"So, what made you think you could stowaway on MY ship." Tetra interrogated the boy. The boy didn't bat an eye, however, despite being tied up and surrounded by pirates.
He looked to see that besides the captain, the crew was made up of a group of motley looking folk. The oldest was a reserved looking adult woman with white hair and red markings on her face. Next was a bird girl whom he identified as a rito, recognizing the race from the fact that they ran the world's main postal system. Finally was a boy from a race he didn't recognize, only able to identify it as some kind of fish like race based on him having fins and gills. The stowaway looked back at the captain, who was still glaring at him, soon realizing he still hadn't answered.
"I mean you did say you didn't care where I went, and I saw a perfect escape opportunity in the form of a getaway ship, so I took your advice and seized the moment." He responded innocently.
"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd sneak onto my ship!" She exclaimed.
"Why? Do you not want me here?" He asked.
"No! Of course I don't want you here! Why would I want some random kid on my ship! There's only one thing we'd get out of that! And ya wanna know what that thing is? A headache!" Tetra complained. She was about to continue, but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, looking over it to see Impa.
"If I may, Miss, I would like to add my own two cents." She requested.
"*Sigh* Knock yourself out, Impa." Tetra huffed. The first mate nodded and pulled Tetra to the side.
"The boy shows some potential. Just look at how he saved you from that big octo. He obviously has some skill." Impa proposed, although to little success.
"So what! He probably just got lucky! Plus, I don't need some random kid's help! I could've broken free on my own!" Tetra objected.
"Really now? Because from the looks of it, if it weren't for his act heroism, you wouldn't be here right now." Impa insisted. Tetra rolled her eyes and brushed off her first mate's words, although they did bring her attention to another subject.
"Why did you save me?" She questioned, turning around to face the boy, "You don't know me, you didn't have to, yet you did. Are you expecting a payment? Or do you just think you're some kind of hero?"
The boy almost chuckled at her accusations. "Trust me, I'm no hero. I just thought I owed you. You freed me, so it was the least I could do."
"Well, you're gonna need to do a lot more than that. And I know just the way you can pay your dues. Someone take him to his cell-" "NO!" The boy exclaimed, all eyes falling on him. The boy flushed as all the attention settled on his outburst.
"I mean- that isn't necessary, is it?" He pleaded, but received no remorse in return.
"I don't think you have a say in the matter. Take him to the brig." She commanded.
"NO! Please, I'll do anything!" He begged. Tetra was getting annoyed, about ready to throw him in herself. She resisted the urge however, watching as her crew grabbed him and started carrying him off. That is, until he said something that threw for a complete loop.
"待って!" The boy exclaimed, immediately regretting it as he clasped his hands over his mouth. Unfortunately for him, it was too late, as everyone heard it, sending the room into slight surprise that the boy had another hidden talent.
"I didn't know you were multilingual. What language is that?" Tetra asked curiously.
"I-It's nothing! I just start speaking gibberish when I get nervous!" He lied. Tetra wasn't buying it, however.
"No way. That was way too clear to be gibberish. C'mon, spill your guts!" She pried.
"I said it was nothing!"
"I'm not buying it. Someone get Shad in here, he might recognize it." She demanded, to which the bird girl volunteered, leaving the room.
"Who's Shad?" The boy asked, trying to change the subject.
"Shad is the ship's resident nerd, which, luckily for us, means that he might just know what 'gibberish' you're speaking." She explained. The boy opened his mouth to protest, but was quickly interrupted by the sound of the door opening, revealing a boy with brownish-red hair and glasses.
"There's our resident nerd!" Tetra teased.
"I prefer the term 'historian', but that's besides the point. I've already heard about the situation, captain. Medli ran me over it. All I need is a demonstration of the language." The 'nerd' requested.
"Well, unfortunately for you, that ain't gonna happen! I refuse!" The stowaway denied.
"Is that so?" Tetra dared.
"Yep." He reaffirmed.
"Well what if I do THIS!" Tetra exclaimed, bringing her foot down upon the boy's foot, the same foot she stomped earlier.
"クソ地獄 !" The boy exclaimed in pain, before immediately regretting it. Shad's eyes widened in shock, which only made the boy even more nervous.
"Dear Hylia!" Shad exclaimed as he started digging through his notes.
"What is it?" Tetra asked. Shad didn't hear her, though, as he too caught up in his revelation.
"It couldn't be! Yet, considering all of the similarities, it couldn't be anything else!" He rambled.
"Well, don't leave us on the edge of our seat! Spit it out!" The pirate captain demanded, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
"This boy is the key to what we've been looking for! He knows the ancient language thought to be dead for so long now. Miss Tetra, this boy knows Hylian!" Shad revealed, sending the entire room into stupefied silence.
"How do you know about that!?" The boy demanded to know.
"We've been looking for a way to translate that language for years! All the treasure charts we've found written in the language, all the dungeons we've had to leave empty-handed because all of the clues are written in a dead tongue, we thought we'd never find a way to translate it! I guess it's just our luck we found you."
"Well, cherish the moment while you can, because I don't intend on using it anytime soon!" He remarked.
"Oh, you'll use it alright! That is, unless you want to be thrown in a cell after you just escaped your last one." She threatened.
"Y-you can't do that! That's not fair!" He pleaded.
"Either you agree to use that hidden talent of yours, or I'll put you in the darkest cell we have!"
The boy flinched at her threat, pulling back. He seemed to ponder over her words for a long while, before he finally came to a decision.
"..." He muttered something unintelligible under his breath.
"What was that?" Tetra asked, bringing her ear closer.
"I said fine!" He shouted impatiently.
"Great!" She said with a grin, before turning to Shad.
"Shad. Why don't you show our new member around the ship." She commanded, to which the historian nodded.
The stowaway did a double take, unsure if he heard the captain correctly. "Excuse me, but did you just say 'new member.'"
"You heard me. Welcome to the crew… what did you say your name was?" She asked.
Everybody looked in anticipation for the boy's response, until he finally responded.
"Link. My name is Link."