A/N: So here it is! My first story. As a serious singer, passionate Zelda fan, and a Darlink shipper (I'll admit it), I came up with the idea for this story... this morning. At choir practice.

So here it is: 'Summer Soundtrack'.

"One, two, three."

Fingers itching, Dark waited for the first few drum beats, his heart pounding in anticipation. Where was his cue...

There!

And Dark was shredding. The strings of his guitar vibrated in his soul as he played with a hunger that came only from being a passionate guitarist. He was going to nail this audition.

Several minutes away, Link was slumped in his desk chair, frustrated and feeling like a blown-out candle. His voice hurt. Of course it did, he'd been singing since school had let out! It was all because of that stupid audition piece. Stupid 'Circle of Life', stupid The Lion King.

Little did the boys know, but they were auditioning for the same program, applying for the same school. And, this summer, their paths would cross... and interesting events would unfold.

(Link's POV)

Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

You know how in the movies, when someone is frustrated, they hit their head on the wall? Well, that's exactly what I was doing.

"No, no, no..." Each repetition of the word was accentuated with a hit of my head to the wall of my bedroom, just between a poster of Sam Smith and a picture of me and my best friend, Shiek.

No way was I ever going to get into this program. As hard as I tried, my audition piece just wasn't good enough. 'Circle of Life' from The Lion King, was suggested (of course) by my Broadway-obsessed mother. Turns out, it's a really tough song. Don't choose it for any audition, no matter how good you think you are. Rafiki makes it look easy on stage, but I swear...

"Link?" Speak of the devil. That was my mother.

"What!?" I didn't even try to hide the annoyance in my voice.

"Need help with that song?"

"NO!"

"Okay, just asking! That key change sounds good!"

I swallowed a 'Yeah, right'.

It was hopeless; no matter how hard I tried, there was no way I'd be able to make it into the prestigious music program at Hyrule University (assuming I was even accepted to the school). No way on Earth.

(Dark's POV)

"Great runthrough, guys!" I slapped Ganon's five, Kafei's, and Mido's. And it had been- we'd just run through 'Mark the Graves', a Linkin Park song that we all loved.

"Dark, your solo was great. No way are you not getting into the Hyrule music program!"

I smiled at Mido. "Thanks. You were awesome on keyboard!"

Mido grinned back.

My friends Ganon, Kafei, and Mido, as well as myself, had formed this band five years ago. I played guitar, Ganon was drummer, Mido played keyboard, and Kafei was bass player. The only thing we didn't have was a singer.

And, in exactly one week, we were all auditioning for the music program at Hyrule University.

I was so excited. I knew we were all going to a.) be accepted into the school and b.) be accepted into the music program. We planned to keep our band together at that college- and find a singer. It was the last week of school; Monday night. The four of us were going to practice at Ganon's house together every night until our auditions next Monday night.

"What piece are you playing?" I asked Mido on the way out. We'd all been in Ganon's basement.

"Probably 'Moonlight Sonata'. You?"

"The solo in 'Guilty All The Same'."

Mido nodded thoughtfully. "I think Kafei's playing 'Mark the Graves'."

I laughed. "So we're all Linkin Park fans, except for you, loner."

"Actually, Ganon's playing 'Some Nights'."

"On drums? Really?"

"Hey, it's a great song for a drummer!"

I laughed again, waving to Mido. "See ya tomorrow, Bach."

"Back at you, Hendrix."

Smiling to myself, I set out into the darkness for the walk home.

(Link's POV)

Lying on my back in the grass, I took a deep breath.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I... can't do this.

An unexpected tear trickled into my hair, and, staring at one star in the sky (not the brightest star, but I root for the underdog), I remembered that stupid song from the Willy Wonka play, that 'Cheer Up, Charlie!' song, when Grandpa Joe tells Charlie to 'look up', and he'll 'see a star', and he just has to 'follow it' and keep his 'dreams in view', and just be glad he's himself, and everything will be okay. I played Charlie once; I was in third grade then.

And, suddenly, that one star seemed more beautiful than all the rest, shining softly silver on the black cloak of the night.

(Dark's POV)

On my way home, I passed a house with no lights on. Odd; it was only... oh. Midnight.

Curse you, broken watch!

Not knowing why, I paused in front of that house, and I thought I heard something... crying, maybe?

Intrigued, I wandered into the backyard (at the time, not realizing I was trespassing) and found an angel.

He was lying on his back in the dark, shadowy grass, looking up at the sky, sobbing and sniffling. He had gorgeous golden hair that fell in waves all over his head, with tufts tumbling down his forehead. His face- and ears (pierced with hoop earrings that matched his eyes)- were pointed and cute like an elf's, and, through a wall of tears, I could see that his large eyes were a sparkling cerulean. His long body was compact and muscular, but not overly muscular.

He was beautiful.

"Are you alright?" Involuntarily, my fingers landed on his shoulder.

"No!" the angel wailed, bringing his hands to his face.

"Shh, calm down." Why was I comforting him? I didn't even know him!

God, Dark, you're stupid!

But I didn't care. I let the angel bury his crimson face in my black t-shirt, half-sitting up, while I rubbed his back (not even feeling awkward).

"What's your name, and what's wrong?" I asked him gently once he'd calmed considerably.

And he explained to me; he was Link, and he was applying for Hyrule University, and he was auditioning for the music program, but he didn't feel like he sang his audition piece well enough.

"Well, that's uncanny."

"Huh?" He tilted his head, confused at my odd comment. We were sitting side-by-side now, looking at each other, examining each other, I think, analyzing.

"I'm Dark. I'm also applying for Hyrule University, and I'm also auditioning for the music program, but I don't sing. I play guitar."

"That's cool." Link sniffed, half-smiled.

Without his face all swollen and red, he looked rather like-

"Oh, I recognize you now! You're the best singer in the school! You sang that solo once, the National Anthem, for that assembly last year and you get all the choir solos! You're great. I'm sure your audition isn't that bad. And also I think we're in the same history class."

Yes, that was it!

Link squinted at me. "Yeah, I think we are in the same history class. You sit in the back next to the window? And you're in the jazz band. You're the guitar guy." He slapped a hand over his forehead. "I'm sorry I didn't recognize you!"

"It's cool." I flopped onto my back and peered up at the sky.

Link mirrored me.

"Sing your piece for me."

"R-Really? You actually want to hear it?"

I looked at him. I nodded.

"Okay." He took a deep breath and began.

(Link's POV)

"'...til' we find our place... on the path unwinding... in the circle... the circle of life!'"

And I was done. I was done singing to this weird semi-stranger who'd somehow ended up in my backyard, who I was already in love with.

For starters, he was beautiful. He actually resembled me a bit; we had similar pointed elf faces. His skin was ivory, his eyes rubies, his luxuriant hair ebony and shining. He was about my height, but very skinny. Black hoop earrings looped through his pricked ears.

And there was something about him that made my heart grow feathery wings and fight to escape the cage of my chest.

"Link." His tone was serious, his voice low and melodious. "That was the most beautiful thing I have heard in all my born days."

I blushed. "You really think so?"

"Hell yeah!" Dark sat up, staring at me like my hair had just randomly combusted. "No doubt you're going to get in."

Then a sparkle I couldn't quite decode seeped into his pretty eyes. "Say," he began, his tone almost snakelike. "I have a rock band with three of my friends. We need a singer. Would you be interested?"

"Really?" My heart skipped several beats at a time. "Lead singer of a rock band? You think I could do it?"

"Hell yeah!" He said again.

I was stunned. Skeptical, but... stunned, certainly.

"Well, we need to make a deal. You help me with my audition piece, and in turn, I'll sing for your band this summer. And, if we both get into Hyrule, then... I'll still be your singer, if I like it."

"Deal!" Dark extended his hand.

I shook it.