“I owe you my life, Link.” Midna spoke with a powerful, yet calm voice.

As the dust settled, her figure appeared – no longer that little impling, but rather a tall, voluptuous woman. She stepped forward, a robe hanging from her shoulders, flapping by the wind. Link took a quick glance, his eyes wide at the sudden transformation, and instantly turned red when he noticed that she wore nothing but the robe.

“Twas nothin’, ma’am” he said with a thick southern accent as he turned away, covering his eyes.

She stepped forward, a coy little smile spreading on her face. She stopped in front of the elf-boy, almost one head shorter than her, and put an arm on his shoulder. That seemed to awaken something in him. He turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting with hers. Those red eyes. He had seen them so many times and he could never forget them. This really was her. His partner throughout his adventure. He had freed her and let her assume her proper place.

Her hand moved up to his check, caressing it gently, and she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. He tipped his hat to her in appreciation.

“You have helped me remember who I was, Link. And you have helped me regain my position in my kingdom. Let me reward you, brave hero of Hyrule, as best as I can.

Link playfully waved his hand.

“No need for that, Midna. Just doin’ mah job. Sides, what’s a restored kingdom between friends?” Link chuckled.

“Only friends?”

Before Link could answer she planted a deep and passionate kiss against his lips. He was stunned, but he found himself enjoying it. When she pulled away, Midna found herself in front of a smitten young lad, unsure of what had just happened. She giggled.

“Come, Link. Let us venture off.”

#

The winds howled through the vomitorium, bringing forth dust and sand. The pair stood in front of the Mirror of Twilight, side by side. They had travelled in silence, quietly enjoying each other’s company. There was something magical about this moment. They had fought so hard and for so long, side by side. And now it was over. And they shared something between them. Something unpronounceable, yet strong.

Now they stood at the precipice. The portal to the Twilight Realms. Their last stop, before she would disappear forever.

Midna waved her hand. The sigils glowed and the dials turned. The portal was open and a staircase of light unfolded before them. The climbed up the stairs, each step heavier for Link. Maybe there was still a way. Maybe they could see each other again.

“Link,” Midna spoke with a somber tone “I am eternally grateful for the good you have done. And I believe it is time for me to repay you. The way a true hero is repaid by a princess.”

“Awwm shucks now, honey, you dun need to do any of that.” Link blushed. “’Sides, Ima poor farmboy. Ain’t good for you to be seen communing with the likes of me, all secretive like.”

He said what he believed would be the most appropriate thing to say. His heart shrank as he said those words, as if someone had placed a barbwire noose around it and had tightened it. There was so much he wanted to do. So much he wanted to say. Facing down evil was easy. The real challenge was facing what lurked deep in his heart.

“Oh, brave warrior, you talk of the taboos in the court, yet I can sense the tremor in your words. I know what you really want, what you really desire. And I will fulfill it.”

This was it. She was going to declare that she would stay in Hyrule and probably travel to the Twilight Realm once a month to see how the kingdom was doing, all the while a proxy ruler would take charge of her subjects and daily activity. But even so, what sort of life would Link offer her? There were so many things to consider.

“Brace yourself, Link.”

She leaned forward, towards the hero. He closed his eyes in anticipation for another kiss, but the next thing he knew, he was pushed and was falling through the portal to the Twilight Realm.

#

Link awoke without any clue how long he was out. It could have been a few minutes or a few days. He got up and he just noticed the splitting headache. Might have been closer to a few days.

“Oh, Link! You are finally awake!”

Link turned to see Midna, distress written all over her face.

“I was so worried! When I followed you through the portal, I found you face first on the ground. I had my subjects quickly take you away to the medical wing and look you over.”

Link put his hand on his head and to his surprise he touched bandage wrappings. Midna chuckled suddenly.

“You know, it would have been a bit funny, although dark. If, after all you’ve done, all the dangers you went through and all the foes you’ve slain, the thing to get you was tripping over and bashing your head.”

It was a bit funny. Link chuckled alongside his comrade. Soon their chuckling turned into laughter and then bellowing. Finally, it subsided. Now, a light silence filled the room. The pair looked at each other longingly.

“I’m happy that you are here, Link.”

“I’m happy to be here.”

“You know, hitting your head like that really put things into perspective. You’ve been risking your life and you could have died so easily.”

“That’s why I got you here. Always at my back.”

“Quite. And I’ll make sure nothing bad ever happens to you again.”

“Sounds good, but you can’t really protect me from everything, ya know.”

“Oh, dear Link. Of course, I can. And I will. This will be my gift to you.”

She waved her hands. The room went dark. Link realized that he just might be in trouble once more. He tried getting up and from the shadows sprung forth dark, translucent chains, binding him by his arms and legs. They reeled back, restraining him to the bed.

“You will no longer risk your life for the safety of others, Link. From now on, your life will be that of pure and simple joy, no cares in the world.”

She waved her hand once more. His trousers, along with his underwear, evaporated. Shadowy tendrils slid from the corners of the room, wrapping around his naked bum.

“You will be taken care of, all your needs met. This is my reward to you, child. I will be your caregiver.”

The lighting returned back to normal. The chains dissolved and Link got up, his head spinning.

“What more could a hero dream of than being under the protection of the princess he serves?”

“Yeah, I gue- what in tarnation is this!”

“That?”

“Precisely! Yes! What is it?”

“That’s your diaper, Link.”

“My dia-, oh for the love of-“

A diaper was wrapped around Link, greyish in color. He tried taking it off, but it seemed to be stuck to him.

“Now, now. Don’t be like that. Only I can take it off.”

“But…why?”

“So I can change you whenever you need a change, silly.”

“I…I think I’m old enough for that, thank you very much.”

He tried taking them off again, but to no avail. He gave up and slammed on the bed.

“Feeling tired, my hero?”

Link glared at her through half-closed eyes.

“Listen,” he began with poison in his voice “I understand what you are trying to do, really. But, you can’t just have me in cursed diapers like this. I’m going to need to get back home, and what will I tell everybody there? “Sorry, the princess of the Twilight Realm put in magical undergarments to thank me for my bravery.” It won’t fly.”

“You…you don’t really expect to go back to Hyrule, right?”

Link jumped up.

“Could you repeat that?” he hissed out.

“On one hand, I can’t just let my champion leave, especially when he’s so close to his reward.”

“And on the other?”

“On the other handdddd…” she extended the last syllable, having the faint feeling that Link might not like her answer “…I destroyed the Twilight Mirror.”

“You what?!” Link was dumbstruck. “Wha-why? Why would you do that?”

“So another disaster doesn’t happen again.”

“What does that even mean?!”

Midna put her hands on her hips and sternly looked over Link.

“I’m not really liking your tone, mister” she said, sounding more like a mother than her usual self.

“Huh! Well! Excuse me, princess, but I didn’t plan on living the rest of my life in a limbo dimension, away from my friends and my family.”

Midna’s expression didn’t change. She had had enough and nimbly grabbed Link, managing to easily pick him up and turn him around. He struggled, amazed at her display of strength, and mumbled out a few profanities before she slapped his behind. It wasn’t strong, but it was enough to shock him into submission. Now the second slap. The second slap was stronger. And the third was even stronger than that. When she reached five smacks across his tushie, she finally returned him to his bed. There was a look of confusion.

“Now, Link, will you continue to misbehave and talk back to me like that?”

“I…ugh…”

“Link?” she asked, more sternly this time.

“N-no. No, I won’t.”

She smiled.

“That’s a good boy.”

She picked him up again and carried him out of the room. She walked through halls, passing by saluting guards and all the while, Link didn’t not say a single word. It could still be the shock from being spanked, or it might have been that he had decided to follow up on his word of being a good boy. The magical diapers weren’t out of the equation as well.

After some time, Midna reached her destination.

“Here you are, Link” she said, opening a room. “This will be your new, room. Do you like it?”

Link looked around. They were in a nursery, the walls painted with cartoonish murals of knights fighting dragons, rescuing princesses, jousting and doing a variety of other knightly things. As the pair walked along, Midna took out a bottle of warm milk and gently nudged Link to suckle on it. He drank the milk, his eyes growing heavy and his body growing numb.

“Aren’t you the cutest little thing? You’re barely awake! Come now, let’s get you to bed.”

Midna placed the hero in a luxurious oak crib and wrapped him in silk blanket. She put a stuffed horsey next to him, which he instinctively grabbed and hugged.

“So precious” she murmured.

She pulled the curtains together, enveloping the room in complete darkness and silently walked out, leaving the young hero to fall asleep and dream of whatever it is champions dream once they accomplish their task and are rewarded by their princess.

Outside, the Princess of Twilight motioned two guards to her.

“Stay here” she said. “Do not anyone enter this room. Guard it with your life. From hence forth, behind this door is the personal chamber of the greatest champion we have ever seen, to whom we all owe our life.”

She made a few steps, and turned back.

“Also, make sure he does not leave his room.”

The guards saluted their ruler and stood on both sides of the door. Midna, pleased, took her leave. There was a long day ahead of her – a day of planning, negotiating and restructuring. On top of that, she would have to take care of Link. But she was ready for it. This is what she wanted. And what he deserved. What they both deserved. A new life. A better life. A life spent together in their company. And nothing could tear them apart. Not now, nor ever. She was the Princess of the Twilight Realm. And he was her most faithful champion. The hero of time could finally rest.