Kaboom*

"Quickly, get to the bunker," Zelda bellows, her hoarse voice kicking the guards into high gear. The princess is escorted through the castle's corridors while explosions ring out from beyond. Zelda, now protected within the confines of the shelter, begins to rationalize the attack, "Who's responsible for this chaos? Three Lynels and an angry Hinox? I won't stand for it!"

A wounded soldier returns from the battlefield with a letter in hand, "Princess, read this! It's from Lady Rubaru."

"I should've known she'd be behind this assault. What does that despicable leader have to say for herself?"

Zelda skims the note, "Greetings, Princess Zelda, are you impressed with my newest invasion? Quite the upgrade from the first. I was initially against using such beastie allies, but I have to say. They've grown on me. But don't worry that pretty little head of yours, this is only one-tenth my actual army. I would've completely annihilated you in a fell swoop, but I wanted to give you a fighting chance. I want to see you running around desperately trying to find the help you need, like a chicken with its head cut off. Oh, just the thought of it makes me chuckle."

"I can't wait to see everyone you ever loved clothed in shackles."

"Ta ta for now. From Lady Rubaru."

Zelda tightens her fist, "That conniving little urgh. I didn't know she was working with monsters. We don't stand a single chance with the forces we have now. We need help and fast."

"Will the women of Gerudo help us out? I'm sure our alliance is strong enough," one guard hypothesizes.

"That's an excellent idea. It pains me to say this, but our relationship with Riju is stronger than ever. I'm positive they will come to our aid in our time of need. Especially considering the Yiga are a prime enemy of the Gerudo."

The soldiers begin talking amongst themselves, bouncing ideas off each other.

"What are you saying? Come on, spit it out," Zelda commands.

"But is that gonna be enough, princess? Can only two tribes handle this madness?"

"What are you saying? You think I should request more help. Wait, that's not exactly a bad idea. Ever since we recruited the champions to fight the Hylian cause, relations with other races have been at an all-time high. There's a chance they could say no, but it's still worth a shot."

"Break out the pen and paper, men; we have some letters to write."

Meanwhile, somewhere on an island in the middle of the Necluda Sea.

Riju wipes the sweat off her forehead, "Argh, that crash could've gone a lot smoother. But I guess we can't have nice things. Especially big ships because the SS Rosemary split in two like a lumberjack chopping wood."

"Hey, where is everyone? It's almost as if they vanished."

Riju decides to look around the mysterious island, letting her curiosity guide her. She comes to a leaf-made hammock resting between the two palms. After perching herself up on top of the swing, she contemplates the events that have unfolded thus far.

"Wow, that was an intense battle. I wish my plan to recruit Guster actually worked, but I'm at least happy we made it out of there alive."

"And Captain Quark... he mistook me for his daughter. Is that even healthy? Is it healthy to replace someone you love so quickly? I don't know, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like a bad idea. Ugh, why does this have to be so complicated? I just got over my fear of having a boyfriend, and now this. When will it end?"

"Not until you accept your fate," a faint voice echoes in the distance.

"No, that voice, it can't be..."

"Abdul!?"

"Haha, It's good to see you again, Riju. No need for introductions; the pleasure's all mine," Abdul responds with a respectful bow.

"But how, and why? I have so many questions, too many for the human mind to comprehend. And that green tint you're covered in, what's all that about? Are you some sort of ghost? Well, whatever you are, I don't care. I'm getting out of here."

Riju rushes along the cape, plunging her feet through the mounds of sand, "No, no, it can't be him. He can't be back. It's a lie, it's an illusion, it must be."

"Am I an illusion," Thomas says, jumping out of the forest grove blocking Riju's path.

"What! Not you too. This must be a nightmare. Come on, wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!"

Abdul and Thomas slowly approach the titular girl. Riju frantically looks around for any methods of escape. She makes a beeline for the water, catapulting her body into the great Necluda Sea.

Guster rises from the ocean, "Hello, you must be Gustav's friend. I must thank you for training that snot-nosed wimp; he was really starting to get on my nerves."

Riju stumbles back to the shore, her trembling hands barely holding up her body.

"Let's see how long you can outlast us," the trio warns.

"Wait, outlast. Where have I heard that name before? Oh yeah, Outlast Island. The place that entangles sailors within its grasp before making them confront their inner demons. I thought it was total baloney, but considering these circumstances, the legends must be true."

"But if I know they're fake, why am I still petrified? If I know that I created them, why can't I stand up and fight? It's almost as if they're too real, too real for my psyche to handle."

"It's because you can't accept it, Riju," Abdul provokes, sharpening his blades.

"I can't accept what?"

"You lied to Gustav; you can't accept that some people are just villains and can't be changed," Thomas adds, cracking his knuckles.

"You're the one that's stuck in their ways. You can't change your mindset, and it is for that reason you'll be punished," Guster continues, readying his staff.

"Punished! In what way?"

"Forced to spend an eternity haunted by your past mistakes," the triad of villains urges, showcasing a decayed skeleton on the seafloor.

"NO, that will not happen because I won't let it! I'll survive; I'll keep fighting. I'll be able to continue my quest with my friends. I just know it."

Filled with determination, Riju shoots a few lightning bolts at the pack of wild fiends. However, they prove highly ineffective against the translucent warriors. Riju then slides under Abdul's legs, rushing into the lush jungle for protection. She runs until her legs give out, collapsing into a puddle of mud. Lightning begins to brew between the clouds above.

"Mother! Mother! I need your help. Please," Riju cries out, continually straining her vocal cords.

"I can't help you, Riju. You must face this trial on your own."

"But why mother? You're supposed to be there for me."

"These are your demons, your monsters. You created them, and you can stop them."

"But I don't know how."

"Just remember, for every person you've hurt, there's been someone you've helped."

Abdul finally reaches the distraught Riju. He snickers with glee as he twirls the chain around his finger, "Now, now, Riju. There's no reason to be so glum. I know me stabbing you in the arm hurt, but I'll be sure to make your death quick and painless."

Abdul lifts up his sword, focusing all his might into a powerful swing.

A thunderous bang rings out throughout the island.

A vision of Quark blocks the shot, "Need some help?"

"Quark! Or an illusion of Quark, whatever you are. Thanks for the help."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. You are the one that made me realize I went too far," Quark explains.

"Well, she's the one that let me fall off a moving train; how rude is that?" Thomas informs, coming in with a lethal punch.

Another familiar character appears, "I don't know about all of you, but she made me see the error of my ways. She made me see that there was some good in everyone and how you should use that good to benefit others," Mrs. Plum notifies, instructing her ferocious pooch on Thomas's grubby little mitts.

Guster walks into the picture, "She's the one-"

"She's the one that brought me closer to Sophia. Without her, I would've never found true happiness," Professor Higgins documents.

"You're a good person Riju. You've helped all these people," Riju's mother illustrates.

"Yeah, I'm a good person. And you wanna know why. It's because I try; I try to help others. I might not always succeed; I might even make things worse sometimes. But I still give it my all, and that's what makes me a good person."

Quark, Mrs. Plum, and Professor Higgins support Riju's triumphant return.

Abdul, Thomas, and Guster oppose Riju's righteous crusade.

The two sides do battle, lobbing swords and fists at one another. Riju scurries out of the conflict, attempting to warn the other sailors.

"If you can hear me, listen well. These inner demons you're fighting, these monsters within your psyche, can be beaten. All it takes is for you to reminisce on positive memories. Remember the people you've helped, the things you've done, the things that make you a good person. No, the things that make you a hero. Remember them and remember them well. They will help you in the battle against yourself; I know they have for me."

Abdul confronts the noble chieftain, an immense rage building inside him. He picks up his dual swords and flings them into Riju's carcass. His weapons disappear as he drives them through Riju's body.

"No, no, it can't be."

"I accepted my fate, Abdul. You can't haunt me anymore."

Abdul begins to fade from sight, "I'll see you in hell."

"Wherever I end up, I know I won't be scared."

The sailors start to emerge from the shadows—their personal trauma disappearing one by one.

"My wife still cares for me!"

"My son will never leave me!"

"My friends love me for who I am!"

"It looks like my message reached them. That's the spirit! Keep it up! Don't let those good-for-nothing monsters get you down!" Riju shouts.

The pirates slowly return to the destroyed ship, disregarding their tragic histories. They were changed men, who had just gained newfound confidence. No longer were they bound to the chains of their past; instead, they were reborn as the heroes of tomorrow.

The sun parts the overcast sky, letting in a glistening shade of light. The real Captain Quark greets Riju on the beach, "I'm glad to see you're still kicking. I can't believe I escaped the evil clutches of this island again. But it looks like you saved the day with one of your famous speeches."

"Oh, I wouldn't take all the credit. My mother is the real hero here. She came down in her golden glory and taught me an unforgettable lesson: for every person you've hurt, there's been someone you've helped."

"She sounds like a spectacular lady. I would've loved to have met her."

"Something tells me you might just one day," Riju mutters under her breath.

"Wow, is it just me, or did the SS Rosemary split in two like a lumberjack chopping wood?" Quark comments.

"That's exactly what I said."

"How about we finish that hug we started earlier? Better not to waste that powerful moment we had together," Quark suggests, attempting to hide his obnoxious odor.

"I-I don't know; let's uh save it for a... more special time. Yeah, let's go with that."

"Suit yourself; it's gonna take us a couple of months to get back on the water, so we have plenty of time."

"A couple months! What's the hold-up?"

"Do you know how long it takes to build one of these ships, girl?"

"Uh, a few wee-"

"Two years! Luckily half of the hull is still intact, and we have some new sheikah tech to utilize. So hopefully, we can salvage this baby in a couple of months."

"Speaking of sheikah tech, I'm getting a call on the sheikah slate from the bothersome goose again. I wonder what other busy work she has for us."

Riju initiates the call from Zelda, "Riju! Listen to me! You need to get back to Hyrule castle immediately!"