Link once more stood before a set of large stone doors. This time, it had a giant diagram of the Triforce. Not this again... he thought. To his sides were Fluttershy and Twilight, just as it was before, with the keys in their mouth. This time, it was the keys he saw on the keychain in the Sun room of the old castle. "Be ready, anything can happen now." With his equipment set, the two inserted their keys and turned them.

As before, the doors shook, then split down the middle, revealing a shining light. What now? As the doors opened to their fullest, the light dimmed to a more tolerable brightness, revealing a cavernous room. Cautiously, Link stepped inside, the two at his side following closely.

"Nothing happened, see?" Emerald said beside him. He didn't notice that Emerald flew where Fluttershy had been. "And you didn't believe me."

The room inside was larger than he thought it'd be. Both the floor and the columns were made of marble. At least, that's what it looked like. And the walls made of a similar stone to that of the doors that just shut behind him. Link turned in surprise, then looked and turned forward once more, weapon at the ready.

There, stuck in a stone pedestal, atop several layers of raised marble flooring, was a shining sword. He approached it and grasped its handle.

"Wait," an unknown voice called out to him. "You know not what you do, boy." Link released the handle, and saw its light dim further, allowing him to see the Triforce etched into the blade near the dark blue guard.

"Enlighten me then." Link again looked around to find the source of the voice, but found nothing.

"Not here, not now, and certainly not like this."

The world faded to black as Link sat upright in his bed. At least it ended better this time... He got to his feet and noticed Navi asleep in his hat. I wonder what she dreams about. No sooner had he thought that question did Navi wake up herself.

She yawned and looked up at him. "Oh, good morning, Link. What are our plans for today?" she asked, also sitting upright. Navi stretched her wings and arms before standing up.

"We'll see what Twilight's up to first," Link replied, pointing to her empty bed. "She might have planned our day out for us already. Wouldn't surprise me any."

Link gathered his golden clothing and took a shower, saving his hat in the pouch at his side. Ten minutes later he emerged, got dressed and headed downstairs to the smell of orange juice and ... pancakes?

Twilight had gotten up early and tried her hoof at making pancakes for Link, with Spike's helping claw of course, since she's been working with him so much on the ocarina. In moments, she heard him come down the stairs. "Morning, Link. You're right on time. I just finished making some breakfast for us."

Link sat and took a sniff. "Hmm. Smells good." He took a drink of orange juice.

Navi sat atop his hatless head, no worries about the dampness in his hair. "Morning Twilight. Got any plans for us today?"

"Actually, since I've been keeping you busy with the studying and practice, I thought I'd let you have the day to yourself. 'At ease' as it would be." Twilight sat opposite him with Spike beside her eating a gem of some kind. "I'll be busy today, though. Need to look up some information regarding magical items and the rules that govern them."

"As good a place as any to start, I guess," Link said, taking a bite of his meal. It's not Applejack's recipe, that's for sure. Or if it is, it's not a good replication. With no expression alteration, he ate in silence.

Twilight decided to break it first. "Also, I stayed up a bit later last night. I wanted to go over the notes I made already regarding the songs and their effects. Though only one produced something."

"That's correct."

"And I'm sure we established it's the instrument that is magic, not the notes or songs."

"We did..."

"... So... I thought that since that's the case, and the effects are various and plentiful, and the range is indefinite, then there could be a spell woven into its structure, or series of them."

"That is..." Link swallowed and took another drink. "uh, excuse me. Entirely possible." He saw Spike finish off the gem. "Hey, can you send this letter for me?" He held up a scroll he got from his pouch. "Goes to the princess."

It was a simple scroll tied with a red ribbon. "Sure, not a problem." Spike took it from Link, then proceeded to burn it with firebreath, sending it out the window up to the castle. "On its way."

"Good."

"What did you write about?" Twilight asked, finishing one of her few pancakes.

Link looked at Twilight and smiled a little. "It's not a friendship report, I'm asking for permission. I want to go to the old castle."

"What for..." Twilight asked, narrowing her eyes.

I expected this. "The door to the Sword of Masters is sealed by music, right? The princesses' sorcerer friend was able to do research on it, and that means they got in somehow. If I were to guess, I'd say that melody is etched somewhere in the castle."

"Right, I suppose..." Twilight responded sadly, like she didn't figure that out for herself. Then she brightened a little. "Care for some company?"

"No thanks. I'll need you here, studying, in the event I come back with nothing. But of course Navi is coming with."

"Naturally," Navi agreed. "I just hope we don't get lost getting there. After all, there isn't exactly a path."

"Heh." Link caught the scroll that came from Spike's breath. "And with that, and the rest of this..." He finished his breakfast, "I'm off."

"You don't even know if she gave you permission. Where you going anyway?"

"..." didn't see that one coming... "I had planned on getting groceries anyway, so I was going to read it on the way." Link stood and pocketed the scroll quickly, so she couldn't take it from him. "I'll be back later. If it gets too late and I'm not back, don't wait for me to eat dinner." He made his way to the door and exited the library.

What are you hiding from me... Twilight finished hers and, after getting Spike to do dishes, she started peeling book after book off the shelves.

To My Loyal Knight Link,

I will have forwarded a letter to Ruby informing her of your impending arrival by the time you read this. In regards to your request, you are authorized access to the library on the second floor. The one on the third floor is still off limits. There's no reason to be up there. As such, Ruby has not been in there either. In addition, any book you find must not be removed from the library. Non-negotiable.

It is interesting, Twilight's theory surrounding the object's magical properties. I personally look forward to her report. I would also like one from you on the matter, lest there be something she failed to include, as well as whatever you can glean from the texts you find.

In regards to the song you played, dubbed 'Celestia's Lullaby', I heard nothing. The same for my sister. Perhaps that one was not meant to extend over a wide radius? In any case, take great care who you play it for. My messengers have used it over the years to prove their connection to me. You're free to use it the same way, but as I said, be wary.

And to your last question, Twilight is indeed still your commanding officer.

From
-Princess Celestia

P.S. My dear sister apologizes for not aiding you in your sleep. Attuning to a non-equine mind is 'not as easy as I had originally imagined', as she put it. I'll give her another week. She's been trying since a couple weeks ago, but no such luck.

Link and Navi had walked outside the library and made his way into town before reading. There's a library on the third floor, too? And I can't go there anyway. But, good news, is we have permission to go, and better yet is Ruby won't try to kill me. "Good, we're a go."

"Great. Food first. And no sooner spoken, here comes Aj with a cart of apples." She pointed to the orange earth pony.

"What timing." He walked over to her as she just finished setting up a stand with Big Mac, her big brother. "Hey Applejack. Market day already?"

"Yeah, Ah got another cart after this. Applebloom and Granny Smith're still tallyin' it up an' keepin' record. What can Ah do ya for?"

"5 apples. And a quick question. Twilight made me pancakes this morning. Did you have anything to do with that?"

"Heh, she made 'em, huh? How'd they turn out?" she asked with a grin.

"Not like yours. She may have gotten some of the directions confused."

"Twilight? Confused on written instruction? That don't seem right to me. Anywho, where ya off to this time?"

"The castle of old. I got permission from the princess. There might be a way to open the door, inside the castle itself."

"Sounds like a good plan. Ah'd go with ya, if Ah could. but Ah got this stand to watch over." Aj motioned to the apple stand that Big Mac had stationed himself behind.

"That's fine. Twilight wanted to go too, but she's needed at the library. In case I don't find anything, I don't want her time to be wasted."

Navi peered over his head to see her. "And besides, we're in need of food, that's why we're here."

"Oh right, yer apples." Aj set out 5 apples for him. "Ripe an' fresh for ya. Tell ya what: ya come back by dinner time, an' Ah'll have some dinner cooked up for ya."

"What a coincidence." Link laughed a little. "I told Twilight not to wait up for me. But, if you're willing to cook a meal with her, then I'll definitely be back."

"Ah can do that. Hey Big Mac? Can ya tell Granny Smith Ah'll be home late tonight?"

"Eeyup," he replied.

"Great," she added. "Ah'll come by around 5 or so. Will ya be back by then, ya think?" Applejack turned toward him once more.

"Should be," Link responded, shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing promised. Let's see... what time is it now..." He saw the clock tower, short as it is. "It's only 11:40. Yeah, 5 sounds right." He fished in his pouch for 10 bits, but was stopped by Aj.

"None o' that. Wouldn't be fair you givin' back the money you earned. On the house."

"Ok then... Thanks." He pocketed the apples and turned. "See you later then. Oh, and if I may request, see if you can do something with the spears in the fridge. Asparagus isn't that great by itself."

"Ah'll see what Ah can do."

Link bowed toward her and made his way to the forest castle. Since the route was more familiar, it took a bit less time. However, unlike last time, the pony from before was standing at the end by the entrance to the castle.

As soon as the two got close enough to hear, Ruby greeted with a low bow. "Welcome, honored guest. Please forgive my previous harshness." She raised her head, and was still shorter than he. Looking higher, she saw Navi on his shoulder. "Ah, honored guests. I did not notice you up there before."

Stunned by the change in attitude since last time they met, he bowed in return. "You changed too radically. What happened?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"The princess tasked me with heightened hospitality. This is what that means. You'll also find the castle void of wolves. I sent them away for the day." Ruby turned to the castle and started walking. "This way, please."

Link followed in silence this time. Navi did not. "So, Ruby. How long have you lived here?"

"Hmm... About a year now, I guess. Before that, I was all over the place. Little towns, sometimes a tent. But none for this amount of time. Why you wanna know?"

"It's just... You seem so ... how do I put it... at peace here. Like, you made it your own."

Ruby turned to the door on the right beyond the staircase leading up, and instead went through to the other side to another hallway on the left. "To be fair, I had a run-in with the Princess herself. She then offered me a place to stay while I get my ... get my life together. Needless to say, that hasn't happened yet."

"If I may, I have a question." Link interrupted their conversation and continued. "How, or where, rather, did you learn to cast fire without a horn?"

"A fine question indeed, but... I don't think I should tell you. You may not believe me. And besides, we're here." She walked into a room with several rows of wooden shelves covered in reading material, some of which had new backing, while most were the tattered old covers he expected.

New reading material, huh. Guess the books here are from Canterlot Castle's library. She's borrowing them with the princess' permission, and getting them with the scrolls most likely. "Ok, so about your fire. Is that how you send letters to the princess?"

"How'd you know about that?!" she replied, whipping her head around and almost glaring at him.

"Your letter was thanking the princess for new reading material, but you don't have any mailing method. So, I concluded that you use your special flames to send letters to the princess for new reading material. Most likely borrowing them, and I see some that you kept and were given."

"Nice try, but those ones with newer covers are ones I'm restoring myself. As is my requirement for staying here." I've already said too much. "Just, do what you came to do so you can leave."

With a light chuckle, he looked through the shelves. "Tell me, was it the princess' request that you be nice?"

"I'd do nothing to get in her bad graces, and if that means putting up with you, then I'll do it. After all, she holds you in high regard, so it's like she's coming here herself. On top of that, it also means that bothering you is against her will, so if you'll excuse me..."

"I don't," Link said. "You leaving will not be needed, as I don't exactly know where to start. See, I'm looking for a song, related to the ocarina that was in your possession. Maybe some history about it, or maybe the song I need?"

"If that's what you want, then I know a good place to start." She led him a few aisles down and halfway down the aisle on the left. "Right here."

Link retrieved a leather-bound book, didn't look too tattered, and read the title. "A Journey Across Space. No author?"

"Doesn't need one. It tells of an old legend, of a sword, some bad guys' destruction of the world, and a little about an ocarina. Not that they're the same one, but I admit, there are striking similarities. I'm no musician, so I left it alone."

Link flipped through the pages, stopped at a few illustrations, skipped over pointless parts and finally stopped at an image of the blue ocarina. "This one..." He read on to himself, but got nothing he didn't figure out himself. He then flipped back a few chapters to talk of a sword. It had no image, but only a few sentences. Hmm... Master Sword, evil's bane, sealing blade, nothing new. oh? ... 'Sealed behind a stone door, released by a song, with the presence of three gems from various tribes.' Hmm... It doesn't say what they are... "I want to stay here for a few days, read and understand this book."

"I can not allow that. I mean, yes, you can read it, but not stay here to do it. Can you take it with you?"

"Unfortunately no. I would, if Princess Celestia hadn't told me no." Link looked around once more. "There is one more thing, before I take my leave."

"What is it..."

"There is a door beneath the first floor. It leads to a room, within which is the reason I'm here." He returned the book to the shelf. "I seek to open it."

"That door? I know the one, only because I was told not to go down there. At least, until today. I just got the ok to go down there with you, but not to see inside."

"That's fine. I have similar orders not to let you see inside. As such, I'm going to ask you to stay up here."

"No chance. I'm going to see the door at least. Just, don't open it, and all will be fine."

"Link said no, and he's not one to take any chances."

"Now, Navi. That's not entirely true," he said, looking up at her. "If she sees inside, then I have no choice but to-"

"You dummy! You just have to not open it!" she shouted, stomping his head.

"Hey, ease up, huh? I get that I'm not letting her look, so I won't open it. Shall we go then?"

The two got to the main room as Link broke the silence. "Oh, before I forget..." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the blue ocarina. "When I came here before, I took the blue ocarina from the chest. Hope you don't mind."

Ruby turned around and saw him smirk with it in hand. "H-hey! Give it back!" She reached for it, but he got out of the way in time. "You took my keys and stole it from the chest. I demand you give it back!" Ruby stomped her hoof as a light blaze aided her impact, scorching the tile around her hoof.

"You demand, huh. Well, what if I were to tell you that it was Princess Celestia herself who sent me over to retrieve it?"

Ruby hesitated, before slowly responding. "Then, I guess I wouldn't have a choice but to let you keep it..." She continued down the steps to the lower floor. "Have you played on it yet?"

"Huh?" he asked.

"Have you played on it yet?" she repeated.

"Yes, first thing I did when I got it. Nothing happened. How about you?"

"Only once. But... nothing as well." Ruby shook her head. Then turned to look at him. "Also, thought you should know, you left your juice here last time."

"I what? ... Oh, I did, huh. I completely forgot about that. But really though, you have to stay up here."

She turned away toward the stairs as the two walked down. "I already said I won't look. And you agreed not to open it anyway, so don't give me that garbage. Besides, I bet you don't even know how."

Link sighed and followed. "You're right, I don't. That's the other reason why I'm here. But at the same time, neither do you."

The two found themselves walking on a red carpet that led to a stony pedestal. On which, were three slots for something that the keys he received couldn't fit. In front of him was a raised stone platform with the sun emblazoned on it, and the Triforce as well. On the wall behind the pedestal was another Triforce, in all three parts. Upon closer inspection to the pedestal, he noticed a string of 17 notes etched into its black surface.

Link retrieved a scroll and pencil and quickly transcribed the notes in perfect relation. "That will be all I need. Expect my return in a couple days to a week at most." He coiled up the scroll and deposited both it and the ocarina into his pocket. With a turn, he started up the stairs.

"So, you're really not going to open it?"

"We already agreed not to." Link continued his ascent while Ruby followed, pushing her want.

"I know, but really, who's gonna know besides us?"

"No one, but that's not the point. Orders are orders, and mine keep you out. And if you have a problem with that..." Link got down in a run position. "Then take it up with the princess!" He bolted up the stairs and got to the top just as Ruby called out after him.

"Hey, wait!" she cried, chasing him. "Come back!" But it was too late. Link had gotten half way across the bridge before she had enough. "HEY! YOU FORGOT SOMETHING!" Ruby's face turned into a scowl as she got up on her hindlegs.

Interested, and prepared, he turned and saw the large fireball held in her forehooves. That's a big one... bigger than the last two combined. With the magic already built up, Ruby launched it, just as he put up the barrier. This time, it took the shape of a hemisphere in front of him covering his whole body, but exposing his back. It was fairly thick too.

"Take this!" she shouted, throwing it at him, and falling to her hooves. When it collided, it did not fizzle nor erupt. Instead it stayed in form and intensity, eating and burning away his shield like it was nothing. In moments, it broke down completely, but not before Link deflected it up into the sky where it then exploded as if on a timer. Link felt the shockwave and the resulting heat from the blast.

He fell to his knees, nearly drained of magic, then fell on his chest, his arms at his side and Navi flying by his forehead. There he lied, nearing unconsciousness. Well, that could have ended better.

"Link! Get up, come on!" Navi cried. She turned to see Ruby's smirk as she slowly approached the fallen knight.

"Get up, Link. You're not finished yet, are you?" A voice called out to him. Link looked around himself, and saw a figure with shining gold eyes. "You've still got a job to do, and you cannot give up from just one failure. On your feet!"

Navi saw his eyes close and looked behind them, noticing the wolves close in as well. "Get up!"

The light from his left hand was enough to almost blind her as Link pushed himself up on his feet. The light dimmed, revealing the Triforce shining brightly. He drew his sword and shield as he turned to face the wolves. In silence, Navi landed atop his head, and saw the shock on Ruby's face.

"Don't turn your back on me, Boy!" she yelled, getting on her hindlegs once more. In a burst of fury, she threw another ball, a little smaller. Link glanced over his shoulder and saw it. With little effort, he backflipped over it, turned and landed facing Ruby. Now behind him, the fireball struck the wolf in front, setting it ablaze and running into the woods, several more following and catching fire themselves. "No... S-stay away from me! Never come here again!" She turned, near tears, and galloped into the castle. She tripped over a stone and fell, but got up, and continued all the same.

The light from his hand faded into a faint outline. Link's expression softened as he looked for Ruby. "Whuh? What happened?" He returned his weapons to their places and looked up at Navi. "I didn't expect her to give up after the first shot." Link shrugged, turned and left the castle bridge, taking note of the fire trail the wolves had made. Strangely, the forest did not burn, instead it fizzled the flames. Odd... The Everfree Forest trees have a strange quality. Fire resistance. Guess they were right about it being unnatural.

"I'll tell you another time," Navi replied. "But... That song you put on a scroll, think that's the one we need?"

"Most likely. Mind if I sit down? I feel tired for some reason."

"I don't mind at all." Link spent a few minutes looking for a suitable seat and parked it. Navi flew around him. "What do you make of the three indents in the stone under the music?"

"I don't know... The keys I was given clearly don't fit. But they said they would." Link paused. "And, they only gave me two. Not three. On top of that, they gave me those two keys, fully believing they were the ones I needed. So, they either didn't know about the change in requirements, or they did and gave us the wrong keys intentionally."

Navi thought for a minute or so. "Hey, remember when Princess Celestia said the sword has had countless masters before? What if the keys changed when you came into this world? I mean, they've never seen a human before. That must mean the sword's previous masters were ponies, and receiving the keys as they did was just fine. Then you came in almost thirteen years ago and threw everything off-track. History changed, and so has the future, combining aspects of both to create this... hybrid of worlds."

"Even if that were the case, then why isn't there more of my world here?"

"There isn't much of your world here you can see, but that doesn't mean there isn't more out there where you can't."

Link stood and started walking once more in silence. In a short hour, they returned to the library. Inside, it looked like a storm hit, and Twilight in the middle of it all. Books were strewn everywhere, opened and bookmarked, others in stacks set about the room. Aj came in the main room with an apron that said "Kiss the Cook".

Link came in, best he could, and sat in the only open spot on the floor. "Hey, Twilight. I, uh... have some good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

A bit longer, but hope it's as good as the others. We delve into some Ruby story, and includes some Hylian stuff.

And, if you think you figured something out, feel free to take a swing. Any errors, let me know.