Chapter is T Rated for a few instances of suggestive speech and activity. Also, T is for terrible because even though this chapter has some of my favorite scenes, I personally think it came out badly. I hope you guys like it though. ^^;
Hours later, Link sat up and glanced at his sleeping shadow. He leaned over and blew a raspberry on his stomach, squeezing his hips. Dark Link cried out and laughed, shoving him away.
"Good morning to you too." He giggled, and Link smiled, stretching. Link shushed him and pointed over to Malon's bedside table. Navi was out cold, fast asleep on an old, soft stocking cap. She still gave off that soft blue glow, only the slightest bit dimmed in her slumber. Link picked up one of the white feathers and smirked. Dark Link sneered, looking especially devious under the shadow of his black bangs.
"Ooh, my evil is rubbing off on you." He purred wickedly. Both of them stood and silently approached the sleeping fairy. Link twirled the tip of the feather on Navi's small belly, and they watched and smirked as she curled up and giggled. He lightly tapped the quill of the feather on her stomach, and she squealed, waking up and flying away from them.
"What's the big idea?!" she snapped, trying to play off the blush of embarrassment on her face. The boys laughed and teased her, cornering her and brushing the feathers on her stomach and chin. She laughed and managed to fly away from them, hiding inside the stocking cap.
"Aw, Navi, come out." Dark Link giggled.
"No." she giggled back.
"Come on, we're sorry." Link said with a teasing tone. She peeked out of the cap and stared at them. They sighed and let the feathers drop to the floor. Navi flew out and flew between them, pinching their ears until they cried mercy.
"Now be good and go get ready, ya dogs." She ordered, giggling as they walked off.
"Do you guys really have to go?" Malon asked, even though she knew. "It was really fun having you around." Dark Link looked at her and smirked.
"Aww, does someone want a goodbye hug?" he asked sweetly. Malon smiled softly as the two boys embraced her tightly. It was a sweet, cuddling type of hug; so sweet, it almost felt like a trap…
"You told her it was a goodbye hug?" Link asked sneakily.
"Yes." Dark Link said back. It sounded almost scripted. "Is it not?"
"No, it's a tickle hug." Malon tensed and shrieked as they started tickling her sides; Link tickling her belly and his shadow kneeling beside her and tickling her knees and feet, the Hylian in green kept her from falling over as they stopped, leaving her a giggling mess. They carefully helped her sit down on a crate near the stable and climbed on Epona. Malon giggled and waved to them as they trotted off.
"Only one temple left." Link smiled. "And it's off in the Desert."
"It'll be nice to go home." Dark Link purred into the back of Link's shoulder. "I kind of missed the desert."
"Is that all?" Link asked playfully, nudging him with his elbow.
"Hm? …Oh! And of course I'll introduce you to the Gerudo girls I grew up with." Dark Link laughed. He hugged Link tightly around his waist as Epona galloped toward Gerudo Valley.
"What's wrong girl?" Link murmured to his horse as they approached the bridge over the valley. She snorted and shook her head, backing up. Link looked over her and saw that the bridge was gone.
"Oh yeah…" Dark Link said as he remembered. "Ganondorf destroyed the bridge as he and I left. He said we had no use for it anymore."
"Oh…" Link responded, nodding his head. "But I've seen Epona jump pretty well."
"Oh, do I have to tell you everything?" Navi asked, smirking.
"No, but by the goddesses, you do anyway." Navi rolled her eyes.
"She won't jump because you jokers are too heavy. She's scared."
"Are you calling us fat clowns?" Dark Link asked in a warning tone, the look in his eyes reminding her of the feather he had tucked behind his ear.
"Now, now, we can deal with her later." Link chuckled, pulling the Longshot from his pouch and handing it to him. "You go first."
"Wait, why do I have to use the Hookshot?"
"Because Epona only trusts me." Link sneered. "Relax. You can make it."
"And if I don't?"
"Well, then I'll go fish you out of Lake Hylia." Dark Link pouted and climbed off of Epona. Oh, quit your pouting, I'll catch you." Link, tugged on Epona's reins, backing her away from the gorge. He kicked her flanks and she galloped bravely before leaping over the canyon in a smooth, graceful arc. Link scratched her ears and stroked her mane, praising her.
"She's a very beautiful horse." He heard Dark Link praise, and he nodded. He looked up and flinched when he saw Dark Link standing right beside him.
"How did you-?!" he stammered. "I didn't hear-"
"I just remembered I could walk on air, silly." The shadow grinned, returning the Longshot. Link rolled his eyes and helped his clone up onto Epona's back.
They trotted quietly toward the Gerudos' fortress.
"You're sure they won't attack us?" Link asked. "I've heard stories that-" Dark Link hugged him softly.
"I'm positive Link." He assured. "No way they could have forgotten me; I haven't been gone very long." Link sighed heavily.
"Okay…" Link steered Epona up the slope toward the fortress. Almost immediately, the Gerudo women swarmed around them; the horse reared up in fear, snorting.
"Easy girl…" Link called to her, grasping the reins.
"Who are you?!" one of them shouted at him, jabbing a spear in his face.
"Uh…" Link stammered nervously.
"His name's Link." Dark Link explained, and all eyes were suddenly on him. "Hello again, ladies."
"'I'm positive, Link.'" Link mocked. Dark Link looked away in shame, blushing. Not ten minutes later, the two boys were strung up in chains, their arms restrained so high over their heads; their toes just barely brushed the ground. The Gerudos were outside going through their bags, and Epona was locked in their stable.
"I'm sorry…" Dark Link whined. "I don't know why-"
"You're so naïve." Link murmured angrily. "Even I know people can't be trusted to remember a face. I know especially…"
"But you left for 7 years. I was only gone for about 4."
"So what? People forget… They always forget."
"…Link." Dark Link could see hints of tears in Link's eyes. "Don't be so negative. At least we're not hurt." Link huffed.
"Yeah, and at least I wasn't the one who got us thrown down here." Dark Link huffed. So, he wanted to play the insult game…
"At least I didn't lose my innocence to a Redead." He mumbled without really thinking. The room was so silent; he knew he'd screwed up. Navi flew up to him, her eyes frantic.
"You just had to go there…" she said, flying away. He turned to Link and flinched at the fierce glare from his icy blue eyes.
"You stupid little…" Navi flew out of the small cell as Link kicked the life out of his shadow. Dark Link screamed and cried out in pain, drawing a few curious Gerudos toward the opening in the ceiling.
"C'mon, quit it!" he shouted. "You're really hurting me!"
"That's the point, stupid!" Link snarled. He only stopped when he noticed the Gerudos drop down a rope ladder. A woman just barely taller than them climbed down; then reached up and unlocked the chains on their wrists. Dark Link immediately cowered and backed away, but the woman held the Hero of Time at bay.
"Come on, boys." She said sternly, ordering them up the ladder. As they climbed out, one of the Gerudos hugged Dark Link tightly.
"Patches, I've missed you!" she squealed. Link snickered.
"Patches?" he asked, and his shadow blushed, hugging the girl as well.
"Kathleen, you know I hate when you call me Patches."
"See?" The girl said to the older women. "It must be him; he remembers what I called him as a kid. He even remembers my name!" One of the women shook her head.
"Kathleen is not an uncommon name." she said. "There's a fair chance he was guessing."
"Besides," Link smirked. "No one would want to be called Patches."
"You are not helping…" Dark Link sighed. Link sneered; he wasn't trying to help. The hero looked at Kathleen.
"Did Patches have another name?" he asked simply.
"Ganondorf called him Dark Link. He looked just like you guys."
"Funny; that's what this guy told me his name was when he tried to kill me not too long ago."
"Impossible." The older woman called. "Ganondorf just told us last week that Dark Link had died in battle." Dark Link's face paled.
"He knew…" he breathed quietly. "He knew I'd try to come back…" He sank to his knees, all kinds of horrible scenarios where Ganondorf came looking for him and Link, or Ganondorf attacking the Gerudos because they trusted him. Link put a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. He looked up at the Gerudos: Kathleen was kneeling with Dark Link sympathetically, but the others were still skeptical.
"Listen, ladies." He sighed. "What if I can prove that this is Dark Link?" Kathleen pleaded with her eyes, and the woman sighed…
"Hero, please…" Dark Link begged as Link chained his hands over his head. He was chained down to a rack in the Gerudos' fortress, and Link had taken his tunic, hat, and boots, leaving him in his white undershirt and leggings. He wiggled his toes and cringed as Link leaned over him; running a hand through his raven hair and touching his nose to his own.
"What's the point of saying you're ticklish if they don't tickle you?" Link mocked, and Dark Link blushed.
"You're hell-bent on embarrassing me today…" he whined. "Why, hero?" Link breathed softly into his ear, making him twitch and giggle, a soft red creeping across his cheeks.
"Because you're kind of cute when you blush…" the Hero of Time whispered. Dark Link couldn't think of anything to say to that. Link chuckled and stepped toward Kathleen.
"My Shadow here told me you Gerudos used to tickle him silly as a kid." He said. "Do you remember that?"
"Yes," Kathleen answered brightly, glancing into Dark Link's pleading eyes. "Patches, I'm sorry, but we have to prove it to them."
"Yeah, Patches, it'll all be worth it in the long run." Link added, showing a cruel toothy smirk that only Dark Link saw. They sat on either side of their captive, and Link glided his fingers along his shadow's side. Kathleen smiled as she watched her friend cringe. She reached up and scratched deeply into Dark Link's armpits, already having the rhythm that Link had yet to master.
"N-No!" the dark clone cried out, laughing helplessly and pulling on the chains. "Not there! Please, you guys!" Link smirked and brushed feathers along his neck and into his ears; his shadow writhed and squealed, his cheeks starting to glow red. This vaguely reminded him of that crazy Dead Hand, but he knew Link would never go that far; truth be told, he wasn't sure about Kathleen though. His thoughts were interrupted as a shriek of laughter burst from his mouth. Link was grazing his fingertips along the soles of his feet.
"Could it be possible that your feet are more sensitive than mine?" Link teased, scratching his sole with one hand while playing with his toes. Dark Link was hysterical, pulling desperately at the chains as his captors sawed feathers through his wiggling toes and scrubbed his soles with a horse brush.
"I-I'll kill you, hero!" he threatened, and combined with the rattling of the chain, Link was reminded of just a few weeks ago when he met this maniac. He remembered that ridiculous first tickle fight, and every one since then; he thought about all the times his shadow had pissed him off, and he couldn't help thinking about all the times he'd made him smile. He chuckled softly, squeezing Dark Link's knee and smirking at his shrieks. He was definitely glad he chose not to kill his reflection.
His thoughts were soon interrupted by something striking him in the head and knocking him down.
"Master!" It cried happily, and Link stood up to see a Bubble sitting on his Shadow's chest.
"Navi?" he mumbled, rubbing his head.
"I'm on it." She smiled, flying around the Bubble. "It's a Mottled Bubble. This extremely rare Bubble can change color depending on emotion. It does no damage, and has been rumored to talk."
"Skully, you found me." Dark Link smiled, and the Gerudos were astonished.
"You know this creature?" the once skeptical woman asked, and Dark Link nodded as Kathleen unlocked the chains.
"Of course Master knows me." Skully chirped. "Master told me to wait here."
"And I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner." The shadow sighed, patting the skull. "I got a little…distracted." He stole a glance at Link, a mischievous look that foretold revenge, but also showed a hint of affection. The women hung their heads in embarrassment.
"We apologize for the misunderstanding." They spoke.
"But why would Ganondorf tell us you died?" Kathleen asked. Dark Link pouted.
"Ugh, I didn't want to tell this story again… But I haven't seen you in a while, so… Maybe later." One of the Gerudo women pulled Link aside.
"Thank you for this." She said. "We were so worried about him."
"Happy to help, ma'am." He said modestly. She smiled and handed him a blue gem.
"Take this as a sign of my gratitude. Its magic will allow you to use Ice Arrows."
"Thank you, ma'am." He nodded. He turned to his shadow; The Gerudos were tickling him again, and Skully was nuzzling up to his face. It was a beautiful scene, and it made his heart ache.
"It's such a nice family…" he mumbled, running off. Dark Link pulled away from the ladies and went to find him; he'd seen tears in the hero's eyes…
He found the Hylian in one of the lodging quarters, staring out the window. He snuck up and snaked his hands around the hero's waist, leaning on his back.
"You were crying…" he murmured. "Talk to me." Link sighed and sniffled.
"It's just…" he mumbled, walking away from the window and lying on a bed. "I guess you could say I'm jealous."
"Jealous? You mean of me?" The Hylian nodded.
"You, shadow. You know who you are. You know nearly everything about yourself. You have a family, and you know them. And even though your father figure is a raging maniac, you know him… And me, I don't know my family. I only recently figured out I was Hylian. Not to mention what happened to my mother…" He blushed faintly when Dark Link softly kissed his cheek, wiping tears off his face.
"You have me." He said simply. "Me and my family. And Navi too."
"And Saria." Navi added from her perch on the bedpost. "And Darunia, Ruto…"
"Okay, now you're just naming sages." Link chuckled. Dark Link giggled and pat Link's belly.
"I love your smile." He smirked, lightly tickling the Hylian's stomach. He giggled and cringed, but Dark Link leaned over him, pressing down his shoulders.
"Stay down, dog." He growled mischievously, lifting his tunic and shirt. "I have to punish you."
"And if I don't?" Link teased, making false efforts to move his arms. Dark Link chuckled and took his hands, interlocking their fingers. He kissed the light Hylian's stomach softly, just below his ribs. Link chewed his lip and squirmed, snickering as the shadow's tongue grazed his skin. Dark Link smirked and purred quietly, licking along Link's belly and lower ribs. Link giggled helplessly, pulling one of his hands free and running his fingers through his shadow's raven hair.
"Cut it out." He whined, giggling. Dark Link just chuckled and wrapped his arm around Link's waist, blowing a harsh raspberry into his stomach. Link squealed and tried to push him away, but Dark Link held onto his waist and hand.
"What's wrong, pup?" the shadow mocked. "Your tummy too ticklish?" He blew another raspberry, and then dragged his tongue over Link's navel, smiling as his green-clad puppy fell into hysterics.
He did eventually stop tickling, giving Link a kiss on his belly and helping him sit up. The light Hylian glared at his shadow playfully then stretched and glanced out the window.
"I should probably go." He sighed. "I have to get through the desert and to the Spirit Temple ASAP…"
"You should go at night." Dark Link told him. "The wind dies down, and it's much cooler." Link nodded and smiled.
"Okay then, Patches." He chuckled, ruffling his clone's hair. "That means I have a few hours to kill." He leaned over Dark Link and smirked.
"You'd better run." Navi advised, giggling.
"Actually, it's you I'm after, Navi." Link sneered, holding the feather he'd taken from his shadow. Navi shrieked and flew away with the boys chasing after her and laughing.
The story's almost over, guys, and I had lots of fun! I have a little plan set up but I need some fan motivation. ;3 Who wants to see Majora's Mask rewritten too? :D