• Published 28th May 2018
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Sleepless Nights And Speechless Angels - thelegendarytoothpaste

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Soldier, Poet, King

Link was offered supper for the night by Applejack. He was reluctant at first but relented. She seemed mighty happy he agreed. Winona looked happy too, though that was probably because she’s a dog.

He wasn’t all smiles though. He was emotionally exhausted and very thirsty because of all the talking he did. Applejack
chuckled.

“Y’had a heck of a time so far, huh? Would you like some apple juice?”

He gave a grateful nod. “Yes’m.”

She smiled. “I’ll get you a cool glass, then go wake Granny. Old hag’s been sleeping like Rip Van Winkle."

She did as she promised, and Link thanked her. He stared into the glass while Applejack wandered upstairs. He never met Granny Smith, though he was reasonably sure he saw her in passing at his welcome party. Link wondered if anyone ever threw Pinkie a party. He decided he would ask Twilight another time.

He sipped at the apple juice. He always liked it. It was his favorite drink next to milk. Mido was slightly allergic to apples and would sometimes go into Link’s house and take his drinks but leave the apple juice. Link got sick of it one day and switched the regular drinks with apple juice.

Mido’s face broke out in hives and the swelling didn’t go down for two days. He also never took Link’s food or drink again.

He looked to Winona, who had been eyeing him while he drank. He patted her on the head.

“I hope your owner doesn’t think less of me,” he said in Hylian. “I don’t know if Ishould or not.”

He smiled at the dog.

“I hope you don’t either,” he said in Equish.

“Granny!!! Wake up!”

Link jumped and looked to the stairs in worry. Was she okay?

He heard an older woman’s voice reply indignantly, though he couldn’t make out the words. He blinked. That was certainly one way to wake someone up.

He made a mental note to never take a nap at Applejack’s house.

“…an old mare like that, and especially one who helped raise her grammy. Did you know she drinks?”

“Granny, everypony knows she drinks. I’m pretty sure the Princesses know she drinks.”

“Well, I don’t like it one bit. Her grammy would turn in her grave if’n she saw her now.”

“Berry’s Granny isn’t dead.”

“She isn’t? I’m shocked. If there was ever anypony with two hooves in the grave-“

The two turned the corner and Link saw Granny Smith for the first time. She was a green mare with what used to be an apple on her flanks, and her eyes looked like they were always in a squint, as if she’d stared at the sun her whole life.

Her skin was heavily wrinkled, and her mane and tail were white.

“Where’s Big Macintosh?” she asked. She was staring directly at Link, who blinked and looked confusedly at Applejack. How the hell was he supposed to know?

“Granny, he’s still on his way back from that vacation of his. His train got delayed.”

“Where did he go for his vacation? When are you gonna take a vacation, AJ? I swear you work more than any of us do. And where’s Applebloom? What’s for supper?”

Applejack put a forehoof to her face.

“He went to Manehatten- we talked about this. The girls and I have a vacation planned in a few months- we talked about this. Applebloom’s having dinner with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle- we talked about this. Supper’s tomato soup.”

“Not apple soup?” snarked Hinka more to himself than anyone else.

Applejack snorted. Granny spouted a series of consonants and she squinted her eyes a bit more.

“Good golly, what is that thing?”

Hinka rolled his eyes and showed her his little finger1.

“Granny, this is Hinka. He’s that alien what Fluttershy’s bunny found in the Everfree.”

Granny’s eyes widened. “This is the alien?!”

Applejack gave her a deadpan stare.

Granny ignored her. “But he’s so….”

She took a few steps closer. “Tiny!!!!!”

Hinka showed her two little fingers.


Hinka’s head was bowed slightly and his eyes were closed. His hands were clasped together before his bowl and he softly muttered in Hylian. As she always did, Applejack stayed silent out of respect for his prayers. Granny only stared.

When he was done, he muttered one final word, and gave Applejack a nod of appreciation. She smiled at him.

“What was all that about?” asked Granny Smith.

“Hinka likes to say a prayer before he eats.”

“By babbling?” Granny Smith asked. He ignored her.

“He’s still learning Equish, Granny. That’s his native tongue.”

Granny gave a nod. “Good for him. Not too many kids pray like that these days.”

“He ain’t no normal kid. He’s very mature for his age.”

“How old is he?” Granny Smith asked. Applejack gestured towards him with a hoof.

“He’s right there. Ask him.”

Link blinked. He held up nine fingers, then swore to himself in Hylian. She was across the table from him, but she was also as blind as a bat.

“Sugarcube, Granny doesn’t have the best eyesight.”

“What’re you talking about? I can see just fine!” said Granny Smith, at the empty chair to her side.

“I am nine.”

Granny was silent for a moment.

“Ain’t that much younger than Applebloom or her friends, are you?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know how old they are.”

He didn’t particularly care, either. All he cared about was being treated as an equal.

“They’re good fillies. A bit hyperactive but if this town can reign Discord in, it can recover from whatever they cook up.”

Link was silent. Silent was still his favorite flavor.

“They all seem to really like you, Hinka,” said Applejack. “Applebloom thinks you’re really cool.”

Link was about to point out that they’d only met a few times but leave it to children to become so attached to another child so fast.

They were kind of cool too, he guessed.


Applejack walked him back to the castle. He was in better spirits than he was a few hours before.

“I want to thank you for being patient with Granny,” she said. “She’s well meaning, but she can be a bit much.”

She eyed Hinka in concern.

“Y’sure you don’t want to talk about anything else right now?”

He shook his head.

“Well, alright. If you change your mind, you know where to find us. I want to thank you for telling me what you did tell me today. You have my word that I won’t tell anypony else.”

He smiled in appreciation.

“Have a good rest of your night, Sugarcube,” she said. She tilted her hat to him and trotted off. Link waited until she was out of sight, and then opened the door.

Twilight was reorganizing one of the shelves as he walked in. He was pretty sure she’d already done that the night before. When she saw him, her eyes widened. She quickly left the shelf and approached him.

“There you are! I was beginning to worry. Spike came back from Karate ages ago. Where were you?”

She didn’t sound annoyed with him. Link could see relief in her eyes as well as concern. It was touching to him.

“I visited with Applejack,” he said. Twilight beamed at him.

“Good! How did it go?”

He gave a nod. “It was fine. We talked and had supper. I met her Grandma.”

Twilight smiled. “Granny Smith has a way about her. What did you eat?”

Only some of the best tomato soup he’d ever eaten before. Link loved tomato soup and could make an excellent version himself, but Applejack would claim it was due to a secret ingredient that hers was so good.2

Twilight looked out the window. The sun was beginning to set earlier. Summer was winding down. She smiled. Twilight loved summer, but she loved the colder months more.

“Tomorrow I don’t have any chores for you. Fluttershy does, though. She’s going to come around breakfast to get you, okay?”

He nodded.

“In the meantime, why don’t you go relax? Do whatever it is you want to do for the night!”

Anything?

He gave a nod of thanks and turned to the stairs. Twilight cleared her throat.

“Before you go, Hinka, I just wanted to say…”

He turned his head to acknowledge her.

“I’m really proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone and spending some time with AJ. If I can ask, did you two talk about anything in particular?”

He was silent for a moment and thought back to the stories he told her.

“Nothing special. We just talked.”

He continued up the stairs, not awaiting a response.


Link’s room was locked whenever he left the Castle. He was willing to leave it unlocked so long as he was there. He did not keep it locked to protect it so much as he did to keep the masks safe. He couldn’t care less about what happened to his slingshot, for instance. Someone once walked into his home while he was lounging and reading in Kokiri Forest and took his slingshot from his nightstand and walked out.

Link just shrugged and went back to reading. The Kokiri who stole it awkwardly returned it after she realized that Link didn’t give two shits that it was gone.

His masks, on the other hand? They were extremely important to him. Back home, he always kept them locked away in a storage chest he bolted to the floor. The others occasionally tried to get into it, but they couldn’t bust the lock.

He wished he had that security while he was stuck in Equestria. He didn’t like leaving his masks up on display. He especially didn’t like leaving Neki, Darmani, or Mikau’s masks up like that. It felt like he was displaying the heads of conquered people, though he knew he was at no fault for their deaths.

He wound up asking the three late one night if they minded being hung up like trophies or if they wanted him to put them away in a container of sorts.

Neki and Mikau didn’t seem to care either way, but Darmani preferred being displayed. He didn’t want to be hidden away. Link resolved to leave them all up for now and ensure his windows were also always locked with the blinds pulled so no nosy pony could look inside.

Link stared at the Fierce Deity for a few moments. It looked inert once more. His eyes wandered over to Majora; it too appeared dormant. Maybe it really was a matter of how close to one another the two were?

The Triforce drawings remained in good condition too. No scorch marks this time. And the Fierce Deity didn’t even try to burn his room down while he was gone! He was so proud.

He turned his attention to the prideful Goron and picked it up off the wall.

“Darmani, could I ask your advice on something?”

The Goron hero was silent, uninterested in replying to a question with an obvious answer.

“How much is too much to share?”

The Goron had to think for a minute.

Well, it depends. If you’re one with a powerful hunger, then you should mind who you share with. Some will take more than others.

Link had to think for a minute. He was hungry for peace of mind, sure, but he wasn’t ravenous. He didn’t want to overburden anyone, and he especially didn’t want his war stories getting out.

“Do you think a farmer would spill the beans?”

I would be careful on what I share with a farmer. Their jobs are to grow and manage crops. It’s natural for them to spill beans.

“Who would you share with?”

I would probably start with someone small, like a child. They have less appetite in most cases and it’s more reasonable that way.

Link blinked. Appetite? Appetite for knowledge maybe? Gorons were weird.

“How much would you share?”

Depends on the kid. Some you can get away with just a little bit, and others you must pretty much just give the whole plate to.

“The whole plate?”

Or platter. It depends on what sort of meal we’re talking about.

Link facepalmed. “I’m not talking about eating, Darmani. I’m talking about old stories and memories.”

Oh.

Link shook his head in his hand.

Well, that’s different, then.

Link stared at the mask.

“What I’m saying is, I shared three of my stories with one of the natives here. One of the ones who saved my life.”

Ah, yes. The infamous colorful magic horse people.

“Coming from the spirit of a rock person,” he said in Equish.

What?

“Are you going to help me or not?”

I’m sorry. I don’t mean any offense. I’m just still struggling to comprehend this whole situation you found yourself in.

“As am I.”

Silence reigned supreme for but a few moments. Downstairs Link could hear Twilight chattering with someone, though he couldn’t make out the words.

I think it’s good you’re sharing your stories. Which ones did you tell?

“The Gerudo guard, the pirate, and the undertaker.”

Bad business. How did your friend handle it?

“She didn’t kick me out or have me committed, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Link could practically feel Darmani sigh.

I still want to see them.

“You can in due time. I haven’t even shown them the power of my masks yet.”

If these creatures truly exist, why not leave the Goddess and the Fiend to them?

Link looked to his door, and then back down at Darmani’s mask.

“Well, what do you know of the Elements of Harmony?”


Link stayed up late that night telling Darmani the tales that Fluttershy had told him. He told him of his fears. He was no mage, but he believed that the Elements specialized in either turning evil inanimate or separating it from the physical realm. If they tried to turn Majora or the Deity inanimate while they were dormant, he didn’t think anything would happen.

If they separated the spirits from the masks, however… Majora would once again find herself at her unparalleled strength, and he had no idea what would happen to the Fierce Deity.

Darmani, upon hearing his concerns, suggested he ask his friends questions about the Elements of Harmony and what they do. Link agreed, though he would have to do so slowly. He didn’t want them asking too many questions in turn.

He made a deal with Darmani. There was a picture over the fireplace in the Castle dining room of Twilight with her many, many friends. One night soon he would wear Darmani’s mask and show him the picture. The Goron would accept it as proof enough to stop pestering him to get help.

Link was already getting all the help he needed.


For the first night in a while, Link slept soundly. He did not suffer a night terror, nor did he awaken anywhere throughout. It was unusual. Normally, if he wasn’t having a nightmare, he was waking up in the middle of the night for one reason or another- maybe he heard a bump in the night, or he was compelled to check Majora and the Fierce Deity. Sometimes he would wake up to use the bathroom.

When he woke up the next morning, his blood ran cold. Before he even sat up, he knew that someone had come into his room. He instinctively reached under his pillow for his dagger which wasn’t there. He still didn’t know where his weapons were, not that he was terribly upset.

When he rubbed his eyes, he saw a butter colored pegasus eyeing one of the masks- one of the least threatening in his collection: the Bremen Mask.

He yawned and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The sound got her attention, and she turned to face him with an “Eep!”

“I’m so sorry to have come in uninvited,” she said. “I was going to wake you. You just looked so peaceful though.”

She smiled gently at him.

“You should show that side more often.”

He rubbed one of his eyes.

“There are some things in my past I can’t turn off.”

Fluttershy’s smile left her face. She looked down and scuffed at the floor gently with a hoof.

“Letting the past lie is tough. How did you sleep?”

Link gave a thumbs up. Fluttershy took a step closer.

“Words, please?”

He sighed.

“I slept well. Better than I have in a long time.”

She smiled brightly at him.

“That’s wonderful! I hear you spent some time with Applejack. And that you humbled Rainbow in Karate.”

He blushed slightly.

“I’m proud of you, Hinka. On both fronts.”

She pulled him in for a hug and she kissed the top of his head.

“Keep doing that, please. Come to any of us whenever you need if you want to talk. Nopony will say a word if you don’t want us to.”

“Even Pinkie?” he asked half-jokingly.

“Especially Pinkie. She loves to laugh and have fun, but she knows how to be serious when somepony needs her to be.”

She smiled at him again.

“But I have a feeling you’re tired of talking about yesterday. I was looking at your masks and I like this one. It almost gives off an aura of authority and leadership. What is the importance of it?”

She pointed to the Bremen mask with a hoof. Link chuckled.

“It’s a mask that I was given by a man who used to belong to an animal troupe. He stole it from the leader, who he says was a dog. He gave it to me for listening to his confession. It helps calm most animals into falling in line.

It works on the undead too,” he said. He looked up at Fluttershy.

“It’s called the Bremen Mask.”

“The Bremen Mask,” Fluttershy echoed. She smiled at Hinka.

“Some of the chores I have for us to do today involve some baby rabbits. Would you like to bring it?”

Link shrugged. Fluttershy’s ears drooped. “I really think you should. You’ll have fun.”

Link looked to the Bremen Mask again. He had no issues with it, and it was related to no foul memories. Link just felt he looked incredibly dorky with it on. Almost as dorky as he did with the Romani Mask.

Come to think of it, how come he was the only one in the milk bar that had to wear that mask? All the adults could drink whatever they wanted without wearing it.

His eyes widened. Did those bastards trick him because they thought he’d look cute in it?

He looked to Majora. “Maybe I should’ve let you destroy Termina,” he said in Hylian.


Link finished his morning prayer just as Twilight set down his breakfast before him. She and Fluttershy were going to eat with him and Spike had the day off, so he was sleeping in.

As always, they gave Link respectful silence while he prayed. When he was done, the three dug in.

“So, Starlight wrote me yesterday,” said Twilight.

“How is she?” asked Fluttershy.

“She’s good. She should be coming back in a few weeks. Her mom made a full recovery and her father landed a new job.”

“That’s wonderful news! What’s her Dad doing now?”

“Apparently, he’s a postal inspector3 now. He loves it.”

Link looked at Twilight, and then at Fluttershy, and then shrugged and went back to his meal. It wasn’t his conversation to be having.

“Hinka?”

Oh. Apparently, it was. He looked at Twilight.

“Starlight Glimmer is a student of mine. She’s been helping her family for the last few months because they’d fallen on hard times, but there’s a good chance she’ll be coming back here to live with us.”

Link was quiet. Twilight smiled reassuringly.

“She’s very nice. You’ll like her. I’ll let you know when I have more information, okay?”

He nodded.

Twilight frowned and tilted her head.

“No words today?” she asked.

He blinked.

“Still a little groggy,” he said. She smiled.

“Ah. Makes sense.”

She giggled. “I need to get you an alarm clock, lazybones.”

He smiled shyly.

“Promise me you’ll be good for Fluttershy?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No, I’m going to be a picture of chaos and disharmony itself.”

Fluttershy giggled. “I don’t think chaos would suit you so well, Hinka. Unless you want lessons from Discord.”

He looked at her confusedly. Fluttershy smiled once more.

“Remember those stories I told you about him? Discord is very sweet deep down.”

Twilight laughed bitterly.

“I don’t think you can say that in the same sentence as his name.”

“Twilight,” she scolded gently. “He may have his moments, but deep down he is one of the kindest friends we have. He just gets carried away sometimes.”

Twilight shook her head with a smile. “Alright, alright. I guess he can be nice from time to time. Only… where has he been?”

Fluttershy shrugged. “I don’t know. I’d be worried if he weren’t immortal.”

The phone began to ring. He instinctively jolted.

“That must be my mom. Leave your dishes when you’re done! I’ll take care of them,” said Twilight. She excused herself and headed for the phone.


In the end, Fluttershy had managed to convince Link to bring the Bremen Mask with him. It hung on his belt as they walked. It was a beautiful day out and quite comfortable too.
“Now remember, Hinka: The most important thing for you to be doing here is having fun. Nocreature will hurt you so long as you don’t hurt them.”
He nodded.
Fluttershy’s cottage was in view now. Link could already make out Angel Bunny in the distance. He appeared to be tapping his foot with his arms crossed impatiently.

When they got closer, Link saw what the problem was: Angel’s food bowl was empty.

The second Angel laid eyes on Link, his grumpy demeanor vanished, and he became the absolute picture of a, well, Angel. Either he was still grateful to Link for saving his life, or he was downright afraid of him. Possibly both.

Link glanced down at the mask, and then at Fluttershy. She was smiling nervously over at Angel.

“I’ll be back in a moment, Hinka.”

She began to trot over to Angel, who was still being as well behaved as he could be. He smiled nervously at Fluttershy while she apologized for his empty bowl and took it inside to fill it. Angel gave his head a shake and waved a paw dismissively.

Link was confused. Did he really make everything that awkward? Sure, he looked different, but…

*POP*

Link stumbled back to his rear with a gasp.

Before him was an enormous mismatch of creatures. Was it a goat? A serpent? A bird? A pony? It had two different wings on its back, a lion’s paw for one hand and what looked like eagle’s talons for another, and a goatee. Its eyes were yellow and red, and both of different sizes. Fluttershy rushed back out the door and she let Angel's bowl clatter to the ground behind her. For a split second, Link saw rage in her eyes; she had hunched herself down and spread her wings level with the intruder, as if she were prepared to maim anything that might hurt the boy. It was the first time Link saw a demonstration of the training Fluttershy had, though it quickly evaporated when she realized what was happening. She loosened her stance and looked up neutrally.

The creature was taller than Fluttershy, so it towered over Link as well. Link instinctively reached for the blade on his back, though he knew it was not there.

“I’m baaaack! Oh, dear Fluttershy… don't ever let anyone tell you that vacation is not hard work. I cannot tell you how exhausting it was! Just finding a place for my hammock… do you have any idea how difficult it is to pitch a tent in between dimensions? Don’t want to go and offend any Gods and encroach on their territory… though I don’t think Amaterasu would have minded terribly.”

The creature (its voice told Link it was a male) snapped with his talons. A white wolf with red markings and a flaming green disc on its back landed before them. It looked to the three confusedly, then scowled at the mismatched creature before flicking its ink covered tail and vanishing.

“Hmm… perhaps I should’ve asked permission first. Or introduced myself. But enough about me! How are you?”

Fluttershy said nothing. She only stared daggers at the creature. For the first time, Link saw it visibly recoil.

“Eh… did I miss something important? Is this about the eggs in the attic?”

Eggs?

Fluttershy, holding her glare on the creature, held out a forehoof to the fallen Hinka behind him.

He turned about and acknowledged him for the first time. Then, he put his paw to his chin, as if contemplating something particularly important instead of just Link. He leaned forward and began to stare him in the eyes.

Link too scowled, and showed his little finger to-

“Hinka, this is Discord the draconnequs. Our friend,” said Fluttershy through clenched teeth.

The mismatch creature appeared perplexed. He seemed to pale for a moment.

“Were you the one who clinged to my coat tails on my last trip through the ether? That’s quite impolite young man.”

Link was silent. Fluttershy had mentioned him a few times. He was apparently a God of Chaos and Disharmony who had several times nearly beaten her and her friends and taken over Equestria as a whole. He was stopped only by the Elements and by Fluttershy being able to make friends with anything. Link believed he could stop him with the Master Sword too, though, given Discord was a God of Chaos, who was to say it would be a permanent stop.

At any rate, Link was, deep down, starting to like it in Equestria. He was putting down roots here, though he wouldn’t admit it. That was something he was never able to do before. He always wanted to move around and explore. He found his thirst for adventure quenched for far longer in Equestria than it had been anywhere else before.

He wasn’t, however, the type to stay home when he could be outside. Back in the forest, Link was notorious for going stir crazy if he had to be cooped up somewhere for too long. It was why he spent so much time in the Lost Woods. Saria would joke he’d even get a little stir crazy in the Lost Woods eventually too.

His eyes wandered over to the Everfree Forest. He began to wonder if they were the Lost Woods as seen from another dimension. Termina had an answer to them in the Woods of Mystery, though Link found those trees less inviting. When he walked those trees, he couldn’t see the moon overhead. Not knowing where the giant hunk of rock was scared him.

Discord snapped his talons in front of Link’s face. Link blinked a few times and looked up at him again.

“Not much of a talker, are you? You’re worse than that plumber.”

Link said nothing. Fluttershy sharply cuffed Discord in the gut with a wing. He let out an “Oof” as he began to physically deflate.

“Discord here can be a little much sometimes, but inside he’s a real softie. I hope you two become good friends too.”

Link looked at the pile of chaos that used to be Discord. A headstone had appeared behind him reading his name.

“If you could wait here a minute with him, I’d appreciate it. I have to fetch some food for the animals.”

Whether she was asking Discord to watch Link or Link to watch Discord was unknown, but Fluttershy walked off towards a shed in the distance anyway. Link looked to the pile of draconnequs. He could hear a faint version of "Taps" playing from somewhere on the wind.

Link, sighing, nudged the pile of chaos with his foot, then, when that didn’t work, he got a stick and poked it.

Discord chuckled a bit. “That tickles.”


Eventually Discord got bored and began to inflate himself again with an air pump.

Link only stared blankly.

“You do smell funny, you know.”

Discord appeared to be pondering something, and he sniffed audibly.

“Smells somewhat familiar. Trees. A lot of trees. Honey. Iron, freshly washed clothing, bandages, and…”

Discord sniffed again.
“Blood.”

Link was silent.

“Not the blood in your veins. The blood on your hands. You’re a killer, aren’t you?”

Link looked to his feet, his expression sad, then hardening. He eyed Discord.

“What business is it of yours? I’ve done many good deeds. For which do you intend to stone me?”

“I don’t.”

Link glared. Discord lowered himself to appear at eye level.

“I’m not accusing you of anything. I can also smell quite a bit of benevolence on you. You’re a good pony, aren’t you?”

“I’m no pony.”

Discord was silent a moment, shrugged, and snapped his fingers. Link was now a pony. An Earth Pony at that.

A normal person who was instantly and painlessly transformed into an alien creature might panic. Link was jaded to curses and transformation. He simply looked himself over, then eyed Discord again.

“As I was saying, I don’t mean to accuse you of anything. I’m only saying what I can sense, and I sense violence in your past.”

He snapped again, and Link was himself once more.

“I’m not judging you based on your past. Rather I’m judging whatever powers allowed for you to experience these things.”

Discord snapped again, and Link felt a strange fuzzy feeling around his head. He opened his eyes and paled; before him he was watching his battle with Odalwa. It quickly changed to a fight with Nabooru, then a fight with an Iron Knuckle, and finally he saw himself staring down Ganondorf with his blade in hand.

As quickly as it began, it stopped. The image vanished.

“You’ve got quite a bit of willpower, don’t you?”

Link looked up at him in horror.

“By that look on your face I’d say you saw some of your memories play out before you. They were supposed to play out for me too. Yet, I see nothing.”

He tapped his chin. “I wonder why that—”
Discord trailed off a moment and smiled at him.
“Ah. Maybe that’s the reason.”

Link stared blankly and Discord pointed at his left hand. He looked down.
The Triforce looked back at him.

“I suppose I’d better do a bit of studying on that symbol of yours.”
Before Link could say anything, Discord snapped his fingers and appeared to swallow himself.
“Toodles!”

Link only stared at the Triforce on his hand. Was it protecting him from Discord? Was it just reacting to the memories played back in his head?

What just happened?

He felt a hoof on his shoulder, and he jolted. Fluttershy gasped and pulled back.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you Hinka.”

He turned to her; his eyes still wide. She smiled gently at him.

“Discord’s a bit silly, but deep down he is a real sweetheart. I hope you become friends with him too Hinka.”

He blinked. Fluttershy tilted her head and frowned a bit.

“What’s wrong with your hand?”

He looked at the back of his hand. The Triforce looked back at him.

He put a hand over it and looked up at her.

“Where should I start with the animals?”

End of Chapter

Author's Note:

1- Rude Kokirian gesture translating roughly to “Fuck yourself”.
2- Apples.
3- The Equestrian Postal Inspection Service, or EPIS, was well known for its unfortunate motto, ‘Lick it before you stick it.’

Hey look, I did a thing.
After much deliberation, that is.
Maybe I'll think about doing another thing too. That'll be fun.
Next chapter picks up where something leaves off or something. You know how it is. I hope you enjoyed.