Chapter 4

Marisa couldn't believe it. Her brother fighting for his life, her father dead murdered at the hands of some Demon Lord. How long had she been crying, locked up in this room? How could she face the world again, let alone her mother? Her mother…goddesses she knew what she was going through, yet why didn't Midna shed a single tear? It angered her, her parents were happy together, yet she didn't shed a tear! Her own son was lying unconscious in a bed within Hyrule Castle's walls, and yet she shed not a single tear! It was heartless. She knew the Twili of old could be so cold hearted, but she thought her mother was different. Marisa shoved the pillow she had been clutching to her chest against her face and just screamed.

"How can you not care?!" The Princess of Twilight sobbed before throwing her pillow and having it hit the wall. She fought the urge to punch something, or to use her powers to destroy something. How could her world have come crashing down so quickly? It wasn't fair! She knew her parents wouldn't outlive her, but she had at least wanted her father to see her marry; to see her have children. There was a knock on her door and she just stared at it.

"Go away." She said softly, she wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, but it wasn't her mother's voice that rang through from the other side, nor was it Zelda's, nor Conner's.

"Marisa…let me in." Natasha said her voice as equally soft. Marisa sighed, when that girl wanted something she was persistent, so no use in trying to shut her out, and besides, Marisa and Midna weren't the only ones who held Gerrik so close to their hearts; Natasha had been smitten with the Twilight Prince since day one.

"Ok, hold on." Marisa said as she stood up and quickly walked through the darkness of her room to the door, unlocking it and opening it to let the Crown Princess in. The light from the Courtyard blinded her momentarily before Natasha walked in and shut the door. She worked her way over to the dresser, and ignited the oil lamp sitting on it, bringing some form of light to the room.

"How long do you plan on being cooped up in here?" Natasha said as she turned around and saw Marisa back on the bed. She had retrieved the pillow she had thrown and was clutching it again.

"Until I wake up." Marisa whispered. She had to be dreaming, she had to be. Her father was the best swordsman in the Twilight Realm, and had nearly no competition in the Light World; save his friend Colin, and Conner himself.

"Mari…this isn't a dream your father is gone." Natasha said, nearly heartbroken. Marisa just shook her head.

"No, it has to be a dream. If it was real, mom would be balling her eyes out." The Twilight Princess stated. Natasha sighed and sat down beside her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you honestly think your mother doesn't feel the same pain you do? Or more? Think about it Mari, your mother and father were together long before they were married: they travelled this world together; battled Ganondorf's forces together; saved your world, TWICE, together; then married and had you and Gerrik. She may not show it, but she is dying inside. She keeps herself busy so the pain doesn't do what it is to you: festering, putrefying, becoming something that everyone despises. Hate. Hate Mari can lead a person down a dark path." Natasha said. Marisa just let her friend speak, listening to every word. When Marisa didn't respond, Natasha stood up.

"Goddesses, it's like I'm talking to a brick wall."She said, heading towards the door. "I'll come get you when dinner's ready; you still need to eat." The Princess said before leaving, slamming the door behind her. Marisa just sat there in silence, contemplating what to do, she could sit and mope, or she could put on one of her famous "fake smiles" and go outside.

'There is a third option.' A snake like voice spoke in the back of her mind. She jolted upwards and looked around the room.

"Who said that?" She asked. A chuckling echoed in her head.

'I did.' The voice spoke. Marisa shook her head to try and clear it was that voice coming from inside her?

"Who are you?" Marisa asked. Again another chuckle.

'I am you,you areme, one in the same.' The voice said. Marisa just breathed. Had she truly lost her mind?

'No you are not crazy, I am your inner Twilit, our father's Hylian side suppressedme, but you need me now more than ever… What would you say if I told you, I knew how we could get our revenge on those who killed our father?' The voice said. Marisa's eyes widened as she heard the voice clear as day.

"What do you mean?" She asked, curious. She knew it was Gerrik's destiny to fight those who killed their father, but if she could prevent that….she wouldn't have to see her brother potentially get killed.

'In the Library of the Twilit Palace, there are spell books, ancient spell books that harness the most taboo of Twilit Magic. We could use them, harness them, learn the spells, and exact our own revenge. Gerrik would never have to even fight, never get hurt, and we don't want to lose our brother too, do we?' The voice asked. Marisa agreed. She had just lost her father, she wasn't about to lose her brother either.

"But that's in the Twilight Realm." Marisa said.

'That is why we must move swiftly, cautiously back to the Mirror Chamber.' The voice said. Marisa just nodded and quickly, quietly made her way to the bedroom door. She peeked her head out and when the coast was clear she stuck to the shadows and made her way back towards the Mirror Chamber. She paused by her brother's room and placed a hand on the door.

"I'm sorry Gerrik, I know it's supposed to be you, but I can't lose you as well." She said before once again making her way to the Mirror Chamber. As she stood before the obsidian slab, she urged it to go faster, and soon enough the Mirror sucked her into the Twilight Realm.

It had been an hour since Natasha had promised to return and get Marisa for dinner, but when she got no answer, she opened the door.

"Marisa?" She asked as she looked around the dark room, lit only by the oil lamp. She found no sight of her. Natasha shrugged and made her way back to the dining hall. Before sitting down she looked at Midna.

"Sorry Marisa seems to have taken off from her room." Natasha said; Midna smiled and just nodded.

"She must be getting freshened up. I believe she will be here soon." Zelda said, before a guard came running into the hall.

"Someone activated the Mirror!" He yelled, alarmed. Midna nearly knocked her chair over as she stood up.

"What? Are you sure? Who was it? Were they coming or leaving?"She asked. The guard thought for a moment.

"It was a girl. She wore a cloak. I didn't see much as she hid to the shadows of the halls, but she disappeared into the portal, I followed her as far as I could milord's." The guard said bowing apologetically. Midna said nothing more, but just gave an apologetic look to the Royals of Light and took off towards the Mirror Chamber. As she neared it, she heard a nurse from Gerrik's room.

"Everyone come quickly! He is awake!" She proclaimed. Midna paused and stared at the Mirror from the Chamber's entrance, indeed the portal to the Twilit World was spinning counter-clockwise, meaning someone had used it to go into the Twilight World.

'Marisa.' Midna thought to herself, but she had probably only gone home to cope, and thought nothing more of it as she quickly hurried to Gerrik's room.

'There is a temple not toofar now.' The voice in Marisa's head said as the young Princess wandered farther away from the villages and the Palace itself. Under her arms; were three books, labeled with the mark of the Ancient Twili.

"I'm sorry mother….but it's the only way." Marisa said as she continued walking.

Castle Town. For once in the history of the great city, was it quiet. People had gathered in the streets, some carrying lanterns, some carrying a single white rose. And others just remained silent. Today was a day of mourning. With the Hero of Twilight dead, it was as if the Kingdom as a whole had died.

Of course; the residents of Ordon Village were also present. Colin was one of the many men who carried Link's body from the Castle down to the center of town where he was to be placed on a funeral pyre and finally put to rest. To the left of Colin was Gerrik. The Prince of Twilight looked worse than any of them, save his mother; however, Colin could see an anger in his eyes that was being forced back.

Behind Colin was Ralis, the young King of the Zora's, and behind Gerrik was a Twili that had been a royal guardsmen in the Twilit Army.

The four carried Link with ease as others looked on. Darbus, the Patriarch of the Goron Tribe, carried the ceremonial fire that would be used to set Link ablaze. Behind the massive Goron walked Zelda and Conner, the Queen having some control of her emotions, although she did indeed shed some tears. Conner was still in disbelief. In a matter of days, the Royal Family of Twilight been dissolved. Midna was left to rule alone, Gerrik thrust into his father's legacy, and Marisa had up and left. Conner held his head high, but inside he was beating himself up.

Natasha walked slowly behind her parents, her eyes focused on Gerrik and her expression showing her worry for him. Midna followed behind them all. The Queen's face was shrouded by a veil of black silk. She shed no more tears, not for the fact that she was done crying. No, it was because she had no more tears to shed.

She was dying inside. Her soul mate, her Hero, was gone, dead. Her son, thrust into a world that she had hoped wouldn't have needed him for years, and her only daughter, gone somewhere in the Twilight Realm, and yet no one there had heard from her nor seen her. She had managed to put up a few emotional barriers, that was indeed for certain. But they were weak, maybe enough to hold out until the ceremony.

Soon enough the pall bearers reached the center of town and placed Link on the ceremonial pyre. As the rest of them went down to join the crowd that had amassed, Gerrik drew the Master Sword that he had hung on his back, and without a sound, kneeled and placed the sword blade down into the soft surroundings of the pyre.

"Megi saal p'iin hafa ourugga ferouoast til na'sta heimsins fououour. Hviildu ii friouoi." The young Twili spoke in his native tongue. He stood up, bringing the Master Sword with him, and he stepped to the side as his mother joined him. Midna looked out into the crowd: all these people, Light Worlders and some Twili had gathered to send off her husband. She choked back tears as she inhaled softly and began to sing.

"Eeg mun alltaf sjaa andlitiouo

P'aed horrean af brosinu p'iinu

Og allir litlu hlutirnir sem enginn mun nokkru sinni vita

Eins og p'aouo var ii ga'r, mun aldrei hverfa ii burtu

Kveouoja er bara orouo sem eeg mun aldrei segja

P'uu verouour aldrei gleymt…."

As she sung her song, she could sense Gerrik's walls breaking. She reached out and took her son's hand in her own, gently rubbing the back of it like she did when he was a child.

"Milljoon dougum ga'ti framhjaa okkur meouo

En hvaouo er tiimi en bara draumur

Oh eg finn samt p'ig heer hjaa meer

P'uu ert meira en minni

Oh p'uu verouour aldrei gleymt…"

The words flowed from her lips and she began to fight back her own tears. This had been the song that her mother had sung at her grandfather's funeral back when Midna was just a child. And this was not only bringing memories of Link back to her; but her grandfather as well. She only had one more verse to sing and then she was done.

"Eeg get ekki aouo halda houannd p'ina

Eouoa liita ii augu p'iin

Og p'egar eeg tala viouo p'ig

P'aouo bergmaal bara ii huga miinum

En ef hjartaouo er jarouoneski

Og ef viouo feell af stjournum

Eg liit upp ii kvould og vita hvar p'uu ert"

Midna finished singing, tears once again streaming down her eyes. She used a bit of her magic and manifested a rose. Its petals were a dark green signifying the color of both the Hero of Twilight, and the King of Twilight, both titles that Link had carried with him.

As she placed it on her husband's chest she took a moment to take in her husband's looks one last time, as if trying to make this image stay forever. Link was cleaned up, the signs of war no longer on him, he wore his Twilit Royal clothing, his once messy hair had been tamed and was now neat and tidy, his hands lay on his chest, covered by his old gauntlets. He looked just like he was sleeping. Midna just breathed in deeply and leaned down to place a final kiss on her husband's lips, cold to the touch. As she pulled away she smiled very faintly.

"Hviil ii friouoi elsku minni; Eeg mun sjaa p'ig aftur fljootlega...Eeg mun alltaf elska p'ig... Link." She said in a hushed tone before standing up and moving to be beside Gerrik as Conner joined them near the pyre.

"People of Hyrule, and those from the Twilight Realm. We are gathered today to say farewell to one whose name will join the many great heroes of Hyrule's Historia. You know, I uh, I met Link back after he saved the Twilight Realm for the second time. I had thought to myself, 'he is going to be a stuck-up. I mean not only did he save this kingdom, he saved the Twilight Realm twice.'

"But when I met Link, it was at my own wedding day. I have to admit, I was wrong about him. He wasn't as I had thought at all. He actually was a modest man. See that's the thing about Link, he…he never took the credit for anything, even defeating Zant, Ganondorf and his own wife's father. He merely stated that it wasn't because he had the courage to do what needed to be done, but that destiny had chosen him. That it could have been anybody. That…that quality is hard to find these days. And it is a teaching I try to uphold in the Hylian Forces. But if I can speak for all of us here: it wasn't Link's heroics that brought us all together this day, it wasn't the fact that he saved the Zora's from freezing to death, or the Goron's leader from utter doom." He paused and his glance fell to Ralis and Darbus.

"It wasn't because we feel indebted to him for saving our worlds. We are gathered here today, because Link had a quality we looked up to. No matter what the situation was, even the battle that lead to his death, Link had a smile on his face, whether it was a smile of happiness, because he was laughing, or because he was confident in his abilities…Link took everything in stride, he never fought because he felt like it, he fought because he knew he had what it took, because he cared about both worlds. Because that was the type of man Link was. Whether you respected him or not, Link cared.

"Link told me something that I share with you now that not many of you know: he only killed Ganondorf, Zant, and Elric because they gave him no choice. When it was Zant's time, Link told me that the Usurper gave him and Midna no choice, and he would rather die than give up the throne. In that final battle with Ganondorf, that was the only time Link fought with malice. He had thought Ganondorf had killed the one person he cared about most in the world, the woman that he loved.

"And Elric…that was self-defense. He had wounded Elric, crippled him, yet the tyrant wouldn't stay down…and so Link acted. Link's three major kills were people that had brought out the worst in Link. Yet it was a worst that no one else saw in him. But listen to me; I am rambling." Conner said as he drew his rapier from the sheath on his side. Gerrik drew the Master Sword, and the Twilit army and the Hylian forces all drew their weapons.

"For Link!" Conner yelled as the soldiers all let out a war cry, and the people cheered. Finally Conner moved to beside Midna and Gerrik as Zelda and Natasha both joined them up on stage; the Princess leaving a single rose on Link's body, and Zelda pressing two coins to Link's eyes. Darbus was next and spoke as he lit Link's pyre on fire.

"May you rest peacefully brother. May the goddesses take care of their chosen hero." The Patriarch said. Gerrik just stood watching the flames. His gaze shifted upwards, he saw his father's spirit floating slightly above the pyre as a skeletal figure appeared, and Link smiled towards it, and the skeletal figure morphed into a man no older or taller then Link; a small fairy floating around his head. Both men turned to Gerrik and held up their Triforce bearing hands, before vanishing in the light of the flames.

'This is your destiny now Gerrik…make me proud. I love you.'