The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Novelization

When Link’s vision returned, he stood in the shimmering waters of Ordon Spring. Unlike the rest of Hyrule, the southern forest had not yet fallen to the Twilight. Beneath the moon’s dim sheen, Link paused, realizing how easily he had taken such peace for granted. The moment was brief, but it renewed his strength. Link glanced down at the water and recoiled slightly when the reflection of a wolf stared back at him. I’m never going to get used to this… No matter how hard he tried, he could not escape the nagging fear that this form might be permanent. The thought tightened his stomach with dread. “Oh,” Midna spoke, “I forgot to mention one thing…” Link’s ears perked at the sound of her voice. It came from somewhere behind him, or so it seemed. When he turned, however, there was no sign of her anywhere. What game is she playing now? “Though you may have left the darkened realm, you haven’t transformed back to your former self. And you won’t anytime soon! Now why could that be?” Midna laughed mockingly. “See you later!” Ordon Spring fell silent. Link sniffed the air, searching for any trace of the imp, but her scent was gone. He was alone. Did she just abandon me? He glanced around the spring in disbelief before a small whimper escaped him. What was he going to do now? “So…what next?” Midna’s disembodied voice asked. Link’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest when a dark figure peeled itself from his moon-cast shadow and rose into the air before him. It was Midna, but something about her was different. Her form was dark, swallowing the moonlight around her like a living shadow. Only her eye remained unchanged. She giggled at Link’s stunned expression and planted her hands on her hips. “That look on your face is priceless. Did you really think I’d disappeared?” Midna’s smile faded as her tone turned serious. “Look, if you plan on running off to save your friends, don’t bother. Beyond that bridge, the land is covered by Twilight. If you want to get through that barrier, you’ll need the cooperation of someone from the Twilight. Someone like me!” Link cast a suspicious look at Midna. Then why was she helping him? What did she stand to gain from this? “If we’re going after your friends, we’ll need a sword and shield for me to use when the time comes. I’m sure we can find something to use in your village,” Midna said. I can’t be seen like this! Link stopped mid-thought as a realization dawned on him. In his lupine form, no one would recognize him. He hated the idea of stealing from his friends, but there was no other choice. At the very least, he could check on them and make sure they were safe. “Come on, now. The more you dawdle, the more the Twilight expands,” Midna said impatiently. “Snap to it!” She slipped back into Link’s shadow, leaving him to sort things out on his own. He let out a quiet sigh and looked south toward Ordon Village. What have I gotten myself into? Link set out through the forest. It did not take long for him to reach the outskirts of Ordon Village. When his gaze fell on his vacant treehouse, memories of simpler days crept into his mind. He longed to return to that carefree life – to wake from this nightmare with the morning sun shining through his window – but that time was gone. Link turned away from his house and continued on. The past could not be changed. All that mattered now was saving Ilia and Colin. When Link reached the village, he was horrified by what he saw. Ordon Village – once a peaceful sanctuary – had been ravaged. Houses were damaged, crop fields lay scorched, and the air reeked of smoke. Jaggle and Pergie’s waterwheel drifted listlessly in the creek beside their home. The air was still, and the night hung in uneasy silence. I hope everyone is okay, Link thought as a lump formed in his throat. As he moved deeper into the village, Link kept to the long grass and shrubs beside the path. Wolves rarely wandered into Ordon, and the sight of one would surely cause panic. That was the last thing the Ordonians needed right now. Link noticed the flickering glow of a torch coming from Sera’s shop and turned in that direction. A short man with long brown hair stood on the rock where Jaggle liked to lounge. It was Hanch, Sera’s husband and Beth’s father. His head was bowed as he murmured a quiet prayer. “Spirits, how did it come to this? The children…please say nothing’s happened to them!” Hanch lifted his tear-stained face toward the moon. “Beth, I’m so sorry, my sweet baby girl. Please forgive your good-for-nothing father.” No…not the children! Link’s chest tightened. Why would those monsters take the children? What did they hope to gain from all this chaos and destruction? “What’s the holdup?” Midna whispered, her eye appearing in Link’s shadow. “We need to keep moving.” Her persistence was irritating, but it helped calm Link. There was nothing he could do for the children in his current state. If he wanted to help them, he needed to focus on finding weapons for Midna. Ordon Village was a peaceful place with little need for weapons. The only place Link knew he could find a sword was Rusl’s smithy. If he was lucky, there might be a shield there too. Link tilted his head when he caught the scent of sweat in the air. It was not coming from Hanch. Someone else was nearby. Following the trail, Link made his way to Jaggle’s house on the other side of the creek. Fado, Bo, and Jaggle huddled together near the front door, all of them bearing the marks of a hard fight. Jaggle had a swollen black eye, and Fado’s arm hung in a sling. Bo’s white undershirt was dirty and torn, though he seemed otherwise unharmed. Link crept through a patch of tall grass until he was close enough to hear them speak. “They’ve been raiding the village nightly for the past few days. We’re going to need more weapons,” Fado whispered. “Rusl was injured in the last attack,” Bo said gravely. “We have no means to forge them. We’ll have to make do with what we have.” Link felt his stomach drop at the news of Rusl’s injury. I need to make sure he’s okay… The thought of losing the closest thing he had to a father was unbearable. “I still have a shield hanging on the wall inside,” Jaggle said. “But it’s one of the old ornamental ones. It might not hold up very well.” Bo shrugged and crossed his arms. “It’s better than nothing. Rusl found the royal gift and took it back to his place. I’ll grab it and continue the search for the young’uns in his stead.” “But sir…Rusl couldn’t fend those beasts off…and he’s trained,” Fado reminded the mayor. “I know. But we can’t sit back and do nothing while our children are missing. I’m going to look for them.” “I won’t let you go alone, sir,” Fado said firmly. “I’ll come too.” “All right. I’ll grab the shield,” Jaggle said as he swung the door open and stepped inside. I can’t let Mayor Bo search for the children. He’ll get himself killed, Link thought as panic gripped him. The villagers had already suffered enough. They could not afford to lose their leader too. The front door opened again, and Jaggle reappeared carrying a round shield. Its design was simple, yet expertly crafted. A black Ordon goat was painted across its smooth wooden surface. Jaggle held the shield out to the mayor. “Here ya go, sir. Hopefully it’ll defend you from those clubs.” I need that shield. Link crept forward cautiously, but a twig snapped beneath his paw. The three men turned at once, alerted to his presence. Dammit. “What was that?” Fado whimpered. “Quickly, get inside!” Bo urged. In the scramble to get indoors, Jaggle dropped the shield. He hesitated for a moment, considering whether to retrieve it, but thought better of it and slammed the door shut. Link stepped out from the tall grass as Midna appeared beside him. “That was lucky. Is everyone in this town so skittish?” she asked, rolling her eyes. Can you blame them? Link sniffed the wooden shield before lifting it with his snout. Midna examined it and gave an unimpressed grunt. “It looks kind of cheap…” She snapped her fingers, and the shield vanished. “I’ll hold onto this for now. You focus on finding that sword. They said it was in someone’s house. Do you know what they meant?” As Midna retreated into the shadows, Link glanced toward Rusl’s house in the distance. He started for it, but the sound of a sudden gasp froze him in place. Looking up, he realized he had wandered directly into Hanch’s line of sight. Eyes blazing with rage, Hanch snatched a reed from the edge of the rock, and Link’s blood ran cold. The Ordonians were skilled hawk tamers. With those reeds, they could summon and command the fierce Ordonian hawks. Link knew how dangerous those birds were. Their talons could tear into animals far larger than him. “You’ve returned for more, haven’t you, monster?” Hanch asked, his voice low but firm. “My daughter! Return her to me!” He raised the reed to his mouth and blew into it. Summoned by the sharp melody, an Ordonian hawk swooped down from the sky and perched on Hanch’s arm. Link dashed for cover before the bird could be sent after him. “I’ll find you!” Hanch shouted. “You can’t hide from me!” As Link hid in the shadows, a sudden surge of anger flared within him – at himself and at Hanch. Why did he have to get in the way? The feeling faded as quickly as it came, leaving Link uneasy and confused. He was not prone to anger like that. “You can’t just ignore that guy,” Midna spat. “He’ll get in our way!” When Link glanced down at his shadow, a disturbing realization struck him. The emotions were Midna’s, not his own. How was that even possible? The thought that she could influence his decisions without his knowledge unsettled him deeply. Link shook his head and turned his attention back to Hanch, who was still searching for him with the hawk perched on his arm. How do I scare him off without hurting him? Link glanced toward Sera’s shop and quickly formed a plan. If he could flank Hanch and startle him, the man might panic and flee. The challenge would be reaching the shop without being spotted. Keeping low in the tall grass, Link slunk toward Sera’s shop. He reached it unnoticed and sprang onto the roof. His claws scraped against the shingles, but the sound was too faint for Hanch to hear. I need to be more careful, Link thought irritably. He moved slowly across the roof, then jumped onto the rock where Hanch stood watch. When Hanch noticed movement in his peripheral vision, he spun around and released the hawk in a panic. Link stepped out of its path, and it flew harmlessly into the night. Now defenceless, Hanch backed toward the edge of the rock and raised his hands. “Stay back!” Link growled, hoping it would be enough to intimidate Hanch. It worked. The man briefly stood his ground, but he soon lost his nerve. He leapt from the rock and ran screaming back to the safety of his home. With the danger gone, Link breathed a sigh of relief and headed for Rusl’s house. For a moment, he wondered if the feeling was even his own, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. Dwelling on it would only drive him mad. Hanch was safe. That was all that mattered. When Link reached his childhood home, he slowed to a trot, his stomach knotting. Candlelight glowed in the windows, and the outdoor torches were still lit. They’re still awake. Not good. Link edged onto the porch and peered through the living room window. Uli sat on a stool beside the couch where Rusl lay. He was covered in bruises, bloodstained bandages wrapped around his forehead and chest. Uli’s face was red from crying as she tended to her husband. Seeing them like this broke Link’s heart. Rusl stirred, and Uli quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks as his eyes slowly opened. She managed a weak smile when he looked up at her. He gently touched her cheek, and she clasped his hand in both of hers. “I…I need to get up. I need to…find the children…” Rusl grunted. Uli gently held him down when he tried to sit up, and he lacked the strength to resist. He slumped into the couch, grimacing as pain racked through his body. “We can’t…give up on them…” “Mayor Bo will come for the sword,” Uli said softly. “You need to rest, darling.” Rusl finally succumbed to exhaustion and drifted back to sleep. Uli let out a shaky sigh before heading upstairs, leaving Link with the opportunity he needed. He climbed through the window. The sword rested against the wall beside the couch, still sheathed in its brown leather scabbard. Link nudged it upright with his nose and slipped the strap over his neck. When he turned to leave, Link glanced back at Rusl. Seeing a man he once thought invincible lying battered and bruised was heartbreaking. He could do nothing to help, and it ate away at him. Lost in thought, Link failed to notice Uli returning. When she saw the wolf standing beside her husband, she screamed and dropped the cup of water in her hand. “Get away! Get away from him!” Uli grabbed a knife from the kitchen table and slashed at Link, barely missing his snout. She stood over her husband, pointing the knife at him with a trembling hand. Link whimpered and leapt out the window. Losing her composure, Uli dropped the knife and sank to the floor, sobbing. Link could not bear to watch her suffer. He turned his back and ran, refusing to stop until he reached the outskirts of the village. A sinking feeling settled in Link’s gut. I’m sorry, Uli. The image of her standing before him – panicked and trembling with a knife – refused to leave his mind. Midna appeared and inspected the stolen royal gift. She shrugged, snapped her fingers, and it vanished like the shield. She turned to Link with a satisfied smirk. “You can be useful when you concentrate,” she remarked, her grin fading at Link’s whine. “Look, I know this wasn’t the best homecoming, but sulking won’t help anyone.” Link looked up, despair giving way to determination. She was right. The children needed him to be strong. He could not sit and worry while they were in danger. Noticing the change in his demeanour, Midna gave an approving nod. “Okay,” she said, “your errands are done. We’re ready to go back into the Twilight.” It’s about time, Link thought. No more detours. He did not relish the thought of returning to the Twilight, but he had to – for the sake of the children. Midna slipped back into his shadow as he set out through the woods. Moving at a full sprint, Link expertly navigated the dark trail. When he reached Ordon Spring, he slowed to a stop. A warm presence reached out to him, gently drawing him toward the water. Then a soft voice called out to him. “Wait… Come to my spring…” The spring was silent, save for the faint trickle of water. I must be losing it, Link thought as he turned to leave. “To the one who has been transformed by the power of shadow…” the voice spoke again. “Come to me…” Link stepped forward. Without warning, a cage of energy snapped into place around him. Its surface shimmered with the same glyphs and symbols that marked the Twilight barrier. An evil aura settled over the spring, suffocating its warmth. Link let out a low growl. “Beware, young one. A Shadow Beast approaches…” Link’s gaze lifted as a dark portal materialized in the air. From within, a black mass emerged and plunged into the water before him. Its monstrous body was large, with long black tendrils protruding from behind the stone plate that covered its face. Fear gripped Link, his breath turning shallow. It was one of the creatures that had dragged him into the Twilight. Memories of that terrible moment surged back, rooting him in place as the Shadow Beast loomed over him. Midna emerged from Link’s shadow and stared at the snarling Shadow Beast, her eyes wide with alarm. She turned and pushed against Link’s chest, but he would not budge. He was completely paralyzed by fear. “Move you moron!” Midna screamed. In a last-ditch effort, Midna lunged forward and tackled Link to the ground. The Shadow Beast slashed with its claws, narrowly missing them both. Jolted back to reality, Link sprang to his feet and faced the creature, instincts taking over. It charged, and he met it head-on. The beast dragged him back to the ground, and they wrestled violently for control. Though smaller, Link fought with relentless tenacity. Barking and snarling, he raked his claws across its left shoulder, leaving a deep gash. With surprising power, Link rolled over and pinned the wounded Shadow Beast beneath him. It clawed at him desperately, but it could not stop him from tearing open a gaping wound in its neck. Thick black blood bled into the water as the creature thrashed in agony. Link watched until the Shadow Beast finally went still. Its body burst apart into dozens of tiny black particles, and the portal above vanished. Silence returned to Ordon Spring. Link took a moment to catch his breath. A hollow feeling settled over him. Even killing a Shadow Beast felt…wrong. He loathed the feeling. Midna approached from behind and smacked him on the back, interrupting his thoughts. He looked at her and let out a confused bark. “You could have gotten me killed!” she snapped. “What’s wrong with you?” Link lowered his head sheepishly, realizing her anger was justified. The mere sight of the Shadow Beast had left him completely helpless. He was lucky Midna had been there to snap him out of it. If he had been alone… A low hum echoed through the spring, pulling Link’s mind away from his troubling thoughts. The water began to glow with brilliant golden light, and Midna vanished within its radiance. Soon the light grew brighter than day, forcing Link to squint. From the water rose a great golden orb, slowly taking the shape of a gigantic Ordon goat. Bathed in gilded light, the majestic figure reared with divine splendor, forcing Link to avert his gaze. “O brave youth…” the figure spoke, its voice melodic and ethereal. “I am one of the four Light Spirits who guard Hyrule at the behest of the goddesses. My name is Ordona.” Link bowed his head. Rusl had always told him that the Light Spirits watched over the people of Hyrule, but he never imagined he would stand before one. Ordona was the most breathtaking sight he had ever seen. “The creature you slew had come to seize the power of light I wield,” the spirit said gravely. “My brethren in Hyrule have already had their light stolen by these fell beasts. This is only the beginning. Soon, the entire world of light will fall into the hands of the king who rules the Twilight.” Shaken by the revelation, Link looked down at the water. Defeating the Shadow Beast may have saved the Light Spirit for now, but it would all be for nothing if the King of Shadows succeeded. Ordona gazed upon Link. “To stop the King of Twilight, the three Light Spirits must be revived. There’s but one who can save them and redeem this realm. It’s you, Link.” Me…? Link felt his face grow warm. How could he possibly do anything to help? “You have yet to discover your true power…or your purpose. Those transformed by the Twilight rarely recover their original form. But there may yet be a way. If you return the light to the Faron Woods, where you were first transformed, you may find a way to reclaim your other state of being.” Link perked up eagerly. He had already resigned himself to living the rest of his life as a wolf. The possibility – however unlikely – of returning to his human form filled him with hope. “Good luck, young one…” Ordona said softly. The Light Spirit faded from view, and a tranquil silence settled over the forest. The calm was soon broken when Midna spoke from within Link’s shadow. “Well, well, how could someone as ordinary as you be tasked with saving the Light Spirit?” I don’t know. You tell me, Link thought with a sigh of irritation. He had no idea how he could fulfill the duty Ordona had given him, but he had to try. Too much was at stake to stand by and do nothing. Link left the spring and hurried across the gorge toward the Faron Woods. As he neared the barrier separating the Twilight from the world of light, the surrounding forest grew dark. He slowed to a nervous trot. Appearing beside Link, Midna approached the barrier without hesitation. She reached out, and her hand passed through the surface as though she were an apparition. Link shivered, remembering how a Shadow Beast had dragged him into the Twilight. This is for the children, he reminded himself. “Listen, once I take you in there, there’s no turning back,” Midna warned. “I hope you’re ready…because I am not going to babysit you.” Link answered with a curt bark. I’m ready… Midna nodded and slipped through the barrier, leaving him alone for a moment. Then an orange tendril burst from the barrier and grabbed Link. He howled as it lifted him off the ground and dragged him back into the Twilight…