Chapter 4: Return of Sanity?
Makar awoke to the bright orb of the morning sun shining through the small window and flooding the room. He sat up slowly. The first day out of his sandy prison was a bit more exiting than he had expected. Makar figured that the worst was over; for the most part he was right. He waddled slowly from his room and looked up and down the hallway. He was glad that Medli was not there; the last thing Makar wanted right when he got up was that crazy bird.
Makar carefully made his way to the upper deck and looked around. The ship was no longer sailing, merely floating in the bright blue waters of the sea. He heard a faint flapping from the north. Makar turned to see two Rito flying towards the ship. Makar knew right away that neither of them was the crazed Medli. Instead, two male Rito that Makar had never seen landed gracefully of the deck. One of them stood very tall, and had a sharper beak than Medli or his much smaller companion. The Rito boy had a way about him that gave the impression that he was not used to being so far from land. He looked around nervously.
Gonzo climbed down from the crow's nest and greeted the two birds.
"Quill, Komali!" he boomed, "'Bout time you got here, yeah?"
"I apologize," the larger Rito answered, "Valoo found it necessary to go over the location several more times before we set out."
"So you're sure this is the right spot, yeah?" Quill nodded. "Did your Valoo say exactly how long it would take?"
Quill shrugged. "Valoo did not specify. He told us only to come to this location and wait. I assume that they will be here shortly."
Gonzo slumped against the mast. "I don't know. We've been here since dawn, and nothings happened yet. What if—" Quill stopped him before he could finish.
"I am sure that your captain is safe. She is a strong girl and-" Quill said comfortingly
"And," Komali interrupted, "Link is with her. He can do anything!" Quill smiled down at him.
A small noise behind him made Makar turn around. To his dismay, Medli stood there, waving at the two visiting Rito. Komali shyly waved back. Just then, a deep bubbling noise pervaded the air. Komali ran to the railing of the ship and looked down. Bubbles were rising rapidly, causing foam to cling to the side of the ship.
"They're coming!" Komali yelled excitedly.
Quill also ran over to the railing and watched as the vicious foaming of the blue water subsided somewhat. He gave a flap of his wings and lifted off the ground easily. He motioned for Komali to follow. They hovered a few feet from the surcace of the water. Makar wondered what was going on. He had not been told about anything special happening today. Before Makar could figure this out, two forms surfaced from beneath the water. The two Rito were quick to lift them from the cold water and place them gently on the deck.
Makar realized with delight that one of the two forms was the swordsman. Though Makar knew did not know a reason for the swordsman to rise up from beneath the Great Sea, he did not care. At last, someone who was not completely out of their mind was aboard! Makar began to waddle happily towards his friend, but was pushed out of the way by an invisible stranger. Once Makar pulled himself off the ground, he saw that Aryll, clinging to the swordsman tightly. Though Makar could see that the swordsman was clearly exhausted, he held Aryll with equal intensity.
Makar saw the other person; she was a female whom he did not recognize. Her wet, blonde hair shone in the morning light. Gonzo ran over to her right away. He helped to stand her up gently and wrapped her in a thick blanket.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Miss Tetra!" Gonzo's voice cracked. He hid it with a laugh.
Aryll helped the swordsman to his feet too. He leaned heavily on her as she guided him carefully below deck. The swordsman smiled weakly as he passed Makar.
"Hey there." he whispered before Aryll pulled him downstairs.
Medli had walked away and was talking to Komali. He could not hear the conversation, nor did he want to. Gonzo walked past Makar with Tetra. They entered the room where Aryll had said to avoid. Makar was left alone on the deck, save a few pesky birds. Makar spent the rest of the day wandering the ship, thinking. Where had the swordsman been? Why did he and Tetra rise from the sea? How did they rise from the sea? What had made the swordsman so weak? Makar attempted to talk these things over with Fado, but he could care less about such things.
The next day, Makar woke again to the bright morning sun. He stepped out of his room to hear a strange squeaking noise from down the hall. Makar followed the noise until he found the swordsman; polishing his edge. Makar noticed that it was not the Master Sword; the blade that he had been praying to restore power to. It was the sword that he had the first time they had met; when the swordsman saved him from that evil plant creature. Makar shuddered at the memory of that day and quickly shook it from his mind. The swordsman looked up as he saw Makar approaching. He motioned for Makar to take a seat next to him.
Makar was glad to see the swordsman was alright. He had not seen him the whole day before and had begun to worry. Makar sat carefully next to his friend.
"Haven't seen you in a while." the swordsman said continuing his work.
"Far too long if you ask me." Makar replied.
The swordsman laughed at this. "I guess."
Makar looked around them and for the first time, really noticed that they were in a dark hallway, rather than the bright deck.
"Why do you do this down here, swordsman?" Makar inquired.
"First of all," the swordsman answered, pausing to examine his work, "you don't have to call me swordsman. My name works just as well."
"Sorry, Link" Makar sighed.
"Second, I have seen enough of the sea for a good, long time; and I don't like being stuffed up in that room for too long."
"And this hallway isn't stuffy?"
"No, it's not that. I am just trying to avoid-" Link looked around before he continued, "her."
"Do you mean Medli?"
Link looked around again before nodding. Makar could understand why one would want to avoid the girl, but he wanted to know Link's reason. "Why?"
"Because," Link explained, "when we were going through her temple, I kept accidently throwing her too hard, and making her run into walls. A lot. From what I've heard from my sister-" Makar interrupted him here.
"You have a sister? And she is on board?" Makar asked, shocked.
"Well, yeah." Link stated simply, "You've even met her."
Makar understood that Link was talking about Aryll.
"Anyway," Link continued, "from what she told me, Medli has been a little-" he paused, searching for the right word, "odd since she came aboard."
"You can say that again." Makar snorted, "So you're the one that caused it?"
"I don't really know" Link replied placing his sword on the side opposite Makar, "The first couple of times were accidents, but then when I saw the face that she made, I couldn't help it!"
Makar was not sure why, but he thought that this was very funny—terrible—but funny. He tipped himself over with laughter. Link could not help but laugh too. Soon, both of them were rolling on the floor, giggling violently. Sadly, they could not hear the approaching footsteps of Medli over their gales. She had been standing over them for nearly a minute before Makar realized she was there. He sat up quickly and as still as he could, but he could not help shaking with choked laughter. Link also noticed her presence and made the same feeble attempts at stopping his laughter as Makar.
"I, would like to know what is so funny, yes?" Medli said sharply
Makar and Link looked at each other briefly before Link answered.
"Makar... told me a funny... joke." he breathed, still trying to control himself.
"Well?" Medli, asked, tapping her foot slightly.
"Well what?" Makar asked simply.
"Well, what is the joke? I would like to hear it, yes?"
Makar was a little annoyed that Link placed the responsibility of a joke on him. But it wasn't enough to faze him. Makar shrugged slightly before speaking.
"Well, alright. But I am not sure if you would understand it." Makar said.
Out of the corner of his eye, Makar saw another spasm of giggles shoot through Link. Makar smiled, satisfied. "So, this penguin walks into a bar, and there is a dog as the keeper. So the penguin walks over and takes a seat. The dog says 'You look like you are wearing a tuxedo!' and the penguin says 'Who says I'm not?'"
Neither boy could stand it any longer, and both exploded into laughter. Medli, thinking it was pointed at the joke, and not at her, was confused.
"Well that makes no sense. You have a strange sense of humor, yes?" Medli said before walking lightly to her room, leaving Link and Makar to roll in their chuckles alone.