//------------------------------// // Gift // Story: The Hero of Time in Equestria // by Mikoyose //------------------------------// The Great fairy held out her hands, revealing what appeared to be a set of wings. They began white but faded into a deep blue color at the tips. “These are Roc’s wings, they will allow you to fly but they use up your magic. Use them wisely.” the great fairy said. Link gratefully took the wings, they disappeared into his hands. He looked at them curiously, the Great fairy giggled again. “They will appear when you choose to use them. When you are weary of battle come see me.” she said. But before she left Link noticed that the pool she floated over looked deeper than any of the others. “Excuse me but that pool underneath you seems deeper than your sisters’.” Link commented. The fairy smiled. “Very observant, my young hero. This pool can be used to enchant items. Throw your items into this pool and I shall make them stronger, as a second gift for you.” she said Link looked at the pool in wonder, he mentally went through his inventory, he didn’t need to enchant anything at the moment. But he thought of his bunny hood. “Thank Great fairy for your gifts.” Link bows again. “I will be back.” he said smiling. The fairy cackled one last time before disappearing into the pool without leaving so much as a ripple. Link stared into the pool for a few seconds longer before he left the Great fairy’s fountain. Back in the room with the staircase Link was going to use his light arrow so he could see but the room lit up with small flames, illuminating just enough for Link to reach the stairs. As he reached the first step the flames went out and he ascended. ------------------Ponyville---------------------- Twilight was trotting through town, she had gone to look for Link to tell him that she wasn’t able to return the Bunny hood’s full power. She had seen Lyra, she told Twilight that Link was still walking around town. Twilight went to see Rarity, she hadn’t seen Link but showed Twilight the gift she had made as an early birthday gift, and because she thought his boots were a bit ‘worn’ as she put it. Twilight told her the boots looked incredible before she left to see Fluttershy. At her cottage Twilight was shocked to see Fluttershy wearing the mask of truth and speaking with her animals. “Fluttershy! Does Link know you have that mask?” Twilight said, making Fluttershy eep and jump into a bush, dropping the mask in the process. “Oh um. Hi Twilight. Link let me borrow it, I can hear my little animal friends with it.” she said, walking out of the bushes. Twilight looked at the mask, she still didn’t know what else it could do. She shook her head to rid herself of using the mask to see it’s full extent. “Fluttershy have you seen Link?” the unicorn asked. “Oh he said he was going to the Library to see how the bunny hood was doing. Wasn’t he with you?” Fluttershy asked. Twilight shook her head. Fluttershy gasped, “If he isn’t with you. Do you think that he was taken into the Everfree forest?” the pegasus asked, visibly shaking. Twilight looked into the foreboding forest, “No he can’t have been taken. But he may have gone inside, he might be lost. Come on Fluttershy let’s find him.” Twilight said galloping towards the forest with a still shaken Fluttershy behind. She was only going because she was worried for his safety. Twilight’s horn glowed as she used a spell to locate Link. She found the path he had gone and they followed it at a gallop. They stopped at the wooden bridge and knew where he had gone. Twilight stopped the spell and the two mares carefully walked across. ---------------Old Chamber of harmony-------------- Link came back up from behind the large fountain thing and walked around it. He was wondering how the wings he received would work. ‘They will appear when you use them, they will drain your magic. Use them wisely.’ the Great fairy’s advice echoed in his mind. He stood there and thought about flight, how he flew on Rainbow dash’s back to Ponyville. He could feel his magic work, he looked over his shoulder and saw a single wing, the exact same style he had seen his gift in. He heard a gasp and looked forward, Twilight and Fluttershy were standing there, mouths agape, stunned by the spectacle they had seen. Link waved to them and dispelled the wings. “Y-you h-have wings!?” was all Twilight could manage. Fluttershy on the other hand was too shocked to speak. Link walked up to the mares, “It was a gift from the Great fairy.” he said, answering their untold question. “When did she give it to you?” Fluttershy asked after she had regained the ability to talk. “Well she gave it to me just barely. I never knew you had a Great fairy here.” Link commented. Twilight had gotten over her shock and said, “I didn’t even know.we had one. Is that a new spell?” Twilight asked, Link shook his head and instinctively held out his hands, using his magic to reveal the item. Fluttershy and Twilight examined the wings, “These feathers. They seem familiar somehow.” Twilight said. “Those are Roc wings.” Fluttershy said poking the wings. “Roc? Aren’t they extinct?” Twilight asked her friend. The yellow pony nodded as Link stopped showing the wings. “Oh that reminds me.” Link said turning to Twilight, “Could you fix the magic in the bunny hood?” he asked. Twilight blinks before remembering. “Right! I fixed the spell on it but it’s not going to work as well though. That hat had very strange magic.” she said before Fluttershy reached under her wing and pulled out the mask of truth, “Here Link I wanted to return this to you if that’s okay.” Link thanked her and took the mask back, placing it in his item pouch. He turned to Twilight and began to speak when a roar echoed. “We should probably get out of here.” Link said before he asked if she had the hood. Twilight said she left it at the library, Link nodded and they left back to Ponyville, Link remembering the path so he could return when needed. Fluttershy thanked Link for allowing her to use the mask and left to tend to her animals while Link and Twilight went to the Treehouse. The door was opened by the small purple dragon Spike, “Oh Twilight this letter came from the princess. Well I think it’s from the princess, though it doesn’t have the royal seal.” he said, Twilight levitated him onto her back, entered and went upstairs to look at the letter while Link laid down on the sofa there. “Hey Link I think it’s for you. It’s from Your Princess.” Twilight called from upstairs. Link stood up and ran up the steps. The letter was floating in a lavender aura, Link grabbed the letter with the Hylian royal symbol on it, the triforce above a picture of an eagles body, torso wings and talons. Link opened the letter and read: Dear Link, I have spoken with Celestia about a strange dream she had, one with a powerful enemy of the ponies alongside the cursed mask Majora. I believe that we must open a portal to find the mask before it can harm that world like it did to Termina. Please protect the residents of Equestria. Love, Zelda P.S I know you will do all you can. Thank you. He read the letter again aloud so Twilight knew what was said, he skipped the signature. Twilight thought over what powerful enemies there were, her eyes widened when she thought of one, “Discord. He can’t come back he’s trapped in stone.” Twilight said, more to herself than to Link. Link grew concerned at the note but his mind was pulled away when Twilight passed him the bunny hood. He put it away, noting to return to the Great fairy to fix the broken hood. A knock came from the front door. Twilight ran down to investigate while Link walked out onto a balcony, he wanted to test out his new wings. He walked back down stairs and Twilight was speaking with Rarity. The white fashionista looked over Twilight’s shoulder and saw Link, “Link darling! I just came to give you an early present.” she said. Twilight stepped aside and let her purple maned friend into the library. Rarity’s horn was glowing blue along with a package floating behind her. The package floated in front of Link, he grabbed it and the blue aura disappeared. “You didn’t have to get me anything. Even if it was my birthday.” Link said, holding the box out for her to grab it again. She just waved her hoof dismissively, “Nonsense dear it is no trouble at all.” Link looked at the box then back to Rarity, “Thank you this is very generous.” he smiled. “Well I am the element of Generosity after all.” she said bouncing the curl in her mane with a hoof. Link thanked her again and opened the box, he pulled out the gold lined boots. He put the box down and traced the gold wing emblazoned on on each side of the boots. “Go on, try them on.” Rarity said. Link thanked her again and sat down on the couch to put them on, they fit him perfectly. He looked at his boots and tapped the toes on the floor, one foot then the other, to make sure they fit. He looked down at them and looked back at Rarity. She looked at him expectantly, “Well? Do you like them?” she asked, a slight nervous tone lining her voice. Link smiled, “They’re great! They fit perfectly, how did you do this?” he asked her. She sighed in relief before answering. “It wasn’t too hard darling, I had guessed your measurements and I got them correct by the looks of it. You’re welcome dear. Now you don’t have to wear those dirty old boots.” she said still smiling. Link put his old boots in his item bag, to Rarity’s shock. He saw the look on her face, “I’m going to keep these, they’re my favorite pair of boots. I’ve had them since I began my first quest. Don’t worry I washed them often.” She fainted at his answer. Link turned to Twilight, she rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind her, she’s just being dramatic.” Twilight used her magic to put Rarity onto the couch. Link was admiring his new boots when he remembered, “Hey Twilight, I’m going to go visit the Great fairy again, if you want you could-” he wasn’t able to finish his sentence as Twilight ran to him, getting very close. Her eyes were sparkling, “Yes! I want to meet her, maybe she can show me a new spell or two. Ooh I need to bring my notepad, and a checklist. SPIKE!” she yelled. The dragon came down the stairs grumbling about being woken up but stopped when he saw Rarity. “Rarity’s here?” Link saw the dragon’s eyes turn into hearts, he couldn’t stop a snicker, neither could Twilight. “Spike I need you to get my checklist, and add speak to Great fairy to the list.” Spike agreed and ran to a drawer and grabbed a quill, he began writing on the extremely long list. “You know what Spike? Clear everything on my to do list for after speaking with the Great Fairy.” Spike wrote some more and confirmed he had done what she asked. “Thank you Spike. I need you to watch the library while I’m gone.” He looked over to Rarity, “Can do Twilight. Take as long as you want.”. Link chuckled again and waited for Twilight outside. When the lavender mare exited the building she turned to Link, "Link I just remembered what your Princess said, about Majora. How does she know?" she asked him. "Well we talk when I sleep, like I had done before. I told her what happened after I left Hyrule. Finding the masks defeating Majora and attacking the mask in the forest." Link answered, he turned and they walked towards the Everfree forest. ----------------------------Later----------------------------------- Twilight and Link arrive at the castle and Link leads Twilight down the stairs and to the entrance. Twilight looked at Link, her horn was glowing from an illumination spell. “Link this is a wall. Why don’t we go in that hole over there?” she asked Link walked to the wall and through it. He stuck his head back out through it, “It’s an illusion. Come on.” He waved her in, she stuck her head in the wall and looked back, the illusion made her look like a disembodied head. She looked at Link and he was waiting for her. She stepped through and followed Link to the fountain. Twilight stopped her spell as the room was already lit with yellow torches. She trotted to the edge of the pool. Link pulled out his bunny hood and tossed it into the pool. “What are you doing!?” Twilight yelled as the hood sank into the depths. Link gave her a don’t worry look. She looked into the pool and jumped as a cackling filled the room, Link was unaffected. Twilight watched as a very tall female appeared above the pool and laid down on the air. “Young hero, you have thrown an item into my pool. I have returned it to it’s former glory.” she said. Holding out a hand with the bunny hood to Link. He took them gratefully, and put them in his item pouch. The Great Fairy turned to Twilight, “Greetings young one. You are Twilight Sparkle, element of magic. Correct?” the being asked. Twilight nodded, too shocked to respond. The Great fairy laughed, and turned back to Link, “Those are new boots, they are very beautiful. I could enchant them if you would like. Throw an item into the pool if you want it to become more powerful.” she repeated Link looked at his boots, “I don’t know. I’m curious to see what would happen, but they were a gift.” The Fairy nodded, “I can also remove the magic placed in them if you do not want it.” She said. Link looked to Twilight, she was still staring at the Great fairy. Link looked down at his new boots. “No thank you.” he said. The fairy nodded and turned to the shocked unicorn, “What is it you want my dear?” the question snapped Twilight out of her stupor. “Um well I was wondering when did you arrive in Equestria?” “Long ago, when my sisters inhabited Hyrule, I wanted to set my home in an exotic location. I chose this spot. When they deserted the castle I wanted to make this forest feel like the Lost woods, so I used my magic to have the trees grow themselves, the weather change on it’s own and the animals to care for themselves.” “So you’re the reason the forest is like this? That had to have taken a lot of magic.” Twilight replied. The Great fairy cackled again, sending shivers down Twilight’s spine. “I have very powerful magic young Sparkle. As powerful as your Princess’ magic.” she said still laying on the air. “I could raise the sun and the moon together, but I do not want to disturb their influence on those celestial bodies.” The fair said as she interlocked her fingers under her chin. “Thank you for not using your magic for evil.” the fairy’s smile faltered slightly, “I would never dream of using my magic to harm another being.” she said sternly. Link agreed. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean I thought you were evil. It’s just... Um...” Link could see Twilight was getting nervous. The great fairy laughed. “I understand, Twilight Sparkle. And I forgive you. You came to ask for a new spell or two correct?” the fairy asked. Laughing as Twilight blushed. The unicorn lowered her head and asked, “Will you teach me a new spell. Great Fairy?” she asked sheepishly. The fairy tapped her cheek with a finger, her smile never leaving. “I see no harm in doing so. I can tell you would do anything to keep your friends safe, so I shall teach you a powerful protection spell. To keep those you love safe.” She held her arms out, the same green light enveloped Twilight, she was looking around in fear, she turned to Link and he smiled reassuringly. She closed her eyes and a spell appeared in her mind a very powerful, complex spell that would’ve taken months for her to master, understood and mastered in seconds. “Nayru’s love.” Twilight and The Great fairy said in unison. The light faded away, leaving Twilight feeling slightly woozy, but confident that she could do the spell. “Young Sparkle. Greet your Princess’ for me, will you?” She said, Twilight nodded and The Great fairy disappeared, cackling, still sending shivers down her spine again. A thought occurred to Twilight and she confronted Link about it, “Link, you said that this Majora had enough power to separate the Great fairy?” Link nodded, “Yes he was able to do it effortlessly. That mask is just that powerful. making it all the more dangerous.” Link said. They both shared a shiver before leaving. When they exited the castle Link turned to Twilight, "Um Twilight would you mind if I flew back? I haven't used the Roc's wings and I would like to test them out. Twilight said it was fine that she wanted to reach the library to contact the Princess immediately. Link watched her horn glow as she teleported away, he equipped the Roc’s wings and gave them a few test flaps before he used them to lift himself off the floor. He stayed hovering for a short while before he flapped the wings harder to raise his altitude. Once he was over the treetops he began flying towards the town. He Couldn’t go very fast but he knew he had enough magic to reach it. He continued the slow trip to Ponyville, he saw a familiar rainbow colored blur in the distance, Rainbow dash had returned from the Wonderbolt’s show. She flew to a cloud house near the edge of Ponyville. He wanted to greet her from her return and tried to speed up, it didn’t work very well. He finally reached her home, he hovered above the cloud and remembered that only pegasi were able to stand on clouds. He hoped the wings would allow him to do the same. He landed on the edge and kept the wings out, he didn't sink. He smiled and unequipped the wings, he could feel his magic deplete but he still wasn't sinking. He laughed and ran to the door so he didn’t waste too much magic. He stopped just short of the door and knocked. He heard Rainbow’s voice from inside, “I’m coming!” he then heard her mutter, “Of course, as soon as I get home somepony has to interrupt my nap.” He saw the door open, followed by Rainbow’s eyes widening in shock. “Link! How are you up here! You don’t... have... wings.” her jaw dropped as Link equipped the Roc’s wings. “You have wings!? When did that happen!?” The cyan mare asked bewildered. “Oh these were a gift from the Great fairy, I just got them.” he said smiling. He felt his feet begin to sink, “My magic’s running out.” he said as he ran off the edge and used the wings as a parachute, landing safely. Rainbow dash landed next to him. “So now that you have wings, you still won’t be able to beat me in a race. That is if you think you can handle it.” She challenged, Link laughed as his magic emptied, the wings faded away leaving white feathers around Link. “I’m sorry for laughing Rainbow but I can’t handle it. I can barely fly and only when I have magic.” her face fell, “Ugh, ponyfeathers.” she said kicking the dust with a hoof. “Well Rainbow dash, I could use a coach to help me use them better.” Link said, taking out one of the three green potions he had and drinking the contents. “Really!” she said, her wings extending before she rubbed a hoof on her chest smugly, “Well I guess I can teach you, then maybe you can be the second fastest in Equestria.” she chuckled. “Okay Link, when should we start?” she wondered, eager to get in the air. Link shook his head, “Not now, my magic wouldn’t last very long. I’m going to save the Roc’s wings for an emergency.” he said, Rainbow dash’s wings fell to the floor, “Oh, alright.” she said disappointed. She yawned widely, “Well I’m going to go finish my nap, bye Link.” Link waved her goodbye as she rocketed back to her home. Link equipped the bunny hood and took off towards Twilight’s home. When he entered Twilight greeted him, “Hi Link, I just received Celestia’s reply.” she said before reading the letter, “It says that they spoke with Zelda, and they will try to open a portal to Hyrule tomorrow. She says that it’s going to take her, Luna’s, and Zelda’s magic combined to open it.” she read as Link sat down on the couch. “Well that’s good to hear.” he said relaxing. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the Sacred realm. A peaceful land, where one can be with the goddesses. Celestia, and Luna, goddess of the sun and goddess of the moon.” He laughed, Twilight with him, followed by Pinkie. Link looked at her, “Pinkie? When did you get here?” he asked her. She giggled and started playing with his bunny hood’s ears, “I just got here silly!” she stopped playing with his bunny hood and gave him a cupcake, “Well I have to go finish the cake I was frosting. Bye!” she bounced out the door. Link stared after her, turning his confused gaze to Twilight, she rolled her eyes and giggled, “It’s just Pinkie being Pinkie. Don’t try to make sense of it, I’ve tried.” she said. Link didn’t understand but took her advice and stopped thinking of it. ----------------------------Canterlot a few minutes earlier------------------------ Celestia was sitting on her throne, going through some paperwork that needed to be finished. The large double doors glowed a deep blue before opening to reveal Luna, the dark blue alicorn with stars in her flowing mane. She entered the throne room and approached Celestia. “Sister, what is it thou wishes to speaketh with me? If it is of such importance. Why did thou not wake us up sooner?” Luna asked her elder. Celestia smiled, “I did not want to disturb you Luna. It can wait for later.” she said. Luna stopped just short of the throne Celestia was sitting in and replied, “Now would be a good time.” Celestia nodded and sent the guards away, saying this was a private conversation. As soon as all the guards left Celestia told her sister about the dream she had. Luna listened intently until Celestia had finished, “So what thou speaks is Link shall cause this? We must send him back to his realm at once.” she said. Celestia shook her head, “No sister. Link is not the cause of Discord’s return. But we must speak with his Princess about the way to open a portal to Hyrule.” Celestia said, using the spell Zelda told them she used to contact them, unknowingly deepening the cracks in the statue. Zelda appeared as the ghostly apparition before the two alicorns. She bowed, “Hello Princesses. Nice to see you again.” she said. Luna and Celestia bowed and greeted Zelda the same way. “Princess Zelda, you said you had a way to open a portal from Hyrule to reach here correct?” Celestia asked. Zelda nodded, “I thought that maybe if we use this spell and increase the amount of magic in it we should be able to step through.” She explained her plan. Celestia was about to say something when a cloud flew in and turned into a scroll which she grabbed in her magic. The scroll unfurled in her magic she read the scroll, her eyes widened. Luna became worried, “Sister what is wrong?” she asked. Celestia reread what she had seen, “There is a Great fairy beneath the altar to the Elements of harmony, in the old castle in the Everfree forest. She was the one who changed the forest, she used her magic to alter the forest entirely. She said she would never use her magic for evil and Link agreed. I trust him and this Fairy doesn’t seem evil.” She exchanged a surprised look with Luna. Zelda smiled, “The Great fairies are a very powerful race. But they would never use their magic to hurt others, they would only use it to help others.” “If you say she is not evil, I believe you Zelda. Would it be okay with you if we used the spell tomorrow?” Celestia asked the small girl. She thought it over and nodded, “Tomorrow would be great.” She smiled Celestia retold Zelda of her dream, trusting the young Princess. She gave Celestia a note to give to Link and they bid each other farewell. Celestia wrote a letter to send back to Twilight and she sent it off along with Zelda's letter, as a shiver ran down her and Luna’s backs. They exchanged another nervous glance before the Princess of the night returned to her room to sleep some more. (Well there you go, I'll see if I can get the next chapter up sometime over the weekend but I just got Resident evil 6 so that may be a problem. Sorry.)