A/N: I'm Baaack! I couldn't keep you waiting any longer, so here it is, the first chapter in the third installment of The Heroine! It's called Twin Soul and… well, You'll see what happens eventually. Till then, please enjoy the first chapter! And please…tell me what you think!

The Heroine: Twin Soul

Summer Days

It was one of those warm summer days. The winds passing through Hyrule Field were warm, yet carried a soothing touch enough to cool those who were too hot. The sun was rolling high in the cloud free sapphire sky, and birds would every now and then pass through the air, singing happily.

No one would suspect that these lands had suffered a great war only a few months earlier. But if you looked close, you could see that the green lush grass had only just grown back, and the trees in the forest were still young. The country had only just recovered, and seemed to show it all off with a beautiful warm summer day.

A bumblebee settled upon a pale blue flower, which was growing near a set of bushes. It crawled deep within the leaves of the flower and there was a high-pitched buzz as it moved its wings against the plant. Also, a small brown bunny made his way over the field in careful leaps and stopped by the set of bushes as well, unaware of that he shared the spot with the bumblebee. Looking around, the bunny made sure it was safe before he bent down to nibble on some leaves which served as his lunch.

But then the bunny suddenly sat bolt upright, ears pricked straight up in clear alarm. He sat like this for a moment, listening intently, like he had heard something that scared him. Then he suddenly gave a jerk and took off in high speed over the field. The bumblebee though did not see the threat and finished his business at the flower to then casually buzz away. And not a second too late.

Suddenly the flower he had resided in only moments before got trampled by a horse's thundering hooves, being the threat the bunny had sensed. A young red stallion was galloping at a high speed over the plains. He was not very big, more built to be slender, with a slim neck and petite head. His coat was a mixture of red and brown, and his long curly mane was the purest of white. He was wearing a bridle and a rope fastened like reins, but they were hanging loosely over his neck since he had no rider.

Shortly after the horse had crushed the flowers, another horse followed. It was another stallion, with the exact same texture. Reddish coat with long white mane. But this horse was a little bit bigger, and built to give ultimate speed. Also this stallion had a rider. In his saddle was a young woman, or perhaps a girl, at seventeen years. Her blonde hair was fastened in a loose and untidy bun, and several strands of blonde hair hung down her back. She was clad in a pair of dark green shorts that reached to the middle of her thigh, and over them she wore a thin raspberry pink tunic. Her skin was tanned, thanks to the strong summer sun.

Apparently, the girl and her stallion were chasing the younger and smaller stallion. She narrowed her dark blue eyes as she drove on her horse, though she really didn't have to. Her horse was much faster than the younger one.

There was yet another horse following them, but this mare was more cantering than galloping at high speed. It was a light-built and slender mare, with beautiful features. Her face was petite like the first stallion, with a concave nose. Her coat was of a pale yellow, unlike the first horses, with white hocks. Her rider was a young man, clad in simple pants tucked into thin boots with a lose green shirt over. He tugged gently on the mare's reins, and she came to a halt just beside the trampled flower were the bumblebee had resided only moments before.

"No point in following them, Tzadek," the young man cooed to his horse. "They're too fast for us anyway."

Tzadek snorted eagerly, but stood still as her friend wanted, tossing her beautiful head, her cream-colored mane dancing. She knew her beauty and was showing it.

Further down the field the girl continued the chase after the young stallion.

"Come on, Epone, almost got him," she spurred her stallion, who was now almost side to side with the other horse.

As they caught up with him, the girl wasted no time. Without thinking twice, she leapt from Epone and landed on the back of the smaller horse. With a frightened whinny, the horse started prancing and bucking, doing everything in his might to get the sudden weight of his back.

"Oh, come on Angel! Don't act as if you're completely untamed," the girl grunted through gritted teeth, as she managed to sit up properly on the horse despite the fight he was putting up. But he had picked the wrong girl to fight with. Among many other rumors, the girl had a reputation for being one of the best riders throughout Hyrule. Angel soon gave up trying to force the girl of his back. But instead of giving in to the girl's will, Angel suddenly set off in fast gallop. The girl was forced to grab onto his mane in order not to fall off. She knew there was no sense in tugging on the 'reins'. Since there was no bit in his mouth there was no way Angel was going to stop.

Together with the boy on the other horse the girl had tried to tame Angel, but they didn't use a bit or a saddle yet, since the stallion had clearly showed what he thought of that. Kind of like how he was showing now how he didn't want to be ridden.

But the girl leaned back slightly and sat upon the horse as nothing was going to get her off. That is, until Angel suddenly took a sharp turn- as if he rounded a coin – and the sudden change of course caused the girl to tumble off the horse. But she still held on to the rope around the horse's neck. It had worked as reins, but as she tumbled off the knot on the bridle came loose and it became one long rope fastened to the bridle instead. Nonetheless, the girl held on and Angel dragged her over the field, showing no signs of slowing down. The girl knew there was a good chance that she would get hit by the horse's hooves, but at the same time she couldn't let go. There would be no catching him then. So she held on, hoping the horse would slow down.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that she noticed where the horse was heading. A small lake lay by the field, and Angel was heading straight towards the hill before it, where there was a rather long and sharp drop down to the water.

"Oh nononono… Angel stop!" the girl cried from her position on the ground. But the horse had every intention of stopping and promptly did so just before the lake. But that didn't mean the girl stopped. She was still at high speed, and there was simply nothing she could do as she slid past the horse and right over the edge of the hill. Her hands slipped around the rope and with a shriek she fell into the water, accompanied by a great splash.

Angel whinnied loudly by the cliff, as if laughing.

By now, the boy and his horse Tzadek had come up to them, followed by Epone. The boy dismounted his mare and quickly took Angel's rope and tied it to Tzadek's saddle. Then he turned his attention to the lake, where the girl had resurfaced. He couldn't help to break a smile at her disorientated splashing as she gasped for air.

"Gimel, I swear," the girl spluttered, but was forced to be silent as she was overwhelmed by a sudden cough attack, "I swear, if you're laughing at me…" her voice trailed off as she coughed again.

"…You'll do what?" the boy finished for her, and didn't even bother to hide the amusement in his voice.

The girl gave a frustrated snort before swimming to shore and heaving herself out of the water. She was dripping wet, the thin but now heavy clothes clinging to her small frame. The boy, Gimel, chuckled softly at her as he extended a hand to help her up a pair of boulders.

"Well, at least there's nothing wrong with your determination, Link," he added, and the girl's peeved expression slowly lightened until she was smiling at him.

"Oh, well," she finally sighed. "I guess I need to get back to the castle and change…" Then she squinted up at him, the noon sun striking her in the eyes. "You wanna come?"

Gimel was fumbling with Tzadek's saddle and considered her question as he mounted the horse. "No, I can't," he finally settled for saying. "I need to make sure the horses are okay…" he broke off as Angel suddenly gave a loud snort, clearly peeved with the whole situation. Gimel raised an eyebrow at the horse. "…and apparently Angel wants to go home too."

"See you tomorrow then?" Link had now mounted Epone and was looking expectantly at her friend.

"You know you will," the boy replied, straining his eyes slightly to see her as the wind ruffled his hair, annoyingly blowing in his eyes.

Link smiled and then watched as Gimel clicked his tongue, catching the attention of Tzadek and they trotted away towards a ranch. It was the Lon Lon Ranch, situated by the western part of the gigantic Hyrule Field. Gimel was the one running the ranch, where he bred horses. He had an incredible passion for horses, which was evident with his everlasting affection for Angel, whom clearly loathed the farmer.

Finally Epone grew impatient with just standing on the field as he turned his neck to nip softly at Link's leg, but hard enough for her to jolt and cry out.

"Hey! That was uncalled for," she whined, speaking to her horse like he was a friend just like Gimel. But the horse merely gave a happy squeal and then suddenly started trotting in a random direction.

"You are heartless, you know that?" Link pouted before regaining control of her horse again and gently nudging his side to change their course towards the north. There lay Hyrule Castle and below it the castle town. Or more like city.

There was always a slight dread in Link's heart when she entered through the gates to the city. She never knew if random people would come up to her and talk to her of even praise her. After all, Link was not only known as a skilled rider. No, whenever the name Link was mentioned, the word "Heroine" soon followed. That's the title Link carried, "The Heroine", thanks the Goddesses. She had been chosen by them to defeat the evils threatening Hyrule. She had already done so twice, fighting the evils in the world. Only, both of the times had the evil taken form as Ganondorf, the sworn enemy of Link. At least, according to the legend about her destiny.

At first, Link had several problems accepting her fate… or whatever one should call it. It was not so much the part that she had to defend Hyrule… she had years of practice and would rival even the best of swordsmen. Actually, Link kind of enjoyed fighting. It was a thrill, a dance with death, if you will.

But that was beside the point. What Link had troubles with was all the responsibilities coming with the title Hero. Everyone she knew… there was a threat to them. Link had brought her friends danger.

But on late days, Link had finally come to accept those terms. She could protect her friends if anything happened. She could let herself be selfish and care for them.

Nowadays, the only Heroine-related problem was… the fame. It was weird; the way people in streets could shout her name and chase her just to speak to her for a moment. If not that, they would settle for staring at her and whispering. It was starting to wear her out. But soon enough, she figured they would accept it, pretty much as she had.

Epone had soon carried her halfway through the city until the girl snapped back from her thoughts. She was as always aware of the people staring at her, but today she figured that was mostly because she was still soaking wet. And even though the summer sun was burning, she was starting to shiver, so she urged Epone to a trot through the city.

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"Ouch!"

Link cried out and swore loudly and deeply, causing the Queen of Hyrule, Zelda, to look up from her book and eye her accusingly. The Heroine muttered an apology, before occupying herself again with the piece of wood in her lap, which she had been trying to carve a figure out of for the last hour. Zelda however, did not return to her book, but rested her worried glance on Link. The girl wore an expression of utter concentration as she used a knife to carve out a figure that seemed to resemble a horse, but Zelda wasn't sure.

"Er… Link?" the Queen asked her friend carefully, a nervous tone to her usual secure voice.

"Mhm?" Link replied absentmindedly, still furiously carving at the wood.

"Are you sure that's… safe?"

At Zelda's words, Link's gaze immediately snapped to the woman, who tried to look innocently curious in her pale red dress, but Link saw right through her.

"Oh no, you don't," Link warned, "you don't get to ask me that." She raised the knife so that it was at Zelda's eyelevel. But the threatening gesture was slightly ruined due to the fact that Link was sitting several meters away from Zelda. Actually, casually sprawled out in a stone bench was more like it. What's more, Link was not looking the least bit threatening; she was actually looking very beautiful in her long blonde bright honey colored hair and deep blue eyes. She had changed out of her wet clothes, and was currently clad in a pale thin green dress. It was unusual to see Link clad in a dress, she usually preferred pants and a shirt. But it was so hot that she had chosen to wear a short sleeve-less dress, the skirt reaching her knees. Also, Link's beauty seemed to intensify with the lovely scenic around her. They were in one of the gardens of the castle, and the green nature and golden light brought out the emerald-like color in Link's dress and the soft blonde shade of her hair.

"You were the one who said I needed to be more creative. You said that sword fighting was barbaric and that I needed to get in touch with my 'artistic' side," Link continued, still glaring at Zelda.

Zelda's innocent façade faded and she heaved a sigh. "I... know." Then she stole a glance at the supposed-to-be horse in horse in Link's lap, and she drew a breath. "Clearly I was wrong. Maybe you should stick to sword fighting," she then added.

Link snorted and quickly put away the piece of wood, but as she did her gaze fastened on something sparkling on her left hand. At the sight of her engagement ring, Link heaved a dreamy sigh. Zelda looked up again, recognizing that sigh all too well. After all, Link did it almost every time she caught sight of the thin golden ring around her left ring finger, and Zelda couldn't help to give a small sigh at for once seeing her friend completely happy. As far as Zelda knew Link had one weakness.

And his name was Sheik.

She suspected they had loved each other from the first moment they met, and though they'd had slight troubles in the past they were now to be married. And Zelda was really happy for them. Her two best friends were getting married. Who wouldn't be happy?

But Zelda however, was eyeing Link with a suspicious glance. Like mentioned, she recognized that sigh. And the argument that usually followed. And as if on queue, Link heaved another sigh.

"Zelda, is there really a law that forbids people to marry before they're eighteen?"

"Yes," Zelda replied bored. She had been having this argument far too many times the last few months.

"But Sheik is 22! Doesn't that count?"

"No," Zelda replied in the same indifferent voice.

"But you're the Queen! Why don't you change that law?"

"Because," Zelda said, finally looking up and meeting her friend's gaze, "I do not want you to marry before you are eighteen, Link. Besides, it's only three months away."

The scowl entering Link's face hinted that some yelling was about to take place, and Zelda braced herself. Sometimes she wished she would change the law, just to stop these silly arguments. But Zelda was trying to prove a point.

"You don't want me to marry Sheik, is that it?" Link said in voice that was quickly rising in volume.

"No," Zelda replied with emphasis. Since when did people in love become so hard to reason with? "I just want you to have time to think before you do this, that's all."

"So you think I'm making a mistake?" Link's voice grew shrill as she jumped to her feet, and Zelda mentally rolled her eyes. Really, what had happened to Link the last few months? She was so in love it was almost… unbearable.

Zelda calmly got to her feet and strode forth to Link, taking her by the shoulders to calm her friend, and Link's gaze fastened on Zelda.

"Link," Zelda said with a firm voice, "you are not making a mistake. I know how much you love him and you are both my friends so I love you both. I really do believe you are making the right choice." Zelda's features then softened as she had proved to Link that she wasn't against her. "But you are only seventeen, Link. I ask you to only wait three months." She dared a smile. "And then we will both know you are not making a mistake."

A beat passed between them. Then Link heaved a sigh, letting her gaze drop. "I know," she admitted grudgingly. "You're right. It's just…" she looked up at Zelda again, her gaze strangely open and raw, "…I love him so much it almost hurts. And if someone criticizes our love… I fight for it, you know?" she said and offered a crooked smile.

Zelda mirrored her smile and let her hands fall to her side as Link broke from her grip and walked towards the window – or more like the opening in the beautiful stone wall surrounding the garden – and leaned to the windowsill. She drummed her fists loosely at the stone in an impatient manner.

"And where is Sheik, anyway?" she demanded, and Zelda – who had returned to her book, sighed frustrated and looked up.

"He's still out with Kratos inspecting the southern border, and he was doing it the first hundred times you asked too."

Link stubbornly ignored Zelda's grumpy answer, and continued explaining her woes. "And why didn't I come with him? He didn't ask me, but I know he wanted me there-"

"He did ask you and you didn't even want to go. Besides, Gimel asked you to help at his ranch," Zelda pointed out airily, but Link kept ignoring her.

"And he's been gone for ages-"

"Three days."

"-ages and it's driving me nuts!" Link finally noticed Zelda as she turned to her with a hint of desperation to her aura.

Zelda's eyes widened. "My Goddess," she said, "you really are a fool of love." Then she lit up in a grin, enjoying how she could tease the Heroine.

But Link was taking it seriously as she sunk to the ground. "I really am, aren't I?"

Zelda drew a breath, about to reply when suddenly, a shrill whinny loud through the air. Zelda's eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she tried to place the horse the whinny belonged to. But Link immediately recognized it. With a delighted squeal she dashed out the garden.

It was then Zelda realized whose horse it was and she could not help to offer a smile herself. She put down her book and got to her feet, following Link.

As Link emerged from the gardens out to the hill before the castle she spotted a rider, galloping up the path to the castle. He sat upon a great black stallion that was moving with more grace than his strength suggested. The rider was a young man, with tanned skin and eastern features. His tousled hair was the same black color as the horse's polished charcoal shade, except for the front stripes in the man's hair. His bangs were a peculiar color of crimson red, creating a contrast to his dark oak colored eyes.

When the man spotted Link, he lit up in a handsome smile. "Well, if it isn't Link," he said in a cheerful voice. Link used her hand to shade her gaze as she cupped it over her eyes, squinting them at the man. "Kratos! Did everything…"

But her voice trailed off as she spotted another rider who became visible on a path from where Link stood. The horse was a beautiful mare, smaller than the previous black stallion, with a more slender form. Her coat was a dark spotted grey, with a darker long curly mane and dark intelligent eyes. But she was a nervous horse, and she was prancing on the spot, rearing while trying to escape her rider's grip. But her rider was calm with a soft grip around her reins. Using a soft and soothing voice, he gently calmed his horse, enough for her to lower her head again and advance forward. The rider was concentrating so much on his horse that he failed to notice Link and Zelda and the other rider, who had now dismounted his black stallion.

The rider on the gray mare was also a young man, but of a different race than the first man. He was a Sheikah, and his name was Sheik. The very same Sheik Link loved.

The Heroine broke into a run as she spotted her love. Sheik's blond unruly hair hung into his eyes as he looked down at his own horse. His eyes were probably the most fascinating part about him, at least according to Link. They were of a deep red, like deep pools of blood. But they possessed a softness and honesty that no one could quite explain. Link only knew that she loved it.

The Sheikah managed to get his horse to a halt, and dismounted with one swift movement. He was wearing dark pants tucked into thin boots, with a dusty white shirt thrown over it all. Link had no idea how he avoided to melt away with sweat in this warm day. But then again, he was a Sheikah, and they were after all a bit mysterious. Alright, very mysterious then.

But as Link neared him, she saw that he had unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a bit of his tanned chest – that was gleaming slightly with sweat. But it also revealed a bit of a tattoo Sheik had on the left part of his chest. It was the sign of the Sheikahs – an eye in rough black lines lined with thick lashes, with a thick tear frozen just below it.

As Link reached the Sheikah she stopped in front of him. She knew he knew she was there – the Sheikah could always sense presences in some mysterious way. So Sheik looked up and fastened his piercing gaze on her blue eyes. Link felt her heart swell up in an impossible size as she smiled a little at him. She was just about to say something along the lines of "you're back," – when the Sheikah promptly let go of his mare's reins and walked up the Heroine, and gently cupped her face with his warm hands and kissed her.

And his kisses had the amazing talent to take Link's breath away and make her knees go all weak. And the only way to keep herself steady was to throw her arms around Sheik's neck and kiss him some more. Sheik's hands slid around her waist as he pulled back his head a little, to rest his forehead against Link's.

"I've missed you," he murmured, in a surprisingly soft voice.

Link grinned a little and looked up at him – he was, after all, several inches taller than she was, and said in a voice filled with mock scorn, "What took you so long?"

Sheik's lips widened into a grin as he pressed his lips to hers again and kissed her.

Back up on the hill Zelda and Kratos were watching the two lovers. They shared a meaning look and then cracked identical smiles, thinking the same thing. Of course, they were happy for them both and they just looked so… happy.

"So," Kratos then started, grabbing the reins to his horse before focusing his gaze to Zelda again, "when are you going to say you missed me?"

It was funny, Link thought later on. In this moment, she actually considered things – for the first time in a very long time – to be alright. She considered herself to be completely happy.

But back then she hadn't known. She hadn't known that shortly after this, her happy days… her joyful summer days would come to an abrupt end.

A/N: Alrighty folks, let me see those reviews!