Link approached the two doors and pressed his hand against one of them. Slowly, he pushed the door open. He walked inside while Polaris stayed right behind him. The two princesses sat atop their thrones in silence. "Good evening, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna." His walk started to stagger as he continued. "I'm here to - to..." Link's foot refused to move, causing him to fall forward. The last thing he heard was Polaris saying his name.

Link stood in the stone room, looking at the sword in the floor. "This is new..." he said. On one of the walls, he heard talking. A familiar voice echoed into the room through the small split in the doors. In his room, blackness covered the walls and leaked out through the split, forcing the doors to open wide.

He saw himself standing there, as both Twilight and Fluttershy disappeared. In surprise, Link started walking toward the new figure, which didn't move at all. Not that it could. He found that the other him had his feet cemented to the floor. Link looked at his own hands and noticed they were black, along with his clothes. The closer he got, the more apparent his clone's fear became. Then, right in front of it, Link grinned, showing his several rows of teeth. All at once, he pushed his hand against its shoulder, sending it flying back and its drawn weapons side.

Another version of himself, the one he knew to be the dark one, walked from around the corner. "Not too long ago, that boy was you. Frightened, and hopeless. Now look where you are. You, who has drawn the Sword of Masters." Link looked at himself and saw he regained his more familiar form, and had drawn the sword from its resting place. "But, there's still one problem."

"Oh yeah? What's that?" he asked.

"I'm still here. You may have won our last encounter, but do you know where you are?" The dark one entered the room and walked around. "Before you answer with the obvious, you're wrong."

"How do you know what I'm going to answer?" Link asked, sheathing his new sword. "And if I'm not in the old castle, then where am I?"

The dark one stopped at the pedestal and put his hand on it, closing his eyes. "You're injured, severely. If you do die, then I'll be lost too. I'm a part of you, that wants nothing more than to be free from this prison you contained me in. But look at yourself..."

Link did so, and saw a growing puddle of blood surrounding his feet. Coming from his open wounds. In front of him, Saber stood with her swords drawn and coated in the same red liquid. "You're weak!" she accused. "You're a traitor! High treason acts are answered with death! RAAAAH!" She leapt at him, but vanished into a white mist. Link coiled back in slight surprise, then dropped to his knees.

"You fell. To your old classmate. For traitorous acts against the crown. You and your sister both. Not only that, but you had an enemy in your presence and you didn't even notice." The room spun to a third person view of the prison cells with him in one, and Polaris in the other. "You weren't alone. You had help. You broke out of prison, into the armory, and sought out the throne room. Imagine how the public would feel if they saw a figure like you come after the crown."

"But I didn't do anything. Unprovoked. Everything I did, I did to defend myself." It spun once more to the hall outside the throne room, where Saber lay with cuffs. "She's alive. And, she attacked first. Restrained, I walked into the throne room. Weapons put away. I came with peace in mind. Simply doing my duty."

"And you're paying the price. Because right now, you're dying." The room spun for one final time, returning to the room with the sword in the floor. "Come. If you can pull the sword, after all you know now... You just might live."

Link crawled to the sword, feeling each wound open further; each cut was painful as he moved closer. At the top of the rising, he looked at the sword. "I'm not going to die here." He gripped the handle and lit up his hand. Using it to stand up, he grabbed it with his other hand as well. "Now... Before I draw this sword, answer me one thing: Where is it you think I am?"

Silence. The dark one walked around the sword and faced Link's gaze. With one jab, it poked his forehead. The force of the poke pushed him back, and the sword was pulled with him. Darkness was replaced with color, then white, all being sucked into the pedestal, Until Link was alone in a white space. Slowly, color returned, and he saw he was in the stone room as he was before: healed, and upright. The dark one leaned against the wall. "Well, that was something. Guess that means you'll live through this, huh? Lucky you. But for the time being, you're stuck here. With me!" It lunged at him, sword drawn; it looked to be a copy of Link's own blade.

The two clashed blades; their sounds resonated through the room. As the two fought, both combatants suffered injuries nearly identical to each other. It appeared to be that when Link got cut, so did the other creature. The room brightened, then dimmed. Time had passed.

Both of them were forced to their knees. "You can't beat me. I know every trick you have," it threatened.

"Then it stands to reason that you can't beat me either." Link jabbed his sword into the ground, and used it to stand.

"That's where you're wrong." It copied his actions. "I am every emotion you fight to bury. Hate. Anger. Rage. Despair. And sadness. I take it in; it makes me stronger." It approached Link, who staggered. "I am not afraid. I am what you fear most! And I-"

A blast of light blew down the door to the room, where Luna now stood. Link fell to the floor and closed his eyes. "I somehow knew you might be here."

Link turned his head. "Princess Luna... Is this a dream?"

"Afraid not," she replied. "Princess Celestia sent me here to ensure your safety." She cautiously looked around. "Come. Miss Ruby Inferno and the others are waiting outside."

He rose to his feet and felt just fine. Slowly, he followed Princess Luna. There was a party going on, hosted by Pinkie of course. "I ... I don't understand."

"You triumphed over your adversary," Twilight cheered. "And what more reason do we need?" Music played in the background while he mingled. He looked around, and saw he was in Ponyville, and assumed he'd gone with the others.

Epona sat at a table and was softly crying. Saber sat at the table too, with a fresh cut on her face. "Please stop crying," Saber requested. "He'll wake up soon. I promise."

"You don't know that. You're the one who put him in this mess!" Epona argued. "How dare you!"

Everypony else looked at them. Even the music paused. "True. I did. But I didn't have a choice. Orders are orders..."

The moon above the village fell from the sky, and was quickly replaced by the sun. Everypony had gone home. The bonfire had died to smolders. There alone, sat Ruby Inferno. "Hey. Hey Link." He walked over to her and sat beside her. "How you feeling?"

"Tired. Hungry. And ... Shouldn't it be raining?"

"Don't think too hard about it." Ruby fired a small ball of fire at the sticks and watched as it caught fire. "It's Ponyville. Strange occurrences happen every day. You should know that." She turned to look at him. "What brought you here anyway? In the first place, I mean."

"Orders. From Princess Celestia. To keep my sister safe. And I completed it successfully. I overcame Nightmare Moon in the process, and helped establish connections between the Elements of Harmony and their current holders."

"Sounds like you've been busy," she chuckled. "Hey... Remember that stone you found? That red one?" Link nodded. "Do you still have it? I wanna see what it looks like." He took it out and turned it in the sun. "Beautiful. You know... It looks familiar... Like, I've seen it before... somewhere... Eh, probably in a book."

Link looked at the fire. "So, how's life been for you?"

Before he could blink, day turned to night, and the fire raged again. Where Ruby sat, Twilight now existed. "Well, since you left, I've been really bored. Haven't heard much from you. Sorta been waiting on a letter."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah... Sorry about that. Didn't have a companion this time that could do that."

"That's fine. Maybe one day you'll learn how yourself. Then you could be anywhere, and I'd just be a quick flame away~" She turned to the fire. "Just like that one." Twilight pointed at the flame. "But, smaller." Link watched in silence.

Crickets chirped loudly. Slow music played. Link slowly closed his eyes and lay on his back. When he opened them next, he was back in the stone room. With the Sword of Masters in the pedestal he took it from. "How many times am I going to be in here? And why am I even in here? Didn't Luna beat you?"

"Not exactly," a voice replied. The room brightened one final time. Link and Navi sat beside the sword, looking at the door in silence. "Link," it called. There, stood a figure that looked like him, only older. "Link. The time has come." He stuck out his hand. "Your time here is done for now. Come back with us." Link stood and walked with his hand outstretched. When he grabbed the hand, he smiled. The connection emitted a bright, all-encompassing light that filled the room.

When the light finally dimmed, he saw himself in a bed. Sore, and still tired, he struggled to move. "Don't bother." Saber looked at him and watched him stop moving. "That's right. You're alive. Barely. After seeing you in the state I left you, I'm impressed by your ability to survive."

Link sat up anyway, and looked at her. "Are... are you here to take me in?" The blanket fell to his waist and showed several bandages over his arms, and a few on his chest. Link looked around for his armor.

"In a way, yes." She paused. "I'm here to escort you to the throne room. The same one you fought so hard to get into." Her eyes momentarily looked at the patch on her face.

"As a prisoner, or ... Or what?"

"That's up to you." Saber watched him turn to face Epona. "You know, she's been right there since she came back from... What'd she say her village was called?"

"She never said. Just referred to it as her village, or her town." He looked up in thought. "I wonder why..." Saber sat in silence while he thought. "I suppose it doesn't matter."

"That mare hasn't left your side for much. I don't know what you said or did for her, but it looks like you have a loyal companion."

Link nodded and took off his blankets. "Which means she's probably hungry." He sat on the side of the bed and gently shook her awake. "Hey. Hey Epona... Wakey wakey, oats and flakey."

"mmm?" Epona shifted and sat up in her seat, wiping the drool from her cheek. She blinked a couple times and saw him sitting there. All at once, she jumped at him, pinning him to the bed in a hug. "Link!" she shouted, "You're awake!"

Navi came out from his hat all tired and adorable. "Hmm? Oh!" She flew over to him and poked his face. "How ya feeling?"

"Crushed, thanks..." Epona got off of him and stood by the bed, letting Link breathe. "Ooh, at last, I'm free. Battle wounds are nothing compared to the force of a hug. So noted."

The others chuckled. Saber cleared her throat. "Now that we're all alive and awake, I must reiterate: we are to go to the throne room."

Epona looked at her, and tilted her head. "Is that why you've been coming here every day?"

"Something like that. Orders are orders."

Link raised a hand to stop Epona's next question. "It's fine. I'll be fine. So long as I get there, and finish my original mission, I'll accept whatever punishment I'm given."

He really didn't figure it out yet? Saber stood and walked to the door. "I'll be right outside when you are ready."

At that point, watching her walk away, he finally noticed her swords weren't at her sides. What happened... "C'mon you two. We've got somewhere to be."

Epona stopped him, putting a hoof on his shoulder. "She did this to you. Didn't she?" Link nodded. "Why?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. We never really got along, but nothing ever bad enough to have her take joy in fighting me happened. In the throne room, the princesses were by themselves. No guards. In case of a prison break, there are at least two squads of guards in the throne room, and one outside the doors. One of pegasi secure the other entrances, like the windows. This time... It was just her." He paused. "I don't know, maybe they didn't know I got out, maybe they thought I couldn't get out, or maybe they thought she could handle me. There's something ... off about all this."

"Hmm... Maybe they were testing you?" Epona set the chair by the bedside and sat again. "That would make some sense, right?"

Link silently got out of bed, and pulled out a drawer from under it, finding his armor and putting it on, as well as his pouches. They wouldn't give a traitor his weapons back... Upright, he kicked the drawer closed and put on his hat. Navi sat on his shoulder. Together with Epona and Saber, Link went on his way to the throne room.

They passed several guards he recognized and several more he didn't. "Thank you for choosing 'guest' over 'captive'," Saber offered. "Would have been embarrassing to have to drag you by a set of cuffs through the castle."

Epona glared at her. "I'm still not happy you did this to him, you know..." Saber was silent. "And you're not even sorry, are you?"

"Let it go, Epona. Please." Epona instantly looked at him and nodded. "Saber had a good reason for doing what she did. Even if she can't say what it is yet."

When they got to the throne room, Saber nodded to the guards outside and waited for them to open it. Inside, the princesses sat with a guard at each side; Polaris was one of them.

Oh... I get it now... Link thought. Wonder if I can play this off? "Princess Celestia. Princess Luna... Good... Afternoon, I think?"

"Indeed it is," the former replied, "now that you have returned to the land of the living."

"As ordered, he is here." Saber bowed and retired the guard at Luna's side, taking his place. "About my reward..."

Luna looked at her. "In short time, Steel Saber. They are nearing completion." She returned her look to Link, who stood unbowing. "You are bold. To come in here, and not swear your fealty."

"Why should I? I'm a traitor, aren't I? In that right, I serve no crown. Neither yours nor hers." Link looked at Celestia, then back to Luna. "So then. You forgave Polaris so quickly. I trust her trial bore the fruit of innocence?"

Celestia blinked a few times. "Y-yes, it has. As for yours, it's still underway. We could not continue with the accused unconscious." She looked at her sister.

"Indeed. But now that you are here, we may continue."

"Don't bother. I plead guilty." He put out his hands and waited. "I will serve my sentence in prison. So please, take me away." His face showed the slightest of grins while he offered himself. Even Polaris started smiling. Celestia looked close at him, and noticed his eye twitch. She in turn nodded slightly. "In fact, you should hold a public execution. I mean, your cell couldn't hold me once, and your guards can't beat me. Even Saber there lost to me. If I got out again... I might come for you and actually win. Best to deal with me soon too, before I run."

Luna looked panicked. "Dear boy, we aren't going to do any of those things to you. This was all just a test. You getting captured, your escape, the retrieval of your weapons, all of it was a ruse. I was attempting to test your qualities and abilities. That you couldn't see through it means you aren't..." She looked at Celestia, then back at Link. Both were grinning and nearly laughing. "What is so funny?"

"You are!" Link answered, falling to the floor laughing. After a moment, Celestia and Polaris joined in. Saber merely put her head down and smiled. In a minute, Link got back to his feet and wiped a laughter tear from his cheek. "Princess Luna, you really had me going, you know? I was ready to believe I was a traitor when I came in the room. Then I saw Polaris over there and thought, 'There's no way she was forgiven that fast.' That, and the facts I wasn't cuffed to the hospital bed, my companion wasn't in custody, and I still had my pockets. Your mid game was excellent, Princess Luna. But your endgame was lacking. I'd have kept it up until the execution."

Luna sat in silence. "Sister," Celestia said, "what happened to your bravado the last week?" She turned to Link. "Now, about your report."

Link straightened and stood at attention. "Yes. My report." He took out the shining red stone from his pouch and held it up. "The key I did receive from the chief of the mining city should be the one I was looking for. I successfully eliminated the threats in the mines. That's plural." Link took out the journal he kept and showed the picture of the exploding creatures. "These infested the mines. They have a tendency to self destruct upon termination. The babies, adults, and their leader. It was massive. Had a whole undercavern all to itself. The stone sentries were disabled thanks to Emerald's valiant efforts. I couldn't have done it without her assistance. On that note, I ask for her to be pardoned..."

"Granted," Celestia said. "She helped you in your task to great effect. Perhaps she will be of use to you later."

Link nodded. "I returned to the city and was gifted a bag of explosives and the key. ... While I was down there, my shield broke from their leader's attacks. Shattered it into too many pieces. So if I may request: I would like another custom shield." She nodded. "That concludes my business in the mines. Now, there's two more things I wish to discuss." He flipped a few pages and showed them the songs he copied from the headstone. "Do these look familiar?"

Luna and Celestia looked closely at the scribblings. Both shook their head. "We are sorry. Where did you say you found those?"

"In a graveyard guarded by mummies."

"Then you must have seen the royal musicians. They wrote many a song in our day. Was very tragic when they passed." Luna admitted. "It seems they wrote those songs in secret. What do they do?"

"Yours, Princess Luna, raises the moon, and Princess Celestia's raises the sun. Lunar Requiem and Sun's Song respectively."

Luna grinned at Celestia. "Mine has the cooler name, don't you agree?" Celestia was quiet. "Though," she looked at him again, "songs that do that are ... unbelievable. Did you attempt them?"

He shook his head. "No, I didn't. I felt I should run them by you first." The princesses nodded. "The other matter is what calls the mountain summit 'home'. At the top, I met a being that called herself a 'Great Fairy'. Do you know of her?"

Celestia spoke up. "Indeed I do. But only in name."

"She said she had a friend close to the castle, and that I should meet with her. The mountain one gave me the power to channel magic into my sword and focus it into a wave of energy. Can I believe that you know where her friend would be?"

"Yes. She is behind a rock just outside our eastern gate. Not to the castle, but outside the city's walls. I could take you there if you like?" Celestia smiled.

"That's quite alright. Epona will be company enough. You have your place here. Mine is out there, fighting your fights. And I do take great pride in that. But I have to ask... Why didn't you tell me about her sooner?" Link tilted his head and glanced at Navi who regained her balance on his shoulder.

"To me, you weren't ready. But seeing you now, I know you are." She paused. "Be careful. The strain her magic may have on you could be more than you can bear. I don't exactly know what it is she wants with you, but I've no doubt it's going to help you greatly."

Link lowered his head and knelt. "Then may we be excused?" Celestia nodded quietly and watched as he and Epona left the room.

They walked outside the castle, and toward the eastern gate. Epona got his attention by walking just ahead of him. "So... What is it she says you're ready for?"

He scratched an itch he felt on his eyebrow. "A gift of sorts, I assume. The last one I met gave me a power I could use in combat. If this one is like her, then probably some skill, or maybe even a new weapon."

"Wouldn't that be cool?" Epona asked smiling. She turned around and walked backward, facing him. "It's so cool that you're the son of the princess. Even if in name only."

"It's nothing really. Technically, my sister found me here first, so... She's my closest family member."

"Right..." Quiet. "So, why didn't you want the princess to show you where it was?"

"It's a big rock. Can't imagine it's easy to miss. Besides, she's busy being the ruler. She always makes time in the day for me. I'm her son. She's kind of required." He watched her walk backward. "How do you know where you're going?"

Epona chuckled. "Awareness. I saw where I was going before I turned around. It's like a picture in my head."

"Object permanence. Knowing it's there long after you stop seeing it."

"Like me with you, right? I was all the way in my village and you couldn't see me. But you knew I was there. Same idea, I think." She turned toward the front and continued, "Say, how did you call me that first time?"

"I never told you? I had just found the ocarina, and I played the first few notes in my head. Didn't really think about it." Link put a hand to his chin. "The time after that, I was told to call you. Then there you were at the library. Before I even got there."

"And the rest we already know~"

They continued talking and walking. Outside the east gate, they looked around, and found a path that led away from the castle. At the end of the path, they found the rock Celestia had mentioned. "Bet that's the one," he said. "Might want to stand back a ways."

"What for?" She thought back, remembering he had said "bag of explosives". "You're going to blow it up?" He nodded reaching for his pocket. "Hold on there. I'm an earth pony. If I can't move it, I'll break it. If I can't break it, then and only then are you allowed to use any kind of bomb around me, alright?"

"Uhh... Sure... Got something against loud noises?"

"They ... They spook me, alright? It's why I stay indoors during any sort of firework celebration. I mean, I can handle most things, but... A sudden loud 'bang' would get me, even if I knew it was coming." Epona looked a little nervous.

Link returned his hand to his chest, folding it with the other. "Alright then. Show me what you can do."

Epona smiled and got to the side of the rock. It was many times bigger than she was, and severalfold as heavy. She strained to move it, but slowly, inch by inch with every push, she succeeded in unblocking the hole in the wall. "There," she sighed, taking a seat, "done..."

He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Well done. I am impressed. Next time I'm out in the field, I should definitely bring you along." He helped her up easily with the added might of his bracelet.

She noticed how easy he lifted her and asked, "Well, aren't you strong?"

"Yes I am." He pointed to his bracelet. "This right here lets me move things that are beyond my ability. Up to 4 times as heavy."

"Then... You could have helped." Link nodded, walking inside. "But, I'm glad you didn't. You're injured, for one. Two: I've never actually shown you what I can really do, and this was a nice first impression." She smiled and walked beside him. "Ability-wise."

He and Epona walked inside the barely lit white-tiled room. It looked familiar to him; the similar structure of the pillars, the green flamelit torches by the spring, and the greenery that covered the walls reminded him of the room he saw at the mountain's summit. And like the first one, he stood on the glowing Triforce mark on the risen step before the spring. Link withdrew his ocarina and played the melody required.

Epona's jaw dropped at the beauty of the room she stood in. She looked around, feeling it all; the pillars, the walls, even going so far as to stick her hoof in the water, only to take it out completely dry. "This is a cool place! And you said you've been in one other?"

"Yeah," he said after he finished. "Just wait, she's coming." Epona walked and stood beside him, looking into the water.

Laughter rose from the pool, as a figure jumped out. It came to rest over the pool, laying on its side looking at its visitors.

"Who is that?" Epona asked, still in awe.

"Welcome, Link," the great fairy greeted. "I am the Great Fairy of Magic."

"Oh."

"Hello, Great Fairy. I have come seeking a state of health I ... currently lack." He paused.

The great fairy looked at him. "You are injured, yet you could make your way here? That is an impressive feat."

"If you ask me, I think he should still be in bed resting." Epona shrugged. "But it's his body. He wants to tear it apart, who am I to stop him?"

"You are Epona. You are his friend, yes? You care for his well-being, that much is clear." She directed her attention to Link. "My friend on the mountain sent you my way, did she?" Link nodded. "Then, you already know how to release a magic beam from your sword." Another nod. "Well, I have something similar to offer." She shifted positions, and reached her arms toward him, summoning forth a ball of crimson magic. It felt warm through the air. Link watched as the ball floated toward him and dispersed, soaking through his clothes and directly into his body. Quickly, he began to heal; his wounds sealed themselves shut; the stitches he received fell out and the bandages fell off. Even his clothes began to fix themselves. Link had to shake his shirt, to let the excess debris fall to the floor. Slightly embarrassed, he picked up his patches and wraps, and squeezed them into a ball.

Then, the ball of garbage caught fire. In surprise, Link held the ball away from himself, at full arm's length. "What- ..." Like before, a wave of new knowledge came into his mind. "I can set things on fire now?!" The ball turned to ash in his hands.

"We call it: Din's Fire. Aggressive and moody, the creator of that spell sought to destroy everything, on which a new future would be built. That magic spell can burn just about anything, provided you burn it hot enough. But be warned: fire is unstable. Without your control, it will spread. Be cautious in its use."

Link clenched his fist; the pile of ash fell to the floor. "I will." This is so cool! Hey, now I can- wait a minute...

Epona noticed his hesitation. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"... We need to get back to the princesses. There's something I need to tell her."

The great fairy looked down at him. "When battle has made you weary, please come back to see me," she requested.

"Beats hiking up the mountain." He turned to Epona as the great fairy descended into the water. "Fire, huh... Guess I'll need to practice controlling it."

"Not in the library!" she cried out. "Twilight would kill you." The two laughed.

Outside the spring, Link did a few stretches, finally freed from his wraps. His body felt more relaxed than it's been the last week, and certainly free from pain. "Alright. Good to go." He held out his hand in front of him, palm-side up, and closed his eyes. Slowly, he gathered magic there, and released it into the air over his hand. His expression was of pure joy when he saw that he held onto a ball of fire. "That's really cool!"

"Yeah, you can burn things now. Woo."

"Not just that, but now I can send letters to other ponies. I won't need somepony with me to do it when I can do it myself." He looked at the ball, then grabbed it with the hand that created it. It's cool to the touch. I can't be burned by my own fire. Good to know. It feels like a solid, too. Does it bounce? He turned and faced the wall. Link wound up and pitched it as hard as he could. On impact, the fireball splattered over the stone, sending embers everywhere. Link walked to the impact spot and looked for the ball he threw, thinking there was something left behind. "Nothing. Not even a solid object. However..." He traced the outline where he saw it hit. "Still no sign of anything being thrown. Further testing is needed. Hm?" He stomped out an ember in the grass.

They returned to the throne room. Along the way, he practiced with his new power. He snuffed and relit some candles, tested it against his clothes, and even tried to make the biggest one he could. That last one, he was encouraged not to do, given where they were. So he agreed and toned it down.

"Welcome back. How was your visit to the Great Fairy's Fountain?" Celestia asked him. "Informative, I hope?"

Link stood in front of Celestia, and Epona beside him. "It was. I was also fully healed. And then, after picking up my fallen wraps, I burnt them."

"That's a bit much. Could have just thrown them away," she replied.

"I could, yeah... If I didn't set them on fire myself." He held up his left hand, palm up. "Just like this." There, in his opened hand, a ball of fire was born from his magic. Celestia and Luna were quiet. "Now, correct me if I'm not remembering accurately, but I asked you if you knew how Ruby got her power. Your answer was..."

"'I know of no such being that can impart power like that,' was my answer. And I did not lie to you. When I met the great fairy, she didn't tell me anything, aside from asking that I close off the entrance and that the worthy one would come one day. She never said she'd give you something, let alone tell me what it was."

Link took a moment. "I believe you. I have no reason to distrust you." He closed his hand, extinguishing his fire. "Would it be alright if I - we return to our room? We will set out for Ponyville in the morning."

"Hold a moment. There's something for you." She clicked her hoof on the throne and waited. A unicorn came in with a tray in his magic. He stopped just before Link, and knelt. "For you. It's a new shield that fits you better than the one you borrowed, and your sword. We had it sharpened for you as well."

Link took the two items and fitted them to his back. "Thank you. I was hoping to ask for these, but I couldn't find the right time."

"Well, now you won't need to. Good night, Link. And sweet dreams."

Link, Navi and Epona gathered in the room they shared and sat on separate beds. He took out his journal and handed it off to Epona, who opened it and started reading about his travels to the mountain. She asked him some questions about the climate, the village and city, and of the companion he had. Navi had thrown in some embellishment for entertainment purposes. Then, he pulled his new shield from his bag and explained that it would 'never break'.

Epona in turn went on to tell him of how smoothly her end went. Going to her old town, getting her things; there wasn't much, as she did live alone, and bidding farewell to her townsfolk. She agreed to come back and visit after she got her cutie mark. On her map, she pointed out the places she'd gone, and the places she was going to go, if the music called her there. Pictures were shown, between them all. Link had gotten the old picture from the drawer and described his life.

The night went on like that until they eventually fell asleep.

Can't say 'eggs and bakey (bacon)'. Normal ponies don't eat that stuff. (fairly certain) So, oats and flakey. Like, oats and grains. Horse food!

*ahem* So... He's not actually a traitor. But, he needed a reason to sneak through the castle, and it couldn't be because he wanted to see the princess. He's basically her son. So, there's Luna, who doesn't exactly trust in his abilities.

On second thought, next up is the chapter explaining it. Cant do it all in Author's Notes.