//------------------------------// // Awakening // Story: Legend of Zelda: Hero of Equestria // by Klearsky52 //------------------------------// The area was pitch black, darkness surrounding him at all sides. There was no noise at all, giving the place an unsettling atmosphere. Link was usually not scared by these types of things, but even he had to admit that this setting was sort of creepy. The darkness seemed to stretch on for miles in every direction. Link noticed that he was tired, taking heavy, labored breaths every second. Blood flowed freely from the cuts that he sported around his body. The sword he held in his left hoof had many chips and cracks, ready to shatter at any moment. He didn't know where he got his injuries, only just that he had them. The green tunic he usually wore felt heavier than normal, clanking as he walked forward. It was because he looked through one of the tears in his clothes that he saw he wore damaged chain mail armor underneath. He walked forward clumsily, occasionally tripping over himself before picking himself right back up again. Nothing revealed itself as he continued walking, which started to frustrate him. Where was this place and why was he in it with the stuff he had in this condition? For what seemed like hours, Link saw something. Somepony was just standing there, back turned, doing nothing. Link couldn’t really see anything the pony had in the dark environment. Nevertheless, he started to slowly walk up to him. “Mister! Sir! Can you help me? What is this place?!” Link shouted as walked to the pony. The pony didn’t respond for a bit. When Link was a small distance away from him did he finally turn around. When he did, Link’s eyes widened. The pony’s face was completely black with no distinguishable features on it whatsoever. It just looked at Link for a moment before it started changing. It’s body grew smaller as its head popped out ears. A black tendril came from its body before morphing into a sword just like Link’s. It sprouted clothes, morphing it into a perfect black replica of Link’s tunic and strange hat. Link just watched in horrified silence, his eyes getting wider and wider by the second as the creature continued to transform. When it was done, Link gasped. He was looking at a perfectly identical version of himself, if it weren’t for the fact that this thing was all black instead of green like he was. Two red dots glowed from each side of its face. Link guessed that those were the creature’s version of eyes, though it didn’t help him get rid of his fear in the slightest. Then the creature opened its mouth. Instead of regular flat teeth that a pony would usually have, the creature had sharp, pointy teeth with saliva sticking at the edges of his mouth. The dark monster then started to step towards Link. “Die,” it whispered as it advanced toward Link slowly. Link slowly started to back up, deciding whether to run and risk provoking it or to just stay here. “Die,” it said again, a little bit louder this time as it started to walk faster. “DieDieDieDieDieDie!” the creature shouted once again with growing intensity. Its slow hoofsteps started to turn into a run. “DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!” It was now fully upon him. “DIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!” It screamed as it lunged toward Link. Link yelped before bringing the sword in front of his face and-!!! “WAKE UP LINK!” SPLASH! “WAAGH!” Link’s eyes shot open as he sat up abruptly, panting heavily from his recent nightmare. Water dripped from his blonde mane on to his clothes. He shook his head left and right, spraying water everywhere in his attempt to clear his water filled eyes. When his vision cleared up, he saw a green earth pony looking down at him with a frown on his face. "You were sleeping," his father deadpanned, making Link flinch. It wasn't a question. It was a statement, like saying the sky was blue. "I... Er...well?" Link tried to say before he was immediately shushed by his father "Save it," he said before he started to glare at him. "You knew that there was going to be a big storm tomorrow night and that we have to pick all these apples before the storm knocks them all down, didn’t you?” “Yes…” Link mumbled before getting up and brushing the dust off his green tunic. He adjusted his lucky hat and then followed his dad to the big orchard behind the house. He thought about his recent nightmare. He never really dreamed when he was asleep. Even when he was having a nightmare, Princess Luna came and destroyed it quickly before leaving. Link also noticed that he had way less nightmares here, rather than that damned orphanage he used to stay at. Yes, he was adopted. If that wasn’t clear then the horn that rested upon his forehead made it obviously clear enough that he wasn’t part of the apple family, at least not by blood. All the apples were Earth ponies. He started to remember his days at the orphanage, how he was scared and lonely during the time. How everyone bullied him because of the strange hat he wore. How he would see everyone’s face brighten up when an adult pony came along, and then become sad again when they left with a different colt or filly. Link was quite used to this scene and even thought that he would stay here forever after watching more ponies picking up foals and fillies, but it all changed when he came. A stallion by the name of String Apple came along to the orphanage one day. His reason for being here was quite obvious. Anypony’s reason for visiting the orphanage was quite obvious. He was a tall stallion with noticeable muscles. Link could see every female’s eyes in the orphanage trailing over to to him. He walked up to the staff administrators and started to talk with them. Link, along with the other foals, peered around the corner, as they usually do when a new stallion or mare comes into the orphanage. After he was done talking to the staff he started to walk around. He occasionally looked around at the small colts and fillies at play with his eyes. He initially found it strange that the stallion didn't try to hold a conversation with any of them. Just a few short words before he excused himself. It was when the stallion walked near Link that they locked eyes. It was an electrifying moment. Link felt like his whole soul was being searched under his gaze. Analyzed. Calculated. Then the stallion turned around and left. Link then let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He hadn't felt that nervous in long time. He didn't even get that nervous when his babysitters yelled at him for not doing his chores. He later found out that the stallion left without picking any foal, confusing many of the fillies and colts, including him. "What's his problem? Trying to get our hopes up and then just leaving like that?!" One of the colts said, huffing angrily. "Maybe he's just getting things ready back at his home?" One of the fillies said. "It would make sense, especially if he's going to choose one of us." "It's probably gonna be me," the same colt boasted. "Who wouldn't want to pick me?" "How about all those other adults that chose everypony else." the filly retorted. The colt just turned around and pouted, before looking over to where Link was standing. "It's not like he'll choose gnome head over there, just standing alone everyday!" Link immediately started walking away, but not before hearing a "coward!" ring through his ears. He just wanted one break from it all but nooo, He had to live with these idiots. Link understood the fact that some ponies' personalities change when they lose their parents at a young age, but it didn't mean that he had to like it though. He then climbed to bed and fell asleep immediately. String Apple came back the next day. Instead of just looking around like he did yesterday, he was talking to the young ponies. Link didn’t know what the stallion talked to the children about and he certainly didn’t mind him, till the stallion came up to him again. Link was just eating his lunch, alone as usual, before he spooked him from behind. “Hello there.” “Woah!” Link almost threw his sandwich in the air as he quickly turned around to see the mysterious stallion standing behind him. “Hello there,” he said again before looking at him. His stare wasn't as analytic as it was yesterday, but it was still there, hiding under the layer of pleasantry his eyes was trying to give off right now. “My name’s String Apple. What’s yours?” “Link, sir,” “Nice to meet you Link,” Then they started to talk. Link couldn’t remember what they exactly said to one another except for that one question he asked on why his accent wasn’t like the rest of his family. It was common knowledge that the Apples had a very big family and had a southern country drawl that they mostly used in their speaking. “Its because my wife lived in the big city,” he answered, his gaze suddenly turning sad. “I learned to speak properly so that I could impress her parents. Unfortunately, she died due to an illness.” Link didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to say sorry because he knew that the stallion wouldn’t want to hear it. He went through the same phase ages ago. He knew what it was like to lose someone you loved and how everypony usually reacted to it when you told them. They said they understand what they were going through; that they would help them. But that was the problem. They didn't understand. They couldn't help them. Well, they probably could but the way they were going about it didn't help them at all. Link understood this, and he had a feeling the stallion in front of him did too. They talked a bit more. Nothing special, just their likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. But Link noticed that while they were talking that stallion observed him, like he did to him. He knew the stallion was storing every word he said to judge his personality and morals. Link would know because he did the same thing. Instead of talking, like the other colts and fillies his age would do, he would observed. He saw the world like a puzzle. Each little bit of information in a problem would fit together to make the picture more clearer. After they were done talking, String left the orphanage. But Link had a feeling that something big was about to happen. After about five days, Link was called to the reception area. When he walked there, his eyes widened as he saw String talking to the receptionist, who was called Caretaker. Caretaker was a white mare with a red mane. Her cutie mark was of two hooves holding a bundle of blankets. She was one of the only ponies that he liked. She was really nice and took extra care of him during his darker days. If it weren’t for her probably, he would have gone into a deep depression. She was the closest thing he had to a mother, since his real one died when he was born. Caretaker wasn’t like that to him only though. Everypony loved her because of her soft and kind personality. “Hi Link,” Caretaker said in her usual soft voice. “Do you know who this is?” “String Apple,” Link answered before nodding respectfully in his direction. He nodded back, but Link noticed that his eyes held amusement rather than his usual analytic gaze. Apparently something was up, due to the giggle Caretaker made before looking over to String, then back to Link. “My my, aren’t you formal today Link.” Caretaker laughed. Her laugh made Link smile a bit. He liked to hear it, especially if he was the one who made her laugh. “Always so respectful to everypony. Wouldn’t you agree Mr. String?” “I agree,” String said before smiling at Link, startling him. “He has been most respectful during our conversation yesterday.” “That’s good to hear,” Caretaker said, before her face hardened. “So, do you want me to tell him or do you want me to do it?” “Wait a moment, tell me what exactly?” Link asked, confused. String nodded to Caretaker, which she then lowered her head to Link’s level. “Link, String Apple is going to be your new father.” Silence immediately filled the air. Link could hear the small gasps coming from the foals that were hiding around the corner, before the others shushed them. Your new father. New father. Father. ...What? “You okay Link? You didn’t say anything at all ever since you woke up," String asked, jarring Link back to reality. He hadn't realized that they were already at the orchard. "Sorry, was just thinking about something," Link said. String hummed in thought. "Must be some serious thinking if it got you distracted," his father teased before going ahead into the orchard. Link just huffed angrily before following him. Rows upon rows of apple trees greeted them as they walked deeper in the small valley. Link thought that this orchard was very big, only for his dad to tell him that Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville was three times bigger than this. "There is enough time for us to still do our requirement, so no magic. Got that Link?" His father said before he started to buck the trees, knocking the apples off the branches. "Fine," Link said as he went to the shed near them and got out the buckets. Though his father had learned the ways of the city folk, his heart still laid with the Apple family. Their policy of pure hard work with no magic short-cuts came with that too. He positioned the buckets under the smaller trees and got to work. The hot sun blazed as Link worked, sweat pouring from his face down to the green fur on his body. Link's mind wandered once more as he worked, this time thinking about his first Apple reunion. He remembered being terrified at the time. Scared at the possibility that his new family may not like him. His father tried, and failed, to calm him down. Link had done everything he could. Wash and brush his fur, wash his mane, etc. He was about to cut his long mane when his father intervened, telling him that everything is going to be just fine. That didn't help him in the slightest though. When they finally got there to the meeting in Appleloosa Acres, Link was sweating bullets. He kept on gnawing on his hoof as he walked over there, with his father swatting his head and telling him not to do that. When they arrived, there were only a few ponies there. Soon, more came and mingled around. Link kept close to his father the hold time, feeling self-conscious of himself whenever some looked his way. Then came the announcements. Link couldn't remember what some of the reasons were for holding the reunion, but he knew that he was one of the main ones. So when he was introduced to the crowd, he certainly did not expect clapping and cheering. Link found that he socialized with his other family members quite well. They even told him that he looked like an Apple, save for his long mane and the fact that he was a unicorn instead of an Earth pony. He was talking to rather old pony, Granny Smith, he thought the name was, when his father popped a question at her. “Where is Applejack, Applebloom, and Big Macintosh? Did something happen to them?” his father asked, concern laced in his voice. “They’re fine. They got tah do th’ work at home. Big Mac’s sick n’ all and the apples got tah be bucked before sundown if we don’t want tah be behind schedule” Granny said before ruffling Link’s mane. “Now that ah think about it , yer look to be about ah year older or two than Applebloom, aren’tcha?” “He is,” Link’s dad confirmed before he grinned at Link. “I say that this meeting was a success, don’t you think?” “It certainly surprised me.” Link admitted as he looked up at his father, grinning as well. “Didn’t think it would go so well.” “Told you not to worry,” his father said before waving everypony goodbye. “Let’s go home, shall we? “Yup,” Link said before he followed his father to the train station. However, his thoughts were interrupted once again when he heard his father shouting. “Hello Caretaker! It's been awhile, hasn’t it?” At the mention of Caretaker’s name, Link immediately brightened up. Caretaker often visited them randomly, which was always welcomed by Link and his father. Link told his father of Caretaker's kindness and he told him that she was welcomed here all the time. Link quickly ran from the tree he was working and started to search for her. When he found her, he saw the both of them chatting with each other. "Carrie!" Link cried out, using the nickname he gave her sometime ago. "Carrie" turned around and smiled at Link. "Link!" she cried out before she rushed at him and nuzzled him. As soon as she did so, though, she wrinkled her nose and turned her head. "Phew! You stink! Take a bath!" Link smiled sheepishly while he rubbed the back of his head with his hoof, "Yeah, we had a lot of work today and you see what that made me into now." Carrie laughed, "Well I certainly can't say that it's not good for you. Look at all the muscle you got from this hard work. I wonder...you trying to impress the mares?" "EEWW!! NOO!!" Link shouted before jumping back. He stuck his tongue at her, making her laugh even more. "Seriously, you both act like children," String deadpanned, making the both of them look at him. "And you need to lighten up," Carrie said. "Besides, Link technically still is a child, so let him be one." "Not on this farm," String said proudly. "Everyone here's a self-respecting stallion." Carrie smirked, "Then explain why your 'so called stallion' is picking flowers right now?" String frowned, "Wait, what?" He looked over to find Link picking random flowers in the field. "Oi! Get back here! You're making me lose this argument!" "Huh?" Link said as he picked up one last flower and ran up to them. "I was just collecting flowers for her." "That's sweet of you." Carrie said, before eating them in one, big bite. Link looked on, horrified with what he'd seen. "Guess that's the end of that," String said before looking at the setting sun. "I think we should call it a day. We did a decent job today and we should finish up by tomorrow. You gonna come along, Caretaker?" Carrie yawned, "Don't think so. Got stuff to do at home." "How is your folks at home though?" String asked. Link then saw hurt and pain flash through her eyes before it was gone. She seemed to shudder for an instance before it was gone. Link chalked it up to his imagination. "They're fine," Carrie said quickly before she frantically looked at the sun again. "I must go now. See you later!" Link and his father waved her goodbye before heading over to the place they call home. "...Link..." Link froze. He turned around to see if Carrie was playing a prank on him, but she wasn't there anymore. Link, once again, thought it was his mind playing tricks on him again. "Help...me" Okay, so his mind was definitely playing tricks on him now. He didn't hear that voice through his ears. He heard it in his head. "Only...you...can..." "Is something the matter? You just stopped all of a sudden," String asked as he stopped to look over a Link, who was standing several feet behind him. Link shook his head. "Did you hear something? I thought I heard somepony speaking." Link asked. "No, I didn't hear anything. You're being paranoid so hurry up and take a shower. Caretaker was right, you do stink." Link shook his head, diminishing all thoughts on what just happened moments ago. He then focused on what was going to be for dinner tonight. He loved his father’s cooking. He looked over to his father, only to find him staring at him as well. “She would’ve loved you, you know,” He murmured quietly to himself. “Who?” Link asked, wondering why his father spoke out of turn. He usually didn’t do that. “My wife,” He answered solemnly. “If she were here now, I know she would have loved you.” Link looked surprised at that. “Can’t you just have a baby instead of adopting one?" His father sighed, “She was infertile.” “What?” “It means that she and I couldn’t have babies, even if we tried.” "Oh,” Link felt the need to stop the conversation right now, but his father continued it. “We were deciding to go to the orphanage down the dirt road from here,” String said as his eyes narrowed. “The one that you came from. I have a feeling that even if she were still alive, we would have picked you still.” Link’s surprise grew even more. “Really?” Link asked as his father gave him a smile. “I initially picked you because of the fact that you understand. You understood everything that was going on with me, even if I didn’t tell you it. Me and you were alike on so many levels. We both hated pity, people trying to go their way to help us when we don’t want help. We both had a mutual understanding of each other, whether we knew each other like best buds or distant strangers.” Link still kept the surprised look on his face, but nodded. He then noticed that they were now in front of his house, “Looks like we’re here. Call taking shower first!” Before his father could protest, Link already rushed upstairs, throwing his tunic and hat in the air, and stepped into the hot, inviting water. Link like living here. It was a simple life that he wanted to leave. He didn’t care about finding his cutie mark like the other ponies his age would still try to do. He knew that he probably wouldn’t get a cutie mark about apples anyway, but he didn’t care. He just wanted to live his life here and nothing will ever change that. Right?