A/N: Like I said, not quite as long for an update. Still... it took a little longer than I would have liked, but life gets in the way I'm afraid.

This chapter goes a little bit away from the writing style I've grown accustomed to. Reviews are encouraged, mainly cause I'd like to see your thoughts on the focus of just one setting. This is also what you could call, a flashback chapter - which in turn means it's a little shorter than usual (Still over 3000 words though). Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9: Princess of Light

"Twilight Realm?"

The seemingly innocent question posed a surreptitious problem to Zelda. Should she tell the truth? She knew they had every right to ask it, what with Zelda suddenly blurting out the name of the hidden realm connect to Hyrule. She sighed as she looked at the group of three before her with soft eyes, knowing that this was because of her. Wool had been pulled over their eyes, as well as the populace's eyes for their own protection, a protection that kept them from the truth. She had let the twilight be a scapegoat for Hyrule's troubles eight years ago, mainly because Zelda knew the truth was often a painful thing. So painful, that Zelda worried that the citizens of Hyrule would be unwilling to accept that the twilight wasn't as bad as they thought it was. So painful, she feared Hyrule might declare her a liar and fraud of a Queen. So painful, that they might lead her to the guillotine as they callously called her a traitor, letting the cold blade come down on her for her act of treason, siding with the murderous twilight instead of her own people.

At least, she feared that initially. Now it was moot. The people saw her as a kind and gracious ruler, because she had held off the truth for a time. The inner machinations inside Zelda mind had seen it two ways. Telling the people the truth after the crisis ended immediately? Impossible – they would have no faith in her, and the scene in her head that was a product of an overactive imagination may have become reality. Keeping the truth hidden forever? Impossible as well, but for different reasons. She owed it to everyone, to let it be known that it was because of her that she allowed Twilight to overtake Hyrule. It was her will that Hyrule be covered in darkness rather then succumb to death. The fact that she did it for the sake of her people would be overlooked. Humans are irrational, and they always will be – Zelda knew this. But, perhaps, it was finally time for the truth to be revealed, unlocked from the prison that it was sentenced to because of Zelda's fears.

It didn't look like there would be a better time to explain, that was for sure.

"Yes, that's correct," she said, "The Twilight Realm. The realm parallel to Hyrule - a land of shadows with Hyrule being its light, balancing each other perfectly."

(It should be important to note: Zelda had always valued the truth. She hated lying for all that time, the deceit slowly eating away at her conscious like the devil patronizes a sinner, whispering false promises of power and wealth in their ears. Now, finally about to reveal what really happened on what seemed like an eternity ago – she felt a great weight being lifted from her shoulders, even knowing that there would be some who still wouldn't accept the truth.)

"The Twilight Realm, is as I said, a land of shadows. Long have our worlds been opposite each other, balancing the other harmoniously. However, the realm is also a place of banishment and sorrow – where the avaricious nature of an ancient Hylian race condemned them to live in darkness and gloom for eternity."

Zelda shook her head disapprovingly as all she got in response from the travelers were wide eyed stares and mouths agape. She didn't bother to think it might be so unbelievable that they would think her insane. Or maybe she was just using too many big words for the Ordonians and Ashei to comprehend; perhaps both.

"I'm not sure I understand," Ilia said for the good of the group, "You're telling me that there is completely different world connected to Hyrule? And Link has something to do with it? I know the spirit told me he was on a different plane of living, but a completely different world?"

"Basically put, yes," Zelda replied, "The twilight crisis originated from the twilight realm after all. You see, the evil King of Twilight used his magic to take over Hyrule and mixed our two realms together, creating darkness. We were no match for his strange magic, the fiends of his realm killing our soliders mercilessly. He gave me a choice – to surrender to his invasion, or die."

Zelda's gaze drifted downwards. She remembered just how scared she was during that moment…

"Life… or Death!"

Three words. Three, simple words, that just happened to hold the fate of an entire kingdom. The air in the room got still and dry as every pair of eyes, every single pair of blood hued and panic ridden eyes turned to Zelda, waiting for her to say something – anything at all.

A bluff. It had to be a bluff. No single person could possibly kill an entire kingdom. It was nigh impossible. Who could be so cruel, so malevolent, towards people who had done nothing to harm anyone?

He could; the strange being of shadow before her, hiding his true face behind a mask, a guise. She had just seen the fight – no, slaughter of her own infantry, their bloodcurdling war cries falling on the deaf ears of death. Such unbelievable power and strength came from this fiend; her triforce piece told her so, her eyes a witness as well. Hell, she even felt like she could feel his power, almost like it was tangible on some level - if such a thing was possible. At that very moment, Zelda knew she could not, would not, be able to stop him. Not now anyway… not alone.

With the lives of her people in her hands, Zelda dropped her sword in surrender. They had won, and she had lost.

Zelda's whole body shuttered at the memory. She felt so helpless during that entire situation, having to give up like that. She knew it was the right choice, but that didn't make it an easy choice.

"Excuse me, Princess?" Ashei said, interrupting Zelda from her reminiscing, "But what exactly does Link have to do with the twilight realm?"

"A lot," said Zelda, "More than I think we'll ever know. What I do know, I'll share."

"Twilight had a strange effect on Link… an effect that others did not undergo. You see," she said as she brought up her hand in a swift motion, pointing to the back of her hand to reveal an outline where her triforce of wisdom piece used to be, "Link was chosen by the gods to save Hyrule before he was born. He possessed the power of the goddesses, and this in turn negated the effects twilight had on him compared to everyone else. Because of this, he was able to free Hyrule from the King of Twilight's invasion."

Zelda watched as the group pondered upon this. She had relented on telling them just how Link was able to be in the twilight, knowing that saying he transfigured into a wolf would be the last straw; convincing them her sanity was lost.

"So, I think I understand so far," said Ilia, "but why would Link be in the twilight realm now? Isn't his business finished there?"

Zelda's heart sunk as she looked at the girl. She could tell merely from looking at her that she was a friend of Link's. They came from the same village, were close to the same age, and probably shared the same interests. And all those things added up probably meant she wasn't here just to tell Zelda how to find Link for the good of Hyrule. She, in all likelihood, had feelings of some sort for the Hero, risking her life to travel across Hyrule's plains, just to see him again.

But Zelda knew if Link was indeed in the Twilight Realm, he wasn't alone. She remembered their last conversation together vividly.

"How have you been Link? You seemed down today."

"I hope it wasn't too noticeable," Link said, "Even though it's been three years, it still hurts."

Zelda forced a sad smile.

His heart had ached for her. If he found a way back, surely it was so he could sooth his bleeding heart.

"It was only obvious to someone who knows enough about you Link. I still assume I'm the only one?"

Link nodded his head.

"Link," she said, "have you tried telling others how you feel? It could help you out, just to open up to someone instead of keeping all your emotions bottled up inside."

She had tried to help Link move on – to forget her, and twilight, and everything that it stood for. But it only proved to be futile. He was a wolf – a beast, at heart, and he would always be loyal to his master. Love is loyalty – loyalty is love.

Link felt like he had gone through the exact same conversation with Ilia, minus the yelling. "Princess, it's just that… I feel no one will understand. You come the closest, since you too know about Midna," Link said, emotions starting to get the better of him, "But I know for a fact that no one will know my plight, or why I feel the way I do… I love her"

And just like that, he had admitted what was written on his face for three years. He loved Midna. And if he was in the Twilight Realm then there was no doubt in Zelda's mind that he and her were together – in love. Sharing a heart with Midna for a time had revealed Midna's feelings for the hero clear as day… and upon thinking of her old friend - the Princess of Twilight - a flood of memories visited her again.

She had done it. She had maintained her word. Blue and white streaked the skies of the goddesses' kingdom, the orange hue of twilight now a lingering memory. Trust, sacrifice – one in the same, completely different. She had shown Zelda the former; soon it would be Zelda's turn to show her the latter.

Dark storm clouds came from nowhere; a downpour for the ages, the clouds seemingly pouring water down from the heavens like an endless stream. Lightning came next; tearing clouds asunder, the roar of thunder coming soon after. It was if the goddesses' were crying – crying and crying and crying – as if they knew something was wrong, the lightning showing their rage, the thunder being their voice.

A door creaked upon rusty hinges, swinging open slowly. Gently, even. The hero was there, stuck in his twilight form, despite the light surrounding them. He looked weary, his tongue sticking out, moving with the panting of his body. Sore paws adjusted, allowing the wolf to let a small imp glide off his back onto the stone cold floor.

It was her – who she had trusted – and well placed trust at that. But something was wrong. She wasn't supposed to be in this world. She couldn't be in the light – it hurt her, pained her, tormented her, killed her even…yes, it was killing Midna to be in this world.

Her small fury chest jerked up and down, up and down, the strange reverse coloration of her body reaching, intriguing, meeting Zelda's eyes as she approached. She laid her backhand upon the imp's cheek, her flesh searing and hot to the touch. The hero looked towards Zelda, his sapphire, feral eyes showing concern over the nature of his partner and friends state. Zelda issued the beast a weak smile from beneath her hood. Why she did not know; she knew he couldn't see it beneath her cloak, nor could it comfort him.

"Please… Please tell me… how do we break… the curse on this one?"

Zelda jumped slightly at the small weak voice coming forth from Midna. It was so different from her normal temperament Zelda had grown accustomed to. It also tore her heartstrings, to see her friend in such a pitiful, weakened state. She instinctively grasped Midna's small impish hand in her own, as it reached upwards in the air, like she was trying to grasp the stars and heavens up above.

"This… is the one… You need him… to save your world!"

More gasps. Her breath was growing more and more labored as she spoke. It seemed as if Midna was dying.

"That's why… Princess… Please… You must help Link…"

Zelda looked up to see Link painfully looking at Midna, his head bent down, his tail tucked between his legs. It seemed that he looked… ashamed more than sad, his guilt of something eating away any depression he felt. Perhaps in his mind, this could have been avoided – he could have protected her. Regardless, Zelda couldn't think too hard about it. She placed her hand in the air, using her triforce piece as a guide to where Link was cursed. She felt the triforce react strongest when her hand hovered over his forehead, the dark magic resonating from that spot.

"What binds him is a different magic then what transformed him when he first passed through the curtain of twilight. It is an evil power," said Zelda, instantly knowing what would ail his curse.

"Our world is one of balance… Just as there is light to drive away darkness, so, too, is there benevolence to banish evil."

"Head for the sacred grove that lies deep within the lands guarded by the spirit Faron," she said to him, "There you will find the blade of evil's bane that was crafted by the wisdom of the ancient sages… the Master Sword."

"The Master Sword is a sacred blade that evil can never touch. Evil cloaks you like a dark veil… and that blade is the only thing that can cleave it."

"Link… Hero sent by the goddesses…" she said, continuing her lengthy monologue, "Like you, I have been granted special powers by the goddesses…" She lifted her hand, revealing her glowing triforce for them both to see.

"Fine… Link… You can… You can get to the woods… on your own, right?"

Zelda pondered this too. Could he? Could he really go by himself, without her? The answer was simple.

No. Not now, not ever. He wouldn't be here, if it wasn't for Midna. She knew she had helped him so much, as he had helped her. Their bond was not meant to be broken.

"Princess… I have one last request…"

What did that mean? Did she mean to die? Did she really feel that she was ready, was able to accept that soon she would take her last, final breath?

"Can you tell him… where to find the Mirror of Twilight?"

Yes. She meant to die. She only came here for Link's sake, guiding him to her so she could tell him how to break the curse on him, while she passed on, a shadow banished by light.

"Midna, I believe I understand now just who and what you are," Zelda said, prepared to do what she must do – do what was right.

"Despite your mortal injuries, you act in our stead. These dark times are the results of our deeds, yet it is you who have to reap the penalty. Accept this now, Midna. I pass it to you."

With that, Zelda sent her precious gift – her own body and life force – into Midna. A soft, golden glow covered the room, as Midna rose in the air, with Link watching in awe."

"NO! LINK! STOP HER!"

Midna was screaming and shouting for Zelda to stop, knowing what she intended to do. But it was too late to stop now. Link needed Midna more than Zelda… more than Midna would ever know. Her small hand started to slip from Zelda's grasp as she finally returned to her normal self, Zelda feeling her body vanishing into thin air.

"Ilia, is it?" Zelda asked, her mind returning to present day. The young girl nodded.

"I know why Link would be in the twilight realm… it had to do with what I said earlier, about the people who live in there. The twili, as they're called, are naturally peaceful – with the King being the exception. It was only the greed and magic of their ancestors that forced them to be banished as shadows."

"Link, was never alone on his adventure. He always had someone with him… he always had her with him. He was saved by her, worked with her, and eventually… he started to care for her."

"Who is she?" Ilia asked – no, pleaded to Zelda.

"She's a twili, a native of the twilight realm," said Zelda, "And after their journey was done, she broke Link's heart, shattering the connection between worlds. You must have seen it; the lingering depression, the seclusion, when Link returned to Ordon. It was because of her."

"And I have no doubt, that if he found a way back to the twilight realm, that she wouldn't break his heart twice, for she loved him too."

"Her name is Midna… and she's the true ruler of the twilight…. The Twilight Princess."

A/N: Oh no, a cliffhanger... sort of. Regardless, anything you got is welcome criticism. I'm not sure if I like this ending, or the one viewpoint way I wrote this time. Hopefully, I'll also get a little faster with my updates.