Author's Note

Special thanks to DisplacedWriter for helping me iron out this chapter and helping make it what it is

Amber and Adventure

Dreams are weird. One minute I'm in an empty void, enjoying the quiet, and then the next thing I know, I was being dropped from the stratosphere! Like seriously? Who would want to feel like they're falling? But as I continued to free fall, I noticed the ground rising faster than it should to meet me. I could see the Everfree off to my left for a moment before my downward fall became sideways. I watched as I raced across the land. Trees, mountains, even whole towns zipped by as I careened forward. Eventually the grassland faded to desert, and I had started slowing down. I eventually stopped in front of an immense stone complex I recognized. It was the Arbiters Grounds from Twilight Princess. I could feel the evil emanating from inside, like getting doused in cold water. Suddenly I startled awake, quickly sitting up with a jolt

"Gah!" I exclaimed in fear.

I hyperventilated for a moment before managing to calm myself down, feeling more afraid now than I'd ever been. So that was what pure evil felt like? I shuddered, remembering the feeling. All of a sudden, I felt warmer, calmer, much more confident, my fears fading away quickly. I was a little confused by this until I looked down to see a radiating glow coming from the Triforce on my hand.

"The power of Courage... I forget I have that..." I mused as I stood up to get out of bed and dressed for today. Finding them neatly folded on the table, it seemed the maids had washed my clothes overnight, the dirt smudges and grass stains gone.

"Hmm... nice to know they'll keep me clean around here." I chuckled in amusement.

Strapping my sword and shield to my back, I walked out of my room to find a now startled maid. Her coat was the color of a clear summer sky, with a mane as white as a cloud. As she readjusted her glasses, I saw her eyes. They looked like miniature sun's, bright and golden.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." I said, rubbing the back of my head sheeply

"I-It's quite alright sir. I was sent to wake you, but you opened the door before I could myself." She smiled shyly as she dusted herself off.

"Oh? I suppose they wish to discuss my plan.." I thought aloud.

"I would assume so, but it would be rude to assume." She nodded curtly, gesturing for me to follow her. She began to escort me down the hall, her hooves clicking against the stone floor. After an awkward silence I coughed and spoke up.

"So what's your name?" I asked her, causing her to look at me with a slightly surprised face.

"It's Morning Breeze." She answered, blushing slightly as she brushed her hair to the side

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Breeze." I smiled kindly as she giggled softly.

"Likewise, Master Link." She said as she finally relaxed.

We walked for several minutes before stopping before a set of double doors and she turned to me.

"They are waiting inside for you. Enjoy." She said with a graceful bow. As she was turning around to leave, I returned the bow. She smiled and went off to attend her other duties.

I turned around, placing my hand onto the door and giving it a push, slowly opening the door. Inside was a vast dining hall with a long mahogany table lined with dozens of chairs. At the far end sat the two Princesses, Luna was reading reports to Celestia as the latter munched on a whole cake. Was that even healthy? Who knows. I walked as quickly as I could to the open seat next to them, sitting and scooting the chair closer to the table. I sat there watching them, noticing they had not noticed me yet.

"I wonder when he will wake.." Celestia muttered, oblivious I was sitting there. Eventually she did look up at me.

"Oh! Link, how long have you been sitting there?" She asked in surprise.

"Not long, I just got here." I chuckled softly, flagging down a maid.

"Ah, how did you sleep?" Luna asked, looking up from her reports as I asked for a coffee.

"Oh… about that..." I said slowly before explaining my dream to them. As I finished retelling my dream, they looked at each other with worry.

"We knew he lived in the desert, but inside the Arbiters Grounds? That place was abandoned and sealed off by our mother centuries ago..." Celestia worried, frowning.

"I'm only telling you what I saw. I cant say he's inside for certain, but it'd be my best guess." I said as a maid brought me my cup of coffee. It smelled delicious, did they add cinnamon? My mouth exploded as I took a sip. It was divine!

BWOOP

The sudden noise startled me, making me jump as I looked around confused for a moment. From the corner of my vision, I noticed the row of hearts in my upper left view. I had five in total, all but one filled. Cautiously, I took another sip.

BWOOP

Now it was full. I must have looked really strange as Celestia shook my arm to get my attention.

"Link, are you ok?" She asked with concern painted on her face.

"Huh? Oh yea... just thinking..." I lied. I had no idea if they would understand what I was seeing.

"It is understandable. You saw and felt something immensely powerful." Luna said understandingly with a soft smile.

I just nodded, sipping my coffee. After an uncomfortably pregnant pause, I sighed and looked at them.

"I'm worried I can't defeat him. I have the Triforce of Courage and he has the Triforce of Power. But who wields the Triforce of Wisdom? I thought it was Hylia's descendants who wielded it?" I asked with slight concern.

They just looked between themselves and smirked, looking back at me.

"We do. We are the next descendants of the Goddess. But we are not the only ones who can wield its might..." Celestia said, her voice sounding sad.

"Not the only ones? What do you mean?" I questioned.

They looked between themselves again before Luna nodded.

"He deserves to know." She said as she stood up from her seat. "Follow me..."

She started walking towards the door, Celestia and I following behind her. She led us down the corridor to an older looking door. Opening it, it was obvious nopony had been down here in a while. Cobwebs draped long burnt out torches and bridged the corners of the ceiling. As Luna grabbed one of the torches, it erupted to life.

"This way."

The door lead to a stairway caked in dust. Walking down, I began wondering what in Hylia she needed to show me down here. The stairway opened up into a massive underground chamber, the walls a mix of rock and stone bricks.

"What is this place?" I asked as Luna went around, lighting torches near the entrance. A glint from the other end of the room grabbed my attention. Looking over, it appeared to be a seven foot tall cut amber gem.

"No..." I breathed, walking over to it. I knew exactly what this was the moment i saw it.

A dark shape sat in the center of the gem, becoming more distinct as I approached. It was a beautiful woman with long golden hair and pointed ears.

"Zelda..." My voice was barely audible.

"You know our mother?" Celestia asked curiously, now standing beside me.

I blinked, shaking my head. "No." I lied again. "Just of her..."

She gave me an understanding nod. "Mother was known by many for being a benevolent queen in her age. She made peace last in the realm until she sealed herself in here." Celestia sighed sadly as she placed her hand on the it's smooth surface, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

I offered her the end of my scarf, which she took and dabbed her eyes.

"Thank you. I'm not as in control of my emotions as my dear sister is." Celestia said softly and sniffled.

Luna stood beside her, wrapping her in a gentle hug. "Do not worry. Mother knows you miss her... That we miss her." She said, comforting her.

'Link...'

My head snapped up, not sure where that voice came from. The Princesses didn't seem to notice it though.

'Link.... find it...' The voice called again. I spun, still trying to see where the voice was coming from.

'Find the sword that seals the darkness.....' The voice said before going quiet.

Looking around for a little longer and no longer hearing the voice, I finally gave up with a shake of my head.

"What was that... or rather... who?" I muttered to myself, looking back up at the amber.
"Could it even be possible?" I placed my hand on the gems surface myself, my own piece of the Triforce glowing faintly.

Had I really heard her? It seemed impossible, but then again, here I was in a world of Zelda and ponies. At this point, anything was possible.

==========○○○●●●○○○==========

It was now evening, the Princesses having left me to process what I had learned. I was honestly still reeling from the revelations. Zelda was alive somehow, the Princesses, despite being a different species, were her daughters, and I heard her speak to me.

"Ok Johnny, get it together… Oh who am I kidding? Nothing of that, that just happened made sense!" I exclaimed in frustration. Was this how the characters in games felt? I sure hope not, but who knows. At any rate, I needed to figure out how to do what the voiced asked. I had to find the Blade of Evils Bane, the Sword that Seals the Darkness. I had to find the Master Sword. I was snapped back to the present when a knock came from the door.

"It's open." I called, sitting up on my bed before it opened and Morning Breeze walked in. "Miss Breeze, what can I do for you?" I smiled warmly. She returned the smile and bowed.

"The Princesses sent a chest for you sir, shall I bring it in?" She informed me, looking up to see what I would say.

"Go ahead, set it there by the bathroom if you'd be so kind." I nodded as she motioned out into the hallway. With a grunt, two guards carried in a blue and gold chest and set it where I'd asked. They both gave me a short salute and left, leaving Morning Breeze and I alone.

"Will that be all, Master Link?" She asked as she looked at me. I nodded with a soft smile.

"Yes, thank you Miss Breeze." I said kindly, momentarily flashing her a full smile. With a short bow and a giggle, she left. This left me alone again, now with a mystery chest.

"Wonder what they sent me…" I wondered aloud as I went and opened it. Light poured from the chest as I found I couldn't control my own body, reaching inside and pulling out what looked like a Sheikah Slate. Raising it over my head in one hand, I found myself smiling idiotically as text appeared at the bottom of my view.

You got the Sheikah Slate! Use it to navigate the world, take snapshots, and catalog your adventures!

And as I blinked, control was returned to my limbs and the text vanished. Standing straight again, I looked at my hip, where the slate now hung from my belt.

"Well, at least it'll come in handy." I grumbled, not liking how that experience felt. It lit up as I grabbed it, showing me three icons. There was a map, a camera, and a book. Tapping the book, it took my to a page that was divided again in three: Monster, Recipes, and Journal. I shook my head and back tracked, tapping the Map icon. As I thought, a map of the Castle and the immediate area was filled in, but that was it. There was a lot of area that was grayed out, making me wonder if I had to go there for it to fill in.

"Nothings ever easy is it…" I sighed as I put it back on my hip. "Maybe I should just sleep on it for now, figure things out in the morning." I said to myself as I changed for bed. Laying down, I thought hard about how I would begin my search for the Master Sword. Perhaps the Princesses or even Farore might know. As I kept thinking I didn't notice as I slowly fell into a dreamless sleep.

Waking up the next morning, I woke to find a note from Celestia on my nightstand. I grabbed it and opened it.

'Link, I hope you slept well. My sister and I have departed for Yakyakistan to attend the coronation of their new king. While we are away, you must make sure to remain safe and not leave the Castle. Please understand that we do not wish any harm to come to you. Best Wishes, Celestia'

I put the note down and groaned in frustration. Now I was under some sort of Royal house arrest until they came back? They didn't even say when they would!

"Do I just seem helpless?" I asked aloud. Nobody answered me, thank Hylia, or that'd be a whole new problem. I got up and headed for the door.

"They can't stop me from walking around. I'm not a damn prisoner." I growled to myself as I left my room and headed down the hallway. I snuck my way out of the Castle, unsure if the guards were told to drag me back to my room if they found me. It was going well for me until I was spotted climbing the outer wall by a guard.

"Hey! Get off that!" She yelled as she ran towards me. I climbed faster, vaulting over the wall and rolling as I landed. As soon as I was back on my feet, I tore through town using the back alleys to avoid crowds. After running for a while, I found myself outside the town, a massive field sprawling out before me.

"Woah…." I said softly, the view leaving me lost for words until I heard a commotion behind me.

"Spread out! He can't have gone far!" I heard the guard yell as they began looking for me.

"Well, better make it like a tree and leaf." I chuckled to myself as I ran out on the road cutting through the field. The air whipping my face was full of the scent of flowers, the sun feeling warm and comfortable. This place was perfect. Unlike my old home, there were no cars with angry drivers swearing at each other. No smog or airplanes clogging up the sky. It was peaceful, the loudest sound were some birds chirping. Pausing to catch my breath, I looked around and just soaked it in. At least until an arrow whizzed past my face and embedded itself in the tree beside me. Snapping my head towards where the shot came from, I saw three red and very angry Bokoblins charging at me.

"Aw crap, not these things…" I groaned as I started running away as fast as I could. I'd probably have to deal with them on my way back, but I hoped I'd be able to avoid them altogether.