The children were ecstatic when they found out where Link was going.

"No WAY!" Talo threw his tiny fists into the air. "Hey, can you bring me back something cool from Castletown?"

"The only good place to shop in Castletown was my store," mumbled Malo. "But the castle did look pretty cool…"

Despite his own shyness, Colin couldn't help but burst out with the otheres. "Link hasn't just seen the castle! He's met the princess!" This, of course, only impressed and amazed the children all the more.

"Whooooooooooooa!"

"Lucky little…"

"What does her dress look like?"

"Do you liiike her, Link?"

The unending flow of questions smacked him over the head all at once. He groaned, placing the last of his equipment into his saddle bags. "You guys sure ask a lot of questions." Shaking his head, a nervous half-smile forced across his lips which they quickly mistook for shyness, and a wild whooping began. This only earned another frustrated groan.

In truth, their questions had sparked an uneasiness in the thought of seeing the princess. What if those pains began again? Besides, it would be strange to be in her presence with so little reason, for they were almost strangers to each other. But yet… he couldn't shake his first impression upon their meeting in the twilit shrouded castle- the feeling that somehow, she was not such a stranger.

Noting his far off look, Beth jumped excitedly. "You're thinking about the princess, aren't you, Link?

Before he had a chance to calmly object, a tempered voice joined their conversation. "Stop bugging him, all of you! Honestly, don't you have anything better to do?" Surprised, the kids looked up to where Ilia had appeared at the gate, eyes sharp and eyebrows knit. Usually it took a little more to set her off…

"Its fine, Ilia. There's no harm done." Link's calm eyes aimed to assure, but she crossed her arms all the same. Turning to the children with a bent knee and soft smile, he continued. "All of you behave, and help out. Don't forget those techniques I taught you."

"Fighting techniques?" Ilia almost jumped out of her skin. "Why in the world would you- how could you, Link? They're children!"

A solemn stare met her seething glare. "I can't feel sure that something… Anything could…" his words failed him. "I don't want the past to repeat itself. Please try to understand." He offered a small smile as he jumped onto Epona. She was anxious for adventure, too. Her hooves stamped impatiently as Link said his good-byes. "I should be back in a few nights. Don't worry about me," he directed the last comment mostly to the tempered girl who had turned and was clomping back down the path to the village, gurgling about swords and blood and innocence.

Colin had shyly been housing one last question. He stumbled up to Epona and motioned for Link to lower his head. Link did so as much as he could while holding his eager horse steady. The boy's fingers wrestled with themselves as he stuttered.

"I-Is she beautiful, Link? The princess?" The question caught him off guard, but Colin chattered on before Link could even stammer. "Promise me you'll tell me about her when you get back. Promise?" Link blinked, nodding slowly as Colin backed up. A timid smile lit young boy's lips.

With one last wave, Link was racing through the ageless tree of the Ordon woods, thankful no one could see his tinted cheeks.

-.-

The pile of documents moved dangerously on the oak table, readily threatening to teeter over. Their recipient hardly noticed this, however. With a great sigh, one last paper was added to the mass, making the last of the official repair papers signed and declared. Reconstruction of much of the charred, smashed and destroyed castle structure would begin in the following weeks. Though this was by far the dullest part of fixing up her broken kingdom, Zelda knew it would be the easiest. Of course the castle mending would be tedious, but the heaviest burden on her shoulders now was to instill her kingdom with confidence in her abilities and their safety.

Memories of the massive throne room door being blown open flashed through her mind, the sound of its smashing into the wall still startling her calm demeanor. An inevitable frown appeared as her eyes shut. There had not been even a sliver of a warning before the attack. He had caught them severely off guard, literally emerging out of broad daylight. "How does shadow itself accomplish such a contradiction…?" she wondered quietly. Hyrule had been so close to permanently loosing everything. So many innocent and unaware souls had been so close to death…

The sound of pattering feet down the hall broke her thoughts, causing her to reluctantly open her eyes. Hearing the footsteps getting louder, she grimaced, knowing all too well what that meant. As the door to the small royal office swung open, the usual liaison for her council announced himself. He was a thin man with wispy hair that tossed like spider's silk whenever he bowed to her. She had given him the nickname toothpick over the years, although she never greeted him as such.

"Good afternoon, Willis," she sighed.

"Majesty, the council has asked of your attendance of the meeting this morning. There is much they wished to discuss with her highness earlier..." His eyes subconsciously followed the wavering stack of papers out of nervous habit. "May I have the privilege of escorting her grace now?

Zelda didn't move. "Thank you kindly, but I am well capable of arriving myself."

Willis shifted uneasily, hesitant to refute. "If her majesty would pardon me, but I feel it my duty to protect the crown. We have already failed you once."

"No," she rose halfheartedly. "It is I who has failed, good sir. It is not your affair to seek pardon for. So please, be at ease."

He silently held the door for her, eyeing the stack of papers as it mysteriously stopped swaying before he himself stepped from the room. As they walked the halls, he cleared his throat. "If I may be so bold as to speak on what I do not fully understand," he waited for her response, but she gave none so he continued. "I would say that it was hardly your fault, your majesty. How can one fight what they cannot see?"

She remained silent. Despite his kind words, she could not shrug the blame of her own failure. Failure as the ruler of the kingdom was not an option.

Between the intricate designs in the wide windows of the hallways lay the country of Hyrule, spanning before her in all its varying majesty as the sun set over it. "How do I truly know that my country is at peace? I may appear so, but that doesn't mean the shadows aren't within my own city, or even my own walls…"

-.-

"We fear our vulnerability," chancellor Tarin began the meeting on a positive note, to her delight. Tarin, the gravest of her advisors; ahh yes, he seemed to hold a special delight in the gravity of seriousness. His dark purple robes and vivid grey hair always made her feel especially somber. "With the kingdom only beginning to repair itself and the armies' numbers lower than they've been in years, we are exposed to any attacks or even questioning looks from our surrounding countries. Now would be the ideal time for an assault, for we are in a crutch position. There is great need to raise our defenses."

The other six men murmured in agreement with his thesis. Their quiet, worried voices bounced around the small room as their leader thoughtfully shifted her eyes to the window.

She spoke, a bitter smile stinging her cheeks.

"I understand your concern, for it has become my own. I have learnt a valuable lesson in my failure. But my fear lies not in our surrounding countries, for we are on peaceful terms with all of them and should have no reason to fear they would break the ties my father faithfully established." Her eyes made contact with his. "My concern lies within the weak points of our country. The militias we have gathered are ill-equipped for any serious conflict. We must pour more resources into training new recruits for our army, not only to boost our numbers, but also to strengthen and enrich them with knowledge essential for complete growth. They must learn to serve and repair the land without loosing their skill in battle."

She withdrew a map of the country seemingly from nowhere and placed it on the table. Her fingers moved to areas she had specifically marked. "Furthermore, evaluation of the condition of our provinces must take place immediately. I do not know how their peoples are faring at this point, but I imagine they are in need of help as well."

"Zelda," Rowell, the eldest and most informal of them all spoke up. "This is all very good. But keep in mind that some of the stable treaties with our neighbors may have been weakened with the passing of your father. You may need to prove to some that you are a capable and wise leader, earning the respect and equality the King possessed in their hearts. Word may have let loose about our recent misfortunate events, which could look… diminishing to haughty eyes."

The princess took a deep breath. "You are right…" Her fingers rolled against the grain of the dark wooded table. Her simple, informal practice had a tendency of making the council frown. Knowing this, she couldn't help but inwardly grin. As much they formalized everything, she still aimed to be transparent with her quirks and feelings. It irked some of them, but by now they all knew this habit was a sign of her unnatural wisdom extending its hands.

"There is a group…" she began slowly. "Small, but lacking nothing in integrity and bravery. They were a secret rebellion to the evils that paraded our land for a time, doing everything in their capabilities to aid Link in restoring the lost peace. They use to meet regularly, but I am not sure of their current location…"

The council looked at each other impassively. This had not been what they were expecting, and Tarin quickly vocalized it. "Princess, we fail to see how a small group of locals will help our larger problems."

"We need eyes, sirs." Her feet carried her to the large spanning window. "Eyes that see the trouble before it strikes the courtroom. If we can align with this group, they can keep watch for trouble- no matter how petty- over the vast stretch of our kingdom. A simple defense for starters. "

They nodded slowly. "This seems to be a most productive arrangement. And what of this Link who is responsible for banishing the evils? Is he not to be found to serve as an aid?"

She mumbled something under her breath before she actually spoke. "He has served much indeed, and I cannot ask more of him than to join forces with this group. No doubt he would be one of the first to note any trouble within the land as it is. He has suffered and fought a thousand times more than the boundaries of fair reason should allow." She glanced one last time over the town, her eyes landing on the road to Telma's bar. "I shall send a representative to the group within the week. Thank you all for dividing your discernment and wisdom with me."

-.-

The hallways of the castle were just beginning to darken as the princess began the long walk to her room. But her mind was far from herself. "I wonder how Link is faring?" she thought quietly. After having her council her on the man, it dawned on her how little she actually knew about him. Who was he really? Did he have a family? What was his job? Was he married? The thought send a jab to her stomach which she didn't fully acknowledge.

She hoped to travel Ordon to bless the community herself at the soonest opportunity. But there was also Kakariko Village that would probably need aid from what she had briefly heard, and the young prince Rails would likely be in need of assurance and royal guidance, and the desert-

Being so absorbed in her planning, the sound of feet pattering down the adjacent hallway didn't fully register to her conscious. As she was about to turn the corner, her senses suddenly triggered an alert. But rather than responding properly, something else within her was triggered; a memory she had been trying to repress.

"Perhaps you didn't understand me, princess."

Her mind froze, but her body was instantly in a defensive stance. Dark skin, flaming hair, hands reaching, reaching, so close she could almost smell-

Nothing. Everything blurred, and the mental image vanished as reality reformed around her. To her shock and dismay, a young servant boy stood pinned to the wall by her own two hands, gawking at her in disbelief. Bewildered and embarrassed, she gently took her hands from around his neck and smoothed the creases she had caused on his shirt. Although his feet had been on the floor the whole time, his throat still rattled for air.

"Forgive me," she bowed her head. "Have… I hurt you?"

His shocked eyes ran wild, his lips stuttered wordlessly.

Looking around, she was relieved to find no one else had seen her out lash. Still, she couldn't help but sigh. "I have no excuse to explain myself, but please- tell no one of this."

The boy nodded slowly, finally able to force out something audible as he swallowed hard. "O-okay..." Still in shock, he grabbed for his basket which had been thrown to the ground and his wobbly legs attempted to run him down the hall.

"Wait," her soft voice called. He turned back and realized that the princess was watching him. "What's your name, young man?"

"G-Garret, majesty," he remembered to properly address her this time.

"It was nice to meet you, Garret. I hope we can meet again on better terms."

This time he held back and watched the retreating royalty disappear into the shadows of the halls. Though still shaken, he couldn't help but breathe in awe.

"What kind of strange princess is she, anyway?"

-.-

Her spirit was slowly leaving her own body, absorbing into the dying body of Midna. She could feel the weightlessness, glad to be free from her not only her physical prison but also her mental one. Even so, she knew the weight of her decision. She felt Midna's shock, her anger, and then her reluctant thankfulness as life returned to her as they were tied in the strangest of bonds. The world through the eyes of the Twili imp was strangely dark. Colors seemed to flood into one another. The ground flew by at stunning pace. Perhaps the light dwelling princess could find some consolation in escaping her own conscience for a while. She felt a new kind of alive as she saw the world fly by through the eyes of another.

But it didn't last long.

Slowly, her blurred vision faded. Piercing white noises blocked out her only half used senses. A choking gasp escaped her pale lips as she was shockingly thrown back into her own consciousness, into a familiar darkness she thought she had seen the last of. She was present within herself, yet absent at the same time. As her vision cleared, the first thing she saw was a dark hand liberating itself from her forehead.

An ancient, towering man stood before her. With sense quickly returning to her body, her first action was to get away from him. His eyes locked manically on her perplexed countenance, making her heart speed beyond its normal capacity. She was close enough to him to make her sick from the pure evil he exhaled. His long, tattered cape dragged behind him, leaving streaks of darkness on the floor. As he stooped to meet face to face with her, a dark smile smoothed his lips.

"You've given up too easily, princess."

His deep voice shattered the silence and all she could gasp was one small question.

"How…?"

"Did you really think you could escape me like that?"It was a genuine question, but she only looked at him, unsure of what he meant.

His rant began. "Despite the years," he laughed, and the air around him seemed to thicken as he inhaled deeply, "You have always remained; always within my reach, but never for long enough." A single finger found the curve of her cheekbone, then fell to her chin which he lightly cupped. "Not this time."

She tore away from him, but his icy grip stayed tight around her wrists. Her eyes bore into him, rage and terror flooding her all at once while his flickered like wildfire. "You are still stubborn as ever, I see."

"Still?" she wondered silently, trying to get away from him.

Of all the appalling things, she knew his scent. Deep within her very being, everything was familiar, although she knew only legends of this man. She was terrified of him, yes. Especially the closer he came to her. He possessed power she could not comprehend. But it was as if this had happened before, for she had felt all these things apart from his physical touch. He watched her closely as if expecting an answer. Again, she gave none.

"Have you nothing to say to the new ruler of Hyrule?" His teeth showed between his curled lips.

"Call your pawn; he will bow to you blindly. But I know who you are." Holding her ground, she shoved him back with as much force as she could muster, gaining one of her hands back with the move. The other stayed locked in his grip before he himself let it go with a tisk.

"And how do you know me? As a myth? A legend?" His voice melted. "Or a nightmare?"

Her lips pursed; she concealed her shock well. Indeed, she had seen him in visions and nightmares alike, but never like this. There was no doubt in her mind that he was the Gerudo king of darkness.

"You are better at masking your emotions than you used to be; yet I can still sense what you feel, Zelda. I know your golden spirit resides within that pathetic Twilight wretch. She can hold it for me a while, I suppose." His smirk made her take a step backward but her face remained stone. "Even so, that doesn't hinder me. You can hide from everyone, but I am not just anyone and you cannot run from me." His feet were moving towards her again. "You never have been able to. Though he could save you before, he can't this time."

One massive hand cupped her throat while she continued backing away. But as she feared, her back hit the wall and she knew there was no where left to go. His scent, eyes, darkness, everything pierced her all at once. A scream rose up within her throat but nothing came out. Instead, her struggling hands flickered a dark purple, and in the matter of a moment she had thrown him to the other side of her room. His shoulders smashed into the brick wall and it crumbled over his shoulders. Though the wind had been knocked from him, he was blocking the doorway before the princess had darted three steps to it.

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear," he growled venomously. Grabbing her by the wrists again, he turned her so her back was to him and pushed her towards the window. "You can't save yourself, and neither can he!" The last word was spat more than spoken. Keeping her bound with one hand, he lifted the other to the skies. A dreadful ringing began in her ears, loud and piercing, almost bringing her to her knees. Her teeth ground together as she watched an orange and black prism encase the castle.

The land suddenly fell eerily silent. "I've been waiting a long time for this." His voice was pleasantly satisfied.

For the first time in a long time, Zelda let out a gasp. Helplessness and fear overcame her broken spirit in seeing her predicament worsen. If things weren't bad prior to this, there seemed to be little hope left for her people now. She was trapped, and her people would soon be next. Slowly, begrudgingly, her head fell.

"What do you want here? My people are innocent, you monster." Her voice was low and dangerous, her eyes burning holes in the ground.

His proud eyes scanned his new aversion through the window. He lowered to whisper in her ear, tucking a strand of frayed hair behind it. "Let me tell you something, princess. All people are worthless beings that deserve to die. They are insolent. They do me no good. So tell me," her skin crawled and screamed to be away from this awful man. "Why would I spare them? We are different from them; we have value. And yet, you have given so much for these pitiful beings. Even your own spirit you sacrifice for those who would give nothing in return, save their ungratefulness."

"It's not about me," she growled.

This concept seemed to amuse him greatly. "How selfless… intriguing, truly." Cruel laughter filled her ears. "Well, are you not glad I've resurrected your consciousness for you? At least someone repays your worthless charity in the end."

The words hit her hard. All of her inner qualms flowed from his lips. What if her sacrifice really wasn't enough?

He gently let her go, but it didn't matter to her anymore. There was nothing more she could do here, and she felt her own fortune no longer mattered. Anything she could forfeit for her people had already been given.

Ganon turned to walk about the room, his hands rustling through his red hair while his feet led him in circles. He seemed to be contemplating, sensing what was beyond her void countenance as he traced the very steps she had paced restlessly for the last few weeks. Finally, he turned back to her with a smirk.

"If ever there were a tortured soul, dear princess, it could do yet to make your acquaintance. But fret not." He whispered. "Imagine it if you can, but there is still some form of kindness alive within my kingdom." His sudden change of approach frayed her despite herself. "You are perhaps the only one it would be granted to, so don't set your hopes too high. Those meddlesome, defiant pests will not be given such mercy." His fingers wrapped around the back of her head. A wicked smile wrapped his lips.

"Let me ease your mind."

Power surged through his fingers as they burrowed into her skin. A scream she did not know she could produce erupted as her body cracked, turning deathly grey. Her mind was absorbed, and her vision went blank again. She did not feel him seize her before she fell to the ground.

She felt nothing.

-.-

Zelda was rattled from her nightmare by the sound of her own scream, breathing choked her as terror released it claws from her psyche.

It was just a dream- now, at least. It had been too real at one point, and reliving it was a torture she wished desperately to be free of. Subconsciously, her eyes scanned the room to make sure he wasn't truly there, standing in the shadows, ready to devour her again. The fear fully released her as she sensed that she was indeed alone.

However, the dent in the wall left proof of his visit. She pushed her fingers along her nape, feeling the dark scars hidden by her hair, forever ingrained as a memoir of his fingernails digging in and unleashed his hell into her. Although she knew he was gone, she couldn't help but feel that his eyes still searched for her, or that his mind sought her thoughts.

She wrenched her hands away from her hair.

In the silence of the night, she let herself sob bitter tears of pain and adrenalin, and they spilt freely down her cheeks.

Loosing hope in the darkest hour had been the worst decision she had ever made. The battle of fear within had won over her faith in her own actions, as well as those of Link and Minda. She hated to admit it, but at first she had quietly doubted the beast Minda had brought before her in the Twilight. Watching them leave, she had only seen the glimmer of a man- not one she knew- but one she had read of; one she had dreamt of. How could she trust that this creature was really the one she had prayed for?

Inasmuch as she had seen visions of Ganon, she had also seen visions of him; she had her own scrutiny of him in her mind before they even met. Perhaps that was why she only believed it was him when she finally saw him as a human. Her cheeks burnt with shame.

Why had she let herself doubt? Where had her faith gone?

Swirling memories frustrated her out of the silk sheets and to her feet. Chilled, she reached for her cloak and stood at her window, fretful prayers flowing from her lips.

Within, her restless spirit chastised.