Midna

Midna (pronounced ), the Twilight Princess, is a main character in. She is a resident of the Twilight Realm and a descendant of the ancient Twili people. At first she seems to be a strange, dark creature with an agenda of her own and little regard for Link, but she ends up changing her attitude towards those who are willing to help her.

Biography
"Light and shadow can't mix, as we all know. But... never forget that there's another world bound to this one."

- Midna

Midna is one of the Twili, a race descended from wielders of powerful and evil magic who were banished to an alternate dimension by the goddesses Din, Farore, and Nayru after an event known as the Interloper War. This alternate dimension, out of which the sublimated descendants could only exist as shadows, eventually became known as the Twilight Realm.

Prior to the events of Twilight Princess, Zant, one of the Twili, overthrew Midna from her throne and placed a curse on her, giving her the imp form that she maintains for most of the game and depriving her of the magic powers that are granted to the leader of the Twili. Midna, already in possession of a Fused Shadow, leaves the Twilight Realm and witnesses Link as a wolf being taken away by a Shadow Beast. Knowing the Twili legend that the Hero would appear as a "divine beast," Midna follows Link to his prison cell in the Castle Town Sewers and tells him she'll help him escape if Link does exactly as he's told. The pair eventually exit the sewers and go to a tower in Hyrule Castle to meet with Princess Zelda, who Midna mockingly calls "Twilight Princess" and blames Zelda for Hyrule's current state.

After the meeting with Zelda, Midna reminds Link that he must still save Ilia and the rest of the Ordon children that were kidnapped, saying that she'll be happy to help the young hero if he acts like her "servant." Once Link finds the first Fused Shadow in the Forest Temple, Midna reveals that was the item that she was looking for, but refuses to tell Link their exact purpose or what she plans to do with them. The power of the Fused Shadows can be used to destroy Zant, returning Midna and the other Twili to their true form. Midna does not tell Link, however, that she wants the Fused Shadows for the benefit of herself and her world.

Upon collecting all Fused Shadows, Zant confronts Link and Midna in the Lanayru Spring and easily takes the Fused Shadows from them. He then tries to persuade Midna to join his side, but after she refuses, he holds her up in front of the Light Spirit Lanayru, who gravely injures Midna by overexposing her to its light. With Link now once again as a wolf and Midna nearing death, the young hero takes her to Princess Zelda in Hyrule Castle. The dying Midna, no longer caring for her sake, asks that Zelda tell Link how to break his curse since he is the only one who can defeat Zant. As a last request, Midna pleads to Zelda to inform Link where he can find the Mirror of Twilight. Zelda, realizing who Midna really is and touched by her consideration of the world of light despite her injures, chooses to revive the Twili by transferring her soul within Midna's body, disappearing in the process. After seeing the unselfish acts made by Zelda and Link, Midna has a change of heart and vows to help save Hyrule from Zant. The duo eventually arrive to the Gerudo Desert, where Midna asks for Link's help in finding the Mirror of Twilight, their last potential link to Zant.

Eventually, Midna and Link reach the Mirror Chamber and find that the Mirror of Twilight has been broken into four Mirror Shards, with only one of them remaining in the mirror. After learning from the Sages the location of the remaining three shards, the pair find them and return to the Mirror Chamber to complete the mirror, where the Sages reveal that Midna is the true Twilight Princess and ruler of the Twili race, not Zelda, who had previously been defined as the Twilight Princess by Midna herself, presumably to keep a cover on her identity. Zant, after usurping the throne from Midna, placed a curse on her that gave her the form she maintains for most of the game. This curse could presumably not be lifted until Ganondorf, the source of Zant's power, was defeated.

Once Link has defeated Zant in battle, Midna is shocked to see that her curse is not lifted, which would enable her to regain her powers. Angered, she uses only a fraction of the power that the Fused Shadows hold to destroy Zant, and is utterly bewildered by their power. With the help of her ancestor's magic, Midna uses its power to transform into a giant, spider-like beast with a large pole-arm weapon to break the pyramid-shaped barrier around Hyrule Castle, allowing the duo entry into the castle hall where Ganondorf and Zelda are located. Link, after a small confrontation between Midna and Ganondorf, successfully drives Ganondorf from out of Zelda's body. However, because Ganondorf's spirit reappears, Midna chooses to sacrifice herself by using the Fused Shadow's power once again in an attempt to destroy Ganondorf. Before doing so, she transports Link and Zelda against their wishes out of the castle before she is seen transforming into the spider-like beast, fully intent in killing Ganondorf. Outside of the castle, Link and Zelda witness an explosion coming from Hyrule Castle, but it is soon revealed that Midna's sacrifice was in vain: shortly thereafter, Ganondorf is seen holding up the helmet part of the Fused Shadows that was Midna's trademark garment, breaking it in his hand to symbolize her defeat.

After Link, with some assistance from Zelda, defeats Ganondorf once and for all, the Light Spirits revive Midna and break the curse placed on her by Ganondorf and Zant, allowing Midna to regain her true form. In a comical moment when Link first sees her true form, she is amused by his silence and asks, "Am I so beautiful that you've no words left?"

Before going back to the Twilight Realm, Midna bids Princess Zelda and Link farewell at the Mirror Chamber and asks that everyone "...remember that there is another world bound to this one." She then addresses the young hero by beginning with the word "I..." but never finishes her sentence. Instead, she sheds a single tear, which, upon contact with the Mirror of Twilight, destroys it completely, severing the only link between the two worlds. She quickly runs to the platform to be taken back to the Twilight Realm, smiling at Link as she does so, before disappearing into her world completely.

Characteristics and gameplay

 * See also: Midna Gallery

Standing a head taller than Princess Zelda, Midna possesses orange hair, red eyes and a pale blueish complexion from the Twilight Realm. She wears a hooded cloak in similar design to Zant's leading some to believe that this may be some kind of royalty garb. With this, she wears a half-dress that reveals one leg bare, and a headdress (or crown). Strangely, she slightly resembles Veran from.

Since Midna is one of the Twili, Midna is unable to withstand the light in Hyrule and, as such, hides in Link's shadow whenever he is in the Light World. After Princess Zelda sacrifices herself and transfers her light essence to Midna, she is able from then on to take her physical form even when she's not in the Twilight; however, she still chooses to hide in Link's shadow for most of the game.

Midna's function in the game is like that of Link's previous companions: she helps the player learn the controls for the game and often gives Link hints on what to do or where to go next. When Link is a Wolf, Midna will ride on top of him and be able to create an energy field to help the young hero lock on to enemies and defeat them easily, as seen in the case of Shadow Beasts. Players can choose to talk to Midna at any time by pressing the "Z" button on the GameCube controller or up on the Directional Pad on the Wii Remote. When Wolf Link is in a certain area or near a faraway platform, Midna's icon will flash, which, when pressed, will make Midna float over to that area that Wolf Link can jump to. This is especially helpful to Link since it allows him to reach otherwise inaccessible platforms. Obtaining the Shadow Crystal later on in the game will allow Midna to switch Link between human and wolf as desired.

Abilities
Throughout the course of the game, Midna portrays several abilities both in the Light and Twilight worlds. The most notable one is that she is able to warp Link through the portals of the Twilight at any given time (provided that Link can transform into a wolf without anyone noticing him). She seems to do this with ease, and is capable of it with any kind of object or person: at one point, Midna warps a bridge and a giant rock from Death Mountain in order to help Link during his quest. Another ability seen in the beginning of Twilight Princess is the capability of walking through walls and other objects, as witnessed when she easily disintegrates and reintegrates as she gets through Link's cell in Hyrule Castle. Moreover, she can easily change her appearance and transform into other people: Midna changes her appearance to look exactly like Ilia and Colin as she reminds Link of who else he needs to rescue.

After Link gathers a sword and a shield for Midna to use, she tries to use them, but is displeased by their power, so she vanishes them into the Twilight and keeps them for Link until they are needed. She can also hide in the light world as Link's shadow while he's in his human form. Once he turns into Wolf Link, she can use her hair to pull switches or make a power field around her for Wolf Link to attack enemies within that range.

These powers are just some of the many other abilities that Midna seems to possess, another being that she easily frees Wolf Link from his chain and imprisonment by simply concentrating a small ball of energy between her hands. The most important power contained within the true Twilight Princess is the ability to utterly shatter the Mirror of Twilight. Zant, the Usurper King, was only able to destroy the mirror into fragments, and it's only Midna's true powers that can completely obliterate the Mirror.

Link
Upon meeting Link while he is in wolf form, Midna suggests a deal: she will help him escape from his prison if he does exactly as she says. Midna is often condescending to Link, frequently jeering at him. As they progress further on their adventure, Midna and Link grow closer. When Zant attacks both Link and Midna, she pleads for him to help himself, and carry on with their quest. She admits that she initially intended to use Link just as a tool to gather the Fused Shadows and crush Zant, not caring a single bit about the Light World and its destiny. But because of the heroism of both Link and Zelda, the latter having sacrificed herself to save Midna (by infusing her with the Triforce of Wisdom and thus losing her physical form in the Twilight version of Hyrule), she gains a true respect for the people of the light, wanting to do everything in her grasp to save both worlds.

From then on, Link and Midna maintain a strong friendship, and she is far less disdainful and more amiable and kind to him. Towards the end, Midna sacrifices herself as a last desperate attempt to kill Ganondorf, sending Link and Zelda to safety. She appears to be defeated however, and Link mourns her death after killing Ganondorf. Shortly after the Light Spirits restore her, and with Ganondorf's power lifted, she is in her true form. Noticing Link's surprise, she jokingly says to him: "What? Say something! Am I so beautiful that you have no words left?," somewhat of a fourth-wall jab at Link being a silent protagonist.

Zelda, Link and Midna return to the Mirror of Twilight, where the latter breaks it, to both Zelda and Link's surprise, seemingly sealing the worlds of Light and Twilight from each other forever, as only the true ruler of the Twilight Realm could destroy the Mirror. Shedding a single tear (which is used to destroy the Mirror), her parting words are "Link... I... See you later." However, this is not what the Japanese text literally translates to. Her last words, in Japanese, were "リンク…ま…またな…", which translates to "Link...s...see you."

Some fans of the series have alleged a possible romance between Midna and Link, interpreting scenes when Midna lays her hand on Link's cheek, when Link cradles Midna in his arms and they gaze at each other for several seconds, or even Midna's last words as signs of affection.

Zelda
When Link first meets Zelda, Midna addresses her as "Twilight Princess," and seems to be very aggressive and supercilious of her and her decision to choose Hyrule being turned to Twilight over death. Midna often mocks Zelda throughout the game. It isn't until Zelda sacrifices herself, imbuing Midna with her Light to save her life that she gains respect for her and the people of the Light.

During the final battle, Ganondorf possesses Zelda's body, and Midna tries to use her own to protect the princess. When this fails, Midna looks ready to attack Zelda, but softens and sadly places her hand on Zelda's cheek, and is attacked by Ganon's Puppet Zelda. When she awakens from the attack, Midna uses the Fused Shadows to eradicate Ganon's presence from Zelda, placing her out of harms way. When Dark Beast Ganon is defeated, the light Zelda gave Midna is returned to her. Zelda says that she and Midna's hearts were as one briefly, and she understands Midna's suffering.

When Ganondorf resurfaces later, Midna sacrifices herself to attempt to defeat him, and sends Zelda and Link away to safety. Although it appears as if she has died, Midna is later returned to her true form after Ganon's defeat. At the Mirror of Twilight, Midna intends to leave and says that light and shadow can´t mix. The true Twilight Princess says "your words are kind, and your heart is true," but later she departs regardless, shattering the Mirror.

Zant
"Traitors, ha! You want to know why none would call you king? It was your eyes, Zant. All saw it, a lust for power burning in your pupils... Did you think we'd forget our ancestors who lost their king to such greed?"

- Midna

The Usurper King Zant turned the Twilight Princess, Midna, into an imp to prevent her from retaking the throne and as punishment for defying him. Midna seeks nothing else than to destroy him, using Link to collect pieces of the Fused Shadows that may defeat Zant. Nothing is known of Zant and Midna's previous relationship, but it is nothing but hatred when the game begins. Fans speculate that Zant and Midna both belong to the royal family, hence Zant's expectation that he would ascend to the throne.

Ganondorf
Although Midna doesn't know it initially, it is Ganon who pulls the strings behind Zant, who overthrew Midna and changed her into an imp with Ganondorf's power. He intended to become ruler of both the Twilight and the Light, and Midna says to him she will do everything to deny him. Midna also attempts to kill Ganondorf using the power of the Fused Shadows, but fails.

Hyrule Warriors
Midna appears as a playable Warrior in. This marks her first major role in a game since Twilight Princess, as well as her first playable appearance in any game. Cia is said to have transformed Midna into her imp form and she is searching for Cia in order to be changed back. She is first encountered as a villain by Agitha and Lana, having stolen Agitha's butterfly. She wields a weapon named Shackles, on a Shadow Wolf similar in appearance to Wolf Link. One of Midna's special moves is her Fused Shadow form from Twilight Princess.

Her fighting style is very odd and wild, often consisting of Midna grabbing and throwing enemies as well as using her Twilit Wolves. While she does have great area coverage and her grapples are useful, she has obvious gaps in her combos, her initial strike has a bit of windup unless she's already dashing, and her Special Move can completely miss an enemy when used at point blank range. Thus, proper spacing is key in order to fully utilize her moveset which can keep enemies at arm's reach.

Twili Midna
Midna's true form, known as Twili Midna, is also available as a separate, playable Warrior with the release of the Twilight Princess DLC pack. In this form, she uses the Mirror as her chosen weapon type. Beneath her life bar there is a Twilight gauge that fills as she attacks enemies, which in turn lets her use her powerful Charge attack far more quickly. The Mirror seems to be influenced by Midna's power to warp objects in Twilight Princess. Typically she uses a stone hand for melee attacks, but her combos have a variety of finishes such as conjuring the cannon Link used to reach the City in the Sky, bludgeoning enemies with a bridge, or summoning wolves (though unlike her imp form they are gigantic in size). Her Focus Spirit attack is a reenactment of the ending of Twilight Princess where she shattered the Mirror of Twilight, though in this case she apparently shatters reality itself.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Although she is not playable or an Assist Trophy, Midna makes several cameos in. Midna appears as two Stickers: one of them has her riding Wolf Link while the other is just of her floating.

"Midna's Desperate Hour" is a song in the game that can be unlocked and played on Bridge of Eldin while brawling (though the song's name was renamed "Midna's Lament" in the game). She also appears as two Trophies. Like her two stickers, one trophy depicts her riding Wolf Link. The other is of Midna alone.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Midna appears in as an. When summoned, she attacks opponents with her hair in arm form.

Future Games With Midna
On an interview with Game Informer, Eiji Aonuma was asked if Midna would return for another game. Aonuma stated: "Because of the way Twilight Princess ended, I don’t see her making a reappearance, but who knows? If we hear enough voices for her to come back, how can we not?".

There is a growing fanbase dedicated to the return of Midna in a future game, known as Want Midna Back (WMB). This initiative has already launched several projects including a WMB CD, a mass email, made WMB shirts available for purchase over the internet, commissioned Midna figurines to be sent to Nintendo, and even has an official website at http://www.wantmidnaback.com.

Due to recent information and Aonuma's hints, it may have been confirmed that Midna will never make an appearance again. Aonuma has hinted: "How you think of the way "Twilight Princess" ended is up to your imagination, but it stands quite obvious about her and her future."

Etymology
The name Midna may come from the word "midnight" as midona (the romanization of her Japanese name) is the beginning of the for the Japanese transliteration of midnight, midonaito.

Trivia

 * When Link is in Wolf form but does not have Midna riding on his back, her shadow still appears over him. If Link is in front of anything reflective, such as the ice from Snowpeak Ruins, Midna will have no reflection.
 * Midna's voice clips feature English lines jumbled up and distorted, creating the gibberish heard in the game.