Chapter Six: Betrayal
Where am I?
What happened?
Groggily, I opened my eyes. My whole body ached as if I had been in a wrestling game with Gorons and lost… badly. Nothing came into focus right away, and I felt the blood rush to my head, impairing my sight further. I tried to move my hand and rub my pounding head only to find my arms tied behind my back. A similar result was received when I attempted to stand. I blinked hard, my vision finally coming into focus.
I nearly laughed, unthinkable as that is. I was in a prison cell, obviously, but it looked exactly like the cage I rescued Link from so long ago. Weak bars, chained by my ankle to a peg in the middle of the floor, everything was so nostalgic. Now if only that mangy wolf was here with me, I thought, my momentary good humor vanishing in a heartbeat.
I continued to examine my surroundings, beyond the cage itself. Thick stonewalls stood on every side, except for directly in front of me. There lay a blanket of darkness. There was no telling how far it extended or where it led to from within my prison. It seemed like I was in a corridor; there were no walls outside of the cage, just an empty space. The only light source was a torch, outside of my cage and likely embedded into the stone, as I could not see it from where I stood – no windows. I swallowed nervously as I watched the shadows dance in time with the flickering flame. The walls seemed to close in on me.
"Dum dum… da da… da da…"
I cocked my head to the side, curious. It sounded like someone was humming ballroom music. Who would be humming in this goddess-forsaken place?
"Hello?" I called timidly, not wanting to alert any guards to my presence if I could help it.
"Why, hello there," a musical voice replied. I turned towards the source of the sound, noticing for the first time the cage next to mine. "Glad to see you're awake; I wanted to speak with you before Ganondorf returned," he continued. Slowly, he emerged from the shadows.
His face was clearly Hylian. Long, pointed ears, narrow chin, high check bones. He wore a large, black cloak with gold stitching over his shoulders, which covered his entire frame. He smiled gently at me and bowed low, his clean-looking, raven-wing colored hair falling in his face. He offered a tanned hand through the bars of the cage. I grasped it, more curious as to whether or not it was real than actually not wanting to be rude.
"My name is Riken, but I am quite certain that doesn't matter much to you at this moment," he continued in his same singsong voice. I frowned, mistrusting. He was far too happy for someone trapped in a cage. Then again, judging by his clean appearance it was possible that he was one of Ganon's lackeys. Did he even use minions who looked like Hylian nobles? I certainly hadn't seen any on my previous adventures with Link.
"Look I don't have time for this!" I snapped at the strange Hylian.
He grinned at me, as if he were expecting as much. "You're friends are fine, as are you. I don't think you have much to worry about except keeping it that way. Ganondorf will be coming soon, but I thought I'd help you out a bit before then."
"Unless you can free me from this prison, I doubt you can really help me much," I hissed. He smiled sadly.
"Unfortunately I cannot do that, but I can help you find your own way out," his attention turned away from me as he looked beyond our prisons to the darkness. Frowning, he continued, "Out of time, so soon. Your hand, just focus okay?" I heard loud footsteps padding towards me and I looked away from the strange man for a brief moment before turning back only to find him gone. In fact a stone wall stood where there had once been prison bars. Shaking my head I turned back to the sound of approach.
"Ah, so the princess has awakened," an all too familiar voice purred from outside of the cage, somewhere in the darkness. "I thought you'd be out for a while longer but it seems I was mistaken."
"Ganon. What do you want, you pig?" I growled. The dark sorcerer stepped out of the darkness, smirking at my previous remark. I glanced around, desperately wishing for a stone to chuck at him.
"Now, now, Twilight Princess, you should show me respect considering you're now my prisoner," he replied with a sly smile.
"Sadistic son of a bokoblin!" I spat at his feet, nose flared and prepared to do anything and everything in my power to make his life as miserable as possible. He frowned a little, but other than that showed no reaction.
"I ought to give you a history lesson while you're in my stockades, but I think that this is neither the time nor the place. Aside from that we have more pressing business to attend to," Ganondorf spoke in a controlled tone and glanced down at my hand. The Triforce, I realized immediately. I looked at my hand in a panic, but was relieved to find it still there.
"Couldn't get your precious Power piece back, could you?" I questioned wryly. He snorted once without humor.
"Hardly," he spoke with venom in his voice. "I just figured it'd be more fun to torture while you're awake rather than dreaming about your hero." I flung another flurry of insults at him. He growled, flinging the cage door open and slapping me across the face with such force and speed that I fell to the ground with a cry of pain and surprise. I spat out a mouthful of blood from the split lip I had just received, courtesy of Ganon.
"Monster, do you have no shame? No pride?" I questioned, defiantly standing once more.
"Trust me, dear princess," he replied, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at him. "This is only about pride." With that he released me and I fell to the ground once more. "However, I am not the one under question here. I'll give you two options, Princess. Give me the Triforce right here, right now, willingly or I take it from you forcefully. In my infinite patience and mercy, I'll even allow you an hour to think things over." He said the last part with mock sincerity.
"If you honestly think I'll just hand the Triforce over to you, you've got another thing coming," I informed him.
He barked a laugh and turned to face me. "Oh but Midna, you have yet to see how truly mad a piece of the Triforce can drive a person. You'll come around sooner or later, and I have all the time in the world." He turned and walked out of the cage, locking me in once more.
I steeled my gaze and looked him right in the eye. He was insane, truly insane. There was no limit as to what he would do to get back what he believed to be rightfully his. For all of that though, the question wasn't as he put it: Giving up the Triforce willingly or not. The question is, which of us is more insane? With a grin on my face that far outdid any wicked smile I had conjured in my imp form, I knew the answer.
Just try me Ganon.
He looked over his shoulder to glare at me once more, as if though he heard my cocky thought, before slinking back into the darkness, leaving me alone again.
A boy clad in a green tunic, a young woman dressed in a clearly royal, but still simplistic traveling dress, and another young woman, this one with pale-blue skin and fiery orange hair, walked side by side towards a small village. The young blonde lad broke the silence that had settled over them.
"Midna, are you sure you're all right?" He asked, his tone infused with concern. "You've been acting a little weird since Ganon reared his ugly head." The boy mentioned the dark lord with a subconscious spite.
"I'm fine, Link," the young lady with bright crimson eyes purred. Zelda fell behind a little and frowned to herself. She agreed with Link, something wasn't right, but what was wrong? A small voice in the back of her mind cried out in warning, a voice she had long ago learned to trust, but she couldn't do much without some kind of proof. Even if Link was suspicious, she knew he would defend Midna to the last, and getting everyone worked up could lead to rash action. What's worse is it could lead to more pointless destruction.
So the three walked on. Zelda and Link both lost to their own thoughts while Midna smiled smugly, keeping a steady pace.
"Knock, knock," a voice called from within the shadows just beyond my cage.
"Screw you," I replied. Ganondorf appeared with a frown on his face. Good. I spat at his feet in further greeting.
"If you were wise you'd stop drying yourself out like that, as you won't be getting any food or water for the duration of your stay here at my humble abode," he replied with a tone of mock wisdom. His features twisted in a scowl, preparing for the so-called torture session. I was ready for him though. My choice had been made long ago, before he left me for my last hour of peace. Instead I had used the time granted to me to prepare for any pain he planned to inflict.
I glanced at the shadows, longingly, for a brief moment. I had already tried to transfer myself into the shadows, but to no avail. Whatever enchantment he had put on me earlier remained. Curse him! I pulled at my chains once more and received the same response I had been getting all hour. Rattle. No give.
"Now then, obviously, I don't have time to sit here for hours on end, but that doesn't mean you'll be free from pain. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself," he explained with a light dancing in his eyes. Sadistic psycho. He opened the door to my cage and stepped in, closing the door behind him. "So what will it be, Twilight Princess?"
"What do you think urine breath?"
He snarled once and slapped me, sending me into the nearest wall. "Very well," he growled. He took a deep breath and regained his composure. "Let's talk then, shall we?" He waited for a response that he wasn't going to receive before continuing. "Do you miss your home at all, Princess? Perhaps you forgot what, or should I say… who you left your people with." My heart lurched in my chest at this comment… he couldn't possibly know…
"Oh trust me, Princess, I know much more than you could ever imagine," Ganon continued as if he could read my thoughts. Then again, maybe I was just giving myself away. I tried to relax my jaw muscles and remove the panic from my eyes with little success. "I heard you were the one to deliver the final blow to my loyal acolyte, but just think of my shock when I found out that you revived him!" He chuckled softly, running a clawed finger along my arm, before continuing. "To kill is one thing, dear Twilight Princess, but to revive an enemy out of… what? Why did you revive your traitorous subject?" He leaned in closer to me, gripping my jaw so hard that it began to ache.
"Do you think you can break me by making me feel guilty?" I laughed once without humor. "You have much to learn Ganon. My people are the masters of pain. We've been suffering for thousands of years."
"Ah, ah, but you are avoiding my question," he reprimanded me with a sickening gentleness. "Was it out of desperation, perhaps?" I winced at the assumption that was all too close to the truth. "No need to answer now; I can see it in your eyes. Though I do still wonder why." I squeezed my eyes shut to block out his sinister voice and my mind drifted back in time…
Why, indeed?
I wiped my hands against the heavy cloak I wore nervously. Today was the day. I had been debating on whether or not to go through with this for weeks, but it all came down to him. Nearly a year had passed and I was barely holding myself together in front of my advisors, let alone in my private chambers after the rest of the palace falls into slumber. Every night I sat awake, not wishing to dream about him in fear of making the pain worse, so instead I reminisced about our time together. There was the one moment I never thought about, locked away so deep in my memory I wasn't sure I could recall it anymore. Not that I would ever dare try.
More than once I had caught myself speaking out loud, as if though he was sitting just across from me.
If I didn't find a way to stop this, I would surely become a victim of my own mind. Then what would my people do? They'd already lost me once and suffered under a madman's rule, what if they had to go through both again? All of the sacrifices he and I made would be for naught.
It was under this train of thought that the idea first came to me.
Zant was a powerful magic-wielder, of that there is no doubt. In fact, he was powerful enough to open multiple portals between our world and theirs – something unheard of before his reign. How did he do it though? Did he use the power of the Mirror of Twilight and simply expand it, or was it possible he found another way? One no one else had thought of?
Of course, with Zant no more than a pile of ashes sitting above my hearth, there really was no way to ask him personally – at least not unless I was truly insane and started holding conversations with the dead usurper. Who knows, maybe he'd actually reply, I thought grimly.
What if there was another way though? Maybe I didn't need to be insane to communicate with him. Well, not totally insane at least. The Twili had developed complex revival rituals for those who died young and unjustly, all in an attempt to vindicate the goddesses' judgments on us. Naturally, only a powerful being could perform any of these rituals, but with the royal blood coursing through my veins I felt confident I could do it.
But did I really want to do it?
As much as it pained me I had to ask myself: What would Link think about this? I winced as I thought his name; I had been trying to avoid using it.
He would think I was already insane, that much is sure. We fought so long and hard all for the purpose of defeating Zant and Ganondorf. Reviving one was nearly as bad as reviving the other. If I was successful, he would ask how I managed to return, and of course I would tell him the truth. What would he think of me then? He would be shocked, hurt, and maybe even confused. I was a bit confused myself.
Why did I feel like I needed him so bad?
Living through this nightmarish year of recovery had been like living without oxygen. I never felt like I could breath. At first I just chalked it up to getting used to the stiff duty of ruling my people again, but, as time went on, it only got harder. The longer I was away from him, the more the pain choked me Like a snake wrapped around its prey, it was only a matter of time before the pain finished me off.
I had no choice. At one point I did, but I shattered that opportunity recklessly.
So, less than a week away from the year mark, I smuggled Zant's ashes into a secluded room, deep within the palace. The following day I returned to the room, steady in my resolve. When guards and advisors gave me a quirked eyebrow and a puzzled frown I simply ignored them and continued to walk swiftly down the corridors. There happened to be two guards walking casually away from my destination, whether or not this was a sign, I choose not to ponder.
"You two," I snapped, catching their attention.
"Yes, Milady?" The Twili inquired in unison.
"I need you two to guard this door and whatever you may witness, you mustn't speak a word of it to anyone, not even your loved ones, understood?" They both stood up a little straighter and saluted, which I took for a sign of agreement. They took up their positions in front of the door once more, and patiently waited for further orders.
The room was small, but it would do. I took a deep breath before approaching the ashes.
Goddesses forgive me. I only do this for you Link. We fought for everyone else's happy endings, now its time to fight for our own.
The revival process was lengthy, more so than I would've liked. Then, when Zant started questioning me, I was unable to keep myself composed. I cursed myself for lack of control and went outside to give orders to the guards, who were looking rather frightened.
"Princess was that –," one stuttered, though he dare not say what he thought. The other one looked rather pale, even for a Twili.
"You swore to never mention this, I trust you can keep to that vow?" I demanded, ice on my tongue. "If he gets too restless give him this." Handing over the sedations I took off towards my royal chambers, my wary body demanding rest from the ritual.
Just outside of my chambers I heard it. Laughter, mad laughter, coming from the direction I had just left. The guards would knock him out with the drugs I gave them soon, but not soon enough. The laughter had reached my ears and I heard Zant's message loud and clear. He knew how to make me dance, and he knew how to earn favors. He knew why I revived him, and I knew I was no longer in control of the situation – just like last time.
With a bowed head, I returned to my chambers, several more tears escaping before the door closed shut.
"Bite me," I replied to Ganon after a short pause, the memories of resurrecting Zant fresh in my mind.
He sighed loudly, in a showy fashion. I bet he loved to play the puppet master. "This won't do at all Midna, I need my Triforce not your guilt." He paused, looking closely at me. "I am no fool, Twilight Princess. Zant told me much of your fiery personality, and I know that you will not be handing over my Triforce without getting something in return. So what would you say if I could take all of your pain away?" He leaned in close enough that I felt his hot breath billowing across my neck. I shuddered as I felt his hot, sticky tongue glide over my exposed skin.
"I would say: get a life, you festering waste of flesh," I replied calmly, refusing to give him anything to cling to.
His fist collided with my stomach and my breath left me with a huff. "You wretched wench, do you understand that I'm doing you a favor? The last thing you want is the Triforce forcibly removed."
"And why haven't you forced it from me yet Ganon?" I inquired, determined to put him on the defensive. His face went blank and he stared into space, a haunted look entering his eyes. For a moment I wonder what he was thinking about so intently.
With a fire burning in his eyes, he snapped back to the present and responded, "I owe someone a favor to you, not that you deserve it." Who knew, Ganon actually kept promises, but then again, judging by the look in his eyes, maybe he doesn't have a choice in keeping this one. I was about to question him further, but he got another far-off look in his eyes for a brief moment before roaring out in anger.
"Din! Now what?" He turned on his heel, slamming the prison door shut behind him. Something must've gone wrong somewhere, if his tone and hurried footsteps were anything to go by.
Not even a minute later I heard more footsteps approaching, but this time I could tell it wasn't Ganon. These steps were light and careful like a rogue about to commit a theft. My face and stomach still aching from Ganon's abuse, I rose wearily to my feet.
"Hail," the figure draped in shadows called to me. "I've come here on orders, it would be wise not to resist." So he wanted to play it like that then. I'll show him what would be wise. He emerged from the shadows, but that didn't help me identify him. He wore a black cloak and hood that covered all of his features. In fact, if not for his speaking I wouldn't even have been able to tell if he was in fact male or female.
"Approach me and you may regret it," I warned, my voice filled with hate. He didn't heed my words and stepped into the too-small cage. Grabbing me roughly by the throat he lifted me off the ground with a strange calm in his eyes. Almost as if though he was under another's control and had no mind of his own. He removed a small gold coin from a pocket on his belt and pressed it against my forehead.
"This will be your entertainment until Master Ganondorf graces you with his presence again," the strange guard told me in a monotone. "The coin, or rather the spell on it, will be the mental part of your torture. For, surely, you know there are two parts to any good torture session. Master will provide the physical part himself." Even during the slight taunt on my knowledge of torture his voice remained bleak, unchanging. "Have a good sleep, Twilight Princess."
For the second time that day, I awoke groggy and out of touch. At least I think today was the same as the first day. My head started to throb at the possible conundrum, so I gave up on it for now. The important thing wasn't when, but rather where. I opened my eyes only to find more darkness.
Where am I? I wondered absentmindedly
My mind, well, yours and mine for the time being, a sinister voice replied. I felt shock radiate through out my body, though I could not feel my body itself.
Don't riddle me. Just tell me straight. All of this seemed far too familiar just like…
Just like when the Princess Zelda shared your mind.
I tried to growl at the voice, but whether or not I succeeded in producing any sound I did not know.
It is similar, I will admit, but unlike then you are the one sharing my mind. Allow me to… shed some light on the situation. Suddenly, I could see. My vision was a little blurry, like I had just woken up. I saw a hand reach up to wipe the sleep away, but the feeling wasn't right and I knew why.
I wasn't controlling the hand. For that matter, I wasn't controlling anything. All I could do was watch and speak silently to the strange voice. Is this how Zelda felt when she was in my mind? I made a mental note to apologize later if that was indeed the case. It was uncomfortable without a body, far worse than being in shadow form. Right now I was totally insubstantial. Link wouldn't be able to see me.
My attention was drawn from my thoughts as I, or rather, we, started moving forward. The place wasn't one I recognized immediately, but it felt familiar. I was certain I had been here before, but where exactly was here at? It looked like a house of some sort, though a simple one at best. There was a fire in a hearth on one side and a table in front of it. My host body looked right and I saw a hole in the floor that seemed to lead to nowhere. We turned left and faced a small ladder and something flickered in my memory.
Riding on the back of a wild beast, freshly tamed and ready for action. We raced down a dirt path. I required weaponry before I allowed the monster to go sniffing after his lost friends. We stopped before we reached the village and the no-good mutt helped another flea-bitten friend who was sitting at the top of a ladder…
No.
Oh, yes.
Then I saw him, lying in bed, sleeping peacefully while this stranger loomed over him. What was wrong with him? Why didn't he sense someone was there? He was never caught off guard like this!
Link!
Its no use, he can't hear you. You see, Twilight Princess, this – A hand swept across my field of vision gesturing to the small living quarters as a whole – is your nightmare. The person walked over to the hearth, causing Link to leave my field of vision once more.
He would never trust one of Ganon's minions. You are all fools if you think he would.
The stranger picked up a mirror from the table and held it up so I could see its face. He would never trust us, no, but he would certainly trust you. I screamed out in horror as my face was reflected in the glass.
I am a professional in these things, you see. I have done work like this for Ganon for many, many years. A long time ago I was used as a ploy to lower noblemen's defenses, so that my King, Ganondorf, could take over. Seduction is my game, and this will be my most exciting one yet. Take the Hero of Twilight into my arms, let him feel the warmth you were so afraid to give him. And just when he thinks everything is all right…
Stop! I screamed in my head. The images that came like flashes of lightening as she spoke left me shaken, wishing for some way to take control of those hands just long enough to kill myself. Stop! I commanded again, though she had long ago fallen silent.
We walked back to where Link was sleeping. I saw her hand reach for him, and just as I was about to warn her not to hurt him, she caressed his cheek.
You see Midna, I don't kill most of my victims. Typically I leave that up to Lord Ganondorf. My job is simply to tear away the threads of the trust you two share. More importantly to shatter the inconceivable love you hold for him. You are royalty, Twilight Princess, its time to start realizing that. The real fun will start tomorrow, for now though I must retire. Good night.
I yelled at her to wait, but she either didn't hear me or chose to ignore me. Within minutes I was back in the darkness, sleeping while my conscious was still waking. Hopefully Ganon would wrap up whatever duties called him away quickly – physical torture was much more preferred compared to this never-ending nightmare.
Ganon was right, I knew a lot about torture. I oversaw sessions of it everyday before Zant took the throne. Naturally, this was all in secret, if word got out that the princess was torturing her people there could be an uprising or worse – I'd have to stop the sessions. The first time I did it was during a small war between our people. Normally, being that we are all banished by the goddesses, Twili don't fight, but they have been known to find reason in the past.
So, one day a prisoner of war was brought in and I was told to oversee his torture. At first I objected, refusing to stoop to such violent levels, but then the first day arrived and by the end of it I was a different person. The torture was a thrill – a rush like none other! Hearing his dieing screams as I ran a blade along his spine, but slowly, oh very, very slowly. When I tired of the screams, I wanted to cut his tongue out, but was reminded that we needed him to talk first.
And talk he did. After the war was over and peace reigned once more, he congratulated me on my well-done torture. I replied, "my pleasure." Then he laughed nervously and backed away, slowly but not as slow as the knife. Nothing was slower than my torture sessions, or so I had thought.
Ganondorf was beating me at my own game. This torture seemed endless. Sitting or lying or whatever it is consciences do when they are active, I waited for hours that felt like days. I wondered, briefly, if this was vindication for all of the times I tortured innocent Twili. Some divine reparation to teach me the wrong in my ways, but no that couldn't be.
Link. He had taught me to end the merciless and unnecessary pain. He taught me to love life and respect it. And, goddesses, I miss him.
Suddenly, yet distantly, I heard a door slam open. Then I was pulled from the darkness and my limbs became my own once more. The guard who removed the coin was working quickly to chain me against the wall, spread-eagle facing the cage door, through magic binds. I wondered, fleetingly, why he was in such a rush. I received my answer moments after the lackey scurried out of my cell.
"Good morning, Princess," Ganon sneered. "Ready for round two?" I simply glared back at him. Seeing no change of heart in me he drew a long, thin blade. He spun it once in a showy fashion and ran a finger along the blunt side. Suddenly he gripped my wrist and pressed the tip of the blade against the peak of the Triforce mark. Slowly, so slowly, he ran the blade along the outline of the mark.
"I still think your methods are most laughable, Swine," I informed him, holding my head high. He responded by flipping my hand over and jabbing the blade through the center of my palm. He released my hand, with the blade suspended in it, and drew another long, thin dagger similar to the first. Repeating the process on my right hand, he smiled.
"Do you enjoy pain enough to appreciate it while you're the one suffering?" Ganon wondered out loud. "That's how I am. When your hero" —he said the word with unthinking hate— "butchered me with the Master Sword, I couldn't help but marvel at the pain involved. Truly evil's bane, that sword. If only I could wield it… I bet it would burn you alive."
He pulled out two more daggers, bigger than the ones used on my hands, and started feeling along my upper arm. It almost felt like he was giving me a massage, but he was pressing against my flesh too hard. Looking for the joint that joined my shoulder and arm, I realized too late. Before forcing the blades between my bones, he took time to carefully draw complex designs along my arms. I noticed with a wince and a frown that the patterns were a mock version of the Twili symbols etched on my skin. Finally he finished his artistic work and carefully stuck the blades in my skin; first he pierced the left side and then the right—the same order as my hands. I shivered as blood from the new patterns and wounds started to stream from my arm and echo dully on the stone floor beneath my feet.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
At his climax now, he drew a sword and ran its keen edge along the seams of my traveling shirt, loaned out to me before Link, Zelda and I had left Hyrule Castle, and tore it off.
"Sick," I commented feeling a chill run along my exposed flesh, but then again I guess that was the whole point. With practiced movements, he ran the sword along my legs, prodding my feet and cutting open my inner thighs, before pausing with the tip of the blade resting against my naval. His eyes glimmered briefly from some thought I was sure I didn't want to hear and stuck the smooth blade—carefully—in my stomach. I grunted in pain and ground my teeth together, fighting the urge to cry out. He inserted the blade so that it wouldn't kill me, just make me bleed.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Leaving the swords in my hands, arms and stomach Ganondorf took a step back to admire his work. With a smirk he left, releasing me from the magical binds and closing the gate behind him. I reached out with a shaky hand to remove the blade from my stomach, but I was so lightheaded from the blood-loss I saw multiple blades and didn't know which was the real one. Cursing, I lifted my hands up to my eyes to rub them only to recall, again, the blades he left in my palms.
Before I had adequate time to find a way to remove the blades I heard footsteps, signaling an approach. The same mysterious guard who put the spell-coin on me and spell-tied me for torture earlier walked up to me.
"Don't touch me," I told him fearlessly, my voice sounding frustratingly small and insignificant. Ignoring my warning, he placed the coin on my head and once again I was lost to the darkness.
Welcome back.
I didn't respond, instead I started looking for Link.
I thought I heard a sigh before the strange woman in my body responded. He's fine. In fact he's been pretty friendly lately. She was at Ordon Spring; Link was floating in the deeper part of the pool, looking like he was sleeping. He's so cute, wouldn't you agree?
I wanted to curse her and demand that she stay away from Link, but I couldn't take my focus off the scene. Had I not been kidnapped, I could be there – the real me – waiting with Link for a sign of Ganondorf.
Something pricked at the back of my mind and I realized someone was missing. Where's Zelda?
The Light princess? She left a few days ago, to Kakiriko, or something like that. Looking for survivors. It turned out that the villagers here knew of Castle Town's attack and had gotten an invitation to join the survivors in Kakiriko, for their own safety. The big guy here – what's his name?
Bo. The mayor.
Yeah, whatever, so he told everyone they were staying here. Something about the village being safer than any other place.
That made sense because, like last time, Ordon village remained virtually untouched. Maybe it had to do with Link and his being raised there. The goddesses, in exchange for watching over their hero while he grew up, protected this village above all the rest.
And grow up he did, the voice of the seducer commented as Link approached her. I felt the sensation of standing up. Link smiled at the false-me and offered an arm. Though I couldn't see her face I knew that the impersonator smiled and took his arm by the echo of feeling in our mind. They walked, side by side, down the path that led back to the village. Just before they reached the clearing and Link's house I felt her stop.
What are you doing?
Oh nothing. She rested her hands on Link's chest, leaned in and kissed him, yet I couldn't feel him. I could hear every sound and feel the air on our skin, but I couldn't feel Link – like he isn't even there.
This is torture. You didn't think we're that stupid, did you? I guess I could describe it for you though…
No.
His lips are so soft, but his hands are so rough. And warm. He's very, very warm. Also quite strong, I can tell running my hand along his back. Mmm, so gentle and sweet. That's something I haven't felt in a long time. Most men I had to go after were cruel, with a hateful heart, but this one…
I tired to drown out her voice, I tried to scream, but I couldn't.
Hmm I wonder…
The slight change of tone caught my attention. I felt her had run down Link's side, to his waist. Then she tugged, just a little, at his pants, and…
He immediately stopped, breaking the kiss and backing away from her. I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew that if I had to witness that…I know what my limits are, and that is far outside of my range.
Interesting, I think that in itself is a first.
That's my wolf, I thought with a smile—at least mentally. Even if you capture me and break me into a thousand pieces, you will never be able to touch him. He's the chosen hero for a reason.
Nonsense, he may be a hero, but he is still a man. It's only a matter of time.
Her threat left me with a cold feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I ignored it. Even if she could get him to do it, what difference did it make? Not like it would kill him.
It wouldn't—he may even enjoy it, but keep in mind its not him we're after.
Do your worse.
A few hours of watching Link and Ganon's minion left me with a bitter taste in my mouth, but it was nothing compared to the pain I felt upon awakening again. My body was stiff from staying still for so long, but what's worse is the blood had clotted around the blades, keeping them firmly in place. Every shift of weight and tiny change in position re-opened the recently closed wounds, so that when I moved I felt a thousand daggers tear through me rather than five. Tears formed in my eyes and I tried to blink them back.
My head pulsed with a deafening headache as I observed my surroundings. The guard was nowhere to be seen, but Ganondorf towered over me, tapping his foot ever so slightly. Just as I was starting to stand up Ganon became impatient and jerked me into a standing position causing pain to roar through me like a storm. He gripped the blade in my stomach and yanked it out with a grunt of effort causing fresh blood to pour from the gapping hole.
"I hate you," I told him through clenched teeth.
"As well you should," he replied smugly. "You can stop the pain anytime you want – it's all up to you," he reminded me.
"I'd rather die than surrender to you."
So the torture began anew. He dipped the same blades he originally used in a vat of what I could only hope wasn't poison. Whatever it was, it burned. A lot. Something similar to rubbing acid-coated salt on a paper cut. I squirmed, desperately trying to ignore the pain. Then he took my Triforce hand and started to cast a spell. Just as I was about to ask what he was doing, he held his fisted-hand level with the Triforce on my hand and pulled back a little. Almost as if he was pulling on an invisible rope attached to my hand, but there was nothing visible to me except air.
He tugged a little more, and I felt my hand jerk towards him. I swallowed nervously, and tried to yank my hand back only to meet resistance, like there was an invisible force pulling my hand forward without give.
Then Ganondorf jerked his hand back with a grunt, placing his other hand on my shoulder, using it like leverage.
And I screamed.
Light flared out from my hand, quickly drowning out my previous pain from the swords still jutting out of my skin. I thrashed wildly, screaming curses to the goddesses as I did. What kind of demented goddess would create such pain?
"Din!" I screamed. Ganon laughed and pulled harder.
"Do you still want the Triforce? Do you still believe it a force of good or evil based on who wields it?" He cackled maniacally. "Welcome to the power that drove me to insanity!"
This went on for hours. And hours. And hours. Until, at last, he left. Unlike the last session, I didn't even have the energy to attempt removing the blades. When the dark-cloaked guard returned, I couldn't put up a fight. And I hated every moment of it.
Knowing I was moments from blacking out and returning to the mental torture, I couldn't help but wonder: how long can I last like this?
The answer came several weeks later.
Whatever stinging, stinking gunk Ganon was coating my blades in, seeped into my skin and sapped my strength. There were no other effects, that I noticed, thankfully. He continued to tug at the Triforce and warn me that actually removing it would be far worse. I could handle the pain though. After breaching my pain threshold the first time, the pulling didn't hurt as much any more.
The worst part—the part that was wearing me down faster than expected – was watching the imposter flirt with Link, or, worse, Link flirt with her. I tried to shut them out. Stop listening or seeing, hoping for both my hearing and sight to fail, but it just didn't work. While I wasting time trying to stop the torture, Link was falling in deeper with the false woman. It was only a matter of time before something broke the tedious balance I was maintaining between the physical and mental tortures.
I waited patiently for Ganon to finish his torture. He had been tugging a little harder recently, and I couldn't help but wonder why. It wasn't enough to remove it, but certainly enough to feel a difference. Was he testing something? Maybe he was preparing to forcibly remove the Triforce if I continued to deny him his power? I didn't bother asking, knowing I would receive no answer, as I watched Ganon leave and the guard slip in.
Without a word he placed the coin on (or possibly in, I could never really tell, as blurry as everything had gotten over time) my head.
Good evening, Princess. You're just in time; I do believe we are at our climax.
Climax? I questioned wearily. Observing my—our—surroundings I understood what she meant. We were in Link's house, lounging in front of the fire, snuggled against Link. While I was sure it must've been incredibly warm, I, of course, could feel nothing. Like freezing in the desert.
Stay away from him, I commanded half-heartedly. I had long ago given up trying to convince her to keep her distance.
Well now that you're here, I'll begin the show. Enjoy tonight, I'm dedicating my performance to you!
You're really sick you know that?
Of course! Anyways, sorry if I don't respond to some of your thoughts tonight; I'll be a bit busy.
The tone of her thoughts made me shudder in revulsion—not an easy thing considering I was currently no more than a stream of consciousness. I felt our hand shift to the side and grasp something. We looked down at our hand that was now intertwined with Link's. I felt the shy smile seep across her face as our eyes met his crystal-blue eyes.
"Link," she whispered leaning closer. I was slightly surprised to hear her actually speak—her voice was just like mine. In all of my time roosting in this conscience I had yet to hear anything outside of the mind speak. Disappointment filled me when Link started to talk, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. Fortunately, the ever-considerate seducer let his words echo through her mind for me to hear.
Midna… I…
I tried to shake my head in denial, a reflex action. The imposter leaned closer to Link, prepared to seal the deal, when he spoke again—something she was not expecting, judging by her slight surprise and stiff halt.
I need to tell… Ever since… It's just that…
"There's no need, darling. This is no time for talk," she purred. An all too familiar feeling of disgust rose up inside me.
No, I need to say this… I don't want to…
"Just say it," she whispered gently.
Midna… I… love you.
"I know."
With that she closed the distance between them and immediately began her so-called work. The kiss grew deeper, sweet at first, but the imposter soon changed that. Our hands, pressed against his chest, slid down his slim torso and under his tunic. We pulled it off and flung it to the side with his help. I noticed vaguely when we pressed him flush against the ground, but was preoccupied with our hands that were now working at removing his trousers.
All the while he whispered my name. Thinking he had just confessed his love to me. And now he was about to make love to someone he believed to be me. In some distant corner of my mind, I wondered if this was his first time. Probably, considering how clumsy his hands were as they tugged off our dress.
He wrapped his arms around our waist—I only knew from an indistinct weight there—and gently rolled us so that he was on top, staring down triumphantly.
Link… Link… please stop, I begged, knowing full well he couldn't hear me.
"Take me," the imposter pleaded. All too willing to oblige, Link prepared to do just that when…
"Link! Stop!" I screamed, but it was different this time. My voice was on the outside.
"You stupid wench!" the imposter shrieked. Link quickly jumped up and backed away, reaching for his sword. I had trained my dog well after all. With his left hand filled with the goddesses' light Link pointed the sword towards the imposter's throat.
"You aren't Midna," he stated without emotion. The professional seducer panicked briefly, wondering what to do. After a never-ending moment, she slowly raised her hands in the air as a sign of surrender. I cried out in joy. This torture would stop now, and it was only a matter of time before Link rescued me from this place now that he knew I was missing. I could put up with Ganon's physical torture easily now, simply by knowing he would come soon.
I wanted to wait and see what happened next, but I was suddenly ripped away from this conscience and back into my own.
I gasped as I was pulled into my own mind, and nearly jumped back when I saw Ganondorf's face mere inches from mine.
"You had better pray to Din you didn't do what I think you did," he growled. I was confused, truth be told. What was he talking about? And why is he so angry? He's almost always eerily calm during periods of torture. "I'm taking the Triforce now. My debt to that scum is well paid!"
He grabbed me by my neck and jerked me up roughly with one hand, while magically grabbing the Triforce with the other. All of those times he told me the pain would be so much worse upon actually removing it, I never really believed him. Now I did.
Daggers coated in poison. Mauled by a rabid bear. Run through on the end of the Master Sword. Hyrule Castle roof collapsing on top of me. None of it was very bad compared to this. In fact it would be nice to get trampled by a horse after stabbing myself, or maybe cutting out my own heart. Anything would be better than this. Anything.
My body was beyond screaming. I had dehydrated long ago, as Ganon had predicted, and this fresh pain amplified that ten fold. In fact, it amplified every injury I had sustained—magnified it. All I could force from my throat was a choked sobbing sound, though my eyes ran dry.
Ganondorf clutched my neck tighter and questioned me. "How does it feel? Can you appreciate this pain, ungrateful witch?"
Oh, yes, I could appreciate this pain. This was the kind of pain people worshipped. Nayru, Farore, and Din! Make it stop! I didn't want this stupid power of yours in the first place.
Ganon jerked at the Triforce even more breaking my prayer. "Give it up! Surrender to me! You can still earn your freedom, just say it!" He struggled to calm his voice ever so slightly.
"Say what?" I mouthed, though I knew the answer already. All I had to do was give up the power of the Triforce and he would remove it, other wise who knew how long this pain would last. I would be free to go. I could go back to Link, regroup and plan our next move together. Live to fight another day. Finally, the pain broke through my dry throat.
I screamed as loud as I could, louder than I even thought possible. Not the kind of scream you would think to come from a princess's lips. This was no oh-hero-come-save-me-I've-been-captured scream. This was a goddesses-kill-me-now scream. And it echoed, over and over again.
"Give… it… to… me…!" Ganon demanded, grunting in effort. I couldn't take it anymore. If I stayed here, refusing to give up the Triforce, he would give up trying to take it for a time. Just long enough to find out that his mental torture failed, and then just enough time to hunt Link down and devastate Hyrule along the way. All to put pressure on me, knowing very well I wouldn't stand to have innocent lives on my head. I could stop him now, though. Reunite with Link and prepare Hyrule to fight again. After all, Link had fought Ganondorf while he was in possession of the Triforce of Power before.
And…
I was sure of it. The way I came—the 'how' of my return to the Light Realm. The power of the Triforce assisted me. I was told stories of the Triforce granting a single wish to the person who obtained all three pieces. With Link and Zelda present on one side of the mirror and me on the other side, each holding a part of the legendary Triforce, all wishing for the same thing, the Triforce granted what we all desired most in that moment—that one, slim-chance moment.
If I didn't hold the Triforce of Power anymore I couldn't get back home, but that would be out of my control. I wouldn't feel guilty if I had no way to return to my people. I could simply call it bad luck and remain here, assisting in bringing peace to this realm now that my own was well once more.
I could stay here… with Link.
"Take it! Take this cursed power!" I cried out, set in my decision.
With a roar that was half laugh and half war cry he pulled the Triforce all the way out. The Triforce glowed in defiance, the brilliant holy light filling the entire death chamber and beyond. With a sickening snap of bones, the Triforce fled me with such a force that Ganon stumbled backwards, slamming into the cage bars.
I must've been relying on the power of the Triforce more than I had thought because suddenly I couldn't find the strength to stand, and I collapsed on the stone floor of my prison. I clutched my left hand and swallowed down the bile that rose in my throat as I examined it.
I glanced around, but it was not use. Whatever was missing from my hand had probably disintegrated when the Triforce came out. I gingerly touched one of the loose tendrils that dangled in the gaping hole where my hand used to be. Finger bones hung uselessly, causing more pain with every small movement. I was actually surprised my fingers were still attached at all, considering most of my hand was now missing.
My attention was pulled away from my deformed hand when Ganondorf rose, cackling. "Foolish," he mocked. "You've done me a favor, though, so I'll grant you a small favor, Princess. I will reveal your greatest flaw and most foolish folly. Though it looks like you're about to pass out, so I will be brief with my story. I curse you, first off. You forged a bond through my Triforce with your Hero. That's the only reason you broke through to him in time."
I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. He knew. He already knew his mental torture was now no more than an empty threat, so why…
"You see," he continued with a sneer plastered on his face. "Once a bond like that is forged, it can only be broken by two things. Either by killing the other half of your bond—the pain of that so great that you would gladly chop off your own hand and surrender the Triforce to me—or…"
Suddenly, I understood. All of his threats of forcibly removing the Triforce were empty. He would never be able to defeat Link without his Triforce piece, so that left him with only one option. Bluff. Force me to surrender the Triforce of Power through a little game.
And I played right into his hands.
"No," I mouthed.
"That's right," he proclaimed smugly. "You played a very dangerous game of chicken and lost. Have fun telling your Hero you doomed Hyrule because of your idiotic emotions. I'm sure he'll be thrilled." He paused a moment looking at me thoughtfully for a moment before the smug sneer returned. "If you live that long." With that he left the prison cell, not bothering to close it.
I sat on the ground staring blankly for a few minutes before finally collapsing. I felt myself falling into the darkness that was now so familiar, and all I could think about was how I failed Link and doomed Hyrule. All because of selfish lust. So I let myself go and I slept.
And I did not awaken.
