Chapter Three

Books and Hooks

Three Days Later..

Nik nodded at what Jaki had asked. "If we have the time, Jaki. This journey isn't a vacation."

Jaki giggled. "I know, I know. Can't hurt to see some sights, though."

"She has a point, Nik. Now and then you need a break. And right now we have all the time in the world. Until that happens, Ganondorf shouldn't even realize you're out and about." Midna had decided soon after they left Kakariko that- despite being sixteen and as independent as Jaki was- she wouldn't bring up the finer intricacies of Nik's role, whether the girl knew of such things or not in a direct manner.

Nik rolled his eyes. "Be that as it may, Mid, we also have no idea how I can go about truly fighting this fight. We have no inkling of news about some Sacred Sword that once came to Hyrule from the skies, no knowing if the Triforce even exists. Hylia, we don't even know who your spell doesn't affect and if they're that close to the King, what's stopping them from running to him?"

"Oh, lighten up, love. You'll get wrinkles." Midna said, patting Nik's cheek as he stopped, looking at the tree that stood next to him, a rare one if he had to guess. But then again, yellow leaves on a tree wasn't the most uncommon thing in the world. What really drew his attention was the sound he heard, a flute-like note humming from the tree itself.

He stepped closer, not hearing the two girls calling for him. As he reached his hand out towards the tree, it seemed like the wind picked up exponentially as the leaves rustled and the humming got louder and louder. Finally, as he put his hand on the trunk in his little trance, the tree seemed to open up, and inside the small hole he found what must have been making the noise: an ocarina painted a crimson red with gold bands and with the Triforce- as Midna had drawn the artifact days earlier- embossed on one side of the mouthpiece.

Picking it up, he heard a voice speaking softly. Finally, the Hero's Spirit has been reborn.

Nik threw his head side to side. "What was that?" He asked as he spotted Midna and Jaki a few steps further along the road, both with worried faces. "What?"

"Are you alright, Nik? You sorta zoned out there for a second.. What's that?" Jaki asked, seeing the mass of red in Nik's hand.

Nik held it up. "An Ocarina. It was inside this.. tree?" He looked where the tree had stood, but there was now nothing there in its place, not even a bare plot where the trunk would have stood. "Nevermind. Did you two say anything to me about a Hero's Spirit or something?"

The frown on Midna's face widened. "No, we didn't say anything like that. All we did was call out to you, but you weren't paying us any mind."

Nik frowned then. "Oh. Sorry. I felt something calling out to me. Neither of you heard the note playing?"

Another shake of the two women's heads as the voice sounded again. They cannot hear me, for I am only able to speak with those that are worthy or whom need to listen. I am the spirit known as Phi, and I have resided inside this Ocarina ever since the 8th Heroine crafted me to use against Ganondorf. Alas, although she held the blood of the Goddess Hylia, it could do nothing to defeat the King back then. I was separated from the Heroine as she was forging another vessel for my spirit, a sword of such power to quell that of demons.

"The Sword that Seals the Darkness.. the Master Sword." Nik whispered to himself.

The chuckle that came from the instrument sounded robotic, as unnatural as a wall built to keep something inside. Or out. Correct. It is good you know of the Blade, however I can feel you do not possess it.

"It's hidden, some would say it doesn't even exist."

"Nik? Are you sure you're alright?" Midna asked, her hand on Nik's shoulders as she gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, Midna. Sorry again. There's.. a spirit residing in this Ocarina. It says it's supposed to be infused into the Master Sword and that it has been waiting for the Spirit of Courage to manifest itself."

That made Midna smirk. "Then it seems I was right," She turned away and took a few steps before turning back again, her two-toned hair whipping around her head. "Hero. Do they have any idea about how to find this Sword?"

I.. do not. It seems it's been far too long since the Heroine first fashioned me for the Hero she thought may come.. It makes me believe that she may never have even been able to forge the blade..

Nik sighed dejectedly. "No, they don't. But it keeps referencing a Heroine? I think Purah may have mentioned the title once or twice during the couple of days she was teaching me what I may have needed to know."

"Heroine? The Seven?" There's a huge monument out in the desert dedicated to them." Jaki said as the Ocarina seemed to shake in Nik's palm.

Those seven couldn't think their way out of a paper bag, let alone get our King off his throne. No, the 8th Heroine, the one who was my creator, was later shunned by the Gerudo for her defiance and will to use the Light magic she wielded in opposition to that womanizing bastard Ganondorf.

Nik looked at the Ocarina and then at the two girls. "That honestly really offended the spirit. It says it was created by the 8th Heroine for a Hero she thought would come but never did."

"But there never was an eighth.. Unless, it can't be talking about.. What was the Heroine's name?"

The Ocarina seemed to huff at the question. Quite knowledgeable, this one. Is she part of your growing harem? Nevermind, that isn't important. My creator's name was Zelda Hylia Dragmire, oldest daughter of the first Gerudo King of Hyrule. She hoped things would fix themselves after learning of the tragedy that caused her father's rise to power and did everything within her power, including using that of the Goddess Hylia's bloodline, in order to stop the Dragmire dynasty before it truly began. Alas, the Holder of Courage never appeared, and I was fearful they would never grace Hyrule with their presence ever again, until you took me from my hiding place.

Nik told Midna and Jaki what Phi had just told him, making Jaki gasp. "That's not possible. According to historical texts, the first King Ganondorf didn't even have a daughter, he waited until it was time for a voe to be born and had Ganondorf the Second."

"Lies! I am but a part of Hylia herself but I know who I was entrusted to and whom gave me a purpose, as obsolete as that is at the moment. The very first Zelda of Hyrule created me in this form, and it was she who was designing my new vessel so the Darkness plaguing this land would recede!" Phi sounded out loud, making Nik fumble with the instrument in his hands before catching it with a relieved sigh. The Ocarina was made out of porcelain or something similar and it would not be good to have it drop onto the hard ground.

"What the..? Was that the spirit in the Ocarina?" Jaki asked to Nik's nod. "I thought it could only speak to you?"

"So did I, but it makes sense the voice can be projected. I think we should start moving, though. It's probably not the best idea to sit here talking about things that people could potentially go tell the King about, and then there goes our element of surprise."

Midna nodded. "Yes, you would be correct, Nik. Especially, as it has seemed so far in this strange new Era, we cannot tell who is and isn't affected by my spells to hide your true identity as the next Heir."

"Next Heir.. you are Gerudo, then. I thought so, but the distinct feeling of Hylia also surrounds you.. You are not the King's child, then."

"No, Phi, I'm not. According to my mother, I have no father to speak of, or that she even knows. She says I was conceived immaculately."

"And born with the Spirit of Courage.. It seems perhaps Hylia herself, despite being reborn in mortal form as the many princesses Zelda throughout the ages, has finally decided Ganondorf's usurped throne should return to those who rightfully would rule. Somewhat, at least."

"We really should get moving." Midna iterated again as Nik nodded, the group walking further along the road.

Meanwhile, up in a tree nearby, sat a Gerudo girl with paler skin than even most Gerudo that retain a more Hylian skin tone, shoulder-length dark blue hair that was highlighted with just with red at the tips to it and red eyes. She smirked. "Hmm. A voe not related to the King? And he's in opposition with the Dynasty? The King would probably love to hear such news. However, I may be wrong in what I heard, so I'm going to follow these few for a bit. It's doubtful that this voe is a challenge for his Majesty, but better safe than sorry."

Midna, hearing the girl despite the distance, hummed. If you see Nik as a voe, then it is already too late for you to go running back to Ganondorf. She smirked deviously as the group continued along the way to Lurelin.

Lurelin Village Outskirts, An Hour Later..

"Jaki?! Is that you?" Asked the woman sitting near the gate to the fishing village as she stood up.

Jaki laughed nervously. "Hey, mom. It's been a while. Nik, Midna, this is my mother, Melva." Jaki said, introducing the others to the woman.

Melva had shoulder-length Sheikah-white hair and a pair of glasses verily reminiscent of the ones Purah wore while also dressing in a gorgeous emerald green bikini. The older woman smiled at the other two. "It's nice to meet you both. What brings you home to.. Lurelin..?" Her voice trailed off as Jaki looked towards her, confused.

"Mom? We came in passing, really. Purah sent these two to investigate the seaside ruins."

Melva, however, was staring hard at Nik for a few moments before it clicked and she gasped. "Jinkies! You're a voe!" She said to Nik, who groaned while also being surprised at an exclamation of surprise that wasn't in the Gerudo tongue.

"Hylia above, here we go. Alright, Mid, another one in, then I guess. Yes, Melva, I am the voe who would be King. But that's a secret to most. You just happen to be able to see through the illusion spell Midna put on me. I'm supposed to just look like a regular Hylian to everyone, but circumstances dictate that isn't necessarily the case." Nik explained briefly. "We'll explain everything later. For now, Midna and I are going to look at those ruins. Jaki, make sure she isn't about to do anything we can't have, please."

Jaki nodded. "Of course. Mom won't, but I'll make sure anyway. Sorry, mom."

Melva frowned but sighed. "I get it, Jaki. Just go, before anyone else happens to endanger this mission you all are on. Let's get home, I bet your aunt would love to know you're back in Lurelin."

Jaki grimaced but shrugged as she followed her mother, leaving Nik and Midna alone. "Midna, are you sure-"

"It has to mean something, Nik. Jaki, potentially connected to me and the Twili? Melva, one of your growing number of women? Both of them connected? It can't be a coincidence. I refuse to believe that. Now come on, let's make sure these ruins are worth this trip or not." Midna sounded a bit grumpy, and Nik could easily hear it in her voice as he followed after her.

~LoZ:tLE~

"Your friends truly think I'm just going to rat them out?" Melva asked Jaki once the two were out of earshot of Nik and Midna.

"Yeah, pretty much. I mean, you would be hesitant, too, given his circumstances. And Midna, well.. she means well, she really does. She volunteered to take me out of Kakariko, she uses the same magic as I do, but hers works."

Melva looked at her daughter, intrigued. "Is that so? She did seem a bit.. different than most." She had noticed the very rare skin color that Midna had, one she had only seen once before. "And that boy? He's really..?"

Jaki nodded. "It seems like it. Especially with Impa and Purah involved."

"The leaders? Both of them?" Another nod. "Interesting. And I can only imagine that Midna is another one?"

"She is. First one, actually, despite Purah meeting Nik first. We're looking for proof that the Triforce exists, among other things."

"Triforce? That silly Legend? Why would you all be looking for such an item?"

"Because it's the only way to stop Ganondorf once and for all, or his lineage, at least. According to history, it existed before Hyrule was first established by the Hylian and Zonai effort, before the first Demon King took over. Because of that, it has to still exist, the issue is where it is or how to even find it. We also have reason to believe the 8th Heroine wasn't just real, but she was actively trying to stop her own father."

"Really? Seems like a lot of information to be sure about. Why do you believe this information?"

Jaki rolled her eyes. "Mom, really? Listen, real talk? Midna's magic is no joke. Other than Impa and now you, no one sees through the illusion she has on Nik. To everyone else, he looks like a regular Hylian, as he said."

Melva frowned. "But you see through the illusion, right? What are the conditions behind seeing through it if we three can?"

Jaki sighed, not wanting to explain this without Nik and Midna, it made more sense when they spoke about it. "Midna allowed me to see through the spell because I was involved in their meeting with Impa and I couldn't for the life of Hylia understand why a simple Hylian boy mattered so much, until Midna allowed me to see. Now I sort of get it. Women are attracted to Nik and the power he carries, even as infantile as it is compared to Ganondorf. That's why he only has the three- uh, four- of you instead of the legion of wives the King has kept alive. I wouldn't be surprised if Nik somehow manages to land one of Ganon's wives right out from under him."

Melva's eyes widened as the image of such a thing, with Ganondorf watching it happen while off to the side, popped into her mind until she shook her head, driving the thoughts back away. "A bold claim, still. Enough about all that, how have you been? It's been a few months since I was last back in Kakariko."

Jaki sighed. It was going to be a long day, even being half over already.

Later, Seaside Ruins..

Midna looked at the view of the sea from the stone steps of the ruins, more decrepit than the Temple of Twilight. Or, more like they may have been built that way to begin with. Midna couldn't be sure, but Nik had taken to their task much more determinedly than she was, as he was walking around the perimeter trying to get some reaction from the stone like he said had happened when he found the Temple. The reason being that they had found what looked like a second Mirror, but couldn't be sure as the writing around the outer ring, most of which was missing as the object was only partially still standing and Nik figured the rest of it was probably laying around. "Nik, are you sure it'll still be here? Bandits could have robbed the ruins of anything deemed valuable."

"That's true, but if it was that valuable, none of it would be left. No, I have a feeling the entirety of the Mirror is here, somewhere."

Midna pursed her lips as the sky suddenly grew as dark as the night, both looking up to see a massive black cloud covering the sunlight. Is it about to storm? Midna asked herself before noticing something was glowing at her feet. Looking down, she gasped at the telltale circular line of runes glowing a shade of teal close to that of Twilight magic. Looking over, she saw the broken object glowing in the same manner. "Nik?"

"I see it. Can you read these runes or are they some mix?"

Midna picked up the piece of the broken landmark from her feet, inspecting the runes she saw with a slight frown. "I can read it, but it.. isn't completely Twilight, not anymore at least. It looks more like regular Hylian, judging by the signs we passed on the road here, but there's definitely a Twili spin on the dialect. This piece says.. it's a time. It says, in full, 'Await the Twilight Sun' before cutting off. Look for the other pieces, it looks like there's only maybe two or three other than this sliver." Midna walked over to the monument but the piece she held didn't fit with the words on either side of the outer ring where the circular object was broken from, meaning there was another piece to fit together before this one could go back onto the monument, whatever it really was.

Thankfully, it didn't take the duo long to fully repair the monument as Midna read over the full inscription, which read:

Asylum shall be given to those who Revere the Twilight in this place, awaiting the Eclipse of Opening. Stand before the Mirror and Await the Twilight Sun's last rays. At the Apex of the sunset, the portal shall open for any People of Twilight who find themselves in this Harsh Land.

"So, we were right, then? It's a portal back to your Realm?" Nik asked to Midna's unsure nod.

"Yes, but.. what could it all mean? There's no knowledge of a second portal back home, so why was this even built if knowledge of it never came back to my people?"

Nik frowned. "You alright, Midna?"

Midna sighed as the clouds finally began dispersing, the etchings on this second Mirror of Twilight fading until they were the same, regular color of the stone itself. It was then the two noticed they had been at the ruins for a long while, judging by the position of the sun as it began to set amongst the blue waves of the vast ocean. The stone all around them began to glow again with the gathering darkness, now with added wind billowing through the trees and Midna's hair as a faint sound began droning in the couple's ears. Nik was about to ask what the sound was when Midna, eyes wide, grabbed Nick's arm and pulled him away from the Mirror as the portal indeed appeared, the same black and white checkered pattern erupting from the object. The activation only lasted about a minute as the sun fully submerged itself over the horizon, Midna sighing and holding her heart. "That was close."

"Midna.. don't you want to go back home? Your people must miss their Queen." Nik asked, despite the heaviness of his question weighing his stomach down like he'd swallowed a large stone.

Midna gave him a small smile. "Of course I would like to return home, but.. well, I told you before. This is my home, now. Right here." She smirked, poking Nik in the chest. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, love."

Nik grinned. "Who said I was? Still, though, why push me out of the way?"

Midna giggled. "Did you want to be turned into a mindless creature of darkness?"

Nik hummed. "On second thought? Not at all. Come on, we should probably get back to Lurelin. No telling what Jaki has gotten herself into."

"Yes, we should. Twili magic can be volatile when something like a portal opens, or so I've heard."

Nodding, Nik and Midna made their way back to the fishing village. It seemed their return was needed, as well, as Jaki stood with Melva, both looking distressed as Jaki turned around and made the other two gasp. Instead of the Jaki they had seen since meeting her days before, they now saw the truth revealed as Jaki still retained the overall Gerudo appearance with the exception of her skin, which was now the same tone as Midna, and her eyes shone in the same golden yellow. "There you guys are! What the hell happened to me?!"

Melva stifled a giggle at her daughter's panicking. "I find it strange it hasn't happened to you before."

"Jaki, calm down. Your magic will go haywire if you don't get a grip on yourself. As for your appearance, what do you think the story is?" She asked with a smirk as Jaki narrowed her eyes at her briefly.

Then a look of realization came up on her. "Wait, you're not saying.. I look just like you!"

Midna giggled, pushing her breasts up with her arms as she crossed them. "Not quite, but you're right nonetheless. You, my dear little Jaki, are in fact a Twili, like me, although it seems we were altered into these Gerudo bodies upon arrival. I'd say it was most likely for us to truly fit in, which begs the question, Melva." Midna turned her gaze to the Sheikah woman. "Why didn't you transform back into Twili form? Or better yet, why didn't I?"

Melva sighed. "I guess it's about time to let the truth out. But not out here, come on. We'll finish this talk back at the house."

Jaki looked shocked. "But what about..?"

"Your aunt knows all of this already, she was just younger than I was when.. Just come on." Nik shrugged when Midna looked at him with one eyebrow raised as they followed after Melva.

Shortly after, the group of four were all seated within what was Melva's house, Jaki looking like her normal self again- along with her aunt Delphine- as Melva took a deep breath. "Alright, now this all happened fourteen years ago, when I myself was fourteen and Delphine was just about to have her thirteenth birthday.."

Lurelin Outskirts, Fourteen Years Earlier..

A fourteen year old Melva walked outside the village limits, hearing a distant crying sound. The sky was almost pitch black, but Melva held a small lantern to light her way through the dense jungle foliage. She approached the seaside ruins as the crying became almost unbearably loud, Melva spotting movement in front of what she remembered being a complete disk-shaped monument, now broken in pieces as a bundle of cloth moved, most likely the source of the crying.

Melva gasped, covering her mouth as she looked upon a possibly two year old child, crying loudly with skin much darker than any Gerudo Melva had ever seen before, closer to the color of charcoal than anything else as she picked up the child, perplexed further when the baby's skin tone shifted to match her own, even the child's hair had changed to match Melva's Sheikah white. She frowned, knowing this wouldn't look good to those who didn't know her, and even then.. No, she wasn't about to leave a baby out in the wilds, that would have been beyond cruel.

Days Later..

Melva hated that she had been shunned by many in Lurelin, making Delphine use her magic and skill to fish more for their family to survive, but her family at least supported her decision to take the child in. Melva had named the little one Jaki, after her grandmother Jaclyn who had recently passed. Jaki had a powerful magic resting within her as well, although the few times Melva had seen the toddler use it hadn't been the best experiences so far. Melva only hoped the little one would learn to truly control the powers she held within herself..

Flashback, End..

Jaki was looking down at her hands, shocked at the story her mother had just told. "So I'm.. adopted?"

Melva sighed. "Yes, love, you are. By the powers above I wasn't going to let a baby fend for itself in the jungle, especially not with how the Lizalfos love to hang around those ruins. You would have been dead long ago if it wasn't for me. And I'd do it again, if I had to make that choice."

Jaki nodded, looking at Midna. "And I'm really one of your people? The Twili?"

Midna nodded with a sad frown on her face. "It would seem that way. Although why you were sent here or the circumstances as to how are truly a mystery to me. Even as Queen, I had no knowledge of the second Mirror located at those ruins. I would think, maybe, such an act would probably have been considered forbidden, due to the Twili's.. unpleasant departure from this realm. But yet here we both are, a Queen and one of her subjects who, considerably, needs my help."

"You know, I wasn't fully convinced on your story back in Kakariko, but now I see how truthful you were, Midna. I'm sorry I didn't believe you as I should have."

Midna giggled. "Oh, child, not to worry. Most would be hard-pressed to believe such stories, and being honest I don't particularly care for most's opinions on me being a different race than the general populace."

"Mid, your elderly age is showing again." Nik joked before finding himself nursing the pain in his arm. "Ow."

"I am only several years older than you, love. Do not insult me."

"I wouldn't dream of it, beautiful." Nik winked at her, causing the former Twili Queen to blush at the new sentiment from the young man.

Melva decided to cut in, then. "Alright, now you've heard the truth about why Jaki is the way she is, seen it, even. Now, I think it's time you told me just what the deal is with this illusion spell you mentioned earlier."

Midna nodded and was going to begin explaining when Delphine interrupted. "Wait, what illusion spell? I thought everyone here saw the obvious voe in our house?"

The rest all looked at each other as Midna sighed. "However high the number, it seems these events are doomed to always surprise me." She cleared her throat. "Now, everyone here is aware of how each King gains their respective power, correct?"

Delphine nodded. "Each King begins amassing a harem at the age of eighteen, with each woman bedded adding to their power while some is siphoned from the previous King before that time."

Midna nodded. "Correct. Now, obviously, Nik is not just any voe."

"Well, he's obviously not related to the princesses. Any of them. And I'd find it extremely hard to explain his obvious Hylian looks on being Ganondorf's son with the very rare Pure Hylians still running around." Melva said. "But Jaki mentioned something to me about his conception being immaculate?"

"According to mother, yes. She escaped Ganondorf's dungeons before he got his hands on her and when she reached the safety of Zora's Domain, she found herself pregnant with me."

"That would explain that, yes. Now, as his existence is unknown to Ganondorf even after eighteen years, Nik is now on a journey to save the Kingdom from the evil Ganondorf and his line have saturated the land with. But that means he needs his own harem, as against the idea as he has expressed himself to be."

"I don't like the idea of stretching an emotion as powerful or fickle as love on more than one woman, Midna. We've discussed this." Nik said.

"I know, but you also agree it will be necessary. Therefore, when he found me and I learned his story, I put forth an illusion spell to hide his true appearance from any and all. Unfortunately, it was proven to have a fault as Impa herself also saw through the illusion, as you both now find yourselves."

"So essentially that means that the two of us are now a part of this growing harem?" Melva asked, unconvinced.

Midna nodded. "Numbers four and five, when you take into account that- on Impa's assertion- Purah as well is likely a part of this growing family."

Melva frowned. "Why me and Delphine, though? It makes sense with Impa and Purah, they're both close to eighteen, as I'm sure Nik has recently turned as well. It would have made more sense for Jaki to have been a part of this, honestly."

Midna laughed. "You do have a point, Melva. I myself am twenty-two, so I get the whole age gap thing. But, if this building of the harem is working how I feel it is from observing the situation so far, then age truly means nothing with it. The longer Nik is around those women connected to him- or meant to be, I suppose- the stronger the attraction to this lovable guy. Take Impa, she knew that condition and purposely kept herself away from Nik as much as possible while we were in Kakariko because she said that Purah- having been around him for three full days- is totally haha over him but trying to stay on task with her own assignment. Which reminds me, has she replied to that message you sent her when we made our way to the ruins?" The Twili-Gerudo turned to Nik, who took out his Purah Pad and looked, shaking his head.

"Not yet, although she mentioned going to Hebra in her last message the day before yesterday, so she may not have found a suitable place to stop just yet. Hebra is always coming under snowstorms."

"I'm surprised you know that, having been sheltered in Zora's Domain your whole life." Midna teased as Nik nudged her shoulder, the girl giggling as she bent sideways and straightened back up. "Anyway, we are not following her all the way to Hebra, no offense. I am not going to travel through such hostile territory dressed like this." She motioned to her attire, even though the cloak she wore over the more.. revealing aspects of her clothing looked pretty warm for her, since she had been sweating ever since reaching the tropical climate the Faron jungle sustained.

"Don't worry, Midna. We'll get you something more Hebra-appropriate when we get to that point. For now, we have a new little mystery to solve."

"Indeed. Just why that second Mirror exists.. That monument needs to be covered before it opens again. Judging by the inscription, it's a daily occurrence if we leave it as we did."

Nik nodded. "Agreed. We'll take care of it in the morning. I meant where we should go next. There has to be something we can go off of to figure out where to go."

Jaki tilted her head. "You said that the Sword may have to still be forged.. It sounds like we would need to find the 8th Heroine's private workshop, where she may have kept any materials necessary to forging the Blade or otherwise stopping her father. But, with the 8th's ambiguity in history according to the Dynasty, finding such a place would be next to a miracle."

"Not entirely true, young one." Came the voice of Phi as Nik brought the Ocarina out from his pocket. "While this Ocarina is not my final vessel, Hylia's power was used to forge it. This grants the instrument some semblance of magical augmentation and ability. For instance, Zelda loved using the Ocarina to bring her to the Tingle Cliffs in Akkala, despite the monster her father stowed there."

"What is that? Where's that voice coming from?" Delphine asked, having been looking out the window until Phi spoke.

"Another harem member, perhaps? I am Phi, Spirit of Light. I am a piece of the Goddess Hylia's powers infused into the Ocarina Nik holds in his hands, crafted to help my creator defeat her father in an attempt to end the Gerudo rule of Hyrule before the Dynasty could truly be established."

"That's amazing! It's like a fragment of historical writings come to life!" Melva exclaimed, making the others look at her as Jaki sighed, hanging her head.

"Mom.. Sorry, guys, mom is a bit eccentric when it comes to history. That's why she does archiving both here in Lurelin and back in Kakariko. She even travels abroad now and then."

"Be that as it may, I was making a point. Now, Nik, the Ocarina can bring you to many places across the Kingdom, considering you know the song to get there."

"Song? So the princess of old had a song just for her private workspace? I guess it would make sense. And it would make more sense that you know the song to reach it, don't you?"

"Yes, but it is not time to enter her Sanctum. Not yet. In order to enter, Nik must prove he is up to the task of fighting Ganondorf by destroying a minion of the Demon Army, one of substantial power whom the princess wouod have had enough control of to create a guardian of the study, so to speak."

"Well, that at least sounds easy enough. I have surprisingly fought nothing I could trupy consider worthwhile. Moblins and Bokoblins are absolute fodder."

"I may know of a way to figure out where this so-called beast is. You can stop eavesdropping now, you know. You already know the truth of your situation." Nik looked at her oddly as Midna pointed to the window nearby, where a muffled curse could be heard.

Outside, Moments Earlier..

The eavesdropper had her hands on her head, muttering to herself. "No, that can't be. There isn't anything at all throughout history about illusion spells having faults, no one has ever encountered one. It can't just mean something like that! While it makes sense he would want to be kept hidden from the King.. How does that involve me?"

She refused to believe the story Midna told, she didn't want any of it to be true. The Twili, an unknown term to the journalist and historian, as well as the spell she had cast on the young voe she saw being somehow the one to make her fall for a man? She didn't think so, despite the increasingly frequent thoughts about the young man she had indeed fallen privy to since first glimpsing the small group days earlier and subsequently following them all the way to Lurelin.

"You can stop eavesdropping now, you know. You already know the truth of your situation." Came that woman's- Midna's- voice as the girl jumped at being discovered, cursing as she hit her head on the bottom sill of the window she was situated under.

Moments later, the door to the hut opened as the girl appeared, sitting down as far away from the rest of them gathered. "How did you know I was even there? What are you?" The girl asked, glaring dangerously at Midna, who scoffed before erupting into a fit of giggles.

"Oh, my dear, I am a Gerudo, just as you. At least now. Previously I was the Queen of the Twili, or as you may just know my people as the Interlopers."

The girl's red eyes gained a hint of fear as she stared into Midna's own. "The Interlopers? The ones behind the Interloper War trying to force dominion over Hyrule during Ganondorf the IV's reign?!" She seemed about to bolt back out of the room. "But they were eradicated-"

"Is that what Ganondorf put forth as a resolution? Silly girl, that couldn't be further than the truth. The Hylians from back then could not match the Twili's magic due to our chaotic natures, and therefore they banished us to the realm my people now call home, with our own technology, no less! I do not know exactly why I was brought here, but I'll be damned if I let anyone speak ill of my subjects."

The girl shrunk back again, her previous bravado at confronting Midna forgotten for the deep-seated pit of fear she could now feel beginning to well up in her stomach. "Alright, alright. Sorry. But your story makes no sense. Spell or not, the creation of the King's Harem has never been about attraction. Yes, there's usually at least one wide that is most likely felt for, but the general census has always been that Ganondorf- no matter the denotation of which rules at the time- was nothing but a womanizer who took the women he thought were suitable to become his. He did it for the Power."

Midna nodded. "I would think so. If there is one thing I understand in this Realm, it's that Ganondorf is and most likely always has been the conduit of Power. Tell me, young one, what do you know of the Triforce?"

The girl was surprised at the question, as Melva had been when Jaki had told her similar. "What do you want with that myth? Whatever. Not much is known these days, as I think the royal family has kept the truth about such relica hidden from the rest of the Hyrule populace. But, I have found several ruins across Hyrule that all seem to have some connection to it and the Goddess Hylia. It's said the Triforce itself was created by Hylia, or maybe it was her along with other deities as the relica was said to hold the power to grant any wish the one who could rightfully claim all three pieces desired. Like the old legend of a magic lamp and the genie hidden within, but without the rules for wishing genies are said to have. The three pieces were said to have been cursed, one entrusted to evil while the other two would always oppose it. However, that's the wxllextent of knowledge most would know. What they wouldn't know is that the Imprisoning War was supposedly the catalyst for such things to never occur. The 8th wanted to find it herself, but knew she only carries the piece of Wisdom within her while she once wrote of her father carrying the piece representing Power, explaining the dynasty's never-ending quest for it. However, The Holder of the piece of Courage has never been seen or heard from for all these generations. Does that answer your question?"

"Snippy, aren't we? You have answered a suspicion of mine I've had since Nik found me in the Temple of Twilight-"

"Wait, you came from the barrier-protected Temple near Zora's Domain?" Midna nodded. "But no one can get past the wards. Not unless they.. you have it." She looked at Nik, finding herself blushing and looking away almost as quickly as she did.

Nik was able to deduce what she meant, looking at the hand he remembered glowed before the Temple had opened to him. "How do you know for sure?"

"It's simple. The inscription above the door to that Temple once read: Only the Holder of Courage shall gain access to this place. There was no hint as to why."

"So you're saying there's no other way around such an event? I definitely hold the Triforce piece that has been missing from the world order for literal millennia?"

Midna rolled her eyes. "Come on, love. It's been obvious, you're courageous by default, maybe you just don't see it because of your sheltered life before Purah entered it. If you weren't, you would never have even left home and you know it."

Nik nodded with a heavy sigh. "Yes, Midna, you are right. I was very afraid to leave my mother back home all alone. I still am worried about her."

"She will be fine, beloved. You told me the Zora royals are protecting her, she shall be safe as anyone else in this land. But, that now brings us to you again. What is your name, young one?" Midna looked at the newcomer, whose mouth turned to a frown.

"What does it really matter? I'm not a part of this." The vai stood back up and stormed out of the hut, Nik about to go after her when Midna put her hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Let her go. She won't go far." Was all she said as the group changed the subject to something a bit less heavy than the future fate of the Kingdom.

Later, Jungle Outside Lurelin Village..

The unknown girl sat with her legs curled up to her chest, unable to shake the conversation from earlier- and the implications of such- from her mind. So, she found herself in the middle of the dense jungle, just not wanting to be around the would be voe King, knowing now that Midna's words were true, no matter how badly she wished they weren't. It isn't fair..

"You know, it isn't the worst situation. You could be choking on that bastard King's cock instead of a nice kind young man who would do whatever he needs to protect you. Why do you fight what you know you're feeling, young one?" Sounded her voice as Midna seemingly shimmered into sight from the dense darkness of the jungle.

"Just stay away from me! You wouldn't understand, anyway." She muttered, scowling.

"Oh, come now. Try me. I understand things better than most, with the upbringing us Twili have in our own Realm." Midna said, kneeling down several feet away from the other vai.

"Tch. Whatever. You're a fucking Queen in that realm, yet here you're reduced to nothing but a concubine to that-"

"I'd advise you not to finish that sentence, lest I lose the control over myself I maintain. Nik is the only man in my life that has actually shown kindness that wasn't rooted in respect for my position. Being a Queen, especially of the Twili, is a very lonely life, moreso for my people. You see, Twili children do not get raised by loving parents or even a community. No, we are left in the cold, depressing atmosphere that is the Twili Realm, and only those of us who are strong and willful enough survive that kind of upbringing. I may have been a Queen, but being given that title was the loneliest I had ever felt. Then, I suddenly found myself here, with Nik, and I quickly grew to care for him. Possibly, this was a self-destructive choice, but I do not regret it. Now, almost a week later, I'd rather have been sent to this Realm as a baby like poor Jaki was if it would have meant meeting that boy sooner than I did. What scares you about this so much? The supposed lack of choice? Freedom?"

The girl hummed. "You really must have been Queen, with how regal you speak. I'm not scared about it, I just don't want it. I've never needed anyone in such a capacity and I don't want it now. Falling in love is one thing, but the supernatural aspect of building a King's Harem? Still in some ways considered a violation of a vai's rights, even though Ganondorf keeps any of us outside of his own Harem in a mostly rightless existence as it is."

Midna nodded. She had figured as much as they'd moved through the somewhat empty Hyrule- another oddity, in her opinion- towards Lurelin. "Yes, well. Again, that isn't Nik. I'm the proof, you know. I wouldn't be here without Nik activating that Temple doorway. And honestly, he makes me feel more alive than I ever have before, and that's saying a lot when I'm actually four years older than he is. My point is that despite your own feelings, which I understand, you haven't taken the time to ask him how he feels. Nik doesn't want this shit any more than a number of us will probably think in the beginning, but he's obligated and understands just how important it is to the future of Hyrule that he builds his own. I'm more than content with my position, even with my feelings for him growing much faster than they would otherwise. Just.. think it over and give it a chance. Maybe he'll surprise you."

Midna began walking away, the girl watching as she disappeared into the dark jungle. "Wait!" Midna turned around. "Why are you trusting me with this decision? I could go right to the Castle and blow your little undercover mission sky high right now."

"If you were really of a mind to do such a thing, you already would have gone further with those plans. No, I already see the attraction is starting to weigh on you, therefore I'm giving you time to think about what you want to do next. I just hope you don't disappoint me, young one."

"I have a name, you know. It's Trixi."

Midna giggled from where she stood. "A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Well, Trixi, you know where to find us for the next day or so. Stay warm." There was a light whooshing sound before Midna was completely gone, leaving Trixi to really think about what she had said. The sounds of the jungle night eventually put the thoughtful girl into a deep sleep for the remainder of the night.