This idea's been buzzing around in my head for a while now. Basically, it's Wind Waker, except Link and Tetra's roles are reversed, although they retain their original personalities. Enjoy!

XX

Nudge.

"Tetra."

A groan.

"Five more minutes, Aryll."

An exasperated sigh.

"Tetra."

Grumble.

"TETRA!" Tetra shot up straight at the noise of Aryll screaming in her ear.

"All right!" she yelled, defeated. "I'm awake!" Aryll giggled and squeezed her telescope. Tetra stood up and stretched contently. "What did you wake me up for?" she asked in what she hoped sounded gentle. Aryll giggled.

"Do you remember what day it is?" she asked. Tetra rubbed her drooping eyes. "You're still half asleep, aren't you?" Tetra gave a small groan and nodded. "Did you forget?" Tetra nodded again, yawning. "Big Sister, it's your birthday!" This woke Tetra up.

"What?" she gasped. "It is?" She racked her brain for the date. March 26… oh wait… that was her birthday. "Oh… um…"

"That's why Grandma has been waiting for you to come back to the house!" Aryll said cheerfully, pointing to the house… all the way on the other side of the island. "She's been waiting for a while now… It's a good thing I came to find you! You should probably go home to see what Grandma wants, don't you think?" Tetra inwardly groaned as she began her descent down the ladder.


Tetra opened the door cautiously, expecting her grandmother to rip into her for not coming home the previous night. "Grandma?" she called.

"Up here, dear," came a voice from above. Tetra climbed the ladder and faced her grandmother. Being twelve, she was only slightly taller than the vertically challenged old lady.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home last night," Tetra immediately apologized. "You see, I fell asleep at the—"

"That's fine, dear," Grandma said cheerfully. "I've been waiting for you, Tetra." She was holding some folded green clothes in her feeble hands. "Tetra… Try these on." Tetra slowly began to undress as she took the clothes from her grandmother.

"Thanks, Grandma," Tetra said absentmindedly.

"Time certainly flies…" Grandma said, chuckling. "I can't believe you're finally old enough to wear these clothes." Tetra came to the long-sleeved green tunic and frowned slightly. Grandma helped her pull the shirt over her head and pull the belt on. "Today is a day to celebrate! It is the day that you become the same age as the young hero spoken of in all the legends. You only have to wear them for one day, so don't look so down. You wanted to wear them like all the other boys, remember? Be proud, child!" Tetra pulled her long hair out of the back of her shirt and fidgeted with the hem of the skirt… err… kilt. "In the olden days, this was the day boys were finally considered to be men. Unfortunately, girls were not considered to be women until much later."

"If I'm wearing these clothes, I don't think that applies to me," Tetra mumbled.

"They were taught the ways of the sword to prepare them for battle with their enemies." Tetra's face lit up at this. "But we don't live in such an age anymore… Our ways are the ways of peace. Nowadays, I suppose Orca is the only one on the island who still knows anything about swordplay."

"Can I—"

"Don't even think about it." Grandma gestured to the shield hanging in the middle of a wreath on the wall. "Hanging the family shield on the wall as decoration is another tradition that has been carried down from those days. Does this make sense to you?" Tetra nodded quickly, bored of the history lecture. "Isn't that nice, Tetra? They suit you perfectly! A perfect fit! Well, tonight I'm going to invite the whole town over for your birthday party, so I'd better start getting ready, shouldn't I?" A wide grin spread over Grandma's face. "Your grandma is going to make your favorite soup for you tonight! Mmmmm! I just know you're looking forward to it! Now, go get Aryll." Tetra nodded and said goodbye to her grandmother before leaving home.


Tetra climbed up the ladder to the lookout. The lookout had been her and her sister's special place for years, and she never grew tired of climbing up its long ladder. "Hey Aryll," she greeted.

"Ah!" Aryll gasped as she looked back at Tetra. "'Hoy, Big Sister!" She stared down at Tetra's green garb, and Tetra wiped the sweat off her brow. "Did Grandma make that outfit for you?"

"Yeah," Tetra replied. "People wear it when they come of age."

"But wow…" Aryll continued, raising her eyebrows sympathetically. "You look like you'd be way too hot in those clothes…" Tetra crossed her arms stubbornly.

"It's only for one day," she insisted. "I'll manage." Aryll giggled.

"I guess they're pretty neat though," she said. "So anyway, Tetra… Can you close your eyes and hold out your hand? Just for a second!"

"Um…" Tetra mumbled awkwardly as she closed her eyes and held out her hand. "Ok…"

"I'm going to give you my most treasured belonging… but just for one day!" Aryll announced. Tetra smiled, already knowing where she was going with this. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Tetra felt something cool and metallic in her hands. She opened her eyes, only to see Aryll's favorite red telescope in her hands. Tetra just stared at it in shock. "So? Well? Do you like it?"

"Of… Of course!" Tetra replied. "It's just that… are you sure you want to give me your telescope? Even if it is for one day…" Aryll nodded stubbornly.

"I'm sure!" she yelled. "I'm letting you borrow this special gift just because you're my big sister! Aren't you lucky? Hee hee hee!"

"Wow…" Tetra mumbled. "Thanks Aryll! I'll be sure to take care of it!"

"Ooh, why don't you try it out?" Aryll prompted. "Right now! Try looking over at our house from here!" Tetra peered into the telescope and zoomed in on her house. Aryll giggled, and she smiled. She then zoomed in on the red postbox near her house, where the Rito postman who always delivered mail to Outset Island stared up at the sky. He leapt into the air and flapped his wings repeatedly. Aryll giggled again. "The postman looks kinda weird, doesn't he?" Tetra giggled.

"Yeah," she agreed. "What's up with him?" Aryll suddenly shrieked. "Aryll? What's wrong?"

"Tetra!" she yelled. "The sky! Look up in the sky!" Tetra obeyed her sister without question and saw an enormous black bird with golden plumes flying through the sky.

"Wh-What is that thing?" she stuttered. Projectiles seemed to be flying towards it. A pirate ship sailed close to Outset Island, shooting cannonballs at the bird. "What's going on?" The bird looked back once, and the pirates seized this opportunity to shoot the bird. The bird gave a squawk of pain and, out of its talons fell a young boy with blonde hair. Tetra stared through the telescope at the boy and watched as he fell into the forest.

"Tetra, this is so terrible!" Aryll stuttered. "That boy fell into the forest! He needs help!"

"I'll go find him," Tetra said as she prepared herself to climb down the ladder.

"No!" Aryll yelled. "It's too dangerous for you to go in there without something you can use to defend yourself with!"

"Orca!" Tetra gasped. "Grandma said he still practices swordplay! I'm sure he has an old sword lying around somewhere!" She pocketed Aryll's telescope and began climbing down the ladder. "I'll be back soon, Aryll!"


An old man with a long spear stood at the center of the room. "Orca!" Tetra yelled. "Orca! You have to help me!"

"Oh!" he gasped. "What is the matter, Tetra? You have an urgent look about you… has something happened?" Tetra opened her mouth to speak, but Orca cut her off. "Whatever it is, from the look on your face, I suspect it is no laughing matter. What say you, Tetra?"

"This gigantic bird just dropped this boy into the forest!" Tetra yelled. "He needs help!"

"Ah," he said. "I see. Have you come for some serious instruction in the way of the sword?" Tetra nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, sir," she answered. Orca nodded and walked over to a cabinet to the side of the room. He pulled out a small silver sword and handed it to Tetra. Tetra, who had sparred with Orca before on various occasions, felt comfortable using the sword as she sparred with Orca. After what felt like eternity, Orca shouted, "That was a fine display!" Tetra smirked.

"Thanks," she replied breathlessly. Orca chuckled.

"And yet… I sense a certain anxiousness in the sword you hold… an eagerness that goes far beyond than the mere desire to be wielded on the fields of battle…"

"Right…" Tetra mumbled. "Whatever that means."

"I do not know what has happened…" Orca continued solemnly. "But I have faith in you. Somehow, I doubt you will misuse that sword. You may have it, Tetra. I give it freely. Take the blade with you…"

"Thanks Orca!" Tetra yelled, throwing her arms around the old man and hugging him tightly. Orca chuckled again.

"Now be careful," he warned. "Since the olden days, this sword has been used to fend off evil. Its blade is infused with the desire to become strong and righteous." Tetra's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"It's a sword," she emphasized. "How can it have feelings?" Orca just shook his head.

"You will understand when you are older…" he told her, "or perhaps when you are more experienced…" He put his hand on Tetra's shoulder. "Be strong, Tetra." Tetra smiled and nodded.

"I will," she affirmed. She dashed out the door. "Thanks, Orca!" And with that, she ran up to the forest.


Tetra entered the forest hesitantly, her hand shaking as she held the sword Orca recently gave her. She looked up and, hanging by his blue shirt from a tree was the young boy from before. "I hate this forest," Tetra grumbled to herself. "It's so creepy." She walked forward hesitantly, only to feel a slight tickle at her cheek. She shrieked and jumped back, only to see a tiny fly buzzing near her head. She sighed and held the sword out in front of her. "Get a grip, Tetra," she whispered to herself. "You can do this." She climbed up a ledge and walked through the tall grass. Soon enough, standing in front of her was a black figure with fangs. Tetra shrieked and slashed at it repeatedly with her sword. Within seconds, it was dead. She sighed in relief and wiped the sweat off her brow. "No worries," she told herself. "That was nothing…" She climbed up a stump and jumped onto another ledge. Then she walked over a knocked over tree stump to another ledge and jumped down. The boy was now clearly in sight. There was a mighty squawk as two black birds flew overhead and dropped two creatures similar to the one she saw before. They growled at her menacingly, and Tetra screamed. She clasped the sword with both hands and slashed at it. "Stay away from me!" she yelled as she slashed at the two black creatures. Once both were dead, Tetra gave a humongous sigh of relief. She looked up to the boy and braced herself to climb up the tree, but the boy opened his eyes slowly and gasped at the ground.

"Din's fire!" he cursed. He struggled to get off the branch but to no avail.

"Hang on!" Tetra yelled. She ran up to the tree just as the branch the boy was hanging from snapped. The boy plummeted to the ground. Tetra stretched her arms outwards, hoping to catch him, but he fell into her, knocking her to the ground as well. "Ow…" she groaned.

"Ow!" the boy yelled. He studied Tetra's features. "Who… Who are you?" Tetra took a deep breath.

"I'm—"

"Oh, that's right!" the boy exclaimed. "That giant bird came and…"

"Dropped you in this forest," Tetra finished. "Now can you please get off me?"

"MR. LINK!" a new voice yelled. Tetra looked over at the entrance to the forest, only to see a larger pirate man jumping up and down and waving his arms in the air. He ran over to Tetra and the boy and knelt down in front of them. "Oh! Oh, thank… Thank the goddesses! You're safe!" The boy link grinned sheepishly.

"Yeah, Gonzo," he replied. "I'm all right."

"When I saw you get dropped on this summit, I thought for sure you'd…" the man Gonzo trailed off and Link frowned.

"Summit?" he repeated. "So that bird dropped me on the top of a mountain?"

"Yes he did," Tetra answered. Link pouted.

"Well that wasn't very nice of it…" he remarked. He picked himself off of Tetra and dusted off his clothes. "Let's go, Gonzo. It's time we repay that bird in full."

"But, sir…" Gonzo protested. "What about this girl?"

"She'll be fine on her own!" Link called, already at the entrance to the forest. "Let's go!"

"For the love of Nayru!" Tetra yelled. "I just saved your life! You could at least say thank you!" But it was too late. Link was gone.


Tetra followed the boy Link and the other pirate out of the forest. Aryll was waiting on the other side of the bridge. "Big Sister!" she called, waving. Tetra laughed and waved back. Aryll giggled and began crossing the bridge. Suddenly, Tetra heard the sound of flapping wings; the giant black bird was back. It swooped down and flew right for Aryll.

"Aryll, look out!" Tetra cried. But it was too late. The bird grabbed Aryll with its beak and flew away. "ARYLL!"

"BIG SISTER!" Aryll wailed. Tetra drew her sword and took a few steps back before dashing and leaping for the bird. Too bad she didn't realize that she was just about to hurdle off a cliff. She shrieked as she lost her footing and shut her eyes as she waited for the fall, but something grabbed her hand, stopping her descent.

"Ugh…" Link groaned. Tetra looked up to see him struggling to keep her from falling. "Get a grip! She's gone now, so there's nothing you can do!" Tetra felt tears well up in her eyes as she stared at the giant bird growing smaller and smaller as it flew away. Link jerked Tetra's hand, hauling her up. The other, bigger pirate grabbed her other hand to steady her. Tetra blinked back tears as she stared at the bird, growing smaller and smaller as it flew off into the distance.

"Aryll…" she mumbled. Link looked at her for a few brief seconds.

"Come on, Gonzo," he whispered quietly. "Let's go." Tetra stared at the floor, unable to comprehend what just happened. Link looked up at Tetra. "You coming?" Tetra nodded slowly, dragging her feet behind him.


"What?" Link gasped as he stared at Tetra incredulously.

"I want to travel with you on your ship so I can find my sister," Tetra repeated for what seemed like the millionth time.

"Do you understand what you're asking?" Link asked, a serious expression on his face. "We're pirates. A little girl like you could get hurt getting involved in our business." Tetra jabbed her finger in his chest.

"First of all, I'm not little. I'm your age. Second, what's wrong with having a girl tag along?" Link sighed and placed his hand to his forehead.

"Look, we really can't afford to look after you all the time." Tetra stomped her foot in the sand.

"I don't need anyone to look after me! I can look after myself!"

"You have no right to get angry at me." Tetra grinded her teeth and clenched her fists.

"My sister, a six-year-old girl who wouldn't hurt anyone if her life depended on it, just got kidnapped by an oversized Cucco for no apparent reason, and you say I have no right to be angry?" Link took a step back.

"Look… I know how you must feel, with your sister having been kidnapped and all… But that doesn't really have anything to do with us, now does it?"

"And how do you figure that…?" said a new voice. Tetra turned to see the Rito postman from before, frowning at Link with his arms crossed.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa there!" Gonzo yelled at the postman. "Just who are you? Where do you get off butting in on someone else's conversation?"

"Please!" the postman insisted. "All I mean to say is that if you big, bad pirates hadn't come to this quiet little island… that poor girl wouldn't have been snatched away by that bird."

"What do you mean?" Link asked.

"Just be quiet for a moment, and I'll tell you! Now, as my work entails in delivering letters, I spend much of my time traveling amongst the many different islands. As a result, I hear many things… Haven't any of you heard word that young girls have been getting kidnapped from all regions of the Great Sea? No matter. Whether you've heard it or not, that seems to be the case. Young girls with long ears like yours have been getting kidnapped, never to be seen again. And unless my eyes fail me, the young girl who was just kidnapped from this island also has long ears, does she not? Just like you, Mr. Fearsome Pirate." Link threw his arms in the air.

"That doesn't make any sense!" he yelled. "That bird mistook me for a girl!"

"Yes, but it found another, so it kidnapped her," replied the postman morosely.

"Wait!" Tetra exclaimed. "I have long ears too! Why did the bird kidnap my sister instead of me?" The postman stared at the floor.

"It's hard to say… Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was young Tetra who saved you from the monsters in the forest, wasn't it?" Link stared at Tetra incredulously.

"Is this true?" he asked.

"Of course it is!" she replied. "So will you take me or not?"

"Oh!" the postman interrupted. "And while I'm at it… I may as well tell you that the bird that kidnapped both you and Tetra's sister has made its foul nest to the north, on the heights of the Forsaken Fortress."

"The Forsaken Fortress?" Link repeated. "Isn't that the place where…" The postman crossed his arms.

"So, what are you going to do? Under the circumstances, I don't think it would be unreasonable for you to give Tetra a little help, now would it?" Link shrugged.

"I guess…" he mumbled. "Even if I were to consider it, lately I've heard nothing but evil rumors about the Forsaken Fortress." He turned to Tetra. "Even if you can defend yourself, you can't hope to make it there and back alive with nothing but a sword. You need something to protect yourself with. Like a shield or something. If you come back with something like that, we'll let you stow away on our ship." Tetra nodded her head.

"Thank you," she replied, feeling like a tremendous weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Oh, and one more thing," Link continued. "Once we leave, you won't be coming back here for a while, so you should say goodbye to your family while you have the chance." Tetra nodded.

"Ok," she replied. "I'll be back. I'll hunt you down and strangle you if you even think of leaving without me."

"Now, no need to get so violent," the postman said to her. "Just go get a shield and come back. I'll make sure they don't leave." Tetra nodded.

"Thank you." And with that, she ran for home.


"Grandma!" Tetra yelled as soon as she entered the tiny house. She dashed up the ladder and faced the empty wall. "Grandma, where…" She jumped down the ladder and faced her grandmother, who was facing the wall.

"Tetra…" she said quietly.

"Grandma…" Tetra replied.

"Is this what you're looking for?" she asked, turning around and showing Tetra the shield. Tetra nodded hesitantly.

"Grandma, Aryll—"

"Take it with you," Grandma said, ignoring Tetra. Grandma hung her head. "I guess it's true… Aryll really has been kidnapped… hasn't she?" Tetra hugged her grandmother to her chest and let the tears fall.

"This giant bird came out of nowhere and just took her away!" she cried.

"What kind of monster could take such a sweet, young child?" Grandma sobbed. Tetra pulled away from her grandmother and wiped her eyes.

"I… I'm going to save her. I'm traveling with these pirates to the Forsaken Fortress. Apparently, that's where she's being held." She pulled her grandmother in for one last hug. "I'm not sure when I'll be back… Bye, Grandma." And with that, Tetra left the house. She practically sprinted down the beach to the pirates' ship. Just as promised, Link was still waiting at the front. "I found a shield," she panted as she drew to a halt in front of him.

"It looks really old," he commented. "Are you sure you can still use it?" Tetra nodded confidently. "Well… if you're ready, then let's go." Tetra released the breath she didn't even know she was holding and nodded. She turned and smiled at the Rito postman, who was also waiting there.

"Thanks for your help," she said shakily.

"It's all right," the postman replied. "If you ever need my help, just let me know."

"Ok…" Tetra replied. "I'll do that." And with that, she followed Link onto the ship.

XX

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