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the-local-oddity · 5 years

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Pirates, Knights, and Kings

Finally was able to get on desktop and post this! This one is the sad one, sort of based on that Three Adventurers art I made for @captmickey. I hope you enjoy!

The three heroes lay in the grass their faces pointed towards the beautiful blue sky. They lay with the tops of their heads pointed towards each other. Guybrush had hands folded under his head, Link had them folded over his stomach, and Graham was sort of just a starfish, and the only one with his eyes open.

"So… I'm the youngest right?" He asked, seemingly leading to another question.

"I think so, yeah." Link confirmed for him, curious as to where the young knight was headed.

"Okay, so then you two have to promise me something…" Graham tapped his fingers on the ground.

"I'll to hear what it is first." Guy rush made no effort to move, he was comfortable, "I don't agree to anything until I hear the details."

"Smart move."

"It's just, " the young knight folded his arms over his chest, "Can you promise not to die before me?"

"Of course."

"No can do."

Link and Graham both moved to stare at Guybrush in surprise, he had yet to move, as if what he had said wasn't surprising at all.

"Why not?" Graham pressed.

"Because if I promise you that, then I've broken the promise." Guy brush shrugged, he was acting so casual that the other two really couldn't tell if he was messing with them.

"You're going to have to explain that one, Captain." Link reached over and poked his forehead.

They watched as Guybrush started counting off on his fingers, they glanced at each other then looked back at the pirate.

"I've died about… 3 or 4 times." He laid his hand back under his head and crosses his legs casually, "A few years back actually. So, way before you ever had."

"What?"

"So, therefor I've already broken the promise."

"How?"

Link scoffed and nudged Graham, "Don't fall for it, he's trying to mess with us!"

With that Guybrush actually sat up, his coat slipped off. The two watched as he untucked his shirt as well.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Graham pressed.

"You two don't believe me, so I'm proving it to you. Really I could just get my death certificate, but that's all the way on my ship." He paused and thought for a second, "Or does Stan have it…?" He said the last part mostly to himself.

With a shrug, he lifted his shirt off alleging the other two to see a scar along his back, he turned around to face them, a similar scar slashed into his front.

"What happened ...?" Link stared with wide eyes at the scar, it looked to him like entry and exit wound, but he couldn't think from what. There was no way it could've been a sword, that's impossible!

"I've told you both about LeChuck." He didn't elaborate any further.

"But if that killed you, then how can you be here with us?" Graham was puzzled, he hadn't heard of a spell that would bring people back to life, but he supposed it was possible.

"Through some clever voodoo, and some good luck from Elaine." He smiled softly then pulled his shirt back on, "Looks nasty doesn't it?"

"Actually…" Graham shrugged, "It looks really cool…"

Guybrush smirked and let out a bit of a chuckle, "Well, thank you."

"Oh! I got it! Promise me that you won't die forever before I do!" Graham fixed his original question and Guybrush couldn't help but are with him.

"Alright Graham, I promise." He laughed.

-------

He couldn't bring himself to go any further into the castle. He was terrified. His friend was sick, so sick he couldn't even get out of bed anymore. Everyone was saying he still had a few good years left, and Guybrush wanted to believe it.

He started into the courtyard. The current younger of the royal family sat on the courtyard. She was an excitable young girl, and so very hopeful for the future, it was a good skill to have.

She also could appreciate a good story when she heard one. Unlike other people.

She was like Graham.

Guy rush turned away from her and began walking down the hallway, he still couldn't bring himself to face his friend, not with this heavy feeling weighing down on him.

"Ah, I thought I saw Aunt Elaine." The courtyard door had pushed open, Prince- no King Alexander stood in the doorway.

"Well, well, " Guybrush smiled at him, "if it isn't my biggest fan!"

"I'm afraid I'm not your biggest fan anymore." Alexander walked over to Guybrush. Who still couldn't believe how much the boy had grown.

"What? How cruel!" Guybrush said in a jokingly overly dramatic way, "If not you, then who?"

The little princess stepped forward, and her father rested a hand on her head, "Dad has been telling all sorts of stories about the adventures you all went on way back when."

"Is that right?" Guybrush smiled down at her and she smiled back.

"Yeah! I uh, mostly line stories with dragons, but pirate stories are my second favorite!" She rocked on her heels.

"Perhaps I should sit in on one of these stories, " Guybrush tapped his fingers on his cane, "wouldn't want Graham telling you the wrong this, or worse making himself the better puzzle solver!"

When little Gwendolyn gave him a judgemental look, he couldn't help but laugh, "I'm just messing with you! Haha!"

Alexander stepped closer, his voice lowered in a worried tone, he was making sure Gwendolyn couldn't hear them.

"Have you gone up to see him yet?"

"No."

"Uncle Link is already up there, it would mean a lot to him if you were there." Alexander seemed to almost be pleading with the pirate who sighed and nodded.

"Alright, little one, " Guybrush looked back at the princess, "let's go see if we can't get your grandfather to tell us some stories!"

"Alright!" Gwendolyn hurried over to Guybrush and took his free hand excitedly.

"Don't tug on him! Alexander warned.

"I know dad!"

The pair started to walk when Guybrush glanced back and saw the sad look on Alexander's face, his dear couldn't help but be confirmed.

---------

Gwendolyn had been carried off to bed and was now resting peacefully. Leaving the three adventures sitting alone. Link and Graham happily talked back and forth, but Guybrush had gone quiet. It didn't take them long to notice.

"Are you alright there, Captain?" Graham asked with a weary smile.

"How much longer?" The pirate stared at the floor, he couldn't bring himself to look up.

"How much longer until what?" Graham questioned.

"Dammit, how much longer do you have?" Guybrush squeezed his eyes shut.

"I've got plenty of time, trust me." The old king tried to laugh it off, but when he looked at Link it was easy to see that he wanted to ask the same question.

"Don't lie to me, Graham!" He shook his head, "I know when you're lying, you can fool your kids and your grandkids, but you can't fool me!"

Graham went silent, his head turned to look at the magic mirror, he watched dit glisten but received no answers.

He mustered up his courage, "We don't know."

Link covered his mouth quietly.

"The doctor's are doing all they can to slow the process but…." He shrugged, Lord he hated those potions and medicines.

"So… It couldn't be any day at this point?" Guybrush still had his eyes closed, his heart hurt. This hurt. It didn't feel fair.

"That's right…"

The three were all silent. They had no idea what they could say to each other. This horrible silenced seemed to persist for ages until Guybrush's shoulders began to shake.

He shook his head, "I just can't believe it… You, the king who lived in a safe castle most of the time. Dying before the dangerous knight or the fearsome pirate." Tears were streaming down his face, "You really wanted us to keep that promise, huh?"

Graham was able to rest a hand on his head, "Well, I'm not one to give up on a promise."

Link took a deep breath to calm himself down, "We'll stay here, we'll stay with you. Until… Well, you can guess."

"I might stick around even after that, " Guybrush looked up with his tear-filled eyes, "someone's gotta tell that kid stories in your absence."

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

"What would I do without you two?" Graham shook his head with his weary smile.

"You'd have a lot less fun in life." Link smirked.

Guybrush leaned back in his chair a doomed up to the ceiling. The worst part was, he wasn't even sure if pirates and kings went to the same place when they passed on. But he couldn't bring himself.

-----------

"See you on the other side."

They promised each other that.

When they passed away they would find each other again. Guybrush stood in the crossroads, such a familiar sight. Thankfully he had a proper funeral this time, he had the gold coins he needed for the ferryman.

He hated breaking a promise, but he knew there was nowhere he could go in this afterlife that would bring them all three together again. He was even sure that Hylians had their own afterlife.

He watched the water go past as he sailed to the center. He chose to love onto sword fighting, that's where he would stay.

"What's your name again?" The Ferryman asked, then quickly corrected himself before Guybrush could answer, "Your full name."

"Guybrush Ulysses Threepwood."

"I see…"

The scenery changed, they had gone to a different destination. Guybrush didn't recognize it all, and he had gotten fairly familiar with the afterlife.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere special. Just for heroes like you."

Guybrush couldn't help but feel confused, but he really had to put his trust in the skeleton driving the boat.

"This is your stop…"

The pirate stepped off the boat nervously. He limped down the doc, there was no one around. Just where had he been taken. He stood alone in what looked to be a grass field.

"Hey!"

He could see a figure running down the path.

"Hey!"

No, it was two figures!

"Guybrush!"

The old captain's eyes widened in surprise, as two familiar young men wrapped him in a hug.

"We've been waiting for you! Come one!"

Guybrush looked down at them, still blinking in shock.

"Graham?" He finally asked and the king responded with a proud smile, "Link?" The green knight nodded.

"Come on, we've got a lot to show you, and the girls are waiting just over!" Link took one of Guybrush's hands and Graham took the other.

As the trio walked Guybrush started to find it easier and easier the more they went. Soon he didn't feel quite so old at all.

#the three adventurers #king's quest #monkey island #the legend of zelda #guybrush threepwood #graham cracker #loz link #writing #my writing #fic #fanfic #spacey author

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