We now set sail for the Wind Temple near Windfall. But first, a short stop at Outset Island!

Don't own anything.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: OUTSET ISLAND

The cool night breeze was settling in when the two ships left. Knowing that everyone is tired from their battle with the newly enhanced Jahalla, Link suggested a stop at his home island.

"We should camp out on Outset Island," Link suggested.

"And why should we do that?" Tetra asked.

"We're not at full strength. We should rest up easy and head to the Wind Temple in the morning."

"Is there any lodging in Outset?" Wilder asked from his boat.

"I know a few people on Outset," Link replied. "They'll help us out."

"Anything's better than sleeping on this rickety old ship again," Genis moaned.

"What did you just call my ship?" Tetra asked fiercely.

"Uh…what I meant to say was…"

"Genis, maybe you should quit while you are ahead," Raine replied.

"Take your sister's advice," Tetra said, "You're not much of a ladies' man."

The group agreed and set sail for Outset. Upon arriving, everyone was greeted by Link's little sister Aryll.

"Big brother!" she cried, tackling him to the ground.

"Ouch!" Link exclaimed. "Ayrll, get off of me!"

"Oh, big brother, I was so worried! I thought you'd never come back!"

Link got up and dusted himself off. "Well, I'm back…but not for long…I'm leaving again."

Aryll looked very sad. "……when are you leaving?"

"I'm leaving very soon, Ayrll."

Aryll was very upset by this. When Link tried to embrace her, she broke away and ran off somewhere. Link was met by Raine.

"I'm guessing that was your sister," she replied.

"Yes, that was Aryll."

"She seemed pretty upset."

"I told her I was leaving tomorrow morning."

"……you have no decency as a person, don't you?"

"What?"

"You just don't tell your sister that you came here only to rest. She was really happy to see you."

"And this is coming from the little hell raiser from Greenvale?" Genis asked, joining in the conversation.

"Hey, this is an 'A' and 'B' conversation, so why don't you 'C' your way out of it before 'D' and 'E' come and 'F' you up, okay 'G'?"

"Aren't we a mouthy one…"

"Enough of this," Link said. "Just tell the others to meet me in front of the last house on the island."

"What's with him?" Genis asked.

"He just having sibling problems," Raine replied.

The group met Link outside of the house he told them to meet him. An old lady and Link carrying a pot of hot soup came out and started distributing the stuff. Everyone who ate it was immediately full.

"Such a hearty meal, ma'am," Captain Bryant said. "Never had something like that in ages!"

"That was pretty good," Presea replied. "Makes you want to eat more but you can't."

"What was in that soup?" Genis asked. "I wonder if it had any magical properties…"

"Nothing fills you up with a nice bowl of Elixer soup," Tetra said, still slurping her portion.

"Is that what it's called?" Wilder asked. "What a peculiar name…"

"Link, where is your sister?" Grandma asked. "Her soup is getting cold…"

"She…out for a walk, grandmother," Link replied sadly. "You might as well give her portion to Raine…"

"Must…have…more…" Raine replied, slurping her soup.

"Raine…manners," Genis said.

"Can't help it…soup too good…" Raine continued to slurp her soup.

"Raine…I need to talk to you," Shadow said out of the gauntlet.

Raine stopped slurping her soup, got up from the ground and said, "Uh…where's the nearest bathroom?"

Link pointed to the latrine (I don't know if there is a bathroom on Outset Island so I just made this location up). Raine ran towards it and spoke to her gauntlet.

"Shadow," Raine whispered."What is it?"

"Please Raine…is it alright…if I was released?"

"Hmmm? Well, alright then."

Raine started to chant:

"Help the soul who is undeserving and release the shadows."

Shadow appeared outside the gauntlet and spoke, "I just needed some fresh air. I'm going to take a walk."

Raine started to leave. "Alright, just don't get lost, okay?"

Shadow nodded and started to float over to the forest on the top of the island. Raine wonder what was going on so she followed her. Meanwhile, back at camp:

"What's keeping Raine?" Genis asked. "Even she doesn't take so long." He caught sight of Raine heading to the forest path.

"Hmm…"

"Do you want me to follow her?" Link asked.

"Please do. I don't want her in any trouble."

Link gathered his things and followed Raine. Shadow reached the top of the forest where she came upon Aryll crying on a stump.

"Why do you weep child?" Shadow asked.

Aryll spun around, caught a glimpse of Shadow and stepped back slowly.

"Wh…who are you?" She asked.

"Please, don't be frightened. I only wish to talk…"

"Stay away from me! I have a brother with a sword! I'll scream so loud he'll hear me…"

"That will not be necessary. Please…who are you…"

"My name is Aryll."

"Aryll…that is a pretty name…"

"Now you answer one of my questions. What are you?"

"A person…just like you…"

"What caused you to become that way?"

"It's a long story…would you like to hear it?"

"Might as well…I don't think I want to go home just yet…"

As Shadow prepared to begin telling her story, Raine was listening behind a tree. She jumped when she saw Link.

"What are you doing here?" Raine asked Link in a whisper.

"Seeing where you were going," Link replied, in the same whisper. "What are you doing here?"

"I was…oh, never mind, you'd never believe me…"

"What?"

"Look at your sister, she's right there."

Link took a look at Aryll "Okay…I see my sister."

"Do you see anything else?"

"Nope, just Aryll."

"See! You wouldn't know why I was here then…"

Link puts on his Hero's Charm. "And your shadow friend."

Raine was stunned. "How can you see her?"

"This mask I just put on is called the Hero's Charm. Its main purpose is to let me see my enemy's stamina. Not only is it used to see my enemy's stamina but it is also used to see what is invisible."

"Hmm…that's some mind-numbing stuff…"

"Listen! You're Shadow friend is speaking…"

Shadow positioned herself on an opposite stump that Aryll was sitting on.

"Alright," Shadow began,"This is my tale of woe. Maybe I could relate to you somehow."

Aryll listened intensively as Shadow begun the story of her life…

What is the story behind Shadow's mysterious past? Please R&R.