A Silent Departure

The sun slowly began to rise, its warming golden rays heralding the start of a new day. The translucent lances of gold filtered through the lush emerald veil of leaves and branches, gilding Nature in its golden glory where it went. Birds would soon rouse from their nests, to fill the air with their cheery songs, followed by the lowing of the cattle and goats waiting to be fed. That in turn would begin the shrieks of the cuccos in their pens, then the bustle of busy ponies rising from their beds in the peaceful Fiador Village to do their daily routines...

Or so it would have been, if the alarm bell hadn't been ringing near off its mount, the terrible sounds of battle filling the air, the screams of terrified foals, and smoke rising to the dawn tinted skies above.

Doors all over the village flew open, stallions brandishing various weapons while clad in sleepwear/ hastily donned armor rushing out of their homes to meet the invaders...huge pig like monsters armed with spears, shields, clubs, and the ones in the back had bows and arrows: arrows tipped with burning coals to start fires where they landed. The deep green skinned porcine creatures were easily three to four feet taller than an average stallion, and about three times as wide, half fat, half muscle. They wore crude leather armor that looked to have been gotten off the back of a scrap cart somewhere, and their weapons were either crudely made or clearly stolen, given their decent craftsmanship.

Bearing sword, shield, spear, club or mace, clad in mostly sleeping garb, stallions and not a few mares charged at the oversized beasts while a few chosen others led the foals and elderly away from the battleground deeper into the village proper. Heat shimmered in the air, flames licking at rooftops and chimneys, smoke rising to the skies like living banners of death, the cacophony of screams, shrieks, battle roars and the song of steel enough to make one go deaf.

Pegasi swooped from the skies to divebomb the monsters, harrying them with spear, wind gust and thunder clouds, with the occasional kick to the head if they felt they could get away with it. Snarling, the monsters tried to swipe at their harriers with their own weapons, frothing at the mouth, spitting and hissing curses in the foul tongue of the Barren Wastes. A few of them were lucky enough to clip a couple of the swooping pegasi with their weapons, but that just left them wide open for the earth ponies to come charging in, delivering vicious strikes to their midsections, legs, or even 'sensitive areas'.

"PUSH THEM BACK, MY BRETHREN! SHOW NO MERCY!"

The near leonine like roar echoed through the village; the stallion who had bellowed that order a powerful looking specimen indeed. He was clearly an earth pony, with a dark gray colored coat and a dark green mane, his massive hooves slamming into the gut of another huge pig monster. The beast doubled over with a 'whouf' of expelled foul breath, clearly having been suckerhoofed...only to be blasted backwards and into some of its porcine brethren by an aura covered boulder that had come from just behind the huge muscle bound stallion. More lances of magic: frost, fire, lightning and more rocks erupted from the back, the thunder of hooves signaling the arrival of the unicorns, who lived further back in the village.

Another vile pig lumbered forward, his axe raised high to cut down a helpless pegasus whose wing had been clipped, and he was unable to fly, dazed from his fall. Before the axe could swing down...

Eeeeeeeeeeeeee......

It was faint at first, but slowly growing louder. The whistling noise grew steadily louder, and as such, it got the pig's attention; it paused in its downward swing, stupidly turning towards the source of the noise...

That was when a bluish-silver blur SLAMMED at magically enhanced speed right into its bulging stomach and sent it sprawling head over heels in the dirt before it slammed into the side of someone's house. Stunned, it remained there...and turned out to be easy pickings for a few more earth ponies who were nearby. The pegasus looked up to see a unicorn mare clad in a light linen shift standing close by, chest heaving, flanks slick with sweat, and dripping dark ichor from her sharpened horn point onto her face and onto the ground. The mare's eyes were a beautiful royal blue color, her coat the color of polished blue tinted steel, and her mane matched her eyes, with a streak of indigo running through it. But unlike her pegasus friend, she had no cutie mark as of yet. She snorted, shook her head to rid her horn of the dripping fluid and pulled him to his hooves.

"Art thou all right, Rushing Zephyr?"

The shaken pegasus male nodded, fluffing out his wings and shaking himself out. "Aye, for the moment. I owe thee my life, Skyward."

She shook her head at him. "Neigh, thou owe me nothing. How is thy wing? Art thou good to fly?"

The cerulean blue and silver colored pegasus with a swirling updraft of feathers cutie mark on his flanks stretched his wing, moved it experimentally up and down and winced a little, but nodded his head at her. "I can fly, if not fast. What would thou have me do?"

Skyward pointed to the air with one hoof even as she used her magic to grab a discarded sword with her magic, a shimmering silver aura surrounding the weapon as she tested its edge with one hoof. "Scout ahead, see if thee can find their leader. Report to mine brother Tempest Wing with all speed if thou do, and keep out of sight! If thy injury troubles thou further, make haste to the healers at once!"

Rushing Zephyr nodded his silver maned head and went airborne, soon becoming a speck among the clouds in the now blue sky. Skyward turned her attention back to the battle, running along the packed dirt path, hooves pounding out a savage tattoo as she cast her gaze about for any more of the beasts....

Sudden! Movement!
Out of the corner of her right eye!

She raised the sword in her magic just in time to block a deadly overhead slash from a pig monster lurking in the shadows in between two houses close together. The porcine creature heaved against the unicorn's parry, trying to break her ground or upset her balance. The smell coming off of the creature was disgusting indeed: old blood, feces and piss to name a few. The smell threatened to make her choke, but she grimly held fast, eyes burning with hatred and fury. Baring her teeth in defiance and rage, Skyward pushed back against the beast, digging her hooves into the ground to further her resistance. Inch by inch, however, the monster was beginning to overpower her...she being a mare she didn't have the raw muscle a stallion had.

Spotting an object close by, she reached out with a little more magic, and picked up a small clay pot from to the left and behind the pig. She allowed herself to be pushed back--juuuust a tad, just enough for it to think it was going to win...and brought it crashing down onto its head from above. It didn't faze it too much, but it did distract it long enough for her to push it away and deliver a killing strike to the chest, her sword burying itself between the monster's ribs to seek the vile heart beneath. Eyes bulging, its grotesque tongue hanging out of its foul maw as blood spurted from its lips, face frozen eternal in a mask of pain and disbelief, it crashed to the ground with a wheezing squeal and lay still.

Dark blood spattered her face, mane and her linen shift, but she paid it no mind as she shook it off, a terrible smile tugging at her lips as she yanked her blade free and charged off after the main host of fighting ponies.

The sun had risen by this point, and as a result it was much easier to see now. The pig creatures knew this too, and their raid being largely unsuccessful, had decided to retreat. Some of the unicorns were putting out the fires on the houses, aided by some of the pegasi, while the rest of the pony village chased the monsters into the surrounding woods. Once the last one was gone, the herd stopped their pursuit, chests heaving, hooves stomping, wings flapping...

"Mossy Boulder, art they gone?"

The huge dark gray pony with a cutie mark of a rolling moss covered boulder on his flank turned to look at the magenta and ocher unicorn stallion who had approached him. His great brown eyes bored into the unicorn's crimson ones, a grim look on his rugged features.

"For now, Blazing Dawn. But we must be vigilant and step up patrols. We can not rely on aid from the Haylian Army, stretched thin as they are from the war in the Barren Wastes."

Blazing Dawn nodded his head as a black and gold pegasus with a triple winged thunderbolt cutie mark on his flanks shot down from the heavens, landing next to the unicorn male. "Rushing Zephyr reported to me earlier, Father. He spotted their leader...he's twice as big as the others and carries a huge battleaxe, and better armor as well. He lost sight of them once they rounded the bend into Hayrule Field given his wing is injured."

Mossy Boulder gave a single nod to his winged son, thumping his son's shoulder in approval. "Well done, Tempest Wing. Where is thy sister?"

"I am here, Father." Skyward approached the group, the sword held low and to her side so she wouldn't hit anypony with it. Mossy Boulder regarded his daughter, a faint smile touching his mouth. "Got a few of them then, did ye?"

"Aye. I'll not stand idly by while these beasts defile our home." She stomped a hoof to emphasize her point, and Mossy Boulder nudged her gently. "Ye fight as well as thy mother once did. Ye have made me proud, my daughter."

Skyward inclined her head to her sire, and Mossy Boulder began barking orders to the other villagers to begin cleanup and restoring the village. Pegasi began to clear away the soggy, dirty shingles that covered some of the roofs, unicorns levitating up tools and such as earth ponies clambered around to mend and inspect damage---groups of ponies helping to haul away the dead bodies of the beasts for disposal.

Tempest shook his mane out and coughed a little, turning towards his sire. "No casualties, Father?"

"None this time 'round, Tempest, thank Din, sadly we do have many injured this time. Take a squadron and patrol the forest, right away. The bastards may decide to return after dark, and we must be ready for them, if they do decide to 'visit' anon."

"Aye, Father. Oi, Sky, mayhap thy might earn thy cutie mark the next battle?" Tempest playfully tugged at his sister's mane in passing, who aimed a kick at him in turn, snorting at him as he grinned, waved down to her and flew off.

"Oooohhh....next time I shalt braid and be-ribbon his Goddesses-bedamned mane for that..."

Mossy Boulder laughed heartily, nudging his daughter's shoulder as he indicated for her to walk with him. "Pay him no mind, my child. I have a special task for thee."

"What would thou have me do, Father?"

The huge stallion was silent for a time, the only sound their hooves on the earth beneath them. The scent of the woods rose around them--rich loam, dry leaves and twigs, fresh grass and water as he led her to the Emerald River. He lowered his head to take a drink, Skyward moving a little downstream to wash the blood and sweat off of herself. She removed her torn and stained linen shift, using her magical aura to wash her fur and mane, before she strode out and shook herself somewhat dry like a dog. She draped her ruined shift over herself, out of modesty, and glanced at her sire.

"Father? What ails thy thoughts?"

Mossy Boulder seemed to be thinking very hard about something, because he did not answer his daughter right away. He turned to look at her, a serious expression on his rugged features.

"I know thou have not obtained your cutie mark yet....but it must be thou, there is no choice. Ye must leave the village. Ye must run with all haste to Hayrule Castle."

Needless to say, Skyward was shocked near silent. Ponies that hadn't earned their cutie marks yet weren't allowed to go out of the village...it went against their traditions!

"...Father, forgive mine objection! I have not earned my mark yet! Who would listen to a markless pony? And, what makes thee think Princess Zelda wouldst be able to aid us? Thou said it thyself, the Haylian Army is stretched thin..."

The mare shut up instantly when her father lifted one great hoof and slammed it authoritatively against the ground, giving her a gimlet look that warned her not to trifle with him.

"Do not question me, young filly. Ye are skilled with a blade and magic, and ye know how to use them well. Go to our abode, dress thyself proper and hie thee to my chambers. In the chest in front of my bed, there is a sword and shield for thee to use, since thou know the way is no longer safe. There thou will also find a sealed scroll...do not open it, tis' for the Princess's eyes alone. You shalt also find saddlebags laden with provisions and tools for travel in the kitchen. Once that scroll is delivered, the Princess shalt instruct thee further. Understood?"

Skyward backed her ears, her body tensing in defiance, but she knew her father wouldn't be swayed, and she nodded mutely. "I shalt do as thou command, Father."

Mossy Boulder gazed at his daughter for a long moment before he reached out with one leg and pulled the unicorn close to him in a fierce embrace.

"Goddesses keep thee safe, my child. One final thing; do not travel through Hayrule Field at night. Stop at Bridleriko Village for the night, then make haste with all speed to Hayrule Castle Town before the next eve falls. You will find plenty of Snaffles in the saddlebags I have for thee."

Skyward nuzzled her father in return, before she turned and began cantering towards the house she lived in with her brother and sire. She ran up the stairs and went right to her room, throwing the ruined sleeping gown aside and opening her armoire. Unlike most mares around the village, she chose to wear tunics and not dresses, she finding them silly and restrictive. She pulled out a dark blue tunic, yanked it on and belted it around her barrel, running a brush through her mane and tail, then she braided part of her mane away from her face, securing it with a pair of polished wooden pins shaped like wings her brother had gifted her one Midwinter Festival. She grabbed a small satchel and began filling it with a few things...a horn sharpening stone, her brush, a set of hoofpicks, a medium sized bag that clinked and clicked lightly before she stuck it inside of the satchel and closed it securely.

Her hair done, she exited her room, walked down the hall and to the left, then opened the door to her sire's bedroom. The oaken chest in front of the massive bed glowed silver as she opened the lid, and stuck her head inside. Sure enough, a sealed scroll bearing her father's cutie mark on the seal lay inside, atop a wrapped bundle. She lifted out the scroll, and then the bundle itself. She removed the length of rough brown cloth that hid the items beneath...

Her eyes widened and she sprang back, the sword and shield dropping to the floor with a loud CLANK-CLATTER as she lost her grip on them, staring at the items with her mouth open.

The shield in question was not made of wood...it was wood bound in worked steel. The background of the shield was a deep blue color, the polished steel work making intricate raised designs in the dark azure field. A crimson alicorn with wings spread seeming to fly upward was at the lower half of the shield, the tip of the horn pointing up to the symbol of the royal family of Hayrule...

The legendary Triforce.

It was a Haylian Shield. Just like one that a Royal Guardsman of Hayrule would bear.

Her mind boiled with questions, but her father's orders rang clear in her head and she bit her lower lip, snatching up the shield, and then the sword in her magic. She unsheathed the blade...a smile crossed her face despite herself at the superb craftsmanship of the sword...sharp and ready to be used for what it was made for. She sheathed it and slung it over herself, securing the strap to her barrel and slinging the shield to her back soon after. She picked up the scroll in her magic and headed downstairs, heading for the kitchen.
A pair of plain leather saddlebags, plus a deep blue cloak with a cowl, awaited her on a peg near the back door that led outside close to the cucco pen, and she removed them, securing both to herself after putting the scroll safely into the left bag and striding out the door. She kept out of the path of most ponies, choosing to go through alleyways and behind most of the houses, not wanting to be seen by anypony, until she got to the Verdant Gate.

This gate was a work of woodcraft in of itself....massive oak trees magically bound and woven from unicorn and earth pony magic to create a living barricade, the pegasi making sure the entirety was kept healthy at the canopy level by removing dead branches and pruning as needed to make sure there was no overgrowth that would go awry or any dangerous creatures nesting in the branches. Sadly, the gate was shattered and broken---it would take a bit of time for them to repair it.

Skyward took hold of one of the gate doors with her magic and pulled it open a bit further, so she wouldn't attract attention. She glanced over her shoulder...

The villagers were still rebuilding and some were even now setting out tables for an outdoor feast, celebrating their victory as well as filling their bellies before rebuilding. The scent of fresh bread filled her nose and it made her eyes sting with unshed tears...

She didn't want to leave. According to their traditions it was forbidden for her to leave.

But her father's orders were clear.

Taking a deep breath, the young mare slipped out of the gate and closed it behind her, striding off through the forest proper before she broke into a swift canter, leaving Fiador Village far behind her.

To Hayrule Castle Town she would go.

Author's Notes:

Run Free

The road that led in and out of Shadowleaf Forest was long and winding; her hooves beating against the packed dirt of the wagon trail that led out of the forest proper, the cloak billowing out behind her a bit as she cantered along the path. Skyward wished she could have said goodbye to her brother, but she knew her sire didn't want her to be seen leaving, and with good reason.

A Haylian pony without a cutie mark was not considered a full adult yet: foal at worst, adolescent at best, and it was forbidden for anypony without a cutie mark to leave their village for any reason. Unless their journey was sanctioned by the three village elders, and all had to agree on such a request. Doing so without their explicit permission would result in either being banished permanently or earmarked for shame until they earned their cutie mark. The mare winced at the thought of wearing a heavy, plain cold iron ring in her right ear until she bore that Nayru-damned mark on her flank that would enable her to ascend to adulthood and earn her surname, and snorted, laying back her ears.

Sometimes law and bureaucracy really sucked plot.

Granted her sire was good friends with the earth pony village elder, Granite Edge, but she prayed to the Goddesses he wouldn't land in trouble for sending her out beyond Fiador's borders even if she didn't have her mark...

The forest's gloom began to lighten, and she smiled, knowing she was reaching the end of the forest pathway, and picked up speed a little bit. Shadow gave way slowly to sunshine, the cool shade of the forest lessening and the full glory of the sun's rays shining down from a bright blue sky dotted with clouds, with naught but rolling emerald green hills ahead of her as far as one's eye could see, with the occasional stand of trees and rock formations dotting the landscape.

This was Hayrule Field.

Skyward shook off her hood and smiled, inhaling deeply of the clean, crisp air and stomping one hoof in excitement. She'd heard stories from the foragers and the healers who went out to gather herbs, or even went to Hayrule Castle Town proper for trading their produce and dairy products from the goats and cows they kept...

Buck the stories...the reality was so much better! She stepped out off of the path onto the springy grass, giggling like a foal as she pranced, reveling in the feeling of sunwarmed grasses against her hooves. She reared abruptly and took off into a full gallop, laughing as she rushed down the slope. The open plains and the blue sky were so inviting, the wind in her mane and face, the bright sun streaming down upon her back, its rays warming her through. She dashed across the grassy flatland with nary a care in the world, laughing like the foal she once had been years ago.

The scent of fresh water caught her nostrils, and she turned her head towards it, skidding slightly as she tried to slow down. She followed her nose (and her ears) to a rushing stream cutting through the Field proper. She sniffed at it...the water was moving fairly quickly, so with all the turbulence she couldn't tell if there was anything underneath. Glancing from left to right, she pricked her ears as her horn began to glow silver, and she levitated a sphere of river water out of the churning current. Tentatively, she lifted it to her muzzle and began to drink...it was clean, thank Farore, and fresh. She drank it down, and went to 'reach' for another...

HSSSSSSSSS!

The unicorn mare recoiled at the noise, her magic bringing the sword and shield out, blade in a guard stance and shield in a defensive angle. She yelped when something struck her left side, and hissed in pain, turning towards the direction the projectile had come from...

It was floating in the water, just poking its shell covered head out of the rushing fluid. Glowing green eyes glared at her from under the shell's lip as it bobbed up and down, making its way towards the shore. Slimy purple colored tentacles ending in sucker covered tips erupted from the water to cling to the rocks on the shoreline, its mouth pursing as it inhaled...

Skyward brought up her shield, hearing a loud SPANG as the rock the Octorok had spat at her struck its surface. It rebounded off the shield and flew into the water...she began backing up, blocking more shots from the beast, but not one of the rocks struck the evil little purple thing. Finally, she had just about enough; scowling viciously, she lowered her head enough to shoot at it with an ice spell. A beam of frosty light erupted from her horn, streaking towards her foe...

CRACKLESPACKLEZZZZZZZING!

On impact, the spell froze the monster in a solid block of ice, which began to float away downstream as the current was going southwards. She smirked victoriously as she twirled her borrowed sword and replaced the sword and shield on her back, turning to leave the river. She continued across the field...but soon noticed that the shadows had grown rather long, and she frowned, looking up at the sun...

Skyward's mouth fell open in shock: it was almost bucking sunset?! How much time had passed? Goddesses time flew by when you got into a scrap! Her sire's words echoed in her head, a warning as she broke into a run, going back to the pathway she could see further down the way.

(...do not travel through Hayrule Field at night. Stop at Bridleriko Village for the night, then make haste with all speed to Hayrule Castle Town before the next eve falls....)

Before dark...

It became very clear to her then: there were actual monsters here, this wasn't the village or a pleasure jaunt, and if she wanted to survive, she'd damn well better do what she had been commanded to do! Din's flaming mane, if she was lucky she'd make it there just after sunset at this rate! Mentally she berated herself for losing focus of her mission's goal.

<This is what you get for goofing off Skyward, you moronic little foal! Your sire gave you a mission to carry out, so snap to it soldier or you won't live to see the next dawn!>

Her horn glowing silver, she cast a haste spell on herself, similar to the one she had used last night to increase her speed, and galloped as fast as she could, raising a cloud of dust behind her. The sun continued its descent across the sky, and as the air grew cooler, the sky began to change colors....

HOOOOOWWWWWLLL! YIP YIP AWWWWWOOOOOOOOOWWWW!

The bloodchilling ululation sent a shiver down her spine, and she risked a glance over her shoulder. She saw nothing in the growing dusk, but she continued to run; it wasn't even dark, but the cries were clear enough...it was a Wolfos, but how close it was, she knew not, and she kept running, praying it was just one and not a whole pack.

Haylian ponies, be they earth, unicorn or pegasi foal from the time they could walk, talk/show signs of magic/flight skill, were gathered together each day and taught to fight. They were taught to build muscle and stamina by running obstacle courses and carrying around stones tied to their bodies, being tested by unicorns for what sort of magic they were best suited for, flight skills and timing, each day for an hour, and that time increased as they grew older, planting and harvesting time permitting of course. If it was raining, they were training. If it was snowing, they were training. If it was a dry, hot day, they were training.

Most ponies would call this cruel and unusual punishment and foal abuse, but the outlying Haylian provinces scoffed at the soft city ponies who lived in Hayrule Castle Town. They had the Haylian Castle Guard, and with the current war going on in the Barren Wastes against the Gerudo pony tribe in the west, the army could not afford to come to the aid of the villages scattered throughout the kingdom...

Meaning that it was up to them to protect themselves. But Princess Zelda's father, King Valion Hayrule knew that without proper instruction, they would not stand a chance against enemy forces and thieves, and so many, many years ago he sent a few of his royal guards to each village to teach them how to fight effectively, and heal the wounds of their fellow ponies. Eventually, some of the guards decided to remain in those villages and ever since that time, every village was armed and ready to fight if the raiding parties or a skirmish happened within Hayrulean borders.

So too it was with Skyward, who had been born to Mossy Boulder and Inferno Flare, a unicorn mare whose fur, tail and mane resembled a roaring bonfire; gold with streaks of red. But Inferno Flare had died of chillcore sickness when Skyward was four years old and her brother Tempest was nine, leaving Mossy Boulder to care for both his foals, with the aid of the village. Skyward pricked her ears as a scuffing, clicking noise made itself known to her, along with heavy panting and a deep growl and she increased her speed, risking a glance over her shoulder...

The Wolfos chasing her was a medium sized one, with a tawny colored coat, but in the fading light it looked almost black. Its blazing orange eyes focused on her, its long red tongue hanging out of its maw as it salivated at the thought of feasting upon pony flesh. Skyward's mind raced as she struggled to think past the panic rising in her chest....Bridleriko had to be close; just had to be close by!

By Din's almighty teats, where were the glow of the gate lamps?!

The Wolfos snarled, increasing its own speed...Skyward felt anger surge through her at the thought of failure and she suddenly stopped short. She coiled her back legs, tensing up as she looked over her shoulder; the beast letting out a savage bay of victory as it sprang upon her, its razored teeth ready to rend flesh...

Only to get a vicious faceful of Skyward's rear hooves, and sent flying backwards with an agonized howl. There was a sickening crack when her hooves connected with the Wolfos's face, but she paid it no mind, taking off once more into the night in a blur of dark blue and indigo. Up ahead, twin points of light gleamed in the distance, and she could have cried in relief upon seeing them. Down a hill, up a rise...and as she got to the very top, she beheld her destination as lamps were lit and sentries changed places along the stone pillar watchtowers.

Bridleriko Village! At long last!

A wet sounding snarl echoed behind her and she spun around to see the wounded Wolfos scrambling to catch up to her, its paws scrabbling on the loose dirt and small stones. Blood ran from its jaw, which was swinging oddly for some reason...

StopbuckingstaringandRUNyouidiot!

She turned and bolted towards the gates, her horn glowing as she yanked something out of the saddlebags. It was a medium sized warhorn, carved of maple with leather cord tied to it. On either side of the horn was a raised carving of a rearing unicorn, it so lifelike it almost seemed as if it would leap off of the wood and start running. Skyward brought the horn to her lips and blew as hard as she could.

The sonorous call of the horn echoed through the growing twilight--she blew on it again, gasping now as her stamina began to give out. She being a mare, she didn't have as much stamina as a stallion did...which was why she had removed her warhorn from her saddlebags to call for help.

Three pegasi flew from their posts at the watchtowers to answer the horn's call...the leader spotted the Wolfos and barked commands at his two subordinates, pointing down with one hoof. The one on the left, a pale green and white stallion, angled his wings and shot off high into the sky; the one on the right, a deep purple with black streaks in his mane and tail, folded his wings, readying his spear as he dropped from the sky, aiming right for the Wolfos chasing the cloaked figure...

Just as the pain maddened beast was about to pounce on the fleeing figure, a pale green/white pegasus stallion swept in from the side and scooped her up, out of harm's way. Thwarted of its prize, the beast let out a furious howl...a howl that ended in a death scream as the other pegasus divebombed him from behind, his spear lodging itself right in the back of the Wolfos's head, piercing its brain and going deep. The purple and black pegasus soared up, did a wingover and hovered well above the thrashing beast, waiting for the death throes to settle before he retrieved his weapon and flew back to the gates, where his wingpony and leader waited for him. They were seated by one of the watchtower entrances for earth ponies and unicorn; he made a face at the ichor covered spear and tossed it against the watchtower's wall, coming forward to see the newcomer for himself.

The pale green/white pegasus was offering the cowled newcomer a cup of cool water from a built in fountain close by...silver light surrounded the cup as the pony brought it to their muzzle to take a long drink, coughing briefly before they spoke; he knew from seeing that the pony they had saved was a unicorn.

"My...my deepest thanks, sons of the sky. This one is in thy debt....how might I repay thou for thy kindness?"

The third pegasus stallion chuckled, his voice deep and stentorian when he spoke. He was an eggshell white, with an ice blue mane and tail, and his cutie mark was that of a whirling trio of snowflakes.

"You owe us nothing, milady battlemage, save thy name?"

"I am Skyward, of Fiador Village. I am traveling with all haste to Hayrule Castle on my sire's orders. Tis' most important I get there by tomorrow's sunset."

The three pegasi males looked at one another, noting the lack of completed name and the white/blue pegasus stallion nudged her gently. "Your sire sanctioned thy journey?"

"I know not, he knows the Elders well but spoke nothing of to them, he bade me go, with all haste...forgive me, I know not thy name, sir...?"

"Guard Captain Blizzard Burst, Skyward of Fiador. To my left is Jade Mist, to my right is Dark Wind, my wingponies. So your sire sent you to Hayrule Castle...who is your sire?"

"Mossy Boulder of Fiador, why?"

Blizzard Burst's ocher eyes widened in surprise and he peered closer to her, much to her consternation. "Mossy's your sire? Goddesses, so he did marry and have a filly...here I thought he wouldst have a colt!"

"My brother Tempest Wing was born first. I am the second born, Captain. My mother Inferno Flare died of chillcore when I was four seasons old," Skyward replied, her voice a bit snippy because she hated it when ponies compared her to her brother.

Blizzard Burst reached out with one wing and patted her shoulder. "Easy now; I meant no disrespect to thee or to thy clan. Why did thy father send thee alone? Not that thee did not give that vile beast what for...what didst thou do, cleave its jaw off? The wretch all but slavered its own blood."

"I stopped short and bucked it in the face, Captain; I had no choice but to slow it down somehow...EEEEYIIIIIIII!"

Skyward let out an unholy shriek and leaped off the stone bench she was sitting on, violently shaking her head and cursing a blue streak, given that the black and purple pegasus had just taken a drink of water himself and upon hearing what she had done to the Wolfos had done a spectacular spit take...
Unfortunately, the mare in question was well within blast range, and she took most of it right to the face. Mane and face soaked through with stallion spit and spring water, she stomped her front hooves and pawed the ground preparing to charge at her offender, rage burning in her royal blue eyes. But Blizzard Burst got there first, sharply snapping a wing at her for her to stand down as he faced his chagrined wingpony.

"The hay did you spit on her for, Dark Wind?! Explain thyself!"

Dark Wind instantly prostrated himself before his angry leader, backing his ears and tucking his tail, horrified at his own actions. "I meant no disrespect, sir; 'tis bad timing, Captain, I swear by the Goddesses! But one finds it hard to believe this mare bucked a Wolfos in the face and lived to tell the tale!"

"Given her sire was a Captain in the Haylian Army, it should come as no bucking surprise to you, soldier. Skyward might not have her cutie mark yet but she sure as sunrise has proven her mettle out in the Field. Now, thou owes her an apology, and it had better be a good one or I am making thou muck out the town latrines for a moonturn, dost thou hear me?"

Dark Wind nodded his head as he approached the still angry unicorn mare and bowed to her, opening his wings to show his sincerity. "Milady, I humbly beg thy pardon for my foalish actions. Truly I meant no disrespect to thee. Name thy wish to salve mine honor, and I shalt see to it."

If one pony had offended another pony, they could name an honor price; which was the offended pony could choose the punishment for the offender, within Hayrulean laws, and in this case pending approval from his superior officer. Skyward was more than tempted to request he be grounded for a solid week, but she knew she needed to get to Hayrule Castle Town before tomorrow evening, and above all else she would carry out her father's mission, her dignity be damned right now. "How fast can thee fly, Dark Wind?"

"I am quite fast, my lady. Jade Mist outstrips me by a wing's length, however...why dost thou ask?"

"If you can be spared thy post here at the gates I will need swift transport to Hayrule Castle Town at dawn. My sire gave me a mission and I will carry it through to the end, Goddesses strike me if I lie," came the cold reply as she stared him down.

Dark Wind glanced at Blizzard Burst, who stroked his chin with one hoof, thinking hard. He knew Mossy Boulder well, and he knew the earth pony wouldn't have defied his village's laws for nothing. Something stunk and it wasn't a rotting corpse, either. He needed to talk to Mossy Boulder, and sooner the better.

"Both of my lads shall get you to Hayrule Castle Town, Skyward. Thy sire sent thee for a solid reason, what is more, I knew thy father, and he does not usually go against the rules without a damned good reason. Jade Mist, take Skyward to the mares' barracks and make sure she is quartered for the night, unless you would prefer the town inn?"

"The barracks will be fine, Captain."

Blizzard Burst nodded at her approvingly, turning to look at Dark Wind. "I expect the both of thou to treat her with respect. At dawn, the two of thou will escort her to the gates of Hayrule Castle Town; and I do mean the gates themselves, not the damned bridge. Do I make myself clear?"

Both pegasi saluted their leader with a bellowed; "SIR YES SIR!" and Blizzard Burst gestured to Dark Wind. "Thou art coming with me. Jade Mist, take her to the barracks, make sure she gets food and a bath and find her a cot, then come back and find me."

The pale green/white pegasus saluted his captain and led the unicorn mare to the barracks, a long, low building hewn right into the stone walls of Bridleriko Canyon. He led her to the mess hall, and while she had herself a meal he spoke with the quartermaster, a large pale green earth pony, who nodded and took herself off into the barracks sleeping quarters. After her dinner, which consisted of roasted corn, acorn squash and blackeyed peas with bread and cheese, and cool water, Skyward felt exhaustion steal over her and she yawned mightily, covering her mouth with one hoof. The matronly looking green pony with a cornucopia filled to bursting with food cutie mark on her flank chuckled at her when she met her at the door, Jade Mist giving her a nod and a smile before he left to rejoin his leader.

"Well, young filly, come this way and let's get thee a hot bath before bed, aye?"

Skyward wanted to facehoof---young filly her plot--but she knew she would be labeled as such since she didn't have her cutie mark yet. She brought her things into the bathing room with her, and after a nice hot bath, she followed the green mare into the sleeping area.

"Rest well, youngling. Thou fought well today. Thou made thy clan proud."

Skyward managed a tired smile in return as she turned back the covers with her hooves. She could have used her magic, but pffft, the Goddesses gave her four good hooves and she preferred using them for simple tasks. "Please, wake me at dawn...umm...what is thy name?"

The green pony smiled at her warmly over her shoulder. "My name is Bountiful Harvest. Rank: Quartermaster."

Skyward saluted her, and the mare returned it with a nod. "Sleep well, Skyward of Fiador. I shalt wake thee when dawn comes."

Skyward settled back into the rough linen sheets and simple blankets, tugging them over herself proper. With another yawn, she closed her eyes as she fell almost instantly into slumber.

Mission: Impossible?

True to Bountiful Harvest's word, the earth pony mare woke her at dawn, cheerfully yelling in her ear that it was TIME TO GET UP, SLEEPYHEAD!

Skyward all but bounded out of the bed and stumbled, tangled in the simple linen sheets before she fell flat on her face, much to Bountiful Harvest's amusement. Head ringing and ears aching from the drill sergeant level wake up call she asked for, Skyward dragged herself out of the cot, scrubbing her face with one hoof and grumbling a little, but she got herself up and began rebrushing/rebraiding her mane and gathering her things together. She strode out into the greyish dawn, where Jade Mist and Dark Wind were waiting for her. Between the two of them there was a large, sturdy looking basket on wheels padded with straw and blankets sewn to the sides, lashed to them by strong leather harnesses. Coming from a forest village, Skyward had only heard of this sort of transportation...basket chariot travel was only used as a last resort when situations were dire, and clearly the Captain had exercised his rank to be sure she got a ride to the capital.

Bountiful Harvest stopped her before she could board, handing her a warm wrapped package with one hoof; the smell from it was slightly sweet...it was cornbread, she realized when she took it from the mare.

"I don't know what thy mission is, missy, but ye clearly aren't taking thy time to fill thy belly. Take this with ye, and Goddesses speed ye on thy way!"

"May thy days be filled with glory and thy nights full of peace," Skyward returned, and saluted her before she climbed into the basket. The two male pegasi opened their wings wide and were soon airborne...glancing at her two escorts, Skyward opened the package Bountiful Harvest gave her and split the round loaf of sweet, crumbly bread into three pieces. The two pegasi were surprised at the unexpected treat that rose into view in front of them borne by a silver aura, but they certainly were not going to pass up the chance for an impromptu breakfast!

Jade Mist brushed the crumbs from his muzzle and glanced back at their passenger with a warm smile. "Kind of thee to share thy bounty, Skyward of Fiador."

Skyward quietly smiled back at him. "T'would be unfair if I kept it all to myself, Jade Mist of Bridleriko. Father always said a gift is sweeter when shared with friends. Besides, the two of thou look like thou did not get thy morning meal either?"

Dark Wind shook his head, licking the honeyed crumbs from his muzzle and giving her a wink. "Not with ol' Blizzard Butt nagging at us to get this chariot up and going, milady."

Skyward facehoofed, snickering and shaking her head. "Here now, have a care about what thy say about thy leader; thou do not know if he is nearby to hear such things, aye?"

Jade Mist laughed and Dark Wind guffawed at her. "Missy, the lot of the battalion say worse, but tis' all in good fun. I call him Snowfart on occasion."

Skyward smirked at him in amusement. "I see...Is that why thy Captain is right there beside thou looking like a Wolfos waiting to pounce?"

Jade Mist actually turned white under his pale green coat and twisted his head around to look for his leader, but Dark Wind's uproarious laughter and Skyward's own giggling made him realize he'd been had! He snorted in amusement, grinning at the young mare.

"Minx, thou art. I shalt get ye for that later."

Skyward only gave him a 'bring it on' grin in return, and all three ponies shared a good laugh. The flight was noneventful, if not cold, making Skyward bundle herself in her cloak and look down over the lip of the basket. Hayrule looked so different from above...from this high, there was no sign of the beasts that plagued their homeland.

"Beautiful, is it not?"

She looked up at Dark Wind, who smiled at her, and she smiled back. "Aye. Shame my brother has wings and I do not; this is what I too could see if I had them..."

"Wings or no wings, thou art a lovely mare," Jade Mist told her with a gentle smile, and Skyward's eyes widened and she blushed scarlet under her fur, ducking her head under her cowl to hide her burning cheeks. Annoyed, Dark Wind swatted the back of his comrade's head with one hoof and glared at him in reproach. "Have thou no shame, Jade Mist? Thou embarrassed her; apologize at once!"

Jade Mist rubbed the back of his head with a wince, but expressed his apologies all the same; Skyward mutely nodded, choosing to look over the side of the basket again. She wasn't used to males flirting with her at all; most of the young stallions her age were just friends to her anyway. Then again, Tempest Wing was always glaring at any of them that got near her...

"Hah! There 'tis, my lady mage! Behold, Hayrule Castle itself!"

Skyward looked up at Dark Wind's shout and she turned her head. The clouds were parting for the two pegasi as they made their approach...the slate blue peaks of the massive whitestone castle keep were rising out of the clouds proper as they made their descent. It truly was a sight to behold, seeing the majestic structure from this distance. Yes, Skyward had heard tales, and pictures in the books her sire possessed, but this...this was the raw, amazing reality. The basket chariot circled before they landed on the eastern bridge leading into the town proper; much to Dark Wind's annoyance, Jade Wind unhitched himself and guided a blushing Skyward out of the basket, gesturing at the causeway into the city.

"And so have ye arrived, lady battlemage. Tell me, how do ye intend on traveling back to Fiador?"

"On hoof of course, Jade Mist, why dost thou ask?"

Dark Wind came up next to his comrade, giving her a light nudge with one wing, earning a stink eye from his partner. "If ye need a ride back to Shadowleaf Forest proper, t'would be our pleasure to return ye home."

Skyward smiled at them warmly. "I am honored by thy offer; mayhap I shall take thou two up on it, should I return to Bridleriko first. Fair winds to thou both!"

Before either pegasus could respond, she nuzzled them both and turned tail, galloping off towards the gates proper. Both stallions smiled foalishly after the mare, before noticing the others' expression and glaring at one another, wings ruffling and spreading wide in challenge towards the other.

"She nuzzled me first."
"She did not."
"Tch, what would a beauty such as she find in a fluffbrain like thou?"
"Fluffbrain? Oh thou are one to talk, Sir Plothead..."

The guards at the other end of the causeway couldn't hear the two arguing pegasi stallions from their distance, but it was pretty clear to why they were arguing, and they were both struggling not to bust a gut howling. They barely managed to keep straight faces as the unicorn mare in question approached their position and one of them moved to bar her path.

"Halt! State thy business in Hayrule Castle Town!"

Skyward jolted backwards at the forward statement, but she recovered her composure and held out the scroll,making sure they could see her father's seal. "I am delivering an urgent message to the Princess on behalf of my sire, Mossy Boulder."

The guards looked at one another before they nodded and let her pass through the huge, heavy iron bound gates proper. Before them, the noise level was stifled, but once she passed behind them...

Ponies. Ponies EVERYWHERE. Never mind the NOISE.

Skyward looked around her at all the hustle and bustle---this was definitely NOT her village! The streets were paved with white cobblestone, stone houses and establishments, wealthy, middle class and poor ponies of all types; pegasi, unicorn, earth pony...
They were all over the place, buying wares, talking in groups, laughing and trading goods and jokes; she could hear music playing somewhere and hear the rhythmic stomp of hooves as well, and she twitched a little...
She did like to dance, come to think of it...
Turning her head to the left, she blinked, seeing a bulky, brown colored pony...clearly an earth pony with a strange looking flower on his flank...it looked like a cross between a blossom and a bomb? Talk about WEIRD.
He looked normal enough, white mane, pale gold brown coat except...he sparkled, as if he was made from some sort of polished rock--hay, he looked like he was a living statue anyway! There was an odd symbol placed high on his left foreleg...it looked like a diamond with three smaller diamonds placed left, center and right atop the larger one. Somepony bumped her and grunted, and she hastily made her apologies, jolted back into reality. Time to deliver that message!

She asked a town guard for directions to the palace, and the unicorn pointed the way there. Thanking him, she managed to get through the crowd, trying to keep her cloak from being pulled, pushed, shoved, or even dislodged. The Bridleriko ponies didn't mind her not having her mark too much, but Castle Town ponies? That, she wasn't so sure about and she definitely didn't want to find out anyway. Thinking about the Bridleriko ponies, she blushed a bit, thinking about Jade Mist and Dark Wind...they seemed like nice stallions, if a little forward. Then again, most pegasi were brash in nature anyway...

Chuckling to herself, she made her final approach to the grand gates of the palace...

Only to have twin spears crossed with a harsh SCH-CLANG to bar her path. One of the imposing guards was a huge pegasus, slate gray with a black mane, and he glared down at her through the slits in his helm.

"Nopony passes through the castle gates!"

"Sir, with all due respect, I have an urgent message to deliver to Her Royal Highness..."

"I said, nopony passes through the castle gates! Begone, before I have thee thrown in the dungeon for thy cheek!"

Skyward's ears turned back, but she knew there was no getting around it; he obviously meant business. She turned and walked back towards the market, and once she was away from the gates proper she sat beside a stone wall and put a hoof to her chin to think.
How the buck was she going to get to the princess if those blockheaded horseapples for brains guards weren't going to let her in? She doubted using her sire's name would help this time; that massive pegasus guard did mean what he said, she had no doubt of that.
"Damn it, Skyward, think....there has to be a way," she muttered to herself as she got to her hooves and traveled further down into the market proper. She looked at some market wares...tools, weapons, fruit and vegetables...she purchased some seeds from one stall with some of the snaffles her sire had given her, and got some jewel apples from another stall to snack on. She munched on one of the apples...it was a bright sapphire one, and she smiled at the cooling taste of the fruit, putting the rest of the bag in her satchel for later, not her saddlebags. Grumbling under her breath, she walked by the castle walls, shaking her head as she gazed up at the cold white and blue edifice.

So close yet so far...but she wasn't giving up. Not by a long shot.

Skyward meandered further around the walls and saw two ponies loitering around close to the side near a service entrance doorway with an open window overhead, a stack of large crates close to them as well on a rolling pallet. Skyward's royal blue eyes narrowed upon seeing the window--that could be her ticket in, if she was lucky. Peering around the corner, the two ponies...one was a mare and the other a stallion, both earth ponies and wearing the livery of the royal household. The problem was however she knew one of them would see her if she rounded the corner.

How to distract them...?

Giggling caught her attention, and she turned her attention to them again; the mare was clearly the target of the stallion's affections, and she shook her head as the stallion tried stealing a kiss from the mare in question. Biting her lip, she regarded them, eyes casting about for anything she could use as a distraction without hurting anypony...
The wind kicked up, as if a silent answer to her dilemma, and the mare squealed as the breeze caused her skirt to fly up around her, much to the stallion's amusement and pleasure, though he did mask that reaction with concern for the object of his affections. However, the dust that stirred and caused him to sneeze and cough brought the mare's concern to him in return. Upon seeing that, a devilish grin touched Skyward's muzzle. She shrouded herself with her cloak, and focused her magic.

There were two ornate looking lamps that hung low over the mare and stallion's positions, and she summoned another brisk wind, smirking as she heard the mare squeal again, making sure the hem of her dress got caught on the lamp's outstretched hook, with a little arcane help from hers truly. But this time, she also moved the dust and dirt that was lodged in and around the pathway, and used it to blind the two ponies in question. Moving swiftly she ducked around them, jumped onto the stacked crates, and was in the window above the door before they noticed anything.

In the cool, dark room, she pressed herself against the stone wall, waited a few tense moments to see if they noticed anything amiss. When no shout of alarm was forthcoming, only laughter and cooing from the stallion below, Skyward moved forward; stepping carefully as she could to avoid making noise as she edged towards the door she could see. Nayru's sacred teats, why the hay didn't Blazing Dawn teach her how to turn invisible yet? She passed by a mirror that was stored in the room, along with some boxes and sealed chests...and froze up when her cloak was suddenly pulled taut behind her. Out came her sword, and she whipped around, raising it high...

Only to see the edge of the cloak had snagged on one of the mirror's feet.

Huffing out a breath of annoyance, cheeks tinging red, she unsnared her cloak, and re-sheathed her blade, shaking her head at herself.
"Get it together, dammit," she muttered under her breath as she bunched the cloak and moved towards the door. She pressed her ear to the door; heard nothing, so she opened the door using her magic, just a crack...

The scents of flowers, strange and exotic, fresh water, grass met her nose, and she slowly opened the door wider. In front of her was...
A stone entryway framed by tall hedges, and two massive pots of peonies and marigolds sitting stately side by side on either side of the entryway leading to the apparent hedgemaze in front of her. Laying back her ears, the unicorn glanced around...no guards here, apparently. Where was she now? She moved out proper and closed the door silently...only to dive behind one of the potted plants when she heard the 'clank-clank' of armor.

"Did you hear anything, sir?"

"Nothing to report here, Sergeant."

"Good. Carry on soldier."

Skyward waited until they were gone, and began to get up once more...only to freeze when she heard the clinking of something inside of her saddlebags. She winced---she'd have to leave them behind to make sure she stayed quiet. Glancing back at the door, she let herself back in, and pulled the message and the Snaffle Wallet out of her saddlebags and stuffed them into her satchel proper, making sure to cinch the strap tight so it wouldn't make noise. She shoved the bags in a dusty corner and covered them with a piece of linen she'd found in another open box, and slipped back out.

She slinked down the path and poked her head around the corner. No guard, so far. But the path split, going two ways...

She hid once again as the guard clanked past her, carrying a spear and wearing polished steel plate armor. He was going to the right, apparently...

Skyward watched his movements carefully. He paused at where this hedge clearly ended, and then he turned the corner. She couldn't see through the hedge proper...it was too closely packed together for one, and the royal gardeners obviously knew their work. She watched him circle around once more before she took a deep breath...

And followed him from behind. She followed him as quietly as possible, ducking behind another hedge to avoid another soldier. She followed him around too, hiding behind a large ornamental pot filled with roses this time...purple ones. The smell tempted her, but she gritted her teeth--there was just NO time for a snack right now. She ducked through the entryway, glancing around. Clearly entryways to other hedge-gardens were marked by the flowered pots. But which one led into the castle? She bit her lip as she snuck behind a few more guards...this was really starting to rag on her nerves. She ducked behind the pot again when the guard passed her, and this time, she went the other way. This hedge path opened up to a small garden...there was a shallow pool, several stacked baskets, more baskets with linen in them...

Hearing clanking hoofsteps coming up behind her and to the right, she ran for one of the linen baskets. Grasping some of it, she yanked it out and dove into it, burying herself in the silken white material, and covering herself with the rest, pushing the excess into another basket off to the side. Biting her lower lip, she waited with bated breath as another set of armored hooves sounded.

Both guards came into view...one a male unicorn, the other an earth pony.

"Tch...high security and for what, exactly? Remind me why we're doing this again, Shatter Point?"

The unicorn heaved a sigh and cleared his throat a few times before speaking in a very deep and obnoxiously pompous tone of voice.
" 'By order of High Chancellor Gilded Lock, there is to be no visitors until further notice due to the threat of war with the Gerudo tribe.' Bah! Horsefeathers the lot of it! We are already at war and the damn foal can't even see that because he has his gilded head shoved all the way up his perfumed plot!"

Skyward stuffed her cloak in her mouth to keep from braying with laughter the way the earth pony guardsman was. He slammed a hoof against the ground, laughing fit to split until tears ran from his eyes. He jerked off his helm and sniffed, shaking his dark brown mane and chuckling.

"Forgive me, my brother in arms. It..it is just so damned funny when thou imitate His Lordship..."

Shatter Point chuckled at the earth pony,giving him a shove with one shod hoof. "All right, all right. One shalt admit it is amusing. But, come, hurry, we cannot be found tarrying here for long, Golden Marble."

"Aye, aye, I know. Thankfully the princess is sensible."

"Praise be to the Goddessses for that."

"I say, where art the laundry maids? Were they not supposed to deliver these to Her Highness's bedchamber yet?"

"Ah, 'tis lunch time, remember? Speaking of which, the Princess is likely in the Ruby Garden having her own lunch. Let us go get ours, brother, I am starving!"

The two guards left...and Skyward popped out of the basket of silk, shaking herself. That was a close one to be sure!

Ruby Garden. Right then. Ruby...red....red roses, perhaps? She'd figured out by this point that the pots with flowers signified a new entry to the next garden, so maybe if she found red roses, or red flowers, she'd find the princess. She moved forward, checking for the guards, and skirted down the hedges again. Blue flowers...nope. She ducked down another hedgeway and rounded the corner...yellow peonies...
Ugh.
Pink azaleas was next. She was about to give up hope when she rounded another hedge after trailing yet another guard's shining armored rear...
She spotted not a pot, but a huge trellis of crimson roses framing a graceful marble archway with the Triforce symbol set high above it and a broad smile touched her muzzle. Finally! She checked for guards, saw none, and stepped out towards the entrance. Closer and closer she came, following one of the guards. He stepped around the corner, and she approached the rose trellised entrance...

"Hoi! Who art thou?! Thou art not allowed in here!"

Aw, buck.

Skyward snapped her head around...realizing too late there had been a second guard and he had decided to reverse his travel path. She bolted into the trellised entrance, the guards shouts rising behind her along with the rapid pounding of hooves. She burst through the entrance and into a beautiful rose garden. White marble inlaid with gold was the floor plan, the lush emerald beds of thorned blossoms laid out in a rainbow of color; blue, purple, yellow, orange, red...there seemed to even be one that was multihued in color. Fountains spouted crystalline water from three sides, each statue akin to one of the Great Golden Goddesses themselves---Din, Nayru and Farore, respectively. In the center of this rainbowed tableau was a white dining table, and seated at that table was none other than Princess Zelda of Hayrule herself.

Zelda's coat was a beautiful alabaster white hue, and her mane was akin to flowing sunshine, a golden living river of honey that draped to the floor, some of it tied back in braids. Her great wings were also snowy white, neatly folded to her sides, and her lavender and white gown was made of the finest silk, gilded with golden ornaments and thread, the crest of the Royal Family emblazoned on the front. A golden diadem set with a single large ice blue gem in the center graced the princess's head, enhancing her long white horn that rose from the middle of her forehead. The princess's eyes were a warm cerulean hue, much lighter than Skyward's own eye color.

The princess was clearly dining on some sort of berry trifle, but looked up in surprise when Skyward clattered into the garden proper. The unicorn skidded to a halt in front of her, and removed the message from her pouch...but it went flying into the air and landed right in the princess's meal like a mock unlit candle when three royal guards rushed in, one of them a familiar looking earth pony. He rushed forward, throwing the spear he carried at her--Skyward snared it in midair and threw it aside...

But it turned out to be a distraction, because she then shrieked in pain when he landed on her full force and dimly heard something go 'crack'...

The searing pain however was the match to the tinder...anger roared high inside her...she couldn't fail, not here, not now...

And she twisted her head around and summoned all her magical strength, her horn erupting in silver flame...

One second earlier Golden Marble was body slamming the cowled intruder to the ground...the next he found himself sailing through the air...before he slammed into the wall with the echoing sound of a large bell ringing and fell right into the azure rose bushes with a howl of pain. Even though he was wearing armor, what could get into the nooks and crannies was painful enough.

The second guard was a unicorn...Shatter Point. He charged the female unicorn...she was in pain from a cracked rib, but she was obviously not going to go down without a fight. She reared and lashed out with her sword, blocking his spear strike. They struggled for dominance...Skyward struck out with a front hoof thrust, which he moved back from...she used that split second to hit him with a fire spell and he shouted in pain as the superheated armor seared his skin...

While all this was going on, Princess Zelda's shimmering golden aura wrapped around the scroll that had landed in her food. When her eyes lighted on the seal holding the scroll shut, they widened and she spun towards the melee just as the third guard, a pegasus, shot down and bucked Skyward into the western garden wall. Skyward, dazed from the painful armored kick, waited for the inevitable unforgiving impact against cold marble that was sure to come...

But it never came.

She glanced around, blinking at the golden glow that had suddenly surrounded her. The pegasus...an electric yellow one from the hue of his wings, started forward to capture her proper, but one graceful alabaster hoof swept outwards in a regal gesture, stopping him in his tracks.

"Neigh, Thunderous Maelstrom. This mare is no threat. Return to thy posts, all of thee...ah, Golden Marble, allow me to aid thou..."

The princess levitated the dusky golden colored earth pony guard out of the thorns and carefully picked out any remaining brambles from his armor. "A thousand thanks, Your Royal Highness. Shall we take the intruder to the dungeons?"

"Neigh, Golden Marble. We shalt speak with her. In truth, I hath been expecting a visitor from Shadowleaf Forest, and 'tis this young mare who hath been chosen."

By this point, Zelda had placed Skyward on the ground, and the young mare gasped for breath. She coughed harshly and blood spattered from her mouth onto the pristine marble; upon seeing that, Shatter Point moved forward...and flattened himself to the ground when Skyward whirled on him, a lance of thunder erupting from her horn and flash frying a small ornamental tree on impact.

"Away from me, thou armored son of a chimera! Touch me again and it shalt be thy funeral!" the mare roared, rearing and stomping her hooves against the marble harshly...then gasping for breath again. Princess Zelda realized that the young unicorn mare had been injured in the fight, and she firmly shooed her guards away, approaching Skyward carefully.

"Ye bear great courage and magic prowess, to be certain. What is thy name, young one?"

Her horn began to glow as she gently passed it over the shaking mare's body, who bowed her head before her princess. "I am Skyward of Fiador, Princess Zelda, second foal and daughter of Mossy Boulder and Inferno Flare. I pray thou wilt forgive my sire, Mossy Boulder. I do not yet bear my cutie mark, yet he sent me all the same."

"Ye need not beg forgiveness; there is naught to forgive...I shalt sanction thy journey, never fear. Thy father sent thee to me for two reasons...one, to deliver this message, and second..."

The princess looked down at her with a gentle smile. "He hath requested me to have thee trained in Nayru's Arts."

Skyward's eyes bugged out at this piece of news and she turned to stare up at the alicorn above her in shock. Her father...

Had requested...

Princess Zelda...

To have her trained in Nayru's Arts?!?!

The princess smiled benevolently at her as she finished casting her healing spell, mending the cracked rib and the torn muscles the young mare had. There would be a little pain, but no more spitting blood or labored breathing to be certain. "...Wha...what...Princess, I beg thine pardon for asking...what makes you so certain that...that I am worthy of..."

Princess Zelda gestured for Skyward to follow her, and indicated for her to sit at the table with her. She poured a glass of ruby strawberry juice for her guest, and took a drink from her own cup.

"Mossy Boulder was once my late father's Captain of the Guard. He retired, mainly because he had fallen for thy mother, Inferno Flare, and wished a quieter life, away from the hustle and bustle of the town. He is a very dear friend of the family, and I told him should he have any foals, that if he deemed them worthy to send them to me to be trained in the battle arts of Nayru's Wisdom."

"But I hath not even earned my cutie mark yet..."

"That wilt come in time, Skyward. You show great promise...your sire trained thee well. Considering the guile and skill thou used to get into the castle and slip past mine own guardponies, it shows thy sire taught thou well. Wilt thou accept thy training?"

The resounding joyful whoop of acceptance from the younger unicorn, never mind the impromptu victory prancing in the garden made the princess smile broadly at her newest student, for that was all the answer she needed to hear, despite the dire news she had received from her retired Captain of the Guard, that Ganon's forces now included demons and dark creatures...

Cry Havoc! And Let Slip The Ponies Of War

And so thus did Skyward began her training, learning the secrets of Hayrulean magic from her mentor, Princess Zelda. It was not just magic however she learned about...she also learned the history of Hayrule, how it was created by the Goddesses, and the old prophecies and legends behind the Triforce, also meeting with the Zora and Goron ponies from time to time as well. The young mare often sent letters to her family in Fiador Village, and to Jade Mist and Dark Wind in Bridleriko as well. However, the war in the Wastes was not going well, and Zelda feared she would have to send her own pupil to the front lines sooner than later. Now two years later, Skyward had grown into a fine mare, skilled in magic and blade, but had still not yet earned her cutie mark. Not only that, but she had also learned the hard way how some stallions can be two faced about their intentions. Zelda had found out that Jade Mist and Dark Wind had made a bet with one another, the goal finding out who could bed her pupil first. The princess knew she had to warn her pupil about the two dishonest stallions, and though it pained her, she disguised herself as a common servant, kept plying the two stallions with ale until they got stinking drunk and with her pupil hiding in the shadows, got them to confess their true intentions.

It had been three weeks ever since that terrible event and Zelda herself had personally stripped the two stallions of their ranks, given them both a dishonorable discharge and had sent them back to Bridleriko in disgrace. Yet, during that time, the princess had stumbled upon some very old books in her personal archives...

Books that would either seal Hayrule's fate...or be its salvation...

"This cannot be. Goddesses, no...this...this is impossible..."

The princess gazed at the blood spattered letter she had just received from one of her generals...who was even now lying dead at her feet in a pool of his own blood. The pegasus stallion's wounds were most grievous indeed---sword cuts, terrible third degree burns--hay, his cracked and broken armor was all that was holding back his entrails from spilling out onto the throne room floor. The letter was in truth, a demand for surrender from Ganondorf himself. She had commanded her guards to prepare General Loft Wing for a hero's burial and had locked herself in her chambers, throwing the letter itself onto her desk as she sent for one of her personal handmares.

"What dark magic did thou tap into, thou vile beast," Zelda muttered, shaking her head as she paced back and forth as she passed her gaze over the letter, then over one of the moldering old books she had out as well.

The book in question was quite old, and dated back to long before Hayrule had first been founded by her sire before his untimely death. Haylian alicorns weren't immortal: they could live very long lives, but they were mortal, just like everypony else. The princess gazed at the yellowed pages of the tome, staring at the ancient Haylian words in front of her. Her horn began to glow as she turned pages, studying the words and the pictures in the book before her intently...so intently in fact, she almost didn't hear the hiss of a dagger being drawn...
Zelda quickly teleported, letting out a pained whinny when the dagger scratched her side, tearing her gown some and a crimson bloom stained the expensive fabric. The attacker in question was a rose red pegasus female, with a fiery red mane and tail. Gold eyeshadow adorned her eyelids and she held a wing-dagger in her mouth, the tip of it gleaming scarlet, and a deadly smile adorned the pegasus mare's face.

She was no servant at all; in truth a Gerudo pony! As Zelda summoned her own weapon, a large gleaming sword to defend herself, she now heard the alarm bells ringing out throughout the town, a knell she had prayed never in her lifetime to hear.

It meant that Hayrule Castle Town was under attack.

(Below the castle)

Chaos reigned supreme this day.

Skyward's horn blazed silver as she swung her sword in a wide arc, cleaving the unfortunate Keese in twain. The winged creature screeched, a scream that was cut off by the blade's bite and the spurt of dark blood that erupted from the beast's insides. Skyward paid no mind to the vile substance sticking to her mane and face, turning to charge a Moblin who was attacking another guardpony. She cursed High Chancellor Gilded Lock's egotistical arrogance, wishing for the umpteenth time she could kick his plot up around his ears and then throw him into Death Mountain Crater to rid Hayrule of the fount of all stupidity, for most of this mess was indeed his fault.

Ganondorf had bided his time during the last two years, abruptly withdrawing his forces and his tribe away from the Barren Wastes, apparently giving the Hayrulean forces the victory. Unfortunately, this ruse had lulled many of the nobles into a false sense of security, and they had urged Zelda to end the war, Gilded Lock at their head. But it had all turned out to be a grand trick; and now they were paying the price. The Gerudo had managed to infiltrate Hayrule Castle Town overtime, and now they'd sprung their trap. Goddesses only knew how many innocent ponies had perished at their hooves because of it...the gory evidence was there for anypony to see with their own two eyes. By now Skyward hoped the other guards had managed to evacuate the town proper by this point. Dead ponies lay in the streets, blood washing the once white stones crimson, body parts still seeping blood, entrails lay steaming out of body cavities. The screams of the dying and the cries of terror echoing in her ears as she joined the guardsponies at the perimeter they had managed to set up. Other guards were escorting civilian ponies to a checkpoint where basket chariots and wagons awaited them so they could escape out of the eastern gate. The few Goron ponies who had been in the town at the time of the surprise attack were also helping here, their powerful rock magic creating barriers to deter the Gerudo attackers...as well as crushing any that got too close. However, some of the Gerudo mages were sending dark beasts into the town; and they couldn't allow them to get to the evacuation checkpoint. The pegasi were in the air dealing with the Keese and Helmarocs, while on the ground...

"Give the bastards no quarter! For Hayrule, my brethren!" Skyward bellowed as she slashed the Moblin's legs out from underneath him, then focused her magic as her aura surrounded the hapless monster. The creature began to writhe and scream as she forced his blood to boil right under his skin, literally cooking him alive from the inside out...the skin wrinkling and popping, shriveling and dancing in a macabre fashion as her spell did its insidious work. She left the steaming corpse where it was, her own armor clicking as she ran back towards the battle. Steel silver washed armor covered most of her body...it was mostly chainmail, not plate, so she wouldn't be burdened by the weight. Her hoofcovers were also steel washed silver with a gold rim, and her helm was specially made for a unicorn so she could use her magic without being hindered.

"Lady Skyward!"

Skyward finished ruthlessly stomping on a Bulbin, her hooves coated in dark blood up to her knees and turned her armored head to look at the speaker...it was Golden Marble, who saluted her hastily. Golden Marble had become friends with her over time, as had Shatter Point. Both of them she considered akin to family, but she suspected Shatter Point wanted more than just friendship, considering how angry he had been when he had heard of the dishonorable antics of the two Bridleriko pegasi, and how he had given her a shoulder to cry on from time to time, even offering flowers to her at times, much to his partner's amusement...

"Forget titles, Golden Marble, what is it? Speak, stallion!"

"The...the princess...there is...trouble...thou...are needed..."

Skyward's royal blue eyes sharpened and she stomped one shod hoof on the ground with a snarl. Typical they would go after her own teacher! "Take my place, soldier! Get the others to safety!"

Golden Marble saluted her and charged off with a roar, brandishing his spear. Down the empty streets and up to the gates Skyward ran, her sword and her father's Haylian Shield at the ready. Her old sword she had hung up on the wall of her chambers in the castle, when Princess Zelda had gifted her with a new sword for her seventeenth birthday. The sword bore a gold hilt with a deep blue sapphire in the middle, and the blade was forged by the Goron tribe to ensure mastercraft status. She charged into the courtyard, racing up the long flights of stairs--a Moblin popped out of an open doorway further down the way and blocked her path, brandishing his spear and snorting...

Only to grunt in surprise when Skyward vanished in a burst of silver fire. The pig monster looked to the left...

To the right...

There was a 'pop' and a clatter of armored hooves...and the hapless Moblin was sent flying out of the window courtesy of an angry Skyward, who had teleported behind him, twisted around and charged...

And the rest was bloody history.

Skyward whirled on her hind legs and took off towards the throne room. The massive white oak doors gilded with gold and pearl were wide open, one door hanging askew from the hinges. She could hear the sounds of spells being cast and steel clashing against steel, and she poured on the speed, closing in on the throne room...

The doors suddenly crashed shut, fire red and ice blue auras of magic forcing the massive gateway to seal itself right in front of her. Skyward skidded forcibly to a halt, almost smashing muzzle first into the door proper, but she did bump roughly into the closed entrance, shaking her head to clear her thoughts as she backed up to stare up at the magically sealed gate. She turned her head left and right, glancing around and scowling...what sorcery was this?

"Look at her, Koume Twin. Such determination."

Skyward turned around, bringing her sword and shield to bear as she did so. In front of her was a cowled pony...had to be a unicorn from the ice blue glow and the bump that signified a horn she could see under it. Definitely an old mare, from the creaky sound of voice she heard.

"Aye, Kotake Rova. Pity she is not one of us. She would have made a fine warrior for our tribe."

Skyward charged her horn, preparing a lightning spell to fire off against one of them...the other cloaked unicorn was behind her, and that one had the fire red glow coming off her.

"Show thyselves, cowards!" she commanded, and the ice blue glowing one laughed...no...outright cackled.

"What spirit! Ohhh my dear, thou truly are of our tribe in soul if not in body!"

Skyward spit in open disgust and shot a bolt of lightning at the mare...who vanished and reappeared behind her with a 'pop'. She turned to face them both, glaring at them as she prepared for another assault....then lashed out at them with a vicious blast of kinetic energy. The two mares vanished further down the hall to avoid the silver burst of energy, both of them cackling madly...before the red one fired off a searing blast of red hot flame from her horn. The fire was so intense it melted the stone in front of her and Skyward was forced backwards because of it, gasping as she summoned a magical shield to block the waves of intense heat coming at her. So these two mares were unicorns, and powerful ones at that! She knew her sword and shield wouldn't work against these two, so she sheath-locked them both against her back and ducked the next shot of magic; as it passed over her, her breath came out in clouds of white and she shivered reflexively...

Ice!

Bloody haystacks, these two were masters of elemental magic!

She screamed when a lance of intense cold raked across her right side, and she forced a surge of magic through herself, shattering the semi-thick layer of sparkling ice that had covered her entire right side and part of her flank, wincing at the cuts that the ice shards had made in her legs. Gritting her teeth, she brought her own magic to bear, hurling globs of the molten stone at her attackers. One of the mares teleported behind her...hearing the telltale 'pop' she turned her head and whipped the glowing glop as hard and fast as she could mentally throw it...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! IT BURNS, IT BURNS! CURSE THOU, YE FOALISH CHILD! RAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH! KOUME, MAKE THAT LITTLE BRAT PAY!"

Skyward dodged an incoming fire blast, hissing in pain when the leading edge seared her leg, and fired off an ice spell from her horn. It made sense---ice against fire, fire against ice! She looked up, trying to track her attacker since the other one was still rolling about in agony...and choked in disgust and horror when she was able to see one of her assailants. The mare in front of her was a withered old nag...positively ancient, given the mass of wrinkles she possessed and how her skin and coat resembled that of a slowly rotting green apple. Her eyes were beady glowing embers in her sunken face, and her skin was a deep, vile olive green color. A gold ring set with a red gem surrounded her horn...

Koume's cruel beady eyes narrowed at her dangerously even as a snaggletoothed grimace of a smile made itself known.

"Thy visage is as vile as the magics thou bear, fiendish witch, thou and thy sister both. In the name of the Princess, prepare to die!" Skyward spat as she readied another ice blast with her horn. The nag all but sneered at her as she began to glow a menacing crimson red...not just her horn, but all over her body! Narrowing her eyes, Skyward raised a silvery shield around herself...

The aura around Koume Twin's horn suddenly turned black, and the burned Kotake Rova's aura had done the same. Skyward braced herself, glaring savagely at them even though her heart trembled in fear. They weren't just masters of elemental magic..they had the forbidden magics at their command as well? They began chanting in a language Skyward could not understand, and she grimaced, folding her ears back against her head. Physically it sounded like gibberish but to those who were magically sensitive, the words carried a driving force behind them that relentlessly beat against her like waves on the shore. Her shield began to fracture--the cracks spread, slowly, then the sound of crystal shattering filled her ears as her shield finally gave way. The dark energies grasped her, and she cursed as she struggled to put up another shield...

Koume put an end to that by grabbing her none too gently with her magic, making her scream in agony at the searing touch of the evil she could feel coursing through the witch's aura, and Kotake cackled as she gestured with one wizened hoof. "Look upon thy end, little foal, and despair! Die knowing thou fought in vain and...."

"ENOUGH!"

The shout was enough to shake the walls and the ground underhoof, and the doors suddenly flew wide open to reveal a battered, somewhat bloody Princess Zelda. The alicorn's cerulean eyes narrowed before she lit her horn...

"Kotake! Now! Do it now, my sister!"

Kotake swiftly gestured with one hoof at a glassed over surface of one of the walls that had been hit with her sister's fire magic, and in turn had been super cooled by an ice blast from Skyward. The surface twisted and began to swirl ominously, almost like that of a whirlpool.

Zelda's eyes darted between her trapped pupil and the newly opened portal: the alicorn made a split second decision as her horn began to turn from gold to blinding white...

The princess unleashed a golden blast of light from her horn...and just as Skyward was thrown into the portal, the golden beam slammed into it as well. A great flare of light and the sound of shattering stone resounded, along with the cackling of the two nags as they rose into the air and vanished. Zelda coughed, shook off the dust and rushed towards the wall where her pupil had been thrown into...
Skyward was gone. The wall was laced with cracks but it was still standing, remnants of her magic holding it together, telltale wisps of white and gold light dancing along the surface of the chunk of stone. Zelda bowed her head, stamping one hoof against the floor in grief; she hadn't been able to get her student out of the portal. But, because of her spell, she had hopefully been able to give her student salvation, even if she hadn't been able to pull her out of harm's way completely. The two wicked witch-nags had not been able to send her pupil to the Dark Realm and into their lord and master's clutches as they had intended. The book that Zelda had been reading before the attack had broken out, had been the key she prayed that would save her student from a terrible fate at his vile hooves.

"I am so sorry, Skyward. They may have been able to banish thee from this realm, but I will make sure you do not perish as they intended...my spell shalt send thee to a realm where thou may find peace..."

Zelda gently ran one hoof over the glossy, warped wall, tears in her eyes; one escaped to trail down her cheek. "Be safe, my little pony...be safe, until I can find a way to bring thou home..."

When Worlds Collide

The dark waves of magic holding her in place and tormenting her was bad enough, but being thrown through a portal, simultaneously getting hit with a bolt of her mentor's OWN MAGIC (buck that hurt like hay) then falling out of the sky, landing into a large bramble bush and then rolling down a hill was, in her opinion, about ten times worse! At least, that's what she managed to think after she fetched up against a large tree trunk with a KER-WHUNK and lay there against the base, feeling sick to her stomach and her entire body feeling as if she had been dragged through an icy mountain pass and had Zoran sea salt rubbed in her wounds.

She groaned softly, trying to re-orient herself as she attempted to rise to her hooves...

The world spun madly in her line of sight and she began retching violently, emptying her stomach of what little she had eaten for lunch before the attack had happened. She coughed and moaned as she lay there against the tree, breathing erratically and staring up at the sky...

Wait. Sky. The sky? Was she outside? If so, where was she? Where did those cursed nags send her?

The sour taste of her own bile in her mouth made her cough and grimace as she slowly began to get up...first her left forehoof, then her right, then she slowly rose onto her hind legs. She winced when she felt her shield prodding the back of her neck and reached back to readjust it, checking for her sword as well. She turned to take in her surroundings, wincing when she moved...she was sore all over, never mind the magical beating she had taken.

"Damn those twin bitches," she spat under her breath, kicking one hoof against the ground in frustration and anger. She looked around, wincing when she took a step forward...there were still brambles and thorns lodged in her armor. She tried summoning her magic...her horn flickered, once...twice...

Skyward froze as a terrifying thought entered her mind: fearing the worst, she slowly removed her helm, reaching up to feel gently along the protrusion from her forehead with one hoof; and heaved a sigh of relief....no cracks, definitely not broken. Thank Din for small favors. She sat at the base of the tree, slowly letting her senses orient...and carefully summoning her magic to remove the brambles from her armor proper. The Haylian unicorn glanced around her, taking in her surroundings; a dense forest rose around her, mist creeping along the ground and the trees closely grouped together, the shadows lending a foreboding air to the entire place...

Wait. None of these trees looked familiar at all.

Frowning, Skyward began to move forward, wincing when she put her weight on her right leg, a blossom of burning agony spiking up whenever she stepped down on it. Horseapples, she had likely injured it in the fall she had taken--ow ow ow ow...
Gritting her teeth, she kept going, trying to stave off the fatigue and the urge to just lie down and rest somewhere. She forced herself to keep walking, vision blurring from time to time; she coughed again, turning her head to spit to the side to clear the foul taste from her mouth and smacked her dry lips, shaking her head...

Water. She needed water.

She strained her ears, sniffed the air. There had to be water somewhere. Grimacing, she continued to put one hoof in front of the other, waves of fatigue threatening to drag her under. The rushing in her ears was the last thing she heard as she finally collapsed, the slight upper incline of the ground she was standing on causing her to lose her footing, roll down the slope and right under a huge tree...

A tree that just happened to be festooned with hanging masks.

Hearing the thud against her treehouse abode, Zecora raised her head with a frown from her potion making. As she moved to the door of her house, she grasped a sturdy looking staff: better to be prepared than not considering she lived in the Everfree Forest, which, unlike Ponyville, was not very safe. She opened the door with one hoof and stepped outside, glancing around. She had definitely heard something, but what was it? She walked around the perimeter of her home, and just as she moved to where one of the roots was jutting up from the ground...

She gasped when she saw the still figure of a pony lying near the great roots of her home, and quickly moved to the pony's side. The zebra blinked, seeing the armor that clad the pony...was this a royal guard of some kind? Zecora moved closer to inspect the pony and found that it was a unicorn...and a badly injured one at that. Burn marks were apparent on the unicorn's legs and so were traces of mild frostbite; one of the unicorn's legs was clearly showing signs of an internal injury...

A snapping of a twig behind the zebra reminded Zecora that there were indeed dangers in the Everfree and she grasped hold of the armored unicorn in her hooves. She managed to wrestle the unconscious magical equine over the roots and dragged her into the house, setting her on the floor. Zecora removed the helm first, then began trying to remove the armor the unicorn was wearing. That was no easy task..it was chainmail, not plate, and a few tufts of the unicorn's coat was pulled out in the process. That done, Zecora soon saw that the unicorn was a mare; a royal blue mane with an indigo streak, a coat the color of polished blue steel, and that she had no cutie mark to speak of. The sword and shield on the mare's back was another mystery--the markings on the shield puzzled her no end...three triangles in a pyramid and a red alicorn on a blue field?

However, upon inspecting the unicorn mare more closely, Zecora soon found that the poor thing was suffering from a fractured leg, multiple lacerations and minor cuts, frostburn and what looked like scorch marks...

"Injuries aplenty and battle decor, you were most certainly clad for war," Zecora mused as she looked over her impromptu patient. The zebra began cleaning her patient's injuries, setting and binding the fractured leg and splinting it to make sure it would heal. She began throwing herbs into her cauldron, and reached for a bottle on a wooden shelf. She began spreading salve on the scorch marks, bandaging the strange female as she went. That done, she stirred the pot on the fire. Several hours passed before the unicorn began to stir, and she groaned softly in pain, before slipping back into unconsciousness again.

It hurt. Everything bucking honest to Goddesses hurt like hay for certain. She felt like she'd been dragged through Death Mountain Crater, then through Snowpeak Mountain Summit, then thrown off said mountain into the biggest patch of brambles anywhere in Hayrule.

She drew in a breath that felt like she was inhaling part of a sandstorm--hot, dry and scratchy, and she began to cough...

"Here my unknown friend, take a drink/In dire need of it, one would think."

At the strange voice and rhyme, Skyward blinked in confusion; but when a cup was put to her lips, she unconsciously drank from it. The cool, clean taste of water flooded her mouth and she greedily began to swallow the liquid down, spilling it on herself in the process, and she began to cough.

"Easy now, take it slow/I do not want you to drown, you know."

"Who... (cough) who art thou...?"

Zecora smiled kindly at the younger mare as she brought more water for her to drink. "I am Zecora, I live here as you see/I found you unconscious under my tree. Tell me, what happened to you? You look like somepony nearly ran you through."

Upon hearing that from the strange striped pony, Skyward's ears lowered and she sighed heavily. "....somepony almost did, but t'would hath been with magic, not a weapon...wait! Where is my armor? My shield, my sword...!"

She began to try to struggle out of bed, but Zecora stopped her with a stern look and holding her down with one hoof. "Not so fast, you are still very weak/Healing will take at least one week. Your fractured leg may take longer/If you do not rest and grow stronger."

Skyward sighed, ears folding back; she knew that this mare...no, Zecora; was right. With the injuries she had she knew she was bucking lucky to be alive. "...Very well, Healer. I bow to thy wisdom. But, how may I repay thou for thy kindness?"

Zecora gestured at her shield and sword in the corner with one hoof, giving her a gentle smile. "Knowing your name would be a start/And why do you not have your cutie mark?"

"My name is Skyward of Fiador Village, Healer Zecora...and I hath not yet found what my talent is to be. For years I hath sought it, but it eludes me still. And until I gain my cutie mark, my name remains incomplete."

Zecora cocked her head, and glanced at the shield and sword and the armor in the corner where she had put them. The items were far too heavy, too real, to not be a lie. "Tell me, where are you from? I don't know this Fiador Village...please, reconfirm?"

"I speak the truth, Healer, I swear I do not lie. If thou hath any means of seeing truth, by all means use it, I've nothing to hide," Skyward said quietly, too tired to argue with the zebra mare.

Zecora looked at the injured unicorn mare before going over to her shelves. She grabbed bottles and flasks at seeming random, placing them on a worktable, and then getting a large wooden bowl covered in odd, swirling carvings. She soon began pouring, mixing, chanting from time to time, and coming back with a bowl of some strange looking purplish liquid.

"This potion shall show us both what we seek, but it remains for the most part incomplete. A hair from your mane is all I require/to spark the spell afire."

Skyward reached up with one hoof and fiddled with her mane before wincing visibly with a hissed 'ow' and pulled out a gleaming indigo hair. Zecora took it and dropped into the bowl; at first, nothing happened...then the potion began to give off smoke as the hair ignited in the goopy mush. The smoke began to spread out through the entire house...and images began to form.

Zecora saw images of Fiador Village and the ponies who lived in it. She saw Mossy Boulder, Tempest Wing, Blazing Dawn. She saw how Skyward had been raised, and how she had been trained for battle as a young filly. She also saw how she had ascended to become Princess Zelda's protege, her training under the princess's guiding hoof, the surprise attack in the town square, and her most recent battle with the two ancient unicorn hags...and her being thrown into that portal.

The smoke soon receded and dissipated entirely after that scene, and Skyward looked the zebra mare in the eyes. "Now thy know the truth, Healer. I come from Fiador Village in the southernmost part of Hayrule. When I came to from the battle with those accursed nags, I stumbled 'round for a time before I passed out, and then thou found me."

Zecora looked down at the bowl before she looked back at her patient. "...I fear that portal sent you far away. You are no longer in...Hayrule, I am sorry to say."

Skyward blinked several times at the zebra's words, her heart starting to beat faster in disbelief and panic. Not in Hayrule? But...what...how....

Zecora saw the fear and the disbelief rising in Skyward's eyes and she gestured at the bowl, which was still smoking, but not as much as it once had been. "Those nags worked a magic most vile/But, your princess's magic saved you from a fate most hostile."

"...If...if I am no longer in Hayrule, then...then where am I?"

"A land of peace, no war or strife. This is Equestria, where you can begin a new life."

Skyward shook her head frantically and began struggling to get up. "My life is back home defending my princess and homeland! I cannot just sit on my plot whilst some crazed desert born thief destroys everything! I cannot fail Princess Zelda...I simply cannot..."

"Calm down, Skyward; tell me thy tale. Why is it so important that you cannot fail?"

Skyward began telling her everything she knew: the history of Hayrule, how the land was created by the three Goddesses; Din, Nayru and Farore, and how the Triforce tied into everything, about the Sacred Realm and how it had become a prison for an ancient evil. The legend of Time Link, he who had defeated the Evil King, and how the pieces of the Triforce: Power, Wisdom and Courage could grant the wish of anypony. She related the events of the battle, the concerns her princess had shared with her about emissaries from the Gerudo tribe, the bloody battle in Castle Town up until recent events. Zecora regarded Skyward for a long time. If she hadn't used that truth potion she would have thought this pony was certifiably crazy, but...

She knew Skyward wasn't lying. The look in her eyes told the wise zebra mare exactly what she had suspected; this was a genuine soldier who was dedicated to protecting those she cared about. And she knew that she was going to need help in more ways than one. This unicorn was a warrior, trained to defend her home and hearth, and being wounded and far from home...the zebra knew it was tearing the mare up inside. Defeat was one thing...despair was another. Skyward also did need to heal...she had been injured pretty badly and needed rest and care.

"I have a plan on how to help you, my friend. But understand, your wounds need to mend. For that you must now rest/So once more you can be at your best."

Skyward had to smile a little at the odd rhyming way the zebra mare spoke, she nodded and curled up as best she could--she was in truth exhausted, given her injuries. She closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep, lulled into slumber by the oddly soothing hum of Zecora singing something in her native tongue.

Strangers Like Me

Over the next four days, Zecora tended to Skyward's wounds. The injured unicorn did her best to be unobtrusive and not make extra work for her caretaker, using her magic from time to time to help with chores when she was able to do so. With a constant dosage of potions and salves, her wounds began to heal up nicely, but some of them did leave faint scars. Her leg was still sore, but because it was a fracture and not an actual break, it was healing fast as well; Zecora's odd potions and salves did wonders to be certain. Skyward often told the zebra shamaness stories about her homeland, old legends and used her magic to create images to go with her tales. This evening, Skyward was preparing a few dried forest mushrooms to be ground into powder when there was a knock at the heavy wooden door.

"Zecora? Zecora? Are ya home?"

"Ah, is that Apple Bloom I hear? Please, come inside, my dear."

Alerted to the visitor, Skyward twisted her head around, dropping the mortar and pestle she held in her magic onto the work table and quickly began to move towards the back so she wouldn't be seen. The little pale olive filly with a red apple colored mane and tail, with a beautiful rose colored ribbon in a bow in her mane pointed at the retreating unicorn mare: Zecora had to fight a belly laugh at Skyward acting like a shy filly. "Zecora, who's that? Ah didn' know ya had visitors."

Skyward, not wanting to frighten the strange filly had retreated into one of the other rooms, but Zecora went in after her and pushed her back out again with a firm nudge to her flank, Skyward resisting at first, but the zebra mare gave her a stern look.

"Ah, you have met Skyward, I see. She is new to the Everfree. Skyward, go on, say hello. Apple Bloom will not bite, you know."

Skyward gave the zebra mare a 'are you kidding me' look before she moved towards the little foal. She had to smile despite her trepidation...the little one was truly an adorable filly.

"Hi there! I'm Apple Bloom!"

Skyward inclined her head with a gentle smile. "Hail and well met, Apple Bloom. I am Skyward."

"Well, its nice to meetcha Skyward! Oooh...what happened to you?" Apple Bloom pointed at Skyward's bandaged leg.

"I took a rather bad fall...thankfully, Healer Zecora happened to find me and I hath been here ever since."

Zecora stepped in, knowing Skyward likely didn't want to reveal too much to the little filly, even then, most of it would be confusing anyway. "Apple Bloom, tis almost nightfall/Does Applejack know you are here at all?"

Apple Bloom nodded her head. "Yeah, she sent me to ask you for help. Big Mac's sick and Dr. Stable is outta town, an' th' last train t' Canterlot left two hours ago. She woulda come here herself, but somepony had t' tend t' Big Mac."

Zecora nodded at Apple Bloom, and began to gather her things into a leather satchel. "Night is falling quickly; we must hurry then/The timberwolves will soon leave their den."

Skyward stepped forward. "I shalt come with you, Zecora. Thou hast told me of the dangers here in the Everfree Forest, and for the kindness ye hath shown me, I shalt defend us from harm on the way to Apple Bloom's home."

"Hm. One would normally advise against this, but you are no stranger to danger's kiss. At this time of night the timberwolves roam/And it is foolish to wander in the dark alone."

Skyward nodded. "Allow me to get my armor and weapons, and we shalt be on our way."

Apple Bloom blinked as Skyward moved behind a curtain and came over to Zecora, looking confused. "Armor? Weapons? Is she a guard from Canterlot?"

Zecora shook her head. "A different breed of warrior is she/wait till she comes out, then you will see. Come, help me gather what I need/To cure your brother's malady."

Skyward emerged about ten minutes later, in her chainmail armor and hoofcovers, and bearing her helm in her magic aura, her sword and shield on her back. The little filly turned around upon hearing the slight jingle of Skyward's chainmail armor, and stared with her mouth open and eyes wide as saucers.

"Woooooow..."

Skyward chuckled, unable to help herself, and gently pushed Apple Bloom's mouth shut with one hoof. "Ware thee do not catch flies, little one."

Apple Bloom blushed and rubbed the back of her head with one hoof. "Heh heh, sorry. Where'd you get that armor! An' that sword! It looks ah-mazin!"

"I earned it, Apple Bloom. The shield was a gift from my father. Zecora, do ye have everything thou need?"

The zebra nodded her head, carrying saddlebags and a sturdy staff in one hoof. She locked the door behind them as they traveled through the darkening woods...Skyward lit her horn to light the way, and kept her ears cocked for any odd noises.

"So...how long have ya been here, Skyward?"

"Roughly about...five days, almost. Zecora has been very kind to share her hearth and home with me. I owe her a great debt."

Zecora smiled gently at her unicorn friend. "Friendship is all one asks/And you aid me even with the simplest of tasks."

Skyward smiled as they approached the exit to the Everfree that led to Ponyville, but upon hearing a snap of a twig she spun around, bringing her sword and shield to bear. Zecora pushed Apple Bloom behind her, watching Skyward for cues. Skyward cocked her ears, taking a deep breath of the strange air, waiting. Watching...

"...We should keep moving. Ware, however...the forest likely has eyes," Skyward muttered as she slowly backed up, mindful of her leg. It was all but healed, but it ached from time to time.

"Why doesn't she turn 'round, Zecora? It prolly was jest a bunny or somethin'," Apple Bloom asked Zecora, who looked down at her. "In the Everfree/One can never be sure you see."

"Zecora is right. It is never wise to turn your back when danger is present, Apple Bloom. Aye, it could have been just a bunny. But, if tis proven to be something else..."

But nothing showed itself as they exited the forest. However, Skyward took one more look back and spotted a pair of leering green eyes staring at them from the shadows of a huge thicket. Skyward glared and pointed her sword at it, and it faded away. She sheathed the blade and continued after the others. Apple Bloom walked ahead, while Zecora fell back a bit to let Skyward catch up.

"Skyward, is your leg troubling you? I have some pain numbing leaves you can chew."

"Tis not my leg, but I thank thee all the same. Neigh, there was something following us. Something big with green eyes. I know not what it was, however."

Zecora turned and eyed the forest behind them. "Likely a timberwolf one would think/Make an easy meal of us all in a blink."

Skyward snorted, a dangerous gleam in her eye as she glowered back at the forest. "Not whilst I am here."

They crossed through Ponyville...Skyward would have liked to see the entirety of it since she had heard so much from Zecora about it, but they had a job to do. The scent of sweet apples touched their noses when they came out of Ponyville and down the road quite a bit to Sweet Apple Acres. The smell of fresh apples on the near autumn breeze brought tears to Skyward's eyes...it reminded her acutely of home. She bit her lip harshly as she passed through the gates with Zecora, and stopped, rubbing her eyes with one hoof briefly, sniffing a little before she continued towards the huge red barn she could see in the distance. All around her were towering apple trees, laden with luscious fruit aplenty, ranging from red to gold to orange to green...

Apple Bloom had run ahead directly to the barn-house, but Zecora waited for Skyward, and put a comforting hoof on her armored shoulder.

"I know you miss home/But remember here you are not alone."

"I am grateful for thy friendship, Zecora. Truly, I wish there was something one could do to repay thy kindnesses thou hast shown me. Tis only fair."

Zecora chuckled and was about to reply, when golden lamplight flooded the barnyard and got their attention, as did the voice of a country born mare.

"Hey there! C'mon in an' make yerselves comfortable!"

Skyward removed her helm when she stepped inside after Zecora and looked around. The inside of the house had a homey, cozy feel to it, much like Lon Lon Ranch out in Hayrule Field. It looked every inch a country home--home woven rugs, pictures on the walls, a rustic, homey feel to the entirety. She inhaled, scenting apples, spices, corn and hay, and brushed away a tear, reminded so much of her own home in Fiador Village. The mare that had yelled a greeting was a orange colored earth pony with a long blond mane and tail, wearing a rancher's hat, and she had a trio of ripe apples as her cutie mark.

"Zecora, Ah cain't thank ya enough fer comin' at such short notice. Ah'm so sorry ya had t' come at this hour."

"Tis no trouble for a friend/Your brother's troubles I will mend."

"Hey, who's yer friend here?"

"This is Skyward, from a land far away. With me, she has found a place to stay."

"Well, any friend of Zecora's is a friend o' mine. Welcome ta Sweet Apple Acres! My name's Applejack. And of course ya met my sister, Apple Bloom."

Skyward bowed her head in response. "The honor is mine, Applejack. You hath a lovely home here. It almost reminds me of my own home."

"Why, thank ya kindly, Skyward. Um...what's with th' armor?"

Zecora held up a hoof, catching the earth pony's eye. "That is a tale best saved for later/Right now, your brother's troubles are far greater."

Applejack blinked at Zecora, sensing there was more to that than met the eye, and nodded slowly...this was a story clearly not meant for little ears, meaning Apple Bloom in particular. The zebra shamaness went upstairs to check on her patient, and Skyward sat on the rug in front of the stove, wincing a little as she stretched out her leg. Applejack came to join her, and blinked at the sword and shield on the other pony's back. She was a farmpony, but she could tell that those weren't toys Skyward possessed. She was curious about the newcomer, but Zecora was usually a good judge of character. Still, she wanted to see if Skyward was trustworthy or not. She had a pretty odd accent and the way she spoke....almost like how Princess Luna would speak...archaic in nature.

"So...what's your home like, Skyward? Ya said it was like mine?"

"Aye, but we live in a hollowed out tree. Yours is much nicer."

"Ya live in a tree? Like Twilight does?"

Skyward cocked her head at the earth pony, not recognizing the name and wondering if this too was a markless pony considering Applejack had only said part of a name. Then again, the pony in front of her had her mark and had only one name herself....odd to be sure.

"Twilight?"

"Oh yeah, yer new to Ponyville, right? How long d'ya plan on stayin'?"

"...As long as Zecora will allow it. I am a guest in her dwelling, after all."

Applejack regarded the unicorn closely. Skyward clearly had some muscle on her...not a lot, but some to show she was a hard worker for sure. Or was that because of training? She didn't carry that beautiful looking sword and that heavy shield for looks. Well, she'd get the whole story once Apple Bloom was in bed.

"What ails thy brother? Is he well?"

"Ah wish Ah could say he was. He stayed out in th' rain like th' stubborn mule he can be an' sure as sugar he got sick."

"....I pray thy brother does not have chillcore. That sickness claimed my mother when I was four seasons old."

"Ah'm right sorry to hear it, Skyward. But whut's chillcore?"

"Chillcore is a sickness that afflicts the lungs. Ye cough and wheeze, struggle for breath as if thee were drowning. Eventually, ye begin to cough and spit up blood, and eventually, the afflicted dies. If caught early, it can be healed. If late..."

Skyward's ears drooped and she looked pensively into the fire, and Applejack put a hoof on her armored shoulder. "Ah'm sorry, Skyward. Ya miss her, don'cha?"

"Aye. Every day. I wish she was here now."

"Well, what ya described sounds pretty bad. I hope Big Macintosh don' have it. He's been coughing up a storm ever since last night."

"That is usually how it begins..."

"Fear not, his sickness is not that severe. A few days of bedrest, and he will be in the clear."

Both mares looked up to see Zecora coming down the stairs. She approached Applejack and held out a medium sized jar. "Make sure he takes this, morning, noon and night. Three days of this, and he will be all right."

"Thank ya kindly, Zecora. Why don' ya'll stay th' night, it's late as it is. Speakin' a'which: Apple Bloom, its bedtime!"

"Awww, sis! I wanted to get t' know Miz Skyward better."

"She'll be here in th' mornin', don't ya fret. Now off to bed with ya, missy."

Skyward hid a chuckle...oh she remembered well being that age and being told to go to bed. Apple Bloom waved at them before she trotted upstairs...hearing a door close, Applejack turned to the other two and cocked her head.

"So whut's the big secret, Zecora? Ah'm guessin' it has a lot to do with ya, Skyward."

"It does, Applejack."

"From another land entire does Skyward hail/Yet how she arrived here, now THAT is truly a tale. Her shield, her armor, her sword you see/Her home is much like the Everfree. When she told me her story, I could scarce believe/But she is honest, to honor she does cleave."

Skyward removed her shield from her back and turned it around to show Applejack, who trailed a hoof over the strong metalwork, gazing at the three golden triangles and the crimson alicorn on the azure field. "Zecora, if Ah didn' know ya as well as Ah do, I'd say ya went plumb loco...but...yer tellin' the honest truth, aren't ya?"

Both mares nodded their heads, and Applejack pushed back her hat, looking at Skyward, who regarded her with a calm expression. "So...where are ya from, Skyward?"

Skyward lit her horn, and the farmhouse decor and furnishings faded away to reveal clouds...lots of white, fluffy clouds. It almost felt as if they were flying, descending through the clouds as quickly as they were.

"I come from a land called Hayrule. Here, things are vastly different, as thou can see..."

The clouds parted, showing rolling green hills that stretched as far as the eye could see. There were smatterings of tree stands here and there, and rock outcroppings. The center of the field held a massive white and slate blue castle, surrounded by a gigantic white stone wall, a bustling town could be seen within the walls confines. Going closer revealed grand manses in one sector, a busy market in another, a large park in yet another area, foals playing and prancing about in the soft grasses, their parents watching them closely. Blue clear rivers cut through the huge field...to the west, lay a great canyon that led to a widespread desert. To the north was a huge mountain range, with a great volcano at its peak. To the east was the source of the rivers that flowed through the field, a great waterfall and a spring within the walls of the cliffside it fell from. To the south was a massive forest, lush and green with life and fertility, and they began zeroing in on it.

"My home is here, in Shadowleaf Forest. This is the village of Fiador, where I was born and raised."

Skyward continued her story, showing her village and her ways of life. The training she endured, how she was accepted as Zelda's protege. She even showed who the enemy was, Ganondorf's cruel visage smirking in a sinister manner as a translucent image of Hayrule consumed in flames appeared behind him. She displayed the terrible war they had been fighting, the battle with the two nags she had been in, and how her banishment had gone. By the time she was finished telling her tale, Applejack was positively floored.

"Well stick an apple in mah mouth an' roast mah rump. Yer really not from aroun' here."

Zecora nodded her head at Applejack, her mien somber. "Return to her land she most desires/To stop a spark before it becomes a raging fire."

"I saw 'im...th' one ya called Ganondorf. He's th' reason yer all worked up in a tizzy, right?"

"Tis' putting it lightly, Applejack. He is the whole reason why Hayrule is in turmoil. He has been trying to take Princess Zelda's lands and her throne for years--yet my Princess feared he desired the keys to the Sacred Realm all the more so. And I fear he may have succeeded, especially after what those damned nags did to me..."

The farmpony scratched her head, regarding the Haylian mare. "Seems t' me ya may want to talk to Twilight. If anypony would know about this, it would be her. Or Princess Celestia, even."

"But one does not simply approach a princess..."

Applejack laughed, giving her a wicked grin. "Ya sure 'bout that? Seems t' me ya put one over those guards pretty good!"

Skyward smirked impishly. "Tis' not my fault if they are incapable of looking behind them. Golden Marble learned that in the last exercise we had."

"Golden Marble?"

Skyward conjured an image of the earth guardspony, and Applejack raised an eyebrow. The stallion in question was well muscled, and quite good looking too. He had an easygoing, joking manner about him. "Hoo-wee. That stallion's almost as big as mah brother!"

"Golden Marble earned his name and his mark for bucking a piece of white marble clean in half in the Strength of Din competition ten years ago."

"So...ya haven't earned yer mark yet, so by Haylian customs, yer name isn't completed?"

"Aye, tis is the way of it. I wonder if I will ever find mine..."

Zecora put a hoof on Skyward's back, giving the Haylian unicorn a comforting smile. "You will find your mark, never fear. Perhaps you will find your destiny here."

The cuckoo clock suddenly began to chirp, and Applejack looked up, blinking. "Whoo, look at th' time! Sure flies when yer havin' fun. C'mon, I'll show ya to the guest rooms."

Applejack led them up the stairs and showed them to two rustic but cozy looking guest rooms--apple themed wall paper, maple desk, chair and bed frame, and the chest of drawers and framed mirror were also made of maple. The beds looked so soft and comfortable--soft looking linen sheets covered by an apple red comforter with big fluffy pillows with hoofsewn cases and shams, each with a big red apple in the center.

"Ah'm gonna head off t' bed mahself after Ah check on Big Mac. See ya both in th' morning!"

Once she was alone, Skyward removed her armor, helm, and hoofcovers, placing her shield close by and keeping the sword close within hoof's reach. She curled up in the bed, looking up at the darkened ceiling for a long time, before she finally drifted off to sleep.

A Whole New World

The smell of breakfast was what woke Skyward from her slumber. Her eyes blinked slowly open and she yawned, licking her lips and turning her head, inhaling the smell of frying potatoes, baked apples...she really hoped it was her sire cooking and not her fluffbrained brother, he always burned the hay bacon...

Her eyes snapped open when memory rushed back and she sat up in the bed she was lying in, glancing around. Sadness touched her visage when she remembered she was no longer in Hayrule, and she bowed her head, biting her lower lip as she slowly got out of the comfortable bed she was in. She crossed to the chest of drawers and the mirror above it, and picked up the brush there, combing her unruly mane and tail out--she always got 'bedmane', most of the time. She braided part of her mane away from her face, picked up her armor...

A few measured raps came from the closed portal. "Skyward? Ya awake in there?"

Skyward turned her head to the door. "Aye, I am awake, Applejack. Please come in, if thou wish?"

The orange farmpony did come inside, and cocked an eyebrow at the armor Skyward was holding in her magic. "Do ya wear that all th' time?"

Skyward nodded her head in return. "Every day, aye. Hayrule is a dangerous place--I've been trained to fight ever since I was able to light my horn proper as a filly."

Applejack chuckled and gestured for her to follow. "Listen, why don' ya leave that stuff up here, come on down an' have somethin' to eat? Ya won't need it 'round here on the farm."

Skyward considered this for a few minutes before nodding, leaving her armor, helm and hoofcovers near the chest of drawers, along with her sword and shield. She followed Applejack down the stairs and to the table in the dining room. Zecora was already there, and so was Apple Bloom. There was also a big red stallion with an orange mane and a cropped tail--his cutie mark was that of a huge green apple with a slice taken out of it, showing the flesh and seeds. His eyes were green, akin to Applejack's. There was also an elderly mare seated at the table--she had a pale lime green coat, and her eyes were an orangish red. Her mane and tail were pure white, but at some point, they had to have been some other color--blond, perhaps? Skyward froze upon seeing the elder mare; the old pony's visage changed from kind looking to a gnarled grimace of pure evil--pale lime fur turning sickly rotten green, those gentle orangish-red eyes becoming sunken embers of hatred and dark rage...

"Skyward? Are ya all right over there?" Applejack looked at her with confusion and Skyward shook her head, giving her a hasty nod and mustered what she hoped was a passable smile.

"A-aye, I am fine...just my leg aches a bit still, that is all."

"Well, Zecora'll have ya up an' runnin' in no time. Ah don' believe ya met the rest of the family...Apple Bloom ya know. This's my big brother, Big Macintosh--Big Mac fer short."

Big Macintosh looked over at their visitor and nodded his head at her in greeting, part of his mouth turning upward--Skyward inclined her head, giving him a smile.

Applejack pointed at the lime green old mare next. "An' this is Granny Smith, our grandmother. She's been 'round for as long as Sweet Apple Acres has."

Granny Smith leaned closer, her rheumy eyes blinking at the newcomer. "Well, its nice t' see a new face 'round 'ere. Eh...whut did ya say yer name was again?"

"My name is Skyward, Matriarch Granny Smith."

Applejack laughed as she walked past Skyward, giving the Haylian unicorn a friendly nudge. "No need t' be so formal, Sky--g'wan, sit down an' eat!"

Skyward tucked her ears back, looking sheepish. "Forgive me...she is the head of your clan and deserves respect, does she not?"
The blond farmpony nodded at her; she was pleased with the show of respect nonetheless. "Well, yeah, technically, but ya don' need t' worry too much 'bout that."

Breakfast was plentiful--oatmeal with honey and cream, fresh apples, toast with zap apple jam and fresh butter, fried hashbrowns and hay bacon, apple juice and milk, apple pie and sliced cheddar cheese. Afterwards Skyward helped clean up, then walked outside onto the porch with Zecora and Applejack. Big Macintosh had been bullied back upstairs to rest by Applejack after taking his first dose of medicine from Zecora, and his snoring could be heard from the floor above the porch.

"So...what are ya fixin' t' do now, Skyward?"

"Visiting Twilight is the next thing we should do/For Skyward's princess certainly faces a deadly coup."

Applejack nodded her head at the wise zebra, and glanced at Skyward. "C'mon; we can take a look 'round Ponyville while we're at it--wait, where are ya going?"

"I told you, I need my armor."

"Now wait jest a second..."

Zecora put a hoof out to stop Applejack and shook her head. "That armor she wears like a second skin/In her lands, danger is close, just like next of kin."

The farmpony huffed, shaking her head in exasperation. "Meaning whut exactly? There's nothin' here that could hurt us!"

Zecora regarded the bearer of Honesty with a raised eyebrow. "Would you go anywhere without your hat? Her armor is akin to that."

Applejack paused to think about this, then she nodded when she saw the resemblance--she never went anywhere without her father's Stetson...for Skyward, wearing that armor was like her wearing her hat. Skyward came out...she cut an impressive figure in her gleaming armor, but her helm wasn't on...it hung by her side. The three mares walked down the road towards Ponyville, Apple Bloom tagging along until they dropped her off at the schoolhouse--Skyward had to grin at her antics; little Apple Bloom reminded her of one of her own friends back home at that age.

Most of Ponyville was thatched roof houses, or ones with slate roofs--much nicer than the Bridleriko Village ones. But it had a cheery, homey atmosphere Skyward found she liked--never mind her own painful experiences. She shoved those thoughts out of her head as they entered Ponyville proper--ponies going by on their daily routines, some giving Skyward odd looks because of her armor.

"So...whatcha think of Ponyville?"

Skyward cast her gaze once more about the town, a wistful smile touching her muzzle. "Peaceful. Shame mine own village is not as such. We have to constantly be on guard these days."

Applejack shook her head. "Ah can't imagine havin' to fight most of th' time. Ya had it pretty rough, huh, Skyward?"

Skyward solemnly nodded her head in reply. "Aye. This place is idyllic compared to mine own home. Though, the victory celebrations we hold can be quite the spectacle."

Zecora grinned and winked at the other two mares. "Haylian parties can be quite a sight/Skyward told me they can last at least three days and a night."

A blur of pink caught the farmpony's eye off to the left and she grinned. "An' speakin' of parties, there's a pony who throws a good 'un. Hey, Pinkie Pie!"

The pink earth pony in question turned around and waved at Applejack--she had apparently been shopping, considering her saddlebags were filled with streamers, noisemakers, confetti and prank materials considering part of a whoopee cushion was sticking out of her bag. "Hey Applejack! Hiya Zecora! I ran out of party supplies so I had to go restock just in case! And don't tell anypony--Rainbow Dash is gonna get a big surprise when she gets home: hee hee! Hey, you guys wanna come to Sugarcube Corner; I got this new cake recipe everypony needs to try! It's triple chocolate sundae surprise! Hey, who's she?"

"Maybe later, Pinkie, Oh, this is Skyward. She's new t' Ponyville. We're on our way to Twilight's, wanna come along?"

Pinkie Pie stared at Skyward for a full five seconds before she gasped dramatically, simultaneously jumping clear off the ground and took off like a pink cannonball freshly shot out of a loaded cannon, leaving the other ponies in a pink cloud of dust. Skyward stared where Pinkie Pie had just been less than two seconds ago, then looked at Zecora and Applejack, a completely bewildered look on her face.

"...could somepony explain what the buck just happened?"

Applejack looked sheepish, chuckling a little, while Zecora was laughing openly. "Eheh...Ah should've warned ya about Pinkie Pie. Whenever a new pony comes 'round, she throws a party for 'em to welcome them to Ponyville."

Skyward glanced back at where Pinkie had been and chuckled, shaking her head. "One wouldst think she and Mille Feuille would get along quite nicely."

"Who's that?"

"Princess Zelda's personal pastry chef. She loves baking all sorts of sweet treats--and playing pranks to boot."

"Really? What kind of stuff did she make?"

"All kinds of things, but the Princess's favorite happens to be her country apple pie."

"Seriously? All that fancy stuff an' all she wanted was apple pie?"

"...Sometimes 'tis the simplest of things that makes one happy, Applejack. You and Zecora, both of thou know this best, aye?"

Applejack gave her a warm smile and Zecora nodded her head. "Yer right 'bout that. Listen, Zecora, any chance that..."

But the rest of the farmpony's sentence was cut off by a strong gust of wind that blew their manes and tails back, and a blaze of colors washed past Skyward's squinted eyes against the backwash of wind.

"Yo, AJ! Hi Zecora! Whoa hold on...who the heck are YOU?"

Skyward looked up to see a cyan colored pegasus mare with a rainbow hued mane and tail, magenta colored eyes staring at her with her mouth open. She cocked an eyebrow--she had seen quite a few pegasi with odd coloration but this one took the puffball cake for certain.

"Wow, what's with that getup? You come from a costume party or something?"

Skyward laid back her ears in annoyance--this rainbow maned pegasus mare reminded her a little too much of her own brother, only Tempest Wing was less of a loudmouth. She opened her mouth to return the mare's question with a sharp rejoinder of her own, but Applejack beat her to the punch.

"Rainbow Dash, quit raggin' on Skyward; she's brand new to Ponyville an' she needs t' see Twilight. An' never ya mind what she's wearin'...where she comes from, that's outta necessity."

Rainbow Dash scratched her head with one hoof, looking puzzled. "Outta necessity? Where ya from anyway?"

Zecora intervened quickly, nudging Skyward to remain quiet. "Very soon you shall all see/But this story should not be spoken too freely."

The farmpony nodded in agreement, glancing around to see if anypony was watching/listening. "Yeah; we better head t' Twilight's before anypony else starts askin' too many questions."

Rainbow nodded her head as she began flying at a lazy pace overhead to stay with the group. "I'll come with ya. I gotta return this Daring Do book anyway. I hope Twilight's got the next one in the series. Hey, where's Pinkie Pie at?"

Applejack laughed. "Probably getting ready for a party since she saw Skyward an' took off like a bat outta Tartarus. Ya know how she is when a new pony comes t' town."

The rainbow maned mare did a hoof-pump and moonwalked in midair at this news. "Another party? Sweet! Oh man, you should've been here for the last bash she threw for Big Mac's birthday two weeks ago--it was AWESOME!"

Applejack nudged Skyward--she'd noticed how the other mare's ears were slightly drooping a bit now instead of being laid back in annoyance. "Ya okay there sugarcube? Ah know Rainbow can be a bit much at times...she didn' mean anything by it."

The Haylian mare nodded in return. "...I know. She...reminds me of my brother. Same brash nature, yet..."

Skyward looked up at Rainbow Dash, who was telling Zecora about her latest stunt, and shook her head a little. "Nay...nearly the very same save for him not being a loudmouth."

Applejack snickered, but quietly so Rainbow Dash wouldn't hear. "Don' let it bother ya none. RD's as loyal as they come. Trust me on this."

"Hey! You two coming or what? We're already here!"

Skyward looked up to see that the other two ponies were standing at the door to a stocky looking oak tree...but the tree clearly was more than just that. This tree had been literally made into a living house--there were windows, balconies, a chimney...a nice little home tucked away in the midst of a library. There were also three more ponies in the library--a butter yellow pegasus with a soft pink mane and tail, a white unicorn female with a violet mane and tail, and a purple unicorn with a tri colored mane and tail--dark blue was predominant with streaks of magenta and indigo respectively. All of them were also mares. Upon entering, Skyward inhaled, taking a deep breath; the smell of parchment, ink, and books filled her nose--a scent she was familiar with herself from the Royal Archives. And there were indeed books everywhere, neatly aligned along the shelves. Everything looked neat and tidy, cozy nooks begging to be settled in with a tome or two, a small purple dragon dusting the...

Wait.

WHAT?

"Hey, Twilight, I'm almost done with the Fiction section, did you want me to..."

"Dragon!"

Skyward's sword flashed out of its sheath and she lunged at the small purple dragon holding a featherduster, angling her sword for a strike...

"SPIKE!"

The purple unicorn's horn burst into magenta light and she shot a beam at the strange armored unicorn mare that was trying to get to Spike. Skyward twisted herself to avoid it and turned to face her instead, taking a battle stance as she unleashed a beam of her own in return. Magenta and silver magic warred for dominance as the two mares vied for mental advantage...

Until Rainbow Dash shot down from the rafters and rammed into Skyward...who twisted herself, bucked her off and missed with a shield bash when she flew out of range.

The white unicorn mare looked mortified. "Well! I have never seen such a barbaric display in my entire life!"

The butter yellow pegasus mare flew over to where the dragon was hiding under a low table. "Oh, Spike...are you okay?"

"Y-y-yeah...t-t-totally fine. S'not like anypony didn't just try to kill me, or anything," the purple dragon replied shakily from where he was hiding under a chair.

"What the buck is your problem with Spike anyway?!"

Skyward sheathed her sword with a sharp 'click' and glared up at Rainbow Dash. "Where I come from, dragons EAT ponies, thou arrogant upstart!"

Rainbow sneered openly at Skyward in return. "Oh yeah? Well I think you're nothing but a big coward! Bet the only dragon you ever faced was a fighting dummy!"

Skyward's royal blue eyes blazed with rage and her horn began to flare silver at the insult as she drew her sword again; enough was enough, she was going to let this pegasus bitch have it...

"EVERYPONY FREEZE!"

Everypony did indeed freeze--the thunderous shout had come from Applejack, who was glaring at everypony in the room.

"Now, before ya'll start gettin' outta hoof again, let's start over. Skyward, Spike don' mean no harm to anypony. He's Twilight's assistant, and her 'little brother' so to speak. And Rainbow Dash, ya better apologize fer what ya said to Skyward. Believe me, she ain't a coward. Back where she comes from, she faced a three headed hydra with ten other ponies and sent it runnin' fer the hills."

Skyward lifted an armored hoof. "In truth, Applejack; we killed it. The cursed thing had devoured half a village near Shadeleaf Swamp, never mind the nest it had in the swamp proper. We were dispatched to deal with the threat before the eggs could hatch."

Rainbow Dash laughed and waved a hoof in dismissal. "Pfft, yeah; like anypony's gonna believe that load of horseapples--HEY! Watch it with that!"

Skyward had taken a swipe at Rainbow with her blade, and Applejack stomped a hoof, making the floorboards shake. "Skyward, put that pigsticker away before ya really hurt somepony. An' Rainbow; cool it with th' name-callin'. I swear on mah pappy's hat she ain't a liar an' she sure as hay ain't no coward either."

"How do ya know she's telling the truth Applejack? For all we know she's some certifiably crazy pony in armor and carrying a sword!"

Applejack scowled up at Rainbow Dash. " 'Cause Zecora found her out in th' Everfree Forest less than six days ago, lookin' like death warmed over, an' had some pretty bad injuries t' boot; broken leg, burn marks, t' name a few. An' Zecora used...what wuz it ya used, anyway?"

"The Mists of Truth this potion is called/When the tale told may be quite tall. But the tale Skyward told is indeed true/That is why we came to visit you." Zecora pointed at Twilight Sparkle with one hoof, and she looked confused. "What do you need me for?"

Applejack shoved back her hat, keeping an eye on Rainbow Dash in case the multihued pegasus decided to try something rash. She knew Skyward was watching Rainbow and if she felt threatened she wouldn't hesitate to take another swipe at her either. "Skyward ain't from Equestria, Twilight. She's literally from another world. They take honor and honesty seriously; Skyward's lookin' t' get back home because her own realm is in a heap o' big trouble. Last she knew, her kingdom was under attack by a bunch of monsters, and her Princess was being attacked by some crazy desert pony lookin' t' take some sort o' magical relic, am Ah right?"
Skyward nodded her head, but she didn't take her gaze from Rainbow Dash, who was hovering well out of reach. "That is it in a nutshell, aye."

Twilight Sparkle approached the armored mare slowly--she was wary, considerably so, but she trusted Applejack and Zecora. "From what kingdom do you come from--umm...Skyward, was it?"

In answer, Skyward removed her shield from her back and turned it round for them all to see. Twilight Sparkle frowned as she came forward to look at it closely--it was a real shield all right, she could tell just by trying to lift it with her magic--pretty heavy.

Twilight lowered her head to examine the shield closely, poking at it with one hoof as if to test its solidarity. "Hmm...I don't recognize that heraldry..."

The white unicorn mare also came to take a look herself. "I must say though...this design is truly intriguing. Blue and red and yellow...all bound in silvered steel...it almost seems--mm, poetic...look how the alicorn is reaching for those golden triangles..."

But Rainbow Dash, who did read a few other books than Daring Do when there wasn't anything new around; instantly recognized the heraldry, and her mouth fell open. She knew Applejack wasn't a liar and neither was Zecora; which meant...

"No bucking way!"

Everypony in the room looked to Rainbow Dash, who was staring at Skyward as if she had seen a ghost, earning a 'what the buck' look from the unicorn in question. She slowly lifted a shaking hoof and pointed at her.

"You...you mean to tell me..."

Rainbow Dash shot over to another section of books, dug through them (knocking several right off the shelf much to Spike's dismay) and whizzed right back over to Skyward, all but shoving the book in her face.

"You mean to tell me THIS is real?"

The book Rainbow was holding was a Legend of Zelda nann-ga from Neighpon, titled 'Ocarina of Time'. Skyward took the book in her magic, opening the small shiny tome and studied the pictures for a few moments before looking up at her and nodding her head--she couldn't make sense of the writing--it looked like gibberish to her, but the pictures she could understand.

"One of the many stories passed down by our elders and lorekeepers; aye, this is accurate...but one must say; this is a first. I hath never seen books like this...this thing is backwards...how doth one read this anyway?"

With the exception of Applejack and Zecora, the others exchanged completely dumbfounded looks. Rainbow Dash leaned in closer, making Skyward twitch a little as she struggled to not 'reach' for her sword a fourth time. "Can I...can I ask ya something?"

Skyward didn't know what to make of this mare--one second she was ready for a fight and the next, she was acting like an overexcited filly. "...What is it thou wish to know?"

"Does...Does the Master Sword exist?"

Skyward nodded her head, still trying to keep her distance without being rude. "Aye, it does. But only Princess Zelda knows where the Blade of Evil's Bane rested last. According to the legends and what the Princess herself told me, that sword belongs to the Hero of Time alone. Nopony else can claim that legendary blade."

Rainbow Dash's eyes went to pinpricks and she squealed, doing loops in midair and leaving her signature rainbow trail behind her. "This...is...SO COOL! A real Haylian pony! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh...Wait! Are you Time Link's daughter or something?"

Skyward scowled, stomping an armored hoof on the floor. "Nay! Nopony knows who his descendants are and, even if they did know, they wouldst not go running their muzzles about the whole affair! Especially considering who is after the Triforce even now!"

Having listened to the entire exchange so far; Twilight Sparkle was definitely not a stupid pony, and Skyward's words was the final piece of this bizarro puzzle that had begun to fall into place. What was more, Applejack was the Element of Honesty and Zecora had never once lied to any of them--which meant only one thing. The odds were astronomically high but...

"So if...if you're actually from Hayrule, which does in fact exist; and--your kingdom is under attack..and this desert pony is trying to...wait. It's not..."

Skyward looked Twilight right in the eye and grimly nodded her head. "It is. Believe me, one wishes thou could'st call me 'certifiably crazy' as thy rainbow maned friend put it. But one can assure thou...I am telling thee the truth. Hayrule has been at war with the Gerudo tribe for five years, and I've the scars to prove it for the last two when demons and dark beasts from the Dark Realm were summoned into the fray. The war ended ten days ago, however, t'was all a grand ruse by Ganondorf to allow his tribe to infiltrate Hayrule Castle Town...and the rest is bloody history. I need not elaborate on what happened next."

Zecora came forward, gesturing at Skyward. "I found her in the Everfree, her wounds severe/Near death's door she was I feared. The Royal Sisters must be told/Before Skyward's enemy grows ever more bold."

Fluttershy nervously spoke up from where she was still by Spike, who had come out from under the table at this point. "Um...but how are we going to tell the Princesses about this?"

Rainbow Dash's ear flicked from where she was hovering, muzzle buried in another Legend of Zelda nann-ga (Oracle of Seasons) and she looked over. "Oooh...Fluttershy's got a good point there. They'd probably think we're crazy! Uh...no offense, Skyward."

A shrug from the armored mare. "One hath been called worse."

Applejack whistled at Rainbow Dash, who looked over her book at the farmpony. The orange coated mare gave her a meaningful look and pointed at Skyward, who had ambled over to the shelf that held the rest of the Neighponese nann-ga and was looking curiously at them while the others continued discussing how they were going to go about telling the Royal Sisters. Rainbow Dash sighed, but she knew she had upset Skyward with her words, and she fluttered over to where Skyward was trying to figure out how to decipher the backwards picture books. "Uh...hey."

Royal blue eyes met magenta and Rainbow Dash fidgeted, looking at Skyward nervously. Skyward raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry, and Rainbow Dash coughed, before she landed on the ground and began to speak. "Look...I...I wanna apologize for calling you a coward. And...you're obviously not a liar either. I shouldn't have been so mean to ya. You've obviously got the scars to prove you've been in fights before. And ya didn't know Spike was friendly."

Skyward put the odd book back onto the shelf and looked at Rainbow Dash. "One accepts thy apology. But I owe Twilight Sparkle an apology as well for attacking her...ah...assistant. A dragon...one that is friendly to ponies. Goddesses...will wonders never cease?"

Rainbow Dash flipped a few pages and showed her the image of the dragon Volvagia from 'Ocarina of Time'. "So dragons actually eat ponies in Hayrule?"

"Aye...'Tis rare for them to venture from the depths of Death Mountain Crater, but when the wretches do..." Skyward shuddered, making her armor click in the relative quiet, aside from the others talking heatedly about how to contact Celestia and Luna. "They leave nothing but ash and destruction in their wake, and they art active hunters."

Rainbow Dash shivered, and she turned to gesture at Spike with her left wing. "Well, Spike's not like that. Seriously; you should sooo get to know him! And...well...you might wanna apologize to him too. After all, ya did try to chop his head off."

Skyward looked over at the small purple dragon who was speaking to Fluttershy, and nodded her head. "Thou are right...I should. Hm..."

Skyward lit her horn and drew her sword once more--she focused on the pommel, hilt and crossguard, which held a large star sapphire in the center of the crossguard. A couple of wiggles and magically heating the metal setting so it softened just enough, with a 'schnick' it came loose, and she re-sheathed her blade, walking over to Spike. Fluttershy saw her coming and flew around Spike, barring the way with wings and forelegs spread wide and (much to Skyward's surprise) a VERY fierce look on her face. Farore's flowing mane, this mare's scowl was equivalent to the gimlet glare of the current Captain of the Haylian Army--Booming Roar.

"If you think you're going to hurt Spike again, then you've got another think coming..."

"Peace, Fluttershy. I am not going to harm him. I wish to apologize to him."

Fluttershy blinked, pausing to regard Skyward suspiciously--Spike peered out from behind Fluttershy--he was nervous and had every right to be considering, but he came out and stood in front of Skyward, who bowed to him in a formal manner. "I am truly sorry for my mistake, Sir Spike. One prays thou wilt forgive me for my rash actions; I saw thee as a threat, yet clearly it hath been shown to me that thou are no such thing. Honor demands one offers thee a tribute, and I pray this will suffice?"

Skyward levitated the large gem in front of Spike, who stared at it, then back to the half kneeling unicorn mare. "Um...sure! That's nice of you--uh...Skyward, right?"

Skyward nodded, and Spike smiled at her as he accepted the gem into his claws. "No worries. Besides, you've never met a nice dragon before, have ya?"

Skyward shook her head, regarding Spike with a gentle expression. "Nay. You art the first. Most dragons back home prefer to torch everything than talk."

Spike snorted as he looked the gem over, drool already gathering in his mouth--this gem was of high quality and it looked oh so tasty! "Oh ho believe me: I know a couple of dragons who'd fit just fine with that bunch."

He sniffed the gem, poked it and licked it, and his eyes widened in delight before he greedily bit down into it, acting almost like Twilight with a deluxe hayburger combo. "Mmmmmm! This is (munch) the best (crunch) sapphire I've ever (splutter) tasted!"

Skyward blinked and regarded Spike curiously as he continued to devour his treat. "Huh...so 'tis true then...dragons do eat gems."

Twilight Sparkle heard her musings and came over to the Haylian unicorn. "Of course they do; Spike's diet requires he eats gems on a regular basis. They make up part of his physiology--as he grows, his scales need reinforcing and so does his skeleton as he gets older."

"How old is the lad anyway? One cannot tell considering he is certainly no muscle bound scaled brute, but he certainly is no bumbling foal either."

"Technically by dragon years he is still a baby, but you wouldn't know it sometimes considering how he acts."

Skyward paled visibly at this-- she had almost attempted to slay a mere baby? She was about to say something when--

BUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRP!

Dead silence filled the room after that epic competition worthy belch. Everypony in the room turned to look at Spike, who grinned sheepishly as he popped the last piece of the sapphire in his mouth, swallowed it down and smiled hugely in response. "Um... heh heh...'scuse me?"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack doubled over howling with laughter while Rarity looked mildly disgusted and Zecora smirked faintly--Twilight eyed Spike with a disapproving look. "Spike..."

Spike threw his claws up in exasperation. "Hey, I said excuse me! That sapphire was just super! Best one I ever had! Hey, Skyward, ya wanna tell me where'd you...hey, you okay?"

Skyward had bowed her head almost to the floor, eyes tightly closed and she had a tormented look on her face. "....I am not worthy of this sword or my armor. I attempted to kill you...a mere child..."

Spike came over to Skyward and lifted her muzzle so she was looking at him. "Hey, look. You didn't know about me being a kid...well, a kid in dragon years: and besides, Twilight and the others set you straight. And everything's okay now. You told me you were sorry and you were sincere about it. Sure you gave me one of the best gems I've EVER had, but I know you meant what you said. That's what matters. And besides--friends forgive one another. Really, no hard feelings, Skyward. Okay?"

Spike offered her one claw...Skyward regarded him for a minute or two before managing a smile and placing her armored hoof in his claw. "Very well, Spike."

Twilight smiled and crossed over to them. "Why don't we start over? I'm Twilight Sparkle; it's nice to meet you, Skyward."

Skyward smiled and bowed her head in response, sweeping her right foreleg out. "Hail and well met, Twilight Sparkle. I am Skyward, of Fiador Village."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, trying not to gag at the sight. "Okay, okay, okay, not to break up the hugfest but we gotta find a way to tell Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about this without sounding like a bunch of losers!"

Spike licked his claws for any gem residue and looked at Rainbow, shrugging his shoulders at her. "What if we just went to Canterlot?"

"Um...that might not be a good idea." Fluttershy murmured, and Applejack rolled her eyes, huffing a little. "Why the hay not?"

Rarity shook her mane away from her face, tossing her head and gesturing at Skyward. "Oh, do think about it, Applejack...Skyward's menacing appearance would demand instant response from the Royal Army! Not that you don't look positively magnificent in that armor--who made it for you, one might ask?"

Skyward indicated her helm, turning it so the sunlight shone on the silver washed metal. "The royal blacksmiths made it for me, per Princess Zelda's request."

Twilight nodded in agreement; Skyward's fearsome appearance in full armor plus that shield and sword of hers would definitely scream 'threat right here'. "Yeah--they definitely wouldn't like that. They've been on edge ever since the whole mess with the Changeling attack on Canterlot."

Rarity began circling Skyward, who was utterly confused at the fashionista's movements and shifted nervously. "Oh, please don't move, darling! Your armor is amazing to look at! The design is sleek and efficient, yet oh so flattering...it shows off your mane and tail colors, and it's so shiny! How ever did they do that? It's almost like fluid diamonds..."

"The blacksmiths had it silver-washed and the princess enchanted it herself. One of the components for the spell was diamond dust, so..."
Rarity clapped her hooves together, looking excited as a schoolfilly. "I have so many ideas for a brand new dress...oh my goodness! My dear Skyward, where is your cutie mark?"

Skyward's ears flattened to her head and she sighed--she knew sooner or later somepony would notice. "I hath not earned it yet Rarity, and until then, my name is not completed."

Rainbow Dash looked completely lost at this point, staring at Skyward with a 'Huh?' look on her face. "Say what? Somepony wanna explain that one to me?"

"By Haylian custom --a Haylian pony must earn one's cutie mark to complete one's name and to ascend to adulthood. For example..."
Skyward summoned the image of Golden Marble once more, this time without his armor, gesturing to the cutie mark on his flank. The mark looked like a piece of white marble shaped like a foreleg in a muscle pose.

Rarity gasped, Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow, Fluttershy blinked and Applejack grinned a little bit. Twilight Sparkle tilted her head in thought, examining the image of the Haylian stallion.

"One of my comrades, Golden Marble did not earn his name until he earned his cutie mark. He won the Strength of Din competition ten years ago, and was only known as 'Golden' until then, that, and he was considered an adolescent until he gained his mark and his name."

Rainbow Dash glanced at Golden Marble's image, then back at Skyward. "So...you're only known as Skyward until you get your cutie mark?"

The armored mare nodded in confirmation. "Aye, that is the way of it. And if not for mine status as Princess Zelda's student in Nayru's Arts, I would still be treated as an adolescent myself. Honestly one could care less--there's worse things to worry about now."

Twilight looked bemused as she picked up another of the nann-ga books, leafing through it rapidly. "But none of the nann-ga published says anything about this..."

Zecora shook her head at her friend. "Those books do not hold all the lore/Only Skyward can tell you more. Foals' books these may be/The difference lies in reality."

Applejack suddenly stomped a hoof, but not as hard as she initially had done before. "How about this, ya'll? Twilight, send a letter to th' Princesses an' ask 'em to come down to Ponyville and it's an emergency, which, technically, it is. Then we can explain everythin' when they get here, an' it'll all be kept private like."

Twilight perked up at this instantly. "That's a great idea, Applejack! I'll get right on it. Spike?"

Spike grabbed a quill, uncorked an inkwell and grabbed a piece of blank parchment. "Ready, Twilight!"

Dear Princess Celestia
There is a matter of grave importance that has arisen in Ponyville that requires the attention of both you and your royal sister, Princess Luna. This is an emergency--please, come as soon as you are able, and we can let you know more of what is going on when you arrive. Please take note that this is to remain a secret.
Your faithful student
Twilight Sparkle

Spike finished the letter, rolled it up and huffed a spout of green flame over the entirety. Skyward looked utterly confused as the message dissolved into a wisp of golden smoke and drifted out of the window. "Spike, why didst thee burn the letter? Dost thou not have pegasi couriers?"

Twilight Sparkle laughed. "Spike can send letters to the Princess using his fire. So we don't really need a pegasi courier, or in our case, a mailmare."
"But if she did, heh, I'd have that letter there in ten seconds flat! Lot faster than Ditzy Doo for sure." Skyward raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash and chuckled, shaking her head--Rainbow Dash looked down at her with a confused frown. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing. Thou remind me of my elder brother, 'tis all."

Twilight glanced over to Skyward, tilting her head in inquiry. "Oh? You have an elder brother, Skyward?"
Skyward lit her horn once again and conjured an image of her elder brother Tempest Wing. "This is Tempest Wing, my elder brother. My sire's grandmother was a pegasus herself, you see."

"Huh. He seems like he's a fast flier, but I betcha he ain't as fast as me." Skyward smirked at her, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I woulds't not count on that, Rainbow Dash. In all the village races, my brother wins every one--nopony can catch him in the skies. When it comes to speed and pinpoint attacks, none can match my...brother..."

Skyward's voice trailed off and she looked at the floor--given what she'd been through as of late she hadn't been thinking of her kith and kin much, but now, bragging about her elder sibling's aerial skills...she realized then just how much she missed her brother. His laughter, the jokes he would tell, friendly scuffles, sharing a snack or two while they talked about various topics, teasing her about her lack of a cutie mark, but then kicking the flanks of ponies that made fun of her for it...

"Ya miss him, don't ya?" Skyward nodded mutely, turning to rub her eyes with one hoof as her ears turned downwards, and Applejack came over to lean against the Haylian pony as a gesture of comfort. "You'll see him again, don' ya worry."

The whole time, Rarity hadn't taken her eyes from the image of Skyward's elder brother. "I for one wish he were here! It would be simply delightful to meet him! He looks like quite the gentlestallion..."

Skyward tried unsuccessfully to hold back a snicker at that as she dispelled the image. "One must apologize, Rarity--when last I looked, he hath his eye on a female pegasus named Arctic Flash."

The fashionista made a 'moue' of disappointment and flipped her mane. "Mmm...oh well. A lady can dream, can't she?"

Applejack was about to make a rather crass joke regarding said 'dream' when there was a knock at the library door.

"Twilight Sparkle? May we come in?"

Spike quickly rushed over and opened the door--Skyward took a deep breath, falling back on her training to hold her ground even though she wanted to paw at the ground with one hoof out of nervousness.

She silently prayed to the three Goddesses these princesses could help her; if they could not aid her...

Who then could?

Hayrule: A History Abridged

When the Royal Sisters entered the Golden Oaks library, Skyward sneaked a glance at the rulers of this realm as everypony bowed their heads, and she too went into a full kneel.

Princess Celestia could have been the mirror twin of Princess Zelda--they shared the same color of coat and wing, but with cutie mark, mane, tail and eye hue? Definitely different. Truly this princess, was the literal representation of the dawn, the sun's light. The princess's mane and tail billowed constantly as if in an unseen breeze, and the colors were akin to an aurora borealis display. Her gaze was a beautiful violet hue, yet Skyward saw the wisdom and power within that gaze. She wore golden hoofcovers, a golden yoke with a single purple gem in the middle, and a golden crown with yet another purple gem set there.

The other sister...now, this was where the differences extended, especially since she knew Princess Zelda had no siblings. Princess Luna clearly lived up to her name and her cutie mark--a white crescent moon against a black cloud. Her coat was a deep cobalt hue, akin to a midnight sky, and her mane and tail glittered like a clear summer night, awash with stars aplenty. It too waved to and fro, as if touched by a phantom zephyr. Her eyes were a bright turquoise, and her regalia was black and sparkling silver unlike her elder sister's. She was smaller but Skyward knew likely no less powerful than the other alicorn.

She bowed along with the others, but made no move to rise from her own bow--not unless they bade her do so.

Twilight Sparkle crossed to her mentor, asking for nuzzles, which she received--Princess Celestia smiled down at the pony she considered the closest thing she had to a daughter as she stepped inside, followed by her sister, Princess Luna, who greeted the ponies and Spike with a kind smile, albeit a sleepy one. Once they were inside, Spike shut the door and locked it, turning the sign from 'OPEN' to 'CLOSED', then shut the drapes as well.

"Twilight, you stated in your letter this was an emergency. Is something wrong?"

Twilight Sparkle bit her lower lip, then she began to speak. "Yes and no, Princess. A new pony has arrived in Ponyville, however, her story of her background is rather hard to believe. However, Zecora made a potion that, when a single strand of a pony's mane or tail hair is added to it, causes the truth to be seen in clouds of mist."

Celestia nodded her head at this. "Yes, the 'Mists of Truth'...I know about this potion, Twilight. But, please, continue?"

"Both Applejack and Zecora have vouched for her, Princess--and given that Zecora has never lied to us and Applejack is the Element of Honesty, I see no reason to deny those claims. But what makes it all the more strange is that Skyward..."

Twilight turned and gestured at the pony in question--who surprisingly had not moved from her kneeling posture, as if waiting for something.

"That Skyward is not from Equestria at all."

"No wonder why this pony's dreams hath been so odd..."

Attracted by the tone of her younger sister's voice, Celestia looked at her lunar counterpart. "What do you mean, sister?"

Luna paused to gather her thoughts, then gestured at a still kneeling Skyward with one glittering hoof. "This pony's dreams hath been quite interesting--mainly because nothing in them is recognizable to me."

"You wouldn't be able to, Princess Luna--Skyward isn't from Equestria, or from this world at all. You see..."

Intrigued, Princess Celestia walked over to Skyward and blinked when she saw the Haylian shield on the pony's back. She lightly nudged Skyward, who looked up at her--albeit a little fearfully.

Celestia gave her a warm smile and helped her to her hooves. "Please, rise now, my little pony. You don't need to kneel for so long."

Skyward bowed her head, removing her helm as a gesture of respect. "Forgive me, Princess. One is used to doing so until commanded by mine liege lady to rise. 'Tis force of habit..."

Celestia smiled kindly at Skyward. "I completely understand. I take it you are the reason Twilight asked us to come here?"

Skyward nodded her head. "Aye, Sun Princess. I am in dire need of aid, and from the looks of things, only thee and thy sister can help me. Not that the others have not been helpful themselves. I owe them all so much..."

"What is your name?"

The armored mare saluted her crisply. "I am Skyward of Fiador Village, personal protégé and war mage in training to Princess Zelda of Hayrule. And, I beg of thee, thou must believe me--this is no attempt at a foalish joke."

Celestia tapped a hoof against her chin in thought for a few minutes before she lit her horn, gesturing at Skyward's own horn. "Will you allow me to read your mind, Skyward?"

The Haylian mare inclined her head. "Do as thou see fit, Princess. T'would be easier, by far, to be honest."

Meanwhile, Twilight, Applejack and Zecora were finishing their own explanations to a rather perplexed Princess Luna. "...and so she was banished here by two evil unicorn hags wielding dark magic. But her mentor saved her by negating their spell and it sent her here, to Equestria."

"But from whence does she come from, Twilight Sparkle, if not any known land of Equestria?"

Applejack caught a golden glow out of the corner of her eye and blinked. "Hey, what's Princess Celestia doing t' Skyward?"

Luna glanced over, and tilted her head. "My sister is reading her mind through a magical link--it makes for a swift validation of her claims, wild though they may be."

Applejack gestured at Skyward, who still had her eyes closed as the golden hue of Celestia's aura surrounded her head as well as her horn. "Trust me, Princess. Skyward's tellin' the truth. You'll see."

The mind of a pony was a strange thing to be sure. Now, Luna she knew, would likely have more experience with this than she did, given her place as Princess of the Night, which meant she had control over dreams as well. But this was no dream, and Celestia knew her little sister was suspicious of Skyward's motives, especially with the claims she was making. Yes, Applejack backed her up and so did Zecora, but still--this sounded a bit too crazy for anypony's liking. However, the second her spell touched Skyward's horn, she soon realized that this pony was indeed who she said she was.

The solar princess glanced around--this pony's mind showed three specific areas...a lush forest with a bustling farming village nestled in the emerald confines. A great white and blue castle looming over a sprawling, busy town beneath the massive royal dwelling. And last but not least, a vast desert, showing endless dunes of sand, heat shimmering off of the sparse stones and the sands themselves. She and Skyward were standing in the middle of a bustling medieval town of sorts--to be sure, it looked almost like Canterlot nearly eight hundred years or so ago...

"To better tell thee the tale of what one faces...I shall tell thee the tale of Hayrule's creation, Princess..."

Celestia blinked as Skyward faded away from sight, leaving nothing but darkness around her....but she wasn't alone for long as three jets of light suddenly shot past her, making her start and rear a little in shock, before she got a good look at the 'lights' in question. Three mighty alicorns soared through the heavens--each one as beautiful and powerful as the one before her. Yet all three were a different hue of color...

The first bore a coat of a most brilliant crimson shade, her mane and tail shifting hues of the warm spectrum. Golden eyeshadow graced her eyelids and her eyes were akin to fiery rubies as she soared by her two sisters on wings akin to pure fire. Her entire body's stance cried of dexterity, yet also of power, of strength, of indomitability.

The second alicorn had a coat of sapphire, almost akin to Skyward's own royal blue eyes. Her mane shifted various shades of azure, almost like that of a lake's surface--her wings graceful and sleek. If one looked at her massive pinions one would liken them to an endless summer sky. Silver eyeshadow touched her gentle cerulean gaze--her body bespoke grace and serenity as she flew onward through the darkness.

The final alicorn was no less magnificent than her other two sisters. Her coat was the hue of verdant summer foliage, her mane and tail changing colors from spring's green to the deepest of ancient forests. Her wings would remind one of a lush canopy of leaves, or shining emeralds. Burnished bronze eyeshadow caressed her kind emerald eyes, her body showing her speed and her courageous nature as she arced up and over her siblings, her fearless laughter echoing in the endless abyss around them.

All of them wore golden yokes, hoofcups and crowns atop their horns, an aura of supreme divinity surrounding them.

Skyward's voice again echoed from the void. "Din, Goddess of Power. Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom. And Farore, Goddess of Courage. These three golden goddesses descended on Hayrule when all was chaos, long before any of us existed..."

The crimson alicorn grinned at her youngest sister and dove into the blackness, increasing her speed so she was akin to a scarlet shooting star. Flames roared off of her as she bulleted forward...then with a shattering CRACK, she landed on...something, an explosion of energy erupting from her entire body when she 'landed'. Something solid began forming under the red alicorn's stomping, shifting hooves...something reddish brown, solid, and substantial...

"Din..."

The reddish brown patches began to form and take shape, spreading at a near terrifying pace around them. At the alicorn's command, the world began to slowly take shape...

"With her powerful flaming hooves, she cultivated the red earth of mine homeland..."

The alicorn nodded at her work, testing the earth with one mighty stomp of a hoof, and looked up. Above her was nothing but dark gray skies, covered with dense clouds. But those clouds were soon blown away by an azure streak that cleaved the skies--

"Nayru..."

It was Nayru. She cleared the foul, poisonous air, making it pure and breathable, an azure sky filled with soft white clouds taking its place. Nayru streaked downwards--faster, and faster, until she impacted the ground atop a high cliff-face. But this strike did not kill her sister...for seconds after the impact...there was gurgling, a swooshing sound...

Clear, clean water slowly began trickling over the lip of the cliff...but the trickle soon became a rivulet, then a river...

Din stamped her hoof, and a mighty crack ripped through the earth as she assisted her younger sibling. The sweet water gushed over the edge, flowing freely throughout the new lands her eldest sister had created.

"She poured her wisdom forth, creating the sky, the rivers that feed the land, and granted law and order to the world."

The youngest tossed her head and landed on the barren crimson land her eldest sister produced. She pawed it for a moment, then trotted over to one of the rivers her second sister had created. She lowered her head and drank, closing her eyes in contentment, and nodded at Nayru in approval. She reared and took off, running for all she was worth, her aura blazing about her like an emerald star. She rose into the skies and soared high into the air, releasing a powerful wave of emerald light...

That light swept over the bare ground...and soon enough after it had passed, green sprouts and shoots began to rise from the earth. It was not long before verdant grasses, abundant trees filled with fruit and foliage, flowers, shrubs and varied other flora filled the new land she and her sisters had created. Yet...something was still missing. Farore tapped a hoof against her muzzle and glanced at her sisters, tilting her head. Din raised an eyebrow, and glanced at Nayru, who looked thoughtful, then smiled, nodding. The three sisters came close and bowed their heads, their horns creating a pyramid when they connected. Shining crimson, azure and emerald light blossomed and began swirling around them. Faster and faster did the vortex fly, until it flowered outward in a silent burst of multicolored stars.

But each star did not fade, and where the star landed...it took the shape of a pony.

Pegasi...

Unicorns...

Earth Ponies...

Celestia watched in wonder as even the Zora, Goron and the secretive Kokiri tribe were also created. The Gerudo tribe were created by Din, she noticed...and the Sheikah tribe were created by Nayru and Farore.

The three alicorns stepped back, and all three exchanged a single nod. Opening their vast wings they took to the heavens, soaring into the vast blue expanse.

"The three golden goddesses hath finally completed their tasks, and upon doing so, departed for the heavens above."

The three alicorns were soaring upwards, flying closer and closer to one another, yet none of them seemed afraid of collision. They simultaneously reached the apex of their flight, a brilliant flash filling the sky, so bright, Celestia had to raise a wing to shield her own eyes. When she lowered her wing, she beheld a sky graced with the colors of dawn, and three golden triangle pieces looking to be wrought of solid gold, hovering in front of her.

"And, these three sacred triangle pieces remained where the Goddesses departed mine world, Princess...Din, Nayru and Farore departed and this, the Triforce, was born. The Triforce symbolizes all three in balance, and as such, prosperity abounds in Hayrule...however..."

The idyllic scenery began to change to the immense expanse of sand, the sky darkening menacingly. The thunder of hooves could be heard in the distance--Celestia turned despite herself and saw an army of armored ponies charging at them. They passed through Skyward and the solar ruler, war cries echoing from their throats, pegasi swooping through the air to impale other ponies on their spears, frying them with thunderbolts or sending them flying with powerful gusts of wind. Earth ponies reared, trampled, kicked and bucked, their incredible strength allowing them to crush bone and tear sinew with vicious blows...

To say nothing of the unicorns, whose spells created terrifying cadavers across the battlefield, ruin and pain echoing across the battlefield itself.

"There are those who would seek the Triforce for their own selfish ambitions...and war was the result..."

Skyward stood beside the sun princess, gesturing to the vast desert before them. Dead ponies lay in the sands--some wearing armor, some not, all with blood drenched weapons. Entrails and organs lay strewn across the golden sands akin to some macabre contents of a jewelry box. Body parts and broken armor stained with blood, discarded weapons, ponies' faces frozen in caricatures of pain, terror, anger and denial...
Celestia then saw one pony standing amidst the carnage. It was a male unicorn, wearing dark armor and a billowing cloak covered in odd golden symbols. His cutie mark was that of three golden triangles stacked in a pyramid--and the top one was glowing brilliantly. He had a fiery red mane and tail, and his eyes...

Celestia felt terror--real fear, run through her entire body at the malice and cruelty in that cold golden gaze. These were the eyes of a truly cruel and merciless entity who would take an innocent's life and crush it merely because he could. He grinned at her, his horn lighting in a golden glow, a mockery of her own sunshiny aura...

Then it all vanished, returning to the bustling central square of Hayrule Castle Town.

"Now dost thou see why I must return, Princess? This is the threat all of Hayrule faces--that Gerudo pony thou saw, that, 'tis Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo...and, as the tales of the lorekeepers tell, he may be the likely wielder of the Triforce of Power."

The sun princess looked down at the Haylian mare, gesturing at the fountain statue of Time Link in the Hayrule Castle Town square.

"What of him? The pony you call the 'Hero of Time'?"

"Nopony knows. Time Link hath been gone for hundreds of years. Nopony knows who his descendants art, not even Princess Zelda knows. I may just be a war mage in training, Princess--but Hayrule is mine home. I won't let some desert thief destroy all I hold dear. Everypony is in danger...hay before I came here, the town was already under attack."

Skyward lowered her head, ears falling to the sides--her memories conjured the horrifying images of the surprise attack and the slaughter that ensued, blood spraying into the air, screams of the mares and foals as they were hacked to pieces by Gerudo mares--Skyward viciously beheading one such mare and kicking the severed head into another, roaring in pure rage as she blasted the wretch with a shrinking spell--she was instantly trampled underhoof as a result. Everywhere, armored Haylian ponies were fighting savagely, the white streets turning to rivers of blood, more guards erupting from the castle gates to help their comrades, herding terrified civilians away from the slaughter...

Then it all went dark once more, leaving the unicorn with the alicorn, the former with her head bowed, awaiting judgment.

Celestia regarded the bluesteel coated pony with a concerned, yet understanding look as she crossed to the Haylian mare and lifted her head. "Skyward, I have seen all I need to see. Rejoin me in the world of the aware."

And with that, the mindscape began to slowly fade out....

Luna regarded her elder sibling with a keen eye when Celestias's eyes blinked open, and both alicorn and unicorn shook their heads, Skyward moving back to a respectful distance from the princess."Well, sister? What is thy verdict? What hast thou seen in this pony's mind?"

Celestia opened her eyes--there was a compassionate yet stern look in them; one that bespoke of a war veteran as well as a ruler. "She speaks the truth, Luna. She is indeed who she claims, and her story is indeed a dire one. Tell me, Skyward--what do you need in terms of aid?"

"Ganondorf likely seeks the Triforce, Your Royal Highnesses. I beseech thee--I must find a way back to my realm before the absolute worst comes to pass. Canst thou and thy celestial sibling aid me?"

The rulers of Sun and Moon looked at one another--Luna put a hoof to her chin while Celestia paced--both were clearly in deep thought as Celestia began to speak again.

"Understand that what you request of us may take quite a bit of time, Skyward. You will have to live here for a time, whilst my sister and I find a way to send you back. But we have to be cautious, if we do find a way. Just like the Elements of Harmony here, the Triforce is your world's most powerful relic, and in the wrong hooves, it can bring about great destruction."

Skyward was confused; what were the 'Elements of Harmony'? But from the rest of the Sun Princess's words she surmised they had to be akin to the Triforce for certain. "One understands completely. The legacy Ganon leaves behind in every single tale passed down through time is unmistakable, Your Highness. I can only pray he hath not gotten his hooves on any of the Triforce pieces as of yet."

Luna lifted a cautionary hoof, her turquoise eyes stern. "However, thou must consider residing here permanently as well, if mine sister and I cannot find a way to send thee back to this Hayrule."

Skyward bit her lip hard enough to draw blood--that, she hadn't been trying to think about too much--that she could potentially be trapped here. But she mutely nodded--what else could she do, or say to that? Some magics were just too powerful or there was a reason they weren't trifled with, and she knew the Princesses would not risk their kingdom and the safety of their subjects. She knew Zelda would do the same to save her people.

"If she is, Princesses; we'd be happy to help her out," Twilight Sparkle spoke up from where she was standing with the others.

Affirmatives rose from the other mares (and one dragon) and Celestia looked at all of them, casting her wise gaze over everypony (and dragon) in the room. "Very well then. Twilight, bring Skyward to Canterlot within the next four days so we can register her as a citizen of Equestria...I assume she will be living in Ponyville?"

Twilight rapidly nodded her head. "Yes, she will. Or...umm...Skyward, are you all right with that?"

Skyward inclined her head. "Best to remain with what is familiar than dive into new waters untested, aye."

Luna cleared her throat to get everypony's attention. "Where shalt Skyward be residing?"

Twilight raised a hoof into the air. "Well, she has been living with Zecora, but she could stay with me, Princess. She needs to learn about Equestria and its history, so nopony gets suspicious about where she's really from. This does have to remain a secret to some extent."

Zecora spoke up once more, indicating Skyward's shield, which was leaning against a nearby desk. "If word spreads about legend being truth/Skyward would be hunted, in sooth. Nopony would give her a moment's rest/Still others would put cruelty to the test."

Rainbow Dash spoke up. "That and she's gonna need to learn our language. Not for nothin', Sky; but ya can't read Equestrian, can ya?"

Skyward backed her ears, stomped one hoof and glanced down, clearly embarrassed...but the silent answer was a definitive yes. Applejack glared up at the multihued pegasus. "Nice goin', RD."

Rainbow Dash looked around, completely lost on what she had done. "What? What'd I say?"

Rarity sighed. "Never mind, but do think about what you say next time, dear. I'll make her some proper clothes, perhaps a dress or two..."

Skyward tensed at the word 'dress' and shifted nervously; she hadn't worn one since...since that one night when her mentor had shown her Jade Mist and Dark Wind's true intentions...never mind being cruelly tricked at the Midsummer's Festival three years ago...

"Art thou all right, Skyward?"

Skyward jerked, startled and looked up to gaze into the luminescent turquoise eyes of the Moon Princess. She sighed, and rubbed one armored hoof over her muzzle. "Nay...I am not, Princess Luna. My mind weighs heavy on my kingdom's fate...and my Princess's wellbeing. She is akin to family--we art like sisters, thou see."

Luna nodded, gently putting a cobalt wing over the clearly burdened unicorn to comfort her. "A dedicated soldier and a loyal friend indeed thou art. Rest easy in the knowledge we will do all we can to help thee, Skyward."

Skyward managed a watery smile, shaking her head a little to hide her tears--Luna gave her an understanding look. "I thank thee, Princess...thou and thy sister both."

Luna then tilted her head at the unicorn mare. "There is one question I wouldst' ask thee, however..."

Skyward angled an eyebrow, clearly asking her to continue, and Luna obliged her. "How didst thee get thy armor to shine akin to mine own night sky?"

"That? Well...the first step is simple enough--just a silver washing 'tis all it needs at first. But t'was my mentor Princess Zelda who enchanted mine armor, and diamond dust was a major component to the spell itself."

Luna looked thoughtfully at the floor for a moment or two, eyes narrowing in deep contemplation. "Diamond dust, is it...? Do thou knowest how this spell be cast?"

"One could write it for thou if one knew thy land's written word..." Skyward muttered, looking embarrassed anew, and Luna shook her head, smiling kindly at her. "Nay--merely form a mind link with me, and 'tis good as done."

The Princesses soon had to take their leave, given Celestia had to lower the sun and Luna to raise the moon, yet both of them welcomed Skyward to Equestria, quite warmly. Skyward was permitted to keep her armor and weapons, since they, along with a few things tucked in a small hidden compartment of her helm, were all she had with her. They emerged from the library, heading to Sugarcube Corner, yet Skyward lingered behind, gazing morosely at her helm for a long moment before she sighed, and followed the others.

She had hope, at the very least. And that would have to be enough for now.

Honesty and Generosity

(Two and a half days later...)

When Applejack poked her head into the Golden Oaks Library, she saw a rather amusing sight. Skyward was painstakingly learning to read and write in Equestrian, and also simultaneously trying to answer Twilight's questions about her homeland, customs, culture and her own written language.

"...so the Gerudo tribe are all mares?"

"Aye--every one hundred years is a colt born. That colt 'tis raised to be the King of the Gerudo. Any others art born females--oddly enough, even if the foal has a Haylian sire, they resemble their dam more often than not." Twilight's quill was a blur across the parchment she was holding in her magic. "What do they do for a living?"

Skyward's left ear flicked, following Twilight's voice as she walked in a circle. "They art thieves--skilled assassins and warriors as well. Quite the challenge in a fight if thou chance upon one."

"Wh-what? But...but don't you...can't you catch them?"

Skyward put down her quill and looked at Twilight with a serious expression. "The laws of the kingdom dost not apply to the Barren Wastes, Twilight. If we catch them in Hayrulean territories, aye, but if they escape into the Wastes, then we cannot pursue. T'would be the same if a criminal from Equestria escaped to Griffin territory, dost thou see?"

She went back to her lesson, slowly writing out yet another sentence in Equestrian; Twilight seemed to chew on that for a little while before she spoke up again. "But if the Gerudo are all mares, then how do they maintain their tribe's numbers?"

The nonchalant answer from the Haylian mare plus the astounded look on Twilight's face sent the farmpony into near silent hysterics. "When they go into heat, the Gerudo seek coltfriends during festivals or one night stands in taverns...or..."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, leaning close to Skyward to hear more. "Or...what?"

There was a very wicked smirk forming on Skyward's muzzle. "No stallion t'will admit it, but 'tis rumored they even sneak into their homes and assault them in their beds. And none t'will admit a mare got the best of them...and I do mean literally, the best."

Twilight sputtered and blushed madly, stomped her hooves, embarrassed at the casual candor of the Haylian pony's reply--Applejack completely lost it and cracked up laughing, pounding a hoof against the floor. The two unicorns looked up to see Applejack laughing her flank off in the doorway--Skyward chuckled and Twilight huffed, shaking her head.

"Hello to you too, Applejack."

The farmpony managed to choke back her giggling as she got up and shook herself. "S-sorry, Twi--hooo! Ah'm sorry, Ah didn' mean t' interrupt. Just...they really go an' do stuff like that?"

Skyward nodded, not looking up from her papers as she began writing anew on a fresh sheet of parchment. "Aye; they hath been doing so for hundreds of years--'tis their way of life and their creed. The problem lies in when they do strike--they are there one moment and gone the next--I hath had the dubious honor of clashing with one such pony in a fight near the Golden Saddle Tavern one year."

Twilight put the parchment aside, coming over to her friend."What are you doing here, Applejack?"

The farmpony pushed back her hat. "Came t' see if you two girls wanted a break. Ya'll been holed up in here neat as ya please fer th' past two and a half days."

Skyward shrugged her shoulders. "Twilight hath a point, however---one must learn to read and write in thy language, else suspicion shalt fall on me and I've no wish to incur as such."

Applejack snorted. "Learnin' t' read an' write's important enough, Ah agree, but ya'll need t' get on outta here once in a while."

Skyward tapped a hoof against the desk, her brow furrowing in thought. "One could use some exercise. I hath not been truly able to practice my sword skills, if not my magic..."

Twilight looked out of one of the windows--it was a nice, bright sunny day; few clouds in the skies...a perfect day for having some fun! "So what did you have in mind?"

"How 'bout we all meet up at Sweet Apple Acres? Ah'll be there in a bit as soon as Ah finish deliverin' some apples t' Sugarcube Corner mahself."

Twilight beamed at her friend. "Then it's settled--we'll meet you there!"

Roughly about ten minutes later both Twilight and Skyward were walking out of town towards the farm. Skyward's leg was fully healed now, and she was able to jump, trot, run and kick all she wanted to. Twilight nudged Skyward, who glanced at her with an inquiring expression.

"I hope you don't mind me asking you all those questions, Skyward--just; hearing about something we thought was complete make-believe but in truth isn't..."

Skyward shrugged--she had her helm hanging on her side again, letting the cool breeze whisper through her half braided mane." 'Tis all right, Twilight. I myself am amazed thou wish to learn of my home, considering thou hast an entire archive of all the tales the lorekeepers hath passed through the ages on thy shelves."

The purple unicorn shook her head. "But it's like Zecora said--only you know the truth. Most of those were just foal's stories. But you know what it's like--the reality of the situation."

"Mmm. I heard Spike delivering a letter this morn to thee--if thou dost not mind me asking, who was it from?"

"Oh, it was from Shining Armor---he's my elder brother, and he's the Captain of the Guard in Canterlot."

Skyward smiled broadly, giving Twilight a firm pat on the back, making the other mare cough in surprise at the nudge. "Thou must be so proud of thy brother. One is certain he is a great soldier."

Twilight nodded her head, looking a tad pensive, but she was smiling still. "Yes, he is. I miss him so much. He lives in the Crystal Empire now."
Skyward scrunched up her nose in thought. "The Crystal Empire, thou say? Hmm...according to thy history, he was wed to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, aye? That wouldst make him a prince, so...art thou royalty as well, Twilight?"

"Oh hay no! No no no no--I am not. Sure I'm related to royalty but I'm actually NOT royalty," she sputtered, and Skyward laughed heartily. Twilight stuck her tongue out at the Haylian mare, but they both ended up laughing all the same. "What tidings did thy brother have to impart?"

Twilight beamed, practically dancing in place. "He and Cadence are coming for a visit for Nightmare Night!"

"Nightmare Night--aah, that 'tis Princess Luna's celebration. When the foals garb themselves in costumes, and go out into the town to have fun?"

Twilight nodded excitedly. "Exactly! Do you have a costume?"

The Haylian mare waved an armored hoof. "Mine armor will suffice, Twilight. Besides, ponies art used to seeing me in it enough as 'tis...eh?"

Skyward stopped short, frowning as she pricked her ears, turning them forward as much as she could. Twilight stepped up beside her, looking perplexed--but then she heard it too. It was faint, but it was the sound of fillies shouting--shouting in rage. Both mares looked at one another and they broke into a run--Skyward didn't reach for her sword, but she did unlock it from her back as she kept pace with her friend. They rounded the bend to the schoolyard to see Apple Bloom, but she wasn't alone. There was also a little orange pegasus filly with bright fuchsia colored mane/tail and a white unicorn filly with light pastel lavender and light rose pink mane and tail. All three of them were glaring at two other fillies across from them--one was a pink colored filly with a white/purple striped mane and tail and the other was a dark grey filly with a silvery white mane and tail. And Skyward noticed that unlike Apple Bloom and the fillies who were clearly her friends, those two possessed their cutie marks: a diamond encrusted tiara and a silver spoon on the other.

"...never going to amount to anything more than a blank flank!"

The Haylian mare's royal blue eyes narrowed in slowly rising anger, laying back her ears as she removed her helm from the small hook on the side and set it on her head.

"Were I her mother, I wouldst give that little cretin the switch so fast her head would spin 'round," Skyward snarled, and Twilight nodded, also glaring down at the scene.

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon has always bullied Apple Bloom and her friends. I wonder why Applejack hasn't done anything about it yet."
"Mayhap because Applejack doth not know of this foalishness. But it must come to an end, afore it truly becomes a battle. Where is the lorekeeper?"

"Lorekeeper? Oh, you mean schoolteacher--Cheerilee might be having lunch right now."

Skyward was about to say something else when the shouting escalated--both mares looked down again to see Scootaloo in front of Apple Bloom, her tiny wings flared in challenge. Skyward shook her head; she knew that stance anywhere--a pissed off pegasus usually meant big trouble, even if the pegasus in question was a pipsqueak. "Twilight, please get Lorekeeper Cheerilee--I shalt handle this."

"Skyward, please don't tell me you're going to use your sword..."

"I shalt not need my sword for what I plan to do. Hurry, Twilight, before this situation spirals further! Go the back way 'round so the twin brats do not see thee, so we may catch them in their own trap."

Twilight bolted off towards the schoolhouse, and Skyward focused her magic--she teleported near the left set of bushes lining the path that led to the schoolhouse, and she peered round the corner. The little orange pegasus was clearly spoiling for a fight by this point... the little white unicorn was crying into her hooves, and Apple Bloom was torn between tears and outright rage. Her armor hid the fact she had no cutie mark herself, so she waited, keeping her ears attuned to the insults flying back and forth, and then walked around the corner as if she had just come up the path.

"Apple Bloom? Is that thou I hear?"

Since she was facing Apple Bloom and her friends, the other two didn't see the wink Skyward tossed the three fillies. "So, this is where thou and thy friends go to learn? One assumes these are thy friends, considering how thy sister tells me ye rarely go anywhere without them."
Apple Bloom was totally confused, but she nodded at the elder pony with a watery smile. "That's Scootaloo, and over there is Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle's Rarity's little sister, an' Scootaloo's mom works at Ponyville Hospital as a nurse."

" 'Tis a pleasure to meet you both. I am Skyward."

Scootaloo looked up at the armored mare, eyes wide--that armor looked so cool! "Wow...so Rainbow Dash was telling the truth! You really do wear armor all the time!"

Skyward nodded her head at Scootaloo, indicating the faint scar on her left leg where a burn had healed. "Of course. Where I come from, danger is ever present, and one cannot be too careful."

Behind Skyward, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at one another in disbelief. Who the heck was this pony, covered in glittering armor? "We're busy here, metalhead!"

Skyward paid the little pink pig no mind, merely leaning closer to Scootaloo. "Thou seem to know Rainbow Dash quite well, Scootaloo. Is she thy friend as well?"

Scootaloo practically bounced in place at the mention of her idol. "Yeah! Uh--I think she is. But someday, I wanna be just like Rainbow Dash! She is the coolest pony ever! Um...not that you're not cool or anything, but..."

Skyward just laughed. "One is certain someday thou will fly just as swiftly as Rainbow Dash. Keep practicing, and that will be 'tis all ye need."

"Hey! I'm talking to you, plateface!"

Apple Bloom was confused as to why Skyward was ignoring Diamond Tiara's harangue, and came up to her to nudge her foreleg, and Skyward tilted her head a little to look down at Apple Bloom. "Umm...you do know Diamond Tiara's talkin' to ya, right?"

Skyward gave the pale olive filly a puzzled look. "Hmm? I hear nopony else, Apple Bloom--all I hear is you three. Now come, Sweetie Belle--dry thine eyes. Rarity tells me you hath a very lovely singing voice. Mayhap I might be lucky enough to hear it sometime?"

Sweetie Belle sniffed as she hesitantly came up to the strange mare--Skyward produced a handkerchief and gently wiped her eyes, letting her blow her nose as well. With a flick of magic, she cleaned it and tucked it away, letting the little white unicorn filly lean into her legs. "Well...I'd like to think I'm good at it..."

"HEY! YOU! YOU WITH THE STUPID ARMOR! I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

Skyward frowned, glancing around and shrugged before looking down at Sweetie Belle once more. Again, she was completely dismissed out of hand. "Dost thou know any songs?"

Sweetie Belle looked up at Skyward, scrunching her nose cutely as she tried to think. "Umm...just a couple...but...I don't like to sing in public."
Skyward nodded. "Understandable--I also know somepony who despises singing in public--her name is Angelic Hymn. She told one how she absolutely didst not want to get on stage..."

Silver Spoon nudged Diamond Tiara, frowning. "Um, Diamond Tiara, maybe she just wants to talk to those blank flanks. We should leave her alone."

"Hmph--ponies listen when I talk, and she's no different! And I'm gonna make her listen to me!"

Silver Spoon felt a rock slowly begin to form in the pit of her stomach...something bad was about to happen, she just knew it. "Umm--what're you going to do?"

The smirk on Diamond Tiara's face was pure malice as she strutted right up to Skyward's left flank, turned around...

"THIS!"

She coiled her back muscles, raised her hind legs and lashed out with all the force she could possibly muster...

CLANG.

Diamond Tiara's kick didn't really do any damage, much less hurt Skyward, but it did make the elder pony turn her head and cock a disapproving eyebrow at the smirking pink filly. Then, the sound of the schoolhouse door slamming open was bad enough, but the voice raised in anger coming from the door was the ultimate nightmare of any young pony who went to this school.

"Diamond Tiara! Get your flank over here this instant young filly!"

Five sets of eyes went wide--the trio hid behind Skyward as an enraged Cheerilee stalked down the stairs of the schoolhouse and loomed over Diamond Tiara. As she walked down the schoolhouse stairs herself, Twilight Sparkle barely hid a smirk--she had realized Skyward's plan the second she had seen the armored mare talking to Apple Bloom and her friends and completely ignoring Diamond Tiara's taunting, and ignoring the little stuck up filly herself. Skyward had laid a neat little trap for the brat and she had all but leaped right into it.

"What do you think gives you the right to hit anypony? You're coming with me right now; your father is going to hear about this! You never hit anypony out of anger, do you hear me?"

"But she wouldn't listen to me! She kept ignoring me!"

The scowl on Cheerilee's face could have rivaled a hydra's own terrifying stare. "Well, right now I don't want to hear a word out of you! And considering she was having a conversation with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, a conversation YOU were not a part of, you should have just walked away! But you didn't, and you chose to kick her instead. You owe her an apology."

Diamond Tiara's face flamed crimson in sheer rage. "I won't apologize to anypony! Especially that...that armored freak!"

Cheerilee grabbed her by the hoof and pulled her into the schoolhouse. "That is it--you are in serious trouble now. When your father gets here..."

Silver Spoon watched as her 'friend' was led away, and turned back to look at Skyward, who raised an eyebrow at her. The dark grey colored filly bolted for the schoolhouse as well, and once she was gone Skyward clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "One pities her sire. Truly, he hath little more than a glass gem rather than a true diamond."

"What's that mean?" Scootaloo asked, obviously puzzled. Before Skyward could reply, Twilight Sparkle spoke up as she approached them. "It means Filthy Rich has a lot of work to do if he wants Diamond Tiara to not act like that. You never hit anypony."

Skyward held up a hoof. "Not unless 'tis in self-defense or to defend thy kith and kin from mortal danger. That, is the only time thou ever does, younglings. Understand? Twilight, should we take them to Sweet Apple Acres with us? Methinks Apple Bloom should inform her sister about this foalish behavior from that little pink piglet."

Twilight Sparkle nodded her head in agreement. "Let me tell Cheerilee we will be taking them home."

While Twilight went to go do just that, Apple Bloom pawed at Skyward's side. "Skyward, why did ya ignore Diamond Tiara?"

Skyward removed her helm and looked down at the little earth pony filly. "Because a bully is never worth thine attention, Apple Bloom. Those who stand by thy side through thick and thin--those are friends worth keeping. Merely ignore her. If she wants to taunt thee, walk away. Pick thy battles wisely. Never raise a hoof in anger; it is after all what she wants."

Scootaloo threw up her hooves and stamped on the ground, pawing it angrily. "But it's SOOOOOO hard not to! Gah! She's so mean and nasty to everypony!"

The armored mare got up, shaking herself a bit then began to walk, the fillies moving to keep up with her. "Maybe 'tis because you three hath something she herself, for all her wealth and fancy trappings does not and likely will never have."

Sweetie Belle looked confused as she scratched her head with one hoof. "What's that?"

Skyward gestured with one hoof at the three of them. "Ye three have one another. Silver Spoon is little more than a sycophant--a hanger's on. A 'yes-pony' as Rainbow Dash wouldst put it. When all 'tis said and done, Diamond Tiara has nothing. But ye three...ye three have everything. Bits art replaceable. But a true friend? That, is a treasure in of itself and can never be replaced."

The three fillies looked at one another, and big smiles touched their faces. Twilight rejoined them at the exit and they left, the fillies running ahead, giggling and talking excitedly amongst themselves.

Twilight nudged Skyward, giving her an approving nod. "That was pretty impressive, Skyward."

The Haylian unicorn backed her ears in confusion. "Eh? 'Tis only the truth I spoke, Twilight, nothing more."

Twilight shook her head. "But still; you taught Apple Bloom a valuable lesson when it comes to bullying. She's had so many problems with Diamond Tiara--even more so than Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle."

Skyward frowned visibly. "Why did she not go to her kin then? Surely Applejack woulds't have handled it..."

Twilight gestured at the little filly in question. "Apple Bloom isn't the kind to go running to her sister for everything. She may be small, but she's tough. She always wants to solve things her way--even if most of the time it ends up in a mess."

Skyward laughed. "Sounds like ye know this from experience."

Twilight rolled her eyes expressively. "Oh you don't know the half of it--those three go looking for their cutie marks and complete chaos ensues..."

When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was there already, along with Rarity, and the two of them seemed to be having a heated argument. They were pointing hooves, ears were laid back and Applejack stomped her hooves a few times. Skyward facehoofed and winced, rubbing the spot where her armored hoof had hit, and sighed.

"Din's burning mane--from one battle to another, 'tis seems to be the order of this day."

"Let's figure out what's going on." The two mares approached--the closer they got the louder the argument became.

"...can't jest up an' go, Rarity, Ah've got apples t' buck! Nightmare Night's on it's way an' so's winter fer that matter!"

"Applejack, do be sensible! The last time I went out there, I was dragged underground by those terrible monsters!"

The farmpony stomped a hoof, snorting. "An' yet ya whined an' cried yer way outta trouble--Rare, c'mon now. Spike'll be all the protection ya'll need!"

"Hey, what's all the fuss about you guys?"

Applejack and Rarity turned to see Skyward and Twilight approaching---the three fillies had run into the farmhouse for a snack.

"Rarity wants me t' go out with her t' the Gem Fields, but Ah'm up t' my ears in work! Nightmare Night's comin' 'round th' bend an' Ah got a ton of work t' do! Ah got apples t' buck, pumpkins t' harvest, never mind th' baked goods Ah gotta make, an THEN Ah gotta start gatherin' stuff fer the apple bobbin' contest..."

Rarity sighed, flicking her mane out of her face. "But I NEED gems to complete our costumes! And Skyward doesn't have a costume, so I must make her one too! This is her first Nightmare Night after all!"

Skyward gently shook her head. "Rarity; one thanks thee for thy generosity, but I have mine armor, thou know this..."

"Oh pish...please, my dear! Dress up for just one night! But I can't complete ANY of them if I don't have the gems and I don't want those revolting Diamond Dogs coming to get me again..."

Skyward frowned, holding up a hoof. "Hold, back up the basket chariot--Diamond Dogs? What, pray tell are those?"

Twilight Sparkle nudged Skyward, pulling a book out of her saddlebags and opening it to show a picture of a scruffy looking canine, wearing a diamond studded collar and faded vest. There was also a second picture of a much larger version wearing armor and carrying a lance--Skyward's eyes narrowed at that one--armor and a lance? That would be a bit tough to get by...that meant they had more reach with that damn lance...

"Diamond Dogs are a sort of bipedal canine that live in caverns underground. They are VERY good at digging and they absolutely love gemstones...but it also means they'll do anything to get them. They aren't very bright, however."

Applejack smirked wickedly at her friends. "Heh, Ah'll say they ain't too bright fer sure. Those dumb mutts grabbed Rarity when she was tryin' t' find more gems fer an outfit she was makin' fer a client of hers. But by th' time we came t' rescue her, she'd done a hay of a job on her own."

Twilight pondered the problem for a few minutes--Applejack had a lot of work to do, and Nightmare Night was within the week, roughly about five days away. And Rarity did indeed need the gems...

"I have a solution. Rarity, we'll all go with you, but first, let's help Applejack knock out some of her chores so she doesn't have so much to do later on in the week. Skyward and I can help buck apples and get things set up, then we can all go to the Gem Fields--four ponies can carry more than one. What's more, Spike does need more gems, so it works out for everypony."

Applejack and Rarity looked at one another, and then smiled, nodding their heads in agreement. "I find this arrangement to be most satisfactory, Twilight."

The farmpony nodded. "Yep, that'll be most appreciated, Twi. Sky, ya told me ya came from a farmin' village, so you know anythin' 'bout applebuckin'?"

Rarity shook her head, almost chidingly. "Applejack, she is a unicorn like Twilight and myself, she could just use her magic."

Skyward interjected, shaking her head a little bit. "Hm; one must admit that I dost not know how to applebuck...my clan and village primarily grew pumpkins, and large ones at that. But I am willing to learn if thou think me worthy of teaching."

Applejack laughed. "Ah'll teach ya how t' applebuck like a real Apple! But, yer gonna need to take off yer armor and hoofcovers...ya might break the trunk by mistake."

"Of course. Is there a place where one may put mine armaments?"

"C'mon, I'll show ya where. Twi, Rarity? The stuff fer Nightmare Night's in the shed next to th' house! If ya'll could get it into that there wagon, Ah'd be much obliged!"

With that settled, Applejack led Skyward into the house and into her room--there was an empty chest where Skyward placed her things, then she followed the orange mare out into the orchard proper.

"Okay, now; ya listen up good, ya hear?"

Skyward came to immediate attention, ears pricked forward and standing ramrod straight--Applejack blinked; then laughed--realizing how much like a drill sergeant she must have sounded like.

"Relax a little bit, Sky; this ain't th' Royal Guard. Now, this is how ya applebuck. Ya back on up to the tree...and where ya wanna kick, is right here. Right close t' th' center of the trunk. Ya aim too high, or too low, and ya won't shake it 'nough t' get any apples. Like this."

Applejack coiled her back legs and lashed out with a powerful buck--but this wasn't meant for a fight. Her hooves connected with the tree trunk with a 'thunk' and the tree shook visibly--apples were shaken loose from their perches and tumbled down into the wooden buckets about them in neat piles, a few falling out and landing around them on the grass.

Skyward raised an eyebrow, nodding her head slowly at the feat. Even if it was work on a farm, that showed her Applejack knew how to control her strength so she wouldn't break the trunks of her trees. But given that, it meant she also could deliver a devastating blow--a lot of ponies underestimated earth pony strength, which was a moronic thing to do. Skyward knew better--her own father was an earth pony and could break rocks with his powerful kicks if he wished to do so. "Impressively done, Applejack."

The farmpony waved a hoof, grinning. "Eeh, I've been doin' this ever since I was a filly. Big Mac taught me how. Okay sugarcube, yer turn!"
Skyward blinked at Applejack as she walked over to another tree full of apples and turned her back to it, gauging the distance before she coiled her back legs in preparation for a buck.

Applejack spotted immediately how tense Skyward's legs were. "Easy now. Don't think of th' tree as an enemy. Think of it like...like a really stubborn pumpkin ya gotta get out of the garden."

Skyward relaxed her legs a bit, then lashed out with a buck of her own. Her hooves hit the tree with a solid 'whunk'--it shook and a few apples patted down, but not all of them.

"Good try, but a 'lil more force this time." Skyward coiled her legs again and this time, bucked hard enough to get the apples out of the tree; and dodged a falling apple that almost smacked her in the head. "Why didst thee call me 'sugarcube'?"

Applejack bucked yet another tree, more apples pouring down like fruity rain into the wooden buckets, and stifled a laugh when she saw the Haylian unicorn duck away from the apple. "Ah call only my closest friends an' mah sister that. An' Ah consider you a friend. Yer a good pony, an' a hardworkin' one at that. Ya do have a bit of a temper, but considerin' yer a no-nonsense pony when the horseapples hit the fan, it balances out. But yer willin' t' learn new things too an' yer not stuck up 'bout it."

Skyward smiled as she bucked another tree. "Kind of ye to say so, Applejack. One is honored by thy praise."

The farmpony shoved a bucket of apples over to the waiting cart in the orchard and smiled at her friend. "Ah don' say things Ah don' mean, sugarcube."

Skyward also pushed another bucket along, hopping into the wagon to begin putting the filled ones into the wagon bed, and putting out empty ones for Applejack to take. She did use a little magic to make room for the full baskets, but other than that, the farmpony noticed that she wasn't using her magic much if at all. "Hey Sky--how come ya ain't usin' yer magic?"

Skyward slammed another tree with her hooves and began pushing the full baskets towards the wagon. "Well...for one, I did not wish to offend thee--Twilight told me a tale of how all of Ponyville 'wraps up' winter, and when she used her magic to aid thee, thou scolded her for it. Also my father, Mossy Boulder taught me this: 'The Goddesses gave thee four sturdy hooves and a strong back--use them well, not just thy horn Nayru blessed thee with.' '

Applejack came over and bumped Skyward lightly with one hoof. "Ah appreciate yer consideration, sugarcube; but if ya wanna use yer magic, go ahead. An' I apologized to Twi later on; somepony made th' mistake of not puttin' her on a team or tellin' her what to do. But, she organized everythin' an' Spring came on time that year instead of bein' late. Do you guys do th' same thing?"

"Mm...aye and nay. The pegasi control the weather, aye, but Princess Zelda oversees the lot of that; especially when the seasons begin to change. Nayru's Vanguard begins preparing spells to aid Farore's Armada to make sure the transition goes smoothly, and Din's Battalion begin moving snow and such once word comes from the princess and the Captain of the Royal Guard."

"Well, next year you'll get t' see Winter Wrap Up, up close an' personal. C'mon, let's get these apples t' the barn! An' Sky--Ah can't imagine what yer goin' through; Ah know its wearin' on ya somethin' fierce. But try to enjoy yer time here. We like havin' ya here, sugarcube, an' believe me when Ah say we're gonna miss you somethin' fierce when yer gone; if ya find a way back."

Skyward smiled broadly and gave Applejack a comradely thump on her withers. "Likewise, Applejack. And I am enjoying my time here; one just hopes nopony gets suspicious about mine true origins."

They ferried the apples into the barn, and came back out with an empty cart to get more apple baskets. Applejack, hearing a clatter, looked over to see Twilight and Rarity moving and arranging things in the bigger wagon that Big Mac would take to town for Nightmare Night.

That sparked a thought in the farmpony's mind. "Hey, Skyward?"

Skyward levitated four baskets of apples and placed them in the wagon, glancing at her friend over the lip of the wagon bed. "Aye?"

"Why don' ya let Rare make ya a costume? Never mind yer armor fer one night. Ya can take yer sword an' shield if ya want, but c'mon--we're all going t' dress up, and she really wants to make you somethin' nice t' welcome ya to Ponyville."

Skyward bit her lower lip, a thread of cold fear running though her. But Applejack had a solid point and Rarity was a very fine tailor--she knew if Rarity had a shop in Hayrule she'd have business coming out of her ears from the nobleponies alone. "...Very well then. I am just so used to having mine armor all the time. It feels..."

Applejack cocked her head at her friend. "Safe? Familiar?"

Skyward nodded as she nosed another empty basket into place. "Aye. I hath a set of armor for formal functions, but that 'tis back in the castle..."

Applejack kicked aside a bruised apple into a smaller bucket and blinked. "Ya don't wear dresses?"

Skyward's ears flattened and she closed her eyes as dark memories flooded her mind. "...Not really, nay."

Applejack frowned--she knew something was really bothering Skyward, especially if it came to wearing a dress. Something traumatic had to have happened to her friend for that kind of reaction--the observant farmpony could tell. She'd have to let Rarity know about that for sure to avoid a nasty confrontation. The farmpony pulled the filled wagon to the barn and they began unloading the apples to put into the storage bins. "Ya wanna tell me what happened, sugarcube? Mind, its none of mah beeswax, but Ah don' like t' see any of mah friends upset."

Skyward hesitated--could she trust Applejack, and not just because the pony in front of her was the bearer of Honesty? She took a deep breath and looked Applejack in the eye. "Wilt thou promise me thou shalt not tell anypony about this?"

Applejack nodded her head. "Ah'll do ya one better--Ah'll make ya a Pinkie Promise. Cross mah heart an' hope t' fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye. I Pinkie Promise to tell nopony why ya won' wear dresses."

At Skyward's 'what the buck' look, Applejack gestured to her with one hoof. "Trust me--its better than a contract sealed in blood. And nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise--trust me when Ah say t' do so is a fate worse than death."

Skyward raised an eyebrow at this and the fact Applejack looked a little scared when she did say that last piece. "One shalt take thy word for it...I shalt remember that in future. But...thou see...three years ago at Midsummer Festival, I made friends with a group of noblemares. They were impressed with my skills in battle and one thought they wished to be friends. So one of them presented me with a dress--"

Skyward conjured the image of the dress in question--it was a filmy garment done in lilac, going to gradient shades of violet and trimmed in gold--a very pretty thing indeed.

"I wore the dress to a party they invited one to. But in truth; they made a spectacle out of me. They mocked me, laughed at me for the dress I was wearing, the cosmetics...it turned out they hath only wished to get close to me to use me as a joke for their own amusement--the dress they gifted me was in truth a concubine's outfit!"

Skyward angrily stomped a hoof, taking a deep, shuddering breath and squeezing her eyes shut--before she could stop it, a tear broke free and landed in the dirt.

Applejack came over and gave the upset mare a hug--she couldn't imagine the pain Skyward had been feeling at being humiliated like that. "Ah bet Princess Zelda was pretty mad."

Skyward sniffed, trying to pull away, but Applejack held her firmly. "S-she was utterly furious with what they had dared to do. I know not how she found out--one supposes a servant at the party informed her about what happened--I know not their fates, but one never saw them again. Their manses in Castle Town were empty, and nopony seemed to know what happened to them. One learned she hath banished them from Court and Castle Town, permanently; and the noblemares were forced to take the Walk of Shame to the western bridge gates of Castle Town."

Skyward opened her eyes--tears leaked free from their confines and she tried to pull away again, but Applejack hugged her close as if she were her own sister, just like Apple Bloom. "S'no shame t' cry, sugarcube. Those damn gilded nags got 'xactly what they deserved. Nopony should ever be treated like that."

Skyward sniffled and sobbed quietly into Applejack's shoulder, the farmpony trying to comfort her friend. Eventually she pulled back and Applejack smiled at her. "Feel better?"

Skyward quietly nodded her head. "...A little, aye."

Applejack gave her friend a playful noogie; Skyward yelped, but laughed, playfully putting up a fight before she got loose. "Ya can tell Rarity what kind of costume ya want too ya know. But, given yer tastes, Ah think ya might be mighty surprised fer what she got in mind fer ya. But Ah can understand why ya don' wanna wear a dress. Heck, after that, neither would Ah for that matter!"

Twilight's voice suddenly filtered in from the doorway. "Applejack, Skyward! You two done putting those apples away? Rarity needs those gems!"

"We'll be right there, Twi!" Applejack hollered back, and then looked at Skyward with a comforting nod. "Just remember this, Skyward. Yer among real friends here--ain't no doubt 'bout that. Meet us outside after ya get yer stuff an' wash yer muzzle so th' girls don' suspect nothin'."

Skyward nodded, giving the mare a hug before she dashed inside--she met with the girls outside and after picking up Spike from the library, the four mares plus one dragon went off to the Gem Fields. Skyward was wondering how they were going to get gems in the first place--they didn't have any pickaxes, shovels or brushes with them--but her unspoken question was soon answered when Rarity lit her horn. She moved this way and that, and when she pointed out a spot, Spike all but pounced on it and dug like a Wolfos, exposing a pile of glittering rubies, diamonds and sapphires.

The girls gathered the gems as Rarity found them--Skyward however, kept a sharp watch for trouble...Rarity had told her (with interjections from Twilight, Applejack and Spike) about her own encounter with the damned mutts, and Skyward had made sure to sharpen her sword as a result.

Aside from a couple of rock snakes and the occasional mole or two, there wasn't any sign of the Diamond Dogs. But Skyward didn't let down her guard; from the experiences she had, if something seems too peaceful, it usually is too good to be true. But nothing reared its ugly head that day, so they went back to Ponyville and to Carousel Boutique. Rarity took Skyward's measurements and hummed as cloth, ribbon, gems, scissors, needle and thread whistled through the air.

Rarity smiled as she tacked a few sheets of paper with sketches on them to a corkboard. "Oooo; I can't wait; this year's Nightmare Night is going to be so much fun! Skyward, dear, would you like a dress fitting as well?"

Skyward bit her lower lip and shook her head at Rarity. "Mmm...not today--mayhap another time? 'Tis getting late, for one, and second, one is sure that with seven of us, thou hast so much to do. Where is thy sister, one wonders?"

Applejack scratched her head. "Prob'bly with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Speakin' o which, we'd better go get 'em from Sugarcube Corner. Ah'll bring her by Rarity, so ya won' have to."

With that, the four mares parted ways--Skyward, after some hayburgers and hay fries and a chocolate drink called a 'shake' went back to her studies. The Haylian mare turned to look out of the window with a troubled expression--as much as she knew she needed to return to her land...

She was slowly coming to the realization that she didn't want to leave this one.

Laughter Is Magic

The next morning after that, Skyward woke up, bathed, and came out to see Spike in the kitchen cooking breakfast. She glanced around--then again, she was an early riser; in Hayrule she was always getting up before the sun rose--mostly to train before breakfast. She grumbled--she'd really have to look into finding some place to train with her sword skills other than going for a run.

At least Zecora let her practice from time to time...

"Could thou use a hoof, Sir Spike? Ye seem to be needing a bit of aid."

The purple dragon turned around to see Skyward standing there and smiled. "Sure! Could you go set the table for me?"

She nodded as she levitated the plates and cutlery out of the drawer and cupboards and began setting them in their places.

"Hey, blueberry pancakes okay with you?"

"Assuredly. One assumes thou shalt have crushed gems with thine?"

"Oh yeah. Matter of fact, I'm thinking about goin' down to Sugarcube Corner to grab some gem cupcakes. Ya wanna come along?"

"Ah--of course, if thou dost not mind mine company, Spike."

" 'Course not! Speaking of Sugarcube Corner--how'd you like the party Pinkie threw for ya?"

Skyward blinked, a smile touching her mouth as she grabbed a pitcher of orange juice and poured some in cups. The party Pinkie had thrown for her was...

It reminded her of one of the taverns she frequented with her squadron. The tables were solid wood, as were the chairs. The decor was medieval wood and stone; with swords and shields and paintings of ancient lore on the normally bright walls. One of the wood fired ovens was open to look like a great fireplace, and there was plenty of delicious fare--baked apples covered in honey, numerous pies, alcohol for the adults and juice and milk for the younglings; cheese and fresh bread and butter, baskets of fresh fruit and vegetables and a great hay roast...
Music had been near the same--harp, lyre, flute and drum melding into pleasing melodies, some to dance to, others to simply listen...

And a huge three tiered toffee flavored cake covered in toffee bits, walnuts, caramel drizzle and deliciously rich chocolate frosting. Skyward had given in to Pinkie's insisting she have at least 'one more piece' and she had ended up eating three pieces of cake as a result, much to her own chagrin at having given in, but it was incredibly delicious--she knew Golden Marble would've been scarfing the lot if he'd been there. There were even subtle hints of her Haylian heritage...small candy swords, red, green and blue candy gems, and even tiny candy shields as decorations on the cake as well. Time Turner even got so drunk he got up on one of the tables and started singing off key and dancing about, much to everyone's hilarity, even his wife, Roseluck.

"T'was one of the best times one has ever had. How didst she know mine favorite flavor was toffee?"

Spike shrugged. "Dunno. Pinkie's always like that when it comes to ponies. Hay, she knows the gems I like best are sapphires. Especially that one you gave me--mmmm that was a good one! Could you pass me the spoon, please?"

Skyward chuckled as she levitated a wooden spoon into his grip and he began busily stirring the batter. "One is glad thou liked it so much."

When Twilight came down to breakfast, she smiled happily at seeing the pancakes--the three of them chowed down once they were good and ready--Twilight preferred lots of butter and syrup while Skyward had honey and fruit on hers. And of course--Spike had crushed sapphire on his pancakes.

"Well, Spike--what's on the agenda today?"

Spike grabbed a small clipboard he had set on the table earlier and looked it over. "Re-shelving the Biography and History section, need to go grocery shopping, need to pick up new quills and more ink, helping Pinkie Pie get ready for Nightmare Night...and...uh oh..."

Both mares looked at him--Skyward raised an eyebrow, and Twilight blinked at her 'Number 1 assistant'. "Spike?"

"It looks like you've got to help Rarity again too but...if you help her, you won't have time to help Pinkie Pie."

Twilight bit her lower lip in worry. "Oh, hayseed--I did promise Rarity I'd help her with the costumes but...umm..."

"Mayhap I could take thine place, Twilight? To aid Pinkie Pie, one means. Spike didst ask me earlier if I wished to accompany him to Sugarcube Corner, and one agreed, so...?" Skyward had finished her food and was cleaning up the mess--she earned her place by helping about the library and with chores as well, though Celestia and Luna, had asked her for some of her own defense and offensive spells in return for a very generous monetary sum.

"That would work out great! Though Rarity does want you to come over later for your own costume fitting and she has some clothes for you she wants you to try."

Skyward resisted the urge to let her ears pull back against her head--she genuinely liked Rarity, but it was the possible thought of trying on a dress that made her more than a little tense about that. "O-of course. Spike, when didst thee wish to depart?"

"Uh--why don't we head there now? I can get my cupcakes, and you can see what Pinkie needs done for Nightmare Night."

After cleaning up breakfast, and Skyward donning her armor, sword and shield, she followed Spike out of the door and into Ponyville. Halfway to Sugarcube Corner, however, they ran into somepony--who happened to be a brown stallion with a rather spiky matching short mane and tail, with an hourglass cutie mark on his flank. He caught sight of her, did a double take and rubbed his eyes with his hooves, blinking rapidly as if he could not believe what he was seeing. Then he circled her and eyed her close, all but sticking his muzzle into her face. He donned a pair of spectacles and continued examining her closely: Skyward's magic surrounded her sword hilt, but she waited to see what the stallion would do.

"...Long way from home, ain't ya. Hoo-boy--you really are an interesting one aren't ya? Huh..."

He was suddenly peering very hard at her flank and she bit back an urge to kick him but let out an irritated huff of breath that warned him to move away, which, he did. He took off his glasses and tucked them back in his mane somewhere and looked at her---his blue eyes had a sad, compassionate look in them.

"Wonder how that's gonna be explained...you've got your work cut out for you for sure..."

Skyward honestly didn't know what to think. "...Thou could say that, sir. Please, excuse me--one does not wish to keep mine friend waiting."
She moved around him and quickly caught up with Spike, glancing over her shoulder at the stallion, who grinned and waved at her, giving her oddly enough a Haylian salute before he trotted off.

Skyward snorted and shook her head. "Goddesses..."

Spike waved a claw. "Don't worry about Time Turner. He's always been like that--little on the odd side but he's a good pony. He fixes watches, clocks--any sort of time piece really."

They reached Sugarcube Corner...Skyward walked inside and the smell of sweetness invaded her nostrils---cookies baking, fresh bread, cakes and pies on display, bundles of baguettes and bagels...

Skyward had to smile--this place never failed to cheer her up. She didn't know exactly why, but--there were pleasant memories of her own home associated with the smells of bread baking and the like...

"Skyward! It's great to see you!" Skyward also had to chuckle at the overflowing exuberance of Pinkie Pie. "Greetings, Pinkie. You seem quite in a good mood today."
Pinkie nodded, glancing at Spike, who was waiting for a set of gem cupcakes to be boxed by Mrs. Cake behind the counter. "Hey Spike! Where's Twilight at?"

"As a matter of fact...that is why one is here. Twilight feared she would not be able to make it, so I offered to come help thee instead, if that is all right..."

Pinkie clapped her hooves in glee. "Of COURSE its all right! Eeee! C'mon, we got SO much to do! Oh, here...umm...you might wanna remove your armor and stuff first. And we gotta hide it from the twins."

Skyward blinked in confusion. "The twins? Art thou a mother?"

Pinkie Pie shook her head so fast it looked like she had multiple heads instead of just one. "Nopey dopey! Mr. and Mrs. Cake are the parents! I just help take care of them!"

Skyward left her armor and sword and shield in Pinkie's room, and sealed it in a magic bubble so the babies couldn't get into it. She followed Pinkie to the kitchen--And gawked at the huge amount of pastries and pies and cakes that were being made. There had to be literal hills of the stuff in here! She ducked under a tall stack of cupcakes and followed Pinkie, feeling as if her eyes were going to fall out of her head.

"....Is...is this all for Nightmare Night alone?"

"Yepperooni! But! We still gotta make more! All of this is going to Canterlot, for Princess Celestia! Princess Luna comes down here for Nightmare Night--its gonna be so great! Oooh! What are YOU gonna be for Nightmare Night?"

Skyward shook her head, shrugging at the pink pony. "....I doth not know what Lady Rarity hath in mind for me, Pinkie. Twilight did say I had a costume fitting later..."

Pinkie Pie giggled and hugged her, making Skyward smile despite her unease. "Bet whatever it is it'll be super-duper special! Okay, so, the representative from Canterlot'll be coming by to pick all these up soon so...let's box these up, and then we gotta make more cake!"

Skyward set to her assigned task---she put what seemed like endless types of pastries, cookies, pies, cakes and cupcakes into varied boxes--Pinkie tied them up, stuck a bow on them, or draped them with fake spiderwebs. They set them on a cart just outside the door--or in Skyward's case, floated them out to carefully stack them. Hearing flapping wings outside, Pinkie squealed and clapped her hooves in delight.
"Ooo they're here, they're here!"

She zipped outside with a flash of pink, and Skyward continued putting boxes near the half opened door, which Pinkie stuck some part of herself in and grabbed them, whisking them outside like crazy. The Haylian mare was reaching for the last few boxes when...

Rrrrrrriiiiipppp---PHLUFFF!

Skyward looked up only to be covered by something powdery, white and...PTOOO! She coughed and spat a little, realizing it was flour! She knew Pinkie did like to play pranks...Skyward sneezed, shoving the flour out of her face and looked up with an partially annoyed expression--

Only to see a baby unicorn filly hovering effortlessly above her head, the color of raw pumpkin flesh with a mane and tail the color of freshly baked pumpkin pie. Her horn glowed a soft blue, and she giggled at Skyward, putting a tiny hooftip to her mouth. Skyward shook her head, ridding herself of the white substance, chuckling as she stood up and gently reached out for the filly. "Well now. One believes thou must be one of the twins then, hmm?"

A stream of inane foal babble was her answer, and she chuckled, smiling at the filly. "I see--so thou art here...so where is thine sibling--Oof!"

She twisted her head around when something landed on her back--or more likely, somepony. A french vanilla colored pegasi foal with a chocolate colored mane and tail burbled at her, blowing a spit bubble, and Skyward laughed.

"Ah! There thou art, little one!"

"Skyward? Hey, where's the rest of...oh! I see you've met Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake; they're the twins! Pound's the one on your back and Pumpkin's the one on...your head. And why are you covered in flour?"

Skyward laughed as she levitated the final boxes towards Pinkie's waiting hooves. "Little Pumpkin thought t'would be amusing to drop a flour bag on one's head. One dost not mind--she is a foal still."

Pumpkin giggled and tugged at Skyward's horn, and Skyward levitated her off of her head and onto her back with her brother. They tumbled over Skyward's back, tugging at her mane and tail to play with, sometimes her ears...she winced at this, but she endured it as she carried the rest of the boxes to Pinkie Pie who beamed from ear to ear. "Wow! The twins really like you!"

Skyward shrugged her shoulders as best she could as she had two squealing foals on her back and trying to balance a few last boxes of cupcakes. "One is not sure why--aside from rescuing younglings from dangerous situations in villages who are under attack, one hath not had much experience with them...ow ow ow..."

"Pumpkin, that's not very nice! Stop pulling Skyward's ear, she needs that--oh, come here..."

Pinkie Pie gently pulled Pumpkin off of Skyward's back and away from her abused ear, and grabbed Pound by the back of the neck, intent on putting them upstairs...Or so they thought, because the second the twins were away from the interesting new pony--they started to whimper and mewl, well on their way to a crying fit...Pinkie froze, sensing what was coming for sure--a full on screaming tantrum from both of the twins...

Seeing this Skyward bit her lip, thinking quickly before she puckered her lips and began whistling. The tune she whistled was jaunty and semi-fast paced--it was an old song her mother had sang for her before she had died. Both of the twins stopped whimpering, listening to the tune Skyward was whistling...the song seemed to speak of forests dappled in sunlight, of a brisk breeze through soft emerald leaves, carefree and happy. They clapped their little hooves and squealed in delight when Skyward stopped whistling, out of breath from doing so, but the Haylian unicorn smiled. Pinkie Pie's eyes were as wide as dinner plates and her mouth was hanging open like a trap door.

"Woooooowwwww--how did you do that? I've never whistled like that before!"

"...I do not hath mine flute otherwise I would have played that for them. My...my sire always did that to send me to sleep when I was a filly."

Skyward sighed, feeling the familiar weight of homesickness settle into her stomach, and closed her eyes. Hearing a quiet burbling babble she opened them to see Pumpkin and Pound in front of her--Pumpkin had levitated another sack of flour over their heads. With a rip and a pflufhh the powdery white substance doused the twins and they grinned at Skyward, who despite her own sadness, let out a chuckle, which made them squeal in delight.

Pinkie Pie laughed, "They did that for me too, once, when I babysat for them for the first time. It hasn't lost its kick! Okay so now we need to start making more stuff for Nightmare Night! Have any ideas?"

Skyward frowned, shaking off the rest of the flour on her while Pinkie Pie cleaned the twins off of flour residue--from what she knew and what Twilight had told her, Nightmare Night was before the Running of the Leaves, signifying the beginning of autumn to winter--in Hayrule, it would be the Harvest Solstice. It was also a night to dress up, be somepony you weren't--a festival revolving about one of the historical figures of Equestria--Nightmare Moon...a wicked alicorn who wished for eternal night to cover Equestria. It was a little unnerving to think of that Princess Luna had once been Nightmare Moon herself--saved by Twilight and her friends to be reverted to her true self. But then again, Luna knew her faults and had been forgiven for them.

"Hmm...mayhap something like...ah...might one use your oven?"

Pinkie nodded as she rubbed the warm cloth over Pumpkin's back. "Go for it! Ooo are ya gonna make something from home? Are ya?"

"As best I can, aye--some things are not what they are here, but one shalt make do...eh?"

Skyward turned at the sudden jerk of her tail from behind, and saw that Pumpkin had her tail in her mouth. The twins were giving her sad looks, as if begging her not to go, and Skyward turned and nosed them both, making them giggle. She scooped up the foals and gave them to Pinkie, then washed her hooves at the sink, glancing about her before she took a big mixing bowl, a wooden spoon--

Flour. Sugar, both white and brown. She dug around in the pantry with a frown, where was that blasted baking soda; and she sniffed at the spice rack until she found what she was looking for. Nutmeg and cinnamon, cloves--some orange juice...

"Pinkie Pie?"

The pink pony looked up from where she was putting Pumpkin and Pound in their high chairs--it was almost their meal time anyway. "Yeah?"

"Where dost thou keep thine pumpkins? In a cellar mayhap?"

Pinkie looked confused for about five seconds. "Pumpkin? Cellar? Ohhh--hold on a second!"

Flash. Gone out the door one second and ZZZIIIIIP--DING! Back the next with a big whopper of a pumpkin rolling through the door. "This...ugh...big enough?"

"More than enough, thank thee. Please, stand back?"

Skyward lowered her horn...normally she'd do this by hoof but there wasn't time. Silver light surrounded the pumpkin as she stripped it of its skin, top and seeds---then she began invoking her Blood Boil spell. Normally this would have been used on an enemy but in this case, she'd found it could also be used to cook certain foods quicker, as long as you lessened the strength behind the spell. The pumpkin began to soften, steam and cook from the inside out...once it was soft enough Skyward forced it to separate into pieces and magically macerated them with a Dancing Blades spell.

Once it was all sliced and diced up, she dumped some of it in with the other stuff in the main bowl--Pinkie popped up from behind with several containers to hold the rest of it in...and feeding the twins with. Ready made foal food, yay!

Once the pumpkin was in, she added vegetable oil, salt, a tiny hint of red pepper powder, 3 big eggs (without the shells, duh) and found some chocolate chips to add into the mix, asking Pinkie Pie for permission first. She stirred it all together with a big spoon, checking the oven's heat, then setting out the baking pans Pinkie Pie had pointed out to her. She greased them well with butter, then poured the well mixed batter into every pan, about halfway point. Into the oven they went--Skyward turned to clean up her mess while Pinkie finished feeding the twins, then put them upstairs for a nap.

The delicious smell of cinnamon, pumpkin and chocolate filled the air, and that lured in Cup Cake from the outside counter. "Mmmm! What smells so good in here? Pinkie, are you baking something new?"

"Nopey dopey! That's Skyward's baking ya smell! Doesn't it smell good! What is it anyway?"

"My home village's pumpkin bread. Every harvest season, we wouldst make much of it, and sell it to neighboring towns besides."

Cup Cake looked intrigued, and would have asked more, but a noise from upstairs got their attention and the blue and pink Earth Pony mare trotted upstairs to see to her children. Skyward and Pinkie Pie exchanged relieved looks as Pinkie began setting up more pans and measuring out more flour and sugar...

Trays of cupcakes, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, pumpkin, berry--all covered in spooky purple, eerie green, or bright orange or white frosting adorned with spiders, bats or little ghosts. Pies that looked normal enough but the fillings were different colors and even tasted the opposite of what they looked to be--cakes, some big and some small...

When Skyward took her chocolate pumpkin bread out of the oven, they let it cool before Cup Cake cut up a loaf and all three ponies tried a piece...

"Mmmm-mm!"

"Sweet Celestia--this has to be the best pumpkin bread I've ever tasted! Hoo...bit of a kick in it too, but it really adds to the flavor!"

Pinkie gobbled half the loaf and held up a hoof, mouth smeared with chocolate-- "We should...totally give some to Twilight and the others! I could eat this all day!"

At Skyward's assent, Cup Cake cut up some of them and put them out on a tray on the counter--Pinkie poked Skyward's shoulder and pointed at two boxes on a shelf--one was wrapped in paper that looked like a starry night and the other looked like a pastel ever shifting rainbow.

"Before ya go to Canterlot come and pick those up! You can make something for the Princesses to say thank you!"

"Good idea, Pinkie Pie. But I doth not know what sort of things they like..."

"Just pick something and go with it, silly filly! Besides...Celestia REALLY loves cake. And I mean REALLY really really loves it."

Skyward barely stifled a laugh at this--Princess Zelda was the same, save her vice was pie, and lots of it. The Haylian mare retrieved her armaments and was about to leave for Rarity's for her fitting when Cup Cake caught up to her outside, gasping for breath.

"Skyward, Skyward, wait a second!"

Puzzled, Skyward turned around to regard the blue and pink mare, who had clearly run after her in a hurry. "Could--could I ask a favor?"

"Of course, Master Baker, name thy wish," Skyward replied, pricking her ears forward in curiosity.

"No sooner did we put that bread out than it was gone in a flash, and everypony wants more of it!"

Skyward glanced over and did a double take--there was a long line of customers leading out of the door and into the street. She flicked her tail, looking utterly bemused at the sight. "...Well...I didst know that mine village's simple recipe would garner such praise..."

"Can you make more of it? Or give us the recipe? We can pay you for it..."

Skyward raised an armored hoof to stop the other mare's stream of speech. "I'll not hear of thee paying for it...ye and thine mate hath two foals to feed. Dost thou have parchment handy, milady?"

Cup Cake led her back to the bakery and Skyward painstakingly wrote down the recipe for her village's pumpkin bread, and Carrot Cake, Cup Cake's husband got busy baking more batches of it. Cup Cake went into the back and handed Skyward a large sack that jingled and rang--Skyward shook her head, trying to return it, but the mare firmly pressed it into her hooves.

"I mean it, sweetie. You deserve this. Now hurry along before you're late for your fitting! Pinkie, would you take her over to Carousel Boutique?"

"Okie dokie loki!"

Skyward had to shake her head as she was all but dragged down the street towards Rarity's domain, but she had to smile as she glanced over her shoulder. It did feel good to see other ponies happy--so it was with that, she entered Carousel Boutique with a smile of her own on her muzzle.

(Later that afternoon)
"So have you ever ridden on a train before?"

Skyward shook her head in wonder, gazing at the view outside of the train's windows, and marveled at how fast they were going. "Never. We do not have this at home--if we did, trade and travel wouldst be so much easier."

Twilight Sparkle laughed. "I'll bet it would."

They were minutes away from Canterlot, as Princess Celestia had requested of them to do four days after Skyward's initial discovery. Skyward's Equestrian was still shaky, but Twilight was ready to help her if she had trouble. Skyward had offered to teach Twilight Haylian and a few of the less dangerous spells she knew in return--the purple unicorn had jumped at the chance to do so. The train whistled loudly as it pulled into Canterlot station--the morning sun gilding the spires and peaks of the royal palace with a near majestic halo all its own.

Disembarking from the train--Skyward drew a lot of stares from the upper crust ponies with her appearance, but she coldly paid them no mind as she walked next to Twilight. Despite the nobleponies she could see, Canterlot was indeed a beautiful city--what startled her is that it was mostly unicorns, she noticed, and said as much to Twilight, who chuckled.

"This is the capital of Equestria, as you know. And Princess Platinum the Fourteenth ruled here until Princess Celestia took the throne when she raised the sun all on her own. As such, the only ponies that lived here were unicorns. Nowadays, of course, there's pegasi and Earth Ponies too, but the majority is still the same."

Canterlot Castle loomed ahead of them, resplendent in gold, purple and white, and shimmering in the light of the sun, almost seeming like an ancient temple permanently gilded by day and luminescent by night. The guards at the gate wore golden armor barding, helm and hoofcups, with a teal blue star in the middle, their manes and tails a matching dark blue color poking through the slits in the armor meant for that purpose. The two guards were unicorns and they held long spears in the crooks of their forelegs.

When they reached the castle gates, Twilight passed through unhindered, but the second the guards' eyes clapped on the strange armored mare, they blocked her way with their spears, both of them glaring at her. Skyward resisted the urge to 'reach' for her own sword--mentally, she sneered at the guards; they had muscle and clearly dedicated, true, but still. They could use a little more training, in her eyes...particularly the one on the right. He had muscle--but she could tell his armor was a little too tight in a certain area. She lifted her chin and glared back at them, her royal blue eyes turning ice cold as she stared unerringly back at them in return...

"Let her pass, sirs. She is with me, and Princess Celestia requested to see her right away."

The guards nodded at Twilight, and uncrossed their spears--Skyward walked by them, head held high. She didn't even glance backwards at them as the doors behind her swung shut. Once she was gone, the two guards blew out a breath.

"Okay. That, was scary."

"Did you see the way she was staring at you?"

"Yeah, and not in the good way either. I could've sworn she was about to kick my flank if I even sneezed..."

Meanwhile, in the castle halls, Twilight Sparkle led Skyward among the vast, ornate high ceilinged pathway to the Princesses' throne room.

"Whew--for a second I thought you were going to fight them."

"Not worth mine time to challenge. No offense to thine brother, but those two need training. One detected one of them was a bit too fat for his armor."

Twilight Sparkle raised an eyebrow at her friend. "You could tell that just by looking at them?"

"Aye. One was part of a squadron of guards back home--inspection was rigorous indeed. We can indulge in sweets and the like if we wilt, however, if found lacking, we paid for it by going through one of the obstacle courses in the training grounds..."

"Twily!"

Skyward looked forward to see a large white unicorn stallion trotting towards them. He had blue eyes and a blue mane and tail with darker blue streaks running through it. He had muscle on him--not too much but enough to tell her he did indeed work hard. His cutie mark was that of a blue kite shield with a dark pink star in the center with three smaller blue stars at the top of it.

They hugged one another, Twilight all but tackling her brother to the ground with how much force she threw herself at him, and he hugged her back just as hard. He gave her a noogie as well, making her squeak and bat at him, but in play. Skyward smiled warmly, reminded of her own brother and his greetings, even if he did tend to divebomb her a lot.

"It's great to see you, little sis. What brings you to Canterlot?"

Twilight paused, panic slowly seeping in--how was she going to explain this to her brother? Skyward caught her attention by waving her armored hoof and she nodded reassuringly at Twilight--Shining Armor had to be a trustworthy pony, after all, and she trusted Twilight's judgment.

"Shining, listen...I'll explain everything after Skyward and I finish our business with the princesses. This isn't something we can discuss out in the open."

Shining Armor blinked, then nodded at his sister. "I'll come with you guys--Cadence is in there too, talking to Princess Celestia and Luna."

Twilight Sparkle pricked her ears and Skyward raised an eyebrow. "Is there trouble?"

Shining shook his head, his blue streaked mane waving back and forth as the doors glowed gold and began to open for them, the three ponies moving towards the opening gateway. "Not too much--but she's requesting more of the Royal Guard. Apparently there's been some Diamond Dog resurgence in the western part of the Crystal Empire and well, it's becoming a nuisance."

There was a pink and purple alicorn speaking with the Royal Sisters, and at Twilight Sparkle's calling of her name, she trotted off of the dais and faced her sister in law with a big smile of her own.

"Sunshine, sunshine!
Ladybug's awake!
Clap your hooves;
And do a little shake!"

Skyward bit back a laugh, but was unable to keep from smiling warmly--but it was so nice to see such a display of gaiety from old friends meeting. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza--or Cadence, as she preferred to be called, was primarily pink and purple--her mane and tail did not blow in an unseen draft like the other two did, and was in only three shades--purple, dark rose and gold. Her eyes were almost the same as Celestia's, a regal shade of violet, and her cutie mark was a blue crystal heart with gold banners on either side.

Skyward knelt, bowing her head--it was Luna this time that bade her to rise. She surprised the three princesses by presenting them with three boxes of cupcakes, stating 'T'would be rude if I showed myself without a gift to thank thee for your kindnesses'. She had duplicated the cupcakes twice, plus the box and ribbons, and hastily made a combination to give to Cadence after hearing there was a third princess in the room.

Celestia smiled as she accepted the rainbow colored box tied with a silver ribbon, her mouth watering at the sweet chocolate cupcake treats she could smell inside. "Your gift is greatly appreciated, Skyward. We have the paperwork drawn up--all you need do is sign them to become a citizen of Equestria."

"We art still looking into thy situation, fear not," Luna told the royal blue/indigo unicorn as she happily took her own box--it looked like a starry night with a gold ribbon; with the scent of strawberries, and she nodded in reply.

"One is patient, Princesses--thou hast a vast kingdom to care for, and thine subjects come first."

Shining Armor looked confused until Twilight began explaining to her brother and Cadence who she was and what was going on. Needless to say, Shining Armor looked utterly shocked, like as if somepony had kicked him in the gut--Cadence had heard the story from her aunts already, but she looked no less impressed herself.

Shining Armor could scarcely believe what his sister was telling him, but he kept his voice down when she shushed him fiercely, gesturing at the guards at the dais with her eyes. "So you're saying Hayrule is actually real? Is she Time Link's daughter or...or his descendant?"

Twilight Sparkle shook her head adamantly. "No, she's not, Shining. Trust me on this...Celestia herself confirmed her story."

Shining Armor rubbed his chin. "Man, I kinda know how she feels--helpless and unable to do anything. Chrysalis had me chained down with her spell--but her situation sounds like its a lot worse."

Cadence nodded her head, watching as Skyward signed the papers that registered her as a citizen of Equestria, listing her as born in Ponyville and living there. "It sounds sort of what King Sombra did to the Crystal Empire. But, speaking of which--Twilight, do you and your friends have any plans after Nightmare Night?"

"Umm...we promised we'd help Applejack with applebuck season, there's the Running of the Leaves, but nothing too major..."

Cadence smiled warmly at her. "We'd like to have you and your friends come to the Crystal Empire for a bit. It's been too long since we spent any time together."

Shining Armor interjected here, a serious look on his face. "But Twilight, we do need help. The Diamond Dogs are seriously getting out of hoof--there have been attempted kidnappings and we've warned them if they continue to do it lethal force will be used to remove their presence."

Twilight Sparkle nodded, and gestured at Skyward, who was asking Celestia a question about a particular part of the official registration she was on and the sun princess explaining matters.

"Could Skyward come too? That and believe me--she's a regular powerhouse when it comes to fighting. What's more, Shining--she knows how to take orders, she's a good soldier. She serves Princess Zelda--like me, she's Zelda's personal student, and one of the strongest unicorns in Nayru's Vanguard."

"Of course she can come too, Twilight. She certainly seems like a nice pony. I wonder what kind of cupcakes---ooo, looks like chocolate strawberry swirl! Delicious!" Cadence's eyes lit up as she levitated two cupcakes out of the rainbowed starry night box and shared one with Shining.

Twilight Sparkle had to blink--chocolate strawberry swirl? She knew Skyward had, with the help of Pinkie Pie, had baked a 'thank you gift' for the princesses...

Unless that duplication spell had accidentally merged the two different kinds of cupcakes in the third box into one set...?

There was a commotion by the door, followed by a haughty male voice, then one of the doors opened a bit to allow somepony through. Everypony looked over to see the impromptu visitor; Skyward had her helm off, so her face was quite visible. Her mane was half-braided away from her line of sight, and she turned back to her paperwork with barely a second glance, uninterested in the pearl white unicorn stallion that had come so boldly into the royal throne room.

"Auntie--what is this I hear that you cannot come to my party this afternoon?"

Princess Celestia held back a sigh and tilted her head at him in return. "Prince Blueblood, I sent a message to you yesterday telling you why--important matters have come up and I simply cannot attend today. Perhaps another time, nephew."

Blueblood shook back his impeccably groomed blond mane--he was about to speak when his eye lighted on Skyward, who was signing yet another piece of paper and asking Luna a question, to which the Moon Princess answered.

"Is she the reason you cannot attend? This...this common born pony clad in such tacky armor?"

Princess Celestia's tone did not change, yet her gaze turned slightly hard as she regarded her nephew. "As I have said, nephew--I have other matters to attend to this day. I will not turn away one of my subjects when they have a dire problem only we can solve. Especially if they made an appointment with us beforehoof--long before your party invitation one might add."

She gestured at Luna as she spoke--Luna could tell Skyward was insulted but she was keeping her cool, choosing to ignore the prince's biting words. Shining Armor nudged his sister. "Blueblood better realize he's being given a graceful way out."

Twilight Sparkle shook her head at her brother. "Knowing him, he's going to end up with his hoof in his mouth."

Cadence sighed heavily. "Bluey never did know when to shut his muzzle...now I think it's going to come back to bite him in the plot and rather hard at that."

Meanwhile, the 'prince' continued to talk, Skyward ignoring his haranguing monologue for the most part of it. Luna leaned over as if to check something and nodded, keeping her voice low so she wouldn't attract Blueblood's attention. "Thou hast incredible patience, Skyward..."

Skyward took in a slow breath and let it out, shrugging her shoulders. "One hath had much practice with the nobleponies of Zelda's court...that 'princeling' behind me is no exception."

"...and what ghastly style she has...did her mother never teach her to dress correctly? Honestly, I would think..."

Silence suddenly reigned in the vast throne hall of Canterlot the second those words left his mouth. Everypony was still, save for Blueblood, who continued to rant as he thought was his 'princely' wont to do. The princesses three stared at him in varying degrees of disbelief and anger, Shining Armor shook his head slowly from side to side, an almost pitying gaze on his face and Twilight's mouth hung open like a trap door. The quill dropped to the stack of papers, the silver aura fading away from it as Skyward suddenly went still as a statue, hearing those words aimed at her mother, who had been a powerful mage herself in Princess Zelda's service. She rose to all four hooves and turned, as if to stretch...

There was a blinding FLASH and suddenly, she was a blur across the throne hall, crashing into Blueblood, drawing her sword in one smooth movement and slamming him up against the nearest pillar, baring her teeth at him, royal blue eyes burning in sheer rage. Her sword sliced through the air with a hiss as she brought it to bear...

Right up against the prince's neck.

The guards moved to intercept but Celestia waved them back with one hoof--she wanted to see how this would play out.

"Insult me all thou wish, ye spoiled prat--but thou shalt NEVER badmouth mine mother. Do so again and I shalt geld thee where thou stand," Skyward hissed at him, eyes blazing in fury as she held him against the wall, her sword edge biting lightly into his throat. Blueblood was still as a statue; he was too frightened by how fast the armored mare had moved and how very real the edge of that gleaming sword she had was against his throat. Without looking away from her target, the angry Haylian mare spoke again, this time shouting to make herself heard.

"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! One demands satisfaction for thine kin's insults towards the honored deceased!"

Cadence and Luna glanced at the eldest alicorn in the room; now normally Celestia would calm things down and hopefully let things slide--but the Sun Princess was not very pleased at her nephew's blatant display of disrespect...that and with the reports Twilight had made to her on Haylian culture--

Insulting the dead was just plain stupid but insulting the honored dead; in this case, brave mares and stallions who had served in the Haylian Army, Royal Guard or a Nayru's Hoofmaiden, which her mother had been--was a grave offense in Hayrule--Celestia knew Skyward could demand Blueblood's death if she willed it--but this was not Hayrule, and she knew Skyward respected her and Luna to be sure, just as much as the Mane Six did. Not a deathmatch--but a duel most certainly was in order to put her uppity nephew into place. That and she'd had enough complaints from her own staff about Blueblood's abhorrent actions--this was a choice situation to put him in his place.

And you just did NOT insult somepony's mother--THAT was common sense, which was something Blueblood sufficiently lacked.

"Would a duel suffice, Skyward? You cannot slay him; but you can fight him. First blood wins the match."

Skyward thought about this for a moment before she nodded. "One accepts thy terms, Princess, with one slight exception. I shalt fight him here and now, in front of all of thee. Here is where the pretentious cretin wilt learn his place."

Blueblood looked astounded as he was released none too gently from the powerful mare's hold as she teleported back towards the dais and stood there, regarding him with a gaze full of fury and glacial disgust.

"Auntie, you cannot be serious! Why should I, the descendant of Princess Platinum XIV and scion of the House Blueblood have to fight her? She..."

"Is to be treated with respect, and Blueblood, I have allowed your insults to pass but there are indeed lines that you do not cross, and today, you have crossed one of them. Now you must take your medicine like the noblestallion you claim to be so often."

Blueblood huffed, tossing his head in a regal manner. "Then I demand this be done with some of the nobles in attendance at the very least!"

Celestia glanced at Skyward, who nodded her head. "Then have thine guards bring the chosen three here. I do not trust this coward to not run with his tail betwixt his legs," Skyward scornfully stated, and Blueblood puffed up in outrage.

"Why of all the...I can make your life extremely difficult for you and all it would take would be a single word from me!"

Skyward gave him a smile that belonged on a hungry manticore. "And one knows seven different ways to turn thee inside out within five seconds to a moment, so kindly close thy muzzle before one finds a needle and thread and sews it shut."

The guards exchanged looks--torn between showing their extreme amusement at the abrupt comeuppance the prince was getting and keeping their stoic masks in place--one of them coughed into his hoof but it sounded suspiciously enough like a badly stifled guffaw.

Shining Armor exchanged a stunned look with Cadence and his sister. "What the buck did Blueblood get himself into just now?"

Twilight Sparkle smirked as she sat back to watch. "The biggest plot-kicking of his life. Just watch. You wanted to know how good Skyward was in a fight, BBBFF? Well here's your chance."

Skyward could have been a glittering statue, for all she resembled as she coldly regarded Blueblood from across the throne room. Three nobleponies--two stallions and one mare trotted in, all of them gossiping about something or other. Two more guards brought in a rack of rapiers and the prince made a show of choosing the correct one, doffing his silk jacket and collar and handing them off to another guard.

Skyward rolled her eyes under her helm--every inch the foppish noble she had thought him to be. If her assessment was correct...

Twilight Sparkle watched her Haylian friend sharpen her sword and leaned over towards her mentor "Princess, are you certain this is okay? Skyward might kill him..."

Celestia shook her head minutely at her student. "You need to have more faith in her, Twilight. She won't kill him. You need to realize that while Skyward is indeed a pony who knows the ways of war; she also knows when not to kill somepony. You may want to disguise Skyward's shield, however..."

Twilight realized with a shock of fright that her mentor was right--Cadence however nudged her sister-in-law gently with one hoof, nodding at the shield in question. "I've got it covered, sweetie."

Faking a mighty sneeze, the tiniest bit of sky blue magic fell from Cadence's horn, turning red when it hit the carpet, and snaked over to Skyward, who was inspecting her sword, and testing its edge. Her shield was lying on the floor, thankfully facing away from the nobleponies and Blueblood, who had chosen a rapier and was now boasting to his fellow hangers-on about his assured victory. The tiny spark of magic connected with it..and since Skyward was sitting mostly in front of it nopony saw the glamour that shone over its surface.

Now it looked just like a regular oak and steel bound shield, no heraldry to speak of...not at least what the other ponies could see. To those that knew the truth, however...

They could still see it.

Satisfied with her sword's edge, Skyward picked up her shield and stretched her muscles, before she turned to address the group behind her. "Princess Celestia--art thou going to officiate the duel, or should thine celestial sibling do the honors?"

Celestia smiled, gesturing at her sister with one gilded hoof. "Luna, would you like to oversee this battle?"

The Moon Princess smiled broadly, bowing her head to her sister. "One wouldst be honored to do so. Skyward--from reading those reports on thine home from Twilight, one knows that death wouldst normally be the penalty for Blueblood's thoughtless words, considering that insulting the memory of an honorable warrior-mage is indeed a grave offense in thine own lands. Ye are in full right to claim a duel at the very least for thine mother's honor tarnished, however, Equestrian law prevents thee from claiming his head. Dost thou understand this?"

Skyward nodded her head, saluting Luna. "One understands, Moon Princess. This is not mine own land--as such, one must adapt, but that arrogant little foal must be taught a lesson."

"On this I have to agree," Celestia sighed as she looked at her nephew across the throne hall. "I fear it is my fault his abominable behavior and cruel nature has come to light and for that, Skyward--I offer my deepest apologies."

Skyward slipped her helm on, peering out at them through the eyeholes. "The fault not be thine own, Princess. Ye hath no say in how he decided on his own to what he hath become."

"THIS DUEL SHALT NOW OFFICIALLY COMMENCE! THE FIRST TO DRAW BLOOD SHALT BE DECLARED THE WINNER!"

The two combatants took their places--Skyward breathed in, out, and brought her sword and shield to the fore, pawing the ground with one armored hoof as she eyed the prince like predator would prey. Blueblood tossed his head disdainfully--but there was a trace of fear in his eyes; this armored mare looked like she meant business to be sure...

Luna raised one hoof, opening her wings as she looked between the two of them. "DUELISTS! BEGIN!"

Blueblood smirked to himself as he approached his opponent--he thought this was going to be a regular duel. A fancy bit of fencing and a bit of magic, little else, and since he was so good at it he knew he would win the duel for certain.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

The armored mare merely flicked her sword at him in a dismissive gesture--he glared and rushed her, which was his first mistake. She parried, threw him off balance, then gave him a nasty kick in the shin, definitely causing a bruise to form there. He shouted in pain, and hopped back a few paces, only to have her rush him to keep him off balance. She forced him to dance as she fired off bolts of flame and light from her horn, making him run back and forth to avoid them. He teleported...hearing the 'pop' off to her left she quickly stepped to one side and his own spell lanced past her, crashing into the wall of the throne room and shattering the stone. He all but squealed as she teleported and attempted to deliver a kick to his right flank--he shied away sharply, and barely managed to take a swipe at her with his own blade, which she dodged.

Skyward snorted inwardly and decided to end the duel quickly...she caught his rapier with her own sword and viciously twirled her own blade, forcing him to lose his 'grip' and drop the thin blade to the floor. He backed up, but she gave him absolutely no quarter as she followed up with shield bashing him harshly--he went down like a stunned ox, knocked him to the ground, pinning him beneath her hooves. She slapped his horn with one armored hoof--doing this to a unicorn prevented them from spellcasting for a few precious seconds--and she knew from experience it also did hurt quite a bit. Using the time she had bought herself, she raised her sword overhead, then sent it screaming downwards in a grand arc...

The tip of her sword slashed his cheek, just enough to loose blood from the fissure, which stained his cheek fur pink as it flowed--and it visibly stained the tip of Skyward's blade. Seeing this, Luna raised a hoof to the ceiling, shouting the end of the duel in the Royal Canterlot Voice.

"FIRST BLOOD HATH BEEN DRAWN, BY SKYWARD! THIS DUEL IS OFFICIALLY OVER; SKYWARD IS DECLARED THE WINNER!"

Twilight Sparkle, Cadence and Shining Armor were stamping their hooves and cheering for the victor as Skyward moved off of him; she disdainfully cleaned her sword on his white coat, before returning her sword and her disguised shield to her back, brandishing the sword with a flourish before sheathing it with a 'click'. The guards--some of them were stifling laughter, others were nodding at their fellows with badly disguised glee and approval--one even brohoofed his partner, who gave an emphatic nod of his own. She did not turn her back however, merely watching the beaten prince rise to his knees as a few doctors converged on him to look at the shallow cut Skyward had made with her sword. Blueblood glared at her--the molten fury in his azure gaze at being publically humiliated and shown up in front of his sycophants was clear. If looks could kill--but, ah well. Semantics.

"I swear when this heals you will pay for this, you insolent little..."

"You shalt do no such thing, Blueblood. That goes for the lot of thou, as well," Luna snapped, turning to look at the other astounded nobleponies with a glacial stare. "I know for one thing I wouldst have had taken more than that if he insulted mine mother, who also is mine sister's mother, who is indeed, deceased..."

"I would have never insulted your mother, Auntie Luna!"

A hoofstomp that rattled the stained glass windows in their frames resounded through the hall. "Dost that give thee the right to insult the mother of this warrioress here? The mare who trained and raised her to follow in her hoofsteps, before fighting in a glorious battle to save her filly and the price exacted was her own life?" Luna snapped in response.

This wasn't exactly the truth, but Luna decided to run with it--after all, she knew Skyward's mother had been a talented battlemage indeed.

Celestia descended from her throne, giving her nephew a very disappointed look. "Nephew, you have much to think about. That cut will indeed heal--most likely with a scar, but you will always remember how swiftly you were beaten whenever you look in the mirror. Perhaps this is a lesson you need to mind your tongue, hmm? Oh, and by the way..."

Blueblood turned to look at his aunt, who suddenly fixed him and his entourage with the most frigid stare imaginable. When she spoke, it was as if the sun itself had decided to hide behind a cloud. Permanently.

"What has happened in this room goes no further than the doors of this chamber. If we hear even one little word, one little spate of gossip--you can be certain we will be making 'corrections' of our own--and also to your titles and wealth, should any of this reach outside ears. This duel was demanded in private, and as such, it shall remain private; in every sense of the word."

Murmurs of assent filled the hall, and the nobleponies left, Blueblood trailing behind them. He glanced back over his shoulder as the strange armored mare turned her head to address one of his aunts, then glancing up at one of the many stained glass windows that decorated his aunts' vast throne hall; yet her position put her right in front of one of the higher smaller windows that allowed for ventilation and light, not that the lamps and such like didn't do the job just fine.

The sunlight gently filtered through the window, washing the mare in golden radiance. Her armor shone fiercely, like hundreds of finely cut diamonds, and her mane and tail shimmered--royal blue silk interwoven with the deepest of indigo satin. Her bluesteel coat--what he could see of it from her face fur anyway, glowed, even though at this point she did have sweat matting her fur. She turned her head, sensing his gaze on her, and those royal blue eyes narrowed fiercely at him, an indomitable fire burning within their depths. It all but screamed defiance and an untamable spirit. He turned and walked away, the doctors still fussing over the cut on his handsome muzzle, but those incredible eyes, that piercing gaze was lodged permanently in his brain.

And he couldn't for the life of him figure out why.

The doors of the throne hall closed behind him with a dull boom, and the guards were actually looking at Skyward with more than a little respect. She didn't notice--she was busy cleaning her sword and checking her armor, only looking up when Shining Armor approached her and thumped her on the back--soldier to soldier. "That was amazing! Twily was right when she told me you're a great fighter."

Skyward saluted him in the Canterlot fashion, which he returned. "Please, Your Highness--that spoiled princeling was not a challenge. Waste of mine time in all honesty, but he did insult the honored memory of mine mother and I wilt not stand for such foalishness."

"Still--" Cadence chose to interject here, giving the Haylian mare an approving nod-- "You put Blueblood in his place and without killing him. He'll remember this defeat for a good while."

Skyward glanced around, knowing the guards were still in here, and she spoke in low tones, the Princess leaning forward to hear. "I wouldst hath taken no pleasure in killing him, Princess. He could spit upon one's name all day; I've known, seen worse than he, believe me---High Chancellor Gilded Lock couldst give him stiff competition to be sure. But he dared to insult mine mother--a renowned mage in her own right--and she being one of the honored dead...well..."

She let the sentence trail off, and Cadence nodded her head. "Yet he did get what was coming to him. I suspect Auntie was about to let him have it sooner or later, what with that fiasco at breakfast this morning. Poor Miss Lily Bud..."

Shining Armor snorted, shaking his blue-streaked forelock from his face. "I'd say he'd got off lightly--I would've made him go through a full dressing down followed by scrubbing the toilets in the barracks for the next two weeks without magic for that show of disrespect."
Skyward, Cadence and Twilight exchanged looks and snickered behind their hooves--the very thought of the stuck up unicorn prince forced to clean toilets without magic was priceless.

Skyward removed her armor and weapons at Celestia's gentle insistence...Luna warded the chest for her, and Celestia sent it to her chambers with her magic for safekeeping. Knowing she wouldn't wear a dress, Applejack had gotten Rarity to make Skyward a Haylian tunic and a cloak for her to hide the fact she had no cutie mark as of yet, and explained away the dress situation by saying: 'She'd feel more comfortable in those, ya know? Besides, Haylian fashion might be fun to try--so why not make a tunic or two first before ya start on a dress? Ya know--foal steps."

The cloak was a soft cream white on the inside, cornflower blue on the outside--a reversible cloak depending on the outfit the pony was wearing. The tunic was clearly crafted for a female--elegant, but at the same time it lent an air of authority. It was cornflower blue trimmed in gold--colors that set off Skyward's own color scheme and brought out her fur hue. The cloak was almost floor length, but it lent her an aura of mystery as well as power.

They sat in one of the private palace gardens for luncheon; Luna looked very sleepy eyed, and Skyward professed her apologies for keeping her awake at this hour, to which Luna waved it off airily with a smile (and another bite of strawberry cupcake). Luncheon consisted of a creamy onion and leek soup, served chilled, fresh bread and butter and preserves, freshly diced fruit salad, a delicate olive and celery mélange, mushroom steak sandwiches done to everypony's tastes, and all kinds of sweet little desserts from tarts, mini cakes and pies, honeyed fruit with whipped cream--

And of course, everypony chose their own beverage.

After lunch, Luna needed to bow out to sleep since she did have duties when the sun went down; Twilight Sparkle went to go spend time with her brother and her sister in law; and visit her kin. So from that, Celestia decided to show Skyward about the castle--the gardens, the royal library, the views from the spires and the towers; even showing her the School for Gifted Unicorns where Twilight had gone.

Skyward gazed upon the near angelic capital of Equestria and sighed heavily. "If only mine home were as peaceful as thine own, Princess. Hayrule has always been at war, and for what? Never mind the most current---Hayrulean history hath always been stained with blood."

Celestia gently draped a snowy wing over Skyward, giving her a solemn nod. "Yet it is ponies like yourself who seek to bring your home out of the shadows and into the light, Skyward. Without that, your homeland would truly be lost. Take heart in the fact that someday soon Hayrule may too know the peace Equestria does have."

It was getting late by this point--dinner was served in Celestia's private chambers, and Skyward was given a suite in the castle, since Twilight was staying with her kinfolk. Skyward relaxed into the soft bed, staring up at the ceiling before she sighed and rolled over, closing her eyes...
From the waking world did she slip into the world of dreams. Like any night before, she figured she would dream of home as she had done ever since she had gotten here.

But that was not to be. Not this night...

Revelations Of The Past

"Skyward!"

Skyward mumbled and rolled over, pulling the blankets over her head. "G'way, Golden--I told you not to wake me afore the twelfth bell, 'tis my day off..."

"Skyward! It is I, thine princess! Awaken, my pupil, heed me!"

Skyward's eyes snapped open and she shot up in bed---wait.

She wasn't in a bed. All around her were stars--above her head, below her hooves, and surrounding her from all sides. It was as if she was standing in the midst of a field of them--this place was downright mystical. Stars and spheres of misty light swirled around her, astral mists playing and wafting near her hooves. Also here...she was without her armor. She looked around, frowning when she did not see her mentor.

"Princess Zelda? Where art thou? One hears thee, answer!"

"I am here, my dear pupil and friend." Skyward turned around and saw Zelda waver into solid relief. The Haylian alicorn was smiling as she approached her student, but Skyward lowered her head into a defensive position, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Wait--tell me this--how didst one deliver a message from mine sire to thee?"

Zelda only smiled at her student. "Ye snuck into the castle, fooled mine guards until the end--and picked a rather amusing but impressive battle with Golden Marble, Shatter Point and Thunderous Maelstrom until I saw thine message."

Skyward relaxed, smiling as she let her mentor come forward and hug her, pulling her up from the ground when she went to bow. "Oh, my dear sister in arms...one is glad thou lives! I feared the worst when those two vile hags banished thee."

"How art thou able to contact me? One is worlds away--I am in a different land altogether," Skyward asked, and Zelda shook her head. "It took me much time and research and with the aid of ancient tomes, but...one hast managed the feat. Still--what is this?"

Princess Luna suddenly wavered into view herself, pausing when she saw Skyward and the strange white alicorn near her, and cocked her head--this was a dream but by the same token, something about this entire situation was off. Zelda, upon spotting Luna, instantly took a defensive stance, lowering her head and her horn flared into a brilliant golden glow-- Only to have Skyward jump in front of the darker alicorn, waving her front hooves frantically.

"Princess Zelda--be not afraid! This is Princess Luna, Regent of the Moon and Stars, and the Keeper of Dreams. She, alongside her royal sister Celestia, Ruler of the Sun, rule this land I am residing in--'tis called Equestria. Understand she means thee no harm."

The Haylian princess glanced at her pupil, then regarded Luna carefully, who looked at her stoically. "She speaks the truth, Princess Zelda of Hayrule. I am indeed 'Keeper of Dreams' as she so puts it. So--we meet at long last."

Zelda bowed to Luna, who bowed back in return. "One meant no intrusion, Princess Luna. I wished to attempt to contact my most favored and cherished pupil--given her abrupt 'banishment' to thy lands."

Luna inclined her head. "Skyward is indeed a pony possessed of much courage and a heart of gold, Princess Zelda. Time and again hath she aided our subjects and not once hath she asked for any reward."

Zelda regarded her pupil with a soft smile as she walked over and gathered Skyward close with one wing to hug her. "One worried about thee so much, Skyward. Tis' a grand balm to mine soul to see thee safe."

Skyward hugged her teacher back before sobering and looking at the cerulean eyes of her mentor. "Princess...what now must one do? The Princesses art looking into mine situation, but I know not what is going on..."

Zelda sighed, her ears falling flat against her head. "We escaped Hayrule Castle Town, but not without many casualties to the innocent and the Guard. I dare not tell thee where I am now; understand, 'tis for the safety of one's subjects if not mine own."

"One understands, Princess. But what of the legends? Where is the Hero of Time?"

"That shall be explained soon enough. But, what thou should know is this; Ganondorf did not appear directly, but one suspects he has the Triforce of Power, given that a great barrier of immense power hath appeared round Hayrule Castle itself."

Skyward snarled and stamped a hoof. "Damn it thrice over! Curse that sandblasted son of a chimera! Where is Time Link when one needs him?"

Zelda flicked one wing, the rustle of feathers getting Skyward's attention. "Skyward, heed me--there is something one must tell thee."

The Haylian mare nodded quietly, watching her mentor, Luna watching them with curiosity and intrigue. Zelda crossed to her student, and nodded at her blank flank. "Hast thou always wondered why thine cutie mark had never appeared? Even though thy art a full grown mare by now?"

"Aye. I've tried almost everything short of a civilian's life, Princess...one is near at one's wits end..."

Zelda took a deep breath--Luna raised an eyebrow at the sudden nervous look the Princess had on her face. It reminded her of Celestia bingeing on cake at midnight and being caught red-hoofed. " 'Tis because when thou wast only seven years of age, did in truth thou earn thy cutie mark. There was a raid of Ganondorf's monsters assaulting thy village--thine brother Tempest Wing had a broken wing, and ye picked up his wing dagger to defend him even though thou were not yet a seasoned fighter. Ye had courage, my dear Skyward...courage enough to face down a hungry Like Like that was intent on devouring thine brother. You were willing to die to protect thine wounded sibling...and you blasted the monster with a mighty burst of magic from thine horn."

The princess looked down, sadness and sorrow touching her visage. "Thou won the battle, and won thine cutie mark in the process...but when thine father saw it, he summoned me immediately..."

Skyward pricked her ears forward--she could hardly believe her own ears at what Zelda was telling her. "So...so Father knew? All this time I had mine mark and he...he hid it from me?"

Zelda shook her head at her student, who looked betrayed, hurt and angry all at the same time. Luna couldn't blame Skyward for looking so angry--hay, she knew what it was like to have secrets kept from her. "Listen to me now. He wanted to tell thee, that thy had earned thine mark. However--if all the village knew, if anypony knew...thine village would had been the first to fall to Ganondorf's sword. Because if anypony had found out that you bore this..."

Zelda's horn glowed, and the thin beam of light that lanced from it struck Skyward's flank. It didnt burn, or hurt...the light simply expanded over her entirely, shrouding her in golden light. With a 'pfff--zot' it burst into a thousand glittering stars--revealing Skyward. Nothing about her had seemingly changed--except for one thing.

On her flank were three golden triangles, just like Zelda had...only, unlike the princess's mark, two of the triangles were empty; the top and and left bottom one were only golden outlines. However, the right bottom triangle was filled in...and it was glowing; a soft golden light radiating from the triangle itself.

Needless to say---Skyward was completely at a loss for words. She sat down hard on her flank, a spacey expression on her face, her breath coming uneven in her lungs. Zelda sagely nodded at her student, and Luna stared at the ongoings with her mouth slightly open in shock at this revelation.

"With powerful glamours did I hide thine cutie mark, Skyward; for thou possesses the Triforce of Courage. Thine father was sworn to secrecy, and I blocked thine brother's memories of thee getting thine mark so he would not be able to say anything to anypony either."

"Am I...is Time Link...mine...mine ancestor?"

Zelda shook her head in the negative. "Nay and aye, my dear student. Ye are not Time Link's direct descendant...but thine bloodline does stem from Time Link's brother, so it would make thee Time Link's five times over great niece."

Skyward got up and began pacing--as was her habit when she was nervous. "His...he had a brother!?"

Zelda regally nodded. "Two of them in truth, both younger than he by two years, since they were twins. One was a pegasus named Wind Waker, and the other was a unicorn named Skyward Sword. No one knows where Time Link vanished to, not even his own kin back then--but Skyward Sword and Wind Waker had adventures of their own, yet they in time returned to Hayrule. Ye were named after thine many times over grandsire--almost the same coloration he was too, yet he did not have indigo in his mane, that thou most certainly got from thine mother."

Luna interjected here, knowing Skyward had just been hit with the mother of all 'destiny bombs' and likely needed time to think.

"Princess Zelda, if she is indeed the chosen of Farore, then how is she to complete her fated task when she is here in Equestria? We are trying to find a way to be able to send her back, yet we must admit we art having little success..."

Zelda held up a hoof. "Princess Luna--one shalt aid thee and thine celestial sister with this task. However, understand this-- Ganondorf's forces have been seeking young stallions born no less than seventeen years ago--to slay them all, in case one of them is Time Link's descendant. He does not know about Time Link having two brothers, and the possibility one of their lines sired the Hero...or in this case, Heroine of Time. I do not want him knowing about Skyward until 'tis too late for him to react."

Luna nodded, but then her brow furrowed. "And how wilt this affect Equestria? Mind, one must hath one's sister speak with thee about this as well--in Equestria, we hath two thrones, not one--she rules the day, I rule the night."

Zelda put a hoof to her chin, thinking hard before she nodded. "Wouldst' thine sister be agreeable to another meeting a week from tonight then? There are things we must discuss--for now, Skyward, thine cutie mark must remain hidden."

Skyward looked at her mentor, anger and hurt clear in her royal blue gaze, but before she could spit an acidic retort, Luna quickly moved forward, giving the clearly angry Haylian mare a hug. "One knows how thou feels, Skyward. Ye had no control over thine life from the moment thy earned thine mark, and thought all was plotted against thee. But..."

Luna pulled back to look the upset mare in the eyes--turquoise to royal blue. "Allow one to ask ye this. Is thine princess evil?"

Skyward shook her head no.

"Is she malicious?"

Again a mute negative, and Luna pressed forward. "Is she a good ruler?"

Skyward all but exploded this time. "Of course she is! Hayrule prospers under her hoof; one knows she cannot be everywhere but that is what I and my comrades are for! Yet it seems that one could not even bear to tell one the truth!"

Luna gestured at Zelda, who silently stood there, sadly regarding her pupil--she genuinely did not want to hurt her student's feelings, but hurt they had been.

"Think thou this--she saved thee and thine kin, thine village. Ganondorf is looking for thou--looking to put thee to the sword, so he cannot be slain and Hayrule restored to peace! He seeks to break the cycle--break it further so he ultimately lords over all! Thine mentor hid thy mark and sent thee here--those two unicorn hags ye told me and mine sister about? One wonders if they were trying to send thee to Ganondorf so ye could be slaughtered!"

Luna's eyes pierced Skyward's own with a truth the Haylian unicorn could not ignore. "Zelda does indeed lament her actions--she never wished to hurt thee. She clearly considers thee like blood kin. But she hath a point. Thine cutie mark must remain hidden--until we all can find a way to weaken the wretch without alerting him to thine presence before 'tis time for him to be removed!"

Skyward was silent for a time while she processed this, then she spoke anew. "How...how can one defeat him while one is here?"

Luna tilted her head regally at her. "We three shalt discuss it and then we shall let thee know once we have the answers. Until then, ye must keep a low profile...or as much as thou can, at any rate. Know this--glamour thy shield; ye must hide, remember this. Blend in as much as thou can."

Zelda came forward, tentatively furling a wing over Skyward. "One understands if thou art angry with me. But please--Luna is right. This was all done to ensure that cursed sand demon could not find thee."

Skyward closed her eyes--she was angry, and had every right to be. But what Zelda and Luna had said made perfect sense. She bore the Triforce of Courage--she was the Hero of Time whether she liked it or not. "...One will admit one is angry. But...ye speak with Nayru's own voice, both ye and Princess Luna. Yet...one has one small request, Princess..."

"Aye?"

"...Find my family, mine village if thou can and make sure they do not fall to the blades of the Gerudo, or traitors within thine royal court. Ye should know Gilded Lock hath a hoof in thy having to flee the castle--Shatter Point found evidence of his wrongdoing before the attack began."

Zelda nodded her head at her student. "Of course one shalt do so. Also, I have something for thee, Skyward. Something that may help thee while thou is in Equestria. However, be very careful with them...these are powerful relics that passed to our hooves when thine uncle Wind Waker and your grandsire Skyward Sword died."

"And these relics are...?"

Zelda reached under one wing and pulled out a short white rod, capped with gold at the bottom and top. The rod had a strange orb placed at its tip however...it was pure white but with four odd symbols on it...each symbol facing North, South, East and West. The Northern one was blue in color and had the symbol of a crystal on it. The Southern one was red and it had the shape of a red sun on it. East was green and had four new clover leaves on it, and West was orange-yellow with a single autumn colored leaf on it.

All three of them could sense the power in the rod, and Skyward tentatively took it in her magic.

Then Zelda removed something else from the other wing--it looked like a harp. One side was red, the other side, blue. A series of translucent strings adorned its center, and linking the lot at the top was a tri pronged golden shaped ornament that held it all together, a green jewel in its center.

"This is the Rod of Seasons, and that is the Harp of Ages. I entrust them to thee, Skyward--after all, 'tis thine inheritance from thine long deceased uncle Wind Waker, and thy grandsire, Skyward Sword. Use them only if thou are in most dire need. Ye must stand on a tree stump to unseal its power. Swing the rod in the desired direction to unleash the season in question. As for the Harp--try to not use it unless circumstances are in truth, dire."

Luna looked at the rod and back at Zelda questioningly. "Why woulds't think she wouldst need such a thing? Equestria's seasons are regulated very well on their own. And as for the Harp--time is a very tricky thing to mess with; history itself coulds't very well be changed. Why take such a risk?"

Zelda looked grimly at the darker alicorn. "Because Ganondorf may try to open portals to thine land; he hath been trying to open portals to other worlds, so my sources hath said--and if he does, he will send evil beasts through as scouts to see if he too can conquer this land. Understand, using the Rod of Seasons and the Harp of Ages will enable Skyward to be able to seal those portals. For example, if he opens a portal in a land to the south, and she is unable to reach the portal's location due to a raging river? If she changes the season to 'Winter', she will be able to reach it over the river that is now entombed in ice, dost thou see? Or, if the portal is too strong by the time she reaches it, if she uses the Harp, and goes back to the past to prevent it from opening..."

Luna slowly nodded, seeing the truth to the Haylian alicorn's words. Zelda continued, gesturing at the Triforce mark on her flank, which glowed softly. "What is more, the more portals she closes, the more it will drain him. Yes, the Triforce of Power is an infinite source, however, he is the channel for it..."

Luna's turquoise eyes lit up. "And if he dost not wish to overexert himself and perish...of course. Yes. One understands. But what if he suspects Skyward is here?"

Zelda shook her head. "He wilt not because he is seeking me now; he hath left the butchering of mine subjects to his forces. Which are being slaughtered in turn--this is why mine father sent some of his best guards to the villages of Hayrule years and years ago to train them in war's bloody ways, so even if one stallion dies, three more shalt trample the enemy underhoof. But one does so dearly wish that...that such training, such terrible measures was never needed..."

Zelda lowered her head--sadness and exhaustion touching her muzzle. The burden of a ruler was a heavy one indeed--Luna put a wing over her Haylian visitor and nodded solemnly.

"We understand thine plight--we too, know the heavy burden of a crown. However, we must cut this conversation short, one fears; dawn is coming, and with it, mine time too is ending."

Zelda nodded at the darker alicorn, sweeping one wing forward in a formal bow. "One is eternally grateful to thee and thine sister for giving my precious 'sister' shelter during this dark time."

Luna smiled warmly in return. "Think nothing of it, Princess. Between friends, there is little that cannot be shared, and we are rightly glad to have her here. But we shall consult with one's sister and a week from now, we shall seek thee out in dreams...one wouldst think Skyward's own dream would be the focal point?"

Zelda nodded her head, her honey colored mane sweeping about her neck and forequarters. "Aye, it shall. Skyward..."

Skyward looked up from where she was examining the rod, and walked over to her mentor. Zelda regarded her for a long moment, then gathered her close, cradling her as if she was just a filly. "One is so sorry thou hast to bear this burden...I never wished to cause thee so much strife..."

Skyward leaned into her mentor's hold, tears stinging her eyes. "They hath a saying in Equestria...'A true friend is irreplacable,and forgiveness the cornerstone of friendships.' Ye did what ye had to do to save me and mine, and countless other ponies. One can forgive thee...Zelda."

Zelda hugged her student tightly, before pulling back to smile at her, before playfully giving her a headrub, which she ducked away from and playfully swatted at the princess in return. Luna gently but firmly cleared her throat, and Zelda pulled away, beginning to fade into luminous mist. "We shalt meet again, Skyward, Princess Luna! Within a week, one shalt see thee!"

And with those words the Princess of Hayrule vanished, leaving Skyward and Luna in the star strewn dreamscape. Luna looked at Skyward, who looked back at her in return.

"Skyward...or...what shalt ye be called now?"

Skyward shook her head. "Until this is over I cannot take a last name...or unless things are dire enough for me to reveal myself. But what can one do with these?"

Luna looked at the Rod of Seasons and the Harp of Ages and looked at Skyward. "As thine mentor hast said--Use them with great caution. We shalt keep an eye out for any strange portals or beasts we doth not recognize. Until a week from now during thine dreams...Heroine of Time. Now...awaken!"

Luna then faded into a constellation of stars, then vanished completely, leaving Skyward alone...until...

Skyward's eyes blinked open--once, twice...then she yawned and mumbled, rolling over to look out the window. False dawn--not yet true dawn...gods, getting up early sometimes really sucked plot. She winced when she felt something hard and elongated next to her in the bed and sighed in annoyance--had she left her sword on her bed again and forgotten about it before she went to sleep? But when she pulled back the blankets; all lassitude left her and her eyes widened in shock--for there lay the Rod of Seasons, innocently resting against the sheets. Looking about further revealed the Harp of Ages, lying against her pillow near her head.

It hadn't been a dream. Well, it had...but...the proof was in the pudding, or in this case, her own bed as it were!

She popped out of bed and ran to the mirror, checking her flank--

Nothing was there, but she bit her lower lip. The Rod and the Harp's presence was proof enough that Zelda had been telling the truth. She had inherited a legacy she had only heard about in stories and song...

And yet, now faced with the harsh reality of her weighty destiny, knew she never wanted this to happen. At all. How many had died in her absence?

"...Where didst you go, Time Link? Why didst thee abandon us?" she whispered harshly as she covered her face with her hooves and began to cry softly into them. The sun was to rise soon, gilding the room in gold and rose, but Skyward didn't notice any of it as she cried herself to sleep on the floor.

Moments passed--nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The blanket she had all but thrown off the bed suddenly dragged itself over and draped over the exhausted mare, a pillow inching its way under Skyward's lifted head by means of two hooves...translucent ones at that.
It was a pony--but a ghost of a pony. He wore a green tunic and matching cap with a long trailing end to it. He had a pale tan coat, deep cerulean eyes, a bright blond mane, and bore the same cutie mark on his flank Skyward had--clearly an Earth Pony from the looks of him. He looked sadly down at his brother's daughter, brushing her mane out of her face.

"Courage, mine niece...thou art never alone. Ye have great allies in this land--draw on their strength," he whispered before he faded away into nothing, the sun fully shining into Skyward's room and showing no trace of the ghostly visitor.

So deeply was Skyward asleep, she never heard the knocking at the door of her room...

Nightmare Night, What A Fright...

When Skyward awakened, she realized to her chagrin it was nearly afternoon. But when she got up off the floor and winced, stretching and shaking herself out, she saw the Rod of Seasons and the Harp of Ages on the bed still, and her shoulders slumped. How the hay was she going to explain this one? She walked over and picked up the Rod of Seasons in her magic, staring at it...the hay was she was supposed to do with this thing?

And as for the Harp of Ages...

She sighed--what was her mentor thinking? What was she supposed to do with these?

"Atop a tree stump," she muttered, and sighed as she put it on the bed, burying her face in the covers. Her ears flattened and she growled as she put the Rod aside and picked up the Harp...

Though she held it in her magic, she didn't dare pluck the strings. This was a dangerous relic indeed. She grabbed a spare tunic and wrapped the harp carefully, sticking it in her saddlebags and securing it tightly.

"Pray I never need to use thou," she muttered as she ran a silver brush through her mane and tail. A rap at the closed window made her whirl around, stuffing the Rod of Seasons under the bed before she looked outside.

It was Princess Luna, who let herself in by means of her magic. Once she was inside, the Night Princess closed the windows and the drapes, and looked at Skyward with a somber mien. "I trust thou knows why I am here."

Skyward grimly nodded and glanced at her bare flank. Though she could see nothing, she turned and pulled the Rod of Seasons out from under the bed. "...One cannot believe this, Princess...this...this is insanity incarnate...I...I cannot..."

Luna looked upon her with a compassionate eye. "But thou art. Thou art the very hero that thy kingdom sings legends of. That lore and legend and song hath kept immortal throughout the ages. Skyward. Understand that my sister knows, and we will help you anyway we can.
For now, blend into our kingdom, and learn our ways. I suspect it may be more than a week, given the vile fiend is seeking thy Princess."

Skyward looked up at Luna, eyes wide. "But I..."

Luna shushed her, giving her a stern look. "Thou canst do anything for thy Princess, but thou can do something to protect Equestria. If his evil does manage to breach between realms, thou art our sole line of defense. Mind, we shalt bring our own troops into play if thou needs aid, but understand, one knows wishes to keep this quiet."

Skyward turned to look towards the window, her tail flicking from side to side. She closed her eyes, sighing heavily before she turned towards Luna. When she opened her eyes again, they were hard and resolute. "What must I do?"

Luna crossed to her and put a hoof on her back. "Listen to me. Mine sister and I wilt keep an eye and ear out for trouble. Should we need to tell thee...we shalt send a message through Spike."

Skyward looked surprised, raising an eyebrow at the moon princess. "...Thou wish the others to know?"

Luna nodded at her. "This is not the sort of secret thou shouldst keep from them, Skyward. Besides, they may be able to aid thou in thy quest."

Skyward stamped a hoof on the floor. "How? They art not trained for battle! They know not how to kill---I fear for them if they run into any sort of creature from mine own home..."

Luna chuckled at her. "Do not underestimate Twilight and the others, Skyward. Thou wilt see that in time. I shalt craft thee a spell that, when thou art in need of the Rod or the Harp, thou shalt be able to summon it when thou needs to use it."

Skyward's ears laid back as she looked at the innocent looking instrument lying on the bed, giving it a wary look. "One hopes one shalt never have to use the Harp of Ages--time is a dangerous thing to trifle with."

Luna nodded quietly at her. "One wouldst suggest thou study Equestria's history thoroughly, so thou dost not make any mistakes if thou needs to go back in time. There seems to be something sticking out of the harp's peak, methinks..."

Skyward walked over, retrieving the harp and plucking out the tightly rolled yellowed piece of parchment stuck in the Harp's ornamental piece at the top. There was clearly a strong enchantment on the parchment to keep it from crumbling away if touched or 'moved'. She unfolded it to reveal a series of horizontal lines and dots on the lines, each dot placed at different intervals while they went up and down. There was also writing under the dots and lines---the message was written in Haylian.

To mine grandson or granddaughter

If thou hast found this, it means that I, Skyward Sword, brother of Time Link, hath passed on, and the Harp of Ages is now yours. But be warned--by playing this harp, thou wilt be sent back in time...but thou must focus on how long thou wish to go back in time while thou art playing this song. This song above this missive is the Song of Ages. Playing this shalt result in creating a Time Portal, which shalt lead thou into the past. Playing the song again shalt return thee to thy current time; though 'tis better to return the way thou came, so not to leave 'loose ends'.

Skyward Sword

Skyward put the old letter down, looking bemusedly at the harp, and at the song's notes. Royal blue eyes flicked over the notes, her head bobbing a bit as she counted tempo and rhythm. "....One should copy this song, and practice on a regular lyre, just in case."

Luna nodded. "Be careful, however. I hath been reading some of the books related to thine world--it seems certain songs hath great power, even if played on a regular instrument."

The Haylian mare nodded somberly--she started when she heard bells ringing outside, then when she glanced at the timepiece in the room, she groaned. "Nayru's sapphirine horn--what a terrible guest one must be..."

Luna only chuckled, giving her a wink. "I informed mine sister of our meeting and told the others to let thou sleep in, do not fear."

Skyward sighed as she sat on the floor. "What didst thee tell the rulers of the Crystal Empire? And Twilight?"

The Moon Princess regarded her with a calm gaze. "Thou shalt have to tell Twilight and the others...as for Cadence and Shining Armor, Celestia likely hath informed them of recent events. Fear not--they know how to keep a secret."

Skyward sighed heavily. "I fear one of thine own kin finding the truth. He certainly has grudge enough to do so--private duel or not, he is a serpent in pony's clothing."

Luna arched an eyebrow, then nodded. "Celestia is keeping a very close eye on him after that fiasco, do not doubt. But! Enough of such somber matters. Are ye planning on attending Nightmare Night? For when Twilight and thou return later this day, the festivities shall soon commence when night falls."

Skyward nodded her head. "Aye, I am. Mine costume is...well..."

Skyward looked embarrassed, and Luna grinned at her. "One cannot wait to see it when we come to Ponyville. And fear not, Skyward. Enjoy thyself whilst thou art here. Who knows? Mayhap you may make more than just friends in Equestria..."

(Luna, thou art indeed wise, powerful, beautiful and kind, but what art mine chances of THAT happening to me?)

Skyward snorted softly as she shrugged into the costume Rarity had made for her. She was thankful it wasn't a dress...but....

(Hero of Time...bah, now one actually LOOKS the part!)

Rarity had changed the coloration from the normal green tunic and funnel cap to a cornflower blue--it in truth looked like Zora Armor, what with the tiny blue gems she had painstakingly sewn onto the tunic and the finned funnel cap, giving it a 'scaled' appearance. The cloak she had added to hide Skyward's 'blank flank', and Twilight had cast an illusion on Skyward's sword to make it look like the Master Sword.
She looked at herself in the mirror, sighing softly as she picked up her sword and shield in her magic and placed them on her back. She adjusted her tunic and turned to walk down the stairs from the guest bedroom, where Twilight and Spike were waiting for her. They had returned from Canterlot just as the sun was beginning to set, and it was very nearly time for Nightmare Night to begin proper.

Spike gave her a thumbs up when he saw her costume. "Hey hey! Not bad, Sky! You could pass for Time Link himself! Just missing the mane and tail and fur color though."

Skyward shrugged, looking wry and Twilight nodded her head, lighting her horn and giving her a grin. "You sure you don't want the blond mane and tail...?"

Skyward's eyes widened and she shook her head frantically, Twilight and Spike laughed as all three of them left the Golden Oaks Library.
"So where art we headed?"

Twilight beamed at her Haylian friend. "Right here in town--Applejack's got a few events going for Nightmare Night at Sweet Apple Acres too; pumpkin carving event, apple bobbing, a corn maze...you'll see, it's all going to be so much fun!"

"Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give me something sweet to bite!"

Skyward smiled, hearing the chant from young fillies and colts as they walked about in costumes gathering candy and treats--ranging from princesses to sailors, pirates to ghosts and mummies to musicians...

"Hey, Skyward! Awesome costume! You really do look like Time Link! Only...bluer."

Skyward snorted in amusement at Rainbow Dash, who was dressed up as a warrior--she wore dark leather armor and tight boots, her mane and tail tied back and she held a chakram under one wing. Twilight Sparkle had dressed up as a Roman guardspony, Fluttershy looked like a vampony, wearing fake bat wings over her normal feathered ones, with red eyes and tufted ears, her usually soft mane and tail looking rather unkempt, and she had fangs--likely an illusion of some sort. Rarity was dressed like a merpony, Pinkie Pie was dressed like a turkey, much to their amusement, and Applejack was dressed like a scarecrow. Spike looked like a pirate captain, mustache and all, even giving himself the 'pirate accent' when he spoke.

When they reached Ponyville, everypony had turned out for the event, all of them laughing, trading jokes, grabbing cups of punch or cookies, cupcakes, pie or cake, apples, the foals running about, and the screams from some areas of the town...
Skyward had to rein in the urge to not go running off after the screamers, since this was Nightmare Night and also a night for pranks as well as laughter and cheer. The cries were not of true fear or that of a pony threatened with certain death, after all, but old habits died hard. Thunder rumbled overhead, and swirling black clouds filled the sky, creating a vortex high overhead of everypony. Lightning shot across the sky with mighty cracks, flashing menacingly as a frightening looking black chariot descended from the stormy skies, pulled by two thestral pegasi guards. Everypony shrank back at the terrifying display, foals running to hide under or behind adult ponies as the menacing looking chariot landed on the ground with nary a bump.

But when Princess Luna stepped out of her chariot, everypony burst into hearty cheering and applause. The Princess of the Night bowed to her subjects, before lifting one hoof and speaking in the Royal Canterlot Voice.

"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! WE THANK THEE FOR THY WARM WELCOME! WITHOUT FURTHER ADO; LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"

Cheering and more applause erupted from the gathered ponies as Nightmare Night officially began. The Night Princess spotted the Mane Six, Spike and Skyward, and smiled broadly as she came over, nodding in approval.

"Thou dost indeed resemble the Hero of Time, eh, Skyward?"

Skyward facehooved and shrugged, grinning nervously, but Luna slid her a knowing wink, since the others were too busy cracking up at the Haylian pony's discomfiture.

Skyward tried her hoof at spider toss, bobbed for apples, and laughed herself sick when Pinkie Pie blared an airhorn right behind Applejack, causing the farmpony to scream and run like blazes, losing some straw from her costume proper. Skyward decided to get Rainbow Dash back for the 'Hero of Time' bit...she hid behind a funnel cake stall and turned Rainbow Dash's chakram into a life preserver, and cackled behind her hooves with Applejack when somepony made a crack about her being a 'lifeguard'. Twilight however, turned her mane and tail blond when she wasn't looking, and she yelped in shock, chasing the other mare around before she had to stop from laughing so hard.

There was even a costume contest. She didn't want to participate though, but when Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all gave her 'The Eyes', she caved in and joined the line on the stage, sticking her tongue out at a laughing Rainbow Dash and Applejack. When it came her turn to show off, she displayed her swordsmanship, using her magic to enact the battle between Time Link and the spider monster Gohma, before she 'killed' the beast with a powerful jump attack from her sword, 'vanquishing' the monster. The foals cheered--Skyward smiled at them, saluting them with her blade before using her magic to teleport herself off the stage.

She came in second place, much to her surprise; she hadn't expected to win anything, really, and accepted the red ribbon with a quiet smile from Mayor Mare. She came down from the stage, and went to the refreshments table, getting a cup of punch for herself. As she drank her beverage she looked around...

Peace.
Joy.
Laughter.
Happiness.

All the things her own land had in scarcity. This reminded her of her fated task, and she sighed heavily, staring down at the remainder of her drink. Tell them, or not? She didn't want to put them in danger...

"Um--Skyward? Are you okay?" Skyward looked up to see Fluttershy, who looked worriedly at the Haylian pony. "One is well, Fluttershy. Just...just missing home."

Fluttershy nodded at her, getting a cup of punch for herself. "I'm so sorry. I'm sure you want to go home right away..."

"It...it is not that. Believe me, one loves it here. This--do you know how lucky all of thou art? Look about thou...no war, no having to watch your flank every time thou goest somewhere, no need to sing songs of battle..." Skyward put down her cup and looked at the ground. "War is all one has known. But 'tis why I fight. To give other ponies a peaceful future, one hopes."

Fluttershy regarded the mare and gave her a hug, which made Skyward stiffen--she wasn't used to displays of affection like this. But the butter yellow pegasus didn't let go, and pulled back to smile at her. "You've done a lot for other ponies, Skyward, but it looks to me like you're not doing anything for yourself. I think you need time to relax, and not be so hard on yourself. See--everypony--and I mean Twilight, Applejack...we want you to be happy too."

Skyward looked confusedly at Fluttershy. "Why?"

Fluttershy smiled warmly at the Haylian mare. "Because we're your friends, silly filly. Now, come on. Just forget about being a soldier for one night and come play with us!"

Skyward smiled, albeit a little sadly as she drank the rest of her punch and followed Fluttershy to the others. They participated in the corn maze--Skyward freaked out when a shadowy figure suddenly loomed out of a side passage and released an eerie sounding shriek--she twisted and bucked it...or tried to, as the figure ducked the strike.

"Hey, watch it!"

Twilight grabbed Skyward before she could charge Bon Bon, who had been playing the part of the ghoul hiding in the shadows. "Sorry, Bon Bon. Skyward's just been on edge tonight."

The Haylian pony mentally cursed herself--Din's breath, this was a night meant for fun, not fear! "Forgive me, Bon Bon. You...you sounded and looked like a creature from a tale I once heard, that is why I struck at you."

The pale yellow earth pony with the navy blue and pink curled mane and tail blinked curiously, forgetting her indignation as she came out from the passage. "Oh really? What kind of creature was it?"

"Worse than what thou hath dressed up as. Thou see...these creatures--they art driven by a ravenous hunger--tis all they know, it is said. They hath even chewed off their own lips because of this, and they are little more than emaciated skeletons, skin against bone, and as for eyes..."

Skyward shuddered openly, blowing out a breath. "One hath heard tales of their gaze--'tis said it can freeze a pony in place, and their scream is akin to hearing a rusted gate and claws against a chalkboard in unison. To be cornered by such a creature is certain death, mayhap even become one of them."

The other ponies looked at one another, their eyes huge, and Rainbow Dash leaned forwards. "Have you seen any of these?"

"Never...but one hath seen drawn caricatures of such things. 'Tis said that, deep within a dark temple, hidden within the confines of a town close to mine village...'tis said that is where the shadows sleep, where the dead dream, and the cries of the damned echo. To enter is to descend into the maw of madness itself."

Bon Bon shivered, and the others shuddered at the description. "Wow. I didn't know my costume was that good. Maybe I might do this again next year."

"Truly, one apologizes, Bon Bon..."

"Oh, don't worry about it! Oooh, you guys might want to run...I hear more ponies coming!"

"Here...may I see thy mask a moment?"

Confused, Bon Bon gave it over, and Skyward lit her horn, touching the tip to the eyeholes in the mask. Her horn flared silver twice, before she handed it back to Bon Bon. "There. Now thou shalt frighten the masses proper," she chuckled, and Applejack grinned.

"This I gotta see. Girls, let's hide over here."

Bon Bon quickly donned her mask, and the seven ponies plus one dragon hid in the shadows as two more ponies came by--Ruby Pinch and Mayor Mare. Bon Bon lurked in the shadows before she loomed out of the darkness....

Skyward's enchantment flared to life--a high pitched ear rending shriek filling the air when she screamed at them; an unholy cry of ravenous hunger and unending torment all rolled into one. The eyes blazed a demonic crimson, and the visage on Bon Bon's mask was little more than a rotting emaciated skeletal pony face, the rim of the pony's mouth gone in bloody tatters, pus and old blood oozing from rotted sores. Where short, blunt teeth meant for grinding vegetables had been, were now sharpened and rotten, and looked caked with decay and old blood.

Both ponies let out twin shrieks of unfeigned terror---Ruby Pinch practically wet herself before fleeing into the maze, dragging a paralyzed Mayor Mare behind her, who hadn't let go of her tail.

Bon Bon blinked, removing her mask as they came out from their hiding places. "...Wow. That was..."

Rainbow Dash slapped her hooves together, laughing. "Totally awesome! Wow! That was SUPER SCARY!"

"M-maybe t-t-too sc--scary," Fluttershy eeped, looking out from her mane at them, and Skyward looked sheepish. "I shalt remove it--but aye...that, is the visage of the vile creatures that lurk within the dark temple's confines."

Bon Bon shook her head however. "Remove it? No way! This is amazing! Ooop...here come more ponies--you all better scoot unless you want to be scared next?"

They scooted out of the maze, and Skyward shook her head, looking rueful. "Mayhap I should not have enchanted that mask..."

Twilight Sparkle nudged her. "No, it was nice of you to do that. But...do those things really exist?"

Skyward's answer was a grim, silent nod, and they all looked at one another as they exited the maze. Rainbow Dash sighed and nudged Skyward, who looked up at her. "Okay, spill it, sister."

Skyward blinked up at the rainbow maned pegasus. "What?"

Rainbow Dash snorted, giving her a poke with one hoof. "You've been acting pretty weird all night. You sure somethin' isn't chewing your tail? Never mind what you did for Bon Bon--which was pretty cool, by the way; but you were kind of spaced out earlier."

Skyward heaved a sigh--leave it to Rainbow Dash to prod at an open sore. But...Luna did have a point long earlier. They deserved to know. This land was, after all, their home. "Dost thou know of a place we will not be overheard?"

Rarity tapped her hooftip against her chin. "Perhaps by the Nightmare Night statue? The foals won't be delivering their tributes there just yet--they're listening to Zecora tell scary stories right now."

When they arrived at said clearing, Skyward glanced around---for now, the clearing seemed empty; it was just them and the statue of Nightmare Moon, and the tribute platter of candy and sweets. The others noticed her wary look and they too began looking about, as if trying to see/hear/smell anypony trying to eavesdrop.

Applejack pushed back her hat. "So what's this all about, sugarcube?"

Skyward took a deep breath, let it out, and removed the Rod of Seasons from her mane, showing it to the others. She'd left the Harp of Ages with Luna, telling her unless it was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to keep the Harp in safe hooves. Licking her lips, she began to speak. "Mine mentor contacted me in Canterlot whilst Twilight and I were guests of the Princesses, through the dream realm. Princess Zelda managed to find me, and inform one of matters going on at home."

Rarity smiled brightly. "But that is such wonderful news, Skyward! You must be so relieved!"

But Skyward's somber expression warned them not all was well. "One wishes it was so, Rarity. Princess Zelda is on the run--Hayrule Castle Town hath fallen, and a powerful magical barrier hath enveloped the castle proper. Though the town was evacuated, there were heavy casualties in civilian losses and in soldiers. Hayrule is on her last legs...Ganondorf's hoof lies heavy over mine land."

The others cried out in shock and dismay, and Skyward lifted a hoof, asking for silence. "Princess Zelda plans to contact the Royal Sisters a week from now, but that may actually take longer, since she is being hunted. And she...she revealed some very startling truths..."

The Haylian mare faltered, and she shook her head, stamping one hoof on the ground. Applejack came over to pat her shoulder in comfort. "C'mon, sugarcube. Ya can do it. Jus' say what ya got t' say."

Skyward opened her eyes and looked at them. "Remember when one told all of thou that I hath not earned mine cutie mark, and that I was not Time Link's descendant? Well...the Princess told me otherwise. One is, in truth--Time Link's many times descended great-niece. Mine ancestor Skyward Sword, was his younger brother."

Skyward conjured an image of her ancestor---he did look just like Skyward, but he had no indigo streak in his mane, only bluesteel fur, royal blue mane and matching eyes.

"So I am related to the Hero of Time. But what is more...I actually have mine cutie mark. But Princess Zelda hid it when I was seven seasons old, because of its nature, and the fact that Ganondorf's forces would have descended on mine village in a fury of fire and blood if they knew of it. I dost not expect any of thee to believe me..."

"Considering how you've been acting totally weird all night, you really wanted to tell us, right?" Rainbow Dash asked, and Skyward nodded mutely in reply.

Twilight Sparkle stepped closer to her, tilting her head. "So...she hid your cutie mark because..."

Skyward looked at the six mares and one baby dragon in front of her, tears pricking her eyes with salty heat. "Because I am the Hero of Time. The mark I bear is the Triforce of Courage."

Total silence reigned in the clearing, and Skyward began to turn around and walk away, tears pricking her eyes again. She hadn't expected them to believe her, much less understand...so why was she trying not to cry? Rarity trotted forward, getting in front of Skyward before she could vanish into the trees. "Now just a moment, Skyward--where do you think you are going?"

Skyward sighed as she tried to move around the white unicorn mare. "One understands if thou art angry and no longer wish me about. Fires of Din, how could anypony wish to believe one about this?"

"Now wait a second, Sky--we didn't say we didn't believe you," Spike spoke up, coming over to the mare and tugging on her tail. "I'll admit it's a bit much to swallow but--you've been honest with us from the start, and that's saying a lot about you."

"Besides, if you left us, it would really make us sad, and we'd miss you so much," Fluttershy stated, giving her another hug and making Skyward sniff back tears despite the 'tough pony' act she was trying to keep.

"Then we'd have t' come lookin' for ya an' drag ya back by yer ear if we had to," Applejack joked, but she nodded seriously at Skyward. "But Fluttershy's right. We ain't gonna abandon ya when things get rough."

"You got that right! Friends stick together no matter what, yanno? And we haven't even pranked half of Ponyville together!" Pinkie Pie laughed, playfully tackling the Haylian mare, giving her a hug--all six mares and one dragon came together in a group hug, Skyward at their center. Faced with the truth that they weren't going to abandon her, that they were in truth--her friends--Skyward broke down and cried into Applejack's mane, the other mares murmuring soothingly and Spike patting her withers in comfort, until she managed to calm down about twenty to thirty minutes later. Rarity offered her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes with, which Skyward accepted graciously, using her magic to cleanse it before giving it back.

"But there is another thing all of thou must know. And...one will warn thee. Thou must be prepared to fight--even kill, to protect thine lands. Understand the Princesses hath given their permission for me to tell thee this, and for all of thou to act as thee see fit."

"About what exactly, darling?" Rarity asked with confusion, and Skyward's gaze turned hard.

"The reason is because Equestria may come under attack from enemies from mine own world. Ganondorf has the Triforce of Power, and he now seeks the other pieces. He may seek to send creatures from mine world to this one, as scouts...if any strange creatures are found, end them instantly, or find a way to tell me so I can take care of it."

Applejack nodded, but then she also looked confused. "Ah don' get it. What's so important 'bout this...'Triforce' anyway?"

Skyward gestured at her bare flank, and then drew the symbol of the Triforce in the dirt with her sword. "Thou see, if anypony gets their hooves on the completed Triforce, he or she can make a single wish for their heart's desire, the Goddesses having no choice but to descend to grant the wish. However, if the Triforce is gained by one who hath not all three virtues in balance--Power, Wisdom and Courage, the pieces fly off to find their 'chosen wielders', the sole piece that stays with the pony that touched it is the one it most personifies. Once they hath gathered the two other pieces, they can make the wish. That dost not mean however, that making the wish is exempt to only one pony."

Fluttershy looked at the drawn mark in the dirt, then back at Skyward. "So...so you're saying you're the wielder of the Triforce of Courage?"

"Aye, because of mine bloodline through my ancestor, Skyward Sword, who was one of the original Hero of Time's kinstallions. That and clearly, Ganondorf personifies 'power'. Haylian lore sometimes states that he is in truth the Chosen of Din, Goddess of Power. But one cannot stress this enough--if thou find a creature you know not to be of Equestrian origin...kill it. Destroy it without mercy because one can tell thou all; I hath seen his forces kill innocents without reservation, and I will NOT let that happen here."

The Mane Six looked at one another--they knew Skyward wasn't joking, and this news was sobering indeed. Rainbow Dash flew up and pointed at the Rod of Seasons. "So what's this doohickey ya got there?"

Skyward shifted her 'hold' on the rod, turning it over to show them the symbols on the rod's 'head'. "This is the Rod of Seasons. Mine mentor told me it was mine inheritance from my long dead ancestors. There is another, in Princess Luna's safekeeping. I dare not use it unless there is nothing else to be done."

Pinkie Pie examined the rod curiously, sniffing at it and prodding it with one hoof. "So how d'ya use this thingy anyway?"

Skyward moved the Rod back towards her mane, which shrank down accordingly and vanished from sight. "I do not intend to use it unless I hath no choice, Pinkie. But with this rod, one can change the seasons at will, if standing atop a tree stump and swinging it in the cardinal direction associated with said season."

That got a reaction from everypony right there--Applejack looked thunderstruck, Pinkie Pie's eyes were wide as dinnerplates, Twilight looked like someone had just told her they had torn a book up by accident, Rarity and Spike wore matching expressions of 'No bucking way' and Rainbow Dash looked like someone had smacked her upside the head with a two-by-four. And Fluttershy looked utterly confused.

"Yer kiddin' me, right? Ya...ya can control th' seasons with that there rod?"

Skyward nodded quietly. "One does not intend to use it unless things are dire, Applejack. Understand...I wilt try to not use it near thy orchard, for obvious reasons. But know this--I will protect Equestria from Ganondorf's vile touch...and I swear to thou all here and now, on my uncle's Farore-blessed bloodline I wilt restore the proper season once the battle is over."

Twilight Sparkle moved forward, lifting a hoof, her eyes suspiciously bright. "Wait wait wait...you can control the seasons with that?"

Skyward's ears flattened a little. "Aye, one just said one could, but I shalt not change them now, and not here, not with so many ponies about. Princess Luna told me to tell ye all of about this as it is."

Applejack rolled her eyes and nudged Twilight with one hoof. "Twi, she ain't just gonna hop on a tree stump an' wave that there rod around. She's got a point, an' she ain't tryin' t' attract attention. This ain't somethin' we need t' be playin' round with; especially with harvest season so close."

Twilight pouted--it was obvious to everypony she wanted to test it out; given the magic of Hayrule was entirely different from Equestria's own; but the farmpony had a very good point. It was crucial that very few ponies knew about Skyward's true origins, and that included any relics she had gotten from her mentor. "Ugh...okay. But can I be there when you do have to use it?"

Skyward sighed, but nodded her head. "If I do need to use the Rod of Seasons, then aye. However, be fast on thy hooves, Twilight, for once I use it, I shalt not do so again until the time comes to change the season back to its proper cycle. Understood?"

The violet unicorn nodded, and Spike spoke up next. "Look, how about we just go and enjoy the rest of Nightmare Night? Besides, if we stay here too long, somepony might come looking for us."

As if Spike's words had heralded prophecy, the rustle of brush behind them made them jump--Skyward spun around, sword drawn; but it was only the foals, who had come to pay tribute to the statue of Nightmare Moon. One by one, they laid a small share of their candy on the platter, and backed away to let the others do the same. The group left the area proper, seemingly leaving the clearing empty. The wind blew over the grass and through the trees...but near the statue's base where the candy platter was laid, parts of the grass did not move. Cold orange reptilian eyes peered out of the darkness, a forked tongue flicking in and out of its scaled mouth, and its lips turned up in a sinister, fanged grin...

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

The mood in Ponyville should have been happy, festive, and practically jovial considering the Running of the Leaves was upon them, and also applebuck season was here. Harvest time had come and Winter was around the corner, meaning Hearth's Warming was also closing in. However, the headline on the front page of the Ponyville Tribunal was anything but jovial, along with the pictures there as well.

"MYSTERIOUS KILLER IN PONYVILLE! THREE DEAD--NO SURVIVORS!"

Skyward had seen the headline and had immediately wanted to go out and ask questions, but Twilight cautioned her against doing so, telling her this might rouse suspicion. A curfew had been placed since the killer only apparently struck at night and this had happened close to the eastern boundary of the Everfree Forest. The Haylian unicorn was re-reading the four day old article, her royal blue eyes scanning the paper with a scowl that could have frightened off a timberwolf. The article had denoted the corpses had bite marks that looked rather reptilian in nature, and they were wondering if it was the work of a young hydra or even a giant snake. There were also cuts made by a large blade--but Skyward had been asleep in her bed during the time of the attack, so she was in the clear, Twilight vouching for her since both ponies had indeed been asleep at that point.

She had a sneaking suspicion this was not the work of a pony--the blade cuts and the ravaged corpses looked a little too familiar. Hard scrutiny had fallen on the Diamond Dogs near the area to be sure, but they hadn't been active, mostly because of Rarity's reputation. The Haylian pony cursed under her breath as she threw down the newspaper and stalked outside--she was wearing full armor, her sword and shield on her back. She knew she was being watched because of this, but as she had stated to the police ponies, that if whoever was doing this tried to breach the Golden Oaks Library, they would find 30 inches of cold steel at their throat.

"Hey, Skyward!"

Skyward turned about to see Applejack at her stand near the library, and she trotted over with a friendly nod. "Well met, Applejack. I trust thine business is going well?"

The orange farmpony flicked her blond mane out of her face. "Well as it can be--it's slow today, but everypony's got a reason t' stay inside."
Skyward stomped an armored hoof. "Something dost not sit well with me about this, Applejack. Those cuts and the marks on the bodies...if one could get a closer look..."

Applejack shook her head. "Short of ya diggin' up th' bodies, sugarcube, ya ain't gonna get anywhere near that."

Skyward removed her helm, hanging it on her side before producing a couple of bits for some apple juice, which Applejack handed over. The Haylian pony sighed heavily--Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder. She knew her friend wanted to DO something--but she couldn't draw suspicion to herself, plus she was already under some scrutiny because of the fact she did have a shield and a sword. “One heard school was cancelled again for the younglings…did one of them spot the killer?”

Applejack shrugged as she pushed back her hat. “Dunno. Twist said she saw somethin’ movin’—they went near th’ Everfree Forest for a field trip today, an’ she said she saw somethin’ lurkin’ behind a tree. It was standin’ on two legs, not four like us ponies. Coulda’ been a Diamond Dog she saw.”

“When last one looked, Diamond Dogs do not carry swords, but lances, and most of them art thicker in the head than molasses in the dead of Winter.” Skyward snorted as she drank her juice, and Applejack guffawed heartily, earning a smirk from the Haylian mare.

The orange earth pony shook her head, brushing her blond mane out of her green eyes. “Huh. Thinkin’ I’ll pack up for th’ day. Too slow fer mah tastes.”

Finishing her juice, Skyward flipped the empty bottle away into a nearby trash bin and cocked her head at her friend. “Wilt thou be wanting any help?”

“Sure! Grab those apple baskets over there an’ we can git back t’ th’ farm.”

With combined teamwork, the two mares packed up her apple stand and made the journey back to the farm. It was eerily quiet, never mind the increased security from the Ponyville Police and the Canterlot Guard. Skyward kept an eye out on the brush and trees as they walked the wooded path back to Sweet Apple Acres.

The Haylian mare helped Applejack put her items and the stand away, and followed the earth pony into the orchard to aid her with applebucking. Having practiced on trees in the Everfree Forest prior to this catastrophe, she was able to now buck trees without needing to remove her hoof-cups first, but she was willing to do so if Applejack asked her to remove them.

“So, are ya free th’ next few days?”

“One should be, Applejack. None of the others need mine aid for anything, and Rarity hath no need for gems anytime soon.”

“Wait till’ Hearth’s Warmin’ comes around! There’ll be parties, singing, lots of amazing holiday treats… Hey, did ya wan’ t’ spend it with us? We’d love t’ have ya over!”

Skyward blinked, putting down an empty apple basket as she regarded the orange mare in surprise. “Art thou certain? One does not wish to be a bother, Applejack…”

“Nah! Ye’re more than welcome, sugarcube! Besides, we’re all gonna go to the Crystal Empire for Hearth’s Warmin’ Day…we can all spend time before Hearth’s Warmin’ proper!”

“What about the Diamond Dog problems they hath been having? Princess Cadence seemed quite worried—one wonders if it is safe to go to the Crystal Empire…”

“Ah, don’ worry ‘bout it none. She’s got Shinin’ Armor an’ the Crystal Empire backin’ her up, an’ if somethin’ does happen, Princess Celestia an’ Princess Luna’ll come t’ th; rescue.”

The Haylian mare was about to say something else, when movement out of the corner of her right eye alerted her to the fact they were not alone. She turned her head, almost lazily…and her eyes widened in shock—shock evolving to horror when she realized what it was.

Skyward spotted the creature before Applejack did...it was a bipedal lizard with green scales and evil looking orange reptilian eyes, well about a head taller than she was. It wore crude leather armor, but the sword it held was anything but crude. She roared and grabbed Applejack in her magic, teleporting her friend out of danger just as the sword came swiping down, cutting a few hairs off off Applejack's tail. The lizard hissed in anger at missing its target, only to have Skyward fire off a bolt of lightning at the vile thing. It ducked and snarled at her, flicking its tongue in and out as Skyward drew her sword and shield. She reared and charged at the lizard, who hissed at her as she approached.

Applejack stood under and to the left of one of her trees, staring at the large lizard with horror and disgust. "Wha...what th' HAY is that thing?"

Skyward leaped to the left as the lizard jumped at her, taking a big swing at her with its own weapon. Though it was quick on its feet it was obviously slow when it came to counterattacks--Skyward teleported behind it and slashed at its unprotected back. The lizard creature screeched in pain, greenish ichor staining Skyward's blade as she pulled away just as the lizard took a swing at her with its tail. She dodged the strike and parried another slash with her own sword, fighting it for dominance as she attempted a shield bash. The lizard however, swung its tail again and smacked her in the side, sending her sprawling against a tree, dazing her and she lay there, stunned for a few minutes. Hissing in triumph, the monstrous bipedal reptile closed in on its prey.

But the monster had apparently forgotten there was another pony close by. Applejack's fear and revulsion hadn't faded, but it had diminished, especially when she saw Skyward hit the tree and go down, clearly stunned from the strike...

Knowing Skyward needed her help, Applejack rushed the lizard...she twisted around and bucked the beast as hard as she could. This was no buck meant for kicking an apple tree--oh no, this was a strike meant to hurt. And hurt it did--there was a sickening crack when her powerful back hooves met the upper leg and knee joint of the bipedal reptile, followed by a wet snap and an ear-rending howl of agony.
The beast was unable to support itself on the injured leg, it was trying to stand, but could not. Applejack's kick had done more than shatter the kneecap and joint...there was also a jagged piece of bloodied bone also poking out of its thigh. It hissed at Applejack venomously, revealing rows of sharp teeth and a black forked snakelike tongue which flickered at her.

The farmpony pawed her left forehoof, waiting to see if the thing would try to rush her...

But just as it tried to lunge at her, it suddenly went down with an earthy thump, followed by the bonechilling sound of steel driving through flesh--the lizard screamed in pain, but it was quickly silenced, that same sword carving a bloody path through its neck, neatly severing its head from its body...

Skyward stood atop its back, sword stained in green gore, her shield bearing flecks of greenish scales, and she savagely stomped her hooves on its body a few times before she jumped off of the corpse and ran over to Applejack.

"Applejack! Art thou well?"

"Ye-yeah...Ah...wha...what was that...that thing?"

Skyward turned and glared at the body, lighting her horn--the corpse shimmered before it suddenly began to shake and quiver, a crackling noise filling both the ponies' ears, smoke rising from the carcass as she burned it from the inside out, turning it to ash.

"That was a Lizalfos. A bipedal lizard, possessed of great speed, but medium intelligence--thankfully this one cannot breathe fire like its cousins the Dinolfos. It can wield a sword and shield but it should be taken out from a distance, and 'tis easier to fight in a group. But 'tis as I feared--that Lizalfos should not hath been here."

Applejack looked at her friend in horror. "Ya mean t' say that..."

Skyward looked at the farmpony with a dark expression. "Aye. Lizalfos are beasts native to Hayrule--namely dark caverns, or heavily shadowed areas. If there art a portal here we must find it, and quickly. I must close it before more beasts come, or before anypony else dies or is hurt."

"Let's go find Twi. Maybe she can locate th' portal."

"I shalt go ask her. Ye need to warn thy kith and kin--tell them to stay inside, that the killer is near and caution shouldst be taken! Arm thyselves and remember—if they try to force their way in, show no mercy!"

Skyward galloped off, while Applejack ran off to find her brother and the farmhooves. The Haylian unicorn ran for Ponyville, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. She dashed over the bridge, dodged past Daisy with a hasty 'Pardon me!' and cleared a cart coming from the left with a powerful jump. Landing on the other side, she rushed towards the library and teleported clean through the doorway.

“TWILIGHT!” she bellowed, and was rewarded by a crash, a flurry of paper and several yelps. The lavender unicorn came out of the basement, looking confused and annoyed; with several pieces of paper stuck in her mane and a quill hovering next to her in a nimbus of magenta magic.

“Skyward, what in sweet Celestia’s mane are you…”

Skyward slammed an armored hoof against the floor with a resounding bang, her royal blue eyes hard as gemstones as she ripped off her helm to better address the lavender colored mare. “We've no time--Ponyville’s butcher hath been found and slain, but I suspect there art more of them. A Lizalfos was found in Applejack’s orchard; we just slew the vile beast, but thou must sound the alarm and lead the police and guards away from there. There may be a portal open…one must needs find it and close it, right away, before they find it first!”

Upon hearing this, Twilight was both horrified and gratified; gratified to know the killer had been dealt with, but horrified to know that enemies of Hayrule were indeed coming into Equestria.

“Spike! Skyward, should I send a message to the Princesses?”

“Not just yet. Pen one, but send it not. Mayhap if we art lucky; one can close the portal before anymore come through. One cannot stress this enough: get everypony inside their homes; alert Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy and prepare thyselves to kill anything that comes into this village that art not of Equestrian origin.”

Spike fidgeted, looking nervous, and he spoke up. “M-maybe we should tell the Princesses anyway. Just…just in case. I mean…not that you’re not strong or anything, Skyward, but…”

The Haylian mare regarded the young dragon thoughtfully as she straightened her armor and flicked her sword, testing its edge before sheathing it with a ‘click’. “What say thou, Spike?”

The purple dragon fidgeted before he looked up at Skyward. “I’m saying it might be a better idea to alert them in case something goes wrong. They should keep an eye on the village, you know?”

The two unicorns looked at one another, before Twilight nodded her head. “He has a point. This will go to the Princesses and nopony else.”

Skyward nodded grimly, replacing her helm on her head. “All right. I beg of thee, however; make sure thine message is destroyed completely after it reaches the Princesses’ hooves. Twilight, make sure nopony leaves the village. Set up wards if thou must.”

With that, Skyward teleported back outside and dashed out of the village, going behind houses and buildings to avoid other ponies. Spike blew his dragon fire over the message he had scribbled down as Twilight took off in the direction of Carousel Boutique.

Skyward rushed down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust as she streaked back towards Sweet Apple Acres. She charged into the orchard and searched about the trees where the vile beast had been standing before he tried to slay Applejack. She cast her gaze about the ground before she spotted scratches and footprints in the dirt to the northwestern side of the tree, and she drew her sword, pricking her ears for odd noises as she stalked into the fruit laden trees. The claw prints weren’t too old—about give or take a half an hour. This worried her and she paced forward, sniffing the air and cocking her ears, slowly drawing her sword so the shink-hiss of metal wouldn’t alert her enemy.
She wasn’t sure where she was on the farm by this point—there were just rows and rows of apple trees as far as they eye could see. But she was finding evidence of the Lizalfos—shed scales, clawprints, and even apple cores...

And when she rounded one particularly large apple tree, her eyes blazed in silent rage at what she saw, half hidden under the exposed roots of this particular tree. The half rotted remains of a pale blue pony with a yellow mane and tail…whatever was left of him…she could tell it was a male, the Lizalfos hadn’t eaten THAT part of him yet. She shook her head in sadness—she’d come back later to let Applejack know about the body.

“Rest in peace, son of Equestria. Thine untimely demise hath been avenged. Thou died with honor, and thou shalt be returned to thine kin.”

She saluted the body before she turned and began walking away from the tree. Her enhanced magical senses had picked up something emanating deeper in the orchard, and she bared her teeth—had these wretches set up their vile camp here in her friend’s fruit grove?

A sickly sweet smell soon filled her nose and she barely stifled a cough; it was the scent of rotting fruit. Now she could see visible damage; broken trees, pockmarked apples, rotting corn and pumpkins. The things were crawling with maggots and positively swarming with flies; the trees had withering leaves and from where the farm house was, she knew the farm ponies wouldn’t have seen this from their position. Or smelled it for that matter, unless the wind blew it the right way. She also saw half dug up holes and dark, shadowy areas…she scanned the area for any signs of movement or the gleam of a sword.

She snuck around the edge of the rude camp, choking back a cough at the evil smells filling her nostrils…it looked like the Lizalfos she had slain with Applejack’s help had been the sole inhabitant. Which was good, but why all the fruit? It was just rotting away—she knew they didn’t eat fruits or vegetables: they were strictly carnivores…

A deep piggish grunt came from the side, and she turned around, bringing her sword to bear—and spotted a large boar off to the side. There was a tattered leather saddle tied onto the beast’s back in a haphazard manner, and it was clearly sleeping. Was it the Lizalfos’s mount?

Far as she knew the damn things didn’t ride...or had things changed? She knew Ganondorf’s Bulbins and the Moblins rode them…but a glance around the camp told her that there were none of the sort about…the camp would be bigger for one and there would be stinking piles of refuse and random piles of literal crap from the inhabitants…a Goddesses-forsaken mess to be sure. She eyed the boar—it was sound asleep. It definitely didn’t belong here. She snuck over to the boar, angled her sword…

With one quick movement she sliced neatly through the huge pig’s jugular—the huge porcine jerked, snorting blood from his mouth and nose as misfiring nerves sent messages that would never reach its intended section. She cleaned her sword on the trampled grass as it jerked and twitched before settling into the stillness of death. Her horn lit up as she invoked her magic—sinking the rotting vegetation into the ground, burning the body of the boar and covering the rest with earth, filling the hole with more dirt and leaving the place more or less untouched…if you didn’t count the withered trees and half-dead grass.

The tracks from the recently deceased victims led further in, and following those tracks led across the river into the Everfree Forest. Sunset was starting to fall—Celestia’s sun was slowly starting to set by this point, and Luna’s moon would soon come into the sky. But it was also when Skyward stepped into a clearing, did she want to facehoof in disbelief.

She was in the area where the Nightmare Night statue was. And right off to the left of the statue was a swirling purplish vortex; it was hovering in place, just a constant twisting pool of energy.

How had nopony seen this? Then again, probably nopony came this way after Nightmare Night was over anyway, so it was a given…

Skyward bit her lower lip—the last time she had seen something like this, it had meant to be her demise. But she had to close the portal. If there was only one Lizalfos, and one boar, then she had to close it then and there by finding out what was on the other side. She approached the portal, but then stopped short, shaking her head.

“Thou need a focus to return, thou idiot…remember thy lessons!”

Glancing around, she looked up at the statue of Nightmare Moon, and snorted in amusement.

“Pray forgive me, Princess Luna. I shalt restore this when I hath the chance to do so.”

Her horn lit with silver-blue light and she enveloped the statue in a haze of shimmering light, chanting words in ancient Haylian under her breath. The statue glowed brightly, before a thin thread of light streamed from the stone horn-tip to her own, before vanishing. Nodding her head in satisfaction, Skyward took a deep breath and marched forward into the portal proper…

Portal I: Shadelight Sanctuary

Mushroom covered ground. Dry tree bark. Moldy leaves. Fusty water.

That myriad of smells was what met her nostrils and she coughed, unable to hold it back. Mentally cursing she brought her sword to bear as she tried to make sense of where the portal had sent her…

The trees around her were bent and gnarled, their branches heavily draped with dark, thick vines and drooping foliage—and the air was heavy with moisture and rot, and she coughed again, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

It looked like Shadeleaf Swamp, and smelled like it too…but nothing looked familiar. Then again, from what she had learned from Princess Zelda…

Things may have changed. The land itself under Ganondorf’s foul magic would have changed.

The landscape was also covered with pools of stinking water—it was almost a dark purple in color, and smelling it warned her that it was fouled to the point it was undrinkable. Picking up a dead stick, she poked it into the water…

The vile liquid bubbled and hissed as revolting purple smoke issued from the top of the water as she pulled the stick out—or what was left of it. Most of it had been disintegrated on contact—which meant it wasn’t water at all.

It was corrosive poison.

She threw the remains aside and kept going deeper into the murky, ominous woods, her sword out and her senses primed. Underhoof the semi-dry grass crackled, and she kept her ears pricked for any odd noises.

She didn’t have to go too far from the portal—about twenty minutes later she emerged into a murky clearing—the foliage overhead was overlapping and made it hard to see. There was still some light, but not a lot—Skyward lit her horn and summoned a series of small silver spheres, each which glowed with its own light. She spread them outward so she could see better…

Her hooves soon sounded on weathered stone rather than half-mushy or parched ground, and she looked down, pawing at the cracked, slightly misaligned flagstones she could barely see under the overgrowth of moss and grass. She followed the path, turning a corner…a Skulltula dropped out of the trees in front of her, making her jump back, bringing her sword to bear. It clattered hungrily as it tried to reach for her with its long, spindly legs…

Skyward used her magic—she was in NO mood for nonsense and she spun the magical beast around, exposing its soft belly. The monster keened as she ruthlessly eviscerated it, blackish-green blood oozing from the clean slice she had made. She tossed the Skulltula’s corpse into the brush, cleaning her sword with a practiced flick and a water spell to cleanse it of the remaining ichor, but she didn’t sheathe it…
The stone paths were lined by huge oak trees—but they were in a sorry state right now. Most of them didn’t even look healthy, and the rest were clearly dying—probably because of the poison water in the swamp. The path split into three—left, right, and center—Skyward glanced left, right, and chose the left path…

Only to have a wall of black wooden spikes sprout up in front of her, and she balked, glaring at them…when she backed away, they receded, when she tried to advance, they sprouted. She looked down at the flagstones underhoof, testing them with her weight, but none of them gave under her steps.

She eyed them before she lowered her head and focused on a part of the wall—a crackling noise sounded in the air before part of it turned to ice…and she spun around and bucked it, hard.

It splintered—the rest of the wall shuddered and retreated, and she eyed the splinters of ice on the ground—melting them for good measure before she continued down the path formerly barred to her.

There was an old chest in the middle of the room—the wood was weathered with age, the steel binding and lock dulled, but it still stood there. Wary, Skyward prodded it with her magic from a distance—nothing happened. She ventured further in and opened the chest…

Inside lay a worn looking scroll—she gingerly ‘lifted’ it out and unrolled it. The runes inked on the ancient paper was a spell—a spell called Backdraft Burst. Clearly a fire spell, but it was obviously a hard one to use—the spell enacted a swirling, spherical explosion of fire, but if not controlled properly, the blaze would get out of control very quickly; and likely consume the caster as well.

Skyward sat in the dim room, conjuring a light sphere to see better as she studied the actual spell runes intently. She tucked the scroll away carefully into her satchel, before exiting the room. This time, she tried the center path when she came out of the left hand path—this one was also barred, but not by black vile looking spikes, it was in truth a huge door, carved out of stone with the Haylian symbol on it, and the goddess Farore’s relief also carved into the door. Binding the door was a series of glowing, translucent magical chains, set in place with an ornate looking lock—all of it a gleaming golden color.

Skyward’s ears laid back—of course the door would be magically sealed!

Meaning, she’d have to find the key first.

Mumbling curses, she turned and walked away from the sealed gateway, annoyed as she cantered back towards the central path…

But when she emerged—she tensed, raising her sword for a fight when she spotted what was lying in the clearing.
It was an emerald basilisk—the creatures roamed Shadeleaf Swamp, but only in the deepest part of the forest—they hated sunlight, contrary to the fact they were related to Dodongos to an extent, only that they spat acid instead of fire like their volcanic cousins. But there was one other main thing in common that they had—their underbellies were their weak point. Flipping the thing over with her magic was out of the question…they were damned heavy and near impossible to lift without another unicorn, she had no bombs, nor did she see any Bomb Flowers here…

The basilisk was currently sniffing around the clearing, seemingly uninterested, but she edged to the left, hoping it wouldn’t see her. It approached the left path…the spikes shot up again (minus the iced and broken part) at its approach, and it growled, opening its maw and hissing venomously.

Skyward took the opportunity to sneak past it, heading into the right-side path. The path split into two this time, and she kept to the right—a hissing, wet snapping noise got her attention, and she spotted a trio of Deku Baba swaying back and forth further down the path, acidic drool dripping from their maws.

Lighting her horn, Skyward conjured a light sphere, sending it down the path…one of the monsters snapped at it, and she juked it out of its reach. The second one wavered a bit as if unsure, and the third tried biting at it as well, only to get bit at by its companion. Skyward continued teasing them with the light ball—she sneaking closer until she was in range for a sword strike…

Her blade swept outward in a grand arc, neatly cleaving through two of the Deku Baba, the monsters shriveling away to nothing, leaving some Deku Nuts behind…the third turned on her, snarling and snapping…

Only for the light ball to enter its mouth—and explode in a burst of fiery heat, incinerating it on the spot. The right path had nothing but another sealed door—going to the left, revealed that this one was open.

Skyward ventured into the chamber—the lighting was a gentle, soft azure hue, tiny luminescent sparks and a light, pleasant scent pervaded the air; the floor beneath her seemed soft, plushy…not hard packed earth, weathered stone or…

A sibilant hiss filled her ears and she brought her sword to bear as a HUGE Deku Baba head—this one was far more colorful than its predecessors and with an odd looking peacockish crest atop it reared up from the center of the room—she looked around, diving off of the quivering platform she was standing on—

The ‘platform’ was in truth, no platform…

It was part of the evil monster itself!

She noticed that the beast looked like a giant blossom of some sort—the petals surrounding the Deku Baba’s central stem looked very thick and fleshy. The Baba Blossom had multiple stems—no wait…

She dived and rolled, coming to her hooves as a large vine like tendril shot from the ground and slapped at her…

The beast was connected to the ceiling by several vines—it had longer ones to attack with, and continued to slap and try to ensnare her, but she also saw it couldn’t move, it was using those petals as a shield and the vines…

Wait. The vines were the key!

She yelled as one of the vines smacked her and sent her sprawling against the wall…it reached out to grab her, but she swiped at it with her sword, severing the vine—she heard a muffled keen from inside the bulb, and smirked.

(Didn’t like that, did thou,) she thought darkly as she eyed it.

The vines at the top of the bulb…if she could cut them down…
Charging her horn, she angled her head and made a sweeping gesture…an arc of light shot from the tip of her horn to slice cleanly through the vines. Freed from its confines, the ‘flower’ dropped from the ceiling to land on the ground with a dusty ‘thud’…the petals flopping open. The lighting changed in the room to a soft, luminescent blue color as before when she’d entered the room proper—but the angry Haylian mare took no notice…

Her target was the stunned, swaying Deku Baba head in the center of the petals. The head screeched as she slashed at it—the stem of its neck was unnaturally thick, and she managed three vicious cuts, angled her blade for a fourth…

But she had been so focused in her trying to sever the head from the neck she’d forgotten about the petals under her hooves. They rippled underhoof—once, twice…

The petals snapped closed around her—she was uncomfortably jostled about in the darkness of the bulb as it pulsed several times…

Then it spat her out with a shower of pollen, unceremoniously throwing her out of the bulb and onto the ground with a clanking thump.

“Nayru’s azure flank; pay bucking attention! Lucky one did not get eaten!” Skyward muttered to herself as she readied her blade for another strike. The pollen however was the first of her worries—where the stuff had landed, had seeded the ground and more vines were sprouting.
A quick Flame Jet spell took care of the sprouts---she gasped in pain when another vine swatted her, and she growled, glaring at the hanging plant over her head. Angling her head again, another Crescent Scythe spell shot out—this time however, a few vines reared up in its way—only half the bulb’s holding vines were severed. Scowling, Skyward torched the other barrier vines, trying to get another Crescent Scythe shot in…

She missed the second time, but the shot wasn’t wasted—it had cleaved through more barrier vines that the plant was summoning to shield its connecting vines. She dodged another shot and yanked something else out of her satchel—a small glass vial containing a greenish substance. She ‘yanked’ the cork and chugged the contents, wincing at the strong grassy taste, shoving it back in her satchel as the potion took effect—she could feel her magic being restored as she broke into a full gallop towards the stunned, gasping head…
This time, she got in two nasty shots to the stem before she teleported herself off of the petals before they snapped shut again on her…the plant hissed in anger at being thwarted, pulsing as it had before to release more pollen…

Skyward however, had left a little ‘gift’ of sorts this time. She’d conjured a light ball and left it inside the flower’s confines…

And she activated her spell, the small ball of light expanding rapidly with light and heat—her Sun Burst spell. The flower screeched and flared open---the burst of heat from inside the plant had clearly hurt it, but the vines holding the plant to the ceiling hadn’t been touched.
That wasn’t Skyward’s aim however. She grasped her blade in her magic, aimed---

And with a mighty mental heave, sent it streaking through the air, straight on target for the Deku Baba head of the vile creature!

The ‘head’ was badly burned and the slashes to its ‘stem’ were clear…the telekinetically thrown sword cleaved right through the ‘neck’ of the stem, severing it from the huge blossom. It screamed as it fell to the ground, her sword lodging in one of the trunks of the massive trees that made up the ‘room’ they were in. The head bounced around, its maw opening and closing almost as if it was trying to breathe, before it lay still, its sharp, pointed tongue lolling out of its mouth. The blossom fell from the ceiling as well—it’s ‘head’ severed from the body, collapsing onto the floor, petals unfurling as if in a death gasp before it began to shrivel away…

As its body rapidly decayed, it left behind a gleaming, ornate looking golden key. Skyward yanked her sword out of the tree-wall and crossed to the key proper—she sheathed her sword, and picked it up. She turned it over in her hooves before sticking it in her satchel, fishing out the empty potion bottle and recorking it—it was empty, but no sense not putting things away proper.

When she exited the room, she noticed the area had gotten a lot darker, and conjured another Sun Burst so she could see. With the darkness however, she’d noticed that it was oddly quiet, and that put her on edge.

A vile smell reached her nose when she got closer to the main path leading back to the central chamber—she paid it no mind, turning to go to the other locked door she’d seen…

Only to find it was inaccessible. The key would not fit in the lock, and she frowned at it.

This key had to be for the main door bound by the magic chains.

The bluesteel furred unicorn knew something was definitely amiss when she found the body of the emerald basilisk in the main clearing—speared through the belly by one of the black wooden spikes.

There was something vile here, and she knew it knew, whatever it was, that something, or in her case, somepony, was here. Reaching the door, she inserted the key in the lock—it fit, and she turned it.

The glowing chains faded away, the lock falling to the ground to shatter into pieces like glass, vanishing in sparks of eldritch light, and the stone doors slowly ground open, revealing a long, tree lined hallway, just like the rest of the forest she’d been in.
Taking a deep breath, Skyward walked forward, keeping her sword at the ready even as the doors sealed shut behind her with an ominous boom.

“Hey! Quiet down! What’s the deal? Can’t anypony just leaf me alone for five minutes?”

Skyward blinked at the deep, raspy voice as she emerged into a massive clearing—which was oddly enough, bare of any grass or greenery. At the far edge of the clearing directly in front of her, was a huge, gnarled tree, planted right in front of another path which she could just faintly see behind him, considering he had massive holes in his trunk. He pointed one twisted twig at her and grinned—his grin was needless to say, unsettling at best and downright psychotic at worst. He looked like one of the trees decorated for Nightmare Night…but the spiderwebs were real, the bark was actually the color of coal, even if he wasn’t burned. Rotting leaves crowned his branches, and his eyes were burning pinpoints in holes of darkness, and he leered at her.

“What’s a pretty little pony like you doin’ in a place like this?”

Skyward snorted, but she didn’t sheathe her sword. “Thou art in my way. Please move thine branches so one may pass.”

The tree shook its twiggy finger at her. “But I spruce-d up the place just for you, girlie!”

The tree guffawed madly at its own jokes; Skyward rolled her eyes in disgust and turned to walk around him…
Only to have a row of thorny black branches sprout up right in front of her with a thunderous crash--he was the one behind the black spikes and what not early on in this place. Her ears turned back towards the tree as she readied herself for a fight. Bad jokes or not, this treant was definitely stark raving mad and had to be put out of his misery.

“I can’t be-leaf this! You’re leaf-ing already? I haven’t gotten to the best ones yet! They’ll really drive ya bark-ing mad!”

Skyward turned, bringing her sword to bear as she eyed the tree, choosing to remain silent.

“Sheesh, what a tough audience! I guess you could say I’m pine-ing for your attention!”

Skyward bounded to the side as one of the tree’s boughs shot out towards her, slamming into the ground where the bluesteel unicorn had once been. More spears of wood shot up from the barren ground…Skyward yelped when one of them clipped her right hind hoof and she went sprawling onto her side, sliding on the rough ground. Feeling the ground rumble, she rolled just as more wood spears arced out of the dirt.

(One could use fire but one might burn the entire swamp down! How does one defeat an arbor that tells bad jokes?!)

She gained her hooves and ran, avoiding the spears of black wood that shot up around her, firing a lance of ice magic from her horn to strike one of the tree’s branches. He screeched in pain as the limb, now useless, broke off from his body and landed on the ground with a splintering crash. Creaking and growling in rage, he opened his maw wide—
Something glittered inside his mouth, but she didn’t have time to look for long as she raised her shield as a hail of acorns flew at her, her shield ringing as they pelted off of the metal surface and fell all around her.

“No need for the cold shoulder treatment!”

She hissed in pain when one of the jutting thorn like twigs scratched her left hind leg—the ‘twig’ suddenly uncurled and went for her, trying to grab at her rear hooves…

She lashed back with her sword, sending a bolt of magic through its confines to decimate the vine completely, then turned and fired a powerful shot of raw silver light at the huge tree. The light was a blast of her own innate arcane might, and Sable Oak howled in agony at the blast. “Ohhh…now you’ve done it, missy. And be-leaf me…you’re bark-ing up the wrong tree! Sable Oak’s gonna tear you limb from limb!”

He broke out into psychotic amusement at his intentional pun---and with each heaving burst of laughter, spewed a storm of thorny, evil looking black spikes at her…she summoned her magic and shielded herself from the onslaught…
And yelped when something nipped her in the flank. She turned her head to see that one of the petrified acorns had sprouted, and had turned into a waving black seedling with a very sharp point on the top of its head. Growling, Skyward concentrated—sweat trickled down her brow as she focused her energy…

It was risky, but she had no choice. Her horn lit up, burning silver like a falling star as she concentrated on her spell…

The temperature abruptly shot sky-high before an explosion of flame engulfed the clearing, the crimson and golden flames hungrily devouring anything tree-related…the seedlings keened as the flames consumed them, the acorns disintegrating to ash, the twigs, vines and spikes evaporating into cinders in the intense heat.

But the fiery explosion was contained by Skyward’s magic in the clearing…she dampened the spell, snuffing out any remaining fires by focusing her own shield down and spreading out onto the ground—this cut off any oxygen to any stray embers or cinders, and ‘stamped’ out any small fires.

But, the Backdraft Burst spell had taken some of her magical strength, and a wave of fatigue swamped the armored unicorn…

“GOTCHA, YOU PESKY LITTLE SPROUT!”

Skyward screamed in pain when the huge, gnarled ‘hand’ of the tree suddenly closed around her; his grip unforgiving, the pressure threatening to cut off her breath. She lost her ‘hold’ on her sword as she gasped for air, glaring at the vile black arbor who grinned at her maliciously with his jaggedy maw of a mouth…

Wait. That was it!

His mouth!

His mouth was his weak point—specifically the inside of his mouth! When he had opened his mouth to spew acorns at her, she had seen something glittering in the back of it…

“Nice little firework display there—you’re almost too ‘hot’ to handle. Any last words, Bluey?”

“A-aye. (cough) Why didst the pine tree get in trouble?”

Sable Oak blinked at the armored unicorn he had in his clutches. “Huh? Whuzzat?”

Skyward managed to wriggle a little to draw better breath; she couldn’t believe she was going to do this…“One asked thee…why didst the pine tree…get in trouble?”

Nonplussed at the question, Sable Oak scratched his ‘head’ with one twiggy finger. “Uhh….I don’t know. Why didst the pine tree get in trouble?”

The bluesteel unicorn pointed at him with one hoof. “Because a crime was committed in the forest, and the guards’ art stumped!”

The gnarled oak blinked at her. Once…twice…three times…

Then he roared with laughter. He slapped his free branch on the charred ground repeatedly, guffawing heartily. Skyward mentally groaned at the joke but she kept going…she likely had a cracked rib by now but…

“That’s a good one! Tell me another one, Bluey!”

“All right; why art the leaves always involved in risky business?”

Sable Oak shrugged, shedding more rotting leaves. “I don’t know! Tell me!”

Skyward flicked a hoof. “Because they constantly have to go out on a limb!”

Sableoak howled with laughter—the more jokes Skyward told him, the more he laughed, and the wider his mouth opened. Silently she prepared herself, gathering her magic slowly, so he wouldn’t notice.

“What didst one tree say to her incredibly annoying sibling?”

“Give it to me, girlie!”

“Leaf me alone, birch!”

The tree laughed so hard he shook—pieces of dried bark fell off from how hard he was giggling…and he had his ‘eyes’ closed…
Her sword was lying discarded on the ground…in seconds she’d levitated it into the air and sent it screaming downward into his gaping maw. It impacted the glittering object with a sickening crrrrunch-crackle, and the treant dropped her as it flailed madly in pain. He thrashed and howled, sending dead leaves and twigs and debris everywhere, before he flung himself backwards, reaching upwards to the sky as if pleading with the heavens…

A shroud of pure darkness emerged from his bark, covering him completely in the stuff…before a sudden explosion threw her off her hooves. Dazed from the explosion, she managed to get up just as her sword, having been freed from the blast, landed in front of her point down in the ground. She grabbed it and brandished it in the tree’s direction…

Or rather, where the tree had been.

There was no sign of Sable Oak—just a verdant green path, lined with stately oak trees. Now, that path was clear—the tree had been a guardian of some sort. But guarding what, exactly? Seeing something shining in the distance, Skyward moved forward and cantered down the path. The further she went, the brighter it seemed to become—real sunlight coming through the dense foliage, birds beginning to sing and chirp in the trees…a fresh breeze, gentle and sweet, wafted through the air.

She exited the path onto a clearing…and in the center, was a large stone dais, covered with moss and vines. And hovering over that dais’s surface was a glowing emerald jewel, set in a semi-circular filigree gold setting. It looked oddly enough, like an oversized nut, or seed. The Haylian unicorn came forward and picked it up, turning it over in her hoof with her magic.

She felt that strange presence again—as if she was being watched; Skyward spun around, unsheathing her sword and bringing her shield to bear, ready to pick a fight; she knew she’d sensed something behind her!

Or…somepony, for that matter.

She aimed her sword at the newcomer, waiting to see what he or she would do. She hadn’t heard the pony come up behind her, but still! He or she hadn’t proven to be friend or foe, yet. This pony was clad in dark purple leathers and pale wrappings—the mane was blond, the coat a light tan, but the eyes were a deep, bloody red. He or she bore a unicorn’s horn and their gait was graceful as the unicorn walked towards her, but she could tell this pony was ready to strike at a moment’s notice when they had to.

From the weeping blood red eye sigil on the front of their tunic, she knew that this was a Sheikah pony—like Princess Zelda’s bodyguard and hoof-maiden, Impa. “Ye hath claimed Farore’s Heart, Heroine of Time, and broken the vile curse on Shadeleaf Swamp. Truly thou art living up to thine ancestor’s legacy.”

Skyward didn't lower her blade. “Who art thou, and what brings thee to this place? For that matter, stranger, what is this place?”

The pony lifted one sable wrapped hoof—his voice was a light baritone. “One is called Sheik. This place is hidden deep in Shadeleaf Swamp; this, is the Shadelight Sanctuary. But, as thou likely hast figured out by now; this place was cursed by the vile Ganondorf, it’s guardian tainted with unspeakable evil. As to why I am here…”

He gestured at the jewel she was holding in one hoof. “One is here to safeguard that gem—‘tis a Goddess Stone, so the vile minions of the Triforce of Power do not find it.”

“And how dost one know that thou art not one of Ganondorf’s own puppets?” she snarled back. “How do I know thou art no traitor like that wretched coward Gilded Lock?”

Crimson eyes blinked at her. “I am no traitor, Skyward, daughter of Mossy Boulder, five-time great grandniece of Time Link, the Hero of Time. If thou wish proof, know then it was I that aided the princess to safety. She sends thou this...she told me to keep watch for thee, if thou appeared here.”

Sheik conjured a scroll and held it out for her—Skyward eyed it, then slowly took it with her magic. She could feel Zelda’s magic pulsing through the scroll.

“She knew about these portals?”

“She suspected that the portals would lead to Hayrule, but to close them proper thou must seal them from the Equestrian side. I shalt seal them from this side, as per the Princess’s orders. But the gem must remain here, even if thou must go back for now. To take it to the other side would spell disaster for this forest, and the fount of Farore’s power hidden here.”

Skyward frowned at this—to disrupt the balance further would make things that much worse for Hayrule in general. Removing a Goddess Stone from its chosen area would have serious repercussions for the place where it was hidden—in this case, if she took Farore’s Heart with her, the entire forest would begin to die, and the magical wards, never mind possible ancient secrets hidden in this swamp would be revealed…

And give Ganondorf more strength that would better be denied to him.

“…Very well. But, if thou art lying to me…”

Skyward left the threat hanging as she gave the magical gem to Sheik, who tilted his head at her as he tucked it into his tunic. “One can understand thine mistrust, Heroine of Time, but understand. We art on the same side. But thou must hurry—thou mustn’t linger here; go back to Equestria, and seal that portal!”

Skyward stamped an armored hoof, looking agitated. “How, pray tell? The princess did not give me specifics! One slew a Lizalfos and a Bulbin boar already, and I know not if more hath crossed!”

Sheik shook his head at her. “Nay. Those were the only two that managed to cross…I hath been keeping them away from the portal. As for sealing it…doth have thou the Harp of Ages?”

She nodded at him. “Aye. To what end does my great-uncle’s treasure have to do with the portal?”

Sheik pointed at the scroll in her ‘grip’ with one hoof. “That scroll thou possesses, that holds the key—now, hurry! Ganondorf will come here to find out why his curse hath been lifted, and he cannot find thee here! Now, go! The exit to the sanctuary is past the dais, and it shalt return thee to the entrance!”

Skyward turned on her hind legs, half-rearing a little at the urgent tone Sheik had taken, and she galloped past the stone dais, down a smaller path lined with wild violets and rosebushes. At the end of the path was a glowing platform, inscribed with ancient Haylian runes. She darted onto the platform…

The emerald glade vanished around her, to put her out at the entrance to the Sanctuary. Now she did recognize the area—this was one of the densest parts of the swamp, said to be nigh impenetrable because of the beasts and the guardian tree rumored to be here…

Sadness touched her and she bowed her head, turning to salute the Sanctuary’s entrance with her sword.

“May thou be renewed someday by Farore’s grace, Great Emerald Oak,” she murmured. Hearing the rustle of leaves, she ran for the portal, disappearing through it as the woods of the Everfree Forest met her eyes, leaving Shadeleaf Swamp far behind her…

And she rematerialized back in the Nightmare Moon statue clearing. Shaking her mane out, she turned to face the portal, opening the scroll she had gotten from Sheik to peruse the contents.

To my dearest student and sister in arms

I pray this letter finds you well. Please give this to the Princesses after thou hast sealed Ganondorf’s portal. In our last meeting, one was remiss in giving you the knowledge to close the portals that the Dark One may open to Equestria. I give you that knowledge now—Sheik is trustworthy, so have no fear of him, I know how thou art when meeting new ponies.
To close the portals, use the song I have enclosed…the Sonata of Sealing. This song will close the portals on the Equestrian side…use the Harp of Ages to do so. The Sonata of Sealing will seal portals, but it may also have other uses in Equestria that may come in handy—ware how thou uses it, however! I have enclosed a few other songs—the rest of the letter is for the Princesses’s eyes only; they shalt share the rest with thee when they have the chance.

Until our next meeting

Thine dearest mentor and friend
Princess Zelda

The next part of the letter was clearly, the Sonata of Sealing. The notes were akin to the Song of Time, she noticed, but the tempo was clearly slower than the original. She reached out with her magic, summoning the Harp of Ages using the spell Princess Luna had taught her, and the magical instrument appeared with a silent ‘pop’ next to her head. Gazing at the notes, she reached out with her magic and began to pluck the strings.

The Harp of Ages began to glow as she played the song she had just learned, the majestic melody echoing in the clearing as the magic in the harp reacted to the song’s notes. The portal began to shrink in concordance with the song, and when she lowered the harp, letting the final notes fade out into the air, the portal sealed shut, vanishing as if it had never been. Skyward gazed at where the portal had been, before she dispelled her ‘anchor’ to the Nightmare Moon statue, stuffing the Harp in her bag and ran off back towards Ponyville, hoping to find Twilight Sparkle or one of the others.

Shadows of the Empire Part I

The Friendship Express chugged its way through the upper area of Equestria, the temperature dropping by degrees, even though Winter had come to Equestria. Snow fell from the sky in fat flakes, the entire landscape draped in silvery white, and when somepony breathed out, their breath came out in clouds of white. Rarity was paging through a copy of Equestrian Fashion Weekly, Rainbow Dash was munching on some fresh popcorn, Applejack was sleeping, her hat pulled over her muzzle. Pinkie Pie was nibbling away on an apple muffin covered with streusel and frosting; Fluttershy was huddled under a blanket, half awake, half asleep, and Twilight and Spike were with Skyward, who was looking pensively out of the window.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were all snugged up under a blanket near Applejack, also sound asleep.

The lavender unicorn knew the Haylian mare was homesick and heartsick—she missed her family, missed her home, and since now, Hearth’s Warming Eve was almost upon them; after the entire Lizalfos and the first portal incident, first had come applebuck season, then the Running of the Leaves. Now, the pegasi had brought snow; and with it, the highlight of the winter season was coming.

But for one pony, this season promised to be a lonely one—something her friends weren’t going to allow to happen.

“So…umm…do you want to hear about the Crystal Empire?”

Twilight wasn’t sure how to snap Skyward out of her funk, but she sure as sunrise was going to try.

Skyward glanced at Twilight, pricking her ears—interest touched her melancholic features. “Aye…one will admit one did not hath time to look at any tomes on the subject; especially after all that happened after one sealed the portal.”

Twilight knew something was bothering the Haylian unicorn, and she rested a hoof on Skyward’s armored shoulder. “Is everything all right at home?”

The armored unicorn mare looked down, her ears falling; a tormented expression crossed her face.

“...Shadeleaf Swamp wast cursed when one arrived in the area. That is where the portal led to…Twilight, what art thou doing?”

Twilight had pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment from her saddlebags and unrolled it—it was a map of Equestria. She marked the area where the Nightmare Moon statue was, and wrote next to it—Portal to Shadeleaf Swamp—Hayrule.

“I’m marking the places where the portals appeared. I’m interested in Hayrule’s geography, and where it aligns with Equestria’s own.”

Skyward shook her head. “One dost not think that is a good idea, Twilight—what if somepony finds the map?”

Twilight shook her head, smiling. “I’ve enchanted the map so it won’t show anypony but us.”

Skyward didn’t look convinced, but she nodded her head. She laid her head back down—seeing her ears beginning to turn down again, the lavender unicorn nudged her, holding out another book.

“See? You’re going to love the Crystal Empire! The whole place is made of shining crystals! And the Crystal Ponies are so friendly!”

Skyward lifted her head and looked at the pictures in the book Twilight was showing her—there was a shot of the Crystal Spire Palace, the streets and dwellings, even a few photos of a few Crystal Ponies.

“Art…art they truly…they look almost made of stone themselves, like the Goron pony tribe,” Skyward mused as she looked closely at a photo with a Crystal Pony mare with an emerald coat and a shimmering pale green and gold mane.

Twilight smiled. “No, no; they’re not really made of stone, their genetic makeup ensures they naturally have that ‘crystalline’ sheen to their coats. They also are born with a special lens in their eyes to ensure they aren’t blinded by the glare of the sun on the crystals.”

Skyward cocked an eyebrow—she wasn’t wearing her helm for a change. “Interesting, that. So, thine brother married Princess Cadence; so is he Emperor then? And, why is she Princess, and not Empress?”

Twilight shook her head. “Cadence is the rightful ruler of the Empire, for one, so he would only be Prince Consort anyway. As for the Princess part, well, it’s a touch complicated. Given Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s own ranks…it would cause a lot of bureaucratic confusion.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare snorted. “Bah---paperwork. The lot of that can be tossed into Death Mountain for all one cares,” she grumbled, and Twilight laughed.

When the Friendship Express pulled into the station, they were greeted by Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, and of course, the couple’s personal guards. When they saw Spike get off the train after Twilight, the lead guardspony lifted one armored hoof in the air.

“Our hero has returned! Hail to the Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious!”

The guards took up the cry as well. “Hail to the Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious!”

Hearing this from the Crystal Empire’s guardsponies, Skyward raised an eyebrow at Spike, who looked sheepish at the rather impressive title. “Great and Honorable Spike the Brave and Glorious? So, thou art the hero of the Crystal Empire? Mayhap I underestimated ye greatly, Spike—thou art no babe fresh out of the shell. Thou art worthy of a blade and armor proper—in mine own lands, ye wouldst be considered an adult and a great hero as well.”

Spike waved his clawed hands, shaking his head and looking sheepish. “No no no…it’s all right. But…yeah…Twilight told me to take the Crystal Heart—she was trapped by King Sombra’s evil crystals, so she told me to take the Crystal Heart to Cadence.”

Skyward glanced at Princess Cadence. “One supposes this Sombra was the usurper of thine kingdom and rightful throne, Your Imperial Highness.”

Cadence nodded her head somberly, and Skyward heaved a sigh. “Similarities abound….”

The Princess of Love crossed to the Haylian unicorn and put a hoof on her armored shoulder, giving her a comforting smile. “You will, Skyward. You will free your land too—keep that hope alive in your heart. Twilight sent a letter to Auntie Celestia after you closed the first portal, and she sent it to me straightaway. You’re working towards it—slow but sure, and that will win you the race.”

Skyward smirked at the word ‘race’ and cocked her head at Applejack and Rainbow Dash, who were talking off to the side.

“Speaking of races…”

Cadence raised one dainty eyebrow, and Twilight giggled. “Skyward came in second place—she beat Applejack and Rainbow Dash during the Running of the Leaves this year.”

“Next year I’ll beat all of ya!” the rainbow maned pegasus mare bragged, and Skyward snickered. “We shalt see; thine wings were bound, so mayhap ye need more ground training,” she teased, and Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out playfully at the armored mare.

The main market place in the Citrine Plaza was the first thing that caught her eye, and she excused herself from the main group, wanting to explore a little. Crystal berries and fruit glittered from one stall, books another, crystalline wood piles, pastries and tasty looking tidbits…

The strains of a flute caught her ears, and, lured by the sweet-sounding tune, she walked towards the source of the sound. She ended up at a stall that had two crossed crystal flutes as a sign overhead—there were also a crowd of Crystal Ponies surrounding the stall. The salespony had a beautiful teal colored coat, like the hue of a crystalline lagoon, with a sleek ice blue mane to match. On his flank was a cutie mark of a star, which framed a large music note that looked to be made of diamond. He was the crafter of the flutes that he had laid out for inspection on his counter—large ones, small ones, whistles, piccolos, pipes—

Intrigued, she walked forward and picked one up in one hoof, examining it closely. The craftsmanship was beautiful—this flute was carved out of a single piece of glimmering pale blue crystal, graceful, fluid. Not too heavy either, and it had smaller crystals set in below the mouthpiece, each one a glittering amethyst. Skyward looked at the flute she held in her hooves, then glanced at the salespony. She tilted her head at it; he had finished his song by the time she had gotten done inspecting the item.

“May I?”

“Oh sure, go ahead!”

The bluesteel unicorn mare lifted the flute to her lips with her hooves; not her horn, much to most-pony’s surprise and began to play. The notes from the flute were slow, rising and falling slowly—there was a definite hint of melancholy, but also resolve, determination in the pulsing tune. Since Skyward had her eyes closed, she didn’t see she had drawn a crowd as she continued to play—from one song, to another…this one was slow as well---the Song of Time.

Her ancestor’s song…now her song as well.

In her hooves, the ancient song took on a new meaning as she continued to play, the gentle, sweet notes rising and falling as she let the old melody; her great-uncle’s old melody, play. She let the last notes die away---and started in surprise, dropping the flute when applause erupted around her. The salespony looked utterly stunned at the performance—nervous, Skyward left the flute where it lay, backing up on her hind legs slowly…

“Hey, you a Zelda fan?”

Skyward jumped, unconsciously ‘reaching’ for her sword hilt: she bit the inside of her cheek so hard she almost tasted blood, but forced herself to turn to face the pony speaking to her. He was slender, bore a pale orange coat, almost the color of a creamsicle, and his mane was a deep orange hue. He adjusted his square glasses, looking at her.

“I recognize those songs---the first one was ‘Oath to Order’, and the second one was the ‘Song of Time’, right?”

Skyward nodded her head—the nervousness still hadn’t gone away. “…Aye. How…?”

He grinned at her and proffered the book he was holding in one hoof—she took it in her magic and turned it over—it was a Legend of Zelda nann-ga. This one read “Wind Waker’ and when she saw the white, green and blue pegasus male on the cover, soaring over a vast sea dotted with small and large islands…

She bit her lower lip—she recognized her second great uncle on the cover, and mentally decided to find a copy if she could. She returned the book to the stallion, and inclined her head.

“My thanks, good stallion. I shalt have to find a copy for myself. Art there any others…umm…Skyward Sword, mayhap?”

“Skyward Swo—oh hay YEAH! I’ve got all the volumes! You can order them online or you can buy them from the bookstore here in town! The best one in ‘Wind Waker’ is when he’s trying to climb Dragon Roost Island, ooh, and then he runs into Valoo, a HUGE dragon god…”

“Hey, Geek Out, quit it; you’re scaring her,” somepony said in the crowd, and the stallion realized that the armored unicorn was backing away from him. Geek Out reached out towards her with one hoof--Skyward half-reared and took off, raising a cloud of dust behind her as she vanished into the streets, leaving a crowd of confused ponies behind her.

The unknown stallion shoved him. “Dude, you really gotta ease up—you see how scared she was?”

“More like she didn’t like being surrounded,” the salespony replied as he came to pick up the crystal flute she’d dropped. “Shame she left this—she made this sing like nopony I ever knew. I think I’ll send it to her for Hearth’s Warming—“

Another pony spoke up from the crowd. “You don’t even know who she is, Pure Note!”

The blue and pale silver stallion shrugged as he cleaned off the flute and packaged it. “Nopony said I couldn’t ask the guards if they’ve seen her around. They'll know who she is.”

Meanwhile, Skyward ran as fast as her legs would carry her, slowing only when she figured she was far enough away from the marketplace. Shaking her mane and mentally cursing herself out, she meandered back to the palace. As much as she wanted to explore—maybe now wasn’t a good time for it.

However, if she had turned around, she would've seen the silhouette of another pony peering out at her with narrowed eyes from around another corner...

Shadows of the Empire Part II

(Five and a half days later...)

Nearly about a week later found Skyward in a lavish looking chamber--with velvety purple drapes framing the large arched windows, the walls made of (what else, glittering crystal) antique looking lamps, banners of the Crystal Empire and Equestria hanging from the high vaulted ceiling. The group of ponies were all sitting at a round table forged of multicolored crystals, trays of fruit, cheese and pastries close by, pitchers of crystal berry juice and coffee close at hoof. Twilight and her friends were on one side, Shining Armor and Princess Cadence on the other. The others had, over the last couple of days, had explored the Crystal City proper…

But Skyward hadn’t wanted to go, much to their surprise, and when prodded, the bluesteel unicorn mare had adamantly refused, going to the practice yards instead to hone her blade and magic skills.

Skyward’s ears turned back a little, thinking about the upset reactions she had gotten from her friends—she really wanted to see more of the place, but…

She scowled, pushing a strand of royal blue mane out of her line of sight. That creamsicle colored stallion--the one called Geek Out--that she had run into at the flute-seller’s stall had been her own personal nightmare for the past three days. He’d pop up out of nowhere, startling her into almost shield-bashing him. Or, she’d be trying to just take a walk, and he’d sidle up to her and start a conversation. However, inevitably, he’d start asking her questions.

Questions she knew she couldn’t answer. And he being an avid…what was the word for a pony like him in this day and age? Ah, yes, a gamer. Harmless, or so most ponies said. Unfortunately for her, because of his ‘gamer’ knowledge, she knew he was spot on with his observations. Especially since he was so well versed in the lore of her home plane…

“…Diamond Dogs have been sighted in closer to the mountains near Yakyakistan, but the yaks have been adamant in driving them out of their territories. As a result, they have been appearing more and more frequently near Glittering Ridge…”

The Haylian mare mentally kicked herself for drifting off, leaning closer to listen to Shining Armor. Diamond Dogs had been sighted close to the capital city and some of the surrounding villages and towns near the Crystal Empire, and as a result, security had been vastly increased. However, they were also being forced away from Yakyakistan, given that the stubborn as stone yaks were extremely territorial, and that meant them moving elsewhere. But this also posed a serious threat to the Crystal Empire…

Which was why, despite the joyous holiday soon about to begin—a pall hung over the group of ponies in the council hall. Twilight spoke up from where she was seated to Cadence’s right—she being Cadence’s relative by marriage, the left would be where Shining Armor would normally be seated.

“Don’t the yaks know that forcing them away from their city is going to cause problems for the Empire, and Equestria in general?”

Shining Armor shook his head at his sister. “They know this, Twily, but that’s not the main problem. The problem is that their numbers are far more than they should be, and that makes us wonder if something bigger isn’t going on. Diamond Dogs usually don’t amass in such numbers like this, unless…”

“Unless they want something, and until we find out what it is, I’ve suspended any travel on the roads so nopony becomes a prime target, and Shining has sent out groups of guards to patrol the roads and guard towns and villages until we do.”

Applejack was next to speak. “D’ya have any idear ‘bout whut th’ mutts are lookin’ fer? Cain’t be th’ crystals…they like gems…”

Shining Armor looked frustrated. “Our scouts haven’t been able to figure out anything just yet. We do know one thing, however—the dogs are amassing large quantities of diamond quartz.”

Rarity’s ears pricked at this. “Diamond quartz? What on earth could those vile beasts want with something that is all but worthless?”

Cadence shook her head at the ivory unicorn. “Diamond quartz is pretty much useless, Rarity, but with one sole exception. Because of its exceptional hardness, if not valued as a proper 'gem', it can be used to forge weaponry—namely, spear points, or arrowheads, the same ones we use here in the Empire, but we reinforce them with steel.”

Skyward’s eyes narrowed at this. If the Diamond Dogs were gathering materials for weapons—were they preparing for war? That being said, her mind drifted back to Haylian weaponry. Swords, shield, spears, arrows—all forged of good, strong steel, enchanted as well for maximum effectiveness, most times.

However…

She did know that the Gerudo at one point used certain crystals as spear/arrowheads, if they couldn’t steal any steel ones from Haylian armory caches. And, even if the quartz was naught good for anything but weapons, it might be made for powerful focuses in magic…

Ears pricked as sonorous bells began to ring outside. The knell from the ringing instruments sounded—well, urgent, rapid, as if something was horribly wrong.

“No…no, it can’t be!”

It was Cadence who had spoken. The Alicorn of Love was drawn back in her throne, wings partially spread out, the horror on her face all too real.

“Are those bells ringing?” Fluttershy asked. Shining Armor looked grim as he stood up from his own seat.

“Yeah, that’s the alarm bells."

"Wha--what does it mean?" Spike asked, looking concerned as he came up to his 'big brother' figure. But Shining Armor's next words caused the blood of everypony to freeze in their veins.

"It means the Crystal Empire is under attack.”

Skyward’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks upon hearing the bells and the words of the Prince of the Crystal Empire; the echoing tones bringing back dark memories of when a different bell had been rung…

When Hayrule Castle Town had been invaded.

The blood of innocents staining the white cobblestones red…

The screams of the dying…

The crying of terrified foals, the roars of her comrades…

Metal on metal on bone on flesh, blood flying in a crimson shower…

Dismembered limbs and broken bodies strewn across the roads and paths…

The shrieks of the demonic foes they faced, the shrill war cries of the Gerudo ponies…

The vile cackling of the twin unicorn nags…

The same could not be happening now, could it?

But her worst fears were confirmed when they all heard rapid hoofbeats began increasing in volume—seconds later, the door flew open, revealing a Crystal Empire unicorn guardpony. His silvery armor was askew, his helm was broken, and he was bleeding from a gash on his right ear.

“Cap—captain... *cough*…”

In a flare of magenta light just like his sister’s, Shining Armor was out of his chair and next to the wounded soldier, his blue eyes fierce. “Take it easy. You two… (he gestured to the two guards at the door) “Get him to the palace infirmary, now! Skyward, I need you to…”

His words were wasted, however...in a flare of silver light, Skyward was the first one out of the door, running hay for leather down the hall, away from the Council Hall. Her helm floated onto her head as she rushed down the halls and stairs like an avenging fury, guards diving out of her way as she shot past them. The bluesteel unicorn mare kept going, charging straight on out of the gates and into the battle zone without a second thought.

Shining Armor shook his head before turning to his sister, who only looked at him. He knew right off that she as well as her friends—well, most of them, were also ready to fight. “Twily…”

Twilight shot him a ‘shut the buck up’ look. “Not going to happen, BBBFF. We stand with you.”

Shining Armor nodded, but gestured towards his wife. “Stay with Cadence—if anything comes through those doors I’m counting on all of you to get her to Canterlot. Understood?”

Affirmatives/scattered salutes were given—Cadence crossed to her husband. Tears pricked her violet eyes, but she held fast. For him, she could not show her fear, the fear that he might not return from the battlefield alive. Wordlessly, Shining Armor gathered his wife close, giving her a soft kiss and a tender look, before he turned and strode out of the door, three other guards awaiting him with his own armor—the armor of the Captain of the Royal Guard.

*********************

When Skyward charged out of the Spire’s gates, the first thing that met her eyes was something all too familiar. Smoke rose from several crystal dwellings, rubble and broken pieces of vendor carts, stalls, wasted food…

A war zone never really changed, no matter where it was.

Barking, snarls and raspy voices caught her attention and her eyes went to slits—she spotted the reason the Crystal Empire Guard were up in arms, the alarm bells ringing out their call to arms into the air. These beasts in question looked like extremely scruffy, ill-fed and mangy Wolfos, ones that could stand on their hind legs, wearing diamond studded collars, faded cloth vests…

But she knew these were not the slavering hell hounds of Hayrule at Ganondorf’s command, or the ones who roamed the land. No, these were Diamond Dogs—a veritable army of the damn things…

And they had proved Cadence’s worst fears true.

With a snarl, Skyward drew her sword and charged, going right for the first group of Diamond Dogs she could see. Her horn blazed silver as she summoned a spell---her form blurred as she increased her speed magically…

With a sickening crunch, she rammed right into one of them, sending him sprawling—and likely with crushed ribs considering how hard she had slammed into him. The rest of the dogs had been knocked over from the force of her magically enhanced impact—the dog she had hit had been thrown backwards into the rest of them like a bowling ball impacting pins.

A growl sounded from behind her—her sword whistled through the air, a piercing howl of agony following soon after. A sharp ‘click’ against her armor's right side told her some idiot had tried to strike at her, but her enchanted armor had taken the blow. Growling, the furious bluesteel unicorn whirled on her target—the Diamond Dog was stupidly staring at the broken spear it was holding…

For all of five seconds until a lance of ice magic turned him into a glittering statue. A sharp jab from one armored hoof, and he shattered into a thousand pieces.

Battle raged through the Lapis Lazuli sector of the city---armor glinted, the sounds of it singing and clicking as ponies moved to combat the aggressors. Blood stained the soft grass—pony and Diamond Dog alike, armored hooves flailing, pegasi streaking from the skies to hurl thunderbolts, violent winds and bitter snow…

The unicorns were blasting spells at any stray dog they could catch unawares—they had to be careful not to hit their fellow ponies, however.

Skyward wasn’t in any particular group; but her blood was up; Goddesses forgive her, but she felt so alive when she was fighting! She screamed a war cry in her native tongue—her sword cleaving through a mutt’s leg, leaving nothing but a bloody stump behind. Dark crimson fluid shot rhythmically from the wound, the dog being too stupid to calm down…Skyward ended his screaming with a Crescent Scythe spell, dividing his body in two neat pieces.

A foal’s scream made the bluesteel unicorn mare’s left ear twitch backwards, and she turned her head—her royal blue eyes narrowed into slits of rage when she saw what was going on.

While most of the Diamond Dogs were attacking the Crystal Imperial Guard, a few select groups were casting nets over the civilian Crystal Ponies and attempting to haul them off!

Enraged, Skyward wheeled round, taking off hay for leather after the nearest group—it was two large Diamond Dogs that had cornered an ocher colored mare and a little pale blue foal—

Oh this was hitting a little too close to home what with bandit or Moblin raids and she knew it. Snaring one of the dogs in her magic, she flung him so hard behind her, he flew into an alleyway and hit an adjoining building with a KER-SPLAT—literally—he’d hit it so hard that his skull had cracked open like an overripe melon. The second dog spun around, bringing the net to bear he held on her…

Skyward teleported just as the net was tossed onto her—the dog blinked in confusion before something sharp, rigid and unforgiving painfully pierced his lower back. He howled in agony…or would have if his mouth hadn’t been magically sealed shut—Skyward removed her sword, twisted around and bucked the dying Diamond Dog away from the terrified pair. She turned to the mare and foal, gesturing to them with one armored hoof.

“With me now, hasten to the Crystal Palace! There thou wilt find sanctuary!” she shouted to them—the mare quickly scooped up her foal onto her back---Skyward ran alongside them to guard them, knowing the mare was burdened with her child, and couldn’t react as fast if another ambush presented itself.

A couple of guards spotted them—once she saw the mare and foal were in safe hooves, off she went in a flash before one of the guards could question her.

The Haylian mare didn’t have to go too far to find her next mark…a sapphire coated pony with a sea mist blue and black streaked mane and tail was being pursued by a single Diamond Dog with a net. The stallion was a fast runner, but the dog was keeping up admirably…and if this kept up she knew he’d catch him.

The Diamond Dog lunged at the blue crystalline pony...

A blur of royal blue and indigo suddenly rammed into him, throwing him away from the frightened stallion. A slash of a glittering blade, and the net was gone to shreds. Skyward looked over at the terrified stallion—inwardly she swore; the foal was too scared to bolt! "Run! To the palace gates with thee, now!"

The pony in question didn't argue--he ran as if Tirek himself was at his heels. Another Diamond Dog lunged from a crystal berry bush, intent on grabbing him--

But the explosion of fiery agony in his head was what greeted him first--Skyward had thrown her shield at the mutt, and as a result the Diamond Dog was severely concussed, blood matting his fur where the object had struck him. He staggered around--but she didn't give him time to recover. Her blade swung around in a glittering arc and bit deeply into the Diamond Dog's fur, cleaving through to expose raw, quivering muscle, ivory jag of bone and pinkish sinew underneath, a crimson shower of ichor bursting free from the newly carved cavity. He howled in agony--

Only to know a flare of renewed pain before darkness claimed his sight completely.

Kicking away the severed head (which rolled near another Diamond Dog and he just about crapped himself; deciding that running was the best option) and sword coated with dark blood, Skyward located yet another Diamond Dog--this one was bigger and he seemed to have a more elaborate collar than the others did. Scowling, she charged at him--he saw her coming and grinned as he picked up a large net...

Skyward focused on the net--her horn glowed silver and the net burst into flames, causing the dog to drop the net and howl in pain at his singed hands. This gave her enough time to close the distance and she crashed into him, rearing and kicking him to the ground, her armored hooves beating him mercilessly as he howled and screamed in pain. Once he was subdued, Skyward pinned the terrified dog under her hooves, her teeth bared in a vicious snarl as she raised her blade high to deliver a beheading strike--

"Skyward! Stand down, soldier! Bring him here!"

Upon hearing the barked order, Skyward stopped her deadly descent of her sword, one ear twitching back towards the commanding shout. She knew only one sole pony had the authority to give such a command. She didn't sheathe her sword, but she didn’t kill the cringing canine either. Instead, she ruthlessly ‘hauled’ the Diamond Dog to his feet and shoved him none too gently towards a waiting Prince Shining Armor, who was flanked between two royal pegasi guards.

"If thou try to run, thou wilt be seeing my sword from the other side of thine belly," Skyward hissed in his ear, and the Diamond Dog whimpered an affirmation.

The Haylian unicorn unceremoniously shoved the canine in front of Shining Armor, pointing her sword at the base of his spine--if the dog tried anything stupid, it would spell his bloody end. Shining Armor leaned down, his glare boring into the yellow gaze of the Diamond Dog, and while his eyes burned hot with anger his voice was as cold as the peaks of Yakyakistan.

"This is your final warning, mutt. Go back to your leaders and tell them if they attempt anything--foalnapping, threats or what have you, we will invade your caverns and we will force you out permanently..."

Shining Armor leaned down with a deadly scowl on his face. "Do I make myself crystal clear?"

The Diamond Dog nodded frantically.

The prince of the Crystal Empire stomped one armored hoof, the sound echoing like a cannon blast in the silence. "Now get out of here!"

Skyward cleaned her blade free of Diamond Dog blood--then sheathed it with a 'click' as she glowered after the fleeing Diamond Dog. "Somehow, I fear that shalt not be the last we see of them, Captain."

Shining Armor nodded grimly as he turned to walk back to the palace proper. "Hate to agree with you on that, but...yeah."

Skyward looked thoughtful before she turned to Shining Armor. "Is thine lady wife available to speak with me? I... may hath something that might help--mind, 'tis not perfected, but..."

"Skyward, anything that can help safeguard the Empire would be more than welcome at this point. My protection spell would work, but it's only to be used as a last resort."

"Not to mention it drains poor Shiny a lot," Twilight Sparkle chimed in as she came up with Pinkie Pie, who was covered in confetti and glitter.

Skyward grinned at the party pony, noticing her appearance. "Allow one to guess. Thou used thine party cannon to force them away?"

"You got it!"

Skyward chuckled, before she turned to look out at the horizon, her smile fading to a frown. The raid may have ended in their favor--no casualties, only major property damage, it seemed. But this was a coordinated attack and she knew it--she was certain Shining Armor and his royal wife knew this as well. Feeling an armored hoof tap her shoulder, she turned to see Shining Armor himself behind her.

"Cadence and I want to talk to you."

Skyward resisted the urge to back her ears--if she was in for a reprimand, then so be it. She nodded, saluting him before sheathing her sword. "As you command, Captain Shining Armor. Lead the way, sir."

Shining Armor shook his head at her in amusement. "You're not in trouble, Skyward. No, this is about something else entirely...eh?"

Skyward had turned around, sword out and eyeing the broken ruins of a few buildings behind them. The white and blue unicorn stallion tensed, watching the bluesteel unicorn mare before she sheathed her sword and turned to follow him. "Something wrong?"

"One thought one saw something. Mayhap merely the light off of one of the buildings."

Twilight and the others joined up with them at this point, and Shining Armor led them all back to the Crystal Spire Palace. But if anypony had happened to look a little closer in the shadows of the leftmost building--they would've seen the outline of a pony holding what looked to be a camcorder--the lens glinting in the hazy light from Celestia's sun setting overhead...

Shadows of the Empire Part III--Madness Descending

It was later that evening, the lamps on the streets of the Emerald District lighting up in preparation for nightfall. There were a few ponies about, mostly guardponies, since the recent Diamond Dog raid...

Which meant that Skyward blended in to some extent.

The Haylian unicorn had gone for a walk after having spoken to Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. Her mind drifted back to the conversation that she had with them before she had decided to go for a walk...

(Flashback)
Directly after the battle, Cadence closed the doors to the royal couple's personal chambers behind herself as she approached the settee where her husband was already sitting. Across from them, Skyward was settled on another, still clad in full armor, her shield leaning against the settee's edge as she regarded them.

"Mine blade and magic is thine to command whilst we art here in thine lands, if thou wish it, Your Highnesses,” Skyward spoke up, facing Princess Cadence and Shining Armor squarely. Shining Armor regarded her—he knew she was a strong fighter—never mind her duel with Prince Blueblood, he’d also read that letter Celestia had sent his wife, and from the reports he’d gotten from some of his soldiers...

He exchanged a look with Cadence, who nodded her head, and he nodded at the bluesteel unicorn mare.

“Very well, Skyward.”

Skyward saluted him before she put her helm on her head. She checked her sword, testing the edge before she nodded. She turned and stood tall, waiting for orders.

Shining nodded his head at her before beckoning to her. “Now, from what I saw and the reports from a couple of soldiers…you’re bucking good at fighting. You killed ten Diamond Dogs but you were focused on rescuing the ponies that were being taken away in nets.”

Skyward scowled. “That sight hit too close to home, Your Highness—one hath seen that happen, and not all could be recovered sometimes. Innocent lives were at stake—the greenlings seem to think battle is glorious, but in truth, ‘tis not. War is no game—lives are priceless and cannot be replaced if lost.”

She stomped an armored hoof against the floor with a sharp bam, gritting her teeth. “The Diamond Dogs wilt pay in blood if they dare try foalnapping anymore ponies---this, one shalt make damned sure of!”

Cadence regarded her. “I don’t suppose you’d be up to teaching some of those attack spells to our troops?”

Skyward looked startled, and Cadence quickly elaborated. “From what Twilight has told me, I know you were from an early age raised to fight, Skyward—you know spells that are quick on the shot. Your training gave you an edge—a serious one we’re going to need. They got a taste of what we’re capable of, and they are also terrified of you.”

Skyward arched an eyebrow, and the Princess of Love continued. “That Diamond Dog you were about to slay was the son of their pack leader—he knows you would have killed him if Shining hadn’t stopped you to deliver his warning.”

Skyward regarded them before she slowly nodded her head. “Very well. But mind. These spells are NOT to be used unless thou art in a full-scale battle—using them for fun garnered twenty lashes if somepony was caught using them to prank others. These spells are deadly—Blood Boil, for one…Dance of Blades is another.”

Shining looked curious. “Now why didn’t you use those?”

The Haylian mare looked at him. “Because one didst not wish to scar one’s allies with fear as well—those spells can be quite…nauseating to watch when they are used, and Dance of Blades requires a radius of five feet away from the target, lest the spell catch allies in its deadly grasp.”

Shining Armor rubbed a hoof against his chin. "If that's the case, can you write down a list of spells and then demonstrate them for us? Then we can perhaps start training with them on dummies."

"Assuredly, Your Highness. But, thou may wish to consult with thine royal wife's relatives before one can do anything. One believes thou knowest why..."

(End Flashback)

After all of that, she had been dismissed so the royals could compose a letter to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna concerning Crystal Empire troops learning certain spells. The Haylian mare glanced over, seeing Crystal Ponies meandering about, trying to rebuild despite the devastation. She aided a couple with a young foal in clearing out stone from their doorway, and smiled kindly at their thanks, nuzzling the foal who scampered up to her and squealed about how pretty her armor was.

Chuckling as she went on her way, she wandered into the main area--which was deserted, save for a few guards. She sat by the fountain in the center, peering into the pool and

"...help..."

Skyward's ears twitched toward the sound, and she turned her head, frowning. Was that...?

"...help me...please..."

The voice was faint, but it was clear--it sounded like a foal's voice! Was there a youngling trapped somewhere and the guards could not hear them? She got up, crossing to where she was hearing the foal, and called out in reply.

"Little one, where art thou? Answer me!"

"...help me....help me!"

Skyward cantered over to the furthest western corner of the plaza, seeking the foal, which sounded frantic by this point. There were fewer guards now--they were likely changing from day shift to night shift. But she paid no mind to that as she looked about for the foal she had heard.

Skyward crossed to the corner, where she had heard the voice. She rounded the corner, but saw nothing. Puzzled, she turned around—had the foal ran off somewhere?

But the second her back was turned, a pair of slim hooves suddenly snaked around her from behind, one of them pressing a cloth to her nostrils and mouth. She fought the grip, unconsciously inhaling the strange scent coming from the cloth itself…

The sky was the last thing she saw before her vision fuzzed out and went completely dark.

(Undetermined time later…)

“Wakey wakey, pretty filly! Time to get up!”

If not the annoying, high pitched falsetto, the splash of cold water was what did it—coughing and sputtering, Skyward was jolted out of her impromptu slumber. She muttered curses as she wiped the water out of her eyes—

Or tried to.

Groggy from being awoken so rudely, she found she couldn’t move, and when she looked down, she found out why. Her legs were bound with strong rope, tied in sailor’s knots! She scowled, lighting her horn to make swift work of them…

Magic surged—only for her to feel as if her magic was being held back by something…and panic shot through her when she realized…

“Ah ah ah—can’t have you using magic now. Sorry I couldn’t get you a ring that matched your coat, cutie.”

Skyward’s lips thinned as things became clear—she had been foalnapped, and she knew exactly who had done so. As her sight came into focus, adrenaline chasing away the last of her artificially imposed sleep, her royal blue eyes bored holes into the pale orange Crystal Pony standing before her, just out of her reach. She also saw now she was without her armor, her shield and sword were missing, and she could feel the metal ring on her horn.

But, this was no ordinary ring—it was a magic suppressor for unicorns who misused their magic or for criminals. She was also tied to the wall with a strong piece of rope—he was weak by Earth Pony standards, but she knew his true weapon was his mind.

And that just made him even more dangerous.

He fidgeted as he stood before her, a regretful expression on his muzzle.

“I’m so sorry for treating you like this. But…come on! The way you talk, the armor you wear—and the shield you were holding! That is your shield, isn’t it?!”

Skyward’s eyes burned with royal blue rage—she said nothing; she would give this traitor nothing, by Din’s burning eyes! He put his muzzle close to hers—his breath smelled like old pizza and something else she didn’t want to think about—she snapped at him, trying to latch her teeth into him; but he pulled back before she could bite him proper. He jumped back, and pouted at her childishly.

“Oh come on! I know it’s your shield! I saw you use it on those Diamond Dogs! The swordplay, the way you fought—it’s like Time Link himself taught you!”

(Damnation—he doth not know how close to the truth he is—Princess Zelda trained me like mine own ancestor Time Link, but only to an extent!)

Skyward merely turned her head in defiance, and he stomped a hoof in frustration. “So, you’re gonna give me the silent treatment, huh?”

“Let me go or thou wilt suffer a fate worse than death,” she hissed at him, and he snorted. “You? You’re tied to the wall, I’ve got your magic stifled, and nopony knows where you are. Honey, face it…I’ve got you good.”

She snorted at him and curled into a ball—and let out a yelp when he kicked her. The burning hatred and rage in her royal blue eyes made him flinch back, and he scowled. “Fine. We’ll see how a day without food works, and if you tell me what I want to know, I’ll feed you.”

Coldly she curled in around herself again, laying back her ears, but all the while she kept staring at him—with no small amount of rage and contempt in her eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that! If you had been more forthcoming when I asked you stuff, this wouldn’t be necessary!”

She scoffed, merely turning her head away—and cried out when he kicked her barrel again, hard—she gasped for breath; that was going to leave a bruise for sure. “Look at me when I’m talking to you!”

She turned and spit at him—her saliva landed right on his muzzle, and she bared her teeth at him. “By Luna’s moon, thou shalt pay for this, ye limp-dicked gelding,” she snarled. He slapped her with one hoof and she tasted blood on her tongue, pain exploding on the left side of her muzzle.

“Watch your mouth, Skyward—is that even your name? Is your name Skyward Sword!?”

Once again, she was silent, and he roared in fury as he reared up and slammed his hooves into her ribcage. She screamed in pain as she felt a rib crack—he kept up his assault, his hooves crashing into her again and again—and she could do nothing to fight back. She managed to get a bite or two in, but he retaliated by repeatedly slapping her muzzle. Despite her best efforts, Skyward cried in agony as the beating continued, blood flying from her mouth mixed with spittle—it hurt to breathe, she knew he’d cracked two ribs at least, and her barrel ached abominably.

He gasped for breath when he backed off, glaring down at her with impotent rage, his hooves tipped with her blood as she lay there on the floor of his basement, covered in her own blood and bruises forming on her muzzle and her barrel.

“I’m gonna give you a day to wise up—the longer you don’t answer me, the longer you go without food. Talk back to me again and I’ll belt you so hard, I’ll, I’ll…”

“Or thou wilt do what,” she managed to sneer at him, and he cuffed her again, snarling incoherently as he stomped back upstairs and slammed the door. Skyward spit after him in defiance, then curled up, whimpering in pain as the full force of her agony seared through her body. She glanced around for something, anything she could use...

She was in the clutches of a madpony, and she had to find a way out.

If she didn't...

She didn't even want to consider what would happen if she failed to escape.

Shadows of the Empire Part IV

(Two days later…)

The Crystal Empire was preparing for Hearth’s Warming Eve despite the entire Diamond Dog raid, and it was proving to be a most joyful time of year. Snow was gently falling outside, ponies cantered from shop to shop, getting all kinds of holiday goodies and treats. The smells of fresh baked cookies and pies and cake filled the air, along with the voices of carolers, singing their joy in the holiday and the ‘Fire of Friendship’, along with ballads of Spike’s past glories in saving the Crystal Empire, much to his embarrassment and the girls’ vast amusement.

And in one room in the Crystal Spire Palace, six mares plus one dragon were planning their Hearth’s Warming party. Of course, nothing would be finalized until Princess Cadence had a look at their list, since she was organizing the Hearth’s Warming party for the nobles in residence and the like, even if she was planning on spending that time with her husband, sister in law and her friends first off.

Spike held the list as Twilight looked it over, pointing to everypony in turn with one hoof. “Okay, so Rainbow Dash and Rarity has the decorations, Applejack and Pinkie Pie has the food, Fluttershy, you’ve got carols covered...and Spike and I’ll help organize presents and the tree. I think we’re all set!”

But a definitive comical raspberry from a certain pink party pony stopped the lavender unicorn from rolling up the list proper. “Pffft! You silly fillies, you’re forgetting somepony!”

Twilight looked up from her list, frowning. “Who, Pinkie?”

The bubblegum pink pony giggled. “Skyward of course!”

Rainbow Dash shook her head as she hovered in midair. “Maybe we shouldn’t…I mean…she hasn’t really wanted to do anything with us, you know?”

Fluttershy shook her mane out of her face. “Maybe she’s just sad and wants to be left alone. I mean—she’s without her family, you know?

Rarity nodded her head, a somber look touching her muzzle. “Oh, that’s right! Poor dear. She has been in such a slump of late, unable to see her family for even a moment during this time of year. It has to be so hard for her...”

Applejack however, looked thoughtfully at the floor, and Twilight pricked her ears at her friend. “Applejack?”

“Ah’m thinkin’ there may be more t’ this than just her not wantin’ t’ hang out with us…”

“Well don’t keep us hanging, AJ; spit it out,” Rainbow Dash insisted, and Applejack looked up at the rainbow maned mare.

“Ah remember a creamsicle colored Crystal Pony stallion hangin’ about her a lot before th’ Diamond Dog raid…”

A chorus of ‘Ooooo’s, knowing looks and giggling filled the room, but Applejack stomped a hoof—she was not amused. “This ain’t no laughin’ matter, girls! Skyward didn’ like ‘im hangin’ around! She’d always tense up whenever he showed his muzzle ‘round us, an’ Ah know her well ‘nough that when she acts like that, it ain’t nothin’ good!”

Rarity laughed, waving one dainty forehoof in the air. “Oh, come now, Applejack—if all she wanted was alone time with this stallion, she could’ve said so!”

“Now hang on an apple pickin’ minute, Rarity, Ah never said…”

Spike rolled his eyes and vacated the room instantly; he definitely did NOT want to be hanging around when ‘girl talk’ started being thrown around. He huffed out steam as he walked down the halls, the guards saluting him as he passed, deciding to see if he could get any crystal berry pastries or some sapphire cupcakes, if they had them here. But...

Applejack had brought up a good point, but as usual, the antics of the other mares…

He sighed as he meandered down the road—he had wandered out of the palace, his thoughts having distracted him from his original goal of getting something to eat. Where was Skyward anyway? The others were of the mind she was with that stallion; Applejack wasn’t too sure about him and truth be told…

Spike, he being an avid gamer himself, given he and the guys: as in Big Macintosh, Shining Armor, Discord, and even Time Turner had a Guys Only Game Night every so often, wasn’t so sure either. Geek Out didn’t seem like the type of pony Skyward wanted to be around, and he also was wondering if another portal to Hayrule had shown up considering she had been gone for about two days.

It really would be the only logical explanation for her vanishing…

“Watch it watch it…NO!”

“Celestia damn it all!”

“Hey you, get out of the way!”

“Incoming everypony!

“Look out!”

Spike looked up at the shouting—and his peridot colored eyes widened in shock. Further down the road, a large cart full of barrels containing some sort of crystal berry product had been jarred by an impact by another cart crossing the same way. The strap holding the barrels had broken as a result, and the barrels, free of their restraints had rolled right off the cart…and some were rolling towards him at full speed!

Spike dived to the left, just as the barrels would have smashed into him; but in doing so, he crashed right into the small street-level window of somepony’s house, the sound of the glass shattering masked by the crashing and the yells of angry ponies about the mess of crystal berry pulp, splintered wood and wet snow now all over the street, some ponies and a few guards…a lot of ponies were coming out to see the spectacle.

The young dragon groaned as he got up…buck, that had hurt…where was he?

Initial glance around the room showed that it wasn’t well lit, for one. The entire place was somewhat dusty, showing that it was in a state of semi-use. There was some old furniture down here, covered in cloth—looked like it hadn’t been used in a while, tables, chairs, an old TV set. Boxes were stacked around in rough disarray—all of them held comic books, nann-gas, old video game consoles, games, game guides…it definitely looked like somepony’s basement…

“Spike? Spike, is that ye, lad?”

Spike spun around at the familiar voice—and his mouth fell open in shock. There in front of him, bound by ropes, bruises and blood covering her bare form, was Skyward!

But she looked terrible…

Her ribs were barely starting to show, her eyes had bags under them, proving she hadn’t been able to sleep. Bruises covered her barrel, flanks and her muzzle—she in particular had a nasty looking shiner on her left eye. He also smelled the dried metallic tang of blood--her mane and tail were tangled, matted, her fur filthy, not the normal bluesteel color, more like a bluish gray…and her forelegs and hind legs were tied fast---she literally couldn’t move.

She looked like she had been dragged through Tartarus and been used as Cerberus’s chew toy to boot.

“What…what the buck happened…Skyward! Are you okay?”

The baby dragon rushed over and hugged her…Skyward hissed in pain at her cracked ribs, which flared up the second he hugged her. “Aah! Ow ow ow ow…Spike, I beg of thee, let me go,” she gasped, and he let go, muttering apologies.

“Where have you been!? Everypony is wondering where you are!”

Skyward glanced furtively in the direction of the stairwell, then back at Spike. “Thou may remember a pale orange Crystal Pony with dark orange mane and tail, with a pair of glasses surrounded by various gaming implements cutie mark, aye, Spike? He did this *cough* to me…”

Spike looked horrified, glancing over his shoulder as well. “Geek Out!? Oh my Celestia…he did this to you?”

Skyward nudged him sharply since she couldn’t move very well. “Ssh! Keep thine voice down! Aye, he wast the one who hast been stalking one throughout Princess Cadence’s fair city. He is the reason why one didst not wish to tour the city with everypony, he recorded one fighting during the Diamond Dog raid, and the one who ambushed me using an odd smelling cloth that induced sleep…”

She was about to say more, but both of them heard the door opening upstairs. Skyward sucked in a breath and looked back down at Spike in a panic.

“Spike, ye need to leave, now! Get to the others—tell them where one is being held!”

The young dragon was furious—and he wasn’t about to leave his friend behind in obvious danger, especially not in the injured state she was in. “Are you crazy? Skyward, I’m not just gonna leave you here…”

The Haylian unicorn frantically shook her head at him. “Now is not the time for heroics—go! Spike, I know thou wish to help; and ye can, by getting the others before ‘tis too late! He put this on me…he wilt find a way to stifle thine fire as well, now hurry!”

Spike now spotted the magic suppression ring on her horn and his mouth dropped open as anger burned in his emerald eyes. He wanted to fight--he could feel his fire building in the back of his throat along with his rage...but he knew Skyward was right—the longer he stayed, the less chance they had for a rescue. He had little choice but to use Skyward, then a couple of boxes as a boost to get to the broken window-- and the little dragon managed to wriggle himself out—hearing the boxes collapse behind him, then Skyward faintly yelling in anger and pain behind him-he hoped it was a distraction, and her not getting beaten again. The little dragon ran all the way to the palace—the guards cleared the way for him, bowing at his approach; he paid them no mind—one of his friends was in terrible danger!

At full speed, he crashed through the doors where he hoped the others still were. Sure enough, they were still there, and still arguing about Skyward’s so called ‘love interest’—Cadence and Shining Armor had joined the crowd while he was gone. They jumped when he busted through the doors, Twilight looking disapprovingly at her ‘Number #1 Assistant’, but before she could say anything…

“SKYWARD’S BEEN CAPTURED!”

Upon hearing that sentence the group of ponies in the room shot to their hooves as if they had found out they’d been sitting on a hill of fire ants.

Twilight ran over to Spike; her disapproval evaporating faster than Pinkie Pie and cake at a cake eating contest. “What do you mean, she’s been captured?!”

“She’s been…”

Rainbow Dash arced off the cloud she had been reclining on that she had shoved in from somewhere outside the palace. “Where’s she at?”

“Is she okay?”

“No no, she’s…”

“I hope she’s not hurt…”

“She needs…”

“I thought she was…well…you know…!”

“EVERYPONY SHUT THE BUCK UP!”

Spike’s uncharacteristic shout of frustration plus profanity added shocked everypony silent. The young dragon huffed smoke before he began to speak again.

“Skyward got ambushed and foalnapped by that one Crystal Pony—called Geek Out. He’s been stalking her throughout the streets of the Crystal City, and he’s the reason she wouldn’t go outside with you guys anymore. He’s been stalking her, and he recorded her fighting during the Diamond Dog raid—he must’ve seen her shield or something…”

Cadence put a hoof to her mouth, looking horrified. “Don’t tell me he knows where she’s really from?!”

Spike looked grimly at Cadence. “Skyward told me he suspects but she refuses to tell him anything—he’s starving her to get her to crack! He’s even hit her—she’s covered in her own blood, she’s got bad bruises on her body, face and muzzle…and the worst part? She’s got a magic suppression ring on her horn!”

Applejack slammed a hoof against the floor with a thunderous crack. “Ah knew tha’ four-eyed son of a manticore wuz up to no good! No wonder Skyward went missin’—we thought it wuz just another portal!”

Shining Armor cocked his head at the orange farmpony. “A portal?”

Rarity nodded. “A few days after Nightmare Night, several ponies were horribly murdered in town. Skyward and Applejack found the culprit, and Skyward killed it—it was a…a…Liza…Lizze…”

Twilight shook her head. “It was a Lizalfos—a bipedal lizard with medium intelligence, able to wield weaponry and native to Hayrule, living primarily in shadowy areas and caves. Being that it was here, Skyward traced the monster’s steps, found the portal near the Nightmare Moon statue in the Everfree Forest. She told me she was in Shadeleaf Swamp for nearly a day—when here, she was gone for about four to six hours; a significant time difference. She broke Ganondorf’s curse on the swamp, and returned here, using the Harp of Ages to seal the portal with the Sonata of Sealing Princess Zelda gave her. So, when she vanished…”

“We thought it was another portal that had shown up.” Fluttershy shifted from hoof to hoof, looking worried. “Maybe next time we should go with her, so she’s not all alone…then none of this would’ve happened…”

Rainbow Dash reared up on her hind legs. “So, what are we hovering around for? Let’s go get her!”

The rainbow maned pegasus shot off like a multicolored bullet—or would have if Rarity hadn’t grabbed her in her magic, bringing her to a screeching halt. “Now just a moment, Rainbow Dash! We can’t just go barging in—Skyward is his hostage, the poor dear, and just crashing in will only make things worse!”

Shining Armor nodded grimly. “She’s right—in a hostage situation he could potentially kill Skyward if threatened. We need to figure this out carefully.”

“An’ if Skyward dies…Hayrule as well as Equestria is doomed fer sure,” Applejack muttered darkly, and Cadence glanced at the orange farmpony.

“We have to rescue the Heroine of Time. Spike, can you get that magic suppression ring off her horn?”

Spike put a claw to his chin. “I think I can, why?”

“If you can get that ring off of her horn she can get out. We’ll distract him so you can get back inside.”

Twilight held up one hoof. “Not necessarily—she might be too weak to teleport herself out if he was starving her. That and he might have barred the window if he thinks she broke it, Cadence—Spike won’t be able to get in that way.”

Shining Armor smirked as he walked over to the group. “Leave that to me. Now let’s go—we’re running out of time…”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Uh—can you not use that phrase, please?”

Shining Armor blinked, then facehooved, realizing what he had said. “Right…never mind. Everypony, move out!”

************************

The Hearth’s Warming Day Parade wasn’t scheduled until later that week, so when ponies noticed their heads of state, their national hero and the Elements of Harmony emerging from the palace with an entire squadron of armored guards behind them, they wondered if it was a rehearsal going on. However, the stern looks on the guards faces and on their rulers' muzzles warned ponies something very serious was happening. Spike was with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor at the head of the column as the group marched through the streets towards Geek Out’s domicile. The baby dragon was able to retrace his steps and point out the house in question—the crystal berry pulp hadn’t been cleared yet and his footprints were still there on the sidewalk, leaving a clear trail for them to follow. The street level window was still broken but it had been blocked off by cardboard—filled with something heavy, not to mention he could see a ‘Legend of Zelda’ nann-ga cover sticking out of the window too. The windows were closed, the shutters pulled down, and Shining Armor was willing to bet Bits to pastries the doors were locked too.

Shining Armor directed the guards to form a perimeter around the guilty pony’s house in question, to prevent Geek Out from escaping with his prisoner…once he got a signal from one of the hovering pegasi guardsponies, he ‘lifted’ a megaphone to his muzzle.

“Geek Out! Come out and surrender yourself, immediately! You have until the count of three to do so peacefully!”

Inside the house, Geek Out had just finished dragging Skyward upstairs—she had put up a token fight, but he had slapped her horn a few times and punched her in the ribs for good measure to quiet her. She spat blood onto the floor, coughing harshly while he tied her to the wall. He leaned down to lift her chin up…only to yelp when she bit him on the hoof. He reared back to strike her once again...

Both ponies ears pricked when Shining Armor’s declaration echoed outside; Skyward grinned broadly, the smile having an edge of malice to it; Geek Out was trying not to lose his composure—how the HAY did they find out she was here?!

The creamsicle/orange colored stallion opened the window, just enough to be able to see the guards; before he tugged Skyward—or her head anyway, into view. “What’s the charge, big shot? And how rude of you—can’t you see I got a guest with me at the moment?”

Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed—he could see the bruises Skyward was sporting as well as the magic suppression ring on her horn. “Don’t try to make it worse! You’re under arrest for foalnapping a citizen of Equestria, illegal use of a magic suppression ring, aggravated assault and battery and abuse charges! If you let her go, we can cut a deal on lessening your sentence!”

“I can’t let her go! You don’t get it! There’s another world out there, so close to our own! And she’s got the answers! But she won’t tell me anything! Don’t you get it? I have to know…I’ve got to see it for myself!”

Shining Armor rolled his eyes inwardly as he tried to reason with the madpony. “Come on, Geek Out; you don’t want to hurt her, do you? It’s bad enough you put a magic suppression ring on her—you know how demeaning that is for a unicorn?”

While Shining Armor and the guards were at the front distracting Geek Out, Rainbow Dash, Spike and Twilight got into the house from the back door—Twilight using her magic to undo the lock, then open the door silently. They snuck through the kitchen, into the hallway where they could hear Geek Out---Skyward was also in the room with him but she was now out of sight from the guards.

Rainbow Dash choked back a gasp, Spike put his paws over his mouth, and Twilight looked horrified, eyes shrinking to pinpricks---Skyward was without her armor—she bore dark bruise marks on her face and one side, and the magic suppression ring was around her horn still. Dried blood also stained her fur, and cruel looking cuts and welts were also evident in her once soft, glossy coat. She was scowling murderously at Geek Out—who had tied the rope around her neck to a heavy looking sofa—and her neck was showing chafe marks by this point—the marks were pretty raw looking. Her mane and tail were a tangled mess, her fur was matted…

But both the rainbow maned pegasus and the lavender unicorn could see the seething anger in Skyward’s royal blue eyes—and the indomitable flame burning in them. Twilight could also see she had been chewing on the rope—trying to keep it hidden, but she had been trying to free herself.

“I don’t want to cut a deal! I want her to tell me what she knows!”

They could hear Shining Armor from outside via the megaphone he was ‘holding’. “She knows how to fight and she wears armor—what makes you think she’s not a guardspony from Canterlot? We sent for reinforcements concerning the Diamond Dog attacks!”

Geek Out scoffed as he grabbed Skyward’s shield—huffing and heaving he managed to lift the heavy thing to show them the Haylian standard on it. Skyward smirked in disdain at his weak attempts to lift her shield—out of the corner of her eye she saw movement, and curled up in pretense of turning away from Geek Out—

She saw Spike near the couch, and she uncurled just enough to keep an eye on her captor, who was pointing one hoof at the gathered guards outside.

“You think THIS is a joke? This is a REAL Haylian Shield!”

Shining Armor snorted. “So somepony made it, big deal! You wanna know how many ponies could make something like that in a snap?”

“THIS IS THE GENUINE ARTICLE! I’M SERIOUS! NOPONY COULD HOLD A SHIELD LIKE THIS, OR THE ARMOR SHE HAS? THAT’S HAYLIAN CHAINMAIL ARMOR, NOT CANTERLOT ARMOR!”

Shining Armor scoffed, but deep down he was worried. This pony clearly knew his stuff and the worst thing was he didn’t know how accurate he was actually being. Cadence stepped forward, knowing they had to buy the others more time. “Geek Out, please…what do you want? Just tell us…calmly, please.”

Geek Out dropped the shield with a gasp—it was heavy, and he coughed before he spoke. “…Ever since I was a colt, I always thought there were other worlds out there beyond our own. Never mind all that UFO crap—I mean stuff that games are made of. When I heard her playing the ‘Oath to Order’ song on that crystal flute, and then the ‘Song of Time’ I thought she was just a fellow fanpony in armor who knew how to play. But when I saw her shield after the Diamond Dog raid, I knew she couldn’t just be a fanpony!”

Shining Armor glared at him. “So, you foalnapped her just to get answers? Why didn’t you just ask her?”

Geek Out’s mane was going in all directions at this point—eerily enough he looked like Twilight during her ‘Lesson Zero’ phase. “She wouldn’t talk to me! She kept running away from me---the way she talks, it’s as if she doesn’t know how to speak normal Equestrian!”

Cadence shook her head at him disapprovingly—other ponies were muttering to themselves, even as the guards were keeping them at a distance. “It’s none of your business how another pony chooses to speak. Please, Geek Out…let her go.”

“Not until she confirms the fact Hayrule exists!”

Spike had managed to get close to Skyward by this point, but he wasn’t close enough to get the magic suppressor ring off of her horn. Skyward’s legs were bound, so she couldn’t get it off on her own either. The dragon looked back at Twilight and Fluttershy and mimed removing the ropes on her legs then him breathing fire---Twilight lit her horn, waiting…if she didn’t time this right…

Cadence continued. “What would you stand to gain from this? Is hurting an innocent mare worth it?!”

“I didn’t want to hurt her! But she refuses to talk! I tried to get her to think of the possibilities if that world does exist! A new place for ponies to explore, maybe to make new friends—or the magic… all she has to do is confirm it, help us find a way there!”

Cadence held up a hoof. “Let’s say for a minute that your theory is correct. But, how do we know they’d be friendly towards us? Think about that a second—not all ponies are friendly…what if they attacked us on sight? What about the other tribes? The Goron, the Zora…would they be friendly? From what little I know, the Gerudo tribe certainly wouldn’t be nice…”

Twilight’s magic glowed around the ropes holding Skyward’s legs---the knots were magically undone and Spike shot a little bit of flame through the rope binding her to the sofa. The Haylian unicorn was lifted into the air by Twilight’s magic and borne swiftly through the air...

Geek Out’s ear twitched backwards at the sound of magic being used…and his eyes shrunk to pinpricks when he realized Skyward had escaped; and who was aiding her! The mad-stallion rushed after the mares plus one dragon, trying to recapture his prize. Realizing that Twilight had succeeded in freeing Skyward, Shining Armor ran around the back of the house, the guards fanning out to prevent any escape from Geek Out if he decided to run. The Prince Consort of the Crystal Empire charged past his fleeing sister, Spike and the two other mares…

And body slammed the hapless creamsicle colored stallion to the ground, the guards swooping down and slapping hoofcuffs on him even as he thrashed and writhed, screaming like the madpony he had let himself become.

The danger was over—but Skyward collapsed to the ground, her magical aura sputtering out, her strength drained from lack of food and the abuse she had suffered at the hooves of her captor. The worried voices of her friends echoed in her ears as she sank to the crystalline ground, her eyes inexorably closing…

Darkness took her, settling over her like a comforting blanket as she passed out...

The Many Gifts of Time

Hearth’s Warming Eve was fast approaching, but the mood in the Crystal Spire Palace was anything but festive. The reason for that was the Haylian mare lying unconscious in a soft, luxurious bed, bandaged heavily and with an oxygen mask placed on her muzzle, while several doctors and a few nurses attended to her, medical equipment having been hustled into the room post-haste. Outside of the room, five out of eight ponies and one dragon were standing outside of Skyward’s room while the doctors tended to her—Princess Cadence, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, plus Spike.

And they all looked worried. They had good reason to be—after Skyward had collapsed and the extent of her injuries—

She had been rushed to emergency surgery first off after one of the doctors had heard her breathing funny--her inhale and exhaling sounded watery, as if she were half submerged underwater. It didn’t look good at all--they had been working on her for quite sometime and Luna's moon was nearly at zenith by now.

The door finally opened, and a crimson colored unicorn stallion came out of the room, holding a clipboard in his deep green aura. He had a white mane and tail streaked with bright red and blue twined in the white like a DNA strand, his cutie mark was that of a red heart framed by a computer monitor, and he looked very somber. Seeing his expression, Princess Cadence stepped forward.

“Dr. Vital Signs, how is Skyward doing?”

The crimson unicorn stallion licked his lips and looked the Princess of the Crystal Empire right in the eyes. “I’m going to be outright honest with you, Princess—she is very, very lucky. That…that…son of a…pardon me, Princess…”

Cadence waved a hoof in gentle dismissal. “It’s quite all right—please, continue.”

Dr. Vital Signs shook his streaked white mane, glancing at the clipboard he was ‘holding’. “Her injuries are mostly serious bruising in the barrel, muzzle and chest area, as well as chafe marks and lacerations that will heal quickly with some magic salve I will prescribe for her as needed to keep away infection, ease the pain and to aid with swift healing. Those bandages will need to be changed thrice daily, salve applied every single time. As for her forced malnutrition issue, that can be remedied with a few hearty meals; I’ve prescribed some vitamins for her, but mind, nothing solid for a day or two until she can get used to solid food again. He did give her water, but very little—Nurse Urgent Care is giving her an IV drip to get her hydrated again and to get some nutrients into her too.”

The Princess of Love cocked her head at him, sensing there was more to this than what he was saying. “But…?”

Dr. Vital Signs stomped his hoof, and his ears slicked back against his head as he took a deep breath to check his visible ire. “You’ll pardon my Prench, Princess. That motherbucking plotbrained bastard of a stallion shattered her ribs—he didn’t just crack them. Any longer and she would’ve drowned in her own blood—one of them had nicked her lung and she was slowly suffocating as a result.”

Cadence looked horrified and the others behind her exchanged terrified, as well as guilty glances. They had thought the whole time she had been sealing a portal or being obstinate and taking it out on them…

But she had actually been trying to deal with a dangerous stalker that had come perilously close to finding out the truth!

“Will she recover, Doctor?”

Dr. Vital Signs nodded his head. “She'll make a full recovery before Hearth's Warming next week with the care we've been giving her. I’ve patched the ribs and the lung as well—she needed surgery right away…I apologize for the informality…”

Cadence shook her head at him gently, showing she could've cared less about protocol when a life was at stake, and Rainbow Dash stepped forward, ears slightly drooping, but her limp wings and tail gave away her worry. “So, can we see her, Doc? Pleeeeeeease?”

The doctor glanced at the rainbow maned pegasus and nodded, but held up a cautionary hoof. “She can have visitors when she wakes but only two ponies at a time and she NEEDS to rest; I cannot stress this enough. That poor mare’s been through a section of Tartarus I wish no mare ever would experience in their lifetime. She can walk but she’ll need assistance to do so at first, so her legs don’t atrophy in the process. Princess, she will need nursing assistance for a while…”

“I’ll do it,” Fluttershy volunteered, and Rarity nodded. “As will I—Skyward is our dearest friend, and we need to help her.”

Dr. Vital Signs nodded approvingly at them. “She’s lucky she’s got such good friends like you to be with her. That reminds me—mental trauma, as well. She’s been through a harrowing experience, and she’s going to need all the support she can get. Don’t get mad at her if she lashes out verbally or even hits somepony—she might end up with PTSD because of this. I would recommend a psychiatrist if need be…I know a few…”

“We can handle that---my husband might be able to help her with that, since he is a soldier as well as she is,” Cadence said with a nod. Dr. Vital Signs nodded his head again as he handed the clipboard to the princess and began pointing out a few minor issues, while the other mares and one dragon looked in on their recovering friend.

Meanwhile, Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle and Applejack had remained behind at the crime site—Shining Armor was there for a legitimate purpose—as Captain of the Guard this was his responsibility. But he was also there to help his sister and Applejack to get in and recover Skyward’s armor, shield and sword before anypony else found them.

They were in the house as his ‘designated help’ to look for clues as to why he had foalnapped her—Twilight had recovered her shield, shrinking it down to hide it away, and Applejack came out of Geek Out’s room with Skyward’s armor on a crude rolling armor rack consisting of a rolling platform base and a sturdy two by four nailed/glued atop it. The orange farmpony went back in to see if she could find the helm since it was missing, as was Skyward’s sword, while Shining Armor went to look for his sister after shrinking down Skyward’s armor and tucking it away. He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a yelp and a clatter upstairs grabbed his attention, and he rushed upstairs, his horn lighting up as he entered the room.

“Applejack? Are you okay in here?”

The white and teal/azure unicorn stallion came up the stairs to the miscreant pony’s room to where Applejack was. Geek Out’s room was a gamer’s dream and a cleaning pony’s worst nightmare—posters of games like Assassin’s Creed, Dragon Age, Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Fallout 3 and 4 and numerous others plastered the walls, the shelves filled near to spilling with game memorabilia—statuettes, knickknacks, books, comics from said games and others even Shining Armor hadn’t heard of. The bed was unmade and judging from the disgusting smell in the room he didn’t wash his bedclothes all that much either; noticing a telltale stain on a certain area on the bed, Shining Armor’s lip curled in disgust as he turned to regard the rest of Geek Out’s bedroom.

Old and recent hay pizza and Neighsian takeout boxes, soda cans, straws, candy wrappers and chip bags lay strewn everywhere. A huge screen TV adorned one wall and three TV stands were beneath it—bookshelves filled with games settled close by with the Ponystation 4, the Xbox One, a Wii…he even had vintage game consoles like the Pintendo NES, the SNES and countless others…

But where Applejack was pointing to with one hoof was a section of wall that had been curtained off with a royal blue colored silk drape, and she looked frightened, glancing at the covered area apprehensively. Concerned as to what was bothering the blond maned and tailed mare, Shining Armor reached out and pulled the curtain aside to enter the covered hole in the wall---

To reveal a medium sized recess , the walls practically slathered with photos of Skyward, full blown poster photos of her in armor and without, crudely sewn dolls, hoofdrawn pictures, a smaller TV screen settled on a wooden table playing the footage of Skyward fighting the Diamond Dogs, her Haylian Shield’s emblem easy to see when it wasn’t in use. There was even an actual altar on the small table, the TV footage being the centerpiece. There were also half melted candles in brass holders, golden Bits and Snaffles (Hayrulean currency), jewelry pieces like earrings and horn rings shaped like the Master Sword, the Triforce, various symbols from other Zelda games, the Spiritual Stones: Kokiri’s Emerald, Goron’s Ruby and Zora’s Sapphire surrounding the TV’s base on the crystal oak board draped with a runner decorated with the Hayrulean Royal Family’s symbol.

There were remains of burned incense sticks with the ash filled crystalline holders, a reredos of another royal blue silk drape with the Triforce symbol in the direct center, with sewn on Haylian symbol and artifact patches placed to the sides of the divine sigil tastefully framing the back of the altar.

The crowning pieces of the shrine however was Skyward’s sword, hanging in front of the Triforce symbol…and on the altar itself was her helm. Shining Armor shook his head slowly from side to side in disbelief, taking both the sword and the helm, handing the helm to Applejack, while he searched for the video player he knew was playing the footage. Upon finding it, he ejected the tape, and focused on it with his magic.

With a crinklehisssputter the tape began to smolder and crumple to a black, melting ruin, Shining’s magic keeping the flames, smoke and the telltale stink of burning plastic well contained as he destroyed the damning evidence. He glanced at Applejack, who nodded solemnly at him…what passed here, would stay here.

“We’ll chalk him up as an obsessed pony who took a game far out of what it should’ve been and began stalking her as a result. Make sure Skyward gets her stuff back. I’m going to search his computer if he has one.”

Applejack nodded grimly, glancing in disgust at the display in the alcove. “Skyward’s already goin’ through Tartarus with what she’s got t’ deal with already—she sure as hay don’ need this heap o’ horseapples.”

Shining Armor nodded soberly. “I know she’s a soldier—I’ve seen that look in her eye. While Cadence and I were speaking to her, I could tell she’s been through battles that would make anypony wet themselves.”

“Especially since she’s fighting to protect Equestria from Hayrule’s own monsters,” Twilight Sparkle chimed in as she came in. “She saved Applejack’s life, you know?”

Shining Armor cocked an eyebrow at his baby sister, and Applejack nodded. “Saved mah tail from bein’ sliced in two from that danged Lizalfos that was hidin’ in mah apple orchard. She’s a good pony, never mind ‘er bein’ th’ Heroine o’ Time.”

“Well, BBBFF, you ready to wrap this up?”

“Not yet—I’ve still some business to deal with in here…if you know what I mean.”

The lavender unicorn nodded, catching what her big brother meant—her gaze was drawn to the royal blue drape behind him and, true to her nature, she trotted over, lighting her horn to lift the drape away so she could take a peek herself. “Hey, what’s behind this thing?”

Shining Armor hastily reached out to stop his sister, his horn lighting up as he tried to drag her out of the alcove. “Wait, Twily, you don’t want to see that…!”

But her brother was too late to stop her from sticking her head into the recess. Twilight’s entire body stiffened then she swiftly backed up, bumping into Applejack and falling to the floor with a thump on her purple hiney, panting erratically, ears pinned back, tail tucked and eyes wide as dinner plates. She slowly looked up at Applejack and her brother, and pointed a shaking hoof at the curtain.

“He’s got…”

The orange Earth Pony nodded gravely. “E-yup.”

“That means he’s…”

Shining Armor nodded mutely at his sister, and glanced at Applejack. “You two get back to the palace. Tell them I’ve got everything under control up here but tell them to keep searching the downstairs. I'll handle this personally."

Both ponies nodded at him, Shining Armor turning to begin the task of ‘correcting’ any information Geek Out may have left around. Applejack left with his sister and all of Skyward’s missing items, informing the guards of Shining Armor’s orders before the two mares bolted for the palace proper, intent on returning the stolen items to their rightful owner.

*******************************************************************************************************

While preparations for Hearth’s Warming went on during the next five days, since the celebration proper was next week on Tuesday, Skyward was recovering in her room, surrounded by books, plushies, food items like donuts, mini pies and pastries, plus flowers from her friends and Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who had been horrified to learn their friend had been severely injured. However, as Dr. Vital Signs had warned, Skyward was suffering. Not just from her physical injuries, which, thanks to the magical salve and the care of the Crystal Empire doctors, were rapidly healing. The mental trauma was starting to manifest itself—because for the first time in her life Skyward had been put into a situation she had only saved other mares from or pulled them out of.

The Haylian mare looked down at the warm blanket that covered her bandaged body, her hooves toying with the embroidered edge. Though she looked calm, on the inside she was anything but. She took a shuddering breath as she struggled with her roiling emotions. Despite herself, her mind ran through the scenario again and again, tormenting her with the nightmarish images that prevented her from even sleeping at night without sleep aid medicine.

Geek Out had been right. He had her tied fast and Nayru help her, she could do nothing to stop him. She had been bound and helpless, totally at his mercy. Despite her bravado and her defiance, she had been afraid. Terrified, even. The dark stories of mares who had been taken by Moblins and Bokoblins, or even gangs of pony bandits and raped for amusement/pleasure rose in her mind…

She didn’t know what had happened whenever she had blacked out from being beaten and abused, and she feared the worst, but every time she tried to ask the healers of the Crystal Empire, the words stuck in her throat and burned, and by Din’s raging flames she could not for the life of her find the courage to ask.

Courage.

She buried her face in her hooves, trembling as she tried to block out the images swirling in her mind. Courage her flank. Heroine of Time? As Rainbow Dash would say: “Yeah, right!”

She wasn’t worthy of any of it!

Tears stung her royal blue eyes and she blinked slowly as she stared listlessly down at the blanket. Because she was completely out of it she didn’t hear the pony who entered her room, calling her name—but when a light pink hoof touched her foreleg…

Skyward’s eyes lazily glanced over to the hoof—before they widened swiftly in shock and terror. Pink turned to pale orange, the gentle touch turning into a vicelike hold and she let out a terrified shriek, violently recoiling away from the hoof that had touched her, all but leaping out of the bed in reflex. Sword, where was her sword, she needed a weapon, she needed to get away…she had to run…!

“Skyward! Skyward, calm down! It’s okay, sssh, it’s okay, you’re safe, you’re in the palace…”

But Cadence could clearly see that it wasn’t working. Skyward was struggling in her magical grip, screaming and thrashing and her horn sputtered silver sparks as she was trying to find her weapon, but it would take a bit more time for her magic to come back to full since it had been suppressed with no outlet for a while, and she had to undergo an emergency magic siphon besides emergency surgery to prevent her body from overloading on magic. The Princess of Love’s mind raced—what to do, what to do…at this rate, the Haylian mare would hurt herself for certain…

“Skyward! Control yourself at once!”

The barked order from Princess Cadence worked—hearing the sharp command was enough to snap Skyward out of the terror she was in. Panting heavily, the bluesteel unicorn looked around, her wide royal blue eyes settling on Cadence.

“Princess Cadence? What…where…oh Goddesses, what hath I…”

Cadence shushed her with a hooftip, placing her gently back into the bed and tucking her in as if she were a mere filly. The purple and pink alicorn regarded the Haylian mare as she sat on the bed—she knew Skyward was hurting badly, and it wasn’t just her physical injuries. She needed help—a kind of help that was likely not available in her own lands…

But she would get that kind of support and help here.

Trouble was, she was turning away her friends, and Cadence was going to do something about it this time around.

“You’re safe, Skyward. You’re going to be all right.”

The bluesteel mare gave her a sad, disbelieving look. “How? How is everything going to be okay? One…one failed…one could not even…”

Cadence put a hoof on her shoulder to comfort the trembling mare. “I can imagine how scary it must have been for you. The fact he hurt you, tortured you...I am so sorry, Skyward. I too experienced something similar, except that nopony put their hooves on me. But you've nothing to fear anymore, okay?"

Skyward licked her dry lips--Cadence reached out with her magic and filled a water glass with cool ice water, put a straw in it and let the Haylian mare drink. Skyward nodded her thanks--she took a deep breath before she spoke, her voice shaking. “Th-that…that is not all one fears may hath happened. One was knocked unconscious more than once, and...well, given he is a stallion...”

Understanding what Skyward was afraid of, Cadence lit her horn, the soothing azure glow washing over the unicorn. She swept it gently over Skyward’s middle, eyes closed, before she lifted her head and opened her eyes, shaking her head kindly.

“No, he didn’t. You’re fine. You weren’t raped. Why didn’t you ask the doctor?”

“One could not…one’s tongue was constantly stuck to the roof of one’s mouth…”

Cadence gently stroked Skyward’s mane as she had done for Twilight Sparkle so long ago when she was a filly, and had awakened from a nightmare. The motherly gesture made Skyward’s eyes squeeze tightly shut and she sniffled, shaking—Cadence knew that the Haylian pony was dangerously close to crying, but she knew this is what Skyward needed. She had to let it out, otherwise it would swallow her whole and consume her, and that was the last thing anypony wanted to happen to her.

“Tell me something?”

Skyward took a shaky breath, nodding at the princess to show she had heard her, and Cadence continued, choosing her words carefully. “What do Haylian ponies do during this time of year?”

Skyward wanted to scream—why had Princess Cadence asked that of all things? But she swallowed and gamely tried to speak. “During Midwinter Festival…that...that tis’ what we call Hearth’s Warming…families and clan gather together. We celebrate our past victories, the honored dead and those who died in battle. We feast, hold winter tournaments, we give gifts to one another and we sing songs…and we gather around a great ceremonial bonfire to throw a written wish in the flames, and pray to the Goddesses our wish will come true.”

“Oh? Sounds like a tradition we can do here if you want. What would you wish for?”

That was the keystone removed from the dam for Skyward. “…I…I just wish…that one wishes one could see mine kin again…”

Unable to contain herself Skyward burst into tears--Cadence gently hugged the sobbing Haylian unicorn, cradling her in her hooves and wrapping a wing around her. The Princess of Love let the mare cry, knowing that she had been likely bottling up her anger, frustration, fear and sorrow, especially after being foalnapped and tortured the way she had. Add to the mix missing her family, worrying about her princess, the weight of her world on her shoulders…

It was enough to break anypony’s spirit.

“I know you miss them. I know you want to go home—and it’s probably even harder for you since it’s going to be Hearth’s Warming Eve soon—a time for family and friends to be together. But it’s not just that, is it?”

Skyward nodded, snuffling into Cadence’s shoulder. “One wishes I wast not the Heroine of Time. One just wishes to go home…to live a normal life, even if that life is on the battlefield with my comrades! I want to see mine brother…mine sire…mine princess…but what kind of soldier, what kind of pony am I? Weak! Bucking weak and not worthy of mine shield, armor or mine sword!”

“From what I saw, you were more than worthy of all of that. But it takes more than armor, a sword and shield to make a good soldier, Skyward.”

Shining Armor came into the room, nodding at the guards as he closed the door behind him. Once the doors were shut, he approached Skyward’s bed, continuing to speak.

“You were captured and put through Tartarus at that madpony’s hooves but you didn’t break. You didn’t give him what he wanted. You were loyal to your princess and loyal to your friends to keep them safe. You helped the Crystal Empire—you gave us your Diamondine Shield spell so Diamond Dogs won’t be able to attack us again.”

“But …”

He held up a hoof—she shut up, realizing he wasn’t done talking. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, knowing your world’s fate is on your shoulders, and the fact you’ve had to keep your cutie mark hidden. But, I know you’re a good soldier—and you’re living up to your ancestor’s legacy. Twily told me about how brave you were, protecting Applejack from that Lizalfos when it would’ve killed her. Never mind she helped you kill it; you went into battle to protect somepony. And that’s what a real soldier does—protect those who can’t protect themselves. Never mind you’ve got the Triforce of Courage on your flank, Skyward. You have that inner strength, to deal with what normal ponies should not need to.”

Cadence smiled at Skyward gently, giving her a nudge. “I have to agree with Shining. But you know something? You’re not alone. You’ve got something Time Link likely might not have had. He may have had help from allies, but ultimately, he had to go through all that alone, right?”

Skyward shrugged wordlessly, and Cadence nudged her. “You’ve got friends here—friends who will back you up if you need it. The second Spike told us you were missing and where you were, everypony was raring to go look for you.”

Shining Armor came up and nudged her lightly with one hoof. “So how about you come celebrate Hearth’s Warming with us? We can’t start the final plans without you.”

Skyward glanced at Cadence, who nodded encouragingly, and she quietly nodded her head, mustering a smile. “One accepts thine gracious invitation.”

When she came downstairs with Cadence and Shining Armor, the others cheered—Pinkie Pie bouncing over to give her a careful hug, Rainbow Dash bringing her a mug of hot spiced cider, and Fluttershy nudged her to a pile of cushions. She wasn’t wearing her armor—that was back in her room, with her shield and sword recovered as well, that and since she was still recovering to a degree, she wasn’t able to wear it anyway. The chatter of the others warmed her through as she listened to them laugh, tell jokes…

“Skyward, what would you like to do for Hearth’s Warming?”

The Haylian mare glanced at Twilight, and shrugged her shoulders as best she could. “One dost not know thine land’s winter traditions, Twilight...”

Cadence spoke up, a warm smile on her muzzle. “Skyward, remember that wishing bonfire you told me about? Maybe we can do that on Hearth’s Warming Eve? Or do you do it on Hearth’s Warming Day?”

Skyward shook her head. “On the eve of Midwinter Festival, Princess.”

“Oh, call me Cadence, sweetie—enough of the formal stuff. Did you want to be in charge of that? I think it’s a great Haylian winter tradition we can all do!”

Applejack downed another cup of cider and nodded enthusiastically. “Sounds like fun t’ me, y’all! Skyward, what is this tradition about anyway?”

The bluesteel unicorn leaned back against her pillows, a faint smile touching her muzzle. “One shalt do thou one better, Applejack. I shalt tell thou all about the legend of the Goddesses’ Brazier, which is what we call the bonfire we light on the eve of Midwinter Festival.”

The gathered ponies and one dragon settled themselves—Spike bringing Skyward a refill of cider and some soft snow-cake. The Haylian unicorn drank a bit more cider before she began to speak.

“Long and long ago, during the era of King Valion Hayrule—there was a pony named Bright Flame. But at the time, he was only known as Bright, given he had not earned his cutie mark yet, and wast merely a simple woodcutter who worked to keep everypony warm in Hayrule Castle, and day in and out, he would brave the snowy wilds of Hayrule just to get wood with his peers to keep the castle fires going.”

With her horn, she conjured an image of a deep amber colored Earth Pony. He had a fiery red mane streaked with yellow, wore a deep brown cloak lined with sheep’s wool and thick looking tunic. He carried a mighty axe on his back.

“Time and again he went out into the deep snows, his strength unlike any other Earth Pony’s, for he brought back more wood than his fellows, and uttered naught a word of complaint, doing so because he enjoyed his job. King Valion took note of Bright’s hardworking nature and rewarded him richly for his selfless service. Because of this, Overseer Iron Branch, became jealous, and decided to send him into the deepest depths of the Dark Forest—what is now known as Shadeleaf Swamp.”

Skyward paused to moisten her throat, then continued her story. “He was given his axe, four days’ worth of food and water, flint, steel and tinder and a thick blanket, and cord aplenty for his wood gathering. He took his sled, and during his venture into the Dark Woods, he encountered an old, red coated mare clad in a thick, green hooded robe gathering withered berries on the vine close by. Touched by her plight, he shared his rations with her, and she thanked him profusely before she vanished into the woods.”

The other ponies leaned in to listen; Cadence nudged Shining Armor, who nodded at his wife with a broad smile; this story was amazing, especially since they’d never heard a real piece of Haylian lore before.

“As he chopped down trees and time passed, a second mare wandered by. She wast shivering, her gown and cloak threadbare, and once again, he extended a helping hoof, giving her his cloak to keep her warm. The mare thanked him gracefully before she too disappeared into the forest. He kept cutting wood, stacking it onto the sled—a third mare appeared, and she seemed to be injured, her left leg dragging behind her in the snow.”

“Unable to watch the mare suffer, Bright took the cord needed to secure the wood, two pieces of solid maple, and formed a splint for her so she could make it to the next village over. He also gave her his blanket, so she could keep warm, since he no longer had his cloak. The mare smiled at him, her green eyes glittering with gratitude, and she too vanished into the darkness.”

“He had to leave some of the wood behind, since he couldn’t secure it, but he was able to take most of it with him. However, the cold night was starting to take its toll, and he knew he had to stop and make camp as best he could for the night. But the Dark Forest was not without danger. Already winter’s chill threatened to permeate his bones, but to make matters worse, he suspected he could see shadows lurking in the trees. Mindful of this, he created a circle of wood about himself and his load, and set it afire. The golden flames leaped up, repelling the darkness starting to encroach upon him. All throughout the night he fed the flames with everything he had—the wood, his sled, his axe, even his tunic!”

Gasps from around the room and the three fillies leaned in close, captivated by Skyward’s voice and her imagery.

“But the cold grew ever bitter, and he could see the shadows in the trees—the shadows with crimson eyes. They were remnants of Ganon’s dark minions, and they would eventually breach the flames and make a meal out of him. Bright bowed his head and wept freely, lamenting that he would not make it in time to give his daughter her Midwinter gift, and wished only to see his foal one final time before he passed on. However, the dying flames of his meager fire flared up, much to his surprise…and he heard Din, Goddess of Power herself speak to him from the roaring flames…”

“Thine desire shalt be granted. Have hope, mine son… for thou art pure of heart and thou wilt make the journey.”

Then he heard Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom speak. “Fear not, selfless one…help is on the way…”

The last voice he heard was that of Farore, Goddess of Courage. “Hold fast, Bright Flame—hold fast, ye shall yet make it home!”

“So great was the flames and so bright they were from the presence of the Goddesses, that Bright soon passed out. When he came to, his daughter Gleam was snuggled near his side in the sickbed he was in, and the King himself was standing by his bedside. Bright tried to stammer out an apology, but King Valion merely smiled, and he said: “Thou hast no need to apologize, Bright Flame. Aye—thou earned thine cutie mark, and the Goddesses themselves were guarding thou from the Dark Beasts of Ganon, at least, that tis’ what one saw when one saw the golden flames from thine signal fire. Tell me, how didst’ thee manage to summon them for help?” “

Skyward smiled as the images continued to play out in front of them. “Bright Flame managed to explain as best he could what he had encountered in the Dark Forest, and what led him there in the first place. After hearing his tale, King Valion came to a decision, bidding him to rest, for he would need strength for that night. That very evening he had Bright Flame brought out on a litter to the center of Hayrule Castle Town, where he had commanded a great pile of wood to be placed. It was then that the king proclaimed that from that day forward, a new Midwinter tradition would be practiced—that when the flames were lit, everypony could send their wish to the Goddesses, and pray that it would come true. For they had answered the humble, heartfelt prayer of an unpretentious woodcutter pony, his simple kindnesses having lit the way for his salvation. He lit a torch with his magic, and offered it to Bright Flame—giving him the honor of lighting the very first Goddesses’ Brazier.”

The image of the massive golden bonfire with Haylian ponies laughing, singing, eating and throwing pieces of wood with messages inscribed on them into the flames soon faded away, revealing Skyward smiling in nostalgic remembrance.

“And ever since that night, every year on Midwinter’s Eve, Goddesses’ Braziers are lit, to send one’s wishes to the Goddesses, and to remember the pony who began the tradition. Who knows, maybe one’s wish will come true this year? Bright Flame’s certainly did.”

Everypony and dragon applauded at the end of the tale, Skyward smiling and waving a hoof in a ‘go on with you’ gesture, but she was pleased they liked the story so much. Shining Armor leaned forward, wiping his muzzle to dislodge the crumbs from the cookie he had been munching on. “Skyward, you get to choose a place for the bonfire, and you can light it as well, to get us started. That sound good to you?”

The Haylian mare nodded with a broad smile—a knock at the door alerted everypony and Cadence turned her head. “Enter!”

One of the palace guardponies came and bowed his head. “Your Highnesses—there is a pony by the name of Pure Note in the main hall. He has a Hearth’s Warming gift for Miss Skyward, and wishes to give it to her personally.”

The ponies glanced at one another—given Skyward’s recent ordeal, was it wise to allow this? Cadence got up, glancing at Skyward. “Are you all right with this? We can send him away if you want.”

Skyward bit her lower lip—fear still stirred inside of her, but…if the pony had come with a gift…

“…t’would be nothing short of rude if thou did send him off, Princess. But, might one ask all of thou remain here? Mayhap…mayhap if he was brought here, then…it might be all right.”

Cadence nodded her head, turning to relay the order to the guardpony. About five minutes later, the same guard returned, with Pure Note, who bore a box that was wrapped in green paper with a golden bow. The blue and pale silver stallion smiled kindly at Skyward, who inclined her head to him in return.

“How are you feeling, Miss Skyward?”

“…One shalt get better in time, Master Pure Note. To what doth one owe the honor of thine presence?”

Pure Note waved a hoof, chuckling as he came closer to her—the news stations had eaten up the story of the injured mare who had been foalnapped, the same one who had helped fight off the Diamond Dogs and had rescued ponies from being taken as prisoners. He was careful not to scare her given the absolute hell she had gone through, and he offered the box to her.

“You dropped this back at my stall. This is for you, milady; Happy Hearth’s Warming,” he chuckled, and she looked surprised as she took the box. Carefully using her magic, she opened it to reveal the very same flute that she had left behind at his stall the first day she had arrived in the Crystal Empire.

“For me? Master Pure Note, one could not…”

“Nonsense. You made this sing in your hooves and you’re a very good player. The songs you played might be ones from a foal’s game but still. You breathed new life into those old tunes, and if anypony deserves one of these, it’s you.”

He pressed the box into her hooves when she tried to return it to him. “Keep it. It’s a Hearth’s Warming gift.”

Skyward smiled, tears stinging her eyes at the selfless gift. “Thou hast mine most sincere thanks, Master Pure Note. May fortune never stop smiling upon thee,” she replied, wiping at her eyes with one hoof. The Mane 6, the royal couple, Spike and the three fillies smiled, laughed and looked relieved—Skyward was going to be all right.

Pure Note smiled. “You’re welcome, Skyward. I hope you recover soon. If you don’t mind, might I ask you something?”

She cocked her head, and he gestured at it. “Would it be all right if I heard you play it before I leave?”

Skyward smiled, tilting her head as she ran mentally through a list of songs. Deciding on one, she lifted the flute to her lips and began to play. The tone was upbeat, cheery and rhythmic—practically a tune meant for dancing. The crystalline notes trilled like birdsong throughout the room, hinting at broad fields drenched in sunlight, warm summer days filled with freedom and song—she shifted partially into ‘Ancient Hero’, a song she had heard composed by those who had ‘created’ her homeland’s legends here in Equestria, but instead of being majestic, it was lighthearted and carefree, turning back to the original tune.

When she slowed and the notes died away, leaving only silence—a silence soon filled by cheering and the stomping of hooves.

Glancing around, Skyward looked upon her friends and their family members, and Pure Note, who was smiling and applauding at her performance…and she smiled too, feeling some of the darkness leave her soul.

Trouble On The Northern Front

Over the next couple of days, Skyward’s recovery was progressing nicely. The Haylian pony even was able to use her last two Blue Potions to help with those as well—she knew she would need to restock or find the herbs to make them somehow when next another portal opened. She was careful about using them, however—Twilight fed them to her bit by bit, mixing them in her drinks and certain foods, so it would seem to the doctors she was recovering fairly well.

It was now the day before Hearth’s Warming Eve—the Haylian mare had chosen one of the more secluded gardens for the Goddesses’ Brazier bonfire. Part of the tradition was gathering wood for it—which they did so under heavy guard. Skyward had been cleared to fight, but only just by Dr. Vital Signs, so they had to be careful; but the Haylian potions had done theirwork, as had the magic salve he had prescribed.

There were still signs of Diamond Dog activity; and Skyward was more than a little wary about that. The raid had gone badly for them, why were they still barely backing off? She read the newspapers and kept an ear out for anything suspicious that might lead to a portal location—not that the Diamond Dogs’ behavior wasn’t telling her something was up already. She brushed out her mane, braided the sides of it to keep it out of her face, then donned her armor, sans her helm.

She walked down the corridor to the dining hall; when she entered, the others were already there, munching on loaded plates of food. Off to the left, there was a massive buffet spread out on a large table, consisting of pancakes, waffles, bowls of warm oatmeal, hay bacon, fresh fruit that consisted of crystal berries, fresh apples, bananas, grapes, plums. There were also platters of hash browned potatoes covered in cheese, wheaten toast soaked in butter with jars of preserves and honey close by, and pitchers of fresh juice, hot tea and coffee waited with cream and sugar close at hoof.

The armored mare smiled at her friends’ happy greetings and seated herself, dishing herself a plate of waffles with honey, a bowl of luscious fruit, two pieces of toast and some hay bacon.

“Hey, Skyward?”

The Haylian mare looked up from her food at Spike questioningly, and he gestured at her plate. “Don’t you like syrup on your waffles?”

“Spike!”

“Whaaat? I’m just wondering, Twilight.”

“I just prefer honey to syrup, that is all. Then again, it could have something to do with the fact mine brother near burned the last batch he tried to make under Crimson Maple’s watchful eye.”

Applejack snickered. “Lemme guess, yer brother didn’ watch fer th’ bubbles at th’ edges, right?”

The bluesteel unicorn laughed. “More like he got so comfortable near the cooking fires, the featherbrain fell asleep!”

Laughter rang out at the table, and Spike chortled. “Now that had to be embarrassing. I think I remember you cooking fruit in it a couple of times…it was really tasty. I really liked the sprinkles of emerald you put on mine.”

“It is a recipe mine father made for us when we were foals, but unlike mine brother I did not grow out of eating it. Honeyed fruit is quite tasty, but gathering the honey is no small feat—courser bees can be quite fierce when angered. It generally takes a team of three to get the honey from the hive.”

“Umm…can’t you just ask the bees for some honey?”

Skyward was confused before she remembered Fluttershy could speak to animals, and she shook her head. “Sadly, no Haylian pony hast the gift of animal speech that thou possesses, Fluttershy—if anypony did, we wouldst most certainly use it. But, such is not the case, so we must harvest what we need. Fear not, however. We leave plenty for them, so they may survive to make more—unless the hive is so large we must destroy it. Courser bees, in great swarms, can kill a pony easily.”

Cadence swallowed her mouthful of pancakes, wiped her mouth daintily and spoke up. “Skyward, would it be possible if you could make any of those dishes I keep hearing from Twilight about? Most of them sound so delicious—I’d love to try that honeyed fruit.”

Skyward looked thoughtful. “T’would be mine pleasure to do so if thou wish, Princess, but some of them wilt take time—some require ingredients from mine homeland proper, and I do not know when another portal shalt present itself.”

“Not for nothin’, sugarcube; let’s hope another one o’ those thing don’ show up anytime soon, not this close t’ Hearth’s Warming.”

Skyward shrugged at Applejack helplessly—they all knew the Haylian mare could only wait and watch; she wasn’t the one opening the damn things in the first place. The bluesteel unicorn finished her food and got up to get more from the buffet table…

The windows to the right suddenly flew open to admit a Crystal Empire pegasus scout—but there was something clearly wrong with him. His flight was haphazard at best, dangerous at worst and he could not keep himself flying straight for some reason. Hearing his flapping and shouts, Skyward tried to scramble out of the way in time, but the pegasus scout was unable to stop and crashed right into her. They tumbled out of the door and down the hall before they came to a stop, the others having chased after them when the Crystal Empire scout had all but crash-landed into one of their own.

The armored mare groaned in pain, re-adjusting her helm before she glared down at the scout in irritation; she had ended up on top of him with him below her. The scout looked sheepishly up at her, offering an apologetic grin.

“Umm…sorry about that?”

Skyward sighed and got up with Applejack’s help, shaking herself out, Shining Armor approaching the scout and holding out one hoof expectantly. The pale purple and silver maned and tailed pegasus looked confused before his pale green eyes lit up and he fished a scroll out of his saddlebags, handing it to his commanding officer. Cadence thanked the scout and sent him to the infirmary for his clipped wing, which had been the problem causing his crash into Skyward. But as Shining Armor read the scout’s report, the very air in the room seemed to thicken with tension, and his frown grew deeper, his ears laying back. Seeing his ears pin backwards, Cadence stepped forward to read over her husband’s shoulder, and she frowned.

“Despite us chasing out those Diamond Dogs, they still are mining large quantities of diamond quartz. What could they be doing with all of it?”

Skyward shook her head grimly. “One has an idea of why, Princess. If they are still massing quantities of diamond quartz, one needs must investigate. Alone.”

Twilight and the others looked at one another—they knew what she was implying. Shining Armor shook his head at her. “Skyward, I understand the need for secrecy, but…”

“Please, Your Highness. I beg of thee to hear one out. I believe the Diamond Dogs might be guarding a portal…a portal to mine world. If so, I must seal it—they art likely working for Ganondorf, sending him materials for weapons. But I must do this alone. I’ll not risk another Geek Out scenario, if one is seen with too many ponies.”

“That an’ we need t’ keep this quiet. We can’t jest sit on our flanks, Ah agree, but…”

The orange farmpony shook her blond mane and stomped a hoof. “This time, sugarcube, ya ain’t facin’ this alone.”

Rarity tapped the tabletop to get their attention. “Pardon me for interrupting, but Skyward, dear, can’t you take one of us with you?”

Skyward eyed Rarity and unsheathed her sword, laying it on the table in front of the ivory unicorn mare. “Art thou able to kill, Rarity? Art thou willing to shed blood in thine land’s defense? Because that, is exactly what one must do—what I hath been doing, from the beginning of this madcap adventure. Know no shame if thou cannot…but this is war, and I’ll not bring those along who cannot defend themselves…”

Cadence cleared her throat, bringing everypony’s eyes to her. “Let me discuss that with Auntie Celestia and Auntie Luna first, Rarity. But she does have a point. If you go with her to Hayrule, you will likely need to kill somepony, or even some vile beast to defend yourself if Skyward is too far off to do so.”

Rainbow Dash snorted, slapping a hoof against the table. “There’s gotta be something we can do! I don’t wanna sit on my flank while Skyward’s kicking monster plot all by herself!”

“You won’t have to. I’ve got a plan that’ll help Skyward out if she’s right about all this. We need to destroy their cache anyway.”

All eyes turned to Shining Armor, who pointed at the map with one hoof. “The army can help keep the Diamond Dogs busy while Skyward goes to find the portal, if it exists. They’ve been taking the crystals to one huge cavern about five miles west of the path that leads to Yakyakistan.”

“Then let us waste no time, Your Highness. If they art feeding weapon materials to Ganondorf…well. But thou art right. We need to sever their supply line.”

Two hours later had Shining Armor, the Mane 6 and Skyward peering over a ridge of dulled crystal at a huge cavern mouth. Snow covered the ground here, and the rocks glistened with rime and frost, making the entire area glitter like a half polished gem. There were Diamond Dogs guarding the area, but not very many, which was surprising considering the number of dogs that had attacked a few days earlier. Then again, this place had been pretty well hidden…

Until now.

They hunkered down behind the ridge, the white unicorn stallion glancing at them.

Twilight Sparkle frowned, noticing the severely reduced number of guards. “Why are there so few of them?”

Shining Armor smirked at his sister in reply. “Because I sent the main battalion to attack them at their source to keep the majority of them busy. They have been attacking settlements to try to drag off ponies, so this attack is justified—and it provides us with an opening.”

“But, how are we gonna get into th’ cavern, Yer Highness?”

The Prince of the Crystal Empire shook his head at Applejack. “We’re not going into the cavern, Applejack: only Skyward is.”

“What? Capn’ Armor, sir, yer not makin’ sense…”

The teal and dark blue streaked maned stallion held up a hoof. “Just listen. Twily, you, Rarity, Spike and I will provide Skyward with a massive distraction. Applejack, you and Pinkie Pie attack that group of Diamond Dogs—lure them away from the cavern mouth so Skyward can get inside. Fluttershy, you and Rainbow Dash dive in and terminate those crates there—drop these Mini-Mana Bombs on them, okay? Make sure you don’t miss—we need those crates destroyed. You got it?”

Rainbow Dash saluted Shining Armor—Fluttershy swallowed, but nodded her head as she meekly put on the satchel carrying the explosives. Seeing this, Applejack leaned over and whispered something in the butter yellow pegasus’s ears…Fluttershy’s eyes widened, went to pinpricks, then narrowed in sheer rage.

Skyward raised an eyebrow, drawing back a bit from the now angry pegasus mare and she nudged Applejack. “What the blazes didst thou say to her, Applejack? She looks angrier than a wet Cucco, and believe me when one says those are birds ye doth not mess with!”

The orange farmpony grinned at her. “Ah’ll tell ya when ya come back from kickin’ flank, sister. That’s a promise.”

Shining Armor tapped his hoof on the ground. “Skyward; if there is no portal in there, I want you to destroy any crates containing the material in question. Am I clear, soldier?”

Skyward nodded, saluting him crisply, and he returned it before looking over the others.

“You all ready?”

He got varied nods and ‘yes’s from everypony. Skyward readied herself as Shining Armor teleported himself, his sister, Rarity and Spike right into the open, and unleashed a powerful surge of magic, knocking most of the dogs to the ground. The three unicorns attacked: Shining Armor, true to his name, threw up a shield, while the two mares opened up with barrages of magic mixed with emerald dragonfire—the dogs howling and yelping as they ran from the unexpected assault. The Diamond Dogs at the cavern mouth began to run towards the group of ponies and one dragon…

“Hey, where ya goin’, furball? Ah wanna introduce ya t’ mah two friends!”

The right hoof dog turned—only to get nailed in the head with a powerful buck from two strong Earth Pony legs, both colored a bright orange.

“That there’s Bucky McGillicuddy and Kicks McGee! How’s that fer a ‘howdy’?” Applejack sassed as the dog fell to the ground, concussed from the strike. The left dog was about to pounce on her when a loud SQUEAK coupled with an explosion erupted from behind it…

A shower of confetti rained from the sky as the dog was piledrived backwards into the ground, courtesy of one bouncing pink party pony, who was giggling madly as she readied her party cannon once again.

Skyward snickered under her helm at the chaos unfolding before her—untrained or not they were warriors in their own right, her friends, never mind Shining Armor’s own prowess! Echoing booms and sizzling warned her of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash’s attacks, and she broke from cover, teleporting right to the cavern entrance and running inside.

(Good luck, all of thou…may the Goddesses smile upon all of thee,) she thought as she pelted into the cavern.

It wasn’t dark inside the vast tunnel—the dogs clearly had glowing crystals to light the way—the supply line was pretty clear from here, what with the carved channel leading all the way to a much larger cavern from the mouth proper.

Sure enough, close to the back of the cave, slightly to the right of two massive crystalline stalagmites, Skyward saw the familiar vortex of twisting violet energy. She eyed the crates stacked near it---this cavern could have easily held about fifty ponies, perhaps even a third of Din’s Battalion if they wanted to fit in here. The crates themselves were plentiful in number, and when she passed by one, using them as cover to get to the portal, she saw the diamond quartz pieces the dogs were mining. What puzzled Skyward was why the Diamond Dogs were mining worthless pieces of stone—worthless to them, when they primarily wanted gems? What could possibly be of worth to them?

A shadow crossed close to her hooves and she ducked out of sight behind another crate. She saw a giant hand, a deep green in color, overgrown claws sprouting from the diseased, smelly digits hop from the portal and grab some of the boxes. It dragged them in—then returned again, clutching something. The clatter of wood told her these were more crates—smaller ones, but still crates.

The new shipment of boxes wasn’t what gotten her attention, however. The thing passing through the portal was a Wallmaster—a zombified hand like creature that could drag a pony to their death, or crush the life out of them if they got too close. They hung about in shadowy, abandoned caverns, or ancient ruins deep underground. Skyward readied her sword, crouching as she waited—pricking her ears for the telltale noise of ‘howling wind’ that would signify its coming…

The shadow dropped right in front of her…it’s ‘wrist’, since it had no back, or face to speak of, was facing her, the claws reaching out for more crates…

Skyward pounced, driving her sword deep into the wrist of the vile creature. The Wallmaster had no mouth to utter its agony, but its huge hand shook and quivered in pain, stinking brown blood dripping onto the cavern floor as the Haylian mare’s sword hacked and hewed pieces of it clear off. It tried to skitter away, to rise back up, but she was having none of it as she pinned it to the ground by one of its fingers, driving her sword right through the digit.

Skyward’s horn ignited as she invoked her Dance of Blades spell—a rain of foul flesh and evil smelling fluid splattered all over the crates, and over her, as well. All that was left of the beast was on the floor in quivering shreds—a small, controlled Backdraft Burst took care of that. The Haylian unicorn crossed to one of the new crates, cleaning off her sword with a water spell, then using the tip to pry the lid off…

Only for her eyes to be met with enough wealth to perhaps match a fourth of the Hayrulean royal treasury!

Dozens upon dozens of her own world’s currencies met her eyes from the inside of the crate—green, blue, purple, silver, orange, red, even a few gold ones…

Snaffles, unlike Bits, were not gold in color—their value and denomination were determined by the color of the piece in question—and that unlocked another mystery entirely. The Diamond Dogs were clearly being paid for their work—paid in her own land’s money, that was entirely useless here! Even if they looked like gems, she knew they were not, and the dogs were dumb enough to not be able to tell the difference.

She scooped up some of them to put in her satchel—she would need them to show to her friends the reason why they were collaborating with the enemy. Scowling, she glared at the portal, and looked around for another focus. Deciding on one of the stalagmites, she attuned herself to it, and brandishing her sword, stalked through the portal once more...

Portal II: Goron City's Crater Mines

When she emerged, a wave of intense heat was what met her first, and she winced against it, backing up slightly as she opened her eyes, the smell of hot stone, sulfur, and metal in her nose. Crates of diamond quartz surrounded her, but that wasn’t all—

The floor was solid stone under her hooves—warm to the touch, never mind her surroundings, and she could see that she was in a huge chamber—the light in here was low, lit only by torches and the gleam of lava—she could smell the sulfur and hot stone from here, and the light was reddish in hue. She cast a frost spell over herself to ease the heat, glancing around for a cooler spot to get to. She trotted towards the sole door she could see, keeping her ears cocked for another Wallmaster if there was one.

She emerged from the tunnel to a much cooler area, a bigger one at that—but this was one she recognized. The bowl like depression had circular tiers spiraling downwards from the top to the bottom, a broad path for travelers. The rock ceiling had an actual stone rotating chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the fire pots shaped like the ponies who lived in this place. Torches and luminous crystals were inset into the walls to lend light—but Goron City was echoingly empty, and this worried her.

A rumbling noise got her attention, and she flicked her ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. She turned her head...only to yelp and dive out of the way as a tan and black ball of rock—no, not a rock…a Goron Pony, rolled past her. She coughed as she got up, turning to run after the rolling rock pony. But she soon noticed that this Goron was not stopping anytime soon, and, seeing no Bomb Flowers close by, she lit her horn and sent off a harmless, but solid bolt of light right into the Goron’s travel path. The explosion and impact got him to stop rolling long enough for her to catch up. The Goron balled up even tighter, his terrified scream echoing through the empty cavern.

“Wwwwaaaaaahhh! P-please leave me alone! D-don’t e-e-eat me, I taste terrible!”

Skyward shied backwards at the piercing cry, falling back onto her rump and shaking her head. She glanced around furtively for anything or anypony that might have heard him, then nudged him gently with her left hoof. “Calm thyself, little one! I do not eat mine fellow ponies.”

The ball slowly unrolled—it turned out to be a young Goron foal—a colt no less! He sniffled, looking up at her with huge, tear filled eyes and trembling lip—he was terrified, make no mistake. Skyward regarded the Goron foal with sympathy, and nuzzled him soothingly. “Hush now, little one. Now tis’ not the time for tears. Tell me, where is all thine kith and kin?”

The Goron foal looked up at her, rubbing his muzzle with one shimmery foreleg, his black, round eyes gleaming with tears. “Lotta mean beasties came an’ grabbed ‘em—they…they took ‘em all to the Crater Mines! If they don’t make weapons for this mean desert unicorn, he’ll feed ‘em all to a dragon!”

Skyward frowned upon hearing this news—the Crater Mines, which resided at the base, not the top of Death Mountain, were linked to the mighty Goron Forge. It was located at the base to avoid the dragons, who lived in Death Mountain Crater proper. What was more, she knew dragons were the only ones who could stomach eating a Goron Pony, given that they were almost like a living gem themselves—and the entire tribe would make a sumptuous meal for one dragon alone.

But if the Gorons had been subdued…this spelled disaster—it was well known they were master smiths; their craft unparalleled, and anypony lucky enough to get a sword, shield, or even armor made by them was blessed by the Goddesses indeed. She could not allow Ganondorf to arm his forces with Goron made weaponry—not to mention she would not allow this oppression to continue!

“Weep not, little one. I shalt go and free thine kin. Ye find a safe place to hide, and stay there, heed me—I do not want thou being captured as well,” Skyward told the young Goron as she turned to walk away.

“Wait! You’ll become baked pony in that armor you’re wearing! Come with me!”

He led her to another alcove further down the hallway—he glanced around before he dove into it—she could hear him rummaging around before he emerged, trying to pull out a box that was a bit bigger than he was.

“You’re gonna *umph* need this...this’ll…(oof) wow this is heavy…this’ll keep you safe from the heat!”

Skyward assisted him with bringing out the box; and she opened it to reveal a full set of Goron Lavaburst Armor!

Colored crimson from Goron ruby dust, the enchanted mithril chainmail set with inscribed Goron fire rubies, which magically absorbed heat. But this armor was forged specifically for mages, and, it offered great protection from even the heat of an angry dragon’s fire. Skyward ran a hoof reverently over the armor, before she glanced at the Goron foal. “Art thou sure thou desire me to take this, lad?”

“Aye! You’re a good pony! You’re not a coward! I can tell you killed that nasty hand monster! Augh, you stink…”

Skyward grinned sheepishly, folding her ears and kicking at the ground with one armored hoof. “Well, nopony said battle is a clean task—ah, dost thou hath a name?”

“Not yet! Dad didn’t decide yet! Say, what’s yours?”

“…Skyward. I am Skyward.”

The Goron foal pranced, coming up to her to nuzzle up against her breastplate, despite the rancid smell she bore. “Skyward! I’ll remember that name! When I grow up, I hope to be as brave and strong as you!”

Skyward chuckled, giving him a gentle nudge with her muzzle, then glanced around. “Is there a place where one might wash? I do not wish to don this wonderous gift smelling like a dragon’s rear…”

The Goron foal guided her down the hall, Skyward ‘carrying’ the armor box. There was a hot spring in one of the caverns--with the foal keeping watch outside of the cave proper, Skyward immediately stripped off her filthy armor and plunged into the pool, gasping at the sting of the hot water when she surfaced. She ‘grabbed’ a piece of pumice in her magic and scrubbed herself near raw, shaking out her mane and forcing her magic through it to clean out any debris or stinking pieces of flesh.

When she was certain she was clean, she jumped out and shook herself dry. The heat from the caves were also doing wonders to dry her fur, and she crossed to the armor box. Piece by piece, she donned the armor, and felt the heat lessen until it was nonexistent. She stepped out of the cavern, and the Goron foal clapped his hooves together, eyes bright.

“Wow! You look really good in that armor. Wait till I tell my dad it found a worthy mage to go to.”

Skyward nudged the young foal, pointing to the inside of the cave with one hoof. “Now I shalt go to free thine kith and kin. I shalt leave mine armor here and return for it later, but mind what I said—go, hide! Appear not till thou sees thine own kind! Now, which way to the Mines, lad?”

The Goron foal pointed down the pathway leading away from the spring chamber, then nodded before he balled up and rolled away. Skyward set her jaw as she swiftly cantered down the path, clad in her brand-new armor—she could see the entrance to the Mines proper at the bottom of the area she was in. It had a huge stonecarved sign of an anvil and a hammer and a Goron pony’s face hanging above it, and she crossed the threshold of the large ajar iron doors—into a world of sweltering heat.

The Crater Mines lived up to their reputation—not only was this a full-service forge and smithy, but this was also where the Goron Ponies crafted their master works. But it was also an area where only Goron Ponies could go, or those who wore Goron Dragonheart, Goron Lavaburst, or Goron Flashfire Armor. As the armor types went—Dragonheart for warriors, Lavaburst for mages, and Flashfire for pegasi, each type tailored to the pony who was found worthy of wearing it, but it all shared one similar aspect—the heat of Death Mountain Crater itself, could not touch the wearer.

Course, it wouldn’t protect them if they fell in lava, for example. The very floor seemed to be made of some sort of clear stone that kept back the boiling lava at bay beneath her hooves, giving the impression she was walking on fire itself, while the walls were warm to the touch from the volcano so close to the mines themselves.

The tunnel opened up into a grand forge area---there were anvils and hammers, tongs and varied smithy tools, stone troughs filled with water to allow for cooling new weapons or what have you that the smiths would make, bellows…

A rumbling noise alerted her and she ran for cover, diving behind one of the massive anvils. The noise grew louder, and she drew her sword, tensing for a fight…

The noise slowed, then stopped with a metallic screech; Skyward peered out from behind the anvil…

To see a large, empty mine cart roll to a stop near where she was hiding.

Glancing around, she also noticed there were mine cart tracks and loading stations near the anvils—they had a system that was set up to deliver ore from the mines proper to the smithy. Clever setup indeed…

She crossed to one wall that had a map of Crater Mines and examined it. According to the map, she was in the main smithy hall. There were also the mine cart tracks on the map that led to other sections of the smithy—the ore processing chamber, which was off to the left somewhere within the mines. She knew the Gorons had means of getting around through heat on their own, given they were so sturdy. Looking around once more, she saw there were two doors—one of them was huge, barred and sealed with the eldritch chains and the massive spiked lock once again. Her ears flattened in annoyance—another damned key would be required. The other wasn’t locked, however.

She went over to it and opened it…

Only to recoil at the wave of heat that blasted out at her. She knew right off seeing the channel of lava in front of her she wasn’t getting through that tunnel, and shut the door proper.

Shaking her head, she examined the map again, then looked at the mine cart.

She trotted over and glanced around, then hopped into it, but it didn’t move. Seeing a lever near the workstation it was parked by, she ‘pulled’ on it using her magic. But nothing happened. Frowning, she ‘jerked’ it the other way…

And with a squeal, the cart began to move with a jolt, sending her tumbling onto her flank as it picked up speed. She hunkered down in the cart, daring to peek over the edge as the tracks raced past her below, the walls soaring by in a blur, hot wind blasting into her face…

All she could see below the tracks was stone, then at times, large pools of lava far below…

A split second later she was unceremoniously tossed out of the cart and she yelped, flying through the air to land on…

A pile of gunny sacks?

She noticed the air was much cooler in here, and it wasn’t so sweltering hot. She got up, shook herself out and looked around the chamber. Besides the mine cart, there were three doors, and two sets of tracks. But there was no mine cart on the other track, and the gate was closed, and she couldn’t see a switch anywhere either. Torches lined the walls, lending a little light, but not much to see by.

Something suddenly smacked her in the side of her head, and she cursed and looked up—the flying object that struck her was a Keese. The batlike creatures liked to hang about in caves, ruins and other dark places. The vile little thing hovered, chattering mockingly, and she eyed it with contempt, drawing her sword. She waited for it to attempt another divebomb…

And slashed it in half with her sword in two neat, albeit dripping pieces. Dark ichor slid from her blade as she eyed the corpse before glancing around the room once more, scanning the ceiling and ledges…

Nothing.

The third door was just that, a door, and it wasn’t locked. Flicking her sword to clear the blood off it, she walked forward and opened it. The next room over was similar to the first, but there were no tracks, plus it had ledges in the walls like huge shelves—and not just that. There were more Keese here, but these ones were flying harmlessly through the torches she could see set high above her, not just the ones near her on ground level. She eyed the flying creatures overhead, scowling when she saw them acquire a flame shroud when they flew through the fires.

Fire Keese.

A step above their normal cousins, these Keese were able to fly through flame, were resistant to heat, and could set somepony on fire if they weren’t careful. She jumped to the first ledge…then to the second. The third she needed a running start for…but just as she landed, loud squeaks assailed her ears and she ducked, bringing her shield up…

Clang-thump!

She looked over it to see the Fire Keese had impacted her shield…and it had lost its shroud of fire in the process! Not wasting time, she slashed its wing off just as it flew away, and it spiraled down to the floor, dying on impact. She teleported to the next ledge…

Now that she was higher up she could see better. There were three levers at the top and a large window—upon reaching it, swatting off a few more Fire Keese and almost getting a singed tail from the last, she peered out of the window.

Now she could see that the tracks—there were three sets total. The map on the left side of the window denoted that they all led to the Main Smith Hall, which where she had been earlier. But one of the tracks led to the Ore Depot, where the Gorons mined the ore for weapons and such and the stone they ate. The second set led to the Smelter’s Cavern and the third led to the Minecart Racetrack, which split off towards the Main Smithy Hall, the Ore Depot and ran through the Smelter’s Cavern. She knew right off from the map that the Smelter’s Cavern was the one sealed up by the eldritch chains, and she’d have to find the ornate key to unlock it. Perhaps it was hidden in the Ore Depot?

Skyward peered down at the tracks below and she experimentally moved one of the levers—the tracks were side by side…one splitting down the middle, one curving to the left, the other to the right and upwards. From what she could see, the right lever moved the track to the left, and moving it again moved it back to its original position, but it didn’t make it go left. The center lever did that instead, and the third proved to be the master switch to reset the tracks.

She pushed the right lever and teleported back down, re-entering the door and hopped back into the cart. A flick of the lever and she was gone again—but instead of returning to the Main Smithy Hall, she careened to the side, heading left. The door opened wide as heat engulfed her--- a mass of liquid fire below her, molten metal in vats and flowing off in inset trenches built into the walls around her, bubbling away off to the sides on huge stone platforms—she hid in the mine cart, grateful for her new armor; fireproof or not, it was bucking hot in here!

A deafening roar echoed throughout the fiery area and she crouched down in the cart on instinct, hoping her armor would make her look like a large piece of ore or something. She peeked over the edge of the cart: turning her head just enough, she saw the silhouette of a large dragon flying below her, its snarl reverberating through the chamber as it banked and flew off somewhere. The cart screeched to a halt and threw her out once more, and again she landed on something soft on a huge platform that the mine cart stopped at. But this felt odd: very squishy, and an abnormal color at that—like the color of pus that was lanced from a wound, a nasty yellowy hue…

She poked at it with a hoof; and recoiled with a yell when the odd cushiony thing she landed on suddenly reared up and reached for her with a wide open, dripping, toothless orifice. She scrambled backwards, but not before it latched onto something from behind: she bucked it harshly and it let her go. She spun around, drawing her sword and shield to…

Wait. She fumbled for her shield but…where…what….

Her shield was gone!

She glared back at the beast, which was ambling towards her slowly. Furious, she slashed at the beast she’d landed on with her sword, viciously swiping and stabbing, teleporting out of reach when it tried to swallow her again. It began to ooze forward—only to recoil when her sword sliced through it, the flurry of savage strikes having taken their toll. The enraged unicorn’s horn blazed silver as she called upon her magic, sending a fiery bolt right at the thing; on impact, it smoked and quivered before it began to sink to the floor like a half-baked souffle collapsing in slow motion…revealing a few green and blue Snaffles, a half digested Bokoblin and her shield.

She ‘lifted’ her shield out of the goop and used her magic to clean it off—she’d only heard tales of the Like Like, the monsters who could eat just about anything, but now she’d seen one—landed on one for Nayru’s sake! She replaced it on her back and turned to leave, running down the corridor—an Ember Bokoblin burst out of a side hallway, gibbering angrily and brandishing a torch…

Skyward was unable to stop and slid right into it—the torch went flying as they pinwheeled head over claws, Skyward landing on top of the beast. She yowled when it sank its sharp little teeth into her right hind leg and gave it a nasty kick as a result—it reeled back hissing, until her blade lodged itself right between its ribs. Growling, she walked away from the corpse, wincing at the stinging pain in her leg. She pulled out one of her potion bottles, using the last little bit of Blue Potion she hadn’t drank from her recovery to heal the bite—she wasn’t taking chances.

She found another cart, but this one refused to move beyond the doorway marking a second way into the Ore Depot she could see further down and she frowned. The room had two Bomb Flowers, some rubble from a cracked wall to the right of her, cobwebs everywhere and a shivering pile of bones…

The bones suddenly hopped up and began ambling towards her—she backed up, presenting her shield to the Stalfos—an animated pile of pony bones that could kill a pony if they got within range, or if they threw pieces of sharp bone at somepony. The skeletal pony threw a piece of razored bone at her, which spanged off her shield. The unicorn teleported away from it and focused on a Bomb Flower. The bomb bud, once freed, began to flicker and glow redly, signaling that it was going to blow any second…

She threw it at the monster, and it exploded in a flash of fire and noise, the Stalfos collapsing in shards of blackened bone. Glancing at the cracked wall, she snatched up another Bomb Flower—the other one hadn’t grown back yet; and threw it at the wall.

With a thunderous crack, the wall collapsed, revealing another cart and set of tracks behind it—this one looked dusty, and unused, but the path was clear. She jumped into it and it squealed as it moved, increasing speed as it sped down the tracks. This corridor wasn’t used very often, but as it opened up, she saw that this track was positioned on the other side of the main Racetrack—this had to be an older track for the Ore Depot, only hidden away!

The cart arrived at its destination and she was thrown once again out of the mine cart; she was getting the hang of trying to land on her hooves instead of on her belly. As she got up and shook herself, she saw why she couldn’t get into the Ore Depot from the other side.

The Gorons were locked inside of the main chamber, barred by the very gates they had forged to keep monsters out of the mine shafts! Skyward ran over and quickly unlocked the barred gate of the Depot, which slid open—the Goron Ponies looked at their savior in surprise as she entered. Two of them reared to attack, but another one stopped them and pointed at her armor.

“Hey, you’re not one of them, goro…”

“Oi, kid, what’s your name?”

Skyward mentally sighed—she liked the Goron tribe, given their zest for life and their passion for having fun—it was said if you earned their loyalty, it was forever: as in Sworn Brother or Sister. But sometimes this could be an inconvenience considering their stubborn natures…

“Mine name is not important right now, but know this, Princess Zelda sent me to free all of thou. Ye all need to leave—get back to the lower levels of Goron City; the place is deserted.”

“Deserted, goro?”

The largest Goron stomped his hooves, grinning. “That means that sandbrain abandoned the city! We can take it back, goro!”

Seeing things were about to get out of hoof, Skyward stomped an armored hoof hard, glancing around for telltale signs of the dragon she had glimpsed earlier. While it was a medium sized dragon, that didn’t mean it wasn’t deadly. “Enough! There is no time—one knows that oversized ball of scales is around here somewhere, and should he find us, he will not hesitate to make a meal out of one and all!”

Knowing the Haylian mare was right, the Gorons quickly filed past her, first walking normally then curling into balls and rolling away as was their trademark. Unlike normal ponies, they didn’t run; to move across vast distances, their body structure allowed them to curl up and roll like a boulder down a hill. The largest one stopped, looking down at her curiously while the last of the tribe rolled past them.

“You look…familiar, goro…”

“Eh?” Skyward cocked her head at him, looking confused—the Goron Pony bobbed his head, leaning closer to get a good look at her. “…Yeah, ya got his eyes. Time Link’s eyes. Yer him, aren’t ya? Only…well, you’re a girl now…not that there’s anything wrong with that, goro…”

Seeing her consternation, the huge Goron Pony held up one huge hoof. “Ya don’t need to worry. Your secret’ll be kept safe, goro. I’m Boss Daruna, chief of the Goron tribe. Yer Princess Zelda’s prize pupil, Skyward, ain’t ya?”

Skyward mutely nodded, and he clapped her on the withers, sending her to the ground, coughing, shaking her head—Din’s red flank, they were strong ponies! “Who’da thunk it? You’re the Hero—er…the Heroine of Time!”

The bluesteel unicorn glanced around again, eyes wide and ears pinned, shushing the bigger pony frantically. “Sssshut up! Keep that to thine self, Daruna! If Ganondorf or his minions were to overhear—”

Daruna nodded, a grim look settling into his features--he knew the risk if the enemy found out. “Listen, kid. The way I heard it from Zelda, she was training you to be the next Chosen One when the Gerudo began causing problems, considerin’ she hid your cutie mark and all. But you’ve also got a hell of a reputation for helping ponies and watchin’ out for issues. Lotta ponies been wondering if you’re okay, since official word is yer missin’ in action right now.”

“…Daruna, as much as one wishes otherwise, ye cannot tell them…”

The Goron Boss put one heavy hoof on her shoulder and nodded somberly. “I know, kiddo, I know. Zelda warned me herself ‘bout that if ya came here. But, know this, when the time comes for ya to kick Ganondorf’s muzzle in, the Gorons are gonna roll in right behind ya! Now, there’s something ya can use in here against that ash-brained dragon. Matter of fact, we’ve been keepin’ this thing since yer ancestor walked in here hundreds of years ago, waaaaayyy back when in ancient times.”

Skyward cocked her head, and Daruna gestured for her to follow him. “Ya probably know the legends of yer great uncle Time Link, right?”

At her nod, he continued as he stomped his hooves near one section of wall, which slid open to reveal a secret entrance. He pointed down the lit corridor with one sturdy looking hoof. “Ya go through there—watch out for any of that sandstone-brain’s goons, not that I need to tell ya that! The Megaton Hammer is in a locked chest at the end of that corridor, but expect some resistance! I know that red maned pain in the crag put something vile in that chamber…”

“Considering what he’s done to the rest of Hayrule…”

Daruna noticed Skyward’s downcast look, and lifted her chin. “Stand tall, kid. Ya didn’t ask for this to be put on your shoulders, but I’ll tell ya this. If the first Sworn Brother were here…he’d be busting at the seams with pride. You’re doin’ all ya can, and for now, it’ll have to be enough. Oh, that reminds me. I got this offa one of the idiots who came in here tryin’ to mess with us. This might help ya.”

Skyward accepted the ornate, jeweled key and nodded her head, resolve entering her eyes, and he thumped her on the withers approvingly. “C’mon back t’ Goron City sometime, kid. We’ll give ya a hero’s welcome! Keep the armor—I’m assumin’ my son dug it out for ya?”

She nodded, and he grinned. “Ya should know something. That armor yer wearin’? It belonged to yer Great Uncle Time Link himself. Over th’ years, my ancestors maintained it, repaired it, an’ we just upgraded it to Lavaburst armor since yer a unicorn and not an Earth Pony. Good luck, kid! We’ll be waitin’ for ya!”

With that, Daruna turned and ran off—Skyward stared after him, then glancing at the armor that adorned her body. This had been her five-time great uncle’s armor? She shifted a little, tears gleaming in her eyes as she bowed her head—she really wished she could talk to him, just once…!

But the crackling of flames down the secret corridor grabbed her attention, and she took a breath, unsheathing her sword as she resolutely walked down the hallway, reminded of her duty. The room that was connected to the secret hall was a large one and it looked relatively nondescript— hewn and shaped stone floors, walls and ceiling, four stone pillars, a brazier in the center, four more set in the corners—

The chest was right in the middle of the center brazier on a second pedestal. There were a few Fire Keese and an Ember Bokoblin in the room, which she easily dispatched. However, her experiences from Shadeleaf Sanctuary taught her that this was a little too easy. There had to be something in this room—Daruna wouldn’t have just left this chest unprotected, but then again, given the immense heat here in the Mines, hay, that WAS a big deterrent!

Still—since the Crater Mines had been overrun…

She stepped closer to the brazier pillar…and it flared up. Evil laughter filled the air, a cacophonous cackle as the flames rose higher and higher—

Skyward glared at the beast as it whirled upward out of the flames and began pirouetting on one spindly spire like smoldering leg. Having done some reading on Hayrulean beasts, she knew exactly what she was facing—a Flame Dancer.

It was all thanks to a book out of a three set Shining Armor and Princess Cadence had gotten for her for Hearth’s Warming called The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia—a huge tome with pictures, descriptions and listed weaknesses of monsters in Hayrule. She knew she didn’t have any Bombs—but for a unicorn? She had magic, and she knew a Flame Dancer’s weakness was its core; to dissipate the flames, she needed to expose the core. The swirling dance the monster did kept its flames alive, never mind the dangerous dash attacks it had…

She dove to the left just as the monster shot at her, leaving a trail of flame across the stone floor, the tiles under it glowing with residual heat. Her horn burned silver as she shot a blast of water—water, not ice at it, and it screeched in pain as its flames were doused. Soaking wet, the monster was wobbling away, trying to reach one of the four large torches positioned in the corners for light—

Skyward pounced on it, viciously slashing and stabbing—she shied back when it spat embers in her face, cursing, she pawed at her face and yelled in pain when she was knocked sprawling by an intense wave of heat. Growling, she got up and turned to face it. She noticed its flames had turned yellow—a sign it was weak. She aimed another Aqua Pulse spell, and cursed when it dodged it…she teleported away when it dashed at her again. The beast was on to her game and she needed to kill it, fast!

She eyed the core and the flames--she cursed as she turned to face it, trying to keep it in her line of sight. The damn thing was fast, and she was forced to throw up a frontal shield just to keep from being seared alive. Too bad she didn’t know how to create a bubble shield…

Wait. Bubble!

Twilight Sparkle had used a similar spell to protect her home, to protect her friends from harm! But while hers had been pure arcane…

She grinned openly as she lit her horn again; a shield of ice went up around her this time as she closed her eyes and began mumbling in Ancient Haylian. Arcane runes began forming in front of her glowing horn as she crafted her spell…

She heard the ice shield hiss and crack when the Flame Dancer impacted it, but she couldn’t do anything about it now.

The runes slowly began to take form, swirling around her horn as she forged the spell, envisioning each rune. The ice shield hissed again—icy water splattered over her, but she forced herself to ignore it.

Almost there…

The Flame Dancer squealed in delight, seeing its target was now out of the nasty cold shell it had put itself in. It spun about in unholy glee, before it darted right at the hapless unicorn…

Skyward’s eyes flashed open seconds before impact—glowing a brilliant azure color. At her mental command, a cerulean bubble of liquid swirled into existence around the monster, dousing the flames, and stopping its advance. It struggled madly, but was unable to move. Skyward turned it to ice, and threw her shield at it—

The sound of mirrors breaking filled the air as the Rime Bubble shattered upon her shield’s impact and took the monster with it, the beast having been frozen solid as well before being torn to shreds with the splintering ice.

(Twilight, one owes thou one…mayhap, one might be able to bring thou a gift for the spell thou helped me craft in mine time of need. That being said...one should bring gifts for the others as well. Tis’ only right…and it is Midwinter…ah…Hearth’s Warming.)

She retrieved her shield, crossed to the chest, the flames having died with the Dancer’s death, and carefully opened it.

Inside lay the Megaton Hammer—the weapon which her relative had slain the vile dragon Volvagia, long and long ago. True to the legends however, it had been forged initially for a Goron hero, and as such, she was unable to bring out her shield or her sword when she ‘picked it up’. She ‘lifted’ the heavy steel bound hammer in her grip, and turned it over, running one armored hoof over it and sighed, before she shrank it down and turned to leave the chamber…

“GGGGGGRRRRAWWWRRRRRRR! FOOD! FOOD IS GONE! DRACOLGA TURN THIS PLACE INTO A MOLTEN RUIN!”

At the horrendous roar and the raspy, snarly shout, Skyward’s ears backed and a terrifying scowl touched her brow. She sprang off the pedestal and pelted back down the hidden corridor—

Through the makeshift prison area, leaping into a mine cart, which took her past the rows of anvils and suspended bellows, hammers and tongs…

She wove in and out of the mine cart racetrack station…

She hit the ground running when she was thrown out of the cart, charging right for the door bound with massive chains that loomed before her. She pulled out the ornate key Daruna had given her earlier, and fit it into the lock. The chains vanished, the heavy lock falling to the floor as the door slid upwards. She took a few minutes to catch her breath, steeled herself and walked through it…

And emerged into a massive chamber—a big cavity filled partially with molten lava. The room was huge—there were short, broad pillars of stone rising from the molten rock. Some of them had large rings jutting out of them on top—the rings were made of solid Goron steel. They were large enough for somepony to fit through if one wanted to jump through them…

And lying on a stone platform ringed with Bomb Flowers in the center of this fiery tableau, was a dragon.

But this dragon reminded Skyward physically of Garble, a foul mouthed, brash, arrogant fledgling red dragon who resided in the Dragon Lands far from Equestria—that Spike had bested on more than one occasion. This dragon was about the same size, but the spiked tail, the temperament and the fire he was spitting showed he was definitely more dangerous than Garble. But unlike Garble’s wings, this one’s wings were torn and broken…clearly, he’d bitten off more than he could chew somewhere—she suspected Daruna had a hoof in that.

The dragon spotted her when she came in, and he bared his teeth, snarling at her.

“YOU! YOU THE PONY THAT FREED DRACOLGA’S FOOD?”

Skyward sneered as she brought her sword to bear—she had shrank the hammer down with her magic and put it in her satchel, but she was ready to use it if she had to.

“Aye. And what art thou going to do about it, scaleface?” she taunted. The dragon—Dracolga, as he called himself; hissed steam and sprang up, acidic drool sliding from his maw to hit the ground, the earth melting on contact.

“DRACOLGA’S GONNA HAVE YOU FOR AN APPETIZER!”

He inhaled and shot a column of fire at her—Skyward teleported out of the way, hitting him in the snout with an uprooted Bomb Flower. The explosive blossoms, which were the primary staple to make Bombs in Hayrule, grew naturally on Death Mountain and its surrounding areas, but were extremely dangerous; unless, you knew how to handle the damn things.

The flowers were growing in a circle around the main platform, and while he was trying to see where she’d gone to, she was able to ‘yank’ one of the Bomb Flowers out of the ground, and hurl it at him. The flower exploded on his sensitive nostrils, making him recoil and snarl in pain. He lunged at her, maw open and ready to bite down on her…

Only for her to jump out of the way, and his head to be shoved right into one of the massive rings surrounding the main platform. He was lying prone as a result, legs splayed and tail lashing as he wriggled, finding he was stuck fast.

He roared as he strained to pull his head out of the ring—only to howl in agony as Skyward, who had seen an opportunity, brought the Megaton Hammer out, raised it high, and slammed it down right on his rear left leg with a sickening boom-crack, dark blood spewing high into the air with a sizzling hiss, bone shattering with a loud snap.

She knew she had lamed him considering the leg was now a crushed, oozing mess of bone, sinew, muscle and blood; proof of the Hammer’s immense power. Heavy though the hammer was, it was true to its name for sure. The bluesteel unicorn mare teleported off the crumbling edge as he ripped the ring out with a scream of pain and rage and charged after her again—as best he could on three legs. Enraged, the dragon rushed her, firebombing the main platform…Skyward’s armor protected her from the terrible heat, the smoke from the attack veiling her—she heard some of the Bomb Flowers go off as a result from the dragon’s wild spray attack.

“FILTHY LITTLE SPARKLE PONY! DRACOLGA ROAST YOU! DRACOLGA RIP YOU APART, PIECE BY LITTLE PIECE, STARTING WITH THAT HORN OF YOURS! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU LITTLE PEST?!” he bellowed, trying to scent her or see her.

Skyward used her Sun Burst spell to lure him away from her—and when the smoke began to clear, she noticed his tail was within striking range. He had his back to her, and was trying to snap at the sphere of light still in the rest of the disappearing smoke. A mischievous, wicked grin crossed her muzzle as she raised the hammer high once again…

Dracolga howled in pain as the Megaton Hammer slammed onto his tail so hard, it not only crushed the bones and ligaments in his tail…

It had pinched it clean off!

The tail flopped uselessly as he whirled around, keening and writhing in pain. Without his tail, he had next to no balance left, and he flopped over on one side, spitting fire madly and screeching as he rolled into the lava surrounding the platform. Skyward recoiled from the hot residue and watched the churning surface apprehensively.

Dracolga didn’t keep her waiting—maddened with agony, even though his wounds had been cauterized by the lava’s heat, he was still a huge threat. His beady little yellow eyes burning in fury, he exhaled not one, but two columns of flame at her. She dodged one, but the other clipped her left hind leg, and she snarled in pain. He lunged out of the lava, maw wide open and snapped it down over her…

The bluesteel unicorn mare used her magic to hold open the dragon’s maw, jabbing sharply down at his tongue with one armored forehoof. Dracolga screeched and shook his head—she teleported out of his maw, snatched up two Bomb Flowers with her magic. He lunged for her again—she darted to the side, wincing in pain at the burn on her left hind leg—she stumbled and fell, hissing in pain. But, he still missed, turned his head to follow her, his jaws opening—

And she threw the fizzling Bomb Flowers right into his mouth, which snapped closed on impulse. The natural bomb buds went off simultaneously, Dracolga’s cheeks puffing out in a comical manner before he reeled backwards, collapsing onto the platform, smoke rising from his mouth. Unfortunately, his head was too far away for her to make a decisive blow, considering he had fallen on his side, away from her…

But his right hind leg was well within reach!

She got up, aimed a blow at the knee joint with the Megaton Hammer—another echoing boom-crack, another nauseating squelch-snap…

The pain roused him from his stupor and he BELLOWED, rocks being shaken loose and raining down from the ceiling as he thrashed and rolled off the platform again, writhing in sheer agony. The Haylian mare threw up an arcane shield to block the stonefall: Dracolga roared as he swiped at the rocks in his path—he was unable to find Skyward as a result. But given his wild flailing, he lost his balance and fell backwards into the lava again with a yowl of wrath. Having been given some time, Skyward returned the hammer to her satchel, and pulled out a bottle—this one held a light blue colored elixir inside.

Since she was wearing her ancestor’s Goron Lavaburst Armor, she didn’t need heat protection, but she also knew this would help ease the pain from the burn and give her double the fire protection considering how pissed her adversary was. She popped the cork and poured half of it onto the crimson, puffy welt on her left hind leg—the swelling and pain began to go down immediately thanks to the properties of the Frostblood Elixir. The rest she drank down, shoving the bottle back into her satchel proper. It restored magic too, but very little of it.

Dracolga exploded out of the lava, hurling globs of the stuff everywhere as he hauled himself onto the raggedy platform with his scrawny arms. His eyes were now crimson as his scales with dragon rage, and fiery murder burned in his mouth as he glared down at her. He hocked up fireballs and spat them into the air, forcing her to dodge them as they fell—he was unable to pull himself up on the platform, but he was still a danger at range.

Seeing she had dodged his attacks, he hissed as he opened his mouth wide—wider…

But obviously he hadn’t learned his lesson; because the second his mouth was open as wide as it could get, preparing to unleash a firestorm upon her…

Skyward had pulled four Bomb Flowers from what was left of the circle and hurled them into his waiting maw. His jaws snapped shut on reflex and they detonated instantly; he coughed, gagged and choked as he collapsed onto the rock in front of her, clouds of smoke rising from his nose and broken teeth falling from his mouth…

The Haylian mare raised the hammer high once again and released a ringing war cry as she brought it down with all the force she could muster: the massive blow crushed his skull, sending fragments of bone and splatters of dragon blood all over the platform. The skull caved in easily, like a rotten fruit giving under the force of being hit with a massive rock, exposing the quivering gray mass that was Dracolga’s brain. She slammed him with the weapon again, the head all but unrecognizable, a smashed mess of grey pinkish bloody pulp with chips of bone scattered through it. The dragon’s body arched up in reflex...then shuddered and lay still.

Like Sable Oak before him, darkness shrouded Dracolga’s form to cover his entire body. It swept over him, enveloping his mutilated form in the black energy before it pulsed twice, then exploded outward. This time, Skyward shielded herself, standing her ground against the blast, ducking her head and lifting a hoof to shield her eyes. When everything was still, the dust had settled as she peered over her Haylian Shield, she saw that an ornamental and sturdy marble path fenced with gold and red stone had risen out of the lava, the rock face to the northwest sliding away to reveal an ornate looking doorway. The archway was beautifully carved, inlaid swirls of ruby and gold and topaz in the shape of dancing flames seeming to rise from the stone itself, set with more Goron Rubies. She crossed the stone path, advancing towards the gate—which parted seamlessly at her approach.

Inside was a similar platform to the one in Shadelight Sanctuary…only, this one was made of some sort of ancient golden rock with intricate carvings—it looked like gold, but she could tell it wasn’t. And hovering above that platform was a large ruby, set in a solid gilded setting. The glowing crimson jewel was in the shape of a vertical oblong diamond, framed by a broad V setting of solid gold, which held it in place proudly. It almost looked like the Goron’s own clan sigil, to some extent…

Skyward took hold of the gem and turned around…

To see Sheik standing about five feet behind her. Seeing the gem in her magical grip, he nodded at her approvingly. “Well done, Heroine of Time. Nay *she was shaking her head at him* Do not deny thine title. Thou hath more than earned it, this day.”

He held out a hoof, and she transferred the gem into his grasp. He looked at it before he looked at her, putting the gem away into his tunic. “Din’s Soul is safe, the Crater Mines art no longer cursed, and the Gorons are free. Ye hath done great deeds this day, but the danger hath not yet passed.”

“Then one must leave, before Ganondorf senses his hold here is gone,” Skyward replied as she turned to leave…only to have the Sheikah pony stop her.

“Ye must leave the Megaton Hammer here, also. The Gorons shalt keep it safe until tis time for ye to use it once more. However, thine new armor…well, one should say, heirloom armor…that, thou may take with thee, among a few other trifles if thou are so inclined.”

Sheik turned to depart, but turned his head just enough—his eyes narrowed a little at her, but she got the feeling he was smiling at her. “…The Princess is proud of thou, know this. Also, take the time to see the Gorons before ye depart. Ye hath enough time for that, this time.”

“Art thou sure? Last time ye were all but kicking mine flank back into the portal. One doth not wish to tarry and attract unwanted attention.”

The crimson eyed, blond haired unicorn bobbed his head at her. “Believe one when one says there was good reason. Ye hath a little time, now—use it wisely, before thou return—about an hour or two, give or take.”

With that, the Sheikah pony stepped backwards, then paused. “Ye wilt need to lie low for some time, Skyward. Let us pray he doth not open another portal anytime soon.”

He lifted one hoof—she noticed he had something small and brown curled in it…and he flung it to the ground. A blinding flash caused her to hiss and avert her eyes…

When the flash cleared, she blinked her eyes from the after glare to see that he was gone! She snorted and shook her head as she crossed to the ancient runic platform that would send her out of the Mines proper.

“…Deku Nut. Guess I won that bet, Golden Marble,” she muttered to herself as she stepped onto the platform. The Crater Mines faded around her…only to be replaced with the main gateway to the mines as her sight cleared…

And she saw Daruna there waiting for her, the young Goron foal at his side.

“Nice going, kid! Saw the whole thing from one of the smelter ledges. Whoo-ee, you’d give yer old great-uncle a run for his Snaffles! Hell of a fight! For all ya done for us—you’re one of us from now on; a Sworn Sister!”

Skyward chuckled, waving a hoof at him. “Thine people and lands are free—that is what truly matters, Daruna,” she replied, and he laughed heartily. “Honest to the core! Listen, we cleaned up yer normal armor for ya, and if ya like, we can clean up yer new armor as well! Relax a bit before ya leave—I know ya got places t’ be.”

This being the case, Skyward agreed, going once more to the hot springs to relax while a Goron healer saw to the burns she had sustained during the battle with Dracolga. Once clean, she browsed through the general store they had—she wanted to get a few things, not just for herself, but for her friends as well…

Goron Spice—she loved the curries and stews one could make with it…

A small bag of Goron Fire Rubies, a Haylian Sunset and a Blazing Heart gem, both separately set in filigree chains…

Blazing Heart gems looked like Goron Rubies, but in truth, were just precious stones, and had no innate elemental magic in them. They could still be enchanted to hold spells, however. Haylian Sunset gems were similar to Blazing Hearts, but they were uncommon—they were a beautiful purple hue.

A small Goron forged axe and a sword, made from good, solid steel—both were small, Haylian pony sized items, little more than belt knives to the Gorons. Not that they used them anyway…

A bag of Haylian Wild Bird Seed…a mix of Deku Nuts, Shadelight Acorns and Haylian winter wheat seed…

She also got some blocks of Cane Sugar—this was made from Haylian Cane stalks, which were grown close to the Sapphirine Bay area.

There was also a book of pegasi legends and tales—she picked that up as well. Spotting some foal sized cloaks, she chose three of them; one had an apple embroidered onto it, another a music note, and the last was a blazing flame; and the last item, a map of Hayrule. She paid for her items with some of the Snaffles she had picked up out of the crate she had found in the portal cavern earlier, and tucked it all into her satchel. Bidding the shopkeeper goodbye, she walked out and to the cavern where the portal was.

Daruna was waiting for her at the portal proper—his son was munching away on some of the diamond quartz pieces, head shoved in a broken crate. He saluted her, and she returned the gesture sharply. Seeing her glancing at the crates with a worried look, he gestured at her. “Don’ worry about all this. Ya tell yer friends on the other side, we’ll eat th’ lot of it. Good thing too—that gravel for balls moron damn near wrecked the rock sirloin quarry.”

“One is sorry to hear that, Daruna. Will it be enough until ye can unearth more?”

Daruna guffawed and nodded. “Ha, hay yeah it is! And, whatever this stuff is, it’s GREAT! Tastes just as good as rock sirloin, but it’s got a totally different taste! It’s all zingy and snappy! What is it anyway?”

“It is called diamond quartz. Worthless as gemstone, but can be used for weapons, so, if ye and thine people insist on eating it, make sure none is left if thou do. The enemy wilt attempt to recover their cache here.”

Daruna grinned at her wickedly. “Let ‘em try and bust their way in here. We got some surprises waitin’ for those red maned nags, now. Take care of yerself, kid!”

“Stand strong and never falter, Sworn Brother; may Din bless thou and thine people,” Skyward replied, and coughed when she was swept into a fierce hug. She managed to hug the Goron Pony back, and when he let her go, she bolted back through the swirling vortex of energy.

“Hey, Dad…did she come back?”

“Been here and gone, Skye.”

The Goron foal blinked at his father, who nodded at him. “Yeah, you heard me. You’re gettin’ her name, or part of it anyway. She’s a champion even though she don’t think she is, an’ damn brave to boot.”

“Aww, I wanted to say bye,” he pouted, and Daruna chuckled. “You’ll see yer namesake again, kiddo. But for now, we got some eatin’ to do! Go get the others—we’re gonna have a feast tonight!”

Skye rolled off, leaving his sire alone as the boss Goron Pony turned to regard the portal.

“Time Link…ya better keep a sharp eye on yer niece if yer watchin’ over her. Sooner or later, she’s gonna need yer guidance. That redheaded pain in th’ crag ain’t playin’ around,” he muttered as he turned towards the sound of his people rolling towards him.

If he had turned around a split second later, he would have seen a translucent pony standing there—a pony with blue eyes, pale tan coat, a long, windblown blond mane and tail, clad in a green tunic and long tailed cap. The stallion nodded to himself, and turned, disappearing into thin air…

Hearth's Warming Harmony

Skyward stepped out of the portal, shaking herself and checking her satchel, which was near bursting at the seams. She nodded, seeing that her purchases had survived the journey, and she turned to face the portal…

“Skyward! Skyward!”

The Haylian mare turned at the sound of her name to see Applejack coming up to her, and cocked her head at her friend. The blond farmpony cantered up to her, and blinked, peering closely at her before scratching her head with one hoof.

“Uhh…what happened t’ ya armor, sugarcube?”

Skyward blinked, then laughed. “Oh, this? The Goron Ponies gave one this…this was mine ancestor’s Goron Armor. They were keeping this throughout the ages, and upgraded it for one since one is a unicorn…it wast a welcome boon indeed considering what one faced in the Crater Mines.”

Applejack blew out a breath, examining Skyward’s new armor. “Wow. Now, I ain’t no blacksmith but that…hooo-weee, that’s some quality work! Oh, crabapples; Ah almost forgot t’ tell ya; Shinin’ Armor an’ the Crystal Empire Army are gonna be here soon! He’s tryin’ t’ stall ‘em, but…”

Skyward cut loose with a string of rich curses in Haylian, glancing around frantically. “Din’s swollen teats; then we hath a big problem. Time is running out and one cannot close the portal until we deal with that,” she growled, pointing with one crimson clad hoof towards the Snaffle crates. Applejack followed her hoof’s direction and blinked. “So, they were doin’ it for gems all along?”

The bluesteel unicorn shook her head, bringing over a purple Snaffle in her magic and showing it to her. “These art not gems, Applejack; this, is mine world’s currency. Where ye of Equestria use Bits, we use Snaffles, and they mimic gems to only a degree. In mine world that what thou see there (she waved a hoof at the crates containing the money) would likely equal a fourth of the Hayrulean Royal Vault.”

The orange farmpony’s mouth fell open at the piles of Snaffles she could see inside the broken crate, and then at the others. “Holy horseapples—ye’re gonna need help gittin’ all that int’ th’ portal! Ah’m gonna go git th’ others—ya hang tight now!”

“Hurry, kin-sister, hurry!” Skyward shouted after the orange mare as Applejack took off like a shot back towards the others. Skyward glanced around before she looked at the crates…the ones filled with diamond quartz. An idea struck her, and she planted her hooves, focusing her horn as silver light surrounded it. She pried off the lid of one, checked the contents—this one was full of diamond quartz. She focused on the payload inside and levitated some of it, throwing it through the portal proper…

The clatter of hooves behind her told her that Applejack had brought the other mares in record time, Twilight speaking up as she approached her Haylian friend. “Skyward, Applejack said you needed help—uhhh…what are you doing?”

“One shalt explain Twilight, but right now, one needs all of thou to do the same! We must get those Snaffles gone before thine royal sibling and his army arrives!”

“Snaff-whuh…?” Twilight Sparkle asked with confusion, and Applejack pointed over to where the busted crate was.

“Here’s th’ short version, Twi. See all that spillin’ out o’ that crate? That there, it ain’t gems, that’s money from Skyward’s world, but th’ dumb dogs don’ know t’ tell th’ difference. If yer brother arrives with th’ others before we can get rid o’ it, there’s gonna be a heap o’ questions we can’t answer, plus yer brother’ll git int’ trouble fer hidin’ secrets even though it’s a direct order from th’ Princesses!”

“Then let’s get this party started, everypony!” Rainbow Dash shouted, and the other mares agreed with her.

Skyward and Twilight Sparkle focused on emptying some of the crates, throwing the quartz through the portal as Skyward directed. Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, using some empty gem baskets they had found in the chamber as well, were levitating/dumping Snaffles into the empty crates—there were three large crates to fill. Applejack and Pinkie Pie shoved the first crate by the portal, and went to help the other mares fill a second crate.

Skyward focused on the Snaffle crates that were not broken, levitating them over to the portal and shoving them through; Twilight Sparkle nudged her, getting the Haylian unicorn’s attention.

“Skyward, are you sure you want to throw some of this in there? What about Ganondorf?”

But Skyward just grinned at her. “The Goron Ponies art on the other side; they will eat what we throw through, so hath no fear of this getting into enemy hooves!”

“Wait wait wait wait wait! They eat this stuff? You mean they eat ROCKS?” Pinkie Pie asked from where she was helping to fill a second crate, and Skyward nodded. “They eat nothing else, Pinkie! They really like this type of stone! And it wilt be a boon to them because that red-maned son of a hydra almost obliterated their food sources,” came the reply.

Three, four, five crates floated through the portal—as a sixth was being filled, a thought struck the Haylian mare and she turned to Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight, dost thou hath a quill and parchment on thee?”

Twilight produced the items in question from her saddlebags: Skyward thanked the lavender unicorn mare before she began writing rapidly in Haylian on the parchment. She rolled it up and used a sticking spell to place it on the last crate before she, Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity levitated it through the portal….

“Whoa! Hurry it up y’all, they’re a-comin’!” Applejack hollered from the cavern’s pathway that led to the outside. Skyward swiftly yanked out the Harp of Ages—the chords of the Sonata of Sealing echoed in the cavern as the portal began to slowly close, the vortex of energy vanishing just as the seven mares heard the falling hoofsteps of many, many ponies coming down the tunnel…

******************************************

Boss Daruna blinked when a smatter of stone rained over his head, and looked up to see showers of diamond quartz arcing through the portal, drizzling over his feasting people, and grinned—the Heroine of Time was a generous soul indeed! He also saw that seven large crates, one by one, were also coming through the portal—he noticed the last one had a note pinned to it. He glanced around to make sure nopony was looking before he picked it off and unrolled it to read it:

“Boss Daruna:

One hopes thou and thine wilt enjoy thine feast for some time to come. But in these crates, one begs thee to find a secure place to hide them. These crates contain a fortune in Snaffles—likely from the Hayrulean Royal Treasury, and the Evil One wast using them to ‘pay’ his minions.

May the Goddesses bless thou all.”

There was no signature, but even as the portal began to shrink and close, Daruna nodded to himself and glanced at the crates, throwing the note into a brazier close by. He watched as it crinkled up and turned to ash, and he prodded the coals to make sure the note was destroyed before he turned and hollered over his stony shoulder.

“Tuck! Roll! Aruk! Get yer crags over here, boys! Move these crates to Din’s Vault, on th’ double!”

************************************
As Shining Armor directed his guards to destroy the rest of the diamond quartz, Cadence coming over to the seven mares and one dragon, who bowed at her approach. The Princess of Love shook her head at them gently before she glanced around and leaned in.

"I take it everything went well?"

Twilight Sparkle nodded at Cadence. "Skyward was able to close the portal before BBBFF showed up with backup. But what are you doing here, Cadence?"

The ruler of the Crystal Empire shook back her purple, pink and golden mane and clicked a gold hoof-cup covered hoof against the floor. "Since it is clear they are massing for war and have been gathering supplies for weapons, Twilight: I as ruler of the Crystal Empire need to pass judgment--we will not suffer their presence any further."

"Will th' Princesses be comin' with reinforcements?" Applejack wanted to know, and Cadence shook her head as Shining Armor came up beside her. "Shiny and I discussed this earlier--unless things get severely out of hoof we shouldn't need any aid from Canterlot..."

"Captain Armor! Captain Armor, sir!"

A harried looking earth pony soldier ran up, all but prostrating himself at his liege lord's hooves. Shining Armor nodded at him, a unicorn soldier coming over to support the panting stallion.

"At ease, Razor Crag; what are you doing all the way out here?"

The tan coated and white maned Earth Pony's sides heaved as he coughed, then looked at his leader. "The damn Diamond Dogs attacked while you were gone, sir...we fought them off, but...but they..."

"What? They what, soldier, spit it out, stallion!"

"They took three fillies: Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are their names; they captured them as prisoners and intend to use them as ransom, sir! Try as we might none of us could get near them: those bucking mutts burrowed into the ground faster than a dragon with the silicone shits!"

Rarity's scream of grief, mingled with Applejack's cry of anger and Rainbow Dash spitting curses filled the air; Twilight Sparkle gasped, one hoof to her mouth in shock--Fluttershy swayed on her hooves, looking terrified, and Pinkie's eyes were wider than dinner plates, her mouth literally falling open to hit the rocky floor of the cavern. Skyward’s eyes went instantly to slits; the Haylian unicorn turned and began walking right out of the cavern, a deadly look in her eyes.

The lavender unicorn spotted Skyward making for the cavern's mouth. “Skyward! Where are you going?”

“Where else, Twilight…to rescue Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo before anything happens to those three precious fillies.”

The scowl on the Haylian mare’s face was terrifying enough to frighten a hydra as she brought out her sword and tested its edge, then began sharpening it, the sound of the whetstone she was using echoing in the cave's mouth. “Those Goddesses-damned mutts hath gone too far this time,” she snarled.

“Skyward, are you planning on going in alone?” Cadence asked, and the bluesteel unicorn turned to look at the Princess of Love and shook her head. “Nay, not this time—one will need aid to distract most of the dogs so one can get inside, and one would be a damn foal to try and stop mine friends from coming with me. Ye do not mess with one’s kith and kin…to do so is a death sentence.”

Shining Armor grimly nodded at the Haylian unicorn. “We’ll have the army keep most of them busy while you and the others go in and get the girls. This is the last straw—they have gone too far this time. They will be exiled out of the Empire after this.”

“And what art thine orders if they resist?”

The cold look in the Prince of the Crystal Empire’s eyes was all the answer Skyward needed. She saluted him, tested the edge of her sword once again, before she turned and ran out of the first cave, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash rushed after her in a flying spectrum of color.

“Let’s just hope they can get to the girls in time,” Cadence murmured worriedly, and Shining Armor put a foreleg around his wife’s shoulders briefly before the two rulers began running after the group of furious mares plus one smoke breathing baby dragon.

“So do I. Come on; we have to rally the troops and launch an emergency assault on the Diamond Dogs main caverns.”

*******************************

The rising sound of rumbling thunder should’ve warned the Diamond Dogs that trouble was on its way, but this far out in the Crystal Empire, one could’ve mistaken it for snow thunder, or perhaps an avalanche happened close by.

But the noise only grew louder, because this avalanche consisted of the wrath of seven enraged mares and one fire breathing purple and emerald baby dragon; Shining Armor not far behind with a battalion of pegasi, unicorn and earth pony Crystal Empire soldiers, which began turning off to the left to attack the main caverns, as more Diamond Dogs began pouring out of the confines of their caves, going in that direction. The Diamond Dogs remaining didn't look too concerned until they spotted the group of infuriated mares at the forefront and a torrent of emerald flame arcing in their direction from the perch on Twilight Sparkle's back.

The flames engulfed the first few dogs, who ran away yelping and howling, rolling around to put out the hot flames Spike was spewing from his mouth. Skyward teleported forward about thirty five feet from the others: with an enraged roar, the bluesteel unicorn lit her horn—white lightning erupted from the tip, arcing into the sky before exploding in all directions. The Diamond Dogs within range were flash fried on the spot, fur igniting, blood boiling, smoke rising into the air, some of them jerking around like puppets on cut strings. Two even exploded from the massive amount of magical voltage arcing through their systems, a rain of burned fur and flesh falling from the sky, a terrible smell filling the air—the smell of death and war.

The snarling and barking increased—the seven mares closed ranks, horns igniting, wings fluffing, hooves pawing the ground. Twilight reared backwards and fired off a magenta blast that slammed into another Diamond Dog…Rarity’s horn burned with a pale azure aura, only she was picking them up and throwing them aside into the ground, onto rock edges…

Rainbow Dash shot down, scooping one of them up to drop them right into another cluster of Diamond Dogs. Fluttershy giving a group of dogs the most frightening Stare she could muster, which sent them running off, tails between their legs. Pinkie Pie’s cannon kept squeak-booming, confetti flying through the air as Diamond Dogs recoiled from the noise and the blasts spewing sticky cake icing all over them…

Applejack’s powerful legs drove vicious blows into any unlucky Diamond Dog that was dumb enough to try to get close, and Spike spewed blast after blast of dragonfire, keeping them off of their flanks. The orange Earth Pony mare had seen two armored dogs vanish into a particular tunnel, and yelled to Skyward, gesturing to it. The Haylian mare shield-bashed another dog trying to jump on her and bolted for the tunnel entrance just as more Diamond Dogs boiled out of the ground below the mares, Twilight igniting her horn to levitate them out of reach as Spike blasted dragonfire onto the attackers below.

Applejack turned her head to look at Skyward, who had stopped at the entrance to the prison tunnel, ready to jump in if they needed help. The orange Earth Pony mare swiped at the air with one hoof at her.

“Skyward, keep goin’! We’ll hold ‘em here! Go git ‘em!”

Skyward nodded sharply at Applejack and she took off down the tunnel, keeping her senses primed. A Diamond Dog came around the corner, having heard the hoofbeats…and Skyward slammed into him with a clanking WHUD. They rolled on the floor, fighting for dominance—the Diamond Dog was trying to bite her, yanking at her mane—Skyward snarled in pain and lashed out with a harsh kick with her hind legs, throwing him clean off of her. She got up and ran over to him to where he lay prone; before he could get up, she reared up and slammed her hooves down hard, pinning him to the earth.

“Where art they,” she hissed down at the terrified Diamond Dog under her hooves.

“What? Don’t know…don’t know what shiny pony means…”

But Skyward was in no mood for nonsense and she roared in his face like an angry dragon: if she could spit fire, she would have been at that point. “THOU KNOWEST BUCKING WELL WHO ONE SPEAKS OF, YE WRETCHED MANGY GUTTER MONGREL! WHERE ART THE THREE FILLIES THOU FOALNAPPED?!”

Since she was muzzle to snout with the Diamond Dog, he tried to bite her, but Skyward blocked his strike and sliced off his head in one swift movement. The head rolled across the floor, the body slumping down like a ragdoll, spewing blood everywhere as the furious Haylian pony turned to glare murderously at the rest of the dogs; a few had come into the chamber while she had been fighting with the first one.

“Answer me or more of thou wilt suffer the same fate!” Skyward shouted, slamming one armored hoof onto the ground with a powerful crack, and the dogs cowered, whining and shivering. Seeing they were too scared to even speak, Skyward hauled one up and aimed her sword at his chest. “Thou. Thou shalt bring us to them. And if thou tries anything…”

She lit her horn and blasted a small boulder to molten shards…the scent of hot urine filled the air as the frightened Diamond Dog led her to the area where they were keeping the fillies.

Apple Bloom was the first to see Skyward from their rock spire cage as the angry unicorn mare stormed into the room with her prisoner—the guards brought up their spears, but the Diamond Dog shook his head frantically.

“Shiny ponies angry, this one very very angry! Let little ponies go now, let go let go now!”

Skyward jabbed him with the tip of her sword, royal blue eyes burning with barely restrained rage. The guards scrambled to release the fillies—the three of them ran out of their cage to Skyward and huddled around her legs.

“Skyward!”

“Oh, are we glad to see you…”

“Where’s the others?”

Skyward looked compassionately down at them; but her rage hadn’t cooled by any means. They were dirty and tired---their hooves were bruised and covered with small cuts. And she was certain they hadn’t been fed. She wanted to nuzzle them in comfort, but with so many enemies close by, she knew she could offer little comfort now.

“One shalt take thee to them, mine little ones. Come, let us go home. Lead us out, ye foul beast—and no tricks,” Skyward hissed, shoving the Diamond Dog sharply.

Once they were outside, a sobbing Rarity rushed over to scoop up Sweetie Belle, while a relieved Rainbow Dash all but divebombed Scootaloo, and a tearful Applejack gathered Apple Bloom into her forelegs. Skyward smiled at the sight; after all the blood and pain and tears, this is what made it worthwhile.

But her smile faded when she heard canine noises of distress behind her, and she turned around to see the Diamond Dogs attempting to slink away—trying to avoid the judgment of the Crystal Empire, whom they had invaded and violated time and time again.

But no more.

A vicious glare settled into her eyes as Skyward unsheathed her sword and charged at the groups of Diamond Dogs with a bestial roar; the dogs, faced with a pony that had conquered so many of them, broke ranks and fled, howling and yelping as they bolted. Some of them tripped and fell over themselves, only to scrabble to their paws and run on all fours. Skyward continued to give chase, shouting and blasting bolts of silver light at their flanks to herd them towards the general direction of the border.

“LEAVE THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE AND NEVER RETURN! IF ANY OF THOU DARES TO SHOW THINE MUZZLES HERE AGAIN, REST ASSURED IT WILT BE THINE LAST!” Skyward bellowed after the escaping dogs, shooting a few more bolts after the running mongrels, stinging two of them in the rump. She slammed her hoof against the rock before she glanced at her blood-stained sword and sighed. Conjuring a water spell, she cleaned it off, dried it, then flipped and sheathed the blade with a ‘click’ before she turned…

And blinked at the three openmouthed fillies and the stunned Mane 6, who were staring at her with huge eyes.

“…What?”

Scootaloo summed it up for all of them in one sentence. “That was…epic,” the little magenta maned pegasus whispered.

Skyward broke out laughing and shook her head at them wryly as Shining Armor cantered up with a couple of pegasi guards at his back. “Okay, everypony. Let’s wrap this up and get back to the palace—tonight’s Hearth Warming Eve, and I want everypony back in time to celebrate with their families.”

Murmurs of agreement were exchanged—a large group of guards split off to make sure the Diamond Dogs had left the Crystal Empire proper, while the rest of them began the journey towards the lights of the city in the distance, as Celestia lowered her sun to prepare for Hearth’s Warming Eve proper. Tiny flakes of snow began to fall from the skies, laughter and singing echoing from the Crystal Imperial City, beckoning the weary ponies home.

****************

Four hours later when they returned, the living room area was aglow with lights, banners and ribbons adorning every pillar, hanging from every ledge, garlands of pine and holly draped tastefully in sweeping bunches. A huge table laden with cakes and treats, pitchers of cider, wine and milk, platters of cheese and bread, and delectable looking dishes was close by, and a huge Hearth’s Warming tree was waiting to be decorated, presents under the tree, waiting to be unwrapped the next day. The large fireplace was filled with crystal pine logs, the flames snapping and crackling merrily.

Twilight nudged her Haylian friend while the others wandered towards the tree. “I know you didn’t have time to get anypony anything, Skyward…did you want to go out shopping before the stores close for the night?”

Skyward glanced at the others before she leaned in to whisper to the other unicorn, who leaned in to hear what she had to say. “Actually…I do have gifts as well for all of thou…I had time to do a little shopping at home before I returned.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, first in shock, then in glee. “R-really? Are they from…?”

Skyward nodded, and the lavender unicorn squealed, clapping her hooves in delight. “Ohhh this is going to be great! Wait—was it safe to…”

“Aye, it was safe. One made sure of that—there are also gifts for the little ones as well, if that is all right?”

“No way! You got presents for us too?”

The two mares started and turned their heads to see Scootaloo behind them, magenta eyes wide and holding a walnut brownie in one hoof, a wide, hopeful grin on her face.

Skyward turned and playfully gave Scootaloo a nudge, making the little pegasus foal giggle. “One did indeed bring gifts for all three of thou; if thou wants them?”

Apple Bloom squealed, hopping into the air with excitement. “We sure as sugar do!”

Sweetie Belle ran over to give Skyward a hug, which was returned. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! Umm…do we get to open them now?”

Skyward laughed, giving the ivory unicorn filly a gentle nuzzle. “Of course thou can open them now, if that is all right with thine kinsfolk. Thou see, in Hayrule, we open our gifts on Midwinter Eve, not the next day. The next day is filled with feasting, tournaments and is a day meant for fun.”

Receiving eager nods from the other ponies, the bluesteel unicorn tugged her saddlebags over while the others gathered close by, curious as to what the Haylian mare had brought over from her homeland for them.

Skyward smiled as she pulled out the first three gifts and presented the three fillies with the small cloaks—each one was made of Dodongo leather, tanned and dyed three different colors. Apple Bloom’s was pale green with the embroidered apple on it, Sweetie Belle’s was light blue with the music note, and Scootaloo’s was a bright magenta with a burning flame on the back. They were soft, but waterproof and had hoods with leather straps that would lace them tight during rough weather on them. The three fillies all but tackled the Haylian mare, squealing their thanks, and Skyward laughed, giving them all a hug.

Skyward picked up the next item, and bowed, presenting Shining Armor with the gleaming new sword. The sword had little decoration, save for blue diamonds in the pommel and cross guard, but it was a very fine blade: clearly a mastercrafted item. The white unicorn stallion took hold of the blade and tested it, his eyes widening. “Wow—is this…from…?”

She nodded. “Forged in Goron City, but one thought thou might wish to adorn it with thine kingdom’s own symbol; that is why it is plain. Happy Hearth’s Warming, Your Imperial Highness—whoa!” She was yanked into a fierce hug, and she laughed, slapping him on the back before she turned back to her saddlebags.

Skyward floated one of the two jewelry boxes she had to Cadence, who opened it, and gasped at the Haylian Sunset necklace she saw inside—the golden filigree chain glinting in the light off the heart shaped jewel pendant. “This is beautiful! Oh, Skyward, thank you! Was this made by the Gorons too?”

“Aye—despite their bulk and incredible strength, they are masters of their metalcraft. And this one, is for thee, Rarity.”

Rarity took the box in her aura and opened it—and she squealed at the Blazing Heart necklace—it had been diamond cut, the chain was of the same make, but in choker form, and hugged Skyward tightly.

For Rainbow Dash, she gave her the book of legends and tales—they were about Haylian pegasi and some of the sky fighting techniques they possessed.

Twilight Sparkle received the map of Hayrule, much to her delight; Skyward knew the lavender mare would be grilling her on the locations of cities, towns and the like later.

Applejack received the new axe—also made in Goron City, and like Shining Armor’s new sword, the edge would never need sharpening. The funny thing was that the orange farmpony needed a new axe to cut wood in the first place!

Fluttershy got the bag of Haylian Wild Bird Feed—she hugged Skyward and thanked her profusely, saying the birds and squirrels would love it.

And when Pinkie Pie received the bag of Haylian Cane Sugar, laughter erupted in the room when the pink party pony began devouring one of the blocks of sugar right off the bat.

Skyward then approached Spike, and offered him a carved wooden box. “Happy Hearth’s Warming, Spike. One hopes ye shalt enjoy this, considering how much ye liked that sapphire one gave thee.”

Spike’s eyes lit up and he opened the lid—seeing the Goron Rubies piled inside, he pumped a fist and hugged the Haylian mare, before he grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth. “I can’t WAIT to try these! Mmm *crunch munch gurble* mmm-mmm these rubies are *snarfle* GOOD! Little spicy, a little sweet, and wow! Awesome flavor!”

While they sat around and admired their new gifts, devouring plates of cookies, cakes, pastries, platters of vegetables and fruit, fresh sourdough bread with plenty of butter and honey, mushroom steaks and mashed potatoes loaded with butter and cream and salt, chased with fizzing glasses of cider and berry wine; Skyward used her new flute to play Hayrulean festival songs from home; conjuring images of other ponies performing dances with them; showing them what life was like in her home. She even performed a sword dance, conjuring images of her Haylian comrades and her family…

Shatter Point…

Golden Marble…

Tempest Wing…

Mossy Boulder…

Blazing Dawn…

Bountiful Harvest…

Skyward’s sword twisted and flashed, the spectral ones held by the other translucent ponies doing the same, the blades twirling and being tossed back and forth expertly by the copies, ending in a simultaneous backflip with the swords held high, a roar of applause and cheering coming from the group. Later on that evening, when the snow was falling gently, they gathered near the large pile of wood that they had collected that had been placed outside the palace in one of the private gardens. They also had with them candles, which Cadence had lit earlier for them. Skyward glanced at the other ponies; Cadence nodded at her with a smile as she ‘held’ out an unlit torch in her magic.

“Go ahead, Skyward. Light the Brazier.”

Skyward took hold of the torch and approached, but stopped halfway there. She seemed to be thinking for a few moments before she turned and held out the unlit torch towards her friends. “Traditionally one would light this…but one thinks it would be better if we all did.”

The others smiled happily as they crowded around, their candles leaning forward to touch as one to the tip of the torch, Skyward’s horn glowing softly as the head flared to fiery life with a whoosh. The Haylian pony turned and threw the lit implement into the wood proper—with a snapping roar the bonfire flared to glorious golden life, flames roaring into the air, the smell of Equestrian pine sap flooding everyone’s nostrils.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle approached the flames and as one, threw their pieces of inscribed wood into the fire, which were slowly consumed. They stood to the side near Skyward as Rarity and Applejack approached and did the same, followed by Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, then Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. Spike was next, then Shining Armor and Princess Cadence approached, also throwing their own wishes into the flames.

Skyward went last, holding her own piece. She glanced at it, before she threw it into the flames as well, and watched as the flames consumed the chunk rapidly.

“Hey, Rarity, what did you wish for?”

“A lady does not kiss and tell, Applejack. Besides, if we tell what we wished for, it will not come true, remember?”

Cadence lit her horn, the sky-blue glow activating a spell—golden bells adorned with holly and pine garland that had been hung about the snow-covered winter garden began ringing softly around the perimeter of the garden. Fairy lights in pastel hues flew into the air, dancing around the group of ponies breaking into song with the tempo of the bells; Twilight held up a small piece of parchment for Skyward so she could sing along with them, given this was a song she wouldn’t know.

“The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns we cannot drift apart
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few…
Laughter and singing will see us through
Will see us through…”

“We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends
We’ll be to the very end…!”

Later on, while the others were settled near the roaring fireplace, drinking cider or cocoa, talking quietly, Skyward smiled as she gazed out at the snowy landscape. Silently, she raised her cup to the heavens, and drank from it, the hot cider sliding down her throat, warming her throat and belly.

(Happy Hearth’s Warming, Princess Zelda, Father, Brother, mine brothers and sisters in arms…one prays thou art all right. May the Goddesses bless thou all---keep thyselves safe, until we are reunited anew.)

Skyward rubbed at her eyes, but she turned to look briefly over her shoulder towards her friends when she heard giggling; Rarity had smacked Twilight with a pillow, and the lavender mare was retaliating with her own pillow, but nailed Applejack with it instead. The Haylian mare chuckled, then smiled up at the stars once more.

Something soft and fluffy smacked her in the flank—she jumped, dropping her empty cup and whirling around…

To see Pinkie Pie, Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity all holding pillows and watching her with big, concerned eyes…

But Skyward grinned as she picked up the pillow in her magic and playfully pawed the ground with one hoof—she ran after Applejack, who bolted from the Haylian mare, giggling madly as the bluesteel unicorn hurled the pillow back at her, laughing like a foal…

They weren’t her blood kin…

But they sure as dawn and dusk felt like family.

Go West, Young Skyward

Hearth’s Warming Eve was a resounding success—the next day consisted of them opening their gifts; the remainders, anyway. The fillies, predictably (and Spike) awakened the others first with squeals of delight—a group of sleepy eyed but amused adult ponies emerged from their rooms to watch the young fillies and one purple dragon tear into their gifts. Since everypony was up already, Cadence had breakfast set up in the same place—only this time, a few chefs had set up cooking stations for pancakes, waffles, home fried potatoes with whatever fixings you wanted, platters of hay bacon, toast soaked with fresh butter, jars of honey, peanut butter and preserves close by. There were also fried mushrooms, fresh fruits and vegetables, plates of cheese, pickles of all kinds…

Glancing at Cadence and the other ponies, Skyward approached one of the chefs and poked him, then muttered something in the pony’s ear. The chef looked at her, tilted his head in thought, then nodded and gestured to his cooking station. Skyward bowed to him in thanks before she levitated some of the fresh fruit and began chopping it in half.

She removed the pits from the stone fruit—peaches, red and black plums and apricots: before she put it in another bowl. In a small saucepan, she mixed some of the honey with a little Haylian Cane sugar and lemon juice, sparkling apple juice and a cup’s worth of water: she had gotten some for herself as well as Pinkie Pie, and put the peaches in it. She covered it and waited for six minutes, then removed them and put them in a bowl full of ice water, putting the apricots in next. While she waited for the apricots to get done, she used her magic to remove the skins from the peaches; pulling the apricots out of the liquid as well after about four to five minutes. She also soaked those in ice water, then removed the skins too. She focused her magic on the water, a waft of icy mist streaming into the water to chill the fruit further.

Applejack noticed what she was doing and nudged Twilight Sparkle, who glanced over as well. “I wonder what she’s doing?”

The farmpony cocked her head, until she remembered something Skyward had told her when she saw the bluesteel mare reaching for one of the honey jars, tasting it before mixing some of it into the syrup proper, her magic shifting and moving the amber liquid about. “Ah think she’s makin’ that Haylian honeyed fruit for everypony, but Ah think she wants it to be a surprise,” the orange Earth Pony mare muttered back.

The two mares watched as Skyward did the same to pieces of apple, and red and black plums, then she cooked down the liquid she had been using until it became syrupy. She then levitated it out of the cookpot, swirling it in midair to get it to cool down, focusing the same frost spell onto it to do so. Once it was cooled, she picked up some crystal berries, some blueberries, strawberries and blackberries, and arranged the lot of it in a bowl and tossed it together. Using the syrup she had made, she drizzled it slowly over the fruit, folding it over until the fruit glistened with the sweet mixture. Feeling a poke to her side, she turned—the chef held out a squirt bottle for her to store the remainder of the syrup in, and she smiled in thanks, siphoning the cooled liquid into the bottle.

Skyward cleaned up her workstation—or would have if the chef hadn’t shooed her off, saying it was Hearth’s Warming; and chuckled as she left bowls of the honeyed fruit for the chefs to try. Twilight caught Skyward’s eye and jerked her head in Cadence’s direction, and Skyward nodded, but grinned and waved a hoof at everypony in the room.

Applejack alerted the others to the Haylian treat, while Skyward dished up two bowls and offered them to Twilight to give to her brother and her sister in law. The lavender unicorn mare eagerly took the two bowls and trotted over to Cadence and Shining Armor, who looked surprised, then they smiled as they ‘took’ the two bowls. Cadence scooped up a plum and put it in her mouth, chewed…then began digging in with gusto; Shining Armor blinking at his wife before he tried a mouthful himself.

Twlight giggled as she dug into her bowl of honeyed fruit, the others being offered bowls of the same by Skyward. The fruit—stewed and fresh, tasted wonderful, the honey syrup glazing the berries and fruit just enough to not make it cloyingly sweet.

Cadence went back for seconds and thirds, asking Skyward for the recipe, which the Haylian mare was happy to provide for her.

Full and happy, they all settled in front of the massive fireplace to open gifts. Skyward was pleasantly surprised to receive gifts from her friends as well.

From Twilight Sparkle, she received three Legend of Zelda nann-ga—Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and another called ‘Four Swords’. Skyward was already giggling at the cover, which depicted four versions of her great uncle Time Link—fighting amongst himself in hilarious fashions.

From Applejack, she got a jug of the Apple Family’s finest cider, as well as the farm mare telling she was practically a member of the Apple Clan herself after what she had done to save Apple Bloom, and she was welcome anytime she pleased.

From Pinkie Pie, she got a book of vouchers for cake or pie orders from Sugarcube Corner—when she opened the envelope the Haylian mare laughed at the rush of confetti spraying all over her.

From Rainbow Dash, she got a Wonderbolt plushie of Spitfire that would actually fly when she prodded it with her magic.

From Rarity, she got a beautiful gown done in silver and deep cerulean blue—two colors that truly set off her coat and mane colors. The gown was trimmed in silver and the cornflower blue sparkled, jewel dust having been magically pressed into the silk to give it a ‘shimmery’ look. Skyward managed to mask her dismay at the dress, given her past fears, but she thanked Rarity profusely, and despite her inner reluctance, tried it on for her friends; she looked very pretty in it even if she didn’t think she did.

And from Fluttershy, she got a basket filled with hoofmade berry honey nut bars, clusters of dried berries and hay jerky: for the next time she had to journey ‘elsewhere’.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo approached her, and shyly handed her a hoofmade Hearth’s Warming card. Silver glitter and golden stars covered the outside of the crimson colored paper, but it was what was on the inside that brought tears to the Haylian mare’s eyes.

The picture was crude but to her, it put any painting by Princess Zelda’s court artists to shame. It was of her standing protectively in front of the three fillies, sword and shield out, brandishing it at the simple renditions of two Diamond Dogs. It read “Thanks for saving us, Skyward! Happy Hearth’s Warming!”

The Haylian mare gathered the fillies close in her magic and hugged all three of them, nuzzling each one in thanks while the others ‘aww-ed’ or cooed at the adorable sight.

They put their respective gifts away and headed out for fun in the snow. Skyward changed out of her Goron Lavaburst Armor and, at her friends’ insistence, put on her Haylian tunic and cloak instead. She played with the fillies in the snow, chasing them, creating snowballs for them to fling at the others, and even helped them build a snowpony.

She noticed Sweetie Belle was having trouble using her magic, and nudged her. “I see thou art having a bit of an issue with thine magic, little one?”

Sweetie Belle nodded glumly, and Skyward sat down in the snow, giving her a nuzzle. “Fear not. When I was thine age, the same problems afflicted me. I could not even lift a leaf, for Nayru’s sake.”

The ivory and purple/pink maned and tailed unicorn filly blinked at her with huge eyes. “Really? But…but you’re so strong! You carry around that sword and shield like it’s nothing!”

Skyward beckoned to her to walk alongside her, leading her over to a small patch of snow, slightly away from the others, since Apple Bloom was being chased around by her sister and Rainbow Dash was playfully trying to bury Scootaloo in snow.

“Perhaps now I am able to, Sweetie Belle, but mind me, it took me many times until I could lift mine shield and sword without effort. In time, thou too shalt be able to lift things without effort as well. I shalt teach thee a few tricks, if thou would like to learn?”

“Yes please! Umm…I’m not going to have to wear armor all the time am I?”

Skyward laughed, shaking her head at Sweetie Belle and tickling her with one forehoof, making her giggle. “Nay, little one. One prays thou shalt never need to wear armor at all. Nay, I shalt teach thee tricks mine mentor Blazing Dawn taught me.”

“Blazing Dawn? Oh—wait, he was that crimson unicorn I saw when you did that Haylian blade dance?”

“Aye. In Fiador Village, he is the primary teacher for unicorn foals, just as mine sire Mossy Boulder is the primary teacher for earth ponies. So. Now what, pray tell, art thou having trouble with?”

Sweetie Belle kicked at the ground with one tiny hoof. “I’m having trouble lifting things. I focus and…well, it’s like it won’t stay. It falls down after a while. Watch…”

She focused on a large chunk of snow—a pale green aura the color of young spring leaves glimmering around it. It held before it wavered and petered out, dropping the snow onto the ground.

“Mmm. Methinks you art trying to lift something beyond thine reach—as of right now. Here. Try this.”

Skyward ‘molded’ a small sphere of snow and turned it a bright magenta so it would stand out against the white expanse. “Now—lift this five times for me, please?”

Sweetie Belle lit her horn, and stared fixedly at the small ball of snow. The ball was really the size of a crystal berry—it wasn’t very large, so she was able to lift it up and down five times without much effort.

“Very good. Now. This is what I want thou to do. Every day I want thou to come out here, or even in your dwelling with thine sister, or in Ponyville with thine friends, or sister, or one of us; never alone, and do this five times with a small ball of snow or a crystal berry, or even a small orb. Do this until it no longer feels heavy, then, come and seek me out when ye are ready.”

“Why a berry?”

The Haylian unicorn indicated the small snowball with one unshod hoof. “Ye see, little one; ye need to start small, in order to become powerful. Believe me, I did not become a warrior overnight. The more ye do something, the easier it gets. Also, focus on the berry. Clear your mind and focus on it only—this is an exercise to strengthen thine ‘magic muscle’, dost thou understand?”

“Sooo…it’s kind of like when Applejack is applebucking her trees?”

“Precisely. She is so good at it because she learned to do so all her life. But one bets thou that she wasn’t very good at it when she began,” Skyward chortled, and Sweetie Belle giggled.

A snowball smacked Skyward in the muzzle; the Haylian mare sneezed and shook her head, turning to look in Rainbow Dash’s direction.

“Hey you two, come on! The most epic snowball fight ever is about to begin!”

Skyward smirked and shook the snow off of her—she noticed Sweetie Belle looked a little apprehensive, and she nudged the filly soothingly. “Worry not, Sweetie Belle. Come, let us go have fun. That is what matters, aye?”

She crouched down to let the filly onto her back, and cantered over to the others, diving behind a wall of snow as a salvo of snowballs erupted overhead. The Haylian mare molded snowballs and stacked them for the three fillies she was with, throwing one on occasion to even the odds against the other two teams of four. Smirking, Skyward pegged Twilight Sparkle in the snout with a snowball and ducked just as Applejack bucked a snowball her way, but it clipped her horn and she squeaked in surprise.

To make things even more fun, she turned their snowballs different colors—the three fillies were having a blast using the colored snowballs—Twilight, Rarity, Cadence and Shining Armor began doing the same thing for their snowball teams.

Nopony knew who won the fight, but giggling and laughing they went back to the palace to warm up: Skyward transforming a sled out of a snowball to pull the Cutie Mark Crusaders with. The three fillies curled up by the fireplace, stuffed full of holiday treats and hot cider—Skyward pulled out her flute to soothe them to sleep with a lullaby, using her cloak as a blanket for the trio.

“Look at ‘em. Out like a light.”

Skyward chuckled, nodding at Applejack as she slowly got up, so she wouldn’t wake the sleeping girls, tugging her cloak over an exposed hind leg from Apple Bloom. “They hath played themselves out; I’ll wager they shalt be hungry when they wake.”

“Anyone ever tell ya yer good with foals, sugarcube?”

Skyward cocked her ears at the orange farmpony, but shook her head, chuckling. “One hath never heard as such until now, Applejack. But one thanks thee for the compliment. Besides…”

She glanced at the sleeping fillies with a motherly expression before they left the room they were in, Skyward gently closing the door behind them. “They art precious in their own ways, and, well, they hath the chance to be foals. One wishes to preserve that as long as possible till time makes its mark.”

“Cause ya never got th’ chance, did ya?”

Skyward wordlessly shook her head, and Applejack clapped her gently on the withers, giving her an understanding nod. “Listen, Ah wanted t’ ask ya somethin’.”

The Haylian unicorn nodded at her, and the farmpony continued. “Ah’ve got family out west o’ Ponyville, an’ mah cousin Braeburn is gonna need help with a couple o’ things come spring. Ah’m gonna need an extra pair of hooves—think yer good t’ come along?”

Skyward nodded her head, glancing around first to make sure they were alone. “I would be honored, Applejack. Besides, one thinks no more portals may come up for some time. Ganondorf hast now lost two areas to draw power from—Sheik; ye remember him from what I told thee, the Sheikah unicorn sworn to Princess Zelda’s service, informed me to lie low for a time, given this recent banishing of his curse on the Crater Mines wast sure to anger the wretch.”

Applejack nodded her head. “Sounds t’ me he’s a smart pony, from what ya told me. Wish Ah could meet him.”

Skyward chortled, giving her friend a playful nudge and a too-wide knowing grin. “Oh? Art thou interested? One never pegged thee for unicorn stallions, Applejack…”

Applejack shoved the Haylian mare, who ran off, laughing as the orange farmpony pelted her with pillows, both of them giggling like foals. Applejack nudged her friend as they sat in front of a warm fire—Twilight was with her own family, Rarity was with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash was messing around outside—they could see the pegasus’s telltale rainbow trail in midair outside of the windows.

“Speaking o’ stallions…any Haylian stallions ever caught yer eye? Never mind those two stupid geldings ya had th’ misfortune t’ run into,” Applejack asked, and Skyward shook her head. “Nay, Applejack. I…I am not sure if I could trust mine heart to another stallion again.”

The blond mane/tailed farmpony gave her a gentle bump with one hooftip. “Now, c’mon. Ya gotta start fresh, an’ ya gotta start somewhere, sugarcube. Ah know fer a fact Caramel’s got his eye on ya, and so does Thunderlane.”

Skyward’s cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red, her fur tinting it a slight violet, and she shoved her head under a pillow much to the farmpony’s uproarious laughter. “Bwahahaha! Ya mean t’ *snort* tell me ya never *snorgle* noticed? Caramel stares a hole in ya the size of a henhouse whenever yer over t’ help out, an’ Thunderlane’s always in yer general vicinity whenever yer walking through town!”

“mmmmrphs mrrrble…”

Applejack walked over, picked up the pillow in one hoof and smirked. “Didn’ hear ya, sugarcube.”

“I said one is not interested…doubt not that I know they art good stallions, one is certain, but...I do not feel ready, Applejack. Perhaps when the time comes, but again…”

Skyward conjured the symbol of Hayrule and shook her head at it as it faded out of sight slowly. “Will mine duty prevent me from doing so too?”

Applejack frowned a little—she had clean forgotten about that little part, and she knew they couldn’t really tell anypony outside of their circle. “Well, maybe th’ Princesses might be able t’ sort somethin’ out so ya can have a happy endin’ too.”

“Maybe,” Skyward murmured, and the blond maned and tailed mare put a comforting hoof on her friend’s withers. “Have faith, Skyward. It’ll happen an’ when it does, it’ll be amazin’. We’ll be goin’ right after Winter Wrap Up, which is in a coupla months from now. Twi let ya in on what’s goin’ t’ happen?”

Skyward nodded her head. “Aye—I look forward to being able to aid in bringing Spring through. I suppose one is going to be aiding making birds’ nests?”

“Oh yeah, an’ trust me when Ah say we’re gonna be needin’ a cartload of ‘em an’ then some. Also, we’ll be participatin’ in the spring rodeo, since mah cousin Braeburn got himself hurt again an’ he can’t compete this year. Ya even been t’ one?”

“A…rodeo?”

“Ya know...ropin’ competition, steeplechasin’, barrel racin’…”

Skyward’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Ah! Ye mean a rancher’s competition! Sadly I hath not been able to go to many in Hayrule—yet I do know a pony who runs Lon Lon Ranch. It hast the largest competition ring in Hayrule, and though there art other ranches, Lon Lon is famous not just for its milk and cheese products, but the rancher’s competition finals art held there every year.”

Applejack whistled, stomping a hoof against the floor. “Hoo-eee! Wish Ah could see th’ place! Sounds like mah kinda arena. Who owns th’ place?”

Skyward laughed. “A wonderful Earth Pony named Chateau Romani and her little sister Creamy. She invited me more than once, but, at the time I wast training and could not find time to attend.”

The mare grinned at her broadly. “Well, yer gonna git t’ see one up close an’ personal in a coupla months!”

********************************

Hearth’s Warming came and went, and Ponyville life settled back into its normal routine. Well, normal as it could be, anyway. Three months came and went, and there were no signs of any portals. Skyward chafed at this, worried about her homeland, but she soon settled into a routine of her own. She would wake at dawn, go for a run to Sweet Apple Acres and back to Twilight’s house. After breakfast she would set out to Applejack’s to see if she needed any help with farmwork, and practiced her sword drills there so she wouldn’t accidentally hit somepony or destroy something with her sword. She would eat with the Apple Clan, then return to Twilight's or end up being waylaid by one of the others, or found herself foalsitting for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, much to her amusement.

Rarity had made for her a set of winter clothes, stating that armor would be horrendously cold if she wore only it all the time.

Skyward now had a thick, hooded violet jacket and cloak with silver trim that fit over her armor, and a matching hat that looked like her relative Time Link’s, but a different color—she did have to admit, she had endured guard shifts in the cold Haylian winters early on in her training and it was nice to be able wear something that could fit over her armor.

When Winter Wrap Up arrived, Skyward found herself enjoying the organized chaos as she carefully crafted birds nests’ for the southern birds—without using her magic. She watched as the ice was cut into neat cubes by some of the ponies so it would melt properly, the Earth Ponies plowing the fields to make way for the seed planting after the pegasi swept the clouds and most of the snow away in one powerful cloud driven swoop. Applejack approached Twilight at this part, knowing that even though Skyward was a unicorn she was a farmpony herself and would be of great help.

The other Earth Ponies were a little apprehensive considering what Twilight Sparkle had done last Winter Wrap Up, but Skyward only followed behind a plow, sprinkling seeds without her magic into the ground. The ease and the practiced way she did so showed the others that she was no stranger to hard work. Out of the corner of her eye as she planted turnip seeds, Skyward saw that Caramel was indeed watching her and quickly averted her gaze, going back to what she was doing. When she finished her rows, she washed off her hooves: Applejack nudged her with a smirk and she snorted in amusement, shaking her head at the orange farmpony.

The transition from Winter to Spring was amazing—Skyward was used to the militant display of how winter was ended in Hayrule, but this…

It once again struck her how different her land was from Equestria, and she found herself wondering how Hayrule would be like if ponies extended hooves in friendship instead of drawing swords.

A bit of melting snow spattered onto her blank flank and she glanced at it—and scowled. She knew why—part of that reason was her cutie mark. The Triforce was the very reason why Equestria’s near utopian state was not possible in Hayrule—as long as ponies fought for the relics the Goddesses had left…

She shook herself and continued on with her assigned work well into the night as Luna’s moon rose high into the air, and when it was finished, Spring had arrived in all its green glory; the sun’s warm rays descending from above as Celestia raised her sun. Skyward yawned mightily, but glancing around at the soft green grasses, the chirping of the birds, the turtles and ducks swimming about in the thawed river, butterflies dancing in the warm breeze…

A beautiful blue and yellow butterfly fluttered over to land on Skyward’s nose, and the bluesteel unicorn mare blinked at it as it fanned its wings contentedly. She sneezed lightly, and chuckled, extending a hoof to let it rest there. The butterfly waved its antennae at her before it flew off again. Skyward grinned sleepily and turned to follow Twilight back to the library…

“Hey, Skyward!”

The Haylian mare turned to see Applejack waving at her. “Y’all come on with me, sugarcube. We’re leavin’ for Appleoosa tomorrow mornin’!”

Skyward blinked then glanced at Twilight, who nodded at her. “Applejack told me everything, so go on, Skyward! We’ll all be joining you at the rodeo later on after you two get done with everything.”

The Haylian mare nodded and turned to follow Applejack to Sweet Apple Acres. Once there, the tired mare barely remembered to remove her armor before she flopped onto the guest bed and went straight to sleep, too tired to move any further.

***********

The next morning, she was awakened by Applejack shaking her gently. “Wake up, Skyward! We gotta get ourselves some grub before we git on th’ train t’ Appleoosa,” the farmpony told her.

Skyward groaned as she blearily stared at the farmpony and then glanced outside. “Farore’s emerald flank—‘tis not even dawn yet!”

“Ah know, but we gotta get there lickety split! C’mon, up an’ at ‘em!”

“Aye, but I think I may need a bath before we go, Applejack…” Skyward muttered sheepishly, and Applejack nodded in understanding. “Make it quick, sugarcube. We gotta move our flanks t’ make it on time.”

Skyward forced herself out of the bed, falling out of it in the process with a whud and groaning in pain at having landed on her face. The Haylian mare took the fastest bath of her life, using cold water at first on purpose to wake herself up all but good, yelping when the icy spray hit her fur. She scrubbed herself furiously, leaping out of the tub and hastily drying herself with a towel. She yanked a brush through her tail and mane, hissing in pain at the tangles, then ran back to her room to grab her armor. Upon bringing it close to her, her ears laid back and she winced at the smell—she would have to clean it on the train.

She pulled on her Haylian tunic and cloak, belting her sword and shield in place, and ran downstairs to join Applejack.

The two mares scarfed a hasty breakfast of apples, berries, cheese on toast, milk and oatmeal with butter and brown sugar that Granny Smith had made the night before for them, then took off for the train station. Once they were on the train, Applejack cocked her head at her friend.

“Where’s yer armor? Ah didn’ see ya in it when ya ran downstairs.”

Skyward looked wry as she pulled her armor out of her saddlebags and conjured a bubble of water with her horn, surrounding her armor in it as she focused the water through and around her armor, cleaning the helm first, making sure sweat and dirt was removed from the gleaming headpiece.

“I dared not don it until it was cleaned, Applejack. It smelled like a dragon’s rear—no offense meant to Spike.”

Applejack chortled, watching as the Haylian mare oiled and polished first the helm, then the hoofcups, then the barding and breastplate.

“So…that red armor ya brought back…that was yer great uncle’s?”

Skyward nodded as she inspected her helm before looking at the orange farmpony. “Aye. Throughout the ages the Gorons kept it, until the King of Evil rose once more. But, because one is a unicorn, and not an earth pony, they modified it so it wouldst fit me. Though…”

“Though what?”

Skyward looked pensive as she put down her helm. “…Mind, I didst not wish for this during Hearth’s Warming. But part of one wished to be able to get to know my great uncle. All I’ve to go on is books and lore and songs…not the real pony. And, sadly, one cannot turn back time, even though one’s title is…well…”

“Throughout th’ ages is what it sounds like, sugarcube. Through time itself, you an’ yer ancestors fought against this here evil. But Ah gotta wonder—where’d this all stem from? Ah mean, Ganon’s power had t’ come from somewhere, right? Not th' Triforce o' Power, Ah mean.”

Skyward cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head, looking thoughtful. “…Ye know…thou hast a very good point. In the book Skyward Sword—the tale of mine many times over grandsire, it hinted at something—a demon called Demise. But, one never got to finish the book.”

Applejack rubbed her chin with one hoof. “Well, maybe ya can ask Sheik th’ next time ya see ‘im?”

“One shalt do so when next we meet, but it likely wilt not be too soon. There hast been nothing pointing to a portal so that means the Evil One is biding his time as well.”

“That reminds me. Speakin’ o’ which, how’d that dream talk go with th’ Princesses?”

Skyward glanced around before she lit her horn, a bubble of silver light covering the two mares. “Mind me, mine kin-sister in all but blood. This goes no further than we two, until the others arrive and we find time to tell them, understand?”

Applejack nodded, touched deeply by the Haylian mare’s words. She knew from what she’d been told and read from Twilight’s reports, that if a Haylian pony considered another pony as kin despite them not being from their actual clan or family group, it was a huge honor, and they were treated as if they were actual blood kin.

“Cross mah heart an’ hope t’ fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye. I Pinkie Promise never t’ tell a soul.”

Skyward had to chuckle but she knew by now too the power of this promise. “Princess Zelda’s forces are clashing with Ganondorf’s army, but it is slow. However, because one hath been removing his focuses of power from the places he cursed, his army hath been weakened considerably. Princess Zelda hath been in hiding, directing her forces from her hiding place despite her protests, and in mine absence, Sheik, Impa and a hoof-ful of other Sheikah ponies hath been causing massive chaos to cover for the fact tis’ mine doing.”

Applejack nodded. “An’ what did they say ‘bout what Rare had in mind? Ya know, we git real worried every time ya gotta run into one o’ them portals, an’ we wanna lend a hoof anyway we can.”

Skyward put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder with a warm smile. “ ‘Tis heartening to know one has real friends here. Mayhap Princess Zelda wilt allow me to remain in Equestria when this is over, if it can be done, or at least find some way to visit. Ah—forgive me. Princess Zelda wast wary; citing the very same reasons I did, among a few others, but Princess Celestia pointed out that for good or ill, our lands were connected because of the spell she cast.”

“Well, Ah don’ know much about magic, but what d’ya mean ‘bout that?”

Skyward shook her head. “If ye recall the tale of when I was ‘banished’ to Equestria, Princess Zelda blasted a portal of those unicorn hags’ making with her magic, which led me here instead of Ganondorf’s vile hooves. But in doing so, the Twin Princesses showed her more of the spell her sire King Valion left her. It means, that the worlds of Equestria and Hayrule art linked, never mind the bastard able to force portals open here, since the Triforce of Power makes him almost omnipotent."

Skyward took a breath, then continued. “It may mean Hayrulean monsters as well as some ponies might find their way here. We shalt see after this entire debacle with Ganon and his cronies is over. But, she did allow for only two ponies to cross with me at a time.”

“Cause ya don’ wanna draw attention, right. How are ya goin’ t’ figure on who gets to go?”

“It wilt depend on the situation, but all of thou shalt have thine turn; one truly wishes to share one’s land and culture with all of thee. However, there art things one must teach all of thee, and mind me, take it seriously. One cannot stress enough the trouble we all face should the wrong pony catch wind of mine presence or if thou act strangely.”

“What ‘bout the Gorons? They know who ya are…”

“Rough and tumble they may be, but they know how to keep secrets. One hopes one can trust ye with this as well before I tell everypony else.”

Applejack nodded, giving her a thump on the shoulder with one hoof. “Ya can count on me…sis.”

Skyward grinned at her, and turned to look out the window as she banished the soundproof dome, and went to go change into her armor once it had dried properly. Appleoosa looked to her almost like one of the older towns out closer to the Barren Wastes near Gerudo territory, and she glanced around her surroundings from the train window. This section of Equestria was mostly desert flatland and rolling prairie, and she knew the air would likely be arid and hot to be sure. She turned at Applejack nudging her shoulder and she followed her out onto the platform…

“Hey there! Welcome to Aaaaaaapaloosa!”

Skyward leaned back and away from the enthusiastic earth pony stallion, ears back and wondering if he was sane. She half drew her sword out of instinct, but she had to admit she'd never met a pony so passionate about their town. Then again, her friend Full Sail, a pegasus stallion who’d grown up near the Sapphirine Bay area could give this stallion a run for his Bits…

"Hey, yer a new face. What's yer name?"

"I am Skyward. And…thou art Farmer Braeburn Apple?"

The amber stallion flashed her a friendly grin. "Ah now, no need to be so formal."

Applejack chuckled. "Tha's jest how she talks, Braeburn. She might be all rough an' tumble, but she's a sweetheart inside."

Skyward facehoofed, her hoofcover banging against her helm in the process, chuckling. "Bah, hayseed...leave some of mine reputation intact will ye?"

"Eeenope," Applejack smirked, and Skyward snorted in amusement, shaking her helmed head...and shied away when Braeburn's face appeared right in front of hers. "Gyah! What...!"

"Braeburn, back it up! That was nothin' short of rude!"

"Sorry cuz, I just cain't see why she's 'idin under all that glitterin’ armor she's wearin'. Tain't nuthin' t' be afeard of 'round here. That an' I cain't even see her proper."

"Braeburn, tryin' t' talk her outta wearin' that armor is as about as good as tryin' t' tell an Apple they can't applebuck. But really, Skyward, c'mon. Take th' helm off at least?"

Skyward heaved a sigh and pulled off her helm, shaking out her mane and tucking it in her saddlebags. Rarity had gotten her a new set when it was clear her satchel was starting to wear thin. "Better?"

Applejack nodded at her with a smile. "Much better. C'mon, don't ya break a sweat in that thing?"

"Aye, but one is used to it."

"Um, is she even from 'round here, cuz?"

"Nope, she came from a land far, far away from Equestria. They do things differently where she comes from, an' its a lot more dangerous in her lands t' boot! S'why she wears that armor all th' time Braeburn!"

Skyward paid them no mind, choosing to look about the stands where the competition would take place. It looked similar to Lon Lon Ranch's grandstand arena, but she hadn't really been able to attend many of their competitions, much to her own dismay. Her studies with the Princess and her training left her little leisure time, and she spent some of it sleeping considering some of the training she went through was indeed strenuous.

Skyward then blinked as something clipped her left ear, along with a brisk breeze and she turned her head, frowning--and saw a small straw hat landing on top of a fence post nearby. She blinked, then turned to look where the hat had flown from given the direction of the breeze.

There was a huge nut-brown stallion far across the ring...the hat had to be his, and from his downcast demeanor, clearly he thought it was lost for good. Skyward flipped her helm back onto her head, grabbed the hat in her mouth and ran after the stallion, weaving through stalls, ducking around ponies and dodging through some leaning props until she reached the huge stallion's side. She poked him with one hoof--the big stallion turned around...and blinked when he saw a unicorn mare wearing glittering armor, with a royal blue/indigo mane and tail holding his hat out to him with one hoof. Her fur was the color of polished blue steel, and she wore an impressive looking helm...the most he could make out of her face was her eyes and part of her muzzle.

"One believes this is yours, good sir?"

Her eyes were an incredible shade of blue--he was reminded of a sky when night was just about to fall or an endless ocean. He carefully took his hat back from her, giving her a smile and a nod. "Thank ya kindly, ma'am."

The mare inclined her head—her voice was warm, velvety, and had an accent to it. "No trouble at all. Fair winds at thine back."

She smiled up at him and turned to depart, the setting sun washing over her armor and lending it a burnished glow, almost like a golden diamond. It was only when she had vanished from sight did he remember he hadn't even gotten her name, and he sighed, shaking his head.

"Just mah luck..."

Across the ring as she followed Applejack and Braeburn to his ranch-house, Skyward pushed some of her mane out of her face and chuckled softly as she kept walking. He seemed like a nice enough fellow--truly a shame she had never asked for his name...

Wild Wild West

The next day found the three ponies at the grandstand ring—Braeburn wanted to show off some of the practice areas before the actual event began, which wasn’t until tomorrow afternoon. Braeburn also stated to the two mares that he would need help planting apple saplings as well, given something was sneaking into random parts of his personal orchard and destroying trees, leaving nothing but broken stumps, smashed fruit and splintered wood—a right ‘gosh-darned mess’ as he so aptly put it.

Applejack and Skyward exchanged glances at this—three months had gone by without incident, and they could only wonder if this wasn’t related to Hayrule in some manner.

The lariat tryouts had ended, and now the rodeo clowns took center stage. They were doing all kinds of things: balancing on rolling barrels, riding the barrels, creating pyramids with their own bodies, doing stunts like jumping through hoops, juggling…

Skyward had to chuckle at the antics of the biggest pony out there in the ring—a large stallion: he was much bigger than any of the others, and with the hysterical clown costume he was in, she couldn’t see what color his mane or coat was; all she could see is that his short tail was a deep brown hue. He was clumsier than a young foal taking its first steps after crawling for so long, but it was in an amusing way. He galloped around the ring, chasing some of the smaller ponies about--he was a lot bigger than Big Macintosh and that was saying something--then he stumbled and rolled, ending up half in and half out of a barrel, and she couldn't help it; she started laughing openly.

"Ya havin' fun, sugarcube?"

Skyward chuckled, nodding her head. "I hath not had this much fun in ages, Applejack. I hardly did get to go to any of Lon Lon Ranch's competitions, even if Chateau Romani did invite me often."

Applejack grinned at her friend and how happy she looked, coming up beside her to give her a nudge to the shoulder. “C’mon, sugarcube. We got some saplings to plant.”

Skyward nodded—she turned to glance at the performers one more time before she turned and walked away. The huge pony in the ring glanced in her direction the second her back turned to face him, and he stood there watching her leave…

Until one of the others rammed into him from behind and sent him flying right into a pyramid of stacked hay bales—he was now stuck half in and half out of it. The entire ring erupted in laughter at the sight, the three departing ponies turning around to see what the fuss was; Skyward laughing and Applejack and Braeburn guffawing and slapping their hooves on the ground.

When they reached Braeburn’s orchard, Skyward changed into her Haylian tunic and cloak, but took her sword and shield just in case. They began moving the dead pieces of wood, cleaning up the smashed fruits and saving what seeds they could find. The stumps and half busted trees were harder to remove, however...Skyward growled, threw off her cloak and began digging aggressively with a shovel to get around the roots of one particularly stubborn pain in the flank stump; and once the dirt was freed of most of it, Applejack, along with Skyward, even with her using magic, heaved it out of the dirt.

She blew out a breath, wiped her brow and drank from the water bucket Applejack had thought to bring with them…and stilled when she saw the hoofprints in the dirt near one of the broken trees. She knelt down and eyed it, sniffed it…

“Hey, Skyward! It’s almost lunchtime, ya hungry? Hey, what’s wrong?”

The Haylian mare glanced around for Braeburn; not seeing him, she pointed at the marks in the dirt with one unshod hoof. “Boar hoofprints.”

Applejack’s eyes widened, and she glanced around warily, her eyes searching for the telltale glint of sun on scales or steel. “Oh, good gravy…there ain’t another Lizalfos lurkin’ round, is there?”

“Well, we hath not found any bodies nor a decay filled den, so one cannot say for certain. Still. Keep an eye out. We can only hope it is not a Lizalfos.”

“Ya said that they don’ really ride boars though…”

“Nay, they do not, but times change. But, Moblins and Bokoblins do ride the damned creatures, and what is more, none of the fruit hath been eaten, Applejack.”

“Yeah—I kinda thought it was a little odd. All this wreckage an’ yet, nothin’ was eaten…”

“Hey ya two! Grub’s getting’ cold over here, c’mon an’ eat!” Braeburn yelled from the porch of the ranch house, and the two mares nodded at one another, Skyward retrieving her cloak as she passed the tree she had hung it on. They had a simple meal of fresh cold water, fried cactus slices, fresh apple cabbage slaw, and warm baked corn bread with butter, apple jam and honey.

“So what were ya two gabbin’ about down there?”

Applejack thought about what to say; she couldn’t tell her cousin everything. Sure, Braeburn was kin, but unfortunately, he had a big mouth and ran it often. “We found boar tracks, Braeburn. Ya might have a pest hangin’ ‘round, lookin’ fer a free meal an’ a new home. Problem is, it might not be able to pick out where its gonna rest it’s rump.”

“Well, it sure ain’t gonna be here. Oh, that reminds me. Yer sister and yer friends are gonna be here by tomorrow mornin’, so that means we’ll have to practice some more tonight! Oh, Skyward, was it?”

Skyward nodded her head, turning to regard Braeburn, since her mouth was full.

“Thanks fer comin’ out t’ help an’ all. And, Applejack tol’ us how ya helped save Apple Bloom. We’re right grateful t’ya.”

Skyward swallowed her mouthful of slaw, wiped her mouth and spoke. “No thanks art needed, Farmer Braeburn. One considers Apple Bloom near to mine own kin, that, and ye never threaten a foal. The damned mutts had it coming; yet they sealed their sentence the second they laid their foul paws on those fillies.”

“So! Uhhh…Braeburn, whatcha goin’ t’ do ‘bout that there boar hangin’ ‘round? This keeps up, ya won’t have anythin’ left fer winter,” Applejack interjected.

The amber stallion shrugged. “Right now, we can’t do much, cuz, what with th’ rodeo an all. Only thing we can do is hope the critter don’ cause too much damage until it ends, then we can take care o’ it proper.”

Skyward looked like she wanted to say something, but kept her mouth shut. She knew from experience—hay, her own sire was an Earth Pony and they were very proud about doing things their way. They had magic of their own in Hayrule to be sure, but in Equestria, their magic dealt with the earth itself, and dealing with things with their own four hooves. Applejack noticed the look on her face as the unicorn picked up her empty plate and took it to the sink to wash it. She glanced at her cousin, who she knew was watching Skyward pretty closely. She had to bite back a snicker at the faint, soft smile on her cousin’s face—whether Skyward knew it or not, she was a very pretty mare.

“Hey, Braeburn. Ya wanna run down t’ the cider press an’ git us some more cider an’ some other vittles? We’re gonna need ‘em with everypony showin’ up tomorrow.”

“Oh yeah! Yer right; I’ll be back in a jiffy!”

The chartreuse green eyed stallion was out like a shot, and Applejack crossed to her friend as she washed her dish. “Okay, what’s chewin’ yer tail now, sugarcube?”

“…One did want to offer to plant shield runestones around the orchard, but…”

The orange farmpony cocked her head, and Skyward continued. “One gets the feeling t’would be a bad idea to offer. Mine sire is also an earth pony, and well…one can understand, that earth ponies prefer to do things with their own four hooves, but sometimes magic can be a help. Mind that one said sometimes. Magic is not meant for everything.”

“But yer thinkin’ about Earth Pony standards an’ our way o’ life, an’ that’s a good thing. Listen. If things get any worse with this boar runnin’ around, Ah’ll put th’ idea up t’ him, okay? But what are shield runestones?”

“They art simple stones with shield runes inscribed on them and buried in the ground after certain ponies hath been attuned to said stones. When activated by the caster, it creates a near impenetrable shield, and can block all but the most powerful of attacks or natural disasters. But, there is one flaw. If any of the stones break, the shield wilt fade.”

Applejack rubbed her chin. “Sounds like a decent idea t’ me, but we’ll bring that up if we need it. Ah wish Ah could meet yer sire. He sounds like a damn good pony.”

“…A good pony and a good sire, too.”

The blond maned/tailed pony slung a comforting foreleg around her ‘sister’s’ withers. “Ah know ya miss ‘im, an’ yer brother too.”

Skyward nodded soberly, and rubbed at her eyes, sniffing a little. “Hey. Don’ ya cry none now. It’ll be all right in th’ end, an’ while yer here, think of us as yer kin.”

The Haylian mare chuckled, snuffling a little. “Even if one can use magic?”

Applejack nodded and gave her a big grin and a wink. “Even then, sugarcube. Now, let’s git this mess cleared out so we can git back out there and try t’ track that critter down. Wait…”

The bluesteel unicorn mare cocked her head as Applejack looked around and then leaned in close. “Ya got two outa three…one more, ya think?”

Skyward shrugged, but her eyes gleamed with determination. “I do not know, but I do know that one hath many questions for Sheik when one next sees him.”

“Think he’ll give ya th’ answers?”

Skyward’s eyes hardened as she picked up some empty plates in her magic and moved to the sink. “One is not taking nay for an answer this time, I can assure thee.”

After the two mares had cleaned up lunch, Braeburn had returned with a cartload of supplies. Skyward aided them in putting them away, and followed them to the backyard training ring. She watched them stack hay bales as high as they could, catching some in her magic when they toppled so nopony would get hurt. Applejack introduced her to the other members of the family that were in the event: Candied Apple, Big Gala, Honey Crisp and Pink Lady.

Skyward formally bowed to them, and squeaked in surprise much to Applejack’s laughter when Big Gala hugged her hard and thumped her on the withers, Honey Crisp coming up to her and thanking her profusely.

“Lemme guess, Brae. Ya spread word o’ what she did, didn’ ya?” Applejack asked her cousin, who grinned and nodded. “How could Ah not? That took a mountain o’ courage, what she did; everypony should know about it!”

“Look, don’ embarrass her, okay? She’s been through a lot, an’ she didn’ do it fer the glory. She did it because she’s one o’ us even though she ain’t blood,” the orange farmpony replied, and Braeburn nodded his head, but he didn’t take his eyes off of the bluesteel unicorn mare. Applejack rolled her eyes and elbowed her cousin, before she stamped a hoof against the ground.

“Okay y’all! We got a busy day tomorrow, so let’s get some grub and some shuteye!”

*************************

The next morning, Twilight and the others arrived at the station, Applejack, Braeburn and Skyward there to greet them. They got themselves set up at Braeburn’s house, then the Mane Six, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Skyward left for the rodeo proper. When the group reached the rodeo grounds, it was abustle with ponies aplenty, most of them doing random rope tricks, running around barrels, or even jumping fences. The orange farmpony noticed Skyward’s interest in the races they were passing, and nudged her.

“Ya wanna join the mare’s race, sugarcube?”

“Aye, just for fun, nothing more. Wilt thou watch mine armor for me?”

At Applejack’s nod, Skyward removed her armor and placed it to the side, stretching her legs before she stepped forward, head held high as she walked at the starting line with the other ponies. One of the three judges noticed this and walked over to her.

“Excuse me, ma’am, you’re goin’ t’ have t’ step out.”

“May one ask why?” Skyward asked calmly, though part of her was insulted knowing it was because she was a unicorn.

“Well, unless ya agree t’ wear one o’ these (he held up a magic suppression ring), ya can’t race. Ya can’t use magic here.”

Skyward gave the earth pony stallion a withering look, then beckoned to Twilight. “Twilight, if thou wouldst be so kind to bring that...that thing over here.”

The Mane Six looked stunned at the bluesteel unicorn’s declaration. Twilight stepped forward, holding the magic suppression ring in her aura. “Are you sure?”

The bluesteel unicorn mare sighed, ears slicked back in annoyance. “Just do it. Clearly they’ll not believe one’s word otherwise.”

“Now hold on an apple-pickin’ minute! There is NO way y’all are gonna stick tha’ evil thing on her horn! Ah trust ‘er not t’ use her magic. Give her a fair chance,” Applejack shouted, glaring at the ponies in charge of the race. The head judge tapped his hoof against the ground, looking thoughtful.

“Well, missy, if Applejack’s stickin’ up fer ya, go right ‘head. Besides, Ah think I read somethin’ in the papers a coupla months back…weren’t ya th’ unicorn who got foalnapped back in th’ Crystal Empire cause the foalnapper in question was goin’ after a high profile pony?”

Skyward nodded: she knew Shining Armor had spun a pretty good yarn to mask the real reason why. “Aye, ser. He possessed a magic suppression ring and used it to keep one confined for two days. Instead of the real target, I was captured. I…shan’t go into further detail what he inflicted on one. But if thou wishes for me to use it...”

“Nah. Ya don’ need t’ use it. G’wan an’ line up with the others. From whut Braeburn Apple said, ya whooped the flanks o’ those Diamond Dogs an’ saved so many ponies from gittin’ foalnapped out there.”

“One wouldst not stand by and watch, given the severity of what the lot of those moronic mutts were doing. They were using them as slaves to mine a type of stone for weaponry, for the foalish mutts were planning to declare war on the Crystal Empire. Nopony is born in chains, Judge Gavel, and nopony should ever be made a slave.”

The tawny earth pony stallion with the slicked back dark gray mane and tail clad in a pinstripe suit with a bowler hat nodded his head at her in solemn respect. “Damn right ya are, Miz Skyward. Now, go on…let’s see if ya kin keep up wit’ the herd!”

The Haylian unicorn nodded as she took her place at the starting line, staring down the long stretch of packed dirt before her.

“Mares, on yer marks…”

Flanks tensed, muscles coiled…

“Git set…”

Most of the mares, Skyward included, crouched a little bit…

“GOOOOOOOOO!”

Skyward took off, a bluesteel blur against the backdrop of greens, yellows, browns, reds, ambers, tans and off whites. The unicorn was clearly running for all she was worth, her hooves pounding the ground just as hard as the rest. She cut through the pack—anypony could see she was weaving in and out between the other ponies. The herd of mares rushed down the track, raising a cloud of dust in their wake. Most of the watching earth ponies muttered things about unicorns being all afraid to get dirty, soiling their coats and such. But the earth ponies were in for a shock—the unicorn mare gave absolutely no bucks about the dust rising around her—she just ran right through it, rushing forward like water cutting through rock at high speed…

And she wasn’t even using her magic!

Skyward narrowed her eyes—she knew the mare in front of her was deliberately trying to cut her off. No matter which way she moved, the mare continued to block her way. The mare in question turned her head and shot her an arrogant grin…

But the bluesteel unicorn mare coiled her back legs and leaped high in the air, right over the front of the pony in front of her, much to the shock of the other ponies in the back; and the one in front of her trying to cut her off!

“Whoo-hoo! What a jump! C’mon now, keep it up, yer almost there!” she vaguely heard a stallion yell in a deep accented voice. She grinned as she flung her entire self into the race, leaving the burgundy and amber maned/tailed mare behind in the dust. The mare in front of her was swift of hoof indeed, a light green with a pinkish mane and tail. Skyward poured everything she had and came up just up to the other mare’s withers…

But it was to no avail—the pale green and pink mare crossed the finish line first, Skyward blasting over it second, the burgundy and amber mare coming in third.

Skyward panted, gasping for breath as she shook herself out. It had been a long time since she had ran like that but…Goddesses, what a rush! She glanced around—spotting the mare that had won, she walked over and bowed her head to the winner, giving her a friendly smile. “Well run, milady. Congratulations. Tis’ an honor to have run with ye today.”

The mare smiled broadly at her and gave her a hug. “Why, thank ya kindly! Yer pretty quick on yer hooves yerself! Mah name’s Prairie Breeze.”

“I am Skyward. Mayhap we might race again sometime?”

“Sure thing! Ya sure ya name ain’t Blue Blur or somethin’ like that?”

Skyward guffawed openly and shook her head, both mares laughing as the Mane Six came trotting up. Skyward accepted her crimson ribbon from Judge Gavel with a nod; the judge clapping her on the withers before moving to award Prairie Breeze with the blue ribbon.

“Hoo-eee! Nice legwork there, Skyward! Ya really showed ‘em an’ then some!”

“Yeah! That was soooo epic! Hey, were you holding out during the Running of the Leaves?”

“Mayhap one was,” Skyward smirked at Rainbow Dash, who chortled in return.

“You’re really dusty though…don’t you want to take a bath?” Fluttershy asked, and Skyward chuckled, nodding her head. Applejack led her to a tent where multiple tubs had been set for the racers; the unicorn bathed to get the dust off of herself, shaking herself dry and coming out with her armor on.

But somepony got in her way—a very familiar burgundy mare with amber mane and tail, and glaring pale amber eyes. Skyward eyed her—she knew aggression when she saw it and this one was looking for a fight.

“Ya cheated. Ah know ya used magic t’ jump like that.”

Skyward coldly gazed at her, lifting her chin to look down her muzzle at the other mare. “One did not use magic, and the adjudicators of the race hath passed their judgment, and found one true of word. Save thine venom for another, I’ll not hear a word thou has to say.”

With that, the Haylian mare moved to go around her, but the mare blocked her path. “Ya ain’t jest gonna walk away from me like that, ya no good horned nuisance! Ah know ya cheated an’ Ah’m gonna…”

“Amber Waves! Cut that damned nonsense out right now! She won fair and square an’ nopony saw her usin’ magic!”

A stallion wearing a ten gallon hat and a dark brown vest strode up, green eyes snapping with anger. His cutie mark was an ear of corn and a wheat stalk crossed together. “So ya got third place, so what? Next year ya might win first, if ya ain’t gonna be such a sore loser.”

Amber Waves stomped a hoof and stalked off, and the dark red stallion with the yellow mane sighed glancing apologetically at the bluesteel unicorn mare. “Sorry ‘bout that, ma’am. Enjoy the rest of th’ show.”

Applejack shook her head as she came up next to Skyward. “Ya okay, sugarcube?”

“Aye—one half expected her to do something foalish.”

“Tch, what a party pooper,” Pinkie Pie muttered, and Rainbow Dash snorted. “Aaah, forget her sorry plot—come on! The clown show’s about to start!”

The mares and fillies filed down to the grandstand ring as the rodeo clowns came out onto the grounds. Laughter soon filled the air at the clowns’ antics and pranks—somepony got offered a flower and got sprayed in the face, they performed flips and twists in midair…

One of the clowns was much larger than the rest—she recognized him from the practice a day earlier. She watched the huge clown try to clear a bale of hay, only to clip it with his hind legs and he stumbled, landing face first in a large bucket of water, which got stuck on his head. He ran about with it on his head until he tripped over a small rainbow-colored beach ball and it went flying with him somehow managing to land on all four hooves, the bucket removed from his head to land on another pony's head far off. Skyward giggled out loud leaning against the fence, and the huge pony glanced her way with a grin of his own, pricking his ears at her.

Leaf green met royal blue, for a split second--

That was before he suddenly got hit from behind by another pony and went sprawling head over flank right onto his back. The pony in question had landed perfectly atop his hooves and was trying to walk--but since he was perched on the huge pony's hooves in question, all it did was cycle their joined hooves in a bicycle walk.

Skyward almost fell over laughing hysterically--Nayru's shining mane; she had never seen anything so funny in her life! Wiping her eyes, she leaned against the fence, chuckling as she continued to watch the show.

The Haylian mare blinked when two clowns led out a huge boar painted pink and white, with a silly wig on and a red nose. The boar was clearly not one a Bokoblin/Bulbin/Moblin rode, but there was still something off. The boar was twitchy—it kept pawing the ground, snorting and shaking itself...

It suddenly let out an ear-piercing squeal and charged the nearest rodeo clown pony, who barely got out of the way in time. But instead of following its chosen target, it plowed right into the wooden barricades, scraping the ground with his hooves and setting up a right noisy ruckus.

By this time, it was pretty clear that the boar had gone mad for some reason or another—the stands close by had been cleared and the clowns had fled the center ring.

Skyward swore and leaped into the ring---she planted her hooves and pawed the ground, stomping harshly to get the attention of the maddened beast. When that didn't work--she snatched up an overturned bucket and whipped it at the boar's flank. The strike got its attention; it turned and charged at her, meaning to trample the smaller pony.

But instead of running away, Skyward reared and charged it in return, the crowd gasping in horror considering it looked like a suicide run to most ponies. At the last second, Skyward went into a slide under it, coming out the other side. She whipped around and lunged...it turned its head just in time for it to meet the unicorn's rear armored hooves, and it howled in pain. She followed that up with a vicious shield bash to the face, making it scream in agony and reel back, staggering around from the twin powerful blows to the snout.

Taking advantage of it being off balance, she reared and lashed out with her front hooves, grabbing the huge boar right by the tusks. She let out a war yell as she dug her hooves in and shoved as hard as she could, seeing its balance was off by the right side...she might have been a unicorn, but she wasn't her sire's daughter for nothing! Using all the strength she had trained physically for, she heaved with all her might--using the boar's off balance stance against it; she pitched the beast over on its side with a dust raising WHUD. The boar snorted in surprise--and actually shrank back when the furious armored unicorn bellowed right in its face as she shoved her sword point right between its beady little eyes.

"NOW LISTEN HERE THOU OVERSIZED TIMBERWOLF CHEW TOY! I HATH HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF THINE ANTICS!"

Every single pony was staring at the unicorn mare with their mouths open in shock and eyes wider than dinner plates. A certain rodeo clown stallion let out a low whistle at the sight: he knew unicorns were primarily magic users and to see one use physical strength like that...hooooo-whee! Never mind the sheriff sized yell she'd put out. Boy howdy she was something else!

The tri colored mare snorted angrily at the boar and slammed her sword hilt against her shield, making it cringe back in fright. "Now hie thee from here, before I change mine mind about needing a new rawhide whip! Begone!"

The boar sprinted out of the stands and Skyward stomped an armored hoof, snorting after it as she turned about...

She blinked, biting her lower lip in nervousness when she saw that everypony's eyes were on her and licked her lips, preparing a verbal apology as she flicked her blade, then sheathed it with a 'click'. What she hadn't expected was the roar of thunderous stomping applause, whooping and cheering from the ponies around her. She looked around, a completely confused look on her face, backing up a little on her hind legs in instinctive preparation to bolt…

A hoof poked her from the side and she turned her head to see Sheriff Silverstar and his two deputies standing there. "You sure ya ain't an earth pony, Miz Skyward? That there was pretty impressive!"

"Mine father was an earth pony, Sheriff Silverstar. But honestly, I am truly sorry for interrupting the event." Skyward bowed her head in apology, and the sheriff laughed, giving her a good clap on her armored withers. "What are ya sorry fer? That wuz ah-mazin!"

"Thou could say a true rodeo champion gave me a few pointers," Skyward replied with a wry smile, pointing at Applejack, who waved a hoof and grinned at her. “But truth be told, if nothing wast done, that boar would hath caused injuries aplenty to many ponies.”

Sheriff Silverstar nodded at her, giving her a bow, which she returned before she left the ring. The ponies were dissipating, given the show had ended when the boar’s wild display proved to be dangerous. The Haylian mare sighed and wandered over to a cider stall, producing some Bits for a mug of the chilled drink and thanked the earth pony who was behind the counter.

Skyward took a drink of her cider, before she felt a tug at her tail and she looked down; Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were all there, and she smiled at them. "Hail and well met, girls. Enjoying thyselves?"

Apple Bloom hugged her, and received a hug in return. "We sure as sugar are!"

Sweetie Belle beckoned to her with one hoof. "Come on, we want you to meet somepony!"

Skyward tilted her head as she quickly downed her cider and followed the three fillies. "Mmm…now who is it thou wish me to see?"

Scootaloo’s wings buzzed happily. "You'll see!"

Skyward had to chuckle and shake her head as she followed them to where the rodeo clowns were settled in. Apple Bloom scooted ahead, her apple red mane and tail flying as she ran around the corner.

"Hey, Trouble Shoes! How's it goin'?"

The huge brown and white stallion turned and smiled when he saw the three fillies who had helped him find the real meaning of his cutie mark. He had a bobbed dark brown tail, an unruly brown mane, a nut-brown coat and he was pretty big for his size. He had a white blaze and bald mark going down on his muzzle and he wore a small straw hat between his ears. His cutie mark was an upside-down horseshoe. And his eyes...well, they were a warm shade of green that would remind one of spring leaves.

Skyward blinked—leaf green? A nut-brown coat? Was this…nay, it couldn’t be…

"It's goin' pretty well. I've been larnin' all sorts o' new tricks from the others. So, what are ya'll doin' back here?"

Sweetie Belle smiled at him. "We wanted you to meet a friend of ours!"

Apple Bloom turned and beckoned behind her. "Hey, Skyward! Come on over and say hi!"

Trouble Shoes looked over and saw the royal blue and indigo maned armored mare that had literally hoof-wrassled the boar from earlier. She approached him and gave him a warm smile, bowing her head in greeting.

"Hail and well met, Trouble Shoes. I am Skyward."

Skyward. Her name was as pretty as she looked. Yet he knew she was one tough pony after that display she had put on against that runaway boar. He removed his hat, given he was in the presence of a lady, even if she was wearing armor and had a pretty fierce looking sword and shield on her back. He blinked when he met her royal blue gaze, the feeling of deja vu creeping up on him, but he shook it off.

"Aw now, no need t' be so formal, Miss Skyward. It's nice t' meetcha."

Skyward inclined her head, chuckling. "Forgive me, 'tis how I was raised. I apologize for fouling up thine performance."

He chuckled. "Aw, heck. Don' ya worry yer head about it none. Iffen ya hadn' done whut ya did, there'd be lot worse things to worry about. 'Specially how mad that boar got."

Skyward frowned, putting a hoof to her chin in thought. "One wonders how it got so angry in the first place. Tis' not normal one would think..."

Trouble Shoes shook his head at her. "Nope. That there boar wuz supposed t' be part of th' act, but fer some reason, he went plumb loco in the coco an' started a ruckus."

Skyward shook her head—inwardly she was relieved. So the boar was not one ridden by a Hayrulean monster. "Boars do not just go 'loco in the coco' for any such reason, I suspect foul play. And nay, nothing thou did, Trouble Shoes. Thy talent is making ponies laugh—one highly doubts one would cause malicious mischief. I know not what mine is yet."

She wryly indicated her blank flank—in truth, she did know, but could not reveal it…not yet.

The huge stallion gave her a sympathetic look. "Ah'm sure yer gonna find it, Skyward."

Skyward shrugged as she crossed to the broken fencing and began ‘moving’ the pieces around, frowning as she sorted through the mess. Possible portal or not, something about this didn’t sit right with her at all, and she intended to find out exactly what.

Trouble Shoes watched the mare rooting through the broken wood, turning over slats and splinters with her armored hooves, using her magic from time to time to toss wood to the side in a small pile. Skyward frowned as she turned over a slat of wood...she picked up something in her magic that had been hidden under the wooden piece and held it up to Trouble Shoes. "Dost thou have any idea what this is?"

The Appleoosan stallion snapped out of his musings and trotted over to her--he eyed the piece of reddish, bristly plant she was ‘holding’ and snorted. "Eeyup. That there's ember nettle. Nasty plant, that...ya get any on yaself an' yer askin' for a right painful rash. Iffen ya eat th' stuff...well. That's worse. Then its lahke ya went and ate a basket's worth of habanero peppers an' swallowed a cup o' itchin' powder right 'long with it."

Skyward's royal blue eyes narrowed to slits. "No wonder that boar went mad. Somepony must have tossed it on him or made him eat it. Bah, I should hath looked the damn thing over instead of chasing him off..."

He shook his head. "Now don' go bein' too hard on yerself, Sky. Lissen, ya figgered out why that boar went loco."

She shook her mane, trying and failing to hide a smile at the shortening of her name, incomplete as it was. "Thou mean 'we'. But we still dost not know whom, Trouble Shoes, and one suspects that this might disrupt the rest of the competition. Somepony might get hurt."

Trouble Shoes put a hoof to his chin. "Hmm. Might be best t' go see Sheriff Silverstar."

Getting To Know You

They dropped off the Cutie Mark Crusaders with Applejack and Braeburn first: what they had to say might not sit well with the young ones in the first place. When they approached the sheriff and Skyward produced the piece of ember nettle, the sheriff frowned deeply. "Iffen what ya sayin' be true then we got a real problem on our hooves. It might be th work o' the Nettles."

Trouble Shoes snorted and stomped a hoof. "Aw, sassafras an' salt licks. They're 'bout as welcome as sittin' on a cactus!"

Skyward arched a brow. "I... take it these Nettles art not welcome here in this town."

"They're not welcome anywhere in this here part of Equestria, Miz Skyward. The Nettle family's a bunch of no good low down dirty cheatin sons of'..."

"Sheriff! Mind thine tongue! There art 'small ears' here, remember?"

Trouble Shoes and the two deputy ponies had to choke back a howl of laughter at the wide-eyed look from the tough sheriff---the gimlet glare Skyward was giving him was borderline fearsome "Oh uh...right. Anyways, th' Nettle clan cheated their way through a rodeo couple years back. They pulled so many dirty tricks, we even blamed Trouble Shoes for some of 'em. Uh...no offense, Trouble..."

The larger stallion shook his head. "None taken, Sheriff."

Skyward snorted. "So in essence they art ponies not meant to be trusted nor trustworthy. Didst thee banish them from thine territories?"

One of the deputies spoke this time. "Yeah, but they keep sneakin' in an' nopony knows how they do it."

Skyward switched her tail, starting to pace back and forth. "They must be hiding in something, or using disguises. 'Tis not hard to hide a cutie mark, nor hard to dye one's coat or mane. Are any of the Nettle clan unicorns? Or pegasi?"

Sheriff Silverstar shook his head. "Eenope. They're all earth ponies. But ya can leave it t' us, Miz Skyward. Ya'll go on an' enjoy yaself."

Outside of the sheriff's office, Skyward snorted and slammed an armored hoof against the ground so hard she cracked the earth...Trouble Shoes knew the sheriff meant well, but he also could see Skyward wasn't a frail mare wearing a dress and bonnet. She was a tough pony and she solved her own problems, and he knew that dismissal had stung her pride pretty good, she being a fighter and all.

"Ya did real good figgerin' all that out, ya know? Don' feel too bad about it."

"Tch. I am little more than a weakling. Ponies do not take one seriously around here, it seems."

"T' be honest wit' ya, ya ain't a weaklin'. Yer a lot stronger than ya give yerself credit fer, Skyward. Tain't yer fault if some ponies cain't see it."

Skyward sighed, kicking a small stone out of her path with one hoof and shook her mane out of her face. "One wast not strong enough to stop real trouble when one landed right in it."

Trouble Shoes came up beside her, lifting her chin up with one hoof so she was looking at him, a stern look in his eyes. "Now lissen here, Miss Skyward. Don' go talkin' lahke tha' 'bout yerself no more. Everypony makes mistakes. Hay, Ah've made more 'n mah share. I wuz considered an' outlaw once, jus' cuz I kept messin' everythin' up, thinkin' mah cutie mark meant bad luck. But thanks t' Apple Bloom an' her friends, they helped me find mah way."

Skyward shook her head, facing him squarely now with a defiant look. "But I..."

He put a hooftip to her lips, effectively shutting her up. "Nah-ah, no buts 'bout it. Yer strong, yer smart, ya got enough moxie an' gumption t' make a manticore stop in its tracks, an' considerin' how Apple Bloom tole me 'bout how ya rescued 'em an' then ‘elped chase that pack o' Diamond Dogs clear outta th’ Crystal Empire? Jus' shows me ya got a heart o' gold under all that icy lookin’ armor."

Skyward blushed furiously under her fur, turning her bluesteel coat a lavender shade and ducked her head--she was not used to being complimented like this. What was more, this was no flowery speech from a noblestallion, nor shallow flirting from a fellow guardspony or a knight. This rodeo pony was just telling her how he saw her, and made no bones about telling her exactly what was on his mind.

He was being honest.

Skyward bit her lip, doubt still prodding at her soul, but she looked up into Trouble Shoes's warm leaf green eyes. He just smiled at her, and she found herself smiling back at him despite herself.

"So... have ya seen Appleoosa proper yet?"

"Nay, I hath not. Tis' my first visit."

Trouble Shoes removed his hat, looking down at the mare in front of him. "Ah…don' s'ppose Ah could show ya 'round while yer here? Next event's not gonna be till tomorrow anyways."

"Aye. I would love to see thy village."

The huge stallion smiled at her and put his hat back on his head, moving aside slightly and gesturing for her to precede him. She smiled she moved forward...she thought of putting her helm on, but put it in her saddlebag instead, shaking back her loose mane.

"So iffen ya don' mind me askin, Miss Skyward, what's with th' armor? Must be heavy, wearin' it all th' time."

"It is not so heavy as it once was, Trouble Shoes. But where I hail from, danger is ever present. Ye never know if some wild monster seeks to take a bite out of one or an ambush from bandits or raiders. 'Tis habit, as it were. I only take it off when I am bathing, aiding my friend Applejack with her chores, or sleeping."

Trouble Shoes licked his lips, swallowing a little to moisten his suddenly dry throat, and continued talking. "Appleoosa don' get much in th' way of raiders, but we got plenty o' bandits 'round these parts, never mind dust devil wolves, giant boars, th' occasional dragon comin' in from th' Dragon Lands, an' th' Nettle family."

"The more I hear about this clan the more one worries...they must be right bad news for certain?"

Trouble Shoes snorted as they stopped near a cider stand--he bought two mugs of chilled cider and handed her one, much to her surprise and pleasure. "Bad news? Miss Skyward, b'lieve me, tha's one of th' nicer things said 'bout them Nettles."

"Please, call me Skyward. Pray tell, why is that?" She took a drink from her cider and smiled at the taste. Trouble Shoes leaned up against some stacked hay bales and took a pull from his own mug, licked his lips and continued.

"Rumor has it they've done lots worse than jus' cheatin'. Durin' that one rodeo few years back, couple ponies got hurt real bad. An' Ah'm not jest talkin' 'bout mebbe a bruised barrel or a broken leg...Ah mean injuries that could cripple somepony."

Skyward paused in drinking to listen, and Trouble Shoes continued. "Sheriff Silverstar couldn' prove nuthin' 'bout those accidents, 'cept maybe clear my name, but, still. Jest fer cheatin' alone, they can't compete no more, an' they sure as hay ain't welcome here, nor in Dodge City further west o' here."

"...And if they art here? If they art the ones who caused that boar to 'go loco' ?"

Trouble Shoes looked down at her, his green eyes serious. "Iffen they are they're in fer a world o' trouble fer sure. Especially usin' ember nettle. That there plant ain't no good fer nuthin' save maybe using in spice fer stews, an' even then, yer s'pposed t' report any patches t' th' Sheriff right off."

Skyward finished her cider and put the mug back on the stand, her brow furrowed as she sat back on her haunches, thinking hard. Seeing her frown, Trouble Shoes finished his own cider and nudged her gently with one hoof. "C'mon now. There's still lots to see 'round here."

Trouble Shoes showed her around the village...the tavern, where the carriage stand was, the haberdashery, the cider press, the tailor and the barber shop, the clock tower...and finally, Appleoosa's pride and joy...

The town’s massive apple orchard. Unlike the personal ones owned by certain members of Appleoosa, this one could almost rival part of Sweet Apple Acres’s own.

"Goddesses be praised! Look at all those apples!"

Trouble Shoes had to smile at her exuberance and the cute way she pranced in place when she saw the massive orchard. "So, ya like apples, huh?"

"Aye! Mine village grows apples, but we primarily grow pumpkins most of the time. This orchard is amazing. Look how healthy the crop is!"

Trouble Shoes chuckled at her, pleased to see her happy for a change. He couldn't help but notice how pretty she was when she was smiling, or that bright twinkle in those sweet royal blue eyes of hers. She stood atop an outcropping of rock, one hoof slightly raised off the ground. With the armor on, she looked like a warrior of old like in the stories his ma used to tell him, fierce and proud. But when she smiled, or laughed, with the prairie wind blowing through her mane and tail...

She looked so beautiful.

A light pink tinge touched the stallion's cheeks and he glanced down at the stones under his hooves. He could look, aye, dream, certainly, but actually be lucky enough for her to maybe like him back?

"Trouble Shoes? Is something wrong?"

He looked up and saw Skyward was right in front of him, a concerned frown on her pretty face, and head tilted to the right. He forced a chuckle and grinned at her. "Ah'm all right, Skyward. Jus' takin in the sights, ya know? Tain't everyday ya get t' come up here an' see all this. Besides, ya looked like ya were enjoyin' yaself."

"I am. This is the most fun I hath had since I was a foal, playing in my mother's weaving basket," she giggled, and he laughed. "Bet ya got yerself inta all kinds o' trouble."

"Oh believe me, my mother had a fit when she saw me in her basket tangled in her yarn. My sire could not stop laughing, even when she was chasing him with a rolling pin to get him to shut his muzzle."

Trouble Shoes guffawed, pawing the ground with one hoof. "Sounds like th' time Ah got mah head stuck in a barrel when Ah wuz five. See, I wuz practicin' t' enter rodeo school, 'an wouldn't ya know it, Ah trip over mah own hooves somehow. Don' ask me how Ah did it--Ah ended up muzzle first in that barrel an' couldn' fer th' life o' me figger out how th' hay Ah got in there."

Skyward grinned when he finished telling her his story, and responded with one how her brother Tempest Wing had woken up one day with his mane dyed bright pink and had bows in it, and he roared with laughter.

"Now who coulda it 'ave been Ah wonder?"

"Nopony one is certain," Skyward replied, but there was a none too innocent grin on her face and she started laughing too. "Now tha' reminds me o' th' time I went an..."

They stayed up on the ridge and swapped funny stories and pranks for about a good hour or two, before he escorted her back down the ridge and back to the rodeo ring. She nibbled at a caramel apple and laughed at Trouble Shoes's antics along with the other clowns during his training. He shot her a wink and she grinned back at him in return--then started laughing when one of the other clowns pegged him with a mud pie by 'mistake'.

"Hey, Skyward!"

Still giggling, the unicorn mare turned her head and saw the other Ponyville mares coming up behind her.

"Where were ya, sugarcube? We've been lookin' all over for ya," Applejack wanted to know, and Skyward smiled. "Ah, Trouble Shoes just wanted to show one about his village before the next show on the morrow, 'tis all."

She took another bite out of her apple, turning her head back to watch the show, and Rarity smiled knowingly. "Ooooh, did he now? Are you sure that is all he..."

Rarity suddenly found a half eaten caramel apple in her mouth and a warning look from the Haylian mare. "Do not even think of going there. He wast just being nice, is all, and truth be told this is the first time I hath been to this village. T’was kind of him to show one about."

Applejack choked back a snicker at Skyward's move on shutting Rarity's mouth, and smiled instead at her friend, though some small part of her 'squeed' at the thought of Skyward on a date with somepony, impromptu though it had been. "True 'nough. But, seems t' me ya had a good time, right? S'what matters."

Skyward nodded, turning back to watch and snickering at Trouble Shoes' antics along with the other clowns. What she didn't notice was the smirks, knowing glances, and stifled giggling from her friends. As ponies began to disperse, she caught his eye and he waved at her. She smiled back at him, and gave him a jaunty salute and a wink before she turned and walked off.

Back at Braeburn's, where the lot of them were staying, helped to fix dinner and set the large picnic table in the backyard. Apple Bloom and the fillies were playing under a huge apple tree while the elder ponies got everything ready. Skyward carried dishes to the outside and set them on the table while Applejack and Braeburn were grilling hayburgers, Fluttershy was peeling potatoes for home fries and more apples for other dishes, Rainbow Dash set the table in 'ten seconds flat', Rarity put out breadbaskets and napkins, butter and preserves and honey, and Pinkie Pie was checking on the apple crumble, apple pie...and Skyward had brought her pumpkin soup recipe from home. It was bubbling away on the hearth, the unicorn checking the flavor, shaking her head and adding a touch more goat cheese. She stirred it in, nodded, and replaced the lid, turning--

"Mmm-mm! Whatever ya got cookin' in that there pot sure smells great, Skyward!"

Skyward almost smacked Braeburn with the wooden spoon out of shock--Din's ruby horn, did the stallion make any noise?

"It...it is mine sire's pumpkin soup recipe."

"Well, it sure smells mighty tasty!"

Applejack glanced over her shoulder-- she knew Skyward liked Braeburn, but as a friend. Unfortunately for Skyward, Braeburn did seem a little too interested and the orange coated mare knew that was going to scare her friend off from even thinking about going near her cousin. Braeburn didn’t mean any harm and he was naturally outgoing, but Skyward didn’t seem to like that kind of temperament—especially since the orange coated mare knew that the Haylian unicorn had been hurt before and was, as a result, skittish of stallion attentions. She shooed her cousin out, telling him to go get the cider ready, and once he was out of earshot, she turned to her friend.

“Braeburn didn’ scare ya, did he, Skyward?”

The Haylian mare heaved a sigh. "Truly, Applejack, thy cousin is a good stallion, I doubt it not...but..."

"Yer not interested in him, right?"

Skyward pawed the floor with one hoof. "...I pray ye are not angry with me for not being so. Do not misunderstand--he is nice, a handsome one to be sure, but...he is not, as Rarity would say; 'my type'."

Applejack shook her head at her friend, flipping apple rings in a skillet, adding sugar and butter to the hot pan. "Honey, yer gonna find somepony who's gonna take one good look and he's gonna fall head over hindquarters fer ya. Braeburn's gonna be loud an' besides--Ah know Cherries Jubilee's got her eye on 'im fer sure."

Skyward grinned and elbowed Applejack. "One wouldst think thou wanted them to be wed, eh?"

Applejack snorted, but both mares busted out laughing at that. Braeburn stuck his head in the back door, smiling at seeing his cousin and her friend laughing.

"Hey, AJ; we got a small problem out here."

"Oh, consarn it...what is it, Brae?"

The amber stallion looked sheepishly at his annoyed cousin. "Uh, we're almost outta cider...an' we're gonna need some considerin' most of it went towards makin' those fritters."

"Oh good gravy...Skyward, think ya could be a dear an' go get some more?"

"Assuredly, Applejack. One wouldst find it at the cider press, aye?"

"Got it all in one, sugarcube. Here's th' bits for the keg."

Skyward took the bit bag and was gone in a flash, heading for town. She did get a few odd looks from ponies, given she still wore her armor and hoofcovers, and had her sword and shield, but she ignored that.

She entered the cider press and explained her situation to the group of stallions behind the counter. She handed them the bag of Bits for the huge keg they got for her, and as Skyward began examining the keg, her right ear twitched backwards, picking up on what the group of stallions were saying.

“Ha! M’bettin’ ten Bits she can’t lift that there keg!”

“Heh, she’s gonna hafta use her magic t’ get the job done, so Ah won that bet already, Fresh Press.”

“Hey, Ah don’ see her movin’ it jest yet so don’ go countin’ the apple seeds afore they’re planted, Hardy Arbor.”

Insulted and annoyed at their arrogant presumptions, Skyward squared her shoulders and set herself to pushing the keg of cider proper—damned if she'd use her magic in front of these stuck-up bunch of jackasses. To the other ponies’ surprise, it was moving—how physically strong was this unicorn anyway? The stallion with the rolling barrel on his flank came around from behind the counter and approached Skyward, who was easing the barrel off the lip of the porch and onto the ground using her hooves, leverage, and her back to carefully get it onto the ground without jarring it open.

"Uh...okay; guess we were wrong 'bout 'cha. Yer pretty strong all right. Ya want any help with that?"

"Ye wanted me to move this thing, and so one shalt move it," came the cool reply. That told the others right off they'd offended her, and they looked at one another as she continued to roll the keg along on her own. She wasn’t even using magic—unicorn or not she was obviously stubborn as all hay get out. The stallion with the cider press cutie mark on his flank walked around the counter and crossed to where the mare was messing with the keg…

But the second he got too close Skyward aimed a kick at him, which missed as he jumped back to avoid being struck: she laid back her ears, her royal blue eyes snapping with anger.

"Leave me be, damn you. Thou hath made thy opinion known; so, one shalt prove ye wrong," she snarled, and turned back around as she continued pushing the keg along.

"Oh c’mon now! We didn' mean anythin' by it! Jest--hey! Watch it!"

"I said, get away. Last warning," came the growled reply as Skyward turned around to face the stallion in question--her ears were fully backed and she was more than ready to kick or bite.

"For corn's sakes, ya crazy mare, we're jest tryin' t' help ya!"

"Oh well one shalt keep that in mind the next time ye open thine maws and spew forth insults." came the icy retort as she spun on her heels, smacking the stallion in the muzzle sharply with her tail as she began to move the keg once more, leaving the shocked stallions in her wake.

"Can ya believe..."

"We didn' mean her no harm..."

"Well, Ah say it serves th' lot o' ya right. Ah can't blame her fer bein' mad. Just 'cause she's a unicorn n'all, don' mean she ain't strong like us earth ponies."

Skyward stopped in her tracks in surprise and turned around to see Trouble Shoes leaning against the next storefront over, and he was glaring at the cider press ponies, who had the grace to look ashamed. He was chewing on a stalk of wheat before he spat it aside and glowered at the group of stallions. "Honestly, didn' yer mothers teach ya any manners? She's a visitor t' our town an' a lady, an' ya don' treat a ladylike that!"

Fresh Press backed his ears, stepping forward. “Look, we…”

Trouble Shoes snorted at them, cutting the stallion off mid-sentence. “Shut it, Fresh Press. Besides, ain’t ya forgettin’ th’ boar she tossed on th’ ground like a sack o’ winter wheat? Th’ only magic she used was fer her sword an’ shield…an’ she barely used ‘em t’ begin with, aside from givin’ that boar th’ ‘eadache o’ th’ century when she bashed tha’ boar wit’ it, never mind giving it a solid buck t’ the snout first off. Ya might wanna remember that afore ya mess wit’ ‘er.”

The group of stallions looked properly chastised—Trouble Shoes crossed to Skyward, who twitched her ears, looking up at the huge stallion when he approached her. “I thank thou for coming to mine defense, Trouble Shoes. I…”

Trouble Shoes chuckled gently at her. "Nonsense. Here, mind if Ah lend ya a hoof, Miss Skyward? Ah know ya got 'nough gumption t' move it on yer own, but if ya don' mind...?"

Leaf green met royal blue, and she blinked, wondering at the strong sense of familiarity. She mentally shook it off and inclined her head. "...If thou so kindly insists, then aye--I shalt accept thy help, thank thee."

"No trouble at all, Miss Skyward. Where ya tryin' t' take this thing?"

"Farmer Braeburn Apple's ranch-house. His cousin Applejack asked me to obtain more cider since they ran out."

Trouble Shoes grinned at her as he rolled the barrel into a cart close by and indicated for her to lead the way. The cart belonged to the cider press ponies, but that was also what the cart was there for—delivering cider kegs and other things besides. Skyward bit her lip, glancing down at the beaten earth beneath her hooves before she glanced at him again.

"...One owes you much...thou didst not have to defend me, good stallion."

Trouble Shoes shook his head at her as he carried the heavy keg for her, giving her a comforting smile. "Ain't no call fer 'em t' treat ya the way they did, Miss Skyward. Yer a visitor t' our town, an' yer a lady t' boot. They shoulda known better than t' treat as as bad as they did. 'Have t' admit, 'm surprised ya was able to roll this thing as far as ya could. Most unicorns wouldn' even think o' doin' that."

"My sire wast an earth pony. And what he told me made sense...one has a strong back and four good hooves. Magic is nice, but...when all fails, a good bite or kick usually gets one's point across."

Trouble Shoes chuckled at her. "Yer pappy's a wise stallion, sounds like. So, yer here fer the rodeo with yer friends?"

"Aye. Applejack was gracious enough to have us all along, since her kinstallion Braeburn cannot compete because of a recent injury to his right foreleg. The doctor told him he could compete if he willed, but he strongly advised not doing so."

The Clydesdale-esque stallion shook his head. "Nah--when Doc says 'don' do somethin foalish', it means ya ain't gonna do it nohow. Braeburn was smart 'nough t' call in a stand-in."

Skyward nodded her head. "One had to do that as well, once. Once, I caught a cold...it got so bad, I could not stop sneezing. Shot a spell out of my window doing so and turned the guardspony outside into a bird by mistake..."

She rolled her eyes, and Trouble Shoes laughed. "Ah remember bein' sick mahself once. Trouble was; back then, Ah always thought mah cutie mark meant bad luck. Upside down horseshoe n'all, yanno? But anyways. Ah coughed an' fell outta bed, tangled mahself up in th' sheets--mah Ma screamed t' high heaven 'cause she thought Ah was one o' those ghost ponies she'd been hearin' bout from mah Pa."

Skyward sputtered and tried not to laugh, but it was no use--she started giggling. "Mine...mine apologies--snicker--one did not mean to <sputter> hurt thy feelings, 'tis just..."

Trouble Shoes chuckled, giving her a nudge with one hoof <albeit a light one so he didn't push her over> and winked down at her. "Hey, iffen Ah made ya laugh, then it means Ah'm doin' mah job right. Funny thing is, fer th' longest time Ah thought mah cutie mark meant bad luck. But thanks to Apple Bloom an' her friends, they helped me figger out what mah mark really means."

Skyward sobered, turning to look at her own flank. Though she knew what lay there, hidden beneath her princess's glamour spell...

Was her mark, her ancestor's mark, only meant to make her line suffer? How many heroes had borne this, and for what cause, aside from saving Hayrule? There had to be a reason...

"Maybe one day I shalt find out what mine is..."

Trouble Shoes gave her a comforting nudge, and she glanced up at him. "When yer mark comes in, it'll tell ya, Sky. What d'ya think yer gonna get?"

Skyward opened her mouth to reply, but a whoop from up ahead got their attention as Applejack came up to meet them. "There ya are, Skyward! Ya run inta any trouble?"

"Ah--nothing that we could not handle, Applejack," Skyward replied, and Trouble Shoes smiled at her as Applejack went to retrieve the cider keg. "Ah'll be on mah way then, an' return this t' the cider press..."

The farmpony snorted, beckoning to the bigger stallion with her forehoof. "Nonsense! We got plenty o' room! C'mon in, Trouble Shoes!"

When the fillies spotted their huge friend, they ran over to him and hugged him, chattering all the while about how happy they were to see him and how great he was in the clown show. Skyward smiled at the sight--t'was heartwarming to see indeed how gentle he was with the fillies. She set another place for the stallion, and when mealtime came, found herself seated next to him.

Applejack smiled from further down the table as she watched the Haylian unicorn interact with the rodeo star. She had a good feeling about those two--she hoped she was proven right. Unicorn or not, Skyward was no stuck up mage like Trixie had been, and she was a farmpony by birthright. She grinned when Skyward laughed at something the large stallion said, and caught the Haylian mare's eye, giving her a knowing wink.

Skyward flushed and shot her a look in reply, only to get a "I-Don't-Believe-Ya" grin from her honorary kin-sister. The orange farmpony hid her giggling as the bluesteel unicorn turned back to her food. It was funny seeing two ponies showing interest in one another, but it was bucking obvious to everypony else but themselves. Applejack wasn't one for matchmaking, but...

Maybe this once, she could make an exception.

Southwestern Showdown

Celestia’s sun crested western Equestria’s skies, turning the horizon pale pink to light gold, then a rich golden orange as the sun ascended. The rays of the sun brushed Skyward’s muzzle and she sleepily rolled over, grumbling as she sat up in the bed she was sleeping in, and chuckled as she ran one hoof through her unruly mane. The dinner last night had turned into one hay of a country party—after the fillies had been put to bed, the adult ponies had brought out the hard cider, caramel covered apples, molasses covered carrots, strawberry wine, apple pie and apple cobbler, carrot cake and carrot bread—Skyward had produced her pumpkin bread she had made during Nightmare Night and some Haylian sauteed nuts. She’d roasted walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews in a pan and tossed them in butter, a little sugar and Goron Spice, and placed them in a large bowl for everypony to nibble on. Applejack had produced a fiddle and began playing country dance tunes.

Skyward had been reluctant to dance at first, but Applejack nudged her, giving her a comforting wink and a smile. The music, expertly played by the orange farmpony, soon had the bluesteel unicorn dancing with the others, leaping and twirling with the other mares and Trouble Shoes—Braeburn couldn’t dance because of his injury, but he kept time with his good forehoof. She got up out of the bed, rubbing her eyes with one hoof and yawning mightily, and headed for the bathroom, needing to relieve herself as well as bathe. She ran the water for a hot bath, sighing as she relaxed in the soothing water, and lightly splashed the steaming liquid with one hoof, watching the water droplets pearl on what fur was still somewhat dry on her right foreleg.

Water.

Blue.

Sapphire.

The Zora.

The Haylian unicorn sighed, shaking her mane as she sat up in the tub, a frown touching her brow. The Zora were the only other tribe she had encountered beside the Goron tribe—the Kokiri, not so much, and with good reason. The Lost Woods were called as such; anypony stayed well away from the place, for it was said that anypony who went in never came out again—the only ponies who lived in there were the Kokiri. They looked like young fillies and colts at first glance, but they were anything but—they were ageless guardians of the forest, each with their own faerie companion. Zelda had been one of the only two ponies who had gone into the Woods and returned—the other had been her sire, King Valion.
But that wasn’t what burdened Skyward’s mind. It had been three months, and no sign still of a portal, but Applejack had been right. One more.

Would it truly be just one more? One more portal, one more area freed, one more Goddess Stone to recover?

The bluesteel unicorn sighed as she began scrubbing at her mane, tail and fur; one thing was certain. The next time she saw Sheik, she was not leaving Hayrule through a portal until she got some answers of her own. She finished her ablutions, dried herself off, clad herself in her armor, gathered up her shield and sword and went downstairs. Seeing no one was in the practice ring, she decided to practice her sword skills before breakfast, since she could smell hay bacon, flapjacks, home fries and coffee brewing, and trotted outside to the ring, checking her sword for sharpness.

In the kitchen was Applejack, who had gotten up early to cook breakfast. The orange farmpony whistled a soft tune as she fussed at the stove, checking the apple rings and the flapjacks cooking away in their respective skillets. But she was also a little concerned. While she called out dance turns and played her fiddle, Applejack kept an eye on her cousin—she knew Braeburn pretty well, and it was clear he was a little jealous--jealous of the other stallion in the room. Trouble Shoes had done his best not to trip over himself or cause a mess whenever he was dancing with Skyward, and when that happened, she definitely could see a little hint of envy in her cousin’s chartreuse eyes.

The blond maned and tailed mare smiled, catching the glint of sunlight on armor as she spotted Skyward in the practice ring—the Haylian pony already beginning her sword routines.
“Good morning, Applejack!”

“Mornin’ Rarity,” the orange farmpony called back as the white unicorn entered the kitchen. “Ah hate t’ be a bother but would ya mind settin’ th’ table?”

“Not at all! A simple task,” the fashionista replied as she lit her horn, dishes, glasses and silverware floating out of their respective places to land neatly on the table. Applejack finished the first set of flapjacks and beckoned to Rarity, who came over to her friend.

“Once th’ others are all awake, we need t’ talk. All o’ us.”

Rarity looked about carefully for anypony nearby, craning her ears to listen, and conjured the symbol of Hayrule in front of Applejack, who nodded soberly.

“Is Skyward having a bit of trouble?”

“Not now, Rare. Later. We got th’ boys hangin’ about an’ the less ponies know th’ better—oh, good gravy. Be a dear an’ keep cookin’ fer me, will ya please?”

“Applejack! Where in the world are you…oh, dear! No no no these simply will NOT do! Oh, I’ll have to start over, where is the flour…”

The orange farmpony had gone outside to avert certain disaster; she’d seen Braeburn leaning against the fence of the practice ring watching Skyward practice, which was fine. But he’d gone in while the Haylian pony was in the middle of a complicated series of movements…

Applejack was no fool, she knew Skyward was going to accidentally injure her cousin if the stallion got within range of that blade of hers, and given Braeburn’s surprise appearance at the train station, this wasn’t going to end well. The orange farmpony poured on the speed, her hooves pounding the earth as she hurtled towards the fencing. She cleared the three-tier high fence in one leap, landed on the other side with a THUD and a cloud of dust…

“BRAEBURN APPLE! GIT YER FLANK AWAY FROM THERE RIGHT THIS COTTON PICKIN’ MINUTE!”

Skyward was jolted rudely out of her concentration, her sword flying out of her mental grip to slam point first into a water trough nearby up to the middle of the blade, the sword quivering with the force of impact. The Haylian unicorn spun around to see a furious Applejack stomp up to her surprised cousin.

“Applejack, what in tarnation’s gotten inta ya, cuz?”

But Applejack was not to be deterred. “What the buck were ya thinkin, Braeburn? Can’t ya see she’s practicin’? That sword’s the real deal, ya don’t mess with somethin’ that sharp! If ya wanna talk t’ her, make some noise first!”

Skyward was watching the whole thing with wide eyes, pricked ears and a stunned look on her muzzle—the astonishment was soon mixed with annoyance when she realized why Applejack was yelling at her cousin. She snorted and turned to get her sword, lighting her horn and yanking it out of the trough it was in…or tried to. The initial launch had been one of shock and as a result the blade had gone deep, making it almost impossible to remove without her destroying the trough to get to it. Behind her, the furious argument continued.

“Ah was jest watchin’ her, Applejack! There’s no call t’ light inta me fer that, now is there?”

“Watchin’s all well an’ good, but don’ ya have th’ common sense t’ not bother somepony when they’re practicin’ with somethin’ that could cleave ya in two? She ain’t no slouch with that there blade o’ hers, Braeburn…”

Skyward continued to try to pull the blade out, muttering curses as she focused on the hilt and pulled on it…to no avail. She ‘tugged’ harder, and still, the blade didn’t move an inch…it was stuck fast. She swore under her breath; Farore’s verdant mane, she’d have to get an axe or transform the trough…

“Need a lil’ help there, Miss Skyward?”

Skyward looked up to see Trouble Shoes leaning against the fence close to her, and she nodded in gratitude, looking embarrassed. The Clydesdale-esque stallion had spent the night as well, given the lateness of the hour when the party finally began winding down after midnight.

“Please—thine aid wouldst be greatly appreciated, Trouble Shoes. I hath been trying to dislodge mine blade from where it rests…”

The large stallion let himself into the ring and crossed to the bluesteel unicorn mare’s side—he examined the blade’s hilt before he nudged it with one hoof, carefully.

“Hoo-ee, ya got this lodged in real deep, Sky—how’d ya manage this?”

Skyward jerked her head towards the two arguing Apple cousins. “Applejack scolded her cousin Braeburn Apple for sneaking up on one while I wast practicing, and startled me into throwing mine blade. If not for her warning, something terrible could hath happened; he made no noise to warn me of his presence, nor gave me fair warning…”

The rodeo star shook his head as he nudged the hilt again, closely examining it before nudging it once more. The edge of the sword cut deeper into the wood and a little water sprayed the stallion in the muzzle—Skyward stifling a snicker and failing to do so. Trouble Shoes grinned at her and winked before looking back at the sword, shaking his head to rid himself of the water. “Stallion shoulda had more sense than t’ sneak up on ya with somethin’ this sharp. Braeburn’s kinda scatterbrained when it comes t' things lahke that...whoo-ee, this thing’s stuck in there pretty good…lemme see…”

The Clydesdale-esque pony kept wiggling the hilt; the blade was sharp, sharp enough to cut through wood, and as a result it was making a wider vertical crevice in the trough, slowly leaking water from it as a result. He was slowly levering it out of the trough; because of his size, it also meant he had immense strength, more so than most stallions. This meant he was able to dislodge the blade just enough for Skyward to pull it out with minimal damage to the trough. Water began to flow from the cut in the trough—Skyward focused her magic, and a thin beam of silver light flowed from her horn to the trough, sealing the cut closed with little effort.

Skyward dried off her blade before she sheathed it, and looked up at the large stallion with a grateful smile. “I thank thou for thine aid once more, Trouble Shoes; I owe thou a debt of honor.”

Trouble Shoes kicked the ground with one hoof, looking pleased. “Ah shucks, Sky; ya don’ owe me a thing. M’ happy t’ lend a hoof.”

“Still…one wouldst like to do something for thou in return,” she replied, removing her helm and smiling at him warmly.

The huge stallion was about to say something back when…

“Consarn it, Braeburn! Don’ ya have any sense in yer head?”

Braeburn flicked his tail, stamping his good hoof on the packed earth in irritation. “Oh ho that’s rich, considerin’ ya nearly bucked up th’ last Apple Family Reunion with yer attempts t’ be ‘Best Pony Of Th’ Year’,” he snapped back.

Skyward stomped a hoof, ears folding back in displeasure at seeing the shame flicker across her honorary kin-sister’s muzzle. “Braeburn Apple, do you not dare speak to thine cousin that way!”

The amber stallion whirled on her, his ears laid back, anger in his chartreuse colored eyes, pointing one hoof at her like an accusing judge. “Ya stay outta this, ya beef-headed crowbait!”

Skyward stared at the amber colored stallion, stunned at the unkind words coming from his muzzle, ears falling back in hurt before a burning inferno of rage began building in her breast. Her sword rattled in its sheath, her horn blazing silver as she fought the urge to unsheath her sword and take him to task for his cruel words. Applejack’s mouth hung open like a trap-door and Trouble Shoes’s ears instantly slicked back as a thunderous scowl began forming on his muzzle…

CRACK!

The slap she delivered was hard enough to knock Braeburn back on his flank—she was wearing her hoofcups, and the armor added to the force of the strike she’d given him. She hadn’t broken his jaw, but she sure had given him a nasty shot to the muzzle. Tears burned her eyes—she was a farmpony by blood, and while the lingo was a little different, she knew he’d called her a ‘thick-headed old nag’. She turned on her heels and bolted right out of the practice ring, running as fast as her hooves would carry her, deaf to the calls of the other ponies behind her. Trouble Shoes spun on the downed stallion, who was only just realizing what had happened and what he had said to the bluesteel mare as he cradled his extremely sore muzzle in his good hoof.

“Now look at what ya gone an’ done Braeburn, ya mush-brained jughead! Skyward! Sky, come back!”

Applejack took off after her, but Skyward had a strong lead, and she was fueled by anger and hurt. Also, she had magic—and it didn’t take long for her to teleport out of sight of the orange farmpony. The Haylian mare kept teleporting and running, uncaring about where she was going, and almost tripped several times, due to the tears blinding her eyes and the dust she was kicking up because of her headlong run. Eventually she ended up on a cliff far from Appleoosa, the cliff pointing northwest, away from the town proper. She slammed a hoof on the rock, tears burning her eyes as she tried to keep from weeping. Damn that stupid gelding; Apple or no Apple, he was a right bucking idiot! She was Skyward, daughter of Mossy Boulder, personal protégé to Princess Zelda…the Heroine of Time…

Who the buck did he think he was?

She sat on the ledge, staring out at the wild flatlands in front of her. The desert here was not like the one she knew in the Barren Wastes--it wasn't rolling hills of endless sand as far as the eye could see. This one was mostly flat rock, some sand, scrubby brush and plants, a cactus here and there…

The sun was rising higher, and with it, the heat. This far out, she could feel it; it was similar to the Barren Wastes, and she brushed a hoof over her exposed brow, glancing around. She had to find some shade—she didn’t want to go back to the ranch-house, she was still far too pissed off to not outright give that arrogant stallion what for...

AWOOOOOOOOOO!

The piercing, eerie howl that rose into the air snapped her out of her angry musings and she stood up, looking around her, unsheathing her sword from her back. Glancing around her, she moved away from the cliff she was standing on, heading for the much broader plateau like area as she descended the twisty, crude rock path leading down from the towering rock formation she had been standing on. She soon found herself in a wide open area, the huge formation at her back, part of it split open off to the left to reveal a broad, winding path through it—the direction back to the ranch-house most likely. The rest of it was open, rolling hills of scrub, sand, and yellowed grasses due to the heat. The wind picked up a little bit behind her, and with it...

Skyward's ears cocked at a whirring noise slightly behind her and turned to face it...it was faint, but growing louder, and she drew her sword when she spotted a cloud of dust come from around a corner of rock close to the path's crevice and come towards her. She conjured her Sun Burst spell, and sent it flying into the cloud...then detonated the spell orb just as a translucent maw of dirt filled air opened wide in the beginnings of a piercing howl...

Dust devil wolves.

The first dust devil wolf exploded in a shower of dirt and small pebbles as Skyward’s Sun Burst spell erupted. The snarling continued, however—the strike only had dispelled the wolf’s form as it began to swirl back together, glowing slightly from the residual heat from the spell. Skyward’s eyes narrowed—this dust devil wolf clearly had problems keeping its form together…so…

The earth surged as she tapped her magic, rock rising around the dust devil wolf to entomb it in a sphere of stone, cut off from the outside world—until she could find a more permanent solution, this would have to do. She could hear it howling and screaming inside of the rock globe, trying to get out, but it would be some time if it could ever get out…

A snarl from behind and off to the left warned her, and she jerked away, bringing her sword to bear; but something big and heavy landed on her back, trying to force her to the ground. She heard clicking, scrabbling, snarling and ravenous growls as the beast tried to find bloody purchase through her armor, she hissed in pain when she felt fangs graze her right ear…

Skyward threw herself backwards onto the ground and rolled, trying to dislodge the salivating, snarling, stinking fanged animal from her back. Given her muscle build and her armor weight, the combined poundage was just enough to dislodge it; she reversed her sword and lashed out with it in a gliding arc…

She felt resistance even as she drove the blow home, heard the howl of agony cut off with a sickening gurgling noise, the wet thump-splatter as pieces of flesh and pools of ichor hit the ground…wait.

The Haylian unicorn spun around and stared at the wolf’s bloody remai—no. No, this was no dust devil wolf.

Her royal blue eyes slitted as she eyed the remainder of the pack; her eyes picking out the thinning coats of thick, normally shaggy dun colored fur, the glowing green eyes, the slavering muzzles, the viciously curved claws jutting out from the huge paws…

These weren’t dust devil wolves, but they had blended in well enough with their sandy colored coats. These were Wolfos, quadruped slightly anthropomorphic lupine monster wolves that answered to Ganondorf’s call.

There were four of them left out of the original five—two of them were true dust devil wolves but the other two were obviously flesh and blood Wolfos…

And that meant there was a portal here.

“Skyward! Skyward, where are ya?”

“Skyward? Oh…my…!”

“Rarity! Hie thee back to the ranch-house at once!” Skyward shouted, but it was too late—the dust devil wolves and the Wolfos had turned around hearing the snowy unicorn’s voice, and upon spotting Rarity’s pristine white coat, and seeing her as a much easier target…

The pack turned and charged right at the hapless unicorn mare, choosing to abandon their previous prey, which had already slaughtered one of their number and had proven to be a most difficult meal to bring down.

Skyward fired off an ice beam at one Wolfos, trapping its legs in solid ice, but the ice was melting due to the heat. She flung her shield at the second—it connected with the second Wolfos’s head—it stunned it long enough for her to leap on it and behead it with a swift swipe of her sword, blood shooting from the exposed neck in a fountain of steaming, reeking blackish green fluid. The dust devil wolves converged on Rarity, who was too frightened to run—her eyes were wide with terror as the swirling, howling clouds of dust closed in on her…

A whistling howl filled the air in tandem with a blaze of rainbow hues as Rainbow Dash swooped down and grabbed Rarity, the pack narrowly missing their target. The dust devil wolves slammed into the nearest rock wall and burst apart in a cloud of dirt and small rocks, the remnants making whining noises. Rainbow Dash gazed at the situation below—the dust devil wolves were down, for now, but…

The two airborne mares saw that Skyward was fighting an actual looking wolf, swiping furiously at it with her sword. The beast leaped backwards, pacing around and snarling, and not once did she turn her back to it. It lunged at her—she teleported, then did it again as it spun around and snapped at her heels, barely missing her tail.

"Uh, you're welcome for saving you," Rainbow Dash snapped sarcastically from above, and Rarity looked up at her, about to deliver an apology, when a shout and a Haylian war yell echoed from below, along with terrible growls and snarls, and the snapping of jaws...

“Skyward! Rainbow Dash, we must help her!”

“Duh! But how? I mean, she’s all but got things covered! She killed two of them already!”

The white unicorn looked over to where the dust devil wolves were reforming, and she gestured at them with one hoof. “We need to find a way to send those filthy ruffians run…ahh…swirling for the hills! Skyward already has one problem to deal with, she does not need two more!”

The multicolored pegasus mare eyed the dust devil wolves. Given they were made of wind partially and tended to burst apart when hit with something solid…

“Rarity, I gotta plan, but you’re not gonna like it,” the rainbow maned mare muttered, and Rarity tossed her head. “I don’t give a toss what it is, she needs our help!”

Rainbow Dash shook her mane. “Okay, here’s how it’s gonna go.”

Meanwhile, Skyward was fighting the last Wolfos with all she had. The bite to the ear wasn’t bad, but it hurt like hay, and the worst thing was these Wolfos were a lot swifter than she remembered. Focusing on the earth, she tried to undermine its footing by causing small, sharp rocks to jut under its paws. It yelped, trying to back up to avoid the sharp rocks, and crouched, ready to try for a pounce…

YIPE!

Skyward blinked as it yelped, jumping in place—then it yipped again, whirling around with a snarl as it looked up, another rock dropping onto its head…

The source of its distraction was Rainbow Dash—the polychromatic pegasus was throwing sharp rocks at the Wolfos and hitting it right in the flank. It snarled up at her, baying furiously and rearing up to try to snap at her, since she was hovering juuuust out of reach…

“Wassa matter, ya dumb mutt? Can’t reach? Come on! Come and get me! Nyah nyah! Bet ya can’t jump to save your flank!”

Rainbow Dash mercilessly taunted the Wolfos, deliberately letting her rainbow tail hanging within reach only to shoot back up, making it howl in frustration…

A howl that was suddenly cut off as Skyward’s sword cut clean through its neck from behind, slicing its head clean off. The cyan pegasus mare soared into the air to avoid the gush of hot, sticky ichor that erupted from the mortal wound, landing near Skyward.

“Rainbow Dash, art thou all right?”

“Yeah, I’m good; c’mon, Rarity’s gonna need us in a second!”

Skyward's eyes widened in horror. “Tell me thou didst not leave her with those two accursed dust devil wolves!”

“We got a plan, I warned her she wouldn’t like it, but she said ya needed help!”

Skyward nodded grimly as the two mares—one running, one flying, rounded the corner to see Rarity trapped in a dead end cul-de-sac with her horn flaring a pale azure blue. The fashionista was keeping a shining barrier between herself and the dust devil wolves, who were throwing themselves at the barrier, and disappating into snarling clouds of grit as a result.

“Ya have any ideas, Skyward?”

The Haylian unicorn shook her head. “Aside from imprisoning them in stone, one admits ignorance. Increasing wind wouldst not aid us either, t’will make them stronger…”

The pegasus mare looked up at the skies—there were a few clouds, but not many. The air was hot and dry…no moisture for her to draw on…

“Unless…”

“Unless, what? Spit it out, Rainbow; Rarity wilt not be able to keep that barrier up for long!”

“Okay, can ya conjure me some water? A LOT of water?”

“How much?”

“Uhhh…as much as you can!”

Skyward lit her horn and concentrated—soft bubbling noises were heard but went unnoticed by the frustrated elemental beasts. The water sphere was the prelude to her Rime Bubble spell, and she cut it off before she could reach the ice runes of her spell.

“Now what?”

“Throw it high in the air and burst it! I got the rest!”

Skyward’s eyes widened, then slitted in a wicked grin as she understood what the rainbowed pony had in mind. The bubble shot into the air, expanded, and with a loud KER-SPLOOSH blasted wide open---

With all the extra water released into the air, Rainbow Dash shot into the sky and gathered up the water via a rainbow whirlwind…and funneled it into a literall aerial waterfall of cool water that sparkled in the sun’s rays as it fell from the skies. The entire lot of it cascaded onto the dust devil wolves and the three mares; but there was so much water, that it swept them out of the cul-de-sac that Rarity had deliberately pinned herself in to lure the wolves away, and out into the open plains, soaking wet.

The three mares coughed and sputtered as they lay on the soaked grass—of the dust devil wolves, there was nothing left of them, having been washed away, literally, by the downpour.

“Well, that wast refreshing,” Skyward quipped dryly, and started snickering at Rainbow Dash’s laughter.

“Refreshing indeed! My mane is a mess! Oh, it’ll take all day to restyle it…”

Skyward shook her head in amusement as she lit her horn—a sun colored flash of light surrounded all three mares, drying them off in ‘ten seconds flat’. She shook herself as their coats, manes and tails puffed up and out, and settled back down in perfect array—or in perfect curls as was Rarity’s trademark for her mane and tail.

“I think Skyward’s got ya covered, Rarity,” Rainbow Dash chuckled, and the ivory unicorn mare blinked, conjuring a mirror to look at herself. “Oh my…well! Thank you, dear.”

“Not at all. Truth be told I shouldst be thanking thou both for thine aid--t’was sorely needed! But what art thou both doing out here?”

“Shouldn’t we be asking you that?” the cyan colored pegasus asked the bluesteel unicorn, and Rarity nodded her head emphatically.

“Skyward, dear—we were worried about you! You took off without a word after Braeburn said such hurtful things to you…”

“One…one needed space, Rarity. I wast so angry…he…that mist-brained gelding insulted his own cousin, and I woulds’t not stand for such treatment. So he proceeded to call one a ‘thick headed old nag’ and told one to stay out of it. I wast so angry…I wilt admit to cuffing him and running off…”

Skyward sighed, removing her helm and passing a hoof over her brow. “And after all I said to Apple Bloom and her friends about not hitting anypony out of wrath…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Now hold on. Braeburn had it coming. Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten involved but he had no right to treat you like that, especially if he was interested in ya,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Skyward shook her head. “Yet mine words…”

Rarity put a hoof to the bluesteel unicorn’s muzzle. “Everypony makes mistakes, darling. Believe me, I’ve more than made my share. Rainbow Dash too.”

“Hey!”

Rarity shook her mane out of her line of sight and continued, ignoring Rainbow Dash's pouting. “The point here, my dear Skyward, is that while you likely should not have interfered, Braeburn had absolutely no reason to insult you, especially when Applejack had the right to scold him considering he could’ve been seriously injured if he had snuck up on you while you were practicing.”

The Haylian unicorn opened her mouth to refute Rarity…and found she could not. What both of her friends said made sense—Braeburn did have a nasty habit on sneaking up on other ponies, and if he had startled her she could have slashed or shield bashed him and made his injury worse.

“So, ya ready to come back now? Everypony’s out looking for you.”

Skyward was about to nod in assent when her eye landed on the remains of the Wolfos she had slain, and she shook her head.

“Unfortunately, one cannot leave. Look here…these three? These creatures were not dust devil wolves. These were Wolfos— the lupine minions of Ganondorf; generally found in caverns, forests and plainslands such as these here. The wretches generally attack in packs of three or more, and these three hath found ways to blend in with the 'locals'.”

Rarity’s eyes widened and Rainbow Dash quickly glanced around, before the two mares leaned in. “You mean…”

Skyward scowled. “Aye. There is a portal and we must needs find it, swiftly. Worse, there is no time for a lesson in Haylian culture; if thou two desire to come with me as thou all of thee stated in the Crystal Empire, decide now or return to the others, continue the search until one returns.”

Rarity and Rainbow Dash looked at one another; Rainbow Dash nodded at Rarity, and the fashionista nodded her head back in return. “Then we will go with you.”

"Yeah, we made ya a promise, and we're gonna keep it!"

Skyward nodded at them. “Then one must ask thou both to heed what one tells thee. Please, pray think not that one is being bossy—‘tis life or death in mine homeland now, and I wilt get both of thee back safely to Equestria in one piece.”

“Now, where is that portal?”

“I know not, but we must search for it. Keep thine ears cocked for the others. We cannot let them find us, or it…Rainbow Dash, canst thou search from the air?”

“You got it! Uhh—what do these portals look like?”

“Look for a swirling vortex of purplish energy. That is the portal in question.”

The pegasus mare nodded before flying off—not fast enough to generate her signature trail; she didn’t want to attract anypony’s attention. While Skyward and Rarity searched on the ground, the aerial ace arced through the air, keeping an eye out not only for the others, but for the portal as well. Roughly ten to fifteen minutes passed before the Wonderbolt aspirant spotted a flicker of purple against the backdrop of browns, burned orange, beige rocks, the dark yellows and corn hued grasses, and she landed on an outcropping of burnt ocher colored rock. Atop the rock, flat up against an impressive backdrop of layered sandstone, was the portal, pulsing and twisting with energy. Rainbow stomped a hoof before she turned and peered over the lip for her friends. Spotting them slightly to the left and below her, she put two hooves to her muzzle and whistled.

Skyward and Rarity looked upward—the pegasus mare leaped off the rock, soaring downward to them both in a graceful glide, hovering in front of them. “It’s up there—here. I’ll give you guys a lift.”

The polychromatic pegasus first brought up Rarity, then Skyward, who had removed her armor while Rainbow Dash was carrying Rarity up to the otherwise inaccessible ledge to those who did not have wings. They could have used magic, but given what they were about to do?

All three mares had the feeling they would need every bit of magic they possessed.

Once on the ledge, Skyward donned her armor anew, tested her sword’s edge, then lit her horn and focused on a jutting piece of stone close by the portal, chanting softly in ancient Haylian under her breath. Three silver-blue lines of light extended from her horn, enveloping the rock in a shimmering glow, before two of those lines shot out towards Rarity and Rainbow Dash. The two mares started in shock, but nothing seemed to happen when they connected.

“Ah…Skyward dear, what is this?”

“This is a precaution to ensure our safe return when we art finished with this, Rarity. A focus, if thou wilt,” came the reply.

The Haylian unicorn turned to face the other two mares, fixing a stern look on them both. “Keep in mind what one hast told thee both—ware your words, speak as I do, and above all mind thine manners. Rainbow Dash, one knowest for thou this wilt be a difficult task given thine free-spirited nature, but, for the sake of thine safety…”

The athletic pegasus mare nodded—she could tell Skyward wasn’t fooling around. Unsheathing her sword, the armored unicorn led the way into the twisting portal—the two Equestrian mares following closely behind her.

Smoke On The Water

The sound of crashing water was what echoed in their ears as they emerged into a beautifully lit grotto; clearly a waterfall cavern of some sort, given the crashing white wall of water about fifty feet away from them, the stone floor glistening wetly in the light from the luminous stones embedded in the wall. Their glow in a lovely aqua hue enveloped them as they emerged out of the portal. Skyward inhaled deeply, smelling fresh water, wet stone, moist grasses and plants…

“Oh my…Skyward, where in Equest…oh, I mean, Hayrule are we?”

“We shalt knowest soon enough, Rarity, though one suspects we art in Zora’s Domain, or close to it. Keep a low profile, both of thou…stay behind one,” Skyward commanded as she moved towards the exit of the cavern. The two mares stayed closely behind her as they exited the large cavern as a trio, to see a magnificent sight before them.

Though the skies were heavily overcast, the path they were on was lined by beautifully shaped stone lanterns in the shape of waterdrops, all of them carved from the same glowing stone that was in the roughly cut cavern behind them, gently lighting the way. A gigantic rushing river flowed beside them from the rock path they were on, whitewater foaming at the top, the hue of it a rich blue that nearly matched Skyward’s own eyes. Grasses and flowers alien to the two Equestrian mares carpeted the ground further down from the rock path, firs and birches clustered together to lend shade on small verdant isles strewn throughout the vast waterway that ran beside them. Mist from the waterfall rose high into the air—what light there was from the lanterns caused a luminescent rainbow to shine against the falls proper. The Haylian unicorn nodded—as she had thought. This was…well, not Zora’s Domain proper, but the mouth of the entrance—the beginning of Zora’s River.

While her two friends admired the landscape of the mouth of Zora’s Domain, Skyward turned and lit her horn, a thin stream of silver light arcing from it to strike one of the lanterns nearest the cavern mouth.

“Another focus?” Rainbow Dash asked, and Skyward shook her head. “Nay, mine friend. This is a waypoint marker. We shalt be able to find our way back here should we be lost—oh, buck. Thou do not have any clothing on thee by chance?”

The two mares shook their heads, and Skyward cursed under her breath, before she pulled out her tunic and cloak and ‘held’ them out to them.

“Both of thou choose which one to wear. In Hayrule, ye must wear clothing always—unless ye are a mere foal, then nopony shalt mind.”

“Lemme guess. A social taboo?”

“That, and well—one dost not think thou wishes to be seen as prostitutes.”

Rarity took the cloak, enlarging it and promising to resize it when she returned it, and Rainbow Dash took the tunic, Rarity having to tear holes in it for Rainbow’s wings, promising profusely to repair it when she had the chance.

Skyward led them further down the path from the massive falls to the riverbank proper—there was a bridge further up ahead. The bridge spanned the width of the huge river, which was too wide for anypony save a pegasus to cross. A unicorn might have been able to pass using teleportation, but it would be draining on their magic to maintain the teleport spell long enough to get to the other side. The bridge was crafted of the same luminous stone, waterdrops and the crest of the Zora people, three crescent moons placed in a triangle with the curved bases pointing inward, the points of the ‘moons’ facing outward. Skyward paused at the threshold and nodded at her two friends.

“Remember what one said before, if need be let one do the talking. We must keep a low profile; also, keep thine eyes peeled for monsters…and be prepared to slay them if needed.”

The two other mares nodded grimly—their experiences so far had shown them that Skyward’s world was almost short of savage, and if they wanted to survive they would need to conform to her world’s ways to some degree. They began crossing the bridge, making their way up the winding path, lined with velvety grass and beautiful blossoms, majestic pine, birch, fir and oak trees. The air was cool and fresh, bringing with it the scent of cool, sweet water. Rarity nosed some of the flowers and Rainbow Dash soared around the trees, but they kept close to Skyward.

“Hey, Skyward?”

The bluesteel unicorn mare turned her head just enough to show she was listening to the rainbow maned mare, and Rainbow Dash continued. “What do the Zora look like?”

“Think of ponies with mermaid tails instead of regular tails, and instead of fur, they have glimmering scales, almost too small to see on their bodies. They also bear fins on their fetlocks, rear and front legs, and finned crests on their heads; they come in varied shades of blue and or green, given their environs.”

Rarity cocked her head. “Skyward, how would we know if one was in the water?”

The Haylian pony stopped and turned to face them. “Watch for bubbles in the water; if thou see any, it likely wilt be a Zora. Nonetheless there art aquatic monsters here—the Octorok is common enough.”

“Lemme guess—purple octopus monster that can spit rocks?”

“Aye, plus, they can jump out of the water fairly high at times to spew their stones. Blue Tektites wilt also be an issue—they are akin to giant water spiders, able to glide across water, if they spot prey, they art able to jump very high and hath sharp, razored mandibles.”

The three mares continued up the path, the river their constant companion. Fish swam by in the pristine, clear waters, Rarity stopping to take a drink and sighing happily. “Ohhh! This is the most delicious water I have ever tasted! So pure! So clear!”

Intrigued, Rainbow Dash landed to take a drink herself, and Skyward chuckled. “Wait till thou sees Zora’s Domain. The clarity of the water there is akin to the finest crystals in the Crystal Empire, and the purity ‘tis unmatched. But, drink from the fountains they hath there for that purpose—sticking thine muzzle in the water proper is frowned upon.”

Rarity nodded as Rainbow finished her own drink, and the trio continued further up the path. Eventually they emerged from the forested path…

Rarity gasped and Rainbow Dash stared with her mouth hanging open—before them, just about two hundred and fifty feet away further down the path, with the trees cleared away was a vast lake, surrounded by high cliff walls rising to the heavens. The lake was a deep, beautiful blue color, deeper than the color of Skyward’s eyes, but it was clear how pure the water was. Waterfalls fell from tiered ledges in the walls of the high cliffs that had been beautifully carved and decorated with coral, shells, and more luminous stones. Precious stones were there as well, pearls and diamonds set in places to enhance the beauty of the carvings. Rising out of the lake was a multi-tiered edifice, glowing softly in its own luminescence, sweeping, broad balconies, water slides, tiered pools and fountains, arches and bridges denoting entrances to caverns carved and set in the walls of the massive protective wall that surrounded the Domain proper. All of it was carved from stone, luminous stones and precious stones plus metals clearly merged in to show incredible beauty, grace and strength.

Rarity gave a soft squeal of delight and Rainbow Dash stomped her hooves on the ground in excitement.

“This. Is. AWE…”

“Shhhh! Remember what Skyward said, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity hissed—she’d clamped a magical hold on the multihued pegasus’s muzzle, and the cyan mare nodded her head.

“But this place is so amazing! How did they build this?”

“Zoran architecture is renowned throughout Hayrule; they designed the waterways, fountains and waterfall entryway for Hayrule Castle at the princess’s request,” Skyward replied as she looked over the Domain herself. She had been here a few times with her mentor, long ago…

The three mares crossed down the path and entered the Domain—the guards at the front of the bridge were male Zora ponies—they were muscular and strong, and despite the fact they had fins and scales, they were actually quite handsome to look upon. Their bodies were well toned and their legs, flanks and hindquarters well shaped because of all the swimming they obviously did given their environs and who they were. And it was as Skyward had said—despite their obvious aquatic differences, their muzzles and faces were sharp and defined, not ‘fishlike’ at all.

One of the males glanced over while they were passing, caught Rainbow Dash’s eye and winked at her. The female pegasus blushed a little, but mindful of her Haylian friend’s warning, kept going—the Zora male chuckling a little.

The three mares crossed into the main plaza—the platform beneath their hooves was very broad, tiles of aqua colored stone with crisscrossing lines of luminous stone set in between. In the center of the plaza, was a fountain at the very center of a leaping Zoran pony wielding a mighty trident surrounded by crashing waves. The Zora ponies obviously wore very little, or they wore gleaming silvery armor that was quite—form fitting if one looked close enough.

“Okay, Skyward…so where do we start?” Rainbow Dash asked, and Skyward looked around her for a moment, before she beckoned them near the fountain. There were no Zora close to it at the moment, so they would not likely be overheard.

“We must needs find the reason why the portal opened. The last time one wast in Hayrule, one wast dumped right into Goron City proper. Why so far from Zora’s Domain, is my question?”

“Do you think something could be wrong closer to the base of the domain, Skyward?” Rarity asked.

The bluesteel mare was about to answer when Rainbow Dash pushed her and pointed over one shoulder frantically. The bluesteel unicorn tensed a little as she slowly turned around, as if she had heard something…

A male Zora was standing behind her, but this male was much larger than the others, and unlike the other males he was clad in silversteel and sapphire jewelry, a pectoral-like breastpiece and a helm atop his crested head. His eyes were a rich shade of violet, his body lean and powerful—Rarity barely checked herself from drooling openly at the sleek, athletic form she could see.

Skyward turned to face the male completely, tilting her head quizzically. “Hail, son of Nayru—dost thou need assistance in some manner?” she asked in a light, puzzled tone. The male Zora leaned downward, cupping Skyward’s chin in one finned hoof, and looking down into her face.

“Thou bear his eyes.”

Rarity and Rainbow Dash exchanged panicked looks; Skyward trying to repress her panic as she moved her head, shying away from the Zoran stallion with a puzzled frown.

“Forgive me, good sir, I know not what thou wouldst mean…”

The bejeweled and armored Zora stallion glanced around and gave her a gentle smile. “Ah—Goddesses, forgive me for mine audacity. Please, come with me; thine companions art welcome as well.”

Skyward glanced at Rarity and Rainbow Dash, who shrugged, but they followed her as she followed the powerful looking Zoran stallion up a ramp of water covered stairs. The water was cool to the touch as it flowed down the stairs, and it had a sweet, fresh scent to it. The male Zora guided them along a massive, broad bridge that was not only well lit but heavily guarded—at the very end of it was a huge waterfall.

As they approached, the waterfall’s center slowed, then magically was swept aside; revealing an ornately arched entranceway with a beautiful looking but obviously powerful looking set of gates wrought from Zoran silversteel and deep sea diamonds.

It was soon clear to the three mares that the section they were entering was none other than the royal palace. The passageway opened up after the gates were unsealed for their group, spreading out into a large chamber. The large high vaulted chamber’s walls and ceiling were a beautiful pearly hue, almost as if they had been carved from a pearl themselves. Three waterfalls framed the sides and back of the chamber, falling into a deep pool set in the center of the room. Zora ringed the chamber, clad in silversteel armor and holding sharp looking tridents—obviously the guards.
The throne of the Zora was no less magnificent—it was shaped like a shell, the fanned backing adorned with luminous stones inlaid with blue pearls, the fan sweeping outward to frame its inhabitant with a majestic glow.

The Zora sitting in that throne, was, compared to the other Zora stallions and mares they had seen, was HUGE. He didn’t have a slim form like the others—he was quite rotund, and he wore a golden tri pronged crown, bracers, pectoral breast piece, all set with pearls, diamonds and sapphires, and a long, flowing crimson hued cloak, clearly waterproof. His fins were long and flowing, but his bulk clearly prevented him from moving too much. However, the throne clearly was set in its own pool of water, the water cascading in a short waterfall into the pool, clearly to keep him wet so he wouldn’t dry out.

The Zoran stallion who had beckoned them forth approached the throne and bowed deeply, then raised his head to speak with the regal looking sea stallion seated on the throne.

“Father; the Goddesses hath smiled upon us! Look who one found, standing in our own fair Domain with her companions; Princess Zelda’s protégé lives!”

Skyward mentally cursed as she tensed up, ears slicking back to her head and backing up a step, and Rarity and Rainbow Dash at her back tensed, glancing around at the Zora stallions and mares that were guarding the chamber. King Zora the Twelfth leaned close, his great bulk barely allowing for such movement.

“Ruyan, my son. Thou art indeed blessed to hath found Lady Skyward—this is serendipitous indeed. Mine lady—‘tis a great relief to know thou art indeed safe. Word hath spread of thou being ‘missing in action’ for some time.”

Skyward shook her mane as she removed her helm, stepping forward just enough and bowing deeply—there was a submerged ledge that allowed land-based ponies to approach the throne.
“King Zora; ‘tis good to see thou once more. Thou seem hale and hearty to be certain. How dost thine kingdom fare?”

The great Zora male nodded kindly down at her, looking up and waving one finned hoof. The guards bowed, before they all left the chamber by walking out or diving into the pool and vanishing out of sight.

“Ruyan, you as well, mine son. Check on the perimeter once more, and report back to me.”

The Zora prince bowed, saluting his father—he cast a gentle gaze at Skyward, giving her a warm smile as he passed and left the chamber. Skyward blinked, feeling a little uneasy at the warmth of the prince’s smile, and she returned her attention back towards the king.

The king regarded her, his mien turning sober. “Zelda hath told me through Sheikah messengers what hath transpired. Thou art indeed, the savior of our fair land.”

“Your Majesty, I cannot stress enough of how this must remain a secret. I beg of thee not to tell anypony…”

The king raised a flippered hoof, which shut her up instantly. “One knows what is in the balance and what is at stake, my dear, do not worry. Who art thine companions?”

“This is Rarity, and this is Rainbow Dash. Brave, loyal, generous and strong, both of them art dear friends of mine.”

The two mares bowed to the figure, who smiled kindly at them. “Thou art welcome here, children of Nayru and Farore. Hast thou been aiding the Heroine in her quest?”

“We have, Your Majesty.” Rarity replied.

“We do not abandon our friend when she needs us most—never mind the danger,” Rainbow Dash added, and the king nodded approvingly at them. “Skyward, thou and thine hast could not come at a better time. We are in sore need of aid.”

“Allow one to guess. Ganondorf hath been here, and some part of the Domain is cursed, Your Majesty?”

The king shook his head. “Aye, and nay. He hath not been here, but he hath cursed an area of Sapphirine Bay that is linked to here. Our warriors, mages, and healers hath been keeping the enemy at bay, but…”

The king looked forlorn, his fins drooping considerably. “The Ocean Gate Fortress ‘tis all but inaccessible now. No Zora can breach its confines—the fortress is lost to us now. Terrible creatures infest the halls, and…it is said a monster most vile lurks in the depths of the stronghold. Wilt thou aid us, as thine ancestor once did?”

Skyward nodded. “One shalt aid thou and thine, King Zora. What is more, wilt mine friends art able to accompany one? One knows of one’s ancestry, but one shalt not be so arrogant to think one canst do this alone.”

The king nodded at her. “Of course, thou mayest bring thine friends with thee. But for now, rest, recover, ‘ere the day of battle dawns. A room shalt be made ready for thou and thine companions; and if any of thou require anything, merely ask and it shalt be granted to thou.”

The three mares bowed deeply, the Zora sovereign summoning two of his guards to lead them from the chamber. The Zoran guardspony led them to a beautiful guest room—there were three beds, each one shaped like an open seashell with fine silk sheets—one had clouds stuffed inside it, clearly a pegasus bed. There were three separate vanities and armoires with seashell shaped seats, and a large bathing pool with vials and jars of oils and other bathing room amenities. The windows were open and airy, azure colored curtains framing the gaps, and a glowing chunk of coral lent light to the room that was hanging from the ceiling. The guard bowed to Skyward, then departed, the bluesteel mare closing the door behind him.

She eyed the door, then looked around at the walls; then she lit her horn. A shimmering silver bubble formed at the tip of her horn, floated off of it, then once it was in the center of the room it expanded rapidly. Once it had reached the perimeter of the room, it popped soundlessly, leaving only silver sparkles behind.

“Uhhh…mind explaining just what the hay was that, Skyward?” Rainbow Dash asked with puzzlement, and Skyward turned to look at her winged friend.

“ ‘Tis a spell of warding to ensure what is said in here by any of us wilt not be overheard. One has…a bad feeling about this. Something is off, never mind what King Zora hath said.”

Rarity was seated at one of the vanities, combing her mane out with a jeweled shell brush she had found. “Oh come now Skyward! Surely you are enjoying yourself so far? I know we have a terrible task ahead of us but whatever would make you say that?”

“Hath thou not noticed how the male Zora art acting?”

Rainbow Dash frowned, tapping a hoof to her chin. “Yeeeeah—a lot of them are looking at us funny. One of them winked at me.”

Rarity smiled and flipped her mane. “Well, perhaps they have good taste. I mean, I do try to look my best.”

The rainbow hued mare snorted. “That’s not what she meant, Rarity, and ya know it. Didn’t you see how all of those male guards in King Zora’s chamber were eyeing your flank?”

Skyward glanced around the room before she gestured at them. “Here—one hast something for thou two.”

The two Equestrian mares crossed to Skyward, who ‘reached’ into her satchel and pulled out two small leather bags she had made herself painstakingly with Fluttershy’s help. The bags were heavy and they jingled a little as she ‘passed’ them to both mares.

“In those pouches art a goodly sum in Snaffles—this world’s currency. Do not spend them all at once in one place. Do not try to haggle if thou sees something one likes; believe me, I’ve enough to spare shouldst we need anything. But for now, let us rest after our journey here. One is certain thou art hungry?”

Both Equestrian mares agreed, and Skyward sent for a servant, kindly asking her for a feast, which was sent up from the royal kitchens. As they settled in for the night, Skyward lay awake for a while, frowning. Something nagged at her, but she couldn’t quite remember what it was, even as she drifted off to sleep…

Unaware of the pair of eyes that gazed lustfully at her through the window.

Temporal Intervention

The next day was spent in preparation for the journey to the Ocean Gate Fortress—Sapphirine Bay was close to Zora’s Domain, so the location wasn’t too inconvenient. The three mares kept together as they walked through the Domain, looking at the sights, purchasing some jewelry and some clothes—the Zora did sell tunics, gowns and other garments for Haylian ponies of varied ‘race’. Rarity got a lovely mist-silk gown dyed a sleek shade of amethyst and Rainbow Dash got herself a woven silversteel threaded tunic to replace Skyward’s tunic. Rarity also got some silk thread and fabric to repair Skyward’s tunic with. They also purchased weapons—Rarity a silversteel bow and a quiver of arrows; given she didn't like to get within range of an enemy, and Rainbow Dash got silversteel wing-swords, blades tucked in the pegasus’s wings to allow for deadly aerial swipes and strikes.

But there was a downside to their stay; the unusual behavior of the Zoran stallions towards the group had unnerved the two Equestrian mares, so they stayed in the guest room, Skyward having warded it further to keep them safe. She too had picked up on the flirtatious glances, the playful winks, coquettish looks, the veiled gazes…

While her friends were staying in the room, the Haylian mare was currently practicing her own bladework on a training platform, flipping and twisting, swiping, slashing, firing off bolts of magic at times. Hearing applause from behind her, she turned her head to see the Zora Prince behind her—Ruyan. He smiled at her as he crossed to her and she sheathed her blade, inclining her head to him in a bow.

“Prince Ruyan. To what do I owe the honor of thine presence?”

The royal Zora stallion gazed down at her, taking one of her armored hooves in his own and laying a courtly kiss to the back of it, just above the hoof-cup.

“One came to watch thee practice. Truly thou art every inch the war mage the Princess of Hayrule hath said thou art. Graceful, powerful, lethal, swift…”

The last was breathed into her right ear, the prince having released her hoof to walk around her while he was speaking to end up just behind and to her right.

“Beautiful.”

Skyward swallowed hard—despite the prince’s praise of her sword skills, the last word plus how close he was to her, practically almost pressed up against her, had made her extremely uncomfortable. She masked her discomfort and tossed her mane as she moved away, testing her sword’s edge for sharpness.

“Beauty ‘tis only fur deep, Your Highness. ‘Tis a pony’s deeds and demeanor that shalt prove the true test.”

The prince came up behind her once more, lightly nudging her, his jewelry jingling with the motion; Skyward turned to face him, looking inquisitive, yet in her mind alarm bells were going off. “Yet, thou seem worried, mine lady. Please, tell me what troubles thee?”

The bluesteel mare pretended to ponder for a few minutes before she looked up at him. “Art thou certain, Your Highness? Thou art a busy stallion to be sure, considering what Ganondorf hast done…”

Ruyan waved a hoof dismissively. “Thou art more important right now, my dear one. Please, I beseech thee—what is on thine mind? Tell me.”

“Well, as thou knowest…I am not a Zora. Therefore, one cannot breathe underwater. This poses a problem, for me and mine companions…and one was wondering, did one’s ancestor possess any Zora Armor?”

Skyward had made it a point to not only read the ‘Ocarina of Time’ nann-ga she had gotten for Hearth’s Warming but she had also secreted it in her satchel as a reference guide—she knew her ancestor not only had fireproof armor at one point, but also, Zora Armor---armor that allowed somepony to breathe underwater akin to the Zora themselves.
The prince tilted his head, clearly thinking before he spoke again. “I shalt hath to ask mine sire whether we hath kept any relics from Time Link’s era, but I shalt find out. As for thine companions, one believes we can find a solution for thine problem. That aside, one also came to make a request of thee?”

Skyward cocked her head, and the prince continued. “I would like thou to join me for luncheon later today, if it pleases thee?”

The Haylian unicorn mentally cursed; she really didn’t want to, but to refuse him would be a grave insult and she really didn’t want to piss any of the royal family off—Zelda was counting on her, hay, Hayrule was counting on her!

As she opened her mouth to voice a reluctant acceptance of his invitation, a loud splash and a clatter of hooves on stone resounded.

“Prince Ruyan! Prince Ruyan!”

The royal stallion turned to face the guardspony that had launched himself out of one of the waterfalls that poured from this training platform—Zora were swift swimmers and could even swim up waterfalls if it suited them. Skyward caught the flash of anger on the prince’s face before it was swiftly masked—and her eyes slitted a little as she looked at her blade again, pretending to look it over for blemishes or dull spots. Clearly, he hadn’t wanted to be interrupted.

The guardspony ran up to them, panting heavily. “My prince, thou art needed at the western gate…we found something…”

The prince arched an eyebrow. “Found what exactly, Luzu?”

The stallion looked up at his prince. “The Gerudo hath been attempting to breach the perimeter, my prince. We found evidence near the northern exit of the Domain to the Ocean Gate Fortress.”

Ruyan’s eyes slitted and he looked over at Skyward with an apologetic look. “Forgive me, my dear Skyward; one must away. Wilt thou consider mine request?”

“I shalt consider it, Your Highness, but thou must go, swiftly; the Gerudo wait for nopony and ‘tis likely they left traps.”

The prince nodded at her, before he bolted after the guardspony and dove off the ledge into the lake below, swimming swiftly towards the western end of the Domain. Left alone, Skyward muttered a rich curse under her breath and swiftly cantered back to the guest room. Rarity was in the bathing room, soaking in the deep bathtub, given the amounts of steam coming from the doorway along with some off key singing, and Rainbow Dash was reading in her bed, glancing at the Haylian unicorn when she stormed in and all but slammed the door shut, then locked it.

“You okay?”

Skyward huffed as she flopped onto her bed, and the cyan pegasus mare smiled wryly. “Iiiii’m going to take that as a no.”

“Argh! One is ready to bang one’s head against a wall! We art running out of time; we need to get to the fortress, yet we lack a way to breathe underwater! What is more, Prince Ruyan is a little too interested in one and I do not like it one bit,” the Haylian mare replied with a disgusted snort, and Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow, putting her book aside—it was the Haylian pegasus sky technique book Skyward had given her for Hearth’s Warming.

“What, you don’t like the prince or something?”

Skyward pulled off her armor and curled on the bed, feeling fatigued and worn out for some reason, even though she had done a light training session. “His Highness seems nice enough but…he is far too flirtatious for one’s liking.”

“Aaaah, so he’s being pushy; just like some of the other Zora stallions around here. Ya know, that’s really starting to get a little…scary.”

Skyward’s ears drooped and she sighed. “One must apologize, Rainbow Dash; one knowest this is no pleasure jaunt but one wast hoping this wouldst not be a trial for thou and for Rarity…”

The multicolored maned pegasus mare waved her hooves in the air towards her friend. “Now hold up, I didn’t say this place wasn’t awesome, cause…it so IS! I mean come on! This place is so beautiful, I'd love to take a flight around once it's safe again! I so wanna see if I can race some of these Zora while they're swimming! I'd beat them hooves down, bet on it!"

Skyward had to laugh at the pegasus mare’s enthusiasm, and Rainbow Dash grinned, then sobered. “The only damper on the whole thing is the Zora stallions acting so…'creeptastic' at times. Some of the others aren’t too bad…maybe a little too formal when they talk but the others?”

The Haylian pony shrugged. “They hath always been that way—minus the ‘creeptastic’ behavior from some of the stallions,” came the reply, and then sighed, rubbing at her eyes with one hoof. Rainbow Dash, seeing this, flew off her bed and landed on Skyward’s, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“Look, anypony can tell you’re stressed out. How about you take a nap and look at the problem with fresh eyes? Rarity’ll be done with the bathroom soon, so then you can also take a nice long soak. I’m gonna go join her—that bathtub is HUGE!”

Skyward chuckled. “One shalt take thine advice, Rainbow. If thou and Rarity get hungry, merely ring for a servant, just do not forget to lock the door after them, all right?”

The polychromatic pegasus nodded, giving her a wink and a nudge before she fluttered off into the bathing area. Skyward yawned and crawled over the soft covers, burrowing underneath them as fatigue tugged at her once again. She did not resist as she snuggled down into the soft bed, blinking her eyes sleepily as she drifted off....

*********************
“Skyward…”

The Haylian mare frowned in her sleep and shook her head, curling up in a ball. The only thing she wanted to do was sleep, Din damn it to blazes…

There was a rich male laugh, then: “Ha, thou sleep almost as much as I once did—awaken and hearken to me, missy.”

Skyward grumbled something noncommittal and rolled over, flicking a hoof dismissively in the direction of the voice. The laughter came again, a hearty chuckle this time.

“Get up or one shalt toss ye into the river, sleepyhead!”

That snapped her awake and she shot upright. She wasn’t in her bed again; but neither did she seem to be in an astral plane. She seemed to be in the middle of a misty forest clearing, sunlight streaming through the branches above her head.

Hearing a throat being cleared, she looked over to see a pony standing close by. The pony before her was translucent, but it…no, he…he was clearly different. He bore a long, thick blond mane and tail, slightly windblown, his coat was a gentle tan color, almost like the hue of the chilled frappuccinos that Rarity preferred from Sugarcube Corner…

And eyes that matched her own.

His clothing was a short sleeved emerald green tunic with a chainmail counterpart underneath, and atop his head was a matching long tailed cap. Thin sapphire rings adorned his ears, which were pricked in her direction. He being an Earth Pony, with no wings or horn to speak of, had well defined muscle, but he wasn’t bulky—his legs were strong and sleek, his hind and forequarters well shaped. Skyward took a sharp breath when she realized who it was; there was no mistaking the spectral pony before her.

It was none other than her ancient predecessor and great uncle, Time Link himself.

The ancient hero regarded his great-niece with an amused smile playing about his muzzle. He stepped forward, chuckling softly.

“When one looks at thee it is like seeing mine brother Skyward Sword all over again. Though thou unlike he, thou hast quite the temper.”

Skyward swallowed hard, eyes wide as saucers; was this for real? Was she dreaming? Buck that was a stupid question, of course she had to be; she went to sleep earlier didn’t she?! The legendary hero chortled, reaching over to gently push her mouth closed with one hoof. Time Link regarded his niece fondly, resting a ghostly hoof on her forehead.

“Come on now, Skyward. When all ‘tis said and done at the end of the day, one is just a simple pony. Legends aside, that is all we truly art; mere flesh and blood ponies. Remember that, despite thine laurels.”

Skyward shook her head from side to side furiously before she looked up at the bigger pony—she had to tilt her head up to look at her great uncle.

“Time Link…what…what art thou doing here? Not that one is not glad to see thou; I…I wished to get to know thee but I didst not know the Goddesses were actually listening…!”

The former Hero of Time chuckled, reaching over and gently ruffling her mane with one hoof. “The Goddesses art always listening, Skyward; they mayeth not always answer, but they are always watching, always listening. That being said, so too hath I, and the other Heroes of Time that hath passed before thee. And, in times of great need, shalt the heroes of old aid the current one in their age-old quest.”

Skyward cocked her head at her relative, who gazed down at her soberly, the levity leaving his eyes as he sat in front of her. “And thou art in need of aid to be certain, Skyward. Thou art not alone in this endeavor, remember that: ye must seek aid from thine friends, mine niece. Unlike ye, I and some of the other Heroes did everything alone, even though I did have allies from the respective tribes to aid me.”

Skyward nodded her head at her ancestral predecessor. “Great-Uncle Time Link; I beseech thee for thine wisdom.”

At the stallion’s gentle nod, she continued. “Mine companions and I hath a big problem; without Zora Tunics or Armor, we cannot hope to free the Ocean Gate Fortress without them. And we art running short on time; we do not want Ganondorf discovering us. The shops do not sell anything of the sort, and the Zora stallions art acting strangely—mine friends art wary of them and the Zora Prince hath been acting like a lovesick foal; for he hath done everything short of throwing himself at me!”

Time Link frowned, putting a hoof to his chin. “One does indeed hath something for thou and thine friends, but ‘tis hidden away, high in the Domain; I shalt tell thee how to find it. On the morrow, thou shalt go to King Zora, request a private audience and speak these words to him: “Gone, gone, the form of land/Arise the ocean from the sand.”

Time Link had begun to pace as he spoke, glancing at his niece. “This shalt tell King Zora to give you the relic that allowed thine five-time great grandfather Skyward Sword to breathe underwater—and thou can duplicate it for thine allies. I knowest the royal family hath something of mine, long and long ago, but I fear time mayhap not been kind to the item Zelda entrusted to them to keep. That reminds me; on thine life, do not accept anything from the prince—I do not want thou falling into the same trap I did years ago, albeit unknowingly.”

“Trap? What trap dost thou speak of, Great Uncle?” Skyward asked, frowning.

Time Link looked her dead in the eye, his royal blue eyes stern. “When I returneth thou to the land of the aware, recall the knowledge Zelda imparted to thee about the Zora. This is springtime; therefore ‘tis their mating season; which is why some of the Zora stallions art eyeing thine allies like choice pieces of hay roast. The only ones not affected art the mated ones, or ones not of age to sire foals. Stay well away from them and warn thine friends to not accept anything from them or to encourage them. Be formal, be cold, rude if necessary.”

The deceased hero held up a hoof to forestall his niece—he wasn’t done talking. “Also consult the books thine friends from Equestria hath gifted thee. Because of the disappearance of the Zora's Sapphire long and long ago, the Zora now make armor for their chosen mates. I wilt also tell thee this again; and mind me, Skyward—accept nothing from the Zora Prince, for it shalt spell thine misery after thine quest comes to an end. I got lucky on a technicality long ago, thanks to Zelda. "

Skyward regarded her great uncle—she knew just from the timbre of his voice and the direct look he was giving her that he was serious, and she nodded at him…then threw her forelegs around him. She didn’t expect to be able to hug him, but even though he was a spirit, he was, oddly enough, solid to the touch, so she was able to do so.

Time Link blinked at the sudden hug he was getting from his great niece, but he smiled, gently returning the hug. She was family, when all was said and done; never mind the fact she was the most recent Hero…or Heroine in her case to join the ranks, and he nuzzled her gently, giving her a gentle headbutt when he pulled back to look at her. An unseen wind stirred their manes and tails, and the spirit of her ancestral uncle began to flicker and waver---Time Link knew he had reached his limit, and he had to leave soon. Seeing the distress on his niece’s face, he saluted her with a wink.

“Fear not, for we shalt meet again, mine niece! Trust in thine friends from both worlds and draw upon their strength!”

The ghostly Hero faded away, but not without one final sentence, and a broad smile of fatherly pride.

“I am so proud of thee, Skyward...so very proud. Thou art the daughter one never got to have.”

Skyward tried to call out to her uncle, but failed to do so, having to shield her eyes from the bright light that engulfed the form of her deceased relative…

*********

When she woke, Skyward sat up sharply in the bed, gasping for breath. She rubbed at her muzzle and her right hoof came away wet with tears…and she felt something fall into her lap. Looking down, she saw it was a emerald green long tailed cap; well worn, and clearly of ancient make and weave. She shook her head, glancing out at the star-filled skies beyond her window in the palace and smiled.

(I am glad to know I make thee proud, Uncle Time Link.)

The Haylian mare got out of bed, crossing to her satchel; lighting her horn, she searched through her things before she found what she was looking for; her ‘Ocarina of Time’ nann-ga she had tucked in there prior to leaving for Appleoosa. Careful not to disturb the other two mares, Skyward sat on her bed and began leafing through the book. As Skyward read through the section where her ancestor had to retrieve the Zora’s Sapphire, the pieces clicked in her mind when she read the line ‘spoken’ by Princess Ruto as she granted her uncle the Stone, and she dropped the book in horrified realization.

The gift of the Spiritual Stone was in truth no gift at all! Trap indeed—her uncle had been right!

She would not shackle herself unknowingly to a pony she did not love!

The bluesteel mare retrieved her book and put it back in her satchel, glancing at her sleeping friends, then at the star filled skies through the window, a scowl forming on her muzzle.

They were all in danger here; and the sooner they left Zora’s Domain, the better.

************************

The next morning, Skyward woke to the sound of knocking on the door. She got up, tugging on a loose robe meant for lounging and quickly answered the door; a pale blue Zora female wearing the sigil of the royal family and little else, bowed to her.

"Forgive me for bothering thou so early, Lady Skyward, but the prince hath sent me to fetch thou to him. He has something to show thee, something about thine ancestor's legacy?"

Skyward nodded her head--she dressed in her armor; it didn't reek because she hadn't done much in it the other day anyway, and left, sealing the door behind her to allow her friends to go back to sleep as she followed the servant down the halls to another room. Prince Ruyan was inside, with an old looking chest settled next to his forelegs. Skyward bowed to him, and he shook his head, waving at the servant to leave.

"No need for formality, my dear. How did thou sleep?"

"Well enough, even with the threat of war so close," came the reply. Skyward lit her horn and carefully pushed back the lid of the timeworn chest and peered inside. She grimly shook her head at the armor inside the ancient chest—it had decayed over time, and it was useless. The chestpiece was worn thin and there were obviously holes in the sleeves—the helm had all but crumbled away to nothing but pieces of rust and moth-eaten fabric.

“There is naught that can be done to repair this. This is…one cannot use this.”

“I can craft thou a set of armor, my dear one. Merely say the word and it shalt be done,” Prince Ruyan murmured as he reached out with one finned hoof to brush her muzzle tenderly, but she shied away from him. She was grieved about her great-uncle’s armor as she brushed a hoof over the lid as she closed the chest, looking sorrowful, before she looked at the prince with a gentle shake of her head, glancing at the chest and sighing heavily, allowing her ears to droop to enhance the semi-façade of her sadness.

“I thank thee, but one must politely decline. Please, excuse me; I must think on these developments.”

She bowed to him, and left the room, quickly teleporting back to the guest room once she was out of sight and around the corner.

Rarity let her in when she knocked, and Rainbow Dash popped off the bed. “So?”

The Haylian mare shook her head grimly as she locked the door behind her and recast her warding spell to be sure. “Mine ancestor’s armor is nothing more than a decayed ruin. The prince offered to make one a new set, but…”

Rarity blinked in confusion. “Then why not accept his offer, darling?”

Skyward shook her head. “The prince is kind, but…nay. I hath no desire for him, even though I respect he and his kind greatly.”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Besides, the books always said that the Zora princess was crushin’ pretty hard on the Hero…or in this case, the Prince is seriously 'hooked' on you, Skyward..."

“But in this case, he’s offering you a set of armor he plans on making himself…surely you shouldn’t refuse him?”

“One knows this, Rarity, but one cannot accept the prince’s offer. If I do, I wilt end up marrying him at the end of all this, and I do not wish that.”

Rarity looked shocked. “Wha…why…why would you not want to marry him? He obviously desires yo—"

Rainbow Dash shot down from where she was hovering and put a hoof on Rarity’s mouth. She turned, holding up another hoof to quiet Skyward, who looked like she was going to lose her temper. “Skyward, don't lose it in here, you don't wanna bring the guards running in to break up a fight."

The bluesteel mare subsided at this, knowing her rainbow maned friend was right. Rainbow Dash then turned to Rarity and shook her head at her. "Rarity, Skyward can’t become a Zora queen. She can’t live underwater, for one. Second, she’s the Heroine of Time! She’s got super important work to do, she doesn’t have the time to waste on this guy, prince or not! And third, does this stallion even love her or does he only care about her status as the Heroine of Time? I mean, come on! You went through something similar; does Blueblood come to mind?”

Rarity’s indignation subsided quickly at that, and she had to admit that the rainbow maned pegasus had a solid point.
“So…the armor your ancestor had…”

“Wast a gift from a king of the Zora, long and long ago. But, one suspects they let it decay on purpose, and didst not keep it up, because of a long-standing tradition that Princess Zelda changed. In olden days, the Zora’s Sapphire, which Goddesses only know where the damn thing is now; wast given from the Zoran prince or princess to the Zora he or she wished to wed. Mine great uncle, according to what he told me himself, and the ‘Ocarina of Time’ nann-ga and the lore books here, needed the stone long ago to unseal the Door of Time in the Temple of Time, for it wast beyond that door where the Master Sword rested. However, in accepting the stone from Princess Ruto…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…Time Link himself talked to you? How? Isn’t he dead?”

Skyward nodded at the flabbergasted pegasus. “He is, but one now knows that the spirits of the past Heroes wilt aid the current one in their quest. One is grateful for his aid; and knowing he truly sees me as blood kin.”

She brushed tears from her eyes; Rarity and Rainbow Dash both gave her a hug, then the ivory unicorn put a hoof to her chin. “Ahem; so, back to the problem at hoof, ladies. In accepting the stone, your uncle was engaged to the princess,”

Rarity mused, and Skyward nodded her head. “Aye. Princess Zelda convinced King Zora the Seventh to change the tradition should the Spiritual Stones ever be needed again; that it was silly to waste such an important item on a betrothal when the entire future of Hayrule hung in the balance, and he agreed on this, releasing mine uncle Time Link from his so-called obligation. Thus, he began the tradition of making armor for their mates by hoof, and it hast remained the same ever since then.”

The ivory unicorn nodded, and her eyes widened in shocked realization. “And now, Prince Ruyan seeks to do the same; by offering to make you a new set of Zora Armor.”

“Doesn’t seem like he’s doing it out of just lust. I mean I get the feeling he really does like you. But is it just me, or are all the Zora seem to be eyeing our flanks ever since we got here?” Rainbow Dash muttered, and Skyward sighed.

“That is entirely mine fault; Great-Uncle Time Link reminded me of this. One forgot that in springtime, the Zoras go into heat. Right now, this is their mating season; which is why the stallions art acting so off kilter, which is why I shalt remind ye both yet again—accept nothing from them and do nothing to encourage them unless ye wish to be dragged into a breeding cave for the next sevenday. And believe me when one says there art half Zoran ponies about,” the Haylian unicorn said darkly, and both mares looked at one another in shock.

“Oookay…this just got a hay of a lot more complicated. So how do we go about making you a new set of Zora Armor without accepting anything from the Zoras?”

“We do not need to forge the armor, but we must speak to King Zora, right away. Mine Great-Uncle left me something we can all use, but ‘tis hidden and only the king knows where it is. Pack thine things—after we find mine great-uncle’s cache, prepare thyselves for battle.”

The two mares nodded at her as they gathered their things—Skyward shrinking them down to fit in her satchel. Rarity opened the door and looked out it, up and down, before she nodded at the other two female ponies. The three mares traveled down the corridors to the throne room—aside from his guards, King Zora was thankfully alone. The king smiled kindly at the three mares as they approached.

“Ah—Lady Skyward, Lady Rarity, Lady Rainbow Dash. One trusts thou art enjoying thine stay here?”

“Aye, we are, King Zora. Though…we beg a private audience with thee, if thou dost not mind?”

King Zora inclined his great head, waving at his guards, who departed the chamber. Once they were gone, he cocked his head inquistively at them. “What dost thou wish to ask of me, my dear?”

Skyward stepped forward and looked the king straight in the eyes.

“Gone, gone, the form of land…
Arise the ocean from the sand.”

King Zora blinked, before he nodded slowly at the bluesteel mare. “What thou seeks is close to the Ocean Gate Fortress—there is a cavern hidden behind a waterfall. Time Link’s legacy is there. I take it mine son showed thou his decayed Zora Armor.”

“He did, Your Majesty, and we hath no time to waste. The longer we tarry, the stronger Ganondorf’s hold becomes.”

“And we shalt not tolerate his nonsense against thine people,” Rarity snapped, and the king laughed heartily. “Well said, Lady Rarity, well said indeed.”

The king glanced around before he looked down at them. “One knowest that mine son hath shown an interest in thee, Lady Skyward. But the choice is thine to make—t’would be a great blessing for this kingdom if thou did decide to wed mine son, but nonetheless, thou art thine own pony and I shalt not anger the Princess when she made it clear to me to not allow anything to hinder thee from thy quest.”

Skyward shook her head at the royal Zora stallion. “If Hayrule falls then there is no future for anypony, King Zora. And…forgive me; thine son is a good pony and wilt be a strong, fair leader in time, but a half Zoran pony would not be able to ascend thine throne. Your son would be forced to abdicate as a result. I think…’tis better that thou might dissuade him for the sake of thine people.”

King Zora nodded sagely at her. “Though thine mark is Courage, you speak with Wisdom, Heroine of Time. Now, hurry—there is a passage you and yours can take to where Time Link’s hidden cache is near. Laliu will take you there—hath no fear, she is trustworthy.”

The regal if incredibly rotund royal Zora clapped his finned hooves together, and a slim female Zora, her scales a soft sea blue color and clad in the silversteel armor of the Zora Royal Guard popped up out of the central pool. “Thou sent for me, mine King?”

“Aye. Take Lady Skyward and her companions to the western siphon gate of the Domain—they wish to rid us of Ganondorf’s evil as soon as possible. And keep this quiet—inform Mazz that I wish to see mine son within five minutes of their departure through the gates.”

The female guard bowed to the king before beckoning to the three mares, leading them out through a hidden tunnel that was veiled by two large statues and a waterfall to the left of the throne. The passageway was lit only by luminous stones, and what seemed like hours passed but only fifteen minutes went by before the female guardspony pushed on what seemed like a dead end, exposing them to the overcast outside. There was no path, just grass and a rocky slope, a rushing tributary flowing downward from higher up of one of the craggy cliffs that barred entry from this side of the sea. They could see the beach below them, a strip of pale golden sand, as well as a vast expanse of water, the smell of salt filling their noses even from this distance. Further down the coastline, the three mares could just make out the sight of the Sapphirine Bay Harbor, which was obviously under attack given the smoke plumes they could see.

It was a sobering sight--a reminder that this was indeed, war.

Laliu nudged Skyward, who looked at her. “Go to the beach—the Ocean Gate Fortress’s entrance is underwater, thou shalt be able to see it easily from the beach. Good luck, all three of thou. And, be careful; the prince was looking for thee earlier, Lady Skyward; he may have guards out searching for thee.”

Skyward winced inwardly—this was the last thing they needed. “May Nayru bless you and yours, Laliu; thine warning is most appreciated. Come on, girls; we art running out of time.”

The female Zora mare bowed to Skyward, Rarity and Rainbow Dash, before she moved up the ridge towards the large tributary and dove into it, clearly making her way back to the Domain, while Skyward and her two friends gazed down at the beach below.

It was now or never.

Mysterious Fathoms Below

The golden white sand churned under the three mares’ hooves as they followed the tributary down towards the beach. Thankfully aside from the huge black basalt outcroppings jutting from the sand, the descent to the beach proper went without incident, given the large overhanging ledges afforded them cover---Rainbow Dash also going to ground so her signature rainbow trail wouldn’t give their presence away.

When they reached the beach proper, the acrid stench of smoke, blood, plus the sound of ringing steel and crashing waves in their ears reached them. Rarity choked, covering her muzzle with one hoof, and Rainbow Dash’s ears and wings drooped visibly at the bloody sight about 250 yards away from them further down the strand.

Gerudo mares--pegasi, unicorn and even Earth Pony, all with rich caramel colored coats and fiery red manes and tails, clad in purple silken barding and golden hoofcups with matching silk veils over their muzzles, wielded various weapons against the angry Zora savagely fighting in the water and on the shore. However, with the amount of blood being spilled, sharks, Desbreko and Skullfish were being drawn to the crimson streaked maelstrom in the water, aiming to feast on both wounded Gerudo mares being thrown from their boats into the surf, or injured Zora soldiers who had been slashed, shot, nicked or blasted by a Gerudo warrior or mage.

Skyward looked sadly at her friends, nudging them to get their attention; royal blue eyes giving them a compassionate look. “One didst warn thee about this…thou canst still return to Equestria if thou wish; there is no shame in turning back for either of thou,” she said softly.

Rainbow Dash shook her head; she was sickened by the blood and the screams of agony and battle she could hear, but her magenta eyes were hard as gems. “The sooner we restore the Ocean Gate Fortress, the sooner we can return to Equestria.”

Rarity nodded—she was speechless at the sight of real battle; yes, Skyward had warned her, but the fashionista had truly been unprepared for the terrifyingly gruesome sight. Skyward put a foreleg over her shoulder, trying to comfort the pure white unicorn mare.

“Come. We must needs find mine ancestor’s legacy.”

Rarity turned her head to look at her armored friend, ears drooping. “Is this…this what you have to do? All the time?”

Skyward shook her head at the white unicorn mare. “Not all the time, no. However…”

The bluesteel mare turned and pointed an armored hoof at the carnage raging on further down the beach. “Blood, battle and life; tis the price for freedom, Rarity. This is the price anypony shalt gladly pay should they not wish to be ruled by a tyrant. Think thou this—if Celestia and Luna’s thrones were ever in danger. All of Equestria wouldst rise in fury, aye?”

Rarity nodded—she knew that for certain. Skyward nodded at her in return, her royal blue eyes somber as she indicated her seemingly blank flank. “This is why one must stop Ganondorf. Bandits, raiders…those battles art nothing compared to this. This war is about something else…something mine princess is keeping safe.”

“And something you’re also trying to keep out of his hooves,” Rainbow Dash pointed out, and Skyward nodded grimly.

“Right…well. Where is this waterfall cavern we need to find?” Rarity asked shakily, trying to muster some courage herself.

The three mares looked behind them—well, Skyward kept an eye on the fighting further away from them while Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked for anything that would give them a clue…

“It’s over there!”

Skyward turned, looking towards where Rainbow Dash was pointing with one forehoof, and she cursed under her breath in Haylian. The waterfall cavern in question wasn’t too far off---as a matter of fact, there was another large river flowing down to the beach from it but there was one big problem—or one big, bloody obstacle in the way. Some of the fighting had inched up the beach and the cavern in question was almost too close to the battle proper.

Rarity groaned, putting her head in both her hooves. “How are we going to get up there without them seeing us?”

Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin. “I might be able to cause a distraction…”

Skyward arched an eyebrow at the smirk on her friend’s face. “What the buck are you thinking, I know that look in thine eye, Rainbow…”

The pegasus nodded at her. “Yeah and right now we don’t got a lotta time. We need that artifact, so we can go kick the flank of whatever’s messing with Zora’s Domain. Rarity, when you see my Sonic Rainboom go off, you two run hay for leather up to wherever you need to be. Flash your horn to show me where you’re at, okay?”

“All right, but be careful, Rainbow Dash! I don’t want anypony laying a hoof on you…”

“Aye. They do and they shalt regret it sorely,” Skyward growled, and the cyan pegasus mare smirked, flipping her mane in a brash manner. “Please. Look who you’re talking to, girls! They can’t catch me.”

With a whoosh of air, a cyan streak arced high into the sky, becoming little more than a dot against the darkening skies. Below, both unicorns tensed; Rarity had her eyes on the skies, while Skyward kept an eye on their surroundings. A loud whistling noise overhead grew louder, and louder…louder still…

All over the beach the fighting briefly stopped to see what was making the noise. As she rapidly descended, Rainbow Dash let out a yell of exhilaration as she felt the familiar pull at her body—her form elongated briefly as a faint aurora cone formed around her forehooves…

With a shattering KA-BOOM, a huge expanding ring of shining rainbow light erupted from her form as she blasted herself into supersonic speeds. A brilliant rainbow trail soared out from behind her as she swooped down, then curved upward, smirking at the magical feat she had performed, and she let out a whoop as she streaked skyward—ha, skyward, pun totally intended…

The two fighting groups of ponies stared in awe at the enormous rainbow ring expanding overhead—the light touched the crystalline stones around the peak of the Domain, gently brushing them with an auroral aura, and they began to shimmer and shine of their own accord.

Both Rarity and Skyward rushed out from hiding, Skyward gesturing for Rarity to go ahead of her, directing with tiny, harmless orbs of light she released from her horn to show the other unicorn mare where to jump, where to find purchase on a seemingly unscalable ledge, or even jumping from stones to ledge to outcropping to climb the riverbank towards the cavern.

The bluesteel unicorn mare leaped up behind her friend and quickly ‘boosted’ her onto a higher ledge. She coiled her legs to prepare to jump herself…

A sudden splash sounded from behind; two cold, scaled and finned hooves suddenly grasped her rear hind legs, pulling her back forcefully; the bluesteel mare cried out and began struggling to break the cold, wet, painful grip her assailant had on her back legs—she knew it was a male Zora, given the strong hold he had on her—female Zora were more akin to spellcasters than physical fighting and did not have the strength they did.

Glancing behind her, Skyward’s eyes widened in shock and anger when she saw her assailant was none other than Prince Ruyan himself! She began struggling, lighting her horn to cast a spell—as angry as she was, she didn’t want to kill the prince…

But Ruyan shoved his muzzle forcefully in between her back legs, and she shouted, viciously kicking and lashing out, trying to push him away, but to no avail. She unconsciously aimed a blast with her horn, but missed because he was…well, in a much lower position than she was. She gasped, eyes widening before she tightly shut them at the sensations he was rapidly coaxing to life within her using only his tongue. She had never had sex before, though she’d heard a lot of crass jokes from her comrades, read a few erotic tomes on the sly, or listened to their tales of sexual prowess with one mare or another only to smack them upside the head and leave the room to their uproarious laughter and playful jibes…

Stories had nothing on what she was feeling now. The constant gliding stroke of the prince’s tongue against her outer pussy lips felt…

Ruyan’s tongue was covered in tiny bumps that gently laved over her velvety pale bluesteel downy opening, pressing firmly against her tender flesh again and again with every sweep. Ruyan purred lustfully as his tongue snaked out to caress her outer folds of her sleek flower, the tip of it dipping briefly into her slowly moistening core as he pulled his prize closer. He tilted his head to better please his future mate—land born mare or not, she would give him many healthy foals; he would please her well, ensure she would never wish to leave his side. With that thought in mind he pressed his muzzle deeper, shoving his tongue deeply into her love tunnel, his writhing oral appendage snaking into her and stroking the velvety walls of her inner passage. He drank deeply of her seeping essence, swirling his tongue around her outer lips, darting his tongue around her inner lips, keeping a strong grip on her hind legs so she couldn't escape.

Skyward whimpered as heat slowly grew in her belly, hot waves of pleasure streaking through her body at the prince’s passionate ministrations, his tongue laving her pussy lips repeatedly, sucking hard at her slowly budding clit. The Haylian unicorn mare cried out, her tail lashing sharply as she arched her back; Ruyan sliding his tongue in and out of her, now not quite going in completely to tease his intended mate, his hooves roughly rubbing against her flanks and hindquarters as he tried to pull her closer…

Rarity suddenly popped up, her diamond blue eyes blazing with anger and she blasted the lustful Zora prince with a lance of pale blue colored magic, sending him flying back into the river with a resounding splash. Red-faced with her horn blazing silver, livid and embarrassed, Skyward badly wanted to retaliate, but Rarity tugged at her, frantically shaking her head and both mares took off once more, staying well away from the water as they bolted, using their magic to cloak their presence from any other ponies nearby that might have heard or seen the struggle. They spotted the waterfall up ahead—Rarity lit her horn, ‘pushing’ the water out of the way just enough, hoping to find what they were looking for—and was rewarded with the darkness of another cavern entrance.

They teleported inside the cavern they could see ahead—it was hidden behind another waterfall, but this one wasn’t as large as the one they had exited out of. Skyward threw off her helm and slammed her hooves against the stone floor, obviously angry and extremely embarrassed, stomping her front hooves in distress and tossing her head from side to side.

“That…that foalish, foul, oversexed, lustful son of a deep python! One shalt geld him where he swims next one sees him…”

She took a shuddering breath, and another, trying to cool the fires the male Zora had stoked in her lower belly; glancing down revealed that her pussy was seeping, the clear juices of her arousal sliding free a little bit, the lush pink of her excited sex showing she still wanted more. The urge to continue what the prince had started was extraordinarily strong, but Skyward lit her horn, conjured a large globe of water and doused herself with it. The water was ice cold—it had been on purpose, to quench the flames of lust still smoldering in her belly. Rarity was panting, looking over at the drenched Haylian unicorn, who was breathing erratically, eyes closed tight…

The fashionista moved forward and clicked her hoof gently against the ground to get Skyward’s attention.

“Skyward? Skyward, my dear, please, are you all right?”

The soaking wet unicorn mare looked at her friend—the tormented look in those royal blue eyes was all the answer Rarity needed, even as bitter laughter escaped the bluesteel mare’s mouth. “One warned thou and Rainbow Dash constantly about this...and yet, I art the one who was caught like a fish,” Skyward muttered, shaking her wet mane and laughing harshly as she lowered her head. The laughter was soon choked off, sounding suspiciously like muffled sobs—Rarity straightened her posture and moved forward, lifting one hoof to tilt Skyward’s head up so royal blue met diamond blue.

“My dear Skyward, do not blame yourself. You are not to blame, that…that foul excuse for a stallion is. I do not have a will of steel like you do; despite the fact you clearly do not have any romantic experience with stallions, you were able to resist his…ah, attentions. You still fought back, and it shows your character.”

“One must beg of thee to not…not say anything to anypony about this…”

“Don’t worry, darling. What happened back there stays between us. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. I Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony what happened here this day.”

Skyward nodded, giving the ivory unicorn a grateful nod—Rarity pulled her into a hug and let the Haylian mare shed a few tears on her shoulder. “There, there, Skyward. Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.”

“One feels so…debased…”

Rarity gently stroked her friend’s royal blue and indigo streaked mane in comfort as the bluesteel mare broke down in tears—the white unicorn knew she herself had a few…paramours before, as well as some sex toys to ‘scratch her itch’ when she felt like it, and for her, sex and pleasure was no stranger. She was certainly no whore, but Skyward clearly had no experience in those fields whatsoever. The poor mare had almost been raped—and knowing her friend’s mindset towards honor, as well a wish to be loved for who she was and not for her status, this had to be a terrible blow to her morals and mindset. The wavy purple maned and tailed unicorn mare let her cry for a little while before wiping her eyes with a spare handkerchief she had in her saddlebag.

“Chin up now, my friend. The time shall come when you shall welcome a male’s touch. No… (Skyward had been about to explode in protest) Trust me, darling. It will be worth it when you find the right stallion who loves you for who you are. Now, we must summon Rainbow Dash, before any other pony gets their hooves on her.”

Skyward used her shield, Rarity bending a beam of light on her horn on it to signal Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare shot downwards, pushing a huge cloud in front of her to hide her descent and then flying right through it—the cloud dissipated as fog due to the temperature change the closer she got to the ground, and hid her entry into the falls where she had seen the flashes of light on the shield.

“You two all right?”

Rarity waved a hoof as Skyward dried herself off with her Fashion Flash spell—Divine Design, the Princess’s own personal tailor, had taught her that spell when she would have been late for a royal function and hadn’t had time to brush out her mane, tail and fur. “We’re fine, Rainbow Dash. Hurry, we need the artifact!”

“But where is it?”

Rarity lit her horn—if anyone had experience finding treasures, it was her. Her horn swept up, to the left, and down…pointing right at a pool of shimmering water. The water was deep—they couldn’t see the bottom of the large pool, despite the luminous stones embedded in the rock walls.

“You have got to be bucking kidding me.” Rainbow Dash muttered, and Skyward cursed as she stared at the pool.

“Wonderful—well, let us go for a swim then,” she growled, but Rarity held out a hoof.

“The chest may be in the pool but let us not forget our own magics. Give me a few moments…twist this here…move that there…and…voila!”

The pool splashed as Rarity triumphantly lifted out a large sea chest with a clearly waterworn silversteel lock. Skyward lit her horn, raised her sword high and brought it down hard on the lock, snapping it off cleanly, and she ‘opened’ the chest.

Inside was a medallion—the talisman itself looked to be made entirely of gold. Set in its center was a carved relief of a pony—a pony with a long, sleek fishtail. The pony’s upper half was inlaid with jade while the lower half was a mix of sapphire, diamond and amethysts. Turning it over showed an inscription on the back…

“Hey…isn’t that the same thing you said to the Zora King to find this place?” Rainbow Dash asked, and Skyward nodded.

“Aye, it is. And now we hast the means to enter the Ocean Gate Fortress. One shalt teleport us back to the beach—gather close now, girls, if thou wilt…”

Both Rainbow Dash and Rarity moved close to Skyward, who lit her horn and closed her eyes—in a brilliant flare of silver light and sparkles, they were gone in an instant. And not a moment too soon, for mere moments after the three mares had gone, a furious Prince Ruyan leaped through the waterfall’s protective curtain of crashing water, his eyes blazing with thwarted lust and rage…

********************************************************************************************************

Reappearing back on the beach, the three mares ran into the rushing surf, staying close to Skyward as she held the amulet in her magic. When they were leg deep in the water, the bluesteel unicorn mare held the medallion aloft as she intoned the incantation.

“Gone, gone, the form of land…”

In response to her words, the amulet began to glow and shimmer, emanating waves of sea blue colored magic from it…

“Arise the ocean from the sand…”

The glow surrounded the three mares, wrapping each in a cocoon of lagoon colored light…

“To shun the land and explore the sea…”

The glow around them shimmered, the cocoons sliding away to reveal long, streamlined fish tails…

“I invoke the Pact of Tides--so mote it be!"

With a brilliant flare of light, the cocoons fell away to reveal the three mares…albeit with vastly different forms.

From the top they looked normal enough—ears, mane, forehooves, muzzles, eyes…

But the bottom was a completely different story. Where their hind legs should have been were beautiful fish tails, their scales and fins gleaming in the sunlight.

Rarity’s tail was, of course, pure white, her flowing tail fins a deep royal purple. Her cutie mark was displayed on the dorsal fin that had formed from her back; two more gleaming diamond marks shown on two smaller fins above her main ones.

Rainbow Dash’s tail fins were akin to her mane—a liquid like rainbow unfurling from a cyan sky. Like Rarity, she had a dorsal fin showing her cutie mark. However, she also bore ‘wing’ like fins on her back, akin to a ‘flying fish’ of sorts.

Skyward’s tail was no less magnificent: the colors of her scales were iridescent in hue, going from blue to purple jeweltones depending on how she moved. Her tail fins were royal blue on the outside then shifting to indigo on the inside. But Zelda’s glamour still held strong—her dorsal fin remained blank.

She still had her armor on, and after she had safely stowed the medallion away, she gestured to them to follow her. The three mares swam deeper, the seawater moving through their lungs as easily as air. The deeper they went, the darker the color of the water got…and, the danger level steadily increased. Because of the blood in the water, the three transformed mares had to avoid clusters of Skullfish, Desbrekos and sharks who were heading towards the carnage further towards the shore.

Skullfish were living skeletons of fish—the Desbreko were their much larger and more dangerous cousins, resembling the skeletons of pirahna fish. But what made the Desbreko so much more deadly, was the fact Skullfish liked to cluster near them, resulting in a deadly swarm of skeleton fish if anypony was unlucky enough to get their attention.

It was Rarity who saw it first…the looming luminous stone and coral walls and the massive arch as the seafloor dropped away, revealing the entrance of the large stone fortress below the three mares, far beyond the shoreline, fathoms below in the vast ocean. The Ocean Gate Fortress was below them, the ziggurat like structure almost like a temple in of itself. The walls were made of luminous stones, huge blue, pink, green, gold and white coral branches growing off the top of the wall like barbed stone spears. The arch was made entirely of pearlescent stone, carved with swirls and bubbles, the symbol of the Zora set high in the center. Beyond the arch was the entrance…lit by two carved luminous stones shaped like large cone shaped seashells.

But it was clear that Ganondorf’s evil had touched the fortress…Desbreko, Bomb Fish, and Skullfish roamed the waters freely and Shell Blades littered the sandy floor around the walls and entrance of the Fortress.

Shell Blades were massive clams with razor sharp blades growing from the back of their shells—when threatened, they would close and turn their backs, twisting and bucking to try to gore and slice their attacker. Their only weak point was while their shells were open to cut the adductor muscle on the inside.

The three mares swam over the wall, careful not to attract attention from any of the Desbreko clusters swimming nearby. They descended, and slipped into the entrance, Rarity and Skyward lighting their horns to allow for light as they vanished into the Ocean Gate Fortress's depths.

Portal III: Ocean Gate Fortress Part I: Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall..

The inside of the fortress entrance hall wasn’t lit—which hinted at the trouble inside. The walls of the fortress proper were made of black basalt, not luminous stone—though there were luminous stone carvings inset into the walls, they weren’t lit. The water was murky—they could see, but only just, and if it wasn’t for the light from the two unicorn mares’ horns, they wouldn’t be able to see at all.

Skyward brought out the silversteel bow and quiver filled with arrows and Rainbow Dash’s wing blades…with some fitting, the two Equestrian mares were now equipped for battle. The wing blades had been adjusted for fin fighting instead of on her wing-fins on her back—the transformed pegasus mare had to watch where she was swimming, due to the long, curved blades she now sported on her fin, but it meant she could fight back if she had to. The central hall path split into two—one path going left, the other right. Neither side showed signs of a gate or barrier, but the water was so gloomy it was hard to tell.

The bluesteel unicorn mare pulled her sword and swam forward—she stopped short of the entrance proper. She sent her ball of light into the room, and expanded it slowly…

It revealed a largish room with three more corridors. The room itself seemed empty—more black basalt with unlit luminous stone shells inset into the wall. Rarity nudged Skyward with one hoof and pointed at the room’s entrance. Skyward shrugged and tapped her sword meaningfully, pointing at the empty chamber. The two unicorns turned to their third member…

Only to find she wasn’t there!

The two unicorn mares looked at one another in panic and swiftly swam back down the corridor to the other passage—this one curved to the right. Skyward in the lead, Rarity behind her, the two unicorn mares soon heard shouting from Rainbow Dash as they shot through the water and into the next corridor…which widened out considerably into a much larger room than the other one they had seen. Rarity’s light globe expanded, lighting the entire area up in a brilliant flash.

This room also had an air pocket—they could just see the shape of ledges and platforms above them in the water. However, the platforms in the water held an enemy Skyward had only read about—yet resembled a certain snarling, snapping plant like creature Skyward was all too familiar with, considering she lived initially in a forested area.

It looked like a Deku Baba—a type of carnivorous flytrap like plant capable of eating a pony if it grew large enough to do so…with a purplish blue head, razor sharp teeth, pinkish red ‘lips’ and a long, spiked tongue. The stem was somewhat brittle, which made it perfect torchwood when the Baba’s stem was cut, and the leaves could be used in salads or stews.

However, this was a type of Deku Baba called a Bio Deku Baba—an aquatic sort that lived in lakes, swamps, ponds, pools and slow moving brooks, and disguised themselves as harmless, hardy lily pads…or even underwater fortress grounds, apparently.

Two of them were harassing Rainbow Dash—one of them was still attached to its lily pad, and the other had clearly been slashed from its stem. The changed pegasus pony was unable to move up or down too much—either way, she was going to get bitten or eaten if she moved the wrong way. She was only able to keep them at bay by flipping her tail—aiming slashes with the wicked blades attached to her fins.

The second one was the one going after the transformed pegasus mare proper—when cut, a Bio Deku Baba didn’t just die. No, it sprouted ‘legs’ and ‘eyes’ and swam/scuttled after its prey proper. Skyward swam forward; using her sword proved to be too slow and ineffective underwater. She was able to use her shield to fend off the snapping creature, however.

But Rarity nocked an arrow and aimed it with her magic—silversteel bows and arrows were decent on land…

But downright lethal in water. The streamlined bow and arrow design was meant for aquatic combat, and the first arrow struck its target neatly in the head, severing the head from the stem. It died with a garbled shriek, a small stream of greenish ichor, the head floating away from the body, which had gone limp as wet seaweed on the shoreline.

Looking up, Skyward aimed her horn at the first Bio Deku Baba and fired off an ice spell. The vile aquatic monster had no time to cry out before it was engulfed in solid ice…unable to attack, much less breathe. Skyward breathed out a sigh of relief before she looked over at Rainbow Dash.

“Art thou all right, Rainbow Dash?”

While her words were a bit garbled in water, they could still hear and talk to one another. Rainbow Dash nodded, slumping down against the cool stone floor in relief, the fin-blades making a muffled clang against the stone.

“I thought you guys went that-a-way, so I went down the hall. Next thing I know those…those things were attacking me!”

Skyward shook her head at her polychromatic colored friend. “Those ‘things’ art called Bio Deku Baba. Vile aquatic plants that wilt feed fish or even on ponies if anypony gets too close, Zoran or otherwise. Stay close to us, Rainbow Dash—but good work, cutting one of them down. And Rarity, fine shooting, that. Thou art a natural.”

Rarity beamed, twirling her bow and tossing her head in pride, before looking up at the surface. “What could be hiding up there?”

“Keep thine guard up. This is far from over.” Skyward said grimly as she slowly began swimming upward, the other two following close behind her. The bluesteel mare breached the surface first, glancing around suspiciously.

The room in question was larger than the one below it in the water—the walls were made entirely of luminous stone, and it was glowing softly with a gentle blue light. Platforms dotted the surface of the pool they were in, and there were two sides to the pool.

The right side had a broad, sky blue-tiled poolside platform and an arched doorway that led deeper into the fortress—the hallway was lined in blue tiles also, and it curved around to the left.

The left side had slate blue tiles on its exit ledge. It also had an ornate looking doorway done in the same pearlescent stone as the archway outside the fortress, the Zora seal engraved right on the door with sapphire and diamond inlay. Large pearls and sapphires decorated the entranceway on either side, making it look like crashing waves cresting on either side of the magnificent gate. However, this entrance was locked with a huge golden lock with translucent golden chains hanging from the lock itself…proof nopony was getting in there unless they had the key.

“Oh yeah. Like that doesn’t scream ‘boss room’ riiight there,” Rainbow Dash muttered, pointing at the huge door with the ornate gold lock and chains covering it with one hoof.

Skyward nodded grimly—she didn’t know what sort of monster lay behind that door, but she prayed to the Goddesses none of her friends would perish in the attempt to slay it. What was more, her sword was semi-useless underwater. She was going to have to rethink her arsenal for fighting underwater, aside from her magic.

Rarity swam over to the left side and laid her hooves on the blue slate tile. “But how are we ever going to get up there? We have fins now, and…”

While the white unicorn mare was pondering their situation, Skyward had swam back down and turned, powering herself towards the platform. She leaped out of the water—and the second her tail came free of the cool, salty liquid…

Her fins turned to legs, and she landed on the slate tiles with a crack and a series of clicks due to her armored hooves…

But she was still soaked through from the sea water she’d come out of, and wet slate tiles plus armored hooves did not mix. She yelped and slid, ending up against the wall with a thud and she mumbled curses as she flopped to her side, shaking her head and groaning quietly.

Rainbow Dash popped up on Rarity’s left side, wincing at the crash Skyward had made when she hit the wall. “Oww…that’s gotta hurt.”

Rarity shot the pegasus mare a look before looking back towards their friend. “Skyward! Oh dear me, Skyward, are you all right?”

“A-aye…mayhap one shalt not take a leap from the water next time…”

Rainbow Dash heaved herself out of the water—the transformation reversed itself, her fins returning to her hind legs. The wing blades appeared on her wings proper, neatly fitting themselves in her plumage. She shook herself dry as Rarity levitated herself from the water—her own fin shifting back to hind legs and her curled, wavy purple tail.

“Well…now where to, girls? We can’t go that way for obvious reasons,” the ivory unicorn mare murmured, gesturing at the ornate sealed door.

“Duh—we go that way,” Rainbow Dash snorted, pointing at the other door at the other side.

Rarity lifted a hoof. “Hmm. There were three more passageways from the other corridor we went through below the water…”

Skyward lit her horn and formed a rudimentary map of the Fortress they were in. “Well…either we descend back into the water to see what the other passages hold…”

“Or we could see what’s behind door number 4?”

Rarity facehoofed. “Ugh, how shall we ever decide?”

Skyward frowned, thinking hard. Splitting up was an unbelievably bad idea. Blooded and seasoned warriors they were but she had no intention of letting them wander about in this dangerous place alone. Trying to figure out where to go in this place was about as fun as trying to uproot strangleweed.

“How about we flip a Bit and see? Celestia, we go through that door. Luna, we go back down and check out whatever you guys found?”

Rainbow Dash suggested, and the other two looked at one another and nodded.

“That sounds like a fine idea, Rainbow Dash.”

“Hath thou a Bit on thee, Rainbow?” Skyward asked, tilting her head. Rarity produced one from her saddlebag, and using her magic, flipped it. The little golden coin danced in the air, turning end over end, until it hit the floor…

“Luna. We go back below then,” Skyward mused, glancing over her shoulder back at the water.

The three mares splashed back into the water—there was no need for them to recast the incantation. If somepony had the medallion on their person, the spell would work for the pony and their allies with them. They swam back to the room with three corridors, and took the one in the center…

But were forced to turn back considering it was barred shut. The second one was on their right, and it wasn’t barred, but it led upwards a good way until they surfaced in a circular pool.

The room surrounding the pool was covered in shells on the walls. The floor was made entirely of sand, soft and giving under their hooves. Skyward glanced upward…

She tugged on Rarity’s mane and nudged Rainbow Dash—and put a hooftip to her mouth. She pointed upward…

Both Equestrian mares’ eyes widened when they saw the huge shell high above them. The shell was a great swirled cone shaped shell, colored a deep purple streaked with red and blue…and there was something in it, considering the hefty claw that peeked out briefly before being drawn back in. The three mares ducked back down into the water, all the way back down the vertical corridor to the central room.

“What the HAY was that?!” Rainbow Dash burst out, glancing over her shoulder with pinprick eyes.

“That was the biggest hermit crab I have ever seen!” Rarity gasped, and Skyward shook her head.

“Nay…one shalt bet that is one of the monsters that Ganondorf’s vile curse left behind, no doubt. Damn one for leaving the Megaton Hammer with the Goron ponies…t’would come in handy against that…that thing…”

“Well, let’s try the last corridor. Maybe there’s going to be something useful in there against that crab?” Rainbow Dash suggested, and the three mares swam forward into the last one. They swam past spiked walls, careful not to touch the razor-sharp spikes. The corridor opened into another underwater room—this one had a series of shell shaped crystals in the floor… six in all.

But the three mares could see that the crystals weren’t just set into the floor. They also had connecting groove lines in between them, and when Rarity pushed one with her hoof experimentally, it moved, sliding towards the next shell. When the shell connected with the other shell, it lit up and the other moved diagonally towards another one.

It was a puzzle.

Rainbow Dash looked at the walls, and she nudged Skyward. Once she got the bluesteel mare’s attention, she swam over to the leftmost wall and gestured at it. The Haylian mare swam over and inspected the pattern of inset shells in the wall…they were shaped like a seven-pointed star. However, when they counted the shells below them once more, they then noticed that one shell was missing. Sure, the piece that was supposed to be holding the shell was moveable, but, it did nothing when it impacted another shell.

“I’m thinking Mr. Big Shell back there likely has the shell piece we need to complete the puzzle,” Rainbow Dash mused, and Rarity nodded. Rarity looked at the other wall—this one had a carved mural in it also. This showed a huge shelled hermit crab with its pincers raised in a menacing fashion. But the fashionista regarded the rest of the mural. The next panel showed the crab bringing its pincers down in a hammer like strike, trying to hit the Zoran pony who was attacking it…

“Girls! Look at this! I think this may give us our answer!”

The two other mares swam over to the ivory finned female and Skyward regarded the mural closely, looking at the last panel. The last panel showed the crab raising its pincers again, however…the Zoran pony in the mural was holding a strange device. The device in question had a handle with a small switch on its top. From the front of the device came a long, sturdy looking chain, the end of it showing a wicked looking hooked spearhead.

“Ohh! That’s the Longshot! That’s what you need to pull that crab out of his shell!” Rainbow Dash cheered, clapping her forehooves together.

“How is this done? The panel showeth not how to pull the creature from its confines,” Skyward replied, studying the mural closely.

“Easy! See, it’s lifting its pincers, which means it has to come out of its shell, right? When its out of its shell, it’s vulnerable. That means you can use the Longshot to fire it right…here!”

The rainbow finned mare pointed at the exposed head and the eyes of the massive hermit crab. “Once you got a lock on it, you can rush in and hit it!”

“But where is it, Rainbow Dash? Without that device, we cannot hope to overcome that…that vile creature!” Rarity cried.

“Mayhap it may be located in the chamber off from the ‘boss room’,” Skyward mused, pointing back the way they had come. The three mares swam back down the chamber, through the main entrance hall—more Shell Blades had come in from the outside, and the trio were forced to take them down as a result. Rainbow Dash would sweep in and come around while the Shell Blade’s ‘mouth’ was open, and her fin blade would slice neatly through the adductor muscle, while Skyward and Rarity held the Shell Blades in place and forcing their ‘mouths’ open for the transformed pegasus mare to make the killing shot.

A Bomb Fish swam in from the outside—Rainbow Dash tackled Skyward out of the way of its frenzied trajectory when it spotted the Haylian mare and began charging towards her, the dark sphere in its open maw blinking crimson over and over again, each pulsation more rapid than the first. The Bomb Fish swam into the far wall…and EXPLODED with a powerful, albeit muffled BOOM.

But to their surprise, instead of merely leaving charred fish remains and a blackened scorch mark on the wall…the wall crumbled away, showing a hidden passage behind it. Skyward took point, lighting her horn…but there was no need. This passage lit up as soon as the wall fell away in chunks of weathered stone, piling to the sides of the new doorway, the shell shaped ‘lamps’ showing the way into the next corridor. The three mares swam into the corridor—this one was wider than the others. The room that they emerged into was akin to an indoor beach of sorts…there was sand here, a few Shell Blades, and rocks dotting the room. Atop the sandy incline was another door…and…

“Watch thyselves!”

Skyward lit her horn and fired off another ice spell at the approaching enemy that was swiftly drifting towards them---it looked like a translucent floating blue and pink jellyfish, with two long scythe like pinkish tentacles draping from it. Because it was see-through they could easily see its inner organs through the bluish membrane that surrounded it. However, it was clear that it could channel electricity, because it began crackling and fizzing with golden white sparks the second it got close to the Haylian mare. She missed, but ducked out of the way as it raised its tentacles to swipe at her.

“Watch out! Don’t hit that Bari when it’s electrified! That’s gonna really leave a mark if it hits you!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“How dost one kill these…Bari?”

“If you’re gonna use your sword, be careful, they split into smaller ones called Biri, and then you got double the trouble! Maybe if you use your Frost Lance spell, you won’t have to use your sword!”

The ice spell had hit the creature and froze it solid. It dropped to the sand and rolled away into the seawater pool. The three mares swiftly exited the liquid, resuming their true forms as they approached the door. Rarity and Rainbow Dash made swift work of the Shell Blades on the shoreline—in the water they were somewhat slowed, but on land they were slightly faster. They approached the doorway, and it slid upwards at their approach.

Skyward poked her head in and looked around warily; the room in question looked like a huge mist filled room, and there was water covering the floor, not deep at all, just barely covering their hooves. There were also short platforms in the room—not too tall, anypony could jump onto one easily enough. She slowly came into the room, drawing her sword with a slow hiss of metal clearing the sheath.

“Hold it.”

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Skyward’s armored shoulder and pointed at the center of the room. Skyward narrowed her eyes—she couldn’t quite make out what the odd, shifting shape was in the middle of the room. She almost couldn’t see it…whatever it was…

“Girls, whatever are you staring at…”

Rarity came up quickly behind Rainbow Dash and Skyward…and as a result pushed all three of them into the room. Bars of steel slammed down on the doorway behind them…and the figure in the center of the room moved forward…

Glowing, menacing crimson eyes…

A pure black coat, akin to that of a starless night…

An ebon spiraled horn rising from the center of the figure’s forehead, that blazed to life with a menacing crimson aura…

Dark gray and light gray streaked mane and tail…

Dark armor, hoofcups, and helm that was polished to a high gleam…

And a black sword, complete with crossguard, hilt and pommel, the blade just as long and sharp as…

The shadowed figure leaped at them—Skyward brought up her own sword and blades crossed with a loud hiss-CLANG of steel and a shower of sparks considering how hard the blades had slammed into one another. The darker pony pushed forward, trying to press the attack, but Skyward shoved backwards, going face to face with…

HERSELF.

“No way! That’s…that’s Dark Time Link!” Rainbow Dash shouted, having flown up into the air from the shadow pony’s charge.

“More like Dark Skyward! Look, the shadow pony looks just like her!” Rarity called back to her friend, who was hovering in midair close by.

Skyward was face to face with her own shadowy doppelganger and she didn’t like what she was seeing one bit. The face looking back at her was undoubtedly her own—only…more menacing, less friendly, and crueler, considering the vicious sneer the shadowy version of herself had. The two ponies sprang apart, circling one another…

Skyward charged forward—so did her dark double. Swords met again and again, the song of dancing steel ringing in the chamber. She brought up her shield, bashing her dark twin in the muzzle, and yelled in pain when a lance of crimson light erupted from the doppelgänger’s horn and struck her in the shoulder, heating her armor there and undoubtedly leaving a burn mark. She lit her own horn and retaliated in kind, a Solar Lance spell that made her dark twin snarl in pain and lock blades with her once more.

The fight continued, sword and shield being used in a continuous dance of attack and defense. For each move Skyward made, her double mirrored it, making it exceedingly difficult for her to land a blow on her doppelgänger. Dark Skyward did not speak, but the terrifyingly bloodthirsty grin on her muzzle said it all; she expected her light twin to tire and die soon.

But Skyward had one advantage her dark double didn’t…and that was her friends. Unnoticed, Rarity had gotten onto one of the platforms and was taking aim with her silversteel bow. She drew a bead on the dark unicorn…

In rapid succession, three arrows streaked forward and slammed right into the shadowed unicorn’s unarmored flank—but instead of blood, liquid shadow seeped forth from the wound. Dark Skyward howled in pain, a guttural sound and whirled, aiming another spell at the white unicorn mare…

Only to cry out in anger and agony as Rainbow Dash divebombed her, snatching her helm off and pitching it aside, exposing Dark Skyward’s head. The dark unicorn aimed a blast of destructive magic at the cyan pegasus mare, but Rainbow Dash dodged the blasts, sticking her tongue out at Dark Skyward and blowing the loudest raspberry she was capable of. Then she turned around and smacked her own flank with one forehoof, a mocking smirk on her muzzle.

“Nyah nyah! You completely SUCK at aiming, ya know that! I know foals who can throw snowballs better than you!”

This served its purpose—to piss off Skyward’s dark twin, and the black and gray unicorn crouched, ready to leap to deliver a savage jump strike….

But in her fury and need to take down the two impertinent ponies who had dared to challenge her, Dark Skyward had forgotten completely about Skyward herself. Seeing the opportunity her friends had opened for her, the bluesteel unicorn mare teleported behind and off to the left of her dark nemesis, raised her sword high…

And brought it around in a vicious arc, cleaving straight through her doppleganger’s neck—a devastating killing blow.

But as she delivered the deathblow, Dark Skyward shrieked, an echoing cry of anger, pain and terror, and collapsed backwards on her side…

Only to fall right through the water that barely came up to the middle of their hooves. The room then rippled around them, revealing craggy walls without shells embedded in the walls, but the water didn’t evaporate beneath them. Where Dark Skyward had fallen, was a softly glowing luminous stone carved into a shell—the missing puzzle piece.

But Skyward ignored the glowing shell, bowing her head and keeping silent, her sword and shield clattering to the floor in front of her. Yet, that went unheeded as she stared at her reflection in the shallow water in front of her. Seeing her dark doppelgänger had impacted her deeply and had shaken her to her core. Oh, Goddesses knew she tried to be valorous and selfless to anypony she met, however…

Looking into those burning red orbs had scared her badly. To think that such darkness hid below the surface…

Was she truly worthy of her five-time great-uncle’s legacy? What darkness did she herself conceal behind her own visage?

She didn't want to know--nor did she want to find out.

Portal III: Ocean Gate Fortress Part II: Who's the Heroine After All...

The despondent Heroine of Time looked up when she felt a hoof on her armored shoulder to see the compassionate gazes of her friends. Rarity leaned into her side to give comfort and Rainbow Dash laid a wing across her withers.

Rarity patted her side. “Do not fret. Everypony has darkness within them, Skyward.”

Rainbow Dash nodded at her. “Yeah! You know what, we should tell you about when Discord turned us into the opposite of our own Elements!”

Skyward cocked an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash. “What dost thou mean, he turned thee into the opposite of thine own Element?”

“Well…let’s say first that I wasn’t who I really was. I was suuuuuper selfish, and Rarity…”

“Ah-ah-ah! I thought we said we would never speak of that again…”

Rainbow Dash stomped a hoof against the floor, sending drops of water flying and pointed to the floor where Skyward’s doppleganger had fallen, giving the ivory unicorn a “Don’t Even” look. The look spoke volumes, especially after what Skyward had been forced to face.

“Oh, very well. You see, Skyward…”

Skyward listened to her two friends, as they told her the story of when Discord had been evil, and how he had turned them to the opposite of their Element. How Rarity had become greedy instead of generous, even going so far as to hoard a giant boulder that Discord had hypnotized her into thinking was a giant diamond…

And how Rainbow Dash had turned her back on Cloudsdale and Ponyville, looking out for herself selfishly instead of being loyal to her land and her friends. How the others had chased her down, Applejack having to lasso her while Fluttershy streaked after her, the others riding in Twilight’s hot air balloon.

The polychromatic pegasus mare nudged her bluesteel furred friend. “See? Everypony’s got a dark side. Your ancestor had one too. He had to face his ‘inner demons’. Nopony doesn’t have them—I mean, Princess Luna was Nightmare Moon at one point in time, you know?”

Skyward put an armored hoof to her chin, thinking deeply. They did have a solid point—and yes, Princess Luna had, indeed, fallen prey to the darkness inside of her, but had been redeemed because she had friends. Dark Skyward had nopony to help her, and it was because of the force called friendship, is why she had won the battle. She leaned into her friends, who gave her the solace she sorely needed as she quietly cried. Rainbow Dash gave her a hug and Rarity brushed at her friend’s eyes with a kerchief she had stashed in her saddlebag.

“Better?”

Skyward nodded, managing a smile.

“C’mon, let’s go put this back where it belongs!” Rainbow Dash crowed, holding up the glowing shell that Dark Skyward had dropped.

Skyward retrieved her weapons, drying them with the aid of her magic. She tested the blade, nodded, then re-sheathed her sword. They exited the mirror room and dove back into the water, taking their sea-pony forms once more. They made their way back to the shell puzzle room, and Rarity floated the shell into place.

They took turns trying to solve the puzzle, pushing the shells around to create the matching shape on the left side wall. When they did, the puzzle blazed brightly, then sank into the floor, even as the stone ceiling above them slid open to reveal another passage. The three mares ascended into another water filled room—but this one bore three large chests in the center of it, and the shell shaped stone braziers around them were brightly glowing. The symbol of the Triforce was emblazoned on the back wall behind the chests, not the Zora symbol this time.

“There’s three treasure chests!”

“Go and open one each—thou hast more than earned it,” Skyward chuckled, and laughed at Rainbow Dash’s outright squee as the eager cyan pegasus shot forward to the left chest. Upon opening it, was a set of wing blades, but these were clearly different than from the silversteel ones she had. These were made of mithril, washed with gold, and set with sky diamonds. They easily converted to lethal looking fin blades, which Skyward helped set on her friend’s fin.

Rarity lit her horn and opened the chest on the right—and squealed in delight upon seeing the glitter of hundreds of azure colored jewels in the chest.

Skyward came over to look and whistled through her teeth. “Those art rare—these art gems known as sea diamonds. Only in these waters can the Zora find these, and they art primarily used in Zora Armor or even mist silk gowns.”

“Ohhh I cannot wait to return to Equestria! I have so many designs I would LOVE to use these for!”

Skyward helped her pack them into her saddlebags, and then she opened the last chest. Inside, sure enough, was a gleaming golden Longshot, tipped with a wicked looking sea diamond hooked spearhead. Her silvery aura surrounded the weapon, and she tested it, firing the new weapon into the wall. Because the tip was crafted from a sea diamond, it chipped the wall in question, but sprang back just as swiftly as it had shot out when she pressed the switch.

“Yyeeeeeess! Jackpot! Now you’ve got what you need to kill that huge crab!” Rainbow Dash yelled, hoofpumping the water and twirling around in glee.

“We shalt still need a battle plan nonetheless, Rainbow Dash. Rarity, if thee sees an opening to shoot, do so. And Rainbow Dash? Try to anger it enough to get it to come out of its shell, but do not allow thyself to be caught in its claws.”

The two mares nodded at her, and they swam back down into the shell chamber—it turned out the barred passage was the way out from the treasure room they had opened up. One by one, they slipped out of the water, careful not to attract the crab’s attention, and took their positions carefully.

Skyward caught Rainbow Dash’s eye, then Rarity’s. The two mares nodded at her, and she unsheathed her shield and sword…

And with a loud CLANG, slammed the hilt of her sword against the front of her shield.

“SCCCCREEEEEEEHHHHHHIIISSSSSS!”

A terrifying screeching hiss was her reply as the angry crab woke up from its slumber and released its hold on the ceiling. It dropped from the ceiling and snapped its massive claws, briefly poking its head out.

As hermit crabs went, aside from the massive size, it seemed normal enough. However, all three mares could see the malevolent glare in the huge beady eyes of said crab. It came out, revealing the upper part of its body---four large spiny legs, two massive pincers; though one was smaller than the other, long, wiggling bug like antennae, two smaller antennule closer to the eyes and snapping, drooling mandibles just below the beady eyes themselves. It reared up, hissing as it angled its claws for a grab…

Only to recoil in pain as one of Rarity’s arrows slammed home into its face, it having come too far out of its shell to be able to retreat quickly. It writhed and screeched, then bunched itself into its shell. The shell then began to spin around and around and around…

“Get clear, all of thee! Rainbow Dash, grab Rarity and fly out of reach!”

Rainbow Dash swooped and grabbed Rarity at Skyward’s command, well out of reach of the spinning shell. Skyward glanced around—unlike the other chamber there weren’t any platforms for her to jump on to. She tensed, watching the rapidly revolving shell, waiting to teleport from its pathway…

It spun right at her, and she vanished, reappearing behind it. It struck the wall, then spun towards her once more. She vanished again, barely avoiding the third spin, since with each strike, the shell moved faster, until it slammed into the wall so hard, it sent the huge shell spinning into the air…

And the massive crab fell out of its shell, dizzy from the constant whirling it had done to get rid of its intruders. It landed hard on its back, weakly waving its claws and legs like some sort of gruesome spider…a spider with a long, fleshy, gleaming red…

“TAIL! SKYWARD HIT THE TAIL WHILE IT’S OUT OF ITS SHELL! HURRY!”

Hearing Rainbow Dash’s frantic shout, Skyward teleported forward twice, bringing her sword to bear—she coiled her back legs, leaped into the air and came down hard, performing a jump attack on the tail. The tail was strangely tough, not tender at all as most hermit crab tails were since they needed those shells for protection…

But the high-pitched whistling and screeching coming from the crab was enough to tell her that yes, this was its true weak spot. The crab began thrashing madly, and its tail suddenly came to life, swinging back and forth…

It smacked Skyward and sent her flying, tumbling head over hindquarters into the sand. She cursed, trying to regain her footing as the crab dragged itself to its shell, disappeared inside…

The shell wiggled before the crab popped out again and snapped its claws menacingly. Seeing Skyward trying to get up, it moved towards her, reaching out with one claw to grab her…

“Oh no ya don’t, ugly!”

“Get away from our friend, you vile creature!”

Rainbow Dash dove downward, startling the crab, swiping at its eyes with her wing blades and Rarity snatched up small pieces of rock that had fallen off the wall where the crab had struck it, pitching them at it. This bought Skyward enough time to regain her footing and she brought out the Longshot, watching the crab carefully.

Rainbow Dash taunted the crab, just staying out of reach. Though it was bleeding greenish ichor from Rarity’s initial shot, the crab was far from defeated and it was starting to get angry. It reared up, trying to catch the rainbow-maned mare, claws reaching out…

This time, Skyward aimed and fired. The barbed point of the Longshot shot out like the stinger of a scorpion, flying straight and true right at the crab’s face. The point slammed home, driving Rarity’s first arrow deeper, and it held.

“REEEEEEEEEE! RRREEEEEEEEEEEEE! HISSSSSS!”

The crab howled in agony, thrashing and screaming, claws snapping madly as it tried to dislodge the Longshot’s barbed spearhead, but to no avail—Skyward had hooked it, and she wasn’t intent on letting go. Rarity had an arrow nocked and waiting to fly, cantering back on her hooves to make sure of a shot without hitting Rainbow Dash or Skyward. Little by little, digging her hooves in, Skyward pulled on the Longshot, giving a little when the chain went taut from the crab resisting, and pulling when she felt it go slack. Fishing with Full Sail had paid off, it seemed…

With a war shout, she yanked hard, and the crab was halfway pulled out of its shell, the Longshot’s point having done its work as it came free and coiled itself back up. Furious, Skyward lunged forward and slashed hard….

“SCCCCCCCRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! SHHHRRREEEEEE!”

The slash had done more damage to the crab—she’d severed it’s left eyestalk clean off. Unfortunately, this also meant the crab was seriously enraged---and it showed it…not just in its mad thrashing….

But the fact the entire crab had now turned a searing shade of red that could rival fresh blood. It ducked back into its shell and began to spin again…but this time, the spinning was generating a strong wind current inside of the room! Rainbow Dash was forced to adjust her position, flying with the current and trying to find a safe pocket to hover in.

“Whoa whoa whoa whoa! This thing’s putting up a strong breeze!”

“How can we kill it now? It’s completely out of control, Skyward!”

“I know not how! Slashing its eye off clearly made it go mad with rage—LOOK OUT!”

The shell spun towards them, slamming into the wall with such force that the room shook and chunks of rock fell off of the walls. Rainbow Dash grabbed Rarity again, Skyward forced to teleport around the room to avoid the shell.

This time the crab was onto their game and it wasn’t about to give in easily. However, its mad rampage around the room had knocked a lot of rocks loose—and some of them were huge. The splinters of stone were also flying at the three mares and cutting into their hides, spanging off of Skyward’s armor. This also allowed however for the three mares to find a ledge to huddle on, watching the angry crab spin and whirl below.

“It’s not stopping!”

“Goddesses damn it to blazes! There must be something we can do to crush our adversary even whilst it is enraged!”

“Crush our adversary…?”

The white coated unicorn mare glanced at the crab, then glanced up at the ceiling. Seeing a huge stalactite wobbling on the ceiling, her eyes narrowed at it.

“That’s it! Skyward, we must pin the crab in place while it’s still spinning! Rainbow Dash, see that huge chunk of rock up there?”

The rainbow-maned mare looked to where her friend was pointing—and spotted the huge spiked chunk of stone wobbling slightly on the ceiling. The impacts from the shell were weakening the base, but it wasn’t enough to make it fall.

“Ohhhhh….I get it….Let’s do it!”

“This shalt not be an easy task…ready?”

Rarity nodded her head as she lit her horn…and Skyward did the same.

The two unicorns ‘grabbed’ the shell in their respective magics—sweat broke out instantly on their foreheads as they struggled to hold the wildly spinning shell in place. Rainbow Dash soared upward and began kicking and pushing at the already weakened rock. She pulled out the silversteel wing-blades and began hitting the base with them—she had a new pair, she didn’t need these!

The base of the jagged stalactite weakened, it came free with a loud KK-KRACK and plummeted straight down…

Right on top of the spinning shell, which the two unicorns had managed to turn upside down, sweat pouring off their muzzles and necks as they struggled to keep their grip on the chaotically whirling shell and its occupant...

A sickening CRUNCH, and the crab was no more—merely a pile of glittering shell fragments, multicolored mush and green ichor spattering the rock that had sealed its doom. The smell that emanated from the innards was anything but pleasant.

“Ewww….”

Rainbow Dash recoiled, turning green on the spot and Skyward coughed, covering her muzzle with one armored hoof at the grotesque mess…and the vile stench rising from the fresh corpse of the crushed crab. “Nayru’s shining teats…the smell…tis worse than rotting potatoes on a summer day!”

The two mares turned their heads away—Rarity was already throwing up close by, heaving and retching, Skyward trotting over to support the fashionista’s mane out of the way, conjuring a globe of fresh water for her so the white unicorn mare could rinse out her mouth.

“For-forgive me, Skyward…it’s just…the smell…”

“Nay, no shame, Rarity. T’would have happened sooner or later…one did the same thing, after one’s first kill,” Skyward comforted, nodding at the twitching corpse of the crab. “Thou should hath seen Golden Marble after his first kill…trust one, he wast worse off than thou ever were…”

“Hey! Check this out you guys!”

The two unicorn mares looked over—Rainbow Dash came fluttering back over, triumphantly holding something in her hoof. It was a large, ornate golden key, and Skyward nodded grimly at it.

“Boss room key?”

“Indeed it is. Rarity, dost thou need a moment to recover?”

“Yes…but can we please get away from…”

The three mares left the room quickly—the original passage from the pool was blocked by a chunk of rock, but the crab’s wild rampage had opened another passage for them. They entered it carefully—this passage wasn’t lit, and they risked running into an enemy or tripping over sharp coral, rocks, or even traps. The rock soon gave way to sky blue tiles, and opened up into…

“I CALLED IT! I SOOOO CALLED IT! I KNEW THIS DOOR LED SOMEWHERE!”

Skyward had to laugh—clearly Rainbow Dash had the blood of a true adventurer in her veins. The passage they had gone through was the door they had seen earlier when they had surfaced from the first pool that had the Bio Deku Baba hiding under the platforms!

The boss door was in front of them, awaiting their approach, but the three mares stopped to take a breather. Skyward had restocked on Blue Potions while she had been in Zora’s Domain, and she offered them to her companions. The taste wasn’t exactly pleasant, given the faces her friends made, but the cuts from the stone chips disappeared, and stamina and magic were restored. They also nibbled at the trail rations Fluttershy had made for Skyward during Hearth’s Warming—they had kept for a good while, and to the three hungry mares, they made for a small feast.

Skyward inspected her sword, sharpened the edges, and looked at Rainbow Dash’s new wing blades, but they didn’t need sharpening. Rarity wasn’t running low on arrows, thankfully, either. They crossed the platforms, advanced to the door…

Skyward inserted the key into the ornate golden lock and turned it. The lock spun round before the mechanism inside unlocked, and the chains faded away while the lock itself flashed and vanished in a burst of eldritch light. The doors ground open---

Revealing a large, lavishly decorated room with a large hole in the middle. The room itself seemed to be made of one huge pearl itself, given how the walls shimmered and glowed. Sea diamonds, sapphires, mother of pearl and silver were inlaid in the walls, in the shapes of cresting waves, spray, the sun and moon shining in the ‘skies’, showing the hemispheres of day and night—but it was clear the chamber had seen better days given the layer of dust and the faintly glowing shell shaped luminous stone lamps.

The well opening in the center, lined by blue slate and black pearl inlay, led into darkness. Skyward pricked her ears, leaning down and twitching them—she could just faintly hear water below her.

“You hear anything?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Skyward drew back and turned to face her friends. “Only water…but the well shaft is deep—too deep. Last chance if thou wish to remain behind. What lurks down there…”

Skyward trailed off meaningfully, warning her Equestrian friends that whatever lurked down there in the dark waters was undoubtedly deadly. But the stern look from Rarity and the snort from Rainbow Dash told her volumes, and she raised her sword in a salute.

“Goddesses be with us all. To the depths, then.”

Skyward stepped forward…she eyed the darkness before she took a deep breath…

And jumped into the mouth of the well, Rainbow Dash and Rarity behind her.

The fall initially seemed long—but the second she hit water, she yelled as the transformation took her—it was COLD. Not icy, but still very chilly, and she shivered as she lit her horn, descending further into the murky water surrounding her.

The squeals and cries from her two friends as they hit the water and transformed as well told her as much—because of her armor, she’d sank some, and was able to light her horn to see. The well shaft opened into a massive underwater cavern—but even with the light from the two unicorns’ horns it as difficult to see. The three mares descended, each one glancing about as best they could…

For all its vast, gloomy, spooky glory, the cavern of murky water had no other aquatic life in it. No Desbreko, no Bomb Fish, no Bari, no Skullfish…

“This is weird…there’s nothing in here?” Rainbow Dash mumbled, her wing fins bristling outward in a show of nervousness.

“Oh there is something here…we just haven’t seen it yet,” Rarity muttered.

“Let us illuminate things further…keep thine guard up,” Skyward growled, eyes flicking around as she expanded her own light globe, Rarity following suit. The deeper they went, they could see eight thin pillars of black stone rising from the depths below. Further down still, they were able to see something pale below them…

“I think…it’s sand?”

“Looks like it…prepare thyselves…”

The three mares had finally reached the bottom of the huge underwater cavern…and they could somewhat see around them. Skyward pushed her light globe outwards, expanding it so it illuminated the right half of the grotto, and Rarity mimicked her bluesteel counterpart, only pushing hers to the left.

With the cavern now lit, they could see better around them. There was some seaweed down here growing out of the sandy bottom, but it was sparse at best. They looked left…right…

Skyward spotted something moving out of the corner of her eye and she turned towards it. It looked like a whisker—no… a tentacle, maybe?

(That hath better not be a squid or an oversized Octorok,) she thought darkly as she approached it.

The tentacle—for that’s what it really was, was translucent, and there was something moving from side to side…

The bluesteel unicorn mare forced down a surge of bile when she saw what it was—it was an eyeball.

AN EYEBALL.

The eyeball stopped upon spotting her and the other three mares—Skyward faintly heard Rarity’s squeal of disgust, and the eyeball swiftly descended back down the long, clearish fleshy tube…

“Oh buck,” Rainbow Dash muttered as the sandy ground below them began to shake and shift.

More clear feeler like appendages erupted out of the ground, followed by the gargantuan eel-like creature that reared out of its hollow, opening its mouth and hissing menacingly, snapping its massive jaws together. Skyward saw that this eel was not a deep python, like the ones far, far out in the depths of the Great Sea. No, this one was vastly different, and it showed in its greenish blue scales, tipped with razored red fins and crimson spikes sprouting from its back. From where she was, the Haylian mare could tell this was a true monstrosity—it looked like half eel, half anglerfish. It didn’t seem too inclined to come out of it’s hollow, however, it’s feelers…tentacles, WHATEVER THE HAY THEY WERE…

They were drifting around in search of prey—and THEY were its next meal.

“Stay clear of the feelers, all of thou! Find that eye and destroy it!”

“How are we gonna do that?! Look, the feelers are—WHOA---looking for us!”

“One shalt use the Longshot to pull it free if one sees it! If any of thou hast an opportunity do not waste it, Rainbow!”

The three mares split up, Rainbow Dash slashing at a feeler that got too close to her. The feeler twitched in pain and moved away, not liking the vicious sting it had received from one of its potential meals.

“There it is!”

Skyward spotted the eye, alerted by the sharp eyed pegasus mare’s shout. She took aim with the Longshot…

The spring loaded chain shot out, catching the eyeball and pulling it free of the clear membrane, bringing it right to her…

Viciously she drove her sword forward, stabbing it deep into the fleshy ocular sphere. It bounce and twisted in pain before it managed to roll away, being scooped up by one of the feelers. The feeler encased it, drawing it away from the mares seeking to kill it.

The feelers lashed out, spreading out widely, as the maw of the angler eel convulsed a few times…

“Look out! Bomb Fish!”

Sure enough, the angler eel had released several Bomb Fish from its maw. Rarity took aim and fired—two of the Bomb Fish went off close to the feelers and the maw, making the angler eel yowl in surprise and slight pain because of the concussive shocks in the water.

Rainbow Dash got a few of the Bomb Fish to chase her, bringing them to the thin black stone pillars in the room. The low booms from the explosions echoed through the water, but the pillars themselves were undamaged. However, it was enough to make the feelers come towards the shockwaves emitted by the explosions themselves...

And one of them had the eyeball floating in it! The Haylian mare darted forward, using her sword to stab at it, catching it on the point and yanking it out of the membrane, dragging it down to the cavern floor. But before she could stab it proper, the eyeball twitched away as soon as the spearhead released it.

“Goddesses damn it!”

Skyward swam after it, intent on stabbing the stray eyeball, but something whizzed past her and slammed into the eye itself. Rarity’s aim had proven true once again. The eye convulsed, bouncing madly around before it rolled back to one of the feelers, which scooped it up and merged with it. Skyward nodded at Rarity, who waved at her with one hoof—then the white unicorn mare’s eyes went to terrified pinpricks.

“No! Rainbow Dash!”

“Help! I need some help over here, please!”

Skyward spun around and saw that the polychromatic pegasus mare had been snared by one of the clear feelers. She swiftly swam forward and lit her horn—casting a Crescent Scythe spell, she freed a struggling Rainbow Dash from the feeler’s confines. The feeler was in pieces, floating away, and a low frequency roar was heard from the monster itself.

“Art thou all right?”

“Y-yeah…just…just give me a second…”

Rarity’s panicked voice cut into the conversation. “A second we may not have! Look!”

The three mares turned to see that Skyward’s spell strike had not only done damage to the angler eel…

But it had made it angry enough to come out of hiding proper!

The huge angler eel rose out of its hollow in the sand, its massive maw opening wide in another low roar. Bubbles and blood from the severed tentacles filled the water, almost making it impossible to see, but the bubbles rose upward, clearing their vision. The angler-eel was swimming around its confines, clearly looking for them now, and it snapped its jaws from time to time, bubbles and Bomb Fish escaping its mouth with every hiss.

The three mares kept pace with the evil creature, staying behind it to ensure it couldn’t find them.

“Where’s the eye? That’s it’s weak point!” Rainbow Dash muttered, ducking a piece of twitching feeler that floated past her.

“There, there! It’s on its back, nearest the head, see it!” Rarity shouted, pointing with one white finned forehoof at the eel’s head.

Skyward cursed and swam forward, bringing out the Longshot. She knew the angler eel was enraged and they had to bring down the creature quickly; prolonging the fight was only going to make it worse. Rarity and Rainbow Dash followed close behind, chasing off Bomb Fish that the angler eel was releasing. Skyward powered through the water, holding the Longshot in her aura…

She aimed…fired…

The sharp point slammed home into the eyeball and dragged her down to her target. Raising her sword, she brutally stabbed it downward, again and again, causing the angler-eel to buck and twist under her, keening in agony. It managed to shake her off, and it spun around, opening its mouth wide to snap her up…

“You will not be consuming anypony, you ugly thing!” Rarity shouted as she took aim—and fired three more arrows into its gaping maw. The angler-eel recoiled, hissing in pain as something sharp lodged deep in its mouth…and then screeched when Rainbow Dash shot past it, severing more of its feelers from its body.

Taking advantage of the agonized state it was in, Skyward powered her way above the eel. Spotting the eyeball again, she aimed the Longshot, fired, and was pulled down to it. Raising her sword with a Haylian war cry, she rammed it hilt deep, putting all of her fury behind the strike.

The eel let out an unholy screech and began flailing about madly. Skyward released the eel, pulling her sword free at the last second, being shoved backwards further by the strong currents the angler-eel was making with its tail and fins as it swam aimlessly around its stone cage. The three mares watched as the vile creature wildly swam around, unable to see anything and in an immense amount of pain…before it slammed headfirst into one of the sides of the cistern itself. It jerked in slow motion…then slowly floated to the bottom of the cistern—dead and seeping dark blood into the water.

“We did it. I can’t believe it, we did it!” Rarity shouted, performing a twist in the water.

“Yeah! We totally kicked its flank! How’s that for teamwork!”

“Mine allies, watch out! The monster…!”

The three mares quickly swam backwards, now seeing what Skyward had seen twice over. Darkness slowly covered the entire angler-eel from snout to tail, pulsed twice, then exploded. The explosion sent all three mares tumbling back in the water and sand to be tossed upwards from the blast itself. They took refuge behind one of the pillars as the explosion faded away, clinging to one another and the pillar itself. Peering around the pillar, Skyward pointed at the beautiful mother of pearl and sea diamond inlaid door that was now revealed because of the Angler-Eel’s explosive demise, and they all swam towards it. The door slid smoothly open at their approach, showing a very well-lit passageway of pearly white stone and azure blue tiles. Following it led to a vast chamber, done in various shades of blue tile, pearls and sapphire inlay.

This chamber was similar to the other two Skyward had seen before that had held Goddess Stones. However, the passage here led from the cistern proper to above the water, with a clear pool of pure azure water surrounding the pathway before them. The pathway was crafted from pearly white marble, a golden filigree fence rising from the sides. Delicate sapphire drops hung at intervals from the tines of the fence, Rarity cooing over the craftsmanship, and Rainbow Dash flying overhead to inspect the walls of the cavern—each wall was one huge slab of luminous stone, and glowed accordingly.

Directly in front of the pathway was a large sapphire dais…and floating above it…

Was a gleaming golden relic, set with brilliant blue sapphires. Skyward carefully took it in her aura and regarded it. This Goddess Stone resembled the Zora’s Sapphire quite a bit. With the three crescent moon symbols facing outward, three beautifully cut sapphires placed within the cup of each crescent moon…

As expected, Rarity immediately started gushing over the Stone. “Ohhh…it’s simply lovely! What is this beautiful relic, Skyward?”

Rainbow Dash eyed the relic Skyward was ‘holding’ in her silvery aura. “Is that…is that what I think it is?”

Skyward shook her head. “Nay, this is not the Zora’s Sapphire. This…”

“Skyward. We are not alone here.”

Alerted by Rarity’s tone of voice, the Haylian mare looked up…and only laughed, much to her friends’ surprise upon seeing who was there, standing just behind her on the dais itself. Sheik waved a hoof at her as he descended the dais towards her.

“Thou triumph once again, Heroine of Time. Thou hast claimed Nayru’s Essence, and in doing so, the curse hath been lifted from Sapphirine Bay, Zora’s Domain, and the Great Sea itself. Yet again, thou do thine ancestor proud.”

“This time, one is not alone, Sheik. This time, mine friends from Equestria hath aided one in slaying the evil here in the Ocean Gate Fortress.”

Skyward floated Nayru’s Essence forward, the glittering sapphires glinting in the light as Sheik’s own aura took hold of it, tucking it away somewhere in his tunic. The blond maned stallion turned to regard her; his blood red eyes gentle as he nodded his head at her. When he spoke, he spoke ancient Haylian, and it was directed at Skyward.

(One didst see Ruyan’s attempt on thee, Skyward.)

The bluesteel mare backed her ears, anger, pain and shame reflecting in her eyes, but the Sheikah stallion gave her a reassuring look, resting a wrapped forehoof on her armored shoulder in a comforting gesture. (Ye need not fear, and thou bear no shame. The Princess hast informed his sire of his son’s heinous act, and we Sheikah shalt see to it he is…dealt with. What he did is unforgivable—thou made it clear thou didst not want him, and yet he tried to force himself on thee. Thou even told his sire as such. He shalt pay for his crime.)

Skyward nodded, before she wet her lips and spoke again, this time normally. “Is this it, then? All the Goddess Stones? To what end do they serve, Sheik? Art mine trials over?”

The crimson eyed stallion slowly shook his head, regret clear in his crimson gaze.

“One wishes couldst say otherwise, but nay. Thou trials art not done yet, Skyward. The Goddess Stones art not just sources of immense power. They art in truth keys, and together, they shalt unlock the door to thine true destiny. When next another portal opens…all shalt be made clear to thee when thou arrive. One knowest one seeketh answers, yet, one promises thou this…when next thou return here, thou shalt be given the answers thou seek so sorely.”

The Sheikah stallion then turned and looked at both Rainbow Dash and Rarity. He performed a sweeping bow to them both. “One begs thine pardon, lady mares. One is honored to meet thou both. Might one know thy names?”

The cyan pegasus mare performed a backflip in midair, waving at him. “I’m Rainbow Dash!”

Rarity smiled, inclining her head. “And I am Rarity. And you must be Sheik, the valiant Sheikah pony we have heard so much about?”

Sheik’s crimson eyes narrowed, but it was clear he was smiling. He turned to Skyward and nudged her shoulder. “Valiant, hm?”

Skyward grinned at him and nudged him back. “One is not wrong, thou knowest this. Thy art a courageous and good pony, Sheik. Mine friends know this as well from the tales one hast told them about thee and thine clan.”

“Thou art truly blessed, Skyward. Truer allies never found, or ones so beautiful, as well.”

Rainbow Dash coughed, looking away as pink tinged her cheeks, and Rarity batted her eyes, giving him a playful look. Skyward snickered at them, but her laughter was cut short by a splash outside of the Goddess Stone chamber, followed by a shout from an awfully familiar voice that sent a cold chill down Skyward’s spine and caused her sword to instantly clear its sheath.

“SKYWARD! THOU SHALT NOT ESCAPE ME THIS TIME, MINE QUEEN!”

Sheik immediately got in front of them, blood red eyes going to angry slits. “Close ranks to me! One shalt get the lot of thee out of here,” he commanded.

The three mares huddled close to the Sheikah stallion, who raised one hoof…

With a loud CRACK and a brilliant flash—they were gone from the inner chamber…

And reappeared within the very cavern they had started their journey from, the portal swirling behind them.

Sheik looked over his shoulder and nudged the three mares forward. “Go, swiftly now. We shalt keep Ruyan and his cronies busy.”

“Goodness! That was Prince Ruyan?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Wow, rude much? What the hay is his problem?”

Sheik’s crimson eyes darkened with an anger that made the cyan mare’s feathers stand on end and Rarity shrink back. “His ‘problem’ as thou puts it, milady Rainbow Dash, is one that could potentially endanger the Heroine of Time. All of you, hie thyselves from here now!”

“But what about you? We’re not going to just leave ya here to deal with the crazy yourself, Sheik,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Skyward shook her head in amusement, stepping forward before the Sheikah stallion decided to scold her cyan pegasus friend. “Sheik, before thou is the embodiment of Loyalty and of Generosity. That aside, they, as well as I, see thou and the other Sheikah as friends. Friendship is a powerful force—in Equestria, friendship is the core of harmony in their world. They—we, desire to aid you because none of us wish to abandon a friend.”

Sheik looked thoughtful, before the dark red of his anger faded to a warm crimson gleam. “So one sees. One is honored to call thou all friends as well. But, fear not for me, Lady Rarity, Lady Rainbow Dash. One hast many tricks up one’s sleeve. Go without fear. We shalt meet again.”

Skyward moved towards the portal and went through it—Rarity followed, then Rainbow Dash. The cyan pegasus mare looked back at Sheik, winked at him with a cheeky grin, and then vanished into the portal proper.

The crimson eyed stallion chuckled to himself, smiling under his mask and wrappings as he watched the portal's color turn a weaker shade of violet. He began humming the same song, the Sonata of Sealing, making the portal fade away completely. Nodding to himself, his eyes turned to hard rubies once more, as he turned to deal with the larger problem at hoof, vanishing in a cloud of white smoke to reappear in the throne room of Zora's Domain.

A Night To Remember

The three mares exited the portal proper, Skyward turning around to face it. She pulled out the Harp of Ages, and lighting her horn, struck the chords to the Sonata of Sealing. The portal wavered, then began to shrink, until it was reduced to nothing. The Haylian mare replaced the harp, shaking her mane out, then turned to Rainbow Dash and Rarity, who had been watching her close the portal.

“One must commend thou both. Both of thou, blooded warriors of Hayrule one is proud to call thee. Both of thou did exceptionally well.”

Rarity beamed, and Rainbow Dash extended her hoof for a hoof-bump, which Skyward returned, all three mares laughing.

“Wow! I can’t believe we did it! We helped save Zora’s Domain! And we got some cool weapons out of it too!”

“Let us hide these in my saddlebag. Oh! Speaking of which…we need to get back to the ranch-house!”

“Holy buck…she’s right! Look, it’s almost sunset!”

Skyward blinked, glancing around—sure enough, the sun was setting overhead. The landscape was painted in shades of ocher, brown, vermilion, and light gold as the celestial orb was slowly being lowered by Celestia in Canterlot. The desert scrub seemed to change shades of brown, red and orange as the sun slowly set in the west, the sky taking on the hues of twilight itself—pink, purple, dark navy blue, heralding the onset of night and Luna’s time to rule. The three mares took in the magnificent sight, watching as the sun was slowly sinking in the west. The Haylian unicorn mare removed her helm, gazing out at the beautiful sunset, taking a deep breath, and shaking her mane out.

Rarity came up beside her bluesteel coated friend. “Time passes so differently between realms…”

“Aye, it does. In Hayrule, two to three days hath passed, and yet, here in Equestria, only most of a day hath gone by. Interesting indeed.”

“Don’t tell Twi about this. I know for a fact she’d want to study this.”

Skyward snorted and guffawed out loud, slapping an armored forehoof against the rock beneath her hooves. “Aye, that she wouldst, Rainbow Dash! And that she wouldst not stop for anything until she found both rhyme and reason for it!”

All three mares laughed heartily, before Rarity shook her mane. “Well! Now that’s out of our systems, let us go back to the ranch-house, hmm?”

“But Rarity, what are we gonna tell them?”

The fashionista flipped her mane with a grin. “Why, it’s simple, Rainbow Dash. You just leave the talking to me. We searched for Skyward and you were the one who found her all the way up here in that small cavern here…”

The ivory unicorn lit her horn and fired off a blast of pale blue magic, creating a medium sized cave in which a pony could easily hide in.

“And Skyward, you were fighting dust devil wolves all day, but you are still likely quite upset about what Braeburn said to you…”

Skyward’s ears slicked backward and annoyance stirred to life anew within her. Granted it wasn’t the inferno of fury that had burned so high, but still. Due to their adventures, she had clean forgotten all about Braeburn and his stinging remark. “Now that thou mentions it…”

“Trust me, darlings. Leave the talking to me. Skyward dear, do you have anything to add?”

“Nay, one shalt not speak to Braeburn. One is…not as angry as before…still. The foal hath no right to talk to his own kith and kin in such a manner.”

The bluesteel mare huffed, shaking her head, and Rainbow Dash shook her head crossly. “Yeah, he reeeeeally crossed the line with what he said to ya. And you were just sticking up for a friend.”

Rarity shook her mane. “Oh, he is a handsome stallion, don’t doubt, but, yes. He should learn to watch his tongue.”

The trek back to the ranch-house did not take a lot of time—they would’ve liked to enjoy the sunset, but night was falling fast, and they didn’t really want to stick around to find out what the nightlife in the desert would be like. The ranch-house came into sight soon, lamplight shining from the windows and smoke curling from the chimney. Skyward spotted Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie milling in the front yard. She also noticed that Trouble Shoes and Braeburn were with them, and her ears folded to the side, lips thinning in displeasure when she spotted the amber maned stallion.

The orange farmpony looked up and beamed, cantering quickly over to the returning trio—but almost got knocked off her hooves by her amber maned and tailed cousin, who ran over to Skyward, his eyes bright with relief and worry.

“Skyward, there ya are! Hoo-wee, we were worried sick about ya…”

But Skyward stalked past Braeburn without a word, clearly not wanting to have anything to do with the light gold coated stallion. Her ears were laid back flat against her helm, and she averted her head, not wanting to make eye contact with him either. Noticing this, the Mane Six surrounded her, clearly relieved to have their friend back, Applejack guiding her back into the house and Fluttershy getting her a cup of cider. Though the amber maned stallion couldn’t truly hear what was being said, a stream of excited and angry chatter streamed from the opened windows.

Heavy hoofbeats behind the downcast Apple stallion warned him of another stallion’s presence. Looking up, the light harlequin green gaze of Trouble Shoes glared down at him.

“Ya owe her an ‘pology, Braeburn. Whut ya said t’ her wuz downright cruel, an’ she wuz jest stickin’ up fer a friend,” Trouble Shoes scolded, and Braeburn’s ears drooped visibly.

“Ah know that, Trouble Shoes, but look at her! She won’ even let me git near her, an’ Ah’m certain if Ah try t’ get close, she’ll blast me!”

“Cain’t say ya don’ deserve it. Ah said it t’ th’ cider ponies an’ Ah’m goin’ t’ say it t’ ya now: ya don’ treat a lady like that! She’s no ‘beef-headed crowbait’ as ya so kindly put it,” the bigger stallion growled, and Braeburn shot up, glaring up at him, his bright pistachio colored eyes blazing with irritation.

“Ya don’t think Ah don’ know that? Ah rightly screwed up an’ Ah’m stallion enough t’ admit it,” he snapped back, and Trouble Shoes snorted.

“Yeah well, Ah ain’t th’ one ya need to say it ta. An’ right now she don’ want ya near ‘er. Never mind she belted ya a good one right ‘cross yer muzzle. Ye’re dang lucky she didn’ bust ya jaw, ‘specially since she’s wearin’ armor.”

Braeburn rubbed his chin with one hoof—his muzzle didn’t hurt as much anymore but he had one hay of a bruise where she’d slapped him. Trouble Shoes moved past him to enter the ranch-house himself, and Braeburn went after him. Inside the ranch-house, the six mares were clustered close to Skyward, Trouble Shoes also standing close to the bluesteel unicorn mare. Skyward’s ears slanted back when Braeburn approached her, removing his hat in her presence. She was still annoyed with him for his unkind words—while it might have been none of her business, she wasn’t going to stand for a friend’s feelings being hurt, and he had ended up insulting her instead.

“Where were ya, Skyward? We’ve been lookin’ all over yonder for ya,” the light gold and amber maned stallion asked her, anxiety in his pistachio colored eyes.

“She’s been chasin’ off dust devil wolves all day is whut she’s been doin’, Braeburn,” Applejack snapped at her cousin as she got in front of Skyward, cutting off her cousin’s approach.

She could read the Haylian unicorn’s mood and Skyward looked worn-out—she wasn’t in the mood to talk to him at all. That and Rarity had pulled her aside earlier while the two stallions were outside and laid out the plan proper.

Trouble Shoes frowned at this and glanced out of the window. “Dust devil wolves? Dang varmints…they’re near impossible t’ git rid of.”

Rarity nodded her head, tossing her mane. “Apparently there were quite a few of them lurking in the vicinity and she got rid of every one of them. Poor dear needed a rest after her battles, so she made a neat little cave at the top of a high ledge…”

“And that’s when I spotted her! The setting sun flashed off her armor, and she was taking a nap! Pretty good place to take a snooze, juuuuust big enough for a pony and it’s nice and cool in there!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Though after fighting those howling pains in the flank one needs a bath sorely,” Skyward muttered as she got up, wincing a little. The fight with the Angler-Eel had been more exhausting than she had thought, and she was a little sore. Swimming really took it out of a pony, fin, or no fin. Noticing this, Trouble Shoes came forward, looking concerned.

“Ya look plumb tuckered out, Sky. Ya look lahke ya could use a good rest.”

The Haylian mare removed her helm, giving him a tired smile and nodding her head. “Mmm…one shalt take thine advice, Trouble Shoes…sleep sounds wonderful right now…”

However, her stomach chose that moment to let out a very loud growling noise, much to her own embarrassment; her cheeks darkening in a blush.

“Pfft, not until you’ve eaten at any rate,” Twilight Sparkle playfully scolded and Skyward rolled her eyes in good-natured amusement at the purple unicorn mare.

“Aye, Mother,” she joked, and the other ponies busted out laughing as they went inside for a long-awaited meal.

Dinner consisted of cornbread, a rich bean, potato and onion stew, hay bacon, slices of cheddar cheese, tomatoes and fresh lettuce, more brown bread, and butter. There was also mashed prickly pears, orange and apple slices and spiced and roasted pumpkin chunks mixed with more wheatgrass and toasted nut salad. To drink, there was fresh milk, prickly pear juice and cider. There was apple cobbler for dessert with freshly made vanilla ice cream.

Thankfully, the meal was an uneventful affair, though Skyward knew the other mares were fit to bursting to ask her what had happened this time, minus Rainbow Dash and Rarity, anyway. That would have to come for another time—Braeburn was still trying to get close to her to deliver an apology, and the Haylian unicorn was not in the mood to have him near her, at least not yet.

After dinner, Skyward helped with the dishes—or would have if Applejack hadn’t pushed her upstairs. Knowing that Braeburn was likely going to try to make his move after they’d eaten, the orange farmpony was trying to fend off a likely shouting match, given how tired and irritable Skyward was.

“Ohhh no, ye’re goin’ upstairs, missy. Ye’re worn out an’ anypony can see it. G’wan with ya, git!”

Chuckling, Skyward turned and went upstairs. Once inside, she put her sword and shield against the wall and flopped onto the bed with a PFFLLUFF-CLACK, given the fact she was still wearing her armor. She sighed as she pulled her helm off and buried her muzzle in the pillow.

It had been one hay of a day.

And things only promised to get better, sarcasm totally intended. The Haylian unicorn mare huffed out a weary sigh as she curled up on the bed. Her mind drifted to recent events, and she had to chuckle quietly to herself, but her smile soon faded when she glanced over her shoulder and noticed faint bruises forming on her hind legs. They could be explained away as battle injuries…but she could just barely make out the shape of hoofprints on her hindquarters and her eyes slitted in anger.

Ruyan.

She scowled darkly, bowing her head and putting her muzzle in her hooves. She hadn’t even seen him coming, and she should’ve figured his plan the second he had mentioned Zora Armor to her. The fact he had put his hooves on her—nay, not just his hooves. He had violated her even if he hadn’t mounted her proper, and she cringed, shivering. Though she would not soon forget the fiery, pleasurable ache betwixt her hind legs when he had licked her sex…

But the point remained that she did not desire him, much less love him. She idly wondered what Sheik had in mind for the foolish Zora prince…then shook her head. Either way, the bucking lustful plothead was the Sheikah clan’s problem now.

She would have to be careful, nonetheless. Ruyan likely did have followers, spies…he might become a liability and need to be ‘dealt with’ if he became a problem. She sighed as she pressed her muzzle into the pillow, slowly succumbing to the bone-weary ache that spread through her body, sleep beckoning her into its peaceful embrace…

A knock sounded on the door, and it woke her from her light doze. Skyward’s ears pricked towards it, a frown forming on her face. If it was Braeburn…well.

She wasn’t helpless. She could bucking well sleep outside if she had to.

“Enter,” she called, and the door edged open, revealing a pair of butter yellow ears, a long, soft cotton candy pink mane, and a pair of wide teal eyes in a gentle looking face.

“Umm…may we come in?”

Skyward smiled, nodding at Fluttershy as she pushed open the door with one hoof, followed by the other members of the Mane 6. Spike had decided to go to sleep earlier, belly stuffed full of food and turquoise sprinkled apple cobbler and ice cream. The six mares made themselves comfortable and the orange farmpony turned to regard her Haylian friend.

“Sooo…”

Skyward pricked her ears at Applejack, then nodded in understanding. She lit her horn and a bubble of silver light covered the entire room.

“Was there another portal?” Twilight asked, her tri colored tail flipping back and forth, and Skyward nodded as she curled back onto the bed she was on.

“Aye, there was. The portal led right to Zora’s Domain this time.”

“Weird though how it didn’t deliver us to the beach where the Ocean Gate Fortress was, though,” the polychromatic pegasus mare muttered, scratching her head with one hoof.

“Oh, I’d say we avoided quite the mess, Rainbow Dash,” the fashionista replied with a ladylike snort, tossing her head. “Or do you remember the—ahem—rather bloody spectacle we saw further down the beach?”

“Wait…you two WENT through the portal with Skyward? Ohhh that had to be sooo scary,” Fluttershy gasped.

Skyward nodded, giving the butter yellow pegasus mare a comforting smile. “Aye, they did; but fear not, they held their own, seasoned warriors both, one can attest to this. As one said, all of thou shalt get thine turn to come with me. There…there wilt be other portals. Mine trials art far from over.”

Seeing her friend’s ears drooping and the weary expression on her muzzle, Applejack flicked her blond tail, coming to rest a comforting hoof on her friend’s withers. “Lemme guess. Ya’ll ran inta Sheik, an’ that’s what he told ya?” the orange coated mare asked as she sat down on her rump.

Skyward nodded. “He said that the next time a portal opens to Hayrule, one wouldst have all the answers one seeks. One is frustrated about not being able to pry more out of him, nonetheless, at least he gave one some part of the puzzle…”

“Oh my, he is quite the handsome stallion to be sure! Those lovely red eyes and that deep voice of his…” Rarity gushed.

Skyward sputtered and tried desperately to hide her guffaws in the pillow, shaking her head: just wait till she told Sheik about this, that he had two Equestrian mares on his tail! Ohhh she was going to enjoy his reaction if she could see it past those wrappings of his…

Rainbow Dash was already laughing loud enough to cover her own laughter, rolling in the air and gesturing at her friend.

“Geez Rarity; ya took one look at him—well, what ya can see of him and ya already wanna jump him?”

Rarity tossed her head. “Oh please, Rainbow Dash—you cannot tell me you were not interested in him,” the ivory unicorn mare shot back. The rainbow maned and tailed cyan mare snorted, but the blush painting her cyan cheeks made the other girls crack up laughing.

“Ooooohhh…somepony liiiiikes somepony,” Pinkie Pie singsonged, and Rainbow Dash snorted. “Ah, buck off—c’mon, you guys can’t tell me you wouldn’t be interested—sure he’s a unicorn but…”

She whistled long and low, and the others snickered at her.

“Girls, Ah’m thinkin’ we need t’ continue this conversation tomorrow,” Applejack suddenly cut in, waving a hoof at them to be quiet.

“Aww, but whyyyy? It was just getting interesting!” Pinkie Pie whined, only to be shushed with a hooftip from Applejack. The orange coated mare pointed at the bed—Skyward, during the other girls’ giggling and carrying on about the mysterious Sheikah stallion, had fallen asleep.

“Poor dear—oh she fought extremely hard today, make no mistake,” Rarity murmured.

“She should get out of that armor first—I mean, it can’t be that comfortable to sleep in,” Twilight Sparkle mused as she glanced at Fluttershy, who was nearest to their friend. The butter yellow pegasus mare drifted closer and lightly nudged her dozing Haylian friend…one royal eye blue opened and blinked sleepily in response.

“Might not wanna sleep in yer armor there, sugarcube,” Applejack chuckled, and Skyward sat up, rubbing her eyes with one hoof, nodding her head tiredly.

“Hey, do you ever sleep in it?”

Skyward yawned and nodded her head. “One hath done so…(yawn) from time to time…nay, ‘tis not as comfortable as thou might think, Rainbow Dash. Mine thanks, Fluttershy…one apologizes if one startled thee…”

Fluttershy shook her head, giving her a hug, which the Haylian unicorn mare returned.

“Speakin’ of apologies…sooner or later Braeburn’s gonna want t’ have his say.”

Skyward backed her ears but huffed out a sigh; she knew the blond maned and tailed mare was right on the mark about that. She couldn’t keep avoiding him forever, especially not when this was his house. “Was…was one in the wrong for standing up for thou, Applejack? One wilt not tolerate how he spoke to thee—aye, kith and kin do fight at times, still. What he said, that looked like it wounded thee deeply.”

Applejack tossed her head. “Are ya kiddin’? Ah’m glad ya stuck up for me, Skyward. Yeah, the last Apple Family Reunion didn’ go as well as Ah’d thought at first. But ye’re right. He didn’t have to be rude t’ ya an’ stickin’ up for friends is second nature for all of us.”

“Let’s discuss this tomorrow—Skyward looks like she’s about to fall asleep on her hooves.” the purple unicorn mare murmured, noticing how Skyward was struggling to keep her eyes open.

“Right. Nighty night, Skyward!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully, waving one hoof as she bounced out the door with her usual exuberance.

Skyward waved one hoof at the other mares as they took themselves off to their beds. She removed her armor, and after putting it aside, she curled up on the bed and fell asleep.

***************************************************************************************************

The sound of the cuckoo clock striking eleven o’ clock was what roused Skyward from her slumber. The bleary eyed bluesteel unicorn licked her lips and looked outside…

Night had fallen proper, it looked like.

She nosed at her armor, sniffing at it—swimming around in the water had cleaned it out fairly well, and her armor was enchanted against rust from encounters in salt or brackish water. But she knew she was in sore need of a bath and she winced at the scent coming off her and her fur and mane felt stiff due to the dried sea salt in her fur, mane and tail. She knew there was a river close by to Braeburn’s ranch-house, and she didn’t want to wake up everypony by running a bath…

Donning her armor, Skyward slipped out of the dark ranch-house and made her way down to the river—she had cast a Silent Whisper spell on herself so her armor wouldn’t click and give her away. The river wasn’t too far off from Braeburn’s house, and she thanked the Goddesses for small favors. She stripped off her armor piece by piece, laying it on the bank, and glanced around, pricking her ears, and listening for any sign of enemies.

Finding none, she removed her sword and shield, and laid them on the bank as well. Shaking herself out, she stepped into the water—finding it cool, but not cold. She had left the Mer-Pony Medallion back at the ranch-house, so she did not become a mer-pony upon contact with the cool liquid. She leaned back against the large rock she was settled on, letting the water run through her fur, mane, and tail. She floated on her back, staring at Luna’s stars high overhead, the half moon shimmering down on her from high above. She swam a bit back upstream since she had been carried down a little bit by the soothing current.

Here, the water was a bit more forceful in flow, and it massaged gently against her teats, her exposed pussy, and she sighed, moving her body so she could better feel the delicious pressure against her tender mareflesh. Before she knew it, she found her right hoof pressing against her pussy, gently rubbing, stroking…

She fetched up against a submerged rock in the water, two blunt ledges beneath the water bumping into her flanks and hindquarters, but it was enough to jolt her mind to the assault Ruyan had inflicted on her.

She sat up ramrod straight, lighting her horn and shot to all fours, aiming her horn at the water, breathing heavily and eyes wide with fear and anger…

And saw nothing there.

Nothing but her own reflection.

She facehooved and forcefully put thoughts of the cruel Zora prince out of her mind, shaking her head and swimming to a flat rock that was half in, half out of the water. Yet the smoldering burn between her legs was undeniable, and it had nothing to do with Ruyan. She closed her eyes, clearing her mind, then she lit her horn and focused on her teats, letting her aura mold perfectly to her teats, and her flesh tingled pleasantly at her aura’s touch. Her left hoof moved slightly, brushing over her sensitive flower, and she drew in a slow breath. She continued to fondle and stroke however and she felt an unfamiliar but pleasurable feeling rising in her body. Her nipples perked up, and when her hooftips glided over them, she bit her lip at the little jolt of pleasure that shot through her.

Her aura continued to massage, stroke, caress her teats, one of her hooftips gliding over her erect nipples, each brush sending a hot jolt of sweetness through her body.

Her body began to heat pleasantly, her breathing slowing, becoming slightly labored as she continued to ‘fondle’ her breasts, her aura gliding, stroking, caressing, her hooftips tickling her nipples, making her whimper softly in rising bliss. The more she squeezed and tickled—she could feel a similar response between her legs whenever she brushed her nipples.

She let her eyes fall half closed, quiet moans coming from her mouth as she allowed herself to pleasure herself and shifted as she arched herself a little.

Unbeknownst to her, she had two watchers.

Two stallions, to be precise.

Both had green eyes, but one stallion was larger than the other.

One’s eyes were a shade different than the other.

Neither stallion knew the other was there, else, if they did, there would be a rather bloody battle over the sleek looking mare in the cool river before them. They were more intent on the magnificent bluesteel beauty bathing in the river—and pleasuring herself in front of them.

Thick cocks hardened, blood engorging the large organ as arousal stole over each stallion, heating blood, deepening breath and causing their balls to swell slightly. They settled back on their haunches, each one taking their cock in one hoof and caressing themselves, watching the indigo and royal blue unicorn mare rock herself against her aura and her hoof, her armor, shield, and sword lying on the riverbank.

She began caressing her soft orbs anew, her aura dancing over her flesh. The stallion that was off to her right watched her avidly, learning what she liked and how she wanted to be touched. He couldn’t stop grinning when he heard her sharp intake of breath when she covered her nipples and areolas with her aura and mimicked a sucking motion, albeit gently. He delighted in her breathy moans and soft sighs, watching her face contort with surprise mingled with ecstasy, eyes fluttering closed, half opening, her head moving from side to side…

She continued to tweak her nipples using her aura—still fondling them from time to time, but she was intent on her pleasure, and the obscured stallions knew from her whimpers, her sighs, her moans and sharp gasps…

She was enjoying herself very much, and from the way her hips were arching whenever she pinched her nipples…

Her breathing deepened further, her scent spiked, and the two unseen observers knew she was getting close. The concealed males licked their lips, smiling as they listened to her moans and whimpers rising…

“…oh…mmm…please…more,” she cried softly, and their blood surged, their large cocks stirring and hardening further at her calling for more. Eyes narrowed, hazed over with lust, tongues slipped out to lick their lips, breathing becoming labored as their pleasure mounted…

“…please…oooh…mmm…oh…”

Her body arched under her ministrations and they heard her cry out as she hit her peak, gasping and panting, moaning wildly, tossing her head from side to side…

Her horn pulsed with silver light before a single beam shot into the sky, her magic reacting to her orgasm. The two hidden stallions watched her face contort, hearing her cries of pleasure, music to their ears as she bucked and twisted under her hoof and aura; both hidden stallions were rock hard, their dicks pulsing, straining as they pleasured themselves, listening to her own cries, and muffling their own…

Both wanted to enter her, seal himself to her, make her cum multiple times and listen to her cry for more…

Silently, nearing their own peaks and fighting their own muffled cries of passion as they climaxed (not at the same time) both concealed males delighting in her blushed face and contented, dazed expression. The stallion who was hidden closest to her picked up not only her scent, but the scent of her marehood’s nectar. It filled his nose: he could smell the delectable, heady sweetness of her flower, the scent heavy in his muzzle, practically begging him to sample her…

His mouth watered, but he swallowed, forcing down the desire to descend between her legs and taste her; she had to make that decision.

He wouldn’t force her.

Not like some other dang fool stallion he knew.

Skyward panted as she slowly descended from her peak, feeling incredibly relaxed. She smiled to herself, eyes half-lidded with contentment as she submerged herself in the cool, clean river water, scrubbing herself down before she walked out of the river, water dripping off her. She shook herself dry, tossing back her mane, drops of water sparkling like thousands of diamonds thrown from a goddess’s hoof…

Or at least that was what the two males saw, anyway.

Once her fur was somewhat dry, she cast her Fashion Flash spell, straightening her mane, tail and fur, and re-donned her armor. ‘Picking’ up her sword and shield, she made her way back to the house, still unaware of the two stallions watching her leave.

Raw unadulterated lust burned in the eyes of the first.

But something else; different yet just as powerful blazed in the eyes of the second.

A 'Spiny' And Sweet Situation

Author's Notes:

In case any of you are wondering what teddy bear cholla is and how painful it is if you get spiked by one, here's a clip from YouTube about what it is, and how to remove those lobes from your person. Getting spiked by a cholla is NO FUN, trust me, so make sure you're prepared if you go out hiking in the desert!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJzTse9Dsaw&t=406s

And yes, certain types of cholla buds are edible--namely staghorn, buckhorn and pencil cholla. Make sure you have someone experienced with you who knows how to harvest these yummy buds.

The rapping of a hoof on the wooden door was what woke Skyward from her slumber. The bluesteel unicorn sat up in bed, shaking her mane out and away from her face—unbraided and unbound, her mane was quite long. She idly wondered if she needed a trim as she looked towards the door, lighting her horn and levitating her brush out of one of her saddlebags.

“Enter,” she called, and the door opened, Apple Bloom sticking her head in.

“Hey there, Skyward! Are ya awake?”

“One is now. Good morn to thee, Apple Bloom,” Skyward replied, smiling sleepily at the red maned and tailed filly.

Apple Bloom giggled as she came in, followed by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The little magenta maned and tailed foal laughed as she hopped up on the bed next to the bluesteel unicorn mare.

“Morning? Skyward, it’s noon already!”

That made Skyward sit up straight, alarm flashing in her royal blue eyes. “Noon? Farore’s emerald mane and tail—Goddesses, why didst anypony wake me up? One is supposed to be helping in the apple orchard…”

“Nah, th’ others wanted t’ let ya sleep since ya were so tired from fightin’ dust devil wolves all day yesterday! Ya wanna come on downstairs an’ eat?”

“Aye—just let one get dressed and then I shalt come downstairs.”

Sweetie Belle settled near Skyward’s forehooves as the Haylian mare brushed out her mane and tail, looking up at her with guileless pale green eyes. “How many dust devil wolves were there?”’

“Twelve all told. Not easy battles, one assures thee, and not all were in the same place. Took some time to find the lot of those howling fiends.”

This wasn’t exactly the truth, but Skyward was in agreement with the others—she did NOT want any of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to come to harm; in Equestria or Hayrule.

“Didja use any magic?” Apple Bloom asked excitedly.

“Mostly magic, aye. Water spells, for the most part. Water seems to be their weakness…they cannot stay together in a dust cloud when soaked. That being said—mind me; do not go looking for a fight thou art not ready for,” the Haylian mare said with a warning look, and the three fillies nodded their heads as one.

Skyward finished brushing her mane and tail, and she braided part of her mane back into the warrior binding she was used to having, then ‘reached’ for her armor…

“Hold on, Skyward!”

“Yeah, you’re not gonna need yer armor today!”

Skyward chuckled as Sweetie Belle lit her horn and painstakingly pulled the Haylian tunic and cloak out of her saddlebags. “Whyever not, little ones?”

“We’re all jest goin’ to be plantin’ apple seedlin’s today!

Skyward cocked her head in confusion. “Now, pray tell why that is?”

“Everypony’s been havin’ issues with their own personal orchards, so they’re holdin’ the rodeo up a few more days t’ fix the damage,” Applejack said with a smile as she walked into the room.

Skyward snorted. “Allow one to guess…that massive boar one chased out of the arena?”

“Seems like it. There’s a posse settin’ out t’ catch it. G’wan downstairs, you three, we’ll be down in a minute.”

Applejack looked around as the three fillies went downstairs and leaned close to her Haylian friend, jerking her head towards the door. “Braeburn’s with the posse, jest so ya know. Ah told ‘im to go cool his head and think real hard about what he should say t’ ya when he gets back. Granny Smith had some choice words an’ a good smack t’ the flank when she heard about what he said to ya.”

Skyward sighed. “One hopes thou shalt forgive me, Applejack…one dost not wish to interact with thine cousin right now…”

“Ain’t nuthin t’ forgive, sugarcube, an’ I can’t blame ya for wantin’ t’ leave him be for a bit. Brae was th’ one bein’ rude, an’ Trouble Shoes said it best…’Ya don’ treat a lady like that!’ “

The orange colored mare mimicked the stallion’s deep voice and drawl as best she could, then smirked broadly at the flush on the Haylian mare’s muzzle and nudged her. “Oooohhh…looks like somepony’s interested…”

“Wha—what? Applejack! Come now, one is not…what…”

The blond maned mare’s grin only broadened at her friend’s sputtered remarks. “Mm-hmm. An’ personally?”

Applejack looked around and winked at her friend, long and slow. “He’s got it where it counts if that’s what yer lookin’ for…”

Skyward’s cheeks turned apple red and she chased her friend downstairs, both mares laughing and the Haylian unicorn shouting disclaimers.

“Art thou mad, Applejack? Why wouldst he be interested in me, one is nothing special!”

“Ah didn’ hear a denial,” Applejack singsonged, and ducked the small pillow Skyward had ‘grabbed’ hold of and pitched at her.

“Wait till one catches thou, sister dear…”

“Awright ya two, sit yer flanks down an’ eat before it gets cold,” Granny Smith scolded, but she was smiling at the two mares.

“Here, Matriarch, let one take that for thee,” Skyward coaxed, taking the laden tray from the older mare and putting it on the table, before shooing her to a seat and helping Applejack lay out the victuals for lunch.

There was corn, red, yellow, green bell pepper and jalapeno salad, fresh sliced apples and prickly pears, brown bread, honey and butter, chilled fried cactus slices, fresh cheddar cheese, milk and cider to drink (of course) and Skyward’s pumpkin soup—she had made quite a bit of it from the other day, and everypony seemed to love the stuff despite they were ‘apple-oriented’.

Skyward helped the three fillies with their plates, filled one for Granny Smith, then filled her own, sitting outside to eat. It promised to be a warm day, but there was a nice cool breeze coming off the river, so it was all right. She put together a cheese and fried cactus sandwich and a bowl of soup, with wheatgrass salad and a bowl of apple and prickly pear.

She wasn’t the only one who was outside—Trouble Shoes was outside, as was Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle.

Since she was busy eating, she didn’t notice Trouble Shoes glance up from his own food to look at her. The stallion smiled in her direction, the dopey grin on his face not going unnoticed by the two other mares or the three fillies, and they all exchanged excited smiles.

After lunch, she helped to clean up, then stretched herself out and grabbed her sword and shield, following the three fillies and Applejack out to the apple orchard. Stumps were being dug up, and new trees were being planted, soil being pushed into the massive holes left by the stumps of the broken apple trees. Skyward cracked her neck, stretched her legs out, and strode forward, ready to lend a hoof.

Throughout the rest of the day the Mane 6, plus Spike, the CMC and Skyward chattered, dug up stumps, chopped and cut the fallen and broken apple trees for firewood, and planted new, strong apple saplings and even full grown trees that would definitely bear fruit come harvest time. Most of the trees and seedlings had come from Sweet Apple Acres proper. Trouble Shoes was also helping, volunteering to haul the cut wood to the woodshed and to other ponies' homes, and the stumps were piled elsewhere to be used in a bonfire later on that week.

Dirt flew in all directions as Skyward levitated a shovel and used it to remove dirt around a large stump. Ropes were wrapped atop the base, and Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle had the ropes in question, ready to pull.

The bluesteel unicorn mare stuck the shovel in the ground and lit her horn, enveloping the stump in her aura. She tried to push and wriggle the stump proper, helping to weaken the hold it had on the ground. The stump crashed onto its side with a WHUD, dirt clods falling off the roots to land on the earth below their hooves.

The orange farmpony shook her blond mane and smiled broadly at her friends. “Whooo-eee! Biggest one yet, girls! Let’s take a breather before we git t’ the next one.”

Skyward stuck her head around the stump to look at the blond maned and tailed mare. “Art thou sure, Applejack?”

Applejack nodded, and sat back under a nearby apple tree, fanning herself with her hat. The other mares joined their friend, resting in the shade.

Twilight Sparkle looked around before she moved closer to Skyward. “So…what happened with the portal?”

Skyward glanced around casually to make sure that there weren’t any eavesdroppers close by. While they were the only ponies in this part of the orchard, that didn’t mean other ponies might not decide to come by or cut through somepony’s property. Seeing nopony, she turned to the others and began telling them about how they had ended up in Zora’s Domain—or actually near Zora’s River. She described Zora’s Domain to them, even creating a small image of the Domain that they crowded round to show them what it looked like. She went on to tell them of how the Zora were being besieged by the Gerudo forces, and how they needed to find something to allow them to breathe underwater. It was hard for her to mention the Zora Prince, Ruyan; Applejack eyed her ‘sister’, knowing something was bothering the bluesteel unicorn mare whenever the prince’s name came up.

“And so, King Zora told us where to find mine ancestor’s legacy: the Mer-Pony Medallion. Mine five time great-grandsire Skyward Sword hath this.”

Skyward conjured an image of the medallion for her friends. “Using this, a pony, it matter not what race, mayeth become a mer-pony. The enchantment does not need to be recast if somepony has the medallion on them when they enter the water anew.”

Pinkie Pie examined the image from all angles, gazing at the beautiful inlaid relief of the mer-pony in the middle of the amulet. “Ooooh…it looks so shiny! So sparkly! It must’ve been sooo much FUN being able to breathe underwater and have a shiny new tail and stuff!”

Skyward grinned as she conjured images of herself, Rainbow Dash and Rarity all in mer-pony form, swimming about and around them. “Indeed it was—‘tis a shame we did not have more time to explore Sapphirine Bay, given the circumstances.”

The purple unicorn mare’s eyes brightened. “Do you have it with you?”

“Aye, Sheik didst not take it from one as he did the Megaton Hammer. One is minded to gift the Hammer back to the Gorons when this is all said and done—t’was made for a hero of their race after all…”

An ear-piercing scream split the air, bringing all four mares to their hooves—or Fluttershy to hover in midair, and Skyward’s sword was out and ready in seconds.

Twilight Sparkle half-reared in alarm. “That’s Sweetie Belle!”

Pinkie GASPED, eyes widening. “She sounds like she’s in biiiiiiig TROUBLE!”

“Well let’s not sit on our here flanks—let’s GO!” Applejack shouted. The four mares ran towards the source of the screams, dodging around apple trees, jumping small scrub brush…

“Fluttershy! I beseech thee, go find Rarity!”

The butter yellow pegasus mare nodded at Skyward and soared off to find their fashionista friend. The three mares ran around a big apple tree laden with ripening fruit, only to see a very large, very fuzzy looking cactus in front of them, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in tears and trying to get close to it without getting pricked by the spines. The plant looked to be snuggly and fuzzy, however…

“Din’s flaming flank!”

Skyward ran over to a crying Sweetie Belle, her horn lighting up, and she carefully ‘pulled’ the weeping filly out from the fuzzy looking cactus. “Hold still, Sweetie Belle…let one get thou out of this thing…”

Sweetie Belle was in far too much pain to say anything—the poor little purple and pink swirled maned and tailed unicorn filly had quite a few of the nasty burrs on her left side, her mane, her back and left flank. By the graces of the Diarchy, or the three Goddesses Skyward worshipped, she had none on her neck or muzzle.

Pinkie Pie popped up from behind a rock and gasped, eyes widening before wincing and shaking her head. “Oooooh that looks so painful…”

“Sweetie Belle, what in Equestria…OH MY CELESTIA WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?” the fashionista screeched, running over to her sobbing sister in a panic, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash following her.

“Sweetie Belle lost her balance and fell into…into whatever this foul plant may be,” Skyward growled, glaring daggers at the plant as she cradled the crying unicorn filly in her hooves. The bluesteel unicorn mare tried to give the pink and purple maned and tailed unicorn filly to her elder sister, but the pain from the cacti burrs were so bad, she couldn’t be moved, so Rarity settled near her sister while Skyward continued to cradle and comfort the sobbing filly.

Scootaloo snorted at the huge plant. “Whatever this thing is, I don’t like it! C’mon Apple Bloom, let’s see if we can dig this one up.”

But when the two fillies tried to approach it, Pinkie Pie somehow popped out of the ground, holding up a “NO ENTRY” sign and shaking her head at them. “Nooooope! Neither one of you are going near this evil fuzzy plant!”

Applejack came around, got a good look at the plant and stomped her front hooves in aggravation. “Oh, good gravy. I told Braeburn to git rid of these dang things last time I was here!”

Skyward shook her mane as she pulled out several stray needles stuck in Sweetie Belle’s tail with her teeth and spitting them to the side, trying to be gentle. “What in Nayru’s holy name is this---thing?”

Spike grimaced visibly. “That’s definitely one plant I’m not adding to the garden.”

Twilight Sparkle circled the plant, but she didn’t touch it. “This is a teddy bear cholla—it’s also known as jumping teddy bear cactus. Yugh…nasty plant to be sure.”

The orange farmpony snorted, stomping a hoof against the dirt. “Well, it ain’t cuddly like a teddy bear, not one bit. Worst thing is, when ya brush up against it, even jest a bit, ya end up with all of those spiky balls on ya…and trust me, they HURT.”

Skyward spat out the needles in her mouth lit her horn and focused on Sweetie Belle, glancing over at Rarity. “Hold her so one may remove these Farore-damned things…Sweetie Belle, hold still now. This may sting a bit.”

Using her magic, the Haylian unicorn began the painful process of pulling the large, spiny cactus pieces from Sweetie Belle—there were at least 10 of them in all. Most of them were in her mane, but four of them were stuck on her side, her flank, and on her back. The one on her back was digging in deeply due to its weight, sinking its barbed spines in further, and that was the first one Skyward removed.

“Owwww! It hurts!” Sweetie Belle sobbed in agony.

“I know, I know, little one. Be strong now; there art still more stuck on thee,” Skyward murmured as she eyed the next large burr. “Brace thyself…”

One by painstaking one, the Haylian mare grasped the spine covered lobes and swiftly yanked each one out of the whimpering unicorn filly, tossing them in a basket Pinkie Pie had retrieved. With each one removed, the pain was lessening, however, it did not come without a price. There were still remnants of spines left, and a little blood stained the unicorn filly’s white coat. Using her horn, she could sense there were more spines hiding still, and she quickly pulled the near invisible spines out.

Twilight Sparkle took the basket from Pinkie Pie with a word of thanks, and then dumped the contents out on a flat rock nearby. “Spike, could you please burn these nasty things up?”

Spike grinned. “It would be my pleasure!” The baby dragon inhaled and spewed a stream of green flame at the pile—they caught fire immediately, and since it was dragonfire, not regular fire, they turned to ash in mere seconds.

Skyward angrily shook her head, snorting at the innocent looking cholla nearby. “It seems we hath more cleanup to do. Why in the Goddesses’ name wouldst he hath such a terrible plant here?”

“Whut’s goin’ on ‘ere? Ya’ll okay?”

Skyward stood up, allowing Rarity to take her place, and she trotted over to Trouble Shoes, who had come back from hauling a load of cut applewood. The huge stallion looked worried, considering he had almost fallen over himself to get to the mares when he heard the commotion. “Sweetie Belle lost her balance and fell into this teddy bear cholla. Apparently Braeburn didst not see fit to get rid of the plant as Applejack commanded him to do the last time she was here.”

Trouble Shoes eyed the cholla and shook his head in annoyance. “This here cactus is good fer only one thing an’ that’s eatin’ ‘em. Aside from most critters, ya can eat th’ buds. An’ trust me, they’re pretty darned good eatin’, but Ah’m gettin’ the feelin’ Braeburn wuz usin’ ‘em as some sort o’ fence substitute considerin’ they’re all over th’ place.”

The Mane 6 and Skyward turned to look at the area where they had been planting seedlings—sure enough, there were bunches of teddy bear cholla cactus everywhere. How the hay they had missed them they had no clue—or had they just avoided the cacti on instinct? Pinkie Pie’s eyes bugged out.

“YOU MEAN TO TELL US WE’VE BEEN WALKING THROUGH A FIELD OF SPIKES THIS WHOLE TIME? That’s kind of cool,” the pink party pony mused, and Skyward shook her head, trying to rid herself of the ringing in her ears.

“Someone call me?” Spike asked, poking his head out from behind a rock, and Twilight Sparkle chuckled at her Number 1 Assistant. “As a matter of fact, yes, Spike. We’re going to need you to help us get rid of these teddy bear cholla. You’ve got scales, so you might be immune to the spines.”

“Whyever would Braeburn plant these things here? Honestly I’ve a mind to give him a piece of MY MIND,” Rarity growled, stomping a hoof as she nuzzled her sniffling sister.

“And Ah plannin’ on giving’ ‘im a piece o’ mah mind for certain--Ah’ve had enough of this nonsense. Skyward, I hate t’ ask, but could ya keep an eye on Apple Bloom an’ her friends while we git rid of these…these…”

The orange farmpony slammed a hoof down in her obvious irritation, and Skyward nodded her head as she sheathed her sword. “Fret not, Applejack—one shalt watch over them. Sweetie Belle needs a bath and rest all the same. Here, on my back, little one.”

Skyward’s horn glowed silver and she levitated Sweetie Belle onto her back, having removed her cloak and folded it into her satchel. It did reveal her blank flank, but at the moment she didn’t give a buck about it.

“Trouble Shoes, why doncha go with her an’ keep her company so she ain’t all by her lonesome—ya can leave the wagon here so’s we can toss these dang things in it. If Braeburn comes back t’ the house first, ya tell that apple mush-brained cousin o’ mine Ah wanna have a chat with ‘im.”

Skyward wanted to yell at Applejack—the buck was the farmpony thinking? Applejack, despite her irritation, winked at her and mouthed “Have fun” before she trotted off to get a big basket. Skyward snorted, stomped her forehoof and turned, trying not to blush, or keeping her ears from sliding backwards or her tail from switching in annoyance.

“Ya’ll right, Sky?”

“Aye—just rightly riled since Sweetie Belle wast injured. Honestly—what wast he thinking? One sees Farmer Braeburn dost not want for sustenance…”

Skyward was carrying Sweetie Belle on her back while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo ran ahead down the path—despite the fact the cholla spines had been removed from her fur and skin, the Haylian mare figured she could use the ride back to the ranch-house.

The huge Clydesdale-esque stallion nudged the irritated Haylian unicorn mare gently. “Prolly jest t’ mix it up some. Ah mean, Ah’d get right sick o’ eatin’ jest apples day in an’ out, ya know? Truth is, Ah’ve eaten ‘em once or twice m’self, an’ they can make fer some darn good eats if ya know whut yer doin’.”

“If thou says so…one hast never had them…”

“But, yer right. Iffen Applejack done tole ‘im t’ git those dang things outta ‘is orchard, ‘e shoulda done it. ‘Specially so nopony gits hurt. Ya’ll doin’ okay over there, Sweetie Belle?”

Sweetie Belle nodded, sniffling a little. “Y-yeah…I’m okay. Just wish I wasn’t so clumsy. Then I wouldn’t keep messing things up.”

Skyward stopped in her tracks and she turned her head so she could look at Sweetie Belle properly.

“Now, thou listen to me. Thou art not clumsy. Thou art just a foal. Ye needn’t take on the burden of what a full-grown stallion ought to have taken responsibility for, especially if he wast told to do so for the safety of other ponies. Ye are a good, strong and kindhearted little filly.”

Skyward nuzzled her gently. “So, dispel such vile thoughts from thine mind, Sweetie Belle. Ye art nothing of the sort, dost thou hear me?”

Sweetie Belle nudged the Haylian mare back, and Skyward continued walking—in doing so however, she missed the tender look Trouble Shoes was giving her as he followed her back to the ranch-house.

“Sounds lahke yer talkin’ from experience there, Sky.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare turned her head to look up at the big stallion walking next to her. “Oh, aye. I’ve had to pull cactus spines out from mine own flanks a few times…not exactly fun when thou art backed into a corner and ye brush up against one trying to avoid snapping teeth from the other end.”

But the Clydesdale-esque stallion shook his head at her, giving her a soft look. “Not whut Ah meant.”

The Haylian mare looked puzzled, but by this point they had returned to the house. Granny Smith greeted them from her rocking chair by the hearth. “Eh? Ya done plantin’ already, young’uns?”

Skyward shook her head as Trouble Shoes came up beside her. “Applejack sent us back t’ th’ house ma’am; Sweetie Belle fell inta some teddy bear cholla that Braeburn’s been keepin’ in ‘is apple orchard. Ah guess he paid no mind t’ his cousin when she done tole him t’ root the dang plants out, an’ as a result, lil’ Sweetie Belle here got hurt. Skyward ‘ad t’ remove the burrs outta her hide an’ mane.”

Upon learning what had happened, the elderly mare got to her hooves. “Oh really? Well, jest wait till he gits back from huntin’ down that nasty boar! Ah’m gonna give him an earful an’ then some…”

The elderly mare wandered out to the front porch, and all of the ponies in the room exchanged apprehensive looks. This certainly wasn’t going to end well. Skyward shook her head from side to side slowly as she ascended the stairs, finding the room Sweetie Belle shared with her friends, and entering it. She placed Sweetie Belle on the bed and lit her horn, conjuring a globe of water and glancing around…

“Whatcha’ lookin’ fer, Sky?”

The Haylian mare turned around to come muzzle to muzzle with Trouble Shoes. The two of them backed up to give each other space—of course, true to his cutie mark, Trouble Shoes backed into the wall and shook loose a hanging plant, which landed right on top of his head. It smashed open, leaving the plant intact, the pot in shards all around him, and the plant itself in the dirt atop his head, making him look like a Rastafarian pony.

The three fillies exploded in laughter at the hilarious sight. Fighting the urge to laugh (and failing at it) Skyward came over to him and cleaned off the plant, the dirt, the pot shards and pieces, and fixed the pot with her magic before re-hanging the plant.

“Art thou all right?”

Trouble Shoes shook himself and chuckled. “Yeah, jest mah cutie mark at work again. Just mah luck.”

Skyward chuckled and leaned forward to give him a light nuzzle. “Still, unintentional or no, t’was quite amusing to see. One is glad however thou art not injured.”

Cheeks pinking a little bit, she turned back to her satchel, removing her cloak and putting it aside—and missed the surprised and delighted expression on the big stallion’s face when she’d nuzzled him, followed by a fond smile at her back.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders glanced at their big friend and at the bluesteel unicorn mare, and they exchanged broad grins and excited glances. They weren’t quite old enough to seek that kind of affection just yet, but they knew enough to know what was going on.

“Ya seemed t’ be lookin’ fer somethin earlier, Sky…”

The bluesteel unicorn mare indicated the hovering water globe with one hoof. “Ah—one wilt need a pot or something to hold this so one can tend to Sweetie Belle’s wounds…”

The big stallion nodded at her, a warm smile on his muzzle, as he got to his hooves. “Ah’ve got it--Ah’ll be right back.”

Skyward smiled after him, shaking her head a little bit. Hearing giggling, her ears pricked up and she glanced over at the three fillies on the bed, who were all grinning at her impishly. “What?”

Despite her ordeal, Sweetie Belle was giggling into her hooves, Scootaloo had that ‘all knowing smirk’ on her muzzle…

“Nooooothing,” Apple Bloom replied. Skyward angled an eyebrow at them before she began nosing through her satchel.

She normally didn’t purchase Red Potion, given that the blue variety did both in one, but sometimes, needing a healing backup proved the wiser choice if no Blue Potion was to be had. There were potions for magic renewal after all. She uncorked the bottle and poured a little bit of it into the water bubble, tinging it pink, before she used a spell to mask the color. Then she recorked and replaced the bottle proper, just as Trouble Shoes came back upstairs with a shallow pan he had gotten from the kitchen.

She thanked him, then dug around further in her satchel, revealing some clean cloths she had tucked in there and pulled one out, soaking it in the warmed, diluted potion mixture in the pan Trouble Shoes had brought her and dabbing it onto Sweetie Belle’s wounds. She dried off the little unicorn filly, and turned down the covers, tucking the filly into the warm confines of the bed, and settled back after she had tucked the covers around Sweetie Belle’s neck.

Skyward nuzzled Sweetie Belle gently. “Ye sleep now—I shalt inform thine grandmare thou art resting. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, dost thou wish…”

The Haylian mare smiled, seeing that the other two fillies were also snoozing away. She levitated them and tucked them under the blanket, making sure they were comfortable. She moved away from the bed and to the door—only to find Trouble Shoes had opened it for her and was waiting for her to go through it. She smiled at him and bowed her head in thanks—he smiled at her and shut the door behind himself as he followed her back downstairs—she hadn’t spoken because she didn’t want to wake the sleeping fillies.

“Thou can bet that when Braeburn returns from that boar hunt—he’s going to get one hay of an earful from either the matriarch or his cousin,” she muttered.

Trouble Shoes nodded at her—he didn’t bother to hide the smirk forming over his muzzle. “Ah’d say he deserves t’ git ‘is tail chewed…again.”

Skyward shook her head from side to side, her ears drooping and she bowed her head, looking upset. Because her head was lowered, she didn’t see Trouble Shoes’ brow furrow in concern. “Makes one wonder if I should hath just stayed out of it…mayhap I deserved to be called as such…”

“Oh hay no, Skyward. Don’ ya dare go thinkin’ that, ya hear?”

She looked up at him, ready to deliver a retort, only to be silenced when he put a hooftip to her muzzle.

“Th’ whole dang mess wuz his fault anyhow, Sky. First off, th’ damn foal shoulda known not t’ hop in t’ th’ ring when yer practicin’ wit’ yer sword an’ shield. From whut Ah saw, ye’re pretty dang good with both, an’ iffen he’d surprised ya, m’thinkin’ ya would’ve put ‘im in Doc’s tender care or th’ Apple clan would’ve needed an undertaker. Second, sure, Applejack messed up, but, tain’t no call fer ‘im t’ go rubbin’ salt in old wounds.”

Skyward nodded mutely, ears going flat, and Trouble Shoes nodded at her.

“Yer not a nag, yer certainly not whut he called ya. An’ if he says somethin’ lahke that t’ ya again Ah’ll buck ‘im clean t’ Dodge City.”

Skyward chuckled, and she smiled up at him. “I thank thou for thine chivalry, Trouble Shoes, truly. Is there anything one can do for thou in return?”

He leaned close to her, giving her a light nudge. “Jest keep smilin’, sugarcube. That’s all. Yer…really purty when ya smile.”

The Haylian mare ducked her head, smiling and looked up at him.

“Ah have t’ agree. Yer purtier than an apple blossom when ya smile.”

Badly startled, Skyward leaped forward and shied away sharply, lashing out with her rear hooves, and Braeburn jumped away. “Holy Celestia—watch it there, Skyward!”

“Luna’s glowing horn, dost thou ever make any noise? Hath not Applejack said it once before to not sneak up on me? Goddesses dost thou even listen?” she snapped, glaring fiercely at Braeburn, who shook his head at her and opened his mouth, ears laying back…

“Don’ ya dare. Yer cousin warned ya not t’ sneak up on her once ‘afore an’ ya almost got slapped in the muzzle for scarin’ the livin’ blazes outta her. Iffen yer gonna say somethin’ stupid to ‘er, shut yer damn muzzle right now,” Trouble Shoes growled warningly, stepping forward to glare at the other stallion.

“Shut mah muzzle? Who the hay does she think she is? This is mah house an’ if she don’ like what Ah got to say, she can damn well leave it!”

Trouble Shoes glowered at the smaller stallion. “Then she kin stay wit’ me while she an’ her friends are here. Fer buck’s sake, she an’ her friends came down here t’ help yer ungrateful flank wit’ all th’ problems Appleloosa’s been havin’. And personally, ah’ve had ‘nough o’ ya treatin’ ‘er lahke trash, thinkin’ yer th’ one in th’ right when ya really ain’t, an’ Ah ain’t gonna stand fer it anymore.”

Skyward didn’t know what to say as she glanced back and forth between the two stallions, ears back in distress and shifting from hoof to hoof. The two of them looked like they were about to come to blows, which was understandable…

But were they fighting over harsh words being said or were they…fighting over her?

The two stallions squared off, necks arching, eyes flashing, ears laid back, stomping and shifting their hooves. Skyward backed up—klutzy or not Trouble Shoes was a big stallion, bigger than Braeburn, but where Braeburn lacked size he did have speed and strength balanced. Green locked with green, narrowed, nostrils flared…

“BRAEBURN APPLE! YA GIT YER SORRY FLANK OVER HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!”

The livid shout echoed through the house and the front door slammed open to reveal a very angry Granny Smith Apple, and she stalked towards Braeburn with speed and agility none of the others knew she had—nopony that wasn’t an Apple anyway. Granny Smith eyed Braeburn with a look Skyward knew only too well from her own sire when somepony misbehaved…a look that spelled big bucking trouble for the pony who was in for it.

“Granny Smith, what in the sam hill---OWW!”

The matriarch of the Apple family had his ear firmly in one hoof and wasn’t letting up. “We’re gonna talk about more than just whut Ah heard come out of yer disrespectful muzzle. Ah heard everythin’ Applejack said t’ ya earlier t’day, an’ when she gits back we’re all gonna ‘ave a ‘Come t’ Celestia’ meetin’ bout this! An’ Skyward?”

Skyward stepped forward, pricking her ears at the lime green elder mare, swallowing nervously. “Aye, Matriarch Granny Smith?”

The elderly mare smiled and nodded at her, anger leaving her eyes briefly. “Ya never mind what Braeburn said. Yer welcome ‘mong us Apples anytime. Ya saved Apple Bloom from them stinkin’ Diamond Dogs an’ we ain’t gonna fergit that anytime soon. This may be his house, but AH’M th’ head of the family. Now skedaddle, both of ya, so Ah can teach this young whippersnapper a lesson in respect!”

“Ah—of course, Matriarch.”

“No problem, ma’am.”

Both Skyward and Trouble Shoes quickly left the house, both walking down the road away from the ranch-house. They could still hear Granny Smith’s voice raised in righteous wrath, and Skyward pinned her ears back, wincing.

“Oh, he is in for it now, one thinks…”

“Sure ‘nough. Tales of Granny Smith on th’ warpath are as good as a ghost story ‘round ‘ere. Ya git her good an’ riled an’ ya may as well say yer prayers.”

Skyward pawed the ground—during the altercation between the two stallions she had silently teleported her cloak, her satchel and her armor down near her and had placed her armor in her bag for safekeeping. “Art thou certain thou wish me to stay with thee…”

The huge stallion turned and nodded at her. “Of course. Ah never would’ve offered iffen Ah didn’ want ya ‘round.”

The bluesteel unicorn smiled quietly at him, and he nudged her gently. Trouble Shoes’ cabin looked cozy enough—there was a large bed on one side of it, a chair and small table on the other side. There was a cooking stove that also doubled as a hearth for warmth with a colorful woven rug in front of it, and pots and pans hung on the walls. A lantern hung from the ceiling as a light source, and jugs of cider were stacked on a shelf. There were also baskets of apples, potatoes, beans and onions, jalapenos, bell peppers, some cornmeal, bread and butter and strawberry jam. Trouble Shoes opened the door for her, and he indicated where she could put her things. He picked up a burlap bag with his teeth that was hanging on the wall and beckoned to her with one hoof.

“C’mon, follow me.”

Skyward pricked her ears at him, tilting her head in confusion. “Where art we going?”

“Ya tole me ya never had cholla buds. Thought ya might wanna try some. We’re gonna go gatherin’ them first.”

Skyward smiled, ears perking forward. “One t’will admit to being curious, even though the plant itself is a particular pain in the flank,” she mused. Trouble Shoes chortled at her, as he stopped in front of a large staghorn cholla and gestured with one hoof at the tall, multi branched spiny desert plant.

“First, ya only take th’ buds. This ain’t prickly pear cacti, mind ya. An’ ya take no more than a few from every cacti ya see…gotta leave some behind so th’ plant can survive. Now, ya can just eat from any cholla—but th’ best ones t’ git buds from are from staghorn, pencil an’ buckhorn cholla.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare eyed the spiny plant in front of her. “Pray tell one, why is that?”

“Those three’r less likely t’ spike ya is why. Least with these ya don’ hafta worry too much. An’ this is ‘ow ya ‘arvest ‘em; ya only take this here piece.”

He pointed to a small, light green bulb that had a flower bud sitting on it. “That there’s whatcha want. An’ ya ‘arvest em lahke this.”

He poked his head into his saddlebag, pulled out a pair of metal tongs in his mouth. Painstakingly he plucked two of the buds off of the staghorn cholla they were in front of and placed them in the bag they had with them. The Haylian mare was careful as she used her magic to lift the tongs and harvested a small hoof-ful of buds. The two ponies moved from plant to plant, taking no more than a few buds from each. Once they had about a full bag, the Clydesdale-esque stallion led her back to his cabin-wagon. He rooted around before he pulled out what looked like an archaeologist’s sifting box, then turned to get the bag…

But Skyward had the bag in her magic, and she carefully poured the contents into the box proper.

“Now what?”

“Now, we’re gonna clean ‘em. Ya don’ wanna mouthful o’ spines, do ya?”

She snorted, sticking out her tongue and he laughed, she grinned at him, then looked at the box full of spiny cholla buds. “How dost thou clean them?”

“Ya pick up the box an’ shake it. That should git most of ‘em offa the buds.”

Skyward sat back on her hindquarters, picked up the box in her hooves and carefully shook the box, rolling the buds back and forth in the mesh bottomed box. She could’ve stripped them clear with her magic but she wanted to try it how he would’ve done it.

She glanced up at the big stallion’s silhouette that she could just see within the windows of his cabin-wagon, and she smiled, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she continued to clean the buds. He certainly was pleasing to look at—strong, powerful legs and hindquarters, robust chest and barrel, perky, cute ears she’d love to nuzzle at, and his unruly dark brown mane and shortened tail just added to his rugged masculine appeal—never mind what he was ‘packing’ between his hind legs, which was certainly—impressive to be sure.

She shook her mane out of her eyes, cheeks heating up at that thought—she’d be foalish not to admit she’d glanced at him more than once on the sly. He had nice eyes too—a gentle leaf green; it reminded her of a sun-dappled forest clearing, and his smile, sincere, playful and welcoming, warmed her through to her core. Not to mention he wasn’t arrogant or pretentious in the least—at least she hoped he wasn’t.

She knew she’d seen a lot of stallions even if she’d never been courted by any of them—not for lack of them trying to woo her. She’d just never been interested, especially not after what Dark Wind and Jade Mist had done; she’d sheathed her wounded heart in permafrost and focused on becoming the best war mage she could be.

And yet, with one look, one smile, he’d managed to melt that ice. Despite the fact he was somewhat of a klutz; hay, his cutie mark pretty much confirmed it: she found it not only amusing but also endearing—she hadn’t laughed so much in…well, she couldn’t remember when she hadn’t laughed so much or so hard. Also, he was quite good with foals; a ‘gentle giant’ to be certain. Not to mention he was quite chivalrous and kind to her—he didn’t treat her as if she were fragile, nor did he put her on a pedestal, nor as an object to be owned. No, he had treated her like a lady; like a pony—and she rather liked it.

But would he truly be interested in her? She knew there were Earth Pony mares far prettier than she ever was…and as usual she’d probably end up being second best. Well, she was used to it by now.

But if she was so used to it, why did the thought of seeing him with another mare send an unseen lance of fiery agony through her chest?

Trouble Shoes began setting up a campfire in a circle of rocks near his cabin-wagon, and went inside, pulling out a few things—a campfire iron spider, which was an implement to hold a pot over a fire, and a pot itself. He went to the water bucket, picked it up in his mouth and poured water into the pot proper. While he did this, he looked outside at the bluesteel unicorn mare sitting by the fire he’d made, cleaning the cholla buds outside his cabin-wagon and smiled. He blew out a breath—boy howdy, she was beautiful; being alone out here with her was having one hay of an effect on him. She was a unicorn, not an Earth Pony, but to him, it didn’t matter—she was still a mare.

He shifted, shaking his mane a little bit; he’d be a damn foal to deny the fact he did want her; what hot-blooded stallion wouldn’t? She did have some muscle on her, but she also had a sleek figure, long, slim legs, a real nice flank, a velvety looking coat, soft looking ears he’d love to nibble or lick, and a long silky tail and mane he desperately wanted to nuzzle into.

And her eyes—they were an amazing shade of blue. Faust knew he could drown in those endless pools and he wouldn’t want to be rescued.

But she was also smart, she was playful, gentle and caring, a real sweetheart. She also had a strong sense of honor and to top it off, she was quite a down-to-earth pony, even if she was too hard on herself sometimes. She didn’t mind getting down in the dirt with earth ponies—she certainly wasn’t like other unicorns he’d seen. He didn’t like her being upset—when Braeburn had snapped at her the way he had, it had taken all he had to swallow down the urge to buck the idiot foal through the window then and there.

He heard a splash, and glanced down, now reminded of what he was doing. He snorted when he saw he’d overfilled the pot, and the water from the bucket was now pouring onto him. He huffed, set down the half empty bucket, and went to go find a towel to clean up the mess with.

“S’not lahke she’d be innerested in me anyway,” he muttered to himself as he mopped up the water with one hoof, then flipped the towel into the nearby laundry basket as he picked up the filled pot and the spider and went back outside. She heard him, and looked up to smile at him as she continued cleaning the buds in the box; and he smiled back at her as he set the spider in the coals, then put the pot on top of the spider….

“Ah-oww! Damn it!”

The bluesteel unicorn mare yelped as one of the buds bounced against its fellows and flew out of the box, ending up on her right forehoof. She tried to shake it off, only to hiss in pain—the remaining spines only dug deeper as a result. Hearing her cry out, Trouble Shoes came over to her, sitting near her as he took her hoof in his own.

“Careful, now. Ah don’ want ya gettin’ spiked too, Sky. Lemme see…”

The huge stallion was careful as he used the tongs in his mouth to pull the bud free, back into the box. Carefully he pulled the remaining spines out from her forehoof, nuzzling it gently to make sure he hadn’t missed any that were still on the bud. Skyward’s breath caught in her chest and she was sure the stallion in front of her checking her forehoof could hear her heart pounding against her ribs.

“There. Ya should be all right now. Be careful when yer cleanin’ em—until ya get all th’ spines off, they still pack a nasty bite.”

He hadn’t let go of her forehoof, however, and she found she had no intention of removing it from his hold. “I—I will keep that in mind…I thank thou for thine aid,” she murmured in reply, ducking her head on the pretense of looking closely at the cholla buds. “Ah—how dost thou know they art cleaned?”

He did let go of her hoof then, and she wondered at the pang in her chest when he did. “Welp—let’s see ‘ow many spines still need t’ be removed. Th’ box don’ remove all of ‘em—so iffen there’s any left, ya gotta git th’ rest o’ them off.”

He picked one out using the tongs and put it on a rock, turning it over and eyeing it closely, then nodded. “Look fer any remainin’ spines on ‘em, and pluck ‘em if ya see ‘em. Once ya done that, ya can toss ‘em in the pot.”

Skyward set to work, picking up the buds in her magic and turning them over, but she did try her hoof at plucking the spines out by hoof using a pair of tweezers. Soon, all the cleaned buds were in the pot, boiling away, and she settled back, cocking her head.

“Ye cannot eat them raw?”

“Nah. Ya do that an’ it’s ‘bout as bad as eatin’ ember nettles. Gotta boil ‘em first before ya can eat ‘em. Prickly pear cacti’s th’ same way; clean ‘em, then boil ‘em, but ya peel ‘em.”

Their meal was simple, but it was a pleasant one—while the buds boiled in the pot, Skyward went into the cabin-wagon, busying herself at the stove. She made cornbread, bell pepper and jalapeno fritters, fried onions and potatoes, and cut up some prickly pears, placing them in a bowl.

She brought the food out in bowls and plates in her magic—Trouble Shoes indicated she could place them on a table he’d folded out from the back of his wagon. He went inside, grabbing a cast iron pan, some butter, jalapenos and some onions, and brought them back out.

She levitated the pot off of the fire, and he put the cast iron pan on the spider. She’d floated the cooked buds out of the pot and looked at him—

“Not jest yet, sugarcube. Ya kin put ‘em here if ya’d like. Try one?”

She placed the steaming buds in an empty bowl, picked one up and blew on it to cool it, before she bit into the large bud. The taste surprised her—firm, chewy but not rubbery, and it tasted like a cross between asparagus and artichoke heart.

“Mmm! These art delicious!”

She held one out for him, and he smiled, taking the bud she’d offered him. Hearing the pan sizzle, he nodded at her and she put the buds in the heated pan for him. He added some onions, jalapenos and red bell peppers, and tossed them a few times with butter and a little cayenne pepper and salt.

Their meal was a pleasant one, and she helped him with the dishes afterwards. They came out and sat near the fire, staring at the stars that were just starting to peek out from the last few vestiges of sunlight.

“Hey, wanna go get dessert?”

Skyward turned towards him and grinned. “Dost thou even have to ask?”

He laughed as he led her from the fireside into the woods—she stopped and put a spell on the circle of rocks to keep the flames from going out or setting a stray fire somewhere, and followed him out to the desert.

“What art we looking for out here?”

He stopped, and she almost ran right into him as a result, making her stumble, but he caught her before she could fall. “Careful there, sugarcube.”

She ducked her head, feeling shy and warm from his endearment, and chuckled up at him. “I thank thou for catching me.”

“No problem. Anyway, look over here…this is whut we’re lookin’ fer.”

“This ‘ere cactus got a different type o’ prickly pear—they’re called saguaro fruit. Dang good eatin’ iffen ya can git ‘em, an’ they’re also---WHOA!”

True to his cutie mark, he had tripped on a loose piece of rock and pinwheeled forward—right towards the massive cactus. Skyward grabbed him in her magic before he could slam into the huge saguaro, and she steadied him, placing him on all four hooves before coming up to him.

“Art thou all right?”

“Yeah…happens t’ me more than ya think. But don’ ya worry ‘bout it none…”

“Nonsense. One is worried about thine wellbeing, now, let me look thee over for injury, hmm?”

The Clydesdale-esque stallion let her fuss him; Skyward checked him for bruising or lacerations from the rocks and the scree around them. She did find a large bruise on his right hind leg, and she lit her horn, concentrating on a healing spell.

She wasn’t a priestess, so the higher-level healing spells weren’t available to her. But she was able to learn some of the basics. She gently eased the pain and swelling until it was gone, and opened her eyes.

“Better, now?”

“Yeah. Thanks, sugarcube.”

Skyward smiled, kicking the ground gently with one hoof, and she was about to reply when she heard something—something that made her yank out her sword and shield, turning to face the rocks to the left of them. Trouble Shoes tensed—he knew she’d picked up on something, and for her to pull her weapons out, it meant big trouble.

“Whut is it?”

The Haylian mare eyed the line of rocks above them, her ears twitching and moving to follow what she had heard. “Hsh…something is out there. One heard claws on stone…”

The huge stallion laid back his ears and stomped one hoof. “Let’s hurry an’ harvest some o’ these an’ git outta here. Might be a mountain lion—ya don’ wan’ one o’ them on yer flank. Ah’ll keep watch, try an’ grab as much as ya can, an’ then we gotta scoot.”

Skyward nodded, then sheathed her weapons. She looked up and grasped the largest saguaro fruit she could see, pulling it free with her magic, then dropped it into the basket Trouble Shoes had brought with him. She only took a couple from each saguaro close by while the big stallion kept guard, leaving the rest for other animals to eat. With twilight descending fully, they quickly ran back to his cabin. After he had shown her how to clean them free of spines, he took a sharp knife and began to painstakingly peel it. The fruit itself was a brilliant crimson, and she could see the seeds inside of it. Taking a bite of it proved it to be sweet and succulent, and the seeds were pretty big, but they had a pleasantly nutty taste to it. She helped him peel and cut the fruit, the two of them eating them until there was one large fruit remaining. Trouble Shoes nudged it towards her, but Skyward shook her head—she split the last saguaro fruit in two, scooped out the fruit from her half and offered it to him.

“No reason we cannot share, aye?”

The large nut-brown stallion’s eyes softened at her gesture, and he ate the spoonful of pulp she had offered him. He stopped her before she could scoop out the other half, and he picked up a spoon in his mouth and scooped it out, holding it out for her to take. She smiled and took the offering, closing her eyes at the sweetness of the desert fruit, the nutty taste of the seeds.

The fruit was decidedly messy as well, so they went to the river to wash up. Trouble Shoes stuck his muzzle in the river’s water, rubbing at his mouth with his hooves to clean off the crimson juice. He looked up…

Skyward was standing in the water proper, her forelegs submerged up to her fetlocks. The crimson juice was floating off of her forehooves and her muzzle when she lowered her head to the cool liquid. She had removed her cloak at the bank. She turned and cantered back towards him, settling on her haunches at his side.

“Mayhap I shalt return for a bath here sometime. It seems peaceful enough.”

The big stallion blushed and dunked his head in the water proper, trying to ease the flash of heat that had arced through him at her words. The thought of her bathing in the river was more than enough to turn his blood to fire in his body and less than innocent thoughts crowding his mind, especially when it came to the gorgeous blue colored mare next to him.... Skyward blinked at him, confused.

“Art thou all—EEP!”

She squeaked when he splashed her, albeit by accident, and she grinned at him. She flipped water at him with her right forehoof, and he blinked, then grinned back and tried to headbutt her into the water. She pushed back, laughing as she tried to wrestle him into the liquid proper. He reared up and sent a wave of water over her when his front legs struck the shallows, and she sputtered, yelping as she was soaked through.

Blue eyes twinkling with mirth she jumped and splashed him in return, he guffawing as the smaller wave she had created splashed him.

“That all ya got, lil’ prairie blossom…WHOA!”

She had tackled him proper into the shallows and he surfaced, both of them laughing. “What was that thou art were saying?”

The wicked grin on the stallion’s face warned her and he jumped out of the river, trying to get behind her as he tried to shove her in the river this time. “Ah said, that all ya got, sugarcube?”

She dodged him, running behind him and he turned around to face her…

Only for his breath to be stolen away at the sensual sight before him. Her mane, tail and coat were soaked through, as was her tunic, but she was beaming at him, eyes bright with joy, laughter and glowing with happiness. The water soaked her fur, giving her a shiny, slick look, part of her wet mane obscuring her muzzle, which left one shimmering blue eye exposed…

Both ponies’ heads jerked up when a growl of thunder echoed overhead, and a few falling raindrops sprinkled their noses. They bolted for the cabin, Skyward drying them both off with her Fashion Flash spell, and bolted for the cabin proper. They headed inside just as the skies opened up, sending a torrential downpour onto the scrub forest that his cabin was hidden in. They settled on the woven rug in front of the stove, Skyward tucking her legs under herself. Despite the afternoon’s trials—things had turned out all right.

She looked up when the big nut-brown coated stallion settled beside her and she smiled. “Thank ye, so much…I enjoyed myself. Thou were right…those buds art tasty.”

He’d removed his hat, hanging it on a small hook near the door earlier, and he smiled warmly at her as he settled next to her. “Yer welcome, An, yer welcome here anytime, sweetheart. Ah mean it.”

Skyward leaned into his side, feeling drowsy and content, and she unconsciously sighed when she felt him lean into her too. Thunder roared overhead, and rain fell on the roof of the cabin relentlessly, but inside, the two ponies were safe and warm. The dancing flames in the stove played over the two ponies, casting shadows, the darkness of night slowly creeping in proper. Skyward yawned, sleep stealing over her and she nestled into Trouble Shoes’ side, feeling his side expand and deflate, his breathing slow, even…

Hearing a low buzzing noise, she turned her head…and smiled, trying not to giggle; Trouble Shoes had fallen asleep next to her. Skyward lit her horn, removing her cloak, enlarging it and draping it over him. She regarded the sleeping stallion with a soft smile before she laid her head down, settling into sleep herself.

Yet when Celestia’s sun graced the skies anew, the rays of the fiery orb found the two snuggled together, the stallion curled around the mare, her cloak covering them both, his head resting atop her withers and back.

Heart Of A Heroine

Author's Notes:

Part of this scene was written to Bryan Adams' song "Nothing I've Ever Known" from the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. Here's the link if you want to listen to it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilToQcuJKB0
The lyrics to this song, it really fits Skyward's situation best. Rather than chance legal retaliation, I did not post the lyrics, so you'll have to find the lyrics yourself or listen to the song proper.

“YA DID WHAT?”

Applejack’s roar echoed through the house as she advanced on her cousin, ears back and hooves slamming the floorboards with every step she took.

Rarity tossed her head, giving the stallion a disappointed look, never mind she was pretty angry too considering her little sister had gotten hurt because of his carelessness with the teddy bear cholla in his orchard. “How could you, Braeburn?”

The amber maned stallion snorted. “Ah’ve been tryin’ to apologize t’ her all dang day! An’ this is mah house ya know! Ain’t my fault if she’s going t’ be a prissy, stuck up pony ‘bout it…”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Priss--oh, for corn’s sake! That’s the biggest pile of horseapples Ah’ve ever heard! She’s jest as much a farmpony as we are, Braeburn! And Ah told ya before—she don’t like it when other ponies sneak up on her. Haven’t ya noticed me an’ the girls always make some sort of noise to alert her so she knows we’re comin’? It ain’t just outta common courtesy, ya know.”

“But cuz…”

But Applejack was on a roll and she wasn’t stopping anytime soon as she advanced on her cousin, pointing a hoof at his muzzle.

“She’s done a lot fer the family since she came t’ Ponyville. Helped us out durin’ applebuckin’ season; and, durin’ Winter Wrap Up in Ponyville she helped to plant the fields and she did it ALL. BY. HOOF! Didn’t use a lick o’ magic for that! An’ she saved Apple Bloom’s life! Twice! Her family an’ village raises pumpkins instead of apples, but that shouldn’t matter, right? So what if she’s a unicorn? Skyward’s an honest, hardworkin’ pony, just like Twilight and Rarity are!”

Rainbow Dash landed next to Braeburn, giving him a glare from fierce magenta eyes. “Yeah, this is your house and all, but ya know, YOU’RE the one that asked ALL of us to come down here and help! And since Skyward’s a farmpony too, AND one of our friends, you can bet your flank we’re gonna ask her to come along!”

Braeburn winced—he’d gotten a good earful from Granny Smith about respecting mares and letting ‘bygones be bygones’, never mind his right ear hurt like hay now. But the second Applejack and the others had heard from an upset Apple Bloom that Braeburn had gotten into it with Skyward and then kicked her out of the house, the six mares plus one baby dragon were furious with him as well.

Pinkie Pie snorted, nudging Fluttershy in the side. “I’m thinking somepony’s jealous,” she murmured to the butter yellow mare, who blinked at her friend. “Braeburn? Jealous?”

The pink party pony nodded her head. “Well, DUH! He really really reeeeeallly likes Skyward, but Skyward doesn’t like him back like that, you know? Aaaaaaand he’s got a rival—Trouble Shoes! Every single time they’re with her, they’re super-duper nice to her, but when she’s not looking, they’re glaring like a pair of angry dragons at each other! They’re both fighting over Skyward, see?”

Pinkie Pie sighed, her mane deflating a little. “Problem is, he likely took his own jealousy out on Skyward and now she might be scared of him.”

Applejack, who had overheard the other two mares, turned to look at them and then turned back to look at her amber maned cousin. “You’re jealous?! Is that why yer bein’ such a plothead?”

Braeburn snorted, ready to retort with a denial, but with every single pony (and dragon) in the room glaring at him, he sighed and sat down, his ears drooping, but still slanted backwards to show his annoyance. “Is it that obvious?”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Tch…DUUUUUHHH. It’s not hard to see when you see Trouble Shoes getting close to her or talking to her. You get that look in your eye, Braeburn, and it’s pretty scary. I mean geez! That stink eye you got makes a cockatrice’s stare look bad!”

Fluttershy spoke up. “Didn’t you think that maybe Skyward thought you were angry at her whenever you were glaring at Trouble Shoes? Did you even think about her feelings at all?”

This obviously hadn’t occurred to the amber maned stallion, and his irritation faded to concern. That hadn’t crossed his mind at all, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her or scare her. But he’d gone and ended up doing just that anyway, it seemed.

“Well! I certainly would think the same thing if I caught somepony giving me such a horrible glare! Never mind you’re clearly interested in her too! Honestly, Braeburn; posturing for a rival is all well and good, but NOT when the mare is in the same room!”

“Rare, ya know sometimes that’s unavoidable,” Applejack pointed out, and the ivory unicorn mare sniffed. “Oh, perhaps, but nonetheless! Never mind first impressions, sometimes the way one pony acts can be the bigger difference overtime!”

“Makes me wonder what Skyward thinks of him now,” Spike muttered, glaring at the light gold coated stallion. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be around anypony who treats other ponies like that.”

Braeburn looked at the floor—in his efforts to prove himself the stronger and more desirable stallion he’d likely gone and bucked up his chance at courting the bluesteel unicorn mare.

“Hey, where are they anyway? I haven’t seen them since we got back to the house!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, looking around for the two other ponies, ducking in and out of doorframes, looking under pillows and even under Applejack's hat, earning an exasperated look from the orange farmpony.

“Ah done told ‘em t’ skedaddle while Ah taught Braeburn a lesson in respect. Not sure where those two went off ta,” Granny Smith mused.

“Well, it’s full night out, an’ Trouble Shoes has his own cabin, so it’s likely they’re stayin’ in it right now,” Applejack ruminated, shaking her blond mane. A faint smirk touched her mouth—Skyward, staying with Trouble Shoes in his cabin? Boy howdy if that wasn’t the start of a romantic novel, she didn’t know what would be.

“Think we should go find them? I can fly out and find them in ten seconds flat,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, heading for the door—only to find herself held back by a magenta aura.

“Not until morning, Rainbow—we can go find them then. Besides, we need to be sure that tempers have cooled by then too,” the navy, purple and magenta maned/tailed unicorn mare said with a shake of her head, glancing at the amber maned stallion, who had the grace to look ashamed.

A sudden roar of thunder, a blazing flash of lightning, followed by the unmistakable sound of pouring rain caught their attention. The ponies crowded around the windows, even as three frightened shrieks upstairs made Rarity and Fluttershy run up the stairs to comfort the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“Aw, come on! I knew Appleloosa was scheduled for a torrential downpour, but it wasn’t supposed to happen until next week!” the rainbow maned pegasus mare muttered.

Braeburn came over to look outside, his ears drooping in distress. “They moved it up some since we need water fer the new trees we planted. Ah just hope they’re all right out there…”

The orange farmpony sighed, seeing her cousin was genuinely remorseful—and likely coming to the realization he might have lost the battle and the war for her Haylian friend’s heart. “Look. Tomorrow we’re gonna go find both Skyward and Trouble Shoes, and yer gonna apologize to Skyward good and proper. She was jest stickin’ up fer me. There was no reason for ya to yell at her the way ya did.”

“Also, you must consider her feelings as well, you know. Maybe she might just want to be friends, Braeburn, but ultimately, you must respect her choice. You can’t force a mare to love you—because that is not love. That is being utterly selfish.” Rarity said coolly, giving him a disdainful expression as she turned and walked up the stairs.

“If anypony would know about that it would be Rarity.” Twilight Sparkle murmured.

“Let’s get some shuteye, ya’ll. We got more t’ do tomorrow an’ we gotta find Skyward and Trouble Shoes so they can join in on th’ bonfire tomorrow night. Now git!”

The rest of the ponies and Spike meandered upstairs—Applejack was about to follow, but something made her turn and she looked back over her shoulder. Braeburn was looking at the flames in the hearth, looking lost and mournful. The orange farmpony sighed—he was family even if he had been a right bucking moronic plothead that had let his jealousy get the best of him.

“Braeburn?”

“Ah…Ah’ll be all right, cuz. Jest…she’s so purty and jest...well...fierce…Ah thought, well, Ah thought Ah had a chance…”

Applejack gently shook her head at her cousin. “Yer a handsome stallion, don’t doubt it, but ya have a lot of habits Skyward doesn’t like and one of ‘em is sneakin’ up on ponies all the time. Ya startled her pretty badly both times, an’ Ah can tell ya right now she hates that. Also, d’ya even know what she’s like? Ya know what she likes and what she don’ like?”

Braeburn shook his head. “Granted Ah haven’t gotten t’ know her real well yet but…not really…”

Applejack sighed. “Here’s a little advice. Gettin’ t’ know a mare is half th’ process, Brae. Ya don’ know her, not well enough t’ establish anythin’. An’ with ya sneakin’ up on ponies an’ being loud, she doesn’t like that too much. Ya can likely be friends with her but…Ah honestly think she wouldn’ be a good love match fer ya. Besides—Cherries Jubilee’s been makin’ eyes at ya lately.”

Braeburn blinked, looking over at his cousin in surprise. “She has?”

Applejack snorted and shoved him with one hoof, but gently. “Go see her before we bring Skyward and Trouble Shoes back here. Yer gonna see Ah’m right. An’ Braeburn?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember what Rare said t’ ya. She's right; ya can’t make a mare love ya. Be yerself, but, try readin’ what she likes an’ doesn’t like. If it happens, it happens. If it don’t, well, try fishin’ elsewhere.”

The orange farmpony nudged him. “Get some sleep, Braeburn. Mornin’s gonna come soon enough anyway.”

The amber maned stallion nodded soberly, glancing at the flames once more before he turned and followed his cousin up the stairs. He knew sleep wasn’t going to come easy to him tonight but he kinda had that coming. The only thing he could hope for now was for Skyward to accept his apology…

And maybe, if he was lucky, just be a friend to her.

*****************************************

When the first rays of Celestia’s sun shimmered through the windows of Trouble Shoes’ cabin-wagon, Skyward stirred, blinking her eyes open sleepily. The first thing she noticed was that she was warm—warm and wonderfully comfortable. The second thing she noticed…

Was the familiar scent of hickory wood, sun warmed straw and a husky, deliciously masculine scent she knew belonged to…

Wait a minute.

She turned her head just enough, and she froze. Trouble Shoes was curled around her, and his head was resting on her withers and back—she could see him right in front of her since her head was near his when she lifted her head and turned it towards him. He was sound asleep, too, his breathing deep and even. The Haylian mare swallowed hard, nervousness and a strange warmth mixing in her belly. She didn’t know what to do and yet…

Within the confines of his body surrounding hers, never mind her cloak tossed over them both she felt, strangely enough…safe.

Warm.

Wanted.

She’d seen other ponies snuggled up like this after huge parties in Fiador Village—all of them couples, cuddling together for warmth as well as wanting to be near the other. Biting her lip, she debated with herself—move, or don’t?

She didn’t want to wake him—he looked so peaceful. He looked content, snuggled next to her like this. And despite the fact she wanted to move…

She couldn’t bring herself to do so. She wanted to remain like this, and yet...

However, the decision was taken out of her hooves, because she felt him move. She turned her head to see his green eyes blink open once, twice…

He smacked his lips, yawned mightily, shook his head…then he saw her. She blinked at him, a shy smile tugging at her muzzle at how handsome he was, even though he was waking up from sleep himself. Most of her tension drained away when she saw him smiling at her, and she smiled back at him, grateful for some of her mane hiding her muzzle and face.

“Good morn to thee, Trouble Shoes. I pray one did not awaken thou too soon…?”

“Good mornin’ t’ ya too, Sky. Nah—time fer us t’ git up anyhow. Ya sleep all right?”

Skyward smiled, nodding her head at him, brushing her mane out of her eyes and turning her head to yawn. “One slept quite well, thank ye for inquiring. What of thou; didst ye sleep well?”

“Ah did, thanks fer askin.”

She stretched, shaking herself out once he was on his hooves himself. She ‘pulled’ out her brush from her satchel with her magic and began trying to tame her mane and tail as he moved away from her—albeit reluctantly. The morning was slightly chilly even though the sun was rising—desert nights were extremely cold, and she’d forgotten that. Trouble Shoes turned to ask her what she wanted for breakfast and watched silently as the bluesteel unicorn mare combed out her royal blue and indigo streaked mane and tail.

“Ah never knew yer mane was so long,” he murmured, and she turned to look at him, blinking in surprise.

“Is---is it now? Hmm…mayhap one might need a trim if it is getting too long…”

“Nah…ya don’ need a trim, sugarcube. Yer fine jest as ya are.”

Skyward chuckled, giving him a warm smile, and trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She braided back part of her mane, securing it in place, then turned to offer her own help with cooking their morning meal, which consisted of hot cornmeal porridge with honey, jalapeno fritters, potatoes and more cholla buds he had gathered sometime in the past with onions and hot chiles, and some hay bacon, plus cider to drink.

After they had eaten and they had done the dishes, they came out into the slowly warming morning sunlight. The air smelled as if somepony had scrubbed it clean, plus the scent of wet dirt and plants filled their noses. Trouble Shoes sniffed the air—a familiar scent caught his nose, and he smiled. He glanced at Skyward, who was watching a snake close by. The snake wasn’t a western Equestrian bronze-back rattlesnake; it was a non-venomous sandsnake. She was keeping her distance and watching it carefully.

“C’mon…Ah wanna show ya somethin’.”

Curious, Skyward cocked her head at the big stallion, glancing back at the snake, who was wriggling under a rock close by. “Hmm? What is it?”

He grinned at her. “Follow me an’ find out, Sky.”

She chuckled as she followed him into the forest once again.

“Hey…close yer eyes a second?”

Puzzled and a little wary, Skyward did so. She felt Trouble Shoes nudge her forward, but he did guide her around rocks in her path so she wouldn’t trip over them, and she felt the temperature rising slightly, meaning that they had left the forest proper and were now in the desert scrub area.

“Might one open mine eyes now?”

She heard him chuckle, and bit back the surge of heat that rippled through her at hearing that deep laugh of his. “Go ahead, Sky. Ah think yer gonna love what yer gonna see.”

The Haylian mare opened her eyes…and they widened in amazement at the beautiful sight spread out before her.

“Oh…my…”

Where had once been a blandish landscape of browns, dull greens, grays, black and beige, now was a riot of explosive color. All of the cacti in their vicinity were in blossom because of that downpour, and hundreds of cactus blossoms were now in bloom. Their scent and color flooded the area around them; Skyward moved forward; she didn’t get too close, for fear of getting spiked, but the blossoms were so pretty, she just had to see them.

“So…there is beauty in the desert if thou knowest where to look,” she murmured, reaching out to touch a deep pink blossom carefully with one hoof.

“Yeah…yer right ‘bout that,” Trouble Shoes replied, but his eyes weren’t on the desert flowers. He glanced at her, then at the flowering cacti around them. His eyes lighted on a big flower—it was the color of a ripe plum. He carefully plucked it, wincing as some of the spines poked him when he did so, but he got it off the plant. He moved close to her, making sure to make some noise so she heard him. Skyward turned, her left ear perking at his hooves on the rocks, and when she turned to regard him…

She carefully took the blossom in her hooves that he offered her and nuzzled it, inhaling the sweet, gentle scent. “It is beautiful…”

The Clydesdale-esque stallion gently tucked it behind her ear, and she blushed, reaching up to touch it before she smiled up at him.

“Thank ye…it is lovely. I shalt treasure it always.” Trouble Shoes chuckled at her, his eyes warm and soft as he gazed upon the bluesteel unicorn mare, surrounded by desert flowers, and one tucked behind her ear. “Yer welcome, Sky.”

He slowly crossed to her…he gently nudged her with his muzzle, before he lifted one hoof and tenderly caressed her muzzle. She leaned into his touch, lifting one hoof to rest it against his own, turning her muzzle slightly into his hoof and closing her eyes briefly before looking up at him again.

Leaf green locked with royal blue, each seeming to get closer…and closer…

“Skyward! Trouble Shoes! Where are you guys?”

The two ponies parted swiftly as a certain purple baby dragon rounded the corner, waving at them. “Hey you two! Been looking all over for you guys!”

Trouble Shoes coughed, shaking his head. “Were ya now, Spike? Mah apologies—Ah jest wanted t’ show Skyward what it’s like out ‘ere after a good rain.”

The baby dragon gave him a thumbs up and a big wink—Skyward was nosing a couple of yellow cactus blossoms and missed the deep blush on the stallion’s muzzle as a result. “Oh I can’t blame you for that! Isn’t it great? Everywhere’s like this where you find cactus! It’s amazing! Oh, that reminds me—the others sent me to find you guys. They want you both to come on back!”

Skyward wet her lips before she spoke, tilting her head at the baby dragon. “Art thou sure?”

Trouble Shoes shook his mane out of his eyes. “Ah’m gonna say it now, if Braeburn Apple’s got a problem with Sky, he’s gonna have a problem wit’ me.”

Spike snorted, waving a four clawed hand at the two ponies. “Nah. You don’t have to worry about him. Trust me. Everypony gave him a good piece of their mind last night, and we all want you both to come back. And we still need help too—there’s a lot of wood and stumps that gotta be moved before tonight’s bonfire. That, and you’re our friends! We’re not just gonna leave you two out of everything.”

Skyward and Trouble Shoes exchanged glances before the huge stallion nodded his head. “Awright then. Yer sayin’ there’s more wood t’ be hauled out?”

Spike nodded. “Ee-yup. But this time it’s gotta be taken to the train station—they’re gonna sell the lot of it elsewhere. It’ll benefit the town for sure! And Trouble Shoes, you can bring your cabin with you, so you won’t have to go too far if you don’t feel comfortable sleeping in Braeburn’s house.”

The big stallion nodded again, and then looked thoughtful for a moment, before glancing at his companion. “Why don’ ya run on ahead, Skyward? Ya can let th’ others know Ah’m comin’.”

“Art thou sure? I do not wish thou to think me lazy,” she said with a distressed look, glancing around, and blinked when he nudged her gently.

“Yer anythin’ but, sugarcube. Truth be told, it’ll be a big help iffen ya did, cause ya can set things up fer me. Once Ah git there, Ah can jest hitch m’self t’ the wagon an’ come on down t’ help ya’ll.”

“That’s a great idea, Trouble Shoes! C’mon, Skyward, let’s get going! Those trees aren’t gonna plant themselves!”

Skyward nodded, but she turned back towards the great stallion and nudged him with her muzzle, giving him a warm smile before she turned and ran after Spike. Because her back was turned, she didn’t see him sigh softly and smile after her…

Nor did she see the warm look in his green eyes.

*****************************

An hour and a half later found Skyward meandering through the streets of Appleloosa—she had on another Haylian style tunic and her cloak, her sword and shield hidden under the cloak proper. It would be a bit longer before Trouble Shoes got to Braeburn’s ranch-house, and she had already gone and set the wagon up for him, helped clear some creosote bushes from near a few more apple trees, and she had also made some fresh lemonade for anypony who wanted some—she made damn sure there’d be more than enough. The cactus flower wasn't behind her ear—when she had returned to the ranch-house with Spike, she had gotten compliments about the desert blossom in her mane.

She had asked Rarity if there was any way she could preserve the flower as it was, and Rarity had started on designing a mane-pin for Skyward with the desert flower sealed in a thin sheet of clear crystal as the centerpiece. When the fashionista had slyly asked who had given her the flower, the ivory unicorn mare had given her a knowing grin at seeing the tell-tale shy smile on the bluesteel unicorn mare’s muzzle and gave her an approving nod. However, the fashionista needed a new set of sewing needles, and Skyward had offered to go get them for her while she worked on her new mane-pin.

She had gotten the needles, and was now making her way back to the ranch-house. The sound of a guitar caught her attention, the light, gentle strains of music reaching her ears, and she perked them, turning her head towards the sound—and the player. He had a flying bald eagle clutching a guitar in its talons as a cutie mark, and his coat was a deep, rich golden color. His sock markings were a brown so deep it was almost black, and his mane was the same way—you couldn’t tell if it was black or brown. His eyes were the same color. He wore a broad brimmed brown hat and a brown vest. The strings hummed out a gentle yet melancholy tune at the strange pony’s touch.

It seemed heart-achingly sad, as if the guitar itself was weeping. The dark gold coated stallion began to sing—he had a decent voice to be sure; he was already drawing a crowd. The lyrics of the song, however, caught Skyward’s attention and she stopped to listen. The words plucked more than one heartstring for the bluesteel unicorn mare as she slowly turned towards the singer, ears pricked and quietly listening. She wasn’t the only one drawn in by the lone singer on the stage, thankfully, but the words of the song…

Skyward sat back hard on her hindquarters as the sorrowful song continued her breath short in her lungs and tears burning her eyes, but with a herculean effort she forced them back. The song was perfectly describing how she was feeling now. Her home was calling her, calling her to save it. So many lives had already been lost, and more would be lost still, especially if she didn’t fulfill her destiny as the Heroine of Time.

And yet…

Was it wrong, was it selfish, to wish to be loved?

Especially when she may very well have found somepony who actually did care for her, and see her as she was?

She bit her lower lip so hard she tasted her own blood, trying to hide her inner emotional agony. The song was deeply affecting her, and she knew why.

Granted she’d never been in love before. But now? She wondered if she truly was.

And she knew she was torn: torn between duty towards her destiny and the love she had undoubtedly found here.

Skyward bowed her head, grateful for the other ponies and her cloak’s hood concealing her from sight as hot tears escaped from her eyes and they trickled down her cheeks. She drew in a shaky breath, her heart feeling as if it were going to burst from her chest with the amount of emotions running through it.

The bluesteel unicorn mare shook her head, brushing at her eyes and swallowing the lump in her throat. She managed to sneak out of the group of ponies, but not before levitating a few Bits for the singer in question and tossing them towards the slim Kiger mustang colored stallion like others were doing. She focused and teleported—right by the river near Braeburn’s ranch-house. She stared at the water, shaking a little and trying not to start crying—she stomped her front hooves in rising distress, hissing Haylian curses between her teeth.

Nothing to fight, nothing to take her anger and pain out on, she didn’t know what the buck she was going to do, other than snap at the wrong pony…

Hearing loud hoofbeats behind her, her ears turned backward. She could tell it was a mare…not a stallion—thank Farore for that…

“Ya okay sugarcube?”

Skyward turned around—it was Applejack. The orange farmpony looked at her friend in concern—she could tell Skyward had been crying. Mutely, the royal blue and indigo maned/tailed unicorn mare shook her head and turned back to look at the rushing water below her. Concerned, Applejack came over to sit by the Haylian unicorn she called ‘sister’.

“Hey now. Ya wanna tell me what’s chewin’ yer tail, sis?”

“I…I know not what to do, Applejack. One is being torn in twain…duty, or love? How dost one choose? How canst one choose?”

The orange farmpony rubbed her chin, removing her hat and blowing out a breath. Boy howdy Skyward definitely didn’t pull punches that was for sure.

“Ah’m not sure what th’ problem is, sugarcube…wanna elaborate?”

Skyward bit her lower lip. “Mine duty is to mine country…mine home. One art the Heroine of Time. The only pony who apparently can aid mine Princess in defeating Ganondorf. And yet…”

Applejack waited; she could tell this was serious. Skyward wasn’t a mare that cried easily—or cried on the inside or in private. For her to be weeping openly like this—something was wrong.

The bluesteel unicorn mare sucked in a unsteady breath and began to speak. “Princess Luna told one, long and long ago…that one might find more than friendship here. She wast right. But…as well…one is afraid. Some ‘Bearer of Courage’ I turned out to be…”

The blond maned mare cocked her head. “Afraid? Afraid of what? To fall in love with somepony?”

The Haylian mare shook her head, tears once again spilling from her eyes. “Nay…being…being touched by a stallion. The Zora Prince…he wast…less than…”

Applejack’s eyes narrowed to emerald green slits—she hated being right at times. Skyward’s behavior when she had spoken of the Zora Prince now made a lot more sense, and she sorely wished it hadn’t. When she spoke her voice was low and rough with anger...but that anger was not directed at her 'sister'. “What did that bucking horseapples fer brains try to do to ya?”’

Skyward sniffled. “One…one told Rarity about this, in Hayrule before we descended to the Ocean Gate Fortress. But…Goddesses…one wasn’t sure if one could tell anypony else…”

“Take yer time. This ain’t easy fer ya, Ah can see that. Just take a breath. What did that slimy riverworm do to ya?”

“He ambushed one…grabbed mine hind legs…he…licked me betwixt mine hind legs, more than once…if not for Rarity one wouldst hath been trapped in a breeding den with the bucking son of a hydra…”

Applejack didn’t think anypony could see red, but she knew she was right now. It made sense how frightened and upset Skyward was now—some oversexed stallion who had used his cock instead of his brains had almost raped her kin-sister and now she was suffering for it. Thankfully the bright side was, he hadn’t succeeded. But the damage had been done—and Skyward was now unsure about physical intimacy with a male. Especially now, since she had apparently now found a stallion who wasn’t just interested in her…but could very well be in love with her.

“Aww, sugarcube. Now ya listen here. Ah can’t imagine how hard it is fer ya right now.”

“One feels so debased…like a cheap tavern whore…”

Applejack instantly snorted. “Yer anythin’ but, Skyward. Nah—ya listen here t’ me. Yer nothin’ of the sort. Yer not th’ type to go lettin’ any stallion approach ya and try t’ mount ya after a few flowery words an’ a glitterin’ gift or two. If Ah’m right, ya probably bucked them in the muzzle if they even tried anythin’ stupid before ya were ready for ‘em, right?”

The bluesteel unicorn mare nodded, and Applejack nodded at her. “There ya go. But ya know what…Trouble Shoes may jest be the stallion fer ya. He’s been patient with ya so far, an’ downright sweet. An’ despite the fact he’s klutzy, Ah know he ain’t stupid. Ah think he knows how skittish ya are considerin’ how he’s seen ya act around Braeburn.”

“But thine cousin…thine cousin is no slavering sex crazed pervert hay-bent on mating and buck everything else under the sun and moon…”

Applejack hugged her friend and kin-sister, and Skyward broke down and sobbed into the orange farmpony’s shoulder. The blond maned mare nuzzled her in comfort, knowing this had to be absolute torture for the bluesteel unicorn.

“Yeah, yer right. My cuz wouldn’t lay a hoof on ya like that, and neither would Trouble Shoes. Jest between us mares—ya woke up this mornin’ and what did ya see?”

“Just…well…he wast curled ‘round me. Just…there, sleeping. And yet, he looked so comfortable.”

“That’s it? Jest snuggled up to ya, keepin’ ya warm?”

Skyward nodded, sniffling and rubbing one forehoof across her eyes. Applejack rubbed her back with one hoof, trying to soothe further.

“Trouble Shoes might not look like it, but he's a real gentlestallion. He coulda done other things, but he didn’t. Says a lot ‘bout a stallion’s character if they got a sexy mare in bed with ‘em an’ they don’t do a thing unless ya outright tell him ya want him. Ah’d say give him a solid chance, sugarcube.”

Skyward half laughed, half snorted at that, shoving a grinning Applejack, before her smile faded at a dark thought that poked into her brain. “Tch…and what then, should he ask about…”

“Well…ya tell ‘im th' truth. That ya had a nasty run in with a jerk of a stallion back where yer from, an’ he tried to make ya his, ya weren’t havin’ any of it, an’ he attacked ya. Ya don’ need to go into details. Ah don’ think that’s gonna scare him off. Ah think that’s only gonna get him riled an’ want t’ protect ya.”

“And yet…one is supposed to be courageous…”

Applejack snorted. “Yer not a coward. Nah—ya listen here. There’s fear, and there’s a mare’s fears. Ya got captured by some insane madpony hay-bent on tryin’ to prove yer from another world. Then ya got that fish-finned bucking idiot who didn’t know how to take no fer an answer, an' try t’ mate ya without a ‘by yer leave’. Sweetie, yer anythin’ but a coward. Yer a mare too, with a mare’s wants, needs an’ fears. That’s what ya gotta understand; Heroine of Time ya may be, but yer a pony too. An' ya can talk to any of us 'bout this. We're here for ya, sugarcube.”

Skyward shook her mane out of her face, wiping at her eyes with one hoof. “And yet…mine duty. I do not wish to shatter his heart. What if one must go back home and…one cannot return? T’would break me to hurt him so…”

Her voice broke mid-sentence, and the orange farm-mare hugged her. “Ya hear what’s comin’ outta yer muzzle right now? Ya care enough ‘bout ‘im to think about him before yer thinkin’ bout yerself. That’s what real love is, Skyward. And, Ah’m sure the Princesses’ll have an answer fer that. Try to have hope, Skyward; Ah know it’s painful—Ah’ve pined over a coupla stallions mahself…ya didn’ hear that from me, mind ya.”

The Haylian mare managed a watery chuckle. “Hear what? One must hath water in mine ears.”

Applejack grinned at her. “Exactly! Now, c’mon. Let’s get back to the ranch-house an’ get th’ rest of those saplin’s planted—Trouble Shoes is gonna be here any minute since he’s bringin’ his cabin-wagon close by.”

Skyward splashed some water on her muzzle, and she turned to follow the orange coated mare back into the apple orchard. Though her heart still weighed heavy with her great-uncle's legacy, a smile came unbidden to her muzzle when she saw Trouble Shoes trot into the vicinity and wave to her, smiling at her warmly as she crossed to his side and greeted him.

Applejack grinned at the two ponies over her shoulder; anypony had to be blind, deaf and dumb as a box of rocks to not see the warmth and affection the two ponies had for one another. Skyward laughed at something he said and lightly shoved him with one hoof, saying something in return...then squeaked and bolted when he made a grab for her with a wicked grin on his muzzle. He chased her around before he playfully shoved her in the water trough--and she popped up soaking wet and sprayed him with a jet of water from her horn, laughing hysterically.

"Hey ya two! C'mon and quit playin' around, we got work t' do!" the orange farmpony hollered, but was unable to stifle the grin on her face and the laughter that echoed from not only them, but the rest of their friends as well.

It was going to be a great day--and it only promised to get better.

Prelude to Battle

As Celestia’s fiery orb slowly climbed through the Appleloosan skies, the group of ponies plus one dragon worked at planting the rest of the apple trees, culling the broken ones, and pulling out more stumps from the ground. Trouble Shoes and Braeburn hauled the cut wood to the train station so Sheriff Silverstar could find a buyer for it.

The rain had cooled things off, and there was quite a bit more cloud cover in the sky than normal, so the day promised to be a nice one. Skyward blew out a breath, wiping the sweat from her brow with one forehoof as she coiled her back legs…

“Now, Skyward!”

Applejack’s command rang out, and the two mares lashed out with twin powerful strikes, sending another stump rolling into the large pile on a bare patch of earth at least about 150 feet away from the house.

“Hooo-weee! That’s the last of ‘em,” the orange farmpony proclaimed, and the Haylian mare chuckled, but cast a judging look over the orchard they had helped plant. Thankfully the dirt was still wet, so it made it a little easier to dig holes and it wasn’t so dusty. “Art thou certain we got every last one, Applejack?”

“Let’s check on everypony t’ be sure, sugarcube.”

The orange coated mare looked around before putting a comforting hoof on her friend’s back. “Ya’ll okay?”

“…One wilt be in time. At least, one hopes wilt be.”

Applejack patted her withers gently. “Ya got us, sugarcube. Yer not alone, Ah told ya this. How ‘bout we all sit down sometime an’ have a good talk ‘bout it? It’ll help ya get it off yer chest an’ come t’ terms with it. Plus, Twilight might be able t’ find a psychiatrist fer ya—ya know, a mind healer?”

The bluesteel unicorn mare nodded; being able to talk about those kinds of things with other mares who understood what she had gone through was a great help. “Tis a shame we do not hath such healers in Hayrule…”

“Mebbe ya can ask Princess Zelda ‘bout settin’ somethin’ like that up?”

“Perhaps…but it wilt take time. Tis’ a fine idea, nonetheless. Many mares hath suffered worse…they should be able to discuss such matters with them and know tis’ not their fault some Goddesses-damned lust crazed idiot hurt them so badly.”

The blond maned and tailed mare nodded at her, then grinned and pointed over her shoulder. Skyward turned and snickered---lighting her horn she grabbed Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in her magic before they could fall from the mini pony tower they had made trying to get at a big, juicy red apple hanging from a branch. The Haylian unicorn mare grabbed the apple in her aura and pulled it down, and using her sword, cut it into three pieces and gave it to the girls, cleaning her blade free of apple juice.

“Getting hungry, little ones?”

Scootaloo had already stuffed the apple piece into her mouth, but she was nodding while she was chewing. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle took their pieces and nodded their heads.

“We’re starvin’! When’s lunch?”

Skyward glanced at Applejack, who nodded at her. “Think we’re gonna break fer lunch then, we’ll see jest how much more needs t’ be done. Skyward, can ya take them back t’ the house an’ get them somethin’ t’ eat? We’ll be along in a bit.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare nodded and levitated all three fillies, who giggled as they continued to eat their apple pieces while she cantered back to the house. Granny Smith, Honey Crisp and Peachy Sweet were there, helping to lay out a feast for the workers when they got back. Skyward lent a hoof, carrying plates and bowls filled with delicious food to the table, and making sure all three Cutie Mark Crusaders were fed.

Apple and cabbage slaw, wheatgrass, corn and chile salad, jalapenos stuffed with cheese and deep fried, and Skyward got to making more pumpkin soup since everypony, much to her surprise and delight, really liked the stuff. Fresh apples, prickly pears, apple and pear fritters, sweet cakes with pear jam, cherry tarts, zap apple jam, fried cactus slices, hay bacon and hay burgers…

There was milk, cider, water and even hard cider for the adults. Skyward even baked some of her pumpkin bread, which drew a lot of attention from the other mares from the delectable smell. Cherries Jubilee, a beautiful dark and light crimson maned and tailed cream-colored mare with a double cherry cutie mark, tried a piece of the chocolate pumpkin bread and squealed in delight.

“Yer a right fine cook there, Skyward! This here pumpkin bread is deeeee-lious! An’ Ah usually don’ like pumpkin!”’

“One is glad thou likes it so much, milady,”

“Awww, never ya mind ‘th ‘lady’ part! Just call me Cherries Jubilee, sweetpea!”

Applejack nudged her side as the orange farmpony came up beside the bluesteel unicorn mare, who chuckled at her. The mares turned their heads as they heard and saw the other ponies coming up the road from the apple orchard, just as Trouble Shoes and Braeburn came back with empty wagons themselves. It turned out somepony from Canterlot was looking to purchase firewood, and it didn’t matter to the pony in question what kind.

“Hey ya’ll!”

"Looks like we came back jest in time fer eats!"

Applejack waved at them with a big grin. “Bout time ya’ll got back—c’mon an’ come get yer grub!”

The two stallions shook themselves once they had slipped out from under the yokes connecting them to their respective wagons and approached the laden tables. The big stallion approached Skyward, who was dishing up another helping of wheatgrass corn and chile salad—she turned and smiled at him, offering him the plate she was 'holding' in her magic and asking him what else he wanted. She dished up a bowl of pumpkin soup, prickly pears, two slices of her pumpkin bread, four hayburgers with hay bacon and a cluster of stuffed jalapenos. She floated the plate for him over to a table close by and poured him a cup of fresh lemonade.

Applejack beamed at her ‘kin-sister’ as she went to go make more lemonade—she caught Trouble Shoes’ eye, and gave him a big wink and a huge grin, jerking her head at Skyward, who was levitating more lemons in her magic over to a large clean wooden tub, and casting a spell on them to triple their size—more juice that way. The Clydesdale-esque stallion blushed and turned back to his meal, the orange farmpony snickering behind one hoof at his discomfiture.

Turning away from that amusing sight, the blond maned and tailed mare spotted her cousin talking to Cherries Jubilee. She glanced at him, then at Skyward, who was busily cutting up the lemons, separating the seeds and putting them aside to be planted elsewhere, squeezing out every bit of juice she could get from them, and measuring out fresh, cold water she had conjured to make her lemonade.

It was time to set things straight. She walked over to Braeburn while Cherries Jubilee was talking to Peachy Sweet and nudged him.

“Hey, Braeburn. Don’ ya have somethin’ ya wanna say t’ somepony?”

The amber maned stallion paused, then nodded, setting down his drink and approaching the bluesteel unicorn mare, who was at another table making more lemonade and measuring out more of the honey syrup she had used—the same stuff she had used for making Haylian honeyed fruit. He clicked his hoof against the ground and her ears twitched towards him—she looked up, spotted him…

He saw her tense up, ears sliding back a little, and he realized that yes, she wasn’t afraid of him, but she was very wary of his presence, and he removed his hat, ducking his head a little to adjust his posture.

“Skyward…Ah’m real sorry fer what Ah said t’ ya. It was wrong of me t’ insult ya like that. Yer not a nag an’ yer sure no prissy pony t’ be sure. Ah was wrong t’ hurt yer feelin’s like that…and Ah’m right grateful fer all the help you’ve given. Ah hope ya can forgive me.”

Skyward eyed him before she ‘set down’ the bottle of honey syrup she had made, shook her mane back from her line of sight and nodded at him. “One accepts thine apology, Braeburn Apple. Thou mayest wish, however, to remember this. The next mare thou meet might not be so forgiving. Think before thou speak next time.”

Skyward nodded over at Cherries Jubilee, who was deep in conversation with Peachy Sweet and Pink Lady Apple. “She wilt be a good mate for thou, but only if ye treat her right. Understand?”

The amber maned stallion flushed at the words she used, but he nodded his head solemnly at her before he turned back towards the crimson maned and tailed mare and walked towards her.

“Wiser words ever spoken, Sky. Jest hope he remembers ‘em.”

Skyward, feeling a little mischievous, shot a playful grin up at Trouble Shoes as she added the honey syrup to the lemonade in the wooden tub. “Well, thought one wouldst take a leaf out of the master’s book this time. If anypony knowest how to treat a mare right, it would be thou, would it not?” she chuckled, and he laughed, nudging her side, and she playfully pushed back against him before she offered him a cup of the lemonade she’d made, asking him to taste it.

Cherries Jubilee smiled broadly, nudging Applejack, who had come to grab a mug of cider herself, earning a curious look from the farmpony.

“Applejack, am Ah seein’ things, or is he…”

The orange coated mare smirked, nodding over at the bluesteel unicorn mare tilting her head at Trouble Shoes, who was saying something to her and she nodding, turning to add a bit more honey syrup to the lemon and water mix, throwing in some sliced lemons as well. But while she was doing that, anypony else could see the soft look in his eyes he had when he was watching her.

“Head over hindquarters fer Skyward? Hay yeah he is, an’ the feelin’s mutual. Problem is th’ two of ‘em are too dang shy t’ even say somethin’ t’ one another.”

The dual toned crimson maned mare shook her head, repressing the urge to squeal like a young filly when she saw the affectionate looks the two ponies were sneaking at one another when they thought nopony else was looking. The two Earth Pony mares hid giggling, knowing looks and excited squeals when Skyward got some of the honey syrup on her right hooftip and began licking it off, unaware of the sudden furious blush on Trouble Shoes’s muzzle when he saw her doing that. Or the fact he snuck over to a nearby table, picked up a pint of hard cider and slammed it back in one go, before he set the empty mug back down and moved back to his original position behind the Haylian mare, trying to act as if nothing was wrong when she looked back towards him.

“Oooohh those two…sweeter than cherry cheesecake, look at ‘em!”

Finished making the fresh lemonade, and putting the seeds in a cup close by, Skyward went to get her own food, Trouble Shoes following her for seconds. The two ponies filled their plates and went to sit under a huge apple tree close by, which cast a large patch of shade to settle into.

Both Skyward and Trouble Shoes were sitting close to one another, the Cutie Mark Crusaders near their hooves as they all ate their meals. To an outside observer, one would think they were a family. The three fillies were sleepy after eating their food and helping to move brush, broken branches and taking buckets of smashed and rotting fruit to the compost pile, and Skyward could tell they were ready to sleep.

She removed her cloak, enlarged it, spread it over the grass and levitated all three fillies onto it. She didn’t cover them with it because it was warmish outside—there was cloud cover, but no rain, thankfully.

“Hey, Trouble Shoes!”

The huge stallion got to his hooves, making a shushing motion with one hoof tip and jerking his head at the three snoozing fillies close by. “Big Boot, shush yerself or yer gonna wake those three…”

The pale purple coated stallion with a bright yellow puffy mane and tail, with a big colorful cowboy boot on his flank as a cutie mark nodded his head, looking apologetic. “C’mon, th’ others are havin’ a meetin’ about the upcomin’ shows for the rest of the rodeo tomorrow and the next two days—guess everypony busted their flanks all but good t’ git that boar an’ plant new trees.”

The Clydesdale-esque stallion nodded at his fellow rodeo clown pony and turned to Skyward.

“Ah’ll see ya at th’ bonfire later?”

She smiled at him, giving him a warm nod. “Aye, ye shall. Again, thank ye, for allowing one to stay with thou last night.”

He chuckled, moving close to her to give her a brief hug, which she returned, before he turned and cantered off with Big Boot. Skyward watched them leave, smiling softly to herself, before she levitated the three fillies and took them into the house proper to tuck them into their beds.

After doing so she went into Rarity’s room—the fashionista beamed upon seeing her.

“Perfect timing, Skyward! I was just about to come find you!”

Skyward pricked her ears, and Rarity beamed at her as she ‘lifted’ a lovely looking mane-pin from her dresser.

The desert flower Trouble Shoes had given her was now sheathed in a thin layer of enchanted crystal to keep it from dying, to preserve it at the peak of its beauty. The pin itself was crystal as well, so it looked like she was only wearing the flower in her mane.

“Rarity, it is beautiful…”

Skyward slipped it into her mane, just behind her right ear, and Rarity squealed, clapping her hooves together. “And it suits you perfectly! Ohhh, wait till Trouble Shoes sees that in your mane! I can’t wait to see the look on his face!”

Skyward blushed and the ivory unicorn mare laughed, then sobered, patting her shoulder. “How are you doing, darling? With what…ahem…you know…are you all right?”

Skyward sobered, knowing what the fashionista was talking about. “…One will be in time. Though…one did tell Applejack as well…she…suggested that I talk to all of thou about it…”

Rarity nodded her head, giving her friend a comforting hug. “Applejack is right, my dear. Something like this, is something you should talk with all of us about. None of us blame you for what happened, or would, you know that.”

“T’will hath to be later tonight, however. The little ones dost not need know about this.” Skyward muttered, and Rarity nodded her head seriously. “I agree. Now, could you be a dear and bring your tunics and your cloak back here? I’d like to check on them and make adjustments if necessary?”’

Skyward nodded—she went for her satchel, which she had left in Trouble Shoes’ cabin-wagon and she teleported back to Rarity’s room with the items in question.

“Would you be a dear and try this on for me, Skyward?”

Skyward ‘caught’ the item in question and blinked at it. “Ah—Rarity…what in Nayru’s name is…”

“Oh, it’s a twist on a dress idea I had for you. How do you like it?”

“Hmm…”

The dress was a simple one—it was two lovely shades of blue in a reverse gradient fashion, trimmed with silvery white: nothing fancy. The front ‘yoke’ part of the dress was a lovely midnight blue chest piece with a sea sapphire fastener shaped like a star, while the ‘barding drape’ that went over her back, flanks and tail was a lighter shade of blue, almost cornflower blue, also with white trim. Biting her lower lip Skyward slipped it on, knowing if she didn’t Rarity would get upset.

“Oh goodness! That looks stunning on you! Hmm…let’s see…”

“Rarity…ah...what is this for? Thou already gifted one a lovely gown for Hearth’s Warming…”

“Oh yes, but one was inspired by that lovely Goron ruby heart necklace you gifted me, so I just HAD to make something else! Ooh, do you think you can find any dress designs the next time you find…you know?”

“One cannot promise as such, Rarity, but one shalt try one’s best. Keep in mind what one must do,” Skyward warned.

“Oh, of course darling! Oh dear, I completely forgot about this…”

Rarity ‘held’ up the tunic that Rainbow Dash had used in Hayrule—she had to tear holes in it to allow for her wings. “I’ll mend your tunic and look at the others you’ve been wearing; you can wear that for the time being until they’re ready...in the meantime...”

“Skyward? Where ya at, sugarcube?”

“Oh, she’s in here, Applejack!”

The orange farmpony poked her head in and blinked. “Rare, yer not doin’ a dress fitting here are ya?”

“Celestia no! We would need to be home for that! That’s a new dress I made for Skyward—I wanted her to try it on! Also, well, her tunics need to be mended and since she feels more comfortable wearing something due to…”

The ivory unicorn mare tilted her head meaningfully as the lightbulb went on for the orange farmpony. “Oh. Ohhh, right! Well, Skyward, Ah’m gonna need yer help cookin’. The bonfire’s tonight an’ we’re gonna need a ton of grub for everypony.”

Skyward nodded as she followed the orange farmpony downstairs. Once they were downstairs proper, Applejack looked over at her and nudged her gently. “Ya gonna be all right in that, sugarcube?”

“One wilt have to be. At least it is not for long.”

“Jest so ya know, ya look real nice, okay?”

Applejack gave her ‘sister’ a hug, which was returned, before beckoning her into the kitchen, which was bustling with other mares. For the next four hours, Skyward was busy making pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, cornbread, apple and pear fritters. She mixed together a fruit salad—apples, pears, oranges and grapes, and turned to making cheese stuffed deep fried jalapenos next.

She even made four large tubs of lemonade, having to make more of her honey syrup next to ensure it was just sweet enough but not too sweet.

The other mares had made potato salads—two different kinds—deep fried onion petals, home fried potatoes, roasted hatch chile, tomato and corn salad, black beans and pinto beans, and a big pan of sautéed bell peppers and onions. Hay bacon, hay burgers, slabs of fresh farmer’s cheese and cheddar cheese, and fresh lettuce, onions and tomatoes were spread on a large platter, along with lots of different kinds of pickles.

Outside, two other stallions were raising a huge smoked hay roast into place on a massive platter on one of the tables being set up outside, getting ready to carve it.

Celestia’s sun was just slipping below the horizon, and the skies were getting darker by the second, little stars showing themselves in the dusk, a prelude to the moon’s luminous arrival. Huge tables were lit by large lanterns, showing the amount of food the mares had helped prepare.

The stumps were piled high and even though there had been a torrential rain, a little burst of unicorn magic had dried them off nicely. One of the other stallions went inside with an unlit torch and came back out with the tip of it burning away. He galloped over to the pile of stumps—threw it…

The torch landed in between two of the stumps and with a SNAP-CRACKLE, the dry wood began to catch fire, thanks to somepony shoving a bunch of dried kindling and tumbleweeds into a few crevices earlier. A cheer went up as the stump pile caught fire proper, a roaring blaze of red, orange, yellow and white licking at the night sky, which looked like a sea of stars with the rising moon as a brilliant silver ship on its dark, glittering waves.

Skyward, who had returned the dress and had gotten back into one of her tunics and her cloak, but had kept the mane-pin, came downstairs to feast with the others. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were also joining in the fun, so it meant the mares couldn’t talk about ‘adult’ topics with them running about.

The seven mares plus one dragon got their food— about two hours into helping to make the massive meal they were currently feasting on, Skyward had asked Rarity for help in procuring some gems for Spike; she had a few more Goron rubies she had gotten during Hearth’s Warming, so she had smashed them up for Spike to add to his food if he wanted, but told the fashionista they might not be enough. Rarity had gone out and returned with three baskets full of turquoise and even tossed in a couple of her sea diamonds from Sapphirine Bay.

They settled by a large tree to eat, and Rainbow Dash glanced around. The noise level coming from near the bonfire was considerable, and most ponies were concentrating on eating, dancing, or roasting marshmallows or apples at the fireside. She nudged Skyward, who cocked her head at her polychromatic maned friend.

“So ya got all three Goddess Stones…now what?”

Skyward frowned, letting her ears fall back, the firelight glittering off of the new mane-pin in her indigo and royal blue streaked mane. “Sheik said to one that they were the ‘keys’ that wouldst unlock the door to mine destiny. One does not see how.”

“Ya looked in any of these?” Spike asked, holding up the Ocarina of Time nann-ga in one claw, and Skyward shook her head. “Nay…one hath not had time considering everything that hath been happening of late.”

The purple unicorn mare lit her horn and levitated the Skyward Sword nann-ga she had been reading before they had gone to Appleloosa. “I’d suggest reading your ancestor’s stories, and your great grandsire’s and your other great granduncle’s too. So far all that past knowledge here is coming in pretty handy for your quest.”

“Actually, little Scootaloo is reading the Wind Waker book now. The little one hath trouble flying, so one taught her a technique that all Haylian pegasi are taught. Ironically, the technique itself is named after mine great uncle Wind Waker.”

Rainbow Dash blinked in confusion. “Uhhh…but you’re a unicorn? You kinda don’t have wings, Skyward.”

The Haylian mare nodded. “True enough, nonetheless, unicorns and Earth Ponies art taught those motions as well, to better understand our winged brethren so we may work with them, not just in battle, thou see. The book actually shows the wing motions to master wind currents as mine great uncle once did to traverse the Great Sea, and if thou hast noticed, Rainbow Dash, thou mayest yet see Scootaloo take wing all on her own someday soon.”

The polychromatic maned mare smiled at that. “That’ll be awesome when she does. Hey, can you teach me?”

“Umm…I would like to learn too…it might help me improve on my flight speed,” Fluttershy mused, and Skyward smiled.

“Aye, once Scootaloo finishes the book, or one would advise thee to get thine own—Twilight, dost the Golden Oak Library hath a copy or two?”

Twilight Sparkle ruminated, tapping her hoof against the grass beneath her. “Hmm…I think we do? I’ll have to check when we get back to Ponyville.”

Skyward nodded, turning back to look at the rainbow-maned mare. “One told her to look at the pictures, and how mine great uncle’s wings move from panel to panel. One told her to practice those movements every day, until she takes flight of her own accord.”

Rainbow Dash was about to say something else, but Fluttershy shushed them and subtly tilted her head to the left—she’d seen somepony coming their way. It turned out to be Cherries Jubilee, Braeburn at her side. The light and dark crimson maned mare waved to them jovially, earning smiles and waves from the others. “What are you girls gabbin’ about all th’ way out here, huh? C’mon an’ join the party!”

Braeburn nodded at them. “Yeah, Trouble Shoes rounded up his buddies, and all th’ rodeo clowns are puttin’ on a show!”

The seven mares plus one baby dragon grinned at one another as they cantered towards the large group of ponies and the laughter emanating from them. Spike paused, turning back towards where the group had been sitting. Had he heard something? He sniffed the air, tilting his head…

“Spike! Come on, you’re missing all the fun!” Twilight shouted back to him, and the little purple dragon shrugged and turned to follow his friends, cheering when the Haylian mare levitated a plate with three generously cut slices of her pumpkin bread to him. They were spread with vanilla frosting, which had been mixed with and absolutely coated with crushed turquoise and Goron fire rubies, just for him.

A pair of crimson eyes gleamed with amusement in the darkness, before they vanished into Faust knew where…

********************************************************************************************************

The mountains of Hayrule were inhospitable to most ponies…unless you were a Goron pony or had wings to soar on the winds that wound over and around them. However, deep within one particular mountain, a group of ponies were cleaning up the evening meal. The interior of the cavern was lit with crystals, giving off a soft light. Haylian Royal Guardsponies patrolled the interior of the great cavern—but on closer inspection, the cavern actually looked more like…

Like the interior of a temple, and not a cave proper. Ancient murals of Haylian lore covered the walls, odes to eras long past. Runes covered the top and bottom of the murals, and the floor beneath one’s hooves was aged green marble flagstones. In one large chamber, where a royal chaise lounge had been set up, along with silk hangings, finely woven rugs and mageflame sconces, was where life bustled inside the old temple proper.

Pegasi and unicorn mares hurried about, clearing plates, platters and a large soup tureen from an old but beautiful looking oaken table, where Princess Zelda herself reclined on an old looking but still quite lovely and plush chaise lounge.

The architecture in the temple itself was old—very old indeed—it had to date back to King Valion’s time, long before his daughter came to be. Nopony save Zelda likely knew the name of the temple proper, however, it had been converted into a sanctuary for the royal family if things ever went badly…

Which they had.

The refugees from Hayrule Castle Town were quartered close to Goron City—Zelda was very pleased to know that her courageous pupil had not only slain Dracolga, the scourge of Death Mountain Crater, but she had freed the Gorons and they were working hard on forging armor and weapons for the Haylian forces.

With a puff of white smoke, a familiar figure appeared before the honey blonde maned alicorn and bowed his head.

“Rise, Sheik. I take it then thine task is done?”

The crimson eyed Sheikah stallion stepped out of the shadows and shook himself before he spoke anew. “Ruyan hast been taken care of, Princess. He is no longer a threat to the Heroine of Time. His co-conspirators are being rooted out and taken care of.”

The alabaster hued alicorn nodded her head—it had pained her to order the Zora Prince’s demise, but it had been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he had more than overstepped his bounds and committed a grave crime—a crime that in Hayrule, death was the sole sentence for. Rape, or even attempted rape, was ruthlessly dealt with in Hayrule, and for good reason—the bond between a mare and a stallion was a sacred one, and adultery or rape was dealt with very harshly. King Zora was in mourning for his son—which was understandable, yet he knew too that Ruyan’s lust had more than gotten the better of him more than once before and landed him into situations only his sire managed to get him out of…

Until now. She hoped the Zoras would still wish to fight with them when the time came.

“And Skyward? How dost mine pupil fare? One doth not wish to trouble her dreams needlessly…”

“She is doing quite well, Your Highness. When last one looked, she was at a bonfire celebration with her new friends.”

A silvery white maned and tailed unicorn mare bearing a deep purple, almost black coat appeared soundlessly from the shadows and approached Zelda, bowing her head. Her cutie mark was the bloody eye of the Sheikah tribe and her eyes were the color of fresh blood. Her hoofwrappings were pure black, her tunic bearing the sigil of their tribe against the gray/white fabric. “Zelda, my dear Princess. The scouts hath reported confirmation of Prince Ruyan’s burial. Only the king knows the truth—the rest of the Zora think he and his sycophants died in battle against the Gerudo.”

Zelda nodded at both ponies’ news, smiling at the thought of her pupil having fun with other mares, but then sighed heavily. “So, it is done. Hah—one prays the Zora wilt not hold ill will for this…even with all at stake, Ruyan could never control himself…”

The deep purple coated unicorn mare shook her silvery mane. “Nay. King Zora informed one that he and his shalt still fight when the time comes. He blames the Gerudo for his son’s uncontrollable lust since he hast caught his son in bed with them before he attempted to...ahem. Well.”

Impa cocked her ears. “Mine princess…what of Skyward?”

Seeing the princess’s cocked eyebrow, the female Sheikah unicorn continued. “Surely thou canst allow her cutie mark to appear, now that the Goddess Stones art out of Ganondorf’s foul hooves? She hast done everything mine son hath asked of her, per your orders to him. From what Sheik hast told me she has done a fine job—if Time Link himself were here, he would be so proud.”

Zelda shook her head, biting her lower lip. “One agrees, however, I feel Skyward is not yet ready. Too soon for error, one feels. One must renew the glamour on her so her cutie mark dost not reveal itself…”

“NAY! THE TIME FOR LIES IS OVER!”

Sheik slammed his hoof against the floor with a resounding BANG, along with his furious outburst. His heart was pounding in his chest at what he was about to do, but he was tired of seeing Skyward being led thither and yon, being made fun of by other ponies and treated not as a mare but an adolescent pony because she apparently had no cutie mark, when she did in truth have it—she had it for years.

He had known her since she had come to Hayrule Castle to train under the princess, and he had watched over her, akin to a big brother watching over his little sister, albeit from the shadows. She had even made her father’s pumpkin soup for his mother when she had gotten sick, and it had helped Impa recover all the swifter. The time to act fully to rally their armies was not yet now, but they needed something…

Something only Skyward could give.

“Sheik! Silence yourself, colt!”

The blond maned, red eyed stallion spun around to face the deep purple colored mare—her coat color was so dark, it almost seemed black. “Shut thine muzzle, Mother. One hath had enough. Aye, one is Sheikah, our domain is the shadows. However, Skyward hath suffered enough! Not even Time Link, nor the past reincarnations throughout the ages suffered as much as she hath so far! Let her be who she is, let her cutie mark be revealed for all to see!”

Zelda looked startled and Impa strode forward, giving her son and pupil a good shove with one wrapped hoof, glaring at him with her blood colored eyes. “Sheik, what in the name of the Goddesses…why now? Ganondorf is weakened, aye, but now is not the time for this! Thou heard our princess, she is not ready!”

But the fiery eyed stallion faced his mentor and mother squarely, stomping his hoof again against the polished flagstone floor. “Nayru’s gleaming sapphire flanks, that is utter horseapples, Mother! Aye, now is the time, because hope is now what we need! For the Princess’s subjects need hope; and only Skyward can give it to them right now, since Her Royal Highness art in hiding, and she cannot appear due to the deadly risk we all know awaits beyond these sacred walls!"

Sheik snorted, tossing his head and almost dislodging his head and mane bindings. "Skyward must obtain the Master Sword, and make an appearance to bolster the troops, to give heart to ponies who art on the brink of despair! Let them see who their new Heroine is! Let them know Time Link’s legacy truly lives on in her! If hope is lost, all t’will be lost, and never mind what Skyward and her friends wilt accomplish! Aye—two of her friends crossed the portal with her, and they helped her win the day for not only the Zora, but for Hayrule as well,” the crimson eyed stallion snapped at his mother, turning to glare at his ruler pointedly.

The other ponies were in shock—one of the Sheikah, sworn to the royal family, speaking out against the Princess herself?! Un-bucking-thinkable!

“Sheik! Shut thine muzzle right this moment! How dare thou address our princess so…”

“Nay.”

The silver/white maned and tailed dark purple mare with bloody crimson eyes turned towards her Princess, who had risen from her chaise lounge and approached them. During the heated exchange he was having with his mother and mentor, the princess of Hayrule was concluding that maybe, Celestia and Luna had the right of things in their world, and while Hayrule was drastically different in many ways…in others, not so much. Skyward had grown in many ways, ways she was pleased to hear about from Sheik, who she had sent to keep an eye on her pupil without her knowing. There were spells that allowed her to send one pony into Equestria but only for a short time--when the spell's timer expired, the pony in question, in this case, Sheik, would be pulled back into Hayrule from where the spell had been cast.

“Sheik is right, Impa. He hath a very strong point. I sense thou hath more to say?”

The straw colored maned stallion nodded. “I do. Tis very important, as well. Know this—after one helped them escape the Goddess Stone Chamber, none of them desired to leave me to face Ruyan and his co-conspirators alone. Even though two of them were the living embodiment of Loyalty and Generosity and Skyward wast the one who wast assaulted by that foul wretch, she still stood strong with her friends; wanting to help one with ensuring Ruyan’s arrest, simply because, they did not wish to abandon one. They saw me as one of their own, as a dear friend, willing to stand by mine side to aid me in the battle to come. Because of those mares in that far off land of Equestria, Skyward hath been taught something that thou utterly failed to teach her, Princess—something that would hath helped the other Heroes of Time throughout the ages greatly.”

Zelda’s beautiful cerulean eyes blinked in confusion, tilting her regal head at the smaller unicorn stallion, who faced her unerringly. “And what lesson wast this?”

“Friendship. The fact she hath created such strong bonds with those mares; that wast her saving grace. One watched whilst she clashed with her dark double—ye remember Time Link, and how he faced his own shadow in battle? So too did thine pupil, in the Ocean Gate Fortress. However, her friends stood for her, stood at her side in battle. They aided her in destroying her darkness and helping her come to terms with the fact that aye, shadow lurks in all of our souls, including the past heroes of our world.”

Sheik began pacing, as if he were in front of a grand trial panel and not his princess, his mother/mentor and the rest of the Princess’s guards and hoofmaidens, turning to face Princess Zelda squarely.

“Time and again, hast thou not lamented to Impa or I, how thou wished your student wouldst make friends with other ponies? Aye she has her ‘battle band’…well, from what is left of them from the evacuation from Hayrule Castle Town—Golden Marble, Full Sail, Divine Design, even though he is thou personal tailor, Princess, it matters not. But she hath never fully gotten to know them, dedicating herself fully to the Arts of the Goddesses, ever since those two bucking arrogant morons hurt her so badly. With those two mares, and from mine forays into their world, one hath seen how she interacts with all six mares together. Never hath one seen truer allies, truer friends who stand by her when she needs them most, and it goeth the other way ‘round as well! Hay, there is even a young dragon who…aye, thou heard me right, a young dragon. One that lives with ponies and thinks no foul thoughts of eating them. He even plays with young foals, for Goddesses’ sake!”

Murmuring ran throughout the vast cavern as Sheik shook his mane out of his crimson eyes, pointing one hoof at his princess as if it were a spear.

“For the first time in her life that mare is actually happy. She hath even taught them Haylian culture, spells, made food for them! She even calls the element of Honesty her kin-sister! And before thou asks—nay. She hath NOT forgotten her duty to Hayrule. Even now, one is certain she is discussing strategy with her newfound friends to face the next trial in store for her. Mayhap this is the answer to the problems we still face ever since thine celestial sire ruled before thee.”

Zelda pricked her ears, and the Sheikah unicorn stallion continued. “Methinks the power of friendship may yet be her greatest strength, Princess. If it can unite ponies across varied races in Equestria; where war is nonexistent, mayhap it may yet do the same here…and end the wars for good, Triforce or no.”

It was rare when a Sheikah pony spoke against the Princess’s word. But then again, Impa, besides Sheik were her closest advisors, and from the shadows did they keep an eye on things. Zelda tapped one hoof against the cool stone floor, thinking deeply. Her own interactions with the two Princesses in Canterlot were very pleasant, and she felt at ease around them.

“Thou speak with a sage’s tongue, Sheik. I am glad to know mine pupil is indeed happy with her new friends. One wouldst like to meet them---Princess Celestia and Princess Luna art certainly pleasant enough…and they hath told one about the Elements of Harmony. One supposes that wast those two ponies—two out of six?”

Sheik smiled gently at his Princess, shaking his mane. “Aye—Lady Rainbow Dash, the element of Loyalty, and Lady Rarity, the element of Generosity. It may yet serve thine best interests to go there thine self, Princess, for a time. We must get thou out of sight—Ganondorf is no fool, thou knowest this. And who knows? Thou might yet enjoy thine time in Equestria.”

“Perhaps, but one cannot reveal oneself to Skyward there. Not yet. It…it is not the right time.”

Impa shook her silvery white mane back. “Not the right time for that, nay. However—Sheik is right. It is time for Skyward to claim her great ancestor’s legacy. To give the ponies of Hayrule hope, and to strike fear into the heart of darkness. Nay, her trials art not yet over, however…this, she hath proven herself ready for. And she wilt need the Master Sword for her trials yet to come.”

Zelda looked thoughtful, before she slowly nodded. “Very well then. Sheik, hath Ganondorf any plans to open another portal?”

Sheik shook his head grimly. “Nay. None of the others hath seen him, or any of his creatures. The two Gerudo unicorn hags hath been silent as well. One presumes he is lying low in wait. He knows something is going on, Princess. All three Goddess Stones are out of his reach, still.”

The crimson eyed unicorn pony shook his mane. “One hath a bad feeling about this. I think he mayeth be angry about losing the stones…”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” The armored clatter of hooves in one of the hallways of the hidden temple like structure echoed—the Sheikah lit their horns, the guards preparing for a fight, Zelda opening her wings and lighting her own horn…

But it turned out only to be one of her pegasus scouts—Storm Runner. He was exhausted, his wings barely able to hold him, his black mane and tail soaked with sweat and his deep gray coat matted with it, his cutie mark that of winged storm clouds. He pulled off his helm, his sides heaving—two Sheikah unicorns rushed to his side to support him while one of Zelda’s hoofmaidens came forward to give him a cup of cool water.

“Speak, Storm Runner, what didst thou see? What is wrong?”

The exhausted pegasus stallion drank, before he all but panted out his next words. “Ganondorf—(puff) he hath summoned (huff) …summoned an army…an army of Bokoblins and Moblins, all on blood boars!”

Gasps, whimpers and virulent curses exploded in the chamber—an army of Moblins and Bokoblins were bad enough, but blood boars?

They were worse than the regular giant boars that the Moblins and Bokoblins rode—on the account that from their unholy birthing they would eat only flesh and drink only blood, and they had to be removed from the sow as soon as they were born—the sow wouldn’t hesitate to devour her own young considering the amount of blood from giving birth. They were trained to kill and eat ponies, but in truth they would sometimes turn on their own handlers and devour them as well. As a result, they would savage a pony and devour them on the spot…and it took about four to five of them to kill a fully trained Haylian soldier or war mage.

“Where art they headed, soldier? Speak!” Impa barked.

Storm Treader looked up at the commanding Sheikah mare. “They march even now to Lon Lon Ranch! They hath already razed Springleaf Village and art closing in on Goldseed Town--and that is the last settlement between them and Hayrule Field proper!"

Zelda’s eyes flared with pure wrath—she knew the answer to Ganondorf’s fury at being denied the Goddess Stones—blood, pain, and death for her people. “Impa. Sound the call, bring the 3rd Legion and Farore’s Armada to Hayrule Field. Sheik…”

“Aye, Princess?”

The alicorn’s cerulean blue eyes fixed on him. “To Equestria we shalt go. Thou must find Skyward, bring her to the gate of the Lost Woods, and tell her how to reach the Master Sword. We cannot wait for Ganondorf to open a new portal. We must open one ourselves. But it wilt take time…”

The princess beckoned to the red eyed stallion, who followed at her side. “Time one prays we have.”

Unseen, a pair of fierce royal blue eyes blazed in the shadows before they vanished from sight…

And reappeared in a tumble-down ancient ruin, moss growing on the aged stones, grand trees rising around them like a protective shield around the ancient ruin itself. The owner of the eyes was translucent, so that didn't stop him one bit from moving through the walls and trees. Sunlight peeked through the green leaves, giving the massive ruin a dappled appearance. Ancient archways and columns were covered with hanging ivy and encroaching brush, hiding ancient runes written on the pillars and on the crumbling walls, eaves and roof—what was left of them.

In the center of the ruin however, was what the pony had come to see.

The center of the ruin was a largish courtyard, but it was overgrown with a lush carpet of grass. In the center of the grass was a silvery stone pedestal—a pedestal that bore the symbol of the Triforce at its base.

The translucent pony regarded the ancient pedestal and the blade that was in it soberly.

“Serve her well, old friend. Awaken, and serve mine niece well, for she shalt have need of thee too.”

The ancient hero disappeared once more, leaving the clearing as it was, even as a single beam of sunlight reflected from the shining blade.

Sting of a Nettle

“Ya son of a no good, low-down yeller-bellied sap-sucker…”

“Missed me, seed fer brains!”

“Ah’ll show ya seed fer brains, ya buckin’ wet behind th’ ears lil’…”

A loud crash followed by more yells and uproarious laughter is what woke Skyward out of a sound sleep. Leaping out of the bed she was in she grabbed her sword and shield and teleported out of the cabin-wagon; she had opted to sleep within Trouble Shoes’ home once again, not comfortable about being under Braeburn’s roof.

She appeared outside, sword raised, shield up…

But when she saw what was going on, she rolled her eyes and sheathed her sword, shaking her unruly mane out of her eyes and letting out an annoyed snort, her ears slanting back as she yawned mightily.

Granted it was morning—the sun was up, but only just—she estimated it had to be about 7am in the morning or so. Trouble Shoes, Braeburn, and Big Boot were rough-housing close to the houses, shoving at one another, using their fore and rear hooves to psych the other stallion out, trying to catch and pin the other, and trying to get one another to give up.

Skyward rolled her eyes and turned to go back inside, shaking her head. “Tch, colts,” she muttered to herself, but she turned her head to watch Trouble Shoes. The big stallion had caught Braeburn and was shoving at him, trying to force him to back up, but the amber maned stallion was giving back as good as he could get; he wasn’t making it easy for the bigger stallion to push him.

Big Boot suddenly rushed in from the side—Trouble Shoes saw him coming and leaped backwards, letting Big Boot crash right into Braeburn with a yell and they went down with shouts, curses and male laughter, Trouble Shoes guffawing at them.

“Next time ya might wanna watch where yer aimin’, Big Boot, ya speared yerself an Apple,” he called out, only to earn a rude gesture from the stallion in question.

“Tch-ha! Save that fer yer wife!” Braeburn roared, and all three stallions howled with laughter.

Skyward yawned hugely and shook her head, pushing her mane out of her muzzle and rubbed her eyes as she went back inside the cabin-wagon, ‘lifting’ her sword and shield and putting them aside as she climbed back into the big bed and curled up in a ball under the sheets. It had been a long night—she hadn’t partied so hard like that in a long time. She lay there, drowsing for a little bit, then muttered a ripe Haylian oath about boisterous stallions as she pulled the pillow over her head, trying to block out the males’ raucous noises.

About two minutes later Trouble Shoes poked his head inside—the other two stallions were still ‘horsing’ around but he had seen a flash of blue out of the corner of his eye and he had looked up to see Skyward shake her head and walk back inside, still looking sleepy-eyed and holding her sheathed sword and shield in her magic. Wanting to check on her, he poked his head inside; and when he saw her pull the pillow over her head, he knew they needed to be quieter, they had likely awakened her and she had come outside to investigate the noise.

He’d let her have the bed, but she’d conjured a soft looking cloud for him to sleep on, and even cast a spell on him so he could sleep on a cloud without falling through it. The spell was similar to the one used on non-pegasi who visited the Citadel of Gales, where some, if not all of Hayrule’s pegasi population lived.

He walked over and he saw her head move under the pillow…he settled back on his haunches and tugged the blanket over her slim form he could just barely see under the sheets. He bit his lower lip, hoping he didn’t need to dive into the river…again…

He had to retreat to the river or douse himself from the rain barrel a few times last night—considering Skyward had danced with the other mares during a few country dances, and she even had danced with him a few times. The firelight had shimmered off her blue steel colored coat, lending her the hue of a warm, sensual violet. Her mane and tail had also reflected the flames, turning royal blue to a deep purple and the indigo to black…

Aside from her eyes, she looked amazing, her colors shifting back and forth between shades of blue and violet…

And at one point, she had even ‘grasped’ the flames in her magic and proceeded to perform a dance that had definitely sent him running for the river to cool himself off at one point, thankfully unseen. The dance was one he had never seen before anywhere in Equestria—but it involved her using the flames akin to veils, and even though she had been wearing a tunic and her cloak…

The movements she had been making had been more than enough to send desire crashing into him like a runaway train. He’d sat in the river for a good ten minutes, letting the chill of the water calm him down.

“Sky? Hey, Sky…ya awake?”

“Mmm…”

She pulled her head out from under the pillow, looking sleepily up at him, one royal blue eye gazing up at him tiredly—because the rest of her long, sleek mane was obscuring her face and muzzle.

Gently, he nuzzled her and tucked the blanket more securely around her. “G’wan back to sleep, sugarcube. Sorry if we woke ya—we’ll be quieter.”

Skyward blinked sleepily at him, nodding her head as she pulled her head out from under the pillow and curled up, closing her eyes to go back to sleep…but not before she nudged him with her muzzle prior to curling up and closing her eyes.

He brushed her royal blue and indigo mane out of her face, and nuzzled her cheek, taking in her scent as he looked down at her, taking in the sight beautiful mare who was sleeping in his bed. She smelled like spring rain and sweet, fresh grass—and of course, her own voluptuous feminine scent—something he couldn’t quite place, but something that made him melt emotionally and left an aching, pulsing need elsewhere physically. His heart skipped a beat when she rolled over and nudged him with her muzzle, before she had curled back up neat as you please and fell back asleep.

He went back outside and shut the door, and turned around…

To see Braeburn and Big Boot smirking at him. Braeburn grinned at him and shoved him with one hoof.

“Ya took yer sweet time in there, Trouble…”

Big Boot chortled. “Ah dunno, Braeburn, think we should we leave those two alone?”

“Pfft—ya do that, it’s jest goin’ t’ get noisier ‘round here, Ah reckon,” Braeburn replied with a shit-eating grin on his muzzle.

Trouble Shoes rolled his eyes, fighting a vicious blush forming on his muzzle, but he sharply waved a hoof at the two snickering males. “Shhh! Shut it; Ah don’ wanna wake Sky up; she’s goin’ t’ be right riled at us an’ Ah know neither o’ ya want her pissed off at ya.”

Muttering agreement—an angry mare, especially an angry, sleep deprived mare, was not somepony any wise stallion wanted mad at him—the three stallions moved further away from the houses to continue their rough-housing.

About two hours later Skyward came out of the cabin-wagon, feeling much more refreshed and wearing only a tunic, not feeling as if she needed her cloak. She went inside Braeburn’s house—Twilight Sparkle and Spike were there, munching away at plates of apple fritter flapjacks. There were apple fritter flapjacks, with pear jam, praline and caramel syrup, fresh honey, a bowl of fresh apples mixed with walnuts, biscuits and grass sausage gravy, sliced cheese and toast, orange juice as well as cider, milk, and hot tea.

“Morning, Skyward! How’d you sleep?” the purple unicorn mare asked.

“Well enough until three noisy stallions decided they wished to be colts instead earlier,” Skyward said with a shake of her head, and Spike laughed.

“Oh yeah. They woke up Applejack too and she ran right out of the house and threw apple cores at ‘em until they ran off somewhere.”

Skyward snorted into her orange juice and started coughing and laughing at the same time, shaking her head even as Spike offered her a napkin.

“Goddess—Goddesses…I wouldst hath paid Bits to see that,” she gasped as she wiped her eyes and muzzle, thanking Spike for his thoughtfulness, then ‘reached’ for some flapjacks, drizzling honey over them and dishing up some sliced up apples mixed with walnuts and honey.

Twilight chortled as she ‘refilled’ Skyward’s glass. “It was pretty funny. Sooo…you wanna come see the rest of the rodeo with us?”

Skyward bit her lip, pushing her food around on her plate. Even though she did want to see the rest of the rodeo—she honestly wanted to spend more time with Trouble Shoes, before they had to return to Ponyville…

After that…would she ever get to see him again?

A purple hoof landed on her own, and Skyward looked up to see Twilight Sparkle’s understanding smile and gentle look.

“Why don’t you finish eating and then go find Trouble Shoes?”

“…Is it that obvious?” Skyward asked ruefully, blushing a little bit, and Spike snorted. “Does Celestia raise the sun every day?”

“Spike!” the purple unicorn mare gently scolded, and Skyward chuckled softly. “It is all right, Twilight. The day may soon come when some dragon or….somepony will turn his head…if it hasn’t already,” she said with an amused smirk as she finished her meal and took her plates to the sink to clean them.

When finished, she went back to the cabin-wagon, and found her belongings. She regarded her armor, looking to see if it needed cleaning. Finding none of it, she decided to wear it today—and she stepped out of the cabin-wagon, turning to take a look at it before she walked forward, heading off to see if she could find Trouble Shoes.

“Skyward! Skyward, wait up!”

Skyward turned around and looked at Spike, cocking an eyebrow. “Aye? What is thine wish, Spike?”

The young purple dragon fidgeted, before he spoke. “I really hope things work out for you and Trouble Shoes. I mean, you deserve to find a special somepony. I kinda noticed last year during Hearts and Hooves Day—well…you seemed…”

The Haylian mare chuckled softly. “Seeing other couples together and one being alone can drive home the dagger of loneliness further than intended, Spike. Love ‘tis a double-edged sword; joy on one side, sorrow the other. One prays that thou will never know the bite of sorrow.”

The young purple dragon sighed. “…I think I might be already. I mean…Rarity—she’s a pony. She’ll age and die long before I become an adult. And yet…I still love her. So much. I know, I know—as a dragon I’m still just a baby and yet…”

Skyward gently put a hooftip to the young dragon’s mouth. “Then take thine chance, Spike. See if the Twin Thrones may yet hath an answer to thine problem if thou wish to take her as thine lifemate. If anypony wouldst know the answer, t’would be them. Twilight Sparkle as well—talk with her, she is your closest friend as it were. Thou shouldst also speak to Rarity, and make thine heart known on the matter. Thou can only see what she says.”

“And what about you? I mean…”

“It must also be Trouble Shoes’ decision, Spike. Thou canst force a mare to love thou...and the same goes the other way ‘round for stallions. A sacred bond like that must be forged as one, not from either end with only one goal in mind. If he dost not want me…”

Skyward drew in a slow, shaky breath, clearly in pain from saying those words, but she shook her head. “Then one must accept it as best one can and move onward. ‘Tis all one can do. I hath done it before, one can do so again.”

“But that’s why I’m praying this works out for you, Skyward. You’re going through a lot, more than anypony should have to. And I’m thinking you don’t just need friends…you need him too. A ‘rock in the storm’ when you need it. Somepony’s shoulder to cry on, not just Rarity’s or Applejack’s, or any other pony’s, ya know?”

Skyward bowed her head, allowing a single tear to slide free from one of her eyes. “…’Tis mine hope it works out as well, Spike…but it too, must be his choice. Love must come from willing hearts; else it means nothing. Remember that.”

The bluesteel unicorn mare brushed at her muzzle—she had braided her mane as usual, leaving her mane-pin, tunic and cloak in her satchel, carefully tucked away.

“Seize the day, Spike, and the night as well. Time waits for nopony, or dragon in thy case. Believe me…one knows that better than anypony.”

With those words, the bluesteel Haylian mare cantered off in search of the stallion who held her heart. Spike watched her go, clasping his claws and biting his lower lip. Skyward was like a second mother to him nowadays, watching over him and spending time with him whenever Twilight was doing things without him and even teaching him how to use his claws and fire offensively and defensively, and sometimes slipping him treats when Twilight wasn’t looking even when she nagged after him to eat his brussels sprouts.

“He better make the right choice or I’ll roast him,” Spike muttered, and Twilight sighed from behind him, getting his attention. “Better save some for me and the girls,” she said over her shoulder, earning a startled look from the young purple dragon.

“Huh? Twilight?”

The purple unicorn mare snorted at him, giving him a smirk. “You honestly don’t think we wouldn’t go after him if he broke Skyward’s heart? C’mon. Now…what were you saying about Rarity?”

Meanwhile, Skyward wandered into Appleloosa proper, biting her lower lip. Should she go to the rodeo ring to look for him? It seemed like the right place to be. She entered the rodeo grounds and flicked her tail, glancing around at the bustling area.

She noticed that Applejack and several other Earth Ponies were stacking big haybales in the center ring. She paused to watch the feat, gasping when she thought the huge stack was going to fall over, but it didn’t. Applejack’s kicks were sure and deft, throwing the bales high into the air and getting them to land on the topmost bale to create a literal tower of golden hay.

“There ya are! Ah’ve been lookin’ fer ya, Sky; Ah thought ya were still sleepin’.”

Skyward turned around, a smile already forming on her muzzle as she turned to face Trouble Shoes.

“One was, for a time—but hunger proved the stronger sooner or later. And I missed thou, as well…”

She ducked her head, biting the inside of her cheek—why the hay had she said that? Goddesses, she may as well sing to the damn world how she felt about him…

“Ah missed ya too, sugarcube.”

Skyward looked back up at him, surprised…and more than pleased. Trouble Shoes was smiling down at her, and his muzzle was very close to her own—practically almost touching. Gasps and yells got their attention and they looked over to see the tall stack of hay bales swaying dangerously. The stack was incredibly high by now, and the wind was up a little, causing the top part of the stack to move back and forth…

“Git ready t’ run, Sky; iffen that stack falls…”

The Haylian mare backed up with him, knowing the rest of the crowd was going to do the same…

But, the swaying stopped, and everypony breathed a sigh of relief.

“Blessed Sun and Moon—that, wast far too close for comfort,” Skyward muttered, blowing out a breath and the big stallion next to her nodded.

“Ah agree. Let’s git outta here fer now. Besides, Ah wanna spend time with ya until ya’ll hafta leave.”

Skyward sighed, her ears drooping as she looked up at him. “One shalt miss thou sorely when we depart from Appleloosa.”

The huge nut-brown stallion looked down at her, his eyes gentle, yet sad. “Ah’m goin’ t’ miss ya dearly, Skyward. Ah’m jest hopin’ ya wan’ t’ see me again.”

The Haylian mare blinked at him in confusion. “Of course one wants to see thou again. Why wouldst I not wish to?”

“Well…Ah’ll admit Ah’m not much t’ look at fer one. M’ clumsier than a drunken donkey most of t’ time an’ well…”

Skyward couldn’t believe what the buck she was hearing and snorted; before she knew what she was doing, she reached over, taking his muzzle in her hooves and making him look her in the eyes.

“Enough of that. Thou art nothing of the sort, Trouble Shoes, and I’ll not hear another word of that nonsense. Thou art a gentle, compassionate, handsome and kind stallion, who puts nobleponies in Canterlot to shame with not only thine manners but ye also speak from thine heart. Ye never say things thou dost not mean. Thine cutie mark is not bad luck in the least. According to Apple Bloom and her friends, thou art talented at making other ponies laugh. Trust one, one knows well what bad luck is, and hath seen it firsthoof—thou art certainly not bad luck incarnate, one can assure thee of this. Also, thou not only knows how to take a joke, but deliver laughter where ‘tis sorely needed. How many other stallions can do what thou can do? None other than thou—thou art a blessing, and still yet thou dost not see it…ah!”

The Haylian mare let out a squeak when the Clydesdale-esque stallion suddenly tugged her into a hug, pressing her close to his large form. Skyward relaxed and rested her head against his neck, nuzzling his withers as best she could. She was smaller than he was, considerably, but it didn’t matter to her. She felt his muzzle against her withers, nuzzling into her mane, and she relished in the feeling, snuggling into him unconsciously.

“Aw, Sky. Ah wish ya weren’t leavin’.”

Skyward pulled back a bit, gently smiling at him. “One wishes that too. Yet, one still has work to do in Ponyville. Yet, I wilt make time to visit thee…wilt that suffice? Mayhap eventually, once mine work is finished…one could be allowed to live here…”

The big stallion’s eyes sparkled at her. “Ah’d lahke that, Sky. Hay, Ah’d ask ya t’ move in with me iffen ya wanted to.”

The Haylian mare blushed. “If that is what thou wants, one has no objections. But keep in mind, one must complete mine own work before one can even consider staying here permanently.”

“Ah know, ‘m jest lettin’ ya know. Lemme go ask some of the boys iffen they don’ mind a unicorn comin’ ‘long fer the circuit next season. Besides, yer a hay of a cook, sugarcube, an’ Luna knows we don’ ‘ave a decent cook right about now.”

“Well, we canst have that now can we?”

The big stallion guffawed, giving her a wink as he trotted off to go talk with the other rodeo clowns. Skyward watched him leave, a foolish smile on her face. Resolution welled in her soul—she would win her battles; she would pass her trials.

This was where she wanted to stay, after the end of her destiny fulfilled. By his side, Goddesses willing…

“Skyward! Skyward, where th’ hay are ya?”

“Applejack?”

The orange farmpony rounded the corner—with Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie and Rarity following her, and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash doing the same from the air. The blond maned and tailed mare skidded to a halt in front of the armored Haylian mare.

“There ya are! Hoo, we’ve been lookin’ fer ya all over after Twi said ya were here!”

“Applejack, why were thou looking for me?”

"We were lookin' fer ya because we were wonderin' if ya had Apple Bloom an' her friends wit' ya since they're ol' pals with Trouble Shoes."

Skyward shook her head. "No, t'was just he and I, why dost thou ask, Applejack?"

Normally Applejack would've started making a few playful jabs about her being alone with the rodeo clown star, but the orange farmpony frowned deeply and looked around. "Ah don' see 'em anyplace, and Ah'm gittin right worried. Last I checked they were with Cousin Braeburn."

"Hath thee asked him?"

"Yeah, an' he says he never saw 'em either."

Skyward swallowed hard, the pieces of apples she had eaten suddenly feeling like she had rocks in her gut. "When was the last time ye saw them?"

"Just fifteen minutes ago, when Ah sent them off t' Braeburn, why?"

A horrible thought sparked in Twilight's sharp mind and she gasped. "You don't think they were..."

The mares exchanged horrified glances, and Skyward's eyes narrowed to slits. "Spread out and see if they were merely lost in the crowd. If not, meet back here. We shalt have to inform the sheriff."

"Inform the sheriff 'bout what, sugarcube?"

Skyward fought down a blush when she heard Trouble Shoes' voice behind her and turned to face him. The other mares, despite the frightening situation smirked, giggled, snickered or grinned at her behind their hooves and Rainbow Dash even winked at the embarrassed Haylian mare: they'd ALL heard that little endearment. Resisting the urge to flip them a rude gesture, she chose to address the stallion instead.

"Trouble Shoes, hath thou seen Apple Bloom and her friends? Braeburn said he never saw them after Applejack told them to find him since she competes again soon."

The rodeo entertaining star shook his head, consternation on his face as well--the three fillies meant a lot to him too. "Come t' think o' it, Ah haven't seen 'em since th' clown show started. Ah saw 'em go off t'wards th' apple fritter stand 'afore th' show began, but after that, Ah thought they went back to their sister."

Skyward grabbed her helm out of her bag and shoved it over her head. "I do not want to ruin the rodeo for everypony...but if they art missing..."

Twilight held up a hoof before Rarity could faint or do something dramatic as was her wont to do; even if she was in full right for it this time. "Listen, let's not panic just yet. We need to keep this quiet for the time being. Rarity, you and Pinkie Pie go and look through the crowds, see if you can find them. Rainbow Dash, you and Fluttershy search from the air, and Applejack, Spike and I will take the other side of the show. Skyward, can you and Trouble Shoes search around this area and alert Sheriff Silverstar we have three missing fillies?"

"If the stallion wilt listen to me, aye, Twilight, I wilt do just that."

"Ah'll make sure he listens t' ya, Skyward. C'mon, th' hay bale event's almost over--Ah'll give ya a hoof."

The two ponies approached the sheriff and once Skyward explained what had happened, Sheriff Silverstar frowned deeply. "Now are ya sure they jest didn' get lost in the crowd?"

Skyward slammed a hoof against the packed earth. "Sheriff, please. If we hath not found them by the time the next event ends I beseech thee have thy men look for them! They have been foalnapped before, and I've no wish to see their kith and kin go through such anguish anew!"

Trouble Shoes, true to his word, threw in his two bits to back Skyward up. "Sheriff, Braeburn Apple hisself said he didn' see hide nor hair of ‘em when they were s'pposed t' go find 'im. That wuz when Applejack sent them over 'bout fifteen minutes before th' clown show started, cuz she's up next in th' lariat competition."

Sheriff Silverstar rubbed his chin, glancing between the armored mare and the huge rodeo stallion. And he knew that they were both serious--hay, Braeburn had come back with the tale about the unicorn in front of him whooping an entire pack of Diamond Dogs almost single hoofed. "All right. I'll get my boys a-lookin' fer em. Iffen they haven't been found by th' time the lariat contest is over Ah'll make an announcement that they're missin'."

Skyward gave him a curt nod and turned to leave, worry in her eyes. Trouble Shoes put a hoof on her back and she looked up at him. "One is worried, Trouble Shoes. This makes not once, but twice now, that they hath been foalnapped..."

Trouble Shoes gently shook his head at her. "Now don' go puttin' th' cart afore th' pony, Skyward. Ah ain't sayin' I don' trust yer instinct, but let's hold out some hope they ain't, okay?"

"I pray I am proven wrong this time. I truly am."

However, when the mares met back at the meeting spot, plus Trouble Shoes, there was no sign of the fillies. Seeing the worried looks and the weeping Rarity, Sheriff Silverstar entered the ring and cleared his throat.

"LISSEN UP, EVERYPONY! HAS ANYPONY SEEN THREE YOUNG FILLIES BY TH' NAMES O' APPLE BLOOM, SWEETIE BELLE, AND SCOOTALOO?"

Murmurs abounded throughout the crowd, and one of the rodeo clowns spoke up. "Whut's this all 'bout, Sheriff?"

"We got three missin' fillies on our hooves is what's goin' on, Jingle Spur! If anypony's seen 'em now's the chance t' speak up! Has anypony seen these fillies?"

Shouted negatives and shaking of heads was the responses he was getting and the sheriff grimaced--he was hoping they had been wrong but if nopony had seen them...

"We're goin' t' 'ave t' put th' rodeo on hold until those fillies are found! Ya'll spread out an' look fer 'em! Th’ Nettle family might be involved in this, due t’ the fact somepony found ember nettle a coupla days back when that boar went plumb loco, so if anypony sees 'em, give a shout!"

Disregarding the angry muttering and shouts and groups of ponies already bolting off to go look for the fillies, Skyward had already taken off down the main road, darting behind shops and houses, eyes scanning the ground for tracks or any signs. Trouble Shoes followed her closely, keeping pace easily with the swift Haylian mare.

"So what's yer plan?"

"If they were foalnapped they had to have left some sort of clue behind. Though since we art dealing with ponies and not Diamond Dogs..."

Skyward had trotted over to the apple fritter stand and was already nosing around, Trouble Shoes following her like a loyal dog of sorts. He pushed around some of the barrels of flour, sugar and honey that was close by...

"Skyward! Ah found somethin'!"

The Haylian mare ran over to him and he held out a small rose-colored ribbon...a piece of it. It was covered in honey—which made it easy to stick to anything it landed on.

"Apple Bloom's hair ribbon..."

"That's not all. Look..."

Glancing down the side alleyway near the fritter stand, Skyward saw another piece of the ribbon lying there, and she smiled. "She learned her lessons well. I shalt have to forge her a piece of armor as she requested."

"Say what? Armor?"

Skyward laughed softly as she began following the pieces of ribbon, picking them up in her magic. "Little Apple Bloom and her friends always loved playing with mine armor; pretending they were soldiers. I did not hath the heart to scold them, and they told me they wanted to learn more of what I learned when I was their age. So, one taught them a few things...how to leave a trail without being noticed, for example..."

Skyward held up another ribbon piece, which was covered in fritter batter to weigh it down so it wouldn't blow away. "Which is exactly what she did."

"Yeah, but th' trail leads out t' the flatlands, and that's where th' ribbon pieces end. They could've gone anywhere, sugarcube."

"Ye know these lands better than I. Tis' time ye take point, Trouble Shoes."

"Me? I ain't no guardspony; I'm jest a rodeo clown, I ain't no warrior like ya are."

Skyward walked over to him and put an armored hoof gently on his cheek, turning his muzzle towards hers. "Ye are also friend to those three fillies. Please. They are counting on thee as well. I cannot do this alone."

Trouble Shoes looked into Skyward's eyes, heaved a sigh and nodded. "All right. But we gotta be careful; Ah wuzn't kiddin' 'bout them Nettles bein' bad news."

"Then what do we need to arm ourselves with? Unlike Diamond Dogs, I cannot kill them, I can only subdue, unless threatened. And if not the sheriff, the Twin Princesses have ultimate authority o'er their fates."

"Hm. Ah hate t' say it but yer gonna need a disguise. That there armor's gonna give us away fer whut Ah got in mind."

"What would thou have me do then, Trouble Shoes?"

The stallion bit his lower lip, folding his ears back. He knew how she was; she being a proud warrior, what he had in mind might not sit well with her to begin with. "...Promise ya ain't gonna git mad at me?"

"Trouble Shoes, please, if there is anypony I am angry with, 'tis those Nettles if they art the culprits. Please, time is running out, what wouldst thou have me do?"

"Yer gonna hafta wear a dress. See, this here is th' plan. Ah think Ah might know where th' Nettles are hidin' out; since Ah was once an ‘outlaw’, Ah know the best hidin’ places ‘round these parts. Problem is, Ah know th' Sheriff. He's gonna go in there, and he's good at ambushes but not rescues. Iffen we pose as travelers..."

Skyward’s eyes narrowed in a predatory manner; and strangely it excited the Clydesdale-esque stallion in front of her. "Then they shalt take us right to their camp."

"Exactly. Ya might wanna leave ya armor here. Ah don' want ya losing it. Any way t' hide that there sword and shield ya got?"

"Easily. But thou shalt have to find a dress that fits me, and quick. Find me at Farmer Braeburn's home when thou do."

Trouble Shoes blushed, but he quickly ran off to do as she asked. Skyward ran back to Braeburn's house and once inside, wrote a letter to the girls, pinned it under a lamp to keep it from flying off, and began removing her armor. She undid the warrior braid she had and began brushing out her mane and mumbled a curse under her breath.

A dress. Bloody bucking hay. Rarity did have some nice dresses she longed to wear, never mind the one she had gotten for Hearth’s Warming, but...goddesses in the heavens no, she would not. Not again. Not after that incident. However, three lives hung in the balance now, and she knew she would have to wear one of them.

"Come on, Skyward. Mare up now; thou hast faced monsters, demons, and even a dragon...it is only a dress!"

She facehooved and cursed when she smacked herself with her hoofcovers and yanked them off, hissing Haylian oaths under her breath. "Gah! Fine, if I must wear a dress..."

She spotted Rarity's saddlebags in the corner and bit her lip; but walked over and began riffling through them. "Then I'll look the bloody part."

She grumbled as she began painstakingly applying eyeshadow and lip gloss- shaking her head a little.

"I guess those lessons with Princess Zelda really paid off," she muttered as she inspected herself in the mirror. She wore a soft glistening silver eyeshadow, and the gloss made her lips look more inviting. But was it enough?

"Skyward? Ah have th' dress ya asked fer!"

She grabbed it with her magic and pulled it in through an open window. "Pray give me one moment...how in the hay does anypony bother with this thing...ow! Blasted corset strings..."

Trouble Shoes fought laughter, but he couldn't help but grin. The door opened and she came out, ears flat and looking embarrassed. "...I likely do not look my best to be sure."

The nut-brown stallion raised an eyebrow, unable to do much but stare open mouthed. The dress he had gotten her was a light summer dress, colored a soft sky blue and trimmed in white. It draped around her hindquarters and her legs, giving the impression she was wearing a piece of the cloudless sky. Her mane was loose, and so was her tail...and she was wearing light makeup as well. She tucked her tail and turned around, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. Goddesses, it was just like Midsummer Festival again...

"...I knew it. The eyeshadow wast too much. I shalt remove it."

"Now wait a minute, ya look jest...WHOA!" Trouble Shoes had snapped out of his shock seeing her look so downhearted and he ran after her, but true to his cutie mark he had tripped on the porch lip and went pinwheeling inside the house. Skyward yelped and tried to get out of the way, but he landed on top of her and both of them slammed into the wall, a pot landing on his head and a ladle catching on Skyward's horn.

He was lying on top of her and she was below him, but able to look up at him. She gazed up at him, unable to break his piercing yet gentle gaze. Though he could be likely fierce and downright savage in battle as shown when he had faced off against Braeburn a couple of days ago, surprisingly enough he was gentle and relaxed around her. Was it just a gesture of friendship...probably so. Yet, why did she find him so intriguing? She could feel a broad chest against her own, expanding and contracting as he breathed, his scent rife in her nose…

Her blood rushed through her veins like fiery wind, scorching and warming at the same time, and she swallowed hard to moisten her dry throat. Like a mouse caught in a hawk's gaze he had her pinned, and she felt very much the prey instead of the defending predator.

For Trouble Shoes, it was about the same, and being this close to her…especially with the feeling of her lustrous coat and sleek body against his caused his blood to heat and rush southwards, and he took a slow breath to control his rapid heartbeat.

His mind was hazed by her closeness, her mesmerizing royal blue eyes looking into his own, the silky touch of her sleek bluesteel colored coat against his completely intoxicating his senses.

Feeling that hard muscle against her, all his shape powerful, muscled and strong, stirred primal emotions in her she didn't know she had. She was increasingly made aware of his sturdy form against her, each movement precise and no more, defined and well formed.

"Are ya okay?" He removed the ladle handle gently from her horn with one hoof, and she nodded. His voice was gentle, soothing, a warm, deep bass that calmed as well as excited, rippling and flowing like a calm river, warm as the comforting heat from a hearthfire.

"A-aye. I am fine. Look...the eyeshadow was likely too much...I must have looked hideous..."

Trouble Shoes instantly shook his head at her. "Now don't ya start that again. Ya look prettier than a summer sky. Hasn't anypony seen how ya look in a dress?"

"...Not really, nay."

Tears welled in her eyes before she could stop them and she turned her head, anger welling in her soul at showing weakness. But instead, he gently nuzzled her cheek, brushing away the tear. "Cain't see why they'd pass up a mare like you, sugarcube. Yer so purty, so gentle an' kind. Sure ya got that armor, but tha's jest part o' who ya are. Yer tough as nails, but yer loyal and carin' where it counts."

"...why are ye being so nice? Ye barely know me."

He smiled down at her, gently flicking a strand of her royal blue and indigo mane out of her face. "Ah might not have known ya fer long, but Ah know 'nuff t' see with mah own eyes yer a mare worth keepin'."

Skyward looked up at him, her eyes big, vulnerable, and soft. She sucked in a breath, her chest heaving as she did so, and his eyes darkened to the hue of pine needles. She blushed furiously as she licked her lips, trying to form words, and Trouble Shoes felt heat rush through him like a flood of lava, and his need stir fiercely within, threatening to overwhelm his senses. Damn, he wanted her, and wanted her bad...the thought of tasting those soft lips almost shattered what little resolve he had left.

Though he was lying on top of her, strangely she found his weight comforting and sensual, instead of oppressive and unwanted.

Her mane drifted into her face, stirred by his breath as he gazed down at her. She moved her head slightly, trying to brush it from her face. The light from the sun outside played over her, cloaking her in shadows and illuminating her elsewhere, veiling, revealing, concealing, exposing nuances and delicate hues from her velvety bluesteel coat. Bracing himself with one hoof, Trouble Shoes gently lifted the other hoof and carefully brushed the stray strands from her visage...her deep blue eyes half closed and her lips parted as she took breath into her lungs.

For some reason, she found that she didn't want him to move....and he found that he was not inclined to get off of her.

A long, low whistle filled their hearing, and both ponies’ heads snapped to the side…

The source of the whistle was Rainbow Dash. But all six mares were there, all of them grinning or snickering at her.

“Did we interrupt something?”

“Pardon us for interrupting your romantic little escapade, darling!”

And that was the stone removed from the dam---a dam holding back a flood of anger and embarrassment as the Haylian mare’s eyes narrowed into a deadly glare, and her horn erupted in a blaze of silver fire…

Bait And Switch

Author's Notes:

The author I spoke of is actually called Nora Roberts, a New York Times Bestselling author. If you're interested in reading some of her works, go for it, but I will warn you;
1: They are romance novels.
2: They are explicit romance novels.
I could totally see Rarity reading these, btw.

The sudden blaze of silver light from her horn should’ve been warning enough, but it wasn’t. Skyward's eyes narrowed to enraged slits and before the other mares knew it, a hail of pots and pans arced out of the kitchen shrouded in silver aura and began pelting them, along with a slew of furious curses from inside the house as the furious mare gained her hooves. The others took cover instantly outside, ducking the various cooking pieces.

"Rarity, that was sure as sugar NOT TH' RIGHT THING T' SAY!" Applejack shouted at the snowy unicorn mare as she ducked a pot that almost beaned her in the head.

The ivory mare looked utterly mortified as she dodged a tin coffee pot. "I'm sorry! It...it just looked..."

"Never mind what it looked like! Apologize before she decides to start throwing something that's got an EDGE!" Rainbow Dash hollered, then yelped in pain as a kettle smacked her in the flank.

Skyward's rage soared as she now snatched up plates and whipped them at the others. The anger built until she could take it no more, and she slammed her hooves against the floorboards...before she covered her face with her hooves and began to sob, everything in the kitchen crashing down around her. Trouble Shoes, who had stood to the side while she had been throwing everything within 'reach' of her in the direction of her friends, walked over and settled around the sobbing mare, softly nuzzling her and trying to offer what comfort he could. He really couldn’t blame her for getting so angry especially after one of her friends saying something so damned thoughtless like that.

It was hearing their friend crying that made the mares look at one another with guilty faces and they walked back into the house, slowly approaching their friend. Braeburn's house was a right mess to be sure, but it was a given considering how angry Skyward had been. They poked their heads into the kitchen to be greeted with a tender sight...the klutzy Trouble Shoes curled around the normally proud Skyward, who was now sobbing her eyes out into his chest. Needless to say, Applejack was the first to approach.

"Skyward? Are ya okay?"

Trouble Shoes looked up, anger clear in his rugged features as he got up and stepped protectively in front of Skyward, who was weeping into her hooves and glared at the mares. "Ya'll should be 'shamed o' yerselves! She's tryin' somethin' she don' like too much t' find yer sister an' the other two fillies an' all ya can do is tease her?"

The six mares looked away or down, and Applejack removed her hat, approaching the sobbing unicorn mare. "Skyward...we're real sorry. We didn' mean t' hurt yer feelin's. Ah'm real glad yer tryin' so hard t' look fer Apple Bloom. Ya helped her grow so much, an' how t' deal with bullies without raisin' a hoof in anger."

The Haylian mare turned her back; she was hiccupping a little, but she was clearly still angry, and Rainbow Dash stepped forward next. "Yeah. Scootaloo really looks up to you too. I mean...you're not as cool as me...second coolest, but you've kept an eye on her when I couldn't! She tells me how ya passed on the Wind Waker technique to her! She might be even able to fly on her own soon because of what ya did!"

"And Sweetie Belle, you taught her to sing so well! Why, she came home the other day singing a beautiful song I never heard the likes of! I couldn't understand the words of course, but it was just so pretty!"

Fluttershy came up to the upset unicorn and nudged her. "We're so, so sorry Skyward. We understand if you don't want to forgive us. We never meant to hurt your feelings."

Twilight nodded. "But Applejack's right. We overdid it with the teasing. And you did everything you could in the Crystal Empire to get them back when they were foalnapped by those Diamond Dogs. Please...can you forgive us?"

Skyward sniffed, wiping at her eyes and grimacing when she saw the smeared eyeshadow on her hooftip. But seeing that eyeshadow made her remember why she was wearing it. Not to mention they were sincere in their apologies, and at least, unlike some mares she had known, they were true friends. They weren’t laughing at her or jeering anymore—they, unlike Sleek Silk and Plush Velvet, were genuinely remorseful.

"...There art more important things at stake than wounded pride. I…I (sniff) can forgive thee."

Applejack came up beside her and gave her a hug, which the Haylian mare allowed herself to lean into, sniffling a little still. "Still, we shouldn't just up and tease ya like that. We're sorry, sugarcube."

“An’ personally…Ah know fer a fact he’s head over hindquarters fer ya with the look he had on his muzzle,” the orange farmpony whispered to her Haylian friend, who barely hid a bashful giggle behind one hoof as she brushed at her muzzle.

"I didn't know you didn't like dresses, Skyward. I am sorry for all the times I got you to pose for me. I didn't know it made you so uncomfortable."

Skyward turned and shook her head at Rarity. "...It is not that I do not like dresses, Rarity. One rarely, if ever, hath time to wear any, ye know I art a war mage. And the one time I did...let us just say I wast set up for ridicule by a pair of noblemares and I swore never to wear any again. But...in order for Trouble Shoes's plan to work, one must don a dress, and for those three fillies I consider akin to family, I shalt do as such."

Rainbow Dash cocked her head. "What plan?"

Fluttershy patted Skyward's hoof. "And why a dress?"

Trouble Shoes spoke up as he handed Skyward a clean towel for her to wipe her face and muzzle with. "Th' Nettles are a bunch o' right nasty outlaws, an' Ah got a plan t' smoke 'em out. Trouble is, if the Sheriff gets wind o' it he'll ruin th' lot; this here is a rescue, not an ambush; least it ain't one yet. Th' plan was fer me an' Skyward t' go into the Flatlands near Twist an' Turn Canyon, playin' th' part o' a pair o' travelers headin' fer Dodge City..."

Applejack stomped a hoof. "So ya wanted them t' ambush ya an' take ye t' their camp, right?"

The big stallion nodded his head. "Eeeeyup. But Skyward wearin' tha' armor o' hers would spoil it, so she agreed t' gussie herself up t' fool 'em. Ah know they ain’t stupid ‘nough t’ try somethin’ with a pony wearin’ full armor. She kin still take her sword an' her shield, but other than that..."

Rarity grinned and rubbed her hooves together, a crafty look in her eyes. "Well, if it's gussied up she needs to be, I can help her with that. Come, Skyward. We've a disguise to conjure!"

Applejack nodded, slanting her hat sideways a tad; this usually told other ponies she meant business. "An' Trouble Shoes, ya come on over here an' 'splain this here plan to us. Ye're gonna need help...Braeburn an’ Red Delicious told me 'bout th' Nettles. They’re worse than rotten apples an’ onions trapped in a barrel on a summer day."

"I sent a message to Princess Cadence too. Shining Armor's coming out here with some guards but they won't be here until very late tonight because he has to come all the way from the Crystal Empire. Apparently, the Nettle family is wanted in the Crystal Empire for past crimes committed..."

While the others talked strategy, Skyward sat in Rarity’s guest bedroom while Rarity fussed with her mane, tail, and re-applied makeup, adjusting the sky blue dress the Haylian mare was wearing, shaking her head afterwards.

"Skyward, I just want to say I am ever so sorry for making you cry. That was never my intention. It...it just seemed like something straight out of a Nora Reinberts romance novel..."

Skyward flushed a little; she had read a few of those on the sly once she was able to read fluently in Equestrian; the mare in question was an exceptionally good author…even if the kind of book she wrote was one of those erotic romance novels—emphasis on ‘erotic’ considering some of the book in question was…explicit.

"...One will admit the way things looked, it seemed that way. But, I do not think Trouble Shoes wouldst bother with a mare like me. I am, after all, a unicorn, not an earth pony. Most earth ponies do not like unicorns, and thou knowest why."

The ivory unicorn tossed her head as she looked through her saddlebags. "Oh, poppycock. I don't think he gives a hay bale about that! I saw how he looked at you, Skyward. Like you were the most precious thing in the world to him. But...you looked a little scared..."

"...One wast hurt before, Rarity. Badly.”

“How so? That is…if you feel comfortable telling me what happened.”

Skyward bit her lip, taking a breath before she continued. "...I knew two pegasi stallions in Hayrule who I thought were interested in me as a lover...and foalish, inexperienced me dared think one of them would claim me as their mate. However my teacher, Princess Zelda, showed me their true intentions. All they wanted was a roll in the leaves, nothing more. I told myself from that point on, mine path in life would be Din's Blade, Nayru's Arts, Farore's Shield and romance would mean nothing. I do not know if thou knowest how it feels..."

Rarity hugged her, giving her a sad, knowing look of her own. "Believe me, my dear, I do. I’ll tell you about the Grand Galloping Gala incident sometime. But trust me when I say I do believe Trouble Shoes loves you."

"...And if I find mine way back to Hayrule? What then? I could not bear to hurt him, Rarity. Eventually the princesses may find me a way home, or I fulfill my destiny, but then what? I find that now I do not want to leave Equestria, and yet..."

Skyward bowed her head, pressing a hoof to her chest, tears slipping free from her eyes and showing her inner torment. “One is torn between duty and love, and I canst choose between them…I want to remain, I want to stay with him, always, and yet…”

The ivory unicorn mare hugged her tightly, seeing how anguished her friend was. "I am sure our respective princesses may find a way for you to remain here when you settle your score with those two vile unicorn nags and their disgusting leader. But, do not think of that now. And even if you can't go back...well..."

Rarity winked at her. "Maybe you'll be able to get more than just a kiss from him, hmm?"

Her answer was a pillow to the face, followed by laughter as Rarity styled her mane expertly and added a bejeweled clip to it, followed by silver-blue eyeshadow and lip gloss. She took the dress Trouble Shoes had brought Skyward, examined it, then tsked, tossing it disdainfully aside, and pulling another one out of her saddlebags, a rush of shimmering violet and silver silk.

"Honestly, Rarity....it hath only been a few days, a week at most. Mere infatuation would be mine guess...?"

Rarity chuckled. "Trust me. There is something called 'love at first sight', you know."

Skyward looked away, ears falling and eyes turning sorrowful. "Rarity..."

The unicorn mare closed her makeup compact and looked at the other unicorn, giving her a warm smile. "I'm not Applejack, but anypony can see how much he admires you. Just let down your walls for him, dear. Now, come: we've a show to put on!"

"I just hope this works."

They came downstairs and Twilight was the first to notice them. "So, how'd it go?"

Rarity smiled and grandiosely waved her left forehoof: Skyward descended the stairs, resplendent in a violet and silver silk dress, the front yoke a gleaming silver with a pair of silver wings tipped with indigo spread out over her chest, slowly darkening to a rich violet to the back. There were multiple sheer layers of bluish-purple silk to the barding drape—no elaborate saddle arch on the back—this wasn’t a ball gown, but the layers added a touch of mystery to the otherwise simple dress.

Her mane was slightly curled to give it a gentle wavy look, and it was left loose and flowing with a topaz and tanzanite clip to hold it together at the back with a violet sunbonnet to hide her horn. Light violet and silver eyeshadow with a hint of pale blue graced her eyelids...simple, but it enhanced her looks considerably.

Pinkie Pie squealed. "Ooooooo you look soooooo cute!"

Skyward rolled her eyes and made to facehoof but Rarity stopped her. "Ah-ah-ah; you do that and you'll ruin the look."

Skyward growled and flicked her tail, grasping her sword and shield in her magic and studying them closely. "How to hide these now...one must be able to use them at a moment's notice..."

Because she was looking at her shield and sword so intently and mumbling over various stratagems, she didn't notice the others glancing back between her and Trouble Shoes, who hadn't stopped staring at her since she had come down the stairs. Rainbow Dash choked back a belly laugh, but she couldn’t stifle the snort she produced and Skyward looked up, a confused frown on her face.

"What?"

Rainbow thought fast; she REALLY didn't want Skyward telekinetically flinging anything else at her and snickered a little more. "Just....just thinking...the looks on their faces when we spring the trap on 'em," the rainbow maned pegasus giggled. Skyward angled an eyebrow but then smirked. "'T'will be worth it, one is sure. But...how to hide these...this dress is not made for such and thou can bet thy flank we will need weapons..."

Twilight shoved back her own giggling and approached Skyward with a smile. "I'll help you with that. I've got this 'Mini-Maker' spell you can use..."

Applejack caught motion out of the corner of her eye and noticed Trouble Shoes walking outside. She followed the huge stallion and sat next to him, giving him a nudge.

"So...ya like her, huh?"

The massive Clydesdale-esque stallion sighed and shook his head. "Yeah…she shore is somethin' else, but...she's a warrior, able t' take care o' herself. Word o' her kickin' the flanks of those Diamond Dogs reached even here. She don' need a klutz like me 'round."

Applejack rolled her eyes and walked around him to look him in the eye. "Now ya shut that nonsense up right now, Trouble. Ah'm gonna tell ya right now, if there wuz a pony that mare needs, t'would be you. An' before ya start denyin' it, Ah'm gonna tell ya why. Skyward's not used t' bein' treated like a lady. Sure, she's a war mage, a fighter, an' she sure as hay is tougher than steel when she needs t' be. But ya git 'er outta that armor, an' what do ya got left?"

The farm pony pointed a hoof at him. "What ya got left is a sweet as apple pie mare who wants that kind of attention, who wants to find love, but she sure as hay ain't gonna go lookin' fer it, and ya know why? Betcha pies t' fritters she's been hurt before, an' ya know she ain't the kind o' mare what trusts easy."

Trouble Shoes put a hoof to his chin, thinking hard. What Applejack said made sense: that and the uncertainty he had seen in Skyward's eyes when he was lying atop her, the fear...

The lightbulb suddenly went on in Trouble Shoes's head. Fear. That was it. She wasn't afraid of him, but afraid of being hurt again. The armor she wore was not just because she WAS used to wearing it, but because it was a safeguard for her. That armor acted as two shields, not just one...armor to show she wasn't to be messed with physically, but it also gave her the confidence she had lost so long ago. Seeing he was getting the picture, Applejack continued.

"Now Ah know Skyward well 'nough t' tell ya this. She's sorta like me, a no-frills pony. But, she does like bein' a lady every now an' again. Tell me, ya liked that dress on her?"

"...I done told her she looked prettier than a summer sky. An' she does. Even if she didn' have that there dress and bonnet on she's still a sweet thing. She's always up front, the first t' start th' charge when somepony's in trouble. Dunno iffen it's that there trainin' she got wherever she came from, but..."

The massive stallion shook his head and sighed. "That 'get up an' git 'r done' attitude o' hers is one o' the reasons I care 'bout her so much. She don' mess 'round when it comes to th' safety o' other ponies an' she gives her all every time. Surprised she ain't in the Equestrian Army, or in Canterlot as a royal guardspony."

Applejack snorted a little at that; boy howdy if Trouble Shoes only knew Skyward's past! But the farmpony continued to speak. "If she wanted t' be ya know she would, Trouble. But she ain't that kind o' pony. If ya want her bad 'nough, yer gonna have t' show her ya mean her no harm. She's puttin' her own fears aside t' save mah sister an' her friends. An' that takes real courage."

The farmpony put her Stetson back on her head and bumped him with one hoof. "C'mon. We gotta git goin' before sunset. But think about what Ah said, Trouble Shoes."

The stallion followed the orange mare back inside...Skyward's sword and shield were nowhere to be seen, but he knew she had to have them hidden somewhere.

"So, we ready? Whut's th' plan, girls?"

Rainbow Dash slapped a hoof against the floor. "So its gonna go like this. Trouble Shoes and Skyward are gonna travel towards Dodge City, but they’re gonna use the Flatlands trail to get there..."

Twilight picked up from where Rainbow Dash left off. "If the Nettles are there; they'll ambush both of you, and take you two to their camp. Skyward, make sure you hang onto your sword and shield. They're hidden in your mane, so don't let the Nettles find them."

"Understood. I wilt ask permission to defend myself and Trouble Shoes if necessary, however."

Twilight eyed her and slowly nodded. "Self-defense only, Skyward. The princesses will understand."

"One wouldst prefer not to shed blood at all, Twilight. Believe me, one should know."

"Aaaanyway, getting back on track here. Me and Fluttershy are gonna be following you guys at a safe distance. Once you guys 'get caught', we'll sneak in and get you two and the girls out. Simple."

Skyward snorted. "Rainbow Dash, nothing tis ever simple. The Nettle clan knows these lands, we do not. And we must be wary of traps. If they hath escaped capture for this long, Goddesses only know what they hath in store."

“That’s where we come in, sugarcube. After you two spring the trap, Spike, Twi an’ Ah are gonna tell the Sheriff what’s goin’ on. The ponies from Appleloosa can comb the area an’ make double apple-pickin’ sure there’s no traps to be had.”

Skyward turned and nodded at her ‘kin sister’. “Thou had best be prepared for a bit of a fight, Applejack. The sheriff is a good stallion dedicated to his cause, I doubt it not, however, every single time, one hath had to pick a verbal fight with him merely to be heard.”

Trouble Shoes nodded at her. “Ah kinda noticed that too. Personally Sky, Ah’m thinkin’ he’s afraid o’ ya.”

Skyward’s mouth fell open; of all the things she had expected, that definitely hadn’t been it. “Wha-wha…afraid? Why in the bloody hay wouldst he fear me?”

Trouble Shoes guffawed, giving her a gentle nudge with one hoof. “Mostly cause ya proved t’ him yer no slouch when it comes t’ doin’ what he does all th’ time, an’ he’s afraid yer gonna take his place. Mayor Gold Star’s been talkin’ ‘bout askin’ ya t’ stay ‘ere t’ protect Appleloosa.”

The Haylian mare shook her head, rolling her eyes. “As much as one wouldst like to accept that offer, one cannot right now. I hath obligations elsewhere as it is (she flicked a knowing look at Trouble Shoes, who grinned back at her) so he hath no reason to fear me.”

“Umm…not to butt in but could we please get back on track for now? We’re running out of time,” Fluttershy chimed in, and the ponies muttered agreement.

Twilight Sparkle cleared her throat. “Right, so. After you two get caught, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash will follow you two from a safe distance. Spike, Rarity, Applejack and I will talk to Sheriff Silverstar and make sure he knows that my brother’s coming in with some guards to help secure these outlaws—Spike, go write a message to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Let them know we need an official writ of arrest to make sure the Sheriff cooperates without problems.”

“On it,” Spike called as he ran for a quill and parchment, and the sound of scratching on paper was soon heard, followed by a WHOOSH when he spewed fire over the scroll.

The purple unicorn mare gestured to the pink party pony—whose mane and tail had gone flat and a serious look had crossed her face. She was NOT happy in the least that any of the Cutie Mark Crusaders had been foalnapped—again. “Pinkie Pie is going to stalk the Nettles after they’ve got you two and leave a trail for us to find. The trail she’s going to be leaving is one we’re going to be following once we know where the Nettles are and when we get Apple Bloom and her friends back.”

“To what end, Twilight?” Skyward asked with a puzzled look, and the lavender colored mare’s grin was downright wicked even as they heard Spike loudly belch out a reply—and the writ they needed with it.

“Oh, you’re going to LOVE this part. Trust me.”

**************************************

The two ponies cantered down the long trail towards Dodge City, the prairie grasses and flowers around them flourishing for now because of the bounty of rain they had received. There was hardly any dust, which was a good thing—that was the last thing anypony wanted. Skyward firmly checked the urge to glance upward, or behind her, keeping her eyes on the road before her…and on her traveling companion.

It was easy to forget they were the bait for a particularly important capture down the line, considering how beautiful the day was, and how lush the Flatlands looked after a good hard rain. The sweet scent of prairie flowers, grasses and rain filled her nose, but she checked the urge to bolt ahead. Trouble Shoes nudged her playfully, before he broke into a run…realizing he wanted her to chase him, Skyward laughed and swiftly ran after him, their laughter filling the skies as they ran across the prairie together.

Sudden rustling in the thick grasses all around them was the only warning either of them received, before a sharp harvesting scythe was suddenly pointing right at her face, making her stop short and rear up with an unfeigned gasp of surprise. Skyward backed up hastily and bumped right into Trouble Shoes, who caught her before she could stumble and fall; he’d come up from behind her to attempt a playful tackle if he could get away with it. The six smirking, unshaven stallions rose from the tall grasses as if they were ghosts from disturbed graves, and quickly surrounded her and Trouble Shoes, and the Clydesdale like stallion knew his companion was fighting every instinct to lash out after the nasty shock she’d gotten from having a weapon pointed at her face.

"Easy now. Remember, we gotta git caught."

"I know...just...not easy..."

His lips brushed her ear and made her gasp slightly despite herself. "Ah know, sugarcube. But don' worry. Ah won't let anythin' happen t' ya."

Skyward was about to reply, despite the warm feeling unfurling in her chest at his words, but a rougher voice and an even rougher grasp at her foreleg caught her attention.

"Well, well, well...what do we got here, fellers?"

Another stallion, his coat a dirty green with a dark purple mane and bearing a thistle cutie mark laughed as he leaned over to nuzzle into Skyward’s mane, much to her revulsion. "A right purty lil’ prairie blossom's whut it looks lahke t' me, Stingin' Nettle!"

"Ya'll leave her be; she ain't done nothin' t' ya!"

Trouble Shoes didn't even have to fake the anger in his tone; the sight of those stallions with their hooves all over Skyward was more than enough to get his blood boiling. And klutz or not, rodeo clown star or not, he was still larger than they were and dangerous because of it. Stinging Nettle; a grizzled looking stallion with a dark green coat and a bristly gray/white mane and a bundle of well, stinging nettles cutie mark on his flank stalked up to Trouble Shoes and glared at him with his dark brown eyes. He wore a black Stetson and a black vest, and he prodded the bigger stallion in the chest with a sneer.

"Whut, she yer marefriend or somethin', big guy? Yer wife maybe?"

Skyward was very grateful her borrowed sunbonnet hid her face; else the stallion holding onto her would've seen the fierce purple her face had become. Goddesses...

"Tain't none o' yer business. Now, Ah said...leave her alone," Trouble Shoes snapped, stomping one huge hoof and glaring back down at him in turn. Stinging Nettle smirked cruelly up at the bigger stallion before his hoof moved, almost too fast for the eye to follow...

A hissing crack filled the air and Skyward cried out, anger surging in her as she struggled against her captor; the same dirty green colored stallion holding onto her none too gently. Stinging Nettle had struck Trouble Shoes with a riding crop, and pretty hard at that. There was a bruise forming on the bigger stallion's face, and a little blood.

"Ya ain't in any position t' make demands, biggun. Boys, take 'em both...Prairie Nettle, ya'll hold t' that sweet piece o' flank good an' tight now."

The group of stallions led the captured pair down into the canyon proper, unaware of the rainbow maned pegasus and the butter yellow one following them from high above, using clouds to cover their shadows, or the pink party pony slinking along like a sneaky snake right behind them, leaving enchanted paint slathered on grass clumps here and there to mark a trail. The paint was visible to the Mane 6, Trouble Shoes and Skyward, but not to anypony else. Stinging Nettle walked right over to a huge cavern cleverly set under a rock outcropping...the optical illusion was such to the point you wouldn't see it until you rounded the corner.

Once inside, they were led further in... the cavern clearly had signs of the Nettles living here, a rickety table and chairs, six rude looking beds, a crude rock hearth with a fire going in it, a spit and a spider holding a bubbling kettle over the coals, various rock cubbies holding odds and ends...

And a large side cave with a rude prison door that had three small fillies in there, shivering in fear.

"Where we gon' put 'em, Stingin'? We got those three fillies in thar..."

Stinging Nettle snorted. "They're small 'nough, jest shove 'em in, Poison Nettle. But leave th' mare out 'ere fer now. We'll deal with 'er 'usband later on."

Trouble Shoes struggled--act or no act, he didn't want her left alone with those damn bastards. Skyward managed to kick Prairie Nettle in the shin and bolted to Trouble Shoes's side.

“OW! That bucking good-fer-nuthin cunt jest kicked me!”

"Keep them safe! I wilt be fine, please, just get them out of here!" she whisper-hissed to him before she cried out when she was yanked back, then slapped harshly across the muzzle by a poison green colored stallion with a darker green curly mane and tail. "Don' ya dare kick mah brother, ya nag. Now git over t' the hearth an' start cookin'."

Seeing that disrespectful act, Trouble Shoes reared, slamming his hooves against the bars of his makeshift prison, rage surging to the fore; how DARE that sonuvabitch strike Skyward like that! The poison green stallion saw his display of anger and smirked at him wickedly before sauntering off.

"...when Ah git outta here, she's gonna be th' least o' yer problems, ya buckin’ piece o’ crow bait," Trouble Shoes hissed under his breath as he glared daggers at Poison Nettle's back.

"Trouble Shoes? That you?"

The big rodeo star turned around to see the three fillies behind him, and his heart broke at the pitiful sight. All three of them looked exhausted, and clearly bore whip and strike marks. They were filthy and Trouble Shoes knew they had to be hungry and cold as well. He quickly put a hoof over Apple Bloom's mouth before she could blow his cover.

"Hush! Keep it down, all of ya...Skyward an' Ah came t' rescue ya. Yer sister an' th' others are outside...we jest need t' make sure ya'll stay quiet, all right? Don' blow our cover now."

The three fillies quieted down, hunkering near the big stallion for safety, comfort and warmth. "Where's Skyward?" Sweetie Belle asked, and Trouble Shoes moved his head enough in the disguised unicorn's direction.

"Over thar; Ah jest hope she's gonna be all right."

He tensed when a flame red stallion with a black mane and tail came up and swatted her on the flank...Skyward flinched, and he knew she had to have restrained the urge to kick him in response. He heard Scootaloo growl, and he had to grin despite their situation.

"I wish she'd bash him in the face with her shield. POW!"

"Yeah, serve 'em up a shield and sword combo to the face," Sweetie Belle hissed, and Trouble Shoes barely hid a snicker at that image in his head. And he knew she'd do it, too; she had enough fire in her for it.

"Oh don' worry. She will. Jest not time yet fer it."

Skyward, in the meantime, eyed her surroundings. The walls were solid rock, layers of sandstone and bedrock mushed into one. There were six stallion ponies, all of them armed with either knives, riding crops, bullwhips, and one of them even had a harvesting scythe for wheat—the same one that had been pointed at her face. She knew three of their names: Stinging Nettle, the leader; Prairie Nettle, and Poison Nettle. She continued stirring the stew she had hastily thrown together with what they had, keeping her ears cocked slightly towards them for snippets of their conversation.

"...gold train comin' through th' pass next week..."

"Too risky; that there train's gonna be guarded all but good, Poison Nettle..."

"Don' be such a yeller bellied sapsucker, Flame Nettle. Geez, yer whinin' is gittin' on mah nerves."

"Ah ain't whinin’, Poison; Ah'm bein' cautious! Horseapples, ya'll know that after that stunt ya pulled with that there ember nettle that Appleloosa's on t' us!"

A slam of a hoof against a tabletop and another voice chimed in. "Never mind th' damned plant, Flame Nettle. But he got sense, Poison; yer too damn reckless. That train is gonna be guarded, an' heavy."

"Buck you, Painted Nettle. Yer sayin' Ah'm too buckin' reckless when all ya do is sit on yer flank an' bitch...iffen Ah didn't do somethin' somepony would've seen us!"

Skyward's eyes narrowed...Stinging, Painted, Flame, Prairie, Poison...but there were six of them…

"Eh, Flame's got a point, Painted. Ya'll gotta admit somepony would have. But that unicorn mare...whooo-ee! Now she's a mare Ah definitely wouldn' mind havin' some fun with!"

A snort. "Silver Leaf Nettle; yer worse than Flame, Ah swear. Ya go sappy over any mare ya see."

"Heh, ya cain't tell me ya wouldn't want this 'un, unicorn or not. Whew...she 'bout gave me a hard-on when Ah saw her pitch that boar on his side like that, near bare hooved."

"Yer kidding, right?"

Skyward scowled as she gathered a tray and bowls, knowing they would want their meal soon most likely. She hissed in pain when something hard hit the back of her head and she winced, lifting a hoof to rub at the spot where she'd been struck.

"Hurry up, ya lazy nag!"

"Poison, buck off. She is still a lady. An' Prairie, iffen Ah see ya grab a mare again like that; Ah don’ care whut Stingin’ says, Ah'm gonna switch ya but good, ya hear? Ain't no wonder she kicked ya before."

"Yes sir..."

(So Painted is the eldest, even if Stinging is the leader,) Skyward thought darkly as she brought the bowls over and served them their stew, resisting the urge to throw it in their faces. Flame Nettle grabbed her by the neckline of her dress and pulled her close, a lascivious smile on his face.

"Mmm...Ah think Ah'm gonna skip dinner and get right t' dessert," he purred. Skyward's eyes narrowed in disgust and fury as the fire red stallion pulled her close to kiss her...

A tin cup sailed in to nail the red stallion in the face and he let her go...she scrambled back, barely able to keep her anger in check.

"The buck was that fer, Painted?!"

The green and red stallion glowered at his younger brother. "We might be outlaws Flame, but there's certain lines ya don' cross an' forcin yaself on a mare is one o' em. Pa would be 'shamed of you if he saw that. Iffen Ah catch ya doin' that again Ah'll take ya out back and whup yer flank myself."

The red stallion subsided at the eldest stallion's warning, but Skyward knew he'd likely try to corner her if he could. Meanwhile the Mane Six had snuck down to the canyon entrance and had seen the whole thing. Applejack looked around at her friends and gestured with one hoof.

"Okay, everypony knows what to do?"

A round of whispered affirmatives, and the six mares slowly snuck into the room. Twilight Sparkle lit her horn and touched it to a pile of dry ice Pinkie Pie had brought with her...and it began to fill the room with icy cold fog. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flapped their wings, sending a breeze into the cavern that carried the fog inward and spread it around. Seeing the tendrils of the fog, Skyward allowed a chilling smile to cross her muzzle...

Soon. Very soon.

Skyward Strikes Back

Author's Notes:

The chase/battle scene between Skyward and Stinging Nettle was set to the trailer music from the E3 2005 Twilight Princess trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHu7hvxjdww

Also, the Skyward Strike is an ability you get in The Legend of Zelda; Skyward Sword, and during the last boss fight of said game it gets supercharged if the Master Sword is hit with a bolt of lightning.

Applejack, under the cover of the fog and trailed by Pinkie Pie, snuck towards the rusty keyring hanging on the stone wall just out of reach of the imprisoned ponies. She knew Twilight or Rarity or even Skyward could've just melted/unlocked the prison door, but they needed stealth, not outright violence. As for Rarity...the clever ivory unicorn was using her magic and some ribbons to tie the brothers' hooves together under the table, a wicked smirk on her lovely face.

Flame was the first to notice the fog and he snorted as he took another drink of the cactus apple cider they distilled themselves. "Tch...evenin' already? Got some fog rollin' in."

Painted shrugged, not too concerned with the fog as he drank his own share. "Canyon fog, we get it all th' time, Flame. Ya know th' river runs through this here canyon."

The fog grew thicker, and then with a shove from unicorn magic, it enveloped the entirety of the cave and the stallions, who tried to get up, now knowing something was really wrong...

And stumbled, turning the table and the contents of such table over themselves in the process because of Rarity's tight knots and the way she had woven the ribbons together to keep them from being able to move without fouling another stallion's movements. The yells and cursing from their area was more than enough--Skyward galloped off, smirking as she yanked the warm (regrettably no longer hot) pot off the hook and slammed it into Flame Nettle's muzzle, making him shout in pain as she ran off. Applejack had managed to fiddle the lock open, and Trouble Shoes and the fillies were out. The Mane Six, plus the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Skyward and Trouble Shoes, dashed out of hiding and rushed out of the cavern.

Stinging Nettle cursed--the fog was clearing and it was easy to see now they'd been tricked.

"Get 'em! They'll ruin everythin'!"

Flame Nettle shot past his brother, gaining on the group of fleeing ponies. He licked his lips at the sight of so much mareflesh in front of him, but there was one mare in particular he wanted to sample. He leaped, catching her by one of her back legs and pulled her back towards him, pinning her up against the wall of the canyon. His hooves began to pull at her dress, a lustful smile on his muzzle as he winked at her.

"Now we're gonna have us some real fun, sugar..."

Skyward had about enough and she made her horn flare...she yanked her shield out of her mane and enlarged it, allowing a near demonic grin to cross her face as she faced Flame Nettle...

Her shield rammed home into the stunned stallion's muzzle as she thrust it right into his noggin...he went down like a sack of beans and she whirled, running for all she was worth.

"Not this time, ye cretin," she spat as she rushed away from an unconscious Flame Nettle, snickering at the look of utter shock the stallion had given her before she had shield-bashed him. The Mane Six rushed into the plains lands--it was night out, and Twilight and Rarity lit the way with their horns. Luna’s moon shone brilliantly in the sky, round and full, illuminating the land around them. Rainbow Dash was holding onto Scootaloo, Applejack had Apple Bloom on her back and since Rarity was in the lead with Twilight, Pinkie Pie had Sweetie Belle. Trouble Shoes brought up the rear, Skyward gaining on him as well, soon keeping pace with the huge stallion.

"Shame Ah didn' git' t' hit him."

Skyward laughed; feeling impish, she shot a wink at Trouble Shoes with a wicked grin. "Aw...I promise thou, ye can buck the blazes out of the next idiot that tries anything, wilt that suffice?"

Trouble Shoes blinked, then grinned back at her; now this was a side of her he really liked. "Knew Ah called ya sugarcube fer a reason."

Skyward laughed--her laugh turned into a yell of pain and surprise when a shadowy figure suddenly shot out of a bunch of milkweed and landed on her, pinning her down and leering down at her.

"Flame didn' git t' see whut's under this dress, but Ah'm gonna enjoy mahself. Have t' admit, mah little brother does have a good eye fer mareflesh..."

Poison Nettle however, didn't get to gloat for very long... not when a pair of huge hooves suddenly came crashing into his barrel with the force of a runaway wagon and sent him flying right into the plains grasses.

"AH WARNED YA; TOUCH HER AGAIN AN' AH'LL BUCK TH' LIVIN' CELESTIA GIVEN DAYLIGHTS OUTTA YA, YA SORRY 'SCUSE FER A STALLION! DON' YA EVER LAY A HOOF ON HER AGAIN, YA HEAR?"

Trouble Shoes stamped, snorting in fury as he stood over Skyward, who had managed to roll to her side, staring up at him in unabated shock. Never, ever in all her years on the battlefield and off it, had a stallion come to her defense like that. Trouble Shoes looked down at Skyward and offered her a hoof, bringing her to her hooves and he nudged her worriedly, supporting her with one forehoof as she stumbled a little.

"Ya okay, Skyward?"

Skyward bit back the sudden urge to cry--what the buck was wrong with her? Yet, she managed to nod at him with a shaky smile. "Aye, thanks to ye and thy swift action. Remind one to never anger thee."

He snorted softly at her in amusement as they both broke into a run--two down, four to go, and the Mane Six were far ahead of them. Fluttershy fell back, clearly meaning to come back for them, and Skyward shook her head.

"Go! The younglings art priority, Fluttershy! Keep flying!"

The yellow pegasus hesitated, but nodded and flew to keep up with the others. The group of ponies ran until they reached a big cul de sac created by two ginormous boulders that had been hollowed out over time by wind, rain, and a freak lightning strike about seventy years back or so. The remaining four Nettles, furious at losing two of their brothers, charged into the hollow after them and surrounded them, Silver Leaf Nettle and Prairie Nettle using bullwhips to herd them into place.

"Now we gotcha. Ya think yer all so clever, ain't cha?"

"You have no idea," Rainbow Dash snerked, jerking away from the bullwhip lash that snapped near her.

Stinging Nettle leered at the seven mares. "Yer all gonna make a nice addition to our fambly fer sure...seven bee-utiful mares, an' when those fillies grow up..."

"Ya ain't gon' get th' chance t' lay a hoof on any of 'em, Stingin' Nettle! Ya'll are under arrest!"

The group of outlaws found themselves surrounded by an entire mob of angry earth ponies, all of them holding pitchforks, axes, rolling pins, cast iron skillets, ropes tied into lariats and nooses, plus torches. And at their head wasn't just Sheriff Silverstar and his deputies but also a familiar white unicorn stallion with a sky blue/navy blue mane and tail, wearing violet and gold armor, and leading several guardsponies in golden and crystal armor.

"Though you'll be coming to the capital with us, Stinging Nettle. You and Flame Nettle both. In the name of Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Cadence, you are under arrest for multiple rape charges, assault and battery, acts of abuse and foalnapping of various mares and fillies. Sheriff, I realize they fall under your jurisdiction, however..."

"Take 'em wit' mah blessin, Captain. The others kin stay here an' pay fer their crimes. But those two..."

Sheriff Silverstar spat to the side, pure disgust in his eyes when he looked at Stinging Nettle, glaring at him as if he could incinerate him on the spot. "They gotta be removed, or Ah swear by Celestia's sun an’ Luna’s moon Ah'll end 'em both mahself."

Two unicorn guards moved in to clap irons on Stinging Nettle and Shining Armor looked around, a frown furrowing his brow. "Where's Flame Nettle and Poison Nettle?"

"Ah...likely thou shalt find Flame Nettle back in the canyon, Captain Armor. One forcibly introduced his muzzle to one's shield when he attempted assault." Skyward said with a devilish grin, and laughter erupted from the ponies around her.

“Wait wait wait…she did whut now?”

“Are ya serious?”

“Dang, and Ah missed that?”

“Shoooot! Why do we miss all the good stuff?”

"You should've seen her do it, it was awesome! One minute, Flame Nettle had her pinned and then--WHAM! Just like that and he was out cold!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed, and Skyward snorted up at her, one corner of her mouth twitching in amusement.

"Goddesses give me patience...Rainbow, I am not as heroic as thou make me out to be," she called up, and the rainbow maned pegasus waved a hoof at her.

"Yeah I know, you keep saying it. But that was so totally AWESOME how you just yanked out your shield and crammed it into his face like that!"

"Heh, Ah'd paid good Bits t' see her do that t' Flame Nettle," somepony in the crowd said, and laughter and comments went through the crowd, Skyward shaking her head in amusement.

"What about Poison Nettle?"

"The wretch got the drop on me...Trouble Shoes rushed in and bucked him clear off one...I suspect he is out limping in the prairie somewhere, or he too is out cold akin to his brother."

Four Canterlot pegasi guards flew off--about ten minutes later they came back with a still concussed Flame Nettle and a barely conscious Poison Nettle, and the laughter of the crowd increased at the sight. The sheriff and his deputies began securing the other four Nettles...Prairie Nettle tried to run but got smacked in the head with a well-executed shield toss, courtesy of Skyward.

Laughter echoed across the prairie upon seeing the unicorn expertly throw her shield at the fleeing Earth Pony criminal and nail him with a dead on shot to the head, then gave him a vicious kick in the ribs for good measure.

"That, wast for grasping me so harshly," she spat down at him. Prairie Nettle glared up at her and sprang to his hooves, ready to strike at her, but the glare turned into terror when she removed her sword from her mane and put it to his throat.

"Move, and ye shalt regret it."

"The buck kind of mare are ya?" Prairie Nettle gasped out as he was captured and led away by two more deputies.

"The kind that is 'way out of thy league', as my rainbow maned friend would so put it," Skyward sneered as she sheathed her sword, letting it hang against her side by means of the leather strap she had secured to herself under the dress she wore. She shook out her mane, using her magic to remove the pins and the bonnet, tucking them away and smiled in contentment.

"Have ta admit, I cain't decide iffen Ah lahke yer mane up or down."

Skyward started, her magic surrounding her sword as she turned around and flushed, seeing it was Trouble Shoes behind her. "Ah...thou startled me! One could put it up again, if thou wished..."

She shut her mouth and backed her ears; mentally she berated herself for acting like a foal. Sweet golden Goddesses, the buck was wrong with her? She NEVER wanted to do this for any stallion, why this one?

"Like Ah said--ya look lovely either way, Skyward."

"...Thank ye. Honestly though...most of the other mares here, one cannot hold a candle to..."

She went completely still when he put a hooftip to her mouth to shush her. "Ah've seen a lot o' th' mares 'round these parts, Skyward; an' none o' 'em are as purty as ya are. Never seen any of 'em so brave, neither."

"...well...mine sire was an earth pony, but...one took after my dam..."

"So what? Don' mean nothin' t' me. Unicorn or not, yer one special mare."

Damned if Rarity hadn't been spot on with that...Generosity was her element, but should it have been Honesty? Skyward glanced down and pawed the ground with one hoof before looking up again. Trouble Shoes had come to stand beside her this time, and he was smiling at her. His leaf green eyes sparkled, and she felt a real smile tugging at her muzzle.

"So...Ah really wanna know..."

"Hmm?"

"...didja really bash his muzzle in with yer shield?"

Skyward tried to keep an innocent face but the wicked grin playing about her muzzle gave it away, and Trouble Shoes guffawed heartily, pounding a hoof against the earth. "Too darn bad Ah missed it! Least Ah got t' see ya peg Prairie Nettle in th' back o' the head with that there thing! Now that was priceless!"

Skyward laughed openly. "Not mine fault he made such an easy target. And it wast not as if he did not ask for it anyway. He should hath known better than to run, the foal."

Trouble Shoes winked at her as he offered her a hoof, leading her away from the storefront they'd been talking by. "Ah'm surprised ya didn' yank out that sword of yers."

"I do not use mine blade if it does not merit as such. Besides, unless they truly meant to kill somepony only then would it mean me using it."

She stopped, a pensive look on her face, and her brow furrowed, a faraway look in her eyes. Trouble Shoes gently laid a foreleg across her withers and rested his head atop hers. He couldn't fathom the things she'd seen--he knew she was no stranger to fights, or to death, even--she had the look of a pony who had seen other ponies die, and in gruesome fights to boot, he'd bet his cutie mark on it. Unconsciously he nuzzled her, and she looked up at him, surprised. Biting her lower lip, she swallowed hard and leaned into his warm bulk, and he tucked her close, letting her lean on him.

"...What dost thou think shalt happen to them?"

She smelled so sweet: just like spring rain, he noted absently even as he spoke. "Th' Nettles?"

This close, he smelled like hickory wood...and something else she didn't want to think too closely about right now, but a warm, melty feeling began coalescing in between her hind legs. "Mm."

"Well...th' other four'll likely get hard labor, mebbe jailtime for a good while t' be sure. But Flame and Stingin'? Those two are likely goin' right to Canterlot fer life; Ah know Ah wouldn' want t' be in their horseshoes facin' both Princesses at their trial."

"I can think of one other place t'would be fitting for them," Skyward growled, stamping a hoof, then sucked in a breath when she felt Trouble Shoes brush her right ear with his lips when he spoke.

"Calm down, sugarcube. They're bein' brought t' justice now."

She nodded--her mane brushed his chin and throat when she moved, and since she wasn't looking at him she missed the flicker in his eyes and how he stood closer to her as a result.

"Aye, thou are right. Ah...mind if I ask thou something? You do not need to reply, mind."

A deep chuckle resonated against her left ear--the rich cadence of his country drawl sent waves of warmth through her body, yet she stamped down hard on the primal urge that stirred within her.

"Speak yer mind, Skyward."

"...Why dost thou call me 'sugarcube'?"

His laugh was warm and full, and she looked up at him, puzzled, the familiar 'needles in her chest' feeling welling up even though she hid her hurt at his laughter.

"Because, yer sweet, gentle, playful an' kind, an ya care so much 'bout other ponies' safety. Sure, Applejack calls ya that cause she sees ya as kin, most likely, but Ah call ya that because Ah think yer a right sweet mare that deserves t' know how much ya mean to other ponies. Especially me."

Needless to say, Skyward was stunned at his response, the sorrow and hurt at his laughter fading away. Both Applejack and Rarity had been right. He honest to Goddesses cared about her. Cheeks tinging red under her fur, she hastily gave him a clumsy, swift kiss to his muzzle and ducked her head as her face burned.

"...Ye truly art too kind to me," she murmured, but there was no fight in her words. She heard him chuckle before he gathered her close against his side and tipped her muzzle up with one hoof, gentle as could be, and he was smiling at her.

"Ya deserve it...sugarcube."

Skyward smiled and was about to respond when a sharp explosion echoed through the air and they jerked apart. Skyward lunged ahead, Trouble Shoes right behind her, and when they got to the train station...

The prison car was in ruins, smoke and flames rising from the interior, a screaming Flame Nettle rolling around to put out the fire on his mane and back. The guardsponies were trying to put out the flames, three of them dousing Flame Nettle with buckets of water…

“APPLEJACK! HELP! HELP MEEEEEE!”

The orange farmpony’s green eyes shrunk to pinpricks of fear when she spotted what was going on further away from the destroyed train care—the bastard had her little sister! Stinging Nettle was free; he’d gotten loose during the commotion and now he was running hay for leather away from the train station, and tied over his back, secured tight in a torn gunny sack with her head sticking out was little Apple Bloom, trying to wriggle free and crying out in pain and fear when the stallion cuffed her for moving.

Skyward’s breath came short in her lungs as the world seemed to close down around her. Hearing Apple Bloom crying in sheer terror, screaming for her big sister...

And hearing the filly's terrified cries, something snapped inside of her.

Skyward let out a roar of pure fury and reared on her hind legs, unsheathing her sword and raising it high with a Haylian war cry. She charged forward, easily outstripping the running stallion deputies that were trying to catch Stinging Nettle. Apple Bloom peeked out of the gunny sack and saw Skyward, running hay for leather after Stinging Nettle, sword and shield out and she looked downright furious. Skyward streaked forward, vengeance in her eyes; above her black storm clouds suddenly began forming, surging through the skies, thunder snarling overhead as a huge storm began to brew out of nowhere. Lightning suddenly cracked across the sky in a magnificent show of power and fury, as if Faust herself was showing her own displeasure at the sight.

Mane and tail flying like Haylian battle banners, Skyward surged forward, hooves savagely pounding the ground as she rushed like a vengeful wind right after the fleeing Earth Pony in the distance. Unconcealed wrath gushed through her like a fountain—that, and something else she couldn’t figure out. Whatever it was, it was giving her the strength to keep going at the punishing pace she was currently keeping. Under her dress, something flickered, glowing under the barding drape. Gauging the distance, she poured on the speed, concentrating hard as she formed spell runes in her mind…

And with a silent flash, she was gone.

Stinging Nettle smirked as he looked behind him...no sight of that damn mare anywhere. With a satisfied smirk, he turned to look in front of him...

And stars exploded in front of his eyes when something blue and indigo and seething with righteous fury rammed into him with the force of a large boulder rolling downhill. Apple Bloom went flying into the grasses somewhere with a frightened cry and a pained, choked sob when she hit the ground and rolled off somewhere into the grasses proper…but well out of the battle lines. Stinging Nettle bounced against the ground a few times before he lay there on the prairie, stunned...what the hay had hit him?

"Get up, thou vile excuse for a stallion. Rise and face thy fate."

It was that mare. That...that bucking unicorn mare. He slowly managed to get up, anger boiling inside of him as he faced her fully, pawing the ground. He was sore and he knew her impact had cracked something, but he wasn't about to go down without a fight. Lightning flashed overhead, revealing her for a split second and her blade glinted dangerously in the flare of light. The wind picked up a little, making her mane and tail wave in the breeze as she planted her hooves, narrowing her eyes and waiting...

She didn't have long to wait--he charged for her and aimed a buck at her head. She jumped back and circled, aiming a slash at his kneecaps. Back and forth they went, trading blows, biting, kicking, headbutting and stomping--Skyward had her shield and her sword, so she managed to get in a few good swipes and strikes with her blade and block some of his blows with her shield. But he being an earth pony he was strong, and when he did get a blow in, it did hurt, but she tried not to show it. The silk of her dress was ripped and torn, showing signs of dirt staining the hem of the barding drape, but Skyward paid it no heed. She was livid, and justice would be served. Like the Diamond Dogs, this bucking plothead of a pony had gone too Goddesses-damned far.

"Ya bucking good fer nuthin' unicorn. Ya ruined mah family, ya hurt two o' my brothers..."

Skyward scoffed at him. "Hah! Ye speak of kin, yet thou turn a blind eye to the hurt the lot of thy clan caused to other families! Hypocrite is thy watchword!"

She ducked a kick and sliced his right flank open, making him whinny in pain, and he danced away from her, kicking dust at her to make her back off. She brought up her shield from the stinging dust and grunted, feeling a driving impact and a 'clang' at the hooves striking her shield, which pushed her back further. She in turn pushed back, trying to throw him off balance.

"Ya got gall callin' me that...we wanted a family but damned if we were gonna shackle ourselves to a bunch o' gossipin' nags t' do so! Mares ain't s'pposed t' talk back, or have an 'pinion--they're jest there t' provide food, pleasure an' listen t' what th' stallion says!"

Skyward sneered openly. "Pity real life dost not work that way, thou chauvinistic pig. No mare would have thee, simply because thou would never treat them as thine equal. What thou did, ye and thine kin, was wrong in every sense. Ye hurt innocent ponies, ye took foals from their beds---mere foals, from their rightful families! Hath thou no heart, no soul to feel the unfathomable pain those bereft mares and stallions feel? Obviously not, since ye are unrepentant of thy crimes!"

Lightning cracked over head as she roared her last sentence, and it made Stinging Nettle flinch despite himself. The mare's horn burned silver and even though she was wearing a dress, which was now torn and ripped, she was still dangerous. And right now, she looked downright terrifying—those blue eyes burned with a savage light in them that made his blood freeze in his veins with fear. The storm clouds above them roiled menacingly, sparking with another surge of lightning ready to let loose at any second…

"I wilt NOT let thou harm anymore innocents, Stinging Nettle! Tonight thine cruelty shalt be put to an end!"

"Th' only end ye're gonna see is my hooves beatin' yer face in, ya buckin’ bothersome nag!"

Skyward's eyes flared and her horn blazed silver as she held her sword at the ready. She reared and charged him just as he yanked a knife from his vest and lunged right at her. The thunder of hooves was enhanced by the roar of thunder overhead...they closed the distance as the black sky churned above them menacingly...

Some would later call it a freak accident, random chance, or maybe Discord farted, who knew? Either way, it was certainly a sight none would ever forget anytime soon. A huge bolt of blue lightning split the sky and arced downward just as she drove her sword home/he lashed out with the knife in his mouth...and it slammed into the ground at their location just as they made contact with one another.

The group of pursuing ponies stopped short, almost colliding with one another, all of them slack jawed at the sight. There was movement in the smoke that was rising off the prairie where the bolt had struck...it was primarily white in hue, and everypony tensed…

But it was Skyward who emerged from the white smoke...she looked utterly exhausted, and she had a lot of cuts and bruises from the battle with Stinging Nettle. Her dress was in shreds, her makeup was gone, her mane and tail were sweat and blood soaked and so was her body. Her mane and tail were also disheveled, and the war braids in her mane had come loose. She was carrying Apple Bloom on her back...the filly looked relieved, if not more than a little teary eyed.

Of Stinging Nettle, there was little more than a charred corpse with Skyward's sword sticking out of his chest, still crackling with azure electricity. Applejack rushed ahead of the others, tearfully gathering Apple Bloom close and sobbing into her sister's mane. The Mane Six clustered around their friend and her little sister, relieved smiles touching everypony's muzzle...but then Skyward's legs buckled when she tried to take a step further; and she collapsed to the ground, cries of alarm echoing in her ears as she blacked out.

We'll Build a Bridge Of Love Between Two Worlds

"Is Skyward gonna be okay, Doc?"

Dr. Black Bag or known affectionately to the town of Appleloosa as 'Doc', glanced at the group of ponies surrounding him and adjusted his spectacles, looking at Applejack in particular, since she had been the one who had spoken. "Ya don’ need t’ worry none. She'll make a full recovery, but she's gotta stay here in Appleloosa; she cain't be moved anywhere right now. Stingin's knife missed her right lung, thankfully, but she ain't gonna be doin' any swordplay or magic fer a good while. That thunderbolt she conjured was one hay of a light show...gee whiz."

"Dr. Black Bag, when can she be moved to Ponyville?" Twilight Sparkle asked, and the dusky gray and salt n’ pepper mane and tailed stallion looked at the purple unicorn mare, sighing and adjusting his spectacles. He was an Earth Pony but that didn't stop him none from earning his medical degree and becoming a doctor. "Within 'bout three weeks, mebbe less if she behaves herself. Fer now though...she's gotta recover here. She lost a lot o' blood in that fight. Stingin' was too good with a knife...always wuz. He always knew 'xactly where t' cut somepony."

Applejack shook out her mane. "Ah'll stay here with Skyward, Twi. Braeburn's gonna need help applebuckin' anyhow this season. Ya'll can come out here whenever t' check on Skyward as well."

“Great! Cause when I come down to visit Skyward, it’s gonna be time to PAR-TAY!”

Fluttershy headbutted her pink party pony friend, shaking her head at her. "Pinkie, no! Skyward can't party right now, look at her! She’s too hurt to even get up from what that big dumb meany did to her!"

Pinkie’s mane deflated a little but puffed right back up soon after. "Oh...right. Well then when she comes back to Ponyville I'll throw three parties for her!"

"Three? Why three, Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked with confusion, perking her ears.

The pink party pony giggled, popping out from behind the bed. "Weeeeelllll....first party would be because she rescued Apple Bloom from that super mean and nasty Nettle pony...second would be because she won that epic awesome super-duper cool battle out on the prairie...and third cause...SHE FINALLY GOT HER CUTIE MARK! WHEEEEE!"

Pinkie Pie fired off her party cannon with a 'squee' and a shower of blue, purple and silver confetti: eyes widened all over the room and Twilight yanked back the covers to see for herself. Sure enough...there on Skyward's flank were three golden triangles stacked in a pyramid…and the lower right triangle was filled in solidly, while the other two were empty.

"She....she finally got it. After all this time--she got her cutie mark," Twilight murmured, a broad smile spreading across her muzzle, and she exchanged excited grins amongst her friends. Even though they knew a certain rodeo pony was going to have to be told everything now…

"Wonder what the last part o' her name's gonna be?"

"Skyward Sword?"

Spike snorted. "Nah. That's practically a no brainer and it’s NOT COOL to copy somepony else."

"Well...how about Skyward Strike?"

"...Do you know how idiotic that sounds, Rainbow Dash?"

"S'not like you're coming up with anything, Rarity, and she DOES carry a sword yanno..."

"Oh please, she is a battlemage after all...Skyward Flare?"

Rainbow Dash mimed sticking a hoof down her throat and gagging, and Rarity stomped her hoof in a huff.

"Umm...maybe Skyward Sonata?"

Twilight shook her head. "Fluttershy, she can’t sing..."

Trouble Shoes, who hadn't left Skyward's side since she'd collapsed; or at least until Doc had chased him out of the operating room in the Appleloosan Acres Hospice, gazed at the sleeping mare and ran a hoof tenderly over her mane. His mind replayed the terrible battle out in the Appleloosan prairie...yet one thing came to mind. It was when she had emerged triumphant, sorely wounded from her battle, yet Apple Bloom she had kept safe at any cost. She had protected the filly, as if she were her own mother, or big sister.

Protect...

Skyward's very nature was to protect ponies that couldn't protect themselves. Seeing Apple Bloom in mortal danger--that alone he knew would have galvanized the unicorn mare into action. She did not act until she knew somepony was in real trouble. Like...like a guardian angel...or...

"Skyward Spirit."

The chatter and arguing in the room screeched to a halt, and they all looked at Trouble Shoes. Twilight approached the large stallion, tilting her head. "Wha...what did you say?"

He shook his mane out of his eyes. "...Ah don' understand why she had to earn her cutie mark to git a last name...but...she reminds me of a guardian spirit. She's always there protecting the ponies that need help th' most. Sorta like whut th' buffalo tribe tell tales of...protective spirits that watch o'er them an' come in t' help when they need it. Ain't she exactly that t' anypony that needs help?"

The Mane Six and the Doc looked at one another and Applejack grinned at the rodeo clown star. "Seems lahke ya chose a real good name for her. Might wanna run that past her when she wakes up, though."

"Mind tellin' me why? Ah'd ask Skyward, but she's...well..."

Rarity thanked the doctor profusely for his help, escorting him out and asking for advice on what would be best for Skyward while the others came to sit near their injured friend. Applejack took off her hat, glancing at the others. The cat was out of the bag for sure now what with Skyward’s cutie mark exposed, and there was no hiding from the truth. She gestured to the puzzled looking stallion.

"Now Ah want ya t' keep in mind that if ya had asked Skyward this, she'd tell ya nuthin' more than the honest truth, Trouble Shoes. But ya see, th' whole reason why is..."

One by one, each mare (sans Rarity for a few minutes) took their turn telling of Skyward's origins, showing the stallion the make of her sword and the odd design on her shield, and the danger her own world was like. The battles the mare had fought, the magic she knew, and why she spoke so oddly. They also told him about what her cutie mark meant and why she had to return to Hayrule—to free her homeland from Ganondorf’s vile hoof.

"So... she’s seekin' a way back t' her home?"

"Actually, Trouble...she doesn't wanna go back to Hayrule anymore. And yer the reason why."

The large stallion blinked in surprise, and Applejack bit her lip. "Don' tell her Ah said this. But yer th' only stallion who's treated her like a real lady. An', she honest t’ Celestia loves ya. Hay, anypony can see how much she cares about ya, problem is, she’s shy, she doesn't know what to do, and she doesn't want t' hurt ya if she does find a way back t' her realm. She loves ya that much t' think 'bout yer feelin's before her own, Trouble Shoes."

Spike approached, hopping up on a chair so he could better see the big stallion. "The thing is, knowing what you know now, Trouble Shoes, how does that affect your feelings for her knowing who she is and where she comes from? Or the fact she is honor bound to return to free her land from that rogue mage?"

"Ah still love her. Don' see why no other stallion wouldn' want t' keep her, considerin’ all th’ amazin’ things she’s done.”

The purple unicorn mare shook her head as she spoke. “Most of them were just too stupid to see it, Trouble Shoes…and well, the rest of them only had one thing on their minds. You’re the only pony who sees her for who she really is, and who loves her for it regardless. You’re the kind of stallion she needs. When we weren’t there for her, you were. You made her laugh, you kept her safe, and you made her happy. When we teased her, you stood up for her and comforted her.”

“But if she has t' go back t' keep her land safe from that crazy unicorn thief...mebbe...Ah could go with her."

Needless to say, every single jaw in the room was struggling to get off the ground. Rarity was the first to speak.

"So...you are saying...you'd give up your life here in Equestria...just to be with Skyward Spirit? You would follow her wherever she went? You would do anything to stay with her?"

Trouble Shoes nodded mutely, turning his head to nuzzle the sleeping mare gently...and winced when Rarity squealed so loud he had to flatten his ears clear down against his head.

"THAT IS SO ROMANTIC! EEEEEE! WHO KNEW SUCH CHIVALRY AND TRUE LOVE EXISTED..."

Applejack quickly grabbed a cork from an empty cider bottle nearby and stuffed it in Rarity's mouth. "Rarity, shut th' buck up! Skyward's tryin' to sleep an' ya heard what Doc said 'bout her gittin' rest! Geez!"

"Okay, everypony outta here. Now. Let Skyward sleep. Besides, I get the feeling those two have a lot to discuss once she does awaken...and NO EAVESDROPPING, Rarity," Twilight said sternly as she levitated her friend and walked out of the door with the others following. Rainbow Dash giggled and bumped Pinkie Pie, who giggled back in return and winked. Trouble Shoes snorted softly, shaking his head...

But he turned his gaze back to the sleeping unicorn mare and rested his head against hers, softly nuzzling her and carefully as he could cradling her in his front hooves. Though it had embarrassed him to admit it...he knew it was no lie. He did love her.

He only could hope that she loved him just as much in return.

*****************************************************************************************************

Slowly, Skyward awakened again in a bed, grimacing at the dull throbbing pain in her side, and the smell of medicine reached her nose.

(The buck am I doing in a healing cot...oh. Right. I cannot believe I won that battle. Never mind that freak lightning bolt! I know I didst not summon that-would not, not with Apple Bloom within range! Apple Bloom...if she got out of that lightning strike okay, one prays she...ow ow...)

Skyward sucked in a painful breath and gritted her teeth but was unable to suppress a moan of pain. The faint sound of agony was enough to bring Trouble Shoes from the other room, where he'd gone (at Applejack and Rainbow Dash's constant prodding) to go eat something since he refused to leave Skyward's side for any reason, aside from bathroom breaks and baths. The pain wracked mare looked up and met his leaf green eyes from across the room...and she smiled, albeit wanly at him...before she hissed and curled up a little. Knowing what was wrong, the stallion carefully meandered to her side, and removed a dark brown bottle and a spoon from the nightstand near her bed. He unscrewed the cap, fumbling a few times and earning a few curses that made Skyward snicker, then whimper in pain again, before he filled the spoon and held it to her lips for her to take.

Skyward normally would have made a face at the spoon and its contents before resignedly taking it, but she was in too much pain to do so, and she swallowed the bitter liquid, trying not to taste it. She barely managed to swallow it, and drank from the cup of water that Trouble Shoes gave her.

"...thank thee...ah...it hurts..."

"Ah know, sugarcube. Here...lie back, it'll kick in a bit."

Skyward did lay back...give or take within fifteen minutes the medicine did its work and she was able to breathe without pain.

"Feelin' better, Skyward Spirit?"

"...I shalt be when this heals and... what didst thou call me?" She looked at him, eyes wide in shock, and Trouble Shoes smiled at her warmly. "Ah called ya Skyward Spirit. Sorta fits ya given how ya protect those who need a guardian pony of sorts."

He saw the conflict in her eyes, and he gently gathered her close and nuzzled her, making her stiffen up and blush furiously. "No need t' worry. Applejack an' the others tole me 'bout where yer really from."

Her ears lowered and she bowed her head. "If thou art angry with me for not telling thee, one understands..."

Trouble Shoes gently turned her head with one hoof so she was looking at him. "Skyward, Ah honestly don' care where yer really from. Ah gotta admit though, Ah'm amazed at half the stuff ya did, an' have done. But it only goes t' show ya fit yer name...a skyward spirit that protects the little ones, who protects ponies in danger."

"Trouble Shoes, if they didst tell thee about mine home, thou knowest then I cannot complete my name unless I earn my cutie mark, and I hath not yet."

The stallion's smile didn't leave his face--instead, it only grew, and Skyward blinked at him in confusion. "What? What is so amusing?"

"Think 'bout this fer a second. Ya said ya cain't complete yer name until ya earned yer cutie mark, right?"

"Aye...that is the way of it..."

"So what would happen iffen ya did?"

"...My completed name would depend on what I did to earn it even if I hath not yet..."

Skyward suddenly trailed off as Trouble Shoes's grin got even bigger. The Haylian mare bit her lower lip and looked over at the blankets covering her up and swallowed hard. She took a slow breath, reached out with one hoof and scowled when she saw she was visibly shaking. A much larger, nut brown and white furred hoof covered her own, and she looked into Trouble Shoes's leaf green eyes, and he smiled softly at her, giving her a nod. Together, she pulled back the blankets with his help...

Tears stung her eyes and a joyful laugh erupted from the Haylian mare's mouth when she beheld the trio of golden triangles on her flank.

"I....I cannot believe...I...I earned..."

"Ya earned yer cutie mark all right, sugarcube. An' ya did it defendin' Apple Bloom. Ya chased that wretch clear out t' the prairie an' ya made sure Apple Bloom made it out okay. S'why...s'why I came up with Skyward Spirit...ye're like a guardian pony o' legend who protects ponies when they need it most, and guides th' young'uns. Th' others tole me about how ya taught those three fillies a few things."

"...Skyward Spirit...hmm."

She turned and gave him a real, unalloyed smile that made his heart race madly in his chest...Sweet Celestia; she looked so beautiful when she smiled like that...

"Then I accept thy suggestion. Skyward Spirit wilt be my name."

Trouble Shoes gave her a hug, pleased she had found his choice acceptable, easing up when she winced in pain and shifted a little. "Aah-ah...ow...forgive me...it..."

"S'all right. Yeah...yer gonna be stuck in this here bed fer a good while. Stingin' Nettle really cut ya up good. So...ya like th' name Ah picked fer ya?"

"I love it. I am just sorry my friends did not help thee choose a name for me."

The stallion winked at her. "Oh b'lieve me, they did. Ah think ya dodged a bullet, t' be honest."

Skyward Spirit raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Please tell me they didst not..."

Trouble Shoes smirked at her. "Ya shoulda heard half th' stuff they were comin' up with...Skyward Flash? Mebbe...Skyward Sonata?"

Skyward Spirit snorted at the first one and rolled her eyes at the second, and Trouble Shoes laughed heartily. "Didn' think so, sweetheart." Hearing him call her that, made her blush all the more, and she plucked at the blanket with her hooves, looking down at it.

"Hm...yer so darn cute when ya blush."

Her ears went up and she looked at him wide eyed before ducking her head again, and he chuckled, brushing a strand of her mane out of her face. A royal blue eye regarded him shyly from the parted curtain of royal blue and indigo, and he smiled softly at her, earning a soft giggle in response, then a wince and coughing, and he gently pushed her back down onto the covers.

"Ya rest now, sugarcube; feel like eatin' anythin'?"

"Nay...just...might one ask thou something?"

"Sure thing, sweetpea. Whut is it?"

"...stay with me?"

Her voice was soft, almost too soft to hear. But he heard her all the same, and he gently tucked the covers around her, giving her a smile that threatened to make her heart melt...

"Ah'll be right here fer ya, Skyward Spirit. And Ah'll be here when ya wake up. That's a promise."

She laid a hoof over his, smiling as she allowed the medicine to pull her into sleep. Her eyes slid shut--before she drifted into true slumber, she swore she could have felt something brush her cheek before true sleep claimed her.

**************

True to his word, Trouble Shoes was right there when Skyward Spirit awakened from her nap. He too was sleeping, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight, and nuzzled him before she could stop herself. Blushing furiously, she curled close to the stallion and gazed at him, her muzzle mere inches from his own.

(...To think he cares for me. After what...what they did, one would never think of being loved again. But...what I felt for Jade Mist and Dark Wind...that was not love. Nay...this...this must be love. Not even those two gelded bastards stirred mine heart the way Trouble Shoes has. And unlike those two; Trouble Shoes has been naught but honest and loving...)

She sobered when she caught sight of her shield, leaning innocuously against the wall. The symbol of Hayrule reminded her of her duty to her land, her people, and her princess...a tear slipped from her eye and slid down her muzzle...

She heard a noise, and turned her head only to come in contact with a soft white muzzle, and she blinked. Then she felt the blood rush to her face when she remembered just WHO that muzzle was attached to...

"Aw, sugarcube. Why are ya cryin'? Yer not hurtin' ya again, is it? Let me get ya some more medicine."

He was about to move when she suddenly curled against him, burying her face in his neck even though her entire body screamed in protest when she did. "...Please...do not leave me alone..."

She almost cried when he resumed his former position, that of being curled around her, and began stroking her mane with one great hoof. "Ah ain't goin' anywhere, Skyward Spirit."

"...ye can still call me Skyward if thou wish..."

Trouble Shoes just smiled down at the pretty Haylian mare and nuzzled her--Skyward Spirit choked back a sob at that, and looked up at him. "What?"

" 'Nuthin. Jest want t' look at ya."

She snickered and winced, despite herself. "Oh come now; I likely look like something straight out of one of those 'terror flicks' Pinkie Pie likes to watch so much. I'm a right mess...always was after a major battle..."

She snorted in amusement, turning her head and came literally nose to nose with Trouble Shoes, who gazed down into her wide royal blue eyes. He lifted a hoof and brushed some of her mane out of her face, and she found herself leaning into his touch.

"Now ya lissen here, missy. Ah think I done told ya not t' talk yaself down like that. Iffen ya say somethin' that silly again, Ah'm gonna kiss ya t' shut ya up."

Skyward was torn between laughing herself sick or staring at him in shock...the buck did he just get done saying?

"Wha...what...what did ye just..."

(Outside the room, Rarity stuffed her hooves into her mouth to keep from squealing out loud; oooooohhhh this was getting good!)

The Haylian unicorn stared at the impishly grinning earth pony before a matching smirk found itself onto her face. "Is that so."

"Yup."

"I take it I do not hath the option of teleporting."

"Nope. Yer still healin'. Yer stuck in this bed with me until yer fightin' fit again."

Skyward blushed madly at his choice of words but she shrugged, barely able to keep the grin from finding its way to her muzzle. "Hmm...one supposes; still, I hope I am pleasant enough company, I do not want thee to think that...mmmf!"

Skyward Spirit's eyes flew wide when Trouble Shoes, true to his warning, pulled her close and kissed her right on the mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed and she let him kiss her...he was so warm and gentle, yet his grip on her was firm, not harsh. He let her go sooner than she wanted, but he was smiling at her, and drew her close to him to nuzzle her cheek.

"Ah warned ya."

She chuckled, returning the nuzzle with one in kind, and silently giggling at his own blush. "So thou did. Hmm--one had best watch oneself then."

A playful gleam entered his eyes and she barely held back a laugh. "Now hold on there a second, Ah think Ah'm th' one who's gonna be keepin' an eye on ya, sugarcube."

"Oh really...who made thou the boss, may one ask?"

Trouble Shoes was grinning at her banter, pressing his face right against hers...though their grins were matching wicked smirks, their eyes told a different story entirely. "Ah did, ya got a problem with that...sweetheart?"

"Hmm...let one think a moment...nope," she replied, mimicking his drawl as best she could before she took his muzzle in her hooves and kissed him...and he immediately kissed her back, pulling her into his forelegs and embracing her as best he could without causing her pain. Skyward surrendered to him instantly, wrapping her forelegs around him in return and pulling him closer with a soft purr of happiness.

(Outside a certain white unicorn mare was wriggling in delight and muffling her squees of joy behind her hooves)

When they finally let up for air, Trouble Shoes gathered Skyward Spirit close and cradled her in his forelegs, smiling like a foal. Celestia and Luna, he loved her so much. He hated seeing her in pain...speaking of which...

"Really now, why were ya cryin', Skyward? Ah don' like seein' ya cry iffen Ah can help it."

He softly nuzzled her and she turned her face into his neck. "...There are times I despise being a battle mage of Hayrule...and this is one of them."

"Skyward, Ah ain't leavin' ya. Yeah, yer friends tole me what yer up against; an' if ya do have t' go back to Hayrule--Ah'm comin' with ya."

Needless to say, that shocked her and she stared up at him, eyes wide and mouth open. "Y-you...Trouble...what...Goddesses...what about thine life here? You wouldst give all that up? Why?"

"Because yer worth it. Skyward, Ah love ya, an' Ah'm gonna make sure ya know it, all th' time. Ya've been alone fer so long, an' from what I gathered, somepony hurt ya real bad, didn't they?"

"...ye do not know the half of it. They did, in more ways than one."

He snorted, ears slicking back a bit. "Yeah well; anypony dumb enough to mess with MY mare is gonna be gittin' a good buck clear 'cross that there Hayrule Field o' yers; honey, what's wrong?"

"...Nay, I...(sniff) I am fine...just...just not used...to being wanted...loved by somepony..."

"Well git used t' it, Skyward. Ya ain't gonna shake me that easy. I love ya, Skyward Spirit."

She smiled through her happy tears, snuggling into his chest and he smiled down at his marefriend, nuzzling her soft mane and just content to hold her close to him. "...I love thou as well, Trouble Shoes."

The large stallion smiled, nuzzling her mane and her cheek. "So, d'ya have any family back home?"

"Aye...my sire, Mossy Boulder, and my elder brother, Tempest Wing. He is a pegasus. My mother...my mother was a unicorn, same as I. Her name was Inferno Flare."

Trouble Shoes softly kissed her cheek, making her look up at him. "Ah take it then she's..."

She mutely nodded as she bowed her head—even though it was an old wound, it hadn’t really healed. Losing one’s mother left a mark that would never fade, and he hugged her close. "Yer mother would be right proud o' ya, Skyward. An' Ah'm sure if yer brother an' yer sire were here, they'd be proud o' ya too."

"Tempest would likely end up getting drunk off his flank...Father? Bragging about me like he did Tempest when he got his cutie mark."

"So what's yer brother good at doin'?"

"He can bring in a lot of lightning and wind from the clouds he kicks in...he tends to use them in battle a lot. He has pinpoint accuracy, and coming from a pegasus stallion who is likely going to divebomb you loaded with a lightning bolt?"

Trouble Shoes winced, shaking his head. "Celestia---remind me t' never tick yer brother off iffen Ah ever get t' meet 'im."

She snorted softly. “If he tries, rest assured. One knows a trick or two to ground him proper.”

The big stallion chuckled, nuzzling his marefriend and earning a loving nuzzle in return. The bluesteel unicorn mare yawned, and Trouble Shoes chortled softly, holding her close against his side as the tired mare snuggled up against him.

“Sleep, Sky. Ah’ll be here when ya wake up, honeylove.”

Skyward Spirit smiled softly up at him, stealing a kiss from her stallion before she curled up and went straight to sleep, the Clydesdale-esque stallion nestling around her as he drifted off himself. Because they were asleep, neither pony saw the grinning young purple dragon with a camera take a picture (flash off) of course, and nod approvingly at the sleeping couple.

“Definitely one for the memory book,” Spike said to himself as he walked back outside, looking at the printed picture in his claws with an approving nod as he went to go find Twilight.

Call Upon The Heroine

(Three days later...)

The heat was the first thing that Sheik noticed as he emerged from the swirling golden-white colored portal behind him. He glanced around, shaking his mane out as he did so. It wasn’t as hot as the Barren Wastes or the Gerudo Desert proper, but still. A light breeze brushed his muzzle and he silently welcomed the reprieve, taking in a deep breath and glancing at his surroundings.

He glanced around suspiciously—the Princess’s spell had landed him in a dark crevice of some sort…it looked like two large boulders that had been worn down by wind, rain…and judging from the huge jaggedy hole that split down the middle of both gigantic rocks, a lightning bolt.

He cocked his ears—he didn’t hear anypony outside, and judging from the sun’s position, it was almost nightfall here. He slipped like a snake out of the fissure, turning to look at the town he could see in the distance. Princess Zelda’s words echoed in his head—she had already gone through and left this portal open for him.

“The portal shalt send thee where Skyward is. Find her, bring her to the Lost Woods so she may claim the Blade of Evil’s Bane…”

Granted the town was likely where Skyward was, but where to start looking? He couldn’t just up and ask anypony…he knew Skyward was likely trying to keep a low profile. He didn’t want to wait till nightfall…the grasses were tall enough to be sure but even then, he still ran the risk of being seen. Goddesses, he hated grasslands—absolutely no cover to be had.

“…fer buck’s sake! Git ‘im t’ the Hospice…dammit, we’re gonna need somepony from Canterlot t’ remove this ding danged zappin' pigsticker…”

He ducked back behind the crevice, using his magic to hide himself in the shadows as a large wagon pulled by three earth ponies rolled by. Seeing an opportunity, his horn glowed a soft crimson before he vanished…and reappeared under the wagon as he clung to it using his magic, using the cloak he had brought with him to make sure he would go unnoticed.

Once he entered the town proper, he let go and rolled, letting the dust hide his descent as he slipped into the shadows of a building close by. He had donned a cloak so he would be inconspicuous amongst the ponies here—his Sheikah garb would most certainly give him away. He wandered through the town, pretending to pull out a folded piece of paper—anypony looking would think him to be looking through a map.

“…honestly, Applejack; how much more do you need?”

Sheik stopped in his tracks, turning his ears towards the voice he could hear. He knew that voice—Lady Rarity. He turned towards the white unicorn mare’s voice, following the sound of their conversation.

“…gonna need, Rare—this might be something she can eat…”

He followed the two mares—intrigued by the orange coated mare who was clearly picking out items from a shop…mostly spices, like cinnamon and allspice. She tossed her long blond mane over her withers and shook her head at Rarity.

“Ya know Skyward’s gonna need this stuff. Now come on, we need to get back soon.”

The Sheikah stallion frowned—why would Skyward need spices and apples? Unless she was making something? There was Haylian apple pie to be sure but…that required something else that he knew Equestria didn’t have…

He shook his head…he’d ponder that later. He followed the mares discreetly, blending in with the shadows—to a large building with a big red cross and two apple trees on the front sign. The scent of medicine reached his nostrils and he frowned, but he followed them inside, using his magic to blend in with his surroundings. Sheikah weren’t just masters of stealth, they were deadly assassins and very good at subterfuge—which means that from the second the mares opened that door he was able to use his Sheikah abilities to blend in—using illusion magic to mask himself as a staff member so he could come and go as he willed.

He followed the mares to the courtyard of this strange place—but from the smell alone he had to guess he was in some sort of odd healing temple. He noticed there was more than one mare in the courtyard—including Lady Rarity and Lady Rainbow Dash. He sat under one of the large apple trees—was this where Skyward was? He couldn’t see her anywhere…

“Ah’m sorry, can we help ya with something?”

Sheik was snapped out of his musings by the sharp country accent addressing him. He turned and stared into a pair of brilliant emerald eyes—the same ones that belonged to the orange coated mare. He was completely surprised…how had this mare seen him?

“Applejack, are you all right? There’s nopony there…”

“Horseapples there ain’t, Rarity…come out or Ah’m gonna get right rough with ya,” came the growled response.

Repressing his laughter, the impressed Sheikah stallion smiled as he appeared, letting his magic fade as well as dropping the cloak. He bowed to the startled mare, giving her a smile—or as best he could since his wrappings prevented them from seeing his face.

“Truly thou hast a keen eye to see within the shadows, milady…one is impressed…”

“Sheik? Is that…ha, it is you! We’re glad to see you!”

“Goodness, are you all right? Please tell me that disgusting excuse for a prince did not harm you, did he?”

Applejack blinked, shaking her head and glancing at her friends. “Wait, hold on…this is Sheik?”

Rarity nodded, smiling. “One and the same! Come, sit! Spike, would you get him something to drink?”

The Sheikah stallion was surprised and pleased at the warm greetings he was getting from the mares and was pleasantly surprised when the young dragon came up to him and offered him a cool cup of cider for him to drink. He thanked the young dragon as the crimson eyed stallion removed his head wrappings and shook out his mane—finding the dragon’s name was Spike—drank to ease his thirst, then spoke to the mares as they settled outside to talk. His features were lean and chiseled, yet narrow. His mane was the color of straw in the sun and his eyes were a warm crimson hue, while his coat as well as his horn was a light caramel tan color.

“How’d ya…oh, hayseeds, please tell me Ganondorf didn’t open another portal?”

He shook his head at the orange coated mare, giving her a reassuring smile. “Nay, Lady Rainbow Dash. The King of Evil didst not open another portal. One is here of mine own accord; one shalt inform all of thou about it later. Yet, where is Skyward?”

“She’s laid up in bed restin’…she got hurt pretty bad,” Applejack replied, and the crimson eyed stallion stiffened.

“Wait. Skyward hath been injured?!”

“Yeah. She took one hay of a beating, Sheik—she won’ be able t’ do much fer a coupla weeks at th’ most. Why?”

“Please. Tell one what happened, I beg of all of thou. Time is of the essence, even more so now…”

The six mares looked at one another before Applejack stepped forward. She began telling Sheik about the Nettles foalnapping her little sister and her friends, and how they had set a trap for them. How Stinging Nettle had double crossed his own siblings, almost killed one of his brothers, and he had tried to take Apple Bloom…

Rarity broke in at this point. “…and Skyward just went berserk with rage! She whipped out her sword, screamed a battle cry and charged right after that horrible vandal! And as she did so, storm clouds blacker than ink started rolling in, lightning and thunder aplenty as if it was going to rain, and then she vanished…”

“And then we saw her fighting with Stinging Nettle! It was SUCH an epic fight—they were kicking and biting and she was using her shield to block his kicks…ohh she took a nasty blow to the right leg but she kept right on going! And she sliced him a few times with her sword! And then she raised her sword high—and they both charged at one another…”

The whole time she was talking, Pinkie Pie reenacted the whole battle, and then Applejack came back in.

“An’ when they collided, this HUGE blue lightnin’ bolt just tore down outta nowhere and slammed right into the ground where they were! Skyward came out okay with Apple Bloom—but Stingin’ Nettle…well. He got flash fried an’ Skyward’s sword is still stuck in his corpse…nopony’s tried to remove it.”

Spike snorted. “More like they can’t because it’s still electrified—Broad Brim tried to and ended up getting shocked pretty good.”

“She collapsed soon after Applejack recovered her sister. The doctor told us she needs to rest for about three weeks—she lost a lot of blood and she had cuts all over her body. Her cutie mark appeared during the fight, we think…she didn’t have it before,” Twilight Sparkle offered.

“Her mark…ah. I see now. She tapped her ancestor’s power even as her cutie mark revealed itself. An uncontrolled Skyward Strike…”

“Ha! See, told ya that name wasn’t dumb,” Rainbow Dash crowed, and Rarity shook her mane, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, though, it doesn’t really suit her, Rainbow Dash…”

Sheik barely hid a snicker behind one hoof. “Thou wouldst be correct. In truth it is an ancient power that the first Hero of Time was able to use. It is a sword strike performed through Farore’s chosen, empowered with the wrath of the Goddess of Courage herself.” The straw maned stallion replied.

“Still wonder if she should’ve chosen that as her name instead of Skyward Spirit,” Rainbow Dash mused, and Sheik cocked his head.

“Skyward Spirit?”

The purple unicorn mare with a tri-colored mane and tail resembling the hues of dusk nodded at him with a smile. “Mm-hmm. Her coltfriend Trouble Shoes told her that and she accepted his suggestion. He told her she’s like she’s a guardian spirit that watches over ponies and steps in to help when they need it—and to be honest…it fits her pretty well.”

Sheik barely held back the belly laugh rising inside of him even as he couldn’t hold back a broad grin at this news—a coltfriend? Skyward—wait, Skyward Spirit had a coltfriend here in these lands? Ohhh just wait till he told the Princess about this development! He was incredibly pleased to hear she had found somepony to love—he would have to see who this stallion was for himself.

“Skyward Spirit, eh? Fitting…very fitting indeed. Especially considering how much she resembles her five-time great grandsire Skyward Sword. But, one fears her being injured poses a very serious problem…”

“Why’s that, Sheik?”

“Princess Zelda hath gone into hiding once more, but Her Royal Highness sent me to fetch her, for now is the time for her to claim something Time Link left for her. Hayrule needs to know she exists…that their Heroine hath not abandoned them. Also, we need her help to turn the tide of battle—the King of Evil is enraged at losing the Goddess Stones, and sent an horde of monsters riding demonic boars to lay waste to Lon Lon Ranch and its surrounding settlements.”

The Sheikah stallion looked at the six mares and one dragon with a grim look on his muzzle. “Skyward Spirit may be the only pony who canst turn the tide and help to drive the wretches off. Because once those beasts see her, armed with the Blade of Evil’s Bane and bearing the cutie mark that all the Heroes of Time hath held, they very well may turn tail and run. If not…well. The Haylian Army will fight all the harder for knowing Time Link lives on in his great-niece.”

“But she’s injured, Sheik! She can’t even fight in her state right now,” Twilight Sparkle cried, looking worried, and the crimson eyed-stallion looked thoughtful, putting a hoof to his muzzle and closing his eyes, clearly thinking.

“Fret not. One may hath a way to heal her to full, however, thou all must give credence to a lie that she is still here once she recovers, for once she does, she wilt be called to war, if only for a brief time.”

The six mares looked at one another. “This won’t be easy, Sheik, but we’ll give it our best.”

“Then one shalt return soon. Be ready. And…t’was nice to meet all of thou…one didst not expect to be recognized or greeted so warmly.”

“Pfft…I told ya, you’re one of us, buddy, and don’t ya forget it,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, giving the straw maned stallion a playful shove.

“Any friend of Skyward’s is a friend of ours,” Applejack chimed in and earning a warm smile in return towards all of them.

“One appreciates that. Ah—pray, one last thing…dost any of thou hath a bottle on thee?”

“A bottle? Liiike…what kind of bottle?”

“One with a broad mouth, body and a cork, if thine hast one?”

“Hmm…OOH I GOT IT! Be right back!”

The pink party pony was gone with a PIZZZZOW and was back within two seconds with a DING!—holding an empty, cleaned glass milk bottle and a large cork stuck in the top of it.

“It’s glass, so be careful okay?”

Sheik was impressed, pricking his ears at the pink puffy maned and tailed light pink mare. “Thou art swift on thy hooves to be certain…ah…”

“I’m Pinkie Pie! Nice to meetcha, Sheik! Hey, what kinda cake do ya like?”

Twilight Sparkle was swift as she put a hoof over her party pony friend’s mouth to quiet her. “Pinkie, if he’s still around later on you can ask him that. Remember, he has to get something for Skyward so she can heal, cause she’s needed back in her world right now.”

“Ohhhh riiiight! Well, I’m still planning a party for him anyway!”

Applejack came up next to the obviously surprised and confused Sheikah stallion. “Pff, this is Pinkie Pie we’re talkin’ ‘bout here, Sheik. She throws a party for anypony she considers a friend; she did it fer Skyward when she first came here. Yer no different, Sheik—ya might be a pony from Hayrule, but we don’ give a wax green bean about that. Yer one of Skyward’s friends, that makes ya our friend too.”

Sheik smiled softly. “Truly, Skyward Spirit is a blessed mare to hath such caring friends. Now...I shalt return.”

He re-adjusted his head wrappings, raised a hoof and with a BANG he was gone in a puff of white smoke.

Twilight Sparkle blew out a breath and shook her mane back before she turned to look at the others. “Okay girls—we’ve got a job to do. Let’s hurry before he comes back.”

*************

Sheik did return, and with a glowing winged little ball of pink light in the bottle he was ‘holding’ in his magic. Twilight Sparkle led him inside and put a hoof to her mouth to indicate to be quiet. The Sheikah stallion nodded as he followed the purple unicorn mare into the next room…

The crimson eyed stallion stopped short, a grin forming on his muzzle at the tender sight before him. Sleeping on the bed, looking wan and weak, her coat a shade lighter than it was due to blood loss, was Skyward. Mentally the stallion sighed to himself—she had earned her full name, rightfully so, and he had to remember to call her as such.

But it was the other occupant of the room who also had him grinning like a foal—a stallion who was clearly much larger than the normal sized stallion. An Earth Pony too no less—he had to bite back a loud guffaw at that…clearly the jewel apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Skyward’s mother Inferno Flare had been quite taken with Mossy Boulder when she had first met him as well, but it took the Captain of the Haylian Royal Guard almost a full two moons before he worked up the courage to court Skyward’s mother openly.

The stallion was clearly a rugged, rustic earth pony, his coat a deep nut brown, almost a dark vermilion it seemed to him, and he bore white markings on his hooves and a matching blaze right down his muzzle. His eyes were the color of new leaves in spring, his dark brown mane was unruly and his matching tail was shortish, but it suited him. He looked like a draft horse and had the muscle behind it, but he was clearly gentle and caring. And it was plain as day how much he loved the sleeping Haylian mare. He was curled around her protectively, but not so he would crowd her considering her injuries. The gentle nuzzles to her ears and light kiss to her muzzle while she slept, closing his eyes to rest his muzzle in her mane.

Twilight Sparkle approached the bed, making the stallion raise his head, cocking an eyebrow at the stallion behind her.

“Trouble Shoes, this is Sheik. He’s a friend of Skyward’s. He says he has something to help her get better.”

“Ah know. Ah could hear th’ lot o’ ya out in th' courtyard. Thankfully nopony else seemed t’ notice—they had t’ bring in another pony who tried t’ git Sky’s sword outta Stingin’ Nettle’s corpse an’ got zapped all but good.”

Sheik stepped forward, inclining his head to the larger stallion, seeing the worry and the sorrow writ clearly on the larger pony’s visage. “Then thou knowest what will happen next, good stallion. She is needed. And, knowing her, she wilt come back to thou in one piece. She not only has Hayrule to fight for now. She hath her friends…and you, now as well.”

Trouble Shoes breathed out a pained sigh, glancing at his marefriend. He sorely wished she didn’t have to do this. He wanted to protect her, to ensure she would never have to raise her blade or shield again. But after everything he had heard and had been told…he knew there was no way in hay Skyward would abandon her homeland unless she knew it was at peace again. “Ah wish there was somethin’ Ah could do t’ help her.”

Sheik shook his head at him, gesturing at him with one hoof even as he levitated the bottle close to the sleeping Haylian unicorn mare. “Ye already have. A pony that fights to return to the ones they love is a pony far stronger than the one who fights alone. Ye hath given her that strength, simply because ye love her so dearly, as she loves thou in return. And that is also something none of the other Heroes of Time hath ever had--somepony to give them that strength.”

The red aura from his horn removed the cork and the little ball of pink light flew out…circling around the injured Haylian mare. Her wounds began to close, her color slowly began to return as the little fairy restored Skyward Spirit’s vitality. The little pink fairy did not disappear, however…it flew back into the bottle, which Sheik closed, and he pulled another bottle filled with a blue substance out of seemingly nowhere.

“Awaken, Skyward Spirit. Heed me now—Hayrule needs thou,” Sheik commanded, and Skyward mumbled and rolled over towards Trouble Shoes, nuzzling into his chest.

The sound of mares laughing, and giggling made the two stallions smirk and chuckle themselves, and Trouble Shoes nudged his sleeping marefriend gently, but insistently until she stirred.

“Sky, honeylove, wake up. Ya got a visitor an’ Ah don’ think he wants t’ be kept waitin’.”

With a sigh and a sleepy yawn, the bluesteel Haylian mare woke up, blinking sleepily at her coltfriend, who nuzzled her lovingly. “Wha…”

“Well now, Skyward Spirit. One canst see that thou ist in very good hooves. Thou wilt take good care of her; one trusts?”

Trouble Shoes glanced at Sheik as he pushed the Blue Potion into Skyward Spirit’s mouth and barked a sharp command for her to drink it—the tone he used was pleasant enough but he could hear the undercurrent of warning in the other unicorn stallion’s tone, never mind the narrowed eyes with a deadly look that promised a painful end if he did anything stupid to hurt her. He had been shovel-talked without a single threatening word and he knew it, but he expected no less from a pony who clearly knew his marefriend well and considered her a friend.

“Ah plan on it, Sheik. Ya have mah word on it. Honestly Ah’m th’ one who’s not worthy of her.”

Sheik snorted. “Skyward Spirit wouldst tell thou otherwise, one is certain, and likely kiss thou senseless in the process to prove it. Awaken, Heroine! Now!”

Skyward Spirit grimaced as she finished drinking the Blue Potion Sheik had all but shoved in her muzzle and did a double take upon seeing him. “Sheik? The buck art thou doing…wait. Didst Ganondorf open another…”

The Sheikah stallion shook his head. “One shalt tell everything to all present later but for now, we must hurry. Hayrule is in grave danger, and thou must come with me to aid in ensuring the death of Ganondorf’s strike force before they reach Lon Lon Ranch.”

Skyward Spirit’s eyes narrowed, and she got out of the bed…then blinked, ears straight up and then she began checking herself---

No bandages, no cuts, no visible sign of blood or stitches…

Had she been able to move without pain?

“One used a fairy on thee from a Fairy Fountain. Get thine armor and let us go, swiftly now,” Sheik said gently but firmly, and Skyward lit her horn, ‘reaching’ for her chainmail armor. She donned it, locking her shield to her back, but paused, turning to look at Trouble Shoes. She moved towards him and pulled him close for a fierce kiss that threatened to light the air on fire around them. The others would’ve been laughing and giggling, but they all knew why. She was going to battle, going to war; they were not going to deny her a goodbye embrace.

“I wilt return to thou…I promise,” she whispered to him, eyes shimmering with tears of love and sorrow.

The huge stallion pulled her close to him, inhaling her scent and nuzzling her mane. “Ah’m gonna hold ya t’ that, sugarcube.”

She turned to her friends, giving them each a tight hug, before she turned to follow a smiling Sheik…

“Wait! Wait a moment!”

The ivory unicorn mare fidgeted before she lit her horn, summoning her saddlebags. She 'opened' them, and then levitated something towards the bluesteel unicorn mare. “I had the feeling you’d need these someday. So, here…”

Sheik couldn’t hold back a howl of laughter at seeing the look on Skyward Spirit’s face as she beheld the outfit Rarity levitated towards her, but he had to hoof it to the white unicorn mare—she was talented indeed!

It was a perfect rendition of Time Link’s original outfit. Only, this one was differently colored, a warm olive green, and the traditional hero’s tunic fit perfectly over her chainmail armor. There was even the same long tailed cap Time Link once wore—only it had been carefully mended, covered with the same olive-green fabric and reinforced. Even though she had a different colored coat, mane and tail and was a unicorn, not an Earth Pony…

The cutie mark on her flank showed otherwise.

“Mine sword…”

“Leave it for now. One hath weapons thou can borrow when we arrive.”

“Sheik…one hath a request to make.”

The red eyed Sheikah stallion cocked his head at the Haylian mare, who looked at him unerringly.

“Mine friends and mine coltfriend should see one claim the Master Sword. They hath been there for me since one met them. They should see this for themselves; for once one does so, t’will likely not happen again in our lifetimes.”

Sheik regarded her and he sighed, shaking his mane, but he had to admit she had a point. This wouldn’t likely happen again in his lifetime, and it wasn’t something to miss—to see a Hero of Time born anew…or in her case, Heroine of Time.

“Very well, but they must do as one says and they must remain on the sidelines. Then, once it is done, one wilt bring all of them back here. Gather close, everypony—and mind what one says.”

With a flash of white and a sharp BANG—

All the ponies were gone.

'Ere The Sun Rises

Author's Notes:

The Hayrulean 3rd Legion's charge is akin to the Rohirrim Charge on the Pelennor Fields before the gates of Minas Tirith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tgi-j56ueU

When they reappeared from the white cloud of smoke, they found themselves outside of a shadowy forest, framed on either side by gigantic cliff walls. A huge gate was in front of them, clearly weather worn…and yet, the wood seemed to be ageless in of itself. It was worn black oak, bound in enchanted steel, the elements clearly over time having done their job and yet…here it still stood. The imposing gates were closed tightly, preventing anypony from getting through. Mist curled around and over the gates, shrouding it in an eerie veil, lending mystery as well as a bit of dread.

Fluttershy shivered, rustling her wings. “It’s so quiet…”

“Yeah. Not th’ good kinda quiet either,” Applejack muttered.

A piercing howl broke the silence and Skyward Spirit teleported to the rear of the group, sword and shield out—but realized with horror her sword had been left behind in Equestria. She swiftly formed one out of her magical aura, aiming it at the thick brush further up the road behind them. A black pelted Wolfos hiding in the brush further down the path leading to the massive gate behind them broke cover, slavering at the thought of an easy meal. The brute was huge—it was twice the size of any of the mares, with long white fangs, burning green eyes, shaggy black fur and huge claws.

Skyward Spirit raised her eldritch blade, readying for a strike…

Only to have Sheik appear out of nowhere on its back, driving two long, tri pronged daggers home into its eyes with incredible speed and precision, before slitting its throat in one quick slash. The Sheikah stallion neatly flipped off the dying beast and landed on all four hooves in a crouch, his daggers ‘raised’ for a retaliatory strike…

But there was none. The Wolfos crashed to the ground with nary a whimper, blood pooling under its corpse from its slashed neck and pierced eyes.

The rest of the group was silent in awe at the exposed skill of the Sheikah stallion. Skyward Spirit snickered and shook her head at him. “Well struck, blade-brother.”

Sheik chortled, inclining his head to Skyward Spirit, before turning to the rest of the ponies. “Art thou all right?”

“Y-yeah. Just…where the hay are we?” Applejack asked, glancing around at the misty shadows around them.

“Yeah. This place is giving me the creeps,” Pinkie Pie mumbled.

Sheik expertly cleaned his daggers before he placed them back somewhere in his tunic or wrappings---where the hay did he keep them anyway?

“Tis the gate to the Lost Woods. Nopony comes here, at least, we hope nopony is foolish enough to breach the gates.”

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get them open!”

With that, Rainbow Dash tried to take wing…

“Hey! What gives? I can’t fly here?!”

Sheik turned and shook his head at her, masterfully hiding his amusement. “Nay, Lady Rainbow Dash. There is mysterious magic here that prevents ponies from flying here. Teleportation or on hoof to the gates proper is the only thing that works. Anypony in these lands knows better than to come here. ‘Tis said this forest is cursed, and anypony who comes here is lost forever. Long before these gates were placed here, many a pony went into these woods…and never returned.”

The Mane 6, Spike and Trouble Shoes all exchanged looks at this. Skyward Spirit glanced at the massive door—she didn’t see a latch or a sliding bar…

How the hay were they going to get inside?

The Sheikah unicorn stallion turned and began tying a crimson colored slender rope to each pony, looping it around their necks and creating a looped lead rein as he did so, putting himself in the lead.

“However, could be nothing further from the truth. The Lost Woods art called as such for a reason—this place is protected by magics of ancient times. Follow one close, and DO NOT STRAY, understand? If thou do, we shalt not be able to find thee…you shalt be lost forever. It is why these woods art barred to any pony…save the Princess and the heroes of old.”

“But how are we going to get inside?” Fluttershy mused.

In answer Sheik lit his horn—along with the crimson glow, a spiral of runes slowly formed in the air and lifted from his horn tip, arcing slowly towards the door. The runes floated in front of the door before the entire huge spiral of runes suddenly shot towards the massive doorway and seared themselves into the wood. The rune spiral flared, before they faded…and the doors began slowly opening, revealing a misty, murky expanse of trees, shrubs and brush ahead of them. A lone path, bereft of grass or growth entire led into the mists…

It seemed simple enough. But the mist and the darkness, and the wind blowing through the leaves gave it an eerie feeling that sent shivers down everypony’s spine.

Sheik lit a torch and held it high for light, beckoning the others to follow him. In a single file line, the group of ponies followed the Sheikah stallion into the Lost Woods.

Things seemed to be all right at first. There were clearly old stone markers lit by torches that guided the way. But after passing 5 such markers and going in the direction listed…

The group soon stopped cold in their tracks. They had been walking for some time, and still no marker/stone torch had appeared to them.

“Hold on! Where are we supposed to go now?” Twilight Sparkle asked, looking around

“Twilight. Calm thyself. We shalt find the way, do not fear,” Skyward Spirit consoled, glancing around.

“We need t’ find another marker…if we don’t…” Applejack murmured, biting her lower lip in nervousness.

“We…we’ll be…” Rarity turned pale, eyes shrinking to pinpricks…

“Guys, calm down. Panicking isn’t gonna solve anything,” Spike ordered, glancing around as the bushes rustled close by.

“Ah think we already have th’ marker we need. Look at th’ torch,” Trouble Shoes spoke up, nodding at the torch Sheik was ‘holding’.

The group of ponies looked over at the torch being held in Sheik’s magic. The unseen breeze had changed direction, going north by northeast proper, and before, they knew the breeze had been coming into their muzzles—southern direction.

“What are you talking about, Trouble Shoes?” Fluttershy asked, and the huge stallion gestured with one hoof at the torch’s flames.

“Watch th’ sparks. Th’ wind changed direction, and that might be where we need t’ go. Been noticin’ tha’ whenever th’ wind changed direction is when we reached one o’ the markers.”

Sheik nodded and they continued walking. “Somepony keep an eye on the flames—the Princess saith something similar of the sort.”

“What did Her Highness say?” Twilight Sparkle asked, and Sheik cocked his ears back towards her. “She saith “Follow the trail of sparks, there thou shalt find thine the true way.”

“Wait. The wind is changing.” Skyward muttered, nodding at the torch.

Sure enough, the trail of sparks off the torch was moving in another direction…it was now moving to the left, going west. The Sheikah stallion nodded, turning to guide the others through the woods—

Off the beaten path.

The group of ponies moved slowly through the overgrowth of grasses, shrubs and bushes — Skyward Spirit, Trouble Shoes, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were watching for threats in the woods if there was any. So far, they’d only seen some rabbits and a few squirrels. No birds sang here, however…this place seemed to be the epitome of ‘haunted woods’.

The wind changed anew…the trail of sparks moved forward this time, the wind brushing at their flanks and tails. They moved forward as a group as a cloud of white fog slowly began to snake through the forest. The fog grew thicker…and thicker still, enfolding the group of ponies in its wispy embrace. For a few terrifying moments, nopony could see anything, not even the pony in front of the next….

Then the fog suddenly cleared from their sight, eliciting gasps and murmurs of awe from the group of ponies.

They were still clearly in the Lost Woods. But this forest seemed more friendly, less intimidating and scary. Sunlight shone through the lush canopy high overhead, lending light and warmth, a cool breeze ruffling manes, tails and through their fur. Fairies danced in the trees overhead, beautiful luminescent winged balls of blue, pink, gold and green light, laughing and giggling as they twirled. Sheik snuffed the torch, knowing they would need it no longer. An ancient ruin rose in front of them, crumbling walls covered in ivy and moss, grasses and flowers growing wild. Fresh scents of green grass, wild blossoms reached their noses, a soothing, welcoming scent. Twilight Sparkle moved forward to inspect the ruins—or tried to, the looped crimson rope holding her in place. She lit her horn to remove it…only to be stopped by Applejack, who nudged her firmly.

“Twi, c’mon. Now ain’t th’ time.”

“But…but I need to study this…”

“Not now ya don’t. We’re on a time limit, remember?” the orange farmpony chided. The purple unicorn mare’s bottom lip pooched out in a pout, but turned to follow the others, albeit reluctantly. Her disgruntled mood vanished soon enough, because when they passed through the huge half broken archway into a large, semi barren courtyard surrounded by huge trees, half crumbled walls coated in ivy…

A soft gasp broke from Fluttershy’s throat. “Is that…”

In the center of the semi-barren courtyard of ancient stone, moss, trees, and weeds, was a simple looking gray stone pedestal. A stone pedestal with the Triforce symbol on its base. Rising from the pedestal was a sword with a dark blue hilt, crossguard and olive-green binding around the hilt with a golden gem in the center of the crossguard.

This sword was anything but ordinary…and they all knew it.

The bluesteel Haylian unicorn mare stared at the sword in the stone. She swallowed hard, shaking her mane. The moment of truth—her ascension awaited…

Her right ear twitched, hearing hoofbeats beside her, and she turned her head as Trouble Shoes stepped up next to her. He nuzzled her, pulling her close for a comforting embrace, and she leaned into him, taking strength from his presence, his scent and his touch.

“G’wan, Sky. This is whut ya came ‘ere fer.”

Skyward Spirit nodded, nuzzling him first before she resolutely moved forward, her hoofbeats seeming to echo in the semi-barren courtyard. She ascended the steps to the pedestal proper, and stopped in front of the ancient sword that, for years beyond count, had belonged to every Hero of Time before her.

She lit her horn, ‘reached’ out and ‘grasped’ the hilt of the legendary blade in front of her—her cutie mark glowed brilliantly as she did so. She felt no resistance as she began to ‘pull’ the sword up and out of the pedestal. Light shimmered around the blade sunk in the stone as it began to slide upward, a brilliant, blinding golden white. With a soft hiss of metal, the Blade of Evil’s Bane was free from its stony confines…

The Mane 6, Spike, Sheik and Trouble Shoes watched as she removed the ancient sword from the stone pedestal. Simple though this place may have looked, everypony could feel power emanating from this place. A strong rush of wind plucked at their manes and tails as she raised the sword high in the air, dust and dirt long since lying on the stones stirred by the rush of power awakened from her removing the sword from the stone.

Twilight Sparkle’s purple eyes shone as she watched the magical scene in front of her. “The sword accepted her…”

Fluttershy cheered softly, and Rainbow Dash laughed, hoof-pumping the air. “Best. Day. EVER!”

Rarity laughed and tossed her head. “Was there ever a doubt?”

Applejack chuckled. “Not a one, right Pinkie Pie?”

The answer from the pink party pony was a bro-hoof, which was returned by the orange farmpony.

Skyward held the Master Sword high in a firm ‘grip’, staring at the sword that Heroes of Time before her had held and wielded themselves. The sunlight fell on her, illuminating her and the sword she carried. She flipped it in midair and then swung it around a few times to get the feel of it. The blade wasn’t any heavier or lighter than her own blade, but she could sense and feel a connection to this sword she didn’t have with the one she formerly possessed…

(Master?)

Skyward almost shied backwards and eyed the blade she was holding. Was she bucking dreaming or had she just…?

(Master? No…not Master. Mistress, this time.)

The voice sounded…strangely familiar, and yet alien. Reaching out with her magic as well as her mind, she mentally called back to the mare-like voice she could ‘hear’ in her head.

(Not Mistress. Friend. We fight together. We are friends, not servant and Mistress.)

(Friend…? Yes, friend. We fight together.)

Hearing the warmth in the strange mare’s tone, Skyward exhaled and turned—to see Sheik holding out a gold and blue ornate scabbard bearing the Triforce mark in the center—one clearly meant for the Blade of Evil’s Bane she now held as her own. Nodding her head, she ‘took’ the scabbard and sheathed the Master Sword, locking it to her back under her shield.

“To battle, Heroine of Time. Hayrule hath been waiting long enough.”

Skyward nodded grimly, stepping off the platform to rejoin the others. When she reached Sheik and the others, he gathered them close, before he lit his horn…

And with a mighty flare of his magic, he teleported them to a large cliffside overlooking Hayrule Field.

The Equestrian ponies were awed at the sheer size of Hayrule Field alone—rolling green hills as far as the eye could see. One could run for miles on end, on such verdant green grass, that looked soft to the touch. Hayrule Castle Town was but a tiny dot further away from their position—Skyward Spirit glowered in its direction before she turned her head away elsewhere. They could see Death Mountain Crater in the far distance, giving off smoke aplenty but no signs of eruption. They could also see the mouth of Zora’s River—Rarity and Rainbow Dash exchanged disgusted looks, much to the others’ confusion.

But what marred the entire idyllic scene…

Was the furious struggle raging far and well below them as Haylian ponies, pegasi, unicorn and Earth Pony all fought savagely against a mob of black and red monsters, all of them armed and armored heavily. The fighting was anything but sane--this was a battle of sheer savagery--kill or be killed.
Further back, clearly waiting for the ponies to tire were even more of the vile creatures, all riding crimson colored boars, who slavered at the maw and squealed and screamed, adding to the cacophony of war. Steel clashing against steel, the sounds of magic being cast, war cries, screams of agony, death shrieks...

“Come. Skyward wilt be descending to the battlefield soon. One promised her one wouldst return all of thou to thine world.”

“Actually, Sheik…we wanna stay here. We should be there fer her when she gets done with this…business,” Applejack stated, and the Sheikah stallion turned to face them squarely. To her credit (and further impressing Sheik at her fortitude) she didn’t back down from the direct stare he gave all of them.

“Art thou certain?”

The Mane 6, Spike and Trouble Shoes looked at one another before nodding slowly.

Spike spoke up, gesturing at Sheik with one claw. “We realize that by doing so we’re putting ourselves in danger, Sheik. But we’ve never seen her home, or the threat she speaks of so much.”

Rainbow Dash shook her rainbow mane out of her line of sight. “Sure, we’ve seen part of her world. I mean, Zora’s Domain was amazing…”

“Still. We want to learn more about Hayrule in general,” Twilight Sparkle replied.

“But…if things get too dangerous…m-maybe we can escape before they notice us?”

“A fine idea, Lady Fluttershy. One agrees with that. One shalt warn all of thou, thou wilt not like what thee wilt see. This is war, mind. Blood, suffering and death is what awaits thou all if thou choose to watch,” Sheik warned.

“We’ve seen worse,” Rainbow Dash muttered, and the others nodded.

“Trouble Shoes, know if thou dost not wish to watch this, I shalt return thou to Equestria. Know there is no shame…”

But the big stallion shook his head resolutely. “Come hay or high water, Ah’ll be there for her when she needs me. Ah knew she was a warrior; earlier on Ah could see it, that she’s seen ponies die, an’ in right gruesome ways. Ya don’ get that there look in yer eye unless ya’ve been there. An’ if Equestria wuz ever threatened, well…this here would be the same result. S’not lahke we haven’t had our share of idiots tryin’ t’ take over our own home. ”

Battle raged away and below them—the sound of steel crashing on steel, screams of the dying, roars of fury and the song of steel and spells, healing and deadly damage being cast. Blood flew, red and black and green, the scent of fire, steel and death rising into the air.

The Equestrian ponies watched as Skyward Spirit teleported to a spot below them further down near a stand of trees. She charged from the tree line much further away from them on a downward slope that led up to the cliff face, unsheathing the Master Sword and holding it high. The sun peeked out behind a cloud, catching the blade and shining off of it as she rushed towards the fighting...

********************************************************************************************************

Within the chaos of battle and death Golden Marble roared as he viciously bucked a red Bokoblin in the face, crushing its skull in one terrifying blow. He spun around to shove his spear into the gut of a black Bokoblin, who sputtered out a fountain of greenish blood, eyes bugging out as it wheezed and gasped its last breaths before a lance of green magic shot it off his spear point and blew it to bloody bits.

“Captain Golden Marble! Look! Over there!”

Golden Marble bucked another Bokoblin and crushed it underhoof before turning to look in the direction that the pony in question had shouted at him.

His eyes narrowed, seeing the charging newcomer as they closed in on the war zone, and then widened in recognition—despite the odd green clothing they was wearing, he knew that mane and tail coloration anywhere!

“’Tis’ Skyward! She lives! Our battle-sister lives!” he roared.

A sea blue pegasus stallion with a sky blue and warm white mane and tail swooped down from overhead where he was tangling with a Helmaroc. Helmarocs were nasty looking vulture like birds with black feathers, cruelly hooked beaks, long, viciously serrated talons and long golden tails. The Helmaroc’s body dropped with a wet thump close to the golden earth pony but he didn’t give a buck at the moment.

“What didst thou say, Golden? Is that Skyward thou sees?!”

A blood boar and its rider charged the oncoming bluesteel unicorn mare, thinking her to be an easy kill…which turned out to be a huge mistake.

With a roar, Skyward swung her ancestral blade—and it cleaved the blood boar’s face neatly in twain. It screeched as it went down face first into the dirt, pitching its rider off its back—a blue Bokoblin. She spun and decapitated its rider on the way down. She raised her blood streaked blade high—the cloudy sky bequeathed her an azure lightning bolt, which streaked down and struck her sword—

Only for her to catch it and swing her blade—the wave of azure electrified energy sweeping over a few monsters coming towards her and killing them in the process due to the divine lightning charge from the Skyward Strike she had summoned, leaving nothing but charred, smoking corpses. Shaking her mane, she resumed her charge towards them.

Several ponies, Golden Marble included, stopped after they had made swift and brutal work of their opponents to stare at the newcomer who had joined the battle.

“Is that…”

“It is! The Master Sword! That pony beareth the Master Sword!”

“Look! The green clothing that marketh the Hero!”

“The Hero! The Hero of Time hath returned!”

“Bah! Thou mean ‘Heroine’! It is Skyward! Skyward is the Heroine of Time! Look, she hath her cutie mark— see the Triforce of Courage emblazoned on her flank! She bears the Master Sword!” Golden Marble hollered.

“Tell one thou art not seeing things, Golden Marble! Skyward is the legendary Hero?!”

The golden colored stallion with a black and bronze streaked mane and tail with his white marble foreleg in a muscle pose cutie mark grinned broadly up at his winged compatriot.

“Nay! One is not seeing things, Full Sail; she is the Heroine of Time! One wouldst know that blue and indigo mane and tail anywhere! Sound the call brother! Let them all know—Hayrule’s salvation hath arrived!”

Letting out a full throated war-whoop, Full Sail soared upward, shouting at the top of his lungs for all to hear, his warm white and sky-blue streaked mane and sea blue wings spread wide as he roared at the top of his lungs.

“SKYWARD HATH RETURNED! THE HEROINE OF TIME HATH ARRIVED! TO HER SIDE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS! HAYRULE’S CHAMPION HATH RETURNED!”

From Haylian pegasi, unicorn and earth pony alike a massive wave of sound erupted from them—a roar of jubilation, swords, spears, warhammers and maces raised high, wings shining with sharp blades against the light coming from behind the clouds.

Skyward Spirit stopped, skidding to a halt in front of the army she could see. She didn’t say anything, but raised the Master Sword high, saluted them with it, and then pointed it in the direction of the seething mass of black and squealing crimson. She reared on her hind legs, pawing the air, brandishing the Master Sword.

"FORWARD, MINE BROTHERS AND SISTERS! FOR HAYRULE! AS ONE WE RISE!"

“FOR HAYRULE! AS ONE WE RISE!” the cry rose up before Golden Marble reared waving his bannered spear high. War horns sounded, echoing across the field, deep throated and full, before the entire company of ponies charged with a terrifying roar. As one thousand strong, the remnants of the 3^rd Hayrulean Legion raised their weapons and leaped/soared forward, running towards Skyward Spirit to join her on the field of battle. The wave of bodies clad in armor running forward or flying in midair, rushing forward as one to engage the enemy in a glorious wave of destruction and defense, the thunder of hooves and wings echoing across Hayrule Field, seeming as if it were in truth ten thousand ponies running/flying across the vast green rolling plains instead of a thousand.

Skyward Spirit soon found herself flanked by running armored ponies with soaring pegasi above her—she glanced to the left side…

It was Golden Marble. He grinned broadly at her under his helm, giving her a sharp nod, his sienna eyes blazing with pride and joy at seeing her again. Flapping wings close to her head made her look to her right and slightly above—Full Sail waved at her, wing blades flashing as he soared over her head, letting out a loud, gleeful laugh. She grinned at them both before she focused on the seething black and red swarm ahead of them, bringing her great-uncle’s sword—no, HER sword to bear.

“Fight well, mine brothers. Goddesses bless us all,” she muttered, before she ran slightly ahead of Golden Marble, raising her blade, her horn igniting as she summoned her strength and she roared a war cry, the others answering her as they rushed into battle.

Sheik had been only half right—most of the foot soldiers, the Bokoblins and Moblins tried to bolt when they saw who was charging at them and what that pony was ‘holding’. A sickening SMASH-CRUNCH echoed over the battlefield, because those who had foolishly tried to stand their ground or running were instantly trampled underhoof, blood spewing and bones cracking, the gush of entrails and blood and the smell of death unmistakable in everypony’s nostrils. Armored hooves were darkened with blood as the rush continued—under nearly a thousand earth ponies and unicorns both, it really was no contest.

The earth and grasses beneath them soon became soaked with the blood of the minions of the King of Evil, dark wisps of shadow rising from their bodies to dissipate in the wind from the fallen corpses even as black ichor stained the green grass beneath them.

But as for the rest they charged forward on their unholy porcine mounts…only for some of them to be tossed backwards by a wave of azure light from the Blade of Evil’s Bane as another Skyward Strike went off.

Skyward Spirit snatched up one of the dead Moblins in her magic, slashed it to allow for blood flow, and threw it towards one of the blood boars. True to their vicious nature they converged on the corpse to feast…

Only to be sliced and blasted apart by swooping pegasi and more Haylian unicorns using Dance of Blades spells to macerate the enemy into bloody chunks, other ponies swerving out of the way to avoid the magical blades slicing and dicing into ungodly porcine flesh. Noticing her tactic to split the enemy forces, Haylian unicorns began doing just that with the enemy corpses to lure the blood boars into a feeding frenzy to make them easier to kill. The downside to using those boars for the enemy, was that if they scented blood close to them, they would instantly turn towards it to seek food.

Horn burning silver, she focused on a group of blood boars and their riders further inward…

Fire exploded in a roaring eruption as her Backdraft Burst spell went off, the riders and the boars catching fire and screaming as they were burned to ash. Thankfully no pony was caught in the blast, mostly because this was a group further back from where the lines had blurred.

A scream from the right caught her attention—a silver and black unicorn was being dragged under by a single blood boar—his right hind leg was pinned by a cruel spearhead shoved right through his leg by the rider, a red Moblin who cackled viciously at the unicorn’s agony as his other leg was being savaged and torn to shreds.

“DAMN THOU! GO BACK TO THE VOID WHENCE THOU WERE SPAWNED!” Skyward Spirit thundered as she aimed her horn at the boar.

The foul beast began to writhe and squeal as its blood began to boil under its skin, backing off of its prey and falling to the ground squirming and shrieking loudly as her Blood Boil spell did its work. She teleported to its side, and slit its throat, gashing its side as well with a backwards slice after the initial cut, then teleported herself and the wounded unicorn stallion off to the side. Two more boars converged on their dying brother, drooling as they began feasting on his steaming, bleeding body, dragging the red Moblin down to feed on him as well…

Only to have several Haylian unicorns and earth ponies gut them and then drawing back to allow more blood boars to be lured to the slaughter.

Skyward Spirit focused on the wounded unicorn and a beam of silver light shot from her horn to him, and she lifted him high in a bubble of silver light.

Two pegasi immediately shot downwards and grabbed the bubble, bearing him off at top speed elsewhere.

A sharp snarl off to her left caught her attention and she brought her shield up just in time for something heavy to plow into it. She was pushed back for about a good foot before she teleported…

She reappeared behind the black Moblin and rammed the Master Sword deep into its spine, killing it on contact, black blood sizzling as it struck the sacred blade. Skyward Spirit snarled in pain as something gashed her right rear leg, but she twisted around, bringing her shield up as something CLANGED into it.

She glared into the red eyes of a leering black Bokoblin—who soon found himself staring up at the enraged unicorn as he suddenly shrank…and was promptly squished under armored hoof. She ‘yanked’ the bottle holding Red Potion out from her satchel and quickly drank some, feeling the cut from the blade seal as she did so. She ‘replaced’ the cork and shoved the bottle back into her satchel, leaping forward to kick a Bokoblin right off of the blood boar it was riding, gashing him with a vicious slice and leaping away as three slavering blood boars zeroed in on the wounded monster.

On the cliffside, far from the fighting, the Equestrian ponies and Sheik watched as the thousand ponies plus Skyward—who was easy to pick out from the green tunic and such she was wearing, slowly whittle down the blood boars and their riders. Their morale boosted and spirits high, even though they had lost quite a few of their number initially…

“I can’t believe it! They’re winning,” Spike whispered, staring at the carnage below them.

“Because of Skyward, or her presence?” Twilight Sparkle asked as she watched the Haylian ponies surge forward once more, driving back the vile boars and their riders, pulling more of the boars down, wounding them enough to make their vile brethren turn on them to feast before being killed themselves. The scent of blood and of blackened flesh whenever a Backdraft Burst spell went off was enough to reach them, making them back away a little bit. Although it was true they had never seen full on out war like this, the threats they did face in Equestria were borderline close to a bandit raid or even enough to call out the Canterlot Royal Guard or the Army proper, long before Skyward had come along. And they being the Elements of Harmony, they had seen things that would make a regular pony blanch.

Granted that Trouble Shoes wasn’t an Element, however, his former life as an ‘outlaw’ even if he hadn’t really been one had let him see the darker side of Equestria and he was no stranger to fights or seeing real outlaws, like the Nettle family.

“Likely both, Ah reckon,” Trouble Shoes said quietly, watching the green clad mare diving in and out of the perilous war zone, trying to see where his beloved was going whenever she teleported. Her magic aura was silver, so it was easy to pick it out amongst the flashes of varied shades of blue, orange, red, green, yellow, purple and pink. “Didn’t ya’ll hear th’ ruckus they put up when she ran down th’ hill an’ saluted them with her sword?”

“This is why she wast needed now. To give them hope, so they can keep fighting knowing she is doing her part to take down her ancient nemesis. After this, she can return to Equestria with all of thou, to rest, recover, and prepare for her next trial.”

“Speakin’ of which…Sheik. Ya owe Skyward a full explanation, ya know. She wants answers, an’ ya keep dodgin’ them. Ah think ya owe her the truth.”

The straw maned stallion nodded at the blond maned and tailed mare. “And she shall get it, Lady Applejack, one assures thou of that.”

“Pfft…never ya mind th’ ‘Lady’ bit. Just call me Applejack…or AJ, if ya like.”

"Hey! Looks like the battle's almost over!" Spike called out, and the others turned to look.

Harsh, dissonant war horns sounded--clearly ones belonging to the enemy. The war horns belonging to the Haylian ponies were vastly different and much more melodic--but the enemy horns were trying to sound a retreat.

“This is what the power of hope can accomplish,” Sheik said from beside Applejack, gesturing at the fighting, which was starting to wind down. The blood boars on the field were all dead now, having turned on one another to feast and being cut down because of it. There was a large number of Bokoblins and Moblins left, however, they were severely outnumbered, and some of them were choosing to run, only to be cut down by the incensed Haylian ponies—they were taking no prisoners. Sheik nodded, before he turned to the others, beckoning to them with one hoof.

“Come. Thou wish to know more of Haylian culture? One canst show thou their camp—there wilt be many wounded as well as the honored dead to tend to. Just mind—do not speak, be silent, else mine enchantment to shield all of thou shalt fade. Follow one closely--ah, young Master Spike, thou mayest wish to ride astride one of thine friends' backs--we knowest thou art not a threat, but they do not. Not yet."

The group of ponies plus one baby dragon (who had climbed onto Twilight Sparkle's back) followed Sheik down the hill towards the battlefield, where several ponies were already hard at work dispatching fallen enemies who weren't quite dead yet...or giving the mercy blow to a pony who was too far gone to save. Further up and slightly away from the battlefield, tents were going up, fires were being lit--a war camp was being raised.

The battle had been won--but the war was still far from over.

The Price of Peace

The bluesteel unicorn mare walked towards the large camp, the Master Sword on her back as well as her Haylian Shield. Around her, the dead lay in heaps, crude and master crafted weaponry and armor scattered like macabre toys. Her royal blue eyes were sad as she regarded the bloody aftermath before her—she had seen it before, but never on a scale this size. Skirmishes and raids were nothing compared to the massive fight they had just gone through. Several Haylian ponies were busy in dealing death blows to still living enemies, or even delivering a mercy strike to a fellow soldier who was too far gone to save. The Haylian ponies who had fallen in battle were being gathered, placed in a ceremonial pile off to the side. She knew that tonight for certain the honored dead would be burned in a massive funeral pyre, their earthly shells cast off to allow them to reach the heavens—and the realm of the Goddesses proper.

The stench of death was in her nose and she coughed, shaking her head a little as she approached the war camp. Upon spotting her, the camp sentries aimed their spears at her—then lowered them, and then allowed her through, bowing their heads. Skyward Spirit saluted them, before she walked into the camp proper…

Only to be swarmed by ponies.

Most of them were soldiers like Golden Marble and herself—earth ponies and unicorns. The healers and priestesses were likely in the healers tents further in the back of the camp. The pegasi were hovering overhead, cheering and whooping, beating their wings against the air in celebration.

“Where hast thou been?”

“Canst thou tell us where thou found the Blade of Evil’s Bane?”

“Glad to see thou made it out of Hayrule Castle Town…”

Skyward Spirit licked her lips, backing her ears and trying to make sense of all the questions being thrown at her…

Until a very familiar voice cut through the commotion with a resounding roar.

“Oi, back off! All of thou! Give the mare some space for Din’s sake!” Golden Marble barked as he trotted up.

The ponies drew back, revealing Golden Marble. His armor was cleaner and not the blood caked mess it had been earlier, but he had asked a couple of unicorns to help clean it because he knew he had been right about Skyward wanting to check on them before she vanished to Goddesses knew where again, and he knew because of her new status she was likely going to get swarmed.

“Keen Eye, Bubble Brew, get thine flanks back to the healers tents, NOW! One knowest thou hath potions to brew for the wounded! Glowing Ember, back to the cook tent with thou—thou too, Deft Blade. Simmering Cauldron wilt need thou soon enough and I knowest neither of thou wish to piss her off. The rest of thou clear out! The honored dead still need tending to!”

Skyward Sword chuckled as she regarded her old friend as the ponies dispersed. “So…thou art Captain of the 3^rd Hayrulean Legion. And who wast the one shedding one’s fur over the promotion, eh, Golden?”

The golden earth pony grinned at her sheepishly. “Well…all right, all right; thou were right about that. One supposes thou won that bet.”

Skyward pulled the earth pony into a fierce hug. “Forget the bet. One hath missed thou and the others. ‘Tis good to see thou once more, hale and hearty no less! How is Divine Design? And where art Shatter Point and Thundering Maelstrom? Getting drunk off their flanks already?”

Golden Marble was surprised at the hug, but he smiled and hugged her back, giving her a playful punch to the shoulder before the golden earth pony sobered at her question, removing his helm, and looking unwontedly serious. His ears drooped and he bowed his head, shaking it.

“Divine Design is with Her Royal Highness—Sheikah scouts send us messages from him when they can be spared. One regrets to tell thou this but…thou would hath found out all the same. Both Shatter Point and Thunderous Maelstrom died in battle at the Hayrule Castle Town gates. They held the line along with a few others to allow us to get away with the last of the refugees.”

Skyward’s royal blue eyes widened, and she bowed her head in grief. Full Sail landed next to her with a rustle of feathers, extended a wing and draped it over her, Golden Marble leaning into her side as tears slipped from the bluesteel mare’s eyes. All three ponies bowed their heads, mourning for the friends they had lost. Hidden in the shadows the Equestrian ponies looked at one another sadly—she had lost friends to war, and it grieved her deeply. These were ponies she had fought with, eaten with and joked with. Losing any of them was like losing family. Trouble Shoes started moving forward to comfort his mare, only to have Sheik stop him, shaking his head at him in silent warning—a reminder that the enchantment was still in place.

“That sandblasted son of a chimera wilt pay in blood for their deaths,” she muttered, and Full Sail nodded his head.

“Aye. I cannot wait to see thou run him through with the Master Sword.”

“Who knew? Thou, the new Hero…or Heroine in thine case,” Golden Marble chuckled, and Skyward Spirit shrugged at him.

“Came as a surprise to one too, Golden. One knew naught of this at all. One discovered that mine five-time great grandsire Skyward Sword wast apparently Time Link’s younger brother—aye, the Hero had twin siblings…two of them. Mine other great uncle was Wind Waker himself.”

“Where hast thou been? We hath been worried sick about thee, considering the princess appeared after we escaped and thou were not with her,” the golden coated stallion asked, and Skyward Spirit shook her head at them.

“One cannot say for the safety of those ponies one ended up with, but…they taught me much whilst I hath been with them. And, one hath realized thou hast been mine friends as well and I…well. I hath not been a very good one to either of you. For that, one apologizes…one hopes thou wilt forgive me for being such a poor friend.”

Golden Marble and Full Sail looked at one another, then smiled; and the golden earth pony reached over and ruffled her mane, making her curse and swat at him, and he laughed.

“ ’Tis all right, Skyward; there is nothing to forgive. Thou hast always been a good friend to the rest of us. Besides, after what those bucking geldings did to thou, and then those vicious gilded nags did to thee with that concubine’s dress; we wanted to aid thee, but thou seemed like thy needed some space?”

She shook her head. “The ponies I hath been with taught me otherwise, Golden. They taught one that a good friend stands for their friends and comforts them when they need it from kindness. They tell them the truth, what they need to hear, not what they desire to hear. They give generously of themselves to heal those wounds, bring laughter to heal the soul, and art loyal to the end. There is no shame in doing so, and why? Because that in itself is the magic of having a friend.”

Skyward sniffed and looked upward, sorrow written on her muzzle. “One prays Shatter Point and Thunderous Maelstrom hears me and understands.”

Golden Marble nodded, an approving smile on his muzzle. “I believe if they were here, they wouldst forgive thou as well, Skyward. One wishes one could meet those ponies. One wouldst like to thank them, not just for keeping thee safe, but also for restoring thine good spirits.”

Full Sail tucked her close with his wing and playfully gave her a noogie, making her headbutt and try to bite at him, but in play. “Quit that, fluffball,” she growled, but in play, and he cackled.

“Says thou, little filly! What dost thou call thyself now?”

She playfully shoved him off her, snickering. “Skyward Spirit.”

Full Sail nodded his head approvingly. “A fine name. Fits thou well, Heroine of Time or no—thou always seemed to protect those who needed it most….eh? What’s this?”

During the tussle, her five-time great-uncle’s cap had fallen off her head—and she had forgotten about the mane-pin she had slipped under it at the last second, until she saw it in Full Sail’s hoof. Her cheeks colored, and Golden Marble’s grin got bigger, a definitive teasing edge to it.

“Soooo, didst a stallion give that to thou before the eve of battle, Skyward Spirit?”

Skyward Spirit lit her horn and levitated the pin out of the sea blue pegasus stallion’s hoof, cradling it in her own tenderly. “Aye. He did.”

Full Sail’s jaw dropped before he roared with laughter, slapping a hoof against the ground and flaring his wings in mirth. “Hah! Tis’ more than worthy of a celebration! The stallion in question must be special indeed to hath caught thine eye!”

Golden Marble looked at the mane-pin, nodding his head in approval. “He hath fine taste. One hopes he treats thou well.”

“He does. Trust in one’s word, Golden, Full—he does.” Skyward Spirit was looking at it with a loving expression, gently brushing one hoof over the crystal sealed petals before she clipped it back behind one ear, and placed her uncle’s hat back onto her head, but not so the clip was hidden this time.

“Must be serious if thou art mooning over him…OW! Golden, the buck was that for?”

The earth pony spit out his friend’s right wingtip and glowered at him. “Enough teasing, thou bucking moron. Canst thou see she misses him? Of course, ‘tis serious, hath thou ever known Skyward Spirit of all ponies to pine for a stallion until now? Most of the time she ignored their advances…and yet this one, this one seems to know her best. This one won her heart.”

Full Sail shook his head, folding his wing back to his side.

“He hath better treat thou akin to royalty or one wilt run him through and leave him for the Wolfos, mark me,” Golden Marble said with a growl, and Full Sail nodded. “Or, one shalt tie stones to him and drop him off a cliff into Pinnacle Rock for the deep pythons if he breaks thine heart.”

Hidden in the shadows Trouble Shoes swallowed hard, shaking his mane a little. Those Haylian stallions weren’t joking—like her Equestrian friends they clearly cared about her just as much and he knew they likely would carry out their threats if he did hurt her. Which, he had no intention on doing so. Sheik had to restrain him once again from going out to embrace her when he could see how much she did miss him.

Skyward blushed furiously but she was smiling despite her embarrassment. “Golden, Full, come now…”

“Nah-ah! Do not even try to dissuade us, missy.” Full Sail guffawed.

“Aye, thou art akin to the sister we dost not have, so suck it up, buttercup,” Golden Marble smirked, and Skyward shoved him.

“Dost one look like a delicate flower to thou,” she snorted, and both stallions looked at one another, smirked, and nodded at her, earning a smack from the amused and slightly annoyed mare.

“Wilt thou be staying, Skyward Spirit? Thine presence wouldst be most welcome here.”

Skyward Spirit shook her mane. “One wishes one could, but…mine trials art not complete. There is still more one must do, Golden.”

Sheik appeared in a puff of white smoke, startling Full Sail and nodding at Golden Marble, who nodded back at him in turn. “The Heroine of Time speaks the truth, Golden Marble. Her quest continues. For now, secure this portion of the Field, and protect Lon Lon Ranch.”

Skyward Spirit nodded at Sheik, before she pulled both Golden Marble and Full Sail into a hug, who returned it.

“Thou take care of thyself, Skyward Spirit.”

“Ye can still call me Skyward if thou wish, thou know. Tell Divine Design when next thou sees him one misses him as well.”

Full Sail wrapped her in one wing and playfully ruffled her mane once more, grinning at her. “Aye, but best to tell him thyself when next thou sees him!”

Skyward Spirit chuckled as she re-adjusted her cap, made sure her mane-pin was still there, turned and followed the Sheikah stallion into the shadows—and vanished from sight.