[Displaced] A Forced Hero (OLD)

by DisplacedWriter

Rating: mature
Tags: Slice of Life, Crossover, Human, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 34719

(Chapter 1 rewrite of a forced hero has been posted. This story is now non-canon)

Published 2017-08-01 01:40:06 UTC
Last updated 2018-03-30 04:37:36 UTC

A Magic Seeking Filly

Chapter 1

“Evil goes where innocents stay, Innocents go where saviors follow,” it's a saying Link always went by, ever since he was forced to come to Equestria against his will.

For ten years he had struggled to survive in this world, slaying beasts that were out to hunt him down. Then there were the times he was forced to be a hero when lives were in danger, since he could not ignore the plea for help from others. or else if he didn’t do anything, it would weigh on his mind, knowing that he could have done something since he had the power to do so.

At the end of it all, he would use the Stone Mask to vanish from their sight, becoming nothing more than an old ponies tale for others to talk about. There were also many occasions when the solar diarch tried to seek him out… But she would find herself unable to get past the Everfree Forests’ strong magic, ending up always lost. and being returned back at the edge of the forest to her confusion.

Although, for Link… the moment he realized that he was not affected by the forests’ power like the other sapient beings that surrounded him, lead him to use the Everfree forest as a hidden home.

While it is a dangerous place to live in, it did have its uses.

Link had invested a great deal of attention, in order to avoid most of the pony population… which had worked out for him for years. He thought to himself, that they didn't need to know about his existence - nor do they need to know that he does not belong there…

Thus, he’s been trying to find a way home… and trying to find a way to return to his former form.

Winter arrived to the Everfree, and for some reason, the Pegasi have decided to make it extra cold… or perhaps the cold weather had to do with the woods themselves?

After tightening his red cloak and hood to ward him off the cold, Link proceeded to follow a pair of tracks left by a rabbit that he was hunting for, the tracks leading a little ways from the Everfree Forest, finally managing to track it down.

There in the distance, grazing away at what little grass it had managed to find, was a brown rabbit that would soon become his meal.

Lowering himself close to the ground, he carefully placed the Stone Mask on his face in order to blend in with his surroundings.

Quietly, he took out his Hero’s Bow… and proceeded to quietly notch it with an arrow from his quiver, taking aim, holding the bow parallel to the ground.

He took in a deep breath, and focused on his target.

It’s ear twitched and it rose it’s head, making Link freeze… luckily for him, the wind didn’t blow in the direction of the rabbit - thus keeping his scent concealed for the time being.

He remained motionless. until the rabbit redirected it’s attention back to its dinner. Link exhaled, releasing the arrow - allowing it to fly toward his target.

The rabbit fell to its side with a subtle thump, but Link’s attention was drawn towards a loud gasp in the distance, making him inwardly curse at his lack of awareness. Luckily for Link, he was still hidden thanks to the Stone mask's power.

Slowly, a young yellow Pegasus filly flew over to the dead rabbit, landing near it.

“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!”, she immediately started to sputter out after looking at the rabbits’ wound, where with a quick pull she removed the bolt - gasping in surprise and shock when blood began pouring out of the wound.

Picking it up, she flew off at high speed, crying out loud “D-daaadddy!!” as she got lost in the distance.

‘. Great, I just scarred a Pegasus for life…’ Link mentally chided himself before saying to himself, “looks like I’m gonna have to take my hunting elsewhere. Why did that filly have to come so close to the forest?”, he finished by complaining to himself.

He turned around and slowly snuck away, careful to avoid any beast or more ponies.

Managing to hunt down a few more rabbits along the way, with the plus of not having any more witnesses to interrupt him… he moved towards the Everfree forests’ heart, eventually making his way to the deepest part of the forest where he had made his home.

As he arrived, Link reached over and pushed a makeshift wall out to enter his small home.

It wasn’t much, really… just a fire pit, a bed and a roof to keep the rain and snow out. Although there have been times he had to reconstruct it as it had collapsed out of its frailty.

Link sighed before placing the dead rabbits he had killed nearby the fire pit, then went to his firewood pile, placing more wood and kindling into his old campfire to feed its embers as he returned.

Creating a small spark of Din’s Fire, he lighted the fire again for the new wood… and once it was crackling merrily, he took out his Kokiri dagger (for a child, it would be a sword) and proceeded to systematically skin and gut the rabbits, only stopping to pass through their necks a small sapling, while with a flexible stick he proceeded to impale them to prevent them from separating - while making a space where the stick at the neck could come out and serve as holder.

This left him with two saplings holding six rabbits, where he placed them on four “Y” shaped branches at the sides of the pit, leaving him enough space to turn the rabbits every now and then.

Taking his time and warming his body with the fire, he cooked the rabbits… watching them carefully to prevent them from becoming burned, turning them every so often to even out the cooking.

As he did this, he leaned back and enjoyed the heat coming from the fire even further, relaxing after spending hours in the freezing cold snow.

After about half-hour Link’s rabbit’s where cooked, where he hung a few on the side for other meals when he came back empty-handed… and taking one to eat he bit straight into it - accidently burning his mouth as he released his bite with a hurried move.

After huffing loudly in an attempt to cool his mouth, Link chuckled at his eagerness, blowing on the hot meat a few times, right before pulling the meat from the bones with each bite, chewing happily before swallowing, taking another bite in hunger.

Finishing with his meal, he laid back sated, bones on a side… placed over a large plate of bark with a red sign scrawl drawn over it.

He relaxed ‘till the sun went down, where he reached into his pouch… and retrieved a very ugly mask made of black wires which he placed on his face - the All-Night mask - which would keep him awake all night, as he had always done after the nightmares started… and the one called Nightmare Moon made her attempt at taking over him to do some wetwork for her… against the one called Celestia.

Adding to that peril - which he didn’t want a repeat of - he needed to be awake and aware because of the Timberwolves.

They always came out and were very active at nighttime.

Link looked up toward the full moon - and the strange pony figure on its surface - as he once again wondered why It had craters in that sort of formation. It was just one of many strange things in this world that he had found himself stranded in.

Filled with melancholy about the strange sky that constantly reminded him of where he was not, Link sighed softly as he thought about his home once again…

Are my friends worried about me? No doubt my family is probably still looking out for me after all this time, especially my mother.

I still remember the day I arrived here… trapped inside a crystal the moment I touched that damn chest lying in front of my doorstep.

Spiraling through the air, yet unable to close my eyes as everything turned into a whirl of motion, colors and barely distinguishable shapes.

Barely looking at the void between worlds as I twisted around, feeling myself both cold and burning, my entire body aching from the pressures imposed upon my body…

Until I finally crash landed into the Everfree forest, and even now I think I’d be dead if the crystal where I was trapped in had not protected me from the forces at play.

After a few moments passed after the crystal faded away, it took me a few seconds to realize that I felt different, only to turn my sights into my body… and realizing at once that I was wearing different clothes - a tunic and pants from the looks of it - unlike the comfortable sports pants and t-shirt I was wearing when curiosity led me to touching that chest.

Patting myself, I realized I had a pouch hanging from my belt… and as I subconsciously placed my hand inside it, wanting a mirror to look at myself…

My hand grasped a smooth surface, and as I pulled it, found myself staring at the reflection from a hand-held mirror… and my reflection revealed something mind-breaking: my brown hair was replaced with a weird type of blonde, while revealing that my ears were more… elfish, pointed and longer than my own. To make matters worse, my face… my own face… wasn’t the same anymore - I had the same facial characteristics as Link… but more grown up, nose more pointed than my round one, a receding chin against my old round chin.

I stared in shock at the mirror, my own face reminding me of the games I loved to play when a teen: Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and A Link to the Past.

As my breakdown continued, I started to freak out, hyperventilating… desperately wanting to run - and find a river to dive in, just to distract myself from what was going on.

This was bizarre beyond reason, and I didn’t know were I was.

That is, until after a lot of experimentation with the pouch contents led me to an unbelievable discovery: this pouch contained the equipment of not three, but four different Links.

This, of course, led me to use one mask that was incredibly useful to have in Majora’s Mask: the Stone mask.

The mask of the boringly visible. No one would bat an eyelid at me while wearing this mask… or so was the theory.

Before journeying into parts unknown, I wore it and tested its power against the locals - if I ever found them - as I made my way into the library.

In there, I marvelled at the fact that they had the same writing system as me, and took my opportunity to read up on the world’s history.

It turned out that this country found myself stranded in… was called Equestria, and it was home to three tribes of ponies. The winged Pegasi, the horned unicorn tribe and the plain earth ponies.

Also, I found out that they are currently ruled by an immortal, benevolent tyrant, named Celestia Australis Caelum Everfree.

The whole situation felt very alien to me, as I tried to make sense out of it and failing, since who can be prepared to face this kind of identity-wrecking circumstances? Not even mention the fact that I was completely and utterly alone… no access to my friends and family for guidance and support, not even comfort from my own kind.

This whole situation belonged in a fantasy novel rather than the reality I was currently facing. At first I wanted to refuse what my five senses were telling me… and found losing my battle with them the moment I applied logic to this whole mess - leaving me with no other choice but to accept what happened.

Link was brought out of his reverie by the sound of snow crunching under the steps of something… and the scratching noise of quill over paper, booming all over the quiet of the forest like a sound that didn’t belong there.

The sound of a sapient being… in the depths of the woods… woods that didn’t like having strangers inside of it taking a walk.

He heard a young voice speaking outside of his home, as if talking to herself: “Where could it be? The book says I’d find one here.”

I blinked the sleepless rest out of my eyes, and slowly edged over to the grass wall… peeking out through a small hole, where I saw a light yellow unicorn with a red and purple color hair that grew down her neck.

“Maybe it’s deeper in the forest… ?” The young filly asked herself, with doubt in her voice as she started moving away from Link’s makeshift abode.

Once he observed that she had made a good distance away from his place, Link slowly crept out from behind his makeshift home… placing the wood planks back to conceal the entrance to his home, before quickly putting on the Stone Mask to blend in with his surroundings.

Link thought to himself ‘A filly her age shouldn’t be here in the forest, all by herself,’ before asking himself, ‘why didn’t the forest send her back the way she came?’

Link followed behind her as quietly and discreetly as possible, while trying to stay within range of his hearing, only to hear her say again, “Fluttershy said that she saw that strange stone in the forest with an eye drilled in it, making it look as if it were a troll’s face.”

The filly then hummed to herself, before asking to no one “. How am I supposed to capture that living stone? One moment it is there, the next is gone and moved elsewhere?”

‘Is she talking about my Stone Mask? Why would she want it? … more to the point, how could they see it?’ Link wondered inwardly as he continued to observe the little yellow unicorn filly with a red mane and tail which had a violet and lavender stripe through them… worrying about the fact that perhaps his mask wasn’t working as well as he thought he did.

*Grrrrwllll*

Link’s attention snapped immediately towards the growling coming towards his location… where three wooden wolves passed by him and surrounded the little filly with eagerness.

Seeing those wolfs confused him.

“What are they doing out so early? They’re not usually active during the day,” Link whispered to himself.

The young unicorn backed away, fear written all over her face - before she tries to ignite her horn while trembling all over… and watched her horn sparkle and fizzle, tears starting to form in her shrinking eyes due to her inevitable fate. She closed her eyes, as if hoping than that would make her end less painful.

Unknown to her, her shadow reached into his pouch… where he pulled out a fairly wide shield, red in color with golden edges, with a silver triforce and a sun at the top, with silver cloud motifs on both sides of the triangle.

Getting ready, Link appealed to his experience dealing with the weird wooden wolves. and the bitemarks and claw scars that he earned while learning to deal with them.

As he saw the wolves slowly edge closer to the scared unicorn, he made his move - sprinting with shield at the ready, knocking the first wolf sideways as it attempted to pounce towards the filly, Link managed to knock its attack of course.

Crashing on its side, the wolf collapsed to the floor from the impact - where Link took his chance to stab at the disoriented wooden beast, making it howl painfully as it let out a whimpering cry from its injury.

He heard the filly behind him let out a surprised gasp.

“T-the stone face!” She said in excitement despite the circumstances, attempting to pick him up with her telekinesis… only to realize he was too heavy for her to carry.

Ignoring her as he kept his sights on the remaining wooden wolves, Link reached into his pouch to take out a Deku Nut.

“Shield your eyes.” Link warned the filly, before closing his eyes the moment he threw the nut down, blinding all the wolves who were still standing in the process.

Opening his eyes, he rushed towards the filly, who gasped as he took her under her arm - where she started screaming in panic.

Cursing inwardly at this whole situation, he reached down to close shut her muzzle, just so that she would not attract even more predators curious about the source of the screaming.

Finally reaching his refuge, Link placed her inside as he quickly closed the wall. “Keep quiet if you want to survive!” Link warned the filly with severity before rushing off to draw any pursuers away from the structure.

Moving away from the structure with swiftness, he heard from afar the howling of the wooden wolves calling to their pack. Reacting quickly, he took out his Hero’s Bow and notched an arrow… and waited for them to come to him.

When they came barreling through the forest, Link took count of them - three in total - before aiming, letting loose the first arrow, and with a fluid motion that came from practice, he quickly notched another to strike the other wolves.

The first arrow struck the first wooden wolf, making it tumble over as it died.

His second shot was a miss, as the wooden wolf jumped sideways to get out of the arrow’s path.

‘Man, it would be nice if I had His z-targeting - or at least a companion to help me aim!’, he thought to himself as he notched yet another arrow.

The beasts came closer and closer with every failed shot, forcing Link to put away his bow and reach into his sheath to pull the Ordon’s Sword from its sheath.

The two remaining wooden monstrosities finally arrived at his range, where they eyed him with rage - since he had both taken down two of their pack, and took away their prey.

Link glared back at them, not even blinking his eyes and didn’t back down from his stance - while his heart beat up faster, as he tried to think of a strategy to deal with the remaining two wolves.

The two magical constructs circled him like they normally did before, right as they lined themselves up for a pincer attack.

The moment they leapt at him, Link rolled forward slashing at one of them - and as they came to a stop… one of the creatures fell over on its side, now sporting a large gash in its body.

The other one took this distraction as an opportunity to attack Link - leaping onto his back, knocking the air off his lunges as he struck the ground… where Link screamed in pain as the wooden wolf sank its wooden fangs into his shoulder.

Quickly rising with the wolf digging on his back, Link made an effort to shake it off of him - before running towards a tree - where he slammed his back, crushing the wooden wolf against it.

With a sickening crunch, it fell onto the ground.

Panting loudly, Link reached to inspect his shoulder to inspect the degree of his injury, letting out a hissing breath as he touched the wound - wincing in pain.

Coming down from his adrenaline rush, Link realized he could feel his warm blood traveling down his torso and arm…

‘Damnit… this wolves have gotten smarter since our last encounter… thank Din it ended as it did.’ Link thought to himself grimly as he made his way back to his shelter.

But not before kneeling down, sheathing his sword in the dead silence… as the corpses of the wooden wolves exploded and shattered, releasing black smoke as they disappeared… reminding him of the enemies from the game, except they did not leave pieces of heart or rupees behind.

Slowly, Link got back up and made his way home in the middle of the silent woods…

Sighing in relief as he recognized his shelter, quickened his steps to reach it faster. The moment he reached up and moved the wall away, he could see that the filly was still there with her eyes tightly shut, the poor thing shaking in fear on the spot.

“They’re gone, it’s safe now.” Link told the trembling filly, who slowly opened her eyes, only to scream when she saw him.

“Get away from me you… you… thing!” Her horn ignited as she yelled.

“I don’t think you’re in any position to order me around, Filly. Didn’t your parents tell you the Everfree Forest is dangerous?” Link asked her with severity, seeing the annoyance in her eyes at his response.

“Well. Yes, they did.” She said with a pout, which caused Link to shake his head at her in disbelief.

“Yet you ventured in here regardless.” He deadpanned, causing the filly to get up with a small leap back on her hoofs.

“Because I needed something magical to report for my school, which is due tomorrow!” She exclaimed while directing a glare at him.

“Even if you had managed to find it, you wouldn’t be alive if I hadn’t followed you, Filly.” Link sternly reprimanded her, not liking this unicorn’s childish attitude.

“Follow me? But I didn’t even see or hear you. come to think of it, how did you disguise yourself as a stone with a face?” She asked with the innocent curiosity of a filly, but was still sporting quite the angry pout on her face.

“First of all, tell me exactly how you know of me?” Link demanded of the filly, keeping his voice level as he crossed his arms in annoyance.

“I read it in a book, where it spoke about a ugly stone with a single eye at the side. anyone who got lost in the forest would be guided out if they got sight on the moving.” She exposed in a cute, nerd-like fashion, making Link nod his head in understanding - while he inwardly laughed at her way of exposition.

‘Honestly, I didn’t guide most of the ponies who came here out, but did spy on them to make sure they’d go back.’ Link thought to himself with a smile in his mind, before the filly took him out of his distracted state.

Tilting her head at me, she asked in confusion, “Are you some sort of spirit?”

“Not exactly, I’m more of a nobody who lives alone in the forest,” he answered right before kneeling down to her level. “Now, I'm going to take you home."

“Not without that mask.” The filly retorted, while looking at his face with wide begging eyes framed with round glasses.

Link shook his head and picked her up.

“Hey! Put me down!” the filly whined as he took her under his arm, making his way quietly in the silent woods - closing shut her muzzle with his free hand.

‘I must check my injuries when I get back.’ Link thought grimly to himself as he trudged in the snow, more than eager to check on his injuries properly, once he was done with this task.

Author's Note

Credit to NeoKiva & FTR2017 for helping me rewrite this chapter.

Beast's Hunger

Chapter 2

As Link continued braving the cold in his path through the sleeping woods, he was mentally cursing at himself for letting one of those wooden monstrosities to bite down on his shoulder - making it a miracle, since the creature missed his neck in its eagerness.

On the way, Link had to make a stop at the river - putting the pouting filly on the cold snow first - before ripping off a piece of his cloak to use as a makeshift bandage.

“Now… I want you to promise me to only talk when we are close to town… can you do that?” Link asked pointedly at the cute, pouting filly, as he kept his stare at her.

Pawing the snow off her ground, she sighed before saying “... I’ll try.”

Nodding to himself, Link finished bandaging his shoulder… and once done, he picked up the filly under his arm, and quickened his pace to get her home - before the local predators smelled his blood, and thus drew their unwanted attention to them.

“So… what exactly are you?” She asked in curiosity - her pout now over - looking up at him with those innocent purple eyes of hers. Link didn’t respond to her.

‘The less information I give her, the more likely no one will believe her.’ Link thought grimly as he bit through the dull pain in his shoulder, as it slowly got worse.

“Can I have the mask for my assignment? Can I borrow it? Please? Why aren’t you listening?” She kept talking on and on about this topic… while Link started to believe that it was, in fact, her favorite subject to talk out of.

‘How funny it is, that for the ten years I've been here, I haven’t really gotten to use everything that came with my magical pouch of pocket dimension space.’ Link wondered inwardly, while trying to drown the filly’s voice, since they were getting close to the town near the woods.

‘I don’t understand why most of my powers and equipment match my current looks… but those four particular versions of Link? Why them?’ Link questioned as he remembered what he knew of that particular franchise back home.

‘Majora’s mask, Ocarina Of Time, Twilight Princess, A Link to the past... those views of Link were superimposed upon my own - and for ten years that I’ve been looking for answers, I’ve yet to get any.’

‘Why am I here? Why this body? Why everything around here doesn’t match the lore from the franchise? Why isn’t the world related to Hyrule, but somewhere else entirely?’

Sighing inwardly in frustration, Link kept going down his extensive chain of failure at finding his answers.

‘I’ve tried doing so many things get home - all sorts of spells from those wise people I’ve met in my journey all around the world I know so far… from shaman; to wizard; asking sorcerers; and inquiring with witches… and from them I learned about mirrors, portals and gateways to other worlds… and searched for them all over.’

‘I’ve even looked under the roots of the trees of this magic-reeking forest of the damned.’

Sighing in despondency, causing the filly to pause and look at him in confusion, Link kept thinking, ‘Sadly, the only progress I've made so far was in the way of knowledge… plus a lot of scene-making when circumstances forced me to be a hero to non-human sapient creatures I knew nothing about. If I could throw away my conscience, I’d be able to continue with my life, without putting it at risk for others.’

”Hey m-mister!” The filly’s urgent and quivering tone in her voice as she called out loud to Link broke him out of his reverie, letting him realize he had zoned out. “I t-think t-there’s something out there.” She pointed a hoof to her left, which Link followed with his eyes…

With a quick motion, he jumped behind a leafless shrub - making the filly almost squeak - right before having her muzzle clamped by his free hand… looking in the direction that the filly had pointed out…. With a frown, Link focused in listening to his surroundings.

He could hear sniffing coming in that direction, along with heavy breathing… where out of the shadows a manticore came out, following their trail as if it were a hungry hound looking for his food. Even at this distance, Link could see the hunger in its eyes as it opened them.

Taking a quick glance around to make sure it was the only thing hunting for them, Link lept on his feet at once - causing the filly to squeak mutedly from the sudden movement - as he made a mad dash, trying to run for their lives-

-all of which drew the predators’ attention towards him.

‘The stone mask is out of the question! It won’t conceal my smell and the smell of blood, and I doubt it would yield any results for the filly as my scent and smell of blood is on her too.’

Link dared to quickly dart a glance behind him - only to find the manticore almost on top of him.

‘Fffffffff-!’ Link cursed inwardly as he kept trying to outrun the hungry manticore as he returned his sights to his path. ‘I shouldn’t have turned! I should’ve just run this whole time, I should of r-!’

Link’s inner self-reproach was cut short as he was tackled from behind, throwing the filly out of his arms by the impact - and dislodging his mask off his face, letting the manticore have a clearer sight of him.

”Run!” Link commanded her with a yell, right after which he turned his body to face the beast.

The manticore was already trying to go for the kill when its maw opened wide, no doubt going for his throat.

With his mind made, Link channeled Din’s Fire within his hand - right before thrusting it towards the manticore’s chest - causing a small explosion of fire to erupt… burning the manticore at the point of contact with the spell, making it roar in pain and rage from the burn as it was forced to make a distance from Link.

The creature growled threateningly as it started to circle Link in an attempt to get to his back.

He quickly appraised his situation, ‘I’ve had my experience with those - they’re fast; strong; and most important thing: it’s deadly because of its stinger - I need to keep my distance and avoid being hit by its stinger.’

Quickly reaching into his sheath on his back, Link pulled out the Ordon’s Sword and Hylian Shield to defend himself.

Apparently the manticore didn’t like where this was going, as the animal took offense to this - roaring at him - before going into a defensive position at a distance.

So, the duel between hungry beast and desperate human began… with the two circling each other, the two of them keeping their sights on the adversary… seeking out who would make the first move against the other.

Straining its body, the Manticore made the first move by thrusting its tail straight at Link - who reacted immediately by raising his shield to block it - where it decided to play it safe and barrage him with more stabbing motions from its tail.

Backing off him, Link was pushed backwards as he was forced to be on his toes - with the scorpion tail thrusting in and out at every direction it could aim at his body. Link found it hard to keep his rhythm at blocking its strikes - feeling his heart pumping, and the adrenaline rushing through his veins, keeping his senses sharp under the strain.

The moment it saw that it was making no progress with its stinger, it launched itself at him - swinging a claw against the shield, making Link stagger backwards. Taking its chance, it tried to trip him by swinging its venomous tail at his feet, to which Link avoided it by leaping backwards to avoid it - only to make a fatal mistake when he suddenly lost his footing on a frozen branch.

Not missing its chance, the manticore leapt at him - knocking both his shield and him down - crushing his body under its weight.

‘What is with those animals, and wanting to knock me down!?’ Link inwardly screamed in rage as he fought the pressure off his torso - only for the manticore to make a raking swipe with its free claw upon his chest - making Link scream of pain.

Ignoring the searing feeling of the torn skin and flesh, Link pulled out - as his consciousness kept trying to go black - a Deku Nut that he threw at its face with a cry, making the beast go temporarily blind with the blinding light that blasted its face.

Jumping back in an instinctual response, the manticore began pawing at its face, as if trying to clear its sights by doing so.

Taking his chance, Link gathered his strength and rose from his landing spot, where he quickly pulled out his Hero’s Bow, notched it with an arrow, then willed ice magic into its tip.

Aiming quickly, Link made the shot count… where the enchanted dart pierced the manticore’s shoulder - quickly encasing the beast in solid ice - as it mewled pathetically in pain before going silent.

Gasping for breath, and ignoring the biting cold air, Link took off swiftly his red cloak…

Inspecting his chest, he realized that not only the claw had managed to tear his tunic open, but also managed to tear through a good bit of his chainmail - just enough to leave a nasty claw mark down his chest… it had managed to tear the skin off the affected area, blood seeping out of the torn skin, making him hiss as a chilled wind made contact with his wounds.

At this very moment, Link knew without a doubt that he was going to need to seek out medical help.

‘No fairies; no red potions; no dropped hearts to stop my bleeding.’ Link thought grimly as he hissed again, taking off his torn chainmail before using his cloak as a makeshift compress upon his naked chest, pressing with his free hand upon his wound.

‘Other than the wolves, this Manticore was the very first I’ve fought while all the other times I managed to avoid them through the stone’s mask.’ Link self-reproached himself, right before he turned his sights to his shield on the ground, picking it up and placing it on his back, the cold air biting in his exposed skin as he sheathed his blade back in place.

Turning around slowly, wincing every time he took a step, Link began to slowly trek in the direction of the closest town - one named Ponyville - which could be found after the river that separated the woods from their borders.

Link began feeling as if on the verge of fainting, his breath too fast to his liking, as his body started to slowly fall asleep… with every step he took he was hating himself for his cowardice.

‘I should have used the Goron Mask! I should have used the freaking Goron Mask!’ Link chided himself as his thoughts began to feel like molasses.

Breathing was starting to become harder for him, shallowing with each breath taken as he fought for air as he dragged his feet, on in front of the other.

He halted his steps when he heard the sound…

‘Wha? Is-is that the sound of a stampede?’ Link thought sluggishly as, soon and sure enough, a group of colorful ponies came through the foliage - and saw his state, stopping to gawk from the surprise.

“Mister! I brought hel-” the young filly said aloud before noticing Link’s state. She ran towards him - only to stop to a skid as she widened her eyes in shock, saying “Oh no...”

At this moment, Link’s strength failed him.

And felt himself creep deep into darkness… feeling colder by the moment…

… surrounded by black, he simply was - until the one he had been evading for the last ten years graced him with her unfortunate presence.

The Night Mistress, the one that tried to break him over the last time she got into his dreams… and the reason he used the All-Night mask as an aid to rest.

Link just stared in disbelief at her form in front of him, inside the pitch black of his mind.

‘I am supposed to be dead.’ Link thought to himself.

Before he could speak or react, she sent forth a spectral of nightmares that Link knew he was going to suffer for an eternity while he remained stuck in dreamland.

He didn’t know how long he was trapped inside that dark place, but to him it was the worst experience he had suffered - even surpassing the one where he met her the first time.

From being a puppet in her hooves, feeling the strings being cut as if she were dismembering him; to where he was possessed and used to fight a white horned and winged pony, forced to feel all the pain it caused him in the battle while being unable to even voice a cry for help; up to the point where it felt as if drowning in tar, it burning through his lungs while being kept alive by foul magics.

Every possible variation of mind-bending night-terrors and bad dreams were unleashed upon him, as he was forced to live through each one of them in a paralyzed state…

Nothing but feeling never-ending dread as he forced himself to refuse her offers to take away the pain if he were to become hers…

After what felt like an eternity, Link felt as if losing his mind from the siege the dark entity was performing on his resolve - up to the point where she showed him, out of all things…

‘... Koala bears? What.’ Link thought befuddled at the absurd nightmare…

… only to break out in laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation, all feelings of dread and fear slipping away. Without his fear to mold, The Night Mistress lost all the power she had on him.

As the nightmare began to collapse around them, she screamed in rage, “What? No! You should be under my spell! How does my nightmare give you strength to defy me!?,” she wailed as the entire terrorscape eroded into nothing.Link couldn’t answer, as he kept laughing, no longer paying attention to the invader as she was forcefully pulled out of his dreams…

… them being replaced with better things, dreams of friends and family… dreams of things worth remembering - and fighting - for.

Hospital

Author's Note

Credit goes to FTR for editing.
If you see any sentences that you have trouble understanding, please point it out and I will try to correct it. On a side note, the chapter with the batter will need to remade.

Hospital

The first thing to return to Link was his hearing… which was greeted by the sound of beeping.

The second thing to come back to him is his sight, as his blurry eyes actually started to see white… only for him to realize it is a white ceiling that he is looking at.

Link tried to rid himself of the spots in his eyes by repeatedly blinking… after which he pushed himself into a sitting position, groaning as he slowly moved to his place.

“How’d I get here? W-what that all a dream?” Link questioned himself vocally as he raised his hand to look at it. “Nope... I’m still here... in pony land.”

Link slowly sighed at this realization, right before noticing the triforce symbol marking the dorso of his hand.

“Wait… where are my clothes?” He asked himself as he realized that he was feeling drafty… and wearing an hospital gown that was a few inches too short for him, haphazardly joined with another one by a hurried sewing job. “Ah yes, the Manticore fight, it must've poisoned me somehow, why else would I have that crazy dr-”

At that moment, Link was interrupted from his conversation with himself, by something that landed in his lap before he could finish that sentence.

Turning his head down, Link raised an eyebrow as he reached over to pick it up and examine it up closely. It was a coin to be precise - which had on one side The Batters’ face, while on the flip-side had his strange crocodile form with his Add-Ons melting in the background.

Link sighed out loudly in frustration, will this day got any worse?

‘What should I do until then?’Link asked himself inwardly, while still deep in thought, scratching his chin concentration. ‘... Well, besides being Ponyville’s current forced protector? Maybe I should finally answer the sun princess’s calls? I mean, she’s been searching for me for ten years - no doubt she’ll be asking me why I’ve been avoiding her all those years.’

The groaning sound of the door opening in his room broke Link out of his train of thoughts.

Turning to see who had entered, Link saw a surprised dark-grey unicorn who was sporting an aging light-gray mane, her butt tattoo revealing itself to be a band-aid as she turned to greet him.

“Oh! You’re awake,” she said as she approached him, “we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to save you - you were a bloody mess when they brought you in.” She added with a noticeable amount of relief in her voice and face.

“How long have I been out?” Link asked with slight worry in his voice.

“A week.” She said.

“A week!?” Link yelled in surprise and shock, startling her by the volume of Link’s surprised response. Rising out of the cot, he quickly looked out the window…

Only to see Ponyville still in one piece.

‘This couldn’t be right, nothing has been damaged as if there hasn’t been a monster attack.’ Link thought to himself in shock, as he looked at the winter landscape greeting him outside the window.

“... Yes, a week... is something wrong?” She asked with confusion on her face.

Link looked again through the window, only to see once again, the town at peace… disbelief drawn up on his face.

“There hasn’t been any monster attacks? All week?” Link asked incredulously at the mare, who simply smiled at him in answer.

“Oh, don’t you worry, Princess Celestia has been keeping them at bay with the Royal Guard. Poor Princess, she’s been hard at work protecting us while you were asleep.” She approached Link as he kept his sights outside the window, making him turn to face her as she rose on her hind hooves to place her forehoof on his shoulder.

“I can see why she keeps asking about you. Although why you kept avoiding our princess is another question...” She said, her eyes showing disbelief at such a thing actually happening.

Link sighed softly before burying his face with his hands, then talking through his hands, “because I didn’t want to be known...” he said before going silent for a few seconds, “I’ve preferred being alone.”

“No one should be alone.” She said with a serene smile as she looked upon me kindly.

‘In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting to be treated as if I was one of them. She’s not asking what species I am, or where I'm from… did I waste ten year of my life because of senseless paranoia? I am feeling so stupid right now - and here I thought they would treat me like an outcast on sight.’

“Hey… uh… could you give me back my leather satchel? It’s got my things in it.” Link asked her purposefully, as he not only wanted her to change the subject, but also bought him time to be alone with his thoughts.

“Of course, I’ll go and get your gear for you.” the unicorn said warmly before she left the room - and him - alone with his thoughts and the silence of the room.

‘I think it's a good opportunity and the best time to change my life a bit for the better.’ Link reflected on his possible change of fortune, ‘maybe even try to get myself a nice home, trying to make the best of my situation until I find a way back home.’ His spirits lifted considerably as he realized this, ‘Heh, maybe Princess Celestia can help me? I really, really hope so, I want to see how is my family doing so badly.’

‘For now,’ Link thought to himself, ‘I have a lot on my mind as of now, and until I get a final answer concerning my way back to home, I’ll take this new responsibility now laying in my hands. For as much as I am needed, I will do my best to try and protect this town and anything that Celestia wishes of me…’ He felt a sense of satisfaction that wasn’t there before, plus a feeling of fulfillment, right as he thought ‘it will give me something to do, to use my powers for good.’

A while later, she returned with Links’ clothing, pouches and the rest of his things - all in the grip of her magic - as she moved it towards him, with Link reaching up and taking them before placing them on the cot.

“Thanks” he said with a smile. I needed to keep this with me at all costs, it would have been really bad if anypony managed to get my equipment out of my pouch’s pocket dimension.

“Ok, we’re done here… but before we allow you to relax… the Princess is here to see the hero who saved that little filly, and she wishes to congratulate him,” the nurse explained with a warm smile and a wink, before leaving the room.

As the nurse left the room, she opened the door and said “he’s ready to see you, your Highness” before letting inside a tall slender mare with a white coat, a rainbow mane and tail that moved without wind, and a stylised sun on her flanks - not that he was looking that hard at it or anything - before the realization of what he was paying attention to entered his mind, causing him to look away in embarrassment.

This must be Princess Celestia, as she was portrayed in that history book, and she was sporting a large, warm smile on her lips... and a knowing look in her eye, that Link felt was a little too mischievous for his comfort.

On her forehead was a large and sharp looking horn, and folded at her sides where wings that looked like they might have belonged on a swan rather than a pony.

As she moved, Link noticed that she hadn’t come alone… since a little filly was trying hard to not be noticed by him - which was rather odd to be honest - only to realize…

‘Why does she have scales and fangs, along with a wolf-like muzzle and tail in her pony body?’, Link wondered in awe as he looked at her - who, pretty much like Celestia - also sported a pair of wings and a horn, with her mane and wolf tail flowing like a constant night.

Her coat was midnight blue, with dark purple patches over her fur, while her eyes were blue-green as she stared shyly at him from her perch behind the large pony.

As Link observed her further, he noticed that there were discreet green markings all over her face and barrel - making her look like that game he loved to play when a teen, the wolf Okami… only with a dash of Link’s wolf form from Twilight Princess.

On her back, though… there were night blue and sun yellow flames floating above her back and around…

The Twilight mirror!? he screamed internally in shock, his eyes widening slightly at the implications.

Despite the strangeness of the child next to the Princess, she looked rather adorable… especially as she tried to hide behind Celestia’s hind leg with an effort.

“Greetings, hero of the Everfree. I am Princess Celestia Caelum Australis Everfree; and this charming filly is my niece... Princess Trinity.” Celestia introduced herself as she shifted aside to fully reveal the filly - whos’ eyes widened in surprise as she noticed her hiding spot had moved aside - showing her in full. She quickly hid back behind Celestia’s hind leg.

Celestia chuckled warmly, “it seems she is a little shy at the moment,” before turning her gaze back to Link’s face, right as she smiled, saying, “I wanted to thank you personally, for helping my subjects when they got lost in the forest… all this week I feared I would never get the chance to thank you in person.”

“To be honest, I only watched over them to be sure they made it. The forest’s magic did the rest.” Link said.

Link turned his sights back at the young hybrid filly, as he wondered…

‘Why does she have the mirror of twilight on her back? Was she a displaced much like himself? But he shrugged the thought aside, considering ‘No, that wouldn’t explain the part about her being Celestia’s niece. There is something strange going on here…’

Afterwards the Princess asked Link as many questions as possible, about who he was? Where he was from? And if he had a place stay. Needless to say at the last question Celestia rose an eyebrow at his answer and then an offered a room in the palace.

Now Link isn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth…. Pun unintended.

After Celestia and Trinity left, the next people to visit, was the yellow filly and her parents.

“How are you feeling?” The mother asked.

“A little sore, but i’m doing alright.” Link said with a nervous smile, the mother nodded.

“Alright, Moon Dancer, what do you say?” The father said sternly.

“I’m sorry...” Moon Dancer said as she avoided Link’s gaze, she was even tracing the floor’s tile patterns with her forehoof.

“And?” The father said to encourage his daughter.

Moon Dancer levitated the Stone Mask out of his father’s pouch, handing it over to Link. “I only wanted it for my project… and since you dropped it… I thought...” she said.

“You still should of asked instead of taking it from him.” The father said.

Link remained silent as it wasn’t his place to get in the way of a father and a daughter.

“I’m sorry…” Moon dancer repeated making Link gently sigh at her.

“It’s alright. I’m just glad I managed to get you to safety.” Link said as he placed the mask into his pouch. “Why did you need it though?”

“It was on today’s lesson on how to detect magic in objects, I wanted to challenge myself and seek out a magical stone with a face that no pony could find. I got an A+ not because of the mask, but that I discovered a new species.” She said as she giddly tapped her hoofs together. “I-I mean I discovered you..” she said after realizing her mistake.

Link couldn’t help but chuckle at her innocence

After a short discussion, the parents left Moon Dancer alone with Link, the two played games that she liked. Link of course allowed her to win most of the games, except for checkers.

Blades & Bats (Xover 1)

Author's Note

Cross-over with The Winged Merchant. As always, please point out any mistakes that me or my editor might of missed.

Blades & Bats (Xover 1)

Nighttime is showing through the window, as Celestia’s moon rises upon the sky, the only thing being heard in the hospital being the sound of voices and of the hospital’s medical equipment beeping inside the different rooms.

The young filly Moon Dancer had fallen asleep by Link’s side, by the time her parents returned to pick her up.

“It’s funny, I’m a whole new species to them, yet they treat me like anypony else,” Link said softly to himself before chuckling softly, while he eyed the strange coin between his fingers. “I do wonder… where this thing came from? And why it reminds me so much of that PC RPG called OFF?” he asked himself, only to frown in confusion. “Actually, what in hylia’s name is this thing doing in Equestria?”

As Link inspected the token, a light burst into existence as a monochrome colored baseball player appeared, standing tall on the floor next to the hospital cot. This odd baseball player turned to face him, a confused expression on his face and his four glowing red eyes… until a smirk plastered on his face as he said calmly, “Hello Link...”

Link’s eyes went wide in fear at the sudden appearance of this guy, however… his fear faded away when he noticed the individual that had appeared in front of him is… somewhat human, with Link haven’t seen another of his kind for ten years. “Ok, who are you, and what the flying pot just happened?” Link exclaimed his question with confusion in his voice, his fear now forgotten.

The baseball players tilted his head, his face now had confusion while he muttered something to himself. He then looked at Link and asked “You don’t remember me?”

“Remember you? I never even met you.” Link said as he took a quick glance at the door to make sure nopony came in, “all I did was hold up this weir-” he stopped in mid-sentence when he noticed that one side of the coin matched the batter’s head, and the fact he literally looks just like the guy from the game.

“... Does the name Sans ring any bells, and I don’t mean the skeleton comedian from Undertale?” The Batter asked in a confused tone to Link.

“Nope, other than the guy from Undertale you mentioned,” Link replied with a shrug.

If the Batter had taken in a good look at Link’s face, he would have noticed that there was something different in Link’s appearance, besides his face looking slightly younger and having no facial hair like the last time he’s seen him.

The Batter muttered something else before taking out a token from his pocket… the wolf token he had in his hand was fading away.

“Damn...” The Batter said under his breath, before looking at Link, asking him, “what year is it?”

“The year? I don’t know, I couldn’t figure out how the pony callenders here work,” Link answered with a shrug.

Closing his four eyes in deep thought, The Batter started saying in a calm tone as the Token vanished, “Well… either way, I guess I should Introduce myself. I am Sans, a displaced version of The Batter from OFF. I know who you are Link - and I know you are a mix between the Links from A Link to the Past, Twilight Princess, Majora’s Mask, and Ocarina of Time.”

“I already figured that part out,” Link said before tilting his head at the mention of Displaced. “Wait… did you fall victim to that whole comic-con thing where people end up missing?” he asked.

The Batter nodded, saying to Link “Yes. Also, let me guess… you found a chest at your doorstep and opened it?” his tone showing that he was asking, yet knew the answer as fact.

“... How did you know?” Link asked, while narrowing his eyes in distrust at this all-knowing character.

The Batter smirked, while narrowing his eyes to match Links’, “I know that look, you don’t trust me. Heh, just like first time we met...” he said in a tone that sounded like he was recalling a memory from his life.

“But I’ve never met you, Sans. And I know i’m not suffering from amnesia, and I still remember everything in my life - including the events up ‘till today.” Link said.

“My guess is that your world got reset or rebooted. Something along those lines. Which explains this...” The Batter said, handing the fading wolf token to Link.

“A… howling stone?” Link asked in confusion as he took the stone, only for it to finish fading out of existence. “... So… someone did time traveling shenanigans kind of like Back To The Future?” Link asked to no one, before allowing his head to fall back onto the pillow. “And here I thought I’ve seen the worse.”

“Heh… it’s nice to see you again - even if you don’t remember me,” The Batter said to Link as he leaned against the wall.

“So… about this… Displaced you mention.. I’m going to take a guess… and say it's what I became, a displaced like you?” Link asked.

“Correct,” The Batter nodded, “and we’re not the only ones… there are about a possibly infinite amount of displaced. We all find ourselves in other worlds via tokens. The coin you hold in your grasp is mine… also, I think they can also be used as phones without the bad reception,” he said pointing to the token that Link had.

Link let out a gentle sigh at this information.

“But the main question is why and who?” Link said as he kept staring up at the white ceiling, deep in thought.

“Every displaced has their purpose, and you’ll find yours someday,” The Batter said, before adding, “As for for who would do this?” The Batter sighed with a shrug. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Since there are many of them out there, has any of them found a way back home… or am I pretty much stuck here?” Link asked with hope in his voice.

“Well, as far as I researched, right before getting stuck in the MLP version of High School Musical, no. Sadly, you're stuck here,” The Batter said blankly.

“For the time being, I guess I’ll need to settle down here - then see where I can go from there… maybe end up as Ponyville’s hero,” Link said as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, “also, I have to see what Princess Celestia wanted from me, since she did ask for me to come visit her in Canterlot once I’ve fully recovered.”

“How badly were you injured? Second, how close are you to recovery?” The Batter asked, trying to find the wounds that Link had without touching him, “I can probably help you, or at the very least speed it up.”

“I’ve been here for… eleven days,” Link said as he pulled the top part of his hospital gown to reveal a nasty scarring scab on his chest and shoulder, “a manticore almost took my life, my slowly regenerating chainmail took most of the blow,” Link explained to Sans.

“Sounds like how we met, in a void while you were unconscious - don’t ask me how, because I know not how that happened,” The Batter said, a cringed expression on his face at the sight of the scab, “anyway, you want me to heal that for you?”

“Probably not, most of it is healed anyways - I’m just waiting for the ok from the nurses… you know, discharge papers, and them asking you what you shouldn’t do, so on and so forth,” Link explained to Sans.

The Batter nodded in acquiescence, “ok, your choice pal,” he then thought of something before asking, “you wanna have a little spar later? It’s been too long since I’ve had any sort of battle with a normal being.”

“Pffft, that’s an overstatement of the word ‘Normal’ there! I mean - I have a inventory like a small pocket dimension worth of equipment in my pouch,” Link said with a hearty chuckle.

“So do I, and I don’t have a problem with it,” The Batter said smirking at Link, “besides, my definition of normal became anyone human or humanoid and isn’t made of living metal in my own image,” he joked, also chuckling.

“What, did Dr. Robotnik try to clone you?” Link said, half-serious, half-half joking considering the possibilities.

The Batter laughed at the thought.

“If that were true, my Level would have reached Level 50, days ago.” The Batter joked, remembering that, even though he has The Batter’s Level 50 stats, he himself is still slowly rising to the top. Shaking his head off the thought, he replied seriously, “I was actually referring to a Master Hand displaced,” he pulled out the Home-Run Bat as proof, “It was the only prize that made sense for me.”

”That must've been a pain if he fights like the original.” Link said.

“He was, it was only thanks to my skills, weapons, and transformation ability that I won. Even though the Metal Batter used a smash ball to turn into the Bad Batter like I did… minus the whole Smash Ball superpower thing...” The Batter said sighing at the memory of his duel, “anyway! You didn’t answer my question of ‘are you good for a round?’”

“Oh, right! Maybe… I’ve been slacking off learning all the other stuff I’ve got here,” Link said, while laughing weakly at his own answer.

“Yeah, could be a nice test run for you against an opponent that isn’t out to kill you,” The Batter deadpanned, “not to mention that at least this time we’re not fighting over a misunderstanding, but that’s a story for another day.” He sighed.

“It’ll just be a simple clash of Bats & Blades, assuming that weapon of yours is sturdy enough,” Link said.

“Considering that you only beat me when I first fought you, was due to the shock that I suddenly turned into a giant beast-like creature? One that fans dubbed the Bad Batter? All because I was inexperienced at the time?” Sans asked in mock anger, before pulling out his Ashley Bat, “Also, for your information, this bat is the strongest and most impractical bat in the world of OFF. I’m sure it can hold its own against your swords like last time,” The Batter said with confidence in his voice as he kept looking at Link with interest.

“Alright, it’ll just be a simple spar when I get out, I’ll be using my Ordon Sword - and perhaps someone here has a spell that’ll dull the blade.” Link replied as he got comfortable on the cot.

“Okay. I’ll use the Ashley Bat only, meaning no Home-Run Bat. Also, don’t worry - I have the best armor on, and if I die… I can always be revived right?” The Batter said jokingly - as if death were nothing but an inconvenience - while pulling out a card that had a joker in its face.

For some reason unknown to Link, the mere mention of someone coming back from death cheaply made his eye twitch.

They were shaken of that moment by the sound of hoofsteps softly clopping, approaching the room’s door.

The Batter turned around in panic, looking around for a place to hide.

Sadly for him, there wasn’t a conveniently shaped lamp anywhere to be found in the room, much to his rising dismay. The best he had was under the bed - as cliche as it was - so he got under the bed, and closed his eyes.

Opening the door, a blue pony with a nurse outfit peeked inside the room, but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

“Were you talking to someone, Mr. Link?” the nurse asked Link.

“No… Maybe it came from the next room?” Link lied through his teeth, while the nurse nodded in acknowledgement, and walked out of the room.

“Thanks,” The Batter said as he poked his head out on the side of the bed away from the door, hoping nobody/nopony came in unannounced.

“Sans, you might wanna try getting a place to sleep, since I doubt here would be a good place,” Link said to his guest.

“Okay, I’ll be in a tree just outside the entrance,” Sans said with a smile, right before opening and jumping out the window like a crazy person, right as he hopped up into a tree that was closest to the entrance of the hospital.

“You could have closed the window!” Link said with a raised whisper.

Link could have sworn he heard Sans say “Sorry,” from a distance.

Link just shook his head while sighing, rubbing his temples with one hand.

The next morning came far too slow for Link’s taste, and he was led to reception - where he was asked to sign in the discharge papers - explaining to him all the activities he should abstain from doing, including arduous physical activities, while also inviting him to return in case he felt himself feeling with fever, body pain, and other indications for him.

Leaving the hospitals’ chemical smell, Link took a deep breath of the fresh air, glad to be out of that boring place, straightening out his green tunic and red cape.

“Finally,” Sans’ voice said behind Link, before dropping down to his side to make himself known, “I was kinda tired of playing tic tac toe against a squirrel,” he joked.

“How were you able to sleep? Or avoid ponies asking what you’re even doing up there?” Link asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, I did even if I really don’t need it anymore, and yes, nopony found me,” The Batter answered calmly to Link, before asking, “What now?”

“Those tokens you mentioned…” Link said as he took out Sans’s coin, “what do they do, why and how are they made?” he asked.

“Just focus on taking out an object that represents you - which will be your blank token…. Then, say or call out what message you want, for it to play when a fellow Displaced finds it the first time,” Sans started explaining to Link while they walked, before saying in a disbelieving tone, “then toss it into the air, and it’ll do the rest. You’ll be summoned when a Displaced that finds your token calls upon you, and if you choose to answer that call,” Sans explained.

Link thought about the Batter’s words… before asking with a determined look on his face, “can it be other things?”

“Sure, just like the other you’s howling stones token,” The Batter replied with a nod.

Taking the alternative timeline version of himself that Sans mentioned into consideration, Link held out his hand and started to focus, face scrunching up while sweat began to form on his forehead… until strange, swirling black particles started to condensate into an oval shape, where with some more effort, Link managed to give them the shape that he wanted.

“I won’t be adding a message to it, Sans - I think I’d rather be more cautious about who summons me… I mean, there are alot of universes out there, and I don’t even know them nor the displaced that live inside them.” Link said to Sans The Batter, who nodded in agreement, before proceeding to will within the stone in his grasp the conditions upon which he’d appear at first to the one summoning him.

‘An apparition of myself will appear before my summoner, and will take the shape of a wolf with red, green, and grey fur on him, and will present my scars and key features from myself… my damaged right ear, the left scar over my eye, and the blue earrings on my ears.’

‘My apparition will test the summoner as to his intentions… and unlike the original, I picture the symbol of Din on the wolfs’ forehead, taking his fur into account…’

‘... I think the best way for this test to happen, will be if a temporary mindscape is formed by linking a current copy of my self to the summoner, so the judgement about his intentions can be performed…’

‘... it’ll take into account the summoners’ reaction to my apparition, as well as his intent and personality, in order to find out whether the summoners’ intentions are good, evil, or if he’s just another human like myself, that was forced into something they didn’t ask.’

‘If my apparition judges them worthy of the help, the Howling Stone will shrink down from its original size, becoming an egg-shaped stone as a necklace - so they can call upon me at their time of need…’

‘However… if my apparition realizes they are actually evil, it’ll disappear - and the howling stone they are grasping will crumble, so they can’t keep it… I will for this token to find the hand, hoof, or claw of the nearest individual who fights for good.’

Link opened his eyes, smiling, as he said to Sans, “Sans? This is what I willed into the stone…”

A quick explanation later…

The Batter nodded in understanding, after hearing what Link said to him, “now then! Just toss it up into the air, and it’ll do the rest,” he said with a grin.

“Wait, just… toss it out into the air, just like that?” Link asked in confusion.

“Yep, just trust me Link,” The Batter said confidently, Link nodded before doing as The Batter instructed, tossing it into the air - where a swirling void portal appeared in its passing - where it disappeared as the portal swallowed it, vanishing just as quickly as it appeared.

“Huh… haven’t seen that way of token disappearance before, perhaps it has a different exit every time,” Sans said with wide eyes before smirking at what he had just seen.

Before Link could ask any more questions, a ball of green fire burst in front of him, making him flinch from the burst of light, and while backstepping, he heard the sound of something falling onto the ground. Both humans stared at the scroll on the ground, before Link decided to open it, as it was actually addressed to him, slowly unrolling it… and catching up two red tickets on his free hand.

Eyebrow risen from the odd things, Link turned his sights on the scroll, and started reading:

‘Dear Link,

Seeing as you’ve fully recovered, I have arranged for a temporary room in the castle for you to use while in Canterlot.

As you can probably guess, I have questions about you and your powers.

Please don’t be afraid as to my intentions - I’ve sought you out, because of your heroism throughout the years, and I hoped to ask you this: would you serve me as a knight?

I’d be deeply grateful if you were to accept, since that would mean that there would be someone to aid my ponies and the guard in case I am unable to do so.

Signed - Princess Celestia’

PS: Find attached two tickets for the next train coming from Ponyville to Canterlot, for you and your friend.
PPS: Use this letter to show the Guard that you two are expected, so they can help you come into the castle.

Link’s eyebrow raised so far up his brow, that it started to threaten to leave his face behind.

“I guess I’ll go with you, I mean - it’s not like I have anything better to do for now.” Sans said with a grin to the beleaguered man as they moved to take the train.

After an uneventful trip on the local train, and arriving at Canterlot Castle - with plenty of gawking ponies in ridiculous and expensive clothing looking at them the whole way - they finally reached Celestia’s throne room, where the guard opened the door for them after taking a look at the letter and the signature.

“Thank you for coming, Link… Tell me, who’s your new friend?” Celestia asked with tenderness while eyeing the second humanoid discreetly.

“I am Sans The Batter… and let’s just say I’m not from this world. I hail from another world ahead of yours timewise,” Sans said while balancing on his bat, speaking to her like it was completely natural for him to do.

“Ah, so you’re the visitor I sensed from earlier that appeared at Links’ location,” Celestia commented as she eyed Sans more openly now.

“Princess Celestia? Before we start the subject… I think you need to listen to this…” Link said uncomfortably as the monarch turned her attention to him.

She nodded in acceptance before saying, “What is it that you have in your mind, Link?”

“Hmm… so you two come from another world? And were sent to different… ‘views’ of Equestria?” Celestia asked the two displaced humans.

“More like parallel universes, but yeah… that explanation works too,” Sans interjected while Link said his part.

“There are as many displaced as universes - and some might not be good - so, Princess… I propose that if anyone comes, let us be welcoming, yet watchful of their actions in case they are playing pretend,” Link said to her while shuffling on his feet.

“That is an agreeably wary position when dealing with newcomers, Link,” Celestia agreed to Link’s comment as she watched him shuffle his feet. Smiling softly, and to the Batter’s amusement, she chided Link gently by saying, “oh my, Link… you do seem like suffering from a guilty conscience… want to talk to me about it?”, before showing a little smile to the nervous hylian.

“Batter, zip it...” Link warned.

“Oh, I was not going to say anything about that special stash you showed me… you know the one? That one that you keep hidden in your pouch?” The Batter teased Link with a grin as he leaned on his bat.

Celestia’s smile threatened to become a grin of amusement as she saw Link turn red from the indignity of that comment filled with innuendo, before faking concern in her voice as she asked Sans, “Oh my! Whatever you mean, Sans?”

“Ok! That’s enough, Sans. This is the princess of Canterlot-”

“Equestria” Celestia corrected with a smile of amusement on her face.

“... Of Equestria here, not some everyday pony.” Link said with minor annoyance in his voice.

“You need to relax, Link! You see how she’s enjoying our banter?” The Batter pointed his hand towards the alicorn, who immediately strained to straighten her face to show serenity… and almost failing at it.

“And you didn’t help...” Link pointed out with a sigh before looking up at Celestia. “Princess Celestia? Could I request the use of a place we could spar at?” he asked politely.

Princess Celestia covered her snout with a wing as she giggled, before replying kindly, “I think you’ll be more calmed if you go with your friend and have that spar, Link… but please do come back, so we can discuss the reason why I asked you to come,” Celestia said serenely before adding, “and the Guard’s Training Ground is in a restricted area within the castle courtyard, feel free to ask one of the guards at the door to accompany you two, while I attend my visitors for Open Court.”

After saying thank you, and leaving the room, Celestia sighed a little as she looked at the doorway… before saying in a firm voice, “Guard, please let in the next pony in line.”

Link and the Batter arrived at the training grounds for the Guard that Celestia told them about, guided by a guard, who was silent all the way after being asked to help them get there.

And Link thought to himself: ‘What better place than this to spar between friends?’ as he looked at the open arena.

“I think this should a good enough place for a sparring according to Celestia.” Link said.

“This is gonna be interesting compared to our no holds all out battle that I remember.” The Batter said.

“But this time, it's not a fight to the death, just us practicing.” Link pointed out.

“Fair point. But I’m still gonna do this nonetheless.” Sans said before summoning the 3 Add-Ons and then had them fly to the side. “Just in case the worst happens to one of us.”

“Not if I have something to do about it.” A voice spoke out from the entry way as a white unicorn walks in, its mane made of silver with a slight rainbowish tint to the edges the mane. The unicorn appears to be wearing some sort high ranking general armor. “My aunt told me a couple of creatures were going to spar at the training grounds,” the unicorn said.

“Of course, why am not surprised I’d see you here Silver Bullet.” Sans said with a twitch of eyes at the memory of when he used Wide Angle to see his stats back before and SHE had to make it awkward with her sexual innuendo.

Silver Bullet blinked in surprise. “Either I’m more well known that I thought, or we’ve met before that I cannot recall.” he said with suspicion on his eyes.

“It’s actually the later but he doesn’t need to know that.” Sans whispered to Link

“Start explaining.” Silver said with authority in his voice.

“I wonder if he’d understand if you claimed you were a time traveler?” Link whispered back.

“Maybe, but the last thing I need is to be trapped in a room with a therapist or in a mental institution.” The Batter whispered back to Link.

Suddenly, San’s head is forced to move to the side by a glitter glow of unicorn magic. “I asked you a question.” Silver said.

Sans simply did a double take, remembering Silver Bullet differently than before. “We met once before. But your universe was rebooted somehow, making our interaction nonexistent.” Sans explained still confused by the difference in Silver Bullet’s personality.

“Hmm, strange. My aunt didn’t pick up any time shift as of late, i’ll believe you for now until I get some confirmation from her,” Silver bullet said before getting down to business, “now, present your weapons,” he commanded politely to the two of them.

Link reached to his sides and pulled out an Ordon Sword from its sheath. It was his second weakest sword that won’t break, not unless spell casters want to give Link a bad day.

Sans, who was reluctant to do so, handed over his Ashley Bat. His Add-Ons were commanded to hover over to the sidelines while he waited.

Silver eyed the rings curiously before inspecting the weapon.

“A baseball bat? Not my right to question a fighter’s choice of weapons, each to their own,” he said before his horn sparked in the same color as his name sake, the bat now glowing in the same aura, he does the same for Link’s sword. “Now, you can swing it at each other and all it’ll do is leave a glowing mark or were it hit to indicate as if it as a wound.” Silver explained.

“Ok. So how many hits until someone wins?” Sans asked Link.

“The classic three hits sounds about right, although… are those rings here only for outside interference or are you planning something?” Link asked warily.

“No, they WERE gonna drop a joker to revive someone, in case one of us dies,” Sans explained.

“A… joker? You showed me that before, I’m going to assume it's like a Phoenix Down?” Link guessed doubtfully.

“Yes. It revives the fallen like the Phoenix Down,” The Batter responded holding a joker up.

“I wanted to make sure I didn’t misunderstand its use… I mean, Link doesn’t usually have a huge inventory yet here is this pouch holding so much, I wanted to make sure the mechanics worked the same as you without… whatever changing it.” Link said.

“I understand,” Sans said while nodding, before getting into his battle pose. “Ready?”

Link held his sword with two hands, deciding that perhaps a shieldless sparring with Sans would do some good for him - holding it almost as if he was holding his Biggoron sword. The two went at it as Silver yelled “Begin!”, sparring, both bat and blade colliding and making dull thuds per hit.

The two looked evenly matched until they finally managed to land each of the three hits… in the end, it ended in a draw, as the two contenders landed a strike at each others’ neck - causing them to rub at the struck area, where they felt the smart of the impact.

Silver Bullet had watched the two with interest, learning from how they fought, helping this general in forming new tactics that involved sword-wielder bipeds.

“That was a good duel my friend. It’s nice to have a practice duel against somebody that isn’t out to kill me.” The Batter said to Link with a smirk, rubbing the back of his head...

“Speaking of things out to kill me, I really wish I had something that could help me know more about my enemies, something like Tatl from Majora’s mask.” Link said yearningly.

Sans tilted his head at Link’s comment, before saying, “funny you should mention that! I just so happen to have a competence or skill, that lets you see the max HP and magic your foe possesses! It’s called ‘Wide Angle’... I believe that you are gonna need it. After all, I taught it to the previous you, so I think it’s only fair for you to get in this universe as well.” The Batter offered, leaning on his bat, watching Link with curiosity.

“So that’s how the ‘Wide Angle’ works Link.” the black-and-white displaced explained to Link, as Link tried to use it… until he achieved it.

“Anything I could give you in return? I mean, you’ve given me answers I’ve been trying to find all this time since being a Displaced,” Link said.

“Well I believe you are part ‘Link to the Past Link’. I guess the sword beam would be nice. It could give me a ranged attack for those faraway enemies.” The Batter said with a bit of deadpan in his tone.

Link blinked in minor confusion. “That… Huh. You taught me Wide Angle, although I don’t know how-” he stopped in mid-sentence as an idea popped in his head. He held out his hand as the Triforce of courage began glowing.

“What are you doing?” the monochrome baseball player asked his Hylian companion.

“Just shake my hand.” Link said. The Batter did as Link said and shook his hand - upon doing so a golden glow traveled along Link’s arm into The Batter’s.

“The Batter was taught Blade Beam” a monotone voice said in our heads.

Within San’s view, the name appeared in his Competences as “Bat Beam”... which seemed normal by his current standards.

The Batter notices that Link has a strained expression on his face. “Are you alright?” Sans asked, concern dripping in his voice.

“Just a drawback... Its something I just did for the first time, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work at first. I kind of channeled a small amount of the Triforce’s energy, so that you could learn the sword technique,” Link explained as he panted.

“Ok. So I have a small fraction of the Triforce in me? Why do I feel like that’s gonna come back to haunt me someday?” The Batter asked to nobody specifically.

“No, I said its energy. Not its body.” Link explained before raising his hand. “This isn’t the original triforce, it's only a copy. I figured that out a long time ago.”

Unknown Place, two years after arriving at this medieval world inhabited by furry, talking animal people.

“Young colt… within you there is a source of magic and might, the unlikes of which I have ever seen before in my life…”, the pony unicorn said to Link with surprise etched on her face, as Link pondered this confirmation of his previous experiments when searching for an answer.

‘If there is a Triforce within me, then it should be reacting to the other two as well… I will travel the world, and try to find them, so as to wish for it to send me home,’ Link said to himself with determination as he felt the power within him for the first time, after some experimentation...

Seven years after arriving at unknown furry animal land…

“Why there is no reaction!? Why can’t I feel the other two parts of the Triforce!? They should be here too, Wisdom and Power!” Link screamed to the heavens while camping in the empty wilderness in the middle of nowhere… only to fall on his knees, “It doesn’t make sense! No matter where I go, my Triforce never resonates to any creature I get near... no one on this planet has the other pieces, not even the most powerful or the wisest... Does this mean my Triforce of Courage is fake?” Link mentally asked himself with sorrow in his heart.

“Does this mean I’ll never get home?”

“Oh good.” The Batter said with a sigh of relief.

“I guess it could be called Displaced Energy or… wherever our powers came from.” Link said.

“...Why do I get this weird feeling, that my classmate Pinkie Pie will both know what it’s called and where it came from?” The Batter asked with a spooked tone, while feeling a weird chill crawling down his spine.

“Who?” Link asked as he hasn’t met that pony yet.

“You’ll know her when you meet her,” The Batter said, not wanting to tell Link yet.

“Should I be worried?” Link asked, while glancing around the area.

“Well, it really depends on how you view the 4th Wall breaking and stuff like that.” The Batter said, while feeling as if submerged in a pool of sweat from both the recent friendly brawl the two just had, and the ominous feeling that she could appear at any second now.

“... So she’s kind of like Deadpool?” Link asked.

“Pretty much, but replace swords and guns with a toothless alligator and parties.” The Batter agreed. “Also, a word of advice: she will throw you a party when you meet her in Ponyville, whether you like it or not.” The Batter warned, looking around the area as if his world’s Pinkie Pie could appear at any moment and whatever deities is here and there forbid that happens.

What the two aren't aware of at that time, was that Pinkie Pie in this universe has yet to find her cutie mark, as she is still a filly working at her family’s rock farm. They were also unaware, that in a bakery across time and space, The Batter’s world Pinkie Pie’s hair was sticking up while her left foot itched like crazy - her Pinkie senses going off the charts to her surprise.

The Batter shivered for a moment, feeling a disturbance in the forces of the universe.

“I think I should head home, thanks for the duel and Bat Beam technique,” The Batter said.

“No problem, Sans. If you ever need my help just find my token, wherever it is in your world.” Link said as he held out his fist.

The Batter smirked as he gave Link a fistbump. “Got it.”

“... How do I send you back?” Link asked as he held up San’s token.

“Let me think. … Oh yeah just say ‘Our Contract is sealed’.” The Batter said, remembering the phrase when Master Hand sent him home.

Link repeated the words, causing the token to glow with void magic - Sans the Batter vanishing into thin air as he is sent back into his own world… with a better landing than the last time.

…

“Home sweet home.” Sans said to no one in particular… before his eyes widened in realization, rushing to Sugar Cube Corner… as he wanted to make sure Pinkie didn’t burn it down or anything unusual happened. Lord forbid she’s not in this universe right now.

…

Link, once Sans had disappeared, returned with the guard that was waiting for him, before saying to Silver Bullet, “Thank you, Mister Bullet…” before reflecting inwardly, ‘I guess I’ll be meeting Princess Celestia now that I’m done? I wonder… what does she want with me, anyways?’

Link asked himself thoughtfully while walking with the guard, ‘Am I really sure that she’s not mad at me for avoiding her all these years...?’

Shrugging, Link felt that the only option at this point would be to go through with her interview, as they made their way to the Court.

Chat With A Princess

Link stood in front of the large doorway leading to the court, as the royal announcer said in a loud voice, “Court Day is over, come back tomorrow for your audience! You’ll be heard then!”

Upon hearing that, Link backed away from the door and walked to the side as he didn’t want to be trampled upon when the herd of ponies came through the door to leave.

As the ponies made their way back to the outside of the castle, the silent guard simply prodded Link’s leg with one hoof and pointed it at the open doorway, where Princess Celestia was signing some documentation that her secretary had brought in for her.

Thanking the guard, Link went into the throneroom, and patiently waited for Celestia to speak.

“... I’ll join you in a minute, Link… please, do take a seat, and Miss Inkwell… please ask the maid to bring him some refreshments while he waits for me to be done with this?” Celestia asked her secretary politely, to which the mare nodded once before calmly trotting out of the room.

Link took a seat at one of the chairs awkwardly - though he had to take two of them after trial and error - due to their small size that was meant to be for pony visitors, and took a look around the room in curiosity. His mind soon wandered to the filly that Celestia claimed was her niece, Trinity.

‘And yet she looks nothing like a pony… or an alicorn… maybe she’s an adopted niece?’ Link thought to himself.

Link’s mind started to picture what could produce such a pony… and quickly shook his head to clear his mind from the perverted possibilities involved in her procreation. ‘I’ve been alone in the everfree forest for too long…’ he thought to himself.

Link looked around the room once again, wondering if a maid has arrived yet.

Something liquid should calm him down… assuming Celestia didn’t betray his trust, and something had been snuck into the cup to make him… more compliant.

A soft voice at his other side made him jump, as a sheepish earth pony mare dressed in a frilly maid uniform asked, “Sir? I’ve brought some refreshments… what would you like?” before showing the cart at her side with the wave of one hoof, showing from teapot and cups, to several sweet and salty pastries of vegetarian nature, and a sausage-looking link covered in glass.

Link blinked in surprise that they had sausages here. “Is it actual meat or is it a substitute?” he asked himself quietly.

The maid blinked in surprise, “Oh, sir. It is real meat from approved sources, normally meant for omnivore dignitaries and visitors… and” she blushed a bit as she added, “and since there was talk about you having canines…”

“It doesn’t bother you?” Link asked the maid, before reaching over to take a cup to pour himself some tea to the panic of the mare, before Link said to her “don’t worry too much about me, I can serve myself, but you were saying?”

“Well… it used to, but found that a small bite now and then isn’t nothing to worry about,” she said almost in a whisper, looking at the sides as if hoping that no one overheard her.

‘Guilty pleasures,’ Link mentally said to himself as he was reaching up to pull down his hood. “Would you mind getting some ice cubes? I like my tea cold,” he said.

“Certainly, sir!” the maid said with a smile and a spring, as she reached out to prepare Link his iced tea.

The positive energy the maid generated made Link feel a bit more at ease, especially when she didn’t react to how his face looked - just a man with long elven ears - one of which being damaged by a timberwolf and a scar on his left cheek from the manticore from a week ago.

The noticeable waving of her rear and her tail as she hummed while busy at work, lead Link to think that something was… off about this curious mare.

Redirecting his attention elsewhere, Link tried to focus on his plate that had some pastries and looked again at the sausage link, just so that no one would catch him staring at her flank by accident. He looked again at the sausages under the glass, and picked up three pieces for himself.

‘Heh, only thing missing are toothpicks.’ Link said mentally to himself along with a quiet laugh. Link waits for his iced tea before eating what he gathered.

Humming in a cute tone, the maid handed Link over a taller cup of ice cubes with her teeth on the handle, before stepping a little distance, waiting for if he wanted to ask anything else.

Link takes the cup and nods a thanks to her. “That’ll all, Miss.” he said before using the ice proffered to make himself his iced tea, taking a sip out of the cup. Link’s mind wandered to the topic: why did the maidmare felt off to him?

Link shook the thought off his mind, blaming it to his paranoia just doing the talking.

“Umm… you are welcome, sir,” the maid said shyly… and perhaps a little too hopeful in her tone, for Link’s imagination - right as she took her cart with her, a spring in her step as she shook her tail a little bit too happy.

Link looked away from the scene with a frown on his face, as he doesn’t want to get into that sort of trouble, it’s already been hard on him for those ten years ever since he arrived.

“Oh, Link… sorry for making you wait,” the gentle voice of the Princess distracted Link from his own attempt at distracting himself from the retiring maid, as her voice came in fact from behind his head, him realizing that she had also seen what just transpired, “but I hope that Serving Cup served you well, she is such a shy lil’ pony around new guests.”

Link’s inner alarms triggered, as he realized she said the last part in amusement very well concealed.

“She did alright, nothing wrong there,” Link said as took another sip of tea, starting to sweat from his inner paranoia parading inside his mind.

“Oh, and I hope you enjoyed the sausage, I hear that it is quite… fishy, from a peculiar kind only found in Manehattan,” Celestia teased a little, before adding, “as for our interview… why don’t we move to a more… comfortable setting. You seem to be still stressed out after your spar with Sans.”

Link took another nervous sip of his tea, only to find out he had drunk the whole cup.

‘Oh for the love of Nayru, can this get any worse?’ Link mentally asked himself as he placed the cup down and finished the rest of his sausage. He was really hoping that Celestia wasn’t planning anything of whatever he was thinking.

Following her down the corridors, cup on saucer in hand, she made her way to one particular door, before turning her head to meet his thoughtful frown, and said teasingly, “I imagine that the study would be a good place for our meeting, is it not? Even if the couches at my room are much comfortable.”

“Celestia, please…” Link said with a sigh as he got up to follow her. “I’m just here for whatever you need me for, I mean you no disrespect or offense, though…” he said to her, feeling at this point, he’s had enough teasing from her and the world.

Celestia giggled at his awkwardness, before replying kindly, “Oh, my little displaced, I was just teasing you a little, since you seem to think I’ll be chaining you in the dungeon for a week for a good whipping, when all I want to know more about you, then discuss the terms for my job offer.”

“That’s not the case... I just...” Link said as he rubbed the back of his head. “I’m just not used to being around ponies that’s all.”

“Oh, that is understandable, especially since you’ve even kept yourself outside of other species’ radar, no matter how grateful they were and are… but why?” she asked with genuine concern at the end of her comment.

“I’m a human. I don’t exactly belong here among ponies or the races of Equestria. While I honestly thought I was the only human here, I just learned otherwise when I met Sans, who explained what I had become into. But now? Seeing as there’s no way home, I’ve finally decided to reveal myself,” Link explained to Celestia, who nodded wisely.

After what seemed like a couple of seconds of wisely nodding, though, Celestia said with a grin, “Oh, I think the world revealed you instead, my little hero… nopony is an island, and too much solitude can actually drive one mad, perhaps the reason of your existence is showing up soon enough?”

“Perhaps… perhaps.. “ Link said with uncertainty in his voice. “For now, I’d just like to settle somewhere and start a new life.”

Link felt soft feathers against the back of his neck as a large, swan-like wing draped on his shoulder, while the Princess looked at him warmly, “that, my little hero, is part of what we are going to be talking about.”

The study, to Link’s still fraying nerves, was like an oasis of peace in the middle of the desert - especially after getting used to the silence of the forest. The place was draped in great taste, with dark woods adorning every nook and cranny, while the books contained in several bookcases showed great artistic merit from their covers alone.

“S-so.. uh..” Link began as he looked around the study. His nerves did manage to relax a little to the sounds of a ticking grandfather clock.

“Oh, Link… do take a couch, so we can converse a little.” Celestia offered kindly, while she waved a wing at the seats on one side of the study, a mahogany table close by, where Link placed his cup and saucer before taking a seat.

Lucky for him, Link felt relieved to see that the seats were a lot better than those small ones back in the throne room, and now it doesn’t feel so awkward to sit for him.

“Do feel free to recline, Link… they are made for Alicorns, after all.” Celestia said to him tenderly as she took her place in the other couch, it supporting her barrel as she tucked in her legs. Taking her advice, he lays onto the couch, enjoying the comfort it offered, swinging his legs off, he immediately returned to a sitting position when he realized that his boots haven’t had a proper wash yet.

“Sorry about that.” Link said, before thinking out… he hasn’t even had a decent bath in a long time, other than cleaning himself in the river… making him berate himself inwardly for not coming out of hiding sooner.

“... If you’d want to, you could always ask any of the castle servants to help with your laundry, Link, and the room I’ll be lending you until a better one is arranged for will have the normal pleasantries. There is a bathhouse in the castle’s basement, but I barely have the chance to use it nowadays.” Celestia replied to Link’s unasked question, while clearing up the swirling storm of self-doubt and shame at his state.

“Yea, what with you being royalty and all, you must be really busy most of the time,” Link said, feeling a little bit better, now that Celestia is offering him some things. “Plus, now that I can relax a little, I’ll be able to learn a few things about my powers.” he said.

“You don’t know your full potential?” Celestia asked with curiosity at him.

“Other than what I discovered about my pocket dimension of an inventory, and the items I’ve found in it, no.” Link answered truthfully. Thus far in his Displaced life, he’s used mostly what he remember from his games, not deeming himself worthy yet of wielding the Master Sword.

Celestia clicked her tongue at Link’s confession, before adding with a good dose of cheer, “at least now you’ll have an excuse and the time to do so, perhaps even train with the Guards while at it. And of course, if you’re willing to share with them what knowledge and tools that have helped you through the years, then I’m certain that you’ll be more than welcomed in their midst, Link.”

“If they don’t mind a tall bipedal creature training with them.” Link said jokingly.

“Oh, they need the practice! Even at this time in our history, we still have little in the way of visitors from elsewhere, that with all the monster attacks ravaging the trade routes between towns and cities.” Celestia commented off-hoofedly as she teleported a pot of tea and the respective cup and saucer next to it, serving herself a cup before asking Link, “would you like some jazmin tea? It is quite calming for troubled spirits!”

For some reason that last sentence sounded… familiar to Link. “No, that’s alright,” he replied while waving his hand, mentally waving it off, thinking it probably not important.

After serving herself, and taking a sip of her cup, Celestia sked softly to him, “how was it… to be alone for seven years, not trusting anypony close to you?”

“Actually, it’s ten years...” Link corrected her before getting back on topic. “And it was troublesome, the timberwolves and the monsters didn’t help make it any better. Actually... To be truthful, I only met one pony, a fortune teller to be exact.” Link explained before he raised his hand. “You see, one of my options was to gather the other parts of the Triforce and wish my way back... But, that plan backfired when I couldn’t find the bearers of this world,” he said.

Understanding crossed Celestia’s eyes, as she asked him softly, “what drove you to live, Link? Most would have given up at that point in their lives, their hope crumbling to dust before their very eyes…”

“... The thought of the lives of others being harmed is what drove me to keep living. If I died, my ghost would most likely not find peace...” Link said as he looked toward the ceiling.

‘Much like a certain hero’s shade…’ Link finished the sentence in his head.

Celestia looked at him with sad eyes, before replying to him softly, “You may say that to everypony that asks, Link - and I do admire that determination to see it through - but it feels odd, especially when I look at your eyes, and all I see is absolute sadness, sadness about your situation, being the only one of your kind in this world…”

“In a way, yes. However, I’m looking forward to meeting others who have suffered the same fate as me. All I need to do, is find their token, but I won’t summon them right away until they’ve gained my trust,” Link said cautiously.

“What about others in this world? Have you ever thought about it? Shooting roots to finally have a place to call home, rather than keeping on the move, unable to connect with anyone?” Celestia asked him with her eyes showing the same concern at his state.

“I… uh…” Link went dead silent, his mouth was opening and closing but no words were forming. Link eventually spoke his answer, a little bit too high-strung for his taste, “I suppose I could try, I mean - we’re getting along, right?” he said before thinking for a moment, “and I spent time with the Dancer family when I was in the hospital… Yeah, I... think I could...” Link said.

A soft feeling covered him, only for Link to realize that Celestia had risen from her place quietly and was actually hugging him with her wing. At first, Link was going to protest, but her warmth had a strange affect him as all the negativity melted away from his mind… slowly, he relaxed under her grasp before letting out a sigh of relief.

“I’ve lived in the wilderness and the Everfree for far too long. And I believe Moon Dancer is the one to thank for me being here at all, even if I did almost die trying to get her to safety,” Link said, now relinquishing himself to his slot in life, as if fate was guiding him, saying to him that it was time to let go.

Celestia simply tightened her hug a little moment before letting him go.

“You’ll find out that us ponies are far much more physical when we want to show our feelings to others, Link,” Celestia said as she lowered herself back on her couch, taking another sip from her teacup.

“... That explains a lot.” Link said with a smile, all this time he thought it was something else.

Realization soon dawned on him that perhaps the ponies are kind of like children, main reason they’ve been so accepting of him thus far. Now, with that thought in his mind, he felt really stupid about wasting ten years of his life in the middle of nowhere.

“And now your eyes are a little more alive, my little human,” Celestia noted with a smile on her face.

“Why do you keep calling me your little something? Little displaced, little hero, little human. Why is that?” Link asked in curiosity.

She straightened out, and craned her neck towards Link, who himself approached her with him craning his neck to hear her out.

“You want to know why I call you ‘my little something’, right?” she asked him in a low, conspiratorial tone, while eyeing him seriously.

“Is it some sort of tradition?” Link asked.

“... Not really, but is a term I made on accident when I literally outlived all my relations, over two thousand years ago, Link,” Celestia confided with a little sadness in her voice, before it straightened out, “as time passed, I realized that all my subjects, and even those that are not and come to Equestria… they are like my little relatives, my little ponies, and I welcome them as if they are part of the family - only being stern when my trust is abused by any of them.”

“I like that, Celestia. A family has the most trust then just friendship, or so I’ve always believed,” Link said with another smile, before asking, “so.. uh… how many of your kind is there? I mean I’ve read up on how alicorns are immortal, but I didn’t find anything else on the subject,” he explained.

Celestia’s ears splayed back on her head as she turned her head to a side, looking at the moon outside the window.

“Only three of us… Me, Trinity, and Cadance for now, Link… but I have hope, that someday… I’ll not be as alone as I have been for the last millennia.”

Hearing Celestia say that made Link’s heartache. “I-is there a way to get more of your kind? Was there more in the past? Anything?” Link asked, deeply concerned about the ruler’s feelings on the matter, as well as seeing her as vulnerable as he was looking her now.

“Of my age?... Only one… but a few years ago a filly ascended into demi-godhood after dealing with a possessed pony using emotion magic to steal love for herself.” She smiled wanly before adding, “this last eight years have been good for me, my niece Cadance is adorable, and has kept us both good company. Then there is my niece Trinity, a loving filly, came to me at a later time than Cadance, but the two of them have been my light in these dark years.”

“I hope this doesn’t come off rude but, what can you tell me about Trinity? She doesn’t exactly look like you, an alicorn I mean,” Link asked slowly, hoping not to cause offense with his host.

Celestia went silent, face scrunched in thought, pondering how to answer Link… before she relaxed, and said to him, “She was a divine gift to me, Link… sent to me so I could focus my emotions and raise her like a daughter to me, while I waited for the destined day…”

“What about the mirror on her back?” Link asked.

“To be honest, she came with it on her back, and while it is a part of her, it is not - so I imagine nothing harmful will happen if she were to lose it,” Celestia replied serenely, before adding, “I know, since she let me borrow it once for study - never got too far with it.”

“I can shine some truth on it. That mirror is something called the Twilight Mirror, it is used to transport one to the Twilight Realm, although what it’s doing here is what I’m concerned about. It shouldn’t even be here outside of hyrule...” Link explained.

“That… that is a new name, Link. The one I know about was known as Shadow Realm - and its ruler tried to conquer our world once - we managed to prevent him from doing that, but he took with him an entire kingdom of our kind with him,” Celestia said with sadness in her voice, as if looking at a particularly bad memory.

“The place is… well, it's hard to explain, but you’ll know it if you see floating black particles and the sky in constant twilight. The people in it are bipedal, black and white with green tattoos on its arms or legs. Does the ruler have anything similar on his body?” Link asked.

Celestia splayed her ears as she said forlornly, “Not really, but he took the shape of a black unicorn… and yet could face me and my si-” she caught herself, before rephrasing, “he was much more powerful than us, so all we could do was separate him from his kingdom in the shadows - but he took ours with him instead, in his defeat.”

Link went into silence as he thought about it. ‘Could Trinity be a Displaced like me?’ Link asked himself mentally before turning his head toward the royal white alicorn. “Hmm... that’s all the questions I have for now, Princess Celestia.” he said.

“So tell me, Link… which was the best place you remained in for a while when outside our borders?” Celestia inquired with earnest interest, as she looked at him hopefully.

Link looked thoughtful, before relaxing and saying, “well, there was this town…”

“And that’s about it.” Link finishing explaining what was outside of Equestria.

“It is good to see that some things haven’t changed outside our borders, Link… but I do feel concerned about the monsters you’ve been forced to fight - they aren’t part of our world,” Celestia commented while frowning in thought.

“I had a feeling they weren’t,” Link responded.

“Look at the time!” Celestia pointed out with wide eyes as she looked at the clock, showing that they were past two in the early morning, “I’ll ask the guard outside to take you to the prepared quarters, and tomorrow we’ll talk about my job proposal, does it sound right?” She asked him with a little hint of worry in her voice.

“Oh by Din’s might, sorry about that, Celestia,” Link said then snorted a giggle. “Looks like our job meeting turned into Q & A about my life.”

Celestia giggled at his good-humored answer, before saying to Link, “and yet you do look better after our reunion, my little hero, perhaps talking helped you more than we both realized?”

“And I thank you for that, I haven’t had a good conversation in a long time, you’ve allowed me to get a lot off of my chest.” Link said with a smile.

Celestia smiled warmly at Link before turning to the door, calling out, “Guard! Please escort my guest to the room meant for him, then you have permission to go the barracks and rest.”

The door opened up, and a guard came in, saying, “By your will, my liege. Sir, please come this way…” before waving his hoof to Link, motioning him to follow after him.

Link got up, bowing to Celestia respectfully before following the guard to his new temporary room.

After she was left alone in the now lonely study, Celestia sighed in quietly before looking at the moon outside the window.

“Soon, my little sister… soon my hope and wish will come true… and will welcome you back with open wings.”

With that said, she teleported to her quarters…

And the moon shimmered in the quiet of night.

A Knight's Job. (P1)

Author's Note

I'm deeply sorry for taking so long to update, my editor has been busy with life and with his own story.

EDIT: According to FTR, this chapter actually was edited and I didn't notice till now.

A Knight's Job. (P1)

Link was escorted back to his room - after Celestia asked a guard to lead him back to his quarters - while she made her way to finish making preparations to start Open Court… but not before introducing him as Trinity’s guard to her and a few officers, just to let them into the loop.

Thanking the guard once they arrived, Link entered the chamber… and grabbed his arms to return some heat into them as he went straight to the bathroom.

Once inside, he found his toothbrush, and applying some toothpaste on it, he started brushing his teeth, automatically thinking about the turn of fate his life had just taken… only to spit as he smacked his lips, tasting hay in the toothpaste. Link glared at the offending tube, until now noticing that the tube said “Hay-Flavored” in its label.

‘Being trained by ponies... Now how is that for irony?’ Link thought jokingly to himself as he rinses his mouth out to get the flavor out of his mouth. “Note to self, pay more attention to the toothpaste labels in the near future,” he groaned before rinsing his mouth with more water from the sink.

‘They might have to adjust their training regulation since they’re teaching me rather than a pony or a minotaur. Hmm, I wonder if putting on the silver gauntlets would be a wise choice…’ He wondered before shaking his head… and said out to his reflection in the bathroom, “nah, wouldn’t be honest if I used them.”

Once that was said, Link rummaged through the coffer at the feet of the sink… where he saw different flavors of toothpaste: hay, neutral, and strawberry. Link frowned when there was no mint flavor in the mix.

Once ready, he moved outside his room, where the same guard led him to a meeting room… where there was already the sound of ponies talking inside. Opening the door as the guard gently nudged him to go inside, Link took a look around at all the ponies as he was feeling a little bit nervous.

Inside, he saw the one he knew as Silver Bullet, along with several ponies that had either ornamented armor, or nice suits.

Silver Bullet was talking with a unicorn mare of brown coat and orange mane, while a purple-armored guardsmare - whose armor was of a different design than the regular guards - was talking with a stallion wearing a frock… and who was sporting an epic mustache and three crowns on his flank, which showed his white coat.

‘I guess he’d be the general I met before?’ Link mentally guessed as he stood among the group of ponies, literally sticking out like a sore thumb due to his height when compared to them.

Both Silver Bullet and Epic Mustache turned their attention to face him, while the guardsmare and the unicorn mare turned their faces at him, and glared at him.

“Well, if it isn’t Link! Quite an interesting duel you had with your friend the other day! How’s he, by the way?” asked Silver Bullet to Link, who by this point was trying his best to keep his cool… and slowly failing at that from the looks and glares he was receiving from the ponies.

“Happy, last time I saw him,” Link said to the unicorn general.

“Well, considering how you two went at it… humm… you wouldn’t happen to know the reason why we were gathered at this time?” Silver Bullet asked Link again, seriousness and professionalism in his voice… with a little smile that betrayed his true feelings towards him.

“I don’t know, I’m only here because Celestia wanted me to,” Link explained.

This time, the pony with the epic mustache approached Link, as he asked, “Well met, Link. I am Lord Fancy Pants, and do forgive my asking… what specie are you? Never seen your kind before!”

“I’m a Hylian… and got ripped from my home by some magical accident,” Link replied sadly, keeping part of the truth to himself and those he chose to entrust with.

“Perhaps Princess Celestia could help you with that, young stallion,” Fancy Pants said to Link, while the glares from the two mares had actually softened from that revelation.

“I won’t hold hope to that, there are many universes out there… and I really doubt she would find the one I came from.” Link said.

“Well, now’s that a pity,” the brown-coated unicorn mare said softly, while the armored one approached Link.

“Well, sir… I have been informed about some… facts about your reason for being here, and please do know, that I’m sorry to hear that - that there is no way home for you,” the armored guardsmare said to Link kindly, before the doors creaked open, letting in Princess Celestia and Princess Trinity - the latter trying to hide behind her aunt’s back legs.

“Nothing to worry about, while I may not be able to get home, at least I’m welcomed here.” Link said on a more positive note.

The guardsmare smiled a little before squaring herself along with Silver Bullet, while Fancy Pants and the unnamed unicorn mare inclined themselves in respect.

Link nodded and remained silent while inclining his torso a little as a show of respect.

“Please, rise my little ponies - there is no need for that,” Celestia said to the ponies - and human - present as they rose from their positions.

After a beat, she started talking, “the reason I gathered you here, is because I finally found the ideal subject to become Princess Trinity’s bodyguard… and how to handle his naturalization, since he’s not of Equestrian origin,” she then turned her serene gaze to face Link, her eyes betraying her amusement at his surprise as she added, “of course, you seem to already know one another, so at least there is some progress in that regard.”

“Princess Celestia? I don’t mean to question your choice in the matter, considering what nearly transpired six months ago… but is he really up to task?” inquired the armored guardsmare while pointing a hoof at Link.

“If you’ve heard of my past deeds then you’d understand,” Link said to the guardsmare, who snorted.

“Now, Captain Rolling Axe… I know you and the Guard feel that this is an intrusion upon your duties, but I assure you, Link’s more than capable of passing the Royal Guard’s test, once the issue of his citizenship is solved,” Celestia said serenely.

“Princess Celestia? What does the citizenship test entails?” Link asked the ruler, who turned to face Silver Bullet.

“General Silver Bullet? Would you be so kind, as to explain Link about the details?” Celestia requested to the stallion, who nodded.

“Certainly, mo- I mean Princess Celestia,” Silver Bullet said regally before approaching Link and saying to him, “Link, the Equestrian naturalization process to grant citizenship involves several parts, including a theoretical test on the knowledge of Equestrian Culture, as well as our laws, duties, obligations and rights…”

Taking a breath, he continued, while Link paid close attention to what was being said, ”the residence part, where you’re required to live within our borders for at least an entire year while serving under the Crown, with up to three guaranteeing naturalization and citizenship; the Royal Oath to uphold our laws and values; and…”

At this point, Silver Bullet turned to see the Princess’s face again - which was looking at him with expectation - and finished with resolve, “and, our Princess’s proposal in your favor do certainly give weight to your case for earlier approval, if you do pass the Guard’s Training Course and the educational aspect of it,” the unicorn said to Link with a determined look in his face.

“Understood.” Link said with no objections, assuming at this point that all his education might be entirely different. “Just one question. Are there any rules or limitations of what we can use for our equipment?” he asked.

This time, Captain Axe turned her eyes on him, and said to him, “we don’t allow aids of any kind, nor any equipment - not until a diagnostic has been done as to the trainee’s skills and capabilities… why do you ask?”

Link pointed with one hand at his pouch.

“I’ve got a lot of equipment I’ve used throughout most of my life,” he said to her, while the others just watched the exchange with interest.

“Well, if you’re going to be training with us, then these articles won’t come into play until later,” she pressed a hoof on Link’s leg for emphasis, “for now, I want you to get used to the castle… and in a week’s time you’ll join us to the barracks, where you’ll be measured and issued trainee’s uniform…” at this point the mare started to join dots together, and finished asking with a little blush on her, “just to know… do you have a sheath? I don’t want any of the recruits getting an eyeful, you know?”

“Depends on which sword I want to use. I’ve got four kinds, each one with their own sheath,” Link explained.

A moment of silence passed after Link’s statement, which threw him off as he wondered ‘Did I say anything wrong?’

The moment of silence was broken by a hearty, good-natured laughter as Link turned to face Lord Fancy Pants laughing, while the Captain was blushing profusely at being laughed at while keeping her glare on the noblestallion.

“Well, Captain, he’s got you there!” Lord Fancy Pants said to the Captain after he had laughed, while the others present were still giggling at the now red mare.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that!” the Captain squeaked before schooling herself, and said to Link, “I meant… if you have any issues, since you’re wearing a full set of clothes, Link.”

“O-oh... You mean THAT sheath...” Link said with embarrassment. “I’d prefer if that part was covered... It’s a bit of a custom that being naked in my world is taboo,” he explained to the thoughtful - and no longer red - mare.

“Hum… Link, I believe that our tailor will want to take a look at your clothing… so that it preserves your modesty,” then she eyed his face again, before asking, “... may I ask why you wear the rest of it?”

“It's what I chose to wear, it is meant for exploring, adventuring, fights, traveling. Though I have two other sets of clothing,” Link explained, not bothering to mention the fierce deity mask which kind of has its own armor. “I’m very prepared for almost anything that comes my way.”

The Captain’s look was of interest - with a gleam of curiosity in her eyes - as she asked politely to Link, “Hmmm, when you pass by your own skill the preliminary course… would you be opposed to letting our experts have a look at your gear? The making is certainly interesting, and must be special if your wanderings for the last seven years, or ten as I was recently informed, have barely left on it a scratch.”

“There’s… quite a lot in my pouch, it may take you a long time without me to explain them all.” Link said with a nervous titter, “it is enchanted to carry a lot of things within a small pocket dimension,“ he explained to the now openly curious mare as she looked at him.

Captain Axe hummed as her eyes gleamed with the possibilities… only to be interrupted by Princess Celestia as she cleared her throat - speaking clearly in a matter-of-fact tone, “Now that all of that is out of the way… Link will be currently be employed under the specialist clause, as a loyal agent, independent from the Guard for the time being… until he fulfills all conditions, as to become a full-fledged Equestrian citizen. Do all present agree? I have provided you with documentation of his actions outside our borders, plus the most recent ones here.”

The ponies turned to meet each other’s eye, before answering to Princess Celestia, “If you’re willing to entrust him with the security of your family and our royals, then we will bide by your will, Princess Celestia,” Silver Bullet announced as the unofficial spokespony for all gathered, while Trinity just looked at them from behind Celestia’s back leg.

The princess turned to meet Link’s sight, and said serenely, “Well, Link… as you are now a specialist employed by the Crown, please meet your charge…” Celestia’s wing gently pushed Trinity to the front, where Link could see her more clearly as she looked at him shyly, “Princess Trinity, here is Link - your new bodyguard and companion. Link, here is your charge - Trinity, fellow princess of the Equestrian Royalty, and my niece.”

Link smiled at Trinity in an attempt to appear more friendly for the young princess - even kneeling down to get near her level as to not appear as threatening as before, “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine,” he said before reaching into his pouch, pulling out what appeared to be the mask of a fox. “Princess Trinity? Here is a little something that I think you’ll enjoy wearing to play,” he said as he handed her the fox-like mask, which she looked at with childish curiosity.

“Thank you, Mister Link…” the young filly said shyly to him before giving him a little smile.

Link followed a guard with Princess Trinity in tow as he got a small tour of the castle’s interior; from where were Trinity’s quarters; right on to the path leading to the dining area; and what path led to the castle’s courtyard and the nearest guard’s barracks in case of emergency.

All the time which the guard introduced Link to his environment, he was giving Link quite the look of displeasure deeply masked in professionalism.

‘Ignore the look, it is something that’ll happen often because of how I look, but I’m sure he’ll change when he sees that I’m capable of the job,’ Link inwardly said to himself.

‘More to the point… who would want to incur Princess Celestia’s ire by kidnapping her niece? Why would they risk that?’ Link thought to himself as the tour reached an end and the guard gruffly excused himself as he left them in front of the Library.

“Humm… Mister Link?” asked Trinity to her new guard with a lot of uncertainty in her voice, while wearing her present on her face, giving her a foxy look in the process… with style, thanks to the scarf she was wearing.

“Yes, Princess Trinity?” Link said as he turned his head to look at the young hybrid.

“... Would it be possible for us to play checkers after I’ve done my homework?” She asked him shyly as she tried to hide behind her mane a bit, giving him the classic ‘puppy-eyes’ while at it.

Link tittered softly at her shyness. “Sure, Princess.” he said with a smile. He pondered if he should go easy on her or play at his best.

Trinity giggled a little as she made her way into the Library, with Hylian in tow.

“... and done!” Trinity exclaimed after two hours of work, where she occasionally asked Link about one question or another, relaxing ever so slightly as time passed by.

“By the way, Trinity… None of the other ponies have picked on you, have they?” Link asked in concern.

Trinity went quiet, looking with barely contained anger at her parchment with the answers to her homework… before she sniffed and said quietly, “the bullies at school say I’m a freak… that I’m not a pony at all…”

Link frowned at those words. “They need to take a page from your aunt then. I mean, I’m different - but she welcomed me with open wings.” he said.

Trinity sniffed again before replying with certainty, a determined look in her eyes, “not all my schoolmates are mean, but they… they fear me… and the mean ones keep that fear up front while keeping their distances… and the few who try to get close to me, they bully too.”

Link went silent as he tried to figure out a why to help Trinity without being blamed or at fault for it. “Trinity.” Link began as he walked toward the nearest one. “Have you ever heard of the stone face of the everfree forest?” he asked.

“Humm… I remember a filly that researched that, and got an A+ despite her delivering her homework late,” Trinity replied as her tail moved, one ear straight while the other one stayed folded, head tilted in thought as she was momentarily distracted from her dark thoughts.

“I believe I can help you… somewhat. See, that stone was actually me wearing an enchanted mask, I can be with you with that mask on and if anypony tries to bully you, I’ll just give them a harmless taste of their own medicine.” Link explained.

Trinity’s previously dulled eyes shined again with life as Link finished saying that, and rising on the desk as if she were a puppy, she looked at Link in the eyes with wonder before saying, “Really!? You can come!? And nopony would see you!?”, tail swishing around merrily as she looked upon Link with a new light.

“I’ll be as interesting as a stone. So if you see one with a dull face, you’ll know it’s me.” Link said with a smile.

She made a ‘squee’ sound in reply to his statement as she quickly bagged her schoolwork and books in her saddlebags, right before biting Link in the pants’ sleeve… all while trying to take him elsewhere, tail swishing quickly while at it.

“Whoa, where are we going, princess?” Link said with a amusing laugh at her eager antics.

“My homework is done, and now we will play ‘till dinner!” Trinity replied muffedly with her mouth still clinging on to Link’s pants, as he laughed as they made their way to her quarters… only for Link to hear a familiar voice giggling at them before saying, “Triny! Don’t forget we dine at seven!”

“We will be there, Caddy!” the filly replied again, muffedly because of the cloth on her mouth, as Link laughed at the scene.

They spent the evening laughing as they played… until dinnertime came, and went to the royal’s private dining room.

As they walked towards the room, Link couldn’t help but think, she’s being picked due to her appearance… I think a little something called Karma outta straighten out the bullies. But how to go about it without scarring the bullies into thinking she’s even more of a freak?’ he asked himself as he planned his discreet guarding assignment of his charge.

Not aware of Link’s musings, Cadence chirped to the newcomers, “hello! How was your first day together?” before taking a bite of her apple salad… daintily, of course.

“It went better than I thought.” Link said as he turned his head toward the pretty pink pony.

“Yes, it was a good day…” Trinity said softly before smiling genuinely at her cousin and aunt, both of which seemed as if glowing from contentment alone as they heard her say that.

“I am glad to hear that, my little pony… now come, and eat up!” Celestia replied with a happy look in her face, before her eyes darted for a second to look at Link… and her look softened up considerably as she returned to her meal.

The rest of the night was calm, and thankfully for Link, no sight nor show of the Night Mistress to ruin his slumber as he grabbed his covers to keep the heat in.

“We are here together, to discuss the news concerning… that thing that Celestia brought over from elsewhere, for it to watch over the abomination she calls a niece,” an educated, and quite cold masculine voice echoed through the chamber - lit with candles hanging from chandeliers - that was currently filled with twenty ponies, all in elegant and tasteful attire… many mares and quite a few stallions among the mix.

“The rumors speak of a biped that eats meat like her - the horrible brute! We must take measures to rid us of such a monster!” a mare exclaimed, before using her forehooves to keep her hairstyle in place.

“Quite true! Our efforts to keep our land free of other species has so far been successful, even in spite of our… royal highness’s attempts to break through our work.” Another mare stated coldly as she sipped daintily from her cup of tea.

“The failure from six months past complicated matters considerably, and we can’t afford to waste more time, if we are to obtain that which we want from that monster,” the same educated and cold masculine voice stated to his audience.

“Cold Cash… what is your proposal?” a mare dressed in fine clothing and covered in jewelry asked the stallion, who just looked at her with the same glare he used for everyone he met.

“... I propose that we contact our benefactor, and inquire about the employment of some… muscle to counter the thing that the alicorn brought into the palace.” Cold Cash replied with a flinty tone to the mare who inquired, before she lowered her sight from his unyielding glare.

“What will it cost us this time, Lord Cash?” Another mare asked with the same tone that he used - only to see that it didn’t affect him in the same way as the ponies around her.

“... We will ask now, Lady Widow,” Cold Cash replied before using his horn to rise a briefcase that had several glyphs sealing it all over the surface… all of them shining briefly before they went dark, and the briefcase opened up…

Showing to all present a stone that had the shape of a pig-like entity sitting on its haunches, with a gemstone on its forehead, a dark granite being the making of the statuette.

“Sosin Do Yol… Sosin Do Liz… we have business to speak with you.” Cold Cash proclaimed to the stone, which began to shine with purple, green and black…

And the cackling of two feminine voices resounded through the room.

A Knight's Job. (P2)

Author's Note

Big thanks to my editor and co-writer. I hope ya'll enjoy. ^^

A Knight's Job. (P2)

Next day arrived, and Link yawned as he felt the chill despite the enchantments keeping the heat from leaving the room.

Turning to face the clock, he saw that the time was five with fifty-five minutes… and groaned from having been woken up earlier than normal.

Hearing the sound of… something soft falling outside, Link rose with the blankets on him, where he moved the curtains away… and saw snow falling outside the window, giving the city a very particular look… as if it were made of candy, and the snow was in fact frosting covering the landscape.

“Nighttime and the time of winter have always been the most peaceful, even in a different world.” Link said softly to himself before smiling at the sight. A moment went by before he started fumbling around a little while keeping his blankets over him, placing his pouch on the bed where he pulled his cloak and hood and his tunic to get dressed.

Link made a mental note to try and get some warm clothing in case winter gets any colder as he felt another shiver running up his spine - thanking that his room had a bathroom to relieve himself before leaving. While making his way to Celestia’s quarters, he started humming a tone that fellow zelda fans would recognize as the Ice Cavern theme.

It took Link around ten minutes to reach Celestia’s private study after getting lost at two wrong turns - and asking the nearby guards for reference points to reach it - where he rapped the door once…

And a familiar, warm voice greeted him… one that wasn’t the property of the Princess, to Link’s surprise.

“Good morning, Mister Link!” chirped an earth pony maid that somehow felt like I had heard talking before as she came out of the room, with saddlebag and a cart with linen and sheets carefully folded down… and a cart full of laundry to be done chained to the first one.

“Oh! Good morning.” Link said back, taking a moment to try and remember her name, even going as to look at their cutie mark - as usually those tattoos hinted at their owner’s name… only to find that her frilly skirt covered it. Hazarding a guess, Link added, “How are you doing… uh… Serving Cup?” he said.

The mare brightened up as her name came out of Link’s lips, “Oh, you know, busy as a bee! The Princess is currently preoccupied with her morning care, but asked me to give you this slip of paper, as today’s assignments for you.” Serving Cup replied before hoofing over a parchment with a list of things to do to Link, who kneeled over to see what the paper had on it.

Today’s List of Duties:
Hello, Link, I hope you are in good spirits, since you’ll be accompanying my two nieces along with Brick Wall, Cadance’s bodyguard, to go to town for window-shopping.

Please Remind Miss Serving Cup here to pass on to you the bag of bits for today’s buying list for them.

Articles to be sought out as follows:

The latest edition of Mares Magazine, for Cadance

Guide for Self-Defense, by Breaking Wood, for Trinity’s self-defense course at the castle

Retrieval of tailored suit for Silver Bullet, pre-packed as a gift, at the tailor shop “Nimue and Ru-toh

Retrieval of dress sent for size adjustment at Nimue and Ru-toh, under name ‘Sunny Sky’

Measurement of Cadance and Trinity for new year’s spring attire at the Tailor.

Visit to ‘Brushing Strokes’, for mane and coat brushing for my nieces.

Inquire about commission for Mr. Link, and request measurements for winter and summer clothing. Commission paid partly in advance, please bring back receipt for full reimbursement from Accounting. Payment will be deducted slightly from your monthly pay, so don’t feel pressured about paying at once, Link.

From the toy district, please seek the following:

Set of Chess, go look at Artisan’s district, shop “Craft and Co” to retrieve my commision.

Two Dolls of Yoh Shih, a popular comic book hero that Cadance and Trinity likes

Mah Rhio figurine, the Shining Sun Defender Knight, with working water pump… for my private collection of collectibles. It is quite the rage!

Mah Rhio figurine, set of four figurines, from foal Mah Rhio, Carrot Mah Rhio, Maple Leaf Mah Rhio, and Summerflame Flower Mah Rioh. The rage among colts of all ages and conditions! Please ask for gift-wrap for a noble-colt that likes silver and gold.

Seeming Araud, action figure, with detachable armor parts and weapons. Kit for grown-up and responsible colts! Part of the The Windigo Hunter collection. Has detailed featherwork depicted in her coat and mane. Please ask for gift-wrap for a noble-filly.

Epona Mask, a fashion statement to show: I am a fan of The Epona Legendary, a story-book collection about a mare leaving home to save her world from darkness, recently turned into a magi-game. It is a sensation rumbling throughout Equestria! This one, too… please ask for gift-wrap for a noble-filly.

The Twin set of Drake Solar and his master, Lady Palustrena, now in action figures with mobile feathery wings, special edition, already commissioned and paid for. For… my private collection.

Chingle the gem-digger, normal edition… with non-removable green suit that ‘puts more detail’ into his… behind. Please ask for gift-wrapping for a Noble who is a gold-digger and won’t get the message ‘I’m not interested in your courting, you gold-digging foal’.

Link had to reread a few parts of the list to make sure he understood it… and because of the shock value of the list. He couldn’t believe that some of them were eerily familiar.

“Either the multiverse likes to mock me, or this is an actually thing. What’s next, a build-a-pony workshop?” he joked privately, before asking the pony maid in front of him, “Is that all, Serving Cup?” he asked.

“Oh, certainly Mister Link!” Serving Cup chirped with a smile before asking with a smidge of insecurity, “When you return, I mean if you aren’t feeling too tired from going out… would you like to hang out?” As she said the last part, Link saw how she pawed softly on the floor with her forehoof, while giving Link a pout - the dreaded puppy look.

Link crossed his arms and gave her a look as if asking if she was serious with her giving him that look. She didn’t budge, and her eyes started to water… before Link replied neutrally, “Well, I don’t see why not, except maybe those moments that we don’t expect, like Celestia needing me for a reason.”

“Yay! It’s a da-” Serving Cup cheered as she jumped like a filly before stopping in mid-jump. As she sheepishly stood still and schooled herself back into an appearance of maturity… she replied daintily, “thank you, Mister Link, for granting me with some of your time. I hope we meet again, soon enough…” before her eyes turned to a side…

And gasped in panic at the hour portrayed at the nearby grandfather clock that she looked at. “Oh dear! I’m running late! See you later, mister Link!” she cheered before trotting at a speed, the two carts being dragged along as if they weighted nothing… leaving Link scratching his head in confusion at what had just happened.

From afar, Link could’ve sworn he heard an echo of someone saying, ‘I’ll be dating an apex predator, how exciting!’ but blamed it to the windy passages throughout the castle, as he went on a calm walk to wait for Trinity to come out of her room, so that them could have breakfast together in the private dining room with Cadance and Celestia.

Link was looking at the frosty street with his charge keeping her side on contact with him, while Cadance was showing a smile that would’ve made most ponies wary.

Brick Wall, her bodyguard, however… didn’t look as excited to be outside of the castle grounds, but kept a professional look regardless of what she thought of the matter at hand.

And Link suspected that this matter at hand had plenty to do with his presence in this chore, as the group started walking.

‘Hopefully the nice weather will last ‘till we get done’ while out loud he said to Cadance and Trinity as he waved the parchment with the shopping list: “I know your mother wrote this, but is there anything extra you’d like to add to it?” Link asked.

“Oh! I like the way you’re thinking, Link! ” Cadance chirped at Link, before turning to Trinity and whispering in a conspiratorial tone: “I say we take advantage of the opportunity given, Trinity. What do you say?”

“Hum… I’d really like to go and see the decorations for Hearth’s Warming, Cadance.” Trinity meekly replied as she eyed warily her surroundings and the influx of ponies coming and going.

“As much as I’d like for this trip to be for pleasantries, Mister Link … we should focus on what is written, lest we go out of budget.” Brick Wall stated in a cool tone, the brown unicorn jingling the bag of bits from Link’s side with her magic.

As they continued talking while going towards the shopping district - Link drawing looks from a variety of emotions as the ponies on the street took him in - they didn’t notice the figures keeping track of their movements as they moved along the sea of ponies.

The fact that the new guard towered over the ponies just made things easier for them as they moved, pretending to be windowshoppers and even interacting with the sellers while keeping them under watch.

Unknown to those figures, though… there was other group of figures keeping track of the tall biped and his charges from the sky, hiding in dark clouds that let out snow every now and then.

Link could only stare at the sight in front of him, once he lowered himself to enter the doorway to avoid knocking his head off… .

It was a mall pretty much - only one more… medieval in tone, and with ponies.

Lots and lots of ponies of all ages and types milling around, as he watched them move like a storm in the making.

Something pricked at his neck, and couldn’t help but feel off… as if something was out of place.

Brick Wall, on the other hand… kept her pace as she followed Cadance and Trinity going from one window to another, enjoying the sights as she kept her charge on sight.

Before she could say anything, Link approached the two wayward princesses and said to them: “Alright, before we do what we need to do, I suggest we keep within seeing distance, we don’t want to get lost, especially if it gets busy around here. Afterwards we get together and finish up.” Link suggested.

“If it isn’t much bother… can we stay together? I… I am still uncomfortable with crowds, Mister Link.” Trinity suggested as she gave him her weaponized ‘puppy-eyes’.

Cadance couldn’t help but titter at the sight, pulling Trinity into a hug while Link simply nodded to her, ignoring the ponies stopping by to see the show.

As Brick Wall saw this scene unfold, keeping an eye on the ponies showing hostility towards the Hylian and odd royal, she wondered…

‘Why did Princess Celestia insist on employing such an odd - and indiscreet - guard for her niece? A fellow unicorn from the Royal Guard Elites should have been enough.’ However, she could see that the reclusive princess and her cousin were bonding just fine with him.

‘I wonder what makes him so special to the royal house…’ but Brick Wall immediately shut down that train of thought. ‘Work first, observations and research come later.’

Out loud, she said to the three of them, “Mister Link, Your Highnesses… let us get the shopping out of the way, so that I can send a message to the palace for them to pick up the articles on the list.” Once she had their attention, she added, “Once that is out of the way, we can go to pick up the dresses and suit that are on the list, and enjoy the sights while we finish up our trip.”

“Can we go eat something afterwards?” Trinity asked her, causing her to blink only once.

‘... I must get my mind out of that place, to justify Princess Trinity as a niece of Princess Celestia herself…’

Link just stared as he held in one hand his new clothing - making a mental note to dress in warmer clothing as the snow began to fall in like powdered sugar, the chill passing through his tunic and causing his skin to get goosebumps from the cold.

‘I know I’m different from the rest, but I can’t be that different to the point that making me clothing would be this difficult…’ Link thought to himself. He has seen dragons and minotaurs in the books he read the castle, they weren’t that farfetched compared to his own body.

‘At least Trinity and Cadance didn’t have to wait as long…’ Link thought in a positive attitude as he saw the two royals almost prancing around, seemingly fulfilling the cliche: all females like new dresses.

He turned his sight to Brick Wall, who had pointedly avoided giving small talk to him while keeping the two royals on her sights, constantly on the lookout.

‘That mare bodyguard has been doing her job just fine, although a little bit impatient.’ Link commented to himself as he kept an eye on his charge and the path full of shoppers coming and going.

Until a mare passing through didn’t do as much bumping as she shoved Link out of the way with her body as she went through, forcing him to back away to the side. Link gave her a raised eyebrow at the mare’s action toward him as she kept her pace, getting stink-eyes from Cadance who noticed the rude mare. ‘Eventually I should get a uniform that’ll tell those be I’m a bodyguard.’ he thought with annoyance.

“How rude! Brick Wall! Did you see that rude pony shoving Link aside!?” Cadance demanded, annoyance in her tone as she glared at the retreating figure.

Her guard said nothing, except giving Link a blank look before saying “It is getting late, your Highness. We should get moving back to the palace.”

“But I wanted to look at the decorations at the park when the moon is raised!” Trinity whined in dismay.

Unknown to Link, the mare that had pushed him aside went past one of the ponies keeping his group under watch… who smirked as he sipped from a cup of tea from the shop close by, pretending to be just a pony enjoying the snowy sights as the group moved towards the park.

There was only one thought that crossed his mind: ‘Excellent. No one cares about him.’

Taking a moment to place his papercup on a bin close by, he dropped a bit colored red on the cobblestones close to him. The results were immediate, as the ones accompanying him began moving towards them as he went his own way.

‘This’ll be a piece of cake.’

As the day gave way to the night, Link’s eyes opened wide as the reason for Trinity’s desire to be there at that moment showed on to him.

While the park was mostly desolate at this hour, the snow falling now in a larger amount even if it was still like powdered sugar… the lights were activated as the night began, the moon rising at the horizon with the pony-shaped shade in its face.

Crystal lights feeding off the ambient magic gently shone in a myriad of colors, many placed on top of the fountain - giving it the look that it was a fountain of rainbow light contrasting with the coming gloom from the snow-bearing clouds.

As Link took this in, other discreet lightings shone from within the lake that laid frozen in the middle of winter, giving it a pearly green and blue shades coming from within.

Link couldn’t help but chuckle to himself of old memories resurfacing in his mind - a smile growing on his mouth as the holiday filled him in. It had been a long time since he had last experienced Christmas, even if there were some differences due to the change of universe, reality or world that he underwent.

Link set his sights toward the sky, the night-sky reminding him of a certain holiday in a game. “Reminds me a bit of the Carnival of Time” Link commented out loud with a small grin on his face.

“Is this Carnival of Time similar to Hearth’s Warming Eve, Mister Link?” Trinity asked him, ears twitching as she looked at him with a relaxed smile.

“Oh, well. The array of colors certainly matches it, the only things missing are peo-ponies wearing masks and fireworks being shot into the air.” Link explained as he turned toward the young wolf-filly.

“Really, they wear masks while partying? What does this carnival celebrate, Link?” Cadance asked him from his side, eyes filled with genuine curiosity as she placed a wing on Trinity’s back.

Link went into thought to recall his memories of such an old event. “Each year, the season of harmony begins when the sun and the moon are in alignment. Paying homage to the way so that both nature and time are tirelessly in the process of progress, the Carnival Of Time is when the people of the four worlds celebrate that harmony and request fruitfulness for the year. When I said four worlds, I mean the four lands in Termina of North, West, South, and East.” the hylian smiled while explaining to them, only to shake his head at the memories, giving special focus at how much hassle it was to get all the masks, complete all of the events while on a journey to stop a teeth-gritting moon from falling to the world because of some jealous skull kid… so, he saves that tidbit to himself.

“Hum… Mister Link? Didn’t you say you were from a place called Hyrule?” Trinity asked in childish curiosity, while Cadance eyed him with a small grin and Brick Wall looked really disinterested at the scene.

“Well, that's just one of many lands. Outside of Hyrule are many more, existing and spanning cross time, dreams, parallel realms, and even a world bathed in twilight.” Link explained with a smile of his own.

“Ohh” was all that Trinity said to him, face scrunching up in thought.

“My, that certainly sounds interesting, Link… to have a world with so many places to journey to.” Cadance commented to him with genuine interest.

“It’s a lot to remember, I...” Link stopped for a moment. “Did save those lands before.” he said. It wasn’t a lie, but not exactly the truth. ‘Well, certainly I could have told them the truth, but I think… perhaps telling them the original Link’s deeds and his past ancestors’ works would prove to them that he has what it takes to protect Trinity?’

“Look at that. A freak, a reject from a diamond dog mine, an alicorn and a unicorn walk into the park…” A feminine voice sneered at them from the darkness surrounding the decorated park.

“Who goes there!?” Brick Wall barked, horn glowing as she got in a defensive posture close to Cadance, whose horn also began glowing, while Trinity huddled closer to Link.

“The funny thing is, I cannot tell the difference between the reject and the freak, but that’s beneath me.” The same feminine voice mocked them in a falsely jovial tone.

Link looked around warily as he sensed hostility within the darkness. “We’re only here to enjoy the night..” he said.

“Too bad… so do we, isn’t that right, boys?” The female aggressor asked, only for several growls of contained mocking laughter to echo through the darkness… as the sound of a spring released itself...

And Link cried out in pain as something dug into his left arm, piercing pain shocking his brain from the surprise as he saw the shaft of an bolt sticking out of his arm as warm blood trickled out from the wound.

“Link!” Trinity screamed in fear as she huddled further into his boots.

“Kill them.” The female growled, as several shades began to pour out of the abnormal shadows surrounding them…

Shades which Link recognized as Stalfos, but three were wielding crossbows while the other three bore sword and shield.

A stream of fire sourced from the shadows, going straight towards Link -

Only to be blocked by a translucent red shield that diverted the flames away from him.

‘This snow is problematic, as we can’t run away.’ “Link…!” Brick Wall barked, “Get rid of the aggressors while I keep the royals safe! You’re the only one not completely hampered by the snow!” Before shielding away a stream of ice towards the fountain - the fountain becoming a block of ice in the process.

Link held out a hiss as he looked down at his arm. This was the first time he got shot with an arrow, thus has no idea how to take it out. And it hurt. Badly.

“I’m not gonna be able to pull out anything..” Link thought as he held out his good arm. Fire began to gather within the palm of his hand.

The other two Bowstalfos took aim at Link and opened fire while the third one was pulling the spring back into place, while the other three stalfos rushed towards them.

With a flick of his wrist, a snake spiraled up and curled around Link protectively. The arrows quickly turned to ash before they could reach the Hylian. As the snake spiraled around him, the hylian pointed toward his foes, ordering it to slither through the air and fly toward them.

The snake burned two of the Bowstalfos, and forced one of the stalfos to retreat as the other two rushed towards his position - their swords cracking the shield provided by Brick Wall with each impact.

A stream of fire got released from the darkness, being diverted with a strain by the bodyguard’s shield before it collapsed - only for a light-blue shield to appear, funneling the fire towards the third Bowstalfos, burning it to cinders in the process as it was taking aim towards him.

“Link! I’ll help Brick Wall to keep those streams of magic out of our way! Go deal with them!” Cadance exclaimed as she took place next to Trinity, who was crying from terror, body lying on the ground close to them in an attempt to hide from the monsters coming for them.

With his fiery snake still at his command, he ordered it to attack the other skeletons. As the Bombos spell launched itself at the remaining foes, Link was looking around frantically like a paranoid wolf - trying to spot other targets that might not be near.

A stream of ice magic sourced from the darkness - flowing towards the flaming snake as it approached its targets - forcing both spells to nullify one another.

“Forget the skanks! Kill the biped!” The female ordered in a shrill cry, as the Stalfos changed their focus on the ponies and started to move around, trying to find a way in towards Link… the snow crunching and slowing their movements.

Crouching against the ground, he started channeling a different spell. As he did so, sparks of lighting shot forth, focused solely in the front, he was straining in his concentration though as Ether usually prefers to travel around him.

The Stalfos were caught unaware by the lightning, it shocking them as frost began to condense around them, the sheer cold causing them to go on a full stop… and crash like glass when a gust of wind blew them sideways.

“Damn it all! Retreat! Retreat!” The boss of the assailants cried out as the dark cloud dispersed - and Link could see six pony-shaped figures going away and disappearing into the dimly lit streets - where several pegasi launched from the sky towards the runners, only to be received by magical streams of fire, ice and darkness that forced them to retreat hastily as they saw the beams too close to comfort.

Feeling the drain from two magically intensive spells, Link let out a relieved breath he didn’t realize he had held in, taking in that the only one injured was him and not Trinity nor Cadance. “Is everyone alright?” he asked as he got up from his position, letting out a strained hiss at the movement, being reminded of the arrow impaled in his left arm.

“We are fine, thank you.” Brick Wall cut him off curtly, briefly eyeing the shaft buried in his arm before barking, “Officer! Bring a medic! We have one injured here!”

“... That was awesome, Link… what kind of magic was it?” A teary-eyed filly asked him, her face and snout being the only thing visible from the pink fur embracing her with fierce determination.

“I know that isn’t a spell that a regular unicorn can wield to this effect, so… how did you do it?” Cadance asked Link, a grateful smile on her face as she added softly, “And thank you for saving us, mister knight, bodyguard sir.” A mischievous grin showing on her mouth as she said the last three words at Link.

“Those spells were Ether and Bombos, enchanted medallions I use to channel my magic...” Link explained as a pegasus guard rushed in towards him, and interrupted his explanation as he examined his wound - hooves moving his arm despite Link’s sharp intake of air as he choked a scream of both pain and indignation at the handling.

“Sir? It was a good thing you didn’t take the shaft out on your own - that would’ve been bad for you. Now… please join us as we treat your wound at the castle’s medical ward.” The pegasus guardsmare said to him as he tapped Link’s knee twice and gestured for him to follow.

As Link started to follow, he was soon joined by Trinity and Cadance with Brick Wall in tow - all of them surrounded by guards while more officers poured into the park to attempt to find evidence on who assaulted them and the guards that tried to capture the ponies running away.

As Hylian and Ponies headed towards Canterlot Castle, Link was thinking with worry about the Stalfos, he knew for a fact that they shouldn’t be in Equestria. Skeleton ponies, sure, but definitely not Stalfos...

‘What in the name of Nayru is going on here?’

Grim Realizations.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait.

Grim Realizations.

The sound of a weak groan escaped the hylian’s mouth as he felt being tapped by something blunt. Opening his eyes, he slowly sat up from his temporary bed and blinked his confusion out of his vision, ignoring the blunt touch on his self that didn’t abate. “...Did I black out?” Link asked himself as he glanced around the room, where he realized he was in some sort of infirmary.

“You did.” Said an annoyed feminine voice coming from a lower level than him, and as Link turned to the source of the voice saw a pale pink unicorn mare with a nurse outfit - red cross included for some reason as she went on her business checking on the bandaging on Link’s left arm with her telekinesis. “Once the shock of having an arrow stuck into your arm went through, you passed out mister.”

“I hope this isn’t going to affect my performance in my shield bearing?” Link asked with concern as he moved his good arm to hold himself up and not apply pressure with the left arm.

“If you stop wigglin’ like a worm you’ll be fine in a few days, sir.” The nurse replied curtly, glaring at Link until he stopped squirming to test his body. “The bandages have both a potion and an enchantment to promote and accelerate healing - a scar will remain, though. For more information, there is the doctor overseeing your case whom you can ask questions when checking on your state.”

Link laid himself back down. He looks toward the ceiling as ill memories from the previous serious injury resurfaced in his mind.

Seeing him frown, the nurse misinterpreted the meaning and added in a softer tone, “If anything, sir… you did good in doing your job. You should feel proud of that.” Before making her way out, closing the door and leaving Link to his own thoughts..

‘The longer I live in this world, the complicated things get.’ Link mused to himself quietly. ‘First my paranoia of being judged by the locals, and now there are monsters and ponies after Trinity and me?’

This caused him to groan… only to glance at his immobilized left arm.The hylian went silent even further as he wrestled with his thoughts. ‘I know no one got hurt, but that arrow could of been aimed at someone else… and I didn’t brought my shield or equipment with me.’ Link thought before he started feeling remorse about going lightly on his duties….

‘I got too confident, too relaxed - that must change, unless I die next time - and there are no fairies to save me or others in this world!’ only for his face to frown more. ‘What if they had hurt Trinity and Cadance? Or killed us all? This is bad - I don’t know how to deal with this kind of situations. This kind of situation never happened before in my life… I only fought monsters of this world, not-not this!’

Link was so focused on his inner self-deprecation that he didn’t notice someone suddenly blocking the sunlight entering from the window, until a gentle clearing of throat and pastel colors floating in Links’ sight drew his attention to the owner of the multi-colored mane. The hylian’s head jerked up to see Celestia herself standing before him.

“Oh! Princess C-Celestia...” Link said with a nervous stutter.

“Hello, Link… how’re you doing?” She asked him, eyeing for a moment the immobilized arm before turning her gentle eyes to him.

“Uh-fine, I suppose...” Link said as he tried to calm his mind while inwardly he was all but screaming ‘Oh no, please don’t tell me to pack and leave! I’ll do better for next time!’.

“I wanted to thank you for dealing with the assailants of last night, but I must inquire… why didn’t you take with you your gear? I was led to believe that you never parted with it.” She asked him gently as she placed herself at Link’s side, a wing over his shoulder to calm the now shivering man.

“It's just… it was so peaceful around canterlot the past few days I stayed here, I thought maybe I didn’t need it for just that one day...” Link explained.

The wing-hug tightened a bit, before Celestia asked him: “Link? May I ask if you have experience in protecting people… at hoof?”

The hylian went into a complete silent before he spoke up.. “...None.. The only thing I’ve done was just deal with whatever was causing trouble, much like slaying a beast that refused to leave or a dragon that didn’t listen to reasoning...” he explained while fighting down the wish to get eaten by the ground.

Celestia said nothing… only to nuzzle Link’s hair, to his surprise. “Well, now I see the wisdom in having you undergo training, Link - too much time alone has left you with no experience in these regards.” Only to add mischievously “and while we’re at it, I think I’d like to hear your version of what transpired yesterday evening, if you’d be so kind.”

Her speaking voice did help him calm his heart down, but the second half made him question her. Link raised his head to look at her. “W-well.. It was going smoothly, other than somepony bumping into me whether it was on purpose or by accident I don’t know. The end of the way we were attacked by a group of Stalfos, those creatures should not even exist here…” He said unsure. “And when we dealt with them, I managed to catch a glimpse of a group of ponies running away - who repelled the guards coming to them with strong magic.”

Link looked upon Celestia’s face, and realized that her expression was locked down - leaving him unable to tell what was going on within her mind.

“It seems that my choice to employ an outsider is already making waves, Link. Why bother otherwise with doing such an overt act?” She asked rhetorically before releasing him from her wing-hug. “Thank you for doing your best, Link - but it seems that bad times are nearby. It’ll be for the best that you’re ready for when it comes.”

“Assuming I don’t die before then..” Link mumbled bitterly, causing her to stop mid-step.

Link rose his eyes and saw something he immediately realized didn’t want to see in the future: a hurt look in Celestia’s face, before she schooled it back into a serious one.

“Link? I know this is much to ask, but I am not naive enough to not consider that out there are monsters that masquerade as ponies or sapients - will you only fight against non-thinking creatures bound by instinct? Or will you learn, and fight to curtail those that seek to hurt others for their own benefit?” She locked eyes with him, and closing in briefly she asked him in the ear through a whisper: “Will you let others suffer at the hoofs of wicked beings while you cower in fear? That is not the being I see in you…” At this point she retreated and started walking towards the door… only to add in the end: “I can only hope that one day you’ll be honest enough to find out the same.”

The hylian was silent was more as he let out a slow sigh. “..I..I-I…. I have no choice but to do so... Only I know what they are and how to beat them.”

Celestia smiled wanly at that. “I know, and am certain that the Royal Guard will benefit from such knowledge - if you wish to share it, that is.” She then stopped for a moment as her horn glowed, and added “Link? Sometimes being a hero involves sacrificing what one wants in order to do what is right… but it is still a choice - the hardest choices being those that involve you personally and what you want.”

She turned to walk out, and added softly as she moved, voice grim as she uttered, “Trust me… I know what it is like.” Before leaving and closing the door behind her.

Nothing but silence filled the room and the sounds of others things in the room. Slowly but steadily, he raises his hand to stare at it, he saw the triangle glowing as a mocking reminder of how he ended up here. “... Triforce of courage, the piece of Farore.. If this thing actual follows what the original does, then what is it doing inside of me? What is it binding itself to, and not moving on to a better host? The only courageous thing I did was survive and face this… world?” he asked himself rhetorically. The poor hylian sounded so confused. “Farore... i-if you’re out there, please guide me...”

“You’ve got a visitor, sir.” The same nurse from earlier stated as she opened the door to Link’s room, and was shortly followed by Cadance and Trinity and a couple of guards in full gear - one of them that Link recognized as Brick Wall, who remained outside with the fellow guard.

“How’re you doing, Mister Link?” Trinity asked while swishing her tail.

“Hello, Link. I do hope that you’re not the needle-fearing kind like Triny here!” Cadance teased, causing the filly to pout at her in response.

The hylian gave Cadance a joking deadpan expression. “I’ve had them plenty of time in my life, I doubt the next would be any different.” Link said to the pink pony before looking over to Trinity. “I’m doing fine other than having a mental reminder.”

The filly just ‘ohh’d’ in reply as her ears splayed on her skull, looking at Link like a kicked puppy. “Thank you for getting rid of the meanies, Mister Link” before eyeing the immobilized left arm in bandages, “I-I can only hope that I can learn to be as tough as auntie Celestia in less time…”

Cadance approached her, placing a wing on the filly before saying softly to Link “She’s somehow blaming herself for what happened yesterday. And Triny?” She asked in the end, causing the filly to look at her - still in that position. “You’re not at fault here, my lil’ filly! Let those meany pants choke on bitter lemons if that’s how they like it, they’re not the ones who get to pick who lives and who does not! Nopony has that right!”

“I don’t think calling them mean pants would come close to it, they were willing to take on lives just to get to Trinity, it's just they weren’t expecting to have any sort of power, they probably thought I was incapable of magic...” Link explained as he shook his head. “I need to be more prepared incase they do it again, maybe I could ask Celestia if she could place extra nightguards on duty.”

“Triny? Would you be so kind as to give me a minute to ask him something private? I won’t take long - and you’ll get to be in the company of Wall and Buckler! What do you say?” Cadance asked Trinity while nuzzling her forehead, causing the filly to ‘eep’.

Trinity nodded and went out of the room - and somehow feeling that her presence wasn’t required at the moment, the nurse left the room as well. Her hoofsteps went slightly too quickly when passing in front of the two guards - faces stony as they took places next to the filly.

Horn glowing in light blue, the door closed up and a bubble surrounded Link and Cadance - who asked him in disbelief: “Link? What the buck was that for? She’s just a filly, for crying out loud! She didn’t need to know that!”

“It was either that or tell the truth. If those ponies or whoever is hell-bent on hurting her are going to keep at it - then she’s going to end up scarred from their efforts sooner or later, even getting really hurt if I screw up even once. I believe the future will hold things far worse than what I just said.” Link replied to her as he lowered his head. “I’m sorry for what I said, but I just couldn’t sugarcoat it for her sake if they were to return... Just be glad that blood was not shed yesterday…”

“And what about yours!? Isn’t your blood worth even mention?” Cadance pointed out while pointing with a wing to his left arm before adding slightly exasperated. “While I get your intention, it wasn’t the right way - she’s a filly, she should be worrying more about foalish things! Instead, we get some jerks trying to get rid of her for reasons unknown - and she feels herself as the odd pony out!! Please, all I just ask is this: please try to not cause her more anxiety - she’s regressing to her fearful state from that kidnapping attempt… please.” She asked him, a meeker tone at the end as her withers drooped along with her ears and wings.

The first thing that came out of Link was a quick, mirthless and choked chuckle that escaped his mouth before he cleared his throat and looked at her with an unreadable expression. “Sometimes I feel we’re both the odd ones here.” Link stated softly as he placed his hands onto his stomach. “There’s a mystery that surrounds her, mostly that mirror on her back and her similarities to a wolf, I’ve seen them before and I’ve yet to understand why she looks the way she is...” he said while reaching up to hold onto his howling stone necklace with his free hand. “Sorry… my mind is still a little hectic from yesterday. I have so many questions but no answers...” Link’s eyes moved up to look at Cadance. “Tell me... Has Celestia told you anything about her?”

Cadance sighed sufferingly before glaring a bit at Link. “She’s adopted, just like me - however, auntie Celestia does look after us as if we were her own. I hope that answers your question - and, if you excuse me, I have a filly to calm down.”

WIth a nod, Cadance cleared out the bubble and left the room - not without letting Link see the hopeless and sad look on Trinity’s face as she nuzzled the filly and nodded to the two guards, who stepped into place as they moved out.

“I suppose being alone for too long messed me over. Hylia damnit..” Link said, allowing his head to fall back onto the pillow. Now he has even more on his mind than earlier in this day.

Later on that day, approaching the afternoon - Link received an unexpected guest in his room while the medic looking over his case was checking on the sutures keeping the wound closed for healing.

“Brick Wall?” Link asked surprised and puzzlement.

“Hello, Mister Link.” Brick Wall said curtly before closing the door behind her - where Link could see a guard posted, keeping watch over his room.

Casting a bubble once more, she relaxed a little and asked him, “How’s your foreleg holding up?”

“My forel-... It’s called an arm.” Link answered her before looking at Brick Wall with a questioning look. “I know there are some species out who don’t call it a foreleg.”

“You’re in Canterlot, so we speak like ponies - if you were in Griffinstone you’d get foreclaw, and in minotaur territories you’d get the whole gig: arm; forearm, hand and fingers, the works.” Brick Wall replied to Link smugly, a smirk drawing onto her face as she looked at Link’s frown. “It is convenience, mostly - and I personally like to ruffle the feathers of my coworkers in good will and all that.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” Link said as he stroked his chin, feeling some stubble at his fingertips. Now that was something Link hadn’t felt since the very day he touched that golden triangle.

Brick Wall straightened herself, brushing her mane with one hoof as she directed at him a shrewd look and a smirk. “Now, I’d love to say I’m here for your majestic presence and sexual magnetism alone, I’m going to disappoint you and ask - in a straightforward fashion, mind you: What were those two spells you flung around yesterday? And how they didn’t freeze, then roast us on accident!?”

“Now hold up…” Link said while holding his good arm towards the unicorn. “Majestic and sex magnet? We’re too different species, why that comment? Second, those two spells were channeled from my two medallions Bombos and Ether.” he explained.

Brick Wall only nodded, before giving Link a strawberry with her tongue and say with a grin, “As if! I prefer a good, furry pony any day over you, baldy colt! And besides, I was only teasing you - I guess I’ll have to appeal to foals’ humour if you’re gonna be like that!”

Link let out an amused snort as he crossed his good arm and turned his face to a side to show her how displeased he was.

“Besides, I prefer a nuzzle over that flat thing you’ve got on your face. How can you even smell with that tiny thing, only Celestia knows.” Brick Wall snorted in a mock serious tone, trying and failing to keep her grin from showing at Link’s deepening frown at the jokes made at his expense.

Link waved his hand. “I’m the first and last hylian you’ll see in this world anyhow.”

“Oh well, more’s the pity - I bet that someday you’ll catch the attention of a good mare… or stallion, if you’re into that. Only thing, keep the sob story for when drinking with a mare, we usually are saps for sob stories. Stallions… even more so.” Brick replied to him with a shit-eating grin at this point.

“...I think you’ve proved your point, Brick.” Link said with a sigh.

“Of course I have. I’ve learned from the best when keeping tabs on Princess Cadance.” Brick Wall replied smoothly to him.

“Look, as much as I would like a relationship in the near future… I feel it will be in vain if I try with the Equestrians - I just prefer my own kind, just like you prefer your own.” Link said, his tone of voice changing a little bitter.

Brick Wall just looked at him as if he had grown a second head, and replied to that, “Oookay, mister Sourpuss - I was just teasing ya, but you’re too serious to take the bait. Oh well, perhaps another time… and some glitter for you to brighten our days!” She added before dispelling the bubble and saying to him, “Mister Puss? Take these two days to recover, since you’ll be in need of rest for the rest of the week per Princess Celestia’s instructions!”

Link made no further comment as the mare left the room - and him - to his own thoughts. He pondered at that moment of time - shaking his head to distract himself, or rubbing his own face with his free hand to dispel several negative thoughts now surfacing inside him. “...I serious need to learn to lighten up, I’ve forgotten it was like to even have friends...” he questioned himself before snorting some air through his nose. “First things first: How in Nayru’s love did those ponies get their han-hoofs on Stalfos, they’re from Hyrule… I wonder if this has anything to do with that multiverse tidbit Sans explained to me...”

He didn’t get too much rest from bad dreams, while the laughter of the Nightmare echoed in its backstage…

Breakfast. (Minor Xover 2)

Author's Note

A minor cross-over with

neokiva

As always, if there are any mistakes me or my editor missed, please to be sure to point them out.

Breakfast. (Minor Xover 2)

The next morning arrived, and Link slept like a log, feeling refreshed in a way that he hadn’t felt in a long time… until the alarms went off in his head, as a knock came through the door.

“Mister Link? You’re expected at the Princess’s Private Dining Room at the Eatery, and I was sent over to let you know, just so you can have time to get ready, before we leave together!” a peculiarly familiar and feminine voice sounded on the other side of the doorway.

‘Sure life is funny,’ thought Link as he put on his now-washed tunic over him, now that he felt clean, really clean, after taking a bath… ‘ten years living in the wilds, without any real comforts… and now? Being welcomed into their midst as a fellow being, instead of a freak.’

‘Pity the bath is like the old fashioned way, but it was truly compensated with how everything here works, ‘cause magic,’ Link thought to himself as he readied himself, humming while thinking, ‘and how much have I missed this. Especially the hot water. Long live the pony who designed this bath!’

After fighting with his hair by using a brush as weapon, Link managed to even disentangle it from the rats’ nest it had transformed into without his knowledge.

‘Was my hair always this messy? Or was it because I couldn’t comb it properly until now?’

Shaking the thought off his head, Link tried to brush it into a different hairstyle, one more fitting for being with royalty… only to fail miserably, as the hairdo reverted in the blink of an eye into his signature hair style.

Shaking his head from that discovery, and with everything done, Link headed out, and met with a very familiar-looking earth pony maid, who was sent to guide him to his destination - to meet up with the princess. After an impulse to take his red cloak with him, he chose instead to leave it behind, since he won’t be needing it at the dinner table.

But, being cautious never hurt anyone, so he grabbed his pouch… just in case… or for dealing with any surprise visitors.

The hylian couldn’t help but snort at this mental thought: ‘Never thought that life could imitate art… or would it be game?’ he thought to himself, then laughed softly to himself as he thought in mock seriousness. “Next thing I know, I bet Princess Zelda will be there with Celestia to greet me,” although despite it being a joke, the thought of the displaced made him think differently.

“There probably is a displaced zelda out there,” he wondered inwardly as he kept on walking in the quiet corridors with his guide - who he couldn’t just place in his mind, ‘Have I met this pony maid before?’

Keeping to himself, Link and the earth pony guide eventually arrived at Celestia’s private dining room.

Knocking on the door, the maid said softly, “Princess Celestia? I’ve brought your guest as requested!”

From the other side of the door, Celestia’s voice came through, “Thank you, Serving Cup, you may leave now, and let the waiter know that we’re ready to place our orders!”

“As you wish, my Princess,” Serving Cup said as she opened the door, letting Link come in and leaving with a trot after closing the door behind him.

Link walked in to greet the alicorn that was now sitting in her place at the table, where he grabbed a seat that actually fitted him, and took a seat near Celestia.

As if knowing that the existence of a chair that fit him shocked him slightly, Celestia said calmly to him, “Oh, Link… Good morning, and I see you found the minotaur chair we use for foreign guests.”

Now at peace that the chair wasn’t somehow made just for him, Link turned to meet the Princess’s face, and replied back in greeting, “Good morning, Princess.”

At that moment, the doors opened once again with a creaking sound, and in came two young ponies.

To Link’s surprise, next to Trinity - whom he recognized from their visit at the hospital - was a pink, as in really pink, young alicorn that looked more slender and feminine, who immediately smiled at him the moment she realized he was there to join them for breakfast, before saying with a nice, well-tempered feminine voice, “Hello, mister Link! Nice to finally meet you! I am Amore di Cadenza, or Cadance for short!”

“Please, just call me Link, no need for the formalities.” Link said with a smile.

“And this adorable little filly is my cousin, Trinity!” Cadance said while she pushed her younger counterpart to the front, keeping her wing on her back.

“It’s nice to meet you, Princess Trinity.” Link said to her with a bow of his head, his curiosity still nibbling at his mind at her appearance, mostly with her slight wolf features and the mirror that floated above her back.

“Humm… nice to meet you… mister Link...” Trinity said softly before shrinking into herself a bit, only the wing placed on her keeping her from bolting towards Celestia’s back.

“There’s no need to be shy, Trinity.” Link said.

“Now, Triny, do be nice and take a seat next to me,” Celestia pouted at her, before her eye turned to Link and winked at him, before saying to the young princess, “and as we eat we can get to know each other… what do you say?”

Trinity, after Cadance released her delicately, slowly stepped onto her seat as she said, “Sorry… I’m just not comfy around strangers…”

“Once we talk, we won’t be though.” Link said in an attempt to break the ice.

The hybrid smiled timidly at him, before saying, “that… that is what Caddy always tells me…”

“And I know my stuff!” Cadance said to her as she took a seat besides Trinity, ruffling her mane a little with a forehoof, causing her to giggle.

Link smiled warmly at two before laughing softly at their friendly relation with each other.

“How old are you?” he asked.

Cadance blew Link a raspberry, as Trinity giggled at her answer, and Celestia looked sternly at him, making him sweat bullets from the pressure.

“Now now, Link! You never ask a lady that question! But, since you wanted to get to know us, I’m at fifteen!” Cadance replied in mock seriousness… before breaking into laughing into her hoof.

“And I am seven!” Trinity volunteered, slightly emboldened by her cousin’s answer.

“Humm… it depends, my little human… my avatar’s age… or my real age?” Celestia said in all her regal posture… before snorting a laugh at Link’s face over this little theater at the table.

“Your… avatar?” Link asked in confusion.

“This body is my way to interact with this world that we created, the three of us together,” Celestia said to Link, “had to come to this world as a filly, though, without my previous memories and most of my power sealed, and didn’t gain my Cutie Mark until a certain event came to pass - letting me regain access to my memory and power, which now allows me to move the Sun and Moon without worry, which before costed the unicorn tribe plenty of their own as they lost their very magic in doing so, but we managed to restore them when we came to our full power.”

“Since we’re on the subject of age, I think I’m...” Link paused as he thought about it, doing the math of how old he was before being sent away to this place. “I’m… jeez. I’m forty one,” Link said in disbelief, as despite his current age, his body and face did not look that age.

A flash drew their attention to the space above the table, where a white and golden scythe materialized above the dinner table - coming out of thin air - as it came spinning blade point first, before shifting form into a long sword as it embedded into the ground next to Link, who jumped out of his seat from the surprise of a sword suddenly appearing and nearly getting him on the leg.

Celestia’s eyes widened for an instant at the appearance of the sword, right before schooling her features, thanking the distraction that no one paid attention to her.

A woman with multi-colored hair stood in hologram form - her form wearing a white flowing toga dress with far too many gold accessories, sandal high heels as her footwear - above the embedded sword on the ground. She was smiling down at Link, Celestia and Trinity, “My little ponies, and human, I am the Goddess Palutena, Princess of Equestria and Fiance of a Celestia from another world. I…”

“Stop messing with the timeline!” came a manly british voice over the hologram, making the human female turn to the side to face the one interrupting her.

“Excuse me for a moment,” Palutena smiled pleasantly with her eyes closed before turning around.

“Oh like you’re one to talk, Mister ‘I don’t even know my own name!’ ” Palutena retorted, and Link was sure he was listening to the whirring noise that was far to familiar for him. “And would you remember to actually release the handbrake on the Tardis!? The poor girl!”

More noises came over the channel, while the three princesses and human just turned to see one another, as if confirming that yes, they were all watching the same thing.

The embedded sword on the ground helped them know that it was indeed true, and patiently waited until the white-dressed female named Palutena returned to them… from her argument.

“Sorry about that, just a little disagreement.” Palutena said sheepishly before being interrupted again by the same manly british voice, making her frown.

“You are worse than Donna Noble!” The male voice retorted, to which Palutena pointed a finger behind her without turning around - a buzz of electricity jumped away from her finger, making the masculine voice.

“Now that ‘That’ is over with…” the female straightened her dress out, before continuing, “as I was saying, my name is Palutena, and I was just sending this little present to Link. You don’t know me yet, and I won’t say much more than that. This is my token Link, it comes in three handy dandy forms for your use. Oh and another thing!” Palutena paused as if gaining an epiphany, she conjured something and threw it at Link.

Link frowned in confusion until the object phased through the hologram and wacked him on the head. Cadance and Trinity giggled at Link’s misfortune as he rubbed his head and watched the offending object.

Which turned out to be a strangely made buckle for his belt.

The further Link looked at the strange buckle - from its metallic making, to the crystalline sphere in its middle - the more he felt confused about it.

“Sorry it took so long from my perspective, but I had to make some interesting modifications to my token before I could send it. And I had to mess with the morphing grid,” Palutena explained rolling her eyes.

Something clicked in Link’s mind when the goddess mentioned the morphing grid. “Wait, a power rangers belt!?” he exclaimed with disbelief in his voice as he pointed to the buckle sitting on his lap.

“Yes, Link. Guardian of Trinity, you will be the Twilight Ranger!”

Link just stared at Palutena with a true deadpan expression on his face, while Trinity giggled at Palutena’s antics, as if the two of them shared a little secret.

“But wait, get this! When you morph the sword doubles as a flute! So you can still use those ocarina songs of yours!” Palutena exclaimed excitedly, before going into full-on exposition mode, “okay! what you do is raise the sword, and then you say, ‘Release restraints!’, before stabbing the sword into the ground, right after the lock on your morpher releases from your belt, so you grab it, and press a button on the morpher, where a key will flick out, slot it into the sword’s hilt which will have a keyhole, then cover your face with your right hand and say ‘From the heavens; Guardian of Trinity, Twilight ranger!’ then grab the sword pull it from the ground and do a few swings with it,” Palutena explained with gusto…

… until a brown haired human man with wild short hair entered the shot, “are you done recording that message, Palutena?”

Palutena smirked to the man, “Damn! And I almost had them believing this was live, anyway! Seeing as the spell’s broken,” Palutena paused to shrug, “Link... take care of Trinity - she’s more important than you know,” Palutena warned wagging her finger in front of him.

Celestia watched this with barely contained amusement, as she was somepony who could tell when someone was being trolled masterfully.

Cadance was watching this while eating popcorn that was proffered by one of the waiters on her discreet orders, while Trinity watched wide-eyed with awe at the description being told by the visitor.

“I promised Celestia that I would,” Link said as he looked over at the princess of equestria.

Palutena smirked, “You just replied as if this was a live feed didn’t you?” Palutena laughed before being pulled away by the dashing man she had argued with prior, the transmission ending with a plop.

Link deadpanned again, ‘I think that Palutena might have been one of the reasons for the time reset that the Batter had mentioned when I met him’, Link thought grumbling to himself.

‘Oh Link… I exist outside time, so I know when shenanigans happen! And you are at the center of them!’ Palutena’s playful voice ringed inside Link’s mind, as she laughed merrily at his reaction of shock - written all over his face, if one were to judge his fish impersonation - while the three ladies at the table snickered, as if knowing what had transpired without Link opening his mouth to say a thing.

Link went dead silent as he looked around the room. “...I-is it safe to speak now?” he asked, knowing that this other goddess can hear his thoughts.

“Don’t mind her, Link - she’s a good friend of mine, so I can vouch for her… even if she likes to troll people a little too much, as she called it at our last meeting… and helps others when it hits her fancy, even if the ways she helps with are strange or you don’t understand why or for what reason,” Celestia said to calm the near-hysteric hylian down, before saying to him in a conspiratorial tone, “you’d better put that sword elsewhere, or somepony might cut himself with it!”

“Right,” Link said as he reached over to pull the sword from out of the floor. With little effort, the blade came out of the floor, leaving a hole shaped like the blade as Link examined it closer, “I might need to make a sheath for it, if I actually intend to use it as a weapon,” he said as he went to put it away in his pouch, it’s magic shrinking it down to make it fit.

Link remained quiet for a minute to see if any more tokens would come flying out of nowhere to hit him.

“I think my son Silver Bullet might be of service to you, if I introduce you to him, Link,” Celestia said to Link as she waved her wing to the waiting service - to which the waiters approached them.

“We met already in the training grounds when I was sparring with Sans,” Link pointed out.

Celestia almost grinned at the answer Link gave her, waiting until she had given her order to the waiter, before asking him, “oh? And what do you think of him, Link?”

“We didn’t talk about much, all he did was dull our weapons with a spell before I started my spar with Sans” Link explained to Celestia.

Trinity tilted her head adorably in confusion, her face contorted into a frown, “Why would he do that, he never blunted his weapons while training me?” Trinity turned to Celestia, her expression one of yearning, “Auntie, can you tell me why?” she pleaded a bit, her tail waving from side to side like a nervous twitch, while Celestia eyed her with a little worry as to the sudden and unexpected question thrown at her, right before the waiter approached the filly, where she placed her order quietly, only being heard “egg, sausage, and bread with salad, if you please.”

Clearing her throat, Celestia replied to her, “well now, my little Triny, that is one thing I’ll be talking to your dear cousin when I next see him when he starts training you on metal made ones,” before adding in thought, “perhaps it is because the training weapons he uses with you aren’t metallic in nature, rather than dense wood, and the whacks really serve as motivation to avoid getting whacked, don’t you agree?”

“There’s also the fact that both of us were wielding strong, deadly weapons made from metal - weapons that aren’t from this world.” Link explained.

“Ohhh!” the young filly exclaimed in understanding, as a plate was placed at her place, followed by Celestia and Cadance.

“... Sir? You haven’t placed your order,” asked a waitress pony who was patiently waiting for Link to acknowledge her existence, as she simply stood there with a notebook and a menu chart floating in her telekinesis.

“Oh, sorry... Uh, before I order, do you know what French Toast is?” Link asked hopefully.

The waitress just looked up to the air thoughtfully, pencil tapping her chin… before she answered him, “Well, sir, there is prench toast, which is bread battered in egg and spices, then placed on a skillet to be browned… and then there is the manish toast, which is made with hay covering the bread and vegetables, and is battered too and cooked… what is this ‘french toast’ you speak of? If possible, we might be able to make it, if you know what goes in it.”

“Its something from my world, but I believe it may be similar to the prench toast you mentioned. I’d like to have that with some bacon, an egg sandwich, and perhaps a glass of orange juice.” Link asked with a smile.

“Understood, sir… a griffin regular combo,” the waitress muttered as she wrote down the order, before leaving to have the order delivered, “will be back in a few minutes.”

Trinity giggled at Link’s eager face, and asked him with a genuine smile of relief, “Link…? You eat meat like me?”

“I’m an omnivore, but I prefer meat more than vegetables.” Link said as he looked over at Trinity.

Trinity’s eyes actually lit up at his answer, “Ohh! You’re like me! Then that means I’m not as weird as those ponies said!”, as she started to eat, her face much more relaxed as she enjoyed her meal.

“Now dear, remember that the griffins are omnivores too,” Celestia said in between bites, as she cleared up her fruit salad with pastries on the side.

“Auntie Celly, there are very few griffons living within Canterlot, so she’s bound to feel isolated,” Cadance said to Celestia while eating her omelette with greens and mushrooms.

Celestia turned sad at this, as she added, “yes, even now some of my subjects seem too… set up against foreigners, including ponies from other places…” eyeing her plate mournfully for a few seconds.

“There’s nothing wrong with eating meat, now if it was meat of a sapient being or a pet, though… then that would be problematic.” Link said. A funny thought crossed his mind. ‘I wonder what octorock tastes like…’ He thought.

“Eeek! Eat a fellow pony? Or a pet? Gross!” The filly exclaimed in disgust, showing her tongue while Cadance giggled at her antics.

“Sir, here is your order,” the unicorn waitress said politely to Link as she hovered over to his place his large breakfast, “may you have a nice meal, sir,” she added at the end before leaving the human to his breakfast, which Trinity looked at with awe, while Cadance and Celestia looked in shock.

“Link… I knew you’d be hungry, but… won’t you have difficulties to rise after the meal?” Celestia asked with concern, as she saw the stack of six prench toast, an egg sandwich which had bacon in it, a slab of ham-looking bacon on the side, and a pitcher of orange juice with a glass on the side.

“Probably not.” Link said before snickering, “most Humans don’t eat a lot, well, except for the fatter ones,” he said as he took two slices of prench toast to start with.

“Enjoy your meal, and when you’re done we’ll talk about my job proposal.” Celestia offered as she focused on her meal, followed shortly by the two younger princesses.

The rest of the meal was a peaceful one, only interrupted by the clatter of the utensils on the plates.

Once the meal was over, and the waiters had taken the used plates back with them, Celestia asked Cadance, “Cadance, would you be so kind as to take Trinity with you for a walk? We’ll be joining you shortly…”

“Sure, auntie!” Cadance said to her, before saying to Trinity, “let us walk this meal off, shall we?”

Trinity only nodded with a small smile on her face, as the two of them left the dining room… and for Celestia to ask Link, “Link, would you be so kind as to accompany me? I’d like to talk with you as we walk.”

“Sure.” Link said, wiping his mouth with a napkin before heading over to join Celestia.

Once they made their way out of the dining room, and after what felt to Link like fifteen minutes, Celestia broke the ice.

“Link… how would you feel, if I were to offer you a post as knighted bodyguard for Trinity and Cadance?” Celestia asked Link with unusual seriousness in her voice, as the offer brought Link to a grinding halt within his mind.

“For two princesses at the same time?” Link asked in surprise.

“You’ll be posted primarily for Trinity, and serve if needed as a joint bodyguard with the guard posted for Cadence, she’s undercover, since my niece insisted that she wanted to earn her keep, and works as a babysitter for some ponies in town,” she then turned to see Link as they kept walking, “I know it is much I ask, but I’d rest well if you were to keep your eyes open for the two of them, since some trouble rose up last time Trinity went with Cadance into town.”

“Understandable, she is of royalty and would be targeted by certain people.” Link said with a nod.

“It is worse than that - one of the hoodlums that tried to get her while separated from Cadance said something about ‘selling her’ to a collector.” Celestia’s tone chilled Link with how cold it turned near the end as she glowered, “and sadly for us, they managed to escape before Cadance or her guard managed to capture even one, leaving the poor filly scared out of her mind in the process.”

Link took this moment to think about it. “What did they look like? Any chance they might of left something behind?” he asked.

Celestia shook her head, her glare causing Link to raise his eyebrows in surprise at the intensity of them, before saying, “It happened six months ago, anyways… and trust me on this subject, Link… if they actually had left anything behind, I’d know by now who did this… and would have made certain, that such an action would never happen again.”

“There goes that plan...” Link said with a sigh. “I thought maybe I could try this crazy idea of mine that would help me track them down.”

“Link, if you were to accept this job, it’d become necessary for you to pass through Royal Guard training for me to actually be able to sign the paperwork, does that suit you? The salary would be slightly higher than regular guard duty, due to posting as privately hired bodyguard for the Crown.” Celestia said thoughtfully, looking at him with interest as to what would his answer - and possible demands - be.

“Shouldn’t be as hard as surviving in the Everfree Forest, so yeah. I accept the job.” Link said, it is a good starting job for the time being.

Link noticed that Celestia’s smile widened before getting schooled back into her serene, regular one, as she asked to him, “I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on my little Trinity in the meantime while you pass the training, and I’ll cover your food and lodging while you get approved, would you do it?”

“I already said yes, Celestia.” Link pointed out.

She sighed in relief, before answering, “it is true, Link - but thanks for confirming your resolve to me anyways.”

“Well, you did cover my expenses at the hospital, plus the food and lodging you proffered me as a guest - even took time off your schedule to include me in your life… so why don’t I start giving back a little for your kindness?” Link said to her with a smile on his face matching hers, as she smiled more freely at his answer.

‘And my main reason I’m accepting this job, is that I need answers for why Trinity has the Twilight Mirror, or why she has small features of Wolf Link,’ Link said to himself as they kept on walking in companionable silence.