Chapter 6 : To Faron Woods! And Beyond!

I was stunned for a bit, before quickly composing myself, 'Of course he can speak … Why did I get so surprised by that', well, it was apparently enough for him to notice.

"Are you okay Midna? And why are you all… Shadowy like that?" He asked me with both worries and curiosity sparkling through his eyes.

"Yes, yes, I'm alright don't worry, and like I told you earlier, my powers are linked to shadow, I ... " Thoughts about what Zant did to Midna raced through my mind … "Don't really mix well with light …" I was looking away from him while talking, 'God, I really hope I can forbid that from happening, it must … Not be a pleasant thing to go through…'

"I see, does all sources of light hurt you? I've got a lantern in my bag in case we run in dark caves or anything of the sort, I wouldn't want to accidentally hurt you because of that." He seems … Actually worried about me, well that change from almost everything and everyone I met here trying to kill me.

"As long as I'm in this state, no lights can hurt me, but the downside of that is that I can't touch anything, I'm only a shadow in this state..." It was … Difficult sometimes to remember that fact, I couldn't interact with anything in the light … I was just stuck at being a mere shadow…

He look at me with a worried expression, before brushing it off and telling me "Well, let's get on moving then, the temple will take a bit of time to reach on foot." I stopped him right in his tracks.

"Wait right here Mister Hero, you may have gotten your beauty sleep earlier, but I did not, it's been more than a day since the last time I slept, and bursting your sorry ass from prison was tiring!" I was … Really getting tired of running around like that, I managed to stay awake for so long because of the comfortable environment of the twilight, but now that we were back in the light, I could feel how tired I truly was from all of that.

"First off, I have a name, and it's Link, secondly, if you have to sleep, do so, I'll be on my way to the Temple by myself" There … Is a fine line between courage and stupidity, and he seemed to have crossed it right now…

"Oh yeah, because it worked so well for you last time you did that, guess the prison cell should be a comfortable place for you next time you have to sleep!" He really isn't helping my sleepiness by tiring me up so much.

"I … I'm sure I could handle it, I have to go there, to get those "Fused Shadows" before anything can happen to my friends" 'Once again Link, that's not bravery, that's stupidity' I know he want to help but …

"Yeah, sure, you could help them a whole lot if you get caught by those Shadow Beasts again, and don't count on me to get you out of there a second time! Waiting the night won't kill you, or them Link" He let out a defeated sigh…

"Alright … I guess you're right…" As soon as he said those words, I layed down on the side of the wall, and start resting, before drifting to sleep I can hear him say "... Well let's go back to my hou- Midna?" 'Sorry Link, to tired for that, now is time for sleep'

I slowly open my eyes, feeling way more rested, as I look around me for a bit, barely awake, I can see Link, laying near me, reading a sort of map, he suddenly notice me. "Oh, you're finally awake, good morning Midna"

I yawn lazily "Good morning, Link, what time is it at the moment?" I look at the sun, it was much farther than when I fell asleep, it did feel like I slept for a while… "Well, you slept for quite a bit of time, it's almost night again…" He look at me a bit angrily at that 'Sorry for needing some sleep like any living being, jackass!'

I brush that off while asking him "So, what are you holding there? Is it a map?" He put the piece of paper away while focusing his attention to me, "Yes, while you were asleep I got to speak with Coro a bit" Seeing my confused expression, he added "The guy in the house nearby, the one where one of the bug were hiding" 'Ohhh, Lantern Guy, his name is Coro, got it'

"He got me this map, and exchanged me a bottle full of Oil against some Rupees, he also got me the key to the closed barrier leading to the Temple, we got a long walk until we reach it once again." While telling me that, he looked at me questionably. "If you don't mind me asking … What exactly are you Midna? I never went outside of my village, but you're nothing like any creatures I heard about…"

"Well, you know Link, the world is always larger that you think it is, there is a lot of thing you don't learn in a secluded village" I dodged around the question, hoping he wouldn't notice, "Anyway! I'm well rested now, we can for this Temple, it's important for you to save your friends, right?" It seem like the mention of his friend got him to stop thinking about his question 'Bullet .. Dodged …'

After I got in his shadow again, we got on our way to the Forest Temple, we quickly arrived at the poisonous swamp once again, "So, what now? I can't really jump over it now, I would definitely fall without my heightened sense" He look at me before quickly adding "And no, you are not throwing me up there" He firmly said while looking at me.

"Awww … You're no fun …" I pouted at him while he told me "Why did you even think it would be a good idea … If you missed, I'm pretty sure I would have broken all the bones in my body in an instant"

I smirk at him "Well, it worked right? I didn't miss my shoot, so that doesn't matter now, does it?" He snap at me "That wasn't my point Midna! You can't go around throwing me around whenever you want too!" I giggle a bit before responding "Ah come on Link! Where is your sense of adventure!" He look away at the swamp we had to travel through.

He totally ignore my remark, telling me "The question still stand, how do we get through this?" Mmm, that is a good question, in the game we would have to wait for that monkey to come but … 'Maybe that my unscheduled nap time messed up with the timeline… I don't know if the monkey will come, I have to figure something else'.

Thinking hard about everything we had access too, I finally got a plan in mind "Alright, I got an idea" as I see his hard stare, I quickly add "That does not include throwing you ... " He look relieved before letting me continue "The trees are producing enough shadows for me to actually do something, I can use my hair to create wind in front of us, which should dissipate the poisonous gas for a bit, but you'll have to be quick, I can only push it away, not dispel it totally, got it?"

He sighed before responding "This is … A very dangerous plan that have many ways to fail and result in my death…" He paused "But … I really don't have much of a choice, do I? And I'm forced to admit, despite how crazy your plans are everytime, they work." Ah, finally some recognition! About time!

I get to work as I fly over the gas, and start spinning my hair hand in front of me, creating enough wind to push the poison away, and creating a little zone for Link to pass, following this plan, we quickly make it back to the safe land, I join him there before asking him "How is it that your hat always stay on? Seriously, I produced a whole lot of wind with that you know? How do you manage to keep it on!"

He laugh lightly while looking at me "Those clothes belonged to the hero of the ancient time, of course it's covered with some magic to keep it in good shape, clothes like those are really expensive, but they dry themself up in the water, and are stuck to your body like it's part of your skin, until you remove them yourself that is" Wow … I guess that in a world like this, it make sense that people use magic for everyday life as well, but I never thought about that before though.

Arriving at the clearing, two Bokoblins where waiting for us, one was on the ground with his sword drawn, and the other one was on a cliff, bow and arrow in hand, 'Guess that make sense, game mechanics made it so that those wouldn't appear until we have something to kill them but … We're not in a game anymore, convenience like those don't happen!' But it … really wasn't good … There was too much light for me to do anything…

Link quickly dispatched the first one while the other kept shooting at him, thankfully Link seemed to have very quick reflex on his defense, and was able to block them with his shield, he looked at me, unsure of what to do, "Don't look at me Link! You know I can't do anything with that much light here!" He snap back his thought at him, blocking yet another arrow, before suddenly taking a different stance.

'He's not gonna …' And I didn't have the time to finish that thought, he already launched his shield at the Bokoblin, catching him totally off guard and getting a direct hit on the face making him fall down before exploding away, "Wheeeeeeeeere Captain Hyrule throw his mighty shield!" I start singing, 'Uh, didn't think I would get to place that sentence somewhere in my life, guess I was wrong!' He look at me weirdly before taking back his shield in hand.

"You know we only have one of those? And you kinda need it, so shouldn't you be a bit more careful with that?" He turn his attention back to me "And you're the one telling me that? You're always the one coming up with absurd plans, I guess it's just your shadowy influence rubbing off on me" I let out a laugh 'Eh, what do you know! Link, hero of twilight, is, of course, also the master of puns'

We soon arrive near the temple, looking around, I see the potion shop with the bird guarding it, but no Hero's Shade … That's weird … Suddenly a voice can be heard from behind us, "Liiiiink! Wait up!" … Rusl? What is he doing there? "Ah, I finally catched up to you, so he didn't lie after all… You are really heading for the temple, aren't you?" What the … "How did you know that Rusl? I didn't talk to anyone since I came back…" Something fishy is going on there … That's not supposed to happen …

"Well, that's a weird story…" He paused for a minute before continuing "A mysterious young man dropped by this morning, he told me about your whereabouts, and ask me a favor, now... I wouldn't trust just anyone, especially when he was dressed so strangely but… In my years as a soldier, and as a parent, I learned to know when someone lie, and his eyes, they did not lie" What… "He also had some … Knowledge … I couldn't deny his truth, anyway, he asked me to come here and to leave you with …" He started whistling, calling up a familiar golden Cucco "My trusty partner!"

What is happening … What the hell … "Now, I know why they asked me that, deep within this forest lie a temple, with an ancient power sleeping inside, I thought I was the only one knowing about this temple … But I guess I was wrong" He frowned a bit "He told me that you would be able to awaken that power, and since everything he told me so far, ended up being true, I will trust him too on that regard" He putted his hand on Link's shoulder. "Link … I'm powerless to save the children from those monster that took them, but…" He looked Link straight in the eyes "If what that man told me is true, you should be able to claim this ancient power your own, so please … Whatever lie in this temple, I beg of you to use that power wisely, and get our children back to us safely …" He looked at the same time sad, and hopeful, really placing all the hopes he had in him.

"I will Rusl, I promise you that much, I'll bring back your son, and if that temple can help me in this quest, I'll make sure to make that power mine, thank you for trusting me on that." Nothing make sense … Rusl is not supposed to show up before we got the Master Sword! And now he somehow know about it, and want us to get it, before the first temple? What!

Once Rusl was out of view, Link asked me "Well, we have one more stop before the temple, that was … unexpected, but if it can help us to beat Zant, I'm all for it" You have … No idea how unexpected that was Link… "Midna?" Oh, I didn't respond did I? "I'm here, I guess we should go then" I pause for a bit before asking "You have any idea who this "young man" he talked about could be?" He paused a bit as well, trying to think about it "No … I don't think anyone in the village fit that description apart from me…"

I know I should be glad that we can get a shortcut to the Master Sword but… I'm too busy questioning myself about that person, to be happy about it… Somehow, he knew to come to Rusl, knew where we were, and knew about both the Sacred Grove, and how Link could take on the Master Sword … I would know all of that but … No one else is supposed too!

I do not know what is going on, and I don't like it …

We quickly arrived at our first obstacle in this journey, the Lost Woods, I looked around a bit, and quickly recognised the Triforce pattern on the floor, 'Great, it's still there!', it had the music note written in the middle of it, guess that's how Wolf Link knew how to howl, now … how do I ask Link about doing that, without sounding suspiciously knowledgeable…

"Hey Link, look over there, this stone got some music note written on it, what do you think it's here for?" Lead him in the good direction, without telling him anything about knowing, 'Good going Midna!' He came to me and looked at it, disinterested "I don't know Midna… We should focus more on getting to this temple, instead of looking at random music notes." '... Or not …'

Alright, let's try something else, "Oh come on Link! Not a fan of music? Taking a break to do some won't kill us you know?" He snap back at me, angrily "Midna, my friends are in danger, and we need to find that temple, I don't have the time for something like that!" God damnit! How do I get the message across his thick skull …

Okay, I got no choice, gonna have to drop some random knowledge… "I saw that sign before" He look surprised "Uh? Where?" I point at his hand "Right there, it was there when Zelda inspected you earlier, it shined for a second, but now that I see it again, I'm pretty sure it's the same sign, who knows? Maybe that melody is an hint toward what happened to you?" He looked torn for a second, before giving in "Alright … You win … I don't have an instrument on me, but I hope that whistling will do the trick for you?" Yes! That should work! It's not a mechanism that we're trying to get on after all, it's a person we're trying to lure.

Snapping one of the weirdly shaped grass on the floor, he started whistling the note of the song, 'The note of Zelda's Lullaby…' It was … Really relaxing to hear that song, so calm and peaceful… That stopped once I heard a familiar laughter, and turned back just in time to see him, the Skull Kid, he laughed once again before blowing in his trumpet and leaving us with his puppets…

"Great idea Midna! Let's whistle in the middle of a forest full of monsters! Why do I even listen to you sometimes…" Oh I will be sure to remind you of that once we get out of there because of him! We quickly got on our way to defeat those puppets while I yelled "Let's follow him!" Link stared back at me "Why? He just summoned monsters! He doesn't really seem the friendly type to me." I retort "He seems to know his way around this forest, doesn't he? And we don't, he may be unwilling, but he will still be our guide, but not if we let him get away!" We both started running, trying to catch up with him.

"There!" Dispatching the puppets that were coming at us, we saw him passing through the different places of this forest, he teleported behind us again, seemingly knowing what we were doing, but just laughing it off.

This game of hide and seek went on for a while... 'Literally a game for him now that I think about it' but finally, he lead us to a massive stone wall, and made it disappear while running by it, "Remind me again who had the idea that got us someone who can dispel this wall?" He looked back at me and sighed "... I guess that's why I always follow your plan, no matter how crazy they are, they always end up working.." Even though he turned away, I could see a smile on his face.

We finally followed the Skull Kid and entered the area where he was waiting for us, he stared at us angrily, stomping his feet on the ground before summoning a horde of those Puppets, "Look like someone is cranky … Let's put this child to bed, shall we?" The unsheeting of his sword was enough of a response for me. Slashing and punching through those puppets, we were reducing their numbers every second, but still having troubles as he kept on summoning them.

"He keep on teleporting around! We'll never get him at this rate!" He turns back to me "Any ridiculous plan up your sleeve this time?" I smile at him "Actually … I do" He smile back at me "Great, tell me how I'm gonna experience my near death experience this time." I laugh a bit before we both get a serious expression.

"Alright, he seem to teleport everytime we get near him, that's a problem because he can see us, but …" He completed "He can't see you if you sneak in the shadows, right?" I nod "That means that you have to take care of those puppets by yourself for a bit" We both hear the sound of his trumpet, summoning more of those wooden monstrosities, "Alright, I should be able to hold them back, don't take too long though. I don't know how long I can keep them away." With that said, I slowly drop in the shadows, I sneak through the ones produced by the puppets and by the forest, after a bit of running around, I finally reach him.

Finally, I get off the shadows just in time to grab him by the feet, holding him upside down as he try to reach for the trumpet he just dropped on the ground, the puppets were seemingly animated by his magic, without the trumpet in hand, they just all fell down one by one. "Playtime is over, kid." He seemed to pout for a bit, before finally speaking "You guys … You're no fun! First you find me every time I hide myself, and then, you cheat at the game, and get me from behind, you're a bunch of cheater!"

I looked at him, dead in the eyes "This, is not a game, you threatened our lives and almost got us killed for your own amusement, so now, you either open the path for us and I let you go …" I get the magic to flow in my hair, tightening the grip "Or I can promise you, you won't like the next game we'll be playing" I could feel him shaking in my hand "Al-Alright! I'll open this stupid path! Just let me go!" I loosen the grip but not before catching his trumpet "One false move, and I'll break your toy."

"You really are no fun!" He goes up to the wall, putting his hands against it as it slowly dissipate. "Here! I did it, now give me back my trumpet, you big meanie!" I throw the trumpet at him, and tell him "If you ever try that again, on anyone, I'll know it, and I'll be sure to visit you again, understood?" He yelp back in fear a bit before teleporting away.

"Link? Where are you? I can't see you, you learned to blend in the shadows too?" I hear a weak laugh coming off from the ground "Ah.. Very funny Midna, I'm alright just … Getting some more.. beauty sleep like you call it." 'Alright, time to play spot the greener green' I look around trying to distinguish his tunic from the leaves, finally finding him near one of the pillar 'Found him!'

I offer him my hand, well, my hair, same thing, "Come on, get up now, will you? We got him, the temple is just ahead" He looked exhausted, but still took my hair and got back up, "Alright, let's go for it" I turn back, ready to continue, "Midna?" Hearing his voice from behind, I turn around once more "Yes? What is it Link?" He look at me for a bit "Thank you, I mean it." I smile a bit while hearing that "You're welcome Link, now shall we go? We got an ancient power to awaken after all Eh hee hee!" He smile back at me before joining me on our way to the temple.

I stayed behind him for a little bit, just thinking to myself … Someone led us here … Someone new, that doesn't fit the description of anyone I knew around here … Someone who had a knowledge similar to mine … It seems like they are on our side for now but …

A knowledge as vast as this one, can end up being very dangerous in the wrong hands …

Alright! And that's it for Chapter 6!

Link and Me-Dna finally got the know each other a bit better, and to learn how to work as a team, well … They are beginning to learn at least hehe

The changes start stacking up on one other as Me-Dna is starting to get more and more worried about a mysterious individual that knows more than he should …

The journey to the Forest Temple got cut short by one of those changes, as Link get the unique occasion of obtaining the legendary Master Sword at the beginning of his adventure!