Favorable side Page 16

  Still resolved to set Link at ease, Midna forced herself to edge in closer to him, even though she struggled not to get blown away by the winds he was creating. "Link," the

  Twili imp said softer than before, trying a gentler, more soothing approach. "Relax. Please…"

  Somehow, the hero had managed to hear her quiet words as he suddenly glanced up at her, his eyes still wide and panicked, but even so he nodded and closed his eyes

  tightly, forcing his short gasps of breath to become even and eventually, calming down the racing winds to nothingness as well.

  "Link…" Midna began, her tone careful and concerned as she glided in close to him, hoping to console him as he opened his eyes and kept his sights set on the ground.

  "I can't do it, Midna…" Link muttered despondently under his breath, desperately doing everything in his power to remain calm and conceal his powers.

  "Do what?" the Twilight Princess asked in confusion.

  "I can't control these powers!" the hero exclaimed in distraught frustration as he looked up at her, the winds starting to subtly pick up once more. "I can't even feel

  anything without starting some sort of catastrophe! What am I going to do?!"

  "You're going to learn how to control them, like you said!" Midna said firmly and insistently.

  "How?!" Link exclaimed, not even noticing how a layer of ice was starting to cover the ground at his feet because of his despair. "This should be easy for me, but it's not!

  A few hours ago, everything was perfectly fine and I was completely normal, but now that I can use magic, everything's totally different. I never even wanted or asked for

  these powers, but I have them and I can't even control them! What… what's wrong with me?"

  "Link, listen to me," the Twilight Princess said reassuringly as she glided in even closer to him, gently placing her hands on the sides of his face. "Nothing is wrong with you.

  You're just new at this whole magic thing. Its ok that you're not getting it immediately, and I shouldn't have expected you to. But you need to know that I'm going to help

  you get through this, ok? I… I know I left you hanging before when I returned to the Twilight Realm, but… I won't this time. I'll stay by you this time, through thick and thin,

  and through fire and ice. I promise."

  The hero was silent for a long moment as he let her encouraging words sink in, finding truth and comfort in them. During their first mission together, there had rarely been

  a moment in which Midna had abandoned him, even when she had been angry or upset with him, and he didn't expect her to abandon him now. As confused and worried

  as he might have been, he knew that he could at least take consolation in the fact that he had his constant companion on his side. Even if he didn't believe in himself, she

  did, and that alone was enough to keep him going.

  "Thanks, Midna…" Link said with a small, relieved smile, the ice no longer spreading out around him and the winds no longer steadily blowing. "I… I needed that…"

  "I always seem to know just what you need, don't I?" Midna asked coyly. "Now, before anything else, I think maybe we should go see Zelda. She might be able to help

  you figure out your powers better than I can. After all, they seem to be a lot different than my Twilight magic, so maybe she knows more since she has a piece of the

  Triforce too."

  The hero nodded in agreement with this, knowing that it was a solid plan. After all, the queen had even shown him some of her magical abilities before. Certainly she

  would be able to provide them with the proper aid. And even more than that Link found that the more he thought about Zelda, the more he longed to see her again, to

  know that she was all right, and to be by her side again. He hoped that she was unharmed, and according to what Verona had told him, she was, though the hero was

  inclined not to fully believe what the Queen of Shadows had said.

  "So, I think we can agree… no more magic until we get there, ok?" the Twilight Princess asked, watching as Link used the horse call to beckon Epona so they could get

  there faster.

  "I'll try my hardest," the hero said with a small smile, glad that she could be lighthearted for the both of them in this uncertain situation. As the horse made arrived at the

  call, the hero mounted her as the Twili imp slipped into his shadow, both of them heading off towards the castle in order to not only solve the problem that the kingdom

  was facing, but also have their own problem solved as well.

  However, what neither Link nor Midna saw as they headed off into Hyrule Field, was the shadow that was watching them from the dark depths of the woods. Verona

  smiled darkly to herself, knowing that her plans for the hero were about to blossom, especially now that he had discovered his powers. "That's right, Link…" the Queen of

  Shadows whispered to herself, glancing down at the glowing Spirit Shard hovering above her palm. "Go to your beloved queen... I'll be waiting, ready to pick up the pieces

  of what's left of you once she breaks your heart…"

  Like the rest of Hyrule, Castle Town cowered under the veil of darkness enshrouding the skies above, though perhaps even moreso as most of the people had heard how

  their kingdom had been conquered yet again. While some feared for the life of their new queen under the mysterious foe who had imprisoned her and sealed up the castle

  so that none could enter, most of the people criticized Zelda for her weakness during a time of trouble yet again. However, even despite the climate of fear and dread that

  seemed to be accumulating each day, nothing horrible had befallen the people of the city yet save for the inescapable night. Though there were many rumors circulating

  about the town of what was to happen in the days to come, most stayed to their homes and tried to maintain a semblance of normal life, hoping that they would stay

  out of the Queen of Shadow's notice lest she bring her wrath upon them.

  It was into this atmosphere of fear and anxiety that Link and Midna entered into, both of the immediately noticing the tension filling the town as people walked through the

  still-busy streets, trying to keep their daily lives going even despite it all. The activity of the citizens was quieter than it usually was, and most of the normally vibrant

  conversations that could be heard all over the town now came out in hushed whispers, as if the people thought Verona herself was eavesdropping upon them.

  "Sheesh, what's got everyone so worked up?" the Twilight Princess muttered from the hero's shadow in a voice that only he was really able to hear. "They act as if

  they've seen a ghost! Though…Verona's not really any less intimidating…"

  Link simply nodded in response to her comment as he kept his sights set straight ahead, his fists clenched tightly at his sides as he took in a deep breath. Admittedly, his

  concerns weren't particularly with the people of Castle Town; so long as Verona made no direct move against them, they had nothing to worry about after all. At the

  moment, the hero's main concern was simply keeping his powers under control and hidden, especially in a place packed with people such as this. The last thing he needed

  was to accidentally reveal them and cause an uproar amidst the already frazzled townsfolk, especially since his powers in and of themselves were fueled by emotion and

  he had no idea what set each one of them off yet. Midna had made sure to caution him all the way to Castle Town to do the only thing he could do in order to keep them

  under control: suppress his emotions entirely. It wasn't something that Link particularly liked doing, but he knew that he wouldn't have to do it for very long, at least until

  they made it to Zelda.

  In fact, in light of everything that had happened, thinking of Zelda was really the only thing that was keeping Link as calm and reserved as he was being as he seamlessly


  pressed through the crowds of the town. Though a heavy cloud of dread lingered over Castle Town now, the hero couldn't help but fondly think back on his time spent

  with the queen in these very streets before they were faced with danger once again. Link longed to have those days back, not simply for the peace and tranquility they

  brought, but also because he had come to miss Zelda greatly, even in the few days that they had been apart for. He hadn't been lying when he had admitted to Ilia that he

  harbored newfound feelings for the queen. Though he knew that their friendship was rather new and still budding, the hero couldn't help but feel as though he was

  attracted to the queen almost naturally, and for far more reasons that just her outer beauty. Zelda was one of the kindest souls Link had ever met, her innate goodness

  and wisdom radiating from her like sunshine. Simply being near her made the hero, who had been so scarred and torn from all he had done and encountered in the past,

  feel innocent and at ease again, helping all of it to fall away until she was the only thing left, something he took great solace in. And it was because of these deep feelings

  of devotion and affection that Link was resolved to stand by Zelda's side unflinchingly, not just through this ordeal, but for as long as time allowed.

  Preoccupied by these comforting thoughts, the hero barely noticed as he made it out of the bustling crowds of town and onto the empty, enclosed path that led to the

  castle. Oddly enough, there were no guards stationed before the large closed doors, most likely because of Verona's doing, but it still made both Link and Midna suspicious

  as they approached the doors. Since there was no one around, the Twilight Princess emerged from the hero's shadow and watched as he pushed against the large doors,

  finding that they simply wouldn't budge.

  "Allow me," Midna said with a teasing smirk as she contorted her hair into a hand and gently pushed Link out of the way, much to his annoyance. But nonetheless, he

  watched as she used all of her strength to attempt to get the doors to open, but still it was to no avail; they were sealed shut. "Well, this is just great!" the Twilight

  Princess growled in aggravation. "Verona must think she's so smart, holing herself up in there and thinking we can't get to her."

  "There's another way in," Link said, his tone a relatively emotionless, something that Midna couldn't help but feel guilty about since she had instructed him to act this way.

  "Zelda showed it to me."

  "Well by all means, let's go!" the Twilight Princess urged, following closely behind the hero as he led the way to the small stone door that blended in almost seamlessly with

  the nearby wall, opening up to the passageway that the queen had revealed to him a little over a week ago. The stairwell was cold and dark, and as the door shut behind

  them, Link and Midna found that they were unable to see anything at all within the dusty chamber.

  "Uh, Link?" the Twilight Princess asked, unable to even see her companion in the darkness. "Think you could light the way for us?"

  "With what?" the hero asked in confusion, knowing he didn't have his lantern on him.

  "With some fire, moron!" Midna exclaimed impatiently, reminding Link of his powers.

  "Oh…." Link said with a slightly nervous frown. "Are you sure?"

  "Come on, Link," the Twilight Princess said, rolling her eyes at him. "You have nothing to worry about. We're surrounded by nothing but cold stone; what could possibly

  burn in here?"

  Though the hero was still apprehensive, he nodded in agreement and held his hands out in front of him and took in a deep breath, trying to make himself frustrated as he

  figured that was what brought about fire the last time. However, Link found that trying to make himself angry was an incredibly difficult feat, especially since his thoughts

  repeatedly kept returning to Zelda and his excitement over seeing her again. The mere thought of the queen filled the hero with an unquenchable warmth, which somehow

  manifested itself in the form of a small, flickering flame that ignited above his palms.

  "Hey! Looks like you're finally getting the hang of it!" Midna said with an encouraging grin as both her and Link smiled down at the illuminating fire, one that did not grow

  wildly out of control like the last one he had made, but rather remained contained and stationary above his hands.

  Not wanting to destroy the flame or disrupt it, the hero simply nodded silently as the two of them began to move forward, letting the flame dimly guide their way up the

  long stairwell. Though the Twilight Princess wanted to converse about their further plans in finding Zelda and taking down Verona, she knew that now was not the time;

  after all, Link was new to magic and he needed to concentrate more than anything if he was going to hone it fully. At the same time, the hero couldn't help but feel the

  slightest bit proud of his success, even if it was only a little one; it was a sign that told him perhaps he really could learn how to master his powers, perhaps even to the

  point that they would become an asset to him in battle, something he certainly needed in going up against the powerful Queen of Shadows.

  After some time, Link and Midna finally emerged from the passageway into the hallway in the depths of the castle that it emptied out into. The first thing the pair noticed

  as they quietly emerged into the castle itself was the feeling of darkness that seemed to lurk around every corner, as well as the eerie silence that echoed their every

  move. Not a soul wandered through the dismal halls save for the hero and the Twili imp, both of whom kept their guard up lest they be assailed by Verona's minions or

  even the Queen of Shadows herself. And yet, not a sign of anyone, even the queen herself, could be found within the hallowed, almost sinister halls and chambers of the

  occupied castle, something that alarmed Link and Midna quite a bit.

  "I don't like the looks of this…" the Twilight Princess muttered under her breath, finding that even so her voice still sounded loudly throughout the area. "I feel like we're

  walking into some sort of trap."

  "The whole place is abandoned…" the hero noted tensely, his hand ready to draw the Master Sword at a moment's notice. "What did Verona do with all the guards?"

  "Knowing her, she probably either killed or imprisoned them all," Midna said with a scowl.

  "Well, for her sake, she better not have hurt Zelda," Link said as he glared at the flame still resting above his palm, watching it grow the slightest bit from his anger, but not

  to the point that it became dangerous. "If she has, then she'll have to answer to me."

  "Ooo," the Twilight Princess said with a sly giggle. "Looks like someone's overprotective of his girlfriend…"

  "Since when was Zelda my girlfriend?" the hero asked, his cheeks growing red from embarrassment at the very thought, even if it did sound nice.

  "Don't act like you don't want her to be," Midna said coyly. "You said it yourself: you like her. Why don't you just let her know how you feel? Chances are she feels the

  same."

  "It's not that easy…" Link said with a sigh, remembering back to the ball.

  "And how is it not?" the Twilight Princess asked, placing her hands on her hips.

  "Because I don't know if she feels the same way," the hero said, not even noticing as the flame in his hands dimmed down a bit. "It seemed like she did when we danced

  together at the ball, and after that…we… we even kissed…"

  "Really?!" Midna exclaimed with immense interest upon learning this. "So what's the problem then? It sounds like you two would be the perfect couple!"

  "I don't even know if we could even be together, Midna!" Link said in aggravation, the fire abruptly burning out as he threw his arms back down to his sides. "She's not

  just any ordinary girl. She's the queen of Hyrule, fo
r Farore's sake!"

  "And that matters how?" the Twilight Princess argued. "Link, I'm telling you; those sort of things don't really matter in the long run. So what if she's the queen? You're the

  hero, her hero. Nothing should be able to stop you two from being together, especially something as stupid as social standing. Now, why don't you put some of that

  courage that Triforce piece is supposed to give you to good use, find Zelda, and tell her openly and honestly what you feel. What's the worst that could happen?"

  The hero took in a deep breath and merely nodded with a small smile upon hearing this, knowing that, as usual, his companion was right. The differing social statuses

  between him and the queen were relatively unimportant when it came to how he really felt about her, which was nothing less than the deepest devotion. And, though

  there was a great facing them both, as well as the kingdom at large, Link didn't want to go on another second without letting Zelda know of his withheld affections for her,

  hoping that she would return them in full.

  Zelda's heart clenched as she glanced down at the back of her hand, noticing as the mark of the Triforce of Wisdom upon it began to glow more steadily. She knew well

  what this meant, and she had been dreading it ever since her last meeting with Verona. It meant that Link was on his way to her, and that he was close, close to having

  his heart shattered by her in the cruelest of ways.

  It had felt like ages since the Queen of Shadows' departure, and since then, the Hylian queen had done little but pace around her dark chamber worriedly, trying her

  hardest to think of any way out of the sinister deal she had made. At first she had tried sleeping, hoping that an answer would come to her in her dreams, but rest would

  not come easy to her considering her pressing anxiety. Not knowing what else to do, she offered many prayers to the goddesses for their aid, but they never seemed to

  answer her pleas, meaning that she was on her own in this. Zelda knew that Verona would be watching her every move and listening to her every word once Link arrived,

  and so there would be no breaking their agreement behind her back, lest all of Hyrule pay the price. The queen knew she was trapped, completely bound to fulfill her end