Chapter 4
Harsh Introductions
Zelda opened her eyes, only to find herself blinded by a searing light. She forced her eyes shut, as her other senses came into focus. She became aware of a cool breeze rustling the leaves of trees above her, and the earthy smell of nature reached her nose. She was vaguely aware that she was curled up on the ground on her side.
This time, Zelda opened her eyes slowly, letting her eyes adjust to the bright sunlight, and bringing the greens and browns of the forest into focus.
A dull ache in the back of her head caused her to groan in pain, and she rolled onto her back. She stretched the stiffness from her joints before attempting to rise to her feet.
Zelda planted her hands on the ground and cried out in shock. Horse hooves, with fur that was a flesh-like beige color, were occupying the space her hands once did. She frantically felt her face, and gasped when her hooves impacted her muzzle.
Scrambling to her hooves, Zelda whipped her head around. A long golden mane, still braided in the traditional Hyrulean royal fashion, swung with her. Zelda could now see that she was, in fact, a horse. After performing several breathing exercises to calm her nerves, Zelda took a more collected look at herself and her surroundings.
Much to her surprise, Zelda found a short, blunt-tipped horn resting on her forehead. Her regal attire was still on her, somehow fitting just as well to her newly acquired equine form as it did when she was human.
"Okay Zelda, calm down…panicking won't change the fact that you're a…a horse," Zelda told herself with a voice that was only slightly shaky. "Right now, you are lost, with no food, no water, and no shelter. You need to find some before it gets dark."
Trees, trees, and more trees surrounded her for miles upon miles, and the sun was high in the clear blue sky. Feeling that there was nothing to lose that hadn't already been lost, Zelda picked a random direction and clumsily trotted into the underbrush.
The sandy dunes of a distant desert stretched for as far as the eye could see. Nothing but the sparse clouds overhead could be seen moving, and not a single gust of wind stirred the stagnant air.
The air began shimmering and warping in one area far off of the ground. Ethereal gold and amber auras swirled and congealed into a single circular object.
It was a polished stone tablet, several meters in diameter, with concentric rings and complex runes inscribed on its surface.
It hovered in the air for a moment as time seemed to stop in its tracks. The deafening silence was broken with a loud crack when the tablet split down the middle, marring its otherwise symmetric surface.
Black miasma seeped from the crack, spreading into the sand like a plague and staining it as black as obsidian. The sulfurous stench of decay filled the air. Malevolent laughter echoed through the desert as the bright blue sky began to darken and turn an amber hue, and thick black clouds tainted the once beautiful scenery, turning it into a sick parody of its former self.
In the throne room of the marble-walled Canterlot Castle, as the mid-day sunlight shone through the high arched windows, the monarch of the sun stiffened on her throne. Beside her, her lunar sister's eyes grew wide with a mix of shock and confusion. Princess Luna cast a disturbed glance at her elder sister, who returned a similar look of concern.
"You felt the disturbance as well, Sister?" Princess Celestia inquired in a hushed tone.
"Indeed. 'Tis most troubling. What could have caused a magical shockwave of such magnitude?" Luna replied quietly.
They both froze as chills went up their spines in unison. Their gazes instantly went to the east. Although there were several feet of marble between the room and the outside world, the two allicorn sisters sensed exactly what direction the unseen force was located.
"This is the fourth in three days, but this is by far the most powerful," Celestia remarked, and they sat in silent contemplation.
Luna opened her mouth and was about to speak when a wisp ofdragonfire slithered through the air in front of her sister, materializing into a sealed scroll, which fell to the floor. "We will discuss this as soon as time allows," the eldest sister stated, before taking hold of the scroll in a cloud of golden magic.
The Princess of the Night nodded in agreement before rising from her throne. She strode towards the shadow of a pillar and vanished into the darkness.
Princess Celestia sighed tiredly before turning her attention to the now opened sheet of parchment before her.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I am writing to you, not because I have discovered something about friendship, but because of more unusual circumstances. Three nights ago during the unusual storm over Ponyville, I found an earth-pony named Link unconscious on the ground, seemingly struck by lightning. After spending the night in the hospital, he awoke with absolutely no problems whatsoever, albeit being extremely disoriented. However, this, I believe, is not accredited to the lightning strike, but to the fact that he is not of this world.
According to Link, he is a human being, and whether he is from another world or another dimension altogether is still a mystery to both him and me. I also have evidence to believe that his home, wherever it may be, either no longer exists or is beyond the reach of magic. In any case, I agreed to help him try and find his way home as well as getting him accustomed to our society. In exchange, he was willing to describe to me cultures and customs from his world, and allow me to examine a magical artifact he brought with him called the "Ocarina of Time." I believe this ocarina (a wind instrument which resembles some flute-like instruments from the griffin kingdoms, but elliptical as opposed to stick-shaped) is imbued with very powerful magical powers, and is unlike anything we have in Equestria.
We have made arrangements for him to stay at the library with me indefinitely until we can find more suitable housing for him. On a side note, we encountered another earth pony from Link's world named Epona. She was a pony even before coming to Equestria, and is one of Link's oldest friends. She is staying with Pinkie Pie at Sugar Cube Corner until further notice.
I felt a need to tell you of Link and Epona's arrival in Equestria just in case it may have greater impact in the future, and would greatly appreciate any help you can offer in trying to find a way to return them home. I will eagerly await your reply.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
Princess Celestia frowned at the news. The arrival of this stallion, Link, could have caused the first magical shockwave she had sensed three nights ago. An interplanetary teleportation would take a tremendous amount of magical energy, but what she had sensed was far more powerful; this was almost certainly an interdimensionalarrival.
However, this seemed to trouble her even more. It would take an unfathomable amount of magic to break the interdimensionalbarrier: exponentially more than any known being could muster, including both she and her sister.
Celestia's thoughts drifted to the disturbance she sensed only minutes ago. It felt so ominous and wicked.
So powerful.
Her gaze once more was drawn to the east, and for a split second, she could have sworn she heard deep, malevolent laughter echoing from far beyond the horizon.
"Twilight! Twilight, wake up!"
The unicorn groggily opened her eyes. Her eyes were drawn to a nearby clock, which, illuminated by the early morning moonlight filtering through the curtains, read 4:15. "Whazzrong Spike?" she slurred sleepily as she turned towards the baby dragon.
He waved a rolled up parchment in her face, barely giving her time to register the royal red seal stamped in wax on the front. "The princess just sent you a letter! It looks important."
All thoughts of sleep were driven from her head instantly as a glowing cloud of lavender snatched the letter from Spike. She hopped off her bed and turned on her bedside lamp, carefully peeling open the scroll. She lifted it in front of her, letting it unroll itself, and began to read.
My dear student Twilight Sparkle,
I wish to thank you for informing me of Link's arrival. I apologize for waking you at this time of morning, but I have good reason: you, your friends, Link and Epona are to be escorted to Canterlot Castle by Luna's royal night guard for an important discussion. I do not wish to draw unwanted public attention at the sight of six royal carriages in Ponyville, so stealth is key. All will be explained once you all arrive.
Bring the Elements of Harmony and nothing more. Anything you need will be provided at the castle. Your friends have been informed and will arrive separately. The night guard will knock on your door once they arrive, so be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
Once again, I apologize for waking you unpleasantly early, and I hope to see you soon.
Best regards,
Princess Celestia
"What does it say?" Twilight jumped when Link spoke from beside her.
"Oh! I didn't hear you wake up." She moved over so Link could see the letter. "It's from Princess Celestia. She sent carriages to escort us to the castle for some kind of important meeting."
Link looked over the letter for a few more moments, before turning to Twilight and simply stating, "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what any of this says. Was there anything else?"
Twilight remembered that he couldn't read Equestrian script.
"Not really," Twilight said as she crossed the room to her dresser. "She said she would explain everything when we get there." She lifted a brush from the polished wood surface to tame her bedraggled mane.
"Who has to go?" Spike asked from Link's side.
"Well," Twilight looked back at the letter as the animated brush continued to tug at her mane. "According to this, the girls and I are all coming, along with you, Link and Epona. She said to bring the Elements of Harmony, I don't know why."
A sharp rap on the door caught their attention.
"That would be the escort," Twilight said as she began towards the stairs. With Link and Spike in tow, she descended the stairs. As she passed the display case housing five necklaces and a tiara that were each ornately decorated, the Elements of Harmony, she placed them all in a large saddlebag, which she then placed on her back. She quickly approached the door just as another knock echoed through the library, and opened it.
A mare with a slate-grey coat, a short-cut light blue mane, and bright golden eyes, was wearing gothic-looking black and purple plate armor. She stood just outside the doorway, and the dark outline of an armored chariot was barely visible behind her.
Twilight opened her mouth to greet the guard, but was sharply stopped.
"No talking, no dilly-dallying," the guard hissed. "Just get in the transport and stay silent unless told otherwise."
Twilight blinked in surprise before nodding and hurrying into the carriage without a further word. Link followed close behind, making sure Spike was keeping up. Now that he was up close, the carriage, he could see, was covered with thick steel plates, and lacked the ornate embellishments of the other carriages he had seen around Ponyville. Several other golden-eyed pegasai, with leathery, bat-like wings in place of the typical feathery ones, and all clad in the same gothic armor, were hitched to the front of the carriage.
A firm nudge by the royal night guard cut Link's observations short and he stepped up into the carriage, taking the seat opposite Twilight.
The door sung shut with a soft click of the lock, and within several seconds, the transport lurched into motion. After bumping along the road, the ride smoothed out as the pegasai pulling it took to the skies.
Through the small barred windows, Link could just make out the receding lights of Ponyville shrinking into nothingness.
A long, silent ride followed, which was undoubtedly spent contemplating what could have happened to warrant an audience with the princesses. Just when the faintest of glows of the rising sun could be seen on the horizon, a thump on the door grabbed their attention. They looked outside the window to see the night guard mare flying alongside the carriage. She motioned downward with her forehoof, and the message was clear enough: they were landing.
This news was taken gladly by the occupants of the carriage, who were anxious to stretch their legs after the two-hour flight. They banked left suddenly, waking the slumbering baby dragon at Twilight's side, and after a short spiraling descent that bled off their excess speed, there was a sudden jolt as they touched down on a stone runway that led them alongside Canterlot Castle.
The wheels had barely stopped when the door was flung open and the night guard motioned for the trio to get out. Now, the familiar royal guards in their golden armor and plumed helmets ushered Link, Twilight and Spike into the palace itself.
Tall marble walls, gilded pillars, and marvelous tapestries towered seamlessly above them, lit by ethereal glowing orbs of magic, which drifted about high above their heads like clouds in the sky. Link craned his neck as he gawked at the amazing architecture. Even Hyrule Castle seemed to pale in comparison to this.
Twilight, however, had seen these halls hundreds of times growing up. She simply strode forward, head straight, Spike snoozing on her back, while Link followed behind, neck swiveling to take in the amazing sights.
Link's appreciation of the halls of the castle was cut short when the guards stopped in front of a set of stained oak doors, which Twilight pushed open without hesitation.
The spacious room beyond was very cozy, with a plush crimson rug in the middle of a waxed hardwood floor. Various sofas and cushions were positioned around the room, with a small table within hoof's reach of them all. Decorative bookcases filled the wall to the left of the entrance, with the numerous colorfully bound volumes shut away behind a latched glass door on each shelf.
A large brick fireplace occupied the opposite wall, casting a soft, flickering orange glow to the room. Various knickknacks and pictures topped the mantle: a small porcelain statue of a cat, a sepia photo of a dressed-up filly and her parents standing in the countryside, an ornate hourglass (minus the sand). A long sword with a golden hilt (no doubt having belonged to someone important) hung in two brackets above the fireplace, becoming the centerpiece of the room.
A few more glowing orbs waited patiently in the corners of the room, casting an even, cozy glow to the places where the fireplace's tendrils of light failed to illuminate.
Link noticed almost none of this, as the chattering of one of the six mares already occupying the room rattled against his eardrums.
"-I mean, DUH! Of course peppermints are candy! They have sugar, they're hard, they're colorful, and they taste good and rot your teeth!" Pinkie Pie seemed to be in a heated discussion with an orange mare with a blonde mane pulled into a ponytail, who wore a brown wide-brimmed hat, akin to those some farmers wore. Link noticed that she had a picture of three apples on her flank. Link then spied Epona and a timid-looking light yellow pegasus sitting quietly to the side of the discussion, looking unsure as to what to do.
Obnoxiously loud snoring brought Link's attention to Rainbow Dash, who was sprawled out on one of the sofas, fast asleep. Another unfamiliar mare, who was a bright-white unicorn with a deep violet mane done up in curls, was napping with much more dignity, a quilted blanket wrapped snugly around her as she laid on the other sofa in the room.
"Well, that don't make 'em sweets," the orange mare stated in a strange accent. "Ah mean, they're made specifically to make yerbreath smell good. Tell me, what candy is suppose ta' make yerbreath smell good?"
"Well, Applejack, let's see what Twilight has to say about this!" Pinkie exclaimed as she whipped her head dramatically to face Twilight and Link. "Twilight! Are peppermints candy?"
The blonde mare, who Link presumed was Applejack, turned to facethem as well. "Quite honestly, Ah don't think they really qualify as candy, but whaddaya reckon, Twilight?"
"Um, I, well," Twilight stammered, caught off guard by the question. "It's mostly a matter of opinion, but I guess they are-"
"HA! I TOLD you that they were candy!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, poking a hoof at Applejack.
Applejack raised an eyebrow, before saying, "Uhh, Ah'm not sure that's what she meant, but-" She cut off when she noticed Link standing behind Twilight in the doorway. "Oh, who's yer friend, Twilight?"
"Oh," Twilight stepped into the room, allowing Link to enter as well. "This is Link."
Applejack opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything Twilight cut her off. "No, he's not my boyfriend," she deadpanned.
Applejack smirked. "What Ah was gonna say was, d'ya know why we're all here, at six in the mornin'?"
"I believe I can answer that, Applejack," said a melodic voice that, although being gentle, was firm and authoritative.
All eyes immediately went to a door at the other side of the room (with the exception of those of the two napping mares) where a bright white mare stood, taller and more slender than any pony Link had seen, with a golden regal necklace and a jewel-encrusted tiara, and the longest spiraling horn that Link had ever seen, accompanied by a pair of large feathered wings sitting just above her shoulder blades. A billowing ethereal mane streaked with a shifting rainbow of pastel colors blew about as if by a gentle breeze, even though there was none.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed, scrambling into a bow, the others following suit (once again, with the exception of Rainbow Dash and the purple-maned mare). Link bowed briefly in acknowledgement, and Epona stood awkwardly, unsure what to do.
"Rainbow Dash! Rarity! Wake up!" Twilight hissed.
Celestia, with a sly grin on her face, shook her head, holding her hoof to her mouth indicating to stay quiet, while silently approaching Rainbow Dash. With her muzzle inches from Rainbow Dash's face, the princess noisily cleared her throat, the grin still on her face.
"Whazzat?" Rainbow Dash cracked her eyes. "Bwah! Princess Celestia!" Her eyes shot open and she fell to the ground, legs flailing, eventually settling into a bow.
Rarity bolted upright looking around, still dazed from sleep. "Wha- What's going on? Are you alright Rainbo-ooh my goodness! Princess Celestia!" Rarity scrambled off the couch, mirroring the others.
The princess' melodic laughter filled the air, causing them all to look around in confusion. "I'm terribly sorry, I'm afraid this early in the morning I tend to act a bit silly, and I've needed a bit of stress relief lately." Her face fell into a tired expression as the others in the room rose.
Celestia turned to Link and Epona, who stiffened under her gaze. Link knew powerful beings when he saw them, and Princess Celestia was definitely powerful.
"I'm guessing you are Link, and Epona." Link nodded. "Twilight has told me highly of you two."
"And she of you, Princess," Link replied. "I hear that you raise the sun itself. I must say, that's quite the feat."
Celestia nodded. "I won't lie, it is. However, it must be done." She strode over to the bookcases, and began skimming the titles absently. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that, although you aren't one of my subjects, you still bowed when I made my presence known."
Link nodded. "I've been taught to show respect to royalty, no matterwho or what they rule."
"I thought as much," she turned around to face Link's companion. "Epona, you've not yet said a word. Do you have anything to add?"
The brown mare shrugged. "Frankly, I'm just not as good with words as Link. After all, I've been talking for all of three days, and it's still kinda new to me. But I usually trust his judgment on things."
"Fair enough." Princess Celestia turned towards the door. "If you would all care to join me in the throne room for our important discussion…" She opened the door with a golden glow of magic, gesturing for the group to follow.
After several twists and turns down the marble halls of Canterlot Castle, they found themselves inside the throne room, with stained glass windows depicting iconic events framing the high walls. More floating orbs lit the room, eliminating almost all shadows from the spacious room. Guards in gilded armor stood like statues at every entrance and exit, as well as beside the two thrones at the head of the room.
Another winged unicorn like Celestia sat upon the smaller of the two. She was smaller than Celestia, but still taller than the average pony, and had a midnight-blue coat and a rippling mane that looked like the night sky, dotted with glowing pinpoints of light.
"Greetings, Sister. Are we ready to begin?" the allicorn said as Celestia sat on her throne.
She nodded. "Of course, Luna." Princess Celestia turned to address the eight tired ponies all waiting expectantly. "Approximately four days ago, my sister and I detected a disturbance in the magical plane far more powerful than any spell known to ponykind." She paused to be sure that they all understood, before continuing, "This disturbance coincided with the arrival of Link, the stallion whose presence you've all no doubt noticed."
Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie all nodded (the latter more excessively than the others), while Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack all glanced at Link, obviously wondering who he was and why he was there.
Celestia addressed Link. "Link, would you like to tell us about where you are from?"
He nodded, collecting his thoughts for a brief moment, before saying, "I know this may be hard to believe, but I do not come from Equestria, nor from anywhere on this world. I hail from the land of Hyrule, and with the help of your friend, Twilight Sparkle, I've deduced that Hyrule is, in fact, in a different world entirely."
The curious looks on the faces of the others who hadn't heard the story urged Link on to tell an abridged version of how he ended up in Equestria, and of his adventures saving Hyrule. They all listened intently (Pinkie Pie had produced a bucket of popcorn from somewhere and was shoveling it into her mouth with each sentence), but before long, Celestia called an end to the storytelling. "I'm sure you will have time later to tell them of your adventures, but for the moment, we have more urgent matters at hand."
Princess Celestia nodded to Luna, who stood to speak to the group. "As my sister has said, we sensed a strong magical disturbance four days ago. Within hours, there was a second, slightly weaker disturbance. The next day, there was a third of roughly equal magnitude to the first. We believe that with each disturbance,somepony from another world entered ours."
"And this brings us to the reason of this gathering," Celestia took over. "Approximately fourteen hours ago, a fourth disturbance was detected. However, this was exponentially more powerful than the other three, and was saturated with dark intent." She paused, letting the news sink in, before continuing. "Luna and I then gathered our best pegasus scout troop to investigate the disturbance."
They turned towards the sound of a door opening to see a cloaked unicorn with striking green eyes, a peach-colored coat, and a flowing green and yellow mane enter the throne room. She threw back her hood, bowing to the princesses. "Your Majesties."
"Welcome," Princess Celestia said kindly. "I would like you all to meet one of our best unicorn mages, Emerald Gaze. She has devised a method of remotely linking herself with another pony in order to see what they see in real time. We had her link herself with the captain of the scout troop so we may see what they find. The end result was…strange, to say the least. Emerald Gaze, if you will, please."
The mage nodded and closed her eyes. Her horn radiated a brilliant green for a few moments, before she opened her eyes, which now glowed like the illuminating orbs above their heads.
Celestia strode over to Emerald Gaze, and lowered her horn to the mare's forehead. With a flash, a moving image was being projected from the mare's eyes onto the air itself, making a life-sized, three-dimensional image of a stretch of beach, and glittering ocean with several pegasus guards in royal armor milling about nearby.
They all gasped at the sudden apparition of an entire landscape where there once was a throne room.
"Hey! Can the chatter! You're being watched!" the stallion's voice startled them, and it took Link a second to realize that it was actually the captain whose eyes they were seeing through who had spoken. "Lieutenant Racer! Report for the Princesses!"
A pegasus guard looked up, and quickly trotted directly in the middle of their field of view.
"Status report!" the captain commanded.
"Sir, this thing goes on for at least fifty miles in each direction, and as far as we could tell, it blankets almost half of Northern Zebrica, and most of Saddle Arabia. It has no discernible entrance or exit, and it looks as if it just appeared out of nowhere," Lieutenant Racer responded briskly.
The commander turned to the right, revealing an awe inspiring image. A giant, shimmering, amber dome seemed to have engulfed the land as far as the eye could see.
Link paled instantly. "Get them away from there," he said shakily.
Princess Celestia looked at him curiously. "What is the matter, Link?"
"Get them out of there right now!" His panicked voice was nothing less than unsettling.
"Have you figured out what it's made of?" the captain continued, oblivious to Link's cries of warning.
"Whatever it is, it's impervious to everything we have."
As if on cue, a pegasus guard rocketed into the barrier, striking it with a muffled booming sound and sending out a massive ripple across the entire structure, and stunning them all into silence.
"Link, what is the matter? Thou need not worry. They have been there for most of the day. Why would they be in any danger now?" Princess Luna inquired.
"Because now they've gotten their attention." Link replied ominously.
Twilight gasped. "Link, you don't mean-" She was cut off by a blood curdling scream.
Their view whipped around to see the tail end of the guard who hit the barrier disappear into the dome. There was a flurry of shouts as orders rang out, and the scouts retrieved their weapons, only to be snatched by skeletal, black, clawed arms which shot out of the surface of the dome like arrows from a bow. The scouts were quickly drawn through the barrier, and their terrified cries for help were cut short.
"What in Tartarus is-," the captain started, before he too was caught by a clawed arm and pulled through the once impenetrable barrier as if it weren't even there.
All at once, everything changed around them. The sky turned a sunset-orange with thick black clouds churning within it. Black particles floated upwards from the ground like an otherworldly, inverted snow. A gargantuan black figure towered over them, its starved-looking skeletal frame was lined with pulsating geometric veins of red that snaked all the way from its four clawed appendages to its circular, mask-like face. Black tendrils drifted around behind its head, floating as if in water. It resembled nothing any of the Equestrians had ever seen.
More of these creatures lurked in the background, literally ripping apart the scout troop with viciousness never before seen by all but Link, painting the ground with shiny red blood. Dread filled them as they watched the creature towering above the captain raise its wickedly sharp claws high into the air, before bringing them down with lightning speed.
The image cut out, and Emerald Gaze, who had been petrified until now, was sent tumbling to the side, a spray of blood painting splotches of red on the pristine white floor. Three giant gashes were visible across her torso, all bleeding profusely as she lay unmoving on the tiles.
Everyone stood frozen in shock. A trio of guards rushed to the mage's aid, calling for a medical team and desperately trying to stop the bleeding. After several moments, a group of ponies rushed in with medical supplies, but it was soon evident that they wouldn't be needed.
"No! She's not dead! She can't be!" a unicorn guard whimpered as she kept her hooves on the wound.
"Saph'…I'm sorry, but…she's gone," another guard said softly, his head held low.
"No! Em' can't be dead!" the mare shoved away the stallion with blood-soaked hooves, tears in her bright-blue eyes. Now, Link noticed the striking facial similarity between the guard and Emerald Gaze that made his stomach sink: they were sisters.
Celestia slowly approached the weeping guard, and placed a comforting wing over her. They exchanged words too low for Link to hear, but evidently the guard seemed a little more resolute to Emerald's sudden death.
The group, still not past the shock of the sheer violence, numbly watched as Emerald Gaze was carried off on a stretcher, her eyes locked on the monstrosity that was half-way across the world but had still taken her life. The tearful guardspony was led by the other two guards out of the room, leaving the others in eerie silence.
"I'm…I'm sorry you all had to witness that." Celestia said in a low voice, still visibly shocked herself.
"Oh, come on! Was it really that bad?"
Everyone looked around in confusion at the sound of the child-like voice that seemed to come from nowhere. However, Link was more startled and confused than everyone else.
"I mean, sure, eleven people died and all, but do you even realize how many die on a regular basis?"
The remaining guards in the room drew their weapons.
"Midna, stop it. You're being a bit heartless right now." Link called out, attracting strange looks from everyone else.
"Aww, come on, Link! You know it's true!" The shadow under Link's hooves shifted, and shot out from under him, morphing into the silhouette of a unicorn filly floating in mid-air with a mane that seemed to naturally pull into a ponytail. Her glowing eyes with red irises and the points of two canine teeth poking out from her lip gave her a slightly sinister look. "And besides," Midna continued with a cocky grin, "it's not my fault they were acting like a bunch of idiots."