"So, where to next, Midna? Something about a Mirror of Twilight, I remember hearing."
"I don't know where it is," she confessed. "But if we can find it, it might be our last hope."
"It's not much of a hope if we don't know where to start looking."
"Sorry. I guess I'm not much help there, huh? Maybe you should keep an eye out for it on your travels." She paused. "Just were do you plan on going next, anyway?"
"I was going to go see Telma, and see about these people trying to save Hyrule. Maybe they'll know something."
"It's worth a try... maybe they'll know the way without knowing it."
"It'll be a convenient coincidence if they do. I don't suppose you remember where we left Epona?"
"Lake Hylia. You asked a couple of Zoras to keep watch while you were in the lakebed temple."
"I think I'll be able to get back to the castle town quicker as a wolf then."
Midna didn't reply, grinning broadly and touching the black crystal to his forehead.
He was driven to all fours as he changed again, this time somehow slightly different. Perhaps because of the lack of twilight.
Midna landed on his back, patted his flanks, and said, "Off we go then wolf boy. And lets see if we can't scare anyone along the way."
There wasn't anyone, however, but he wasn't really looking for them. He knew the way, and he was just as used to being a wolf by now, so he enjoyed the running.
He shifted back just outside the main gate with a faint feeling of regret, but brushed it aside and continued in. A few people pointed, many stared, the sight of him walking confidently through the throngs and crowds was more than just unusual. The last time he'd been here as himself was before he'd taken Ilia to Kakariko, and people were mostly distracted with the business of the water shortage then, so paid him little attention.
Ignoring the reaction he drew, he headed to Telma's bar. Telma looked up from wiping down a patch of a table when he entered, and immediately dropped the cloth she'd been using and hurried over, clearly pleased to see him.
"If it isn't Tails! You made it back alright I see. How've you been?"
"I'm fine, thanks, a few more bruises than last time, but nothing serious."
"Says the fox who had a nice gash in is sword arm until recently," Midna muttered from his shadow.
"Good to hear! You've got good timing though, just a few moments ago I was talking about you."
She lead him over to a trio sat around the table in the back, where he'd seen the soldiers on his first visit here. That seemed like so long ago now, though in actuality it had been little over a day. He suddenly realised, he hadn't slept for longer, and probably should get around to it.
"Hey everyone," Telma called to the trio. "This young man is Tails. You all introduce yourselves, I'm sure you can all help each other." She turned back to him. "These are the friends I mentioned who are trying to help Hyrule. Actually, there's another one of us, but he's off investigating something about the eastern desert. An old man named Auru, he is, if you see him, have a chat."
"I'll remember."
"Good. Relax a bit while you're here, and if you need anything, just ask."
She left him with a wink, leaving him with the trio. One rather weedy looking man grinned feebly and said, "You look rather formidable, Tails. I'm Shad. I'm afraid I'm rather not formidable, except at reading. Though, history and legends are my cup of tea personally." His voice identified him as one of the people he'd overheard when he last passed through here.
That sparked his interest. "Legends? What about the Mirror of Twilight?"
"Hmm, I'm sure I read something about that just now, actually. Give me a moment to find it," he said, pulling out a book. Within moments, he was lost in it.
A tall woman in armour far more impressive than that of the Hylian guards shook her head, "Forgive him his books, get him in one and you won't hear from him for hours. I'm Ashei. I can tell you're a skilled warrior at a glance."
"I wouldn't say skilled..."
"Nonsense, I heard about you defeating that beast on the bridge – truth be told, I tried my hand at that and didn't made a dent on it."
"It was a case of hitting the right spot, I guess."
"An achievement to be proud of all the same. Before we get too distracted though, I've got to tell you, the mountain to the north of Hyrule, Snowpeak – somethings wrong up there, I can feel it, but I can't tell what. Do me a favour and keep clear of it for me, if I know more, I'll tell you."
"Sure, I'll help out if I can."
Tails turned to the last member of the trio. He looked back from behind a simple helmet, masking his face, but Tails was sure he recognised him.
"Rusl, is that you hiding behind there?"
"Oh, you're perceptive," Rusl replied, removing his helmet and looking rueful. "I should have known I couldn't hide from you. I've heard about your ventures, saving Colin, and your odd friend. Does he ever slow down?"
"Sonic? Not often. He's got a natural impatience."
"It shows. The children enjoy his company, at least, and Renado's keeping them safe. For someone not here for long, you've made a remarkable impact on people."
"Just doing what I felt right," he replied, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, hopefully I'll be able to help you out with that... like the rest of us here, I'm gathering information to help out."
"I've got it!" Shad exclaimed suddenly, making them all jump. "The Mirror of Twilight was said to be used to punish the most dangerous threats and criminals to Hyrule, though how isn't listed here."
"Where is it?" Tails and Midna asked, though Midna of course was heard only by him.
"Ah, let me see..." he scanned a page, then continued, "Deep within the Arbiters Grounds, in the Gerudo Desert to the far east."
Tails gave a glance at the map, noting no routes to the desert. Ashei caught the glance, and understood.
"You'll want to go talk to Auru," she told him. "He's at Lake Hylia, last I heard. If anything, he'll have a way for you to get there."
"Thanks. I'll get back to you on what I find."
"Good luck," she replied as he left.
"Do coincidences never cease in Hyrule?" he murmured to Midna as they left.
"I'm not complaining. They seem to be in our favour. We now know where the Mirror is, and who to talk to about getting there. You're drawing an awful lot of attention, you know, wolf boy."
"I know. I think Rusl was right, I've made an impact on a lot of people, so I'm getting a reputation in these parts."
"Famous for something they'll never know the truth about."
"You're wrong, Midna. Even if I have to tell them myself, they'll know the truth."
"My, aren't we getting bold?"
"Oh, hush," he replied, completely ignoring the fact that everyone thought he was talking to himself. "I'm enjoying myself, even if it does have it's bad points."
"Like getting blown up, and cut in your sword arm?"
"Yeah, like that, and your creepy Zant. Does he have a sense of humour, I wonder?"
"Probably not. Not one as fun as mine, at least."
"I just had a sudden idea."
"Oh? Do tell wolf boy, I find your insights fascinating."
"Be nice. Remember back in Ordon when I was a wolf the first time, that squirrel talked to us?"
"Well, you, but yes, what's your point?"
"I wonder what Epona might say if I met her as a wolf."
"That's your insight?"
"You asked. I think I'm going to need to be a wolf again anyway."
"Why's that?"
"You can only warp me through those portals as a wolf, right?"
"Oh, right. To Lake Hylia then?"
"Whenever you're ready."
As they reformed at Lake Hylia, Epona, who had been grazing nearby, paused in her chewing and glanced up at him, clearly recognising him, but saying nothing. Somehow she understood that he wasn't quite done yet, and returned to grazing. She was more perceptive than he'd thought.
Auru was stood atop a pillar with a ladder up the side. It seemed unlikely that Auru had managed to climb it.
Tails, of course, just flew up, Midna having returned him to his own form.
"Ah... I thought it was about time for you to arrive. Master Tails, I believe?"
"That's me," he replied brightly.
"I am Auru, though I can tell you already know this. I've heard a great deal about you from Telma."
"Yep, that's definitely me, making a name for myself as usual."
"Ah, but your friendly manner belies your courage. You've heard of the strange events in the desert, and come to investigate, correct?"
"Not exactly. I'm looking for something there."
"So you don't know... you should, however, if you plan to go there. The Gerudo Desert once held a prison that the worst criminals the land knew were sent to. Legends tell us that those sentenced to death there, where sent directly to the underworld by a cursed mirror kept there. Now that prison is condemned, and even the road to it is impassable."
"The mirror... is it still there?"
"It still abides in the desert at world's end, it and all the doomed inmates. Perhaps, it is the mirror that you seek, for what reasons I cannot say. Perhaps you would consider investigating the desert for me, alongside your own task there?"
"Sounds alright to me, what do you need to know?"
"I need to know what the threat to the rest of Hyrule us, Tails. I need to know what evil abides in the desert that may yet leave and haunt the rest of Hyrule."
"I think I can do that."
"Then let me help you out. You see down there, on the lake, the man named Fyer? I once saved his life, and now owes me a favour."
"Please, don't tell me you mean to have him shoot me to the desert."
"I'm afraid it is the only way I know of... I do not believe your capabilities would get you there safely."
"Alright," he sighed, resigned to being shot out of a cannon again.