SSBM Master: Hello again. First, the disclaimers. I do not own Zelda items characters locations or plotlines. Now I would like to compliment Aria Zephyr's talent for predicting plotlines J

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Chapter 10: The life Gannon ruined

James looked at them all. The guards were worriedly muttering to themselves, Komali looked like he was in a state of shock, Link was staring at the floor. His fist was clenched and shaking. Aryll's face was red and she was looking round James into Medli's room as though hoping James hadn't looked properly. Tetra was nursing her hangover but looked worried all the same.

James paced the hallway. He felt angry. At times like this he would start to practice jujitsu to relieve some tension, but the hall was narrow and people would start to stare if he suddenly started fighting with mid air. But it felt like his rage was trying to erupt into the open. It succeeded!

"AARGH!" he shouted furiously, bringing his fist to collide with the wall. Everyone turned to stare at him and there was a sharp pain in his knuckles. "I TOLD YOU WE SHOULD HAVE LEFT." He took a few deep breaths. "But no, we had to stay for the STUPID ASENSION!"

"Now see here!" Komali started angrily.

"SEE HERE WHAT?? WAS IT WORTH HAVING ALL OF US HERE FOR NEVER SEING MEDLI AGAIN?!"

"Of course not…" said Komali quietly

"We'll be able to get her back Komali." Said Tetra

"OH, SO NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE ACTION?" James bellowed turning to Tetra. He knew his shouting wouldn't be doing much for her headache but he couldn't care less. "ARE YOU SURE YOU WON'T GET TIRED AND REST HALFWAY THERE??"

"James…" Aryll said timidly, "please calm down" but on the contrary, this just made James swing his head towards her and continue the verbal assault.

"CALM DOWN?? WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT GANNONDORF, I BARELY SLEPT FOR A WEEK TRYING TO FIND LINK. YOU HAVE BARELY BEEN GOING FOR A DAY AND YOU WANT REST…"

"James, what is wrong with you?" Link said

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? I THOUGHT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WHAT GANNONDORF IS LIKE!" James felt the worst of his anger fade away "But I guess you haven't suffered at his hands the way I have. Now…I'm going to take the Stinger and go to Forest Haven solo." And with that he left the corridor.

* * *

Link stood there watching James go with everyone else in the corridor. For a few moments there was silence until Tetra said.

"He's right, I should wake my crew. We'll leave as soon as they're up." She walked off

"I guess we better go tell James we're leaving." Link said

"Link," Aryll said thoughtfully. "Let me go talk to him on my own."

"Why?"

"Please Link, something he said just made me think…" said Aryll. Link thought that was a very vague answer but nevertheless…

"Ok, good luck." Aryll walked off in the direction of the exit.

* * *

James looked at the ropes connecting his ship, the Stinger, to Tetra's. Undoing them was, at the very least, a two-man job. He sighed and looked at the back of his hand. His knuckles had been bleeding ever since he hit the wall but as long as he could wield a sword in it, the cut was no major concern.

"Hello," came a voice from behind him. James could tell it was Aryll but he didn't look round. "I thought you should know," she continued, "that Tetra's telling the pirates to get ready for departure."

"It's a pity she didn't do that yesterday," James snapped spitefully.

"Look," Aryll said, "I know you weren't telling the truth when you said that you lived on your own Island." James started undoing some of the ropes and pretended not to hear her. "James…? What really happened when Gannondorf came to capture you?" James threw the ropes to the floor.

"I told you."

"You also said that Link hadn't suffered at Gannondorf's hands the way you had." James made a frustrated noise, sighed and then said

"All right. Do you REALLY want to know?"

"Yes."

"You won't like it."

"I doubt I will."

"Ok," James said sitting down on the deck; Aryll sat down next to him. "Let me tell you about the worst day of my life…"

* * *

James stepped outside his Dojo on Hamlet Island and stretched. The sun was halfway over the horizon silhouetting the village. Personally, James thought he had the best site. His dojo was situated slightly out from the village and it gave him a good sea view. Speaking of the sea, he had a big fishing trip later, which would take up the whole day, so he better get some practice in early.

James took his stance and started punching. Left, right, block, counter. At that point he heard clapping. He turned and saw at the entrance, there was a boy, about 10 years old, applauding his performance.

"That was really good!" he said enthusiastically. James grinned at him

"What do you want kid?"

"Can you teach me kung fu?" James laughed

"It's not kung fu, it's Jujitsu and I don't think your mom would like it if I taught you it."

"Oh come on, she won't mind and I promise I'll practice every day." James sighed. If he taught this kid he would probably get bored after a while. But on the other hand, it would be fun to have someone to keep him company once a week."

"I'll tell you what, If you come back tomorrow with your mom and she says it's ok…then…maybe."

"Oh boy thanks mister!" And with that, the kid ran off back to the village. James laughed at the boy's innocence.

"Oh well," he said to himself. "I guess those fish won't catch themselves.

* * *

James sailed back to Hamlet Island at the end of the day. He had caught enough fish to last him another month. As he got closer to his island however, he saw smoke. He made the Stinger go faster. When he eventually got back to his village he saw that the whole town had been set alight. What was going on?

Then he saw it. An unconscious person lay face down on the ground. Horrified, James sprinted over to it and turned it over. It was the kid that wanted to learn jujitsu earlier. He had, what looked like a bad stab wound in his stomach.

"Kid…Kid can you hear me?" The boy remained unconscious. James put two of his fingers to the side of the kid's neck and felt the pulse…or rather didn't feel the pulse. The kid was dead.

Looking around, James could now see more bodies of the other villagers. The storeowner, the major, that girl who had a crush on him. All of them were dead.

Then he heard footsteps. James turned to see a huge Moblin with a Medallion

"HEEY." It bellowed, with surprisingly good English for a moblin "IT'S HIIM. ATTAAACK"

Moblins appeared from all directions and advanced on James who drew his swords and attacked the monsters with more ferocity that he had felt in his life. Within minutes, he and the big moblin were the only living people left on the island.

Realising defeat, the moblin tried to make a run for it, but James was too fast and soon he had his Katina pressed against its throat.

James leaned close to the overgrown hog and hissed with a voice of pure venom "By the time I'm through with you, you'll be begging me to kill you!"

* * *

"And that's what happened" James finished. Aryll sat there horrified. She had known something horrible had happened to James but slaughtering an entire village…

"Now you know why I cant let this happen again. For all we know Makar and the shadow sage are already in the forsaken fortress with Medli."

"I…I had no idea," Aryll said numbly "I should have stuck up for you before, I'm so sorry I...I…" James seemed to be calm again now he had shared his story with someone.

"It's Ok." He said, " you couldn't have known."

"Please don't leave, Tetra will be here in a minute."

"Ok." He said. Aryll looked up into his eyes as the both sat on the deck. She could see the stars reflected in his eyes. Oh what the heck, she thought.

She leaned in towards him, closed her eyes and kissed him. At first, he made no attempt to pull her closer or push her away. Aryll moved away and leaned her head against his shoulder. As she did, she felt James put his arm around her. Feeling warm and happy, Aryll closed her eyes and fell asleep.

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SSBM Master: Another chapter, another Romance scene. Please keep reviewing guys. I thrive on your judgement