Equestria Warriors: Displacement of a Hero

I splashed some cold water on my face, waking me right up. I sat on the banks of the same river I'd crossed with Sweetie Belle days before. I'd been walking now for two days and my feet were on fire. I'd been dodging random guard patrols and monster hordes since passing through Appleoosa yesterday. Seems I was now a wanted fugitive, my face was plastered on posters that dotted every corner.

"Man… what have I done.. " I sighed in exasperation. "In a couple days I went from a shining hero to Equestria's Most Wanted…" I grumbled as I looked down the river. I felt like I'd had the whole world flipped on its head. Again. With one last splash of water I stood up and waded across, managing to make it to the other side quicker than last time, and I remembered to take off my boots. The water was still ice cold though, so it left my legs freezing slightly. I just pushed through it and kept walking, the sun starting to go down as a familiar structure loomed ahead.

"Well, didn't think I'd be back here so soon." I muttered sadly as the Temple of Time came fully into view, it's crumbling walls looking like they might collapse at any day now. I made my way back inside, looking around again in more detail,seeing if I missed anything. In my search I found another blue rupee, a couple green ones, and a small bundle of arrows hiding in some pots in one of the towers. As the sun began to dip behind the mountains, I made my way to my old campsite in the sword chamber. I found it just as I left it, my small pile of wood still sitting there. I sat and began making a fire, trying to fight off sleep. After a while the fire was burning away nicely as I leaned against the wall, staring out the window across from me at the moon.

"You really are reckless." Came a voice nearby. My focus snapped down, and I saw Luna standing there looking at me with worry.

"Come to cart your prisoner back to the Castle?" I snapped angrily, causing her to look ashamed.

"It… was not our intent for you to see it that way. We should have been clearer." She said apologetically, moving to sit by the fire.

"You were plenty clear. You didn't trust me to leave the Castle on my own. What did you think I was going to do, blow myself up?" I said heatedly, looking at her with a pained expression. "I never asked to be here, but I am. So let me do my job, or lock me up." I kept my voice calm, yet made sure to emphasize every note. Luna just looked at the fire and sighed.

"You're right. We do need to trust you. But you and I both know, you are woefully underpowered to be much help to anyone as you are now." She pointed out calmly, and I had to nod in agreement. She had a point, I was really unprepared to fight anything.

"I… I'm sorry I ran away." I apologized weakly, looking into the fire in embarrassment. Luna just smiled kindly at me.

"I understand Link. I too was once imprisoned. I was banished to the moon for over a Millennium, and was only recently released a few years ago. I too was bitter, so I should have known better than anyone…" She apologized again, making me feel worse. I motioned for her to move beside me and she did, but something about her presence felt… off.

"You're not actually here, are you." I sighed, looking over at her. She shook her head with a soft smile.

"No, but by the time you wake, my sister shall be." She said as she tapped my forehead, and I woke up with a start. Sunlight shined in from the broken window above me, casting odd light patterns from the remaining stained glass.

"Good Morning, hero." A voice said as I looked up, expecting to see Celestia. Instead I found Farore sitting across from me, cooking some fish over my fire.

"My goddess, forgive me for my rudeness!" I said quickly, getting to a kneeling position. She just laughed for a moment, waving her hand deftly.

"Now now, none of that. After all, I was the one who entered your camp." She smiled at me as I was handed a grilled fish. Smelling it made my stomach growl something fierce as I tore into it as politely as I could. After I had finished I looked to the goddess.

"Lady Farore, you once told me you could teach me how to access my bow. Would you please teach me how?" I asked cautiously as she nodded.

"It is not easy to master, but I can show you how to access it easiest." She said calmly as she stood, walking to the other side of the room. I stood up and faced her as she turned to face me. Suddenly, my full HUD appeared, showing my hearts, a small minimap, and over Farore's head sat her name and a health bar, which was massive.

"Woah, this is a lot to look at…" I said as I was slightly overwhelmed.

"It is understandable. This enhancement is called 'Heros Edge'. It is a spacial awareness spell to better help our chosen hero." She explained patiently. "For now you will focus to the upper right. There should be four empty icon slots, yes?" She asked. I nodded as she continued. "Tap the first empty slot with your finger."

"You sure?" I asked, confused. She raised her eyebrow and I put my hands up. "Ok, ok. You know what you're doing." I said as I tapped the the empty icon slot. It popped open a menu and I found my bow.
'This really feels like some sort of tutorial now…' I thought to myself as I continued following her directions, dragging it to the slot and equipping it.

"Now whenever an enemy targets you, you will have this appear to assist you in battle." She stated calmly as she walked back over, the display disappearing. "You may go with my blessing, hero. For it seems my cousin has finally arrived." She smiled, looking to tge doorway. As I looked over I saw Celestia waiting for me. Looking back, Farore had vanished.

"See you around, my goddess." I smiled as I walked over to Celestia who promptly hugged me and immediately berated me for leaving like that. Oh, what a day.

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It was now later that afternoon and I was once again laying on my bed wondering what had I been thinking. After Celestia and I had teleported back, I had to apologize to the guards for making them look for me. Then I was made to apologize to my maids, yes my maids, for making them worry about me. That one I was fairly sincere about, as I did feel bad for making Morning Breeze worry. She had given me the most disappointed look.

"I wish you had asked sir. I would have taken you into town myself." She had said as if she were talking to a child that had misbehaved. Now I sat here, waiting for whatever decision the Princesses made about my training. Staring at the ceiling, I felt a familiar presence as a voice seemed to call out to me.

‘Please, help me. Oh Hylia help me! I don't know how much longer I can hold on!’ The voice cried as I noted the definite southern twang they had. The voice didn't feel like the presence, more like it was acting as a conduit, letting this voice call out to me. With a flash, I saw an orange mare clinging to a cliff face as below her gathered a few bokoblins. They kept throwing their weapons at her, thankfully missing most of their shots, but were coming dangerously close to knocking her from the cliff face. My vision returned to my room as I blinked, looking around in confusion. What had that been about? As I thought about what happened my Sheikah Slate chirped at me, causing me to jump slightly. I picked it up and noticed the Map icon flashing, so I tapped it and opened the map and noticed a bright yellow dot lit up at the northern end of the field. It didn't take me long to put two and two together as I bolted from my room and ran for the throne room, hoping to find the Princesses and tell them about what I had seen. I burst into the throne room and marched toward them. They were apparently talking to the captain of the guard still as they looked up at me disapprovingly.

“What is the meaning of this?” Snapped Celestia, frowning frustratingly at me. Luna remained quiet, seemingly knowing why I was here.

“I apologize for my sudden appearance. But I was just shown a vision. There is a pony in peril, and I believe I am meant to save her.” I stated firmly as I squared my shoulders and leveled my gaze at the Princess, who simply blinked in surprise at how assertive I was.

“A pony in peril? And just where is this pony?” She asked curiously, if not a bit sarcastic. I sighed in frustration, knowing she probably didn't want to believe anything I'd say at the moment.

“The northern end of the field. They're stranded on a cliff face and surrounded by monsters. I request you teleport me nearby so I can save her quickly. I fear she doesn't have much time.” I urged the Princess, causing her sarcastic look to fade fast as she understood I was being serious as my tone had become much more urgent. I showed her the way point on the map, asking to be put at the bottom of the cliff. She nodded at me with hesitation before magic lit her horn.

“Very well. Please be safe…” She said a bit worried. I nodded as I vanished in a bright flash of light.

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I appeared behind a boulder almost a dozen yards from the way point, drawing my weapons as the monsters hadn't noticed me yet. I stepped out from behind my shelter and one spotted me, stealing in rage as the others turned to face me as they all charged. Swallowing my fear I rushed forward as well, my HUD popping up as I collided with the center one and set it flying with my shield. It tumbled to the ground as the other two swiped at my back, dealing two whole hearts of damage. I roared in anger and swiped at them, decapitating one while the other evaded my attack. The headless monster exploded in a puff of acrid purple smoke, leaving behind a single green rupee. I didn't have time to collect it as the other two charged again, the one I'd knocked now having half a health bar above his head. I raised my shield and blocked both of their attacks as their claws raked across it. As they moved to attack again I gave the damaged one a heavy kick in its gut, sending it flying once again as it's partner clawed my chest, dealing another heart worth of damage. I heard the low health beep start going off as I slashed at the beast, cutting it clean in two as it exploded into smoke. I turned to look at the other one, only to find a dissipating purple cloud. Unlike the first one, this one left behind a bright red heart. I scooped it up and heard the BWOOP as I regained some life. I also collected the rupee and added it to my growing collection. I sighed and cracked my neck before making my way to the cliff where I saw the mare still clinging to the face.

“They're gone now, it's safe to come down.” I called up with a smile. She looked down at me with worried look and called down to me.

“I… I can't. I can't move!” She cried as I watched her almost fall, making me move instinctively to catch her.

“Here… just hold on a little longer. I'm climbing up to you.” I called up to her as I began to pick my way up the near vertical wall.

“H-hurry, please!” She cried again, trembling with fear. I climbed as fast as I safely could, nearly falling myself a few times, but I eventually made it beside her. Looking over at her, I felt my heart skip a beat. She was one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen, her golden yellow hair perfectly accenting her orange mane. I sat there for a few moments as my brain attempted to formulate a sentence.

“Hey, uh, I'm Link. Let's get you down, yea?” I smiled nervously and she nodded. “Ok, carefully wrap your arms around the back of my neck. But try not to choke me please.” I chuckled softly as she did as I asked, moving slowly to my back and holding on.

“Thank you…” She whispered weakly in my ear, causing my face to go beet red. I cleared my throat and continued climbing down slowly.

“Please, thank me when I return you home.” I said nervously as I picked my way down, eventually reaching the bottom. She tried to stand and immediately fell over, too weak to move on her own. I just scooped her up in my arms as she stared at me in surprise.

“What're you…” She started to ask before I shook my head.

“You're in no condition now to walk, nor do we have the luxury to wait for you to do so. You need to rest, maybe get some food in you. So I will carry you home.” I said flatly as she stared at me, her own face going red. I smiled warmly as we locked eyes for a moment before I shook my head. “Now, which way am I headed ma'am?” She looked around real quickly before pointing off to the northeast.

“Head thataway, you'll eventually see my family's farm.” She answered softly. It was clear she'd been up there a while now, probably several hours. I began walking slowly, making sure not to shake her around too much. I chuckled for a moment and she looked at me funny. “What?” She asked in confusion.

“I just realized, I told you my name but forgot to ask yours.” I smiled awkwardly as she smiled back.

“My name's Applejack.” She said softly as she fell asleep in my arms.