Author's Note: OMG I am SO sorry you guys. I fail at life so much for taking this long to get you an update. It's thanks to the straggled reviews though that got me moving on this again. First I got a "Hey, you should update this." And then a few weeks ago I got another, "It's been two months since you updated this..." And I was like I KNOWWWWWWW I'M HORRIBLE!

I do have some legit excuses though. I've been in the hospital three times since I last updated and work and stuff... but... nah those are bad excuses. My real excuse is that I went to a Muse concert back in October and have spent a ridiculous amount of time since then being a rabid fangirl on Tumblr. Bad excuse. I know. But omg it was such a great concert!

Anyway...

Also. Just a warning. This chapter... It's full of angst. Mmm angst I love angst. I love angst too much. I thrive on the angst.

Ok but you've WAITED LONG ENOUGH! So I will shut up and let you read. Sorry for it taking so long. But I also did not want to give you guys a crap chapter.

Only the true leader of the Twilight can shatter the Mirror. You are our Princess and you always will be. You would not have been able to shatter the Mirror if you were not destined to be our true leader.

These words continued to ring in Midna's mind long after they had been spoken. Only the true leader? She had to question Destiny. If she had been destined to be the true leader of the Twilight, then Destiny had also destined Zant's ascent into power, her imp form, her journeys in the Light world, her meeting Link and Zelda. She concluded this because she could never have become the leader capable of shattering the mirror without those experiences. She had not been good enough before. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had tried to shatter the mirror long ago. Would it have actually shattered? Would it have shattered in anticipation of her becoming the true leader? It couldn't have been possible. She would have continued to be the selfish leader. She hadn't been a bad leader, of course, but she certainly had not been comparable to Princess Zelda.

She wished there was someone she could ask about this. She thought about how the mirror, only moments after she had passed through it from the Light world for the last time, rained tiny shards of glass around her. Now there only stood an empty frame. On both sides.

Gods her head hurt. She sat in the dark, rubbing her temples and sipping a glass of water to nurse the pounding headache that had announced itself during the meeting. What she really wanted to do was ask Destiny Herself what exactly She'd thought She was doing twisting their fates around Her fingers. It would be one thing if Destiny only wanted to muddle with her life. But to muddle with Link? That was hardly fair. Why should Link have to deal with her shortcomings and the apparent gripe Destiny had with the way she was running things in the Twilight realm? And by involving Link, Destiny had inadvertently involved every single person who had any sort of relationship with Link. And then there was Zelda. Well, Zelda had always held a lot on her shoulders. Such was the destiny of one fated to royalty. But poor Link... he'd been such an innocent boy, a simple ranch hand with a simple life, his biggest worry in the world was to make sure all the goats made it in the barn each night and to keep the village children safe. And whether Ilia liked him or not.

Midna made a strange wheezing sobbing sound. She hadn't realized tears had been streaming down her face until the ugly sound escaped her throat. She clapped a delicate hand across her mouth hoping no one had heard. Her eyes, shining with tears, darted to the door to make sure it stayed shut. After watching it for a few moments, she relaxed.

"Damn you, Destiny. Why did you have to involve him?" she muttered.

"Could it be possible? The beloved Princess Midna is talking to someone who isn't here? May I plead insanity on her behalf?"

Midna nearly jumped out of her skin. As it was, she stood so fast that she stumbled backwards over the chair she'd been sitting in and toppled ungracefully to the floor.

"Who's there?" she whispered hoarsely to what she'd thought had been an empty room.

Ardane was on top of her faster than she could say "Mirror of Twilight." His large hands gripped her shoulders so hard he was cutting off her circulation and his knee was pressing dangerously on her stomach.

"Ardane?" she choked out. Her tear stained eyes wide with terror as she tried to make out his looming face in the darkened room. "Wh-what are you doing?"

"Something I'd thought Zant had taken care of a long time ago," he said, one of his hands creeping over her throat. She tried to scream but he put all of his weight on the knee that pressed on her stomach. She coughed and gasped in pain. She fought to stay conscious through the blinding pain. She felt his cold hand lock over her throat. Fighting her pain, she jerked her knee into his groin as hard as she could. He grunted. It was a weak attempt but it seemed to startle him enough to loosen his grip for a moment. She wriggled out from under him and managed to get herself on her hands and knees but he regained his composure. He grabbed her ankle, pulling her roughly back toward him. He seized her hair roughly and pulled her head back at a sharp angle. She whimpered in pain.

"I'm surprised you sacrificed some of this beautiful hair to write little old me a letter. Where is your prideful vanity, Princess?"

"H-how?" she squeaked as he pulled back harder, exposing her delicate throat, his knee now pressing on the small of her back. She gasped as he pressed down. "I just barely sent that!" she said rasped.

Ardane leaned down to whisper in her ear and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Oh I intercepted your little servant on his way out. Tell me, Princess, how you managed to get the counsel to reject me while convincing them to accept a mere servant into their ranks?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she hissed. "What did you do to him?"

"Don't you worry your precious heart, Princess, he doesn't remember a thing. I altered his memory just slightly." Midna's eyes, which had grown quickly accustomed to the dark saw a shadow over her eyes as his other hand came down over her face from behind. "Just like I'm going to do to you, my dear."

Midna felt lightheaded as her panic fluttered through her entire being. She tried to scream again but her breath only came out as a pathetic wheeze. She couldn't seem to draw enough breath in her panic and her chest began to heave in a desperate attempt to compensate. She could feel his magical energy electrifying the air around them and could feel it strongly over her eyes. She struggled again to get away from him, but his knee kept pressing harder and harder into her back and he was pulling on her hair so hard she was afraid he might snap her neck.

"Stop fighting me, Midna. You know I'm capable. Who else would have erased the memory of your little Light World friend's girlfriend?"

Light world friend? She could feel her memory already getting hazy. Light world...

Girlfriend?

Who had a girlfriend in the Light world?

Light...?

Link!

LINK!

Suddenly all chaos erupted. Midna's memories flushed back into her mind and she realized she had free movement again. She managed to pull herself to her hands and knees and heaved. Finally she was able to draw in the deep breath she'd been desperately seeking. She looked down at her hands and saw that she was glowing and slowly brought them to her face. She stared in wonder at the way she was emitting light. She could hear a weird choking noise behind her and slowly turned her head. She saw Ardane suspended in mid air, a giant orange hand gripped around his neck. Trying to find where the hand was coming from she slowly traced her eyes along the arm until she could touch it. Following it with her hand she found herself touching the back of her head. It all seemed as if everything was in slow motion and very surreal before she realized that she was the one choking Ardane. With wide eyes she watched in horror as the life seemed to drain out of the former chancellor. She squeezed her eyes shut and placed her hands over her ears to block out his horrible choking sound.

Stop!

Stop! How do I make it stop?

She dared open one eye to glace at the giant orange hand again and watched the chancellor drop to the ground and the orange hand shrunk back. Trembling, Midna sank to her knees and crawled to Ardane, touching his pale face.

She didn't know that she could do that. She'd had that power as an imp, but it seemed so much more powerful now, and was somehow now completely uncontrollable. It'd been more of a substitute form of weak magic as an imp. She had no idea it had been transferable to her true form. Had she always been able to do that in human form and just hadn't known it?

Oh Gods!

Midna staggered back to her feet and backed out of the room. She backed through the doorway, letting the door slam shut and backed slowly across the carpeted hallway, hitting her back against the opposite wall, staring horrified at the door to that room.

"Princess! Gods what happened to you?"

Midna shook her head slowly, not taking her eyes off the doorway.

"Are you alright? Princess?"

"Midna?"

"Is she alright? Someone get help!"

"Get Soli!"

Midna felt herself sinking down against the wall and suddenly felt warm arms catch her and slowly lower her to the ground.

"Miss! Miss! It's Soli! Miss!" Midna felt those warm hands patting her cheeks and finally managed to tear her gaze off the door and met Soli's concerned gaze.

"I think I killed him," she whispered hoarsely. "I didn't mean to..." Soli reached for her trembling hands and squeezed them tightly.

Rusl rose early the next morning to walk down to Link's place. Somehow, he felt it would give them more privacy to talk before the rest of the quaint village rose for the day. But they needed to talk, that was certain.

Rusl had taken the boy under his wing when he turned up in Ordon from out of nowhere at a young age owning nothing but the clothes on his back and his name. Link hadn't known how he'd gotten there, and no one else seemed to know where he'd come from either. He hadn't seemed traumatized by any sort of significant event and that worried Rusl. What child had no parents and wasn't somehow affected by that? Rusl worried that he was hiding something very deep down inside of him and that was a very unhealthy thing for a child to do. It was because of this that Rusl had made sure that he paid close attention to Link while he was growing up, and always offered a listening ear and fatherly advice to the boy. Yet Rusl had waited on edge all these years for some sort of unstable emotional outburst to occur and it never did. He finally concluded that either Link was very good at hiding it or he truly had no story, which was absolutely bizarre.

But Link had always been very mature and content. Even when they'd met throughout the last year, Rusl hadn't noticed any real emotion occurring except where it came to Ilia. But Ilia was safe and her memory returned, and Link had looked more disheartened last night than he had ever let Rusl see. Was it possible that after all these years, his lost past had finally caught up with him during the time on his long journey? Rusl was worried.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Rusl knocked at Link's door. To his surprise he didn't have to wait long for Link to open the door. He looked as though he'd gotten less sleep than Rusl had. He had dark shadows under his eyes and his hair was standing on end. Rusl gave him a gentle, fatherly smile that Link only half-heartedly returned.

"Rough night?" he asked as Link shoved his feet into his shoes, reading Rusl's mind that they would be taking a walk. Link only grunted.

Rusl expected some small talk as they walked but he was surprised when he didn't get it. It was unlike Link. Before, he'd never let silence fall between them. Even if it was talk about Colin or the other village children, Link would always try to keep a conversation lighthearted. And normally, if something was bothering Link he would speak up about it, get it out of the way, and move on. But that didn't happen either. And something was definitely bothering him. And hadn't Link agreed last night to have a talk today? So why was he putting up walls now? The longer they walked, the more sullen Link got. The tension between them was like an ominous black cloud.

Finally Rusl had to say something. "Alright. So you don't want to talk. Let's just catch up then. What have you been up to all this last year?"

"Nothing."

It was such a teenaged boy response that it completely threw Rusl. He almost laughed. He'd never considered Link to be a teenage boy. He'd seemed to skip past that developmental stage entirely. Even before Link was a teenager, Rusl had needed to remind himself that Link was still a boy. 'Nothing' was more of an answer that he'd expect to come from Talo, when Talo became a teenager someday. It was sometimes Talo's reply even now.

But Link wasn't Talo. Link was mature and even last night he'd been more open than he was now. At least, as best as Rusl could judge in the short time they'd conversed. But Link was throwing up a thick, solid wall now and it was so unlike him Rusl didn't know how to respond. What could possibly have happened in the course of one night that could shut him down this much?

"Link..." Rusl finally said softly. "Last night, you agreed we needed to talk... what is going on? How can I help if you won't say what's bothering you? And don't tell me that nothing's bothering you. I highly doubt you've been doing 'Nothing' all year."

"I don't think you can help me," Link said curtly. Rusl was thrown again. Was this even the same kid he'd helped raise? Where was this sharp attitude coming from?

"Who can?" Rusl whispered, stopping now and gazing hard at Link. The boy was holding himself as if he'd crack and fall apart at any moment and it was the only way he could stay together. Rusl waited for him to meet his gaze, but Link stared fixedly at the ground.

"Ilia. And if she can't help me, no one can,"

Link was starting to turn away from Rusl now and Rusl grabbed his arm firmly, turning him back to face him. It was only now that Link finally met Rusl's gaze- a glare that shocked him deeply.

"Why Ilia?" Rusl whispered.

"Because if I can't love her, then..." Link's voice trailed off.

"Then what...?"

"Then I am the most despicable person- I don't know!" Link cried, taking a strange shuddering breath. "Damnit, Rusl, don't make me talk about this! I can't-" His expression was pained now and he was talking in a rush. "I'm trying! I don't know if I can! I want to! I know I should! I don't know if I can!" Link yanked his arm out of Rusl's grip, but he yanked too hard and staggered backwards. His breathing was haggard and he wiped his eyes on his arm. Or at least, Rusl thought he did. The action was fast, as though he was trying to hide it.

"Whoa, kid," Rusl said gently now, which sparked something of a hiccup from Link. It had been a long time since Rusl had pulled out the term 'kid' when addressing Link. Link was obviously not a kid and had not been for a long time. But Rusl had always refrained from using the term 'son' with Link because he wasn't. And when Link had first wandered into the village, he really had been just a 'kid'. And to the other villagers, 'that kid'. With Rusl though, it had become a term of endearment over the years. And it had always been a term he'd pulled out if he'd ever needed to comfort Link in the past. And this was clearly a time of needed comfort. "Whoa...slow down...You're not making any sense..."

"I know! I'm being so stupid! I hate myself!" Link's voice was strained and this made Rusl fidget. He'd never handled tears well and prayed the kid could hold it together. This was different than the tears of physical pain that Colin sometimes cried. This was the sound of someone shattering from the inside out.

"No, kid, no, no... Link..."

Link shook his head and a dark laugh emitted out of him, "Kid..."

Rusl waited, not sure what to expect.

"What 'kid' even knows what this...this...this life... I don't even know... I can't even...agghh!" Link stopped, frustrated. He lowered himself to the ground, hugging his legs to his chest and resting his forehead on his knees. "What kid kills? What kid travels alone, yet never alone with an imp as his guide, never knowing exactly what he's doing, but somehow coming out on top? What kid conquers evil and can't conquer love? What kid, Rusl? What kid?"

Bewildered and flustered, Rusl stared at Link. His talk was jumbled and confusing. And yet as much of a hormonal teenager as Link was acting, his words were far more adult than Rusl had ever expected to hear. Far more complicated than a boy of just eighteen should know and he was still a boy, Rusl realized. Rusl moved to sit next to Link and placed his hand on Link's shoulder.

"This kid. This kid is brave. This kid is selfless."

"No he's not! He's selfish and stupid!"

"Link... why do you say that?"

"Because I want what I can't have and I don't want what I can."

"What can't you have? What in this world is there you can't get for yourself, Link? You've always been a go getter. There is nothing out of your reach."

"That's the problem! What I want isn't in this world!"

"I don't understand, kid..."

"You wouldn't. It doesn't matter..."

"It does matter. It matters to me. Kid, you're going to pieces and I don't even know why... I'm worried. You matter to me."

"Go care about your own kids," Link snapped.

Rusl flinched as though he'd been slapped. This outburst of emotion regarding his part in raising Link had never exposed itself before no matter how much Rusl had expected it years ago. He'd faced this day expecting it, yet when he heard it, it stung more than he'd anticipated.

Link seemed to sense Rusl's reaction because he snapped his head up and wildly scrutinized the older man's face.

"No! No no, Rusl, I don't mean it like that! I just mean... don't waste your time on me, you've got your own family to worry about. And a new baby. And I'll just... figure it out for myself." He rubbed his temples. "People only get hurt when they try to help me," he muttered.

"Like who?" Rusl probed, hoping he could pull more information out of Link.

"Like...Midna. And Zelda. Ilia. And Colin. I mean, for Din's sake, he wants to try and be more like me and then goes and gets hurt! Trying to be more like me! I can't stand it!"

"Link, you can't be protective of him forever. I'm a darn proud father to know my son strives to be more like you, Link. And I know that Colin does not regret any moment he tried to be more like you. I think you know that too, deep down."

He'd done it, Rusl had. He'd said the words that Link needed to hear. At least he thought he did, because Link blushed and a small smile crept up on his face now. It took practice to say the right thing, to be fatherly. But he was a natural it. Rusl pushed a little farther.

"Who is Midna, Link?"

In an instant, Link's face darkened. He looked away from Rusl again and didn't answer. His reaction though, was all Rusl needed to see. Whoever this Midna person was, was the root of Link's problem.

Rusl sighed, "Ok. You said you'd figure it out yourself. What's your plan?"

This was an activity they'd done before. When Link was still young, Rusl often guided Link in creating a plan to solve a problem. As Link got older, Rusl let Link begin to make the plans on his own. It was a learning process until it was no longer a necessary activity. In normal circumstances. These were not normal circumstances. Rusl genuinely wanted to know what Link was planning to do about his problem.

"I don't know..."

"Think of one."

Tough love. Rusl was a gentle man, but sometimes the tough love worked far more efficiently than gentle words. And he felt pretty sure Link recognized when he was using this tactic, and that he used it because he cared. He hoped. In any case Link pondered this for quite some time and Rusl let him. When Link finally spoke he was nervous, hesitant.

"You used to teach me... about confidence... how if you fake it long enough, it becomes natural and you longer have to fake it. How did you used to say...?"

"Fake it until you make it," Rusl interjected.

"That. I think that's what I have to do."

"In regards to...?"

Link looked pained now. "You'll think badly of me..."

"Never, kid. Never."

Link hesitated, glanced nervously at Rusl, then down at his hands. "Ilia," he whispered.

"Oh."

Oh. Rusl sighed heavily and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Oh.

"I knew it!" Link's voice cracked through the heavy silence like a whip and he staggered to his feet, backing away from Rusl.

Rusl tried to grab for his arm and Link shied away, "No! Link! It's not..."

"I'm a horrible person! You think I'm awful! I'll make it work, I will! I can handle it... I have to..."

Rusl was getting to his feet. It took him longer. Being an older man, age did not work in his favor for stealthiness and ease of the task. And Link looked as if he was going to run away from the situation any minute. He was already backing away too fast. Rusl had pushed his luck too far.

"Link, wait, please," he grunted, finally straightening his now stiff joints.

"I said I'll make it work! I won't hurt her! I'll make her happy!" Links voice cracked again, full of anguish. It pained Rusl deeply because his anguish was not that of a child but an adult. A fully understanding adult. He'd been wrong to assume that Link was immune to the mood swings of a teenager. But he'd been wrong to assume Link was still a kid too. He was an adult, exposed to something worth emotional anguish for the first time. Not the over dramatized emotions of a teenager. It left Rusl more and more curious as to what exactly had happened over the last year. And yet it still had nothing to do with his mysterious past. Did he really just not have a past at all?

"Link you would make any woman a happy woman. I know that. You would never hurt anyone. You're too noble. You're a hero in everyones eyes. Including mine, Link. My concern isn't for Ilia as much as it is for you."

"I never asked to be a hero! I never signed up for that! And I...love...loved Ilia."

"I want you to be happy, Link."

"I am happy! I'm home, the children are home safe, Ilia has her memory back, everything is normal again. And I can just go back to my sweet boring life as it was before. Not a stupid hero."

"Are you? Happy?"

Link simply stared at Rusl, his mouth hanging open, dumbfounded. "I just said..."

"Are you really?"

Link's mouth snapped shut in a grimace.

Rusl only gave him a knowing and meaningful gaze. It was not his purpose to rub things in or make decisions for Link. Link had to make his own meanings and his own decisions. Rusl had faith that he would come around, but things were perhaps a bit too fresh right now for them to really have a good conversation.

"Why don't we talk again when you've had some time to think and when you're ready?" he suggested.

"There's nothing to think about," Link grumbled.

Rusl finally had to chuckle.

"What? What are you laughing at? I don't see what's so funny."

This had Rusl bellowing. Eventually he caught his breath and wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "You."

"Me?"

"Yes. In all the years I've known you I waited for you to act like a teenager. And it isn't until you're actually an adult that you do. I'm relieved."

Link frowned. "Sorry."

"What are you sorry for? Being human?"

Link was quiet.

"Look. Again, I'm not entirely sure what you've been doing this last year. Being called upon by the Goddesses or whomever. We do talk down at Telma's bar, you know. I know that mark on your hand means something. But you're allowed to be human. At least around me. Ok, kid? So lighten up."

Link traced the triforce symbol on his hand, then smiled sheepishly at Rusl. "Ok, just don't tell anyone else about my super powers."

Rusl chuckled, shook his head and put his arm around Link's shoulder. "Alright, kid, let's go have a good day today."

And Rusl knew that he would make the effort. That he would have regardless of their talk. He was still worried but he admired the kid. Link wasn't worried about people thinking that he was human. He was worried about people thinking that he wasn't. And yet, he knew, that when Link saw Ilia again, he would fake it. And that's exactly what happened when they returned to the village.

Ilia had been waiting for him, leaning patiently against a tree outside of Link's house, gently stroking Epona. Link greeted her enthusiastically. And when he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, she blushed deeply. Link took her hand and as he and Rusl parted ways, despite his warm thank-you's and goodbyes, he wouldn't meet Rusl's eyes.

Rusl frowned as he watched the two walk away. Link was doing exactly as he said he would, faking it until he made it. But only someone who knew Link the way that Rusl did would know it. Ilia might, if she didn't want so badly what Link was giving her. Rusl worried that this could only end in pain. For Ilia, yes, but even more for Link. The thought weighed heavy on Rusl's mind all day.

When he returned home that evening after his long day's work, Uli sensed it right away.

"How was your chat with Link?" she asked, giving him a welcome home kiss before going back to fixing dinner.

Rusl sighed. "I worry about him."

"I know you do. I think he'll be alright. You know he's so mature... Ouch! Whoops!" Uli cried as she dropped the cover from the pot she'd been stirring on the floor. She'd burned herself and had her finger in her mouth. "Oh damn, I woke the baby."

"I'll take care of her, don't worry," Rusl said softly, going to the crying baby in the other room. Gently he picked up his newborn daughter. They'd named her Melany but everyone called her Mely for short. Rusl's mild nature helped calm the crying child- something that tended to be difficult for fathers to do with newborns. He bounced the little girl up and down, and she cooed with glee.

Uli watched the father and daughter with a soft smile on her face. Rusl was a good father. Link would be fine as long as he had Rusl's guidance, she felt sure. She would have to tell Rusl so later.

Author's Note (Again): Ok I didn't want to waste all your time up there at the top. I know some of you have expressed concern with the characters being a bit out of character, don't worry, I have plans for them. For example, Midna just made a really big mistake and now she realizes it. And... ok I won't give away too much. Really. I won't.

Also... I did in fact fail at remembering some details of the game. Like that Link actually went to the Twilight in the game. (I've also been replaying it and I'm like oh yeah... but that makes some of my story not canon but...we'll just go with it) That did play a bit part in my taking so long to start this up again because I got all down about how much I missed such an important detail and that there was no city surrounding the palace in the Twilight and it wasn't an exact imprint of the light world and maybe I got Link to the Past slightly confused there.

I know I know... how do you do that, you're wondering. Sorry readers, for my fail on that one.

Dear Mer3Girl, THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFER! Yes I would love to have a beta reader. I would have gotten this chapter to you only I felt so horrible for it have taken this long for me to get it out I thought I'd better publish it and let you have the next chapter. I do not know how to do that whole beta reader thing though. But I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Ok. For real, I'm out. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I am going to try so hard to get the next one to you in less than two months. I can't make any promises. But I'm going to try. Really hard. Give me reviews that say things like "Damnit, update!" because that helps. Seriously.

Cheers!