Link had been gone for nearly an hour, which was a lot longer than usual. He had disappeared in wolf form. Midna found this odd. Would he be alright like that? Stretching out on the soft, lush grass, she lay and looked up at the stars, which shone brightly in the clear sky.
They didn't have stars in the Twilight Realm. Midna had been fascinated by them ever since she came to the world of light. They were so distant, yet so visible. She outstretched an arm towards the sky, which seemed to never end, deep and black. And the moon...the moon was absolutely breathtaking. It glowed with an pearl light that Midna found so beautiful. It reminded her of the Sols back home in front of the palace, but those had seemed so artificial. There was something about night sky in the Light realm that Midna found fresh, appealing. She remembered what Link had said about the stars one night, several months ago, before she had shattered the mirror.
"Stars make designs called constellations...see? Look, there's an Ordon Goat!" Link pointed up at a group of stars as he and Midna sat at the edge of a cave late at night. Midna squinted and could just barely make out the long horns of the strange farm animals.
"Hey, isn't that the symbol of the Zoras right over there? Prince Ralis had a medallion similiar to it."
"Yeah, I see it too." Link agreed. "And there's the Star constellation to the left of it."
"Star constellation? So it's a group of stars in shape of a star, named after a star? How strange." Midna giggled, her soprano-pitched, melodic laugh ringing clear in the quiet air.
"Yeah...I guess it is a bit strange." His laughter mixed with hers, creating a harmony that added to the beauty of the sky.
A smile spread across Midna's face. Link...he made her feel so happy, so herself. Just thinking about him brightened her spirits. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. She felt warmthrise to the apples of her cheeks, tinting them cobalt blue with a reddish glow.
No...I couldn't have...feelings for him...
Midna thought about this for a good while. The way she admired him, the way she caught her breath when he grinned at her...They had been through so much together. She remembered the way she caressed his cheek in the desert, how safe she felt as he held her in his arm. How much it had hurt to destroy the mirror, the lone tear that would change everything.
But she was hardly human, a Twili. She wasn't even allowed to come to this world of light. Her ancestors had been banished to the Twilight Realm, never to come back. The goddesses would never have it, a Twili and a Hylian, not to mention the holder of the Triforce of Courage...
But I have no place to go...Midna thought. Exiled from the Royal Family of Twilight, if she were to somehow go back, they'd just imprison her. But I don't even want to go back...
And what about Link? He couldn't be attracted to her! In her true form, maybe, but...not like this! He had helped her out numerous times, sure, but that was just what friends do for each other, right? Best friends...she remembered his words. Could it ever be more?
She shook her head vigorously, trying to relieve the stress that clouded her mind like fog. All of the sudden, everything seemed clear to her.
Link...I care about you more than I have ever cared for anyone in the entire universe, of both realms...I hope you feel the same way...
Midna sat up and grinned. Somehow, someday...she would tell him.
Suddenly, she heard a voice. It was familiar; soft regal, and feminine.
Midna...I'm sorry I've put you in this position. Please...only you can seize the power of the Shadow...
Surprised and confused, she floated up and looked around. No one was there.
"Hello?" She called out hesitantly. That's when realization hit her.
Zelda.
Link reappeared in the familiar, foggy area where he had always met the Hero's spirit for lessons in battle. Except he was alone. And still a wolf. The air was thin. It didn't have any feeling or depth to it. Air was usually dry or humid, warm or cold. Was it even air at all?
Link had time to ponder those questions as he wandered around the area. He dared not stray too far, but he couldn't just stand around, either. The ground felt like smooth stone, though it was cloudy and foggy looking, as was "sky." The castle that usually stood in the distance was gone. There was...nothing.
"So you've returned."
Link spun around, ears laid back, teeth bared out of pure instinct. A golden wolf with gleaming red eyes looked back at him. He relaxed.
The wolf walked closer to him.
"I sense the burden of the Hero weighs on your shoulders. Tell me of your reasons for returning here."
"Evil has returned to Hyrule. It's different from the power of Ganondorf and Zant. It's not from the Twilight either. Princess Zelda told me of the Treasure of the Sheikah..." Link started, and he spilt the entire story once more. The golden wolf was silent for a few moments.
"I'm afraid that I am of little help to you. No, I was not the Hero of Time, I was merely just a soldier who knew and understood the way of the sword, and felt the need to pass it on, as I had to you. By studying history of the ancient hero and fusing parts of my already broken soul to Howling Stones, I could call upon the next the save Hyrule. I can tell you this much, though; This is Space. Not in the sky, but between worlds, existing alongside the two realms."
"This wolf side of me is all that is left, for my human spirit has gone to the Afterlife. My beast form was commanded to guard this empty realm. An invisible barrier secludes part of the area, filled with magenta smoke that I fear may be the same power that plagues your world. A shadow had entered this world long ago, a single shadow that did not speak or move until recently, a month and a half ago. It took on a humanoid form and created the barrier. I could do nothing. If what the Princess says is true, then you will need to travel to the Twilight Realm to enter Space and face the evil. The only thing left for me to do is teach you the melody that will bring you to the Palace of Twilight." He howled a strange melody, an opposite to the song that warped to the Temple of Time.
"This is the Nocturne of Shadow. It will get you into the Twilight. To reach Space, the Harp's twin will need to play the other song, the Prelude of Light, simultaneously from the world of Light. Perhaps the former Twilight Princess would suffice?"
Link took all this in silently. Former Twilight Princess? He repeated the melody.
"As you warp, your mass is divided up into millions of small particles and sent through space straight to your destination. The evil uses power to extract the energy from you, which can be very dangerous when each individual molecule only has so much energy. The Skull kid that used to watch over the Lost Woods has already succumbed to a horrible fate because of this. Tread with caution and act wisely.
"You're time here is up, for now. Remember, the wielder of the sword determines the strength of the blade. May Hyrule be safe in your grasp."
--
Dun Dun Dun. The truth is revealed!! Anyway, a bit more of the storyline is explained in this here. I thought I did pretty well in the chapter. Peaches is back in the Zone!
Finally, there is a bit more...emotional thingys here. How'd I do?
And now...Peaches' Random Rant!
I just came from an audition. Whew, I was so nervous! I did a cold reading from a play, then sang "My Immortal." by Evanessence. I think I did pretty well. I get results back Friday, so I'll be chewin' my fingernails off till then, Lol! :)
I have family in town and we had a Super Smash Bros Brawl tournament over Labor Day Weekend. I won.:) I was Link the entire time. Shocker, huh?
The more I play that game, the more I think that Midna should've been a playable character. Wolf Link too. That would have been so awesome! Ah well.
In other news, I've done some editing to Fountain of Wishes and recently entered it into a contest at The Legend of Zelda Series .com. Hope I win. I've updated the one on here too if you want to go check it out, althought the differences are very minor.
I feel like I'm forgettin' something...oh well.
-Peaches732