The Legend of Zelda: Equestrian Shadows

Twilight let out a heavy sigh, today was the anniversary of the fall of the Crystal Empire and even though she tried to remain strong for her loved ones she was still depressed over the events that have occurred over the past 10 years. Ever since reclaiming the Crystal Empire, King Sombra had gone on to takeover Equestria starting with Canterlot and Ponyville as well as the enslavement of their citizens.

To top it all off, the dark unicorn had also decided to publicly execute Celestia and Luna to make sure there was no possible way of him being defeated, so needless to say it was getting very difficult for the lavender unicorn to remain positive through all of this. Today was just like every other day for the past couple of years now, she just sat alone in her cell with nothing but her guilty thoughts to keep her company, wondering if things could've gone differently that fateful day.

But today, while the guards where going on their usual rounds two small grenades where rolled into the dungeon, getting the attention of the guards before they exploded creating a huge smoke cloud that impaired Twilights vision. When she looked through the thick smoke, Twilight thought that she could make out the familliar image of an earth pony with her hair tied up and wearing a cowpony hat fighting off the disoriented guards "A-AppleJack?" Twilight said in shock as the earth pony in front of her knocked out the last guard.

"Not exactly Twi' but ah'm still glad to see ya'" came a familiar southern voice that was not exactly AppleJack, but still familiar to Twilight. When the cloud disappeared Twilight saw that the pony through the bars was wearing a black body suit with a brown jacket along with the hat, but the distinctive features of the pony was that she was light yellow and had a red mane and tail.

"Apple Bloom!? what are you doing here?" asked Twilight who was in complete shock at the now fully grown pony.

"What do ya' think sugarcube, gettin' ya outta here" said Apple Bloom as she held the keys to Twilights cell in front of her face. After unlocking the cell door the now teenage crusader motioned for the lavender mare to follow her "sick close ta' me pardner, cause this place is jus' crawlin' with guards" she said as both ponies made a quick escape from the dungeon.

As they made their way out of the dungeon, the two ponies where stopped at the entrance by a group of guards pointing their spears at them. However, before they could react the guards where knocked unconscious by three separate magical blasts of energy "Getting a little slow, wouldn't you say Bloom?" said a joking voice which came from a white unicorn who was wearing the same clothes as Apple Bloom and had a cotton candy styled mane.

"Sorry 'bout that Sweetie Belle, jus' took awhile ta' get past the guards" the former farm fily said to her friend before turning back to Twilight. "Twilight, you remember Sweetie right?" Apple Bloom asked with the lavender unicorn giving a slow nod.

"Well what'd you know, seems like those changelings told the truth after-all" Sweetie Belle with some surprise in her voice.

"Wait a second, what does any of this have to do with changelings?" Twilight asked starting to get confused about the whole situation.

"We'll explain later Twilight, but right now we need to get out of here" said the white unicorn as the three started to make their way through the castles hallways. At least until they where caught at a crossroad by an army of soldiers.

"Shoot, anypony got any bright ideas?" Apple Bloom said with both unicorns shaking there heads in response. The farm pony then got a look at the stained glass window behind her and noticed a small silhouette on the other side, which quickly made up her mind "sorry Twi" she muttered as she bucked the lavender unicorn through the window.

Twilight began falling from the to of the tower they had been in and began plummeting towards the castle's courtyard, screaming in terror in the process. But before she hit the hard concrete bellow her, she was saved by an orange blur which scooped up Twilight and deposited her just outside the Crystal Empires walls.

"Not my personal best time for saving somepony, but you can't argue with results" said a cocky voice that sounded similar to Rainbow Dash, so similar that Twilight didn't even need to look at her rescuer to identify her.

"Let me guess, Scootaloo?" Twilight said who was still trying to find her footing after being kicked out of the tower. Sure enough, when Twilight got a look at her it was indeed an orange pegasus with a purple mane, unlike Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle however, Scootaloo had her crusader cape tied around her right eye like an eye patch, which made it obvious she'd been in some large conflict of some sorts.

"The one and only" Scootaloo said to the stunned unicorn "but seriously, its good to see you again Twilight and might I add you look good for someone who's been locked up for this long" the pegasus said with some obvious cockiness in her voice as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom appeared behind them in a bright flash of light.

"Sorry 'bout kickin' ya' through the window Twilight" apologised the yellow earth pony to the lavender unicorn. "Ah was jus' put on the spot and wasn't thinkin' straight" Apple Bloom continued before Twilight just gave the Cutie Mark Crusaders a small smile.

"It's okay girls I understand" Twilight said as the three ponies in front of her just ran up and gave Twilight a big group hug. "Theres just one thing I want to know, what are the three of you doing here?" the lavender mare asked with some curiosity in her voice.

"Isn't it obvious, we came to save you from King Sombra, thats what" Sweetie Belle replied in the same way she would usually answer a question, so at least that stayed the same from her filyhood.

Twilight simply rolled her eyes and face-hoofed in response "I know that already Sweetie, what I mean is why now of all times?" Celestia's former student said now asking the CMC in a more serious tone of voice.

The Crusaders looked a little bit unsure on how to answer this until Scootaloo spoke up "To be perfectly honest with you Twilight, we thought Sombra had turned you to his side like the others, or worse" the pegasus said in a depressed tone and earning a look of shock from the others. "We only found out you where in the dungeon because of the changeling spies that we sent out just last week, sorry about the long wait" Scootaloo finished in a sad tone.

Twilight on the other had just had a look of confusion and shock on her face "changeling spies?" she said in an uncertain tone.

"We'll explain later Twilight, but right now lets get you back to HQ" Apple Bloom said in an informative tone as the three crusaders led Twilight towards the Everfree Forest. "Sides' we have a lot of catchin' up ta' do" the earth pony said as they disappeared into the dark forest.

"Welcome to Ponyville, population: ponies" Epona read from a broken sign as both she and Link stood outside the small village. "Wow, and I thought Kakariko was an odd name for a village" the ranch mare said with a confused look on her face.

"Just try to stay close girl, this place doesn't look very friendly" Link said as he and his horse walked through the almost abandoned village. "Hello! is anybody here!?" the Hero of Time called out hoping to get the attention of some citizens, to his disappointment however there was no sign of anyone in the whole village.

"This place looks kinda like a ghost town Link, I'm starting to regret coming here in the first place" said Epona who was now starting to show some fear in the way she spoke.

Link was about to say that she shouldn't worry about anything, but in actuallity the Hero of Time was feeling the same way and it didn't help that the atmosphere and the way the town looked reminded him of Castle Town when Ganondorf took over Hyrule. Eventually, the duo came across a half destroyed tree which also looked like it had previously been a house and outside the tree house was a golden sign which read 'Golden Oak Library.'

Being the curious type, Link began to walk towards the empty husk of the tree despite the protests from Epona not to do so. "I'll be fine Epona, just wait out here until I get back" reassured Link as he entered the abanndoned library.

The whole place looked like it had been ransacked as the bookcase's had been overturned and many of them where missing their contents "What happened to this place?" Link questioned to himself as he continued to search through the empty building. As he was searching, the Hero of Time came across a broken picture frame with a picture of a bunch of multi-coloured horses inside it.

"Hang on a second" said Link as he decided to take a closer look at the photo and noticed the marks on their flanks. "Those are the same markings from the cave, but what does this have to do with that?" the Hero of Time said in a curious voice as he eyed the photo with a eyebrow raised.

But his curious nature didn't last long as he heard Epona outside, who sounded like she was in trouble. "Hey! lemme go!" her voice called out in a struggling tone, almost instantly Link ran out of the tree and saw Epona being held by two other horses wearing black armour.

"This area is off limits to ponies like you, now stop struggling or you'll be suspected of aiding the resistance" one of the horses said as Epona continued to struggle to get out of their grasp. Noticing the trouble his friend was in Link charged at the two armoured horses while taking out his hookshot.

"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!" Link shouted as he fired the spring loaded chain at one of the horses, causing it to lose its grip on Epona. As the other horse saw this so it pulled out a spear and tried to rush the young hylian, who was able to counter by pulling out his sword and performing three swift strikes which caught the horse he was fighting off guard.

The fight wasn't very long because as soon as the horse lunged at him with the spear for a second time, Link just side-steped around him and whacked it on the back of his head with the hilt of his sword, knocking it unconscious in the process. However, as soon Link sheathed his sword the horse that he used his hookshot on earlier recovered and bucked Link clean in the chest, pinning him to the ground before he could recover.

The horse then pulled out a small dagger and was about to drive it through Link's chest, that is until Epona tackled the armoured creature and just started to wail on it. "Get away from him!" the ranch mare said as she delivered a quick kick to the horse's face, knocking this one out as well.

Epona then turned to Link to help him up "you okay buddy?" she asked as offered the hylian a hoof up.

"Yeah, thanks for the help" the ex-Kokiri said as Epona pulled him up to his feet, the two of them examined their attackers. "So, I think its safe to assume that this world is inhabited by talking horses" the Hero of Time said to his companion who nodded in response.

However before Epona could say anything the duo was suddenly surrounded by a whole squad of soldiers. "By the order of King Sombra, the two of you are under arrest for trespassing on a restricted area and assault on the obsidian guard" the captain said as the horses started to advance on the two of them.

Without a second thought, Link grabbed Epona by her hoof and pulled out a clear crystal with a green gem in the middle of it from his item pouch. "FARORE'S WIND!" Link exclaimed as the crystal began glowing brightly and engulfing the hylian duo at the same time, when the light finally subsided Link and Epona where nowhere to be seen.