WOOO! Updating again…and I'm giving a link to what Ilia's soul looks like. I dunno why, but I made one! It's cool! Follow this link—but remove the spaces first.

Ht tp:// . com / 2qcgvpl. Png

Put that all together…follow the link…yay! It's beautiful, hmm? I made it in a COMPLETELY free program called —if you're SICK of Microsoft Paint and want something developed BY MICROSOFT, download it. It's awesome.

Moving on, this takes place FOUR WEEKS after the events of the last chapter. I will explain what happened in that time in flashbacks throughout the story—but Hyrule is cloaked in darkness! It's always cold and black as night, lurking with guards and there are lots of spotlights! (Not electric…lanterns inside a hole with glass walls. O.o) So how will Hyrule be saved from the weird laws and the dictation of Ganondorf? And how to restore light? (They are dependent on Ganondorf and several appointed dark people for food. Without the sun, there's a short supply of crops.)

Okay. Enough babbling.

Chapter Four: Secret

Midna's POV:

I rode through the land, Epona's brown mare constricting beneath as I stole through Hyrule Field, the trees silhouettes in the darkness that surrounded me and engulfed the land. Cold wind blew against me, accompanied by the glare of spotlights. I rolled my eyes, yet again, at these unusual and stupid contraptions. How stupid—it was all my fault.

It had been four weeks since I last seen Link. When I led Ganon to both he and Zelda…well, his expression told me that saving Ilia hadn't been enough to save our relationship. Or that's what I had gotten from it…I shook my head, panic and anxiety filling me. He probably wouldn't enjoy my visit.

But you don't understand, do you? It was a physical need. I had to see him. I couldn't stand the ache in my heart anymore, gripping me and twisting my soul with the question that needed an answer—yes or no—do you still love me?

Epona went through Faron Woods easily, and I flew past the dark growth of Ordon Forest with spotlights cutting through the blackness every few feet. When I entered the circular clearing that Link's treehouse resided in, I skidded Epona to a stop. She neighed and I nodded out her, slipping off my black and blue cloak's hood, reaching into one of the pockets and pulling out an orange carrot. She bit into it and I pulled myself on the redwood ladder.

Take a deep breath. If he doesn't let you in, head back to the main Castle. You're always welcome there, remember? You're the person who let this all happen…you'll be welcome there, I assured myself with a pang of grief. I reached the mossy platform and knocked against the dark wooden door. Light from a few lanterns were visible through the porthole windows. The door opened a creak and then slammed.

My heart dropped to my feet and I choked back a sob as I heard back a protest. A soft, girly tenor was protesting—Ilia!

"Link! Let her inside!"

"No."

I was almost positive I heard the whip of a slap crossing the air, a groan, and then footsteps. The door flew open and Ilia stood in the door, wearing a Citizen's cloak, just as I. "Midna, come in, please," She smiled. Her face was incredible. Dark purple sagged underneath her misty green eyes, ivory gray skin dirty. Obviously hot spring water hadn't been delivered so far this week. I shook it off and stepped inside.

"I'm so sorry he slammed the door like that…you…saved him. That's all I could have asked…you brought him home safely," Ilia whispered, her arms drawing me in for a hug. I, even if I wasn't a fan of Blondie, I couldn't deny my bone-deep bond with Ilia.

"Yea, but haven't you looked outside?" I groaned, kicking the door shut with my left foot to keep out the cold. Ilia released her. "I destroyed this kingdom. And…" And mine. I haven't run into any Twili in this side of the kingdom, but I…don't think I'd be able to deal with that.

"You brought him home. I'm sorry he hasn't talked to you…since then. You're so selfless, Midna. We love him both as much as this kingdom means to us, and yet you made that very sacrifice. It amazes me that you didn't just let me stay dead."

"Ilia! I would have never left you for dead, Link or no Link," I cried. I took another deep breath…I knew that I had to hurry, otherwise I'd never ask him. I looked around his house—a comfy kitchen with a wooden stove, chairs and a table, a sofa , a fireplace, and a bookcase…a cellar entrance as well. Paintings covered the walls and pictographs followed, rugs dotting the wooden floors and tapestries on the matching walls. There was a ladder leading up to two lofts. No sign of Link. "I want to talk to him…please, if you can…" I whispered, low enough so only she would hear.

She nodded. "I'll get him…I need to rearrange in the cellar. My cot's still down there and I haven't made it up today." Weird, I would have figured that they'd be sharing by now…I shrugged off the thought and watched Ilia enter the cellar by crawling down a ladder. I heard some shouts and then some quiet sobs…man, she did she fight dirty or what?! Then a sigh and the noise of someone coming up the ladder.

Link. My heart stopped when I saw him, wearing Citizen's black trousers and a black shirt. His ash blonde hair was ruffled and mussed in all the usual spots, crème skin spotless and blue eyes narrow and dark. He was a foot shorter than me—tall by human standards. And thin. Good looking. And he belongs to that girl you let live, I chided myself. "Hey, Link."

"Midna," He acknowledged, voice gruff. I took yet another deep breath.

"I'm sorry. I needed to keep you alive and now all this and…" I stopped, mind searching for words I didn't have. The only thing I managed to say was…"I love you—please tell me if you still love me. Just yes or no. Give me an answer and I'll never, ever go to your doorstep again. I'll never talk to you again!" I pleaded, throat sickly tightening and eyes blurring.

He blinked, sort of shocked. "You came here…to see if I still loved you?" Well what did he expect?! I didn't come to tax him or kill Ilia! Noticing my expression, Link continued. "I thought you were coming to scream at me. Because I expected that, after I let this happen."

"You think that you let this happen?! How so?"

"Because I wasn't quick enough. I didn't get to…I didn't get past the barrier on the blasted peak till the decision had been made."

I nearly choked on my sobs and he hugged me, drawing me closer to him and then, just as unexpected as last time, he kissed me. Just like last time, it was natural. Breathing. Eating. Crying—anything.

"I'll always love you, Midna." I'm not the one you love the most. "No matter what." That's a lie. You're a good liar, Link. It's in your job description. "No matter what you've done." Another lie. "And I trust you…Ilia, bring the papers," He called out the last part. I blinked, surprised and confused.

Ilia appeared, a stack of letters in hand. "We recently were contacted secretly by a man from Castle Town, as well as the Resistance. They are planning a meeting space. It will be complex, but we will overthrow the throne."

"Even if you have me on your side, Ilia," I snorted, rolling my eyes and putting my hands on my hips and grinning. "Unless you've got an inside source, that's not happening." Oh, yes. Ganon will beg for mercy when we show up with our army of three.

Link slowly grinned, slightly cockily. "This man…Ethan Parkiv, as he calls himself…he is an inside source."

WOO! NEXT CHAPTER: "THE MAN".