Link had just offered his services to the acting leader of the outpost known as Ponyville. Angel Bless had many empty cups around her paperwork on her desk. "What can you do for us? That is what you ask?" Angel began. "What you can do, is tell me what happened to that set of bandits you were supposed to rout a few days ago. Sure, you took their weapons, but did you let them go, or did you finish them off?" She waited not so patiently for his response. "Well?"

"I let them live. I'm not in the business of killing ponies, even if they're misguided." He folded his arms.

"'Misguided'? They do work for the throne of evil, in case you forgot. And it is those same bandits that now threaten our village walls. Because you let them go, they're back." She returned to her seat and groaned with effort. "You're a headache, you know?"

"Yeah, I get that. But at least I'm not sorry. Besides, with them still alive, they're in danger." She looked up from her desk in confusion. "Ah, you're not sure what I mean." Link began to pace back and forth in font of her desk. "See, they work for Ganondorf. This is known. He gave them weapons," he stopped to point factually, "also known." Link started walking again. "Suppose they went back to him and cried timberwolf. What kind of deal do you think he made them that they'd be risking themselves to barrage your walls with this much effort, little though it seems?"

Angel began thinking out loud. "Well, he may have threatened them with their lives if they didn't get their weapons back." She looked up again at him. "So, what, then? We give them their weapons and they're saved?"

"Yes and no." Another confused look. "Okay, so here's the thing: I didn't expect Ganondorf to show any kind of mercy. Doesn't seem his style, from the little I know of him. So likely, if they return with these weapons, he'd just punish them for losing them in the first place, and they'd lose the weapons all over again, and quite possibly take it out on what little is left of this place. And between you and me, that doesn't seem pleasant, no matter how you slice it." Angel nodded her head in agreement. "So if I'm allowed to make this suggestion: give me a chance to bargain with them. Let them know that they have a safe place here. That they don't have to fight to survive. As long as they help out, they can have a life freely. And who knows? They might actually like being on the right side of this war."

"Wait wait, let them stay? You can't be serious." Angel looked almost upset. "You are, aren't you? What could they add that would be worthwhile?"

Link sat at the desk. "There's a swordsman. He might not be all that skilled in its use, but I saw him sharpening his sword, and he was doing it well. They have an archer as well. Good shot, almost got me from 20 yards away. They've also got a speedy type. A pegasus that can use daggers. Probably real good at sneaking in and out of places. There's a unicorn, and the only thing I've seen from them is that they can intercept blasts. The spear user has an interesting accent, but from what I gather, they're perceptive. Not enough to catch me, but they've got good eyes. And their leader. He's, uh... handy with a whip. Of all those, he was the only one with a magical item. I'm sure they can prove themselves worthy of staying - and maybe eventually defending - this place."

Angel took several slow breaths before replying. "You want to negotiate? Fine. I'll give you this chance. If only to see how far you go. But if you come back and tell me they've no interest, then we will go on the offensive."

"Why haven't you, if you don't mind my asking? I mean, if you could, wouldn't you have already?"

"We don't know where they are out there. The blasts are coming from more sides than we have archers to see them." She saw Link stand up and head for the door. "What?"

"I believe I can at the very least lure them out. But don't fire upon them unless they give you a reason to, if you please. In fact, it might do well to keep the main gate open." He walked out of the building and left the door wide open. "But I really don't think there's gonna be a need for that." He continued to the main gate that exited toward the woods.

Angel ran out and made contact with the scout leader up on the wall. There, she made the plan known to him. He nodded wordlessly and opened the gate for Link to walk out. The gate stayed open, just as Link requested. Angel returned to the entrance of the gate in plain view to watch it all unfold.

Navi asked, from his hat, "You think she would have let you negotiate if you didn't basically tell her to?"

"Not a chance. But less bloodshed, the better, right? Save as many as I can. To restore Ponyville to what I remember it being, seven years ago."

Navi hummed at his answer and stayed hidden.

Just as he walked a set distance away from the gate, the magic blasts stopped. After several minutes, a pair of ponies came out from the cover of nearby debris. A pair of black-hooded ponies came walking closer to him, stopping about ten feet away. Link stopped and didn't say a word. The pony to his right still had their hood up, but their horn was still glowing crimson. The fellow on his left was without his hood, and revealed himself to be the stallion in charge of their group. "Our king doesn't believe we should engage you in combat."

"Okay, that's good news already. Why do you fire upon my home, if you don't mean to fight me?" He sounded genuinely curious.

"You have our weapons," he replied. "Weapons we need."

"I told you, I confiscated them. For your own safety, trust me."

"We don't trust you with anything, let alone our safety. We come seeking to take them back. By force if we must." He looked at the unicorn, who lowered their head readying a spell.

"I wouldn't do that." He looked intensely at the unicorn. "I'm here to negotiate. And you see them up there?" He pointed behind him to the guards on the wall with bows trained on them. "They don't care about hitting me as long as they get you too. So let's all just calm down, and hear what I have to say, yes? Yes."

The stallion raised his hoof at his attendant. "Fine. What is it you want to negotiate?"

"Well, the return of your weapons." The pair looked confused. "I've gotten that a lot today, huh. Well, it's like this: I have some of your weapons. Your spear, and your daggers. You likely still have the broken sword, though it's probably fixed by now, and the broken whip. Also likely fixed. And your injured archer friend isn't doing too bad, I bet."

"They're doing just fine. Still mending up. You shot them through the wing. That's a terrible thing to do to a pegasus."

"They shot first, but that's not what I wanna talk to you about. The leader," he pointed again behind himself to the pony standing in the open gateway, "gave me permission to come out here and make you a deal of some kind. Come stay with us. Help us rebuild. Live a life you can be proud of again. I am almost willing to bet that The Fall left you folks with little in the way of safety, so you picked a side and here's where it got you. But stay with us, and help us, you can have your freedom. Freedom from the king who, by the way, killed the princesses those seven years ago."

The two looked at each other. He looked back at Link. "I ain't giving you any answer right away, I hope you know. But I will say we'll talk about it. Nothing's impossible, right?"

"Right. Just talk it over, I'll even give you a few days. Say... Meet back here Tuesday morning with a response. About noonish. And bring your crew. Whichever your answer."

The stallion gave a nod and turned his back, as did the unicorn, who fired up their horn. "So you know," he began, "just because we lost to you once, don't think you've beaten us completely. We still want our rematch."

"Maybe if you agree to join us, I can run you through some drills." The stallion huffed and vanished with the unicorn's teleport skill.

"Just like that, they're gone," Navi noted. "Let's go back and tell her what happened."

Link returned with Navi to Angel, who still stood in the gateway. "How'd it go? What'd they say?"

The gate closed as Link and Navi walked with Angel back to her desk, talking all the way as they enjoyed the silence of no more attacks. "I'd say it went well. The leader, at least that's what he appears to be, agreed to mull it over for a few days with his pals. Told him to come back on Tuesday about noon to give his answer, good or bad."

"All that, and you came up wit hit on the spot. For your sake and ours, I hope they respond favorably." They all return to her room at Town Hall. "So did you rescue your friend? What's next for you?"

"Yeah, I got her freed. As for what's next, I need to return home. And that means being unavailable for the next few days. I should be back either Monday night or real early Tuesday morning. If that's alright."

"That should be fine," Angel admitted. "It's better than what he had, that's for sure."

Link looked at the door. "Oh, before I forget..." He reached into his pouch and produced the bedroll. "I didn't need this. For some reason, I never felt tired enough to fall asleep." Link placed the rolled up blanket against the desk on the floor. "You can have it back."

"I appreciate it, Link. How'd my bow treat you?"

"I appreciate it, greatly. But I am down one arrow. Non-retrievable. Sorry about that."

"Well, it's bound to happen. Ever hear of the Archer's Curse?" Link shook his head. "It's guaranteed to happen. For some reason, there will be an arrow that just can't be found or gotten back. Nopony can explain it, but every archer knows it."

"I'll keep that in mind. Take care of this place. I'll be back." He left the building.

With permission from the gate guard, he left the village and made his practiced way through the woods back to the Castle of the Two Sisters. Down to the Door of Time he walked, where he found Shadow leaning against the doorway. "You... Welcome back."

"Hey. Been waiting long?"

"I've been waiting for 7 years. I'd like to not wait longer, but here we are." Through the near darkness, Link could see Shadow's squinty red eyes.

"Look, I did my best, alright? Kakariko Mura wasn't exactly a stone's throw away. I had to race a ghost for this thing-" Mid-sentence, Link produced the hookshot and waved it around. "-which wasn't easy. I still lost. Then I had to go through the Forest of Nature, or whatever and get to their temple in the jungle and actually, I had to fight some elemental spirits. On top of that shell of an alicorn I found in the woods 7 years ago. Which, come to my understanding, is Ganondorf. I know I'm late, but I'm trying."

Shadow got off the wall and walked toward the pedestal. He stopped part way and turned his head toward Link. "Follow." Link followed him as he continued walking. "You rescued the Sage of Nature, this is true. Her power now flows freely through both you and the Chamber of Sages. But 4 more yet yearn for the same freedom. Your next foe lies in wait within a fiery mountain."

"And which of my friends will it be this time?" Link asked, folding his arms. "Pinkie? Rarity? You seem to know more than you're letting on. Who are you to my past?"

Shadow stopped in front of the Pedestal of Time. He turned to face Link. "I am no one. We never met. You were already gone when I arrived in Ponyville."

Link walked over to the pedestal, uncrossed his arms and drew his Master Sword. "Is that right... Well, whoever you are, I thank you." He readied to place it in its resting spot.

"Hold," Shadow spoke. "There is something I need to bequeath to you." Swiftly, he retrieved his harp.

Slowly, Link set his sword to the side. "What's this then?"

"A song. In case you ever need to return here quickly, this melody will return you to just outside that door there. Now listen closely." Shadow placed the harp in the ready position. He plucked the strings in such a way to produce a rather high-noted song. Link did his best to copy the notes with his ocarina, and did so perfectly. "Wonderful," Shadow praised. "Your skill grows." He pocketed the harp. "Until we meet again." Shadow reached up and slammed down an object that produced a brilliant light. When it dimmed, he was gone.

"He excels at running away," Link admitted. He put away his ocarina and picked up his sword. "Back to the past, I guess..." With one motion, he jabbed the blade into the pedestal.

Link hopped off the pedestal, his body as it was before he ever drew the fabled blade. He gave himself a look-over. "You're back to being a child, Link!" Navi exclaimed.

"So I have... Doesn't feel like I was before..."

"I mean, you had all that extra weight on you. Being a kid again is like shedding all those pounds." Navi flew toward the sword. "And I'm guessing if you draw that again, you'll go back to the future."

Link looked at the sword. "I imagine so." He turned his back to it and started walking out of the grand hall. Soon as he got to the hallway, he stopped and turned his head toward a series of clacking. Ruby was barreling down the hall straight for him.

When she slid to a stop, Ruby had left a little fire trail behind her, "You!"

"Yes, me. What about me?"

"Don't give me that. You disappeared right in front of me. Do you know how long I suspected you died?"

"Hopefully not long." He walked past her and saw the glowing embers of her trail. "Did the rest of you think I died?"

"No," Ruby admitted. "Just me. But you didn't, so what happened?" she asked, following him. "Where did you go?"

Link turned his head to face her. "Come with me back to the library and you can hear all about it when I tell everypony. Okay?"

Ruby huffed, knowing she'd get no better answer than that. Along the way, Link asked her about her fire ability, and whether she'd be able to teach him some stuff. now that he has fire magic. She agreed, and gave him his first lesson of leaving a fire trail.

"But how's that gonna be good in combat?" he asked.

"It doesn't have to help you fight. A fire trail trains you to expel magic from points other than your hands. It's all training to get you ready for the big boy stuff later." Ruby held her head high in pride at having mastered all these things.

"I see." He looked down at his feet. "They're so far from my magic source, it might take some time."

"Maybe, but at least you're talented." Ruby walked with him the rest of the way.

Back at the library, Twilight had set herself down on the comfy chair she reserved for reading with a really good book. .S good, she didn't hear Link open the door.

"That's about what I expected, Twilight," he muttered under his breath. He walked into the room, allowed Ruby to enter and closed the door. Ruby picked a seat on the couch while Link approached Twilight directly. "Nice book. A shame the hero has to die at the end."

"The person may have died, but not as a hero. His allies felt guilt for not protecting him better, and couldn't bring themselves to tell his daughter of their failure. Anypony can succumb to emotion. It's what makes us ponies." Twilight clapped the book closed and set it aside. "But the ending is open to interpretation, and while yours may not be the most popular, it is still a possible outcome."

Link looked around. "How were things while I was gone?"

Twilight blinked a few times, looking him over. "Things were fine. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just... Hmm..."

Ruby interrupted. "Link said he'd tell us about what happened while he was gone."

"Did he now? Well, don't keep everypony waiting," Twilight replied. She got down from her chair and went to the door. Standing just outside was Emerald and Rainbow. The two let themselves in and found seats after greeting the group. Twilight walked to the stairs. "She's been worried the most about you. She never showed it, but I could tell." Epona came walking down the stairs.

"Link. I knew you were back."

"Probably heard me talking." Epona smiled and looked off to the side. She walked down and sat with the others. "Okay, so here's the thing. That sword I picked up in the castle, the sword of Masters, is a key of some kind. drawing it allows me to zip off to the future. 7 years, actually, to the instant. And that world isn't doing too well. I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm working on it."

"The future? Where am I?" Emmy asked, intrigued.

"You made your way back to your village."

"What about me?" Ruby asked.

"I actually don't know what happens to you. Haven't heard anything about you."

"How about me?" Twilight asked. "What happens to me?"

Link looked at Twilight cautiously. "You?" Twilight nodded once. "You... I don't know. In fact, of everypony I asked, not a single one of them knew your whereabouts."

"That's unsettling. But that's alright. No sense worrying about it, right?"

"That's right. If you act to change it, you'll doom the future I'm going to coming from. So best to go about like normal." Link started for the stairs. "I need to take care of something. Please excuse me."

"Sure. Take all the time you need," Twilight offered.

Link made his way up the stairs and prepared his writing stuff for the twelfth entry in his journal.

August 13
Saturday
Golden Oaks Library

Having been to the future and back, seeing Ponyville before it becomes an outpost makes me want to try harder.

It was Fluttershy, by the way. The mare in the temple I had to rescue. The temple itself was tough; four hard fights against elemental spirits before a fight with that shadow pony's discarded shell. It was pretty strong, but not strong enough.

Afterward, I received a gift of special sight from Fluttershy. I intend to train it well.

I learned of my true parents. And their sacrifice. Wish I could have met them at least once.

Ponyville Outpost may be getting some new members. I have the chance to welcome them this Tuesday, but I think I'll get there Monday night.

Link finished his writing and set it aside to dry. "That should do it."

"What do we do while we're here?" Navi asked.

"Think."

Downstairs, Twilight had just watched Link go upstairs. Soon as she heard the door close, she asked the others. "Does he seem alright to you?"

"He seemed a little distracted. Like something was on his mind," Emmy said. "Hmm..."

"He said he didn't know where some of us were in the future... What do you think happens to us?" Ruby asked. "I mean, if anything happened to me, I imagine I'd try and return home, but if I couldn't, then... I don't know... I'd try and go where I was most useful, you know?"

Twilight nodded. "Agreed. But... he hesitated when he admitted he didn't know where I went. Nopony knew..."

Ruby smiled a little. "But at least you're more likely to be found, right? You're his sister after all. Like he'd ever leave you alone for too long."

"Link was in the Royal Guard for many years, and barely wrote. I get the feeling he knows I can handle myself." She looked over to Emmy and Rainbow. "What about you two? Emmy, he said you'd return home. And Rainbow, where would you go?"

"He never said where I went, but something about him is different... I can feel it, but I don't know what it is." Rainbow shrugged. "Oh well. Could be my imagination."

Twilight shrugged. "Maybe... Maybe not. I suppose we'll see." She looked up at the top of the stairs. Just what is going on with you?]

Link spent the next morning trekking through town to a nearby lake with a dock. There, he began to practice the fire technique Ruby had displayed the day before. But whenever he focused, the magic went to his hands instead of his feet. That went on for about an hour, when he finally was able to channel the magic to the soles of his feet. Then, he practiced walking and running around the lake. True to how Ruby had done, he left a fiery boot-print in the sand whenever he stepped.

Triumphant, Link returned to the forest castle, and made his way to Ruby's library. "Hello? Are you there Ruby?"

He had found her at her desk of restoration. She was right in the middle of one of her projects. "Yes? what is it?"

"I mastered the fire step thing you showed me yesterday."

"That quick, huh? You want me to take your word for it, or are you gonna show me?" Link raised his foot and ignited it before stepping down and raising it again. There, in the stone floor, stayed a boot-shaped imprint lit on fire. It burned for a few seconds before fizzling. "Very good. You learn fast. So, wanna know what's next?" Link lowered his foot and nodded. "This next one can work as a barrier, but also as a tool to keep you warm. It's a flame cloak." She stepped down from the desk and walked next to him. "Observe."

Ruby took a breath and focused. Nothing was happening to the naked eye, so Link engaged his new talent of special sight and saw that Ruby had activated her magic, letting it run the full surface of her body in a very thin layer. "Impressive. And you can do this all you want?"

"So long as I maintain fo- ... How do you know what I'm doing?"

"I can basically feel the heat off of you, Ruby. It's hard to miss," he lied.

"Yeah, I guess." She relaxed and dispelled the magic. "Anyway, that's your next test. Learn flame cloak, then come back and see me for more."

Link nodded, thanked her for her help and went on his way, practicing as he left.

He returned to the library an hour and a half later and started looking for where the next temple could be. He knew it had to be in some mountain somewhere. Together with Twilight, he looked for several hours until Twilight found some promising information. "Link, I think I found something." She turned the book toward him and it showed a drawing of a temple surrounded by flowing lava. "It's called the Temple of Temperance. It's located deep within the mountains to the northeast of Canterlot."

"Probably near the mines I went to before. Which means they probably know about it. I'll have to ask them when I get there."

"There wasn't much else I could find about the temples, but I'll keep looking while you're gone if that's alright."

"I would appreciate that. Thank you." Twilight nodded. Link took the book and studied it for a while.

Near the end of the day, Link put his head down on the pillow on his bed. Unable to fall asleep, he sat up to face Twilight. "Mind if I ask you a question, Twilight?"

Twilight, who was almost asleep herself, grumbled and sat upright. "Sure, I guess."

Link looked out the window. "What would you do with the time you spend asleep if you just couldn't fall asleep?"

"Try and fall asleep. For example..." Twilight's head fell upon the pillow once more.

"Ha ha," Link forced a sarcastic chuckle. "No really. Like, let's say a spell was cast on you making it impossible to fall asleep. Oh, and you can't break this spell. What would you do with all that extra time?"

Probably do what I already do. But get real good at it." Soon as she stopped talking, Link began to hear sounds of Twilight being asleep.

I worked so much harder than you, so why can't I sleep?

In the morning, Link opened his eyes to see Twilight standing just over him. The sun had already come up. Link looked around and saw Twilight looking down him him. "Uhh..."

"Morning Link. How'd you sleep?"

"I didn't. Wish I could, but eh. What's up?"

"Really, you can't sleep? Hmm..." She thought. "So you were being serious last night? You really can't fall asleep?"

"That's right," Link admitted, sitting upright.

"Then for a better answer, have you tried to meditate?" Link looked confused. "I'll take that as a 'no'. Meditation is a calm state of mind where thoughts can get organized and the body can rest, even if you can't. With enough training, meditation can be used to exercise your brain in ways that normally require physical effort. Give it a try next time."

Link got out of bed and put his stuff on. "I'll do that."

"But not right now. You and I have stuff to do today."

"We do?"

"Yeah," Twilight said. "We do. But first," she gestured to the bedside table, "breakfast." There, on the table, was a plate of simmered fruit.

Link and Twilight shared the plate of food. "What do we have planned?"

"I'm helping you today. I don't have anything of my own to do, so I thought I'd spend time with you. What did you have planned? I'll join you for it."

Link placed his hand to his chin and finished his bite. "Well, do you know anywhere particularly cold? See, Ruby wants me to try a new way to use my fire magic, and it requires somewhere cold."

"Didn't you go to the north? Pretty cold up there."

"Yeah, but I don't have a good way back, and I doubt you've been there yourself. So teleporting there and back might be too much. How about..."

Twilight interrupted him. "I don have somewhere in mind, but it's also watery. So if you plan on cold, you should also plan on wet."

"I can handle that." Link looked out the window. "Where is it?"

"North Luna Bay."

He looked back at her. "Isn't that where the finish line was for Dash's and Emmy's race?" She nodded her head. "That'll do then."

"Great. Let me go get Spike, and we can be on our way." Twilight took the empty plate downstairs with her and returned with Spike on her back.

"Heard we were going to the beach," Spike noted.

"I'm going there for training, yeah. I imagine the two of you want to explore around a little, yeah?"

Spike looked hopeful at Twilight. "Sure, we can leave you be once we get there." She lifted her bags onto her back with some time-spenders inside. "Got books and bits and some snacks for Spike. Are you ready?"

Link nodded and tightened his belt. "Ready." Navi flew to his shoulder and the four of them vanished by her spell.

They arrived on the shore of their destination. The tide was a little farther in than she expected and landed them in about 3 inches of water. "Well, sorry about that." The four make their way up to dryer land. "What kind of spell is it anyway?"

"Well, it's like a flame cloak. Made to keep me warm without the need to wear the warming clothes for it." He looked out to the water and turned on his special sight. He saw a lot of water, some rocks jutting out of the surface, and an endless expanse of ocean before him. "This'll do nicely." He turned off his sight and looked at Twilight. "I'll be here a while, feel free to meander."

Twilight nodded with a smile and walked off with Spike. Soon as she was gone, Link focused on his training, occasionally looking through his magic sight. Just a few hours in, Link sat on the shore and left his sight on. "Navi, how well do you think I'm doing?"

"I think you're progressing well," she admitted. "Magic control is in top shape."

"I mean about the mission... You know, the main reason I'm out here freezing to death?" He lay back on the gravel-sized beach rocks. "Fluttershy is just one of them. Aj, Dash, Pinkie and Rarity are who's left. I wonder who'd be next? Let's see... Mountain... Fire, volcano, Temple of Temperance... Who would best fit the bill?"

"Applejack, I would think. She's the strongest of them, and she's got a tempered heart, I'd say." Link looked over at her. "Well, it makes sense, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose it-" He stopped short and sat up, turning to face the rock wall behind him. "Navi, you see that?" She turned to see what he saw and found nothing. "There's magic back there... I can see it." He stood up and walked over to the wall. After placing a hand on it, he gauged, "It's not blocked by magic, this rock is real enough. but there's a hollow behind it. And unlike the one at the castle, this one is actually in the wall, not in front of it."

Link backed up away from it and took out a bomb. "You're crazy!"

"With no better ideas, this is what I gotta do." He lit the fuse and lobbed it at the wall, exploding on impact, sending chunks of stone in many directions. "Fire from me wasn't gonna help me here. It's not ice." Link walked forward, turning off his magic sight.

Inside, Link came to a familiar pool of water...

Next Chapter: Chapter 61: The Ocean's Sacred Spring Estimated time remaining: 58 Minutes