//------------------------------// // Cursed Fortress // Story: The Legend of Zelda: Winds of Equestria // by Ragenule //------------------------------// Image by Aniadraws "CAPTAIN! Captain, sir-!" The Pegasus guard blurted out as she rocketed towards the main group beside the forest, grasping the photo of Link. "Corporal Lightwing? What is it?" Shining Armour shouted back as she approached. Landing as she handed him the photo, the guard waited patiently. "Where is he? I want him inside this formation, no exceptions." Shining Armour asked, shortly before the sight of Link astride the earth pony guard appeared over the hill, flanked by the unicorn guard. Shining Armour wasted no time and made way for Link. "Captain, may I see the photo?" Celestia asked, horn glowing as the photo left Shining Armour's magical grasp and entered her own. A sharp intake of breath from the Princess caused the girls great concern, particularly Twilight. Before the purple pony could ask what was wrong, however, Celestia broke into a trot to meet with the galloping guards and Link, letting go of the photo in the process, it's only saving grace being a blue glow suddenly forming around it. "Princess...my house-" Link began to say, before getting cut off by the Princess laying upon the ground. "You are coming with us until we can get you to a safe location. The safest place will be upon my back until then, so please get on." "But, I-" Link began to protest, before stopping due to an intense glare. "No buts, Link. Get on." Celestia instructed in a strict tone, akin to a mother lecturing a child. Link quickly nodded and got on, just as they were joined by the rest of the guards and the girls. "Ah, legs in front of the wing joints, if you could please." "Something is hunting you?" Twilight suddenly asked from beside Celestia, looking up toward Link, who nodded silently. "Hunt a child? How could a creature be so heartless?" Rarity asked, looking distraught as she glanced over the photo repeatedly while holding it within her magical grasp. "I can't say I know, but I'm not about to let him die out here alone. His home is blown to smithereens, so he'd probably die from exposure first." Shining Armour piqued up, having finished talking to the three guards who had been with Link. Link simply remained silent, fiddling with his belt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night had begun to fall by the time the group had reached a sentry outpost for the castle, which could be seen far off into the distance. After Shining Armour had hailed anyone who could have been inside, and received no reply, he took a few guards with him to investigate. It wasn't long before he had returned. "No one is inside, but it looks like whoever was in there left in a hurry. It's a bit of a mess, but we should be able to shelter inside for the night." And so they did, finding just enough room for everyone to fit inside comfortably, due to the discovery of a basement during the investigation. Link was given a smaller room to sleep in for himself. He had attempted to convince them that he was fine with having company, but they simply turned him down. Sighing as he looked out the window into the extreme dark of the moonless night, he felt himself becoming drowsy at the pitter patter of the endlessly falling rain. The clouds above were illuminated for a moment as lightning struck the ground in the distance, the trademark rumble following a few moments later. Bored, Link decided to look around 'his' room a bit, as best he could in the little illumination the Unicorn lights in the main area could muster. Nothing too interesting, mostly some old books, and stacks of scattered paperwork littered the desk in the corner. After some poking around, however, he found that the wardrobe had a lantern inside it, complete with some oil. After pulling it out and looking over it, Link grasped what felt like a small lever and flicked it, light happily pouring out of the lantern. Just as he approached the bedside table to place the lantern, some shouting from the main room startled him. Quickly placing the lantern down, Link ran out to investigate, only to find an ashamed looking filly staring at the ground and running a hoof across it as Applejack looked on furiously. "Ah knew something was up when ah grabbed that saddlebag Granny Smith filled up for me quickly! Applebloom, do you have any idea how serious this is? This place is filled with Danger, and Big Mac and Granny Smith are probably panicking right now! You know Granny's old heart can't take too much excitement!" Applejack shouted at her little sister, who was on the very of tears. "Ah can't believe how foalish you've just been! What do ya have ta say for yerself?" Applejack vented, finally coaxing a heated response from the filly. "Ma and Pa went on a big, dangerous trip like this and they never came home! Ah was scared you'd never come home, either!" Applebloom shouted, tears running down her face. "Ah just wanted at make sure you came home..." The room was silent, save for a few mares sniffling. Applejack quietly brought Applebloom in for a hug, nuzzling her and holding her tightly as she did so. "Applebloom...of course ah was gonna come back home, sugacube. Ah have the Royal Guard to protect me, as well as my friends and the Princesses. Ah'm not goin' ta disappear anytime soon..." Applejack spoke quietly into the filly's ear, as Applebloom gave little sobs. Link quietly approached the duo, his presence noted by the pair. "Hey, uhm...I lost my parents when I was little, too, Applebloom. So I can understand how scared you are about losing your sister. But don't you worry, because I'm gonna make sure nothing had happens to her or you on your first visit to Hyrule. I swear on my honor as a member of the Knights of Hyrule, and if you want, as a friend?" Link asked. Applebloom was silent for a moment, before nodding. "Okay...but ya have tah Pinkie Promise. That nothin' will hurt AJ.'" Applebloom instructed, waiting for Link to mime the motions. When he did nothing but show confusion, she pulled away from Applejack, but only slightly, and mimed out what he was to do. "Cross mah heart, hope ta fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye! Now, you do it." Applebloom said, gesturing towards Link with a wave of her hoof. "Uhm...Cross my heart...hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Link said loudly, feeling that, although the wording was ridiculous, he had just completed some sort of sacred rites by the looks he was being given. He was about to say something about it when his entire being was swallowed up by the insatiable desire to yawn. So he presented all watching with a very large one. "Hmm...it's gettin' late, AB, if Link's yawn was anythin' ta go by. But where can ah put you...huuuumm..." Applejack mused, glancing around while searching for a place that her little sister could rest close by. "Well...I don't know how uncomfortable either one of you are about being seperated, but I have loads of space in that back room. She could use the bed thats in there." Link offered, to which Applebloom looked between Link and her elder sister, who bit her lip as she thought about it. "Well...yeah, okay, if you're up to it AB? I'd have no problem with it." Applejack relented, looking down at the form of her little sister still clinging to her. "Uhm...like a sleepover?" Applebloom asked, unsure of how to approach the situation. When Applejack nodded, a smile crept over the filly's face. "Okay! Let's go, Link!" Applebloom shouted, to the amusment of their bed neighbors as all the ponies began to hunker down for the night. "Hey, wait for me!" Link shouted back, a smile growing over his face as he turned to chase after her into the room. "Hey, Link?" Applejack's voice called out, stopping him in his tracks. Link turned around to see Applejack smiling. "Thanks fer calmin' Applebloom down and lookin' after her. She can let herself get right twisted up inta' a knot if she let's her emotions get goin'." Applejack thanked him. Link simply offered a smile in return and waved it off modestly, before running into his bedroom. Applejack sighed, shaking her head, as she set about making her bedding more comfortable, oblivious to the watchful eyes of Celestia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey, before we go to sleep, would you like some milk? Seeing as I won't be storing this anytime soon, we might as well drink it before it goes bad as well." Link asked Applebloom, who looked over to see him showing her a bottle of milk. "Sure, ah guess. Ah haven't drank anythin' since ah snuck into Applejack's saddle bags." Applebloom said, as she watched Link pull the cork out of the top. Accepting the bottle between her hooves, Link watched as Applebloom effortlessly drank about half the bottle hastily, causing Link to chuckle and smile. Stopping and looking at him for a moment, Applebloom glanced down at the remainder of the milk to see that she had downed half the bottle in a veyr short time. "Oh, sorry, uhm...kinda embarrasin'..." Applebloom trailed off, blushing as she looked away and handed the bottle back to Link. "Hey now, if you're thirsty, drink up. I can always get some water. Besides, it's not everyday that someone from another world can have some Lon Lon." Link offered, pushing the bottle back towards Applebloom, who looked back at the milk. "Whadda ya mean? Is this special milk?" Applebloom asked, looking back up towards Link as he leaned on the window sill. "Yeah, I dunno how they make it the way they do, but it's really sweet and very healthy, even more than regular milk. Some people say it's because they don't water down their milk, which I can personally confirm because I'm friends with the family who makes that milk. But they told me it's because they really care about their cows and take every effort to make sure they're happy." "Hey, that almost sounds Sweet Apple Acres! We also treat our trees with care, and we get sweet and juicy apples out of it!" Applebloom exclaimed excitedly. Deciding she wanted some more, Applebloom quickly drank the rest of the milk happily, this time savouring it's sweet taste, and finished with a loud and satisified sigh. Link smiled, and began to prep the floor for him to sleep on, having taken a spare blanket from the bed. "Aren't you gonna-" Applebloom had started, right before a creaking from the corner of her room stopped her mid-sentence. Glancing over to the source, the pair of them noticed the wardrobe having opened itself slightly, causing Link to quickly snatch up his shield and sword from their post beside the bed. Without hesitating, Link donned his shield and held his hand at the ready on his blade's handle. Approaching slowly, Link began to nudge the doors apart using the edges of his shield. "L...Link what is it?" Applebloom asked quietly, leaning over from the end of the bed to try and catch a better glimpse. Ignoring her for a moment, Link quickly slammed the doors open, only to witness the backing of the wardrobe missing completely, revealing a hidden staircase. "I...don't know. Some sort of unlit staircase going into the ground." Link explained, as Applebloom hopped off the bed and came around for a peek herself. Glancing to the lantern beside the bed, Link replaced his shield and grabbed hold of the lantern. Unsheathing his sword, he wandered back over towards Applebloom. "Listen, you should wait here incase something evil is down there. If I don't come back soon, go out into the main room and get help." Link instructed her, surprised when the filly shook her head. "Nuh uh! ah'm not stayin' in this room alone now, yer takin' the lantern! It'll be pitch dark in here, and if something gets you, what's stoppin' it from gettin' me before ah can get help?" Applebloom argued, frowning at Link. Looking back towards the staircase, she smiled a little. "Besides, it doesn't look too spooky. Actually looks kinda cool!" "I don't think so! You could always go and sleep by your sister until I get back." Link countered, only to witness Applebloom smirk. "And then she'll ask why ah'm there, and we both don't get to check this thing out." Applebloom smiled victoriously, causing Link to frown. "Ugh, fiiine. Just don't start whining about spiders or something." Link warned, starting his decent. "Spiders? Please, ah live on a farm." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Wow, this IS a little spooky..." Applebloom admitted. They hasn't gone far, but the pair was surrounded by darkness and could only hear the eerie sounds of water dripping from the ceiling. In the dark gloom, Link could make out a pair of torches. Wandering over, he used the lantern to light the both of them, revealing a beautiful fountain. Looking around, the pair noticed that Link was standing on a particular symbol. "Hey, what's that?" Applebloom asked, leaning in to take a closer look. "It's...the Triforce. But what's a symbol of the Triforce doing down here?" Link asked to no one in particular. He was startled from his thoughts when a female laugh floated out from the center of the fountain, only to give way to the shape of a woman sprouting from it as she laughed in glee. "Hello, Hero, and to you too, child of the Equines. I've been waiting for you both to appear. Be at ease, I mean you no harm." The woman, clad in nothing but leaves and vines, said as she floated in the air directly above the fountain. "Who are you?" Applebloom asked breathlessly, completely enamoured by the newcomer. The woman gave a little laugh. "I am the Great Fairy of Power. I preside over a portion of the Fairy Realm, and symbolize the courage and bravery of all warriors." "Why did you call me a Hero? I've done nothing heroic." Link asked, having sheathed his blade. "That is because you have yet to awaken the Hero that rests within you. I am here to show you the Hero's Path." The Great Fairy explained, giving pause upon noticing that Link was still confused. "Your questions will be answered in due time, child. But our time here is short, so I must act now...I give you magic, receive it now!" The Great Fairy shouted, before spreading open her arms towards Link, enveloping him in a red glow, shortly before he felt himself go light headed... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When Link woke up, he found himself in a dense white fog, pocked only by the familiar towers and spires of Hyrule castle in the distance. looking around, he came upon the sight of an unfamiliar castle, also looming out of the dense fog, as it clung to a mountainside. As he pondered what the castle was, he became aware that a number of other familiar landmarks, as well as foreign ones, were slowly appearing from within the fog, all a distance away. While he could make out the Death Mountain chain with ease, the tallest mountain's summit topped by an ancient collapsed tower, beside it stood a mountain featuring rather large, strange horseshoe shaped falls. Link began to admire the sights, but it wasn't long before the Great Fairy appeared before him. "Admiring the view, are we?" she asked, Link nodded, taking one last quick glance around. "Welcome to the space between realms. It acts much like a fog surrounding the two realms it connects to, as I'm sure you noticed." "How come we've never known about this...?" Link asked her, astonished that something seemingly so crucial has gone unknown for so long. "We of the Fairy Realm know many things most other races do not." The Great Fairy offered as way of explaining their knowledge, but didn't proceed further. Nor did she give Link a chance to. "Link, I am about to teach you a sword technique that will allow you to strike your foes with great force. It is a technique I'm sure you've heard of, the 'Spin Attack'." The Great Fairy spoke to Link. Nodding and unsheathing his blade, Link stood at attention. "Perfect. Now, to execute the spin attack, you need to first extend your blade arm behind you as best you can." Link followed her instructions, finding the movement feeling very natural. "Alright, now, you should be feeling a tingling sensation in your hand. That is the magical power I have granted you trying to flow into your blade. This is part of the technique that differs from that which your Teacher would have instructed you, this is the part where you infuse your blade with that magic. Imagine the blade as an extension of your arm! Feel the magic flow through your hand, into the hilt, into the steel...perfect!" The Great Fairy shouted as yellowish-green bolts of energy began to spark and crackle around Link's blade. "Now! Release it in a spining motion and herald defeat to your fiercest of enemies with a cry!" The Great Fairy ordered, Link being only too happy to oblige. Shouting, Link allowed the magic to explode forth from the blade as he spun in a perfect circle twice, the action only leaving him slightly dizzy. "That was a perfect execution! Bravo! Your ancestors should be proud!" The Great Fairy congratulated Link, who smiled sheepishly. Just as she was about to say something further, a look of extreme fear overcame her face. "Oh no! Your awakening must have attracted the attention of...we must return to Hyrule, Link! Grab hold of my hand!" The Great Fairy instructed. Link grabbed hold with his free hand, and quickly passed out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "LINK! Link, yer awake, what's going on?!" Applebloom shouted to the groggy Link, who instantly became aware of the fact that the cave they were in was rumbling ominously. "Quickly now, children! We must escape before the evil creatures appear!" The Great Fairy instructed, having shrunk in size to match that of the average Hylian woman. The pair ran after the floating woman eagerly, not wishing to remain behind for any monsters to turn them into a pin cushion. Just as they approached the point where the cave narrowed into the tunnel again, Applebloom shreiked as the tunnel collapsed before them, being snatched up by Link before being crushed. "What now? Oh, Ah don't wanna get eaten!" Applebloom cried out, clinging to Link in fright, only looking out when the rumbling stopped. The Great Fairy was nowhere to be found. "Oh Goddesses...this can't be good." Link said quietly. Faintly, in the darkness of the fountain's room, the pair had begun to hear some moaning, as well as the sound of things exiting the dirt ground. "Link...what is it?" Applebloom whispered, afraid to make much noise as they stood completely stock still. Link let her down slowly, but she still pressed against his side. Link quietly grabbed his lantern, and proceeded to light it. "Holy Celestia, what are those!" Applebloom shouted as the pair looked upon the sight before them. A series of grossly elongated arms had risen from the ground, covered in putrid and grey flesh, fingernails the color of blood. "It's...Dead Hand..." Link and Applebloom heard the Great Fairy's voice from beside them, and it took all of their will not to shout in surprise. Looking to their right, they found what appeared to be a small ball of light glowing beside them, it's wings fluttering as it worked to keep itself afloat. "Be very careful around those arms...if they grab you, they'll strangle you." The Great Fairy warned, as Link approached for a closer look. "That's all there is to Dead Hand? Man, not even a chall-URK!" Link began to boast, before one of the hands grabbed his throat from behind and began to squeeze tightly. As he struggled against the hand, he quickly began to see thousands of stars clouding his vision. As he felt his strength fading, and a pair of hooves struggling to help him, a distant shriek from Applebloom brought him back from the brink of unconsciousness. "NO, STAY AWAY!" Applebloom shouted at something in a panic. Link, grasping his throat as he unsheathed his sword and turned to see what Applebloom was looking at. "Oh Goddesses!" Link couldn't help but shout, upon sighting what looked like a huge mound of putrid flesh, bone, and blood slithering it's way towards the pair of them, waving stubby, bird-like arms in the air as it held it's head high in the air. Dead Hand moaned, gurgling slightly, as it slowed to a stop infront of Applebloom, who was frozen in fright. As the creature lowered it's head and stared directly at the pair of them with it's expressionless black eye sockets, it began shaking and opened it's maw wide, staring hungrily at Applebloom. "LINK!" The Great Fairy shouted, and snapped him into action, shoving Applebloom out of the way, while twisting his shielded back towards Dead Hand, earning the monster nothing but a few wood splinters. Not wasting any time, Link donned his shield and held it before himself as the monster attempted another strike on Link, again failing. This time, however, Link followed up with a vertical uppercut and put a decent gash into the monster's face, watching as it moaned in pain. "It's retreating into the ground, fall back!" The Fairy commanded, Link heeding just in time as a huge wave of dirt flew into the air. "We need to find a way out of here, now!" "Wait, I think I know how to defeat this thing! Didn't you notice how it hid it's face while approaching us?" Link asked the fairy. "And it definitely didn't like ya giving it that huge cut!" Applebloom added, sticking very close to the wall. "But it won't come back out of the ground... will it?" "I don't know, but I think I can trick it..." Link mumbled, getting close to one of the arms. Hoping he wasn't opening himself up for being killed, Link swung his arm out behind himself as he began to fill his blade with magic, the glow mesmerizing to Applebloom. Wandering slowly closer, Link waited for any sign of movement from the arm. 'Come on...come on...' Link thought to himself, concentrating on the arm for even slight movement. His coaxing paid off, when the arm began to bend towards him and he answered with a shout as he spun on the spot, magic forming a deadly cocoon around him, to which the arm had no hope of survival and promptly fell to the ground dead. That wasn't the last of Dead Hand, however, as it suddenly burst forth from the ground with a vengeance directly behind Link, catching him by surprise. "Argh!" Link shouted after being sent forward onto the ground in a face plant. Dazed, Link scrambled to raise his shield before Dead Hand could take a bite out of him. It had partially succeeded, but only up until Dead Hand had managed to just barely get it's mouth around the edges of Link's shield, to which the creature managed to crush with ease and render useless, and managed to pierce Link's arm with more than a dozen large splinters. Link was stunned by the pain, having found it unexpected. Looking towards the mess of wood, bent steel, and small amounts of blood, Link found himself, for the first time in a long time, fearing for his safety. "Link! Get a move on, it's gonna bite again!" Applebloom shouted as Great Fairy shivered from within her mane. Just as Link looked up to see Dead Hand opening it's jaw to end him, he watched in confusion as it suddenly stopped mere inches from his head. It closed it's mouth as it turned to look directly at Applebloom, who flinched and froze on the spot. "Applebloooooom!" A voice was heard shouting from the entryway. Turning to look, both Applebloom and Link were distracted by the sight of a fear stricken Applejack looking through an opening in the collapse. In the confusion, Applebloom was surprised by one of the hands suddenly growing out of the ground right underneath her and grasping around her barrel, trapping her. Dead Hand began to slither in her direction very quickly, as Link struggled to get up. "NO! NO, NOT MY SISTER! TWILIIIIIGHT!" Applejack shrieked from the far side of the blocked entrance, queuing a purple light to flash inside the fountain chamber, giving way to a frantically galloping purple mare try to reach the trapped and frantic filly before the demon could. If she had only gone in sooner, as the demon opened it's mouth wide, the arm chucked the shrieking form of Applebloom into it, and with a sickening squelch she was swallowed whole by Dead Hand, the only thing remaining was the bulge in it's throat. Applejack became motionless and silent, having just watched her sister being eaten. Dead Hand groaned again, head held high into the air again as it slithered towards Twilight, who had simply fallen onto her rear in despair. Link stood up as he looked towards Applejack, her face now furiously stained in tears as she watched in horror. Twilight had fallen to the ground, sobbing, having failed both her friend and a child in need. Link was furious. He quickly looked at his injured arm, encased in his broken shield. This was going to have to be a one-hit kill. Breaking into a full-out sprint and whipping his sword out behind himself, Link let as much magic as possible into his blade, the yellow-green glow filling the room. "You're hungry, eh? EAT! THIS! HYAAAAAAA!" Link shouted, jumping into the air as he allowed the magic in his sword to explode out and away while he twisted himself in the air. Upon landing on the ground, he stumbled and landed on his injured right arm, cringing from the pain. Whipping his head around, he looked towards Dead Hand, finding it had stopped moving forward. Infact, it had stopped moving completely, save for the occasional twitch. As the cave entrance was cleared and all the ponies could make their way in, everyone watched in tension at what the monster would do next. Link could hear Applejack mumbling prayers under her breath as she struggled to maintain herself. Dead Hand gave one last strained moan, as the side of it's neck suddenly split apart, and blood began to flow out of the wound furiously. Growling in pain, the demon slumped forward, it's head severing from the rest of it's body completely, and dumping a motionless Applebloom onto the blood-soaked dirt, while it's body twitched in it's death throes. "Applebloom!" Applejack shouted as she galloped to her side, hefting her up into her forelegs. "Please, baby sister, say something! Anything!" "Great Fairy...please help Applebloom!" Link shouted to the pink glow that was flapping it's wings in the air. "Okay...I'll try." The Great Fairy said, her voice surprising a few of the ponies. Fluttering over to Applejack and the fallen Applebloom, she waited as the despairing Applejack gingerly rested Applebloom upon the floor. Flying in a circle over Applebloom slowly at first, before reaching a dizzying speed, the Great Fairy showered the filly with pink sparks, before flying over to Link. "Give it a minute, she'll come to..." The Great Fairy sighed, heavily drained and exhausted, if her flying was any indication. The whole cave was quiet, it's occupants waiting on tinterhooks for a sign of life from the filly. First, a hoof stirred, and then... "A...Apple..jack?" Applebloom mumbled, raising a trembling, blood covered hoof to her elder sister's face. "Oh, Applebloom! Yer alive! Thank Celestia, thank Luna!" Applejack cried out, hugging the filly tightly. "We should get out of here before more evil appears...the blood of a Dead Hand forever marks the ground it stains, acting as a beacon for more demons." The Great Fairy instructed, quickly flying backtowards Applebloom and Applejack. With a flash of magic, the Great Fairy returned to her original form, sans the size, and knelt upon the ground. "Allow me to carry her, so we may exit with haste." The Great Fairy pleaded, giving Applejack a warm and caring stare. Applejack hesitated, looking at the newcomer. "Applejack, it's...okay. She's on our side." Link quickly explained. Applejack looked back towards her sister for a moment, pondering what to do, but relented when she witnessed Dead Hand's corpse melt into the ground, leaving a large red splotch in the dirt. With a pair of the guards quickly helping Link to his feet, the entire group left the cave as quickly as possible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Applejack! Twilight! Are they okay? Oh, please tell me they're okay!" Rarity shouted from the bedroom, galloping to just inside the wardrobe. "They're okay...they're both okay..." Applejack said to Rarity quietly as she approached, before bursting into tears and hugging the white pony tightly. directly behind her was the tired frame of Link being helped along by Shining Armor. "Is that...blood?" Rarity asked, staring towards Link's blade, which had gone completely through the throat of Dead Hand. "Wow...what happened down there? Rainbow Dash was heard asking from within the crowd inside the bedroom. "You don't want to know..." Shining Armor said darkly, his tone caught by everyone in the room, sending shivers down their spines. When Twilight emerged with the Great Fairy, however, everyone gasped in shock at the sight of a bloodied and sleeping Applebloom. "Relax, Equestrians. This one is fine, she only needs a cleaning and proper sleep. She's gone through a horrific experience, and is exhausted." The Great Fairy explained, caring little to explain her presence. Glancing towards Celestia and Luna, who had just entered the room with panicked expressions, the trio seemed to share a silent exchange, in which led the two Pony Goddesses to hurry down the corridor through the wardrobe. After a quick flash of light and the sounds of another collapse echoing down the tunnel, causing more than a few guards and Shining Armor to panic and gallop towards the tunnel, the two Princesses returned without a speck of dust on them. "The chamber has been blessed and sealed. There shouldn't be any further problems stemming from it." Celestia explained, as she began to size up the Great Fairy, who was hovering just off of the floor. After a few moments, Celestia turned her gaze towards Link."My Sister and I...Link, we must apologize for our inaction. It seems the waves of darkness emitted by the foul beast prevented us from sensing the extreme danger both Applebloom and yourself were in, and made it quite difficult to rouse us from our sleep." Celestia explained, guilt having overtaken her face. Noticing the exhausted expression Link wore, as well as his wounds, Celestia's worry grew exponentially. "No worries...Princesses...I said I'd protect...her." Link offered inbetween huffs, leaning against the wall he found himself propped up on. Applejack quickly ran over to offer assistance, before being rebuffed by Link. "No, don't worry about me...look after Applebloom...she needs you..." "Link, ah wouldn't have a baby sister to hug tightly tonight if it wern't for you! Now let me help you, consarn it!" Applejack swore, visibly on the verge of tears again. Relenting, Link leaned upon Applejack, as she helped him out towards a tearful Fluttershy, who shrieked when she saw the state he was in. "How is it that such a Divine Being as yourself came to reside it such a cursed cave?" Luna suddenly asked The Great Fairy, expecting straightforward answers. "A great imbalance tainted my fountain, due to the proximity of the source of the imbalance. Your current destination is that source." The Great Fairy explained, unable to help but smile down at the sleeping form of Applebloom. "She must trust you, to leave Applebloom in your arms so willingly." Celestia suddenly said to the Great Fairy, who nodded silently, before replying. "Only because Link trusts me, for which I cannot blame her. He has begun to awaken, Celestia, he can only get stronger from here on. He reminds me of a friend I had long, long ago..." The Great Fairy said, closing her eyes and recalling distant memories. "Perhaps it is best to hand the child over to your care. I have done all I can." The Great Fairy said, lowering her arms once Applebloom was encased in a golden glow. Nodding once more to the Princesses, The Great Fairy turned herself into the dimmunitive form from before and fluttered out into the main area in search of Link, to assist in healing him, leaving the Goddesses alone. "This world certainly holds many strange wonders within it, Sister..." Luna said, staring after the fairy. "And it's share of horrors, Luna..." Celestia replied, frowning. Glancing towards the secret wardrobe, she magically shut and locked both of the doors on it. "Twilight, would you take poor Applebloom to a bathroom and clean her up with Applejack? I'm sure she'd appriciate being clean for when she awakens." "Certainly, Princess Celestia...I just hope what she went through doesn't haunt her." Twilight said, making sure Applebloom was rested snugly onto her back before exiting the room. "Yes, my faithful student, as do I.". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link was laying down on a few blankets that separated him from the cobblestone floor of the small fortress, feeling quite drowsy. Looking towards where he and Applebloom were originally going to sleep, he noticed a pair of guards standing fairly still, facing the door of the bedroom with the blunt end of their spears resting on the floor while they quietly discussed something amongst themselves. Glancing to his left side, he could see the freshly cleaned Applebloom snoring quietly, her rhythmic breathing an indication of her being in a comfortable sleep. Further to Link's left lay Applejack, watching her sister sleep. Glancing up, Applejack saw that Link was still awake and looking directly at her. "Hey, aren't ya tired yet? You should probably go to sleep soon, get as much energy as you can." Applejack suggested. Yawning, Link nodded before moving into a more comfortable position. "Mind waking me up tomorrow, if you get up early? I'd like to take a look around the fortress for a new shield." Link asked, keep one eye open to watch for the response. Upon getting a nod, Link smiled and closed his remaining eyes, and Applejack watched as Link quickly fell into a deep slumber, prompting her to smile at the Hylian. 'He really does know how to use that sword well...'suppose living in a world that has things like that in it would make it a requirement.' Applejack thought, watching the two children sleeping. Applebloom had suddenly begun to whimper and shake, no doubt dreaming of the horrors she endured, and just as Applejack was about to move to comfort her, she stopped and watched for a moment. Link moved his left arm to the side in his sleep, only for it to lightly bop Applebloom on the muzzle. Flaring her nose slightly, Applebloom quickly grasped it and snuggled into it, ceasing all whimpering. It looked rather cute, something of which she'd have to tease them about in the morning. Applejack smiled at the scene warmly, looking away only ro lower her head, before quickly falling into dreamland herself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Isn't that just the cutest...?" "So adorable...!" "Just look at how peaceful they are..." Link was beginning to wake up, mostly due to the giggles and excited talking that was going on around him. Opening his eyes a crack, he was able to vaguely make out a bunch of mares, some in armour looking at him, smiling, having taken their helmets off. Opening his eyes, Link went to wave his left hand at them to go away, but quickly found it weighed down by something warm. As the mares giggled at his surprise, he look down to his left to see a very comfortable and peacefully sleeping Applebloom curled up into the crook of his arm. When he blushed slightly and attempted to remove his arm, his face began to grow into a much more ripe color when Applebloom's hooves went and put a vice grip onto it, preventing his escape. "Uhm...A-Applebloom? You need to wake up and let go of me." Link instructed the sleepy filly, exasperation in his tone. "Mmmm...five more minutes, Big Sis, please..." Applebloom mumbled, maintaining her grip. Link sighed, and stood up, dragging Applebloom along the floor for a moment before she finally lost her grip and fell back onto it with a gasp. "Wha-, whazz goin' on?" Applebloom asked, clearly still half asleep. "You were using me as a blanket and pillow." Link explained, most of the mares still present and now giggling about Link's expression. "Wh-what? I'm sorry, I Uhm..." Applebloom shouted, now completely wide awake, pawing the floor nervously. Link simply snickered, motioning to the circle of mares, two of whom, Link noticed, had turned out to be Fluttershy and Rarity. Applebloom blushed fiercely, eliciting more giggles from the gaggle of mares still watching them as Rarity stepped forward. "Applejack asked me to wake you two and let you both know that breakfast will be served soon. Perhaps you two should go outside and play in the sun until then?" Rarity suggested, motioning a hoof to the window. Looking outside, Link beamed when he was finally able to see the sun again. "Hey Link!" Applebloom shouted from across the room, having bolted to the door to the outside. "Last one outside is a Cockatrice!" "Hey, not fair, you're already at the door!" Link shouted back at the retreating form of Applebloom, making chase. "Besides, I don't even know what a Cockatrice is!" "No excuses, slow poke! Ha ha!" Applebloom shouted back, quickly peeling out into the surrounding fields. Link made chase, but even with Appleblooms smaller stature than the adult ponies, her speedy gallop was too fast to match. Link quickly gave up, crossing his arms and frowning as Applebloom teased him from a distance. "Mornin' Link! Havin' some fun before breakfast?" Applejack asked, stirring an unknown substance that lay within a decently sized cauldron which rested upon an appropreatly sized fire. "I suppose. I like being able to run around, and with what's happened these past few days, I haven't been able to." Link explained, crossing his arms and scowling at Applebloom as she made a particularly aggravating taunt using a complex series of hoof motions. "Applebloom, cut that out, that's mean!" Applejack shouted to her little sister, only receiving a series of giggles from the yellow filly. "Anyways, Ah suppose it goes without sayin' that you two should stick close by, considerin' the things that've been goin' on." Applejack said, smiling when Link nodded. "I thought Applebloom might like to go swim in the river that's close by. You can see it from the top of the hill on the other side of the fortress." Link said, looking for permission to take Applebloom that far. "A river? Huh, Ah'm surprised ah can't even hear it." Applejack replied, lifting a hoof to her hear and straining to listen. "Oh, the hill wraps around, see where the path is?" Link explained, pointing a finger towards the road that led to the distant Hyrule Castle. "The river sits in a very small valley, which was created by the river itself. It's coming down from the smaller mountain in the Death Mountain chain, Mount Crenel, and from what I read in a book a few years ago, I guess it has water torrent down it during the summer seasons because of massive storms, which is why that little valley exists." Link finished his explanation. "So...that taller mountain is Death Mountain?" Applejack asked, hesitantly, and frowned when Link nodded. "Does it have...monsters on it?" Applejack asked, eyeing the nearby mountains with unease. "Yeah, but mostly only Keese inside the caves, while Hiploops and Red Tektites roam the mountainside." Link answered. Catching the unhappy look on Applejack's face, Link continued. "But those monsters normally keep to themselves off the mountain, if they ever come down, which is rare." "Liiiiiink! Come on, ah'm getting bored!" Applebloom complained, having trotted over during Link's lesson in Hyrule geography. "Well, Breakfast is gonna take a while to heat up properly, so ah suppose you two should get along now, 'cause you're both distractin' me!" Applejack announced with a chuckle. "Say, Link, you wouldn't mind tellin' me where Ah could learn a little more about your world, could you?" Applejack asked, honestly curious. "Amazing! I wouldn't have expected a pair of mountains to be so close by!" Twilight's voice was heard from the fortress's entrance. As the purple unicorn trotted out to admire the scenery, she was closely flanked by a pink fairy. "Yes, those are part of the Death Mountain chain. As I said, created by the oceanic plate crashing into the continent of Hylia." the Great Fairy explained, hovering beside Twilight. "Navi, how is it you know so much? You HAVE to tell me more about this world! I have so many questions!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly, grinning widely. Link looked towards the group with a smile. "So, Great Fairy of Power, your name is Navi?" Link asked, looking towards the small fairy. "Oh, yes. I never properly introduced myself to you, and I suppose I should considering I shall be accompanying your party to Hyrule Castle. My name is indeed Navi. As for my knowledge, I have existed for an epoch and have learned many unique lessons about the world we reside in. Long ago I assisted a warrior in a quest for peace and justice, only to ascend amongst my peers to my current position as a result, and have remained at my fountain for countless years, assisting those who would become the Hero of the age." Navi explained, wowing her audience. "So...you could even be older than Princess Celestia and Princess Luna?" Applejack asked, staring at Navi in astonishment. "I could be, but I don't find it particularly important to establish exact ages. If you've lived as long as I, or even your Princesses, it simply becomes a number that mortal creatures fret about. But I envy them for that ability." Navi finished with a small sigh. "How come, Navi? Ah think being immortal would be fun!" Applebloom pipped up, her question seemingly causing Navi to brighten. "Well, mortals may not live forever and revel in the ever-changing history of the world, but they get to learn something that we never will, and that is 'What is on the other side of the veil?'. I've been curious about that on many, many occasions." Navi explained, the group growing quiet for a moment. "Ah, listen to me! We shouldn't be discussing such sensitive matters right now, you two should go and enjoy yourselves before we depart!" Navi flew inbetween Link and Applebloom, The fairy landing atop of Applebloom's head, eliciting a giggle from the filly when Navi fluttered her wings against her ears. "Run along now!" Navi instructed, watching as Applebloom nudged Link and ran, starting a rather one-sided game of tag. The three watched, seeing a pair of Pegasi guards fly in the air high above the two children for their protection. Navi, flapping her small wings so that she was facing the two grown mares again, she cleared her throat. "Now, where were we...?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Wow, ah've never seen such a clear river before!" Applebloom exclaimed, looking at the perfectly blue water before her, it's slowly flowing surface marred only by the occasional cloud moving overhead. Excited, she galloped down the slope beside a bridge that spanned the river, and looked at her reflection, as Link descended after her. Seeing some movement from under the bridge, she glanced up in curiosity to look at the oddity. Once the object left the dark shadow of the bridge, she recoiled and stumbled backwards in a hurry when the object turned out to be a blue, four legged bug-like creature standing on the water, carelessly floating along with the current. "Hey, don't worry about that thing, it's just a Water Tektite. They only eat fish, so they're pretty docile things as long as you keep your distance. They tend to attack when you get close, though, out of self-defence." Link told her, kneeling down and placing a hand on Applebloom's shoulder to calm her. "It's probably looking for food, so if we let it float along for a bit, it won't bother us. It's just like a bee." "Oh...okay. Ah haven't seen anything like it before, it looks so weird." Applebloom said, staring after the Tektite, watching as it suddenly jumped off the water, splashing into it for a moment before resurfacing with a fish between it's mandibles, as they worked to push the flopping fish further into it's narrow jaws. They watched for a moment as the Tektite continued it's trip down the river, before Link suggested they take a swim. Eagerly wading in, the pair swam around and splashed one another, occasionally diving underwater before sneaking up on the other and dunking them into the water. Roughly an hour went by as the children played, and Link savoured every moment, having not had many chances to ever play with other kids while living with Ruul, considering the only one that lived within an acceptable distance was Malon. Alas, Applejack had appeared on top of the hill as Link and Applebloom were only partially complete their make-shift sand castles, calling an end to their games as breakfast was ready to be served. "Race you back?" Applebloom asked, eager to beat the much slower Link, considering she wasn't the fastest filly back home. "Naw, you know that I have no chance to beat you." Link sighed, giving a smirk to Applebloom, who giggled. The pair began to walk in silence, slowly nearing the fortress again from atop the hill, as they walked onto the path towards it. "Link...how come yer not mad at me?" Applebloom suddenly asked, looking towards the ground sadly as she continued forward. "Mad? Mad at you for what?" Link asked, looking sideways at the depressed filly. "Fer not listening to you back in the bedroom, when that wardrobe opened. You told me not ta follow you, but Ah didn't listen and blackmailed you instead. And then Ah got in the way with that monster, Dead Hand, and it got you hurt... and then you had to go an' save me from it after..." Applebloom explained herself, a few silent tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Link stopped on the path and knelt down, placing a palm under Applebloom's chin to meet her eyes with his own. "Applebloom...if I got mad at you for following me to such a suspicious place, then I'd be a hypocrit. I'm still only a recruit of the Knights of Hyrule, and in all honesty, what I did was very, very stupid..." Link explained, pausing only for a moment to examine her reaction. "And as for getting in the way, you didn't. It simply chose to attack you over me, because I resisted more. And did you forget about what happened right at the start?" Link asked, waiting for an answer. "Ah...Ah got that arm to let go of you...?" Applebloom replied in a questioning tone, looking directly into his eyes. "Yeah, exactly!" Link replied with a smile. "You saved MY life first, Applebloom. It was strangling me, and I was about to suffocate before you stepped up. All I did was return the favour. So don't feel like anything was your fault. I mean, if Navi isn't mistaken and I'm some kind of fated Hero, I was going to end up down there one way or another." Link explained. Applebloom suddenly appeared deep in thought, when Link let go of her chin. "Come on you two! Grub is gonna get cold!" Rainbow Dash shouted from above the fortress while she looked down at them. Link waved back and turned towards Applebloom again. "Come on, I'll race you after all!" Link shouted, before running off like a maniac. Applebloom stared for a moment, before galloping after him, absolutely beaming. Staring at him as she willed herself faster, Applebloom became aware of a faint heat upon her face as her cheeks blushed slightly. She wasn't sure why she was blushing, but she figured it had to do something with the butterflies she was feeling in her stomach. 'Probably Just hungry.' Applebloom thought to herself as she caught up to her new friend.