I awoke just before dawn. With a quiet yawn, I shook off the remnants of sleep. I felt a slight weight on my torso and found Midna still snoozing. She looked so adorable with half her face covered by her orange hair. If I was being truly honest, she was beautiful. Her pale skin captured the glow of her runes well. The way her fang poked out from beneath her lip. The slight scrunch of her nose when she breathed in.
I wasn't going to bring it up but I remembered what she said, or tried to say, the previous night. She liked me liked me... Why?
Well, I knew why. I wasn't stupid. I am pretty good-looking and I am pretty funny. When I care about someone, I care. I'm pretty damn smart too.
It's the other half I was afraid of. Not the temper, not the eye, not even the issues I had with my family. It was the evil that only I saw, because I learned a long time ago how to hide it.
When I shot that first bulblin, I didn't cheer just because I helped the castle town. I cheered because killing it felt good. I enjoyed it for the act of killing. I reveled in the power, that addictive and pure power of control.
That was why it was so hard for me to grasp the concept of anyone liking me. I knew better. I knew what was under the surface, hiding behind half-truths and convenient excuses. I wanted the power of control and authority, especially over life and death. I wanted to make those beneath me quake in terror at what I might do to them. I wanted them to feel every last drop of misery I ever suffered. And not even for petty revenge. That was just another excuse.
The truth was I liked hurting. Even when I hit Midna by accident, I didn't enjoy it but I wasn't sorry just because I hurt her. I was really only worried for what she might have done to me in retaliation. ... that wasn't true. That thought never even occurred to me when it happened.
I wished she would understand, but that would just make her abandon me. Or maybe not. She was surprising me left and right with her emotional support. She was working so hard for me and what did I do to deserve that?
"I see a good person deep, deep down inside you," she said just a few hours ago. It didn't make sense, how could she see that but not the other half?
Maybe she did? Nah, she would have definitely mentioned it. Maybe I was really good at hiding it? Possibly. Maybe... maybe it actually wasn't as bad as I thought.
Did I enjoy the killing? I thought back to that moment. The smell of the pines. The feeling of Midna guiding my hands. The sound of the arrow flying from the bow.
The sight of the arrow piercing the bulblin's neck. Did it make me feel good? Did it give me a rush of power?
... a little, yes. I closed my eyes in shame. I did enjoy killing it, because it felt like I was getting back at anyone and everyone who ever crossed me.
It was petty revenge after all. Some of it, anyway. Then there was the side of me that truly felt that I was better than everyone else and that I was free to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. And anyone who dared oppose me was to be tortured to death.
That certainly explained why I was the villain of the story. But... why did I feel that way? Why was it so strong? Was it something I was born with? Was it something that came after? Both? Probably both, all things considered. It was my destiny to become a thing of evil so foul that not even the Goddesses themselves were able to stop it. I was destined to be a murderer and probably a tyrant, smashing planets to pieces and—
Midna shifted on top of me but remained asleep. I carefully reached over and stroked her cheek. A small smile spread over her face. She... she felt safe enough to be this close to me. She trusted me. She wanted to be with me. And I...
I wasn't worthy of her. But I wanted to be. Maybe it was stupid of me, maybe selfish or entitled, but... I cared about her. I wanted to see her smile and hear her laugh. I wanted her to get home safe and sound. And I wanted to be with her the whole way through.
But how does one change who they are? How does change on a fundamental level begin? I knew the answer to that; the first step was to have the desire to change.
That's all well and good but I needed to change everything... no, not everything. I needed to change the parts of myself that I damn well knew needed it. But I couldn't just change all of them overnight, it was too difficult, too entwined with the good parts of me. How was I even going to get started?
"... start small," Midna whispered.
I tensed up in surprise, frozen in place.
Midna yawned, stretched out, and settled back down. "You think real loud, you know that?"
"I... I'm sorry..."
"'s okay..." Her fingers traced little patterns on my shirt. Her eyes remained shut and it looked like she would fall back to sleep at any moment.
I kept absolutely still, holding my breath. She seemed unconcerned, even relaxed, yet... "How much did you hear?"
"Mm... woke up a little after you did... first thing I heard was you saying you aren't stupid..."
"... so basically all of it." I stared at her, my jaw slack. "You're not... you don't seem particularly disturbed..."
She opened one eye and reached up to boop my nose. "Meh. We're out here collecting pieces to a dark power that has a far bloodier history than you or I ever will. And I won't solve anything if I worry over and over about if you'll stab me in my sleep."
"I would never do that!" I whisper-yelled.
"I know. I told you I won't worry about it, heh." She took a deep breath and let it out slow. "You're on the right path, Zach. If you keep up a relatively positive attitude and take it one step at a time, you'll be a better version of you before you know it. I believe in you but I can only do so much. The rest is up to you. One day you'll be confronted with a choice that no one can make but you."
"What if I make the wrong choice?"
"Then you'll have to deal with the consequences. That's the reality of it, Zach. I think that's a huge part of what's happened to your mental state." She sat up, resting her hand on mine. "You want to do the right thing, it's burned into you. Part of who you are as a person. But no one can do the right thing all the time, it's just impossible. But your upbringing has led you to believe that mistakes are to be punished, and long story short, you're a mess of right and wrong and mistakes and resentment.
"I'm tired of talking you up, it's time you did that for yourself. You can do this, Zach. Believe in your strengths. Trust in yourself. This is going to sound sappy but love yourself. Your darkness will not supplant your light. How do I know? Because you are a better person than you think you are. Just take things one step at a time, okay?"
"... okay."
"Promise?"
I sat up. She smiled at me, I smiled back. "I promise."
"Good. Now wake up."
Wake up...?
"Wake up, Zach." Something was shaking me and when I opened my eyes, I found Midna. "Finally! Time to go, sleepyhead."
"Huh?"
Midna giggled as she tossed me my hero clothes. "That was probably the best sleep I've had in a while, so I don't blame you for wanting to go back to it. Buuut it's time we got a move on." Without waiting for a reply, she left the tent to give me privacy.
"Uh... right. Right." A dream. Of course it was a dream. ... Wasn't it? In any case, I dressed up and headed outside. It was just before dawn. The sky was alight with dark blues and bright pinks, with the sun's faint orange glow marking its place on the horizon.
"Morning, boss," said Gorko with a smile.
I smiled back. "Morning. You slept well?"
"Like a rock!"
Laughing, I nodded at him and Roko. "Well, parting is such sweet sorrow. I'm gonna miss you guys."
Roko crossed his arms. "We're not parting yet. We still got to get you to the bridge, you know."
"Yeah but still. It'll be a while before we see each other again." The air was very cool and slightly humid, which made the coolness even more prominent. With that in mind, I rummaged through my satchel, eventually pulling out a nice black hoodie.
Midna popped up beside me, a shiny red apple in her hand. "Good morning! I found breakfast."
"Ooh, yummy!" She gave me the apple and I handed her the hoodie. "Trade ya this for that."
"What's this?"
"It's a gift from the twenty-first century. It's called a hoodie."
"... uh-huh?"
With a snort I held the bottom of the hoodie open for her, then let her handle putting it on while I ate the apple. She had to vanish her helmet for a moment but eventually she fit the hoodie on. With her height it reached down past her shins but what really made it adorable was that the sleeves were just a bit too long for her. On the other hand, the hood fit her head perfectly, echoing her true form's hooded cloak.
She looked over herself and flapped her sleeves. "It's very comfy! And it smells like you... this is clean, right?"
"Of course it's clean," I said, poking her in the belly. "I used to wear it all the time, it was my favorite hoodie."
She looked up at me, her eyes wide. "This was your favorite?"
"Hey, I like that hoodie."
"I didn't mean it in a bad way. I love it!" She coughed and turned away. "I mean, I love it because it's comfortable. And it looks nice. But why are you giving it to me?"
I blinked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Because it's going to get colder and I don't want you freezing while we're out and about in the Twilight."
"Won't you want it once you're human again?"
"Nah, you felt how warm I am. I'm never cold enough to need it anymore."
"But... why your favorite?"
"... you got me there..."
"Eee hee! Do you liiike me? Is this a traditional courting ritual, giving me a favorite article of clothing?"
Now it was my turn to cough and turn away. "Look, the point is... yes, it's a courting ritual but I didn't mean it that way."
"Uh-huh." She paused for a moment, then she threw her arms around me and squeezed tight.
"Aw, hugs are nice," I said, hugging back.
She laughed as we parted. "This is a nice gift, Zach. I'll make sure to take good care of it so you can have it back later."
"Huh? No, it's yours now. Like, to keep." As something to remember me by...
"But... well, okay then. Not gonna complain about free clothes." She lowered the hood and replaced her helmet. "Might not fit me when I'm back to my true self, though."
I nodded and began disassembling the tent. "It'll probably be a little shorter on you but still, it's comfy."
"That's a good point. I do love baring my midriff."
My cheeks heated up but I had my back turned so she wouldn't see. "No comment." Once we were packed up, I led the Gorons west. It was very relaxing for me personally. It was quiet, the temperature was perfect, we had a good pace without rushing, and there were no monsters bothering us.
I meant what I said before. Why would I go back to Earth after seeing the land of Hyrule? Earth was a lost cause, a dying world in the hands of people who were so narcissistic and vain that they didn't even comprehend the notion of helping others for their own gain, much less anyone else's.
This world had so much more hope, I had to admit. More potential and patience and trust than Earth would ever know what to do with.
The air was crisp. I never had to suffer through air pollution but the fact that other people did, and the fact that companies focused on selling bottled air rather than cleaning the air itself...
The trees were lush and full of life. If this forest existed on Earth, it would have been cut down by now. Bulldozed and turned into paper used to make pamphlets telling people to save the environment. The irony. I wasn't a tree hugger or some prissy little activist, I just didn't see the point in trying to live in a world like that.
It was enough to make my blood boil. Hyrule was a good land but given enough time, its inhabitants would destroy it. Why would anyone want to rule a doomed world?
Not me, that's for sure. I didn't know anything about my future self's plans but he must be especially deranged to want to take over the world.
"You know... you're right, Midna. I'm doing pretty good, all things considered."
"I told you so."
"Heh, you did. And you've been doing great yourself."
"Why thank you."
"I... it's nice to be around someone like you."
"Didn't you have friends?"
"Sure but they... I had a habit of surrounding myself with people who weren't... as good as me. You know, people who weren't as smart or as clever or as imaginative. People I could look at and think, 'Boy am I glad that's not me'."
"Yeah, I had a feeling about that."
My pace faltered. "I wish I could have done it over again."
"My sympathies, but you can't. You just have to learn your mistakes and move on instead. I can see how painful that is for you but you just got to anyway. That's a part of growing up, you know?"
"You're right, again. Anyway, I'm not talking about this to beat myself up. What I'm trying to say is... very difficult."
Midna's shadowy hand patted my cheek. "Take your time. We're gonna be stuck together for a while, after all. We got lots of time."
"I don't want to overstep my bounds but you... Maybe it's too bold but... I think you're the best friend I ever had."
"I... That's incredibly sweet of you, Zach."
"I mean it, too. But I... I'm not saying you have to say the same thing to me. I'm not trying to replace Burak, you know?"
"I understand. I don't think anyone ever will but I'm glad to have your friendship. Got a nice hoodie out of it!"
I scoffed and asked, "That's all I am to you? And here I thought we had something special!"
With a laugh, Midna replied, "We do! You provide warmth at night and I provide the pleasure of my company."
"Screw that, you're sleeping outside tonight."
"I am not!"
"Perhaps you feel you're being... treated unfairly?"
"Of course, that wasn't the deal."
We were already laughing but the opportunity to quote stuff made me laugh harder. "I am altering the deal. Pray I do not alter it further."
"What's that from?"
"A truly fantastic movie called Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back."
"Can we watch it sometime?"
I paused at that. "I mean, it's on my phone but... it's so different from Lord of the Rings. Like nothing you've seen before... well, actually it's not... Sorry, I'm trying to focus on a train of thought that isn't going anywhere. Stand by."
"Standing by."
"... Okay. So I have the trilogy on my phone. That movie is the second in the trilogy, so we'd be watching all three. But they're not in your language and since they're not a story in the Twilight Realm, you'd be a lot less understanding of what's going on."
"Actually, I've been slowly learning your language since we started listening to music."
"Wait, that's really a thing? I've heard stories of people who could do that."
"Must be so! Anyway, I can pick up some of the words so I wouldn't be totally lost watching... you said it was called 'Star Wars'?"
"Uh-huh. Well, that removes one half of the problem. The other half is just the fact that it's futuristic so it has much more advanced technology, but now I'm realizing that doesn't matter since my world likes it just fine. So... I guess we're a-go for Star Wars."
"Yup! I'm interested in watching all the movies on your phone but thank you for considering my needs."
"Of course."
Before I knew it, we arrived at the gates of the bridge... which was completely destroyed. The Twilight wall had formed right between the landmasses, preventing anyone on either side from repairing it.
"It was a good idea," said Midna, "but it looks like we're heading north after all."
I shook my head, a smirk on my face. "I thought you had a little more faith in me than that, Midna. I knew the bridge would be out but I had a plan just in case."
"Careful, you're starting to sound sure of yourself. Eee hee!"
"And I think I'm beginning to like it. I had a thought earlier; you only summoned half of the bridge leading to Kakariko, right?"
"Uh-huh..."
"Is it possible the other half is still in that pocket dimension?"
Midna hummed in thought. "Yeah, I think so. But that's still only half a bridge."
"And we got two big strong Gorons right here."
"Ahh, I see what you're getting at."
I chuckled and turned to the Gorons. "Midna is going to summon a piece of bridge. Would you guys mind giving me a toss to the other side from there?"
Gorko raised a brow ridge at me. He stared for a moment and then laughed, clutching his belly. "You got some stones, boss!"
"Before we go," Midna said to our companions, "I need to ask a favor." Gorko and Roko nodded for her to continue. "... can you not mention me? Once the Twilight is gone, if you two get to the castle town before us, I don't want the people there to know about my involvement. I... call it a hunch but I don't think they'd like the idea of someone like me running about. Please?"
In truth, I didn't fully understand why it mattered either way. The people of Castle Town were decent folks, weren't they? How badly could they react to a hero like Midna? But all the same, Gorko and Roko nodded and would attribute all the heroic deeds to me instead of both of us. Midna accepted that and told us to stand back.
With a mighty yell, the other half of the Kakariko bridge emerged from Twilit particles. It moved over to the junction that the original bridge was meant to go and slammed down with a clang! The extra few feet brought us just close enough to the wall to see the runic designs on it. I stepped carefully as the bridge was not fully secure. One bit of weight too much and it would fall to the ravine below. "You okay, Midna?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I remember your nose bleeding after the last time."
"Oh, thanks but I'm fine. With each Fused Shadow we get, my magic grows stronger."
I nodded, but then narrowed my eyes at the runes on the wall. Particularly the one that looked like a 'Z'.
"Does this look like a Twilit rune to you?"
"No," said Midna. "It looks like a letter I've seen on your phone. Why?"
"... It's the letter my name starts with."
"... Oh. That's ominous."
"Very ominous. Anyway!" I spun on my heel and addressed my soon-to-be-former companions. "It's been great but now we have to part ways. If you fellas can give me a boost, please and thank you."
Roko stood at the base of the bridge while Gorko moved to the edge sticking out over the precipice. With the weights balanced, Gorko nodded at me and Midna. "Gonna miss you, boss. You too, boss lady." He threw his arms around me and crunched down tight.
Sahasrahla was right, there was no defense against a Goron hug. Once I recovered, I moved to stand beside Roko while Midna passed beyond the veil of Twilight. I spotted her silhouette through the wall, her hair hand waiting to catch me. The distance was a good twenty feet since the replacement bridge was much shorter than the original, especially with it being cut in half.
"You sure about this?"
"No, but I'm not wasting time walking to the other entrance. On the count of three. One... two... THREE!" I sprinted at Gorko. It was a short distance to him but every step weighed as much as a neutron star to me. Something about this particular venture into the Twilight felt much bigger than the others. Maybe it was the fact I was going so off-script even though it was my idea.
Wait, I realized why it felt different. It was like I was... finally taking control of my life. My destiny, you could say. I was doing what I felt was right, what I felt was best, and if Midna agreed then what I was feeling had to be correct... right?
I leapt at Gorko. He caught me and swung me up, up, up! I soared through the air and briefly wished I had a cape to make the moment even cooler. As I approached the Twilight wall, Midna's hair shot out. It grabbed me around my torso and pulled me through, but not before I called back, "Thanks, guys!"
Midna set the wolf gently down. As before, she whisked away his fake eye and settled on his back. They turned to the Twilight wall and watched as Gorko hurried back to solid ground. The bridge crumbled and fell to the precipice below, a faint boom echoing back up to mark its landing.
"No going back now," she said as they faced the entrance to Castle Town. The gate was slightly ajar, which allowed Zach ample passage inside... if he was not rooted to the ground. "Zach?"
"Sorry." His body trembled, though certainly not from cold. "I just... didn't think this part through. Having a bit of anxiety now."
Midna lightly scratched the top of his head. "What's bothering you?"
"Just need a minute," he said quickly. He took two steps forward and immediately stopped, jostling Midna a bit. "Sorry, I'm just... I've never been comfortable with places full of people. Crowds of people pushing and shoving, the constant movement, the noise... ugh, the noise!"
"Hey, it's okay. Remember, they're spirits now so they'll just pass right through you. As for the noise, I can't help with that."
Zach nodded, taking deep breaths. "You're right. I think I can handle the noise since no one will possibly be talking directly to me. I can do this. I will do this!" He took one last breath, rolled back his shoulders, and marched through the gate.
The town was bustling with activity, much like the first time they were there. Dozens, perhaps a hundred flaming green orbs lined the streets. As Zach went along, they passed more and more spirits that congregated at the doors of an enormous building with three reaching spires. It almost looked like the Twilight Palace but for the stained-glass windows and obvious differences in architecture. "What's that place?"
Zach stopped and looked at the building, his head tilted. "I think it's... but it's supposed to be in the forest..."
"What is it?"
"The Temple of Time." Slowly, almost reverently, Zach climbed the steps of the temple. He stepped around spirits that assembled atop blankets and pillows, his ears flattening against his head. Once he reached the main doors, he said, "They're... they're not allowed inside... It's filled to capacity. No room for anyone else."
Midna stared up at the temple in shock. "I... but it's so big! How many people are already in there?" She carefully stood on Zach's back and peeked through the window. Indeed, there were a great number of spirits that took up every available seat in the main hall with many more seated on the floor. There really was no room left to give, the thought of which clenched at Midna's throat. These people were hungry and homeless, desperate for a higher power to save them.
A bitter thought occurred to Midna: "Zant has his revenge on Hyrule. Now they know the struggles of the Twili, but was it worth it? Is Zant happy now?"
"Revenge never makes you feel better," Zach replied. "Ever. All that's left is guilt and resentment. For someone like Zant, I bet this is just an excuse to have power over the weak."
"It's pathetic."
"It's cowardly."
Midna sighed. "Zach, should we get a move on?"
"Yeah, we don't need anything in the temple." He went back down the steps, though he spared a glance back for a moment. "I was going to suggest we do some shopping with the intention of stealing but... I don't know if we should now."
She patted his head, a sad smile on her face. "I agree. It wouldn't be right."
"Man, that was the whole reason I suggested we skip the north. Restock our arrows, maybe get some green potions for your magic, stuff like that."
"That's not a bad idea, actually. I thought you were talking about food."
"Well, that was part of it but I'll ration what I eat. Plus we can find food in the wild."
"How about we split up?" she suggested. "It looks like we'll be just fine going about our own business here."
Zach nodded and trotted off to pursue supplies. Midna wanted to go as well, but she had something else on her mind. She returned to the temple doors, rested her palm against them.
Assured that she would not spontaneously combust or something, Midna took a deep breath and slid beneath the doors. The interior was truly a sight to behold; the floor and walls were a pristine white, the only colors being a lush red carpet leading from the doors to an altar at the far end. Lining the walls were statues of a boy, or similar-looking boys, wearing strange tunics and pointed hats. They all bore the same sword held in a salute, perhaps to honor all who entered the temple.
The altar itself was bare save for an inscription, but since Midna was unable to read it, she moved her attention to the statues at the very back of the temple. The statues were three women, each adorned in simple yet tasteful clothing, smiling at her. A sudden urge to be respectful prompted her to remove her helmet. She gulped, feeling very small in the presence of the three Golden Goddesses. Or just statues made in their image, but still.
She turned back and observed at the patrons of the temple. They prostrated themselves to whichever statue was nearest, be that a Golden Goddess or pointy-hatted boy. Prayers. Hundreds of prayers. Some were spoken, others were sung. By the time she began her own prayer, Midna was openly weeping. She let her tears fall as she looked up at the three statues. "Please... whatever happens to me, please don't abandon them. Please..." If she had any wish for herself, it was for a sign that the goddesses had heard her. Something, anything that proved she was not just singing to the choir.
Something nudged her shoulder. She whirled around and found Zach waiting for her. Without even thinking, she wrapped her arms around his head and hugged tight. His fur was soft and warm, as was his voice.
"We're going to save them, Midna."
She smiled against his neck. Her fingers pet the top of his head. He sat down and remained still for her. She breathed in, out, in, out at a steady pace. They needed to get back to work but for once, she just enjoyed the moment. He never made a sound even as she held onto his fur. He did not have much to offer but his company, yet it was enough.
"My hero," she whispered.
"Sarcasm?"
"No!" She chuckled and kissed his wolfish cheek. "Thank you for this."
"What'd I do?" he asked, tilting his head. "All I did was sit here."
Midna looked him in the eye. He neither looked nor sounded coy; he was genuinely confused? "Just being here for me. Letting me have this moment."
"Well yeah, you needed it. Oh! I get it now. Sorry."
She laughed and climbed atop his back. "I've done all I needed to in here, let's go." With that, Zach carried her from the temple, gently pushing the doors open on his way out. That seemed to alarm the spirits given the way they sharply jumped away from the doors. Ah well, some show of 'divine power' might help improve the mood in the area. "Did you get any supplies?"
"No. I noticed you go into the temple and I wanted to be sure you were okay."
"Aww, you thought I was in danger?"
"Physical danger? Nah, not for a second. But you seemed sad. No one should be sad and by themselves, you know?"
"I appreciate that." Midna decided not to re-don her helmet. Instead, she pulled her hood up but her ears were too big to tuck in so she just let them poke out from the sides. It was not perfect but she found it to be a suitable facsimile of her true self. Zach's hoodie and Burak's broach—gifts from two dear friends—helped remind her of who she was, where she had been, and where she was going.
And again, the hoodie was very comfortable.
As for Zach, he looked the same as he had the last few times he was a wolf. He did not seem to mind, but Midna did. He gave her a gift, it would be rude not to return the gesture. An idea formed in her mind, though it would have to wait until the next time they camped for the night.
Zach walked past the large fountain in the town square—which was odd as the square was circular—and immediately stopped. He returned to the fountain and peered over the edge. "Damn, the water's gone. That confirms it, Zora's Domain really is frozen."
Midna sighed. "Well, good thing we packed for that."
"True enough." Zach went back on his way, turned down a street corner. "If I remember right, that tavern should be right around here."
"Tavern?"
"Yeah, the one we dropped Jun off at. Wanna make sure she's okay."
"You big softie."
"Well, I guess I have something to prove to myself."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I'm... not perfect, but I'm not a villain. Not if I don't want to be."
"That's the spirit! Oh, I sense something strong, turn here." Zach did so, finding that it was exactly the right place. The door to the tavern was open—what was with the open doors everywhere?—so Zach let himself in.
The tavern was lightly populated. Four spirits gathered to the left while more were clustered in the back area. Once Zach and Midna were close enough, the spirits on the left formed into the shapes of people. Midna recognized the girl from the village and little Jun but no one else. The girl was seated with Jun in her lap while a larger woman stood beside them, all of them looking down on what seemed to be a child resting on a makeshift blanket. The child looked like a cross between a Twili and a human, with its smooth blueish skin yet more human-like facial features. The child was bald, its head topped with a strange appendage that resembled hair.
"That's Prince Ralis," said Zach. "He's the heir to the Zora throne."
"So that's a Zora. He's so young, though. Why is he here all by himself?"
Zach thought on that for a moment. "Not quite sure, I don't remember if the game explains how he got here. I just hope it's not exactly like the game."
"Why not?"
"... Because in the game, his parents are dead. Recently deceased."
Midna cupped a hand over her mouth. This was a mere child and from the looks of it, he was not healthy. He needed medical attention soon or he would... "Is there anything we can do?"
Zach shook his head. "He needs the Kakariko shaman to heal him. Something about him knowing Zora anatomy better than the local doctor."
Midna turned her attention to Princess Jun, since she was the reason they stopped by. She certainly looked better than Prince Ralis, with a new clean dress and fuller cheeks than before.
"He going to be okay?" the child asked. "He's nice." When the adult woman replied, Jun pouted. She looked away from Ralis, then broke into a smile. With a giggle, she pointed at Zach. "Doggy! I miss you, Doggy!"
Zach tensed up. "She can see me?!"
"Princess, there's no one there," said the girl holding Jun.
Jun just shook her head in response. "It's my doggy! He and Mommy took me here!"
"Aw, what an emotional reunion!" Midna said with a smile. "Yes, a girl and her wolf! Eee hee!"
"I'm your wolf, not hers!" Before Midna could comment on that, Zach rushed to the back area. Jun tried to follow but the girl caught her and kept her in place.
In the back, several spirits were huddled over a map on the table. They were guards, though one was dressed in a nicer uniform and addressed the others as subordinates. Some sort of captain, Midna supposed. He pointed to the map and barked out, "This is the last time you slack off! Thanks to your laziness, Bombarmos is behind schedule!"
"What's Bombarmos?" Midna asked.
Zach shrugged. "I've never heard of Bombarmos before but it sounds like a fusion between an Armos—which is a kind of stone enemy—and explosives given the word 'bomb'. Apparently they've been unable to find a source of power to make it operational."
"Great, that probably won't come up again in the future."
"Oh it will if we're hearing about it."
"That was sarcasm."
"... Oh."
"Now that we see Jun is doing well, let's get our supplies."
"While supplies last! Heh, little jingle from my world." The captain said some other things and then the guards headed for the tavern exit. "Let's follow them. They might be going to an armory or something, we might find more arrows there."
"Wait, they might be going to the castle."
"Oh... damn it, nothing's turning out how I wanted!"
Midna patted his head as they followed the guards out but remained in the alley. "It's okay, we're still making good progress."
Zach nodded, taking deep breaths. "Okay... okay, so no arrows. Wait!" He hurried back to the central square and scanned the surrounding buildings. "One-two, buckle my shoe, three-four, better lock your door... There!" He ran right up to a posh, ostentatious shop. "Chudley's Fine Goods and Fancy Trinkets Emporium. He'll have some stuff we can use."
"My, you certainly know how to take a girl shopping. Eee hee hee!" Midna opened the door and breathed in deeply through the nose. The owner had nice taste as the inside air smelled of lovely perfume. If only the owner was as nice as he smelled. Before his spirit even formed into his shape, Midna heard him shout the second the door opened. Zach growled in a low rumble, his muzzle twitching. "What's wrong? He doesn't see us too, does he?"
"No, I just don't like him. He was yelling at some kid outside for opening the door." Zach carried Midna to the counter, allowing her to peruse the shop's wares.
"Let's see... hey, a bundle of ten arrows! What do ya know?" She snapped her fingers and whisked the bundle away, ignoring Chudley's hysterical yelp. "Can I ask why you don't like him?"
Zach's growl intensified. "He's got all these helpful items but at impossible prices. That bundle alone is two thousand rupees."
Midna balked and glared at the shop owner. "How does he expect to make a profit in times like these? Hmph! Just for that, I'm taking more than I need."
"Wait, we shouldn't steal willy-nilly. When you squeeze the nobility, it's the peasants who feel the pinch."
"Grr, how dare you be sensible," she said with a playful growl. "Okay, so we don't clean out his stock. What do you suggest?"
"In the game, there was a nifty set of armor that granted invulnerability at the expense of eating through your money, but it's gone now. Damn, that would have been very helpful." Zach sighed and continued on his way. "No bombs either but that makes sense, I think Barnes is the primary supplier. So it's just those arrows and—aha!" He stopped in front of a bottle containing an ethereal blue liquid, his tail wagging back and forth. "Blue potion! If it's anything like the games, this will both completely heal injuries and fully restore your magic!"
Midna grinned and clapped her hands. "What a find! There's only enough for one serving but that'll be handy for an emergency." Once more she snapped the bottle away, almost feeling bad for the shop owner. But then, he should not have been so stupidly selfish with his own merchandise. "You made a great find, Zach. Now we have arrows and a spare potion!"
"Yup, I think we're about as prepared as we can get now."
Once they were back outside, Midna tapped her chin and looked around. "Zach, if it's okay with you, I'd like to... ah, it's stupid."
"What?"
"I just... was thinking of stopping by a shop that sells beauty products. I think there's one across the street."
"Okie dokie."
"Wait, you're just going with it? Just like that?"
"I mean, no offense but since you liking makeup doesn't affect me in the slightest, there's no reason to cause a fuss over it on my end. If you were prioritizing it over food or warm clothes, you bet your ass I'd be saying something."
"And you'd be right to do so. I just... it's nice to be with someone who indulges me, as selfish as that sounds. I was expecting something about how I'm already beautiful and I don't need makeup to cover up who I am inside."
"That's not my call to make. You are beautiful but if you want to add some color or whatever so you can feel pretty for yourself, go right ahead. Doesn't make a lick of difference to me."
"..."
"..."
"So you find me beautiful?"
"I did just say that, yes."
"Really?"
"Well, yeah."
"You think I'm beautiful!"
"I may have one eye but I can still see. Sidenote: I really hope it stays that way."
Midna giggled, swaying her hips atop his back as they entered the beauty store. "I like your way of flirting, Zach. You just speak your mind, dash the subtleties!"
"I was not flirting!"
"Kinda were."
"I was not!"
"Then please demonstrate what you think flirting is, just so I know what to look out for."
"Err... I honestly don't know. I was never good at flirting so I never bothered to try. I hate subtle hints and trying to get someone to pick up on them. I like directness, you know?"
"Directness."
"Yeah, I'd rather just say I like your eyes because they remind me of a sunset. Or your laugh, or your smile. Stuff like that. Direct compliments that go beyond 'you look nice today' equal flirtation in my mind."
"So you agree that you were flirting?"
"I was n—Oh. Oh. Oh, crap. I'm so sorry, I meant nothing by it."
"Why in the world are you apologizing?"
"Because I'm panicking, and apologizing is my go-to response to panic."
Midna leaned down and hugged his head. "Relax. I promise you haven't upset me at all. In fact, quite the opposite. Just do yourself a favor and stop worrying."
"I... I can't stop worrying. Every time, literally every single time I ever decided not to worry about something involving other people, it did not end well for me."
"What exactly are you worried about?"
"I don't know. I don't mean that I don't know what I'm worried about, I mean... it's hard to explain. Basically, I have to be constantly on guard for anything out of the ordinary, because I can't tell what's ordinary and what isn't. Or rather, what is and isn't ordinary for other people. It's not obvious to me, you know? So I have to try and keep a constant watch on everyone else's feelings, body language, facial expressions, vocal tones, so on and so forth, otherwise I risk creeping people out or upsetting them or whatever."
Midna frowned in pity. "That's a lot of mental energy you're expending, Zach. No wonder you stress out so easily, you're not taking care of yourself."
"And the second I start, I stop paying as much attention to you and then you'll feel neglected and—"
"Stop. You should know me well enough by now, Zach. Please stop trying to protect my feelings. Please trust me, I won't ever lash out at you. I promise." Perhaps to help soothe the boy's mind, Midna rubbed the top of his head. "Promise."
"... and I promise to have some more courage with regard to this... flirting you speak of."
"Eee hee!"
"Ooh, I smell something nice." He walked over to an ornate perfume bottle and inhaled deeply. "Mmm, that's some good stuff. What do you think?"
Midna sprayed a bit on her wrist and sniffed. "Oh, it's nice! Smells like a kind of Hyrulean flower mixed with something sweet."
"Says it's Silent Princess with a dash of honey."
"Mine now." Midna helped herself to the shop's stock, though admittedly she did not particularly like their colors. Too earthy, not enough reds and blues and greens. She grabbed a few things here and there, just enough to make it look like she really had wanted to go in for makeup. "Okay, I think that's everything."
"Gotcha gotcha." Zach headed back outside.
With nothing else on her mind, Midna looked up at the sky. It resembled her own so closely that, were she to close her eyes, she would expect her mother to call for her at any moment. She smiled to herself, happy to think of a memory like that. Everything was so simple back then. All she had to worry about were her studies and minor duties around the palace. The old saying was true; you did not know what you had until it was gone.
