As I continued through the forest, I was mentally cursing at myself for allowing one of those wooden monstrosity to bite down on my neck. When my adrenaline rush slowed down, I realized that my neck was bleeding during this time, so we had to make a stop at the river and then rip off a piece of my cloak to around use as a bandage. Afterwards I had to pick up the pace and get her home before my scent draws any unwanted attention.

“So… what exactly are you?” She asked in curiosity, looking up at me with those innocent purple eyes of hers. I didn’t respond to her of course as the less information I give her, the more likely no one will believe her.

“Can I have the mask? Can I borrow it? Please? Why aren’t you listening?” She kept talking on and on about this topic. Speaking of which, for the ten years I've been here, I haven’t really got to use everything that came with those magical pouches of pocket dimension space.

Much like my mixed appearance, I can also access a huge variety of His powers and equipment, but what I don’t understand is why those three different Links?

Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, A Link to the past.. Those three were now me for some reason and for ten years I’ve yet to get the answers to a lot of my questions. Why am I here? Why this body? Why everything around here?

I mentally sighed in frustration, I’ve tried so many things get home, I’ve tried all sorts of spells. I’ve searched for mirrors, portals, I’ve searched high and low in this forest and I've even traveled outside of this place and visit the many different lands this world had to offer.

Sadly, the only progress I've gained was knowledge and a lot of moments of making a scene when I was forced to be a hero to creatures I knew nothing about. If could deny the feeling of guilt and throw away my conscience, I’d be able to continue my life without putting it at risk for others.

“HEY M-MISTER!” Moon dancer’s voice broke me out of my thoughts, making me realize I had zoned out. “I think t-there’s something out there.” She pointed a hoof to her left and I looked in that direction. I crouched low and listened to my surroundings.

In the distance and out of the brush, I saw a Manticore steps out niffing the ground, I can see the hunger in it's eyes. Taking a quick glance around, I leaped into a mad dash running for my life, this in return attracted the creature’s attention.

The stone mask was outta the question, it wouldn’t conceal my smell and I doubt it would yield any results for the filly as my scent is on her. I dared a quick glance behind me- FFFF!

The thing was almost on top of me, I was now cursing every single word I could think of in my mind, I should ran during this whole time, I should of r-

I was tackled from behind, throwing the filly out of my arms. “RUN!” I commanded her as I turned my body to face the beast, it was already trying to go for the kill when its maw opened wide, no doubt going for my jugular.

I channeled Din’s fire within my hand and then thrust it into my enemy's chest, causing a small explosion to erupt from my palm and forcing the lion back.

It growls threateningly, I’ve had my experience with those, they’re fast, strong and most importantly, it’s deadly because of it’s stinger, I need to keep my distance and avoid being hit by it.

Quickly reaching into my back, I pulled out the Ordon’s Sword and Hylian Shield, the animal took this as a challenge when it went into a defensive position. We begin to circle each other, both of us eyeing each other warily to see who would attack first.

The Manticore takes the first step by thrusting his tail straight at me, I react by raising my shield to block it, suddenly he forces me to be on high alert when the scorpion tail started thrusting in and out at every direction it could aim at my body. I had to keep my shield blocks in rhythm with his strikes and already I can feel my heart pumping with adrenaline, keeping my senses sharp.

Seeing as he was making no progress, he swings a claw out and slams it into my shield, causing me to stagger back. He attempts to trip me by swinging his venomous tail at my feet, I avoided it by leaping back to dodge it, but I made a fatal error when I suddenly lost my footing on a frozen branch.

He takes this at his opportunity and not only knocks my shield-arm away from him, but also knocks me down with his weight, what is with those animals and wanting to knock me down!?

He swoops a powerful claw down chest, causing me to scream out in pain. Ignoring the searing sting and heat, I pulled out and threw down a Deku Nut, causing the beast to back off in surprise from it’s blinding light. It begins to paw at its face as if trying to get rid of an invisible enemy.

I reached back and quickly pulled out my Hero’s Bow, notched it with an arrow, then gathered ice magic into it’s tip, I took quick aim to make it count.

The ice arrow hit it’s mark, quickly encasing the beast in solid ice. I swift took off my red cloak and inspected my chest, the monster not only managed to claw my tunic open, but he managed to claw through a good bit of my chain mail just enough to leave a nasty claw mark down my chest.

At this very moment, I knew that I was going to need to seek out medical help, there are no fairies, red potions, or heart containers to stop my bleeding. Other than the wolves, this Manticore was the very first I’ve fought while all the other times I managed to avoid them through the stone’s mask.

Turning around slowly and wincing every time I moved, I began to slowly trek in the direction of where I knew Ponyville was. Every single step I took, I can feel myself growing weaker and weaker, every time I moved forward, I was hating myself for my fear, I should of went for the Goron Mask, I should of went for the freaking Goron Mask!

My breathing was beginning to get deeper and more shallow, I had to halt my progression when I heard the sounds of a small stampede? Sure enough, a group of colorful ponies came through foliage to see me.

“Mister! I brought hel-” Moon dancer was running toward me, then stopped when she saw my condition. “Oh no...”

The darkness threatened to creep into my vision and I had no choice but to give into the shadow’s claw, I collapsed onto the ground was soon embraced by death’s veil.

...I was lost to the darkness and soon the night mistress herself got into my dreams, I stared in disbelief at her form. I was suppose to be dead.

Before I could speak or react, she sent fourth a spectral of nightmares that I knew I was going to suffer for eternity while I remain stuck in dreamland.

I don’t know how long I was trapped in here but I can tell you my experience of how it went. Picture every single nightmare you’ve had in the past, now play on it loop while your body is paralyzed, you cannot do anything and your heart refuses to stop pounding. It’s like waking up from the nightmare except the feeling of dread refuses go away, it feels like you’re underwater trying to fight a non-existing ocean current that is pulling you deeper and deeper into the abyss. I think I was starting to lose my mind when my nightmares showed me.. Koala bears? What?

Author's Notes:

I couldn't resist referencing Mega Miltank's comment in this story.
Sorry, Anti-Villian, that mask is going to be held back for a long time due to it being too strong.