Chapter 3

About an hour later, Link arrived in the Twilight Realm. He spurred Epona towards a building with Twili markings etched into the stone of the walls, where he suspected that was where Zant was holding Midna.

Riding Epona up to the door of the building, he slipped off her back and reached into his pack for the Shadow Crystal. Closing his fist around the gem, Link felt his knees reverse direction, causing him to fall forward onto all fours. Fur sprouted from his flesh as the bones in his face changed shape and rearranged themselves, elongating into a snout, and his teeth grew in length and sharpness.

His thumbs pulled themselves under and moved back and to the inside of his hands before they and his other fingers shrivelled into practically nothing, while his nails grew longer, tougher and sharper. Then there was the sickening feeling as his rib cage moved to the sides and his internal organs rearranged themselves.

In moments, it was all over. With the transformation complete, Link padded forward, and plunged into the depths of the Palace of Twilight.

The palace was dark and eerie, but his desire to see Midna safe drove him forwards. Eventually, he reached a metal door engraved with Twili markings, and felt an evil presence behind it. "Zant." he muttered.

With a grunt, he summoned the Shadow Crystal, and transformed back into a Hylian. Drawing his blade, he pushed on the door, and it swung open on its hinges with a creak. As the door opened, he spied the Twili leaning over a table.

Growling, he roared "ZANT!" The Twili glanced up from his position leaning over the table and grinned as he saw Link with his sword raised and a threatening look etched onto his face.

"So, Link. You decided to raise your blade against me in battle once again?" he asked.

"That I did, Zant." the Hero smirked. Zant grinned evilly and let out a booming laugh that shook the entire room. "Then let's see if you're good enough to defeat me a second time" And with those words, Zant flew into the air and the battle began.

Zant began the fight by firing several energy balls at Link while hovering over a poisonous pond. Link recognised this to be the battle arena where he'd fought the Twilit Parasite, Diababa. He targeted him and used his shield to deflect them, then tossed his Gale Boomerang at him when he had the chance to bring him to shore. Once he was close, the Hero hammered away with his sword. This phase was repeated this a few times, and then the battle entered the next stage.

This stage of the battle occurred in Dangoro's miniboss room, in the Goron Mines. Zant warped from one part of the platform to the next, and jumped up and down to rock the arena. Equipping the iron boots to avoid being knocked off during this part, Link managed to stay on his feet. Zant cursed under his breath and he began to fire the energy balls toward Link. Fortunately for him, this tired him out, so the young hero lunged forwards and attacked him while he recovered. This stage continued until, once again, Zant switched the arena to a different environment.

This stage of the conflict occurred underwater, in what Link soon realised to be Morpheel's boss chamber, so Link equipped the Zora Armour and the Iron Boots and fired his Clawshot at him once he was visible through the mouth piece of the helmet. The young hero was quick, and prevented him from firing off his energy balls. Afterward, four helmets emerged from the ground. Link quickly found the one containing Zant and beat him as before.

Once Zant was defeated, he switched, once again to the next arena. During the next portion of the battle, Link waited for Zant to fire at him from the pillars that dominated Ook's miniboss room, and then rolled into it a few times to knock him off letting him slash at the Usurper King. Beaten once more, the Twili used his magic to switch to another boss room.

This part of the fight took place in a room Link recognised as Blizzeta's boss chamber. Zant had transformed into a giant for this portion. Link watched for his reflection in the icy surface to prevent the giant from landing on him. Once he had dropped, the young hero whipped out the Ball and Chain, and brought it down heavily on one of his immense feet to shrink him down to size. Then he was able to slash at mini-Zant with his sword to defeat him.

The next part if the battle took place in what Link realised was Argorok's boss arena. The Hero discovered that Zant had several attacks during this portion, most of which attempted to push him into the surrounding barrier. Link could attack him when he did his slow slashes while walking towards him; however, he found that the most ideal time was after he had used his spinning attack which he could guard against with his shield. He paused for a few seconds afterward to recuperate; so he just slashed away with his sword to do him in once and for all.

After the last blow had been delivered, Zant shrieked and danced around the arena like he was on fire, until finally, falling to his knees, and pitching forwards onto his face, he dissolved into black and purple smoke, leaving behind his magical helmet as a spoil of war. The moment he disappeared, the layout changed back to that of the bare stone room, in which he had first discovered Zant. Link walked over and picked up the helmet. "I reckon this will look great on my wall." he grinned, then strode into the building, and over to the table upon which Midna lay. Scooping her into his arms, he walked back to Epona, with the helmet tucked under his remaining free arm. The faithful mare had been waiting for her master by the entrance to the ominous looking building. Slipping the helmet into his saddlebag and helping Midna onto the horse behind where he usually sat, he mounted his trusty steed and rode back to Hyrule Castle, where Zelda and his daughter, Kaiya had been awaiting his return.

Upon seeing the hero, the princess seized Kaiya's hand, who had been standing beside her, and raced forwards, literally dragging him off Epona and pulling him into a hug. Kaiya wrapped herself around her father's legs. But their reunion was suddenly cut short as a terrified, pain – filled shriek cut through the air. It came from Midna's direction. Link looked towards her and gasped. His wife was sprawled across the grass, clutching at Epona's saddle for support as her amniotic sac ruptured and a clear fluid began to streak like a river down her legs. "Just as I thought." he muttered. He turned to Zelda and said "The ride back has disturbed the baby." Realising what was happening, the princess turned on her heel and fled back towards the castle, yelling "I'll go and get Impa!" Then she was gone.