A.N.: I didn't mean to update; I really didn't. Remember, this update wasn't supposed to happen yet but somehow it did. I don't know how I did it.

Also, for those of you who missed my last message: This story is not, will not, and never will be yaoi. Sorry if I disappoint some of you, but I just...can't...write that.

Chapter 17: Hyrule

The Tower of Gods stood proudly, protruding straight from the ocean depths in complete disregard for breaking the smooth contours of the ocean. Vaati muttered something about how it had been a waste of time to go all over the Great Sea only to find they had begun at the place they had needed to be.

"I told you we should have checked it out," Link said quietly.

"Shut up." They were both staring at the golden light that was sparkling around the water in front of them. The water around the stone tower had begun to glow as soon as the ship had neared it, and the mage was convinced that it was some sort of portal that could take them to Hyrule. Vaati kept his hands in front of him, still avoiding the touch of the Wind Waker, and Link's forehead was creased into a deep frown, trying not to think about what he was going to have to do at the end. The boy hoped he wouldn't be forced to fight Vaati, or forced to see him hang. "Leave the thinking to me. You're not good at it."

"Huh?" Link looked up and saw Vaati grinning at him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I guess you weren't thinking after all but in the process of trying to think. I suggest you don't do that either. All you were ever really good for was swinging that scrap metal around," Vaati feigned apology. Link smiled.

"And you shouldn't be concerned about me. It doesn't fit you."

Vaati gagged. "I'm not, stupid. I just don't want your head to explode before we go fight Ganondorf. You'd be completely useless then."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

The sound of waves filled the stall in their banter. Both figures were weighed down with their concerns, and neither had the energy to lighten up. The crew had also noticed and was keeping to themselves, trying not to bother the two time travelers.

"Vaati, what's going to happen at the end?"

The mage shrugged. "You're thinking about the end? The end is the same for everyone, fool. We'll both die someday."

"You know what I mean."

Vaati's head snapped sharply towards Link. "And you think I can see the future?"

"I'm just wondering - "

"You're not good at thinking. Don't even try."

Link ignored him. "I'm just wondering if I have to fight you."

"You don't have to. Just let me do what I want to do and mind your own business," Vaati said flatly.

"You want me to let you kill me?"

"You would never have made it onto my blacklist if you hadn't tried to stop me in the first place."

Link could tell Vaati was skirting around the subject, trying to avoid talking about the adventure's conclusion. The thought made him feel a little better. "It's not like I could've let you take over Hyrule."

Vaati waved his hands in front of him. "And why not? What makes you think I would've been worse as a ruler than that old fart at the throne? A king can be no more a tyrant than me."

"Well, the monsters for one thing…"

"You think they don't deserve a home?"

"They killed some people…"

"They get hungry too, you know."

"You kidnapped a bunch of maidens…"

"A lot of them came willingly."

"And you trapped them in – wait, willingly?" Link faltered and stared at the smirking mage.

"Mmhmm. Willingly."

"But then why did you trap them inside dangerous dungeons?"

An annoyed look came over Vaati's features. "They began to scream."

"That doesn't sound very willing…"

"They were willing when they followed me, so I didn't technically kidnap them."

"I also remember some story about you turning the princess of Hyrule to stone."

"She made a rather pretty statue."

"You don't see anything wrong with what you just said?"

"I don't do things I would regret later. I repeat: she made a rather pretty statue."

"So you didn't regret your drinking spree after the hangover the next day?"

"It wasn't like I had a choice with that," Vaati grimaced.

"You just don't give up, do you?"

Vaati grunted something and turned on his heel away from the glowing light on the water to face the crew. The pirates gathered around Vaati and Link when the mage lifted a thin hand to the sky to catch their attention. Vaati gave a quick nod to Gonzo. "We're leaving."

Gonzo fidgeted with his thumbs. "You'll find Miss Tetra, Captain?"

"Perhaps." This answer caused the pirate to frown dismally. "But," Vaati held up a finger to stop Gonzo from talking, "either way I won't return from Hyrule." There was a murmur amongst the pirates with the exception of Niko who knew the reason why the mage wouldn't return. The little pirate was biting his right knuckle.

"Won't return? Why not, captain?" Senza asked for the entire crew.

"I just won't. You should all celebrate," Vaati sneered.

Gonzo exchanged glances with Senza, then Nudge, and then the rest of the pirates around him. He then looked to his feet. "Um, captain. Actually, we thought you were a pretty good captain." The comment took Vaati by surprise, and his mouth twitched in annoyance. "To be honest, we didn't really, um, like you," he shook his hands in front of him in defense, "but we thought you were a…a great captain."

The mage stared at the pirates in turn, and his eyes narrowed when they came back to Gonzo. Gonzo flinched, but then collected himself and continued with surety. "Captain, we just want you to know that you can always come back to this ship. Miss Tetra would understand."

Vaati's expression was hard and his brows were forced together in the middle of his face. Finally, he laughed. "I'm never going to come back. Never." With that, he swung himself over the side of the ship and splashed into the ocean. Link and the crew watched him paddle over to the golden pool and disappear below the depths.

"Link."

Link turned around and saw that Niko had come up to him, still biting his fist. Link laughed weakly. "You shouldn't eat yourself Niko."

The fist sped away from the pirate's mouth and he put it behind his back in obvious embarrassment. There was some laughter and chuckles among the pirates, but they quickly died down as they saw it was time to say goodbye.

"Link, come back with Miss Tetra," Mako spoke. Link tried to smile positively, but he knew the person who was coming back to the pirates wouldn't be the person they were talking to now.

"I will." It felt so wrong to make that sound sincere. There were several pats on his back as the pirates wished him luck, and he almost toppled over when Niko ran up and gave him a hug. The other pirates watched in confusion; they knew Link was going on a dangerous mission, but Link was Link. He always came back, didn't he?

"Bye Link," Niko sobbed. Link didn't know what to say, and pretty soon he was hugging empty space as Niko had run back indoors, unable to stay any longer. Link felt himself choking up; he was going to miss the people he had met.

"Bye everyone," Link whispered, and he jumped into the ocean blue.

XXXXXXXXXX

As soon as Link reached the glittering water he felt himself pulled downwards. At first, he panicked and tried to fight against the force that was sending him deeper underwater. He was holding his breath for as long as physically possible before he gave up and sucked in. Link expected salt water to come rushing into his nose so he was shocked when he found he could breathe normally. He swept his hands around, but he felt a watery resistance. This hypocritical situation confused him all the more, and he decided to stick to accepting the situation as it was. He was somewhat afraid that if he pointed out the logical impossibility, he would lose his ability to breathe underwater.

The surroundings became darker as he moved deeper into the ocean, and he saw some strange creatures he would never have liked to see; like a long, eye-less, razor toothed fish with a rat-like tail. There were other things too.

Suddenly, he saw light coming from below and the silhouette of a castle loomed before him. What was strange was that he found that he was back in air when his feet hit the ground, er, ocean floor. Link couldn't tell when that had occurred, but he decided he shouldn't think about it too hard. There was also grass growing around the castle instead of seaweed or sand.

Vaati was standing at the boundary of air and water, trying to get a better view of the land past Hyrule Castle. There were hints of broken walls; the remnants of the castle town that hadn't survived the onslaught of ocean water. Link watched the mage stick his hand out to the water and then hastily pull it back out, shaking the salt water away. "Interesting," he heard the mage say.

Link moved off towards the gates of the castle and gripped the Master Sword. Just beyond these doors was the man they had to defeat to get back home. He turned as Vaati came up next to him with a fierce look in his eyes; there was so much anger radiating off of the sorcerer that Link worried the castle might burn down. They took a momentary glance at each other in confirmation and pushed the doors open to face the King of Darkness. A cold, familiar voice welcomed them as they took a step into the great hall.

"I've been waiting for you," Ganondorf sneered.

OXXXXXXXO

bleu-blizzard: It's been a long adventure. He's probably tired.

Reily96: Oof, that doesn't sound good. I'm new to the fandom, so I guess I haven't learned all the horrors yet :P. Link...is tired. And sleep-deprived. D:

Peka the Corsair: Just don't let Dethl get you. ;) Hm, I never noticed that. I wonder why?

pikminbro: Ehe, yeah, I've already answered this. It's NOT yaoi.

Diablo1123: I don't even have time to procrastinate...

Cookiekitten: Glad to hear I could make you laugh! Welcome to this story!

SSJ4Sora: Hot. XP