Parapa Desert

Riju sat on her sand seal as she watched Ganondorf stand on the sand dune they rested up, the former prince looking to the far north, where the palace located within the desert broke the darkening horizon line. They were a day or less away from the temple, but if Ganondorf had his way, he would be heading there now.

Riju didn't understand why Ganondorf wanted to even start a fight with the Yiga in their home so recklessly. She made the notion (after they had left Mido Town) that they should have brought her forces to fight, but Ganondorf made the comment, "We won't need them." Either the man was overestimating his abilities, maybe Riju underestimated him, or Ganondorf wasn't sharing something. But he knew something, and she placed her trust in him. Hopefully the demon inside would not get them killed.

"It has been a long time since I been in the isolated desert. The chill setting in, the chariot which the moon rides on still carries the whisper of death. I'm still not used to the desert heat or cold, even after a month back in Mido."

"It isn't as hot or cold in the city, or even here, as we are by water, but if you get far enough, you can feel the desert's anger. Nothing compared to Nabooru."

"Mhm." Ganondorf took a seat on the dune, crossing his legs. He kept his eyes on the twilight sky, resting his face on his knuckles. "Every day, at this time, Midna and I would take a seat on a hill in Kakariko, and gaze up at the sky. She told me the first time we did it that Auru used to take the twilight hour as a time of remembrance. We did as such, telling each other stories of our past or of our day, and at times, it was a moment where we just sat in silence with each other… I can feel her reaching out for me over the last few days, but I cannot return it. But I think she knows I'm alive, and she wants to find me. It is at this time I feel that reach most."

Riju bit her lip. She considered herself the be the last contender for Ganondorf's affections after his return, and after their moment before they left town, she thought the deal was sealed. But she never considered this Midna, this Midna who watched over Ganondorf as he was comatose, this Midna who became his partner against the Imperials, this Midna who he fought at Death Mountain, this Midna who he saved from Death Mountain. He hadn't spoke much of her since he came to in Mido, but if a certain time of day could spark his feelings…"Do you miss her?"

Ganondorf shrugged. "I… Part of me, the person she knew as 'Gan' does miss her. But the true me… I don't know. Maybe." He snorted to himself, turning to Riju with a smile. "Malladus would call me pathetic, me letting a woman hang me up. I think Father just didn't want be to be like him for Mother's sake. I hear he was quite the womanizer when he was prince. Much like my friend Ralph." He turned back to the horizon, his smile dropping into a frown. "Tomorrow, I will regain my mother's, father's, my hometown's, your mother's, our people's honor. We owe them all that."

Riju nodded, moving herself to Ganondorf's side. If he did indeed have feelings for this Midna, she wasn't her to avert him from laying her head on the prince's shoulder. "We do. And we'll make them pay. The vengeance of our people, from the moment they took our home til today, shall be paid in blood."


Old Kasuto Ghost Town

Link slowed Epona to a halt as he, Ravio, and Spryte came into the vicinity of the Kasuto Ghost Town. For their position, one could easily see how the buildings in the village were being reshaped by nature. Roads were broken, windows shattered, buildings chipped, and the most unsettling part of it is the nature of the town itself. While there are definitely signs of an attack, based on some wreckage, the town as a whole appears as if the civilians just decided one day to leave town. Impa's story of the town was that it was indeed attacked by Moas one day, forcing the inhabitants, save for one, to move. Those inhabitants were her people the Sheikah, and the one who stayed behind was her father, the Sheikah elder before he passed shortly after the older Link left him with new knowledge.

Ravio came to a halt a few feet ahead, turning to the hero with a frown. "What, scared of a ghost town? I'm sure it is just a story."

Link rolled his eyes, pushing himself off Epona. "When in Hyrule is a story just a story?"

"An island floating in the sky? Haven't seen it even on a clear day. The existence of the Minish? Did you see them as a kid? And my personal favorite, that the Triforce will save us all from doom, that he who possesses courage, power, and wisdom can truly wield such a reward."

Spryte, offended by the Lorulean's claims (as the existence of fairies are considered "stories"), crossed her arms. "None of those are stories. They are all true."

Ravio rolled his eyes as he joined Link on land. "Oh, so you're the expert on the Triforce now? Tell me, are they three triangles colored gold or colored respectively of the goddess they represent?"

"Dummy," Spryte spat, "they can be either gold or the colors of the three. The last time I saw them I…" The fairy hovered above Link in confusion, hitting her head with her palms.

"Spryte," Link said, raising his eyebrow, "are you okay?"

"There's…" She floated away from Link, sorting out her thoughts. "I… Why do I remember seeing the Triforce? I have never seen it, never mind…"

"Seems like the fairy is broke."

"Shut it Ravio." Link walked to Spryte, tapping her with a finger as he continued moving into the town. "Don't worry about it. After all, if they're just stories, our resident coward wouldn't mind taking point."

Ravio folded his arms. "I've seen what the Triforce can do, Link. Nothing about it is good."

"Hilda made a quick decision. We will have time to process ours."

"If time was on our side, then why are we searching for it with no information on its whereabouts? You are telling me none of the older folks, including the Hero of Hyrule and a Sheikah, know where the relic is? For all we know, it could be in North Castle. Have a plan getting in there? No, you don't. And what 'wish' would be made that is 'good?'"

Link was getting tired of Ravio's inquiries. Being in the town was bothering him enough. "Look, your experience will not equate to what will happen. Why are you such a downer, huh? Ever since Hilda told you what she did, you have had this anger held within you."

"For two years, I blamed the Imperials for destroying my world. Now that I know my fury was displaced, to know that my best friend, the person I am forever sworn to protect lied to me… If it was Zelda, you would know how I feel. But you don't, Link, and you never will. So when seeking the Triforce bits you in the ass, remember that I warned you that nothing good comes from wanting ultimate power, whether its intentions are good or not. If you have such high faith in your legends… Ask the King of Thieves. Ask the Wind Sorcerer. Ask the Unification King. Ask the Mortal Goddess. Ask the other heroes and princesses. They all have had unfortunate fates due to the desire to possess the Triforce, and you stand here blind and ignorant while I tell you that this mission will not end in victory. It will come at a cost." Ravio turned to the town, gesturing to its emptiness. "Old Kasuto suffered for it. Hyrule has suffered. Your world has suffered. My world paid the price."

Link stepped up to Ravio's side, taking off his funnel green cap and uncomfortably rolling it in his hands. Ravio had a point. The Triforce has caused a lot of cataclysms in Hyrule's history, and it did destroy Lorule twice. Looking ahead down the road, Link spoke, "What do you want me to do, Ravio? The goddesses want Zelda and I to find it, and I have no plans to disobey them. Everything we know about the war points to the Imperials wanting to get to it as well."

"Keep it where it is. That's the best option. The safest option."

"And if we need it?"

"Hopefully it will-"

"HEY!" Spryte, who had apparently gone out on her own while the boys had their discussion, came flying in hot towards them. She stopped between them, panting.

"There...is something...here in the town…"

Link placed his hat back on his head, both boys taking swords in hand. "Moas? Impa warned us about them."

Spryte shook her head. "No… Something else…"

Ravio raised his eyebrow. "Like….. Oh." Everyone looked at the western road they were following, now occupied by a masked green...ghost. It "stared" back at the rebels, floating harmlessly in place in the fetal position as it held a lantern in its hand like a prized possession. Cautious, Link took a slow step forward, holding his sword back to show the ghost he meant no harm. The ghost twitched its head, but did nothing besides that.

"I think we can pass if we move slowly." Link turned back around, motioning for Ravio to join him. The Lorulean stayed frozen in place, shaking his head, pointing up.

"He's not alone." Link looked up, and saw more of the ghostly beings, in various colors, hovering in the sky. Link dropped his face, taking a full step back.

"Isn't that something?"

Ravio nodded. "Totally pissing myself right now...I am quite serious about that too."


Midoro Swamp

Midna just couldn't wipe her huge smile off her face, no matter how hard she tried. The swamp was a disgustingly wet place, and the second best thing about it was that she could fly. What outranked that was that she was the only one who could fly.

"Shut it up, imp!" Hilda marched through the murky mire, trying to move as fast as she could. She hated being her. Of course, this was the better path than going to a place called "Death Valley." However, her royal side was showing her, not being use to this excessive amount of nastiness.

"Aww Hillie, why so mean to me? Not my fault I don't have to step in this place. Blame my brother."

"And I would resurrect him just to have him undo your curse."

Zelda, behind in the pack, smiled at the banter. She too was not happy with the current situation, but they had little choice in the manner. The only way to Midoro Palace was to get through the swamp. "Just grab her and dunk her in."

Midna swooped out of Hilda's reach, crossing her arms. "They should name this place Misery Mire instead. You guys are so moody about a little dirt and water."

Hilda frowned. "How about you get down here, and get in this 'little dirt and water?'" She jumped for the imp, making Midna fly a little higher. The resulting splash made 'a little dirt and water get into Hilda's face and hair, angering the girl some more. "AHHHH! I should've went with the boys! Anything better than being stuck with you, Midna."

Midna snickered as she floated to Zelda's shoulder, whispering quite loudly in the Princess of Hyrule's ear. "Geez, and I thought Ravio was the butthole."

Hilda paused there, turning her head around with malice. "He is, but not like Ganondorf. And don't you dare say anything, Zelda, with your 'perfect' hero." Hilda stomped off (if you can call "struggling to move in a very angry manner in high viscosity liquid" just that) while the other girls stood behind, stunned.

Midna sighed, "Someone didn't let this Hinox finish their nap. Goodness." Zelda hid her smirk, following Midna to catch up to Hilda. Truth be told, none of the girls wanted to be here, but in perspective, this was the place they'll rather be. Leave the heroic path to the trained knight and the Hero of Legend. But nighttime was setting soon upon them, and none of them wanted to be wading in the waters of Midoro when the moon rose. It was scary enough now at the twilight hour.

Another hour passed before the girls began to grow weary from travel. However, pride in Hilda's part and caution from Zelda kept them from stopping. Midna was quite okay with the continued movement, but she knew her friends wouldn't hold out much longer. There was no telling what monstrosities they'll encounter if they kept course. Midoro Swamp wasn't just dangerous in environment and inhabitants, but being located in the shadow of North Castle. Only a small mountain range separated the rebels and the Imperial throne.

So it was to Midna's glee when she spotted a building rising out the side of the murky banks. "Over there! Look!" Zelda and Hilda gazed at the building in awe (Zelda) and confusion (Hilda). It was a small palace, towering above the treeline but bowing to the distant mountains. A dark, sleek material made up the exterior, smooth as a freshly crafted blade yet unnatural. As they approached the building, Midna slowly began to falter behind. Something about this building was quite familiar to her.

"Zelda, you trust this place?"

"Midna…"

"It isn't like we got a choice, Princess Hilda. It is either we stay here, or we continue in this murk. I, for one, do not want to know what dangers lie in the dark."

"Dear Midna…"

"We already had too peaceful of a trip in the first place. Impa said this place was dangerous...and given our proximity to the castle, I still want to believe her..

"...Sister…"

"Midna?" Midna jolted from her daydream, facing Hilda. "Hey, you okay?"

Midna nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."

"Girls… I think we've found it." Zelda turned around, holding up the Pendant of Wisdom. It glowed bright blue against the darkness of the swamp, lighting a small area around them. "We've must be deeper in the swamps than we thought. This has to be Midoro Palace."

Above the palace's doorway, a red hue glowed, displaying a sort of foreign symbol. It was right then and there that Midna realized where she had seen this place before. A dream, the dream where a young girl who had just lost her home was told to save Din's chosen. If fate had lead her here, that means the one thing that could save him must be here as well. She turned to the other girls, her face filled with determination. "We'll rest here, then enter in the morning. If this is Midoro Palace, we'll unlock Wisdom here...oh." From out of nowhere, a group of pillars landed around the group, a barrier forming to keep them inside. A sharp bark forced Midna to put the temple to her back, her eyes sneering as she faced what's in front of her. "Of course." Four creatures were before her, very different from the monsters of the Imperials or anything Impa told them about. They were dark in design, hulking over the ground like primates. Their faces were hidden by large shield-like objects, multiple dendrites extending out from it. Like the castle behind them, the beasts had similar red markings on their body.

Zelda and Hilda turned around also. "Looks like you spoke too soon Hilda."

"Like I said, it was too peaceful. Now we know why. We were followed… Midna." Hilda snatched the Pendant of Power from Zelda's neck, handing it to Midna. "Midna. you can get over the barrier. Take Zelda with you. Get inside, and do what is needed to get the pendant's blessing or whatever."

Midna nodded, and was about to fly off when she took a look at the other pendant. "As for Power…"

"...He'll need it. If you can sense him, you can send it to him. Now go!"

Zelda was not willing to leave Hilda alone. "Hilda, you can't fight them alone. I'm staying."

Hilda turned to Zelda, folding her lips. "Princess Zelda, the fight for your world is in there. My world's fight… These things were responsible." Blue eyes met red, and Zelda's could tell Hilda wanted this fight alone.

"May Nayru watch over you, Hilda." Zelda ran to Midna, and the imp used all her strength to get her and the Hyrulean princess over the barrier. She was successful, and as they landed, they shared one last glance with Hilda. The Lorulean nodded to them, then faced the shadow beasts as her companions rushed into Midoro Palace. Stretching out her hand, she began summoning her staff.

"I won't let you pass. You have taken my country away from me, but I won't let you take theirs. You have encased my world in darkness, but Hyrule shall see the light. So if you want Zelda and if you want Midna, then you'll have to go through me." Her staff materialized in her hands, the former princess took it and slammed the bottom into the ground, her red eyes on fire as they fixated on the beasts.

"So say I, Hilda of Lorule."