《Deepening Shadows》


 Chapter 1

    It was the dark of night. Except for an occasional, light pitter-patter of feet, all was quiet in Castle Town.


    Suddenly, in a back alley, there was the sound of humming. The noise of uneven footsteps grew louder. Someone was skipping along over the rough cobblestone path. Yet no one was there to be seen. Then there was movement. A shadow rose upon the side of a building, the moon outlining its figure. No one was casting it, but it was there nonetheless. From it emanated the humming.


    The shadow was that of a tall woman. It would halt every few feet, stand still for a moment, then continue its spirited frolic, humming all the while.


    At last the shadow stopped, detaching itself from the building across which it was stretched. It became a solid form, yet still only a shadow, its features dark and blurry. Except for its eyes. They were thin, yet lovely; a deep ruby red. What should have been the white of the eyes was instead a sickly yellow; but it only added to the beauty of the mysterious orbs. They flitted about, taking in everything. At last, they came to rest on a sign swinging above the door of a homely-looking building.


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    It read, "Telma''s Bar."


    The shadowy face was suddenly split in two by a row of glittering white teeth curled into a mischievous grin. The dark figure pranced forward, reaching out a delicate hand and stroking the wood of the door. A sudden noise made it turn. Someone was approaching. The shadow scurried for cover, peering out only when it was quite sure it was safely hidden from plain sight.


    A blonde-haired boy stepped into view, looking weary and drained. His eyes were a piercing blue. His clothes were patchy and he looked to be in the early years of adulthood. He paced slowly to the door of the building and slipped inside. The shadow''s eyes glinted as they watched. They looked strangely...happy.


    It emerged once again, only it was speaking now. The voice¡ªdefinitely female¡ªwas muttering over and over the same words.


    "Doggy, doggy," it said, an almost hungry look now lighting its shadowy face, "Doggy, doggy."


    It paused, smiling its mischievous smile again.


    "My doggy."

 Chapter 2

    Link stepped into the bar, running a hand over his weary eyes. What a day it had been. It was hard living the life of a knight, especially in these times. He remembered the tension in the Throne Room, the Princess'' troubled face when she had heard the news. It was news of an approaching shadow, one that brought death. Numerous reports of it had sprung up in the past few days, telling of the villages that had been lost to it. Literally lost. They had disappeared, replaced by darkness, a darkness that reeked of fear and despair. Brave knights that had wandered into such places had never returned. The Princess was helpless, forced to watch her kingdom slowly be overcome by this unknown threat while her people remained oblivious to it. She had struggled over the decision of warning the residents of Castle Town, but in the end had chosen that it was better not to raise a panic over something they could do nothing about. She couldn''t very well leave the safe confines of the castle and brazenly go out to meet this unseen terror. For the sake of her people, those who remained, she stayed where she was. She had doubled the strength of her forces around Castle Town, but it was all she could do.


    "Can I get you something, honey?" Telma asked with her characteristic, smug grin.


    "You know very well I don''t drink, Telma," Link replied tiredly, shaking his head, "I just need a little thinking time."


    "How am I to know you won''t change your mind? Besides, you look like you need it."


    "It''s not going to make my problems go away."


    "Of course, you''re right," Telma agreed, nodding sagely, "And my place''ll always be open to you for whenever you need your ''thinking time''."


    She gave him a wink, then left him alone to find himself a seat. The bar was pretty nearly empty, which was perfect for Link''s purposes. He sat down at a lonely corner table and leaned far back in his chair, closing his eyes and doing his best to relax and sort through his jumbled thoughts. He didn''t get very far with this attempt before the sound of the entrance door swinging open dragged him out of his reverie. He looked up to see a group of close friends and confidants, who called themselves the Resistance, enter the bar.


    "Rusl!" he called, getting to his feet.


    The head of an older man with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes turned toward him. At once, the man broke into a grin. In a few quick strides, he crossed the room and clasped Link''s arm.


    "Good to see you again, son," he greeted warmly.


    "You too, Rusl. How''s your family?"


    Rusl sighed, "Ignorance is bliss. They''re perfectly happy, only because they don''t know the danger they''re in. Our village is vulnerable. We have no means of defending it. We are beyond the Princess'' reach; she cannot help us."


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    "I''m so sorry, Rusl," Link said sympathetically, almost feeling his friend''s grief, "I''ll pray to the goddesses'' for their protection, and yours."


    "It kills me every time I have to leave them. But I have a duty to my Princess."


    "You''re a good man, Rusl."


    A dark-haired woman with fearless gray eyes came to stand next to Rusl.


    "Hello, Ashei," Link said.


    "Hello," Ashei replied, returning his greeting with a grave nod.


    "Have you found anything regarding the source of this growing darkness across our land?" Link asked quietly, a spark of hope in his eyes.


    Ashei shook her head, "Nothing."


    Link''s face fell.


    "Hope is not lost. We may not have discovered the source, but we have learned," Rusl explained, "The darkness...it''s not just darkness. It''s a barrier. It even has a door."


    Link stared at his friend in puzzlement. Suddenly the entrance door swung open again and a unfamiliar figure stepped into the bar, its face hidden by its long hood. Its thick cloak left it completely covered, with no discernible features. Without greeting the bartender, it glided over to the table across from Link and sat down.


    Rusl lowered his voice warily and leaned in closer to Link, "Perhaps we should discuss this another time."


    He and Ashei returned to where the other two Resistance members stood, Auru with his arms folded across his chest, looking tall and daunting, and Shad with his nose buried in a book, as was typical for him. Link settled back down in his chair, returning to his attempt at relaxing. This attempt was as fruitless as the last. For some reason, he could not focus. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He felt suddenly nervous and restless. He felt as though he were being...watched.


    He opened his eyes again and scanned the room. His friends had left. The bar was empty except for him and the hooded stranger. His gaze wandered over the unknown figure sitting across the room from him. There was no mistaking it. It was watching him, and it made no attempt to hide it. Link felt a sudden jolt of fear as he caught sight of a brief flash of red beneath the stranger''s cowl. Eyes. Burning red eyes staring straight at him. There was a glitter of white as the figure smiled at him, as if taunting him. Feeling oddly dizzy, Link got up and staggered to the door.


    "Honey, are you alright?" Telma asked, her worry evident.


    Link nodded dumbly, his mouth dry. He stumbled outside, feeling the cold air envelope him.


    Home. He had to get home.


    He started off down the cobblestone street, feeling slightly calmer. He wondered what had come over him in the bar. He was a knight, not a coward. He could handle some odd stares.


    But still, there had been something very unusual about the stranger. Those eyes...they had looked at him as if they knew him. But that couldn''t be. He''d never even met anyone with red eyes.


    He heard a soft scuffling behind him and instantly whipped around to face the noise. He stared through the darkness for a minute, feeling uneasy. It had to be nothing. He kept walking. He heard it again. He turned, only to find the alley once more empty. He took a deep breath of the sharp night air to steady himself.


    "Get a grip," he told himself.


    He gave himself a shake before turning back toward his destination.


    He froze immediately, feeling the blood slowly draining from his face as he stared at the figure standing in his path. A tall woman, stunningly beautiful, faced him. Her hood was thrown back to reveal her long, flame-colored hair and round face, out of which stared the unmistakable red eyes. Her cloak hung open, showing her flawless figure and smooth, pale skin, which bore many strange markings. Her eyes burned into him, holding his gaze and piercing his very soul. She cocked her head, and a slow smile spread across her face. She opened her mouth to speak, her voice enrapturing. But the words she spoke didn''t make much sense.


    "Hello, doggy."

 Chapter 3

    Link simply stared. He wasn''t sure what to say, or even how to react. The strange figure before him continued to smile. After several minutes of silence, Link finally found his voice again.


    "Doggy?" he echoed.


    The woman''s smile stretched even wider.


    "Yes, doggy," she said silkily, "You''re my doggy, you see. And you have to come with me."


    "Who are you?" Link demanded.


    The woman spread her arms, "I''m your new master. But doggy must stop talking now. We have things to do. Doggy must do his duty."


    "Stop calling me that! I''m not a dog!" Link snapped, losing his patience, "And you''re definitely not my master. Explain to me what you''re on about!"


    Link hardly had time to finish his sentence before the stranger''s hands suddenly clamped on his wrist and began hauling him down the alleyway. He was surprised by the woman''s sheer strength; it took him considerable effort to free himself again.


    "Let go!" Link said, yanking his arm loose and putting several paces between himself and the stranger, whose sanity he was beginning to doubt.


    The woman narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, a frown spreading over her face.


    "Doggy''s not cooperating," she said, as though talking to herself, "Doggy doesn''t understand."


    "So explain it to me!" Link insisted again.


    The woman''s eyes were almost slits now. She still said nothing. Link sighed heavily.


    "Please, just tell me your name," he implored quietly.


    The woman suddenly smiled, "You want to know my name? Doggy might know my name if he follows me."


    Link groaned. The stranger continued to smile.


    "Doggy doesn''t understand. Doggy doesn''t know the things I know. Doggy doesn''t know the prophecy."


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    "Prophecy?" Link echoed, his curiosity piqued, "What do you mean?"


    "Blue eyes," the woman said, her eyes gleaming with an ecstatic light, "Doggy has blue eyes. The prophecy tells of blue eyes. Blue eyes will save us. Blue eyes is a strong warrior. The doggy has blue eyes..."


    She suddenly shook her head, as if trying to clear it. Her eyes met Link''s and held them.


    "I need doggy''s help. Won''t doggy help me? Won''t doggy help his princess? Doggy''s princess needs him too..."


    "The princess?" Link gasped.


    She had his full attention now.


    "I am a friend of your princess, your Zelda. She likes me. We help each other. We have a common goal. We have a common problem. The darkness is our problem. The darkness spreads. But I know how to get rid of it."


    Link sprang forward, grabbing the stranger by her shoulders and giving her a firm shake, "You know? Tell me. You have to tell me!"


    Instead of replying, the woman fixed him with a fierce glare. He took the hint and let go of her at once. Her expression relaxed.


    "That''s better. Doggy should remember his place. He is beneath his princess. And he is beneath me. I am as much of royal blood as his princess. Remember, doggy."


    "Please," Link tried again, "Tell me your name."


    "The only name you need to know is the name of the man you must destroy. That man is everything I despise. You must never forget his name. He is the one who brings the darkness. He took...he took my..."


    She stopped short. A strange light burned in her ruby eyes. But it wasn''t hate. It was fear. For some reason, it shook Link to his core.


    "Zant."


    There was a sudden chill in the air as she spoke the name of her enemy. Link felt an ill foreboding as he heard it. He knew as soon as it left the woman''s lips, it held an incredibly dark meaning, especially to the one who spoke it.


    "What did he take from you?"


    Link hardly recognized his own voice. It was barely a whisper. In the light of the moon, he caught the glint of tears in the stranger''s eyes. They rolled over the pale skin on her cheek, leaving a stain.


    She opened her mouth, replying in a low murmur, "Everything."


    The pain in her eyes was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared. It was replaced by a proud defiance. Had it not been for the tear-stains on her face, Link might have thought he had never actually seen her crying.


    She raised her head, her voice steady as she spoke, "Here you have the princess of twilight standing before you, throneless and utterly desolate. That''s why I am in your land. I come from a whole other realm; I do not belong here. But the prophecy foretold that my kingdom would fall. That it fell to the rule of that idiot, who could have guessed? But it fell nonetheless. The prophecy foretold of a blue-eyed beast that would save my realm of twilight. I met with the princess of this realm and told her of the prophecy. So she commissioned me to find that blue-eyed beast. So I did. I found doggy. And doggy must come see his princess, and she will tell him all."


    Link stared speechlessly. Slowly, he nodded. Without further prompting, he started off toward the castle.

 Chapter 4

    The town square was dark and empty. The only sound to be heard was the sound of Link¡¯s own footsteps on the cool cobblestone. It was eerie.


    The castle spires loomed far overhead, distinctly outlined against the silver moon. They seemed to only add to the ominous atmosphere; it certainly wasn¡¯t helping Link to feel any less uneasy.


    The castle gates were just beyond the town square, and Link headed for them. However, a light tap on his shoulder caused him to stop and turn back. The ¡®twilight princess¡¯ as she called herself, shook her head.


    ¡°Bothersome guards in the way. Doggy must take a shortcut.¡±


    ¡°Shortcut?¡± Link echoed.


    The twilight princess pointed upward to one of the towers.


    ¡°The princess already waits for us in her tower. Doggy must take my advice and use a shortcut.¡±


    ¡°There are no shortcuts!¡± Link protested, ¡°What am I supposed to do? Climb up there? That¡¯s a good way to get killed!¡±


    The woman frowned.


    ¡°Tsk tsk,¡± she muttered, ¡°Tsk tsk. Doggy has no manners. Doggy does not think to ask for help.¡±


    Link caught on almost immediately: she wanted him to ask her for help. He struggled to keep a straight face; what was this so-called princess playing at?


    ¡°Can you get me to the top of that tower?¡± he asked.


    The woman broke into a huge grin, ¡°If I must.¡±


    She snapped her fingers, and without warning, she disappeared.


    ¡°What the¡ª¡± Link started.


    Then everything went black. When he opened his eyes a split second later, he stood in a large room with two windows that didn¡¯t let in very much moonlight. The room was otherwise unlit and smelled a bit musty. The stone floor was cracked and in much need of repair. A cot stood in the far right corner of the room and a velvet-seated chair that looked very out-of-place sat near one of the windows. A figure stood at the opposite window, looking out. She had long brown hair and wore an elegant dress.


    Link stared, unable to comprehend what had just happened. A voice sounded at his side, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.


    ¡°Princess,¡± the voice said, sounding smug.


    Link turned to see the speaker, as did the figure at the window. The twilight princess emerged from the shadows, her eyes burning like embers of fire in the near-darkness.


    ¡°Ah, Midna. You¡¯ve returned. Is this the knight of which you spoke?¡±


    Link focused his attention back on the figure at the window. He almost didn¡¯t recognize her in the semi-darkness, but there was no mistaking her decorous clothing and dignified bearing. It was probably the closest Link had ever stood to the Princess. He dropped to his knees in an instant, causing the twilight woman on his right make an annoyed utterance.


    ¡°It seems doggy has finally remembered how one is supposed to acknowledge royalty. He did not give me such recognition.¡±


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    ¡°Oh, Midna, I¡¯m sure he was only confused.¡± Zelda turned her deep blue eyes on Link. ¡°Rise, knight.¡±


    Link stood, feeling a sudden obligation to explain himself.


    ¡°Forgive me, Princess,¡± he apologized, ¡°I did not at first realize who you were. I confess I did not expect to find someone of royalty in¡ª¡± He hesitated, avoiding Zelda¡¯s gaze. ¡°¡ªsuch¡ª¡± He struggled to find the words. ¡°¡ªaccommodations,¡± he finished, painfully aware that his face was starting to turn red.


    Zelda laughed softly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this rather musty tower was best suited to our purposes. Our meeting had to be secret.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Link said stupidly, resisting the urge to kick himself.


    ¡°What is your name, knight?¡±


    Link opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the twilight ¡®princess¡¯ before he could utter a syllable.


    ¡°Doggy,¡± the crimson-eyed woman said, looking pleased with herself.


    Zelda sighed, ¡°Midna, please do not call him such. This is a serious matter.¡±


    Midna swept a curtsy, ¡°Of course, Princess, and I seriously meant him as such. After all, what is he to us but a dog.¡± She paused to give Link a meaningful look, and the knight had to fight to suppress his anger as she continued, ¡°A dog goes where they¡¯re told and does what they¡¯re told. And he is going to do just that.¡±


    ¡°Midna!¡± Zelda said sharply, ¡°You will not speak so.¡± Midna graciously dipped her head, surprising Link with her quick submission. The Hyrulean Princess sighed deeply, ¡°I need you on my side, Midna.¡±


    ¡°I am on your side, Princess,¡± Midna insisted, her burning eyes taking on a serious light, ¡°Remember, Zant took much more away from me than he did from you.¡±


    Another sigh escaped Zelda, ¡°I know.¡± She cleared her throat before turning back to Link. ¡°Forgive me, you were telling me your name.¡±


    ¡°Link, your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Link. Ah, yes, I do believe I remember you. You keep guard in the Throne Room on occasion, but I do not believe we¡¯ve ever formally spoken. Do you understand why it is you are here, Sir Link?¡±


    Link glanced briefly at Midna before answering, ¡°Some sort of prophecy about blue eyes, a man named Zant, and¡ª¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°¡ªa solution to our problems. A way to dispel the shadows spreading across the land.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Zelda said slowly, clasping her hands in front of her and looking somewhat uncomfortable, ¡°That¡¯s a rather¡­indelicate way to put it. Allow me to lay everything out clearly for you. I¡¯ll start with Midna¡¯s story. As I am sure you know, wherever light exists, there is always darkness; they go hand in hand. So it is with our world. Parallel to ours is a realm that endures perpetual twilight and harbours a race known a Twili. Midna was their princess, until her throne was stolen from her by a usurper and she was driven out into our world. This usurper, Zant, is the one responsible for plaguing our land with shadows.¡±


    ¡°Beings of light cannot thrive in our lovely twilight,¡± Midna interjected, ¡°So they become ghosts who wander endlessly in the darkness, unable to find their way back to the light they crave.¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡± Link stared in shock. ¡°So everyone¡¯s still alive? They¡¯re safe?¡±


    ¡°But trapped,¡± Zelda finished. ¡°There was a prophecy that circulated among Midna¡¯s people, a prophecy of a blue-eyed warrior that would free both the light realm and twilight realm from their captivity.¡±


    ¡°But, your Highness,¡± Link said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that rather vague? Many of your knights have blue eyes.¡±


    ¡°Midna assured me she would be able to find the true warrior.¡±


    ¡°But what if she¡¯s wrong?¡±


    There was a silence.


    Link hastily backtracked, ¡°No, forgive me, it was not my place to say such a thing.¡±


    ¡°No, Sir Link, your question is a valid one. But I trust Midna¡¯s judgement.¡±


    ¡°Then you are also trusting her with your people¡¯s lives,¡± Link said slowly.


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Zelda said, an almost sad look in her eyes, ¡°Hers¡­and yours.¡±


    Link¡¯s mouth went dry, ¡°I¡ª¡±


    He didn¡¯t quite know what to say. He could not refuse his Princess, yet he couldn¡¯t help but question her decision to trust the strange creature called Midna.


    Or her prophecy for that matter.


    But by far the most puzzling question was¡­why him? He was just another soldier, a nameless face sworn to protect the kingdom of Hyrule.


    There was nothing special about him.


    He inhaled deeply, letting his gaze fall to the floor before returning it to the Princess¡¯ face.


    Yes, it was true¡­there was nothing special about him.


    But if she chose to see things differently, he was honoured to rise to the challenge.


    ¡°Princess. Whatever you require of me, rest assured that I will do my best to carry it out. I am your humble servant.¡±


    Midna giggled, drawing Link¡¯s attention. Her red eyes gleamed brightly, an eerie smile etched on her beautiful lips.


    ¡°Good doggy,¡± she cooed, tilting her head to one side, ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be such good friends.¡±

 Chapter 5

    "Zant''s rule must be brought to an end," Zelda explained, "Of that there is no doubt."


    "But...if he is in another realm¡ª" Link began hesitantly.


    "Doggy forgets so easily," the twilight princess interjected, her infuriating smile still glued to her face.


    She snapped her fingers so as to prompt his memory. Link remained ill at ease.


    "But to another realm¡ª?"


    "There is a mirror that links our two worlds together. It is hidden away in a desert fortress, but Midna should be able to deliver you there without issue," Zelda clarified.


    Midna rendered a nod of confirmation before tilting her head ever so slightly to one side.


    "Shall doggy and I be on our way?"


    "Link, Midna. His name is Link. And, no, we require more preparation."


    Midna scrunched up her nose as though she''d caught a whiff of some terrible smell, but ultimately she said nothing. Zelda knelt down beside a chest just a few paces from where she''d stood, opening it to reveal a suit of chain mail carefully tucked away. She held it out to Link.


    "You will be needing this."


    Link accepted the offering slowly, slipping it on over his head. Even though it fit quite well, he felt odd wearing any armor other than his own.


    Zelda delved deeper into the receptacle, withdrawing a chestplate. She advanced toward Link, moving as though with the intent of garbing him herself. Realizing this, Link pulled back.


    "Really, your Highness, I can manage¡ª"


    "Please, allow me."


    Despite his wish to protest further, the knight felt he could not refuse the wish of his princess, so he swallowed his scruples and outstretched his arms so that she might proceed. After she was finished, she armored him with spaulders, greaves, and vambraces. The whole time she behaved as one attending a funeral, her head bent, her expression somber. It certainly didn''t help to ease any of Link''s doubts about the situation.


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    With her task completed, Zelda stepped back.


    "This armor belonged to my father as a young man," she explained, "Now I hope it serves you well."


    Link looked down at the well-worn surface of the chestplate.


    "I...I shouldn''t be wearing this. I''m not worthy of this armor."


    "I haven''t an inkling of what doggy is babbling about," Midna said, sounding bored, "But I agree he does not need your light-dwellers'' clunky armor."


    "Midna, we cannot afford to be careless. This may be our only chance of saving both my world and yours. I would prefer if you took him to the resting place of the legendary blade so that we may at least determine beforehand whether or not he is the chosen hero of our land, but I understand the time constraints at hand. This, however, I will not concede on."


    Midna grumbled something under her breath, turning away.


    "Legendary blade? Chosen hero? You can''t possibly mean those old stories about Hyrule?" Link queried, baffled.


    "I do. You may see them only as fanciful stories, but they are much more than that. I know the location of the Master Sword. It is as real as you or I."


    "It might well be a sword of commendable design but that doesn''t mean it has any true power or that some mystical hero will appear to take it up."


    Link became flushed as he remember just who it was he was talking to.


    "I''m sorry, Princess," he apologized hastily, "I''ve forgotten my place. It isn''t my right to speak out of turn."


    "I understand your skepticism," was all her Highness said.


    She reached inside her cloak, drawing forth a sheathed longsword and holding it out to Link.


    "May the blessings of the goddesses attend you," she said as the knight accepted her steel.


    Link opened his mouth to reply but then the distinct sound of Midna snapping her fingers caught his ear and he immediately plunged into blackness.


    When he rematerialized, there was sand underfoot and chamber walls surround him.


    "What was that?!" Link snapped, rounding on where he thought Midna would be.


    A giggle emanating from somewhere off to his right forced him to readjust his position.


    "Doggy is upset. Who can know why? Doggy is exactly where he needs to be."


    "You didn''t even let me say farewell to the princess. And I have friends! I want them to know where I''m going in case...in case I don''t¡ª"


    Link left the sentence unfinished. Midna cocked her head, her sanguine eyes boring into the light-dweller.


    "In case you don''t come back?" she queried.


    Link gritted his teeth.


    "Yes."


    "Doggy needn''t worry. I promise doggy will return to his friends safely."


    "That''s not much comfort..."


    Midna straightened, clasping her hands together. Her face donned a strangely tranquil, almost benevolent expression.


    "I promise," she said softly.


    Link regarded her in puzzlement. However, she seemed to take his silence as a positive acknowledgement, her mouth twisting into a dazzling grin. She threw up a hand, and Link turned to see the mirror Zelda had mentioned. His jaw nearly dropped at the sight of the radiant surface casting light onto a massive stone monolith directly across from it. And just like that, a shadowy doorway opened, beckoning the unbecoming heroes forward.


    "Ready, doggy?" Midna asked.


    As ready as I''m going to be, I suppose, Link thought dispiritedly, stepping toward the threshold of his world and hers.

 Chapter 6

    All Link remembered was the sound of screaming.


    His eyes flew open, the noise rattling around inside his skull. He looked around at the chamber walls, at the mirror standing unlit.


    What happened?


    The last thing he remembered was stepping through the strange doorway. Everything between then and now was simply blank, empty, unknown.


    A quiet wailing caught his ear and he turned toward the sound, spying an odd little figure seated on the sand, its back facing him. Link crept toward it, surprised out how sharply the figure stood out to him, even on a moonless night such as this. His eyes seemed to have immediately adjusted to the dark. He could vividly see the patch of pale skin on the creature''s back, its long arms dangling limply by its sides, the strange markings on them glowing eerily in the dark.


    Those markings...


    That wasn''t the only detail Link recognized. The flame-orange hair spilling down the creature''s back was unmistakable.


    Midna?


    He reached for her, then stopped dead. That wasn''t a hand stretched before him. He did a double-take. A paw? That couldn''t be right. But he could see it plain as day.


    What in the name of the goddesses is happening?


    "Midna," he called.


    But the sound came out as a bark. Link reeled. This couldn''t seriously be happening. He had to be dreaming. Meeting that woman in the alley, speaking with the Princess, all that talk of prophecies and other realms¡ªit had to be some nonsense his mind had conjured in his sleep. All the stress of recent events...yes, that''s what must have caused it. He just needed to wake up, that was all. He needed to wake up and return to reality. He scrunched his eyes shut, then opened them again. His surroundings remained unchanged.


    Goddesses help me...this isn''t real...I know that...so wake up. WAKE UP!


    A muffled noise emanated from Midna, catching Link''s ear and jarring him out of his frantic thoughts. He listened closer.


    "Look at me," the imp mumbled, her voice thick with despair, "Look at me..."


    Link padded around to her front, taking in the familiar red-and-yellow eyes, now downcast.


    "Midna..."


    The sound came out as a whine. Midna didn''t look at him. Link racked his brain, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do in this situation.


    The Princess...she''ll know what to do.


    But they had to get out of this desert first.


    "Midna, you need to take us back to the Princess," Link barked.


    No response.


    "Midna, we can''t stay here," Link insisted.


    He had little hope that she could understand what he was saying, but if he could only just snap her out of her trance or whatever it was, then hopefully, she could figure things out for herself. Yet still, Midna did not stir.


    "For goddesses'' sakes, Midna, get up!" Link snapped, his words coming out as a mixture of snarls and barks.


    Except for the broken muttering, she may as well have been dead.


    What did Zant DO to her?


    Link glanced again at their surroundings. The sky was already starting to lighten. They couldn''t stay there; that much was for certain. Huffing out a breath in imitation of a sigh, Link mustered his resolve, reaching for Midna''s spindly arms only to realize that he couldn''t grasp her with his paws. He uttered a silent curse, carefully closing his teeth around her arm and watching her face carefully for any signs of pain. She didn''t react. Link took that as a good sign, and ever-so-delicately, he draped her over his own back. She was as limp as a ragdoll, and still she mumbled those same words over and over.


    "Look at me...look at me."


    "Hang on. I''ll find a way out of here," Link promised through a series of gentle barks.


    Finding the nearest exit, he emerged from the confines of the chamber to be greeted by the sight of unlit torches, broken stairs, and the ruined walls of an outer fortress.


    Most likely used to defend the chamber, Link assumed.


    Though now it stood silent and abandoned, a mere relic of a long gone past. Link padded down the stairs and past the frayed tents and empty supply barrels scattered about, his paws sinking into the sand with each step. Once clear of the ruins, he turned his gaze to the fading stars, taking a moment or two to get his bearings. Then he started off in the direction of the Castle, the desert a vast sea of sand laid before him.


    For all his training as a knight, none of it had ever prepared him for something like this.


    The higher the sun rose into the sky, the hotter it grew, Link''s dark fur soaking in the rays and making it almost unbearable. The sand scorched the soft pads of his feet, the glare from the sun stinging his keen eyes. Yet even in that goddess-forsaken wasteland, with the sun mercilessly beating down on them, Midna still did not move, though her muttering had stopped some time ago. Admittedly, Link found it alarming, since her silence made it impossible to discern whether she was even alive or not.


    He nosed at her limp form, silently pleading, Hang on, Midna.


    The desert seemed to stretch on endlessly, the only sound that of Link''s own ceaseless panting. Heat radiated from the sand, making the horizon appear hazy and distorted. Link put his head down and kept plodding forward. As long as he kept heading in the right direction, they''d reach their destination eventually.


    Eventually...


    Suddenly, his ears pricked up, a warning signal flashing through every nerve in his canine body. He jerked his head around, looking for any signs of danger. He saw nothing, but regardless, he had the unwavering sense that something was wrong.


    It''s behind me.


    He didn''t know how he knew. He just knew. He stared at a spot in the sand, his fur bristling, a growl building in the back of his throat. His lips pulled back from his teeth, baring his fangs at the unseen enemy. Then, ever so slowly, something poked up from the sand. It was mostly green, with orange streaks coloring its head and running down its sides, sides which were equipped with thick and sharp tines that looked as though they could easily cut through fur and flesh. For a moment, it remained where it was, spinning in lazy circles. It seemed to have no eyes, but it clearly knew Link was there. He watched it, waiting. Then it came at him with surprising speed. He dodged aside, somehow avoiding dislodging Midna from his back. The creature came at him again, but as he sidestepped it once more, he felt something slash across his back leg, drawing a high-pitched yelp from him.


    Two of them?!


    As if things couldn''t get worse, a third one popped up from the sand at that moment. Link dodged that one too, making sure to keep a sharp eye out for the others.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Then he felt Midna starting to slip.


    He had no choice. The second leever was coming at him. He had to move. He leapt out of the way, and immediately Midna toppled onto the sand just as the third leever spun toward them. Link knew he wouldn''t be able to grab her up quickly enough without hurting her, so instead he turned his teeth on the leever, narrowly avoiding its spikes and sinking his fangs into its green skin. Blood poured into his mouth as he crunched down harder, ripping the creature from the sand and shaking it violently before spitting it out and rounding on the others. Except the others had promptly disappeared, evidently having determined that Link was a greater threat than they had first surmised. Link huffed out a breath of relief, running his tongue over his teeth. The leever''s blood tasted ghastly, but at least it had wet his tongue. He turned to Midna, silently apologizing as he unintentionally smeared green blood across her arm in effort to return her to her place on his back. Then he continued on, wordlessly hoping that no other strange creatures would happen upon them.


    The blood seemed to taste increasingly worse as it dried. The cut on Link''s leg started to sting horribly the longer he walked, and time soon lost all sense of meaning. A singular tree poked up out of the distance, but Link readily assumed it was just a mirage. Though as he drew closer and the tree stubbornly remained in his line of vision, he started to doubt that assumption. He picked up his pace, limping slightly to keep weight off his leg. The tree grew more and more solid, Link''s hopes steadily rising.


    If there''s a tree, that means there has to be¡ª


    "Water!" Link barked, "Midna, there''s water!"


    It was close enough that he could smell it, could almost taste it. He switched to a run, catching sight of the oasis a split second before he plunged straight into it. The water felt incredible. He instantly began gulping it up, submerging his wound in the water so it could be cleansed and soothed. His fur soaked up the liquid, deliciously cooling his parched skin. He knelt down, letting the water wash over his back and lap at Midna''s quiet form. Hopefully, it would rejuvenate her as much as it had him.


    "Hey!"


    Link''s head snapped toward the sound, coming face to face with a girl. Her gold eyes glared down at him, her long green hair spilling over her shoulders and dipping into the oasis. Link scurried back, staring in bewilderment. The girl hovered weightlessly over the spring, a pair of translucent wings extending from her back.


    "Who do you think you are, dirtying my spring like that?!" she snapped.


    "I''m...I''m sorry."


    The girl straightened, folding her arms across her chest.


    "As if I''d accept your apology," she scoffed, adding under her breath, "Mangy wolf...''sorry'' won''t undirty my water, now will it?"


    "I''m¡ª" Link stopped. "Wait, you can understand me?"


    "Of course I can!" the girl glowered, "Do I look stupid to you?"


    "No, no!" Link insisted, hastening to introduce himself, "I''m Link, a knight in service to Princess Zelda. This is Midna. Who are you?"


    "Faerie," the girl answered grouchily, looking down her nose at him, "Now get out of my spring."


    "Oh...of course," Link relented, disappointedly withdrawing himself from the water, "I''m deeply sorry about that. But we need help. We need to get to Hyrule Castle."


    "As long as you stay away from my spring, I couldn''t care less where you go," Faerie snapped. Suddenly, she went still, an unsettling smile creeping across her face. "Hold on. You''re still thirsty, aren''t you?"


    Link gulped. "Yes."


    Faerie''s grin widened, her voice rising to a maniacal shout, "Then have as much water as you like!"


    There was a burst of light and suddenly water rushed over Link''s head. He thrashed about in a panic, quickly breaking the surface. But Midna was no longer on his back.


    "Midna!"


    Fighting back his survival instinct, he plunged his head back underwater. It was so dark, but he kept searching for that bright red hair, those strange markings, until he found them. He kicked furiously with his legs, forcing himself deeper into the seemingly endless depths. As Midna sank, her thin arms began to move, weakly at first, but with increasing frenzy. Link neared her, receiving a whack to the snout as he tried to grab for her. They were both running out of air fast. He grabbed for her again, abandoning any attempt at gentleness, and his teeth closed around one of her forearms. Without wasting another second, he pointed his nose to the surface and propelled them toward it. As it broke over his head once more, he felt a burst of relief, greedily drawing air into his strained lungs. Beside him, Midna coughed and spluttered, wrapping her free arm around his neck. He tentatively released her other arm, making certain she was holding on before glancing around for any sign of land.


    What he saw stunned him. They were in the middle of a lake, and all around them, outlining the distant shores, buildings, and bridges, was the eerie glow of twilight. Fragments of shadow seemed to bleed from the ground and the air itself, speckling their view.


    "Twilight?" Midna said sofly, "My beautiful twilight?"


    Link quickly looked at her, finding her eyes stretched wide in shock. Then, slowly, her face fell.


    "Midna?"


    "Not home," she murmured, "Not home..."


    Link huffed a sigh. He''d lost her again. Finishing his look around, he started paddling toward the nearest stretch of land.


    This must be Lake Hylia, he discerned, But it''s been taken by the shadow...


    He growled uneasily. Lake Hylia was just a few hours from the Castle. That meant the shadow had grown in the time that he and Midna had been gone, and Zelda and all the citizens of Castle Town were in even greater danger than before.


    How did we get here? Link puzzled, Was it Faerie?


    He recalled her parting words, the flash of light, then the water overtaking him.


    Yes...it must have been Faerie. She teleported us here somehow.


    He uttered a disgruntled sound. Even if she had been trying to drown them¡ªwhich she evidently had¡ªshe''d inadvertantly brought them much closer to their destination, so in that sense, Link couldn''t help but feel oddly grateful. Furthermore, now that he knew of Lake Hylia''s fate, he could warn the Princess.


    Except what could the Princess do? She''d put her faith in them, and they''d failed.


    Link pulled himself ashore, Midna releasing her hold on him and sinking into a dejected puddle at his feet. He looked down at her, noting with quiet thankfulness that the bite he''d left on her arm wasn''t too bad, then turned back to the water, noting its flow before pointing his nose upstream.


    I''ll learn what I can while I''m here, he thought, then paused as a realization struck him.


    Midna had said that Hylians couldn''t thrive in twilight, that it turned them to wandering ghosts.


    Does that mean...I''m a ghost?


    How was he to tell? He looked himself over. He seemed solid enough. Then again, he wasn''t Hylian anymore. He was just a beast.


    ''A blue-eyed beast''...Midna''s prophecy mentioned something about that.


    Assuming he still had his blue eyes, it seemed that part of the prediction had come true.


    If only the rest of it had too.


    Shaking off his glum musings, he gently returned Midna to her perch on his back before setting off at a brisk pace. Despite the limited light, unfamiliar surroundings, and unsettling atmosphere, Link felt relatively surefooted. In some respects, it seemed, being a beast wasn''t so terrible. Doubtless, his human eyes couldn''t have guided him so easily, given how the lake seemed to swallow the light rather than reflect it. The only light unaffected by those hungering waters was a not-so-distant flame. Link slowed his pace when he saw it. Perhaps it was some trick of his wolfish eyes, or a consequence of the invading twilight, but that flame was not orange like that of ordinary fire. Rather, it was a pale but stark blue. Link wasn''t sure what to make of it, especially upon drawing closer and realizing that the flame was not attached to any sort of torch but instead floating inexplicably above the ground. He slowed his steps further, watching the flame carefully. Though as he focused on it, a ghostly outline flickered into view¡ªthe unmistakable shape of a man. Link froze in surprise, staring harder at the apparition and watching it grow more solid still.


    So this was what became of the Hyrulean people trapped in the shadow.


    Link crept closer. The man¡ªor ghost¡ªseemed to have no perception of him. He simply gazed dully at his surroundings, as though caught in a trance. Link felt a pang of regret; after all, in failing his princess, he had failed this man as well.


    "I''m sorry," he whimpered, "I promise, if there''s anything that still can be done, I won''t rest until I see it through."


    But first, the Castle, he thought, padding hurriedly past the Hyrulean spirit.


    Emerging into the sunlight felt like a breath of fresh air, seeing Hyrule Castle''s peaks lit in its warm rays even more so. Link could hardly stop himself from pelting across the bridge toward the open oak doors leading to Castle Town. Already, he could almost hear its ceaseless bustle and feel the press of warm, solid bodies. Two armored guards stood watch at the gates, spears idle.


    Though that quickly changed when they saw Link.


    The sharp cry of "Beast!" rang out as they rounded on him, weapons jabbed in his direction. Link skidded to a halt, realization cracking him across the skull like the end of a shaft.


    Not once had he stopped to think about what his transformation truly meant. Not once had he considered how exactly he could consult the princess in this state, how he would be received. And now...now it was all too real.


    His claws scrabbling against the wood underfoot in his haste, he turned and ran back the way he''d come, not stopping until he was out of sight of the gates and quite sure the guards weren''t following. Then he snapped to a halt again, nearly sending Midna tumbling from his back in the process. He stared, wide-eyed, at nothing in particular, breath huffing from his open maw.


    He was a beast now, which meant he was utterly alone. Any hope of reaching the princess, of resolving this nightmare, was ruthlessly dashed. His teeth sharply clicked shut, a growl emanating from his throat. Then, as the full weight of reality came crashing down, Link threw back his head and released a piercing howl. The sorrowful note stretched and lingered in the air, soon fading to nothing. Link was silent, lost, devoid of hope.


    Suddenly, a voice sounded nearby. Something about it sent shivers racing up Link''s spine, making his hair stand on end. Perhaps it was how weirdly relaxed¡ªalmost quietly jovial¡ªthe speaker sounded. Or perhaps it was the fact that of all the countless things they could''ve chosen to say, they chose but a single, frighteningly fitting question.


    "You''ve met with a terrible fate, haven''t you?"