Though he fell asleep fast, Link found he couldn't stay asleep for long. He woke up just after midnight. After half an hour of trying to fall back asleep, he gave up and sat on the side of his bed. Link looked around the moonlit room and saw Twilight asleep peacefully in her bed. Spike lay calmly in his own beside hers. Navi appeared to be the only one who shared his awoken state. She noticed he was up and flew over to his shoulder, carrying his hat over to him.

He nodded in gratitude and put it on, standing slowly as to not make noise. Link put on his boots and pouches and snuck out of the room. Quietly, he closed the door behind him and went downstairs, expecting to find others. There was nopony. So he went outside and looked up at the stars.

With a sigh, Link started jogging around the vacant village. He made a stop at his "Army of One" board and saw it had filled with requests aplenty. Each one would have to wait. He shook his head and continued his jog.

Link was absent-minded and found himself at the arch to enter Sweet Apple Acres near half an hour later. It looked calm, having come to a close the work of the day. With plenty of time, he walked in and around the orchard, admiring the stillness of nature.

An hour passed and Link realized he had meandered into town once more. He made a stop at town hall, walking in circles around the wooden deck. Then he stopped and sat against the outer wall of the main building. Many of the houses had their lights off, while just a few were on for those night owls. After a few minutes, Link took out his journal and made his eighth entry.

August 8
Monday Morning
Ponyville

Couldn't sleep. Probably had a dream I can't remember anymore. Decided to go for a walk to clear my head. Guess it worked. Haven't thought of anything the past couple hours. The tournament went about as well as I could have hoped. Steel Saber entered and won the whole thing. Next to her, Twilight didn't stand a chance.

I set out for the Sword of Masters later this morning with my sister and a few of our friends. The Sword of Masters is rumored to be the blade of evil's bane. It's some kind of special sword, and I guess I'm the only one that can use it. Tomorrow, I set out on mission. Today, I train with the new sword.

The alicorn in the woods had best leave us alone until I come for him.

I've... had nightmares about this day for weeks. A dark version of myself opposes me when I enter the sword room. I will be ready this time.

Link let the ink dry a few minutes before he clapped the journal closed. He stowed it carefully, along with his supplies. Standing up, he leaned forward against the rail. "What do you think about all this, Navi?"

"About all what?" she replied, flying out to illuminate the air in front of him.

"About... well... this situation... Princess Celestia - in all her wisdom - gave me the wrong keys to open the door. Whether on purpose or not, it happened. I've been led all over Equestria to get the real keys from others. Keys she's never even heard of. And that stallion in the mountain, that chief. He called her his 'Sworn Brother', whatever that means. She knew him. He knows her. But she had no idea he had the Stone of Fire?"

"Maybe she did know, but didn't know that was a key."

"Maybe... But what about the alicorn? I asked her if she knows anypony like that. She answered 'No'. I thought about that. She knows just about everypony, but this one stallion she's clueless about? Something isn't adding up..." He started tapping his finger on the rail. "And I said I'd kill him. I don't even know him."

"Nopony does, it seems," Navi commented.

Link stood upright and headed down to the ground below. Navi followed him, letting him think. The two returned to the library where Link entered a series of workouts. About 20 minutes later, he had drawn his sword and shield and started form training.

One of his thrusts triggered a hallucination. He saw the alicorn stuck through the chest for just a split second. In a panic, he dropped the sword and stepped back. His sword hit the floor with a loud clatter. Emmy came in from the side library room. "What is- Oh. You're awake."

Link picked up his sword and put it away. "Yeah... Can't sleep. You?"

"Can't now. Thanks to you." Emmy came in and flew to the couch. "Bored? Or nervous?"

He shrugged. Link sat down on the chair. "I've just been lost in thought lately. That's all. Tried going for a walk to clear my head, but it didn't work. Then I tried sword forms, and that didn't work either."

"Yeah. You looked pretty freaked out. What happened?"

"I saw him..." he admitted. "He was stabbed through the chest... But in that instant... I saw him smiling. Then he was gone." Link folded his hands and squeezed. "I can't believe how much of an interest I am to him. All this just to get near me, but why? What is his true goal?"

Emmy frowned with concern and hmmm'd. "I don't know. I'm not as smart as you are. Definitely not as talented. Maybe it's your talents that he's drawn to?"

"Whatever it is... I'm supposed to kill him, as per my vow. Now, I'm not even sure I can. But I have to try, right? I mean, what other choice do I have?"

"You always have the choice," Emmy argued. "You chose to live your life, just as I chose to live mine. You were made a Royal Guard, for Celestia's sake, and you did it on your own power. You chose that for yourself. You've got conviction. But... This enemy, is far too strong to take down right now. Even with a cool sword, he's probably leagues ahead of where you are now." She leaned forward. "It might not be something you wanna hear, but... Don't go after him... Not yet."

"You're right, Emmy. He's too strong. I won't go after him. Not until I know for sure I'm ready." He stood up and stretched out his limbs. "Think I'll go for another walk."

"Mind if I come with?"

"Yeah, actually. Stay here. I shouldn't be long. It's just a jaunt around town." He waited and saw her harsh look. "I'll be fine. I'm not stupid. I know better than to mess with a guy like that on my own."

Emmy sighed. "Alright, but be careful."

Link nodded and adjusted his straps. With a wave, he left the library.

Outside, Navi hovered around his head. "I think I know what you're up to."

"Then you know I have to do this on my own." Link made sure he wasn't followed as he made his way to and through the woods.

His entire route went uninterrupted as he journeyed from the edge to the castle. Even Ruby wasn't awake or present to greet him as he strolled in the front door. He went down to the room below and found the familiar red carpet. It led - as before - to the stone rising, then past it to the stand with the indents.

Link removed the three stone keys he'd collected so far and found that each one fitted perfectly into one of the three spots. As he placed them, each one shone their respective color brightly. He took out his ocarina and began playing the notes as they appeared on the stone stand.

When he finished, just as expected, the door ahead split down the middle and began opening by sliding each half to the side. The door made a lot of noise as it slid. Link didn't wait for it to finish, either, walking in when the gap was just wide enough to let him pass. He placed a hand on the handle of his sword as he walked in, expecting trouble but finding none.

The Sword of Masters stood in a pedestal in the very center of the room, in the middle of the highest platform of three. It was placed on a hexagon, wherein each point adorned a circular emblem carved into the stone. He released the handle of the sword on his back and instead gripped the one in the pedestal with both hands. It shot out of the stone as he lifted sharply. Bright blue light fired skyward as he held the sword.

"LINK!" Ruby shouted from the doorway. "What are you doing?!"

Link turned in time to see Ruby gallop into the room near full speed. Ruby got to the base of the steps and leaped toward him.

The two disappeared with the sword, the light vanished. Ruby tumbled to the pedestal and sat upright. Slowly, she started to panic.

Link woke up to find himself standing in the middle of a bright blue room. He stood atop a platform - literally, as over the edge existed a swirling blue abyss - in the center of 6 circular designs, much like before. Only, these were colored. Link turned and saw each one sported a symbol, each indecipherable and different.

"Ah, the hero comes at last," a voice greeted. Link turned quickly toward the source.

There, on the bright yellow circle, stood the one and only Starswirl the Bearded. "You're... Starswirl, aren't you?"

"That's right. Starswirl the Bearded. One of the ancient Sages of this world. Long ago, when I mentored the Princess of the Sun, we, along with her sister, built this castle to protect the entrance to the Sacred Realm."

Link looked peripherally at his surroundings; there were many other pillars disconnected from the main one he stood on, and under his feet sat the sacred symbol of the Triforce. "Okay, so is this the Sacred Realm?"

"In a sense. This Chamber lies at the very center of the Sacred Realm, the last bastion against the evil forces of Ganondorf. You-"

"Who or what is a 'Ganondorf'?" Link crossed his arms as he asked.

Starswirl hesitated. "You... You don't know? Did Princess Celestia not tell you?" He began pacing. "I had not anticipated this..." Then he stopped. "Are you sure she did not tell you of his plans?"

"She's my Mother. And she did not tell me anything about such a being."

"Well, he's a threat, and that sword you carry now - the Sword of Masters - let him in to this realm. That there was the final key. And now that you're old enough to wield it, you must use the sword of evil's bane to stop him."

Link tilted his head. "'Old enough'?"

"Look at yourself, my boy," the old stallion requested.

Uncrossing his arms, Link sighed. Then, he looked at himself. His legs were longer, his chest was bigger, as were his arms. His bracelet was gone and his gauntlets - gray in their color - returned. The golden tunic grew to fit his new body, as did his pants. Link's boots were made taller, going up his shins offering more protection. Even his hair grew an inch or two. The long-sleeved undershirt also grew to fit. "Okay, so I'm bigger."

"Now that you are, you can use that sword to its full potential. The Sword of Masters, a holy blade that no evil can hope to stand against. But you, who have been deemed worthy of the title 'Hero of Time', drew it with such ease." Starswirl looked at the blue-handled sword that now rested on Link's back.

"I'm hardly a hero..." Link admitted. "I haven't done anything."

"Yet. See, as a boy, you were too young to be the hero we required. But you needed to be just that. So when you drew the sword from its resting place, I had a choice to make: bring you forward seven years through time, or bring your seven-year-older body back to you in this time. Quite literally, I flipped a coin. And so, here you stand after your seven year sealing. Ready and able to awaken as the Hero of Time."

Link looked at Starswirl with slight confusion. "You had a choice and didn't consult me?" He raised his voice a little. "I needed that sword for a mission. Send me back with this body."

"I can't do that now," Starswirl admitted.

"Why not?"

"Because if I did, this timeline will be doomed. Your friends, your family, Epona, the princesses all gone. Succumbed to the evil that has now gripped this land."

Link held up his hands toward Starswirl. "So let me get this right: I drew the Sword of Masters. In doing so, this 'Ganondorf' or whoever took over Equestria. And conveniently, the only weapon capable of stopping him is the same one that - when pulled - allowed for his take-over in the first place?" Starswirl was silent. "And - I'm not done - just so I get this right - I'm supposed to stop an enemy I've never even heard about with a sword I've never used in a world that's likely unfamiliar to me at this point, having been carried a whole seven years forward in time against my will, all to stop him with the sword that allowed for his take-over in the first place!"

Starswirl waited. "You know, when you say it all like that, I can understand your frustration." He waited. "But wait, there's more."

"Of course there is."

"When you drew the Sword of Masters, you opened the way to the Sacred Realm, within was held the Triforce in its entirety. And though you opened the door in the name of peace, Ganondorf entered with an ill will. When he reached for the Triforce, it split into three and scattered two of its pieces through time and space." Starswirl waited, sensing a question.

"Space? How do you mean?"

"Ganondorf isn't of this world. Same as you. When you drew it here, your homeworld's Sacred Realm was unlocked. He used that entry point to gain access. Once he retained the Triforce of Power, he opened a breach to this world in a different time and space. He has lived here for over one thousand years. Yet, when you were facing off against Nightmare Moon, the Triforce of Courage came to you when you most needed it. Hence the 'time' part."

Link thought it over. "Not only is he evil, but he's strong and evil."

"Strong, evil and now the King."

A shock went through Link's mind when he heard the word 'King'. "What... What about the princesses?" Starswirl hesitated, then shook his head solemnly. "no... No, they can't have-"

"The Triforce of Power is frightening. In his hands, the Triforce of Power reshaped the land, and made everypony bow to his will, or suffer the consequence."

Link's legs felt weak as he stumbled to the ground. "Mom is..." Slowly, he started crying. After a minute, he wiped them away and rose to his feet. With an expressionless visage, he asked, "What happened to the world?"

Starswirl accepted his conviction. "Ganondorf's influence spread to the cornerstones of the world. The various Temples that exist in the land exuded his hatred and ill will, turning it into a monster-ridden warzone. All this in seven short years. Against that power, I alone am worth little. Even here in the Chamber of Sages where my power is at its greatest. But... There is still hope... The power of the Sages remain. With the remaining Sages, we can seal away his evil power right here in the void of the realm."

Link looked around. The other designed circles were vacant. "Guessing you're an army of one too?"

"For now. But as you stand here, you have been granted the ability to wield the power of the Sages for yourself. And that makes you the Hero of Time. The hero chosen by the Sword of Masters. Now take this. It's a piece of my power, what little I've accumulated in the wake of the disaster." Starswirl summoned an orb of yellow magic and fired it at Link. He stuck out his hand and caught it. The orb absorbed into his appendage and spread through his body. "My power is yours. Your magic has increased in both potency and efficiency."

Link closed his hands into fists. "Thank you."

"Find the other Sages, Link. They will give you their abilities as well. Together, we can save Equestria." Link began floating off the ground as the blue light from before picked him up. "You cannot fail."

"And if I do?"

"Then your world... Will burn."

Link rose into the air and disappeared within the light as he returned to the Castle of the Two Sisters. He received a new mission, straight from Starswirl himself.

Short one, I know.

Time for time shenanigans next time!