Disclaimer: Still don't own anything

Thanks for the positive reviews people! It came to a surprise that people would actually enjoy this just because this is more my 'test' story, since this is my first Legend of Zelda fanfic, I figured I would practice and play around with this story and see how it turns out.

I'm not sure if this chapter turned out the way I was hoping for, but I figured I can always go back and revise it. Hope ya like.

Her mind was in a haze, everything a blur between contemplating what Dark Link had said, berating herself for not being quick enough, as well as what she had to do to distance herself from the approaching steps.

She looked down at the knife embedded in her flesh, crimson liquid oozing it's way around the sharp edge of the dagger, sending painful spikes up her side.

"Sheik! Please come out Sheik! You have to be somewhere!" she heard Link's voice just over the small hill of the forest clearing, and desperately looked around for somewhere to hide.

Dragging herself partially on her hands and knees, she limped over and leaned against the base of a tree, too weak to teleport, and could only hope she was out of sight from the direction Link was coming.

As soon as she was shifted as comfortable as she could be in her situation, she heard Epona's hooves clapping the forest floor as she entered the ring of the forest clearing.

Subconsciously, Zelda held her breath, praying that he wouldn't find her. She heard him sigh heavily, and dismount his mare.

"Navi, where could she be?" he asked aloud.

A twinkling little voice responded, too quiet to recognize words.

"Maybe. Do you sense any presence here?"

Zelda bit back a curse. She had forgotten the fairy could sense those nearby.

"Evil presence? What do you mean? There are few monsters left since Ganondorf was defeated." Link questioned his fairy-friend, who no doubt was sensing the lingering presence of Dark Link.

Navi's small voice was still distant, and Zelda could only wish she understood what she was saying.

"Alright, we'll split up. I'll go this way, Navi, you go that way. Be on alert, it could just be a monster, but maybe Sheik is somewhere around here. Epona, you can rest for a bit. If you see anything suspicious, make a sound." Link explained to his creature friends.

A whinny from his horse and a small ringing like bells came from Navi as reply, and Zelda closed her eyes. She knew it was in vain however, as she could hear the fluttering of wings approaching the tree she rested against.

Daring to open her eyes, irises were immediately met with a luminescent blue glow not a foot from her face. Through the haze of the small light, she could see Navi with hands on her hips, a displeased scowl on her face.

"Hey Navi." Zelda said blatantly, keeping her voice low to ensure Link wouldn't hear.

The twinkling response was also quieted, and the small fairies wisdom impressed the Sheikah Princess, "I know it is you Princess Zelda." the fairy whispered.

Zelda was mildly surprised, yet in a way, didn't doubt that the fairy had known for quite some time. Navi was far wiser than most fairies, having been chosen by the Great Deku Tree himself. Though the fact that she had kept the secret from her chosen friend was a relief, as well as an unlikely outcome. She must have known the importance of the secret to keep it from Link, whom she adored.

"Yes, it is me Navi. What am I to do?" she asked, feeling rather ashamed that she, the bared of the Triforce of Wisdom, was at such a loss as to ask a fairy for guidance. But with the knife in her side beginning to fester, she didn't have many options, nor much time to consider all possible outcomes.

The forest fairy gave a small child like sigh, "you're injured. You know what you must do. I feel a familiar dark presence that I'm sure is the one who did this to you." she noted, gesturing to the blade in her side.

Indeed Zelda knew what she should do, and that would be to reveal herself, disguise and all. But she was not ready for that. She had tried to leave Link behind, but now here she was, needing his help once again. If he were to know her secret he would surely hate her, and parting with bitter words would wound her far more than Dark Link had.

"I will in due time Navi, but as for now, I am losing blood quickly." she grimaced, her vision dancing with spots as her head swam. The light that emanated from the fairy was starting to hurt her sensitive eyes.

"I will fetch him. But I should tell you, I do not know what his reaction to seeing you again will be." and with that, the fairy fluttered off towards her person.

Zelda winced as the knives sharp edges began to prod at her fragile flesh. In a way, she hoped Link would yell and scream at her. If he was furious, than he would move on and leave her behind. Not only does she need to distance herself from him so he would not be hurt by her secrets, but Dark Link's cold words still brought a dark chill to her being, and she needed to part with Link to save him from his own Shadow's wrath.

Before she could reconsider her promise to Navi about allowing help from the hero, his voice spoke once again, much closer to her location now.

"You found something Navi? What is it? Is that a blood trail lea..." he stopped in his word, and Zelda braced herself for whatever was to come. He must have come to the conclusion of who was sitting behind that tree, wounded and bleeding.

Hurried footsteps, followed by his form appearing from around the bend of the tree reached her ears, and there he stood. Clad in his traditional green attire, sword sheathed at his hip, pointy ears revealed behind blonde locks. His sapphire eyes flashed with emotions, some Zelda could read, others not able to comprehend.

Long seconds stretched on as the two met gazes, before finally Link opened his mouth to say something before his first train of thought was obviously interrupted by a second and he blurted out a noticed detail, "your eyes...they...aren't red anymore." he noted.

Zelda cursed under her breath. She should have noticed the magic in her eye color had worn off. No doubt her skin was beginning to pale too, though from loss of magic or blood she was unsure.

However, the logical part of her mind, the part of her that wasn't tingling from just being near him again was screaming for attention, knowing full well the dire of her situation was worsening with each passing minute.

"Link, as much as I would love to discuss the pigment of my irises, I would like to ask for some assistance, such as if you have a red potion on you."

The hero's eyebrows furrowed, trying to sort out his relief, anger, and joy all at once to do what needed to be done.

When his eyes landed on the hilt of the dagger in her side, his eyes flashed with fury, a look that had only ever been directed at the King of Evil before his defeat.

Venom began to ebb its way into his voice as he spoke, "who did this to you?"

Silence was his answer, an averted silver gaze dropped.

Crouching down to look her in the eyes, he pulled her wrapped chin to look at him. "Who...did...this to you?" he seethed.

Zelda was rarely ever scared. But seeing the look of darkness flash so plainly across his face reminded her of the encounter minutes previous, the whispered promise to break her that Dark Link had told.

Without a second thought she scrambled away from him, her eyes wet with terror as his face morphed into red eyes and shadows from her imagination.

"No! Get away from me! Don't touch me!" she screamed, worming away despite the agonizing movement across the forest floor. Her eyes were pinched shut to look away from the horrible sight of the shadows consuming her friend.

She felt strong calloused hands grab her wrists, only causing her to coil back further.

"Sheik! Calm down! It's me, Link!" he exclaimed, the pain in his voice from seeing her scared of him obvious in his voice.

Before he could try and lull her with more comforted words, the Sheikah blacked out from the pain. Her wound had worsened considerably from her squirmed movement, and Link's heart was gripped with fingers of terror as he moved quickly, numbly even, over to her side to carry her, gentle as to not disturb the wound further.

The nearest village was two and a half miles. He prayed to every Goddess, every Sage, to anything he could think of that he would make it in time. His anger had resided, but the wonder of why she had tried to leave him was still berating his thoughts.

He whistled for Epona, and turned to Navi with a look of remorse, "Navi, why did she act like that? Who did she think I was?"

The fairy's eyes widened behind her veil of light, and her voice began to quiver in realization. "Link...the evil presence that lingers here. I know now why it was so familiar."

Link looked at her in confusion just as Epona rode up with a whinny, having heard the distress call of her master. "What is it Navi?"

"Dark Link. He's back."