Although Link was used to and preferred the amenities that living outside granted, he couldn't deny that he enjoyed bits of luxury where he could get them. The bath in his and Luce's room in Queen Mipha's palace was supplied with water heated by an undersea heat vent. It did wonders for soothing his aching muscles, and it was a much-preferred option to the chilly air that flowed throughout the Domain.

   As Link redressed, he took a look at his reflection in the mirror. It didn't take long for the healers to close up his wounds once they returned to the palace, but leaving them for so long of course resulted in scarring. A blotchy scar traced its way up the right side of his face along his hairline, stretching from jaw to cheekbone, and a similar one marred his forearm.

   I've seen worse, he thought, quickly accepting these new markings. At least his hair could cover some of the scar on his face. He quickly restyled it before Luce could see it because he knew she would be upset. But it was only a matter of time until something like this happened, so it didn't bother him as much as it should have.
  
   Unfortunately for Link and Luce, the main course being served that night was baked Elektrik, which the pair instantly declined. They settled for the side dishes of Hyrule-imported vegetables and seaweed salad harvested off the coast of the Domain.

   "I can guess right now that overall, your mission was a success?" Mipha asked expectantly.

   Resa nodded. Yes, and I'm grateful for that, she answered. Of course, the temple still needs watching.

   "I wouldn't expect that it wouldn't. We'll continue to watch it as closely as we've done for the past two-thousand years," Mipha said. "If only things had gone better than they had. I thought had I told my Coastal Guard captains to remove any Gerudo from near the temple, but it seems that the instructions didn't make it in time."

   "What do you think will happen now?" Zelda questioned.

   Mipha frowned as she went into thought. "A report has to be sent to Hyrule, as the troops were sent from there. We can say that the Tentacruel were to blame, but I'm concerned that it may arouse suspicion on Daemos' end."

   Resa crossed her sashes. Then what do you suggest we do?

   "My suggestion? You remain in the Domain until things quiet down. I'll do all I can to conceal your presence if you choose to do this. In addition, if need be, I will supply my troops and Pokémon to aid you." She sighed. "It just saddens me that things have degraded to this."

   We may as well leave then, as we have a better chance of hiding ourselves in Hyrule than out here, Resa said. If Daemos does become suspicious, he might send more troops over here to keep on the lookout for us. And if we stay here, we'll be trapping ourselves...

   "That is essentially the case," Mipha said. "But it is up to you all."

   "Wait, I don't want to leave until I know those guards will be okay, including the one that hasn't woken up yet," Zelda objected. Of course she would say that; Link didn't expect any other inquiry from her.

   "I am unaware of the Gerudo's current status," Mipha said. "But I can ask my guards to seek out this information if you wish. If you do stay here, I don't believe it would be wise to leave the palace. While I and my personal guards are on your side, I cannot say the same for all of my guards or my people for that matter."

   "Yes, please, Your Majesty," Zelda said. She stared at Resa. "I just don't want to leave before I know." Everyone waited for Resa's probable response, that they had to keep going because that was their mission. Then she spoke.

   Their status concerns me as well, so yes, we can stay.

   Visible relief came over Zelda, softening the harshness of her expression. "Thank you," she breathed. "But also... I hate to be the one to say this, but both Fira and I have been feeling exhausted. We've spent all this time traveling in addition to fighting off a horde of Tentacool and Tentacruel, and now we have to go all the way to Necluda. It'll take weeks."

   "And I thought ya wanted to save the kingdom as soon as ya could and all that," Link said.

   Zelda looked at him, surprised. "You aren't tired?" she asked.

   "Nope," Link replied. "The only rest I need is when I sleep at night."

   "Rio," Luce yipped sternly. Link glanced at her, and she gave him a stern look.

   "What? I ain't," Link said. To that, Luce looked at the others and shook her head.

   If that's the case, then it's all the more a reason to stay, Resa said. There's no point in you possibly harming yourselves through exhaustion. Not having a biological body makes you forget about the needs that had come with previously having one.

   Link was trying to discern whether that last part was Resa's true feelings or more Overseer mission babble while Zelda thanked her, but he couldn't help but shoot Luce a look. It was all he could do in retaliation since they were staying, whether he wanted to or not. Just the thought of spending so much time in these caves made him antsy. There had to be a way for him to see the outside, or he'd go crazy.

   Mipha nodded. "Until then, most of my palace is open to you. Of course, there are some restrictions..." She took a few minutes to list these areas, which included the deepest parts of the palace. But while places like the guards' quarters were off-limits, their training grounds weren't.

   Thank you yet again, Your Majesty, Resa said.

—~*~—

Link awoke at what he thought was early in the morning the next day. It wasn't like there was any sunlight to know for sure, and he couldn't read the clock that was hanging on the wall. He hadn't actually seen a clock until now; they could only be afforded by the wealthiest people. Glancing at Luce, he noted that she was still asleep, so it must have been before sunrise.

   Now that he was awake, Link couldn't stand to just lay there. He had to do something, and he already had an idea of what it would be. After dressing and shouldering the Master Sword's sheath, he left the room and began making his way through the maze of corridors, trying to recall the way to the guards' training grounds.

   The palace was quiet for the most part. Link passed by a few patrolling guard Pokémon while all other auras he could sense were locked away behind closed doors. He was glad that the halls weren't as cramped as they could have been. Unlike when he was outside, his aura senses were tunneled, like he could easily make a mental map of the palace because of how enclosed it was. He'd been able to do the same with the interior of the Deku Palace, a series of Diglett tunnels snaking around.

   Soon the hall began to make a distinct slope upwards, which continued on for a little ways. Up ahead at the top of the slope, Link could see what appeared to be the top of an archway. This was proved to be the case when he reached the peak of the slope and the ground leveled out. The archway rose to an impressive ten feet tall and was done in stone lighter than the surrounding rock. But it was what lay beyond the arch that really caught his attention.

   A large cave half the size of the Domain's central square stretched out before him. Luminous stone lined the ceiling in patterns resembling waves and churning sea foam, casting pale light down on the pool of water that took up almost a third of the cave. It flowed in through a decently-sized opening in the far wall that was covered by thick netting, which led right out to the ocean. Darkness blanketed the sky, proof that night still had a hold on Hyrule.

   Taking a step into the cave opened Link's aura range so staggeringly quick that he was left disoriented for a moment. His proper senses returned to him, and it was then that he could sense the aura he'd only felt a twinge of previously. Why was Zelda here?

   Tucked away along a wall of the training grounds was a small archery range. It was around six or so targets that resembled simple bullseyes. Zelda stood in the middle of this range, bow in hand and quiver around her back. Her aura was rife with the energy that Wisdom enveloped it with.

   She held out a hand, and she stared at it with what Link was sure was intensity. Her aura began to move, slowly collecting into thin streams that began to feed into her hand. After nearly a minute, a bubble of blue light formed in her palm. She stared at it for a moment longer before tossing it upwards as high as she could.

   In one quick, fluid motion, she snagged an arrow in her fingers as she raised her bow to her shoulder. The bubble of light began to fall, and her eyes tracked it for a moment before she speared it with the arrow. It burst apart with little sound but a great amount of light, briefly drenching the archery range in deep blue and white luminescence.

   Zelda held her pose when the orb burst, and she only moved again when it faded away. She hunched over, her bow falling to her side. Her heavy breaths echoed about the cavern.

   "I didn't think I'd see ya here at this time," Link said as he began to approach. His voice easily reached Zelda's ears, and she lifted her head enough that she could see him.

   "I could... s-say the same... for you," she huffed, struggling to straighten up.

   She had a point there. "Why isn't Fira with ya?"

   "I-I don't see the need... to wake him up wh-when this is something... I can do alone." She paused and forced herself to breathe deeply. "Overseer Resa told me th-that I rely too much on my own energy to fuel Wisdom... so I've been training to siphon just Wisdom's power." She flicked her wrist, and her aura again shifted. It moved with the same painstaking pace as before, as if it took all her focus to complete the action. Finally. another bubble formed in her palm.

   Up close, Link could see that it struggled to remain spherical, as bits of pulsing light seemed to jab at the bubble's thin exterior. Zelda clenched that hand into a fist, forcing the light to shrink in on itself before vanishing. At the same time, her aura settled before losing its sheen. That seemed to tire her even more, as she began to wheeze again.

   "I'm guessin' it ain't workin' out too well," Link said, arching a brow.

   "Mostly not. I... have to focus completely to use just Wisdom's energy, a-and that's difficult to do when you're pulling arrows." She frowned a bit. "I-I've also come here to take my mind off the guards... but I know you don't c-care about that." Link didn't have a chance to respond before she spoke again. "Are you just here to again bring up that I have a better grasp on Wisdom? I... don't know what else I can say besides 'sorry.'"

   "I'm not. I'm just here to train since I couldn't sleep," Link said.

   Zelda tilted her head. "I assume you'll be training Courage?"

   "Uh, yeah. Don't feel like I've made much progress though. I've only figured out how to channel it in a way that I can feel the energy drainin'. But it's better than gettin' hit with the shock of it being gone in one burst." He raked a hand through his fringe, sighing. Talking with Zelda like this was strange.

   "Well, aren't you going to start?"

   Link nodded. "Yeah. But since you're here, might as well ask ya somethin'." That caught her interest.

   "What is it?" she asked, curious.

   There was no going back now, so he might as well just spit it out. He did so in his usual tactless way. "Do ya hate me?"

   Zelda's eyes widened as her mouth dropped open slightly. She didn't reply right away. All she seemed to do was acknowledge that her jaw had dropped, so she closed before her brow furrowed in thought.

   Link bristled, crossing his arms. Why was she taking so long to respond? "Well, do ya?" he asked again.

   "S-sorry, I just didn't think you would ever ask me something like that. I was trying to think of how to respond."

   Link had to scoff at that. "How hard is it to say 'yeah'? I've been nothin' but an ass this whole time. But still, ya try to be nice to me, askin' if I'm fine an' all that. Back there at the temple, you were..." He shook his head. They were getting off-track. "So the hell is it? Ya hate me or not?"

   "I don't hate you, Link."

   Link stopped, his shoulders slouching as surprise loosened them. "Eh?"

   "I said, I don't hate you. I don't like how you act, and I don't like that your ideals go against mine, but I don't hate you," she said firmly.

   Link was at a loss for words.

   "Honestly, I don't think you're a bad person," Zelda said. "You're passionate about the things that matter to you, you instantly try to defend those you care for like Luce, even if they're a tad extreme... And your bravery is definitely something to take note of. I've just been letting my own thoughts drown out what could be driving yours, and I chose to only acknowledge those negative aspects. But I know that isn't how I should act. I just can't help it."

   A small spark of usual irritation ignited in Link. "And when were ya gonna tell me this?"

   "When you asked about it," Zelda said with a sly smile, and the spark was snuffed out. "We're both just stubborn Mudbray that got thrown into the same pen," she snickered.

   Link let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. "Yeah, you're right 'bout that."

   "Then let me ask you the same question: do you hate me?"

   Link had to think about this one as well. He'd come so far with this already, so he might as well admit it. At least it wouldn't be in front of the whole group, and he could take solace in that.

   "I thought I did at first. It's more that ya piss me off more than anythin', and it's for the same reason ya said," he said. "I don't like how ya act sometimes, and we just butt heads too much. But I-I admire your bond with Fira, ya have good wit, and the way ya handle that bow is kinda awesome."

   Zelda smiled in amusement. "'Kinda awesome'? I've never heard that one before, but I like how it sounds," she laughed. Actually laughed. Link would have thought that she was mocking him for his lack of vocabulary, but it seemed like she was being sincere about it, and he found himself being somewhat relieved about it. "You know, when I was doing my trial, I had to decide to help you or Fira. Even if my instincts were screaming at me to help him, I chose you instead."

   "Because ya knew it was the right option?"

   "Because I wanted to help you!" she said. "I thought you would have been able to figure that out after I just listed all the reasons why I don't hate you, but I suppose that's why I have Wisdom instead of you." Link squinted as she giggled. "And I know that you wanted to say something else after you said that I looked like I needed help in your trial."

   "Ya said it yourself, I wanted to help ya for the same reasons I said before," he said. "Really, ya haven't done much to purposefully screw with me. I make myself pissed off all the time, it's just somethin' I do. Also," he sighed, "I 'preciate that you ask if I'm okay. I'm not used to it since I've only had Luce with me until now. It's weird havin' someone else ask and sound kinda genuine when they do."

   The grin that spread across Zelda's face was something to behold. It stretched from ear to ear, and it was then that Link noticed the small gap between her front teeth. How come he never noticed it before? To him, it offset the prim air that had so firmly settled around her since the moment they met. But it was the slightest hint of smugness that edged her grin that really got to Link, that bit of wit. "Was that so difficult?" she asked.

   "It really was," Link said, and Zelda's smile lessened.

   "I suppose it would be," she said. "And I don't ask just because it was something I was taught. I've come to believe it as well. Caring about someone's well-being is like an instinct, one that I think everyone has on some level or another. You certainly have it with Luce."

   "You're right 'bout that. Luce comes before myself, always." Link sighed as he glanced up to the ceiling. The luminous stones glinted like dozens of blue stars in a night sky. "This is weird," he then said. "Us talkin like this'..."

   "It wouldn't be as strange if we knew each other better," Zelda said. "We've been stuck together for over two months, and we hardly know anything about each other." After some hesitation, she said, "If you're actually interested in hearing about it, I could tell you where I'm from."

   He honestly was interested, if perhaps for a not-so-nice reason. "Hateno, right?"

   She nodded. "My family, the Harkinians, and our neighboring family, the Feildiens, are the wealthiest families in eastern Hyrule. I'm the oldest child in the Harkinian family at the moment, so of course I would be the heir." She continued on from there, telling a story Link would have expected from someone like her, but with a slight twist.

   "That's actually kinda noble of ya, lettin' your sister be with him," Link said afterwards. While her sentiments weren't misplaced, the rest of her thoughts definitely were. "But what was your plan after ya got out?"

   "I wanted to try and help people." Her expression fell. "But that's not exactly the greatest plan. Beyond that, I... purposefully haven't given it much thought," she said faintly. "I was just so focused on leaving that I..." She trailed off, hesitating. "W-well, it doesn't matter since the guards found me in the next town over two days later."

   "You didn't have a plan, did ya?" Link asked, knowing exactly what nerve he hit.

   Zelda didn't respond, and for once her expression didn't display a response, not even her body language. Only a souring aura belied her passive look.

   "Did ya?" Link repeated. Still no answer. Oh, he definitely hit it. "I... I won't laugh," he said.

   Zelda's brow furrowed. "Why should I believe that? You've tried to talk down to me at every turn."

   Her response confirmed it then, but the smug satisfaction that Link wanted to feel was dampened. He liked seeing the fire in her responses; this was just sputtering coals. And it really was his fault, as much as he wanted to deny it. "I guess ya really don't have a reason to think I won't," he said.

   "You've finally become aware of what you're doing, then?" she asked lifelessly. Link flinched. He didn't know what direction this conversation was heading in, but he didn't think it was this.

   "I-I guess I am," he muttered.

   "Why do you do it?" Zelda asked. "Even after we agreed to tolerate each other, you try to rub my ignorance in my face."

   "'Cause it's unrealistic," Link huffed. "This ain't one of your legends, this is real life. Not everyone's gonna stick with us, everythin' won't always turn out fine!"

   "You don't know that for sure, and either way, that doesn't mean you have to be an ass about telling me," Zelda said.

   Link struggled to respond; his anger was beginning to boil. He wanted to leave like he always did whenever he got too upset, but he felt pinned under Zelda's intense stare. "I... I don't..." he muttered, choking on his words.

   "You don't what?" Zelda questioned.

   "I-I don't know how else to do it!" he burst out. "Everythin' has always come as a slap to the face for me! Luce was learnin' alongside me, we both found out all this shit the hard way. That's how this happened!" He held up his right hand. "And this!" He showed Zelda his newest scars. "That's how it's gonna come to ya if nobody tells ya, maybe in an even worse way!"

   While Zelda shrunk back, she didn't break her stare. "Y-you can still try to explain it to me, but you could say it calmly."

   "Yellin' gets people's attention! It makes 'em listen!" Link said.

   "But it also can scare them or make them not take you as seriously," Zelda refuted firmly. "I-it just makes you sound as mad as Daemos."

   Link faltered at that. There was no way he was like Daemos, not in the slightest. But was that really how he was coming off as? His stomach twisted. That unfortunately seemed to be the case, especially with how Zelda put it.

   "And yes, I still want to believe that this will play out like it has in the legends, because I'd rather be optimistic than pessimistic," she said. "But that Tentacruel attack... It was just so... horrible." She shuddered. "I still hate that those guards got wrapped up in it. If that one guard doesn't wake up, or the others aren't okay, I'll think it's my fault, even if it isn't."

   This was a perfect rebuttal moment for Link, and he could already imagine spitting the sharp words that danced on the tip of his tongue. But would that really help here? "See? This is why I'm always so negative 'bout this," he said, trying to sound a little calmer. "You might've been splattered with Acid like I was, half-drowned like the guards, or worse."

   "But I wasn't." She was quiet for a moment, her brow furrowed. "Even if you think it's a fantasy, I'll still continue to believe it. I think things might still turn around—Queen Mipha helping us proves that—but... I'll keep your thoughts in mind."

   Of course she'd say that. "Y'know that pisses me off," Link muttered. He took a deep breath before he continued. "But it's 'cause I don't agree with how ya think. Still, ya hold on, just like I do."

   "I suppose everyone has to let go eventually," Zelda said with a sigh. "And I might as well admit the truth about my leaving home, since you've already figured it out."

   Link arched an eyebrow. He didn't think she'd come back to this, and yet she was.

   Even after saying she would talk, Zelda hung on a pause for as long as she could. "Yes, I did leave without a plan," she said quickly. "I leapt into things headlong like I always do without considering the consequences." She tensed. "There you are, you win. You're right, and I'm wrong."

   Link was frankly stunned by how defeated she sounded. Victory was disgustingly bitter, and he didn't like it at all.

   Zelda continued on somberly. "If I ever return... my family will likely disown me, if they haven't already. It'd make sense since nobody is coming after me, they think I'm just a lost cause. After all, I shunned them, so they have the right to do the same with me." She closed her eyes. "Hylia, I'm such a fool, aren't I? And after I said I was the Holder of Wisdom," she laughed weakly, shaking her head. "Eventually I won't even be that. I'll be further back than where I started from."

   Link's lips pursed. She was smiling again, though it was drenched in negativity. Melancholy didn't suit her at all. He admittedly wanted to see that little gap-toothed smile again, and in a happier light. He then decided to try and be positive here.

   "Well, Marin Town hasn't always had the best healer," he said. "Dunno if you're into that, but if you wanna help people, I guess that's a decent way to do it. I'm not exactly the best guy to ask when it comes to that topic."

   Zelda glanced at him. "Fira finds medicine intriguing. It's the only thing he talks about when he's not worrying about me." Her shoulders hunched as she seemed to consider it. "I suppose I could be willing to give it a try. I can sit in with the Zoran healers while we're here, see how I feel about it for sure, and I can see how the guards are doing as well. Besides, it would be beneficial to have another medically-versed person in our group." She affirmed her words with a nod.

   Link had to hold in a sigh. And back to the Holder stuff... At least it went somewhat into the future past this whole mess.

   "But why would you suggest Marin Town of all places?" Zelda then asked. "Isn't it a bit of a nowhere town?"

   "It is," Link said. He couldn't believe he was about to say this. Then again, he could say the same about everything else he'd said tonight. "But it's also where I was born." He wasn't at all surprised by Zelda's wide-eyed look. With how he was, she likely had the impression that he had lived in the woods his entire life. And she wasn't exactly wrong.

   "I know you won't say anything else about it, right?" she asked.

   Link's eyes narrowed. "Not a chance."

   "It was worth a try," she said.

   Link looked away, going silent as hesitance and irritation writhed in him. It wasn't her fault that she was curious, and he had to accept that, even if he didn't want to. Link sighed inwardly as some of the tenseness left his body. "So what does this make us?" he asked.

   "We were supposed to be allies for a while, and I think this might be a step above it now that we've admitted these things to each other. But I think friends is too strong of a word for you." She smirked again.

  "You're good at those Poison Jabs," Link said with a rough snicker. "But I guess we might be?" He frowned. "I haven't really had another friend besides Luce, so it's weird sayin' that this is."

   "Perhaps it will feel more natural to you if we keep talking like this. Try to put aside some things, even if it'll be painful."

   "Ya took the words right outta my mouth," Link said. "But I..." He hoped he wouldn't regret this. "I-I'll... I'll keep what ya said in mind too, and I'll try to be nice. I'll try."

   "If that's all you can give, then I'll take it," Zelda said. She looked a bit hopeful when she said that.

   The remainder of Link's tenseness fled as a weight seemed to lift from his shoulders, and relief flooded over him.

   "Thank you, Link."

   He frowned. "For what?"

   "For agreeing to go with my plan earlier, for choosing me during the trial, for hearing me out here and saying you'll try to change. I really appreciate it." She smiled softly. "And I won't tell Fira or Resa about this," she continued. "However we act from now on towards each other can be all they need to know that this conversation happened." She held out her hand. "Okay?"

   Link stared at her hand for a few moments. Was he really going to agree to this? But if it was for the better, and it really sounded like that was the case, then he should. And he honestly liked that different bit of happiness Zelda offered him. He then grasped her hand and shook it. "Alright."