Midna felt sick with fear. Her insides felt like they were on fire, and it alternated with a frostbite-like numbness. The blank, stark walls of the Temple of Time seemed to be closing in on her. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her small shoulders.

Nothing had happened when she played the Prelude of Light. She hadn't warped or anything of the sort. Nothing. Of course, she hadn't known what to expect...the details were so vague.

Midna was here alone. Link was there, alone. She was so worried about him. The Twili had overthrown her for being near a light dweller. If they caught him...

She closed her eyes. No. She couldn't even think about what they would do to him. She shuddered again. It was so cold...

Midna floated over to the Doors of Time and pushed them open. She had expected a bright ray of sunlight, as it was early morning, to warm her skin and chase away the chill that enveloped her entire body. Instead a gust of harsh, icy air nearly knocked her small form back.

She gasped and gripped the doorknob so hard it nearly came off in her hands. When the wind had subsided she tentatively opened one eye and pushed the door the rest of the way open.

The Sacred Grove was unrecognizable. Before it held a serene beauty, with trees looming over the cliffs and the laurel blooming, painting shadows on the ground that was otherwise bathed in sunlight.

No more shadows.

Everything was dark. The trees, the grass, ruins...everything was encased in pale, transparent black and purple flames. Midna stared in horror as the fire whipped around her. It was the opposite of normal fire: cold and dark. The sun appeared to be shining overhead, but there was a wall of pale purple blocking it off, as if the whole world were encased in an amethyst. Midna felt as if she were looking through the stained glass window that she had in her palace back in the Twilight Realm.

According to Link this fire had caused him some serious problems. Midna remembered his descriptions: the fear, the helplessness. It sounded so horrible. And she could feel it too. An ominous feeling...like the energy was being sucked out of her. Immediately her mind flashed back to when she was alone in Hyrule Castle. She had just warped Link and Zelda to the fields. She floated, solemn and still as the soul of the King of Evil known as Ganondorf approached. The Fused Shadows, with a loud thump, joined together, blocking out her vision. Gritting her teeth, she struggled for control. The power of the Fused Shadows was immense, and it was hard to handle. Pushing through, she transformed into a spider-like beast. Spear in hand, she had charged towards Ganondorf. But he had proved to be too much for her. As Midna fell with the castle she was sure it was the end...

But it wasn't. Midna quickly regained her composure. She had to figure out how to contact Link, somehow.

She couldn't stop thinking about these flames. Somehow, they felt...familiar. But at the same time they made her feel weak, as if they were on the verge of overpowering her. Although it was uncomfortable it wasn't nearly as bad as Link had described. He'd even passed out.

Midna sighed. Dropping to her knees she pulled up a handful grass. It felt normal, soft and crinkly. But in the pale, purple fog it looked unworldly. She stood up and let if fall from her hand.

She floated a short ways into the Lost Woods, by one of the many springs. The clean, calm water gave off a sparkle, which was comforting. It reminded Midna that there was still some beauty left in the world. Kneeling down she cupped the cool water in her hands and lifted it to her lips. It was pure and sweet, and calmed her senses. Sighing, she opened her eyes and studied her reflection in the water.

It was the only color she had seen in a while, since the blankness of the Temple of Time and the strange purple-black of these flames. Her eyes, bright red and orange and her hair the color of twilight, stood out compared to the rest of the surroundings.

Except for someone's blue suit.

Midna saw a pair of red eyes that weren't her own in the reflection in the water. They shone brightly through choppy locks of golden-blonde hair. The top of her head was covered in a white wrap. A light scarf covered her chin and mouth. Over the suit she wore a dark cloak. Down the front of the suit was a drawn red eye. Something about that eye looked familiar...

Aghast, Midna quickly floated up and away over the center of the spring, drawing forth a sphere of Twili magic.

The girl held her hands up.

"Whoa, no need to get violent there, Midna. I'm on your side." The girls said casually, clearly not as daunted as Midna was.

"Who are you?" Midna shot back, holding the sphere out in front of her, prepared to strike at any moment. Past experiences had taught her to never trust anyone who claimed to "be on her side". At least not at first. And how did she know her name?

"My name is Sheik, one of the last remaining people of the Sheikah Tribe. I hold the keys to defeating Ruimte."

"Ruimte?"

"The guy who's been causing all this madness...this evil...the pain and death..."

"Well then, spit it out. No time to lose, right?" Midna demanded. She let the dark magic fade, though she still had her suspicions. Sheik nodded.

"Right. Long ago, dark interlopers attempted to gain control of dark power known as the Fused Shadows. These ancient artifacts, as you know, contained dark magic so powerful that the spirits locked them away. After these rebels tried to take the magic for themselves the goddesses chased them into the Twilight Realm, which was where they often sent criminals. You know this story well, as it is the history of the Fused Shadows and your people, correct?"

Midna nodded.

"Well, during the warping process, one of the interlopers managed to escape. This was mid-warp, and he ended up in Space, a world between worlds. I assume Link has told you of Space?"

Midna's heart skipped a beat.

"Wait, you know Link? Can you tell me what's happened to him, how he's doing, anything at all?" She pleaded, wringing her hands.

"Of course. Link had an...encounter with Ghalasat and his guards. He's in pretty bad shape. I helped him through the Palace of Twilight, and I was expecting him to fight a bit better than he did..." Her voice trailed off.

Midna grit her teeth in anger. "This fire stuff," She said, motioning around them. "It's cursed him. He's been all...weak. But...you said in bad shape. What does that mean?"

"Link's got a pretty serious leg wound, and of course the guard's magic couldn't have been good for him. He's unconscious now, but when he comes to I'll help him out." Sheik saw the look on Midna's face. "Yes, I can travel between the realms. I have this." She took out a harp that had been strapped to her back.

"You have one too? That means...wait! Ugh, I completely forgot!" Midna pulled out her harp. "I can use this to get to Link, I can help him-hey!" She yelped, her excitement fading.

In one swift motion Sheik had snatched the harp from Midna.

"What was that for?!?"

"Listen to me, Midna. You cannot return to the Twilight Realm."

Midna bowed her head, her jaw set in anger.

"You are the only one to control the power of the Fused Shadows. You will lift the curse upon Hyrule. This black fire is the magic of the Fused Shadows. You can seize it and return the Fused Shadows back to their original form. There are-"

"Shut up! You can't tell me what to do! I have to help Link, I have too! He could die! I have too...I...I love him..." Midna finished weakly.

Sheik was silent for a moment.

"That may be, but it is your duty as Ruler of the Twili-"

"Former Ruler."

"Fine then, former ruler, to lift the magic before Ruimte spreads it to the Twilight. I can take care of Link. We'll be in touch again, Midna."

"You're leaving?!?" Midna scrambled to her feet. "Wait! How do you know so much about all of this? How will I lift the curse around here? How will I-"

"I wish I could answer all of your questions, Midna." Sheik said sadly. "But my time here is up. However, you do not need my help. You posses more wisdom than you know." She stepped back and pulled something out of her pocket.

"Oh, and by the way...I can tell you what do while you're in Hyrule. After all, I am it's rightful ruler."

Through the scarf, Midna could see a small smile.

"Bye..." Sheik threw something on the ground, and with a loud pop and a flash of light she was gone.

After all, I am it's rightful ruler...

Midna smiled. Of all people, Zelda would be the one to pull off a trick like this.

She stood, straight and proud. She would return the land to it's normal state, no matter what she had to do. She now knew that the future should not be feared, but faced and accepted with the courage to push forward.

Yes, she would cure this cursed land. For Zelda. For Hyrule. For Link.

/

Okay. After a month and a half of lack of inspiration I've scraped up a chapter.

I feel like I'm slipping. My spark...that something that inspires you to write...It's been fading. And now it's pretty much gone.

I need to find it again.

So, I've come up with a new round of questions.

1. What's your favorite piece of work by me? (please specify)

2. New favorite part of this story so far?

3. Critique for my writing in general?

4. Things that inspire you to write, if you write?

5. Tips?

Thanks, guys...

-Peaches732