The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Novelization

The journey was quiet over the plains north of Kakariko Village was quiet as can be. No enemy patrols blocked their path – only Kargaroks roaming the skies in search of prey. Keeping Epona at a steady pace, Link took in the sights around him. The veil of Twilight loomed over the land. Abandoned farms and ruined outposts dotted the open landscape – lingering signs that the kingdom was once alive. Link did not know what had become of the people who lived there, but the smell of decay lounged in the air. It will thrive again, he thought. This isn’t forever. It was midafternoon when Link reached the Eldin Bridge, the very spot where he defeated the Bulblin leader. Memories of that day surfaced, and his jaw clenched. For a moment, he was back there, reliving it all. Colin’s body hung limp and battered from the pike. The Bulblin leader’s taunts echoed from across the bridge. What’s done is done, he told himself. You saved him. You’re not a monster. They’re the monsters! Reaching the far end of the bridge, Link brought Epona to a halt. He glanced back at the bridge with a frown. His gut tightened. “What is it?” Midna asked as her darkened form emerged from Link’s shadow. “Something’s not right.” Midna’s brow furrowed as she scanned the plains to the south. Nothing seemed out of place, but she did not share her partner’s heightened senses. She shrugged and turned to face him. “I don’t know what–” A Twilight portal formed over the Eldin Bridge. It tore a chunk of the bridge from its supports, and the stone dissolved into thousands of tiny black specks. Link drew his sword, expecting Shadow Beasts to appear, but none came. As swiftly as it had opened, the portal vanished, and all fell silent. Link sheathed his sword and shared a glance with Midna. “There’s no turning back now,” she said. “We should move before they send Shadow Beasts after us.” Link gave a single, reserved nod, and Midna melted back into his shadow. As a mourning dove wooed, his gaze snapped to the Twilight. Zant knew he was coming, and destroying the Eldin Bridge almost felt like a direct challenge. I won’t disappoint him. Link flicked Epona’s reins, and she surged forward into the highlands. The deeper he rode into the pass, the darker the world became. Nearly an hour passed before the final Twilight barrier came into view. It stood beyond a narrow creek – the natural border between the Eldin and Lanayru Provinces. Epona froze several paces from the barrier, refusing to take another step. Link climbed down from the saddle and fed her a carrot. This is where we part ways. He rubbed her snout, then left her side. “Stay safe, girl.” Midna rose from the shadows and drifted toward the barrier. She extended a finger to its surface, and it rippled like water. Link could not see her face, but he felt the weight of it. The Twilight was her home. “Ah, we’re finally here. I suppose this is the last Twilight we’ll see.” She faced Link, a faint smirk on her lips. “Shall we proceed?” His expression hardened, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. This was it. He would not back down. Not when the end was within reach. Link drew a steady breath and nodded. Midna slipped through the barrier into the Twilight beyond. For a moment, nothing happened. Then her magic hair reached back, seized Link, and pulled him across the threshold. * Link’s transformation was even more torturous than before. He collapsed onto his side, his entire body throbbing. That’s the last time. Almost done. Standing on shaky legs, Link glanced at Midna. Back in her native realm, she no longer looked like a shadow. He could see a hint of unease in her expression, but when she noticed he was watching, she jumped onto his back and smirked. “I guess I’ll have to help you now. Shame this is the last of the Twilight. I’ve grown so fond of it covering this world.” Midna tapped her chin. “Or is it?” What does that mean? Midna giggled, though it lacked its usual bite. Link knew better than to take her words at face value. He had seen the cracks in her armour. Perhaps the mask was more for herself than for him. Link turned his attention to his surroundings. The harsh hues of the Twilight stung his eyes, casting the mountains in an unearthly glow. Foliage decayed. Cold, lifeless air pressed smothered everything. Then a fresh scent slipped through the stagnation. Ordonian lilac, Ilia’s favourite flower. Drawn to the scent, Link followed it through the highlands and found the lilac trampled into the earth. He lowered his nose to the broken petals, and Ilia’s final words to him came rushing back. No matter what happens on your journey, don’t do anything that’s out of your league. Just come home safely, okay? “You smell the girl, don’t you?” Midna asked, her expression grim. “I hope she’s okay.” A low whimper escaped Link. Where are you, Ilia? What was the Twilight doing to her? Was she even alive? He refused to believe otherwise. She’s alive. I know it… Link followed the scent out of the highlands and into another plain. Small forests and hedgerows threaded across the land like veins. A river cut through the centre of the field, spanned by a bridge of white stone. The water had diminished, exposing the muddy riverbed. To the south – beyond a vast moat and towering wall – the spires of Hyrule Castle rose above all else. “Hey, haven’t we seen that castle before?” Midna smirked, but the expression quickly faded. “Things are going to get a lot harder from here on out.” I’m ready. Link gave Hyrule Castle one last look before setting out. For the next three hours, he followed Ilia’s scent west across the northern field. The road wound through a thicket of thorn bushes before curving southwest into a dense stretch of forest. Link caught a foul scent on the air, and he froze when he heard the rhythmic rumble of approaching footsteps. Shadow creatures. There are too many. He melted into the foliage as a platoon of shadow corrupted Bulblins came into view. Flanked by a pair of masked Shadow Beasts, they marched in tight, disciplined ranks. Link’s eyes narrowed, the urge to tear into them rising within him. One of the Shadow Beasts at the rear slowed and glanced his way. His fur stood on end. The Shadow Beast broke from formation and padded toward him. A low growl vibrated in its throat as it loomed over the foliage, scanning the brush. Beneath its plated mask, Link caught the bitter scent of evil. A Bulblin snapped at the Shadow Beast, drawing its attention back to the ranks. It fell into formation once more, and Link slipped away. “Too close,” Midna muttered to herself. I should stay off the roads, Link thought. The patrols would only grow more frequent the closer they drew to the heart of the kingdom. He had to be careful. Picking up Ilia’s scent again, Link moved southwest toward the castle. Beyond the wall, the rooftops of the fabled Castle Town rose above the stone. The surrounding moat lay dry, and a drawbridge stretched across it to an open metal gate. The scent grew stronger, leading him straight to it. A spirit floated beside the gate. As Link approached, it took the form of a Hylian soldier. Many more roamed the battlements, unaware of his presence. Cannons jutted through the embrasures, most standing unmanned. Link passed through the gate and into Castle Town. Buildings lined the cobblestone road, with side streets branching off between them. The throughfares were crowded with the spirits of countless townsfolk. They drifted through their daily routines, unaware of the shadow hanging over their city. Hushed conversations and a thousand unfamiliar scents crashed over Link, drowning out Ilia’s trail. His chest tightened. Midna noticed his struggle and leaned toward his ear. “You’re alright. Focus on her scent.” Link closed his eyes and shut out the noise. He sifted through the chaos until the scent of lilac surfaced. His breathing steadied, and he followed it through the crowd of spirits. The road soon brought Link to the central square. The surrounding buildings pressed tightly together, leaving no space between them. A tiered stone fountain dominated the centre of the plaza, but it stood dry and silent. The northern road to Hyrule Castle was sealed behind a military checkpoint and mighty doors. Beyond the wall, the castle towered over the city. Link wove through an angry crowd gathered near the fountain. A soldier clad in armour stood at the front, his helmet’s visor raised as he addressed them. “Please! Calm down! One at a time!” “Calm down? The military hasn’t done a damn thing!” an elderly man shouted back. “We haven’t had water in days!” a heavyset woman added. “We’re going to die!” “It won’t come to that,” the soldier insisted. “We’re sending men to Lake Hylia to investigate the shortage.” No water? I’ll need to look into this after I find Ilia. Link turned from the crowd and followed her scent south along a branching road. Ahead, a flight of stairs descended on the left into a narrow alley hemmed in by stone walls. At the bottom, a lone door stood ajar. A sign beside it read, “Telma’s Tavern.” Link eased through the doorway. The tavern was quaint and mostly empty. Three spirits huddled together near the bar on the right side of the room. One carried the unmistakable scent of lilac. Link approached, his heart pounding. Ilia! Her clothes were dirty and tattered, but she appeared unharmed. Just seeing her again loosened the knot in his chest. It felt like a lifetime since he had last looked into her eyes. Ilia was joined by an older woman with warm tan skin and auburn hair pulled back into a ponytail. Tall and curvaceous, she carried herself with quiet confidence. She wore a low-cut maroon dress draped with a grey shawl. The women looked over a third figure sleeping on a makeshift bed. It was a child. Small and slender, his features blurred the line between human and fish. Fine scales traced his pale blue skin, his hands and feet webbed. A long head crest flowed down to the small of his back like a trailing fin. Elegant garments wrapped his body, their quality hinting at noble status. His breaths were laboured. A faint grimace lingered on his youthful face. “Can we save him?” Ilia asked the woman beside her in a low voice. “Relax, little lady. I just sent for the doctor.” “I hope that’s enough.” “It will be. Don’t you worry.” The woman crossed her arms and frowned. “It’s strange, though. What brings a Zora to Castle Town? I wonder if it has anything to do with the incident the soldiers in the back mentioned.” Link knew of the Zora tribe. Rusl had called them the guardians of Hyrule’s waters – a secluded people who dwelled to the north. If a Zora had come all the way to Castle Town, the northern realm was in a bad way. It had to be connected to the water shortage. Link shifted his focus to the soldiers gathered at the back of the tavern. A map of Hyrule lay splayed across the table before them. “Listen up!” the squad leader barked. “Zora’s River stopped flowing last week. We are running dangerously low on drinking water, and no one has been able to reach the spirit’s spring at Lake Hylia. Our orders are to investigate the source of the shortage and assist however necessary.” His subordinates snapped to attention. “Yes, Sergeant!” Link placed his front paws on the table and pulled himself up onto his hind legs to study the map. Zora’s River and its tributaries wound from Zora’s Domain in the north to Lake Hylia in the southwest. Lanayru Spring is at Lake Hylia. That’s where I’m going. “There have been reports of hostile activity in the region, so make sure you’re prepared,” the sergeant said. “Any questions?” “No, Sergeant!” “Good, we move in two hours. Dismissed.” The soldiers dispersed, and Link pushed himself away from the table. Those men had no idea what they were walking into. The Shadow Beasts would tear them apart. He had to reach Lake Hylia first. As Link moved quietly toward the front door, he glanced briefly at Ilia. She squeezed the Zora child’s hand, refusing to leave his side. That was Ilia. I’ll be back soon. He slipped outside, and Midna patted him on the head. “Well, wasn’t that an emotional reunion? A girl and her wolf.” Not much of a reunion. At least she’s safe. It was better this way. Link did not want Ilia to see him as a monster. Once the Twilight was gone, he would return and hold her in his arms. “Do you know where we’re going next?” Midna asked. Link answered with a short bark. There was no time to waste. “Good, then let’s get going.”