'Well ... Finding Link may be easier said than done ...' It was a few hours after leaving Hyrule Castle, that I decided to come down and find a place to rest, floating still took a lot from me after all, and that pampered princess really tired me out ...
While it was easy to find the enormous castle once I could float, the small village of Ordon was ... Another story ...
I knew the map of the game almost perfectly, but the differences between this Hyrule and the one in the game is causing me so much troubles, Hyrule is so much bigger than the game lead me to believe!
After a while of trying to find my path to Ordon, I instead found Kakariko village, where I decided to settle in while waiting for the day to pass, that one cavern leading to the spirit's fountain was still there, and was exactly what I needed, shadowy and isolated from the rest of the village.
Laying against the wall, I had nothing to do other than rest, and wait for the sun to set again 'Ah ... What a day ...' I thought back to my encounter with Zelda.
'I really can't believe her ... How could someone like her risk the life of all the civilians that were counting on her, simply because she didn't want to be told that she was wrong, talk about a spoiled brat ...' I sighed to myself.
'She's really gonna have to grow after that ... She is right to bear the burden of what happened, because she is as guilty as Zant in the fate of her Kingdom' And that's certainly not something I'm gonna let her forget, I'll make sure that she never forgets just how responsable for that whole mess she will be...
I was truly angry at her, someone who I admired so much for her strength of character while playing the game, revealed herself to be just an overgrown brat that just couldn't deal with being wrong once in her life.
I calm myself down, regaining composture "Well, while I'm here, I might as well practise my magic, I need to learn how to merge with the shadows if I want to survive the Light Realm with Link ... Where do I even begin on that..."
'Alright, I'm in a place full of shadows, so it's the perfect place for practising that, let's see ... I know that coating my body of magic won't do the trick, it will just make me float, so that's not how I can become incorporal or slip into the shadows' I reasonate, thinking about it hardly
"Maybe ..." I start slowly touching the ground with my hand, feeling it, trying to find something different, a feeling that would allow me to understand how it work.
'... Nothing ... I don't know ... It just feels rocky to me, I have no idea what differences I'm supposed to feel ...' I stare at the ground confused, I was really expecting something to happen ... Oh well, I really have to learn that before meeting Link, so I better get back to work and find a solution...
Especially since I have no idea how much longer Zant is gonna stay quiet...
It's time to go
Zant did not need to hear that twice, he knew that the will of his god had to be answered, and thanks to his infinite wisdom, his army was guaranted a quick, and total victory over the Light Realm.
While he has never been to the Light Realm, he obtained divine protection coating him of from the deadly lights's harmful effect, and a guidance that made his knowledge about this realm very vast, he had all the cards in his hand, and with the support of his god, he couldn't possibly lose.
"Beasts, once you have arrived in the Light Realm, take these 4 locations, create portals there to allow more recruits to reinforce you, be quick and swift, and bring the Light Spirits down" He ordered, pointing at the accurate card he was able to craft with some guidance.
He then pointed to the biggest part of his army, waiting quietly behind him "You, will come with me, we will assault Hyrule Castle, attack whoever you find in your way, civilians or guards, they stand no chance against you, spread your troops as much as you can, and then join me in the Throne Room right here" He didn't need more troops, he could take them down all by himself without problems, but having more troops could take care of any unnexpected situations.
It is best to not underestimate them after all ... They might have a few tricks up their sleeves, especially if the pest succeded in warning them of his invasion.
Everything was now ready, and he slowly lead his army to the cliff where he relocated the Mirror, he wouldn't want a Light Solider to assault his castle while he was away, which is why the mirror was moved to a cliff, guarded by some of his beasts, with everything done, he leaped into the mirror, the beasts quietly following him.
The Invasion had begun
'Alright, Night settled in ... Time to go ...' I watched through my resting place, as the sun dissapeared from my sight, leaving the shining blue moon instead, sneaking through the shadows, I got out of the village pretty fast.
I finally figured out how it work, '... even if it didn't come without a cost' I looked at my hand, still a bit lighter than usual from it's contact with the light...
I couldn't figure it out, and was running out of time, in a final bargain, I put my hand on the floor right in the light, to feel the difference between the shadowy ground, and the light filled one, and that's when I finally got it, even if my hand hurts like hell as a result, and still do ... Light really is extremly deadly to me.
In that moment, even through the pain, I finally figured it out, I could finally feel it, how different the shadows felt, I almost forgot what light felt like during those 3 days in the shadows, and that's why I couldn't figure it out properly, after a bit of practice, I managed to make my body shadowy, which also allowed me to merge with the ground.
'As long as there is shadows at least ...' Any source of light totally disturbed me, and got me out of the ground, and even though I could keep my body insensible to light, if I got surprised by a ray of light, it just disturbed me too much to keep the magic flowing.
I had the misfortune of discovering that in the worst way possible when, while I was practising my magic, the sun was setting, and because of that, and for a good 30 minutes, the light shined right through the cavern and got me good in the back... I got to cover really quickly, before any long lasting damage could be done.
It's already almost completely healed itself, but I could still feel a slight burn, just like the feeling you have when eating something to hot, but all over my back, not the best feeling ever I have to say ... 'Well better to learn that now then in the middle of battle I guess, but still ... Damnit does light hurt!'
Since I got lost by floating, I decided that tonight I would try to find Ordon by moving along the shadows, I was more familiar with this environement from a grounded point of view after all.
And it was while I was traveling to Hyrule Field that I suddenly got stopped in my track by a blood chilling scream "What ... Was ... That?"
That's when I saw them, I felt a great and confortable feeling as I saw the environement change before me, the sky changing colors, and green particles appearing here and there...
'Is that ... The twilight? They already took Eldin's Light?' I was suddenly feeling so much more awake, I did not know if the rush in my blood came from the fear that I was too late, or the new environement that I was in, but I doubled the speed as I came in contact with one of the big shadowy wall seperating the twilight and the Light Realm
"Good, it seem like Faron's light is still active, that mean I still have a bit of time before Bubblin arives" Non the less, I rushed through that shadowy door, and doubled the speed for Faron's Woods, while I was traveling around Hyrule Field, I could see Hyrule Castle far away, and seing the castle in a whole new light.
'Didn't even hold off a day, where is your "unbeatable" Royal Guard now, Royal Brat?' No time to focus on how pathetic she was at the moment though, I had to hurry up to Link's side!
I finally found my way into the woods, just as I entered, I heard the sound of a blowing horn, I knew all to well the one who did that sound... And I got the confirmation of that fact when suddenly I saw the green giant himself, followed by his minions, riding out of the Forest
"King Bubblin, shit! Gotta hurry up!" I followed through the forest, as I arrived at the spring, I saw two of those Shadow Beasts, and for a second ... I froze ...
'You ... Are one terrifying monster, Zant really had fun with his spell ...' Suddenly they turn right back, and look straight at my hiding spot...
'They can't ... See me ... Right?' Their terrifying screams as they started chasing me down was telling me otherwise...
God damnit they can see me! Why didn't I think that through before! They are Twilis! Of course they can see me!
Getting out of the shadows, I started floating away, gaining some distance with them, but still hearing them chassing me down through the forest, I finally got to find a hiding spot on a high cliff, a rock was hiding my small body from them, and they couldn't seem to sense me anywhere.
I sighed silently 'Safe ... At last ...' calming myself down as I felt like my heart would explode, I looked around my hiding spot, and it's when I saw a familiar pitch black door that I realized.
'I made a terrible mistake... I led them to the door, no! That's where Link is! I got to do something!' But what could I do... I was exhausted from the chase, I was still healing from my ... sun burn ... And I didn't even know if I could take them on while being perfectly fine! If I got caught, I would just become a mindless beast like them, and Hyrule would be doomed...
'I'm sorry Link ... I'm so sorry ...' I cired to myself silently ... It was my fault ... They wouldn't have gotten to the door if I didn't led them here ... While I was crying, I saw them suddenly snap their neck against the door, and I knew what would come.
'No ... No! Run Link!' I saw them reach their hand in the door, and I could only watch in horror as I saw the terrified expression of the young man, that had no idea where he was or what was going on, I saw the Triforce glow from his hand, and felt a tang of pain as the light reached me, it was enough for the Shadow Beasts to drop him, but then ...
Then I heard the most terrifying sound I had ever heard ... A blood freezing scream of agony as I saw Link's body changing, twisting itself while loud bones crack could be heard, the game did ... Not translate this scene well ... It couldn't without entering a different rating ... I saw an expression on his face, one that I will never forget ...
A mix of horror and pain, so much pain ... And it was all my fault ... I couldn't do anything to help him ... Damnit! I was supposed to help him! To guide him! What good was it to know the event of the games, if I couldn't prevent the most terrible moments of it! I failed twice ... First with Zelda ... Then with Link ...
'But I won't fail a third time' I said to myself, wiping out the tears in my eyes, I flew away to Hyrule Castle, determined to make up for my errors...
Hang in there Link ! I'm comming !
A few hours earlier, at Hyrule Castle
"Princess! We have an emergency!" One of the Royal Guard bursted in the Throne Room, shaking from his whole body. "Mo-Mon-Mon-Monsters! An army of monsters burst through the gate!"
"What? Monsters? What is the Royal Guard doing then! Stop them this instant!" The princess snapped at them, did they really need an order to take those out, it had to be obvious!
"They tried! All the guards who were active at the time ganged up on one of them, but they barely did anything! By the time the other members arrived on the scene, 10 more of those beasts were waiting for us, while none Royal Guard were found!" The constant fear was felt in the voice of this guard.
'Those beasts transformed those guards in Monsters?! That's impossible! It can't be ...' Remembering her visitor of the other day... 'It can't be... She was telling the truth...' for the first time in her life, Zelda did not feel safe while being in the company of her personal escort.
"What about the town?! Did they manage to evacuate the civilians?" She asked, fearing the worst while her conversation with the Imp came back to her.
"... No ... We saw them running away, but all the gates burst open at once, and we saw with our own eyes the civilians getting attacked by those monsters... They are most likely dead as we speak..." The guard was still shaking, and on the verge of crying while recounting the events to the princess.
'No ... No ... No! If only I had listenned! She told me to evacuate the city! And now, because I didn't listen ... They are ..." Taking a hold at herself, she told spoke of a monotanous, dead voice "Bring all the guards to the Throne Room, we'll take one last stand against them here..."
And with that, the guard was sent running away to the inside of the Castle again, at the same moment, Zelda sat down on her throne, realising just what she had done... 'I did exactly like she said ... I doomed them all because of delusions ... I ... I have no time to mourn, even though we failed to protect them, we'll at least avenge them, without a surprise attack, and in equal number, we should come around their foirces easely' she convinced herself
Soon enough, the guards arrived one by one, taking their battle stance, and while the princess looked at them, she couldn't help but ask "Is that truly everyone? That's all the soliders still ready for the fight? You're totally sure?" The guards slowly nodded
'It's impossible ... We're twenty at most in here! Where have all the rest of the Royal Guard gone! They can't all be ...' She did not get to finish that thoughts as a black cloud start invading the throne room.
The Beasts were quick and ferocious, and in no time, they had the Twenty soliders down on the ground and incapacitated, and it's from the middle of the room that he came, their King, in his long flowing robe, he spoke slowly, but harshly.
"It's time to choose. Surrender or die, the choice is yours princess." This voice was enough to send chills all over her spin, she looked around the room, seing all her "proud" soliders on the ground, and cursed herself all she could, for the first time in her life, she feared.
She feared the imminent death awaiting her if she did not make a decision, and that's why, in the name of all those people she doomed, those who deserved to live, but also out of geniune fear for her own life, she dropped her weapon, signaling her surrender, she had lost, this was a total victory from this "King of Twilight", and there was nothing she could have done.
'There is something I could have done' she corrected herself, 'I could have listened to that Imp, no, to Midna, I could have listened to her and had my soldiers prepare for that battle, and then maybe ... Just maybe we would have stood a chance ... But I didn't ... And because of that ... I lost everything ... My own mistake make this whole kingdom fall...'
She breathed one last time of the pure Light environement she always lived in, before her world changed forever...
It's been a few hours since I've been flying, being in the Twilight really helps my health, and using my magic just became so much easier, floating is no problem now, it's really helping with how tired I was.
I quickly got back to Hyrule Castle, and started looking for the rooftops where Zelda was again, I think I would have no problem getting to the cell if I could only find it.
'Alright ... So it must be this way if I remember corr-' "Argh!" I yelled in pain as I see a fire arrow flying way to near of my hand for my liking, the fire hurt me even though the arrow didn't touch me...
Soon enough, this lonely arrow get followed by many, MANY goblins shooting at me at the same time, I had no choice but to flee out the castle ...
Once landed in the middle of Caslte Town, I could observe for the first time the soul of all the inhabitant, I frowned quite a bit when I noticed something ...
The Fountain place was crowded for sure but ... It wasn't nearly as much as the number of people I could observer the last time ... And my gut was really telling me that it wasn't due to them being somewhere else ...
'So many ... So many people died because of Zant's power, and Zelda's incompetence, I will never forgive either of them ...' None of those peoples deserved to die, yet they did because of two very selfish rulers ... They will pay ... Both of them ...
I have no time to think about this though, I have to get to the cell, but I can't get on the rooftop, I already alerted the guards, they must be looking everywhere for me at the moment.
How can I do this ... How can I pass ... I need to pass somewhere where no one could see me ... I doubt that my shadow sneak would work, they must have some Shadow Beasts posted, especially now that they know about me.
"Urgh ... Think, think, think! I have to go incognito, how can I pass through them?" Then it hitted me like a truck
"Telma's Secret passage! I can pass through there! They can't see me anymore, so it shouldn't be a problem to pass!" With that idea in mind, I hurried up to the secret passage
Going through the roof of the bar, and through this little hole, I manage to get to the sewer really quickly, I couldn't see who was in the bar, but I did not see any laid down souls, so Lars must not have been found by Illia yet, I have no idea if Illia is here already though, doesn't matter for now.
I went through the sewer rather quickly, and found the secret passage quite easely, it seems like this zone was not made smaller than it was, it was truly like looking at a version of the game environement, but with realistic graphism.
I opened the cell door, and knew what was waiting for me on the cell right next to me ... Link ...
'I don't even know what I can say to him ... It's my fault he got caught like that ... My fault he had to go through so much pain ... But I have to face my mistakes, and help him out of there, that's the least I can do for him' determined, I walk slowly and quietly to the next cell.
Looking inside of it, I could see him, a ferocious Wolf, trying deseperatly to bite down the chain restraining him, while looking at him, I got a sudden surge of sadness knowing all the things this innocent farmer will have to go through ...
It's only after a while, that I snap out of my thoughts, just in time to see him turn his head directly at me, 'Well, guess it's time ...'
Time to finally meet the Hero of Twilight!
And the 3rd chapter is here ! Lots more of actions in this one, some intense scenes, and a lots and lots of consequences from mistakes that have been done.
I finally got around learning my shadow powers, really useful, and I really needed them, but it came at the cost of an injured arm and back, which forbidded me from helping Link when he needed help the most unfortunatly ...
Zelda finally realising her mistake, and came to term with the fact that the creature that she desepised so much, made a better job at protecting her people that she ever did, it was a hard hit for her, and that's not the end of her turmoil for sure.
And finally, the monsters of Zant being smarter than the Royal Guard had me on the toe while I was forced to take an alternate route, to finally meet him, to finally meet Link !
But that will be for next chapter ! I hope that you enjoyed this one, and that you'll look forward for the rest, it was a fun one to write, and had some pretty difficult scenes, but I hope that I did it good, and that I captured well all those feelings that the different character felt.
Once more, any critisism is welcomed, and I will try my best to respond to all your comments !