Hi. Sorry that it's been two months since my last update. Had a number of personal things going on that demanded a lot of my spare time.

Anyway, when we were last together, Midna destroyed the barrier around Hyrule Castle before she lost control of the Fused Shadows. Let's see how she's doing with that adventure.

...Uhh... Ohh... Oh, God... Yeesh... Ooooh... Nope. She's not doing well at all. Better get her out of that jam ASAP.


Chapter 87: The Edge of the Storm

Link could never forget that hellish roar. Fear coursed through his heart despite his brain insisting there was nothing to worry about. His feet carried him outside, where he saw the horror born from the Fused Shadows rise. The beast made its way to Hyrule Castle, ascending the barrier like a spider up a wall. He heard the sound of a mountain breaking as light erupted from a hole in the barrier. It threw the horror to the ground, sending up a great plume of dust.

The rest of their squad emerged from the house just as the barrier began to fall apart. Like a bubble bursting in slow motion, its walls ruptured out; its magic shifting into a spreading flood of radiance. Whooping cheers rose behind Link. A grin broke wide across his face at the sight of Hyrule Castle, now unobstructed.

"She did it!" Yuit cried out.

A shockwave rippled from the barrier. It threw dust and shingles up from the rooftops. When it hit Link and the others, they fell to their backsides as they shielded their faces. The hedges and trees bent under the fierce wind. Soon the air became still again.

"Glad we weren't closer to that," Risio remarked, wiping the dirt from his trousers.

Rumbling persisted towards the castle. Panicked shrieks rose throughout the district. Link could smell blood in the wind. Bokoblins ran south past the house in droves. "Would you look at that," Yuit smirked. "The Queen is scaring all of the monsters silly."

They then heard the roar again. "No," Link gritted his teeth. "Something's not right."

Without warning, he ran into the street. Immediately, Link came face to face with a dinalfos. It was terrified. It couldn't defend itself in time before Link drew his sword and cleaved into its shoulder in the same swing. No sooner that the body hit the ground, Link was already running northward.

There were plenty of other monsters coming in the opposite direction. Few gave Link any trouble. The rest were focused on saving their lives. Likewise, Link ignored anything that didn't carry a weapon within swinging distance. His comrades shouted his name behind him, but Link paid no heed.

He came to a stop when he saw the Fused Shadows. The horror was carving buildings apart, throwing the pieces in a wild manner. "No…" Link breathed. His blood ran cold.

Multiple thoughts raced through his head. What had gone wrong? Was Midna alright inside of that beast? How could they save her? How could they stop this at all? He couldn't come up with any answers!

'Please!' he prayed as he ran. 'Save her! I've done everything I was supposed to until now! I don't ask for much in return, so please save her!'

Some stalfos barred his way. As dead creatures already, they had no fear for the monster rampaging in front of them. Link channelled the Triforce through his sword. Then he destroyed the entire horde with a great spin. He kept going until he was just beyond the horror's reach.

"MIDNA!" he screamed.

The beast ignored him at first. Link called out again. Slowly, the horror turned its attention to him. "Midna! You have to snap out of it! Change back! Remember what we're here for!"

A golden arm rose above Link. He ran sideways to avoid its fall. The shockwave sent him flying. Cobbles bit into his body. If not for Link's plate armour, the debris would have pierced through him.

"Sir Link!" A pair of arms pulled Link onto his feet. He slung his own over Pame's shoulders until he could steady his balance.

"We have to get out of here!" she told him. "Yuit's building another portal. We'll use that to escape."

"I'm not abandoning Midna!" Link said fiercely. Pame carried him out of harm's way as another fist came down behind them. With both of them knocked over, Link fought to stand on his own strength. "We can't leave her like this… There has to be a way to get her out of there."

The horror's roar drowned the first words of Pame's response. "-I want to save her, too. She's my charge, so it's my duty. I just don't see how we can do anything as we are now."

Link found his sword lying on the ground. "I have to try." Picking up his weapon, he ran towards one of the arms holding the horror up. Link plunged the Master Sword into its hand. Shadow magic bled from the wound.

Howling angrily, the horror swung another arm at Link. He didn't have time to withdraw his blade. The beast's palm closed around Link, pressing him from all sides. As he struggled, it lifted him high into the air. Link stared into the eyes of the Fused Shadows. Suddenly he became acutely aware of his heartbeat.

"Midna!" he screamed desperately. "Please! Wake up! MIDNA!"


Nothing was working. Everything felt dark and hazy. It was becoming harder for Midna to keep conscious. She was caught in the current of magic and Midna could hardly move her physical body anymore.

The Fused Shadows rampaged. Walls; buildings; living creatures; nothing meant of any consequence to their raw, chaotic drive. 'Destroy,' they chanted in a pale imitation of Midna's voice.

No wonder the light spirits sealed the Fused Shadows in the deepest reaches of the earth. What had the ancients been thinking when they created this power? Now Midna had brought the scattered pieces together and enabled them to run loose again.

"No" Midna's thoughts grew back into focus. She had worked too damned hard to save her people. She worked too damned hard to give them the chance of a new life beyond the Twilight Realm. There was no way in hell that she was going to fuck all of that up now for them!

"Listen to me, you piece of shit!" she roared at the Fused Shadows. "I am the Twilight Queen and your master! Now stop moving around and get back into your cage!"

The Shadows' response was to smash down on a pack of skeleton monsters. Being ignored was starting to aggravate Midna. As her temper rose, the slurry of darkness washed through her head from the Shadows.

"Midna…"

Someone was calling. But who would be out there for her to hear? The Fused Shadows turned their gaze to a small, green human standing in front of them. Midna's heart stopped. "No! Link! Get the hell away from here!"

The Fused Shadows threw a fist at him. Link got out of the way just in time, but he was still knocked to the ground. "Stop it!" Midna screamed at the Shadows. "Leave him alone! That's an order!"

Someone else ran through to help Link up. It was Pame. "Oh, goddesses…" Midna froze. "Oh, Goddesses, help them!" Hot tears burned her eyes. Her body began to shake. "Please… Please stop this… Please…"

"It will be okay, Midna."

That voice sounded close. It couldn't have been from the outside or the Shadows' echo. "Who's there?"

"Have you already forgotten me, Midna? It wasn't far from here where you and I first met."

"Zelda…?" She looked around. Inside of this cacoon of nightmares, she was all alone. "Is that you?"

Somehow, Midna could feel a gentle smile shine upon her. "It's been a long time." The words were spoken in a soft, soothing melody that made her trembling cease.

"Midna! Please wake up! MIDNA!"

Lightning paralysed Midna as she then saw Link in the Shadows' grasp. "No… No, please! For the goddesses' sake, let him go! LET HIM GO RIGHT NOW!"

The golden hand was squeezing him. Link made to scream, but all that came out was a strangled gasp even Midna could hear. "It's killing him... Zelda, it's going to kill him!"

"Calm down, Midna."

"Do you not hear me? I can't stop this. If something isn't done now, then Link is going to die!"

"We will save him!" Zelda shot back. "I will help you. But first I need you to calm down."

Link wasn't gurgling anymore. His head began to sag as consciousness trickled away. Something finally clicked and Midna became able to drop the stone of panic that was causing her to sink. "What do we do?"

"Concentrate on taking back control of the Fused Shadows," Zelda instructed. "Command them to return to their vessels. I will help you to tame them."

Midna suddenly felt warm, as though the sun was radiating from within her. It slowed her thoughts. Her heart rate steadied. She reached out to the Fused Shadows and asserted herself upon them. They resisted, but the sunlight struck a fierce blow. It clung to the darkness, binding and reining it in. The hand stopped crushing Link. He took a shuddering gasp, throwing his head up again.

"Shut down!" Midna ordered. "Go back to your dormant state!"

Still, the Fused Shadows struggled against her. With Zelda's help, though, their defiance weakened. The titan's form began to shrink. The arm holding Link slowly lowered him. After what felt like an age, the soles of Midna's feet touched solid ground.

Her legs gave out. Her strength was spent. As her vision became blurry, Midna found Link spluttering on the shattered road in front of her. Relief fluttered inside. 'He's okay… He's okay…'

She fell forward. Someone called her name, but Midna was past the point of recognising it. 'Zelda… thank you…'


When the barrier shattered, unrest erupted from the monsters scattered around the castle courtyard. Predominantly simple creatures, they panicked as their golden heavens collapsed in spectacular fashion. Their squeals and shrieking were distasteful. Ganondorf sneered at the ease in which they cowered. He raised one hand clad in a dark gauntlet. With a snap of his fingers, he invoked a spell that linked the monsters to his will. His command brought the beasts to a standstill. Order was restored.

From the balcony of Hyrule Castle, Ganondorf had a clear view of the Fused Shadows running riot beyond the walls. This outcome was inevitable after Zant's defeat. Some of Ganondorf's forces were crushed or impaled by falling debris. However, the Fused Shadows' destruction appeared to shift away from the castle entirely.

"Such incredible power," remarked one of those behind Ganondorf. The speaker's voice echoed within his helmet. "It was wasted in Zant's idle possession. Now the rebels are here to use it against us."

"Willingness on his part was not an issue." Ganondorf responded. "The weapon created by Zant's ancestors was severely flawed. Even his sister, who is sound of mind, is unable to control the Fused Shadows for any prolonged span of time. They are worthless to me, as evident by this spectacle."

He sensed two separate surges of another power. Ganondorf clenched his fist as his interest peaked. "It seems that the Triforces of Courage and Wisdom are also near," he said with a hungry grin.

The Fused Shadows began to weaken. Steadily, the beast that they manifested shrank until it disappeared entirely. Almost no residual magic could be traced from them.

"Shall I send my trogs to hunt for the bearers?"

At last, Ganondorf turned to regard the Bulblin King kneeling with his head low. Three others knelt beside him; the Darknut Overlord, clad in golden plating; the masked Chief of the Yiga Clan, ever faithful to the Bearer of Power; as well as Ganondorf's vassal among his gerudo subjects, a slender but well-built woman garbed in a violet war-dress.

"No. The Hero and the Twilight Princess will seek me out soon enough. When they do, I will extract their power from them once they are bowed at my feet."

"Will you restore the barrier, my king?" Veran, the woman, then asked.

"That will not be necessary. Once I have all three pieces of the Triforce, no army will stand against my might. Instead, we must ensure that there are no disruptions when the other bearers come to challenge me."

The darknut, Onox, pounded a fist against his breast. "Allow me, my liege!" he declared proudly. "My warriors will march on the rebel army and stamp them out like the roaches they are!"

"The hordes will wear at the enemy's numbers. That is their purpose," Ganondorf answered. "Call your warriors back to the castle. Here we will crush our opposition and bring about an end to this war."

Kohga of the Yiga rubbed his palms together, giggling behind his blood-painted mask. "My clansmen will spread the order faster than wildfire. No doubt they will bring back tasty information about our enemies."

Strongaxe snarled. "If your spies were worth half of what you boast, you would have learned how the Kelder grem reached the barrier ahead of time." Kohga sneered back in response.

"And what would you have done if they had, Ahlkrog?" Veran smiled. "Would you have marched out and confronted the boy yourself? Now what was it that happened to your horn, again?"

"I will do as much and sever more from Kelder's head!" Strongaxe roared. He drew his weapon and slammed its end onto the stone. "Unless you wish to kneel beneath my axe first!"

"Enough," Ganondorf demanded. Without raising his voice, all four of his followers became quiet. "If you wish to fight the Bearer of Courage, you are welcome to it. The weaker he becomes the better. However, I want both him and the Twilight Queen brought to me alive. Whosoever kills either shall forfeit their own life. Do I make myself clear?"

"As clear as running spring water, my lord," Kohga bowed low. The rest heeded in same fashion.

"Good. Now go. Recall your soldiers." As Ganondorf turned back to gaze over the balcony, all but one departed down the stone steps.

"Your time is fast approaching, my king," Veran spoke. Even in armour, she stepped forward with the faintest of sound. "Does this excite you?"

"I have waged many battles in my lifetime. One more does not rouse me anymore than the others. Yet I will admit, there is a spark born inside of me. You might have experienced something similar when you first see your destination after a long journey."

"I feel it this very moment as my king draws close to achieving his destiny."

Ganondorf touched the tips of his fingers beneath her jaw line. A rare smile pulled at his lips. "Always with that silver tongue, my dear Veran. You are aware, of course, that I expect more from my followers than just pretty words."

"Certainly, my king." Veran cradled his hand within her own. "When the rebels arrive, I will personally ensure that their blood soaks the lawns of your castle. All those who are unwise to resist shall swiftly see the error of their ways."

"Then when the battle reaches our door, I will have a task for you." Pulling away, any image of warmth vanished from his stature. Ganondorf's eyes burned fiercely, captivating the woman before him. "Seek out the one leading the gerudo among the rebels. Carve her heart from her breast and teach her kin that my rule is absolute."

"Heresy will not be tolerated," Veran bowed. "Say no more, my king. The deed will be done before the dust settles."

"I am confident in your abilities, Veran. You will not disappoint me."

Ganondorf watched her turn and leave for a few moments. Since days of old, countless men have fallen prey to the lure of a gerudo's grace and beauty, oblivious to the deadly skill and cunning that laid beneath the surface. Even Ganondorf was not fully indifferent to the steady sway of Veran's hips. Once his brief interest was sated, he returned his gaze toward the city.

Yes… His destiny was close to being realised. Two-hundred-and-twenty-seven years had passed since his initial plans to rule this land were put into motion. Bitter memories of failure ground his teeth together. His persistence to survive the centuries had been agonising beyond the comprehension of any other man. Now at the eve of his second campaign, Ganondorf held victory nearly within his grasp. Every setback until this moment would soon be worth it.


Midna awoke to the room spinning around her. Initial attempts to move worsened her nausea. After waiting for several minutes, the pain subsided enough for Midna to read her surroundings. She was tucked into a bed. The sheets were dusty and smelled unpleasant. Midna threw them off to find that her armour had been removed.

The blankets lumped over something lying on the other side of the bed. Midna found Link asleep over the quilt with his back to her. He, however, still had his plating on. Flashes of him screaming in her grip caused Midna's chest to grow tight. Without thinking, she lunged on top of Link, jarring him awake.

"Huh?! Wazzit?! Ah!" Link's hand flew to his sword standing against the bed frame. Still in its scabbard, it did little harm as he flapped it awkwardly against Midna's side. Then he finally recognised her. "For Farore's sake, Midna. You gave me a heart attack just now."

"I'm so glad you're alright," Midna wept, squeezing at his torso. "I thought I was going to kill you. I'm so sorry."

Link put the sword back and rolled over to hold her. He cradled her head in his shoulder, stroking her hair as he cooed softly. "Shh… It's okay. I'm okay." It took Midna a few moments to compose herself. "To be honest, I thought my ribs were going to cave in for a second, there. This armour you gave me saved my hide."

That was a bold-faced lie but Midna wasn't going to contest it. "Where are we?"

"We carried you back to the house you left us at. We figured it would be a safe place to wait for the army to catch up. The others are around here somewhere. I was tending to you when I thought I'd take a nap." Link held her tighter. "I'm glad that you're okay, too. I was really worried.

He then released Midna and decided to broach the subject. "So, what happened out there? One second you destroyed the barrier. The next you were wrecking everything else in sight."

That feeling of floating trapped inside of a malicious beast would haunt Midna for some time. "The King's Reins shattered. It must have been due to the barrier exploding. The sol fragments couldn't hold up. After that, the Fused Shadows acted out of control. Nothing that I did would make them listen to me."

"So how did you change back?"

"I had help." Midna hesitated as she chose between telling him or not. "Before I passed out… I heard Zelda's voice. It was like she was there with me. That night when Zelda saved my life, she must have done something to merge her spirit into my body. I think that's where she's been all this time. Inside here…" She tapped at her temple. Midna hoped that Link wouldn't laugh. She had spent a total of two minutes on that theory. It wasn't meant to be iron-clad.

Instead he raised a single brow and, after a pause, replied. "It's good to know that I'm not the only one in this relationship who hears voices when nobody's around."

"Shut up. I've got a ghost living inside me. You talk to animals. You're still the crazier one here."

"Uh-huh." She slapped his chest. Pounding her palm against metal didn't gain her much. "Why the hell were you sleeping in this thing? It's got to be uncomfortable!"

"It is. I couldn't take it off by myself, though. I couldn't bother to ask someone to help me, either."

Midna made Link sit up so that she could remove his breastplate. She found dents and scratches in the paint. The marks aligned with the imprint of a giant hand. Taking his chainmail off next, Midna kissed Link's back. She gave little care for the sweat that soaked his undershirt.

"Do you mind if I take this off?" he asked. "My back's really itchy."

It clung to his skin. Again, Midna lent her assistance. All along his spine, shoulder to shoulder from nape to tail, Link's body was thick with black hair. It was tangled in damp clumps. Link reached behind to scratch at the knots. Midna swatted his hand away before he opened any of the red marks crusted at the roots.

"I keep telling you to stop picking at those!" she scolded. Midna summoned a small towel to dry Link off. "I can't wait for this battle to be over so you can stop wearing armour. I swear twili robes will breathe better with your fur."

"Of all the things we have to look forward to, that's what you're thinking about right now," Link muttered in half-jest.

"It is one thing in a very long list." Midna then called forth his brush. She held Link from squirming as she worked the tangles out.

Once Midna had tidied up the worst of it, Link soon relaxed under her care. His back muscles rose and fell as he breathed. "My father's house is nearby," Link said out of the blue. "I hope it's still in good shape."

Midna hoped that it hadn't been one of the estates she had demolished. Then recollection brought her relief, knowing that the Drydalis house stood further from the castle. She had not seen it during her approach with the Fused Shadows. "I'm sure it is. I checked that all of the entrances were blocked the last time I was there." Midna neglected to mention the moblins that had ransacked the place before she got there.

"I saw Harlan last night," Link then said. "He taught me the last of the techniques that he wanted to pass down to me. Now he's gone. He's moved on to the afterlife."

Midna set the brush down. She rubbed her hand along his shoulder to comfort him. "Are you okay?"

"I've been expecting it for a while. I'm happy for him. He was stuck in that in-between space for so long." Link let out a haggard sigh. "But now that he's moved on, I wish that I could have had more time with him."

"He was your father. It's natural that you're missing him already. I know exactly how it feels." Slipping her arms around Link's torso, Midna rested her head against his. He squeezed at her hand. His thumb stroked over her fingers. "He… um… didn't come into the tent, did he? You know that we weren't decent, right."

"I… didn't think to ask. Thank you for now putting that picture in my head." It shouldn't have been funny, yet Midna snorted all the same. Suddenly Link tensed.

"Speaking of… If Princess Zelda's been alive inside you, does that mean that she's seen everything you have this whole time? Everything that we've done together? Has our entire sex life actually been a three-way? Oh goddesses… does she know about my -nrrtd!" Midna muzzled him mid-sentence.

"I already have a dozen other things to stress about, right now. Let's not add to the pile, shall we?" Link did not resume speaking when Midna removed her hand from his mouth.

Fortunately for Midna's sanity, the series of compromising circumstances came to an end after Link put his shirt and armour back on. Yuit knocked on the bedroom door, alerting them that the Hyrulean Army had finally reached the district. The rest of their unit was already assembled in the foyer. They packed their gear and made their way together to re-join the main force.

Storm clouds had travelled over Castle Town, making it hard for Midna to discern what time it was. The monsters' ranks had thinned drastically. Only loose groups lurked the streets; chu chus, stalfos, and a few other creatures with less than basic intelligence. Midna's spells felt faded. Using the Fused Shadows must have sapped more of her strength than she'd thought. Somehow Midna hadn't realised how famished she was. So, she hung behind everyone else, snacking on provisions while her allies fought without her.

Hyrulean soldiers hailed them with deafening cheers upon arrival. Anyone with eyes knew that the barrier had been shattered before news was spread by the command centre. Midna noted the sheer amount of blood that covered the soldiers and their weapons. Subconsciously, she counted the number of twili that she passed. Meanwhile, another part of her mind wondered about the ones who hadn't made it through.

Rusl found them among the crowd. Epona bumped into Link before firmly nuzzling her nose onto his face. No sooner that he freed himself from her, Bo and Jaggle clapped Link heartily on the back, praising as though they had already won the war. Pame intercepted before the two men could offer the same affection to Midna. If not for the legion of onlookers, Midna might have ordered her bodyguard to stand down.

The other tribal leaders were gathered when Rusl escorted Breach Unit Three to the command centre. Merriment marked everyone's faces. "Fantastic work," Auru spoke, bringing quite to the tent. "It was not that long ago when we thought nothing could break through that barrier. Now with that eyesore gone, it feels like we have a real chance of victory."

"Were there any problems?" Kospelle asked. Midna felt that question was specific to her. "There was a long time that passed before we received contact from you."

"The King's Reins broke after the barrier exploded. I lost control of the Fused Shadows for a while," Midna admitted. She didn't meet the concerned faces staring from all sides. "Fortunately, I took it back and no one was hurt."

"Well, from our side, at least," Link added. "Midna tore Ganondorf's monsters apart before then."

The grim line of Auru's lips didn't curve. "All other outcomes aside, it seems your rampage benefited us somewhat. The airships observed the enemy force scattering from the district. Many of the monsters were too mad with fear to fight us."

"It made those last few miles easy for us," Ashei remarked, arms folded smugly.

"Out of the remaining force, it appeared that only thirty-percent retreated into the castle perimeter," Bowauk reported.

She gestured to Ooccoo, who switched on a peculiar device on the centre of the table. Light poured from its top, its emerald beams shifting into distinct shapes. "We also noticed a smaller fraction of the enemy retreated from the main assault," Ooccoo said. "Almost all of them were moving directly to the castle. They all appeared to be one of these types of enemies."

Four figures manifested on the display; a bulblin, a darknut, a gerudo, and a human-shaped character in a mask and light, full-body armour. "That is cool," Link marvelled as he waved his hand through the bulblin.

Midna scoffed. "I could do that with snap of my fingers; with proper colours, too." Kawr frowned at her before following from his kinsmen.

"These enemies fought with better coordination than the rest of their forces. The darknuts drew the attention of our strongest soldiers while the rest picked at our weak points with hit-and-run tactics."

Midna examined the masked enemy. "I don't recognise this one."

"Assassins of the Yiga Clan," Impaz's expression darkened.

Dorian, her guardian, sneered. "Ancient enemies of our clan. They take the guise of innocent folk until they come within reach of their targets. The Yiga kill for blood and sport, never for an honourable cause. They're as much monsters as any bokoblin."

"How come we've never heard of them?" Link asked.

"The Yiga's efforts were focused on the army," Auru explained. "Since you and Midna acted independently, they likely had difficulty finding you. It might have helped that we rarely knew your location, ourselves, at any given time."

"The most trouble we often had was from the Shadow Beasts," Midna reasoned. "Zant would have been the one Ganondorf tasked with hunting us. He knew where we would go to collect pieces of the Mirror of Twilight."

"And given how much he hated this world, Zant probably didn't care to share that knowledge with his allies," Link said. "All that he'd have to do was leave an ambush here and there. It's too bad for him that stopped working once we found the Master Sword."

"Getting back to the matter at hand," Nabooru cut in. "What is our next course of action? Do we attack the castle immediately or collect ourselves first?"

"After taking down the barrier, I'm spent," Midna sighed. "Haven't eaten much since this morning, either."

Auru gave a sympathetic nod. "There are already cook pots boiling nearby. Feel free to take some time to refresh yourselves." Midna greatly appreciated that.

"To answer your question, Lady Nabooru, I have no doubt that Ganondorf is already preparing for his last stand. These specific enemies who fled to the castle also concern me. They are intelligent, more devious than your typical monster. Our final attack will be more difficult. There's merit in striking before the enemy can muster a solid defence."

"I get the feeling that there's a big 'however' after that?" Ashei said.

"Our own soldiers will take time to move, as well," Auru went on. "They are tired from the battle so far, and some have injuries they will need to tend to if they still wish to fight. Given that we don't know what we'll find inside the castle walls, I believe it would be wiser to wait and recover our strength.

"Could we get into the castle a different way?" Ralis asked. "My mother once told me that Hyrule Castle had several secret passages."

Auru rewarded him with an approving smile. "There are indeed a few options. It won't be possible to move everyone through that way, but a series of small groups will give us an advantage. I already have some candidates in mind."

"Midna and I know a way in through the sewer," Link replied. "I can't take that route myself, though. I need to use the front door."

"Ganondorf will desire your Triforce of Courage," Impaz said. "Once you enter the battlefield, his eyes will fixate on you. That will make it easier for the squads who will sneak in through the back."

Link then turned to Midna. "You should take the passage with one of the other squads. If we're lucky, you'll keep out of trouble long enough to get your strength back."

She detested the thought of them separating at this stage of the battle. Yet, Midna felt her limits at the present moment and saw Link's logic with crystal clarity. Under different circumstances, she might have hidden in his shadow, watching at a close distance in case her help was needed. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible anymore. With it now imbued with sol energy, the Master Sword would expel Midna from Link's shadow the second that he drew it from the scabbard. His suggestion was the most practical.

Auru instructed Shad to bring forward a map of Hyrule Castle. This one showed the floor plans as well as several points of interest. Adjustments were made to the original squad formations. The trend discovered in the enemy's retreat led Auru to suspect that Ganondorf had a powerful counterattack prepared. Interestingly, it was more cautious than the previous plan, yet bolder at the same time.

After the meeting convened, Midna caught Kospelle on the way out. "I am pleased to see you in good health, my queen," he said. "You accomplished an incredible feat. Even the people of this world will surely respect your abilities."

"Thank you. However, respect is not what we're fighting for here." It pained Midna as she finally asked the question that had been gnawing at her. "How many have we lost?"

"The death toll is still being tallied. Fifty twili, I estimate so far. Maybe more. We won't know until after the dust settles."

Fifty… Compared to ten thousand, that was but a drop of water in the bucket. To Midna, however, fifty twili was already too great a number. Those men and women were here because they followed her. Yet while they were dying, she was elsewhere fighting a different battle. Kospelle must have been a mind reader with the way that he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Their loss is not your fault," he told her. "They were under my command. I have more than twenty years of experience as a soldier, yet I failed to keep those brave souls alive. You have great skill for someone your age, Midna, both as a mage and a leader; but no one could reasonably expect you to have done any better than I have. That is not a detriment to your worth in the slightest. Please do not punish yourself for what was beyond either of our control."

Maybe Midna would feel better thanks to Kospelle's words later. For the moment, though, they barely pulled her from the sinkhole swallowing her from the inside-out. "You mentioned that you haven't eaten," Kospelle noted. "Go. Eat. Rest. You will feel better afterwards. Everything that you can worry about now should be worried about later."

She hated it when he clapped her shoulder before he left. Midna realised that was because it made her feel like a child, which was what she was probably acting like right now. Taking a deep breath, Midna put on a strong face. The twili could not afford to see her looking miserable. She re-joined Link, whom had been waiting from a polite distance, and walked with him towards the scent of brewing pots and meat spits.