Yes, I am a bad, bad person! But hopefully this extra long chapter makes up for a few things. I am getting so close now. I know you all want me to finish, hell, I want to finish this story!

It will be done soon.

Thanks again for all the PMs, reviews and all, I really, really appreciate them

Peace,

*-MM-*

Long Remembered Secrets

llll

"This is a wonderful palace Gaia," I remarked, seeing the beautiful architecture of the Twilight Palace as we wandered about its grounds, having first breakfasted it it's glorious Dining Hall.
"Indeed, Zelda," added Adalmund, "I have never seen architecture that could be compared to the beauty of Hyrule Castle before, but I think this is it." Adalmund was clearly appreciative of what he saw.
"Does that mean you'd rather stay here with Midna than at Hyrule Castle?" I added in jest, with a wry smile at my lips.

"Of course not!" Adalmund added, and for extra measure drew me into an embrace. "For the moment however, it is easier for me to do this in public," he said, smiling back at me. I giggled but I could see Gaia out of the corner of my eye looking uncomfortable. I could also see Twili staring, although I suspected they were staring at us because we were from the Light World, rather than our very public display of affection.

"I know you're enjoying the freedom Adalmund, but can we try not to draw extra attention to ourselves? Gaia is here with us, and not only that is here in case Lyon tries to capture us again for being traitors," I didn't enjoy chastising him, but we moved back to just holding hands. I turned my attention instead to Gaia, who was blushing a little as she walked beside us.

"Gaia, do you know how far Lyon's grasp spreads through the Council?" I asked hoping she would at least have some knowledge of the Council from Midna.

"Your Highness," she began. "Zelda, please," I corrected her immediately.

"Zelda, then. I have little knowledge of Lyon's power or intention," she replied. "I know that Dax believes him to be a fool with little consideration for the Twili population in general, let alone Midna. There are rumours that he was related to Zant, in some distant way, but I believe that is just people trying to find a reason for his aggressive nature. As to how many follow him, I have no idea whatsoever. It is unspoken if it exists. Whether he bribes them or otherwise, we are not aware. Midna certainly believes that no-one would follow him by choice, but she just may be clouded by her hatred of him, I am not sure." I nodded taking in all Gaia had said.

"But what do you think Gaia? Why do you think Lyon is so desperate to marry Midna?"

"I am but a lowly servant in this world, Zelda. You are probably aware that I love Dax and he loves me in return. But we are unable to marry due to the laws. I am sure Lyon is aware of this, and of many other things that go on, all which come under his disapproval. It seems to me that wishes only to make the Twilight Realm the most powerful realm, and I am sure he would not let your realm stand in the way of that. He also does not value the strength and grace of women and sees them only as objects for a means to an end. He knows he must use Midna to get the power he so greatly desires but I am sure he would not mind her being his wife, as long as he can only see her and not hear her. He values what should not be valued and hate what should not be hated."

"It seems like Twilight will fall to its doom with Lyon in charge then," Adalmund surprised me by adding to the conversation. "Some of the strongest people I know are women," he squeezed me hand at this, "and I can tell that Midna will not let him beat her."

"I just hope you are right, Adalmund," Gaia sighed, "for all our sakes.

Suddenly I heard Midna talking to me – "chambers, now" was all she conveyed in rushed tones. Something was up.

"Gaia, we must go back to the chambers at once. Midna has something to tell us and I'm not sure it's going to be good news either."

llll

llll

"Where's that slimy little, backstabbing man taken Tarbut?" Midna was pacing her room whilst Dax and I watched her and waited for Zelda, Adalmund and Gaia to come back. We weren't waiting long as soon the door opened and in came the three.

"What has happened Midna? Did it not go well with Tarbut?" Zelda enquired.

"It did not go well with Tarbut because he has been kidnapped. We went to the library to find Dax, saw that Tarbut had visited there this morning too, but only to find the room where he had been studying, ransacked. That traitorous letch has taken him somewhere, I'm sure of it. He even returned to the scene and found us there too."

"Well that does hinder things," remarked Zelda, calmly. "But surely Lyon won't have taken Tarbut far?"

"He could be anywhere in Twilight," Midna sighed and sat down next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her.

"Gaia," Zelda asked, "what were you saying about Lyon and Zant being related?" Gaia was startled at being included in the conversation.

"I wasn't, Zelda. I merely stated that there were rumours about their being related, that is all."

"Nevertheless, Midna, don't you think, if the two were related, that Lyon might try to emulate something of what Zant was trying to achieve? It's far-fetched I know, if only based on gossip but surely it would be somewhere to start?" Zelda finished her sentence and walked over to the window to add, "it sure is beautiful here in Twilight."

Zelda's words seemed to make Midna leap into action and she got up and started pacing around again.

"You're right, what's the use of sitting here and talking about it? If that's all we have to go on, then we'd best make a start. Where do you think Link?" Surprised at her asking me for an opinion, I began thinking about our last foray in the Twilight Palace.

"Well, where do you think something could be held captive? I asked, quizzically, knowing full well where we should look, but giving Midna the option first to decide.

"Look, wolf boy," she added, jabbing her finger in my face, "you always wanted me to give you less grief about puzzles we faced during our quest, so here I am, giving you less grief. Use your logical brain!" It took all my might not to pull her into a passionate embrace, because I loved her intensely during these moments, but with an audience, this wasn't the right moment, so instead I just stuck out my tongue. Everyone laughed, except Midna.

"Well?" she added, and I swear she even tapped her foot at me.

"Well, dearest," I began knowing that this term of affection would irritate her even more, "when we were last in the Twilight Palace we came across something that could hold things tight and not let go, don't you remember?"

"HANDS!" Midna practically shouted. "Link, you look like an idiot, but you're a genius really," I took this last remark as a compliment, as only I could. "Let's go! Gaia, Dax, can you stay here and make sure everything seems normal." With that, she grabbed my hand and fled out the room. I managed to turn my head to see Zelda and Adalmund following on behind too.

It was weird to feel like we were on a quest again, although this time with more company. We were headed to the room where we had defeated the Hands to get the Sols back to open up the Twiight Palace all that time ago. Although it wasn't actually that long ago that we'd done it, so much had happened in the meantime. Plus you couldn't tell looking at the Palace now. Midna had done well restoring it so quickly and restoring the faith of the people. Or so she'd hoped anyway.

"Traitor!" Came a shout from a Twili man as we crossed the courtyard. I knew Midna did not really want to stop as she was on a mission, however she also knew she had to.

"Good sir, why such aggressive tones towards your princess and her friends?" Midna was using a tone of voice I'd never heard before, authoritative, but soothing.

"Your Highness, you sully the name of Twili by consorting with Light dwellers such as these. You tarnish the realm we live in. Just as you have restored it, letting them back in will only serve to destroy it once more. It is just like Councillor Lyon has pronounced in the decree."

"Decree, what decree?" Midna's eyes agape at what she was hearing.

"Your Highness, surely you've heard? There is a decree commanding that any Light dwellers in Twilight are on a mission to capture our princess and take over the Realm once more, just like before." I could see Midna's hair aglow with anger, and knew her eyes would be doing the same. When she spoke again, there was no more soothing quality, it was of sheer menace.

"Sir, you speak of what you do not know. What happened before was not mastered by a Light dweller, it was a Twili who created that madness. The only mission here is to stop the second destruction of Twilight, again masterminded by a Twili out for his own gain. I see it is already in progress, if one of my own subjects does not believe their princess and rightful ruler of the Twilight Realm!" The man looked at her, Zelda, Adalmund and myself quizzically, searching our faces for something.

"Your Highness, respectful friends," and he bowed in our direction, "I hope what you speak of is true, for your sakes and the sake of the Twilight Realm. I see these Light dwellers and feel no malice from them and I am inclined to show no malice back. However not all will believe you. Lyon is a very respected councillor and his methods of talking to the people are successful. I don't know what he hopes to achieve, but I can see from your face that it is no good."

"What is your name, sir?" Midna asked.

"Grayle, Your Highness," the man replied, bowing once more.

"What do you do Grayle?" Midna continued with the questions.

"I have but a small farm not far from the Palace, Your Highness. I am of humble birth."

"Well Grayle, when I have disposed of Lyon and become Queen, I want you to become one of my new councillors. I see that you have a wise head on your shoulders and I could use that within my Council Chambers. What do you say?" The man looked shocked, stunned and grateful all in one facial expression.

"Your Highness, I can but humbly accept. It would be an honour to serve you as you begin your rule over the Twilight Realm." The man bowed once more. Before, when he had shouted 'traitor' at us, his face seemed hard, but now, it had softened. Midna certainly had good people skills and it was nice to see that she didn't treat them like she treated me sometimes, otherwise she would never get anywhere.

"I will call for you when the time is right, Grayle, but for now, I must get back to the matter in hand. Thank you for your wisdom, it has been most helpful," and with that we were off again, towards the room with the hands.

"You handled that well, Midna," remarked Zelda as we approached the door that looked so familiar to me now. "It's not easy dealing with subjects who are against you. You are going to make a fine queen."

"Thank you, Zelda," replied Midna, shooting off a small smile. She stretched her hand out towards the door, but before she touched it to open it, something in her mind seemed to stop her.

"I've only just thought of this, but why aren't you called, 'Queen Zelda'? You seem to have the powers of a queen in your realm, unlike me, so what about the title?" Zelda looked at her and smiled.

"Technically, I am a queen, Midna," Zelda replied, "but I just chose to remain as 'Princess Zelda.' It is what everyone in my realm calls me and I am not offended. I consider myself lucky, compared to you, to not have that absolute rule in place where I need a man beside me to take the crown. Though, I hope that there will soon be one beside me." With this she placed her hand on Adalmund's and smiled, and he smiled back at her, returning the pressure of the clasped hands. It was such a small gesture, but it meant so much.

"Ah, well that does explain things, and don't worry, I am going to change our silly, silly rule as soon as I can," and with that she placed her hand on the door and it opened.

llll

llll

Link had been pretty quiet for a while.

"Bone for your thoughts, wolf boy?" I smiled at him.

"Just remembering the last time we were here, how I kept changing into a wolf every time we went into that Twlight fog stuff. It was pretty irritating," he added.

We walked through the rooms towards the hand room and we saw no-one. All the time, Link and Adalmund had their swords out in anticipation but we didn't come across a soul.

"Be ready," I said as we approached the door to the room with the hand. "I don't know what Lyon has planned but something doesn't feel right." I pressed my hand to the door and it opened, and we walked into darkness.

No sooner had we walked inside, the door closed behind us. We were in dark silence.

"Not a good sign," Link whispered at my side and I could feel him tense. I shot a quick glance at Zelda and Adalmund but I could not see them through the darkness. There was light in the room, at the opposite end. I could vaguely make out the hand shape, but not only that I could see something else too. I took a step forward, only to feel a hand in front of me.

"I'm going first," whispered Link, and I knew it would be pointless to try and stop him. As we walked closer, I saw that there was definitely something trapped in the hand.

"I'm going to send a light out," I warned everyone. We needed to see what was in front of us. The magic swelled from my fingers and soon, balls of light swirled above us. I could now make out the fact that there was someone in the hand.

"Tarbut!" I shouted. A groan replied and I took this for a yes. The four of us now ran towards the hand. The old man was looking forlorn in the grasp of the hand and I moved towards his head.

"Tarbut, what on earth has happened? Are you alright? This is Lyon's doing, isn't it?" I knew that there were probably too many questions for the old man to deal with at that time, however I wanted to get as much information as quickly as possible. Link and Adalmund helped him out of the hand once I'd touched it, and sat him gently down.

"Your Highness, I am fine, if a little tired. This is Lyon's doing. I was in the Research Room when he came with two other councillors, Dray and Tylan. You know those two follow him around like sick dogs. I refused to go with him so he made me."

"Why did nobody stop him?" I interrupted, "surely people in the library would have seen and heard this all going on?"

"Everybody is afraid of Lyon. He has some power over too many people who fail to stand up to him and his ideals. I am afraid I was one of these people, Your Highness and for that I am sorry. I should have stopped him being a councillor long ago, once I knew who he was." Tarbut sighed.

"Hang on, what do you mean you knew who he was?" I knew there had to be something deeper now, now Tarbut had been kidnapped. I knew that Lyon was not just your regular run-of-the-mill traitor.

"This was not discussed because at the time, your father was on the throne. The Council were sworn to secrecy and this is the first time I have spoken about it for many years. You know that Zant was chosen as your betrothed all those years ago?"

"How could I forget that decision," I scoffed, "go on."

"Well, Zant was of noble birth. His parents were highly regarded and your father thought that would be the best match for the Realm." I could have interrupted about how my father thought a lot of things, but I knew now was not the time. "What was kept secret was the fact that Zant's father had a mistress, with whom he had a illegitimate son." I could now see where this was going.

"Lyon is Zant's half brother?" I exclaimed. Beside me I could hear the intakes of breath from my three friends.

"Yes, that is true. Lyon is related to Zant. He has had to face that scorn for a long time, although fairly secretly. I must grant that he did well to become a councillor, but it was only a matter of time before it all blew up, especially now Zant is gone. Lyon has felt that he has lived in his half brother's shadow for far too long and no wants to make amends for it. He has not had the magic, or the influence nor the being chosen by Ganondorf as a puppet to help him His drive is purely to show that he is just as good as his brother was, if not even better."

Suddenly, I felt a little niggle at the back of my mind. I could hear something.

"Now they know. That old codger must have told them. Now they know what I feel. Well, it won't take too long to dispose of them since I have this. I have bided my time for too long, it's the time for action, the time to grab what is mine and the time to destroy the Realm of Light which has harmed us for so long. Midna, Midna, Midna. I just hope you are ready to see your friends and lover perish before your eyes by my hand. I cannot wait to see you on your knees begging, begging for my forgiveness, begging for me to let them go. But I won't. I will destroy them and destroy the world they came from, all the while with you by my side, watching, experiencing the pain I have felt for years of not belonging. You will neither belong in this world, or theirs. You will become my servant for all time, because with this I am invincible!"

llll

llll

I saw Midna sway a little, and I felt something too. I saw Link grab her arm and felt Adalmund grab mine.

"What's up?" the men seemed to say in unison.

"The Triforce of Power. It is back." I heard Midna reply. "This cannot be!" I looked at my hand. The Triforce symbol underneath the surface was glowing and I held it up. Link saw me and did the same. His hand was also glowing.

"It's awoken and found a new body to inhabit; one full of powerful thoughts. Lyon." Midna finally answered. "I've just heard his thoughts. He's coming here now and is planning to destroy you, the Light Realm and enslave me."

"What is this?" asked Tarbut, confused.

"Tarbut, an ancient power has awoken in Lyon. Zant possessed it through Ganondorf and with their demise, it seems that it has transferred to Lyon without our knowledge.

"What do we do?" the old councillor asked, getting to his feet.

"Tarbut, you must grant permission for me to marry Link," Midna added indicating him to Tarbut. "He is a Light dweller, however I believe that for harmony to be restored to Twilight completely, we must join together with the Light Realm and this is the best way to do this. This is why I was looking for you today, to seek and receive your permission for this." Tarbut seemed to survey Link from head to toe and gazed at his face. I saw Link stare him straight back in the eye and Tarbut closed his.

"Your Highness, it seems that you have chosen well. I fully support your decision to marry this man and I heartily believe your reasons behind it. After what I have now experienced at Lyon's hand, I see that he is not the right choice for your consort. On the Day of Royals, you will be pronounced Queen with this Link by your side. I give my consent to you marrying him.

"If we get to the Day of Royals," Link added in a stern voice.

CRASH. The sound came from behind us and we all whipped round. The door caved in and behind the dust stood Lyon, followed by Dray and Tylan. The men tensed, swords thrust in front of themselves in a defensive stance.

"Well, well, well what do we have here? Been telling secrets have you Tarbut?" Lyon frowned at the old councillor, who suddenly bent down double.

"Tarbut, what is the matter?" Midna asked, crouching down beside him, turning her head to face Lyon as she spoke again. "Whatever it is you're doing to him Lyon, stop it" and she sent a flash of light towards Lyon who held up a hand and it faded away.

"What have I already told you about your temper, Midna? It will never get you anywhere" but with this speech Tarbut gasped and fell to his knees, no longer clutching his stomach. "Now I think we all need to have a little talk, don't you? It seems that you now know all about me, from our friend Tarbut here."

"He is not your friend, Lyon," Midna interrupted, "as I have already told you, you do not treat friends like this!" and she sent a blue light towards Lyon this time, who again, brush away the attack." Lyon laughed.

"Whatever you have planned, Midna, cannot be done. I have been blessed with the power that my half-brother could not wield and now I will use it against you, like it already should have been used!"

"A power from the Light Realm no less, Lyon! You know nothing of this power and how to wield it. I presume that's one thing that made you jealous of Zant in the first place, that he had magical heritage, yet you possessed none? Am I right?" I could see Midna was beginning to goad him and it seemed to be working.

"How dare you assume anything about me Midna! You do not know anything about me."

"I know enough," replied Midna, "enough to know that you are no longer welcome in this world. You have stood in my way for far too long for I will become queen and you will not see me become queen. I plan to finish you here and now"

"Then let it begin," invited Lyon.

llll

llll

Dray and Tylan ran towards us, but Adalmund and I took one each. It was clear that they possessed nothing of Lyon's power as they came running with their swords. Metal on metal we struck together. It was comforting to know that I had not lost my abilities as both Adalmund and I managed to finish the men off quickly and easily, but we were both aware that this was only a distraction and as we turned around, we saw a ball of light fly towards us. It made us stop in mid-movement, looking towards Midna and Zelda. They were in spell casting stance and light seemed to flick from one side of the room to the other. Adalmund and I could not move, however we could see and hear what was going on.

"I shall finish you, Lyon" came Midna's beautiful voice, full of anger and loathing. "I will see you dead before I let you claim Twilight as your own." Lyon's laugh came after these words.

"Petty words, Midna. You must finish me for that to become true and so far what have you done? Send light my way. It shall be amusing to keep you as my slave and see you beg for mercy. I want you lover over there to see that first, see his powerful, proud Midna screaming for mercy. Then I shall kill him, and you shall watch. Revenge shall be mine and I will tame you. You will be mine, Midna!"

Anger swelled within me; anger towards Lyon, anger towards Midna for leaving me, and finding me, anger towards Zant for starting the whole implosion in the first place. As I got more and more angry, the light holding me in place faded away. I could see that I had use of my hands, then my arms, then my legs and my feet again. Lyon was absorbed in his duel with Midna so I ran towards him, sword held high, howling my wolf cry. I could only see Lyon in front of me, who was all I was focused on. His head turned as I neared and he held an arm out.

There was a flash and I saw Zelda lying on the ground, motionless.

Yes, one of my famous cliffies! But they help me write the following chapters ;)

Let me know what you think of the chapter and I'll update again soon!