Chapter 16
Though this unusual way of warping had been much more peaceful my landing was not too graceful. Landing with a thud flat on my face, I grumbled, "Suppose, that could have ended worse, like falling on my head and snapping my neck I suppose." I began to push myself to my feet when I heard something above me and was suddenly brought back down to the ground when a weight dropped on top of me.
"Well that was a little rougher landing then usual, guess it's because I shattered the mirror, lucky this thing was here to break break my fall," I heard Midna say patting my shoulder obviously not realizing she had just landed on me.
"Ahem," I cleared my throat loudly as to draw attention to the fact she was sitting on me.
"Ah! I'm sorry, are you okay?" Midna looked concerned and then I realized that shortly before we had left I was still in rough shape but being so close to the mirror had healed me. Midna could obviously see this as she helped me up, "What happened, your injuries... their... gone?"
I shook my head, "Not entirely, that cut across my chest was pretty rough. Something relieved my other injuries, but this wound will probably pain me for at least another week or so." I wasn't lying either, I could still feel the wound in my chest throbbing despite that it had sealed entirely. Just as I took a step forward I felt something pulse and invade my mind. I fell to my knees as I heard a voice in my head.
"Did you think you'd lost me. Ha, well I foresaw your desire to return here with that woman so I decided to head over here" a voice that sounded far too familiar yet seemed to be lost like an old friends voice.
"Ah, you... that... thing that carried me here in the first place!"
"Yes, my energy has almost recharged, I would say I'll be ready to leave in about one weeks time."
"Gah, one week... that's far too soon, I can't just leave Midna like that!"
"Well that's too bad now isn't it, because that's when I'm leaving, and you can't stay here any longer then a week after that otherwise your body and soul will cease to exist!"
"So your telling me if I ever want to return here I have to leave?"
"Yes, you have one week, at the end of the seventh day of this week I am leaving with or without you."
"Well, if you're gonna play like that," I said startling Midna whom had been trying to make sure if I was all right that entire time. I suddenly leapt into the air, and landed directly on the black mass that had carried me here.
"What are you doing?"
I could feel myself slowly soaking into the thing and quickly shifted my right hand into the claw and jabbed all five fingers into the thing. "Now give me all your power!" I yelled forcing any energy I could spare into sapping its energy. It worked quickly and the black mass disappeared and I fell back to the ground. I heard something fall to the ground with a thud shortly after I landed and looked up and was shocked at what I saw. "D... Dad," I asked rhetorically to the air itself, staring at an image that looked exactly like my father back on Earth minus the dark armor and a little bit of hair and it was just like him. I stumbled quickly over to the body looking closer trying not to freak out. Suddenly several memories I had exchanged with my Earth self before I was forcefully brought here flashed through my head and I knew what had happened. "Bah, scum. How dare you, even if you are dead now you used the last of your strength to take on the form of my father whom the creatures set lose on Earth had killed!"
"Chris," Midna, who had just rushed over, said with a curious tone in her voice.
"Did you see what just happened?" I asked as the fake body of my father began to fade away.
"Well, I saw you jump, yell something then fall back down and that man appear shortly after you began to fall."
"I sucked the energy from the entity that brought me here in the first place. In a desperate attempt to make me feel guilt or something to that matter this thing... it, took on the form of my dead father." I said my anger bursting forth slightly.
Midna looked shocked and saddened, "But... how did it do that?"
"Probably because it was bringing all the creatures from that previous land I told you of, "Spira", onto Earth, my home world. Then when my father died it probably absorbed his body... yes, that's exactly what happened, I can feel it in the energy I drained from him." I clenched my fist angrily. "He told me something else though, and I fear it may be true. I can only remain in this world for a maximum of two weeks from today."
Midna gasped, "Two weeks! That's so short a time though. There was so much I wanted to show you, to say to you..." Midna's face flushed red.
"Midna, before I say anything more answer me this, shortly before you broke the mirror, you called on Link and said "I..." and then after a brief pause you simply said "see you later." My question is, what were about to say?"
Midna looked flustered now, "I... I..." She couldn't even look at me now, instead she stared down at the ground.
"I see... you fell in love with him too didn't you Midna?"
"What!? No!"
"I can hear it in your voice, just be honest with me."
"I... I didn... I... did... fall in love with Link as well, however briefly it was I did love him as well."
"One more question I would like you to answer honestly before I decide anything. If, now this is an if so it's hypothetically speaking of course, if you could have brought Link back into the twilight, instead of me, would you have... there's no big rush on your answer either, take your time and think it over."
"No."
"What?"
"I said no, even if I could have brought Link back, I still would have brought you. It's not because he is originally from the light, it's not because your possibly one of the Twili now. It's because despite the fact I fell in love with him... I loved you first and never stopped."
"Midna... your words are as true as your heart is. However, there is still the problem that I have a meager two weeks remaining in this world. Fate is cruel..." I said mulling over possibilities. I could... I could use that one ability, but I haven't even tested it yet, and I doubt I could maintain a permanent copy... I thought to myself.
"Chris," Midna said breaking my thoughts, I looked at her and she seemed very different right now.
"Uh... are you okay, the way your standing and... speaking it's not like you," I said being entirely truthful. The look in her eyes was far more sensitive and vulnerable then I had ever seen her look. Wait someone like her would only start acting like this if she wants to ask a near impossible task of me or something of the sort...
Slightly nervous as she began to speak again I listened intently, "If... if your only going to be here two weeks, then I think... I want you to enjoy your time here as much as you can." My mind wandered briefly and strayed into the gutter slightly turning my face a bright crimson. AAAAAAAAAAA, what the hell, get your thoughts out of the gutter you perv! After giving my head a shake Midna continued unshaken by my obvious mind wandering, "What I mean... and this is kind of sudden, and well... weird... but, I want to ask you..." There was a huge pause and I realized what she was about to ask me, "will you... become my king?"
My entire body locked up and then my mind wandered again, "Umm, wouldn't you father technically be king?"
"He has passed on," Midna said sadly.
"Ah, I'm sorry..."
"It's quite all right, and since I was his and my mother's only child before their death I was made ruler, however not many knew that there was even a child and so there were some who thought they may be able to become the next ruler. Like Zant... but anyways, that is why at this time I am still considered a princess and yet I rule this kingdom. If you marry me however you will become king and I your queen, of course I would still continue rule as I have more experience... no offense."
My face had returned crimson at the mention of marrying Midna, "I... I..." my tongue was tied and I couldn't form any more words. Midna began to look worried and sad. Say SOMETHING you idiot, my brain screamed and I opened my mouth to talk but nothing came out again. Yes... my honour, any freaking thing like that... even tell her your stunned come on talk talk talk already!!"I... it's really... sudden... but I could think of no greater honor then... to marry you," my face was so red that my slightly glowing green eyes made my face look like a crummy Christmas decoration.
"Perfect... but, oh my," Midna said ecstatic then sounding surprised.
"What is it?"
"I have to get plans started, I have less then a week, I want this to happen before you leave so you don't have to leave right after the ceremonies." I was slightly relieved as Midna had made it sound much more serious. "Come on let's head inside, I'll have to set you up with a few duties too since a few people important were uh... removed, during Zant's take over."
"Um... duties?"
"Nothing major for now, just some booby trap cleanup and maybe running some new training classes if you don't mind," Midna said sounding cheerful.
"Uh... sure, if you'll answer me this. What kind of training?"
"The thing you do best silly, fighting of course." Midna nearly dragged me along until I decided to start walking beside and slightly behind her. Walking through the halls I admired the lighting, it had changed a lot since when Zant was around, it seemed a bit brighter now, but when I used my armor the little bit of sun the showed here was not enough to scorch me. The darkness that was here was not quite enough to charge me up any either, instead the armor now neither drained or charged me. I was so busy thinking about all this I hadn't noticed Midna had stopped and was about to speak with someone, and continued walking, right into this someone. I bumped heads with a stranger and apologized as he fell to the ground and I stumbled back a step or two. Then I looked down at whom I had bumped and instantly extended my shadowed claws so they pointed right at his neck.
"Zant! I thought you were dead!"
"Chris calm down right now," Midna ordered me and and I pulled my arm back slightly.
"But..."
"That's not Zant, it's Xant."
"Wait what?" (for those of you who don't understand my confusion Zant and Xant would have extremely similar if not the same pronunciation)
"Ugh, the evil Zant that took over has a twin brother, this guy, named X-a-n-t Xant, they sound the same but are two completely differentpeople." Midna said spelling his name out clearly.
"My brain is too tired for this right now," I complained scratching my head with my free hand and retracting my claws.
Xant stood up and bowed, "Welcome home lady Midna, may I ask who this ruffian is," I growled not at all happy being insulted by a much more intellectual sounding version of Zant.
"Your brother was a loon and your a stuffy pompous jerk, what a fun family," I muttered quietly enough Midna couldn't hear it.
Xant shot me a dirty look as Midna began to introduce me, "Xant this is Chris, I met him along the journey to return this world to normal, he was a great help and well..." Midna paused and looked me straight in the eye her face turning red, "I must begin planning our wedding right away!"
"We-wed-wedding!?" Xant yelled nearly falling over again. "Why ever would such an elegant lady such as yourself wish to marry such a dirty rough scoundrel?"
"Your just gonna keep pushing me aren't you pal... ever heard the expression don't poke the bear, it's a very wise saying," I said repressing my anger.
"Chris," Midna scowled at me slightly and I backed off, "he is no scoundrel, he is kind, considerate and has saved both me and this world." Xant sighed, "Would you please show him to his room," Midna asked walking off before either of us could say anything.
Once we had turned a corner Xant suddenly wheeled around, "What did you do to lady Midna, she would never marry one such as you, surely you have her under some form of mind control!"
"Poke," I said slightly irritated by Xant's attitude so far. "Look man, I don't know where you get your judge of character from but from where I stand, you and me, we're about on the same level. At least for now, your Midna's servant or some deal like that right?" Xant nodded slightly startled by my outburst, "Technically I am currently a servant of Midna's as well, as I serve her by protecting her from big fugly beasties, get it, got it... good. Now if I remember correctly Midna so kindly asked you to show me to the room in which I will be staying." Xant nodded turned and was silent the rest of the trip to my room. He opened the door showed me in and left closing the door without a word. "What a grump," I said after a minute of admiring the room. "I've never stayed in a room this big... I think I hit the limit on too much of a good thing here, then again it is a palace... Midna's palace at that." The whole room was black like the entire palace and all of the decor matched. "Uck, by the end of this I might just be completely sick of black... I know one thing I'm already sick of, smelling like a rotting carcase."
Just then Midna stuck her head in the door startling me slightly. "I don't have much time right now, I just came to tell you, that door," she said pointing to a door to her right, "is the washroom, our magic has helped us develop quite a few things those in the light don't have, like showers." I was shocked to hear that they actually had showers, "Oh, and be nice to Xant please, he and Zant served my family a long time and despite Zant's previous betrayal, Xant is much more trustworthy."
"That's not exactly easy but for you I'll try," I said giving her a small bow as she left the room. Hey... come to think of it, I'm not even sure if I can take this armor off... or whats underneath for that matter.I grabbed the clawed metal glove on my right hand and pulled, it wouldn't budge at first but after wiggling around my hand and pulling a little harder it finally came free. My skin looked the same, and besides being a little sweaty from the glove nothing seemed to be different, until I looked at the back of my hand. "HOO HA WHOA," I yelled jumping back a good three feet. My hand had its normal skin colour but there were strange line markings that resembled those on Midna. I pulled back the sleeve of the chain mail I wore and the lines proceeded about half way up my forearm. "How could I not have noticed this at all before... oh well, doesn't seem to have any effect on my health or anything so I'm good." I rolled back down the sleeve and looked down at the chest plate I had yet to take off since I arrived here.
I sighed, this thing is on way too tight for me to lift off like normal armor, even if someone else were to help... so...I thought begining to inspect the armor with my hands. I found small indents that I had never noticed before and thought they were possibly battle worn dents. After a moment of searching I found ten dents perfectly spaced so my fingers and thumbs were all lined up near the center of my ribcage. No way that's coincidence, I thought pushing down and a small little compartment opening in response. I looked inside this tiny hole just below where the indents had been and saw a little lever the looked as though it could be pulled out, I grabbed hold of it with two fingers due to its rather small size and pulled but it did not move, I got a little flustered and turned my hand and the lever turned ninety degrees then locked in place. I pulled and it came out and with a loud clank my chest plate suddenly retracted all of the armor on my back and fell right off. Oh... uber, kay umm... chain mail is on just like chain mail should be, as are the clawed boots, so I shall have a shower. I walked into the washroom and found it to be very black as well, and the huge mirror just created an illusion of more black. I used one clawed boot to yank off the other then forcefully yanked the other from my foot with my hands.
"Come to think of it how am I going to clean this stuff, I mean if I just put it back on my shower will have been useless," I said exasperated. I let out a sigh and saw a puff of smoke come out of my nostrils. "Ooo, there's an idea," I said grabbing the glove and chest-plate from my room. I held up the chest-plate and took a whiff, "Besides anything that hit it like dirt its pretty clean, but..." I said taking a deep breath in. I held the air for a minute then used it all to exhale a small concentrated hot flame onto the armor. When the armor turned red I realized I needed to cool it and luckily remembered that my fire breathing made it next to impossible for me to burn myself. I held the armor up with my right hand and used my left hand to open the shower door, which was made of a strange black glass that blurred the inside of the amazing walk-in shower beyond recognition. I turned on the shower as cold as it would go and held the armor under it each drop letting off a hiss. once it stopped hissing I pulled the armor away and gave it a close inspection. It looked clear of any minor filth so I put it off to the side to dry and repeated the process a little quicker with the boots and glove. After removing the chain mail which I also carefully repeated this process with I noticed the clothes I wore, it reminded me of any old normal clothes from back home, black t-shirt, little more loose then I would have thought, with strange red designs like the green ones on my arm. The pants which were also a lot baggier then I though due to the tightness of the chain mail had the same colour and designs. my socks were thick black wool ones that probably were the reason the boots had stayed on so tight.
After I had finished "heat cleaning" all my armor I took of my shirt and realized something, this is fabric, it'll burn... or will it...I spit a small ember on the right sleeve and waited for a moment, the flame sat there, it did not grow larger nor shrink. "What the hell," curious I spat a huge flame onto the centre of the shirt and was amazed as it simply sat there. I lit the whole shirt ablaze and after about a minute I put it under the running water and it went out. It was however wet now so I heated my breath and blew on it until it was dry. I shook the shirt off and threw it on a nearby hanger nob, the kind you would see in a dressing room. I quickly did the same with my pants and the black boxers I apparently had on as well, closing the door as I finished and turning up the temperature on the water to avoid hypothermia. The water felt good on my skin, I looked at my arms, legs and chest and was amazed at the change from Earth. "Average on Earth, freaking... wow here," I wasn't massively masculine but it was enough to give off a vibe of don't mess with me. I smiled giddily and noticed a scar across my chest, turning my smile into a bit of a frown. "He hit me pretty hard, that scar will probably be there a long while, hopefully it'll stop hurting soon though. I feel really vulnerable, maybe that much armor isn't a good thing after all it makes it hard to take a hit when you actually do take one directly."
"Chris," I heard Midna's voice and I was certain she was in the same room.
"WAH..." I yelled startled then remembered I wasn't visible in here, "... you startled me that's all, what's up?"
"You've been in there a while are you okay?"
"Yea, it's just been a long time since I had a nice shower, I'll be out in a minute. Don't you go peekin' at me now."
"Aww, but we're getting married so why not."
"Getting, wouldn't you like to save those kinds of things until after?" What did I just say?!
"Mm, but that's so long..."
"Long... I was under the impression this was all extremely sudden."
"Well, it... is, but like I said I want you to enjoy yourself before you have to leave, I just wish you didn't have to leave at all."
Should I tell her about my idea, no not yet... "So um, I'd like to get out now, so if you could kindly give me a moment..."
"Sure," Midna said and I heard her close the door. I turned off the water and realized there wasn't a towel in site. I guess it should work...I thought breathing flames on my arms the remaining drops evaporated. Not sure if I wanna risk burning myslef... umm... there I thought leaving the area around my waist a little damp out of nervousness. I quickly threw on the now clean boxers, pants, shirt and socks. I stretched and decided to throw on the clawed boots as well. I opened the door and Midna looked shocked. Guess she didn't see the clothes lying around in there? She ran over and grabbed my hand and began looking at the markings, Oh right, "Amazing, you even have the marks of the Twili." Midna shook her head clear, "Right, I came in here to tell you Xant will show you around the palace, then you can go to bed or hang around for a bit if you want, just make sure to get some sleep, I'm sure you'll love the sheets, you can only get those in the twilight. Their made of the pure essence of shadow itself, outside this realm they would just dissolve."
I was amazed they could create sheets out of something like that. I stretched and yawned feeling drowsy already, "Well... hey, didn't you say you were going to set me up with some "duties" as well."
Midna nodded, "Tonight I'm just surveying the damage, I will asses it all a bit a later and assign duties to all those who aren't injured."
"Injured?"
"Yes, being stuck as a shadow beast really drains people, just like my imp form drained my powers, that's why I passed out after I healed you... speaking of which, how was my dark magic able to heal you, all I've ever been able to use it for previously was destruction or moving things, stuff like that?"
"Mm, that's due to my armor, it absorbs dark energies but anything light, like the sun drains away my energies remember?"
"Right, well I have to go, things to plan, even with several assistants it will be hard planning cleanup and a wedding." Midna said walking off. Damn even the way she walks drives me nuts, gah, hey pay attention she's having trouble idiot, you've gotta help. I thought noticing I had been staring at Midna a little inappropriately each time she hadn't been exactly paying attention to me. Hm, she said Xant was going to give me a tour... I'll go with him, once I know the place inside and out, I'll see if I can find Midna, I'll follow her around and clean up what I can. Just as I finished concocting my self-deemed ingenious plan Xant opened the door. After probably about two long hours Xant provided me with a small amount of food apologizing that he could not provide more. I told him it was fine and that I wasn't really all that hungry anyways, my stomach growled clearly stating my lie. Xant apologized again and said there would be a large banquet once everything was cleaned up.
Once Xant had left me, and I had finished the tiny bit of food, which was nothing special really, just some strange meat that tasted a lot like steak, some random veggies, and a piece of bread which I promptly toasted. I took a deep whiff of the air and was off in search of Midna. I saw enough wreckage I could probably clean up, but I don't wanna mess anything up so I'll pay attention to what Midna says or thinks should be done about the problem. I walked out from behind a corner and heard voices drawing closer and quickly jumped back behind the corner peeking out as the voices drew ever near. Midna came out around the far corner and turned down the hall walking towards me, I quickly grabbed for my cloak, which I had been unable to wash but took it along just in case, I pulled it up around me and vanished from sight. "We'll need a couple people to fix up those plants back in that garden too," blah I'm no gardener, I thought as Midna and two assistants turned the corner. Midna walking up front took the corner tight forcing her two assistants to scurry to one side and me to shove my back flat against the wall.
Midna was merely walking casually and so her feet were rather low and she managed to trip over my boot. The two assistants rushed to catch her and succeeded much to my relief. Midna had a suspicious look when she observed nothing wrong with the ground itself. With a smirk on her face she said almost as if she knew I was nearby, "Oh, make sure to tell Chris to watch our for any tripwires or possible invisible debris," I laughed internally as I followed Midna as quietly as possible. Midna's assistants were ever vigilant in following and writing every word Midna said. "Get someone strong to patch up this floor," Midna said motioning to a floor with large holes, with ruble sitting all around. I waited until Midna turned a corner then threw off my cloak and began picking up as much ruble as quickly as I could. To my surprise certain pieces of the ruble automatically sought out other pieces and joined into a perfect piece in my hands. I quickly brought the chunks the formed to the holes and placed them in like jigsaw puzzle pieces. After placing each block however it fused with the floor and I felt like I had been drained slightly. After following Midna some more and replacing some other broken structures I quickly found that the stone drained some energy from whomever was fixing it to fix itself.
After several long hours of clearing mainly ruble, most of which I was not sure how it had been created in the first place I felt almost completely drained. Midna yawned, "Well, it's nearly two in the morning, I will need some sleep if I'm going to make it through the day tomorrow." Oh wow, two AM, no wonder I'm tired. "I think I'll go check on Chris in his room first however," Midna said and without a second thought my legs had bolted in the direction of my room. Can't let her get there before me, if she knew how I just wore myself out she'd probably be furious. I turned down the hall my room was in and sprinted my cloak falling off and my sheer speed nearly causing me to miss the door, I grabbed the handle to stop myself. As I stopped my momentum turned the handle and I shoved the door open and closed it quickly until about an inch from closing where I slowed to a crawl to close it silently. Just as the door snapped quietly shut a voice piped up from behind me, "Hi Chris!"
"Ah," I jumped near five feet in the air and whirled around to see Midna sitting on the foot of my bed, "gah, don't scare me like that... what are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you but you weren't here when I got here, where were you, and why were so rushed to get in here?"
"Uh, you see me and Xant were playing a little game of tag and I said if I could get to my room before he got me I win, so yea ha looks like I win." Midna just stared at me with a look that plainly told me that was the lamest made up excuse she had ever heard. "Ok... fine, I followed you around and repaired pretty much everything I came across with the exception of like flowers/ trees since I'm not great with plants. I'm really sorry for not saying anything but I... I..." I let out a huge yawn and stretched. My vision became blurred as I struggled to keep my eyes open, "Night night time," I said falling over and into a deep sleep before I even felt myself hit the ground.
I awoke with a start in what looked like a black infinite space and looked around frantically. There was no one around, I tried to call out but when I opened my mouth no sound came out. I stood up and ran straight ahead but there was nothing, I turned every which way, nothing... just miles and miles of nothing. Unsure of what else to do I plucked some hairs from my head ad placed them in a small noticeable lock on the ground. I turned the opposite way and ran as hard and fast as I could and after about five minutes I whirled around and looked down. To my amazement the hair HAD moved but not in the way it should have. It was now floating right around waist height. I reached down and felt the "ground" below and found there was nothing there. Reminding me slightly of a cartoon now that I had found there to be no ground I suddenly began to fall.
Suddenly I hit ground with a thud and could not see anything, I realized I was tangled up in sheets and a blanket. I struggled for half a minute finally managing to find a hole to pop my head out through in the soft, lovely prison. "Mmm, Midna was right these sheets are incredibly soft." I hugged the softness for a moment then realized that Midna had been talking to me last night. I shot straight up and noticed the lighting had changed so very little it seemed as though that maybe two hours had passed, however I could feel that a much longer period of time had passed. "Xant!"
Not but half a second later Xant poked his head in the door, "Yes?"
"What time is it?"
"About half past two I believe, good morning, or afternoon I suppose..." I got up quickly noticing I still had all my clothes on minus my boots, I quickly threw on my boots and bolted from the room. I dashed to where Xant had showed me Midna's room was and I was about to fling the door open when my brain clicked on. Don't be stupid knock first! Stopping abruptly I knocked and there was no answer. I ran around asking about Midna but no one seemed to know where she was. Ah what the hell there is no way every single person I've asked doesn't know where she is, is she avoiding me... but why? I pondered this as I wandered back to my room, I was sure if I couldn't find her she would send word to me of where she was. I grabbed the knob to the door of my room and heard a very curious noise inside and swung the door open. To my amazement there were four small Twili children running around my room throwing pillows at each other. I felt my eye twitching as they grew louder and I grew more irritated.
"Would you all just stop it!" I yelled and all four children sat down and starred at me. I sighed, "Now, what are you all doing in my room?"
"Lady Midna told us someone would be here to watch us and that later we should bring him down to the main hall," the one girl of the group who also seemed to be the oldest pipped up.
"Okay... not sure why Midna would want me to look after some kids... but yea anyways, when you said later how long is later from right now?"
"Mmm... I think about five minutes."
"GAH! Five minutes, how long long have you four been here?"
"About an hour and a half." I'm glad I kept all the dangerous stuff locked up in that drawer, I thought noticing the drawer I had stored my glove and the other armors and things I had was still tightly locked and shut.
"Ok, the main hall huh, it's probably some kinda..." I stopped mid-sentence and thought back a long time ago. I had a dream about a big hall before... Midna was there, and... a bunch of shadow beasts, it hadn't made any sense... Midna had made a toast... but she was an imp and there were shadow... beasts... of course! The shadow beasts are Midna's people but since I knew no other form for them that's how they appeared and the same goes for Midna, so does that mean there's going to be a big fancy dinner and Midna is going to toast me? Oi, I'm not ready for that at all..."All right new plan, I... am taking these," I said opening the drawer with the key I kept on me at all times and taking out the chain mail, glove and chest piece I walked towards the washroom. "I will be five minutes, I would love it if you guys could clean up the mess you made of my room, at least a bit, then when I come out we're gonna run down to the main hall as fast as we can okay?" Without giving them a moment to respond I closed the door and quickly struggled to throw on the armor as it was probably the most "formal" thing I had to wear. I opened the door and found everything back in its place besides the bed which was slightly mussed up but i never made my own bed so it made no difference to me. I motioned toward the door and the kids all ran off rather fast for having such small legs.
"It's just around this next corner," the girl who now seemed to be all of their voices told me and just as they all turned the corner I felt something and stopped. I looked around and was just about to take off again when I heard rapid mumbling, after perking up my ears a bit I heard that it was Xant.
"I can't believe lady Midna would even suggest testing him in such a way... what if something actually happens... I suppose she said for me to stay close, so it should be fine... oh dear I'm going to be late!" With his final words I bolted around the corner and saw the children all standing outside a door and rush in as they saw me. I came to a complete stop just before I reached the door I straightened my armor and made sure my hair wasn't completely out of control. I never was good in front of crowds...I thought walking out in plain view of the door and was amazed at the sheer size of the room. Every wall had tables nearby, with people sitting on the side facing inwards, the middle of the room lay completely bare at the moment, save for me as I had wandered into the very centre of the room in awe.
Just as I snapped to and realized I was in the very centre of the room Midna pipped up, "Ah finally, the guest of honor has arrived," I wheeled around to look at her and slightly confused pointed to myself in a questioning manner. She nodded and continued to speak, her voice somehow amplified without the use of any visible mic or speakers, "Now come on over and have a seat right here." She gestured to a seat next to her and I quickly and carefully made my way to the chair as I felt the eyes of every Twili in the room staring at me. I looked at my exposed left hand and realized that my skin was even far diffrent from their own. Midna and all the Twili had a pale-ish blue skin tone that by far contrasted the normal human peach skin colour I had always had. I finally reached my seat and I felt all eyes drawn off me and to Midna now, "I have asked you all here to thank this tremendous hero of a man, Chris, for his efforts in restoring our kingdom, but not just him, all of you as well as he could not have done it all by himself, so thank you all of you." Everyone clapped for a brief moment then stopped and allowed Midna to speak again, "I am sure you are all aware already but I would just like to make it official with a toast," Midna stopped to pick her glass up, and everyone followed suit, "To me and my future king, Chris," she said turning right towards me and raised her glass. Blushing slightly I raised my glass and with a light tap against Midna's raised it to my lips and drank.
Ho, whatever this is its pretty damn strong, I don't think this is even their hard stuff either, I thought shuttering a little after a swig. "And without further adue let the feast begin!" I looked at the table and to my amazement food now sat where no food had been before. Sighing at all the utensils that sat near my plate I grew flustered in trying to remember which was used for what and instead shifted my right hand into the large shadow claw and skewered anything I wished to eat. No one seemed to have a problem with it besides Xant who I just now noticed had the seat on the opposite side of Midna.
"So... Xant, how long exactly have you known Midna?" I asked hoping to get him to think about Midna so I could figure out jsut what exactly he felt for her.
Xant opened his mouth and I began delving into his thoughts seeing a bud of a thought of Midna. "No mind reading at the table Chris," Midna said abruptly causing me to nearly fall over backwards.
"I would never," I half-lied.
"I know you well enough to know when your trying to read someones mind," Midna said scolding me slightly. I scratched the back of my head and looked into Midna's mind a bit. "I bet your reading my mind right now. You know I love you but please just stop,"I heard Midna's thoughts clearly but didn't show any reaction.
I sighed, "Yea okay Midna I was going to read his mind, only because despite the fact you have known him long, he is Zant's brother, I just don't feel I can trust him. I'm sorry, I'll stop." I said bowing and quickly throwing apiece of what looked like chicken into my mouth with my ring finger claw. Several hours passed as we ate our fill and Xant told stories of when Midna was little, from which I came to realize the Twili's magic allowed them to live a lot longer then natural. Midna I discovered was actually over a century old. "Yet I'm the first person you've fallen in love with!?" I asked keeping the mental mail just to Midna.
"Even if you don't believe that you're the first man I've fallen for it is true,"I sat back and relaxed my stomach feeling rather full. Midna stretched obviously feeling a little full as well, "Now then, she said her voice becoming loud once again, for those of you who would like to stay there will be a dance until much later, please enjoy," she said bowing out as slow music began to play from nowhere. Midna grabbed my hand obviously wanting to dance, I stood up despite the fact I knew I was probably the worst dancer I knew, and I knew some bad dancers. Despite this fact I danced the duration of the song with Midna, well enough that she was happy. When we sat back down the wine glasses we had had earlier had been replaced by larger glasses of a more regular kind and were filled with a bubbling black liquid that had red swirls within it.
That doesn't exactly look...I began to think but was stopped short as Midna grabbed the glass sloshed it back slammed it down and the glass refilled automatically after a few short seconds. Standing there with my mouth agape and one eye twitching the other wider then my mouth Midna looked over. "What's wrong, scared?" she said picking up the refilled glass. I grabbed the one at my spot and starred at the liquid which swirled even more red as it gently wobbled in the glass. I tipped the glass a bit to get a taste and was happy to find it merely tasted sweet with a bit of a bite. I sloshed back the first glass and put it down as Midna picked up her third already.
"Uh, Midna, don't you think you're drinking a bit much?" I asked as my glass was suddenly full again.
"Bah, thish ish nothing," she said already slurring her words. Suddenly the music became more upbeat and Midna giggled like a giddy little girl and grabbed my hand yanking me out onto the dance floor. I attempted to dance keeping Midna close but not too close that she would try anything... awkward. Once the music had gone back to a much slower pace Mind had already quickly stumbled over to her drink and pounded back a few more before I could even get there. I had a few more and then saw that Midna had fallen into her chair and was now snoring. I looked around for Xant but found him to be nowhere in sight.
"Bah, the one ti... hic... time I need that guy and he's... actually off having a good time, go figure." I said a little disoriented from the drinks. "Ah, okay, self check," I said standing on one foot and trying to touch my nose. I hit the side of my nostril and judged that to be a bit out of it. I tried to walk a short quick straight line and found myself unable to without wobbling a bit. "Gah, I'll just bring Midna to her room, then head off to my own." I walked over to Midna and gently picked her up with one hand behind her back and the other holding her legs at the knees.
As I left the room I felt Midna's arms suddenly go up around my neck and I looked down at her to see her eyes looking at me in a way that told me she wanted me. "Midna," I said looking at her very seriously.
"Yes," she said in an almost moaning tone.
I shuddered slightly, phased for a moment by the way she had responded, "Midna, your drunk out of your mind, just go to sleep."
"Awe, but I'm not even tired, the night is young, where are you taking me?" it was almost as if she was paying no mind to anything she even said herself.
"It's late, your drunk, and I am taking you to... hic... your room."
"Ooo, good idea, we can have some fun there," she said startling me slightly. Keep cool man, she's so drunk I doubt she'll even remember saying any of this. Just leave her in her room and go to bed, don't be stupid. Something in the back of my mind however continued to nudge me, come on, like you said she won't remember, you know you want to! I shook my head No no no, bad, her... room... leave... sleep, no delays! I finally came to the door to her room and she took one arm off my neck and swung it wide over her head and brought it down on the knob and pushed the door open slightly giggling in such a drunken manner I was amazed she was still awake. I walked across the room and put her gently down on her bed and began to stand upright to head back to my room when suddenly something clasped around my neck and pulled me back down. Midna had grabbed me and was now holding my face right in front of hers.
I grabbed Midna's arms as gently as I could while being force full enough to remove them from my neck, "Midna, look your obviously too drunk to think, now get some sleep."
With that I assumed I would be free to walk out and Midna would get some rest, I quickly found myself wrong however. Also as quickly as I found myself wrong I found myself sitting, with Midna's legs on either side of me her, she was nearly pressed right up against my back. I moved forward slightly then felt her hands on my shoulders near my neck, I was about to attempt to stand when I suddenly felt very relaxed, Midna had started massaging my shoulders. "Ooo, so much tension, you just need to relax and take that armor off."
Almost in a relaxed trance I reached for my chest plate to take it off then realized what I was doing and shook my head. "Ah... Midna, sto... stop. You need to, oh that felt good... you need to just get some sleep!" I snapped myself to and stood upright twirling around and looking Midna straight in the eye.
"Aw, you don't wanna have some fun?" Midna said tugging slightly at the shoulder to the top of her usual dress. My will grew dull and my mind tired, without thinking I put my hands on either of Midna's shoulders.
She looked slightly startled, my mind was clearly acting out of exhaustion, "SLEEP," I said only half as loud as my mind seemed to focus it on Midna's mind. Midna's eyes snapped wide open then she suddenly slumped over clearly sleeping like a baby. So what I can control people slightly? Ah whatever, sleep time, I might end up passing out in the hall with what I got left for energy... Midna sure knows how to tire a guy out.I turned towards the door and took two steps and stopped. My vision was swirling and I felt dazed. "Ah, apparently making someone sleep take more energy then I thought," I said stumbling back two steps now. I began to fall over towards Midna and realized with my armor on I might end up suffocating her if I fell on her, or just plain crushing her. I threw all my wait in the opposite direction and felt face first on the ground and passed out.
Ok, so what you think? I have a lot more ideas, next couple chapters are gonna be great fun though, can't say much, of course one will involve a wedding, but what else does my short remainder in this world hold, guess you'll have to wait for my next update to see ;P.