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Description
Link sat near a small pond with Epona by his side. Hyrule was bathed in a bright summer morning. The sunbeams warmed his very soul. He couldn't help but smile. However, his heart was troubled. After all his trials against Zant and Ganondorf, Midna, Queen of the Twilight Realm, had returned to her world without a proper goodbye. The smiled faded from his lips as tears came to his eyes. He missed her and her mocking comments, her sarcastic tones, and her true friendship.  All he could remember about her leave from the world of light was her single, bright tear. The mirror had shattered soon after, cutting Midna from the world of light forever. Link wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"I'll never see her again," he thought to himself. "I'll just have to... move on." He stood to his feet and adjusted the Master Sword and his shield on his back. He patted Epona's neck and swung himself into her saddle. "Let's go home, girl," Link said to the sorrel mare. He clicked his tongue and turned Epona around. They walked leisurely back to Ordon, Link's home village. Hyrule seemed to be green and lush everywhere, now that the Twilight Realm had been closed. Link's heart darkened again. "Midna," he thought. Epona turned her head slightly as though she sensed her master's heartache. She nickered softly then turned to face the road ahead.

They arrived in Ordon nearly an hour later. A young boy with blonde hair was sitting on a stump, apparently waiting for someone.

"Link!" the little boy called out. He waved and jumped off the stump. Link laughed and swung the boy up into the saddle with him.

"Hey, Colin," Link said. He ruffled the boy's hair fondly. "Where's Malo, Talo, and Beth?"

"Malo and Talo are out fishing," Colin said. "I said that I wanted to wait until you got home so that you could help us. Beth's with her mother in the shop."

"Okay then. Where's Ilia?" Link asked.

"She's out with the goats, of course," Colin said. "Ever since you took Epona with you, Ilia's had to make due with the other animals."

"I see," Link said. He walked Epona into the village and dismounted near the creek. He picked up Colin from the saddle and put him on the ground.

"Hey, Link!" two boys called to him. They were sitting on a small dock with fishing polls in their hands. The older one was Talo, and his younger brother was Malo. "Will you help us fish today?"

"Maybe later, boys," a voice said from behind Link. "I need to speak to Link for a while." Link turned and came face to face with Rusl, the village blacksmith. "Come with me Link," he said. "Try and catch us a good dinner, boys," he called back to Colin, Malo, and Talo. Rusl lead Link to the house of Bo, the village leader. Ilia was coming down the path as they walked up the steps.

"Link!" she nearly shouted. She ran up to him and through her arms over his neck. "I missed you," she laughed. "Where's Epona?"

"Over with the boys," Link grinned. "I figured you'd be more concerned about her than me." Ilia shoved him playfully, then went to go check on Epona.

"Welcome back, Link," Bo said as he opened his door. "How fares Hyrule today?"

"Calm and peaceful," Link said. "Nothing miraculous save the miracle of life itself."

"All's well then," Bo said with relief. "I'm glad that this war between light and twilight is over."

"Yeah," Link faltered. "...Me too."

"Link, we needed to deliver this to you," Rusl said. He handed Link a small parchment that was rolled tightly and tied with a fine silk ribbon. Link pulled the ribbon off and unrolled the parchment.

Link,
I need you to come to the castle. We need to speak privately about some concerns of mine. Please come tomorrow morning, as early as possible. This is extremely urgent, so please hurry when you set out.
Princess Zelda

Link read the letter silently to himself. He couldn't help but feel a cold chill run down his spine. He shook the feeling away. He had to stop thinking of the worst now. The danger was gone.

"What is it, Link?" Bo asked.

"The Princess had summoned me to the castle," Link said. "I need to leave before dawn."

"Link, you just returned home last week. Is this really neccessary?" Rusl asked with concern.

"She is the princess," Link said. "And I will serve her loyaly."

"As you wish," Bo said. "Do you know when you will be returning?"

"No," Link said. "I have no real idea as to why I'm going."

"Go then," Bo said. "Tomorrow morning, before the crack of dawn. Go with all speed."

                                                                                   **********

Link ran Epona hard through Hyrule field. The mare seemed exhiliarated by the speed they were traveling. It only took them less than fifteen minutes to reach Hyrule Castle. Princess Zelda, surprisingly, was at the gate waiting for them.

"Link!" she cried out. Link halted Epona sharply and leaped off the saddle. "You need to come with me," Zelda said hurridly. "I couldn't tell you anything in my message, it could've been read by anyone. Hurry, come on!" She grabbed Link's wrist and led him into the castle. She showed him down several flights of stairs, and all the while it became darker and chillier as they went deeper into the earth. Zelda finally came to a large wooden door. She halted Link and pushed the door open.

Link gasped when he saw what was in the chamber. It was the mirror. The Mirror of the Twilight.

"Midna," Link whispered. He turned to Zelda. "How? How did you--?"

"Rebuild the mirror?" Zelda asked. "It wasn't easy, that's all I can say." Her eyes filled with compassion as she spoke to Link. "I saw your expression when Midna went home. You didn't deserve such a cruel ending."

"I...," Link stammered. "I... thank you, Princess," he finally murmured. "Do you think this will work?"

"We have to try sometime," Zelda smiled. She adjusted the light settings in the room with specially crafted handles in the high windows. The mirror began to glow promisingly. Zelda smiled and nodded her head at Link. He nodded in repsonse and stepped up to the mirror.

"Midna?" he called into the glassy depths. There was no response. "Midna?" Link called louder. He listened intently. Was it his imagination, or could he hear faint sounds coming from the mirror?

Link was suddenly knocked backward as a blinding light struck his eyes. He slammed on his back and skidded a few feet. Zelda cried out and rushed to help him to his feet.

"Are you alright?" Zelda asked him.

"Yeah, I'm--," Link suddenly stopped and looked at the mirror. Zelda followed his gaze and gasped at what she saw. Midna, tall and beautiful, stood before them. She smiled slyly at Link.

"Well, say something," she said. "Are you completely tongue-tied from shock?"

"Midna," Link breathed. He stood to his feet and stared at her. He couldn't help but smile. "I thought... I thought I'd never see you again."

"I didn't think I'd be stepping into this world again anytime soon," Midna said as she looked around. "How did you do it?"

"I recunstructed the Mirror of Twilight," Zelda said. "It's not right for our worlds to be seperated just yet. Now is a time for peace and unity."

"Princess Zelda," Midna said. "Our worlds cannot co-exist. It's just not right in the world."

"We can make it right, Midna," Zelda insisted firmly. "We can if we try.

Midna was silent for several minutes. She seemed lost in thought. She eventually met Link's eyes and grinned.

"Are you just going to stand there slack-jawwed?" she said. "Show me Hyrule. You've seen my world at peace. Now it's time to show me yours at peace."

"Oh, Midna," Link laughed. He linked his arm with hers and led her outside to Epona. Zelda walked behind them.

"You two go on," she said. "I'm going to begin a plan to help or worlds exist in peace."

"I shall help you as soon as we return, Princess," Midna called behind her shoulder. Link assisted her into Epona's saddle and swung himself into the seat. They galloped off with a wave to Zelda.

**********

The sun was setting under the horizon. Link and Midna stood side by side on a hilltop overlooking Hyrule Field.

"It really is good to see you, Midna," Link said quietly. He reached over slowly and squeezed her hand. "I never really got to say goodbye to you."

"I didn't want us to suffer any more than we had to," Midna said. "Long goodbyes hurt the most."

"At least we can... be together again," Link said.

"Yes, we can now," Midna smiled. "But don't think I'm going to let you keep a quiet life. You're going to have to help with all of Zelda's preparations and the negotiations, you'll have to travel between the worlds every now and then, you'll have to--," she was cut off as Link drew closer to her. "You'll have to--," she whispered. She closed her eyes as she felt Link's lips against hers. Her hood fell from her head, revealing her long, flaming-orange hair. Link held her close, and she clung to his neck as though afraid he would let her go.

They pulled apart after several minutes. Neither was breathing calmly.

"I couldn't forgive myself if I never did that," Link laughed softly. He stroked Midna's neck gently and smiled reassuringly.

"Link," Midna whispered. She leaned against his chest and held him close, tears of happiness falling down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and felt Link's arms wrap around her. She smiled through her tears, letting every other feeling slip away. She was home.

Description
Link sat near a small pond with Epona by his side. Hyrule was bathed in a bright summer morning. The sunbeams warmed his very soul. He couldn't help but smile. However, his heart was troubled. After all his trials against Zant and Ganondorf, Midna, Queen of the Twilight Realm, had returned to her world without a proper goodbye. The smiled faded from his lips as tears came to his eyes. He missed her and her mocking comments, her sarcastic tones, and her true friendship.  All he could remember about her leave from the world of light was her single, bright tear. The mirror had shattered soon after, cutting Midna from the world of light forever. Link wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"I'll never see her again," he thought to himself. "I'll just have to... move on." He stood to his feet and adjusted the Master Sword and his shield on his back. He patted Epona's neck and swung himself into her saddle. "Let's go home, girl," Link said to the sorrel mare. He clicked his tongue and turned Epona around. They walked leisurely back to Ordon, Link's home village. Hyrule seemed to be green and lush everywhere, now that the Twilight Realm had been closed. Link's heart darkened again. "Midna," he thought. Epona turned her head slightly as though she sensed her master's heartache. She nickered softly then turned to face the road ahead.

They arrived in Ordon nearly an hour later. A young boy with blonde hair was sitting on a stump, apparently waiting for someone.

"Link!" the little boy called out. He waved and jumped off the stump. Link laughed and swung the boy up into the saddle with him.

"Hey, Colin," Link said. He ruffled the boy's hair fondly. "Where's Malo, Talo, and Beth?"

"Malo and Talo are out fishing," Colin said. "I said that I wanted to wait until you got home so that you could help us. Beth's with her mother in the shop."

"Okay then. Where's Ilia?" Link asked.

"She's out with the goats, of course," Colin said. "Ever since you took Epona with you, Ilia's had to make due with the other animals."

"I see," Link said. He walked Epona into the village and dismounted near the creek. He picked up Colin from the saddle and put him on the ground.

"Hey, Link!" two boys called to him. They were sitting on a small dock with fishing polls in their hands. The older one was Talo, and his younger brother was Malo. "Will you help us fish today?"

"Maybe later, boys," a voice said from behind Link. "I need to speak to Link for a while." Link turned and came face to face with Rusl, the village blacksmith. "Come with me Link," he said. "Try and catch us a good dinner, boys," he called back to Colin, Malo, and Talo. Rusl lead Link to the house of Bo, the village leader. Ilia was coming down the path as they walked up the steps.

"Link!" she nearly shouted. She ran up to him and through her arms over his neck. "I missed you," she laughed. "Where's Epona?"

"Over with the boys," Link grinned. "I figured you'd be more concerned about her than me." Ilia shoved him playfully, then went to go check on Epona.

"Welcome back, Link," Bo said as he opened his door. "How fares Hyrule today?"

"Calm and peaceful," Link said. "Nothing miraculous save the miracle of life itself."

"All's well then," Bo said with relief. "I'm glad that this war between light and twilight is over."

"Yeah," Link faltered. "...Me too."

"Link, we needed to deliver this to you," Rusl said. He handed Link a small parchment that was rolled tightly and tied with a fine silk ribbon. Link pulled the ribbon off and unrolled the parchment.

Link,
I need you to come to the castle. We need to speak privately about some concerns of mine. Please come tomorrow morning, as early as possible. This is extremely urgent, so please hurry when you set out.
Princess Zelda

Link read the letter silently to himself. He couldn't help but feel a cold chill run down his spine. He shook the feeling away. He had to stop thinking of the worst now. The danger was gone.

"What is it, Link?" Bo asked.

"The Princess had summoned me to the castle," Link said. "I need to leave before dawn."

"Link, you just returned home last week. Is this really neccessary?" Rusl asked with concern.

"She is the princess," Link said. "And I will serve her loyaly."

"As you wish," Bo said. "Do you know when you will be returning?"

"No," Link said. "I have no real idea as to why I'm going."

"Go then," Bo said. "Tomorrow morning, before the crack of dawn. Go with all speed."

                                                                                   **********

Link ran Epona hard through Hyrule field. The mare seemed exhiliarated by the speed they were traveling. It only took them less than fifteen minutes to reach Hyrule Castle. Princess Zelda, surprisingly, was at the gate waiting for them.

"Link!" she cried out. Link halted Epona sharply and leaped off the saddle. "You need to come with me," Zelda said hurridly. "I couldn't tell you anything in my message, it could've been read by anyone. Hurry, come on!" She grabbed Link's wrist and led him into the castle. She showed him down several flights of stairs, and all the while it became darker and chillier as they went deeper into the earth. Zelda finally came to a large wooden door. She halted Link and pushed the door open.

Link gasped when he saw what was in the chamber. It was the mirror. The Mirror of the Twilight.

"Midna," Link whispered. He turned to Zelda. "How? How did you--?"

"Rebuild the mirror?" Zelda asked. "It wasn't easy, that's all I can say." Her eyes filled with compassion as she spoke to Link. "I saw your expression when Midna went home. You didn't deserve such a cruel ending."

"I...," Link stammered. "I... thank you, Princess," he finally murmured. "Do you think this will work?"

"We have to try sometime," Zelda smiled. She adjusted the light settings in the room with specially crafted handles in the high windows. The mirror began to glow promisingly. Zelda smiled and nodded her head at Link. He nodded in repsonse and stepped up to the mirror.

"Midna?" he called into the glassy depths. There was no response. "Midna?" Link called louder. He listened intently. Was it his imagination, or could he hear faint sounds coming from the mirror?

Link was suddenly knocked backward as a blinding light struck his eyes. He slammed on his back and skidded a few feet. Zelda cried out and rushed to help him to his feet.

"Are you alright?" Zelda asked him.

"Yeah, I'm--," Link suddenly stopped and looked at the mirror. Zelda followed his gaze and gasped at what she saw. Midna, tall and beautiful, stood before them. She smiled slyly at Link.

"Well, say something," she said. "Are you completely tongue-tied from shock?"

"Midna," Link breathed. He stood to his feet and stared at her. He couldn't help but smile. "I thought... I thought I'd never see you again."

"I didn't think I'd be stepping into this world again anytime soon," Midna said as she looked around. "How did you do it?"

"I recunstructed the Mirror of Twilight," Zelda said. "It's not right for our worlds to be seperated just yet. Now is a time for peace and unity."

"Princess Zelda," Midna said. "Our worlds cannot co-exist. It's just not right in the world."

"We can make it right, Midna," Zelda insisted firmly. "We can if we try.

Midna was silent for several minutes. She seemed lost in thought. She eventually met Link's eyes and grinned.

"Are you just going to stand there slack-jawwed?" she said. "Show me Hyrule. You've seen my world at peace. Now it's time to show me yours at peace."

"Oh, Midna," Link laughed. He linked his arm with hers and led her outside to Epona. Zelda walked behind them.

"You two go on," she said. "I'm going to begin a plan to help or worlds exist in peace."

"I shall help you as soon as we return, Princess," Midna called behind her shoulder. Link assisted her into Epona's saddle and swung himself into the seat. They galloped off with a wave to Zelda.

**********

The sun was setting under the horizon. Link and Midna stood side by side on a hilltop overlooking Hyrule Field.

"It really is good to see you, Midna," Link said quietly. He reached over slowly and squeezed her hand. "I never really got to say goodbye to you."

"I didn't want us to suffer any more than we had to," Midna said. "Long goodbyes hurt the most."

"At least we can... be together again," Link said.

"Yes, we can now," Midna smiled. "But don't think I'm going to let you keep a quiet life. You're going to have to help with all of Zelda's preparations and the negotiations, you'll have to travel between the worlds every now and then, you'll have to--," she was cut off as Link drew closer to her. "You'll have to--," she whispered. She closed her eyes as she felt Link's lips against hers. Her hood fell from her head, revealing her long, flaming-orange hair. Link held her close, and she clung to his neck as though afraid he would let her go.

They pulled apart after several minutes. Neither was breathing calmly.

"I couldn't forgive myself if I never did that," Link laughed softly. He stroked Midna's neck gently and smiled reassuringly.

"Link," Midna whispered. She leaned against his chest and held him close, tears of happiness falling down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and felt Link's arms wrap around her. She smiled through her tears, letting every other feeling slip away. She was home.