Chapter 5: The Cursed Twilight

It was a while before I had finally woken up. Though, that was the most horrible thing I had done. It felt like I had a hangover and the headache was just unbearable.

Unbearable…

What…

The sudden events from yesterday zoomed into my mind. The spring…

Ilia…

The Village Kids…

I was being pulled into a strange wall. And then, the next thing I knew was that the unbearable pain that came out of nowhere. I blinked my eyes.

I don't know if it's just me but my vision feels…different. It was as if it had grown better and I could see way more than I had before. It almost felt like it had been doubled, if you know what I mean. I could see clearly than I had before.

Just what in the name of Goddesses happened to me?

I snorted when I remembered the promise I had made to Ilia when she said don't do anything out of my league.

Well that promise is going to be broken. I'm sorry.

I patted my paws against the cold firm ground.

Wait…paws?!

I looked down and yelped back with surprise or was it shock? I had furry paws and I felt my tail swinging back and forth.

One thing's for sure is that I am definitely not in my human form since humans don't stand on four legs!

What had those monsters do to me?! When I get out of here—somehow—I'll make sure that their punishment will not go away!

I snarled at those beasts that took everything away from me. It was then that I noticed the strange surroundings. It looked like hell. Strange particles of Twilight would float almost aimlessly, making me to be fully aware that I was in a prison since I tried to move only to be chained.

I glared at the chain as if it was its fault for everything. Growling, I dangerously started to chew at the chain, hoping to break free from it.

I gnawed at the chain for a while until my sharp ears perked up, causing me to drop the chain. I soon spotted the intruder; I growled and went into my fighting stance as if the foe was posing some kind of a threat to me.

It was an odd being, I will give you that. Her body was colored with two colors. On one side was black while the other side had a pale silver-ish-white skin. The same bizarre markings were placed on her skin except these ones were neon blue.

One thing's for sure was that she was not from this world. I could just easily identify that she was a female.

She also wore a strange stone helmet that looked old and had long pointed ears. I stared at the thick orange and yellow thing that hugged her body at the back of the helmet. What was that thing?

The stone helmet apparently covered one of her eyes since she stared at me with her red visible eye. It felt like we were having some kind of an intense staring contest until she broke out into a grin.

Her voice threw me off as it was filled with joy; not the happy kind but a twisted dark version of joy.

"I found you!" she exclaimed, flying into the air and straight in my cell. I jumped back at the sudden movement.

I narrowed my eyes at the strange imp-like creature. Just what was she? Nevertheless, I still growled at her, hoping that she would be scared or something. But, it didn't work at all as she placed her sharp nails on her cheek.

"Ooo aren't you scary!?" she mocked with false fright. "Eee hee! Are you sure you want to be doing that? Snarling and glaring at me? Well, that's too bad." she sighed but I slightly detected a false disappointment which was why I still growled at her.

Apparently, this had amused her even more when she placed a twisted smile on her dark features. "I was planning on helping you…if you were nice."

I carefully gazed into her red eye to look for any signs that she was joking. When I had found none (which I hardly doubt), I got loosen up.

She smirked. "Eee hee! That's much better! You humans are obedient to a fault, aren't you? Oops! But you aren't a human anymore, are you? You're a beast! Eee hee!" she harshly tapped her nails under my chin, making me to be uncomfortable.

I tried to bite her but she jumped away, letting out a giggle.

"There, there. You be a good boy and calm down. No need to bite!" I stared curiously when she brought her hands together; a strange red and black orb was formed between her hands. With a swish, she brought the orb towards me only to have the magic orb hitting the chain.

I jumped back with surprise when I found out that I was released.

Is she actually planning to help me?

Another giggle came out of her though I nearly had a heart attack when her face scarily came in front of me. Just an inch.

"You look kind of surprised! Eee hee hee!" she replied, amused.

"So! I bet you're wondering, where exactly are we." she spoke as she did a twirl and suddenly, her body got broken into pieces; bubbles to be exact. She then materialized back into her original spot when I first saw her. I gaped at her at the sudden fascination she had displayed.

This brought me back to the first question.

What exactly is she?

"Well, I'll make you a deal. If you can get over here, maybe I'll tell you! Eee hee!" she laughed as if everything amused her before releasing a yawn.

Which probably did.

Growling with irritation, I carefully gazed at the nearly broken crate which made me to wonder why was it there in the first place. Sighing, I lunged (clumsily I might add) at the crate to break into pieces to reveal a dry ground that looked like it could be dig.

Don't look at me like that!

I'm still getting use to this weird feeling I currently have!

This is annoying. Everything's annoying. She's annoying.

I stared at the ground, wondering how to dig (yes I know with my paws) until I recalled that I had seen Jaggle's dog digging. Thinking about that dog, I used my paws and dug out.

It was nearly a tight squeeze but I managed to get out of the cell. I shook myself to rid any dust that may be on the fur. When I looked in front of me, I threw a frustrating look when I saw that the imp was gone.

What's the meaning of this?!

A giggle echoed around until abruptly, something landed on my back with a hard THUD. Not liking it, I began to jump around violently, hoping to get rid of the thing that was on my back.

"Hmph! I guess you're not completely stupid after all!" the imp's voice announced and I halted in my tracks.

I still bared my teeth at her for being so annoying and irritating. Roughly, she leaned on me, making me to hear her next words.

"Listen, I like you."

Yeah well, I don't.

"So I think I'll get you out of here." she harshly pulled my ear back with her sharp nails. "But in exchange for my help, you have to do exactly as I say! If you need anything from me, just give me a sign." she replied, letting go of my ear that now hurts. "So, are we all clear? Good. Now, come on! Get moving!" she ordered.

The dark joyful tone that was once in her voice had dramatically changed into full of dark malice and coldness sending me shivers as she leaned forward.

She painfully kicked me into the ribs, letting me to snarl.

I seriously needed to get used to this weird body as I had tripped a couple of times which irritated the imp. Well I'm terribly sorry for not getting the hang of this since I had never walked as an animal! I wanted to scream at her for being so irritating and annoying.

How can one person be so…irritating and annoying at the same time?

Seeing a jail door that is opened, I went through there and spotted a chain hanging down from the ceiling and a closed gate. Curiously, I spotted a flaming blue orb when I got out of the short tunnel. The imp told me that I'm a beast and I know what I should do.

Well, sorry but I don't.

I closed my eyes and opened them only to find the blue flame was actually a soldier. Okay…?

I listened to the soldier's words and he seemed to be frightened from something. Walking away from it, the girl stopped me halfway.

"That was a soldier's spirit. Maybe it's someone from the other world? Eee hee! There are lots of other spirits roaming about here, you know. Hone your senses to see them. They might know things…"

It felt like she was trying to give me some specific clues that I need. How is it that she knows what's going on? If she could answer that question, then everything would be great. Great but I will probably be confused. Though, I hardly doubt she would even answer anything.

Rolling my eyes, I started to block the horrible smell. It felt like something died here…isn't that ironic? I cringed when I saw a rotten skull while having the rats chewing on it which caused me to whimper from the disgusting sight.

"Aw is the little wolfie terrified?" Midna replied with fake sympathy. "Don't worry; I bet you'll see more of those later on." she said, cheerfully as if that had made me to be better.

As I continued to trek through this horrid prison, I couldn't help but wonder what the imp's story was. Why is she here? What is she? That question seriously won't leave my mind and I might go insane if I don't find out.

"Ugh…what are you doing?!" she complained, annoyed as the broken rocks tumbled down; some of the small rocks hit my head but it wasn't enough to actually cause me to go into unconsciousness. I only had a scratch that was near my muzzle from a rock that had sharp edges.

"I guess I have to do everything for you…" she responded once we were back on the stairs.

I sneered. I'm sure she was exaggerating; she didn't help me at all.

"I'll guide you to sure footing so follow where I'm going and try not to be such a klutz."

I snorted. She flew off my back and floated towards the rock. Like she had said, I shuffled back to give myself a good distance. Trust me: I had doubted myself to jump to the other side since I didn't really believe the girl's words.

Was this a trick?

I wouldn't find the answer if I kept on staring at the rock so taking a deep breath, I ran for it and then jumped on the firm ground. I opened my eyes, letting out a wolf's sigh of relief. However, I heard that something was going to break. My eyes widened when I had found out that the rock I was standing on was going to be broken any time now. Quickly, I clumsily landed on the stairs which were stable.

I scaled the stairs more quickly than before so that was why I had found myself at the top. I started to doubt myself when I had to climb on the ropes when I was at a very high point. The heartless imp stated if I die, I die. I don't know about you but I would like it if I had some encouraging words not death words.

I shivered when it rained down heavily. The outside sky just looked awful as it would have black particles randomly floating. Bizarre creatures would fly around as if they were guarding something.

"So, we were finally able to get out. And look at the sky! Isn't the black cloud of twilight looking beautiful today? Do you know where this is?"

I gave her an annoyed/confused look.

"You still don't know? Eee hee hee! Look, there's something I want to introduce you to…but I'll need you to go to that tower to do it!"

I followed the straight path until I met up with a soldier's spirit.

"So there are even spirits up here, huh? This whole spirit thing is pretty new to you, isn't it? Even though these guys can see those monsters, they don't know a thing about you! If you think I'm lying, why don't you check it out? Hone your fine senses. Eee hee!"

I honed my senses and listened carefully to the soldier who muttered some things but I was able to catch a one important sentence. Hyrule Castle…

What? You mean this is Hyrule Castle? What? It looked so…different. Well of course it would since it was practically covered in twilight as the girl had stated previously. Who was responsible for bringing 'twilight' into our world? I seriously wanted some answers and I shall get some answers when I am in my human form…

Erm…how am I supposed to get back into my human form? Isn't there a way?

…There is a way, right? The thought of being stuck in this form for an eternity made me to be scared and angry. It also caused me to nearly slip at the edge of a broken slippery path. The imp chastised me for being so careless.

Never knew she cared.

"Look just a bit further!" she replied. She guided me with sure footing from pole to pole until I was on a rooftop that I slid down until I reached a solid firm ground. What? The roof was slippery…

Occasionally, I had to fight those big monstrous birds that would lunge at me every now and then. Eventually, we had reached the entrance of the tower in which I went through. I scaled around the stairs only to find a door that had a cracked opening.

I was greeted with a cloaked figure who looked at the window. It felt that it wasn't alone so it turned around making me to snarl in the process. The strange imp gave out a dark giggle as she saw the figure turning around, softly gasping. The moment the figure stared at me, I eased up and walked towards her. The imp girl rolled her eyes.

"…Midna?!" the figure responded as if she was shocked to see the imp that was on my back.

Midna, eh? At least I know her name now.

"Eee hee! You remembered my name? What an honor for me…" she replied though a bit sarcastically.

The figure seemed to be ignoring it. "So, this is the one for whom you were searching…"

Midna was searching for me? But why?

I hate it when everyone else knows what's going on except for me. Don't you hate that as well?

"He's not exactly what I had in mind, but…I guess he'll do." Midna nodded to confirm.

The cloaked figure bend down so that it could match my level. I stared curiously at the mysterious person. Something about the figure made me to think that I had met the figure somewhere before. But just where?

"You were imprisoned?" the person asked finally. "I am sorry." she replied with sadness and a bit with bitter?

"Poor thing. He has no idea where this is or what's happened…" Midna replied, rubbing at the side of my body. "So, don't you think you should explain to him what you've managed to do? You owe him that much…"

The air held a thick of intense.

"Twilight Princess. Eee hee." Midna replied, evilly as thunder and lightning boomed and flashed as she said that.

Twilight Princess?

It looked as though the figure had hesitated for a bit until it spoke.

"Listen carefully. This was once the land where the power of the gods was said to slumber. This was once the kingdom of Hyrule. But that blessed kingdom has been transformed by the king that rules the twilight."

Somehow I could feel Midna sneering at the last sentence. Was something wrong with it?

Suddenly, I felt myself having sudden images flashing into my mind while hearing the girl's voice. I could tell she was girl.

"It has been turned into a world of shadows, ruled by creatures who shun the light."

The first scene showed what it looked like to be the Throne Room. At the Throne chair stood a person with four guards protecting the figure as if the person was important. In front of them, stood many guards as if all of them were waiting for something to happen. It did.

A black wisp of smoke raced in, surprising the guards as it released many of those black peculiar creatures. The guards raced towards the beasts but they were easily defeated from the monsters that now outstood them. One of the monsters grabbed a guard at its neck, slamming him hard at the ground.

A monster had also held two guards in its hands, choking them to death. Two more of the same beasts stood on the stairs as the important figure stared at the chaos. It tried not to show fear from the black creatures but when footsteps came, the person couldn't help but gasp softly at the hideous creature who had a helmet that resembled a strange lizard-like head.

It wore a balaclava that covered its neck and head but not the face. The peculiar figure walked towards the other figure while the hideous person had two black creatures as guards.

The person stopped when it got to where it wanted.

"It is time for you to choose: surrender or die." it spoke though behind his mask, he was smirking. The grunts from the guards were heard, indicating that he was trying to get some air.

"Oh yes; a question for all the land and people of Hyrule…" it replied, cruelly. Its ominous lifeless stone eyes stared creepily at the person. "Life? Or death?" the person repeated.

The two guards that were beside the important person looked at the person as the person made the decision. All was quiet until a sudden clank from the sword was dropped. The figure had surrendered. The commoners all watched the castle as it burned. Fear and shock were running through their features while all of them were wondering what would happen to them. It was until they were transformed into glowing orbs.

"Twilight covered Hyrule like a shroud and without light, the people became as spirits."

Each of the glowing orbs suddenly vanished, leaving a very ominous place with black particles floating around.

All that was left was the burning castle.

"Within the twilight, they live on, unaware that they have passed into spirit forms…All the people know now is fear…Fear of a nameless evil…" the cloaked figure let out a sigh before it turned its gaze away from the window to face Midna and I.

"The kingdom succumbed to twilight, but I remain its princess…"

With that, she slowly took the hood off while I leaned back, watching with interest waiting to know what will happen next. I was unaware that Midna had nearly fallen off my back.

She took of the hood, making me to gap. It was a female with a nearly pale skin. The golden-brown silky hair flew down like a waterfall. Like me (in my human form), she had long pointed ears and a golden tiara was upon her head. She looked like she was "glowing" but that may be from the light that was coming from the window. Her azure blue eyes had struck me hard but it held sadness.

"I am Zelda."