Equestria Warriors: Displacement of a Hero

I stared out across the waves as our ship rocked softly in the surf. I had been asked to accompany Twilight to an island outpost far to the southwest in the Great Sea by Princess Celestia herself. Apparently we were supposed to be ‘checking in’ on the local inhabitants, since any and all communication with them had ended. Besides us, all of our friends had decided to come along. I smiled to myself as I looked around at everyone enjoying themselves. Only Twilight didn’t look happy, but that was more from seasickness than not being cheerful. I gave her a reassuring pat on the back as she smiled thankfully at me.

“Don’t worry, I used to get sick on boats too. You go on them enough, you get used to it.” I said in an attempt to make her feel better. She just nodded, not wanting to try and speak at the moment. With a soft smile I got up and walked towards the helm, where our captain stood, a hand firmly on the wheel. It had been hard to find somepony willing to traverse the Great Sea since the rumored return of the Demon King, but we managed to convince Swift Sail to take us. He had been one of the best captains in the Royal Navy before he retired, and never boasted about it. I stood beside them and watched the horizon, waiting for our destination to appear on it.

“Don’t quite understand why ye need ter get to Dragon Roost, but if it’s ter help the Princess, I guess it must be important.” He said gruffly, adjusting course as he spoke. I looked at him with an indifferent gaze.

“I am not too sure why we are going either. But orders are orders. I just hope nothing is wrong when we get there.” I spoke calmly, despite my anxiety spiking through the roof. Thanks to Fluttershy I had learned to keep calm under pressure. She had admittingly also had problems doing the same, but we were learning together. I smiled to myself once again at how lucky I was. I had friends here who always wanted to help me, and I them. Swift Sail nodded back to me.

“Aye. Pray to Hylia everypony there is alright.” He said coolly as our destination finally appeared on the horizon. It was a tall volcanic island whose peak was ringed in clouds.

“There it is…” I said in amazement as it drew closer.
“Dragon Roost Island.”

We dropped anchor just off shore and rowed to the island in Swift Sails’ smaller longboat. He waved us off as he went back to his ship, sailing back to the mainland. The moment my feet touched land, I heard the distinct melody I remembered from when I played Windwaker. It was the theme to Dragon Roost Island. I smiled to myself and began to walk down the beach, Dashie and AJ clung to both of my arms as we went, the others following behind us. Once in a while I could hear them giggle at us, but it didn’t bother me at all. I had actually wanted to take them here for a few weeks, ever since I saw it on a map at the barracks. We followed a path leading up towards the outpost, finding it completely deserted.

“Where is everypony?” Fluttershy asked as we looked around.

“I have an idea, but I hope I’m wrong.” I said as I looked up to the second floor.

“What? Where do you think they are?” Twilight asked as I began walking up the ramp to the next level.

“There’s an ancient Temple inside the volcano. It was sacred to the Rito tribe that used to live here, and that’s where I think we’ll find them, if they’re still here.” I told her as we walked through a doorway back outside. In front of us was a small pool of water, right where I remembered it to be. I could see the ruined remains of the bridge that once spanned the expanse on the other side.

“Well now what genius? How do we get across?” Dash asked frustratedly. I looked back at them and pointed towards the Temple.

“That temple is too dangerous for any of you. Even you Dash. If it’s anything like what I remember, it will be filled with tougher monsters and traps than anything you have seen so far. So please trust me, and stay here. Stay safe for me.” I said as I gave them a hard look. Even Rainbow Dash backed down, since she knew how dangerous this place really was. I gave them a nod before turning and jumping into the water and swimming to the other side.

“Heeeeey! Johnny!” AJ called to me and I turned to face her. She gave me a small smile.

“Come back to us safe, Kay?” She said with a weak smile. I smiled reassuringly at her and Dash.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. And remember, I love you both.” I called over with a wave. AJ and Dash both blushed deep red and smiled as Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity looked at them with their own devious smirks. Twilight was looking up at the peak of the island, looking deep in thought.
“Hey Sparkles!” I called over to her. She looked at me as I gave her a nod.
“I got this.”

“I know Link. Now go!” She called back as I turned and ran down the path. I rounded a corner and faced a pool of lava. Looking around I saw some familiar statues holding stone baskets. I pulled out my bomb bag and threw one into the nearest one. With a slightly muffled explosion it tipped forward and fell, making a small area for me to stand on. I moved forward and repeated the same process until I was safely across. I moved forward, entering the temple as quickly as I could. The first room was simple enough to figure out, there was a simple block puzzle I quickly solved that opened the way forward. Entering the next room I found two moblins weilding torches and seemingly unaware of my presence. I had forgotten that these monsters were incredibly unperceptive and a bit oblivious. I managed to get the jump on them, slicing their heads off in one swing.

“Man, I feel a bit overpowered for this dungeon. Must be my training kicking in.” I muttered to myself as I looked around. I saw two unlit torches sitting on a raised platform on one side of the room, with a lit one and a pot of handheld torches on the other. Taking one and lighting it, I walked over and lit the other two, making a chest appear. Opening it I found a small key and used it to unlock the door ahead. Pressing on I found myself in the heart of the volcano, a large lake of molten rock radiating heat below as I looked around at the various walkways that had been constructed here. Looking to my right I saw a lavafall blocking my way. With no other option I followed the path I was on as it snaked its way around the left side of the cavern before crossing a small bridge to the other side. The way forward however was blocked by a massive rock, behind which I could see a door. With a little help from some explosives, I cleared away the boulder and began walking forward. Hearing something running up behind me I drew my sword and spun around, the tip of my blade mere inches from the chest of Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight!” I yelled in frustration as I sheath my weapon and frowned at her.
“I could have killed you!” I said in angrily as she looked up at me with a slightly embarrassed look.

“S-sorry Link… but I couldn’t help myself. I had to know what was in here after you said it was an ancient temple.” She said meekly with a slight shrug. I sighed and shook my head before turning back towards the door I cleared.

“Well it’s too late for you to turn back. Just stay close and don’t touch anything.” I warned her before setting off again, Twilight falling close behind. We entered the next room and were confronted by a pool of lava blocking our way forward. Several stone jars were laid around the solid platforms that framed the pool, and when I shook one, I heard water slosh around inside.

“So this is what you meant by ‘traps’?” Twilight asked as I hefted a jar on my shoulder.

“More or less. Some, like this, are easy to figure out.” I told her as I tossed the jar into the molten rock. It exploded and doused a good chunk in water, solidifying it instantly. I hopped across to a chest on the next ledge, with my companion following closely.
“But you always need to be vigilant. You mess up on a big one, and it could be fatal.”

“Incredible, this is what you do when you go on your adventures?” She asked as I turned towards the chest. I gave her a short nod and opened it, raising the dungeon map above my head as I heard the familiar fanfare play.
“What was that about?” She asked as I shook my head a little.

“Just something that happens to me when I open certain chests. Part of the Curse of the Hero.” I said without thinking, clamping a hand over my mouth as she began firing a barrage of questions about it. I promised her I would answer them after we got out of here, hefting another water jar into the lava as we hopped to the other side of the room.

“This place seems like a rather odd place for the Rito to have a temple. With all the lava, you’d think they’d burn themselves easily.” Twilight mused aloud as we moved along.

“I thought so too when I first came here.” I agreed, referring to when I first played Windwaker . I climbed the ladder in front of me to the ledge above, offering my hand to Twilight as she climbed up behind me.

“You’ve been here before? How is that even possible? You said you had appeared in the Everfree.” She frowned as I gave her a sheepish smile.

“It was a long time ago, in another world. And so far it seems to be roughly the same.” I told her as I opened the next door. The next room was dark, a pair of boarded up passages the only noticeable features.
“Twi, stay behind me.” I said calmly as I drew my sword. As soon as I approached the passage opposite the door, it exploded towards me as a Moblin lunged out. It swiped at me with the cleaver it was holding as I backed up, thrusting my blade through its skull as it exploded into purple smoke.

“Whoa… that was really… violent.” Twilight said nervously as she looked at me.

“It’s only going to get worse for me as I move forward. Each temple or dungeon I venture into will be more difficult than the last.” I said with a grunt as I broke the barricade on the other passage and moved on. The path continued forward, with a small alcove lit by torches branched off to the right. I hopped up on its little ledge and made my way to the back of the opening, finding a chest there. Opening it, I held up a small key as a familiar fanfare played, and I was told this key could only be used in this dungeon.

“You really are a strange one, Link.” She commented as I shook my head.

“Heh, yea, guess I am. But hey, what hero isn’t?” I joked as we moved on to the next room. We emerged back into the center chamber, the fiery geyser of lava still shooting up into the air as we moved to the left, only to find our path blocked by a boulder.

“How do we get through?”Twilight asked as I saw a small cluster of bomb flowers growing behind the rock.

“Like this.” I answered as I drew my bow and shot an arrow into the closest one, setting them off and blowing the boulder to pieces.

“I guess that works.” She said as we moved along the path. We were now back where we started, next to the locked door and the path we took earlier. Using the key I got, I opened the door and we went to the next room. Instantly we were rushed by several red Chu-chus, two of them leaping at us as I pushed Twilight aside.

“Oh no you don’t you slimy shits.” I snapped as I slashed through one and turned it to dust. One managed to hit my arm and I felt the limb burn like I’d dipped it in acid, making me yell out in pain. I watched as I lost a heart worth of damage, roaring in anger as I slashed through the abominable slimes. One by one they crumbled to ash, leaving me standing in the middle of the room. Turning towards Twilight, I sighed in relief as she appeared unharmed.
“You OK Sparks?” I chuckled as I walked over to her. She looked up at me from the floor as I helped her up.

“Sparks?” She asked as we walked toward the next door.

“Figured you’d need a nickname if we’re gonna be friends, right?” I smiled at her as I opened the door. Fresh air hit us as we walked outside, making us sigh as we finally felt cool after being in the heart of the volcano.

“I guess we are friends then.” She smiled back as we looked up the path ahead. There was a rickety old rope bridge spanning between the outcropping we were on and the one next to us. I tested its strength as I inched across, making it to the other side as I then motioned for Twilight to follow. On this side there was only a ladder up that we climbed. The ledge it put us on was small, barely big enough for us to walk comfortably. There was a smaller ledge leading to the next platform, and periodically a jet of fire would shoot out of the wall along the path.

“Twilight, you need to do as I say here. This is really dangerous.” I warned her as I took to the narrow path.
“Stay on this side until I tell you to.”

“Alright Link, just be careful.” She said worriedly. I gave her a nod as I made my way across, getting closer to the flaming geyser. I waited and watched as the flames shot out and retreated before quickly making my way across. I took a deep breath to calm myself before turning to Twilight.

“OK, now slowly make your way across, and stop where I did.” I called over to her as she nodded and began to cross. She stopped just before the flames and looked at me.

“Now what?” She asked, trying not to look down.

“When I say go, you go!” I called back to her, and she nodded in response. I watched the fire die down and yelled to her.
“Now!”

She quickly shuffled across and fell into my arms as I caught her.

“It’s OK Sparks, I got you.” I smiled reassuringly. She only nodded as I let her catch her breath. Beside us sat another large boulder that blocked the way forward. I could see the traditional way to clear it off to the left, a set of ledges and platforms leading to a bomb flower patch, but elected to clear it with my own bombs. I lit one of the charges and rolled it over, covering Twilight as the explosive detonated and showered us in rock fragments. I looked at the now cleared door and back to Twilight.
“Shall we?”

Back inside the mountain, we began to make our way through puzzles and challenges more easily as we began working together. The dungeon seemed to follow the original layout as far as I could tell, even the rats (which gave Twilight a scare). And sadly I lost two more hearts to a couple keese, bringing my health down to only two remaining. Finally after a lot of hard work, we made it to the peak. The Great Valoo seemed to be really angered, and I had an idea as to why.

“Stay close to me Sparks, these stairs will give way.” I said as I took her hand and began running up, each step falling to the sea below a few seconds after we stepped on them. Making it to the top, we saw the Rito clan imprisoned in a cage. As we stepped forward to help, a gate closed behind us and two moblins dropped down from the ledge above. I rushed forward and engaged them as Twilight darted around to the cage to check on everyone. I managed to dispatch them both, but I got hit again in the process. Now I heard the dreaded low health beep, that annoying sound warning me to get some hearts, and soon. As soon as I defeated them, the cage door opened and freed the Rito. I dropped to a knee as Twilight rushed over.

“Link! Are you ok?” She asked worriedly.

“Never better Sparks…” I grunted as I tried to stand, and failed. She helped me sit down as a young Rito girl came up and sat with us.

“You’re hurt.” She said plainly. I gave her a raised eyebrow and chuckled weakly.

“What gave it away?” I smirked through my pain. She just shook her head and pulled out a bottle.

“Here, drink this.” She said as she handed it to me. I recognized what it was. Red Potion. I drank it and felt all my wounds heal up. I managed to stand and gave the girl a smile.

“Thanks kid. What’s your name?” I asked as she stood as well. She returned my smile and gave a small bow.

“I’m Medli.” She said as I offered her the bottle back. She shook her head at me.
“Keep it. You look like you’ll need it more.”

“Thanks. I owe you one, Medli.” I smiled. A larger male Rito walked up to us and introduced himself.

“I am Zephyr, chief of this tribe. We owe you a debt of gratitude, hero.” He said with a bow.

“I just did what was right, sir.” I said as I held up my hand. He nodded and motioned for me to follow. We walked over to a chest at the back of the cage as he turned to me.

“In here is a treasure we’ve held on to from the days of old, when our young would have to climb the mountain on their own to collect a scale from the Great Valoo to prove they had reached adulthood. Please, take it with you and let it aid you on your journey.” He said as I approached the chest. Cheekily, I turned on the sound from the Audivox orb so that everyone could hear it as I opened the chest. They all watched as I leaned in and pulled out a beautiful pair of iron gauntlets, holding them above my head as the fanfare played.

You got theGRAPPLESHOT! Use this to latch on to far off objects or swing across Great distances!

Everyone looked shocked as I equipped the gloves, as they had not expected the display.

“By Hylia, this must be a sign.” Zephyr said as I walked past him. I turned to Twilight and put a hand on her shoulder.

“You should go with them back to the village. The next part is going to be really difficult, and I won’t be able to protect you.” I told her, to which she nodded.

“You’re right, I know that, but I’m worried about you, Link. You can be kinda reckless.” She said with a slight smile.

“Being reckless is what got me to this world. Either that or just dumb luck.” I smirked as she gave me a gentle hug.

“Come back safe. For Applejack and Rainbow Dash.” She said quietly. I could tell that wasn’t all she had to say, but I wasn’t going to push her on it. I just returned the hug and backed up.

“I’ll see you at the bottom.” I smiled as I gave a mock salute, using the Grappleshot to launch myself to the ledge above.

“Good luck!” She yelled to me as I waved and vanished from sight.

I walked down a short path before dropping to the bottom of where the stairs used to be. To my left I could see some branches I could latch onto that lead to another door. I swung across, landing on the platform with a roll. Entering the mountain once again, I was faced by two moblins on another rope bridge. How these bridges didn’t burn, I had no idea. But I charged in, dealing with them quickly and making a chest appear on the floor below. I walked to the middle of the bridge and cut the ropes, dropping me down to the lower level. I opened the chest and found a red rupee, which I tucked into my wallet. I pressed on, clearing room after room, knowing what the boss of this dungeon was. I knew what I had to do, as far as the game went, but I was starting to second guess myself as to my actual skill. Holding the boss key in hand, I stood before the mammoth door and opened the lock. With a mighty clank, the chains and lock fell and the door opened.

“OK bug boy, let’s do this…” I muttered to myself as I entered the final room, a large circular room with wooden walkways lining its upper floors. The smashed remains of ladders littered the ground, preventing access to them. The Great Valoo’s tail hung from the ceiling, surrounded by a large disc of stone. In the center of the room was a pool of molten lava, and as I approached it the surface began to roil as a gigantic insect-like creature burst forth. It spewed fire and slammed its claws against the ground, the armored shell it had protecting it from attack and the heat. The beast roared at me as I began darting to the side, aiming my gauntlet at the dragon’s tail hanging above me. Latching on, I used it to swing to one of the wooden platforms on the opposite side of the room. This movement caused the stone disc to fall, crushing the creature and cracking its shell. I smiled as I felt a sudden surge of confidence. I could actually beat this thing. With an angered roar, the monster slammed the stone back into the roof, and we began the same routine. I successfully performed the same maneuver two more times and managed to destroy the armored shell. Landing in front of the beast I smiled as I dragged it down to me with the Grappleshot and began hacking at its one center eye, delivering the final blow as it roared in pain, slowly petrifying before exploding in a cloud of purple smoke. Its eye fell in front of me and exploded, leaving a heart container behind. I collected it and heard the fanfare, watching as my life increased by one. I looked around for the portal out of here and was surprised to not see one. But standing in the middle of the now hardened pool of lava stood a dark haired woman in a flowing blue dress. As soon as I saw her, I knew who I was looking at.

“Nayru. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” I said as I took a knee. She smiled kindly as she walked forward.

“You are too kind, Hero. Now rise.” She said softly, her voice shooting yet somehow firm. I did as she said and stood up, watching as she approached me.
“You have come from a great distance to find me by chance. Yet you undertook my temple and saved those imprisoned here. For that, you have my thanks.” She said with a nod.

“It’s what anyone should do.” I answered, giving her a small smirk. She smiled back as she held out her hand. I took it and she began to speak.

“Hero, chosen by us, the goddesses. I grant you my blessing.” She said in a commanding tone as a ball of pure blue energy appeared between us. I took it gently and she nodded before fading away. I held up the orb as a somber fanfare played.

You got Nayru’s Blessing! Now you can enter the Sacred Grounds!

I stood there for a moment, realizing finally that I had all three goddesses blessings. A portal of blue light appeared beside where I was, and I stepped through it. When my vision cleared up, I found myself standing in the middle of Ponyville surrounded by the gang. We had all apparently been teleported here at the same time and now everyone was looking at each other in confusion. All but me and Rainbow Dash, who looked over at me with a knowing smile. I put a hand over my heart and looked at the sky as I thanked the goddesses for their blessings.