A/N: Okay, this is just my own little twist of what SHOULD have happened after the Water Temple, alas, it did not. But it should have.

Link yelped as Rarau's magic deposited him, none too gently, on the ground outside the Water Temple. Sighing the Hero of Time stood and rubbed his sore rump in an annoyed fashion. Things did not seem to want to go his way. Groaning in disgust he began to wring out the excess water from his tunic, a half an hour of futile endeavors lead him to believe that it would simply be easier to change his clothing. Now…where to do it? The easiest thing to do would simply change in the water, but jumping into a lake generally negated the purpose of putting on dry clothes. After having ruled out the one room laboratory that that old cook of a scientist lived in, and the fishing pond, he was beginning to question the keeper's orientation, Link, much to his dismay, discovered that the only other shelter on Lake Hylia happened to be the tree behind him.

Slowly, cautiously, Link began to strip out of his Zora Tunic back into the warm, dry Kokiri tunic instead. Having finally got that on, he began to peel off the sopping tights, choosing that, perhaps, he might opt for pants instead. Sweet Din! Even his boots were sopping. So, the near naked Hero of Time began to make his way to the exit, perhaps Gerudo Valley would have some garments to fit his petite form. His cheeks turned a shade of red to match the Goron Tunic as he thought about sinking to where women's clothing to get some pants.

A half an hour of hasty, and uncomfortable explanations Link found himself riding out of Gerudo Valley having dawned a fresh pair of loose black pants, they felt odd in comparison to his usual skintight tights, but comfortable.

"Um, Hero, I understand and respect your right to where female clothing, but you might wish to do so in private." Link nearly fell off of Epona, whom he'd summoned after having purchased his pants, when he heard the voice from behind him. Epona halted and Link turned around in his seat to see Sheik standing behind him.

"Err…this isn't what it looks like, honest." He rushed to explain.

"So you're really not in drag, you've just cast a very skillful illusion to make people think you are?"

"No, I really am wearing women's clothing, but I do have an excuse."

"This'll be good." Sheik smirked under his mask.

"Bloody Water Temple got me wet."

"What a shock." Sheik replied softly. "Link, do you know how…you look in those things?"

Link shook his head explaining that Gerudo Valley was oddly lacking in mirrors.

"You look…beautiful…"Sheik whispered. "Absolutely beautiful…if I may be so bold."

Link blinked and nodded slowly. "Feel free to be as bold as you wish."

Sheik nodded and chose to take the Hylian up on his offer. Leaning in he pressed his lips against Link's and then realized that he had forgotten to remove his mask. Having taken the piece of white cloth off of his face he tried again. This time he felt soft skin against his own. Then all that mattered was Link. Him being with Link, kissing Link, holding Link, that was the only important thing now. When at long last they pulled back Link blinked and shook his head.

"I know I'm asleep." He tossed over his shoulder as Epona took off at a slow trot. "I know that you're not real, and that Zelda lied to me. I know everything Sheik. I know that in a few minutes I shall wake up and, just like last night and the night before, I shall wish that Zelda had not been such a bitchy twit and I shall wish that I could find you. But I never have, and I never will. For I am Link, the Hero of Time, destined to do the Princess's bidding and find happiness only in my dreams."

Electric blue eyes opened slowly and a soft sigh issued from the blonde man they belonged to.

"For I am Link, the Hero of Time. Destined to do the Princess's bidding and find happiness only in my dreams." He whispered. "Destined for loneliness, and destined to always, always wake up." The Hero of Time shook his head and took a long draught from the unmarked bottle of his bedside table, wincing as the bitter liquid stung his throat on the way down. "Destined to live for you, when you'll never be there." He continued, staggering to his feet and the edge of his house, a small cottage build behind the windmill in the Kakariko Village. "Destined to live in this hell for all eternity!" Hurling the bottle over the edge of the cliff his house was perched on; he felt a cynical smirk creep over his lips as the horrid stuff leaked blood red liquid from where it smashed. It was staining the green grass under it that same awful coppery-red colour. "Destined to wait for you forever, even though I know you'll never come!" His voice had risen to a full out shout. "Damn you Zelda!" He shrieked into the night. "Damn you to hell!" Then he collapsed to the ground, tears leaking from his eyes, spilling over his cheeks and sinking into the various cuts and scraps from the monsters he'd fought over the years. "I'm tired of waiting." He sobbed, still yelling at the top of his lungs, half expecting one of the villagers to yell at him to be quiet. "I just want to sleep…sleep forever, forever in his arms. But I couldn't have that, could I? Why no! Never let the hero who saved your bitchy little ass more times than you can count be happy! You've got to be in total control over every fucking little thing! No more." He was standing again and swaying a bit, the alcohol taking its toll on him now. "I…I won't be your puppet anymore…I won't damn you!" He unsheathed the Master Sword, holding it defiantly up to the moon. "I'd rather taint the Holy Blade with my own blood than work for you anymore." He laughed coldly, sarcasm in every short bark of laughter. "But I won't." He dropped the sword, the metallic sound of metal hitting earth ringing in his ears. "I'm going to defy you, once again, Zelda. I'll keep waiting for him. Until the end of Hyrule, I shall wait. I know he won't come. That's he's just a trick to be used for your own design. But by Nayru I shall wait!"

Just watch Zelda try to snap him out of this. Flopping down onto his bed, or mattress if you wished to get picky. "I'll wait forever for you, Sheik. But until then, if I am destined to only be happy in my dreams, then dream I shall. I shall dream of you until the long off day I die. I love you Sheik."

Meanwhile outside, a shadowed figure watched sadly as the Hero of Time's breathing slowed and finally stopped all together. Link had had too much to drink and it had been his end. Why hadn't he waited just a little longer? The figure pushed himself off of the window and backed up a bit. He would have to inform Zelda that Link had committed suicide, not something that he was particularly looking forward to. The bright flash of the Duko Nut illuminated his face for the brief moment before he vanished in an explosion of Sheikah smoke. In that one moment the flash had revealed two Ruby eyes and blonde hair.

"Would you really have waited forever Link?" He whispered as the teleportation took him to Princess Zelda's private quarters. "Would you?"