The winds of Gerudo Desert may have subsided, but the revelations from the Sages and Midna still ring in your ears as the Mirror of Twilight teleports you to the land of the Twili. Yet, in all of your travels in twilight blanketed Hyrule, no location could prepare you for the sheer otherworldly nature of the Twilight Realm. The land stands in suspension between the planes of light and dark, but even that pales in contrast to the monoliths of the Palace of Twilight framed by perpetual sunset.
As Link makes his way down the path to the outer courts, Midna confides in him further, her vulnerabilities laid bare as she is confronted by the realities of her people. Approaching the courts, Link reaches for the Master Sword as the crested head of what looks like a Twilit Messenger turns toward them. Midna is able to stay Link’s hand as she recognizes one of her people cursed and transformed, just like herself.
Beyond a vast staircase, cascades of darkness flow like water blocking the entrance to the Palace Tower. Midna explains that Link must seek the Sols in order to power the mechanisms of the Palace that have been deactivated by Zant. Making his way to the West Wing, Link enters the first corridor and is confronted by bluish-grey stonework on the walls and floors, decorated in carvings of whorls and snakes. It isn’t long before Zant’s loyal Twilit creatures skulk from the darkness that flows down the walls and covers some of the lower floors.
Blue etchings illuminate the walls and doors and, as Link activates the Twili equipment, translucent platforms rise from the floor to grant him reprieve from the cursed fog. The safety is short-lived as more of Zant’s defenses activate and teleporting masks force Link to go to ground.
As the fog turns Link back into his wolf form, he is forced to rely on Midna and his senses to fight his way through to the end of the hall. Finally, in the room of the Sol, a Twilight barricade drops, trapping Link and Midna into a battle with a phantom of Zant. Teleporting around the room, the phantom crackles with dark energy as it summons Twilit minions and concussive blasts, desperate to destroy the Hylian invader.
Evading the blasts, Link and Midna defeat Zant’s doppelganger, only to be confronted by more fog from the phantom’s destroyed form. Retrieving the Sol from the stone pedestal, Link discovers that the glowing orb can disperse the cursed fog simply by holding it aloft and moving forward. Making their way back to the entrance, they trigger another failsafe Zant had put into place, the Wallmaster.
Link dodges the Wallmaster’s relentless pursuit through the previous rooms, using the Twili technology to aid in his own escape. Finally reaching the entrance of the hall, Link is able to breathe a sigh of relief as Zant’s hand can go no further and returns to the pedestal.
Finally, outside once more, Link makes his way to the outer courts, only to be faced with a most welcome sight. As the light of the Sol reaches the cursed Twili, their form shrinks and the crested head disappears to reveal the natural form of the Twilight people.
Encouraged by the Twili, Link and Midna return the Sol to the courtyard and make their way to the East Wing. Once again battling their way to the room of the Sol, they are confronted by a legion of Twilit Messengers and finally, Zant’s phantom. Defeated once more, the phantom dissolves into darkness as Link retrieves the Sol and evades the dogged Wallmaster to the entrance.
Placing the Sol next to its twin, the stonework illuminates below Link as the light flows from the Sol into the Master Sword, encasing the blade in an incandescent glow.
Setting their eyes on the Palace Tower, Link and Midna ascend the stairs as the Master Sword pierces the veil of darkness. Once inside the tower, Link is confronted by massive heights that can only be scaled through the use of Twili technology and the many tools gained from his journey. The climb affords Link the opportunity to see visions of the future and trials not yet dreamed as he makes his way across the palace battlements.
After what seems like an interminable journey, the tower gives way to a vast space. Stairs rise from the floor adorned by a pair of snakes that frame a blue relief. On the dais, a throne has been fashioned in the likeness of great spines erupting from the floor, and in its head, the all-seeing eye.
As one, Link and Midna stand firm as they finally confront the Usurper King.
