Fused Shadows,[1] also known as Dark Power and Forbidden Power,[2] are quest items in Twilight Princess. They hold the magical power used by the Dark Interlopers in the Interloper War, who sought entry to the Sacred Realm to claim the Triforce.[3]
Locations and Quest Purpose[]
The enormous power of the Interlopers was sealed away within the Fused Shadow by three of the four Light Spirits, under the order of the Goddesses.[4] Anything that comes in contact with the dark power radiating from the Fused Shadow is transformed, as were the bosses of the first three dungeons.[5][6] This is especially apparent in the Goron Mines where Darbus, the patriarch of the Gorons, was transformed into Fyrus by this sinister power.[7] Midna entreats Link to recover the Fused Shadows in return for her help in his quest.[8] There are three Fused Shadows that must be collected during the game and are held by the dungeon bosses Diababa, Fyrus, Morpheel, and later Zant, of the Forest Temple, Goron Mines, Lakebed Temple, and Palace of Twilight, respectively. However, there are four in all - Midna's helm is the fourth Fused Shadow.
Powers and Abilities[]
The Fused Shadows used to their full extent
The true power of the Fused Shadow is immense; using just a fraction of its power, Midna obliterated Zant, and when Midna dons the complete Fused Shadow, it transforms her into an enormously powerful spider-like creature, capable of piercing the otherwise impenetrable barrier around Hyrule Castle created by Ganondorf. However, the power of the Fused Shadows is less than that of the power of the Goddesses, as seen when Midna challenges Ganondorf and is soundly defeated. Ganondorf emerges from the encounter seemingly unscathed, crushing the fragment of the Fused Shadow that Midna wore as a helmet to symbolize his victory over her.
However, this may also be because the Fused Shadow's power may have withered over time. This can be assumed based on the damaged and cracked condition of the actual relic, and Zant's reference to it as "ancient and withered."[9] Also, though Ganondorf is unharmed physically, he is no longer in the form he was in when he fought Midna; possibly because she weakened him.
It is unknown what ultimately became of the crushed fragment of the Fused Shadows. In the end credits, its pieces are seen lying half-buried in Hyrule Field.
Non-Canon Appearances[]
Hyrule Warriors[]
In Hyrule Warriors, Midna wears a part of the Fused Shadow on her head. The complete Fused Shadow appears as part of her Focus Spirit Attack. When the attack is performed, the Fused Shadow will assemble on Midna, transforming her into a beast. She will then pierce her spear into the ground, returning her to normal afterward.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf[]
In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the Fused Shadow appears as part of the Midna's Mask headgear.
Trivia[]
- The back of Midna's helmet portion of the Fused Shadow contains an Eye Symbol.
- In an interview in Art & Artifacts, Yusuke Nakano said that the Fused Shadow piece on Midna's head was inspired by bronze pottery from the Shang Dynasty.[10]
- The Fused Shadow appears in Breath of the Wild as a part of Midna's helmet, which is a piece of Armor exclusive to the first DLC Pack.
- While unconfirmed, it is likely that the design for the fused shadow was inspired by the armor worn by the villain Thulsa Doom in the film Conan the Barbarian. Aside from aesthetic similarities, the E3 trailer featured a track from the film's soundtrack and the Hero's Spirit recites a line that closely resembles the thesis statement of the film.
Nomenclature[]
 Names in Other Regions 
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Meaning | |
 |
Japanese | 影の結晶石 (Kage no Kesshō Ishi) | Crystal Stone of Shadow |
 |
FrenchEU | Cristal d'ombre | Shadow Crystal |
 |
German | Schattenkristall | Shadow Crystal |
 |
Italian | Cristallo oscuro | Dark Crystal |
 |
SpanishEU | Sombra Fundida | Fused Shadow |
Gallery[]
Silhouette of the Fused Shadow from the logo of Twilight Princess
Ganondorf crushes the shattered remnants of the Fused Shadow
The Fused Shadow worn by Midna
The Fused Shadow obtained in the Forest Temple
Link receives a piece of the Fused Shadow from the Forest Temple, and shadow Midna comments on it.
The Fused Shadow obtained in the Goron Mines
The Fused Shadow obtained in the Lakebed Temple
The completed Fused Shadow
The Fused Shadow obtained in the Forest Temple
The Fused Shadow obtained in the Goron Mines
The Fused Shadow obtained in the Lakebed Temple
The completed Fused Shadow
Midna using the Fused Shadow in Hyrule Warriors
Eye Symbol on the Fused Shadow
References
- ↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 124 (TP)
- ↑ "A dark power rests in the temple deep within these woods. It is a forbidden power." — Faron (Twilight Princess HD)
- ↑ "Among those living in the light, interlopers who excelled at magic appeared. Wielding powerful sorcery, they tried to establish dominion over the Sacred Realm." — Lanayru (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "It was then that the goddesses ordered us three light spirits to intervene. We sealed away the great magic those individuals had mastered." — Lanayru (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "The dark power you seek lies in the sacred grounds of the proud mountain dwellers. But already those grounds have been defiled, draped in shadow and seeded with evil. You must go to those sacred grounds and cleanse them." — Eldin (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "A dark power rests in the temple deep within these woods. It is a forbidden power. Long, long ago, I and the other spirits of light locked it away. Because of its nature, it is a power that should never be touched by any who dwell in the light." — Faron (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "But the moment Darbus reached out and touched the treasure...everything went wrong. He collapsed...and before our very eyes transformed into an unspeakable monster!" — Gor Coron (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "In exchange for my help, though, I need you to gather some things for me" — Midna (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "Did you honestly mean to take an ancient and withered power like this and turn it against me?" — Zant (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "[...] I wanted to search through some image resources not typically used in games. So I searched in various places and eventually ended up looking at bronze artifacts from the Shang dynasty. I felt like I could feel life within them, and their shape and form were really interesting." (Art & Artifacts, Dark Horse Books, pg. 420)