Hello everybody, I'm back. After five days of no computer and no internet access I was amazed by the number of emails I received from this website. Thank you to my new followers and thank you to The Dragon of Chaos for his/her review. I do bring up the connection between Ganondorf and Demise much later in the story though it does not have much consequence to the overall story. I am not the kind of person to deliberately change a concept in the original piece my work is based off purely for convenience. If I do, I'm either ignorant of my mistake or am taking sheer pleasure out of hitting the original story with a sledgehammer and replacing it with something of pure awesomeness.

In regards to my previous author's note I have worked out a few issues and my poll for Cursed by Shadow is running properly on my profile. Please take the time to vote and thank you to those who have already done so.

I will warn you that this chapter gets very sad in places so if you are highly emotional, I suggest you grab yourself a tissue. Ladies and gentlemen, here is Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Death and Departure

If you are reading this then you know what it is I have done and you may be asking why I did it. Not long ago I believe I made a terrible mistake and I can no longer bear to live with myself for it. I have tried to convince myself that I did the right thing but in my heart I know that in doing so I hurt someone who I cared very deeply about. There is no way for me to make things right, no way for me to make it up to him, no way to tell him that I'm sorry.

That is why I have decided to take my own life. I know what you must be thinking but I feel that there is no alternative. I have no living relative to take my place as princess so in this final letter I have decided who shall be my successor. I hope that my royal adviser, Eddard, will be able to lead our people better than I ever could.

Farewell forever,

Princess Midna Twilight.

Royal Adviser Eddard read the message for the tenth time, still not wanting to believe its words. The princess had been uncharacteristically late for the council meeting so he went to her chambers to check if she was alright. She most certainly was not. Eddard found the letter on her desk but the princess was not in her room. Some of the writing was slightly blurred by what appeared to be tears.

As soon as he began the second paragraph Eddard stopped reading and looked out of the open window. He felt nothing but cold emptiness as he stared down on the princess' broken body thirty meters below. He could tell from the blood that there was no possible way that she survived. The royal adviser immediately called the guards for help but there was nothing that could be done save to move her somewhere more respectable.

He wanted to believe that it was murder but Eddard knew deep in his heart that it was impossible. All Twili possessed the ability to levitate even from a young age so deaths caused by falling were extremely rare, unless it was the person's intention to die. Perhaps an assassin somehow suppressed the princess' magic? No, Eddard shook his head. There was no magical inhibitor potent enough to weaken Midna to that degree. The only plausible explanation was the one that he had been given; that Princess Midna had committed suicide.

It was so tragic. He had known that the princess had been suffering from a state of depression but every time he offered to help her she refused. Did this have anything to do with the two strange visitors who were alone with the princess? It was unlikely. When she instructed Eddard to cancel her schedule Midna seemed the happiest she had been since the death of her father. Perhaps he had been wrong if she decided to kill herself. If only he could have done more for her maybe she would still be alive.

But hindsight will not achieve anything. It was the princess' final wish that he take her place on the throne. Most men dreamed of obtaining such power but not Eddard. The idea of sitting on the throne and declaring himself king felt wrong to him. He may have consulted the royal family for the past thirty-seven years but he doubted that he could ever lead his people the way Midna and her father before her had.

There was no arguing with the way things are however. The princess had entrusted her with the fate of the Twili and he did not want to disrespect her memory. Eddard would have to take the throne but first he needed to arrange a proper funeral. That was the least he could do.

Bells rang low and solemn announcing the passing of the Twilight Princess. Their mournful sound echoed far and wide across the Twilight Realm telling its inhabitants their grave news. 'How long ago was it when those bells rang for Father?' Midna wondered. It must have been over a year now but time was a vague concept in this world so who could say.

'And now they ring for me,'she thought solemnly. The real Princess Midna was still very much alive and well standing on a hill in the distance. The palace looked no larger than a pile of children's blocks from where she stood. She hated to have lied to her own people like this but it was too late to change things now. Unlike when she shattered the Mirror of Twilight however, Midna did not want to go back.

Link put his hand on her shoulder ever so gently. "Are you okay?" he asked. It was a stupid question, it was clear she was not, but she appreciated the concern.

"I'll be fine," she said quietly. She wiped away a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I'm sorry that there was not another way," Callum said from behind her. "Don't feel bad Midna, you are not the first noble to go through this and you likely won't be the last." Midna nodded, not trusting her voice to speak.

Due to her status as princess, Midna was a figure well in the spotlight. As such there was no possible way for her to disappear quietly, like most recruited by the Peacekeepers would, they had no choice but to fake the princess' death. Fortunately this practice was familiar and well-rehearsed to the secret order so they quickly had an exact clone of Midna prepared to take her place. All that remained to be done was for Midna to write her suicide note. Callum advised that she include who she chose to be her successor to avoid the Twilight Realm being torn apart by a power struggle.

On the hilltop, Midna turned to Link and wrapped her arms around him. He did the same, giving her the emotional support she desperately needed. Once before Midna chose her people over her best friend and suffered for it. When given that same choice again she made sure that she did not make the same mistake again.

'I guess Father was right about me after all,'she thought sadly.

Link, Midna and Callum walked together outside Ordon Village. Midna felt the warm sun on her skin, the gentle breeze through her hair and sniffed the fresh scent of nature. The former Twilight Princess only spent a relatively short time in the world of light but now she realized that she loved it just as much as her own realm. The three stopped when they reached the front of Link's tree house.

"We shouldn't stay for too long," Callum told them. "Link, I'll let you go to the village and say your goodbyes. Take as long as you need to. Midna and I will go inside and start packing for you."

Link thanked him and made his way south to what would the last time he would see his home. He saw some of the villagers hard at work. Jaggle was crouching in the pumpkin patch digging for weeds. The farmer looked up at Link when he heard him approach and welcomed him with a friendly wave.

"There you are Link. You disappeared on us for a while there. When Talo told me what happened the other day and I heard you ran off somewhere I feared the worst. Everybody's worried about you."

Link smiled, trying to hide his guilt for making his neighbors so anxious. "Sorry, something came up. Jaggle, do you think you could help me round everyone up? There's something I want to talk about."

The farmer nodded and put down his tools. Within five minutes the whole village had gathered in front of the mayor's house. Link took a moment to look at the face of each of the villagers who he grew up thinking as his family, the people he was about to leave behind.

"Hi everyone, thanks for coming here. There's something I want to say to all of you..." His chest felt so tight. He took a deep breath before going on. "I know for the past few months I've been... hard to deal with. I want to say I'm sorry. I was angry with myself for a long time and it wasn't fair for me to take it out on any of you. It's just that when I was travelling around Hyrule I met someone special... and then I lost that person in the worst possible way. I blamed myself for it and I didn't know what to do. I know it doesn't excuse my behavior but I want to let you know why I was like that."

All of the villagers moved to show that they forgave him. Uli was the fastest though as she pulled him into a warm, loving hug, the kind a mother gives her child after having a fight. "It's okay Link, it doesn't matter," she said tearfully, "I only wish I had known what was upsetting you sooner. I wish I could have helped you."

When they separated Link wiped the tears from his own eyes. "There's something else. I've thought about this for a while and I've decided to leave Hyrule." Children and adults alike cried out in protest. Link patiently gestured for silence and continued when all were quiet once more.

"I don't want to go but I can't bare to stay here any longer. I need some time by myself to clear my head and maybe make a fresh start somewhere. I'm not sure if I will ever be coming back." This was the story that he had been rehearsing to hide his real reason for leaving. Most of it was true anyway.

Everyone tried to convince Link to stay but he shook his head persistently. He told them his mind was made up. Rusl, who had raised and trained Link throughout the boy's life, accepted his decision somberly and helped the other villagers to do the same. One by one the Hero's friends embraced him and said farewell to him, the children crying when they took their turns. Finally Ilia stood before him but made no movement, she just stood there still as a statue.

"Ilia," Link began, "I'm sorry about what I said before. I know how much you care about Epona and I had no right to snap at you. Can you please forgive me?"

She did not answer. Instead she rushed forward and gave him the tightest hug he had received that day. "I'll miss you," she whispered sadly, "Just promise me one thing okay?"

"Anything," he said, glad that he had made amends with his childhood friend.

"Promise me that someday you'll find a place where you can be happy, and stay safe. I don't want anything else."

"I promise."

There was still one more person that Link needed to say goodbye to. He walked amongst the trees to where he found the spot he was looking for. There in front of him stood a tall elm tree with a medium-sized round stone resting at its roots. Engraved in the stone was the name 'Amanda'. Link placed a bouquet of freshly picked flowers amongst the twisted tree roots and knelt before the stone.

"Hi Mom, how are you? I've got fantastic news; I found Midna and she came back with me. I finally feel like things are starting to look up for me now. I don't know if you can tell where you are right now, but the world is in danger again and Midna and I have to save it." He placed his hand atop the headstone. "Because of what we have to do this will be the last time I can come to see you. I hope you understand. I love you."

"I'm sure she does."

Link jumped at the voice and turned to see Callum standing right behind him. Link was not a person one could easily sneak up on yet he had not heard the Peacekeeper approach him.

"Who are you talking to?" the man asked.

Link faced the headstone again. "My mother," he said softly

"Mind if I pay my respects?" Link shrugged. Callum stepped closer and sat on his knees next to the boy.

"When I was fourteen she got really sick." Link explained, not sure why. "We managed to find a doctor in Castle Town who was willing to come out here but by that time there was nothing he could do. She died two days later."

"What of your father?"

Link snorted in disdain. "Who cares? The guy left Ordon when I was a baby and never came back."

"Do you know why he left?"

"Not a clue. It doesn't matter anyway. The only acceptable reason I can think of is that he went to Hyrule and was killed on the way by bandits. There's no excuse for leaving your family like that," Link growled.

"I agree with you there," Callum said, "but even though it's inexcusable he may have had his reasons. I am the last person who should pass judgement. When I was recruited by the Order I was forced to leave my own family behind. Tore my heart to do it."

Link stared at him, not entirely sure how to respond. "Yeah but you probably did something really heroic if they wanted you. My father was a farmer, born and raised. There's no way he could have done anything like that."

The Peacekeeper raised an eyebrow. "Really? So what does that make you then? I assume that seeing as you spent most of your life herding goats it's impossible that you could have defeated someone as powerful as Ganondorf." Link chuckled, beaten by the argument.

"Might I say a few words to your mother?" Link gestured his consent.

The Peacekeeper cleared his throat. "Amanda, you raised your son well. He has done so much for the sake of others without any regard for his own desires, even if it hurt him to do so. He will continue to help people in even more ways and you should know that you ought to be proud of him. He is a fine young man and we all have you to thank for it."

Link felt his face burn with embarrassment. It was one thing to receive such praise himself but it was something else for someone to express that praise to his mother. He did not know what to say.

"I think we should go and meet up with Midna again," Callum said to him. "I left her back at your place to collect the items you two worked so hard to acquire."

Link's expression turned anxious. 'She's probably going to be mad when we get there. I locked all that stuff in a chest in my basement and I buried the key. Worse bit is, I can't remember where."

Thankfully the only thing that suffered Midna's wrath was the said chest, in which she blasted the lock into pieces after becoming frustrated from searching for the missing key. Fortunately none of its contents were harmed. Link switched into his traditional green Hero's clothes and packed a few more keepsakes that his companions overlooked. With everything sorted, Link mounted Epona. Callum climbed up behind him while Midna disappeared into Link's shadow, as was their custom. He relished the inexplicable sensation of the action as with everything that had to do with the former imp.

"Before we head to Skyloft I'd like to make a quick detour," Callum said. "Though the Hero of the Sky outmatched Ghirahim on multiple occasions, half the secret was the Hero's use of the Goddess Sword, or as you know it as the Master Sword."

"So we're going to the Sacred Grove to collect it aren't we?" Link asked without needing an answer.

They stopped Epona at the spring of Faron Woods and dismounted. Midna popped out of hiding when Link's feet touched the ground. "Good thing we can warp there," Midna commented. "There is no way I'm chasing after that bratty little forest kid again."

After being broken down into particles for warping the three of them appeared in the ancient grove. The moss-covered ruins of the Temple of Time sat in silence, seemingly undisturbed by the world. Link remembered his last visit to this place and how fresh his heartache from losing Midna had been at the time. He returned the Master Sword to its resting place eagerly as he wanted nothing more to do with the artifact that painfully reminded him of his adventures with her.

The sword still stood in its housing pedestal, radiating with a divine glow, its silver blade reflecting the sunlight dazzlingly. Link walked up to the pedestal and wrapped his hands around the sword's hilt. With hardly any resistance, he drew the Master Sword out of the stone and raised it towards the sky. He heard Midna mutter something about being overly theatrical.

"Did you know that the Master Sword possesses a spirit by the name of Fi?" Callum asked as though it was a normal conversation topic.

Surprised, Link looked at the sacred weapon in his hand in awe. "I always felt there this presence whenever I held the sword, like someone is guiding me mentally."

"I prefer the method of guiding others with verbal encouragement and a good push in the right direction," Midna grinned impishly.

Link rolled his eyes at her. "You mean with abusive insults and kicking people in the ribs."

"You say tomato," she shrugged.

Callum interrupted the friendly banter. "It is said that Fi guided the Hero of the Sky in his mission much like Midna has done for you, though perhaps the spirit was a fair bit kinder about it." Midna assumed a guise of innocence. "Perhaps you should try summoning Fi," he suggested to Link.

Link considered the suggestion. Could he do it? He never imagined that the Blade of Evil's Bane contained something sentient. Even so he was not exactly sure how to summon this supposed spirit.

"Fi," he called hesitantly. Nothing happened. "Fi," he tried again more firmly, "come to me." That did the trick. The golden gem embedded in the sword's hilt light up with a mystical energy. The light grew and shot out of the sword in an arc.

The light then stopped in mid-air and began to change shape, molding itself into the frame of something feminine until it took solid form. In the place of the light was a girl-like being. Her body was colored with the same blue and purple of the Master Sword's hilt. Her legs were dominated by violet as was half of her torso, with the rest of her body was blue in color. Embedded in her center was a deep blue diamond. She appeared to have no visible arms, either concealed or replaced by what appeared to be some kind of cloak. Her entire face and hair were blue as were her blank, featureless eyes. The figure met Link's astonished stare.

"Greetings Master Link," she spoke in a melodic yet emotionless voice. 'Master?' Link thought. "The name that was given to me by my creator is Fi. My mission is to assist the chosen Hero of the Goddesses. I have spent many generations in hibernation within the Master Sword providing aid to the Hero. Though I have served you in the recent past it is, as humans say, a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

Link was taken aback by all this. When he first met Midna she forcefully decided that she was his master, but now there was someone who wanted to call him master? Despite himself he grinned at the notion.

Midna was far less amazed though. "So," she addressed the spirit coolly, "if your mission is to serve the Hero then why is this the first time we ever knew you existed?"

If the blue-purple spirit felt anything regarding the question or Midna's tone she did not show it. "My mission does not require me to directly communicate with my masters, merely to provide them with the means to fulfill their own duties. I only awaken from my hibernation when called upon by my master, as I have been now." The pure rationality of the explanation and the lack of emotion behind it annoyed the Twili even further.

Callum cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "If we are done here I believe we should get going again." Fi's body reverted back into light and she returned to the gem in the sword. As the three gathered close to each other to leave Link could not resist having a crack at Midna.

"So, guess who has his own servant now?" he taunted.

She responded by grabbing onto his ear and pulling on it painfully. "So what? I never did say you were no longer my slave so by order of hierarchy that makes her my servant as well." He could not argue with that logic, not when Midna was already exerting her authority over him like that. After all this time Midna had not changed a bit.

So that concludes another chapter. To be honest, I got emotional when I wrote that last part with Link and Ilia, and I still feel warm in the eyes each time I read it. I don't know how many of you noticed but I had originally misspelled Ilia's name as Ilea. Thank you to JulietheGreat for bringing this to my attention, I have gone back to the previous chapters and made the necessary corrections. Did you know that ilea is the plural for ileum which is the lowest part of the small intestine? I guess you could say that Ilia had a gut's full of Link for mistreating Epona before.

Until the next chapter,

EquinoxWolf