The twilight was awfully quiet on that night, as she recalled.
Her feet were bare, crunching against the withered leaves from the trees above her. A heavy brass anklet jingled as she walked, the only sound in the silent forest garden. Her skirt whispered over her other ankle and her opposite thigh, feeling more like wind than anything else. On the back of her belt, the light golden band encircling her waist, fabric laced up her back and wrapped around her chest and then over her shoulders, connecting back gracefully. She didn't burden herself with a cloak tonight, preferring the cool air of her domain to send goosebumps over her skin. Her hair, like a fire in the dim light, tumbled over her shoulders in long waves.
The roses were a deep shade of purple, almost black. Nothing grew in an unnatural color in this realm. It was all a shade of the Twilight, the perpetual sunset in the sky above. She pondered this. Was it really such a curse to have the sky in such awe inspiring beauty? Ah, but she had never seen otherwise. The sky written about in her library described blue, a vivid, amazing blue. Nothing like the Sols that powered the cities here. Deeper, more lightheartedly colorful. Similar to the pink that laced across the sky on a clearer day here.
Footsteps sounded behind her. She did not turn to observe her visitor, but she started a little when gloved white hands laced over her shoulders to rest on her wrists. Icy breath whispered in her ear.
"Princess," he greeted her. He inhaled deeply.
"Lord Ghirahim," she addressed him, stepping forward, breaking his grasp. A wry smile danced over his thin features, stretching his white lips outwards. He knew that she was evading his advances. It was fine with him; he enjoyed the pursuit.. "Is there something that you want to talk about, or are you just annoying me again?" She turned to face him, smiling.
Ghirahim was an eccentric man. He was probably the most unusual man in the Twilight Realm, anyway. Everything he did had a sort of flourish; his attire, his appearance, his magic, even. His hair was white, in a blunt cut that sent it to his chin, covering half of his right eye. The rest was kept short and slick. He had deep purple eyes, like the roses that surrounded her. His face was thin and long, but not unattractive. Dark circles laced below his eyes, accentuated by a purple dye that was soaked into the skin like a tattoo. He wore a maroon red cloak, decorated with a chain with a few diamond designs on it. He preferred to wear that cloak on one shoulder, leaving the other bare, showing the white bodysuit that he wore below. Diamond cutouts showed his dusky gray skin. A golden sash decorated the lower half of his suit, contrasting with the red of the cloak that hung over his shoulder to graze his leg. Most of his arms were covered by the white fabric, gloving his hands.
"I've been searching for you, Midna. Your guards were worried, but they said that you enjoyed your little secret garden," he said, carefully stepping along the side of the path. "Where, indeed, you were."
His fingers pinched the stem of a rose. Immediately, the thorns disintegrated. He presented it to Midna, smiling again when she took it and placed it in her hair. "Why?" She asked, turning again and proceeding down the pathway. It curved into a spiral, with a small building in the middle of the garden. It was what she used to call the guest house; now, she used it for any private time that she wished to have. Roses and trees shaded the path from the dim twilight above, casting dark shadows.
"A few...friends, I suppose, had a proposition that I thought you may be interested in."
There was something in his voice that made her eyes flicker to his in a sudden movement. His voice was so sure, but he was looking elsewhere in the moment he stated his intent. Midna raised her eyebrows. "Go on."
"You know that there is a world linked to this one. One that the beings of Light dwell in."
The path turned again, revealing Midna's cottage, built of the same black smooth stone that coated her cities. It was the easiest thing to mine in the Twilight realm. The Sol that powered the building was attached above the doorframe, providing some eerie teal light as she approached. When her feet touched the start of the black patio-type outdoor area, the door slid upwards, into the designated slot for it. She motioned for Ghirahim to follow her inside.
Midna had always had a soft spot for color. Her cottage was more liberally decorated than her castle, with the wood in vibrant orange browns. The floor was stone, as well as the walls, but every table, bed, and counter was in the bright color. Instead of the traditional teal light of the Sol, she used its power to light chandeliers with fire. She enjoyed the flickering light of the flames to the cold glow of a Sol.
She walked over to her small table, pulling out a chair for Ghirahim and herself. He sauntered over to her and, deeming the chair far too normal, sat over the corner of table. He seemed to be deep in thought. "You've said that you want to visit there, one day."
"The Mirror of Twilight was destroyed long ago. It's just an empty chamber now."
"You are correct," Ghirahim said. "It was destroyed by your ancestor for whatever reason, long, long ago. Hundreds of years have passed. But in those years, I've met some fascinating people. They tell stories of dwelling in the light realm."
"I highly doubt that they're more than stories," Midna retorted. Her eyes, crimson and a sunshine yellow, were fixed on her visitor's face. He was relaxed now. He didn't shy away from her gaze.
"Ah, Princess, but they are. These friends of mine have been banished here by the fabled Sages. Within the past few years, I might add."
She raised her eyebrows, her tattoo on her forehead crinkling. She was surprised, indeed, and curious...but only the most heinous of criminals were banished here recently. "They're definitely no friends of mine."
"Oh, Midna, don't be ignorant. Remember that your ancestors were banished here, as well."
"Wrongfully. After the initial banishment, the Light Dwellers used to use this place as a dumping ground for their criminals. That is why, Ghirahim, we have the plains. They used to wander around lost until they finally died. No decent Twili wants anything to do with any of those criminals or their offspring."
Ghirahim threw his head back and laughed. Midna looked away, not caring for his dramatics. "Then why do you speak to me, Princess? My ancestor was not part of the initial group. He was banished soon after that."
"I don't mean to offend you, Lord Ghirahim, but you're one of the most powerful individuals in the Ashen province. I don't hate you or even dislike you, but I've always recognized your bloodline."
"As I recognize yours, Princess. Anyway, the point is...I understand that there is another mirror of Twilight. And I would truly love to have my dearest friend accompany me, the forsaken, to the realm of Light."
Midna turned her head to look at him. He was smirking at her.
"I want to meet your friends."
"Tomorrow. I'll escort you from the palace."
With a flash of red and gold diamonds, he was gone.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Also, this fanfiction is cowritten by fishylishy. All chapters have a mixture of our writing.