Across the Ocean
By Dominus Princeps
A.N. Thanks to Natasha for Komali's name. BTW, Natasha, in the game, his big, round eyes are black...so I'm running off the color of his eyes from OoT.
Chapter One
Link yawned and checked his sea chart and compass before turning the tiller slightly. Medli sat on the side of the boat and watched the ocean as they sailed through it. Soon, though, Medli was hungry. Link had come a few hours before noon meal, and now it was probably an hour past noon.
"Hey, Link, do you have any food on this boat?" Medli asked. Link looked over from the tiller and grinned sheepishly.
"Nope. I didn't stop to stock up. We could always fish for some," he replied, scratching his head. Medli rolled her eyes. Link took down the mast and sail and folded the sail neatly. He then reached in the compartment near the King of Red Lions' bow and pulled out a pair of fishing rods. He gave one to Medli and then pulled a sea anchor from the same compartment. Link dropped anchor and then cast his line out and set the rod in its base. Medli imitated Link, never having fished, and then lay down in the boat, stretching. She heard a splash and shot up.
"Link!" she called worriedly.
"Yeah?" his voice wasn't in the boat...she looked over the edge and saw Link swimming around the boat, clearly enjoying himself. He had left his shield and scabbard in the boat so as not to get them wet or lose them.
"Come on in, Medli, the water's nice!" Link waved.
"I fly, not swim. When my feathers get wet they stick and get heavy," Medli replied. Link stuck his tongue out.
"Spoilsport!" he mocked, diving underwater. Medli shook her head and leapt into the air, unfurling her wings. When Link surfaced, Medli swooped down and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Waa! Hey, what the-?" his surprise was only momentary. "Medli?"
"Good guess," Medli grinned.
"Hey, I know! Drop me and I'll do some cool diving tricks!" Link suggested. Medli shrugged and let go. Link shot downward, performing a triple backflip before piercing the water like an arrow. Medli hovered over the water, waiting for him. He surfaced a few seconds later, gasping for air but happy. Medli grinned and shook her head.
"That was so cool," Link said, swimming for the boat.
"Well...it was alright," Medli teased. She landed in the boat and checked her line.
"Man...nothing yet. If we don't get anything in a half hour we'll keep moving," Link sighed. He pulled out his sea chart.
"We won't get to Windfall for four days at least, so we might have to change course and give the Great Deku Tree a visit..." Link muttered. Medli held a hand to her stomach.
"I'm hungry, but not too bad. I'll probably be fine until dinner," she said.
"Yeah...we totally should've stopped at Outset first...Medli, we're turning around, okay?" Link said. Medli shrugged.
"Okay. Want me to haul anchor?" she asked. Link nodded.
"Sure. You know where it goes?" he asked.
"Where else could it go?" she grinned. Medli walked over to where the chain ran over the side of the boat. She tried to lift it, but it was too heavy. Medli dug her heels in and began pulling the chain slowly but surely. At last, the anchor broke the surface. Medli hauled it into the boat, coiled the chain, and set it in the ship's compartment.
"Get the sail while you're there, would you?" Link said as he reeled in his fishing rod. Medli did as he instructed and pulled out the folded sail.
"Hey, an orange Rupee!" Link exclaimed, pulling the treasure off of his fishing rod.
"Wow!" Medli gasped, admiring the valuable piece. Link pulled out his wallet and dropped the Rupee into the wallet, which had an orange Rupee emblem on it.
"I haven't seen wallets made like yours..." Medli said, curious. Link grinned.
"That's because mine was blessed by a Great Fairy. It holds five thousand Rupees," he said proudly.
"Oh, wow, a real Great Fairy?" Medli was impressed. Link nodded. He placed the fishing poles in the ship's compartment and unfolded the sail. He put up and secured the mast, then attached the sail. Link used the Wind Waker to conduct the winds, then turned the tiller and they were off.
"Can you see where we're headed?" Medli asked.
"Here, take this spyglass and look between the King of Red Lions' horns. You'll be able to see two peaks with a bridge between them; that's Outset..." Link trailed off. "My home."
"How long has it been since you were home?" Medli turned back away from the bow. She leaned against the mast.
"I...I don't know. Half a year...a year...It all blends together," he sighed. He locked the tiller and sat on the side of the boat. Medli sat beside him.
"It's just that...I've fought for so long, and I haven't seen what I've been fighting for in so long..." Link sighed. He turned to Medli.
"Do you know what I mean?" he asked. Medli shook her head.
"Not really. All I did for you was give you my grappling hook and pray for your sword," Medli looked down. "You've done so much for this land, and I really haven't done anything."
"Praying for my sword was just as important as my swinging it at Ganondorf," Link chuckled. Medli smiled.
"Well, thanks," she said. A drop of rain hit Medli square on the forehead. Another two sprinkled Link.
"Hey, it's raining!" Link smiled, looking around. Sure enough, the rain was beginning to come down. Medli looked at the rain as well.
"I've never seen rain like this...it hardly ever rains on Dragon Roost, and when it does, it's not very much. I didn't know that rain came down like this!" Medli said. Soon, the rain was in full swing, and Medli and Link were soaked.
"You're beautiful when you're wet, Medli. You oughta swim with me sometime," Link ran a hand down her soaked face. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Ow, hey! Watch that beak!" he winced. Medli drew back.
"I'm sorry," she bit her lip, embarrassed.
"It's alright," he said, comforting. Link slung an arm around her shoulders.
"There's nothing that you need to be sorry about. It's who you are," he said softly. Medli nodded.
"Hey, Link? Is it okay to be sailing in a thunderstorm?" Medli asked. Link frowned.
"Thunderstorm? Those clouds looked like the usual rainclouds to me..." he said slowly. Suddenly, the water began churning.
"Big Octo!" Link exclaimed as the fearsome monster broke the surface. Link dove for the ship's compartment and grabbed his Boomerang from it. He focused his mind on the multiple eyes of the Big Octo and threw the Boomerang. The ruby inlaid at the middle of the curve of it flashed and the Boomerang whipped around, following a course no normal boomerang could. Then, having struck the Big Octo's four eyes, the Boomerang returned to Link's hand.
"Wow, that's quite a boomerang!" Medli gaped, disbelieving. Link shrugged.
"It's magic. That's all I can say," he grinned, throwing the Boomerang again. The Big Octo writhed as the Boomerang struck its tender, vulnerable eyes. Link threw the Boomerang one more time, and this time the Octo's eyes sealed up. The fearsome beast whimpered, made a strange sound, and disappeared. A ring of light appeared where it had died.
"Hey, treasure!" Link grinned eagerly. He pulled the grappling hook and an odd rig from the ship's compartment. He replaced the mast with the rig and fed the grappling hook through part of it.
"Well, seems like you're getting good use from my old grappling hook, huh?" Medli smiled. Link nodded and turned the boat toward the ring of light. The boat was smart enough to know to cruise to the ring of light, whereupon Link hit a button and the hook of the grapping hook dropped into the sea. When it was fully reeled out, Link began turning a crank to draw the grappling hook back.
"Come on...come on..." Link whispered, peering over the edge from where he was cranking. Medli looked over the side, and even the King of Red Lions was watching intently. Link cheered as a black treasure chest popped up. He locked the grappling hook rig and swung the boom so that the chest hovered over the deck of the boat. Link lowered the chest slowly, then ran over to it. He took the hook from where it had hooked the chest and then opened the chest.
"Oh, wow! It's a treasure chart!" Link cheered. Medli watched him with mild amusement. He was acting just like a little kid who gets a piece of paper with a crude map and an X.
"If we get some time, let's go hunt for treasure! It's been so long since I went that I've got like fourteen treasure charts that I haven't filled," Link said to Medli. She shrugged and smiled. Link put away the rig and the grappling hook and set up the mast and sail. He took out his spyglass and searched the horizon.
"Ah, there's Outset. Alright, we're off!" he said, pinning the sail in place. The boat shot forward as the wind filled the sail.
ooo
The sunset was long gone as Link and Medli cruised to the end of the pier. Link tied the boat and jumped up to grab a hold of the end of the pier. He hoisted himself up and reached his hand down to help Medli. She took his wrist and he pulled her up. When they were both standing flat on the pier, Link looked around at his home island.
"It's so different than it was...and yet there's something so familiar..." he sighed. Medli took his hand and squeezed it.
"Don't worry, Link! I'm sure everyone will be happy to show you around. You are the Hero of the Winds, after all," she smiled. Link nodded.
"Yeah...I guess I am, huh?" he sighed. Link walked hand in hand with Medli over to his house overlooking the beach. He hesitated when they reached the door.
"Will Grandma even recognize me...?" Link said haltingly. Medli knocked on the door for him. Link looked at her with questioning eyes, but she merely smiled and pointed at the door. It opened slowly, and a girl in a blue sundress jumped into Link's arms.
"Big Brother!" Aryll cried, burying her face in Link's chest.
"Aryll!" Link hugged his sister tightly.
"Wow, you've really grown up, haven't you? You look...awful. You smell funny, too," Aryll blinked, taking a step back from Link. Link laughed.
"Awful? Is that how you greet your big bro after he's just defeated the King of Evil?" he grinned. Aryll ran a finger through a rip in Link's green tunic.
"Is that from one of his swords?" she gasped. Link nodded.
"That still aches a little," he replied.
"Oh, wow, my brother's a master swordsman! Wait till Orca hears about this!" Aryll cheered.
"Where's Grandma?" Link asked.
"Oh...she went to Orca's brother's house to get some tea because I couldn't sleep. And it was because I knew you were coming home, Big Brother!" Aryll said happily. She noticed Medli for the first time.
"Uh...whoa, wait, you're a Rito! Like the postman! Hey, cool! What's your name?" Aryll asked, curiosity filling her eyes.
"My name's Medli," Medli responded.
"Hey, you're not brown-skinned like the other Rito. You're pale like me and Big Brother. Why's that?" Aryll tilted her head. Medli bit her lip.
"Ah...I don't know why. I mean, I never really thought about it," she answered. Aryll pointed.
"Hey, there's Grandma! Look!" she said excitedly. Link turned and saw his grandmother walking up the path.
"Go on, Link," Medli said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. Link nodded slowly and walked down the path. Medli watched him go. When he reached his grandmother, they both stopped, then hugged fiercely. Medli's heart flew out to Link.
"Are you Big Brother's girlfriend?" Aryll asked, looking up at Medli. Medli smiled.
"I guess so," she replied softly, watching Link and his grandmother rock back and forth. Aryll looked back to Link and their grandmother.
"You seem nice. But what will your kids be like? Will they have beaks, or will they be normal?" Aryll pondered aloud. Medli blushed madly and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Uh...I...don't know, Aryll," she replied simply. Link returned with his grandmother at that moment.
"Grandma, I'd like you to meet Medli, one of the sages. She's the one that gave me the power to fight evil with the Master Sword. Medli, this is my grandma," Link introduced. Medli reached out to shake her hand, but the old woman hugged Medli instead.
"You helped my Link fight the King of Evil? Oh, oh, oh...you must be a powerful witch indeed, if you can bless the sword of evil's bane!" she said. Medli looked at Link, who smiled warmly at her. Link's grandmother stepped back to look at Medli.
"You're a pretty girl, Miss Medli. I admit that I've never seen a female Rito, but if they all look like you, then boys from all islands of the sea must flock to your home island," the old woman grinned. She pinched Medli's cheek and stepped towards the door.
"Well? Come on, let's go inside and have some tea," she motioned for them to enter. Aryll skipped into the house. Link took Medli's hand.
"Thank you, Medli. Thanks for knocking on that door when I didn't have the courage," he said softly before the two of them entered the house. Link's grandmother was already making a pot of tea when they walked into the kitchen/bedroom. Aryll was seated on the top bunk, her legs hanging over the edge.
"Hey, Big Brother! Tell me the story of when you fought the King of Evil! I wanna hear it!" Aryll said excitedly.
"Are you sure? It's scary..." Link teased.
"Of course I'm sure! I'm not scared of anything!" Aryll nodded fiercely. Link turned to Medli.
"You wanna hear it, too?" he asked.
"Sure. I've seen you fight, but I'm sure Ganondorf was much harder than Moblins and such," Medli assented. Link stood up.
"Okay. So I had just defeated Puppet Ganon, right? ..."
ooo
Link climbed hand over hand up the huge rope coming from what was apparently a bell tower. When he reached the top, Link looked around. There was a rafter that looked round enough...Link took out his grappling hook and swung it for the rafter. It wrapped around and caught. Link stopped his swinging and climbed up the grappling hook until he could hoist himself up onto the rafter. He balanced carefully and then hopped over to the main platform. Link then took out the ever-handy Hookshot and aimed for the wooden platform nearby. He pulled the trigger and the spear-like head shot from the barrel of the Hookshot. The head planted firmly into the wood of the platform. Then, Link shot into the air as the Hookshot's chain retracted into the barrel of the Hookshot, pulling Link with it. The head of the Hookshot detached from the wood, and Link dropped to the platform below. Link unsheathed his sword and fitted his shield on his arm and walked out onto the tower in front of him.
"Well, well, well...all here, now aren't we?" Ganondorf's sinister voice greeted Link. Suddenly, Link's Triforce glowed and disappeared from his hand, as did Zelda's...and Ganondorf's. The Triforce in full glory appeared behind Ganondorf.
"And, as my wish, I wish for-" Ganondorf cackled.
"I wish Hyrule to sink beneath the waves and be flooded forever!" a deep voice boomed.
"What?" Ganondorf's eyes widened. He whirled to face...Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule.
"Not fair!" Ganondorf hissed.
"I got here first," King Hyrule narrowed his eyes. Link hit his sword against his shield.
"Come on! Let's finish this, Ganondorf!" Link growled.
"You'd better be quick. Hyrule is flooding..." Ganondorf grinned. He motioned to the water falling on the tower.
"I don't need much time to defeat you, Ganon!" he ran at the Evil King.
"Link, look out!" Zelda cried. And just in time, too. Her warning gave Link just enough time to raise the Mirror Shield before Ganondorf stabbed his twin swords right at Link. The force of the blow knocked Link backward several feet. To his horror, the Mirror Shield was dented! Link circled Ganondorf, sword at the ready. The King of Evil began a long slash combination that Link backflipped away from. His final attack was a jump slash. Link rolled to the side and performed an uppercut counter-slash, which stunned Ganondorf momentarily. Link then proceeded to slash Ganondorf mercilessly. The King of Evil eventually blocked a slash, then leaped into the air to avoid the next one. He landed with a vicious slash that caught Link right in the chest. Link stumbled backwards at the attack, pain blurring his vision. He focused and struck at Ganondorf, who blocked the attack easily and replied with his own attacks. Link was hard-pressed to block them all, but managed his best effort. Ganondorf for no reason flipped his swords behind his back as though blocking something.
"Damn!" Zelda cursed. Ganondorf shrugged a Light Arrow off of his swords and returned to pounding on Link. A sudden slash cut Link's left brow and cheek, causing blood to run into his eye. Link rubbed the blood from his eye quickly, but was caught under the chin by a nimble kick from Ganondorf, which sent him crashing to the ground. Link held his shield up feebly. Ganondorf raised his swords for a final blow, when suddenly something struck Link's Mirror Shield and reflected into Ganondorf's chest. The force of the attack knocked Ganondorf into the air, and the King of Evil slammed to the ground twenty feet away.
"A Light Arrow?" Link gasped, turning to Zelda. She winked at him. The force of the arrow had fractured Link's shield, and Link knew that Zelda had put all her magic into it. Link stood and let out a battle cry. He raised his sword and ran at Ganondorf. But at the last moment, Link saw Ganondorf stir. His sword flicked out. Link jumped over the attack, slashed Ganondorf, and then stabbed his sword into Ganondorf's forehead.
"Ah! Aaaaaaaaah! Not again!" Ganondorf cried as his body was encased in stone. Suddenly, Link was up to his thighs in water. Zelda waded over to him.
"How are we gonna get out of here?" Link asked frantically. They were suddenly aware of someone behind them.
"King Hyrule!" they said in unison.
"Oh, my children...It is time for Hyrule to sink once again from memory..." the king said mournfully. Zelda shook her head.
"No, hey! We can make a new Hyrule, together!" she said, voice wavering.
"No, my daughter...the time of Hyrule is over. You, my children, must make a new kingdom, all for yourselves!" the king said. Suddenly, all the water came crashing down around them. Link found himself in a bubble.
"What the...?" he whispered, touching the walls of his bubble. Zelda was reaching desperately for her father, who was not encased in a bubble. But the King turned away from her and disappeared into the sea.
ooo
"Wow! That was a great story, Big Brother! Did you really do all that? Is that really why you have a big cut on your tunic and why your shield is dented and stuff?" Aryll fired off excitedly. Link nodded.
"All I have said is true...but I wonder about the King...he still lives in the King of Red Lions..." Link murmured.
"Tea's ready!" his grandmother announced, bringing four cups of tea on four saucers. Medli thanked her quietly and turned back to Link.
"So, that's where this scar came from?" she traced the pale white line from the top of Link's left brow down to the middle of his left cheek. His eyebrow was split into two segments from the scar.
"Yep. That's where it comes from," Link replied. He sipped his tea.
"So, you've finally come home to stay?" his grandmother asked. Link stopped. Her face fell.
"You've still got to..." she said softly.
"We stopped by to restock on food and rest. I've still got to spread the word about the new kingdom Tetra is proposing. But you'll see me around, don't worry. Don't worry," Link said. His grandmother sighed sadly.
"I guess...I guess it's good you can take on grown-up responsibilities...but Aryll and I always miss you," she sighed. Link nodded.
"Hey, it's no easy task for me to leave you guys behind. I'm just lucky I've got people out on the ocean who care about me, too," he sighed. At this comment, he turned to Medli for a split second before turning back to his grandmother.
"So...if you can make us a vat of soup, we'll take it with us when we leave tomorrow morning. We'll get food from elsewhere if you can't. But anything is appreciated, Grandma. And I love you; I always have," Link smiled. His grandmother walked over to him and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, Link...you'll always be my little boy!" she said tenderly. She stepped back.
"He got you good, didn't he?" she frowned at the gash in the green fabric of Link's tunic.
"Hey, Link, where'd your hat go?" Medli asked. Link felt for the hat, then pulled it out of a pocket in the tunic.
"I put it away when I came to the Earth Temple; I didn't want it to blow off in the wind," he explained. Medli nodded. The cap and, indeed, the rest of the tunic were threadbare and worn from Link's journeying across the ocean.
"Hey, Medli, want a tour of the island?" Link grinned.
"Sure. I'd love that," she assented. Link led her out the door. Right before she crossed the doorframe, Medli heard Link's grandmother say one thing.
"He loves her."
ooo
"...And here's where the bridge used to be. In that forest is the Great Fairy of this island," Link pointed across the gap to the forest.
"Wanna go into the forest?" Medli asked, unfurling her wings.
"Why not? It's been a while," Link said.
"Since you went or since you held onto my ankles for dear life?" Medli grinned. Link picked her up with the same ease that he always had.
"Well...maybe both," he chuckled, gripping her ankles tightly. He ran to the ledge and took a broad leap as she flapped her wings. Her strokes weren't nearly as powerful as the postmen's wingbeats, but they were enough to carry her and Link across the gap. They landed softly, and Link set Medli down.
"Been a while, eh?" Medli chuckled. Link wiped his forehead.
"Let's just say that I prefer using my Deku Leaf to relying on you," he jabbed. Medli rolled her eyes and walked toward the entrance to the forest. Link caught up with her easily and took her hand.
"It's so nice and cool in here," Medli remarked. Even at night, Outset was muggy, but as Medli had said, the forest was cool. They heard the clicking of feet, and Medli jumped, frightened.
"Don't worry; it's just the giant moth larva. If you don't bother them, they won't bug you either," Link grinned at his pun. Medli groaned and kept walking. They reached an elevated part in the ground which had a hole in the center.
"Is that the entrance to the Great Fairy's spring?" Medli asked.
"Yep. Wanna go?" Link replied. Medli shrugged and let go of Link's hand before hopping into the hole. Something was wrong...she was falling too fast! But, just before she crashed to the ground, a mysterious force slowed her fall. Medli sighed with relief and stepped out of the ray of light.
"It gets everybody the first time," Link grinned as he touched down. Medli shook her head and walked toward the fountain. Link walked up beside her. A small fairy hovered in the center of the fountain. It performed a spiral in midair and then, in a puff of smoke, turned into a dark, four-armed woman.
Young waker of the winds... Medli heard her voice, but the woman wasn't speaking.
"Hey, what's up? I never did thank you for the extension on my wallet," Link grinned.
Oh, I'm always eager to help out a hero in need, the Fairy grinned wordlessly.
"This is the Sage of Earth, Medli. Medli this is the Great Fairy of, eh...of Rupees," Link joked.
Indeed? The Sage of Earth? Tell me, what happened to Laruto? the Great Fairy asked.
"Ganondorf stole her soul, apparently. But I'm doing her job, now," Medli said cheerily.
Ah. Well, it's nice to see a new face on the job. Not that Laruto was a bad Sage, or anything, but I'm glad that the...younger generation has picked up the habits of the old, the Fairy smiled.
"Well...nice seeing you, Great Fairy. We'll be back sometime soon!" Link grinned. The Fairy nodded and disappeared in echoing laughter.
"Well...I've never had a conversation with a magical being of any sort, really. Except for Valoo, but that was in his language, not my own," Medli admitted.
"Hangin' out with me, Medli, you're getting all kinds of experiences!" Link smiled, throwing an arm around her shoulders. They walked into the sparkling light and shot up out of the Great Fairy Fountain. Link led Medli around the forest, showing her places where events from his boyhood had happened.
"And there, Medli, was where Tetra was hanging when I came in to rescue her. And that, really, started this whole adventure," Link pointed to where there had obviously been a branch before it had broken under Tetra's weight. Medli nodded and stretched.
"I'm sorry, Link...this has been a nice tour, but I'm really tired from everything that's happened today. Can we head back to your house?" she yawned.
"Easy. Let's leave the forest and then you and I can glide down," Link said. They left, and Link picked up Medli.
"How come I always do all the work?" Medli sighed, spreading her wings. Link leaped from the ledge and Medli angled her wings so that they slowly made their way to the ground. They touched down on Link's front porch.
"Nice flying," he grinned.
"Hey, your tunic is ripped even more! Must've been from when you were raising your arms to hold onto my ankles..." Medli pointed out. Link held the tunic so that he could see.
"Well...it's about time I got some new duds, anyway," he sighed. Medli ran a hand along the worn, battle-torn fabric.
"I don't know...green suits you," she said. Link rolled his eyes.
"I'd much rather wear something else, though. I've been wearing this tunic for probably a year and a half, now," he grimaced. Medli raised an eyebrow.
"Wow. That's dedication," she teased. Link pushed her playfully and opened the door quietly. His grandmother was asleep in front of the fire, and Aryll was sleeping in the top bunk of the bunk beds. Link pulled out a mat and pillow.
"Here, you sleep in the bed. I'll take this mat," he said. Medli yawned.
"Thanks, Link. Good night..." she said sleepily. Her head had not been on the pillow for thirty seconds before she was asleep.