With help of one of Celestia's guards, Link and the others were shown the place of this darknut attack that just happen moments ago. It sounded like a challenge for the other small battalion, but it shouldn't be that much of a challenge for Link since he has defeated dozens before back in Hyrule.
"Is this the place, sir?" The Hylian asked.
"Yes." The escort replied. "Me and my fellow comrades were right here when that... thing came and ambushed us. What kind of a creature was that anyway?"
"A darknut. And.... I really don't know what they really are under that armor, but obviously a monster so dark and sinister."
"Hence the name Dark." Twilight agreed.
"Right." They all looked around and they couldn't find such an enemy anywhere."looks like he's gone or something.
"Hey you!" Said a voice. They all looked and it looked like the dog like mobsters that were attacking him on the first night he was teleported to Equestria. The four monsters in the posse had machetes with them while the wader was carrying a large two-bladed ax.
"The Diamond dogs? What are these dirty ruffians doing here?" Rarity said
"Wait, you recognize them?" Link asked
They all said yes to him. "These guys are a bunch of thieving dogs. Literally and figuratively." Applejack pointed
"How did you come across them?" Spike asked
"Well, it was the night I came here then guys like them popped out nowhere, demanding me my rupees, or they kill me. I didn't want anything ugly to happen, but they didn't give me any choice."
"Oh. That is completely understandable." Fluttershy said
"I'm pretty sure we can take these meatheads all at once." Rainbow gloated. She did a battle pose right next to Link
"Meatheads?" Said a diamond dog. "Now you will all suffer!"
"Easy troops, it's the freak we want." Said the leader
"He's no freak!" Spike said. "You guys are.
"Now you will all die." The leader concluded. They all yelled and charged at the battle-ready warriors Link was in.
Now, something just happened unexpectedly. Out of nowhere, a large, human-like figure jumped over them, ready to take them on. "Don't touch the young Hylian. He is mine." The man said nobly. Link and the others all realized that he was the darknut they had heard before they arrived.
"Hmm, get him boys!" The leader ordered. The dogs all charged at the knight and fought with all their might, but they were all thwarted like the man didn't even try. The leader fell to the ground and they all turned to black dust in a cloud of evil smoke.
The knight slowly turned around and got a glance at the hero of Twilight, Colin, and the others. He was in the same posture like Link and Colin were, except he was way bigger and giant than them of course. He was wearing golden armor with one Spike on his shoulder pads, and his helmet had two horns on it. He also had a sword and shield like Link did, but they looked a little more majestic and were gold instead of brownish-black. "That's- that's him!" The escort exclaimed in fear.
Colin stammered "Is I really the- the-?"
"A darknut." Link finished. "Yes. He readied his master sword and Hylian shield and was ready for a fight that will happen this time with no further interruptions.
"He's huge!" Pinkie exclaimed "there's no way you can take him!"
"Don't worry, Pinkie." Link said. "I will be just fine."
"Ah. The hero of Twilight is here." The knight said in a majestic voice. "I have been looking all over for you, you know?"
"I can see that. Let me guess you want revenge on me for what I did to your 'lord Ganondorf' I presume?"
"Oh no. I am a rogue. And, that demon king Ganondorf is not my lord, or my people's." The knight retorted
"What do you want then?" Fluttershy asked him
"I was just looking for the hero of course, and I want.... to ask for his help. And yours"
Link gave a confused look. "Our... help?"
"Well yes, but first I want to test my sword with yours, kid. No killing allowed and keep it clean."
"Why would I do that?" Link asked him demandingly
"Because I might have to.... cause havoc in that little adorable town."
Twilight lmurted "What? You leave Ponyville out of this!"
"I cannot do that, little pony." The darknut explained. "I desperately need your help." He slightly bowed his head down in light remorse. "Me and my people are not what you think they are, Link"
"How do you know my name?"
"You're becoming quite famous around Hyrule since you were the one who freed it from the hands of Ganondorf himself.
Link did remember that everyone is calling him a hero for that deed and great things he has done. "Oh yeah. Well, how do I know this isn't a trick?"
"Yes, please don't let it be a trick." Fluttershy begged nervously.
"If it was a trick would I be standing here and not attacking you at all?"
The others were taken aback by what the knight said, and realized that he was right. "Good point." Said Fluttershy. "I suppose that is true."
"Alright. But no tricks, and no thinking about hurting my friends and Ponyville, or you will fall by the name of the master sword." Link warned. The knight wasn't scared by this one little bit.
The menacing looking brute just said "Hmph. You do have true courage within yourself young one. I like that."
"What are you guys anyway?" Colin asked out of nowhere. "Are you Hylians? or like Ganondorf? or what?"
The knight looked at the young boy. "Well, if you must know, I will show you what kind of 'monsters' you think we are." he said smugly. He held his helmet with a firm grasp with a clang sound heard from it, and slowly started taking it off. His head revealed to be a black dog-like monster with red eyes, and erect ears.
Many of them were horrified by his appearance. Well, not all of them "Awesome!" said Rainbow Dash. Of course she would think that is really cool. Fluttershy became less scared because of his dog-like features.
"I am Mathayus, leader of the dog-men race." he said.
"Well, Mathayus, shall we fight then?" Link asked him. "Because I would like to get this over with right now."
The creature chuckled. "Don't worry, I will make this quick."
Rights for this track go to Nintendo.
He readied himself, as did the hero. They glared at eachother for a few long seconds. The creature put his helmet back on, and they clashed their swords.
"Get him Link!" Applejack said "Whoop his butt!"
"Show that guy who's boss!" Rainbow added
As they fought, this darknut was more difficult than the others he had face. Probably because he was the leader like he said. Link dodge many strikes from Mathayus as he stroke his sword on the grass many times.
The Hylian did a helm splitter and knocked his helmet out in midair. Mathayus snarled and did a wolf growl as he swung his sword with great ease, knocking Link's shield off from his hand. He was about to decapitate Link, the hero made a backflip and jump attacked him, making the monster stagger.
Unlike the other darknuts he had face however, an armor piece did not come off of him.
The others cheered him on anyway. "Nice going Link!" Fluttershy cheered
"Go Link!" Twilight added
"Rather touching you have good friends for support." Mathayus said. "No matter, I will defeat you anyway." He charged at the hero again and clashed his sword with Link's. The hero struck blades with him dozens of times and then he parried the beast and side-jumped, doing a back slice, making the creature stagger again
"had enough?" Link said
"Oh no. I'm just getting warmed up." Mathayus retorted. Link made two backflips and recovered his Hylian shield. Ready to use it against any blows again.
The hero charged at him and bash his shield at the darknut, trying to push him down, but alas, the large dog-like monster was too big for him to move. Mathayus pushed Link down with great force. The hero got back up and pulled out his large ball and chain. He swung the chain with great speed and aimed it at the darknut. The beast was successfully knocked out by the impact and fell to the ground.
The hero put his ball and chain back in magic pouch and pulled out his two primary weapons once again. The others cheered him on again.
"Way to hit him, Link!" Spike cheered.
"No bad." Mathayus said, getting back up. "Pretty crafty, but let's just settle this with our blades."
"Very well." They both charged and swung their sword on many different directions as they were clashing nonstop. Finally, Link did four slashes across him with great force, and then the creature fell to his knees.
The others cheered for Link went up to congratulate him for his amazing performance and determination. Mathayus panted, already exhausted
"Link. You did wonderful." Said Fluttershy.
"Well, i suppose the goddesses were right to chose you as the hero of legend." The darknut said. "Well done."
"Uh, thanks I guess?"
"Now, will you all please hear me out?"
The others looked at one another, glancing. "How do we know it is not a trick to sneak on Link then smite him?" Rarity said suspiciously
"I promise, by the code of the knights, I will not harm him, or any one of you. Link has won fair and square against me."
"Well, i suppose I might as well try and hear what you have to say. Now, why were you looking for me? And what kind of help are you talking about?" Link asked the creature.
Mathayus cleared his throat. "I probably know what you are all thinking, you are thinking that I am evil because of how I look. I can promise you that I am not. I know chivalry and mercy as much as any knight or paladin. He got back up on his legs.
"Then why do you attack my comrades a little while ago?" The escort asked
"Forgive me for doing that, but they did not give me any choice. They refused to listen to me. Now, our people have always been hated, cast off, and always looked down as lower class creatures."
Some remorse were already building up on Link, Colin and the others. Of course, Fluttershy was the one who has the most sympathy for them.
"I have came to ask for the assistance from the king of Hyrule, but he denied everything we wanted, and he sent us to Snowpeak in exilement. Then, that was when we met Ganondorf. I was foolish to accept the offer he was given me and my people. He promised that if we served him, we can have the freedom we deserve, and rule Hyrule with peace together."
"And then he betrayed you... right?" Colin asked
"Yes. That is right. He brainwashed me and my fellow troops to serve him against our free will. After you killed him, Link, we felt the spell broken, and then we were free from that double crosser. I figured that now would be a perfect chance to ask the assistance of Princess Zelda for her help, but then, I was suddenly transported here to this strange land. All I am asking is your help make peace with my race, and the other races of Hyrule that look down upon us as monsters.
Pinkie had tears escaping her eyes "That's the saddest story ever!" She sobbed
"I... I had no idea you felt this way." Twilight said. "We didn't know that you were all treated like this."
"I know. You poor thing." Said Fluttershy. She went over to Mathayus for comfort and placed her hoof on his back as she was hovering in midair.
"I still don't know about this." Said Rainbow. "How do I know we can trust you?"
Mathayus replied by saying "if you didn't trust me, you wouldn't be alive."
"Good point." Said Spike.
"Well, perhaps I can help you out, but right now we got bigger problems. You see, I have these visions of these.... changelings lately, that are going to invade Hyrule if we do not stop them, along with Equestria."
This sounded very peculiar to peculiar to Mathayus. "That definitely sounds like trouble brewing." He said. "Perhaps I can be of service to you. Please, I am begging you, Link. I need you to help me, my race depends on you. I want to show you that we are a very proud and trustworthy and friendly race that can work well for the princess and all of Hyrule."
Fluttershy, Rainbow, Link, and the others huddled together. "He sounds like he is telling the truth." Applejack said
"How would you know that?" Epona asked
"I have a sense that can let me know if somepony is lying or not. I am the element of honesty, you know."
Epona was a little confused, but she said "well, whatever you say,but I don't know about this. I still have this feeling in my stomach not to trust him."
"I say we should." Fluttershy said. "He does nit sound like a really bad guy. He just needs to be accepted with all his kin."
"That is true." Said Twilight. Besides, I am getting a little curious about him and the dog-men race of his."
"Always being a researcher, eh Twilight?" Spike joked lightly
"Come on, Spike." Said Rainbow. "Let's be serious about this. I don't know if I can trust him either, but he can be some help with this problem going on.
"Okay, it's official. Let's tell him" said Twilight. They all separated and they looked at the creature again. "Alright, Mathayus. "That's your name, right?"
"Yes."
"Right, I suppose you can come along with us."
"But don't even think of trying to hurt anypony around here, or you'll be sorry." Rainbow warned, smacking her hooves three times.
"Very well. I promise you that I will not commit such acts. You all have my word as a true knight of honor"
"Okay. You may be with us, but you are being watched. So please be willing to help us like you say you will and maybe I will help you with you and your people." Link remarked
Mathayus smiled. "Perfect. I thank you. Mighty hero." Then he bowed to him in respect.
"Wonderful. Well we should probably tell the Princess' that we already taken care of the problem now." Fluttershy said gladly. "I think you should meet them Mathayus."
"And apologize t those soldiers you just attack that I was with." The escort added
"Very well."
"Okay, let us be on our way then." Link said happily. They all followed the mane six back to the castle, but even though they and the darknuts are on friendlier terms, they are still a little cautious and weary of this rogue knight. Can they trust this Mathayus? Or not?