A/N: Thanks for checking out this fanfiction! ^w^ This story has a few universe alterations (so it's UA) and takes place post-Twilight Princess. Don't read it if you haven't finished the game! There are also spoilers for Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword, so that's just a little heads up.
So here starts the beginning of my first multichapteral story. I do so hope you enjoy it! :3

Chapter One

Falling to Twilight
Two bound to one another
Always together

"Link..." A single shining tear slowly slid from the face of the Twilight Princess. Instead of falling to the ground, the golden light of sorrow hovered in front of her for a moment, its gleam bright in the dimming glow of the evening. "I…" she lifted her hand, gently pushing the drop of precious liquid towards the intricately carved surface of the mystical Mirror. The drop drifted, sparkling in the hour of twilight. "See you later…"

Not a moment after the words left her lips, the tear made contact with the center of the reflective relic, cracks forming where it had touched and quickly radiating outward. The Light dwellers shifted their gazes from that of the Twili and stepped towards the Mirror while the surface fractured.

The realization of what was happening struck Link just as hard and painfully as his first transformation into the beast of legends not long after Hyrule had succumbed to twilight by the hand of a false king. He spun to face the one who had joined him on his journey throughout land, sky, time, and even dimensions themselves, his expression distraught, and hers like a mirror – the Mirror – reflecting the sadness in his blue eyes, antithesis of the Twili's which were threatening to overflow with sorrow.

The Hero quickly undid the worn leather baldric that held the Master Sword and accompanying shield to his back, letting the heroic items fall to the ancient stone of the Mirror Chamber. The clattering of metal brought with it the shocked gazes of royalty. Link knew a future Hero would need the Blade of Evil's Bane, and understood that leaving it in the care of Hyrule's wisest one was best. Knowledgeable that each second was vital, he sprinted up the glowing steps as the two rulers watched in utter shock.

"Link!" The Princesses shouted in unison, their voices the only sound reverberating throughout the timeworn structure.

Zelda took a step forward, reaching for the Hero but quickly giving up the chase; realizing that she wouldn't catch him in time and knew it was unwise to risk leaving her country without a ruler. Meanwhile, Midna's mouth was agape as the green clad one came rushing towards her. He lunged for the Twili, arms wrapping around her torso tightly as he clung to tall body; his face buried in the bright flaming hair of hers that was tied across the Twili's chest in the same shackle that bound it in a ponytail when Midna had resided in the body of an imp.

She, over a full head higher than he, looked down at Link with surprise as the Hero quietly mumbled into her form, "I'm not letting you leave me."

With those words the two began to disintegrate into the Twilight. The Mirror shone brightly, drawing them into the other realm. Zelda looked at the Hero sadly, but nodded subtly, understanding his decision and respecting the choice he made. There was nothing was left for Link in the land of Hyrule.

Midna was still in shock at his actions, but try as she might, she couldn't shake the Light dweller free and before they knew it, Hyrule, as was the Mirror, were gone.

Their arrival was far from graceful.

The two tumbled into the Twilight, head over heels as the Hero desperately hung onto the body of the royal Twili while they rolled a good three or four meters. After they had come to a stop, Midna was atop Link, her larger body crushing his smaller form and knocking the wind out of him. The two were bruised and blooded from the fall, clothes torn and hair disheveled. The ruler pushed herself up a moment after they had stilled, crown askew as she stood to look down at Link. The Princess of Twilight placed her hands to her forehead, pushing her messy orange hair back while she paced around the Hero. He took a few deep breaths to fill his empty lungs then slowly and carefully propped himself into a sitting position.

"You idiot!" Midna shrieked, spinning on her heel and throwing her arms out as she looked to where he sat, eyes wide for a moment after the shock from the Twili's outburst.

"I'm sorry," Link said quietly, holding his elbow that was covered in blood and grit from their fall. His gaze drifted with his words.

"No, you don't understand. I, the true leader of the Twili, have just utterly shattered the Mirror of Twilight. Link, you can never return to Hyrule. Your home, family—"

"You're my family!" he shouted, cutting her off. Midna stared down at the Hero in surprise. He glared back with his deep blue eyes; feral like the beast she had introduced herself to in the dungeons of Hyrule Castle. The Princess was silent for a moment before stuttering a single word.

"W-What?"

"Midna, you are my family. Our journey together… It's brought me closer to you than I to anyone in my entire life. As for a home, I never really felt I had one. I lived at the outskirts of my village, and after seeing Hyrule covered in Twilight, although it is back to normal, I can never forget the pain the people had to struggle through, even if they may not have been, or will ever be, aware of what truly happened. I need somewhere new… somewhere that I can be close to your side. I left of my own free will, so please… just please don't hate me. If you really want to, send me off to the furthest reaches of your kingdom if you truly wish to be rid of me." Link finished his small speech, still looking to the Twili before him, yet his gaze was no longer harsh and piercing but instead soft and sorrowful.

Midna's face relaxed, a weak smile creeping up the corners of her mouth. She knelt beside Link a moment later, tearing off a piece of her already ruined cloak and grabbing his bloodied arm.

"What are you—"

"Hold still," she interrupted, spitting on the wound. He tried to pull away but she held his arm firmly with her strong grip.

"Midna!"

"Calm down. I'm just getting rid of the debris. You don't want this to fester, do you? Honestly, sometimes I wish you would go back to being a wolf and maybe even stay that way for good. Your instincts should tell you to lick your wounds," she spoke while wiping the injury clean then wrapping the fabric of her once beautiful mantle around his arm. He grunted when she pulled it tight. "There. I often wonder how you managed to survive before I came along." Link lifted his arm, inspecting the bandage before returning his gaze to her fiery eyes.

"Don't you mean you wonder how I managed to survive after you came along? I had a peaceful village life before I met you, you know?" the Hero jested.

"Yes, and it wasn't peaceful for very long, now was it? No matter what would have happened, you'd end up transforming into a beast at some point once the Twilight covered all of Hyrule. Without me, you'd have starved to death in that dungeon. I saved you."

"Don't forget I brought you to Zelda in your hour of need. I saved you as well. Debt paid," he rebutted, head held high.

"Zelda's the one that sacrificed something for me. You just went to her because Lanayru told you to," the Twili said with a playful sneer.

Link pouted, unable to come up with a good retort to her words.

Midna began to laugh. Although her form had changed, her chortle was still the same as the Hero remembered it, albeit a little deeper than when she occupied the cursed impish body Zant had given her. Her happiness was contagious and soon Link joined her. After a minute or so, she calmed herself, looking back at him with a thoughtful expression as his chuckles drifted.

"I'll be honest. I really didn't want to shatter the Mirror, separating Hyrule and my realm permanently, but I had little choice. If I left it, I ran the risk of another great catastrophe crossing between our worlds."

"I understand. I believe Zelda might have thought the same, in a way at least. After she placed her soul in your care, I think some of her wisdom maybe rubbed off onto you."

She playfully punched him in the shoulder. "So you're saying I'm not wise? I rule a kingdom too, you know."

Link shrugged innocently.

"Speaking of… Link, I'm not going to send you away to some corner of the Twilight Realm. I'm sorry I was so sharp."

"I kind of had gotten use to it to be honest," he replied, thinking back to her jeers throughout their journey. He was looking down at the bandage on his arm that now lay across his lap.

"Link, I'm being serious here. As much as I hate to say it, Zant was fairly high up on the authority ladder but still craved more power. Now that his position is vacant…" Midna drifted. Link's eyes went to her face. She held his blue gaze. "You'll stay at the palace."

"What?" He hadn't expected her decision. In truth, the Hero really didn't think his actions through when he ran to her side, for he only had a split second to make his choice, but he knew it'd be something he wouldn't regret.

"You'll take over Zant's position and in time, you could rise…" Midna was unsure how to express her thoughts, her eyes drifting from his towards the castle ahead of them. She left her words open ended just as she did when she shattered the Mirror. The Twili hoped one day she could tell him her true feelings, jealous of the courage the Hero was gifted with. Link listened attentively for her to continue, following her gaze for a moment then bringing his sight back to her as she turned to him once more.

"Anyway, we'll make this work. It's not like we have much of a choice, do we?" She smiled; her expression summoning memories in the mind of the Hero, making him recall her impish grin, single pointed tooth jutting out over her lip.

It was at that moment the Twili came rushing out into the open towards the two, hearing the commotion that had come to pass only minutes before. Midna stood as they approached, taking a step towards her people as they greeted their Princess warmly and with open arms. Link still sat, watching happily as the interactions between the ruler and her subjects played out. After a moment she turned to him, beckoning for the Hero to join that of the Twili.

Link pushed himself off the ground with a smile, making his way towards the Princess as the glow of the Twilight illuminated her bright face, crown still lopsided while she beamed joyfully.

This would be their life: a brand new journey side by side forevermore.