"Your highness, I really must protest. The portal has not yet been perfected. There are still risks."
Midna paid the lead scholar no heed. She walked up to the spot where Link had first set foot into the Twilight Realm. She looked down at the Triforce that was embedded in the rock.
"Open the portal," she commanded.
"Queen Midna, please. You must not rush into this. I understand you are concerned for the Hero of Light, but you will be no help to him if you are dead."
"You told me you managed to create a portal back to the light world. If so, open it," Midna ordered.
The lead scholar sighed in defeat. He closed his eyes and held his hand out in front of him. The Triforce began to glow and a portal slowly formed in mid-air. Midna was about to go through the portal when she was stopped.
"Before you go, take this," the scholar instructed as he held out a pendent. "It will allow you to return when you have completed your mission."
Midna took the pendent and slid the chain over her head.
"Safe journey, my queen."
Midna thanked the man and then turned back to the portal. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and walked through.
"Link, you can't hide from people for the rest of your life," Zelda said.
The queen and hero were in Telma's bar. Telma was busy serving other customers, but every chance she got she came over to see how they were doing.
"I'm not safe. I'm a danger to everyone, especially you," Link explained.
"I'm sure I can handle that danger," Zelda replied.
Link shook his head. "Not this kind. I know you're strong, my queen, don't get me wrong. But, I don't think you would be able to survive the evil I carry," the hero confessed. He rubbed the back of his right hand. The Triforce began to glow. "The longer I stay in your presence the stronger this evil grows. At first light I will depart for Ordon."
"You're finally going home?"
"Hyrule is no longer in peril. Peace has come back to our land. It's time for the Hero of Light to slip away, at least until he is needed again."
"Then, take this," Zelda said. She handed Link the ocarina. "You will need it more than I will. The people of your village will enjoy the music greatly."
Link wrapped his fingers around the instrument. "No. I have a feeling that this will be useless to me. You keep it. As a reminder." He gave the ocarina back to Zelda. "I will be too busy herding goats and trying to keep the young ones out of the forest to play."
"As you wish," Zelda answered, taking back the instrument.
"Well, I hate to leave you, but it's getting late and I want to leave early tomorrow."
Link got to his feet and bowed to Zelda. "May the goddesses bless your rule, Queen Zelda," he said.
Zelda smiled and inclined her head. "Thank you, Link. May the goddesses bless you wherever you go."
Link bade Telma farewell and left the bar. He walked up the stairs and onto the busy South Road. He made his way out through the South gates and down to the tent where Rusl slept. The Hylian quietly removed his gear and slipped into his bedroll. He pulled the blankets up to his chin and instantly fell asleep.
It was another fitful night. Rusl woke up to the sounds of Link's moaning. The sword master got up and checked his former student. He placed a hand on Link's forehead, only to pull it back. Link was burning up.
"Link. Link, wake up," Rusl said, shaking the young man.
Link's hand shot out from under the blanket and grabbed Rusl's wrist. The old man looked down to see the Triforce glowing fiercely on Link's hand. The hero opened his eyes.
"Where is she?"
Rusl was surprised at how deep and menacing Link's voice was. The Hylian's grip tightened.
"Where is Zelda?" Link demanded.
The next thing Rusl knew, he was lying on his back outside the tent. He pushed himself up just as Link came out of the tent, geared up as if he was about to fight a war.
"Link, what has gotten into you?" Rusl demanded.
Without answering, Link headed for Castle Town. Rusl scrambled to his feet, went back into the tent, grabbed his sword and rushed back out. Telma was standing at the top of the steps leading to her bar, enjoying the warm, summer air. She turned to see Rusl approaching.
"Rusl, how are you?" she asked with a smile.
"I'm fine, Telma. Have you seen Link?" Rusl wanted to know.
"Link?" Telma echoed in confusion. "Wasn't he staying with you?"
Rusl looked around. "He was. But, then he just suddenly got up and left." He turned back to the bar keeper. "Something isn't right with him. He's been acting strange all day."
Telma nodded. "Yes," she agreed. "He has been a bit preoccupied of late." She hummed in thought. "Perhaps Queen Zelda would have an idea of what's going on."
Rusl frowned. "Maybe that's why Link was asking where Zelda was," he mumbled under his breath. He headed off for the castle. "Thank you, Telma," he called over his shoulder.
Midna quietly made her way up to the castle gates. She slipped into the shadows when she saw a man talking to the guards at the gate. Using the shadows as cover, the Twili queen headed in the castle. A powerful, familiar presence swept over her. Midna gasped. She hadn't felt that kind of evil in almost five years.
"It can't be," she whispered.
Midna hurried for the throne room. Hopefully she wasn't too late.
He's supposed to be dead. There was no way he could've survived, Midna thought.
"This is treason!" she heard the king shout when she arrived at the throne room doors. "I will have your head for this!"
"It's your daughter I want, King Hyrule. Your life will be spared if you remain silent."
Midna pushed open the doors and ran inside. She felt her heart plummet. Link had the king and Zelda tied up and looked as if he was ready to finish both of them off in one swing of his sword. He must have sensed her presence, because the green clad hero turned around to face her. His blue eyes rested on Midna. An evil smile crept across his face.
"Midna."
Midna felt a shiver shoot down her spine when he said her name. Link carried another voice besides his own.
"I am surprised to see you here. Surprised and delighted. Now I will be able to destroy both the queen of the light world and the queen of the Twilight world."
Midna felt hot rage begin to pump through her veins. She kept her eyes trained on Link.
"I am curious to know how you managed to return," the former Hero said.
"That knowledge is for Link only," Midna replied.
Link's eyes narrowed.
"I detect your power, thief," the Twili hissed, taking a step forward. "Now, I demand that you release Link before I make you."
"You wouldn't do it. Not when I have the king and Zelda. And, if you try to make a single move I will kill them both."
Midna froze in mid-step. Link pulled out his sword and walked over to Zelda.
I have to do something, Midna told herself.
Zelda looked up and gazed into Link's eyes. His eyes were cold and distant. They held a lust for power. The same lust that had shone in Ganondorf's eyes.
"You are supposed to be dead," the queen whispered.
"I cannot be killed so easily," Ganondorf hissed through Link's voice. "And now, your power will be mine."
He raised his sword and was about to bring it down when he was slammed against the back wall. Zelda looked from Link to Midna. The Twilight Queen was panting for breath. Midna rushed over to the king and queen and untied them. Link moaned and pushed himself up. Midna ran over to him.
"Link?"
The man looked up when he heard her voice.
"Midna?" he breathed.
He was back. She could tell by the sound of his voice. Link shook his head in disbelief.
"It's not possible," he said.
"What's not possible is the fact that you were chosen as the hero," the king barked.
Just then, a small group of soldiers ran into the throne room. Midna disappeared into a pillar's shadow. At the king's command, two of the guards went up to Link and pulled him to his feet.
"Father, please," Zelda started.
"What's going on?" Link asked.
"You are under arrest for treason and attempted murder," the king declared.
Link looked at Zelda in shock. The queen sadly looked away.
"Father, it wasn't his fault. He was..."
"About to kill you," King Hyrule interrupted.
"He was being controlled," Zelda corrected.
"Throw him in the dungeon," King Hyrule ordered, ignoring his daughter.
The guards pulled Link away. Zelda glared at her father.
"He is innocent!" she cried. "You could tell that he didn't know what he was doing just by listening to his voice!"
"His voice sounded perfectly normal, Zelda," King Hyrule replied.
"Father, you gave the crown to me and stepped down your position. I say Link is innocent," Zelda fought.
Midna watched as the human soldiers dragged Link away. She took out the pendent and touched it. A portal opened and she hurried through it. When she emerged again, she was in the dungeon. Sounds of struggling and yelling echoed through the stone halls.
"You're lucky you weren't sentenced right then and there, traitor," a guard said.
A cell door slammed and keys rattled on a chain. Midna hid in the shadows when the guards walked by. She held her breath when they stopped in front of her hiding place.
"If he's lucky he'll be banished. But, since the Mirror of Twilight was destroyed there's no way to banish prisoners," one of the guards said.
"So, what'll happen?" the second asked.
Midna waited for an answer. However, it was not what she wanted to hear.
"Don't know. Death, I guess," the first guard answered.
What do you think?
