"Wait, so you weren't caught?" Zelda asked, her eyes wide with shock.

   Iigo shook his head with a cocky smile. "It wasn't hard to make off with some of her goods. After all, I am quite the sweet-talker," he replied.

   Link sighed. He had to fight the urge to tell Iigo to shut up, since he knew nobody but him would appreciate it. He was just tired of the almost non-stop talking. It was shocking Iigo hadn't lost his voice after nearly four days of this.

   But at the same time, Link knew how much Iigo loved to talk, and he had to admit he'd missed hearing that bird go off whenever they crossed paths.

   "So after I risk sticking out my neck by stealing him something, Rinku complains that I got him a peach when there were apples being sold right next to it! And I thought I was the pickier out of the two of us."

   Zelda stifled a small laugh behind her hand. "I can honestly believe he said something like that. He definitely has a particular liking for apples," Zelda said.

   What surprised Link more was that Zelda wasn't calling him by Iigo's insufferable nickname. Not once had she mentioned it even after the few days the Rito had been traveling with them. But Link couldn't help but give his two rupees on this subject. "Damn straight," he muttered, squinting at Iigo. "They're the best thing in Hyrule, and you know it."

   "I prefer apricots, but to each their own, Rinku," Iigo said with a grin. Of course that obviously didn't mean Iigo wouldn't use the nickname.

   As Iigo happily continued on, Link tried to find something interesting in the landscape around him to focus on instead. That proved to be difficult as there were mainly cliffs around them, cliffs to the right and open air to the left as the path dropped off into the ocean. Still, it was better than listening to how Link had gone back to steal the apples himself, which had wound up with a Granbull chasing him off.

   They had left the forest behind, and now they were scaling a thin, erosion-warped mountain trail that wound around the backside of the Quince Cliffs. According to Iigo, if they moved quickly, they could be at the temple by nightfall.

   After several more hours of climbing, the trail took a dramatic slope downwards. It almost seemed to drop down into the churning ocean waters slamming against the cliffs. Link could hardly look for a few moments before vertigo overtook him and he forced himself to look away to the horizon. The sunset had begun to stain both the sky and ocean with brilliant violet and orange hues. They only had an hour or two left of light at the most.

   "Is that where we're supposed to go?" Link questioned.

   "Yes. This is where our trail ends," Iigo replied.

   So what are we supposed to do now? Climb down to it? If you haven't noticed, I don't exactly have legs, Resa said, taking a cautious look over the cliff's edge.

  'Exactly?' Link wondered.

   "No, we fly down to it," Iigo said. He spread his wings, shaking out his feathers. "I'll go see where the cave is, and then I can take each of you down there." He took a leap off the edge of the cliff and began freefalling, only for his wings to catch the wind and set him aloft.

   The Rito truly are an amazing species, Resa said with some awe. I was once friends with the Rito chief's daughter. She took me out flying constantly. My hair would always be a mess afterwards, she said, laughing a bit to herself. Link had never heard her laugh before. It sounded nothing like her usual voice, and it was strange. Strange, yet welcome. But that just made Link curious about something. He was surprised neither him or Zelda had asked Resa this before.

   "Hey Resa, what were ya—"

   "So why does Iigo call you Rinku?" Zelda said to him.

   Link tensed and turned to Zelda, choking back the urge to snap at her and spoke evenly. Well, as evenly as he could considering how irritated he was. "Don't call me that," he huffed. "I know, it's a stupid nickname." And that ruined it. As he thought, Zelda frowned, and a bit of guilt panged him.

   "I actually wasn't planning on it, believe it or not," she said.

   Link released a sigh and shook his head. "S-sorry for talkin' like that," he said. "I'm just a bit pissed. I know, what a concept," he snickered bitterly. "But it's 'cause it's already enough that Iigo calls me that. I don't want anyone else knowin' that name or usin' it themselves."

   "Can I ask why?" Zelda asked.

   Link hesitated. "It's—" He stopped. He couldn't believe he was about to admit this. Heat started gathering in his face, and he looked away, cursing under his breath profusely. "Iigo was tryin' to teach me to read an' write once in Ritoian, but I messed up and spelled my name wrong. He hasn't let it go since. I-it's embarrassin', alright?"

   Zelda looked at him understandingly. "It sounds like it. Again, I wasn't planning on calling you that since you don't seem to like it."

   "Y-yeah, thanks," Link muttered, feeling relieved. He casually raised a hand to cover his mouth, hoping it would conceal the red he that knew was dyeing his cheeks. "And I guess I could tell Iigo to shut it, but ya could say it's payback for how I acted like an ass to him too. He's put up with me longer than you guys have."

   I... wouldn't say it's 'putting up' with you, Courage, Resa said. You have certainly been difficult to deal with, but—

   "Ya don't have to make it seem like things weren't bad, 'cause they were," Link said with a shrug. 'Cause I was, he added internally. There was no need for pride here when his previous actions disproved it every step of the way. "An' it still feels weird for us to be talkin' like this."

   Even if we've been doing it for a couple of weeks now? Resa questioned.

   "Yeah," Link said. But now Resa was trying to speak positively of him? He couldn't ignore this any longer, he had to say something. "Y'know, I-I 'preciate what you've been doin' for me lately, both of ya," he said. "Just all the talkin' and favors..." He frowned. "It makes me feel like shit when I don't do anythin' for ya."

   I think you've helped us, Resa said. Advice can't go unaccounted for.

   "Eh, it don't feel like enough," Link refuted with a shake of his head. "Ya know I ain't the best with words, so sayin' that's all I've given ya is nothin'."

   "So that doesn't mean you can't start doing other things now," Zelda said.

   Link shrugged. "Yeah, guess so. Just halfta figure out what."

   "There's nothing wrong with surprises," Zelda said, smiling. There was no hiding the optimism in her aura there.

   "Most of the time, but yeah," Link said, nodding. He was glad that Zelda and Resa actually seemed to have some kind of hope for him, even if he didn't have it himself.

   With that, Link could feel Luce brightening with gratitude. Of course she sensed the shift in his own aura. As far as he knew now, there wasn't a need for their promise anymore.

   "Sorry for the wait!" Iigo's voice echoed about as he came soaring back up to the trail. Everyone quickly moved aside as he touched down, sending small pebbles scattering about with a light clatter. "We're essentially on top of it. Under us is a little overhang that hides the entrance."

   Excellent. I hope it isn't too much trouble if I go first? I need to investigate something at the temple before we can conduct our business there.

   "Of course. Ladies first," Iigo said, extending a wing to Resa.

—~*~—

Link's legs trembled slightly as he climbed off Iigo's back onto solid ground. This hadn't been the first time he'd flown, but he didn't think he'd be able to get used to the shift between being feeling weightless and suddenly having to stand on his own again.

   Zelda was even more unused to the sensation, as she almost fell to her knees the moment she tried to stand. Fira barked sharply and ensnared her in a psychic field, gently placing her back on her feet.

   "You don't have to do that, I'll be fine," she said. She spoke too soon, as she lost her balance a second later. Iigo had idiotically let them off on the main trail, so there was nothing but a sheer drop behind them.

   "Hey, careful!" Link snapped, grabbing Zelda's arm before she could topple off the trail. He hauled her upright and didn't let go until she regained her footing. "He told ya to watch out," Link said with a sigh.

   "I thought I had it," she said. "But thank you."

   "Fira would've killed me if I hadn't," Link said with a sharp, joking edge, glancing at the fox. The sarcastic humor was thankfully founded, as Fira nodded appreciatively. He stuck close by his Trainer's side as they proceeded into the cave, whether she liked it or not.

   Luce stepped to Link's side. "Lu?" she yipped, noting his own unsteady footing.

   "Nah, I'm good," Link said. "You?" Luce shook her head, smiling.

   It turned out the cave they had entered was a tunnel, one that wasn't too short as it almost instantly let out into the cavern that housed the temple. This cave rivaled Zora's Domain's central cave in size. It was shocking just how large a natural cave this was. Or had it been created specifically for the temple? Link only had guesses at his disposal.

   The Ironwill Temple looked very much like the others, except time yet again had its own effect on the relic. Thin rivulets of water carved paths through the stone here and there, and great stalactites had sprouted from the ceiling and become one with the temple's roof.

   Resa was already at the glyph-covered doors, performing her strange dance. She had already crossed her sashes before her, but now the ends of her sashes were curling in as if they were fists. She slammed them together twice, creating a dull thump of cloth with each strike, before thrusting them out as if she was punching someone.

  "What is she doing?" Iigo asked, puzzled.

   "She's opening the temple," Zelda responded.

   Iigo's beak dropped open in shock. "You can actually enter the temples? I thought they were merely for decoration!" As if actively disproving him, the door grinded open with a racket that reverberated off the cave walls.

   "That answer your question?" Link asked with a smirk. It did, because for once Iigo was at a loss for words. The silence was definitely strange.

   The inky blackness of the temple was quickly dispersed by torches coming alive with a red fire. Compared to the flames that lit the torches in the previous temples, these should have seemed exceedingly normal. Except they weren't. This fire had no hues of orange or yellow dancing about in it, only a bright ruby red.

   "Are you sure I'm supposed to be in here?" Iigo asked, his feathers ruffling. "It feels as if this is a breach of privacy. After all, you're Holders, and I'm not."

   I'm not, and neither are Luce and Fira. Don't worry, companions of the Holders are welcome in these temples.

   "Still, that doesn't... What is this?" His gaze had caught what had been inscribed on the walls. Like the other temples, images decorated the walls around them. A tall quadruped being like that of Virizon, except with horns that jutted upright instead of horizontally, tread between the different carved scenes of battle against creatures Link couldn't recognize. They oddly didn't seem like Pokémon.

   Of course, Link didn't care about the carvings, even if they were strange-looking. "Oh yeah, those exist," he said dismissively.

   "This is fascinating!" Iigo said in awe as he approached one of the walls, examining it. He carefully ran the tips of his feathers over the image of Cobalion. "All this was in here?" Iigo had always had an interest in mythology himself, though it wasn't as nearly noticeable as Zelda's.

   "Yes, isn't it amazing?" Zelda said, joining him by the wall to examine it for herself.

   We can gawk at the carvings later, we have an Overseer to meet, Resa called. But nobody seemed to acknowledge her. Is Fira not picking up my thoughts or something? she wondered aloud.

   "It's what ya get for becomin' more lax," Link said with a snicker.

   And I only have you and Wisdom to blame for it, Resa said, crossing her sashes. But I don't mind it... too much.

   "Yeah, sure," Link said sarcastically. "So what kinda trial ya think Cobalion is gonna give us?" he asked.

   According to my Overseer memories, Cobalion has always been one to idolize strength, order, and composure, Resa replied. It's difficult to imagine a trial based around order, and Virizion already had her trial based around something that had to do with composure, so strength might be it.

   Link grinned. "Strength? That's right up my alley," he said.

   I can certainly agree, Resa said. But can you get their attention since I'm obviously not being heard?

   "Fine," Link said with a nod. "Hey gawkers, we have shit to do," he said sharply, pointing to the far end of the temple.

   "S-sorry, I suppose we got carried away," Zelda said sheepishly.

   "You can't blame us for a bit of curiosity, Rinku," Iigo said.

   "I can blame you," Link said, to Iigo's chagrin. As they rejoined with Luce and Resa, Link quickly glanced at her. "Uh, did I use that word right back there?" Gawkers sounded like something he would use, and hopefully didn't make himself sound even more illiterate, which would have been a feat in itself.

   You did, Resa answered.

   They didn't have far to go before they reached the end of the temple. And as if on cue, the voice of Cobalion greeted them.

   So the doors to my temple have finally been opened, the steely voice of what sounded like an older man stated. I guess that it is the work of the Aegislash Overseer?

   It is, Resa said. Greetings, Overseer Cobalion. I am Overseer Resa, and with me are the Holders of Courage and Wisdom as well as some companions we have been traveling with. They are allied with us and have no intentions of harming the temple or the mission.

   I see... Well, there is no way I can prove those with you are truly Holders unless I conduct my test, Cobalion said. Supposed Holders of Courage and Wisdom, heed my words. You must overcome my test of might in order to convince me of your authenticity. Do you seek to take the challenge?

   "Oh, I'm ready," Link said, cracking his knuckles. A test of "might" was definitely promising.

   Zelda didn't answer right away. She took in a breath to steady herself before clenching her fists. "I'm ready as well," she said.

   Well met. Then let us begin, Cobalion said, and Link was submerged into inky blackness.

   When Link next opened his eyes, his vision was filled with deep shadows and foliage drenched in darkness. He immediately began to examine his surroundings, looking for anything that might be watching him back. His gear hung heavy on him, the Master Sword's sheath digging into his back under his bag like it always did. He knew there had to be a reason why he still had it.

   "Link?"

   He was surprised to hear Zelda, and he glanced over his shoulder at her. She was looking at him out of the corner of her eye, though her gaze was still trained on the trees before her. They were standing in an oak forest clearing, a sliver of a crescent moon casting a pale glow. A light breeze rustling the leaves provided the only noise besides their breaths. There had to be a reason why they shared the same vision this time, and Link didn't like that possible reason.

   "I don't see any paths... I think we should stay here," Zelda whispered. Smart of her to keep her voice down. Link couldn't sense anything, but his senses didn't work in the last trial either.

   "That's the best idea," he agreed. "Can't risk gettin' split up."

   And so they waited in the darkness. Minute after minute passed, each one serving to slowly raise the tension. Link swallowed hard, his ears popping as he did so. They had to have been waiting for five minutes now. Why wasn't anything happening? Weren't they supposed to fight something?

   A shaky exhale escaped Zelda then, and Link again glanced at her. "You okay?" he asked.

   "I-it's fine," she said.

   She was definitely lying. "Just tell me, Zelda," he said, exasperated.

   She stuttered for a moment, choking on her words. But she finally got them out. "Fine! I-I'm scared, alright?" she huffed. "I wish Fira was here..."

   Link couldn't help but agree with her. This place was beyond eerie, and he wished that Luce was here as well. "Well, ya got me, if that counts for anythin' to ya," he said.

   "I-it does—"

   The relative silence was broken by a sharp cracking of a stick in the woods on Link's side. He couldn't help but jolt, startled by the piercing noise. Zelda let out a frightened squeak, though it was quickly muffled by her hand. Before Link could even try to look for where the noise had come from, a loud rustle sounded on Zelda's side, followed by another on Link's. Then he saw a pair of glowing eyes through the trees.

   "Somethin's there..." Link muttered, clenching his teeth. He swore that he recognized the eye shape.

   "I see something as well," Zelda said. The pair instinctively backed up until their backs were pressed together. Link was reminded of the stance he and Luce assumed whenever they were in danger like this. Surely that was the case here?

   The eyes on Link's side advanced forwards, and he was able to make out a lean, bipedal figure. Then it came together. He did know this eye shape, how could he not? He saw it every day.

   "Luce?" The question escaped him as confusion fluttered the worry nesting in his gut.

   "Wait, you see Luce?" Zelda asked. Link didn't answer, he was still shocked by what he was seeing,

   The Lucario was now on the edge of the clearing, and while it did look strikingly similar to Link's partner, it wasn't her. Its eyes were blank and dead, suffused with a pulsing white glow as its head was slightly tilted to the side. It looked wrong.

   "There's a Shiftry on my side, Link," Zelda said. "A-and I can also see a Breloom and a Beedrill."

   As she said that, two more Pokémon began to make themselves known. They were Pokémon that dwelled in Necluda, a Roserade and Toxicroak. All of them had that same haunting glow to their eyes, that same sense of unease. It made Link shiver.

   Wood lightly clacked as Zelda slowly drew her bow and an arrow. "Do we—"

   Link cut her off. "Don't even think 'bout it!" he hissed, tensing. "They get the first move." It was already enough that Zelda showed her bow. There was a fine line treading between coming off as intimidating and outright hostile as well, and they needed to stick with intimidating.

   "But they're clearly hostile," Zelda said.

   "I don't care! Don't make a single damn move!" He didn't care that he was snapping at her again, he wouldn't let the events with the Tentacool and Tentacruel repeat themselves. Of course we'd be facing Pokémon. Damn you, Cobalion!

   "Car..." the Lucario growled in a dead tone. It slowly raised its paw, and a light sparked to life, quickly growing into an Aura Sphere.

   Please don't... Link thought with an edge of desperation as his heart began to race. He couldn't do it, he couldn't stand to even hurt this Lucario.

   "Link, they're getting closer..!" Zelda gasped. She was pressed against him so hard that she threatened to knock him off-balance.

   "D-don't do anythin', just stay where you are." Link couldn't stop his own worry from leaking into his voice, and he cursed the weakness that tainted his words.

   The Lucario glared at Link, its eyes narrowing. With a snarl, it then hurled the Aura Sphere straight at him. Without thinking, he grabbed Zelda and yanked her to the side as he dove away. The sphere flew right over Link's head and slammed into the Shiftry, flinging it back.

   "Raade!" The Roserade was the next to attack, shooting a round of glowing thorns at the Holders. Link shoved himself away, and just in time. One of the thorns grazed the back of his hand, slicing it open.

   "Link!" He glanced up, only to see Zelda blasting away the other Pokémon with a pulse of Wisdom as they rushed them. "W-we have to fight them," she said shakily, chancing a look at him. "Please."

   "I-I know," Link muttered. He got to his feet and drew the Master Sword, his heart sinking. "I know. Just don't kill 'em."

   "I'll use Wisdom, and even then I know non-lethal shots," Zelda said. The words hardly had enough time to leave her, as all the Pokémon converged on them like a wave.

   The Lucario came at Link first. He dropped beneath its high blow, parrying the lunging Toxicroak's swiping claws with his blade before launching a Courage-charged kick at the Lucario's gut. It gasped and stumbled back, leaving room for a bubbling orb of green energy to fly past it at Link. He cleaved the Energy Ball in half, making it burst with a blinding flash.

   Link stumbled, rubbing his eyes to desperately chase away the spots dancing in his vision. A hiss from the Toxicroak made him throw a blind punch in its direction. His fist connected with scaly skin, and at the same time a spike of pain buried itself deep in his arm. He couldn't help but cry out.

   "Shit!" Zelda swore. A wet thunk followed by the Toxicroak's shriek sounded, and the claw tore from Link's arm. He didn't have a moment's respite as the Lucario swung down at him with a Bone Club.

   Aura met steel as the bone collided with the Master Sword. The Lucario pressed the attack, and Link shoved back. He knew he'd be overpowered and swept his leg under the Lucario's. It tripped, and it received a punishing jab to the throat from the Master Sword's pommel.

   I'm sorry, Link thought. He then brought the pommel down on the Lucario's head. It fell, limp and unconscious.

   "Link, duck!" Zelda demanded. He did, and he heard the Roserade screech. Link's mind begged him to see the damage, but the Shiftry was slicing down towards Zelda with a Leaf Blade. Link lunged, blocking the slashing leaf fans. An arrow flew beneath his arms and pierced the Shifty's stomach.

"Dammit no!" Link shouted, more angry at the situation than Zelda. There really wasn't a better place she could've shot. He quickly shoved the Dark-type away and turned his blade towards the Breloom, slicing one of its arms as it threw a Mach Punch at him. The buzzing of the nearby Beedrill roared in his ears, but he knew Zelda was taking care of it.

   Breloom nimbly bounced out of the way of Link's kick, retaliating with another punch. Link dodged and chanced a usage of Courage. He quickly formed a sphere in his hand, lobbing it at the Pokémon. It stumbled as he did, but he still forced himself to run at it. It only took another kick and a concussing blow from the pommel to the Breloom to knock it out.

   Link fell to his knees, panting heavily. How large had that sphere been? More than half the size of one of Zelda's. Zelda. He looked back, seeing her firing arrows into the Bedrill's wings, pinning it to the ground. The look in her eyes was cold yet sorrowful, and Link was shocked by just how brutal she could be.

   But then he saw something else. The Toxicroak hadn't been discouraged by its arrow wound like Roserade had. It was enraged; it wanted revenge.

   "Zelda, look out!" Link yelled. Zelda turned, her eyes widening as the Toxicroak slashed her across the upper chest, right across her clavicle. She gasped, collapsing.

   Link was on his feet before he realized it, diving for the Toxicroak before he could even raise his sword. He saw the amphibian's face as he threw himself in front of it, and he felt the pain as its claw plunged into his stomach. Sharp, deep, brutal. Link screamed, and so did Zelda.

   The next thing Link knew, he was on the ground, and the Toxicroak was collapsing as an arrow had been buried right between its eyes. He tried to move but couldn't, as his stomach felt like it was on fire. His tunic became damp with blood as it began to well, quickly soaking it. He didn't understand. Why did the pain feel so real? Why was he bleeding?

   "Link? Link?" Zelda was by his side, her hands pressed hard to his wound. "Why did you do that?" she questioned frantically. Link struggled to form words, wanting to tell her he didn't want her to get hurt herself, but Cobalion spoke before he could.

   You have no need to worry about his safety, the Overseer said. After all, this is only a fantasy I conjured. But congratulations, Holders, you have both passed the trial.