Author's note: Thanks to those who reviewed the previous chapter: Topaz Skye, Llwynog the Bard, and Seeker Heart.

Epilogue
The little girl clung to her mother's hand as the she followed her through the crowded streets. The world around her was weird. Not only was it brighter that her home, but also the people looked different, as did the buildings. She could see the strange people staring at her and her mother, but her mother didn't seem to care.

The four-year-old thought that maybe they were staring because she looked just like her mother, with matching hair and skin color. Only the girl's eyes were different: they were a deep blue, contrasting with her Twili appearance.

Her pace slowed as she caught sight of a rock man walking along in the opposite direction. Her mother turned to her. "Come along, Nellie," she said.

Nellie nodded. "Yes, Mama," she replied, walking along by her mother's side once more, until they came to the center of the town. A sparkling fountain sat in the middle of the circle. Several children played around it and a small trio of grown-ups stood next to it, talking. But Nellie didn't stop, for she caught sight of another building, taller then the rest. Her mother led her toward it, stopping at the gate where two men stood, garbed in shiny silver armor.

"We're here to see the Queen," Nellie's mother said. One of the men nodded.

"Ah, yes," he said. "Her Majesty said you would be coming. She and the Hero are in the garden."

Nellie's mother nodded and led her through the gate, where the tall-towered building rose in front of her. It was probably just as big as her home...maybe even bigger. She stopped, gazing up at the building made of gray stone.

Her mother knelt down next to her. "Amazing, isn't it?" she asked.

Nellie nodded. "What's it called?" she asked.

"Hyrule Castle. This is where our friend Zelda lives."

Nellie nodded again. She vaguely remembered this Zelda person...perhaps she met her when she was smaller?

Her mother took her hand once more as she stood. "Come. We must not keep the Queen waiting." The pair set off again, this time along the paths of the massive courtyard. They went into another section of the courtyard. Beds of flowers were abundant here, coloring the garden with golds, reds, blues, purples, pinks, and whites. Butterflies flitted from flower to flower, and a small boy, probably the same age as Nellie, chased after a few of the floating insects.

A patio was set up closer to a set of doors into the castle. A round table and a few chairs were occupied by three regal people – two men and a woman. The woman had a golden crown atop long blond hair tied back delicately with a few loose strands to frame her blue eyes. Her dress, made of silk, seemed to shine in the sunlight. To her right was one of the men. He, too, wore a crown of gold over his dark hair, and his warm brown eyes sparkled with laughter.

The other man, sitting across from the crowned pair, was dressed simply in a dark green tunic and hat, though his tunic and hat had black and light green Twili designs woven into them. He had a sword and shield strapped across his back.

Nellie didn't know who the crowned man and woman were, but she knew the warrior. She let go of her mother's hand and, as the group at the table noticed her and her mother, she ran toward the warrior, her mother following slowly behind. "Papa!" she exclaimed happily. Her father stood and scooped her up as she reached him. She squealed with laughter and hugged him tight.

After a round of greetings, the crowned woman, who Nellie now knew was the Queen, called out to the little boy in the flowers as Nellie's father set her back down on the grass. "Matt, come and show Nellie here those flowers we planted this morning."

The little boy came over and smiled shyly. Nellie looked at her parents for permission. "Go on, Nellie," her father said. Nellie grinned and the two children ran off.

"Nellie's grown so much," Queen Zelda said, watching the children playing among the beds of flowers and flocks of butterflies. Her husband, Matthew, nodded in agreement.

"Yes, well, the older she is, the feistier she gets," Link replied as he and Midna sat down. "And, of course, she gets that from her mother."

Midna rolled her eyes. "Oh, really? And where's your evidence for that, Hero?" she teased. Link gestured to her.

"You just gave me proof as you spoke." He grinned as Zelda and Matthew laughed at their gentle bickering.

"Well, I'm eager to see how you handle two feisty children," Midna teased back.

Link waved a dismissive hand. "Easy as fighting bulblins."

"What's this about two children?" Zelda asked, her eyebrows raised questioningly.

"Link gets to be the proud father of two feisty half-Twili children rather than just one," Midna explained, her grin widening.

"Really?" Matthew asked. Link and Midna nodded.

"Oh, that's wonderful," Zelda said happily. "Have you told Nellie, yet?"

"No," Link replied. "Soon though. It'll be good for her to have a sibling." Midna nodded in agreement with her husband. For a moment, the four monarchs were quiet, watching Matt and Nellie playing in the garden. The warm evening air surrounded them like a hug.

Little did they suspect, back in the Twilight Realm, an evil was stirring after several years of imprisonment...and he was going to get some payback.

Author's note: Yes, I'm setting up for the sequel. Mwahaha!

I realize that this might not be the long fiction you all were hoping for, but I'm not going to end it here. There will be another, maybe two others, and the rest of my storiies. Don't think this is the end.

Thanks to all of you for reading, and especially to those who reviewed! And thanks also for putting up with my insane-as-Zant-worthy typos (I was re-reading some chapters and saw that I had misspelled "blood" wrong - which I promptly fixed.) I must have been half asleep not to catch those typos. If you enjoyed it, I'm glad. Don't forget to check out my other stuff and tell me what you think!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! For your reading pleasure, I have two previews for you, a more original but still fanfic-y fanfic, and the sequel to Twilight's Return:

The Protector...

She faltered on a note, more tears streaming down her face. A sob filled her and she stopped playing all together. Putting her face in her hands, she began to cry. Mido sat up, concerned for his friend. Gently, he placed a hand on her back. Saria leaned into him, trying to take comfort. Mido, surprised by this gesture, wrapped his arms around her.

And the Sage of Forest cried on, one name being muttered over and over again...

...Link.

Stolen...

"What does the note say?" the Queen asked with a shaking voice as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Link hesitated as he smoothed out the ransom note, before speaking in an equally shaking voice as he read the letter aloud to Midna. "If you ever want to see your children again, you will be at Kakariko Village in Hyrule at sundown, five days from now."

That's it. Again, thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time!

~TwiliRupee