Theme 18 – Tainted
TP – Midna X Link
Zelda didn't know why she felt this way. It was as if her very soul was weighed down with evil. She couldn't place the origin of this evil feeling, nor how it could have gotten into her. Still, it was a burden to bear, just as much as the Hero of Twilight's burden to save the kingdom.
Thinking that all she needed was some fresh air – something highly attainable here in Kakariko Village where the Hero Link was recovering from his battle against Ganondorf – she stepped out of the inn. It was nighttime, and rather dark, too, as the moon had not yet risen over the tall rocky walls around the village. Only the stars twinkled above in their pure light.
That's what it was. She didn't feel pure anymore. Something had taken that from her, and she wanted to know what.
"Night is no time for a princess to be wandering about." The lilting voice broke through the air, just behind Zelda, and the Hylian whipped around, only to come face to face with Midna.
"I could ask the same of you, Miss Twilight Princess," Zelda retorted.
"Fine. Defenseless princesses." Midna's eyes held a teasing sparkle in them.
"I am not defenseless and you know it." Zelda crossed her arms and pretended to pout.
Midna laughed. "Seriously, though. What are you doing out here?"
"Just needed some fresh air. What about you? Don't you want to be by Link's side?"
Midna shrugged, a slight blush on her cheeks. "He heals fast. He's just exhausted." An admirable look filled the Twilight Princess' eyes, and Zelda grinned. The Hylian Princess knew all too well just how Midna felt for the green-clad Hero.
"So he's asleep?"
"Like a log."
Zelda grinned, but then sighed, looking away from her friend and up at the starry sky.
"What's bothering you?" Midna asked after a moment.
"Nothing."
"Ha. Like I believe that."
Zelda looked hard at Midna. "Fine, then. Perhaps you can help me, seeing as you have had experience with the matter."
"Alright. What is it?"
"I feel like I've been cursed. Like there's an invisible weight on me that I can't shake off." She looked at Midna. "You know something don't you."
"Yeah, well, Link and I figured it would be best to keep that from you."
"What happened? I have a right to know."
Midna sighed. "Ganondorf happened." The Twilight Princess looked out over the Eldin Spring. She didn't say anything more, so Zelda pestered her again. "That was our first battle against him," Midna said, her voice betraying her annoyance at being pestered. "He...your soul was still housed within me, and your body was almost like an empty shell. He took control of it." She paused with a sigh, not bothering to look at Zelda's wide-eyed expression. "Perhaps because you are, as with the Princesses bearing the Triforce of Wisdom, pure in heart, mind, and soul, this is causing you discomfort. I wouldn't know, though, since I'm just a shadow-dweller." She still didn't look at Zelda, but she could sense the Hylian Princess becoming agitated from what Midna was saying.
"I was...possessed?" she finally said.
"Yes. By Ganondorf," Midna replied.
"But...that can't be true!"
"Would I lie to you, Zelda?"
"No, but... It's just...just..."
"Not a pleasant thought?"
"Well, that, too." Zelda closed her eyes, a hand over her face. Midna watched her for a moment. Then the Princess muttered something that sounded like "Oh, dear Din," and fainted.
When she woke later, she found she was in one of the beds in the inn. One thought prevailed her mind: she was tainted. She was tainted by evil and there was nothing she could do about it.
Author's note: I'm not too happy about the ending, but there's not much I can do. I hope you enjoyed it though!