Midas’s heart feels heavy as the rains begin to beat against his golden coat. Slowly but surely the cold liquid plasters his mane to his neck and his tail begins to stick to the back of his hocks. So this is how it ends – this is where he’s meant to be, alone among the rocks, unlovable.

He shudders – but not from the cold or his wet skin – but because this is the first time he has cried since he was a child, and the feeling of letting Sylvia go is more than Midas’s body can bare. Achaz had believed crying was a sign of weakness, and he was right. Sylvia was one of Midas’s few weaknesses. Before Sylvia could even sprint in front of him, he has already stopped, unable to leave her. His teeth clench, his heart aches. He knows what’s best for her – or thinks he does – and that is for her to leave. But with each passing moment Midas grapples for the fantasy to be a reality – for them to be together and for her to never leave.

Don’t go down that road Midas. He cautions himself – thinking of what it did to Aria.

But Sylvia is not Aria.

She is stronger, she is loyal, and in many ways her flaws are Midas’s too, and they compliment each other. His swelling eyes look at her form, blurry through his golden orbs. Her fierce words startle him – she is fighting for him, she wants him just as much as he wants her. Her words are poignant, he does need her, he needs her more and more. Everyday they were apart he thought of her and the harbor, and as he had aged finally let go of the estranged love for Aria – he had realized it. "Oh Pearl” He gurgles deep in his throat, tossing his head a few times and hoping to hide his tears. It is not very kingly, or even manly, to cry in front of a woman. "I need you, I do - I just want what’s best for you.

He reaches out and touches her nose, barely noticing the darkness or the rain. They are in their own little world – a bubble no one else can penetrate. “I want you to stay with me forever, I want you to love me always, but…do you think you can be happy, come what may, be it natural disasters or other horses, and stand by my side? He whispers. If she says yes – they will start over, they will be together and Midas will never let her go.

Fall in love tonight? It sends shivers down Midas’s body and sets his heart racing again. He touches her wet neck softly, liping at the nape of her neck, and twirling her hair in his teeth. This is his most intimate embrace – reserved solely for the special ones. "If you can stand my company for that long.” His voice lightens with the small joke. His head is spinning at a million miles per second; there is so much to say – some much to do. "But come, we should find somewhere out of the rain.Midas nudges her shoulder and stares out into the darkness.

The future is now, and it all starts tonight.