Yay! New chapter! I love YouTube, it's how I was able to describe some of the scenes without replaying the game for the up-teenth time!
Not bothering with a disclaimer, cause I'm getting tired of repeating myself.
Anywho, enjoy the chapter!
The sun rose, slowly lighting up the land. Creatures from all over were woken from their sleep, whether they wanted to or not.
In the dusty village of Kakariko, the inhabitants woke to begin their work for the day.
Within one of the only inhabitable houses left, two figures lay entwined, still in bed.
Feeling the warmth of the sun on his face, Link groaned and pulled his bed partner closer so he could bury his face under her hair and resume his sleep.
At least, he would have, if she was still in the bed.
Blinking his eyes open, he looked around the small house they shared trying to find her.
'Wonder where she went off to.'
His musings were cut short as he noticed a piece of paper on the table beside his side of the bed.
Sitting up, he held the paper in front of him.
I went over to the Inn to help with the cooking. Why don't you come join us when you decide to wake up?
'Well, that answers that question.'
After dressing, Link made his way over to the Inn, where there seemed to be a lot of noise.
Entering, he saw that the place was full of controlled chaos.
Colin and Talo were chasing each other with small wooden swords, with Malo and Renado watching from one of the tables.
Beth was helping Kagome and Thelma with the cooking. A pot of something was on the fire and it looked like they were smoking some meat. Currently Kagome was teaching Beth how to make bread, Thelma looked back occasionally with a smile on her face.
Noticing that Ilia wasn't around, Link began to make his way over to the Women's Corner (which he would never repeat within their hearing range). He stopped momentarily to correct some of the boy's swordplay.
Finally reaching the kitchen area, he hopped onto a bar stool and leaned on the bar, using one of his hands to prop up his head, he just watched Kagome guide Beth in the delicate art of bread making.
"She looks like she would make a good mother one day."
Link turned toward the voice and saw Thelma looking at the bakers.
"Yeah, she loves kids. Told me she plans to have a couple of her own at some point."
"That's every woman dear."
She finally turned to look at him.
"Ilia is still upstairs with the Prince. She hasn't really left him since he was brought into the bar."
Link allowed a soft smile to adorn his face.
"That's just Ilia. Has to take care of everyone, doesn't matter if they want the help or not."
Thelma looked at him thoughtfully.
"Kagome seems to be the same way."
Link nodded his agreement.
Before their conversation could continue, Kagome turned her attention over to him after telling Beth to go play.
"Well look who finally decided to wake up."
She laughed when Link stuck his tongue out at her.
The laughter faded as Renado made his way over.
"Something about that Zora boy is giving me a feeling of...unease.
I worry that something may have happened to the Zoras of Lake Hylia...
...But I must first find a way to recover Ilia's memory. She suffers, and I
must help.
If I discover anything, I will let you know immediately, so please allow me a
little more time..."
Link and Kagome shared a look before Link turned his attention back to Renado.
"Kagome and I went up to Zora's Domain when the lake was drying out. The whole Domain was frozen solid. We managed to find a way to thaw it."
The two adults shared a concerned glance, but Link continued.
"As soon as we leave here, I'm going to go back to the lake and see if there are any clues as to what's going on."
"And Kagome?"
"I'll be going back to Castle Town to see if I can overhear something that might help."
She paused before continuing.
"I'll probably take Link's money and stop in a few stores. I saw a few weapons stores I wanted to check out."
"My money?"
"Well I don't have any."
He gave her a dry look as she smiled and held out her hand for his wallet.
Grumbling under his breath, he placed his wallet full of rupees into her waiting hand.
Thelma and Renado were chuckling at the exchange.
Soon the call for breakfast was made and everybody had their fill before leaving to do their chores.
Thelma stood with Link and Kagome as the prepared Epona to travel.
"Have you listened to everything Renado has to say?
I'm worried about Ilia too...but I'm more concern about the Zoras of Lake Hylia
right now.
Of course, I agree with Renado completely. This man is ASTUTE!
You go on now, Link! See after the Zoras at the lake!"
Mounting Epona, they said their goodbyes before leaving the village and making their way back to Lake Hylia.
"When we get to the bridge, I'll get off and you take Epona with you to Castle Town."
"Ok. Where should we meet?"
"We'll meet back at Lanayru's Spring."
"Okay."
Following the plan, Kagome dropped off Link before making her way to the drawbridge leading into the town.
"Okay Epona, you'll have to wait here for me."
She received a neigh in response.
Giving the mare a rub on the nose, Kagome made her way into the town.
Entering the main square, she saw street musicians playing and children running around. She began walking around and looking at the shops to see if anything caught her attention.
Eventually something did.
One of the doors had a large picture of Malo's face on it!
Curious, Kagome made her way into the shop.
She nearly laughed when she entered.
Cheerful music sounded throughout the room, and the store clerk was dancing to its beat.
Looking around, Kagome found something that she thought Link would find useful.
Making her way to the counter, she was taken aback by the clerk's cheerfulness.
"Welcome! Welcome! Grand opening sale going on now at Castle Town Malo Mart!"
"Hello, I was wondering about that armor over there."
"Ah! An excellent choice! When you wear this armor, any hits you take hit your wallet instead! The only drawback is that you need rupees in your wallet in order for it to be mobile. No rupees, you're like a statue."
"How much is it?"
"598 rupees miss."
"Hmm, let me see if I have that."
As luck would have it, she did!
Kagome happily left the store with her new purchase and began making her way back to Epona.
They returned to Lake Hylia, but saw no way for Epona to go down to the spring.
"Don't worry girl, I'll go down and bring him back up."
It took a while, but she eventually made it back to the entrance.
Walking in, she didn't see Link, so she sat on the edge of the outcropping and waited.
She didn't wait long before a flash of light appeared behind her.
She stood and faced Link with a smile on her face, which quickly began to fade.
Link became confused as he saw Kagome's bright smile turn into a look of fear.
Turning to look behind himself, he saw what shocked her.
A tall figure stood before him, his face hidden by metal mask in the shape of a chameleon's head.
Lanayru rises from the water as he senses an intruder in his domain.
The figure seems unconcerned as he raises his hand and sends forth a burst of energy that knocks the two back and forces Lanayru to retreat back into the water, once more bathing the spring in twilight.
"Zant!"
Huh, looks like Midna it back and seems to know this guy.
Midna uses the fused shadows they had gathered and fitted the pieces back together to for some sort of armor.
Zant does not seem impressed as he disassembles the armor.
Using his power on Midna, he suspends her from the air.
Link and Kagome are unable to do anything to help as both were unconscious and the twilight reverted them into their wolf forms.
"Did you honestly mean to take an ancient and withered power like this and turn
it against me?
You are a foolish traitor, Midna.
Why do you defy your king?"
"My KING? You, who do nothing but abuse the magic of your tribe? You must be
joking!"
"How dare you?! Are you implying that my power is...our old magic?
Now THAT is a joke!
This power is granted to me by my god! It is the magic of the King of Twilight,
and you WILL respect it!"
Link and Kagome regained consciousness in time to see Zant throw Minda into the ground. Moving as one, they got to their feet and lunged themselves at Zant. As they drew close, a ball of red magic appeared and hit them head on. The force of it threw the away and back into unconsciousness. Midna was on her knees before them, stroking their faces and watched as orange colored magic sunk into their foreheads.
Zant brought Mind back to his side.
"My Midna... Did you forget? That beast is one of the light dwellers who
oppressed our people.
No matter how much you may desire otherwise, you will never be more than a
shadow in their world. You cannot consort with their kind!
But if we can make their world ours, Midna...light and darkness will meet at
last.
Our tribe will take back their realm...and sweet darkness will blot out this
harsh light!
And that, Midna, is why...
I need you.
Not just for me, but for all of our people... Lend me your power."
Midna freed herself from Zant's grasp
"So be it... I will return you to the light world you covet!"
Suspending Midna above the pool of water, Zant summoned Lanayru from the water.
The force of the spirit's light was harmful to those from the Twilight Realm. Midna was no exception to this fact. Lanayru unleashes the full force of his light at the Twili.
And with a brilliant flash of light, Zant was left by himself.
Regaining consciousness, Link and Kagome find themselves dealing with a new set of problems.
We're wolves!
But how? We're not in twilight?
I don't…MIDNA!
What is it?!
She's solid! We're not in the twilight and she's in her normal form!
Lanayru's voice sounds within their minds.
"Heroes chosen by the goddesses...
Go to the princess locked away in the castle.
That princess holds the key that can unlock you from your shadow form..."
Looks like we're going back to the castle.
We better hurry, I don't know how long Midna can last like this.
Alright, let's go.
Running as fast they could, they made their way through the fields of Hyrule, dodging the bulblins and dekus that stood in their way.
Upon crossing the drawbridge leading into the city, they paused to catch their breath.
How are we going to get into the castle?
I have no idea.
"You're trying to get into the castle?"
Who said that?!
Oh, look at the cute little frog!
Link just stares at her.
What?
Nevermind.
He turns his attention back to the frog.
Do you know how to get into the castle?
"No, not me personally. However, if you go to the bar at the south end of town you'll find someone who does know."
Thank you for your help.
"No problem miss, you two have fun."
Well, he certainly was helpful.
Very, now let's go!
Once more they set out. Before long they reached the bar and carefully squeezed through the door.
"Beasts! Get out!"
Apparently the patrons weren't fond of wolves.
"You there!"
The pair looked up and saw a white cat sitting in the window.
"You're Link and Kagome, correct?
Mmm, yes, I thought so. I could just tell, you know.
I'm Louise. Do you remember meeting me in this shop before? Though I don't
think we were properly introduced...
In any case, I must tell you, I'm a bit puzzled as to why you look like that.
Really, dear, you can't blame the humans for tossing you out, the way you look."
She sees Midna draped over Link's back.
"Oh... Another patient? You certainly are a curious sort..."
Midna weakly raises her head to the cat.
"...Plea... Please...
Princes...Z-Zelda..."
Louise looks startled.
"This way!
Here, get in through the window. The attic is connected to the castle's
waterway.
It's an old waterway, though...so it could be a rough trip.
Well... I suppose all that's left to do is make sure that the humans don't
notice you.
Do walk carefully when you move around the attic.
Be careful when the footing's not stable or you'll fall, dear."
Following Louise through the window, they carefully made their way across the ropes and into the sewers of the city.
Following the path set before them, they traveled until they reached a familiar set of large wooden doors.
Entering the room, they looked around, but no sign of the Princess.
Hearing a thump, they turned and saw Midna collapsed on the ground.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Zelda appears and places a hand on Midna.
Looking weakly up at her, Midna makes her plea.
"Please... Please tell me... How do we break...the curse on them?
They...are the ones... You need them...to save your world!
That's why... Princess... Please... You must help them..."
Looking up at the wolves, Zelda hovers her hand across their bodies until her hand starts to glow.
"What binds them is a different magic than what transformed them when they first
passed the curtain of twilight. It is an evil power.
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.
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…Kagome... Heroes sent by the goddesses...
Like you, I have been granted special powers by the goddesses..."
Midna's weak voice sounds throughout the room.
"Fine... Link... You can... You can get to the woods...on your own, right?
Princess... I have one last request...
Can you tell him...where to find the Mirror of Twilight?"
Zelda gazes down at her.
"Midna... I believe I understand now just who and what you are...
Despite your mortal injuries, you act in our stead...
These dark times are the result of our deeds, yet it is you who have reaped the
penalty.
Accept this now, Midna. I pass it to you..."
Holding onto Midna's hands, Princess Zelda began to glow.
Midna looked worriedly up at her.
"No! Link! STOP HER!"
But she was too late. Slowly, Princess Zelda faded out of existence as she gave her powers to the Twilight Imp.
Turning to the wolves, she had a determined look in her eye.
"We go back, Link! Back to Faron Woods!
Zelda... I've taken all that you had to give...though I did not want it."
Leaping onto his back, she transported them to Faron Woods.