Prologue

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I mean, yes, Princess."

"You don't have to treat me like the rest of the kingdom. We are friends."

"I know. But I still want to make an impression other than the fact that I'm a goat herder from the south."

"You're a Hero, too."

"Hero or not, they judge me on how I act, not what I've done for Hyrule. And I've done a lot."

The Princess looked at the Hero, smiling softly before looking back out at the twilit sky. "I know you've done a lot for Hyrule...and for me," she said. "But Link, you shouldn't let other's opinions force you to not act yourself. I wouldn't be where I am today if I listened to all the gossip about me."

Link nodded, resting his head on his hands as he stared out from the balcony of the castle. Beside him, the Princess shifted her stance, glancing at him again. He looked up at her.

"Do you ever feel...sad as dusk falls?" he asked.

"Sad? Why?"

Link sighed. "I've been thinking a lot over these two years." He gave a small laugh. "Can you believe it? Two years since I sent Ganondorf back to where he came from. Two years since..."

"Since Midna broke the Mirror."

Link nodded. "Got it in one."

"It that why you feel sad at dusk?" Princess Zelda of Hyrule asked. "Because it reminds you of Midna?"

Link shrugged, not answering the Princess' question. Zelda let it drop. Link didn't like to talk much when he was like that. Or, at least, that's what she got from him from his short and not-so-frequent visits on his rounds through Hyrule, making sure that things were still peaceful. When he wasn't doing that, he was living back at his home in Ordona Province, in the quiet village of Ordon.

As Link sighed, Zelda remembered the last time she had seen the Twilight Princess...two years ago, she, Link, and Midna stood next to the Mirror of Twilight, giving the Twilight Princess a last farewell before she left for the Twilight Realm. After a moment of small talk regarding the Twili and light and shadow in general, Midna looked at Zelda, sincerity in her eyes.

"Zelda...your words are kind, and your heart is true. If all in Hyrule are like you...then maybe you'll do all right."

Zelda nodded her thanks, but was confused at the compliment. What did the Twilight Princess mean? She would have to ponder it later. Midna stepped over to the glowing rectangle in the stone, moving with a grace, despite her tall stature. The stairs activated, and she turned to look at the Hero and Princess. "Thank you..." she said, more to Link than to Zelda. "Well, the Princess spoke truly: as long as the Mirror's around, we could meet again..." She paused, her eyes filling with sadness. "Link..." she said, a silvery tear slipping from the corner of her eye. The teardrop floated off her cheek and she pushed it along with a wave of her hand toward the mirror.

"I..." Once again the Twilight Princess faltered in her words. The glowing teardrop moved smoothly through the air. "See you later..." Midna finally managed to say.

Zelda realized what Midna was doing before the tear drop hit the Mirror, a fine web of cracks radiating from the center. Link gasped beside Zelda, looking at the mirror. He turned back as Midna ran up the stairs.

"No," Link said, stepping forward to stop the Twilight Princess. Midna only smiled at him. Her figure dissolved as she warped, but Zelda noticed how Midna's gaze never left Link's face. The mirror shattered into a thousand glittering particles with a great noise. Link, out of instinct, shielded his face. Zelda saw the white lines on the black rock fade. Link dropped his hand from his face, staring almost incomprehensibly at the large black rock, sadness reigning each of his features. Zelda laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Come," she said. "Let's head back."

Link nodded mutely and led the way out of the mirror chamber, stealing one last glance at the blank rock, at the empty Mirror frame.

Link's sigh brought Zelda from the memory. "I think I'll start back to Ordon," he said.

"Now?"

Link nodded. "I've traveled at night. I can handle it."

"Are you sure? You're more than welcome to stay here tonight."

"I appreciate the offer, but...I just want to get out on the road."

Zelda studied him. "I understand. I'll walk you to the stables." She and the Hero walked through the castle quietly, until they reached the stables where Link's faithful mare waited, dozing in the light of twilight.

"Hey, there, Epona," Link said softly, waking his horse. Epona lifted her head and whinnied softly, snuffling his hands for anything tasty. The Hero stroked her nose and led her out into the stable yard with Zelda. Before he mounted, he turned to the Princess. "It was nice to see you again, Princess."

"And you as well. Safe travels, Hero," Zelda replied. Link gave her his trademark grin and mounted. He spurred his horse forward, riding off into the twilight.