Part of Your Realm: A Twilight Princess Fanfic

Umbrage: The One Who Weeps

*Temple of Time*

"Erm, so that should bring you up to speed about the Rod of Dominion. It was left by our tribe, the Oocca. "

"You've been a very knowledgeable guide. Thank you." You wanted to make sure the oocca felt appreciated. You made sure to denote your responses with an air of encouragement to goad the Oocca into talking more. While it schooled you in all things Oocca, you continued to gawk at the grandeur of the Temple of Time. It wasn't until the Oocca mentioned their tie to the Rod of Dominion that you homed in on what it was saying. The Rod of Dominion was a technologically advanced piece of equipment created by their people. Its sole purpose?

To breathe life into statues.

You weren't quite sure how that was supposed to aid you on your quest, but there was no room to doubt the great sages. At least, you certainly weren't about to start now. The Rod of Dominion could also warp the oocca back home to its dwelling, the "City in the Sky." It all began to make sense as to why the sages mentioned the oocca as your guide. And rightfully so; there is no way you wouldn't get lost in here.

The pulsing of your heart dictated the direction of Link, much like the dial of a compass. You couldn't help but notice the acceleration in your beat as you made your way up each floor. The vicious silence of the temple certainly did little to appease your apprehension. You weren't sure what to expect when you saw Link.

What were you supposed to do with the Rod of Dominion?

And were you certain you truly wanted to go through with this? Because as you edged up closer to the eighth floor, where the Oocca said the Rod of Dominion lie, you felt your doubts surface.

The reflecting you've done in Link's absence has made you rethink the conversion itself. You wanted to come here, live in the light, and get married. Have kids, as was your stolen birthright. But now that you've met the person you truly believed was the love of your life, you aren't sure. He was promised to another. All the intrigue of the light had slowly turned unappetizing. Almost appalling. Who wanted to reside in a place without love? You could have stayed in the Twilight if that were the case.

If you couldn't exist within the light with Link by your side, you weren't sure you wanted to exist within it at all.

But you had to convert to vanquish the shadow within you. Right?

It was as you listened to the calming pace of your footsteps amongst the lacquered temple floors that a thought seized you.

Midna's assignment.

You know where the truth lies. You knew it all along. It was within your heart that beat furiously for Link.

Only Link.

So then, Link would decide your fate. If it were to be that he loved Ilia and all the words and gestures meant nothing, you would return to the Twilight.

You lived in the Twilight all your life without your shadow ever breaking loose. Perhaps it was not a threat to your Twili peers, as you previously surmised. You would keep your shadow within its proper habitat, where it could not wreak havoc.

And then, yes, and then...

You would never return to the Realm of Light.

Did Midna know all along that you'd come to this conclusion? Is that why she has been so accommodating with everything? If she was adamant that we did not belong in this realm, why had she gone along with your conversion without protest? How was the shadow within you any different than the one that was within her not so long ago?