Ill Met at Midnight

Chapter Two

- - -

"The stars fell… what does that mean anyway?!" Midna growled. Because of the destruction of the mirror, her magic no longer worked and she was unable to warp anywhere. This meant that she had to use more conventional methods. Right now, Midna was seated atop a foul smelling hog-like beast that she'd stolen from a Bullblin who thought it wise to cross her. The beast wasn't particularly smart or fast, and because of this evening had fallen before she had a chance to get out of the desert.

"I swear I'll kill those bastards again and again should I ever get the chance…" She hissed breath through her teeth, but was beginning to find it exhausting to be continuously angry. It was still a long ride to Hyrule, where Midna decided to start this god-awful "quest". She figured if anyone might have an ounce of discernible information, it would be Princess Zelda, and she has to see her right away. This return wasn't going to be easy, there would still be enemies lurking about, and even worse were robbers and bandits. Without her powers, Midna didn't have a lot of options except to fight hand to hand, which she wasn't very good at.

She sighed and thought for a moment of Link and his warrior's prowess. He hadn't really crossed her mind since the Sages decided it important to stick their nose in her business. She could, if she wanted, go and see Link… maybe he would be able to help her. Midna shook her head and sighed, it was impossible to think that. She knew, simply from being around him, that Link was in love with Zelda. Asking him to help her would be like clawing at an open wound. Midna wouldn't be able to bear the weight of her emotions for very long.

"Part of me wishes I would have told him the truth…" She shook her head again, and sighed. "It doesn't matter now. I'm sure he's snuggling up to Zelda's affection." The beast stopped for a moment to sniff at some sand, and Midna clicked her heels. It grunted, and began sauntering off again.

The sun began to rise, and Midna found she was nearing the edge of the desert. However, it was still another full day's ride to Hyrule, but at least she had gotten a good head start.

"Thank the Gods."

- - -

Zelda had just finished her supper, and was about to approve the plans for the rebuilding of the castle, when a major commotion came from the inn's courtyard. She paused for a moment and looked out the window, amazed at what she saw.

It was Princess Midna.

In all her blazing, angry glory.

"WHAT!? YOU are not going to get in my way! I swear to the Gods, if I don't see Princess Zelda in thirty seconds, heads will roll! I've traveled all the way from Gerudo desert to see her, I smell like hog, I've been hunted, chased, and attacked, and I haven't had anything to eat for TWO days. For the love of your life, get out of my way!" She raised a fist and glared every guard in the eye.

The regal and exotic-looking princess was ranting like a mad-woman, and Princess Zelda was torn between complete shock and giggles. If there was another person who could ever raise hell like Midna, Zelda never wanted to meet her.

"Captain!" Zelda called out the window, her voice loud and firm. Every eye turned up to the tallest balcony and was surprised at the command of the princess. "I will have you escort the princess of Twilight up to my chambers immediately!"

"T-The…"

Midna raised her chin and simply pushed past the guards to the captain. "Ahem?"

"Yes, Your Highnesses!"

Zelda finally let a small giggle escape at the absurdity of the whole situation. She then turned to one of her chamber maids. "Belise, will you please draw Princess Midna a bath? I have a feeling that she wasn't lying about smelling like a hog." The maiden nodded and bowed, while retreating into an enjoining room.

Zelda sunk onto one of her sofas and thought for a long moment, a sudden fear rising in her chest. There had to be something wrong, otherwise why would Midna be back in the land of the Light? Had the mirror not been destroyed? Did this mean that Ganondorf wasn't killed? Did it mean Zant was still alive and ruling in the land of Twilight? What was going on? This was such an unexpected turn of events and Zelda wasn't quite sure how to take it.

"Princess?"

A foul stench filled the room, and Zelda was torn from her thoughts to the cloaked figure in the doorway. The captain of her guards looked as though he were torn between fear and disgust of the princess behind him. She nodded in acceptance of "a job well done".

"Thank you, Captain." He bolted.

"Princess Zelda…" Midna suddenly felt ashamed of her appearance and looked away, knowing this was not exactly the best circumstances. "I apologize for this meeting… and how I look."

"Midna, do not worry. A bath has been drawn for you, come." The two princesses walked into the elaborate bathing chamber, and Zelda's maids helped Midna undress. It was at this time that Zelda began to see Midna's true beauty. She was slender, yet curvy, and her light blue skin and red hair and eyes seemed to suit her well. It was no wonder Link had affections for her.

"If I may ask," Zelda began, after Midna was seated in the bath and the maids were scrubbing the stench away, "why are you here? Or, more precisely, how did you get here? I thought you destroyed the mirror."

Midna snorted, her golden eyes rolling to the ceiling. "If I knew what was going on, Zelda, I would let you know…" She paused for a moment, to try to regain her composure, before beginning again. "I had stepped through the mirror and felt the magic pull me toward Twilight, but then another force pulled me back. The next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor of the Mirror Chamber, and the Sages decided to stick their wrinkly, old butts into my business, and sent me on some quest. Which, by the way, I have no idea what it is!" She splashed a little water on the floor in her fit.

Zelda seemed puzzled for a moment. "The Sages? Did they say anything strange to you?"

Midna shrugged. "Something about how 'the stars fell before they even had a chance to shine'." She looked up at Zelda. "Why?"

"I'm wondering, incase they were speaking in riddles." She paused. "That's very strange… I remember saying something to that effect to Link. I just think it's odd that the exact words were used." Zelda noticed the significant change in Midna's posture at the mention of Link. It was clear that she had the same attraction to Link that he held for her. Zelda let a small smile creep to her lips, feeling whimsical at the idea of love.

"So… you see Link?" Midna played with a few of the bubbles in the soapy water.

Zelda nodded, trying to keep her face calm and placid. It seemed near impossible when she knew what she was doing. She knew that she was painting a picture of love and affection between her and Link, even though the image was false. "We had dinner the other night."

"Oh." Pause. "Is he still here?"

Zelda shook her head, still fighting to keep the smile down. "He returned to Ordon two days ago. It's almost harvest season and he had to get back to the village."

"Right." The maids began to wash her long, red-gold hair. "I'm just wondering… but that's not why I came here." Midna looked Zelda right in the eyes with fierce determination. "Princess, I need to know everything you might know, or might be able to help me with. I have to get back to the Twilight realm. I have to reconstruct the kingdom, and I can't just ignore my people. What am I going to do?"

Zelda knew immediately that this was probably a bigger problem than she could deal with. This concerned an entirely different world, a whole slew of people, old unknown magicks, and even the princess of Twilight. If Zelda stuck her nose and powers into this mess, she could possibly screw up the whole world. Not to mention Midna and her kingdom.

Her face showed signs of confusion and frustration. "I'm not sure what to tell you."

Midna sighed. "I'm not sure I know what I want to hear." The maids pulled her out of the water, and began to dry her off. "This is too difficult for me to handle on my own, that's why I came to you. I'm just… I'm lost. I haven't a clue about what should be my next step, I have no powers, and I barely remember how to fight."

Blue eyes lit up at the mention of fighting. She had a very obscure idea, one that might actually work. "Maybe it's not me you were supposed to go to."

Her blue skin turned purple with a blush. "What?"

"I'm not the one who fought with you. I'm not the one who spent all that time with you, and your magick, and even in your own kingdom. Even though I may have power, I'm not the Chosen Hero." Zelda stood up, after they had dressed Midna in a robe.

"But… I…" Midna looked away. "I suppose you're right."

Zelda kept a look of satisfaction on her face. "Then it's settled, tomorrow you will ride to Ordon and seek out Link. I'll even give you my favorite stallion."

"Princess, I can't accept that. I'll go on foot."

"Without Link's sword?"

Midna growled, knowing she was defeated. "Never mind."