The Legend of Zelda: The Missing Link

Chapter 18: Unexpected Reunion

Link sprinted into the coliseum-like mirror chamber. In the center sat the mythical Mirror of Twilight, a large, circular mirror with the power to transport anybody to the Twilight Realm, a dimension made of pure shadow that was once used a place to banish terrible criminals. Over time, the evicted people evolved into the Twili, a group of shadow beings that became the sole inhabitants of the Twilight Realm.

And there it sat in all of its shadowy glory. Link approached it, jogging up the cracked concrete steps. He set his hand on the frame of the mirror, looking over the mirror itself. It was scratched and smudged, but looked otherwise functional. He stepped around to the other side, and sure enough, the glowing white steps leading up to the Twilight Realm entrance appeared, as well as the spinning, white Twili pattern decorating the huge, black boulder that the Mirror faced. He scaled the steps and was pulled through towards the rock, disappearing through the portal.

"Link! Where are we?" Tristam asked quietly. "Is this the Twilight Realm?"

Link nodded. The pair were standing just before the Twilight Palace, but it was different compared to the last time Link had been here. The Palace was in crumbles, a few scattered members of the Twili tribe idling around the rubble. Link approached one of them; it was only a couple feet tall, with black and white splotches and glowing orange eyes. It looked up at him and moaned with its high, sing-song voice. He desperately wanted to ask it what happened, why the Palace was in shambles like this.

"Link! What are you doing here?"

Link turned around at the sound of his name, and...

"Though I guess you're probably wondering the same of me." It was Ooccoo, scurrying towards him. Ooccoo was one of the Oocca, a group of small, bird-like creatures with human faces, and she was there with Ooccoo Jr. in tow. "I'm not really sure how I got here."

Link stared at the Oocca in shock.

"I knew that Hyrule was in trouble, though. I sent Zelda a letter to warn her, but I don't know if she got it. How reliable is your postal service? Ah, anyway, I'm glad you're here! I could really use your help in getting out."

"Wow! Cool! Who are you?" Tristam circled Ooccoo and her son excitedly.

"Hello, little guy, I'm Ooccoo. This is my son, Ooocoo Jr." Oocca children were simply heads with wings; they grew the rest of the bodies during their equivalent of puberty.

"Hello!" The little Oocca said, flying around with Tristam.

"Hi, I'm Tristam! Nice to meet you! Hey, Link, you know these guys? Where are you from?"

Ooccoo chuckled. "Yes, we've traveled with Link during his past adventure. We're from the City in the Sky. We've been having some problems lately, though; namely earthquakes. I came back down to see if you guys were having similar problems, and I kinda fell into this portal that brought me here."

"Well, it's cool to see you guys!" Tristam spoke up, "Now we can all travel together!"

"Sure, as long as that's alright with you, LInk."

Link nodded in approval.

"Great! Lets be on our way!" Ooccoo, along with her son, jumped into one of Link's hammerspace pouches. Tristam followed them into it.

Link, feeling a bit more alone now, shoved onward, deeper into the Twilight Realm. He hoped that Midna would still be here, even though he also feared that she was back in the Light World since the Mirror had been restored. She wouldn't just abandon her country like that... Would she?