The former farmer and the farmer
The group of six friends returned followed by Sweet Fog and Epona returned to Ponyville after the quick sight of the Twilight. The Mane 6 were really worried about the strange phenomena, but Sweet and Epona were pretty sure that Link and Midna will find the solution. It even seemed easier than last time since this time it was only starting.
When they arrived Twilight sighed in relief, after seeing the Realm that shared her name, she weren’t able to relax until reach town.
“I’ll go inform Princess Celestia about the situation. In the meantime you better return to your activities, we better try to act normal; I don’t want to panic everypony unless is absolutely necessary”
“Agree” said Applejack. “In the meantime I’ll go back to my business”
“Me too, my lunchbreak it’s almost over” said Pinkie Pie. “See you around!”
So the girls were about to separate as Twilight said, but Epona stopped them.
“Wait, wait, wait, wait! Before you go, shouldn’t you tell people that Link and Midna are not a threat? Since they’ll be back tomorrow, it will be convenient, no?”
Twilight nodded.
“You’re right, sorry. It’s just that seeing that thing expanding really got me. EY PONIES FROM PONYVILLE! I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE CREATURES THAT VISITED US BEFORE!"
One by one the ponies come out of their hidings, leaded by Mayor Mare.
“Oh, I bet you got rid of them as always!” Smiled the gray-haired mare. “Like always thank you a lot Princess Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy… once again you saved the town from destruction”
Twilight nodded.
“In fact, we didn’t do anything. It seems that the creatures weren’t a threat, they only wanted to deliver a message. We misunderstood the situation; the truth is that Link and Midna, that’s their name, aren’t a threat for anypony”
All the ponies seemed very confused at the revelation and began to mumble among themselves. Epona sighed and approached to the crowd:
“I’ll only say this once: if there’s someone I’ll give my life for, that’s my friend Link. The wolf. He seems scary but I promise he’s a very nice guy and will never hurt a pony”
“And Lady Midna it’s a bit eccentric but not bad; in fact she’ll do anything to protect her loved ones” said Sweet Fog joining Epona. “We can answer for them, they’re not a threat; on the contrary”
Again everypony began to mumble between them but at the end they nodded and returned to their respective activities. Twilight smiled.
“Okay, next time you’re friends come nopony will freak out!”
Epona raised an eyebrow.
“Seriously? Just like that?”
“Ey, that’s why Ponyville is considered one of the friendliest places on Equestria; we may be overreact from time to time but after that we accept everypony with open hooves!”
“Everypony? Okay that’s a new one…” Mumbled Sweet Fog.
“No, no, seriously please; you accept people just like that?” Insisted Epona scratching her head.
Twilight smiled to the two visitors wishing them well and trotted to her castle to send an urgent letter to her mentor. Sweet Fog and Epona just watched her going away and at the end they just shrugged.
The rest of the Mane 6 smiled to the two new ponies as well and walked or flown away; after all they still had things to do.
“So what now? Shall we find a place to stay until tomorrow?” Asked Fog.
“Sure, Link lend us his wallet but… I have my doubts we can do much with rupies”
Applejack was still close enough to hear then and stopped when she heard their comments.
“Hey, you two can stay on ma’ place if you want; it’s not that fancy but it’ll be cheaper than stay on the town’s hotel”
“We don’t want to bother you…” said Epona soflty.
“No prob pal, we have extra space in Sweet Apple Acres; but right now A’ have to go back to work. Those apples aren’t gonna sell on its own”
“Oh thanks!” Smiled Epona. “That’s a relief. I know we asked Link and Midna to stay here and explore but we didn’t thought about the details”
“Yeah, we rushed in our decision and now we’re clueless of what to do. But hey, it wouldn’t be an adventure without some challenge”
Applejack giggled.
“A’ also can show you the town on my way to work” she offered.
“Sure!”
They started to walk behind Applejack who did her best to show them a little of the town. Luckily Ponyville was just as big as Ordon or Kakariko Village and Epona could easily move on the small town. And for Sweet Fog it would be a little more difficult but all he had to do was to stick to Epona and everything was going to be fine.
Finally they arrived to the market where Applejack had her apple stand that she opened with a smile.
“So what can you tell me about you guys?” She asked.
“Oh well, there’s not that much about me” said Fog. “I am, or used to be, a steed from Twilight as any other and my family have been serving Royalty since the very beginning. I serve to Midna and as I said she’s a great friend; but my life isn’t that interesting”
“A’ see” said Applejack rubbing her chin in confusion.
“Yeah, and now that I think about it, there are very few occasions where Midna requests my services; she prefers to teleport”
Applejack nodded.
“Ey Miss Applejack, I know it’s stupid but, do you think we can do something here with the currency from our world?” Asked Epona showing Link’s wallet to the cowgirl.
Applejack’s eyes widened.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! That’s your world’s currency? Precious stones?!”
“Yeah, they’re called rupies” explained Epona.
Applejack shook her head.
“A’ don’t know much about jewels but A’ can tell that the local jeweler or Rarity would pay a lot for one of those, especially for the green ones!”
Both Sweet and Epona chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, you said they’re willing to pay a lot for the green rupies” said Epona. “The green ones are worth one; or at least that’s how it works in my land”
“For real?”
Sweet Fog nodded.
“Exactly, the green ones are one; the blue ones five; the red twenty; and the most valuable are the purple ones, fifty; or the silver ones that are one hundred”
“Whatever” said Applejacak who wasn’t really on the mood to talk about foreign currency. “And what about you Epona? Since we’ll be working together for a little, A’ like to know ya’ better”
Epona considered for a little.
“Okay my story isn’t as interesting as Link’s but it’s a little longer than Sweet Fog’s. no offense”
“None taken”
“Okay, I grew up in a town like this called Ordon Village, and I’ve being a farmer most of my life”
Applejack smiled happily
“Oh, you were a farmer too? It’s the best job in the world, right? You exercise, have fun on the fields and do something good for the community. What kind of farm it was?”
“Dairy farm, and I really loved it but at some point I had to leave”
“What? WHY?” Asked Applejack. “Why on earth would ya’ quit the most amazing job in the world?”
“It wasn’t my choice Applejack. At first everything was great, Link and I were partners in the farm and did everything together: since shepherding to delivery; we even did errands for the folks in town and it was great; until one day we were going to make a delivery to the capital, the Hyrule Citadel, and everything changed. Ordon Village was invaded by monsters, horrible things that kidnapped me and a bunch of children. Link did his best looking for us, coming to our rescue; succeeding but we couldn’t go back to Ordon Village, not yet. The monsters who invaded us were only the beginning, something really bad was happening in our world”
“What?” Asked Applejack looking to Epona, who sighed.
“The Twilight. Somehow the Realm of Darkness, as it’s called in some legends, was swallowing the world of light. Why do you think Midna is that worried? She already went through this; but she was unable to do anything. Back on that day a sorcerer called Zant took over Midna’s throne, turned every single inhabitant of Twilight into horrible creatures and vanished Midna from the land”
“Exactly, that’s why Lady Midna cannot allow this happen again” confirmed Sweet Fog.
“Then what happened?” Asked a little voice behind Epona.
The three grownups turned to the three little fillies listening carefully to Epona.
“Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! What are ya’ doing here? Aren’t ya supposed to be at school?”
“Miss Cheerilee gave us an early release because she hurt an ankle escaping from the wolf who only came to visit. And we have nothing better to do” explained Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle nodded furiously.
“We tried to kill some time at the clubhouse but got bored and came to the park, but then we saw you with this two ponies and then listened to the great story from… what’s your name Miss?”
“Epona, and this is my friend Sweet Fog. What about you guys?”
“Oh, A’m Apple Bloom, Applejack’s sister”
“Sweetie Belle”
“Scootaloo. Do you mind if we keep listening to the story?”
Applejack was about to protest but Epona just winked an eye to the three fillies.
“Sure, where was I? Oh right, what happened with Midna…”
“And maybe you can tell later us the story of your Cutie Mark!!” Cheered Sweetie Belle.
“My what?” Asked Epona confused.
“Your Cutie Mark, you know, the shiny triangles you have on your flank! What does it mean?”
Epona examined the Triforce tattooed in her flank; so it wasn’t really a tattoo? Interesting. Last time she saw something similar was when Link almost passed out drinking the whole night at Telma’s bar and ended up with the Triforce on his back.
Epona rolled her eyes, sometimes watching for Link was much like a full-time job.
Still she didn’t thought much about it and smiled to the fillies:
“Well this ‘shiny triangles’ are called Triforce and are considered the divine symbol of our country. It represent the three sacred values for our gods: Wisdom, Power and Courage. Going back to the story, while trying to save us from the monsters, Link bumped into Midna who agreed helping him to rescue us but only if he helped her as well. And then we heard about the Prophecy”
“Prophecy?”
“I don’t know much about it, okay? You better ask my friend Link for details; but the thing is, there was a legend that each time the evil forces threatened the Kingdom of Hyrule, the soul of the Chosen Hero would reincarnate to save the world all over again. At first everybody thought it was nothing but a bedtime story; but no, it was the truth. And the monsters who attacked Ordon Village knew it for sure”
“What you mean? So the monsters attacked your village because they knew the hero would reincarnate in there?” Asked Applejack.
“He already had. The entire kidnapping stuff was to drag Link into a trap. Yes, he is the Chosen Hero but we didn’t know until the monsters showed up. And Midna, she knew it as well, that’s why she looked for his help on the first place; if there was someone who could save the two worlds it was him”
Applejack’s jaw dropped to the floor, making Epona chuckle.
“I know it sounds ridiculous. Not even I would believe in such thing if I weren’t being there”
“And do you had to do with the Legend besides being kidnapped?” Asked Scoots.
“Nothing at all, but I’ve always been Link’s partner and his closest friend and I couldn’t let him carry that responsibility all by himself. Once he rescued me I teamed up with Midna and him to save the two worlds. Together we defeated the evil sorcerer Zant, only to realize he was a puppet of someone much more dangerous. His name was Ganondorf and almost kills Midna, so we requested the help of the Princess of our own world, Zelda (the worse archer ever) and saved the day for good”
“And maybe she’ll never admit it, but Lady Midna really missed Link” said Sweet Fog. “She always talks about him”
“He missed her too, that’s why he preferred to go with her instead of explore the land with us”
Applejack certainly took her time to process the information. It wasn’t hard to believe since she had been involved with legends herself along with her friends, but this whole thing sounded a little too complicated.
For once it was a blessing there weren’t any costumers yet.
“So just to make things clear, Link and you aren’t from the Twilight?”
“Nope, we’re from Hyrule, the kingdom where Twilight expanded for the first time”
Applejack nodded.
“And Midna? You really trust her?”
“We do. I know that she seems suspicious with her Kingdom being the one expanding and all; but that’s not what Midna wants”
“Precisely, Lady Midna knows that swallowing another Kingdom will only bring war to her land” confirmed Sweet Fog.
Scoots raised a hoof.
“Question: so this ‘Twilight’ thing has nothing to do with Princess Twilight?”
“Not this again!” Complained Sweet Fog. “No, the Realm of Twilight is my home; nothing to do with your Princess”
Applejack just put a hoof on his shoulder.
“Don’t take it personal pal, it is kind of funny! Now A’ wish the situation were as funny as it sounds”
Epona just took of her saddlebag and sat lazily on the ground.
“Nah, relax cowgirl. We’ll fix this in no time; we’re skilled adventurers!”
Applejack didn’t knew if she was comfortable with Epona being so confident about it but at the end preferred to remain silent. Evil sorcerers, Realms of Darkness… which enemy of Equestria did this? Or the threat came from the other side?
But she couldn’t think too much about it since the CMC approached to Epona’s saddlebag.
“Cool, what’s this?!” Asked Apple Bloom taking… a bomb.
Fog jumped backwards by instinct, but Epona reacted quickly and without losing her coolness by taking the bomb from the girl and put it safely back on the saddlebag.
“Watch it kid, it isn’t polite to see into other people’s bags”
“Sorry, but everything looked so cool! May I see what you have Miss Epona?”
“Of course not! That stuff are dangerous!” Protested Fog.
“Really?” Asked Scootaloo approaching.
“A little but most important, my friend Link trusted me his stuff, and I would never betray that confidence like that. Tell me girls, would you risk to damage or lose something that a friend trusted you just like that?”
“Of course not!”
“Neither I, so please stay away from my saddlebag. If it were mine of course I’ll show you, but its Link’s”
“Sorry Miss Epona”
The rest of the afternoon was pretty calm. Epona talked to the girls about several adventures, like the time they collected bugs from the Insect Princess or giving more details of how Link rescued the children.
But when it was time to Princess Luna lower the sun, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said good bye to Applejack, Apple Bloom and the visitors; and the cowgirl asked them to follow her.
“So tell me Apple Bloom, do you like Epona and Sweet Fog?”
“Yeah, they have very interesting stories!”
“Good because they’re staying with us for the night. Epona, do you think you can keep telling Apple Bloom about your adventures for the night?”
“Sure!”
They arrived to Sweet Apple Acres where the visitors were kindly greeted by the Apple Family. Then the night passed without further incidents, Apple Bloom did not insisted more in seeing into Epona’s saddlebag and just kept asking the mare about their adventures in Hyrule. She also asked for some adventures to Sweet Fog but he excused himself by telling he wasn’t an adventurer, just a Palace Servant.
And at the next day the group reunited with the next of Applejack’s friends and also Princesses Luna, Cadence and of course Celestia. This whole Twilight thing was a huge threat to the land and they had to see it by themselves.
“Are we all here? Good, let’s go!” Said Princess Twilight leading the way.
They arrived to the same spot they separated from the visitors before… but something had changed.
Everypony shivered looking at the black wall swallowing part of the forest, even the ones who had seen it before. The only ones who remained calmed were Epona and Sweet Fog.
“This is indeed strange… and disturbing. I can feel a huge amount of dark magic coming from it” whispered Celestia.
“What shall we do then, sister?” Asked Luna unable to stop looking at the Twilight.
“I have no idea Luna… at the moment all we can do is to wait for our visitors to arrive”
Twilight nodded.
“And the worst part is… that is closer than yesterday. This thing had been expanding all the time?”
Suddenly the wall seemed to tremble entirely, making everypony jump backwards and the alicorns to prepare their horns for a fight; but it was nothing, just the visitors from last day appearing before them.
“And it’ll continue expanding until we do something about it” said Midna, riding as always on Link’s back. “That’s the nature of the Twilight”
Cadence, Celestia and Luna gulped looking at Link, but managed to maintain their dignity and lowered their heads greeting the visitors.
“So you must be the Twilight Princess”
“Call me Midna. I don’t want any idiot making jokes about how my title resembles your fellow Princess’ name”
Celestia nodded.
“As you wish, Midna”
“We gave orders to prepare some chariots pulled by pegasi in order to transport us immediately to Canterlot” said Luna.
“Good, let’s move!”