I am dedicating this chapter to Nny11 – why? Aside from being awesome it appears I completely uploaded the wrong chapter, and Nny11 thankfully brought that to my attention…yesh never a good sign when the author chick can't remember the simple things (0.o) So here's hoping I don't disappoint - as always sort of the same - but not quite...

I am still dedicating this is Nyn11 - cause she really is all that and a bag of chips.

So on with the show (in the correct order too!) Oh like you didn't know this was gonna happen... Let's face it I'm way too predictable and since everyone needs to get to where they're going...

(This is a Disclaimier disclaimation than the last?)

Nagori, Saimon and Senkyoku
By achitka

Chapter 4:
Saimon Says

Upon waking Tetra realized two things, one she was back in that bloody garden and two she was not alone. She glanced at the still form laid out on his back just a few feet away and growled, "Oh gods, why you?" He made no reply and was quite still. "Link?" She sat up and moved closer. She pushed his shoulder, but he still didn't move, well that was just weird. She pushed a little harder, Link mumbled something that sounded like "stupid ne ne's..." groaned and rolled on his side.

"Well," she said, irked with him now. "you're alive anyway. Where the hell is this place?" Everything appeared just as it was before. The gentle breeze that blew through the trees before brought with it that melody she knew, but could not quite remember why she knew. She looked at Link again. Her restored memory of their last encounter made her pause when she realized it somehow only added to her irritation with the Hero of the Winds. What set her aback was the sheer intensity of it. It just didn't make sense for her to be this angry with him. Still there it was, and she yanked on his ponytail as she said a little louder, "Hey! Fairy boy, it's time to get up!" Still nothing, "Oh for Din's sake," she muttered. "Fine sleep, maybe I'll get lucky for a change and figure a way out of here before you wake up." Of course, she had no idea how she'd gotten here in the first place.

Tetra sat back against the nearby tree, rubbed her eyes as she mulled over her day. Traps, fairies, magic and cyclones all that was left to do now was figure out how the break the magic and poof everything would be fine.

(Hey!)

Tetra almost jumped out of her skin, that voice had been close. She looked around but couldn't see anyone nearby.

(Listen!)

Perfect, she thought, now I'm hearing things.

(Link's in trouble!)

"Link's asleep...again, but you wouldn't know it though, he sleeps like the dead," she said answering the voice.

(Not sleeping; unconscious)

"Ha, idiot probably got drunk and fell out of bed, right?"

(No, he is injured.)

"So he hit his head on the way down," Tetra added with a snort as she sat up. "How is this my problem? Did you bring me here?"

(You are very angry, perhaps the magic made a mistake.)

"So you did bring me here! I don't have time for this right now." She looked around in an attempt to locate the source of the sound. "Who are you?"

(Saimon.)

The voice came from a different side this time, "Okay Saimon, you can just send me back, fairy boy can look after himself and why can't I see you?"

(I am trapped by a spell)

"You too?" Tetra closed her eyes and stopped trying to focus on the shifting voice. "Well there's an unlikely coincidence."

(You are Tetra?)

"Who wants to know?" She replied opening one eye.

(Why do you have blood on your face? Are you injured also?)

"Blood on my...?" She touched her face then looked down at her hands. There was blood on one of them, but where did that come from? Tetra looked over at Link's still form and realized that was the hand she had used to… Her anger evaporated and Tetra crawled back over to him and examined his head more closely. She felt his forehead and found it cold and clammy. Not good. Tracing along his scalp she found it. There on his head just above his temple was an inch long wound. "What the hell? How did you manage this?" she muttered as she pulled the red bandanna from around her neck. "Of course nothing bleeds like a head wound."

She went to the pond and wet the cloth. After she yanked off his pack, Tetra propped his head in her lap. When she pressed the cloth firmly over the cut, Link brought up his hand causing their Triforce pieces to resonate loudly. Tetra gasped and pulled her hand back for a moment, she had never gotten used to that for some reason.

(Do not fear the power you possess Princess, It only seeks to enhance the abilities you already have.)

"So I keep being reminded. Any chance I can get you to call me Tetra?"

(Are you not the princess?)

"Never mind... do you at least know what happened to him?" The voice was still bobbing about so she focused on the face of the unconscious man in her lap. She knew every line of that face but it still seemed less without his smile. Now what had brought that into her head?

(Boomerang, I think)

"You don't know?" She asked as she gently resettled Link's head. Checking the cut she grimaced, it was still bleeding.

(I did not see the first blow; I was outside the chamber with Dalkin)

"Dalkin?" She lightly brushed his cheek and hesitated when his mouth twitched to a smile for a moment. For some reason this relieved some of the unease she was feeling.

(My traveling companion.)

"And where is he now?" She wondered about the anger again and as if she called to it, it crashed down her so hard her eyes went wide.

(With Kei.)

She realized she was only half listening now and said, "Okay, stop there. This is starting to get way too complicated." Unconsciously she'd pressed harder on the wound and Link tried to move his head. As soon as she noticed she pushed the anger away and she eased up. Link went still and she looked down at him and wondered at the mixed bag of feelings that always ran through her head whenever he was around, everything from anger to angst. She re-squelched her growing irritation, sighed and said, "What have you gotten yourself mixed up in now?"

(He was looking for you.)

Oh, she thought, now this is my fault too? She looked in the direction she last heard the voice and asked, "Do you know how long?"

(Almost three weeks.)

"And I'm down to three days." She sat quietly for a long time, and wondered if Nagori knows about this place? Probably, that little fairy knew a lot more than she's letting on. She lifted the cloth and grimaced, that cut just doesn't want to stop bleeding. She hoped he hadn't managed to crack that thick skull of his. "Saimon?"

(Yes, Princess?)

"Do you know if Link had any soup in those bottles of his?"

(Yes, his Grandmother gave him some when he left home)

Tetra shifted him off her lap and pulled his pack from the bottom. Link's ability to grab whatever he was looking for from that pack with out looking was not a talent she possessed. Several items including four bottles tumbled out onto the grass as it upended. "More fairies? What's wrong with these little ladies? They look like they're sleeping."

(I think Kei did something to them, that one does not like fairy kind)

Tetra picked up one and held it up in the moonlight. She started to tug on the stopper.

(Wait!)

"What?"

(It would be best if you waited until we knew what is wrong with them. Unknown magic can be lethal)

"Alright." She set the bottle down and picked up the one filled to the brim and pulled out the stopper. She pulled open Link's mouth and dumped some in. He choked a bit at first then swallowed it down. She waited then checked his head. The bleeding had finally stopped but he was still out. She gave him more, a little at a time, until almost half the bottle was down. Finally he opened his eyes and looked up at her, an odd puzzled look on his face.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him. He just stared at her as if she would fade to mist. When she didn't a small smile crept on to his face that turned to a grimace when he sat up still looking a little unsteady.

"Woozy," Link said while he rubbed his head. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Tetra pushed the stopper back into the bottle and set it in his pile, "but you should really be thanking Saimon."

"Saimon?"

"He says he's someone named Dalkin's traveling companion?"

"Al? Geez, my head hurts."

"Still? Usually your Grandma's soup will clear up anything short of dead."

Link glanced down at his hands. He frowned at the blood and got up to wash it off. "Did Saimon say what happened?"

"You got smacked in the head by your own boomerang apparently and this Dalkin guy left with someone named Kei." She looked at him a little worried. "Any of this sounding familiar?"

(He cannot see or hear me it's the spell Dalkin used to bring us here. It was created by Kei this is a side effect of that spell.)

"Well that's not good." Tetra absently watched Link's retreating figure and went red as she realized which part of him she was watching.

(Kei does not like fairy folk)

"Yes I remember." Tetra said and forced her eyes back to the bandanna still in her hands.

"Tetra, who are you talking to?" Link asked as he sat back down near her but not too close she thought relieved.

Hoping her blush was at least a little lessened, she schooled her features and looked over at him and answered, "Saimon, who it seems is a very talkative little fairy," she paused when he looked at questioningly. "Don't ask. It's been a horrifyingly long day. Anyway as long as we're here, I should probably apologize for, well for a lot of things actually." She wasn't looking at him now.

"You don't really need to do that."

"No really, I do." Tetra said and held up a hand to stop him from protesting further. "I can't even seem to control it anymore. It's like the sound of your voice makes me want to kill you."

"This is an apology?"

"Take what you can get fairy boy." Tetra sighed. "You see? It just comes out all wrong. I didn't mean that by the way."

"Yes you did." Link said with a laugh and Tetra almost sighed at the sound of it.

"Fine, maybe I did, but it's more than that...I never thought I would ever purposely try to hurt you. I wish I could explain it better, I mean when did things go so wrong between us? It's not like I didn't put you through enough grief seven years ago." Tetra shook her head in disgust. "Goddesses, Link, I am so sorry for the last six months... "

"Twelve."

"Oh sure, make it better... "

"Tetra... "

(Hey!)

She looked at the Triforce mark on her hand it glowed faintly and she thought, I am so not the right person for this. You'd think the Goddesses would have learned by now.

"Anyway," she said, "I'm am sorry, just don't make me say it again."

Link shrugged and said, "You were never that bad, Tetra."

"Let's face it Link, I was."

He stretched and shrugged, "You may have wounded my pride a bit, but it was never life threatening. You and I both have survived worse."

"So...you're not mad?"

"Well, I was at first but..." he stopped and shut his mouth with a click. Whatever he was going to say, he didn't and said instead, "Let's just say I've been reminded recently of a few of my own shortcomings. Beside I've never been very good at being angry with you for any length of time. Short attention span," he said and pointed at his head. Tetra felt herself smile as Link continued, "and if we're gonna spill our guts on the subject, I never...actually...thought...well, not too hard about what it must have been like for you being stuck in that basement. Waiting around while I was out looking for those Triforce pieces. Only the Goddesses know what was going on in Ganondorf's head when I finally caught up with you both in that tower."

Tetra's smile faded as she drifted back in her memories. "I know and it still gives me nightmares," she whispered and tried to hide the distress she felt because she knew he was watching as she struggled with the memory. There was a look of understanding on his face and she frowned at him.

Link cleared his throat and said, "I probably could have tried to be a little more understanding...I guess. You know what though?" he asked. She looked back at him when he reached over and touched her hand.

"What?"

"I could never have beaten Ganondorf without your help. I was so seriously out matched in that fight."

Tetra shook her head at him and asked, "What the hell is wrong with you Namaki, how can you be so nice?"

Link shrugged and said, "Inbreeding," Tetra stared at him for a second the burst out laughing until he asked, "Did you open your present yet?"

"What present?"

"The box. I think I left on your ship before your birthday."

"But my birthday's not until tomorrow..."

(HEY!)

"HOLD ON A SECOND!" Tetra shouted at the voice. Link raised an eyebrow when she looked at him and she added, "Not you, Saimon wants...something...and what are you laughing at?" Link, she noted, was having a difficult time hiding his amusement at her current situation. "You really can't hear that?" He shook his head and fell over he was laughing so hard. "Nice, this must be the Fairy Queen's revenge for calling you fairy boy."

Link watched with great amusement as Tetra struggled with her new found popularity with the fairy kind. Her consternation had him laughing so hard he fell over which made his still throbbing head hurt all the more. Carefully he righted himself and watched her. She had blood on her face, that worried him but she was paying it no mind and he knew if asked she might just bite off his head. Instead he decided to think about what he'd heard.

So, Al did have a guiding fairy with him. Link already guessed that was why he always seemed to be shooing something out of his face. But, fairies like those hadn't been seen around for just about forever as far as he knew and if he couldn't see or hear the fairy how could Al? One more question to add to the list.

"Okay Saimon, what?" Tetra had her eyes closed and sounded more than a little flustered. She had turned her head, he guessed, in the direction the voice had been coming from.

"He says, I should tell you Dalkin is in trouble." She looked at him hoping he might be able to add something.

He shrugged and asked, "What kind of trouble?"

"We already know that, why is that bad though?" Tetra closed her eyes again. It was obviously hard for her to focus on the sound.

"Can't you see him?" She shook her head. "Ask him what part of Hyrule he's from."

"You just did. Seems he can hear you just fine." Her voice sounded vexed.

"Oh, sorry." He was not sure but this may be the longest they'd managed to have a conversation without shouting at each other for a while. This made him nervous, there was no telling if it could last.

"It's okay, I'm just trying to get used to his voice jumping all over the place." She paused and listened again. Tetra shook her head.

"He just keeps repeating Dalkin is in trouble and Kei is very angry," she sighed. "Whoever this Kei person is, they have this little guy seriously stressed out." She shook her head again. "Saimon you need to slow down, repeat what you just said..." her brow furrowed, "He says Kei and Mei will come together to destroy the shadow or maybe complete the shadow."

"Who's Mei?"

"Dalkin is Mei," she paused. "Or was..."

"Well, what can I do?"

"Break the magic." Surprised, Tetra's eyes popped open and she looked over at him. "That's exactly what Nagori said."

"Who's Nagori?" Link was starting to feel left behind.

Tetra sighed and said, "Oh, didn't I mention her? She's sort of a fairy too."

"Another one?"

"I ran into an old friend of yours on Mother and Child Island." He was surprised she managed to suppress the urge to smack him when he smiled. Instead, she said, "I told you it's been a long day."

"Do you know why you can't see him?"

"He says it has something to do with the spell they used to get here, hold on..." She was listening again. "He says he feels like he's being shaken all the time. Some sort of vibration or resonance, Link he sounds exhausted and like he's in pain. This Kei person created the spell they used and now Saimon is invisible and silent to everyone but Dalkin."

"And you."

"Exactly." She paused again. "He says he's communicating through your ocarina?"

Link smacked his head and immediately wished he hadn't. His headache viciously reminded him it was not quite gone. "I am such a dolt," he said and picked through his things that were still spilled from his pack a few feet away. He pulled out one of his bottled fairies. She looked to be asleep. "Any idea what's wrong with them?" he asked as he set them carefully aside.

"No idea, and Saimon says we shouldn't open them. He thinks its something Kei did before you went into the cavern with the miniblins..." Tetra paused again. "Dalkin got worried when you didn't come back so they went to check on you and found the door sealed."

"I should probably take them back to a fountain," Link said and picked up the ocarina as he remembered the Great Fairy's instructions to slow down those moving too fast to be seen. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the notes as he picked out the tune in his head. When he was sure he had all the notes, Link played it through.

Link heard Tetra's gasp and opened his eyes. There floating a few inches in front of her nose was tiny ball of light that seemed to glow a bright green for a moment then exploded outward and back into a tiny form that dropped to the ground, wings twitching.

"What did you do?"

Link set the ocarina down and looked closer at the tiny figure, "I think I broke his magic."

"What?"

"The vibration. Al must have used an instrument or something of that sort to get them here. I'm pretty damn sure they're both from some other place we've never heard of. I can't actually explain that though just a feeling. Saimon must have gotten caught in the vibrations left behind by the music or maybe just the magic they used."

Tetra carefully scooped the fragile looking fairy off the grass. "Where do you think his glow went? I hope he's alright." Tetra said as she carefully tucked back the fairy's wings. She passed the fairy too him.

"He was probably working so hard at holding himself together that when the vibration stopped, it was quite a shock." He took the little guy and placed him in his shirt pocket. "I think I'm about to get sidetracked again, will you be alright on your own?"

"I've been on my own for years, Link."

He thought she sounded kinda of sad so he said, "Yeah, I know, but you're not alone."

She smiled, "Look out for Jasper."

"Right," he could see her image starting to flicker, "Tetra, where are you by the way?"

"Ou-et."

He nodded and watched as she faded from view. He piled his things into his pack being extra careful not to jostle the sleeping fairies anymore than necessary. There were no fairy fountains on Great Fish that he knew of, but there was one nearby. As he looked up he noticed the moon was now only half full. Saimon must have pulled out all the stops to get him and Tetra here, though he was sure the other fairy Tetra mentioned, Nagori? had had something to do with it.

All and all it was an obvious sign that Al was in serious trouble. Since he didn't seem to be going anywhere he went to the pond and washed the rest of the blood out of his hair. That done he stretched out on the grass; he would just have to wait for Saimon to wake up. Link stared up at the trees. No matter how hard he tried, he would never figure out that woman. Each encounter with the volatile pirate captain left him even more confused than the last. I'm doomed, he thought. When he'd found Tetra's ship in Jabun's cave, he wanted to find her, just so he could say I told you so. Back then, he was still a little angry, so even when his intuition nagged at him, he found ways to ignore it. When she didn't turn up after a few weeks, he started to worry and it irritated him that he felt that way. She had told him to disappear after all.

Still, something wasn't right. Tetra, never apologized for anything, which made him suspect she was holding something back. He tried to shove thoughts of her out of his head, but couldn't shake the feeling she meant to tell him something else. He had no idea what that might be and it left him with an unusual sense of dread. I think I'm the one who needs a holiday.

Hoping to distract himself, Link sat up and gingerly looked into his pocket. Saimon, still asleep, glowed dimly in the moonlight. With usual fairy brightness gone, Link saw what looked to be the tiniest person he would ever come across. The fairy slept with his arm over his eyes, curled up in a tiny ball. Fragile iridescent wings tucked neatly behind him. Link couldn't resist and used a blade of grass to wiggle just under the fairy's nose. Saimon smacked at the grass but didn't wake up. For fun, Link did it again. This time Saimon yawned and looked up. Link smiled and Saimon waved sleepily, smiled back, then closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Link sighed. It was going to be a long night, might as well get some sleep. Link pulled his dirty shirt over his head being careful not to dump the fairy out of his pocket. Arranged the shirt by a nearby tree and pulled out his spare shirt. After he put it on, Link settled down nearby and quickly fell asleep.

Link started awake to the sound of a weird high-pitched squeak and opened his eyes, just in time to see Saimon shoot past him, spinning wildly. Link sat up, but immediately had to duck to keep from being hit in the head by the out of control fairy.

"Hey! Watch it!" he cried as he ducked the fairy again.

"Whooooaaaaahhh!"

Link heard the fairy cry out as he went by him again. Refusing to land, the Saimon righted himself for a moment, only to change course, lose control, and spin helplessly in midair. Link was starting to worry he might hurt himself, when without warning, Saimon spun vertically up into the air. He came down so fast, Link thought he'd hit the ground. Somehow, Saimon managed to pause midair, shoot himself horizontally; straight into Link's chest.

"Yow!" Link cried and watched as Saimon slowly began to fall backwards. Link caught him before he fell too far and held him up in his hand while the fairy recovered. Saimon shook his head and looked as though he was about to take off again.

"I wouldn't try that again if I were you," Link said, "I noticed one of your wings has a tear in it."

"Sequi!"

"Uh oh." Link watched as Saimon took off again, or at least tried to. "I wonder why I can't understand you."

"Ack! Mas mijhas! Mas bondi mijhas!" the fairy said frantically to Link. He quieted abruptly as he seemed to realize his problem. Saimon folded back his wings and looked up at Link as the fairy said in a much calmer tone, "Sequi fe pu fe'anz?"

"Sorry Saimon I didn't catch any of that." Link pondered over the dilemma. With Al's gossip stone missing, he couldn't understand anything Saimon was saying. Then how had Tetra been able to? The ocarina? Link pulled it out and showed it to Saimon. The fairy only shook his head and waved his hands. Something else then? Saimon climbed carefully up his sleeve and sat dejectedly on his shoulder.

"Well I'm not sure how to fix this, but we should probably get back to the cave. I wonder if fairies can read." He pulled out Gonzo's letter and a bit of pencil. Using his pack for a makeshift table he started to very slowly print out the words 'get back to cave' in old Hylian. He had to stop several times and think on the letters, he only hoped he remembered the words right. Saimon perched on his ear and watched with great interest, then started laughing. It was a high pitched, squeaky sound with an irresistible quality that made Link smile.

"Nice. Look you, I only started learning this six months ago. Work with me, okay?"

Saimon giggled a little more then said, "Ese iste junge." And shook his head as he looked over the words Link had written, he twittered again then nodded and said, "Link."

Surprised to hear his name, Link paid closer attention. Saimon said something unfamiliar that sounded like 'guys'. But when the fairy repeated it, he drew out the word, now it sounded like Geis. The fairy pointed to the next word and said "Bacce." When he drew out this word, it sounded a lot like BAKA. The fairy laughed again and skipped the third word going straight to the last and said, "Vettre." This he also drew out. This time it sounded like BETTRA.

"Geis baka bettra?" Link asked.

Saimon nodded.

"This is fun and all, but how is this helping us?"

Saimon made a calculated leap and landed in Link's pocket. He rooted around for a bit then came up with the gossip stone. The way he was struggling, Link could tell it was too heavy for him and pulled it the rest of the way out.

"Geis baka bettra." Saimon said again, drawing out the words as he pointed to the stone.

"You want me to say that into the stone?" Link said also pointing. Saimon nodded vigorously then ducked deeper into the pocket. "Okay... " Link held it closer to his face and repeated the words.

"Geis baka bettra."

There was a low rumble in the distance, a flash of blinding light and the next thing Link knew, he was falling and fast.

"What the..!"

Great Fish was below and coming up fast. Link cursed as he swung one pack strap over his arm, braided cord for the gossip stone clenched in his teeth. He yanked out the Deku leaf and opened it to the wind. It broke his fall, but he was a lot heavier than when he received the magic leaf at twelve. Link noted he was starting to drift out over the ocean.

He let himself drop again until he was closer to the ground and let the leaf open again. He glided over the water and when he was sure he was over an area with no hidden rocks, closed the leaf and dropped feet first into the morning tidewater. He popped up and made his way to shore. Breathing hard with the effort, Link laid down on the sand with a wet sounding plop.

Saimon poked his head out of his pocket, dripping wet and looking very angry. He marched up Link's chest until he was right in his face. "Idge Hylian povo! Jou vonde nos esfolge mui?" Link just smiled as he propped himself up on his elbows and listened to Saimon's tirade with growing amusement.

Tetra woke up and felt more refreshed than she had in weeks. She looked over and saw Senza's tall frame silhouetted in the doorway.

"Miss?" She sat up. "We're there."

"I'll be right up."

He seemed to nod then closed the door.

"Nagori?"

"Happy birthday, Princess."

"Oh no you don't," Tetra said waving a finger at the sea fairy. "You have some explaining to do." Nagori laughed and pulled a blanket over herself. "But, I suppose that will have to wait until we get this baby stashed."

Since she was already dressed, Tetra lit the lamp and picked up the small hand mirror. She was surprised to see she really had blood on her face. That meant her meeting with Link in that damn garden was more than just a dream. She went to the basin and washed it off, Tetra looked back into the mirror and her reflection stared accusingly at her. "Yes, I know, I should have told him. I will. Eventually." Angry at herself she yanked the damp kerchief out of her pocket and rinsed it out.

She noticed too late, there was still some blood on her shirt. She growled at it and headed up on deck. As she looked out over the bay behind Outset, she realized the ship's mast was the main obstacle to getting her ship where she wanted it to be.

"Hey guys!" she said waving her arm. Gonzo looked up from what he was doing and came over followed by Senza and Nudge. "Any suggestions?"

"It looks like we'll have to step down the mast," Gonzo said as he looked it up and down.

"How long would that take?"

"Well its only been done once, that I know of and that was years ago. It was just after I signed on. Nudge was here though." Senza offered.

Tetra looked over at him, "Well?"

"Five hours, or four if we skip a few steps."

"Nagori how much time do you think we have before the 'magic' finds us again?"

"Three hours Princess, maybe less."

"Great, why did you let me sleep so long?" The three men exchanged glances and started to laugh. Tetra smiled. "Alright, alright point taken." She looked up at the mast, then back at the entrance to the cave. Tetra noticed that Nagori sat quietly. No sound, no laughing and no advice to give, maybe this was part of the price she got to pay for letting herself be led around by blind hatred.

She already knew what needed to be done; she just didn't want to do it. Tetra looked back at the cave and dreaded the order she was about to give.

"Gonzo, I want you to sail her as close to the cliff as you can then..." She cleared her throat. "Then cut down the mast." All three gasped in disbelief.

"But Miss Tetra... "

"I don't have time to argue about this." She looked back at the cave. "We need to get out of sight. I'm not entirely sure why, but I trust Nagori, she's been right about everything else."

Gonzo recovered himself enough to say, "I know but -"

Tetra rounded on him and growled, "That's an order so just do it." She walked off without another word and sat quietly near the prow. Only occasionally did she glance back at her crew to make sure they were still working. She listened to the sound of the sea as it splashed against the ship. It was something that always calmed her. As the cliffs of Outset drew closer, Tetra was suddenly filled with doubt. "I wish I could be sure I'm doing the right thing," she whispered.

Nagori, still perched on Tetra's shoulder, used her ear to steady herself and said, "You fear for your family's safety." Nagori said in her calm tiny voice. "What does your heart tell you?"

"That I'm an idiot."

"No, that is your head."

"Really."

"Yes, our Mother told us that you have closed off your heart. She also told me, I must help you find the kindness that once dwelt there. This is the only way to break the spell that holds you."

"Any chance you can give me a hint?"

"The walls of your prison are of your own construction. Unless you find a way to break them down, you will remain trapped."

"Miss Tetra?" Nudge had come over, she didn't look up. "Miss?" Tetra closed her eyes. "Princess?"

That got her attention.

She looked over at him and said, "I'm sorry Nudge, just daydreaming, I guess."

"It's alright Miss, but before we chop down the mast, there's something you should see." She nodded and followed him over to where the others were crowded around something lying on the deck. The crowd of pirates parted and Tetra found herself looking at the large metal band lying there.

"What is that?"

"This..." Nudge said gesturing down, "was covering that." He pointed up.

Her eyes followed his hand up the mast and what she saw made her smile and she hugged him. She climbed up the ladder to inspect what appeared to be a large hinge placed about midway through the mast. There was no point in questioning why it was there, it was. She'd run across stranger things than this in her treasure hunting days. The hinge showed surprisingly little rust and was secured with the sturdiest lock she had ever laid eyes on.

She reached across, hefted the lock in her hand and said to it, "You are a problem." Nagori, still on her shoulder, floated down her arm and looked carefully at the lock.

"Please do not move Princess," the fairy said and plunged two of her tiny hands into the lock, while the other two strained at the hook. Tetra stole another glance at the island, and back at the crew. No one was paying attention to the rudder.

"Oh, for Din's sake," she muttered and shouted down at Senza, "TIDE!"

The big man's attention snapped back to his duties and he grabbed the wheel adjusting their course. Tetra grimaced; her arm felt like it might drop off when the fairy let out a satisfied laugh. There was an audible clack as the tumblers gave way and the pad lock opened.

"Nagori you did it!"

"Yes." The fairy said with a most satisfied grin on her face.

"All right!" she shouted to the pirates on the deck. "Let's get this pole down before we smash it into the rocks!" Tetra looked at the cave entrance and noticed they'd picked up some speed with the tides movement. Though her men were working quickly, she could tell it would not be fast enough and she roared at them, "MOVE IT PEOPLE! SOMEONE GET SOME ROPES UP HERE!" Sailors scattered. "YOU THREE," she said pointing, "CLEAR THIS AREA, I WANT EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY!" Lucky most everything is still below from the journey here, she thought.

Mako and Zuko appeared on deck with some rope, she reached down and grabbed a length of it. She looped an end through the ladder, then climbed higher and secured it nearer the top of the mast. Gauging the length she knew they'd need a little more play, so she had Zuko tie another length on. Mako tied off his rope a few yards below hers and threw his end in the opposite direction. She looked up again; they were almost there.

"Okay everyone, split up and grab the ends!" She glanced down and realized she'd forgotten to remove the lock. "Mako, pop that lock off and hurry!" Mako reached out and tugged at the lock, it didn't want to come free. "Put some muscle into it!"

Mako growled at it as he worked it free and she felt the mast become less stable.

"Everyone ready?"

"AYE!" Gonzo shouted back.

Tetra used the ladder as a brace and gave the mast a little push. The line secured in the other direction pulled tight as the mast began to tip. Pirates on the other side pulled back to stop the mast crashing into the deck. The mast stopped moving and she realized she had forgotten one important thing. The ladder, it was secured to the crows nest, and that was being pulled toward the deck. Muttering to herself, she swung herself back around, yanked out her short sword and started hacking at the wood.

"Keep pulling!" she shouted. The added strain was enough to make the ladder snap sending wood fragments shooting like darts in all directions.

Tetra lost her balance and her hold on the ladder as it broke free. She fell, but managed to catch hold of one of the ropes and swung herself back to the now shortened ladder. The mast wobbled from her actions, but didn't break. She let out a relieved sigh as she watched it lowered to the deck with few problems.

None of the pirates moved, or breathed while Senza and Gonzo struggled with the wheel. Both men strained to keep an even keel and keep the ship from ramming into cliff face. As the ship plunged through the water toward the cave, there was a tense moment when the ship, caught in a swell, scraped the side of the entrance.

Once the ship passed into the cave, she ordered the anchors dropped. The ship lurched to a halt as they caught on the rocks below. As the first rays of sunshine started to come up over the horizon, something made Tetra look behind her toward the cave entrance. There was a murmur of surprise from the crew when they heard the sounds of a very angry octo in the distance. No one cheered or made a sound as the octo screech faded and a dark shadow, followed by a cold wind swept passed the cave entrance and blocked out the morning sun.

Tetra shuddered and closed her eyes. She could feel the vileness sliding off it as it lingered near the cave mouth. She gripped the broken ladder in an effort keep from falling into that blackness as the shadow tried to overtake her. Tetra realized, now it was hunting her and she retreated further within herself. She did not look back; she knew where she was going. She followed the twists and turns of her past heading back to a place she'd hoped she'd never have to return to. But she was determined to keep them safe, whatever the cost to herself. It only seemed to want her, so let it try to find her here. Tetra called to the ocean and just as it had seven years ago, it answered, shielding her from the shadow's senses.

4/6/06 - Yes, yes you're right, ain't true love grand? I figure if I can keep them from killing each other, things might just work out the way I want - maybe...

Anyway - Random translations:

"Sequi!" – "What!"
"Ack! Mas mijhas! Mas bondi mijhas!" "Ack! My wings! My beautiful wings!"
"Sequi fe pu fe'anz?" What do we do now?"
"Geis bacce vettre" – "get over island"
"Idge hylian povo! Jou vonde nos esfolge mui?" "Idiot Hylian boy! You trying to drown me?