Edit (5/31/08): This is the second part of the Chapter 2 revision, which is now Chapter 3 because I managed to make the new Chapter 2 so long that that it had to become two chapters. Either way, I did a complete overhaul of the chapter. Now, hopefully, it doesn't read like a 16 year-old wrote it. I think it's better now. Looks like I managed to change some medium-sized plot points this time, though. All of the other chapters are going to have to be shifted up one, though. It's bound to be confusing, but, well, there's nothing much to be done about it. Just be sure to read all the changes and enjoy! Oh, and before veterans start asking: yes, I did change her accent. I'll explain later.


5/31/08

Selphie: So, the old Chapter 2 start notes are at the beginning of the last chapter. The old Chapter 2 end notes will be at the end of this chapter, even if they make no sense now. Anyway, here's the new Chapter 3/Chapter 2, part 2.

Din: Just call it Chapter 3.

Nayru: We don't want to confuse them too terribly.

Farore: I thought she was rewriting to make it easier to read.

Selphie: Well, if they're new, it will be easier to read. If not, well... oh, damn, I hope this doesn't lose me all of my veterans.

Darunia: Moving to something more positive! Selphie Louise does not own anything Zelda-fied.

Tingle: So far, the only current character she owns is Selphie.

Selphie: ...How is reminding me that I don't own my favorite franchise a positive?

Darunia: ...Read on!


Chapter 3

"--sleep all day!"

"How do you know it ees day? How long has eet been since you saw a clock?"

"If the rest of us are awake, it's day!"

"Majority rule!"

"They have a point."

"…"

"Ha! Nothing to say to that, huh?"

"Somefing is not right…."

"I win! And with logic, too!"

"Quiet."

"What? Don't like the sound of your defeat?"

"Be quiet."

"What's the matter with you?"

"She's just embarrassed by how I outsmarted--."

"Yebat'-kopat! Shut up your mouf, you idiot!"

In a room made of stone, where darkness oppressed like a black fog, four individuals of similar, yet very different personalities faced off in a tense argument. The disagreement was actually rather petty. It regarded sleep schedules-- the room had four stone slabs that functioned as beds for the four individuals. The one lady of the group tended to sleep more often than the three men, who rarely obliged her demands that they not disturb her. This time, the less courteous two had gotten into a sort of wrestling match, which had knocked over and caused a ruckus with the long wooden table and many chairs that sat in the center of the room.

It was the woman who had ordered the others to silence. She was short in stature, smaller than a human child. Her cheeks were bright red, not from anger at her companions, but from tribal paint, which matched the dress of layers of larger, intensely crimson petals. Her arms, short in proportion with the rest of her body, were often hidden beneath a shawl of deep purple leaves. That purple color carried to the flower and vine that tied back the leaves that were her equivalent of hair. The three largest of these leaves stuck up like a headdress, giving her a decidedly regal appearance. She was made of wood-- a Deku.

The youngest and most combative of her companions had the distinct look of someone who really didn't care if he was disturbing the peace. In addition to natural green-blue markings along his sides and fins, his limbs were tattooed red, blue, and yellow. On his wrists, ankles, and around his neck he wore enough bangles to constitute armor, though the silver rings dangling from the appendages on either side of his face were obviously just for show. His pale blue skin marked him a Zora.

The largest, most laid back of the group didn't look as though he'd always been so. In fact, the wear in his short green lavalava skirt and the wide scar across his barreled chest would suggest that he was once quite active. His copper gauntlets enhanced his already impressive strength, but the heavy steel beads hanging from his neck were placed there to hinder the same. The shock of white-blonde hair and beard that wrapped around his face like a mane would seem to signify age, but this Goron was not very far along in years.

The last occupant of the chamber was, in fact, the oldest. His appearance was very commonplace. He wore a white, long-sleeved shirt and blue pants. Brown shoes were on his feet. A brown belt was around his waist. He was bald. Just by looks, he was nothing special.

All of them, the Deku, Zora, Goron, and human, stood silently for a minute. "…What are we just standing here for!" the Zora broke out loudly.

"Somefing is not right," the Deku repeated in her heavy accent, taking a few steps toward the center of the room.

"Yeah, you said," the Zora retorted. "But I don't see what's so wrong."

"Care to fill us in?" the Goron asked.

The Deku continued to analyze the room.

"She's full of crap," the Zora said.

"Oh, give it a rest," the human responded dully.

"What the hell? She's the one trying to change the subject just because she lost an argument. Real mature!"

"And eef you vere a bit more intelligent, you may have noticed dat our argument vas interrupted!" the Deku rounded on him, disappearing for a moment and reappearing right in his face.

"Yeah, by your whole cryptic 'Ooh! Something isn't right!' Everything's just fine, in case you hadn't noticed," the Zora returned.

"Hmph. 'Everyfing is fine?'" the Deku repeated. She turned to the human. "Vhat do you fink? Ees everyfing fine?"

The human looked at her curiously. She waved her arm, indicating the rest of the room. He looked around, eyes narrowed critically. Everything looked the same, yes, but somehow… "Wait…. Something doesn't feel right…."

"What?" the Zora blurted.

"Something isn't right. Something… isn't right…," the human repeated, stepping toward the center of the room.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" the Zora demanded. The Goron smacked him in the back of the head. "Oy! What the--?!"

"Will you shut up for five seconds?" the Goron posed. The Zora crossed his arms and harrumphed.

"What is it?" the human asked.

"I fink," the Deku said, still looking as she moved around the room, "Dat ve have just been remobilized."

"What?" the three men asked, confusedly and skeptically.

"In dee middle of dat argument, eider somefing changed in a split second, or ve vere frozen and just unfrozen again!" the Deku explained.

"And how can you tell that?" the Zora charged.

"Dere ees somefing in dis room dat vas not here before," the Deku replied, and the human nodded in agreement.

"What? What's here?" the Goron asked.

"I don't think it's a 'what,' so much as a 'who,'" the human said.

"Yes, somevone ees here who vas not here before," the Deku concurred.

"Who? Where?" the Zora asked.

At this point, the Deku was right next to the center of the table. She narrowed her eyes all of a sudden and crouched down, shoving chairs out of the way. "What are you--?" the Goron started.

"Come. Help me vith dis," she beckoned him, struggling with something under the table. The Goron responded quickly and in no time, they had pulled the Deku's find out from under the table and set it on top. The human and Zora quickly joined.

"No way…," the Zora breathed. Lying between them was a young girl they all new from a time they thought had long passed.

"I believe," the Deku said, looking to the human, "Dat you two are old friends."

As the human looked over the girl's features-- her brown hair, her blue chemise, brown slacks, and especially the red sash tied around her waist-- his own features became less commonplace. A smirk split his face that held a wild and wicked mirth while in his eye an evil glint appeared which had been absent for hundreds of captive years.

"Ees dat right, Sakon?" the Deku smirked.

Sakon leered down at the girl who had captured him. "It's been a while, darling…."


Link stood there in anticipation. He waited for the Great Deku Tree to say more. He waited for the fairy to explain her actions. When neither happened, he finally spoke. "Who is that?" he pointed to the fairy.

"Ah, our friend, you mean," the Great Deku Tree smiled. "This is Navi, my very old friend and companion. I've not seen her in some years. In fact, I was quite surprised when she arrived this evening."

The fairy, Navi, floated a bit closer. "…Hello."

"Navi, would you care to tell Link why you wouldn't introduce yourself before? I'm rather curious to hear it myself," the Great Deku Tree asked pleasantly.

"…I knew that I would not stay with him long," she answered.

"Why ever is that?" the Great Deku Tree inquired, mildly surprised.

"Because he is the Hero, and I always abandon the Hero in his time of greatest need," she explained. "I am… unworthy of his company…." At this the Great Deku Tree laughed. "Sir, why do you mock me?"

"Oh, dear one," he chuckled, "I do not laugh at you. I am amused by your humility."

Link was confused. "Wait. You were planning to leave this whole time?" he raised.

"No!" Navi protested. "I never planned to leave. I just… expect to…."

Link shook his head, "I don't understand."

"My friend," the Deku Tree interjected, "Have you heard the legend of the Hero of Time?"

"I've heard stories," Link answered.

"Please, Great Deku Tree--," Navi piped in, but the Deku Tree silenced her with a soft gaze.

"Stories? I doubt," the Deku Tree told Link. "Few remain who know about Link's adventures."

"The Hero of Time's name was Link, too?" Link jumped in, eyes wide.

"Indeed. History has a way of repeating itself sometimes," the Great Deku Tree replied. "The Hero of Time was a Hylian named Link, and, much like you, his parents died when he was quite young. His mother left him in my care, and, throughout childhood, he believed himself to be a Kokiri."

"Like Fado," Link clarified, meaning the Wind Sage who preceded Makar. The Deku Tree nodded and continued.

"I knew that he was destined for great things, and when Ganondorf threatened Hyrule, I sent him forth to return peace to our land."

"But wait, what does this have to do with Navi?" Link cut in.

The deity smiled patiently. "The Kokiri had fairy partners from birth until death," he said. "Though he was not a Kokiri, I sent a fairy partner-- my own fairy partner-- to guide Link as he set out on his quest." Link considered this.

"…Navi? Navi was the Hero of Time's fairy partner?" Link concluded, looking to the fairy for confirmation.

She bobbed a sad affirmation. "Yes. Since I was born I was the Great Deku Tree's partner. Then I journeyed with Link from the day he left the forest to the day he sealed Ganondorf into the Sacred Realm."

"That's amazing! You must know everything that happened, then! Every fight, every monster!" Link raved. He realized, "That's why you asked about my clothes! Why wouldn't you want to tell anyone?"

"Because the story ends when Ganondorf is defeated!" Navi cried out.

"How can it be over? If Link won, the story goes on, doesn't it?"

"How would I know? I left him!"

"You… what?" Link asked, confused again. Navi floated down and settled forlornly on a tuft of grass. "You left him? Why?" Navi didn't answer. "Why?" he looked to the Great Deku Tree, whose face was impassive.

"This I do not know. Navi never returned to me at the end of their adventure. If not for Link's visits to the forest, I would not have known that they parted ways," he answered. Navi remained silent. "I must tell you, child. I worried dreadfully."

"…I am sorry, Great Deku Tree…," Navi whispered.

"I am, too," he replied. "Sorry that you did not feel you could come to me with your troubles." Silence. "Tell me, how do you feel now that you've returned?"

She paused a moment. "Better. I forget how healing your forest can be. I've been to many woods, but none have the same feeling as Kokiri Forest."

"It is your home, after all. You were a part of this forest from the time I settled here," the Deku Tree responded. A pause. "You spent your whole life here before the adventure. Where did you go after you left?" the Great Deku Tree asked.

"Many places; many realms. I crossed mountains and rivers, deserts and lakes. I stayed in Termina for a very long time. It was much like Hyrule…," she trailed off.

"What about the flood?" Link asked, having sat upon the lily pad.

"I was in the mountains at that time. I found cave at the top and waited out the storm," she answered. "I didn't realize the world had flooded until it was over, and I didn't hear of Ganondorf's escape until years later. That's when I started visiting fountains again, to hear news of Hyrule… or what remained of it. That's how I heard about the Hero of Winds."

"And how I managed to catch you," Link gave a crooked little smile. He couldn't see, but he could tell that she returned it. "…Navi, why did you leave?"

"Do I have to answer?" she asked. "I still do not feel ready to tell."

"Little one, you know I love you dearly and would never wish you any strife," the Deku Tree said. "However, I fear that you are waiting for a readiness that will not come." The size of her light seemed to shrink a bit. "Please, I do believe this confession is will allow you to begin to reconcile with yourself."

They heard a tiny sniffle. They waited for what seemed like hours but was maybe a minute. Link thought she wouldn't answer. "When the adventure was over, my job was done. Link no longer had a quest, so he didn't need a fairy partner to guide him on a quest."

"You thought he didn't need you anymore?" Link asked.

"No… a-and yes… I mean…," she faltered. "I knew he wouldn't want me to leave; he thought he still needed me."

The Deku Tree nodded. "He said so when he visited me."

"I thought so, but, he didn't really need me, right? I mean… I guided him through his mission, but… I don't know…. I thought he needed to be on his own. I know you told me to stay with Link, but…." She nervously looked at the Deku Tree and started at his expression. "You look surprised."

"I am surprised; surprised that your reasoning mirrors mine so closely," he replied. "In fact, I had planned to ask you to return to me once Ganondorf was defeated, but I never got the chance."

"R…really?" Navi squeaked.

"Indeed. I agree that Link needed some alone time, to find out who he was, find a place in the world and a new purpose now that he'd fulfilled his heroic destiny," the Deku Tree explained. "The Kokiri are children forever, but--."

"But Hylians must one day grow up! Yes, that is exactly what I thought!" Navi exclaimed. "That is why I left!"

"Child, I do wish that you had at least accompanied him back to the forest so I could tell you so myself. I would not have made you to wander the realms forever," the Deku Tree said.

"But I did not wish him to know where I was, and…," she trailed off once more.

"And what?" Link asked, held by her story.

"…And I did not wish to see him either…," she said.

"Why?"

"I, too, needed to let go, but, also, I couldn't bear to face him after leaving him, even if you had told me to, Great Deku Tree," Navi explained. "Even though he didn't need me, he still needed me. Truly becoming an adult; I can't imagine what that must have been like alone; to always have someone there to guide you, and then for that person to leave you when your real journey is about to begin. He must have… he must have h-h-h-…."

The ball of light shook with sobs as Navi cried harder than ever. Not knowing what else to do, Link crossed to her and offered his sleeve. She took a handful and blew her tiny nose into it. "I abandoned him just when he needed me the most. How could he forgive me for that? How could I face him? Oh, I wanted to go back. From the minute I flew away, I wanted to return and help him make that transition. But I knew that I'd already hurt him, and I couldn't go back!" Sobs broke through again. "That's why I did not go to the forest. I knew he would go there. I knew wherever in Hyrule I went, he would see me eventually, so I had to leave. And I didn't come back because I thought the Great Deku Tree would be mad at me for leaving so unexpectedly, and I couldn't face Hyrule; not with all the memories. I couldn't return." They were all silent while she cried.

"…Navi, my child, I am sorry for the pain you have endured these many long years," the Great Deku Tree spoke softly. "You have suffered unnecessarily, though. Link never mentioned any hate for you. He just wanted to know that you were safe." She sniffled. "…And he wanted you to know that, there or not, you're the reason he grew into such a fine young man." She sobbed. "Your guidance stayed with him long after you were gone, and your love and support strengthened him for years to come." She bawled.

"H-h-how could he be s-so underst-standing?" she wept.

"Because we know that you had your reasons, and that it was all for the better in the end," Link spoke up.

"W-we?" Navi asked pitifully.

"The King of Hyrule hasn't spoken since we left Hyrule," Link explained. "I didn't have my father, but he was like a father to me. I'm sure Link felt the same way about you. At first I was worried that he hadn't made it. I knew that wasn't it, and so I wondered why he was ignoring us. Then I realized that it was for our own good: I needed to move on from my adventure, and he needed to let go the sea because it wasn't his world. I miss him, but, I know that he has his reasons, and I respect him enough to leave it at that. I forgive him for leaving, but I never forget him." Navi was silent for a few more moments. Then she floated up to Link's collar and grabbed onto it.

"Thank you," she hugged him. Though Link had never hugged a fairy before, he instinctively lifted one hand and lightly held her against him. When they let go, Navi floated up between the tree and the boy. "I feel much better now. Thank you."

"I am glad, little one," the Deku Tree smiled. "I can only guess that it is fate which has brought the two of you together. My curiosity is not yet abated. Why have you returned to the Great Sea?"

Caught up in Navi's story, Link had forgotten all about their new mission. "Sir, we are hoping to save my friend. She has lost her soul, and we do not know why or how. We just want to get it back," he told him.

"Her soul?" the Deku Tree seemed shocked.

"Yes, sir. They tried to use me to heal her, but I realized what had happened," Navi explained.

"That is a very rare affliction…," the Deku Tree pondered. "But why has that brought you to the Great Sea?"

"I thought that the Fairy Queen might know how to save her," Navi said. "But that was when I was still hoping to avoid you. But then we dropped anchor here, and…."

Suddenly it occurred to Link, "Great Deku Tree! Could you tell us how Selphie lost her soul?"

"Indeed, please bring her to me," the Deku Tree replied.


The door to the ship burst open, and everyone below decks noticed immediately. "Link!" Makar chirped. "Are you finished your meeting with the Great Deku Tree?" He and Hollo were playing with Tetra and the pirates, but were obviously more excited to see Link.

Tetra, however, looked less than pleased. She immediately leapt up and stalked angrily over to him, pulling him by the arm away from the group. "If you were one of my boys, you'd be fired right now. You dump the Koroks on us, disappear for an hour, and don't tell anyone where you're going or what you're doing. Where have you been?" she demanded.

Link was the Hero of Winds. He'd battled many frightening monsters and villains. But, quite frankly, when Tetra was angry, she terrified him. "Uh, ah… I went to visit the Deku Tree. Didn't Makar tell you?" he replied sheepishly.

"Aheh," Tetra laughed humorlessly and demanded, "What is going on?"

"I can explain that," Navi spoke up.

Surprise showed on Tetra's face at the fairy's offer, but she quickly reverted to skepticism. "All right, go ahead, fairy."

"You can call me Navi," Navi told her. This time, the surprise didn't disappear from Tetra's expression. "I didn't tell you before because I was ashamed of myself for leaving my partners. I first partnered with the Great Deku Tree, which is why I went to talk to him. Link followed me to the Forest Haven because he wanted to find out who I was."

"I… you… what?" Tetra bumbled.

"Oh! You are the Great Deku Tree's fairy? He has mentioned you before!" Makar chimed in. "It is a great honor to meet you."

"I hope you will trust me now. I've come to terms with my past, and I will not keep any secrets anymore," Navi assured her.

"Okay?" Tetra replied bemusedly.

"Tetra," Link said, "The Great Deku Tree can tell us how to save Selphie."

"He can?" Tetra exclaimed.

"Yes, but we need to bring her to him," Link replied.

"On it, mate," Tetra responded. "Oy! Gonzo! Come carry Selphie."

Not long after, Link, Tetra, Navi, Gonzo, Makar, and Hollo were convened in front of the Great Deku Tree with Selphie laying on the ground before him. While the Deku Tree examined her, the others recounted the events leading up to her losing her soul. When they finished their story, the Deku Tree was silent while he considered the possibilities.

"Do you have any idea what happened?" Navi asked.

"You said she travelled through time. From where and when?" he asked.

"I don't remember the year exactly, but it was almost exactly one thousand years ago," Link replied. "She lived in a place called Ikana." At this the Deku Tree raised his eyebrows.

"What is it, sir?" Navi asked.

"Ikana was once a great kingdom from what I have heard," he said. "When their realm was invaded, they rallied the other tribes together to defend it. Ikana's specialty just happened to be the manipulation and movement of souls."

"You mean those songs she mentioned?" Tetra asked. "She told she was there when one was created."

"The Elegy of Emptiness, I suspect," he responded. "Each tribe created a magical way to defend their selves or attack their enemy, and Ikana's was the Elegy of Emptiness, which would allow them to make thousands of perfect, soulless, soldiers."

"Wasn't she humming that during that story?" Gonzo asked.

"Was she?" Tetra responded, unsure.

"If that is the case, I would suspect that it is at least related to, if not the cause of, her soul leaving her body," the Great Deku Tree answered.

"But that doesn't make sense. I thought that song was supposed to make a copy of you, not take your soul away?" Tetra asked.

"It is possible that Ikana is in the same state as Hyrule: frozen, its magic sealed away. I suspect that has caused a backfire, so that instead of creating a soulless shell of her, it turned her into a soulless shell," the Deku Tree explained.

"Link, I am so sorry about your friend," Makar said. "If there is anything I can do to help…."

"Thank you, Makar," Link smiled, kneeling and patting the Korok on the head. "I'm not sure what we're going to do, though."

"Any suggestions?" Tetra asked the Deku Tree.

"Hmm… I myself do not know how to get your friend's soul back," he replied. Before they could become too dejected, he added, "You may, however, find your answers in Ikana."

"I thought you said it was frozen like Hyrule?" Link asked.

"Like Hyrule, indeed. Yet, you managed to find your way into that ancient kingdom," the Deku Tree answered, a smile in his eye. "I do know that the last sign of its location is an island known as the Eastern Stair."

"Where is that?" Link asked.

"Unfortunately, I do not know its location. Since I have a people to protect here, I am not allowed to know many things outside of my own realm," he replied.

"You haven't seen it, have you, Navi?" Link turned to the fairy.

"No," she shook from side to side, drooping a bit.

"Great. How are we supposed to find it then?" Tetra posed.

"I am afraid I do not know that," the Deku Tree responded. "You will have to find it for yourselves." They looked about to rack their brains for ideas, but he stopped them, saying, "It is getting late, though, my friends. If you are to help your friend, you must be well-rested. Please, return to your ship and get some rest."

Link nodded, "Yes, sir. Thank you for your help."

"It is my pleasure. I only wish I could tell you more," the Deku Tree replied.

Gonzo lifted Selphie and started toward the exit. Makar toddled over to Link and hugged his leg. "I shall pray all night long for an answer to come to you," he said, looking up at his friend. "I hope you can save your friend."

"Thank you, Makar," Link lifted the Korok and embraced him fondly.

"Come on, Link. The boys have gotta be getting worried by now," Tetra waved him over.

"Got it," he replied, setting Makar down again. "Bye, Makar. Bye, Hollo."

"Bye!" they called.

"Thank you again, Great Deku Tree," Link said.

"Farewell, Link," he answered. Tetra and Link made their way for the exit with Navi following them. "Navi? Are you leaving as well?"

"I had hoped to help them on their quest," she said. "Is that all right?"

The Deku Tree seemed pleasantly surprised and smiled, "As long as you return when the adventure is over."

She bobbed in response and flew after her new friends.


It was very early in the morning, and the sun had not yet begun to peek out over the eastern horizon. The waves were calm around Forest Haven, and the wind was merely a gentle breeze. Everyone on the pirate ship was fast asleep. As a sliver of the sun became visible in the distance, the breeze picked up and became a draft and then a gust.

"YAHOOOOO!!" The enormous shout boomed out through the morning air and startled everyone from their slumber. "HOY IN THERE!" Link sat up in bed at the sound and looked around confusedly for the source.

"What's going on?" he heard the pirates mumbling from the next room.

"Hoy! …Visitors! …Weird looking!" Zuko shouted.

"Hello?" Navi murmured from her place in Link's laundry.

Smack! "Quiet, you idiot! They're probably sleeping!" came another voice as Link climbed out of bed and shook Navi awake.

"Yeah, that's why I'm shouting! We can't talk to them if they're sleeping," the first voice returned. Link and Navi quickly crossed the lower deck to get to the door, meeting Tetra on the way, neither having bothered with changing out of their pajamas.

"Sirs, please get along. My friends need your help!" Makar's voice chirruped from outside just as the three of them exited the ship.

"Makar?" Link asked, seeing him standing in the middle of the deck.

"You now, thanks to him," the second voice said, and Link looked up to see Zephos jab his thumb at his brother.

"Zephos? Cyclos?" That certainly woke Link up. The Wind Gods and brothers sat above them on matching clouds. The two looked identical as giant frogs except for their colors-- Zephos was teal with a green cloud while Cyclos was fuchsia with a purple cloud. Zephos tended to guide gentle winds and zephyrs while Cyclos cared mostly for gales and cyclones. Link had learned from them how to use the Wind Waker to conduct the winds to help him in his travels. Now he wondered, "What are you doing here?"

"Our sage called us. Said you needed a little help," Cyclos responded.

"You were always good to us, so we came over right away," Zephos added.

"I thought they could help you find the Eastern Stair since they can travel outside the Great Sea!" Makar piped in.

"Makar, that's brilliant!" Link beamed. "Can you help us out, guys?"

"Of course! Eastern Stair is just west of the Great Sea," Cyclos said. "West by northwest for about 700 miles."

"West? But it's the Eastern Stair," Link said.

"It's in the eastern region of that sea," Zephos explained.

"Wait. Hold on. Seven hundred?" Tetra blurted. "Seven hundred miles? That'll take us nine days, easily! Gods, Selphie's gonna be stuck for weeks at this rate!"

"Selphie?" Zephos asked.

"Selphie is the friend they are trying to save," Makar explained. "She has lost her soul, and the Great Deku Tree told them they should look at the Eastern Stair for clues to saving her."

Zephos glanced at Cyclos. "Is she from that region?" he asked.

"Yes, she's actually a time-traveler from Ikana," Link said. Both gods glanced at each other, but none of the mortals seemed to notice.

"Yup, Eastern Stair's probably your best bet, then. If she's lost her soul, you wanna get there ASAP," Cyclos said.

"Souls and bodies are not meant to be separated, let alone for long periods of time," Zephos explained.

"Wonderful," Tetra grunted. "Let's wake the boys, then. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get there." She started to head for the cabin.

"Now, hold on a second," Cyclos stopped her. "We owe you one for getting rid of Ganondorf."

"We do?" Zephos reacted. Cyclos punched him. "I mean we do."

"So, let us help you get there a little faster," Cyclos continued. "If Zephos adds a bit of his wind power to my cyclones, they could carry the pirate ship across the ocean just like the King of Talking Boats."

"Oy!" Zephos grabbed Cyclos and pulled him about to face away from the mortals, who watched awkwardly as the two argued.

"It's good to see them getting along again," Makar said. The others nodded. "So, have you been making any fine breezes lately, windward or otherwise?"

"W-what?" Link stammered. "What do you mean?"

Makar realized that it was an embarrassing question, "Oh, I'm sorry! I don't know. Cyclos told me to ask you."

"Well, I don't really follow, but I'm pretty sure it's a no on both counts," Link replied.

"Okay, it's decided!" Cyclos proclaimed loudly. "Zephos is adding some of his wind to my cyclones." Zephos snapped his fingers resignedly. "Now they can lift the ship and take you anywhere you want to go. Just play my Ballad of Gales and tell them where you need to go!"

"Great!" Tetra exclaimed.

"But there's a catch!" Zephos declared. "I can't go giving all my power to the cyclones or else there'll be no wind anywhere on this ocean. So, use it sparingly, once a day tops. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the group replied.

"Yeah, yeah. Get over it, Zeros. You're doing a good deed! Doesn't it feel good to do something useful for once?"

"Me do something useful? Me? When all you do all day is fly around the ocean making cyclones to torment sailors?" Zephos retorted. Cyclos laughed at his brother.

"You kids get going and take care of that friend of yours," Cyclos said. "And take care of our winds. They've been bored without you."

"We will. Thank you so much!" Link replied.

"No problem," Cyclos said. Zephos grunted beside him.

"Snideclos and I need to get going," Zephos said. "Let us know when you are done with my wind."

"Will do!" Tetra said before retreating into the cabin. "Hoy! Rise and shine, ya lazy bums!"

"Bye, kids!" Cyclos called as he and Zephos zipped away on their clouds.

With them gone, Link turned to Makar, "That was great of you, Makar. You have no idea what this means."

"It is no trouble at all, Link," Makar chirped. "I am always glad to help you!"

Link knelt down and hugged Makar again. "You're a wonderful friend." Makar trilled happily but let go before too long.

"You must get going! Your friend needs you!" he said.

"You're right," Link replied. "Goodbye, my friend."

As Makar pulled out his leaf-helicopter, he said to Link with all the sternness that a Korok could muster, "Come visit more often. Do not wait until you need help."

Link laughed, "Okay, okay."

"May the winds of fortune blow at your back," Makar bade him, and he took flight back to the Forest Haven.

"And yours." When he saw that the Korok was safely back on land, Link ran below decks to his room. Wind Waker in hand, he quickly ran back upstairs, shouting out to everyone, "Everyone brace yourselves! Hold onto something!" Everyone complied confusedly. When back on deck, Link planted his feet and raised the conductor's baton. Down, right, left, up, he conducted, and the cyclone appeared in the sky above him. "Eastern Stair!" he shouted to it. The funnel-cloud lifted the ship into the air, and in no time, they were flying westward to the Eastern Stair.


Yes, I'm sure you are all very much confused by the panic of the wind gods. Don't worry it will be explained later... much later as the case may end up being, but you'll just have to wait. Oh, and please don't chastise me for that first little scene. I know it's kind of cheesy and I desperately wish I had some chocolate to eat with said cheese, but it was the only way I could think of to get Link and Tetra burst in on the scene after the fact. (5/31/08: This makes no sense anymore because I kinda scrapped both those scenes...)

Tingle: It's nothing that hasn't been thought of by many, many other authors and gamers.

Me: Comforting, but you still gotta get outta my room.

Tingle: Aw... (exits via sparkly confetti stuff)

Me: Anywho, I would also like to point to the fact that a certain very annoying fairy has returned. It is just because the author is feeling evil... and because I needed someone with a vast knowledge of Hyrule's past to be at easy access to the group. Sooo... it was her or Korl and I couldn't do Korl because I made it so the King of Hyrule would remain in Hyrule and not sail around with Link. He's resting in peace... not that he's dead or anything, but, yeah, hopefully you get the picture. ...Oh, and Korl is my name for the King of Red Lions because, quite frankly, that's too many syllables for such a major character.

Anyway, R&R everyone! Oh! And wish me happy birthday in the reviews because as of half an hour ago it is my sweet sixteenth! w00t! m/