Author's Note:

Congratulate me—I've gotten a new idea for a TP fan fiction! Well, sort of. I just need to find some sort of /bad guy/ sometime, but I have a sketchy outline of what's gonna happen…hmmph. Please review and favorite!

P.S: This wouldn't have been possible without Lish! Also, make sure to read her new fic, 'When You Play with Fire'!

Midna walked out of the mirror chamber, strongly resisting her feelings. Her people were waiting. She could not face them with any emotion but strength and happiness; they would certainly question her about her victory, but she would tell only the things she deemed respectable. As soon as she stepped out of the chamber her guards would escort her to her throne once more.

"Princess!"

As expected, she was surrounded by her guards immediately. They were as loyal and respectful as ever, and did not bombard her with multiple questions at one time. They only wished to know if she were harmed, and as much as she wished she could say yes, that she was wounded and untreatable, she calmly answered them with, "No, I'm injured. Give me a break; of course I'm not injured." They laughed lightly.

She entered her palace and resisted a sigh. She had not expected her burden to be this heavy. Not nearly as bad as Link's would be, of course. She walked faster than her guards and they struggled to keep up. She would see the High Council and tell them her version of the story, and then she would rest, hopefully with some incentive to get up in the morning.

Her palace was simply decorated, with portraits of her ancestors and long banners hung on flag posts with the symbols of Twilight, which were also imprinted on her skin. She had developed them when she was thirteen years of age, and had become next in line for Queen because with them came an unusual mark on her forehead, as did the previous royalty. She would need to age just one simple year, and then she would be Queen, the most respected, although it seemed she already was. Everyone, including herself, had grieved when the previous Queen died. She was kind and understanding. Midna hoped she could live up to such standards.

When she was new to the throne, when she was in her castle, she refused to act like her normal self. That was how she had always been—silent and solemn in her castle, but bitterly fun with strangers. She changed when she turned fifteen. There was nothing to hide from, she realized.

All of the guards in the castle bowed to her as she passed them. Their uniforms were a simple black plate body, and they made the most unusual sound when they walked or moved. Nearly like the clang of the blacksmith's hammer, but more steady. It was a deep sound, and was soothing to Midna, since she had lived with it for a very long time. She nodded in approval at them and walked on.

There was a great door, and in that door, the High Council gathered. Although they did sleep eventually, they seemed to never move from their chairs. All furniture in the castle was imprinted with the symbols of Twilight in some way or the other, and when they rarely stood up, they would have creases in their robes that looked like Midna's skin.

As she stepped in, four guards flanking her, the council members smiled in such a way that should be taken as a happy response, but was instead very frightening. Midna was no longer afraid of them, but when she was new to the Throne, she was.

"You have returned, Princess." They greeted her, standing up suddenly and bowing.

"I wouldn't be here if I hadn't."

"Ah, our kingdom is restored. You must be tired. Rest now, we shall hear the tale later," They all continued each other's sentences, and seemed to speak in union at the last part.

Midna nodded and turned swiftly, her cloak dancing as she did. There was only a slight breeze in the castle, not nearly enough. Her cloak was so light that if there was a significant wind, she would tie the string that tightened her hood around her neck and hope it didn't leave a mark on her neck when she took it off.

Her guards followed her to her room quietly. They wished her a good rest and took up their positions outside her door. Midna bid them farewell and gently closed the door.

Midna's room was composed of a very large oak bed and two small tables that were on each side of it. Even her pillows had the symbols of Twilight, and she had a small fireplace around four feet from her 'main' area. The room was a perfect square. Her bed elegantly shaped around her window, which she enjoyed keeping open. It was a picturesque view—the entire palace courtyard was two stories below, and she once decided to jump when she was younger. She had ended up floating down to the ground, and then her mother gave her a long lecture on testing her powers.

Midna walked to the far corner of her room where her dresser was and opened the first drawer. Her nightgown was a baby blue that matched her skin, and it had green symbols of Twilight on it that also matched her. It had long sleeves and went all the way to her ankles, with lace on the sleeves and neckline. She quickly changed and then slid under her white covers.

:()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::():

Midna opened her eyes and flipped her hair out of her face. She missed the bright sun shining in the light realm. Sighing, she sat up slowly, putting both hands behind her and shaking her head, as if to throw the sadness away.

She knew she had to get up, and so she slowly did so, getting dressed in her usual attire and then grabbing a brush and letting her hair down. She would let it grow, this year, and see how long it would be. Her mother told her it would grow to her waist in a year and to her feet in three. Midna never believed this, but she would see.

Midna stepped out of her bedroom quietly. "Good morning, Princess. Breakfast is being made, and we were going to send someone to wake you soon. Shall I escort you to the Great Hall?" A small female servant with blonde curls and a darker shade of blue skin stood next to Midna.

"If you want to." Midna stated, walking along behind the servant. The Great Hall was right around the corner, and as they entered it the smell of warm, fresh bread, cheese and tea hit them. If there were any children in the room, they would be licking their lips in delight.

Midna sat down slowly, placing her ornate napkin on her lap and the taking a fork out of it. Another servant brought her food—a small amount of cheese, fresh, oven baked rolls and an herbal tea. She thanked him and then began to eat.

The food was delicious. She had not realized she was so hungry, and almost happily finished her second serving. After that, she held her hands in front of her, gently saying, "No thank you."

After she stood up gracefully, her guards followed her to the Council room and stood guard outside of it. It was a large, round room with desks all the way around it. Midna cleared her throat.

"Good morning, Princess. We take it you would like to tell your tale of bravery?"

"Yes."

"Then please, begin." The council chanted in a blank monotone.

"When Zant first unleashed his fury upon us, I looked for him. When I didn't find him, I went to the courtyard's balcony. I gazed around, looking for any sign of him. I then heard a laugh behind me and whirled around, only to see Zant. I… I started to…flee."

Most of the council resisted gasping. Some did, and they regained silence quickly.

"After that, I found the sacred power—the Fused Shadows—and harnessed them. I then found my way to the Mirror. I traveled to the realm of Light and found their Hero. He served me well. I collected the Fused Shadows and pieces of the Twilight Mirror, and then I destroyed Zant and his God."

"Where is their Hero now?"

"Living in the Light Realm. He didn't accompany me here," Midna stated, trying to resist wincing. He wouldn't have wanted this…she could not have told him without conflict. She couldn't have told him that she wasn't going to stay. Even if it was too dangerous for him.

"Ah. The people will be proud of you, Princess. You have saved us," One member of the Council said, while the others stood up. "Dismissed."

Midna walked out of the room, avoiding eye contact with anyone. The eyes might be the same color as Link's... She refused to think about him. No, she couldn't think about him.

That day Midna was going to have to survive without him. It was harder than ever, with the castle people—not the guards—questioning her obnoxiously. Her guards seemed to notice her displeasure and herded them away from her. Her mind was trying to forget him, but his face, full of sadness, kept coming back…

Twilight was an interesting time when you spent so much time in the light realm. There was only a slight bit of sun left, and the sky was an orangish pink. Beautiful, but almost eerie. How long had she spent there? It seemed endless… no. It was heaven.

She stood on the courtyard balcony, dazed. Only the occasional sound of people talking interrupted her. Midna had told her guards they were dismissed, but a few still stayed nearby. How deticated can they be? It's not like I'm going to be kidnapped! I can look out for myself. She fingered her dress.

He's gone.

So why does it still hurt?