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...