Alaia Skyhawk: Here's chapter 7. Woo hoo, I'm on a roll.
I don't own the Zelda series or anything associated with it. I do however own this story and any OCs, so please don't steal them.
Review reply:
Ri2:
Yep, Link has learned the basics.
Yeah, poor guy. He kept telling himself to look on the bright side, but the truth is he's getting desperate.
Lil Fang 0:
There will be some fights in this earlier on, but the 'serious' fights won't be until later.
Link learning to fly is funny? ... yeah it is, at least when you picture him getting pelted with sand balls lol.
Author note: Just thought I'd mention that I only reply to anonymous reviews in the chapter. All reviews posted by site members will be replied to using the link. Unfortunately due to the site's messaging service being screwed lately it may be a while before the replies appear. Sorry if anyone though I didn't reply since I normally do.
Chapter 7: Postal Run.
Link made the final checks on the Red Lion as he prepared to leave for Windfall. He was stiff and sore from three days of intense training and was looking forward to doing some plain sailing. Once he was done he looked over at the people on the dock. One of then grinned.
"Remember, Link, you have to spend at least two hours each day flying alongside the Red Lion. It shouldn't be difficult since flying is a lot faster than sailing, you'll be gliding along mostly. And don't think about missing days out, if you don't work on your flying properly the last three days will have been wasted."
Komali was waving a finger at Link like a parent warning a child. Link smiled wryly.
"Y'know you're starting to sound like my grandmother." Komali stared at him open mouthed. Link sniggered. "You know what, Komali, you're far too easy to tease. There's just no sport in it anymore."
The Rito prince glared at him, then began to chuckle.
"Ok, ok, I asked for that one. I'll see you after you finish your first run... you remember where you're going?"
Link gave him a slightly annoyed look.
"Of course I remember... Windfall, Eyestone, Outset, Forest Haven, Saiweve, go round those a second time and then come back here. It's not that hard to remember."
Komali put his hands out in front of him.
"Alright, alright, I was just making sure... oh and I've got something for you." He pulled something out of the back of his belt. "It's a pair of arm guards, they'll keep your arms warm since you can't wear long sleeves anymore."
Link leaned over the railing and took the offered armguards.
"Thanks, I'll see you all in about two months at the most. Wish me luck."
Link cast off the mooring lines and hoisted the sail, the Rito on the dock waving and cheering their support. As his ship moved away from the dock, Link grinned back and gave them a casual salute, and with that he headed to the west, for Windfall Island.
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The man sat there, nothing mattering to him any more as he ground some of his supply of dried pith into flour, more out of habit than any desire to eat.
Why do I even bother? ...I'll never get off this island... never see them again. He looked up at the sea, the shadows in his eye's lifting slightly. That's why I keep going... for my family. A determined look came to his eyes as he stood up. I have to get back to them somehow... I can't allow my knowledge of our past to be lost.
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After five days of clear sailing with only a single minor rainstorm, Link arrived at Windfall. The town had changed little in the last four years, still consisting of it's winding streets of stone houses, overlooked by the island's windmill and beacon. The only new addition was the compound built on the south-western shore along from the island's dock. It wasn't large and the only thing to set the group of buildings apart from the rest of the settlement was the banners that hung on the outer walls and the pennant that flew from the flagpole in the centre.
Link looked over at the compound's private pier, the Sea Spirit wasn't there meaning that Tetra wasn't in residence at the moment. Link shrugged, they'd cross paths sooner or later as they always did. He turned his attention to mooring at the dock. Windfall had four piers in it's dock, two of which had side extensions for smaller boats, meaning he had to be careful he didn't hit any of the other dozen boats moored there. After a few minutes of careful manoeuvring, Link tied up the Red Lion at his chosen point before picking up a large pack and approaching the Portmaster to pay the mooring fee. The man looked up, Link grinned at him.
"Hoy there, Candy, so they've made you the new Portmaster... Not bad for a twenty-one year old."
Candy scratched the back of his head. He was still as big as he always was, though four years had toned him up a bit.
"Yeah well since I spent so much time standing on the end of one of the piers, the town mayor felt that I would be the one with the most knowledge on how to best keep the dock in order." He laughed. "An' y'know what, he was right. The sailors who come through here all say that this is the best this port has been in decades." He regarded Link. "So then, how many days mooring do you want."
Link hoisted his pack higher on his shoulder.
"Just the one, I'm here on my first postal run. Got to get to the post box and set up if I'm going to get the collection done in time for the evening tide."
Candy smiled.
"Aye they'll keep ya on your toes... that'll be twenty rupees." Link handed over the money. "By the way, Zunari's been asking after ya. I think he has a cargo that needs to be transported and since he'd heard that you were headin' this way he's been keepin' an eye out for ya."
Link nodded.
"Thanks, Candy. See ya, later."
When he reached the dockside Link turned right, heading to the town arch. Beyond it was the street that would wind its way up to the cafe and Zunari's outdoor shop. Link looked at the sun and decided he had time to see Zunari if he hurried. He jogged through the arch and up the street. It was quite a way to the top of the hill where the cafe was and he passed several people he knew along the way. Mimenco was still in her usual place on the bench near Doc Bandam's potion shop. Kamo was sat on the steps part-way up the hill and to Link's surprise he had a girl with him.
Looks like he's finally gotten over Linda.
As he reached the top of the hill to the rear of the windmill, Link came across Pompie and Vera who were up to their usual gossiping. Shaking his head and muttering about things never changing, he walked over to the business desk of Zunari's shop. The shop still had it's four shop desks and cloth canopy, and as soon as he saw Link, Zunari, still wearing the coat his mother had made him, practically sped round the corner from the shop desks.
"Dear me, it's you! How have you been?"
Link leaned on the desk.
"I've been fine, Zunari. I heard you might have a cargo for me."
Zunari clasped his hands.
"Why yes, I do. I have four crates of various products that need to go the trader on Bomb Island. I've been trying to find someone heading that way for weeks."
"Well then, you're in luck. I'll be heading that way on my postal run so I can take it. It'll be slower than a direct transport but you won't have to pay shipping costs with me."
Zunari smiled.
"Yes, making you my business partner has certainly been a great benefit... Speaking of which I have your share of the profits for the last year to give you." He rummaged around in the safe that was secreted under the stairway to the cafe. "I have fourteen thousand six hundred rupees for you, it's been a very good year."
Link gave him a long look.
"Zunari, you know I won't take that much, besides I have my postal job. Put six thousand of that into getting more products for the shop. I'll take the rest with me now and give it to my family when I'm next on Outset in a week or so." Zunari tried to say something. Link stopped him. "I'll take no ifs or buts about it. If you don't want to use it on the shop then give it to Mila." Link nodded towards the young woman working at the far end of the shop. "In fact give her it anyway, she needs it more than we do. I heard she's still saving up to buy a house."
Zunari looked over at her.
"Yes she is... she's really changed over the last four years. I remember that half the town couldn't stand her when she was rich, but now she's a favourite with the local children." Zunari looked at Link with an eyebrow raised. "Even though she's hard up she buys sweets and hands them out to the little ones... I'll put the money with the rest of her savings, I look after them in my safe... She'll now be even closer to getting that house."
Link stood up straight.
"Well I'd better get collecting those parcels. My ship is at mooring two on pier three. Have the crates left on deck and I'll stow them myself when I load the parcels."
Zunari handed him his money and waved farewell with a happy smile.
"Very well, have a safe journey."
Link waved back and walked along the shop front. Mila was stood there in a plain blue dress and a pair of sandals. While still of a low quality, they showed she was doing much better now.
"Hi, Mila."
Her eyes lit up when she saw him and she broke out into a smile.
"Hi, Link. How have you been? I haven't seen you in over a year."
Link smiled in return.
"I've been fine and I finally got my ship built, it's down at the dock now."
"I'll have to come down and have a look before you leave."
"I'd be happy to give you a tour." Link's smile widened. "And Mila, I've decided to give you part of my share of this year's shop profits... towards that house you're saving for. Zunari's put it with the rest of your savings."
Mila looked at him, wide eyed with surprise. She brought her hands up to her mouth.
"Oh, Link..." She threw her arms around him and hugged him. She looked up at him with tears of happiness in her eyes. "Thank you so much." Then, as she realised she was still hugging him, she blushed and let go. "Um, I'll see you at the dock when my shift ends. I'll be taking you up on that offer of a tour."
She wasn't the only one who was blushing. Link gave her a shy smile.
"Yeah... I'll see you then."
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The man looked at what was left of his hut. He had reduced it to it's separate pieces and was about to start turning them into a raft. Even with all the many years worth of carefully collected wood, he knew the craft would barely be sea worthy. But despite the risks, he had to try. He laid the longest pieces out into three piles with the centre pile being the largest. He then picked up the four strongest pieces he had and threaded them across and through all three piles at even intervals. He then began gathering the rope he'd made and began to tie it all together.
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Link had finished setting up the small trolley he'd use to take the parcels back to his ship. He had his notebook at the ready and several sticks of charcoal on hand. He was ready to start. Link had set himself up next to the post box by the town arch and now he reached up to the bell on its pole and rang it twice, then twice again as he had been told. Shortly people began arriving with packages, most of which were destined for recipients at Eyestone and Outset, though there were a few for Saiweve. The people had been told what route the parcel run would follow and so there were no packages for settlements other than those on his current run. As each parcel was handed over, Link noted down the island and the name of the person it was going to and by the time the last package was handed over the trolley was full. Before returning to the Red Lion, Link made a copy of his list and placed it, along with the postage fees, into the post box to be picked up by the next postal flyer to stop on the island.
Happy with his first collection, Link headed for the docks, pushing the trolley in front of him. There waiting for him on the dock side, was Mila. As the afternoon drew to a close, Link stowed Zunari's crates, along with the parcels, in the cargo hold and proceeded to show Mila around his ship. For over an hour she asked questions and he answered, never getting tired of her curiosity. It was only when he felt the evening tide tugging at the ship that he could bring himself to escort her back onto the pier. As they stood there she suddenly leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek. Then, blushing madly, she ran down the pier and towards the town arch. Link stood there dumbstruck and slowly brought a hand up to his face. He smiled... Some how, he was really looking forward to his next visit to Windfall.
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The man paddled the raft away from the island, heading west. All it was, was a wide flat bundle of wood stabilised by two smaller bundles on the ends of the connecting lengths of wood between them. All around him, strapped to the raft, were nets filled with food wrapped in palm leaves, and coconut shells filled with water and sealed with little wooden pegs. He had enough for about a week, ten days at the most, if it took longer than that for him to find another island then it would be clear that his chances of being found if he'd remained on the island would have been slim to none... and so at least he'd not have spent the rest of his life alone.
I was near the sea zone where Saiweve is when the storm broke up my ship, so west is my best bet for getting into the travelled areas of the Great Sea... My dear wife... my son... I'll do all I can to make it back to you...
He pictured his family in his mind's eye... and kept going.
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The wind had changed back to the south and so Link was making good time to his third stop. He had reached Eyestone after only five days and now he was almost back to Outset after only another three. He looked at the sea ahead where the distinctive profile of Outset was set against the afternoon sky. His good time meant he could spend tomorrow on the island and leave on the evening tide. He'd only been gone for just over three weeks but he was still happy to be seeing everyone again.
As he pulled up to the dock people from all over the village came streaming down to greet him. When faced with the barrage of questions he was hard pressed to get the Outset parcels to their recipients. Eventually after nearly two hours, they finally began retuning to their homes, allowing him to tidy his ship and make his way to his house, where his grandmother and sister would be waiting to hear how his new job was going.
Up in the forest, all was dark as night descended. The fairies emerged from the fountain to play among the trees beneath the starlight, as the Great Fairy who lived in the fountain watched over them. Behind this all, deep in the very farthest reach of the glen, a faint light glowed among the shadows... like a promise...
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Hazy with dehydration and faint with hunger, the man plied the paddle with ever weakening arms. His food had run out the day before and beating of the sun on his back ate away at his strength. Finally he could go no further... He slumped forward on the surface of the raft as his vision wavered in and out, going grey at the edges. A pendant on a chain fell out of his shirt and as he reached the end of his strength, it began to glow.
"Ahria... Link... I'm sorry... I couldn't make it..."
In moments he was unconscious, unaware of the faint crack of canvas in the distance...
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Alaia Skyhawk: That took longer than I thought... oh well. There you have it, and before anyone tries to kill me for the Link/Mila stuff, like I've said before this isn't a normal Zelda fic and the Link/Tetra pairing would not work with the storyline, and since in the little scene where Link gets the Bottle off Mila, the way she whispers 'and good luck to you' before she runs off can be interpreted as her have a bit of a crush on him, I went with that.
