How Zelda Got Her Groove Back

by ZeldaRubix

Seven years after the events of Twilight Princess, Zelda is now queen. However, there are still unsettled matters regarding herself, the Hero of Twilight, and Queen Midna. Zelda embarks on a journey to right the wrongs of the past with the help of an old friend. T-16 for language, action, and adult situations. THIS IS THE REEDIT.

20. Chapter 20

Inspiration: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (particularly Ghirahim's famous line), time compression; multiverse theory, Dirac seas ('Faroric' Seas in this story lol), Yiddish for the Twili language, and the Liturgical word: ira (wrath).

Original Shout Out: CookieYamiAiri (I'm sorry I didn't give you a shout out sooner lol), Nikki, Jenny, LoZ Fan, Averan Skybane (thank you so much for your kind words... really), Markky, Blurg, Max, Scramb1ed, Katia0203, CharmlessUnicorn, Nodoubttakenotice, Zelink-fevah-3, thanks for reading new readers.

New Shout Outs: RandomButLoved, KuramaFTW, SwilliamX thanks for reading and reviewing.

Author's Note: I'm sorry for the long wait, but the 20's are my problem chapters, I have a lot of reediting to do for them. So it will take some time to get all of them done. My take on the villain is very, very dark. I am not going to make him flamboyant because I honestly think his depravity is much deeper than that. Don't worry, I'm going to keep him true to who he is, but he isn't going to be lighthearted by any means. ~ZR~

Word Count: 18,341

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Chapter 20

Link and I froze when this creature, this Ghirahim, finished uttering his name. When I saw Hylia still in his capture, I felt an intense feeling of guilt overtake me. I was still in disbelief that all this time she was the ninja giving chase to us, she was the one trying so desperately to stop us... but why? I stared at her bruised and bloodied countenance, realizing I had beaten her within an inch of her existence. This was beyond bizarre, it was down right nonsensical, and I sensed the explanation would give her actions due credence, but that was after she was relinquished from this demonic looking creature's capture. Link stayed in his battle stance stationed in front of me, when Ghirahim slowly walked towards us from the other side of the chasm. At the center, where the sword had once been, Ghirahim stopped his advance and smiled at the both of us. Hylia was still squirming in his grip.

"I'm going to ask you again," he said very quietly, almost at a whisper, "who put the mirror together?"

His voice was beyond sonorous, it was so deep and brooding it didn't even seem terrestrial, but then again neither did he. Link nor I answered his question and our lack of propriety seemed to test his patience. His stared the both of us down with baleful black eyes, they were soulless and menacing. I had never seen such eyes.

"Since neither one of you seems to want to answer my question," Ghirahim began, "you're going to leave me no choice but to kill Hylia right in front of you."

My eyes widened at his words, and I immediately left the safety of Link's side and hurried to where Ghirahim was standing in the center of the room. Link looked after me like I was insane.

"Zelda!" he called in a slight panic. "Don't!"

Even still, I ignored the hero and stopped short of a few feet of the creature. Afterwards, I clasped my hands together, dropped to my knees, and looked desperately at the goddess.

"Please!" I begged, which probably wasn't going to make much difference to this creature. "I put the mirror back together!" my voice was trembling. "Let her go! She has nothing to do with any of this! Just don't hurt her!"

Ghirahim looked at my supplicating stance and manner and appeared stoic. It was probably the last gesture he was expecting from me. Slowly however, as he kept staring at me, a small smile crept his lips, but it wasn't a usual smile of happenstance, his eyes had a very apparent look of desire in them. It frightened me to no end, and he took another step forward.

"You?" he asked with seductive subtlety.

I hesitated in answering as I looked between Hylia and Ghirahim with open anxiety now. However, I knew I had initiated my stance and I couldn't back from it. I got back up on my feet and took several steps back though to garner more space between us. This creature's presence was overwhelming.

"Yes," I said, "now please let her go!"

Ghirahim took another step forward and stared at me for a long time, before licking his lips very slowly in a very supple manner. His gaze sent a shiver down my body, it made me wrap my arms around my body.

Why is he staring at me like that? I wondered, already knowing the answer.

The creature gave me a long once over.

"You really are a work of art, aren't you?" he said to me all of a sudden, not bothering to hide the sexual overtones in his voice. "I can't wait to get you alone... in dark room... strip you of all your defenses... and find out what truly terrifies you... then, and only then, will I make all your worst fears come true."

I took several steps back involuntarily and looked at him dumbstruck.

"What?" I whispered.

Link had heard enough and sprung to my aide from the other side of the chasm. He ran to where I was and stood back in front of me, he had his broadsword ready to fight the creature. He turned his head slightly and gave me a stern look.

"Don't you ever leave my side to engage him again, do you understand me?!" Link snapped, then turned his attention back to Ghirahim. "You won't touch her! You're not doing a thing to her you twisted deviant! You're going back to whe-"

The creature sneered at the hero.

"Another nuisance," Ghirahim interrupted him, "it's no matter, you're nothing without the Master Sword."

Link narrowed his eyes at him.

"Why don't you put the woman down and find out?" he challenged.

Ghirahim grunted in amusement.

"Don't make me laugh boy," he replied, "you'd be dead in an instant, and be grateful I'm feeling so generous, I don't feel like killing anyone in the moment."

It was then Hylia wriggled her restrained neck to Link's and my direction to look at us, she was struggling a great deal with Ghirahim's grip. Even still, she was able to croak out an utterance.

"Don't believe him for an instant," she said to Link, "he isn't as powerful as he thinks he is. He's merely a shadow of his former self. He can't kill you because he isn't at full strength yet. He knows that the spirit and courage of the hero who possesses the Triforce is too much for him to overcome. In his current state he can be defeated without the aide of Master Sword! He isn't-"

Before she could finish, Ghirahim turned her around to face him and slapped her hard in the mouth, a slight spray of blood sprinkling the air was evidence of his abuse.

"Shut up!" he screamed at her. "Your incessant word vomiting isn't going to add an inch to your life!"

Hylia merely stared back at him as blood oozed from her open lips.

"You don't scare me," she whispered, "I've dealt with you before. If you had all your power, I would already be dead."

I looked at the mortalized goddess stunned, and swallowed hard at Hylia's words.

Dead… I thought in disbelief, I couldn't imagine Hylia dead.

Ghirahim narrowed his eyes at the goddess and suddenly threw her already beaten body back into the ground in a moment of unrestrained anger. Apparently there was truth behind what she was saying, because in no way did he attempt to rebut it.

"Well then, I'm just going to have to get to full strength, won't I?" Ghirahim said more to himself than anyone.

Hylia remained immobile for a few moments before turning her head to look up at him. She was breathing hard and attempted to wipe the blood percolating from her lips away. I had had enough of just standing there watching her suffer. I wanted to help her, knowing part of the reason she was even going through any of this was because of me. I knew Link wouldn't approve, but I left his company again to tend to the wounded goddess. He groaned disapprovingly at my departure, but made no attempt to stop me, the hero's eyes were locked on Ghirahim's. The creature apparently was going to use this opportunity to make his departure, it seemed that Link and I were privy to too much information in the way of his weakened physical state.

Link took his battle stance in front of him when Ghirahim started for the mirror. The creature was not amused.

"Move," he said to the hero, losing all of the subtle arrogance he had in his voice, it was replaced with anger, "I have an appointment in the world of twilight."

Link scoffed and stood his ground.

"You're not going anywh-" he couldn't finish.

Ghirahim suddenly held up his hand and shot out another sonic wave pulsar that sent Link flying backwards across the room. I looked after him shocked.

"My goddess!" I gasped and covered my mouth. I placed Hylia's head down gently on the dirt and scrambled to my feet to see about Link. "Link! Link are you alright?!"

Ghirahim and I watched as Link's body slammed back first into a wall, afterwards the hero slumped to the floor and didn't move. I was mortified and hurried over to him. I dropped to my knees and quickly cradled his head immediately.

"Link!" I was practically screaming. "Link! Please, wake up!"

He was slow about responding, but he did open his eyes and wince slightly in pain.

"I'm... I'm okay," he managed to say through a labored breath.

I immediately hugged him tight, but I knew now wasn't the time for affection. Ghirahim groaned slightly in disgust at the display.

"You're beginning to annoy me," he said seriously to the both of us and started walking in our direction, "do you have any idea how that makes me feel inside?" he demanded.

Suddenly there were these slight reverberations oscillating around him. They looked like orange and black electrical currents. Link was breathing hard, but he still managed to sit up and almost force me behind him.

"If he tries anything, I want you to run, get the other woman, and get out of here," he mandated to me, "I'll hold him off until you're clear."

However, I shook my head no.

"I'm not leaving you," I said determined.

The hero shook his head at my rebuttal.

"You have to," he tried to reason, "it's the only way to get you out of here safely."

Even still, I wasn't trying to hear that.

"I'm not going to leave you here for him to kill you!" I replied. "It's not happening Link!"

Link looked at me angrily just then.

"You're the queen!" he said with a slightly raised voice. "You will do it! You need to think about the kingdom! The people need you!"

My throat tightened.

"Link I-" I tried.

"This isn't a time for negotiations!" he interrupted. "If the time comes, you will do it, do you understand me?!"

Before I had a chance to reply, the reverberations from Ghirahim became greater. The monster was making his way towards us, and Link pushed me farther behind him.

"When you see a break in his defenses, I want you to run," he whispered to me, keeping his eyes on the monster.

I, however, felt frozen.

Ghirahim took another step towards us and the earth suddenly began to shake.

What in the blazes? I thought, cutting myself short.

Without a warning or beckoning from me, I suddenly felt Link's arm suddenly on my back and shoving me in the opposite direction.

"Run Zelda!" he ordered and pushed me from behind him to get me moving. "Go now!"

He then attempted to stand up against the pressure gradient to ward off Ghirahim's attack. I in turn fell forward onto my knees due to my lack of balance, but then scrambled to my feet and hurried as quickly as I could away from the hero back to Hylia in the center of the chasm. I wasted no time picking her up and placing one of her arms around my shoulders. However, as we started for the escalator, I couldn't bring myself to move forward and just leave. I turned the both of us around momentarily to see what was becoming of Link. The hero had somehow managed to pull out his broadsword and have it out in front of him acting as a guard, but I could tell from the way he was standing that he was suffering from several broken ribs, and possible internal bleeding. His slow but labored breathing was evidence of that. It was hurting him greatly just standing there like he was, and Ghirahim was closing in on him to take advantage of his weakened state. The tremors in the room grew, and Hylia and I both stumbled to the ground from the impact.

The creature then started speaking again.

"It makes me feel furious," the monster said finally, now well within Link's personal space.

The hero's sword was being pushed aside by the pressure gradient. My heart was beating a million beats per second as I watched. Even still, Link didn't flinch.

"Does it?" he taunted.

Afterwards, the room suddenly darkened. I looked around the vault and held Hylia closer.

What is all this? I thought. What the hell is happening now?

My inquiries were going to be left unanswered.

"Outraged!" Ghirahim continued, and picked the hero up with one hand and held him up against the wall.

Link's painful breathing increased, and I could tell he was braving it due to his own extraordinary will, but he didn't show one ounce of fear. He just stared the demonic foe down with his steely blue eyes. I was starting to realize something in all this, the pressure exerted on Link's chest was going to kill him if the oscillations didn't abate soon. I was sure that was Ghirahim's plan since he apparently didn't have his full power to completely overwhelm him. I couldn't just let that happen.

I have to do something! I thought, looking for something to distract the monster with.

Even so, the creature didn't let up.

"Sick with anger!" Ghirahim finished, and another pulsar released from his body.

This time, Link felt the full impact of that.

"Ahhhh!" he groaned, not being able to keep that inside.

It was then Hylia lifted her weary head and stared over at the hero when she heard Link's cries of pain echo throughout the chasm. She offered some immediate advice.

"H-hit... the monster with a stick," she managed to say breathlessly.

I looked at her perplexed for a moment, she couldn't have been serious. What was a stick going to do?

"What?" I replied.

Hylia then got impatient with me, reached up, grabbed my collar, and yanked my face down towards hers.

"Throw something at the son of a bitch!" she growled bluntly. "A stick, a rock, an arrow, throw something at him! Don't just stand here! He's going to kill your hero!"

I looked at her stunned at her blunt speech, but immediately realized she was right, nodded, and did as she stated after quickly letting her go. A few yards away was a large enough rock to make an impact without it being too heavy to lift. I hurried to fetch it, and then went back towards Ghirahim and Link at the other side of the chasm. Link saw me approach again from behind the creature and couldn't have looked more displeased, but he didn't utter a word. I crept up as close as I could and waited for a break in the reverberations. When I saw a pause in the reverb, it was then that even Link saw the need to provide me with a brief distraction.

The hero cut his eyes back to the creature and he took in a deep labored breath.

"Sick with anger huh? he repeated with open defiance. "Well, so what?"

Ghirahim grinned at the hero's words.

"Yes…" he trailed in a low growl, "so… what…" the smile suddenly left his face, "you really do have the same spirit as that annoying little retch I dealt with a thousand years ago," he said, "I hated that insolent piece of filth," he continued, "you make me want to use the attribute laced in my name, ira, on you you foolish boy," he divulged, "why do you think I'm called Ghirahim?"

Link scoffed and shook his head.

"I don't care why the hell you're called Ghirahim!" he replied.

Ghirahim smiled at Link again and nodded.

"You will," he threatened, "and if you don't die soon, when I get back to full strength I'm going to kill you… slowly," he divulged, seguing the subject, "anger and wrath are my cardinal attributes, the other six are merely byproducts of my essence."

Link suddenly looked at him confused, as if being thrown off by the new information.

"What?" he demanded. "What other six? What the hell are you talking about?"

It was then I realized Link was still very much in the dark about what Hylia revealed to me.

That's right, I thought, he still doesn't know.

I knew then that that was my cue, and I threw the rock at the back of Ghirahim's head with all my might. The small boulder hit him right on target, and the sudden rush of oscillating vibrations from him halted. Ghirahim was forced to release Link as he stumbled and lost his grip. The monster turned immediately and looked at me with open rage, but he didn't advance right away. I took several steps back as the demonic creature just stared at me. I trembled and finally stood my ground, but saw no instant way out, what was done was done now. After his brief pause, he stalked towards me, but then halted himself again as his own breathing accelerated. He stared at me again for what seemed like an eternity, before he suddenly opened his mouth and protruded his long obscene looking tongue out of it in a grotesque and very oblong manner. The appendage stretched until it touched his collar bone, which afterwards he twirled in a circular motion for some odd reason. I couldn't hide the repulsion and aghast feeling he was producing within me. I looked at him truly horrified.

Oh my goddess! I thought.

He took another step forward.

"I promise you... I promise you that one of these days I'm going to get you alone in a dark room and have my way with you with just my tongue," he threatened, "that exquisite body of yours is going to be left broken and violated, and only after I've terrified you within an inch of your life will I kill you" he said to me with open perversion. "Think about it… you all alone with me, where no one could hear your screams of pain… while I'm ripping your insides to shreds with nothing but my oral appendage. I rather enjoy causing pain to you women of light."

His words nearly induced vomit from me, I stepped back more and didn't reply.

Ghirahim just continued to stare at me.

"You know... I think might actually like it," he said to me continuing boldly, "what did your hero tell you before?" he asked, pretending not to know. "You were starved for affection. You won't have to worry about that, I'll give you plenty of affection your majesty."

I felt my eyes widen.

How in the world did he know that?

It didn't matter, Link had heard enough and was getting more and more heated with every perverse promise coming out of Ghirahim's mouth. He was getting so riled up, that he got up off the floor and unsheathed his sword once again, ready to charge at Ghirahim without thinking about the consequence of such an action. I looked beyond the monster at the hero, hoping he wasn't going to do what I thought he was going to do.

Just stay down Link, I begged silently.

"You won't touch her you twisted son of a bitch!" Link retorted, and then suddenly went to lunge at him with last little ounce of strength he had.

It was as I feared, and during the hero's attempted mid-aerial assault, Ghirahim raised his hand again and abated Link's attack with another pulsar. The aftereffects once again sent Link flying in the opposite direction. I covered my mouth and my eyes widened in horror as he landed even harder than before, and this time I heard the sickening crunch of the break that took place.

"Link!" I cried out to him in panic and hurried towards him.

The hero landed hard against the wall and slumped back to the floor. This time he stayed down. I tried to hurry back over to help him, but during my approach Ghirahim stepped in my path. I stopped short when I saw his eyes were of those of a raging lunatic. He stared me down like I was a brothel girl at a whore house, he walked towards me and licked his lips again.

"Now I know why he wants you so badly," he said cryptically, more to himself than to me, "you're absolutely captivating."

I assumed he was talking about Link. I swallowed hard and suddenly stepped back.

"And you're a perverted deviant," I shot back.

Ghirahim nodded, completely agreeing with my description of him, he smiled in a strange enigmatic sort of way.

"Yes, I am," he whispered to me, "and you and I will have our time. I can't wait to show you how true that statement is."

I took another step back at his words, but it was evident he didn't intend to make good on his promise now. He obviously wasn't at the power score that he wanted to be. The creature looked me over one last time.

"Until we meet again," he said with a slight bow, then turned and hurried for the mirror.

Link, Hylia, and I watched with our bodies frozen as Ghirahim wasted no time stalking towards the mirror and walking through it to the other side. His body disappeared in a haze of diffracted fractals and pixelated sequences. He had done all that to stall for his escape. I stood staring after him for a moment, but then shook my head when I realized both Link and Hylia were still hurt. Since she was the closest to me, I went to help Hylia first, but she immediately fanned me off.

"Go see about Link," she said with a troubled sigh, "I'm fine."

Seeing no point in fighting her, I nodded at her request and hurried back over to him. I dropped down to my knees and helped Link sit up, he winced a little in pain.

"That bastard broke a few of my ribs," he moaned, closing his eyes briefly, but then nodded toward his bag at his side, "I have a blue potion in there, get it out for me and give it to me, will you?"

I nodded and promptly obeyed the request. I rummaged through his bag, pulled out the potion in question, and gave it to him. A few moments later, Link's general vitality returned to him, he already looked much better. Afterwards, I helped him to his feet, but his gaze was fixed on the mirror.

"We have to go after him and stop him," he said, "there's no telling what kind of havoc he will wreak in the Twilight Realm. Midna has no idea what's coming her way."

I understood his reasoning all too well, but before we proceeded I knew we needed to speak to Hylia regarding this matter. There was so much that was still up in the air, and there were so many things Link still didn't know. The only good thing about this situation was that Ghirahim by his own admission was not yet back to full strength. However, that still didn't mean he didn't have the power to cause a serious commotion. I was aware we were going to need to allay this information from the goddess quickly.

"I understand that," I replied, "but we must see about Hylia before we do."

From the look on Link's face, it was almost as if he had forgotten she was even there. He looked past me to the goddess sitting on a rock and suddenly changed his whole disposition. He took hold of my hand and hurried back towards her in the middle of the chasm. We approached her with open concern, while she in turn was sitting up looking openly upset. The hero gave her a quick once over.

"Are you alright?" Link asked her.

Hylia nodded, sighed, then snapped her fingers to change from her ninja gear to her normal wears of a white gown. The brown streak of hair found prominently in the front of her tresses was no longer there and was replaced with her normal golden colored locks all over.

"I'm fine," she groaned slightly.

Link looked at her in complete surprise.

"How did you do that?" he asked.

Hylia grunted and for the moment his question went unanswered. I took another step forward towards her, not at all convinced of her statement.

"Are you sure?" I asked, wanting a reassurance. "You look like you've sustained some pretty bad injuries."

For some odd reason Hylia gave me a dirty look, then snapped her fingers again, and instantly her bruised and tattered appearance was replaced with her customary perfect fair complexion. There was not a blemish or a bruise in sight. I knew it shouldn't have been a surprise to me, but I couldn't believe how quickly she turned her appearance around. There was not one shred of evidence that she had ever been in a fight, but what was to be expected of a goddess?

"Is that better?" she asked me with open sarcasm. "You keep forgetting I'm built a little bit differently than you Hylians."

I stared at her mildly dumbstruck regarding her attitude, and Link too showed to be a little on guard due to her general disposition. I was well aware of her frustration, but there was no way she was going to come off as the self righteous one when she was the primary instigator of this situation. She had plenty to answer for regarding her deceit, and there was no way she was going to slide her way out of an explanation this time. However, before any interrogation could begin, Link came to my immediate defense.

"She was only inquiring about your health," he stated, "there's no need to be snide. You were on our tail."

Hylia rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"No kidding pretty boy," she said to him dryly, "why don't you tell me what else I was up to while you're at it? Why weren't you given the award for Hyrule's smartest citizen?"

Link stared at her in minor disbelief.

"Pretty boy?" he repeated, and understandably got a little upset at Hylia's attitude. "If you hadn't-"

I realized I was going to have to be the mediator here and sighed, knowing nothing was going to come of arguing.

"Link," I interrupted, before things went too far, "I think I should explain what's going on here before you get any more confused."

The hero looked over at me visibly frustrated.

"Did you hear what she just said?" he demanded. "I could understand if we were being unreasonable or disrespectful, but nothing of the kind has taken place."

I simply nodded and squeezed his hand affectionately.

"I know, but there's more here than what meets the eye," I explained.

He shook his head mildly confused.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

I took in a deep breath and looked over at Hylia again.

"This woman isn't just anybody," I started, "this is Hylia, the great goddess of Hyrule."

Link looked at me taken aback for a second, then turned his attention back to the goddess. He gave her a quick once over like he needed to hear what I said a second time.

"What?" he asked surprised.

I knew it was hard to believe considering her overall disposition, but it was true.

"It's true," I reiterated, "she's the goddess of Hyrule."

The hero stared at her again and his pan of vision widened to open disbelief.

"Are you serious?" he inquired again.

I nodded.

"Without a doubt," I said.

The hero now stared at the incarnated divinity in awe.

"Incredible," he whispered to himself more so than anyone else, "I thought she was just named after the goddess," he said more audibly, then asked Hylia directly, "you're the goddess of Hyrule?"

True to her nonchalant fashion, she shrugged.

"Yeah kid," she said to him, "that's me."

I shook my head, wishing she'd take her position in life a little more seriously.

"Yes, this is she," I went on, "I prayed to her at the onset of this quest, and she's the reason I decided to come to you and reunite you with your beloved friend Midna."

Hylia rolled her eyes again when I mentioned the twilight queen's name.

"Which I'm completely against by the way," Hylia interjected dryly, "why invite more drama in your life when you don't need to?"

The hero looked at the goddess surprised with her continued blunt speech.

"Excuse me?" he asked, surprised at her unorthodox candor.

I merely closed my eyes, already too familiar with her brash sassiness, poor Link was caught completely unawares.

Hylia gave him an obvious stare.

"I didn't stutter," she replied, "why are either of you willing to tempt yourselves?"

I didn't want to get into that right now, we had more pressing matters. However, Link was already beguiled and baited by the inquiry.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "It's not temptation if a person wants to set things straight. I happen to-"

"-Be foolish if you think that you're not tempting yourself," the goddess interrupted, "what do you think is going to happen when you see Midna again? You think everything is going to be sunshine and rainbows?"

I looked at her stunned, hardly expecting her to be to so forward so quickly, but this was Hylia I was talking about here.

"Ancestral mother, I hardly think that's a fair assessment," I said, "you can't just-"

She groaned and cut me off.

"You weren't saying that this morning at Lake Hylia," she interrupted again, "you stated how you thought it was the right thing to do to have Link see if his heart were truly ratified towards Midna before he could have a future with you. That kind of thinking is just stupid!"

I felt my mouth drop as I didn't know what to say to that, and Link's displeasure seemed to deepen.

"Why are you insulting her?" he demanded of the goddess.

Hylia groaned and looked away without answering.

"Link... please don't take in personally," I said with a sigh, "she's just naturally brash."

"That isn't an excuse Zelda," he replied.

Hylia rolled her eyes and shook her head. Link gave her another long once over.

"Are you absolutely sure this woman is the goddess of Hyrule?" he asked with a blatant kind of disrespect. "She seems..."

He didn't allow himself to finish due to his own inherent caution, however Hylia didn't even feel dismayed by his lack of propriety. In fact, she placed her hands on her hips and grinned at him for it.

"I seem like what?" she challenged. "Charming? Gorgeous? Witty? What?"

Link raised his brows at her adjectives.

"You're just... different from what I was expecting," he replied, "I thought the position would construct a whole different mind set and attitude."

Hylia scoffed.

"So you in other words, you thought I'd be more serious, less spontaneous, and a stick in the mud?" she stated bluntly. "Sorry kid, that ain't me."

I couldn't say Link didn't have a point with his assumptions, because when I first met her she threw me for a loop with her general disposition as well. However, after coming to terms with who she was, I found that she was much easier to talk to because of her rather unorthodox manner of divinity. In time I knew Link would see that too, he was just seriously put off with her attitude in the here and now considering everything that just transpired. Hylia should have been showing a little more considerateness regarding the hero's general ignorance about this situation as well.

"I know it's a lot to take in right away, and initially I felt the same as you do," I stated, finally speaking up, "but once you get to know her, you'll realize she only has our best interests at heart."

Link grunted at my last saying cynically, and turned to look at me.

"Our best interests at heart?" he repeated. "Is that what you call what she was doing while she was chasing us around like a psychopathic person these last few weeks?" he inquired boldly. "That hardly seemed like the case to me."

I felt my eyes widen at his utterance and I stared at him stunned. Hylia merely raised a brow, she wasn't going to let that slide.

"If you had any reservations about what was going on, why didn't you say anything?" the goddess asked the hero. "Or were you purposely being dense?"

Now I looked over at her surprised. This was not going well and it was degenerating quickly, Link narrowed his eyes at her as he spoke up again.

"I wasn't being dense about anything," he rebutted, "I just find it very aggravating that you think this is all amusing and can be so cavalier, when on several different occasions you tried to have Zelda and myself killed by your deranged alter ego," Link said upset. "Now you want to sit up here and insult my intelligence, when Zelda just revealed to me that you're the reason we were told to go after the mirror in the first place?"

I saw the look Hylia was now giving Link and I knew I needed to intercede before it devolved further. This was only going to make our current situation worse.

"Will you two stop," I said, "I know there are a lot of things right now that don't make any sense, but us sitting here going at each other's throats is not going to make any of what happened any better. We need to calm down, think, and collaborate on what to do next. That's going to take effort from all of us, now isn't the time for us to go against each other. We can talk about personality traits and all that other nonsense later. Right now our specific goal should be to find out why that monster was unlocked when the mirror was put back together. That is the most important bit of information we need right now."

I was met with a bit of silence after my short speech, but it seemed my change in subject and direct rhetoric had the added effect it needed. Link took in a deep sigh and looked away, while Hylia directed her gaze back to me and stared at me for a moment. It sincerely felt like my current role was to separate two warring petulant children. Even so, the goddess knew the person who had the most explaining to do was her. She had been inexplicably suspicious for weeks now without any thought, question, or rhyme or reason for the individuals around her, and it was high time she explained herself. By all rights and purposes, I could completely and justifiably understand Link's current frustration, but that in no way excused his disrespectful nature towards Hylia. He needed to learn to control his irritations when he addressed the goddess, even when he felt justified in doing so, otherwise we were going to get nowhere. However, I think he was just annoyed that he had been in the dark this entire time, and frankly, was still in the dark even now. He still had no idea what was truly going on. It was then I intended to remedy that and took a step forward while letting Link's hand go.

"Ancestral mother," I started, "you must be honest now with what you're withholding from us. Had I known such a horrible occurrence would have taken place, I never would have put that mirror back together." I looked her straight in the eyes just then. "Why didn't you tell me about this creature Ghirahim before now? Why would you have me even go after the shards when you knew the outcome would be so dangerous?"

At hearing that, Link turned his attention back to the goddess as we both did, and Hylia simply paused for a moment and stared between the two of us. The silence that follow was long and steep. I raised a brow when it prolonged for longer than what I thought it should. Every second we delayed that monster was potentially wreaking havoc in the world of twilight.

"Hylia?" I inquired after a few moments.

The goddess took in a deep sigh, looked me over briefly, and finally decided to come forward with what she was hiding. There was no more pressing time than the present.

"I've... I've known about Ghirahim being trapped in that mirror for some time," she divulged, "the problem was as the goddess of Hyrule my time here in the kingdom was over and it wasn't my place to forewarn you about it. If I did, it would have caused more harm than good. Simply put: it is forbidden for the goddess to get intertwined with Hylian affairs. My interference would have caused a disturbance so great in the natural order of things, it would have possibly destroyed the kingdom. So, to rectify that little problem, I had you go find the shards for me so I wouldn't technically be doing it myself."

After hearing that, I stared at her completely befuddled.

"Why didn't you just tell me this from the beginning?" I asked, shaking my head. "I would have just collected them for you with no questions asked."

The goddess rubbed the back of her neck and nodded waywardly.

"I understand your position, but the truth be told, I couldn't tell you," she disclosed, "as I stated before my divulging that to you would have interfered with the natural balance of free will established by the goddesses along with myself."

Link raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest and decided to chime in.

"So you trick her into doing it instead?" he accused. "That's very noble."

I closed my eyes at his loose tongue and wished he would be quiet if he wasn't going to add anything to the conversation. I turned my attention back to the hero.

"Link!" I said slightly annoyed. "Will you stop it?!"

However, Hylia simply shrugged, not at all offended.

"No, it's alright," she stated, "in a way he's right, I did trick you, but I had to. I knew you wouldn't leave the kingdom under any other circumstances if I didn't. I had to make my proposition sound alluring." She paused for a moment and looked between the both of us again. "Besides, I wanted an excuse for you two kids to get together. I've been rooting for you guys for years now."

I looked at her taken aback. That caught both Link and I off guard, and I knew my cheeks were glowing red because of it. There was a brief silence between the three of us after that.

"Uh..." I trailed finally, not knowing what to say.

Hylia fanned off my discomfiture.

"Don't feel embarrassed about it," she said, "it's perfectly normal for two people to meet, grow, and fall in love. For whatever reason you two seemed to have taken a lot longer than most."

After hearing her say that, Link looked over at me and gazed at me lovingly. All I could do in return was stare at the ground. I didn't know why I was suddenly so uncomfortable.

"Well," he said softly to me, "at least she got one assumption right."

I rolled my eyes and looked away, knowing I was still flushed, and I saw Hylia smirking at me from the bridge of my eye.

"Will you stop being so coy about a man who apparently loves you very much?" she asked in a very judicious way. "You're so silly Zelda."

I groaned, and that was the catalyst that finally got Link to crack a small smile during this conversation.

"I keep telling her that," he said to Hylia, taking my hand in his once more, "but she won't believe me."

I swallowed hard and continued to look away. There was another brief pause between the three of us. I didn't want to discuss this right now, there was still so much embroiled in what was going on. Sure, everything looked black and white currently, but that was because there was no real test to go by. I was certain sooner or later Link and I were going to hit some conflicting shades of grey... wait until we got to the Twilight Realm and he saw his beloved Midna again. That would determine if our love was real or not. I wasn't going to divulge this to either one of them due to the swift chastisement I knew I would receive, but I wasn't willing to give my heart completely to the hero like in the past until I knew we were both being completely honest with each other.

I gave minor evidence of that with what I uttered next.

"I... I just want you to be sure Link," I said finally.

After hearing me say that, Link took hold of my shoulders and turned me to face him just then. His eyes searched my face with a serious expression, and when I wouldn't meet his gaze, he lifted my chin to force me.

"I am sure Zelda," he said, "I'm very sure."

I blushed more and still wouldn't look at him, Hylia just grinned at the interaction and shook her head.

"It can't be helped pretty boy, she's too stubborn," she said to Link, "sometimes to her detriment."

She wasn't helping, but she was definitely right, however I wasn't going to openly admit that here and now. Instead, I remained quiet and wished desperately that one of them would change the subject. I was already nervous about the new found stance of Link's and my relationship, I didn't want to make grand declarations because I was afraid they would fail. Hylia took note of the look in my eyes and decided to do the favor for me and speak on something else.

"Anyway," the goddess segued, "getting back to what we were discussing before, I know I said this disguised as Sheik, but it was never my intention for either of you to find all of the shards and then reassemble the mirror."

Relieved that the other subject was temporarily put to rest, I suddenly looked over at the goddess, still not completely having a clear understanding of what was going on.

"Then I don't get your reasoning," I replied, "this was a foolhardy quest."

Hylia raised her eyebrows, sighed, and shrugged.

"That may be true in your eyes, but it was necessary," she said, "I had to get Ghirahim."

Link suddenly took a step forward.

"There's something about that I still don't understand," he said, "if your only desire was to find and trap Ghirahim, why did you decide to dress like a ninja and pursue us at all? You said it yourself you couldn't tell Zelda everything due to your own oath, so why not let us find the shards, relinquish them to you, and go about our lives? Why chase us in a maddening manner when all she was trying to do was go by your suggestion to go after the shards?"

I didn't say anything right away, but Link had some very good points, with one Hyila suggested to me only this morning. The goddess looked between the hero and I for a moment and sat straight up.

"You make a very compelling argument my boy, and I don't think I have an answer that is going to be satisfying to you," she said honestly, "but I did what I did hoping to prevent you from pursuing the shards further. My only goal as Sheik was to stop you from getting the shards."

I gave Hylia an odd look just then, not wanting to doubt her, but something in her explanation wasn't sitting too well with me. Whether it was her intention or not, she tried to kill Link and I on more than one occasion. Such actions couldn't simply be a coincidence. I was going to inquire on that, but Link interceded first.

"Then why did you try to kill us?" he asked. "Say what you will about prevention, but you nearly took both our lives at Zora's Domain and the City in the Sky."

Hylia stared at the hero for just a moment.

"I know it seems far fetched because of my actions," Hylia went on, "but I had no intention of killing either one of you."

I raised a brow cynically just then.

"Then why did you take it so far?" I couldn't help but ask. "You stabbed Link, and you choked me out repeatedly. In Zora's Domain I nearly died of poison from your shiruken."

Hylia sighed knowing her actions were both confusing and irrevocable at the same time.

"At Zora's Domain my hope was to terrify you so badly, you wouldn't go for the last shard," she stated, "it was then I realized I made a big mistake in having you do this. When I saw how much success you were having so quickly, how determined you were to solve the puzzles, and how intrigued you were with what you were finding, I panicked. The shards influence was was becoming greater with each passing day. That was why I was so hell bent on you telling Link how you felt about him, stopping this quest, and why I never bothered to see you when you two were living together with Ashei."

Link looked at her taken aback abruptly.

"The influence of the shards?" he repeated confused. "What are you talking about?"

Hylia raised a brow, but then nodded.

"That's right, I'd forgotten you don't know what I'm speaking of," she stated, "the shards exert a powerful influence because they have these embedded attributes in them. Evidence of those attributes were seen in the fiery colored words that appeared on the mirror. Those words coincided with the seven deadly sins of the arbiter's kiss, Ghirahim. It was why he was able to overcome you so easily as of now. Those attributes were manifested in certain behavior sets you were both prone to acting on. Yours happened to be anger Link, anger from the past, anger from the present, anger from your own misgivings, that was why after each shard was found you may have had a stronger impulse to anger than before."

The hero's eyes widened in complete disbelief.

"I can't believe it," he whispered.

Hylia nodded.

"Believe it because it's true," she said, she stroked her golden blonde hair behind her ears and focused her attention back on me before she continued. "When I saw how easily you were solving the riddles, I was determined to get the last shard from Prince Elbourne myself, hoping that would be enough of a factor to deter you, but it wasn't," she said with a sigh, "I made the reference of fighting you only Zelda to frighten you." She looked down. "I know it was wrong and cruel of me, but I really had no choice. I knew once that mirror was assembled Ghirahim was going to awaken and try to revive his master, the true Arbiter. The thing is... all of this happening now is my fault." She bit her lower lip. "I should have thought of another way to capture the shards and stop Ghirahim, I never should have had you do this. That was why I came at you so strong when you got here, but I wasn't expecting you to whip my behind so easily."

I felt terrible when she put it that way.

"Ancestral mother..." I trailed.

There was another brief silence between the three of us, but Link's puzzling gaze afforded the assumption he was going to break it. In fact, that preemptive assumption was correct as he took another step forward and gave the goddess a matter-of-fact stare.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way," he started, which wasn't a good sign, "but with you having the power of the divine, why were you defeated so easily? You're the goddess of Hyrule. How can an ancestral daughter beat you when you are the ultimate divinity?"

Hylia grinned at his question, obviously already having expecting it.

"I can understand your confusion, but there is a legitimate reason for it," she started, "it goes like this, years ago I fought the surface hordes with an army of Gorons, Parella, and Mogma," she explained, "during that time I had complete and absolute power, no one could stand against me. However, after the battle for the surface was determined, and I sent the Hylian people skyward, I created the Triforce and expended most of my power into it," she explained. "At that point I was equal to the other goddesses Farore, Din, and Nayru. When they came along, they expended their energies on the surface, making the land have more governance. They also all reinforced the Triforce I had already created, making it one hundred times more powerful than when I solely had parsonage over it," she said. "In short, when I became a Hylian I lost most of my power as the goddess, and when I went back to my goddess form, I was strong, but not the ultimate goddess I once was," she paused for a moment. "The Triforce is now the ultimate power source because it has the essence and the wisdom of all the goddesses, not just me. Even divided it is stronger than when I was the goddess incarnate before," she divulged, "and as such, Link your courage was always able to match toe to toe with my skills as Sheik." She shook her head and shrugged. "The only reason I gave you that bracelet Zelda was to give you the fighting skills. The power of the Triforce of Wisdom was strong enough for you to defeat me. I knew that. I'd known that for centuries with my bloodline. I knew once you tapped into the true power I was going to be defeated by you."

Link and I listened to Hylia surprised at the revelations. This was hardly anything I was expecting.

"The Triforce is stronger than you?" the hero asking, finding it a little hard to believe.

Hylia nodded.

"It is," she said simply, "why do you think individuals like Ghirahim and Ganondorf want all three pieces so badly? Once the Triforce is reunited the individual who possesses it will have absolute power."

The hero looked at her astounded.

Hylia merely smiled at him.

"You have a great power within you young man," she said, then looked over at me, "both of you."

I couldn't lie, I too was thrown for a loop at all she had revealed. I looked down at the bracelet she had given me and touched it so I transformed back to my true self. My tresses turned back to their original dark brown hues and my dress and cloak reappeared as before. Afterwards, I took the bracelet off my wrist and handed it back to Hylia. I didn't want such power if it meant harming her.

"I can't take this knowing what I almost did to you," I said feeling guilty, "I could've killed you."

Hylia snickered and pushed my open hand back to me.

"I want you to keep that for the future," she said, "you wouldn't have killed me," she divulged, "you would have pummeled me within an inch of my life true, but you wouldn't have killed me. I am still a goddess."

I looked at her surprised, but then nodded at her logic. That was true. Link was still stunned, taking all this in at once was very overwhelming. There was so much to digest.

"What about this Ghirahim character?" he asked. "Who is he? And why is he so powerful?"

Hylia nodded at the inquiries and went on.

"Like I stated before, Ghirahim is a servant of the true Arbiter, Demise," she divulged, "he's Demise's weapon or sword, that's why he was referred to as the 'Arbiter's kiss' in the riddle," she said, "there's a saying in battle that constitutes the 'kiss' of a sword results in a rolling of one's head." She paused for a moment. "Ghirahim has kissed many in battle."

Link was unsettled about hearing all this.

"Then we have to follow after him immediately and warn Midna of what's just happened," he said, "she has no idea what has just been released in her kingdom."

Hylia nodded.

"I agree and we will," she said and stood up.

Link then turned to me and took hold of my shoulders.

"We're going to find him and stop him," he reassured, "I promise."

I just stared at him, knowing this summation would have been more appropriate for Midna instead of me. After all, it was her kingdom the villain just entered, but I needed to stop acting so foolishly. My insecurities were becoming more apparent by the moment.

"I know," I said, then looked away.

Hylia saw that and subtly shook her head, however she didn't say anything. She knew what was suddenly bothering me.

"We should probably get going," she said, changing the subject, "we've wasted enough time with these draw backs."

Link nodded.

"I agree," he said.

I looked over at the rotating mirror and hesitated for a moment. I suddenly felt a very powerful foreboding.

"What do you suppose that creature's after?" I asked rhetorically.

Hylia grunted and gave me an obvious stare.

"What all filth like him are after," she said with simply, "the resurrection of his master and the destruction of Hyrule."

I sighed at hearing that.

"Then why is he going into the Twilight Realm?" I couldn't help but ask. "If his ultimate goal is Hyrule, what concessions does that monster have there? Has he been there before?"

Hylia shook her head, now watching the rotating inverted rotunda within the glass lattice with me.

"I don't know," she said honestly, "but we definitely have no time to waste, like Link stated before, we have to warn Queen Midna about everything that has just transpired. She's ignorant of all this and it could cost innocent Twili lives."

Link, who had been silent momentarily, nodded in agreement and met our gaze with the mirror.

"I... I hope she's alright," he said more to himself than to anyone in particular.

I swallowed hard at the inflection in his voice and forced a smile across my face. I reached over and touched his shoulder.

"She'll be okay," I reassured, "Midna's a tough woman."

After my utterance, I glanced over at Hylia who was giving me the most peculiar stare. I knew what she was thinking, but I wasn't going to address it.

If I have to let go Hylia, then I will let go, I thought.

Her eyes narrowed slightly at me and I knew it was in rebuttal to my thoughts.

There was an awkward silence between all of us, until finally I broke it.

"Shall we get going?" I asked. "We've wasted enough time as it is, as stated before we have to inform Midna."

Link nodded, while Hylia just stared at me for a moment. She didn't say anything but I knew she was disappointed in me. Afterwards, Hylia touched her bracelet and morphed her appearance back to that of Sheik.

"I'm going to travel this way," she said, "I don't want to make the political ramifications anymore convoluted than they already are."

I nodded, seeing the wisdom in such a decision, and I was about to add my own thoughts on the matter, when another male voice interjected all of a sudden before I could.

"It's about to get more convoluted than you think," the voice stated.

My eyes widened suddenly.

I know that voice, I thought.

We all turned and looked up at the overpass to see Elbourne of Dragon Roost peering down at the three of us.

"Oh no," I whispered to myself, "what in the world is he doing here?"

~SSS~

Moments Earlier: Elbourne's POV

There were very few times in life where I was completely and utterly surprised, and this was one of those times. I couldn't believe I had just stumbled upon the 'Sacred Realm' of all secrets: the goddess was incarnated in Hyrule, the Mirrror of Twilight was placed back together, a monster of insane power was just unleashed, and now that said monster was going to cause possible destruction in the Twilight Realm. This was unbelievable, completely and totally unbelievable. I knew there was a reason Zelda was so keen on getting that last shard from me, I just had no idea it would lead to anything remotely as sensational as this. Well... to be frank that wasn't altogether true, I was aware that she was onto something big. I had done my own research and uncovered her unsavory little secret. I knew about her mirror, I just had no idea it would be related to anything remotely as incredible as this. Why was the goddess herself here to exact personal inference on this matter?

I was a scholar and I was very familiar with the tale of the powerful goddess of Hyrule. She had vanquished the dark forces of evil and taken her rightful place back in the heavens after her stint here in the land of mortal Hylians. I thought her destiny was now to rule for an eternity with omnipotence, but it seemed my texts and assumptions were wrong. For the goddess herself to have to come back to Hyrule showed me that this new menace was a lot more dangerous than she was letting on. This menace was already showing a deviation from normal by deflecting into the Twilight Realm, he could possibly try a coup and attempt to wreak havoc in Dragon Roost. Dragon Roost was thriving and on the cusp of an intellectual and industrial explosion, there was no way I could allow the variances of a sick and demonic monster to deter that. My people were in the stage of a sensational boom. It was my duty as crown prince to protect the invested interests of my people. A monster who could change the course of history was an interest to be invested in.

Then, of course, there were the personal concessions of this matter. Zelda, the woman I loved, was allying herself with that useless petulant farm boy... why in the world was he so important to this twilight endeavor? Why was he so important to what was going on in the Twilight Realm? I understood his role when saving the kingdom years ago, but what could he offer now? What did the twilight monarch have to do with him? Why was Zelda subjecting herself to more possible bouts of humiliation? That bastard had broken her heart once, and of she wasn't careful, he was going to do so again. I had overheard their petty talks of love and devotion, it was sickening at best. That peasant didn't love her and I was going to show her once and for all the reasons why. Zelda was going to understand that this was simply a repeat of past transgressions. Linux didn't love her, and he never would, I would make sure of that. It was my duty to intercede when Zelda couldn't do so for herself. There wasn't a noble bone in his vagrant body. I didn't understand how such a brilliant woman could be so naive. Such introspection often left me wondering.

Even still, I knew one thing was for certain, I wasn't going to get the answers to my questions just lying here in wait. I was going to have to make my presence known. The interesting and humorous thing unknown was that Zelda had no idea how useful I could be in this endeavor. If we all traveled together, went to the Twilight Realm, and knew what I could do to help her, she would see what a remarkable ally I could be for her. Afterwards, without wasting another moment, I made myself known to the trio at the chasm below.

"It's about to get more convoluted than you think," I said abruptly, interjecting into their conversation.

The three of them turned and looked at me as I got up and made my descent. They all looked appropriately surprised with the exception of the goddess. That, I could make a reservation for.

~SSS~

Zelda's POV

It was an understatement to say I was shocked to see the dragon prince here.

Link immediately narrowed his eyes at him as he made his way down the escalator.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded.

Elbourne answered true to his innate nature, he scoffed and grinned.

"Besides overhearing your entire conversation, and knowing that the magnificent Hylia is now in Hyrule's presence… nothing," he replied snidely.

The hero groaned at the prince's utterance and suddenly rested his hand at the butt of his sword. This was escalating quickly, and I knew it was up to me to intervene. I got in front of Link and stopped him from taking any further action.

"There's no need for that," I told the hero, then turned my attention to the dragon prince, "Elbourne this is not the time for cheap tricks and silly speeches, we have serious business to attend to in the world of twilight, you must promise not to utter a word to anyone."

Elbourne nodded, but then jumped down from the overpass to the chasm where the rest of us were standing.

"I have no intention of revealing your secret…" he trailed, then stood up and narrowed his eyes slightly, "if you take me with you."

I wasn't surprised at his request, but I was annoyed with it. I closed my eyes and sighed. The last thing I needed was a bloody ultimatum and before I could say anything, Link interjected first.

"Absolutely not!"the hero said forcefully. "You'll only get in the way!"

Elbourne gave Link a snide look.

"Since when do peasants give princes orders?" he asked in a sarcastic fashion.

The impulsive hero then unsheathed his blade.

"Since this peasant saved your pathetic royal behind on several different occasions!" he shot back. "You're not in Dragon Roost now Elbourne. You have no power here."

I then moved quickly to stand between the hero and the dragon prince to prevent the two men from getting into a skirmish. They were both incredibly headstrong and impetuous. I knew if I didn't diffuse this now, a physical altercation was going to be on our hands. Hylia surprisingly stayed back with her arms crossed over her chest, her bandaged wrap and red eyes were studying both men. She looked like she had more insight into this situation than she was willing to give.

"Will the both of you stop it!" I said sternly. "This is ridiculous. The last thing we need is for any of us to start fighting in amongst ourselves when there is such an apt terror on the loose!" I then turned back to the dragon prince. "This isn't a recreational trip Elbourne," I said, "we have to inform the twilight queen of something very serious."

Elbourne looked me straight in my eyes and studied my face for a moment.

"Then I can be of help to you," he said, "I'm excellent with negotiations."

Link groaned and rolled his eyes irritably.

"Give me a break," he muttered, "this is ridiculous."

Elbourne ignored him and kept his attention focused on me.

"It's either I go with you," he said to me, but then turned his gaze to Link, "or I tell everyone where you've gone."

I took in a deep breath, knowing Elbourne wasn't calling a bluff. He could be such a nuisance when he wanted to be. If he said he was going to alert everyone in Hyrule about my present whereabouts he was most certainly not mincing words. I took in a deep breath and shook my head, knowing I had very little to go on.

Why do men have to be so damn stubborn? I wondered.

"Because they are honey," Hylia said in reply to my thoughts in her deep now unisex voice.

I merely raised my brows forgetting for a moment I still had to contend with that.

"Fine," I said to Elbourne, "you can come with us."

Link looked at me incensed.

"Zelda…" he trailed upset.

I turned my attention back to him.

"What choice do we have?" I asked the hero. "Every minute we waste, could be a minute that monster is causing more trouble. We're going to have to make an exception this time and try to get along."

Link was not at all happy with my decision, took in a frustrated breath, and looked away.

Elbourne simply grinned at the hero's irritation.

"Don't fret farm boy," he said, "your precious Twilight Realm is still going to be there."

I raised a brow and gave the dragon prince a peculiar eye with the way he worded that. There was something about his tone that was too auspicious to simply be coincidence. Elbourne locked eyes on me and smirked, then winked to get under Link's skin. I was tempted to let the matter go, but something told me I needed to address his statement now. Without warning, I took hold of his hand and pulled him to the side so he and I could be alone for a moment. I saw the look of surprise and disapproval in both Hylia and Link's face, but I understood Elbourne better than the both of them. We communicated on a much different level of what would be considered regular normalcy with other Hylians. The dragon prince even seemed surprised at my actions.

"Well, well, well," he said in a low voice, "I wasn't expecting all this."

I ignored his comment.

"Tell me honestly," I started softly, searching Elbourne's face, "are you hiding something from me?"

The small smile on his lips faded a little bit.

"What makes you ask that?" he whispered.

I took in a deep sigh.

"Because I know you," I replied, "I know how you operate."

Slowly his grin returned, he gave me a quick once over.

"Is it true that you and the farm boy are supposedly in love again?" he whispered without answering my question. "I couldn't help but overhear that."

I felt my eyes widen a little.

"Elbourne..." I trailed.

He raised a brow.

"Is it?" he asked.

I looked away from his eyes and hesitated to answer for some odd reason.

"Yes... yes it's true," I said.

The dragon prince didn't react right away and grunted.

"Hmph, I see," was all he said in reply, "well then, I think you better ask me that question later."

I turned my gaze back to his, and looked at him puzzled.

"What?" I asked.

His slick smile widened.

"Ask me that question again when we get to the Twilight Realm," he whispered, then came a little closer, "by the way, you look very sexy in peasant clothes. It almost entertains one of my fetishes I have about you."

I stared at him surprised and knew Link possibly heard that.

"What the hell did you say?" the hero demanded from behind us.

I turned back around to put a stop in what was inevitably going to happen next.

"It was nothing Link," I said, "he sometimes says off the wall things like that."

Link didn't appreciate my defense of him, and looked at me disapprovingly.

"What?" he demanded. "So that makes it okay?"

I sighed.

"That's not what I'm saying at all," I replied, "just expect to hear things that may or may not aggravate you."

Elbourne merely smiled.

"It's true Linux," he said, "she loves my wood."

Link cut his eyes to Elbourne, and seriously looked ready to fight him. Hylia finally had to be the level headed mediator and interject.

"Shall we get going gentlemen?" she asked. "Is the knight academy of hyper masculine theatrics over?"

Link rolled his eyes and groaned, while Elbourne continued to grin.

"I'm good if the Hero of Twilight is good," Elbourne said, then glanced over at Link, "you okay Linux?"

This was not going to be an easy trip, I already saw the fallout coming. Even still, Hylia and I both looked at the hero, who in turn looked away from the both of us.

"I'm fine, let's just go," the hero muttered in frustration.

Link took off ahead of the rest of us. I stared after him for a moment, while being gazed at from ancestral mother and Elbourne. Hylia had her arms crossed over her chest.

"After you my dear," she said in her deepened voice.

I nodded, then hurried for the mirror. Elbourne stared at the goddess for a brief moment before following after me. Finally, Hylia came in the rears and was the last one to jump through the mirror. We were finally on our way to the Twilight Realm.

~SSS~

Two Days Later, Reflections of a Twilight Queen: Midna's POV

צוויי טעג שפּעטער, Reflections פון אַ טוויליגהט מלכּה: מידנאַ ס פּאָוו

עס איז נישט גענוג צו זאָגן איך ינדזשויד ווייל אַ רויאַל, איך ליב געהאט ווייל אַ רויאַל, די אַפפעקטאַטיאָן עס איז געווען דערייווד אין מיין זייער נשמה. מיין פאָטער האָט ינסטילד אַז שטאָלץ אין מיר יאר צוריק ווי אַ קינד. טווילי בלוט איז די בלוט פון אַ איידעלע שטאָלץ מענטשן, אָבער מיר זענען אַ מענטשן וואס זענען אָפֿט רידאַקיולד און מיסאַנדערסטוד. אָבער, איך געמאכט עס מיין מיסיע צו דערמאָנען מיין סאַבדזשעקץ פון די שיינקייט און ווונדער וואָס איז געווען יוניקלי זייער אייגן. עס איז קיין אָרט ווי די טוויליגהט געביט און עס איז געווען קיין קולטור ווי די טווילי קולטור. דאס איז געווען ריין קענטיק אין ווי מיר דערציילט אונדזער מעשיות, געלאָפֿן אונדזער פּאָליטיק, און יקספּאַנדיד אונדזער השפּעה.

א דערציילונג איז נאָר אַ מיינונג און געדאַנק פּראָצעס פון אַ יחיד מיינונג. אין דער וועלט פון ליכט, די געדאנקען זענען ענקאַפּסאַלייטיד אין וואָס זיי גערופֿן ביכער, אין די טוויילייט געביט אונדזער מעשיות זענען פּרעסערוועד און סקאָרד אין וואָס מיר גערופֿן טווילי אָרבס. די אָרבס יוטאַלייזד אַ ביסל פון די טווילי ענערגיע געפֿונען גרינג אין אַלע אַספּעקץ פון די לאַנד און זענען פילטערעד סטעדאַלי זיך אַ קאַמפּאַקטיד טעמפּ פּלאַץ. דער מחבר וואָלט פאָקוס ווי לאַנג ווי זיי דארף צו און ייַנפלאַנצן זייער געדאנקען אין די אָרב אָן אלץ בעת צו זאָרג וועגן דעם שוואַך און אַרויסגעוואָרפן מידיאַ פון טינט און פּאַפּיר. אויב אַ יחיד געוואלט צו גאַרנער די געדאנקען פון דעם מחבר, אַלע זיי וואָלט האָבן צו טאָן איז געווען פאַרבינדן די אָרב און אַ קאָנפלאַגראַטיאָן פון דער מחבר 'ס בילדער, שפּראַך, און סינטאַקס וואָלט סיימאַלטייניאַסלי באַשייַמפּערלעך זיך צו פּראָדוצירן די געשיכטע אָדער געדאַנק געוואלט. עס איז געווען אַ בריליאַנט וועג צו וויטרינע ידיאַמז און אַזאַ וואָס וואָלט אַנדערש זיין אוממעגלעך צו קאַנוויי. פילע פון יענע אָרבס זענען געניצט צו פּילאָט אידעישע פּראַפּרייאַטי און די מאָראַל באוווסטזיין פון די מענטשן, ספּעציעל אין די מעלוכע פון פּאָליטיק.

פּאָליטיק איז טריקי אין קיין פאָרום, צי עס זייַן אין דער וועלט פון ליכט אָדער די וועלט פון טוויילייט, ווייל סטייטיד אַז, די וועלט פון מיין מענטשן איז געווען ווייניקער שטרענג צו די וועלט פון ליכט. הירולעאַן פּאָליטיק זענען קאָמפּליצירט און אָפֿט באַרראַגעד מיט נאַנסענסיקאַל טריטיז אַז קיינמאָל סאַלווד קיין פון די פּראָבלעמס זיי צוגעזאגט צו ויסמייַדן. אין די טוויילייט מעלוכע, פּאָליטיק זענען באהאנדלט מער ענג מיט די קונסט. אויב די אַגענדאַ פון איין פאָלק פּאַראַללעלעד די אַגענדאַ פון אן אנדער לאַנד אָפֿט מאל די מענטשן וואָלט שטעלן אויף אַ שפּיל צו זען ווי די קאַנסאַקוואַנס וואָלט אַקט אויס. עס סימד ווי אַ מאָדנע וועג צו צוגאַנג פּאַלאַסיז און פּראָצעדור, אָבער פֿאַר הונדערטער פון יאָרן עס פּריווענטיד מיין מענטשן פון דיסטרויינג און ענגיידזשינג אין ומנייטיק קאָנפליקט ינעווייניק. עס איז קיין ווונדער וואָס די בלויז פּראָבלעמס די טווילי מען האט געווען פֿון אַן אַרויס מקור, דער הויפּט פון די וועלט פון ליכט. איך איז געווען ניט זיכער וואָס די גאַדלעס פון ליכט דוועלערז איז געווען ספּרינגקאַלד מיט אַזאַ קאָנטעמפּטואָוס דיסדיין פֿאַר די רעכט פון אנדערע, אָבער עס געווען צו זייַן ימביוד אין די זייער שטאָף פון זייער ווייל. איך קען דערציילן די מלחמות און ינסורגענסיעס פון די וועלט פון ליכט, אָבער די געשיכטע וואָלט זייַן אויך לאַנג און אויך ניט גרינג צו שטאַט. אָבער, אַז איז ניט צו זאָגן עס זענען נישט ליכט דוועלערז איך האט נישט צוטרוי, עס זענען געווען, זיי זענען נאָר ווייניק און ווייַט צווישן. עס איז געווען פון לויף מלכּה זעלדאַ, איך טראַסטיד איר אַפֿילו כאָטש איך האט ניט געזען איר אין יאָרן, אָבער מיר געמאכט אַ פּאַקט און איך איז געגאנגען צו שטעקן צו עס. זי און איך זענען עמאַסעריז צו אונדזער מענטשן, מיר דארף צו ווייַזן די מאַקסימאַל כשיוועס און רעספּעקט אין סדר פֿאַר אנדערע צו נאָכפאָלגן פּאַסן. דעריבער, פון קורס, עס איז געווען אַז אנדערע יונגערמאַן פֿון דער וועלט פון ליכט איך האט ניט געזען אין יאָרן, די גרויס העלד לינק ... איך געהאט מער דרינגלעך געדאנקען וועגן אים, אָבער מער איז געווען צו קומען פון אַז שפּעטער. אין קורץ, פּאָליטיק זענען די וועגן פון דער וועלט, און ווי יעדער קולטור פּראַסידאַד מיט אים באשלאסן צי אָדער ניט זייַן מעטהאָדס זענען פעאַסיבלע אָדער ניט. אזוי ווייַט, טווילי מעטהאָדס האָבן געארבעט פֿאַר טווילי מענטשן.

קולטור איז אָפֿט Defined ווי די ניט וויכטיק און די מאַטעריאַל גייַסט שטעלן פון די מענטשן עס רעפּריזענטיד. אין די פאַל פון מיין מענטשן, קולטור איז געווען ימבאָסט אין די זייער ערד אַרום אונדז. וואָס האט איך מיינען? א טווילי נאָר קען נישט באַזונדער זיך פון די טוויליגהט געביט און עקסיסטירן עקסיסטענטיאַללי. די טוויליגהט איז געווען אַ מעקאַניזאַם פון עניגמאַטיק באוווסטזיין אַז ימביוד יעדער טווילי מיט אַ לעבן מקור פון ענערגיע. אין קורץ, אויב מיין מענטשן סטעפּט אַוועק פון די טוויילייט אויך לאַנג זיי וואָלט אומקומען. וואָס איז געווען וואָס עס איז נייטיק פֿאַר מיר צו צעשטערן די שפּיגל צו פאַרמייַדן ווער עס יז פון ווייל טעמפּטעד צו שריט אין דער וועלט פון ליכט. ליכט דוועלערז האט נישט האָבן די זעלבע שטאַרביק צושטאנדן ווי טווילי מענטשן, און קען פרעעלי אַרייַן און אַרומוואַנדערן די טוויליגהט געביט אָן מורא פון לוזינג זייער קאָלעקטיוו זיך. אָבער, ליכט דוועלערז וואָלט אויך טראַנססענד אָדער אַראָפּגיין צו אַ אַנדערש ווייל פון באוווסטזיין דיפּענדינג אויף די שטאָף פון זייער מאַכן אַרויף. פֿאַר בייַשפּיל, רובֿ ליכט דוועלערז וואָלט ווענדן אין טרערן פון ליכט און בלייַבן אַז וועג ווי זיי געמאכט זייער וועג דורך די טוויליגהט מעלוכע. אבער, עס זענען אנדערע וואס האט ניט יבערמאַכן אין טרערן פון ליכט פֿאַר פאַרשידן סיבות. עס מייַ האָבן געהאט צו טאָן מיט די טריפאָרסע, אָדער אויב די מענטשן זענען געגעבן פּאַרדאָנס און באקומען ספּעציעל קאַנטינדזשאַנסיז פון די רויאַל משפּחה, אָבער ביידע געשען פֿאַר פאַרשידענע סיבות. א באַזונדער יחיד פון די וועלט פון ליכט האט באקומען אַז שענקען געזונט, די אנדערע אָבער, איך האט ניט געזען זינט די צייַט פון מיין באַגעגעניש אים ווי אַ וואָלף ... אַז מענטש איז געווען לינק.

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לינק ...

וואָס קען איך זאָגן וועגן לינק? ער איז געווען העלדיש. ער איז געווען טאַלאַנטירט מיט דער שווערד. ער איז געווען מויסער-נעפעשדיק. ער איז געווען אַלץ אַ פרוי קען פרעגן פֿאַר אין אַ העלפּער. איך געדענקען דעם טאָג ווען איך געזען אים אין אַז צעל, קוקן צעמישט און דיסמייד ווי צו וואָס זייַן אומשטאנדן האט אויסגעדרייט אויס ווי אַזאַ. 'וואָס איז ער אַ וואָלף? ער איז געווען מיסטאָמע וואַנדערינג. 'ווער איז דאָס מאָדנע באַשעפעניש סטערינג בייַ אים?' רעפעררינג צו זיך. צוריק דעמאָלט איך געקוקט זייער אַנדערש ווי איך האט איצט, איך איז געווען אַ קליין ביסל ימפּ מיט אַ דעווילישלי כיינעוודיק באַזייַטיקונג. איך קיינמאָל פאַרפאַלן מיין מאָקסיע אָדער וואָס געמאכט מיר מיר, אָבער איך האט שוין געשאלטן דורך אַ פאָאָלהאַרדי יחיד געהייסן זאַנט בייַ די צייַט, אַזוי קיין איינער געוואוסט וואס איך באמת איז אָדער וואָס איך באמת געקוקט ווי. עס איז קיין ווונדער נאָך אונדזער פּאַסירונג צוזאַמען לינק איז געווען אַזוי אַסטראַק ווען ער האט געזען מיר פֿאַר וואָס איך טאַקע געווען. איך האט צו אַרייַנלאָזן עס איז שפּאַס רענדערינג אים אַזוי ספּיטשלאַס, ספּעציעל זינט איך האט געפֿאַלן אין ליבע מיט אים בייַ אַז פונט. איך איז נישט געגאנגען צו פאַרהיטן אַז די בומבלינג וואָלף וואס האט יראַטייטאַד מיר צו קיין סוף געוואקסן אין מיין האַרץ און געווארן אַ יראַפּלייסאַבאַל פרייַנד, אַליירט, און ליבע פון מיין לעבן. איך געוואלט צו דערציילן אים אַזוי באַדלי אַז איך ליב געהאט אים. איך געוואלט אים צו קומען צו מיין מעלוכע און לעבן און פּרעסידע מיט מיר פֿאַר די מנוחה פון זייַן טעג, אָבער ... עס איז געווען ניט צו זיין. איך קען נישט נעמען אַוועק פון דער וועלט פון ליכט איינער פון די ביסל מענטשן עס האט געגאנגען פֿאַר אים. איך געדאַנק אפֿשר לינק וואָלט זאָגן יענע פאָאָלס צו טוישן, געבן זיי אַ אַנדערש פּערספּעקטיוו אויף וואָס די טוויליגהט געביט איז טאַקע ווי. מיר זענען נישט די סקערי פינצטער דוועלערז וואס כאָנטאַד זייער נייטמערז אָדער זענען די פּראָדוקטן פון עטלעכע פינצטער פאַנטאַסיעס. די טווילי געווען אַ ווערדיק מענטשן מיט אונדזער אייגן קולטור, שפּראַך, און וועג פון לעבן. אויב לינק קען טאָן אַז, ער וואָלט אויף אייביק האָבן מיין דאנקבארקייט.

איך איז נישט געגאנגען צו פאַרהיטן איך האט ניט געדאַנק וועגן אים אין אַלע דעם מאָל. איך געדאַנק וועגן לינק אַ גרויס האַנדלען. איך געחידושט וואָס ער האט געטאן מיט זיין לעבן. האט ער געזעצט אַראָפּ? איז ער נאָך אַדווענטורינג? איז ער אַ טאַטע איצט? האט ער געפֿונען זייַן ריגהטפול אָרט אין די וועלט? האט ער נאָך טראַכטן פון אונדזער פּאַסירונג צוזאַמען? האט ער וויסן אַז טיף אַראָפּ איך ליב געהאט אים און געוואלט אים צו זיין מיט מיר? האט ער וויסן אַז מיין פלירטאַטיאָוס אַקט איז געווען ניט נאָר אַ אַקט? אויב איך אלץ גאַט צו זען אים ווידער איך וואָלט מאַכן זיכער צו פרעגן אים די זאכן, און איך איז געווען זיכער ער וואָלט פרעגן זיי פון מיר. פֿאַר מיר איצט, מיין לעבן איז געווען עמבראָילעד אין פּאָליטיק, און ליידער עס איז געווען אין אַ פלאַגראַנט וועג, אָבער איך וואָלט טאָן עפּעס פֿאַר מיין מענטשן, עפּעס. איך וואָלט ניט גיין אין וואָס איך סטייטיד עס ווי אַזאַ, אָבער עס זענען געווען זיכער זאכן וואָס האט אַ דיפּער אָפּקומעניש ווי אויף די ייבערפלאַך פאָרמאַליטיעס ... מאל אַ בעדפעללאָוו געמאכט אַ בעסער פּאָליטיש אַליירט ווי אַ שטייענדיק איינער. אבער, איך דייגרעס ווי איך איז געווען אָט אין דעם בייַזייַן פון אַ אומגעריכט גאַסט ווי פון שפּעט און ער איך האבן קאַנקלודינג אונדזער באַגעגעניש. די מאַנאַרק דערלאנגט מיר מיט אַ מאָדנע טאַלאַנט, אָבער איך טראַסטיד אים זינט איך האב אים לאַנג

...

...

...

Pardon my Twili.

It's almost indicative of my nature that I think and contemplate in my native tongue. However, due to the fact that my life currently has a reasonable amount of duality in it, I shall also propagate my introspection to Hylian for the ease of clarity and understanding as well. With that being stated, let me repeat what I previously rendered:

It wasn't enough to say I enjoyed being a royal, I loved being a royal, the affectation of it was derived in my very soul. My father had instilled that pride in me years ago as a child. Twili blood was the blood of a noble proud people, but we were a people who were often ridiculed and misunderstood. However, I made it my mission to remind my subjects of the beauty and wonder that was uniquely their own. There was no place like the Twilight Realm and there was no culture like the Twili culture. This was purely evident in how we told our stories, ran our politics, and expanded our influence.

A story was simply an opinion and thought process of an individual mind. In the world of light, those thoughts were encapsulated in what they called books, in the Twilight Realm our stories were preserved and scored in what we called Twili orbs. These orbs utilized a little of the Twili energy found readily in all aspects of the country and were filtered steadily into a compacted dense space. The author would focus as long as they needed to and implant their thoughts into the orb without ever having to worry about the weak and useless media of ink and paper. If an individual wanted to garner the thoughts of the author, all they would have to do was touch the orb and a conflagration of the author's images, language, and syntax would simultaneously manifest itself to produce the story or idea desired. It was a brilliant way to showcase idioms and such that would otherwise be impossible to convey. Many of those orbs were used to pilot ideological propriety and the moral consciousness of the people, especially in the realm of politics.

Politics was tricky in any forum, whether it be in the world of light or the world of twilight, having stated that, the world of my people was less austere to the world of light. Hyrulean politics were complicated and often barraged with nonsensical treaties that never solved any of the problems they promised to avoid. In the Twilight Realm, politics were treated more closely with the arts. If the agenda of one nation paralleled the agenda of another nation often times the people would put on a play to see how the consequence would act out. It seemed like an odd way to approach policies and procedure, but for hundreds of years it prevented my people from destroying and engaging in unnecessary conflict internally. It was no wonder why the only problems the Twili people had were from an outside source, mainly from the world of light. I wasn't sure why the arrogance of light dwellers was sprinkled with such contemptuous disdain for the rights of others, but it seemed to be imbued in the very fabric of their being. I could recount the wars and insurgencies from the world of light, but the history would be too long and too arduous to state. However, that wasn't to say there weren't light dwellers I didn't trust, there were, they were just few and far between. There was of course Queen Zelda, I trusted her even though I hadn't seen her in years, but we made a pact and I was going to stick to it. She and I were emissaries to our people, we needed to show the utmost dignity and respect in order for others to follow suit. Then, of course, there was that other fellow from the world of light I hadn't seen in years, the great hero Link... I had more pressing ideas regarding him, but more was to come of that later. In short, politics were the ways of the world, and how each culture proceeded with it determined whether or not its methods were feasible or not. So far, Twili methods have worked for Twili people.

Culture was often defined as the immaterial and the material mind set of the people it represented. In the case of my people, culture was embossed in the very earth around us. What did I mean? A Twili simply couldn't separate themselves from the Twilight Realm and exist existentially. The twilight was a mechanism of enigmatic consciousness that imbued each Twili with a life source of energy. In short, if my people stepped away from the twilight too long they would perish. That was why it was necessary for me to destroy the mirror to prevent anyone from being tempted to step into the world of light. Light dwellers didn't have the same mortal circumstances as Twili people, and could freely enter and roam the Twilight Realm without fear of losing their collective self. However, light dwellers would also transcend or descend to a different being of consciousness depending on the fabric of their make up. For instance, most light dwellers would turn into tears of light and stay that way as they made their way through the Twilight Realm. However, there were others who didn't transform into tears of light for various reasons. It may have had to do with the Triforce, or if the individuals were granted pardons and received special contingencies from the royal family, but both had happened for different reasons. A particular individual from the world of light had received that pardon well, the other however, I hadn't seen since the time of my meeting him as a wolf... that person was Link.

Link...

Link...

Link...

What could I say about Link? He was brave. He was gifted with the sword. He was selfless. He was everything a woman could ask for in a helper. I remember the day when I saw him in that cell, looking confused and dismayed as to why his circumstances had turned out as such. 'Why was he a wolf?' he was probably wondering. 'Who was this strange creature staring at him?' referring to myself. Back then I looked very different than I did now, I was a short little imp with a devilishly charming disposition. I never lost my moxie or what made me me, but I had been cursed by a foolhardy individual named Zant at the time, so no one knew who I truly was or what I truly looked like. It was no wonder after our adventure together Link was so awestruck when he saw me for what I really was. I had to admit it was fun rendering him so speechless, especially since I had fallen in love with him at that point. I wasn't going to pretend that the bumbling wolf who had irritated me to no end grew in my heart and became an irreplaceable friend, ally, and love of my life. I wanted to tell him so badly that I loved him. I wanted him to come to my realm and live and preside with me for the rest of his days, but... it wasn't to be. I couldn't take away from the world of light one of the few people it had going for it. I thought perhaps Link would tell those fools to change, give them a different perspective on what the Twilight Realm was really like. We weren't these scary dark dwellers who haunted their nightmares or were the products of some dark fantasies. The Twili were a dignified people with our own culture, language, and way of life. If Link could do that, he would forever have my gratitude.

I wasn't going to pretend I hadn't thought about him in all this time. I thought about Link a great deal. I wondered what he had done with his life. Had he settled down? Was he still adventuring? Was he a father now? Had he found his rightful place in the world? Did he still think of our adventure together? Did he know that deep down I loved him and wanted him to be with me? Did he know that my flirtatious act wasn't just an act? If I ever got to see him again I would make sure to ask him those things, and I was sure he would ask them of me. For me currently, my life was embroiled in politics, and unfortunately it was in a flagrant way, but I would do anything for my people, anything. I wouldn't go into why I stated it as such, but there were certain things that had a deeper derivation than on the surface formalities... sometimes a bedfellow made a better political ally than a standing one. However, I digress as I was presently in the presence of an unexpected visitor as of late and he I were concluding our meeting. The monarch presented me with a strange gift, but I trusted him since I knew him long before now.

"דאַנקען איר פֿאַר די פּרעזענט, thank you for the present," I stated in both Twili and Hylian.

The Roostian monarch smiled and bowed.

"It suits you," the king said, then paused and looked me over for a moment, "your father would be so proud of you Midna my dear."

I looked down and got a little solemn when he mentioned my father. I knew how close the two of them once were.

"דאַנקען איר פֿאַר דיין סאָרט ווערטער, thank you for your kind words," I whispered, "and I'm sure he would appreciate your presence and your being here to assist me."

The king scoffed and laughed lightly.

"I'm afraid there's very little for me to do for a person as grand as you," he replied.

I grinned at his flattery, but was halted in what I was going to say next, when the door to the throne room suddenly opened and a Twili soldier presented himself.

"איך בין נעבעכדיק צו ינטרוד מיין דאַמע, אָבער אַ רובֿ כידעשדיק שטעלן פון וויזאַטערז איז אנגעקומען," he said slightly breathless in Twili, then repeated in Hylian, "I'm sorry to intrude my lady, but a most surprising set of visitors have arrived."

I looked at him taken aback. I was hardly expecting to hear anything like this.

"A surprising set of visitors?" I repeated. "What are you talking about?"

The soldier took another step forward.

"Your majesty," he started, "her majesty Queen Zelda is here and she is accompanied by two male guardians and a ninja, one of the men looks like the Hero of Twilight!"

I felt my amber eyes widen when he said that and I immediately stood up.

"What?" I whispered in complete disbelief.

The guard didn't hesitate.

"One of them looks like the great hero my lady," he repeated.

That was what I thought he said, and my heart began to race a little.

"The queen is here and the hero," I repeated more to myself, then shook my head, "but how? Why?"

I immediately turned my attention to the Roostian king in my company and looked at him with open accusation. However, he in turn raised his hands, as if promising he had not betrayed the treaty he made all those years ago with my father.

"I had nothing to do with this," he swore, "I have no idea how they all got here."

I groaned in mild frustration and then looked to my servant in haste, I didn't have time to dissect this now. If the queen was here she must have had a good reason to come, but that still didn't allay my inquiry of wanting to know how she made that possible.

"Send them in," I said finally.

The soldier bowed and turned and hurried back to the door. I turned my wavering eye back to the king who looked just as confused as me, but when the guests came into the hall, his confusion only deepened, but then soon morphed into anger when he saw that one of the men he recognized immediately.

"Elbourne?" he demanded.

The dragon prince suddenly looked aptly as surprised.

"Father?" he replied. "What in the world are you doing here?"

The others with him then turned their perplexed eyes to him.

"Wait a minute," the Hylian queen said, "what in the world is going on here?"

Link didn't say anything right away as his eyes were suddenly fixed on me. I couldn't believe he was really here, he had gotten more handsome over the years. He looked older, wiser, but that same innocent yearning I once saw so long ago was still very apparent in his eyes in the here and now. I was taken aback to those yesteryears when I first met him in that dungeon. He still carried that same impetuous spirit with him... that same zeal. I felt so overwhelmed that I involuntarily took a couple steps forward when I saw him, but then stopped myself when I saw that his hand was interlocked with the queen's. It wasn't an action that was by accident.

What's this? I thought.

I didn't have time to ponder it, as Link let the Hylian queen's hand go and hurried to me. I was initially stunned by the action, but not more stunned when I was suddenly in a tight hug in his arms. I was frozen for a moment before I finally hugged him back.

"Midna," he whispered in my ear, "Midna, Midna..."

I closed my eyes at his voice.

"לינק ... איך קענען ניט גלויבן איר ניטאָ דאָ," I whispered in Twili, "Link... I can't believe you're here."

When I opened them, beyond the hero's shoulder I was met with a peculiar befuddled look by the dragon prince and the down cast eyes of her majesty. The dragon prince's face suddenly went from perplexed to a slick grin in a matter of seconds when he realized what was going on. He was about to inquire something that would prompt an interesting set of questions from the hero.

"You... two know each other?" the prince asked.

I was speechless for a moment, not sure I wanted to utter the truth, and that was when Link pulled back and looked at me slightly taken aback.

"Of course we do," he said, staring into my eyes, "Midna's a very dear friend."

I swallowed hard, while the dragon prince grunted and smiled.

"Hmph," he moaned, "I see."

It was at that inflection that Link released me completely and looked at me with a sudden bout of suspicion.

"Wait a minute..." he started, then turned to look at Elbourne, "do you two know each other?"

It was then the queen finally looked up and glanced over at the dragon prince.

"Elbourne..." she trailed, then asked, "is that true?"

The dragon prince then looked back over at his father, who for whatever reason was fuming.

"Yes," he said matter-of-fact, "actually it is."

Link turned back to me and suddenly released me.

"Are you serious?" he whispered.

I didn't understand the now upset look in the hero's eyes. I glanced back over at Elbourne who now had his eyes fixed on the queen. I gazed back at the perplexed looking hero.

"Yes Link..." I said finally, "I'm afraid it's true."

~SSS~

Entering the Twilight Realm, Two Days Had Passed: Zelda's POV

The portal was like a time compression. Scenic occurrences from other dimensional distortions acted upon itself in a cluster of kaleidoscopic imagery. One moment a black haze was in front of us, then a white haze. The space around us shifted and differentiated inward and outward like a metallic cadence of silver at one point. Then the space swayed and acted as if it were decelerating and accelerating at the same time, creating a stationary state of universal energies. The energy became multifaceted once more when the space directly in front of us shifted into a fractal sequence of dark and light matter. The iridized quanta then actuated upon itself into an opening, spitting us all out as it were, and, as if it never happened, we were in the Twilight Realm. However, considering how space and time worked, I deduced two days had passed in the blink of an eye. We landed in a hazy like chasm right below the the entrance of the Palace of Twilight.

That's a relief, I thought of the convenience.

I turned to see if the others were okay.

"Nothing's broken right?" I asked them. "Everyone's okay."

Hylia nodded.

Elbourne smiled.

Link looked upset.

I frowned at Link's reaction.

Oh come on Link, I thought, he'll have to get over his hang ups. This is only a temporary situation.

With everyone accounted for I looked around and was momentarily awestruck by the realm's innate and mysterious beauty. The trees were black with rounded and gnarly branches covered in white leaves. The water wasn't simply crystal clear, but multi colored and translucent like a painting. The pinks the greens and the blues all bled into each other, creating a magnificent umbra effect that could only be seen to be believed. The ethereal light perpetually cast was golden brown, with the atmosphere sprinkled with evidential markers of squared shaped fractal components of space. The dimly lit incandescent dimension resided right next to Hyrule as her sister country. The idea of its existence could better be explained with the use of the multiverse theory. In multiverse theory, several universal spaces could exist together at once. It is believed that each individual universe was separated by a nano-thin membrane of space called a 'Faroric' Sea. A 'Faroric' Sea was an inverted space within itself.

The Twilight Realm was beautiful.

The Palace of Twilight was a large adamantine, four towered edifice, with ancient grooves replicating circles, triangles, and squares in a very distinct order. It is believed the ancient markers were the Twili royal family's cote of arms. What those arms said was anyone's guess and the language and culture were vastly different than Hyrule's. However, a clue was deciphered that the code wasn't totally a message of ill conceived means for the land of light. There was a emblem of the Triforce embedded in the center of the seal. I wish I had more time to explore the land properly, but this was hardly a social visit. Link, Hylia, Elbourne and I headed past all the beautiful ornate architecture for the entrance of the Palace of Twilight. The Twili guards were beyond surprised at our arrival, but immediately let us pass through we they realized who we were. I walked down the hall in haste with my party towards the throne room, feeling my heart pound a thousand beats per second. I had no idea of knowing whether or not Ghirahim had already made an attempt on Midna's life. I stopped outside the throne room to speak with the guard.

"I know this is very untoward," I said immediately, "but will you please alert her majesty that Queen Zelda of Hyrule is here along with the Hero of Twilight."

I didn't bother to mention the others as I didn't think it was necessary. I looked over at Link, who then walked up to me and took hold of my hand. I think this was his way of making his statement of solidarity with me. I appreciated it to be sure, but the real test was to come. The guard hurried through the door and went to announce us. I glanced up at Link.

"Are you nervous?" I asked.

He merely shrugged, but I could see the excitement in his eyes.

"Not as much as I thought I was going to be," he said.

I tried to smile, but I knew for myself I was extremely nervous. I had no idea how these next few days or weeks, or whatever amount of time were going to spend here were going to turn out. I just hoped Ghirahim hadn't made himself known yet. From that first encounter, he proved that he was extremely dangerous. I could only imagine what he would he would be like at full strength. After speaking to Link, I glanced over at Hylia and Elbourne, they both had nondescript expressions on their faces. Elbourne though was particularly uneasy to read, he looked to be carrying a variation of a smile and sneer. I was slightly taken aback.

'Are you alright?' I mouthed to him.

The prince just stared back at me without replying. I knew something was amiss, I would simply have to ask him about it later. Soon after, the guard returned to the door and announced our audience.

"Her majesty will see you now," the Twili guard said.

Link and I nodded graciously at the guard and hurried inside. The hero was particularly fleeter in his approach, as he was practically yanking on my arm and dragging me into the room. In the not so far distance I could see her... and she appeared every bit as amazing as the last time I saw her. It seemed that time had stood still for the stunningly beautiful monarch because she hadn't aged a day. She stood up and looked at all of us temporarily dumbstruck, however, I quickly saw she wasn't alone. Surprisingly, in her company was the presence of another monarch, Xavier, Lord and Sovereign of Dragon Roost. I was taken aback when I saw him. What was he doing here? How did he get here? I turned to look at Elbourne who appeared just as befuddled as I.

Xavier, however, was less than pleased to see his wayward son.

"Elbourne?" he demanded.

The dragon prince looked at his father taken aback.

"Father?" he replied. "What in the world are you doing here?"

I looked at her visitor puzzled, but then that feeling of foreboding I felt earlier only deepened. Something wasn't right about this.

"Wait a minute..." I trailed, "what is going on here?"

The four of us stopped short of her throne. Link remained silent, but his eyes were fixed on the woman before us. The look therein was undeniable, and even her walking towards him spoke droves about her apparent feelings before she stopped herself. Finally, Link stopped pretending to hold back and did what his heart compelled him to do, he let go of my hand and hurried towards his beloved twilight queen. Link took her in his arms and they embraced for what seemed like forever. It had been a long awaited reunion... it was actually very touching. I grinned a small grin at the sentimentality.

"Midna..." he whispered in her ear, "Midna, Midna..."

She closed her eyes and hugged him back.

"לינק ... איך קענען ניט גלויבן איר ניטאָ דאָ," she whispered back, "Link, I can't believe you're here."

All I could do in that moment was look down at the ground. There was nothing I could do or should do to interrupt their moment. They hadn't seen each other in seven years. I would probably jump into the arms of the man I loved too if I hadn't seen him in that long. I glanced over at Elbourne who was now eyeing Link and Midna in a most peculiar way. I was slightly puzzled by that because it looked like he was going to divulge something interesting before I could inquire it of him.

The dragon prince took a small step forward.

"You... two know each other?" he asked the both of them.

There was a brief pause before a reply.

"Of course we do," the hero said finally, "Midna's a very friend."

Elbourne then grunted and smiled.

"Hmph," he moaned, "I see."

The inflection didn't sit too well with the hero. Link pulled back and stared at twilight queen for a moment before letting her go and turning to look at Elbourne.

"Wait a minute..." he started, "do you two know each other?"

Elbourne looked from him to the queen. I then felt my eyes widen.

It can't be... I thought, having a feeling I knew what was truly going on here.

"Elbourne..." I said, "is that true?"

The dragon prince then looked at his father before answering.

"Yes," he said matter-of-fact, "actually it is."

Link looked stunned then turned his attention back to Midna. He gave her a brief once over.

"Are you serious?" he whispered.

Midna's amber eyes searched his face.

"Yes Link," she replied, "I'm afraid it's true."

Link's throat tightened and he swallowed hard before taking a step back.

He looks like a spell was just cast on him, I thought, feeling a little bitter, like he's been bewitched.

Hylia, who had be silent all this time, merely crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against a pillar in the background.

"I told you some things are better left unsaid," she muttered to herself.

I glanced over at Hylia, then back to Elbourne.

How could this even be possible? I wondered. How?

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The next chapter will be up soon.