Heartless Courage Book One: Kingdom Hearts meets Legend of Zelda

Chapter V: Love united

Flame, frost, and shadow. Three separate beings... perhaps guardians of the fire, water, and shadow temples?

Link had been musing over what Zelda had told him overnight. He felt the exhaustion of days worth of adventuring weighing upon him, and had slept the day away at the Farore inn.

His leek soup had long gotten cold, as he spent nearly an hour the following morning sitting alone at a corner table. The innkeeper was shooting him concerned glances.
"Kid, is everything alright with ya?" The man asked in a fatherly tone.

Link nodded, so the man just shrugged and went back to his dishes.

What bothered Link most off all was what Zelda had said about Link turning bad. He always tried to fight for the good side! Why would he fight the King? As far as he knew the King wasn't evil.

Yet thinking back to Pitri's performance, Link began to think otherwise. The man sure was dragged away rather quickly...

His thoughts were interrupted by loud sneezing from one of three figures opposite the inn from himself, followed by a loud warbling. Link caught something about 'too much pepper'.

The innkeeper dashed away to aid, offering something for his ailment.

Using the rupees sent to him by Zelda as reward, Link left his bill at the front counter and exited the inn. It was late morning, and the city was bustling with activity. Link would have liked to explore once more, but he had someone very important to visit first.

A large rank of soldiers in full battle armor were lined up at the front gate.
One particular soldier stood out at the lead, barking orders to his men. This happened to be the same damned guard who had captured Link six times.

"He will not be expecting us. Remember, no sudden moves. I don't want any bloodshed from this encounter. Just let me do the talking so that I may extend the king's invitation, and do not draw your swords unless I am attacked. This needs to be quick, and for once, professional. I'm looking at you Eric!" The captain shot a look at who must be Eric and the man in question tried to hide his smirk. "With that debrief out of the way, Forward, March!"

The ranks stepped out in unison, marching behind their captain in faithful obedience.
Zelda actually managed to convince the King then...

As the soldiers moved beyond eyesight, Link began towards Lon-Lon ranch.

fifteen minutes and several deku-babas later, he arrived at the farm. The signal smoke of a bonfire bloomed from within, appearing darker by the setting sun.

Link found himself procrastinating just outside the gate. What was he going to say?! She hadn't even met him yet.

Hi, I'm Link. Your boyfriend from the future. Love me!

This was partly why Link preferred to avoid talking. Actions speak louder than words, after all. What would he even do though? Carry her away on Epona's back to his tree house? He could see no way out of it, he would have to think of something.

He entered the gate, his courage beginning to falter against what may be the hardest battle of his life.

'What am I so worried about? We became friends easily the first time, now should be no dif-'

His thoughts were cut short by something very, terribly different.
The smoke Link mistook for some sort of bonfire was actually originating from the smoldering building that was once Malon's home.

To Link's right the barns were frozen solid.

Ingo the barn keeper lie either dead or unconscious on the dirt beside his home.

Link sprinted past, making his way to the spot where he and Malon first met. To his despair she was no longer center of the field with her herd of stallions. The field was charred black, not a soul in sight.

She couldn't be... oh please Nayru no..

Link turned back to the burning house. If she was inside, she didn't have a lot of time left.
Link rushed back, nearly crossing the horse track before the ground erupted in front of him in a flurry of dirt and flame! The impact sent Link flying back, throwing him onto the charred grass.

"Well, well. Now isn't this a surprise. I half expected you not to show!"

Link glanced up to see a large woman in a revealing black gown. A bi-hued
gem lie in the center of her forehead, and her hair was parted into long separate ponytails made of fire and ice, respectively.

Her amber yellow eyes stared down at the boy, analyzing him. Finally, with a wicked smile Twinrova asked

"So? Aren't you going to show some love for your mother?"