Chapter 15

Driving Back the Twilight

As the three companions stepped back into the present, Aragorn and the others walked towards them. Link took the Athelas leaves from Saria and walked over to Aragorn.

"The Force has been with us, Aragon. Saria found these!" He told his friend as he opened his palm to reveal the leaves.

Aragorn raised his brow in surprise.

"Where in Hyrule did you find these? I thought they could only be found in Middle Earth!" he asked as he studied the leaves.

"We found them in Faron Woods, which is located in the nearby Faron Province. I'm not sure if they're still around though, because we found them in the past." Link explained to Aragorn.

The king nodded as he listened to the tale. He sensed that in all the excitement, Link was leaving something out. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Was there anything else that happened on your search?" he pressed Link.

Link blinked a couple times before remembering that Aragorn hadn't been with him when he met Faron.

"Well, as soon as we heal Ilia, we have to find and destroy the bugs of Twilight in these regions, the Provinces of Ordona and Faron. Only then, after we have collected the tears of light from the creatures, will light be restored to this area." Link explained.

Aragorn moaned in exasperation.

"This is going to take a while, isn't it?" He joked.

Link nodded as he shared the laugh.

"Well, are you going to start the cleansing, or not? Zant's not going to sit around all day! He's going to strike back, and soon! Cleanse this area now!" Midna growled as her eye gleamed red again.

Aragorn slapped her across the cheek.

"Hush, you little Imp! He's not your slave!" Aragorn whispered angrily.

"Oh, really! Watch this, you insolent fool!" Midna cackled as she let loose dark energy, which freed her of her bonds.

She then hovered in the air above the group as she cackled in pleasure. Aragorn had his jaw hanging open. Link, clearly, had expected this turn of events. He raised his right hand towards the creature and made a sweeping motion. Midna was suddenly slammed to the ground. She let out a soft shriek of dismay and shock. She bared her teeth at the Hero as he approached.

"Midna, do you know who you're dealing with?" he said with a sweet smile.

"Back off, infidel! I'll bite!" she growled.

Link just laughed.

"What're you a beast?" he snickered.

Midna had had enough; she sprang into the air and sent a wave of dark energy at the Hylian. Link transformed into a wolf upon impact. Midna smiled in satisfaction. She glided over and was about to land on his back, when he transformed back to his regular form. She shrieked and fell over backwards. Before she could get up, however, Link put his boot on her. She growled in frustration. Link used the Force to hold her to the ground while he walked around her with a sad smile.

"My poor Midna, when are you ever going to learn? You can't control me, I am a Jedi. You must remember that. In order to restore peace to Hyrule, and the Twilight Realm, we're going to have to work together." He explained to the imp.

Link waved his hand in the air, and strong bonds of chain hovered over to Midna and began binding her. Soon after, a heavy lock clicked closed on the bonds. Midna growled in rage.

"Why don't you trust me? I've only tried to aid you in your quest! Please, listen to me! I know much more about the Twilight than any of you. I can be of great help!" she begged.

Link rolled his eyes.

"Will you stop ordering us around and listen to me? After all, we are Jedi." He added as a last thought.

"Whatever you say, Master Jedi." Midna whispered arrogantly.

"That's much better. That wasn't hard, was it?" Link laughed as he waved his hand again, and Midna was free of the chains and lock.

She hovered into the air once again and began to glide over Link's head with a wicked laugh.

"I bet your wondering where those bugs of twilight are, right?" she giggled as she soared up into a tree.

She alighted on a thin branch high up in the tree and gave Link a small wave as she smiled.

"This way, Jedi!" she giggled as she soared deeper into Ordon Village.

Link led his companions on a mad dash after the creature, and soon they were by Rusl's house. Link finally spotted Midna hovering over the roof.

"Wait a minute, Midna! We still have to heal Ilia!" Link barked at the creature.

Midna blinked twice as if unaware of the young girl's plight.

"Oh, you mean me?" Midna said as she transformed into Ilia.

Link wasn't amused in the slightest.

"Cut it out now, Midna. This is serious. She could die, if I don't get this athelas to her now!" Link roared as he raised his hand and brought Midna down from the roof.

Midna tried to fight the Force but was hopelessly outmatched. She was soon hovering in front of the Hylian.

"Come on, Midna, we're going." Link barked as he turned around briskly with Midna trailing behind him against her will.

As they reached the ancient spring at the edge of the village, Link spotted Gandalf bent over Ilia. Link thought he could hear a phrase of Elvish come from the Wizard's lips. He dashed over to Gandalf with the leaves in his hands.

"Hope has been restored, Master Gandalf! Look what I found in the past!" Link exclaimed, showing Gandalf the athelas leaves.

Gandalf's eyes widened in recognition as he grabbed the leaves out of the Hylian's hand. He crushed the leaves to a fine powder and mixed them with steaming water in a wooden bowl. He waved the bowl under Ilia's nose and she awakened at once, feeling strangely refreshed. She opened her eyes and spotted Link.

"Link, what happened? Where am I? What day is it? What is the time?" she asked in confusion.

Link chuckled in merriment.

"Slow down, Ilia! You are in Ordon, the day is December 15, and the time is Eleven o'clock." Link began with a smile.

Ilia was rubbing her head as she took it all in.

"As for what happened, I'll only say that we were attacked by an element of Twilight." Link vaguely explained.

Ilia nodded as it all came back to her. Link let her rest for a few moments before helping her up.

"Where are we going?" Ilia whispered in his ear.

"We are going to drive back the Twilight in Ordona and Faron." Link whispered back in like kind.

Ilia nodded as she followed him back to the village. Midna glided over their heads and landed on the roof of Rusl's house once again with an evil giggle.

"We don't have all day, Jedi! This way to the bugs of Twilight!" she giggled as she hovered around the house.

Link rolled his eyes and marched up to the door in a dramatic fashion. He rapped on the door three times and paused for dramatic effect, much to Midna's annoyance. She was seething now.

"Just kick the door in, already! We need to banish the Twilight! What are you waiting for?" Midna hissed in Link's ear.

"You must learn patience, young fool." Link commanded with a wave of his hand.

Midna shook her head in frustration.

"You're all hopeless! At this rate, you'll never save Hyrule, and I'll never get back to the Twilight! Out of my way!" she screamed as she rammed them out of the way and hovered in front of the door.

She raised her hands with a loud grunt and all of a sudden a ball of Twilight appeared out of Midna's hands. She made a sweeping motion and obliterated the door to a mound of dust to the horror of the travelers. Link and Ilia looked at her like she was mad.

"Midna, what do you think you're doing? You can't go around destroying other people's property!" Link managed to say after a moment of shock.

Midna just gave one of her giggles and glided inside with a small wave. Link had had enough of her games. So, he just stood outside with his arms crossed and waited. One minute later, Midna flew out of the house with her one visible eye gleaming red and showed her fangs to Link.

"What are you waiting for? Get in there and destroy the bugs, you insolent fool!" she shrieked.

Link just looked at her while he tapped his foot in annoyance.

"You could have killed us all with that move you pulled! Who do you think you are, Queen of Hyrule?" Link barked in her face.

Midna recoiled visibly. As she regained her composure she glided back over to the Hylian.

"You have no right to order me around, infidel!" she snapped.

Link stood his ground and raised his hand for silence.

"SILENCE! I am Link, Hero of Hyrule, and you WILL listen to me!" he roared.

Midna was thrown backwards into a tree. She slid down and slammed into the ground with a moan. She leapt up as soon as she recovered and rushed towards Link with a sneer.

"You may be the Hero of Hyrule, But I am the Twilight Princess!" she said while baring her fangs.

Link just smiled at the small imp and raised his index finger and pointed at a nearby stonewall. Midna was suddenly thrown and pinned against the wall by the Force. She sighed audible. It grieved her to do this, but she had to for the sake of the Twilight.

"Alright, Jedi, I, Midna. Princess of Twilight shall comply with your wishes." She whispered in sadness.

Link strode over to Midna with a thoughtful smile on his lips. He offered his hand towards the Twilight Princess with relief.

"I now understand your plight, young Midna, Princess of Twilight. I will offer my aid if you shall take it, along with the Jedi." He said as he released her and bowed.

As he bowed, Aragorn and Gandalf bowed as well. Link gave Midna a small smile if support.

"Don't worry, I always straighten things out! Saving Princesses is my duty." He chuckled as he entered Rusl's house.

Midna glided in behind him. As she entered the house, her eyes began to gleam in pleasure.

"They're here!" She whispered in the Hylian's ear.

Link stopped in his tracks and expanded his Force Awareness. He sensed a hidden danger underneath the nearby bed. He motioned for everybody to be still as he crossed the room and kicked the bed over. With a yell he swung his lightsaber through the air and decapitated several bugs of twilight. Midna smiled in satisfaction.

"Well done, chosen hero of Hyrule!" she smiled as she glided over beside him.

Link smiled at the young imp and strode out of the house with several balls of light encircling his head. He felt the light strengthening the village through the Force and was gladdened by it.

"The Force is with us, indeed!" he whispered.

He thought he sensed Anakin Skywalker nearby, in the Forest of Faron. He shook his head. He was imagining things. The travelers continued on their way through the village and quickly took care of the 'bug problem'. They made their way out of the village and ventured into the forest of Faron. Link had already collected more than half of the tears of light of the two provinces. All he had left was the Forest. He stretched out his senses and let the Force guide him to the remaining bugs of Twilight. He was led to the fountain of Faron. As he stepped into the fountain he saw a horde of Twilight bugs swarming the fountain. These were the last ten he needed to defeat in order to restore light to Ordona and Faron!

He ignited his lightsaber, along with Aragorn and Gandalf and charged towards the bugs. Several of the bugs hissed in anger, while many others exploded into tears of light. The three Jedi soon shut off their lightsabers and collected the last tears of light. Link was suddenly surrounded by all the tears of light and was astonished to witness them forming into the guardians, Ordona and Faron! All of a sudden a brilliant light flashed overhead, and the Provinces of Ordona and Faron were restored to their former glory with no Twilight in sight! Link grinned at his companions. They had succeeded! Light had been restored to the region. Midna once again became a shadow with reluctance shortly afterward. The two guardians slowly padded over to the young Hylian.

"Oh, Chosen Hero of Hyrule, You have done well! You must now travel to the Province of Eldin. There you will find your lost friends. Before you reunion, however, you must again drive back the Twilight. For, it had as well devoured that region. Go with the Force!" Ordona instructed.

Link nodded and turned to leave. All of a sudden Bo, the Mayor, appeared out of the Forest.

"Link, I have heard of your quest to rescue Colin. I admire your courage. Please take care of Ilia. If anything happened to her, I –"Bo was suddenly too saddened to go on and ran off.

Link shook his head in deep remorse. What had happened to Hyrule, to let it come to this? Link tightened his grip on his lightsaber with resolve. He was going to restore peace to these lands if it was the last thing he did.

"Let's move!" he ordered his companions as he mounted Epona and prepared to ride to the Eldin Province.