AN: I'm so sory his took so long to get up! Ugh, i feel terrible about making everyone wait MM is just a mess to try and deal with as far as the plot order. Just a note, if anyone reading this hasn't been through TOHOAH, i highly suggest they read it. I have plans; very very big plans for which the first story comes into play. And that is all i will say for now. Enjoy =)

A New Adventure

The next day dawned dark and gloomy, with a light drizzling rain that soaked the clothes of anyone standing outside. Still, it was early enough in the season that the rain was warm enough not to be uncomfortable. The workmen putting the scaffolding together for the festival tower grumbled irritably about having to work in such conditions but the tower needed to be finished. A lonely boy waited in a dark room somewhere, and a pair of twin dancers lamented their sad predicament.

In room 207 of the Stock Pot Inn, none of this made the slightest bit of difference for the two snoozing occupants. Actually, only Dark was sleeping. Link lay only inches away with an oddly tender expression on his face; an unusual feeling for the battle-hardened warriors.

"Dark. Get up," Link murmured, shaking the boy's shoulder. He was met with a groan as Dark flipped onto his stomach, mumbling something into his pillow. Frowning, Link cleared his throat and tried again. "Hey! Listen!"

"Gah! I'm up, I'm up! Damn it all Link, don't do that! I told you I had this nightmare about a fairy following me around and that's all she kept screaming the entire time!" Dark cowered under the blanket, leaving only his crimson eyes showing, darting around the room looking for a fairy stalker. Link just chuckled and patted Dark's head.

"Stay here, I will be right back." With that, Link stood up, slipped on his shorts and tunic then headed out the door, coming back a few minutes later with two plates of food, "Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and potatoes." Of course he noticed the grimace on his partner's face, though he didn't understand Dark's reluctance to eat Anju's cooking…

Figuring it would be a shorter story, Link related the story of his travels, such as they were, to find get to Termina and find Dark. Throughout the story, the black swordsman was quiet. In spite of his rambunctious attitude, he was actually capable of sitting still if the story was good. "So, that is everything I have done. What happened to you?"

Dark shrugged, trying to find words to explain it. "I dunno. One night I was laying in Hyrule castle and when I woke up, I was on the roof of the Spirit Tracks Inn. That one was booked though so I came here. I had no idea how I got here and no idea how to leave so I stuck around and got a job."

A job? Curious. Immediately Link started thinking up what Dark could possibly do as an occupation. Probably something combat oriented, perhaps a guard? No, someone of Dark's capabilities wouldn't want to be held back by rank. Perhaps a mercenary…

"So yeah, I'm working at this bookstore and they've got all kinds of interesting things about this place we're in. It's called Termina and according to the l-"

"You work in a bookstore?"

Dark sighed, absently running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I work in a bookstore. As I was sayi-"

"But why a bookstore? I thought you would be a mercenary or a bounty hunter or something equally action packed."

"They offered dental insurance," came the bland reply.

"At a bookstore?"

"I was just as surprised as you. Anyways, shut up and let me finish. When you showed up yesterday I was reading 'A History of Termina.' They center around the four directions on a compass and worship these guardian giants as their gods. "

"So they're pagan…" The look on his face more than broadcast Link's disapproval. After all, he'd personally met the Three Golden Goddesses; he knew they were real.

Dark however seemed much less worried by the idea. "I guess. Does it matter? We're stuck here either way, and as long as we are, might as well enjoy the festival." In actuality, Dark hadn't bothered getting an outside job because he knew the blond would come for him. He'd been hoping for the chance to share the festival with his boyfriend but Link was having none of it.

"No Dark. We are leaving. The moon is going to fall out of the sky tomorrow and demolish the town. I would prefer to be as far away from here as possible by then."

Link's shadow sat back silently for a moment, contemplating this. After hearing Link's story about how the Goddess Nayru had turned back time, he knew it was true. "Link…I believe you, hell, just a look up in the sky says its entirely possible but… can't we do anything to stop it? All those people will be killed if we don't do something."

The solemn reminder hit the Kokiri like a punch in the face. Biting his lip, he hugged his knees to his chest, trying to think. "I don't know. This isn't like last time. I don't…know what they want me to do. What if the Goddesses get angry at me for trying to…save…them?"

The room spun and the last thing Link saw before blacking out was Dark's worried face hovering over him.

When he opened his eyes, at first Link thought he'd gone blind. Then he looked down and saw his legs and torso. He wasn't blind, just sitting on black and surrounded by black with black stretching off into the distance. A sudden brilliant flash of light in the darkness forced Link to shield his eyes and when the light died down, the Three Golden Goddesses stood before him once more.

"Welcome, Hero. We have brought you here to explain the choice that has come upon you."

Groaning, Link sat up and nodded slowly. As much of an honor as it was to be in their presence again, the voice of a Goddess ringing through his entire body was a slightly painful experience. Ever word shook the boy to his very bones but he grit his teeth and tried to ignore it. "I assume you refer to Termina? What exactly is going on over there? Are you destroying the unbelievers?"

"That land was already fated to perish, but it is not an act of our hand. Unbelievers though they may be, a lost tribe of people who have scorned us, we nonetheless offer them a chance of salvation once more."

Stepping ahead of her two sisters, the glittering garnet-eyed form of the Golden Goddess Din explained. "We warned you that we would give you as much time with your shadow as we could, however, he had to be separated along with the rest. When you were drawn into the Sacred Realm to mature into an adult, time split off into two distinct paths; the path in which Ganon existed, and the path in which he did not."

"We could not allow the balance of nature to support two possible futures, yet it would be unfair to simply wipe from existence those who lived in the world you saved. And so, we created Termina to house the consciousnesses of those people who were once of the Hyrule of your adult life. That is why there are so many people whom you recognize. Dark Link was also a member of that world, and could not be left aside. The Law must be upheld by all."

This was going in a much different direction than expected. Taking a deep breath, Link asked, "So then, you wish for me to save this world? What am I saving it from, the moon? Skull Kid? Is Ganon out there waiting for me?"

"Termina is the embodiment of the world from which he was banished. The Evil King is still bound and cannot touch it. The one you call Skull Kid is merely a pawn and the moon is merely a tool for a higher mastermind. When the moon falls, it will destroy not only Clock Town, but the entire world of Termina."

"If you flee, you flee alone, abandoning your partner to a fate of certain destruction. Succeed, and you shall never be parted again."

This time it was the dark blue sapphires glinting at him to show that Nayru was speaking. "You must travel to the four temples and awaken the guardians sleeping there. If you have need of more time, play my song and I shall carry you back to the moment of your arrival in Clock Town. You may keep any information you learn as well as important items but all else shall be as it was."

"W-wait, you said there was another mastermind. Who is it? Who am I supposed to be facing?"

The question was barely out when all three of the Golden Goddesses yelled the answer simultaneously, a heavy gust of air knocking Link back on his butt.

"MAJORA! Now awaken Hero, there is much work to do if you would survive to face Majora's Wrath."

The infinite blackness of the Realm of the Gods faded away into a more normal black tinged with the color of his flesh. Link sat up, rubbing his throbbing head with a groan. "What…happened?"

Dark sighed his relief and went over to dig through one of his drawers. "You were talking, then suddenly your eyes rolled up and you passed out. Scared the hell outta me. Good thing I thought to be prepared. I figured you'd come looking for me so I started stock piling. Here."

Sitting in Dark's outstretched hands sat a large clear blue and red Heart Piece. Somehow, Dark had a penchant for finding them; Link stopped trying to figure out how years ago. All he knew was that his boyfriend had a special knack for locating Link's absolute favorite kind of candy. Just then, with the ache pounding in his head, a Heart Piece was exactly what he'd been looking for. Of course, since the headache wasn't a life threatening situation, he had the leeway to eat it slowly and enjoy the sweet and sour flavor in addition to the strength flooding his limbs. It wasn't nearly enough to get him to pre-Ganon condition but it made Link feel a little like his old self again.

"Well…the Goddesses have spoken. We are going to save Termina from the falling moon."

Dark had no problems with that. He just considered the proportions of the task they were about to undertake and responded with a simple, "Ok. Where do we start?"

Where indeed? Link snapped off a corner of the heart in his teeth, letting it melt in his mouth as he thought about it. "The Goddesses said that there are four temples housing guardian spirits that need to be awakened. Nayru will rewind time again as long as I have need of it and in the end, we will be facing someone named Majora."

The Kokiri fell silent again, thinking back. The Happy Mask Salesman said that the Skull Kid was wearing Majora's Mask…that right there was the best lead. So, first they needed a strategy to gather information about the nature of the temples, possibly their locations, then-

"C'mon Link. We're going out celebrating."

Dark's sudden declaration had the other boy completely off guard. Just a quick dig through the desk drawer to get his wallet and Dark grabbed Link and hauled him out of the room.

Dark ran right outside into the rain, staring up into the sky with his eyes closed, just letting the water wash over him with a light carefree laugh, but his partner waited dubiously beneath the Stock Pot's overhang, reluctant to get wet.

"Aww, C'mon Link, I've got something for you. Not gonna get it cause you're scared of getting wet? You a coward?"

That did it. Clenching a fist, Link ran out into the rain, determined to give Dark a few good bruises. He knew he was susceptible to it, but for some reason no matter how determined Link was to stand his ground, the "C" word got him running every single time.

No matter how fast he ran, Dark's lighter frame was always just a few steps ahead and soon Link forgot about both the rain and the bruises. Running with Dark through the cobble stoned streets of Clock Town was, admittedly, kind of fun.

They came to a stop in the nicer section at the northern end of West Clock Town. "Hey here it is!" Dark exclaimed and hauled Link inside before he had a chance to read the sign for what the store actually sold. "Here he is! You ready big guy?" Dark called, tossing the man waiting behind the counter his entire wallet, "So let's get to it!"

"Dark, what are you-"

"Just, trust me, it'll be fine. Now, close your eyes and hold still."

"But I-aaagh! Dark, wha-ah…!" A sudden burning pain biting into his ear killed his train of thought as he focused on holding still.

"Alright, you can look now."

When Link opened his eyes, he was met with his own bright blue eyes and a matching blue ring hanging from his right ear. "Dark. You got me an earring?" Link looked over just in time to see the red-hot needle pierce through the soft flesh of Dark's earlobe and wince.

Opposite of Link, Dark had his left ear pierced with a ring of deep red to contrast his partner. He thanked the jeweler again and they left the building. Link held his tongue until they were outside to start his tirade. He wasn't about to start yelling at his partner in front of someone else, but out in the rain, no one else was around.

"What was that?" Link half yelled, half hissed.

"Your birthday present. Happy birthday Link." Dark's calm response completely knocked aside the entire irate rant.

"Uhm, Thanks, you too…now why are you giving me a painful present like stabbing a needle through my ear?"

Dark blinked several times in disbelief, "Excuse me? Do I need to remind you what your present was? It was the most amazing thing ever but damn, feels like your horse kicked me in the stomach. I'm seriously surprised I could walk today."

Link cuffed his partner playfully, "You compare me to a horse?"

"Well you're certainly hung like one," Dark muttered before dashing off through the streets with an embarrassed Kokiri hot on his heels.

In spite of the rain, many people stayed out to enjoy the festivities, and those that didn't had plenty of opportunity to celebrate from the safety of indoors. Link and Dark frequented several shops for games including an apple bobbing booth, though that was more from Dark forcing his partner to lighten up and have a good time rather then the blond volunteering any of his precious time to such trivial matters. He, or both of them rather, had work to do and while researching in the rain wasn't the easiest thing to do, Link was more than practiced at sacrificing his own personal wants for the greater good. After all, he was the Hero of Time and now once again a land in peril needed his dire assistance and he'd travel to the ends of the earth to slay vicious monsters, pushing himself to the point of exhaustion if that was what it took…

But Dark was having none of that.

So, rather than gallivanting off to make a raid on whatever ancient temple it was that required his attention, Link was forced to show off his archery prowess at a target shooting game.

"Honey and Darling's Shop" had a wooden platform that rose and fell, spinning on a tide of water that filled the room. The wooden disc floated and bobbed with the current of the water but still, Link never missed a shot and walked out several minutes later with a purple Rupee.

Around dinner time they strolled back through the damp streets towards the Stock Pot Inn where the common room sat full of hungry circus performers who'd been working or practicing all day and Anju had her hands full trying to get everyone fed. Apparently, the Stock Pot Inn was short-staffed for the day. "Come on Link, let's help out," Dark suggested.

"Yes, I was just about to say that." Having decided on the path of the good Samaritan, Link and Dark helped the innkeeper ferry plates of fresh, home-cooked food back and forth from the kitchen to the customers. With two pairs of hands, Anju was left free to prepare the plates, making the whole affair flow smoothly.

Once they finished with the paying customers, Anju wiped her hands on the white apron hanging from her waist and prepared one last tray of food. "Thank you both so much. I just need to take this one to my grandmother and I'll be done."

"Well why don't you let us do it? You look like you could use a break," Dark offered and indeed, the inn keeper was looking a little on the pale side.

"Oh…yes, thank you. Last door on the left…"

While Dark followed though on his suggestion, Link couldn't help but wonder, did he notice? The distant, almost lost expression on the brunette woman's face wasn't one of tiredness after a long day of serving customers. She looked almost…lost.

It was certainly a worthwhile question; one could never tell with Dark. He was either extremely perceptive or extraordinarily dense and it was impossible to tell beforehand which would be the case. Or during, for that matter. Dark's bubbly enthusiasm made an excellent cover to keep things hidden. Link would have to ask later. At the moment, the boy was too busy balancing tray with soup with one hand and trying to carry a second tray for a fragile teapot and white china cups.

Moving in to prevent what would have been a future mishap of broken china cups, Link stepped in to lighten his partner's load and they each carried a tray down the hall to knock at the door Anju had specified. A raspy old voice from within beckoned them inside.

The room, like every other room housing an old person that dark had ever seen, the air was thick, smoky and it smelled funny. Though Link had the decency not to let acknowledge it, Dark was not so tactful, wrinkling his nose as he set the tray of tea down next to a shriveled woman, older then he could have imagined.

"Ooh, Tortus, did you finish helping Father? Then let mother read you a story."

Link glanced at his partner and jerked his head towards the door as if to tell him to get out of there but Dark sat down cross legged and said, "Could you tell us the story of the Four Giants?"

In the back, Link slapped a palm to his forehead. Now they were stuck here listening to the senile ramblings of an old lady.

"The Four Giants, is it? This is a long story but it's good for you to hear so I'll read it with extra gusto. Ahem…"

Long ago, before the people were divided up into the four worlds we have now, the giants lived among us. On the day of the great festival to celebrate the harvest, the giants spoke to the people, saying, "We have chosen to guard the lands while we sleep. If you should have need of us, cry out in a loud voice our prayer and your cries will be carried to us.

100 steps North

100 steps South

100 steps East

100 steps West

But there was one who was shocked and saddened by all this. A little imp. He felt that his friends, the giants who live in the four cardinal directions had abandoned him, and his anger spread across the four worlds…

Anju's grandmother spoke long into the night and the next morning, the day of the festival. Link suddenly snapped back into wakefulness in time to hear the very ending of the story.

… and so order was restored and the Four Giants were worshipped as the gods and saviors of our people.

"Now, lets see how well you were paying attention. What did the people need to do to call the giants?"

Link scrambled through his memory, trying to come up with the answer but he'd just been too tired to think straight. Dark on the other hand, who'd stayed awake all night listening intently to the story knew the answer right away. "They had to call a special prayer from the top of the Clock Tower," he dutifully repeated, earning a satisfied chuckle from Grandma.

"Very good Tortus. Have a treat for being such a good boy," and the next moment he was holding yet another Heart Piece. Link surreptitiously took hold of the corner of the candy trying to slip it out of Dark's grasp but the boy wasn't letting go.

"Thanks Ma, we're going out to the festival. We'll come see you later." Dark stood up, clutching the Heart Piece to his chest with one arm and giving a short farewell wave with the other before running out the door with Link right behind him.

Outside, the sky had cleared and the slight chill in the air with the soft ever present dawn light put the time at early morning. Once they were out in fresh air, Dark spun around to tuck the crystalline candy inside his tunic pocket. "You fell asleep," he teased and Link huffed. "Just look, what'd I tell ya? You gotta take better care of yourself. Good breakfast, good nights sleep and you're still exhausted!"

Link flushed, shuffling his feet in place, "I am too busy to waste time on such things when-"

"I know where we're going. Do you? Grandma said so in her story. I was up and listening but apparently drooling on my tunic was more important to you." Along with his teasing, Dark started strolling leisurely towards South Clock Town.

"Yes Dark, I know. You never fail to remind me of this. Now, you have a Heart Piece…"

Pretending to just realize this fact, Dark patted his pocket and smiled. "Why so I do. What about it?"

"Are you going to give it to me?"

Dark snickered, planting a hand on a hip. "Maybe, once you use those manners I've heard you swear I don't have. Really, you can't expect me to grow up to be a civil adult when you're such a bad influence like this."

Again he'd been outmaneuvered. Link ground his teeth in frustration knowing that Dark was completely right. Somehow, the shadow was a master at doing things like that; namely, making Link look like a hypocrite at best and an apathetic slob at worst.

It was quite irritating for Link to be portraying himself in such a way when he normally took such care to keep up an impeccable appearance and how Dark took next to no effort to bring that façade crumbling to the ground.

Still, infuriating as it was, there was candy at stake and it was for the sake of that candy that Link swallowed his pride, "Alright Dark, I apologize for my lack of manners. May I have that Heart Piece please?"

Smug in his victory, Dark tossed the candy into the air and let Link jump forward to catch it. With his favorite candy in hand, Link had something to keep himself occupied and was more than willing to stay back and watch Dark march on up to the guard blocking the south exit of the city. Beneath the helmets and light chain mail, it was impossible to distinguish between guards. "Halt. I can't allow kids like yourselves to leave the city. It's dangerous out there so go back to your parents."

"Oh, kids are we? Tell you what Mr. Guard. Let's make a little wager. We'll have a fight and the bet is you won't last more than ten seconds against me. If you win, I'll give you fifty rupees. Link, show the man the money." Several steps behind, Link held up a shining amethyst rupee. "If I win, you let us leave."

The offer seemed innocent enough but Link couldn't help but groan at how grossly unfair this little contest was. It was necessary so he didn't complain but still…

Unaware of the danger lurking just in front of him the guard stepped up to 'put the cocky brat in his place.'

"Begin."

The guard stepped up to swing his spear and three seconds later he was staring up at the clouds, dazed with no idea what had just happened.

"Well, he's out of the way. C'mon Link. To the Southern Swamp!," and with the only line of resistance neutralized, Link and Dark simply strolled out the gates and into the fields beyond, their new adventure under way.