A/N: well well well. it sure has been awhile, eh? i dont really mean 2 keep
writing this, but i like am. w/e. somes better than nothing, rite? readers
boo and a tomato lands squarely in the center of sawyerzelda's face hm.
perhaps not. neway, read on.
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"Darunia," Link said. "How would you like to help me on a rescue mission?"
"Hmmm...." Darunia said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "What kind of rescue mission are we talking about?"
"The Princess of Hyrule got kidnapped by Flynn," Link said, squeezing his bangs to get the water out of them. "I've got to get to her before he-- "
"Ah yes; say no more," Darunia said, holding up a hand. He led Link towards town, one arm around his shoulders. "We--well, I know what you mean. I am assuming that you are not the only one interested in searching for our dear Princess, are you?"
"Of course not," Link answered somewhat bitterly. "Ever hear of Nacirema?"
"Um...yes, I think so."
"Well, their Prince Kishik is the only competition I have in terms of reaching her first," Link continued. "I believe that she was taken on the night their engagement was to be announced. By then I was already....um, well, never mind."
"Already what?" Darunia asked. A slow grin crept upon his face. "I see. You happen to like the Princess a bit, don't you?"
"Now, what makes you say that?" Link asked, throwing his hands in the air.
"Oh, well, just the fact that you're so obsessed with saving her," Darunia told him lightly. He glanced sideways at Link, who was red.
"Well, I--it's not like--I'm just as concerned about saving my future leader as the next fellow," Link sputtered.
Darunia stopped walking and stared at him. "Well then move over and let me see the next fellow." Then they both laughed, and Darunia kept talking. "It's not that you're explanation isn't honorable or believable; it is just that since you're a, well, a gypsy, it did not occur to me that you might be worried about your 'future leader.' That is, seeing as how you are constantly managing to rob the royal treasury."
"Hey, that was only twice, and it was to save someone in trouble," Link said. He grinned. "Besides, that wasn't even me. It was the Black Bandit."
"Of course it was," Darunia laughed.
A man with scraggly black hair approached them. Smiling, he took out a sword and thrushed it drunkenly at Link. "Avast, old man."
"You're one to talk, Jack," Link said to him.
"That's Captain Jack to you, boy," Jack Sparrow (I mean, Cpt. Jack Sparrow) said back to him. "Is something wrong, Darunia? I see trouble and worry in your nose. I mean in your eyes."
"Erm, nothing's terribly wrong," Darunia replied, afraid Jack might attempt to get involved. "Link's just come here on a friendly visit."
Link glared at him. Jack looked from one to the other, then put his hand on Link's shoulder. "Sure you did." With that, he walked away.
"Well, that was interesting," Link commented. "Haven't seen old Sparrow for some time. Oh that reminds me--where's old Bootstrap Bill?"
"Bootstrap Bill? Didn't you hear?" Darunia asked. "He's long gone. We found his son, who was holding some random piece of Aztec gold or something; but we had no use for the boy so we put him on a raft and sent him away."
"How unbearably kind of you," Link said, rolling his eyes. "Too bad about Bill, though, eh?"
"Yeah." They walked in silence for a few more moments, until Darunia spoke up again. "So Link, how exactly to plan to go about this mission, eh?"
"Oh, I don't know," Link answered, shrugging, his hands clasped behind his back. "Haven't really thought about it yet."
"Ah. I see. That's just like you, Link. Leave everything to the last minute. It's not really practical."
"Who said Pirates are practical?" Link asked. "Or gypsies, for that matter." He took an ocarina out of his pocket.
"Put that stupid thing away!!" Darunia snapped at him. "If you're going to be serious about this, you need to concentrate!!"
Link lowered his eyelids half way, giving his "brother" a very exasperated look. Then, he began to play something that I'd like to refer to as "Saria's Song."
Immediately, Darunia's frown turned upside-down. (or would it be right side up?). Then he began to dance about in wild ecstasy, twisting and jumping, etc. "WOO-HOOO! WHAT A HOT HOT BEAT!! WHEEEE!!!"
Link lowered the ocarina from his lips, but Darunia was oblivious and continued to dancing away. Jack came back and stared at Darunia blankly.
"....................booze?"
"No," Link answered casually.
Jack shook his head and attempted to put his hand on Darunia's shoulder. Darunia calmed down, still smiling from ear to ear, and listened to Jack. ".... remember, mate: just say no." And, without further ado, Jack walked away.
"Okay, now that you've gotten me into a semi-good mood for absolutely nothing, why don't we devise a plan?" Darunia asked.
"Good idea," Link said. "Have you still got your boat?"
"Sorry, brother," he responded. "Scarlett took it two years ago and never gave it back to me."
"Hmmm...." Link frowned. He had been counting on Darunia's boat. "D'you think Jack would let us borrow his ship?"
"Well, two things wrong with that theory," Darunia said, holding up two fingers. "One: Jack never leases out his boat unless he can come on the mission with you. Two: Jack's ship no longer exists. It was flooded. But other than that; sure--I'm positive he'd be all to glad to let you borrow it."
Link sighed in frustration. "This is going to be a tad harder than I expected," he muttered to himself.
"Say, why don't you steal one?" Darunia asked. "We could, uh... set up distress signals on the island, wait for a ship to come, and then take it."
"That'd take too long," Link answered. "And besides, I'm a gypsy, not a criminal. What do you take me for? Some kind of bandit?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact," Darunia said back. "And a scurvy black one, at that."
Smiling, Link took out his sword and approached a nearby tree. In it, he carved a fancy, script "B." A "B" for Bandit.
"Interesting," Darunia mused. "Where'd you pick up that little trademark?"
"A friend from Spain," Link answered simply.
Suddenly, Jack returned once more, skipping about and singing as loud as he could, "THIS BOLD RENEGADE MARKS A B WITH HIS BLADE--A B THAT STANDS FOR BANDIT!!!"
"Get outta here, Sparrow," Darunia said, spitting. "But shouldn't it be 'BB,' for 'Black Bandit'?"
"Because that sounds just stupid," Link said bluntly. "But anway, I just might have to take up your offer on borrowing a ship.... maybe I could get Kishik's, if our distress signal was big enough!"
"I doubt it," Darunia said. "He doesn't seem the type to me that would be willing to stop on his path to saving a Princess just to help some island people."
"Good point," Link agreed. He thought for a moment in silence. Then he snapped his fingers. "Got it! We can pretend that we're Flynn's crew, and that Zelda's with us on the island! That'd make him stop for sure!"
"But how can we get his attention to tell him she's with us?" Darunia asked, choosing to ignore the fact that Link had just referred to Her Highness by name. "I mean, unless you want to use sticks to write in huge letters, 'We Have Your Princess.'"
"Don't worry about it," Link said. "If I know Kishik--which I do--he always sends a minimum of two men out to each piece of land he sees to ask for supplies. If we're subtle enough about it, we can get those men to believe Zelda's on the island."
"How do you mean?" Darunia inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean, we don't just come out and say, 'Yeah, we kidnapped the Princess, and she is here with us on our island' to their faces. We'll pretend that we don't know they're there, and pretend like we've just been whipping the Princess or something else dreadful, that'd make them go running--or rowing--back to Kishik like scared dogs!!"
"Ah, your genius never fails to astound me," Darunia said proudly. Then he frowned. "But--what makes you think that Kishik's ship is going to come by our island at all, anyway?"
"I was just thinking about that myself," Link said. "But you see, I actually happened to see Kishik's boat while hitching a ride on a humpback-- "
"How'd you know it was his boat?"
"Because he's the only boater I know conceited enough to paint a portrait of his head on the side of his ship," Link answered. "Anyway, if my calculations are correct, they should be here sometime around tomorrow morning. They'd have passed here before me, but I was at an advantage because I knew where this island was. By the time this fog clears up, Kishik will see the island and send his two missionaries."
"Brilliant," Darunia marveled. "But what if, by chance, Kishik doesn't show up?"
Link was quiet for a moment. "I'll give him two days maximum. If he's not here by then; I'll make sure to get someone else's boat."
"Why not try to get one now?"
"Because," Link said, grinning again. "It'd be more fun to try and eliminate some of the competition, wouldn't it?"
Darunia rolled his eyes. "Such a ladykiller, eh?"
"That's me," Link said, brushing his hair off his face.
"But how'd you know all this, anyway? I mean, about Kishik?"
"Well, I worked undercover as a sailor for him once," Link answered. "Always good to know a lot about your enemy, right? I almost know him better than his own mother does, I'd wager."
"Hm. How impossibly cunning."
"Yeah, wasn't it?"
"All right then, let's get prepared for tomorrow morning."
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Zelda stood wistfully in the crow'd nest. She sighed softly, and watched her breath issue out of her mouth and disappear into the night sky. The Princess looked up at the stars, then down as she heard someone climbing the pole up to her sanctuary.
She wasn't surprised to see Captain Flynn's head appear at the bottom of the crow's nest, then the rest of him come up. Zelda blinked her eyes once, then returned her gaze back to the dark sky as he shut the door.
"A bit chilly, in'it?" he asked.
She shrugged. "A little, I suppose. But I was bred to endure cold weather."
"I see." Flynn looked at her, and she ignored him until she couldn't stand it anymore. Her icy glare tempted him to speak again. "I suppose you think I'm a horribly terrible person, don't you?"
"Was it that easy to tell?" she asked bitterly, her words stinging with hate.
The pirate sighed. "People often have the wrong idea about pirates," he said in a gentle voice she wouldn't have expected from him. "We're bad eggs for a reason, you know. I, although not all of my associates are like this, never grew up with the idea that I would become what I am."
Zelda frowned slightly. What was he getting at? "So then why ... are you .....?"
"Simple, but a little long," Flynn answered.
"I'm a princess. I like long stories."
Flynn let out a hoarse laugh. "All right, I'll tell you, just to humor you. I guess you could say I always used to be a little rebel. My governesses didn't know how to respond to me; they were always hitting me with a broom or a lamp, whatever was near. They did not understand how to treat me, how to discipline me, but I suppose I don't either.
"Anyway, when I finally figured out that I shouldn't have been so bad, I became good for a year."
"Good?" Zelda asked, failing to smother a smile. "A pirate, good?"
"I wasn't a pirate yet, though," Flynn said. "But all the other boys I knew made fun of me, because I never did anything wrong. They didn't try to be my friend, they didn't try to tell me what I should do; they just laughed. And girls, too. They didn't like me; I would have to change for them.
"And so I did. I changed. Because of those kids, because of those governesses, because of my parents, I changed into what I am. My change was so dynamic; people began to get scared of me. So that's when I decided the only joy I would ever get would be by making everyone in the world pay for their wrongs. I just wanted to go to those boys and say, 'Look at me now. Look at which one is the one cowering in fright now'--you see, I was so nimminy-pimminy I was afraid by anyone bigger than me." Zelda was shocked to see Flynn's eyes glistening as if he was going to cry. Looking away from her, he said, "I wanted those governesses to be the ones getting beaten; to know that they were the ones making mistakes."
The Princess stared at Flynn, then looked away. She had never heard such a story as that one; and never would have expected to hear it come from a pirate. She wondered how many other pirates in the world had tragic beginnings that led to similar paths in life. Zelda wished she could come up with something to say.
"Maybe they just didn't know how to handle you," she finally said demurely, quietly.
Flynn laughed. "Yeah, sure." He shook his red hair out of his eyes, then looked over at the Princess, still smiling. "How would you have done it?"
Zelda was a little surprised by his asking. "Well, I--erm..." She shifted her feet uneasily, wishing he'd stop staring at her like that. "I guess I'd have given you a little more patience, and kindess."
The Captain stared at her. She might as well have said "pain" and "panic" instead of "patience and kindness." He continued to marvel as she finished up her sentence.
"That's what makes people mean and difficult, you see," Zelda explained, as if it were all rather obvious. "People don't care enough about them."
Flynn looked at her a moment longer, then smiled again. "A very interesting theory, your highness." He took of his hat and bowed, then extended a hand for her to shake. She took it briefly, then let go.
"I bid you good night," Flynn said, opening the door that would lead him out of the crow's nest. "And by the way--not that you were curious or anything, but my name's Roy. Roy Flynn. Just--don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Um, okay," Zelda said with a smile. The sight of this made Roy--er, Flynn--smile back, as he climbed back down to the deck of his ship.
A few hours later, Zelda felt her eyelids beginning to droop. She yawned, and realized now that it must be quite late. However, she was too tired to walk all the way back down to her room, so she curled up and went to sleep in the crow's nest.
And then came the dream.....
Zelda was lying on her back, asleep. Slowly, her eyes open, then immediately shut as bright sunlight burst into her eyes. Stretching, the Princess gradually sat up. She heard seagulls above her, and the quiet lapping of ocean water in front of her. It slowly occurred to her that she was lying on a beach.
The Princess was surrounded by warm sand, and tall palm trees. Zelda got to her feet, and walked gracefully to the waters edge. She bent down and ran her hand slowly through the clear, blue water. Then she dipped both of her hands into the water and brought them up to her tresses of blonde hair, sifting them through.
Zelda saw something out of the corner of her eye. She jumped as she realized that she saw a limp person's body washing up on shore. Getting up, she ran towards the body as the person began to cough roughly.
"Link?" she asked, bewildered.
He spat seawater out of his mouth. "Yeah, it's me," he said in his deep, quiet voice.
Then Zelda ran towards him, the sun's piercing rays shining behind her. Link held out his arms and she ran into them, and the two of them embraced each other tightly.
"Don't ever leave me like that again," Zelda whispered, kissing Link's neck and this his cheek. "You might not come back next time. You barely did now."
"I'm sorry," he apologized quietly. "I don't believe I shall ever do it again."
Zelda smiled with relief, her hands dropping from around Link's neck down to his own hands. "Thank you." She tugged on his sleeve, then said, "Come sit with me."
The two of them sat side by side, looking out on the water. The Princess's hand brushed against his, and she picked it up. "Hmmm..."
"What is it?" he asked softly.
"Your palm," she answered swiftly. She stroked it with a soft, white finger; running it over Link's calluses and cuts. He winced as she pressed down little on a small bruise. "You needn't trouble yourself so much over me," she said in a whisper.
"As long as it's you I'm doing for, it's not trouble," Link said. "Zelda, I don't think you'll ever learn .... you're not the burden you think you are. Here, let me see your hand." Smiling, Zelda put it out in front of him. Grinning, Link took his finger and ran it down her palm by her thumb. "You've got a long lifeline."
"Have I really?" she asked, amused. "I suppose that's nice."
"Yes, and these lines say how many children you're going to have," Link said nonchalantly, as if he was a gypsy speaking to a regular customer. "Wow. Four."
When this sunk in, Zelda's eyes flew open in shock. Her pale skin turned a deep crimson color, and when Link suddenly realized the intimacy of his statement, he turned dark red too. He quickly dropped the Princess's hand.
They awkwardly looked away from each other, then looked back at the same time. Neither one wanted to be the first to look away.
"Uh, I-I'm really sorry about...that," Link stammered. "I-I didn't mean to be ...."
"I know, Link," Zelda said, putting a finger to his lips to silence him. Frowning a little, she ran her finger over his chapped lips. "You're lips are all chapped," she said.
"Yeah, I know," he said, glad to be off of the embarrassing subject of children.
"It helps to wet them," Zelda said.
"Um, all right." Link licked his lips a little, then realized that the Princess was staring at him in an odd way that made him feel a tad queasy.
"Here let me help you," she whispered, leaning closer to him. Zelda grabbed the collar of Link's tunic and kissed him fervently. Link was a little surprised by her sudden move, but was not about to complain. He responded with a bone-crushing embrace, kissing her back ardently.
After a moment, Zelda broke away, letting out a small gasp of pain. Her breathing got heavier as she felt Link's muscular thighs against her, and she closed her eyes and reached for his shoulders. Her arms closed about him, determined that she should never lose him again.
Then the Princess became aware that someone was watching them. She once again broke away from Link, and her eyes widened as she looked over his shoulder. Link turned around to see what she was staring, and he immediately rolled off of her.
Flynn stood in front of them. Neither knew exactly what it was about his presence that was commanding. But suddenly, Zelda did not see him the same way she had before. He was no longer the malicious, evil, selfish man she had seen at first. Now she felt a weak, needing, vengeful air coming from him. Quivering, Flynn took out his sword and pointed it at Link.
"Up," he said to him.
Then suddenly, Zelda felt cold water splashing over her and she sat up, sputtering.
"Up, already, Princess!" she heard Malon shouting. "Geez, we've been searching this whole stupid ship for you!! What were you doin' in the crow's nest?!"
"The...what?" Zelda asked dazedly, sitting up and rubbing her head.
"The Cap'n said he was up here with you," Malon said. "Last night." She stared at the Princess, and then Zelda realized that one of her dress sleeves was slipping off her shoulder.
"I--nothing happened!" Zelda said shortly, shoving the sleeve back into its proper place. "It was--we just talked!" She was burning from embarrassment, but not because of Malon's insinuation. She was thinking of the dream she'd had last night, and wondered how she had gotten into the position she'd been in before getting woken up.
"Yeah, of course nothing happened," Malon said, rolling her eyes. "But you should come on down to your room in a moment, Princess. Flynn wants to see you on deck shortly."
Zelda nodded as Malon left. She pondered about her dream. She suddenly realized how much she had been missing Link, and would like to see him again. Sighing, Zelda tiredly got to her feet and looked out at the vast ocean before her.
"Oh Link," she sighed to herself. "I wonder what you're doing right now..."
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A/N: like the fluffiness in her dream? or...not? should i keep writing this, or just stop? please review and tell me what y'all think. btw, like jack's little entrance? if u don't know who jack sparrow is, y r u reading this story? have u no shame?? GO WATCH PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN RIGHT NOW!!! (or suffer the consequences!!)
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"Darunia," Link said. "How would you like to help me on a rescue mission?"
"Hmmm...." Darunia said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "What kind of rescue mission are we talking about?"
"The Princess of Hyrule got kidnapped by Flynn," Link said, squeezing his bangs to get the water out of them. "I've got to get to her before he-- "
"Ah yes; say no more," Darunia said, holding up a hand. He led Link towards town, one arm around his shoulders. "We--well, I know what you mean. I am assuming that you are not the only one interested in searching for our dear Princess, are you?"
"Of course not," Link answered somewhat bitterly. "Ever hear of Nacirema?"
"Um...yes, I think so."
"Well, their Prince Kishik is the only competition I have in terms of reaching her first," Link continued. "I believe that she was taken on the night their engagement was to be announced. By then I was already....um, well, never mind."
"Already what?" Darunia asked. A slow grin crept upon his face. "I see. You happen to like the Princess a bit, don't you?"
"Now, what makes you say that?" Link asked, throwing his hands in the air.
"Oh, well, just the fact that you're so obsessed with saving her," Darunia told him lightly. He glanced sideways at Link, who was red.
"Well, I--it's not like--I'm just as concerned about saving my future leader as the next fellow," Link sputtered.
Darunia stopped walking and stared at him. "Well then move over and let me see the next fellow." Then they both laughed, and Darunia kept talking. "It's not that you're explanation isn't honorable or believable; it is just that since you're a, well, a gypsy, it did not occur to me that you might be worried about your 'future leader.' That is, seeing as how you are constantly managing to rob the royal treasury."
"Hey, that was only twice, and it was to save someone in trouble," Link said. He grinned. "Besides, that wasn't even me. It was the Black Bandit."
"Of course it was," Darunia laughed.
A man with scraggly black hair approached them. Smiling, he took out a sword and thrushed it drunkenly at Link. "Avast, old man."
"You're one to talk, Jack," Link said to him.
"That's Captain Jack to you, boy," Jack Sparrow (I mean, Cpt. Jack Sparrow) said back to him. "Is something wrong, Darunia? I see trouble and worry in your nose. I mean in your eyes."
"Erm, nothing's terribly wrong," Darunia replied, afraid Jack might attempt to get involved. "Link's just come here on a friendly visit."
Link glared at him. Jack looked from one to the other, then put his hand on Link's shoulder. "Sure you did." With that, he walked away.
"Well, that was interesting," Link commented. "Haven't seen old Sparrow for some time. Oh that reminds me--where's old Bootstrap Bill?"
"Bootstrap Bill? Didn't you hear?" Darunia asked. "He's long gone. We found his son, who was holding some random piece of Aztec gold or something; but we had no use for the boy so we put him on a raft and sent him away."
"How unbearably kind of you," Link said, rolling his eyes. "Too bad about Bill, though, eh?"
"Yeah." They walked in silence for a few more moments, until Darunia spoke up again. "So Link, how exactly to plan to go about this mission, eh?"
"Oh, I don't know," Link answered, shrugging, his hands clasped behind his back. "Haven't really thought about it yet."
"Ah. I see. That's just like you, Link. Leave everything to the last minute. It's not really practical."
"Who said Pirates are practical?" Link asked. "Or gypsies, for that matter." He took an ocarina out of his pocket.
"Put that stupid thing away!!" Darunia snapped at him. "If you're going to be serious about this, you need to concentrate!!"
Link lowered his eyelids half way, giving his "brother" a very exasperated look. Then, he began to play something that I'd like to refer to as "Saria's Song."
Immediately, Darunia's frown turned upside-down. (or would it be right side up?). Then he began to dance about in wild ecstasy, twisting and jumping, etc. "WOO-HOOO! WHAT A HOT HOT BEAT!! WHEEEE!!!"
Link lowered the ocarina from his lips, but Darunia was oblivious and continued to dancing away. Jack came back and stared at Darunia blankly.
"....................booze?"
"No," Link answered casually.
Jack shook his head and attempted to put his hand on Darunia's shoulder. Darunia calmed down, still smiling from ear to ear, and listened to Jack. ".... remember, mate: just say no." And, without further ado, Jack walked away.
"Okay, now that you've gotten me into a semi-good mood for absolutely nothing, why don't we devise a plan?" Darunia asked.
"Good idea," Link said. "Have you still got your boat?"
"Sorry, brother," he responded. "Scarlett took it two years ago and never gave it back to me."
"Hmmm...." Link frowned. He had been counting on Darunia's boat. "D'you think Jack would let us borrow his ship?"
"Well, two things wrong with that theory," Darunia said, holding up two fingers. "One: Jack never leases out his boat unless he can come on the mission with you. Two: Jack's ship no longer exists. It was flooded. But other than that; sure--I'm positive he'd be all to glad to let you borrow it."
Link sighed in frustration. "This is going to be a tad harder than I expected," he muttered to himself.
"Say, why don't you steal one?" Darunia asked. "We could, uh... set up distress signals on the island, wait for a ship to come, and then take it."
"That'd take too long," Link answered. "And besides, I'm a gypsy, not a criminal. What do you take me for? Some kind of bandit?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact," Darunia said back. "And a scurvy black one, at that."
Smiling, Link took out his sword and approached a nearby tree. In it, he carved a fancy, script "B." A "B" for Bandit.
"Interesting," Darunia mused. "Where'd you pick up that little trademark?"
"A friend from Spain," Link answered simply.
Suddenly, Jack returned once more, skipping about and singing as loud as he could, "THIS BOLD RENEGADE MARKS A B WITH HIS BLADE--A B THAT STANDS FOR BANDIT!!!"
"Get outta here, Sparrow," Darunia said, spitting. "But shouldn't it be 'BB,' for 'Black Bandit'?"
"Because that sounds just stupid," Link said bluntly. "But anway, I just might have to take up your offer on borrowing a ship.... maybe I could get Kishik's, if our distress signal was big enough!"
"I doubt it," Darunia said. "He doesn't seem the type to me that would be willing to stop on his path to saving a Princess just to help some island people."
"Good point," Link agreed. He thought for a moment in silence. Then he snapped his fingers. "Got it! We can pretend that we're Flynn's crew, and that Zelda's with us on the island! That'd make him stop for sure!"
"But how can we get his attention to tell him she's with us?" Darunia asked, choosing to ignore the fact that Link had just referred to Her Highness by name. "I mean, unless you want to use sticks to write in huge letters, 'We Have Your Princess.'"
"Don't worry about it," Link said. "If I know Kishik--which I do--he always sends a minimum of two men out to each piece of land he sees to ask for supplies. If we're subtle enough about it, we can get those men to believe Zelda's on the island."
"How do you mean?" Darunia inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean, we don't just come out and say, 'Yeah, we kidnapped the Princess, and she is here with us on our island' to their faces. We'll pretend that we don't know they're there, and pretend like we've just been whipping the Princess or something else dreadful, that'd make them go running--or rowing--back to Kishik like scared dogs!!"
"Ah, your genius never fails to astound me," Darunia said proudly. Then he frowned. "But--what makes you think that Kishik's ship is going to come by our island at all, anyway?"
"I was just thinking about that myself," Link said. "But you see, I actually happened to see Kishik's boat while hitching a ride on a humpback-- "
"How'd you know it was his boat?"
"Because he's the only boater I know conceited enough to paint a portrait of his head on the side of his ship," Link answered. "Anyway, if my calculations are correct, they should be here sometime around tomorrow morning. They'd have passed here before me, but I was at an advantage because I knew where this island was. By the time this fog clears up, Kishik will see the island and send his two missionaries."
"Brilliant," Darunia marveled. "But what if, by chance, Kishik doesn't show up?"
Link was quiet for a moment. "I'll give him two days maximum. If he's not here by then; I'll make sure to get someone else's boat."
"Why not try to get one now?"
"Because," Link said, grinning again. "It'd be more fun to try and eliminate some of the competition, wouldn't it?"
Darunia rolled his eyes. "Such a ladykiller, eh?"
"That's me," Link said, brushing his hair off his face.
"But how'd you know all this, anyway? I mean, about Kishik?"
"Well, I worked undercover as a sailor for him once," Link answered. "Always good to know a lot about your enemy, right? I almost know him better than his own mother does, I'd wager."
"Hm. How impossibly cunning."
"Yeah, wasn't it?"
"All right then, let's get prepared for tomorrow morning."
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Zelda stood wistfully in the crow'd nest. She sighed softly, and watched her breath issue out of her mouth and disappear into the night sky. The Princess looked up at the stars, then down as she heard someone climbing the pole up to her sanctuary.
She wasn't surprised to see Captain Flynn's head appear at the bottom of the crow's nest, then the rest of him come up. Zelda blinked her eyes once, then returned her gaze back to the dark sky as he shut the door.
"A bit chilly, in'it?" he asked.
She shrugged. "A little, I suppose. But I was bred to endure cold weather."
"I see." Flynn looked at her, and she ignored him until she couldn't stand it anymore. Her icy glare tempted him to speak again. "I suppose you think I'm a horribly terrible person, don't you?"
"Was it that easy to tell?" she asked bitterly, her words stinging with hate.
The pirate sighed. "People often have the wrong idea about pirates," he said in a gentle voice she wouldn't have expected from him. "We're bad eggs for a reason, you know. I, although not all of my associates are like this, never grew up with the idea that I would become what I am."
Zelda frowned slightly. What was he getting at? "So then why ... are you .....?"
"Simple, but a little long," Flynn answered.
"I'm a princess. I like long stories."
Flynn let out a hoarse laugh. "All right, I'll tell you, just to humor you. I guess you could say I always used to be a little rebel. My governesses didn't know how to respond to me; they were always hitting me with a broom or a lamp, whatever was near. They did not understand how to treat me, how to discipline me, but I suppose I don't either.
"Anyway, when I finally figured out that I shouldn't have been so bad, I became good for a year."
"Good?" Zelda asked, failing to smother a smile. "A pirate, good?"
"I wasn't a pirate yet, though," Flynn said. "But all the other boys I knew made fun of me, because I never did anything wrong. They didn't try to be my friend, they didn't try to tell me what I should do; they just laughed. And girls, too. They didn't like me; I would have to change for them.
"And so I did. I changed. Because of those kids, because of those governesses, because of my parents, I changed into what I am. My change was so dynamic; people began to get scared of me. So that's when I decided the only joy I would ever get would be by making everyone in the world pay for their wrongs. I just wanted to go to those boys and say, 'Look at me now. Look at which one is the one cowering in fright now'--you see, I was so nimminy-pimminy I was afraid by anyone bigger than me." Zelda was shocked to see Flynn's eyes glistening as if he was going to cry. Looking away from her, he said, "I wanted those governesses to be the ones getting beaten; to know that they were the ones making mistakes."
The Princess stared at Flynn, then looked away. She had never heard such a story as that one; and never would have expected to hear it come from a pirate. She wondered how many other pirates in the world had tragic beginnings that led to similar paths in life. Zelda wished she could come up with something to say.
"Maybe they just didn't know how to handle you," she finally said demurely, quietly.
Flynn laughed. "Yeah, sure." He shook his red hair out of his eyes, then looked over at the Princess, still smiling. "How would you have done it?"
Zelda was a little surprised by his asking. "Well, I--erm..." She shifted her feet uneasily, wishing he'd stop staring at her like that. "I guess I'd have given you a little more patience, and kindess."
The Captain stared at her. She might as well have said "pain" and "panic" instead of "patience and kindness." He continued to marvel as she finished up her sentence.
"That's what makes people mean and difficult, you see," Zelda explained, as if it were all rather obvious. "People don't care enough about them."
Flynn looked at her a moment longer, then smiled again. "A very interesting theory, your highness." He took of his hat and bowed, then extended a hand for her to shake. She took it briefly, then let go.
"I bid you good night," Flynn said, opening the door that would lead him out of the crow's nest. "And by the way--not that you were curious or anything, but my name's Roy. Roy Flynn. Just--don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Um, okay," Zelda said with a smile. The sight of this made Roy--er, Flynn--smile back, as he climbed back down to the deck of his ship.
A few hours later, Zelda felt her eyelids beginning to droop. She yawned, and realized now that it must be quite late. However, she was too tired to walk all the way back down to her room, so she curled up and went to sleep in the crow's nest.
And then came the dream.....
Zelda was lying on her back, asleep. Slowly, her eyes open, then immediately shut as bright sunlight burst into her eyes. Stretching, the Princess gradually sat up. She heard seagulls above her, and the quiet lapping of ocean water in front of her. It slowly occurred to her that she was lying on a beach.
The Princess was surrounded by warm sand, and tall palm trees. Zelda got to her feet, and walked gracefully to the waters edge. She bent down and ran her hand slowly through the clear, blue water. Then she dipped both of her hands into the water and brought them up to her tresses of blonde hair, sifting them through.
Zelda saw something out of the corner of her eye. She jumped as she realized that she saw a limp person's body washing up on shore. Getting up, she ran towards the body as the person began to cough roughly.
"Link?" she asked, bewildered.
He spat seawater out of his mouth. "Yeah, it's me," he said in his deep, quiet voice.
Then Zelda ran towards him, the sun's piercing rays shining behind her. Link held out his arms and she ran into them, and the two of them embraced each other tightly.
"Don't ever leave me like that again," Zelda whispered, kissing Link's neck and this his cheek. "You might not come back next time. You barely did now."
"I'm sorry," he apologized quietly. "I don't believe I shall ever do it again."
Zelda smiled with relief, her hands dropping from around Link's neck down to his own hands. "Thank you." She tugged on his sleeve, then said, "Come sit with me."
The two of them sat side by side, looking out on the water. The Princess's hand brushed against his, and she picked it up. "Hmmm..."
"What is it?" he asked softly.
"Your palm," she answered swiftly. She stroked it with a soft, white finger; running it over Link's calluses and cuts. He winced as she pressed down little on a small bruise. "You needn't trouble yourself so much over me," she said in a whisper.
"As long as it's you I'm doing for, it's not trouble," Link said. "Zelda, I don't think you'll ever learn .... you're not the burden you think you are. Here, let me see your hand." Smiling, Zelda put it out in front of him. Grinning, Link took his finger and ran it down her palm by her thumb. "You've got a long lifeline."
"Have I really?" she asked, amused. "I suppose that's nice."
"Yes, and these lines say how many children you're going to have," Link said nonchalantly, as if he was a gypsy speaking to a regular customer. "Wow. Four."
When this sunk in, Zelda's eyes flew open in shock. Her pale skin turned a deep crimson color, and when Link suddenly realized the intimacy of his statement, he turned dark red too. He quickly dropped the Princess's hand.
They awkwardly looked away from each other, then looked back at the same time. Neither one wanted to be the first to look away.
"Uh, I-I'm really sorry about...that," Link stammered. "I-I didn't mean to be ...."
"I know, Link," Zelda said, putting a finger to his lips to silence him. Frowning a little, she ran her finger over his chapped lips. "You're lips are all chapped," she said.
"Yeah, I know," he said, glad to be off of the embarrassing subject of children.
"It helps to wet them," Zelda said.
"Um, all right." Link licked his lips a little, then realized that the Princess was staring at him in an odd way that made him feel a tad queasy.
"Here let me help you," she whispered, leaning closer to him. Zelda grabbed the collar of Link's tunic and kissed him fervently. Link was a little surprised by her sudden move, but was not about to complain. He responded with a bone-crushing embrace, kissing her back ardently.
After a moment, Zelda broke away, letting out a small gasp of pain. Her breathing got heavier as she felt Link's muscular thighs against her, and she closed her eyes and reached for his shoulders. Her arms closed about him, determined that she should never lose him again.
Then the Princess became aware that someone was watching them. She once again broke away from Link, and her eyes widened as she looked over his shoulder. Link turned around to see what she was staring, and he immediately rolled off of her.
Flynn stood in front of them. Neither knew exactly what it was about his presence that was commanding. But suddenly, Zelda did not see him the same way she had before. He was no longer the malicious, evil, selfish man she had seen at first. Now she felt a weak, needing, vengeful air coming from him. Quivering, Flynn took out his sword and pointed it at Link.
"Up," he said to him.
Then suddenly, Zelda felt cold water splashing over her and she sat up, sputtering.
"Up, already, Princess!" she heard Malon shouting. "Geez, we've been searching this whole stupid ship for you!! What were you doin' in the crow's nest?!"
"The...what?" Zelda asked dazedly, sitting up and rubbing her head.
"The Cap'n said he was up here with you," Malon said. "Last night." She stared at the Princess, and then Zelda realized that one of her dress sleeves was slipping off her shoulder.
"I--nothing happened!" Zelda said shortly, shoving the sleeve back into its proper place. "It was--we just talked!" She was burning from embarrassment, but not because of Malon's insinuation. She was thinking of the dream she'd had last night, and wondered how she had gotten into the position she'd been in before getting woken up.
"Yeah, of course nothing happened," Malon said, rolling her eyes. "But you should come on down to your room in a moment, Princess. Flynn wants to see you on deck shortly."
Zelda nodded as Malon left. She pondered about her dream. She suddenly realized how much she had been missing Link, and would like to see him again. Sighing, Zelda tiredly got to her feet and looked out at the vast ocean before her.
"Oh Link," she sighed to herself. "I wonder what you're doing right now..."
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A/N: like the fluffiness in her dream? or...not? should i keep writing this, or just stop? please review and tell me what y'all think. btw, like jack's little entrance? if u don't know who jack sparrow is, y r u reading this story? have u no shame?? GO WATCH PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN RIGHT NOW!!! (or suffer the consequences!!)