Link woke up with the morning sun, though at that location, it was hidden by the mountain. He got out of bed and woke Navi, who lay peacefully inside his hat on the side table. She yawned adorably, and flew to his shoulder as Link put on his hat. As Link began to get his stuff together, he heard Emerald start to roll in her bed, causing him to look over at her.

"Good morning, Emmy," he greeted. "Sleep well, did you?"

Emmy stretched, yawned, and sat upright. "Mostly. Had a weird dream where the clouds were marshmallows with faces. But, I am ready to go on if you are."

"Indeed I am. Gotta tell the pegasi to ready the transport for us. We're going to Canterlot before Ponyville, so we can pardon you for your ... crime..."

"Oh, good. If you're speaking for me, I have nothing to worry about." Emmy got out of bed and stretched once more. The three of them, Navi included, gathered their things. Link had more to do, since he came with more. He didn't dare leave anything behind. Emerald made sure to have her bags, and her scrolls in them. As Link got to the door, there was a knock.

"Hm?" Link opened it and there stood the mare of the pair that brought him there. "Oh, good morning. Emmy and I are ready to go."

"Uhm... It'll just be you today. My partner had to go back on his own. Important business to attend to. D-don't worry though. I can get you there safely myself."

"I see. Would this 'important business' involve my friend here?" he asked, looking over the guard mare carefully. The mare shook her head. "Can she come with anyway? She can help you fly the transport."

"Afraid not," she replied. "While that would be a good idea, only certified guards can fly these ones. You know that." The mare looked a little uneasy.

Link turned to Emmy. "So, I guess I will be speaking on your behalf. When you get to Ponyville, stop by the library. I'll meet you there when my business is done."

"Isn't that where you live?" she asked him.

"It's also the last place we'd ever see Rainbow, so if you wanna lay low, that's the place to start." He turned to the guard. "Just me, then, I guess."

Emmy hovered outside the door. "See you there, then." All at once, she took off to the southwest for the little town of Ponyville.

Link watched out of the corner of his eye as he followed the guard to the transport. "I have a long flight ahead of me," the mare said. "Oh, and sorry in advance for the bumpy ride."

"I'm sure you're not as bad as you claim. After all, I got here in one piece. How bad is it when you're alone?"

Nearly half an hour later, they entered Canterlot airspace. The whole way there, the transport shook, like something was loose. Link held the side, looking down, and around at the city. "Hey..." he started, "where is everypony? The streets are usually flooded this time of day."

"That's a good question," the pegasus replied. "Don't suppose you wanna... go check it out?"

"Yes," Link replied quickly. "I mean, you can. I think I can walk the rest of the way."

She looked back at him and grinned. "Alright. Making a landing in the street. Hold on." She started her descent.

Trust me, I have been.

Upon landing, Link hopped over the side and landed safely, looking around. The roads were empty, no carts, no ponies, no open doors or ringing bells. "What happened here? It feels abandoned here..." the mare said. "I'm gonna start looking into this. Don't wait up, alright?"

Link started walking toward the castle. About 20 minutes later, he realized he hadn't passed any open shop or any pony. The ones he did see were in the process of closing their doors. Navi whispered under his hat, "Hey, Link. Don't look now, but we're being followed."

"How many..." he replied, quietly.

"I only saw two. Behind us, and around the corner of the buildings."

Suddenly, Link stopped walking, and turned around. "Come out. I know you're following me." Two pegasi stepped out from behind a corner. One of them was the male pegasus who helped transport him just a couple days ago, the one on 'important business'. The other was a pegasus mare, who had a metal spear on her back. "What is this about?" he asked, taking a step toward them. He heard paper crumple under him and looked down, seeing a picture of him. With 'Wanted' as its header. Link moved his foot and picked it up. "'Treason'. ..." He looked at the two guards and dropped the paper.

"We need you to come with us. Quietly," the stallion requested. He pulled a set of cuffs from his bag, and with light blue magic, they levitated in front of him.

Link glared at the cuffs. Interesting... They're moving with magic. So... They brought back up. "Or you can tell me what this is about. That works out better for all of us." Link walked closer to the guards.

"Link. You are under arrest for the crime of conspiring against the crown of Equestria. We're here to take you in." The mare beside him drew her spear and held it at her side. Both guards stood ready. "By force, if we must."

Slowly, Link held out his hands. Just a bit closer... Soon, he tripped and fell forward. Link grabbed the open cuffs and closed them around the stallion's forelegs, locking them in place. He rolled to the side and dodged the mare's spearhead being thrust down at him. Quickly, he pushed himself to his feet, turned, and ran toward the castle.

"Link!" Navi said, still hiding. "What are you doing?"

"Something's wrong. I need to find out what."

"Get him!" the stallion ordered.

The mare took her spear and soared high into the sky. Link looked back and saw she was gone. The sound of crashing in front of him caused him to stop. With her spear in the ground, she stood in front of him once more. "Give it up, kid. Other guards are on their way as we speak." Link put up his hands and made a few barrier steps in front of him. As he ran up and over, he put a shield above and behind the mare. When he landed, he turned back and saw her hit herself when she tried to jump again, falling to the ground. And again, when she attempted to go straight at him.

She picked up her spear once more and went around the barriers as Link continued running. I've lost ground. The guard approached his side fast, spear pointed at him. Link jumped over the mare's attack and continued, unfazed by the attempt. On his other side, the mare swung her spear sideways, aiming at his chest. He ducked under the attack, and rolled forward, charging ahead of her.

Clearly frustrated, she soared again. I'll aim for him this time. He's making me mad! She got to the apex of her ascent, and saw him stop running. Just enough to graze him. That's all I need. As fast as she dropped on him, Link was still able to evade her assault. All that training bucking apple trees the way he decided made his kicks that much stronger. With a single reverse side kick, he connected with her armor and sent her crashing into the side of the building a good 20 feet away. Link picked up the spear she dropped and continued on, only to see two unicorns in the road.

Then he looked behind them, at the shining yellow wall. They put up a barrier... They really think I'm guilty of something. He took out his boomerang and remembered its curve when thrown. Adjusting his strength, he threw it forward, and hit both unicorns in their horns, disabling the spell and allowing him to pass over their unconscious forms. He pulled his hand back, and smiled at how the boomerang appeared in it. As he put it away in his pouch, he saw the bridge over the water to the castle approaching. Once he passed over it, he stopped.

12 guards, 4 of each race, surrounded him on all sides. "This is as far as you go," one guard said. The unicorns put barriers around the 12 of them, and themselves for protection. "Get on the ground and drop your weapons!"

Link slowly set the spear down and got to one knee, holding his hands out. The stallion approached him with a set of cuffs. When he stopped in front of Link, the latter turned around, back flipped and brought his foot down hard against the stallion's helmet, dropping him. At once, Link picked up the cuffs and spear, stowing the former into his pouch unseen for future use, while he gripped the latter and pointed it ahead of himself. "C'mon then!"

A pair of earth ponies ran at his sides, swords drawn. Link put the base of his spear on the ground and used it to jump upward, like the mare had before him. On the way down, he brought the spear shaft down on the two swords. Two unicorns behind him advanced, but Link kicked both of their helmets away, fazing them both. In groups of two, then three, then four, then all in one go, they succeeded in subduing him, locking his wrists in cuffs, and leaving a couple guards unconscious.

Link was carried off through the castle. His sword, shield, and pouches all confiscated. He was hauled to the prison under the castle, and thrown in a cell. A unicorn guard locked the cell door and removed the cuffs. "You'll be here a while. Get comfortable." The two guards walked away, the speaker jingling the cell keys on a large loop.

As soon as the cuffs were off, Link leapt forward and grabbed the bars. "You have the wrong guy! Whatever it is, it WASN'T ME!!" he shouted. Silence. Link sighed, then slid and sat down. "I'm not a traitor..." He put his head down and sighed again.

"Hey..." a mare called in the cell opposite of him.

That caused Link to look up at her. Then, squinting closer, he recognized her. "Aren't you the greenhorn guard that stood by the princesses when I went to leave? Why are you in here?"

"Same reason as you," she replied, revealing to him her light blue eyes. "I'm suspected of conspiring against the crown of Equestria..."

Link sat there. "You too, huh... Are you actually conspiring? Or are you falsely accused, like me?"

"Falsely accused."

"Then they have at least two innocent ponies in their prison." Link stood up and paced in his cell. "If we were to be acquitted of our quote-unquote 'crimes'," he made finger quotes when he spoke, "they'd have to set us free, right?"

"That's providing anyone's willing to risk their own freedom. If they look for a way to get us out, then they'd be aiding and abetting, making them just as 'guilty'." She, too, made quotes.

"Right..." Link admitted. "Then it's up to us."

The mare walked to her cell door. "I don't know if you noticed, but we're in prison. We aren't going anywhere any time soon." She paused, and looked closer at him. "Who are you, really?"

Link looked around his cell while he paced. A few rocks here and there, a slab of stone for a bed and a chain-bound stone table. "I'm the one who's gonna find a way out of this cell. And I'll do it in less than a day. I just... Need some time to think of 'how'."

"Good luck with that..." She flopped onto her back and looked at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Link started gathering a handful of small stones and carried them to the table. I don't need luck. I need quiet. He placed the stones in patterns on the table and moved them one at a time, sometimes making striking or sliding noises with the rocks.

"Suppose you do get out," she interrupted, "what will you do?"

Link gripped the stone he had in his hand. "I'm going to get the guard's set of keys, and get you out. They pass on the keys at every shift change, so one guard has them at all times. The problem, or one of them, is that they're armed. And they have magic cuffs that cut off all magic. Including most of mine."

"Most?" she inquired, sitting up.

"I'll explain later, if I can. But right now, please, let me focus." Link looked at her and shot a glare, before looking at his stones. "Sorry for snapping, but time isn't exactly on my side here."

Soon, a male unicorn guard came down, audibly jingling the keys he had. He stopped in front of her cell first. "Nice and comfy, huh?"

"You won't keep me here forever," she said with a growl.

He turned after giving her an apple, and looked at Link. "Here you are." Another apple rolled into the cell, stopping at his feet. "Oi... What's with them rocks there?"

Link dropped his head, then turned and nearly shouted, "I'm bored! I'm trying to pass the time!" He picked up the apple. "Although... I wouldn't argue against a chess set." Link bit into the apple and held out his other hand. "Help a guy out?"

"Tch. Not a chance." The stallion walked off, keys jingling the whole way out.

Quietly, Link listened for the guard. "Gone. Good. Navi, you can come out now. It's safe."

Navi flew up, taking his hat with her, and tossed it aside. She flew around him before landing on the table, stretching. "Mmmm, ahhh. Finally. I was starting to go to sleep up there." Then she noticed the stone arrangements. "Boredom, huh?"

"Something like that," he admitted. "Just a little activity to keep my head clear. I also need someone to talk to while I work. Talk things over with."

"Then you've called the right fairy."

The guard mare asked, "Fairy? You have one of those?"

Link looked over. "Yes. But only one. I imagine they're a rare find." He looked back to his rocks.

"What are you going to do when you escape? After you get me out, of course. You know, provided you actually pull it off," she asked.

"After getting you out, I plan to get my weapons and tools back from the armory they're locked in. Then, I'm going to sneak my way to the throne room where I suspect guards will be posted. After I get inside the throne room, I'll deliver my formal report on my latest mission."

"That's it?" Link nodded, barely visible. "You're not scared of what they will do to you?"

"Nope. Celestia is like my mother. And she always hears me out. Why would I ever be a traitor to my own mother?" He held a rock in his hand and walked to the cell door. "So, I told you a bit of mine. What's your story, guardmare?"

She turned away from him. "That's personal, don't you think?"

"So?"

"So, I don't feel I have to tell you anything." She turned again, looking at him.

Link frowned. "Then how about just a name? Surely that's not personal." He clenched the stone in his hand. "Just that, and I'll stop asking you. Fair?"

"Fine..." She exhaled what remained of her breath, and inhaled slowly. "I'm called Polaris. Satisfied?"

"Indeed I am. In more ways than one." He held up the rock, in his open hand. "Do you know what this is?"

"That's a rock," she answered plainly. "Split perfectly in half..."

"And? It's how I'm getting out of this place. But first, I need to plan the next moves carefully." He closed his hand and walked back to his table. "Navi, feel free to keep our new friend company while I work things out."

Navi flew over to Polaris and hovered before her. "Nice to meet you, formally at least." She bowed.

Link spent the next few hours pacing, running his hands along the wall, at the point where the cell bars met stone. That included climbing the bars to reach the ceiling, where he ran his hand some more, as well as the floor beside the bars. When he finished, he beckoned Navi to return to his side. There they waited. Until the guard came down with yet another apple, one for each of the prisoners. Navi hid herself under his hat atop his head just before the guard came within earshot. Polaris looked out her cell at the approaching guard. Again, his keys could be heard.

"So, you two get comfy yet?" he asked, looking between Link and Polaris. The former leapt at the bars and grabbed at them, causing the stallion to back up a little. But with the bars in between them, he felt confident. "You're never getting out. Not without these keys here." He levitated them in front of him, just out of reach.

"All I need is those keys. Let me out, and I'll put in a defensive word to the princesses. I'll even give them back."

"If you want them," he replied smiling, "come and claim them."

Link returned his hand to the bars and answered, smiling, "Your proposal is acceptable." He pushed hard against the bars. With the added strength of his bracelet, the cell gate broke free from the ceiling, floor, and walls. In surprise, the guard could do nothing, and was pinned under the weight of the gate.

The keys fell to the floor with a ringing sound as the cell's antimagic effect started working on the unicorn, who wasn't strong enough to move the bars by hoof. "Get this thing off me!" he shouted.

Link reached down and took the keys, unlocking and sliding Polaris's cell door open. "Well, shall we?"

Polaris looked stunned at his display. "You actually broke out of prison..." All the same, she escaped her cell, and watched Link toss the keys back down to the buried guard. "But..."

"I did say I'd give them back, didn't I?" The three of them navigated the prison halls carefully. There were no other guards down there at all. Strange... It's rarely ever this empty... When they got to the door leading out of the hall, Link quieted his voice. "When we step out, we're going into stealth mode. Quiet gestures, no noise at all. Got me?"

She nodded. Link slowly opened the door, and saw the lone guard standing there. All at once, he opened it wide and wrapped his arm around the guard's neck, squeezing tight while grabbing his horn. Soon, the guard passed out. Slowly, Link let the guard rest on the floor. He turned and paused, seeing the sword the guard had on his flank. Nah. I'll be getting my own back soon enough.

Both Link and Polaris walked in shadows against the wall, away from the luminary spell the unicorn guards were using. There were times they had to be patient, and points where they had to hurry along. Together, they made their way to the armory; this armory in particular because it was the closest one to the entrance he was dragged through. It made the most sense to him that that's where his stuff would be.

Around the last corner, Link halted. Looking around and left, he saw two guards standing at the door. Link motioned for his companion to stay put. As he rounded the corner quietly, he got just close enough to break into a run. Then, stopped right beside the closer of the two, spun and brought his heel down on the back of the guard's helmet, putting him down for the count. Link jumped forward and landed, throwing a punch at the second guard, who turned away from it and blind bucked him in the chest, sending Link back a few feet.

"Our princess told us you'd be coming," he said. "When I lock you in the cell, I'll be seen as a hero." The stallion rose to his back hooves in a fighting stance. Link took a step back, seeing how much taller a full grown stallion was in comparison to himself.

"You're big," Link commended. "Fought bigger." Link stepped forward and ducked under a swing, standing up into an uppercut that connected with the guard's chin. Unfazed, the guard reacted with his other hoof striking against Link's side, sending him tumbling down. On the floor, Link turned and swept the hooves out from under the towering guard, who then fell himself. Link got to his feet and kicked at the guard's head, blocked by his hooves. There was an audible sound as his boot struck the foreleg guard the stallion wore, and a dent where he made contact. Again, he kicked, this time, with enough force to go through the block, connecting with the helmet the guard wore and knocking it off his head.

The guard kicked Link away, or tried to. He missed, only barely. Link allowed the guard to stand up again, fully. Upright, the guard advanced on Link, hooves up. With another swing, Link grabbed it this time and leapt up and over it. In one quick motion, he kicked the guard's unprotected head twice and hard. Falling, Link rolled and got his feet under him, looking forward in time to see the giant fall, and fall unconscious. He caught his breath, and beckoned to Polaris, who walked over slowly, admiring the job he'd done. "Nice work. I am impressed."

Link found the keys on the stallion he fought against and opened the door. "Stay right here a moment, and keep watch. I won't be long." He unlocked the doors and went inside.

Several spears, swords, staffs, curved blades, shields both tower and buckler, staves, gauntlets and daggers adorned the walls and were stored in containers along the wall. Link looked at it all, and saw his stuff in the corner. He put his gear on, and noticed a smaller shield than the one he currently had. Picking it up, he noticed it was meant for a left hoofed pony. Putting his larger shield in his pouch, Link wore the smaller one on his back, in front of the sword. In one last move, he dragged both the unicorn guard and earth pony guard into the armory and locked the metal door as he left.

Link looked down the hall, adjusted his sword belt, and started walking, more confident he can get the job done.

Luna sat on her throne beside Celestia, looking at a scroll that hovered before her. Though she read it already, she repeated, "'Link has escaped.' I still can't believe he actually managed it. 'He took the other prisoner with him. I believe he will make his way to you at some point. Please be ready.' Please, we are fully prepared to handle the likes of him."

Celestia looked at her. "Look at the scroll as long as you desire. Its contents will not change. It would seem you have underestimated your opponent."

"It is a trivial matter. There are contingency plans in place for just such a course of action." She looked to the kneeling guard in front of them. "Still... I would like to know the method he used for his escape..."

"Have you a need of my service? Am I free to act in your stead?" the mare guard asked.

"Stay your shimmering blades, for there is still the option of fleeing he might choose. Not that I'm counting on it, but if he does, there are squads posted at every exit this castle has."

Celestia smiled. "You seem so confident. T'would be a shame if-"

The appearance of a second scroll caught the three of them off guard. Luna took it and opened it. "No doubt to say he's fallen. 'Princess Luna,' That's me. 'Link has taken his belongings from the armory. By force. I was knocked out first, and the partner you stationed with me has also been knocked out. In addition to his own weapons, a shield is missing from its place on the wall. Further, we're both locked inside.' ..." Luna sighed.

The unicorn stood and put on her helmet. "I dare to ask twice: have you need of my service?" Silence. "I know him well enough to know that he doesn't run. He meets his opponent head on, and always with a plan. He never goes in without his wits about him. He will come for you, Princess. And when he does..." She picked up her two swords and tied them at her flanks. "And when he does, I will put him down." She bowed and walked to the doors. Looking behind her, she asked, "Is it alright if I stand just outside now? With that speech I made just then, it sounded like I was challenging your authority, and I'm not. I just want to make sure I'm doing as I'm told."

Luna smiled a little. "Yes, you are free to stand guard outside the doors. And if he does show up, hold nothing back. He does not set hoof through those doors."

"And Steel Saber," Celestia added, "don't kill him."

Saber turned to the doors. "I will try not to." She left, closing the doors behind her.

"So, part three of the plan: get to the throne room, right?" Polaris asked. Link nodded in silence. "Oh right. Quiet time." She followed his path against the walls, and hiding behind the corners. Several guards passed them, as they passed several more on their way. Eventually, the two of them found the throne room door just around the corner they hid behind.

Link peeked around and saw one figure in armor. Just one guard this time... Either skilled or careless... All the same, my business is behind those doors, and that one guard isn't going to stop me. I've come too far. huh? He squinted, and saw moonlight reflect off of both handles of her blades. "Just one... but it had to be her."

"Her who?" Polaris asked, trying to get a look.

"Steel Saber," he whispered. "Dual-wielding unicorn mare... Among all of those in my graduating ceremony, she holds the highest win record. This won't be easy..." He motioned for her to stay put once more. "I'll try to make this quick." Link stepped out, and started walking toward Saber, becoming seen immediately by moonlight.

I hope you know what you're doing... Navi thought, clinging to his hair.

Steel Saber turned to him, and lowered her head slightly. "So... The traitor returns. Why have you come?" The long hallway echoed her voice. She watched as Link walked toward her, occasionally glancing to the windows, if only for brief moments before looking back at her. "Silent this night, are we?"

"Not at all. You know, not a week ago, we ate together. You learned my story. Are you really going to fight me, over something I didn't do?" Link closed his hands into fists as he walked toward her. "What is it you believe?"

"It doesn't matter what I believe. The princesses have ordered me to keep you out. No matter the cost..." Her horn lit up and gripped the handles of her swords. "You know, it was Princess Luna who believed you'd try to go to the throne room. Though it was her sister's idea to use me as the guard to keep you out."

"Mother always did know how to pick them." He reached his hands back and grabbed both his shield and sword, drawing them quickly. "I just want to talk to them. In peace." Link stopped in front of her, just a few feet away.

"Should have stayed your weapons for that." Saber drew her swords. She pointed one down in front of her, and the other pointed to the side on her right. Link dropped his foot back. "I don't want to do this... Not to a comrade. Please, leave this place, and I'll say you were run off. This is your last chance, Link..." Seeing no change in his expression and stance, she added, "So be it..."

The two charged at each other. Saber swung up with her front blade, and down with the one at her side. Both were deflected by Link's shield. He returned with several swings of his own, each one blocked by Saber's swift maneuvers. On his last attack, she parried and retaliated with her own flurry of strikes. Link shifted his stance and shield to meet each one, careful not to be hit directly. On her last attack, a horizontal slash, he back flipped out of the way. Upon landing, he rushed her with his blade pointed.

Quickly, almost too quickly, he reached her and thrust his sword at her head. Saber could barely move in time, but managed to get her face cut, knocking off her helmet in the process. A not-too-shallow cut... I'll heal, she thought, glaring at him and clenching her jaw through the pain. It had got her just under her right eye. Link followed up with a shield bash, disorienting Saber as his metal struck her body armor. His next attack, a horizontal swing, was blocked with a single sword. Saber's face twisted in rage. She yelled, started swinging at him with both swords in a rhythm. It was all Link could do to block and barely dodge. Saber had forced him to back up to continue being defensive, while she advanced with nearly every swing. "I'll destroy you!" she shouted. She pulled her swords back and extended her magic over the blades, which turned near silver due to the aura surrounding them.

Magic swords. She could actually- His though was cut short by Saber's combination continuation. She swung down with one. Link watched it cut into the floor. The second sword was thrust at his shoulder with greater speed than he'd seen before. Unfortunately, it was too fast to dodge completely, and Link suffered a cut to his shoulder. He clenched his teeth and stepped back, lowering his arm. She's trying to kill me. That would have gone through my chest.

"What's the matter?!" Saber yelled, not letting up. She managed to cut his sides, his shield arm twice, his sword arm twice more, and his legs equal to the rest of him combined. The swords were coated in magic. Finely sharpened magic that cut through the armor cloth Rarity made for him. Saber stopped and backed up a step, swirling her blades around her. "I expected the great 'Link' to be a better challenge than this."

Saber watched as Link dropped to his knees, dropping his sword and shield, and then fell to the floor on his chest unconscious.

"Link. What are you doing falling asleep in the middle of a fight?" A familiar voice called out to him. Link turned his head, looking for its source, and saw a human shape with glowing eyes stand behind Saber. "You're gonna let yourself fall to this mare? She might be better than you, but you've beaten her before. Use your head and think. Now, on your feet!"

Saber watched as Link dropped to his knees, dropping his sword and shield, and then fell to the floor on his chest unconscious. She grinned in victory before turning around, sheathing her bloody swords. Forgive me, Princess Celestia... I have fell your great warrior...

A light shone behind her, and caused her to turn and investigate. She had to squint, the light was so strong. It looked like it came from Link's left hand. Wordlessly, Link stood, grabbing both of his weapons on his way up. He stood his full height and broadened his shoulders, giving the look of a more seasoned fighter. His eyes seemed to glow as well, as the light from his hand dimmed but not completely.

Saber drew her swords and coated them in her magic. "What's this? What's going on?" She watched as Link focused his magic into his sword. "Where did you-"

Link ran at her, sword raised and shield ready. Before he got close enough to connect with a sword swing, he swung anyway, releasing a crescent of energy toward Saber, causing her to block with both swords. On his back swing, he released another crescent, going through the first and hitting harder against her swords, forcing her to slide back. Link created a platform of barrier magic and leapt off of it. Sword raised high above him, he fell, bringing his blade down to the floor, firing a third wave, bigger and stronger at her. That one broke the second, and went through Saber's own blades, cutting them in half. She stepped to the side to evade the wave directly, but watched as it fizzled just after it passed her. Drained of magic significantly, from having her swords break, Saber fell to one knee.

He approached quickly and dropped his shield so he was holding the strap. Link swung left with the sword in his hand, and Saber ducked. Then with the shield, he followed up swinging it where she ducked to, and connected with her armor, denting it and causing her to wince in pain. Link let the shield go, letting it slide across the floor. Saber fell over and slid a ways as well. He spun around and grabbed the pair of cuffs from his bag. Before Saber could get to her hooves, Link clapped the cuffs over her forelegs and dropped his sword, sitting on top of her.

Who is this? ... What is he... Saber thought.

Light raised his left hand and closed it into a fist. Saber could only watch as its glow brightened. All at once, he swung at her face. She closed her eyes tight and turned to the side.

Link stopped just short of connecting, the glow from both his eyes and hand diminished completely. His shoulders slouched and his feet shifted. "What... How'd this happen?" Saber slowly opened her eyes and started shaking, wordless. "Saber... What happened? How'd this happen?"

"You ... you don't know?" she stammered. "you... you won... simple as that..." He saw a few tears fall from her face. "But will your sister be as lucky?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"There is a squad hunting your sister down. Once they catch her, they will do to her what we did to you. Imprisonment." Saber saw Polaris trot over to the two of them. "So... you both made it h-" Link brought his fist down over Saber's face.

"Don't you ever threaten my sister's life again. Or next time, I'll make sure you never stand up. You hear me?!" Link raised his fist again, but hesitated. He put it down, sheathed his sword and left her there, broken and cuffed. "Come on, Polaris. We've got princesses to talk to."

"After all that, you still want to see them?" Polaris asked. "What if there are more guards inside?"

"Then I will blow them all away," he answered with no hesitation. His breath was a little raspy from all the wounds.

Link approached the two doors and pressed his hand against one of them. Slowly, he pushed on it, opening it.

Next Chapter: Chapter 34: The Castle's Sacred Spring Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 58 Minutes