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.