"Where I come from… I don't live in a country across the sea from Hyrule." I mentally braced myself for their reactions. "I'm from another world entirely, a world called Earth. I come from the country of America." Yes, technically it's the United States of America but they wouldn't know the different. "Stories are told not with books and spoken words, but through moving pictures called 'movies'. Some stories are told through movies that can be interacted with, like toys or plays, and those are called 'video games'. The Hero of Time's legend was told through one of these video games. That's how I know Epona's song, because I remember it from playing that legend..." A beat passed before I added, slightly guiltily, "a lot."

Rusl calmly shook his head. "Don't lie to us, son. After all we've done for you, you owe us that much."

I could feel my fists clenching. "I'm not lying, Rusl. I'm sure Ordona can help if you still don't believe me."

Rusl shook his head once more and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just have one question: How did you get here if you are from another world?"

The million-dollar question. I debated whether to come clean and tell them about the Golden Goddesses or just make something up about airplanes and parachutes but then I would have to explain all about them.There was no way the village people would welcome me with open arms if I said the Golden Goddesses sent me; they'd tie me to a stake and burn me alive!

Then again, if I didn't tell the truth, I'd probably be thrown out and left to survive on my own, with no weapons, no supplies, and no direction. I mentally shrugged.

When the going gets tough…

I took in a deep breath and said, "The Golden Goddesses came to me yesterday and asked me to come to Hyrule. They transported me just inside Faron Woods, where you found me."

They looked much calmer than I thought they would be. Mayor Bo merely held his chin, Rusl fiddled with his mustache, even Ilia was soothingly stroking Epona's mane. I knew I was in for it as I looked at each of them in turn and could feel my palms getting clammy. Before I could dart inside my house and lock the door, Bo spoke up.

"Why did you not tell us sooner, in private?"

I sighed and ran my hand over my hair. "What could I have said? 'Hey, I'm from another world and your goddesses chose me to visit yours.' I didn't see that going very well."

Rusl chuckled and patted my shoulder. "Perhaps not, if that is how you would have explained things, but you forget," he gestured in the general direction of Ordona's spring, "we have a guardian spirit with a direct link to the Golden Goddesses."

I stared up at him and answered, "Where I come from, proclaiming you were sent by gods tends to get you locked up in a crazy house."

"Did you expect us to form an angry mob and chase you out for 'heresy'?"

"Yes."

Rusl frowned and squeezed my shoulder. "That's a bit of an unfair judgment on us, isn't it?"

I pouted and looked away. "A little…"

I felt another hand on my shoulder and looked up to find Mayor Bo smiling at me. "I understand your hesitance, lad, but surely we appear to be friendlier than that."

I blushed and nodded my head. Once I thought about it, it made sense that they would still accept me even after the divine revelation. Link's Triforce was no secret in the game, so why would they freak out with me? I chuckled at my foolishness and stood up, comfortable that I was off the hook.

"You shouldn't have lied to us, however," Mayor Bo said.

Or not.

He glanced at Rusl, who winked back, and they both grabbed me by the shoulders and hoisted me through the village gates. I made no protest, since I knew they could fold me in half if they wanted to. They carried me through the town and up the hill to Ordon Ranch, where the stench of manure and goat grew near unbearable.

Midna flew up as high as she could go and took one last look at the land of Hyrule. The green did not stretch as far as she thought, for the big mountain east of Hyrule Castle was surrounded by a similar terrain as the desert. The area to the north was rocky as well but it had more of a blue tinge to it. What really caught her attention was the enormous body of water to the south. She was very tempted to inspect it up close but she had been in this strange world long enough. It was time to go home.

As she neared the Mirror, Midna found herself wondering just what her parents planned to do with the Fused Shadow. It was definitely not a tool to use carelessly, especially by someone of royal blood. That situation already happened, the result of which was the relic's banishment to begin with.

Perhaps it was a test of both Midna and Hyrule, but Hyrule did not choose to exile the Twili. That decision was made by those 'Light Spirits' Zelda mentioned. Then again, it could have been their choice to allow Midna to even enter Hyrule.

Ah well, she would ask her parents about it. She stepped up to the circle of light from whence she first emerged, and felt the familiar sensation of being scattered into pieces and flung across the void. When it was over, Midna looked around but was puzzled that there were no guards there to escort her back to the palace. In fact, there seemed to be a cold emptiness around the courtyard. At this time, there were usually dozens of merchants seeking to peddle their wares.

The Twilight Princess walked cautiously through the barren marketplace and into the palace entrance, where she found signs of struggle. There were dark spatters and broken pieces of armor and fabric laying here and there, yet no body to see if it was a riot or random attack.

More and more on edge, Midna quickly moved through the palace, coming across more blood spatters along the way. She stopped just outside the throne room to collect her breath and slow her heart, but that was for naught when she heard muffled voices and the telltale sound of Twili magic. She ran into the chamber but instantly regretted it when she saw her mother held by the throat by a hideous creature of darkness.

It was animalistic, with a hunched back, slithering black tendrils on its head, and tribal runes carved into its midnight skin. The shadow beast turned to face the new occupant of the room and promptly dropped Queen Yoake, who crumpled to the floor like a wilted flower.

"Midna…" Yoake coughed out, rubbing her bruised throat. "You must run!"

"Mother, who did this?" Midna demanded as she summoned an orb of Twili energy. She threw it at the shadow beast and expected it to blow apart, but all it did was dent the creature's silver mask.

"Zant!" her mother answered, though her voice sounded much deeper than it ought to be.

"Where is Father?"

"That is your father!" Yoake's hands engorged and blackened, her hair charred and slicked into tendrils, and her eyes dimmed to empty black sockets. The last vestige of the Queen of Twilight was swallowed up by a gleaming silver mask bearing Zant's crest. The new shadow beast roared and charged at Midna, who stood frozen with terror at the monstrosity that was now her mother. Her mind screamed at her legs to carry her far away but they were unresponsive.

"RUN!" the beast roared.

Shocked back to reality, Midna spun around and sprinted away as fast as she could. How could Zant do this? Literally, how was it possible? No one in the Twilight Realm had the power to challenge the King and Queen themselves!

She only slowed to a halt when she passed by Burak's chambers. She stepped into the room and called out, "Burak! Armo?"

"Midna?"

Thanking the gods, Midna found Burak and her husband huddled on the balcony. She wrapped them in a tight embrace, afraid that they would disappear at any moment. Once she was sure they were there for good, she let go. "Come on, we have to get out of here."

The three made it halfway down the corridor when they heard the scuffling sound of heavy limbs on cold stone. Midna's heart beat against her ribcage as she turned and faced three shadow beasts lurking down the corridor. A distant thought noticed that their masks were black and less ornate than the masks worn by what used to be Midna's parents. Every instinct screeched at Midna to run directly away from her incoming death and toward salvation, but her thoughts were clouded with the cold realization that those shadow beasts were more than likely her own people!

Armo stepped forward, his spear ready. "Go, Princess! Take Burak and get as far away from here as possible!"

"You can't hold them off yourself," said Burak, gripping his arm tight. "We must escape and find other survivors together!"

"It is my duty," he replied. He gave Burak one final kiss and pushed her and Midna in the other direction. "Now go! GO!"

Midna knew it would kill Burak to leave her husband behind but this was no time for a marital dispute. Despite Burak's vehement protests, Midna picked her up and flew down the battle-worn hallways. Just as it was at the palace entrance, there were only scattered weapons and armor and no actual bodies. They must have all been transformed by Zant.

At long last, she left the cramped and bloodstained halls and emerged in the open courtyard behind the palace. When she did, she very quickly wished she had not.

Eight shadow beasts, all wearing those ornate silver masks, bowed to a figure facing the great expanse of the Twili landscape.

In the distance and with frightening clarity, Midna saw that the surrounding villages and minor cities were burning, both her own people's and those of the rival tribes. Crystalized shadow flowed through the streets. Raging fires crawled over the ravaged homes and structures.

Midna set Burak down and whispered, "You need to get out of here."

"I-I can't leave you and Armo!"

"You have to! I just saw my parents, our King and Queen, turned into monsters. I can't let that happen to you, not if I can do anything about it."

"Midna, you're our Princess! You're too important—"

"Nothing is more important than our people!" Midna hugged Burak for the last time. "Find somewhere safe, somewhere hidden. I'll find you, I promise."

Burak wiped her face of tears and finally nodded. "I know you will." She turned and fled, leaving Midna to face the shadow beasts and their apparent master.

The figure turned and faced Midna, revealing a strange helmet with bulging eyes. When she saw it, an unnatural shiver ran through her spine. The cloak the masked assailant wore was familiar, with its glowing lines and shoulder pauldrons…

"Zant!" Midna wasted no time and blasted him with pure Twili magic. It engulfed him, swallowed him up, and would have left a charred skeleton behind if fate sided with Midna.

Fate, it seemed, had other plans. When the magic dissipated, Zant stood there completely unharmed. He even had the gall to brush some residual energy off his shoulder.

This was a battle Midna had no chance of winning. She turned and ran for the left causeway. Zant was there waiting for her.

"Princess." His voice sent chills over Midna's skin, and he held a hand out to her. "By now, you must realize that you have no hope." He stepped forward. Instinct ordered Midna to step back, but Zant was quicker and snatched her wrist.

"Release me at once!" Midna snapped, forcing the tremor in her throat away. "Your Princess, your Queen orders you—"

"I have no queen." He did not raise his voice but it still boomed in Midna's head. Zant traced a finger over her jaw despite her shudders of revulsion. "Not yet, anyway."

Midna glared daggers at him and spat at his ridiculous helmet. "If you think I would ever consent to someone like you—"

"If you will not be my queen, you will cower before me!" Zant flung her across the courtyard. She landed in a heap near the balcony ledge, her heart and mind racing at his strength.

Midna forced herself up from the cold stone but every muscle was screaming at her to stop moving. She stood shakily on her feet, glaring at Zant with such fury that her blood boiled.

"Yes," Zant said, earning a raised eyebrow from Midna. "Yes, I think that would be an exquisite punishment." He stepped forward. Midna stepped back. Zant took another step and then sighed. "Such a shame, you were so beautiful."

Before Midna could reply, Zant waved his hand over her. Her brain shorted out, her foot slipped, and she fell, fell, fell from the balcony ledge.

When she landed, Midna was surprised at how far the fall was, even considering the distance. Pain continued to plague her every movement as she hoisted herself up, but stopped at the sight of her hands.

Her claw-like fingers glowed the same teal hue as the scripture on her forearms, which now bore spiky black growths. Midna held in her panic long enough to find a splintered breastplate nearby and see what else had changed.

What she saw was far worse than she imagined. Where there should have been a beautiful Twilight Princess, there was instead a pathetically small imp with oversized hips and a shadow over the top half of her face. Her ears, once concealed under her hair and hood, now pointed out and were shaded black with more glowing marks engraved into the skin. A single fang protruded from the left side of her mouth. Her eyes, once sleek and angled, were enlarged and almond-shaped. Her fiery orange hair, once majestically framed around her face and neck, was now hanging limply in a ponytail and was spiked at the front, leaving her shadowed forehead bare for all to see. Her shadow silk was intact, preserving what was left of her dignity, yet her robe and sarong had vanished.

Midna, the Twilight Princess, screamed until her high-pitched voice died down and her throat was raw and coarse.

Using what remained of her strength, Midna dragged herself across the seemingly endless span of ground between where she landed and where the portal to Hyrule was. She needed to escape!

And leave her people?

What good was she going do in that state?

What good would abandoning them do?

Midna tried to fly, only to realize that her magic had been severely handicapped. She was not simply tired and needed rest; her magical limits were curtailed to the point that she could barely hover an inch from the ground. Midna froze and squeezed her eyes shut. Without any magic, she was as good as dead.

But she did have magic. She knew she did, it was tingling just below the surface. With a deep, deep breath, she summoned the Fused Shadow. Its power reinvigorated her, gave her new life.

A demonic grin slowly spread across Midna's face, her eyes twitching and flaring with unholy fire. The helmet grew in size, stretching its stone surface to fit the contours of Midna's altered skull. As it descended and blocked all sight from her left eye, the Twilight Princess seethed with hatred. Zant caused all of this destruction, and now, with the Fused Shadow, Midna could personally see to his punishment.

Midna turned and took one last look at the palace. Her grin faded. This was her home but... "I... I'm so sorry. I'll come back, I promise."

Once she was back in Hyrule, she screamed as her skin burned in the light. She dove into the shadows and took deep breath after deep breath. That bastard Zant had taken away her protection from light! Now she had to use shade and shadow like some accursed demon!

Converting herself to pure shadow, Midna tested out her new power and took to the skies. She could fly at least, but not as fast or long as before. The Fused Shadow gave her some power but this one artifact would be nothing in a fight against Zant. She needed the other three, and had to fight not to kick herself for not getting them when she had the chance.

Midna lifted herself higher into the air and surveyed the vast landscape. With the realization that Hyrule was vast came the colder notion that finding the other Fused Shadow pieces would be that much harder. Without a clue as to where to even start, it would take weeks to find the other fragments. With a sigh, Midna spun around to look at Hyrule Castle, and then got an idea.

"Zelda would know!" Midna darted toward the shining castle, watching the surrounding hills and rock formations roll beneath her. "I'll ask Zelda if she knows where the other Fused Shadows are, then I'll destroy Zant and take back my realm!"

Midna landed on the same balcony she first met Zelda but the room was silent. She shifted out of the shadows and looked around. She even peered inside the crib for Zelda's daughter. It was empty.

Midna walked through the room, ignoring the drone in her brain that screamed at the indignity of being shorter than the full-body mirror on what she presumed to be Zelda's vanity. She poked her head out of the open doorway, only to find the hallways empty of guards or patrols.

The foreboding sensation ripe in her stomach, Midna listened carefully to the empty silence that surrounded her. Once she focused, she heard faint sounds of struggle deeper within the castle halls. She dove into the shadows and scurried along the floor towards the sounds, though her heart beat faster and faster the louder the noises grew.

Zelda's voice echoed a fair distance away. Midna followed that to the castle courtyard and found the performance stage was in splinters, all sense of decadence and civility beneath a tidal wave of shadow beasts.

Midna pressed herself against the nearby wall even though there was no way they had spotted her. She clenched her fists and took deep breaths. Focus, Midna, focus! How was she going to ask Zelda now? Zelda clearly had bigger things to worry about, and as much as Midna wanted to, she had to face the fact that she was in no condition to fight this battle.

Besides, the sooner Midna found the rest of the Fused Shadow, the sooner she could defeat Zant and undo this whole mess. But how was she going to find them if she did not even have the Sacred Beast of Legend? With little in the way of options, Midna decided to find the Sacred Beast first.

"... good luck, Zelda." Midna flew to the tallest spire and observed the land of Hyrule. There was no way Midna could search everywhere in Hyrule for the Sacred Beast, this world was too damn big! She had to pick a direction, and so she flew south.

As she went, the sky turned a burnt golden color. It was just like the Twilight Realm but the air felt... wrong. It stank of dark magic. All was cast into an eerie reddish-gold glow, and the wind had stopped.

The countryside was smothered in the same artificial Twilight as everywhere else, though Midna doubted it was all over the world. Sure enough, the Twilight ended at a massive wall of dark magic. On the other side was a sea of trees, though unlike the few trees in the Twilight Realm, the leaves were bright green rather than glowing red, and the bark was deep brown instead of midnight black.

Taking a deep breath, Midna phased through the wall of Twilight and back into the as-of-yet-untainted light of the forest. She was well shielded from the light, but one glimmer broke through the canopy and landed on the back of her left hand. She hissed and swiftly withdrew her hand to nurse the triangle-shaped burn.

"I'll never be able to find those damned Fused Shadow, not with the sun waiting to kill me at every step!"

Midna held her chin and pondered her options; she could try to find the Fused Shadows and risk burning in the light, or wait for Zant's influence to spread until she was safely protected within the artificial Twilight. A smirk spread over her lips. "Everything comes to she who waits, and it would be so ironic that his own magic allowed me to survive and acquire the means to destroy him. Of course, that would mean bathing this world in Twilight... eh, not my problem!"

"Fucking goat, hold still!" ordered a voice from behind the wall of trees within which Midna was sheltered.

Her curiosity piqued, Midna turned to shadow and slinked along the forest floor towards a clearing. She hid behind a tree and peeked out, beholding a wide expanse of farmland with accompanying stable, its only occupant a young man chasing after some sort of goat. The creature bleated and groaned as it escaped the amateur rancher.

Midna tilted her head at the young man, taking in his appearance and mannerisms. She studied his body, noting his broad shoulders and slightly muscular and hairy arms, yet unusually pale skin. Though not as milky white as the Twili, he looked as if he spent most of his time in a cave. He was not in the best shape, having a bit of a gut beneath his tunic. Not fat, she decided, but certainly not scrawny. He looked more like a brawler than a fencer, if he even brawled.

His dark brown hair was short enough to show his eyebrows, which were knitted together as he brushed dirt off his trousers. When Midna saw his blue eyes, she nearly jumped at the emotions that poured out of his right eye, while his left seemed dead to the world. The fact that they were mostly negative emotions did not escape her notice.

The rancher's jaw clenched as he stomped over to the goat, grabbed it by its horns, and dragged it in the direction of the stable. Before he could take ten steps, the goat reared its head and charged, lifting him clean off his feet and sending him flying.

"Poor boy!" Midna giggled quietly. She heard him grumble to himself and she tried so hard to keep from laughing. He could use some help… but after everything Midna just went through, she could use some fun. At this poor rancher's expense, of course.

"Get back here, you walking carpet," I growled as the goat nonchalantly munched on some grass. I expected Mayor Bo and Rusl to do a lot of things, but sentencing me to work with Fado out in the ranch as a goat herder was not among them. I wanted to use Epona but I had neither the experience nor Ilia's permission, so I was stuck doing it by hand. No wonder Fado constantly lost goats, it was like trying to keep twenty-five dogs in a bathtub!

Speaking of baths, I was definitely going to need one after this. My clothes were caked in dirt and sweat.

Fado was cheering me on at the ranch gate, his annoyingly jovial mood tampering with my sour one. With a sigh, I picked myself up and trudged over to the rancher.

"How much longer do I have to keep this up? I've been up here for almost an hour."

Fado shrugged and pointed his thumb down the hill. "Mayor Bo said you're done once the goats are in their pens and the stables locked tightly."

I rolled my eyes. "They're goats, where could they possibly go? Whatever, at least I have just one to go." Before he could answer, I heard bleating coming from the stables. Turning, I saw every single goat running freely and grazing wherever it pleased them. Fado and I went to the stable gate and found that it had opened seemingly by itself. I looked up at the sky and groaned. "Why do the gods hate me so?"

Fado whistled and patted my back. "Looks like you got your work cut out for ya! I'll leave you to it, then." Without another word, he trudged down the hill and out of sight, leaving me alone with more than two dozen goats and a very foul mood.

A weary sigh escaped my throat as I dragged myself over to the nearest goat and tried to encourage it to go back to its pen. The damn thing was stubborn, not budging until I resorted to grabbing it by the horns, but that ended just as well as last time: My face down in the dirt, the goat grazing peacefully as if nothing happened.

"Tonight I dine on mutton soup…" I grumbled and picked myself up. "Okay, think. How did Link do it again? Right! He yelled at them to go where he wanted." I shrugged and walked up to a goat from behind, and whooped as loud as I could. Like clockwork, the animal bolted in the exact opposite direction from me; right into the stables. The second it crossed the threshold, the goat seemed to understand where it was and trotted off into a pen. I followed and latched the pen gate closed, smiling at my triumph.

After another forty-five minutes, and three stubborn gates that refused to stay closed, every single goat was locked safe and sound in his or her pens, with a bundle of hay in each, and I was out of there. I hopped the fence and marched down the hill, the annoying goat bleating fading into the distance.

Once the rancher was out of sight, Midna burst into laughter, cackling and giggling at her prank. She wiped a mirthful tear from her cheek and sighed. "I bet he'd be useful for a little while, until I can find the Sacred Beast." She shrugged and fiddled with a browning leaf. "But where am I going to find it?"