Link was in better spirits. He was willing to leave his room now and would even eat sometimes. He wasn't a shell anymore, but he still had a lot of improvement to make before he could be considered all better.
The others all made sure to check in on him often over the next week to make sure he was not needing anything, and to see if he was struggling with his sadness again.
They did see sadness still present in his eyes, and after Fluttershy explained what was eating at him, they understood. He felt trapped and powerless and alone, so they resolved to eliminate what they believed was the worst feeling he might have.
So, he was very rarely ever alone now.
He spent a lot of time with Twilight, given his new housing arrangements. He felt awkward around her, as he was still little more than a stranger to her intruding on her good nature. Still, in the time he was there, he did find himself beginning to admire her. He may not have been as close with her as he was with Fluttershy, but he could see that changing with time.
He smiled when he thought of Fluttershy. She never ceased to amaze him. She was by far the kindest soul he had ever met and was a regular visitor for him. He grew genuinely excited when he saw her walking up the path from his window, or heard her soft voice talking to Twilight. She had a hug for him whenever she came by and always asked him how he was feeling.
Rainbow Dash was more closed off, but Link knew. Deep down she was a big softie too. She liked to talk, though Link could only make out so much of what she said. As his understanding of Equish improved, however, he began to notice something about her:
Rainbow Dash was funny. Really, really funny. She knew how to tell a story that was so engaging that, when she got to the punchline, you just couldn't help but laugh. She may have had to keep her words short and sweet for him when Fluttershy wasn't around, but Link found himself looking forward to whatever she wanted to tell him about next.
Rarity was very touchy-feely, which Link wasn't too fond of. He was only 100% okay with Fluttershy's contact; she had long proven that she was a trustworthy mare. He was even willing to let her stare into his soul1. None of the others were allowed to do that.
However, barring Rarity's obsessive mussing with his hair to make him more presentable (even when he wasn't going out anywhere) and her attempts at brushing whatever lint or dust may have gotten to his tunic, she was good company. She began to teach him piano. The first song he learned was what she called a "naturalistic, if almost noir-esque ditty." Link was pretty sure she made up a few of those words, but it was a good song.
He never played it on his Ocarina, though. Come to think of it, he never even touched the Ocarina anymore. It remained where he dropped it his first night at Twilight's for days before someone had picked it up for him and set it on a shelf in his room. He placed a mask as plain as stone over it so as not to look at it anymore.
The Farmer, Applejack, was one he grew surprisingly close to with time. When he first met her, he found himself indifferent to her and he was in no terrible distress when the time came that she would have to leave for whatever reason. It by no means meant that he disliked her, he just didn't really feel they had much in common.
Until she mentioned her late parents. Her mother had died shortly after giving birth to her sister, and her father...
The way she put it, nobody knew for sure what happened to him. After her mother died, her father, Appleseed had moved away because he "could not bear his memories anymore." She believed it was hers and her sister's likeness to their Mom that brought him pain.
All anyone knew for sure was, one day, Appleseed stopped responding to any letters or phone calls. The others called for a welfare check on him, and they found his remains on his couch at home in front of his TV. It was still on. He had been there for quite a while.
It was a devastating blow to the Apples, especially Applebloom. She was still sore talking about it now, and it had been around 5 years. Nobody knew for sure how he died, but Applejack had a theory:
"Here's what I think happened. See, my Pa's side of the family has a history of heart problems. My Grandpa died of a heart attack, his Dad died of Congestive Heart Failure, his Dad died of an aortic aneurysm, and his Dad before him died of a twisted ankle2."
She looked to Fluttershy, who was helping relay the story to Hinka.
"I think my Dad got home one day and lay down on his couch to watch some TV. He fell asleep, and had a massive heart attack. I don't believe he felt a thing. Just something about the whole mess tells me that his death was painless and quick."
They were all silent then for a moment. What could be said?
"I..." croaked out Link. Fluttershy and Applejack looked to him, awaiting what he wished to say.
"I don't know how my Dad died. He fought in a war of some kind and was probably killed in battle. The war was a bad one that spread to all corners of Hyrule. The townsfolk were not safe."
He looked to Fluttershy, who was parroting what he was saying in her language. Her eyes were on him, as she had not heard what he was saying before yet either. Also his actually speaking more than three words at a time was new and exciting.
"At some point the fighting found its way to my hometown. I was just a baby. Mom took me and fled the chaos, but was wounded. She took me to the magical trees, the Lost Woods."
He licked his lips. Talking this much was working up a thirst. He'd have to ask for some water or milk afterwards.
"The Lost Woods are covered by a strong magic that repels outsiders by killing them or transforming them. My mother, already wounded, was both being slowly cursed and killed, but she continued on. I was not afflicted, being a small baby. The trees have a soft spot for newborns."
He had no tears for his birth mother as he did not remember her, but he did wonder what could have been had she only lived, or if the war did not break out. Would he be living at home with his Mom and Dad? Who would be the hero Hyrule needed then? How different would his life have been had he been raised as the Hylian he was instead of the Kokiri he wasn't?
"She managed to continue through the trees until she found the secretive and reclusive village of ageless forest nymphs, the Kokiri Village. Kokiri never grow up physically, but mentally they do. My Mom was directed to an audience with their patron deity, the Great Deku Tree, where she begged for my rescue. The Great Deku Tree accepted me, and from then on I no longer had any reason to fear the Lost Woods. I was safe. My mother, however..."
Link cleared his throat. "She passed away while being treated by the other Kokiri. Shortly thereafter, the curse place on her by the trees activated, and she became a monster. The Kokiri put her back down and she was buried with all necessary last rites. I was raised from that day on among the Kokiri. I was a misfit, but I made due."
He looked to the ponies, both eyeing him in amazement. He blushed a bit. "And now I'm done talking."
That was the day he began to bond with Applejack.
The pink took him more time to get closer to. It wasn't that he didn't like her; she seemed like a kind pony. It's just she was too wacky for him, and he swore she knew things about his home that he never told her.
One time, when he was to stay with her for a night to see how he would behave outside Twilight or Fluttershy's care, she was baking. He was in the kitchen with her and helping by washing dishes. It was very quiet, right up until she chose to chirp out:
"That Ganondorf seems like a real meany jelly beany."
He tensed up and dropped the utensils he had been washing into the sink with a clatter. Was she insinuating that Ganondorf had somehow found his way to this new world?
Before he could ask or respond, he had to look at her. She appeared to be deep in thought with a hoof to her chin.
"I mean, he could have been a super duper nice person, but instead he had to steal the crown, usurp the King's throne, and presumably steal candy from babies too. I bet he even kicked puppies! That meanie!"
The other thing that startled him about her was his lack of needing Fluttershy to understand what she was saying on occasion. He knew she was speaking Equish, but there was something about her that made it relatively easy to make out what she was yammering on about if she slowed down just a tad.
In poorly hidden panic, Link uttered, "Who is Ganondorf?" Perhaps it was someone else? Surely he couldn't have resurrected himself? He couldn't have followed Link this far, right?
He broke out in a cold sweat. If Ganondorf had really managed-
"I dunno!"
Link's brain stopped. He looked at the pink incredulously; she appeared to be in the process of juggling six knives. With her eyes closed.
"You don't know?"
"Nope! Hey, do you think you can toss me a spoon too? I want to break my record!"
He blinked again. So Ganondorf wasn't here then? How did she know who he was if she didn't know who he was? He would have to ask Twilight about it later. Certainly not the dragon. They weren't on speaking terms right now. Spike had accused Link of attempting to take the place of Twilight's "Number One Assistant" and Link couldn't have been more confused if he tried, so he responded with silence and that only made things worse.
He gave his head a shake. Was the Pink's off topic rambling contagious? He didn't want to go back to the castle sporting her mane or hyperactive tendencies.
If Ganondorf really had come here, then Link knew there would be some trouble. He didn't have access to the Master Sword here, and Ganon's heart was so dark that anything other than a holy weapon would not work.
Light arrows? They would help, but the only thing that would put Ganondorf down quick enough was the legendary blade of evil's bane. Even if he used the razor sharp blade granted to him by a Great Fairy in Termina, it could certainly hurt the evil King, but it wouldn't kill him.
Link found himself wondering if the Elements of Harmony Fluttershy had spoken to him about would work. From what he was told, they seemed to be this society's equivalent of the Master Sword, or as Tatl might have put things, "The Master Sword's gay cousins." They were not actual weapons, but when used together they were more than enough to deal with the threats posed to Equestrian society. They cleansed the darkness from a fallen Princess before, and even brought order to a mad god of chaos. Whose to say they wouldn't work on Ganondorf? They probably would.
Come to think of it, would they maybe work on Majora? Link doubted it, at least in her current state. The Elements seemed to specialize in turning evil inanimate or separating it from the physical realm. Given Majora's Mask was currently dormant and as such inanimate, the Elements would probably end up doing very little in the best case.
If they did the opposite and separated Majora's spirit from the mask? That would just doom the planet and possibly the rest of existence. Unless Majora was to awaken once more, Link would not let it be touched by the holy relics of this land.
The Fierce Deity? Absolutely not. Link did not completely understand how that particular mask worked. All he knew for sure was, when he wore it for his battle with Majora, he felt a darkness as malevolent as the Goddess he was battling awaken within him. It was hellbent on destroying Majora, yes, but Link had to give his all to drown out the dark voices in his skull telling him to do horrible things. The mask had on more than one occasion attempted to wrest control of his body away from him while he wore it. He could still feel the dark tendrils of the mask envelop his mind sometimes, and he would have an urge to put it back on. Whenever that happened he would utter a prayer to Farore. Upon whispering "Amen", the voices would retreat and he would be left in peace for a time. Link took to praying every night for that very reason. If he were to succumb and put on the mask again, he did not know if he would be able to hold off the dark spirit it contained again.
The only reason he even managed to the first time was due to his bearing the Triforce of Courage. That combined with his indomitable mindset gave him just enough inner strength to defeat the spirit attempting to invade his mind. He had no doubt that, should he wear it again, his ability to maintain self control would be severely tested and possibly beaten. He did not like the thought of what the Fierce Deity would do to the horses, especially Fluttershy. Even if they used their Elements of Harmony on him, he was unsure if they would be enough. If the Fierce Deity had been able to defeat a Goddess who once had infinite power...
The best idea therefore was to never put himself in the position where he may need to use the mask again.
"HINKA!!!!!!!!!!"
Link leapt back instinctively and shouted out in pain as he landed on his mangled leg. Pinkie gasped and dropped the cupcake she had been holding out to him. He had worked his little fingers to the bone cleaning those dishes and she wanted to repay him, but instead he had to be all quiet and staring into space. So she said his name and it didn't work and then she did it again and it didn't work and then again and it didn't work and again and again and again and again and again and again but this time in Prench and then...
"I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry!" she gasped out. Her mane had fallen over her eyes. "I just wanted you to eat! I didn't mean to-"
He held a hand up, stopping her tirade. He did not appear to be angry with her. He seemed confused, but that was just crazy. When has Pinkie Pie ever confused anypony?
She began to ramble urgently twice as quick, so any understanding just wasn't going to happen. Link wasn't even sure the ones who spoke in this language fluently would manage to get a word out of whatever she was saying.
It was ultimately up to him to calm her down, so he did so with simple hand gestures. He rose them in front of him and slowly lowered them repeatedly, taking a few deep breaths as he did so. The Pink took the hint and did the same, and her breathing began to regulate. Link never could say no to someone in need. Even the Kokiri who shunned him. If they really really needed something, he would assist. Not for the reward, but because it was the right thing to do.
Also it made things really awkward and glorious when those same Kokiri would later make fun of him. He'd just bring up whatever he did for them and then the entire conversation would just die. It was hilarious.
All in all his first night with Pinkie Pie was odd, but he wasn't so adverse to seeing her again in the future. She was a good pony. Kind of crazy, but well meaning. Her baked goods were absolutely breathtaking as well.
He and the dragon were at odds. Well, the dragon was at odds with him. He didn't really know why, but he was used to it. He wasn't exactly Mr. Popularity back home either if you weren't following along.
Other than trying to get them to bond, Twilight mostly focused on trying to teach him the language with flash cards. It was a slow process but was working well. She told him she would move him up to a language book she had imported a while back as he improved.
He did appreciate her help and hospitality. He would bond with her more in time. The dragon too, assuming he didn't burn him alive one day.
He remained excited whenever Fluttershy came for him, and he trusted her with small snippets of his life. He told her about Saria and how kind and protective she was of him growing up, and he told her about the Kokiri that ostracized him and bullied him.
She frowned when he brought up how the others would belittle him. Who could do something like that to such a good boy? She would have words with them too if she could.
She was initially surprised when he told her how he would respond. He didn't just curl up in a ball and cry. Whenever he was bullied he would stand up for himself, and when he was hit, he would hit back. Link was well-versed in Kun-So3 and wasn't afraid to show it.
The main issue was, Mido was excellent at it too. Link had a few wins against him, but Mido also bested Link quite a few times in the past as well.
Fluttershy was perplexed. He seemed to be longing for his home in spite of all that he dealt with there. When she was his age and was bullied, she could never stand up for herself. And Fluttershy had three black belts!
Still, she did feel a degree of pride. He had been confiding in her now with stories he told nopony else. And Fluttershy had been looking out for him too in return. Whether it meant shielding him from rain if they were out at night or just tucking him in when he was over some nights, she wanted to do whatever she could to make him know that he was among ponies who cared.
She cared for his well being. She cared for his happiness. She cared for his cleanliness. She cared for his requests.
One of his recent requests was to get his money valued. He was curious how much a rupee was worth in Equestria, and Twilight had asked her to write down what the values turned out to be.
Fluttershy hummed quietly to herself. Link could swear he heard what she was humming before. It sounded kind of like the lullaby he played for the obnoxious Goron child who refused to see reason, no matter how many times his fellow Gorons threatened to knock him to kingdom come. It took a song learned from his father to stop him from screaming.
Link smiled a bit to himself. Tatl believed that if they could trap Majora in a room with that kid, she would undo all the damage she caused just to shut him up.
Fluttershy took his smile as amusement, and blushed. "S-sorry, I just uhh... I like to hum."
He frowned and tilted his head.
She turned a bit redder. "I may have, umm... got carried away with singing once before. Too shy to sing in public, but not too shy to sing when hidden. Do you sing, Hinka?"
He shook his head. If Link were to sing, that would mean he had to use his voice, and he didn't dig that shit at all. Saria was a heart stopping singer. The other Kokiri called her the songbird of the generation. Indeed, there was not a single Kokiri that had one bad thing to say about her. Her influence was so great that the Kokiri would even sometimes be nice to Link when he was with her.
His thoughts took a dark turn. Shortly after he had saved her from the Forest Temple Ganondorf had imprisoned her in, she told him how gentle the evil king had ordered his minions to be with her. She did not know why, but believed it was due to her status as the Sage of the Forest. Had she been incapacitated, the Lost Woods would have grown out of control in recompense.
The more Link thought about it, the more he realized why Ganondorf was so gentle with the Sages when he captured them. Had Darunia been killed, Death Mountain would have begun to erupt constantly. If Ruto had died, It would never again rain in Hyrule. If Impa bought the farm, the dead would rise and take the land of the living. If Nabooru fell, the Haunted Wasteland would spread, and Hyrule would be covered completely by a desert.
Link felt a pang of sadness and envy as he compared his home to this place. Equestria, as they called it, was technologically advanced, possessed great magic and wealth, and children did not work.
In Hyrule, however, there was no power. Work could not be done automatically. You needed to light your lamps manually, not flip a switch. The magic blanketing Hyrule was a blend of dark and holy, and with the exception of Castle Town, was a very poor country. Children would begin to work at the age of 4 or 5 and would work 80 hours per week in the worst cases or just 60 on the norm.
In Kokiri Village, each of the children would take turns running the general store. There was a small bed in the back room where they would rest for about 4 hours and work the remaining 20. Each clerk would earn 4 rupees per day. The Kokiri were technically the most poverty stricken people in Hyrule, but their ability to rely more on hunting than funding was enough to keep them from collapsing. In most of Hyrule, people lined up waiting for bread. In Equestria, bread was lined up waiting for people.
Speaking of hunting, that was just what many people had to do. Link was not aware of more than five stores in Hyrule that sold food for semi-reasonable prices. It was a commodity turned luxury for them. The only reason Navi had ever managed to get sweets for him was because he was a small child and she was a smaller fairy. Shop owners would sometimes take pity on them.
There was one thing that Hyrule had over Equestria, though: the magical artifacts of Hyrule were far more powerful than those of Equestria. At least, from what Link was able to piece together so far. The Elements of Harmony were only as powerful as their wielders it seemed. The Triforce, when fully united, possessed the boundless power of the Golden Goddesses. One wish upon the Triforce would be enough to bring Hyrule the same fortunes as Equestria, and then some.
He looked down at the back of his right hand. The Triforce of Courage glowed dimly, as if staring back at him. He knew that bearing just that one piece had granted him many a blessing. It was why he did not bleed out after his first encounter with the Redeads. If it were to be taken from him, there would be trouble.
Link hadn't told any of the ponies about Hyrule's problems yet. Even hygiene was not common there. Link, during his recovery, had awoken to Fluttershy gently cleaning him with a sponge and some flowery smelling liquids. She eventually began to make him do it himself as he got his strength back.
He looked up at her again with admiration. He owed her a debt he doubted he could ever repay.
He hesitated for a moment, then wrapped his arms around her foreleg. She stopped moving with a soft 'Eep', and looked down to him before smiling and returning the gesture.
"We're almost there, Hinka. How is your leg? Do you need a rest?"
He shook his head with a small smile and she kissed his forehead.
"Come, let's go get your rupees valued!"
Link was angry and resigned.
The value of his rupees did not go so well. It turned out they were far less valuable here than he initially thought. The appraiser told them that the rupees were beautiful on the outside, but made of very common materials on the inside. A blue rupee, which was worth five green rupees was only worth 2 Equestrian bits. A red rupee, worth 20 green rupees? Oddly enough it was worth less; just a single penny4 in Equestrian currency. The only one that was worth anything at all was a silver rupee he carried that he had found in Termina. It alone was worth 100 green rupees and that amounted to approximately 21 bits.
He did not hold out hopes that he would be living in the lap of luxury with his money, but he would have liked to have at least a little spending money to throw around. As it stood, he left with 21 bits. He traded the silver rupee only that day.
Fluttershy was quiet, as was her wont, but she kept casting him a look, almost pleading for him to talk to her about how he felt. Link did not want to. She had done nothing wrong, but Link was in no mood to talk at all.
So, she decided to talk to him.
"You need not worry so much about money, Hinka. Twilight is a Princess. You're as rich as she is technically."
He blinked. Being rich never really crossed his mind. Link was not interested in nobility or high class. He just wanted to have a little money in his pocket to call his own.
He frowned down at the remaining rupees, and looked back at the appraiser's shop. Part of him wanted to toss them at the shop, but he didn't do so. They were still something from his home. Maybe he could just use them as mementos.
One penny. Bah.
