A week passed by, during which Link's group began to make their way to the Lanayru Province. They were better off staying on the move than hiding out. For all they knew, Daemos was sending out a kingdom-wide search for them, especially after their capture in the Deku Kingdom.

Nobody spoke to Link during this time. They'd converse with each other but left him out of it. Even Zelda didn't speak to him, which Link found strange. Resa wouldn't look his way, and he was glad she didn't. Damn spirit didn't want to admit she was being an ass, so why should Link have to apologize for getting angry? He was still determined to prove her wrong, and if that meant wringing his energy dry every day, then so be it.

Things fell into a monotony for Link that only he seemed to really be feeling. Wake up, train, eat, walk for hours, stop to rest and train, walk again, stop for the night. He felt like a Pokémon on a lead, and he hated it. He didn't voice any of his distastes though, since even he knew he would've come off as a whiny child if he did so. At this point, it was just Luce's want to stick with this mission that kept him with the group.

But what Link found most off-putting was that Luce wasn't speaking to him at all either. She still trained with him and acknowledged him, but she wouldn't say anything. Even her aura seemed to become muted whenever he was around her.

That afternoon the group entered the Ordon Province, where plains and tall grasses—save for the more foresty section in the southwest section—covered most of the land, and farms and ranches took advantage of it. People were more abundant here, often using the roads to transport harvested crops on Pokémon-pulled carts. Link knew better than to cross the berry sellers in particular, since they were especially vicious with protecting their wares.

Because of the increase in population, he and Zelda made sure to have their hoods up as much as they could in spite of the late-summer heat, and Resa tried to have her sashes crossed to conceal her Triforce marking. Fortunately, nobody paid them any mind.

Link felt a grim sense of nostalgia while walking Ordon's roads. These farms had been some of his first haunts for stealing, back when he'd first started his life out here with Luce. He'd still been reluctant to leave the province he used to call home. He glanced at Luce, and she was looking away from him. He couldn't stand to keep quiet about this any longer.

"What's with the silence?" Link asked her. "You feelin' okay?" She spared him a glance before nodding and looking away. Link was confused. Maybe she was just being quieter than usual? He decided to push it aside. If something was wrong, then Luce would let him know. He could count on her for that.

The afternoon faded into night, and with the rising of the sun continued the monotony. Days passed, then another week. Link found himself becoming worried. Everyone's silent treatment continued, including Luce's.

Soon the idyllic plains of Ordon came to an end. The land gradually began to rise with small hills before gray rocks tore apart their tops and coated the grass. Sand and gravel leaked in light, grainy rivers from between the rocks and trickled down onto the road. Wingull and Pelipper soared overhead, bound for Hyrule's east coast.

As the hills grew, so did Link's worry. Had he done something wrong? He didn't know what he could've done. Well, there was one thing, though he didn't get why she'd be upset at him for it. "Luce, is everythin' okay?" Again, no response. Instead of anger, his concern intensified. "C'mon, what did I do?"

Then Luce looked at him, and he was surprised to see her narrowing her eyes. It wasn't often that she looked at him so sharply. That was when he truly became worried. She then let out a single bark, showing her teeth as she did.

"If I did do somethin', then what could I do to make up for it?" She gave him an exasperated look before shaking her head. Though that told him nothing, he didn't try to push her.

That night Link found himself sitting alone for the first time in these past couple weeks. Zelda and Resa were having a conversation while Fira sat beside Zelda and Luce listened from a distance. Zelda and Resa had been talking so much more recently, which bothered Link to no end.

Trying to keep himself busy, Link rolled a pebble between his fingers. He frowned. He couldn't remember the last time Luce had been upset at him. But what had he done to her? His mind went back to what happened with Resa, only to try and dismiss it again. Luce couldn't have been upset about that. That Overseer had insulted her!

Link sensed her aura before he saw her, and he groaned internally. What she said next compounded his distaste. "You really can be dense sometimes," Zelda said.

"Whaddya want?" he asked, turning to look up at her.

"I thought you'd be more surprised that I'm even speaking with you after the silence. It has been nearly three weeks," she said, rocking on the balls of her feet. "Or am I wrong?" She didn't look convinced in the slightest as she said this.

Link's eyes narrowed. "I won't repeat my question," he said.

"Alright. What I want is for you to stop being an ass and apologize to Resa."

"Of course you'd say that," he scoffed. "I've seen and heard you two chattin' this whole time like you're best friends or somethin'. Didn't think hearin' the same talk over and over about 'saving the kingdom' was that interestin'. Though, I guess that's all ya care about too. Bein' clueless 'bout things tends to make ya cling to the first thing ya can find."

Zelda took a short, sharp breath. "You can be quiet about that now." Link openly smirked; did he just find a new nerve to jab?

"The point is that Resa really just doesn't know how to talk about anything else. All she knows is the mission," Zelda said, her tone struggling to remain even. "And I agree with her with what she said. She was just trying to look out for you and Luce, especially since we're still new to our abilities." Her gaze fell. "And I was just trying to protect us before. I didn't think I was showing off or anything. I-I'm sure you'll get stronger."

"I don't need any sympathy," Link said.

"It's why Luce is upset," Zelda said, fully catching Link's attention. "She confided in Fira apparently, and he told me. She wants you to apologize as well. She wasn't at all offended by what Resa said, and she doesn't like how you're going back on what you promised her."

Link glanced over to Luce, who was now talking with Fira in Pokéspeech. Did she really feel that way? Uncertainty flickered in him for a moment, only to be snuffed out. She may have been, but Link still couldn't bring himself to apologize, and he didn't at all believe what Resa had said. Luce could handle anything Link threw at her, that was who she was.

"Now you're giving me the silent treatment?" Zelda said as she arched a brow. "Okay. I just wanted to pass along what I heard. You have a good rest of your night." She left Link alone again, confused and irritated, so not much different from how he'd felt before Zelda had spoken to him. Some conversation.

Link was awake before the sun rose the next morning. He'd been awake most of the night, actually. Rocks still managed to jab at him through his bedroll, no matter what position he laid in. The sheer discomfort the rocky landscape offered camping travelers was the main reason he didn't like coming to Lanayru.

It didn't take long for Luce to stir. When she was awake, she made her way to the crest of a nearby hill, sitting atop the largest stone she could find for her morning meditation. Link watched as the sun rose before her, silhouetting her form as well as the hilltop with golden light edged in orange and pink. It was no wonder that she mediated in the mornings. Link could appreciate the simple beauty of a sunrise.

He waited until Luce was returning to the campsite before he got up himself. They met gazes, and Luce squinted, tilting her head to the side as she did so. She knew he wanted to train, and she did it now without a word.

Their mock battles commenced on one of the hilltops, since making a scene on the road wasn't the best idea. Rocks shifted and pebbles flew as the pair fought, and Link found himself having to keep track of his footing more than he normally would. His naturally light steps and attention to footfalls admittedly saved him more than his reflexes did.

The whole time, Luce was silent. She wasn't even that expressive, where she'd usually throw in little winks or smirks to keep the tension from getting so heavy. Was she just doing this now, or had she been doing it since Link's fight with Resa, and he hadn't noticed?

A rock shifted under Link's foot then, and he slipped and fell, only for Luce to snag his tunic sleeve. She wordlessly yanked him back to his feet, and after he gave her a nod, she continued the fight. Link again was surprised. There'd been nary a questioning yap or look of concern. Only a flicker in her aura and slight softening of her gaze told him that she'd been worried. She really was upset at him for this...

Link gritted his teeth. Zelda actually seemed to be right here, and that made him both angry and sad. He always thought he was sharp, so not being able to see that his closest friend felt this way was horrible to know. It was like another blow to him. But he just couldn't apologize; he valued Luce's pride more than his own. Maybe if he just explained himself, then she'd understand.

With the new rush of emotion, Link felt a faint warmth in his chest. He grasped it, and the warmth grew into the familiar essence of Farore. The power had been forced out in waves before, so perhaps trying to keep it concentrated in his fists would lessen the amount of energy used. He really had no clue, since he was just desperate to make some progress now. His Triforce marking pulsed gold, and he aimed a right hook at Luce.

Luce acted accordingly, and she sidestepped the light-charged blow. Link could feel his strength draining as he punched. It was different to the abrupt blow his body received when he used Courage normally, but it was still leaving him. He acted quickly, and he swung his leg up in a forceful kick to her unattended left side. She saw the move and tried to block it with aura-wreathed fists.

But she wasn't quick enough.

Link's leg collided with her side, and his heart dropped into his stomach when he felt a slight crunch under his ankle. Luce was flung to the side and collapsed onto her front with a pained yelp, where she began tumbling down the hillside.

Horror filled Link as he attempted to grab her, only for the world to pitch as dizziness overtook him. He fell to his knees, weak, and was helpless to watch as his partner continued rolling until she came to an ungraceful stop in the road at the hill's bottom.

Commotion sounded from the hill's side a moment later, and Link was relieved to see Zelda and Fira rushing to Luce's aid. After they reached her, Zelda noticed Link on the hill. She made her way up to him, slipping and almost falling many times. Eventually she made it, and she looked furious.

"What happened?" she demanded as she tried to pull Link to his feet. He could hardly stand, and his breaths seemed to rattle in his chest as he struggled to inhale.

"We... we were sparring," he started. "B-but then I tried... using Courage, and th-then I kicked her too hard. Sh-she fell down the h-hill. I think..." He swallowed hard, trying to choke back the fear that was rapidly welling up inside him.

Zelda's eyes widened in shock. "You did that?"

Link nodded, squeezing his eyes shut. "I th-think I cracked some... of her ribs." His breath hitched as he choked. "Dear Hylia I-I hope she's okay..!"

Zelda was quiet for a moment, and Link expected her to lash out at him, punch him again, something. She didn't, however. She was silent for a few moments before muttering, "Just come on." Link heard her begin to descend the hill, and he opened his eyes to see that she was leaving him behind. He stumbled after her, half-sliding down most of the hill to the bottom.

By that point, Resa had joined Fira. Luce lay on her back between them, her eyes closed as she'd been knocked unconscious by the fall. Gray dust splotched her fur, and bile rose in Link's throat when he saw several cuts and gashes that had been torn into her by the more jagged stones.

He's assessing her, so she cannot be moved at the moment, Resa said pointedly to Link. For once he felt no need to object. He numbly nodded as Fira carefully prodded Luce.

This went on for what felt like hours, and Link started fidgeting about. After what felt like another hour, he couldn't take it any longer and burst out, "Is she gonna be okay?"

Zelda listened to Fira's report before responding. "Apparently, it doesn't seem like her ribs are broken, but you certainly fractured a few of them," she said. "And she has significant amounts of bruising and cuts, though those will heal relatively easily."

That is somewhat of a relief, Resa sighed. Link gritted his teeth. That was easy for her to say.

I can't believe you. Fira looked up at Link then, glaring. Is this how you return her sorrow? he asked bitterly. With injury? How often do you let this happen?

A choke of surprise left Zelda at her partner's words, and it was cut off by Link. "I didn't mean for this to happen! I wouldn't have done it if I knew she'd be injured!" Anger flared in him as he scowled.

She obviously didn't know either. Perhaps this would have been prevented if you had listened to Resa and didn't use your Holder powers so recklessly! Fira sprang to his feet, only to be held back by Zelda. A glare was all he needed to back down, and he returned to tending to Luce.

This was what I tried to warn you about, Resa said, the first thing Link heard her say in weeks. You cannot anticipate everything, even if you have Aura on your side.

Link whirled to face her, his mouth opening to fire back some kind of retaliation. Then after a moment, he hesitated. What really was there to say about this? Resa was... right. Something twisted in Link's chest when he realized that, and he wanted to deny it. Deny, deny, like he'd been doing over and over these past weeks. But he truthfully couldn't. He was wrong, and Resa was right, Zelda was right.

"Y-you're right," he muttered, clenching his fists.

Excuse me? Resa asked.

He sighed before repeating it. "You're right, Resa. You were right, and I was wrong. And I'm sorry for yellin' at ya before. I was just..." He tsked. "I-I'm just sorry, okay?"

Apology accepted, and I thank you for doing that. Link was startled to hear that strange warmth in her voice again. He nodded curtly.

"Yeah, now can we get Luce patched up?" he asked.

—~*~—

Link was relieved when Luce was finally treated. Wrapped bandages adorned her left arm, leg, and right ear while the countless scratches had been washed off and treated with some of the poultices that the Kokiri had packed for them. Thankfully Fira knew how to apply them properly. Now she laid on Link's bedroll, still unconscious.

He watched her sleep, his lips pursed and his nails digging into his palms. Even though the wounds had been treated, that didn't stop the horrible guilt from plaguing him. This was still his fault. His pride had admittedly come back to bite him before, but it had never been this horribly, and it had never affected Luce. It made him think of how many times he'd gotten lucky with that before, how many near-misses he—and by extension Luce—barely avoided. Could his pride bite him again so badly again in the future?

Link's shoulders tensed when he sensed Zelda's aura. He looked up, and of course she was there beside him. He wondered if she got a kick out of doing that or something, since it happened so often.

"Don't worry, Link. She'll be okay," she reassured. "We'll take a couple days to rest, and Fira can carry her the rest of the way to Seres City if she's too pained to walk. By then, her surface wounds will mostly be healed. It's a good thing that Pokémon take less time to heal, according to Fira. "

Link frowned, looking back to his partner. He'd already thanked Zelda and Fira for helping patch Luce up, though the sentiment he felt for them had been mostly replaced with bitterness. It was aimed more at himself though. "She'll still have screwed-up ribs," he spat. "And I know what it's like to fight with a cracked rib, if it isn't messed up even more, it hurts like hell."

"Then we'll just have to avoid fighting."

Link rolled his eyes at that. "Like that's easy," he scoffed.

"We'll make it easy," she insisted. If he already didn't know how idiotic it was, Link would have loved to live in her fanasty world. But he'd had a taste of it once before, and he had no intention of returning to it.

Luce stirred then, and Link's heart leapt. He called her name quietly. Luce's eyes opened, squinting in the light of the afternoon sun. A bit of a haze could be seen in them, so she was still waking up.

"I'll leave you two alone," Zelda whispered, and she went back to where Resa and Fira were sitting.

The rest of Luce's senses returned to her then, as the fog in her eyes lifted. She glanced at Link, and those eyes narrowed.

In a second, Link burst into apologetics. "I'm so sorry, Luce!" he exclaimed. "I know, I should've listened to Resa and apologized, but I was too stupid to do it. And I was too stupid to realize that you were upset about this. I'm so, so sorry!" He could feel tears pricking in the corners of his eyes, and he squeezed them shut. He refused to cry. "I-I'm so sorry..."

Link heard the bedroll rustle as Luce slowly sat up, and then he felt her paw on his shoulder. He hesitantly opened an eye a sliver, and they both flew open when he saw the understanding look on her face. His heart wrenched, and he felt even worse.

"No, you shouldn't forgive me," he said, shaking his head. "I was actin' horrible and ya had to suffer for it. I broke my promise."

Still, Luce continued to gaze at him. She lifted her other paw and brushed some of Link's hair out of his reddening eyes, smiling gently. She then pulled him into a careful hug, mindful of her fractured ribs. Link's throat closed up as he let out a slight whimper. He couldn't believe that she was forgiving him when he frankly didn't deserve it. But that was Luce.

"O-okay, I'll accept your forgiveness," Link said. And I won't break my promise again. Luce tensed before pulling away, giving him a look. Link managed to let out a chuckle as he smirked. He couldn't afford to dissolve into a complete pile of mush, after all. Luce sighed and shook her head, though she didn't bother to hide her smile.