Disclaimer- I don't own The Legend of Zelda or anything else

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Chapter 4- Link's plan

(Village marketplace)

(3 hours before the end of Chapter 3)

"There, we have a hot dish." Kyle smiled proudly after finishing his stringy looking meal. Link looked on in pure interest and awe. He never saw such a food before.

"Amazing…It looks so stringy." The boy muses. "So this Pas-ta is edible now?" Kyle smiles "Very, all you need to do is strain it. Since the meal is of no actual flavor you can put whatever you want on it."

To Link this was unheard of! A food with no taste? Preposterous! But the variety of things it could be used for sounds tempting. "So if I use the things you did or similar to it I can make Pas-ta too?" The curious 15-year-old continued to question.

Kyle stretched lazily. "Not so easy." The man continued. "This item can only be processed in this land. Only we have the exact knowledge and know on how to take care of this dry yet tough to harvest item."

"I'm glad you said that" Link replied with a determined expression. "Because I'm willing to do a little trade for your recipe."

"Oh?"

Link pulls out a jar full Deku Baba seeds and a Hyoi Pear. When seeing the familiar looking seeds the man reeled backwards. "AIIEE!!! Th-The Devil Plants babies!!" Link chuckles at the village leader's reaction. "No there just seeds and thus brings my point."

"Wh-Why would you want that beast alive or seed around!" Kyle shudders a bit more fearfully. "b-Better yet…How did you kill that monstrosity!?"

Link just looks at the man blankly. "That was my point. I noticed that you have to take a really long path to get here to the beach since the straight path is full of and I mean jammed packed with Boko Babas." Link's face became dead serious. "Though a small number of Boko Babas aren't too much of a problem, the number of those guys you have hanging around is real trouble. And since no one is slaying them, the Bokos are only expanding. It'll only be a matter of time before they take over the entire Island."

Kyle agreed with this fact. Just the other day he noticed two Boko Babas within village territory. Worse off, four more sprouted up today and they're inside the village. Right at the village square, where people must pass.

"Also there seeds can make great meals". Link pulls out a sample of Deku Baba seed bread. "My friend taught me this, I just fixed up the meal a bit but overall all the royalties go to him."

Kyle kindly accepts Link's offer and takes a bite out the treat. He quickly begins to finish off the rest. "You mean those evil little buggers taste this scrumptious?" Link nods. Kyle closes his eyes in full enlightenment. "I never tasted anything so damn good in my entire life! Boy?" Kyle queries fully interested "Are you and your friends some kind of traveling cooks?"

Link sweat drops. "Heheh. Not really…But we do pick up a lot of interesting things along the way." Link then pulls out his Boomerang and Grappling Hook. "If you have items similar to these then clearing out the Boko Babas should be no sweat. The Boomerang is what kills off the plants but it doesn't ensure they'll drop any seeds, that's why you use the Grappling Hook first you'll be able to swipe their seeds from under them."

"Hmm sounds complicated…" Kyle mused while scratching his chin in thought. "But we don't posses such bizarre weapons young man."

"Well…" Link begins trying to figure a plan. "If you have spare wood…and were aerodynamic enough on the design we can make a Boomerang."

"Ohhh!" Kyle finally got it. "And if we find some strong string or better yet a rope and a hook-like item we can make a Grappling Hook. Man, that's pure genius."

"Yup"

"And you're willing to teach us all of this just for one food recipe?" Kyle asked feeling as though he was ripping the naive boy off. Link nods. Kyle just frowns. "I'll see if there's anything else you will find in your fancy. It would be a one-sided and unfair trade if I got more than you did. As a man who follows the merchants oath I must abide by that…"

"Well if the merchants oath is set into play then I can't ignore that." Link extends his hands to seal the deal. "By the way my name is Link." Kyle nods and shakes Link's hand. "Good to meet you Link, the boy who dances with the laughing wind."

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(2 hours and 45 minutes later)

Link walked through the marketplace with a huge barrel tied to his back, while four of the Island children were helping Link carry some crop harvests and stone tablets.

Link reaped some pretty good things from his good deed. He obtained the things needed for pasta, a barrel of rice, new kinds of spices he's never seen in his whole life. But best of all a few slab fragments telling more tales of the Hero of Time's many endeavors. Link even learned a little history of this Islands origin.

"When the full moon shines crimson, the door to the past shall be revealed…Sounds eerie." Link thinks aloud.

A little boy who held a basket full of spices for Link gave the foreigner an amused glance. "Actually mister, it's all true" The boy begins. "This legend started over hundreds of years ago…Even after the Hero of Time had thwarted the Evil King he had many tasks still upon him. According to the stories the village elders say they that the Hero of Time once did battle against and defeated that giant stone head that now acts as a face for the mountain but at that point the face was said to have a body. You saw it when you came here right?"

Link nods to the boy's question. "But that still doesn't explain the moon changing color like that." A little girl who held three stone slabs carefully examine and sees a slab that has a picture of a red circle in the sky but at the same time is written with an unreadable text. A/N: Hylian

"Maybe the red moon could symbolize blood." The little girl begins. "I remember the elders talking often of the ancient wars fought during that era." Everyone considered it but shrugged not being too sure themselves.

"The Hero of Time…" Link muttered in an excitable manner almost sounding like a fan boy. "Wish I could amazing like that…"

"Mister" A little girl who was helping Link lugs an extra box of rice "You saved our home. You're really cool too!"

The other children agreed. Link just smiles sheepishly at his huge fanfare. "Me? Like that? Nah…" The boy disagrees. "I'm not built for this stuff. I just don't like seeing others get hurt."

"And that's what makes you heroic." A little girl who carefully held two stone tablets replied in a comforting manner before finishing her sentence "But if only you showed some more backbone when dealing with that bandit woman. Are you like her servant or something?"

Link frowns at the girls comment but couldn't help but wonder about the Pirate girl. 'I shouldn't waste my time' the boy dejectedly mused to himself. 'She pretty much hates my worthless existence at this point…No need to stress concerns for one who grows pale at the very sight of you.'

From afar Saskue and one of his warrior friends watched Link with disdainful looks in their eyes. "Look at this" Saskue bitterly mumbles, "He walks about as though he's a God."

Saskue's cohort nods "Even the children are getting weaned into his weak ways…And Leader said he can beat you in combat? You are the Islands champion there is nothing you can't do!" Saskue smirks "Pot-bellied pigs tend to enjoy easy things…Until it's all gone…"

Before the man could ask Saskue what he meant, the muscular Leader of the Islands military catches up with Link and lifts the boy by the rice barrel on his back before letting him go causing him to fall to the floor.

The children all run to Link to see if he's ok.

"I'm surprised that your slave-owner even lets you go out on your own." The man smirks before rudely adding in. "But with the items you carry you must be doing her shopping."

Link just glared at Saskue from the corner of his eyes while narrowing them. The man was an ignorant fool he wasn't worth anyone's time. Not wanting to get into a pointless fight, Link simply dusted himself off then adjusted the rice barrel and went along his way.

This passive act angered Saskue to no end. 'Arrogant little' "Yes, walk away like the whipped dog that you are…Run to your master with your tail between your legs! Then when you finish your tasks she'll rub your belly and give you treats." Saskue continued to taunt the 15-year-old who reminded quiet but his annoyance was quite audible as he gripped the straps that held the barrel.

Over time the ruckus attracted a crowd who watched with mixed emotions. Saskue and his crew weren't exactly the most liked on the Island. Their 'logic' completely went against that of Kyle's. But they were all so strong…They couldn't hope to stop them. All they could do was stand back and watch with scowls and looks of indifference on their face.

The children didn't have this fear, though. They weren't afraid. Blame their youth or blame the fact that Link's kind, well meaning nature got the better of them. Whatever the cause was all the children turned to Saskue with full-blown loathing growls.

"Leave him alone!" The girl holding two tablets yelled "He's a nice person!"

"A lot more of a man than you'll ever be!" The girl holding three stone slabs adds on.

The boy who held the spices nodded. "He saved this Island for the good of everyone! Not just for you muscle bound oafs!"

"You creeps make our Island look bad!" The boy with the small barrel of rice yells.

"I appreciate your concern for me" Link began with a warm smile. "But it's not wise to yell at someone in authority…If you guys want I can come back for the rest."

"Why?" The girl with two stone tablets growled "So that over grown Hog could knock it over!" Saskue was now fully enraged. No one, especially a female even if a little girl talks to him like that. With this belief as his guide Saskue slaps the girl to the ground not even caring how hard he hit her.

"Whatever wench and fool raised such an ungodly child like you will suffer the most severe punishment!!!" Saskue bellows as he pulls out a combat knife from his pocket.

The people were now afraid. But this wasn't the first time Saskue and his men have done this…

Before Saskue could stab the child the rice barrel that Link once had strapped to his back was thrown in his face. As the muscular man threw the now destroyed barrel off him he saw Link carrying the injured girl. "Are you alright?" The 15-year-old Outsetter asked. The child weakly nodded.

"But your tablets…and your rice barrel…" The injured girl weakly whimpered. Link gave the child a warm hearted smile. "A life is more important than an item. But we should clean that mess up shouldn't we?"

The children blankly nodded at Link's statement while Saskue's whole body twitched at this boy's resilience to him. "Damned canine!!"

Link turns to him with a simple reply before going about his business "Is name calling and belittling others your only true strength? If it is then you have won the fight."

Saskue had all he could take of the boy. Rushing at the Hero of Wind knife first, Saskue made a loud battle cry."

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(Where the Pirates are)

(During the time Link was in the market)

"Yes, Gonzo. WHERE did our swabbie go off to without my consent?" Tetra asked coolly.

"M-Miss!" Gonzo squeaked.

Tetra surveyed the area. Tetra still had her hair down but this time wore a sleeveless dark blue shirt. Her pants and foot wear remained in the same dress code as always. "Why are all of you doing Link's job? Where is that slack-a-daily?" 'Please don't tell me that he…'

The Pirates all looked at Gonzo to answer for them. Gonzo gives them a light scowl before Niko comes from upstairs holding some party goods. "So guys where should we- ACK!"

Gonzo quickly closed the door leading to the lower deck so Tetra wouldn't see what Niko was carrying or what he was gonna say and now had to tell her what he was gonna say.

'Ok,' Gonzo brain said to Gonzo while tapping a baton onto a chalkboard. 'Repeat after me… Link is'

"Link is"

'Somewhere'

"Somewhere"

'Around the boat doing the laundry and needed a helping hand.'

"Around town taking out the trash."

'…'

"D'oh!" Gonzo then slaps his forehead. 'Assault me will you!' Gonzo's brain growls 'I'll have my revenge!'

Tetra was listening now. "Do what in town! Tell me!"

Nudge calms Tetra down by giving her the truthful answer. "Link went out into town to get some more supplies. He'll be back soon."

Tetra rushes downstairs to where Link usually rests. When entering the room she saw that aside from the Gold sword his other sword, his Mirror shield and all his other battle items along with his entire inventory were gone. Tetra ran upstairs as quickly as she could, crashing right into Niko. Tetra grabs Niko by the collar and demands to know where his location is.

"Miss Tetra, Link will be back…Just a while ago you couldn't care if he lived or died." Tetra knew this was true and let go of Niko. Happy to be able to breath again Niko continued. "Miss, I may be no Nudge when it comes to things but as my underling I do know Link. He's only worried for you...He didn't want to tell you how he got injured because he knew if you found out…" Niko turns his head a bit guilty for breaking his promise to Link.

"What was he worried of?" Tetra pleaded to know. "Did it have anything to do with the man hanging by the ship? Niko! Tell me! That's an order!"

Niko turns to Tetra and gives a nod.

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(flashback)

Sometime while you were all gone. Link had reawakened and man did he have one nasty headache. Heheheh. Well anyway to the point. When he realized you guys were gone Link just decided to get to his swabbie duties one of them was patching up the ship…That was when trouble started.

Link quietly hammered the nails down into the patchwork of the ship; Niko just watched the 15-year-old full of boredom.

"Maaaaan!" Niko begins to whine "Why do I have to stay behind…You're the swabbie after all…"

"Something about being in charge of what I do and I need supervision 'cuz I'm a hazard to myself and others." Link states matter-of-factly before he tried to cheer up his superior. "But hey why would you want to take a boring tour when you could be at the ship relaxing."

Niko gives an exasperated sigh as he falls to his back and gazes at the cloudless blue sky. "Your way too optimistic y'know…" Link grins jovially "Someone has to be, so why not the swabbie."

"You realize that if you keep talking I'll figure out more things for you to do."

"Figured that out two years ago. I figured if I keep talking you'd eventually grow tired of giving me orders."

Niko sits up and throws a clam at Link. "Not so easy swabbie! After you're done doing this you're blowing all the balloons. THEN you could…you could…NOOOO!!!!"

"See" Link laughs. "It's working."

Link stops laughing as he grabs Niko to avoid a bunch of tiny daggers that were thrown at them.

"What was that about?!?" Niko yells.

As if to answer the lower ranks question a muscular man who wore only tattered pants that held his many portable items appears before Link and Niko.

The man throws an impressed grin in Link's direction. "Not bad. For one so feminine in appearance you have cat-like speed and reflexes." The man pulls out a short sword, which he points challengingly at the Waker of Winds "But like any female that must be all you have. My name is Rando. Come boy! Show me you are worthy of that finely crafted sword and face me."

Niko snorts. "Whatever, my swabbie can easily wipes the floor with that Armos body of yours."

Link narrows his eyes at the man but answers differently from what his eyes are saying to. "I won't you." Was all the 15-year-old said before going back to his duties.

"What!?" Both Niko and Rando yell. Niko tries to talk Link into defending his honor but Rando just smirks.

"Heh. Just as Saskue said…you're under a collar by that female. You'd be a bad doggy if you were to disobey her every order." The man grins "You wouldn't want to get spanked like you did earlier."

The man begins to laugh at his own sick insults. Niko growled as he pulled out his knife. "Link" Niko called out to the boy fully understanding him. "Get inside quickly. The minute he insults the Miss it's a personal matter…"

Link looks at him quizzically. "Look I understand your feelings and all swabbie. But when the Miss' mom died we promised to make sure she becomes strong and that she makes her mom proud. You've done a lot for us and I know that this is crap aimed towards you…but" Niko continued looking more serious than Link or anyone had ever seen him before. "The minute he trashes you he trashes me and the minute he uses the Miss to trash you then that's a whole new level of trouble."

"Niko…"

"Yes, yes I know I'm the man… Now get inside or get behind that rock quick!"

Link obediently does what's he's told and gets out of the way. The man snorts at Link. "So you really are a slave to these bandits."

"Shut-up!" Niko yells at Rando as he rushed at him weapon first. Rando just sidesteps Niko attack and grabs the arm that held the dagger and bent it to the left. Niko screamed out in pain from the attack before being finished off by one strong kick to his stomach, sending him tumbling backwards.

'These guys are strong' The Pirate growled to himself before collapsing.

Link attempts to run up to his friends aid but is forced to backflip away from Rando's attack. "Like it or not boy we'll fight! Now show your worth!"

Link refuses to unsheathe his sword or pull out his Mirror shield. This further infuriates the man who attacks Link with everything he's got.

Link mostly spent his time on the defensive, avoiding Rando's attacks as he tried to talk to the brute. "We aren't your enemies and we promised peace with you and your people! So why do you still do this?"

"To Hades with your treaty! I am a warrior! Rules are below me…You want respect than show me your strength!"

"Then you obviously don't know what it truly means to be dubbed warrior"

"You dare tell me what is and isn't a warriors code!"

Rando attempts to impale the boy as he lunges at him. Link waits for his foes foolhardy charge, jumps up performs a handstand on the mans head before pushing himself off, allowing Rando's own forceful charge to be his downfall as the muscular warrior crashes into the being patched up ship.

With that threat hopefully down Link walks over to Niko.

"Overconfident dog!" Rando yells as he picks up a broken piece of wood and swings it at Link. The boy, being caught off guard by the attack was hurtled backwards, his freshly made wound bleeding pretty badly.

"Such fragile skin…much like that of a woman" Rando snorts. "This is pitiful! Feh. I'm starting to think you just walk around with such fancy items since you think it's a flashy accessory. Well I got news for you boy FIGHTING IS A MAN'S SPORT!!"

Rando doesn't even waste his time to use a weapon on the Outsetter. He'd rather use his fist on the boy instead.

As a last ditch effort Link rolls away from the man's huge fist and lunges for his attacking arm. Using all of his strength and the added power bonus from his ever trusty Power Bracelet, the 15-year-old is able to spin around on Rando's arm treating it like a corkscrew successfully twisting and breaking it.

Rando screams out in bloody mercy cursing the names of every little thing he knows before blacking out due to the pain.

(End flashback)

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"Overtime that jerk got up and fled…interestingly enough Link didn't even waste his time to heal his wounds." Niko closed his eyes in deep thought. "Link made me promise to not tell you a word. He knew if you found out about what transpired you'd very much go to pay the favor and that would arouse a lot of trouble with us and the villagers…The silly kid wanted to be the peacemaker but at the same time the sacrifice…"

Tetra was shocked at what she heard not wasting anymore time the Young leader ran upstairs and out to the upper deck where she jumps from the ship and onto the soft sand below as she rushed her way into town.

"Miss!" The Pirates called to their leader. Tetra didn't listen; she was too concerned about reaching town at all costs. 'Link, I was such a fool!' She mentally kicked and cursed at herself. 'Please just wait for me! Don't you dare do anything rash until I get there! If you want to bear the worlds burden then I'll be at your side!'

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(In town)

Tetra arrived in town to see a huge gathering of people all watching from the sounds being made some kind of dispute going on. She was too late.

Tetra managed to squeeze herself through the villagers to see the action for herself, the sight: Saskue attacking Link who held an injured little girl on his back forcing him to go on the defensive in battle.

'Whatever I'm going to do I better do it now.' The Pirate girl thought to herself as she gripped her dagger about to jump into the one-sided fight.

"Oh! Hey Bandit woman!" Sonya called to Tetra quite loudly. (Even though she was right next to her) Tetra quickly grabs the girl and drags her within the crowd. "Idiot!" The 15-year-old Pirate/Princess growled. "Are you trying to blow my cover?"

Sonya shrugs. "Your boyfriend has been doing nothing but dodging for quite sometime now. Saskue hasn't once been able to lay a finger on him. The most that could happen now is you stepping in and forcing him to concern over two people now."

"Where are you getting at?" Tetra asked the young girl beginning to distrust her at every waking second. Sonya smirks. "Your boyfriend is gonna wear that over grown jerk down."

"Damnable coward!" Saskue bellows after failing to once land a blow on the Outsetter again. "Stay still and fight! Or is the feminine trait of running all you can do?"

Link was really growing annoyed with this foolish man. "I don't know what's more pathetic, the fact that people are so fearful of one so blind or your complete disregard for women as equal beings." Link grits his teeth while continuing. "I grew up in a female surrounded environment with my Sis and my Grandma, they were great…On my travels I met nothing but brave amazing women who have the courage to stand up to anything because they know what's on the line…because they know what they want…"

"Mister…" The girl Link carried sympathetically replied.

"Somehow your slave owner is going to be mentioned eventually" The muscular man grinned.

"First thing, she's my boss not my owner. Second off she's my friend and you better watch it. I had all I could take of your put downs of her just to get to me! Grow up!" The villagers were growing interested by what the once quiet young man was saying, as was Tetra who had to cover Sonya's mouth with her hands to make sure she wouldn't squeal or anything silly like that.

"Next" The boy continued, "I like my Ponytail, it beats the hat that went with the tunic I wear. Finally! If I'm a slave to Tetra in anyway then my heart is slave to her…" Link gives a small sheepish grin for saying that in front of all those people. "I love her deeply even if I knew she could never return my feelings. 'Even when I know she never will' She means a lot to me and one of my few main dreams is to share my life with her and hopefully grow old together." 'More wishful thinking'

Tetra was in awe at what Link had just admitted to strangers. She wasn't sure if she could kill him or just hug him.

Whichever her decision, the strong blush on Tetra's face was right there, as was the tears that ran down her flushed cheeks freely. She was happy, happy that he didn't hate her for acting the way she did yesterday, happy that the two could have the power to work this out. But most of all she was happy that Link was Link…The same boy she had fallen in love with, her best friend and her light of hope. Tetra decided it was wise to leave Link be and confide in him as he does her.

A lot of the women in the crowd also blushed at Link's comment all as they said lightly envying the Pirate girl for her catch and wished they met a man so devoted. The men just nodded at Link's truthfulness. Saskue wasn't as pleased by Link's words. But he was just so surprised at this current site…The people his residents all doubted him?

Saskue just spat in disgust "If you fools wish to become weak like this boy then so be it! If you wish to retain manhood then follow the Islands Military leader." With that Saskue turned and left, his groupies following him.

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(Where the Pirate ship is)

"Mister" The Boy holding the spice for him started "I'm glad that you were able to get another barrel of rice."

"I should be thanking you guys." Link stated. "You guys really bailed me out with cleaning that mess."

"It was all that Hog's Saskue's fault!" The girl holding three stone tablets growled.

Link freezes in his place as he sees Tetra, her hair back in her normal style standing in front of the boat glaring at him before she walks over to where he is.

The 15-year-old Outsetter doesn't even bother to say anything; all he could do is brace himself for the worst physical and verbal beating of his life.

To his surprise, Tetra didn't do either, surprisingly. She just grabs at Link's cheeks and squeezes them until they were red and swollen. "You act like you're so tough you know that?" The girl smirks.

That was a good sign. "So you aren't mad?" Link asks his boss and friend. Tetra pulled at his cheeks harder. "Oh, I'm mad alright! Mad that you couldn't follow my orders and get my consent on your going to get more supplies no matter how considerate it was of you."

Tetra releases her grip on her friend and turns to the children. "You guys could just drop it all here. It is in his job description to do stuff like this." Link face faults at this request.

"All of it…On my own…"

"You snuck off into town on your own didn't you?"

"…"

"Exactly, so stop belly aching and get to it!"

"Yes ma'am…"

End Chapter 4