I'm back from the world of NaNoWriMo! It taught me so much, and yes, I did win! Yay! When the book itself is finished, I'll probably tell you guys more about it, but for now I'll just say this... it's about zombies. Haha.

Let's see, let's see... I wrote this chapter in two hours. BAHAHA. It's part one of, check this, a double update! I'll be posting the next chapter immediately after this. Consider it a gift to you all, seeing as how it's the holiday season. I don't know who celebrates what though. So, uh, have a nice day?

Some serious weird goes on in this chapter... just be aware that I've got it all covered! And I'm messing with certain things on purpose. I think.

Also, if it isn't too much trouble, could you take the time to answer the question on my poll? It's about what the pairing is in my next story.

Anyway, I'll shut up now.

Disclaimer: Legend of Zelda is not mine. I'm not making money, I'm still poor! Fun!

Warnings: Mild yaoi. Swearing. Some violence. General Weird.

A Wandering Soul Precedes All Darkness

Chapter - VIII

Title – Rhapsody

In the empty silence of the night, the minute hand struck twelve. The mechanisms inside the large clock centerpiece meshed and clanged, striking the large metal plate to produce a sound so deep and rich that all the creatures in Termina could hear it. As far out as the ocean, where broken hearts lost all hope, and the last, shuddering breath of a noble Zora man ran ragged and silent. In the forsaken land of the Valley, where the spirits of the dead ran rampant in the night, and a man trapped in a child's body unintentionally broke his lovers heart. Where the Deku Scrubs thrived, an innocent life was brought to an end, just as unnecessary as the death of the one who caused it. High above it all where the snow fell and quietly smothered the frozen wastelands, a hungry, freezing Goron met his end. A child's cries began to cease. A wounded spirit disappeared in shame.

And, in Clocktown itself, a young woman waited calmly and patiently, despite the now obvious end coming upon them all. A mother sobbed her grief for all the world to hear. A mayor stood at his window, eyes wide, watching as the moon slowly, but surely, fell. Two men, strong and brave, stood at the alter to the Clocktower and watched with bated breath as the heavy stone steps began to fall into place. The clock continued to chime, despite the gruesome face staring down upon it, unaware of the pain and terror in the hearts of Termina's citizens. Because, even as they hid themselves away, they knew that there was no where to run.

The end was upon them.

"Let's go."

Skullkid was waiting for them.

His back was turned, his arms raised, eyes blank and hollow as they stared up at the moon. Something about him was despairing and weak, but at the same time, the aura of anger and rage was unmistakable. Above him the moon fell unhindered, ready to crush the world beneath it.

It took everything Link had to keep Dark back, to keep the man from bashing Skullkid's face in before they got any answers. His anger was like fire, lashing out, feeding on the wind stirring past them.

"Wait, Dark!" The blond ground out, holding him back by his forearm. "We're here to get the mask back, we'll bruise him a bit afterwords, but please control yourself!"

Skullkid was unaware of the turmoil going on behind him, but the vibrant purple creature buzzing by his head let out a cry of alarm when he saw the two warriors coming closer and closer.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" He asked them, only to be answered by a voice he felt he hadn't heard in ages.

"Tael!" Tatl, long forgotten and rude, scurried out from beneath Link's hat, surprising not only the blond Hero, but Dark, whose eyes widened, and then narrowed.

"You brought her here with us?"

"I had to, she can help us!"

"She hasn't done a thing, yet! If she had, I would have known by now that you had let her join us."

"I couldn't have just left her all alone, that's her brother! They were separated, and she doesn't mean us any harm. And besides, she's from Termina, she knows what we'll be dealing with if we leave Clocktown."

Looking unconvinced, Dark rounded on his smaller counterpart to teach him some sense, but Tael's voice interrupted them, surprising them all.

"Look, Tatl, things are getting out of hand here, you three have to leave, you have to run away now! Skullkid is gone. His body is still here, but it's just an empty shell. That mask he's wearing, the one he stole from the merchant, it... it's alive and it's making him do things he would have never done before!'

"I hope that includes making the moon fall." Dark growled, crossing his arms. "Why should we listen to you anyway? You're the one running around with him!"

Tatl turned and thrashed dangerously in Dark's face, her color so vibrant it was nearly white. "That's my brother you're talking to! I'll pluck your eyes out!"

"Hey, now, there are more important things to be doing than fighting right now." With his hands raised submissively, Link tried to persuade the others to stop arguing, but in the end, it was a screech from Tael that quieted the group.

"All of you! Shut up and listen! You have to leave Clocktown, you have to go and find the four giants! They're the only ones who can stop Skullkid from destroying Termina."

"Do you hear yourself?" Dark shouted back, "Giants? Seriously? The moon will have us all dead by the end of the hour! If you think we can go out and find a bunch of giants in time, then you're crazier than Skullkid himself."

Tatl made to scratch at him once again for yelling at her brother, but Tael's voice turned somber, "I don't know how you're going to do it. Or if you even can. But please, at least try. For Termina and it's people. For me, for yourselves!"

"It's too late."

An icy chill hung heavy in the air, raising the tiny hairs on the name of Dark and Link's necks as they raised their eyes to meet the stare of two large, golden ones. Tatl and Tael huddled closer together in the cold, gazing fearfully at the estranged Skullkid and his flexing, claw-like hands.

"It's too late." He repeated, head twitching oddly, body trembling like a leaf. His voice was strained and foreign, nothing like his usual high-pitched tone. And though he couldn't see his eyes, his true eyes, Link felt the creatures cold stare on him. "I see you got your bodies back." A hand raised, a giggle, so different from the inane laugh of the real Skullkid, broke the waxing silence upon them. "Looks like I'll have to remedy that."

Before any of them could act, a dark, purple light broke from the clouds above, spilling down on the two Hylians. It wrapped around them, squeezing tight, morphing and crushing them in an invisible grip too strong to break free of.

Link felt something slip from his pocket, heard the clatter of glass on wood, and managed to open his eye just enough to see the Ocarina of Time skid away from him. His heart sank, then rose again in terror as the breath was wrenched from him. A light filled his eyes, burning and acidic, and the howl that tore itself from his throat was out before he could stop it. At his side, Dark suffered a similar fate, twisting and writhing in agony against the purple light, floating just a few inches off the Clocktower platform. His ribs felt like they there tearing their way out of his chest, his bones melting and breaking and stabbing him from the inside out. He felt that it would never end, that this was truly the end, and even as his body hit the platform once more, the pain didn't stop. It continued to hum through his skin like an angry lightning bolt, searing his blood and the very fiber of his being as he curled up on the Clocktower platform and clenched his eyes tightly closed.

At his side, Link was worrying over him, his own pain a steady beat at the back of his mind, but fading fast. Once again he had found himself in the body of a Deku Scrub, and Dark as well had reverted to his Keaton form. But then... why was he still in pain?

"Make it stop... please..." A shout of pain left the ebony-haired man, and all Link could do was caress his cheek and turn his head, glare at the creature watching them so passively.

"Stop it!" He shouted, "Stop hurting him!"

"I'm not the one doing that." The imp cocked it's head, seemingly interested, but at the same time, a perfect picture of nonchalance. "Sounds like he's dying."

The ground rumbled beneath them all, shaking the tower violently. Skullkid let his head fall back, gazing up at the moon that, at this point, seemed close enough to touch. "Doesn't matter." He said idly, "We're all going to die soon anyway."

Link bit back the tears and the pain he felt, but his heart was strained, overcome by the suddenness of it all. An hour ago, they'd been so happy, so glad just to be alive. They'd felt strong and sure, and couldn't wait to leave the land of Termina behind... But now...

"Link... It's not too late..." Voice weak, breath ragged, Dark opened his ruby red eyes, tiny chest heaving, "Get your Ocarina, I have an idea."

It took everything he had to abandon Dark, but he knew that there wasn't much time left. He felt like the clock was winding down, a gear stuck that would, once applied enough pressure, simply explode. The Ocarina lay by Skullkid's feet, and much to Links surprise, he took a step aside to let him grab it. "Won't do you much good anyway." He said, giggling his acidic laugh once more. "I'd say we have another," With a glance up to the moon, he nodded, "perhaps another minute more."

Tatl and Tael hung limply in the air, their flimsy wings drooping. There was nothing more to do but watch and wait, unsure of just what exactly it was the two Hylians were planning. When Link found his place at Dark's side once more, the man was too weak to open his eyes. At first, he appeared dead, scaring Link half to death as he patted his face with his free hand and called out to him.

"Dark? I have the Ocarina, so please, please, tell me, please don't be dead."

A gurgle was all he got in reply, a groan following it soon after, until finally Dark managed to say, "It's name, Link. It's name."

And then, with a keen of pain, Dark's body went still and cold.

Once more, just as he had back in the days that no longer existed, Dark Link had passed.

The shock of it had Link reeling, screaming in pain as he clawed at Dark's Keaton fur, shook him violently, begged him to come back. The Ocarina lay at his side, dropped in his haste, and above him Tael was weeping quietly in fear.

A laugh, harsh and cold, was dancing in the air, mocking them all as the ground began to rumble. Buildings began to tremble against the force of the moon, crumbling and fraying, falling. Link could hear the screams, could feel the pain, and it was in the last ten seconds of Termina that he realized just what exactly Dark had meant.

The Ocarina of Time, named rightly so, gave the user complete control of time itself. With it, time had no meaning. With it... Link could turn back the clock. Or, at the very least, he hoped he could.

Hastily he brought the mouthpiece up to his lips, only to find that it had transformed in a flash of light into a set of pipes. If he could, he'd have rolled his eyes, annoyed suddenly by the events of the night. Everything was weird, and wrong, and strange. And just so... sudden. Dark was dead. The world was closely following it, and here he was, in the heat of it all, playing his final song.

How he played, Link had no clue. He had no experience playing such an instrument, and yet, somehow, he found the notes quickly coming to him, flowing from his lungs like a reflex.

The song of time.

Skullkids laugh hung in the air, slow and warped, mocking him for eternity. The heat from the moon was heavy on the top of his head, on his back, threatening to snuff him out like a light. Tael's sobs faded into the night. And all of it was drowned out by the crisp, clear notes from the Pipes of Awakening. The song of time seemed to envelope him like a warm hug, pulling him and Dark and Tatl to safety. Down a vortex of memories that Skullkid could never follow them down. Blood ran heavy in his ears, and soon, the with one final, drawn out note, the song ended.

Link blinked.

Dark was standing at his side, smirking, ruby eyes bright and clear and alive. Looking down on himself, he saw that he was human once more, and that the instrument in his hands was the Ocarina, not the Pipes, and that he was shaking like a cat drenched in ice water. But Dark, he was there! He smiled, a tiny laugh escaping him, and then the world vanished as he passed into darkness, supported by two strong arms and a voice that whispered, "Good job, Link."

The whisper of water and voices was what woke him. One angry and one calm, one very close and the other far away. Groaning, he tried to turn or sit up, but found he was still too tired and weak to do so.

"Looks like he's coming to."

"'bout time."

"Oh, shut up, fairy. I'd like to see you save the world a time or two and still be conscious afterwords."

Despite the pain in his chest, Link couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the banter in his ears, and when a cool palm touched his face, he found he could open his eyes once more. Dark's garnet eyes stared down at him, an eyebrow raised high, smirk in its usual place, "'bout time."

"Hey!"

"Both of you quiet yourselves. Link is trying to sleep."

"'m fine." With a bit of help from Dark and a lot of effort, he managed to sit himself up, but opted to keep his arm around the shadow's neck for support. Beneath him he could feel the push and pull of water, but he'd already realized that they were in the Fairy Fountain. Still, he was confused as to how. "What happened? Did Skullkid get away?"

Dark shared a glance with the Great Fairy, who hovered close by. Lips pursed, she said, "The easiest way to put it is this... none of what you saw and did last night ever happened. What should be your fourth day in Termina is now, once again, your first."

"So... that would mean all the people we met, all the items we acquired, are gone as well?"

"I'm afraid," The Great Fairy said, "that, yes, everyone has forgotten you. It's as if they never met you. When you come across them once more, in their eyes you will be a perfect stranger. As to your items, I'm not so sure. You still have those, after all."

Link followed her gaze to the mask at his waist, tucked into the belt on his tunic to keep it close at hand. Blinking, he ran the pads of his fingers over it, ensuring himself that it really, truly, was there. It was just as real as the ruffle of Dark's hand in his hair, "Hey, don't let it get you down. At least you get to keep your memories, right?"

Right, but... why? "How do we remember? I mean, if it never happened then..."

"You are the one who played the song of time, and as the wielder of the ocarina, you are immune to its power. Dark and Tatl as well, since they were brought back by the song as well."

"Wait, so, that would mean everyone else, all those people, Skullkid, Clocktown-"

"All of it. Destroyed. Your path split from theirs, and while you returned to a world that has another three days to live, that one in particular met its end. Does that make sense?"

Sighing, Link nodded. His thoughts were muddled and his head throbbed angrily, but he was beginning to remember what had happened. How Skullkid had laughed, had seemed genuinely happy that he was ending them all...

Raising his eyes, he saw the familiar floating ball of golden light that was Tatl, "I'm sorry about your brother. I wish we could have brought him back as well."

Tatl let out an irritated scoff, but said nothing. She didn't want to fight, but at the same time, she was positively livid. Her brother, even now, was stuck following around Skullkid, doomed to endure his torment until they could save him. But when and how, she had no clue. It wasn't even her decision, it was all up to whatever Dark and Link decided to do. And that did nothing to help her mood. Being so helpless... Close to angry tears, she darted past the other three inhabitants of the fountain and left, needing the space and the warm dawn that was about to break over Clocktown and its people.

"I think," the Great Fairy began, "that you three need to begin thinking about your next move." She became quite serious, twisting her body in the air to settle in a seated position, fingers steepled beneath her chin. An inquiring eyebrow raised, she said, "What are your plans? Or is it too early to ask?"

"All I want to do," Dark growled, "is go home."

"So, you just want to run from all your troubles?"

"We don't have any trouble here, thank you." Dark said. "Now that we're human again, there isn't any need to stay. And getting that mask back from Skullkid is proving to be way too troublesome. Why stay when we can leave?"

"Dark, we can't just leave Termina to die."

"I died up there, Link!" The pain in Links heart returned ten-fold, the aches and woes in his muscles threatening to cripple him. He'd almost forgotten that, or, at the very least, he'd tried to. But, he couldn't ignore Dark's selfishness, his urgfe to leave was almost, in a way, cowardly.

"We can't leave. It wouldn't be fair."

"This place had been bad luck from the beginning, Link. We were turned into a couple of worthless beasts. Skullkid kicked our asses. And we had to consult children of all things for help. Not to mention, just in case you've forgotten again, that I died. Why? Why did I? I was just fine until we got up on the platform, and then everything we had worked for went to shit once again. We just... we need to leave! There are other places to explore, Link! Let Termina go!"

"Even if you leave, you will still die. The aura of death surrounds you like a thick fog." Completely serious, utterly somber, the Great Fairy failed to flinch under the twin looks of disbelief and pain she received. "Do not ask me what it is that ails you, because I haven't a clue at this point in time. But no sickness can stand against magic as powerful as mine." She smiled wistfully, but before Dark could harass her, the corner of her mouth quirked up into a smirk. "But my magic comes with a price. I healed the two of you the first time free of charge. After seeing how eager you are to leave though... well, I have no choice but to use any means possible to keep you here. It is, after all, a part of my job to keep Termina safe."

"You can't be serious." Laughing, Dark turned his head to stare at Link earnestly, "She means to trap us here! She's using my death against us!" He laughed, but there was anything buy joy within it. Link turned his big blue eyes on the Great Fairy, "What would you have us do?"

"First and foremost, I apologize. It is not usually in my way to use such tactics, but serious times call for serious measures... Regardless... as the most powerful of the Great Fairies, I can feel their presence even though we are so far apart. It is because of this that I have recently discovered that I can no longer feel my sisters at all. I fear the worst, being that Skullkid has turned his cruel magic on them as well."

The two warriors knew where she was going with her words, and sighed as she said, "I want you to go to them and offer any help you can. If they have been stripped of their powers, help them retrieve them. Only then can I offer you the cure to your illness. Do not think ill of me. You never know, perhaps your sickness is so strong that it will require all five of us to heal you?"

There was a reminder of a time that hadn't existed, of an adventure that had promised to be just as long and painful as this upcoming one, that made Link pause before he agreed to the terms shown to him. He had hoped to leave Hyrule for freedom and adventure. But now, he felt that all he was going to be getting was the adventure. His freedom was in the hands of Termina, not his own. And just as always, he had no choice. Complaining wasn't an option, not that he really felt like making a fuss, but at the same time...

Regardless of everything, he would make the decision himself. It would not be forced upon him, and it was his alone to make. Not the Great Fairy's, not Dark's, not Skullkid's. His own. And his own was telling him that Dark's life was much more important that any kind of pride.

The ruby red eyes boring into his own could almost read the thoughts behind those aqua eyes. He didn't need to hear the words Link was about to speak to know just what their next move would be. Honestly, he shouldn't have been surprised. Dark shook his head, sighed, and listened quietly as Link said, "We'll go and find them for you. Wherever they may be, and when we've helped them all, we'll return and you will heal Dark. Right?"

"Correct. Though, seeing as how you will only have three days..."

"I can always use the song of time to send us back, there's no need to worry about matters of time."

"And you'll be leaving... when?"

Link turned his head to Dark, who shrugged.

"It isn't like we have anything to do here. Though... we should probably go talk to that creepy salesman guy first, I'm sure he'd like to know that we kind of... you know, failed to get his mask back?"

A shudder ran through the both of them, each equally frightened and disturbed by the eccentric merchant. But they couldn't just leave without letting him know what they were up to. Who knew what he'd do if he thought they weren't coming back... Besides, Link thought, he seemed to know a lot more about the situation that they did.

Dark laughed suddenly, "Hey, at least we don't have to worry about him leaving on us instead! This whole, 'taking over the time-line' thing is pretty handy."

"Wait, we forgot something. If no one remembers us, neither will he. That means he hasn't asked us to go and get his mask yet! Meaning, we don't have to pay him a visit at all, we're free to leave whenever we want!"

"That's pretty selfish, coming from you, Link. I see I'm finally rubbing off on you." Dark smirked, his expression more lecherous than proud. Link pushed him away, face flushed, trying to ignore the flash of heat just beneath his skin. "The Great Fairy is watching, you moron."

"The Great Fairy indeed. You two might want to get a move on. Three days, regardless of whether or not you can go back in time, can go pretty fast." She tried to hide her amused smile behind her long-fingered hand while the two busied themselves with leaving. Link was soaking wet from the water in the fountain, not to mention dizzy and disoriented on his feet. It appeared that time travel wasn't exactly easy on the one casting the song of time.

There wasn't much left to say or do, so the two warriors quickly made for the exit, eager for the sun outside. And to find Tatl, wherever she may have been. But before they could leave, the Great Fairy suddenly called out to them, "Wait! I have something for you."

Ushering him off, Link made his way outside in a stumbling lurch while Dark doubled back. At the edge of the fountain, the Great Fairy came close and took both of his hands in hers, bestowing a brief, chaste kiss upon his forehead.

"H-hey! What the hell?" He backed away, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks while simultaneously trying to look offended.

"That will draw the broken fragments of fairies to you. It might come in handy." Dark pulled a face, looking incredibly insecure, then turned and quickly jogged away, escaping the laughter and the warm smile on the Great Fairy's face.

Outside, the morning sun was bright and warm, chasing the chill of nightfall away with flexing fingers. Link was comforting Tatl as best he could in his tired state, leaning against the fence surrounding the entrance to Fairy Fountain. When Dark appeared at the mouth of the cave, he looked to him and asked, "What did she have to give you?"

In his haste to leave, he'd failed to look at the object that had been placed in his hands. And now that he did, he found his eye twitching in disbelief. Link cast Tatl one last apologetic look, leaving her to sit on the fence while he went to stand by Dark's side.

"What is... it? Oh. Wow."

It was a mask crafted from the finest materials, shimmering gently in the light. Set into the forehead was a hot pink gem that pulsed with magic, "That must be what draws the fairies to you." Dark said, turning the mask over a bit to examine it.

"What?" Link raised his eyebrow, "It makes fairies come to you?"

"That's what the Great Fairy said." Dark grumbled, pulling Link close. The blond stuttered, looking over to where Tatl was watching their actions with an almost condescending glare. "Oi, whatever you're doing, save it for later. We're right out in the open, if you hadn't noticed."

"Oh, I noticed." Chuckling, Dark cupped the back of Links head with his free hand, his other wrapping around his waist, drawing Links thin hips as close as possible. The blond could only accept the kiss Dark placed upon him, all warmth and passion, sweet and tender. Link let his eyes flutter closed, turned his head to edge closer, and moaned quietly as Dark brought their hips together.

And then, quite suddenly, a weight settled on the band of his tunic, and Dark was pulling away with a wink and a smirk. Confused, Link twisted and looked at his hip, grimacing when he found the fairy mask tucked there.

"I wouldn't be caught dead carrying that thing. Looks good on you though." With another wink and a quick kiss on the cheek, Dark was whisking him away, dragging the irritated, pouting and blushing Link behind him.

Tatl shook her head, but stood and stretched, wings flashing in the sunlight. She raised her eyes to the brightening sky and frowned sadly, praying that someday soon she and her brother would fly free beneath it once again.

With that image in mind, she took flight, darting after the squabbling pair she'd gotten herself stuck with.

Double update next!

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