Legend of Zelda: The Equestrian Hero

After everypony arrived in Canterlot, Luna paused in front of the magical barrier. The castle exterior was grotesque compared to what she was used to. The doors had strange symbols emblazoned on them in place of the two sisters' cutie marks. She pressed her hoof against the barrier, yet it didn't budge. She beckoned the Element bearers closer. Would the Elements of Harmony break the shield? Rain slid off the barrier. Soon, it would be nighttime. It didn't matter if the group had to battle Ganondorf all night; the tyrant needed to go away. He wouldn't escape severe punishment, as he had oppressed Equestria.

"Activate the Elements," Luna said.

Twilight and her friends nodded. The heroines of Equestria lined up and triggered their respective Elements. Six magical auras fused together, forming a large rainbow. The rainbow slammed into the shield. A crack resounded through the air, and the dome shattered into a million pieces. The huge doors gave way, luring the heroines and the princess inside. They strode through the entrance. Link walked ahead of the mares, his sword unsheathed as he widened his stance. Yet the monsters weren't in the vicinity. A cluster of castle guards crept past them. Silence permeated the interior. The stillness was unusual and eerie, as if the palace was devoid of life. Heavy footsteps echoed. Colossal bipeds with wide shields and long swords charged at the group.

Link swung his blade at the darknuts and evaded the blows. He retrieved bomb arrows from his saddlebags, then unleashed the arrows at his aggressors. Luna, Twilight, Rarity, Trixie, and Starlight shot kinetic blasts at the bipeds. Applejack tossed a lasso at one of the darknuts and yanked it to the floor. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy kicked the helmets off the darknuts. Pinkie Pie wheeled out a party cannon and battered the bipeds with swift bursts of confetti, hindering their movements.

"Keep it up!" Luna commanded.

"We're on it!" The Element bearers replied in unison.

"Starlight and Trixie, search the royal dungeon. If you find Celestia, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart, free them. The Crystal Empire needs Cadence and her family. Be careful while you're at it."

A white flash materialized, revealing Discord. He snapped his talons and summoned a suit of armor. "I figured you would explore this place. I saw you coming here, and-"

Luna rolled her eyes. "Discord, you can watch Starlight and Trixie."

Discord performed a mock salute. "Aye-aye, Princess. At your service."

Once Discord, Trixie, and Starlight left the hallway, Luna guided her companions into the next corridor. The stone arches loomed over the floor. She spied an inner balcony. A golden barrier obstructed both sides of the corridor. A swarm of keese, bokoblins, stalfos, and rats lunged at the heroes. Ganondorf must have been desperate to win. Otherwise, the monsters wouldn't be lurking in the dimly lit passages. Pinkie Pie aimed the confetti at the keese and stalfos. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack bombarded the bokoblins. Rarity and Twilight unleashed a volley of spells at their enemies. The transparent walls disappeared.

Starlight, Discord, and Trixie found their way into the royal dungeon. She held her breath as she scanned the cells. Next to her, Trixie was trembling visibly. What did the showmare expect to see in here? A grotesque beast? Discord appeared to be indifferent to the obvious peril. She ignored her rapid heartbeat as she meandered past the cells. The dungeon was supposed to hold the criminals, not the innocent ponies. Celestia had to be in here somewhere. Cadence, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart were also imprisoned, so she kept the information in mind. A small squeak caused the mares to flinch. She squinted her eyes. Multiple rats emerged from the shadows, snarling as they leaped at the trio.

Starlight conjured a shield, while Discord summoned a cage. He drew the rats into the cage, then eliminated them. The trio proceeded to the end of the vault. A chest tempted her to open it, so she unsealed the chest. It contained a few keys. She checked her surroundings. Trixie and Discord faced the opposite direction, standing watch. A thick blanket of fog obscured the exit. Was it another trap designed to confuse them?

"The Great and Powerful Trixie could always teleport her allies," Trixie said.

"So can a draconequus," Discord replied, smirking.

Starlight levitated the keys and pushed them into a pair of locks. She focused her magic on shattering the chains. Celestia and Cadence approached the trio, and so did Shining Armor and Flurry Heart. The sun princess gave Starlight a worried look. What was on Celestia's mind? The Element bearers? The moon princess? Equestria, even? Starlight moved to the fog, contemplating an alternate way to escape the catacombs. Several pairs of glowing eyes manifested. Sinister laughter penetrated the dungeon.

"Are Twilight and her friends in the castle?" Celestia asked.

"Yes," Starlight murmured.

"That means Luna is also present. We must find the girls and my sister before Ganondorf hurts them."

"Of course."

A golden glow enveloped Celestia's horn, and she teleported the group to a hallway. "Discord, take Cadence's family to the Crystal Empire. Make it quick."

Discord nodded. "I will, Your Highness." He saluted Celestia, which made her crack an amused smile. "I assumed you would laugh." He teleported himself and Cadence's family out of the room.

Celestia escorted Trixie and Starlight into an adjacent hallway. She knew this place like the back of her hoof, so it shouldn't be complicated. Well, the dark renovation didn't change the internal structure of the castle, after all. Remnants of her recent nightmares flashed into her mind as she continued strolling. If she lost Twilight, if Luna suffered, and if Equestria crumbled, she would blame herself. No, she would make Ganondorf pay for his crimes. He would regret the day he came to Equestria. This time, she might refuse to hold back. She cantered through another door and ascended a spiraling staircase. Trixie and Starlight trailed behind.

"Shouldn't we say Luna's name out loud?" Starlight suggested.

"Not a bad idea," Trixie agreed.

And so they did. Their voices bounced off the walls and the ceiling. Celestia considered using the Royal Canterlot Voice, but decided against it. The two unicorns were loud enough. The sole upside would be that the moon princess would hear them. Surely her younger sister would respond. She arrived at a door on the top of the staircase, and they entered the courtyard. A bridge stretched from this tower to the other one.

"Aren't we going to the throne room?" Trixie asked.

"I told you earlier. We're searching for Luna and the heroines of Equestria," Celestia explained as she surveyed the courtyard.

Starlight trotted onto the bridge. "I'm sure they can take care of themselves. Regardless, we can meet up with them in the throne room."

Celestia followed the two unicorns to the nearest tower. They navigated staircases, infiltrated the passages, and made several turns. Perhaps the others had discovered the throne room first? Her stroll hastened into a gallop, and her smaller companions attempted to keep up with her. Their swift hoofbeats rang through the corridors, accompanied by their shouts. She halted in front of the grand doors. She shoved the door with all her strength. A large, muscular figure loitered on the throne. Her throne. Ganondorf acknowledged their arrival with a deep scowl. The stallion chuckled at their facial expressions.

"I'm surprised your sister and her band of 'heroes' aren't here yet," Ganondorf jeered. "Guess they got scared and left."

Celestia could have laughed at the irony if it wasn't so serious. The first time she and Ganondorf met, he was the one demanding her to surrender the throne. Now it was the reverse. She unfurled her wings and approached her archenemy. She had no desire to cower in fear. Not anymore. Trixie and Starlight stepped between the sun princess and the dark lord, defending the princess from him.

"You defied me. There shall be consequences," Ganondorf threatened, his voice rising. "Since you fled the dungeon, I'll make you endure a fate worse than death."

"I'm not afraid," Celestia retorted. "You stole the throne; now return it to me and my sister!"

"You can serve as decorations, a reminder of my victory." Ganondorf wore a deranged grin as he conjured his magic. "No one will hear you scream!"

"What are you talk-" Before Celestia could finish her sentence, a dark aura encapsulated the mares, transforming them into stone statues. Now she knew what Ganondorf was talking about. He was quick to turn them to stone. It was his way of telling them to shut up. And she hated it.

Luna had heard a familiar voice earlier. She had a feeling her sister was in danger. The realization sent her galloping throughout the castle. She left no stone unturned. The Element bearers, along with Link, followed her to the throne room. She let out a horrified gasp. Celestia, Trixie, and Starlight were now statues. Did the sun princess try to fight Ganondorf? He rose to his full height, glowering at Luna and her friends. A flash of lightning pierced the chamber, punctuated by a deafening crash. The booms softened into a rumble. Ganondorf descended the steps, levitating a huge sword in front of him.

"You have finally arrived," Ganondorf said as he pointed his blade at Luna. "Were you expecting to reunite with your sister? I can see it in your eyes. This..." He glared at Celestia. "Is what you deserve for escaping my clutches and helping my longtime enemy!"

"You're so cruel, and you don't deserve to rule a nation. A real leader never oppresses their subjects," Luna replied.

Ganondorf threw his head back, cackling. "That's rich, coming from a certain princess who betrayed her own sister and her kingdom!"

"It's in the past, you vile scum. We'll vanquish you!"

"Ha. An individual who wields the Triforce of Power should be allowed to rule. Wisdom is the weakest weapon a monarch can ever possess. You and your sister are no stronger than Princess Zelda herself. Celestia didn't battle me despite her threats. Rather, she allowed me to defeat her. How pitiful. Princesses aren't as formidable as a great king would be. Queens are as feeble."

Luna shook her head. "Such arrogance, Ganondorf. If you think you deserve the crown, why steal it from a righteous pony? It proves that you can never conquer a kingdom and anticipate prosperity. Sombra once oppressed the Crystal Empire, and nopony was happy. Not one soul rejoiced under his tyranny."

"Speaking of which..." Ganondorf paused, as if contemplating his next words. "You are denying me the throne. Why can't I rule the universe? Why?" He lifted his chin, and a muscle flickered in his bearded jaw. "Is it because I'm a Gerudo? You'd treat Sombra's kind the same way. I bet you would."

"If you intend to elicit sympathy from us, you've failed," Luna said.

Rage contorted Ganondorf's features as he levitated Luna. He brought his blade to her neck, and she struggled against his powerful grip. She forced herself to maintain eye contact. Time seemed to slow down as she refused to break her steely gaze. For a moment, she glanced at her friends. A low snicker slipped from Ganondorf's lips. He had watched her falter. She prepared to unleash a kinetic blast, but he flung her across the room. She landed onto her side. Pain flooded one of her wings, and as she looked up, a transparent barrier formed in front of her. Perhaps she shouldn't have uttered those words.

Ganondorf narrowed his eyes. "It's foolish of you to challenge a wielder of Power. Even without magic and the Triforce, I can still crush your little body and your skull. I've fought those who are as strong as you."

"You're the worst! And you're a beast." Luna limped forward and summoned a spell. "You don't turn ponies to stone. It's an act of cowardice!"

"You amuse me, lunatic. Oh, is your name short for lunatic? No wonder you went insane! Let's see how you fare when your magic is restricted..."

Ganondorf directed a curse at Luna. "Now you can't use it."

Luna exhaled sharply. "Are you intimidated? We've outnumbered you. The Elements of Harmony-"

"The six mares? Ha. They saw how vigorous I am, so they'll cower."

Twilight and her allies combined their magic and enchanted Link's sword. The heroic stallion charged at Ganondorf, while the mares watched on. Luna approached Celestia. The older alicorn wore a horrified expression. Was Celestia aware of the confrontation? She wished she was able to free her sister from the stone prison. And the fact that she couldn't help Link in the final battle... So much for making Ganondorf pay for his atrocities. Who would come out as the victor?