Hello everyone! Welcome back to The Last Wish! Sorry it has been so long since our last update, but a lot happened and we just didn't have the time to write! Anyway, here is our newest chapter, we hope you enjoy it!
-Creative Hearts
Loud jingling attracted the attention of the room and they could see Hali playing happily with one Korok, giggling and rolling around on the floor with it. Medli had not seen her so happy and secure in days, in fact, this was even the happiest Medli had felt since Dragon Roost had been taken captive.
"I've got it." Link said suddenly, his voice confident.
"Got what?" Tetra and Medli both asked, turning to face him.
"We can't do anything on Dragon Roost island until we know that the children are safe, so before we do anything... we rescue the children." Link said, crossing his arms. "Hali has just given me an excellent idea."
"Are you sure this will work?"
Tetra had been slightly skeptical as they waited and waited for Valoo to arrive at Forest Haven. They were watching the door as they hoped he'd land somewhere outside where Medli could speak to him. It was a beautiful day, and there didn't appear to be a cloud in the sky. Tetra had been hard at work helping Medli take care of a very rambunctious Hali, the toddler was running around playing wildly like she hadn't been able to play in days.
Once Valoo arrived and the plans were set into place, Tetra knew that Link would take his leave. It would be a day or two before he'd reach Dragon Roost, she knew, but she still couldn't help but feel concerned. He was taking her crew and going alone, and that gave her dreadful anxiety.
"I'm positive. If we can get the children to the top of the mountain, Valoo can bring them back to safety... then he will help us win our battle. It won't take as long for him to return there as it will for me."
"Please take me with you." Tetra begged, her eyes downcast. She felt Link's hand cup her cheek and he lifted her head to make eye contact with her. His expression was soft as he leaned closely in, kissing her gently upon the lips. For a moment she was angry, almost reaching up a hand to slap him, but she slowly fell into that passionate kiss he was giving her. She returned it, almost reluctantly, and was surprised when he raised the other hand to stroke her hair.
"I'm so sorry." He said when they parted. "I know you are mad at me, but it is best if you and Medli stay here with Hali..." He laid his hands over her belly and smiled, "I wouldn't want our cargo to get hurt."
Tetra blushed, "Y-Yes..." She replied, laying her hands over his. "I'll take good care of him."
"Him?" Link chuckled, "You think it's a boy?"
"Could be..." She smiled fondly, her fingers moving to wrap around Link's hands. "Please come back safely... I don't know what I would do without you."
Link tilted her head up once again and kissed her, much quicker this time than earlier. "You would remain a strong pirate captain... I know you." Link assured her, "But I will come back safely, I promise."
"You're my best friend." Tetra was surprised when she felt a tear roll down her cheek. It was very unlike her to actually cry, normally she kept a very strong front about her and crying was not something she did willingly.
"Don't cry."
"I'm not crying!" Tetra gasped, "S-Something got caught in my eye..."
She could tell that Link knew better than that, but he didn't fight her on it and just gave a light chuckle, "Alright, you're not crying." He wiped the tear away from her cheek then glanced up in the sky when a great shadow came over them. Tetra could see it too, the great dragon had finally arrived and was hovering around the island briefly before finding a place to land.
A loud thud echoed around them as Valoo finally touched down, his great head hanging over them. Medli ran out to greet him, her arms outstretched as though she planned to hug him, though she never got so far and stopped, standing as close as she could.
"Valoo, thank goodness!"
Valoo replied in ancient Hylian, his deep voice echoing around them.
"Yes, there is great trouble on the island!" She cried, "We need your help to rescue the children and bring them back here!"
Another loud reply came, only Tetra could not understand a word he was saying, but he seemed to be equally distressed by this news. She could hear it in his tone, and it made her heart sad. She listened as Medli explained the plan to the great dragon, going into detail as Link had earlier on.
"You have our gratitude!" Medli sounded relieved, her eyes were wide with excitement when she turned to face Tetra and Link. "He is going to do it! Once the children are safe, he will return there and..." She looked as though she were about to cry, "hopefully... our island will be saved."
"Link, what will you do once you get there?" Tetra turned to him, seeing the determination in his eyes.
"If I have to, I will face Markada... but I hope to avoid that." Link responded, the weariness in his tone did not match the look on his face. "If I have to face her though, I will fight to the end. I want to restore peace to the Great Sea."
Everyone agreed with Link's speech. Tetra noticed that they were all preparing for Valoo's leave. Medli had wanted to depart with him, but Hali was much more important and she knew she must stay with her child. Tetra watched as a Korok positioned himself on Valoo's head, ready to fly off to Dragon Roost where their plan would finally take place.
"Won't they see him coming?" Tetra asked, grabbing onto Link's arm when the island shook as Valoo once again took flight.
"If they do, there's nothing they can do about it... he's the great dragon, they can't tie him down. Besides, only the Rito know how to get to the top of the mountain... and myself." Link rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.
"I guess that's true," Tetra replied as she watched Valoo fly farther away until he disappeared, "At least we have an advantage this time." She looked at Link with pensive eyes. She knew they had a short time together before he would depart for Dragon Roost. "Link?" Tetra began with a slight tremble in her voice, "Can I ask you something?"
"Hm? Oh sure," Link replied, "What is it?" He had a feeling that he knew what Tetra was going to ask.
"Could we go someplace quiet?" Tetra asked, "I just wanted to spend some time with you." She twisted a lock of her hair around her finger as her stomach fluttered uncomfortably at the thought that Link would leave soon.
Aryll stood on deck, gazing out at the sea where she had just watched Valoo fly off. Undoubtedly, they would be embarking on a long journey soon and she wondered if Link would make her get off the ship. For that moment, however, she was stationary and feeling rather sleepy due to the heat of the day. She yawned and leaned against the railings, her dress and black cloak whipping back and forth with the sharp breezes. It was a perfect day for sailing.
"What are you doing up here?" A voice came from behind.
She glanced back and saw Ivan standing behind her. He was tall, though his figure was stocky. Aryll smiled and pointed out towards the small figure that appeared to be Valoo far off in the distance, "I was just watching him disappear."
"Seeing 'im up close an' all was really amazing." Ivan said, joining Aryll as they both leaned against the railing. "So are you going with us?"
"I don't know if Link will let me." Aryll traced her finger across the smooth wooden side and soon came in contact with Ivan's hands, which were much bigger than her own dainty ones. She blushed and he turned away from facing her.
"Well... can you fight?"
"Maybe." Aryll giggled to herself, "I actually learned some techniques from Orca, the old swordsman on our island." She admitted, "Maybe Link will let me come if I can defend myself. I've also spent a great deal of time traveling with pirates." She made eye contact with him again and her face began to heat up.
"I'd protect ya." Ivan said suddenly, his face was crimson in color and he wouldn't make more eye contact with her.
"Would you?" Aryll replied, smiling at him, she leaned slightly so she could see his expression, only to laugh when she saw him stiffening and looking embarrassed.
"O-Of course!" Ivan stammered, "With my life!"
Aryll was suddenly surprised, she had not expected him to say his whole life, she hadn't known him for very long but the two of them had small conversations here and there. She enjoyed those moments, and Ivan, well, he could definitely flirt.
"Hmm." Aryll mumbled to herself, softly. "We can protect each other."
Ivan finally looked at her, his face was still very red with embarrassment and clearly some nervousness. "If your brother decides for you to stay here, I won't fight him on it." Ivan said, turning to face Aryll. "I want your safety too."
"You know him well enough, don't you?" Aryll giggled, "I'll be off of this ship soon enough." She continued to smile, her eyes never leaving his face. The two of them gazed at each other for a long time before Ivan leaned down to steal a kiss. Aryll gladly accepted until she heard a loud grunt behind her. There stood Link, his hands dropped at his side and his eyes were wide with shock.
"Brother!" Aryll gasped.
"C-C-Captain!" Ivan stuttered, shooting an arm up to his forehead to salute, even though that wasn't necessary.
Link said nothing for what felt like ages, so Aryll spoke up again, "I-I'm sixteen!" She exclaimed, "I like a boy! G-Grandma would approve of him!"
Ivan quickly chimed in, "I promise I'll take care of her!" He exclaimed.
Still nothing came out of his mouth, Link just stared at the two of them like he'd just seen ghosts on the ship. Both Ivan and Aryll were trying to reason with him, even though he hadn't said a word against them.
"I'm not a child!" Aryll dropped her arms and stepped forward, "Why won't you say something?!"
"What should I say?" Link shrugged, dropping his hands again. "Right now, I don't even know what to say."
Aryll and Ivan exchanged weary glances, as if they had worn themselves out with trying to reason with someone who didn't need to be reasoned with. They could see Link looking at them both and pondering what he should say.
Finally, he spoke. "Ivan, prepare for departure... I need to speak to Aryll alone."
"Yes, sir." Ivan gave a curt nod and smiled at Aryll before disappearing below deck.
Aryll watched as Link approached her, he gave a long sigh and smiled warmly. "I guess I fell in love when I was younger than you. I was probably thirteen, maybe fourteen?"
Aryll listened intently, not having had a conversation with her brother in some time. Their journeys often kept them busy.
"Tetra was a different kind of girl." He chuckled, "She always spoke her mind and she still does, she wasn't afraid to shove me if she was angry, and I... well, she always caught me sleeping on the job."
Aryll giggled. "What happened?"
"When I fell in love with her?"
Aryll nodded quickly, curious as her brother had never relayed the story.
"I realized it one day when I caught her crying. I don't think it was until that moment that I realized she wasn't as cold hearted as I really thought she was. We got along well enough, but she enjoyed getting a rise out of me. We argued a lot..." He smiled, "...that was until I learned that she was right and I should just go along with it."
"Aren't you right sometimes?" Aryll's brows furrowed.
"Of course!" Link replied, "Sometimes she realizes that too, but she'd never admit it out loud. Anyway, I don't remember what happened to make her shed real tears, but she was sitting in the corner of her quarters quietly crying to herself. I hadn't meant to find her that way, I just stumbled in and there she was, her eyes were red and she was quickly wiping away the tears as fast as her arms could move."
"Tetra?" Link stared in bewilderment at the pirate captain who was curled up in a corner, shocked that she'd been found.
"Wh-What are you doing in here? Go away!" She cried, hurrying to stand up. She reached for a vase and raised it above her head.
"I won't tell!" Link exclaimed, "Promise!"
The two teenagers, not even sixteen, stood in the room, silence enveloping them. Link was cowering, covering his face with his arms to protect it should she start throwing things.
Slowly she lowered her arm and put the vase back in its spot. She dropped her arms and her shoulders sagged as if she was carrying a weight on her shoulders.
Once Link realized it was safe, he put his own arms down and watched as Tetra trudged to her bed, flopping down on it and laying back, legs dangling over the edge.
"What's the matter?" Link asked, figuring since she wasn't about to be hostile that it must be safe to speak.
"Sometimes I just get angry." Tetra said.
Link nodded, not wanting to say that it was obvious that the girl had a slight temper.
"Angry with what?" Link stepped forward cautiously.
"The world." Tetra replied, reaching a hand towards the ceiling, "See that picture on the wall?"
Link looked back to where she was then pointing, there was a picture on the wall of a woman with red hair. "Yeah."
"That was my mother." Tetra continued, "She was the captain before I was. When I was little, she died..."
Link's heart sank, he had always wondered but had never asked. "I'm sorry."
"It's just sometimes I remember her and I get really angry that she's gone. Then it's like those old wounds just come out of nowhere and..." She allowed her fingers to form into a fist and her hand shook. "Then I can't help it. I don't have a family, my only ancestor is gone... all I have are the pirates and I love them. It's tough love, but I love them."
Link nodded slowly, "I understand. I don't remember my parents very well, and neither does Aryll. I guess they died in an accident or something."
Tetra sat up, resting her hands on her lap, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I have my grandma and we're a happy family. I guess you just have to be thankful for what you have."
"That's true." Tetra sighed heavily and wiped her arm across her face to remove the tears. "You can't tell a soul."
"I won't. I promise." Link made an X shape over his heart.
"You can't tell anyone, especially Tetra." Link gave Aryll a very stern look and she just smiled.
"I won't." Aryll replied, "Am I coming with you?"
Link opened his mouth to reply and then closed it again, his brows furrowing as he looked back towards the sea. "I don't know what's going to happen when we get there," He began, "I can't guarantee that you'll be safe."
"I understand." Aryll gave a tug at her medium length blond hair, pulling a ribbon out of seemingly nowhere to tie it back. "They will need a few extra hands to take care of the Rito children anyway."
"She's staying?" Ivan's voice appeared behind them.
They both turned around to face him, Link looking rather protective. "We don't know what is out there, Ivan."
Ivan looked almost sad, but understanding. "If I may though... I would protect her, I promise. If a guy like me can take down you-"
"By accident!" Link interrupted.
"Still, I can fight and I'm willing to put myself in danger just for her."
Link looked at Aryll then, she was still playing with her hair and gazing at Ivan out of pure admiration. "Do you want to come?" He asked.
Aryll glanced up at the sound of Link's voice and then furiously began to tug at the ponytail she'd just created. "I know it's not safe, but I've come a long way from that little girl that was trapped at Forsaken Fortress! So yes, I would like to come along, I want to be of more help than just a caregiver, if I could have that opportunity."
"Alright." Link looked at Ivan, "I trust you to take care of her, and if anything happens..." He seethed.
"I understand, sir!" Ivan nodded quickly, "She's in good hands."