A/N: Thank you for all your reviews! They're my crack!

I don't own Legend of Zelda!

Chapter 15: Rematch

Link and Dark had traveled a few miles north of Lake Hylia thanks to their wonderful steed Epona, setting up a fire just outside of Gerudo Valley. They decided to settle here because there was no grass that could possibly catch on fire as well as, it was a private and secluded area where they could rest peacefully. The two boys had taken off their still damp tunics and set them by the fire to dry. Dark had bottled some water at the Lake and was now boiling it as Link had asked. Link had told him the water wasn't sanitary and they shouldn't drink it until after they'd boiled it. While Dark was preparing the water, Link on the other hand was shaving the scales off of the fish they had caught with a small knife.

"How do I know when it's boiling?" Dark asked as he held a small metal pan filled with water above the fire.

"When it starts to bubble." Link replied looking for a long stick nearby that he could skewer the large fish with. Luckily Link had caught one that was plenty big enough for the both of them to share.

"Bubble?..." Dark muttered as he sat patiently, not exactly sure what he was waiting for.

"I'll tell you when it's boiling, Dark." Link laughed. He had found a decently smooth stick about 2 feet long. He sharpened the edge, making a point and stuck it in the fish's mouth and shoved it downwards until the end pierced through near its tailfin. Now that the fish was skewered he held it over the fire to cook, as a whole.

"Why didn't you cut off his head?" Dark asked disturbed by the eyes still intact.

"The head's the good part!" Link exclaimed with a grin, "If you don't want it, I'll eat it." Dark stuck out his tongue in disgust not even paying attention to the water boiling over until it burned his hand. He cried out in pain almost spilling it everywhere. Link frantically tried to keep the pan from tipping over and caught it just before Dark dropped it to the ground. He sighed with relief then glanced over at Dark who was shaking his hand ferociously as if it would stop the burning sensation he felt.

"That means it's boiling." Link chuckled as he poured the water back into the bottle so it could cool. Dark inspected his hand closely and frowned at how red and puffy it was. Link pulled out a bottle of red potion and poured a couple of drops into his palm. He'd bought the potion before he returned to the past, in case he needed it for the bottom of the well. Thankfully, he hadn't. He grabbed Dark's hand and gently rubbed the medicine over his knuckles where he had burned himself.

"You know… I don't remember you being this big of a weenie whenever you were impaled with my sword." Link muttered looking up at Dark as he massaged his hand.

"You made me soft." Dark replied smiling. Link took the stick the fish was cooking on and broke it in half which also cause the fish to flake into two pieces. Link took the end with the head and handed the other end to Dark who accepted it gratefully.

"I wonder what that fish is up to as we speak…" Dark said thoughtfully while chewing his food.

"You mean the one you set free?" Link asked picking a pesky scale out of his teeth that he failed to remove. Dark nodded and took another bite, "Probably making little fish friends." Link replied with a grin.

"I feel sort of bad… this guy could have been his brother." Dark said flicking the tailfin with his middle finger.

"You must not feel that bad…" Link muttered as he noticed Dark's meal was almost completely gone. He must have not been joking when he said how hungry he was. Dark tossed the bones to the side then lay on his back with his arms behind his head. The sun was starting to set and he peered over to Link who was leaning against a boulder gnawing on the fish head. Even if it was disgusting, Dark couldn't help but stare. Link's beauty counteracted anything gross he happened to be doing.

"Hey Link, let's go check out the fortress you were talking about." Dark suggested sitting up with his elbows. Link turned to face him with wide eyes.

"Are you crazy? We'll get mutilated." Link replied tossing the fish skull aside.

"Oh come on! I just want a peek." Dark begged, tapping Link's foot with his own.

"I've never even been there Dark. I tried to go there once as a child but there was a Gerudo across the bridge that wouldn't let me by." Link explained, "She said it wasn't a place for children."

"Well we're not children, are we Link?" Dark retaliated sitting completely up now, "I want to see what these 'Gerudo' look like."

"Ganondorf is a Gerudo. But only one man is born every one hundred years." Link replied, "I guess that's why he's trying to rule the world… he thinks he's royalty or something. Anyways, they're a tribe of thieves. They really aren't to be messed with."

"Women that are thieves? So I guess they aren't feminine little sissies like all the women I've met so far. They're bad asses!" Dark shouted excitedly as if the concept couldn't be true.

"Oh, they are definitely feminine, but not in their manners… by their looks. I heard that they are extremely beautiful… with tanned skin, fiery red hair, slender bodies, and fighting skills to be reckoned with. And the woman I met as a child on the other side of the bridge seemed to match the description. And their outfits are pretty… eh… revealing." Link muttered blushing. Dark smiled with wonder.

"Now I DEFINITELY need to check these ladies out!" Dark shouted standing to his feet, "Come on Link! Let's go! Just one peek and then we'll leave."

Link really didn't feel like getting maimed by a bunch of angry women but he too was curious as to what the fortress looked like, "Okay… but we have to be stealthy about this. And at the first sign of trouble, we leave… got it?" Link replied standing up with a smile. He felt nervous but it what a good kind of nervous. He loved how Dark brought out the dangerous side in him. He was the dangerous side of him. After they put out their fire and pulled on their now dry tunics, they headed up the trail that would take them to the bridge that led to the Gerudo Fortress; however, when they arrived they were unfortunately disappointed.

"Aww man! The bridge is busted." Dark shouted as they walked towards the broken passageway.

"Hmm, that's odd… someone must not want anybody going over there." Link thought as he examined the ropes that looked as though they'd been cut, "Oh well. We tried Dark." Link finished as he started to walk back down the trail.

"Oh come on Link… lemme just look around for a bit. This canyon is amazing!" Dark exclaimed as he sat on the ledge and looked down at the water running below.

"Okay, Dark. I'll be sitting over here." Link replied as he walked towards a boulder to rest against just a couple yards from Dark.

"How can you not think this is amazing?" Dark asked with a smile as he tossed pebbles off of the cliff and counted how long it took them to reach the water.

"I've been here before, silly." Link laughed as he closed his eyes resting peacefully. He could even find comfort leaning against a hard rock since he was so used to being outside. Link was about to call after Dark who was getting dangerously close to the edge, afraid he was going to fall over when a hand holding a damp cloth quickly came from behind him and covered his mouth and nose. The stranger wrapped his free arm around Link's shoulders so he wouldn't be able to run away. Link tried to cry out but he couldn't even speak over the awful aroma coming from this rag that was smothering him. His vision started to grow hazy as he watched Dark with his back turned laughing and smiling, completely unaware of what was happening behind him. His muscles grew weak and he could feel his eyelids getting heavy. This had all happened so fast he didn't even know how to react. He tried to reach for his sword but he couldn't move an inch and just before his vision went completely black he heard somebody whisper softly to him. I'm doing this for you… He gasped silently as he realized who the voice belonged to before he passed out.

"Okay Link, I'm ready." Dark said dully. He had finally grown bored of the magnificent canyon and turned around to walk towards Link, "Link?... Where'd you go? Are you trying to hide from me?" He laughed walking towards the boulder he'd just seen him laying against, "Okay Mr. Hero, I'll play your little game. What do I get if I find you?" Dark asked playfully as he approached the boulder slowly.

"Nothing." A strange voice answered sharply from behind him. Dark twisted around quickly to see who the person was, yet saw nothing. His eyes narrowed as he realized he wasn't alone and began to slowly scan his surroundings with his keen eyesight. Night had fallen and it was difficult to see in the dark. He was about to take a step forward when something rammed him hard in the back knocking him to the ground. Dark panicked as he realized whatever just hit him had taken his sword in the process. He rolled onto his back quickly and backed into a nearby wall so nothing could sneak up on him.

"Come out." He demanded trying to act calm, "Show yourself."

"Over here." The voice responded from beside him but before Dark could turn and look he felt hard knuckles slam against his left cheek. Dark stumbled to regain his balance and glanced wildly around him searching frantically for his attacker. He had to make do with what he had in order to take this guy down; the only problem was he had nothing. Unlike Link, he didn't have a countless number of different kinds of weapons in case something should happen to his sword. His enemy had to know who he was if he knew that his weakness would be to take away his sword… unless the person had been spying on him. No... This guy knows who we are… he's been following us. He knew this would be a perfect chance to strike because Navi isn't here to warn Link… Dark got lost in his train of thought and before he knew it he felt a hard kick to his chest, knocking this breath out of him and sending Dark to his knees. The impact was so brutal Dark hacked up a mouth full of blood, he spit harshly on the ground. He could see the stranger approaching him in the darkness… thin… with tight clothing… black? No. Blue. The figure stood over Dark looking at him mercilessly.

"FUCK YOU!" Dark screamed but was silenced when the individual gave him another strong blow to his jaw. He fell backwards fidgeting on the ground trying to stand to his feet. The man came and placed a foot on Dark's chest pressing a fair amount of weight on him so he would sit still.

"Where did you take him?" Dark asked fiercely with blood and saliva streaming from his mouth.

"Shut up." He responded pushing more weight on his body. Dark felt a rib crack and he cried out in anguish. The figure brought his face just a few inches from Dark. His suspicions were confirmed as he realized who the stranger was. He used his left arm to search the ground frantically for something useful, a rock… a stick… anything to use as a weapon.

"You…" Dark croaked hoarsely, "You motherfucker…" The man failed to notice what Dark had gripped within his hand until he wailed the rock into his face causing him to back away and scream in pain. Dark took this opportunity to stand to his feet and charged at the wailing figure. He tackled him into the wall wrapping his fingers tightly around the man's neck. They squirmed and fought until the mysterious individual had finally gotten Dark pinned against the wall instead, although his hands were still choking him. The man gurgled for air as he searched frantically for something he had hidden within his outfit.

Dark's eyes grew wide as he felt a sharp pain coming from his lower stomach. He loosened his grip on his attacker and looked down to see a small dagger protruding from his gut. He fell violently to his knees grasping at the weapon and choking on his blood. He looked up at his enemy and forced an evil smirk showing off his crimson stained fangs.

"You… you're such a bitch… Sheik." He muttered as he watched the man leave him to die.