By animeninjaNIPPON

Sailing on into the unknown, Link gazed up at the seagulls overhead. Dib leaned over the side, letting his fingers drag across the water. He caught sight of something glistening in the distance. "What's that?"

Zim pushed Dib aside so he could see. "What are you TALKING about, worm baby?"

Gaz ignored them both, but Link could see the glittering object – a rupee! By the looks of it, the rupee in question was worth about ten units of currency. Link looked over at the purple-haired girl. That Tingle Tuner was starting to burn a hole in his wallet…

There was an entire trail of rupees leading up to the general direction of the second Triangle Island. Each little gem was conveniently positioned atop a floating barrel, just waiting to be collected. Without further ado, Link eased the ship toward the first rupee.

Zim took note of the elfin boy as he picked up the rupees, and mused in soliloquy, "Those shiny things must have some sort of power…ZIM must possess that power!" Striding over to Link (and squeezing past Dib), he announced, "Have no fear, Link-creature, for I, the MIGHTY ZIM, will take over in your quest to pick up SHINY THINGS!" Before Link could respond, Zim leaned over while holding onto the side and snatched a blue rupee off the next barrel.

"He's up to something, I know it!" Dib hurried over to Zim and forced him out of the way. "You can't get those shiny things if I get them first! What do you say to that, space boy?"

"NEVER!" Zim regained his position and grabbed another gem. Dib dipped his hand in the water and threw a cupped handful of the wet substance at his green foe, who ducked away just in time. Dib then managed to grab five different rupees before Zim knocked him away again.

Gaz actually stopped browsing through the Tingle Tuner to watch the two enemies fight. At this point, Dib had Zim in a strangle hold, and the green boy had his foot poised to trip Dib should he step backwards. However, the brawl was disturbed by Link's gentle outburst that informed them that they had reached their destination.

Not wanting to take a chance at losing any more crew members, Link put out his hand in a "wait" gesture before jumping over the side to put Farore's Pearl in its proper place.

With Link gone, Zim and Dib had space to admire their rupee collections.

"Now," Zim commanded the gems, "GIVE ME YOUR POWER!"

"Don't listen to him!" Dib cut in.

"The big-headed Earth-monkey SPEAKS LIES! Give your shiny powers to ZIIIM!"

"They're just rupees," Gaz cut in.

"Huh?" Dib glanced up at his sister. "You know about them? How?"

"Tingle." She motioned to the Tuner. "You use rupees to buy things and stuff."

"They're…MONIES?" Zim looked at his sparkly pile in dismay. "NOOOOOOOO!"

"Yes! Victory for Dib!" The boy in the black trench coat shot his fists into the air with excitement. Gaz merely commented that they were both stupid and turned back to the Tuner.

After Zim's lament and Dib's celebration, Link returned. He gathered the rupees into his wallet, set sail, and headed off toward the third and final Triangle Island.

End of part twelve