Midna was rapidly approaching the clearing where she expected the pool of light to be, but she was surprised that she could not see any of the light. Usually its glow would stretch out farther and she would have seen it sooner. Fear crept along her spine as she realized that her last hope at seeing Link one last time could be gone. As she came up to the clearing she found the pool to be dried up.

"No," she whispered despairingly. Midna ran to where the center of the pool should have been and collapsed on the ground shouting at it, "Why? Why is it gone? Why didn't I tell him when I had the chance?" She pounded her fists into the dirt and sobbed. Suddenly, a soft light began to materialize beneath her. Midna stood and backed away as the light grew brighter and brighter, filling the clearing with brilliant twilit light. As quickly as the light had come it was gone, but something, or rather someone, was left in the clearing.

Midna slowly approached the being; his hair was a sandy blonde and his garb was of a green tunic and… "Link?" she sniffed in disbelief. She rushed towards him and held him in her arms. She turned his face towards her and he slowly opened his eyes, his fierce, wolf-like, blue eyes. "Oh, Link!" Midna cried and she kissed him passionately.

After a moment she backed away from the kiss, scrambled to stand up, and turned away from him. She was blushing and covered her cheeks so he couldn't see. "Wh – why'd you stop?" Link asked her. He stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder to turn her around.

"I – I can't," she said. A tear escaped that she quickly went to wipe away but Link swiped it with his thumb.

"Why not?"

"Because…because I have to get married," Midna told him. "If I don't marry Prince Aeron he promised to destroy my people." Tears welled up in her eyes as he caressed her cheek and wiped away the tears that fell.

"Truly? Surely there must be another way."

Midna laughed dryly, "I wish there was, but the well being of my people must come before my own emotions. It would be terrible for them to find me with you." A warm feeling was building inside of her as Link stood there with her and a little bit of her old self crept out. "You know," she said, teasing him with a sly smile. "You never told me if I was pretty or not."

Link smiled at her. "Of course I think you are; you're beautiful, Midna," he told her. He caressed her face and placed a loving kiss upon her lips. "I love you," he said softly.

"What is this?" a voice bellowed behind them. Midna turned to find Chijin and Prince Aeron stepping out of the forest. "You tell me to go on with a ceremony that will bring our kingdoms and us together and then you run off for a scamp like him?" Prince Aeron yelled. He stomped forth and grabbed Midna by her hair. Midna yelped in pain as pulled her to him. "You are mine, Princess. I won't let you easily forget that, or do you plan on abandoning your people?" he seethed. Aeron squeezed his hand around her arm and began dragging her back towards the forest.

"No!" Link said as he lunged forth to grab Aeron but only managed to tear off part of his cape. Aeron whipped around and held his sword against Midna's throat.

"Boy, if you dare to follow us so be it I will lay waste to both of you and the people of her kingdom," Aeron threatened. He sheathed his sword before turning around and leading Midna and Chijin back to the castle. Midna glanced back at Link with sorrow in her eyes. Before they disappeared into the forest, Link saw Midna drop a strange looking shard of crystal on the ground. Once he was sure they were gone he quickly scooped up the crystal to find it was the crystal that could turn him into his wolf form. "Don't worry, Midna, I will rescue you," he said as he gripped the crystal firmly in his hand.

…

Link stumbled in his wolf form as he tried to follow the scent trail back through the trees. He strode as fast as he dared through the dark, tangled roots of the forest trees. The Twilight seemed to be getting darker as time went on, but he feared that if he didn't make it by the morning, he may be too late to rescue Midna.

Their scent was beginning to grow weaker as the time wore on, but Link scuffled after it faster as he grew accustomed to walking. Birds squawked as they fled from his beastly form yet he paid little mind to them. After what seemed like hours of walking he could finally see the looming towers of the castle. Even though it was still dark outside, Link could make out several Twili that were hustling about carrying what looked like preparations for the wedding.

It must be getting closer to morning then, he thought. The wedding was sooner than I believed. Link picked up his pace and stealthily slipped through the shadows. Some of the Twili were rushing in and out of the castle doors and once Link was close enough he slipped in after one of them.

Midna's scent lingered close by and Link took to following nearby the scent path, but just out of sight so as not to alarm anyone. The trail took him up a winding staircase and through some very long hallways. After what seemed like him going in circles he finally heard her voice through a door. A man, he assumed was the advisor, walked out of the room, muttering under his breath, and took no notice of Link. Once the advisor was gone, Link approached carefully and gently pawed open the door.