The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 42 - Pirate Ships

...and back onto the deck of Lynard's ship where it waited for them. Endeavor gasped for air, coughing as they started to sit up, pushing themself up on the deck to get the water out of their lungs. Zelda was laying out on the deck, catching her breath as well. Link pulled his mask down and took in a deep breath of fresh air. It was salty, but it was clean air.

Lynard leaned back on the tiller, almost nearly recovered already. He asked, "What did you find down there worth drowning for?"

Link untucked the handcannon from his chest. He handed it to Lynard. The man held it for a moment, looking over the object. "This isn't a key."

Sitting up, Endeavor answered, "That depends on how you look at it. That device has the strength of a dragon. If they do not let us in the front door, well." They motioned to the small device.

"That is a powerful device," Lynard replied, handing it back to Link.

"It seems more useful on a ship than on land," Zelda said. "Wouldn't it be better to leave it here?"

Lynard stated, "I suppose you're right, Highness, but I don't really want those pirates to see it yet. I'm not sure if they know about how powerful it is, and also having a cannon on the side of the ship makes us look more hostile already."

Endeavor replied, "They are already trying to shoot us out of the water. I am not sure if having it hidden will help us anymore than having it visible."

The man sighed, before pulling the sail back up. "Well, keep it out if you feel like it, I guess. But don't hit any of the sailors. Aim for the mast and the hull." He took the tiller again, and eased the ship out from the rocks where they were hiding. One of the pirate ships loomed on their horizon. Lynard eased towards it. "Do you want to engage?"

Endeavor reasoned, "If we engage, then we state our intent. If we do not, they are bound to continue to chase after us."

"How far are we from the temple?" Link asked, turning towards the huge dome that encased the Fire Temple. Dozens of pirate ships cruised the waters between here and there. "And how many of those are we going to meet on the way there?"

Lynard said, "If we take out this one, and keep going around the edge of the building." He pointed around the edge of the fort. "I could skirt a couple of those. Of course, I can only guess what kind of guards are sailing around the edge of the fort."

Zelda inquired, "Why do they had so many ships?"

"Steamships are taking over the fleets of Hyrule," Lynard answered. "Ships like those and mine can be bought cheap, or stolen without much concern. If you want a simple answer, I'd tell you that it's because of innovation."

The ship came up beside them. Link could hear laughter from the ship's deck. The cannons craned out from the sides of the ship, pointing down at Lynard's boat.

Lynard started to turn the ship. Link stood on the edge of the ship, pointing his small cannon up at the mast. "Look at his wee cannon, lads. What's he mean to do with that?" The laughter increased, of course, but Link just continued to aim. The sound the cannon made was enormous, but the shock of it was what sent Link back over the edge of the boat when he wasn't prepared to brace for it.

What followed was a snap more powerful than thunder as the mast went tumbling back. The wood creaked and groaned under the strain. Link bobbed back up to the surface in time to see the pillar of wood fall into the ocean. He threw the Port Key back over the edge of the ship, and pulled himself back up. The pirates quickly changed from humored to stunned to enraged. The cannons wheeled back around, and began to hiss before the booming of cannons rang out.

Link braced himself as he fired a second shot at the ship's hull. A gap opened in the side, before a cracked splintered up the side of the ship. Water gushed in by the gallon. Lynard quickly pulled his sail back up, and hurried them out of the way of the wreckage as pirates flung themselves to relative safety in the water to grab for debris to float on.

"That has quite the knockback," Lynard noted.

Endeavor said, "I would change back, if I were you. That may be useful armor for deep sea adventures, but it does not fare well with heat and fire."

Link handed the cannon to Zelda, before he pulled off the helmet of his armor off. Other than his boots and the helm, he had left his green tunic on beneath, considering their restricted space. He quickly pulled off the blue armor, and put his green cap back on.

Zelda fired off the cannon while she waited on him. Link looked up and saw the pirate's ship tumbled over on its side as it began to sink. Zelda's shot had cut through the ship at a brilliant diagonal, cutting in from the hull and up through the mast. It was marvelous shot. Link looked over at Zelda as she lowered the cannon. Lynard said, "You might want to hang on to that for us, Highness."

"Gladly," Zelda said, brushing off her dress. "Good to be of some use."

Lynard navigated them through the waters. The tall rocks began to ease off, and Link looked out at the great open expanse that was beyond Hylia Bay. Lynard said, "There aren't many ventures out that way anymore, but I suppose there will be soon. Last I heard, the Crown wants to sail out, find what's beyond our borders again."

Zelda added, "He's right. My father wanted to build a ship that would sail out and find new kingdoms beyond our own, or reconnect with the ones we once knew. Hyrule has been safe in fact that we have high natural walls surrounding us, keeping us safe, keeping us hidden, but we can't stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, we'll need to venture out too. Though, I suppose there would be better times for adventures beyond our country than now."

Endeavor murmured, "Beyond the waters of Hyrule, lies a hidden island to take to stranger tides, and sail beyond the veil, though dead men tell no tales. So the pirate story goes."

"What are you talking about?" Zelda asked.

"The lost islands," Lynard answered. "When one of the Heroes and Princesses came here, sailing from the old Hyrule, they passed through a series of islands. People have ventured to find them again, but no one has returned. Some think that the oceans took all the islands, but others say that some still remain."

"Perhaps you could come back another day and find out," Endeavor suggested, before pointing ahead of them at their current task. "But for now, mind the fort."

Lynard returned, turning the ship hard as they came upon the side of Fort Hylia. The huge massive of stone loomed above them. Link ducked as they passed by. He looked up at the massive dome. Endeavor commented, "To imagine, a volcano out here."

"A volcano!" Link exclaimed, in wonder. Another one? With Death Mountain so close by.

"Not anymore," Endeavor answered. "A volcano erupted here, years ago. This pocket formed. Years have eroded the top away. This structure is hollow now, and a fine shelter against most of the elements for a fortress like ours here. Though, you must be careful with a fortress like this. They did not build this wall, and if they take too much away, it cannot be rebuilt easily on the ocean."

Link inquired, "How do they get in?"

"There was a door," Lynard answered. He turned them against the wind and cruised into the reaches of the stone. "It seems she's tried to hide it. But these eyes don't forget. There it is." He pointed to a crack on the wall. "Aim there, Highness."

Zelda turned the cannon towards the wall. She fired at the gap in the wall. The wall shattered, a wave moving their ship back a space. The frame of a door could be made out. Lynard dropped his sail. "Prepare yourself. Hide that, Highness. I doubt coming in with that out would do us any good. Besides, cannons are meant for ships."

The princess handed Link his cannon back. He quickly stowedthe item as they sailed through the gap...