Link's eyes fluttered slowly, his lids heavier than he ever remembered them. His eyes opened only slightly before a sharp, extreme pain forced them closed once more. His head was throbbing immensely. He slowly opened his eyes again and realized that he was lying in cool, fresh water. Water that even now was dulling the ache at the back of his head...He sat up, the pain rocketing all the way to his toes, but diminishing quickly.

"Ilia," he whispered, looking furtively around and finding the Spirit's Spring completely empty. There floating in the water were hunks of wood and shards of metal. He knew he couldn't have dreamt what had happened up. But Ilia and Colin were completely gone. They'd taken them. They'd taken her.

"No," he whispered to himself, shock rendering him numb and hollow. "Ilia? Colin?... ILIA!"

Link sprang into sudden, ferocious action, his feet pounding across the well-trodden ground. All around him the first signs of nightfall crept up. A thick, murky twilight descended rapidly over the familiar landscape, spreading long, evil-looking shadows. He headed rapidly towards Faron Woods, pausing briefly only to gape at the second completely destroyed gate. Those beasts had definitely been here. He sped across the bridge, his brain wheeling out-of-control. The bridge ended and he shot towards the woods he knew and loved so much, towards what he hoped was the path those monsters had taken...

He reeled back suddenly as a giant black wall loomed before him. His eyes darted over its inky, tattooed surface, trying to make sense of it. He put his hand out to push through it, but his palm didn't so much as inch the silken black surface forward. He pushed harder, more desperately.

"No... no. No! NO! NO!" he yelled, his fists pounding uselessly against the smooth, velvety surface. Rage gripped him and he fell across the door, screaming and flailing. "NO! ILIA!"

All of a sudden he was gasping for breath, his hands clawing futilely at a gargantuan black hand that had him by the throat. His dimming eyes watched as the hand retracted back through the black wall it had pierced through and he grimaced, preparing to he splayed painfully against that surface at full force. But instead he felt a sort of satin caress on his skin as he passed through the pitch and was brought face to face with a black monster, peering over him, squealing and shrieking in high-pitched, awful tones.

His eyes filled with tears, his ears were muffled, and he coughed, gagged, choked... He couldn't breathe. Link clawed and scratched weakly at the powerful hand around his throat, but to no avail. He could feel his heart beat slow, the panic receding and converting itself to numb, stupid acceptance. No longer was his brain functioning correctly. The last clear image that flittered across his mind was one of Ilia, barefoot and beautiful, standing in the spring, one hand resting lovingly on Epona's mane. He could even hear her twinkling laugh...

The shadow monster gazed curiously at the being in his hand. Why had this one not become a timid, cowardly spirit like all the others. Why had he been able to touch the wall of twilight and remain unaffected. And why had he still not given up... the life had all but drained from his shocking blue eyes and yet his hands still yanked desperately for freedom. And that mark on the back of his hand... that mark...

Suddenly the mark glowed, then shone a bright, unbearably bright golden light. The shadow beast threw the repulsive shining thing away, rubbing his face with his free hand and shrieking.

Clean, crisp air suddenly rushed mercifully into Link's lungs and he gasped desperately. The sudden rush of air made him cough and hack and he managed to crawl up onto all fours, one hand gripping his bruised throat gingerly. The coughing had an unpleasant effect on his quivering stomach. His insides lurched, a deep, sudden nausea overwhelming him. Link's vision swam as he tried to focus on not vomiting on the spot. His stomach lurched again, painfully.

What was happening to him?

Then it was as if his insides were pulled outwards and something in him exploded into life. His eyes rolled back and his tongue lolled out as thick, black and white fur sprouted over his entire body, overtaking the bare, pink flesh. His teeth grew long and sharp, stubby black, yet powerful nails grew from padded paws. Pain took over. Pain and despair and absolute, utter agony racked his body. And once again the darkness over took him.

The shadow monster shook the last remnants of brilliant lights from his eyes and roared, wheeling back to the strange, undamaged boy. But before him was something new now. A beast now took his place, collapsed and unconscious on the floor. The twilit messenger inched closer cautiously, sniffing at the transformed boy. They he carefully raised a paw and let it go, watching it fall unaided to the ground. Perhaps this one should be held and observed for a while. Perhaps that would please his master. Yes, perhaps it would. The messenger took hold of a powerful back leg and began to drag the unconscious wolf away towards the prison cells.

And all the while little Midna watched attentively from the shadows.