Legend of Zelda: The Equestrian Hero

Link parried Ganondorf's blade with his own. They threw swift blows at each other, and he sidestepped a slash from the dark lord. He jumped behind his enemy and stabbed Ganondorf's backside. The dark lord whirled around, scowling. Of all the Hylians in Hyrule and beyond, why did the Triforce of Power choose Ganondorf? What was the purpose? Did the goddesses think it was a game, letting Ganondorf use the Triforce for wicked ambitions? He blocked his archenemy's sword. The two warriors pushed into each other, trying to gain the upper hoof. Even as ponies, they retained the ability to fight using a sword. Would Ganondorf still be able to resort to his beast form? The villain's horn gleamed with black magic, and Link knew what it meant. Ganondorf would attempt to cheat, which made sense, considering the evil wizard's long-running history.

Link stepped back, holding up his shield. His aggressor chucked a sphere of energy toward him, but he slashed the ball in time. Ganondorf deflected, and Link sliced the aura. They pounded the sphere back and forth until Ganondorf revealed an opening. The warlock hollered in agony. Link retrieved a light arrow and unleashed it at Ganondorf. Then, he went in and aimed a flurry of stabs and hacks. His enemy recovered, grimacing.

"You are as impossible as ever," Ganondorf spat, venom dripping into his voice. "If you have never discovered Equestria, I would have destroyed your moon-loving friend by now! Oh, and your allies are as beatable. Why didn't you let me at them?"

"Because you're despicable!" Link shouted.

"Huh... really? It isn't the first time you'd say that to me. Anyone can blurt those words to me. Heck, you'd tell it to Sombra and Chrysalis. I'll always flee my prison to have revenge and ambush the ones who opposed me."

"Sure I would, as they are!" Link charged at Ganondorf and bashed the Hylian shield into the wizard's jaw. "Can't you or the goddesses end the vicious cycle?"

"Not until I get what I want!" Ganondorf bombarded Link with heavy blows. "It's individuals like you who give me a headache! All of you are obstacles who dared to stand in my way!"

"You're upset over your destiny. Can't you give up? I bet you won't, as you're too stubborn!"

"Just so you're aware, this isn't my final form. When I win, I'll bask in my victory." Ganondorf swung his blade at Link's neck, and the hero ducked. "I'll be unstoppable!"

Link rolled around Ganondorf and pierced the villain. "You are full of yourself, assuming you can win. You've never changed, as you are insane." He followed up with another attack, but the dark lord evaded him.

Ganondorf unleashed a powerful beam at Link, crashing the hero into the transparent wall. "Since you work for the opposite side, someone probably raised you to be self-righteous and bothersome. Can't you admit it? You and your ancestors... your incarnations, even... you knights would embark on an adventure to save Hyrule and countless maidens from me. We Gerudos are forced to tolerate the scorching desert!" His thunderous voice rattled the windows and startled the mares. His pupils turned white, and he let out an animalistic growl. He slowly approached Link. Behind the wall, the moon princess spoke to the hero.

"Fight back," Luna said. "Don't let him win!"

Link rose from the floor. His body was in pain, yet he was determined to vanquish his foe. "Ganondorf, I'm not going easy on you. You should return to your prison, where you belong!" He performed the same tactics as earlier, and the Gerudo warrior outsmarted him. It wasn't as effective as he anticipated it to be.

Ganondorf snickered. "Alright, kid... has it ever occurred to you that we've acted out the same story over and over? The bad guy shows up, kidnaps the cowardly princess, and loses to a green-clad knight?"

Link halted in mid-step. Was it a trick? The demon king didn't deserve even the slightest drop of sympathy. "Each tale is in a different setting, I guess. Why do you ask? As Princess Luna had said, we won't pity you. You've done too much damage to receive a second chance."

"But of course! I don't need friendship or redemption! Power is my top priority, especially at the expense of wimpy individuals!"

"You're a corrupt man... or stallion."

Ganondorf leaped above Link, slicing the hero's backbone. He landed behind Link and prepared a fatal blow. Link caught him in time and parried the attacks. The swords clanged as they continued exchanging blows. Ganondorf flung magical spheres at Link. The hero dodged each one, then sent the last one flying toward the evil wizard. Ganondorf bellowed again, and Link aimed the slashes at him. Again, the blades clashed. While Ganondorf was desperate to succeed, Link wanted this over with.

Link aimed the sword at Ganondorf's chest. "It's over, you monster!"

Ganondorf ducked the blow. "No, it's not. I'll display my full power, since you won't surrender. Just like the rulers, you won't capitulate." He belted out an intense cackle as he bared his fangs and transformed into his beast form. This time, he possessed a pair of monstrous hands and a boar's snout. He roared as he charged at Link. The floor shook under his weight.

Link dodged the beast, then cut into Ganon's flesh. Before he could make another move, Ganon swiped him with brute force, knocking him off his hooves. He rose as soon as he fell, then lunged at his enemy and pierced Ganon's shoulder. Ganon rammed into him and pinned him to the ground. The wizard began speaking in a demonic voice, while the mares observed the entire scene.

Ganon's nostrils flared. "Your unicorn form is as difficult as the wolf. Tell me, kid. Which way will you look? To Hyrule, where your family and friends reside? Or the mares who helped you? Wherever you look, that will be the first thing I'll destroy. It's futile, Link. You're more feeble than I thought."

As much as Link desired to glance in either direction, he suppressed the urge. Ganon's hand clamped around his throat, lifting him off the ground. He levitated his blade and swiveled the weapon at Ganon's neck. The weapon gashed the skin on the beast's neck. He dropped from Ganon's grip, performed a spin attack, and proceeded to charge the power in his sword. Then, he sprung forward and slammed the weapon against the floor. The shockwave blasted Ganon toward the wall, but the dark lord promptly recovered.

"Do you think you can win?" Ganon taunted. "What will you even gain from this?"

Link incised Ganon's body; once, twice, three times, and the villain evaded the fourth strike. "Hyrule and Equestria shall have peace again, and both lands can do just fine without you and your minions!"

Ganon reverted to his stallion form. "So, you believe I'd do a horrible job as a ruler? Then why did I have the Triforce of Power? Is it a joke to you? No more games or swordplay. Time to dirty your hooves, kid!" He launched a bolt of kinetic energy at the Master Sword, knocking it out of Link's magical grip. The weapon landed next to the statues.

"How dare you!" Link retorted as he pointed a light arrow at Ganondorf. "Are you so desperate that you'd banish the Master Sword?"

"I can't afford to have you defeat me, so-called Hero. However, sometimes you need a little lady to back you up. I bet it makes you feel less masculine. How embarrassing. Without Luna and the Elements of Harmony, you would be stuck on the journey across Equestria."

"I don't see anything wrong with needing help." Link loosened the light arrow, and the missile plunged into Ganondorf's barrel. "The question is, why do you always come back from your prison? An individual as powerful as the goddesses should seal you forever."

Ganondorf eyed the arrow in his barrel, then yanked it out. "You mean Hylia? Usually her host is a Hylian maiden, who allows herself to get captured and waits for a hero to save the day! She isn't strong, despite the tale of her vanquishing Demise." He dashed toward Link and unleashed dark spells at him.

Link dodged the spells and shot more light arrows at Ganondorf. The evil wizard's horn emitted a pillar of dark energy, and the spell surged at him. Levitating a shield, Link blocked the magic. He peered at the Master Sword, then nodded at Luna. She tossed the blade forward, and Link's aura caught the hilt. Ganondorf released a battle cry, rushing in and aiming a vertical strike at the hero. Link pivoted, deflecting the blow and running his blade through his adversary's barrel. The villain responded by directing a horizontal slash and an uppercut toward the hero's forearm. Link parried the incoming attacks. He faded back to avoid his foe's weapon.

Link slitted Ganondorf's ribs and hacked the larger stallion's hindquarters. "Still stubborn, you vile scum? Your desire to rule the world has severely corrupted you. What other strategies will you resort to? It better not involve kidnapping someone... or scattering the Elements a second time, if it's what you have in mind."

"Do you honestly expect me-" Ganondorf stepped closer. "-to play fair?" He sliced the air, and his blade met Link's shield. "Well, do you? I'm a Gerudo warrior, destined to be a king! Not a puppet for the goddesses' entertainment!" He spun before ramming his back hooves into Link's shoulder.

Link sidestepped the next blow. "Shut up, Ganondorf! You've never cared about anyone but yourself. No wonder you often reawaken with the same goal in your mind."

Ganondorf leaped into the air, crimson energy crackling above his horn as he descended and launched his magic into the floor near Link's hooves, sending the hero flying toward the wall. "I'll destroy you right here while your friends watch helplessly! They'll mourn you and attempt to avenge you, yet they will all meet a deadly end. Also, Chrysalis and Sombra are done being useful, so I won't revive them anytime soon. The demon king needs no one!"

Ganondorf delivered a kick to Link's ribs and smashed him against the barrier. "Besides, I might send you to my prison. You can't go around trying to defeat me whenever I escape my exile!"

Link panted as he widened his stance. The impact must have affected his ribs, as the kick probably broke a bone or two. He hated Ganondorf. The dark lord had tried to conquer Hyrule, to usurp the royal family, and was responsible for what once happened to the children of Ordon Village. Ganondorf seemed to take pleasure in torturing him, as the villain unleashed a fit of sadistic laughter. Link stabbed at Ganondorf, but the demon king vanished. Ganondorf reappeared behind him, the dark sword glowing with crimson energy.

"Are you serious?" Link demanded in frustration as he performed a jump attack.

"Yes, you pesky hero. Yes, I am," Ganondorf jeered as he deflected the jump attack. His aura gleamed around him, and he increased his magical reserves. His eyes went white. A kinetic blast emerged from his horn and surged at Link. Then, he conjured a sphere of crackling energy. "It's over. Surrender or else!"

Link levitated his shield, and the sphere bounced off. The battle seemed to last forever, and he was becoming more frustrated by the minute. Yet he chose to keep his wits about himself. His friends cheered him on, which offered him the strength to continue fighting Ganondorf. The villain parried his blade and swung the sword toward him. Their blades clanged as Ganondorf cornered Link.

"Why are you not conceding?" Ganondorf asked.

"Because I won't! You've lost the battle before we even started!" Link said.

An enraged bellow erupted from Ganondorf's throat as he swiped at the hero and attempted to murder him. "That does it, kid! No more of this nonsense! I've had enough of your existence! Allow me to show you just what hope you have... see how much your precious allies and both worlds are worth!" He summoned another sword.

"You've gone completely insane," Link muttered as he braced himself for the impact. "Leave Hyrule and Equestria alone." He projected a flurry of light arrows forward, stunning Ganondorf in the process. He would have to act fast, or Ganondorf would recover.

Link plunged the Master Sword into Ganondorf's body, and the wizard collasped. Ganondorf's mouth opened as if letting out a silent scream. The hero backed away, waiting for the sorcerer to pass on. Ganondorf struggled to his height, gasping for air. Everypony in the room stared in anticipation.

"You've done it again," Ganondorf rasped, his nostrils flaring. "You thwarted my plans... to conquer the universe... May your descendants suffer!" He exhaled his last breath. Golden light enveloped him, and he disappeared. The barrier vanished, too.

"Link... you saved Equestria," a feminine voice spoke.

Link turned his head to the speaker in question. Celestia was freed from her stone prison. Starlight and Trixie were no longer statues. Luna approached him, wearing a benevolent smile as her hoof brushed against his. For a moment, they maintained eye contact. Her cobalt eyes expressed joy and relief, and he gave an understanding nod. The older alicorn released a musical chortle.

"I don't mean to interrupt your little moment, but Pinkie Pie is wondering if we can have a party before you go home," Celestia said.

"We sure can," Link replied.