Guess who has two thumbs and is easily distracted by video games that they recently started. This guy. ^^

Chapter 36: The Depths of Darkness

A knot of tension tightened inside Link's stomach as he stood dripping wet in front the temple's vault door. In the time it had taken to trek there some of his earlier eagerness had burned away. His thoughts flew back to when he had fought Darbus as well as the plant monster from the forest temple. Both battles had been frightening and insanely dangerous, and Link dreaded to think what might be waiting for him this time. However, it wasn't like he was an inexperienced goatherd anymore. He could do this. And for the pact Link had made with Midna, he needed to do this.

Link turned to his companion beside him. Midna met his gaze with confidence, which Link drew strength from. He raised the crystal shard in his hands and aligned it with the door's keyhole. As Link slipped the key in a sharp click was heard then a low rumbling. The lock, shaped like the ship's wheel, spun noisily in the centre of the door as rusted parts ground against each other. After that the door split through its middle and the two halves swung back into the room they barricaded. The stink of dampness and age assailed Link's nose as he peered in and down at a hole in the floor.

"This is reassuring," he said with some sarcasm. He walked up and gazed into the hole but could not see through its dark depths.

"It's better than a monster trying to claw itself out, if you ask me," Midna responded. Link saw an image from the past and could not disagree with her on that point.

"Can you see what might be down there?"

Midna squinted but shook her head. "There's a good chance there's water below us, but unless I can go down and feel it I can't be certain."

Link frowned and knelt beside the hole, touching his first knuckle against his bottom lip. After a moment's thought he held his palm out. "Hand me an arrow."

"Okay..." Midna summoned a single shaft over Link's hand but remained confused. "Now what?"

Without answering, Link held the arrow horizontally over the pit and raised a finger before his lips. He then released the arrow, which disappeared into the darkness. A faint splash followed barely a moment later and Link met his partner's widened gaze.

"That wasn't very long at all," she said. "The water level must not be that far down."

Link flashed a grin. "And now we know." He sat along the edge of the pit and pulled up his hood and mask. "You ready for this?" he asked, looking at Midna.

A smirk crossed her face. "Are you?"

He shrugged. "I'm hoping so."

"Don't worry. The worst that can happen is you becoming a bloated corpse at the bottom of a lake. You'll be fine."

Link rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you looking on the bright side all the time." As he pushed himself off the ledge and dropped into the hole, Midna's grin widened whilst water splashed loudly below her.

"That's what I'm here for," she said. Then she followed her companion.

After recovering from the shock of diving into cold water; the coldest he'd felt so far, Link opened his eyes to see nothing but black around him. Hardly any light came through from above and as a result Link struggled to see his own hand in front of him. Resigning to the situation, he spun his body away from the surface and dove deeper. The minimal light grew fainter the further down he went and soon Link was completely blind. Anxiety began to grip his chest as thoughts of getting lost in darkness raced through him.

"Damn it. Where the hell am I even going?" he asked aloud.

"Just keep swimming."

Midna's voice was right in Link's ear and he jolted in mid-stroke. "Goddesses! Don't sneak up on me like that."

"You did it first, so shut up," she snapped back. A few moments passed before she spoke again. "It's faint but I think I can see something right below us."

"Where? I can't see anything," Link said in frustration.

"Then just follow my voice."

Although that idea sounded simple, the water caused Midna's voice to echo from all around Link, making it difficult to discern where she was. He only became more disoriented as he realised it was impossible to tell which way was up or down whilst underwater. Add that to the total blackness and it felt like he weren't getting anywhere at all. The only think that Link had to go on was the weight of his shield pushing down on his back as it made him sink, so he placed his faith in that; although that faith was dwindling by the minute.

The chill was growing the more Link dove deeper, as did the pressure building against his body. It occurred to him that he was far deeper underwater than any human could normally go, and he wondered if the zora armour's magic was protecting him from more than simply drowning. Such ponderings were quickly abandoned as a soft bluish light became visible down below Link.

He spotted Midna's shape several metres ahead and adjusted his course to follow her. Eight long, transparent tentacles writhed from the centre of the pool's sandy floor, glowing as they lazily reached for the human skirting around them. The same number of stone pillars stood around the chamber on the fringe of the light's touch, each one strangled top to bottom with kelp and algae. Link met Midna on the sand well away from the tentacles and watched them as they reverted back to drifting aimlessly.

"It's not the most intimidating thing if you ask me, but it still looks pretty gross," Midna remarked. She glanced at Link, appearing calm and collected. "So, how do you think we should take this thing on?"

"You're asking me for ideas?" Link asked, his brow rising.

"Why not?" Midna shrugged. "You're the one who usually finds a way to beat monsters like this, and most of the time you do it spectacularly." She stared at the tentacles with mild annoyance, crossing her arms across her chest. "My magic doesn't really do anything against creatures made by the Fused Shadows, so I might as well just sit back, help out when I need to and enjoy the show."

"Okay then..." Link replied hesitantly. Although Midna spoke the truth, that did more to unnerve him than reassure. In the past he normally came up with winning strategies out of desperation. Now that he had time to calmly think of one for this situation, not much was coming to him.

He studied the tentacles and traced them to a roughly shaped mass buried almost completely under the sand. "I can see part of the monster's body right in the middle, there," he said, pointing. "It might be a weak spot."

"Alright, good start. So what do we do with that?" Midna said. They way she seemed to scrutinise him reminded Link of how Ilia's mother used to teach him arithmetic, by which she'd guide Link through each individual step but encourage him to work out the answer for himself.

Link carefully took his time before responding. "Well... Its mouth is wide open, so we could throw a bomb in and blow it up from the inside."

A grin spread across Midna's face. "You have a very gruesome way of thinking, you know that?" She chuckled as Link rubbed his nape. "I like it. Let's get to work."

"There's one problem, though," Link frowned. "I'd have to get close to the mouth to throw a bomb in. But if I do get close, those tentacles will snatch me up. So I need a safe way past them."

"Why do you need to throw the bomb?" Midna asked casually. "Just swim over that thing and drop one in. It wouldn't be that hard."

Somewhat embarrassed, Link averted his gaze and rubbed his neck again. "Right... That'd work too." He saw Midna summon a water bomb through the corner of his eyes and took it.

"Being able to move in three dimensions is really handy, isn't it?" she smirked behind him.

Link rolled his eyes and ignored the smugness in the question. "Just hold these for me," he said, removing his weapons and dropping them beside Midna, where they both then disappeared. Now free of the extra weight, he began swimming upwards.

He ascended in a slow, gradual arc over the creature, keeping a safe distance away from its glowing tendrils. Once he was directly above the monster's jagged teeth, Link armed the bomb and released it from his grasp.

As soon as the bomb entered its mouth, the creature snapped its jaws shut like a bear trap. The bomb then exploded and a plume of foam and gore spouted upward. The light of the monster's tentacles fluctuated as it roared and thrashed in its pit, spewing out more black blood within a pluming cloud of sand. Link floated there above the beast expecting it to die any moment, but instead it began emerging from the floor straight towards him.

"Get out of there!" Midna screamed.

Link kicked his legs desperately. With his every stroke, the creature rose higher to reveal a long, spiny body. It passed Link seconds after he was out of the way and yet it was still dragging more of itself up from the bed. By the time the beast did fully emerge it was over twenty meters in length, appearing as a grotesque giant eel.

"I think you made it mad," Midna exclaimed, her eye bulging out of her head.

"No kidding!" he answered harshly as he rejoined her, his shock overtaking his sense. "Now what?" The leviathan slithered through the water above them, twisting in search of its attacker. Sooner or later it would find them, and if they did not come up with a new plan then Link would be in serious trouble.

Midna regained her composure. "Go and hide while I take a closer look at that thing," she ordered. "I'll see if it's vulnerable anywhere else."

Link nodded and kicked off towards one of the stone pillars. After slipping behind it, he peered out to watch Midna fly around the monster's body. It squirmed and reached its tendrils at her as she went but its greater size made it difficult for the beast to keep up with Midna. Link's heart skipped a beat as he saw one of the tentacles pass through Midna. It didn't grab her but she did stop in place, screaming loudly. Before another tentacle could touch her Midna barely managed to dodge out of the way. She became more cautious with her movements and maintained a safe distance away from the creature's head. Eventually Midna retreated and returned to Link hunched over and breathing laboriously.

"You're hurt," Link exclaimed.

"It was just a jolt. Don't worry about it," she grimaced. "That fish has a big eye on the top of its head, behind the tentacles. Everywhere else though is covered with thick scales, so that's what you'll have to aim for."

Link hissed through his mask, producing a thin stream of bubbles. "So if I try to attack there, it'll see me coming. That doesn't leave much room for error."

"So don't mess it up," Midna told him. She then summoned his clawshot and sword and held it out to him. "Use the clawshot to get in close then stab it quick. It's only got the one eye, so at least you'll blind it."

"I suppose there's that," he said, managing an unseen smile as he gained some confidence in the plan. Pulling the clawshot over his arm and strapping the sword to his back, Link pressed himself against the pillar and began to scale it. "Wish me luck."

The pillar concealed Link as he climbed higher, swimming past the level where the monster hunted him. Near the pillar's top, Link watched the great eel move about the chamber. Soon it approached his position and Link clicked the clawshot's prongs in anticipation. He aimed the device at the creature's back as it came past and fired, successfully grabbing one of its jagged spines.

The leviathan felt Link's body collide onto its back and thrashed in response. Link wrapped his arms tightly around a single spine and held on as he searched for the beast's eye. He found it two meters in front of him and used his clawshot to reach it against the violent bucking. A great yellow orb stared up at Link a second before he drove his sword deep inside of it. The monster's thrashing grew more intense as it roared furiously.

Link was about to kick himself away but a tentacle then caught him by the middle. He yelped a curse as he was pulled out in front of the monster and thrown straight into its mouth. In his panic, Link struck his sword into the creature's flesh, where it wedged between two long fangs.

Damn it! his mind screamed. Why the hell is everything trying to eat me today?!

All around him were bloody wounds and broken teeth. A few fangs pierced into his legs and back causing Link to scream out. However, as soon as the monster bit down its fangs pulled out suddenly as if in pain. Had the water bomb not done so much damage earlier, Link realised he would have been torn to shreds.

A cold, slimy tongue then slid against Link's leg and that time he nearly did let go of the blade. The beast roared again, almost deafening Link, and suddenly he was ejected back outside. Not sparing the time to think, Link swam hurriedly away from the monster fish as it turned towards the side.

Midna rushed out to meet him, her expression horrified. "Oh dear goddesses! Link, what happened there? You're injured."

"It looks worse than it feels." Link panted heavily and he could swear water was leaking through his mask. "I don't think that thing liked how I tasted."

"Well if you tasted like lizard shit and toad guts then I don't blame it," Midna joked, although her grin looked strained. Link chuckled in spite of everything and he felt his terror subside a bit. "Where's your sword?" she then asked.

Link glanced down at his empty hand in shock then searched all around. No matter where he looked he could not find his weapon. "Crap! It must still be in that thing's mouth!"

"Unless you plan to go back for it, we can worry about that later," Midna growled. She glared up at the leviathan still swimming about despite its injuries. It moved much more slowly than before, though, and held all of its tentacles in front of it like giant feelers. "Damn it. This is a real pain in the ass."

Link shared the sentiment as he worked his brain overtime. Without his sword, the only tools he could use underwater were his bombs and clawshot; perhaps his iron boots, too, assuming they could be of any help at all. The bombs seemed to hold more promise but the one he'd already used had not been enough to kill the monster alone.

That last thought struck a chord in Link. He turned to face Midna. "Give me some more water bombs. The whole bag."

Midna looked at him curiously. "I take it you've got another plan?" She summoned the bomb bag and Link took it in both arms.

"When I tell you to, I need you to hit the monster with your magic."

"What the hell is that going to do?"

"For a start, it'll draw its attention. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

Midna held his gaze for several moments before nodding slowly. "Okay. I trust you."

Link nodded back, smiling although his expression couldn't be seen. He turned away and began swimming upwards. "Like I said; wait for my signal."

Due to his fatigue and injuries, it was a slow and difficult ascent as Link rose to the pinnacle of one pillar. Resting atop it, he placed the bomb bag down and counted the spheres inside. There were a dozen bombs left; more than enough for what Link had in mind. He then launched the clawshot at empty water and pulled the prongs in beside him. Next he closed the claws onto the bag just under the pull chord and tugged the device tightly, pleased that it was holding strong.

With his preparations made, Link swam out towards the inner area of the chamber, all the while keeping clear of the blinded leviathan as it swam close past him. He then let the bag drop free and it sank swiftly until the clawshot's chain went taut. No reaction came from the sudden jerk that resulted and Link released his breath. Good thing he didn't try to launch the clawshot after attaching the bombs. They may have all exploded right then and there...

"Alright," Link called. "Attack the monster and lure it to the bag. I'll handle the rest."

"Got it." Midna positioned herself close to the bomb bag and shot a black sphere at the beast. The magic cracked against its head and the monster roared before turning in her direction. Midna continued to attack the enemy as its charge became more accurate. Once it was almost on top of her, Link called out again.

"Get clear! Now!"

At the last moment Link released the clawshot's grip and quickly retrieved the chain. The bag then disappeared into the monster's maw as it barrelled through. It crashed into the opposite wall, making large, wide-reaching cracks in the stonework. Multiple explosions then boomed and the underside of the beast was blown open in a great burst of gore.

The light in the chamber faded with the monster's death, leaving only a weak beam in the centre that shone from the room above. Relief washed over Link as the creature's corpse sank towards the floor, disintegrating into tiny, dark flecks. His body grew slack and he, too, began to drift downwards. His eyes were closed as the grit of sand pressed against his back, and Link's mind became nothing more than calm stillness.

"Link? Are you alright?"

Link opened his eyes to find Midna looming over him. In her hands was a black shard of misshapen stone. "Yeah... I'm fine," he said tiredly. His gaze shifted to the stone. "Is that it?"

Midna beamed as she glanced down at their prize as well. "Yes. This is it; the last Fused Shadow. Finally, we've got them all!"

The joyful wonder in her voice caused Link to smile. With a grunt, he managed to lift his head up. "So... are we done collecting Fused Shadows now?"

"Yes," Midna giggled. "We're done."

Hearing this, Link plopped his head back onto the sand, his eyes closed once again. "Good," he sighed.

Midna's giggling turned into light-hearted laughter. The Fused Shadow vanished from her palms and she gazed down at her companion with a soft smile. She had pushed him so hard up until now and at last he had given her what he had promised all those weeks ago, even though he'd already gotten what he wanted from her. Link had come this far on his own volition and now he lay exhausted and bloody purely for her sake, yet he didn't complain or begrudge her for it. As she watched Link breath softly and deeply, almost as if he were falling asleep, Midna felt a warmth in her chest; one that she thought that she would never feel in this world.

"You know..." she said, coming down to sit beside Link. "What you did just then was pretty cool. That monster almost swallowed you whole, but you kept on fighting and managed to win."

"I couldn't have done it without you, though," he answered, cracking open one eye.

Midna chuckled again. "Yeah. But if I'm being honest, I could say the same thing to you. Now that I have all four Shadows I can finally go home and save my tribe. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is that... I'm grateful."

"You're welcome," Link replied. "I'd say I was happy to help, but I nearly died way too many times for my liking."

They laughed together, loud and carefree. They were both glad to be alive; glad to have won the day; glad to have finally reached this point in the road where they could look back and everything they'd done in the past was well behind them. As their laughter died out, Midna drifted to the darker space beside Link and laid herself down. She closed her eyes just as he did and relished in the rest she and Link long since earned. Time seemed to fly by before Link next opened his mouth.

"We'll have to go up against that man, Zant, now, won't we?" He sounded more tired than he was a few minutes ago.

"You don't have to if you don't want," Midna answered softly. "I can take him on my own with the Fused Shadows."

"I know... But I couldn't just let you face him by yourself."

Midna shook her head as her expression hardened. "Zant isn't like any other enemy you've fought before. He's a skilled mage and his power is probably more than what you can defend yourself against. If you came with me, you'd only get in the way."

Link breathed a sigh. "Alright, then. I suppose I've done enough already, haven't I?"

"More than enough," Midna smiled. They then fell back into a long silence until Link started getting to his feet. Midna looked to him curiously.

"I just remembered about my sword," he said, squinting into the darkness. "Where is it?"

Midna pushed herself up as well. "Hang on. I'll find it."

She vanished into the gloom and returned moments later with a strangely shaped object in her grasp. As she passed it into Link's hands he recognised it as the hilt of his sword. The blade had shattered with only a warped stub of metal still attached. The handle itself was cracked and broken all over, and the horn pieces had been blown off completely.

"Sorry," Midna mumbled as her gaze flicked between the ruined sword and her partner's grief-stricken face.

Link cradled the handle as though he hadn't heard her. That was the first real sword he had ever owned. His father made it specifically for the good of their village and it had served Link well since the start this adventure. Seeing it now, damaged beyond repair... it felt like he had just lost a part of himself.

With a heavy sigh, Link dropped the sword and let it sink. "Oh well, nothing we can do about it now."

"Better to lose a sword than your life," Midna consoled.

Weakly, Link nodded. "Yeah..."

Tearing her eyes away from him, Midna concentrated on an empty space on the floor and created a portal. "Well... This is it," she murmured.

"It sure is," Link answered in the same quiet tone. Through that hole they would reach the end of their journey together and go their separate ways. Thinking in terms like that saddened him a little.

"Hey... Midna?" She turned to Link as he slowly approached the portal. "These last few months since we met were pretty crazy. I mean, almost every bit of it has been scary and dangerous. And we definitely didn't get off on the best start together." He then met her stare and his lips formed into a small smile. "But you know, despite all that I kind of enjoyed it, as well. I won't forget any of it for a long time."

Turning away again, Midna closed her eyes and smiled in return. "It was a wild ride, wasn't it? But yeah, it was also sort of fun for me, too."

Link stepped closer to the portal, his feet just outside the circle that would teleport them outside. "Good luck with your fight against Zant. If you need anything, just call."

"Thanks. And good luck getting your friends home. Then you can get back to shovelling goat dung or whatever it is you do."

"Maybe I'll invite you over and get you to help out. A little bit of dung-shovelling builds character, you know," Link grinned.

"You can keep your dung and your invitation," Midna said with mock disgust. "I'll have better things to do than go around and act like a light-dwelling hick."

Link snorted. "I'd sooner be a light-dwelling hick than a smart-mouthed imp, so do what you want. I don't care."

"Fine by me."

Despite their words, the two grinned at one other without shame. As Link took the first step into the portal, Midna looked to his disappearing form and felt that same warmth as still glowed inside her. Not long ago she had lost everything dear to her; her life, her home, her family. But now after meeting Link and seeing the kindness that he showed her and so many others, she had found something special that helped ease that pain. In that complete dork of a human, she realised she had found a friend.

As soon as Link rematerialised he felt a new shock of cold as a breeze brushed against his soaked body. He quickly recognised the interior of Lanayru's shrine around him and saw the moon shining through the ceiling. How late was it, he wondered? Link gripped his arms as he shivered and put the question aside. It could wait until after he changed out of his damned suit.

Pulling off his mask to taste the crisp night air, Link turned around and was met with the plated chest of a tall figure. Flinching back, he glanced up at the person's face, which was concealed under a conical helmet shaped like the head of some bulbous-eyed reptile. Under his armour, the stranger wore dark robes with cyan linings and long, tasselled sleeves.

Something about the man made Link's heart beat faster and his blood chill in his veins, so he reached over his shoulder only to realise that his scabbard was empty. Link's alarm grew deeper.

Light suddenly shone from behind Link and he turned to see the spirit Lanayru shoot out from his pool. The spirit beared his fangs at the stranger as the light within them grew intense with divine power. Warmth poured over Link and washed away his fear; the spirit's light giving him strength.

The stranger did not balk under the deity's brilliance as Link expected, but instead remained still as he began to glow with a dark, reddish aura. Crossing his arms before him, the man then pushed the energy out in all directions, striking Link and Lanayru and sending them both flying back. The cavern shook as Lanayru crashed into the far wall and crumpled against the ridge. His serpentine body then faded away with only his shining core remaining.

Gazing calmly at the holy light, the man in the mask reached his arm out and waved downwards. The sphere then sank into the water where it, too, disappeared from sight. The light inside the cave began to fade as well, but rather revert to the dark of night, the room turned into the dim orange of twilight. Black particles appeared throughout the space, drifting as softly as the fireflies that previously took their place.

The man then turned his attention to Link collapsed at his feet. The swordsman's form morphed into that of a wolf, yet even after the transformation Link remained unmoving. Next to him Midna appeared in her physical form, lying on her rear as she supported herself with one arm. She glared at the towering figure with fierce contempt.

"Zant!" she spat.

Midna yelped as an unseen force pulled her up into the air away from Link. Her arms stretched out beside her against her will and she struggled helplessly against her bonds. Fear overcame Midna's anger as Zant casually approached her and waved a hand before her. Three of the Fused Shadows appeared between them and Midna's helmet was torn from her head, revealing a bright orange fringe that fell over her panicking eyes.

"NO!" she shouted, but the relics flew towards Zant and disappeared once again, this time far out of her reach. After all of that work, her greatest weapon, and only hope, was stripped from her by the one she was to use it against. Midna struggled once again desperately but still her shackles held fast.

"Did you really mean to take such an ancient and withered power and turn it against me?" Zant spoke in a calm and disapproving tone. "You are a foolish traitor, Midna."

Midna's anger returned to her in force. "Oh, I'm the traitor?! You're the one who attacked our tribe and butchered our people! You abused our magic to take over, and now you're using it to poison yet another kingdom!"

Zant hissed a darkened sneer. "How dare you?! Are you implying that my power is our feeble old magic?" Midna's eyes grew wide as she was thrown over Zant's head and hard onto the ground behind him. Her entire body wailed in terrible pain. The taste of dirt filled her mouth and Midna's eyes watered as she fought against crying out.

Zant turned to her and held is hands before his chest. Between his palms a crimson sphere formed, expanding in size at a steady rate. "This power is granted to me by my god!" he said as his voice rose in fury. "It is the magic of the true king of twilight, and you WILL respect it!"

Midna looked past her shoulder. The orb in Zant's hands was now the size of a cannonball. She no longer felt the magic that had been restraining her, yet her terror paralysed her in its place.

A loud growl was heard and something struck Zant from behind, making him stumble. Biting down on the man's shoulder was Link snarling like a true feral beast. Zant growled irritably as Link's body weighed him down and he struck the crimson energy at him instead. It knocked Link off with a high-pitched whine and he fell to ground again in a heap.

"Link!" Midna shrieked. She rushed past Zant and knelt in front of her companion's snout. She shook him desperately yet he refused to wake. Midna heard his weak breathing and it relieved her to know that he was still alive. She then turned her gaze to Link's forehead and saw a dark, jagged shape buried halfway into his skull. The object sank deeper and deeper until it was completely absorbed into him. Midna's body began to shake. What had Zant done to him? Damn you, Link! Why did you have to do that for me?

Suddenly Midna was pulled away and held close to Zant with her hands fixed behind her back. Her breathing became rapid in spite of her best efforts to stop it. Her body stiffened as she felt Zant's hand on her shoulder and saw him lean in to her ear. The mouthpiece of his helmet slid upward, exposing a sharp teal-grey chin and a row of grinning fangs. Midna's breath caught in her throat as his brushed across her skin.

"Midna? Why must you fight against me?" he asked softly, as though he hadn't meant to attack her just then. "Don't you see how weak and pathetic these light-dwellers are? What point is there in allying yourself with them?"

Something inside sparked life back into Midna and she found herself snorting. "Pathetic? Weak? Haven't you noticed the twilight disappearing from this world? Link and I have been undoing your dirty work for weeks and you haven't been able to stop us one bit!"

In response Zant only chuckled, which robbed Midna of the confidence she had just gained. "Stop you? Why would I squander my time by doing that?" He chuckled again as the colour drained from Midna's already pale face. "Don't you realise, Midna? I no longer need to the twilight to conquer this world."

"That's impossible!" Midna exclaimed. "Our people can't survive in this world. As soon as light touches us, we..." She stopped, remembering the incident on the Bridge of Eldin, and her lips twisted into a snarl. "What did you do to the twili?"

Zant smirked. "I have... improved them. As they were, our tribe lacked strength and discipline. Now they are an unstoppable army united under my rule; fierce, obedient, and above all immune to this realm's accursed light. I have made the twili perfect."

"Is that what you did to Mother?" Midna growled. She gasped as Zant's fingers dug hard into her shoulder.

"She shouldn't have resisted," Zant hissed; gritting his teeth as his entire body shook. "She should have just done as she was told! If she had, I never would have had to do it!"

Midna yelled as the pressure on her shoulder increased unbearably. Then suddenly Zant's grip loosened. He grabbed her head and forced her gaze down on Link.

"Look at that creature, Midna," he said in a strained voice. "Remember that it's one of the light-dwellers who oppressed our people! They cast us down and doomed us to our fate in that infernal prison! They took what was ours for themselves and prospered while we suffered! To them we are nothing a nuisance to be forgotten about, and now that we fight to be seen again they try to keep us hidden in the darkness!"

"You're wrong!" Midna snapped. "Link isn't like that! He cares about others, and treats me the same as he does everyone else. He helped me collect the Fused Shadows because I asked him to, and he kept his word even when he no longer needed to. He's a hundred times the man you are, Zant! You, who only causes people pain for the sake of your own madness!"

"Madness?!" Zant began crushing Midna's arm again. "And what madness is it to fraternise with someone who lives each day in the light?! No matter how much you may desire otherwise, you are nothing more than a shadow in their world. It is not possible to consort with their kind!

"Midna..." he then said gently, "we can make their world ours. We can bring light and shadow together as one. Together, our tribe can finally take back this realm and blot out the light with sweet darkness. Join me and we can bring our people into a new, golden age!" He paused then purred into her ear. "Midna... I need you. Our people need you."

Midna gritted her teeth and thrashed against the magic holding her. This time it became loose and she was able to tear herself away from Zant. "I will never join you!" she glared, each word dripping with venom. "Not after everything that you've done!"

Zant was still for a moment then breathed a heavy, disappointed sigh. "So be it... If you choose to side with the light world..." He extended his arm toward Midna. "Then I will return you to it so that you may fully embrace it!"

Once more she was thrown past Zant and held frozen over the spring. Light came to burn the twilight from the cavern and Lanayru re-emerged from the water to resume his earlier attack. Midna ceased struggling and screamed as blinding light rained down on her. Every inch of her skin burned terribly and she lost awareness of everything else. She couldn't even use her magic to escape despite her best efforts to try.

Lanayru's pupil-less eyes widened at the imp before him, for she was not the enemy he had thought to be there. It was too late to cease his attack, so the spirit instead channelled his power for something else. The light then gathered around both the imp and the wolf and when it faded they were gone. Lanayru's form then melted into his core and the sphere rose swiftly through the hole in the ceiling. The chamber then faded into the natural shade of night.

Alone, Zant stood motionless as he stared at where the light spirit had fled. The mouthpiece of his helmet slid back into place and Zant then turned to walk calmly towards the exit. He would not pursue the ones who had escaped him. There was no need to.