1
"I've never seen anything like it.", Ilia told Link. They had made it to the Mirror Chamber. Ilia slid off Epona which, in turn, allowed Link to dismount. The Hero of Twilight and the girl he thought of as his sweet heart took in the scene before them.
Cor Goron and a few other Goron were talking excitedly with Renaldo and Shad over many laid out sheets. Machinery, huge and fine, were hung over the entire space. A safety rail had been installed just below where the physical bridge from the Mirror of Twilight to the rock the entrance was projected on would be. And fairies were everywhere-combing the sand and particularly gathered around a half constructed mirror.
Ashei spotted him and rushed up. "Link, glad you made it. You've just got to see this." And with that, she pulled Link away from a slightly miffed Ilia.
"Hello, Link. Or should I say, Hero of Twilight?", Renaldo greeted. "It is an interesting solution we've managed to work out."
Cor Goron continued. "We had quite the lucky break. As I had anticipated, the Mirror of Twilight wasn't made from glass. It was always a finely polished surface of transparent aluminum. This allowed us to use the same magnetisim you used to walk on the ceiling of our mine to seperate the shards from the grains of sand. The process is without error because the silicon in the sand doesn't have near the electrical polarity of the shards and it gathers shards to small to be detected normally."
Link looked confused.
Shad sympathized. "I don't understand this talk about magnetism very much either. But the real genius came in asking the fae to aid. Not only does their magically small size allow them to percieve shards that are too small for less magical races to see, but the restorative properties of fairy dust combine with...what did you call it?"
"Metal bonding, simply.", Cor reminded. "By accenting the natural metal bonding with magnetic fields and fairy dust, the only remaining problem is mapping shards to where they once were in the mirror."
"Hence, my presence.", Renaldo told Link. "Shad did fine work in laying out the initial design of the runes on the Mirror. But there are certain intangibles that were not recorded that need to be properly laid out in the magic the runes weave. While Telma assured me that we had enough time to dally about my village, I felt my being here to speed up the process would be useful."
"And we couldn't have done it without you big time hero.", Ashei congradulated him. "You actually beat the Cave of Ordeals and got us enough Queen Fairy to go talk to. Now, we got fairies coming out of places you're gonna have to buy more than dinner to see!" Ashei laughed and punched Link in the shoulder.
Ilia cringed. "Don't you hit him.", she scolded.
"Ah, he can take it.", Ashei told Ilia. "I remember when I tried the cave. I made it to the Great Fairy once. I was down to my last quarter of a heart and my clothes were in shreds. Everything just hanging all out.", she informed while making gestures to her charms. "If it wasn't for the leaves on those fat flying plants, I would have gotten back to Hyrule buck naked as well as half dead."
Shad turned to her. "Then why didn't you tell Auru that there was a land passage to the Gerudo desert back then?"
"I did.", Ashei told him. "But not everyone has rock climbing muscles like these." She slapped her butt. "I don't get this tight from standing on top of towers wishing to fly to the desert."
Link looked at the Ilia's expression. He rapidly decided to change the subject.
Shad answered him. "When the Mirror of Twilight is repeated, we will try to test it with inanimate objects. Once we can prove that it's safe, you and Her Grace will approach Midna's throne."
Link double took.
Renaldo replied. "You yourself told Shad that Midna informed you that only a Twili or someone protected by at least the triforce could safely traverse her realm. And even then there were shadow falls that were still hazardous. Only Princess Zelda and yourself are ordained with the light of the goddesses. Furthermore, we have no reason to believe that Midna would entertain an audience to anyone but the two of you."
Link nodded and left the scene with Ilia. "We'll get it done. Don't you worry, Link.", Ashe called out while blowing him a kiss. Ilia glared at Link and Link tried to dodge the glare.
2
For the next few days, Link and Ilia got the rest and alone time they deserved. They toured the now secured temple that housed the Twilight Mirror, spent the days sunning and the cold desert nights staying warm in their tent.
The Mirror Reconstruction Project (or MiRP as Shad constantly called it) was ahead of schedule. Trying to convince the Goron or fae or even Renaldo to take a break was as difficult for Link as it was for Ilia to subtley hint that Ashei's attentions offended.
Ashei, a self admitted dunce of sociality, never got a clue. Sometimes the only way for Link to keep Ilia from blowing up and starting a fight she wouldn't win was the take Ashei up on some of her challenges. Ashei was impressed that there was finally a man who could travel bluffs found in the desert as well as her. Even if he cheated by using the various means of locomotion he found on his adventures. But hey, can't knock a guy who's quested the world. Wouldn't want to.
3
Then the day everyone was anticipating arrived. Along with Princess Zelda.
While approaching the completed mirror she kept being met with individuals. She greeted them all with the identical gesture:allowing them to shake her hand and nodding her head, regardless of whether it was Shad or the Goron engineers or each individual fairy.
In the midst of this, Ilia and Link had come up to her.
"Your Grace.", Ilia greeted with a courtsey.
"Saluations, Hero of Time.", Zelda ignored Ilia. "We have missed your presence by ourside. But we thank you for your continued sacrifices on behalf of the kingdom. Including the protection of the crown's chastity through the use of peasants."
The comment was met with stunned silence. There wasn't a sound-not the twinkling of the fairies or the breathing of the Goron. Well, there was one sound. Ashei's far off yell of, "Oh no she didn't!".
"What was that?", Ilia asked. The only protection the peace had was that Ilia did have a peasant's education. While she could handle a horse just as well as Zelda, and care for it leagues better, she had trouble understanding every word the Princess said.
Zelda looked sharply toward her for the first time. Then she remembered the voice. "Ilia? Mayor Bo's daughter?"
Ilia nodded.
"Is your father still the strong man we remember from our youth? We recall when our father and yours would ride out hunting after settling local affairs."
Ilia's pride of her father kicked in. "Yes. He still runs our village fairly, and helps out with whatever task in whatever season. He even taught Link sumo."
Zelda gaily laughed. "That strikes true of Bo. Send him my regards, and hopes that he can attend the Summit of Peace as a guest of the crown."
"Actually, I'll be representing Ordon at the summit. As Link's guest.", Ilia stated.
Zelda smiled. "Only dignitaries of individual kingdoms will offer representation, dear. But please, accept our invitation none-the-less. I understand how the Hero of Twilight will be percieved, correctly so, as a federal position rather than of Ordon. It will be nice to show grace by entertaining someone of your stature."
Zelda turned to Link. "Come, Hero of Twilight. We have an audience to acrue."
Then she took the green clad arm in hers and strode toward the Mirror of Twilight. Once there, she held out her hand over the reconstructed mirror. The triforce inside shone and the princess stood pondering. After a moment, Zelda appeared to awaken.
She faced the crowd of fae, Goron and Hylians. "Allies and countrymen, thank you. Together, we have completed one of the most enterprising works in history. We have shown courage in the face of advesity, wisdom in the face of mystery and power through our continued cooperation. It is in these spirits that we continue. And the Summit of Peace will have in attendance a new friend for us to share the prosperity of the future with."
The Mirror of Twilight lit up the desert, despite it being day already. It cast its gleam on the rock face and a portal to the Realm of Twilight tunnelled into the rock. Zelda continued. "We take one small step for a Hylian. But we also take one gaint leap for allkind."
And with that, she led Link into the portal. It closed behind the two erstwhile diplomats.
Shad saw Ashei coming to Ilia. He immediately left the scene. Renaldo nor Cor Goron was lacking in intellect, and promptly gave chase.
"What did she say to me?", Ilia asked Ashei.
Ashei instantly informed her. "Oh, she said that you were messing around with Link."
"What!", Illia exclaimed. "I never...with anyone. How dare/"
"She's always been like that.", Ashei told her. "Monarchy leads to that. The whole of society is forced to put their eggs in one basket, so to speak. Naturally the basket's gonna think itself more valuable than the eggs, let alone who it's carrying the eggs for."
Illia fumed. "Still. Just because Link and I are together doesn't mean we've been, you know...together. Not before our marraige."
"Oh, you actually are together?", Ashei asked as if it was a surprise.
