Midna massaged her temples. She had been looking over the map for hours now, and the images were blurring together. The princess stretched out and yawned, then turned to Anju in the corner. "Thank you for your hospitality. I will retire for the night."

"Good night, Princess Midna."

Midna smiled at her and bowed her head. "Good night, Anju."

With that, she headed for her and Zach's shared room. The night was quiet and cool, and the sky was dotted with those little lights. Stars, Zach had said. That took some of the wonder out of it, admittedly, but she did ask in the first place.

What else did this world have to offer? It had plentiful water, a diverse landscape, hordes of creatures both dangerous and benevolent, and adventure to spare. Despite her desire to go to bed, Midna found herself at the spring once again, sitting on her knees and looking at her reflection.

Her eyes glowed in the dark, which had been normal all her life. Every Twilian's eyes glowed, it was just natural. Here, in this world, Midna felt decidedly unnatural.

"I don't belong here," she murmured. "This place is beautiful and everything, but… this is not my home."

"So?" asked Zach, plopping down beside her. "It doesn't have to be your home."

"I know, but… can you blame me for being homesick? Don't you miss—"

"No."

"… Oh."

Zach sighed. "It's nothing personal, I just… I like my world fine, it's got good food and games and air conditioning—"

"Your air is bad enough that it needs conditioning?" Midna asked with a smirk.

"No," said Zach plainly, "well, yes, but not where I live. Air conditioning just helps keep it cool inside the house."

Midna hummed and leaned back. "Your world has different environments, doesn't it? Like this one?"

"Yeah, we got lots of different places," said Zach. He ran a hand through his hair. "Tropical, temperate, arctic, mixes and matches…"

Midna tapped her fingers. "I guess everyone gets along just fine, then? I mean, with so much land to explore and resources at your fingertips, there must not be much conflict."

Zach's shoulders sank. "You'd think that, but we humans fight over anything and everything. Money, power, sex, religion, entertainment, thoughts and ideas, just about everything."

"Why?" asked Midna. "What drives you to conflict when your needs are already met?"

"For some, those needs aren't met and the people who can meet them won't. For others, they have everything they want, but they want more."

"More? What else can they have?"

"What does a man who already owns half the world desire most? The other half."

"What?"

Zach chuckled. "It's a quote from somewhere. The point is that we humans want everything because we, royal we, want. Some people just want to live in peace, have food on the table, and have fun with their loved ones."

"That sounds good to me."

"Yeah, too bad the people who can make that happen are selfish. They want things because maybe they didn't have it in their childhood, or they were taught it was okay for them to have things but not others, or any of half a billion excuses to do shitty things for themselves."

"… So, there's no good in your world?"

Zach shrugged. "I think there is, but I'm not the most optimistic person around. Not everyone is evil, but evil is the only thing getting publicity so it feels like there's no good in the world."

"Frankly, that sounds horrible."

"Yeah, it's not ideal."

Midna hugged her knees tighter. "So… what do you like about your world?"

Zach sighed. "I like video games… food, drinks, the beach…"

"Nothing about the people?"

"Not really. I don't hate everyone, I just… social interactions aren't very easy for me."

Midna stretched and yawned. "I think it's time for bed."

They made their way back to the room, and when Zach went for the floormat, Midna stopped him. "You take the bed tonight."

Zach blinked at her. "You're offering me the bed?"

"I'm not totally heartless," she said, already settling onto the mat. "We'll take turns, okay?"

"What happened to sharing the bed?"

"I get the feeling that idea makes you very uncomfortable." Midna bundled herself up. The floor was more comfortable than she expected, at least. "We need to look out for each other more. Watch each other's backs, you know?"

"I thought we were already doing that."

"In battle, yes, but maybe we should be doing that more when we're not in immediate danger. Sleeping on the floor all the time will ruin your back, healing water or not."

Zach hummed in agreement as he set some music to play. "Sounds good. Good night, Midna."

"Good night, Zach."

The next morning, Midna rose first. She rubbed her eyes drearily, the sunlight irritating her senses.

She made her way to the main lobby of the inn, where Anju and the village residents enjoyed their breakfast. Stomach rumbling, Midna settled into a seat far from the others. Best not disturb them with her features, yes?

Anju prepared a plate for her with a smile and a nod, and Midna looked down with a smile of her own. Yay for eggs being universal. Of course, these eggs were brightly colored like everything else in this world, but the smell was the same. Along with them were two thin strips of meat, a biscuit, and a cup of milk.

As she was finishing up her milk, the elder of the village sat across from her. Sahasrahla, if she recalled correctly. He smiled at her through his thick mustache and beard, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Midna bowed her head to him. "Elder."

"Princess." His smile saddened. "Forgive me but there is something I wish to discuss with you."

"Of course, honored elder," said Midna. "What's on your mind?"

His brow furrowed. "Your companion. His mannerisms and predisposition to violence concern me. I have seen you in battle. Your eyes are steady, focused, driven. His… I see only rage, hatred, and a desire to see his enemies wither before him."

"… I have seen such things, but there is also compassion, empathy…"

Sahasrahla nodded, stroking his beard. "Yes, I have seen that as well. He is in turmoil, his nature at war with itself. I sense he is one who can do great or terrible things."

"Yes, I agree," said Midna, "but surely the Goddesses would not choose someone unworthy of the Triforce."

At that, Sahasrahla leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "You truly believe so?"

"… is there a reason why I should not?"

"In your histories, was there ever mentioned the name Ganondorf?"

Midna paused, thinking back to her lessons in youth. There were many names in her people's history; Fierce Deity, Veran, Majora, Ghirahim, but Ganondorf… Zach had mentioned him, when discussing the Legend of Zelda games…

"Yes, but nothing apart from his name."

"Do you know the nature of the Triforce?"

"Err… I believe so. The Triforce was created when the Golden Goddesses left this world, and it was for seeking the Triforce that my ancestors were banished."

"But do you know of its nature? Why they sought it?" Midna shook her head, causing Sahasrahla to nod. "I thought not. The Triforce is more than a powerful magic relic. It is a balance between the great forces, Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Throughout our history, Wisdom has always allied with the princess of destiny, and Courage with her heroic knight. But Power… Power was always sought by those with evil intent.

"Ganondorf sought Power, but he was blind to danger and thus captured. At the moment of his execution, a divine prank bestowed upon him the Triforce of Power. Chosen, by Din herself."

"Din chose an evil man?" asked Midna, mouth dry. "Why would she choose him?"

"I have asked myself that question many a time. It is concerning, yes?"

"Are you… are you saying Zach is related to Ganondorf? That can't be possible!"

Sahasrahla held up his hand to quiet Midna. "I make no accusations, only observations. His is a heart unbalanced, but make no mistake. The Triforce is neither good nor evil, light or dark. It is a scale designed to test the hearts of those who seek it, to grant their wish be they in balance or not. I ask that you beware the boy's heart. He may be chosen by the Goddesses, but remember that Ganondorf was as well."

"… I… I don't know what to say…"

The Kakariko elder leaned back in his chair and sighed. "I am sorry to bring such omens so early in the morning, but I knew not when I would have this chance again. You may say nothing for now, only remember my words and the warnings of history."

The elder left Midna alone to her thoughts. Zach was unbalanced, yes, but was he evil? Midna did not believe so… but she did believe that he had the capacity for evil. That realization shook her to her core, that she could admit that someone was not evil but could be in the future. Zant had the decency to always be a scheming little weasel, but Zach…

"Heya," said Zach, sitting across from Midna. She jumped when he spoke, at which he smiled. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya."

Midna looked him in the eye, looked for… what? She saw only fatigue, drowsiness. "Er… I'm fine. How did you sleep?"

"Kept waking up," said Zach, rubbing his good eye. "You snore like nobody's business."

"Sorry," she replied, not really paying attention. There was no evil in him, right?

"You okay?"

"Huh? Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Midna stood up as Anju brought Zach some breakfast. "You go ahead and eat. I'll…" Do what? She just wanted to be away from him for the moment, but that was rude no matter who you asked. "I'll go to Ordon Village and get that thing we need."

Zach snorted as he chugged his milk. "I'm gonna have to veto that, the mayor is going to teach me how to beat the Gorons using a secret sumo wrestling style."

"If you played the game, don't you already know?"

"… Even so, I don't like the idea."

Midna's lips curled. "Why not? It's just a few minutes, I zip in, grab the thing, and zip out."

"It's not… It's more complicated than that."

"What is so complicated about it?"

Zach glared at his breakfast and stabbed his fork down into an egg. "Fine, if you're so damn smart. You're looking for a house on the other side of the village, big chest inside on the main floor, a pair of big heavy boots."

"I don't know why you're so upset, you're not the one stuck in this situation, but thanks for the advice." Why was he…? Oh, forget it. Anything to get some space.

The trip was quiet. She went through one portal and out another, slinked in the darkness, and finally found the house Zach had described.

Did Midna sense evil in him?

...Yes. It troubled Midna greatly, but why? Were the Fused Shadow not also considered evil magic?

She froze. The Fused Shadow were powerful dark artifacts, capable of corrupting and mutating the innocent creatures who stumbled upon them. Yes, they were a last resort against Zant and his power, and everyone and their mother has warned against their use. But she felt no fear regarding their use. Maybe that had more to do with the fact that they were powerful but ultimately just tools with no conscious thought of their own.

The fact was that Zach was a free-thinking mortal. He will have to make a choice one day. No matter what Midna wished, she could not decide for him.

Midna popped out of the shadows, safe inside what seemed to be a closet. She saw the kind of person Zant was, did nothing, and now look what happened. How could she sit by and let Zach's evil grow?

Then again, Midna of all people should know not to judge by appearance. Did she not say just minutes ago that there is good in him as well?

Voices approached. Midna peeked through a crack in the closet door, spotting a large man—the mayor, if she recalled correctly—and four villagers, each pair a husband and wife. All four were in various states of despair, with puffy eyes, tear-stricken cheeks, and wracked sobs.

The parents of those children, Midna realized. One of the wives collapsed in a chair, weeping into her hands. Her husband embraced her, nuzzled his cheek against hers. Were there families in the Twilight Realm suffering the same loss? Parents fearing for their children, children crying for their parents?

"Is this what war is?" Midna whispered. "I've never done anything like this… I wish I was more prepared…"

It was in that moment she realized something: The ones most prepared for war are those who seek it.

Midna wiped her cheek. Was this tear for her people, or the people in this world? Or both? Whatever the case, the families in this village deserved to know their children were safe. No one should spend so much time and energy worrying, praying. Her mind made up, she sank back into the shadows, through the underbelly of the house, and emerged on the front porch.

Midna allowed herself a soft laugh as she reached up and knocked thrice on the door. A few moments later, the mayor slowly opened it.

"… Zach?" asked the mayor, blinking at Midna. She gave a firm nod. "Your clothes... What happened to you, lad? C-Come quick! Inside!"

Not that she had much of a choice as the mayor all but carried her in himself. The chest Zach had mentioned sat tucked away in the corner. She patted his back with as much comfort and reassurance as possible, and he plopped her down before the rest of the villagers. She gave them a smile and a wave, but they looked less than relieved to see 'Zach'.

"My boy, where have you been?" asked the mayor… was his name Bo? It was something like that, something short and simple.

Midna cleared her throat and said in Zach's voice, "I had to cleanse the nearby marsh of evil. After that, I made my way to Kakariko Village."

"My word, you actually made it all the way there?" asked one of the wives, the portly one. "Where is my daughter? Is she all right?"

Midna nodded. "They're all safe and sound, if kinda scared."

"Well, I must say that is a relief," said Bo. "Not them being scared, of course, I am very sorry for that. What brings you back here?"

"There's more evil on Death Mountain," Midna said, "but there's been some difficulty with the locals."

Bo sighed and rubbed his bald head. "The Gorons, I assume?" Midna nodded. "Hm, that will not be an easy task. They value strength, might, power."

The muscular husband cleared his throat. "Didn't you get through them, Mayor?"

"Yes, and it was difficult even in my prime." He clapped his hands together. "So, you all have proof that your children are safe. Go home, rest. I will speak with Zach in the meantime."

After some grumbling and fuss, the other villagers took their leave. Mayor Bo addressed Midna, twirling the end of his mustache. "This technique is top secret. No one, not my wife nor my daughter, know of it. Do you understand?" Midna nodded, though her lip curled all the same. "Ha, don't you fear. As secret as it is, it is very simple. The secret… is in that chest."

Midna raised an eyebrow at him as she made her way over. She lifted the lid and found a pair of… gloves? They were just a pair of gauntlets armored with silver and adorned with twin rubies on the backs of the hands. The symbols below the rubies were familiar, but that would have to wait. Well, Zach would not be happy, but at least they did not waste a week on these—

"Silver Gauntlets," said the Mayor. "I found them in my travels in the desert long ago. When worn, they give you the strength of three men… or one Goron. With these, you'll have no problem showing them your strength. If you've made it this far, I have no doubt you'll go even further."

It was not the most honorable way to win, but circumstances demanded compromise. Besides, Zach would be the one doing the heavy lifting, not her. She has done enough for now… and good timing, her magic was just about out. She nodded at the mayor and headed for the door, only for him to step in the way.

"Be careful with them, Zach. They give you strength, but not control. I suggest only wearing them when you need to, or you might hurt yourself or others."

Midna bowed her head and departed with the gauntlets. The moment the door closed, she warped herself back to Kakariko and ducked into her shared room. "Oh, thank the gods…"

"I'm up!" cried Zach, lurching from his spot on the bed. His hair stuck up on one side, causing Midna to laugh. "Wha… what's so funny?"

"Your hair," she said, and then she tossed the gauntlets on the bed. "I thought you were eating breakfast."

"I wanted more sleep after." Zach looked down, shining his phone on the items. "You got the Silver Gauntlets?"

Midna hopped onto the bed and poked one of the gauntlets with her foot. "Yep. Apparently, they'll give you the strength of three men or one Goron."

"… great."

"Okay, what is your problem today?" Midna crossed her arms and glared at the fool. "I just saved us a whole week of travel and got us a nifty pair of gauntlets. Why is this not good news to you?"

Zach rubbed his face and said, "Because that's not how the story goes. Those are supposed to be Iron Boots because the Goron Mines use magnets and the boots help us get around, not to mention help us when we go to a water dungeon and so on and so forth. It's not how the story goes."

Midna stamped her foot. "Forget how the story goes! This isn't a game that you can drop and come back to later, nor is it some fiction you can alter if you don't like it. Like it or not, this is reality and you must learn to deal with changes you're not expecting! Okay?"

"Fine, I'm going back to bed."

"Uh, no, you're not. We're going up that mountain, and we are going to get that Fused Shadow if it kills us."

"Fine!" Zach threw himself off the bed and slapped on the gauntlets, tossing his old ones aside. "Don't feel any stronger. You sure they actually work?"

Midna snapped the discarded gauntlets into her pocket dimension and said, "Not really. I don't have the hand size to try them out."

Zach stomped his way outside and kicked a random crate, which sent it flying to the opposite canyon wall. "Good, they work."

"Zach, I really wish you would tell me why you're so angry. Was it really because of the change in the story?"

"Maybe I'm just angry!" Zach glanced over to where the Ordon children played. "Not… not talking to you, talking to you-know-who… Anyway, maybe I'm just angry! It happens, you know. Sometimes you just wake up hating the world."

"That doesn't sound even remotely healthy!"

"OF COURSE IT'S NOT HEALTHY! But what can you do? I can't just alter my brain to fit societal definitions of normal and healthy. Sometimes you are just broken and no amount of scotch tape and glue will fix you!"

If Midna could smack him with her bare hand, she would. "I'm not asking you to change anything, I just would like to not get snapped at because I wanted to be proactive! Why would the Goddesses choose you? You are the worst possible choice for 'Hero'!"

Zach halted, his hands hanging loosely by his sides. His breath was quick and shuddery, and his shoulders sagged. "… I ask myself that question every day. I don't know why they chose me, but they did. We just have to live with mistakes like that."

I was about to head for the mountain trail when I remembered the other necessity. I took a sharp left and entered the shop with that insufferable little brat's face plastered all over it.

"What are we doing in here?" asked Midna.

"I need to get a metal shield." The shop looked the same as before, with the Hylian Shield placed conveniently on the counter. As I grabbed it, so did Malo. "Hey, I need this."

"You can look at my stuff," said Malo, "but don't you DARE just take things."

I tugged on the shield but Malo wouldn't let go. "Who says this stuff is yours?"

Malo yanked hard, but my grip was solid. Thank goodness for the Silver Gauntlets. They did have their use after all. I could just yank harder but three men's worth of strength would definitely hurt the little brat. "I decided to take on this unmanned shop. That's MY valuable merchandise. You want it, you pay for it."

"I don't have the money or the time or the PATIENCE for this!"

"Not my problem. Buying it would help the whole village."

"I think helping the Gorons with their problem would help a lot more."

Midna popped out of my shadow and stood on the counter, glaring at both me and Malo. "WHAT is going on here?!"

"I need this shield," said I, "and he won't just give it to me."

"So you're playing tug-of-war for it?"

"HE WON'T LET GO!"

Malo yanked again, nearly winning the shield. "You can't just take things that aren't yours."

I held the shield up, and as Malo's grip was strong, he was hoisted a foot off the ground. "You did first, you know. Think of me taking the shield as an endorsement. I save the Gorons, people will know it was thanks to valuable goods from your shop. Business will slowly but surely grow, and you'll make more than this shield's value back. If I don't take the shield, I'll more than likely die. And people will know it was because you didn't part ways with it, and how do you think that will affect your business?"

"…"

Midna tapped her chin, nodding slowly. "That actually makes a lot of sense…" She gave Malo a shrug.

"… Fine." Malo let go and landed safely on his feet. "Maybe I can't become a hero, but I figure I can help people out with heroic business deals." He pointed at us with a stubby finger. "You'd both better work hard, too."

I handed the Ordon Shield to Midna and fastened my fancy schmancy new Hylian Shield to my back. "Pleasure doing business with you."

The walk up the trail to Death Mountain was silent. Once I was out of the village, I nodded up at the two Gorons blocking the passage ahead. "Hey, just passing through."

One of the Gorons waved at me and said, "You're that human we met outside the black wall!"

I paused and looked them over. Frankly, it was hard to tell Gorons apart but they did seem familiar. "Where the hell have you guys been?"

"Whoa, calm down," said the other Goron. "The bridge leading into the village was broken in half, we had to repair that before we could even get here."

"Wait, so it's all fixed?"

"No," the first Goron said. "We only had enough material for the bridge to hold our weight. Once we crossed, it all tumbled down."

I sighed and rubbed my face. "Well, that sucks. In the meantime, what say we go up the mountain together?"

"Sorry, no outsiders. We Gorons can take care of ourselves."

"Like your patriarch who touched the hidden dark magic and mutated into a giant fiery monster?" I probably should have been more tactful, but oh well.

Both Gorons' eyes bugged out of his skull. "How do you know that?!"

"Like I said, I'm here to help."

"Roko, I think we can trust this guy," the first Goron said. "What have we got to lose?"

Roko grumbled but stepped aside. "Fine. If he messes things up, so help me, Gorko!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose as the Gorons marched ahead of me. "The things I do..."

Midna popped out of my shadow and checked her nails. "Well, that went well, huh?"

"I know what I'm doing."

She huffed. "You don't have the faintest clue."

"Just watch me!" I continued up Death Mountain Trail. The archers we had faced when I was a wolf were gone, and the howling stone used to summon the Hero's Shade was gone as well. Instead, up ahead were the first signs of industrial mining; a metallic floor instead of rocky terrain, sounds of pickaxes and hammers hitting raw ore, and the strong smell of grease and fire and burning fuel.

"Great, another fantastic change." The two Gorons stood at the top of the incline, a great stone pillar behind them. "What's the hold up?"

Roko pointed at the stone and said, "That. It's blocking our way and we don't have enough Gorons to move it."

"How many do you need?"

"At least three," Gorko said. "But there's no one on the other side to help us, so we're going to have to get some bombs from that guy in Kakariko."

I looked the stone over. It was still smoking from the eruption, with bits of red-hot rock glowing along its surface. I tapped my finger against a spot near the bottom and found that it was warm but not blistering hot. "We can lift it."

Gorko laughed, slapping his knee. "You're funny, little man!"

"How about we three of us try to lift at the same time?" I asked. Sure, it was outright cheating, but so was having a pair of gauntlets like that in the first place. Items are meant to be used, right? "You shouldn't underestimate humans. We just might surprise you."

Roko laughed this time. He sauntered over to the pillar and gave it a pat. "Sure, why the rock not? If you can help us lift it, we'll be your personal escort through the mines all the way up to Goron City itself."

"Aw, you're too kind." We each cracked our knuckles, knelt, and gripped the pillar's base. Even with the Silver Gauntlets, that son of a bitch was heavy. My eyes bulged out, my fingers burned, and every muscle in my arms screamed. "...fffFFFUUUUCK!"

"I'd offer to help," said Midna, "but I think you guys got it. Plus I'm out of magic."

"No… worries…" Slowly, very slowly, the pillar rose up from its spot in the path. It teetered as we lifted with all our might, and then I realized one problem. "What… do we do… with it now?!"

"HEAVE!" We each buckled down and threw up our arms, catapulting the stone pillar clear across the expanse. It landed with a mighty CRASH next to the exit.

I bowled over with my hands on my knees, sweat covering my brow. "Well… that went well…"

Roko slapped my back, the force of which knocked me over. "HA! Not bad, human! You just might be the guy to help us out."

"… my pleasure…"

Gorko lifted me up and gave me the deadliest hug I have ever had. "You did real good, human guy. What's your name?"

"… Zach… need air…" He let go, and I collapsed while gulping down sweet oxygen. "Glad… to help…"

"Heh, sorry," said Gorko, rubbing the back of his head. "Anyway, as promised, we're gonna help you through the mines so you can talk to the elders. They'll know what to do."

"… sounds good…" After a few more long breaths, I picked myself back up and flexed my sore muscles. After a few very painful stretches, I downed my last bottle of spring water. "Okay… okay, lead the way. I'm good now."

The mines were much less crowded than I recalled. There weren't any Bulblins or Tektites wandering about, and the few Beamos I saw were being used to cut through miscellaneous clumps of stone and ore. It seemed like there wasn't a problem at all, except for the trails of slag and debris plus some really big footprints. The shape and size of the holes left behind were significantly larger than what I was expecting, which made my stomach queasy.

How big was Fyrus going to be this time? He was already huge in the game, but now he seemed almost Balrog-sized. And those footprints… they didn't seem to belong to a Goron, mutated or otherwise. "So, besides your patriarch running amok, is there anything else going on?"

"Not only is our patriarch running rampant through the mine, he's also not alone."

"… come again?"

"Yeah, he managed to resurrect an ancient creature." Gorko shuddered. "He brought back King Dodongo."