73Chapter 23: The Resistance
No more than a second after retreating into Link's shadow I reemerge, fumblingly realizing that we should come up with an actual plan before going out there and searching for the mirror shards. "So… What now?" I ask, before we can even leave the mirror chamber.
He shrugs. "I don't know. Got any ideas?"
I shake my head, but thankfully I recall the words the sages just told us. "Well the Mirror Shards lie somewhere in deep mountain snows, within an ancient wood, and somewhere in the sky…" I recount. "I haven't the slightest idea about how we're going to get to the sky, so we might as well start with the mountain and the forest."
As I'm saying this, Link's face suddenly lights up in what looks to be remembrance. "I have an idea," he exclaims with an enthusiastic smile. "We need to go to Castle Town."
"What for?" I ask in curiosity.
"I'll explain when we get there," is all he says and I frown, not really liking his ambiguity. But nonetheless I consent to warp us to the field just outside of town, to cut down on the hours it would take us to trek through the desert again.
We enter Castle Town in the early hours after dawn, so few people are about roaming the streets. Of course I stay in the shadows, though I'm still puzzled as to why we've come here in the first place and want to ask Link just what this idea of his is. But only when we're in the seclusion of the empty alley near Telma's Bar in the southern portion of town does he decide to explain to me what's going on.
"Do you remember what Telma said after we escorted Ilia and Prince Ralis to Kakariko Village?" he asks. "About there being a group that's working to restore Hyrule?"
I nod, but I don't really see the significance in this. "Yeah, but so what?"
"So," he says, heading for the door of the bar. "Maybe they'll know something about the Mirror Shards."
I frown, knowing that despite his good intentions, he must be wrong. How in the world would a few ragtag vigilantes know anything about shards from the long-forgotten Mirror of Twilight? "Link…" I say hesitantly, not wanting to crush his faith in his own solution but not wanting to let him cling onto false hope either. "I'm sorry, but I don't think… I don't see how they'd know about them at all. It's not like the Mirror of Twilight is common knowledge to you light dwellers. In fact, most of my people don't even know it exists. I just don't think-"
"Come on Midna," he cuts me off somewhat impatiently. "It's at least worth a try."
I glare at him sharply, taken aback by his boldness. "Fine!" I exclaim rather hotly. "Go on ahead. But when this doesn't work and we end up doing nothing more than wasting time, I get to say I told you so!"
He sighs in exasperation and slight frustration. "Fair enough," he mumbles as he heads in the bar, seeming to finally show some doubt in this so called "brilliant" plan of his.
Since it's so early in the day, the bar is almost empty save for a group of four individuals gathered around the table in the back room who pay no mind to Link as he enters. Telma's busy wiping down the bar, but she quickly stops what she's doing and gives him a huge smile as he walks in.
"Well, look who it is!" she exclaims brightly. "Link! How've you been, honey?"
"Fine," he says with a smile, pushing aside his aggravation with me to appear as cordial, but in the shadows, I'm still very much annoyed with him.
For the next several minutes, the two of them make small talk, mentioning Ilia and other things that are of little interest to me. From my constant place in the shadows, I'm just waiting for the chance to get on with looking for the Mirror Shards already instead of this useless stalling.
"Mercy, but you've got good timing," Telma eventually says. "I was just talking about you. Hey everybody!" she calls out to the group of four in the back room. They turn from their hushed conversation to look at Link with scrutiny. "This handsome young man here is Link," Telma continues, but none of the group offers him any form of greeting as they continue to stare him down. "You remember those friends of mine I mentioned before?" she says to Link. "Well here they are, the ones trying to help us deal with all the troubles in Hyrule. Since you came all this way why don't you go on over and say hello?" she says, leading the way to the back room.
The group consists of three men of varying ages and a young woman. The woman, who looks to be not too much older that Link, has coal black hair tied into two low pigtails and copper eyes. She wears a set of simple, lightweight body armor and her figure is slender, yet strong. Her expression is by far the most brutal, since she stares Link down with a tight glare, showing that clearly, she is a no-nonsense type of person. Sitting beside her is a young, bespectacled man, about her age with red hair and bright eyes. From his lack of armor or working clothes, he appears to be some type of scholar or researcher, though I could be wrong. Another, much older man sits on the other side of the woman, with thin grey facial hair and sharp features. Despite being elderly, his body looks to be firm, showing that in his younger days, he was probably quite strong and active. And finally, another man sits at the end of the table, though the upper half of his face is obscured by the metal helmet he wears, giving him an air of mystery as to his true identity.
"Well everyone," Telma encourages the otherwise silent group. "Go on and get acquainted."
The members of the group still don't make an effort to be friendly, instead issuing a constant bout of awkward silence. I take this opportunity to slip into the natural shadows of the room, positioning myself behind the group members so no one but Link will be able to clearly see me. And sure enough, when he catches sight of me there, I cross my arms and shake my head, still firm in my resolve that this was a foolish idea. He sends me a quick glare, but does nothing else lest he appear suspicious to the group and give them a bad first impression.
As he's glaring at me though, the young man finally gathers the nerve to speak up. "Well I don't know about the rest of you," he says in an upper class accent as he glances at the others sitting around the table. "But I believe that we are all being incredibly rude here. And not very hospitable at all, if I might add." The young man stands and extends a hand for Link to shake with a polite smile on his face. "I'm Shad," he introduces himself cordially. "And I must say, that's quite an outfit you're sporting, old boy. You certainly have that 'legendary hero' down to the letter! Oh, how I'd love to wear something like that!"
Before Link can even respond, the young woman breaks into the conversation with a bitter scoff. "What, you mean like a complete fool?" she asks curtly. I can't help but let loose a soft snicker at this, which only Link really catches and sends me another scowl for. I retort back with a triumphant smile, glad that the members of the group are not receiving him with open arms like he thought they would. Maybe, with enough blatant rudeness, they'll chase him out and we can get onto actually looking for the Mirror Shards. "If you wanted to get stared at kid, why not just join the circus or something?" the woman continues harshly, but she is quickly stopped by the older man.
"Ashei!" he silences her and she simply gives him a dirty look but remains quiet nonetheless. "Forgive our rudeness, Master Link. I am Auru. From what Telma has told us, you are quite the courageous youth, are you not? Performing many deeds of valor around Hyrule… Quite respectable if I do say so myself. Don't you all agree?"
Telma and Shad answer with smiles and enthusiastic nods, but Ashei is still clearly fuming as she looks to the ground angrily and scoffs to herself. During this entire exchange, the man in the helmet has remained conspicuously silent, but now he slowly rises to his feet and removes his helmet with a small smile, revealing his full face.
Link gasps in surprise, though I'm not sure why. "Rusl!?" he exclaims happily, giving me the idea that he knows this man from sometime before we met.
The man, Rusl, returns his huge smile. "Link!" he says warmly. "It has been a long time! Uli sent word to me about the children. I've even see them in Kakariko Village! And of course, I've heard from both them and Telma about all of your adventures. And Colin… I must thank you for your help with him, Link. He's grown and matured so much that I barely recognized him! In any case, I had been troubled with my own inaction after the children were taken. So, since I've had a connection with this group here for a long while, I figured that I would help the cause in any way that I could."
Upon seeing the rest of the group's clear confusion about the exchange, Link and Rusl fill them in on the exact nature of their association and I listen as well. Rusl, like Link, is from Ordon Village. He's Colin's father and apparently acts as a surrogate father figure to Link as well. I can tell by how Link speaks of Rusl that he clearly has a great deal of respect for him, and the fact that he has someone on his side in this group gives him a new burst of confidence. But even so, I still have my doubts about this group actually being able to give us any real aid in our search for the Mirror Shards.
Nonetheless, I continue to pay attention as we finally move onto the matter at hand. "So Link," Rusl says, now that all the formalities are finally out of the way. "Is there any way we could be of help to you in your journeys?"
"Actually," he replies. "I was wondering if any of you knew anything about something called the Mirror of Twilight."
Telma, Ashei, Shad, and Rusl all respond with looks of confusion, but for some reason, Auru's face lights up with excitement and interest. "The Mirror of Twilight!" he exclaims with enthusiasm. "But of course! You speak of that cursed mirror within the ancient prison of the Gerudo Desert, yes?"
Link nods and gives me a broad smirk, which I answer by crossing my arms and scowling. He got lucky… I think bitterly as Auru asks him various questions about the prison, the mirror and the sages. I have to say that I'm somewhat amazed as to how that old man knows anything about the mysterious Mirror of Twilight. But even so, it won't matter at all if any of them don't have clues to the whereabouts of the Mirror Shards.
"Ah the sages…" Auru says thoughtfully. "Those very same sages served the royal family, as I once did as well. They were appointed as tutors to the young Princess Zelda. It was from them that I first heard tales of the accursed mirror in the Arbiter's Grounds."
"If I may be so terribly bold," Shad cuts in. "Might I ask what a chap such as yourself might have need of a cursed mirror for, Link?"
"Um…" Link stammers, clearly caught on the spot with a question that he has no simple answer for. With wide eyes, he desperately looks to me, as if I could tell him how to explain everything to these people. Again, this is just another drawback in this wonderful plan of his. He must have known that the group would have been curious about the true nature of his motivations. Honestly, even if I could, I'd have no idea how to help him get out of this tight spot that he's managed to work himself into. But, under the tight scrutiny of the group, he keeps his gaze locked on me and comes up with an answer that I could have never expected him to give at a moment like this.
"I think Midna would be able to explain everything much better than I could," he says quickly, much to the group's complete confusion. My eyes widen and I barely restrain myself from letting out an audible gasp of shock. I can't believe him! I told him I wanted to keep a low profile and there he goes, completely blowing my cover! How could he break the trust between us like that? With both rage and betrayal, I glare at him harsher than I ever have before and he stares back at me almost fearfully. He's either afraid of my reaction to him putting me out, the group's reaction to me, or both. "Come on," he mouths to me, trying to get me out of the shadows. I shake my head, adamantly refusing. I'd rather him look like a fool in front of these complete strangers than go out and meet them myself. I can already anticipate their cross, fearful reactions of me. And at this point, I've already been made a spectacle of enough. "Please?" he inaudibly presses on again, giving me a small, pleading smile. Its then that I realize that if I don't help him out here, then the group will certainly think him to be mad, referring to invisible allies who seek cursed mirrors and such. As much as I think of how his plan isn't going to work, I also think of all the many things he has done to help me. And despite being nervous beyond reason, I know that I owe this to him. Even though I know this is definitely going to end in disaster.
Slowly, I glide out of the shadows and gloat over to Link's side so the group can see me in full view. I keep my face a mask of indifference as a few sharp gasps are let out. But for the longest time, there are no other reactions. Instead the five of them stare me down with stunned wonder and I stare back piercingly, having no clue about what's going to happen next. After several minutes of terse silence, I slowly glance over at Link and give him a soft glare as our eyes meet. I can tell that he regrets revealing me to them, but there's no going back now. What's done is done and we can only move forward into whatever's about to happen.
I continue to keep my eyes locked onto him as he takes in a deep breath and finally breaks the mounting tension in the room. "Well everyone," he says somewhat awkwardly. "This is Midna."
They all glance at him for a second and then back at me. None of their expressions seem fearful or repulsed by my impish appearance, which is good, but none of them look particularly comfortable either. However, as I should have guessed, Ashei is the first one bold enough to speak out of them. "What… what are you?" she asks incredulously, speaking directly to me.
I cross my arms and look at her with the same tight looks she's giving me. "I'm a member of the Twili race," I say pointedly. "Though I doubt any of you would know what that is."
They all immediately shake their heads in response, as I guessed they would. I figure that I might as well start from the beginning in my explanation and so I do, starting with the story of the Dark Interlopers and from there I talk about the Twilight Realm and exactly what my tribe is. I explain the details behind Zant's takeover, leaving out any part of my former position as the Twilight Princess. I then go on to tell them about how Zant enshrouded Hyrule in Twilight and with Link's help, I recount our meeting, leaving out the fact that he was transformed into a wolf for his sake, as well as telling them about our hunt for the Fused Shadow and Zant's attack along with Zelda's sacrifice. They all listen carefully and ask questions when clarification is needed, but as far as I can tell, they seem to be buying everything I tell them.
"So Princess Zelda is… gone…?" Telma asks after I'm completely finished. I look down to the floor and nod gravely, once again reminded of this cruel fact.
"Yes…" I sigh sadly. "And we think that's why that barrier has appeared around the castle. You all have seen it, haven't you?"
Once again, they all nod and Auru speaks up. "Well if our dear princess believes you to be worthy enough of a cause to give up her life for," he begins boldly, though he's actually the first one of them I see giving me a smile. "Then it is only fair that we respect her decision and choose to trust you as well. And Master Link," he says, addressing Link now. "It appears as though your acts of heroism extend much farther than any of us could have ever known. Clearly, all of Hyrule is in your debt, including all of us as well. Do you all agree?"
Telma is the first to give an enthusiastic nod along with a warm smile. "After seeing you plow through those beasts when you helped us to Kakariko, honey," she says to Link. "There was no doubt in my mind that you're a bona fide hero."
"Oh, most certainly!" Shad chimes in. "You're rather formidable, old boy! Definitely the champion Hyrule needs at a time like this!"
Rusl nods in approval. "I always knew you were destined for greatness, Link," he says proudly. "But I could have never guessed it'd be something this great."
Auru grins at both of us. "Well it appears that the two of you have our full support," he says, gradually glancing towards the sole member of the group who has not voiced her support. "All except for Ashei…" he says to her pointedly and for a moment, she says nothing, continuing in her sullen silence as she stares Link and me down with tight examination and for a second I think she's going to scoff at us once more. However, slowly but surely, her cross frown vanishes as she cracks a broad smirk on her otherwise serious face.
"Alright," Ashei says, much to Link's obvious relief. "You got me, kid. Whatever it is you're looking for, we're here to help. Even those "Mirror Shard" things you were talking about."
Link and I glance at each other and even though I'm still upset about him blowing my cover, I can't help but give him a wide grin, glad that things went so much better than I expected them to. He smiles back at me, sharing my relief and happiness. I don't want to admit it, but maybe this plan of his wasn't as foolish as I had originally thought.
"Thank you," he says gratefully to them and I nod my thanks as well. "So Midna, where did the sages say the Mirror Shards are again?"
"Well," I begin, recounting the words of the sages. "I know that one is somewhere on a high mountain…"
"Mountain?" Ashei exclaims with sudden interest. "You mean like Snowpeak, to the north of Zora's Domain? Strange things have been happening on that mountain lately… Do you think that Mirror Shard could have anything to do with it?"
"Hm…" I muse thoughtfully, knowing it very well could. After all, the Mirror Shards are supposedly filled with a "dangerous power" as the sages put it. It could be causing a dark influence up on that mountain and if something is truly going on up there, then we could be looking at a hiding place for one of the shards! "Possibly…" I say. "It might be worth a look… What do you say, Link?"
"We should check it out," he agrees. "After all, Snowpeak is the only mountain near Hyrule, right Ashei?"
Ashei nods, her expression stern but her eyes alight with adventurous excitement, which is strange to see in one so serious. "Yeah," she confirms. "Things happen on that mountain that I haven't heard happen anywhere else in the land… And believe me, I know. I grew up there with my father, but back then it was peaceful. Something's definitely off about that mountain now. It's almost like… evil controls it, or something, yeah? So if you wanna go take a peek, then clearly the two of you are gonna need some help or you won't last one second up there. Most travelers get lost within the first few seconds. I know that most 'heroes' like yourself are headstrong kid, but at least let me point you in the right direction so you won't freeze your feet to the ground, OK?"
Link smiles and nods with a slight laugh. "OK," he says, glancing over at me as I nod as well. "Looks like it's settled."
"Perfect," Ashei says, rising to her feet. "Then I'd better be heading out, yeah? Get ready for the trek up the mountain and meet me at its base near Zora's Domain tomorrow. Got it?"
We both nod and she gives us another smirk as she heads out the door. After a few more minutes of chatting with the remainder of the group and thanking them for their assistance, we do the same, seeing as how we'll need to make a few preparations before heading to Zora's Domain. I take to Link's shadow as we leave the city, but the moment we're out in Hyrule Field once more I leap out, glad that its finally just the two of us once more so I can scold him properly.
The moment he sees my unhappy scowl, he sucks in a deep breath and avoids my gaze as he hastily gets on Epona. "I'm sorry," he says sincerely. "I panicked. I thought they wouldn't help us if I didn't have a good reason about why we were looking for the Mirror Shards. And I couldn't have explained everything better than you did."
I don't take his obvious flattery kindly, because despite what he thought was right, I'm still clearly mad. "Do you realize," I start harshly. "How badly that could have gone? I'm surprised they didn't run screaming at the sight of me!"
"Come on, Midna…" he says jokingly. "You're not that bad…"
"Yes I am!" I shout in mournful rage, finding nothing funny about this at all. "I mean, having to look like this is bad enough, but having someone who I'm supposed to trust put me out there and have me flaunt myself like I'm some sort of spectacle is even worse!"
His smile fades and he looks at me with both worry and questioning. "But Midna…" he says softly, knowing that I'm inconsolable at the moment. "Haven't you always looked like that?"
I take in a shaky breath and quickly retreat into the shadows, not wanting to converse on this bitter topic. I can't tell him, at least not yet, that I used to not be the hideous, ugly imp that I am now. That I was once tall, slender, elegant and beautiful not that long ago. I can't tell him, mostly for my own sake more than his. I don't want to think about all that I've lost, at least not now.
"Midna?" Link calls down to me, trying to get me out of the shadows but I don't move. I have to admit that I'm not really angry with him anymore, but more hurt than anything else. I know he had been caught on the spot and couldn't think of anything else to do at the moment and I forgive him for that. But we were supposed to remain confidential. I'm fine just hiding in his shadows and helping him from behind the scenes. I don't like being on the center stage; that's his job to be the big hero who saves the day. I'm just trying to save my realm and avenge Zelda. The last thing I want in unneeded attention.
"Midna," he tries again. "I'm sorry."
I remain in the shadows, though he's quickly wearing me down. I don't want to go out there and answer whatever questions he could have over my appearance or anything else.
He frowns and sighs, knowing that getting me to come out won't be easy. "Listen," he says firmly yet at the same time, his tone is full of understanding. "For what it's worth, I don't think they were scared of you at all. Just like I wasn't when we first met."
Upon hearing this, I know I can no longer remain in my hiding place. I slowly slip out and glide alongside him, though I don't make eye contact with him. "You… weren't…?" I ask tentatively, my voice small and humble.
He shakes his head. "Not for a moment," he says with a kind smile. "Not even when you constantly picked on me."
I can't help but break into a huge grin and let out a slight chuckle. It's comforting to know that through everything we've been through, from the first few rough experiences till now, we've found a common ground that's more than just a mutual agreement to help each other. Our experiences have bonded us more than just acquaintances who are forced to work together thanks to circumstances. We are genuine friends, who support each other and watch out for each other, but at the same time, like any friends, we have our disagreements that we must work through, like the one we just had.
"Thanks," I say warmly, glancing at towards the noonday sun with newfound contentment.
He simply smiles and nods like he so often does, but less than a minute after I slip back into the shadows he calls out to me once again. "Hey Midna," he says with an amused grin.
"What?"
"You know what I get to say now, don't you?"
I wrack my brain for a moment, trying to figure out what he means, but when I do, I roll my eyes and sigh in exasperation. "Get it over with…" I say, not liking to be proven wrong.
His smile widens as he looks down at me, knowing he's won this round. And I let him have it just this once as he says, "I told you so."
Sorry this has taken so long dear readers! Writer's block (Again!) doesn't help and neither does writing another story in the midst of this that you're completely obsessed with ;) But anyway, were you guys a bit surprised as to how I incorporated Midna into this chapter? Its kinda weird how this chapter turned out actually, cause I never intended Midna to leave Link's shadow for most of it, but well, sometimes you get to writing and the ideas just flow and yeah... hahah. So anyway, I'm glad i found a way to work the resistance into this story cause they're awesome, especially Ashei. For those of you who don't know, I'm actually writing a side, origin story thing about Ashei which you should go check out if you have the chance! Its called "Snow Flower". So anyway, I guess that's it! Leave a review, and as always, until next time!
