This is a Dark LinkxLink story, not meant for those who dislike yaoi.

Disclaimer: Legend of Zelda does not belong to me, I'm not making money off this either.

Warnings: Violence

Revised 9/29/2009

Link was a young man of great patience, honor, and integrity. He listened patiently and intently to the numerous Hylians that came to him for help. Be it a simple farming task or the slaying of pesky monsters, he would gladly lend them his power and rid them of their evils. Link would happily run errands for the castle, advertise for merchants, hell, he even signed an autograph or two! But even his patience could wear thin at points, and the Water Temple was really starting to annoy him.

He had lost count of the dead-ends he had stumbled into, forgotten just how many times he had needed to slip off his heavy iron boots, slick and slimy with stagnant water that was impossible to wipe away on his soggy tunic. Links toes were beyond a ghostly pale, pruned to the point of being almost painful, and he began to wonder if they were ever going to smooth back out.

A group of large spikes had been chasing after him for the last three chambers, and while he typically would have stayed to fight, he was currently wearing his heavy iron boots. And the damn things wouldn't stay back long enough for him to remove them. So fleeing was the plan. More like slipping and sliding on the mossy floor, though. He got a lucky break when he entered a flooded room, grappling onto a moving platform out of the reach of any encroaching enemies.

Sliding out of the boots, which he had to tip over and empty before slipping into his rucksack, Link took the boot Navi dropped in front of him, and then the next when he finished slipping into that one. Standing, he looked up at the highest point of the room, noting the roughly textured patches of cement that were preferable for hookshotting. A moment later he was latching onto the edge of the stationary platform, pocketing the hookshot until it was once again needed. He slipped into the next area, already calculating the puzzle of the room in his head as he set to work. Chilled to the bone and soaked completely through, it was with eager hands that he destroyed the daring Tektite that lunged at his head.

A long walk through a dimly lit corridor, illuminated only by the aura Navi put off, ended abruptly just as he thought he would go insane or freeze from lack of warmth. Standing before him was a door; but not just any dungeon door. No, had that been the case he would have simply pushed it aside and half-halfheartedly faced whatever was lurking inside with hands shaking from the cold.

This door however was a deep-blue and seemed to radiate importance. Link grinned as he shoved it forward and stepped eagerly into the chamber, happy to finish off the temple caretaker and be on his merry way. More importantly, back in the sun and basking in the light of day. The room echoed as he ambled in, the ground trembling under his soaked leather boots. Navi began to dart around him nervously, her tiny wings brushing across Links golden hair and tickling his scalp. He waved her off with a playful smile, then cast around the room thoughtfully.

"What is this place?"

A thick fog lazed around the chamber, heavy and thick enough to choke one if they were careless. It emanated outward from a single barren tree in the center as it spiraled in flowing waves. Link walked towards it slowly, half expecting it to reach out and grab him with deadly crisp fingers. Navi made a curious noise and circled it a few times.

"There's something about it... But I don't sense any sort of immediate danger."

The tiny fairy brushed its cold bark with a pair of slender fingers, raising a skeptical eyebrow at it.

"Surely this is not the temple's boss?" And then she disappeared for a moment, soundlessly and without reason, only to appear again in the grip of... Of...

Link nearly dropped his sword in surprise. Before him, with the cockiest and yet curious face he had ever seen, stood... Himself? Navi spluttered and scrabbled at her captors fingers and knuckles, and the sudden grin that iced over his face made the Hylian freeze. It was like staring into a tinted mirror. The other was exactly like him, save for his black garb and hair. Cold, haunting crimson eyes.

"Put her down! You- You, whatever you are!" Link growled at the stranger, reaching for the hilt of his sword.

"Me?" His voice sent a shiver up the Heroes spine. It was a deep, sultry voice. And while it reminded him vaguely of his own, it was altogether foreign. The voice of a demon.

The stranger chuckled, grabbing his sword - Links same sword only black - and tossed the fairy aside. She leveled out in the air, whizzing over to Links side as fast as as she could, lighting upon his shoulder to grasp his earring.

"Who are you? Why do you look just like-"

"Myself? Ah, that is to say, yourself. We are one and the same, you and I. Although," He paused, licking the corner of a dry lip as his eyes scanned the Heroes figure. "I am the more interesting side of you. The Dark side, as corny as it is to say."

When Link made a face like someone who had just been unceremoniously punched in the gut, his doppelganger giggled at him, lifting a hand to stifle them when Link frowned at him.

(Such a fun stranger)

"I am the guard of this rooms treasure - the longshot - meant to destroy the Hero of Time as is my creators wish. Alas, I wasn't quite expecting someone like you."

"Like me?"

He stepped from the tiny circular island, the deceased tree, and slipped soundlessly through the surface of the water.

"Wha-!?"

The Shadow lunged up from behind him, using the flat of his blade to shove at the blonde and throw him off balance. Link turned just in time to counter the blow with the flat of his own sword, his legs nearly buckling under him at the sudden push. He sidestepped, rotating his sword, and slashed at the villains broad chest. But he disappeared back into darkness before the sword could even graze him. Icy optics scanned the room, ceiling and floor as well, searching for the shadowy being.

"Interesting! So very interesting."

From the shadows he leaped, throwing the hero to the ground with strong arms, which made Link wonder just how someone could be so powerful, being locked up in a place like this for who knows how long. The shadow (Dark Link?) brought his sword down, clanging against the shield Link hurriedly raised in defense. Navi took the chance to scrabble off his shoulder and take flight. Link rolled out from under the shadow, using his hands to steady himself and spin his legs into the others, throwing them out from under him. Effortlessly, the shadow sneered as he went down, once again flowing into the water as if it wasn't a liquid at all, but a gas.

A quiet moment passed, Link feeling like a sitting duck in an environment his opponent could use to every advantage. Navi suddenly appeared again at Links side, pulling frantically at his hat.

"Look out!"

Link jumped up from floor and cartwheeled in the opposite direction just in time to avoid being burned to a crisp.

"He can use my magic!?"

"Our magic. You have to remember that Hero, we're two sides of the same rupee," He giggled. "Link and Dark Link!"

Links eyes widened and he parried as Dark Link charged at him, the momentum knocking him into the tree. Dark Link grabbed his wrist before he could lift his sword again, his own sword clattering to the watery floor as he gripped the Hylian Shield and tossed it away as well. It was with curious eyes that he stared intently into the blondes face. Memorizing the facial structure, the chapped lips, the raw and clammy skin. Those icy blue eyes... He gazed into those the longest, completely enamored with the eyes that reflected the color of a winter sky he had never seen.

Sapphires into rubies?

Dark suddenly smiled and released Link, earning a bewildered expression and the raising of a delicate blonde eyebrow. Dark Link didn't speak, but crouched to reclaim his sword, Link warily doing the same. And, as if one or the other was gazing into a mirror, they fought. Swords clashing wickedly, spells flashing blindingly. Navi hovered in the branches of the tree, unsure of what to do in this situation. Link back-flipped and so did his twin. He slashed, only to meet cold, dark steel. And when he stabbed forward, hoping to catch the shadow off guard, he only turned his sword ever so slightly to meet the point with the flat of his blade.

'Dammit! How do you beat yourself?'

Worriedly, Navi scurried over and tried pointing out weaknesses in the enemies stance, but she spoke too loudly and the shadow quickly corrected himself, going so far as to give her a, "Thank you!" and dart in to slash at Links shield arm, which, the blonde noticed, was still laying quite uselessly near the trees base. He also decided that Navi was doing nothing to help the situation, merely getting in the way as he had to purposefully fell to avoid chopping her down.

"Fun fun, the Hero is fun!"

Dark sang as he danced giddily, his smirk creasing his crimson eyes in delight. It reminded the Hero of a small forest creature he had met whilst he scoured the Lost Forest. A lonely creature who dubbed himself, Skull Kid, and taunted Link and Navi from a distance as he danced and played his stolen trumpet. Link growled and leapt at the thought, throwing Dark to the ground and sending his weapon skittering across the dungeon room. They faced off, Link with his most determined expression as Dark only smiled cheerfully up at him. The Master Sword fit perfectly on Darks collarbone. It would have been so easy to cut his head from his shoulders. Like slicing butter.

"Do it. Kill me!"

He mocked him, his grin turning daring. Link panted, his mind reeling. He couldn't just kill him! Not when he just sat there... Almost willingly. Like he was actually eager to die.

A moment passed... Two... Three...

And then the Hero of Time pulled away, sheathing the Sword of Evils Bane.

"Hmph! How foolish of you to leave the enemy unscathed. I could cut you down where you stand, I'll have you know." The shadow grinned at him, but there was a strange look coming over his face. One of unhindered curiosity. And something else Link could not place.

"You should have gotten rid of me when you had the chance. I think you may soon come to regret it."

Dark rolled over onto his palms, lifting himself up to a standing position then walked past Link, a strange gleam in his ruby eyes. As he made his way over to the sword he wielded, the thought that he may turn and bury it deeply into Links chest crossed his mind. But he only picked his sword up to sheath it. Then turned and smiled.

"Your free to go. But I'll be seeing you again soon... Hero."

And then he disappeared, a small gust of warmth caressing Links cheek softly, leaving him confused and slack-jawed. Only when he heard the sound of metal against metal did he snap out of his stupor and turn. The gate to the next room was opening! Navi swept towards him on eager wings.

"We should go." She said, taking her usual place on Links padded shoulder.

"Yeah... But, wasn't that a bit... Odd?"

"If by odd you mean the fact that you let him go!"

"It just... Didn't feel right."

Navi gave him a curious look, unsure as to how to reply to that, but the Hero stared forward as he strode across the room, past the tree, which was becoming clearer now as the fog dissipated, and into the next chamber.

But as the door swung shut behind him on creaking hinges, Link glanced back into the room as Darks words echoed in his mind.

"I'll be seeing you again soon..."

The door closed with the sound of finality.

Reviews Are Love!~

And note that chapter two and three will also be revised in the near future. :D