Link stormed off to the ship and boarded it. Linebeck and Ciela glanced each other's way trying to figure out what was possibly wrong with him.
"What the hell do you think was wrong with him?" Linebeck asked.
"Well, the villagers were giving him weird looks ... And I think that woman with the child said something that ticked him off." She replied.
Linebeck shrugged, "Do you really think he'd let something like that bug him?"
"He doesn't really talk though, think about all the things he could be hiding and/or building up. He probably just lost it and got angry."
Linebeck shrugged, "He'll be fine. He's a hero."
"But, Linebeck, even you said it yourself ... he's still just a kid."
Those words hit Linebeck. Hard. It was true, Link has gone through so much. Who knows what he's been hiding from everyone.
The five heroes shoved off from the dock. Link was below deck on his bunk, staring at the ceiling.
"Kid, where do you wanna head?" Linebeck asked, walking down the stairs into the hub of the ship.
"Anywhere but Mercay ..." Link said angrily.
"Kid, you can't blame those villagers. What happened to you comes as strange to them ..."
"Strange how!? They've got a war veteran or two on that island. They've probably seen a Gyrog attack or something!"
"It's true, there have been Gyorg attacks, but not as bad as yours."
"Whatever ..."
"So, I'll ask again. Where do you wanna go?"
"I DON'T CARE! Don't we have go forge the sword!? We already have Tetra sitting in the back of the ship!" Link yelled.
"I'm not gonna argue with you, kid. Chose where you wanna go and let me know soon. I'm not in the mood now." Linebeck said walking back up to the deck.
Link flopped over and buried his face into his pillow, sighing loudly. He looked over into the corner of the ship and saw the statue of Tetra sitting there. The statue's expression looked as if shocked. Link hopped off his bed, and walked over to Tetra's motionless, cobblestone self.
He managed to smile a bit. But it wasn't a happy smile. It was a melancholic smile. He took the statues hand in his.
"I'll save you, Tetra."
He put his forehead to the cold stone statue's forehead, "I promi-"
There was a sharp turn of the wheel above deck, and Link was sent flying across the room.
"Linebeck! What's going on!?"
"I-It's Jolene!"
Link became frustrated, "Are you serious ..." He took out his sword, and Linebeck took to his hiding place. The she-pirate boarded the S.S. Linebeck and Link stood his ground, waiting for her to arrive below deck.
She reached the room, and saw the usual. The cold statue, a big crate, and the little green boy before her.
"Tell me where Linebeck is and I wo-" She immediately noticed his missing limb.
"Wow, um ... Kid, what happened to your ..?"
Link glanced down at his stub, then back at Jolene, angrily.
"Well, whatever. If you get in my way, I won't hesitate to take you down. Even if you are missing an arm!"
Jolene lunged at Link, swinging her machete at him. Link blocked and lashed out at her. Jolene managed to trip the boy, and he fell to the ground, laying on his back. Jolene put her sword to his throat.
"Now. Tell me where Linebeck is!"
Link shook his head.
"So be it!" She lashed her sword at him, but suddenly-
"Stop! Leave him alone!" Linebeck yelled popping out of the crate. Jolene smiled in victory, "Aha, shown yourself at last!"
Linebeck rushed to Link's aid and helped him up. "The kid's having a bad day; think you could leave him alone for just one day?"
Jolene crossed her arms, "Should I? How will this benefit me?"
"I promise you, come back in a weeks time and I'll ..." Linebeck shuddered, "Speak with you in private ..."
She put her sword to his throat, "Keep your promise, Becky boy." She left the ship and went to her own, sailing away.
"Man, I hate her ..." Linebeck shivered. "You okay, kid?" Linebeck turned to him and saw Link sitting up, and looking down at the ground, a bit ashamed of himself.
"Kid?" Linebeck asked.
Link said nothing. He remained silent, but a lump was caught in his throat. His eyes were turning a glossy look, and he seemed upset.
"Aw, kid. Come here." Linebeck reached out to Link, but Link shook his head and pushed him away. Linebeck was making it really hard for Link to stay strong and not cry.
Link's voice was shaky, "I-I'm fine."
"You're not fine. C'mere." Linebeck took Link and held him close to him, hugging him. Link sat there, shocked. Linebeck was never like this. Why should he start caring now? "Jolene is already a bitch, but now she's crossing the line. You're just a kid, she shouldn't be tormenting you."
Link buried his face into Linebeck's coat. Tears stated falling from his eyes, which turned into a quiet sob.
"I hate this so much ..." Link said in between sobs. "I hate everyone looking at me strange ... I hate not having my arm. It's like I'm not even me anymore. How can I be a hero without an arm ...?"
Linebeck continued to comfort Link, "It's my fault, right?" Link sat up, and stared at Linebeck, "No! That's not it! You didn't do it!"
"Yes It is, Link. If it wasn't for me being so careless you'd still have all four of your limbs."
"Linebeck ..."
Linebeck stood up, "I'm sorry, Link. Like I've said before, I'm a worthless old man and there's nothing I can do to change that. Sorry you're stuck with me kid ..." Linebeck went above deck leaving Link where he sat.
He stood up, feeling a little better.
"You're not that horrible. You took the time to make sure I was alright ..."
Linebeck went above deck and stumbled around, Ciela noticing this flew over to him.
"What's the matter with you?" She asked.
"It's nothing."
"It must be something. You never act like this. Did something happen when Jolene came aboard?"
"Link just lost it, again. This time it was worse. He didn't even use his words, he just started crying."
"Well, what do you expect him to do? He's still a child."
"I know." Linebeck good a hand to his forehead, "Aw Goddesses. This is all pissing me off so much ..."
Ciela's wings drooped. "Poor Link ..."
Even though he may seem like a hero, Link is the same as all the other kids of the great sea. He's still human. And humans do have feelings. Now he's finally seeing something. He's not the hero, but the true kid that he is.