The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Dungeon Chapter 38 - Ship Graveyard

...and into a pirate waiting on the other side. The pirate started as he spun around and pointed his sword down at them. "What ye be doing 'ere?"

Lynard commented with a short laugh, "I'm surprised she only placed one guard."

Link swept the floor with his staff, knocking the pirate to the ground before he could attack. The other man groaned as he landed on his back, before dropping his head. Endeavor said, "I am not. Sayyida's motives are...interesting. And I am not certain entirely her own."

Zelda asked, "Then why is she helping Zeal?"

"That is why I am not certain about her," Endeavor replied, before stepping over to the edge of the ledge they were on.

Stepping up beside them, Link looked over the edge down at the water below. Like Lynard had said, the water was a shade of pink due to the magma coursing beneath it in opened veins beneath the sand. Huge vessels groaned as they slowly collapsed down into the pool they floated in.

"I guess this is why they keep sinking ships," Link murmured.

Lynard stated, "There's probably a bridge they throw across when this is emptier, but we're going to have to cross before we get that luxury."

The pirate moaned again, saying, "Ye'll never reach the other side. Yer quest ends 'ere."

Link walked back over to the pirate, and saw his clawshot on the man's hip. A quick bop on the head to knock the pirate out, Link said, "I'm starting to get confused about Sayyida's loyalties myself now too." He pressed his staff against the man's chest to be safe as he recollected his clawshot. The pirate didn't quarrel again with them, asleep on the floor.

Aiming out across the wreckage, Link scanned for a path across the shipyard. Zelda asked, "How are we going to get across?"

"We may have to trust on Link getting across to get that bridge over here for a bit, your highness," Lynard commented. He shook some of his joints in response. Link didn't want to test the theory whether any of them were limber enough for the challenge.

Endeavor stated, "He and I will cross together. There is bound to be something over there, besides of whatever Sayyida planned. In which case, someone will need to defend while the other extends the bridge."

Lynard gripped his cane a little tighter as he pointed to the pirate beside them. "What about him?"

"I see nothing else we can do with him," Endeavor answered. "There are enemies outside that door if he tries to run, and there are enemies across here. It is in his best interest to remain here when he wakes up, and not to hinder us any further." There was a murmur from the pirate as he slept, no one bothered to wake him up to explain these thoughts to him.

Link fired his clawshot to the nearest mast. The ship wobbled as he landed, and began sinking quicker. Endeavor landed on the supporting beam beside him, before leaping across to the next one. Mid-leap, Yore would catch Endeavor's wrist, allowing the Drex to swing further in their bounds to reach their goal.

Keese began to swarm above them. Link started for his staff, when he heard arrows whizzing overhead. Zelda's golden arrows sunk themselves into the bat creatures, and Link pressed on to the other side of the room given her incredible cover.

Some of the ships sunk more rapidly than others. It depended on the tilt of the ship, and how exposed the hull was to the water because of their angle. Link got dangerously close to the water several times, pulling himself quickly to safety atop another mast. Or at least, momentary safety.

Finally, he rolled onto the far platform. He muttered, "Why would anyone want to cross that every time they go to their room?"

"Security," Endeavor suggested. "But I suppose we see now where Omar gets his strength from. That exercise was difficult with weaponry and assistance. I would guess that Omar only has his arms to aid him with the crossing."

"Would you hurry up over there?" Lynard called across the gap.

Endeavor looked around until they found a curled up, rope bridge. They stated, "I will extend this. Check the room while I do."

Link returned to his staff. The weapon would be more use in this close quarters space than the long reach of the clawshot. Endeavor tossed the bridge up to Yore, who carried it across to the others to tie down.

It was dimly lit in the room beyond, as to be expected since it wasn't occupied by anyone at the moment. What little sunlight filtered in was illuminating maps and sea charts. Nautical instruments were strewn across the table haphazardly, as if they weren't needed. Beyond that, Link could make out the outline of a cot and a ladder. Endeavor walked into the room shortly after, and looked around. "This is too narrow to hide anything."

"We could go up there," Link offered, pointing to the ladder. Seemed like the only way forward.

Endeavor stated, "We have nothing to lose by doing so, but be on your guard when you reach the top."

Link nodded, before he squeezed over to the other side of the room. He gripped a rung and began to climb upwards. It was a tight squeeze through a close-cut rocky tunnel. It was a wonder that Omar could fit through here. Link hardly could, and he only had half his gear on him, not to mention he was considerably smaller than Omar.

He squeezed himself out of the top of the tunnel, when he was hit by sunlight. His eyes quickly adjusted back to the bright light, wondering how long they had been in the dungeon this time. Two Lizalfos stood guard around a large red and gold chest, though their backs where turned to Link. They stood on a cliff that on closer inspection proved to be manmade. It served as a lookout for those inside the fort, but appeared to only be a bluff on the ragged edges of the stone dome.

There was no railing on the cliff, allowing for a full view around the whole dome. Link was tempted to simply push the monsters over the edge, but he didn't feel like giving the creatures any ideas in the meantime. Still, he didn't have a lot of room, and his staff wasn't nearly as strong as the Master Sword, particularly against these armored foes.

Swinging wide, Link hit one in the head. It had the desired effect, and sent the creature tumbling over the side in surprise. Its companion turned around, and raised its long dagger towards Link. Link dodged the blow as he heard Endeavor climbing up. He twisted his staff around, hitting the Lizalfos in the chest like he had with Omar. The blow sent the beast tumbling back over the edge with its friend.

Endeavor pulled themself up onto the ledge. "You made quick work of them."

"I didn't want to get knocked off," Link replied, walking over to the chest. He pushed over the lid. Light poured out as Link pulled the massive gold key out of the chest. The emblem of the Fire Sage was incrusted on the top of the key, inside a wheel of metal flames.

"Link," Endeavor called. Link looked up from the glittering key in his hand as Endeavor leaned over a perched telescope. "You should look at this."

Link walked over to the spyglass and followed the angle Endeavor had been looking at. Atop the dome, Link saw Sayyida and Zeal, though it looked less like negotiations and more like a brawl. And Zeal was winning by the look of things, even with all the flames Sayyida had summoned around her.

"We have to get down there," Link said, pulling away. He returned to the ladder, checked to make sure no one was on it, before sliding down back to Omar's quarters.

As he landed back in the room, he found Zelda and Lynard waiting for them. Zelda asked, "What's wrong?"

"Zeal is attacking Sayyida," Link stated. "We need to get there before Zeal kills her."

Endeavor bound down the ladder behind Link. "We have precious little time left. Zeal has nearly won, and if she escapes with the Master Sword, I doubt I need to explain the consequences of that."

Lynard stepped away from the door. "Get on ahead of us, Link. It's your sword, can't let them get away with it. We'll be right behind you."

Link nodded, before charging through the doorway...