Chapter 4
"Alright. What in Goddesses names got you two acting like love struck teenagers yesterday?" Link demands as he opens the door.
"Hello to you too, Kid." Linebeck retorts, rolling his eyes.
"Don't mind him. He's just grumpy." Ciela says, hiding her hands behind her back. "Can we come in?"
Link shakes his head. "Yeah, sure. Beck's here as well."
"Perfect!" Ciela chirps, flouncing in.
Link looks at Linebeck. "Fairy side?"
"Fairy side."
They walk into the kitchen area to see a smirking Ciela, and an amused Tetra and Beck by the fire. Catrain was currently Hylian, holding a mug of hot tea with tired eyes.
Linebeck joins Ciela while Link re-seats himself by Tetra.
"Princess. Beck, Jemerald." Linebeck says, nodding to each person, with Jemerald being Catrain.
"Grandfather." Beck returns, small smirk on his face.
"Old man." Tetra teases.
"Captain." Catrain says, sipping her tea.
Linebeck just rolls his eyes.
"So what news do you two have?" Tetra inquires. "That might have to deal with your weirdness yesterday?"
Linebeck nonchalantly shrugs, slipping his hand into Ciela's left hand "Nothing really, Sparkles and I are engaged but that's about it."
The mug slips from Catrain's hand as her mouth drops open, tiredness in her eyes disappearing. "YOU'RE ENGAGED!"
"Hey Jemerald, not so loud." Linebeck winces.
"Have you told Mum, Dad and Oshus yet?" Catrain asks, picking up her mug while mopping up her spilled tea.
Ciela smacks her forehead. "No we have not!" She picks up the stone hanging around her neck. It begins glowing blue as Ciela calls for the two spirits or Oshus.
"Yes Seal?" Came Oshus's voice. "What has prompted you to call so early in the morning?"
"Are Neri and Leaf there?" Ciela asks, giving an excited grin to Linebeck.
"Right here, Ciela!" Came Neri's voice. "What news do you have?"
"Well, last night I became engaged to a certain Captain." Ciela says, hitting Linebeck softly with her shoulder.
There was silence for a few moments and then there was this high pitched squealing noise and strangling noises that sounded like someone was being choked.
"Neri... Can't... Breathe." Leak gasps out.
"Pay up, Leaf!" Neri cries, sounding triumphant. "I told you he would propose within a year of their time!"
"Knew it was a bad idea to bet against the Spirit of Wisdom." Leaf grumbles. "Just remember Linebeck, my promise stands."
Ciela eyes narrow. "What promise, Leaf?" She growls at the stone, happy mood disappearing.
Silence from the stone.
"Leaf..." Ciela drags out the name, staring at the stone. "What Promise?"
"Nothing you need to worry about Sparkles!" Linebeck intervenes. "Just male things." Ciela cocks an eyebrow at him suspiciously.
Link chuckles and shakes his head. "Well congratulations." He grins at Ciela and Linebeck. "There were some nights back at the beginning of when we first met I thought that one morning that I would wake up one morning with one or both of you missing. Good luck to you two, and don't kill each other before the wedding."
The group erupts into laughter at Link's final words.
...
A few mornings later, Ciela walks onto the deck of the S.S. Linebeck, holding a letter.
"Hey Linebeck?" She calls down the steps. "There's a letter for you from some person named Maxi?"
"Wait, Who?" Linebeck says, jogging up the steps.
"Maxi?" Ciela repeats, handing the letter to Linebeck.
"Goddesses, I haven't heard from him in, well, since I left Farqay to find my sister." Linebeck says, running a hand through his hair before opening the letter. "He was my old friend."
His emerald eyes scan the first sentence before laughing. "Same old Maxi."
CIela peers at him and Linebeck begins reading the letter aloud.
"Becky, I'm gonna kill your skinny ass whenever you return to Farqay Island. Thirteen years. THIRTEEN YEARS. And not one letter saying that you haven't been abducted by pirates or some crazy thing. Hell, for all I know, you might be hanging with Davy Jones. Everyone on the island is missing you."
Ciela scrunches up her face. "Well, he's certainly charming."
Linebeck chuckles before continuing. "Anyway, if this letter reaches you, and I don't receive it back within a couple of days, I'll assume you're still among the living. How have you been? Have you catched a lass yet? If you have, is she hot?... Or considering the fact that you once wore a dress, I'm not going to scratch out the fact that you might have found a lad instead...
Linebeck swears as Ciela bursts out laughing. "Dammit Maxi! I thought you would have forgotten about that. It was one time! ONE TIME!"
"What... happened?" Ciela gasps out between laughter.
"I was 6 and we had to get up early one morning and look nice for some event. I forget now what the event was, but it was during the time when Linette and I still slept in the same room and look exactly alike. Now we were all tired, even Mum. As a result of this, Mum somehow mixed us up, and handed me one of Linette's dresses. I was still half asleep and didn't notice even when I was dressing. Max ran up and I call out to him, becoming more alert. He looks at me, with confusion in his eyes, and then asked why I was wearing a dress. I freak, and Mum and Linette burst out laughing." Linebeck scrowls. "He never forgot the incident and loves making jokes about it." Shaking his head, he looks at the the letter again, frowning as he does so. "Quill must have broke because there's this ink spot here." He begins reading again.
"Maris just hit me over the head for being crude and caused the quill to break. Crazy woman. Anyway, you need to get over here soon or I will hunt you down. I know you need to find your sister... But that's no reason to not return home and neglect your friends. SO GET THE HELL BACK HERE! ~Maxi."
Linebeck gives the letter a once over. "Guess I am overdue for a visit."
Ciela snorts. "Overdue? More like lost and gone missing." She looks at Linebeck placing a hand on Linebeck's shoulder. "Are you going back?"
Linebeck grins at Ciela. "Course, Sparkles." He folds up the letter and puts it in his pocket. "Besides I want my future wife to see where I grew up. I was planning on making a mystery trip to it, but this finally got my nerve up to do it."
Ciela grins before throwing her arms around him and kissing his lips soundly. Linebeck twirls her around. "I'm- We're going home." He whispers, dipping her.
Ciela feels her heart swell at those words and kisses him again.
...
It was a month later. Ciela was in the engine room, sailing the ship so Linebeck could have look-out duty.
He had drawn one of the crates near the bow on the lower deck and was currently sitting on it, with one knee drawn up so he could rest his head on it. His arms are wrapped around his leg. A battered telescope sits by him, gently hitting him when the boat rocks.
"Thirteen years." He thinks. "Over Thirteen years since I left. How would have everyone changed? Calista would be 20 now. How much would have she changed from that seven year old that claimed me as her uncle? Would anyone recognize me?"
Linebeck shakes his head, banishing the thoughts.
He scans the horizon again, squinting when a dark shape caught his eyes. His eyes widen and heart skips a beat when the familiar mountain reveals itself.
"Sparkles!" He calls looking through the telescope now. "Stop the boat and come up here!"
"Will do, Captain!" She calls.
Linebeck feels the boat shudder to a halt.
He could see the town had not grown much, only a few houses near one end of the town. On the other end, he could see the pale green house that he had grown up in. The tree was still there, now effectively blocking his window.
"It that Farqay island?" He hears Ciela ask, placing her hand on his shoulder as she sits beside him.
Linebeck nods before handing the telescope to her. "See the pale green house through the trees?" He pauses as Ciela nods. "That's my old home."
"It looks lovely." She says, "As does the whole island."
"Over thirteen years since I last saw the place." Linebeck says. "I never felt brave enough to go back." He looks away. "Especially after becoming the jerk Linebeck."
Ciela remains silent while turning his head back towards her. "Max said it himself. Everyone misses you. I have a feeling they'll be ecstatic at having you back. No matter what you have done in the past."
Linebeck gazes at Ciela. "What would I have done if I never met you?" He asks softly.
"No clue." Ciela says, laughing before softly kissing Linebeck on the nose.
They reach the island by twilight, but for Linebeck, it seemed to take ages before the S.S. Linebeck was pulling up alongside the dock.
Linebeck slides out the gangway, straightens before pausing. The last time he stood here was when he was 16, saying goodbye to his best friends and heading out to find his sister. Now here was, nearly 30 and was returning with his fiancee' and two tales that seemed like the legends of old. But yet still scarce one sister, and now after thirteen years... He couldn't even be sure if she was still alive...
Ciela walks up behind him, slipping her hand into his. She gives a playful grin. "You're not scared are you?"
Linebeck scoffs. "As if, it's more or less..." He pauses and looks at the town. "Overwhelming."
"I know what you mean." Ciela says, "Getting my memories back after 8 years of not knowing who I was, felt like returning home."
Linebeck looks at her. "Eight years? Then you were only 11 when Bellum attacked, even if you were a young adult by then."
Ciela bites her lip. "Actually, I was 68 when that happened." "Now or never, girl." She thinks to herself.
Linebeck stares at her. "I'm sorry, you were how old?" He asks.
"68." Ciela says again. "In the Ocean King world, everyone there ages differently." She takes a breath. "Because a year here is equal to four in Ocean King."
"And how old are you?" Linebeck asks. "Currently?"
"A hundred and 5, give or take a few years." Ciela mutters, scratching the back of her head while smiling awkwardly.
"You know what? I'm just gonna go with it, and still think that I'm still two years older than you." Linebeck says, shaking his head while entwining his arm around Ciela's.
"Good because that was not easy to admit. " Ciela says. "Especially since that would mean that I waited twenty-one years for your seven."
Linebeck smirks. "I feel special now."
Ciela softly whacks him upside the head. "Now don't be getting a swelled head!"
"Yes, Sparkles."
Then together, they step onto the island. A man was currently lighting the town lanterns. He doesn't spare the couple a glance as they walk by.
"If I remember correctly and nothing has changed, everyone should be at the bar tonight." Linebeck says, walking down a street.
"The bar?" Ciela echos, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, the bar, but it's more of a gathering place than a place where idiots can get drunk and forget about their pasts." Linebeck informs. "Mr. Rybak cuts you off at three drinks anyway."
"Mr. Rybak?" Ciela questions.
"He's like Farqay's old man of the island." Linebeck says. "Always willing you help others in need, or if you're just wanting to talk no matter what time of the night. But be warned, if he thinks you're acting stupid, he won't hesitate to whack you upside the head." Linebeck chuckles fondly, rubbing the back of his head with one eye closed.
Ciela laughs. "Sounds like Oshus." She looks down with a fond smile.
They stop outside one building before Linebeck leads Ciela in. Letting Linebeck guide her, Ciela examines the area.
It was dimly lit, pardoning the dance floor. Ciela could see on the right of the room was the bar, where a sandy haired man was talking with a clearly older man, both of them leaning on the bar. She looks to the left and sees what seemed to be the dining area, where quite a few people were sitting.
"Linebeck was right, this place is more of a gathering area than a bar." She thinks.
Linebeck stops and Ciela realizes that they stopped next to the sandy-haired man. Linebeck taps the man's shoulder before waiting with a smug smile as the man turns around.
"By the Goddesses..." The man breathes, getting up from his bar stool.
"Miss me, Maxi?" Linebeck says, shoving his hands into his coat pocket.
Max grins. "Of course, Becky." He cups his hands and shouts. "Hey everyone, guess who just returned! Linebeck Brante!" The room goes silent before bursting out into cheers. Suddenly Max drags Linebeck into a headlock. "Thirteen years. Thirteen effing years! And not one single letter!" He booms, beginning to noogie the captain. "If I wasn't so glad that you're alive I would murder you!"
Ciela covers her mouth, torn between worry and amusement.
"Max, don't kill him!" A female voice calls. Ciela turns to see a woman with long brown hair and brown eyes.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt 'em." Max says, ruffling Linebeck hair before letting the captain go.
"Maris." Linebeck sighs in relief, while straightening his appearance.
A smirk covers Maris's face. "Don't get too relaxed, Becky. I still haven't done my share of butt-kicking for being away too long."
"Why did I become friends with the violent people?" Linebeck asks. "Especially you, Catty."
Maris's smile turns into a snarl. "Goddesses dammit Becky! I still hate the nickname! My name is Maris!"
"Better watch my girl, Becky." Max laughs. "She has the attitude of a cat with the claws to match."
Linebeck blinks at Max and Maris who joined hands. "Wait. You and Maris?"
A young woman with ginger hair and amber eyes bursts from the crowd and throws her arms around Linebeck's neck, squealing as she does so.
"Uncle Linebeck, you're back!" She exclaims.
"Calista, don't kill the poor boy!" The old man behind the bar calls. "How are you, Master Brante? You had us all very worried these past years after your sudden disappearance." He fixes Linebeck with a gray-blue eye as Calista releases Linebeck, poking her tongue out at the man.
"I'm well, Mr. Rybak." Linebeck says, "And I didn't mean to worry you, I just didn't want to deal with a crowd."
Mr. Rybak nods while Linebeck turns back to Maris and Max. "Where were we? Ah yes, when did you two happen?"
"A year after you left." Max says.
Maris nods. "Together for twelve and married for seven with a little girl named Devika."
"Then while on the subject of good news. Catty, Maxi. Meet, Sparkles." Linebeck walks over to the redhead, planting a kiss to her temple. "My fiancee`"
Maris and Calista squeal. "Congrats, Becky! Knew that someday you would find a gal." Maris says.
"Or lad." Max coughs. Maris frowns at him and punches his shoulder.
"Stop being rude." She tells him.
"Stop punching me!" Max whines back.
"Stop being such a whiner!" Maris counters.
"Alright, kiddies." Linebeck snorts.
"Don't say anything more, Linebeck." Maris immediately says. She turns to Ciela. "So what is your real name?"
"It's Ciela." Ciela says. "Former fairy and former Spirit of Time and Courage."
Max's and Maris's mouths drop open. "Wait, What?" Max exclaims.
"It's a long story." Ciela says, grinning.
Linebeck is chuckling. Ciela and him sit on two bar stools. " Get comfortable. It is a long tale." He looks around at everyone before continuing, "It was around 8 years ago, I had just heard of this Ghost Ship..."
...
It was beginning to near midnight, by the time Linebeck and Ciela was nearing the end of their tales.
"Beck now helps around the shop, Link and Tetra are currently at Outset Island and Aryll is the temporary captain of Hyrule's Dragon. And what we've heard from Jolene, she's doing okay too." Ciela finishes. "And well, you know how we're doing." She playfully nudged Linebeck, pecking him on the cheek. Everyone in the vicinity laughs.
"Well, we really should be getting back to the ship." Linebeck says.
"Master Brante, hold up a sec." Mr. Rybak calls with a melancholy expression.
"Alright, Mr. Rybak." Linebeck says, looking at the old man, with a curious expression.
"I'll be at the ship, okay?." Ciela say, kissing Linebeck.
"Alright, Sparkles." Linebeck replies.
Ciela was reading by the bedside, about an hour later, when she hears the engine room door shut. She throws back the covers and pads barefoot up to the first level.
"Linebeck? What did Mr. Rybak want?" She calls into the dark. She walks a few feet out into the room.
Arms snake around her waist and Linebeck buries his head into Ciela's neck. Ciela could feel tears dripping from his eyes onto her shoulder. He was holding something in his arms.
"Linebeck? What wrong? What happened?" Ciela asks, laying a hand on top of Linebeck's.
"She's dead." Linebeck whispers, voice breaking. "She's gone."
Ciela's mouth opens a tiny bit in horror. "Not..." She trails off, unable to go on.
"They had found her coat four months after I left and a trail that led to a freshly made grave. When they, -they dug out the body, it was barely beyond recognition. But from what they could gather from the clothing and what features they could see, they knew it was L-Linette." His shoulders begin shaking. "Mr. Rybak had been waiting for me too return to tell me."
Ciela twists around and places her arms around Linebeck. Together they sink to the floor, with Linebeck weeping in her arms, holding his sister's coat and Ciela comforting him.
...
*wipes eyes* Hokay, maybe I thought wrong on the fluff.
This was really hard to write. Really hard. Let me know if Linebeck seemed OoC. And what do you people out there think of the Official introduction to Max and crew? Anything I need to work on? Names not sounding too Americanness? Let me know in a review!
~Roses