A/N: *Gasp* Can it be? It is! I'm posting yet another chapter! I have no idea where this second wind is coming from, but I hope it sticks around for a while! Anyway, as always I hope you enjoy the chapter and please leave a review to let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: Still own nothing and still using NinBuzz to keep my lazy ass from playing this thing again!
"Thank you for the key Golo," said Kagome as they walked over to the ledge that held the locked door. Using Link's new Clawshot they arrive are able to get on the ledge. Opening the door, they walk out to a ledge that overlooked a large desert.
"A report Master."
Hi, Fi.
"This is Lanayru Sand Sea. This whole area was once a vast ocean. But the water has all evaporated, and now there is a sea of sand. Sign indicate that this place functioned as a port, linking the land to the sea. This area operated on a new form of power. There is a 90% probability that the sacred flame is located here. I recommend exploring this sand sea."
Bye, Fi!
"A sea of sand, huh?"
Kagome nods. "Can you imagine what it must have looked like when it was water instead?"
"Maybe there is a time stone somewhere around here that will let us take a peek into the past," suggests Link. "But for now…"
Kagome squeaks as he picks her up.
"What the…?"
"I'm going to need both hands to get us across," he answers. "And since you don't have a way across, you're just going to have to hold on tight."
Giving a nod, she wraps her arms and legs around him and braces herself as he flings them across the deep gorge.
Reaching the other side, they find themselves on the ancient remains of the port.
"It looks like they did a lot of shipping from this port," Kagome said as he looks around the sand covered ground.
Moving across, they walk down the lone pier and find a rusty old robot. And just behind him was a boat. And, lo and behold, the boat has a time stone!
Kagome is too busy looking into the water brought by the striking of the stone to even think about being annoyed at the convenience of it all.
Shaking his head her childish joy as she watches the fishes swim below, Link turns and walks over to the revived robot.
"Excuse me," he said.
The robot looks up at him.
"Hmm…Who are you, bzzt? Some human, vrrrm?"
"I'm Link," he answers. "And that's Kagome looking like she's about to fall into the water. Can I ask your name?"
The robot seems surprised.
"Who am I, brrzrrt…? I am the proud skipper of the ship that protects Nayru's Flame, phweep!"
"You protect Nayru's Flame?"
The skipper stares off into the distance, as if reliving a memory.
"…It was the day of the storm,phoo-weep," he begins. "My crew and I were navigating the seas as usual, vrrm…And then those brutes, bzzt…the pirates, suddenly attacked us, brrzt."
"Pirates?!"
Link is given a minor heart attack as Kagome pops up from behind him out of nowhere.
The skipper does not notice.
"They were after Nayru's Flame, zzpt. My crew was imprisoned…vrrrt…and I was thrown into the sea!"
He seemed to come out of his trance as he once more focused on the humans before him.
"I drifted on the current to this port, vrrrrm…After that, I took this boat and went searching for my ship and crew, but they were nowhere to be found, bzzt."
"The poor thing looks like it wants to cry," whispers Kagome to Link.
"It haunts me, wondering where my ship could be, phweep…" the skipper gave a long sigh. "I'd bet my hat they've turned the ship invisible and are hiding out somewhere, vrrm! You can't see it."
The two Skyloftians give each other strange looks before turning back to the skipper.
"Invisible?"
"In order to protect Nayru's Flame, the ship has a function that allows it to become invisible, vweep..," he…she…it…explains.
"Of course it does," mutters Kagome before raising her voice. "We were actually sent to search for the flame ourselves."
The skipper looks intrigued.
"You say you're searching for Nayru's Flame, bzzt?"
"We're trying to find someone."
"Oh…so you need Nayru's Flame to find someone important to you, vrrrm." The little guys brightens up. "In that case, you should help me search for my ship and crew, phweep!" He points to his boat. "If you help me, vzzzt, then I'll guess I'll let you use my boat."
The two look at each other.
"We're all going to the same place anyway," she shrugs.
"All right," said Link to the skipper. "We'll help!"
"Really, vrrm? Well, in that case, bzzt…" he pauses as he catches sight of Link's map. "Hmm…There's something weird about that map of yours…vrrm. If you're going to navigate these treacherous waters, then you need a proper sea chart, doo-weep! There is a sea chart in my shack at Skipper's Retreat, bzzzt." He motions to the boat. "Shall we shove off?"
"Let's go," cheers Kagome. Link just shakes his head.
Once everyone is settled into the boat, skipper turns to his temporary crew.
"My circuits spark to life in the salt air, vrrm! It feels good to take to the seas again after so long, but let's see if I can remember how to navigate, brrzrrt." Giving Link a crash course in navigation, they set off. As the boat floats onward, Kagome kneels by the side and puts her hand into the cool water.
"Having fun?"
She looks up at him with a smile.
"Just look at how clear the water is," she exclaims. "Can you imagine looking at this every day?"
Sitting down beside her, he reaches his own hand down into the water to hold hers. Leaning into him, they just sit as they wait to arrive at their first destination, watching as the sand turned to water and bringing the world under the water back to life.
What feels like all too soon, they arrive at a dock that leads to the skipper's home.
Exiting the boat, they look at the tower structures that held Skipper's Retreat high above the sea.
"We've arrived, vweep," the little guy exclaims. "My shack is at the very top, vrrm! The sea chart is in my shack, zrrt. But you're the ones who will have to go get it, bzzt! There are more monsters about than before, so be careful, vweep. I can't wander too far from the boat, so I'll just stay here, vrrm."
Kagome, who had been studying the surround area as the skipper spoke, turned to Link.
"I'll stay here with him," she said as she handed him the bellows. "It looks like it would be difficult for you to carry me up all that way as well as fighting any monsters you come across."
With a nod and a kiss, Link is away.
As they watch Link begin to climb, Kagome turns toward the skipper.
"Why is your shack so high up?"
"It makes it harder for thieves to reach it," it answered.
Kagome nods in thought. "Make sense to me."
For the next hour or so, they watched as a Link shaped dot climbed, as was sometimes knocked silly by some plant or other enemy. Eventually, they see him ride the zip lines back down. As he approaches them, he holds up a rolled up scroll.
Kagome gives him a mocking clap, which Link retaliated with by sticking his tongue out.
"You got the sea chart, vrrm," the skipper exclaims excitedly. "Now we can finally navigate properly, zrrt! Phweep! Let's go look for my ship! Shall we set sail?"
Link gives a nod.
"Anchors aweigh, zrrm!"
The trio loads themselves back into the little boat and set sail.
At the skipper's request, Link opens up the sea chart. The skipper points to a location.
"The shipyard is at this location, vrrt. The shipyard is where we used to build our ships, vrrt. My ship was built there too, vweep! If you go to the Shipyard, you might find some clues to the location of my ship, brrzrrt!"
Following the map, they navigates the sea until they reach the Shipyard.
"We've arrived," says that skipper. "This is the island where we used to make our ships, bzzt. You'll find the Shipyard here, as well as the town where the workers lived, vweep." He points to the building beside them. "That building is the construction bay, vrrm! But the entrance is closed, vrrrm. Looks like you can't get in. Each location on the island is linked to the others via a mine cart track, vrrm!" Kagome looks around in interest. "You might be able to get to the back door of the construction bay if you can get around to the other side of it using a mine cart, brrzrrt." He points to another building. "There's a mine-cart station over there, zrrt! You should head to the station first. I'll wait here, phoo-weep!"
Link looks over at his companion. "Are you staying or going?"
"This looks like it might be fun," she responds. "I'm going!"
Making their way into the station, they are stopped by a couple of the large lizards they faced in Eldin Volcano. Making quick work of the future purse materials, they continue on their way toward the station.
Inside the station was a Goron!
Seeing visitors, he approaches them.
"This station here was used by folks heading into the old mines. People still ride the mine carts all over the place, though! I am probably supposed to tell you there is some "safety information" about using the carts posted on that wall over there." He pauses to point at some papers posted to the wall. "Cart riding can be, uh…dangerous at times, so I would suggest you give that stuff a quick read."
Thanking the Goron, they walk over to wall and look at the basic safety instructions. Feeling that they have the basics down, they approach the cart. Getting in first, Link helps Kagome into the cart. As before, Kagome is sitting in front of Link as he wraps his arms around her waist. The door opens and away they go.
"This is actually pretty slow," remarks Kagome as the cart climbs a steep grade. Her eyes widen as they reach the top. "I spoke too soon, didn't I," she squeaks as she pushes herself back into Links chest.
With a mad grin on his face, Link tightens his hold on her as he braces his feet against the walls.
"Hold on," he warns as the cart comes over the top.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
The cart speeds its way over the tracks as they take the twists and turns and the ups and downs. Kagome's screaming mixes with Link's laughter as they sound travels behind them. They soon come to a stop at another station and get out. Link hops out and supports Kagome as she stands on shaking legs.
"I don't know whether to find that fun or terrifying," she says as she leans on Link.
"My vote is for fun," he laughs as she gives him a weak hit.
Getting her land legs back, they follow the path forward and soon find themselves in front of another cart.
"Another one?"
Link points to a sign. "This one leads right to the construction bay," he says. Once more getting into the cart, he tugs Kagome hair until she's looking at him. "Try to enjoy this one, alright?"
"At least I know what to expect this time," she remarks.
The cart moves forward up a slope, then speeds back down. As they speed around the other portion of track, Kagome finds herself actually enjoying this part of the ride and begins to laugh along with Link. All too soon, the ride ends and they finds themselves at the construction bay.
"That was pretty fun!"
Link smiles. "Want to do it again?"
"After we save the world from total annihilation."
"Deal!"
Together, they open the door to the Construction Bay and enter.
