There was a long, long second of shocked silence.
Then Epona started laughing.
The others were only able to stare at her, mixed expressions of confusion and shock on their faces. Well, for the Equestrians, it was mostly confusion—except for Octavia. Link guessed that Saria had told her about fairies, and what they were.
Ruto and Darunia also looked confused, but Saria’s expression was shocked. Her eyes were wide, mouth hanging open slightly.
“Oh, good one.” Epona chuckled, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “I really thought you were serious for a second…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed Kaepora’s grave expression.
A frown set over her face.
“You were serious?” She said. “No way. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It doesn’t?” Kaepora said simply. “Think.”
Epona glanced at Link, her expression begging him for assistance, but all he had to offer was a helpless shrug.
It did make sense.
Looking back, Link didn’t know why he hadn’t noticed it earlier. It was so obvious.
“No way.” Epona repeated, shaking her head. “I mean…how? Is she in me, or…”
“Your bodies and minds fused perfectly.” Kaepora shuffled his wings, head twitching from side to side. “Your personality was dominant over hers, and she gave you your ability to speak, think and feel…like everyone else.”
Epona’s eyes widened, face sinking into a helpless expression. But then she frowned, shaking her head stubbornly again.
“I can’t believe it.” She admitted. “If I was Navi, wouldn’t I have…I don’t know, memories or something? If our ‘bodies and minds fused perfectly’?”
“You do.” Kaepora confirmed. “You remember journeying through the Temples, you know how to explore them and solve puzzles. Every time you come across a creature from Hyrule, you know exactly what it is, and how to defeat it. Those were all from Navi’s memories with Link, as well as her vast store of knowledge.”
“It can’t be true.” Epona shook her head yet again…but there was something different in her tone now.
Something fearful.
As if she knew the truth, but didn’t want to admit it.
“Link just talked to me a lot.” She argued. “Maybe I didn’t know what he was talking about at the time, but now I do, because I can remember him talking to me and understand what he’s saying. He did tell me a lot of things!”
“But he distinctly describe to you every enemy?” Kaepora pressed. “Exactly what his fairy companion said about them—their weak points, how to defeat them?”
Epona glanced away, her face expressionless.
“No.” The owl answered for her. “He didn’t. But you knew anyway.”
“Please, no.” Epona shook her head harder—not as if she was disagreeing, but as if she was trying to shake something free. Her voice was choked with fear.
What is she so worried about? Link wondered, taking a step towards her.
“Your memories are returning, are they not?” Kaepora bobbed his head in a nod. “Don’t try to fight it—it will, ultimately, benefit you.”
“Make it stop!” Epona wailed. “I don’t want this!” She clutched at her head, stumbling backwards.
Link stepped toward her again, hoof out uncertainly, unsure of what to do. She was hunched over, trembling, eyes squeezed shut.
“Do not fret.” Kaepora assured him. “She is not in any danger—neither is she feeling any pain. But have two memories of the same moment, both from different viewpoints…I imagine it is quite confusing.”
“Get them out!” Epona lunged forwards, slamming her head into a rock.
“Woah!” Link said, alarmed. She reeled back, ready to hit herself again; but he wedged himself between her and the stone, shoving her away as best he could. She was much larger than him, and definitely stronger—he didn’t know how long he could hold her.
“Little help?” He called to the others. Darunia, as well as the Ponyvillians, trotted over instantly. Saria hung back—a wise move on her part, as her small body could be all-too-easily crushed beneath Epona’s flailing hooves. Ruto stayed behind as well, but more from fear and alarm than thought of personal safety.
Darunia took Link’s place, and the burly Goron was much more capable of holding the thrashing Epona back from the rock. When she spotted an opportunity, Bon Bon darted close, grabbing Epona’s left foreleg and holding it down. Lyra and Vinyl both lit their horns, securing Epona’s back legs with magic. Link followed Bon Bon’s example, darting forwards in an unguarded moment and holding her right foreleg.
Epona twitched and thrashed beneath their grip, threatening to throw them off at any second.
“Can’t you help us?” Link demanded, glancing at Kaepora. He gave a small yelp as Epona’s foreleg jerked upwards, her knee nearly slamming into his chin.
“There is nothing I nor any of you can do to help her right now.” Kaepora said calmly. “She’s beyond reason.”
“I thought you said she wouldn’t be in pain!” Saria called.
“She isn’t.” The owl hooted. “She is very, very confused. The most you can do is wait it out.”
Link bit back a groan.
After a few agonizing seconds, Epona fell still. She pushed everyone off her and took a step back, chest inflating with a deep, shuddering breath.
“I remember.” She said, voice cracking with some unknown emotion.
“In my mind’s eye…I can see Link descending into a dungeon, leaving me behind in the sunshine. But at the same time, I’m standing right next to him, staring into the blackness.
“I can feel myself soaring over a wall, freedom bubbling through my veins. But I also see myself leaping over that same wall, and I’m annoyed, because I’m struggling desperately to keep up…
“I’m tiny. I’m lightweight. I can fly. But I’m also heavy and powerful, confined to the ground.
“Navi….she’s my intelligence.”
“What?” Link said, frowning in confusion. He had been following her, for the most part, till that sentence.
“She’s the only reason I’m speaking right now.” Epona said, meeting his eyes with a helpless expression. “She’s the only reason I can understand what you say. Without her, I’m who I really am. I’m an animal.”
...that’s what she was so afraid of, Link realized.
“Take them back!” Epona begged, turning to Kaepora. “I don’t want to know who I am. I was happier thinking I was just like the rest of them. Please…take them back.”
“I can’t.” Kaepora admitted.
Epona’s ears drooped, and she dropped to her knees, burying her face in her forelegs. Link trotted over to her, patting her back sympathetically.
“Wait a second.” Saria frowned. “If Navi became Epona…then what happened to Gation?”
“Who’s Gation?” Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow.
“He was my fairy.” Saria explained. “I woke up without him…does that mean he turned into somebody too?”
“Yes.” Kaepora confirmed.
“…who?” Saria asked, when he didn’t elaborate.
“The pony nearest to you when you appeared in Equestria…but also, a pony who is very near and dear to you now.”
“A pony who is…” Saria trailed off. “It couldn’t possibly be who I’m thinking.”
“There’s a high chance it is who you’re thinking.” Kaepora hooted.
“Just tell us who it is.” Link sighed, looking up from Epona.
“Well…” Saria bit her lip. “Okay. It’s…you.”
She turned to Octavia.
All eyes leapt to her.
The Earth Pony took a step back, eyes wide with shock.
“…me?” She said, raising both eyebrows.
Saria nodded. Octavia glanced at Kaepora…who also nodded.
“But how?” She cried.
“There are two reasons.” The owl said. “One—you were the pony closest in position to Saria at the time when she appeared in Equestria.”
“That’s right.” Vinyl realized. “You took a walk near the Everfree that afternoon.”
“Two—” Kaepora continued. “You and Saria are very, very similar.”
“…no we’re not.” Octavia protested. The Kokiri shot her friend a hurt look, which the Earth Pony didn’t seem to notice.
“She’s sweet,” Octavia continued, “sincere, kind, gentle…and I’m……not.” Saria’s frown straightened out, turning to a touched smile.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” She said, giving the gray pony a gentle nudge.
“You are more alike than you realize.” Kaepora agreed. “You both have a deep-seated love for music, a love that has shaped and commanded your life. You both know what it is like to lose someone…then, later, to find that someone, only for them to have changed so drastically you barely even recognize them. You also both long to be more than you already are—to do something more than you already do.”
“What the heck is he talking about?” Vinyl asked, frowning and raising an eyebrow.
Saria and Octavia exchanged tentative glances, then both looked down, staying silent.
“So if they’re both alike, does that mean Epona and I are alike too?” Link asked, continuing to pat the back of the other pony in question.
“Of course.” Kaepora hooted, head twitching. “You’re both kind, generous, and courageous. Not to mention that as horse and rider, you already share a deep bond.”
At the word “horse”, Epona gave a small moan.
“Is there really nothing you can do to take these memories back?” She asked quietly, lifting her head from her forelegs.
“No…” The owl sighed. “I’m afraid there is not.”
“So, wait, if I am a fairy as well…” Octavia said. “Then why don’t I have any memories?”
“They have not been triggered yet.” Kaepora explained. “As soon as Epona started thinking about it, it happened for her, but that was because she already had some of those memories—just from a different viewpoint. But you have never been to Hyrule, and have never shared any of the experiences that Saria and Gation did—unlike Navi, Link, and Epona.”
“That…does sort of makes sense.” Octavia admitted. Her gaze flickered to Epona. “But…I’m not sure I want them triggered.”
“It will be very, very different for you than it was for her.” Kaepora assured her. “You will not experience any of the confusion or turmoil that she did.”
“But…why would it be different?” Octavia asked.
“Well, for one, you’re intelligent.”
The last comment had come from Epona. Link glanced at her. She forced herself to stand up, limbs trembling dangerously.
“Youhave a mind.” She said, voice tight with an odd combination of anger and hopelessness. “You can think for yourself.You didn’t steal somepony else’ consciousness.”
“Neither did you, not exactly.” Link said, trying to reassure her. “I realize this is confusing, but you need to calm down. Try taking a deep breath.”
“But I’m not who I thought I was.” Epona said helplessly. “I’m an animal. When this is all over, Octavia can go back to being herself—nothing will change. She won’t turn into a barely-intelligent creature…” Here she stopped, taking another deep breath.
“Why did it have to be me? I would have been so much happier going through this adventure as a dumb animal. Not knowing what it’s like to feel, think, and speak…
“But now I know what it’s like to be alive. Well, to truly live, that is. And the very idea of going back to dim memories and the barest comprehension of events…it’s torture.”
Link placed a hoof on her shoulder, then changed his mind and pulled her into a hug. Epona returned the hug, and despite being much taller than him, buried her face in his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.” Link said. It was all he could say, really. He wished he were better with words, so he could come up with something more comforting, but…
He just wasn’t that kind of person.
“The night is upon us.” Kaepora said, breaking the silence. “And I must depart soon.”
Link bit back a shiver, suddenly noticing how dark and cold it was. The last slivers of warmth had vanished, and a cold breeze blew through the gorge. The tree, glowing behind them, was the greatest source of light.
“There is one more thing I must do.” The owl continued. “And that is to restore the memories of Gation.”
Octavia kicked a hoof against the ground, glancing away with a hesitant look on her face.
“Everything will be fine.” Kaepora assured her.
“…very well.” Octavia sighed, giving in. “Let’s get this over with.”
There was a second of silence that dragged on, almost painful in the cold night.
“Is something suppose to be happening…?” Octavia trailed off, blinking furiously. “…oh my. Okay. This….is strange.”
She glanced up, eyes roving aimlessly over the stone walls, over the sky.
“Why do I feel so weightless…?” She murmured. “Is this what a Pegasus feels like?”
“What can you remember?” Kaepora hooted. Octavia closed her eyes, frowning slightly.
“…lots of green.” She said. “All I can see from Hyrule is green. And trees—lots and lots of trees. Saria...you spend a lot of time sitting in one forest glade.”
“I did.” Saria admitted, a small giggle slipping from her lips.
“…was that it?” Octavia asked, a frown breaking over her face as she glanced at Kaepora. “I was somewhat expecting it to be a lot more…drastic.” Her gaze flickered briefly to Epona, then back.
“As I said,” Kaepora explained, “Your memories are very different—you never shared any of them, so you didn’t experience any of the disorienting confusion that Epona did. Plus, Saria’s memories are not as dark and violent as Link’s are.”
“Hey!” Link protested. He wasn’t entirely sure how to take that statement—but it felt like it might be an insult. “Most of the dungeons weren’t that dark…just…most of them…”
“I must leave now.” Kaepora glanced at the sky. “I would not suggest tarrying long. As the night grows darker, the beasts of the forest will gain more courage.
“Have faith, hero, and see out your journey till the end!”
The owl took to the sky, his massive wings silent. A dark silhouette crossed the star-studded sky, then vanished into the distance.
Aiet, poor Epona, that's a hard thing right there.
This story went from interesting to REALLY cringe. I’m out
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.................do you have an example for what you find cringy?
I'm always looking to improve.
I can’t imagine how horrible it would be to realize that you are only sapient because someone else has fused with you, and that going back home may cause you to lose this. Poor Epona. Also, I kinda completely forgot that Saria also had a fairy.... I have no idea where you got the name Gation from, the only thing I can think of is the word obligation which doesn’t feel right.
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Navi....Gation.......
Navigation......
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*dramatic bow*
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The whole “the fairies are fused with Epona and Octavia” that is super dumb to me
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I suppose I can understand that.
I can't see why you would find it "dumb", but everyone's entitled to their own opinion.
Huh. I’m not sure how I feel about this, but it kinda makes sense in-universe. Please don’t torture Epona like this, she is good horse.
I'm just hoping that when this is over, and Navi separates from Epona, that she gets to keep her intelligence. Poor girl deserves better than just going back to a beast of burden.
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*scribbles out original ending*
Okay.
All joking aside, I do have a plan for her. It may be bittersweet, but.......
Eh, I'll figure it out.
It took me a few seconds to get the "navigation" pun with the fairy names - and I had to go by way of Majora's Mask having its fairies' names combine into "Tattle-tale".
I really am sorry for epona, I hope she gets a happy ending.
I've certainly read worse. I've also read better. For a first stab at a crossover fic, it's not bad. There are moments and things that get glossed over that I personally feel should warrant some more investigation. The notion of one's inventory for example. Some of the characterizations are a little weak in my opinion... As a fan of both properties, though it kills me to say it, there's a bit too much fan service for my taste. Or rather, the execution of the fan service feels a bit clunky and predictable.
However, there is one thing that this story is doing that makes it very interesting. The bit with Epona. I am very interested to see where that goes. That alone could be the subject of a very interesting story in and of itself. I can never get spoiler bars to work on mobile, so I'll leave it at that. I'm sticking around for that story...
Oof, poor Epona. To know that you'll likely go back to being a beast of burden is not fun.
Ohhh dang that hurts if their Journey ever did end and end up returning to Hyrule Epona won't remember any of this 😔
Oh man that's kinda sad at least for Epona she did not take the news very well after finding out that Navi is in her and the memories the knowledge is all in her she felt conflicted and confused about this whole resolution of discovery and not only that she was just upset because knowing to the fact if their Journey was going to be over so you won't have those memories that's kind of sad to be honest with you and it looks like Saria want to know what happened to her fairy and apparently the fairy is in Octavia which that was pretty interesting how that works I mean good things you probably remember everything on the journey but poor Epona they won't I wonder how this will work out for everybody after hearing all this I wonder how vinyl feels about that as well