When the group was taken out of the cell-lined hallway, Link expected to endure another long walk to wherever the captain was. That fortunately wasn't the case this time.

   They emerged into another, longer hall with several branching paths. At the far end of the hall was a staircase that led up and was guarded by a duo of Dewpider. They were taken to the end of the hall before turning one of the corners by the stairs.

   As they walked, Link was able to get a better look at his surroundings. The walls, floor, and even ceiling were made from wood like his cell had been. All it would take was a stray ember from one careless Fire Pokémon to set the whole place ablaze. Even stranger was the manner of which it was constructed. Link didn't know a thing about proper architecture, but he was pretty sure that ceilings needed supports. Not a single one could be seen; it was like this place had been carved into a giant block of wood.

The corner they were taken around opened up into a room several times larger than the cell Link had been kept in. Its furnishings were sparse, mostly consisting of spear-lined weapons racks and low, long benches with a single table at the room's end. Another group of five, red-leafed Deku awaited them.

These Deku were different from the ones that brought them here. Four were armed with spears while the fifth held no weapon. The red leaf upon the fifth's head had a noticeable yellow diamond-shaped marking in its center, and Link knew this was the captain.

"Good morning. I am Caedmon Dékken, captain of the Deku Border Guard," the captain greeted warmly, to Link's surprise, "is what I would say if we were meeting under better circumstances."

There was the hostility.

"You five were in violation of the Hylian-Deku Border Agreement," he continued. "No Hyrule nor Deku citizen shall come within fifty yards of either kingdom's borders without permission of their Border Guard. What say you in your defense?"

"We apologize for the intrusion, sir," Zelda said. "But we can explain. Though, I would like to ask for permission for my Braxien to use telepathy, as our Aegislash would like to help prove our case as well. I promise we will not attack you."

Caedmon squinted in suspicion at Zelda. He then turned his gaze to Link, who held it firmly. He finally looked to Resa. After a moment of pondering, he sighed. "Very well. But the moment he tries anything, we will not hesitate to defend ourselves."

"Of course," Zelda said. Fira's eyes took on a light purple hue, and he nodded at his Trainer.

Forgive us, sir. Resa offered her own apologies. We were searching for the Temple of Farore when we became lost, and we must have wandered too close to your border. Surely there mustn't be too large a penalty for those who seek to worship our fair goddesses.

"The Temple of Farore can be reached by a known path connected to both the Deku Kingdom Trading Outpost and Farosh Town," Caedmon said. "It's quite well-known information."

We were unaware of that, Resa said. We thought our map would have been enough.

"Then what is your exact business at the temple?" Caedmon asked.

To make a pilgrimage, as my Trainers are in the process of visiting the goddess' temples. We've already visited the Temple of Hylia.

   Link picked up the signal immediately and backed her up. "Yep, and we were hopin' to visit Farore's by the end of the week," he said casually, the lie rolling smoothly off his tongue. He then gave Zelda a brief, subtle glance. To Link's mild relief, she seemed to notice it.

"Y-yes, we have," Zelda agreed with a nod. Link almost winced at her obvious stutter, and the captain instantly took notice. He nodded thoughtfully.

"It makes sense why you would be interested in the goddesses," he said. "After all, any Holder would."

Zelda choked back a gasp while Link tensed, clenching his teeth and internally cursing.

"You didn't think we would search you when you were brought in?" Caedmon questioned. "If it weren't for the marks on your hands or your Aegislash's blade, then it would be the blade of evil's bane the man had sheathed upon his back!" He scowled. "We may not look intelligent, but we certainly aren't stupid!"

Then what do you intend to do with us? Resa asked hesitantly.

"Do what is only right," Caedmon answered. "Our king has often spoken with King Daemos, and we in the Deku Kingdom's military all know of the Hyrule king's search for the Holder of Courage. Fortunately for us, we seem to have caught Wisdom alongside Courage."

A bit of hope flared in Link. The way Caedmon had phrased things made it sound like the word of him and Zelda being fugitives hadn't yet reached the Deku Kingdom. He knew he had to say something here. He could perhaps use this absence of information to his advantage.

"Please, Captain, you can't!" Zelda exclaimed, catching Link and Resa off-guard.

What is she doing? Link wondered.

Caedmon huffed in irritation. "And why shouldn't we?"

"Hear us out, please. Whatever you may have heard in regards to King Daemos, don't listen to it. He's the Holder of Power."

Wisdom! Resa gasped, appalled.

Link started. "Zelda, shut u—!" But she cut him off by speaking over him.

"Because he is the Holder of Power, his soul is being corrupted by the remnants of a demon that had once cursed the Triforce of Power. And as the Holders of Wisdom and Courage, only we can stop him." She gave him a desperate look. "Please, sir. We need to save the king, and if you hand us over to him, Hyrule, and the Deku Kingdom by extension, could suffer a terrible fate!"

Silence filled the room, save for the blood roaring in Link's ears. He couldn't believe what Zelda had just done. In that instant, a sick feeling filled him, a premonition of what he was sure was coming next.

"How dare you slander the King of Hyrule!" Caedmon cried. The other Deku guards began to hiss. "He has done so much for us and our kingdom, so much so that we would have collapsed without his assistance. We know the history of the Holders, but we also know King Daemos, and he would never purposefully do anything to harm his own subjects or us. To call him a demon is sickening and worthy of punishment!"

Zelda's eyes grew wide from shock before filling with fear. Link sensed a new energy invading Zelda's aura, one that gave it a golden sheen. As it did, the back of Link's left hand began to prick. "W-wait, I never called him a demon!" Zelda exclaimed. "I was saying that—"

"Silence, you wench!" Caedmon shrieked. His eyes narrowed into burning slits as his words fell into a slow but dangerous crawl. "Unfortunately, we cannot carry out a punishment resulting from treason, that would be Hyrule's job. But we will make sure what you said reaches their ears," he said with deadly certainty.

The energy grew stronger, the gold sheen becoming a burning white. Zelda's desperation grew alongside this. "No, I'm sorry! Th-this isn't how I thought it would turn out!"

"Take them back to their cells and go alert the nearest Hyrule border guard of what we have for them," Caedmon ordered.

"Stop this!" Zelda screamed. A single, sharp pulse of heated energy swept through her aura before a wave of blue-tinged light exploded out from her hands.

It was like Link was socked by a Mach Punch then. He was thrown to the ground, the impact driving the wind from him. Shouts and shrieks erupted around him, as did the clattering of falling metal and wood. He tensed as radiant energy electrified his muscles and drove needles into what felt like his very core. The bindings around his wrists then slackened, and he quickly pulled himself free, stumbling to his feet afterwards.

"What the hell was," his eyes widened, "th-that?" he couldn't help but finish in a stutter. Everything was a complete mess, and he couldn't decide what to focus on first. There were the guards and their Pokémon, unconscious and littering the room like autumn leaves, laying amongst toppled weapons racks and upturned furniture. Resa was on the ground as well, but she appeared conscious. Luce had pulled Fira behind her and had just barely reflected the force with a barrier made of Aura.

And in the center of all this chaos stood Zelda. Her shoulders shook as she was hunched over, clutching her right hand to her chest. Bits of blue light still sparked from her form, each one causing another twinge in Link's core.

Link wanted to say so many things. Words rushed up like streams of escaping bubbles, only for them to be caught in his throat. For once, he was speechless.

This is the power that the Holders wield, Resa said, her voice piercingly loud in Link's ears. When exerted in its rawest form, your power is a force in itself, capable of battering others like an ocean wave.

Zelda straightened up. "I... I did this?" she asked quietly, her tone indiscernible.

Yes, and this is why you both must learn to control your powers. True damage can be caused if it isn't kept in check.

When Zelda turned to face them, Link expected her to be on the verge of tears, horrified, or something similar. But she looked astonished. Some shock was present in her wide eyes, but amazement had overtaken all else.

"I can't believe it. I knew the Holders held amazing power... Still, I just never truly thought..." A small, breathless laugh left her. "A-and I can do more than this?"

Yes. Resa's voice then became sharper than flint. But what you did before was against my orders! Imagine what could have happened if your powers didn't activate then. We would have surely been on our way to Hyrule Castle's dungeon!

Zelda stuttered. "I know, b-but I thought..."

"I told you this wouldn't be like those other Holder stories you read," Link huffed. "Heroes aren't always treated like heroes."

"Still, I..." She trailed off, sighing and hanging her head.

Luce then barked, her eyes shining blue. Link opened his mind to Aura, and he could sense a duo of approaching auras, both aflame with hostility. "Seems like those Dewpider caught on to what happened here," he said. "We need to get outta here. Now!"

We are not leaving without the Master Sword! Resa objected. Courage, could you and your Lucario sense for its aura?

"'Course we can," Link said with a nod. "Dunno how we'll be able to get out without fightin' though." At that, Fira growled and stood beside Zelda.

"I don't think we'll need to fight." The energy began to ebb and fade, the white glow around her aura fading to gold. Her face screwed up in concentration, and a sweeping wave set white fire to the gold once again. "If what I did before knocked them out, I can try to do it again. Link, if you can use Courage's power, then we can make this easier." Link recalled the dizziness he'd felt previously and grimaced. He wasn't about to willingly use Courage.

No, you won't! Did you just not hear what I said? Resa protested. You could seriously injure them if you use more power than you had, and you're untrained!

"Yeah, there's no way you're killin' any Pokémon," Link growled. "Me and Luce can handle this." He balled his hands into fists as Luce summoned a Bone Club.

Zelda tried to protest, her expression falling. "But I won't kill—"

Link cut her off. "They're almost here! Follow us!" They led the charge out of the room, Resa and Fira right behind them and Zelda reluctantly following.

Almost immediately, they were faced with the Dewpider duo. They spat webs from their mouths, trying to ensnare Link and Luce. Link dodged around a splattered web and responded with a fierce kick to the Dewpider's underbelly as Luce brought down her Bone Club on the other's head. The blows were too much for the little Pokémon, and they were also knocked out.

Looking upon the unconscious arachnids, Link's gut twisted painfully, as it always did whenever he had to hurt a Pokémon. But at least he knew how to hurt them in a way that wouldn't kill them, and sometimes self-defense was needed.

A fine job, Resa said. Will we have any more trouble?

Link's senses flared, detecting the faint traces of the sword's aura as well as more distant auras. But Luce was able to pin the sword's down more quickly, and she pointed down the left hallway.

"The sword's that way, and if we move fast, we won't run into more trouble," Link quickly said.

All right. Let us continue.

Not long into the run, Link and Luce decided she would locate the sword whilst he kept track of the enemy, who was now beginning to amass. A right turn, then a left, and then another left... Link began to imagine the cell complex as a labyrinth, countless halls both straight and oddly curved branching every which way.

"Not that way!" Link hissed, backpedaling into an intersection they'd just entered. A group of eight auras was growing close, so close that he could see their shadows dancing on the walls of the curve ahead. They were forced down the other turn, and on they went. Link knew that if more groups gathered, they'd be cornered.

After another turn, Luce abruptly skidded to a halt. Without a word, she formed a pair of Aura Spheres in her palms and forcibly slammed them into the wall to her right.

   What are you doing? Resa's protest was drowned out by a great creaking sounding in the walls around them. Whatever supports kept the ceiling up didn't give, however.

   The wall that fell prey to Luce's Aura Spheres shattered into wood shards, but she ignored them and ran in. Link followed her into a window-lit room, only to nearly bump into her as she was trying to leave, their gear already bundled in her arms. He refused to take the Master Sword when she offered it to him.

"No time to organize, let's just go!" he ordered. But that pause had cost them, as when they had turned around they were surrounded on both sides by Deku and Pokémon. His heart dropped.

"Did you think you could escape?" a Deku questioned.

Resa backed up. I-I don't think we... She was stopped when Zelda stepped forwards. Before anyone could stop her, her body became suffused with light, and she flung her arms outwards.

The light separated from her and crashed outwards. Link braced himself and flinched when he was shoved back into Luce. A great pulse wracked the opposing forces, sending them flying down the halls if they weren't flung into the walls. The hall soon became covered with fallen bodies, none of them moving.

Zelda then stumbled, putting a hand out to brace herself against a wall. It was then that Link noticed that she was breathing heavily, almost gasping for air. "Zelda?" he couldn't help but ask as Fira fretted over her.

"I-I actually tried to focus it a little this time," she said breathlessly. "Hopefully they're okay." And to Link's surprise, they were. While their auras had flickered, they still remained intact, they were still alive.

Stop now, Resa ordered. It's not advisable to wield so much power in such a short amount of time.

"Link... y-you might have to take over," Zelda said.

Link scoffed. "Not a chance! I don't even know how to use Courage," he objected, shouldering the Master Sword's sheath.

Luce offered Zelda her bow, and she pushed herself away from the wall to take it. She was able to stay on her feet now but was still breathing hard. "D-do what you did before... when I punched you, you ass," she chuckled dryly. Link's anger flared, his fists clenching.

"Let's just get outta here," he muttered, jabbing a finger over his shoulder. "There's a window right there."

Allow me. Resa floated up to the barred window, priming her blade with ghostly energy. With two clean swipes the window was rid of the bars. Holders, you first, she said. Luce shook her head and jumped through, likely wanting to scout the area first. After a moment she leaned back in, holding out her hands.

As much as Link wanted to get out of here, he knew Zelda was the weakest in the group at the moment. He turned to ask if she wanted to go next.

I can help her, Fira said before Link could even say anything. He shrugged and ran at the wall, jumping up to grab Luce's paws. She pulled him through the window and out where he fell a few feet onto swampy land.

Link turned back to the window, only for his eyes to widen when he realized what he was really looking at. The walls and floors hadn't been wood for show. He was looking at a massive tree trunk that was easily double the Great Deku Tree in size, its dark trunk worn with age and weather-beaten. But it still stood strong. The canopy seemed miles above his head, the field of leaves casting an impossibly large shadow. The cell complex had been built inside this tree.

   For years Link had wondered what the Deku Palace looked like, but he had never dared to get so close to the border to satiate such a childish curiosity. He could say that he never imagined it being something this fantastical, even if it was just from the outside. He couldn't believe he didn't see it while they were making their way through Faron. Then again, the tree cover there—especially farther south—was so dense that one would be lucky to get a decent glimpse of the sky.

Zelda was lifted through the window a moment later, assisted by Fira's telekinesis. The moment she splashed down into the shallow water, she groaned, her legs almost buckling beneath her.

"No time to complain," Link said, shaking himself out of his slight awe. "Come on!" They ran for the treeline, vanishing back into the swamp.

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Temporary Author's Note:
Hey everyone, Imber here. So to say this simply, it completely slipped my mind to add the provinces as their own definitions in the glossary. These definitions in particular are pretty important since they detail the size of the provinces and how long it takes to travel them, so any future confusion about the time that's been passed will hopefully make a bit more sense. But I hope you enjoyed the first of this double-update, and I'll see you tomorrow with the next one!