-Ten Minutes Later-

"It's amazing," Link examined his newly awarded sword in awe as the crowd slowly dispersed as others would walk by to get a look at the blade, "It doesn't have that natural sparkle but the rest is just how it should be."

"The sparkle is something you really can't replicate for obvious reasons, but you shouldn't underestimate the progress these people have made," Nick commented.

"But did you have to be so rough?" Nudge and Gonzo asked in unison as they dusted themselves off.

"That's what you get for slacking off in your training, " Tetra scolded them as with a waving finger

"Still I guess that's the type of skill one would expect from the one who's supposed to be a hero," Sophia remarked.

"Well thanks," Link smiled as Tetra took her turn looking over the sword.

"The sword itself is more than I expected. It actually appears that it could even be used in a real fight if needed," she observed

"We spared no expense in the making of that replica," Mr. Schroeder interrupted their conversation, "While we may not have access to a lot of Hyrule's strongest magic it didn't deter us in doing everything we can to make it as close to the real one as possible, and that includes making an actual sword instead of just a model. It's one of a kind though so I wouldn't recommend using it unless you have to."

"I'll keep that in mind," Link replied.

"Well either way I'm impressed with the work you put into this entire festival," Tetra praised the proud man.

"Why thank you, Princess Zelda," Mr. Schroeder accepted the compliment, "I appreciate the effort all of you here have put into your performances here. That includes you Sophia for the fantastic job you did even as a runner up, and you Nick for what's obviously a great deal of research you used in getting them ready. You and my son were always the top two prospects out of all the young scholars years ago. I was uneasy about why your parents would risk all of that, but sending you off on your own. I'm pleased to see that even now you're stilling do what you can to keep up with my boy. He always seems to do better when he's got a bit of competition to be honest. Not to say he just half-assed his way to this conference, but without you there it was a bit too easy for him. Until now he's been fairly relaxed when preparing his research, but just now since you came here he's actually started to really push himself in preparation for his presentation tomorrow I'm as proud as a parent could be, but I'd actually enjoy it if you took your shot at the conference for the next festival."

"I appreciate the kind words,," Nick thanked him.

"It's actually because of that that I now have a favor to ask of you," he continued.

"What is it?"

"Having been to past festivals I'm sure you know about the reenactment we do of the Hero of Time's showdown with the Evil King."

"Yeah."

"In the past years, we've always cast it by raffling it off as a chance to get the crowd involved and mix things up a bit,"

"I knew that."

"Well this time around I was going to take advantage of the other festivities to enhance the feel of the reenactment. The roles of the Hero and Princess are going to be filled by the winners of their respective competitions. In other words, your two friends here."

"So, what's the problem then?"

"The role of Ganon was going to be filled by Kevin as the keynote speaker of the conference, but he's been putting so much extra time into readying his presentation he just told me that he doesn't think he'll be able to make it if he wants to get everything he needs ready on time. We could just pick someone out of the crowd, but I was thinking it'd be best if we got someone with both the prior knowledge and brain power to get ready themselves prepared well enough on short notice. Given that your knowledge is the only one out of the younger scholars that rivals my son's as well as the fact that you've already seen it before it seems to me you're the best candidate for the job. Are you in?"

Nick brought his hand to his chin as he pondered the offer.

"To be honest, it really wasn't my intention to stand out when I came here," he murmured.

"Wait!" Link blurted out, "What do you mean a reenactment?!"

"It's just a quick little play we do. We go over the story of the Hero of Time, the three of you read a few lines and fake fight for a little bit, the Hero wins and everyone lives happily ever after."

"Weren't you listening when my Mom explained everything?" Nick questioned him, "She definitely mentioned it."

"But I didn't know what she meant by it!" Link pleaded.

"What's the big deal anyway?" Nick pried, "It's not as if you've never done this before."

"Yeah I know... but I..." Link attempted to explain.

"My big bro suffers from stage fright," Aryll finished for him.

"Aryll! You don't have to say it like that!" Link responded

"Whenever we'd do little plays back home as kids Big Bro would always forget his lines," she explained.

"Some of my most precious pictographs of you are of that face you make when you don't know what to do next," Grandma teased.

"Plus, he's probably just nervous about having to do it with his princess slash girlfriend," Aryll added.

"I just don't do well in front of crowds..." Link tried to reason with them, "All that brave stuff I've done is always when there's almost nobody watching. I was just in the zone for that tournament, but I'm not that great with remembering lines."

"Knock it off, Link!" Tetra smacked him lightly in the back of the head, "You'll do fine. I won't let you screw up too badly."

"Well, okay, if you say so..." Link uneasily agreed unable to refuse her at times like this.

"And now that I know all this I'm definitely in. Could be a lot of fun for the "off-script" moments," Nick laughed.

"Great!" Mr. Schroeder handed them each their scripts, "It's usually amateur work so I'm sure whatever you do tomorrow will be better than what we normally get anyway!"

"Well thanks for your confidence..." Link took it nervously as he then began to head back into his house. He made it to the doorknob before turning back to them again."

"You know I normally wouldn't like the Hero and Princess in this to have real romantic feelings for each other, but with you two it might be more interesting that way. It's just a play anyway. Not like it actually matters... Well good luck to you then!"

Tetra stood mystified as he disappeared into his home.

"What was that all about? Why can't the Hero and Princess like each other in this?"

Link immediately froze up as he recalled to conversation he had with Nick only a little while earlier. Fortunately, Nick managed to tackle the issue before Tetra could notice.

"Because it's unknown what happened to the Hero of Time making assumptions like that between him and Zelda is seen as inaccurate. That's all. Nothing to big," Nick explained.

"Well okay then," Tetra accepted the explanation prompting Link to let out a sigh of relief. This caused as two nearby relatives to eyeball him suspiciously.

"Well I guess I'm gonna go in and take another bath," Tetra decided, "It'll be a while before I get to experience something this luxurious again, so I might as well make the most of it."

"And I'll head back to the ship with the others. Now that the day's major events are over I'd feel better keeping an eye on things back there," Nick added

"We'll go get a nice dinner in town," The six other pirates agreed between themselves.

"See you all a bit later," Tetra waved them off as the three parties headed their separate ways leaving only Link, Aryll, Grandma, and Sophia.

"I'm actually going to head over to the Hyrule reference library they've got set up. There's something I want to check. See you tomorrow," Sophia bid Link farewell."

"I guess we can go back to the ship with Nick," Link suggested only to be halted by the stares his family was giving him, "What is it?"

"We can still recognize it," his grandmother pointed out.

"Recognize what?" Link asked confused

"That face you make when you don't know what to say next," Aryll clarified, "You made it after that question Tetra asked earlier? You looked awfully relaxed when that guy Nick answered. Are you hiding something?"

"...You know me too well for me to really deny it now huh?" Link let out after a brief pause.

"Yup," Aryll nodded.

"What is it Grandson?" Grandma inquired now with visible concern.

"I'm sorry but I still can't talk about it," Link apologized, "Things are a little more complicated than they seem are there are just some things I don't need her knowing right now."

"You're worried about Tetra?" Aryll asked.

"Yeah," Link confessed, "I hate keeping things from her but there's just no good that'll come from telling her."

"That important huh?" Aryll asked the obvious.

"Yeah," Link sighed.

"Well I can't approve of lying but itself," Grandma added, "but having always been the caring boy you are I don't think you'd do this without good reason. As such I trust your judgment on this and won't ask again."

"Me too!" Aryll chimed in.

"Thanks, you two. Now I only hope I'm wrong about needing to keep quiet about this for both of our sakes."

Aryll and Grandma promptly offered him a pair of supportive hands as they headed back to the ship together.

-The Next Day-

"A bit more stylish than I would've expected," Nick admired as he took in his fresh, new look in a large mirror on display in one of the town's shops. As part of his upcoming role as the King of Evil he had also gotten a patterned brown cloak very much like the one Ganondorf wore himself.

"You know seeing you in that thing is nothing but bad memories for me." Link observed from behind him.

"Take it easy," Nick replied, "This is purely for fun, and it's only for a short time anyway."

"Easy for you to say. You've never gotten the back of the hand of the guy who first wore them."

"Just don't get too caught up in the nostalgia that you forget what you're supposed to be doing," Nick jokingly advised him as he headed back outside and back on the way to the Schroeder mansion.

"Come on! Cut me come slack!" Link hastily followed after him.

The pair soon made it back to the front lawn where the others minus Sophia had already begun to make themselves comfortable. In particular they noticed Tetra sitting with her eyes closed visibly enjoying a back massage from Justin on the front steps of the house as Kate looked on.

"And what do we have here?" Nick grabbed her attention.

"She seemed a little stiff, so Justin offered her a massage," Kate explained.

"I'd never pick up as many girls as I do without it." Justin laughed as he continued to rub Tetra's shoulders.

"It's just a fine girl like me getting the treatment she deserves," Tetra proudly declared, "Why don't you ever do something like this for me?"

"Why are you asking me? That's supposed to be his job not mine!" Nick deflected the question pointing at Link.

"Link, as soon as this is over you're going to start taking lessons on how to give a proper back rub!" Tetra ordered him.

"Huh?" Link squeaked.

"You heard me," she reiterated, "It's unbelievably cruel of you to try and win my heart without even learning how to do something like this for me."

"And just wait until some of the other things you're going to have to learn to do for her." Nick jokingly whispered into the hero's ear.

"Yeah, but I... uh,"

"I'm really not giving you a choice here Link," she laughed, "You know what's on the line."

"I guess," he conceded. This was one of those times where it really seemed like he just couldn't win.

"I'm glad we're at an understanding here." Tetra smiled before changing the subject, "So have you guys seen Sophia anywhere?"

"Not since yesterday," Nick answered.

"She said she was going to figure something out," Link elaborated.

"Well I'm sure she's got a good reason then," Tetra responded, "I'm sure I'll get to see her again before we leave."

"Can our three performers come inside while we prepare the outdoor stage?" Mr. Schroeder's voice sudden boomed from one of the mansion's open windows.

"I'm guessing that's us," Nick noted.

"Seems like it," Tetra agreed as Justin released her.

"I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be I suppose," Link shrugged as he went inside with Nick and Tetra.

"Good luck, Big Bro!" Link heard his sister call out to him as the doors closed behind him.

"I miss the massage already," Tetra jokingly complained as they each grabbed a chair for the wait.

"Have fun dealing with her newly inflated standards," Nick joked to Link as he took his seat.

"I'll try," he managed to chuckle.

For the next five minutes or so the trio anxiously, but quietly awaited their cue. Link fidgeted in his chair as the other two tried their best to hide their impatience. It wasn't until they were spotted by Kevin who was making his way around the house that the silence broke.

"So, you're the one they picked to replace me eh Nick?" Kevin called out from on top of the stairs.

"Yeah," Nick replied while avoiding eye contact., "Got a problem with that?"

Link and Tetra merely opted to silently observe.

"Not really," Kevin calmly answered as he made his way down the staircase, "In fact it's what I expected."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, but it simply doesn't matter to me anymore."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed. I only missed it because I needed a little extra prep time, but with what that time allowed me to find it's already more than worth it."

"Ooooh? And what could you have found that's so important? and how can you be sure it's not something that I already know?"

"It wasn't what I expected it to be, but I'm confident that I'll be able to answer everyone's questions about everything. Maybe even yours."

"Like what?"

"If I were to just give that away there'd be no point in me giving my presentation at all. I certainly hope you plan to attend."

"Is that so?"

"Why yes, it is. In fact, I'm hoping you'll all come including your two friends over here," Kevin confirmed motioning to Link and Tetra, "Given what you've all been up to I'm certain that what I have to show will prove to be of the utmost importance to you."

"I might consider it." Nick rolled his eyes.

"I hope you do," Kevin answered with a slight smirk "After all. With all the time we've been competing, do you really think that you can just run away before the grand finale? Like I said, this presentation will be the end of it all. I'm just hoping that you're man enough to come and see it. Good Luck with the reenactment. I'm sure I'll be seeing you there."

Without another word Kevin went back up into his room leaving the three to contemplate his invitation. They remained silent for another few moments before Tetra spoke up.

"So, what do you think?" Tetra asked Nick

"About what?" he responded despite knowing full well what she meant.

"Don't play dumb. About the conference! Are you going to show?"

"I don't know," he muttered.

"What's he up to?" Nick ran over recent events in his head, "I could confirm that nobody was in the ship while we were away yesterday, and there's no way he could've gone there today given the fact that he would've had to have passed us on his way in. Perhaps he's really planning to talk about something else though he's not the type to give up gracefully. I also can't rule out the possibility that he's counting on us to run away from his invitation and use our absence to prove a point. What to do..."

"You alright, Nick?" Tetra questioned him noticing him getting lost in his thoughts.

"Yeah..." he answered, "Given the circumstances I guess I really have no choice but to go."

"And that means I'll go with you," Tetra offered.

"Do you really think that's necessary?"

"Of course. There are a few things I want to check out for myself," she told him, "And of course I'm sure that means Link is coming along too."

"Definitely Tetra," Link agreed as he thought about the story that Link told him the other day.

"If Nick says to go then I really don't have a choice here," Link said to himself, "If they both go and I don't it'll look weird, and there's still no need to worry Tetra yet. With what Nick said it really might just be he's trying to scare us."

"With what Sophia told me yesterday I really have no idea what Kevin might try to pull. At the very least I need to be there for Nick in case he tries to ambush him somehow." Tetra confirmed to herself as Mr. Schroeder's voice finally called out for them.

"WOULD OUR ACTORS PLEASE MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE STAGE OUTSIDE! THANK YOU!"

MR. Schroeder's voice was powerful enough to make its way back to Kevin who had returned to his upstairs bedroom.

"Take it easy about the reenactment you three," Kevin laughed to himself as he overheard the announcement, "It's not until after the show's over that I really need you to play your parts."

-End chapter-