Equestria Warriors: Displacement of a Hero

I woke up to snoring, making me frown slightly. I looked over to see Spike sleeping in his small bed. With a sigh I got up and walked outside. Twilight had let me sleep on her couch for a week since I was helping her and her friends with Nightmare Night. With a groan I got up and stretched as I made my way to the kitchen. I sat down at the little table in the corner and looked out the window.

“Two days…” I sighed quietly as I watched the sun rise.
“Two days till Nightmare Night, and I feel like we still have too much to do…”

I leaned back and yawned, mentally preparing myself for the day’s work. I shook my head hard and managed to wake myself up a bit as I made a pot of coffee and got dressed for the day.

Later, in the Town Square

“Make sure those banners are evenly spaced now!” Rarity called out to me and Spike as we held up a set of orange and purple banners. I gave her a raised eyebrow as she smirked back and went to check on the other preparations. I looked over to Spike who just shrugged at me and we kept working.

“So, what do you think of Ponyville?” Spike asked me as we got off our respective ladders. I looked over with a smile.

“I always liked it. It’s quiet, like AJ’s farm. Why do you ask?” I asked back as he walked over.

“I dunno, I just haven’t seen you in a while. And we never talked much before…” He shrugged again as I knelt down to his height.

“It’s all good kiddo. I know you’re trying to be friendly and all. And it’s appreciated.” I smiled as I patted his head.
“Now come on, we got work to do.”

“Yeah! You’re right!” He grinned as we both walked off to our next job. We worked hard the whole day, managing to get half the town finished. I gave him a high five as we began our walk back to the Library. Twilight, bless her, was as polite as she could be when she told us how bad we smelled. Spike and I looked at each other and chuckled before heading towards the shower. I let him go first as I sat on a small wooden chair in the hall. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander as I relaxed for a moment, eventually passing out as I sat there.

In Johnny’s Dreams

I walked down a dark hallway lit by dim electric lights, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet I was walking on. There were no doors to be seen, save for one at the end of the hall. As I made my way closer to it, I could feel my body resist my movement and it became a struggle to move forward. I looked down at my feet to see them being swallowed by the carpet. I began to panic and tried to claw my body free, making no progress and only sinking deeper into the shaggy mess. As it reached up to my chest I looked up and prayed for help, my shoulders now sinking below the surface.

“Help! Please!” I yelled, my voice sounding muffled and distorted as my head sank below the surface, my right arm still barely above the surface. I felt myself suffocating as someone grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I gasped for air as soon as my head was free and looked up to see my rescuer. It was the one and only Luna, giving me a soft smile.

“Fear not, I am here.” She told me as our surroundings changed. We now sat in her study, a fire crackling cheerily in the fireplace. I looked around as I felt my heart rate slowly go down, eventually taking a seat as Luna waited patiently. I sighed and leaned back, keeping my eyes closed.

“Thank you Luna. I don’t know why that happened, but thank you.” I said weakly as she nodded.

“It’s alright Johnny. I am sorry it happened at all, nightmares usually do not occur if I can help it.” She frowned sadly as she looked out the window. I sat up and looked around, noting how everything felt slightly off.

“I’m still dreaming… aren’t I.” I asked her as I stood up. She nodded and stood as well.

“Yes, but not for much longer.” She giggled as she tapped my forehead, jolting me awake as I nearly fell out of my chair.

“Jeez Link, you’d have a nightmare or something?” Spike asked as he left the bathroom, chuckling slightly as he watched me almost fall. I sighed and got up, wondering what that dream meant.

Despite having a later start than I did yesterday, I managed to finish setting up the decorations. I sat on a small hill on the outskirts of town, leaning on an old oak tree as I watched the clouds roll by overhead.

“You hanging in there Link?” Twilight asked as she sat beside me. I smiled sadly at her and looked back at the heavens.

“I’m not sure honestly. I’ve been having strange dreams lately. Sometimes even Nightmares. It’s been bothering me a lot…” I said with a frown. She raised her eyebrows before looking at the sky as well.

“Dreams can be your subconscious trying to tell you something. Like a warning.” She shrugged.
“Or you could just be overworked.”

“Heh, probably the second one.” I snorted as I leaned on my knees. She gave me a strange smile and stood.

“We should get to bed early tonight, we have a big day tomorrow.” She said as she offered me a hand. I took it and stood, dusting myself off and walking back to the Library together.

“Please tell me you have a costume.” Spike asked me as we sat at the breakfast table. I sighed and shook my head.

“I don’t. Honestly, I think I’ve had enough of costumes for a lifetime…” I frowned as I looked out the window. Spike looked a bit bummed out but didn’t protest anymore. He had been asking if I was gonna dress up like everyone else all week, and each time I had tried to let him down gently about it. He didn’t know my story like the others did. Mostly because I had Twilight swear she wouldn’t tell him until I was ready. I looked back at him and patted his head.
“Don’t worry kiddo, I’ll still be in my normal outfit. Sword and all.” I gave him a wink and he cheered up a bit before rushing off to finish up his costume.

“He’s really taken a liking to you, you know.” Twilight said from the doorway.

“He’s a good kid. You’ve done a good job. Raising him and all that.” I said with a half-hearted smile. Twilight frowned and sat across from me.

“What’s wrong Link? You seem… off. Is everything okay?” She asked worriedly. I sighed and held my head in my hands.

“I don’t know Sparks… I just…” I started to say before taking a breath.
“I just feel like I fit outside of all this. I’m not from this world, but now I’m stuck here. It’s hard to explain well…” I sighed sadly as she patted my head.

“I understand what you mean, Link. I know it’s not easy for you, but know that my friends and I don’t know what our world would be like without you. I mean, you’re herded with Applejack and Rainbow Dash!” She smiled as she tried to lift my spirits.
“Could you imagine what their lives would be like without you?”

“Yeah, I can. I know what their futures should have been…” I began saying before I slammed my mouth shut with a frown. Twilight saw this and decided not to push me for now.

“All I’m saying is that you’re part of our lives now. And that’s not ever gonna change.” She said softly as she stood and kissed the top of my head before walking back out of the kitchen.

“A part of your lives…” I muttered to myself, watching as the festivities began.

About an hour later…

I sat on the steps of town hall, watching as fillies and colts walked around between the various booths and stages we had set up, dressed in a wide variety of costumes, some I recognized and some I didn’t. I jumped a bit when someone grabbed my shoulder from behind, drawing my sword instinctively.

“Whoa Whoa, it’s just me Johnny!” Rainbow Dash said in a panic as she threw up her hands.

“Dang it Dash, you know I don’t like being snuck up on like that…” I frowned as I put my blade away, sitting back down as she sat beside me.

“Sorry, I just wanted to surprise you with my costume was all…” She smiled apologetically as she put her hands on her hips.
“I’m a Shadowbolt!”

“You mean.. Like that sports group you like?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

“No, those are the Wonderbolts, the Shadowbolts are like their arch-nemesis or something.” She shrugged as I managed a smile. She smiled back before frowning slightly.
“What about you? Do you not have a costume?”

“I don’t …” I started to say before I sighed, “I don’t normally dress up for Halloween, I mean Nightmare Night. That was something my sister liked to do.” I colder her as I looked up at the darkening sky.
“I’d help her make her costume, then just hang around as she went Trick-Or-Treating.” I sighed as Rainbow gave me a side hug.

“Well, it sounds to me like you were one heck of a big bro. But… do you think it’s time to just… I dunno… move on?” She asked as I looked at her with a confused frown.

“Move on? Like… let her go or something?” I asked as she put up her hands.

“No no, I didn’t mean that…” She said as she thought for a moment.
“I mean that you are holding on to who you used to be. So why not let go and move on. Be who you are now. Did that… make sense?” She asked, looking worried that she hurt my feelings. But I surprised her when I flashed a smile.

“You’re right. I’m not who I was when I came here. I’m someone new…” I grinned as I stood up and started jogging away, Dash calling to me from the steps.

“Where are you going?” She asked as I turned my head around.

“To the Boutique! I need a costume!” I yelled back as I began to run. She smiled after me for a moment before going to find Twilight.

At Carousel Boutique

I ran up to the shop as Rarity was locking up the shop, looking up slightly worried as I slid to a stop.

“Is something wrong? You look like you need to do something important.” She said as I caught my breath.

“Yes. I need… a costume!” I said with a smile as I planted my fists on my hips. She raised her eyebrow with a small smile and nodded.

“I assume you have a design in mind, yes?” She asked as she unlocked the door and we walked inside.

“Indeed I do. Indeed I do…” I grinned as I closed the door.

About an hour later we came out, my new costume tucked away in my inventory.

“Oh… I wish you’d wear it already!” Rarity huffed as she locked the door.

“That would ruin the surprise.” I winked as I waved and ran off. She smiled and giggled a bit before walking towards the festivities.

Outside Twilight’s Library

“Where is he? Rainbow Dash said he went to see Rarity, but nobody’s seen him since.” Spike muttered as he adjusted his costume. He was dressed up as a knight of old, a prop sword hanging from his side as he looked over to Twilight. She was wearing a flowing dark blue cape and wizards hat, covered in glittering stars.

“Don’t worry Spike. He’s around here somewhere.” She said with a weak smile, looking around to see if she could spot him.

I was making my way through the festivities, a smile on my face as I wondered how Spike and Twilight would like my costume. I ducked between two booths as i tried to take a shortcut.

“You’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you?” A low creepy voice said behind me. I jumped and spun around, grabbing at my sword reflexively as I looked at the stranger. My face drained of all color as I recognized them. It was the Happy Mask Salesman. I hadn’t played Majora’s Mask, but I had seen him in Ocarina of Time. Yet something felt off about him. For one, he looked like he did in the games. Like a Hylian. Then I noticed the Masks on his backpack. I spotted several characters that weren’t supposed to be there, like Mega Man and Chun Li.

“You…” I frowned as I backed up a bit, my hand still on my sword.
“I know you. But you’re not from here… are you.” I said as he grinned wickedly.

“Very perceptive, Johnny.” He answered, the fact he used my real name gave me goosebumps and I drew my sword.

“Only a few know that name. And you’re not one of them.” I growled as I leveled the tip of the blade at his face. He kept his grin and chuckled.

“Yet I do know you. After all…” He said as he narrowed his eyes.
“I was the one who brought you to this world.”

“You.. Wha..?” I blinked as he turned and began to walk away.

“Don’t you worry. I won’t send you away a second time.” He waved over his shoulder as he vanished into the crowd, leaving me shaken and confused.

“That was… really weird…” I sighed as I looked down at my sword and sighed before sheathing it and turning to walk away as well. As I did so, I saw a piece of paper on the ground. I picked it up and found it had music notes on it, as well as a message.

‘Just because you hate me does not make me your enemy’

I frowned and stuffed the paper in my pocket, walking back to Twilight’s library.

“Oh Link, there you are!” Spike called as soon as he saw me, running up with a big smile.
“Do you like my costume?”

“Oh man, that is one sweet suit kiddo.” I smiled as he drew his small blade heroically.

“I know it’s not like yours or anything, but I made it myself!” He puffed up his chest proudly as Twilight walked up beside him.

“I hope you’re going to be joining us in the festivities.” She smiled as I nodded.

“And thanks to Rarity, I have a costume.” I said as I spun on the spot, equipping the costume from my inventory. I stopped spinning and put my hands on my hips.

“Who are you supposed to be?” Spike asked in confusion as Twilight snickered.

“I am Superman. An alien hero who saves the day!” I grinned with a raised eyebrow. I knew I could explain it better to him, but I was just happy I could finish the suit in time.

“Huh… so is that what the big S stands for?” He asked curiously.

“No, it’s a Kryptonian sigil. It means Hope.” I told him as I patted his head.
“Now come on, we have a lot of fun ahead of us!” I grinned as we headed towards the booths and games.