SSBM Master: You know I've always thought that it would make more sense for Makar to be the earth sage and Medli to be the wind sage. Oh well, I'll do the disclaimers. Ahem. I do not own Zelda, much as I would like to. There, enjoy the chapter.

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Chapter 9: Actions and consequences!

Tetra was hungry. In fact she had been hungry for most of the afternoon. The ship had plenty of food but it wasn't at its best quality. What they really needed was to rest on dry land and have a good meal. But Tetra knew that there were more important things to think about. It was, after all, the afternoon of the second day, and the second the clock struck 12:00 midnight after the fourth day, the sages would become vulnerable and they had to make sure that when that time came, Gannondorf wouldn't be able to reach them.

She, along with most of the crew were on the deck, as Dragon got closer. Once they had landed next to the island Tetra decided to address the crew.

"All right you lot," she bellowed, "Link, James, Aryll and I are going ashore. I want everyone ready to leave when we return"

"Um…Miss Tetra," said Gonzo timidly. Tetra turned to look at him. "We all understand we're on an important mission, but the boys and I were wondering…when are we planning on resting. I mean we've been on the move 24 hours a day." There was a general murmur of agreement from the other pirates. Tetra sighed

"Look everyone, I know there last few days have been tiresome to say the least, but at the moment there are more important things than the occasional rest. There are many innocent lives at steak and I know it's not something we usually get involved in, but for now, you'll all just have to keep a stiff upper lip." And on that note, She, Link James and Aryll left the ship.

* * *

Aryll looked round the main hall belonging to the Rito tribe. It looked like one big post office. She supposed that the family's homes were down those tunnels.

"Link!" came a voice. Aryll looked up to see two Rito fly down from the higher balcony. One was a teenage boy, the other, a teenage girl.

"Hello Medli, Komali." Link said to them

"Who are your friends?" The one called Komali asked. Aryll knew their names as she had briefly met them before on the day six years ago when she was travelling with the pirates.

"This is Tetra," Link said pointing each of them out in turn. "James, and my sister Aryll."

"Now I remember." Said Medli "You two were on that pirate ship. And you…" she seemed to be unsure of weather she had met James before.

"He owns a dojo way up north on Hamlet Island." Came a familiar voice from behind Aryll. She turned around and saw the postman, Quill. "You won't have met him before."

"Hello Quill," James said.

"You two know each other?" Aryll asked James.

"Of course, Quill's a postman. He knows pretty much everyone."

"Which reminds me," said Quill as he ruffled his feathers. "I am already behind schedule."

"You'll still be able to make it to my ascension won't you?" said Komali quickly.

"Do not worry, my friend." Replied Quill "I am not about to miss the first ascension for two decades because of work. And with that, he took off."

"What's an ascension Komali?" Aryll asked.

"Isn't that why you're here?" Komali asked back

"No," said James. "We're here because… well maybe you'd better hold this for a second." He held out his medallion and Medli took it. The second she did, a green flash surrounded her and disappeared a second later. Leaving her looking shocked.

"Medli…" Komali began to say, but Medli cut across him.

"Komali… I need to leave Dragon Roost." She said and spent the next few minutes explaining to him why.

"You can at least stay for my ascension can't you?" said Komali when she had finished

"What IS an ascension," Aryll decided to repeat.

"It's when a Rito moves up in their tribe." Said Medli

"Really, how far is Komali moving up to?"

"The very top!" Komali said proudly. "My father's retiring so I'm taking his place as chief. Which brings me back to my first question…"

"We can't stay." Said James sharply. "I know this is a big deal and all, but if we don't move, Gannondorf will get a head start in finding the next sage."

"But…" Komali began to say

"I suppose, we could stay for a while…" Tetra said. "I mean my men HAVE been complaining about wanting to land."

"And Gannondorf can't find the sages without the medallion James took off the moblin." Aryll added

"And we'll still have enough time to reach Makar if we rest here tonight" Link put in. They all looked at James.

"You can't be serious!" He said as though appalled they were even considering it. He turned to Tetra. "What about that speech about innocent lives and keeping a stiff upper lip?" Tetra seemed to become interested with a Rito that had just flown into the room. James then turned to Aryll who felt very flush and looked at the floor. "Do you really think the medallion is the only way Gannondorf can find sages?" Aryll didn't want to look at him until he had calmed down and did not look up until she saw his feet move towards Link "Link," he said desperately, "You have to back me up. You know Gannondorf better that anyone"

Unlike herself and Tetra, Aryll noticed Link look James in the eye. "I also know we need to rest." He said finally. James stood there, still angry and then turned and walked towards the entrance.

"Where are you going?" Link asked.

"If you lot think it's ok to risk innocent lives for food and rest, then I'll take the Stinger and find Makar and the other sage alone."

"Wait," Aryll called. She ran in front of the entrance, blocking his path.

"Get out of my way!" James snapped. Aryll didn't move.

"Look," she said quickly. "We need to stick together. You and Link are the best fighters and splitting you two up will cost more lives than this one night will." James watched her, but didn't say anything. "Please," continued Aryll "don't go…" James didn't say anything for a while, but finally he gave up.

"All right." He said and walked back to the group with Aryll. "But I don't like it."

* * *

At first, Link had felt guilty about staying for Komali's ascension. James had been right and Link knew Gannondorf would not rest in his attempts to find the sages. However, now that he, his friends and all the pirates and Rito were tucking into their second helpings, he didn't find the matter much to be concerned about. True, the ceremony had been pretty dull but it was more than worth it to come to this banquet that was held afterwards.

Link took a large bite out of his steak and looked around the room. About four seats on his left, he could see Tetra. She seemed just as interested in her wine as her food. Maybe more so! Link felt himself groan as he imagined what the attitude of 'Captain Tetra with a hangover' would be like tomorrow. His eyes trailed past her to the head of the table. Komali was sat there in well-crafted seat, Medli next to him. Komali saw Link and gave him the thumbs up. Link grinned back.

He then looked at the opposite end of the table. Sat right in the corner was James. He had his head on his right arm and he had only eaten the bare minimum. He had been in a bad mood ever since the argument. Sitting next to him was Aryll. Link had notice her try to talk to him earlier but seemed to have given up now and was talking to the Rito on her right. On Link's Right was Gonzo. He was already on his third helping



"Good?" Link asked him

"MMM HMMPH." Gonzo replied through a mouthful.

"Hey, Link." Said a drunken female voice from behind him. Link turned and saw Tetra. Then, without warning, she jumped onto his lap and pulled him into a hug. Gonzo stopped eating to watch and so did all the other pirates. It was all Link could do to pat her on the pack and look awkward.

"Uh…Tetra…" he said uncomfortably

"Ya know, I never really thanked you for rescuing me." Tetra wasn't showing any sign of loosening the hug so Link decided to push her off.

"Tetra, how much have you had to drink?" he asked her, but Tetra only giggled.

"I also think you look really hot in that suit." At that point, Tetra started to move her face closer to his. Her lips were only an inch away from his when

"OK," Link said loudly and, standing up so quickly that Tetra fell off his lap to the floor, said "Tetra, you have DEFINATLY had enough to drink." He pulled Tetra up off the floor and asked Quill where they were sleeping.

"Go through that corridor and you will find several rooms." He said. Quill had maintained his dignity merely by being the only person on the table not to laugh.

Link took Tetra down the corridor and pushed Tetra into one of the rooms.

"Goodnight." Link said

"I love ya," Tetra replied, grinning at him.

Link closed the door and sighed. As he headed back to the party (Link knew where they'd think he was if he didn't!) he pondered over the fact that Tetra's last words had sounded most sober.

* * *

"Typical!" James thought to himself as he lay in bed. "This bed is the best I've had to sleep in, in over a week, and I can barely close my eyes." James groaned and turned over. This had been a bloody waste of time. What had they accomplished by staying here. He had hoped to persuade Tetra to leaved after the party but there had been no chance of that happening. He had felt bad about ignoring Aryll at the Banquet, but he knew he had been right.

"Gah!" he said suddenly and got up. He needed to have a walk, clear his head. He put on a shirt and exited his room. After a few minutes of strolling aimlessly through the corridors, he decided to go back to his room. He was halfway there when a sudden, loud, blood-curdling shriek broke the silence! James's head shot in the direction it had come from, but the screaming carried on.

Without further hesitation, James sprinted in the direction of the source, eventually coming to a door.

"HELP ME!" The voice screamed. James took a step back and then hit the door with a powerful sidekick, knocking it off it's hinges. This revealed Medli and a monster James knew was called a phantom Gannon. Before James could do anything, the monster grabbed Medli and they both disappeared. That was when people started arriving.

First it was Komali, followed closely by Tetra, Link, Aryll and several guards.

"It was a Phantom Gannon." James told them grimly. "Gannondorf's got Medli!"

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SSBM Master: Heh heh, I think that's and evil enough cliffhanger. Oh and as for that guy on the review page who thinks he beat me at SSBM, I'd like to kindly inform him that he can go to hell! (Although his review is appreciated)