The Zarep brothers lived up to their promise in that they didn't cause any trouble throughout the entire two week trip to Dragon Roost. Much of this was owed to their isolationist tendencies. When they weren't taking orders from Niko on how to swab the deck, or arranging the large crates of supplies in a more efficient manner, they spent most of their days joking amongst themselves, playing cards and, when they were really bored, sparring against each other in the cargo hold. They even ate at a different table than the rest of the pirates, which suited Gonzo, Senza, and especially Nudge just fine.
"Something about them just doesn't seem right," Nudge would say to the others as he scooped the last of his stew with bread, "not right at all."
The others would skulk down and mutter in agreement.
"They're way too quiet, yeah?" Gonzo would half say, half ask.
Senza, who didn't normally speak much, would stroke his beard and say, "Yeah, and when they do talk, they're always so quiet… Like now. Look at'em over there…."
For their part, the Zareps didn't care much for the pirates. In fact, one of their favorite games to pass the time was affectionately dubbed, "Just How Stupid…."
"Okay, okay," Cruton would say as his brothers chuckled over their stew, "the one with the big nose over there, Gonza or whatever, is stuck on a deserted island with only a deku nut and a pistol* with one ball. So… just how stupid is he?"
Flammy would always be the first to try. "Uh, he's so stupid that… uh… ah, damn! I just lost it…."
Joe would simply flash a rare smile and ask Junior to think of one.
"Okay, okay, shush," Junior would say holding his hands up, "I got it. He's so stupid that he'd shoot the shell and choke on the nut!"
Their laughter would travel across the mess hall to the pirate's table prompting them to look over their shoulders in disgust. Junior's booming howl in particular raised the ire of the three sailors.
"The short one smiles too much, yeah?" Gonzo would say through clenched teeth.
* * *
Link and Tetra spent most of their free-time together in her cabin or in the lookout post between Zuko's watches. Though they generally enjoyed their conversations together, a strain was beginning to grow between them. It began when they discussed the dreams they had had on the night before they set sail from Windfall.
"…and his eyes were like—like fire or something. That's when I woke up."
Tetra had listened to Link intently, a touch of sympathy in her eyes. It was obvious that the experience had left the boy rattled.
"You shouldn't pay too much attention to it, Link," she had said, "it's probably normal for you to be a little freaked out, considering what you've been through."
Link had slumped in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "I don't know—I guess I don't like the idea of not being just myself. Life was hard enough just being me, now you're telling me that I have to live up to some legendary hero who I may or may not be the reincarnation of? It's insane…."
"You see," Tetra had said, sitting up on her bed, "that's you're problem right there! Why look on the negative side of it, huh? If what Ganondorf said was true, then you're destined for great things. I mean, you already saved the world and all…."
"Forgive me if I don't feel comforted by anything that man said."
Tetra was undeterred. "Come on! Don't you think it's even a little bit interesting that you were born to be a legend? Not even a little?"
"Hold it," Link had said, "you mean to tell me that you're not bothered by the fact that you're the princess of some undersea kingdom on top of being just you?"
The young pirate had simply shrugged. "I've always acted like royalty in front of my men. Being a princess just means that I can boss people around with even more authority than before."
She had meant it as a joke, but something about the way Tetra was talking hadn't sat well with Link.
"Besides," she had said, "Hyrule won't stay 'undersea' for long. I'll make sure of that…."
Link had simply smiled at Tetra and her boast even though the look on her face had sent a small chill down his spine. That night, he had left her cabin thinking of the King of Red Lions—wondering what exactly he would have thought of this whole journey.
Link wished he knew.
* * *
On the fourth day of the journey, the ill-blood brewing between the pirates and the Zarep brothers came to a head.
"My brothers and I wish to challenge you to an arm-wrestling competition," proclaimed Cruton to Gonzo, Nudge and Senza during lunch, "in an hour. What say you?"
"Where?" asked Gonzo.
"Right here."
"Who?"
"You three versus Flammy, Joe and myself. Junior will referee."
"We'll be bringing a referee of our own if you don't mind."
"Not at all."
"See you in an hour."
Cruton returned to the Zarep table and relayed the pirates' acceptance of their challenge to Junior. He smiled and nodded his head approvingly.
"I'm tired of walking on egg shells in this derelict," he whispered, "it's time to set a couple of things straight here. Once they know where they stand against us, they'll think twice before sending another dirty look our way."
"That and it's gonna be fun crushing them." grinned Flammy.
Junior couldn't have agreed more. "Aye, it will. These guys are big enough that they might give you three an adequate workout—maybe."
At the pirate table, a hush fell over the competitors as they contemplated how much they were going to enjoy wiping that fat grin off of Junior's face.
The hour passed quickly and soon the pirate team was filing into the mess hall. The Zarep brothers waited at their table, stretching their arms across their chests. Junior sat flaccid in his chair as if he were watching clouds drift through the sky; he didn't even acknowledge the three pirates when they entered.
After a while of standing in silence, Nudge cleared his throat.
Still staring at the ceiling, Junior said, "I thought you were bringing a judge of your own. We're waiting on you, gentleman. My brothers are ready to go."
"He'll be here. You don't have to worry about that." replied Nudge calmly.
"Good," said Junior, "we won't then."
The pirates then moved to their own table and began stretching themselves in silence. Nudge peered over to the brothers. Unlike Junior, who was leanly muscular in his own right, the three competing Zareps were tall and sculpted, massive beneath their simple white tunics—stronger than any of them could ever hope to become.
Nudge recalled what he had said to his crew minutes before.
"There's no way we're going to beat these guys on strength alone," he had said, "our best bet is to try to tire these guys out. It must be hard work flexin' all them muscles. We just got to last a little bit longer than they do. If we can do that, we just might have a chance."
Link arrived soon after. He was not alone.
"Ah, Miss Tetra," exclaimed Junior as the young captain approached, "I didn't know you were a sports fan. Welcome, have a seat!"
"Can it, Junior," said Tetra, "it was brought to my attention that you Neanderthals were planning on arm-wrestling each other for sport—"
Nudge glared at Link, who shrugged innocently. Maybe it was Mako….
Tetra continued. "I guess it was to be expected. After all, how could anyone not resort to childish shows of strength after a whopping FOUR DAYS at sea together?!"
Even the Zareps seemed flustered by the girl's anger.
Tetra looked around at the roomful of frightened men. Junior thought he saw something approaching satisfaction in her eyes.
"However," started Tetra again, "seeing as how you all have been working so darn hard, including, to my surprise, the Zarep brothers…."
The brothers tipped their heads at the accolade.
"….and the fact that even I am starting to feel a little bored being holed up on this boat," she winked at Link before continuing, "I have decided not only to humor your little testosterone fueled pissing contest, but to help judge it as well."
There's was a collective sigh of relief amongst the men. Cruton even gave the captain a standing ovation, which made even the pirates chuckle against their will.
After a minute or so of indulgence, Tetra raised her hands for silence. "This is how it's gonna be. There are six competitors and three judges which means that that many matches can take place simultaneously. Zarep brothers, bring your table over here by me; that goes for my crew too, bring your table over."
Soon the two tables were sitting side by side and the task of pairing could begin.
"Alright," said Tetra, standing between a canyon of muscle and hair, "competitors can choose whoever they want to wrestle, unless, of course, they are challenged by someone else. We'll alternate between teams. Team captains, step forward."
Instinctively, both Nudge and Junior stepped forward.
"Alright, gentleman. Rock, paper, scissors to decide who goes first."
After several ties, Nudge managed to crush Junior's scissors with a decisive rock.
"Okay, Nudge, your team goes first."
"Fine, I'll choose first if that's okay with you guys." said Nudge turning to his team. The others didn't mind.
"Alright then. I challenge Joe."
The Zarep brother stared at the pirate as he stretched his neck to the cracking point. "Accepted."
"I'll go next," growled Flammy, stepping forward, "I'll take red-nose over there."
Gonzo's eyes opened wide—he was not used to being insulted so lightly by anyone other than his captain. "Miss Tetra, tell Flippy, or Flommy, or whatever the hell his name is that I accept, yeah?"
Tetra relayed the message.
"I guess that leaves me," said Senza in a quiet voice, "I challenge Mr. Giggles over there…."
Cruton laughed meanly. "Bet it was a tough choice, huh? Considering I'm the only one left and all."
The competitors took their places at the tables and the judges divvied up the matches between them. Link would supervise Gonzo and Flammy, Junior would referee Cruton and Senza, and Tetra would make sure that Nudge and Joe didn't rip each other's arm off.
They used rolled up rags to determine the winners; first wrist to touch one, lost.
"Alright, gentlemen," ordered Tetra, "clasp'em!"
Three simultaneous claps later and the arm-wrestling competition was ready to begin.
Tetra lifted her arms up high and commenced the countdown. "Alright, everybody! Three! Two! One! GO!"
*Pistols exist in the Great Sea, but the technology is so new and the parts so expensive to manufacture that they are not widely used… yet. Thank God, right?