Hey hey, I'm back, with chapter 3 ready to roll.

Small note: Soon, I will be at University (hooray for Scarf), thus updating will be all the slower. But, I will not forget, I promise.

Hope you all enjoy.

Governer Scarf.

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The sun was rising and the crew of The Jolly Zora were all still asleep, save for Hilum, who was keeping watch in the crows nest and Phyme, who was scrubbing the decks and enjoying every minute of it.

'Scrubbity scrub, scrubbity scrub.' The Deku Scrub sang softly, yet audibly, causing Hilum to chuckle and shake his head at Phymes odd nature. On looking up again, he saw the one thing he was hoping to not see until noon at least. Sails.

'Phyme!' Hilum whispered loudly to the scrub, who stopped what he was doing at looked up

'What's up? Found a dead rat in there?' Phyme asked innocently.

'I wish. The pirates are on the horizon. Wake u...' Hilum started

'Pirates!' Phyme screamed for all to hear.

'Yea...' Hilum shook his head again, this time in despair. The pirates would've almost certainly heard that. Well, at least his crewmates would've too...

Sure enough, the sound of people scrambling about below deck could be heard, as well the yells and roars of the enemy from afar.

'Oops...'

'Where?' Javons coarse voice came from an open doorway as he walked through it, telescope in hand and accompanied by Miyana and a rather groggy looking Link.

'Off to starboard, to the south east, cap'n.' Hilum yelled back down from above

Javon turned around, telescope at his eye, to bring the pirate vessel into view.

'Hmm...' he mused, twisting the scope so that the ship came into focus. 'Right then... there are mostly Stalfos on there. A few Octoroks and... oh dear.'

'What? What's wrong?' Link asked sleepily

'They've got a Knuckle with them. They obviously don't want us alive.'

'Since when did Knuckles hang out on ships?' Miyana asked, puzzled

'Since when did Knuckles hang with Stalfos without attacking them?' a more awake Link countered.

'Tis indeed an unwelcome prospect, but we're committed now.' Javons resolve did not waver. 'Man the guns, and be reading for boarding. They look to have a rather nippy vessel.'

Meanwhile, on the other ship, a dark vessel known as 'The Scourge', the band of monsters prepared their assault. Yelling in their coarse, unnatural voices, Stalfos moved around all over, all holding a fearsome array of swords, spears and crossbows. Two figures stood by the helm. One was the towering Iron Knuckle that Javon spotted, his large and brutal battle axe poised in his grasp, his breath whistling through the holes in his helmet. The other was a Stalfos of sorts, but dressed in typical pirate captains garb and sporting an ornate sword and two arcane pistols at his belt.

'The Hero is mine, Varton. See that your men allow him to come to me.' The Knuckles voice echoed within his armour, furthering the air of menace around him.

'You're welcome to the hero, Ferren. Just try to leave both ships in one piece. I have my own mission to fulfill. The water is deep, and steel does not float. Let that be a warning to you should you jeapordise anything.' The skeletal captain replied.

'What is in that box which you want so much? Gold?'

'I have no interest for the gold, they're welcome to keep that. It's the contents of the other chest, the one they cannot open, that interests me.' Vartons skeletal grin remained, unchanging.

'If it cannot be opened, why do you have interest in it? Unless...' Ferren eventually caught on. 'Ah... clever.'

'Yes, thank you. If all goes as planned, our goals can be accomplished mutually.' Varton stroked a non-existent beard as he mused over this statement.

'Captain, we're in firing range!' a Stalfos had run up to the pair whilst they chatted.

'Well, fire then. Target their guns and make them come to us.'

'FIRE!' The stalfos yelled to his crew mates, whose response was almost immediate.

BOOM! The Scourges cannons fired upon the The Jolly Zora, sending skull shaped balls of iron crashing through the hull. Splinters flew in every conceivable direction, and the ship rocked with the force of the attack.

'Gorons, return fire!' Javon yelled.

The Gorons, unhindered by the splinters due to their thick rocky hides, were already preparing a return volley. Even though there where only two of them, they could fire all guns in quick succession thanks to a streamlined and efficient system of theirs. As the Jolly Zoras guns roared their retaliation, Javon steered around with a mind to close on the Scourge.

As the ships closed, the yells from the bloodthirsty Stalfos became all the more deafening. The Octoroks on board took potshots at Javon and his crew, but these were easily dodged. As the dull thud of wood on wood sounded, Link, along with all his crewmates, drew swords and prepared (except Phyme, who had hidden in a barrel). The stalfos ran at them, easily outnumbering them all. One ran straight at Link, who had anticipated this, and brought his sword up in a crushing arc that cleaved the skeleton in two. What he hadn't anticipated was a pair of Stalfos' sneaking up behind him, grabbing him and taking him to the other ship. When Link could finally register what was going on, he saw the skeletal captain standing before him, a grim look on his boney features.

'What the hell are you playing at? Who are you' Link yelled in confusion

'I am Captain Varton of The Scourge. Now boy, if you weren't wanted alive for sport by my guest, I would shoot you right here and now. As it happens, I am held to my word that I will not kill you.' Varton then took Links sword and shield from him, and threw them aside, the shield sliding off into the depths, the sword impaling a wooden beam. Next to that beam, the gargantuan Iron Knuckle stood, axe at the ready.

Links eyes widened with shock, 'I thought you said I was wanted alive!' he yelled at Varton, who was stepping backwards, as if to observe.

'Alive, yes. Armed? I sincerely doubt it. Have fun, hero.' a raspy chuckle emanated from his non-existent vocal chords as the Knuckle marched solidly towards Link.

Having faced Knuckles before, Link knew what to do. However, he had little time to get his equipment out as the massive axe swung by dangerously close to his neck. Link rolled out of reach and pulled out his longshot. He aimed and fired at the metal behemoth who, in a surprising show of agility, caught the device and pulled on the chain, bringing Link towards him where he scored a vicious backhand smash on the heros face, knocking him backwards and depriving him of his longshot.

'You'll have to do better than that, hero' the Knuckle mocked him, causing him to draw out his bow and release a hail of arrows at the creature. The Knuckle deflected these with ease by twirling his axe in front of him. Laughing, it continued its slow march towards Link. Link had little choice but to play cat and mouse with the Knuckle, dodging and running where he could. Unfortunately, Varton was still watching, and deduced that this would take a while... Well, it would if he didn't interfere...

'This is embarrassing, I'll speed things up a bit.' Varton sighed before drawing one of his pistols and shooting Link in the left leg. Link groaned in pain, pain like nothing he had ever felt before, as the shot tunnelled through his flesh, blasting out in a small shower of blood and bits of muscle as it left a substantial hole in his leg. He collapsed to his knees, eyes watering and teeth gritted as he came to terms with this new wound. Unfortunately, a new one was headed his way as the Knuckle now stood at axes length before him. Roaring as it swung it's deadly weapon towards Link, the Knuckle could feel pure, grim satisfaction as blade connected with flesh with sickening precision. Link was hurled towards the helm by the sheer force of the blow, a massive gouge now bleeding profusely from his right side. His strength was slipping away with each drop of blood that left him. He could see the Knuckle climbing the steps to reach him, so that it could deal the finishing blow.

'I can't let it kill me.' Link thought to himself, 'I've got to get away.'

Slowly, he dragged his battered body from the Knuckles reach, causing it to laugh.

'Hahaha... Look at the hero now. Trying to save his skin by running away.' Ferrens derisive laughter then changed to hate filled fury.

'You coward! Come back here! Screw my orders, I'm going to kill you now! What good are you, anyway!'

Link still crawled, but not fast enough, as he felt an armoured hand grab his good leg. Turning, he saw the steely countenence of his soon to be killer staring at him.

'I hope the Goddesses pity you, for I will not.' The Knuckle growled at him, before raising his axe for the killing blow.

Link, eyes closed, waited for the death stroke to fall. However, he found himself still only barely alive. Opening his eyes, he saw the Knuckle fixed in it's killing stance. The only difference was that an unfathomably dark blade was poking out of it's torso armour. Groaning, the great metal beast collapsed and burnt away, revealing Links saviour. It was a man, of sorts. He was clad entirely in black and his face was completely hidden by his hood. Only his bright green eyes were visible. This man made Link feel uneasy, but his gratefullness for this mans deed had overridden his doubts.

'Whoever you are, I am in your debt.' Link gasped, forgetting his horrendous injuries.

'You have no debt to pay me, Link. I am merely someone who wants you to have what you desire.' his voice calm, pleasent even. His words, however, were rather cryptic.

'What do I want?' Link was sure this man was winding him up.

'You want to return to the land and win the heart of the girl you love.'

'How did you... Ah, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm going to die here, and I'll never see her again.' Link lowered his head in defeat, unaware that the strange man had pulled out a bottled fairy and had released the spirit inside.

Link felt the effects almost immediately, his wounds healed rapidly, and he no longer felt the draining nausea that followed excessive bloodloss. Opening his eyes, he saw a black, gaunletted hand opened to him, offering to help him up. Link, took it and was hauled up, unaware of the subtle transfer of a certain Triforce of Courage from one hand to the other.

'Can I least know your name? Who you work for?' Link spoke more clearly now

'Certainly. I am known as Sakarth. I work for myself. I will see you again sometime, Link...' Sakarths tone still unwaveringly pleasent.

'Alright then. Thank you again.' Link grinned before running off to the other ship.

'Well, that was easy enough...' Sakarth now spoke in a more sadistically amused and distinctly serpentine voice. His hand firmly gripped the Triforce of Courage and his emerald eyes burned under his blackened hood. An incomplete, phantom chessboard appeared before him. The white team was complete. However, the black team had only one pawn on the line up. 'I will raise up my bishops, knights and rooks soon enough. But, for now, I know who my queen piece is. Through the queen, I can acquire the king too... Everything is going as planned.'

A small bust of Link appeared on his hand, which he set on the queen space. Immediately after, a larger statue consisting of three female beings appeared, which he placed on the king space. Then, both chess board and being disappeared into thin air.

Link ran back to see an unpleasent scene upon The Jolly Zora. Neko had a nasty wound on his arm, which Teya was tending to. Serek was unconcious, but alive. However, Hilum, their most trusted navigator was dead. Javon would not be pleased, since Hilum had been his longest serving crew member and one of his most trusted friends. Sure enough, Javons bellowing voice, directed primarily at Captain Varton, could be heard by all around.

'You spilled a lot of innocent blood here today, Varton. Link and Hilum are dead. And for what! Treasure! The Goddesses will condemn you!'

'In case you haven't noticed, I've already been condemned. In any case, it's not common gold that I'm after. Rather the contents of the one chest you haven't opened.' Varton was completely unaffected by Javons raging right in front of him.

'Gold or not, it's not worth the life of two good men, and you know that better than all of us.'

'One good man, my fine fellow, for Link still lives. Hilums death was indeed regrettable, but unavoidable I'm afraid.'

'Link is alive?'

'Yes, Javon. I'm alive.' Link spoke from his leaning point at the mast.

'Link!' Dobek yelled before embracing him in the infamous Goron hug. 'Our Brother lives!'

'Nice to see you survived.' Miyana smiled but could not hide the sadness she felt at losing a friend.

'What is in that chest that you want so bad, Varton?' Javon had calmed down slightly but was still furious.

'Our ticket out of this world. A dress belonging to a sorceress who inhabits a remote island. She can restore my comrades to their mortality, so that they may die peacefully. I will then face the full penalty of the Godesses judgement.' Varton sounded slightly saddened, as if he knew where he was going to end up.

'Ah, very well. Take it and be gone. I hope they have a special place reserved in Hell for you.' Javon spat venomously at Varton.

'They do.' Vartons minions had secured the chest whilst they spoke. 'I doubt we'll meet again.'

As he boarded The Scourge once more, Varton turned to Link.

'I believe these are yours.' he said, holding out Links sword and longshot.

'Thanks...' Link replied flatly.

'I would like to know though, how did you survive? I wouldn't have thought immortality was among your abilities'

'The Goddesses must want me alive, even if you did not.' Link referred to Varton shooting him, but the mystery behind his dark saviour still gnawed at his mind.

'Indeed...'

With that, Varton boarded his ship, which sailed away into the distance. It was noon by now.

'Well, only a few hours till we make port. We should give Hilum the sending off he deserves.' stated Javon

'Aye captain.' his crew wearily replied.