Legend of Zelda: The Equestrian Hero

Morning came, and everypony gathered in the dining room to eat breakfast. Golden rays of light spilled through the windows, illuminating the stained glass. No vicious beast had invaded the castle, which was a start. Last night at two o'clock, Link had gone to bed. Luna remained awake until the crack of dawn. Alicorns didn't need as much sleep as a normal pony would. Spike sat between Trixie and Starlight. On the opposite end of the table, Luna occupied a seat. Link and Fluttershy were in the middle. Discord teleported into the room, then pulled Fluttershy into an embrace. He released her and plopped into a chair.

"Well, look who's back. I'm glad Fluttershy is alive. Regardless, her friends need help," Discord said.

"I know, which is why we're leaving Ponyville today," Luna replied.

"Did you have a destination in mind?" Discord snapped his talons. A map and a pair of binoculars materialized. His lion finger hovered over the map. "Hmm, where should we go next?"

As much as Luna desired to laugh, her thoughts were preoccupied with Equestria's fate. "This isn't the time to goof off, Discord. Aren't you worried about our friends and the rest of the kingdom?" She levitated the berries and sprinkled them onto her pancakes.

"Of course I'm worried, Princess. Prior to your banishment, one of your Elements was Laughter. Ironically, your sister is the funnier of the two. Unless you count your occasional mischief, that is... Oh, I gotta get to the point. Ganondorf's wicked magic had affected the Dragon Lands. Vicious beasts infiltrated the volcano, forcing the dragons to escape."

Fluttershy's ears perked up. "Discord, how is exploring a volcano a solution to their current problem? Volcanoes are deadly."

In response to Fluttershy's words, Link joined the conversation. "I explored volcanoes in the past. Nothing scares me, as I have the Triforce of Courage."

Luna lifted a cup to her mouth, then sipped the tea. "I'm sure you did, Link. What is the Triforce?"

"It's a trio of golden triangles. Ganondorf has the Triforce of Power, while Princess Zelda has Wisdom. The dark lord is hungry for power, and he won't stop until he steals the other two. If he succeeds in doing so, Hyrule and Equestria will collapse."

"Sounds serious. We must not allow him to achieve his goals. Celestia and I won't be happy if Equestria perishes. Nopony can survive under tyranny."

Discord summoned a compass. "No brave adventurer dares go on a quest without a compass. Unless you already have one in your saddlebags... if that's the case, just assume I'm making a reference."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Discord! Luna told you not to goof off. After Ganondorf is defeated, you can joke around like there's no tomorrow."

Discord shrugged. "I suppose. However, where's the fun in being somber?"

Starlight shook her head. "Not to rain on your chaotic parade, but Trixie is right. We have a critical issue to solve."

Luna rose from her seat and grabbed the map. "I'll use it for the journey. Somepony should check on the Crystal Empire."

"I'll visit the Crystal Empire anyways." Starlight approached the door. "While you weren't here, Princess Cadence sent us a letter."

"What did the letter say?"

"An army of monsters invaded the empire, and while the ponies hid in fear, somepony stole the Crystal Heart."

Luna stashed the map into her saddlebag. "Had the culprit been caught in the act?"

"No. I think the monsters intended to distract the citizens."

Trixie accompanied Starlight. "First, Equestria. Second, the Crystal Empire. Is Ganondorf trying to destroy the world?"

Luna nodded. "It appears so. If you find the Crystal Heart, place it on the pedestal as soon as possible, or the empire will become a frozen wasteland." She turned her attention to Discord. "Can you and Fluttershy babysit Spike?"

"Yes. I guessed it would be another 'redeemed villains rescue the heroes' story, but I'm mistaken," Discord said. "Instead, it's the reformed damsel's turn to save the day."

"Just because I got captured several times and had given in to my dark side doesn't mean I'm helpless. At times, a pony might need help."

"It's usually the princesses who require a hero to save them."

Luna arched a brow. "Power-hungry villains perceive righteous leaders as obstacles."

Discord crossed his arms. "I see your point. Still, Celestia is stuck in her castle, unable to flee. Your newest friend, who came from a different universe, is a knight."

"That's enough. Link and I are going. Even after you changed your behavior, you haven't stopped being rude. Thanks for the cloak, though."

Luna and Link moved on to the exit, then trotted toward the street. The town seemed empty, except for the occasional pony. There wasn't a single enemy in sight, yet the ponies were probably afraid to leave their homes. Pulling her hood close to her face, she strolled past the buildings. Several windows and doors were boarded up. She glanced at Canterlot Castle. A magical barrier encased the palace. When Celestia had told her to defend Ponyville, neither sister expected this to happen. The duo continued onward, meandering to the edge of town. Luna watched as Trixie and Starlight entered a train. She guided Link to the Rambling Rock Ridge.

"Let me guess. The land of Equestria is vast," Link said.

"It is. When my sister and I were younger, we used to explore Equestria a lot," Luna replied. She yanked the map from her saddlebag, then scrutinized the paper.

They had been walking for five hours. Craggy rock formations lined both sides of the ridge. Luna's gaze wandered across the expanse. A group of bipeds lingered by the trees, and she squinted her eyes. They could be diamond dogs, but she wasn't sure if they were. She hadn't seen a diamond dog with a club, a suit of pewter armor, and a set of horns. Link drew his blade and stepped ahead. He levitated his shield in case the monsters decided to attack the duo.

Link widened his stance, and his sword gleamed in the light. As the bipeds inched closer, he performed a spin attack, scattering the beasts into multiple directions. Similar creatures stood atop the rock formations, shooting arrows at him. He took out his bow and unleashed the arrows at each biped.

"Back off, bulblins!" Link shouted.

Luna discharged a spell at the bulblins. Another kinetic blast sent them flying into the air. By the time all the bulblins were gone, she proceeded to navigate the ridge. According to the map, the duo should arrive at the bridge by sunset. A strong gust of wind almost forced the hood off her head, but she caught the covering before it could slide off. Her eyes scanned the area for more enemies. The coast was clear, at least for now. Dangerous creatures had been roaming the land ever since Ganondorf found his way into Equestria.

"Earlier, you mentioned that Princess Zelda is wise. Celestia holds a lot of wisdom," Luna said. "And I'm not talking about the Triforce."

"Is she kind?" Link asked.

"Yes. It's the reason many ponies adore her. I used to be jealous of her until I changed my ways. After my return from the moon, I discovered that there are ponies who love the night. Ultimately, it doesn't matter if somepony likes the night or not. What matters is how a pony treats their peers."

"I know of another princess who learned the same lesson, although she wasn't banished."

"Does she happen to be Zelda's sister?"

"They weren't sisters. Midna, the Princess of the Twilight Realm-"

"Twilight Realm?" Luna tilted her head. "It sounds perplexing. Considering that Equestria has a princess named Twilight Sparkle..."

"It does sound confusing. The Twilight in Equestria is a pony, while the 'Twilight' in my world is a kingdom."

"Alright. Tell me about Midna."

Link wore a wistful expression as he looked at the clouds. "When I first met Midna, she had a sarcastic attitude. She expected me to work for her, as Zant had usurped her. At times, I wanted to tell her to go away. Yet something in my heart didn't let me do so. One day, Zant told her to join his side. She refused, and he exposed her to the light. It weakened her."

"It must have been painful," Luna said.

"Very. I carried Midna to the castle, and Zelda healed Midna as soon as she appeared to us. Because of this, Midna began to change. She vowed to help me save Hyrule. During the final battle, she attempted to destroy Ganondorf, but her efforts were in vain. With Zelda's assistance, I defeated Ganondorf. The light spirits revived Midna, and the curse was lifted. After that... she bid me farewell."

Luna heard the sadness in Link's voice as he said the last four words. "Were you close? Did she leave for good?"

Link sighed. "We were. She had her own life in the Twilight Realm."

"It can be difficult to part with a friend."

"Especially when you've known someone for a month, and she had to go."

Once the duo reached the other side of the Rambling Rock Ridge, Luna glimpsed a river and a dirt path. The sun crept toward the western horizon. Ribbons of orange, pink, and red spilled into the blue sky. Shadows stretched across the ground. She began walking along the path to the bridge. Either she could follow the path, or she could travel along the river to Horseshoe Bay. Somehow, the latter made sense. The dirt path would have led the duo straight to the Badlands. The moon climbed into the sky.

Skeletons emerged from the ground. Luna's horn glowed as she stared down the skeletons. They surrounded the duo, each of them advancing at a slightly different angle. Their icy blue eyes gleamed ominously. One of the skeletal hounds snapped at her, and she summoned a magical barrier. The hounds leaped forward, only to be deflected by the magical shield. She cast a kinetic blast at the hounds.

Link plunged his blade into a stalhound's chest. The stalhound dropped to the ground, then crumbled to dust. He glanced around, searching the area. The monsters could be lurking in the shadows, waiting to ambush the duo. So far, he hadn't seen anything suspicious. Still, he remained vigilant. His archenemy had kidnapped beautiful princesses before. Midna was an exception, although Ganondorf outsmarted her during the final battle.

"Tell me when you start feeling tired. I may keep watch," Luna said.

"I tend to stay up late," Link replied. "It'll take me a while to become tired. Back in Hyrule, I would sometimes explore the kingdom during the night."

"So, you're used to it. I can be nocturnal, too."

They continued chatting as they trotted near the river. Stars shone in the midst of the inky blackness. The river sparkled in the faint moonlight, splashing against smooth rocks. If it wasn't for the sense of being observed by potential threats, they would have allowed themselves to enjoy the peaceful scenery. At one point, they set up a pair of tents. As Luna had promised, she guarded the tents. Her eyes and ears were on high alert. A twig cracked, and an unmistakable hiss garnered her attention. It could be a rogue changeling who refused to listen to Thorax.

Luna whirled around. Sure enough, a small group of changelings approached her. "Why are you here? Did you stalk us?"

"Yes. One of your friends helped Thorax ruin Chrysalis' throne," a female changeling to the left said.

"Were you spying the whole time?"

A tall figure stepped into view. Its gnarled horn was distinct. A pair of neon green eyes glared at Luna. What did Chrysalis want? Luna maintained her composure. As far as she could tell, the former leader of the changelings could be up to no good. What if Chrysalis and the rogues were working for Ganondorf? Then, an idea formed in Luna's mind.

"Do you know Ganondorf?" Luna asked.

"Know him? I offered to help him find a certain princess," Chrysalis said.

"You have me mistaken for somepony else. Try looking in Los Pegasus."

"Fine, whatever. The voice and height reminded me of Princess Luna. So much for revenge. Is Starlight Glimmer with her?"

"Leave us alone." Luna narrowed her eyes. The magic tingled in her horn, waiting to be unleashed. "Or you'll go to Tartarus, where the most dangerous enemies belong."

Chrysalis turned away. "My fellow changelings, let's check out Los Pegasus."

Once the changelings departed, Luna sat by the river. The swift confrontation almost made her expose her true identity. She wouldn't be surprised if one day, she did that while battling a monster. Her thoughts shifted to the time when she first encountered the changelings. They had interrupted her sleep on that day, which had prompted her to fight a few of them in her bedroom. The memory of them hovering above her bed was still ingrained in her mind. To be fair, waking up to an aggressive intruder would trigger anypony's fight-or-flight response. It was the reason she was currently protecting the tents. Oh, and the presence of vicious beasts in Equestria provided another reason to do so.

The sun rose into the sky, causing the shadows to dissolve. Vibrant, fiery colors lit up the eastern horizon. Luna and Link rolled up their tents and began cantering. The golden light warmed her coat, which made her think of Celestia's warm embrace. She sighed. The elder alicorn was stuck in Canterlot Castle, and Ganondorf was probably smiling at her misery by now. The wicked stallion would pay for his crimes.

"We should be at Horseshoe Bay by noon or an hour after twelve," Luna said.

"Will it lead you to the Dragon Lands?" Link replied.

"Yeah."

"I heard a commotion outside the tents last night."

"A group of rogue changelings and their leader, Chrysalis, decided to pay a visit. I told them to leave, and they did. They had followed us because they recognized my voice. Chrysalis claimed to work for Ganondorf."

Link stopped in his tracks. "Chrysalis does? I haven't heard of those creatures."

Luna took out her map. "They're from the Badlands. Also, they rebel against Thorax due to him replacing Chrysalis."

During the rest of their journey to Horseshoe Bay, they discussed the recent events. Above them, a cloud of smoke wafted through the air. Judging by its direction, Luna could tell that it came from the Dragon Lands. What were the dragons dealing with? And what was responsible for the smoke?