Part of Your Realm: A Twilight Princess Fanfic

Where Dreams Burn

*Palace of Twilight*

You could feel your sanity begin to crumble.

Whatever remained of it, at its core still held the image of Link and Ilia's lips latched together. You weren't even sure if it was the horrid demon within you or the demon that was known as jealousy. Throughout your plague of mental combat, you couldn't help but think of Link.

The voice inside wasn't wrong. Your heart was so battered, so raw; you wanted nothing more than to watch the light burn. You didn't want any single blade of grass to remain. Nor did you want the remnants of soft soil and silt where Link and Ilia's children could sink their bare feet into and play. You wanted the light to feel the fervid chaos feasting on your heart. Truly, the pain you felt was ineffable.

But the idea of never seeing Link again, more so.

The idea of never seeing the blue of his eyes swirl around you in delight was abstruse. Or never hearing the gentle way he would laugh, a chuckle bubbling from his chest as if it was a supposed secret. Or the way he coddled you with delicious food. The way he took joy in watching your satisfaction.

Your comfort.

Your safety.

Your happiness.

"What is it you wait for?" You could hear the voice croon in your mind. It clearly was losing its patience, yet still pathetically attempted charisma. What it told you in your mind versus what the truth was in your heart was a fine line. The voice wasn't wrong about what you knew, but it was wrong about what you felt.

Link choosing Ilia wouldn't erase your feelings. Maybe time could.

Or maybe it couldn't.

The constant dithering brought you closer to the brink of madness.

Throughout all of this, Midna remained at your side. Even in her silence, you knew she believed in you. Could you really let her down? Guilt was at the nadir of your feelings. You hadn't known it existed until every now and then when your eyes met Midna's.

But the voice is right a lot of this is her fault too. I guess that's where the folly comes in.

"I am giving you one more chance to redeem yourself you foolish brat. BREAK THE MIRROR OR ELSE!"

Your mind was tired. You just wanted to expel the wickedness of the creature within you along with your feelings.

You whimpered aloud, already knowing the response.

"Or else what..."

"OR ELSE I WILL BREAK YOU!"

Your grip became firmer on the mirror. You prepared yourself to fight back with all your might, determined to not let it break. Even if it meant your shadow would break you in the process.

Besides, no shadow could ever break you the way Link had.

*Temple of Time*

"Link, what is it? What's the matter?"

Link stumbled backwards, avoiding Ilia's lips that were fervently seeking his own. He was grateful that the startled face peering at him possessed its normal habit of rapid blinking. Link waited another moment before he answered Ilia. He couldn't fight against the paranoia that was now a part of him. After all he had witnessed, he knew it would take time for it to subside.