The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 41 - Course Set

...as they ran along the docks. The Rito was still standing there, puzzled, as the four jumped down into the boat. Link pulled the ropes free before Lynard shoved them off into open waters. Endeavor seemed to know something about seacraft too, aiding as well. Link was surprised how naturally the skill came to him.

The sail caught the wind. Lynard said as they began to gain speed, "This wind won't take use as fast as we'll need to go to outrun those pirates."

"That reminds me," Endeavor stated, pulling out a slip of paper. "I found this. It is only three notes, but I thought it could be useful for where we are going."

Link took the slip of paper and read over it. He pulled out his ocarina and tried to imitate the notes on the page.

"You learned the Wind's Requiem. Those who can play this song have the power of the winds in their hands."

A thought rose in Link's mind, a call for a direction. Link looked towards their destination. The winds shifted towards the east in response. Lynard shifted his sail into the wind, the ship gaining even more speed. Lynard called, "These winds are much better."

"It is lucky that was on sale. No one needs a wind spell when you have steamships these days," Endeavor went on. "Though, it seems some crafts are more favorable for these waters at present."

Link set his ocarina back in his pack so he could reach it quickly in case they need it again. But at the moment, Link had something else on his mind. He asked, "What did you have in mind if we ran into one of those pirate ships?"

Endeavor replied, "We cannot be that close to one already."

"Think again," Lynard said, quickly turning his ship around and dropping the sail. Cannon fire rung out beside them as the ship turned about. "You better come up with a plan now, or we're going to be sleeping with the Linebreaker before the sun sets."

Yore took off from the side of the ship, diving into the ship's crew. Endeavor growled, "They are idiots. Why would anyone add something so impractical their ship?"

"What is it?" Link asked, fishing out his clawshot.

"It is a plank," Endeavor answered. "And it is rather loosely fastened over the edge. More permanently than I believe the term is meant to be."

Link inquired, "Can I grab on to it?"

"You should," Endeavor replied.

"Sounds good," Link stated about to launch his clawshot. Suddenly, Lynard grabbed his arm. Link turned back towards the man.

"Link, these aren't monsters. They're men and women," Lynard said, a worried look in his eyes. "If you kill them..."

"I won't," Link replied. He gripped the clasp on his clawshot until he felt the claw grip onto the plank Endeavor had mentioned. He rolled as he came over the deck. He switched to his Sage's Rod, sending the Shadow Medallion into the crook of the staff. He swung the staff, and cloud of shadow rushed over the deck.

Link pulled out the Goddess's Reach. Surprisingly, he could still see through the shadow fairly well. He dropped two pirates with a swing of his staff as he heard someone roll over the side of the ship behind him.

Like a true sailor, Lynard targeted the captain of the ship. His cane caught the pirate's sword, before slamming his weapon into the back of the pirate's neck. As Link continued to clear the deck of the ship, Lynard turned the craft hard towards the rocks. With the ship racing towards its doom, Lynard and Link abandoned ship. Pirates jumped overboard, flailing in the water. Flotsam floated through the water. The crew would be fine, if slowed for a good while.

Lynard came up behind Link, wrapping his arm over Link's back. "Quickly, before they find us." The two paddled hard towards Lynard's ship. Endeavor leaned over the side, extending their hand to Link. Lynard refused any help as he pulled himself over the side himself.

As they tumbled into Lynard's craft, soaking wet, Lynard said, "I suppose we know how to handle those ships now. Didn't know I could still move like that."

Zelda said, "That was really impressive."

"You should see the real Royal Navy then," Lynard replied, pulling himself up. He took tiller in hand, turning the small craft about. "I really hope that she's not out right now."

"Who?" Link asked as the ship began to pick up speed again.

"I believe he means the Fire Sage," Endeavor answered.

Lynard navigated the ship through a series of rock pillars. He began to drop the sail. "They're right. The Fire Sage is a pirate after all, and there's nothing keeping her in that temple of hers with this war on. Don't know what happened to her since we last met. Sayyida..."

Link looked around and saw another ship looming ahead of them. He continued to look around and saw even more ships coasting around the area. He asked, "Are we going to take out all those ships?"

"If you want to," Lynard answered. "But we're already close enough to the Linebreaker I don't think we need to."

Zelda looked over the side of the ship. "Really? Where is it?"

Lynard laughed a bit, before walking over between the two. He pointed to a rock. "That's no rock. That's the stern."

Link turned to the rock Lynard was pointing at. It was the tallest rock in the area, and almost twice as long as the pirate ships sailing around them. His jaw dropped a little bit. "That's huge!"

"It should be," Lynard replied. "There aren't many things that can match the Linebeck family line. This was the crowning jewel of the Royal Navy years ago, or it was going to be. Unfortunately, the Linebecks weren't known for making galleons. They were known for making steam ships and steam engines. The ship sunk on her first voyage, but no one dares to bring her up. It's a real thorn in the Linebeck's pride. A sorry circle back around on the family name."

"And someone hid something in there?" Zelda asked, looking at Endeavor.

Endeavor answered, "Not so much hid as it went down with the ship when she sunk all those years ago. Someone figured the ship would sink and made sure it was hidden inside the cargo."

"Why do I get a feeling that that someone was a Drex?" Zelda inquired, looking back at the stern.

The Drex grinned in approach, before saying, "Now, Princess, I believe you need to cast a spell. Link, you may want to change."

Link looked around the small ship for somewhere to hide to do that. "Alright." He began to fish out his Zora's Armor. Keeping behind the mast of the ship, Link quickly pulled the armor on. He heard Zelda chanting behind them, before there were three splashes over the side of the ship. Link looked around as he pulled the last fin on. The ship rocked a bit from the wake, sending Link tumbling over the side. Quickly, he pulled his mask up over his face.

As he sunk beneath the water, Link saw Zelda, Endeavor, and Lynard floating beside him. A bubble encased them, close to their sides like a suit. Zelda started to say something, but the words were lost in the waves. The Princess held up her fingers: three on the left, a circle on the right. They had thirty minutes before the spell wore off. Or so she must have guessed if this was her first time casting the spell.

Now underwater, Link could see the full of the Linebreaker. It was a massive ship, in every sense of the word. Link began to swim towards it. Gashes ran along the ship, and sea life grew all along the sides of the hull. Though, none of the gashes were quite big enough for them to get through.

Lynard swam ahead to the ship's deck. There was a door, slightly ajar. Lynard held it open for a moment, his cane in hand, before he swam through the opening. Endeavor followed shortly after, looking a bit uncomfortable in their bubble. Zelda glanced back at Link, before she swam through herself.

Link looked back at the surface of the water. He saw pirateships looming above them, their cannons leaning out of the side of the ship.Quickly, Link swam into the cover of the sunken vessel...