Part of Your Realm: A Twilight Princess Fanfic

Crepuscular

                                                                          *Welcome to the Realm of Twilight*

"It is duly noted that the interlopers have more in common with the Realm of Light than we would think." Midna paced back and forth. She caressed the glass shard that adorned her neck. Her gaze looked far away. As though she had traversed through the Realm of Light once again. Even if it was just through her memories.

Students mouths hung unhinged from their jaws. All Twili were curious about the Realm of Light, especially since Midna's return. Oh, and of course, Zant's defeat. Midna decided that the Twili deserved to be educated about the "other side." The side of light. Just because we lived in the dark didn't mean we should be left, ignorant amongst it. Midna held monthly courses for fellow Twili who were interested in the structure of the Realm of Light.

Courses varied from mannerisms to architecture, culture, and, of course, history. Most Twili were in favor of Midna's radical movements about the Realm of Light. Midna believed she and Zelda were one and the same, just on opposite sides of the mirror. Her adoration for Princess Zelda paled in comparison to her adoration for the Hero of Twilight. Who helped return Midna as the rightful inheritor of the Twili throne. Any time she spoke of him, her face shifted into a forlorn shadow of its former self. She even renamed the main hall of our palace the "Hall of the Hero." Where we congregated monthly to listen to imparted wisdom regarding the Realm of Light.

Don't mistake Midna's ideals. It wasn't that she was trying to convert our brilliant umbrage to replicate the philosophies of the illuminated. She simply wanted us to live in an era of peace. She wanted us to hold ourselves accountable for our banishment from the light. Most of all, she wanted us to learn that we too, if we so chose, could rewrite history much like she had. We were not our ancestors. Under her reign, history would not repeat itself. Shadows are not evil, for even the beings of light cast shadows in their world. We must coexist.

Not all Twili felt the same. Some believed we should not be held accountable for the actions of the interlopers.  Who also just so happen to be our traitorous ancestors. Eons ago, they tried to aggrandize the power of the legendary Triforce. This unjust action caused us, the Twili, to be cast into the world of the crepuscular. You were in this category of Twili. You did not wish to be cast into this nomenclature when you personally had done nothing wrong. You felt like you were being charged for a crime you never committed. And just like a prisoner longed to break the chains of obscurity in which he was tried, you longed to break free from the Realm of Twilight.

*

You found Midna in her study. She picked up a book off the shelf, then sighed, returning the book to its original slot of dust.

"Midna?" Your tattered cloak trailed behind you as you swept into Midna's vision.

"Ah, Y/N. What brings you here? Do you wish to discuss more about today's class?" Midna took a seat on her foreboding iron throne. You always found it ironic that Midna chose to display the headdress of the imp. When Zant usurped the throne, he transmogrified Midna into an impish creature. Now it sat like a trophy, perched atop her throne. When she sat down, it appeared to float majestically on her head. She seemed to notice the bewilderment stamped on your face.

"You know, it must seem odd. Why keep this relic of a cursed form? But it reminds me of him."

"Who?" You asked in earnest. You knew who "him" was, however. It was impossible not to see the adoration etched on her features anytime she spoke of the hero. She talked about how emotions lorded power over the Realm of Light and its inhabitants. For the Twili, feelings were transitory, like blades of grass blowing in the wind. The wind could stop howling, and the blades could be blown in one direction or another. All of this unpredictability did not deserve a name in their world. And so Twili lived without ever really being educated about feelings. You couldn't help but wonder, what did Midna feel towards the Hero of Twilight? Did she herself even know?

"The hero," she said with a smile eclipsed by the surrounding shadows. "So, Y/N, tell me what plagues your mind."

It felt like someone had substantiated your chest with heavy chains. The weight of what you were about to ask crushed you. You felt imprisoned by a yearning you could no longer contain. "Midna, is it possible to travel to the Realm of Light?"

Little slivers of light filtered through her face in the dark. You could make out nothing but the burgundy gleam in her eyes. She gathered herself from her chair. You could vaguely make out her fidgeting with something behind her neck. Midna transported behind you, giving you a startle. In her hands was the shard of the Mirror of Twilight. She loosely looped it around your neck like an albatross.

"This piece of the Mirror of Twilight is the only remaining piece in existence. It has the potential to transport anyone to the light. However, should something happen to this remaining piece, you could no longer call the twilight your home. This makes the situation tricky; you know, we are not meant to be beings of the light. We don't speak the same language. Many of us don't speak much at all, though I would like to move that oppression. The pallor we possess could not withstand the strength known as the sun. Not to mention," she began to lift part of her cloak," we will always be tattooed by the Realm of the Twilight. We will never be able to escape who we are.

Midna gently followed the maze of markings that traveled up her arm with her fingertip. "I appreciate your avid interest in the Realm of Light, but my intention is to never make you lose sight of who you are. Who we are."

"How do we know who we are if we have never been given the opportunity? Like you have?" Midna bitterly laughed, "Opportunity you say? What opportunity was that? Being transformed into a hideous creature? Watching our innocent fellow Twili die? Having the throne usurped from me? Having to say goodbye to someone I loved..." Midna yanked the shard from your neck, crestfallen.

"We can never belong in their realm, Y/N." You could see Midna stalling to say more. As though she wanted you to convince her that her opinion was wrong. Maybe the interest in the Realm of Light had a more selfish connotation to it? You saw her hesitation as a chance to strike.

"Midna," you said, looking her square in the eyes, ready for debate. "Doesn't "twilight" have the word "light" in it? If the interlopers who are our ancestors are not much different than those of the light, how can you cast us as different? Aren't we all made of some type of light? Some type of light that leads to the same source?" You got down on one knee in reverence and bowed to her, for she was the princess of the twilight after all. "Midna, I recognize that what I called an opportunity may seem crass. But you have come back a stronger version of yourself. Look at the changes you are making within our realm. And..." you felt an unwelcome warmth permeate your cheeks. You weren't sure why. "I would like to know love. Like you have. It is all I dream of. If we never tried to steal the Triforce, could I be one among the light? A... Hylian?"

Midna released a conquered sigh. "Alright, Y/N. Because you are one of my best pupils. Because I think you are destined for greatness within our realm. I will award you a trip to the Realm of Light. Under one condition."

You could hardly contain the silly smile that pulled your cheeks tightly back on your face. You weren't sure what was making you react in such a way. Perhaps it was the permission to be part of the light? You read about happiness before. Was this it? So many things you've researched yet didn't experience to understand. Now you would know. Maybe you would be like Midna. You would meet someone like the Hero of Twilight and make the same face when you said his name.

"This will be a homework assignment. When you return you must tell me where the truth lies... within the shadows of darkness or within the illumination of the light."

You didn't realize the difficulty that this assignment would hold.

A/N: Edited 10/23/22

As I write this I am actively working on editing and tying up loose ends within the story. Thank you for being patient to whomever reads this!

Where do you think the truth lies? Within the light or the darkness? There is a theme I'm trying to implement in this story :)

Check out my other Zelda OOT work that is completed- No Woman Beyond