A/N: This is my first attempt at a fanfiction. Please read with tender eyes and review. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

*I'm just going around and correcting the errors in my previous chapters…for those of you who have sensitive eyes and could not read a chapter due to the fear of eye cancer, please check again.

And my A/N's are so dry…gotta fix those as well

Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda or Kingdom Hearts (although I'd very much love to)


Chapter 1: A new knight

Vanitas opened his eyes and stared blearily at the decorated celling. He clenched his jaw in anger as he heard raucous laughter and the sound of a mattress creaking. Getting up and pushing his blankets off violently, he walked out of his room and to the next and slammed the door open.

"What the hell is going on here?!" he bellowed, narrowing his eyes menacingly.

The three occupants in the room simply stared at him. Two ignored him in favour of jumping on the mattress while the third just gave him a sympathetic smile.

Growling, he stomped over and tried to shove the twins off the bed but was stopped when his smiling sibling stood in front of him and barred his way.

"Move outta the way Sora" he hissed.

"Now really, that is not a way to talk to your older brother" Sora said, turning to the other two he added: "come on Roxas, Ven gotta have breakfast"

Said twins cheered and jumped on him. Ventus, being lucky managed to cling on to his back whilst poor Roxas tried in vain to hold on to his waist but alas slid down.

Life was unfair.

Vanitas turned around while sunshine and rainbows radiated from the happy group behind him. Deciding to put as much distance as possible from them, he went ahead to the kitchen while Sora wobbled trying to balance two twelve year olds on his person.

"Ice-cream" stated Roxas.

"Not a healthy option for breakfast" Sora reprimanded.

"For the love of anything holy…will you take that thing off? I'm about to go blind here" Vanitas seethed and turned, refusing to look at his elder brother who was wearing a red frilly apron "I should burn your apron collection!"

"How rude, Mom sends these aprons as birthday presents" came the pouted reply.

"I'm starving…please make something to eat Sora, and let's go. I wanna see Aqua" bounced Ven; he was the only one who managed to be energetic so early in the morning. Both Roxas and Vanitas sent the youngster a disgruntled stare.


Link smiled at everyone who came to bid him farewell. Mounted atop Epona he looked past the crowd and at the small village that was his home. This was the first time he was leaving Ordona province. Rusl had recommended him to apply for the vacant 10th rank in the master knights and he had agreed. After all, being part of the prestigious Master Knights' meant that he could protect his village better.

"Remember to grovel whenever you meet a noble" spoke a voice from the crowd

Everyone turned around and stared at the midget wearing what appeared to be a sack (since one couldn't see his feet). Unlike the other children, his face expressed utter boredom. The fact that he imparted his advice with a hint of haughtiness amused Link greatly.

"I'll do that Malo, thanks for reminding me"

The midget hmphed and looked away.

Gathering the reins, Link turned Epona around and waved, before he could leave, Colin ran forward and grabbed the reins.

"You will visit us right?" he asked, a sorrowful expression on his face "you won't forget will you Link?"

Link reached down and ruffled the boy's hair, "Of course Colin." He soothed "It'll be like I never left in the first place."

Hyrule field was huge. Spurring Epona to go faster he felt slightly guilty as he imagined an angry Ilia scolding him. But for now those thoughts were tossed to the winds as he galloped across Hyrule at a speed that would've earned him a fine. Adrenaline rushing in his veins, Link let go of the reins and threw his hands up in the air. Adventure was something that always made him happy and the prospect of being a knight seemed much more appealing than his job as a goat herder. As he came upon the bridge to Castle Town he rode much slower and soaked in the magnificent sight of a castle. Dismounting Epona he stood at the bridge and stared in wonder at Hyrule castle, its blue tiled turrets towering higher than anything Link had ever seen.

Link's attention was drawn to the far side of the bridge when he noticed a dark hole literally tearing into space. From the tear in space he witnessed four individuals walk out. The people had one thing in common: spiky hair. Two sported blonde locks and the exact same hairstyle, there was a fierce looking black haired male and a brown haired male who began lecturing them as soon as they stepped out. Link, thinking that he might need someone to show him the way tied Epona to the post of a wooden bridge leading to the entrance of Castle town and began to walk towards them.


"Now remember guys, we are nobles so you have to act like one, so no unnecessary smiling and talking, walk with your head held high and politely ign-" began Sora

Vanitas snarled cutting his little speech off: "For goodness sake, do you have to lecture us every time we set foot outside? Those two already act like nobles in public so stop yammering and let's get going."

Throwing a glance at Roxas and Ventus who now sported vaguely polite smiles, Sora spun around to see a figure clad in green walking towards him. In complete disregard of his earlier discourse, he threw the stranger a sunny smile and waved enthusiastically.

The Hylian approached the group with a similar smile of his own, suddenly he paled and dropped down to one knee and bowed deeply. Seeing this, Sora looked at his siblings with a look that screamed 'what did I do wrong' however, the twins failed to meet their brother's eyes, instead they gaped at Link's hat and wondered why this man wore a windsock.

It was none of their business actually.

Vanitas being the most intellectually gifted of the group spoke up: "Well at least this commoner knows his place, he recognised us as members of the House of Kingdom"

And in a perfect imitation of a haughty noble he stared Link's humble figure down.

Sora's smile slid off his face as he observed the stranger in green. Giving an inaudible sigh he motioned the others to go ahead and after telling Link to stand up, he made his way to the castle.


From the moment he spied the golden crown insignia Link knew he was screwed. He heard whispers that the House of Kingdom was an elite noble family and under the direct service of the Princess. They also held the power to influence the princess's decisions on how to run the kingdom. Thank goodness he remembered Malo's advice and groveled before the elite nobles. They took pity on him and didn't turn him to ash. At least according to Malo, that is what happened to people who didn't bow down before them.

His ruminations were interrupted when he saw Rusl standing in front of the castle gates, he broke into a grin and was about to greet his mentor when the noble Sora beat him to the punch.

"So this is the person you recommended, Guard Captain?"

"Yes" replied Rusl "he cleared the local forest temple which was infested with monsters and he did it himself, with the minimal training I provided him. Link is a natural born fighter and has a kind heart; you will find that he makes an excellent knight."

Link briefly peered at Sora to see if was impressed. He wasn't.

"I see, I suppose you could take him to the training hall? His assessment will take place there. I have some matters to take care with the princess. I will join you shortly." Sora then departed.

Rusl looked at Link and clapped him on his back as they started walking "Don't worry about the assessment boy; you will make it, be sure of that."


The Training hall was a spacious circular room adorned with tapestries depicting battle scenes and with raised seating areas on either side. Link noticed the nobles seated on the highest tier with everyone else beneath them. Swallowing nervously walked forward and was acutely aware of everyone staring at him. He turned around and faced Rusl, who gripped his shoulders comfortingly.

"Remember your basics Link, stay strong and focused and this will be easy." His teacher assured.

Link didn't trust himself to speak as he watched the Guard captain leave.

Facing the audience he now realised that there were quite a lot of people, deciding to take a seat, he started walking and then stopped immediately when he observed Sora magically appear from a black hole. Quickly averting his gaze to the ground he heard Sora speaking.

"Good, I see Link is in the ring already, his examiner will be…" he looked around "…the twin dragons"

The crowd gasped in awe.

Link wondered who the twin dragons were, his question was answered immediately when the two identical children, seated on the top most tier gracefully vaulted down to the ring. Link blinked, surely children cannot… they were so young, wearing bland looks and looking too much like a set of dolls. With a jolt, he also understood they were part of the House of Kingdom. Cautiously, he drew his sword and waited for the twins to do the same.

They did something different.

Instead of drawing a sword Ventus held his hand up in mid-air and amidst a shower of light, a short key-blade materialized in his grip. His warrior senses kicking in, Link noticed that Ventus held the key-blade in a reverse grip. Roxas on the other hand did a drawing motion with both hands and to his amazement saw that the boy wielded not one but two key-blades.

One pitch black and choking with darkness, the other pure white exuding a blinding light.

With his attention on Roxas, Link noted belatedly that Ventus had flung his key-blade at him. Bringing his sword up to parry, he received a nasty surprise when his sword flew cleanly out of his grasp and landed somewhere out of reach. With one eye on Roxas who lunged at him, he dodge rolled around the ring and snatched his sword up. Link then attempted to strike Roxas when he saw a fireball speeding towards him, shielding himself he commenced on thinking up a new strategy because clearly this one was not working.

No wonder they were titled the 'twin dragons' these boys were formidable.

When the fireball died down Link ran to the opposite end of the ring and sheathed his sword and shield.

Roxas gave him a weird look. Glancing at Ventus whose eyes were narrowed on the stranger he decided that the poor guy had probably given up. After all they weren't dubbed the twin dragons for nothing. Teamed up they could even beat Vanitas.

At least that is what Roxas liked to think.

Standing perfectly still and senses on high alert, Link watched the duo with calculating eyes. He perceived Roxas lunge with an impossible speed and grinned to himself. His head was buzzing with excitement but within the moment Roxas brought his key-blades down it cleared and he drew his sword in a Mortal draw. Noticing a change Roxas jumped back, but it was too late.

The noble's key-blades were neatly cut into two.

Staring at his now key-blade stubs, Roxas willed himself not to go gape or throw a tantrum. Instead he calmly dismissed his key-blade stubs and proceeded to draw them again.

However he was halted by Sora's announcement:

"Roxas and Ventus, you may return to your seat. Link has displayed respectable skills and passed his assesment. He is now ranked as the 10th Master Knight"

Bowing down to the audience, Link then raised his sword and shield amongst many whoops and cheers. He felt as if this is his greatest achievement yet.