Well, howdy! This is a new story, obviously, which I wrote after I finished Twilight Princess… so if you haven't played it, there will be some spoilers, I guess. This is set after the game, about a year after. But I don't want to babble away, so please read and enjoy!


Howls of Faith

Whispers of Adventures

Link padded up the slope with Midna on his back, steadily following Colin's scent. The village was silent, the air seeping with the twilight virus.

They came to a halt, as Link set eyes upon Kakariko Village for the first time. Was Colin here? And was Ilia here? It was so strange; Link had no idea what he was doing, and all he had to guide him was a strange imp sitting on his back.

As on queue, Midna kicked at his sides, muttering something along the lines of "come on." Link merely settled for obeying her in silence. Even if he wanted to snap at her, all that would come out of his mouth was barks and snarling, like she had pointed out to him the first time they met. The only way he could speak to her, was if he returned to normal. Which he wanted, as soon as possible. So he settled for growling a little, before trotting into the village.

No sooner than a few seconds later, he was forced to a halt as several large stone pillars suddenly pierced into the ground, trapping them in some kind of magnetic field. He recognised these pillars all too well; they were carved with those unmistakable red signs. Both Link and Midna turned their eyes to the clouds, and saw a portal open up and hurling out three…three… Link didn't even know the name of them.

"…shadow beings," Midna breathed, voicing his thoughts. The horribly disfigured creatures reached the ground each with a heavy thud, causing the ground to tremble slightly under Link's paws. But he did not back away as one's first instinct might have been. Instead, he lowered his head in an attack position the growl reverberating through his beastly body. The creatures got to their feet, and started to make their way around, half walking, half dragging themselves forward. With a snarl Link launched himself at the first creature. It grunted in pain as he dug his claws into its dark flesh, hanging on while sinking his fangs into his throat. But the creature managed to revive itself and with a mighty swipe of his arm, he flung away Link, who slammed hard into one of the stone pillars.

Despite being a strong beast, Link's head spun a little as he got to his feet. The creature was coming after him again, but Link swiftly dodged him. He ended up behind the creature and quickly leapt onto its back and sunk his fangs into its neck. With a roar the creature collapsed.

Link paused for a moment, watching the lifeless creature. One down, two to go.

The first creature was not dead yet, unless he killed the other two simultaneously. Luckily, Link had Midna to help him.

He crouched down as he neared the remaining creatures, and with Midna's magic a sort of force field was created. It expanded until it reached the remaining creatures. As soon as it engulfed them, Link attacked them.

They both fell to the ground, and all the creatures vanished. The stone pillars disappeared.

Turning his eyes to the sky again, Link saw the portal change slightly in color, from a crimson red to a peaceful blue.

"There's the light spirit!" Midna suddenly exclaimed cheerily and pointed, as if she found the whole scenario funny and not dead serious like Link did.

But before Link broke into a run, he sensed something behind them. He tensed, pricking his ears forward in apprehension. Midna saw his anxiety and he felt her turn around on her back. Then she drifted up from her seat into the air, as Link finally turned around. His eyes immediately widened in wonder.

Before him, on the path leading away from Kakariko Village, stood a wolf. But this was the only similarity the two shared, being of the same race. For this wolf was, first of all, a she, and she was smaller than Link. Her fur was a pure white color, save for a black marking running from the bottom of her stomach and twisting itself up to the base of her neck. It almost looked… like a tattoo. Similar to Midna's skin texture.

But there was something else that captivated Link. The wolf's eyes. They were deep red, but not like the threatening shade most of Link's enemies possessed. It was a dark soothing red, which seemed to have the strange ability to see through Link. Into his soul.

The wolf's eyes rested upon Link for another moment, before turning its gaze to Midna. The imp was staring at the wolf in mild shock. They looked at each other for a long moment, until Midna found herself, a smile creeping onto her lips.

"So," she said, crossing her arms, "it's you."

Link, utterly baffled, looked from Midna to the wolf, to Midna again.

"You still live in this world… instead of your real home," she said, hovering closer to the wolf, who didn't move a muscle. Midna inspected the wolf closer, stroking her own chin thoughtfully. "Isn't that funny? Apparently you cannot exist in twilight…the way you should, at least." Midna threw back her head and laughed, like she found it all very funny. Still, the wolf did not move, nor move it's piercing red-eyed gaze away from the imp. The judging eyes seemed to tell Midna something, who suddenly stopped laughing abruptly.

She glared at the wolf. "No, I do not quite look like myself either…" her voice trailed off as Midna's gaze drifted to Link. "But that is a long story, which I do not wish to share with you."

With that, Midna crossed her arms again, looking determined and grumpy.

But now the white wolf's eyes had shifted to Link, and she was staring at him in wonder. Midna noticed this, and lit up in a mischievous grin.

"Funny you two should share the same fate," Midna chuckled. She nodded in Link's direction. "He's assumed to be the Hero, chosen by the Gods," she mused, but then her expression turned grave as she looked at the white wolf again. "And you are in the same form…though you are hardly more than a coward!"

Finally Midna's bickering and harsh words got to the wolf and she growled loudly before snapping her jaw after the imp who swiftly avoided her. The two glared at each other again, before the white wolf suddenly turned and trotted towards the steep rocky wall and leapt up with great agility. Both Midna and Link looked after her, Midna with a scowl on her face and Link with interest and confusion. The wolf, once atop the rocky wall, came to a halt and turned to look at them. As her red eyes locked onto Link he felt an extreme sadness in the wolf, before she turned away and ran off.

Link looked after her for a long time, until Midna landed hard on his back.

"Don't even begin to ask me who that is," she said in a bitter tone, a tone Link had never heard her use before. "Let's just say it is an old acquaintance that I deeply wish to forget."

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The rising sun struck into Link's eyes, causing him to stir, slowly awakening from his uneasy sleep. He finally opened one eye, and eventually the other. His deep blue eyes blinked a few times, before he could identify his surroundings. He sat up, setting eyes on the walls of his own house. He was in Ordon. Funny, that dream had seemed so real, like he really was back in his adventure with Midna. Which had been almost a year ago now.

But he had forgotten all about that encounter with the other wolf. With everything else going on, Link had completely forgotten about her. Had that encounter even been real? Or had it only been part of the dream?

Whatever it was, the image of the white wolf never left Link's mind as he got out of bed and dressed. He pulled on a pair of simple beige trousers and a dark green tunic, deeply engrossed in his own thoughts and memories. At least, until he was startled by a loud voice.

"LIINK! You in there?!"

The Hero winced a little as he heard Fado's voice. Knowing from experience that the man would only keep shouting until he answered, Link swiftly made his way to his window, looking out. He quickly located Fado, standing in the ground below his house. Link gave a quick wave and a nod to him, already knowing what Fado wanted.

But as Link retreated into the dim lit room again, he couldn't help to heave a sigh. This was the life he had loved, helping out at the ranch, living among his friends in peace. But now – after meeting Midna, Zelda, Zant and even Ganondorf – Link wasn't so sure of what he wanted anymore. His adventure with Midna, though dangerous had proven to be what Link really loved. Now that he knew what kind of world it was outside the gates of Ordon he felt small and trapped, instead of safe like he used to. Already he felt the urge to leave Ordon, but to do what he didn't know. Hyrule was safe as far as he knew. But he could at least journey to Kakariko Village and Castle Town, to visit his friends. Yes, that's what he would do; he thought and convinced himself that's what he needed to still his restless temper.

Still, as he closed his closet he couldn't help to let his eyes linger on the dark green tunic he used to wear on his adventure. His hat lay on an above shelf, and like so many other times Link found himself taking it in his hands. Gently he put it on his head and turned to a mirror to see a familiar face staring back at him. His face was tanned after long hard days at the ranch in the summer sun, and his eyes the same bright blue color. His hair was still a blond mess, but slightly longer and if possible, more unruly. But as the hat settled on his head it was as his face changed. Somehow his features sharpened, his eyes intensified and he seemed… prouder. Link reached out with his fingers to touch his mirror image. There was a lot of things he would give to be Hero again.

"LINK!" Fado's voice boomed from just outside his door and Link gave a start and ripped the hat of his head

"Coming, Fado," Link mumbled, and carefully stored away his hat again. And with a sigh he went out the door, greeting Fado who waited outside.

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In Hyrule Castle Town, people were as always busy, running errands or moving from shop to shop, selling or buying products. It was a place filled with people and joy. But in the courtyard before the castle it was calm and quiet. Peaceful.

The afternoon sun shone brightly down on the stones, causing them to heat up. Despite this, a woman was standing barefoot upon them. She stood completely still with her eyes closed, as if she was meditating. In her outstretched palm lay a sword, a light and very thin sword, with a silver and red hilt.

A soft summer's breeze found its way into the courtyard, caressing the tanned beautiful face of the woman. Her features were relaxed, yet sharp, with a straight nose and thin yet slightly filled lips. Though her eyes were closed, it was hinted that they had were almond-shaped. The wind caught to her hair, which had the strangest color. It was a very pale blond, almost white, but with reddish highlights. Some would say her hair would be a mixture of snow and fire.

Her clothing hinted that she was from the castle, since they were of high quality. She was wearing a lose shirt; probably a men's shirt, made out of crimson colored silk with thin green embroiling. She had a pair of tight-fitting bone white pants, though they were ripped off at the knee. It was possible she had done this herself, to have the pants fit together with her sandals which had straps up all the way to her knee. There were several bracelets around her wrists, each oh them different from the next. Some where straps of leather, other were of the most beautiful metal and others where merely thin cords of cloth.

She was holding out her sword in the air, muttering softly to herself, as if praying. And suddenly, the sword trembled slightly in her grip and slowly rose into the air; as if lifted by a pair of invisible hands. But it was magic, coming from the woman. She fell silent, letting the sword hover in the air in front of her. As the sun shone on the blade it started to hum with some strange power. Light filled the blade for a moment, like it drew power from the sun.

"Imana!"

A clear voice rang out in the otherwise silent courtyard. Nonetheless, the woman did not move though her name was called. Instead, she extended her hand with slender fingers towards the sword in the air, and muttered a few words in a strange tongue. Though the sword's blade was still shining with light, the woman's words had caused fragments of darkness appear in the air next to the sword. As the woman closed her fist, the darkness floated towards the blade, melting together with the light.

"Imana."

The soft voice was now closer, right next to the woman. The voice belonged to Princess Zelda, ruled of Hyrule. She was watching the woman and her sword with mild curiosity in her pale blue eyes.

At the sound of her name, Imana opened her eyes. This revealed them to be in a deep red color, which most people considered to be frightening. To some, however, it was a soothing color. To others, it was a penetrating gaze, capable of seeing through one's very soul.

She turned to the princess, whose frame was at least an inch shorter than Imana's. The sword still hovered in the air, until it gave a tremble and started to fall towards the ground. With what seemed like impossible fast reflexes, Imana shot out her hand to catch it. The two women watched the blade as it gleamed in both gold and black, before Imana sheathed it into her belt.

"I think," Zelda started, with a friendly gleam in her eyes, "your father would have a thing or two to say if he would be here to see you playing with his sword."

Imana arched an eyebrow. "Playing?" she echoed, in a voice that was surprisingly soft for her dangerous appearance. Then she cracked an amused smile. "I suppose you think that's supposed to offend me?"

A smile spread on Zelda's lips. "One can only hope."

Imana's piercing eyes seemed to change into a amused auburn shade, as she chuckled slightly. "Well, ouch, Zelda."

Then she squinted her eyes up at the sun, and her eyes changed back into their usual dark red color, as she gave a sigh that had a hint of bitterness to it. "Still, I heard that when father was alive, his sword was rumored to be powerful enough to even challenge the Gods." And she looked back at Zelda gain. "So can you really blame me for trying to restore a little of its former magic?"

Zelda's expression had turned into a kind one as Imana's red eyes rested upon her.

"So what brings the Princess out here to talk to me, your humble bodyguard?" Imana asked in a sardonic tone.

Zelda grinned, and opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted as the ground gave a violent shake. She gave surprised yelp and stumbled back. Imana however, with quick reflexes, had her sword out within moments and was scanning the area.

But then the rumbling died off, and she dared to relax a little. "What was that? An earthquake?"

Zelda looked as confused as she felt, about to reply – when she suddenly spotted something behind Imana and she gave a gasp.

"I …don't think so."

Frowning, Imana turned around till she saw what Zelda saw. It wasn't hard to miss, on account of the dark mass far away on the horizon that was seeping into the air like thick smoke. Only it wasn't smoke.

"Twilight shadow," Imana stated, her expression darkening into a scowl, unlike Zelda's frightened expression.

"But.." the princess started, "I do not understand… the Twilight Realm, the passage was destroyed. Midna destroyed it," she finished, focusing her gaze at Imana again.

"Apparently," Imana said in a bitter tone, "she screwed up."

But suddenly, the black smoke died away as quickly as it had come.

"What… was that?" Imana asked, not quite sure that she had really seen it. "And what does this mean?"

Zelda looked crestfallen. "I do not know. But if it is the very same twilight shadow like last time… it might threaten our light."

Imana nodded slowly. "What are we going to do?"

"The light spirits are still awake and will protect us… for a while. But if this is not the case, we will need help."

Imana arched a skeptical eyebrow. "Help? And where do you suppose we will find that?"

Zelda's blue gaze intensified. "Ordon Village."


Well, what do you think? I just wanted to introduce some characters and get started with the plot in the first chapter, so if you've got any comments or questions, please review!!