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Ready? Start!

Link shielded his eyes to the mid-afternoon sun. He pulled the door behind him closed again with his foot and set off to the top of the village, to Impa's house. He waved at the odd village resident as they passed.

It had been about a week now since they had left the temple, and the blistering from the acid was beginning to fade. Link had been living off a steady diet of various potions and Navi's various 'herbal remedies' - all of which tasted so unpleasant and seemed to do so little that he suspected she was just making them up to laugh at him.

Now that the village was free of flames and evils phantoms, the villagers were slowly returning. Thankfully not those who lived in the house Link and Dark Link had essentially claimed as their own for the time being. Just his luck that one of the villagers to come back first was a seamstress, who, as thanks for keeping the village safe, had patched up his tunic free of charge. He had insisted on paying her, and for the past few days the two of them had been playing a game, almost, of who can sneak money into the other's wallet and go unnoticed for the longest. So far, Link was loosing. He had also sort of made friends with the angry old guy in the windmill who had taught him a new song. He did, however, hit him over the head with his music box every time Link got it wrong. Sheik's patience is far superior...

When he wasn't socialising with the villagers, Link was either resting or looking for plants Navi insisted he needed for the latest concoction of hers. Dark Link seemed to be spending all of his time on the other side of the roof of Impa's house, out of sight, experimenting with his new 'shadow powers' or whatever they were. As far as Link could tell, it mostly consisted of him telekenetically throwing loose roof tiles and flower pots at him. He didn't spend much time pondering what else he might be doing until now. He was able to heal the arrow wounds almost instantly, so whatever powers defeating Bongo Bongo had given him, they were nothing to scoff at.

"Hey!" Navi flew up to the roof. It was barely a few moments before Navi came back, followed by Dark Link walking over to the edge of the roof.

"Back again, I see?" The hylian look a-like took another step, dangerously close to the edge. "Hey, check this out!"

"Don't jump off of the-" Too late, Link stumbled backwards as Dark Link leapt from the roof. Instead of the expected thump at the bottom, he began to float, much like Navi, just without the wings. "...roof?"

"Neat, huh?" He reclined back as if sitting in a chair, entirely relaxed despite being two feet off the ground with nothing beneath him.

"How'd you figure this one out then?" Navi flew up to him, spinning around him, trying to see if anything was holding him up if he were tricking them.

"Same as everything else, it just kinda happened." He shrugged and lowered himself gently to the ground. "Oh, hey, I saw the owner of the shop come back today. You should probably go and pay him for all of those potions you took." He cast a pointed look at Navi. She snorted and fluttered away.

Link glanced at the shop. "Well, that's all I was waiting for, really. I mean, other than Sheik..." He ignored Dark Link's sigh and eye roll. "So I think it's about time we moved on."

Dark Link looked him up and down. "You sure? ...I guess you are looking better, but still. If you're not sure, I'd recommend staying a few more days."

The hero shook his head. "Honestly I'm just getting a bit bored. I don't feel tired, I'm not in pain, not even an ache. I'm ready to go, if you are."

Dark Link cast him a sideways look. "If you're sure..."

Navi landed on his shoulder and poked his cheek. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden? I seem to recall a Dark Link who was eager to move on no matter what condition Link was in. Should I be worried about you?"

"Only if you're going to be worried about whether I flick you off my shoulder or not. You really think I'm so heartless I'd just let Link suffer in favour of leaving quicker?"

"...actually, yes." Navi replied.

"You think so lowly of me."

"You don't like board games." she muttered.

He ignored Navi and turned to Link. "So then, if you think you're ready, go and chuck some rupees at the shop guy and we'll be on our way."

Navi cooed. "I'm sure you're eager to find Sheik at the next temple, too!"

Link's eyes lit up instantly. "I am!" He turned on his heel and ran straight for the shop.

Dark Link watched him go, then sighed. "Don't be getting his hopes up light that."

"Hm? Why not?"

"Because I told Sheik to leave and not come back."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because it's not safe, obviously. Besides, if Sheik ends up getting hurt again - more seriously this time, do you think Link is going to continue with this 'quest'? I don't."

"...I guess so." She shook her head. Naturally I just want Link to be happy, and Sheik seems to do that for him."

He chuckled. "I suppose so."

"I'm hoping once this is all over he can get over his embarrassment about both of them being... well... and the two of them can... Y'know, be together."

"I'm sure once this is all over he won't have any problem with that 'embarrassment' of his."

Navi fluttered excitedly. "So you see it too? The two of them are just meant to be, aren't they!"

Dark Link laughed. "I'm not so sure about that... But you're welcome to believe that if you want. I'm happy just teasing about it as it is."

"...Hey, have you noticed how obsessed he's been with strawberries lately?"