Happy holidays and happy new year! Next upload can be expected in mid/late January, as I've got a lot of end-of-year stuff to square away for work. Thanks for the lovely reviews, pms, favs, follows, etc. It means the world to me!

Chapter 18 - Twisted Power

Link stopped before a large riveted door that was bound with a golden lock and took a moment to collect himself. Molten lava seeped from cracks in the walls, illuminating the cavern in an eerie glow. The hero turned a massive key over in his hands, inspecting his reassembly job one last time. It's not that the key was some challenging puzzle to put back together - it was, after all, only split into three.

The difficulty came from how that split was done in the first place. Judging by the uneven connecting surfaces and several large dents marring the metal, Link could only assume that the Gorons who disassembled the key smashed the thing with a hammer and called it a day.

Midna's single visible eye appeared from shadows upon the walls. "I can't believe these Goron people are so dull-witted. Barbarians, if you ask me."

Link gave her a pointed side-eye. "They'd likely say the same about us. We can't really blame them for making rash decisions when things get tough. Goddesses know we Hylians are hardly better." He looked up again at the lock, then reached for his cap. "You're staying out here until I sort this out."

From beneath the green fabric emerged the strangest companion Link had met to date. Ooccoo alighted upon the ground and shook her feathers out. She had not once questioned who else Link had been speaking to, nor did she pester the hero with prying questions about himself, his past, or his goals. She simply hid under his cap, or perched on his back when she wanted to look around. While she offered no assistance in navigating the mines, she also demanded nothing of him. Ooccoo had turned out to be an ideal traveling partner.

"Adventurer, I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate this," the bird-woman trilled. "You will be divinely rewarded someday for your great deeds, you will!"

Link grunted, throwing aside his near-empty rations pack. He was exhausted. He was overheated. He was dirty. The only reward he cared about was a cold dip in Ordon Spring. "Always happy to help." He felt Ooccoo deserved a nicer response, but couldn't find the energy to lighten his own mood.

Midna had disappeared back into the shadows the moment he'd reached for Ooccoo. Link couldn't see her, but the ground just felt different when she walked in his shadow. When this first happened, he disliked how it felt he was never touching the ground, like he was disconnected from the world.

Now, as the hero inserted the mangled key into its lock and braced himself for whatever he may face inside, Link found the sensation comforting. He would face the evil that had corrupted the Goron leader one-on-one, but he wouldn't be alone. Should he ever fall, he wouldn't die alone.

I need to stop thinking that way. But, Goddesses, he was tired.

The key clicked, and the lock fell to the stony ground with a clatter. Startled by the noise, Ooccoo dove into the discarded pack with a shriek. The clamor faded after a time. The hero wiped his brow and pulled the door aside.

Link stepped into a chamber that he swore could have fit his entire home village inside. A few weak torches burned on the walls, their dim light doing just enough to illuminate the perimeter of the room. A ring of columns stood mighty in a circle, their tops lost in the darkness above. At the center of the ring was a large, unnatural shape that appeared to be at least twice as tall as any man.

The hero cautiously stepped further inside, fighting not to cough on the dust that was dislodged by the opening of the door. It was marginally cooler in this chamber, though that was hardly saying much. It was a welcome change, anyways.

As Link neared the strange mass, he eyed the massive chains that bound it to the floor. They weren't unlike the very chains that once held him in Hyrule's Dungeons, when he first entered Twilight. The hero made his way to one side of the mass and found a large, four-point jewel shimmering weakly. It appeared to be set within a crown or headdress of sorts.

Uncertain of what else to do, Link reached forward. The weak light grew bright as his fingertips drew near, swelling from a dull red to a vibrant and blinding white. Link stepped back and shielded his eyes as the rocky creature began to leak fiery light from the cracks in its skin.

Glowing red eyes shot open from beneath the golden headdress, and the beast roared at Link.

"Theif!" it exclaimed, thrashing beneath the chains that held it down. The magnetized floor beneath them crackled and sparked with every scrape of metal against it, further igniting the flames beginning to roll off the creature's body. "Can't have it! My power!"

"Link, run," Midna's cry sounded above the roar. Link was already in motion, ducking behind a nearby column just as the temperature in the room skyrocketed. The monster's body was engulfed in flames. The screeching of warping and breaking metal threatened to burst Link's eardrums. He crouched lower and did his best to cover them.

"It looks like that Fused Shadow turned him into a Twilit Igniter," Midna's shadowy form stood in front of him, yet her voice sounded like it was right in his ears. Another one of her strange tricks that he'd long grown used to. "Incredibly malicious fire spirit," she added at Link's confused look.

"What do I do?"

Debris shattered against the wall just beyond them, and Link jumped to his feet. The Igniter had shaken off most of the chains that once bound him. Link met the monster's hate-filled gaze for a brief instant and took off running once more.

"You're the damn hero!" Midna spat, flying through the air beside him. "Use your bow, your boomerang, hell, use your fists if you think you can punch through rock!"

Link reached for the bow slung across his back, near-forgotten since he'd discovered something quite embarrassing early on: He had no clue how to actually use a bow. He'd never gone bow-hunting as child, despite Rusl's numerous attempts to invite him along. He'd never even held one before, or given it much thought - the sword had never failed him. And then Isha had joined him, and as long as they'd traveled together.

He faced the monster and readied an arrow. It roared and turned to face Link, giving him the perfect shot at the jewel that was still shining brightly with its dark power. He drew the string back, and the arrow rattled pathetically to the ground. It had slipped from his fingers.

The former Goron leader swung the chains still clinging to its arms about, crashing into the column nearest to Link. The hero quickly swapped to his shield and held it above his head, deflecting the raining debris as he ran from the reaching Igniter. He felt the heat upon his neck as the monster's fingertips came too close to comfort. He ducked behind a large chunk of fallen stone, moving too quickly for the lumbering golem to keep up.

No time for these stupid mistakes! Link withdrew his bow once more and loaded another arrow, trying to emulate the few times he'd watched Isha do the same. This time, he managed to complete drawing the bow before letting the arrow fly. The arrow took a shaky path, glancing off the side of the beast's headdress, but it was the best shot he'd managed since getting the weapon. It was close enough to make the giant flinch.

Link tried to put more distance between himself and the Igniter, and observed two chains still secured to the creature's ankles, clinging to the magnetized floor and further inhibiting his enemy's movements. An idea began to form. Link dove for cover behind an unbroken column.

"Midna, can you can do anything to distract him?" He crouched and peered back around the pillar.

The imp glared up at Link from his shadow. "Only because I don't feel like replacing you right now," she scowled before melting away.

"Pest! Theif! Pitiful bug!" The Igniter bellowed insults at Link, realizing it had lost the hero behind the columns. Link relished in the few extra moments to catch his breath.

A loose strand of chain crashed onto the ground beside Link. He ran towards the beast, eyes fixed on its bindings. A bright flash of red from above nearly blinded Link, but he forced himself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. He was so close.

The metal was scalding to the touch, but Link knew he had little time to worry about burns. The Igniter was covering its eyes, still dazed by Midna's blinding flash. His impish companion had rejoined the hero, slipping into his shadow once more. Link pulled back, and the monster's leg gave little despite his efforts. His own legs slid from under him.

"The bracers-" The words left Link's lips just as the cold weight of iron encircled his wrists and feet. The chain's weight disappeared. He set his legs a shoulder's width apart and pulled once more with all his might. The beast that once led the Gorons fell face-first to the ground, roaring curses.

Link's iron reinforcements disappeared, and he rushed to the Twilit Igniter's head, where the gem still beamed like a beacon within its headdress. The swordsman began slashing wildly, the sound of goathorn clashing against rock pounding in his ears. Roars of pain echoed through his sore muscles with every strike, but Link kept swinging.

So caught up was he in his frenzy that the swordsman did not notice the rocky hand hurtling towards him until he was already flying through the air. The far wall came to greet the hero all too quickly, and he slumped to the ground in a daze.

"Get up, Wolf! Get up!" the shadows around Link pushed his body up into a sitting position, but he did not respond to Midna's desperate cries. "GET UP!"

The Igniter stepped forward, having recovered from its tumble. Midna continued to scream for her companion while moving him further into shadows, out of sight of his opponent. "You can't die here, Link!"

The hero groaned, hearing the panic in her voice. His mind and eyes only saw black. Black, and then a golden spark.

Rise, Hero.

Link leapt to his feet with a pained shout, a feeling of icy calm washing over him. That warm voice that haunted the corners of his dreams and nightmares alike filled him with a newfound energy. His muscles cried at the effort, for the energy was not healing. His left hand felt as though it had been clinging to lightning. He ached, which meant he was alive.

And if he was alive, the Hero wasn't done fighting.


"You're lucky I have the energy for a hike after such a long day!"

Mikas looked up from writing in his notebook to see the Hylian adventurer, Isha. He'd been sitting on the edge of the natural land bridge known as the Upper Arch, waiting for her. The young woman was waving at him with his note in her hand. She was still dripping wet from the swim through Zora's Domain. Mikas tried not to laugh at how strange the human looked - not that it was her fault, they all looked silly when they were drenched. While Zora looked roughly the same wet or dry, more humanoid races tended to appear closer to drowned rodents after a swim. Despite this, and despite knowing by now that there were no dry roads in the domain, she'd still wasted time on styling her hair by weaving it into a braid.

Ridiculous. Mikas hid his laughter with a smile and gestured for her to join him.

Isha did so, continuing on as though he'd continued the conversation. "I woke up early this morning and did some swimming exercises with Nuvoro, which was incredibly fun at the time, but I think I'm starting to really feel it in my arms." She flounced down beside him, massaging her shoulders for emphasis. "Then I decided to take up Zepin's offer to visit the archery range…" Isha continued on, telling Mikas of her target practice, her lunch at Fin's End, and her afternoon spent wandering about local shops. He stared down at the river below and listened to Isha with half an earfin, lost in thoughts of his own day spent agonizing over the right words.

It wasn't that he didn't care to hear about her day. In fact, he cared far more than he felt was appropriate for two souls who only met a handful of times before. Mikas assumed that the intensity of circumstances surrounding their meeting was the reason behind his interest. She'd proven to be a surprisingly useful ally in battle despite her wounds and seemed just as brave as any of the Zora soldiers. Of course, it would be natural for a soldier to identify and relate to someone who fought well.

But then, they'd spent hours at dinner the night before. Mikas was completely taken in by her stories and her wealth of knowledge on legends and history. Isha made no complaint whatsoever about his continued silence, and if she were ever annoyed at how long it would take him to write longer responses, she never let on. It was while watching her read over his words with bright eyes and excitedly encouraging him to take all the time he needed to respond that the Zora realized it was not solely her potential as a soldier that interested him.

Annoying. Mikas was young, merely a few years over a hundred. It wasn't unusual for Zora his age to be easily distracted by potential mates. Even the oh-so-noble Peras was nothing more than a puddle whenever the Prince- no, now King Ralis was nearby.

Mikas found it difficult to ignore a pretty face. Or a strong body. Or a sharp mind. Or-

"Come on, not even a chuckle at that one?" Isha's words broke through Mikas' thoughts, and he realized he'd stopped listening to her altogether. The Zora offered her an apologetic smile and made a gesture with his hands. He'd shown her a few of the hand signs for common phrases he sometimes used when the notebook was inconvenient, and hoped she recalled them. It made things far easier.

"You have no idea what I said, do you?" Her expression was light, but her tone sounded a bit off. She did not let on whether or not she recognized his movements, which irked him more than he expected. Mikas flipped to an empty page and wrote:

I'm afraid I've had a long day, too - sorry.

Isha shrugged him off and looked out over the river. "It was a dumb joke anyways," she said. "So, any particular reason you asked me to meet you here?"

That damned notebook suddenly felt heavy in his hands. Mikas took in the sight of her in the fading evening sun, as bright as the world around her. Her skin had tanned in the weeks since their meeting, one of few human traits Mikas envied. His dark blue scales, inherited from his mother, were the same shade as the day he was born, and would be the same shade upon his death. A permanent resemblance, one he felt he did not deserve.

The Zora took in Isha's calm expression and the way she leaned slightly to her previously-injured side. He still had regrets about the scarring she'd been left with,. Mikas supposed that, once she learned the truth, permanently disfiguring her skin would be the least of reasons she would despise him. He almost wished he could back down from his plans.

I lost the opportunity to keep secrets when I chose to heal her, he reminded himself. It's better to get these things out in the open before I get too close. Mikas took a deep breath and opened his notebook to the first of three pre-written pages, holding it up for her to see.

I feel that you are owed some explanations, and I have written one for you. I ask that you stay here and read it in full. I am sorry for leaving you in the dark, but I hope you understand why this was difficult for me to address.

Isha tilted her head slightly, looking from the page to him. The corner of her lip twitched. "And here I was looking forward to spending the remainder of my time here trying to pry everything from you. It's almost less fun this way." She took the notebook from his hands.

Part of Mikas wanted to rip it back from her and bask in her teasing and wit for a while longer. Instead, he stood and made his way across the bridge, up to one of the currently-unmanned lookout ledges. Here, leaned against the cliff face and forced himself to stare only at the riverside. He dared not watch for her reactions.

Left by herself upon the bridge, Isha watched after the retreating Zora and wondered if her joke had been in poor taste. She'd caught the grim look that flashed across his face for a split second before he'd turned and walked away.

The notebook felt heavier in her hands than she recalled. She fingered the corner of the page and her heart began to beat just a bit faster. Should she have told him she'd already pieced the story together? It was obvious he used magic on her, and it was obvious this was something difficult for him. Did she really need to know any more?

Well, she wanted to know more. Isha flipped the page and began to read:

I can only imagine the questions you may have by now. I will answer them here, but I must warn you, Isha, that the details are dark. It is a lack of self-control that started me down this path, and an abundance of selfishness that nearly let you perish.

My mother, the former high priestess of our village, became deathly ill just over a decade ago. She was a healer, like dad and me. One of the best. She was worshipping in the temple at the bottom of Lake Hylia. There was a tremble in the earth, and the floor beneath her gave out. She fell into a room where relics and powerful artifacts are kept hidden away. We have reason to believe one of the ones she came in contact with is cursed, and infected her with some kind of wasting disease we've never encountered before. The first few weeks, she had very occasional moments of lucidity, though she was not herself. One day, she stopped waking up.

I was meant to be our next high priest. I have always been told that I was fit to be better than any before me, and at that time I felt like my entire purpose in life was to save her from this horrible state. I tried, Isha. I tried so hard. I tried every healing spell under the sun, every incantation I could think of. When I wasn't expending every last bit of my energy on her, I was researching every bit of healing magic and healing processes I could find. Nothing worked.

After a year of no progress, my dad and I started fighting. He would sit in with me when I tried to heal mom, and one day he snapped. Said I was giving all of us false hope and that if I wasn't going to bring her back, then to let her go peacefully. I was in the middle of a spell, and I didn't finish it. I lost control of my emotions and shouted at him. I can't even remember what I said now, but the words held a lot of unrestrained power in them. It knocked my dad off his feet. Mom died instantly. She was…crushed by the force of magic.

There was a lot that happened those next few days, but most of it is a blur now. I know that my magic began to rage out of control, and I stopped speaking entirely as a way to stifle it. Even once I regained control, I committed myself to a vow of silence. I refused the role of High Priest and hadn't touched my power since, because I can't be trusted to handle it properly. Any who asked was told she passed due to her illness, only dad and I know the truth. And now you. This is not a confession I ever wanted to make, but it is relevant.

Isha had reached the bottom of the page. She stared at the arrow scribbled in the corner, urging her to continue on, but her hands felt frozen in place. She once again debated setting down the notebook and refusing to read further. A memory came to the front of her mind unprompted, one of her screaming in anger at the Zora who saved her life, throwing a tantrum over the fact that he wouldn't speak aloud to her.

It made her sick.

Isha turned the page and continued reading despite her churning stomach.

My vow was intended to be forever, at first. I felt that I didn't deserve to breathe, let alone speak. Even after a decade I struggle to see it as "just an accident." My father forgave me. My mother forgave me in the afterlife. I've even prayed to Lanayru, who agreed that it was an unfortunate mistake. I still struggle to accept this simple explanation. Mistake or not, my mother is dead by my actions.

I felt that the least I could do to atone for this was to set aside my magic for good, and not allow myself to mistakenly take another life. My magic is entirely dependent on spoken word. If I remain mute, the magic remains harmless to others. This is the short-sighted, ill-advised mantra I have lived by for the last ten years.

Now, I offer my apologies from the deepest parts of my heart. Had I not been so lost in my own self-loathing, I could have saved you many hours of suffering. I nearly killed you simply by refusing to act. When I did finally decide to heal you properly, it wasn't even for your sake. I did it for myself. I didn't save you out of any noble intentions, I had no thoughts of the value of your life. I didn't speak because I felt compelled to save anyone. I find you interesting and I think you fight well, but I would be lying if I said any of that was on my mind at the time. All I could think about was repairing my own old wounds.

I saw your recovery as a personal victory. And when you jumped after me when we were climbing the cliffs, I wasn't worried about your well-being. I was angry, because I felt like you were throwing away this great miracle I performed for you. I was angry because you didn't know how important this whole thing was to me. I feel most sick at myself for this moment.

I am sorry that you suffered because of me. I wish I could say this is a turning point in my life, and that all is well in my heart having made these confessions and acknowledged my thoughts, but I know myself far too well for that. I don't ask for your forgiveness, and I know that answers don't necessarily make up for what you went through. I don't ask for your friendship or your pity. I only ask that you allow me to hang on to a shred of dignity among my people, and not tell anyone what you know.

You are a far better person than I am, Isha. And among my most foolish mistakes is my initial failure to notice you for the fascinating woman you are. The world is a better place because of people like you, and a worse place because of people like me. Though I feel I am incapable of change, I do still hope that someday I might do the right thing simply because it is right, just as you do.


Link's movements felt both natural and entirely not of his own, a conflict he'd only experienced once before when he stood against an army of monsters that chased them from Castle Town to Kakariko. His muscles moved as though guided, though it was not his own mind that did the guiding. Had he any control over his own thoughts, he might have dwelled on how unnerving it was to not be in control.

The Hero ducked to the ground and rolled, dodging another slow punch thrown by the Twilit Igniter. Debris from the broken columns gave him plenty of places to slip out of view, confusing the simple-minded beast momentarily. Link dipped between debris piles, seeking a clear view of the beast's head. He found his opening just as the beast stopped its thrashing - it had completely lost sight of Link. The bow now felt familiar in his hands, and he slipped an arrow silently from his quiver.

Eyes locked on the monster's weak spot, Link steadied his battle-scarred arms and took aim. The Igniter and Hero locked eyes just as the arrow was loosed, slicing through the air and landing square in the center of the jewel. Red mist began to leak out from around the lodged arrow, bathing the entire arena further in a crimson glow.

While the corrupted Goron leader roared and cradled its injured head, Link made another run for its legs. Iron gauntlets and boots were donned the moment his fingers wrapped around the hot metal chains. The Hero's mind cleared briefly enough for him to appreciate Midna's dependability, despite their differences. He shouldered the scalding metal and turned his back to the beast, dragging it to the ground with all the strength he could muster.

The Igniter fell to the ground, his impact causing the entire cavern to shake. Link vaulted over the debris in his way, fixated on the gleaming, cracked jewel that seemed to fuel the beast. It shone in this dark cavern like a beacon.

Drawing near, the Hero brandished his sword plunged it deep into the corrupted jewel. The red mist seeping from the cracks rolled out along his sword in waves, tumbling over the sides of the fallen golem and fading into the dark ground. Link's arms were beginning to shake with exhaustion, but he forced the sword deeper into the beast's skull. Its dying roars threatened to bring the cavern down around them.

Then, the light vanished. The red mist petered out with a hiss, drowned out by the fading cries of the slain monster. The Igniter's fires snuffed out as though a candle in the wind, and darkness fell around them. Link released his sword, which fell to the ground with a clang. He blinked, and found himself laying on his back, staring up at an unseen ceiling. The cave was finally silent.

"I didn't want to kill the guy," he breathed to no one in particular.

"Like I said last time, this is why the Fused Shadows belong with me. I can control them with little issue," Midna's voice startled Link. In the dark cavern, he could only make out her eye and magic hair gleaming in his peripherals. The hero tried to sit up, but a sharp pain from his ribs made him go rigid, and a cry of pain escaped his throat. Now that the thrill of the battle had subsided, there was nothing left to distract Link from his many injuries.

"It's a shame-"

The sound of crumbling stone silenced Midna, who immediately melted from view. Link strained to lift his head in the direction of the noise, to the slain beast across from him. In the weak light he could see it crumbling into thick, black luminescent particles that hung in the air above the decaying body. They lit up something in their wake - the sleeping form of Darbus, unconscious but seeming unscathed despite the ordeal.

The particles above swirled about, coming together to form the second of the Fused Shadows. It was a long, strange shape with curled spikes running up its spine, and wreathed with a eerie green glow. The piece gently lowered onto the ground beside Darbus' unmoving body. After a few moments of silence, Midna slowly crept from hiding and recovered her Fused Shadow. She lingered over the body for several long minutes.

"He's not dead," she said softly, drifting back to Link's side. "I am...rarely wrong, but it appears you managed to save him."

"Your praise means everything to me," the hero replied dryly.

Midna rolled her eyes and pulled something from her shadows. It was a bottle filled with shimmering, golden liquid. Her yellow eyes gazed upon him with pity. "You look fit to meet your gods, but they'll have to wait. I'm not finished with you."

"Not that potion, that's-"

"Stop talking, Wolfy. Open your mouth and drink." The cork released with a pop. "If you never use it, what's the point in owning miracle cures?"

Link grunted with the effort it took just to lift his head. Every bone in his body felt broken, and every muscle screamed with exhaustion. Midna set the potion at his lips and supported his neck with her free hand. Slowly, he managed to force down the molasses-like medicine.

Once he'd drank roughly half, Midna gently laid him back on the floor and disappeared once more from view without so much as a word.

Golden healing potions were rare but incredibly potent, and Link was grateful he'd thought to buy the little he had while in Castle Town. He was hoping to hold on to it for later in their journey, perhaps even in the final showdown against those responsible for Hyrule's troubles.

But Midna was right, he knew it. Link would not be able to leave by himself unless he had a miraculous recovery. The solution worked rapidly, though it brought with it quite a bit of discomfort as broken, dislocated bones re-set and torn muscles stitched themselves back together. It wasn't unlike the sensation of transforming into a wolf, so at least he was used to the feeling.

Minutes ticked by in the gloomy silence, and Darbus began to stir. Link was half asleep when he heard the Goron leader groan and pull himself from the ground.

"A human? What is going on? Who are you, goro?" his voice boomed.

Despite his fatigue, Link pulled himself into a sitting position and looked up at Darbus, who was downright intimidating in the minimal light. The hero was relieved to see that he would not have to explain the death of a leader to the Gorons who'd trusted him to help. He reached for the heat tag, battered but still clinging to his belt, and held it up. "My name is Link, from Ordon. Gor Coron sent me. If you'll lead the way out of here, I'll be happy to fill you in."

Link wasn't sure the heat tag would mean anything to Darbus, let alone that the Goron could see what it was in such a dark room, but it was about all the proof he had that he wasn't there with ill intentions. His decision was proven to be the correct one when the Goron's expression softened.

"I would recognize those puny handprints anywhere," he boomed. A large rocky hand extended towards Link. "Come, goro. Let me get my bearings and we can head out. Now, did you say Ordon? From the southern mountains? How is Li'l Bo doin these days?"

Link hardly thought Bo was "little", even compared to the towering Goron. As they exited the cell that had imprisoned Darbus for untold weeks, Link made sure to grab his discarded travel pack and check to make sure Ooccoo was still safely inside. She did not seem the least bit interested in coming out, which was just fine with the hero.

Out in the mines proper, Link finally got a good look at the Goron patriarch. He was enormous in comparison to the others Link had met in the city, both in height and build. Even the oversized doors throughout the mines were too small for Darbus, and he often had to halt Link's explanation of events to curl into a ball and roll through tight corridors.

Despite his long imprisonment, Darbus seemed more concerned with the wellbeing of his people and the neighboring lands than he was with his own state. He was covered in scars that Link felt looked quite fresh, though they did not appear to be caused by a sword. When the hero tried to ask about them, though, Darbus simply stated he could not recall and encouraged Link to continue filling him in on the state of the world. The Goron leader seemed especially disheartened when Link explained all that had transpired at Kakariko.

"I have much to think on," Darbus said as they finally reached the exit. "We Gorons are in your debt, small hero. There are many things in this world I do not understand. I feel many have gone crazy, chasing these dark relics and fighting over titles. Because of this, I prefer to stay on my mountain, goro." He chuckled. "But I see now this is no longer an option. We will send brothers down to Kakariko as soon as possible. Our enemy sounds powerful, much too powerful for pitiful humans to fight on their own."

Link decided not to mention that it was a pitiful human who had just saved the Goron's life. "I'm sure Renado will be thrilled to have the muscle," he said instead.

The pair entered the sparring room where Link had wrestled with Gor Coron days before. Two guards were standing at the far door, half-asleep at their post. Upon seeing Darbus, their eyes grew wide and they straightened up with incredible speed.

"Leader! Brother! You have returned!" They began stomping their feet, chanting their joy to the skies beyond the cave. Darbus laughed and joined in, answering with his own triumphant bellows. A tired grin spread across Link's face. The energy made him almost want to join in.

"We feast! We celebrate! And tomorrow, we begin preparing for war!" Darbus bellowed, thumping his chest. The two guards ceased their stomping and nodded abruptly before turning and rolling out of the cave.

"We will send Gorons all over Hyrule, goro, if our allies need our strength." Darbus said in a calmer voice to Link. "I will contact other Goron villages, and send letters to our allies to the north. If what you say is true, we have little time to waste. We must all prepare for war against these invaders. We cannot just sit idly by upon our high-rocks and watch those around us suffer." A large rocky hand came to rest upon Link's shoulder, and though he was sure the Goron intended to be gentle, the hero stumbled from the force. "Allow us to celebrate your triumphs this evening, and fill your belly with a good meal. We need to fatten you up. The horrors of the world will squash you like a little bug, goro."

Link rolled his eyes with a good-natured laugh. "I-" He started to turn down the invitation, but then recalled the long trek down the mountain that awaited him outside the city.

Well, I can't imagine a starved hero has ever been much good to anyone. "I'll take you up on that, Darbus."


Zelda pressed her fingers against her forehead, willing its dull ache to leave her. The reflection of her vanity mirror showed that the area was raised, and the skin around it was bruised. Nothing a bit of makeup couldn't fix, though her supply was running quite low. She didn't suppose her captors would find it worth their time to purchase more for her.

Foolish of me to be climbing about in sewers in the first place. She reached for some face powder to cover the unsightly mark.

No, the foolishness was her own cowardice that led her to run straight into a low-hanging pipe like a blind dog chasing a scent trail.

As a child, the secret tunnels were a fascinating mystery. There were no shadows lurking, no beasts to fear. They were the royal family's salvation, her father had told her. Never be afraid to go into the tunnels, for allies were found at the other side. Only the most trusted knew of the tunnels and where all they led. The royal guard patrolled it regularly.

Her father was here no longer. The soldiers that guarded these secret passageways were no longer the same strong, valiant men who Zelda had looked up to as a child. They no longer looked at her with fond adoration. Their identities and memories were gone, now, thanks to the Twilight King's dark magic.

Zelda had not made it to the other side of the tunnels, where friends supposedly waited. Her cowardice made her falter at the end, as it always had. Her cowardice lost her the kingdom, and her cowardice lost her the chance to speak with her family's few remaining allies.

The girl likely was of little consequence, yet I fled as though she were the Demon King himself. She could have even been a friend, someone who would help…

Oh, how Zelda despised the skittish, mousy woman she had become. Her mother would be disgraced.

Heavy footfalls came from the stairs beyond her doorway. The guards were making their rounds again. They seemed more frequent in the last few days, though Zelda was certain that her escapades the other day had gone entirely unnoticed.

Perhaps the lifting of the Curtain of Twilight was to blame, and their enemies were increasing patrols as a precaution. Zelda received no information from her captors, and was permitted no contact with anyone outside of the castle, so she was often in the dark as to whether or not Midna was still alive, let alone making any progress in recovering her magic. The return to their regular day/night cycle was the first indication she'd had in weeks that there was any progress being made, and it had been a long time since then.

Zelda had little hope. Her little 2-person rebellion was hardly inspiring. A timid princess bound in her castle, and a Twili imp without her power. It was a laughable notion to think they could accomplish anything, but it wasn't like they had any better avenues to explore.

The wolf was the only promising part of the entire plan, and even that was a dying hope. Zelda knew he was a different creature, one with a Goddess-blessed power like her own. But she also knew the hearts of man, and how the kingdom had grown fat and lazy in its century of prosperity. She knew the look of confusion, loss, and fear in any man or beast. She knew hopelessness when it came limping into her room.

What was stopping him from returning home after driving back the Twilight, and forgetting all about Hyrule and her struggle for power?

The footsteps outside drew closer, and Zelda wondered if they were coming to inspect her rooms again. The mindless sentinels would occasionally enter uninvited and search her rooms thoroughly, as though anything of note could be hidden in the barren dungeon they called a bedroom. She had hardly little more than essentials. Still, her enemies would search without saying a word, or even so much as a bow of respect for a woman of her status.

Former status. Had she been a lesser woman, Zelda might have crumpled into a sobbing heap at her miserable state.

The footsteps halted outside her door, but it did not open. Zelda tried not to groan aloud. If they were to post a permanent guard outside her door, then what tiny sliver of hope she had of escaping this prison was gone.

A sudden noise startled the princess. It was… knocking? At her door?

She rose from her stool slowly, heart jumping to her throat. What did this mean? The enslaved soldiers never knocked, they hardly noticed her existence. They had no sense of propriety or manners, and they never asked for permission to enter. They were hardly more than puppets.

"Princess, are you in there?"

The masculine voice was hushed, but it held no malice. Zelda nearly tripped over her skirts lunging for the iron door handle.

An image from her history texts came to mind, that of a young man clad in green, wielding a sword that drove back all evil. Was it finally time? Had the legendary hero finally awoken, and come to her rescue just as they once had for her ancestors?

The door swung wide, revealing a Hylian soldier like all the others. Steel-blue eyes grew wide from under his helm with shock at the sight of her. He scrambled to remove his helmet and fell to one knee.

His shoulder-length brown hair fell in a sweaty mess, covering the man's face as he bowed as low as his armor would allow. "Princess, you are alive!"

Zelda took a few cautious steps back, doubting her eyes. It would not be far-fetched to believe the usurper king would resort to trickery to torment her… but to what end? He already had her kingdom and her people. Even those he did not directly influence had lost their faith in their silent monarchy. She was nothing but an embarrassment.

Snapping herself from her daze, Zelda grabbed the soldier's arm and pulled him into the room with a strength he wasn't expecting. The door was closed behind them.

"Soldier, where do your allegiances lie?"

The young man looked surprised. "Why… Hyrule, Princess. My life is for this kingdom alone."

Zelda forgot all decorum and societal manners. There was a person - a real, breathing Hylian - in her rooms. No tricks, no mind control, no magic. He was speaking to her. For the first time in months, joy sparked in her heart. The princess threw her arms around the unexpected guest and allowed herself to weep.

The soldier balked and awkwardly placed his arms about her shoulders. "My lady, please tell me what's going on," the man urged her, unsure of whether or not he was even allowed to hug the Princess. She did not offer a coherent answer. "Are you hurt?"

Zelda stepped back and attempted to collect herself. "I am unharmed," she rasped and cleared her throat. The princess looked up into the young man's eyes and wiped her tears. "First, please, I must know your name. I don't believe I've seen you in the castle before."

"I am Koto, my lady, and I come from Lurel, from the east. I joined the ranks a few months ago, and if I may be so bold, none of it has been what I expected. I… I have come to find answers, and offer what little help I can."

The princess moved to sit upon her bed and gestured to her empty chair beside the vanity. "Please, soldier. Speak freely."

Koto nodded in thanks, carefully taking a seat on the fragile wooden stool. "There are many soldiers like me in town, who have received no training in the last several months and have never been inside the castle itself. We have had no ceremonies, no introductions, no promotions. My father has told me countless tales of his service, tales that are nothing like the life I've experienced. We are hardly more than civilians ourselves. And the rumors, Princess! I couldn't take it anymore," he threw up his hands.

"The kingdom is experiencing hardships unlike anything we've ever seen. Our resources are spread thinner and thinner every day as we send out teams to try to rebuild villages that have been attacked with little rhyme or reason. Not even the fields between villages are safe anymore, for monsters plague those too. Through all of this, our King makes no appearance, no announcements, no anything at all! We are left to fend for ourselves while our leaders appear to cower in their fortress.

"And here is where I confess my crimes to you, Princess, and ask for your pardon." He reached down at his side, where a ring of keys was attached to his belt. "I fear I have become something of a thief and a sneak, in my efforts to uncover the truth. The guard you keep is painfully easy to misdirect, and I've found it very easy to imitate those who do not speak. I fear I've become nothing more than a criminal in my noble pursuit of truth. I have to know, Princess. If I may ask anything of you, please tell me why it feels as though the Hylian monarchy has abandoned us?"

Zelda regarded the soldier with blurry eyes. She had asked him to speak freely, and so he had. She knew what her people believed, but to hear it spoken aloud by one of her few remaining loyal soldiers nearly broke her heart all over again. Her time in solitude had whittled away any emotional control she once possessed by an embarrassing degree, and she felt she might break into tears once more with every measured word she spoke.

"I regret deeply that Hyrule is not the kingdom your father once served. I ask that you hear me out as thoroughly as I have you, and hear my tale of how Hyrule was conquered right under our noses."

Koto nodded, and she cleared her throat. The Princess told him everything.

She told him of the day Zant appeared, assaulting both castle and town with his army of shadow beasts.

She told him of the surrender, of how the people's memories were warped to forget the tragedy of that battle.

She told him of the evil they faced, every bit of it that she understood herself. The Twilight realm, the darkness it brought to Hyrule, and its horrendous leader that now sat upon Hyrule's throne. She explained her absence, her father's death, and the miserably mundane existence she'd been contained to.

Those cursed tears were flowing down her face when Zelda finished. Koto had sat with rapt attention, eyes wide with the weight of her tale.

"Well, we best be off then," he said after a few moments of silence, rising to his feet.

Zelda looked at him, sobs dying in her throat. "Off?"

"We should probably hurry, though. The next patrol should be along before too long. They're pretty timely, I'll give them that. I guess the mind control makes that easy."

"We?" The princess blinked at the gauntleted hand he extended to her and wiped at her never-ending flow of tears. "I cannot go with you."

"Why not?"

"Koto, my imprisonment is in exchange for the lives of all in Hyrule." Zelda took his outstretched hand in both of hers. "If I were to disappear, he would not hesitate to slaughter every last one of these people."

The soldier tried to keep his composure, but felt right flustered at the contact. He'd gathered all his courage to face what he assumed would be a mad monarch, and instead found a lovely, broken princess trapped in a nightmare who threw herself into his arms. And now she held his hand. "Why? What is a kingdom if there are no people left to inhabit it?"

"He will have his people," Zelda replied sadly. "Those he corrupted into his service, those he transformed into mindless, hideous beasts that should have never been brought to the light of day… Those he does not kill, he will enslave. He is a madman drunk on the idea of power, soldier. I cannot go with you, for it is my captivity that buys this kingdom its every breath."

Koto seemed to visibly deflate at this. "I… can't just leave you here…"

"Come and see me again," the words tumbled from her lips before Zelda could even consider them. "Be my link to the outside world. Bring me news of my people. Be my one comfort in this cell."

Koto fell to one knee before her. "It would be my honor, Princess. Perhaps we can sneak out a formal announcement of your-"

"No," Zelda hissed quickly, ducking low and speaking in more hushed tones. "No, you cannot let anyone know you were able to sneak in or that you know any different than the others. If Zant finds out, he will kill you without hesitation. They will increase my guard, and crack down on any who speaks of rebellion. It is imperative that you keep this meeting to yourself. He cannot be defeated by one soldier, no matter how brave."

They locked eyes, a battle of wills unfolding silently between them. "Your people deserve to know the truth." It was as close to an argument with royalty as Koto dared.

"My people deserve to live as peaceful a life as I can afford them. They need not risk their lives in a futile skirmish when there is a peaceful solution."

Koto rose to his feet, bringing Zelda with him. He placed his other hand on both of hers. "My lady, with or without confirmation of your fate, there is no peace. Your people plot rebellion all the same. There are warriors among us who will gladly take up arms to fight for this kingdom's freedom, if only they knew what to do. Many of them are standing around in the street, their talents wasted guarding bricks and their minds in constant worry. Let me at least tell the ones I know are willing to lay down their lives, allow me to bring them a bit of hope."

Zelda looked down at their clasped hands, recalling all the times her father had done the same thing to calm her when her thoughts were overwhelming. A warmth spread about her that the princess hadn't felt in a very long time. "Perhaps… the sharing of information will allow us to come up with a plan," she finally conceded. "There is a tavern in town, one that my father said has loyal allies. I fear that I have forgotten the name, and I have never been there myself. But if you are to find anyone who might be of any help to me, you may wish to start there. But you must exercise caution. If the wrong person finds out-"

The soldier lifted Zelda's hands to his lips, and she trailed off. "I will do as you wish, my lady." He collected his helm from the nearby table and left for the door. "It's not much to go off of, but I grew up in a small village. I know how to work the rumor mill," he added with a wink.

Zelda regarded her unexpected visitor, who looked nervous to meet her gaze directly yet had braved the unknown and risk of severe punishment just to sneak into the castle. Perhaps he was not a green-garbed hero of legend, but he did do quite a lot to drive back a bit of the darkness in her prison.

"And Koto… please stay safe."

The soldier smiled, and the room grew brighter for it. "As you wish, Princess."