Link walked into the castle courtyard his head hung low and his shoulders slumped. The sun was shining and the sky was clear but it did nothing for his depression. Not even the sight of the smiling princess chased away the darkness that clouded his thoughts. He held the letter in his hand that told of how Zelda had great news to tell him. He half hoped it was that they had found someone else to be the Hero of Time but that was just wishful thinking.

Upon seeing him Zelda ran up to him smiling like she had when Gannon was killed. She grabbed onto his hands nearly jumping up an down, making Link fake a smile to keep her from getting his depression.

"Oh Link I have the most wonderful news!"

It didn't work though because as soon as she looked up at his face her smile turned into a look of concern.

"Hey Link what's wrong?"

"He's been depressed like this for almost two months Zelda." Navi spoke worried, "I tried to ask him but he won't tell me what's wrong."

"You don't need to worry about it Zelda. I'm okay. I don't need to get you down with my problems."

She squeezed his hands as she looked in his eyes. He knew what she saw there and he turned away to keep her form seeing it.

"Look at me Link."

She placed her hand on his cheek forcing him to look at her.

"You look like your about to cry any second."

"If only I could…"

"Come Link. I want to know what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

She took his hand and began leading him into the courtyard where they first met. Navi waited in the archway giving them time to themselves.

"You don't have to Zelda."

"I'm your friend Link. I care for you and want to help. Come sit down and talk to me. I feel you need it."

Link had no choice but to obey. She led him into the grass patch below the window and sat down beckoning him to join her. He sat down next to her, drawing his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his knees, hiding his face in his arms.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm the Hero of Time."

He could see the perplexed look on Zelda's face. She didn't understand, no one did. At least nothing human understood.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm the hero of Time. Sure I'm the most popular person in hyrule, all the women want me and all the men want to be me but the only one who doesn't want it is the one who already does…"

"I don't understand…" she was worried and confused he knew it but he knew she couldn't and never would understand. Link stood up and looked up to the sky where a pair of birds fluttered about. On the ground there was a pair of squirrels playing together amongst the trees and a pair of butterflies flitting and fluttering amongst the flowers. He had too use all his will power to hold back the tears.

"I'm alone Zelda…"

He could hear the rustle of her dress as she stood up and put her hand on his arm. He pulled away and walked over to lean against the stone wall.

"You are not alone--"

"Yes I am. You don't understand. The only ones that do are Navi and Epona because they went through it with me. You will never understand so lets just forget it okay? I don't want to talk about it anymore."

It was a tone that told her it was the end of the discussion. Zelda had known him long enough to know when he wanted to stop talking about it and she always respected it.

"So what was this news you wanted to tell me?"

"Zelda! There you are. You worried me."

Link looked up to see a tall, blonde haired man, in regal clothes walk up to Zelda and grab her hands gently. She smiled and kissed him which made Link want to just wither and die. He was jealous of Zelda for finding the love he could not. But he tried to smile for Zelda's sake. He was her friend and he didn't need to ruin her happiness with his sadness.

"Oh Link this is my Fiancé Brock. Brock this is my best friend Link. He's also the Hero of Time."

Brock turned to him and held out a hand with a smile on his face. Link shook it hiding his depression from the overly happy couple.

"I finally meet the famous Hero of Time. It is nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

"I wanted you to meet him Link. I wanted to make sure you approve.", Zelda said as she wrapped her arms around the man in front of her. She was snuggling up against him not knowing how much she was making him just want to crawl into a corner. They reminded him of what he wished he had but never could. He closed his eyes in a effort to hold back tears that were threatening to spill. He couldn't stay here any longer.

"I do. I am happy fro you Zelda. And a note to you Brock you break her heart I break your neck. I'm sorry Zelda but I have to go. Epona is waiting and I don't want to worry her."

Link turned to walk away when Brock spoke.

"Is that your girlfriend?"

"No. my horse." He snapped.

As soon as he was out of sight of the castle he went on a dead run along the castle path and into the market. He barely heard Navi's yell as he ran through the market tears falling form his eyes. He pushed and shoved his way through the crowd that surrounded him. They all gave him odd looks when they saw his face but he didn't care. He needed the one comfort he had that waited right outside the market place.

Right across the bridge stood Epona. She was right where he had left her and he ran to her. Epona turned seeing him coming and ran to him. He wanted something to hold onto. He needed it. The second he was in reach he wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his face into her hide and cried. Epona rested her head on his back holding him the only way she could, rubbing her nose against his back. Navi rushed to him and landed on his shoulder holding his cheek since she was so small.

He was broken. The great Hero of Time was broken and alone like a child lost in darkness. The one thing he wanted he couldn't have. And the thing he was given he didn't want. Everyone else was happy but him. He was alone but desperately didn't want to be.

"It's okay Link… we're here."

He let go of Epona to look at Navi who had landed in one of his hands. She flew up to wipe some of his tears away with her hand.

"Navi? You won't leave me will you?"

"Of course not! I am bound to you link. You stuck with me." She said as she kissed his nose.

Link smiled as he turned to Epona and held her head in his hands.

"You won't leave me either will you Epona."

She licked his face and nuzzled his neck.

"You two are all I have."

"We know. Why don't we get home. Maybe Saria's playing can get you in a lighter mood."

"Yeah…"

(Two weeks later)

"Wake up link! Its morning you have to get up. "

Link grunted as he pulled the covers up over his head and swung at the small fairy that flew about him. "Go away Navi... Can't I sleep in? I did just save the world you know."

"Three years ago! Jeez i would think at least when you grew up you would be less lazy but it's almost as if you have gotten worse."

Link growled as he buried himself deeper in his covers trying to hide himself form the sunlight peeking in through his tree house window. By the goddesses how he hated morning. Especially since he had not had much sleep fro the last two weeks because, of nightmares from his quest to save Hyrule. He had had about five hours of sleep total this week alone and a sleep deprived hero of time was neither a pretty sight nor even a very nice person. Only up side was his depression had lessened somewhat.

"Why do you insist to wake me up at the butt crack of dawn anyway?"

"Because the sages have summoned you! You are needed at the temple of time right away for an important mission. "

"Now what?" Link growled. "All right I will get up but would you please leave so i can get dressed?"

"Yep! Meet you at the ladder in ten minutes!"

"Yeah...yeah..."

Falls for it every time… Link snuggled back into the covers and dozed back off for at least another half hour before Navi came up and ripped the covers off.

"Link! Get up!"

"All right All right!"

He put his feet down on the wooden floor and rested his arms on his knees as he bent over to try and clear his sleep fogged mind. He was still exhausted but when the sages summoned they expect a reply/ appearance within that day. He had suffered the repercussions of it when Zelda shown up at his house and ripped into him with her knives left over from when she was sheik. His back side still stung from when one hit him in the butt cheek. He never wanted that again.

He stretched and yawned his back cracking as he stood up and walked toward the full body mirror that leaned up against the wall. He looked in the mirror as he brushed his bangs from his face. He was no longer the young boy like hero of time everyone remembered. His face had hardened, his eyes had grown darker and a scar adorned his left cheek from a stray arrow. His body was lithe and muscular, not to mention taller but still a bit short, his hair was long and dark blonde, Flowing down his back since he had gotten rid of the hat he used to wear. The main reason It no longer fit since he let his hair grow out. He no longer wore the tight leggings from his teenage years but wore loose trousers instead. He had tuned into the most handsome man in Hyrule except for at this particular moment.

At this particular moment, his hair was all over the place, his eyes dull with black circles around them and very pale skin from lack of sleep and food. He looked half dead and felt it too. He looked more like a zombie than the hero of time and he knew as soon as he walked into that temple there will be four women that will ask those annoying are you okay? And what happened to you? Questions. Oh joy...

Link sighed. Might as well try and make myself look healthy. He walked over to a desk and found a small container filled with a skin color cream in it. He took his finger dabbed it in and rubbed it on his face while in front of the mirror. He thanked Malon for letting him borrow some of her makeup so he could fool Zelda and the others into thinking nothing was wrong. Well at least physically anyway. He wouldn't get into mentally.

Once finished he looked a little less sleep deprived which was enough for him. He grabbed his green tunic from the wall and put it on, brushed his hair real fast, grabbed his sword, shield, pack and cloak, and walked out the door. He winced at the bright sunshine that assaulted him as soon as he walked out. He was getting to really hate the sunshine. It was way too cheery for his liking.

He jumped down from the ledge not wanting to use the ladder and landed down at the bottom. He closed his eyes as he waited for Navi, eventually dozing off against the tree waiting for her. It did not last long when the nightmares came to him. This time though he wasn't inside his body but someone else's.

He was chained to a wall his arms spread over his head the chains attached to a pulley system that kept him form going far. He wore only a pair of ripped leggings that barley held his modesty. Around his neck was a collar with another chain attached to it. The end was being held in the hand of an unknown observer that could only be made out by his shadowed outline. In a failed attempt to free himself he caught his reflection in a mirror that stood nearby. What looked back at him was an angelic and beautiful male face with long black hair and blood red eyes. His body was long and thin but tightly muscled with a few foreign muscle designs on his body by the shoulder. But behind him he saw two moving shadows that later appeared to be wings! Who was he? What was he?

"Ahh my lovely it seems you are awake. You are as beautiful as they say. I would take you here and now if I didn't have other plans for you..."

"Who are you bastard?" His mouth spoke without permission. He was seeing through different eyes.

The chain around his neck was suddenly jerked and he fell to the ground face first. Soon after a large spiked boot kicked him in the side blood pooling on the ground from the gash that now adorned his side pain racking his form.

"I am your master you insolent beast!" The man yelled as he jerked him off the ground using the chain around his neck. The one he saw through looked up at the shadowed man defiantly and said,

"I have no master. I am no man's slave."

Crunch! The shadowed man punched him square in the face before yanking the chain up too his face where his face came into full view. Link almost screamed. I was Ganondorf!

"We shall see about that."

"Ahhh!" Link yelled as he shot up form his dosing. He was breathing hard and he could still feel the pain of the wounds inflicted in his dream. Navi came flying and almost smacked right into when she heard him scream.

"Link are you okay?"

"It's okay Navi I'm fine."

"Another nightmare?"

"Yeah…"

"Don't dwell on it too much. Come on we gotta get Epona."

And with that they left the forest and out into the field. Link yawned again as he dug into his pack searching for his ocarina while Navi flitted about like she always did.

"We gotta hurry link it sounded like it was very urgent."

"Yeah...yeah... it's always urgent with them. Last time they called me in because a few skeletons were attacking Kakariko village and the last time because one measly wolfo had wandered into Hyrule town market... I wonder what stupid mission they have me on this time. Now where did a put that thing?"

"That wolfo could have killed someone!"

"Oh come on Navi! It was a baby hardly old enough to be away from its mother! I swear sometimes those sages are becoming way too paranoid."

"What's with you lately Link? You have been very angry and bitter these last few days."

"Well maybe going through hell and back, having to live with nightmares that keep you up all night and sages that call on you at all hours of the day because of some stupid monster wandering into someone else's territory, among many others things... I can make a whole list if ya want!" Link snapped.

"Link...I..."

Link looked at Navi as she started to tear up. He never yelled at her before. He suddenly felt guilty for yelling at her when she wasn't the cause.

"I'm sorry Navi. I didn't mean to yell at you... Just forget it okay?"

"Okay. Well we should still hurry."

"I know. Ah hah! There you are."

Link played a short little tune to call his ever faithful Epona too him. Within moments she was riding up to him at full gallop happy to see her old friend. She stopped in front of him and gave him a lick to the face in greeting instantly helping links mood.

"Morning Epona."

Her gave her a hug and patted her on the nose as she nuzzled his neck. She knew something was wrong and it was her way of asking if he was okay. She always knew when something was wrong.

"I'm okay Epona."

He hugged her once again for her comfort and his. She had always been by his side and he was grateful. She was always the faithful stead. He climbed up into the saddle and threw his dark blue cloak around his shoulders pulling the hood over his head. He grabbed the reins and off they went toward the Hyrule market. The wind helped to wake him up somewhat and the sight of thunder clouds off in the distance told of a coming storm. He had to get this over with as soon as possible so he could get Epona back to Lon Lon on ranch before the storm.

The market was just like it used to be since the rebuilding. It was lively and loud with all the customers and shopkeepers bustling about. It cheered him a little to see things back the way they were after Ganondorf was destroyed.

He walked into the temple of time and through the great stone door where the master sword once stood. It's current location on links back. Many memories were in this place, some good some not so much. This was were it all truly started and where it ended and will probably start again when some other power hungry mad man comes around. He unsheathed the sword and walked through the stone door and stood over the pedestal. The triforce symbol began to glow and brisk winds whipped up beneath him. He closed his eyes as a warm sensation wrapped around him as the winds lifted him into the air.

His eyes opened to see the seven sages surrounding him on their individual pedestals. He stood hiding a yawn as they talked amongst themselves unaware of his presence. They were arguing over some matter that included some old enemy and whether or not they should let him die or not. Link looked over at Navi raising an eyebrow. The little fairy shrugged so link cleared his throat. Whatever they were talking about ceased at the realization of his presence.

"What is it this time?"

"You are needed for a mission that may be difficult for you to accept. We weren't sure whether or not too leave it too you but Zelda insisted." saira said.

"Well, what is it?"

"Zelda you mind explaining? You were with Gannon after all."

Zelda nodded and walked up to link with apprehension in her voice.

"Link...while I was in Gannon's castle I found out many of his secrets in creating the monsters you had to face. Some I found weren't created but changed or made to do his bidding without choice..."

"All this doesn't surprise me. what has it to do with the mission?"

"Well, the one we need you to help is or once was your enemy. Let me show you."

A large circular hole formed in the wall that began to twist and make a picture in the center. It was of hyrule lake facing the water temple. The scene then moved going underwater and into the temple itself as if it was being guided by an unseen force. It shifted through the temple going through corridors and hallways so fast it was hard to keep up when suddenly it stopped at a very familiar doorway. it went through the door way into a room he knew. It was a lake with a single tree sitting alone in the middle. The very place he faced dark link.

"You recognize the place?"

"Yes. I was once there."

"Then you should recognize him."

It shifted to run around the back of the tree and centered on a figure he knew too well. Lying, bleeding on what little ground there was, was a young man who looked like him as a teenager but wearing all black, with white hair and red eyes. he had gashes and cuts all over him and he was visibly in a great amount of pain.

Link jumped back. He was alive? But Gannon was dead... All his minions he created died with him hadn't they? Unless…

"How could he be still alive?"

"That's what we asked when Ruto came to tell us what she had found. we had gone to check it out when he attacked us."

"I wouldn't blame him."

"The strange thing is though he asked us where you were. We knew he was dying and told him we wanted to try and help him but he said he wanted you and no one else."

"Why? I was the reason for his state."

"we do not know but this will give us an advantage. we wish for you to kill him." Nabroo spoke. "we don't need him to get better and turn into his master."

"Nabroo! we cannot kill this boy! can't you see he has nothing left but what we could give him? My vision told me that if he lives he could be a great benefit."

"to the other side! Your visions are always vague princess!"

Link reached his hand up to the vision in the mirror and rested his palm against it. He could see the pain and agony the boy was going through. The blood he was losing, the way he was curled up like a small child it all pulled at links heart. Those deep red eyes that seemed to cry out. Through the whole fight those eyes spoke of pain and regret. He knew the creature did not want to fight him. Link knew that that creature had a soul unlike all the others. As he watched the mirror the young man looked up straight into it so their eyes locked. They pleaded for mercy. Those eyes born such loneliness that it pulled him. He wanted to read out and help the poor boy their on the ground. He wanted to hold him and take the pain away. He could see in his eye she was of no harm anymore. He was helpless and the look in his eyes was the same emotion that he had had many times and still does. He felt it so strongly that tears began to form in his eyes as the sages argued. He was not created by Gannon. He had been a slave. It was a situation he knew all too well.

"Link you must kill him!"

he whipped around and yelled back, "You want me too kill a helpless boy? He is harmless... He needs help not death."

"He is not helpless Link! That thing was your enemy! You should have killed him when you first fought him!"

"You did not fight him! You did not look into his eyes! I showed him compassion when others didn't!"

"Compassion is a weakness! You are weak!"
"Naboroo that is enough!" yelled impa.

"You know what Nabroo? If i lacked compassion for this world i would have never helped you in defeating Gannon or saved you from the witches! I would have left this world to rot under Gannon's rule and left you to be slave to the witches.

Naboroo went silent at seeing the force of the hero's fury. While the others gasped.

"He wasn't created by Gannon. He was a slave."

Zelda grabbed onto his arm in an effort to plead to him.

"Please link, i saw him in Gannon's castle after you defeated him. He has a soul. He had a life of his own. he was a slave to Gannon locked away in a dark pit until he became of use. He was alone with no one to comfort him. he shouldn't die that way..." Zelda pleaded with Link.

"I know." Link looked down at the floor raising his hand to his forehead before looking back up at the curled up boy in the mirror. No one should suffer like that alone. He knew because he had been doing it for years. He had decided. "I refuse to kill him."

"If you decide to help him then you must give up the master sword link."

Nabroo was sure that she would get him with that one. She was wrong.

"Very well. I don't care anymore. You can find someone else to save your world. I didn't choose to be the hero of time in the first place. I never wanted it."

He used the sword to bring himself back to the pedestal and stood before it. He raised the sword above his head and slammed it into the pedestal then walked away never looking back as he walked straight out of the church.

"Link do you realize what you have--"

"Yes and they can go to hell. Navi i need you to fly ahead of me and tell Malon to get me four bottles of healing potions and four bottles of lon lon milk ready."

"Okay link..."

Navi flew off as he went into the market to find himself a new sword. Once he found a suitable broadsword he called to epona and rode over to Lon Ranch. He was there long enough to load the bottles and pay the need amount before he was off again. He had to get there quickly if he was to save the boy. to hell with them. He was going to make his own choices. He was going to follow his heart for once in his life and not even the goddesses themselves will stop him.

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My first yaoi! I hope it is good so far. well read and review oh and befroe i for get i do not own legend of Zelda or any of the charecters well except my oc which you meet later...

Though i do have a copy of the game.