Chapter 81: Where One Adventure Ends…

…

~~11/4

~~Finally got a report from Leynne. He wanted a couple of days to test the new mechanisms they made for the mizzen-masts. I told him to take his time, mainly because it'd give Irleen some time to think about whether she wanted to go with us. Princess Zelda agreed that we should go once the ship is repaired; apparently, she can only tease her father for so long before she starts feeling sorry about it. Where that leaves me and my crew, I'm not really sure anymore. I feel like we might get locked up with her if we don't get her back to the kingdom soon. We've probably got a couple of days after we leave to refill the ballast tanks and ascend, and that assumes no one

~~I just realized that part of my crew is from the surface.

…

Kon kon. "C'mon in," Link called to the door.

The door opened, and Leynne stepped in. "Sohry I took so long," he said as he shut the door. "I had to find Brandon in a wheat field."

Link gave Leynne a blank stare for a moment, slowly removing his elbow from the desk. "Why?"

"Drunk."

"Oh…"

Leynne took in a breath. "So, that makes Cale, Lilly, and Randy."

Link heaved a sigh and picked up a pen to jot the names down on a spare sheet of parchment. Ray, Gillam, Lwamm, Twali, Hunter, Lawrence, Botu, Geordie, Beech, Cale, Lilly, and Randy. Twelve out of his twenty-seven-man crew ready to leave. It was not a good thing for a ship already sailing with a skeleton crew, relative to company standards. At least four, maybe five, would be disembarking on the surface. The rest were transfers through the company and had to report back to Skyrider Port before either taking a different assignment or retiring. Well, that was what Link was hoping, anyway; if anyone decided to leave the way Flower had had to, it could leave him short. Link dropped the pen and fell against the back of his chair, the twist of defeat prevalent in his stomach.

"That was my impression as well," Leynne told him.

"That's almost half of my crew…"

Leynne folded his arms together. "You don't intend to take this pehsonally, do you?"

Link rubbed his eyes. "How am I supposed to take it?"

"Link, this isn't a reflection on you. To most of this crew, you've been a faih captain. But they have been through a month of hell. At the very least, they ah fatigued. It isn't anything that you've done."

"I know," Link told him before sitting up straight. "But sailing this ship is tricky enough with the crew we have now. We have to hope that we receive more transfers, or else we'll have to sit in port until we can be restaffed."

"I should think that some rest would be in ouh best interest," Leynne said. "We have all been affected by these lingering nightmahs. Most of this crew have not been themselves."

"Maybe, but the company doesn't like idle ships. If we run into staffing trouble again with only half of the crew staying, they might disband the crew."

"We might at least wahn them that Sello must be a pehmanent fixtuh."

Link gave him a tired glare. Then he found himself grinning. "And take away Sello's opportunity to 'modify' other engines?"

"I believe most othehs would moh likely say that he rigs them foh catastrophic failuh. Not that you could tell Sello that."

Link nodded in agreement. "What about you, Leynne? Are you gonna stay?"

"I cannot conceive of a reason to leave. While I've no doubt that I could find decent employment elsewheh, I've found myself moh taken with this wohk that I thought possible. Pehhaps at a lateh date, but not now." He then raised an eyebrow when a thought occurred. "You?"

"Huh?" Link asked, the direction of the conversation lost to a brief moment of distraction. "Me what?"

"Thoughts of eahly retihment?"

"Oh." Link sighed as he thought. "I… I don't know. I guess not. My dad trained me for almost half of my life for this job. It'd be… I mean, it'd be a shame to drop it all now."

"Pehhaps, but I would not undehestimate the Dreamweaveh's effect on us." Leynne looked as if he wanted to say more, but he dismissed his thoughts with a wave of his hand. "Then again, paranoia has also been the Dreamweaveh's effect, and we cannot continue guessing these things time and time again. When it happens, it will be when you ah ready."

Link nodded as he glanced at the list on his desk, hoping to himself that it would not be soon.

…

~~11/5

~~Leynne reported that he is satisfied with the new mechanisms for the mizzen-masts and will be installing them tomorrow. I thought he needed another day, but it's beginning to feel like the crew is becoming uneasy with sticking around Anlah Takeen. I at least hope this fulfilled their need for rest; I've known this crew to do some strange things if they haven't had any shore leave for a while.

~~I've said as much to Elder Ukhool as well as giving him our route on our way to the old kingdom and back up to the sky. He has promised to replenish our supplies the moment we are ready to leave. Not that we're really hurting, although the crew has asked that I replace the Sorian rations with something else because the old rations are losing taste. I don't know why; I thought they were kinda nasty before now. At least, with th—At

~~I forgot to assign someone to clean the heads. They just now brought it to my attention that they were beginning to smell.

…

~~11/6

~~The new mechanisms are installed and work better than the old ones. Leynne told me he made sure to make three copies of the blueprints and left one on the orlop just in case. I don't know how safe it really is since Sello occasionally steals things from the tool cabinet.

~~Most of the crew stayed in today. The deck crews seem convinced that we'll be leaving soon, so I think tomorrow will be a decent time to leave. I've already told the—Zelda, and she's agreed to pass our plans to Elder Ukhool for us. It seems like seeing the ship repaired has the crew anxious to leave.

~~Had another nightmare last night, but it doesn't seem to have been as intense as before. I went onto the deck, got stripped naked by the crew, and stranded ashore with Janni and Layna. At least, it feels like that should be a nightmare. I don't know, it was just weird. I guess I should point out that they were still wearing clothes.

…

The final morning of their stay at Anlah Takeen was abuzz, although Link was not sure if it was supposed to be excitement or anxiety. He was mostly relieved, partly because he had been anticipating this day as much as the crew, and partly because finally, for the first time in over a month, he had freshly-laundered clothes. It completed the "bath" (which consisted of dumping soapy water on himself and then drying, something that happened quick so he could return to the ship) he had had two days prior, giving him a clean feeling he had not had since leaving the kingdom for Obeeta. It helped his mood, and it seemed to make things on the Island Symphony that much brighter.

Leynne and Elder Ukhool were standing near the aft capstans. Once Link closed his cabin door, both turned toward him. "Good mohning, Captain," Leynne said.

"Good morning," Link replied. Then he paused as he glanced at Ukhool. "Uuuh…"

"I'm afraid that the eldeh does not quite grasp Hylian," Leynne told him. "We've only just come aboahd. He took me aside to infohm me that Ihleen has elected to remain with heh people foh the time being."

"Oh…" Link said as he looked down at the deck.

"Shall I ask heh aboahd to discuss this with heh?" Leynne asked.

Link shook his head. "No, it's all right," he replied in spite of his disappointed tone. "It was supposed to be her decision. I… guess I just wanted her to come along after all…"

"It isn't like you couldn't come back." Link glanced toward the source of the voice and saw Janni on the stairs with her head and arms resting on the inside rail.

"Janni," Ukhool said as he turned to her. "Kàtcupát lòn àtkì."

"Kákiwitat," Janni replied. "Klūnigū ħatà kácī ō. Kil igū kácīh, kápálāh ahà ō Līnça kàtpadā rùkat tanìa."

Ukhool groaned. "Ùcátī káti…" he said with a disappointed look.

"Káħīdah ùçádī kádi táwa," Janni said as she let one arm hang over the side of the rail. "Luc kácòn ahà ìptā nàctū idìa."

"What are they saying?" Link asked the air.

"I don't know, but it sounds as if Janni is being smug," Leynne told him.

"Oh, don't mind me," Janni said, idly waving her dangling arm. "I'm just reminding him of how insane I am."

"It sounds like you're taunting him with it," Link pointed out.

Janni gave him a large grin. "Well, that would be the point."

Link nodded at Ukhool and asked, "Is he here to see us off?"

"Yep."

Link and Ukhool then turned to each other. Then Ukhool offered out a hand. "Kōnwi hì Ħìrlīna nōtan nòt kákihōn, Līnca Hōwàl," he told Link.

"He says thanks for bringing Irleen home," Janni said.

Link nodded and clasped Ukhool's hand. "I'm glad we found you," he replied. "And I look forward to visiting again."

"'Káīdá klákuphūt' ħa ħawitat," Janni said. "'Àt içára ōdiá nòt káluctī' ħa ħawitat." Ukhool smiled. Then he released Link's hand and started across the deck.

Link watched him step onto the gangplank. Then he told Leynne, "Well, we got to say goodbye this time."

"I would expect anotheh oppohtunity soon," Leynne said.

Link nodded. "Is the crew ready?"

"The crew is awaiting youh command. All ready foh sail."

"We have everyone, right?"

"All aboard and accounted for." Link turned toward the front of the ship to see Zelda approaching him, clipboard on one arm. "Ready to make way, Captain."

Link placed a hand over his face. "Don't tell me you put her to work…" he groaned.

"It was heh request, Captain," Leynne answered, allowing a small grin.

Zelda, having placed her fists on her hips, gave Link an irritated look as she said, "Can I not at least try to appear as one of your crew? I feel like an idle hand whenever I embark."

"You don't 'embark'," Link argued, flailing one hand. "You sneak onboard!"

Zelda scoffed. "Well, excuuuuuse me, Captain."

Leynne cleared his throat before Link could give a rebuttal. "Captain, I think we should be going now," he spoke up.

Link groaned. "Yeah, yeah… Leynne, clear the moorings." This was said with a dismissive wave as he started toward the front of the ship. Zelda tried leaning over to get a look at his face as he stepped past. When he did not react, she gave Leynne a shrug and fell into step behind Link.

"So, Leynne," Janni spoke up. "How does it feel to be everybody's dad?"

Leynne left the question unanswered (which hardly affected the smile on Janni's face) and started across the deck behind Link and Zelda. "Dholit, cleah the moorings!" he called out.

Zelda moved to walk beside Link. "Captain? What are our plans once we reach the old kingdom?" she asked.

"We'll refill the ballast in the Snow Realm and ascend back to the sky kingdom," Link replied.

Zelda frowned. "So, we will not be stopping at any of the old settlements?"

Link sighed and used the heel of one hand to wipe an eye that felt irritated by a small breeze across the ship. "We'll probably stop at either Library Town or Hovela in the Forest Realm," he said. "Part of the crew's gonna disembark there."

"Oh, dear… I have become so fond of this crew…" Link wanted to voice agreement with her, but he was feeling depressed by the thought and simply just gave a vague sound of acknowledgement.

"Captain?" Cale said after stepping out of the port staircase just as Link was walking by. "Ouh supplies have been accounted foh. And, um… it appeahs that some of the crew have taken on souvenihs."

Link and Zelda stopped, and Leynne had to catch himself from accidentally walking into Link. "What kind of souvenirs?" Link asked, leveling an irritated look at him.

"Oh, nothing bad," Cale quickly replied with a frantic handwave. "But, it would appeah that someone has loaded up a numbah of devices and, um… pottery."

Link and Leynne gave each other a confused look. "Do we know who it was?" Leynne asked.

"The smalleh implements seem to belong to various crew," Cale explained, glancing down at a list in his hand. "The lahgeh devices belong to Sello. Um… as well as most of the pottery."

Link sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Well, at least we have something to smash over his head if he gets out of line…" he groaned to himself.

"I would at least ask that you consult me before you use any of it." Link gave Zelda a confused look. She gave him a weak grin and added, "The rest of the pottery is for Hyrule Castle."

"We're not running low, are we?" Link asked Leynne. "Some of these nearby mountains looked pretty tall…"

"I've already asked Line to compensate foh the added weight," Leynne told him. "But we seem to be reaching ouh weight limit. Ouh jouhney might be slow."

"We have foodstuffs to last us foh a week," Cale pointed out. "If anything, I would imagine we could resupply once again in the Forest Realm."

"It'll be our backup plan, then," Link said. "What about our fuel?"

"Sello has thrown off my calculations befoh," Leynne said. "I am loath to try again. I am willing to ventuh we have enough foh the voyage to the old kingdom. I can have betteh estimates afteh a day."

"Okay," Link said as he started walking again. "How bad could it be?"

"Considering Sello's ability to make a radically fuel-efficient engine, I would at least dah to make that bet," Leynne replied, he and Zelda falling into step with Link.

As the trio stepped onto the forecastle, Leynne turned and acknowledged a shout from Dholit amidships. Link and Zelda joined Line at the helm. "We gone yet?" Line asked, rolling his head to indicate his boredom.

"Are you so eager to leave, Airman Line?" Zelda asked.

"Yes," Line replied. Then he turned his head when he realized who he was talking to. Link had seen the reflexive, fear-response jump to attention before, so he was hardy surprised. Line stammered for a moment. "Y-your Princess Highness M-majesty."

"Oh," Zelda said. "I think 'Airman Zelda' would be an appropriate affixation in this case."

"Hu-wha?" Line asked.

"Call her 'Airman Zelda', or someone's gonna punch you," Link said with irritation coloring his tone. Line groaned in response.

"Captain," Leynne said as he stepped away from the staircase. "Dholit repohts all moorings cleah."

Link took in a breath. "Okay, then," he said. "Line, ahead one-quarter, bring us about."

Line's initial response was a groan as he twisted to use the control console behind him. "Ahead one-quar—… ter…" He started struggling with the left of three levers, shoving it hard while keeping both hands squeezing the handle's locking mechanism. "Oh, c'mon!" Line hollered at it before one final push caused the lever to slam into place. He heaved a breath and told Link as he moved the easy-going middle lever, "Ahead one-quarter, bringing us about, aye." Under his breath, Link heard him utter, "I'm gonna kick that grease monkey's ass…"

Link caught the grin Zelda was trying to hide by tilting her head down. "Enjoying being a part of my crew?" he asked. "With any luck, you might get in a drinking contest later."

Zelda's grin dropped. "Y-you cannot be serious," she accused him.

"I undehstand that Aihman Randy is the reigning champion on-boahd," Leynne said. "You might avoid him foh the next few days." Zelda, turning her surprised look to Leynne, gave a careful nod.

"Wait, I thought you told us not to have drinking contests," Line said.

Link gave Line an irritated frown which Zelda quickly spotted. "Captain!" Zelda snapped at him.

"Thanks a lot, Line…" Link groaned. Zelda glared at him until he had to turn away, taking interest in the nearby rigging. Then she gave Leynne an appreciative grin.

Link strode forward and watched for a moment as the tree around them began to move. He heard the squeak of a wheel that needed to be either replaced or lubed as Line started spinning the helm. The ship's response was slow, but she turned about until she was pointed toward the entrance of Anlah Takeen's port.

Thnk! "Eager to get home?"

Link turned to find Janni standing behind him. "Yeah," he answered. "Why? You wanna look around the old kingdom?"

Janni waved a hand. "If I cared, I'd say so," she told him. Then she pointed a finger up. "But she looks like she's going somewhere."

Whumph! Link jumped at the sound of something heavier hitting the deck behind him. He quickly spun.

Irleen was recovering from her landing, struggling to stand up with a thick sack strapped to her shoulders. She groaned before standing straight. "Rìláhaaaat…" she breathed.

Link looked her up and down. She had changed into a leather waistcoat over a short-sleeve shirt and worn, brown trousers of some thick material he did not immediately recognize. "Irleen?" he asked. Irleen immediately dug into her trouser pocket and handed him her translating gem. Once Link held the gem, he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I just realized something," she said. "You still have a promise you haven't kept yet."

Link blinked at her. He tried looking to Janni, but Janni could only shrug. "Wha-uh, what promise?" he asked Irleen.

Irleen raised an eyebrow at him. "Hm," she replied. "That doesn't surprise me." She folded her arms.

"You promised that you'd go back to Whittleton so Meilont could see my true form."

Link just stared at her for a moment. He could not recall making that promise, neither to Irleen nor Meilont. Then he smiled and turned to face the bowsprit. "Okay, then," he said. "Back to Whittleton."

The three of them stood in the middle of the forecastle, waiting for the morning sun to bathe the deck as they left Anlah Takeen.

…

"Where One Adventure Ends… The Story Continues"

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: DREAMWEAVER'S SHIELD By Light Onthemayo

THE END