The sun beat down on the S.S. Linebeck. It was ending the near of summer, and it was the most brutal time of the year. Many heat waves crossed this part of the ocean. Both Link and Linebeck were trying to keep cool, but the weather was unbearable. Going below deck wasn't any better either. All of the fairies that Link had gathered were also dying of a [sarcastic] heat stroke.

Link lay flat on the boat's surface, and Linebeck looked over the bow of the boat. No islands were in sight, and the nearest was another few hours away, and they only had a bit of fresh water left.

"Linebeck, I'm dyin'. Can I PLEASE go in the water for a minute?" Link pleaded.
"And get your other arm ripped off? No, kid. Absolutely not." Linebeck protested.

Link sighed angrily, and got up walking over to Linebeck.

"Where're we going?"
"To forge the sword, Link, I've told you this like 17 times already."

Link was quiet for a moment, then spoke again,

"Are we there yet?"
Linebeck death glared the kid. "Does it look like it!? Shut up for once kid, or I'll throw you overboard!"

Again, Link was quiet, but then;

"So hows your wife?"
"Link, I don't have a wife. Just please, be quiet." Linebeck said putting his hand to his forehead rubbing sweat away.

...

"So how's your husband?" Link asked.

Link was now in the ocean, laughing hysterically. Linebeck smiled, "Very funny, kid. Get your butt back up here. You're cooled off now." Link nodded and helped himself up onto the deck.

Linebeck pulled him up, "Go change out of your wet clothes, and don't get the floor below deck all wet." Link nodded, and began walking down.

As Link put on a new tunic, he heard Linebeck yell his name loudly. Link began rushing to the surface, when suddenly the ship jerked to the side, sending Link flying.

"LINK, GET UP HERE!"
"What's wrong!?" Link yelled.

He finally made it up and saw why the ship was tipped over. A gyorg was trying to get itself up onto the ship to get Linebeck! Linebeck, who was clinging to the railing of the ship, held on for dear life and looked over at Link with pleading eyes. Link turned around and ran back down below deck.

"OH, SO I SAVE YOU FROM A GYROG, BUT YOU DON'T BUST YOUR ASS TO SAVE ME!?" The shark roared and Linebeck cringed.

Just as Linebeck lost his grip and began to think he'd be eaten alive, an arrow hit the gyorg right in the eye! The shark flopped back into the water and Linebeck glanced over at saw Link wielding a bow and arrow. It was hard to use with one arm, but Link was somehow managing. Linebeck ran behind the kid for protection.

Link aimed at the gyrogs fin, and as the giant fish leaped out of the water, Link shot! After numerous shots fired at the gyrogs heart, the beast fell into the water, dead. The duo sailed the ship over to the giant fish, and fished him up. The giant fish lay across the deck with the length of almost 10 feet!

Link stared at the beast and noticed something caught on it's tooth. He ran over and asked Linebeck to help him pry the monster's mouth open. When they opened the beast's mouth, inside on the tooth was a green piece of cloth ...

"Oh, damn ..." Linebeck whispered.
"Its the same color as my tunic ... You don't think ...?" Link asked.
"I don't know, kid. You're not the only one who wears green clothes around here." Linebeck responded.
"How far are we from Mercay? Oshus might know ..." Link responded.

"Kiiid," Linebeck sighed, "Didn't you want to get away from Mercay Island?"
"But this is important! We might have the gyorg that got me!"

Link looked up and Linebeck, making his eyes wide and puckering his lips, "Pleeease?"

"I hate it when you do that. Fine, we'll go back. But you better pay me back."

Just as Linebeck began walking below deck, Ciela rammed into the side of his face.

"What happened!?" Ciela yelled. She glanced over and saw the giant shark and fainted. Link came over and picked the small fairy up.
"Finally, she shut up ..." Linebeck laughed. Link smirked and followed Linebeck downstairs.

Within a day, they made it back to Mercay Island and Oshus came to inspect the monster. Link and Linebeck stood next to the man as he observed it.

"Well? What do you think, old man?" Linebeck asked.

Oshus frowned and glanced over at the duo, "It is indeed that gyorg ..."

Link glanced down, speechless.

"It's a good thing I took molds of the teeth marks in your arm before I stitched you up. These teeth marks are the exact same as the ones I took the mold of ..."

Linebeck sighed, "Well it's a relief we took care of the problem ... Man, kid, this thing was huge. I'm surprised it didn't eat you whole."

Link didn't reply, still looking down.

Linebeck wrapped his arm around Link and pulled him close. "You okay, kid?"

Link pushed away, "I think I need to be alone for a bit ..."

He jumped off the boat and continued into town.

"I never understand that kid ..." Linebeck complained.
"He's going through a lot, Linebeck ..." Oshus replied.
"I know. I'm trying to everything I can to make him feel better, but, it's never enough. He's still depressed."
"You're doing a fine job at taking care of the lad. He may not say it, but he's grateful."

"Well, you're right about that. Who in the right mind wouldn't want the great Linebeck to be their caretaker?"
"Ok, now you're taking it a bit far ..."

Link walked down the streets of Mercay again, trying to make his way to a secluded place to be alone for a bit.

"Hey mommy, look, it's the kid that yelled at everyone."

Link cringed hearing that voice. It was that little girl again ...

The woman walked over to Link, carrying her child.

"Link is it? How are you doing?" The mother asked nicely.
"Fine ... why?"Link asked turning to her.
"How's Linebeck treating you ...?"

Link hesitated on answering, "Why do you need to know ...?"
"He's not hurting you is he?"
"What is your problem!?" Link asked angrily.
"I've heard rumors that he's done things to kids your age ..."
"Um, no, he's been so much nicer to me than any of you on this damn village have ever been!" Link yelled.
"Oh, so he's using that kind of language around you is he?"

"So what if he is!? He doesn't make fun of me for missing an arm like your kid does!"

The little girl turned to her mother and started crying.

She looked down angrily at the boy, "That man is corrupting you ..."

Link stormed off and ran away into the forest where he could be alone for now.

It wasn't until later that Ciela, Leaf, Neri, Linebeck, and Oshus came to find him.

"Kid, why're you out here all alone?" Linebeck asked.

Link didn't respond.

Ciela flew up into Link's face, "Link? Are you ok?"

Linebeck knelt down beside him, "Link?"

"Why did it have to be me?" Link asked.

Everyone stared confused at him.

"What? Getting bit? It happens, Link. There's nothing-"

Linebeck was met by a hug from the child. He started sobbing and everyone felt bad for him.

"C'mon, kid. Don't be like this." Linebeck said, rubbing his back.
In between sobs came a reply, "I can't help it ... everyone's being so rude to me."

The fairies went up to Link, attempting to comfort him.

"Hey, wipe those tears away, kid. Man up ..." Linebeck said.

Link nodded, wiping his eyes. Linebeck bent down, "Climb on kid, you're probably exhausted,right?"

Without another protest or word, Link climbed onto to the older's back, getting a piggyback ride.

"You can all stay at my house tonight and cast off in the morning." Oshus said.
"Thanks, old man."

When they made it to Oshus' house, Linebeck was met with the gaze of the woman. She stood outside her house, glancing over at the group.

"That woman is giving me a nasty look ..."
"She's been saying crap about you ..." Link whispered.
"Oh? Like what?"
"When we go inside, I'll tell you. She'll probably hear."

"So that's what she said, huh?"
"Yup."

Linebeck looked over at Link, "You know I'd never do anything like that, right? I may be a mean old man, and a horrible caretaker, but what that woman told you is wrong ..."

"I know ..."

"I'm going to the bar. Stay here with Oshus. And don't go out tonight, it's late."

"Yes, sir."

Linebeck left to go to the Milk bar for some relief from all the stress of today.

Link sat where he was and looked at his sword. He could see his reflection in it and stared at his stub.

"You know, Linebeck's really sorry."

Link looked over at Oshus, "For what? He didn't do anything."

"He feels the reason your arm was bitten off is because he was careless. And he told me before this he had not intentions of acting fatherly towards you."

Link looked down, "Oh, so thats the only reason why he's acting this way?"

"He says he's being sincere when he told me he was sorry. So maybe the fellow's having a change of heart. He's not a bad man, Link. He really isn't."

"I know ..."