Post Twilight Princess -- so that means? You got it: Spoilers. Turn back now if you haven't beaten the game and wish the ending to remain a secret.
A/N: This started out as a one-shot, but it managed to transform itself into a story. This will be my first attempt at a real story (that I'll concede to putting online, that is) so helpful critiques and the pointing out of any errors ya'll may see would be greatly appreciated!
Disclaimer: I, clearly, do not own "Zelda" -- because Twilight Princess would not have ended that way.
Well, not much more to say, so on with the show!
Prologue: Weaving a World
Her problem was an enigma; so complex and yet so simple. Midna knew what she wanted to do, what she desired more than anything else; but she had been making too many decisions based on her personal desires. The wrong decisions, at that. She had fled from Zant when she should have stayed. She had taken a young man on a perilous journey that could have cost him everything.
Moreover, against her better judgment, she had fallen in love with that young man. She owed him so much, but she was certain that love would not repay his sacrifices.
Therefore, she shattered the Mirror of Twilight. Separating light and shadow was the right choice, even if it felt like the worst thing in both worlds.
Midna watched as the portal to the world of light closed. With a shudder, she closed her eyes and suppressed the urge to sob.
"Goodbye Link..." she whispered. She had been so close to telling him everything he deserved to know. Nevertheless, for so many reasons, she could not.
She turned and faced the Twilight Realm. Never before had she been so relieved, and saddened, by the sight of her world. It was as it had been before Zant corrupted it: tranquil, beautiful, covered in shadow but somehow warm and welcoming. Midna felt more relief when she saw that her people had returned to their true state.
Her people, in fact, had been stopped in their tracks when the portal had opened to reveal their long lost ruler. When the initial shock seemed to have dissipated, the few Twili citizens that happened to be near her fell to their knees, "Your majesty!" "Princess?!" "We thought you were dead!"
"Oh please, get up! Rise!" Midna knelt and lifted several people to their feet, "You don't need to do this..."
Although she protested, several people remained kneeling as she walked amongst them. Midna felt a twinge of guilt as she walked past her thankful citizens -- if they had only known what had transpired this past year, perhaps they would not be kneeling.
Word spread far too quickly in this world, she thought, as several members of the Royal Court sprinted towards her.
"Your majesty?!" one cried as he approached. "Is that really?!--"
Midna raised her hand to silence him, "Don't. Please, lets go inside. I have a rather long story to tell. I am over-do for a bath as well..."
The court members stepped aside for her to pass; all of them but one, who saw fit to block Midna's path to the castle. The stumpy, sneering Twili could hardly stop Midna from proceeding, but the gesture was rude none-the-less.
"Move aside, Senka, I'm tired and we have plenty of business to discuss." Midna said simply. Dealing with one of the Courts oldest and most irritating members was not something Midna took great pleasure in, and she had felt that way before her world fell into disarray.
"Indeed we do, Princess. I have one issue in particular that should be addressed immediately..." Senka replied as a twisted smile began to form on her round face.
"And yours is the only one, I'm sure? Hardly. I'll see to your issue as soon as--"
"Tell me, Midna, when were you planning on alerting the council of your absence?" Senka interrupted.
"I was never given the option. I can explain all of this if you would--"
"So you admit to abandoning your people?" Senka asked sweetly. At this question, a murmur seemed to run amongst the court members standing behind Midna.
"Apparently you suffered some loss of hearing while I was away. I said we will discuss these issues at length when--"
"Did you think you could just waltz back to your throne, Midna?" Senka interrupted a third time.
"I was planning on walking." Midna smirked, hiding her anger and mounting apprehension. Frustrated, she around Senka and prepared to walk on. Senka gathered herself and raised a hand (which only managed to reach Midna's torso), stopping the Princess once more. For a fleeting instant, Midna wondered if it would be inappropriate to drop kick a member of her royal court...
"I think not, Princess." Senka snapped her fingers, "You're under arrest."
Midna scoffed, "I'm what?"
"Anyone who leaves the ranks of the army or government without prior and proper actions is considered a traitor by our laws. Our ancient laws, dear Midna."
"Come off it, Senka. This is ridiculous! I'll be explaining my actions to our council and..." Midna stopped speaking when she saw a small legion of guards approach.
"You'll be explaining your actions before the royal court, a tribunal and your own people. You are under arrest." Senka stepped aside, but only to allow the guards room to strike, "Seize her"
Midna would kick herself for her actions in the days, weeks and months to come: for she did nothing. When the guards leapt forward, Midna allowed herself to be captured without a fight. She could have summoned her power, could have released the Fused Shadows and become a monster that no one within her realm could have stopped...but she did no such thing. Midna allowed the guards to bind her arms with their inferior magic, to strip her of the Fused Shadows, to drag her away and lock her within the dungeons of her own palace.
"I think I've grown a bit soft..." Midna grumbled as the guards slammed the door to her cell.
-----------------------
The door to the prison cell slammed shut and Princess Zelda awoke with a start.
"Midna?!" Zelda cried out as she bolted up right. Upon seeing where she was (her bedchambers, after all), she felt a sense of embarrassment overtake her. She had shouted for no particular reason. It was a simple dream, was it not?
"It was too real..." Zelda whispered.
She had felt the cool breeze of the Twilight Realm, smelled the earthy scent it seemed to emit -- and she had never set foot in Midna's world. She had watched the Twili citizens gasp in horror as a court member had their Princess captured. That had been disturbing enough, but what concerned Zelda more than Midna's arrest was the mere fact that no one leapt to her defense.
"No one protested...The other council members simply...watched." Zelda recalled, "Why would they allow that to happen?"
It did not make sense and Zelda knew so. Why would the people of the Twilight Realm arrest their Princess upon her return? Ahh, but Midna's people had not been the ones performing the capture. It had been just one council member, and the other councilors seemed...dismayed at the act, but they had done nothing.
Zelda rubbed her temples as she mulled things over.
It just did not make sense.
Perhaps it had been just a dream after all.
A/N: It's short and rather rushed, I know. I wanted to get to the heart of the story without many specifics -- the details and deep-seated explanations can wait. For any who are curious, yes, it picks up the instant the portal closes at the end of Twilight Princess. This next chapter, however, will leap forward in time a bit.
Questions and Comments are always welcome:D Thanks for reading!
