Chapter 1: Unexpected Arrival
The moon slowly rose up into the sky and an icy chill swept throughout all of Hyrule. Zelda wrapped her cloak tightly around her to warm herself. She stood outside of her room on a small balcony that overlooked a small garden and pond. Zelda sighed; it had been two years since the farewell of the Twilight Princess and the death of the great evil that corrupted her land. Things had grown lonely without Link around, and after Midna had left, she had grown used to his company. Together, they helped Hyrule quickly be restored and brought to it's former state that it was at before the darkness
Zelda walked back into her room and closed the two wooden doors that opened onto the balcony. She walked over to her wardrobe and grabbed a nightgown. She slid off her skirts and donned her nightgown. Once fully dressed she lay down on her bed and pulled her covers over her head. Tomorrow the kingdom prepares for my coronation, Zelda thought.
She was the only heir to the throne and she must marry soon. Zelda was surprised that the Royale Court at least allowed her to become Queen before she married, for it was something not usually allowed. Just a few more months and she would be married... She was told that heirs to the throne were expected of her once married, but she could not imagine herself being a wife. Zelda closed her eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Link groaned in his sleep as Fado called to him from the bottom of his house. Link should have been up by now for it was already past sun-high and the goats needed to be put away. "Link! C'mon lad, ya need to herd the goats! We have to hurry; Mayor Bo wants it done now!"
Link reluctantly arose from his hay-filled bed and stretched. He quickly changed and went outside his house. Link looked around for his horse, Epona, but she wasn't in sight. Link groaned again and ran to the Light Spirit's, Ordona, pond. There he found Ilia and his horse. "Hey, Ilia, I need Epona now."
"You need to give your horse a break, Link. You are always so demanding…," she said.
"Well she is my horse, and your father wants me to go herdin' the goats now," said Link shrugging. He walked into the pond and shivered. "Great Goddesses, this water is cold. Must be from the freezing nights." Ilia nodded and handed the reins to Link.
"Take it easy on her. 'K, Link?" said Ilia stroking Epona's mane as if she were a newborn child.
"Yea yea, whatever you say," he said, pretending not to care. He turned away and stretched, allowing a loud yawn to escape from his lips.
"I'm serious, Link. One scratch on that horse and you better learn to sleep with your eyes open." Ilia's demeanor suddenly changed and she began glowering at Link.
"Fine Ilia, I'll take her easy," Link said laughing at her as he looked over his shoulder. Ilia looked confused for a moment and joined in the laughing for no apparent reason. This was like when they were children: Link would pretend not to listen, Ilia would lecture him, and they would have fits of laughter.
"Well go on then, goat-boy. Take Epona." Link nodded to his friend and walked Epona through Ordon Village to the ranch. Not many people were out this early in the morning, but Malo and Talo were chasing the cucoos, Bo was talking with Jaggle and Rusl and Colin could be seen practicing their swordplay up by their house. Colin had grown into a fine, young swordsman. Faint scars could be noticed on his arm and it reminded Link a bit of his journeys.
"Finally you're here, boy," shouted Fado as he saw Link riding on his horse. "Now hurry up, we need these goats in."
Link nodded and began herding the animals. Unfortunately, for Link, one of the goats became angry with him and knocked him off Epona as she reared in fear. Link jumped back up to his feet and began herding once again.
"Nice work, Link! Now there's nothin' to do later," Fado said running to Epona's side. "Do you want to jump fences today?"
Link shook his head and headed back to his house, waving good-bye to Fado as he left. He put Epona in her usual spot under the tree beside his house and climbed the up ladder. Inside he sat on the floor and pulled out a small broken object from a chest. It was one part of the broken Fused Shadow that Midna -his companion during the time when twilight engulfed all of Hyrule- wore atop her head.
Everywhere the young man went, memories of the stubborn imp clouded his thoughts. Of course, she cared for people; she just would not admit it. Oh how Link missed her constant remarks and lectures. She was someone who could never be forgotten. He missed her devious grin and her stubborn remarks, and, for some odd reason, he missed her criticizing him.
Link pocketed the Fused Shadow and walked outside as he heard a commotion. Outside he saw Beth, Colin, Malo, and Talo, all children from Ordon Village, as well as Mayor Bo and a cloaked figure. He climbed down and walked over.
Mayor Bo turned to Link and smiled. "Link, my boy, this," he said indicating the robed figure, "is Princess Zelda."
Zelda removed her hood and bowed to Link, "All is well I hope, Hero. I am here for minor issues only, and it is for all of the people of Ordon."
Link blinked in surprise and bowed back to Zelda.
Beth nudged Talo who had grown almost to her size, "Oh, that isn't true, Your Highness. All matters of royalty are important," Beth said with the youth nodding enthusiastically beside her.
"Well, I suppose so, but it is not extremely important, this matter I mean," Zelda said. "I am here to ask all of Ordon to come to my coronation in five days."
Mayor Bo looked surprised, "Y-y-you want us all? Why thank you Your Highness, thank you. It will be an honor for us to come."
"I will accept no gratitude, for you are my people and I could do no less for thou," she said simply, brushing her golden brown hair behind her pointy ears.
The children could be seen exchanging pleasurable glances and all wore a grin from ear to ear. What Beth was thinking did not have to be said. What do you mean!? How is that not important!? she probably was thinking.
"Well, thank you. Beth, Colin, Malo, Talo! Go back to your homes and spread the news!" Mayor Bo instructed seeing the youths run off. "I think I will go tell my daughter as well…," he said leaving.
Link looked at Zelda and grinned, "Coronation, huh? That's a biggie. But why don't you marry first?"
"Because the Royale Court has allowed me to become Queen first. I do have to marry eventually for a new heir of the throne must be born," she said.
"I'm always available," Link teased.
Zelda frowned at the young man she had known for only two years. "Not even in your dreams, Hero." She smiled and paused. "Hero as you may be, you will never be allowed." Link shrugged and they stood in silence for a moment, "You miss her don't you?" Zelda asked softly.
"How can I not? I just can't rid her from all of my past memories. As stubborn as she may be, she was a good friend."
"Ah, Link, she is Princess of another land, I had wished she had not broke the portal between our worlds, too. But, she is who she is and no force on this earth may change that, for she is Midna," the princess said softly. Link nodded and felt Zelda rest her hand on his shoulder. "Link, she will always exist in your memories, you know… Well it has been nice to see Hyrule's Hero once more, now I must go, for my escorts are awaiting my return to them." Zelda turned and left leaving Link in his silence.
"Princess! We are under attack! Are you there? Answer me!" cried a voice from outside Midna's room.
Midna sat on her bed unmoving. Yes, her kingdom was under attack, but she could do nothing. Only she knew who her attackers were and what they could do. She shook her head and grabbed an old cloak and let her hair down from its usual uphold, just to blend in and not be singled out for Princess.
The voice still cried from outside her door and fists hammered angrily on it. Midna shook her head and climbed through her bedroom window onto the castle's roof. Below her, a bloody battle raged on and dead bodies of mostly her people were scattered along the ground. When Midna finally reached where she was heading she jumped down onto a small balcony.
She breathed out heavily and fell to the ground as she was whacked in the back of the head. Midna looked up in pain to see her attacker. "Zant…" she said in surprise.
"Hello, Princess. You thought me dead. Did you not?" Zant said kneeling beside the princess.
"H-how… I saw you die!" she cried out struggling to stand. At least she was talking to the sane portion of him, not his crazy other half. But still, him being alive was not possible. And he wasn't even involved in this war! Or was he?
Zant pushed her down. "Ah, no, Midna. Only will you be allowed to merely even stand if you marry me."
"NO! I SAY NO! GET IT THROUGH YOUR INSANE, FOUL HEAD!" she yelled, repeating what she had said many times before.
Zant laughed and forced her down with his evil magic. Midna tried to move but could not. He slowly lay down on top of her and began to remove her dress. "Now, you will have to marry me or face the consequences until you do." Zant's hands felt her breasts and his tongue licked her exposed skin. "Poor, poor princess," he laughed.
Midna felt a tear roll down her cheek. Get off me, bastard, she thought as Zant continued to remove her dress. She closed her eyes and tried with all of her remaining strength to focus her power. Midna crackled with energy and burst Zant off her. "You are lucky I don't have the Fused Shadows..." She quickly leapt up and grabbed her dress, hearing the evildoer yell in surprise. She ran to a small hallway that appeared to be a dead end. She opened a small hidden door with her magic and ran through it to an underground tunnel.
Midna reached the end of the tunnel where two small blue flames flickered. In-between them, was a large trunk. She opened it up and pulled out a small handheld mirror that greatly resembled the Mirror of Twilight. "Lets pray this works," Midna whispered.
Only the royal family knew of this mirror that could be used in place of the Mirror of Twilight. It's origins remained unknown but it was still proven useful.
Midna looked into the mirror and closed her eyes, hoping she would be brought to the world of light. She couldn't help what to think about leaving her people once more, they would most likely be upset that their ruler fled and left them be… just as she did before. Midna shook her head and felt her body go limp.
Midna found herself shielding her eyes from blinding white light. She stood shakily and leaned onto a tree. It had worked, she was in the world of light. Midna sighed and thanked her goddesses that she had escaped Zant's attempt to rape her. She let go of the tree and looked around at the familiar land of Hyrule. She was just outside of Kakariko Village, that was certain to her.
She had to find Link and ask for his help. Midna opened a twilit portal and floated up into it heading to Lake Hylia, Link's favorite place to relax. No doubt he would be there at this time of day. And if he didn't show up at the time, she would just have to wait.
Lightwolf8: hehe… my story. Anyhoo, please please review. This is one of my first fanfics and I would like to know how I did. I am accepting criticism, just don't make it too bad… or then BOO YOU!!! And review or me no continue!!!