Draco: Technology that is revered as magic is still technology. Likewise, the Sheikah magic in Breath of the Wild being acclimated as technology doesn't change the fact that it is still magic. I know I'm probably the only person with this mindset, but hell with it. Electronics don't work like half of that, and the other half wouldn't survive that long and still be in such good condition.
The Legend of Zelda and all related properties © Nintendo.
Log 3: A Duel in the Daylight
"That's nine. All accounted for."
Half a year into their Great Voyage, the crew of the Princess Hilda had seen many a fantastical sight. They were far beyond any waters that had heard of the Hero of Winds, but that was a lesser problem - for rumors travelled fast on ocean waves, and Captain Tetra had become feared as a devilish girl with the undying loyalty of her crew and more than one ace up her sleeve (despite her lack thereof).
They had just gotten back on board after a botched treasure hunt had revealed an underground Moblin camp the size of Ice Ring Isle. Senza was counting their specialty arrows; it had been his idea to take the broken shards of Link's Mirror Shield and use them as arrowheads. Fragmented Gor Crystal that hadn't been ground into shape was violently sharp, and most men didn't need more than a glancing blow from one of these to start running. Link, however, had a bad habit of going for the wrong quiver, and with such a limited commodity he'd taken more than one tongue-lashing for drawing them at Bokoblins and Kargarocs.
Senza slipped the Crystal Arrows into their steel-lined quiver and set them aside before heading back out onto the deck. It was nearly noon on a day of very dark clouds, and Link was passing out some fried fish for lunch (none of them had figured out how he could loose a Fire Arrow at a jumping salmon and have it roasted perfectly by the time he pried the shaft out). Senza made sure he was taking the last one off the tray before cuffing the wind waker in the back of the head. "You're lucky you didn't lose any this time," he reprimanded.
Link turned away sheepishly and headed back below decks to start washing. They'd started with thirteen Crystal Arrows; the hero had lost two to Octoroks and another when the King had been knocked over by a Gyorg, with the remainder being on Niko (who had thought it a good idea to use such sparse projectiles for target practice on the open deck in the middle of the night). The conman made his way to the prow to find Tetra perched there, looking out curiously. "Something the matter, Miss Tetra?"
"Senza... do you see that?"
The conman followed her gaze, but to nothing. "See what?" he prompted.
Tetra pointed forward. "It's like... one of those Bokoblin lookout towers. A little lower in the water. But it's shimmering."
"Miss, I don't see anything," Senza insisted.
A low breath from Tetra. Then, loudly; "Furl the sails! Drop anchor as soon as we're not on the wind! Where's Niko?"
A muffled "Niko is in here" had the captain turning to find the bottom-rung pirate sitting in the King of Red Lions, eating his fish.
+x+x+x+
A few moments later, Tetra, Link, and Niko were sailing the King towards the suspicious lookout. Link had seen the lookout tower after Tetra had pointed it out; Niko had not, and Tetra wanted to know why she and the wind waker were the only ones who could see it.
The clouds proved to be rain-filled after all; water was pouring down on them as they got near. Tetra furled the King's sail once they had reached the ladder; then, without hesitating, she turned to Niko. "You lead."
"What."
Tetra beckoned to the tower. "You go up first."
Niko shook his head. "Okay, A, you never let me go first. And B, there's nothing to go on!"
Link sighed and grabbed Niko's wrist, pulling him towards the ladder. Against his protests and struggles, the bottom-rung pirate's hand collided with the ladder - and he yelped in shock as Link let go. "What the heck!?"
"You can feel it?" Tetra asked.
"I don't know what I'm feeling," Niko protested. His hand shifted on it. "It's... wood?"
Tetra sighed. "Alright, then," she prompted. "You're not coming up if you still can't see it. Stay here and keep the water out of the King."
The captain started climbing, and Link waited until she was about halfway up the ladder before following suit. The tower looked more-or-less ordinary, despite it's stunning lack of Bokoblins; however, both of them were rather surprised to see a familiar spiral figure imprinted on the floor.
"Wait a second," Tetra mused, "isn't this...? This is Cyclos' mark!"
Link nodded. He had seen this in nine locations on the Great Sea above Hyrule; and after a bout with the storm god, he had been able to travel to each of those locations with the power of gales.
Tetra sighed. "I was half expecting an army of Wizzrobes when everyone said they couldn't see it," she observed. "But I get it. It's only visible to those who have used the Wind Waker." She sighed. "Never thought Hyrule's storm god would travel this fa..."
She fell quiet as she started turning back towards the Princess Hilda - and Link followed her gaze to find another ship approaching it on nothing but oar power.
+x+x+x+
A quick change in the wind got the King back in a flash, and Tetra leapt onto the deck as the newcomer's ship arrived alongside it. A boarding plank was dropped between vessels, and someone in a lot of concealing armour stepped across it.
"Is this the ship of Captain Tetra?"
Mako turned a few pages in his book, preparing to draw the knife he had hidden in it. "Who's asking?"
The armoured man reached for a longsword at his hip, baring the blade just enough to reveal the black bone carved into the silver blade. "I am Captain Ruby Skull, of the Silver Bone. I have come to parley with Captain Tetra."
"With all due respect," Senza prompted, "we ain't gonna buy parley when your broadside is set up perfectly to fire us through. Why don't you give us somewhere a little more neutral to meet up?"
"Very well," Skull replied. "There is an island ten minutes west of here. Rouse your captain, and tell her to meet me there with her most trusted ally."
He turned away and boarded his own ship; the boarding plank was withdrawn, and the ship rowed away.
Once they were sure the ship was gone, Tetra breathed a heavy sigh. "You know, I could keelhaul you guys for making a decision without your captain's consent when she's right here."
"He was going for his sword!" Gonzo defended. "What are your orders, Miss?"
Tetra set her hands on her hips. "Come to parley with Captain Tetra," she echoed under her breath. "Why would anyone want to talk with me?" After a moment; "We'll hear him out. But I don't trust anyone who hides his face with that much steel. Keep the Princess moving while I'm on shore."
+x+x+x+
They found the island in question without too much difficulty. The Silver Bone was already there; Tetra and Link got into the King, and the Princess Hilda started circling it at range as they approached the shore.
Link elected to lead, with his family Hero's Shield held before him; his Hero's Sword was in his left hand, and Tetra had her cutlass in her right as they advanced.
Captain Ruby Skull seemed amused to see them. "I suppose none of your crew claimed that you were not presently on the deck," he observed.
Tetra smirked. "No, they didn't," she admitted. "What do you want from me?"
"I want your help."
Link almost dropped his sword at that.
His captain did. "Wait, what?"
Skull reached for his helmet with both hands and drew it off, revealing a face covered in burns. "Thirty days ago, I and my crew came upon an abandoned fortress, two day's sailing north of here. When we entered, we found it was filled with Darknuts and Wizzrobes. I managed to survive, but my entire crew was slain." He caught his helmet under his arm and set his empty hand upon his chest. "Captain Tetra, you are renowned across the oceans as having cunning and skill that has left you nigh unchallenged. I ask for your aid in avenging my men."
Tetra glanced at Link before turning back to Skull. "I presume you're willing to compensate us?" she asked. "As a fellow pirate captain, you should know I won't take jobs for free without a very good reason."
"But of course," Skull prompted. "When I asked around, everyone refused to assist me. The fortress is renowned as holding a vast amount of treasure, yet none who have gone to seek it have returned. If you will aid me, I will leave the treasure in its entirety to you. And if the rumors are false, I will pay you out of my own hold."
"Very well, then," Tetra insisted. "We'll lend you our strength."
+x+x+x+
Three days later, the Silver Bone and Princess Hilda had arrived at the fortress in question. Surrounded by a ring of sharp, threatening rocks, Tetra couldn't help but wonder how Captain Skull had gotten his entire crew into the fortress.
"With a lot of longboats," Skull admitted. "All of which got sunk by Wizzrobe fire on my way out."
A smaller group would give them more maneuverability; after some deliberation, Skull agreed to go in with just the Princess' crew, with two trips on the King being enough to get everyone over and not risk dropping anything. Captain Tetra drew out her hand-held cannon while the Captain was cruising over, loading it with bomb powder and then slipping in the shot; then, once they were all there, she drew her cutlass and beckoned for Nudge to open the great wooden doors.
The nine of them; Link, Tetra, Gonzo, Nudge, Senza, Mako, Zuko, Niko, and Skull - carefully made their way in... and when the door slammed closed behind them, they all quickly arranged in a circular formation in the darkness of the fortress.
"Be on your guard." Skull growled. "They're close, I can feel it. Are you ready for them?"
Link drew his Hero's Bow, nocking a Fire Arrow. In the flickering glow, he could - just barely - make out a row of seven torches along the far wall, and he quickly loosed his arrow, the blazing flame striking the centermost torch dead-on.
What he hadn't seen in the darkness were the Boko Sticks lined up along the torches; the flame spread across the wooden weapons in short order, igniting all seven torches. The moment the last was lit, a loud groan of wood caused everyone to raise their gazes; the wooden roof of the fortress was falling open, letting the sunlight pour in. An arcane whistle echoed through the air, slowly growing louder, and Link went for his sword.
Between the pirates and the torches appeared the beak-masked figure of a Wizzrobe - and no sooner was it all there than Tetra raised her cannon and fired.
The crack of her firing was deafening in such a confined space; nonetheless, the shot split the beak mask in half and sent the Wizzrobe flying back. It was dead before it hit the ground, and it shortly burst into smoke as Tetra lowered her cannon. "Something will have heard that," she warned. "Link, keep your arrows ready. Captain Skull, where do they come out?"
"They don't."
Link's bow was halfway off his shoulder when he spun round, sweeping it at the armoured captain's sword before it was halfway out its sheath. The bowstring hooked on the hilt and dragged it out of his grip as the entire crew leapt back, panicking.
The traitorous captain only chuckled. "I never would have thought the infamous Captain Tetra would be so foolishly trustworthy," he reprimanded. "Hand over your weapon and I'll spare your ship."
"Why does everyone want my cannon," Tetra growled. "Link, Niko, Gonzo, back to the Princess!"
Gonzo quickly shouldered the door open, and the three of them dashed out, leaving Tetra, Senza, Nudge, Mako, and Zuko to form a ring around the deceptive Captain. Skull reached for his helmet and drew it off, tossing the metal aside the moment his face was bare. "Coming to this place - somewhere so isolated, with no one who knows where you are - was your second mistake. Your first..."
His right hand went for the base of his left.
"...was assuming that anyone who could survive burning such as this was human."
Everyone started as he ripped off his left arm, and Tetra was shocked when she saw a complete lack of flesh under the pauldron. "You're... a Stalfos?"
"Wizzrobe illusions are a versatile art." The Stal captain raised his arm threateningly. "Surrender your weapon, Captain Tetra! Your ship will not survive this without my mercy!"
"Go to Hyrule."
Tetra hurled her hand-held cannon skyward, and as Skull made to seize it mid-flight she charged forward with her cutlass raised. The blade collided with the still-armoured arm that he had torn off; Tetra quickly realized that bones fit into plate mail a lot less form-fittingly than flesh does, and she grabbed the bone sticking out the end and yanked the arm out while their weapons were still crossed. Without anything inside, the armour fell limp - more of a flail than a bludgeon - and Tetra quickly leapt up and kicked the Stal in the chestplate, knocking him back and propelling herself towards her crew.
Her cannon landed in her hand, and Nudge and Senza used the opening to charge forward with their own cutlasses raised. Tetra quickly holstered her weapon and beckoned for Mako and Zuko to circle around as she started forward again; Skull was proving rather defensive despite his lack of weapon, and Tetra used her crew's distraction to swing her cutlass into his other arm, knocking the pauldron off and letting the arm fall to the ground. Senza quickly slammed an upward blow into his jaw, knocking the illusion off his face and baring his skull; then Nudge thrust hard, knocking the captain back.
Another arcane whistle caused Tetra to turn round to see another Wizzrobe appearing behind her; not having time to reload her cannon, she hurled her cutlass at it, the blade slamming into its head and causing it to stumble. As she made to charge forward, she felt a suspicious tug on her belt, and she spun horrified to see that Skull's dismembered arm - the one she had torn out of its armour - was still moving, independent of the Stal it came from.
And that it had seized her cannon.
Panicking, she lunged forward, but the hand quickly hurled it towards the captain. The still-armoured hand had managed to pull itself towards its owner, and as the Wizzrobe appeared next to Skull he kicked it up to catch the thrown weapon before reaffixing it to his arm.
"Thank you, Captain Tetra!" he called. Another Wizzrobe, this one crowned, was appearing above him as he continued, "As promised, your ship will be spared. Wreck them!"
He and the uncrowned Wizzrobe faded out as the crowned one hurled a blast of magic forward. Three Darknuts - one of them bearing a threatening cape - dropped out of the arcana; Mako and Nudge were threatened by one, Zuko and Senza by another, and the captain braced his sword towards Tetra as she stepped back. She could have easily fled the fortress... but she refused to let her crew get left behind.
The door was thrown open.
A shaft of light ripped through the air, slammed into the captain, and caused the knight to burst.
+x+x+x+
Gonzo, Niko, and Link had arrived back at the Princess Hilda in record time after Tetra's order. Moving hastily, the three of them quickly managed to get the ship just out of range of the Silver Bone's cannons, and worriedly, they awaited for the traitor's ship to retaliate. After a few moments, however, Gonzo saw there was something wrong.
"They're not firing," he muttered. "Link, take the King back! I think he just wanted to thin our ranks!"
With a groan, Link re-boarded the King of Red Lions and cruised back to the fortress, preparing his bow and arrows as he did. The clink of Darknut footsteps emerged from behind the doors as he approached; in one motion he drew his bow and twisted his body to shoulder the door open, getting it just wide enough for him to loose a Light Arrow towards one of the knights - a Mighty Darknut that was marching towards Tetra. As the captain turned, he leapt inside and raised his bow again, firing another arrow at the other two Darknuts surrounding the rest of the crew.
Tetra had an expression of panic on her face; Link didn't even get the chance to make sure everyone was alright before they rushed through the door he had left open. Wrought with worry of his own, the wind waker followed them outside to find the Silver Bone was moving away - at speeds faster than any ship moving by oar power had right to be moving.
A confused glance towards Tetra asked the question for him; and the captain answered with anger and fear.
"He took my cannon."
Draco: I fear this may have come out... a little rushed. I ran into quite a few technical difficulties and I lost half of my work. I'm sorry if the procession of this chapter seems a bit hasty.