Chapter 28: Battle at Sea
Ghashar opened the door for Link and Tetra. Link had only seen the outside of the ship, so he didn't know what to expect.
When he walked in, the room was made wood, painted a deep black. There were torches in each corner of the room. Yet, Link didn't feel any discomfort standing inside. Perhaps it was because he was expecting human skulls to be lining the ceiling, and perhaps he expected it to be dim. But the torches provided a good amount of light.
Ghashar led Link and Tetra down a hallway. "Things have changed, mates," he said, his voice sober.
"Like how?" Tetra asked. "Besides saving our lives, that is."
Link nodded. "Yeah, what happened?" He noticed Ghashar's missing right hand, and he could see a wooden stump protruding from his coat sleeve. They reached a door with an insignia that Link could not recognize.
"Come inside me cabin and I'll tell ye," he said, opening the door. The three entered and he closed the door behind them.
Inside, Link saw a wooden desk near the doorway near the left wall. There was a portalway at the end of the room, which he assumed led to Ghashar's sleeping quarters. On the wall above his desk was his sword—the same one he had used in his fight against Link.
Ghashar sat down at his desk and looked directly at the two. "I have no desire to murder or plunder anymore, mates."
"Why?" Tetra asked with a suspicious look on her face.
"Because I remembered Link's words ta me when he cut off me hand," Ghashar said. "At first, I was very angry. But, them words kept hitting me heart. I reflected on them again and again, and came to the conclusion that friends and loved ones were more important than jewels or victories."
"But, it's been such a short time, Ghashar," Tetra said. "How could you have changed so quickly?"
Link nodded. It seemed a bit suspicious, yet he couldn't help but believe Ghashar. His words seemed sincere, and there was no deception on his face.
"Well, it wasn't just Link's words," Ghashar said. "It was also Rashu." He placed his hands together (well, his hand and his stump). "The old moblin came to me and told me about yer fight against Ganondorf. And like you, Tetra, I feared him. I knew there was something wrong with him, I could feel it in me bones. Yet, I never knew that he wanted to rule our world and take the Triforce for himself. I admire ye two for standing up to him."
"And then Rashu told you to save us?" Link asked.
"More than that," Ghashar said. "He wanted me to look fer ya. After that, he gave me something strange."
"And that was?" Tetra asked with a raised brow.
"This."
Ghashar opened a drawer in his desk and took out a small, purple medallion. Link could feel it radiating with magic like the Master Sword. He glanced at Tetra, and noticed that her eyes had widened in surprise.
"He said it was important, but that he couldn't tell me yet what it was fer," Ghashar explained. "He said because of the change in me heart that I was 'worthy' to have it. I have no clue what it's fer."
"Th-that... can't be!" Tetra said, stepping back.
"What is it?" Link asked, looking at her.
She paused for a moment and bit her lip. "No, it's nothing," she said, shaking her head.
"Tetra... if ye know something, ye shouldn't hide it," Ghashar said.
She folded her arms and snorted. "I'm not hiding anything," she said, looking away.
Link paused. He wondered what she was thinking. Maybe I should ask her later... "Hey, Ghashar," he said, looking at the former pirate-captain. "Are you going to take us to the mainland?"
"Yar," he said. "That's what Rashu wanted. He believes ya two be the only ones who can stop Ganondorf."
"Huh?" Tetra stared at Ghashar. "Us? Why us? I mean, I've thought that myself, but he has the Triforce of Power. Without Wisdom and Courage, we can't defeat him." She bit her lip.
"But someone has to stop him," he said, snapping his fingers. "Otherwise, we all know that Hyrule will be destroyed fer good." He gazed at Tetra, and then stood up. "Tetra... I don't have any use fer it anymore."
"Use for what?"
Ghashar turned around and pulled down his sword from wall behind his desk. "Tetra, I want ya ta take me sword." The sword was sheathed in its fine leather scabbard, and the jewels glistened in the dim light.
Link's eyes widened, and he heard Tetra gasp. He looked at her, and saw her eyes had widened, too. Her face was twisted in disbelief. "No... no way! I have my own weapon... and that sword is your personal one. Why should I get it?"
Ghashar sighed. "Please, matey, take it. Ye'll need it ta fight Ganondorf. No offense," he added. "But yer small blade not be good fer fighting a king of evil."
"But..." Tetra started. Ghashar forced the weapon into her hands. "How... how are you supposed to defend yourself without a sword?"
He smiled. "Ya know I told Link that this sword was me finest blade, right? I have other weapons ta keep me safe," he explained. "But, ya need that sword. I just have this feelin' that ya will."
Tetra frowned, yet took the sword. Ghashar grabbed a belt and handed it to her. "Huh?" She blinked. "What's this for?"
"So ye can strap it to yer back," he said. He pointed to Link. "Like yer friend here."
Link watched as Tetra, with hesitant motions, strapped the curved sword to her back using the belt. He understood why she felt so; Ghashar just seemed to have changed so much in so little time, Link still couldn't believe it.
"Cap'n!" a bokoblin's voice yelled from outside. His voice was urgent. Ghashar ran for the door and opened it. A purple-skinned bokoblin pirate with fear in his eyes and a quivering mouth stood there. "One o' Ganon's ships on the portside!"
Ghashar's eyes widened. "No... not again."
"Ganon's!?" Link and Tetra exclaimed together.
The former pirate captain turned his head to them and nodded gravely. "Yar, Ganon has his own ships patrollin' the mainland. We're goin' ta have to fight our way through."
Tetra seemed to relax. "I know how to command a ship in naval combat," she said. "That is, if you need any help."
"Sure thing, sure thing," Ghashar said with two nods. "Link, do ya know how ta use a swivel gun?"
"What? Uh... no," Link said, shaking his head. "What's a 'swivel gun?'"
"One of me mates will show ya," he said, glancing at the pirate. He nodded and motioned for Link to follow. "Tetra! I'll be at the helm, you give the commands, aye?"
For the first time, Link saw Tetra give Ghashar a friendly smile. "Aye."
-S-
Ganon's vessel was a mockery of the Royal Family Vessels. Instead of the seal of Hyrule on its sails, it carried a visage of Ganondorf himself. Fortunately, as far as Link could tell, there wasn't a sign of him onboard. The ship was massive and as one of the crew members told him, it was a man-o-war, which meant it was a heavily armed ship.
Link had been given to a rough, unfriendly bokoblin pirate. "Jus' because cap'n Ghashar likes ya, doesn't mean I'll be nice, ya hear?" he had said as Link walked up to the swivel gun.
Just as its name suggested, it was a weapon with a cannon-shaped barrel about half the size of a regular canon that swiveled in whatever direction Link wanted to.
"These things have a heavy recoil, boy," the pirate snarled at him. "So, don't ye fall ov'r! And be sure ta aim them, right!"
Link nodded, resisting a glare at the pirate. I hate guys like him, he thought.
Link was standing on a plank to raise himself to eye-level with the railing; making it easier for him to control the swivel gun. He took a glance back and saw Ghashar controlling the helm with Tetra standing next to him. She caught Link's eye and winked at him. Returning the wink, he looked back at the sea toward Ganon's man-o-war.
The enemy ship approached, lining up side-by-side by Ghashar's.
"Give me half-sail!" Tetra yelled to the bokoblin pirates. Link saw half of sails fold back and the wind pressed against the fabric of the sails. He wondered why Tetra didn't want a full-sail right now.
"Focus, boy!" the bokoblin next to him growled.
"Right, right, but I have a question: what's the point of 'half-sail?'" Link asked.
"Half-sail allows this 'ere ship ta be easier ta turn fer the cap'n," he explained. "Here comes the man-o-war, get yer weapon ready, but only on da cap'n's mark."
Ghashar's ship (which had been named the 'Skull Crusher' according to one of his crew members), turned swiftly heading toward the man-o-war. Link's heart filled with panic.
"Wait! We're in their line of sight!"
"Dun question da cap'n's orders, boy!" the bokoblin growled at him.
"Prepare the Swivel Guns!" Tetra commanded. "Fire on my mark!"
Link grabbed the handles of his swivel gun and aimed for the man-o-war. It was difficult for him to control, but he kept his hands as steady as possible.
"Aim for the hull, boy," the bokoblin ordered.
Link nodded, and did as he was told. Then, he heard Tetra yell, "Fire!"
He fired his swivel gun at the enemy ship's hull. He didn't know if he hit or not because the gun did have a recoil and it knocked him back onto the deck.
"I told ye not ta fall!" the bokoblin hissed at Link. "But... ya hit the hull square, boy, so dat's something fer ya. Load that there gun," he added, pointing to the small cannon ball.
Link got up back onto his plank and grabbed the swivel gun. He loaded the gun with the cannon ball according the bokoblin directions. He heard a crew member shout, "cap'n! They're preparin' their cannons!"
"Then we turn!" Ghashar said loudly.
The Skull Crusher swiftly turned to the right and pushed alongside the man-o-war.
"Everyone brace!" Tetra yelled in command. Link wasn't sure what that meant, but the bokoblin training him forced him to the deck. Enemy cannon balls came flying at ship. Link felt the Skull Crusher shake with every hit, but most of the cannon balls must have missed because he heard a lot of splashing behind and in front of him.
"Up!" Tetra commanded. Link got up and took hold of his swivel gun. He took a quick around the ship. Fortunately, it didn't seem to have taken much damage, apparently, the brace had protected some of the ship.
"Arm the cannons and give me full sail!" Tetra shouted. The sails unfurled completely. "Fire on my mark! Swivel gunners! Prepare to fire also! Aim for the enemy's sails!"
"Aye aye!" Link responded naturally. He aimed his swivel gun toward the man-o-war's sails.
Then Tetra yelled, "fire all weapons!" Link blasted his swivel gun, and this time was not knocked back so much that he managed to hold his position. His shot flew in the air, missing his target. Link grit his teeth and reloaded.
The other swivel guns hit their marks, and tore holes in the enemy ship's sails. As for the Skull Crusher's cannon balls, most of them struck the hull of the man-o-war. What surprised Link, though, was that Ganon's ship did not appear to be very damaged.
He overheard Ghashar speak to Tetra. "A chain shot from our cannons would do better ta strike down them sails!"
"Right!" Tetra said. "Load chain shots for all cannons! And prepare to fire on my mark! Swivel gunners aim for the hull!"
Again, Link turned his gun toward the enemy's hull. Suddenly, cannon balls shot out of the man-o-war without warning. Tetra cried out to brace, but it was a little late, and the Skull Crusher was taking heavy damage. Link had to struggle to keep on his feet as the ship shook. He glanced around and saw small fires bursting from the deck.
"Damage report!" Ghashar shouted.
"Jus' a scratch; nuthin' we can't handle, cap'n!" one of the crew members said. Link noticed that he doused some of the flames with a bucket of water.
"Return fire!" Tetra ordered. Link shot for the hull and struck it dead-on. The chain shots from the Skull Crusher's cannons ripped through the sails of the enemy man-o-war and tore down the masts. Link was impressed with Ghashar and Tetra's knowledge of sea combat.
The man-o-war returned fire again; Tetra called a brace and everyone hit the deck in time. The enemy cannon balls still slammed into the ship, but the damage was less severe than before.
"Half-sail!" Tetra called. "We're going to board the ship!"
Board? Link thought. Why? Why not just sink it? Regardless, the sailors cheered and Ghashar bought the Skull Crusher close to the man-o-war.
"Get off yer gun, boy!" the bokoblin ordered. "I be thinkin' dat Miss Tetra wants ye to join 'er."
"That's right," Tetra's voice came from behind Link. "Come on, kid, let's go!"
"Aye aye!" Link said. He let go of his swivel gun and followed Tetra. The sailors had loosened some ropes. "How do we board, Tetra? ... and why? Why not sink the ship?"
"We're not sinking it because there could be prisoners on-board that could give us information about the king," she explained. She motioned to one of the loose ropes. "We're going to swing across on these ropes and land on their ship. Are you ready, Link?"
He nodded. "Yeah!" He grabbed one of the ropes and stepped back. Tetra did the same, and together with a shout, they swung onto the enemy ship's deck. Many other bokoblins followed suit.
When Link landed, he was met by an army of Soul-less. There were royal family guards, moblins, and bokoblins. He heard Tetra shout to Ghashar's men, "don't shatter any of the orbs! These are Soul-less!"
"Aye-aye!" they said.
A bloody battle commenced between Ghashar's men, Tetra, Link, and the Soul-less. Many of the Soul-less overpowered the bokoblins, but they were fewer in number. Men fell due to loss of blood, but other slew as many Soul-less as possible. Soon, Soul Orbs were scattered across the deck.
As for Link, he faced off with a Soul-less moblin. Link ducked a spear thrust, and rolled around, back-slicing the moblin's back. Then, Link brought the Master Sword down and skewered the moblin through the middle. The moblin exploded in a puff of black smoke, leaving an orb behind. Link took the orb and stuffed it in his adventurer's pouch.
Then, he barely managed to duck a sword swing from one of the royal guards. He raised his sword to attack, but then a throwing dagger flew in front of him and struck the royal guard in the neck, killing him.
Link looked over to see Tetra winking at him, and her belt was down one throwing dagger. Link winked back.
"Let's get below deck, Link!" Tetra said to him. "I'm sure Ghashar's men will finish the rest off, we need to find those prisoners!"
"Right!" Link and Tetra, dodging attacks from enemies, smashed open the door to the lower deck and they jumped down into it.
Tetra, as if she knew where the prisoners were being kept (if there were any) dashed down the halls. Link followed her, keeping his sword drawn in case there were more Soul-less.
And there were. Two Soul-less royal guards faced them, carrying spears. Tetra nodded at Link and he nodded back. The first guard came at him and tried to stab him through the stomach. Link shifted to the right, but his left shoulder was struck by the point of the spear.
He winced, dropped the Master Sword and pulled out his bow. Nocking an arrow and backing away from the Soul-less, he let the arrow fly right into his foe's face. The Soul-less let out a cry of pain, pulling the arrow out. Black blood dripped from his face.
Link unleashed another arrow onto the Soul-less, this time striking him in the chest. The Soul-less fell over and disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Link, wincing from the wound in his left shoulder, grasped the bleeding wound, putting pressure on it.
He looked over to see Tetra dancing with the other royal guard. The Soul-less looked extremely frustrated as he tried to strike the nimble pirate. She drew Ghashar's sword and cleanly sliced the Soul-less in half, finishing him.
She looked at Link. "Are you okay?" she asked, sounding concern. She ran up to him. "What happened, Link?"
"I was stabbed," Link said. "Do you have any potions on you?"
Tetra shook her head. "We lost most of our stuff when Ganon destroyed the ship, remember?" she said. "However, I do have these." She removed from her adventurer's pouch some cloth. She bandaged the cloth around Link's wound tightly. "There, hopefully that will heal. Can you carry the Master Sword still?"
"I think so," Link said, putting away his bow. He picked up the sword with his left hand and his shoulder protested painfully. Wincing, he immediately sheathed the blade. "Come on, let's see if there are some prisoners here."
Tetra nodded in agreement, and tried to open the door. "Crap. I should have figured it was locked. Step back, Link." She pulled out a bomb and lit the fuse. Together, Link and Tetra ran away from the door and waited. A loud explosion sounded throughout the deck, and Link looked to see that the door had been blown apart.
Together, Link and Tetra went inside. It was dark in the room, and Link figured it was the hold.
Tetra grabbed an unlit torch off the side of wall and used a flint to light it. The torch spread its light into the hold and in the distance, Link could see cages.
"Help us!" voices came from the cages. "Please!"
Tetra and Link ran down the stairs into the hold and came upon two cages filled with hylians. Link saw the locks on the cages and groaned. "How do we free them?" he asked.
"Just wait," Tetra said, handing him the torch. She took out two tools from her pouch. "Thank goodness I didn't lose these." She put the tools in the lock, and Link realized that they were lock-picks.
It took several moments, but Tetra managed to break the lock on the first one. "Set them free, Link," she said. She looked at the prisoners. "Don't run yet, we have questions for you."
Link opened the door to the first cage while Tetra worked on the other. Some of the prisoners did not obey Tetra and ran for it. A few stayed, however. Link heard Tetra curse, and he looked over to see her glaring at the escaping prisoners.
The ones in the second cage obeyed however. They looked fearful, probably not sure if Tetra and Link were friends or foes.
"It's okay," Link said, trying to relax them. "We're here to rescue you."
"We just need to know... what's happened to the king?" Tetra asked the prisoners.
They shook their heads and Link let out a sigh. Then, one of the prisoners said, "I know! He's taken refuge west of Kakariko Port Town. Ganondorf's forces attack him daily."
"Thank you," Tetra said. "That's what I needed to know. Now, go! Run and avoid as many enemies as you can! Get onto the black ship!"
They nodded and ran up the hold's stairs. Tetra looked at Link and nodded at him. "You did a good job at the swivel gun, kid."
Link blushed slightly. "Thanks," he said.
"We're not done here yet, though," she said. "Let's get back on deck and back to Ghashar's ship! We need to sail to the king's location."
Link nodded in agreement, and led the way back up the hold to the lower deck with the torch.
The battle was still going when they reached the deck, but the Soul-less were cornered and losing. Then Link thought of something. "Everyone, grab as many Soul Orbs as you can and then get off this ship!"
"What are you doing, Link?"
"Destroying the ship once and for all," he said, and then he slammed the torch onto the deck of the man-o-war, setting it on fire. Ghashar's men did as they were told and swung across back to the Skull Crusher. "Let's go, Tetra!"
She nodded at him. The two ran as the fire spread rapidly across the deck. A few souls were going to be lost, but there was nothing they could do about it.
When the two reached the edge of the ship, there was only one rope left.
"Looks like we'll have to share," she said. "Hopefully, it won't snap." Tetra grabbed the rope and then beckoned Link to join her. He did so, and together, the two dashed forward and swung across.
Unfortunately, the rope did snap. Link and Tetra were thrown across the gap between the ships and slammed into the deck of the Skull Crusher.
Link felt dizzy and he ran his hand over his head. Blood. He tried to stabilize himself, but he fell to ground, losing consciousness.
