AN: Surprise! Well, this is all rather unexpected. I've kind of been anticipating this chapter, or rather what happens in this chapter, for a while, and I got a little overexcited and wrote the whole thing in a couple of hours. If that effects the quality in any way, please do tell me. But yeah, I figured that since the wait between chapters 10 and 11 was longer than usual why not make the wait between 11 and 12 shorter? And here we are.
So, big thanks to silverheartlugia2000 for reviewing, and to those of you who favourited/followed!
I think that's it so without further ado, on with chapter twelve. Please review, and let me know what you think!

12- Transformation

Link might have been having a little too much fun with Queen Rutela's gift. Midna had already had a go at him multiple times, but there was just something so satisfying about being able to zip around underwater, or hang there silently in the depths without needing to go up for air. The monsters were a slight nuisance, but if you gave them enough space most of the water-dwelling ones were fairly unaggressive.

The Lakebed Temple had proven itself to be just as convoluted as its predecessors, and Link spent half his time either choosing rooms to enter at random or poring over his map, which really only served to confuse him more every time he tried. There was just something about these water temples. It was so easy to get turned around or lost in their humid corridors.

And they were always so quiet, like the heavy air dampened all sound. With all the monsters hidden beneath the dark water the only real sounds were Link's breathing, his footsteps, and the soft drip drop of water hitting stone.

Maybe that's why he was deliberately stalling to goad Midna, because in the eerie silence of the temple all he really wanted was to hear a friendly voice. Or at least, a familiar one, because Midna didn't appear to be in a particularly friendly mood as she chastised him, irritated, swatting the back of his head lightly. He ducked away with a soft snicker and she huffed at him in reply.

Tugging at the neck of his new armour Link made his way slowly down one of the many staircases in the temple's central area, casually swinging the new clawshot he'd acquired back and forth with each step. The key to the heart of the temple hung heavy on his belt, and Link knew it was time to stop messing around. He had a Fused Shadow to collect, and a Twili companion who was growing more impatient with every passing minute.

Stopping at the foot of the staircase Link peered down into the water in front of him, wondering where the shoal of Skullfish had got to. He couldn't see them, at least not immediately, which meant the coast was clear.

'I can't believe you flooded this entire place,' Midna tutted from where she was floating beside him, having decided to try and chivvy him along with her constant presence. It had worked, at least when he was on land. Following him underwater had proven difficult even for her.

Link shrugged a shoulder, replying that the whole flooding thing was clearly the only way to reach the heart of the temple without taking a leap of faith or building some kind of bridge. It was how the place was designed. He nearly told her it was a regular thing with water temples, but caught himself just in time. If he mentioned the whole 'past lives' thing she'd probably think he was crazy. That is, if she didn't already, given the whole jumping of a bridge thing or his actions in general.

'Well, whatever. We're so close now I can practically feel it,' Midna said dismissively, gesturing to the barred door across from them. 'Let's get this over with, shall we?' Link didn't need to be told again.

Adjusting his helmet slightly he tapped his knuckles against it once before slipping into the water, its frigid temperature pleasantly inviting after the stuffiness of the temple air. Submerging himself completely Link glanced down into the depths, keeping an eye out for the Skullfish, but they were still nowhere in sight as he pushed off from the wall. He closed the distance to the central structure in seconds, wondering how he had ever been apprehensive of Rutela's gift.

Because he had been, stood on the shores of Lake Hylia, peering out across its glassy surface. The armour fit remarkably well, something Link refused to let himself dwell on, but he had been somewhat wary of its effects. He hadn't felt any different, stood knee-deep in the water, but then Midna started threatening violence and he had swum out to the middle of the lake before he could work himself up any more. It had been weird at first, the feeling of being so at home in the water, but it had been exhilarating too and hadn't taken him long to get used to it.

And now he revelled in the sensation; it felt almost like flying. But of course he had a task to complete, so he couldn't waste any more time swimming around leisurely, especially with those Skullfish still around. He didn't particularly want to get eaten.

Hauling himself out of the pool Link stood with a small downpour of water, unhooking the key from his belt as he approached the chained door that led to the temple's heart. It was smaller than the others, seeming almost innocuous, but Link knew what lay beyond as he slid the key into the lock, stepping back at it fell apart with several loud clangs.

The room the door opened onto was tiny, the dark gaping hole in the centre of the floor foreboding. For a moment Link was confused, stepping back out of the room to check he was, in fact, still in the Lakebed Temple and not in another Hyrule's Shadow Temple about to jump down into the waiting hands of Bongo Bongo. He was, and he was still clad in his Zora Armour, which was still weighed down with water. Midna was still there beside him; there was no sign of any fairies.

Sighing softly at himself Link re-entered the room, stopping at the edge of the hole to peer down into its dark depths. He glanced at Midna, who shrugged a shoulder before vanishing into his shadow.

So helpful.

Now there was nowhere to go but down, so down he went, jumping into the gloom without a second thought. He dropped for about a second, the dark walls of the tunnel flashing by, then he hit water and sank. For a moment there was nothing but darkness streaked with silver bubbles, and for a moment Link was falling from the bridge again, body crumbling against the lake's surface. For a split-second there was just panic and white-hot pain, an all-consuming darkness.

And then he was floating, suspended in murky water that he could just about see through, completely intact. The tunnel had widened out into a great, circular cavern, suffused with what little light made its way down from above. That and the odd glow at the bottom of the room, which was swaying to and fro languidly as it illuminated the sandy floor. Narrowing his eyes at it Link flipped himself over, swimming down towards it, feeling a little like a moth being drawn to a flame.

He wasn't too far off, except that rather than a moth he was a small fish swimming straight into the jaws of a giant eel. It had a mouth full of tentacles, which Link spent a good while slashing at – that and a detachable eye that shifted around at will – until the entire eel pulled free of the sand. Link couldn't help a faint cringe at the sight of it; he wasn't the biggest fan of slimy aquatic creatures. Especially not giant ones. Still, he persevered, settling into a fairly easy rhythm of swim, hookshot, slash with sword. He kept it up until the creature, blinded at first with pain and then literally, swam straight into a wall, hard enough to crack it and make what felt like the whole temple shake.

Feeling the water begin to drain away Link grabbed onto one of the protrusions on the eel's back as it sank to the ground, holding himself steady against the tug of the water. The creature must have done some serious damage to the wall, because the water was gone in moments and Link was sliding to the sodden sand coating the floor a second later. He grimaced, scrunching his toes up inside his flippers. He hated sand.

Making his way round to the creature's head, or rather waddling because flippers really weren't made for walking, Link watched as its body disintegrated into a familiar darkness, which coalesced into a shape Link felt he recognised but wasn't sure where from. With the light spirit's warning ringing in his ears, and its vision playing in his mind's eye, Link reached out a hand, the Fused Shadow coming to a halt an inch or so above his palm.

'And there it is. The final Fused Shadow.' For once Midna sounded serious, almost reverent, and as she materialised beside him Link realised why he recognised the third piece's shape. It was nearly identical to Midna's broken helmet. Now that he thought about it the other two had been similar in structure and design, he just hadn't noticed it at the time.

Clearly Midna was even more mysterious than he had thought. But if she could strut (float) around with a Fused Shadow on her head and be none the worse for wear, then clearly she wasn't about to be corrupted by their power. And if she was wearing one then it was pretty likely she was aware of the "danger of wielding power", or whatever Lanayru had warned him about. Link wasn't sure if he wanted to know more about his newest companion or if he should be running in the opposite direction.

Too late now, she had all three.

'I'll just take this then,' Midna said, grabbing the Fused Shadow with her hair-hand as she giggled her disconcerting giggle, though it had a definite edge of elation to it. 'Thank you kindly.' Fixing him with, shockingly, a genuine smile Midna spirited the Fused Shadow away. 'Don't be resenting me now. With this I can finally defeat Zant, and that's one less person terrorising your country. One less puffed up idiot lording himself over the Twili, calling himself the "King of Twilight".' She scoffed. 'His false power won't hold a candle to the Fused Shadows.'

Link nodded slightly, glad that she was going to put one of the evils in the world to rest, suddenly realising that this signalled the end of the journey. They were going to be parting ways imminently. He would return to Ordon with the children, his sedentary life restored. No more travelling, no more life-threatening situations, no more snide comments in his ear. Why did the thought hurt so much?

'That's that, then.' Midna's voice grew softer, as she turned away to summon up one of her portals. 'I've done what I needed to. I'm sorry for dragging you all over the place as I pleased.' Link almost didn't catch the words, they were spoken so quietly, but he did and for a minute all he could do was stare at her, shocked. Had she just apologised?

It really was the end. They really were going their separate ways. He could see no reason for her to be apologising otherwise.

Midna huffed, folding her arms defensively. 'Shall we go? Or are you just going to stare at me?'

Blinking himself out of his stupor Link grinned faintly at her obvious discomfort before nodding and stepping up to the edge of the portal. Throwing him a scowl Midna vanished into its glowing depths. For a moment Link was alone, struggling against the sudden familiar heaviness twisting in his stomach, in his chest, the one that made his throat feel tight. Then he closed his eyes, took a breath, and stepped onto the portal.

Just in time for everything to fall apart.

There was the sensation of moving too fast, and when he opened his eyes he was stood once more in Lanayru's spring, but he barely got a second to process this before said spirit was rearing out of the water, the soft lamenting song of its aura a sudden angry roar. Or could it have been fearful? Whatever it was it made Link recoil, shielding his face with an arm against Lanayru's burning light.

And then he sensed the presence behind him. And he realised the light spirit wasn't roaring at him.

He turned, so fast he nearly stumbled, to find himself staring at a set of shoulder guards positioned above a voluminous black outfit marked with familiar green symbols. Tilting his head back slightly Link dragged his eyes higher, until they settled on the mask he had only ever seen on the wanted posters. It was all sharp edges and shadows, and a chill shot down Link's spine at the sight of it.

Zant. In the flesh.

For a second everything seemed to hang still, before there was a soft, contemptuous click of a tongue and Link was flat on his back, coughing and winded. As he squirmed on the ground he watched Lanayru slam against the spring's far wall, its snake-like form fading until only its glowing orb of light remained. Zant had barely moved.

Swallowing another cough Link tried to rise, unsure as to quite what had happened, watching in horror as Lanayru's light was dragged into the spring, sinking until it vanished completely.

Almost instantly the world changed, the air becoming heavier, the light shifting from soft blue-green to a harsher golden-red. It was as if the sun had suddenly set inside the cavern, its light forced away just as Lanayru's had been. Wherever Link looked shadows seemed to flit through the air, rising towards the sky as if to blot out what little light remained. The shift brought with it a sense of melancholy, a tightening Link's his chest.

Which was completely forgotten as the world exploded into pain. Choking on it Link gasped softly, the suddenness of it rendering him speechless as his body began twisting against his will, contorting like it was trying to rip itself apart. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. Link could feel it in his skin, in his blood, in his soul. A series of grinding, cracking noises echoed through his suddenly pounding skull, accompanied by the most horrific pain, and he screamed. He couldn't help it. The sound built in his throat, part shock part fear part pain, until it shifted to something that couldn't even be considered human. It was like the howl of a wounded animal.

Was this Zant? Was it his doing? What was he doing?! It felt like Link's body was being rearranged, his bones being twisted around into a different shape.

What was happening to him?!

And then as suddenly as it had come the pain vanished, leaving Link panting on the ground, aware that something was horribly, terribly wrong. His head was throbbing; it was like all his senses had suddenly been heightened tenfold. He couldn't focus, there were too many sensations to sort through. It made him want to scream, even if, bizarrely, the whole thing felt vaguely familiar. His left hand was burning.

Someone laughed, and Link winced as the sound cut into his head, sharp and cold. 'Well, isn't this nostalgic.' Link wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but the soft, calm voice that crawled out from under Zant's mask definitely wasn't it. It was unnerving, and if his skin hadn't already been crawling Link knew he would have goose bumps. 'Long time no see, traitor.'

'Zant.' Midna spat the name with as much contempt as possible, suddenly at Link's side. He felt her hand touch the side of his face, but everything still felt wrong and he cringed away. 'What did you-' Midna made a little startled sound, her hand vanishing, and Link managed to force his eyes open enough to see her hanging in the air above the spring as if she were being held by invisible shackles. She kicked her legs, struggling, but to no avail.

Footsteps sounded nearby, too loud, and then the tassels of Zant's sleeves were passing by Link's line of sight as the Twili stepped up to the edge of the spring, tilting his head as he regarded Midna. She glared her fiercest glare back at him. Gritting his teeth Link wondered if he'd be able to reach Zant, maybe bite the guy's ankles, but his body was shaking too much for moving to be a real possibility right then.

What, for the love of the goddesses, had Zant done to him?

A harsh noise of protest distracted Link from Zant's ankles, to find the spoils of their travels hanging in the air in front of Midna, bobbing up and down lazily.

'Honestly.' Zant spoke again, cold voice almost amused. 'Using such an ancient and withered power to challenge me?' He tutted, and the Fused Shadows disappeared as if he had thrown them over his shoulder, though he didn't move a muscle. 'A treacherous move, Midna, and a foolish one at that. Why do you defy your king like this?'

Narrowing her eyes Midna spat at his feet, visibly shaking from suppressed rage. 'You must be joking. You, who abuse the magic of our tribe, who mutate and control our people against their will- my king?' Link could practically smell her disgust. He could also, however, sense Zant's anger, and it made him uneasy.

'You dare-' Zant paused, as if collecting himself. 'You think that my power is our old magic? Now that, my dear Midna, that is a joke.' Zant finally moved, whirling around, dragging Midna through the air with him before slamming her into the ground at Link's side. She gasped softly, a cloud of dust billowing out around her at the impact, and Link clenched his jaw, trying to get his limbs to cooperate. It was weird, like they were all in the wrong places or something.

'My power was granted to me by my god, by the King of Twilight-' Zant drew himself up slightly, sudden fury rolling off of him in icy waves. '-You will respect it.' Instead of rising his voice just got quieter, lowering to a deadly hiss as light began collecting in front of him, forming a pulsating ball of deep maroon. It gave off a faint, shrill sound that hurt Link's ears as he finally managed to stagger to his feet, forming a barrier between Zant and Midna. He wasn't about to let her die. Not if he could help it.

Or at least, he thought he was climbing to his feet, but he must have been mistaken because his line of sight was somehow much lower than before. More like he was on his hands and knees.

Link knew he shouldn't be getting distracted, especially not when Zant's death ball was slowly growing larger only a metre or so away, but he took a moment to survey himself. And immediately yelped in shock at what he found. Where his hands should have been were paws. Paws. Big and furry and clawed, they were absolutely, undeniably paws. He staggered slightly, twisting around to get a better look at the rest of his body.

Oh, goddesses, was he a wolf? A wolf? Din give him strength, he had a tail and everything. He flicked it experimentally, jumping just slightly when it actually shifted.

'Surprised, are we?' Zant laughed and Link whipped his head back towards the man, growling. It was a proper growl, too, all harsh and guttural. To be quite honest, Link kind of liked it. 'Yes, you make quite the terrifying little puppy.' Zant sounded torn between amusement and disdain, and suddenly Link wanted nothing better than to rip out the Twili's throat with his new fangs.

'Link…' Midna's pained voice caught Link's attention and he flicked an ear back towards her instinctively, only to catch himself and shudder at the strangeness of it. This was all wrong.

'Honestly.' A sigh crawled out from under Zant's mask as he shook his head, murmuring to himself. 'It would seem all our efforts are going to go to waste. I tried to tell him- but no matter. We all knew this would happen.' Shifting slightly Zant spread his arms, the sphere of energy now as big as Link's head, the tassels on his right sleeve twitching just slightly in Link's direction.

Link didn't think, his body moving on its own. He wasn't about to let Zant get his way. Wasn't about to let himself or Midna be killed so easily, like they weren't even a threat. With strength Link didn't know he had – probably something to do with his new form – he launched himself up at the Twili, hoping to at the very least push him into the spring.

Of course, suddenly becoming a wolf hadn't done anything for his coordination and Link overshot, slamming straight into the glowing ball of doom. For a moment he hung in the air, pushing against the sphere as its shrill cry drilled into his ears, before it exploded in his face and he was back on the floor. Pain shot through his skull, so intense it felt like his head had been cleaved in two. The world turned fuzzy around the edges, fading in and out of focus as he groaned softly.

'Link!' Midna called his name, suddenly at his side with concern scrawled all over her face, a small hand stroking his face- muzzle- whichever. It felt weird, but wasn't unpleasant. Link tried to say something, give her some indication her was okay, but then the world went dark.

When he next opened his eyes Midna was up in the air again, arms pinned behind her as Zant murmured words Link couldn't make out in her ear. Her expression, usually so calm, was a mix of fear and hatred, and Link managed to meet her bright eyes before the pain in his head flared again and-

He was somewhere else entirely. A forest? He could hear wind rustling in leaves. And laughter. Cruel, raucous laughter accosted him from all sides as he lay paralysed, pine needles digging into his skin. When he looked up he was surrounded by tall silhouettes, all towering above him, their eyes gleaming in the darkness. Everything felt wrong; he'd been transformed again. Or rather, before? The laughter continued, one voice rising above the others, sharp and cold. Link growled feebly, baring his teeth at the eyes way above him.

'What's going on here?' Someone suddenly spoke, and Link knew that voice, he knew it, but he couldn't recall where from. If he could just hear it again then maybe-

Link took a gasping breath, surging to his feet as he suddenly snapped back into consciousness. His head was throbbing fit to burst. Where was Zant? Where was Midna? Where was he? Everything was dark, but then light flared somewhere above his head and suddenly his feet –paws– touched solid ground. Stone. It was cold beneath the pads of his paws and he wriggled his toes slightly, looking around. He found he was in Hyrule Field, the castle looming on the horizon. Night had fallen, the stars and moon bright in the sky. There was no sign of the strange light Zant had summoned. In fact Zant and the Spirit's Spring were nowhere to be seen.

He was distracted as a light weight landed on his back, and when he glanced over his shoulder he found Midna sprawled there. At least, he thought it was Midna, because she looked startlingly different. Her skin had turned a mottled pinkish-blue and she lay quite still, limbs dangling limply on either side of him. Her breaths were heavy, rasping. Almost like a death rattle. Pain twisted in Link's chest at the thought.

'Link, chosen hero of the goddesses…' The voice that spoke was soft, echoing, and instantly recognisable. A Light Spirit. 'I am sorry, I could not protect you from Zant's wrath. If you wish to break the curse placed upon you, you must find the princess. She holds the key that can unlock your shadow form.' Tilting his head up towards the sky Link didn't budge, searching for the spirit as he tried to convey all the questions he had with his silence. He couldn't have spoken even if he wanted to at this point.

What about Midna? What had happened to her? Why did it seem like she was dying?

Lanayru's presence seemed to draw closer, a calming warmth that grounded Link somewhat. 'She tried to protect you. When Zant's attention turned onto her she refused to bow to him, chose our world over her own, and for that he used my power against her. Princess Zelda asked us to grant her some protection from the light of our realm, which your companion's kind cannot survive in, but it was only temporary, feeble at best. When exposed to the full force of my light…' Lanayru was silent for a moment. 'I am sorry. The Twili will not survive the night.'

At the spirit's words Link stiffened, inadvertently baring his teeth just slightly in its direction. It didn't sound sorry. It sounded like it didn't care, not even using Midna's name. The great "chosen hero" had survived, and that was all that mattered right? Until he defeated Ganondorf and became just as expendable. Suddenly bitterly frustrated Link couldn't help the growl that rumbled in his throat as he clenched his jaw so tightly it hurt.

Midna was going to die because of him. She had sacrificed herself trying to protect him. This was the second time she had saved him, and how did he repay her? By getting her killed?

How had Lanayru let this happen? How was it that Zant had overpowered them all so easily? How had Zelda and Midna not known the extent of his strength? Why was it that he was always the one who survived?

No, he wouldn't allow it. Midna annoyed him, and he really hadn't liked her at first, but she was his companion. They were companions. A little less than friends, or maybe more. He wouldn't let her die. Not after she had saved his life twice, after she had trusted him with her mission, after she had sacrificed herself like this for Hyrule. And Lanayru didn't care?

He could feel said spirit's pity, but he ignored it. If they wouldn't do something then he would. He was going to save Midna, and Zant was going to pay.

The thought of losing Midna hurt more than he had expected. Going their separate ways was one thing – and not even something he really wanted to do, he realised – but for her to die? He wouldn't allow it. He refused to lose her. He wouldn't. He had lost enough.

He didn't bother bidding Lanayru farewell as he took off running, headed for the castle. If anyone knew what to do it would be Zelda. Even if the Light Spirits couldn't help, the Princess of Hyrule, holder of the Triforce of Wisdom, the one person who probably knew Midna best of anyone in Hyrule, could. She had to.