//------------------------------// // A hero's welcome // Story: The Hero of Time in Equestria // by Mikoyose //------------------------------// Link stares at the wooden inside of the mask he is holding, he braces himself for the pain that he knows putting the mask on will bring and raises the mask to his face. Twilight waits in anticipation, while the Princess and the others watch with curiosity as Link puts the mask on. They watch as he groans and sways before screaming at the sky, the scream followed by a bright flash, “Link! Link are you alright? Can anypony see?” Twilight said after the flash. They rubbed their eyes as they readjust. When the dark spots leave their eyes they’re greeted by a small wooden creature with sad looking eyes, a spout for a mouth, Links hat elongated to nearly touch the floor, and his blonde bangs. Fluttershy flies over to it, “Oh aren’t you cute? What are you? Where are your parents?” The creature replies in Link’s voice, but higher and a little quavery, “They died in the great war.” the creature/Link seemed to get sadder as it bowed its head. An awkward silence descends upon the group, ended by Princess Celestia, “War? What was it about, Link?” Link looks up and says, “The great war happened between the Hylians, the Gorons, the Zora, the Gerudo, and the Sheikah. They fought over land and power, it ended when the ‘red king’ came to the throne. From then on Hyrule was peaceful for the most part.” Rainbow dash breaks out laughing, Applejack glares at her, “What’s so funny ‘bout that Rainbow?” Rainbow dash looks at Applejack, “I’m not laughing at that, I’m laughing at him.” she points at Link and continues laughing saying, when she calmed down, “I mean look at him he’s so scrawny.” Link looks at Rainbow dash, “Well of course I look scrawny, this Deku scrub is only a child.” Fluttershy pats Link’s wooden shoulder, “Um Link what’s a Day-koo? I-if you don’t mind me asking.” Link looks at her and answers. “A Deku scrub is a small wooden creature, like myself at the moment, that lives in forests some of them sell items. But the items are expensive. They usually attack others by spitting seeds at them. It’s something like this.” Link looks at Rainbow dash and takes a deep breath, he releases it causing a bubble to appear out of the mouth/spout. The bubble gets bigger as Link’s head gets smaller, Twilight’s mentally writing this down as she watches. The bubble stops growing when Link’s head was nearly the size of an apple. He spits the bubble out, his head returning to normal, the bubble whistles through the air on course for Rainbow hitting her flank and popping, as she tried to fly out of the way “Ow! Hey that hurt you little brat!.” she glares at Link before diving at him. Link ducks and a large shell covers his body. Rainbow continues towards Link hitting the shell and bouncing off without so much as a scratch on the shell. “What?!” Rainbow walks up turns around and bucks the shell, nothing. She bucks it again and again, the shell doesn’t even have a scuff. “Are you finished? If I stand up you won’t buck me?” Rainbow dash steps back, “No I won’t, heh that’s some pretty strong stuff.” Link stands up dropping the shell, and Fluttershy flies over to him and inspects him while saying, “Are you okay? Did Rainbow dash hurt you?” Link raises his arms as Fluttershy inspects him holding a safety kit, ”I’m fine Fluttershy my shield protected me.” he points to the shell and turns to Twilight “Also as a Deku scrub I can walk on water, well not walk it’s more like bouncing. And I can fly, shortly, with a deku flower and that about sums up the Deku scrubs powers-” “Wait, wait, wait you can fly? Using a flower?” Rainbow dash interrupts floating close to Link “Well shortly and it’s not very fast. But I think I can plant one from the magic beans I h-.” Twilight interrupts, “Excuse me but did you say magic beans?” Link turns to her “Yes magic beans. I have a few with me.” Link grabs his pouch and pulls out what looked like a string bean, with four beans, each a different color, red, yellow, blue, and green in that order. “All I need is a soft patch of ground.” Link looks around and begins walking, each step making a strange squeaking/squish noise. Pinkie starts laughing, “That’s a funny sound you’re making.” Link looks up and stops walking, “Oh yeah this Deku scrub does that. It is kind of funny, and annoying but I’ve learned to ignore it.” Link stops close to the tree house and starts digging, dropping the bean inside. “There now all we need is water.” Twilight turns to Rainbow dash, “Hey Rainbow can you get us a cloud?” Rainbow salutes and gets ready to take off when Link makes pipes appear. Princess Celestia looks at them and Rarity asks, “Uh Link? What are those things?” Link looks at her, “These are Deku pipes.” Twilight curiously asks, “Um what are you going to do?” Rainbow dash walks next to Applejack, “Yeah what’s with the tuba?” “Well we need water and I was about to get it.” “How? You don’t have wings.” “I don’t need wings to get water.” Link prepares the Deku pipes and begins playing a song. Each note of the song seemed to gather clouds, the six ponies and the Princess watched in awe as clouds blocked the sun and a downpour began, on the final note. Meanwhile in town The ponies in town were confused as they began running to get away from the sudden downpour, since none of them knew there was going to be rain that day. Now back to the important part They sit and watch the rain fall while Link watches the ground where he buried the bean, “That. Was. Awesome!” Rainbow dash said looking at the clouds with a large grin plastered on her face. Fluttershy turned away from the clouds and back to Link, who was standing in front of a very large flower. The downpour stopped as quickly as it began and the pegasi cleared the clouds away, the group returned their gaze to Link and the flower. Link looks up and steps onto the center of the flower and sinks into it spinning. They watch as the flower eats Link and a yellow cloud of pollen shoots out of the center from a bulge that appeared after Link’s head fell in. They watch in shock until Link shoots back up, a trail of yellow pollen following, and at the top of his rise, about three times the height of Celestia, he pulls out two large flowers, the petals were spinning slowly causing Link to descend. Link floated there for a while before letting go of the flowers, the petals fell off and the flowers died before hitting the ground, and landing unharmed. “Tadaa!” Link says holding his small hands above his head. Rainbow dash stares at Link bored, “So you fly with. Flowers?” “Yes, they help me reach high places.” “But you can’t actually fly.” Link shakes his head. Celestia looks at Link curiously, “Link. What happened to your family?” Link looks down, his sad deku face seeming to get sadder “My parents were in the war, my mother had taken me as a child into the lost woods to the Great Deku tree, to live among the Kokiri. And my father was one of the knights.” Twilight interrupts, “I’m sorry Link, but can you explain what these names you mentioned are?” Link nods, hat bouncing, and a large scroll and quill float next to Twilight ready to write down every word, writing down what she had seen from the Deku scrub “You already know about the Hylians, are there any questions about them that you’d like to ask?” Twilight thinks but Applejack answers, “Ah got one. Why are yer ears pointy?” Link looks at her and says, “That’s in one of our history books, it said ‘The Hylians ears are pointed to the heavens so they can hear the gods.’ Anything else?” He looks at each of their group, eyes lingering on Celestia’s flowing mane, “No? Okay I’m going to take the mask off now.” He grabs the edges of his face and pulls, a blue glow appears around his face and the white flash appeared again. When the flash was gone, the Deku Link was gone and Link was standing there holding the wooden mask. “That feels more natural.” Link sighs and puts the mask away smiling at the group. “Link I’m so sorry about your family.” Celestia says with a motherly tone and reassuring smile. Link looks up at her and smiles, “It’s okay Princess you didn’t know.” Princess Celestia walks up to Link, “Link I’m going to look at your memories.” Link nods and Celestia lowers her glowing horn to touch Link’s head. Instantly Celestia saw everything Link had done, seen, and everyone he had saved or helped. Celestia raises her head once more eyes wide slightly shocked to see this small child had saved his world not once but twice. “Link, you truly are a hero.” Link rubs the back of his head at the compliment, “Thank you Princess.” He bows respectfully, the purple unicorn clears her throat, “Ahem, Link. Can you please tell me-us what the rest of these names are?” Celestia turns to Twilight “My faithful student can I trust you to document all these things?” Twilight eagerly nods and Celestia smiles “I knew I could. Now my little ponies if you’ll excuse me I have royal business to attend to.” with that Princess Celestia teleported away in a bright ball of light. Link watched Celestia leave shielding his eyes with an arm. Twilight readies the quill and scroll again, “Alright Link please continue.” He nods, “I’m going to start with the gorons. The gorons are a race of rock men, they are considered the strongest creatures in Hyrule. The gorons live on Death mountain wh-” Twilight interrupted “Wait, Death mountain? Why is it called that?” “Oh because it’s a live volcano covered in tektites, and bomb flowers.” “what’s a tektite?” “A large four legged spider like monster.” “Oh, you also said bomb flower” The quill writes down everything, almost as quickly as Link says it. Link nods “A bomb flower is (self explanatory) well a plant that grows bombs.” Rainbow, meanwhile, was picturing a large rock in the shape of Link but taller and extremely muscled. (she is in for a surprise) “Any questions about the gorons?” Link asks looking at the mares surrounding him. Fluttershy asks a question softly “What do they eat?” Link turns to her and puts a hand to his ear, leaning closer “I didn’t catch that.” She repeats the question quieter, Link looks at her confused. “I’m sorry but I can’t hear you.” Pinkie Pie jumps gasping “Ididn’tthrowyouawelcometoPonyvillepartyyet!” when she landed she ran off in a pink blur. Link stares after her in shock “What?” Twilight shakes her head with a grin, “Don’t worry that’s just Pinkie being Pinkie.” Link stares where Pinkie was and turns back to Fluttershy, “So what did you say?” She lightly kicks the ground and answers, “What do they eat?” her voice was still soft and Link barely heard it, “What do they eat?” She nods, and Link smiles “Well the gorons their diet is the finest rocks Death mountain can offer.” Rainbow dash lands in front of Link “So these gorons eat rocks.” Link nods Rainbow raises an eyebrow “I’m bored, have fun with the studying” She flies off leaving a rainbow trail. “Ah should get goin’ mahself, the farm can’t run itself.” Applejack runs off towards the barn in the distance. Link looks at the three mares left: Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight. Twilight floats the quill into the inkwell “Alright Link, please continue.” the quill floats out of the inkwell and hovers over the scroll. Link nods and continues, “Next is the Zora. The Zora are a race of fish people, they are the best swimmers, and the best fishers in Hyrule.” “Um. Link what does fishers mean? If you don’t mind.” “It means they’re good at fishing.” He looks at the curious faces of the ponies and describes fishing, getting astonished, yet disgusted, looks from the three. “T-they eat fish?” Fluttershy asks a tone of fear in her voice. Link nods, “It’s a part of their diet. It’s the same with Hylians, Gerudo and Sheikah they eat fish and meat as part of their diet.” The word ‘meat’ seemed to scare the ponies as they nervously glanced at each other then at Link. To Link’s surprise the yellow pegasus was the least scared from this revelation, as she nodded slightly, understanding that they were omnivores. “What’s wrong?” Link asks before realising Ponies don’t eat meat. Before he could apologize Twilight cuts him off, “I’m sorry Link but you can’t do that here.” Link nods knowing why, “It’s just vulgar and uncouth.” Rarity adds turning her head away and tilting it upwards. “I won’t, and I don’t have to eat meat, many Hylians don’t.” Link said reassuring it with a smile, calming the nervous mares. Link opens his mouth to continue but gets cut off by his stomach growling. He looks at his stomach then to the mares, “I’m a little hungry.” Twilight looks in the direction Pinkie had run off in, “I think Pinkie's party should be ready now, let’s go.” Link nods and follows Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy, checking his inventory, he pulls out his giant wallet and regretfully puts it away. I don’t have any money that works here. He thinks to himself wondering what he could do for some money. As he looks around, many of the ponies give him uncertain looks. Link sighs bumping into Fluttershy as they stopped in front of Sugarcube corner. “Eep! Sorry.” the shy mare said before sidestepping, allowing space for Link to pass. Link looks at her curiously before walking up to Rarity, since Twilight had gone inside. “Um, Rarity? Why are we standing here?” she turns her head to look at Link and answers simply, “For the party of course.” Twilight walks out of Sugarcube corner, “Mrs. Cake says Pinkie is at Sweet apple acres.” Link drools slightly thinking about apples as his stomach growls again. A shadow passes over the small group, instinctively Link pulls out his bow and aims upwards, he lowers the bow upon seeing that it was just Rainbow dash flying towards the same barn Applejack had gone towards, and single thought passes through Link’s head; Flying would’ve made traveling easier, I wonder what Epona’s doing? -----------------------------------------Edge of Sweet apple acres------------------------------------------------ As the three walked along the white fence, Rarity had gone to her home to fix her mane, Link was tempted to take some apples from the trees. But he decided against it, since he was going to a party and it would be rude to not eat any of the food there. As his eyes wandered he saw Big Macintosh bucking the trees, every apple falling into the baskets placed around the trunk. Link’s stomach rumbles again, he puts his hand on his stomach. “Don’t worry Link we’re almost there.” Twilight said looking back, before they came to an archway. They walked up to the barn where Link pushed the door open, falling backwards as confetti shot out followed by a laughing Pinkie. Twilight and Fluttershy giggle as Link stands up and dusts himself off, blushing slightly. “Oopsie, I didn’t mean to scare you.” the pink mare giggles and pulls Link and the other two inside. ------------------------------------------------Meanwhile in Hyrule--------------------------------------------------- Epona had galloped back through the forest, when she left the treeline she had reappeared in Hyrule field. She looked around before trotting towards Lon Lon Ranch. “Epona! I thought you went with Link?” a small brown haired girl ran up to Epona and stroked her sweat soaked mane, confused. Epona whinnied and snorted. “Malon didn’t you give Epona to Link?” a bald fat man with a (great) moustache came out of the farmhouse, wearing blue overalls with a red undershirt “Yes I did dad but I don’t know why she came back without him.” Malon said giving her father a worried look. “Ingo!” The portly man shouted, before a skinny man with a crooked moustache, wearing white overalls with a green undershirt, walked out of the barn “What is it Talon?” he asked holding a bucket in one hand and a mop in the other, resting on his shoulder. “I need you to clean the track.” “Yeah, I will Talon.” He says before walking to the track, mumbling under his breath, “One day I’ll be running the ranch.” -------------------------------------------------Back to the story------------------------------------------------------ Link gazed around the inside of the barn, it was filled with ponies from around Ponyville, and the decorations that covered the walls would’ve put any other party to shame, even though he hadn’t been to that many parties, he knew this one blew them all out of the water. His gaze went over to the table covered in sweets and food, he drooled slightly and ran towards it. He jumped around ponies ignoring them as he was solely focused on the table. Right before he got to the table, a pink figure emerged from underneath the table and pushed Link away from the table, “Come on Link! Most of ponyville is here!” She began introducing the ponies around the room, Link tried remembering the names but his mind was being drawn back to the table. When Pinkie finally stopped introducing him to the ponies she let him go and he ran back to the table, and looked over the food they had. He grabbed a sandwich and was going to take a bite when he saw a flower petal sticking out of the side, he lifted the top and saw the contents of the sandwich was just daisies. Flowers? In. a. sandwich. He thought to himself looking over the table again. He noticed the only thing that didn’t have flowers in it were what looked like dried sticks, the fruit, and the sweets. Link grabbed one of the sticks and took a bite, coughing it back up This tastes like hay! he thought before grabbing the largest apple he could find. When Link had his fill: three slices of cake, four cupcakes, two apples, and an apple fritter, he smiled and learned the names of the ponies again. Link was talking to a pegasus named Thunder lane, when Pinkie Pie jumped onto a stage with strange things Link had never seen. There were two small metal towers with two black eyes one on top of the other, and there was a metal machine between those two it looked like two record players. Pinkie went behind the machine and pulled out a unicorn that was somehow hiding behind it, “Okay every pony! Let’s get this party started!” Pinkie yelled as the white unicorn’s horn glowed putting the needle on the record. As soon as the needle touched very loud music blared out of the towers, Link covered his ears, the music was too loud for him. Link walked outside still covering his ears, he uncovered them to close the door-just softening the sound. Link sat down looking at the sky, leaning against the wall. He looked at the darkening sky, barely able to see the stars. The door opens causing Link to cover his ears until it was shut, “Sorry Link, I didn’t know that you weren’t a fan of dubstep.” Link looked over at the voice seeing the lavender coated Twilight smiling at him. “We didn’t have that in Hyrule. It’s too loud for me, I like softer music better. Like this.” He pulls out his ocarina. “What happened to the pipes?” Link looks at his ocarina then to Twilight, “Well when I put one of the masks on this changes with it.” Link looks at his ocarina, the memory (Couldn’t find a video of the memory alone so skip to 7:51) of zelda giving him the ocarina. “Really the masks changes not only you, but that instrument as well?” Link nods and puts the ocarina to his lips and starts playing. Twilight smiles as she listens to the song, her eyes feeling slightly heavy by the end of it. “That was beautiful Link." "Yes it was." another voice said, Link and Twilight turned to see Rarity had finally arrived, she smelled of perfume and had reapplied her makeup "what was that song called?” “It was a song that was used as a lullaby for Princess Zelda. It actually helped me on some of my quests.” Link remembered all the times he had to use that song to advance on his first quest. “Oh, well it sounds like the music stopped.” Link listened hearing nothing, Twilight opens the door and turns to Link asking, “Are you going to come back inside?” Link nodded and stood up, putting his ocarina away, and followed Twilight back inside. After they entered Twilight had shut the door with her magic and left to speak with some of the ponies. Link had gone and grabbed another apple, when he had finished it three familiar cape wearing fillies approached him. “Hi Link!” the three fillies said at once, “Hi, how’s the crusading going?” the fillies ears droop and their heads dip, Link crouches so he could look them in the eyes. “Don’t worry, you’ll get them.” this cheered the fillies up as they looked at him with their large eyes. That is adorable Link thought while smiling at them. “Hey Link.” Link turns to Sweetie belle “Yes?” she looks at the other two, they appeared to have a silent conversation, before looking back at Link, “Are you sure we can’t be monster fighters?” Link nodded, lowering their spirit, “It’s way too dangerous for fillies like you. As I said before I’ve had to run because it had gotten too dangerous, but I always had a fairy to help me out.” His thoughts went to Navi, then to Tatl, “I’ve never seen a fairy!” the white unicorn said “Do y’all still have one?” the earth pony chimed in. Link thought for a moment and nodded, the fillies eyes brightened up as Scootaloo asked, “Can we see it?” “Yeah can we?” the other two crusaders added. “I don’t see why not.” Link reaches into his pouch and pulls out one of his bottles, a glowing pink fairy floating inside. The fillies screamed and ran to Pinkie yelling, “Pinkie! Pinkie the parasprites are back!” Every pony that heard this started panicking and running to the exit, one had kicked Link into a wall and injuring him. He hit the floor with a groan, Fluttershy flew to Link looking over bruises “Oh no! Link are you okay?” Link nods groaning as he stands up, the bottle lying on the floor next to him. He bent over to pick up the bottle, only to be pulled away in a magical purple field, “Stay away from that parasprite Link!” Link turned to Twilight with a confused look on his face, This feels like the great fairy’s magic. he thought before saying, “That’s not a sprite, it’s a fairy, can you put me down please?” Twilight did as she was asked and lowered Link to the ground, he groaned again, bringing Fluttershy over, “Are you sure you’re okay? You look hurt.” Link nods and walks towards the bottle again, being stopped by Pinkie, covered in instruments, “Link don’t get any closer! These parasprites are bad news.” Link shook his head, “It’s not a sprite.” he walked around Pinkie, being stopped by Applejack this time, “Can’t let ya let them parasprites out sugarcube, y’all are hurt let’s get ya into the house.” Link shook his head and walked around Applejack. He reached down and picked up the bottle, he turned around to the six ponies left. He grabs the cork with one hand and pulls it off, Pinkie took a breath to start the tuba, pausing as she watched the fairy spin around Link making his bruises disappear. The mare’s jaws dropped as they watched Link heal before their very eyes. When the fairy reached the pinnacle of its ascension-about three inches above Link’s head-it flew away out the open door, leaving a sparkling trail behind it. Link smiled at the gawking ponies stretching his arms above his head.“So let me get this straight if you get hurt that. ‘Fairy’ will heal you?” Link nods towards the multicolored mare, “Yep, It’s very useful especially when I was fighting the dungeon masters (a.k.a bosses).” “Wait. dungeon masters? What are those?” Twilight asked still shocked from the fairy. “Well they were powerful monsters I had to fight in each dungeon I visited.” he answered, his thoughts traveling to Gyorg, the fish monster from termina. (Fact: I hate Gyorg) “Well I bet I could take them all easily.” Rainbow dash said, emphasising it with a few hoof jabs, “I mean they can’t beat the fastest flier in Equestria.” she boasted before placing a hoof on her chest. Link stifled a laugh “I’m sorry Rainbow dash but I had trouble fighting them, and I have an arsenal with me.” he smiled at the overconfident mare. “Yeah but with those fairies I wouldn’t have to worry about it.” LInk laughed getting a glare from Rainbow “Why are you laughing?” Link stopped laughing after a few seconds, “Well Fairies can heal you but it only does so much, the only way you could truly be healed is by the Great fairy.” “What’s the great fairy?” Twilight asked, her curiosity overcoming the shock. “Well she’s essentially the queen of the fairies. She has very powerful magic.” Although it wasn’t as powerful as Majora’s mask. Link thought to himself as Twilight asked another question, “So she’s the fairy queen?” Link nods and puts the bottle away, “In Hyrule there are several fairy fountains and four great fairy fountains. The great fairy was the one who gave me magic” Twilight’s jaw dropped again, “I knew you had magic but I didn’t know you were given it.” “Well like I said before I have magic but not like yours.” “Um can you show me what you can do?” “Sure, I don’t see why not. Just stand back” The ponies gave Link seven feet of space, and he unsheathed his sword. Link had his gilded sword in his right hand and his mirror shield on his left arm. Link crouches putting his shield in front of him and holding his sword out behind him, the sword begins to glow blue, shining until it changed from a blue glow to an orange glow. Link then swung his sword, shouting, while spinning sending an orange blast out around him, cutting a haystack in half. Link straightens up, and puts his gilded sword away, placing his shield over the sword’s sheathe. “There’s that and three spells those I’d rather save for emergencies.” Twilight’s eyes widen when she heard that he knew three spells, she ran up to him, “Can you tell me those spells?” she asked while Rainbow dash pushed the top half of the haystack off as she looked at the clean slice. “They’re called Din’s fire, Farore’s wind, and Nayru’s love. Din’s fire sends out a flaming blast lighting anything in its range on fire. Farore’s wind can teleport me, and Nayru’s love puts an unbreakable barrier around me.” Link said remembering the spells he used countless times. “Oh can you teach me these spells?” Link shrugged, “I don’t know how, the Great fairy gave them to me.” “Oh well can you show me them?” “Woah look at what that did to this haystack!” Rainbow commented still looking at the haystack “I won’t show you Din’s fire for safety reasons. But the other two I can.” Twilight nodded understanding and excitedly ushered Link out followed by the others. (Well here's the next chapter.)