Legend of Zelda: The Equestrian Hero

Luna guided Link and Pinkie to the ship. They hadn't encountered falling rocks or a cloud of smoke. It was as if an evil presence had left the Dragon Lands. And Ganondorf was the one who put Volvagia inside the volcano. Her ears detected the unmistakable flap of dragon wings, and she turned around. Ember must have intended to speak to her. Why else would the Dragon Lord follow her?

"Thank you for destroying the monsters inside the volcano," Ember said.

"You're welcome," Luna replied. "Link assisted me. We didn't know that Pinkie Pie was in the huge chamber. I guess Ganondorf must have put her in there."

"Whoever Ganondorf was, I bet he could be responsible. If I ever meet him, he'll pay for what he had done."

"My friends and I are going back to Ponyville. Next time you need us, you can always visit."

"I think we're good. Farewell. And tell Spike I said hi."

Luna grinned as she boarded the ship. The vessel drifted toward the center of the sea. A cool breeze rippled through the sail, propelling the ship forward. The outside temperature was a stark contrast to the cavern's blistering heat. She placed her saddlebags next to the table. Pinkie Pie leaned against the railing. The pink mare would stay with Fluttershy and Discord until the other Element bearers were rescued. By then, they would take on Ganondorf. Was Chrysalis planning to help Ganondorf in the final battle, though?

"I just had a thought," Pinkie said.

"What is it?" Luna asked.

"When all this is over, I'll throw a huge party in Ponyville. Many ponies will be invited, including your new friend."

"You've always been the kind of mare to see the light at the end of a tunnel. It's good to have some hope, even if the future appears bleak."

"True. What are Starlight and Trixie up to?"

"They visited the Crystal Empire. Somepony had stolen the Crystal Heart."

Pinkie tilted her head. "Could it be Sombra?"

"I'm not sure. Still, it's likely that Sombra is a possible culprit. But it could be anypony, especially Ganondorf. As far as I know, he might be responsible for the disappearance of the Crystal Heart. If he did revive Sombra, it means he would be as capable of bringing back Tirek."

"Goodness, I hope not. Tirek was dangerous and cruel."

"Indeed he is. I wouldn't want to end up in Tartarus again. It's creepy down there." Luna shuddered at the memory. "It didn't help that Celestia and I didn't have magic back then."

"So, the cloak you're wearing... was it supposed to be a disguise?"

Luna nodded. "I guess. Discord gave it to me."

"Had anypony seen past your disguise? Somepony may recognize you."

Luna's mind transported to the swift meeting with Chrysalis. Well, Chrysalis had initiated the conversation by leading the rogue changelings to her. If she had slipped up instead, she wouldn't be here by now. Besides, Chrysalis was working for Ganondorf. What if Ganondorf had discovered the other villains? If it was the case, it could spell doom for Equestria. A legion of powerful threats working together might cause nationwide destruction. However, as long as the heroes were around, they would foil the plans of the wicked.

"Chrysalis almost did," Luna said at last. "The rebellious changelings preferred her over Thorax."

"Chrysalis?" Pinkie asked.

"Yes. Her minions had followed me to the river." Luna told the rest of the story to Pinkie. In response to the tale, the pink mare's eyes widened.

"So, basically, Chrysalis accepted her defeat? There's no struggle? It's not every day that an actual pony tricks a real changeling. Wouldn't they return if they don't find you in Los Pegasus? I bet Chrysalis will want revenge. I mean, she took us to the Changeling hive one time. Who knows what she's plotting?"

"Chrysalis' desire to have revenge is probably the reason she gravitates toward Ganondorf," Luna said.

Link decided to chime in. "Chrysalis isn't the first bad guy to join forces with him. Zant betrayed Midna by accepting Ganondorf's offer. He wasn't content with not ruling the Twilight Realm."

Pinkie gave Link a confused stare. "Twilight what?"

Luna cleared her throat. "Pinkie, the Twilight Realm is a kingdom in Link's world. He wasn't referring to Twilight Sparkle."

"Oh! Okay..." Pinkie shrugged. "I got puzzled for a second."

"I was perplexed, too, when Link told me of the realm. They share the same name."

Pinkie giggled. "Wait until Twilight Sparkle hears this."

For the rest of the day, the trio chatted. Luna didn't think she would develop a friendship with a pony from another world. Yet she befriended Link. To be fair, anypony who cared about Equestria would be willing to help save the land. There was one factor to consider, which was Link's relationships with Zelda and Midna. She could be wrong, but he might be dating either Midna or Zelda. Due to current events, she wasn't looking for romance. Equestria had to be safe first before she could pursue a relationship.

Sunlight illuminated Equestria by the time the trio arrived at Twilight's castle. They strode through the front door, and as soon as they cantered into the council room, Fluttershy welcomed Pinkie Pie into an embrace. Discord and Spike joined in. Luna stood by the exit, guarding the door. A strange inkling niggled at her mind, and she scanned the area. She couldn't shake off the sense that something happened to Starlight Glimmer and Trixie.

"Had Starlight sent a letter?" Luna asked, and the room grew quiet. "Should I be worried?"

"She hasn't said a single word," Spike replied.

Fluttershy furrowed her brows. "I hope she and Trixie are alright."

Discord approached the window. "Usually, I make jokes. Even the Lord of Chaos has to acknowledge the seriousness of the current situation."

Luna stepped forward. "I assumed Starlight would have informed you about the Crystal Empire by now."

"Anyways, since Ganondorf blocked me from entering Canterlot, I'm now unaware of his future plans. At least Celestia's alive. She's still a damsel in distress."

Luna rolled her eyes. "It doesn't make her useless. She tries to protect Equestria, and isn't easily frightened. You told me you would be serious. Or do you prefer to add humor to our discussion?"

"It depends on my mood. Oh, and the ocean has problems, just like the volcano."

"The sea does have monsters," Luna said. "Link and I saw a huge squid on the way to the Dragon Lands."

"Have you ever gone underwater?" Discord asked.

Luna wasn't thrilled at the prospect of meeting a dangerous underwater creature, especially a shark. "Do we need to? How much do you really know about Equestria's oceans?"

"Keep in mind that we have lived for a long time, Lulu. Our magic causes us to age slower. I've seen underwater temples."

Luna listened as Discord spoke. Of all the places she and her sister visited in their youth, they didn't explore such a temple. Since Discord could defy logic, it would make sense for him to go underwater without requiring a scuba mask. As he mentioned the puzzles and traps that lurked in the temple, her ears went up. He even revealed the location. She figured the temple would be more complicated than the first two. Once the conversation was over, she trotted outside, and Link followed her. Which Element bearer would they rescue next? They proceeded onward, and for a moment, she considered teleporting them to the ship. She knew they had to save Equestria, and they couldn't waste time merely traipsing around. Or was it her impatience speaking to her? She peered at Link.

"If we don't hear from Starlight Glimmer or Trixie for another week, we'll travel to the Frozen North," Luna said.

"Maybe they're in trouble," Link replied.

"We'll find out in the near future. They might have been trying to solve an obstacle other than the Crystal Heart's disappearance. It is the only thing that keeps the empire from falling. Somehow, I think an ancient enemy has stolen it."

"It would be like Ganondorf stealing two more pieces of the Triforce. Well, I already told you what would happen if he usurps Princess Zelda."

As they cantered through Ponyville, Luna's gaze drifted to the train station. The train was in town, yet Starlight Glimmer and Trixie hadn't arrived. She strolled toward the station. A cluster of ponies dismounted the train, while others entered the caravan. A stallion, whose cutie mark was a train track, stood by the entrance. She stopped a random mare. The mare's eyes narrowed.

"Do you know where Starlight Glimmer and Trixie are? They visited the Crystal Empire, and they haven't sent a letter to Spike," Luna said.

"I'm in the middle of an important errand," the mare replied. "I was there last week, though."

"Did you see them?"

"They were racing to the castle. It was the only time I've seen them." The mare tapped her hoof impatiently. "I'm going to be late."

"I didn't mean to bother you. I'm worried about Starlight and Trixie."

"Oh. Makes sense. I'll go."

The mare galloped into the horizon. Luna and Link began walking to the Rambling Rock Ridge. The memory of the confrontation surfaced in her mind. Her horn glowed, and an aura enveloped the duo. It wasn't unusual for a villain to want revenge after being defeated. Also, Chrysalis wouldn't take kindly to being outsmarted. Luna imagined herself standing by the water in Horseshoe Bay. Sure enough, the spell transported the duo to Horseshoe Bay.

It was the second time the duo borrowed the ship. The boat cut through the sea, cruising past the islands. Four hours whizzed by, and Luna was already scrutinizing the map. She drew an 'x' over a specific area, where the underwater temple was located. She estimated that it would take a few days to reach their destination. The ocean was vast, and no matter how beautiful it was on a clear day or a starlit night, it concealed many dangers. Whether the peril manifested itself as a storm, a vicious beast, or simply getting lost, the ocean was the source of myths and fables surrounding the sea. After Ganondorf had cursed Equestria, the ocean was more perilous than it already was.

Link's bow and saddlebags sat by the helm. As he steered the ship in a certain direction, a thick fog blanketed the water. He squinted his eyes. An unnatural silence infused the air. Luna performed a spell on the fog, yet it didn't work. The haze darkened from ghostly white to smoky purple. It wasn't a normal weather phenomenon. She focused her magic on creating several orbs of light, then enchanted them so they would have a cleansing effect on the haze. The orbs floated to various parts of the ship, causing the smoke to form a wide circle.

"It reminds me of the fog I had seen back in Hyrule," Link said.

"It does?" Luna asked.

"Yes. Faron Woods."

"Is Faron Woods anything like the Everfree Forest?"

"If you count the monsters and the temple, then yes."

Luna inched toward the front of the ship, surveying the distance. The churning smog attempted to approach the vessel from time to time. Still, the orbs kept the mist at bay. She yanked a compass from her saddlebags. According to the compass, the duo wasn't going in the wrong direction. But it was possible to wind up getting lost, and she didn't want that to happen. Not when Equestria's fate hung in the balance.

"I don't get why the Triforce of Power would choose Ganondorf," Link said.

"Me, either. The desire for power can corrupt a pony," Luna replied.

"Or a person. Whenever he breaks free, he tries to destroy Hyrule. This usually prompts a courageous hero to save the kingdom and defend the royal family."

"And you're the hero."

"Of course I am. On occasion, we heroes save other lands, such as Termina and the Twilight Realm."

"Does Termina have its own ruler?"

Link levitated a telescope from his saddlebags. "No. The people in Termina are quite independent."

A dark silhouette materialized, advancing toward the duo. A silver-blue aura lit Luna's horn, and she intently watched the silhouette. It turned out to be a ship. Unlike her boat, the large vessel had a gargoyle statue on the front. The cannons pointed at the boat. Link accompanied her while observing the dark vessel. A horde of bipedal monsters shot arrows at the duo. Some of them boarded the smaller ship, brandishing leather clubs and curved blades.

"They better not capsize our boat," Link said as he fought the monsters. "I bet Ganondorf told them to ambush us."

Suddenly, an all-out battle commenced. The stallion's sword clashed with countless weapons. Luna struck the beasts left and right, never once stopping to take a break. She shot kinetic blasts, kicked their jaws, and shoved them into the murky water. Link unleashed arrows at the ones that didn't board this vessel. The remaining enemies launched cannonballs at the duo. Luna summoned a magical shield. The cannonballs bounced off the barrier, plunging into the ocean. The waves slapped the sides of the boat. The enemy's vessel receded into the fog.

Ganondorf scowled at his crystal ball, taking in the scene. The hero had succeeded again. Why weren't his minions quick to capsize the vessel? Who was the cloaked mare assisting the blasted wielder of Courage? He placed the crystal ball onto a pedestal, muttering to himself. If the mare was indeed the younger sister of Celestia, it meant trouble. Did Midna not help Link to defend Hyrule? And now, it was possible that another princess could be helping the Hylian knight. Perhaps it would make more sense to let the younger princess wander around for a bit before coming here. Hoofsteps echoed off the walls, interrupting his contemplation.

"We searched Los Pegasus," Chrysalis announced.

"It doesn't matter. We have a change of plans," Ganondorf replied.

Chrysalis bowed her head. "Sure, why not? I commanded my allies to spread out."

An idea formed in Ganondorf's brain. "You have the ability to disguise yourselves, correct?"

"Yes. Are you giving me an order?"

"Listen closely, Chrysalis. I want you to visit the Crystal Empire and disguise yourself as Celestia. Deceive their ruler into surrendering the throne to me."

Chrysalis wore a sadistic grin. "Sounds perfect. I won't disappoint you." Green flames spun around her, and she transformed into the sun princess.

The real Celestia stormed into the throne room, but Chrysalis fled the castle before a confrontation could start. "Ganondorf... I heard everything. How dare you? Now Cadence will no longer have a kingdom. You just made it worse for the empire."

Ganondorf threw his head back, cackling through clenched teeth. "Do you expect me to care? I can't lose to the hero of Hyrule!" He composed himself and maintained eye contact. "Soon, you pitiful ponies shall meet your doom!"

Celestia grimaced. "Have you lost your marbles? You won't get away with it!"

"I will. And you'll cower in fear. I know, because Princess Zelda and her incarnations are afraid of me."

Celestia bit her bottom lip and meandered to her room. Did Ganondorf assume she was frightened of him? He was wrong. She didn't want him to win. If he did, Equestria was toast. And the fact that Chrysalis agreed to his orders? Shaking her head, she plopped onto her bed. She might as well wear black, as she was concerned for Equestria's future. If her former student hadn't arrived, the six mares would be assisting the stallion instead.

Would Luna find the other Element bearers before it was too late?