Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Dreams, Broken Soul, Unbound Love ❯ Dreams Aren't Real ( Chapter 1 )

By: Squall-sama

Warnings: Don't own, don't sue. Link+ Sheik for now, Angst, Link bashing, Sheik bashing.

Notes: I know Sheik has blonde hair but he's special in this and he has Silver hair-so deal with it!

Extra Notes: * ~ * ~ * ~ * scene switch

* * * * same scene, different POV-sort of. ^_^

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~Part 1: Dreams Aren't Real…~

"NO, SHEIK, DON'T LEAVE ME!" Droplets of sweat flew off the young boy's body as he flew strait up into a sitting position in the small unkempt bed. His chest heaving with every labored breath, as he slowly brought his unsteady hands to his face; the hateful tears pushing for access and flowing down his flushed and raw cheeks.

"Why. Sheik, you aren't real… Why are you torturing me like this…?" The shaken boy sucked in a sharp breath and shuddered from the overwhelming flood of tears that refused to subside. There was a sudden knock at the door; startled, the boy almost stood up and 'revealed' himself to the worried old woman. A crimson blush quickly crossed the sad boy's features and he curled up against the wall, covering himself up as much as possible while trying to wipe away his regretful tears. The old woman smiled kindly at the shaken boy and spoke gently to him,

"Sir Link, are you all right? I thought I heard you cry out…" Link, the young boy in the bed, made a strangled sound, frightening the older woman a little. Link mumbled something, but it wasn't audible enough for the old woman to hear.

"I'm sorry, Sir Link, would you repeat that, I couldn't quite hear you… I-"

"I said, 'please leave…' I want to be alone…" Link's voice rising slightly, to let the older woman hear him. The old woman was a bit taken back by the request, but she agreed nonetheless.

"Hmm. Well alright, I suppose… I will be back up later when supper is ready." The old woman closed the door reluctantly. Picking up her apron, she shuffled down the stairs of the small inn, in a ruffled manner.

"So, what was the problem?" Asked a petite young girl who was wiping her hands on her apron.

"The boy doesn't want my help! I went out of my way to go up there and see what was wrong with him and you know what he does?! He kicks me out!" Obviously still quite ruffled from the whole ordeal, the old woman wisps past the smaller girl, who follows close behind with great interest, and plants herself behind the bar to continue her complaining as she wipes the already clean bar down over and over, obviously not paying any attention to what she's doing.

"No respect for his elders! What a rude young man, why he's still here I have no idea! I just wish he would pack up all of his useless weapons and leave." The old woman finishes her little speech with a stamp of the foot and hands on her hips, then another chimes in to that, this time, an old man.

"Exactly. You know ever since that boy has come dragging his sorry behind into our village, he's done nothing!" Sitting back and taking a swig of his drink, another man takes up where the last one left off.

"Mopin' around all day, draggin' his feet at everythin,' that boy is useless! Hard to believe he's the one that beat that awful Ganondorf." They all nodded their heads in agreement after that comment, then the young girl chimed in, proposing,

"Maybe we should go up there and pull him off that bed and dump him down there in the well, see how he likes it then!" They all laugh at that and the old woman, still chuckling, adds,

"Oh I don't know, how YOU'D handle that, he's bare butt naked up there! Almost caught him in his full birthday suit! Ha, ha, ha… And I have to admit, he sure is a looker for bein' the lazy slouch that he is!" The young girl next to her blushed furiously and everyone laughed some more…

Upstairs… '…he sure is a looker for bein' the lazy slouch that he is.' A familiar door that had been partially cracked open closed shut completely. Inside, Link backed away from the door slowly; sorrow replacing all of his usually flawless features. Those awful tears pressing for release again, he dropped his head down and walked back over to the bed slowly. As he sat down he thought to himself, What did I do to deserve this…? Why are they saying those things, I thought I just saved all of their lives…right? Am…I really that…worthless? What was the point of my existence if nobody wants me around anymore…not even Princess Zelda would acknowledge me… What did I do…?

"Sheik…" Where the last words to leave Link's dry and lonely lips before he lazily laid back into the unwelcoming bed. He brought his long slender legs flush up against his chest and wrapped his elegant arms around his long legs, curling up into a tight ball and letting the nightmares come as they had done every night since the recovery of the ungrateful Hyrule.

Shadows, engulfing everything… Swallowing every sliver of life, and death. Nothing could survive here; no light or dark exist, no predator or prey…Only deep dark Shadows. A lone figure is walking through the evil Shadows that threaten to swallow it whole, a dark mist swirls around the figure in an attempt to tangle and overpower the lone creature, but to no avail.

"Sheik…" A strangled whisper floated from the mysterious figure.

"Sheik…I need you. Where are you…? Come to me? Sheik……?" Slowly the figure is revealed and it appears to be Link, with the same sorrow-filled look to his features and a bit of lost and hopeless confusion. He looks around, trying to gage where he's at; it doesn't feel like a dream-it's so realistic, but not once in his travels did he see any place like this…something was very wrong.

"Where am I?……Sheik? Sheik…who, why…? I know this is a dream…but why do I keep dreaming of you, Sheik? You aren't real…Not…real……" Then as if by cue, the Shadows rise up and cast into a large ominous figure right before a terrified Link. A strong hand strikes out at Link and captures the scruff of his green tunic, in a tight embrace and hauls the small boy right up off his feet! Link's eyes widen to an impossible size as he cranes his neck painfully to one side and realizes he's almost five feet off the ground! What creature could possibly do this that is human? Link struggled to see through the mist, at just what this dangerous creature was.

'It looks… human…' Link struggled against the vice-like grip, the giant had over him, then, real quick, Link catches an evil smile flicker across the giant Shadow's 'face'. Complete fear dominates the beautiful features of Links face and his whole body, as pure reflexive instinct causes his body to stiffen with anticipation of what this creature might do to him, considering the monster had the upper hand. Link fought to no avail, gripping the giant's arm, trying to pull away. A large, swift hand came up, and crashed against Links head, causing the poor boy to see stars-literally. Link's head spun as he lolled his head from side-to-side, struggling to keep his head strait from the surging pain.

'This is…too…real……to be…a……dream…What……?'

"H-o-w…?" Link gasped out, and fell 'unconscious'.

Link's eyes flew open, but he didn't move his body, he just stared. His breathing ragged, mind and body weak, he slowly brought a shaky hand to his face where it had been hit in his dream-it hurt… It hadn't been a dream, not a dream…

"Sh…eik… N, not a d-r-e-a-m…… not…" Link struggled to get the words out but he was in so much pain, his head throbbed with every little syllable whispered.

"Sheik… what happened to you?" An unexpected knock at the door snapped Link out of his disturbing thoughts and he shifted slightly to see what it was about this time; he hadn't made any noise… The door opened abruptly with the same old woman carrying a tray of food. Hmm, I forgot…dinner… Link couldn't complain though, as a delicious and welcoming aroma filled the room along with Links senses and his stomach betrayed him with the obvious growl, revealing just how hungry he really was-it had been three days since he'd eaten anything anyhow. I am pretty hungry… Link slowly sat up and when the old woman finally looked at him after shuffling around with the food, a startled look crossed her face and she just stared at Link. He blinked, slightly confused… Why…is she staring…?

"Uhm… is something… wrong…?" Link questioned sheepishly. The old woman blinked at him, widened her eyes, then shook her head slowly.

"Uhh, no. I-it's just… your eye…?" Link blinked again, even more confused than before.

"Huh?" Then it registered-his dream, he'd forgotten about it in all the excitement over the arrival of his dinner. He slowly brought his hand to his face again and flinched when he touched his cheek where the said bruise was… it did still hurt, how… Link furrowed his eyebrows and got lost in his own thoughts, which thoroughly irritated the older woman to no end-this was the final straw, for him! The old woman stamped her foot, knocking Link out of his thoughts again and she crossed her arms over her large breasts, and glared at poor Link with an angry scowl. Link cringed back a bit at the dominating and rather frightening exposition of the old woman who stood above him. He looked around for a moment, kind of nervous then looked back at her cautiously.

"Uh… w-what…?" Link asked, careful not to ruffle the woman's feathers anymore than they already were. Unfortunately though, the old woman was already ruffled past the point of no return. She growled at him angrily and brought her face only inches from his, glaring into his sad eyes. Link doubled back and pressed his body firmly against the wall, blinking a couple of times out of confusion and shock.

"Oh! You worthless boy! You are absolutely hopeless you know that!? Ever since you've dragged your sorry butt in here, you have been nothing but a nuisance!"

Link was completely taken aback. He still couldn't believe what he was hearing, these people, they didn't even care who he was and everything he had done-for them. He just blinked his eyes some more; he couldn't have really been hearing this! Sheik…Why, why is this happening? I-I thought…I thought I helped them though…didn't I…?

Link was knocked out of his thoughts once again when the old woman threw his wadded up clothes at him and began yelling again.

"Get up! You don't deserve our hospitality-ungrateful boy! All you do all day is sleep and hide in here! You have not once left this room for anything! Do you know how rude that is?! Get out! You can find somebody else to mooch off of, because you are not going to do that here anymore!" By this time a crowd of people, including the group that had been sitting at the bar earlier, stood gathered outside the door and were now listening in, on the other side of the door. Link shook his head in denial, even though he did hear the old woman and those other village people say the same thing down stairs, he didn't want to believe it now that it was actually being said directly to him. The old woman raised her fist at Link again and threatened him even further into disbelief.

"If you don't get out of here right now, I'll throw you out and you will not like how I do it! Get dressed boy, and get out!!" Link stared at her for a moment then quickly began to get dressed. He pulled his pants and boots on and his turtleneck, but before he could pull on his tunic, the old woman 'huffed' loudly and grabbed poor Link by his arm and hauled him out the door, right into the crowd of people that had been listening in on the whole thing. The small crowd scattered to the side, up against the walls and railing; Link stumbled out and almost fell, but caught himself just before he got to the staircase. He turned back slowly, and shrank back at all the gazes that were centered right on him. The old woman walked out of the room with her hands on her hips and glared at Link.

Link frowned, but before the old woman could say anymore to him, he turned around and walked quickly down the stairs; he couldn't bare those horrible gazes any longer…

Outside the bright rays of the sun blinded Link as he threw open the door from the tavern. He looked back one more time, he didn't know why, but he did. All I've ever wanted was for somebody to love, and love me back… I lost it all with you, Sheik. Link slowly turned away and walked out towards the entrance to Kakariko Village.

As he past the last house out of the village, Link saw something out the corner of his eye, he turned swiftly to see what it was but when he steadied himself, whatever it was that had been there, was gone. He slowly turned back around, with a frown on his face, he made his way down the long stairs, he could have swore what he saw looked something like the 'Mask of Truth' but the object was so quick to his eye he still wasn't really sure. I guess it's not enough that they kicked me out, but they have to play tricks on me as well… Link thought to himself with a sigh as he stepped to the flat ground of the Hyrule plains and looked around for a moment. The water looks fresher… maybe things are getting a little better, but I still don't want to take any chances-and I'm not in the mood…

Link, pulled out his faithful ocarina and past memories slowly seeped back into his tattered mind and without even a second thought about it, he began to play 'Epona's Song.' Lazily, Link swayed back-and-forth almost in a trance as the enchanting notes flowed from the small flute. Somewhere on the other side of Hyrule, the sweet tune of 'Epona's Song' floated around until they found what they had been searching for, Epona, the said horse, and best friend Link had cherished since their meeting as 'children.' Raising her head quickly, Epona perked her ears happily and whinnied then took off towards the source of her 'calling.'

Link lowered the ocarina and scanned the field, waiting-hoping for 'his' horse to come. She did, much his over joyous relief. Epona came galloping over the far ridge above the river and reared up whinnying again, then galloped down to Link and right up to his body almost knocking him over like she always did. This time though, Link didn't care, he was just glad she came to him; at least one creature still cared for him… Link smiled brightly, something he hadn't done in a very long time. He patted Epona's high withers, then with great ease, Link hoisted himself up and on to the worn saddle and was off towards the castle only moments later.

Shadows dark and powerful swirled around nothingness; dark lifeless nothingness. A void so deep into the night, it could never be pierced by 'power,' 'wisdom,' or 'courage.' Dreams not long enough. Soul not bound strong enough. Love not entwined far enough into the soul. It was once said, that without all of these 'powers' combined as one, any being that set foot in and beyond the Shadows would surely lose themselves, and their heart, soul and mind would perish leaving only an empty shell to house the evil Shadows that breathe life now, to the power that IS darkness.

Raspy breathing could be heard as a distinct form of what looked to be a massive man, lumbered through the Shadows. The features not nearly visible enough, only complete darkness…but there was something, an aura-evil, that radiated off this creature; it could be seen even through the pitch of darkness. Sauntering down a crumbling walkway, the creature growled loudly when a small, pathetic, almost whimper met his ears. The creature looked up and its eyes glowed a bright yellow and even in the black of the Shadows an evil smile could be seen forming across what looked to be its lips. It walked up to the creature that had whimpered and stopped in front of it.

The massive beast leered down at the small creature-its features so tattered and bruised, it was hard to tell whether it was Hyrulean, Zora, or Goron but the creature was in pain. The beast seemed to teeter over the small creature then it shot one large hand down at the bound thing. The creature didn't even flinch back; it didn't have enough time and it was too weak. The beast pulled the small creature up off the ground, completely ripping the chains out of the wall that were bound to the creature's wrists. It cried out; an almost human cry as its limbs were treated like a rag dolls would be.

The beast sneered happily at that and stared at the creature as silver tears flowed from its face. The beast raised the small creature's head to the light of the Shadows and a flicker of red shined brightly against the contrasting darkness; its eyes were the source of the red light, dim as they were they still held a sliver of life in them. The beast huffed and dropped the small creature to the ground heavily, then dragged the poor thing off by the chains that were still clasped tightly around the small wrists of the red-eyed creature. In a small pain-labored breath, the small creature gasped out one word before its world went black again, '…Link….'

Link almost fell off of Epona as he doubled over in pain, crying out from the sudden shock. Epona slowed to a walk, just as Link clumsily dismounted from her back, and fell to the ground on his knees. Link coughed and shuddered, wrapping his arms around his small body hoping to ease the pain and fear he felt suddenly; wishing more than anything in the world it was Sheik's arms that held him close and not his own.

"…Sh-sheik…*shudder* Sheik… what……?" Link didn't know what was going on, he was scared to death; he had been hit by a strong force when he was riding but he didn't know what…. He thought for a moment, It-that felt like…Sheik…Sheik? Why, what in the world was that! Why did I feel your whisper, Sheik……Where are you…? Epona walked up to Link and gently nudged his back with her nose; Link looked up at her, a pained frown on his face still, but smiled none-the-less as the friendly horse showed its worry for her master. Epona… Link got up slowly, unsure of how unsteady his legs would be at that moment; Epona moved to help Link balance against her. When Link found his legs again he jumped back on Epona's back and rode off toward the ruins of the old Hyrule Castle.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

~tbc~