Midna closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, attempting to reign in her anger. A year back on her throne and her people were still as flighty as a flock of birds in a thunderstorm. The last three citizens she'd seen were convinced that the tracks they'd found on their land was surefire evidence that Zant's return was nigh. She found that as the days drew so shortened her patience, and with a dismissive flick of her wrist she summoned the guard nearest her throne. "Tell the guards at the gate that I will not be seeing anyone else today, there are many matters I must attend to outside of open forums." He nodded and set off at a brisk pace. The physical reconstruction of her land was made easy enough with her returned magic, with the help of her advisers and court mages the repairs had been finished in months but the emotional and psychological damage her people had faced would take much longer to heal.

The Twilight was not used to war, they had never in living memory, or dead for that matter, experience any undue violence. Her absence had taken it's toll on them, however unavoidable it was, and it would take time for her people to feel safe and trust her ruling. Then there was Josyph, her father's closest friend and her most trusted adviser, who just this morning suggested taking a suitor and giving the Kingdom an heir as a means to calm their worries. The thought of it made her lip curl as she stalked out of the throne room and toward her private wing. The nerve of him, to speak of such as if her womb was a political tool, a knight to be pushed around the chess board. In the deepest recesses of her mind she knew that he meant well, and that his advice was valid and would probably have the desired effect but she found the idea... repulsive.

Romance, or perhaps rather courtship, was far from the forefront of her agenda at the moment. A time would come when she had no choice but to find a suitable king, but for now she would lead this country herself damn it. When she entered her chambers she was surprised, and slightly irritated to see the very object of her simmering anger. "Josyph," She said evenly, masking her displeasure well enough to make her late father proud. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Your Highness," he said, standing and remaining as such until she found her seat across from him at the table in her study, "I know that this morning my suggestion angered you, I wished to apologize for that, it was rather forward of me." She waved away his apology with a lazy hand, half paying attention to him and half perusing a harvest report for the eastern fields.

"Nonsense Josyph, if you only told me that which would not spark my temper you would be as useless as the others who dane themselves my advisers." She said the word with such childish contempt and sarcasm that it was all Josyph could do not to smile.

"Still, I feel I stepped out of line, and wished to apologize."

"Apology accepted." she went back to her report, only vaguely aware that he was still seated in her study, she nearly jumped from her skin a few moments later when he cleared his throat. "Yes, Josyph, how can I help you?" her patience was wearing thin, and it was only out of their close relationship that she didn't snap at him.

"I had a thought, earlier today, that I felt you might enjoy. Your father and I used to play a game of chess every night, he used to use it as a way to wind down and exercise his mind. Would you have any interest in carrying on the tradition?" Midna thought on his offer, she knew how to play chess, something her father insisted on. 'Every one in power should know how to play chess,' he used to tell her, 'It teaches one to be decisive, but aware of their assets. Protecting your queen is important, but a pawn is just as capable of putting your opponent in checkmate.'

"I would like that, I think." She said after a moments pause, as a child her games were always short and one sided, a product of playing her father, but she felt she would have a better mind for it now.

"Excellent," Josyph smiled and produced a glass board and matching pieces onto the table between them.

"I'll go first," Midna said imperiously, Josyph chuckled.

"You are your fathers daughter." They played in silence for a while, a crease growing in between Midna's eyebrows as the game went on. Each time it was her turn to move she spent long moments contemplating her moves, surveying the board to see what he could do in reaction to each potential course of action. Without fail he responded instantly, as if he put no thought to the moves, each round her mood soured all the more.

"There was a disturbance in the southern forests today." He said, breaking the silence for the first time.

"Oh yeah?" she responded, noncommittal in her focus.

"Soldiers posted in Darth'de reported in around noon today saying they saw a large beacon of light originating from the forest. You know how everyone is about phenomenon these days, you may consider sending on official investigative team, if only to put fears at rest. Either way citizens will be flooding your court in the next few days to find out what you're doing about it." Midna sighed and moved her bishop to take his knight. Without thought he moved his rook across the board and set it in line with her king, a line of pawns in front of the king stopped it from escaping in any direction in any forward direction. "Checkmate."

Midna cursed, turning away from the board, "A beacon of light you say?" she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, fighting off a headache, "well that can't be good." Her tone was only half sarcastic, she was curious about this strange occurrence but mostly apprehensive of her people's response to it.

"Would you like me to stop by the barracks on my way to bed and have a team dispatched to deal with the situation?" he offered and Midna sighed in relief.

"That would be great Josyph, thank you." He nodded and stood to leave, bowing before doing so.

"Good night my lady."

"Good night Josyph."

He left her chambers and she stripped out of her ceremonial robes, left in her open flowing undergarments she padded out to her balcony and looked at the twilight all around. Her home was as beautiful as it ever was when she was a child, but she found now that she did not appreciate it as much. Without the unbearable sun in the sky the twilight was less sweet, now she was almost bored with the orange sky, lazy violet and gray clouds drifting listlessly across it. She sighed forlornly and rested her elbow on the balcony's ledge, propping her chin up in her open palm. She never thought she would miss the world of Light, but she felt her loss of companionship keenly now. She wondered how Zelda fared and if Link was by her side or had returned to his farms. Some nights she wondered if Link and Zelda were together working to rebuild their land and doing... things, with each other. Those nights she felt the inexplicable to stop thinking about her distant friends and would generally summon a servant to fetch her wine. Tonight she thought about the beast who had been her stead, the sacred beast of lore for the Twilight who would save the land. It must have been quite the responsibility to be the hero of two dimensions, but he did so well.

Narrowing her eyes in annoyance she turned quickly back to her room, slamming the doors to the balcony perhaps harder than needed. She plopped onto her bed and folded her arms, starring morosely at the canopy above her. After a minute of sulky deliberation she yelled for her maid and when the dainty Twili appeared she snapped harshly for wine and turned over in her bed. She was asleep before the drink arrived.

AN: So I've written the last three chapters back to back, it's now 10:30 in the morning and I started at 3. So about 7 hours of writing. I'll obviously go over it and edit but if you notice any mistakes in this chapter that's the reason. I really shouldn't have done this, I have some many things I should do today other than sleep till 8 at night but I was slammed with inspiration and wanted to write while it was still with me. As always, until next time enjoy.