Chapter 9: Love and Hate

Nabooru inhaled heavily, letting the familiar salty sea air fill her lungs to bursting. It was good to once again be out on the opened sea and Nabooru relished in the opportunity any way she could. She loved the way the sun seemed to be shining just for this happy occasion and she felt like busting out in a dance on top of the deck of her new ship (actually Tetra's new ship), the AmaRa II. She'd finally succeeded in replacing the old, battle worn ship, with something fresh and new. It was expertly crafted by the best ship builder alive and said to be the fastest ship ever to sail the Great Sea. Tetra had better appreciate all the hard work that came with collecting this particular ship, which was stated plainly, a lot of work.

"Captain!" Saria called. Nabooru sighed as the magic of the moment slowly melted away with Saria's outburst. The Gerudo looked at the small, green haired female.

"Yes Saria?" The girl seemed timid for a moment, shyly twisting a lock of her hair around her finger before she spoke, "… I'm worried about Tetra and Aryll." The red head slapped a hand to her forehead in a display of her exasperation.

"You ruined my glory party for this?" Nabooru exclaimed, "How many times have we been through this? Tetra and Aryll are fine! It's probably just taking a little longer than they originally planned that's all. They are fully capable pirates."

"Yea… but… It's been a week Nabooru! What if something's happened? I mean, don't you find it odd that they haven't contacted us yet?" Of course Nabooru concurred most whole heartedly with Saria. There hadn't been anything else she was worried about the whole time (save finding a replacement, no scratch that, new and improved ship). It wasn't just them feeling that way either. The whole crew was put on edge. It could have a great deal to do with the fact that everyone was getting tired of Nabooru ordering them around all time, abusing her power as Captain while Tetra was away. But the real reason was because they all missed Tetra terribly, though they were all too tough to admit it to one another. For Nabooru this was especially true. She was Captain! She couldn't show weakness of any kind, shape, or form. At least, not without risking her position. The crew needed her as their model, their leader. They needed her to stand strong when they found it hard to gather their own strength. Now was no exception.

"… They're all right Saria. Now stop worrying," the woman commanded authoritatively. Saria didn't argue but Nabooru could tell from the solemn expression on her face that she wasn't reassured.

"Captain! Captain I see something creepin' up on us!" Medli called loudly from her position up in the crow's nest. Nabooru looked and sure enough, a light blue form was treading the water at incredible speeds. At first the Gerudo had mistaken it for a large fish, but it was swimming much too fast and seemed to have its course premeditated. Nothing was going to stop it from coming in contact with the ship.

"What do we do Nabooru? It's gaining on us!" Saria questioned. Nabooru's heart beat quickened. It was the hard decisions that took whatever joy there was in being captain of the ship. She watched as the light blue form closed the distance between it and the ship easily and as she watched, the more familiar the form became.

"It's a Zora!" The captain acknowledged and as she did so, the said Zora leaped onto the ship splashing water everywhere as she did so. The crew gathered around to examine their unexpected visitor.

"What'd you want?" Nabooru demanded. The female Zora bowed lowly before stating, "I have news pertaining to the captain of this vessel."

"I'm the captain but what…"

"You're talking about Tetra aren't you? Is she well? What's happened?" Malon asked. Everyone waited intently for the fish girl's reply.

"My mistress Ruto asked that I deliver a message of the utmost importance to the crew aboard the AmaRa, that being you, I have only this to say, Tetra and Aryll are safe and unharmed but shall not remain so for long as Ganondorf the Fiend is making his way to Windfall Island this very moment in search of your captain. She and Aryll are in much danger and my mistress urges you to travel to the island in haste if you want to save them." The news was not at all what any of them had been expecting especially since Nabooru stressed how inconceivable it was for their comrades' well being to be in any danger. They looked at their captain now with angry looks. She ignored them and asked, "Why is Ganondorf after Tetra?"

"He wants the sacred treasure of legends passed. He wants the Triforce." Nabooru looked hopeful.

"So they found it! They actually found it!"

"No. Tetra has not found it. It still remains dormant. That is why it is so crucial that you go to her now before it is too late! Hurry! There's no time for any more inquiring!" No one argued and all went back to their posts. Malon steered the ship around in the direction of Windfall and set on full speed ahead.

It had been a week. A week exactly this day that marked the eve before Link and Zelda were to be married. As much as Tetra hated Windfall, as much as she hated Link, and as much as she despised Ruto for tricking her into coming back to her home just to sit around as prize fish bait for Ganondorf to find, the pirate regretted having to leave so early. She and Aryll had advised an escape route that was bound for easy success tomorrow night because everyone would be distracted with the wedding. Even though it was tomorrow night, she still felt like it was coming up so fast. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to leave her home behind again, especially now that she knew how much she really cherished it. The conversation she had had with Link previously had sent her on a roller coaster of emotions that stirred many dormant memories from the deepest and dimmest depths of her memory. Her conversation with Link made her question everything that she had become, which was exactly everything she hated. Her conversation with Link had such a deep impact on her, but failed to eliminate the feeling of regret she felt for watching her mother die and doing nothing to honor her memory.

She sat now in the ballroom. The familiar ballroom that possibly held the biggest memory she had locked away for so long. It was in this room that her mother was murdered. She remembered it all vividly. She saw in her mind's eye the people dancing and celebrating New Hyrule's 100th Anniversary in this room. Light music was playing and Tetra remembered dancing with her mother happily. It was such a merry time that nothing could prepare any of them for what had happened next. They came, storming the castle, killing anything that walked. People were screaming and running to find some sort of safe haven from the pirates' fury. During all the panic, Tetra had been separated from her mother. She watched as everyone ran around her with the Gerudo chasing after them. Some people had run into the lanterns, causing them to fall over. The fire was so hot and had spread so quickly. Tetra cried out, the heat from the flames slightly scorching her tender flesh. Her mother had found her and picked her up, cradling the little girl in her arms protectively. Together they tried to find an exit to the steadily growing ring of fire around them, but to no avail. Just then, the demon himself appeared, walking through the flames as though he was born of them, as though the heat had no affect upon him. Tetra had shivered slightly despite the rising temperature in the room. Her mother held her more tightly before putting her down.

"Your majesty," he spoke. Her mother frowned angrily.

"What do you want?" She hissed. He chuckled evilly and strolled up to the queen. He used his tall form to tower over her menacingly.

"You know what I want. Now hand it over," he demanded. The queen huffed defiantly.

"What you seek you shall not find. No man alive has ever seen it though it exists only a small distance away. The heart of a crooked man can never traverse this distance because his tainted vision would lose the way. Only one of a pure heart can find it. Only the one of royal blood can wield it." Ganondorf growled dangerously before back handing the woman so hard that she stumbled backward as her body turned with the force of the blow. Tetra gasped and cried. Her mother looked at her and so had Ganondorf. Smiling a crooked grin, he proceeded to reach out for Tetra, threateningly. Tetra shivered once again as his hand forcefully pulled her up by the collar of her shirt.

"Maybe I can persuade you to stop talking in your frustrating riddles by doing this…," he said as he held a stained blade to Tetra's neck. She felt her own blood drip as the steel penetrated easily through her flesh.

"No! Leave her alone! I'll tell you! I'll tell you how to find it!"

"I'm listening…" Tetra saw tears in her mother's eyes threatening to fall but never falling. When she spoke her voice was steady and determined.

"After you've collected the three gems of the goddesses then you must search for the map containing the location of their temple. After you bring both the bearers together before the goddesses' eyes, only then will the Triforce reveal itself." Tetra noticed how her mother was looking at her. She was so calm despite her disposition that it somehow raised hope inside her. Ganondorf cackled cruelly.

"More of your riddles eh? Well, say good bye to your darling daughter Queen Amara." Tetra gasped, but before he could cut her throat, she bit the hand that held her and he dropped her screaming in his surprise. She scurried away and her mother used some of her magic to force Ganondorf backward. He yelled many an obscenity as he flew back into a wall forcefully. Tetra smiled but it quickly faded when the king of evil regained himself and easily returned the blow to her mother, which made her double over in pain. He ran up to her grabbing her neck with one of his large masculine hands. As he squeezed her throat, threatening break it easily with his inhumane strength, he grabbed a hold of her right hand and a sick grin filled his face.

"So… you aren't the bearer of the Triforce after all. You aren't worth shit to me anymore. Good bye…," he said coldly. It had happened in a quick instant. Her mother's life was taken so easily and mercilessly that it was hard for Tetra to quite grasp the fact that she had indeed witnessed her mother's murder. The pain was there, but the reality was so surreal. She could still recall her mother's final words, "Only you… can protect it now…" She had most definitely meant the Triforce. Her mother had taught her enough to know that the Royal Family was the protector of the Triforce along with the High Knight's descendents.

Maybe that's why she searched so long and so hard for it. It was her mother's dying wish. It was Tetra's duty no matter who she was. Either a ruthless pirate or the princess of destiny, she was the sole protector of the Triforce. But, even as its protector, she had no idea where to find it. She was completely oblivious to its whereabouts, save her mother's map and her own knowledge regarding the ancient relic. But knowing that Ganondorf never found it was comforting enough, and so she didn't feel like a complete failure. Though, being back in the room of her mother's final moments revived her ambition tenfold, she gripped her necklace tightly as memories of the time after her mother's death entered her mind.

It was a sad time for all. No one was happy. Many people came to the funeral, from all around, to pay their respects to her mother. It was hard to find anyone who wasn't crying. Except Tetra hadn't cried. She couldn't cry. Her emotions were so confused that they practically fused together making it impossible to identify sadness, anger, or fear. One thing was certain however, she wouldn't let herself or the Triforce become victims of Ganondorf's wrath like her poor mother.

As time flew by and Tetra grew into a young lady, she began to despise life. No one seemed to remember her mother. Everyone forgot about her easily and so much so that it was like she never existed. Her portraits were replaced with portraits of her brother, Daphnes, who had moved into the castle to take his temporary place as king until Tetra had become old enough to rule New Hyrule. Her books and other belonging were stored away, her room given to Marin, Daphnes' daughter. No one mind and no one cared. There was no one to save the little princess from her traumatizing nightmares that continually took her back to that night, making her relive the experience over and over. Tetra was dying, dying to the darkness that began to cloud her vision. She hated everyone. She hated her fat and greedy uncle, his shallow daughter, the people of New Hyrule, and she hated herself the most for living when her mother didn't. She hated herself for being the princess. She hated herself for being the Triforce's protector. She had to get away, she had to get away from the world that forgot her mother, her haunting nightmares, and even herself. She needed to disappear and she did.

As she recalled her decision now, she saw it as a coward's way out. When she left, she not only damned her existence, but also New Hyrule by leaving it in the hands of her corrupted uncle. She had been stuck in a dream, a lost cause for so long while fooling herself into believing that she was free. Free of her burdens, of her past. The truth was, she was stuck in the past and tried forever to hide from it. Things had to change. Ganondorf was coming for her. Would she run away with Aryll? Or would she stay and fight?

"Mother…"

"This is where I'll be throwing my Bachelorette Ball. The old ballroom." Tetra looked up from her crouched position to see Zelda and Impa stroll inside easily. Zelda seemed taken aback at seeing Tetra, and Impa smiled sweetly.

"Hello dear," she said. Tetra studied the both of them, identifying them as key figures in her past. She knew them, yet they didn't know her. Would they hate her if they knew who she really was? Who she had become?

"Arett, what are you doing here?" Zelda snapped.

"I… I was just looking," Tetra said plainly, "This room is a wreck. What happened?" She deliberately asked the question because she needed to know. She needed to know if they had forgotten, or if they had tried to just like she had. A look of pain flickered in Impa's eyes and Zelda just shrugged.

"It was caught on fire many years ago. No one's used it since," Zelda explained, "I think it's perfect for the theme I was looking for. Of course it will need to be cleaned up a little, right Impa? I'll leave that to you."

"Wait a minute? What's happening in here?"

"I'm throwing a party to celebrate my last night as a bachelorette. Tomorrow, I shall become a married woman. Now stop being nosy and get out of here!"

"No. You can't throw a party in here! This is a… a memorial sight! You can't have a party here! I won't let you!" Tetra cried. Zelda crossed her arms angrily.

"You can't tell me what to do. I'm the princess!"

"No you aren't!" Both Impa and Zelda exchanged surprised looks before looking back at Tetra who could feel her shame in the rose tinted blush that began to occupy her pale cheeks. Zelda frowned and stomped her foot like a child throwing a fit.

"How dare you? Do you know you're treading on dangerous ground?" Tetra backed up slowly.

"I…," the rest of her sentence caught in her throat as she felt her anger boil.

"I'm having the party here. End of discussion. Now get out of my face wretch," Zelda ordered. Impa took Tetra by the arm and led her out of the room.

"Oh dear. What were you thinking back there? I know you usually argue with Zelda all the time but I think you took it a little far that time," she said. Tetra turned on her angrily.

"Why? Because I said the truth?"

"But… dear… how would you even know… to…"

"Forget it! She can have her little party! I don't care!" Tetra cried and stormed away with Impa watching in confusion.

Aryll sat watching the blue green waves of the sea roll gently in and out of the shore. She felt so sad and helpless. She and Tetra were trapped on the island unless their plan succeeded and they escaped during the festivities tomorrow night. Aryll desperately wanted to get away. She couldn't stand to watch Link marry that over zealous brat! The more she thought about it, the more it worked her nerves. What did he see in her anyway, or was it an arranged marriage? Which ever was the case, she hated Link for being such a feeble idiot for going through with it. She huffed a little and crossed her arms.

"My, my… what have we here? Fresh meat," she heard a manly voice speak. She turned around and saw Cannon, the perverted owner of the expensive Bomb Shop, stand behind her in a drunken stupor. He licked his lips suggestively and grabbed her by the arm.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Aryll demanded. Cannon only laughed and hiccupped drunkenly.

"Comeondon'tbelikedatbaby…," he said as he slurred his words into incomprehensible speech. Aryll slapped his hand away as he proceeded to run it over her leg. The action didn't stop him from forcing himself on her and trying to kiss her. She could feel her anger rise and her pirate instincts began to kick in. She pulled a dagger from its hidden position in a holster on her thigh. After she socked him in the jaw forcefully, causing him to recoil, she pulled the dagger up meaning to stab him square in the stomach but someone pulled Cannon away forcefully. Aryll's eyes widened as she watched Link hold Cannon up by the scruff of his collar. The boy was clearly irritated and said icily, "What do you think you're doing Cannon?" The drunken store owner just laughed and hiccupped.

"Nothin'…," he answered. Link frowned dangerously.

"That's what I thought," he said. He effortlessly tossed the perverted man away. Cannon moaned but made no attempt to get up from his position. Aryll put her dagger away and smiled when Link looked at her.

"Thank you," she said.

"No problem. I'm sorry you had to deal with such idiocy. Allow me to walk you back to the castle." He held his arm out and Aryll accepted blushing slightly. They walked back to the castle in silence but Aryll didn't mind the quiet. She savored her time with Link anyway.

"So… are you going to the party tonight?" Link asked politely.

"Bah! I don't know… I doubt that Princess Zelda would notice if I was there or not. I'd rather just read."

"Why do you read all the time?"

"Oh… I guess I'm just curious. You can learn a lot of stuff from books after all."

"Good answer." Aryll snuggled closer and sighed with content. Once they made it to the castle, Link parted ways and Aryll sighed, disappointed that their time together was over so soon, but she relished the fact that they had spent time together at all.

At Zelda's party, it was all sophisticated and any one that was someone was present. Tetra stood against the wall, watching her fellow party goers with disdain. You couldn't even call it a party. And to think that Zelda would dishonor the memory of what happened in that room with such a waste of time and effort. As Tetra looked on, she couldn't help but feel like it was that night all over again and the feeling was suffocating her. She left out onto the balcony to catch herself.

"Don't you look lovely tonight." Tetra turned around and saw Link grinning beside her on an opposite balcony. Her upper lip curled unknowingly to her and she said, "Ew. It's you. Don't you have your own party to be at right about now?" Link shrugged coolly and leaned up against the marble banister without taking his eyes off her. She really did look lovely in her midnight blue gown that trailed down to the ground. She wore light make up and a simple pearl necklace and matching earrings. She made classy hot and Link had the hardest time trying to take his eyes off her. Her long blonde hair trailed down her back and she tucked some loose strands behind her ear. She was gorgeous and now Link would admit it to himself that he enjoyed looking at her. Before he knew she was beautiful, but refused to look at her as anything but a pirate dog. The lowest scum of the earth. But after their discussion, he began seeing her differently. He began to see her as the person she was, and not that loud mouth and sassy pirate hussy that was known all throughout the Great Sea. Tetra looked at him looking at her and frowned.

"What's your problem you idiot?"

"Nothing," he answered plainly. His answer shocked the girl slightly and she said, "…Okay…" Tetra could feel herself start to blush under his scrutinizing gaze and she turned her back on him. There was no escaping his steady stare.

"What do you want?" She snapped, looking back at him. He smiled a little.

"Nothing," he replied coyly. Tetra stomped her foot angrily.

"Don't you have more then a one word vocabulary???" she cried. Link laughed at her outburst and Tetra felt her whole head heat up. He had a nice laugh. Why didn't he use it more often? Tetra giggled a little herself.

"Tetra. Come with me," Link said suddenly. Tetra gave him a quizzical look.

"What? What for?"

"Just do it. You are the most difficult female I've ever had the misfortune of knowing. Goddesses." With that said, Link disappeared back into the castle and Tetra followed suit. They met halfway between the room that was separated between the sexes and Link took her by the hand and led her away from the unsuspecting crowd. Only… there was one person who had seen it.

Aryll had chosen the best second hand gown she could find from the princess' wardrobe and made sure she wore her hair as elegantly as she could. She was the stunning maid in yellow. She got a lot of compliments for her looks, but none seemed to matter. She wanted to show Link. She wanted to tell him how she felt before she left. She felt like it was something she needed to do or regret it for the rest of her life. As she looked among the mass of people for his particular face she was surprised to see him in the company of Tetra who looked even more beautiful then she herself did. Finding this to be indeed odd (not Tetra's beauty but her in the company of Link), she followed the oblivious pair to a secret garden Link had led Tetra to. Hiding behind an overgrown rose bush, Aryll watched them.

Tetra's mouth fell in awe of the beauty before her. She remembered planting half of the flowers in the garden way back when she lived in the castle. To see them fully matured and in bloom made Tetra's heart flutter lightly in her chest.

"It's so beautiful…," she choked out. Link smiled.

"It's always been easy on the eyes I guess," he said. Tetra looked at him and poked him in the chest with a delicate, gloved finger.

"Why do you have to be such a fart? Can't you just say it's beautiful or are you incapable of making compliments?" Link touched his chest where she poked it and rubbed like she had inflicted pain upon him.

"Well… you're beautiful," he said. Tetra laughed arrogantly and flipped some hair behind her back.

"I already know that."

"Are you incapable of being gracious for a kind comment? Goddesses know that you rarely get them," Link responded. Tetra sighed and hid behind a large lilac bush. The flowers were a deep royal purple and Link noticed how the flowers complimented her eyes, having the same effect as the gown she wore. They made her eyes shine brightly and brought out their exquisite blue hue. The boy's breath caught in his throat when he saw her look at him with those blue eyes. She smiled softly and said, "I guess I thank ya for the compliment. I know it nearly killed you to say it."

"But… I meant it. You are… beautiful…," Link said. Tetra cocked an eyebrow.

"Uh… well. You should see Zelda. She's… very pink," the pirate said laughing a little at her own joke. Link smiled a genuine smile and Tetra felt her heart flutter.

"Uh… but I wanted to thank you seriously for what you said the other day. I… I think I've figured out what I'm going to do now," the girl said. She came away from the lilacs but not before pulling one of flowers off its stem and twirling it between her thumb and forefinger; she traveled to the chrysanthemums and studied them. Link followed her with his eyes unable to take them off of her.

"What do you want to do?" he asked. The blonde gently stroked one of the snowy white flowers with her middle finger and said, "I'm going to correct my past. I'm going to set things straight and get revenge to all those who've fallen victim to Ganondorf's wrath…" Link's eyes widened.

"Ganondorf?"

"Yes. He ruined my life and I'm gonna kill him and make things right." The determination was evident in her voice and it made Link question his sanity. Had he heard right?

"Really?" Tetra nodded, "You really helped me Link. I'm going to stop running from my past and fight. I can't keep searching for something that I'll never find anyway. So…" She smiled brightly and walked over to him. Link watched her feeling small butterflies dance around in his stomach. As she got closer the butterflies grew. And when she finally took one of his large, masculine hands into both of her delicate ones, his stomach was practically dancing with millions of giant butterflies.

"Thank you. Because of you, I've found my place." Link didn't fully grasp the significance in her words right at that moment in time. He was too far gone in her, in everything about her. They stared at each other in anxious expectation and Link said a little softly, "You're… welcomed…" Tetra nodded a little and sighed. Link took her by the hands and brought her closer to himself, loving the feeling of her body against his own. Tetra's eyes fluttered shut as he dipped his head slightly to catch her lips in a small kiss. Aryll watched the exchange and she was completely broken. When had they gotten so close? She thought that they hated one another with a passion, and yet here they were in their own little world, losing themselves in one another. It was almost too much for Aryll to bear.

Tetra pulled away slightly and muttered, "Link?" He looked at her as she looked back at him with confusion evident in her sweet face. He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek reassuringly and kissed her again, this time it was forceful and more passionate then the last. Tetra moaned and melted in his tight embrace.

The king watched them from his place in the throne room. It was so surreal and yet it was so. Link and that Arett character were kissing right there in front of him and it was the night right before Link was to be married to his own daughter. What a cad! The king growled angrily but it caught in his throat when he saw a flash of bright yellow light coming from the two below him. He looked more intently and gasped when he saw a golden triangle encircle them and shine brightly.

"The… Triforce!"

Tetra pulled away from Link when she saw a flash of light in her eyes. There was a tingling in her body and she completely broke away from him. He looked at her with confusion.

"Tetra?"

"Nooooo! Tetra! I hate you! I hate you!!! How could you?" Both Link and Tetra looked at Aryll who had started crying and revealed her place from behind the rose bush. She had a look a pure hatred on her face and it stung worse then any blow Tetra had ever received.

"Aryll?" Link's eyes widened.

"A… Aryll??" He repeated. No one heard him.

"How could you! I love Link! I loved him before you did! It's not fair!"

"Aryll wait… just let me explain…"

"There's nothing to explain! I hate you!" And with that Aryll ran away. Tetra started after her but was stopped abruptly by a sharp pain in her neck. She groaned and fell to her knees as the world became a drowsy remnant of her dreams.

"Tetra!" Link cried. He kneeled beside her and was hit with the same dart she was.

"Arrest them." Before Link completely blacked out he saw the king standing smugly before him while some of the royal guards proceeded to tie him up. Then there was darkness.

A/n: YAY! I'm doing good with keeping the updates consistent even though I'm working on two stories at once! Mwahaha! After I update the other story I've got a busy day writing papers, doing math homework and all the rest of that jazz. So, let me know how much you appreciate the updates! And just so you know, this story will be ending soon, there's at least five more chapters and then the epilogue. My goal is to finish this before the new year so when the new year comes, I can work on new stories! Thanks for reading! Hoped you enjoyed:P