A brown haired teenager leaned his back against the wall, gazing at the patterns of the wood floor. Observing small details of his surroundings usually calmed his nerves during hard times. This time, however, so many thoughts swam through his mind that it began to overwhelm the boy. His pointed ears perked at the sound of the doorknob, and he quickly turned his head to face the opening door a couple yards next to him. "How is he doing?" the teen asked the man stepping into the room.

The older man pushed his glasses up to look into the taller boy, whose green eyes were filled with concern. "Your grandfather will be unable to move around much in his current state, but he's being very optimistic, and sharp as ever."

"Really, Doc?" the boy's face shined.

"Knowing the tradesman, he can be brave when he needs to be." the man nodded.

The boy's smile suddenly disappeared. "What do you mean 'when he needs to be'? He'll be okay, won't he?"

"That, I cannot be certain, Beck," the doctor shook his head. "Your grandfather's strength is waning; however, I don't believe it to be anything other than natural causes. Let me know how he's doing tomorrow."

The glint in Beck's eyes dimmed. "I understand," he mumbled.

"No matter what happens, I want you to be brave as well. "

"Okay, thank you, sir."

As the doctor left for the train station, the teen stepped into the bedroom. In the bed was his grandfather, the proud Captain Linebeck. "Gramps?"

"C'mon over, kid!" the old man's green eyes had that same glint that the boy knew so well.

Beck smiled softly. Although his voice sounded faint, the elderly man spoke with the same wit he always had.

"Grandpa," Beck said as he walked slowly to Linebeck's side. "You're gonna make it. I know it!"

"We all have to leave sooner or later, my boy," the captain shook his head with a soft smile. "Think of fate as a voyage that we all must eventually embark on."

"G-grandpa," Beck's eyes stung from the tears he was struggling to hold back. "Please. I don't want you to leave yet."

Linebeck lightly whacked Beck's arm with his cane. "That's enough of that! Do you really think I want the image my fourteen year-old apprentice blubbering to be the last scene I witness?"

Beck cringed. For a dying man, Linebeck's swat could still leave a little throb on the teen's arm. "I'm sorry, sir," Beck cradled his arm with his other hand. "I'm just... You're the only family I've ever known."

"Don't apologize," the captain sighed, "I know losing a loved one can be very hard, and grieving is a natural response. But don't be too sad, kid. This old sea dog has lived more than a full life."

Beck opened his mouth but nothing came out for the first three seconds. "But Grandpa… …what will I do without you?"

"Did you really think I'd leave my only survivor with nothing?" Linebeck raised his hand in protest. "You are fully capable of taking care of yourself here, running the trading post. After all," a smirk curled on his wrinkled face. "You were taught by the greatest treasure expert in Hyrule and the Great Sea."

A small grin formed on Beck. His grandpa's self-loving attitude had always been part of what made Linebeck the proud man he was. And behind that treasure-hungry twinkle in the captain's eyes was wisdom learned through many years of life experiences. The trembling young man, overwhelmed by fear and grief, felt a desire to slink away to a dark, timeless void to escape the harsh realities of the world.

"Spirit of Courage," Beck whispered toward the ceiling. "I could really use some help."

"Sparkles?" Linebeck teased. "Oh no!" he folded his arms. "She's just going to drive us both insane!"

Beck chuckled, having a vague idea of what his grandfather was talking about.

"You laugh now, but the retired captain of the guards over in Aboda was the only one that could keep the two of us away from each other's throats."

"Salvage aaaaaaarrrrmm!" In his indoor voice, Beck mimicked the cry heard around the world. "I'm going to miss your stories, gramps."

The tradesman's eyelids grew heavy. "The legacy of the legendary Captain Linebeck will live on," he told his grandson in a weary voice as he drifted off to what could be his last sleep.

Beck sat silently for a minute, monitoring his grandfather's rhythmic breathing. "Please, Gramps," he whispered. "Don't leave me yet."

Beck rolled out of bed the next morning. He slipped into his blue shirt, and observed himself in front of the mirror. The rings under his eyes brought on from his restless night gave the teen an almost uncanny resemblance to a younger Linebeck. Fearing the worst, Beck peeked out the curtain separating his side of the bedroom from his grandfather's. Linebeck lied motionless on his stomach, tangled in the covers, legs sprawled, arms wrapped limp around his drool-drenched pillow. "Grandpa?"

Linebeck, who would normally reply with a groggy mumble, remained silent and motionless. Beck's heart sunk as shuffled slowly toward his grandfather. Was this it? Was this how the teen's childhood would come to an abrupt end? Did he feel ready to meet the demands of young adulthood by himself? How would he handle times where the going would get tough? Would there be enough money to get by after the burial? These questions overwhelmed Beck as the tears streamed down his face. He kneeled down at the side of the bed with his head bowed down, unable to hold back his sobs. "Good night, captain, my captain."

"Pull yourself together, boy!" a familiar voice suddenly barked.

Beck's eyes shot up. Two lively green eyes focused on the stunned teen. There was Linebeck, leaning his upper torso on his arms. "And you didn't even check for a pulse? You still have a lot to learn, Linebeck III!"

"Grandpa," the teen's mouth gapped open, dumbstruck. "Are you…?"

"It's gonna take a lot more than a little bug to strike down the great Captain Linebeck!" The old sea man energetically sat up and swung his legs out of bed.

"You're alive and well?" Beck's eyes widened in disbelief and joy, and his tears of grief turned into tears of happiness. "I knew you'd pull through! I knew it!" he cried jovially as he tackled his grandpa with a hug. "You really are amazing!"

"Well, if you want me to be honest with you, Beck," Linebeck scratched the back of his head. "I was never really dying… I was… kind of… messing around."

Beck gave his grandpa a cold glare. "That wasn't very funny."

"I'm just preparing you for the inevitable," the captain stated matter-of-factly.

"And the doctor," Beck inquired. "Was he in on your little sick joke as well?"

"The doc and I have been well acquainted since the day we first settled in Hyrule."

Beck stared irritably, thinking about suggesting other ways for his grandpa to prepare him for adult life. His glare softened as he convinced himself that the more conventional means he had in mind were just not Linebeck's style. "What am I going to do with you, Gramps?" he shook his head bemusingly.

Linebeck grinned sheepishly like a misbehaved child's unsuccessful attempt to look innocent.

"Wow, you really haven't changed much, have you, Linebeck?" a high feminine voice echoed through the room.

"I don't need any of your sass, Sparkles!" Linebeck shot his finger toward the ceiling.

Beck, who also heard the voice, gawked at the ceiling. "You never told me Ceila could communicate across different realms."

"I never knew she could till just now," Linebeck murmured, still staring at the ceiling. The tradesman and his apprentice looked at each other, both, without saying a word, agreeing to never speak of this morning again.