A/N: I'm so sorry about the month long wait! I've been so busy with school, stupid projects, and trying to get my grades up for this scholarship. And writer's block didn't help either.

But on a happy note... AH! This story felt like it grew a lot since my last update! 9 favorites and 10 follows?! And it went from 9 to 16 reviews! We've made it to the double digits! I even got a view from someone in 'Trinidad and Tobago'. I've never even heard of that place before, so this is exciting! So I've decided I would do one of these like every 5 chapters or so, or at least until I start getting like 50 reviews per chapter. (Hahaha, that's funny. Oh I crack myself up sometimes.) But yep, here you go. Recognitions!

DragonEye0905: Girl, I love you! But you already knew that. But seriously, you make me feel so good about my writing! You know, I actually think Ciela's character is really similar to the way you're writing Navi in your story. To me, Ciela isn't nearly as sarcastic and sardonic as Tatl, but she definitely does have this snarky and playful personality, while at the same time having this really innocent feel. So I hope you enjoy the way I write her.

rylek196: Honestly, when you sent me your review for the first chapter, I had read it over and over, just bursting out laughing. I think it was because, this being my first story, I was super nervous about how people would respond, and that review just cleared all my anxiety away. I was so relieved. So I thank you for that!

eureka93: You! *does funky jig with you* Aw, thanks for all your comments! I feels special! And I hope I wrote Linebeck up to your expectations... By the way, update your own story! We wants to read it! 8[]

Selphie Kinneas 175: You are such a huge inspiration to me, you already knew that. I still feel special that you took time to review for me. Thanks a bunches!

GreenKittehKat: I'm seriously touched that you went out of your way to review, even though you're shy about it. That means a lot to me. I hope you like how I wrote Linebeck!

TigerLover: Thanks so much for all your comments. Oh, about the 'Ghost Ship' thing, I intentionally didn't capitalized it at times. The reason is because most people believe the Ghost Ship exists and they use 'Ghost Ship' as a title. Tetra, on the other hand, completely doubts it and uses 'ghost ship' as a generalized term. Hope that helps! And cheers to you; you're picking up on an important theme that I hope to flesh out more in future chapters. Thanks again!

Kriir: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! And I really appreciate that you told me!

I also want to thank MidnaWolf, Mirria1, masterboop, Homura chan, Sage Lighting, Under the Overcoat, and dragonqueen909 for your favorites/follows!

I seriously can't thank you guys enough. But I guess I'll let you read the chapter that I've withheld for a month...

Chapter 5: Man of the Sea

It was no wonder why most anyone wouldn't dare go to the Temple of the Ocean King. It was unpleasant in every sense of the word.

The path that led to the temple wove further into the backside of the island. Ciela had led Link up some worn stairs, which were carved into the side of the cliff, into a forestry area. The unused path soon disappeared, giving way to thick grass, but the fairy was able to guide him through it without difficulty. They trudged through the underbrush and up the steep slope, making their way to the northwest side of the island.

As Oshus had warned, the island had become infested with monsters, though luckily none were very dangerous or much of a threat. Several red chu-chus – jelly-like creatures – sprung up from the grassy floor and attempted to knock him over, but they were all easily dispatched of. Snakes would often slither across his path and try to snap at him, and large, black birds would come screeching through the trees, their talons outstretched, but all Link had to do was swing his sword at them and the danger was removed.

Though the mindless creatures were annoying, he was glad for the chance to reawaken his skills with that particular kind of blade. It wasn't at all hard though, as he was used to having to use a cutlass on a regular basis as a pirate.

As they made their way to the temple, a tremor interrupted their progress as the whole island began to shake furiously. The ground rumbled beneath them, and Link had to steady himself against a tree. After the rattling had stopped, Ciela assured him that such earthquakes happened quite frequently as of late.

They hurried onward, and before long, the tree line fell away behind them. The thick green grass became short, dry, and dead. The path reappeared in the form of cracked cobblestone breaking through the earth, weeds sprouting out of the cracks.

Link stepped onto the path, his stride slowing before coming to a halt. Ciela came to stop next to him, her wings beating anxiously. "Here we are, Link,"she announced, her voice full of horror. "The Temple of the Ocean King."

Looming over them stood a large building made of rough, dark stone. It looked as though it had once been a proud, magnificent structure. But now, it was decrepit, the exterior worn and crumbling.

Link stepped forward, his eyes not wavering from the temple. The closer he got, the more apprehensive he felt about entering it. He was suddenly consumed by a memory, one of him in a dark, earthen temple. A place haunted by the dead. He could still remember the smell of rotting flesh, the darkness encased rooms, the paralyzing screeches of the undead, the overwhelming guilt in having to leave a dear friend behind in there…

He shook off the memory and found himself standing motionless before the dark doorway. A cold breeze rushed past him from beyond the entrance, chilling him to the bone. He could have sworn he heard whisperings on the wind rustling past his ears, as if the breath of cursed souls were warning him to turn back.

"The temple has really fallen into ruin," the fairy said, desperate to break the silence. "And people say it ruins any who enter!"

"Thanks for the encouragement, Ciela."

"Sorry," she said in embarrassment. "But, I guess we have to find Linebeck. So… let's go in, Link."

"I thought you didn't want to come," he said. "You don't have to, you know? I'm not going to make you."

"I know… But I don't want to let you down."

Link broke his gaze away from the temple's dark interior to look at her. In spite of the shadow looming over them cast by the ominous temple, he couldn't help but smile.

He nodded, "Alright, let's go." And with that they stepped inside the cursed temple.

They were relieved to find the first area to be nothing more than an entry room, a door at the end of it. They proceeded forward, the sound of the fairy's fluttering and the hero's boots on the stone floor echoing around the empty room being the only sounds that could be heard. Link walked slowly, taking in his surroundings. The only light illuminating the darkened room was that leaking in from the outside and the faint glow Ciela gave off. The path to the opposite door was lined by crumbling columns. The air was thick with moisture, mildew, and mold. However, every breath taken in felt unnaturally dry and cold, even painful.

Suddenly, there was a sickening crack. Link looked down and instantly jumped back, his heart pounding in shock. Ciela had to stifle a scream. Before them, was a gray, lifeless skeleton.

When Ciela spoke, her voice was shaky. "You don't think… this could be Linebeck…?"

"No," Link said, and the fairy was surprised by how calm he sounded. He began to walk around it.

"If…" a raspy voice whispered. They jerked their heads back towards the skeleton, where they could have sworn the voice had come from. They both stood aghast as a smoky, blue apparition engulfed the skeleton. "If you set foot in here, it'll be your end… your life will suddenly start to be drained…"

Ciela couldn't help it this time, and she let lose a small scream. She flew behind Link's back, clutching his tunic in fright. Link slowly backed away from it and made a wide berth around it, keeping his eyes trained on the floor should they come across any other skeletons.

The fairy kept muttering in a delirious manner, "It's a dead body! It shouldn't speak! It's not supposed to speak!"

Link walked through the doorway into the next area to find that the layout was entirely different. Corridors wound every which way, almost like a maze. He was surprised at how much easier he found it was to breathe here though, and was grateful to find that the following areas weren't cast in in complete darkness but were illuminated instead by torches lining the walls.

Link reached back and gently the plucked the fairy from his back. "Ciela, you okay?"

She sat in his palm, her head in her hands. She slowly nodded and her wings fluttered back to life, lifting her back into the air. "How are you so calm about all this? That was so creepy!"

Link didn't answer immediately. "I suppose, after a while, you get used to such things."

Ciela furrowed her brow slightly. "So you've had a lot of experience with this stuff before, huh?"

He nodded, "Yeah."

They started forward, but soon stopped again. The flooring they stood on now, Link realized, gave off a faint purplish glow. But that which was directly in front of them was dull, its paths covered in a light, but distinct fog. He looked past it to find another purple glowing floor and noticed it didn't look to be coated in the fog.

"What is it, Link?" his partner asked.

He reached his arm out as if to touch the fog, but then stopped. "There's something strange about this," he muttered. "What do you think, Ciela?"

"Hmm," she mused. Then without warning, she darted into the fog and then back out again. Link stared at her, shocked. One moment, she was freaking out about talking skeletons, and the next she was flying fearlessly around in potentially harmful fog. "Nope," she said. She flew back into the fog and began fluttering in circles. "Nothing unusual."

Despite what she said, though, Link couldn't help but be apprehensive. Hesitantly, he reached his arm into the fog. At first, his skin felt only cold and clammy; nothing else happened. Then slowly, he felt his arm withering. He watched as it drew dry and began to wrinkle profusely until it sagged. He retracted his arm out of the fog, Ciela watching with interest. Almost as quickly as it happened, his arm returned to its original health. He observed his arm carefully, flexing his fingers, relieved that his arm still worked properly.

"That was weird," she stated. "Maybe the fog doesn't work on fairies."

He nodded his agreement. "I think these glowing sections are safe. It's like the fog can't drift here."

Ciela flew down the corridor a little ways to the section Link had assumed to be free of the fog. The fairy confirmed this when she called back, "This one's safe. I'm sure you could run over here and be fine."

Link nodded and prepared himself. It was a short sprint, and the fog didn't have time enough to work on him before he was safely from its grasp. They continued in that pattern; Ciela flying to the next zone, giving Link the 'okay', him sprinting over to her, and then resting to let his body recover. They wound their way through the maze-like structure of the temple like this for a short while, hoping to find any sign of Linebeck. It occurred to Link that maybe Linebeck wasn't even here; maybe he had turned back at the first contact with the fog.

"Link, there's the next one over there," the fairy said, indicating to another safe zone. It was farther away than most. Ciela quickly flew over to it and yelled back, "Come on, Link." He sprinted towards it, and very quickly his body began to be weighed down. His lungs felt as though they were constricting as he breathed in the fog. His movements became heavier and more sluggish. His sprint turned into a slow run, then a stumbling jog. He slowed to a weakened walk, but was determined to keep himself moving, in spite of the pain that felt like all his bones were melting.

Almost there. I'm almost there.

Link was hardly able to keep himself up and was about to fall to his knees and start crawling, his destination mere feet away, when something to the side grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled him away. He was too weak to resist the pull or keep himself up, and he collapsed inside a different safe zone. He pushed himself against the wall, breathing heavily as his body steadily revived itself. He coughed out the excess fog from his lungs, and it immediately dissipated.

He didn't have time to think about what had just happened, when someone snapped, "What were you thinking, stupid kid?! Trying to get us killed?!"

"What are you...?" He looked up to find a man glaring down at him. The man was tall and wore a deep blue coat. His shoulder-length hair was dark brown and jagged, accompanied by a thin, pencil mustache and goatee. He had dark circles underneath his sea green eyes. He didn't seem old; maybe late twenties, early thirties. He had that swashbuckling look to him that Link was sure made a lot of women fall for him.

Link's eyes widened in realization. Just then Ciela came zooming around the corner. "Link! Link, are you okay?"

He payed her no mind as he pulled himself to his feet, still watching the man. "Look who it is," the man said, addressing Ciela. "The chatty fairy from old man Oshus's place. What are you doing here?"

"Are you Linebeck?" Link interrupted.

The man seemed to have forgotten Link was there, furrowing his brow at him. "Who're you?"

"Link."

"Weird name," the man muttered.

When the man didn't say anything else, Link sighed in exasperation. "And who are you?"

The man straightened up, a smug look displayed on his features. "The name's Linebeck," he said with an air of pride. "I'm a real man of the sea."

Link saw Ciela scoffing and rolling her eyes. "What are you doing in a place like this, anyway?" Linebeck asked. "This place'll suck the life right out of you, if you let it. Blasted temple..."

"We were actually looking for you," Ciela said, her arms crossed and looking not at all pleased.

"What do you want from me?" Linebeck questioned, folding his arms in turn.

Link exchanged glances with Ciela. He hadn't given it much thought as to how he would go about explaining to Linebeck once they would have found him. "Well... uh..."

"What? You want an autograph or something?" Linebeck said, quickly growing impatient.

"No," Link said at once. "Look, my friend was taken by the Ghost Ship and I need to save her, and I was told you could help me out."

Linebeck looked at Ciela then back at Link, an eyebrow raised. "That's all very touching. But why would I help you?"

Link was at a loss for words. He himself had been questioning that same thing not long before as well. He didn't know anything about Linebeck nor any reason as to why the captain would lend a willing, helping hand. He looked over to Ciela for help.

Sensing his need, Ciela spoke up. "How about we make you a deal, Linebeck? If you take us_"

"Listen," Linebeck interrupted. "As charming as this temple is, I would much rather discuss these negotiations elsewhere. So listen up because here's the deal: I'm told there's a treasure hidden in this temple; that's the only reason I'm in here. I will listen to your proposal only if you go get it for me."

"What?!" Ciela burst. "You can go get your crummy treasure by yourself!"

"Then I will also be leaving this island by myself," he snapped.

Before Ciela could make another snide remark, Link spoke up, "What is it, this treasure?"

Linebeck shrugged. "Old man Oshus didn't say."

"Grandpa?" Ciela gasped. "He sent you in here?"

"Not exactly, but that's besides the point."

"Where will we find you, once we get your treasure?" Link asked, doubting that Linebeck intended to stay here.

"Wherever I darn well feel like," Linebeck stated simply.

Link turned away from him and headed for the other end of the safe zone, not expecting any thing else remotely useful to be expressed. However, there was a sudden spark in his memory and he looked back to Linebeck. "When you first pulled me in here, you accused me of trying to get us killed. What did you mean?"

"Oh that," Linebeck said, waving his hand dismissively. "Nothing of importance. Just make sure you're quiet and careful, and you'll be fine. You know what you've got to do, so get to it."

Without another glance at Linebeck, Link followed Ciela through the fog to another safe zone. It didn't take long before they found a staircase leading into a lower level of the temple.

"I didn't know this place had a basement," Ciela said in amazement.

They descended lower into the darkness, the flickering of torches casting dancing shapes along the walls. The 'basement', as Ciela had called it, looked no different from the upper floor, still consisting of the maze-like structure. The fog, however, seemed somehow thinner and didn't have nearly as quick of an effect as that of the upstairs did, though they were wise not to linger in it.

"How far in do you think the treasure is?" Link asked as they continued their method of getting around.

"Not sure," Ciela replied. "I just hope we'll be able to find our way back."

They trudged on in the eerie silence of the decrepit temple for a few moments more, before Link said suddenly, "So what do you think of Linebeck?"

"Pfft, I really don't see anything great about him," she said immediately with a slight growl. They halted at the end of one of the safe zones, Link looking over at the fairy quizzically, and she continued. "Everyone says he's so amazing and undefeatable. But, I don't know, whenever I'm around him, the only thing I see is a guy with a bloated ego. I sense nothing courageous about him at all. To me, he seems like an oversized cucco. I think he just wants us to get his treasure because he's scared."

Link thought for a moment before responding. "Although, you have to consider the fact that he entered this temple on his own free-will, while everyone else trembles at the thought."

"I guess that's true," the fairy admitted. Link knew she wasn't convinced, though, and got the feeling that she was biased against Linebeck for her own specific reasons.

"Is there any particular reason you don't like him?" Link asked, as they regained their composure and made for the next safe zone, Ciela now remaining by his side rather than flying ahead to wait for him.

"The first time I met him, he comes barging into Grandpa's house, demanding to know about treasure," she grumbled. "I tried to be polite, but he kept swatting me aside and calling me 'Sparkles'. I left after that to go down to the beach, and that's when I found_ LINK, WATCH OUT!"

He had heard it clearly before she had seen it; the pounds of heavy footfalls, scathing sounds of metal against metal, and something large being swung swiftly through the air. In lightning-quick reflexes as Ciela had never seen, Link unsheathed his sword and whirled around on one heel, planting his other foot firmly behind him. In a furious clash that echoed down the empty corridors of flickering darkness, she saw his sword raised against the attacker's, successfully holding his own.

Link, struggling under the force of the foe's massive blade, found himself starring into the visor of a suit of think, gray armor. He instantly thought he was facing a Darknut, as the thing before him now bore a striking resemblance to one, but there were no eyes glaring back at him; he found only a dense nothingness. He was instinctively about to go on the offensive, but stopped himself when he suddenly felt his strength waning. Oh, no, he thought, his breathing already beginning to be cut off. "Ciela," he yelled.

Ciela, who had been staring in awe, was snapped from her stupor, when she saw Link being pushed down by the enemy's power, his face grimacing in pain from trying to maintain his stance with every fiber of muscle burning. She flew to the nearest safe zone, her light illuminating the spot. "Over here, Link!" she called to him.

Link managed to throw the Darknut-like thing off of him, hurling himself into the safe zone. He quickly picked himself up, grasping his sword and waiting for the fiend to charge around the corner, but it never did. He peeked around the corner, his sword ready, but the thing was looking around, confused, as if it hadn't seen where Link disappeared to. It began marching forward, passing directly by without noticing them. The fog clung around the thing as it moved, swirling in and out of it.

Link watched in utter confusion as it disappear around a corner. "What just happened?" Ciela whispered loudly in disbelief. "I've heard that brains are better than brawn, but that... What's that thing's problem? It was watching us! How can it be that stupid?"

Link didn't respond, striding to the other side of the safe zone and peering down the other corridor, but the Darknut thing made no appearance. "I think I know what Linebeck was talking about."

"What?" Ciela asked. Then she realized he was referring back to Linebeck snapping at Link for 'trying to get them killed'. "Oh, that. Well, it would certainly have been nice of him to have actually warned us."

"Let's keep going," Link said, sheathing his sword.

Their conversations ceased from here on out, remaining quiet as to not draw the attention of the Darknut thing patrolling the corridors. They ran across it a few more times, but it lost location of them every time they stepped into a safe zone. They came to a theoretical agreement that, like the fog, the armored-thing couldn't enter safe zones, nor even notice the existence one.

After what felt like hours, though in reality it was only many minutes, they finally managed to reach the end of the dark room, a new door awaiting them.

"Please be the treasure, please be the treasure," Ciela prayed, more than eager to finally leave the wretched place. With the absence of the armored-thing, the two proceeded toward the door and promptly opened it.

The room they found themselves in was large and empty, save for a set of stairs on either side of the room leading up to the adjacent platform lining the back wall. Other than that, the room was bare, even free of the deadly fog.

They ascended the stairs, expecting to find hoards of treasure. Instead, they were greeted by naught but a round, regal alter. They approached it, neither uttering a word as they observed the object upon it.

An hourglass.

It was rather large compared to most others, looking as though it could hold half an hour of sand rather than just three minutes. However, it was completely empty, not a single grain of sand within. It was of intricate design, the glass a transparent teal color.

They stared at it for several heart-beats, before Ciela broke the silence. "That's it?" she said, unimpressed. "That's Linebeck's amazing treasure?"

Ignoring her, Link stepped forward and took it from its pedestal. Immediately, the hourglass began to glow and the room illuminated, brightened by some unknown force.

"I hope this hourglass is what Linebeck was hoping for," Link stated. "Let's go back."

"Ah, there he is" came the loud, drawling voice of Linebeck. Link and Ciela had entered the Milk Bar, suspecting that this was the most likely place they would locate the captain and proving to be correct. They found him leaning back in a wooden chair, his feet propped up on the table with a bottle in hand. "There's my treasure dog and his twinkly friend."

Link approached Linebeck, thinking it might be better to wait until the captain had a clearer head before attempting to strike a deal. Link pulled up a chair, nonetheless, and sat across from Linebeck. The man drew his feet from off the table and leaned forward, "A bit slow getting the goods, eh?"

"Slow?!" Ciela burst. "How dare you! At least_"

Link quickly snatched the fairy out of midair, as carefully as he could. He turned away so Linebeck couldn't see them and opened his hands. He found her glaring at him with her arms crossed. "I'm sorry," he said in a hushed voice. "But if we want any help from this guy, we can't get on his bad side. Just work with me here, okay?"

She huffed before giving in. "Fine."

"You can insult him all you want after he agrees to help me, alright?" Link assured her. She smiled in return.

Link turned back around, Ciela flying up and resting on his shoulder. Linebeck watched them for a few moments, one brow raised, before he said, "So where's my treasure, kid?"

Link pulled out the hourglass and set it in the center of the table, awaiting Linebeck's response. Unfortunately, the captain didn't take it, merely staring at it. Then he looked up at Link, clearly not amused.

"Kid, I'm looking for things of value," Linebeck said. "Not cheap, old hourglasses."

"This was it," Link protested. "We searched through that temple, and all we found was this at the very end on a pedestal. There was nothing else."

"If you don't believe us," Ciela snapped. "Then you can go search that temple yourself."

Linebeck observed them carefully. "So what's this deal you wanted to make?"

"Um, well." Link knew he should have thought this through, but he had been too focused on getting through the temple and then on finding Linebeck. He honestly didn't have anything to offer in return for Linebeck's help. Link cleared his throat. "I need a ride on your ship. My friend was captured by the Ghost Ship, and I need to go save..." He stopped.

Linebeck was sniggering coldly, almost cynically.

"What?" Link asked, hesitantly.

"The Ghost Ship? Seriously?" Linebeck questioned. "Look, kid, I have no interest in chasing after some haunted boat. Do I look like the kind of guy who wants to get turned into some ghoul?"

"But_"

"Sorry, kid," Linebeck said, without an ounce of regret or sympathy. "But it's your friend's neck or mine. And I choose mine." He stood up and made to leave the tavern, saying as he left, "I see no profit in it for me."

Link sat there, stunned, as his only hope for finding Tetra disappeared from the bar. Then something Linebeck just said registered through his dismayed mind, sparking an idea. Profit. He threw his chair back as he jumped to his feet, grabbing the hourglass. "Linebeck, wait!"

He dashed out of the bar, Ciela quickly following. They spotted Linebeck walking down the port at the edge of the docks and chased after him, maneuvering their way around other sailors and villagers. "Linebeck!"

"No," the captain called, not bothering to look back.

"Linebeck, I can pay you," Link said.

"Can you now?" Linebeck asked, still not convinced. "Then go charter a boat."

"I don't have it with me," Link said exasperated, trying to keep up with the captain.

"Oh, in that case, I'd be delighted to give you a lift," Linebeck said with heavy sarcasm. He turned onto the docks, marching down the pier lined with dozens of vessels.

Link followed. "You've heard the rumors about the Ghost Ship, though, haven't you? Supposedly, it has hoards of..." he trailed off.

Linebeck had just boarded one of the vessels, and it was unlike any ship he had ever seen. It wasn't nearly as big as Tetra's, but it was still a magnificent sight. Its sleek, white hull was trimmed with red. A simple handrail bordered the decks. A blue-roofed, dome-shaped bridge was built at the back of the ship. The unique aspect of the ship was that it had no sails. Bizarrely, it instead had a simple chimney sticking out from the bridge and wheels on either side of the ship.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Linebeck asked from across the water. "Made it myself."

Link had no idea how the ship actually took Linebeck anywhere without sails, but he figured he had more important things to ask about at the moment. He stepped up the ramp onto the ship, reeling around the railing and halting there. Linebeck had his hand on the door to the inside of the bridge. "Linebeck, wait!"

"Get off my ship, kid," Linebeck told him. "Unless you'd like to mop it."

"Okay, fine," Link said, quickly. "I'll that for you too."

Linebeck rolled his eyes. When he looked back at Link, he realized something and narrowed his eyes. "You were that kid who got washed up on shore and taken to old man Oshus's place," Linebeck said, frowning at him. "I remember you. And you don't have any money."

"Not with me at the moment, no," Link admitted. "But if you'd just listen to me..."

Ciela intervened with her own comment. "You did say you would hear him out if he got you your treasure. Sure the hourglass wasn't what you had hoped for, but he still got it for you."

Linebeck sighed loudly. "Fine," he said, giving in. "I'll listen to your little proposal just to get you off my back. But that doesn't mean I'll agree to it."

Link nodded. Linebeck sat down behind a small table littered with charts and notes positioned next to the bridge, waiting unenthusiastically for Link's proposition. Link walked the length of the deck, stopping in front of Linebeck. Waves crashed onto the side of the ship, rocking it slightly. Seagulls flew overhead in large flocks, cawing and perching themselves atop the many vessels. "Well?" Linebeck asked.

"I can pay you," Link started.

"I've been made aware of that," Linebeck said, annoyed. "I want to know how exactly."

"Tetra," Link said. "She was the one captured by the Ghost Ship. She's the captain of the ship I sail on, and we have tons of treasure we can pay you back with."

"Right. And how can I be sure you and your girlfriend won't just run away without paying me first?"

Link ignored the 'girlfriend' comment. "My word is all, really," Link said, doubting this meant anything to Linebeck. "But the Ghost Ship; it's been said to have hundreds of treasures beneath its decks. You get me to the Ghost Ship, all that treasure's yours."

Linebeck studied Link for a moment, contemplating the deal. Link added quickly, "You won't even have to set foot on the Ghost Ship. Just drop me off, I'll grab Tetra and the treasure."

He waited silently as Linebeck began stroking his chin in thought. "If I do agree to this," the captain said finally. "There's a few catches you'll have to agree to."

Link nodded, "Alright."

"Maybe you should write all of this down," Ciela suggested. "Just so we don't forget any aspect of the deal." Link smirked, understanding that when Ciela said 'we' she really meant 'you'.

"Whatever." Linebeck quickly pulling out a spare parchment and scribbling some notes onto it. "There, I deliver you to the Ghost Ship, you get me treasure."

Link smiled, perceiving that it was going as he had planned. Linebeck finished writing, leaning back as he delivered his own side of the agreement.

"Now first of all, on this ship, you will refer to me as 'Captain' and follow all of my rules as they are laid out," Linebeck started. "And don't expect me to baby-sit you. You will carry your own weight, which means I won't be providing you with anything."

Ciela was about to protest, but Link stopped her. "Okay, what else?"

"As this is your little quest, you get to do it all for yourself. I know how much this means to you," Linebeck said falsely. "So I'm letting you have the glory of saving your friend."

"How gracious of you," Ciela muttered sarcastically.

Link waited. "Is that it?"

Linebeck picked up their make-shift contract and read it over a few times, contemplating anything to add to it. Finally he took a deep breath and said, "Kid, you've got yourself a deal."

Link released the breath of anticipation he had been holding in, smiling. "When do we leave?" Link asked.

Linebeck stood, regarded Link, and said, "First thing tomorrow." Link would have preferred to leave immediately, but he was willing to wait for the time Linebeck settled on.

"Now get off my ship. Remember, first thing tomorrow, kid, or I might just leave without you and go find the Ghost Ship by myself." Linebeck said, walking back to the door of the bridge. He walked inside and closed the door behind him, but not before calling out, "Adventure awaits."

A/N: So... What did you guys think of Linebeck?

There are a few things I want to explain about him first before I go. So I know Linebeck is supposed to be very cowardly, but I thought about it, and I decided I didn't want him to show that very much, not yet anyway. If you think about it, he's famous and has this huge ego. Even though inside he is a coward, outside he puts on this big bravery front as to keep up his reputation. And I don't think he is a complete coward. It's not like he went into the temple expecting someone to show up and save him. Also, I actually wanted him to get somewhere in the temple, not trapped within the first few feet. Anyway, I hope you guys like the things I've changed. I do have my reasons which will all be revealed eventually, one such reason being that I don't want this to be copy-and-paste from the game. I want it to feel like a new experience and for it to keep you guys entertained and surprised. :)

That's all. See you later!