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.