A/N: I'm gonna say this right here before anyone goes any further and something rustles their jimmies; the Midna depicted here is and isn't the same from Twilight Princess. She is because I just removed T.P. from occurring with Ganondorf's extended rule with no opposition but she isn't because- and I'm being 1000% honest about this- I have almost no experience with Twilight as a whole. Yeah I've seen a ton of story explained videos and whatnot but as far as playing the game goes, I've only gotten as far as Wolf Link on the roof or Hyrule Castle. On Wii. Fucking bats, I hope that's all I have to say lol. So, this Midna is different and yes, there is twisting and altering of established lore. I think it can be forgiven when the premise of this story literally takes the Downfall Timeline on a potentially horrific alternate path where it has landed us already. Forgive me the little things, 'tis all I ask.

Chapter One

Queen of the Lost

Two Days Later..

Nik was attending the farm as he usually did. It had been a couple of days since Purah's departure and Nik wasn't sure whether or not he would go through with what she wanted of him. He wasn't trying to take the throne, nor kill Ganondorf. The only thing Nik truly wanted to do was keep his mother safe. He smiled at the thought as he looked over at Hilda, the smaller woman humming as she weeded the plot where the carrots were growing in.

Hilda looked up and smiled at him before her face froze, Nik's eyes looking at his mother's chest where an arrowhead stuck out of the Hylian woman. "Mother?!" Nik cried as he saw what had done the deed, a band of Moblins trudging down the path towards the main city of Zora's Domain.

Hilda coughed, groaning at the pain in her chest. "I'll.. I'll be fine, my love. Take the Silver Longsword in the house and go get help. You're not meant for this life, Nik. You have the soul and body of a warrior, so fight."

Hilda's words were confident, resolute, but Nik could see the toll her injury was already taking on his mother. "You will be fine, ma. You aren't dying today if I have anything to say about it." Carefully, Nik picked up his pixie of a mother and carried her inside, snapping and removing the lodged arrow. He went to work applying pressure as he wrapped up the injury from both ends and then knelt down, Hilda struggling for a moment to climb up to Nik's shoulders, clasping her arms around his neck. Nik stood back up and wrapped a cloak around them both, securing Hilda to his back as he grabbed the sword she had mentioned, the eighteen year old half-Gerudo noticing that he was in fact so different from others his age, even Prince Sidon. He could tell because of how light the two-handed weapon felt in his one hand as he left the house, following the Moblins he had seen before.

Further down the path (what existed of one), he spotted the Moblins who had been joined by several troops of the smaller Bokoblins. Seeing red from what the Moblins had done to his mother, the young man rushed forward, swinging the head clean off of two Bokoblins who attempted to get in his way, the sheer rage Nik exuded giving the other enemies pause. A few of the Bokoblins decided they knew better, rushing off screeching as the Moblins readied their own weapons along with the remaining Bokoblins.

The battle went on far shorter a time than Nik had anticipated, having not been in a real fight such as this beforehand. It had been an easy win as the last Moblin fell after getting stabbed through the base of its skull with the Silver Longsword Nik carried. He panted as Hilda watched the fight from her vantage on her son's back. "See, Nik? You belong in battle, my brave warrior. Don't let me.. hold you back.." She sighed, hiding a wince from the pain as Nik sighed himself.

"It doesn't matter, mother. I don't want the throne, not like this. Why must it be me?"

Hilda's voice was quiet. "Because, you were born to rule, even if it isn't what you wanted out of your life. A simple farm life for a Gerudo like you? You'd be restless before long."

Nik just stayed quiet as he continued towards Zora's Domain, seeing that the attack had reached the city as Zora fought off waves of Moblins and Bokoblins and the occasional Octorok. Nik hurried down towards the city, dispatching any minions of Ganondorf that got in his way. As he approached the city threshold, he was stopped momentarily by Sidon, the tall Zora holding a Trident in his hand. "Halt, why have you come, Gerudo demon?! Wait, Nik?" The sharkman said as he realized who was standing in front of him. Nik removed the cloak, Sidon instantly seeing the blood from the wound Hilda had sustained. "What happened?"

"These lowlifes attacked the farm, or at least took their shot at ma on their way towards the city. You don't have to worry about them bothering anyone else. Just get my mother to safety."

Sidon nodded. "Of course. Mipha will be able to help, since the wound doesn't look completely lethal. Here, give her to me. Can you clear a path for us into the main city?"

Nik nodded as Sidon took the small Hilda in his arms. "I got you, just stay close." With a nod, the two rushed across the long bridge into the main area of Zora's Domain, Nik easily taking out the demonic creatures that tried to stand against him. Soon, Sidon activated a hidden button that opened a small cavity in the main platform, jumping down as the door began to slide closed once again.

"Your mother will be fine, or so help me Hylia. Finish this fight, Nik. Please."

Nik nodded, looking at the sword in his hand. "For the Domain." He said before turning around in a wide slash, taking out another Bokoblin who tried to get in a lucky shot.

After what seemed like hours, it seemed Nik had finally stopped the attempted invasion of Zora's Domain and was now opening the hatch Sidon had earlier. "The coast is clear. All Bokoblins, Moblins and those stupid Octoroks are down and out for the count."

Sidon's head poked out from the hole, followed by a well-looking Hilda. "Oh, my boy, you're safe!" Said the Hylian woman as she hopped out of the pit and threw herself into Nik's open arms.

"I'm just glad you are, mom. I don't know what I would do if I lost you.."

Hilda smiled tearfully, stroking Nik's cheek. "My big, sweet boy. I don't want to hear anything more about you not going out on your own, you hear me? What happened here today? It may have happened whether or not you were here. You can't protect everyone, my love."

"I don't need to protect everyone. I just want to ensure your safety."

"She will be fine, Nik. You worry far too much over such things for a child of the Gerudo." Came Mipha's voice as the Zora Queen made her presence known. "Your mother has told me of the mission you seem born for, and I have a suggestion. If you are really all that worried about Hilda, she will have a constant guard stationed at the farm from now on, but only on the condition that you go and end this shameless tyranny Ganondorf wreaks on all of our people. You are Gerudo, and a voe at that. The pieces can't line up any better for the end of Ganondorf and his dynasty of evil."

"But I-"

"What you want is not always as important as what you must do. Despite the pressure thrust upon you, young Nik, you are our as well as all of Hyrule's only hope. Please, I will personally care for your mother if that is what it takes." The shark woman pleaded as Nick sighed.

I really hate the idea of leaving mom.. But the Queen is right, I'm the only one capable of destroying the evil that has saturated this Kingdom for far too long.. Nik thought before nodding slowly, defeated. "Fine. I can see you're right. I just.. what do I do?"

"Follow what that cutie Purah told you. Don't look at me like that, I would still like grandchildren one day," Hilda said, giggling at the face of shocked terror Nik had. "Go and look at those ruins. The only way you'll know if there's anything there to help you would be by going there."

Nik hummed his acknowledgment of the idea as he nodded. "You're right, mom. Of course you are, though. Fine, I'll go. But I'm not leaving you here without me the entire time. I will be back to make sure you're alright."

Hilda laughed with a smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Now go pack up your things. It'll be a long journey."

Nik nodded, now frowning. "Yes, ma." Together, mother and son went back to their little farm for the final time together.

Lanayru Plains, Near the Border of Zora's Domain..

Nick groaned as he looked at the map, trying to figure out why he couldn't see the location he was looking for, having no ruins anywhere in sight. As he was looking down at the screen of the Purah Pad, Nik cursed as he felt something solid make contact with his head. Looking at what he'd walked into, Nick found an almost completely destroyed building, only part of the front as well as the walls on its side still fully intact. The door was rectangular and etched with runes from a dialect Nik had never seen before, making him scratch his head.

The door slid open suddenly, Nik not noticing the trio of triangles, one third glowing brightly on the backside of his palm as it did. Looking inside the lit up ruins (from the outside sun), Nik didn't see much other than dusty old columns lining the central chamber in a circle surrounding an even stranger circular disc that stood up on a podium with stairs coming down from it. Due to the ceiling having collapsed, parts of the stairway were gone, reduced to piles of fine dust and rubble on the Temple floor. Nik noticed as he entered the actual Temple itself that beyond the damage that was visible, the Temple looked pristine. Not even a vine wandering in and up a wall from the surrounding area. Strange. Why wouldn't nature be trying to reclaim the ruins? Nik asked himself as he looked and stepped closer to the large circular object that stood in the center of the room.

Nik got about fifteen feet from the object when it suddenly began glowing, the outer ring starting it until the whole circle was covered in teal-covered glowing runes. Then a portal opened, a vortex of black and white squares that brought wind inside of it momentarily before a bright flash of light made Nik cover his eyes. As his vision returned, he saw the light from the portal fading until the gate itself disappeared, the object that had caused the disturbance crumbling to dust on the Temple floor as if it had been waiting for Nik to step foot inside.

"That.. can't be good, can it? Wait, who's that?" Nik looked and saw a woman laying on the floor near the now destroyed circular stone tablet, or he thought it was a woman judging by the long locks of crimson red hair that was splayed around them. The young man made his way over to the unconscious person, realizing it was a Gerudo, but unlike most Nik had ever even seen from a distance, her skin tone a dark grayish color. Nik shook the woman's shoulder. "Hey, wake up. Are you alright?" He asked, jumping backwards a step as the woman opened her eyes, crimson irises staring at him widely.

"Ugh," The woman groaned, holding the side of her head. "What the.. Where.. Where am I? Who are you?!" She asked, her voice sounding more surprised than anything.

Nik held a hand out to help the woman up as she continued eyeing him, leaning her hands on the floor as she pushed her voluptuous upper body off of the stone floor. "My name is Nik, a half-Gerudo from Zora's Domain. And I found you here in these ruins."

"Zora.. Gerudo.. Am I.. in the Realm of Light? Is this.. Hyrule?"

Nik frowned, not used to such cryptic speaking. "Yeah, of course you are. Where else would you be from?"

The woman took his hand then, standing up to her full height which still made her just a bit shorter than Nik and gave him a much better view of his new friend. In comparison to Purah, the only other Gerudo Nik had personally met, this woman had a exotic beauty to her, and possibly a bit of danger or mystique judging by the extensive amount of tattoos she had all over her body, teal and black lines forming something similar to designed thigh-high stockings on her legs while more formed an intricate design across her toned stomach, something Nik cared not to linger on for long. Her breasts, barely covered as they were, also had a tattooed design on them, reminiscent of the runes that were present on the Temple door as well as the now-destroyed circular object. Her hair was red looking from the back, but seeing the inner lining of the hair that framed this woman revealed that from the front, her hair was almost pitch black. On her head, Nik thought he saw a pair of demonic horns, but they were actually just prongs attached to what looked like maybe a crown. The woman noticed the young man looking her up and down but ignored it for her next statement. "I would be from the Twilight Realm, home of my people. For I am the Queen of the Twili people, Midna!" She struck a pose, grinning mischievously which caused Nik to look away from her, avoiding the very bouncy mounds on this Midna's chest.

"The Twili? Never heard of them. Of course, I only just found out I was a Gerudo a few days ago, myself."

Midna frowned as her eyes narrowed, her arms crossing her chest which picked her breasts up slightly. "Really? That means my people have been without contact from Hyrule for a long time. Tell me, who is the current King?"

Nik grimaced, his nose scrunched in distaste. "Ganondorf Dragmire the.. I don't remember how far that list has gone since his ancestor first began the Dragmire dynasty after the Imprisoning War. Or at least, that's what Purah told me about it. As I said, I'm still new to knowing what I do, myself."

The woman hummed as she looked down at herself, only now realizing she looked different than she had before. "Wait.. What happened to my body? This isn't how I looked just yesterday. Tell me everything you know, boy. From Ganondorf ruling to how you came to find me here." Midna looked up at the missing ceiling, curious.

Nik nodded as he began retelling what he knew, starting with the little he was told about the Dragire dynasty and its origins and ending with the out recent events, the attack on his home as well as finding this ruined Temple, the flash of light and Midna's sudden appearance. The self-proclaimed Queen of the Twili frowned as she listened to the end of Nik's tale. "So this is the Temple of Twilight. But the Mirror.. no.." Midna saw what used to be the Mirror of Twilight and cursed. "Shit. Now I can't get back to my Realm. But why would I suddenly be summoned here like it was my purpose to..?" Nik wasn't paying full attention, opting to look around the ruined Temple himself as Midna decided to do what Nik had done minutes before and checked the young Gerudo voe out. "And now I find myself a Gerudo, not Twili, but my magic remains.. Curious." She finished, looking at the teal fireball in her hand as Nik looked her way.

"I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you. All of this is as new to me as it is to you, Midna. Your Highness, I mean." He said, humbly bowing his head with a nervous chuckle.

Midna smirked playfully. Oh, he's actually pretty cute, isn't he? She thought before giggling. "It's quite alright. Being called by my name is quite.. refreshing, actually. Of course, even as a Queen, I have little to no authority in Hyrule since my people were first banished from this realm. Deservedly so, but that's beside the point. Now, what to do, what to do?" She said, holding her chin in thought.

"I myself am on a journey, as I've just told you. I didn't expect to gain any traveling companions, but if you don't mind, I would be honored to escort a Queen around Hyrule." Nik said, straightening back up. "Of course, unless you would rather stay here and figure out a way back home to your people. I'd hate for someone in your position to be so cut off."

Midna sighed. "That was going to be my first option, but the Temple is little more than a husk of its former glorious self. I will not find answers here, nor any method to attempt to return me home, of which only the Mirror of Twilight can accomplish." She paused and looked at Nik, a positively predatory smile spreading across her face. "I think I have an idea. You say you're in great danger just by being a voe, correct?" Nik nodded. "Then let this vai Queen assist you. I have a way to alter others' perception of you, allowing you to move about Hyrule without the added danger brought on you from just being seen as the only other voe than the King. In return, all I ask for is asylum in whatever this new regime is that you are destined to bring about."

Nik pursed his lips disbelievingly. "That's it? Just asylum and not something more.. fitting of your title. I'm not suggesting anything, but wouldn't a Queen want to still be a Queen? At least part of Castle staff."

Midna looked at the young man in surprise, probably evident by the blush that still managed to redden up her cheeks. "So bold. But yes, I guess you would think correctly. However, such promises I cannot in good conscience make with such a.. boy."

Nik looked about to laugh. "Judgy, aren't we? I haven't judged you like that at all since you wound up here. I'm happy to take the help, we can work out whatever you really want after this shit with Ganondorf is over with. Deal? I'm not a bad person, I won't just let a lost Queen wander around by herself. Especially.. eh, I guess that wouldn't matter too much anyway."

Midna cocked her head to the side in curiosity. "What wouldn't matter much?"

Nik felt his cheeks redden. "Oh, nothing, I was just.. I meant.. It's rude for people to stare, even when faced with such beauty." He mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

Midna heard him, however, with the dead silence within the husk of a ruin they stood in. She couldn't help but bite her lip as she looked at the Gerudo boy- no, young man- in true curiosity. He was still so shy, especially around women although he looked like he would have been swatting women off of him his whole life. At least, since puberty hit him. And hit him hard, it seemed. And being truthful to herself, Midna was a woman and she did in fact have needs. Needs which, ashamedly, she really had little to no option of fulfilling even back in the Twilight Realm. The other Twili were all such.. prudes compared to their Queen that it kind of shocked Midna. Sure, the Twili thought her beautiful, but she couldn't deny that she much preferred this body. It seemed much more in line with herself, oddly, since she'd never thought of herself as uncomfortable in her own body. No matter, it seemed maybe she was in Hyrule with a purpose. But what role was she to ply in this upcoming battle? She was sure it wasn't only to help keep this young King-to-be safe from the eyes of those who would hurt him, but.. it occurred to her that in her heart, protecting the boy was an easy choice to make as she finally nodded, ignoring Nik's statement. For now. "Then it seems we have a deal. Now, do you plan for us to stay in these depressing ruins all day, oh great leader?" She smiled playfully again, this time Nik feeling the warmth in her tone.

He shook his head as he looked toward the door out of the Temple. "No, that wasn't in the plan, really. There's a lot to do, including infiltrating the Castle and rescuing the Princess from the dungeons, if she's even still there by the time we get to Hyrule Castle. I have a feeling there's a few things we need to take care of on the way. You wouldn't happen to have any amount of psychic foresight or anything in your repertoire of magical ability, would you?"

Midna frowned. "Unfortunately not. As far as I know. Potentially, this new body means I may also carry new abilities within myself. Only time will tell at the moment. So where do you believe we should begin, boy?" She didn't mean to just keep calling him boy, but Midna wasn't in the mood for entertaining her mind and whatever rampant thoughts were rushing about. She had to focus, the entire fate of the Kingdom rested on her helping the would-be King.

"My name is Nik, you know. I call you by your given name, the least you can do is do the same. Common courtesy or whatever. But, no, I honestly have no idea where to go from here. Let's go though, before it gets too dark. There's another Blood Moon coming soon.."

"Blood Moon?" Midna asked.

"It's a regular occurrence, these days. Basically, it revives all of Ganondorf's minions throughout Hyrule, disregarding Gerudo of course as it's a demonic happening. Usually it's during a full moon, but lately it's fallen upon the New Moon phase. Which is either tonight or tomorrow night."

Midna nodded. "Ah, then we should move with haste, no?"

Nodding, Nik led them back out through the stone doorway, which caused a ringing to sound that surprised Nik until he realized it was coming from the Purah Pad. Activating the device, he found a small symbol of an envelope in one corner, indicating he had received a message. As Purah had said not many of the Pads existed, that could only mean the message must have been from her, since she would have been the only one to know Nik had one in his possession. He opened the message, which read:

Nik, I hope this finds you in good spirits. I heard about the Moblin and Bokoblin attack at the Domain and I'm relieved your mother is alright. I send you this message to tell you the Gerudo I put in charge of the Sheikah Corps- currently- would like to meet with you and discuss the next step for you to take, so head to Kakariko Village, southeast of the Lanayru border by the Wetlands within the Necluda Region.. Please reply back and update me how you're doing, I get worried. With regards, Purah.

Midna, reading the message from Nik's side, grinned. "Ah, she worries about you."

"Oh, quit it. Purah taught me about all this, I was seriously just a simple farmboy before she showed up at my house looking for me. I should send her an update, though. She'd want to know I picked up a companion."

Midna giggled. "Even if she gets jealous?"

Nik rolled his eyes. "Impossible." He said before he started working out how to type a message back to Purah:

Purah. I am well and unharmed. I have just left the ruins you wanted me to check into. Nothing about a Sword, but do you know anything of a race known as the Twili? Supposedly banished from this Realm centuries ago. I ask because I have made a traveling companion out of a woman who- while she looks Gerudo- states she is the Queen of the Twili race. Otherwise, no need to worry and we will set out for Kakariko immediately. If nothing comes up, we should be there within a day's time. With regards, Nik.

"Couldn't have added an 'I love you' to that?" Midna teased as Nik groaned, putting the device away as they continued walking down the path outside the ruined Temple, heading in the direction they had been pushed towards.

Kakariko Village, Moments Later..

The Gerudo woman opened her eyes to the sound of the incoming message on her own Purah Pad, looking to see the subject of her sister's latest obsessions had indeed been taught how to use the thing, whether self or by another. She smiled at the reply, glad it seemed her sister had made a friend, even if she was crushing on the boy. And since Impa didn't have a picture recorded of the young man, not even from Purah herself, she looked forward to seeing just what the future of Hyrule looked like. And Purah would be long gone, off south towards Lurelin Village..

Later, Necluda Border..

Thankfully, the air was clear and bright enough to warrant no visit from a Blood Moon, but Midna still found herself looking up at the sea of stars above, gasping at the sight of a dragon flying high in the night sky, it's scales black and purple as it spewed small jets of purple flames as it flew. "Is that a dragon?"

Nik nodded, looking over at the distant shape. "One of the four I know of. That's Zeltra, Dragon of Darkness. Legend states she was the wife of the Ganondorf who first took over Hyrule and became a dragon to keep her husband's Kingdom in his thrall. Whether or not that legend rings true is anyone's guess in current times. You seem pretty distracted by the stars. I'm guessing your Realm doesn't have anything as.. pretty.. at night?"

Midna shook her head, her red hair swishing back and forth against the dirt around them. "No. There isn't even a day and night in my Realm, it's just endless.. grays. Like the form the portal that brought me here looked like, but more blended together into a single entity. The only other color you might see is the green of my people's magic." To demonstrate, she summoned a small green flame to her hand. "Also, summoning fire is new. Usually it's just sort of a.. cloud of energy."

Nik hummed as he turned the spits roasting several bodies of local lizards over the fire, ensuring they were cooked correctly before attempting to offer any to Midna. These particular lizards had a bad habit of affecting a person adversely if undercooked. "Sounds boring. Although I guess looking up at all the stars isn't so great, either. Not when you've always seen them, growing up. Which kind of reminds me. How old are you? Not to be rude but I can't get a handle on your age. Or Purah's, which is still surprising to me since she's younger than me by a few months. But, with Gerudo, it isn't as easy to distinguish because every Gerudo I've met has had a body men would go to war for. Someone might even decide to blow up a planet for a woman of your caliber, your Highness."

Nik and Midna both knew he was just teasing her, but that didn't stop the blush that crept onto her face yet again. Thankfully, the dim light of the fire hid it. "You're sweet, Nik, but stupidly naive. I'd like to believe it's more the former." She smiled across the fire at him. "You have mentioned Courage quite often since we met earlier today. Why do you seem so.. hung up on such a word?"

Nik shrugged. "Not sure, really. Purah brought up the fact my overprotective nature of my mother meant I held true Courage in my heart, and I guess I'm still trying to figure out what she meant by that. And if it has anything to do with that Triforce she mentioned.."

Midna perked up in her seat on the log opposite Nik. "Triforce? I can tell you more about that." Nik looked at her curiously. "Well, the Triforce is what caused my people to be banished from Hyrule in the first place. Or more specifically, some assholes from the Twili wanted to twist the world how they wanted and the powers that be had no want for it, so they struck back. The Triforce is a relic composed of three Triangular pieces that form together into a large triangle with one portion missing from the full triangle shape, like this." She picked up a long stick and drew the Triforce in the dirt before pointing to each segment in turn. "One face for Courage, one for Wisdom and one for Power. Being the next Gerudo King, I would wager most thought you to carry on Ganondorf's legacy, which is most likely fuelled by a lust for power and therefore makes him the Holder of Power. You would then need to be the Holder of Courage, because from what I remember being taught, Courage directly opposes Power while Wisdom bolsters the Will of Courage, but it seems we have no idea whether there even is a living Holder of Wisdom, or where they could be if there is.

"What I'm saying is that you are the perfect Holder of the Triforce of Courage, and your selflessness reflects and confirms this. You didn't have to offer me help at all, especially not now after learning the truth of why my people were banished." She looked down, thinking the young man may not want to travel with her because of such things.

Nik laughed. "So what? That happened how many years ago, now? A few bad eggs doesn't reflect on the whole coop, if you know what I mean. You personally had nothing to do with it and, even as Queen of such people, I can't hold their crimes against you. By the way, you never answered my question."

Midna felt her lips turn upwards in a bright smile at the sincerity of Nik's words. "You really are a sweetheart. No wonder you're a mama's boy," Nick frowned with a shake of his head as Midna giggled. "I'm twenty-two, Nik, and have been ruling my people since I was sixteen."

Nik nodded. "Sounds lonely, though. What happened to the last ruler of your people? Were they a parent of yours or did you get thrust onto the throne like I'm being pushed to do?"

Midna looked away, surprised Nik was able to guess as much. "My people do not keep a single family in power for longer than a single ruler at a time, unless reelected which to my knowledge has never happened. So no, neither my father or mother were the previous sovereign power of the Twili, although I may never know that at any time seeing as I know nothing about my parents. Honestly, most Twili throw their children to the Wild to fend for themselves. They say it's to help our magic form, but I found it cruel, basically living as nothing but a bum in my own home for sixteen whole years. And then the King died and, somehow, it was I who was chosen to carry on the title of Monarch. So, yes, I know all too well of the pressures of having such things thrust upon you. And indeed, I will admit it has been a lonely ruling period, surprisingly more lonely than simply living had been. And because of that, I can sincerely say that- as shocking and unforeseen as today has gone- I am glad I came to this Realm and met you. By your own words, another man may have tried to have his way with me."

Midna was smirking as Nik looked at her. "It is tempting. If there were more Hylians still around, and you identified yourself as other than a Gerudo with that body? You very well may have been locked up in someone's basement." Midna shuddered, though whether from disdain at the idea or the warm feeling she suddenly had at the thought of having Nik be the one locking her away, she could not say. "Of course, I have heard that before the Gerudo-ruled Hyrule of today, Gerudo were considered the utmost exotic race to even get a chance with."

"Hmm. I guess I could see where you're coming from. Lucky for me, then, that I get a big, strong Gerudo voe to protect me."

Nik chuckled despite the teasing tone. "Whatever you say, Midna. I doubt I need to truly protect you from much, assuming you can fully use your magic."

"By the time it is needed, my magic and the capacity to cast it shall be just fine. No need to worry about me like that, young one."

Nik's eye twitched. "Be that as it may, I will worry. You are in a strange land filled with people that have become more and more unscrupulous as the years have passed. And as much as I don't know you, my heart tells me to trust you. I just hope that means you won't do anything harmful to me."

Midna put a hand over her heart, smiling. "Oh, you really are adorable. Nik, you are the first person to show me true kindness since I was but a child fighting for my life in the Twilight Realm. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done so already and you would never even know. You're safe as can be with me around, my king. No harm shall befall you with me by your side." She said sincerely, having to stop herself from blurring out what she only thought then. And your bed. She shook her head of such thoughts, they were unbecoming of a Queen, even one who had dealt with such crippling feelings of loneliness before that day. "As short a time as it has been, I would rather die than see you hurt." Where is this all coming from? I barely know him?! She thought, her confusion over these feelings growing by the minute.

Nik smiled, nodding. "Thank you, Midna. It truly means a lot. I could.. I know I need a lot of help with this. I have to find this Sword that supposedly was lost to time centuries ago, kill the man who, under other less favorable circumstances, would be my father and I have a Kingdom to take over and rule, in which I have zero experience with such matters."

Nik was surprised to find Midna not in her seat anymore, his body going rigid as he felt her arms encircling him from behind, her voice sounding melodious in his ear. "You will be a great King, Nik. I have not foreseen it, but I do not have to. Not after seeing how big your heart is, the Courage you hold within yourself and the respect you show to others, even a mysterious stranger who suddenly appeared at your feet," She giggled, making Nik shudder. "Your Kingdom will be great, Nik, I already know it."

Midna had to fight herself from shuddering in response to how Nik's hand reached for her arm, tracing the lines of one of her tattoos. "And I won't let harm come to you, as following me will bring. Even if you can handle yourself, I.. I will worry."

Midna giggled as she hugged Nik from behind, her breasts pushing against his back making him gulp as she answered. "Now you sound like that Purah girl."

Nik chuckled. "Ma figured something may be there. If what she thought is anything like I think this is, then she was right not to worry about me as much as I do for her."

With that, the two continued chatting into the night, even as the moon rose high in the sky, and Veltra flew by before landing wherever she may.

The Next Day..

Midna woke up to the sounds of metal thunking against wood, looking around. She found several signs of Bokoblins, but no bodies as she saw Nik cutting down trees with an axe, possibly something else left behind by the supposed intruders to their camp. "Did I miss something?"

Nik stopped chopping the tree, the trunk still falling to the ground as he shrugged. "Oh, morning, Midna. Just some Bokoblins thinking there was an easy target around. Luckily I was able to wake up and managed to take them all out without disturbing you. You looked.. surprisingly cute asleep. I figured you may have needed the rest."

"And while you're not wrong, I would have liked to know we were under attack."

"Well excuse me, Queenie. Next time I'll make sure to incur the wrath of a sleeping dragon."

Midna hummed as she stretched, Nick looking away from the wally she arched her back and let her chest puff out. "That does sound like a fun idea. Perhaps we can piss off Veltra and watch it happen."

"I doubt that. There's no way I'd trust anyone with such supposed ties to the Dynasty not to just kill me. Also, I don't know a lot of the language the Bokoblins and Moblins speak, but I was able to decipher they thought you were a demon. One who was trying to usurp their King's power. Thankfully, they're too stupid to get away far enough to go tell another minion about such things and when the Blood Moon rises, all revived minions have no other memory than being reborn. And don't worry about what I'm doing," Nik slashed the axe down on the fallen log he had created, turning it into a two or three bundles worth of wood. "Just making sure we have firewood in case we happen to stay on the road, so to speak. It may be a while before we have a more stable place to stay."

Midna nodded. "Would you care for some help? And how do you even carry so much with you?"

Nik patted the storage pouch on his belt. "Korok-enhanced bag. I can fit practically anything and however much of it I may need. There is limited space for such things as weapons or shields, though. Small shortcoming, not much to worry about. I'll be done in just a bit."

Nodding, Midna decided to watch Nik work, leaning back on her hands as she could see the muscles in the younger Gerudo's arms flexing with every swing he made. Protective and good with his hands. Strong, too. Oh, I do believe I may be in trouble. She thought, biting her lip at the more sensual thoughts that had begun popping into her head. She sighed lightly before looking away from him, finding it hard to stop herself from even just gazing at him from the corner of her eye.

Soon, Nik had everything not needed packed back up and the duo were back on their way to Kakariko Village. In fact, according to the map on Nik's Purah Pad, their destination wasn't far, just a little further up the main path they walked up. Midna had, since they left the small camp they had set up, put up whatever magical illusion she had told Nik she would, but of course he didn't know what he looked like to others as of yet, not wanting to ask in fear of getting attacked.

The two companions sighed in relief as they saw a gate standing above the path ahead of them, the sign stating they had indeed reached Kakariko Village. Before they could enter, however, there was a puff of smoke and a Gerudo stood in their way, a dagger in hand as she glared at the pair. The unknown vai had white hair and light skin like Purah did (as well as Nik), but where Purah's hair was a single wave of white down her back- not that Nik had particularly looked- this woman's hair split into two equally long ponytails fastened in several places by Gerudo hair accessories. She had a red tattoo of a flame or something similar on her forehead, and another tattoo that looked by four wings spreading out from the valley between her breasts, the middle covered by a pair of rubies inlaid in some neckwear. Her shoes, which reached most of the way to her knees, matched Purah's in the same colors of a shade between teal and sky blue and another red tattoo curled around her left thigh. She wore a brassiere the same color as her shoes and she had unconnected sleeves that were puffy and made of a red fabric going down from her elbows, the wrist and hands the tealish color as well. The woman's lip curled up. "Halt! My name is Impa, and this is Kakariko Village. I would let you pass, but this is no place for a voe."

Nik threw his hands up in surrender. "Hold up, wait! We were sent here by Purah, does that name ring a bell?"

The now named Impa narrowed her eyes at the young male Gerudo. "Yes, it does. Purah is my little sister," Nik's eyes widened as she continued. "But that changes nothing!" Before anyone could say anything else, the white-haired Gerudo rushed forward in attack.

Just before Impa's dagger would make contact with Nik, a sphere of magic shielded him, the telltale teal of Midna's magic as he heard the dark-skinned woman growl. "No one harms the future King on my watch. The Queen of the Twili forbids it!"

Impa lowered her weapon, now realizing exactly who she was looking at as she gasped, putting the dagger away and bowing, giving both Nik and Midna a generous view of Impa's own sizeable breasts. "I'm so sorry! I completely forgot you were supposed to arrive today! I guess Purah isn't the only one who gets scatterbrained every once in a while. Come with me, you will not be reported on to Ganondorf by any of the villagers."

"How do you know that?" Midna asked, frowning. "Moments ago you were ready to slice us to ribbons. How did you even see through the illusion spell I put Nik under?"

Now Impa looked at them, confused. "Illusion spell? But all I see is a Gerudo who, according to the family tree of the royal family, doesn't exist."

Midna scratched her cheek, unsure of why her spell wasn't fully working, as several passersby hadn't realized there was a young male Gerudo walking around. Then again, it should have worked on her as well, and she had kept it quiet that she indeed saw Nik as he truly was, not a regular Hylian by any means. "Why isn't it working on everyone?" She whispered to herself.

"Mid? You coming?" She looked up and saw Nik following Impa into the village, rushing to catch up. "Everything alright?" He asked her as she fell in step with him.

"Yes, for now. I just have to do some.. research. Now hush, Nik. We don't know exactly what we're walking into here, just the assurance from both Purah and this Impa that we'll be safe."

Nik chuckled before looking back towards the swaying backside of Impa, his cheeks reddening. "So, how do you guarantee our safety here, exactly? And where is Purah? It sounded like she would be here."

"Miss my sister already, voe? Don't worry about her, she's fine and on her way towards Lurelin down on the Faron shore. She has rounds to make, though she doesn't want to. No, you're here to see the one she put in charge of the Sheikah Corps and, by extension, leads this entire village. Everyone who lives here would rather die than tell the secrets of the village. That's why I know you will be safe. Any more questions?" Silence. "Good."

Impa led the duo to a hut at the foot of a steep set of stairs that led to a bigger house, or what would be a manor, maybe. "This is where you will be staying for the day. Purah gave me strict orders to make sure you didn't leave until tomorrow. She predicts the Blood Moon is to happen tonight and would rather you be in stable shelter. Why she seems to care so much, I still don't see."

Nik tilted his head. "I mean, I'm not really here to impress you, am I? Unless you're the one your sister put in charge here?"

Impa smiled, throwing up a peace sign. "Guilty! Now you look like you need some rest, Nik. I suggest getting it before we speak later tonight. You, on the other hand," She turned to Midna, who narrowed her eyes at the other woman. "You look like you need to rest up at the hot springs, too much tension. Just up the hill there, through the flower meadow. Take all the time you need, my home is yours while you're here." With another puff of smoke, Impa disappeared from view as Nik entered the hut, Midna following closely after.

"I'll be fine, Midna. Go take a dip in the hot springs. Maybe it'll clear your head a bit, yeah?" Nik said, urging Midna to follow Impa's words as the impish woman smirked.

"So you can what? Go and choke your cucco at the thought of that Impa girl? Or maybe Purah is the one you prefer? I don't know. And even, dare I say I am the object of such thoughts?" She winked at Nik, whose face reddened like a tomato.

"Oh, just go! Hylia almighty, you and the teasing."

"I'd think you like it." Midna giggled, turning and swaying her backside at him before opening the door back up. "Get some rest. See you later." And like that, Nik was left alone in the hut as he went to lay down, his early morning wood chopping taking a toll on him enough to make him knock out almost immediately.