The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Novelization

The clucking of cuccos stirred Link from his sleep. With a tired groan, he rolled out of bed and rubbed his eyes. His rest had been anything but peaceful, but he could not delay any longer. Link trudged over to the window and looked outside. A cool breeze stirred the curtains, though the rising sun had started to chase away the early chill. On the porch below, Talo and his younger brother played together while Renado spoke with Telma and the soldiers. It looked as though the convoy was preparing to depart for Castle Town. I guess it’s time for me to hit the road, too. Link stepped away from the window and looked toward the Zora tunic resting on the bedside table. He ran his hand over the armour before glancing at the green garments hanging from the doorknob. For the first time since his journey began, he would not be wearing them. Link equipped the armour piece by piece. He lifted the golden helmet and settled it carefully on his head. Its blue tailfin – like that of a Zora’s – trailed down past his shoulder blades, and a black breathing mask of soft, silklike fabric hung from its front. He then gathered the tools he would need for the Lakebed Temple – bombs, bow, and boomerang. His lantern would be useless beneath the water. When he looked into the mirror, a quiet nostalgia stirred within him. Armour like this had once been worn by the hero of old. Link wondered if that hero had faced the same hardships he now endured. Had he struggled with the same doubts? With a heavy sigh, Link moved toward the door when a sudden wave of excitement washed over him. He stopped, momentarily confused, before realizing the feeling was not his. It was Midna. I can’t do anything without you invading my thoughts. Trying to ignore Midna’s presence, Link stepped out of the bedroom. He briefly considered checking on Ilia before leaving, but he stopped himself. As much as it hurt, he knew he needed to stay away from her until her memory returned. Once outside, Link headed toward the soldiers as they prepared to leave. Jock noticed him and stepped forward to meet him. “The sleepyhead awakens,” he joked, eyeing Link’s armour. “Nice getup. What’s the occasion?” “Cave diving. I’ve got some business at Lake Hylia.” The answer was intentionally vague, but Jock chose not to press him. It was probably better that he did not know. “Be careful out there,” he said instead. “You’ve got a real knack for finding trouble.” Link shook his head faintly. “You don’t know the half of it.” Before Link could leave, Sergeant Torgaz approached. “Corporal, we’re moving out in ten minutes. Is everything ready?” Jock nodded. “Aye, Sergeant. We’re good to go.” Torgaz shifted his attention to Link and extended it. Link accepted it, giving a firm shake. “I never got the chance to thank you,” Torgaz said. “Just doing my part, Sergeant.” Torgaz extended a bundle of arrows toward Link. “Take these. A gift. I noticed you ran out.” “Thank you,” Link said, slipping the arrows into his quiver. “Stay safe out there, kid.” Torgaz saluted and turned away, whispering something to Jock before departing. He glanced up, but he stopped. The young hero was already gone. * Deciding it was best to leave Epona in Kakariko Village to receive proper care, Link set out for Lake Hylia on foot. Avoiding enemy proved difficult, even as they recovered from the recent battle. Fortunately, Link knew the locations of their checkpoints and patrols, allowing him to slip past unnoticed. It took the better part of two days for Link to reach Lake Hylia. By the time he arrived at the Great Bridge of Hylia, the sun was setting. The lake’s crystal-clear water shimmered in the fading light. Link found a path along the north side of the bridge that wound down the cliff toward the lake. He followed it carefully until he emerged near the mouth of Zora’s River. A flock of ducks drifted across the water, searching for fish. With the Twilight lifted, life had started to return to the lake. After so much heartache, it was a sight Link needed to see. Following the boardwalk along the water’s edge, Link passed the house floating upon the lake. When he reached the centre, he slipped the mask over his face, covering his nose and mouth. Let’s see if this works. Link dropped into the water and sank beneath the surface. With some hesitation, he drew a breath, and felt air fill his lungs. The water offered no resistance to his movements, and his vision remained perfectly clear. Link marvelled at the ingenuity of the Zora. Alright, now where is this temple? Link glanced toward the deepest part of Lake Hylia and began swimming in that direction. A school of trout drifted past him as he descended, scattering when he drew near. He slowed when the lake floor dropped suddenly. At the bottom of the hollow, the entrance to the temple rested in the wall, surrounded by glittering stones. Link froze when he heard voices behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted two armoured Zora approaching. Without a second thought, he slipped into a patch of lakeweed and held perfectly still as they passed by. “The squad sent to investigate the shrine hasn’t come back,” one of the Zora said, his voice carrying sharply through the water. “Should we call for backup?” the other asked. “The general can’t spare anyone. We’re on our own. We’ll handle it.” The Zora descended into the hollow and vanished into the entrance of the Lakebed Temple. Link emerged slowly from the lakeweed, his brow furrowing. Zora soldiers were missing? That had to be the work of the Fused Shadow. What form had it taken this time? Link pushed forward, slowing only when he reached the entrance to the Lakebed Temple. For a moment, he hesitated. Then he drew a deep breath and plunged into the darkness. There was no turning back now. The submerged tunnel it spiraled downward, until Link eventually surfaced in a small cavern. He pulled himself onto the damp stone and glanced around. Ahead, a narrow threshold led deeper into the temple. Link stepped through into a wider chamber. An eroded stone bridge stretched across a pool of clear water teeming with carnivorous fish. Above him, jagged stalactites clung to the ceiling, many of them threatening to break loose. The narrow thoroughfare creaked beneath Link’s weight. I don’t like this. He glanced down at the fish circling in the water below. They tracked his every movement, hungry for a fresh meal. The thought of falling into that pool made his stomach twist. Reaching the other side of the bridge, Link slipped through a ruined stone doorway. Beyond it lay a chamber carved around a surging underground river. A far sturdier bridge spanned the raging rapids. Link paused and studied the cavern. Massive water wheels turned slowly, while smaller channels diverted water from the river through a network of ancient mechanisms. This place is some kind of waterworks. Crossing the bridge, Link entered what he assumed was the temple’s central chamber. It was breathtaking, constructed from pale limestone and smooth marble. Statues of Zora figures stood throughout the hall, and intricate carvings decorated the walls. High above, a massive crystal chandelier glittered in the flickering torchlight. The hub was cylindrical, divided into three main levels. Two walkways circled the chamber’s perimeter, the highest of which Link stood upon. A massive stone staircase connected the upper and middle floors. Below them, the lowest level formed a wide basin, now completely dry. Crevices lined the walls – channels meant to carry water into the chamber. Someone or something had cut off the flow, leaving the basin drained. At the centre of the chamber stood a small, domed structure. The scale of its door suggested it protected something important to the Zora. Until the basin below was filled with water, reaching it would be impossible. Looks like I’ll have to find a way to turn the water on. Link did not relish the thought of wandering through yet another labyrinth, but he had little choice. The Fused Shadow had to be inside that dome. Link searched the chamber for a path forward. A doorway stood directly across from him, but the floor between them had collapsed, making it impossible to reach. The only accessible route was a door on the second floor. There was a second door, but it was sealed shut by chains and a padlock. Who locked that…? And why…? Link descended down the stairs and passed through the door. The chamber beyond the door opened wide before him. Stalactites hung precariously from the ceiling, suspended above a vast pond below. Across the cavern, high along the cliffs, another doorway stood illuminated by a single torch behind a metal grate. From where Link stood, there was no way to reach it. Looking down into the water, Link spotted another door set into the lower wall and dove toward it. He had almost reached it when something stirred beneath the sand. A giant clam tore free from the ground, and Link dealt with it with mechanical efficiency. There was no fear anymore, no rush of adrenaline. It was just another monster. Another pointless obstacle standing between him and the Fused Shadow. Moments later, the creature sank lifelessly to the ground. Link sheathed his sword and pushed through the next door. Room after room, he pressed deeper into the temple, dispatching whatever creatures stood in his way. He was tired of ancient temples. Tired of monsters. Tired of being dragged from one crisis to another without ever having the chance to recover from the last. Part of him wanted to turn around and go back to Kakariko Village. He wanted to forget about his destiny, the Interlopers, and the Fused Shadows, if only for a little while. But that was a luxury he could not afford. As exhausted as he was, there would be no turning back. Not until he secured the final Fused Shadow and stopped Zant. Beyond another door stretched a submerged corridor, lit only by faintly glowing stone. He spotted the silhouette of a Zora floating motionless ahead of him, his back turned. Link swam closer, but the Zora did not move. Why can’t he hear me? Reaching out, he turned the body around, only to meet the empty stare of a dead man. It was one of the scouts – freshly killed. A large portion of his torso was missing. Link recoiled as the corpse drifted downward. Craning his neck, he saw that the tunnel twisted upward. After one last glance at the fallen scout, he swam up and surfaced in a grotto. Unlike the rest of the Lakebed Temple, the cavern was naturally formed. The ground was stained with blood. Link moved cautiously through the cavern before freezing. His foot had brushed against something solid on the ground. Looking down, he found the second Zora scout, or what remained of her. She was mangled beyond recognition. Her body was coated in foul-smelling bile, and her bones had been crushed. Something enormous had chewed her up and spat her out. Midna’s shadowy form materialized beside Link. She covered her nose, grimacing at the gruesome sight. “What happened here?” Nothing good. Link noticed a strange device in the Zora’s hand. Its body was made of steel, with a black trigger set into the handle. A metallic claw hung from a tightly wound chain. Link picked up the device and squeezed the trigger. The claw snapped open as the chain shot forward. When he released the trigger, it recoiled sharply back into the mechanism. He tested it again, watching the claw retract smoothly. This must be how they get around so fast. Viscous liquid dripped onto Link’s shoulder, interrupting his thoughts. He grimaced and slowly looked up. Two enormous orange eyes stared back at him from the darkness. The creature released a deafening croak and dropped from the ceiling, shaking the grotto as it landed. Link staggered back and raised his sword on instinct. An immense cave toad towered before him, its pudgy body covered in a thick, leathery hide. Link stared at it for a moment. At this point, he was not even surprised. He simply tightened his grip and waited for the inevitable. The toad bared its long tongue and bounded toward him. Link avoided the attack and struck back, only for his blade to glance uselessly off the creature’s hide. Of course it was going to be difficult. “Cutting it a bit close,” Midna said. The sound of her voice grated on Link’s nerves. He swallowed the urge to retort and studied the toad carefully. Its tongue was dangerous, but it was also vulnerable. Take that away, and the creature would have little left besides its immense size. Link was faster. He only needed an opening. The toad drew closer before lashing out. Its tongue caught Link around the waist, nearly wrenching him from his feet. Instead of panicking, he seized the opportunity and brought his sword down on it. The creature recoiled with a deafening shriek before charging him in retaliation. Link darted aside, but the toad suddenly launched itself into the air. He threw himself into a roll as the creature crashed down behind him, shaking the grotto. Using the momentum to spring back to his feet, Link turned and scowled at the beast. He was really starting to lose his patience. Link pulled the claw device from his belt and slowly backed away, deliberately lowering his guard. Come on, he thought. The toad lumbered after him, its mouth stubbornly sealed. What are you waiting for? Show your tongue. Looming over Link, the toad finally croaked and opened its mouth. He reacted immediately, pulling the trigger and sending the claw into the creature’s tongue. The toad pulled back violently, dragging Link across the ground before he could find his footing. His boots scraped uselessly against the stone. Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the claw device, refusing to release his grip. Slowly, he forced the wounded tongue farther from the creature’s mouth until it came within reach. That was all he needed. Link drew his sword and struck. The toad jerked backward with a cry, its severed tongue falling limp against the cavern floor. It stumbled away in a panic, crashing into the wall before collapsing. Link watched it struggle for a moment, his expression hard and tired. He had neither the patience nor the energy to prolong this. Stepping forward, he thrust his sword into its eye. The cavern fell silent. Link remained where he was for a few seconds, breathing heavily. There was no satisfaction in the victory. No relief. It was simply another obstacle behind him. He pulled his sword free and moved on without a word. Midna lingered behind, her gaze shifting from the dead toad to Link. He had killed the creature without a second thought, barely even acknowledging it afterward. There had been nothing behind his eyes. Just cold determination to keep moving. For a moment, Midna considered saying something. Then she thought better of it. Whatever Link was going through, he clearly did not want to talk about it. With the claw device in hand, Link backtracked to the chamber with the unreachable door. He raised the mechanism toward the metal grating and pulled the trigger. The claw shot across the room and latched firmly onto the mesh. Link released the trigger, and the chain snapped taut, ripping him from his feet. Pain shot through his shoulder as he hurtled across the room, far faster than he had anticipated. Link clenched his teeth and held on, watching the opposite wall rush toward him. At the last possible moment, he released the claw and dropped onto the narrow ledge in front of the door. He landed hard and rolled onto his back with a groan. For a short while, Link simply lay there, rubbing his aching shoulder and staring at the ceiling. Apparently, there was more to using the device than pointing it at something and pulling the trigger. With an irritated sigh, he forced himself back onto his feet, dusted off his armour, and stepped through the door. Link spent quite some time wandering through the dark, labyrinthine tunnels of the Lakebed Temple. A few giant clams and drifting jellyfish crossed his path, but none posed much of a threat. By now, dealing with them had become little more than a nuisance. The temple itself proved far more frustrating. There seemed to be no logic to its design. Some chambers were clearly part of the ancient waterworks, filled with channels and machinery, while others opened into natural caverns that appeared completely unrelated. Passages twisted in every direction, often leading to dead ends or looping back toward previously explored passages. Link trudged onward, increasingly convinced that whoever had designed the place had never intended anyone to find their way back out. To his relief, the network of submerged tunnels eventually gave way to a chamber of glowing stone. Link climbed out of the water and surveyed his surroundings, paying little mind to the grand architecture. All he saw was yet another dead end. Link stepped forward, already searching for a path forward. He paused when the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Something felt wrong. The silence was too heavy. Link slowly reached for his sword and focused his senses. At first, there was nothing. Then he heard it: the sound of breathing somewhere behind him. Drawing his sword quietly, Link turned and scanned the room. Nothing. He scowled and lowered his guard. Suddenly the wall itself seemed to come alive. A jagged broadsword lashed out, and Link barely blocked it with his shield. The creature peeled itself from the wall like something from a children’s nightmare. A tall, bipedal reptile stepped from the stone as its camouflage faded. Hunched and lean, its scaly hide was scarred from countless battles. The creature’s yellow eyes locked onto Link. A Lizalfos. Like Bokoblins, they roamed as pirates and mercenaries. Their resentment toward humans had festered for generations. They were cunning, ruthless creatures – exactly the kind Zant would place in command of his forces. “King Bulblin said you’d come,” the Lizalfos hissed, its forked tongue flicking between its teeth. “My moment of glory has arrived.” Link snapped into action, unwilling to give the Lizalfos the advantage. He drove his sword toward its head, but the creature darted backward with surprising speed. Rather than counterattack, the Lizalfos gave a mocking chortle and tapped something hanging from its belt. A key. Link’s eyes narrowed. So this was the bastard who had locked the door in the central chamber. The Lizalfos seemed to recognize the realization on his face. Its sadistic grin widened as it drew its broadsword and beckoned him forward. With a low growl, Link attacked. The Lizalfos moved faster than anything he had faced. Before he could adjust, the creature darted to his flank and whipped its tail across his chest. The impact sent Link stumbling, and he dropped to one knee with a grunt as pain flared through his ribs. He remained there for a moment, breathing through clenched teeth. Sensing weakness, the Lizalfos went on the offensive. In an instant it was on top of Link. He parried its rapid blows with his shield before the tail struck from behind, slamming him to the ground. Link’s Hylian Shield slipped from his grasp and skidded away across the stone. He rolled onto his back as the creature pounced again. Its jaws snapped at his face, drool splattering across his skin. He jammed the crossguard of his sword against its mouth, straining to hold it back. “You have to be–” Midna started. “I don’t need your help!” Link spat, and she fell silent. When the Lizalfos’s assault faltered, Link drove his boot into its gut and kicked upward, launching the creature back. It spun through the air, landed on its feet, and scuttled onto the ceiling. Without thinking, Link grabbed the claw device and fired. It extended out and clamped onto the Lizalfos’s tail as it skittered overhead. He yanked the chain tight and tore the creature from the ceiling. It landed on its feet, but Link was already closing in. His sword flashed and severed its tail as it turned. Almost instantly, the limb began to grow back. The Lizalfos snarled. “You’ll pay for that.” Without its tail, the Lizalfos had lost much of its speed. Its movements became unbalanced and desperate, and Link slipped through its wild attacks with grim efficiency. He dashed for his fallen shield, scooped it up, and sent it hurtling back toward the creature. The rim struck the Lizalfos across the snout, staggering it. Link did not hesitate. He closed the distance and drove his sword into the creature. The Lizalfos gasped, and one final swing brought the fight to an end. Link stared at the creature’s corpse for a moment before flicking the blood from his blade and sheathing it. He retrieved his shield and pulled the key from the Lizalfos’s belt. So much for your moment of glory. Link sighed bitterly and turned away. How many monsters had he killed now? He had long since lost count, but it did not matter anymore. If they stood between him and the Fused Shadow, he would deal with them. It did not take long for Link to return to the temple’s central chamber. He went straight to the locked door, slid the key into the padlock, and pulled the heavy chains free. Beyond it lay a towering chamber. A narrow walkway spiraled upward along the limestone walls, circling an enormous support column that rose from an empty basin below. Pipes disappeared into the surrounding stone, while dormant water wheels and other ancient mechanisms crowded the walls. Link followed the winding path to the top of the chamber and stopped before a sealed metal dam. A lever protruded from the floor beside the threshold, and through a narrow viewport he could see an enormous reservoir. He almost missed the figure slumped beside the lever. A young Zora lay against the wall, barely conscious. She could not have been much older than a child. One arm ended in a blood-soaked bandage, and her breathing came in weak, uneven gasps. “A Hylian? You…you have a clawshot.” The Zora coughed weakly and leaned back. “Who are you?” “Link.” “You’re in…danger. There’s a dark beast in the depths of the temple. My squadmates…went to face it. A Lizalfos attacked me…and cut off the water. They’re trapped…with the creature. Please…help them.” The Zora’s strength finally gave out. Her eyes slipped closed, and her head fell limp. For several seconds, Link simply stared at the fallen warrior, anger rising within him. Another life destroyed. Another casualty of Zant’s cruelty. Midna gazed up at Link from his shadow. “Are you okay?” “Why do you care?” Link muttered. “I…” Midna started, then fell silent. Link grasped the lever and pulled it back. Gears groaned behind the dam as the metal gate slowly lifted. Water surged through the opening, racing down the winding channel. Link descended to the bottom and watched as the basin filled. The pipes and ancient mechanisms carried the water deeper into the Lakebed Temple. No more detours. Time to find that Fused Shadow. Link moved back into the central chamber. The basin was now filled with water, leaving the dome within reach. He dove in and swam to the platform, hauling himself onto the stone. The grand doors groaned as he pushed them open and stepped inside the small chamber. A stone trapdoor barred the floor. Link forced it open, revealing a submerged tunnel descending into the deepest reaches of the temple. Whatever the Fused Shadow had become waited in the darkness below. Link could feel the evil rising from it. This was it. The final Fused Shadow was within his grasp. Here we go… Link slipped beneath the water and descended through the darkness for several minutes. Eventually a pale glow appeared below him as the tunnel widened into a vast underwater chamber. Eight towering stone pillars rose from the sandy floor, their surfaces lit by veins of luminous stone. The chamber was magnificent, leaving Link to wonder what sacred purpose it had once served before the Fused Shadow was entrusted to the Zora. Reaching the sandy floor of the chamber, Link scanned his surroundings. There was no sign of the creature – only sand and swaying weeds. Something’s not right, he realized. Where are the Zora? Link moved cautiously across the sand, his stomach tied in a knot. His instincts proved correct. Something gleamed faintly in the weeds nearby. As he drew closer, he realized with horror that it was the severed hand of a Zora. That was all that remained of the squad. The chamber trembled, and the sand beneath Link’s feet began to collapse. He scrambled away as a massive, armoured maw erupted from below. It opened slowly, revealing a ring of jagged yellow teeth. Eight translucent tentacles unfurled, snapping with energy. The creature’s roar cut through the water, rattling Link’s sensitive eardrums. Eyes wide with fear, he retreated frantically as tentacles grabbed at him. Each near miss brought a shock, and he cried out in pain. Each near miss sent jolts of electricity through the water, forcing a cry of pain from his throat. Run. That was the only thought Link could muster. He swam toward the nearest pillar, desperate to put distance between himself and the monster. As its prey fled, the creature revealed its full form. A gargantuan armoured eel – an abyssal predator of the deep. The creature twisted through the chamber, its immense body weaving between the towering pillars with terrifying ease. Each movement sent violent currents rushing through the water. A single yellow eye embedded in the armour of its head locked onto Link with chilling intelligence. Link ducked behind a pillar as the eel approached. One of its tentacles coiled around the stone to seize him, but he hacked it off with his sword. The severed limb discharged a violent shock into the water. Link convulsed in pain as the eel smashed through the pillar, its enormous jaws nearly swallowing him whole. Hidden in the weeds, Link watched the eel carefully as it searched the chamber. Its tentacles swept across the sand as it slithered between the pillars. I need to reach that eye. He drew the clawshot and held it ready. The monster sensed Link and turned to face him. Its jaws opened wide as it inhaled, creating a powerful vortex. Link tried to escape, but the pull was too strong. The monster dragged him closer with every second. Now or never! Link fired the clawshot at the eel. The claw latched on beneath its swollen eye, and he reeled himself toward the beast. He landed on its armoured back just as it began to thrash violently. Barely hanging on, Link plunged his sword into the eye. It burst with a sickening pop, spilling purple blood into the water. The eel shrieked and threw Link off. The current battered him, sending him tumbling toward the centre of the chamber. Blinded and thrashing, the creature tore through the remaining pillars, filling the water with clouds of debris. Soon the chamber was plunged into darkness. The playing field had been evened. Treading water, Link scanned the darkness, unable to see through the swirling haze. I can’t stay here! The eel’s massive silhouette flashed in the corner of his vision, but he had to spin away to avoid the falling debris. The eel erupted from the shadows and wrapped one of its tentacles around Link. His sword slipped from his grasp and sank slowly into the gloom below. Agony ripped through his body, forcing every muscle to seize. The pain carried through his shadow to Midna, and she grimaced. As Link slipped into unconsciousness, Midna tore herself free from his hidden shadow. Holding her breath, she gathered her magic and hurled it forward in a violent wave that cleaved through several of the eel’s tentacles. The creature roared in fury and twisted through the water, turning its massive body to attack again. Fighting the current, Midna kicked toward Link’s limp body and pulled him close. Her chest tightened, an inexplicable dread creeping into the pit of her stomach. Then she felt his heartbeat – faint, but steady. Relief washed over her, but the moment passed. There was no time to think. Midna shook Link, but he would not wake. Gritting her teeth, she clenched her fist and forced a pulse of magic into his chest. Link gasped and jolted awake. He looked at Midna, confused. Where…? What happened? His gaze slipped past her to the approaching eel, and his eyes widened in alarm. He grabbed Midna’s arm and pulled her down as the creature’s massive jaws clamped shut just above them. Link and Midna shared a quick glance and little more. Then she slipped into his shadow to catch her breath. Shaking the cobwebs from his mind, Link reached for his scabbard and found it empty. Oh, great. He swam down to the chamber floor and spotted the sword lying in the weeds beside a pile of debris. There you are. The eel lunged forward with a roar just as Link grabbed his sword. He kicked aside and caught one of the creature’s scales as it surged past. The force yanked him along its armoured body, pain tearing across his collarbone. Link climbed slowly toward the eel’s wounded eye socket. By the time the creature realized its peril, it was too late. He drove his sword deep into its skull. The eel bellowed and thrashed wildly through the water, and Link kicked free just as it smashed headfirst into the wall. Water drained slowly from the chamber as the eel twitched in its final moments. Its massive body shattered into thousands of tiny black fragments, which gathered together and reformed into the final Fused Shadow. It fell heavily to the ground as the last of the water slipped away. Link stared at the dark relic as memories of Lanayru’s vision flooded his mind. His grip tightened around his sword, his breathing growing shallow. Midna appeared beside him and quietly picked up the Fused Shadow. She brushed a small hand across its dark stone surface before letting out a soft sigh. Link’s eyes never left her. There was a coldness in his stare that Midna had rarely seen before. Guilt stirred within her, and after enduring his gaze for only a moment, she looked away. “Hey…” she began quietly. “I’m sorry for dragging you all over the place looking for these things. I know how you feel about them. I…hope you don’t resent me.” Her remorse gave Link pause, drawing his thoughts back to their argument. She had pushed him too far and treated him as little more than a tool for achieving her own ends. After everything she had said and done, how could she expect him not to resent her? “Let’s just get out of here,” Link said, letting out a slow breath. “Where do we go next?” “I’ll take you Lanayru Spring to heal. Then we go to Hyrule Castle and confront Zant,” Midna replied. Calling upon her magic, Midna warped them both out of the Lakebed Temple. As Link’s body dissolved into shadow, unease crept over him once more. Midna’s true motives remained a mystery. What did she intend to do with the Fused Shadows once Zant had been defeated? Link had no answer, and that uncertainty frightened him more than he cared to admit. Would the day come when he was forced to turn his blade against Midna to protect Hyrule? He desperately hoped it would not…