> The Equestrian Link > by Imprison > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Transformations and Ponies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lore's Hyrule "... You made him leader, not me," Gen said stoutly before following Lore through the black void... Something unexpected happened, as the Link's went through the void their "surroundings" became a blur of colours, spinning and twisting together as they were sucked off a different path through the void, it was so bright that everyone one had to close their eyes to focus. With a final wrench, the tunnel spat them out with each one becoming unconscious as they landed on the hard ground… An hour went by as Gen groaned, opening his eyes. His body ached all over, looking down at his hooves and his body he saw that he, thankfully... was... just... fine............... waaitt............... Gen quickly turned his attention to where his hands were meant to be and instead saw HOOVES. Gen screamed, panicking he quickly moved to stand only to land flat face on the floor with a mumbled “Ow”. Gen lifted his head, looking down at his hooves, a worried expression everywhere on his face, he wasn’t even paying attention to the fact that everyone else was starting to wake, he was too focused on his current and worrying situation. Breathing slowly he carefully lifted himself off the ground. Looking around he noticed a pond nearby, struggling to walk over he glanced at his reflection...and screamed again. He was a pony! 'HOW IN HYLIA'S NAME DID THIS HAPPEN?!',  His mind panicked with questions, before a scream broke through his train of thought “WHY ARE WE PONIES!? HOW ARE WE PONIES!?” “DOES IT LOOK LIKE ANY OF US KNOWS!” A shout replied. ‘Oh right! The others!” Gen mentally slapped himself for forgetting that they would be in the same situation and no doubt panicking like he was. Breathing and calming his mind he turned his head around to look at the others (He was still shaky walking on the new limbs) to see how well they were dealing with the situation. Blue and Vio were of course shouting at each other, Green was trying to stop them, Red was either hugging his tail or trying to walk around with little failure, Speck finished breathing to himself calming himself down and was now with Red trying to walk, the two were accompanied with Steam, the Four, Sketch, Dusk, Realm, Lore and Wind, with the last having a little more trouble trying to walk with their new limbs compared to the others in the group. Ocarina and Mask were just talking to each other, as they walked over to Gen... “WILL YOU TWO CUT IT OUT!” Green shouted and began to scold both Blue and Vio who just looked to the ground. Green just sighs in frustration before turning to everyone else “Does anyone know what happened, where we are or what we are?” He asked Everyone looked at each other before looking at their surroundings, they appeared to be in some beautiful and peaceful forest canopy, a glistening pond was over near Gen, birds chirped in the warm afternoon sun and the wind blew gently in their manes. “We seem to be in a beautiful and peaceful opening within a forest,” Mask commented on the area, breathing in the cool air “That answers the area question a little, but what exactly are we? I’ve seen ponies and horses before, and I can say without a doubt that neither had a horn or a pair of wings and for that matter, neither of them had these weird marks on their flanks” Ocarina asked as he got a closer look at their new forms. This caused even more confusion among the eighteen heroes as they looked over their new bodies. Gen appeared to have a pastel red coat, with wings on each side, although his wings’ tips were gradient to white. His mane was the same as his hair, while his tail was long but had the same look as his mane. His mark was that of a carving of those hospital symbols with a carving tool removing some wood. Speck didn’t have a horn or a pair of wings, and his coat was more of a pastel colour of his skin. His tail was also quite short. Plus he had the appearance of a young colt like most of the younger heroes. He, unlike his co-leader, had no mark. Dusk had a similar situation to Speck, that with no wings or horn, but Dusk’s tail was much longer, his appearance was somewhat older, his coat was a little darker, and he had a mark of goat shrouded in Twilight.  The Four were in the same boat with Speck and Dusk of no wings or hon, but they did have a mark. Their mark was of the four-sword, the stone colour matched their pastel coat colour. Ocarina and Mask looked the same with the exception that Mask was a young colt and Ocarina a full-grown pony. They both had horns on their heads and their coats were a marshmallow white as their hooves were gradient gold. Ocarina’s mark was of music notes surrounding a group of masks, while Mask had none. Red, Blue, Green and Vio all looked quite different from one another despite being a four sword set. Red’s coat was pastel red, his eyes were also red too much of their surprise and his mark looked very similar to his puppy eyes. He was in the no horn or wings boat. Blue’s coat and eyes were pastel blue, but unlike his other Red counterpart, his sides sprouted wings he had no mark. Vio’s coat and eyes were alight pastel violet. Unlike his other two counterparts, he had a horn and his mark was an open book with a question mark and magnifying glass. Green’s coat was a pastel green and he was in the same boat of no wings or horn, and he had no mark. Wind’s coat was a light pastel blue, he had a pair of wings, and his mark was a boat in water with the wind blowing the sail. Sketch’s coat was a pastel shade of his skin, except his hooves for some reason were a gradient of light purple. He also had a horn and his mark was a slightly dripping water painting of a blacksmith’s tools. Steam was much like most of the ponies with his skin coloured coat, plus he had a horn. His cutie mark was a pair of gears in front of a rail track with an engineer’s tool to the side. Lore’s coat was light pink (Which he might have been pissed off about) and he fell under the no horn nor wing category. His mark was of an opened book with pictures, bombs, and the word language underneath. Realm for some reason had a horn, his coat was his skin colour, his mark a broken compass with the edges being a stamina wheel. “I have no idea what we are, but we don’t look bad in these forms,” Wind smiled flapping his wings “I will say, these forms look awesome!” Blue smirked as he trotted around. Mask looked at Ocarina. “So, I think we’re equines like Epona.” Ocarina nodded, looking thoughtful. “I wonder if we could talk to her…” Dusk looked at them with the same thoughtful look, but before he could say anything, Sketch cutted in “Are we just going to stand around or…” “Right, I think the best plan of action would be to see where we are and what’s going on, so-” Gen began before getting cut off by a groan. “Who was that?” Gen asked looking around, as they heard another groan coming from Speck’s direction. Speck lifted up his hat. “Ezlo? You’re awake?” He sounded like a child that just saw their grandfather wake up from falling down the stairs. “How long was I out, boyo…?” Ezlo muttered, looking at Speck and the other Links. “I’m seeing quindecile… Why are there 15 of you…?” “Very long story…” Speck said, hugging the Minish turned hat tight. “Wait..If Ezlo is awake.. does that mean our other companions are awake or able to talk with us?” Green asked, cutting Speck off.  That’s when they all saw Midna coming out of Dusk’s shadow grinning her signature smile. “Finally! I’m out! You have no idea how bored I was staying in your shadow!” She complained, which just got a roll of eyes from Dusk. Navi yawned, popping out of Ocarina’s hat. “Is it time to get back up already…?” “Who’s the tiny fairy?” Blue asked. Ocarina looked at Blue. “This is Navi, she’s my… well, my guardian, in a sense.” “How is she taking all of… this?” Blue asked, gesturing to himself and the others. Navi looked wide eyed at the other Links, before turning to Ocarina. “Link, why are there 15 of you?” Ocarina sighed. “That’s a long, long story, but…. well, basically, everything went terribly, we’re trying to save time and space, and we’re somewhere where we got turned into…” He looks at his new body. “Horses? Ponies? I can’t tell which.” “Hmm.. good question..” Blue hummed as he trotted over to Midna, Dusk and Sketch.  Gen sighed as he looked at everyone talking, “This isn’t getting us anywhere. We need to find out where we are and what’s going on.” Shadow appeared. He looked… off. He was also a pony, but he had sharp fangs, red eyes, and slitted pupils. “Guys, what’s going on? Why are we ponies?” “That’s what we need to figure out, but we’re just standing here talking.” Gen answered face-hoffing. “Then let’s go,” Steam gave a flat stare before changing that face into a questioning one, “But… where to?” They then heard a southern accent call out. “Zecora, Ah heard voices this way.” This alerted the heroes as each one took a battle ready stance, awkwardly drawing their weapons.  “Okay.. is it just me or are you guys also thinking that these weapons won’t work like this?” Wind asked. Ocarina had an idea, putting his sword in his mouth, finding that the grip was good. “Tri i’ ‘ike ‘is.” He muttered. Most of the Links looked at each other and shrugged, following his idea before looking towards the rustling bushes, as an orange pony with no wings and horns appeared wearing a cowgirl hat, behind her was a strange looking creature who had stripes, wearing some sort of golden rings. Ocarina and Mask blinked, putting their swords away. Speck hadn’t drawn his sword, but walked up to the two other Links. “I don’t think they're hostile…” He said shyly. Applejack looked at all the Links. “What in tarnation…?” Ocarina and Mask were reminded a bit of Malon and Talon, and relaxed. “Hello.” Mask said, looking at her. “We’re… well, it’s a long story, but I think we’re lost.” Zecora hummed, “A group of younglings in a forest this feral, come with us and we shall give you a place to rest in this peril.” Applejack looked at the pack. “What’s y’all’s names?” Gen looked at the others, before back at the orange mare. Placing his sword back he walked over. “We are all Link, but to cause less confusion we go by nicknames, I’m Gen, over by the lake is Mask and Ocarina with Navi, next to me is Dusk, Midna and Lore, on Lore’s left is Vio and the Four, on Dusk’s right is Wind and Steam. In the back of the group is Sketch, Realm and Blue, and finally, right on your right is, Green and Speck,” Gen introduced, pointing to each Link with a hoof. Applejack took off her Stenson and scratched her head. “Well, Ah’m Applejack, and this is Zecora. If y’all need a place ta stay, Ah’m sure Twi could hold y’all in her massive castle… I hope.” The Links looked at each other, “Whose Twi?” Sketch asked. “Twilight Sparkle. She’s a good friend. She’s also the local princess.” AJ smiled. “She’d want ta talk to y’all anyway, if y’all are lost…” Speck shifted Ezlo on his head. “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve stayed in a castle…” Most of the Links nodded in agreement as they too experienced that “But I need to ask.. where are we?” Dusk asked looking at the scenery, “And what did your Zebra friend mean by feral forest?” “Well, this here is the Everfree Forest, the most dangerous place in the kingdom of Equestria… Zecora asked me ta help her gather some herbs, when we heard y’all discussing things, so…” AJ shrugged. “We can talk about that later. We need ta get y’all out of here. This forest is dead dangerous.” The Links all had confused and questionable looks, they’ve all been in dangerous forests before and they never looked this.. peaceful. “This peaceful place, why would it be really dangerous?” Realm asked AJ sighed. “Timberwolves, fer one thing. Hydras, for another. Then we got Cockatirces, Chimeras, Bugbears, Ursa Majors, Ursa Minors, and carnivorous plants all around… and don’t get me started on Poison Joke.” The Links looked a little lost, they weren’t too familiar with all these creatures.. they could understand the plants for sure, but those creatures were new to them… even to Lore,  “The forest hides its dangers among its beauty, never overlook the innocent as they can turn into the most heinous.” Zecora said. The Links nodded in agreement with that. “Well, Aj.. lead the way,” Gen smiled. Applejack smiled, leading the Links out of the forest. About 15 minutes later, Speck noticed something. “Where’s Realm?” The rest of the Links looked around and groaned, some of them cursing while others found something to hit their head on in frustration. Mask in particular was swearing like a sailor. “Son of a Faring, Din-damned Terminian whore!” Ocarina tilted his head. “I’ll… ask later….” He muttered, looking at Mask. Mask had the good decency to blush. “S’not my fault people don’t censor themselves around a kid…” Speck sighed. “That’s not the worst I’ve heard, you should hear Grandpa Smith when he’s angry.” Gen sighed with a ‘I’m done look’ “Let’s not talk about,” He muttered, looking at AJ with a tired look “Can we get a map of Equestria so we know where to look?” “It’s not like yer friend will be halfway across Equestria… Right?” Applejack asked. All the Links gave her flat and tired looks “You have no idea,” They all spoke simultaneously. Applejack sighed. “Oh, no, it’s Bloom and the pies all over again…” She handed Gen a map. “Try being able to get lost and appear anywhere in a drop of a hat, with no control,” Wind sighed. Gen’s eye twitched and he looked like he was about to have a fit. “How large is Equestria! There is another map, one with more detail right?… There is no way Equestria is this large. It’s 3 to 4 times the size of Dusk’s Hyrule!?” He asked exasperatedly. “Nope, that’s the right map. We’ve got the Crystal Empire, Canterlot, Ponyville, Applelosia, and then that there’s the Outlands and the Dragonlands.” Applejack said, looking at the same map Gen was. “Equestria’s huge. There’s a better one in the castle, but this is the best one I have.” Gen felt like he wanted to cry “But...but… This is large!... how are we going to find Realm… this is…” He closed his eyes before giving Mask the map, “Look how large this is,” Mask choked on his own spit. “What the goddessesdamn-?!” He cursed, taking the map. “Far, man, we’re never going to find him, his Wandering buggered us this time…” Speck tugged on Gen’s tunic, pointing. “He’s right there.”Gen looked to where Speck was pointing to see Realm on the ground surrounded by these large wood like wolves, his hindlegs looking a bit red and damaged. The wolves circling him, snarling as they drew closer. Realm looking a little panicked closed his eyes. “Help!” He shouted, Applejack leaping into action and bucking one of them to pieces.  “Let him go!” She roared, mouth curled up into a nasty snarl.The wolves growled, 2 of the 4 of them turning to her and the others, howling. “What type of wolves are these!?” Sketch asked, drawing his weapon, smashing it against a wolf, destroying it into wooden bits. “Timberwovles! Be on yer guard, boys, these things can pull themselves back together!” AJ said, looking at one of them. “Git yer butt over here an’ fight, doggy!”  Speck had started running up to a wolf, pulling out the Flame Lantern and burning one to death. “Turn them to ash, they can’t repair themselves then!” Red smiled as he took out his rod, turning the tip to red and unleashing a turrent of flames, burning two of them to ash, “This is fun,” He smiled looking at the last one by AJ. Applejack looked at Realm. “Let’s git you outta here!” She grabbed him by the mane, pulling him away from the timberwolf as it tried to leap onto them. Realm sighed with relief, thanking them for getting him out of that. He tried to stand, but only to fall face first, looking at his back legs, then looking up at the others. “I think my legs are broken..” Mask let out a big one. “FUCK!” He roared to the heavens. Though it was somehow censored to buck. All the Links looked at him. “Why are you swearing with this, this isn’t you…. Yes it’s upsetting his back legs are broken, but there’s no point swearing about it.” Gen told him, kneeling down at Realm, and using a giving him a red potion. Helping him drink it as they watched the legs heal. “See, easy as that, there was no need to swear.” Mask sighed. “Look, I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I’m stressed out, okay?” He walked off. “Can we just get moving, please?” “This isn’t like you Mask, are you alright?” Dusk asked raising an eyebrow. Mask looked at Gen, bags in his eyes as he snarled. “I’m dead tired, okay!? Can we just go!? We almost lost Realm permanently again, and I am not in the mood to joke!” “Again, not like you Mask.. yes we almost lost Realm, and we are glad we didn’t, but you usually don’t snap like this at all, and the last time this happened you just had a worried look on your face, you never snapped at any of us… This isn’t like you?” Gen explained walking to him and taking a closer look, “You're usually reserved with some emotions..This is more Blue’s and Dusk’s behaviour when we’re in battle..until the person who hurt us is dead..…?” Mask turned away. “I don’t know why I’m acting like this, but I just… I…” He sighed. “I’m usually a jokester, but something about this place is like…” “Dark…. you can feel the darkness underneath the cheeriness can’t you? It reminds you of when we went to Termina… isn’t it?” Midna asked “You're not the only one feeling it… I can feel the darkness, sadness, death and everything else from the outside cheeriness, smiles and friendship,” Mask nodded in agreement. “It’s like Termina, only with a facade on top of everything…” All the Links looked at each other with confusion as Wind placed a hoof of Masks shoulder. “We should get going to see this, Twilight Aj mentioned, “ He suggested. Mask nodded, getting up. “I’m good now. Let’s go.” And with that, they walked out of the woods, into Ponyville….