Encounters in the Dungeons of Harmony
Princess Celestia opened the door that have just appeared before her. After she read it, she sighed relieved. Another Temple had been completed, and nopony was seriously injured. There were some bruises, and some cuts, but nothing that couldn’t be treated with a healing potion, or spell.
Still, the Princess couldn’t help but worry about the situation.
“You’re still thinking about it, right Tia?” asked Luna, as she approached her older sister.
“How can you be so relaxed, Luna? I mean, the Elements of Harmony are Equestria’s strongest defense. And Twilight Sparkle is the closest thing I have to a daughter, I wouldn’t be able to relax until this situation is solved.”
Luna nodded slowly. “I know, but, since we have already lost the Elements, all we have is faith. Faith in the Bearers, and in the warriors of Hyrule, and the Twilight.”
Celestia frowned. “That’s the other thing I worry about, the Realm of Twilight is still swallowing our land. Slowly, but constantly.”
“Luckily its Princess is on our side.” said Luna.
“Thanks Faust!”
At Sweet Apple Acres, and her grandson and younger granddaughter, were waiting for Applejack and her friends, when suddenly, they felt a disturbance on the air, followed by peace. So much peace.
Granny Smith cleaned up a tear of joy, and smiled to her grandkids.
“A’ don’t know how they’ve done it, but they did. They freed this area from its evilness.”
“Eeyup, ma’ sis and her friends can do whatever they want.”
“And, also, Miss Epona is with them! Oh, and Mister Link and Miss Midna. But a’ can’t wait for Miss Epona to tell us their adventures!”
“Don’t ya’ mean, yer’ sis?” asked Granny Smith.
“Nope! A’ mean, Applejack is great and all, but Miss Epona is an experienced adventurer, and she know how to tell stories.”
Big Mac gently stoke his sister’s mane, when she added.
“And A’ really think that Miss Epona is a greater adventurer that Daring Do!”
Rainbow was leading the group, already on their way back to Sweet Apple Acres, when she overheard Apple Bloom’s last comment, and she flew toward the little filly.
“What? Better than Daring Do?! Come on! These guys are awesome, but they do not compare with the awesome Daring Do. She have defeated powerful enemies like Ahuizotl over and over!”
“And we have defeated foes like Ganondorf and Zant.” Said Epona, joining the conversation.
“And, also, my master have defeated demons and their servants in his previous incarnations. Demise and Girahaim.” added Fi, floating calmly.
“And the evil sorceress Cya.” Added Midna, thoughtful.
“Cya? From the battle of the crossed eras?” asked wolf Link.
Midna nodded. “I promised I’ll tell you everything about it when we finish here, remember? But, for now, let’s focus on the important. We need more healing potions.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to Zecora right away!” said Twiligth happily.
“If you don’t mind, we will do it.” said Midna calmly. “I’m curious to meet her.”
“Also, it’s always good to make connections with pharmacists wherever you’re adventuring.” smiled the wolf.
“Okay! She lives in the deeps of the Everfree Forest.” said Twilight. “You won’t get lost, is the only path there is in the middle of the forest.”
“Applejack! What happened down there?!” urged Granny Smith. “First, this was the most dangerous place in the whole land, but now… now it feels… in peace…”
The cowgirl smiled to her family.
“Let’s just said this mission freed the fields, and we’re able to use them again. Also, A’ had a small talk with mom and dad. They’ve been fine all this time, but Titan Applelox wanted to give us a last talk. A’ wish ya’ were ther, but, they said hi.”
The rest of the Apple family practically jumped over Applejack, demanding for details, so the cowgirl had no choice but walk back to her home, as she told them her little adventure with the Titan of Honesty.
The rest of the group, and the Hyrule Warriors smiled at the sight of the family, and decided to let them have their family moment.
“So, let’s go for potions.” shrugged Midna.
“Yeah, in the meantime, I can use a good rest!” said Twilight, stretching out. “What about you, girls?”
“A small rest would be nice.” said Fluttershy softly.
“Okay, but don’t make it too long. The Twilight is expanding while we talk.” warned Midna. “Let’s go, Link!”
And the two left, as Rainbow smiled, kicking the air.
“Oh, I can’t wait to go to Cloudsdale. That’s next on our schedule, right?”
“Yes, the Flying Camp.” confirmed Twilight.
“I wonder, where the Titans could hide a temple, there.” thought Rarity.
The rest of the day went just fine. The only incident that the Hyrule Warriors had to deal with, was that Zecora received Link and Midna with a bo-staff, showing them what zebra-martial-arts were capable of. In the end, Midna had to immobilize her with her magic.
“What is wrong with you? Do you receive everyone who want to buy some potions like that?”
Zecora’s eyes widened. “Oh Dear! My apologies you should take. This was nothing but a dumb mistake. Is dangerous to live in the woods, most of the living beings want to eat your goods.” (Bad riming, I know, but English is not my mother language).
“Seriously, why is everyone freaking out by seeing me? Is getting old!” protested Link.
Zecora bowed, apologetically. “Let’s start from the beginning. Come on in, and I hope you don’t mind, I haven’t had the time for proper cleaning.”
“Why I she riming?” whispered Midna to Link.
Ignoring his friend, Link opened his saddlebag and presented Zecora the last blue chu-chu jelly he had. “Here, do you think you can make a healing potion as strong as this one?”
Zecora opened the bottle, and sniffed the content.
“This is such a surprise! A potion this perfect is such a prize!
“So you can’t make us something similar?” asked Link.
Zecora smiled enthusiastically.
“I can try. With a challenge like this, the time will fly!”
And she started working. Leaving aside the irritating habit of riming all the time (for Midna), she was really nice and a soon she became friends with the visitors.
In the meantime, Fog and Epona visited the town, until Applejack and Apple Bloom came to find the mare, since the filly was waiting for Epona to tell her their adventures. And, also, Applejack have grown close to the hylian mare.
When they left, Fog shrugged, and went to Flutterhsy’s, to see if he could help her with the animals or something.
Epona was having a very good time, she felt back at the farm, at Ordon Village. The young enthusiastic Apple Bloom asking her to tell stories about Hyrule and dungeons reminded her of the kids who used to gather around Illa and Link. But, after the first half hour, the young filly disappeared, and Epona spent the rest of the day helping Applejack at the field.
And, when the two mares finished bucking apple trees, three enthusiastic voices called the mare from Hyrule.
“Miss Epona! Miss Epona!”
Applejack and Epona turned to the CMC.
“Yes?” asked Epona.
“Miss Epona, Apple Bloom told us about your adventures, and we thought it was a good idea for you to help us to find our Cutie Marks as adventurers!” smiled Sweetie Belle.
Applejack chuckled at this, and stroke her sister’s mane.
Epona shrugged. “Well, you don’t go find an adventure. Adventure finds you. And the best you can do, is to be ready, or, do it the stupid way as we did, and get ready on the go.”
“But we can’t just wait for an adventure to find us! We want to join you to this Dungeons of Harmony!” protested Scootaloo.
At that point, Applejack glared at the trio of fillies.
“No! Is too dangerous for ya’ three!”
“Aw, but we want to have an adventure!” protested Sweetie Belle.
Applejack looked at Epona, like asking for help, when she spotted Link and Midna coming toward them.
“I think I have an idea, alright? HEY, LINK!”
The wolf tilted his head, and ran to join his friend, along with Midna, who giggled at this.
“I told you she would be with her.” teased the imp, making Epona blush furiously.
Ignoring Midna, Link turned to this friend. “Hey Epona, what’s up?”
“Pal, this trio really wants to go on adventure.” Explained Epona, looking at the CMC. “They want to join us, but, as you know, is really dangerous.”
“I agree.” Said the wolf.
When suddenly, Fi came out of nowhere and bowed to Link.
“Excuse my intromission, Master, but in one of your previous incarnations, you were about this age when you went on adventure for the first time.”
Applejack glared at the spirit. What on Equestria was she thinking.
“See?” asked the girls.
However, Epona remained calm.
“Anyway, I was telling them that, in most of the cases, adventure finds you, so you better be prepared. So, I was wondering if you can lend them the weapons you don’t use anymore. You know, the wooden shield, the slingshot, and the wooden sword.”
Link smiled. “Oh, I don’t see why not.”
“Wait, what?!” asked Applejack.
“Oh, come on, there are mostly toys.” said Epona. “And, is not like they haven’t played with slingshots, and sticks before.”
Applejack hesitated, in fact, playing with sticks was one of Apple Bloom’s favorite things when she was littler. At the end, she accepted.
“Ah’ guess they won’t get in much more trouble than usual with those things.”
The girls cheered in happiness, as Epona gave them one item each. Sweetie Belle took the slingshot, along with a generous provision of Deku seeds, Scootaloo wielded the wooden sword in the air, and finally, Apple Bloom carried the shield, proudly.
Applejack sighed, but at least she was relieved that now, the girls would try to find an adventure on their own. And hopefully, it won’t be as dangerous as facing ancient titans.
“A’ don’t like the idea of they having this kind of adventure, but A’ guess is the less dangerous alternative. Ya’ really know how to handle kids, right Epona?”
“I just did what my friend Illa would do. You cannot convince a kid to stay out of trouble, but you can make sure they have the less trouble as possible.”
At the next morning, the group were refreshed and ready for the next Temple of Harmony. Only Midna was a bit irritated, since as the last night, Link insisted them to stay at Lyra and Bon-Bon’s, and she had to deal with Lyra’s non-stopping rambling about humans and such.
Also, Twilight had a busy afternoon, having to rent an extra balloon to transport the group to Cloudsdale. She and her friends used her own balloon, and Fog, Epona, Link and Midna were at the second, admiring the equestrian landscape.
“So Rainbow, where’s the flying camp?” asked Twilight.
The pegasus smiled. “Oh, right. This way!”
She jumped out of the balloon, and guided both groups to the place. Rainbow had great memories about it, not only it was the place where she created the legendary Sonic Rainboom, gaining her Cutie Mark in the process. But also, that’s the place where she met Fluttershy.
“Now I hope that nothing bad happens.” sighed Rarity, as they approached.
“I wouldn’t count on that.” giggled Pinkie. “These are dangerous Dungeons, remember?”
“Yes, I’m afraid we’ll have to use all our strength in order to end this madness.” added Twilight. “That’s why I asked you all to rest well last night.”
They didn’t say more, and followed Rainbow Dash. When they landed at the place, they were ready. Link also groaned, thinking there would be another panic reaction by seeing him in his wolf form, but no. This time Princess Twilight had the delicacy to inform about him, before they went to the city.
“Come on, hurry!” urged Rainbow, accelerating. She was in full Daring-Do mode.
The rest of the group did their best to follow her, but she was too fast that they lost her track almost immediately. Fluttershy then tried to lead them, but she was too slow and didn’t remember that place very well.
“Master, shall I use the Dowsing ability?” suggested Fi.
“Please!” asked both groups, at the unison.”
“This place reminds me at the city of the Ooca.” mumbled Link.
Midna seemed thoughtful. “You’re right! Huh, I knew this place felt somehow familiar!”
Finally, they arrived at the flying camp, where Rainbow had opened the doors for them already.
“Guys! I think I’ve found it!” called Rainbow, when she spotted them getting into the camp.
She was in front of a huge, plain, construction. With one door and no windows.
Fluttershy gulped as she recognized which place Rainbow meant. “Oh no, is that the old storage room? The teachers said it was too dangerous, so they locked it for good!”
“Just as the forbidden field.” Agreed Applejack. “Yes, we’re here.”
“I agree. I can feel the Bearer of Loyalty’s energy coming from behind that doors.” Said Fi. “There’s a 99.4% of probabilities that this is the place we’re looking for.”
“And what are we waiting? Come on!” said Dash, kicking the lock open.
With their magic, Twilight and Midna pushed the doors open.
Before them, a legion of winged dragons, in blackish armors were flying around, berating their flames toward them. Everyone jumped to elude the attack, and Midna transformed her and Link back to normal.
“Aerolfos. Great, just great. Just like that city” Complained Link, wielding the Master Sword.
“It could be worse.” Said Midna with a shrug. “Let’s finish this quickly!”
They both ran to action, focusing on destroy as many as possible in the less time. Fi was about to join them, when something called her attention.
“Master!” she called. “There’s a pony life-form in the middle of the room!”
Everypony, then, noticed the dark yellow pegasus in the middle of the room, tied, and left to the mercy of the ferocious dragons. And, safely in what looked like a balcony, a cat-like creature laughed maniacally at the mare’s desperate attempts to get free.
“AHAHAHAHA! You’ll never get away from this, Daring Do! Today, you have mate your fate!”
Epona didn’t need more, she jumped over the Spinner, and ran to help the mare.
“Are you okay?”
Daring Do shook her head. “Who are you?”
“Epona Ordon.”
Daring Do was about to ask more questions, when she recognized the Princess of Friendship and her friends.
“Daring Do!” gasped Rainbow Dash. “What are you doing here?”
“You know, the usual, adventuring.” explained Daring. “But there’s no time to waste. Ahuizotl haves the necklace I found. It’s very important for me to give it to a museum!”
They looked up, to Ahuizotl, who simply showed them a necklace… that looked like Rainbow’s Cutie Mark.
“You mean this? Sorry Daring Do, but I must go now.”
He turned to the deeps of the temple, when uddenly, a giant hand, made of black stone, blocked his way out.
“What?”
The hand turned into a fist, and punched Ahuizotle to the lower level, with the Aerolfos, the Bearers of Harmony, and the Hyrule warriors.
A bipedal creature, with green skin, and orange hair, floated toward him, and took the necklace from his paws.
“This is ours.”
“What did you said?” asked Ahuizotl. “No matter, IT’S MINE!”
And he jumped toward Midna, who moved away, and what he met, was Link’s sword, that went through his chest.
“Arg…”
“I didn’t hit any vital organ, you’ll survive.” Said Link, pulling the sword out of the creature’s chest.
Ahuizotl screamed in pain, as Sweet Fog kicked him on the open wound.
“Bad day to be a bad guy.” grinned the twili stallion.
Ahuizotl looked to the Bearers of Harmony, who seemed concerned. Then he looked at the strangers, who presented him their swords, and other weapons. And, by looking at them in the eye, Ahuizotl understood that they would kill him if he didn’t cooperate.
He groaned, and made his way to the exit.
“I’ll remember this, Daring Do!”
And he left.
The explorer looked around, seeing the dead dragons. She shivered, but still she nodded thankfully to the newcomers.
“Okay, thanks I guess. What’s going on in here?”
“Long story.” said Dash, taking the necklace from Midna. “But we must get inside the Temple in order to bring peace to Equestria. This is our own adventure.”
Daring Do nodded, thoughtful.
“Okay, but, let me join you. I’ve just came out. I don’t know what you’re looking for inside, but I can help you as a guide or something.”
“We’ll appreciate that!” said Fluttershy softly.
Then, the group got into the Temple, but then, Link and Midna said something that the equines didn’t understand.
“What are they saying?” asked Twilight to Epona.
The hylian mare shrugged. “That they’ll go their own way, as the last time. I think they like to explore together.”
Midna and Link waved a hand to the group, and started to look for a different way to get into the temple.
“You know?” asked Link, after they found a door they could get through. “I’m going to miss this when it’s over, being together.”
Midna smiled to him.
“Oh, well, then why don’t you come to the Twilight with me? I can knight you, and, with all your experience, you can help me train my troops. It won’t be as exciting as getting into trouble like these, but, I’ll try to make it worth it.”
Link smiled to Midna.
“Go to live in the Twilight, with you instead of returning to Hyrule?”
Midna looked away, sadly.
“I understand if you don’t want to. Is so sudden.”
Link smiled to his friend. “Are you kidding? I would love to!”