"It's just that all the other pirate's said you got done in by that bird-monster, so I thought . . ."

"Oh please!" Eddy gloated, "If you think some stupid bird can beat us, you've got another thing coming!"

"Never mind what I thought! You're alive!"

"Um, yes well. We're here because we desperately need to-" Double d was stopped by Niko's dirty finger in his line of text,

"I know exactly why you're here: you're here because you missed me so much!"

"Ummm, sure, why not?"

"After you three left I went back to being the bottom rung on the ladder, which is why I'm stuck here while everyone's partying!"

"Aww, cheer up Mr. Niko, there's plenty to be ashamed of!"

"I guess being worshipped by my swabbies ought to cheer me up."

"Worship?" Eddy's lips curled downward, "I don't like the sound of that . . ."

"All right, let's set you to your new test! This one's harder than the last! Good luck, you'll need it swabbie!" the Eds gaped. "This is your test, Double d!" Eddy ordered. Pushing his friend towards the familiar switch on the floor.

"But Eddy I-" when he landed on the switch, the usual platforms didn't rise to his level. "Hey, what gives? How can he cross the hull with no platforms?"

"That's the beauty of it!" Niko shouted, swinging from rope to rope to the other side, just as he entered the cove a barred metal door slammed shut behind him, "Now you gotta free me, but all you get's the ropes!"

"Man, that guy's gonna be getting on people's nerves for at least a century," Eddy announced with odd specification, "Well, show 'em what you can do, Sockhead!" Double d swallowed hard, "I'm doing this to save the world . . . I'm doing this to save the world . . . I'm doing this to save the world . . ." he leapt off the only platform with his eyes closed and through luck caught the first rope. "Go Double d!" Ed and Eddy cheered him along each rope, and despite fearing the fall; he made it across just as easily as before.

"You did it already!?" Niko leapt into the air at the sight of Double d's success, "You're . . . You're incredible!"

"Oh contraire!" Double d replied, "All I did was time the leap right in accordance to the shifts in the waves and readjust my trajectory accordingly. It was my friend's cheering that really did it."

"You're the best swabbie of all time! So . . . As a reward, take these bombs, really, no charge, Just don't tell ANYONE!" he pointed to a chest deeper inside the cove, where the spoils bag used to be. Double d opened the chest and pulled out about thirty bombs from it; more than enough to open Jabun's cave.

"That's pretty courageous of you . . . trying to steal from pirates." Double d wheeled around, looking for the source of the voice, until he saw that it came from his collarbone. "Oh! Ummm . . . Greeting's, Tetra?"

"I guess I should be shocked . . . but I'm more amazed that you three managed to survive after being tossed out of that tower."

"We would have died had not a friend saved us."

"But you haven't saved Ed's sister yet, right?" on the other side of the room Ed and Eddy had fallen asleep, but Ed mumbled "Sarah" several times in his sleep while furrowing his monobrow. "No."

"You guys never give things much thought, do you? You just rush in, never thinking how badly things can go for you. Like just now . . . the only reason you got what you did was because we left a simple-minded little rat like Niko look over things-" This too changed something in Double d, "Listen Tetra: we may not always make the smartest decisions, but we make them for the right reasons. I'd rather be a brave oaf like Ed than a cowardly genius like I used to be. And beyond that, Niko may not be the best pirate- or even the best person overall- but he trusts people, gives willingly and tries to earn his place in the world, and that is his good part. Just like there's a good part in me, in Ed, in Eddy, and even in you. That's the magic of humanity." She was speechless a moment, then

"I'm guessing you're going after Jabun's treasure too?"

"That is what we intended."

"I'll tell you what: No one's ever questioned my judgment and lived to tell about it, but this time I'll let it slide. And while we're relaxing in town and eating our fill, I'll give you and your merry band of men a head start. But don't waste it!"

"Thank you, Tetra."

"You better be quick, kid." The stone darkened and the Eds returned to their own boat. On the way they were supposed to take shifts so each Ed could get some sleep, but Ed kept himself awake, as he did during Double d's conversation with Tetra, so his friends could sleep.

"All right Double d, truth or dare?" Oh no, not this dream again! Double d thought as the words were spoken. He had this dream, more of a flashback really, every once in a little while, usually after doing something good and honest. Probably to remind himself of the price of these things. Beneath him was Eddy's living room, and the Eds (Age seven in this dream) were sitting around a bottle, now pointing at seven-year-old Double d. I remember this, before me Eddy told us the truth about how he's scared of the dark, and before that Eddy dared Ed to eat a bucket of sand, good times . . . until "I choose dare!" the younger counterpart smiled and flicked his straw-blond hair aside."OOH!" A younger version of Ed leaned over closer, "Say the dare Eddy, say the dare!"

"Hmm. . . Let's see . . . gotta be a good one . . ." the child version of Eddy rubbed his chin and thought, and the older Double d grimaced as he looked out his window and caught sight of the Fairy's forest on top of the island, "I dare ya to . . . Din-dong-ditch the Kankers!" oh, why couldn't I say no? "Sounds dangerous . . . But I suppose I must abide by the rules of truth or dare." I was their seventh birthday party, but Double d would remember it for something else entirely.

"Now, remember: all you have to do is sneak up to the Kanker's door, take their doormat, knock three times and run! We'll be waiting here near the bridge."

"Don't get caught!' The older Double d floated over it all with horror, "I'll be back within moments, threshold and all." The two Double d's entered the familiar forest and noticed the glow of a large fire, but the young Double d thought little of this: If the Kankers weren't sexually or physically abusing an islander they were torching woodland animals to eat. Double d almost ran away at the sight of the flames, but ran to them when he heard the Kankers screaming; here we go again. He leaned over the clearing where he would meet Tetra exactly five years later and met with a horrifying sight. In retrospect it was a sign that Gannon was coming back into power (Though not the first) the Kankers were tied up and shaking by a huge fire, where a Moblin grinned over them and stirred a pot, "Gotta admit, it's been way too long since I've tasted human, almost forget what they taste like." The foul creature laughed, "Well, the water's started a' boilin', who want's to go first?" May Kanker screamed again as the pig-man lifted her over the pot. Don't do it, Double d, please don't do it! But it did no good dwelling on what he could do; his younger self lifted a rock and threw it at the monster's head. It wheeled around and dropped May on the ground, away from the fiery cauldron. "You leave this island alone!" I have to admit though, I looked awful brave. The monster grabbed his spear and snorted, Younger Double d grabbed a vine and swung down to the Moblin, Kicking him in the head. When he swung back the monster severed the rope with the end of his knife-like spear . . . along with part of Double d's scalp.

He landed in a heap next to the Kanker's longhouse. "Capture three, get the fourth free!" The Moblin picked up the unconscious and bleeding boy and dragged him towards the pot. The funny thing about this flashback was that the future Double d could see what happened afterwards, how an arrow flew over the ridge and landed in the porcine menace's spine, how it fell to the ground Dead even as another arrow hit him. He could see his father, the same shade of blond as he and strong from years of living in a dangerous world, rush to his son's side and carry him home. He could see his father cutting the ropes that bound the Kankers and hear him whisper, "It's too dangerous to live in these woods anymore without the fairy's blessing; you must leave them." And though he now felt guilty about it, he could also hear himself say to them in flickering consciousness, "And leave my friends alone, you bullies," before he went limp in his father's arms.

"Please be ok, Double d." Ed sobbed outside of Sturgeon's hut, "Please be ok!" I will be Ed, just wait and see. Double d floated by his friends outside. "This is all my fault, isn't it?" Eddy grumbled, trying not to cry, "We'll never play truth-or-dare again!" Double d shook his head at the sad sight and reentered the hut. There his younger form was lying in bandages with his parents and Sturgeon watching him diligently. Then he groaned and opened his eyes. "W-what happened?" he muttered, wincing at the pain of his injury. His father was sowing together a black piece of material, and his mother was sobbing too much to speak, so Sturgeon answered him, "You did an awful brave thing up there, but I'm afraid it cost you a lot of blood." As bravery often does, "When that Moblin sliced that vine of yours, he took off a part of your scalp . . . in the perfect shape of a triangle."

"What!" the young Double d sat up, feeling the bandages around his head. "Careful, or you'll start the bleeding all over again!"

"When will I be able to see it?"

"In a few weeks, if you heal fast. In the mean time you aren't to leave this bed, Understand?"

"Yes sir. But am I allowed to have guests while here?"

"Are you kidding? Those two crazy friends of yours have been trying to tear down the door just to see if you're all right! If I don't let them see you're ok, I might not get any sleep tonight!" before the old man opened the door, Double d's father finished sowing the black cloth together and put it on Double d's head, "Here. Those bandage's look pretty bad, I don't want your friend's freaking out over a little scar."

"Thank-you father. How did you ever become so brave?"

"All I did was protect someone I cared about; one day you'll do the same."

The other two Eds Sobbed and apologized until Sturgeon finally kicked them out. After about two weeks the wound stopped bleeding and new skin grew over the area. But Double d's blond hair became sparse all over, non-existent over his yellowish triangle-shaped scar. And after that the dreams and memory's faded into the good times that the Eds used to cherish.

"-Pass it around, and there'll no more bottles of Gravy on the wall!" Ed smiled and looked up (Though it was STILL dark), "Hey guys, we're here!" Eddy kept snoring until a wave splashed him in the face "I'm up mom!" Double d woke up before him, but he was slightly annoyed that his labels had come off the boat (The king of red lions held his tongue about how he peeled them off during his sleep.) They flowed into the bay where their oldest memories we're made and climbed up onto the old slippery docks, "Have you three noticed that morning has not broken even after so many hours have passed?"

"It hasn't?" Ed asked stupidly as the boat continued speaking. "It is as if time itself has frozen!"

"If what you're saying is true than maybe we don't need to worry about the pirates overtaking us!"

"Exactly, perhaps it may not be a bad idea for you to visit your hometown and families after such a long time away. We can speak with Jabun afterwards."

"Oh boy, oh boy, Gravy time for Ed!"

"And I'm going after those famous hidden rupees, Sockhead, so don't get too comfortable!"

Double d returned to his own home, not expecting his parents to be there. You see, his parents were traveling inventors, selling various inventions to people across the great sea useful things such as Aryll telescopes. But today they happened to be home. "Eddward, you're alive!" His mother pounced on him as soon as he entered the door. "Don't ever leave us again, please! We could barely stand the thought of losing you these past few days, what we're you thinking?"

"Mother . . . you don't understand, I have to go! Sarah's still trapped at the fortress and there's an evil-"

"It's too dangerous! You remember what happened in the forest, don't you? I'll never let my boy be hurt like that again!"

"Mother, I promise I'll be fine! Really, I've learned how to use a sword against monsters and so much more, I'm-"

"Sword? Monsters?!?" Double d's father looked up from his tinkering on some new device then, "Hercules, talk to your son. I think he's going through that 'hero' phase you went through." {Another note: It's a common tradition for me when playing the Zelda games to name my character Hercules, after the Greek hero. I know his real name is Link, just let me do this, Ok?"} The strong inventor sighed, and got up, "All right Marian. Follow me Edward."

Odd, father being the man of few words he is almost never has discussions with me . . . and what's this "hero" phase mother's talking about? The two emerged from the house onto a deck facing the ocean. "Thank the gods you're ok." The old man sighed. "Father, what did mother mean when she said 'hero phase'?" he sighed again

"Edd, there's something I probably should have told you a long time ago. It's about my own twelfth birthday and how I wasted most of my life."

"For starters I should tell you that you have an aunt."

"I do? Who is she? How come I've never seen her?"

"Her name was Aryll, and she was the best little sister a boy could ask for: Kind, giving, everything Sarah isn't; but she was also kidnapped by the Helmroc king."

"Good lord! How did you save her? I wish you would've told me earlier, you could've helped us sa-"

"That's just it, son. I didn't save her." Double d looked shocked for a moment, but Hercules continued, "I tried three times, twice my boat was destroyed on the way, and the third time the Helmroc King sent me right back here. I never got over it; I was humiliated for the rest of my life. And these days I'm certain she's dead!"

Double d thought again for a moment and looked back at his father, "I think I saw Aryll when I first got to the Forsaken Fortress, alive and well. And to prove she's alive, I'll bring her and Sarah home before either are missed for much longer!"

"You do realize you'll be walking into certain death, right?"

"Realized it the first time I set foot on the cursed island, but someone's got to stand up to the powers of darkness."

"And even if you do somehow survive, you'll wind up just as disappointed and ashamed of yourself as I am when you fail?"

"Then I just won't fail." The middle-aged man smiled at his green-clad son, "I think I can distract your mother just long enough for you to get whatever needs to be done here done. But just in case you might want to hurry." Double d hugged his father for understanding, "Thank you father! I promise I'll return Aryll safely!"

"No problem son- say, is that Eddy?" the man pointed out to Outset's bay area, where Eddy was setting off in the King of Red lions. "What on earth? Eddy!" Double d ran down the staircase of the deck to where the shore began and started swimming towards the boat. "Man, my wife's gonna kill me."