First I'd like to say that EVERYONE had very interesting ideas and a few of them were close to what I had in mind on certain subjects.
While there are several reasons for Link's first fight with Dark, and while some guessed it was indeed to take the Master Sword, there was a symbolic reason I had in mind.
Notice that Link never even asked Dark who he was. He doesn't even know the name of the man he lost the fight to. Of course Rose and Nezumi guess it would be Dark Link because as fans that's how we know him but Link doesn't know Dark Link. Because Link didn't "recognize" this darkness he fought, nor try to understand what it had to do with him, in a way he didn't accept his own faults. There for he lost. There's actually alot more to it then that as well but since I'm being rushed right now I'll end it with that

Until next time folks.
World Among Worlds Chapters
Favored Deviants