Another chapter! I think I'm getting better at uploading chapters XD anyways more following Jolene, this chapter shows when in the Phantom Hourglass timeline we're in now. A surprise character shows up as well, hope you enjoy!


chapter four.

heroic celebration.

It took her a full day of straight sailing before Jolene made it all the way to Mercay island. She stopped for nothing, letting the southern wind carry her down to her destination by nightfall. Even through the bleak darkness she could see the dim glow of the homes on Mercay, though most of the inhabitants would undoubtedly be at the milk bar at this hour. Jolene knew if that man was on the island he would be there too.

In the cover of darkness the ship sailed gracefully into port. Jolene didn't miss a beat; she was able to dock a ship at night just as well as during the bright day. She quickly tied off her beloved boat and made haste down the wooden pier. Looking around her dark eyes saw no trace of the S.S. Linebeck in port, but that didn't mean anything; he could of dropped anchor anywhere on the island. Still, Jolene's stomach couldn't help but churned a little. If she had traveled all the way to Mercay for nothing... but no matter. She would continue to hunt him down if she had to. Linebeck would pay with his own blood.

Ignoring the stinging pain that was forming in her heart she briskly made her way up to Mercay Tavern, Linebeck's favorite haunt. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, the swashbuckler opened the door into the bar. What greeted her eyes was not what she expected. Instead of the sleepy lull that usually surrounded the milk bar the place was full of life, accompanied by much cheering and celebrating. It seemed like almost everyone on the island was crammed in the small space, toasting and smiling all the while.

A confused Jolene made her way up to the bar and turned to the jolly bartender, his rosy cheeks quivering with laughter. He caught sight of her and gave her a nod and a smile. "Good evening miss! What can I get you?"

Momentarily forgetting about her quest to find Linebeck she inquired, "What the heck is going on in here? There's no festival today, right?"

The bartender's cheeks wobbled with joyous laughter. "Oh no miss! Well at least it's not an official festival yet, but didn't you hear? The evil that lived in the Temple of the Ocean King was destroyed! The Ocean Realm is free!"

Jolene's black eyes widen in surprise. So the kid did it huh? He must of slayed the evil spirit and rescued his friend. Even she had to admit she was impressed, maybe that kid wasn't so crazy after all.

The bartender continued, "Yep, that kid Link fought Bellum and with the help of Captain Linebeck he was able to defeat the monster! THREE CHEERS FOR LINK AND LINEBECK!"

As the patrons cheered and clanked their glasses of milk together Jolene felt her face start to flush. Linebeck!? He helped Link defeat the evil that plagued the ocean? Now this was getting ridiculous. Grabbing the bartender's vest she pulled him down to her eye level and snarled. "Now you listen here. Linebeck is the biggest coward to ever sail the high seas, yet all he does is tell people how awesome he is and spread all these false stories about himself. You're playing right into his lies!"

Half the tavern went silent as they watched Jolene harass the man behind the counter, who was shaking in fear at the sight of the pirate's ferocity. A middle-aged man standing right by her was brave enough to speak up. "M-Miss, I don't know what you have been told but it's true. Linebeck was a real hero."

Turning her murderous eyes to the speaker she let go of the bartender and drew her sword up to the other man's face. "Oh so you know him so well, do you?! No one has seen the things Linebeck has done except me, and let me tell you he is the most spineless thing that ever existed!"

"What he says is true, Linebeck saved all of us."

Out of nowhere an old man with squinty eyes and a grey beard spoke up and stepped forward, leaning on a walking stick with a conch shell attached at the top. Whispers as to where he appeared from circulated around the room, as he was not in the bar a second ago. His odd appearance caused Jolene to lower her scimitar. Narrowing her eyes she asked, "What makes you so sure, old man?"

The old man gave her a soft smile through his beard as he responded. "I saw it with my own eyes. Linebeck steered head-first into the Ghost Ship as Link manned the cannon. Once the Ghost Ship was stopped Link was knocked unconscious by Bellum, so Linebeck grabbed the Phantom Sword and stepped in. He risked his life to save his friends."

The bar erupted with cheers as everyone applauded Linebeck's brave actions. Jolene fumed as she kept her attention on the speaker. "You must be in league with Linebeck, old man, spreading his false stories around."

"I promise you it is not a false story, and my name is Oshus." he replied, keeping his calm and still smiling all the while. Jolene felt frustration and anger well up in her heart, but she realized that she was getting no where with this old geezer. It didn't matter what everyone thought Linebeck did, she knew the true man he was. What she needed to focus on now was locating him so she could expose the truth.

She turned her gaze back to the bartender, and raising her sword a bit higher she spoke in a deadly tone of voice. "Where is your blessed hero then? Perhaps I should hear the story with my own ears if everyone else so blindly believes it."

Once again shaking in his boots the bartender weakly replied, "W-we don't know. He hasn't been seen here since the m-monster was destroyed."

Now Jolene was annoyed. Thrusting her sword closer to the bartender's exposed neck she hissed, "So you haven't seen him on the island at all?"

The bartender couldn't speak, only shake his head with his arms raised up above his shoulders. Seeing how scared she had made the milk bartender she put away her sword and marched out of the milk bar without another word. She could feel everyones' eyes drilling into her as she walked by, but she didn't dare look back. She walked through the door and slammed it shut with all her might.

As the cool night air greeted her skin she was still within earshot of the milk bar, and could overhear some of the patrons talking about her departure, using phrases like "deranged" and "crazy." Taking a few steps to distance herself from the murmurs coming out of the milk bar she felt her eyes start to sting with tears. Now everyone thought she was the jerk. Linebeck had ripped her heart out and everyone thought he was a hero, thought he deserved to be celebrated. Her heart sputtered in pain, and she couldn't help but let the tears continue to well up. A tear for every beat of her broken heart. She wouldn't let herself cry though, she would not shed another tear for that man. After a few deep breaths she calmed down and realized how ridiculous she was acting. She was a pirate after all, and no pirate would act emotional like this! Shame mixed in with the frustration and pain, but she was able to push her feelings aside. She needed to get back to her ship and begin her long search for Linebeck. She would search every nook and cranny in the ocean to find him, she didn't care. She just needed to get rid of him so he could stop causing her pain.

Before she could take another step, however, Jolene looked up and saw the old man from the tavern standing in her path. Wiping her eyes to make sure no trace of her emotions were there she grimaced at his presence. "What do you want Osh-whatever your name is."

She expected the old man to reprimand her or be unkind, but instead he just gave her a smile. "My dear, I just want to help. I can tell you where Linebeck is."

Jolene's eyes widen with surprise for a moment, but she knew there was a catch. There was always a catch. "A minute ago you were defending your beloved hero, and now you're going to tell me where he is? What game are you playing at old man."

"Oshus"

"Ok fine, Oshus. So, what's your catch?"

He slowly shook his head. "No catch, I just wish to help you. I made a promise to Linebeck that I would grant him one wish if he helped me, but when the time came all he asked for in return was to get his ship back after it was destroyed in the battle. I complied of course, but I knew there was more he desired in his heart. I had vowed to help him, and help him I will."

The pirate knew she must of had a perplexed look on her face for Oshus chuckled. "It doesn't matter, the point is you need to find him so you can do what you need to do. Now if you sail southwest past all the known islands on the map, you will come across some fog. Just keep on sailing through it and you will find him on the first island you come across."

Jolene had never heard more ridiculous directions in all her life. Furrowing her brow she asked, "Who are you?"

He didn't answer of course, only smiled. "Good luck to you, Jolene." And before she could even ask how he knew her name he vanished right there on the spot.