I'd like to take a few moments of your time before you read this fanfiction please.

This fanfiction was started the day my Step-mother left me, my dad and my brothers; said 'I'm not happy' one morning and moved out that very day. I tell you this because I was very hurt, and so angry at her; this story really helped me cope... The problem is, looking back on it now I believe I poured my hurt and anger at her into this fic, which lead to me writing a few characters (I won't spoil it if you decide to read the fanfiction)... Out of character? Their development into why they are the way they were written is spelled out, but still I feel that I did them wrong and desire to correct my mistake with the re-write.

This story contains some plot holes; guy love, a few oc's (one of which belongs to a friend, the other is mine), likely occasional spelling mistakes or grammar errors. I am planning a re-write on my new account 'RayHollows', which will fix said plot holes; be much better written (I have improved quite a bit since first writing this fanfiction, this first chapter had been re-written before and the rest of the story is untouched) and overall have a better plot. This version of the story is apparently a good read; I myself haven't re-read it in a long time but many others have said they greatly enjoyed it. The writing itself is not bad I don't think, my writing has merely improved since I wrote this and I want to give this story proper justice.

The story is overall rated T; violence, language, suggestive and vaguely sexual content later on. If you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it and decide to stick around for the re-write as it will be much better. Chapters have been edited to remove the authors notes (they have become unnecessary), if you read reviews some may make mention to something I wrote in an authors note and thus may not make much sense, my apologies if that happens. Re-reading some of my author notes... I was really childish when I wrote this story; happy over character bashing and only later learning to adore them... I really do apologize for my behaviour and will definitely make it up to those characters in the re-write.

Link:

The breeze through fluttering leaves was mild; bright sunlight glittered from the sparkling lake and birds sang melodies from their perches. The world was calm, peaceful and serene. Finally free from seven years of blood and fighting; everything was righting itself. Beneath the largest islands lone tree, dozed the savoir of it all; the Hero who had near single handedly brought about this change and helped to usher in this new era of golden years.

The emerald green of his faded tunic matched the soft grass he lay on; the golden sheen of his thick hair gleamed in the gently falling sunlight. Long and pointed elven ears twitched slightly in sleep, catching the wind and relaxing the lean, slightly muscled body they belonged to; a small royal blue hooped earring caught against those strands and became entangled within them. Covering that shoulder length hair was a long pointed hat whose tip dragged down to his shoulder blades ( the color matching his tunic), atop that usually sat blue light that held a guardian faerie within its embrace (said guardian faerie was visiting with the fishermen on the other side of the lake currently). Worn deep brown boots scuffed against the ground as the figure shifted, a soft sigh released from pink lips as he turned slightly in his sleep.

Nearby, within easy arms reach, the famed sword and shield rested against the trunk of a tree; while peace was reigning one could never be too careful, he would rather be cautious and keep them near then put them away and regret it later.

The Hero of Time, once thought of just a faerieless Kokiri child, now the savoir of the entire land of Hyrule. Navi the faerie, chosen by the Great Deku tree to be his guiding faerie; was the figure hidden in light atop his head. Together they had paved a golden trail through evil; slain beasts and defended the people. In the end, though Sheik had killed Ganondorf, darkness lost and the Light of the Goddess' shown through.

The celebrations were over now, it was time to rebuild the land that the Dark King had so vehemently sought to rule and destroy. However, Link had been working himself over the limit of what his body was capable of (once again) and had to be ordered by the Princess Zelda herself to rest and restore his body to full health.

That is how they came to be at Lake Hylia; taking a much needed and deserved rest from being the Hero, from overtaxing his body and pushing himself further than he ought to go. The castle and castle town had been rebuilt; it was during work on Kakariko that Zelda and the rest of the Sages found out how long Link had gone without sleep or proper rest. The excuse of nightmares haunting his dreams had worked… Until Link had all but collapsed from exhaustion. In an attempt to finally get Link to listen to her, Zelda ordered that nobody was to let Link help them rebuild until he was well rested again.

Honestly he didn't particularly mind being banned from helping; he needed to realize final that there was no need to push himself so hard anymore. He could rest and relax now; the evil in the lands was all but gone, he could do whatever his heart desired now. A lazy thought swirled about his mind as he yawned in his half awake state; he hadn't seen Epona or Malon in awhile, he was thinking of going to visit them after his nap at the lake.

The Hero's deep cerulean eyes fluttered open, smiling at the picturesque scene before him. Everything was healing now that Ganondorf was slain; the lake was crystal clear and healthy again, the races were recovering after the attacks on them; heck they were even getting along much better now. Link was helping with that, to bridge the gap of judgment and prejudice against each other; he had actually started the job as a child, and now as an adult he was closer than ever to helping unite all of Hyrules people together (If he could be called an adult; his maturity and mindset was still that of a child, but through his journey and with help from his friends he was almost at his bodies proper age with regards to his mind).

"Suppose it's time to go tell her I'm leaving..." He murmured, his low and soft voice was still thick with sleep. It had been too long since he had last rested, at least to this degree. He didn't often let his guard down fully, still mistrustful of the world around him after so many brushes with near death.

A shifting noise in the tree he was leaning on caught the attention on his ear; before very muffled voices were heard. His body tensed, neck hair standing on edge, eyes narrowing as his instincts kicked in. Instead of slowly reaching for the legendary blade of Evils Bane, the Master Sword, he swooped over to the side, rolling and coming to a stand with his blade in hand pointed at the spot he had just been laying.

Moments later a figure half fell half jumped down from the tree; crimson eyes flashing with irritation and worry before easily sliding into a neutral gaze.

Link lowered the blade just a small amount, his head tilting slightly to the side as his ears perked up slightly. "Sheik? What… are you doing here?" he asked, frowning at her appearance… he was sure he heard more than one voice speaking just then…

Sheik shifted her weight and brushed her bangs out of an eye before crossing her arms over her chest and glancing away from Link. "Hero." She said formally, in a way of 'proper Sheikah greeting'. "The Princess has just asked to me observe if you were following her commands and resting."

Link nodded slightly, that made sense; Sheik was Zelda's go to person after all, if she needed something checked on or something fetched she would send Sheik to do it. "I see…" he was tempted to ask her about the other voice he heard, but trusted Sheik enough not to question her presence. For all he knew she could have been using some sort of magick to communicate with Zelda. "Anyways; you can tell her I've been listening, actually thinking of going to the ranch now, Malon won't let me do anything if she knows I'm not suppose to."

Sheik nodded and edged a few feet away from Link; she appeared to be in a hurry. "Yes very well; I will tell Zelda your plans, I doubt she'll keep you from helping much longer as it is."

"Not fair!"

Link blinked, and glanced to the tree where the other voice had come from. He was confused, it sounded like his, albeit darker and held more of a cocky edge to it. He knew he had heard it before… but as to where he couldn't place it at the moment, wherever it was from he hadn't heard it in a long time.

He was even more surprised when a black clothed figure nimbly leapt down from one of the branches of the lone tree of the island, pose matching Sheik's crossed arms. "Why do you get to talk to him and I don't?" Right now that voice sounded more pouty and childlike, though still held that near dangerous edge.

Link was really too much in shock to pay attention to the resulting conversation; he was busy staring at the newest figure, disbelief coursing through his system.

There was no way that was who it looked like. There was no way it was one of the most difficult foes he had had to face in his quest… was alive and standing within ten feet of him. He knew that person; the malevolent gleam in his bright scarlet eyes, the on edge and cat like way he held himself (it was if he were a predator, always waiting to pounce and attack)

"Shut up Dark! "

That shout finally brought Link out of his shock; a shake of his head cleared his mind slightly, made it easier for him to focus on the going ons around him. Sheik and… the one who could be none other than his dark copy, were standing face to face and shouting angrily at each other.

"It's already risky enough to let you out and about; what if Zelda were to find you? You think she'd take lightly to a true shadow of the Hero running about the place?"

Dark, as Sheik had named him, pouted and poked Sheik's shoulder. "She won't; she's too infatuated with the hero there to bother with me~ Besides, I can take care of myself; no hotty totty lil brat will beat me!" he boasted, grinning darkly.

Sheik rolled her eyes and flicked his nose in an annoyed manner; the interaction between the two just furthering Link's confusion. "Oh yeah? You did such a great job at 'taking care of yourself' in the water temple; was it you who wrapped your wounds after fishing you out of that room? You who nursed yourself back to full health regardless of the danger you were in? Huh?"

Dark sighed and swept his raven black bangs behind a long pointed ear, a frown replacing his usual cocky look. "Damnit Sheik I know you took care of me back then, no need to rub it in my wounded pride!" he muttered, glancing away from her.

Unfortunately…his gaze then fell on Link; and the fanged grin that spread over his face when he did was something that set off warning bells in Link's head. "Oooooooooooooooooh what have I here, why but a lil hero all by his lonesome!" he cooed, taking a step closer to Link as he did so.

The hairs on the back of Link's neck rose, and he instinctively took a step back from the Shadow before him; gripping the master sword tighter in his sweaty palm. "You have nothing, what do you want?" he snapped at the other male; fear slowly trickling through him. Dark Link had been… one of the toughest enemies he had faced in his quest to save Hyrule, and now here he stood before him once again.

It had taken hours; just to reach the room his enemy was in. hours of swimming; lowering and raising water levels, fighting monsters and shivering from the damp. When he arrived at the misty room, Dark Link had proven to be so much more than a misty shadow like he appeared to be. Link had lost track of how long they fought, each move being copied by the other, movements identical and strength with very little differences between them. He was a true challenge, and especially now, now that he was supposed to be resting, he did not want to fight him.

"N'aw, why so tense Hero?~ Surely, I'm not that… Intimidating?" What was it about that tone, the low and dangerous currents that both made his heart trip over a beat and his spine to shiver in fear…No, anticipation? That sounded more correct… "I could help you… relax~ If you want~"

"NO."

If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he didn't want, nor need this Dark Link anywhere near him. "I don't want anything to do with you, not now not ever." This helped calm him, the declaration of solitude; enabled him to straighten his spine and evenly meet his 'opponents' mischievous gaze with his own determined ones.

"Is that any way to speak to your own shadow? Tsk tsk I thought you had manners~" The shadow took another step closer every other word; soon trapping the tensed Hero between his ebony clothed form, and the leaf-less tree on the island…garnet eyes glinting with triumph.

Link felt the tree against his back and grasped his sword tighter, heart tripping over itself in panic. He was weakened, his body had not yet had enough rest to be at full energy; if there was to be a fight… he wasn't sure what would happen. Would Sheik let Dark Link kill him? Would he be able to fight off and defeat the Shadow?

His eyes flicked to Sheik at the thought of her, perhaps foolishly thinking he would be able to focus back on his enemy before he could do anything to him. Why did she have the shadow with her? Why would she save the magic creation from its… his… demise? Was Link's presumption of Dark Link being just a creation of Ganon's… wrong?

"You seem to be distracted Hero…Have I truly frazzled you that much?" That purring voice suddenly sounded at his neck; before warm soft lips were planted where breath had just wafted over. Link tensed further and twitched his hand, preparing to slice diagonally up with the Master sword as to get ride of Dark…

But the shadow merely grabbed his wrist and squeezed it with enough force to not break, but at least get Link to drop the blade. With the deadly sword now on the ground; Dark pinned the Heros arm above his head and smirked against his neck as he gently lapped at the smooth skin. "Hhnnn~ I can taste the innocence on you."

Link tried moving; tried to jerk his arm free, kick his enemy… Nothing would work. Dark had him flush between him and that damned tree in such a way that he could only escape if Dark let him… or, if someone helped him. "Sh-Sheik!" he managed to spit out; tone angry and flustered; confused and irritated all at once.

Sheik sighed and walked over to Dark; grabbing his ear and yanking it causing him to yelp and stumble away from Link scowling. "Come on Dark; we need to get going." She snapped; voice wavering with slipping control over her anger.

"D'aw, but I was just getting started~" the shadow purred back; sending Link a look that raised the hair along his neck and sent a warm shiver down his belly at the same time.

"Don't care. I shouldn't have let you out of the house in the first place." She grumbled as she yanked on his arm and pulled him further away from Link. "Sorry to have troubled you Link…. Please, don't tell Zelda about this…"

Before Dark could even speak what he had opened his mouth to say, there was a brilliant flash of light and they were gone in the blink of a deku nut.

It took Link a few minutes for his body to calm down. His nerves were still on end; body tense and waiting for the enemy to appear again and… Well; do whatever it was he had been doing. Finally, with a deep breath in and out, Link shakily slumped back against the tree he had been trapped against breathing unevenly.

The experience had unnerved him. He had never been put in a situation like that before; sure he had been at the disadvantage plenty of times… But for him to have no control over what was happening, to be so helpless… He hated it.

Not only was there the vulnerable factor; but now he was confused. He didn't know why, but the way Dark was acting; the fiery gleam to his scarlet eyes, the low and thick way he spoke, predator like gait and those lips at his neck…

They all caused a strange shiver to run down his spine.

He sat there for while more; getting his bearings and what not, trying to distract himself. His vacation seemed to take a turn for the strange, now more then ever he needed just a few days of relaxation and rest. Navi needed to get back so they could leave for the ranch…. Or he could leave without her,she would know how to find him…

"Sorry Nav… but I need the distraction…" he muttered, before he reached for the Ocarina of Time and played Epona's song; his mind desperately trying to forget the feel of being pressed against the tree he was leaning against.