sick bastard," Link yelled. I felt him shift his weight to the bane of his sword. Anger dripped from his voice. "I will never stop fighting until you get sent back to the Darkness Realm—then, it's in the hands of the Goddesses."

"Clearly, they favor me." In my squiggly vision, I saw the glow of Dark's Triforce.

"Power cannot exist without courage and wisdom." I heard Link's Triforce of Courage pulse faintly, backing him up.

Dark clucked his tongue. "Anyway, I'm not here to pick a fight. Quite the opposite, actually."

Link gently set me down on the sandstone floor of the chamber. I heard him reached for his arrow, and I heard the sinew stretch out as he prepared to fire.

"How utterly romantic. Forgive me, Midna, for interrupting your happy moment with Link." His voice was mocking and I fought to stay awake. My side ached and I felt the blood continue its flow, falling out of me, draining me of life. I wondered if I would die if I was not healed quickly. Angered by the thought, I shot my vision open and tried to make sense of the blurs.

The arrow from Link's skilled hands whizzed through the air. Dark dodged it easily, and Link prepared another shot.

"I, however, won't stay long. I merely came for these."

Dark reached up to the mirror pedestal, plucking the two mirror shards on the Light Realm's side of the portal like they were ripened apples.

"NO!" I whispered in a heave.

Dark grinned. The portal spurred to life behind him, connecting the pieces in his hands to those in the Twilight Realm. I tried to lift myself to my feet and Link lunged for the portal, sword in hand-

The mirror chamber fell dark and silent.

Dark was gone, along with the mirror shards.

I shot awake in bed, heaving for breath. Cold sweat drenched my skin and my whole body ached—especially my side, where the crude stitches uncomfortably jutted into my skin. My mind swam and my hands burned with the bolts of golden light magic that hung on them—defensively from the dream.

I looked up, out the window of the upstairs of Telma's bar. I was in the loft of her bar, and though it stunk of whiskey, it made me feel comfortable. It was small quarters—a cot mattress laid out onto the floor, surrounded by books and bookcases. There was a small curtain, for privacy of changing and other needs, in the corner—but other than that, it was jam packed.

Judging by the light from the skylight, it wasn't even dawn yet.

Shaken scared by the memory/dream that I had encountered, I stood from the cot and quickly dressed. Zelda, being the lovely woman she was, had offered tons of clothes to me—but I refused. I wore my skanty yet traditional draping Twili outfit and wasn't about to change it. My hair fell loose on my back and I ran my fingers through it in an attempt to brush it.

My mind raced—I was constantly filled with worry. Dark had all the pieces of the Mirror in the Twilight Realm, and so he could come back at any time. There was no telling what was becoming of my people. I hoped that they were okay, and that they were being strong.

I barreled down the small spiral stairwell and stepped foot into the main room of the bar.

Link was asleep in a chair, feet up on the table. He was dressed in his Hero's Tunic again, with the Master Sword in its sheath on his back. He looked so peaceful, and so I tip toed past.

"Up already, Mid?"

Telma stood behind the bar with a broom in hand. Does that woman ever even sleep? I thought to myself.

"Yep. Had a nightmare. Again."

"Hon, you should really drink a glass of liquor before going to bed. It'll get rid of those."

"No thanks," I declined. "Knowing me, I'll just get drunk off of it. A drunken princess-in-hiding is no good."

Telma sighed. "Want me to put on some breakfast tea or coffee for you?"

"Coffee. Blacker than soil, please. No cream, sugar, cucco feathers, goat milk, chocolate port syrup-"

"I get it, Princess. Black coffee. No fancy add-ons."

"Thanks, Telma. I'm heading out for a walk to clear my head."

"It'll be ready when you get back, hon."

I left the bar hastily, walking the deserted streets of Castle Town. I had no real destination—not the castle, for sure, because I didn't want to go see Zelda. She had wanted to put me in a room in the castle—I refused. The royal treatment was the last thing on my mind.

I walked pointlessly for a few moments, until I finally ended up at the fountain in the middle of the main square. It was silent, dark, and deserted—I was the only one awake. A mockingbird sang in the distance, and I sighed.

I faced the thoughts I had not wanted to think of—thinking of Tetra. I had not seen her in the time that I had gotten back to the Light Realm, and I had not seen her after she tried to fight off Dark. I didn't see how she could—after all, she was merely a spirit. He could walk through her. I knew she had spiritual energy, but I doubted its strength.

With a sorrowful sigh, I came to a conclusion. Dark had sent her spiraling back to the Sacred Realm—he had re-killed the dead.

"So, if I'm un-undead, then it technically means I'm alive."

I quickly jumped to my feet and faced her voice.

She sat, in her translucent form, atop the fountain. She toyed with a dagger, and a red bandana hung loose around her neck. She looked so exhausted, and so sad. A pang of guilt filled me and I hesitantly spoke. "Yah, I figured you'd come back to haunt me."

"Not nearly. I'm not even sure if I'm supposed to speak with you."

"Go speak with Link, then. He'd love to meet his mother."

A quiet sigh brushed past her lips. So sad. Depressed, even. "I could not hurt him or distract him in that way. It's better off if he never has to tear open those sealed wounds."

I nodded, in half-agreement with her. I put my head in my hands and rubbed my temples, frustrated.

"What's bugging you? Your spiritual energy is quite upset."

"I killed you—again," I muttered to my hands. Tears pricked at my eyes.

"No. Dark did. Don't ever think that this is your fault."

I paused in silence for a moment. I was almost sure she was gone, but I uttered a question anyway. "Are you here to guide me again? Help us kill Dark?"

"No. I'm no longer an errand-messenger for the Goddesses. I got fired."

So that's what she had been. I looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean, fired? So Dark beat you in a fight—what does that mean, game over?"

Tetra laughed. "No. The fact that I fought him with my spirit—that was breaking the rules. I'm not supposed to interfere like that."

So that was what she had meant in that fight—when she had been so horrified with herself. "Oh, for the sake of Darkness, please tell me you're not stuck being a lost spirit for the rest of—"

"No, no! Nothing like that. You know, kid, you can be so rash sometimes." Tetra laughed at the end of her sentence, pleasantly amused.

"That's me. The royal court jester," I muttered. She laughed again, joyously, and I was kind of at peace with her.

"Well, to answer your question, I'm just not...trusted anymore. By the Goddesses, I mean. I am no longer doing their bidding. I was free to visit Hyrule one last time—before eternally resting in the Sacred Realm."

"You pissed off the Goddesses?"

"No, no. They pity me. I'm one of their children. They just won't trust me with important work anymore. And that's fine—I'd like to rest in peace."

Her form was starting to flicker. She sighed. "I don't have much time left. I kind of feel like I have to warn you-"

Tetra started to fade. The moment became urgent. "Get it over with! Please! Warn me about what?"

Her eyes met mine and blazed in flames of passion. "This is much bigger than Dark, Midna. Watch your step, please. And watch Link's, too."

She faded out, until she was nothing but a breath in the wind.

"Goodbye, Tetra. Rest in peace, old soul."

Perhaps she heard my goodbye. Perhaps she didn't.

But I had certainly heard the frantic tone- "This is much bigger than Dark, Midna. Watch your step."

I wanted it out by the 5th, and whaddya know—it's the 2nd! That's me, with my incredible timing. I just couldn't wait to publish this one, so I'm releasing it early. The next chapter shall be whipped up fairly soon, I'm sure.

Reviews, opinions, flames, and insults are perfectly welcome.