It's official. School is trying to kill me.

Oh yes. My friend finally read this fanfic! She's given me some good stuff to think about. I take back the comment about her being a stink-head. ^-^

So, she gave me the idea of connecting the Dark World from "A Link to the Past," and the Twilight. Realm Because you actually travel to both the Dark World and Twilight through a mirror. The Magic Mirror (which is portable) and the Mirror of Twilight (which really isn't portable). She also reminded me about in Majora's Mask, the redeads are actual people, and not just monsters to kill.

Ah, this is such a great plot device. With time messed up, I have easy excuses for the Mirror of Twilight being fixed!

Chapter 16: Splitting of the Ways

"I know they're trying to get the Master Sword. During most of the eras, I have the weapon well guarded. But there is one place where I'm having trouble keeping my servants alive. I want you to go there."

"Yes, Lord Ganon," said the figure kneeling on the ground. He wore a dark, dusk-colored cloak and when he raised his head, he revealed a scar under his eye. "But what about Zelda? The one that escaped?"

"She won't be free for long," Ganon replied, pacing to the side. "I'm not too concerned either way. I'm sure they'll all come to me eventually. All I need to do is wait for them to get caught in my web."

"And what about Shadow Link?"

"I'm not worried about him. He probably won't be a match for you, Vaati. He has the Triforce, yes, but his skill isn't refined, and he has many limitations. A chain is only as strong as its weakest Link, after all."

..

"Are you sure this is the place?"

"Of course! Why else would there be so many monsters here?" Midna hissed.

Shadow Link growled. He was lying flat on his belly in the Lost Woods, peering over the edge of a cliff. The open area below them was filled with one of the most unpleasant creatures Link and Shadow Link had ever come across. Redeads.

Due to the proceeding events, Shadow Link's group had been narrowed down to Navi, Midna, and Medli. Volvagia was waiting just outside the lost woods, resting in front of the Forest Temple.

We should probably back up and retell those events.

…

The large group stood together at the side of the road and exchanged what information they had.

"OK, so we need to decide who's going where," Midna announced at last. "Since I know where the Master Sword is, I should probably stay with, uh, Shadow Link."

Shadow Link raised an eyebrow. "Is that right?"

"And I'll lead the other group," Sheik added. "I'll take the harp and gather more allies."

"I'll go with you," Din offered. "I know a little about the harp of Ages. Nayru told me about it."

"I guess I should stay with Shadow Link," Medli said tentatively. "I originally joined up because I learned a lot about Hyrule's history from the Earth Sage."

"I'll go with Shadow Link too," Navi said, sounding as though she didn't like this idea at all. "I know a lot about the Master Sword."

Shadow Link sneered, but obviously realized that no one was going to take his advice on the matter: clear off.

"So, I guess that means Tael and I go with Din and the harp guy," Tatl concluded.

"How will we find you again?" Medli asked, concerned. "I mean, even if you get together an army, where will we ever meet you?"

"Sheik and I have that all planned out," Midna announced. "We know where we're going to meet."

"But do you know when we're going to meet?"

"Midna knows where to go," Sheik responded. "And we found a place to gather our allies. We can use this."

There was a second item attached to the belt where he kept the Harp of Ages. He pulled it around so that everyone could see.

"It's a mirror that leads to another realm," Sheik explained. "That's where we'll meet."

"Another realm, huh," Shadow Link sneered. "I don't like the sound of that. And even if I did, how would we find it?"

"I can get there too," Midna said.

"Long ago," Sheik recited," there was an incident involving the Dark World. People who were sent there were turned into strange creatures. Since then, that world has changed and become inhabited by the Twili. It is now called the Twilight Realm. The Princess of that realm stands before you."

Midna grinned. "I'm only too happy to volunteer my palace as a meeting place for everyone.

"Oh yeah!" Tatl shouted. "Don't let Shadow Link go playing that Ocarina whenever he feels like it! He did that in the Four Swords place, and then again right after we met Din! The Ocarina probably brought us to those places for a reason, and you went and took us away from it before we figured anything out. That's also the reason we got separated. He probably would have played it again by now if he hadn't lost the Ocarina!"

"I'll be sure to leave you behind next time," Shadow Link snapped.

…

Shadow Link grimaced, staring down at the monster-infested clearing. "I hate those life-sucking zombies," he growled. "In Termina, we had a mask that let us talk to the redeads. Not that that wasn't creepy. Too bad that Skull Kid didn't bring that mask to me. I don't want to fight those things."

"Yeah. There were some in Arbiters Grounds, the old prison deep in the desert," Midna replied.

Medli shuddered. "They look really creepy."

"Too bad you're the only one who can't fly," Midna said, grinning. "The bird girl and I can both do it."

"I thought you said you can teleport," Shadow Link hissed. "Why don't you just teleport us to the Master Sword?"

"Cause we might land right in the middle of a pack of monsters. I think we'll want to see where we're going. Too bad the Fused Shadows were broken. I could have used them."

"What are Fused Shadows?" Navi asked.

"An artifact made by my people long ago. I used them to fight Ganon, but he was too strong. He took them from me and broke them."

"Shhh!" Shadow Link hissed. "Stop talking so loud! Those things will here you!"

The redeads below were glancing blankly around.

Medli shuddered again. "I wonder if they would hear us if I tried to fly over. I don't think I'm strong enough to carry you though," she whispered to Shadow Link. "I could carry Link for a little while, but he's younger than you are. And I don't think you'd want me to drop you in the middle of that."

"So, what are we going to do?" Navi asked. "Everyone but Shadow Link can fly."

"I just thought of something," Midna said suddenly. "Wait here."

Before anyone could say anything, she'd flown away, back in the direction they'd come.

She floated out of the Lost Woods, towards the Forest Temple. It was so nostalgic, being back here. She never thought she'd be able to come back to the light world again. Luckily she had her power back. It let her stay in her imp form, which was much more convenient for travel in this world. She wondered if it would be worth it to hide herself in Medli's shadow. Considering that Shadow Link WAS a shadow, she probably couldn't hide in his.

She floated out above the forest temple and blinked in surprise.

Volvagia was still there, but he was backed up against the cliff wall, hissing. It wasn't hard to see why. A dozen white monkeys were gathered around him, pelting him with berries.

"Hey!" Midna shouted, dropping down on them. "Knock it off! He's a friend!"

The monkeys backed off, startled. But one of them hopped towards her. Midna recognized this monkey. She had a flower stuck behind her ear. She'd been quite helpful when Midna was traveling with Link.

"Listen," Midna said to the female monkey, "I need your help. We need to get into the place where the Master Sword is, but there's monsters in the way. Can you come with me?"

The monkey cocked her head, then turned and exchanged a few words to her companions. She turned back to Midna and nodded.

"Great. Thanks. Come on. This way."

Volvagia growled at the monkeys one last time.

Midna floated off again, and the monkeys jumped up into the treetops, swinging after her.

"At least that Skull Kid isn't attacking us this time," Midna muttered. "He was a real pain."

Midna and the troop of monkeys all landed around Shadow Link and Medli.

Shadow Link almost attacked them before he realized what was going on.

The monkey wearing the flower jumped onto a branch and hung from it by her feet. The second monkey swung off her arms and landed in the next branch. The monkeys continued to swing on each other's arms, until all of them had formed a trail over the redeads below, leading to the sanctuary where the Master Sword was kept.

"Go on," Midna suggested. "They can support your weight. Just grab their arms and let them swing you where you need to go."

Shadow Link stared at the line-up of hanging monkeys. "You've got to be kidding."

"I'll go first," Medli offered.

Shadow Link didn't respond. Medli jumped, holding out her arms. The girl monkey caught her, and then swung her onto the next monkey. They continued to pass Medli down until she landed out of sight beyond a ledge.

Shadow Link continued to stare after her. The monkeys waited.

"I think he's scared," Midna said to Navi.

Navi gave a small laugh.

"If you think that's gonna make me jump, you've got another thing coming," Shadow Link growled. "I'd rather just go down there, use one of my masks, and kill all those things. Even if redeads are awful."

"That just means that it'll take longer to get to the Master Sword," the fairy sighed.

He growled, and then took a running jump at the nearest monkey. A few moments later, he'd landed beside Medli.

This part of the forest appeared quite deserted.

"It's quiet," Medli said softly. "I guess it's safe."

"Quiet doesn't mean safe, "Shadow Link growled.

"It might just mean more danger," Midna agreed. She floated down off of the ledge. "We'd better be careful. Come on. The Master Sword is right down that path."

…

Theatre: What if Midna and Shadow Link both met up with a normal Link? (Though they probably wouldn't speak quite like this)

Midna: Link! You're safe! That's great! I can hide in your shadow again!

Shadow Link: Wait a second, you weird little creature, I'M Shadow Link. I'M Link's shadow. And there's no way I'm sharing his shadow with you.

Midna: Why would Link want some stuck-up jerk like you in his shadow? I can teleport, and I can even turn him into a wolf! Not to mention I rule a different dimension!

Link: I don't think anyone else ever has this much trouble with their shadow…