Finality Ch. 5

Written by:

PetPetAngel

Linebeck stood in complete disbelief, unable to grasp the fact that Ciela - the fluffball, Sparkles, every single annoying bit of her was a spirit. He shook his head, staring at the old man who looked at him evenly. He looked to Link and the other two spirits and shook his head again. "You're kidding me," he said.

Link smiled at Ciela who fluttered around his head. "Linebeck, don't be such a spoil-sport! I feel so much better knowing that I have a better idea of who I am! I'll have a lot of my memory back!"

She was happy - overjoyed, even - Linebeck could hear it in her voice. He bit the inside of his cheek from saying anything. Even the fluffball deserved some happiness, no matter how irritating she was. And he supposed he could see why she was so happy.

"That's great, " Link's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "To think you'll really be helping me defeat Bellum!"

Ciela's small figure flew rapidly around. She conversed with Neri and Leaf quietly, but Linebeck wasn't listening. Since the boy had returned, he'd had the most sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked out to the ocean which was calm. Usually, when he was restless so was the sea, but it's tranquility soothed his frazzled nerves. As he thought he heard Ciela say Tetra's name, and saw Link's shocked expression, but he couldn't focus on it.

Finally, Link said, "Well, I guess we better go then!"

Linebeck nodded, still looking out to sea. He glanced at the boy and said quietly, "Hey, kid, you know, I don't usually let these things bother me, but... Be on the lookout because something tells me we're going to have another unpleasant encounter soon."

Link looked up at him with wide eyes, then looked at Oshus and Ciela who seemed just as unaware of the threat as he was. "Okay," he said unsurely. "I'll keep my eyes open, I guess."

-

The first time she saw that boy, even in the distance she knew it could not be anything good.

There he was, pearched neatly ontop of Linebeck's cannon - something he hadn't had before, and something she could only assume the boy had helped him get. He shot at her ship but she evaded him quickly. She could hear Linebeck shouting at the boy, but she couldn't make out what he was saying to him. It did not matter.

The ship suddenly made a sharp turn in the oppposite direction. Jolene scowled. Once a coward, always a coward, she thought of Linebeck. She hastened her path and called for her crew to shoot a torpedo at the man's ship, which they did obediently. Linebeck failed to evade it. She smiled in satisfaction as the gap between their ships lessened and lessened.

She boarded the ship the moment she heard Linebeck shout, "BAH! Ambush!"

She sneaked down into the engine room, sure that was where she heard his voice coming from. She was poised and ready to attack, but as her eyes suveilenced the room, all she saw was that little boy. She tried not to look puzzled at his presence, but wasn't certain she had succeeded.

"Boy in green," she said, and he turned to face her. "Any chance you'll tell me where Linebeck is?"

She watched in surprise as the boy's face seemed to harden. In such a soft voice she couldn't believe he was holding a sword in his hand so firmly and confidently he said, "I'm sorry, I can't tell you where he is."

She felt dread building up in her stomach. She was not one to hurt children, even if they were protecting Linebeck from her. The boy looked so small and young, but she saw that he was not untrained. Still, she pleaded of him, "Are you sure? You cannot reconsider?"

"I'm sorry," he said again, "But I'm here to protect Linebeck from anything or anyone who might hurt him. He's my friend. I would do anything for him."

"Little boy," she tried again, sure her voice hinted at her desperation, "I do not want to hurt you. That's not why I'm here. Linebeck stole some very precious treasure from me and I am only here to get it back, really. You have nothing to do with why I feel the way towards him, and you do not have to become a part of it."

"But you'll hurt him," the child insisted. "And I can't let you do that. You would not have attacked his ship if you didn't want to hurt him. You saw me out there. If you truly did not mean to fight me, you would have waited until I was not onboard, or at least not in your vision."

Jolene felt annoyed that this child was so perceptive. She stared at the fairy which hovered over his shoulders. "You will not tell me either?" she asked quietly.

"I want to," and Jolene perked up. "But if you kill Linebeck, we can't use his ship, which we need in order to save Link's friend, Tetra. She was captured by the Ghost Ship!"

"I knew it!" Jolene growled. "Boy in green, Linebeck is only using you to get the treasure rumoured to be on the Ghost Ship. I can assure you with complete confidence that once - if you find the Ghost Ship Linebeck will not longer allow you to use his ship. That is all that captain cares about, which I learned the hard way!"

"Perhaps," the boy told her, and she did not miss how his eyes saddened at her suggestion. "But I must find my friend. I will not leave her. And I need Linebeck to get to her."

This boy, she thought, is serious. The look in his eyes gave away his determination and fearlessness. He will protect Linebeck and hide him from me until one of us dies, or until Linebeck pisses him off badly enough. Perhaps now is not my chance, she thought, perhaps later... I will fight him.

"Well, if you insist, I will have to destroy you accordingly."

When she stepped forward, the boy jumped back. His knuckles were white in colour as he gripped his sword. She attacked him quickly and he dodged her, jumping behind one of the barrels. She watched in complete disbelief as he picked it up and threw it at her, missing by centimeters.

"You are stronger than you look, child."

"I'm strong when I need to be," he replied, watching her every move. She felt his eyes on her, watching her discreet motions, waiting for a sign of her next attack.

She attacked again and the boy dodged, slicing her in the back. .She cried out and glared as she spun around to face him. "You are a fool for attacking me!" Although she was angry, inside, she was also impressed with his courage and swordsmanship.

"You are not untrained with the sword."

"I need to know," he said evenly,

This battle is not of strength, she thought, it is of stealth and speed. She tried to quickly attack him once - twice more, but he hit her both times. She cursed angrily at him. She would not get anywhere from this method, she knew, so she tried a direct attack. Their swords clashed but the child won out, and she pulled back quickly as her sword slipped from her grasp.

"You waste your time with the fool-hearted captain, boy in green. One day, I hope you would make alliances with me, and you will when you see the truth. Know that this is not over," she spoke firmly as she walked to the stairs and off of the ship.

-

When they boarded the ship and recovered from the frenzy of being ambushed, Link looked up Linebeck. "Linebeck," he started quietly, "Is it okay if we go to Spirit Isle?"

"Why?" The man asked gruffly, irritable.

Link looked to his hands and counted the Power Gems once more. "I've got enough Power Gems to power up Leaf. Since... Since we have all three spirits now, I want them to be as strong as possible when we find the Ghost Ship."

Linebeck sighed heavily. "Kid, you're the navigator. You draw the course. I just make the ship go where you lead it."

"Are you sure?"

Link winced as a nerve ticked in Linebeck's brow. "Did I not just offer?"

Link nodded but didn't get a chance to say anything further as Linebeck's large hand landed on his back and pushed him forward in the ship. He looked up at the captain curiously. "Linebeck, are you okay? What... What was Jolene talking about?"

"It doesn't matter," the man said, walking away from him.

"It does matter, Linebeck. If you hurt her like she said you did then she'll never leave us alone! And although you can hide in your crate, I can't! I have to fight her because if I don't she'll look for you and probably---"

"You don't have to do anything for me. I did not tell you to. And anyway, I paid you, didn't I?"

"Linebeck!" Ciela fluttered her wings angrily, but Link silenced her and went to his usual perch atop the cannon, risking a few concerned looks over his shoulder. "What's eating him?" She asked when Link had settled and drawn the course.

"I guess Linebeck doesn't like his past coming back to bite him."

-

When they arrived at the island, Linebeck was in no better a mood. He watched irritably by his ship as the boy entered the cave mere meters away, killing the red chus that dared to come near him instantly. It must be such a reflex now, he thought of the boy, to act out in violence when opposed. He wanted to believe it, but he couldn't bring himself to. There was no way that such a peaceful child could find comfort in gore. Had he ever fought without prompt?

He closed his eyes from those thoughts. For longer than he'd have liked to admit, the boy - Link, he corrected mentally, Link had been on his mind. He didn't want to think that he'd actually grown so very fond of him, a little fondness was fine, he supposed, because he didn't see how it was possible to not grow a little fond. But Linebeck knew better than he'd have liked to that the feelings in his heart were not nearly as slight as they should've been.

Again, he heard that same whisper of a voice in the wind as the first time they'd come to the isle. He could only assume that Link was offering his power gems to that pool - pool of whatever it was, to charge up the Spirit of Power.

And sure enough, not minutes later, Link walked out of the cave, staring at his sword in wonder, Leaf hovering over his shoulder. Linebeck could hear them talking quietly, could hear Link making small sounds of understanding. As they came closer, Linebeck could clearly see the flames enveloping Link's sword, but Link seemed unharmed by them.

"I suppose it worked?" he asked when they were near the ship.

"Yeah, I guess so!" Link said, "Leaf says my attack should be even stronger now!"

Before he even realized what he was saying, Linebeck spoke with a smile, "You'll be able to beat Bellum, kid, I know it. You've been getting better and better with every island we go to and every trip to the cursed Temple."

Link looked up at him with wide eyes, "You really mean it, Linebeck?"

There was such hope in his brown eyes that Linebeck had to look away even as he said, "Yeah, I guess so." After a moment of strained silence, he looked to the darkening skies and the setting sun. "I don't think we should ship out tonight, kid. The ride to Mercay in the dark would be too dangerous to risk. We'd destroy our--- my ship!"

Linebeck didn't want to think how he added blame to himself - or how he'd said our ship because it was never going to be the little runt's but Link seemed completely unphased as he nodded his head in agreement. "You're right, I guess we should be here for now. And since the wind's picking up---- er, do you have firewood?"

He nodded. "Of course I have firewood, you little monkey."

Link flushed under his gaze, but Linebeck shook his head. "I have everything we'll need, but do me a favour and go catch something, will you?"

Link nodded in understanding.

-

Less than an hour later they sat around a low fire with bowls of clay in their hands and soup in their bowls. The pot bubbled and boiled over the fire. Ciela looked at Linebeck suspiciously from her place atop Link's hat. "Is it edible?"

Linebeck glared at her and pouted irritably. "Of course it's edible," he said irritably. "I've been traveling much longer since just when you two came around and started tagging along. You don't think I've come to my fair share of resourceless islands?"

Ciela still seemed weary of the food. "I dare you to taste it first."

"Oh Ciela," Link said softly, shaking his head. "I'm sure it's fine."

To prove his point, Link took a spoonful of the soup, tasting it before swallowing. He smiled up at Linebeck, "It's really good, actually. I'm surprised," but he caught himself quickly, "I didn't think you'd be able to make it this good."

Ciela floated off of Link's hat, looking at the boy curiously. "Is it really?"

Linebeck snorted, and swatted her closer to Link. "Of course it is."

Despite his casual air, Linebeck felt relieved and flattered that the boy had liked it. The truth was he wasn't the most confident in his cooking. He'd never had to cook for anyone else before.

"C-can I try some?"

"Not out of my bowl!" Linebeck said immediately. Link laughed at him and took a spoonful of his own soup, holding it out to the spirit. Linebeck watched curiously as Ciela hovered over to it before seeming to sit on the spoon. Her glow just barely made a motion as though she were trying the soup, and by his side, Linebeck crossed his fingers.

"It's like a reflection of yourself!" Ciela said suddenly, sounding excited. "Gross on the outside but surprising sweet on the inside!"

Linebeck glared at her before pulling her wing sharply away from the soup. "SHUT IT, Sparkies!"

Link laughed again. Although Linebeck didn't want to admit it, the sound was calming and he felt his anger fading. "She's right you know," and Link looked at him earnestly. "Really. You'd think you were a stuck up creep on the outside, but we know the truth." Ciela gave an airy giggle and flew over to Link again for protection, afraid he'd hurt her again.

Linebeck wanted to be angry, to give the boy a good smack or two, but all that happened was the warming of his face. He looked away and snorted, trying to hide the colour in his face, looking out to the sea. "Whatever," he said, because it was all he could think of.

They sat in silence for several moments, before Link said, "You know... My grandma used to make soup like this for me whenever I came home."

He waited for the boy to say something else, but he didn't. Ciela, though usually chattering away, was silent. A subtle sadness radiated off the boy in waves and Linebeck bit his lip before awkwardly patting him on the back. "It'll be okay, kid."

-

The next morning when Linebeck awoke he was surprised to find that he was totally alone in his room. He looked around in confusion, glancing out the window. It still seemed early, and yet it looked as though Link were already awake. He glanced at the blankets on the floor. They were all folded neatly.

As he stretched his sore muscles (and hear something in his back crack) he felt another wave of tiredness come over him. It had to be early. The sun looked as though it were just rising in the east, and he noted its red colour. As he left his apartment, he mumbled to himself, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight, red sky at morn, sailors take warn."

As he stepped out onto the deck the sun warmed him. He looked around and quickly spotted Link. The boy laid in the grass, his arms laid over his waist, staring up at the sky. He was missing his hat, but at second glance Linebeck saw that it was beside him and resting on it was Ciela. He shook his head before deciding to first get dressed, then ponder what the child was doing up so early staring at the sky.

But even as he pulled on his slacks, put on his boots, buttoned up his shirt and waistcoat and tied his trademark cravat around his neck, he thought of the boy outside. "Stupid kid," he mumbled, trying to mean it, but he didn't succeed. With a sigh he looked at his jacket which hung dejectedly off of the side of his desk chair, but he bypassed it, deciding to go without it in the warm weather.

As he walked over to Link, who remained motionless in the grass, he looked up at the sky. Nothing particularly interesting, he thought, but the boy obviously didn't agree. Before he even announced his presence, Link said, "Hi Linebeck." He jumped, although he tried to hide it from the boy.

"What are you doing up so early?" he asked with genuine curiousity.

The boy avoided his question, requesting quietly, "Lay down with me."

Linebeck decided to comply with the strange request. They laid in the grass in uncomfortable silence for several moments before he asked, somewhat jokingly, "Is Sparkles dead?"

"No," Link said with a surprising amount of seriousness. "She's just resting. She said the presence of the Ghost Ship was bothering her last night. She couldn't sleep." Linebeck bit his lip, looking at the boy from the corner of his eye. His voice sounded pensive, distant, detached, a tone he didn't like hearing from the boy.

"Why are you out here? It's still early. You should be resting. The old man said that now that we have all three spirits we can find the Ghost Ship. Surely you'd want to rest up for any battles you might face on board?"

"I couldn't sleep last night either." He said shortly. "I gave up about an hour ago and came out here and just laid in the grass." After a brief pause he asked, "Linebeck, do you ever see things in the sky?"

"Like meteors and shooting stars?"

"No, I mean like..." Link trailed off and Linebeck looked at him again before he went to look at the sky. He scrunched his face up, trying to see things, but nothing seemed to be there. The sky was purple and red and orange, it's clouds illuminated yellow. It was beautiful, yes, but he didn't see anything.

"What do you mean?"

"Just things. Like, look." Link pointed to a specific cloud. "See, that one looks like a bowl of soup. See? It even has a little bit of steam coming off of it."

Linebeck squinted again. He leaned closer to Link, his head resting on the boy's shoulder, trying to see the clouds from his perspective, but he didn't see the bowl of soup or the steam. "Where?"

"There," Link insisted. "Don't try so hard. Just look, but don't try to see."

Linebeck closed his eyes and relaxed himself. When he opened his eyes, he continued looking up at the sky. Before his very eyes he saw a cloud suddenly turn into a bowl of tasty soup, hot enough to warm the coldest of men. He blinked several times but the image didn't disappear.

"See it?"

Linebeck nodded into the boy's shoulder. He felt speechless, although he'd just discovered something amazing. He looked to his side, watched Link's eyes roam the sky. "That one," he said, "That one's for you, kid."

He felt Link start a little. He looked and watched as Link blinked his eyes several times, biting his lip. He saw that the boy was ready to cry, but he thought it was good for him. He almost spoke before Link interrupted him, "N-nah," he said with a slight quiver in his voice. "It's... It's just a cloud, Linebeck."

"I disagree," Linebeck said evenly. He felt more than saw how the boy was struggling to swallow his tears. In a voice so soft he was surprised it was his own, he asked, "What was your family like?"

Link looked at him, his doe eyes shining with tears. He let out a shaky breath and licked his lips. "My grandma was great. She always took care of my sister and me."

"You had a sister?"

"Have," Link corrected. "They're... They're both waiting for me to come home on Outset Island." As the boy took another shaky breath, Linebeck placed his hand comfortingly over Link's, as though his hand had a mind of it's own.

"My grandma always waited for me to come home. She's still waiting for me. When my sister was taken away, she stood and smiled at me from the porch on our house. Even as I was leaving and she never knew when I was coming back, she was still supporting me. She knew I'd come home. I always come home, Linebeck."

Linebeck's watched as Link's eyes closed and he gave a sad smile to the sky. "She made the best soup, Linebeck. And she loves me and Aryll so much. She'd let us do anything as long as she thought we were safe. If it made us happy, she was fine with it. That's why she let me leave with Tetra. She... she knows I can't stay on that little island forever but she looks at it more like I'm having the experiences of a lifetime rather than leaving her alone with my sister."

"You sound as though you're really close with your grandmother. Are you like that with your sister?"

"I would do anything for Aryll," Link said, and Linebeck sensed that he meant it with all of his heart. "Aryll has always looked up to me. I never want to let her down. At Outset, I mean, you knew everyone there. Orca, our neighbor, taught me how to swordfight." Link gave a little chuckle, saying, "His brother always got angry at him for interrupting his studies. My grandma was upset when I came home with the sword he gave me. She really believed that we were not a family of fighters. And we're not."

"How long has it been since you last saw them?"

"I try not to think about it."

Linebeck nodded. He didn't enjoy thinking about his family either, although it seemed that Link was on much better terms with his relatives. "You'll see them soon," he said, although he pointedly didn't mention when.

"I hope so," Link said. Linebeck cringed as the first of what he could only assume would be many tears rolled down the boy's cheek. His hand twitched over the boy's, wanting to brush them away. "I miss them so much, Linebeck. Tetra never understood it because she was raised differently then I was. I can't ask her to understand. My family and our small house is all I have."

Linebeck's hand twitched again. Link turned to face him, laying on his side. Linebeck fought with himself as he tried to decide on what to do next. He decided it was best not to think about it at all, and so he wrapped his arms around Link and brought the boy closer to him and tried not to shudder too obviously as the child began to cry into his chest.

He hated it when people cried. He thought about how the boy had comforted him in his time of need, and he tried to return the favour.

Linebeck looked up to the sky and pleaded to whatever dieties he'd never believed in for some sort of comfort for the boy because he knew there was no pain like that pain of not having those you loved but all he saw was that bowl of hot soup and so he shook his head and closed his eyes and held the adventurer that much tighter.

-

When they arrived at Bannan Island only about half an hour later, Linebeck realized how much he appreciated the boy's Cyclone Slate. As they both climbed off board, Linebeck looked at the deck which was spotted with dirt. He frowned at it before calling Link over.

"Kid," he started, just barely glancing at him, "You need to clean the deck. It looks gross."

Link looked up at him with wide eyes, Ciela flying around him furiously. "You're kidding me!" she said angrily, "All you do is stand around all day by your ship as Link risks his life and what does he get in return? He gets to swab the deck?! That's dumb!"

Linebeck looked at her, "Well, excuse me, Sparkles! I was really talking to you anyway. And what have you done so far this journey? Been a source of light in those dark caves? Hmmm?"

"I'll race you for it," Link said, looking up at him with a beaming smile.

"What?" he asked, leaning forward as though he thought he hadn't heard the boy correctly. If he had - which he must not have, the boy was having a day of boosted self-esteem. Although he didn't want to admit it, Linebeck was pleased at this first display of confidence the boy had had in ages.

"I'll race you. Bet you."

"What's in it for me?"

"If I lose, I clean the deck for the next two weeks without complaint. If you lose, you have to do the same. And if you agree, you can't use your status as captain as an excuse." The boy's tone was serious, but Linebeck saw the glint of competition in his eye. He considered this deal for a moment.

"Deal," he said finally, extending his hand for Link to shake.

He shed his jacket quickly, throwing it on a barrel in the engine room. He checked the closet and got out a two buckets, a large rag, a mop and his bandana. Link raised a brow, but Linebeck shoved the buckets into his arms and said gruffly, "Fill these with water."

Ciela giggled as Link trudged away. Linebeck pulled back some of his hair and wrapped the bandanna sloppily. As his hands lingered in his hair, he thought of the time Link had braided it for him. He shook his head. Now was not the time to braid hair - now was the time to win!

Just when he was going to leave, he remembered the soap and jolted back to get it before returning to the deck. He dropped the supplies loudly on the deck as he took off his boots and rolled up his sleeves and pant legs, determined to show the kid who was boss. Just as he looked up, he saw Link carrying the heavy buckets filled with water.

Linebeck gave him a smile before lifting a brow. "Are you ready to lose, monkey?"

Ciela made a noise which sounded more like a jingling bell, but Linebeck could only assume that was how she laughed. Link matched his look, asking, "I don't know, Captain, I think I'm about to give you a run for your rupees."

Linebeck gasped with mock surprise. "Not the rupees!" he said, his voice raising an octave higher, but he smiled genuinely as Link giggled childishly. He watched impatiently as the boy sat on the deck, taking off his boots and rolling up his own sleeves.

"Since you're going to lose," Link started, and Linebeck stuck his tongue out at him, which Link promptly ignored, "I'll let you choose your weapon first."

"Those are some big words for such a puny brat," he said, ruffling Link's hair. He looked between the options.. A rag would be harder for him to use, his height an obvious factor as well as the fact he could easily see himself skidding and landing face forward in the ground after gathering too much speed. He nodded, his mind made up, grabbing the mop.

Link grabbed the rag and gave him a grin, before turning to Ciela. "You'll be our judge. Since you can move faster than either of us, I guess you can watch us. And whoever cleans more deck faster will win. How does that sound?"

Linebeck nodded his head in approval as Ciela did in acceptance. "Okay," she said. "Line up,"

They did so, and Linebeck glanced behind him at the spirit who seemed to radiate excitement. The buckets placed between them, Ciela instructed, "Okay, wet your weapons," and only moments later, they had done so. Linebeck looked at Link sideways. The boy was jittery with adrenaline and nervous energy.

"I hope you like soap," he said cheekily, but Link only grinned at him.

"I hope you like prune hands."

"On your mark," Ciela started, and they both leaned forward. Link righted his footing, leaning forward, and Linebeck bent his knees, mop out in front of him. "Get set.... GO!"

They both rushed forward to quickly that Linebeck hardly had the time to pay attention to whether or not Link was in front of or behind him. He waved the mop in wild patterns across the deck, shouting, "Looks like you're eating your own words!"

He heard Link laughing, and he looked beside him just before making a sharp turn, skidding slightly. He heard more than saw Link stumble, and he looked behind him to see Link gaining on him, using his legs to propel the rest of his body forward. He looked at the deck, focusing on cleaning as much of it as possible, trying to tune out any noises the boy was making.

The second time around the deck he felt his legs starting to ache. He looked behind him and then beside him, shocked to see the boy still had so much momentum. Link cried out as he pushed himself even harder, saying, "Thanks for doing all the work!"

And sure enough, as he looked at the deck, he saw that his rapid pattern making, although originally an attempt to simply cover more area, had made the rest of desk ridiculously easy to clean.

Without a second thought, he jabbed the mop forward, tripping Link, who stumbled and rolled. He heard Ciela protesting his actions, but the boy seemed unphased, quickly regaining his composure and reentering the race.

He yelled in shock as he felt the boy squeeze by his side, between him and a tight corner. He flailed his arms when the boy pushed him to the side, and grabbed the fabric of his tunic as they both stumbled and fell to the ground in a jumble of tangled limbs.

He lifted his arms to cradle his aching head, but froze as Link landed ungracefully against his chest, knocking the wind out of him. Despite the rough fall (which he was sure would leave plenty of bruises), Link smiled at him.

Linebeck only glared in return, wincing as he ground out, "You little sneak," but the anger was only half hearted.

Link sat on his chest before getting off. He offered his hand to Linebeck who took it if not a bit begrudgingly, and with the largest grin he'd ever seen on the boy's face, he said, "Yeah, but I won."

-

Link sat on the canon silently, staring out to the ocean. With shaking hands, he took out the Cyclone Slate and drew the familiar symbol on it, clinging to the canon as the ship swirled around. Even when they recovered, much closer to the Ghost Ship than before, Link kept his firm hold on the canon, his vision swimming. Linebeck called up to him, "Never can quite get used to that feeling, huh, kid?"

Link nodded despite the fact he knew Linebeck could not see him. He looked to Ciela who gazed back at him with determination. "We'll find Tetra Link, I swear it!"

"I know," he said under his breath, taking out the sea chart to draw the route up to the dizzying pathway to the Ghost Ship. How would they find it? Even with the three spirits, he wasn't sure exactly how it would work. It was still early, and he knew that they'd be at the Ghost Ship before the day was out. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to stall or push forward; no matter how badly he wanted to save Tetra, he still struggled with his own fear.

As time passed, his body eased slightly, but he still felt dark energy in the air. It kept him on edge. And as he passed any signs which reminded him of the Southwestern Sea Chart, he took out the Northwestern one. He saw the rocks head, and he looked to the sky. It was clear, only specked with a few clouds here and there. "It's like the ocean isn't even aware of the darkness that lurks upon it," he said more to himself than to anyone else.

"I know," Linebeck said from behind him, and Link jumped. The captain looked up at him with a face which was surprisingly serious. Link only looked at him, waiting for him to say more, and the sea man continued, "There's going to be danger on that ship like none you've faced before, Link. You have to make sure you're completely focused."

"Link can do it!" Ciela cheered him on.

"I know he can, you little Fluffball," Linebeck said, shooting the spirit a look. "But I'm just saying," and he looked Link in the eye. "I know you can do it, kid, but you have to stay on your toes the whole time. And if you want to stop and rest---I mean, I know it's still early, but still, you really have to be on top of your game, you know..." He trailed off.

Link shook his head. "No, I want to do it now so that I can't run from my fears.

Linebeck nodded in understanding and Link swore he saw a look of respect in his eyes, but the look went just as quickly as it came. Linebeck stared at his feet, shifting his weight akwardly, refusing to meet Link's eyes.

Link looked up at him curiously, surprised as Linebeck took a step forward. His eyes widened slightly as Linebeck placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "What is it?" Link asked, the concern he felt seeping into his voice.

"Don't be disappointed if we don't find Tetra, okay?"

Link didn't answer.