Chapter 3
Link entered the Twilight Realm wondering exactly what he had done. He had left his home realm and he was never again going to see any of it. Forever in the land of Twilight. Not only this, but Link had not packed anything of his own, but simply left; no goodbyes, nothing. Just a step through the Mirror, and Link began his new life.
Midna was sitting nearby. She had been sitting on a rock before noticing Link and standing up.
"You were gone without a trace this morning. I...I was worried. I didn't know that your return would be so sudden. I was afraid I wouldn't get to say goodbye, if you chose to stay..." Midna said, sounding a little choked up, "But, you're back now. How'd it go? What'd he want?"
Before Link could answer, however, the Mirror did a very strange thing. At first, it went completely dark, and then it started showing Link and Midna standing there, like a normal mirror would. Then it did nothing more.
"What was that?" Midna asked aloud.
Link shook his head and walked over to the Mirror. He looked at it, behind it, walked completely around it. After finding nothing out of place, he attempted to walk through it.
It was at this point that Link discovered how he would be kept from the Light Realm, for as Link stepped through the Mirror; he came out the other side, right back where he started, but turned the opposite direction.
"Oh, my. That was odd..." Midna said
Link looked back at the Mirror. It must have been that mysterious man. He somehow reversed the Mirror of Twilight.
"I
guess it was our mysterious man. Is this what you agreed
to? You can't go back to your own realm anymore. This
was his 'price'?" Midna asked.
Link looked away, but
nodded.
"Well, I'm not really sure what to say. I suppose that there really wasn't any wrong in leaving forever. Unless some threat should arise in the Light Realm." Midna said, then she looked up and smiled at Link "But, certainly anything that befalls the Light Realm will cause problems for us as well, right? So we should be able to resolve any problems there by keeping our realm safe as well, right? I'm glad you made this choice, Link. I would've been so bored without you. I'm sure Zelda would understand!"
Link turned, a little surprised by her reaction, but smiled back at her.
The two smiled at each other for what appeared to be a long time. They were each returned to that wonderful bliss of each other's presence.
However, the moment did not last quite as long as it felt.
Suddenly, the two heard a harsh chuckle and turned to find the mysterious green-eyed man leaning against the now-useless Mirror.
"Well now, isn't this a touching reunion?" he said cruelly.
Link drew his sword and shield.
"You! What more do you want?! You've had your price paid, now leave us alone!" Midna shouted.
"Of course. I wouldn't do anything to cheat you out of what you paid for." the man said cryptically.
As if one cue a loud cry of men came from the castle. Midna and Link turned quickly to look at it. The castle was changing, morphing into the familiar state Link had remembered it from the first time, when Zant was in power.
No, it was impossible...
"But, that's not to say someone else won't try." the man said, laughing "Well, it looks like my work is done here. Now back to the Light Realm to make sure the last part of my plan goes smoothly."
Link had no idea what this man could mean, but he turned and ran at the man, jumped, and brought his sword down...on nothing. Link drew back, he was sure the man had just been there. That is, he was sure...until he felt someone kick him square in the back.
"You fool. Until you conquer your own problems, you will not touch me." the man said.
Link looked up just in time to see the man dissolve into a dark cloud. Link shouted loudly, and, after a moment, picked himself up off the ground.
"Link? Are you okay?" Midna asked "I tried to stop him, but it felt like something was restraining me. But, what does that matter? We have to get up to the castle and find out what's going on up there."
Link nodded, and followed her quickly up to the castle doors. The place was now darker. Link heard the sounds of battle within. He, with Midna's help, pushed the door open and went inside.
Immediately, they were attacked by creatures Link recognized as Twilit Messengers. Link dispatched the two that attacked and looked to Midna for help.
"If we can get to my chamber, we can get my weapon so I can help." she offered.
She started off in that direction, Link following closely behind to protect her. Occasionally they came across either more Twilit creatures or Twilit soldiers fighting the creatures and Link helped where he could. There wasn't much hope, though, for almost all of the soldiers had been changed to Twilit Messengers...just like last time...
The two finally reached the door to Midna's chamber. Outside it, Riktor was fighting a mass of creatures.
"Finally! I was hoping someone would help me mop up the last of this mess!" he called, noticing the pair, and batting at the creatures with his massive fists and feet.
Link hacked and slashed his way to Riktor, while Midna, having followed Link closely, slipped into her chamber.
"I never would've guessed that I would be fighting by your side, Hero." Riktor said, back-to-back with Link.
Link just smirked, ready for the thrill of another great battle. He never thought he'd miss them so.
And thus, they began. Each one was destroying their enemies, one by one. Soon only some remained. A while later, only a few remained. Within a short amount of time, none remained.
Link twirled his sword and sheathed it, while Riktor cracked his knuckles and his neck.
"Oh, come on, I'm just warmin' up!" Riktor said.
Link's mind had strayed to the welfare of Midna, however. She had not emerged from her chamber yet. Link rushed quickly inside.
There stood Zant. In one hand, he held a sword that Link recognized as one of the two Zant had fought him with during their last encounter. In the other hand, Zant held Midna by the wrist, Midna fighting and struggling as hard as she could to escape.
Riktor stepped in behind Link, saw Zant, and cried "You! Unhand her now!"
"Hello again, Hero of Light. How strange it is that we should meet again so soon." Zant said, completely ignoring Riktor "But, it appears this time, I have the upper-hand. Now then, how about we discuss a few terms like civilized men this time, shall we?"
"Sure thing, Zant! I'll see your terms and bring them down on your thick skull!" Riktor yelled in outrage, grabbing a nearby footstool, and chucking it in Zant's direction.
Zant, his guard down, loosened his grip on Midna as the footstool collided square in Zant's face. Riktor then charged Zant. However, Zant managed to stop him with his own bare hands and a strange dark aura flowed from Zant's hands and began being absorbed in Riktor's body, which began to slowly transform.
"Hero! Princess! Get out! Find help! I...can't hold him off...forever...GO!!" Riktor yelled in pain, his body slowly morphing still.
Midna, though a little hesitant, grabbed Link's wrist, and pulled him out the door. Link looked back in time to see Zant finish with Riktor, who collapsed on the floor, now completely changed into something Link couldn't see. Then he was pulled through the door, and Zant and Riktor both slipped from his gaze.
"Zant may have been able to change the castle, but if it's anything like last time, the Council should be able to keep the Council chamber the same, and there ought to be a hidden exit somewhere in there." Midna said running down the hall with Link close behind. She paused and slapped her forehead "Dangit! The Council members! Oh, I hope we get to them first..."
A group of Twilit Messengers appeared, but Midna simply drew a sword as if out of the very Twilight itself and slashed them all down in a single stroke.
Link looked down at they fallen bodies and noticed they'd changed back into the Twilit soldiers.
"I only recently discovered that I was to inherit this sword. I was told to keep it hidden until a dire emergency reared its bestial head. I guess this would be close enough, hm?" Midna said, smiling back at Link for a second, and then returning her attention to running "Anyways, it would've been nice to have had this sword during our last adventure, huh?"
Link rolled his eyes and nodded.
They reached a door, and Midna entered. Link nearly missed, but was able to turn in time to follow Midna inside. Inside the room, the Council members were being guarded by sever Twilit creatures.
Midna cut them away, and asked the Council "Are you all alright?"
"Yes, Princess" one said
"Okay, do you remember where the hidden exit is?" Midna asked.
"How do you think we got free last time? It's over here." another member said, walking to a wall. Everyone followed as he placed his hand on a part of the wall. The outline of a door shone for a moment, and then that portion of the wall vanished.
"We'll follow you two." the councilman said.
"Okay" Midna said, stepping into the new-found corridor. Link followed her inside.
"When they turned to see the Council, however, they looked like they were being transformed like Riktor had been. One member shut the passage before he finished his transformation, sacrificing himself for the safety of the other two.
"NO!" Midna cried, but she had been too late; the door was shut.
Midna began sobbing against the door. Link, after a moment, stepped toward her and put his hand on her shoulder.
After a moment or two, Midna said "I can't believe I've lost to him...again!" she slammed her fist against the door.
A moment passed, then they heard Zant's voice say on the other side of the door "'For as long as the ruling figure remain here, the castle will protect that person.' Such is the way of the Palace of Twilight. So, I implore that you please leave. I will find you again, my dear Heroes, and I will put an end to both your lives. You've destroyed me once, but you won't again, I promise. Until then, dearest Midna; farewell."
Midna's face became full of uncontrollable fury and she drew her sword and began attacking the door with it, wildly, yelling curses at Zant. Link grabbed her around her middle and pulled her away from the door, and down the corridor; Midna kicking and screaming all the while.
Link had dragged the hysterical Midna a ways before she started sobbing violently, and then finally calmed down enough to say "Okay, Link. I'll be alright now."
Link released her, and she collapsed on the stone floor of the corridor. She slid up against the wall, wiped her eyes, and sighed heavily.
"How could he come back? Surely our mystery man must have had something to do with it. He was the one who warned us of it. But the question is HOW did he do it? How can you revive someone from the dead?" Midna asked aloud.
Link just shrugged, and sat down by Midna. She rested her head on his shoulder. This did not make Link uncomfortable, but it did make him start rethinking about what King Bulblin had asked him.
'Is it someone you love?'
Link began to think deeply about whether or not he truly loved Midna. The first time they met, she had been slightly less than decent to him. In fact, she had been quite the imp, both in attitude and in physical form. Yet she still helped him. Granted, she only planned to use him for her own vengeance, but still...it was the thought that counted, right?
And of course, she had been there to help (whether Link liked it or not) whenever he needed it, no matter how dangerous the situation may have been. From a fiery, Twilight infected Goron, to a dragon in the sky; Midna had been with him through thick and thin.
She didn't remain selfish, either, though Zelda may have had a hand in that. But, in the end, Midna had become selfless, throwing away the one thing she wanted more than anything; to do what she thought was better for everyone.
Now the one thing she had so intently sought to destroy had returned to take away her throne she had only recently recovered. Her anger had always been one that frightened Link. Ever since she obliterated Zant with her own raw power, Link had sworn never to do anything to tick Midna off.
But what did this say about Link's love for Midna? After all he had given up to be with her, it seemed almost foolish to ask the question. The main problem Link had was trying to figure out whether Midna loved him.
Midna snored quietly on Link's shoulder, returning him to reality. She had been through a lot today, and so had Link. Link rested his own head on Midna's and decided to ask her how she felt about him in the morning before he slowly drifted into slumber.