Midna
"Leave us. Don't worry, I'll be fine." Zant dismisses Midna's guards from her cell in their language, though some Hylian slips out. Her brother is getting a grasp on mirroring his words again. As ordered, the guards leave her, but they keep the shackle around Midna's ankle despite being in an anti-magic cell. Even without her magic, Midna can think of many ways to kill her brother with physical combat. It is one of the many things General Auru...her father instilled in her.
How coincidental that piece of information is. For years, she only knew him as a quiet town grouch, but ever since she first stepped on his porch, she has seen him as a father figure. Of all the people he saved in Rauru, he chose her. He raised her to become to fighter she is now, cared for her as if she was his own daughter. Knowing that the man she thought of as a father figure is indeed her father makes her wonder if he knew all along she was his daughter.
So what kept Auru Lanayru separate from the Twilight family?
"You look deep in thought, Midna."
"Did he know? Auru, about me?"
Zant shakes his head. "Mother never told him. Or maybe she did, which is why he took to you quickly. I don't know what happened."
"But you knew who he was! You knew what you were doing that day when you sent me to him, did you not? Matter of fact, what were you planning that day?"
Zant looks to his knees in his seated position. "I had heard of an attack on Rauru. The priest, the one who was the Sage of Light before you, had come to Auru's house earlier in the week. I had already laid out my plans for the town with Vaati, but I wanted to know one more thing. Could I have my sister's father killed? So when I saw him with you, I was almost resigned to say no, but then I remembered who he was, what he did, and how much I hated him. How I hated that world of light. How Mother favored you so much. I hated you. Ten or so years divide us, but… Ever since we found each other again, my hatred has ever burned. I know you hate me the same, but it doesn't come close to how much I wish you dead...and how I hate myself for not being able to kill you at each and every turn. But how I made you suffer, a fate worse than death… Midna, tomorrow, you have a choice to make. Either you suffer as you cause chaos for the Twilight Realm in your father's world, or you can die here in the land of your mother."
Midna turns her eyes away from Zant, biting down her anger. "So that is how our story ends? Either I live to wreck all I love...or I die to protect it? You are right about us except for one thing, Zant." She turns to Zant, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Before all of this, before you revealed your face to me on Death Mountain… I loved my big brother that I went to war to avenge him. But that thought, despite all I've done to hold on to it, is no longer in my head." The tear vanishes at the whim of Midna's hand, replaced by a fire of vengeance in her eyes. "In your quest to return here, you betrayed your family, you're going to even betray the Imperials and side with your father. You're nothing but scum, Zant… Even in this world, had we both been raised here, no one would call you king, Zant. Your eyes, that lust for power, it would bring ruin to this world. You are nothing more than a childish whelp-" Midna is telekinetically thrown towards the sidewall of her cell anterior-side first, then back to the wall she sat against. Next, she's pulled against the cell bars with so much force that she feels her body being forced through them.
Zant rises to his feet and steps in front of her, his fury radiating through his mask. "Yes, sister, scream! Tomorrow, you will die. So I'll share a secret with you since you're going to the grave with so many. You never once asked about Mother, how she died, whether or not I was responsible… Ironically enough, she died protecting Auru. I almost got to him, but then she appeared. She said something to him before they split apart, something in Twili that, of course, I didn't understand since I have spoken it in years. But after returning here, finally I know what she said. 'Save our daughter.' Never did she ever think about me, and I think it was because she knew who she was fighting against. So when you met her again, tell her how much I hate her too. How much of a failure her plan, whatever it was, to protect the Fused Shadows were. How she, alone, is responsible when I figure out how to use them myself. Then, once I return to Hyrule as the King of Twilight, I will aid Vaati in ushering his reign. Our worlds, of light and shadow, will merge into darkness!"
Zant
"She's set to die, Father."
Crepusculum nods silently as he folds his hands behind him and faces his throne. "Very well. It matters not. How she's able to use the Fused Shadow will be discovered soon enough, even if it is at a weaker ability." He turns his head to his unmasked son. "You have no qualms about killing her?"
Zant shakes his head, firmly stating "No" to the king. "I have questioned my resolved once, but when I saw she was determined to kill me, I knew that I was ready to do the same. But not before I let her see this world of her mother. To think she believed herself a princess."
"She is."
Zant grits his teeth at his father's announcement. "What?"
"Whether you like it or not, Midna is a Twilight, she is of the royal family. Even though she's a bastard, the daughter of that scum... She is Horzona's daughter. She is just as much a princess as you a prince."
Zant turns away. How dare the king say such treason? Midna has no right to his birthright! "Whether she's family or not, she would never become Queen."
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
Crepusculum sighs as he sits on the throne. "Why does it even matter? She'll be dead tomorrow."
"Because you're insinuating that that whelp is a right a ruler like me! Me, the son of the king, the grandchild of Noctis and Lunara! Midna is just the child of passion, a mistake by Horzona when she left this world with that interloper-"
"Enough!" Crepusculum throws his hand out, sending waves of energy at Zant. He drops to his feet, angrily kneeling on the ground. Lowering his hand to cease the attack, Crepusculum stares down at his son with annoyance. "Never again disrespect your grandparents and your mother and my wife, boy. Now I see why Horzona preferred Midna over you. You have the age of a man, but the tantrum of a child. Meanwhile, Midna stood right where you are not a day ago. For no other reason except for who her father is, I was cold to her, visibly disgusted by her sight, even threatened her with life or death, and without much hesitation, she attacked me with the dignity of a princess...no, a warrior without much fear. I wonder if she will really die with such an attitude, because if so, I would have killed the heir Horzona wanted. Get out of my sight. I don't want to see you until the execution...if there is one."
Zant glares up at his father, fighting the aftereffects rampaging through his body. So...he believes too Midna a better heir than he? What a fool he has been. At every turn of his life, Midna has won. In affections, in battle, even at surviving, Midna has always won. Now his father is reconsidering having the execution? That will not do. Well...then he'll have to change that opinion...permanently. There can be only one successor to the throne of twilight.
And it shall belong to Zant.
The following day, Midna
The outside world of the Twilight Realm is just as she imagined. The hues of orange and black that dominate the sunless, cloudless sky give the realm a serene glow. The town surrounding the palace is an enormous arrangement of the sleek black material that makes up the palace suspended on multiple islands. Compared to the Hyrulian cities she's been to, this is the largest one by far. The people… Ever since she assumed her true form (not the tanned-skin Hylian look she bore before Zant turned her into an imp) and seeing Zant's true face as well, she wondered what the Twili people looked like. Minus her slight Hylian ears, she sees that she fits in with the shadow dwellers. They come in various shades of black and grey, small and tall, thin and round.
Zant fulfilled his promise, that before she dies, she will see the splendor of the Twilight Realm. For all the hate that she bears against him, she will be grateful for this.
Speaking of her brother, she turns in his direction along the ramparts of the castle overlooking the large square where she (and her executioner) stands upon a podium. Zant and his father look down, one man with eighteen years of built-up apathy, the other with...pained indifference. This might be her eyes mind playing tricks on her (or maybe her inner fear of dying), but to her, it seems King Crepusculum is uncertain in his judgment.
Around her, the people of the Twilight Realm chatter most likely about the chained woman before them. A stranger in their world, they don't have the compassion and love for Midna as the Hylians would of Zelda or the Gerudo of Ganondorf. She has their face, but they don't know her name. She has their blood, but she is neither family nor friend. She is their royal, but she is not their princess. Not one mind desires to defend her, to save her. In the sea of the Twili, she doesn't see the green spark of courage, the yellow light of wisdom, or the red flames of power. She believed that she had gotten her cry to Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf, but it seems she was right. The story of Midna Twilight ends today.
"Cherished brothers and sisters of the Twilight Realm, I, King Crepusculum, bring forth news. First, after eighteen years, my son, Prince Zant Twilight, returns to the Twilight Realm. As you may remember, an alien from another world stole my son and wife, Princess Horzona, from us. For years, the way to her was lost to us, but the prince has found his way home. But he did not come alone. Before you is the second child of Princess Horzona, her father the alien." Now that got the murmurs going...but so far nothing said has been false. "Her name is Midna Twilight, Princess of the Twilight Realm."
Now that...she didn't have access to her magic (shackle still in place) but even she knew that had to boil Zant's blood. Crepusculum recognizes her birthright...and that is enough to know that Midna has won. Zant has done everything to escape his sister, but in her final moments, she wins. It brings a smile to light as Crespusculum continues to talk.
"She has done no wrong, but the sins of the father must be paid by the child when necessary. So for the kidnapping of a royal, that is death without trial. However, as Horzona's daughter, I am willing to overlook the charge if she subjects herself to the deal I offered. Princess, for the last time, will you accept or will you die?"
Midna turns to her mother's husband. "Your Majesty, my mind has not wavered."
Crepusculum nods, though it is a hesitant one. His hand glows as he waves it in the air. "Very well. Then I'll give you this one chance to address your people as their princess."
Understanding the king tuned the Twili's ears to her tongue, Midna turns away to the people. What does she have to say to them? She knows. The truth. "People of Twilight, first I would like to say that it is an honor to meet all of you. For most of my life, I never knew this world exist, but once I did, I knew that I had to come here. I came here looking for answers, for a family I didn't know existed, and for help. As you are well aware, there is another world, a "world of light" if we must label it. That world is besieged by evil. That evil has destroyed many towns like this, entire kingdoms have fell on a scale that I still don't know. For the last five years, I have dedicated everything to ending that darkness. Once upon a time, we were that darkness, and our ancestors paid the price. But look around you, the Twili have prospered ever since. In the time since our exile, Hyrule has gone through many bloody cycles up to the one now. I realize that this is selfish of me to ask such things...but I do not ask for myself, but for my mother. Princess Horzona, who loved this world of shadow, also loved the world of light. Your Majesty, if you truly loved my mother, please do not side against the Resistance! Join them! Bring peace to the world she loved!"
Crepusculum narrows his eyes. "What makes you think I will do as you ask?"
"When we first met, you were cruel to me, but not because I am a bastard, but because I am his child. That I understand...you hate my father with your soul, so when you saw me, you saw him. But now, I don't see hatred, but regret. You do not want me dead because now you see her. I've been told that I have my mother's looks, even before my true form revealed itself. I bet I look more like her now to you. If you wanted me dead, why allow me to show you my might? It is because you had to know whether I am who I am. Though I am nothing compared to you, you know my resolve. Does it remind you of my mother?"
"...It does. But Midna, I offered you a way out. You denied me."
"Because what Zant tells you is full of lies! If you follow his plan… The Twilight Realm, if not destroyed, will belong to the Imperials. Zant does not care how the realm fares as long as he becomes king at the end. Your Majesty, if you attack Hyrule, then either the Imperials will wipe you out with their might, or the forces of light will. Trust me, you do not want either option. The Fused Shadow is powerful, but against the Triforces, it is a child's toy."
"Silence!" Zant shouts. "You have said far enough. Father, she underestimates you! How long will you tolerate this?"
Crepusculum holds his hand up. "You've witnessed my power firsthand. Tell me, Midna, how strong am I?"
"Not strong enough."
"Hm. That is unfortunate. I'm sorry, Midna, but...I cannot save you, and I will not save your friends. Commence the execution." Dropping his hand, Crepusculum signals the executioner to begin his duty. He forces Midna to her knees before placing her head on the chopping block. She watches out of the corner of her eye as he picks up a sizable ax that'll easily cleave through her neck. So this is truly it, huh? She closes her eyes, accepting her fate. Silently, she begs the friends she left behind for forgiveness for leaving them behind, for not being able to fulfill her duty as the Sage of Light and help save their world. She turns her attention to the thought of Ganondorf, mentally telling him all the things she wishes she could say to him. Her final thoughts are of Auru Lanayru, and how much she loves him for being someone she can happily call father.
Her sight of darkness quickly becomes a bright light. So this is what it means to see the light at the end of the tunnel...though it usually isn't accompanied by screaming, is it? Midna steadily opens her eyes, her first sight being that of a pristinely glowing blade attached to a winged purple hilt. Her mouth drops as she looks up, seeing the familiar green tunic all the way up to the messy brown hair and feral brown eyes. "L-Link?"
He looks down at her, smirking. "Almost lost your head, huh?" The Hero of the Resistance holds his right hand to her, helping her to her feet. To Link's left stands Zelda, the Princess of Light holding the radiant arrow. Behind her stands Ganondorf, the Prince of Thieves, facing up towards her brother and the king.
"You got my message?"
Zelda nods. "I don't know how you did it, but it wouldn't have mattered. We were coming for you anyway, but your message sped things up. How are you?"
"Fine, except for this shackle around my foot. It's tampering with my magic." Zelda kneels down and blasts the shackle apart. Sighing in relief as she feels reconnected to her magic, Midna takes the sword Link hands her. "Ah, much better."
"Guards!" Everyone looks up to the ramparts, where Zant furiously points towards the four. Crepusculum is gone from sight. "Those three are other aliens from the world of light, and that light they attacked with has affected some of the civilians, but the king as well! Kill them all!"
Ganondorf smirks. "Well, it looks like you got what you wanted, Princess."
"Unfortunately." As the civilians scatter, Twili soldiers appear from all around to approach the four. Zelda takes hold of her rapier in place of her Bow of Light and surrounds it with her power, then turns to Midna. "Your call, Princess Twilight."
Link and Ganondorf face her as well. They are prepared to attack, but they are considering Midna's feelings instead of jumping to action. They recognize this as her realm, not theirs… Midna looks up to a retreating Zant, his face bearing a sickening smile of victory. Crepusculum is still nowhere to be seen, which alarms Midna more than anything. "We have no choice, but try not to kill. Zelda, our powers of light is good enough to disable them. We need to get to Zant and end this once and for all."
