I didn't think I would be posting this much sooner, I guess I just got up the nerve. The next chapter is halfway written already so hopefully it won't take too long to finish.

tbh I'm a little wary, like I'm not one to know exactly when to put content warnings or such but better to be safe than sorry so THIS IS A WARNING THAT THIS CHAPTER GETS A LITTLE GRAPHIC. If I had to compare it just so you have a point of reference it's probably around the same level as the chapter with Destrian and Monich which I didn't put any warning on but that's fine.

Either way thank you for reading and

Enjoy!


"They say the closer you get to the Grounds, the stronger the winds get."

"You told us that, just follow the posts, we'll be fine, got it."

"And report back to Telma's when you're finished. I might not be in Castle Town by then, I plan on going with a caravan to the settlement. There's about twenty of us, they say usually a group of that number can get through safely."

Auru took the last bite of his food and stood up. Him and Link hashed out a few more details as we walked towards the front of the outpost. Our boar was already saddled and ready to go. I waved goodbye to Auru as Link and I mounted before setting off into the early morning sun.

It wasn't very hot yet, the sun just barely inching over the landscape. Nonetheless, we wore our hoods up for when it did come. I had a scarf at my neck in wait for the sandstorm Auru mentioned, but for the meantime it just made me sweat.

About an hour in, Midna came out of Link's shadow and told him to stop for a second. Her eye was downturned and she scowled into the sand. Slowly, she looked back up and spoke.

"Link, I haven't been exactly honest with you. There's a lot about me that you don't know and it's only fair that I tell you who I really am." She crossed her legs in the air and took a heavy breath from the very bottom of her chest. Although her face was wrinkled with uncertainty, I could feel as she started that this was a long time coming.

"You remember the vision Lanayru gave you? How the people abused the Fused Shadow to take over the Sacred Realm? Well…" Midna turned away and shook her head. "The Goddesses created the Twilight Realm and banished them to live there, never able to return. They called it the antithesis of Hyrule, where the whole world is corrupted by shadow, as are the people… I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't forgive me, I'm an enemy to Hyrule, I'm a descendent of the interlopers. I'm a Twili."

Link reached out for her shoulder, but she shrugged him off.

"It's my fault your world ended up like this...Zant he-" Midna shuddered. "I couldn't defend the throne. He came in, turned my people into beasts and marched an army of Vinderendetta towards me. I refused to step down and...well...he turned me into an imp and banished me from the realm." Her eye peeked back at us, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I-I don't know how he got all of that power. I...when I was crowned the Twilight Princess he lashed out at my father. The next day, my father was dead and Zant was gone. And now he's taken the Fused Shadows. Our only option is to go to the Twilight Realm and the only way in is through that mirror."

A strong gust of wind picked up our hoods and ruffled our clothes. Midna covered her face until it subsided then gazed at us.

"Zant stole your throne?" Link asked.

"'Stole' makes it sound like I was able to defend it at all. He took it like I wasn't even looking." Midna shook her head, crossing her arms.

I laid a hand on Link's shoulder, leaning in closer. "There was nothing you could do. But you can do something now. And Link and I will be with you every step of the way."

"Of course," he agreed.

Midna's eye darted between the two of us before a smile edged up her cheeks. As she fell into our shadow, we kept on the trail in quaint silence. I charged my Leiyn as the morning sun rose high over us. The breeze picked up occasionally, throwing sand around with it. We pulled up our scarves over our mouths after the first rest as the wind didn't seem to be letting up.

Link didn't much bother for conversation. Maybe it was because of last night or maybe something was on his mind. I would've tried to interject with something, but I felt queasy just thinking about it. To be honest, I didn't know how I felt about him and I was terrified that he'd ask.

Damn, the desert is huge.

"You can say that again," I mumbled into my scarf. The flag posts had been getting harder and harder to spot. Heat coated the landscape like a thick, humid blanket.

"Does he talk to you a lot?"

I snapped back to the boar expecting to meet Link's eyes, but he was staring off somewhere else. His scarf was down off his mouth which set in a thin line.

"Yeah, he likes to remark on what's happening all the time."

"Don't you find that...awkward? I mean, knowing that he's listening to everything and that you never have a moment to yourself?" Link finally turned to see me. Despite the flat tone in his voice, his expression was soft and he cracked a small smile.

I shrugged. "It's not like I can do anything about it. Besides, he's kinda grown on me."

Aw, thanks.

"Don't get a big head, Vox."

Link's lips dropped and he slouched. As he looked back ahead, he asked, "So am I talking to you, or the both of you?"

I scowled. "Don't get like that. You're talking to me, you always have been."

He shook his head and mumbled, "I'm sorry about last night."

Although his words reached me, I pretended not to hear them. It would have been better to tell him that nothing was wrong, but I had yet to even read into what happened last night. If anything it was better left in limbo until we were both ready to comprehend it. So, as we rode on, I chose to forget it for now. And instead see what happened.

The only thing I kept in mind was that it was okay to like him, and it was okay for him to like me.

Sundown started to make its first appearance on the horizon when the prison's spires came into view. Six tall towers surrounding a colosseum-like wall. Its colors blended in with the sand. The wind ripped around vigorously, tossing up sand into the air. We were making good pace when the storm suddenly blew up as if out of nowhere.

One vicious gust slammed into us, knocking our boar over and sending the two of us tumbling into the sand. I shut my eyes against the impact, gripping onto Link's torso as the wind enveloped us in a darkness. When I tried to look out, all I saw was a tan fog before it hit my face and I dove down again.

That can't be natural. There must be something other than the mirror in there.

"There is," I groaned.

Link moved, struggling to get up against the tearing winds. I shifted to grabbing his arm as we both stood up and stumbled in the storm. The gusts came from all directions, punching us in the back and arms and legs simultaneously as if we were being ganged up on. Behind us, the boar squealed loudly, but we didn't turn back for it. I hesitated to ask Link about him, wallowing in the sound of its cries mixed with the howling gale until finally they disappeared.

We trudged in some direction, hopefully towards the prison, tripping and falling on the way. As what felt like hours passed, the storm became dark and we could barely see anything at all. My mouth was dry, sand stuck to my skin, it seemed utterly futile. Eventually something smacked into the back of my head.

Finally everything went black as warped laughs of some creature whispered in my ears. Before I could tell what was happening, they too slipped into silence.


I woke up with my face half planted into the dirt. As I moved to sit up, I tried to brush the sand off, but my arm didn't budge. Something rough chaffed up and down my bicep and as I opened my eyes, I saw rope tied around my ankles.

It was dim, the only light spilling in from a slightly ajar flap of tarp. I sat in a tent, the sound of a fire crackling and popping somewhere outside. Link didn't seem to be anywhere close, or anywhere at all. Completely alone, I tried to shift myself to see out of the opening and after some attempt, I caught a glimpse of the fire before a figure stepped in front of it.

The silhouette of a bulblin took a passing glance at my tent, then left.

Do you see your Leiyn anywhere, did it break off?

I twisted and contorted to look at my chest where the necklace should have been, but nothing. There was no sign of it around the tent either. It'd vanished.

Shit. Did something take it maybe? You can probably cut those ropes with your magic, but we need to find that Leiyn. I'll be able to sense it when we're close by.

"Oka-"

And don't talk, someone might hear you. Just listen to me, alright? We find Link, then your Leiyn, it'll be alright, these guys are practically brain dead anyway.

We would've been good to go right then if not for a new sight that came towards the fire. Its outline wasn't hunched over or deformed, it stood tall, flexed its fingers, stood erect. My chest already felt tight, but as I realized it was a man, I practically choked.

Okay well I didn't anticipate that. Who is that?!

The figure moved away from the fire, walking to my tent casually, as if to check if his bath was ready. I debated pretending to be out, but I couldn't help wondering if maybe he was here to help. As he stepped up to the tent, a shadow cast over me. He gripped the flap and pulled it aside, ducking in to see me eye to eye. The moment I really saw him, my breath hitched in my throat.

"Destrian?!"

A smirk spread out on his lips. "Funny seeing you here. You're quite predictable, you know that, right?"

I tried to sit up straight, but his hands slammed down into my shoulders, pinning me into the sand. Scowling, I spat back, "Glad to know you found your calling with a brain dead group of bandits." The nerve to say those words came and went. My adrenaline shot up with confidence, but as Destrian chuckled, all of the energy went back into my anxiety.

"Looks like you learned how to talk back. Hold that tongue of yours or I'll take the other arm too," he threatened. "Believe me, girls without arms just aren't very desirable."

What a pitiful human being.

"You look quite deformed now."

"Your point?" I squeaked. The effort to speak left my stomach heavy.

"Well, let me untie that rope for you, it must be rather uncomfortable at this point." Destrian pushed me into a sitting position, pointed away from him. Before I could look back to see what he was doing, his hands aggressively grabbed my head and snapped it forward. A second later, the pressure on my bicep and side loosened. The ropes dropped.

There's a lot of signals coming off of him. I don't think he's entirely human anymore. If it was just your Leiyn it wouldn't be this strong. He has something else.

"Who braided your hair?"

I blinked, my mouth refusing to move. As I tried to shift, he barked louder.

"Who braided your hair, huh?! Are you deaf?"

My thoughts crowded around my heartbeat. I still didn't answer.

Destrian shoved me head first into the sand, pinning his weight into my back where I could barely breathe. He gripped my wrist and shoved my arm into my full view, then, with his other hand, he unsheathed a sword. As he placed it delicately over my bicep, he asked again. "Now, who braided your hair?"

"Link," I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut.

"You see how this works? Now, tell me. Why are you traveling with him?"

Don't answer him. He's trying to get something out of you.

My eyes shot open as a pain rippled through my skin. His blade had made a cut.

I scrambled for words, all the while trying to dismiss them, but they fought through my lips anyway. "I'm just trying to get home. I'm not from here."

Careful, Maizy.

"Not from here? Where are you from?"

"Nowhere!" The blade sunk in deeper. My body screamed. "A different dimension. I was brought here."

Shut up, use your magic, use something.

"By who?" he demanded.

Don't say it! By god, keep your mouth shut. They'll do more than cut your arm off! Maizy, I-I'll explain later. Trust me.

Tears slipped over my nose and wet the sand below me. I couldn't find the nerve to use my magic and the longer I took to answer, the deeper the blade drove into my skin. Every bit of me trembled, shaking and twisting. It hurt to lie there, I wanted to move, but I couldn't. My stomach throbbed and my head felt numb but pained. His sword dug in hard. "It's Vox!"

The blade left my flesh but the pressure on my back remained. Destrian lowered himself to my ear and spoke softly. I could see two necklaces dangling from his neck. One was a huge red gem. The other was my Leiyn. "You thought we wouldn't find you." His breath was hot and smelled like burnt meat.

Use the Leiyn, use it right now or so help me.

I grabbed the gem of my necklace and yanked. Destrian's face pressed mine for a moment, his wet lips practically kissing me on the cheek as I caught him off guard. In my next motion, I unleashed an explosion of energy from the Leiyn and threw him off my back. I'd let go of it in the process, but I was finally free to move.

Before Destrian could get back at me, I sliced at my ropes, feeling the unpleasant numbness strike all the way through my torso. I sprung up onto my feet and ran out of the tent.

The brutish man scrambled out after me, collapsing the tarp behind him into a crumpled up pile. I took a cautious step back, uncertain there was anywhere to go at all and too afraid to look around to find somewhere. My hand instinctively grabbed the air where my necklace used to be.

"You little bitch," Destrian laughed. "I have a few new tricks up my sleeve this time. You're not getting away that easily." His arms raised up before him, pulling back, then swinging forward as he conjured up a ball of green energy. It shot like a laser towards me, but I caught it with a shield and dispelled it aside.

Another Vinderendetta.

Destrian's smirk stayed stuck to his face as he fired another shot. This time, I stepped to the side, wary that I still didn't have my Leiyn. Wherever Link was, I was hurting him. That fact sat in the back of my head, whispering in my ear as Destrian continued to bombard me.

"What, can't fire back? Did Vox forget to teach you how?" he taunted.

Come on, Maizy, you're stronger than him.

I eyed the two necklaces on his chest. They were small from my perspective, I couldn't grab them from here, I'd have to go in close. My feet planted firmly into the sand as I took in a deep breath. Destrian fired another shot and I dashed to the right. His volleys followed me all around in an arc as I kept on, but I gained no ground coming up to his back.

Abruptly, I dodged his last one by jumping to the left and charged headfirst towards him, my heart beating in my ears. A sheen of green filled my view, but I quickly held out my arm, going numb as blue lightning erupted from my fingertips into a shield that shattered on impact. Destrian's attack deflected off behind him, giving me time to close the distance and grab a hold around my Leiyn.

His hands pressed into my chest, shoving me away, but my grip didn't budge. My fingers were clammy as I tugged and endured getting kicked, never letting go.

"Get your slimy hands off of me," Destrian complained.

I scowled. "I would but you've already done half of that job and I'm not letting you take the other hand."

Some sense knocked into him and he kicked with a wave of green this time. My stomach lurched at the contact, my hold loosening for a moment. I tightened it again and held in a breath as I gathered energy.

"I'd hate to ruin that pretty face of yours, but unfortunately you're being a nuisance." Destrian's foot slammed into my chest.

The moment I felt a searing pain seep into my lungs, I released a wave of green back towards him. My grip held firm as we both flew away from each other and the necklace finally broke at the back. We lied feet away in the sand, struggling to stand. He got up on his feet first, coughing as he staggered over to me.

My whole torso ached, pain striking with every heartbeat. I sat hunched over when the first kick made contact with my stomach. The pain overtook my whole being and my senses became muted beneath it as foot hit, again and again. A hopelessness started to set in until the sound of an explosion echoed throughout the camp. Everything went silent except for the crackle of fire and the screech of a boar.

I opened my teary eyes to the sight of flames licking high into the sky as if they'd been burning for hours. Destrian's full attention was towards them.

From all the hours of gaming and yelling and cheering, I knew exactly what those flames were. My only chance at help.

"LINK!" My scream rang in my ears, a pulse running through my head even after it'd already left. Destrian promptly nailed me in the stomach again and strutted off towards the flames.

Lying face in the sand, I struggled to watch him leave. Every inch of my torso throbbed like I was being constantly slammed into the floor. I managed to roll over to my back and stare up at the sky where I could make out a few tall spires surrounding a colosseum-like wall. In the dim moonlight, the stonework almost seemed blue. At the top of the spires were emblems with sculpted wings coming out either side.

He hit you in the heart. It's going to take a lot longer to heal than usual, but you'll be fine so long as you get out of this.

"Man," I coughed, "since when was he like that."

I think he's working with Zant.

"What makes you think that?"

Reasons I'll tell you later.

I wanted to yell at him, ask why he wouldn't just tell me, but it hurt to speak.

Shouts erupted somewhere in the distance, two distinctly male. Two distinctly Link and Destrian. I tried to sit up, finding them in a scuffle far off near an opening the in the wall. Link pressed through, deflecting sword attacks from Destrian. He stood his ground, but the moment their swords locked, Destrian pushed him over with a burst of energy.

It was then, seeing the shock written on his face from even this far away, I knew we had to run. My legs were stiff, but they hadn't been beaten and I got onto my feet with a hand at my stomach.

Link scrambled back up, slicing across at Destrian's chest. His sword clipped him at the side, drawing a sliver of gold blood out in the air. As Destrian staggered backwards, Link ran aside and disengaged towards me. I nearly collapsed as he hugged me then held me by the shoulders out in front of him.

"Oh my god, I thought I lost you," he remarked.

I looked warily at Destrian who'd regained his stance and was about to charge at us. "We gotta run. He's too strong, maybe we can lose him in the prison."

He nodded and went to steady me so we could move side by side, but I quickly stopped him.

"Just pick me up, I've got your back."

I put my arm around Link's neck and he swept me off my feet just as Destrian started getting close. Destrian fired at us immediately, but before it could hit us I threw up a red shield. My muscles went numb and Link almost tripped. I clenched my fingers around my Leiyn harder, wondering what I was doing wrong as he threw another attack. Again, I dispelled it with a red shield, the same sensation happening and Link stumbling for a moment.

Just put up a blue shield, you aren't adept enough to use red without your Leiyn. It takes building an instinct that the magic comes from your chest. Red is spontaneous, it's used when you're on your last stroke. If you don't naturally draw from the Leiyn, you'll draw from your body.

We disappeared behind the opening in the wall, entering a long stretch of hall, a gate on the right side set ablaze. A few seconds of breathing room came before Destrian was on our toes again, grappling behind us and gaining ground. He fired several more shots of which I countered with a blue shield. It shattered on nearly every impact, weak and brittle.

Blue is seemingly frail at first, but with enough force it can create barriers or paths where there otherwise is none. It's thoughtful, but it needs motivation behind it.

I leaned my head into Link's arm as we turned left into a long path that lead up to the temple. On either side the bright sandy stone closed us in. The entrance to the prison approached at what felt like a snail's pace. The wall turned into rows of columns as the sand underfoot became stone and then stairs. Above, the spires towered over us as if reaching for the stars. A gaping hole in the wall ahead was adorned in carvings of the Triforce crest, one beautiful golden fixture just on top of the frame. The entrance.

"Where are you going?!" Destrian called.

Link glanced back at him, sneering.

Destrian suddenly slowed, bringing his hands back, then circling forward. He held a stance with his palms out for a moment before a massive ball of green light burst out of him. It came barreling towards us and the longer I hesitated, the more dread filled my chest.

"Jump out of the way! I can't deflect this one!"

Link turned around, facing the projectile head on for a full second before the realization washed over him and he leapt off the stairs into the sand below. I tumbled out of his arms as he fell over.

Green is power. It's aggressive, but taming it and concentrating that energy is the sign of a true master. Destrian has no finesse at all.

By the time Link was on his feet again, Destrian already had us cornered and stared at us like prey. He laughed, "Not bad."

"Get out of our way," Link barked.

I slowly got up from the ground and stood behind him, staring over his shoulder into Destrian's swampy green eyes that looked black in the moonlight. Destrian glared intensely at us, his lips quirking up in a smirk. "I'm sorry, but it seems like you have no where to go," he remarked. "Now, my master still needs to figure out what to do with her, but as for you, it's an early grave I'm afraid."

Link gripped his hilt and unsheathed his sword slowly. The Master Sword seemed oddly small in its space and so did its wielder in front of Destrian. I searched frantically for an opening somewhere, but my legs were heavy and the only way was to run.

Well, I'm all out of clever ideas.

Home suddenly seemed a lot closer than before, intimately warm and cozy under the cold desert moon. My mom's face filled my thoughts, looking down at me, her little girl. I longed to be home and cuddling my cats or driving back from volleyball practice on a late night. Vox's words rang in my head somberly, Go home. All on your own. Go home. What was that all about...teleporting?

Link and Destrian's swords clanged together like the flick of a lightbulb. I stepped back and shut my eyes, drowning out their grunts and the pang of metal. The inner chamber of the prison filled my head, dry and dim save for the four flickering blue flames. Its chilled air ran over my skin like the hushed breeze in winter.

Energy gathered in my hand and I reached out, grabbing onto Link's shoulder. As I opened my eyes, I let it flood around us, willing it to materialize as the inner chamber. A biting cold enveloped my whole body as my sight turned into blinding blue. In the same instant I felt a strange force ripping at my flesh and snaking towards Link. I called out to it in my mind, begging it to leave him alone, but as I tugged it back, my skin cut open in ribbons. My heart cried out in pain as the force tore my flesh away until finally, the blue turned to soft sandy stone and I felt my feet hit solid ground.

Link's shoulder was still there, my Leiyn squished between him and my hand. I traced my gaze to his head as he slowly looked back at me, eyes wide. "Maizy? Holy goddesses above, what was that?!"

I smiled tentatively against a throbbing in my head, then collapsed into the floor.

Fuck, Maizy, why'd you do that? I told you you could hurt yourself. You didn't have enough magic. I should've told you what would happen.

"You're bleeding!" Midna's voice rang as Link's arms wrapped around my torso.

"I'm…" I coughed blinking rapidly as the room began to spin. Everything hurt like I was getting stabbed over and over. "There was nothing else I could do."

You could've died, it's not worth a few seconds of safety. Destrian could find us again at any moment.

Link held me up so all I could see was his face. I squinted, barely able to hold my eyes open. His features spun, his look of concern muddled behind an intense blur. But he was safe.

I breathed out a heavy sigh of relief, cupping his cheek in my bloodied hand before my eyelids fell shut and my brain lulled to a stop.