“Why are we on foot again?” Sonata asked as she, Zidane, and Sunset walked out of the east gate.
“Its because the other airship was destroyed in the raid, so I let the others use our airship,” Zidane said
“Ya really helpful that is. You do know that Griffinstone is further than Lionpaw?” Sunset asked
“Not really,” Zidane said with a nervous chuckle, which earned him a groan Sunset.
“Seriously, you should have looked at a map before letting the others use the ONLY airship left... Can you at least call Choco and his friends?” Sunset asked.
With a shake of his head, Zidane summoned Choco and a small group of Chocobo appeared. “There you go, anything else?” He asked.
“No, let's go,” Sunset said before climbing onto a Chocobo and began to ride.
Back at the castle Rainbow was waiting for the others when she let out a sigh that did not go unnoticed. “Is everything ok, dear?” Rarity asked as she walked up with Vivi pulling a cart full of lugged.
“It’s nothing… Do you need all that?” Rainbow asked as Fluttershy and the others walked up.
“Oh, is it because…” Pinkie said in a sad tone as her hair seemed to go straight getting cut off by gasp from Fluttershy.
“You don't have to come if you d-”
“Look, I’m fine,” Rainbow said.
“Is there something I missed?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, we did not tell ya, did we. A few of Rainbow friends and Pinkie’s family was petrified there.” Applejack said
“Right, I heard about that from Celestia. Look you have us I bet once this is over we can find something to revive the, from there prison.” Twilight said getting a nod from the others and Vivi.
“I have a feeling we will meet someone that can help us let go.” Pinkie said more upbeat than before. Shaking their heads the rest followed suit.
Zidane and the others made it into a forest as the sun started to set. “We should set up ca-. what's that?” Zidane asked as what felt like an earthquake.
The trio turned around and saw a monster with a big mouth and long arm charging at them. “RUN!!” Sonata screamed as she made the Chocobo run past Sunset and Zidane. The monkey boy looked at Sunset before they did the same.
Sonata kept running until another one jumped in front of them scaring her off and causing her to fall off the Chocobo she was riding. The monsters in front of them walked forward and picked up the Sonata’s Chocobo. “Put him down,” Sonata said as the monster dangled the Chocobo above his mouth. Angrily, Sonata shot a medium-sized ice block at the monster causing it to drop the Chocobo on the ground.
It cried out in pain. “There's more where that came from,” Sonata said as the others slide to a halt behind them causing them to be cornered by the two monsters.
“This is not good.” Zidane said as he watches them circle them.
Out of nowhere a fireball hit one of them and knocking it back, it screamed in the direction of where the fireball had come from. Jumping down from the treetops was a Moogle a wide standing turtleneck and a green jacket with a yellow lining and some blond hair slicked to the back of its head. “Stay away from them. Kupo.” He said holding a staff with a fireball at the tip.
Sunset watching them being caution of the-wisp. Smirking she pulls out her rapier and sets the tip alight. “Take this.” She said before sending a firaga at the already damaged monster, it could not withstand the flames, it fell over and died, letting out a bunch of pyreflies.
Seeing this causes the other one to run away thinking this is not an easy lunch. “Not many people come this way. Kupo.” The Moogle said walking up.
“What was that?” Zidane asked
“The way it seemed to targeted the Chocobo… I believe that was a Chocobo Eater.” Sunset said
“She’s right, Kupo. I have been living here taking care of heard of Chocobo. Names Montblanc.” The Moogle said as he held up his hand.
“Zidane and these lovely ladies are my friends, Sunset and Sonata.” He said shaking Montblanc's hand.
“So you tak-” Sonata was about to ask when Choco collapsed.
“Choco are you ok?” Zidane said running to his side, it let out a weak Kew.
“It must be moulting, have you feed him a golden Gysahl green?” Montblanc asked.
Zidane shook his head as Sonata started to whistle. “I may have given him one as a treat,” Sonata said letting out a nervous chuckle.
“Anyway, let's bring him to the ranch then. Follow me.” Montblanc said as he began to walked. Zidane and Sonata walked up to Choco side and helped him up.
As the walked, they saw many Chocobo hiding. “Like I said not many people come this way, so most have not seen any other races,” Montblanc said.
Sonata looks to her left and saw a small Chocobo pop its head out and she waved at it but it got pushed back in by what must be its mom.
After a short walk, they came to a small house and a little barn. “Put him in there so he can rest,” Montblanc said pointing to the barn before walking to the house with Sunset following.
Sonata and Zidane brought Choco into the barn and let it lay down on some hay. After doing so they headed to the house but was greeted by a blue blur that flew past their head. “What was that?” Zidane asked as Sunset ran passed them.
“That was her Familiar… It seemed to sense something, maybe you should go and help.” Montblanc said as he walked up to the door. Looking at each other they split up so that they can find the Phoenix faster.
As Zidane heard a sound as walked through the forest looking for the Phoenix. “OK, I don’t think any trees make that kind of sound.” He said as walked in the direction of the sound.
Zidane made it to a clearing with a peculiar looking stone that reminds him of the Stone of Truth with whistle grass growing next to it. He plucked one of the grass and started to play Oath to Order.
The whistling grass’s note echoed throughout the forest, all was but an eerie silence after the song had faded. The serenity of the forest was cut short when the sound of a howling wolf echoed throughout the area was the eye of the stone began to swirl with winds of magic.
“This can’t be good,” Zidane said before getting into a battle stance.
Without warning, a spectral glowing wolf leaped out within the stone’s center and landed in front of Zidane. There that stood before him was a wolf with the upper part of his body covered in red furr as if worn like a cloak, the colour fades to green and then to grey down its body. On the wolf’s forehead was a symbol Zidane didn’t recognize. Other than the wolve’s an odd coloration, Zidane noticed on its face were scars of a bygone battle, giving the wolf the look of a battle-worn fighter, especially the lighter discoloured patch of fur on its chest that looked like a spiked star. The monkey noticed scars across its muzzle and near his eyes including the damaged right ear.
“Hey there buddy,” Zidane said loosening his battle stance abit.
It stared at Zidane with its blue eyes full of intelligence, but its body did not relax nor did it respond to Zidane at first.
“OK then,” Zidane said staring at the wolf when Sonata walked up.
“Oh my, are you hurt doggy.” She said rushing up and hugging the wolf. The moment she tried to hug him, her arms went right through the transparent wolf.
“I think it's a spirit of some kind.” Zidane said as Sonata walked over to his side with a pout.
“And you couldn't stop me.” She said crossing her arms.
Suddenly in a leap bound, the wolf jumped high into the air and toward Zidane’s forehead. Before the yellow-tailed human could do anything, his vision suddenly ended up blurring. The next moment, he noticed he was somewhere else very high up above their location.
“OK, that's new,” Zidane said looking around a bit more before his eyes fell upon the wolf. “So you want to talk alone then?”
With a resonating gentle howl, Zidane was blinded by the light and when it cleared, a humanoid figure stood in its place. Most of its body was covered by a red cloak and hood, but his lower half pretty much told who he really was if Zidane had to guess from the green tunic, pouch, belt, white tights and boots.
“Your Link, I should've known from that symbol on your forehead,” Zidane said. “So what up elf boy.”
“Hylian.” Link corrected the monkey boy. “As for why I brought you here, I wanted to see if you could be trusted. After all, the universe is vast and you never know if anyone had been changed from being displaced or if the displaced was a bad person before then.” Link explained as he reached up to lower his head. His green cap was missing while his battle scars remained such as the scars on the face, the damage right ear, and the large star that was covered by his cloak.
“Will I am chosen hero by Cosmos, a goddess of Harmony,” Zidane said proudly. “So you do this for everyone you meet.. Must be hard”
“It's either that or throw my judgement to the win and end up having my trust destroyed in the progress.” Link said as he crossed his arms. “As for Gods and chosen ones, I suppose I’m one considering I have a void copy of the Triforce of courage, but no interaction with the three other than my own prayers.”
“So am I up to your standards, Hero of…” Zidane was lost in thought not knowing what version of Link this one was. The Link in front of him looked like a mix of three different ones, Twilight princes, a Link to the Past, and Ocarina of Time. “What are you a hero of?” He asked sheepishly.
The Hylian couldn’t help but chuckle at this. “I’ve earned so many titles since I ended up in Equestria like the vanishing hero, one of many faces, Trinity’s guardian, a hero of the ocean. The list just goes on whenever Celestia sends me out to check up on an anomaly she sensed.” Link explained as he stroked his short blond goatee. “I suppose His titles are my own too since I have his looks, powers, weapons, and abilities.”
“Right.” Zidane said while scratching the back of his head. “So all his items... Anyway, am up to your standards.”
“Well, not exactly all of his items, I only have access to four different inventories. As for if you’re up to my trust, you haven’t shown any hostility and I’m not seeing any malevolence or ill intentions, so I believe judgement has been passed. Let’s not keep your friend waiting.” Link said as Zidane’s vision started to blur and the next moment he realized he was still standing where he was before with a worried Sonata looking down at him.
“Are you alright? You kinda spaced out.” Sonata said.
“He’ll be fine.” A voice spoke up as Sonata looked behind her to notice a pointed eared man who Zidane knew as Link.
“Sonata, this is Link. A displacement like myself.” Zidane said
“Nice to meet you. Now, where's that wolf?” The half? siren asked.
“I am the wolf, or I was in that form earlier.” Link said as he reached up to tap a miniature howling stone that dangled from a string around his neck. “This is what allows me to access the form.” the Hylian explained. Zidane notices he too has a smaller version of the howling stone around his neck.
“Cool looking necklaces,” Sonata commented.
Out of nowhere, Sunset walked through a bush. “How's the elf boy?” She asked plucking a leaf from her hair.
“Hylian.” Link corrected before sighing. “Is this going to become a thing here?” he asked in minor annoyance, at least he wasn’t being compared to the elf from Lord of the ring. “Also, were you spying?” the pointed eared man asked as he turned to look at Sunset.
“What? No, I just heard you guys talking. Anyway, I think I found where Ray went.”
“Who’s a ray?” Link asked as he started to shift through his pouch, he was taking out a few things he may need. To the surprise of others, Link pulled out a sword and shield that changed to their original size upon being taken out.
“My Phoenix familiar, he flew off and headed into a shrine not too far from here,” Sunset said eyeing the bag with curious eyes.
Link strapped the sword around his waist, the handle and guard was purple in diamond with a yellow gem in the center, but what may have caught her eye was the scabbard itself. “He’s not in any danger, is he?” Link asked as he placed his shield onto his back. The design itself was blue with a red eagle, three golden triangles, and silver patterns around them.
“Not really. It does look like a summoner shrine… It had the same text as the book that Starswirl lent me.” She said pulling said book from her bag.
“Summoner as in the kind who can summon Espers like Ifrit and Shiva or something else? Sorry, it's been a very long time since I p-” Link stopped himself in mid-sentence as he looked at Zidane. “I mean… since I was in a world like this.” He finished. The Hylian wasn’t sure if Sunset was aware of video games and the like.
“Yep, a runey. Sunset has collected a few so far.” Sonata said swaying her hips back and furth
“Impressive, soon you may even summon the dragon king himself.” Link commented as he checked on his sheath and shield to make sure they were on tight. Link was tempted to list off other Espers, but perhaps that may be a too bit too much information to reveal. Realization soon dawned on him before looking over at Zidane. “How many.. Well, ‘Worlds’ are mixed with this one?” he asked.
“A lot, I have seen the likes of Jeht and Vaan,” Zidane said with one leg crossed and his hands behind his head.
“Even a certain light purple furry Esper?” Link asked, not saying the name yet. “If so, I hope that one clown isn’t here..” he said as he shook his memory of that character, what an annoyance he was as a final boss.
“No purple Esper but there is a Clown named Kefka. Mind you he is in the other direction.”
Link frowned at that bit of information. “I have a feeling I'm going to be having a lot of fun in this world, and I mean that in a good way despite Kefka somewhere here,” he said. “Oh, and before I forget… Do you remember a certain friend of yours named Azure? Also, what’s everyone's class here and who else is at the party?”
“If you are going by the class system. Then I’m a Rogue, Sunset is a Red Mage, and Sonata… ahh.” Zidane was stumped. “Let's just say, Sonata is a Freelancer and yes I do remember Azure.”
“He did a lot for me despite not wanting anything in return, especially when he infused my Megaton Hammer with Ultima.” Link explained as he gave himself a moment. “As many questions as I do have, I think it’d be better if I travel with you guys and see the world for myself, otherwise we’d be here all day.”
“I see why not,” Zidane said with a shrug