No Title Yet

I do not own The Legend Of Zelda or any of it’s many characters. Any side character that I create will belong solely to me and will not be touched or used by another writer. Thank you for understanding.

Summary: Review to chapter 1.

Writing Style: Review to chapter 1.

A/N: So, this chapter is going to be PRETTY long folks. Hope you don’t mind to much reading because, damn, I had trouble fitting everything (and I mean everything) into this chapter. I actually had to cut it in into two, so there you go.
Now, on with the fic.


**~**~**~**~**~**


Chapter 5. Forsaken Part 1


The light dimmed brightly through the painted window high above the octagonal room and beamed down across the shaft of the bare pedestal across green clothing and onto the creamy pale skin of the one bathed within the sun. The light moved across the soft pedal-like features into closed eyes, stinging them open by barely a crack.

Link groaned.

He moved, his body – stiff and still tired – from where he had been sleeping. His neck was tight and to painful to move. He gripped it, giving the tender area a smooth rub as another groan moved across his lips and out of his mouth into the silence that settled so easily around him.

His eyes opened another fraction of an inch.

“How long have I been asleep?” Link wondered allowed.

He felt movement across his chest and looked down, the bright glow of his fairy making him smile. He could feel her warmth radiating onto him like a cozy blanket and sighed, moving a finger to nudge her softly. He felt her stir and her small clear-to-white wings fluttered. His azure blues moved across the Sacred Chamber and stopped.

He was gone.

Link cast his gaze down, letting out a low, tired and sorrowed sigh. He had asked him to stay with him only the night, to stay at his side until he woke up. That was all. But he had left, and it hurt. It really did. He looked up as his fairy took flight, her small yawn breaking into the calm silence. She hummed softly and her wings beat fast as her excitement grew.

“Oh, I’m so glad your awake,” Navi gushed.

“Why wouldn’t I be awake?” Link asked slowly.

“Well,” Navi muttered, “you were pretty badly injured.”

“I hardly remember it,” Link groaned, rubbing his head. “The only things I can see is the rising fire, the darkness and then... Volvagia.”

“You did well, Link,” Navi said happily.

“If not for...” he stopped in his sentence, not wanting to say the name.

“It was you alone who defeated Volvagia, Link,” Navi said, her voice soft and soothing.

“Thank you, Navi,” Link said earnestly. “Where to next?”

“I feel a chill coming from Zora’s Domain,” Navi inquired, her wings shuddering. “A terrible darkness has descended upon the Zora people. We must hurry.”

Link nodded and stood, picking up the Mast Sword and placing the strap across his front. He lifted his shield and hat, drawing a hand through his tousled hair as he placed the green cap upon his head. His mind drifted to the Sheikah that had stayed at his side briefly before he had departed sometime in the nigh. The soft lips upon his skin. The tanned fingers that laced through his hair and pulled him into passionate kiss after passionate kiss. He felt the heated desire of the Sheikah as he had lain partially over the Hero, his body rigid and wanton.

Link shook his head of the erotic thoughts, his own body becoming aroused at the simple memories.

He hated those memories.

‘And yet... he said he was in love with me...’ Link sighed at that.

He stood, brushing down the dust that had collected with stiff arms and walked down the steps and onto flat floor toward the temples entrance/exit. He could hear Navi fluttering beside him, and could feel her stare on the back of his neck. He wanted her to stop staring, but he didn’t want to speak to her at the moment either. His mind reeled slowly and his eyes drooped sleepily, his body still not fully recovered of what had happened only the day before... and the night that followed.

His eyes adjusted slowly to the light that eloped the outside world, the everlasting grey clouds and darkness that hung loosely, blacking the sun, breaking it’s beautiful shine. He sighed, his hair blowing softly across his face and across the back of his neck. He turned his head toward the castle, the wind brushing passed his clothes, his blue eyes glittering as he watched the swallow of darkness ease so simply across the once beautiful land of Hyrule and it’s brilliant castle that now stood as the heart of darkness.

“Link...”

The Hero looked up at the small fairy fluttering at his side and gave her a gentle smile. He ran his fingers through the golden strands of his bangs and continued to walk, making his way through the haunted lands of the Market and out into the world beyond that hovered in darkness. In the darkness, Link could see the small glow of the lights from Lon Lon Ranch, wondering how it’s occupants were doing.

“We better get too....”

“Something not right,” Link said, interrupting his fairy.

“Huh...? what do you mean?” Navi wondered, looking in Link’s general direction.

“Lon Lon Ranch,” Link said, staring through the darkness. “Something’s wrong.”

“Link...” Navi sighed. “We don’t have time. We need to save the sage from the Water Temple and help the Zora’s.”

“No, we need to go to the ranch,” Link said, already walking along the path that lead to the small farm.

Navi sighed and followed, knowing she couldn’t stop the young Hero. She fluttered at his side as silently as she could, her wings beating through the shallow wind that moved over the small hills and whistled through the long slender grass and pussy willows. The dark clouds thinned as they neared their destination, a grey hue dropping over the farm as if abandon.

“Your right,” Navi said suddenly. “Something is wrong here.”

Link frowned, quickening his pace and running up through the long thick walls and into the ranches boarders. He stopped and looked around slowly, noticing the long gates that had been placed near the horses pen and the difference in aura that hung across the ranches once cheery disposition.

He didn’t like it... not one bit.

Taking simple steps, Link walked up to the horses pen, watching as they galloped around as if nothing was wrong, one mare, in particular, catching his attention. He looked at her, narrowing his eyes as he watched her head drop to the ground, one hoof digging at the dirt and she snorted gently, seemingly watching him as he approached.

“WELCOME!”

Navi hid under Link’s Kokiri hat, the Hero turning a startled face to the ranches care giver. He stood in a new attire, face lit like a creepy lantern. He arched forward, his brown mustache twitching as he noted the green-clad male before him. A smirk touched the corners of his lips as he stood up fully, like he had some sort of power.

“Welcome to Ingo’s Ranch Horse riding,” Ingo, the once tatty-looking man, said.

Link cocked an eyebrow at him. “Hello.”

“Would you like to ride one of my most prized horse?” he asked in a very tight, squeaky, voice.

“I thought Talon....”

“THERE IS NO TALON HERE,” Ingo barked, his face red and heated.

Link looked at him taken aback.

“Now, are you going to ride, or not?” Ingo asked, his voice hitched with annoyance.

Link looked into the pen of horses, the light red chestnut mare that seemed so familiar from seven tears ago watching him with silent interest. Link scrunched his eyebrows as an idea struck, his face tilting into a soft smirk as he let his blue eyes travel back into Ingo’s beady black ones.

“I have a proposal for you,” Link said, his voice slow and mischievous.

“A proposal?” Ingo repeated, looking down upon the Hylian.

Link pointed into the pen. “If I can call that mare to me, I can keep her.”

Ingo turned to look at the chestnut coloured horse, her head tilted to one side with interest. She caught Ingo’s look and snorted at him, turning her backside to the ranch-hand and flickering her long creamy tail at him.

“Well, what do you say?” Link asked, his smirk broadening.

“Your proposal is accepted... but I want to add something to it,” Ingo said with a smirk of his own. “If you *can* call that horse to you, I will allow you to keep her... under one condition.”

“And that would be?” Link muttered, narrowing his eyes.

“If you can beat me around the pen on that horse, if you can call her to you, then I will let you keep her,” Ingo said, his smirk much larger now. “Though I doubt you’ll be able to call that horse to your side. She’s far to stubborn.”

Within the pen, the mare snorted.

“Alright, I accept,” Link said.

Ingo put out a hand. “Shake on it.”

Link stared before taking the hand in his, feeling the man squeeze his. He returned the tight squeeze with equal force. Ingo opened the gate and forced Link inside, shutting it behind him and crossing his arms over his chest. The Hero straightened his clothes and walked toward the mare, cautious to approach her slow.

The mare snorted, taking a few steps back at the approaching Hero. She lowered her ears and bowed her head, moving back and bumping into another horse. Without warning, she reared and took off around the creamy coloured stallion, snorting and kicking. Behind him, Link heard Ingo snort with laughter, his voice sounding closely to a mule.

Link glared at the man from behind his bangs and turned to face the snorting mare, her head bobbing up and down, daring him to get closer. At the edge of the gate, Navi fluttered up and down, waiting with little patience. Link turned back to the stubborn mare, pulling out the Ocarina of Time and placing it to his lips. He locked his eyes with that of the mare and began to play slowly, the song he had learned from Malon slipping from the instrument and flowed through the air.

The mare lifted her head and seemed to calm, taking a wary step forward. The song lolled softly across the grass and over the ranch, drifting through the air and dipping back to the ears of Link and the red chestnut mare. She whinnied, rearing up and trotted to him, listening to the familiar song known only as; Epona’s Song.

Link stopped playing and smiled at the beautiful mare before him, placing a hand along her face and rubbing the smooth short fur that ran softly across her muzzle. He heard a strangled choke from behind him and turned to see a baffled Ingo staring dumbfounded at him, eyes bulging and mouth gaped wide.

“Good to know you recognize me girl,” Link whispered, rubbing the horse behind one perked ear.

She whinnied, nudging his nose and nibbling at the fabric of his green tunic. He smiled and patted her neck, walking around the side of her and mounting the beautiful Hylian saddle that had probably been placed on by Malon. He kicked her sides gently, pushing her forward toward the still stunned Ingo, giving him an angry smirk.

“Well,” Link growled.

“Well what?” Ingo snarled.

“The race,” Link noted, staring down at the slow ranch-hand.

“Yes... of course,” Ingo muttered, grabbing his own horse.

He mounted the dusty stallion and kicked the horse through the gates he had opened, stopping on the far edge of the trail that lead around the entire pen. Link lined Epona into place, his chestnut mare turning to look at the horse beside her and snorting as if laughing at it. She shook her mane and focused ahead.

“Link, you shouldn’t do this,” Navi whispered, landing on the Hero’s shoulder.

“I have to, Navi,” Link said, glaring at Ingo’s back.

“Well... be careful then,” Navi sighed, landing on top of the fence to watch.

“Don’t worry Navi,” Link said with a smirk. He looked at Ingo. “I’ll be very careful.”

Ingo looked at Link and snorted at him, turning up his big nose and gripping the reins of his stallion tightly in his hands, opening his eyes to stare out at the path that lead around the pen and back to the finish. He smirked as a dirty thought came to his mind and let out a low rumble of laughter.

“One lap,” Ingo said.

“Let’s go,” Link gritted.

Ingo smirked, counting them down. He slapped his horses behind at ‘two,’ taking off quickly around the fenced horses pen, laughing at the stunned Hylian. Link glared, snapping the reins against Epona’s neck and kicking hard into her sides. She reared, neighing loudly and shot off in a flash, her feet digging deep into the ground as she rounded the first bend, breaking after Ingo and the yellow-coloured stallion.

Link narrowed his eyes and flattened himself to Epona’s back as best he could, the mare letting out heavy breaths as she sped up, her hooves barely touching the ground as she moved onto the inside of the path beside Ingo’s stallion, snorting loudly as she passed slowly.

“What the...”

Ingo’s voice was lost to the wind as Link and Epona shot passed the ranch-hand and his horse, the dust rising into the stallions eyes and startling him. Link lifted himself up, slowing Epona down as he turned to look back with a pleasant grin. Ingo glared at the Hylian darkly, kicking his horse hard, but it was already to late. Link turned the far corner swiftly and shot over the finish, pulling Epona to a hard stop.

“Way to go Link,” Navi cheered, bobbing above the fence.

Ingo passed over the line, his face twisted into an angry snarl. He turned his fiery eyes on the Hero and seethed his rage, walking his horse directly up to him and let his black beady eyes burn into Link’s blue icy ones.

“Another race,” Ingo snapped. “If you win, you keep the horse.”

“Fine, I’ll win again anyways,” Link challenged, needing to get some steam out himself.

“Link, no,” Navi cried.

“I have to, Navi,” Link said, turning to look at his fairy. “I need to show this bastard that I’m not someone he wants to mess with.”

‘Yea, especially when your in a bad mood,’ Navi thought, floating back to her spot on the fence.

Ingo glared at the Hylian as Link lined Epona up along the white sand that marked their starting and finishing point. He shot Ingo a dark look before turning back to stare out over the path. His hands clasped tightly onto Epona’s reins making his knuckles turn white. He heard Ingo’s words as he counted down, finally reaching ‘one’ and yelling ‘go.’

He had expected Ingo to shoot ahead of him again again.

He had expected the ranch-hand to push his horse into Epona before starting off.

He had expected the man to slap Epona into a startled run.

No, nothing of that happened.

Something worse... happened.

Link snapped the reins on Epona’s neck, digging the heel of his foot into her side. She neighed loudly, Ingo and his stallion at their side as both horses shot off at the same time, both nearing the turn and breathing heavily as they cornered the first turn at the same time. Link slowly flattened himself to Epona’s back, allowing the chestnut mare to pick-up speed. She snorted through her breathing and slowly pushed ahead... until... she disappeared from under him... and Link was airborne.

He hit the dirt hard, his shoulder rolling beneath him as he bounced off the path and slammed his back hard into the fence. The wind knocked from his lungs, making his gasp for breath as he felt his body convulse with pain. He heard Ingo’s cries of happiness and opened one eyes through his painful wheezing to see a long thick stick in the mans boney hand held high above his head.

He turned his head with a groan, looking over at Epona, her back to him and her head rolled to one side, eyes closed. Slowly, Link crawled onto his hands and knees and slid shakily over to the injured mare, her heavy breathing worrying him. He ran a hand across her neck, her weak neigh of pain making his body hurt more.

“Epona,” he whispered, his breath coming out slow and wheezy. “I’m so sorry... I though... I... I should’ve known he would try something like this. I... I’m sorry girl.”

Link turned around, hearing the hooves of a horse behind him. He leaned against Epona’s back for support, his lungs seizing with pain. He looked up slowly into the glaring eyes of Ingo, the mans wide grin angering the Hero deeply. He tried to stand, but found his legs paralyzed at the moment. He heard Navi fluttering at his side, her red glow making him aware that she was probably as angry as he was.

“Well... well... well,” Ingo said slowly. “Looks like I won.”

Epona let out another pained whinny, her breath blowing dust across the ground. Link turned to her and ran a shaking hand through her mane and across her neck softly, her black eyes looking at him with such sorrow and hurt.

“Guess what *boy*,” Ingo said, smirking at the Hero. “I keep the horse.”

Link looked down at the ground, sighing. Ingo was right, he kept the horse, and Link’s reason for coming to the ranch had been in vain. He closed his eyes, tears sprinkling across his lashes and dripping softly into the loose dirt. Another short whinny brought him back to look into Epona’s black eyes. He stared at her as she stared back, something different within her look. He could see determination, want, need, and overall, strength.

He smiled at her.

“Did you cross the finish line?” Link asked, not looking up at Ingo.

“Do I need to,” Ingo laughed.

Link smirked at Epona. “Yes.”

Link gripped Epona’s mane as she jumped off the ground with a toss of her head and a loud neigh. Link was pulled on top of her, his body sliding easily into the saddle as he gripped the reins around her neck and she tore off beneath him, her chest connecting with the flank of Ingo’s stallion, knocking the yellow male off his feet, Ingo and his horse dropping to the ground.

Link winced at the bouncing of Epona’s back as they rounded the final corner and shot across the finish line. He pulled back on her reins as she tore to a stop and reared up, neighing loudly and kicking her legs in the air happily. He smiled, watching as Navi bobbed at his side, her colour blue, once again, with happiness. On the opposite side of the pen, Link could hear Ingo cussing, his feet stomping the ground.

With a satisfied smile, Link kicked into Epona and darted through the ranch and down the hill into the field of Hyrule. He pulled Epona to a stop, turning to look at the ranch behind him. A smile crisped his lips as he trotted Epona forward toward Zora’s Domain, his body still aching with pain, but a new, happier feeling settling within him as the dark aura that surrounded Lon Lon Ranch seemed to drain away.

*~*~*

Sheik looked up at the icy world around him, his body quivering in the cold as he slowly entered the tunnel before him that lead into the mini-dungeon of the ice caves. He felt he had to be here, that Link, the Hero of Time, would also come to this place. He knew this because the energy within drew anyone with the power to be drawn, within.

His ruby eyes scanned the roof slowly as the sharp stalactites seemed to quiver as he walked beneath them, sliding downward slowly. He looked away from them, moving within the fogged tunnels that lead deep within the hills face of ice and snow. His feet crunched through the powdery slush.

One booted foot stepped onto the icy floor and slipped. He gasped and placed a hand on the cold ground to stabilize himself, sighing as he felt his feet slowly slip, once again, under him. He heard something swish by with quick force, making his head shoot up. He watched as a spiked ring moved in a quick circle around the icy floor, passing him closely as it moved by, wind whipping by with it.

He narrowed his eyes and slowly moved across the slippery floor into the middle away from the spiked ring that slid across the floor. His eyes scanned the crystalline roof and the white walls thick with snowy powder. His eyes flowed to the small hole on the far side of the icy room that stood just above the ground, to high to jump to... for someone *not* of Sheikah descent.

He smirked and walked forward, letting the spiked ring move by before walking up to the powdered wall. His hand splayed across the white surface, his head arched back to look directly up at the ledge before him. He narrowed his eyes upon it and knelt down, concentrating as he jumped, reaching out for the ledge as it neared. His hand clasped tightly to the cold surface, lifting his body slowly up... that is... of course... until...

The ledge snapped...

And he fell.

Gasping, Sheik felt his back connect with the hard icy surface below, his head cracking hard on the ground. He groaned, closing his eyes as he winced in pain. One hand clasped tightly onto the back of his sore head, his mind clouded with his thoughts.

‘Stupid idea,’ Sheik thought. ‘Especially since I’m not all here.’

Something caught his ear and he listened, the sound of ice being cut slowly moving through his ears. He narrowed his eyes as it got louder and nearer, making his head pound. Something suddenly floated into his mind, making his blood run as cold as the ice. He looked over quickly as he watched the spiked ring near him, it’s sharp daggers moving closer and closer.

With a gasp, Sheik slid up off the ice and jumped to the snowy wall, gripping it tightly as the spike-ring jetted by where his head had been, cutting across the ice and moving in it’s circle to the far side of the icy chamber. He sighed, placing his head in the cold snow and rolling it across the soft surface.

Link drifted into his mind once again just like before when he had lost his grip. He could see the Hylian’s flushed face, the half-lid, clouded eyes that seemed to moan silently. He saw and felt the hands that clasped his arms and wrapped around his neck, pulling him into their heated kisses they had shared last night before Navi, Link’s fairy, had interrupted them.

‘Link... I’m sorry I left but... I had to think,” Sheik thought with a sigh.

He looked back up at the ledge and decided to take the long way around, walking to the door on the opposite side of the room and walking toward it. The door slid upward and out of his way as he moved into the next room, the thick icy door slamming down behind him once again, making him disappear into darkness.

His mind drifted back to the Hero of Time, remembering the way he had practically begged him to stay the night. His eyes had looked so lost, so afraid, just like when he had been a child. It had hurt to see, but he had agreed. Just seeing the glittering happiness descend upon the Hero was enough to make Sheik smile as he comforted the weakened man.

‘And still I left.’

The voice in Sheik’s head seemed to nag at him, saying that over and over again. Yea, he had lied. Yea, he had left Link in the night. He hated himself for it, having punched the wall in his mothers home in Kakariko for hours before final noticing that his knuckles were starting to bleed and crack under the pressure.

He rubbed his hand that now throbbed from the memory.

‘What that fairy said,’ Sheik thought, sighing to himself. ‘She was right. Link will never trust me again... unless I leave him with a promise...’

Sheik paused at that thought, opening another door and stepping through. He looked around the frozen room and walked forward cautiously, eyes back on the roof as the stalactites seemed to quiver and inch downward slowly. He looked back ahead of himself at the frozen flames that scattered the area here and their. His mind drifted once again, his eyes clouding as he thought more on the subject at hand.

‘A promise is something I can not leave,’ Sheik battled, glaring at the caverns ahead of him. ‘A promise now would only be a lie.’

He rubbed his head with his bruised hand, the throbbing within his temples begging to notify themselves that he was getting, yet another, headache. He groaned, walking up to one of the long slender walls of ice and sliding against it, the cold doing wonders for the bruise on the back of his head and hand. He hummed and opened his eyes slowly, looking up at the dark roof of sheer ice above him.

‘Zelda.’

The thought was random, but their. He sat up straight, leaning forward and thinking on that subject for a moment. It was his duty, like his mothers, to protect the princess at all cost and to only help in aiding the Hero on, teaching him the songs that needed to be taught and giving riddled background information on the temple he had to face.

That was it.

Nothing more.

‘But he’s so much more to me,’ Sheik thought. ‘But, Zelda... she loves...’

He closed his eyes, remembering the way the princess had warned him to keep himself clear of getting any closer to Link than a simple foot. She had practically accused him of rape, even though... a smile graced his lips... he had only done such things (thought not rape) to the Hero while they were still both young.

They had both been far inexperienced, and he could see the pain in the young Kokiri’s eyes, but he had also seen the love, the trust and the compassion. It all been their, and it had been something they both enjoyed afterward.

‘Until I threw him away like a used mule,’ Sheik thought with a frown.

He shook his head, the musings in his head getting him nowhere as he stood and started off again, moving through the long slender tunnels leading deeper with the ice caves. He watched as a Blue Key fluttered above him, it’s bat-wings beating slowly as it watched him pass below and disappear through another doorway.

*~*~*

Link stopped and gasped, his eyes wide as he looked on at the misty looking world of the once vibrant Zora’s. Everything was frozen, even the always flowing beauty of their waterfall. Everything seemed to glitter in the silent grotto, the Zora’s no where in sight. Navi seemed to have gone silent, her own eyes scanning the frozen land of the ocean dwelling people.

“How could this happen,” Navi whispered, more to herself.

“Ganondorf,” Link growled.

She looked at her friend, his blue eyes unusually dark, his face twisted into a grimace of disgust as he looked upon the frozen waterfall and up to the tunnel that lead into King Zora’s throne room. Her wings drooped at the sad scene before them, the small fluff balls of snow that fell from the roof making her shiver.

“We should move,” Navi whispered sadly.

“What about King Zora?” Link asked.

She looked at him. “What about him?”

“He may still be alright,” Link said, staring at the glistening waterfall.

“Your right,” Navi said, her hopes lifting.

Link ran toward the stairs leading up toward the throne room, taking each step two at a time. He bounded onto the final level and stopped, his eyes flashing with shock as he watched the frozen heat of ice that held the Zora King’s life within it’s grasp. His gaze drifted across the frozen room, across the icy throne that lead back into Jabu-Jabu’s own territory.

“Jabu-Jabu,” Link muttered, taking off at a dead run around the King.

“Link, wait,” Navi called as she bobbed after him.

He slid off the ice and stepped into the chilled water below his feet, small min–bergs of ice floating around in the water. He cleared the tunnel and appeared into a world of mist, stopping dead in his tracks as he looked at the bare spot that once housed the lord, Jabu-Jabu. Nothing but a large iceberg floated in the calm waters, bobbing up and down in the frozen water that made Link’s feet numb.

“He’s gone,” Link whispered to Navi.

“The lord must have passed away because of the cold,” Navi sighed sadly.

Link squinted through the cold to the opposite side of the large body of water, suddenly finding something very interesting. He felt drawn to this place like he had been drawn to Lon Lon Ranch not long before. He noticed a tunnel above the water level on the far side of Jabu-Jabu’s water hole that stuck out just enough through the fog to be noticed. Slowly, Link walked forward, taking each step one at a time, walking up the platform that was meant to feed the lord and onto the iceberg that now sat where he had once sat.

“Link,” Navi whispered, her voice quivery and scared.

“We need to go in there,” Link said, pointing to the cave above the land. “I saw it when I came to save Ruto before I was pulled within Jabu-Jabu’s mouth.”

He walked forward toward the edge of the large slab of ice, looking down at the smaller ones that floated within the water. He took each one at a jump, landing o it’s frosty surface and sliding across to the opposite edge before coming to a stop. Finally, Link stood just outside the entrance to the ice caves, looking deep within it’s fogged puzzlement.

“I don’t think we should go,” Navi whispered.

Link jumped, gripping the ledge and climbing up into the thick rocky and snowy tunnel. He squinted, again, through the mist that rolled out into Jabu-Jabu’s chamber and stepped forward, his boots crunching over the snow. He heard Navi’s fluttering wings, the gentle shudder making him look down with worry at his young fairy.

“Get inside my hat, Navi,” Link said, lifting one corner of hi Kokiri hat.

She look at him and bristled happily, jumping forward and darting under the corner of his hat into the warmth. He smiled as he straightened on his hat and continued on, walking slowly into the glistening tunnels of snow and ice. Something quivering above him caught his attention and he looked up and gasped.

With a quick and agile jump to the side, Link rolled out of the way as a loose stalactite hurtled toward the ground, crashing on contact and breaking into millions of pieces. He sighed, closing his eyes until he heard more quivering and looked up, his heart sinking as he watched as more stalactites hurled toward him.

With great agility, Link side stepped and jumped easily out of the way, the shattering shards sounding like breaking glass and crystal as they disintegrated on contact with the surface below. He stood up fully, taking off at a dead sprint as more shattering bounced of the walls behind him, setting of a chain of more shattering behind him.

With an extras burst of speed, Link dug his foot deep into the snow, his boot sitting on the edge of a rock step as he leapt through the opening leading into an icy chamber. He rolled across the ice and slid to the opposite side, looking up just in time to see the last shard of ice shatter to the ground, it’s pieces glittering in the shine of the cave.

Link placed his head on the cold ice, the sweat on his brow drying as he let a thought drift through his mind with a simple smirk to his face that lifted his heart.

‘I need to retire.’

A low chuckle escaped his lips with the thought. Yea, like you could just retire from being a Hero, that would definitely be the day evil would throw the party of a life time and finally take over the world. It would all happen, just like that, and the Hero would watch with mild interest and shrug it off saying “I’m retired,” to the people and walking away without a second word or glance.

With a groan, Link lifted himself from the ice, looking aver his shoulder at the door of pure thick ice that lay behind him. It slid upward slowly with his movements, revealing a new passage he could move through. He noted the stalactites hanging from above and moved stealthily through them, dodging each one that collapsed near or practically on top of him.

With ease, Link was able to enter the next room, pillars of snow and ice yielding dangerous routes leading up toward a beautiful glowing blue flame. Intrigued, Link climbed nimbly with each step, destroying the Ice Keys and approaching the blue flame with caution, manly because he was high above the icy ground and below was a spinning spike that seemed to be attracted to his movements.

The blue glow flickered ominously against the ice and cold that hovered with the air, licking at the cool nip of breeze and burning like the heat of a cold stream. Link, with mesmerizing slowness, reached out to the beautiful blue fire. He recoiled instinctively before his hand touched it, afraid it might burn his fingers. Slowly, he took a breath and let it out as he let his hand enter the flame.

It tickled.

“Aren’t you getting burned?” Navi asked from within his hat.

“No, it’s cool, and it tickles,” Link said with a smile, th flame licking around his thin fingers.

“Hm, this blue fire... it doesn’t seem natural. Maybe you can use it for something?” Navi suggested.

“Your right...” then it hit him. “Wait, King Zora.”

“What?” Navi asked, confused.

“He was surrounded in frozen flame,” Link whispered almost dreamily, remembering seeing the heat that was frozen around the king.

“Your right,” Navi said with a flutter or her wings.

Link pulled out one of the four bottles he had, pulling off the cork and moving the bottle through the blue flame. He popped the cork back on quickly and held it up to his face, looking at the light gentle flame flicker within him. He pulled out the other bottles and filled them as well, placing them back on his belt and with another feel of the odd flame, left the room.

Link passed through the next few rooms easily, burning away all the frozen flame as he passed through. He made sure one bottle still held the blue flame to defrost the king Zora before moving through the passages beyond, looking up at the shuddering stalactites as they fell, once again, down on him. He dodged the plummeting shards of ice and stopped in front of a sliding ice paneled door, placing his hand on it as it slid open under his fingers.

He moved through slowly, pulling out the Master Sword and his Hylian shield as he entered the silent room. The walls seemed distant and crystallized, making him gape in awe at the unexpected beauty. A ghostly howl pulled him away from his daze as a wolfos appeared before him, it’s large white body blending with the white snow below.

Link readied, holding his shield before himself as the white wolfos approached him, swinging it’s long claws and turning swiftly. With an accurate strike, Link struck the creatures back, it’s pain of howl echoing across the walls as blood seeped around the Master Swords sleek edge. He pulled the weapon back, the blood squirting at him as the wolfos dropped dead before him into the snow.

Like the most amazing of magic, a glittering light swirled on the floor and moved upward, the image of a large chest appearing within the snow. Link turned as the light dimmed away, the box now fully materialized in his face. He walked toward it, the wooden frame looking old and disgruntled. He lifted the lid easily, looking in at the boots that sat heavily to the bottom.

“Weird,” Link muttered.

He picked the iron boots up, looking at them with some interest. Just as he was about to sit down and slide them onto his feet, a light plop made him turn around, sword and shield raised once again in defense. When his eyes befell the Sheikah behind him, he lowered his guard, staring blankly at the almost apologetic eyes of the male standing on the far side of him, head lowered.

“We meet again,” Link muttered.

Sheik looked up and winced at the cold tone that rang in Link’s usually strong and powerful, yet young and shy voice. He took a step forward, and was surprised to see Link take an involuntary step back at his advance.

“I’m sorry, Link,” Sheik whispered.

“Your sorry,” Link almost laughed. “I asked you to stay for the *nigh*, Sheik, not for your entire life.”

“I... I know,” Sheik whispered. “I needed to think.”

“About what?” Link snapped, a little to harshly.

“About us,” Sheik said loudly, just under a yell.

To his, and to Link’s, surprise, the Hero flinched at the tone and lowered his head, eyes clouded with sadness as he let out a low and deliberate sigh. He dropped the heavy boots from his hands, his arm beginning to feel heavy aching from their weight. He slid to the ground against the open chest, placing one hand on his forehead and closing his eyes.

Sheik walked up to him slowly and knelt down, placing a hand softly on one of the Hero’s slumped shoulders. He smiled when he saw Link lean forward into the touch, tilting the Hylian’s chin up with one finger to look him in the eye. His heart fell farther when he saw the tears within Link’s sorrowed gaze.

Sheik leaned forward upon his own accord and wiped the tears away slowly, leaving a simple, yet shocking, peck on the Hero’s lips before he drew back and lifted Link to stand with him. He lifted one red-gloved hand to his lips and kissed Link’s fingers individually, his eyes never once leaving the Hylian’s as he paused on the thumb.

Link slid his hand out of Sheik’s grasp to gentle massage the Sheikah’s cheek, giving him a wry smile before he leaned forward and pressed their lips into a simple, yet loving, kiss. They pulled apart, smiling at each other still and parted to stand before one another, but still close enough to touch one another if they wanted too.

“If you came here to see the Zoras, you wasted your time... This is all there is,” Sheik sighed, looking around slowly before settling his eyes back on Link. “The Zoras are now sealed within the thick ice sheet. I managed to save princess Ruto from under the ice, but...”

“Ruto,” Link whispered.

Sheik nodded and continued. “She left and headed for the Water Temple... this ice is created by an evil curse... the monster in the Water Temple is the source of this curse. Unless you shut off the source, this ice will never melt.”

Link nodded in understanding.

“If you have courage enough to confront the danger and save the Zoras, I will teach you the melody that lead to the temple,” Sheik informed.

Link looked at him with confused eye, hearing a note in the Sheikah’s voice that sounded off, but he could not put his finger on what he was hearing. He watched Sheik’s eyes slowly flicker to something different. Darker and more loving than he had seen before as they were shadowed behind his sandy-coloured bangs that hung shaggily over his small turbine.

“Time passes, people move... Like a river’s flow, it never ends... a childish mind will turn to noble ambition... young love–” the difference in Sheik’s voice changed again, becoming deeper and more affectionate “–will become deep affection... the clear water’s surface reflects growth.”

Link stepped forward, wanting to pull Sheik to him and press their lips together from such beautiful words. He was unable to when he heard the Sheikah continue to speak, shaken from his trance to listen once again intently.

“Now listen to the Serenade of Water to reflect upon yourself...”

‘Like you reflected on yourself,’ Link thought, now understanding why Sheik had left.

Sheik plucked the first string to his harp, watching the Hero intently with those same burning red eyes. The song finished and he waited for the Hero to play it himself. The notes were soft as Link let his eyes slide shut as the music consumed him, the sound of Sheik’s harp playing along with him. He smiled at let the notes take him away, the notes he knew were meant for him, from Sheik, the Sheik he loved so deeply.

“You will go to the Water Temple...”

“Yes, I will,” Link said with a slow nod as he put his ocarina away. “I will save Ruto and the Zoras.”

“Then I will wait for you,” Sheik whispered.

“And if you are not their...” Link sighed, smiling softly. “I will wait for you, instead.”

Sheik smiled and stepped forward, cupping Link’s left cheek and leaning down, his lips ghosting across the Hylian’s with a gentle sigh, their lips meeting in a fiery passion. Link laced his hands into the sandy hair beneath the turbine and pulled Sheik even closer, his tongue sliding along the Sheikah’s as they moaned into one another.

They pulled apart, breathless and blushing.

“I will be waiting,” Sheik mumbled against Link’s lips as he kissed him again.

“I will not make you wait long,” Link promised through kisses.

*~*~*

The water swirled around him, it’s flow moving through every crease and crevice of his body. He closed his eyes as the bubbles floated around his body, gilding up to the surface and popping in the air. His eyes opened, mouth flying open as if to gather a breath, large bubbles exploding into the sloshing water.

He broke the surface, the water sliding down his body, clothes clinging tightly to his now wet Kokiri clothes. He gasped, bangs clinging to his slick body, the strands in his eyes and draped exotically across his slightly tanned skin. He pulled himself from the water, leaning back heavily against the right wall and panted, eyes half-lidded tiredly.

“Damn,” Link muttered.

Navi shook her body, a small spray of water flying from her body and beautiful wings. She groaned, fluttering sloppily into the air and landing heavily on the Hero’s shoulder, her wings drooping lazily onto his wet tunic. She looked at him, watching as he wiped the glistening water from his body and face, his eyes lidded with weariness.

“Damn,” Link repeated.

Navi snapped from her sudden daze and musing. “How long have were we down their?”

“To long,” Link muttered, sighing as his heart raced. “What was Ruto thinking...”

“She wanted to show you the controls that dilated the water levels,” Navi said blandly.

“I wonder if she remembers I’m not a Zora,” Link muttered.

“I think she can tell,” Navi said nonchalantly.

“I thought this tunic was supposed to make me *breathe* under water,” Link growled.

“Actually, it’s only supposed to help you breath, not let you,” Navi interjected.

Link glared and shrugged his fairy off and stood, looking up at the control behind him. He noticed the words below and played Zelda’s Lullaby, the song letting out it’s last echoing note and the sudden rumble of lowering water making him turn to the tunnel that lead down to the very bottom. The water was quickly flooding away, clearing away.

“Amazing,” Navi noted.

Link nodded and jumped back into the lowering water level, wanting to be able to touch the bottom without his legs shooting up through his shoulders because he had to jump. He ;landed softly on the ground as the water completely flooded from the room, drizzling away to a few wet trickled on the stone floor. He looked at the door opposite him and walked toward it, looking at the thick bars that were in his way.

“Well this is quite a predicament,” Link grumbled.

“What.. I can’t hear you... I have water in my ears,” Navi said, bobbing up and down.

Link sighed and rolled his eyes, remembering one of the three spells the great fairy’s had taught him. He backed away from the door, looking at the two bare torched on either side and placed his hands together on his right side. He moved them together in sync like liquid and raised both arms above his head before he brought his right arm crashing to the ground, a spark of fire erupting into a blazing semi-circle of raging heat.

It flared and separated, exploding outward, attacking the wet torches, drying them instantly and igniting them into heavy burning flames. The flame parted and died, Link rising from the floor, the spark gone, his hand warm and tingly from using such a powerful magic after such a long time. He hadn’t used Din’s magic since the forest temple.

The bars rose from in front of the door, allowing him access. He destroyed the shellfish quickly and left with one of the many keys he knew he would have to collect before he reached the creature deep within the Temple. He walked into the main chamber that lead up tot he many rooms that extended off it, his head bent backward to look to the ceiling.

“We should go this way,” Navi said, fluttering over to a doorway within the tower in the centre of the room.

Link nodded and walked to it slowly, taking his time within the Temple. He knew he would have to so not to get lost within it’s large design. He opened the door as his mind drifted back to the Sheikah awaiting him to surface from waters at the Water Temples entrance. He was waiting to take the Hylian into his arms, to kiss his passionately, to run his fingers through golden locks and gaze at him with lust and want.

“Earth to, Link... come in, Link?” Navi yelled, knocking on the dazed Hero’s forehead.

“Huh... wh-what?” Link stuttered.

“You need to raise the water level again,” Navi sighed, glaring at him. “Thinking about Sheik again, aren’t you?”

“No,” Link said defensively, though his voice betrayed him to sound squeaky.

“Riiiight,” Navi said with a roll of her eyes.

“Shut up, Navi,” Link muttered, pulling out the ocarina again and playing Zelda’s lullaby.

The water rose just as swiftly as it had fled, flooding the room around him. He lifted his chin to hold his mouth above the water rose around his ankles and proceeded upward. With one final breath, he held it and the water rose over his entire body, flooding him to the hilt. He shook his head under the water, watching as Navi bobbed above the water. He glared at her and swam across the small gap to the door opposite them.

“Do you like your clothes clinging to your body or something?” Navi asked with a light snicker. “Trying to impress Sheik.”

To her surprise, Link turned his glittering blue eyes onto her, a gentle smile tugging at his shimmering lips. His eyes slid closed slowly and back open, a sudden sheen of mystery and sensualism dripping from deep within the blue pools of mystery that were his eyes. His lips parted slowly, moving slowly and softly as she watched the words form into something more deep and sexual that she had to swallow the lump that unconsciously rose within her throat and shake her head.

“Oh, Navi, I’m not doing this for Sheik,” Link said in a lustrous tone, his interior smiling maliciously at his plan. “I’m doing this especially for you... and you only.”

“L-Link... I d-don’t think w-we,” Navi stuttered out, trying to form a working sentence. “I don’t th-think Sheik w-will... I... um... L-Link I...”

Link’s smirk darkened and he lifted one hand, placing his palm on his fairy’s back and, with one swift movement and a definite ‘splosh,’ Navi was drenched, once again, from toe to head, her wings droopy from deadweight and water. She spluttered, swallowing a hoard of the crystal liquid before coughing and looking up at a smirking Link.

She flared. “You bastard... why would you do such a thing?”

Link shrugged and walked through the door onto the second level, watching as his fairy following him, her body completely inflamed angrily.

“If you don’t want it to happen again,” Link said slowly, turning his eyes on her, “Don’t assume that, just because I was under water, was for Sheik.”

Navi grumbled.

“I don’t need to impress him,” Link muttered with a definite anger burning behind his eyes. “If anything, he needs to impress me.”

Navi smiled and flopped back onto his shoulder, sitting down and watching as he moved through the next door into another of the may rooms that looked just like every other one. With easy sword movements, Link destroyed the many creatures within the room and continued on. He found the third Water Level control easily and raised the level, using the keys he had found to open the door on the third level that lead into a room with a mechanical waterfall.

“This is weird,” Navi muttered.

“My hookshot is to short to reach the other side,” Link noted, placing the shot back under his shield.

“I guess you’ll have to use the platforms,” Navi said, pointing down at the bull’s-eyes.

Link nodded, pulling out the hookshot again and jumping down onto the slowly moving platform on his side. He sprung the shot into action, moving fast over the platforms until he reached the top, one arm holding tight to the ledge, the other dangling to his side holding the hookshot Dampe, the grave keeper, had offered him for winning his game.

He opened the next door and stepped through. Taking a few steps forward, Link gaped at the never ending layer of water that glassed the floor. With caution, he placed one foot onto the perfect surface, his boot making gentle ripples that flowed away from him until they disappeared into the mist beyond. A lone tree stood directly in the centre of the room, it’s branches black and worn, the pit of sand it stood on just as black, like charcoal.

“What is this place?” Link whispered in awe.

“I... I don’t know,” Navi gasped. “It’s amazing.”

Link walked across the surface of the water, his reflection almost dancing back at him perfectly. He stepped onto the mound in the middle and looked at the door on the far side of the room. It stood erect on it’s own, no walls and no room beyond. Just water upon glassy water until it seemed to melt into the mist that rolled far away.

“We should see if it lead anywhere,” Navi suggested.

Link nodded.

He walked off the island, his hand scraping across the bark and padded back into the water. His eyes transfixed on the door until finally, he stopped. The hairs on the back of his neck stood erect, his body rigid with sudden fear. His eyes darted around the mist and to the floor and back up again... wait... he looked back down.

Gone.

His reflection... gone. With a tight swallow, Link turned around, focusing on the black tree in the centre of the small island. It looked bare, just a tree and nothing else. He took a step forward, and stopped. Still nothing. Another step. He stopped. Something caught his eyes, and he gasped, unsheathing his sword and grabbing his shield.

“Who’s there?” Link yelled, his eyes still focused on the tree.

“Link,” Navi whispered, her voice shaky.

With another step, Link saw it, and cried out in shock. A dark flash jumped forward, it’s voice deep and shadowy, echoing around the everlasting room. He stumbled, and fell, hitting the ground hard, the Master Sword flying from his hand and skittering across the glass surface to rest at the door behind him.

The dark shadow landed on top of him, legs spread over his green-clad body, black sword raised, red eyes burning with darkness and insanity as the blade came down, piercing the water and cutting deep into whatever lay beneath. Link felt the hammer of his heart deep within his chest, the sword coming so close to his head, he could feel the cold sting of the blade on his face as it dug inches into the ground barely a millimetre from his cheek.

“LINK GET UP.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

**~**~**~**~**~**

A/N: Part 1 complete. I had to split it into two or it would have been too long. The lemon is in the next chapter so, technically, I kept up my word by saying it was in the next chapter (seeing as this is all one just a two-parter)