Chapter 16: Like a Brother

It had been three hours since they'd left behind the rat-infested fortress for the open ocean. Whether those three hours were tranquil or chaotic would depend on who you were. For Link, they were teeming with busywork that Niko set him to. Link was positive that when Tetra ordered the buck-toothed pirate to keep him busy, dumping all of his chores on Link was not what she'd meant.

Nonetheless, it was what had happened, and he had been forced to grin and bear it. Until now, that is.

Now, as he emerged onto the upper deck and into the much less oppressive afternoon heat, Link could barely suppress a smile at the sight of Linebeck's immobile ship. According to Nudge, who had come to fetch him, the sea captain's ship had stalled a couple minutes ago. Why that was, no one was sure. Perhaps it was because of whatever abuse it went through days ago, or maybe it was just because of how hard the sea captain had been pushing it since they left the Forsaken Fortress. Whatever the case, until Linebeck resolved the matter, they weren't going anywhere.

And since they were bobbing in the middle of a monster infested ocean, it only seemed sensible to have someone on deck who was capable of defending both ships if necessary. Link didn't mind being nominated to act as official sea monster slayer. It was a much better sentence than being Niko's personal slave, and he was going to take full advantage of it.

After taking up a sentry-like post at one of the railings, Link dug out the fishing rod Colin had made for him -what felt like decades ago now- from his belongings and cast the line as far as he could. It was more of a gesture to ensure that no one disturbed him rather than an aspiration to actually catch something. He should've known it wouldn't work.

"Are you fishing for monsters?" Link looked over his shoulder to see the bespectacled pirate, Mako if he recalled correctly, with an amused look on his face.

"No," Link replied seriously. "I'm fishing for fish."

"You're not going to catch anything," Mako stated as if it were a fact rather than his own opinion. Link's gaze flicked to the ocean, then returned to Mako.

"You're joking, right?" There had to be millions of fish swimming below the surface. Granted, he hadn't gotten a bite yet, but then, he'd only just cast his line.

"Why would I joke?" Mako wondered. Link only raised his eyebrows at that in a you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me manner. Practically ever since he'd first set foot on the ship, Tetra's pirates had discovered a penchant for exploiting his lack of knowledge. They constantly cracked jokes at his expense. The real question was: why wouldn't he joke?

"Yeah, why would Mako joke?" Tetra's first mate, Gonzo, said as he came over to join them. Link barely restrained himself from groaning. "He's not funny. But I'll tell ya what, if you do catch something, I'll give you a million rupees."

"Do you even have that kind of money?" Link asked, though he didn't really care. He just wanted them to leave. Maybe when the man realized he didn't have the money he was betting, he'd go find some way to scrounge it up and leave him be.

No such luck.

"Doesn't matter 'cause you're not catchin' nothin'," Gonzo replied, his arms crossed confidently over his barrel chest.

Link just shook his head and turned back to the sparkling sea. These men were ridiculous, and he had more important matters to address. Namely, what was wrong with Kid.

His counterpart had been acting strange ever since this morning. At first, Link had attributed it to Kid's injury. He knew for a fact that it was fairly hard to be pleasant or rational when you were in pain. However, he also knew that being in pain, meant that sleep was tantalizing on account of the fact that all feeling tends to melt away in the hazy clutches of sleep. But rest, as far as Link had gathered, was something of a foreign concept to the wounded boy at the moment. Kid insisted on being awake and alert along with the rest of them despite the fact that Tetra forbid him from doing anything that would put strain on his arm, so he couldn't really do much besides talk.

And Kid wasn't willing to do that either. He'd barely said a word all day; not that he was normally a chatterbox but he would still talk. Now, Kid only said what he absolutely had to, and since they'd returned to the ship, that had been nothing. In fact, he seemed to be making it his own private mission to avoid the rest of them as much as possible, Link in particular.

There could only be one reason for that. Kid was mad at him. Exactly why that was, however, Link had no clue. He couldn't recall doing anything to evoke such hostility from his counterpart. Yet, he had to have done something or else Kid wouldn't be avoiding him like the plague right now.

'Think,' Link willed himself, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the chatter of the pirates behind him. 'What have you done in the last twenty-four hours?'

He'd started teaching Kid some of the hidden skills his ancestor, the Hero of Time, had taught him. He'd battled a sea monster. He'd saved Kid from drowning. Could that be it? No. It couldn't be. Kid had shown nothing but gratitude afterwards. In fact, he'd told him last night that he didn't blame him for it. The only one that blamed him for it, Link realized, was himself.

But that was for good reason. He was the Hero Chosen by the Gods. Monsters weren't anything new for him. Admittedly, sea monsters weren't his specialty, as he'd had limited exposure to those, but they were still monsters nonetheless. Which meant he should have been able to handle it before it got too dangerous for any of them. But he hadn't, and Kid had paid the price.

For that, he was sorry beyond words, but a simple apology wouldn't magically fix his mistakes. They were too severe for that. Link knew that if the Hero's Shade could see him now, he'd definitely be disappointed. In fact, he'd be furious with him. He'd admonish him for neglecting his training in the time after his adventure. He'd tell him that lack of being in peril was no excuse to let his skills grow sloppy. And Link would concede that he was right. It was no excuse, but he'd used it as one because he hadn't known what else to do. No amount of fighting or adventuring would let him reunite with his friend, and partner in saving the world, again. Or, at least, that's what he'd thought.

Now Midna was here, with him. Probably in his shadow, and his swordsmanship was suffering and so was his counterpart. All because-

Link stumbled forward, his stomach slamming into the railing and his eyes shooting open in surprise as his fishing rod suddenly came to life in his hands. Instinctively, he pulled back on the rod, which was already bending to the will of the fish on the other end, and readjusted his stance, digging his heels into the floor as best as he could.

Something was definitely biting. And it was big.

As Link struggled to reel it in, praying that his fishing rod could take the pressure, he dimly heard the shouts of the pirates behind him urging him to stop and let it go, but there was no chance of that happening. If he let it go, it would take his rod with it, and he wasn't letting that happen. It was too precious to part with.

So, with a battle cry he usually reserved for, well, battle, Link gave the line a violent tug. The fish shot out of the water for him to see that it wasn't a fish at all, but a Gyorg.

Mouth hanging open in utter shock, Link watched as the fishing line snapped and the Gyorg all but flew over his head and the heads of the pirates to the other side of the ship where it crashed back into the water with a mighty splash.

Stunned, Link could do nothing but stare at where the monster shark had disappeared. Then the ship rocked dangerously, and he dropped the fishing rod.

"Link!" Tetra snapped from the bow, but he was already moving towards the other side of the ship, his bow in hand and arrow nocked.

He made it to the railing just as the shark-like monster was about to ram the pirate ship again, and released the projectile. It struck the Gyorg and halted the monster's attack but didn't kill it, so Link prepared a second arrow and fired.

That did the trick, and suddenly the Gyorg was no more. Link let out a relieved breath as he lowered his bow and turned to find Tetra regarding him with the evil eye, hands on hips.

"Just what was that?" she demanded.

Link opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He hardly knew what had just happened himself.

Luckily, the pirates were there to provide their captain with an answer.

"That was awesome!"

"No!" Tetra objected, whirling around to glare disapprovingly at whoever had spoken. "It was not awesome!" Turning back to him, she said, "Why, in Nayru's name, are you trying to attract Gyorgs?!"

"I'm not!" Link exclaimed, throwing his hands up defensively. "I was just fishing!"

"Fish-?!" Disbelief came over the young girl's face, then mirth. Tetra doubled over laughing, actually laughing, and Link took a step back in shock. In all his time knowing her, Tetra had been all scowls and frowns. Smirks were the closest she'd ever come to a real smile. He hadn't thought her capable, as ludicrous as it may seem, of laughing. Yet here she was, holding her stomach and shaking with giggles. For the first time, she was acting like the child she should be, or would've been had none of this crazy destiny stuff ever happened, and he was loath to interrupt her because of it.

Shortly after the pirates joined in, however, Link was sick of being left out of the loop.

He cleared his throat. "Tetra? What's the joke here?"

"You and your idiocy!" she cried good-naturedly, straightening and trying, but failing, to wipe the smile off her face. "The Great Sea is a fishless ocean!"

"It's…" he trailed off, unable to comprehend what Tetra was telling him. "It can't be."

"It is," Tetra declared so matter-of-factly that it rendered arguing futile. That didn't stop him from trying, though.

"B-but how? I thought you said-" He shook his head. "Someone said something about fishermen before…?" Link couldn't accept that there were no fish in a body of water as massive as the one they were sailing on. There were plenty of fish found in rivers and ponds in Hyrule. Why not here?

"'Fishermen' is a pet name for sea monster hunters," she informed him with a wink. "But I can understand the confusion."

"Alright, I guess that makes sense, but - wait a minute! What have we been eating?!" He recalled, much too vividly at the moment, having a lunch not too long ago that tasted, and appeared, very fish-like.

Tetra nearly burst out laughing again, and Link suddenly decided that he didn't want to know.

"Never mind!" he exclaimed hastily. "I have a better question."

Tetra nodded, and he continued. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

She shrugged. "I thought Kid told you."

"He didn't."

Tetra scoffed. "Obviously. Look, you know now, so don't do it again, alright?"

"I won't. Actually, I can't. My line broke," Link admitted.

"Ah, well then, consider that your punishment," Tetra smirked, effectively shattering the illusion of an innocent child, and Link stepped around her to retrieve his rod and broken line. By some miracle, Ralis's earring was still attached, and Link silently thanked the goddesses for it as he stowed it away. He didn't know what he would've done if he'd lost it.

"Oi! Gonzo, are you going to pay him or what?" Mako's voice caught his attention, and Link listened in quiet amusement as the two pirates conversed while he gathered up the broken line from the floor.

"Don't be ridiculous, Mako. Of course I'm not. He didn't catch any fish, yeah?"

"He caught a Gyorg," Mako countered, "and I recall you saying 'if you catch something' so…"

"You don't have to pay me anything," Link interjected upon glancing up and noticing Gonzo's expression of horror. "I know you were just joking."

"Eh, still…"

Link shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

And yet, despite his insistence, Gonzo worried about it, so they ended up coming to a compromise a few minutes later. Instead of making Link a millionaire, Gonzo would buy him a new line for his fishing rod when they reached Windfall Island.

However, reaching the island was still out of the question for the time being, so Link took up his previous post at the railing, his quiver slung over his shoulder and his bow resting in his lap. If any more monsters showed up, he'd definitely be ready.

But after ten minutes of watching the water, nothing appeared. He glanced over at Linebeck's ship, but it was impossible to tell if any progress was being made or not since whatever needed fixing was inside the ship.

"Link." He jumped, surprised that he hadn't heard Zelda approach. Their eyes met and she announced, "Kid wants you."

"He does?" Link wondered, skeptical. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I think you two need to talk."

"What's wrong?" Link asked, hoping Zelda knew, but the princess gave a small shake of her head.

"I do not know. I didn't pry because it's not my place to," she explained. "But I think it may be yours."

Link could only nod in agreement. Even though he couldn't determine the exact problem, he did know one thing for sure. Whatever was wrong with Kid had to do with him.

As Link stood, his bow clattered to the ground, and he sighed. How had he forgotten that so easily?

"Wait. I can't," Link groaned, retrieving his bow from the ground cursing his new job for the first time. "I'm on monster duty." Normally he wouldn't care if he made Tetra mad, but she'd been in a pretty good mood since they'd left the fortress, and he didn't really want to squander it. Plus, there were real dangers in the water, and if no one else had arrows to take care of them…

"I'll cover for you," Zelda offered, taking the bow out of his hand and slipping the quiver off his shoulder almost before he could blink. "Kid's in Niko's obstacle course room."

Link smiled. "Thanks, Zelda."

"Of course. Though, if you don't mind me asking, what was all that commotion earlier?"

"Nothing," Link replied hastily.

"Nothing doesn't rock the ship," Zelda countered with a knowing smile.

"Ask one of the pirates," Link advised her before walking briskly towards the door that would take him inside of the pirate ship. He didn't want to keep Kid waiting any longer than he had to, especially since his counterpart actually wanted to talk to him after ignoring him all day. Link figured that was progress. How it had gotten to this point, Link didn't know, nor did he care. If he could talk to Kid and have his counterpart cooperate, then they could resolve whatever was wrong.

Armed with optimism, Link hurried below decks to the room Zelda had told him he'd find Kid in. What he didn't know until he arrived at his destination was that Kid was armed as well. The mere sight of his counterpart sitting atop a crate with a determined frown on his face and a wooden sword in his hand was enough to make Link falter.

He quickly regained his forward momentum, though, believing that he could salvage the situation. Surely, it wasn't what it looked like. And it wasn't. Until Kid said in a tone that was all business and no play, "Train me."

Link searched his counterpart's emerald eyes for any sign of mischief as he drew closer, but came up empty.

Trying not to betray his disappointment, Link came to a stop a couple feet from his counterpart. "I can't."

"Won't," Kid corrected him immediately as if he'd been anticipating Link's response for a while now.

"Okay, won't," Link conceded. "But for good reason. You've pushed it enough today."

"I didn't push anything."

That was a lie. Shortly after they'd returned to the pirate ship from the fortress, Zelda had had to tend to and re-bandage Kid's arm because his wound had reopened again. It didn't take a genius to figure out what would happen if Kid continued to be rough with his arm, and Link wasn't about to be the reason why Kid's wound was aggravated a third time.

"Kid, give me the sword," he ordered, holding out his hand for the wooden weapon.

His counterpart only tightened his grip on the hilt and scowled at him. The loathing in Kid's eyes took Link aback, but he didn't let it dissuade him. If anything, his resolve was strengthened by the boy's stubbornness.

"Or don't," Link said, dropping his hand to his side. "Just listen. I-"

"No. Train me," Kid insisted.

"Not a chance," Link returned.

"Why?"

"How about you tell me why you want me to train you while you're hurt?" Link requested, crossing his arms over his chest. Kid may have won earlier with the Forsaken Fortress thing, but he was not going to win this time. Link wouldn't allow it.

"How about you answer my question first?" Kid shot back, mirroring his stance, though it was difficult to do with a sword in his hand, and Link would have to be blind to not see the pain it caused the young boy to move his left arm.

"Fine. I'm not training you because you're hurt, and I don't want you to hurt yourself even worse," Link summed up, a bit miffed that he had to spell it out. "Your turn."

"Because I need it," Kid declared with such ferocity that Link was startled into surrendering his stern stance. "Whether I'm hurt or not doesn't matter. In fact, if I'm hurt, all the better because every time it hurts while we train it'll remind me exactly why I'm doing it! It's because I'm not as good as you are. And I know now that you don't want me to be. You like that I'm weaker than you!"

"Wha-what are you talking about?!" Link exclaimed, shaking his head in bafflement. Where was all of this coming from suddenly? "I don't think that at all!"

"Then why do you protect me all the time?" Kid demanded, tossing the sword aside. It echoed with a dull clatter as it struck the ground. "Why do you act like I can't do anything myself?! Like if I do I'll break or something?"

"I don't act like-" Link stopped, realizing Kid was right. "Okay, maybe I do. But I don't do it because I think you're weak or you can't handle yourself."

"Then why?"

Link just shook his head in response. He didn't know. Or he did, but it wasn't something he could explain. It was hardly something he'd ever tried to put into coherent thought, much less words. Yet, one look at Kid, and Link knew he had to try. There was no other way to placate his counterpart.

"I-" Link snapped his mouth shut. This had to come out right. If it didn't, Link could tell just by the way that Kid was perched on the edge of his seat that he would storm off, and who knew when the boy would feel like talking to him again, if ever.

Briefly, Link wondered how Kid had turned the spotlight on his feelings rather than his own.

He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the words about to tumble out of his mouth as much as he was drawing in air to speak. "It's, well, it's weird. When I first met you, I don't know why, but I felt some kind of connection with you, like … like I'd known you longer than I actually have.

"And I never understood that, or … thought I understood it, until later, when you pulled out the Master Sword and we thought you guys were from the future. Then I … I don't know." Link ran an unconscious hand through his hair. "I thought that maybe … maybe we were blood related, and that made me happy because I've never had that. I mean, technically I have, but only until I was two, and I don't even remember it. I don't remember my parents at all. I don't know what kind of people they were. I don't even know how they died. But, however it happened, I didn't have the power to stop it.

"So I wanted to protect you since I could, and I guess that feeling just … stuck even after I found out that you weren't who I thought you were. It still feels like you are. To me, you're like…" 'A brother.' The words were there, but Link didn't utter them, afraid of the response he would receive if he did. Acceptance? Rejection? Could he handle the latter, now that he'd named his feelings? Could he withstand losing what he felt to be the last remnants of his real family?

"Like what?" Kid demanded, but it lacked the ferocity from before and came off as more cautious than anything.

"Like … family," Link amended, his eyes on the ground. As soon as he said it, he wanted to snatch it back and bury it deep within his thoughts where no one could uncover it. To turn back time and say something else or nothing at all. But it was too late for that. All he could do now was stand in the silence and wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And then, after what felt like an eternity and a day, Kid spoke. "…Oh." It was just one word, but it was filled with understanding and regret and not a trace of anger, and it was enough to encourage Link to raise his head.

As soon as he did, he saw that Kid's head was bowed just as his had been, his windswept golden-blonde hair obscuring his eyes. "I'm sorry…" Kid whispered so softly that even Link's heightened senses had trouble picking it up. "I just … I-I'm not used to people caring."

Link furrowed his brow at that, waiting for his counterpart to continue but he didn't. He just kept his eyes downcast, worrying the hem of his shirt with his fingers. He looked different in regular clothes. It was easier for Link to see the boy in him, rather than the hero. In a way, his clothes made him look smaller too. Or maybe it was just the way he was holding himself. "What do you mean?" Link prompted. He was fairly certain that Kid's grandmother cared about him, as did Aryll, and, well, Linebeck was debatable…

Kid looked up at him, green eyes gleaming. "I mean when I'm doing hero stuff or when I'm not at home which is … all the time now. If I get hit or knocked down, no one's ever there to ask me if I'm okay, like you do, or if they are, it doesn't matter because they need me and everything relies on me, so I have to be okay regardless."

Link didn't know what to say. What could he say? I'm sorry that the goddesses dumped the world on your shoulders? It could be worse? Link knew for a fact that it couldn't. Throughout his adventure, whenever things had been especially rough, he'd always console himself by thinking, 'At least I'm not alone.' But Kid had been alone. Despite the glorified versions of his adventures that Kid had spun for him, Link knew that they were worse than his. Kid had to venture through temples and dungeons on his own with little to no support. It was no wonder he felt this way, and Link couldn't help but feel guilty for not noticing it sooner.

Even so, that was in the past, and Kid didn't have to feel that way anymore because he wasn't alone. "I know how you feel. I felt the same way on my adventure." Granted, he'd had more help and less of a right to feel that way, but the fact still remained that he was the only one that could've saved both the realm of light and the realm of twilight from the evil forces conspiring against them, no matter the might of his friends. And, yet, he wouldn't have been able to do it without them. "But now it's different. Me, you, Zelda, and Tetra … we're all doing this together because not one of us can do it alone. So, if something's wrong, you don't have to hide it. Please don't hide it. Tell me, or tell Zelda, or Tetra, or whoever you think can help, and I guarantee you that they will. …I will. And if you're ever really hurting or scared, you can back out. None of us will judge you for it."

"Tetra would," Kid responded with a hint of regret as if by saying such a thing he was ratting out her harsh tendencies. But Link was already well aware of them.

"She just wants you to think that," Link said. "She really wouldn't."

"You don't know her like I do," Kid mumbled.

"Maybe not, but I do know that she isn't invincible. Things hurt her too, and I may not know exactly what they are, but I know they're there. She wouldn't act the way she does if they weren't."

Kid took this in in silence, his eyes drifting away and growing distant.

"Look, I'm sorry," Link apologized, making sure to catch Kid's eye to show him his sincerity. "On top of … of what I just explained to you, I tend to protect those younger than me. It's just a habit, and if it really offends you, I'll-"

"It doesn't," Kid interjected suddenly. "Not anymore... Before, I didn't realize that was why you… and I don't mind. It's … nice that you care about me, and now that you mention it, I guess it does kind of feel like we're family. It's just…" Kid trailed off, biting his lip as if clamping down on words he knew were unkind.

"Lay off a bit?" Link suggested, knowing fully well how overprotective he could be at times.

Kid gave him a sheepish smile. "Yeah."

"I'll try," he promised. "And I'm sorry that I made you think I thought you were weak. I don't think that at all. I actually think the opposite."

Surprise alighted on his counterpart's face. "Y-You do?"

"Yes, I do," Link replied honestly. Kid, however, didn't look convinced, so he added, "I really do. I wouldn't lie about that."

"Not even to make me feel better?" Kid asked, skeptical.

"Not even to make you feel better," he confirmed. His counterpart absorbed this information with a frown, and Link decided there could only be one explanation for that. "What makes you think you're weak?"

Kid looked away, and Link followed his gaze to the wooden sword he'd cast aside in anger earlier. "You beat me so easily, and you barely had to try."

"Kid … that doesn't-"

"But it does!" Kid insisted, tearing his eyes away from the sword and to Link. The fire in them wasn't as fierce as last time. The anger had burned away. Nothing was left of it but dying embers. Yet, it was still there, its path redirected. "I'm nowhere near as good as you are with a sword." Kid dropped his head and began to toy with the golden bracelet around his left wrist. "And even without a sword you're stronger than me. But I guess that makes sense. I'm not goddess chosen like you are. Not really, 'cause if I was … I wouldn't have had to collect all the pieces of the Triforce of Courage. They would've just given it to me like they did to you."

"That's not true," Link declared, shaking his head as if by doing so he'd be able to get the thought out of his counterpart's head. "This?" He took off his glove and held up his left hand so Kid could plainly see the sacred mark there. "This doesn't mean anything. It's just a mark."

"Actually, Master," Fi said, appearing beside Kid in a burst of lavender light that startled them both. "That is the Triforce of Courage, and it is a vital part of the sacred relic left behind by the goddesses when they departed for the heavens."

"I-I know, Fi, but I was…" He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Leave it to the sword spirit to jump in at the worst time with her facts.

"She's right," Kid said. "It's not just a mark."

"Yeah, she's right," Link admitted reluctantly, letting his hand fall back to his side. "It's not, but it doesn't make you a hero either."

"Master-"

"Fi, dismissed," Link snapped, surprised when she dipped into what he perceived as a small curtsey and disappeared back into the Master Sword on Kid's back. Until now, he'd never taken advantage of Fi's servant attitude. Truthfully, he felt a little guilty for doing so, but he quickly shook it off and turned back to Kid, who was regarding him uncertainly.

"Look, the Triforce of Courage is powerful, but it doesn't give you courage, and it doesn't make you stronger. Yes, I've had it all my life, but it hasn't done anything for me, really. Not until I stepped into the Twilight. All my swordsmanship … that came from years of training. My physical strength? That came from practicing with a sword and being a ranch hand. So you see? You can't compare yourself to me like that. It doesn't work. You're younger than me and you've grown up differently. In fact, you're still growing. Your swordsmanship as it is right now is good. Really good. Actually, it's scary good considering how little real training you've had.

"And as for the Triforce of Courage, you didn't get it until the very end of your first adventure, and you want to know why?" Kid opened his mouth to reply, but Link didn't let him. "It's because you didn't need it. Think about it. You went through so much to save your sister and then some, and you didn't have that mark on your hand that whole time." Kid's eyes flitted down to rest on the back of his left hand where the Triforce symbol was glowing faintly.

"I guess you're right…" Kid said finally.

"No, I am right," Link corrected him.

Kid cracked a wry smile. "Maybe."

"Definitely," Link countered with unwavering confidence.

Kid let out a small laugh, and Link took that as proof of his victory in the matter.

"Come on," Link said, slipping his glove back on and offering his hand to Kid. "You can help me with monster duty."

"I thought you didn't want me using my arm," Kid pointed out, taking his hand and sliding off of the crate to the floor.

"I don't, but you don't have to use your arm to help me keep a lookout," Link explained as they headed for the ladder.

"Oh yeah, you definitely need another lookout," Kid remarked.

"Why do you say that?" he wondered as he started up the ladder.

"Because something hit the ship earlier."

"Yeah … that was a Gyorg," Link informed him, cresting the ladder. "It was not too happy to be thrown into the air."

"What?"

Link laughed. "You missed good stuff while you were down here."

"What happened?" Kid asked as he began to scale the ladder, slower than Link had on account of his injury.

"I was fishing, and I caught a Gyorg," Link summed up, figuring that his counterpart would be entertained plenty by the pirates recounts of the event when they reached the deck.

"Why were you fishing?" Kid wondered.

"You're not impressed by the catching a sea monster part?" Link asked. In his opinion, it was the best part.

"No, I am, but … why were you fishing in a fishless sea?"

"Because no one told me it was fishless!"

"Really? I thought I did." Kid frowned, then gave him a sheepish smile. "I guess not. Whoops."

"Yeah, whoops." Link agreed, smiling.

When Kid reached the top of the ladder a few seconds later, the two of them made their way out of the stuffy room and above decks where Link relieved Zelda of her temporary position as sea monster slayer, and Kid settled down beside him to help him keep a lookout.

It wasn't long before the task grew dull, causing Kid to ask Link to elucidate on what exactly had happened with the Gyorg earlier. Link could hardly utter a word before the pirates crowded them, eager to enlighten Kid about the momentous event. Of course, each pirate's recollection was slightly different and more far-fetched than the last, but Link could tell that Kid enjoyed the exaggerated versions, so he didn't bother correcting them. He'd tell Kid the real version later if he wanted to hear it.

The squawking of seagulls and the whoosh of the waves seemed to become louder as the tales ended and the pirates drifted back to their own duties, but they were quickly drowned out again as Link requested that Kid inform him of the many wonders and terrors of the Great Sea that he hadn't had the pleasure of encountering yet.

And so Link came to learn of the giant squids called Big Octos with multiple eyes, whose very presence bred whirlpools and stormy skies. He learned about the mysterious traveling merchants, who were essentially Gorons living on rafts, that traded all sorts of treasures from the packs on their backs. He learned of Boko Babas, plant monsters native to Forest Haven, whose seeds could be used to make blue potion in place of the very rare, and therefore difficult to acquire, blue chu jelly. And, of course, he learned of the hidden cave on Pawprint Isle, where ChuChus of all colors resided. With that information came talk of the five different types of ChuChus, some of which could only be defeated with light, and others of which generated electricity as a defense mechanism.

He learned of the Great Sea's ever changing weather, how it could be sunny one minute and storming the next with little to no warning whatsoever. He learned of the enormous black pig on Outset, who had been named Link, after Kid, and Link himself couldn't help but think of Sera and the cat she'd insisted on naming after him in his own south-set village. He learned that All-Purpose Bait was good for more than just bribing rats out of their holes. It was useful for getting Fishmen to reveal their secrets and for getting Link the Pig to dig in dark soil for buried treasure.

In addition, he learned about Hyoi Pears and their ability to allow a person to control seagulls. As one might expect, he wasn't completely convinced that this magical fruit was real until Kid conducted a demonstration for him, balancing a pear atop his head until it was snatched up by a seagull, which Kid then directed to fly above them and come to land on Link's outstretched arm.

He learned more about the fishermen. About how they hunted down monsters to ensure that the sailors and treasure hunters of the Great Sea remained safe, or at least, safer than they would be otherwise. About how the really skilled ones could preserve the meat of the sea monsters they slayed and sell it to be cooked as a delicacy. Of course, Link wanted to know if Kid had ever tried it, and the boy admitted that he had not, but had heard from many sources that it was, contrary to what one would think, quite delicious.

He then learned of the seven Great Fairies scattered across the sea, most of whose fountains lay deep within conch-shell-like structures on little islets of their own. These very noteworthy fairies, Kid informed him, did not appear very fairy like at all, for they did not possess wings. In fact, they only vaguely resembled humans, their physique feminine, yet very unhuman-like on account of the four spindly arms they sported, not to mention their pupil-less eyes and their shimmering gowns of varying hue that ended in a curled spiral like some stiff ribbon. Yet, despite their appearance, they were very pleasant to be around and had helped Kid on numerous occasions.

As it only seemed fair, Link told Kid about the only Great Fairy he knew, tucked away in the Cave of Ordeals in the far reaches of the Gerudo Desert, scantily clad in little more than a wrap about her waist, her long, sea foam green hair preserving her modesty and her vibrant wings that seemed to be made entirely of rainbows and sprouted from her pale back like flower petals. Of course, Link mentioned her helpfulness as well, occasionally sending fairies to select spirit springs for him and giving him a bottle of her tears, strangely purple, yet a miracle cure-all as far as he knew.

Their talk sufficiently whittled away the next hour and a half, and just before it could turn too serious, Linebeck managed to get his ship working, and they were sailing to Windfall Island once more.

Despite the fact that they were no longer needed on deck, the two heroes chose to stay right where they were, their conversation turning into more of a game to see who could come up with the weirdest person he'd ever met on his travels. They were soon joined by Tetra and Zelda and a select few of the pirates, all of whom had their own tales to tell about oddballs they'd met.

It took about three more hours to reach Windfall by Link's estimate, which was very rough considering he'd been paying more attention to the people talking than the time, and when they arrived, they arrived to a very ticked off Jolene. Suddenly, Link viewed Linebeck's insistence to dock at the actual docking space instead of the back of the island as a smart decision rather than a cowardly one.

"Where were you?!" the she-pirate demanded, staring down Tetra from the beach when the pirate ship came to a halt, though her position made it less like staring down and more like staring up. "We've been waiting for hours!" Behind her, Jolene's crew grumbled amongst themselves as if torn between wanting to back up their captain and not wanting to evoke the wrath of Tetra.

Tetra, for her part, was nonchalant as she leaned on the railing. "I tried to tell you that you couldn't do anything without my money. It's not my fault you didn't listen."

"That doesn't explain why you're late!" Jolene snapped. "The wind kept the entire time so sailing here shouldn't have taken you more than six hours!"

Tetra rolled her eyes. "Do you want supplies or not?"

"Wha-I … yes!" Jolene exclaimed, flustered in her fury.

"Then don't question me," Tetra declared before turning her back on the irate she-pirate.

"Zelda, give me your wallet," Tetra ordered, holding out her hand expectantly.

"Whatever is the matter with me accompanying you?" Zelda inquired, making no moves to grant her counterpart's wishes.

"Well … nothing," Tetra admitted. "I just thought you didn't want to come, but if you do, then let's go."

"Wait, miss! Can't we come too?" Gonzo wanted to know.

"Ugh, fine," Tetra replied reluctantly, "but someone has to stay behind and watch the ship." She looked pointedly at Niko.

"Aw, come on! I never get shore leave!" Niko complained.

"I'll stay," Link spoke up.

Niko beamed. "Thanks, swabbie!"

Link nodded, but he wasn't really doing it for Niko. He was doing it because he wasn't too keen on having to lose his sea legs again. Earlier, he'd learned that getting rid of his sea legs was nearly as difficult as gaining them, and he'd rather not repeat the process more than he had to.

"You do know what staying behind means, don't you?" Tetra checked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Uh … staying on the ship?" Link guessed.

"You're guarding it," Tetra informed him.

"You guys are pirates. I don't think anyone's stupid enough to try to rob you," Link pointed out.

"You'd be surprised, and people are getting stupider nowadays anyhow," Tetra said. "So, stay on the ship and don't leave it unless one of us comes back to take over. Got it?"

"Got it," Link confirmed, though he still found the whole guarding business unnecessary.

Satisfied, Tetra ordered Niko to grab the rope ladder, and Link watched as they left the ship one by one; first Tetra, then Zelda, then the pirates until it was only him, Kid, and Niko left. Link stepped forward to hold the ladder steady for Niko, who thanked him, yet again, for his generosity. With a tinge of guilt, Link smiled and waved away the gratitude, unwilling to admit that he hadn't been thinking of the buck-toothed pirate when he'd made the offer.

"Aren't you going?" Link asked his counterpart after Niko reached the narrow stretch of sand that served as a beach, and Kid didn't make any attempts to follow.

"No," Kid said. "I don't really want to."

Link turned back around, preparing to call down to the others that Kid was staying behind with him, but found that they were too impatient, or rather, Jolene was too impatient, and they were already leaving, arguing amongst themselves.

'They'll figure it out,' Link assured himself as he took up the rope ladder.

"Finally!" Midna's voice startled him so much that he nearly dropped the ladder. "It feels like I've been cooped up in the shadows for ages."

"I thought you liked the shadows," Kid commented as Link finished taking up the rope ladder and set it aside. Personally, Link thought he wouldn't mind being in the shadows. It had to be cooler there than it was out here in the sun.

"Oh, I do," Midna replied, stretching her arms above her head. "It's just that it gets kind of boring sometimes, and I don't get to talk to you guys much. Seriously, do you know how much restraint it took to bite my tongue when Link caught that Gyorg earlier? Or when you were talking about Great Sea things? Or people? Gods, have I met people!"

"Well, you don't have to hold back anymore. What'd you want to say earlier?" Link wondered.

Midna sighed as if he were being particularly moronic, and she didn't have time for it. "It's about being in the moment, Link! If I said the things I wanted to say then, now, it wouldn't be half as funny."

"Then what do you want to talk about?" he asked.

"I don't want to talk. I want to do something. I swear that you guys were the only ones that got to do anything as long as we've been here!" Midna exclaimed.

"What do you want to do?" Link felt that their options were pretty limited seeing as they had to stay on the ship.

"How should I know? What's there to do here, Kid?" Midna queried, turning hurriedly to Kid, like if she wasn't entertained soon she'd die of boredom.

"Um … we could play a card game," Kid suggested.

"You light dwellers and your card games make no sense to me," Midna declared. She folded her arms. "What else have you got?"

Kid bit his lip in thought. "Drawing?"

Link actually liked the sound of that. Before he'd become a hero, he'd enjoyed drawing and sketching. Somewhere in his house he had countless sketches of Ordon and even one of Sera's cat. Drawing spoke of peaceful times. Different times, and he welcomed it. Midna, however, shot the proposition down just as she had the last and Kid was left brainstorming once more.

"How about I Spy?" Link spoke up upon noticing that Kid's well of ideas had run dry.

"What are you, five?" Midna wondered.

"And a half," Link replied with mock pride, causing Midna to roll her eyes and Kid to smile. "If you don't want to talk, there's really nothing else to do anyway."

"But there's barely anything around here to see!" Midna protested, gesturing to their dull surroundings. Link couldn't disagree there.

"We could use my sister's telescope to see farther," Kid suggested.

"And I have my Hawkeye," Link added.

"Okay, fine, we'll play your kiddie game," Midna consented. "But I get to go first."

Neither Link nor Kid objected, and the Twilight Princess grabbed the painted telescope out of Kid's hands, claiming that she didn't want to look like an idiot by using Link's Hawkeye.

After peering through the telescope for a few moments, Midna said, "I spy something blue."

"The sky," Link guessed, not even bothering to put on the Hawkeye.

Midna lowered the telescope and handed it back to Kid. "Like I'd pick something so obvious."

"So I guess the ocean is out too?" Link wondered, preparing to take a closer look.

"Yup."

"It's not my shirt, is it?" Kid asked.

"I wasn't even looking at you! Geez, you two are bad at this." Midna huffed, but she was smiling.

"Give us a minute," Link said, putting the Hawkeye on and searching the island for a hint of blue.

Kid beat him to it. "The pots?"

"Not even close."

Directing his gaze away from the blue pottery Kid had drawn his attention to, Link scoured the island for the object Midna had in mind. A few seconds later, he found it, but it wasn't on the island.

"It's the top of Linebeck's ship," Link declared triumphantly, removing the Hawkeye from his face and turning to look at Midna.

"Nope."

"What? But nothing else is blue!" he pointed out.

"You're wrong, wolf boy," Midna replied. "Keep looking."

Link wasn't so sure about that, but he equipped the Hawkeye once more anyway, resuming his search. The island consisted of the same earthy colors. Lots of green, brown, grey and tan. But no blue.

"The flag?" Kid spoke up suddenly.

"Yes!" Midna exclaimed.

"What flag?" Link wondered. He saw some flags on top of buildings but not one of them were blue.

"The one on the top of the lighthouse, where the Ferris wheel is," Kid supplied. Link directed his gaze to the lighthouse and sure enough there was a flag flapping at the very top.

"That's only a third blue!" Link protested.

"So? It's still a blue stripe. It counts. No one ever said whatever we spy has to be one color," Midna returned cheekily. "Anyway, Kid, it's your turn."

"I spy something … white," Kid said, his sister's telescope raised to his eye.

Link turned back to the island, Hawkeye on his face.

"Linebeck's ship?" Link guessed.

"Nope."

"The fence?" Midna wondered.

"No."

"Uh…" Link swept his gaze over the island, trying to pay attention to every detail. As his gaze flew past the blades of grass, Link saw it. "Oh! The flowers."

"Nuh uh."

"Darn, that would've been a good one," Midna remarked.

A few moments passed in searching silence before the Twilight Princess spoke again. "Do you count the buildings as white?"

"Not really."

"Don't tell me it's that stupid flag again," Link said as his eyes landed on the red, white, and blue striped flag on top of the lighthouse.

"Ha ha, no."

"Is it a seagull?" Midna asked, causing Link to direct his own gaze to the sky and pick out one of the wheeling birds.

"No."

"Ugh! Who's the closest?" Midna demanded.

"You were close with your last guess," Kid informed her.

Link gasped. "The clouds!"

"Yes, but which cloud?"

"No! That's not how this works!" Midna objected. "There's a million clouds in the sky. There's no way we're guessing the exact one you had your eyes on."

"There aren't a million," Kid said, smiling knowingly.

"Whatever! They're close enough together!"

"Is it that one?" Link wondered, pointing to a puffy cloud on the right.

"No."

"Don't encourage him!" Midna exclaimed. Link took another guess in response, pointing out a different cloud. It wasn't that he wanted to make Midna mad, but Kid was acting more like himself again, and Link had no intentions of discouraging it. If Kid wanted to act silly, Link was more than happy to let him.

Five guesses later and Link had located the cloud, a wispy puff of a thing to the left.

"About time! Take your turn already!" Midna commanded. "I wanna go again before they come back."

"Relax, we have plenty of time," Link assured her. The others hadn't been gone ten minutes, and considering how wonderfully they got along, they weren't going to be back for a while.

"You two do," Midna shot back bitterly. "I don't."

"Midna, if-"

"Shut up and take your turn before I steal it," Midna ordered. The playfulness had all but left her tone.

Part of him wanted to push the topic. He didn't want her feeling left out, and if hiding in the shadows was such a hindrance to her, he was sure that they could figure out something. Letting the pirates know about her couldn't be so bad. They'd been enamored with Fi. Yet, he supposed that Fi was different. She was an emotionless spirit that exuded light. Midna was a shadow being, which could be very off-putting to relatively normal people, especially in her current form. Still, they never knew until they tried. Midna didn't seem to want to try though, so Link let it go for the time being and slipped the Hawkeye onto his face, scanning the island for something interesting.

He smirked. They were never going to guess this one. "I spy something red."

"The postbox?" Kid guessed.

"No."

"The front of Linebeck's ship?" Midna speculated.

"Nope."

"The uh…" Midna flew a little higher to get a better view. She wasn't gone more than a couple seconds before she shot back down to their level and delivered her answer. "The red stripes on the lighthouse wheelie thingy."

Link smiled. "No."

"You almost laughed! You have to be lying!" Midna accused him.

"I almost laughed because you're close," he informed her.

"Oh! It's the stupid flag!" Kid exclaimed, utilizing the pet name Link had picked for it earlier.

"Yeah, that's it."

"Wow, you would." Midna rolled her eyes. "That's okay. Get ready, boys, because I'm not making this next one easy."

And she didn't. And neither did Kid when it was his turn, nor Link when it was his. As a matter of fact, their little game of I Spy turned into an intense competition to see who could spot the smallest, most insignificant thing. From the black patches on a pig to a bee in the grass, and even a crab that occasionally buried itself in the sand, they used them all.

They were so invested in their game that they nearly didn't notice the others returning from their shopping expedition until they were almost upon them.

As Jolene and her crew loaded supplies onto their heavily decorated vessel, the others began to board the pirate ship, and Midna disappeared into Link's shadow. He almost stopped her, but then thought better of it. Pushing her wouldn't help anything, and if she was ever going to meet the pirates, she had to be pleasant, lest she make the wrong impression.

Though they'd been outside the entire time, Link didn't truly notice how late it was until one of the pirates mentioned dinner. Tetra informed them all while they were eating that they were staying at Windfall until daybreak, for which all of the pirates were ecstatic. The ecstasy dimmed a little when she declared that they were forbidden to go ashore, seeing as they'd already made a mess of the Café Bar while they'd been there earlier, but the pirates seemed to be content to have some time to relax even if they were confined to the ship.

For the pirates, relaxing meant playing card games, and since they had little else to do after running over to Linebeck's ship to inform the sea captain of the departure plan, Link and Kid wound up joining them, though Link chose to observe rather than play like his counterpart. After about ten minutes of watching the game play out, Link was confident that his decision had been the right one. The game made absolutely no sense to him. Still, it was pretty entertaining to watch, in all its spontaneity, and it also gave him a chance to get to know Tetra's crew better.

Just from living with them for a few days, it was obvious to Link that the pirates' relationship with Tetra was an odd one. At times, they seemed like workers and Tetra their boss. At others, they were like a big dysfunctional family, the members' exact roles never quite clear. Tetra could be their mother for all the chiding and ordering around she did, not to mention that any time there was an issue on the ship, it was imperative that her crew notify her of it. However, sometimes the pirates neglected to mention a few things that would land them in deep water, just like sensible, if a bit dishonest and irresponsible, children would.

Tetra could also be considered their little sister with the way they all swarmed to protect her and the earsplitting volume her voice reached whenever she was displeased with them. And when half-empty threats were issued, they knew better than to bother her. Though, sometimes they'd squabble and tease and prank each other like siblings for which more yelling, and sometimes laughing, would ensue.

Finally, Tetra could be viewed as their daughter, if a single daughter could belong to six men, that is. They worried about her just like good guardians should and knew how to detect all the nuances in her mood. When she did become troubled or distant or confused, they'd find a way to comfort her, advise her, make her feel better. Of course, these instances weren't handled as gently as they should be, but it was the thought that counted.

Other than that, though, Link hadn't really learned anything about the pirates as individuals, besides Niko. Now, watching them play a card game of all things, Link could discern unique character traits in each of them, and some he could even name counterparts for. Like Mako. The book that the pirate always had tucked under his arm, as well as the cracked glasses perched on his nose, never went unnoticed by him. However, now Link could plainly see the dagger that was nestled inside the thick volume's weathered pages like a bookmark and Mako's penchant for calculations and facts. It all reminded him heavily of Shad, who shared scarily similar traits, right down to the dagger posing as a bookmark, though Link would admit that Shad's manner of speech was far more proper than Mako's. Still, the similarities were too real for it to be a coincidence.

Then there was Gonzo, who reminded Link of Ashei every time he ended a sentence with "yeah?" which happened quite often. Link didn't know if counterparts could be different genders, but if it were possible, Link was positive that the two of them definitely would be.

It was harder for him to pinpoint possible counterparts for the others. Neither Senza, nor Zuko displayed character traits, or physical traits, that he could match to anyone he knew in Hyrule. Regardless, it was pretty neat to think that two members of the Resistance were pirates in another life, serving the princess of a sunken kingdom, and it made Link feel just a little more comfortable being with them.

Even so, when they all put down their cards and stared intensely at him, Link couldn't help but be a bit unnerved. "What?" he wondered.

"Will you play in the shrimp's place?" Gonzo asked.

"The..." Link looked to his right where Kid sat only to find the young boy with his head resting on his folded arms, eyes closed. His gaze snapped back to Gonzo. "Oh, uh … no. I don't even know how to play."

"You're not supposed to," Mako chimed in.

"Yeah." Gonzo agreed.

"Well, I don't really feel like playing," Link said, keeping his voice low so as not to wake Kid. He started to get up. "I should probably-"

Almost before he could process it, Senza reached over, plucked the cards out of Kid's limp hand, and slapped them face down in front of Link. "Play. It'll ruin the game if you don't."

Link wanted to call him out on it and say it was a lie, but he couldn't. He had no idea what game they were playing so that could very well be true. He heaved a sigh. "What game is this?"

"Mao."

"Huh?" Link knew of very few card games, but what Senza had just said didn't even sound like a word.

"Never heard of it?"

Link shook his head.

"Good, then you don't know the rules."

"Right, so what are the rules?" he asked.

"I can only tell you the first rule, and that's this one."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Link wondered, furrowing his brow.

"It means," Mako spoke up, adjusting his glasses so they sat better on his nose, "that we can't tell you the rules. You have to figure them out for yourself as you play."

Link didn't like the sound of that. "You can't tell me one rule?"

"We just did. That's the rule of the game: Don't discuss the rules of the game, especially with new players," Mako said sagely.

Link frowned, weighing his options. He could get up and take Kid to bed and retire for the night himself like he'd originally been planning to. But if he did that, he risked angering the pirates, and he'd rather not be on uncertain terms with people he had to live with on a ship for an indefinite amount of time. Yet, there was no guarantee that they'd be mad at him for refusing to play with them either.

"He didn't know how to play either when he first came aboard," Senza said, nodding to the dozing Hero of Winds. "And he's won a few times. If he can do it, so can you."

Link knew exactly what Senza was doing, and unfortunately, it was working. He settled back down onto the bench, somewhat against his better judgment. "Fine. I'll play."

The pirates whistled and clapped, loudly proclaiming their approval of his answer, and Link winced, shooting a nervous glance at his counterpart. He knew Kid hadn't been sleeping well lately, and he needed all the rest he could get. Thankfully, the boy's sleep didn't appear to be disturbed by the men's rowdiness.

"End point of order," Gonzo announced once they all settled down. Everyone picked up their cards, and Link followed suit, quickly scanning his cards. Despite their differing written languages, Link found that he could understand which cards were which by simply looking at the pictures, as they were identical to the ones on cards in his world, just with different symbols depicting the numbers and such in the corners. Six of Hearts. King of Spades. Jack of Hearts. Nine of Spades. Four of Hearts. Good hand? Bad hand? Link couldn't tell.

All he knew was that it had been Kid's turn when they'd stopped, which meant it was his move. Only he didn't know what move to make. Tearing his eyes away from the cards in his hand, he looked at the two piles of cards on the table. One face up and one face down, the latter much larger than the former.

"I don't know what to do," Link admitted, looking around the table and hoping to find that one of the pirates were willing to help him out.

"Penalty for talking," Gonzo proclaimed, taking a card off of the face down deck and sliding it over to him.

Link opened his mouth to protest, then closed it upon realizing that arguing would only earn him another penalty. But how was he supposed to figure out what to do if he couldn't talk?

"Penalty for failing to comply with the rules," Gonzo said, giving him another card.

"What rules?!" Link demanded, causing the others to snicker and Tetra's first mate to reward him with another card. Okay, he'd deserved that one.

What he did not deserve was the card that followed it. Link threw up his hands in bewilderment. "Why?" he mouthed at Gonzo. The man only shook his head, chuckling as he declared another penalty and added yet another card to the growing pile before him.

Link shut his mouth, thinking maybe he had to be silent for more than just a couple seconds, but ten seconds later, the pile before him had grown by at least five more cards.

"At this rate we'll have to add another deck," Zuko breathed quietly, causing the other men to laugh. Yet, Gonzo didn't fail to reward him with a penalty card. "Thank you."

Link expected Gonzo to keep handing out cards, divvying the rest of the deck between him and Zuko, but no. He just kept giving cards to him. Then it clicked, and suddenly he couldn't get the words out fast enough. "Thank you!"

The pirates burst out laughing, some exclaiming "Finally!" and "Took you long enough!" All of which were met with penalty cards and the appropriate response.

Manners, of all things, had tripped him up, and Link couldn't help but laugh a little with them as he added all of his penalty cards to his hand.

He now knew two rules, out of however many there were, and unfortunately, neither one of those rules clued him in on what card to put down. Currently, there was an eight of spades on top of what he presumed to be the discard pile.

Link studied the cards in his hand, wishing Kid were awake to help him with it. Surely, he'd give him more hints than the pirates were at the moment. Then again, if Kid were awake, he wouldn't be in this situation.

Movement in his peripheral vision alerted him to the fact that he was about to be dealt another penalty card, and it wasn't in his best interest to add another to his collection. Hurriedly, Link took his best guess and slapped down the nine of spades on top of the eight of spades.

His eyes shot to Gonzo, expecting to be penalized. Gonzo, however, only withdrew his hand from the pile of cards it'd been creeping towards, and nodded at him. A surge of happiness coursed through him. He'd done it!

Despite it no longer being his turn, Link could hardly relax to celebrate his small achievement. He still didn't know how to play, so he devoted his full attention to each person as they took their turn, noting the cards they put down, the words they said that they weren't penalized for, and the actions they made afterwards. To his dismay, many of them earned penalty cards just as he had -not nearly as many, mind you- but enough to convince him that there were rules in place that most of the players were still ignorant to. That, or they just simply didn't care about winning, which he couldn't believe.

It was all terribly confusing no matter how diligently he paid attention, and when Link's turn rolled around again, he nearly earned as many penalty cards as last time. Nonetheless, he refused to quit. Now that he was playing, backing out seemed a cowardly thing to do. He wanted to prove to the pirates, and to himself, that he could figure it out. So he played as well as he knew how, which wasn't very well at all, but he played, and as he did the pirates found a little generosity in their hearts with which to give him hints.

The hints didn't help him nearly as much as they should've, but Link still found himself having fun. As the night wore on, Link forgot all about Ghirahim and monsters and goddesses and destinies. He forgot about heroes and princesses and counterparts and pirates. For the time being, Link was an ordinary person playing a card game with friends, his little brother resting beside him, and nothing felt more right than that.