Hylian Folklore: A Retelling of the Twilight Princess

Dream Princess

Midna could only watch in terror as Zant plunged the Dark Crystal into Link's forehead, his body instantly going limp.

"Link!" she screamed, still unable to move.

Zant released his hold on link, letting his limp body collapse to the floor.

"Link..." Midna said in a stunned whisper.

How can this be? He's the hero, she thought as she gazed at his motionless body lying on the floor. This is all my fault. A tear ran down her cheek at that realization. He wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for my need for revenge. He only wanted to save the princess. Who will save Hyrule now?

Suddenly, Link's body transformed into a wolf again. A flood of relief wash over the Imp as she saw his side slowly moving up and down as he started breathing again. It must be the Triforce! Its protecting him from Zant's dark magic somehow.

Zant's crazed laughter turned into choking as he turned his head to face Midna. A glowing green ooze, seeped from the wound on his side and through his robs. "Well, I must be going, dear Midna," he stopped a moment to cough up more of the green Twilian blood, "I need to return to my God. Why don't you come join me, and serve a far superior God?"

"Like I said before, Zant, I will never join you, or your so called God!" she snarled, "I will do everything in my power to stop you and Ganondorf, and when I do, I will return the light to Hyrule!"

"Foolish Imp, if you return the light, you will be nothing but a shadow in their world," he warned, "Only with the Twilight can the Twili leave our forsaken realm."

"Better to be a mere shadow, then to become a monster like you!" she spat angrily.

"Fine," he said rather coldly, "have it your way, Princess," he body started breaking up into Twilight fragments, "You will never return the light to Hyrule anyway."

His fragmented body darted out of the castle, leaving Midna free to move again. She floated over to Link, placing a hand on his forehead where the Dark Crystal penetrated. There was no marks or wounds to be seen, and the relic was nowhere to be found. That was not good. She had seen the Dark crystal before. It was an object of pure evil, designed to root itself into ones mind and feed their inner, dark side, essentially turning them to evil. With the crystal already rooted inside of his mind, there was no way for Midna to remove the cursed relic herself.

"This is bad. This is really, really bad..."

~~~

Link awakened to a blinding bright light. He squinted until his eyes adjusted, only to realize that the world around him was glowing brightly.

"Where am I," he said sitting up straight and rubbing his forehead.

"We are in your dream, Link," answered a familiar, soft voice from behind.

He glanced over his shoulder, "Zelda," he said, sounding completely surprised.

She was standing before him, dressed exactly as he had last seen her back it the castle under the sleeping curse, only her skin had return to a healthy color, and the dark veins were gone. He had not noticed how beautiful she was in that gown before, she looked so different freed from that dreadful curse.

"You're awake...but... how? And how did we get here?" he asked, standing up.

"I am only awake in you mind, Link, it was you who brought us here," she answered.

"I did?"

She nodded slowly.

"How did I do that?" he asked, sounding more confused.