CHAPTER TWENTY

Zelda, Link, and Midna returned to Bo's. Midna remained in her true form for formalities, and an imp suddenly appearing out of someone's shadow would probably make the poor man faint.

Bo was, of course, stunned to see Midna at first, she being from the Twilight Realm, and happening to be its princess. And her skin was light blue. Her hair also happened to be a vibrant shade of orange. And her eyes were red. Very, very red. But his surprise easily shifted to curiosity, and he and Midna quickly became friends.

Ilia was out of sight.

Long after Bo had fallen asleep, the trio laid out schemes and plans for Ganondorf when he revealed himself.

"I say we wait for him and decapitate him," Midna said seriously, though her rose-colored eyes were chuckling. "That'll keep him from coming back."

"Your idea has more holes in it than dirt on the road," Zelda laughed. "Maybe we should just let him come to us."

"I find myself agreeing with Midna," Link grinned. "Ganondorf's becoming an increasingly annoying pest. I say kill him and be done with it."

"Really," Zelda huffed. "You two sound like a couple of assassins."

It was all too much. They burst out laughing. It was Link who glanced at Bo's bed beneath the staircase up to Ilia's room, and bit his lip to cut off his laughter.

"Shh!" he hissed at the two women, who were still snickering. "We'll wake them up!"

Midna shut her mouth but was on the verge of bursting out again, and one quick glance at the other two confirmed they were as well. She wiped away tears of merriment from her cyan-tinged face and damask eyes, but still nearly exploded from the clear struggle Zelda was going through to keep from blowing up as well.

Once they had all calmed down, Midna itched at a spot on her throat, saying, "Honestly though, we really need a plan." Then she started. HER PENDANT! "Hey," she said as coolly as she could manage. "Did either of you pick up a crescent-moon pendant with Twili markings on it?"

Link reached into the folds of his tunic at his neck and pulled out the Pendant of Worlds. "You mean this? I found it at the Elde Inn, with all the wreckage." He held it out to her, and Midna took it, clasping it around her own throat.

"I thought I'd lost it. I used this to get back here." Its comfortable weight fell into the dip between her collarbones, making her feel whole again. "Apparently, it's got unspeakable power."

"I know," Zelda said softly. "Link showed it to me when he found it. I can only wonder how you acquired it." She smiled. "I'm hoping desperately that you didn't steal it. If it happened to slip your mind, you're a princess."

"Jeez Zelda. What kind of princess do you think I am? Of course I didn't steal it. It would make me look like a filthy little thief. I'd be setting a bad example for all my people." Midna was indignant.

Link stifled a yawn. "I say we plot tomorrow and go to sleep."

Midna grinned and Zelda replied. "I second that. Almighty Twilight Princess, what is your opinion?"

"Does it matter?" Midna looked wistfully out the window behind Zelda, whose back was to the door. "I'm already outnumbered."

"Okay then," Link stood, facing Midna. "I'm heading home. I'm assuming that you and Zelda are staying here?"

"Unfortunately, all-powerful Hero, I'm quite happy to say…" She closed her eyes, hands held up, a wicked grin spreading over her face. "Wait for it…… You are most definitely, undeniably, certainly WRONG. I will be staying in the forest. I mean, I spent a long time in the woods as an imp, and I've become quite familiar with them. I know you're going to say how dangerous the forest is at night, but trust me: I've had plenty more experience than you, you know, assassins, all that, and even though I'm your age, Hero, I find myself much more mature than you. Plus, I want to walk you home." She finished with a smile, and Link, who had been stunned silent through her speech, shrugged and smiled back.

"Er, okay." He and Midna bid good-bye to Zelda, who was seconds away from laughing at him, and left the mayor's residence.

"So, how has the Light been since I left?" Midna asked, the soft bubbling of the stream beneath the bridge adding to the nighttime calls.

"Lonely," Link replied. "It felt strange without you. Er, I mean, um, it's been alright. But it never will be the same." He blushed.

"I was tired of the Twilight. I mean, everyone has been saying hi to me or showering me with presents, or freaking out on me for abandoning them. I was overwhelmed, and I missed you, you big dork." She punched his shoulder playfully. "I missed you all." She suddenly thought of the day she shattered the Mirror with her tear. She'd been so close to telling him she loved him.

Oh please, she silently begged. Please don't ask me what I was going to say when I broke the Mirror. Please don't ask or I'll rip your head off. Nah, I couldn't. I love you, remember? Just don't ask. Please.

"What were you going to say when you broke the Mirror? I know you were going to tell me something."

DAMN!!!

"I… I…" Midna honestly had expected him to ask, but all the same she was caught off guard.

"You don't have to tell me, I was only wondering." Link lowered his cerulean gaze, flushed as if he was embarrassed.

"I…… I was going to say… that I didn't want to leave." Okay, that was a half-truth. Close enough. But never on earth would she just outright admit 'Oh, I was going to tell you that I love you. No biggie.' It was signing her own death warrant.

He shrugged. "I didn't want you to leave either." He was so cute, the way he avoided her probing rose gaze. But it frustrated her as well. What did he mean?

"I know, but staying here with you and Zelda and everyone else would be selfish. I needed to see to my people, they needed me to lead them. I couldn't stay here, no matter how much I wanted to."

They were now in front of Link's house, but they had stopped just before the ladder, facing each other. Link was just barely taller than her.

"It was quiet without you," his voice was hard to hear. "I couldn't really believe that it was over and you were gone. It felt like a dream. Why did you destroy the Mirror?"

"Because I wanted to protect you from my world!" Midna burst out. "It was the only way to keep you safe! Link, you ignorant bonehead, it's so overly obvious I can't believe you don't know!" Her voice rose to a shout.

"Don't know what?" he demanded, almost yelling as loud as she was.

"I love you!"

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So unexpected, wasn't it?