Legend of Zelda: The Equestrian Hero

Ganondorf struggled to rise, yet the pain in his chest was excruciating. His breaths came in short gasps as he straightened his spine. For a moment, he glared at the sword. He turned his attention to the green-clad hero who had plunged the blade into his chest. Once again, he lost the battle. Despite the princess being a helpless damsel, she managed to assist her knight. He narrowed his eyes, then clenched his square jaw. Why couldn't Hyrule be his kingdom? Those two had always been an obstacle to him, and it might not change. Unless there was a new strategy he hadn't tried yet...

"Do not think this ends here," Ganondorf spat. "The history of light and shadow will be written in blood!"

"Hyrule will never be your land," Zelda replied.

Link glowered at Ganondorf. "This is what you get for trying to destroy Hyrule."

Ganondorf scowled. "I'm sure we'll meet again."

"You'll always be despicable."

Ganondorf could no longer move a single muscle. Everything went black. Instead of returning to his prison, he found himself in an endless passageway. If the hero hadn't stopped him, he would have been sitting on the throne by now. In many of his incarnations, he aimed to usurp the Hylian royal family, only to be defeated in the end. He navigated the passageway. An array of colors swirled around him, and a portal yawned below his feet. He plunged through the portal. As a result, his limbs turned and twisted in strange directions.

"What's happening?" Ganondorf whispered. A bright light nearly blinded him, and the last thing he remembered was complete darkness.

Ganondorf opened his eyes. As he observed his surroundings, confusion settled in his heart. It wasn't Hyrule, yet the ruins reminded him of the castle. A pair of tapestries, one blue and one yellow, hung from the shattered ceiling. Stone arches towered over the floor. He rose from the floor, and as soon as he did, he fell forward. His Gerudo physique was replaced by an equine body. He might not be as tall, but he remained muscular. What made the Goddesses think he should be a horse? He muttered as he stood on all fours and walked outside. The memory of the battle flashed into his mind.

"Curse them..." Ganondorf whispered as he studied the forest. Behind him, the sun moved closer to the western horizon. He strode across the bridge. The land seemed too peaceful. It sickened him, as he preferred destruction and doom. A dark aura emerged from his forehead. Did he have a unicorn horn, too? How much more ridiculous could this world get? At least he could use magic here. By the time his dark aura faded, a variety of grotesque monsters materialized. A snicker escaped his mouth.

"Spread out," Ganondorf told the monsters.

The beasts obeyed their leader. Ganondorf continued exploring the forest. The denizens of this place would no longer have a peaceful life. The trail led him to the edge of the woods. Bats and bubbles flew past him. He glimpsed a small cottage. The roof was covered in green moss. A cluster of moblins swung their clubs at the animals. A red door with a brown arch opened, revealing a pastel yellow pony. He expected the pony to cower in fear. Instead, the pony begged the moblins to leave her pets alone.

"They won't leave anytime!" Ganondorf shouted.

"Who are you?" The pony replied.

"I'm Ganondorf Dragmire."

"Those monsters are scaring my animals."

"What makes you assume I'll ever be agreeable? Try being a dark lord from another world, who had just awakened in a land of pastel ponies that could talk. So don't tell me to help you and your miserable little pets."

"Fine. You're so heartless." The pony backed into the cottage and closed the door.

A snake-like creature with a lion's arm, an eagle's claw, a dragon's tail, and a pair of horns teleported in front of Ganondorf. It wore a scowl, and he chuckled in response. If he hadn't known any better, he would have thought the serpentine beast was one of his minions. He smirked, then proceeded to summon a magical sphere. He tossed his magic forward, but the creature evaded the spell.

"Don't hurt Fluttershy," the creature hissed.

"Do you think you can outsmart me? I will destroy you!"

"I overheard the commotion, Ganondorf. Fluttershy and her friends had faced several villains in the past. Chrysalis, Tirek, Nightmare Moon, Sombra, and my old self... also known as Discord. If you lay a hoof on Fluttershy, I'll make sure you don't see another day. Oh, and the royal sisters will find out."

Ganondorf scoffed. "Royal sisters? You mean a queen and a princess..."

Discord rolled his eyes. "They're both princesses, and they rule Equestria."

"Where is their castle?"

"Like I would ever inform you."

Ganondorf rammed his magic into Discord's body, causing the draconequus to fall against the ground. "This is what happens when you refuse to tell me!"

Discord groaned in agony. "I'll warn my friends. You're dangerous."

"You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Meanwhile, in Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna rose the moon into the sky. Her sister, Celestia, lowered the sun, making way for the night. Despite the warmth, a shiver crept up and down her spine. Was it a premonition? A vision flooded her mind. She saw a gray stallion with a green hat fighting a muscular brown stallion. The vision disappeared as soon as it came. Celestia looked as worried as she felt.

"You sensed it, too?" Celestia asked.

"Yes, Tia. Equestria is in serious danger," Luna said.

"I'll send a letter to Twilight. She and her friends need to know."

"Good idea."

A metallic clash and several screams garnered their attention. The two sisters hurried inside the castle, then gasped. A horde of monsters had stormed the throne room. More and more guards dropped to the floor. A low-pitched screech startled the princesses. Luna peered over her shoulder. A cluster of bipeds wearing wooden masks shuffled across the rug. She shot a magical beam at them.

"Somepony could be responsible for the sudden invasion," Luna said.

"Check on Ponyville. I'll do my best to stop those intruders!" Celestia replied. "Be careful, dear sister."

"I'll be fine."

Luna fled the throne room and took to the skies. She hoped Celestia would be okay. Who unleashed those creatures upon Equestria? Chrysalis? Tirek? Sombra? A new villain, even? As she approached Ponyville, countless citizens rushed into their respective homes. In one of the alleys, Twilight Sparkle and her friends confronted the grotesque monsters. A skeletal biped knocked Rainbow Dash to the ground. The courageous pegasus levitated into the air, then charged at the skeleton. The shield blocked Rainbow's kick.

Twilight teleported behind the skeleton and blasted its skull with her magic. "Girls, go tell the princesses. I'll protect Ponyville!"

Luna raced into the alley. "Twilight, an evil foe will attack Equestria."

"Really?" Twilight's eyes widened. "No wonder Equestria is in trouble."

Fluttershy joined the conversation. "I encountered a cruel stallion. He calls himself Ganondorf."

"Where did you see him?"

"By the Everfree Forest."

Luna searched the outskirts of Ponyville for the wicked stallion. A few skulls encased in blue flames blocked her. Each skull had bat wings. A gray stallion leaped toward the skulls. He tossed a boomerang at them, extinguishing the flames. Then, he sliced the skulls. Once the skulls vanished, he glanced at her. He stashed the boomerang into his saddlebag. On his flank was a trio of golden triangles. A unicorn horn protruded from his forehead.

"Are you a princess?" The stallion asked.

"Yes. Princess Celestia and I are the co-rulers of Equestria. I am Princess Luna," Luna replied.

"I'm Link."

"Where are you from?"

"Hyrule. My homeland has a princess, too."

Luna turned her gaze to Ponyville. "The innocent civilians are terrified, and they won't feel safe until all the monsters were gone. Can you defend the ponies?"

"Of course," Link said.

Luna and Link galloped into the town square. Link drew his sword and began fighting the beasts. Stormclouds obscured the silver moonlight. Thunder crackled in the air. Would it rain? Luna scrutinized the streets. Twilight Sparkle was in the middle of battling the enemies. Where did Twilight's friends go? Had the Element bearers traveled to Canterlot? Luna couldn't blame them for wanting to assist Celestia. Wait a minute, she thought as she stared at Canterlot Castle. Was the palace still under attack? The lavender alicorn flew into the sky. Heavy rain poured onto the ground. A powerful wind whipped through the trees.

The throne room had been emptied out. Regardless, the Element bearers and the guards stood in front of the throne. Celestia unfurled her wings, preparing for the arrival of a threat. The grand doors swung open. Heavy hoofsteps echoed off the marble walls. A brown stallion glared at Twilight and her group. Then, he wore a sinister grin. The guards pointed their spears at him.

"I am Ganondorf. Since you and your sister are the co-rulers of this land, you must make a choice. If you don't surrender the throne to me, you'll suffer," the stallion said.

"How did you know that I have a sister? You won't harm Equestria for as long as I live," Celestia replied.

Twilight widened her stance. "My friends and I have defeated the worst of villains before. Ganondorf, if you attempt to take down the royal sisters, we'll use the Elements of Harmony on you!"

Ganondorf sneered. "Elements of Harmony, huh? You're basically the pony version of Hyrule's sages. Let's see how gallant you are when scattered in all directions."

"We're not afraid of you." Twilight lunged at Ganondorf. "You won't succeed!"

Ganondorf summoned a barrier, which knocked Twilight backward. Five mares charged at him. Because the barrier had the same function as a shield, the mares were also forced to lay by Twilight's side. Six crystal prisons encased them, causing the group to float. He snickered at their reactions. His cruel laughter made Celestia shake with rage.

"What did you do to my former protege?" Celestia spat as she stepped forward.

"Didn't you have a sister?" Ganondorf asked.

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "If you hurt my sister, you'll regret it."

"Where is she now? Is she in hiding? I remember a Hylian princess who fled the castle with the help of her bodyguard."

"I won't reveal the details."

"Unless you want your little friends to be scattered, just tell me where she is. Either way, the throne shall be mine."

Celestia hung her head. Now she had to make a decision. No choice would guarantee the safety of the ones she loved the most. Equestria was in great peril, too. Ganondorf's cruel grin widened. He had detected a crack in her brave front. She leveled her eyes at him. It infuriated her to know that he was capable of harming the kingdom. Why else would his minions spawn in Equestria?

"I'll surrender," Celestia said. "Whatever it takes to keep everypony safe, I'll do it."

"I figured you would," Ganondorf replied. "You won't leave the castle. If you attempt to flee, there will be consequences."

The crystal prisons that contained Twilight and her friends ascended to the ceiling. They disappeared into thin air. Celestia sighed, shaking her head. She had failed to protect Equestria. Would the Element bearers survive the ordeal? Would Ganondorf's minions search for Luna? She teleported to a watchtower, then peered through the golden telescope. The night wouldn't allow her to see much of anything. She glimpsed a silver-blue flash in Ponyville. Was it Luna? She performed a spell to enhance her eyesight. Still holding a telescope, she zoomed in on the town. The midnight blue alicorn wasn't alone. Somepony had accompanied her. They departed from Ponyville.

"Stay safe, dear sister..." Celestia whispered. She gazed at the land below the tower. Perhaps Luna and her new friend would find the heroines of Equestria during their journey. She would like to have a word with the stallion if he came to Canterlot Castle. She flew to her bedroom window and entered her room. Shutting the window behind her, she slumped onto her bed.

Celestia drifted into dreamland. As she slumbered, she tossed and turned. Nightmares of potential doom plagued her mind. Losing Equestria, her former student, and even her little sister... Those were what she feared the most. At the end of each nightmare, a pair of golden eyes would gleam ominously.