//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Legend of Zelda: Equestria // by James //------------------------------// The five friends of the purple unicorn slowly got ready to start carrying the body back to Ponyville. Link did not follow them. After he couldn't see them, he took rest at a nearby tree trunk, specifically the one he cut down. Link dug around through his inventory, hoping to find some food to replenish his body. Then he found what he was hoping for, a bottle of Yeto's soup he was saving. He drank the entire contents of the bottle and tossed it back in his storage, only to make a loud clink! He looked inside to see what the bottle collided with, only to stare at the object. It was another bottle, but it didn't contain more of Yeto's soup. The contents of the bottle reflected a pink light against Link's face. Thoughts began to race throughout his head. Should I really use this? I mean, it really wasn't my fault! I should save this for myself. When I need it. Why would I use this on someone I don't even know? But then again, I did save her. No. I failed saving her. Link sighed and closed his eyes. He made his decision. "This way." Applejack directed. The five ponies carefully carried Twilight's body towards the exit of the forest. They didn't expect what was on the other side of the exit, and it was the last thing the five mares wanted to see. Princess Celestia gasped as she saw the sight before her. She quickly ran to Twilight's side, hoping that it wasn't true, but tears started to form in her eyes when she saw that it was. After she wiped her tears away, Rarity spoke up. "P-p-princess Celestia! H-how did you get here?" "Twilight sent me a letter informing me that a strange creature has appeared near Ponyville and that she was going to investigate. Then I heard a terrible scream and I came here as soon as possible, but, it seems that I was too late." She looked sadly at her student's face, which had a peaceful smile that warmed her heart, but broke it also. Suddenly, Princess Celestia's sad expression turned into one of angry revenge. "Where is this creature? I will make this thing suffer the consequences for what it has done to my precious student." Rainbow Dash spoke up, "No Princess, you see, Twilight was still chasing this thing after we all got left behind. She chased it all the way to the middle of Everfree. By the time we got there, the thing was protecting Twilight from a pack of Timberwolves. The thing got rid of them, but Twilight..." She looked down to hide her oncoming tears. Princess Celestia sadly nodded her head in understanding and turned her head back towards her student. She started to gently cradle Twilight's head, looking down at her closed eyes and small smile. Suddenly, a pink light was seen from the corner of Celestia's eye. All six mares, including the Princess, turned their heads towards the light and gasped in unison. It looked like a round pink ball of light with transparent wings. Small bits of pink light radiated from the strange creature. It softly floated towards the purple unicorn. The creature floated around her body and floated towards her face. The face which was slowly starting to move. Celestia and the five mares watched in awe as Twilight's wounds started to fully heal in a matter of seconds. The purple unicorn's eyes fluttered open and made direct eye contact with her mentor. Twilight, slightly delirious, said, "Oh...hi there Princess." All the ponies surrounding their beloved Twilight cried in joy and embraced their revived friend. During their joyous reunion, Princess Celestia sensed an unknown being nearby. She looked up towards the Everfree Forest to see the bushes nearby the trees rustle. The alicorn slowly got up and walked towards the bushes to clear them away. There was something on the ground. An empty bottle. After Link confirmed that the fairy had done its job, he quickly ran back into the darkness of the forest. Unfortunately, he dropped his bottle in the process and he didn't want to risk going back and getting it. It was still partially his fault for leading the purple unicorn into the danger zone so he didn't want to face the consequences of what the horses might do to him. It seemed stupid to him though, since he just saved their friends life. The hero in green shrugged it off and took out his lantern, looking for a place to set up camp. Unfortunately, every single ideal place for a campsite was always crawling with the dangerous creatures of the forest, some of which that the hero in green has never seen before. It didn't completely weird him out though, since he once met a certain talking bird with an afro that ran a shop in Faron Woods. Link chuckled at the memory of Trill but was interrupted when a sharp pain was felt in his right arm. He looked towards it to find a bright red spider. Link quickly smashed the spider with his left hand but then started to feel very tired. He started to stiffen up, and fell to the ground completely paralyzed. The hero in green's vision started to fade, and the last thing he saw was the floor of the forest before he blacked out. Link's eyes shot opened. He was laying down on a soft fabric on the floor. The hero in green quickly sat up only to crash back down from the pain that shot throughout his body, especially his right arm. With great effort, he lifted his head up to take in his surroundings. The room he was in was large and circular. It was slightly dim, with only flickering candles lighting the room in the darkness. There were shelves all over the walls. The shelves contained various items that looked like potions and other kinds of ingredients. Traditional looking masks that looked like it was crafted from a far away land hung on the walls. In the middle of the room was a cauldron over a fire. Stirring up the contents in the cauldron was a female zebra. The zebra wore a pair of large round gold earrings and several gold neck rings. She also had gold rings around her front left hoof. The zebra turned to start walking towards the shelf, but stopped herself when she noticed the hero in green was awake. "Ah, you are lucky you are alive, for the rare Death Spiders poison bite is not a lie." The zebra grabbed the potion from the shelf and walked over to the cauldron, spilling the contents inside, while Link watched cautiously. "Do not be alarmed, besides, why would I help you when you were harmed?" Link seemed to relax at that and the zebra smiled. "Zecora is what they call me, may I ask what is thee?" "Link." He replied. "So you can talk, for not a lot of Everfree wanderers can, that walk." "Where am I?" "You are in my hut in the Everfree, you are far from home I see?" Link nodded. "I have traveled the land far and wide, but I have never seen you at any side." "I am from a different kind of place. I would like to leave it at that Zecora if I may." Link didn't want to tell the truth about being transported to another world otherwise she would think he's crazy. Zecora nodded and grabbed a wooden bowl. She used a ladle to pour the contents of the cauldron into the bowl. The zebra then carried the bowl to Link and instructed him to drink it in one gulp. The bowl was held to his mouth as he did what he was told. The taste was foul and caused Link to recoil in disgust, but he felt the pain in his body start to fade. "Thank you, but why help a complete stranger like me?" "I always help all of those that are in need, but you especially are a special breed." Link had a puzzled expression, telling the zebra to explain. "A strange but good aura comes from you, also that mark on your hand gives me a special view." Surprised, he looked at his right hand. On it was the mark of the Triforce. She was referring to his power that was blessed by the Goddesses. Is she a sage? Link thought. "Anyway, you should take a week for a rest, for that would be the best." Link nodded and laid his head back down, closing his eyes. But what Zecora said was bothering him. Can the creatures in this world sense the bearers of the Triforce? Just what kind of powers do they possess? This world is very different from mine, so I have to be careful. I need to get home. Soon. It has been 3 days since the revival of Twilight Sparkle. After Twilight got back home, she received a bone-crushing hug from Spike. Spike saw Twilight as his big sister so he would've been devastated if he had lost her. She asked her friends and mentor how she was revived, but they were as baffled as her. The only thing they could say was that something that looked like a bright pink parasprite came along and Twilight just woke up. Although she was relieved that she wouldn't leave all her friends and family and was happy when they all celebrated a party just for her, she couldn't help but be curious about the thing that brought her back from the dead. She was also curious as to what happened to that strange creature that protected her. Twilight had a feeling that they both were linked together somehow. After looking up and reading every single book there was to try and find a logical answer only to find nothing, she decided to visit Zecora. Twilight hoped that the zebra would have new information since she traveled a long way from her native area to the Everfree Forest. It was no surprise when all five of her friends and Spike insisted on going with her. They all left Ponyville and were walking through the Everfree together, talking about the mysterious creature clad in green as they walked. "...and then the thing spun around so quickly I thought my head was going to get knocked off!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Yeah Rainbow, you already said that like four times now." Applejack remarked. "Which was the EXACT number of times it spun!" Applejack facehoofed. "I must agree with Rainbow Dash. What the individual did was quite heroic, considering the fact that we were chasing him not a moment before. It was a 'he' right?" Rarity asked. "I'm pretty sure it was a guy but his face looked kinda pretty. Almost like he would've had a girls name like... Zelda?" Pinkie Pie explained. "Now how'd you get that sorta' name?" Applejack questioned. "Just a hunch." "But then if he helped Twilight, why did he turn into a scary monster when I met him?" Fluttershy asked. "Maybe you can ask him when you meet him Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash joked. "There it is!" Spike announced from the top of Twilight's back. They all looked forward to see Zecora's hut not far from them. When they reached the door, Spike hopped down and Twilight knocked on the door three times. The familiar voice of a zebra was heard from behind the door. "Who knocks at my door, while I was waiting on the floor?" "Zecora? It's me! Twilight! I brought my friends with me too!" "Ah, come in, for I must wait for my cauldron's boiling to begin." Twilight opened the door and walked through. "Sorry to bother you Zecora, but I really need to find out the aaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! IT'S YOU!" Zecora, Spike and all five of Twilight's friends looked between Twilight's and Link's surprised expressions. Link only thought of one thing. Uh oh.