The citizens of Outset had exited their homes in anticipation of the spectacle to follow. Even Beedle had left his ship shop and stood among the group, all of them meaning to see Link and the pirate crew off.

In front of a crowd stood a line of people with expectant looks. The Rito postman, who had flown down from Dragon Roost and Carolyn, Link's sweet grandmother, looked at Link with sad expressions, waiting for him to go down the line with his last goodbyes. Aryll, who had her head down, was at the very end of the line. She had listened with disinterest when Beedle had offered Link a last-time discount for his shop and when the Rito postman gave him letters from Medli and Komali.

But, when she peered up and saw him reacting with wide, overwhelmed eyes to having to say goodbye to his grandmother, she started to feel her own eyes tearing up.

She saw them hug out of the corner of her eye before she returned her head to its' downward gaze.

"Take care of yourself," she heard her grandmother say, "and don't be too reckless."

"I won't," Link replied as they released from the hug.

"And…and I gave you plenty of soup," Carolyn started, her worry quickening her words, "and if your arm starts hurting again, just rest, don't push yourself…"

"Grammy…" Link started.

"And don't be too shy, sometimes you don't speak your mind, and you should…and…and…"

"Grammy," Link said in a more serious tone, "everything will be okay."

In the silence that followed, the grandmother cupped Link's cheek in the same motherly care that she had raised him.

Link closed his eyes in response to the sensation, a warm smile shared between them.

A couple shuffling steps on the sand followed, Aryll only seeing his boots before her.

"Aryll…I…" Link started, not expecting anything else but the treatment he was getting from her, as their last conversation was so one-sided.

He paused, hesitant as he glanced at Tetra beside him, who had just finished her parting words to Carolyn.

Aryll's hidden eyes were now stuck in the futile attempt to blink away tears.

"I'm sorry, Aryll," Link said as he looked at his sister with sad eyes, "I know you don't want me to leave, but…it's something I have to do…I…I wish you could understand."

Aryll quickly leapt into Link's arms, nearly knocking him over as they embraced each other.

"I do, Link," she said as she clutched at the green fabrics he wore, knowing full well that it would be their last hug, "I really do."

Link took out the telescope as they released from the hug, yet it slipped out of his hands when he saw that his sister was crying.

It landed with a soft thud on the sands at their feet.

Link was speechless, and so obviously frozen that Tetra picked up the telescope, placing it back in his hands and touching her hand to his shoulder in support before walking back to wait by her ship.

"Aryll…?" Link asked out of concern.

Aryll shook her head in response, knowing she was in no state to respond.

Link's concern only deepened, the sight of his sister crying making his eyes water as well.

He took a step closer, folding her hands around the red telescope, meant once to only be borrowed for one day.

A day that seemed like such a long time ago.

"I'm sorry it took so long," Link said as he retreated his hands back to his sides, "you've probably missed it."

"Not as much as I'm gonna miss you,"

"See," Link said with a small chuckle as tears started to form, "now you're gonna make me cry."

Aryll gave a similar chuckle in response.

"Good," she said with a continued laugh.

Link hugged her one last time as their smiles faded.

"I love you, Aryll," Link said, "I always will."

"I love you too, brother" replied Aryll.

Link slowly backed away from the embrace, sharing a thankful, heartfelt smile with his sister before turning around.

He took a shaky deep breath as he walked forward, surprised at how his smile increased when his glance landed on Tetra.

Link stopped in front of her, Tetra uncrossing her arms when their eyes met.

They both lifted their hands, clasping them together at eye-level.

"Are you sure you don't want to change your mind about your dinky little boat?" Tetra asked.

"Not a chance," Link replied.

Tetra smirked with a wink, an expression Link had seen many times before.

"We shall see," she said before boarding her ship, Link doing the same after approaching his boat.

A strong gale of northern wind suddenly blew across the ocean, catching itself on the sails of the intrepid explorers.

"Anchors aweigh!" Tetra yelled to her crew, "hold the tiller steady!"

"As for our destination…" she said as her arms crossed, "the wind will guide us!"

Link and Tetra looked to the horizon with the same hopeful gaze as they departed the island of Outset.

Yet hence, in the distance of the bright, sunny day, Tetra smirked when she saw grey, stormy clouds starting to form in the northern skies.