"Some call our realm a world of shadows, but that makes it sound unpleasant. The twilight there holds a serene beauty..."
The first thing that Midna became aware of was pain. Every muscle in her body ached intensely, almost as though she'd been in a fight, and her head throbbed. Stirring slightly, she let out a completely involuntary gasp as the dull, pulsing pain in her head suddenly became shooting and knife-sharp. She immediately froze, waiting for it to recede, and after a few seconds it did, albeit reluctantly. Already her thoughts were racing. What had happened? Had she been in some sort of accident? Had her throne collapsed on her? WHAT?!
But... The sounds were wrong. The constant activity of her fellow Twili, the murmuring of the palace fountains, even the odd, thrumming, almost musical tone of twilight itself-- they were all missing, replaced by... A voice? It was trying to tell her something, something-- Hang on. Had that been a robin?
"What is that?" Midna asked irritably, popping up out of Link's shadow to stand directly in front of him. Link, who'd been running through the woods toward the Forest Temple at a fairly good pace, had to skid to a stop to avoid running into her.
"... What's what?" he asked after a moment. It was clear from his tone of voice and his facial expression that he was struggling to hold onto his patience, which only made Midna more annoyed. He was the irritating child here, not she. AND she was doing him an ENORMOUS favor just by helping him out. Sorry excuse for a hero. Hmph.
"That sound," she snapped. Just as she spoke, the sound repeated itself. It seemed to be coming from the treetops. "THAT! That one!"
Link sighed. "It's a robin," he told her succinctly, and then continued walking.
"What?"
"A bird."
Midna glowered up at the tree tops. "It's annoying," she muttered. Half of her was temped to take a second and catch the stupid thing. Maybe eat it, maybe just shut it up. She was hungry.
Almost as though he could hear her thoughts, Link called back, "Leave it alone." Midna, muttering to herself, reluctantly slipped back into his shadow.
A knot twisted itself into her stomach as the sound repeated itself. Definitely a robin. But... but that meant...
Her eyes shot open, and then immediately flinched shut again. Light. Too much light. And with the light came a sharp flash of memory. Someone... someone smiling at her. Someone she knew. But the smile had been terrible, and she'd gasped reflexively, tried to throw a rather sloppy, hurried spell at him... And...
He'd caught her wrist. Like she was nothing but a child, or a toy, or... And his smile had widened.
"My dear Midna... How has your year gone? I must admit... Mine could have been better."
Then she'd tried to scream, but... he had... done something to her.
Her eyes shot open again, ignoring the discomfort brought on by the unaccustomed brilliance of the sun, and she quickly brought a hand up to her face, inspecting it. It was small. Too small. Oh, no. NO! Picking herself up from the ground with some difficulty, she examined the rest of her body to the best of her ability, her breath becoming faster with panic. No. NO! It was too small! It was all too small! Little stubs for feet-- tiny, childlike hands-- "NO! NOT AGAIN!" Her voice came out bright and child-like, though tinged with obvious fury.
"Come, Midna... Come Queen of--"
"COULD YOU GIVE ME A MINUTE!?" she shouted back at the voice. She was too angry and confused to even begin to think straight. The only clear thought in her head at that point had to do with Gannondorf: she was going to kill him. With her own two tiny, DINKY little hands. Link wasn't going to get to--
Oh, Goddesses. Link. The pit of her stomach, which had been twisted and knotted with rage, abruptly fell out entirely. She was in the world of light. Where Link was. Link, who she'd decided to never, ever see again-- and this was a decision she'd come to without his input, by the way. "No..." she said again, much more softly. Very slowly, she sat down at the base of a tree, hugged her knees, and tried very hard not to cry.
"...You have seen it yourself as the sun sets on this world. Bathed in that light, all people were pure and gentle..."