The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Novelization

When Link stirred, he expected to wake beneath the green canopy of the forest. Instead, he found himself staring at the cold brick wall of a prison cell. Where am I? Memories returned in fragments: the attack at Ordon Spring, the dark veil smothering Faron, and the masked creature that had seized him. It had all happened in a blur. Link tried to stand, but his body would not balance on two feet. He looked down and felt his blood run cold. Thick, coarse fur covered him where his skin should have been. His hands were gone, replaced by paws tipped with black claws. The strangled cry escaped from him was not human. It was a wolf’s howl. Nausea hit Link like a tidal wave. What did that thing do to me? His breathing turned shallow, his chest tightening painfully. Think! Breathe! Panicking won’t help. Ilia and Colin need me. Link rose slowly, wobbling as he adjusted to balancing on all fours. He closed his eyes and focused on steady breaths. Inhale. Exhale. Slowly, the panic loosened its grip. As his nerves settled, Link opened his eyes and surveyed the prison cell. His vision was the first thing he noticed. Every crack and scratch in the walls stood out in sharp detail – far more than he could ever see as a human – yet the world lacked colour. Then the smells hit him. Dozens of scents rushed in at once. The sensory overload was almost too much to bear. Link squeezed his eyes shut again, fighting the urge to vomit. Drawing on every meditation technique Rusl had ever taught him, he forced the scents to the back of his mind. Focus on getting out of here. Slowly, control returned to his senses and the vertigo began to fade. Better… Link opened his eyes again and examined his new form more closely. Charcoal gray fur covered his body, broken only by two silver streaks running along either side of his back. A tail extended behind him. He glanced down at his reflection in a puddle of water. A long snout stared back at him, and his blue eyes looked wild and animalistic. He was completely unrecognizable. I have to find a way out of this place. Link tried to move, only to realize that a rusty iron chain was fastened to his left paw. Growling in frustration, he began chewing on the link nearest the clamp. His teeth scraped against the metal, but they were not strong enough to break it. Link stopped and turned toward the sound of a soft giggle. Standing at the back of the cell was a small, impish figure watching him with amused curiosity. The creature wore an enormous stone headdress that seemed far too large for its body. Ancient glyphs and strange symbols were etched into its surface, glowing faintly in the dim light of the cell. Beneath the headpiece, only its right eye was visible – bright yellow with a deep crimson iris. The other eye was hidden beneath the heavy stone crown. The imp’s skin was a deep charcoal hue, broken by pale blue patches along its face and stomach. Thin green markings, like living tattoos, traced along its slender arms and pointed ears. From the back of the headdress spilled a mass of wild, amorphous orange hair, drifting and curling as though stirred by an unseen breeze. The imp stared at Link in silence, and his fur bristled beneath its unblinking gaze. For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then the creature smiled and spread its arms wide. “I found you!” it exclaimed, its voice distinctly feminine. The imp sprang into the air and landed beside Link. Startled, he reared back and growled. She giggled, raising a hand to her mouth in exaggerated mock fear. “Well, aren’t you scary! Are you sure you should be doing that? Snarling and growling at me?” She rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s too bad. I was planning on helping you…if you were nice.” Link stopped growling. The imp grinned, revealing a sharp white fang. With a playful giggle, she hopped forward and tapped him lightly on the nose. “That’s much better! You humans are obedient to a fault.” She smirked, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Ah, but you’re not human anymore, are you? You’re a beast!” Link stiffened at the remark and snapped at her. Anticipating his anger, the imp hopped back toward the bars and levitated just above the ground. She wagged a finger at him like a disappointed mother, her smirk growing wider. “There, there! You be a good boy and calm down! There’s no need to bite.” The imp’s expression hardened. A dark orb of energy gathered in her small right hand. With a casual flick, she sent it flying toward Link’s restraints. The chain disintegrated in a burst of shadow, and Link jumped back with a startled yip. The imp leaned forward with a smirk. “You look surprised!” It isn’t the craziest thing I’ve seen today, Link thought, glancing up at the imp. With a soft giggle, she drifted backward and slipped through the cell bars as though they did not exist. On the other side, she hovered lazily in the air and stretched with an exaggerated yawn. “So…you’re probably wondering where we are, huh?” The imp leaned back in midair as though lounging in an invisible chair. “Tell you what… Find a way out of the cell, and I might tell you where we are.” Link examined the cell. Though the stone walls were cracked and worn with age, there were no obvious weaknesses to exploit. At the front of the cell sat a wooden box beside the bars. Link tilted his head. Weird place to put a box. He nudged it aside with his snout. Beneath it lay a patch of loose soil where the stone floor had eroded. Someone had tried to dig their way out. They had not finished. It’s a start, at least. Lowering his nose to the ground, Link began to dig. In his new form, it only took a few minutes to create a hole large enough for him to squeeze through. When he emerged on the other side of the cell, his impish rescuer was nowhere to be seen. Confused, Link glanced around. Where–? Something suddenly landed on his back. Startled, he yelped and thrashed wildly. “Hmm, I guess you’re not completely stupid after all,” the imp muttered. Link stopped flailing and looked up at the imp, who was straddling his back as though he were a horse. She leaned forward and seized one of his ears. Link winced and whimpered. “Listen, I like you, so I think I’ll get you out of here,” the imp said softly. “But, in exchange for my help, you have to do exactly what I say. Okay…?” Link hesitated. He knew nothing about the imp or what she wanted. Was she even on his side? I don’t have much of a choice, he realized. She’s my only way out. With a quiet sigh, Link lowered his head and gave a reluctant bark. The imp grinned. “Good. Now that we’re on the same page, let’s get moving. There’s a sewage pipe in the room across from your cell. We’ll use that. If we take the main route, the guards will see us.” The thought of wading through sewage made Link cringe. Get over it. If the imp was right, it was the safest option. Smelling bad beats being dead… Link trotted up to the iron door across from his cell and nudged it open with his snout. The small room beyond reeked. A large pipe dominated the back wall, exactly where the imp had said it would be. Link peered inside and gagged. With his heightened senses, the stench was almost overwhelming. Swallowing his pride, Link climbed into the pipe. The odour was nearly unbearable, but he pushed forward anyway. The tunnel finally spilled him into a dark sewage passage. Before he could take another step, the imp grabbed his ear and yanked him to a stop. She pointed over his head. “Hey, over there…” Link followed the imp’s gesture and spotted a small green flame bobbing just above the ground in the corner. Its flickering glow was mesmerizing, unlike anything he had ever seen. “What could that be?” the imp asked with a knowing smirk. Sounds like you already know, Link thought irritably. He approached the green flame cautiously. Even from a few steps away, no warmth reached him. What is this thing…? The imp leaned back. “Why don’t you give those enhanced senses of yours a try? Sniff it.” Link suppressed his unease and lowered his nose to the ground beside the flame. The scent was strange – musty and tinged with the smell of human sweat. When he raised his head again, the green fire had vanished. Standing where it had burned was a man clad in metal armour. Link recoiled with a startled yelp, and Midna chuckled softly at his expense. Curiosity soon overcame Link’s shock, and he approached the armoured soldier cautiously. The man appeared young – perhaps around Link’s age. His body trembled violently as his eyes darted back and forth, his spear clutched tightly to his chest. Fear radiated from him, and he seemed completely unaware of Link’s presence. “Can’t…run any farther,” he gasped. “I’ll be safe here…I think.” A new scent reached Link’s nose, one that immediately set him on edge. It was sharp and pungent, overpowering the smell of the soldier’s sweat. Fear. The scent of it was so strong it made him gag. Forcing himself to ignore it, Link tried to get the soldier’s attention, but nothing worked. The terrified man remained completely unaware that Link was there. Something splashed in the nearby water, and the soldier jumped in alarm. “What was that noise? Don’t anything come near me!” The soldier turned away and cowered in the corner. Link tried calling out to him again, but it was no use. He stepped back and glanced anxiously at the imp, who merely shrugged in response. “That is a soldier’s spirit,” she said casually. “Maybe it’s someone from the other world?” The cryptic answer only deepened Link’s confusion. Other world? What could possibly reduce a soldier to such a terrified wreck? He let the questions simmer, knowing his impish companion would not give him the answers he wanted. “There are lots of spirits roaming around here,” the imp remarked. “Hone your senses by sniffing them. You never know… They may have valuable information.” Link forced himself to turn away from the cowering spirit and continue on his way. Though he wanted to help, he knew he was powerless. Until he understood what was happening, there was nothing he could do for anyone. After wandering aimlessly through the dark sewer tunnels for some time, Link came upon a second spirit. When he sniffed the floating flame, it shifted into the shape of another soldier. The man was short and plump, his armour barely large enough to cover his bulging stomach. The scent of fear was thick in the air as he lay on the floor, feebly curled into the fetal position. “I’m but a lowly soldier. Please don’t hurt me!” the soldier sniffled. Link’s ears pricked at the faint sound of movement behind him. Turning slowly, he saw two black creatures swimming through the water toward him. They were small – no larger than rats – with long tendrils trailing from their monstrous bodies. Their scent was sour, like stomach acid. The creatures slithered toward Link despite his warning growl. One suddenly leapt at him. Instinct took over. He snapped it out of the air and crushed it in his jaws. Thick black blood flooded his mouth – bitter and revolting. Link spat the creature aside and retched, trying to rid himself of the taste. While he was distracted, the second creature lurched forward and wrapped a tendril around his hind leg. Link kicked it loose and drove his claws into it before it could react. The creature shrieked and thrashed wildly, clinging stubbornly to life. Link pressed down harder until the struggle finally stopped. He pulled his claws free and glanced back at the imp, fighting down another wave of nausea. “Are you done?” she asked dismissively. “We’re wasting time.” Link spat out monster blood and growled. Wasting time? Where are we even going? With a frustrated huff, he continued on. Along the way he encountered two more soldier spirits. Like their comrades, they were too traumatized to reveal anything useful. Each of them cowered helplessly, paralyzed by the vermin lurking throughout the sewers. “Have you noticed that all the spirits in here have been soldiers?” the imp asked, smirking again. Link had not considered it before, but she was right. They had spent half an hour wandering the sewer tunnels without encountering a single civilian. He glanced back at her suspiciously. She knows exactly where we are. What is she hiding from me? When Link reached an intersection of tunnels, he glanced at the imp for guidance. She merely shrugged, insisting that he find the path himself. Link sniffed the air and caught a scent far more pleasant than the sewer’s stench. Fresh air drifted faintly through one of the tunnels. Freedom… Link followed the scent down the rightmost tunnel until it opened into the base of a large tower. A spiral staircase wound upward along the perimeter of the vast circular chamber. The masonry was impressive, though it was crumbling like everything else in the sewer. Keeping his nose low, Link hurried up the dilapidated staircase. A crumbling section shifted under his weight. He sprang away just as the stone collapsed, sending debris plunging into the water below. The imp shook her head and sighed. “Ugh, what are you doing?” Though her contempt grated on his nerves, Link ignored her and pressed on. He avoided a few more ruined stairs and reached a wooden door at the top of the tower. The imp used her magic to swing it open, and a fierce gust of wind rushed inside. Link stepped through the doorway into a raging thunderstorm. He paused for a moment, savouring the rain as it soaked his fur. All around Link, the towering spires of a massive castle rose into the storm clouds swirling around its battlements. Forked lightning slashed across the heavens, illuminating twisted clouds for a heartbeat before plunging the world back into gloom. The wind battered Link relentlessly, stabbing at his sensitive ears. The castle had clearly fallen into disrepair. Many of the spires were missing large sections, and wooden scaffolding lined the crumbling battlements where repairs had been attempted. The immense central spire appeared to be the only part of the castle that remained untouched. The imp stretched lazily. “Ah, we’re finally outside. Look at the sky! Aren’t the black clouds of Twilight fetching?” That’s what this is called? Link lifted his gaze to the sky. Twilight. The name was fitting. The world seemed frozen in time – caught in a state of endless dusk. He could not begin to guess what had caused the unnatural darkness, but it filled him with a deep, unfamiliar dread. “Let’s keep moving.” The imp gestured to a distant tower. “See that? There’s someone I want you to meet.” Who…? Who am I meeting? Why can’t you just tell me what’s going on? Link sighed and looked toward the tower, its silhouette barely visible through the haze. At least I know where I’m going. Link leapt to another battlement that stretched toward the tower and hurried along it. As he moved across the stone walkway, he realized he was not alone. Dozens of massive black birds roamed the dark skies. They resembled the carnivorous Kargaroks but were far more monstrous. Their beakless, concave heads were etched with glowing red markings. Noticing Link, one of the birds dove down to attack. He jumped out of the monster’s path, narrowly evading its outstretched talons. They scraped against the stone of the battlement, and Link tensed as sharp pain raked across his skull. The worst of the discomfort faded quickly, and he turned as the bird circled back for another attack. It swooped in for the kill, and Link’s instincts took over. He caught its left wing in his jaws and bit down, crippling it. The bird released a hornlike wail as he hurled it over the battlement, sending it plunging to its death. Drawn by the commotion below, two more birds swooped down to attack. Outnumbered and still reeling from the piercing noise in his skull, Link ran. The birds gave chase for a moment but quickly broke off when they realized their prey was faster. Link slipped through an open tower window and landed on a winding staircase below. He paused, catching his breath. Made it… Satisfied it was safe, Link began climbing the stairs. At the top, he came to a wooden door standing ajar. He crept into the room beyond, trying to make as little noise as possible. A small flame flickered in a brick fireplace along the left wall, across from a neatly made bed. Beside the bed, a table and chairs were tucked into the near corner. Link froze when he saw a figure standing by the arching window on the far side of the room. Its back was turned, hidden beneath a dark cloak. Link’s fur stood on end, and a low growl escaped him. The imp on his back giggled, covering her mouth in amusement. The mysterious figure turned with a soft gasp. Her gentle, feminine voice immediately put Link at ease, and his hostility faded. Tilting his head to the side, he stepped forward as the imp rolled her eyes. “Midna?” the cloaked woman asked. “What are you doing here?” Midna. So that’s her name. Link glanced up at the imp, finally putting the name to her face. That answered one question, at least. “You remembered my name?” Midna snickered and crossed her arms. “That’s truly an honour.” The woman’s gaze shifted to Link. “So, this is the one for whom you were searching?” Midna shrugged. “He’s not exactly what I had in mind, but I guess he’ll do.” Kneeling in front of Link, the woman examined the broken restraint on his left paw. “You were imprisoned? …I’m sorry.” “Poor thing has no idea where he is or what happened! Don’t you think you should explain to him what you managed to do? You owe him that much…” Midna leaned forward with a sneer. “…Twilight Princess.” The cloaked woman glanced up at Midna, then moved slowly to the window and fell silent as she gazed at her faint reflection in the glass. What was she thinking? Link would never know. After a moment of contemplation, she turned to face him. “Listen carefully,” she said. “This was once the land where the golden power of the goddesses was said to slumber. This was the kingdom of Hyrule. It has been transformed by the king who rules the Twilight into a world of shadows, ruled by creatures who shun the light.” Link’s eyes grew wide. This is Hyrule? How? What happened? “Hyrule had prospered for centuries, but in this era of good fortune the kingdom grew complacent. When the dark forces invaded, we were not prepared. The army was overrun, and the king was slain in battle. When Hyrule stood at its breaking point, the King of Shadows presented the princess with an ultimatum: life or death for her people. She chose to surrender Hyrule to the darkness.” Link felt a pang of sorrow for the princess. She had been placed in an impossible position. She may have spared the lives of her people, but were they truly living? They were doomed to toil in darkness beneath the rule of a tyrannical conqueror. It was a choice Link was thankful he would never have to make. “Twilight covered Hyrule like a shroud, and without light, the people became as spirits. Within the Twilight, they live on, unaware that they have passed into spirit form. All they know now is fear… Fear of a nameless evil.” The woman gazed out at the rain-drenched battlements of Hyrule Castle, finding a small measure of solace in the storm. “The kingdom succumbed to the Twilight, but I remain its princess.” Link reared back when the woman lowered her hood, nearly throwing Midna to the floor. Her face was beautiful yet resolute, framed by long strands of dirty-blonde hair. Piercing blue eyes held the quiet wisdom of someone far beyond her years. A golden tiara – set with a single blue gem – rested upon her brow. “I am Zelda.” Link lowered his head, searching for the right gesture to honour the princess. She carried herself with calm dignity. Though Hyrule had been swallowed by shadow, she remained unbroken, the final light of a fallen kingdom. “You don’t have to look so sad!” Midna said. “We actually find it to be quite liveable! Is perpetual twilight really all that bad?” Zelda’s gaze shifted back to the imp. “Midna, this is no time for levity. The Shadow Beasts have been searching far and wide for you. Why is this?” Midna jumped into the air and turned her back on the princess with a dismissive shrug. “Why indeed? You tell me.” Zelda fell silent, her gaze lingering on the fireplace. If she was troubled, she hid it well. After a moment of reflection, she turned back to face Link. “Time has grown short,” she said gravely. “The guard will soon be by to make his rounds. You can’t be seen with me.” Midna dropped down onto Link’s back and ushered him toward the door. As he turned to leave, he and the princess briefly locked eyes. She offered him a weary smile. I’m sorry, Princess, he thought. With his head bowed, he quietly left the room. Link only managed to make it halfway down the stairs before Midna tugged his ear and brought him to an abrupt halt. He glanced at her in confusion, and she pressed a finger to her lips. A door creaked open at the bottom of the stairs, and the sound sent a chill through him. “No good,” Midna whispered, “the guard is here. Boy, he’s prompt. We’ll need another way out.” Looking up, Link saw the open window through which he had entered. Could he even jump that high? I’m going to find out. He leapt with all the strength he could muster and barely caught the windowsill. Pulling himself outside, he slipped from the tower just as the guard climbed the stairs, unaware he had ever been there. Outside, Link stopped as he tried to make sense of everything Princess Zelda had told him. It was almost too much to process. Rusl had been right. His concern had been an omen, and Link had ignored it. While he and the other Ordonians lived their quiet lives, the world had been collapsing around them. As Link watched the swirling clouds of Twilight overhead, Midna jumped from his back. The movement snapped him from his thoughts, and he glanced at her uneasily. “Well, now that you understand where we are, I’ll let you go back to where you first stumbled into this mess.” Midna arched an eyebrow. “But…aren’t you forgetting something?” In an instant, Midna’s form shifted into Colin, then Ilia. Link shrank back with an unnerved whimper. The thought of Ilia lying unconscious in the waters of Ordon Spring made him feel sick. He had to find her and Colin before it was too late. But how? “You want to save them, huh?” Still in the form of Ilia, Midna smirked as she played with her pale hair. “In that case, little Midna would be happy to help you…on one condition. You must be my servant…and as my servant…you’ll have to do exactly what I say.” Though the idea of becoming her servant was repulsive, Link knew he had no choice. Midna’s abilities and knowledge of the Twilight would be invaluable. If he wanted to save his friends, he would have to submit to her. Midna changed back into her impish form and flashed a sly sneer. “I’ll let you go back and give it a little thought.” She snapped her fingers, and Link felt his body begin to break apart. Darkness engulfed his vision as he dissolved into a cloud of tiny black particles and vanished into the shadowy skies…