Linebeck's Agreement

Chapter Four: Of Fog and Red Water

By Harmony283

Disclaimer: Again don't own Zelda, if I did I wouldn't be writing Fanfiction.

Authors Note: And here's yet another chapter of Linebeck's Agreement. And we're actually finally getting somewhere. In this chapter Linebeck awakens on the Tetra's ship after apparently falling into a deep sleep. What's worse is he has a horrible headache when he wakes up, and now they want him to be the navigator. But where did all this fog come from in the first place? And what about the red water?

Note: Well there're a few warnings in this chapter (I guess?) first is there IS blood in this chapter though it doesn't really...belong to anyone. Second is mild language. Cut off bad language more like it. Other than that nothing much, so Enjoy!

----------- (6 days later) -----------

"Holy shi—ouch!"

"Watch the language!"

"but--but…!"

My eyes slowly cracked open to face a wooden ceiling. A ceiling that didn't look like the one on S.S Linebeck. In fact this looked more like…but…but why would I be in those pirates ship and not my own ship? Why would I wake up here?

Oh wait. Wake up? I actually…slept for once? How often did that happen? Hardly ever. But how did I get in here?

I sat up slowly and suddenly the boat rocked violently backward, and something green…with blond hair…came tumbling down practically on top of me.

"Oww…" the mass of blond green and flesh-colored in my lap groaned loudly before looking up, "H-huh…? Linebeck! You're up!"

"Yes," I winced as a painful throb wracked through my head, "I guess I am. But…did I fall asleep? Or what? What time is it?"

Link straightened the cap he was wearing before slowly sliding off my lap and onto the floor next to the bed, "W-well…Aryll said you didn't look too good. Then…you made it worse b-by actually going to bed last night…and not waking up."

So I did fall asleep, "And what time is it now?"

"Almost nine at night. W-We're still anchored where we left off." He looked over at the stairs leading up to the deck, "They don't wanna…go on without you up."

'Because I'm the navigator'

I groaned and managed to slide my feet out from under the covers so that I was sitting on the bed. I rubbed my forehead again and sighed, "Eh…it's too late to start out…but what're they complaining about?"

"Fog."

My eyes snapped up to the stairs, and there--standing on the second to last step--was Tetra looking both annoyed as well as relieved, "It came around noon. And it's not letting up." Her eyes narrowed, "What's going on?"

Well this was just great, "We entered the fog already?"

Links eyes widened, "The fog…? There's…normally fog?"

I nodded my head, "Yeah…it's warmer--the ocean is. And that's what ends up happening. You said it's getting thicker though?"

Tetra nodded her head, this time biting her lip, "And it's not that kind of fog. I can tell we…we need to get out of here don't we?" If I didn't have such a bad headache I would be sure that she sounded worried.

But I had one and it wasn't going away, "Look. That's just what happens at night--since it cools off so quickly. You should know that fog does that."

"Not this kind of fog. We've never seen this kinda fog." The short…guy with buck teeth--I think Niko was his name--stated, "Or 'least I haven't. Gonzo ain't exactly happy about it either. He's freakin' out…"

Tetra rolled her eyes, "more like you're the one who's freaking out about it. Grow a backbone you really need one."

"I-I'm not scared though!"

'Did she ever say he was scared…?'

"I never said that."

"Yeah you--" suddenly the boat lurched again, I barely had any time to grab onto the bed and grab Link, and one of those two fell down the stairs…

'Probably Niko…'

"And the waves are so rough." Tetra continued on, not even seeming to care that Niko was now…knocked out…and lying at the foot of the stairs, "What's going on?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Well I wouldn't exactly know--what do you think I've been doing down here? If you really want me to know then," I stood up on surprisingly shaky legs, "Let's go to the deck."

Tetra hesitated for a moment before nodding her head. Just as she turned to go back up the stairs though the guy with the glasses and the large book appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Ah! Captain I knew you came down here. Hurry—hurry! Something…the water is…!"

"The water is what?!" Immediately Tetra ran up the stairs, leaving us alone, before we could hear her gasp, "Wh-what?! Linebeck—what's…what's with this place?!" she appeared back down the stairs looking a little paler than when she had left but she also looked angry.

'And that can only mean…now this is interesting.' I slowly walked over to the ladder and somehow managed to climb up, with Link following directly after me. My headache seemed to get worse the closer I got to the open air and twice I nearly fell over again.

'Stupid insomnia…and right when I actually sleep I get a headache from it.'

Really what's with me today? I feel like utter crap now. Not that the kids here were going to take that and run with it. I was still the navigator…and the navigator had to lead whether they wanted to or not.

'And I really don't want to.'

The ship rocked furiously again and I nearly lost my balance. The only thing keeping me from tumbling down the stairs—as Niko did again—was my death grip on the banister. After a few moments the swaying stopped and I hurried up the rest of the stairs—banging the door open and walking out onto the foam-soaked decked only a minute later.

..And Gonzo, along with the other big man, the guy with the telescope, and the guy with the glasses, were all looking over the side of the ship with eyes wide in horror…or fear…or some mix of the two.

'So they're seeing it then…'

"What's wrong?" Immediately I jumped as Aryll somehow appeared next to me. Seriously how did that girl appear and disappear into thin air? She looked half-asleep—so she must've been sleeping—and she kept rubbing her eyes, "Are you okay Linebeck? A-And what are you guys staring at?"

Link hesitantly went over to the side of the ship closest to us and before I could even reach out to stop him he was looking over the edge. Almost immediately he recoiled and backed away with shock and disgust written in his eyes.

And of course Aryll had to notice his reaction, "Big brother? What's wrong? What do you—" the look on Links face turned to horror as Aryll stepped towards him to look as well. But I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back before she could look.

"Wha—hey lemme go!" She struggled in my grip. But honestly she was the youngest here. If Link reacted badly to that then she wouldn't be able to take it at all.

"Aryll you don't want to see it." She immediately shut up at the sound of my voice and her body slackened, "Wait below decks until someone comes to get you."

She looked like she wanted to complain but it quickly passed and she obeyed, walking quickly over to the door I had just come out of and slamming it behind her. Something told me she wouldn't go very far though. And judging from the look on Tetra's face she knew it too—but she didn't say anything.

Instead she cut right to the chase, "Do you know what's going on here?! You don't look the least bit surprised!"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I might be. Then again I might not be. The water's red isn't it?"

"YES!" Both her as well as nearly everyone on the ship—except Link—shouted. Like that was going to do me any good with my headache…

"Egh not so loud. Okay, okay. The water's red. Where's my ship?" Please don't tell me they didn't at least attempt to tie it to the side of the ship somehow—anchor it so it wouldn't be washed away by all these waves…

"It was small enough," Gonzo started, "So we managed ta anchor it up. It's attached to tha side. Didn't think you'd like it much if you lost your ship while you were asleep."

After getting it back only weeks ago yeah I wouldn't like that.

"Okay then," I paused for a moment, trying to will away the powerful pulsing of my headache, before saying, "I guess we should get going."

"But didn't you say the fog was worse at night?" Link, who was now standing next to me with a worried expression on his face, asked, "I-I mean you said…it was…thicker…"

I nodded my head, "Yeah but do y'know how the water turns red?"

He shook his head, so did Tetra, everyone else remained silent.

"Well," I looked back at the door and said, "I suppose I could tell you. But if you don't like horror stories then I suggest you go join Aryll." Immediately I heard a loud thump on the other side of the door—obviously Aryll trying to move out of the way—and I couldn't help but grin. Kids…never liked ghost stories. Unless they didn't believe in them. Or didn't find them scary.

"I-I think I'll go check on the young swabbie then!" Niko piped up before hurrying, a little too quickly for his own good, towards the door, flinging it open, and slamming it behind him.

"Well that was typical." Tetra said with a sigh, "Okay then what is it?"

I walked slowly over to the side of the ship and glanced down. Just to make sure, of course. No illusion. The water was still red. Crimson red. Like blood. I looked back at the others, who were waiting a little more than tensely for me to start.

No point in making them wait though. Especially now when they were obviously already worried about too many things. I let out a sigh and looked up at the moonless sky—a new moon. How ironic.

"Well," I inhaled deeply, "It's something I've heard rumors about—the Bloody Curse. The red waters of the southern sea. It's quite common if you spend your time in places like Windfall Island. I haven't heard it in a while so I might not remember all of it—" Like I could really forget a story like this, "—but it goes something like this: "On the night of the New moon the sea turns red with the blood and vengeance of the Desert Kings dread. Blood of millions once fallen on the plains of the long forgotten, come to the surface of the darkest night leaves with those living a terrible sight. Part of the protection of the ancient land, none who haven't been set foot on the sand. The wrong way goes like the victim and prey and soon the blood shall join them.'"

I waited for a moment for the words to fully sink in, watching each of their reactions. Gonzo, the guy with glasses, the guy with the telescope, and the other big guy all seemed increasingly nervous. Both Link and especially Tetra seemed shaken…but other than that fine.

So I started again, "Yeah I know some of it rhymes. That's how I heard it—as a rhyme…song thing." I waved my hand, "It's the easiest way to remember it."

"…I don't get it." Link said with a shake of his head, "What's it…mean? I've never heard it before."

Poor kid, probably hasn't heard a good story in his entire life. Not that I could blame him—he was stuck on an island where everyone was either older than him or younger than him and everything was 'peaceful'. How can a story like that be told at such a peaceful place?

"Some of it sounds familiar though." Tetra looked like she was actually thinking about it, "I mean…at least it's not one of those ancient things that make absolutely no sense until you figure it out too late." She grimaced for a moment but quickly shook her head, "Better you explaining it though."

That was what I was planning on doing anyway but, "Eh there's not much to explain—nothing's really different from what it says, I mean. But eh," I shrugged my shoulders, "Might as well. I'm sure you get what 'Desert King' means—a King of a Desert so you can imagine where the blood and vengeance thing comes from."

Both Tetra and Link flinched at this.

"And the terrible site is the water," I waved my hand towards the ocean, "protection of the ancient land…that's the fog. This comes with the fog—on a new moon. And basically if you go the wrong way you're dead meat."

That seemed to satisfy most of them. But Tetra looked like she was thinking again. That girl thinks way too much for her age. Not that I didn't do the same thing but—

"But what does it mean when it says they'll never set foot on the sand?" And she asked the one question I didn't want to answer.

"Doesn't it mean that it's cuz they're dead?" Gonzo asked looking confused.

This received a glare from Tetra, "Well what if it doesn't? Besides—the going the wrong way and being dead meat part comes after that!" She turned back to face me, "So why can't they set foot on the land? Does that mean we can't either?"

I shrugged my shoulders again, "Well that's on how you view it I guess. I've been to the place before—obviously, since you would probably be dead now if I didn't know where I was going." They seemed to tense again at that, and my headache seemed to get worse too, "So I know the right way—we won't end up dead."

"Still doesn't say what it means though." She pointed out that so quickly…and the glare she was giving me.

'I hate it when kids think they know something.'

I let out a sigh, "Look even if it wasn't a new moon—even if there really wasn't much of a risk of dying. The fog'll still be here by morning. And y'know after a while of traveling through fog anyone can get lost right? Wouldn't it make sense that they'd never be able to set foot on the land if they got lost?"

Now her glare only hardened, "Yeah but we're not talking about any other time! It's a new moon—there's blood in the ocean—everything fits! So why would that part not fit?!"

My head throbbed painfully as her voice rose, "Look kid—you just think too much." My voice was edgy and I knew it was. And she knew it was too, "I'll get you to our destination—that was or agreement wasn't it?

And surprisingly that seemed to shut her up. She closed her mouth tightly and nodded her head. Though something seemed to bug her, and she was looking at me weird. Finally she spoke but her voice was much softer, "Yes that was our agreement. Gonzo," he snapped to attention immediately, "We're setting sail now—it's obviously dangers staying here isn't it?"

I nodded my head, "Yeah, more or less."

"How long till we reach the end of this…fog?"

I shrugged my shoulders, rubbing my still throbbing head with my right hand, "It depends. If we start now and head in the direction I say then we should make it there in two days give or take."

She nodded her head mutely and with a look at the guy with the glasses he disappeared through the door and came back a few minutes later with a map, quill, and jar of black ink in hand.

'Woulda been ironic though—if it were red.' The thought made me grimace. That'd be more creepy than ironic, 'But they are a bunch of Pirates.'

Pirates that hated ghost stories. Right.

The guy nodded silently to Tetra who took the map and quill from his hands. She sat down on the deck, Link following her example, sat down next to her. The guy with the telescope almost went up to the crows nest before he turned to look at me, "I don't need to be a look out do I?"

I shook my head, "It's too foggy out. It wouldn't do us any good anyway." He nodded his head and sat down on the other side of Tetra, with the guy with the glasses following suit. I just leaned against the mast and watched them as the rolled the map out.

But I soon found myself sitting with them, between Link and Tetra, waiting for her to finish…whatever it was she was doing. I nearly fell asleep too—my head was hurting so bad—that when she spoke I nearly jumped.

She eyed my for a moment but continued on with whatever it was that she had been saying, "So Outset island…would be somewhere off the side of this map right?" she pointed to the northern most edge of the map, "So we're basically going over into this region?" She pointed to a huge blank space on her map, "Except we don't know—aside from the few huge rocks on here—where the heck we're going."

That was true enough.

"Not if you don't remember the pattern." She looked at me and I held out my hand. Reluctantly she handed over the quill and pushed the ink jar over to me. I quickly dipped the tip into the ink before pressing the point to where they had marked our current location.

And in a quick movement I had the pattern drawn out. A straight line then a curve to left then another straight line and a curve to the right, then finally a straight line with a sharp turn left then straight.

Like a circle with a stick—bent sharply at the top—cutting through it. Or…something like that.

"That's the shape?" Link looked amazed.

"You remember it?" Tetra asked, looking a little more than smug, "That surprises me."

I winced, "Hey I'm not old."

Link turned to look at me, "How old are you."

My head seemed to throb even more now, "Egh that's not important! There's the shape, now we might as well start sailing now. The sooner the better."

"Are you okay though?" I blinked. Did that girl actually sound concerned? I looked over at her and, yup, I was right. She even looked concerned, "Your head…you've been holding your head for a while now."

I shook my head, "Just a headache."

She looked down at the map and then over at Link, "Link—why don't you check on Aryll and Niko. And…" she looked over at me again, "You should get some sleep just in case we need you later."

Like I was going to sleep anyway. But…I really didn't want to stay out here. Especially with Pirates that would probably ask more questions than I really wanted to answer…

Link nodded his head and got up first and I followed him. Before we even made it all the way through the door Tetra was yelling back at us: "Oh yeah! And make sure neither of them went in my room! Do you hear me! If they're in there kick them out!"

Link muttered something I was sure wasn't that nice under his breath before calling back, "Okay!"

And just like that the door shut with a loud thud behind us.

The beginning sail through the 'crack' in the armor had begun.

But really that girl was right. How did I manage to remember that shape? I had only gone through this place once…or twice…and it wasn't like I was the navigator or anything. Far from it I was just a kid the last time I came through here.

The ship rocked violently from another huge wave—nearly making us both topple down the stairs if it had been any longer than it already was—and soon I found myself trying my best to keep balance, my hands gripping the barely-there handrail surrounding the wall—as Link nearly crawled towards where I assumed Tetra's room was.

And I could distinctly see two figures shadows on the far side wall of the room. So they had been hiding in there. Tetra wasn't going to be happy. Not that I cared. Probably kept some diary hidden somewhere. Yeah, either that or some secret Rupee stash she didn't want the others to steal.

The ship rocked again and the two shadows moved, both tumbling out of the room and—

--landing right on top of Link…sending him falling backwards…and down the stairs. They landed in a large 'thump' sound and I couldn't help but look down the stairs when the rocking had stopped.

There at the foot of the stairs was Link, who was obviously knocked out, Niko, who was knocked out as well, and Aryll—with…some picture in her hand—rubbing the back of her head.

"Hey is everyone okay down there?!" I turned around just in time to see the door slam open and Tetra peer inside. She looked over at me and I pointed down the stairs. Her face paled for a moment before she walked over to stand beside me. For a few moments I could tell she was trying to hold in laughter. Until she saw the picture in Aryll's hand. Then she stiffened.

"Hey you guys okay?" she asked seemingly calm enough. But…she was still tense. And Aryll seemed to notice it. Since she was the only conscious one she was the first once to react.

She jumped up swiftly and shoved the picture in Tetra's hands, "Niko tried to take this off your dresser—" she started, looking more than a little guilty, "I told him not to take it—since I didn't know what it was. But he said it looked like some…dot formation and might hide something like a treasure location. A-and then right when he grabbed it the rocking…and we both fell…"

Tetra rolled her eyes, "Niko!"

Niko snapped to attention even in his dizzy half-there state. What devotion.

"And you," Tetra snapped at Aryll, "NO going INTO my rooms WITHOUT my permission." She then glared at Link who was just now getting up, "YOU," she pointed a finger at Link, "have ALREADY done that once. Now I'm going to put this back where it was and you will BOTH make yourself useful and…help clean…" she indicated the barrels that had fallen over and coated the floor with flour and other sorts of rations.

She disappeared into her room for only a moment before coming back out and looking at me, "You don't help. You're the navigator. You need sleep. We'll get you if we need you."

Then the door slammed and almost simultaneously Aryll, Niko, and Link groaned.

And that's when I started to laugh.

-----------------------------------------------

A/N: And that's the end of Chapter Four. Gotta say that I could've cut this chapter off at any point past after Linebeck showed them the route to Reagand. But I decided to end it there just so it'd be on a laughing note. The next chapter should start off after they get through the fog but honestly I don't know. I'll just see what goes best writing-wise.

As always reviews are welcomed with open arms! I've been meaning to say this in the past chapters—I love replying to the reviews I receive. If you want me to reply back either leave a signed review or tell me. I don't mind having a review-reply section in my fanfics. In fact this is one of the only ones where I don't have it. Also CC and Flames are accepted. But pointless flames (like about pairings) WILL be deleted if they can be.

-Harmony283