Chapter 29
Bolero of Fire
The world exploded in a paroxysm of fire, consuming everything as pain became Link's only reality. One moment, there was an explosion like the mightiest of all thunderclaps, and in the next instant, it was replaced by unbearable pain and a ringing silence. Link crashed into solid earth, debris raining down around him. He managed to roll, though he couldn't say how, protecting his face from the debris that rained down around him.
There was a moment of utter darkness as consciousness failed him.
It would have been kinder if fate had left him there, but it was not content to let him be. Instead, Link opened his eyes, rolling onto his right side and then his back, to behold a world choked by ash and dust. It covered him, but he barely noticed this, unable to process anything beyond the pain that now screamed through his entire body. Rolling onto his back was almost enough to send him back into oblivion.
Fainting would have been a welcome kindness.
Each breath was like inhaling thousands of tiny blades. His head throbbed, and his entire body was ablaze with pain. Attempting to move his left arm sent a spike of white-hot pain down his limb. But more than that, his head was spinning.
What happened? Navi...?
Trying to push himself up and failing miserably, Link lay on his back, vaguely aware of Navi as she darted above his head, the ash so thick he could barely see her. She was unharmed, but his relief was short-lived as he realised she was talking to him, her face panic-stricken.
Trying to raise his head enough to check his injuries, he realised he was bleeding from dozens of cuts.
Elisia... he thought, but he was in no condition to move. They had to find her.
Navi was still bobbing up and down frantically in front of him. She could have screamed, "Hey, listen!" and Link still would have been none the wiser.
Link mouthed the Great Fairy's name, and Navi understood, for she stopped her frantic buzzing, paused for an instant, expression pained, and then darted off, disappearing into the cloud of dust.
Hopefully, the Great Fairy was home.
Link tried to sit up again, but another spasm of pain in his left arm stalled his efforts. He looked down to see blood running thick along its length. Sucking in a breath and dreading what he'd see, Link rolled up the sleeve of his tunic to inspect the injury. There was something white protruding from the wound. Upon closer examination, Link realised what it was. Bone.
His recent proclamation to Malon that he could handle a few broken bones could not have been more wrong.
This time, fate offered him a moment's reprieve, and darkness claimed him.
~ 0 ~
A low hum vibrated through his mind, drawing him back from the depths of sleep. It faded, then returned, as Link noticed a faint crackling, the air dry and warm. The surface beneath his body was rough and uncomfortable, while his body felt stiffer than a rag left to dry in the sun. Even the thought of opening his eyes seemed too much, his body drained of energy and moisture. Forcing his eyes open, Link beheld a smooth stone ceiling lit by the flickering glow of firelight. He could only stare in confusion, his head protesting with a dull throb as he tried to think.
Where am I?
Link turned his head to observe a wall with a tapestry draped across it featuring Gorons standing in a warrior's pose. His muscles groaned in protest, refusing to let him do more than tilt his head slightly to one side, but the tapestry and the rough stone beneath him told him what he needed to know.
I'm in Goron City.
Link's confusion grew as he tried to piece together the last thing that had happened. He'd been climbing the trail on Death Mountain, but then...
Fire. An explosion louder than the mightiest thunderclap. Pain.
Then nothing.
"Ah, at long last..." a man's smooth and unruffled voice drew Link's attention to the fireplace on the other side of the room, where he beheld the crimson-haired speaker dressed in a flowing blue robe. "We meet again, Hero of Time, though I must say, you look a sight better than you did when last we met."
Link sat bolt upright, or at least he attempted to, his body protesting with all the frailty of an old man. He groaned, but despite his weariness, he focused on the man standing beside the fire.
"Fear not," the man said with an unnerving chuckle. "I mean you no harm."
"Who-" His voice cut off as Navi flew from her perch by the fire to buzz around his head.
"Thank Farore," she exclaimed, relief plain on her features.
"Navi, what..." Link's voice was a dry rasp.
"It's alright," she said, sounding oddly hollow despite her reassurance. "We're in Goron City. This is Halvard..." She introduced the man beside the fireplace. "He was the mask merchant in Castletown, remember?"
"Goron..." Link barely took in a word of Navi's introduction, his stomach lurching as he recalled what happened. "How?"
An image flashed through his mind.
Darunia charging Volvagia. Thunder.
Or had that been the explosion? His mind still refused to piece together everything that had happened.
Halvard stepped over to a stone bench, grabbed a goblet of water, and offered it to Link.
"It's water. I added a small amount of healing potion, but you need to eat before I offer you anything stronger," the man said, noticing Link's brief hesitation before he accepted the cup.
"Darunia? What happened?" Link asked after taking a mouthful of water, grimacing and suppressing a shudder as he tasted the bitter potion within. Giving Halvard back the cup, Link was about to repeat the question when a noise announced two Gorons who entered the room, their expressions grim, their footsteps sending small tremors through the earth.
"Brother," Jemite rumbled, his voice sounding sombre. "It is good you are awake." Jemite introduced the Goron next to him, Boran, and then, noticing the solemn look the youth gave him, he guessed Link's question. He did not meet Link's eyes as he answered, "There's been no word since Darunia collapsed the entrance. We hoped to find him, but the dragon..." Jemite trailed off, his sentence unfinished.
Link's stomach plummeted into an icy void. "Tell me there's a chance he is still alive."
"We cannot know for sure," the second Goron, Boran, answered. "I am sorry, brother."
Link nearly sagged back into the stone, feeling a cold numbness creeping into his gut. It didn't seem possible. Darunia had defied Ganondorf for seven years and kept his people alive, only to fall now? He closed his eyes, felt Navi hovering close, and then breathed.
Would Darunia become another name engraved upon his soul? Someone else he'd failed, unable to reach them in time.
"I'm sorry," Navi said, sounding pained. "Link, you know-"
"It's not my fault," Link said, his voice hard. It was plain to all that he didn't believe this, and he didn't want to hear their attempts to console him.
Another name, he thought again.
"Has..." he choked on the words and then cleared his throat, trying again. "Has anyone looked for him?"
Jemite shook his head. "It is too dangerous. If Volvagia somehow lives, and we must assume he does, it would be impossible to find Darunia."
Link sighed, returning his attention to the Mask Salesman, who had been busily watching this exchange. His ever-present grin appeared to have slackened, but not by much.
"What exactly are you doing here?" Link asked.
"Helping," Halvard answered, placing the fire poker back on the rack. "And I see you have recovered splendidly, thanks to my efforts."
"Recovered?" Link asked. "What exactly happened?"
"Darunia tricked Volvagia into setting off a chest full of Goron bombs," Navi explained. "I was knocked clear of the blast, but you weren't so lucky. I was going to head to Elisia's spring, but then he showed up..." she gestured to the Mask Salesman.
"Showed up?" Link asked, frowning, his head feeling clearer now the healing potion was working. "You were following us?"
"Indeed," the mask merchant answered, and seeing the suspicion growing on Link's face, he added. "Yes, a remarkable coincidence, but I can explain in good time... but first, I must see to your meal." Seeing Link's suspicion, the man shook his head, chuckling. "In good time, you have my word. If you will excuse me, the Gorons are Hyrule's finest craftsmen, but dear me, they are terrible cooks... no offence, no offence," he waved a hand at the two Gorons, but neither seemed annoyed.
Halvard turned and left the room, with Link staring after him, unable to hide his unnerving suspicion.
How did he find me? Link wondered. Was he an agent of Ganondorf, pretending to aid him? Link quickly dismissed the thought, deciding it unlikely given that Halvard had healed him.
"I am sorry," Jemite continued heavily, "I know you were Darunia's sworn brother. We all bear this grief for him."
"What of Darunia's son?" Link asked, to which both the Gorons looked at each other uncomfortably.
"He is not in the city, and we haven't sent word to his kin," Boran answered hesitantly. "We wanted to be certain, and until we enter the temple, we won't be."
Pain pulsed deep inside Link's gut as he thought of Darunia's son. He didn't know the Goron, but having failed to save the Great Deku Tree, it was a pain he knew all too well.
"If I'd known about the plan to destroy the temple entrance," Jemite continued, exchanging an uneasy glance with Boran, his voice becoming even more hesitant than before. "I would have told you to go a different way."
The letter said to use the tunnels, Link thought.
Now he knew why.
"What?" Link didn't understand. Surely, Darunia would have made sure his brethren knew to pass on a warning.
"He did," Jemite answered, an angry glint flickering in his eyes, his jaw tightening. "Onyx was to tell you."
"Onyx?" Link repeated, his gut twisting in a nauseating sensation that made him feel worse. "But..." even before he asked, he guessed what was to come. "Why?"
Jemite exchanged another uneasy look with Boran, sighing and shuffling nervously. "I questioned Onyx after Halvard brought you to our city." The Goron's voice became a growl, his anger more evident. "He admitted to withholding that information."
Link's blood froze, his mind whirled at the idea, while Navi squeaked in alarm.
"You mean Onyx tried to kill us?" she asked "Why?"
"I never did anything to him," Link added, his voice a feeble croak as the room seemed to spin for an instant.
"You did not," Jemite agreed solemnly. "He blamed you for the death of Jasper seven years ago. They were kinsmen."
Link stared in numb horror.
"I'm sorry," said Jemite quickly. "I assure you, he will be punished."
"Jasper's death wasn't my fault," Link said, a weight settling over his chest like an enormous boulder pressing down on him.
"We know," Boran said, trying to sound gentle. "Ganondorf was the one who set the trap that killed him. Your bravery in that tunnel prevented any more Gorons from being killed that day."
"Do you realise that Onyx almost doomed Hyrule?" Navi asked sharply, "Out of an act of vengeance?"
"They don't need to hear it, Navi," Link told her wearily. He didn't want to be reminded of his burden, not when he still felt like a child, woefully unprepared for the duty he must fulfil. Just a boy playing a game of knights and demons, only to realise his childish fantasy had abruptly become his reality.
"I only meant to-" Navi began in protest, but Link shook his head.
"Don't-" Link held her gaze, and she resigned with a sigh.
A single life was incredibly fragile and so easily lost. Link was beginning to understand the enormity of it all. Time's Wheel wove the lives of others around him like threads in a pattern. A pattern that was unravelling with terrifying speed.
The Goddesses are mad.
Either that or wearied by the constant battle between deities, they had consumed their own version of Goron Ale and drunkenly agreed on how to form their world.
Just then, Halvard returned, carrying a bowl of steaming stew and offering it to Link. Link's stomach churned at the sight, but his hunger overruled his reluctance.
"Dodongo stew," Jemite announced with a hint of pride. "We may be rock-eaters, but we care for those who pass through our city."
"I'm sure it's delicious," Link said, forcing down a spoonful. To his horror, it tasted like burnt leather and was equally tough.
"Mmm... this is good," he choked out between gasps. To let the Gorons play the part of a good host, he did not voice any complaint, not that he could have in the middle of coughing.
"Is it not to your liking, brother?" Jemite asked, his face creasing with concern. Link couldn't bring himself to be rude.
"It's delicious," Link gasped, washing down the leathery lump with water, the lingering taste of the potion nearly making him gag. Halvard watched him with a curious glint in his eye. Then, Link noticed Halvard's Sheikah tattoo on his wrist. It vanished beneath the man's long robe a moment later.
"You're a Sheikah?" Link asked, surprised. "Is that how you found me?"
"I am," Halvard confirmed, his usual pleasant smile now replaced by a strange, melancholic expression. "But I prefer not to think of myself as one. I parted ways with my kin long ago."
"How does that work?" Link asked. The more he learned about this mysterious man, the more questions he had.
Halvard paused as if choosing his words carefully. "I sought after a simple life. To leave behind the wars and the shadows that have plagued my people." He sighed. "Despite this, my ties could not be completely severed. Impa informed me of your existence, young hero... you have seen her, I take it?"
"I have," Link answered without thinking.
The "you idiot" look from Navi was more than Link needed to realise he'd gone too far.
It was too late to worry now, and Link reasoned that the man was in no hurry to be punched in the face by an angry Goron, should it turn out he wasn't on their side, so he drew in a breath and continued, "I snuck into Hyrule Castle once. She threw me out."
It wasn't exactly true. She'd escorted him out the gate after his rather botched attempt to sneak in.
"And you don't know where she is now?" Halvard asked.
"No," Link lied. "I don't think she's one to stay in the same place for long."
Link swallowed at the intensity of Halvard's gaze. The man seemed to weigh the truth of his words, and then the fire left his eyes. "But you've had word from her, yes?"
Link nodded, and Halvard turned to stare into the fire, looking thoughtful.
"Impa and I have rarely seen eye to eye. There was a mask that, in the right hands, could have defeated Ganondorf," the mask merchant continued. "I wanted to control it despite my previous failures to do so. She thought it was too dangerous. Extreme even. She ordered it destroyed."
"Err... what mask?" Navi asked, clearly baffled.
Halvard stared vacantly at the fire, not meeting their eyes. "It does not matter." His tone left little doubt that he would say no more on the subject.
"How did you even find me?" Link asked after a brief silence.
"I saw you arrive in Kakariko Village. It's not every day someone walks into town bearing the mark of the Goddesses on their hand. I knew it was not a fake from the moment I saw it. Not to mention, your efforts to steer the Blin away from the refugees didn't go unnoticed. I followed you and only just arrived at the Goron City in time to hear the explosion," said Halvard.
"That still doesn't explain why you were following me," Link pointed out.
Halvard's voice was almost mysterious as he answered, "The Gerudo are looking for you, and they seem almost as determined to find you as they do Hyrule's dear Princess Zelda. I came after you because I needed to warn you, and as you are Impa's eyes and ears, it's within my interest to help you."
"What warning?" Link asked curiously.
"Impa has informed me of your task," Halvard explained. "It pains me to say it, but you are running out of time."
"Why?" Link felt a surge of panic, his chest tightening.
"Ganondorf has learned of an artifact beneath the ruins of the Temple of Time. It's known as the Gate of Time," the man revealed. "They say it was once part of a vast network of vaults containing ancient knowledge and treasures."
"A gate?" Link echoed, unsure where this was going. "And what is that, exactly?"
"A portal, if you prefer," Halvard clarified. "And if Ganondorf learns to control it, he could travel back in time, ensuring his victory. Worse still, he intends to send his armies even further back to the moment of Hyrule's creation. He seeks to slay the Goddesses themselves."
"Is that even possible?" Link asked, the immensity of the threat almost too much to comprehend. "If it's just a portal, how could he go back to a time before it was even made?"
Halvard's brow furrowed. "An intriguing question, young hero. I fear we must assume he will find a way around that dilemma. But regardless, we cannot delay. You must gather the rest of the Sages before Ganondorf opens the Gate."
"How long do we have?" Link asked, barely keeping his fear at bay. He pushed away his half-eaten stew, his appetite entirely gone.
"That I cannot say," Halvard admitted, his expression grim. "But it requires several keys to function, one of which is your Ocarina. My research has yet to reveal the identity of the others or whether Ganondorf has any in his possession."
Link's head was spinning with Halvard's revelation, the man's words threatening to crush what remained of his battered resolve. He had to find the rest of the Sages, prevent Ganondorf from gaining ultimate power, and do it all knowing that time was running out. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, battling the surge of determination rising within him.
"Then we need to hurry," Link said, forcing a steadiness into his voice as he pushed himself up. "I need to get to the Fire Temple and then return to Impa."
"We can help you get there," Jemite offered, his voice resolute. "The Goron Elders have granted me permission."
"How do we get there?" Link asked, already expecting a dangerous journey. Volvagia would not be the only danger within.
"Beyond the furthest reaches of our city, there is a sealed tunnel," Jemite explained. "It will only open for the one who plays the Bolero of Fire."
"The what?" Link asked, the unfamiliar name adding yet another layer to his overwhelming task.
Halvard gave him a small smile. "It's a simple melody, one I can teach you."
"I can always remind him," Navi chirped, flitting around Link's head.
"That would be wise," Halvard agreed, "Now, I must be going soon. The Gerudo have been searching for me, and while I have thus far evaded them, it is time I returned to the village before my absence is noted."
Link couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Why are they watching you?" The question slipped out before he could stop it. The mask merchant seemed to have a strange way of staying under Ganondorf's radar, which struck Link as incredibly odd. He wondered, not for the first time, if the man was working for Ganondorf, but then he dismissed it as paranoia.
Halvard seemed to sense Link's unspoken suspicion, a flash of something akin to amusement crossed his face. "You look troubled, young hero. I can offer you more healing potion?"
Link shook his head. "No, it's nothing."
"Very well then... you should finish your stew if you plan to drink any more potion without fainting, which I would advise against, but before you do, I have one more matter to speak of." Halvard's smile faded, his grim expression doing nothing to ease the tension in Link's nerves. "There have been... disturbances... at the Shadow Temple. I have not witnessed them myself, but I have kept watch over the seal."
"The Shadow Temple?" Link knew of the temple; Navi had spoken of it hesitantly, and most who lived in Hyrule considered it a cursed place.
"Yes," Halvard's voice held an unfamiliar, almost ominous, edge. "There are unspeakable things locked away in that temple, evils that must never be allowed to escape."
Navi let out a soft gasp, her usual brightness dimmed by a tremor of fear.
"What things?" Link pressed as a sense of foreboding settled over him. He glanced at Navi, who looked as alarmed as he felt. He got the vague feeling she knew more about the place than she let on, but it wasn't surprising.
Halvard shook his head. "All you need to know for now is that if that seal is broken, it would spell disaster for all of Hyrule. Perhaps worse."
Navi was giving Halvard a very distrustful look as Link finished his stew. He barely tasted it now and had to force himself to eat. He'd need his strength soon enough.
Once he finished, Halvard retrieved a simple wooden flute from his robe and played a short, lively melody that could have been the introduction of a dance. The Bolero of Fire.
"Remember it well," Halvard said, lowering his instrument.
"We won't forget," Navi assured him.
"Good," Halvard said, his usual smile returning for an instant. His gaze lingered on the instrument in Link's instrument. "Look after that instrument. If Ganondorf gets hold of it, all may be lost. Now..." he straightened as much as his slight ailment would allow. "I really must depart. Good luck, Hero of Time."
With a courteous bow, the enigmatic mask merchant turned and vanished into the corridor.
"Well," Jemite clapped Link lightly on the shoulder, his jovial voice barely masking the underlying tension. "Are you ready to leave?"
"Just a moment." With that, Link gathered his sword and shield, donning the rest of his gear and checking everything was secure.
Then, with a last glance about the room, he turned to find Navi already waiting by the door.
"I'm ready," he said, forcing away a flicker of doubt. Then, with a last glance at the empty room, he followed Jemite into the corridor.
Once a hive of activity, with grumbling Gorons and ringing anvils, the city of the mountain dwellers was gripped in solemn silence, broken only by the heavy footfalls of Link's two guides. Doors stood bolted shut, and aside from the guards, the streets were empty. Even the guards stared ahead with grim faces, paying no attention to the newcomers beyond a quick glance.
A wide open chamber revealed a market, signs beckoning customers to stalls now stripped bare save for empty crates and barrels. Not a soul stirred.
"Where is everyone?" Link asked, his voice sounding unnaturally loud.
"Hiding in their homes. Some weren't dragged off to the mines after Darunia's failed rebellion. Ganondorf took some of our own into the temple..." Boran trailed off before he glanced around at the empty market. "Those still here cower like hatchlings."
"Where in the temple have they taken the captives?" Link asked. An image flashed in his mind - Saria held captive in the depths of the Forest Temple, and he shuddered, reassuring himself it wouldn't be like that.
Boran gestured towards a massive archway hewn into the rock face on one side of the chamber. "Through there. To the mines and the oldest parts of the temple." Boran spat on the ground, disgust twisting his features.
Sensing something more was bothering the Goron than he was letting on, Link glanced a question at Jemite.
"Some of the elders think Darunia a fool for rebelling in the first place," Jemite rumbled in answer, his voice subdued. "They say he placed too much faith in outsiders... err... meaning no offence."
"None taken," Link said.
"If we can slay Volvagia, perhaps they will think differently," Jemite continued with a hint of optimism, his voice growing stronger. "They will sing songs of your deeds when you do."
Link gritted his teeth, not enjoying the idea of yet more titles, while Boran just made a disgruntled noise. He continued on, the others following beside him.
The tunnels twisted further downward, the air shimmering with heat as warm air rippled through the lowest portions of the city. There appeared to be chimney shafts in these lowest reaches, smeared in some luminescent residue, and from far above, Link could hear the subtle sound of clicking and buzzing.
"Insects," Navi explained. "They feed off small creatures that live on the minerals in the rock and help push the hot air through these shafts. I suspect it's usually much louder."
Jemite seemed impressed by her knowledge, while Boran remained quiet and apparently sour. Saria would have found the concept fascinating. Perhaps, once this was all through, he would get a chance to tell her.
The oldest parts of the city seemed to be in a state of disrepair, the murals smeared with ash or faded. Those that stood out depicted Gorons locked in combat, their stone faces grim. Others showed scenes of celebration, feasts and wrestling matches.
Of course, Link thought wryly. They did like their wrestling, it seemed.
"These were carved by ancestors long forgotten," Jemite said, his voice tinged with reverence.
Soon, they passed an enormous arch that offered a view into a vast chamber, where forges stood cold and dark, their fiery hearts extinguished. Tools lay abandoned, anvils lay bare of any tools, and something else was smeared, dark and crimson upon the arch.
Blood? Link realised, feeling sick.
"Lizalfos guards," Boran growled. "They didn't last long once the smiths turned on them."
Link suppressed a shiver. He'd only ever seen Lizalfos once when they had prowled the burning metropolis of Castletown.
"Are there more?" Link asked, unable to quite hide his apprehension.
"They are, but they have confined themselves to the mines and the temple," Jemite answered. "They will stay there until Ganondorf attempts to retake the forges."
Jemite continued to take the lead, taking forges and deeper beneath the mountain. Ahead, an enormous stone door loomed before them, its dragon motif twisting and writhing in the torchlight.
"Beyond here lies the temple," Jemite said quietly, as if afraid to disturb the spirits of the dead. "And beyond that... Volvagia."
"This is the door your friend mentioned," Jemite said. "We had to block off all the other entrances until we could find a way to rescue the others."
"No doubt the Elders are still grumbling about the problem now," Boran said with an exasperated shake of his head. "They'll probably still be grumbling when we get back. By then, we should have Volvagia's head."
Link grimaced, and even Jemite looked appalled.
"Charming," Navi muttered dryly. Trying not to dwell on Boran's words, Link played the Bolero of Fire. With the sound of stone being scraped upon stone, the door slid open and vanished into a recess within the floor.
The blast of heat that hit Link made him think he'd just walked headfirst into a furnace.
"Well," he breathed. "Here goes."
The hot air swallowed him as he reached the end of the short passage and beheld a wondrous sight. Before them, a vast cavern stretched high above. The air crackled with intense heat, and the floor shimmered where magma flowed in intricate channels like glowing veins in the living rock. Massive arches supported a ceiling hung with threatening stalactites of cooling lava.
"Ahh..." Jemite gave a contented sigh as they stepped into the chamber. "I have never liked winter, brother."
Behind them, the door rumbled shut with a finality that made Link's stomach clench. The red stone wall to his left gleamed dully, carved with intricate, yet unsettling, patterns of dragons entwined in combat.
This deep within Death Mountain's heart, the heat was like a suffocating blanket. Link wiped a rivulet of sweat from his brow, trying to ignore the concerned glances from Boran and Jemite.
Impa's ring must be working, he thought, Or else I'd be dead by now.
It suddenly seemed a bad idea to be wearing it on his sword hand, but it was too late to worry about that now.
Ahead, the dais seemed to hover precariously above a roiling pool of lava. Its only access was a narrow black bridge guarded by imposing statues of Goron warriors.
The sickening heat intensified as Link cautiously approached the bridge, making his skin prickle. He peered over the edge but quickly retreated – the lava below glowed an angry crimson, promising a quick and unpleasant demise.
Link had no doubt Impa's ring would be useless if he fell in. Even this heat was testing its limits.
"It's definitely hot in here," he managed, his voice a strained rasp.
Boran grunted with evident disapproval. "Forest dweller," he muttered. "Might as well tell a Zora the sea is wet."
"I think this temperature is quite agreeable," said Jemite loudly enough to distract from Boran's comment.
"Yeah, you would," Navi responded.
"Are you going to be okay in this heat?" Link asked her.
"I will be fine," she replied. "Fairies can survive in really hot temperatures."
As if to emphasise, she flew up into the air with arms outstretched and took a deep breath before coughing. "Ugh... Can't say I like the smell much. Good thing you have that ring, or you'd probably be suffocating by now."
"I noticed," Link said drily.
The Gorons led the way, their heavy footfalls echoing against the ancient stone. Link trailed behind, his fingers brushing against the carvings that lined the rough-hewn walls. Their meaning was lost to him, just another reminder of how little he understood about this place. He wished he could have studied Sheik's map; at least Navi could have deciphered it.
They probably would have burst into flames if I brought them in here, he thought. Sheik would not have thanked him.
As they neared the grand arch, an oppressive weight settled over Link that had nothing to do with the sulphurous heat. Two monstrous, wingless dragons flanked the arch, their serpentine bodies coiled menacingly, their lifeless eyes fixed upon the steps below. Their stone scales seemed to shimmer in the cavern's eerie light.
The archway led into an immense cavern. Three grotesque statues loomed at the far end, their elongated heads stretched into twisted, nightmarish grins. Within each gaping maw, an eternal flame blazed.
Link shuddered, a chill running down his spine despite the suffocating heat. Jemite's voice cut through his thoughts – something about catacombs, imprisoned Gorons, and the dragon's lair. He gripped his sword tightly, allowing himself to be led towards one of the many passages that branched off the room.
The winding corridors were a maze of blood-red stone. The air hung heavy and stale, tinged with the metallic scent of blood. He couldn't shake the sight of the bulblins' corpses, a stark reminder of the battle that had raged here. Taking their weapons felt wrong, a desperate act in a desperate situation, but Link steeled himself against the guilt.
Focus, he told himself.
He expected an ambush with each step, the silence more unnerving than an open fight. A flicker of hope rose within him – maybe Ganondorf's forces had indeed abandoned these tunnels. But as they rounded a bend, his faint hope proved too good to be true.
Two reptilian figures, scales gleaming dully in the torchlight, hissed in alarm as they rounded the corner.
Their surprise mirrored Link's own, granting him a precious second. He lunged, shield raised, deflecting a crude sword thrust. In a desperate flurry, he twisted, his blade finding its mark in the creature's exposed throat. He spun to find the second Lizalfos charging towards him, its eyes blazing with fury.
Link deflected the creature's vicious swipe aimed at his neck.
Barely.
Then, there was a blur of motion as Jemite's massive fist cracked against the lizalfos' skull. The creature crumpled, a sickening thud echoing through the passage.
"Thanks, Jemite," Link gasped, more shaken than he'd admit. The heat and the sudden violence left his head spinning.
The Goron nodded, a grim smile playing on his lips. "Anything for you, Dodongo Buster." A thoughtful gleam entered his eye. "...though perhaps Lizalfos Buster is more fitting?"
Despite himself, a tired grin tugged at Link's lips. "Dodongo Buster is just fine," he managed, though the exertion of battle was starting to take its toll. Ideally, he wouldn't have a nickname at all, but Jemite's enthusiasm was apparently not easily dampened.
Ahead, the tunnels dissolved into the vastness of the catacombs – a chilling labyrinth lined with ancient grave niches. Timeworn bones lay within some, the silent remnants of fallen Gorons. Others held the hulking skulls of dragons, their hollow eye sockets seeming to stare in judgment. Strange inscriptions and faded carvings covered their surfaces, hinting at a forgotten history he couldn't decipher.
"How old is this place?" Link breathed, unable to hide his awe.
"Many centuries old," Jemite rumbled. "The First Sage's shrine was the beating heart from which the rest of the temple grew. For a time, there was peace... an alliance forged between Goron and dragon. Yet, invaders came, and the dragons' lands dwindled." A shadow crossed Jemite's face. "We saw them as allies, worthy of the steel we forged, yet others of their kind saw betrayal. This temple..." he gestured to the dragon skulls, "...these bones are a testament to a shattered bond."
Navi buzzed anxiously. "So, Volvagia... he's a descendant of those dragons?"
Link snapped out of his reverie. Jemite was saying something about eggs and a single survivor, but his attention was caught by a flicker of movement deeper in the catacombs.
He clasped his sword's hilt again, ready to draw, but relaxed, realising the flickering torchlight was playing tricks on his mind. Jemite paused, looking between him and the way ahead.
"It's nothing..." Link shook his head. "Sorry... you were saying?"
"Only that Darunia was named after the hero who ended the dragon war," Jemite said, looking between Link and the way ahead.
"Less talk, more caution," Boran said, noticing the exchange.
Looking at the ancient script carved into the walls above each alcove, Link nodded and forced his gaze forward.
It wasn't for nothing that Boran had urged caution.
The next corridor brought them face-to-face with more Lizalfos. These ones were smarter and less eager to charge into a fight they were likely to lose. Several made a desperate bid for escape.
Link's fingers tightened around his bow. The first fleeing Lizalfos went down with a choked gurgle, an arrow through its throat. His second shot only struck a glancing blow, drawing a hiss of pain that echoed in the tight space. The creature stumbled but kept running.
A pang of something like guilt twisted in Link's gut. He wasn't some hunter glorying in the kill. Yet survival demanded he harden his heart. The second Lizalfos didn't get far, and it seemed to realise its escape was doomed, for it paused, spun around and roared a suicidal challenge as Link attacked.
Link's next arrow hissed through the air, but the beast's abrupt change in tactics took him by surprise, jolting him enough so that his arrow went wide.
He barely had time to notch another arrow before the wounded Lizalfos was closing the gap between them. It was too close, and Link was too slow to lower his bow.
Boran roared. The force of his charge bowled the Lizalfos backwards, pinning it to the wall with a chilling crack. Its brief struggle was cut short by a savage blow from Boran's fist, leaving the bloodied lizard to collapse to the ground.
Link watched, feeling a strange mix of relief and revulsion.
"Prisoners up ahead," Boran grunted, wiping a spatter of blood from his face. "Ganondorf means to feast his pet on them, a warning to the rest."
Navi's voice was rather sober, given what they'd just witnessed. "I can only imagine how Darunia reacted to that."
Jemite chuckled, but there was a troubled undercurrent to his voice. "Darunia doesn't take well to threats."
A guttural snarl tore through the stagnant air, cutting off any response. A Lizalfos, alerted by the noise of their approach, lunged around the corner. It was faster than the others, its eyes burning, scales gleaming as it sprung forward.
Link gripped his sword, bracing as the creature sprung towards him, but he was too slow, the creature's speed taking him by surprise.
He barely managed to twist, the creature's sword slamming into his shield right before the razor-sharp claws slashed towards his chest. He tried to step back so he could use his sword, raising his arm instinctively to block the strike.
Pain exploded through his arm, his sword clattering to the stone floor as he stumbled to the floor, his shield saving him from worse injury.
"Link!" Navi shrieked.
The Lizalfos sword arced high again, and Link suddenly wasn't sure if his shield would save him.
WHACK!
The creature's head snapped sideways with a sickening crack as Boran's fist struck it with a savage crunch. It collapsed, unmoving, a flicker of surprise still frozen in its dead eyes.
Link sucked in a ragged breath, his heart pounding against his ribs. "Th-thanks," he gasped, scrambling to his feet. Pain lanced through his injured arm, but it wasn't severe enough to impair him. He shook off a concerned question from Navi. "I'm fine."
The chamber beyond the catacombs was a blur of scales and steel, where at least a dozen Lizalfos guarded steel cages.
Despite the odds, once the Gorons closest to Link recognised him, while the others cheered at the sight of their rescuers.
"It's the Dodongo Buster!" one cried.
"Give 'em a taste of Goron might, lads!" another yelled to Link's companions.
Roars and hisses erupted from the Lizalfos, who sprung towards the newcomers in a poorly coordinated charge that resulted in many getting in each other's way.
"Who left you idiots in charge?" Boran roared as he gripped his hammer. "Time for a change of guard."
Link leapt forward, thrusting his sword into the nearest reptile. The Lizalfos sputtered and collapsed, a crimson stain spreading across its chest. He whirled, smashing his shield into another creature's blade, sending it staggering.
Jemite bellowed, shattering a Lizalfos' skull with a brutal hammer swing, while Boran similarly disposed of two of the creatures nearest him.
"Towards the doorway!" Jemite yelled, urging Link and Boran to move back.
A smarter creature might have realised what Jemite was doing, but the Lizalfos were gripped in a frenzy to notice their error. The tide of battle shifted as Link and his companions fell back towards the doorway, funneling the reptiles towards the opening. Soon, only grotesque corpses littered the chamber floor, the stench of blood thick in the air.
Link swallowed bile, the adrenaline rush fading into a wave of nausea. He wanted to avert his eyes, but he couldn't.
Finally, he forced himself to approach the nearest cage, the Goron within looking at him with a strange mix of awe and fear.
"D-do you have the keys?" he asked, dropping his voice to a near whisper.
The Goron gestured at something over Link's shoulder. Whirling around, Link spotted the keys dangling from a dead Lizalfos' belt, its polished armour making it easier to spot amidst its companions. Boran was there in an instant, snatching them up before Link could react.
Soon the cages flew open, releasing a wave of relieved shouts and desperate embraces. A Goron elder approached Link, eyes still wide with fear, and grasped his hand. "Thank you, brother," His voice trailed off, choked with emotion.
When the initial chaos subsided, Navi spoke, and her usual upbeat tone was absent. "Any other prisoners?"
"This was everyone," Jemite answered. "Now we face the dragon. Now we have the means to fight him, he shall not stand before our might."
There was a chorus of agreement, although not everyone looked quite so certain. Some exchanged uneasy glances, and one Goron muttered a prayer to Fyrus, the old Sage of Fire. Din's name was mentioned more than once.
"I have to admit," Navi buzzed nervously. "Knowing our luck, he will not be a happy dragon."
"Jemite, let me take you and the others back to safety," Link said, turning to the Goron. The thought of these rescued Gorons marching towards another battle made him feel a chill that not even the temple's oppressive heat could oppose. "There's no need to risk more lives. We both know I have to take Volvagia down."
It wasn't an idea he entertained, but just as Sheik had said, whether or not he liked it, the choice was no longer his. It had to be done if he wanted to save Darunia's people.
Jemite shook his massive head. "We cannot turn back now. Our fallen kin must be avenged."
"But Volvagia..." Link's voice trailed off. He couldn't picture these battle-worn Gorons, some still limping from their imprisonment, facing that monstrous dragon.
Boran glared at him, a flicker of resentment in his eyes. "And what?" he asked, his anger contained but not by much. " Leave their deaths unavenged? Cower like the weaklings Ganondorf believes us to be?"
A ripple of grumbling met these words, some growling defiance. Link felt suddenly uncertain, knowing he had offended them. This wasn't just some Goron fervour for battle, this was about honour and reclaiming their ravaged pride.
Just like when Sheik spoke of honouring Saria, Link thought, his thoughts turning to the names carved into Great Father's trunk.
Navi's voice was gentler than usual. "They've lost so much, Link. Maybe letting them fight for what's left is how they heal."
"I don't want anyone else to die because they followed me," Link said, lowering his voice so it didn't carry.
"We are warriors, Link. If Darunia is dead, we must avenge him and our kin," Jemite said, emphasising his gore-stained hammer.
Link looked at Navi, returning her sad gaze.
"Let them come, Link. They have seen their fair share of battle. It won't be like before," she whispered. "Besides, they know their way around this place. We don't."
"Besides, unlike us, if you get lost or stuck, you can't survive by eating the temple," Boran added, gesturing at the rough-hewn walls.
"Isn't that sacrilege?" Navi asked.
"Well... um yes, but what are you supposed to do if you get trapped in here?" Boran asked.
"Has anyone ever done that before?" Navi asked.
"Not that I know of," Boran replied with a shrug, turning his black eyes to Link. "So, shall we?"
Link nodded, and with a rumble of footsteps, Link and the Gorons marched back towards the temple's heart and onward, passing its inner sanctum as they made their way to its grand entrance. Each step offered a glimpse into the Goron way of life, becoming more vivid and detailed closer to the entrance. Vivid murals adorned the walls – scenes of battle, celebration, craftsmanship, and artistry.
Finally, they approached the entrance and slowed, the Gorons trying and failing to be quieter.
The grand chamber made Link gasp. It dwarfed even the Great Deku Tree's central clearing. Its walls were draped in stunning reliefs, many blackened, cracks marring the sundered stone. It was a grim reminder of Darunia's desperate plan and why they had ventured into the heart of a dragon's lair.
Volvagia himself lay partially buried beneath a mountain of rubble. Its massive form was still, its lone visible eye closed. Yet, even in seeming slumber, it exuded an aura of terrible menace.
Link approached cautiously, walking towards the dragon with his sword drawn. His hands were clenched so tightly around the blade that his fingers hurt.
Is it dead?
Sword drawn, Link crept closer. His hands ached with tension, his heart pounding frantically, despite his efforts to keep calm. It was impossible to control his breathing, especially given the carnage strewn about the room.
Lizalfos and Blin lay in grotesque heaps, evidence of the Gorons' desperate struggle. Link stepped gingerly among the reptilian bodies, keeping his sword at the ready as he approached Volvagia.
If it came to a fight, it was not going to be easy with so many bodies scattered about the room, along with the debris. Some morbid part of Link's imagination hoped that perhaps the thought of food would be a distraction, but it was unlikely Volvagia's instincts were anything like the creatures of his home. especially if he was being controlled by sorcery.
"Is it... ?" Jemite's voice trembled, softer than Link had ever heard it.
They stood at the rubble's edge, staring at the monstrous form of Volvagia. No movement save the rise and fall of its chest. A low, rasping sound reached Link's ears.
Asleep, he realised.
Navi buzzed close, frantic with worry. "Look! There, in his scales..."
Embedded just behind the dragon's massive skull was a blood-red crystal. It pulsated with an unsettling rhythm as if it were leeching power from the sleeping beast.
"That thing..." Navi's tone held a mix of fear and fascination. "It's wrong. I can feel the darkness seeping from it."
"So, I just have to reach that, and..." Link trailed off, the simplicity of the plan at odds with the dread twisting in his gut. Each crunching step over a Lizalfos corpse felt like a countdown to a confrontation he wasn't sure he was ready for. "Sounds easy."
Despite his attempted bravado, Link didn't believe his own words, and nor did Navi.
"Easy? You call this easy?" she hissed, buzzing in agitated circles around his head.
"He's asleep," Link whispered back, keeping so quiet only she could hear.
Before Link could continue, a new sound caught his attention- a groan, a ragged sigh born from somewhere beneath the rubble. Rocks shifted as something moved beneath the rocks near Volvagia.
"There's someone in there!" Navi's voice was a shrill whisper.
"Darunia!" Jemite roared, any pretence of stealth forgotten.
Navi hissed in frustration. "Are you trying to wake that thing up?" Darting towards Jemite, she buzzed furiously around his head. "Keep your voice down!"
It was already too late.
A snort, louder than anything Link had heard before, tore through the air. Volvagia's breathing shifted, the steady rhythm transforming into a grunt and then a deep, rumbling growl that seemed to rise from the bowels of the earth.
The Gorons around him stirred restlessly, some groaning.
Link's heart pounded.
Then, Volvagia's eyes snapped open, blazing with fiery malevolence as they locked onto Link. The dragon growled again, the sound shaking the very foundations of the temple.
Volvagia was awake.