Chapter 12- Dodongo's Lair

 

Picture Credits:  https://www.deviantart.com/jaspersandner/art/King-Dodongo-279029484

Chapter 12

Dodongo's Cavern

Everything hurt.

Link opened his eyes, brushing away a film of dust that crusted his eyelids. Navi was calling him, hovering inches from his face. He sat up slowly, using the cave wall for support as he looked about the gloom of the tunnel. In front of him was a wall of rock and rubble, barely visible through the thick clouds of dust filling the air. Link blinked in confusion, sure he should be looking at the entrance to Dodongo's Cavern.

What happened?

He tried to recall what had transpired after he'd left Darunia's chambers, but his head was throbbing too much. Navi was no help as she loudly continued to shout his name. Link winced and looked up at her, so dazed that he was certain there were two fairies.

"Say something," Navi urged loudly.

"What happened?" Link rasped. He looked down at the scrapes and cuts along his arms and legs. Some were bleeding; others stung where the skin had been scraped raw, but none were severe enough to warrant any immediate concern.

"When we entered the tunnel, the mountain started shaking," Navi explained. "I turned to see Jasper throw you forward, and then the roof collapsed. As far as I know, the volcano erupted - possibly some sort of magic trap to stop the Gorons from getting past the entrance. I noticed that the walls nearest the entrance had weakened... they were cracked when we entered. I assumed it was old damage, but now I wonder if it wasn't part of some spell."

Link barely heard Navi's words. On hearing Jasper's name, he gingerly propped himself upright on unsteady legs and looked for some sign of the Goron.

"Jasper?" Link called into the gloom. Only silence answered him.

"Link," Navi said, her voice trembling. "The tunnel roof fell on top of him. I think he's dead."

Link refused to listen, not willing to believe the Goron had died trying to get him out of harm's way.

"Jasper!" he called again. His throat felt raw as he shouted, "JASPER!"

"Keep your voice down. There are bound to be Dodongos nearby. If they hear us-" Navi started, but Link was heedless of her warning.

No, he can't be dead, Link tried to convince himself. Please don't be dead.

He did not want to be alone, trapped in this lifeless cavern. Even with Navi's light, the shadows seemed to close in around him. He had to get out. He had to find Jasper. If he found the Goron, then together they might be able to clear the rocky debris.

Breathing heavily, Link limped to the fallen rocks and tried to shift some of the rubble, but the rocks were too heavy. He tripped on something. Navi gasped when she saw what it was - an arm with orange scales protruding from the rocky debris. Link's breath caught in his throat.

No! Don't leave us stuck here!

He bent down to tug on the arm. It was limp, lifeless. Refusing to believe the Goron could be dead, Link desperately tried to shove some of the rocks off him. They didn't budge. Thick black blood pooled beneath the rocks, but with only Navi's small light to guide him, Link didn't notice it.

"Link, I'm sorry, it's no use. Jasper's gone," she soothed gently. "There's no way he could have survived that."

Link gripped the Goron's hand, a prickling sensation starting behind his eyes as he fought back tears. What kind of hero kept getting those around him hurt and killed? He had struggled to save the Great Deku Tree, ultimately failing in his efforts. Talon and Malon had almost died because of him, and now Jasper was dead. Link had been little more than a stranger to Jasper, yet that had not stopped the Goron from saving him. After a moment's silence, he let go of Jasper's limp hand. Struggling upright, he brought his attention back to the immediate problem - the blocked entrance.

His first instinct was to attract the attention of someone on the other side of the rockfall, despite having no idea how much rock was between him and the Gorons outside. He pounded on the rock until his hands bled, driven by a desperate need to get out.

"Hello?" Link bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the cave. "Can anyone hear me?"

Silence.

Navi flew quickly to his side. He called out again, clawing desperately at the debris in a futile attempt to dislodge it. Fed up with his hopeless antics, Navi whacked him across one cheek. For such a small creature, her slap really stung.

"Link, calm down before you bring all the Dodongos on top of us!" Navi pleaded with him. "Please, we'll figure a way out of this."

Link nodded, ashamed of his near panic. He wasn't used to being trapped. Here, there was no sky, no plants, nothing familiar. Just darkness.

We are going to die in here, Link thought miserably.

If the tunnel had collapsed all the way to the entrance, there was no chance of being rescued by Darunia or the other Gorons any time soon.

Link's limbs felt clammy and weak as the last of his adrenaline drained away. He sat down, the boulder beneath him warm to the touch. 

We're trapped, and there is no way out.

With that less than comforting thought, Link wept at his misfortune and the death of Jasper.

~ 0 ~

Hours earlier...

Link trotted beside Darunia. It was not difficult for him to keep up, especially without the weight of his wooden shield, which, according to Darunia, would be useless where they were going.

A crowd of Gorons met them at the main entrance, peering out of the doorway and speaking in urgent tones. Almost all of them were holding weapons - an intimidating array of maces, clubs, and hammers.

Darunia's people let out a shout of joy at the sight of their leader marching over to them. They exchanged curious glances, murmuring to one another, as they saw Link. Following Darunia, they walked out onto the rock shelf and through a tunnel on their right, where Volvagia had been sleeping earlier. It led to a ledge overlooking Dodongo's Cavern and the road that wound its way down the mountain. Link's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he stared down at the sight on the rock shelf below.

Volvagia held a lizard as big as a full-grown bear in his mouth, shaking it like a rag doll. Then, as Link watched on, his mouth agape, Volvagia tossed the Dodongo over the side of the scree. The other two Dodongos were like two tiny mice trying to torment a cat, hissing and nipping at the dragon's hide.

"Come, brothers, let us go down and make sure nothing else gets out," Darunia shouted to his entourage.

The Gorons gave a battle cry loud enough to trigger a landslide, and with that, they jumped off the ledge, crashing onto the road below. It felt like a small earthquake, and Link was sure they would break something. Darunia went last, quickly turning to face the Dodongo closest to him. There was a sickening crack as his hammer met bone, crunching into the beast's skull before it had a chance to move.

"We should go down and join them if we want to keep our deal with Darunia," Navi suggested, snapping Link out of his mesmerised trance.

Link nodded in acknowledgement, so shocked that he couldn't make his mouth work to form words. Then, not waiting to see what became of the final Dodongo, he hurried down the trail leading to Dodongo's Cavern.

"Ah, Link! I was beginning to think you had chickened out," Darunia jested, offering Link a smile as he approached. With blood still dripping from Darunia's hammer, and the pulverised Dodongo slumped beside the Goron chieftain, its head a bloody ruin, the gesture was about as comforting as the snarling fangs of a Wolfos. Volvagia stood to one side of Darunia, and for the first time, Link noticed a large gaping wound on the side of the dragon's neck.

What could have done that? Link wondered, feeling like a lonely ant surrounded by giants.

Then, his eyes fell upon what looked like a large lump of charred rock in front of the cavern. The other Gorons were staring at it with solemn expressions, and to his horror, Link realised what he was staring at. It was all that was left of Ilem.

Darunia's voice rumbled in a language Link did not understand. The other Gorons joined him, bowing their heads. Then Darunia let out a bellowing roar, his head raised to the azure sky. His call echoed off the rocks, nearly bursting Link's eardrums. The Gorons watched Darunia silently, and Link guessed it was some kind of mourning ritual. He had heard of wolves howling in farewell to a fallen pack member.

"If Ganondorf thinks we will stand here and suffer his curse, then I say let's prove him wrong!" Darunia yelled amidst an earsplitting chorus of agreement. It was so loud that Link was sure the people in Kakariko would have been able to hear the commotion. "Let's show him what happens when you mess with us! Who's with me?"

The Gorons cheered and cried out their assent. Link wondered if the noise could bring down the entire mountain. In the silent aftermath of the raucous cheer, he stepped forward, drawing his sword and moving until he stood before the cavern's entrance. Even though he was afraid of what lurked in the cavern's depths, Link knew he was here to prove his worth to Darunia. And he would. 

"Don't go in front," Navi whispered, but Darunia's rumbling voice drowned out her words.

"You might be small, but you have more courage than most knights of Hyrule," Darunia said approvingly. "Don't worry. I'll be right behind you. If you're worried about any Dodongos, just let us handle them."

That does not make me feel any better, Link thought. Several Gorons exchanged looks that suggested they were not entirely comfortable with the whole idea either.

"Let us go with him," Jasper suggested, indicating Onyx beside him. "We will take the lead. Lady Impa will want him returned in one piece."

Darunia nodded. 

"Very well. If you find that Giant Dodongo, step aside. I want him to get a taste of my hammer," Darunia growled. "A pity. That Dodongo could have made a nice steed if it weren't so unruly."

Footsteps announced two Gorons approaching from the city. They each bore a torch, which they handed to Onyx and Jasper.

"Let's go," Darunia bellowed, urging Link and the Gorons forward. Seeing the expression on Link's face, he added, "Relax, kid. No beast will dare harm you with us around."

Surrounded by giants, friendly though some of them might be, and daunted by his task, Link felt far from relaxed.

"You have to relax when you're wielding a blade." Forenz's long-ago lesson came back to him.

"What?" Link had replied. "Relax when someone's trying to stab me? How am I supposed to do that?"

Relax, Link thought, recalling that memory. Yeah, easy for you to say.

He stared at Volvagia. The dragon was looking at him, displaying no outward concern for the wound in its side.

"Will Volvagia be coming with us?" Link asked.

"Not with that injury," Darunia replied. "Now, remember the plan? We steal an egg from one of the Dodongos' nests. They come after it, and then we lure the brainless lizards straight into Volvagia. Just make sure you run as fast as you can, and this will go fine."

"Uhhh..."

Link could think of a lot of things that could go wrong with that plan.

"Hurry up, boy!" Onyx grumbled when Darunia finished speaking. "We're getting hungry just standing here!"

"Right. I'm going."

Link still wasn't sure he liked the whole idea of going in front, even accompanied by a couple of giants, but it wasn't his choice anymore. Making sure to keep in step with Onyx and Jasper, Link crossed the threshold of Dodongo's Cavern.

"Here goes," he breathed, holding his sword ready as he plunged into the darkness.

The flickering torches guided them forward, casting trembling shadows against the cave walls. Link grew more uneasy with each step, listening for anything that might be stirring in the darkness ahead, but it was impossible to hear over the pounding footfalls of the Gorons behind him. 

They had not gone far when Jasper suddenly shouted.

"Wait! What is that?"

Link took another few steps before noticing the heavy footfalls behind him had fallen silent.

He couldn't see or hear anything, but Jasper was holding a chubby finger to his lips.

"I hear it, too!" Onyx growled. "That's no Dodongo."

A deep rumble came from the mountain itself. Before Link could speak, a faint vibration travelled through the stone. Dust started to fall from the cave's roof, and they all looked up. 

"Everyone, take cover!" Darunia roared from somewhere behind them.

Beneath Link, the earth shook, heaving and convulsing like an animal in its death throes. The rumbling reached a roaring crescendo, and deep cracks began to form along the cave walls.

"Link, the roof is collapsing!" Navi screamed as she turned around. 

"The tunnel ahead looks stable!" another Goron yelled. 

Link looked up to see large clumps of rock falling around him, crashing to the cave floor. Oddly, the cracks seemed to be confined to the walls nearest the entrance. Jasper gave a yell of defiance, lumbering forward as the roof started to fall in, while Link broke into a desperate run, heading deeper into the tunnel. 

"Link, wait!" Jasper yelled, but the young Kokiri could not hear him.

Onyx, however, did look around to see Jasper going after Link.

"Leave him and run, Jasper," he roared. "We have to get out of here!"

Jasper ignored him, even as Onyx shouted his name.

Link sheathed his sword so he could run faster. He only made it a few feet before his foot caught on a rock, and he went tumbling to the ground. Ignoring the pain shooting up his legs and palms where he landed, he scrambled upright. Before he could move, Jasper dropped his torch and grabbed Link around the waist. He ran forward as best he could while the falling debris smothered the light of their torch.

Link kicked wildly, struggling against whatever held him until he realised it was Jasper.

"Hang on, Link!" Jasper roared. Link could not hear him as the world seemed to come crashing down around them.

Jasper stumbled as a large, jagged rock hit his back. A second hit his head, only just missing Link. Then, Jasper threw the boy clear of the falling debris.

The wind rushed against his face and, for a split second, Link felt weightless. He held his arms out to brace himself for the collision he knew was coming, but it was too late. He had no time to react before the cave floor rushed up to meet him.

~ 0 ~

Present time...

How long had they been stuck in this cave? Without the sky to aid them, neither Link nor Navi had any notion of how much time had passed. How long would they have to wait before help would come? Would they ever be rescued? For all Darunia and the other Gorons knew, the Kokiri and his fairy were dead. Link's tears had long since dried away. He decided he could not remain sitting any longer. He could either move into the cavern, wait until one of the Dodongos found him, or hope rescue came soon. He wasn't optimistic about the latter option.

"We should move on through the tunnel. Maybe there is another way out," Navi suggested.

Link remained motionless on a boulder, eyes staring vacantly into the darkness as he wondered what to do. He sat with his arms wrapped tightly around his knees, as though this would give him some solace from his grim situation.

"Link?" Navi flew closer to him, breaking his thoughts. "Come on. We have to get moving... Can you walk?"

Link nodded glumly, swallowing a painful lump in his throat as he glanced down at Jasper's limp arm.

"Do... do you reckon Onyx survived?" Link questioned, struggling to form the words as it finally sank in. Jasper really was gone, and they were alone.

"Onyx curled into a ball and went rolling back towards the entrance when I last saw him," Navi said.

He left us to be buried alive, Link thought angrily.

His unsteady legs struggled to support his weight, and it took a moment for Link to regain his balance. When he did, he cast his eyes about the gloom, wondering why they hadn't seen a Dodongo yet.

"Maybe they were scared by the cave-in," Navi suggested in response. "I'm sure it was not a normal eruption. Normally, there is some sign that an eruption is about to occur, and the Gorons would know what to look for."

So Navi was right. It was probably a trap, Link thought. If all the Gorons had crowded into the entrance at once, the cave-in might have buried them all. Perhaps that was what Ganondorf had been counting on.

How long had he been here? Hours? A day? He glanced back over his shoulder, regarding the mass of shattered stone.

"What if there's no way out?" he asked.

"There's bound to be another way out," Navi said, giving him no time to ponder the thought.

Even then, Link didn't share her confidence. "How do you know?"

Navi was silent, and Link looked at her.

"Can't you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"Try this." Navi spat on one of her fingers and then held it up. "Try holding your finger up, and then tell me if you can feel something."

Link did, puzzled but curious, and held his finger out as Navi instructed. At first, nothing happened. He stared at her, wanting an explanation. Then he felt it, a faint whisper of a breeze against his fingertip.

"That means there's another way out," Navi told him. "It may be too small for a Goron, but not for us. Now, we just have to work out where it is. There's no point waiting; it could be a long time before Darunia finds us."

Assuming they know we're alive.

"Didn't Darunia say Ganondorf had blocked the other entrances to the mines and the cavern?" Link asked, recalling something of what Darunia had said as he led Link through the Goron city.

"He did," Navi acknowledged, "but that doesn't mean we can't find a way out, even if we have to dig a hole ourselves."

Her mouth twitched in a near smile at Link's incredulous expression.

"Let's go. There's no point hanging around here."

Silently agreeing, Link looked down the tunnel and clambered over the fragments of rock that had fallen during the cave-in. He picked his way forward, with Navi flying beside him. It was slow going; the ground was peppered with rocks and stones that Link could barely see. Before long, he caught the faintest hint of a repugnant smell, like rotten eggs. There were claw marks gouged into the rocks in various places; bones lay cracked and broken in discarded heaps, and some of the remains were large enough to have belonged to a goat.

Eventually, they reached an odd metal track that Link assumed marked some sort of path. Navi called them tracks, and explained that they were used to move giant carts back and forth down the tunnel. These were rusted, with entire sections buried under the earth, suggesting they hadn't been used in some time.

The tunnel twisted and turned, and the smell Link had caught a whiff of earlier was getting even more repugnant.

"What is that smell?" he asked, scrunching his face in disgust.

"I think it might be Dodongo dung," Navi said without inflection.

Great, Link thought. Well, I guess there's a reason it's called Dodongo's Cavern. Nobody told me it smelled this bad.

With each step forward, the smell became stronger, becoming so putrid that Link was almost gagging. There was an acidic quality to it that burned his throat and nose with each breath he took. Occasionally, he came across dark patches of what looked like blood splashed across the rock. A trail of it led in the same direction that they were headed. Whatever had managed to lose that much blood must have been really badly hurt.

They came across side tunnels now, and every time they did, they would stop while Navi checked to see if there was any breeze. Sometimes they seemed to stand forever before Navi decided they should carry on. At some point, the tracks ended, having been torn up, with only the occasional bolt and plate remaining. Eventually, they came to a point where the tunnel opened up into a small chamber. To Link's dismay, three more tunnels intersected the chamber, with no obvious clue as to where to go. A wrong turn could lead him into the jaws of a hungry reptile.

"Which way now?" he asked, walking up to the nearest tunnel. Suddenly, and with a squelch, his foot landed on something soft and moist, sinking until he was almost knee-deep in the muck. It was still warm.

"Ewww!" Link sprang away, his leg now coated in the stuff. "Ugghh! That's disgusting."

Dodongo droppings.

"You really should know to watch where you're going by now," Navi chided him without malice. "On the plus side, the Dodongos might ignore you now."

"Thanks." Link shot her a look, unamused. Navi just turned to examine the tunnels, noting the odd runes carved into the rocks at the mouth of each tunnel. The only other distinction was the start of a new set of tracks, marked by a buffer, and an empty cart that looked to be about twice the size of the one pulled by Talon's horse. Link doubted he could've pushed it, though the thought occurred to him.

Navi chose the passage on the far right.

"Why that one?" he asked, trying to ignore the trail of bloody puddles that led in the same direction.

"The other two lead to the mines and the Fire Temple. That's why the mining cart is there," Navi explained. "Here." She pointed at the calligraphy etched into the stone. "These signs are a warning to trespassers. The Fire Temple and mines are dangerous to Hylians, so I think it's safe to assume it's dangerous for you too."

"It's blocked anyway," Link pointed out. "Remember?"

Just then, there was a deep rumble in the distance, almost like thunder. It rose and fell, getting fainter each time.

"What was that?" Link asked, not expecting an answer.

"I don't know," Navi answered, her voice hushed.

I hope it's not the giant Dodongo, he thought, swallowing.

He exchanged a worried look with Navi and then pressed on.

The air was heavy with the stench of dung now. The fact that it was now coating Link's leg didn't help. There were more mounds of the stuff, and the ground was littered with bones. A ribcage here, a spine, a Dodongo's skull lined with sharp canines. There were puncture marks in the skull, roughly the same size as a Dodongo's teeth, which suggested it had been the victim of cannibalism.

Link moved on, trying not to flinch when he trod on a small skull that cracked underfoot. A breeze tickled his face now, giving him some hope that he was getting closer to a way out. Eventually, as Link began to contemplate how tired and hungry he felt, the tunnel widened into a broad circular chamber. It was pocketed with strange pits, almost like the pits of a fire, each occupied by a large mound of...

Even before he could discern what he was seeing, he was certain those smooth, round rocks were in fact...

Oh no.

Eggs.

A shadowy mound in the centre of the chamber that Link had mistaken for a misshapen boulder stirred, letting out a rumbling growl as it did so.

The giant Dodongo.

It was huge - a massive bulk of muscle, its brown scales illuminated by fairylight. As Navi's glow touched the beast, Link could see one of its black eyes regarding him, the other a mess of ruined flesh.

Of all the Dodongos that could have stayed to guard the eggs, it had to be him. The giant monster lumbered forward, almost squashing one of the nests. It raised its enormous head, nostrils flaring as it caught Link's scent. It opened its powerful jaws, saliva dripping, teeth as big as Link. Then it let out a bellowing roar that rattled Link's bones, the blast of the beast's hot breath nearly knocking Navi from the air.

There was another roar in response, fainter, and then another answer and another. The other Dodongos were coming, and judging by the ridges of the giant Dodongo's rib cage, Link knew the beast was starving.

"Run!" Navi hissed.

"Which way?" Link cried out.

"The breeze came from this direction!" Navi was already shooting towards a tunnel on Link's left. He followed her, his legs pumping furiously as he ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. He saw other tunnels leading off from the chamber, barely managing to ignore his doubts as he followed Navi. What if it was the wrong way? What if it led to more Dodongos?

Just run, he thought.

Behind him, he sensed movement. The giant Dodongo was turning, following him.

It's right behind me!

When he heard it breathing in, followed by a strange scent in the air, Link knew what was going to happen. Fire belched from the Dodongo's maw, and he felt the blistering heat of flames as a stream of fire struck the ground behind him. In an instant, the cavern was awash with light, revealing several more Dodongos entering the chamber with lumbering strides, their serpentine frames no taller than Link's waist. Then the torrent of fire struck the earth. The impact sent a spray of rocks flying through the air. One stone hit Navi, and with a scream, she tumbled earthward.

"Navi!"

The giant Dodongo breathed in again. Link halted in his tracks, searching the ground for his fairy. Navi was struggling to her feet, one wing at an odd angle. He darted towards her, scooped her up into his palm, and then bolted. Another wave of flames went billowing through the air, slamming into the spot where Navi had been a few heartbeats earlier.

Link made a mad dash towards the tunnel, confident the giant Dodongo could not follow him through the narrow opening. He hoped this was the right one; he had no idea where he was going.

The giant Dodongo let out an enraged roar as it came after him. Link heard its lumbering gait and felt the earth trembling beneath its weight. He knew a moment of heart-stopping terror as its head snapped towards him, so close he could smell its breath. Then, as Link looked back, staring into the monster's maw and knowing he couldn't escape, the giant froze, suddenly distracted as one of the smaller lizards tried to take a chunk out of its leg. Before Link could blink, the Dodongo swung around, its thick tail nearly smashing him against the rock. With a loud crunch, it grabbed the smaller reptile in its mouth. There was a loud snap like a branch breaking, and the other Dodongo hung limply in the gargantuan monster's jaw, its head lolling to one side. With a flick of its head, the giant Dodongo sent the smaller reptile slamming into the cave wall. This made the remaining Dodongos pause, all growling.

Then, the giant Dodongo turned, regarding Link with its one good eye. No longer entranced by the terrifying spectacle, Link found the will to move. He ran. There was a shudder, and the crunch of a nest being squashed, and Link knew the giant was after him. Link cast a look over his shoulder, nearly stumbling, and saw that all the Dodongos were chasing him. He reached the tunnel, nearly running headlong into a buffer that marked the start of a new set of tracks, but even then, Link didn't stop.

There was a scream of breaking metal and a crash as the giant Dodongo made short work of the buffer, which clearly wasn't made with the intention of stopping it, and kept going. With a crunching sound, followed by an angry snarl, the giant tried to squeeze itself into the tunnel. Agitated snarls announced its smaller companions, who found themselves unable to pursue their prey, stuck behind the giant lizard.

I hope it gets stuck, Link thought desperately.

Much to his dismay, it didn't.

He could hear its body scraping against the cave walls as it shuffled along the tunnel. Link ran faster, if that were even possible, ignoring the pain lancing through his leg. He tripped and was unable to stop himself from falling face-first into a pile of dung. Somehow, he managed to keep his hand that was holding Navi free of the smelly heap. She coughed and spluttered, appearing overwhelmed by the smell.

"Goddesses, I think that stench is going to kill me before that thing does!" Navi exclaimed when she could finally speak, her words laced with pain. "Get up and run! Hurry!"

Scrambling up and gagging, Link flicked muck out of his eyes, feeling a strong urge to vomit. He kept running.

Then he heard the Dodongo breathe in again.

Oh no. This was it. He was going to be a roast dinner for a Dodongo.

FWOOSH!

Fire burst from the Dodongo's mouth, tearing towards Link with frightful speed. An ominous, red glow danced upon the walls of the cave as the flames leapt closer.

"An opening to your right!" Navi screamed.

Link spotted what she meant; the cart tracks veered into a tunnel on his right. 

He darted in that direction without a second thought. 

He could hear the flames roaring up the tunnel behind him. A billowing wave of heat washed over him just as he spotted a metal cart up ahead, illuminated by firelight. Realising it might be fireproof, he leapt behind the enormous contraption, using one of its large wheels to further shield himself. The intense heat left Link panting, sweat streaming down his face. Silence followed, broken only by his rasping breath.

Thinking it might be safe to peer around the cart, Link stepped from safety. Navi was too dazed to realise what he was doing. Only then did he hear the Dodongo unleash another burst of flames down the tunnel.

"Look out!" Navi managed to cry out.

Too late. 

The liquid flames gushed around the corner. Link darted back for his meagre cover, letting the flames slam into the cart. This time, Link hadn't been careful enough to make sure his entire body was protected by the cart's wheel. The flames washed beneath the cart, and Link cried out as fire briefly washed over his leg.

White-hot pain seared through his limb as his skin blistered and burned. Dropping Navi beside him, Link collapsed, teeth clenched as tears flooded his eyes. Looking down at his left leg, he was horrified to see that it was badly burned.

He leaned against the cart's wheel, biting back a cry of pain, but unable to stop himself from breaking into fitful sobs.

"My leg!" he cried out. "It hurts. Navi, it hurts!"

"Link," Navi began feebly, then more strongly. "Link, listen to me. You have to fight the pain."

"It hurts," Link repeated in a gasp. He had enough sense to grasp the fairy and hold her against his lap.

"I know," Navi replied with a wince, looking up at Link with sorrowful eyes. "We can still stop that creature."

In the distance, the cave shuddered with each lumbering step the beast took - the Giant Dodongo was coming.

"How?" Link asked, moaning as he tried to move his blistered and burned leg.

"Use your hat. Wrap the bombs Darunia gave you in it and throw the hat into the creature's face when it gets close enough," said Navi, her voice getting fainter. "He said only a really hot flame can ignite them. I think that thing's breath is hot enough."

"What if it doesn't work?" Link asked.

"It's our only chance," Navi gasped. "Just do it and get out of here!"

The fairy's eyes fluttered closed.

"Navi, stay with me. I need you," Link told her, his voice breaking as tears trickled down his dust-smeared face. "Please. Don't leave me here! I don't want to be alone!"

"You won't be," the fairy said, her eyes fluttering open as she smiled through the pain. "Go, Link."

Link lifted Navi from his lap, but as he cupped her carefully in his hands, he realised she'd fainted.

"Navi?" He was whimpering now. "Navi, wake up! Please. Wake up!"

The little fairy didn't stir.

Swallowing back tears, Link took a bottle from his bag, emptied it of its contents, and placed his wounded companion inside. Removing the Goron bombs from his satchel, he placed the bottle carefully inside his bag and prayed to the forest spirits that Navi would be all right.

That done, he hastily stuffed the bombs into his hat. Then he remembered the Kokiri Emerald and pulled it from his satchel. As his trembling fingers closed around the gem, the stone grew unusually warm, and a strange hum vibrated up his arm.

Leaving his satchel beside the cart, Link began making his way back down the tunnel, using the wall for support, while the glow of the Kokiri Emerald guided him forward.

Stopping just short of the corner, terrified to peer around, Link took a breath and finished preparing his makeshift weapon. He looked sadly at his hat before tightly knotting it at the end, careful of the bombs. Now came the difficult part - standing with a scorched leg. Gripping the wall, Link struggled upright. Teeth clenched, he sucked in air, desperately trying to ignore the blistering agony of his injuries. The steady stomp, stomp of footsteps and a shuffling sound announced the approaching Dodongo.

Abruptly, they stopped, and Link held his breath. When nothing happened, he inched closer to the tunnel's corner and peered around.

The giant Dodongo was only a few feet away from Link. It spotted his green clothing and the glowing Emerald, and its head turned in his direction with a menacing, bone-rattling growl. 

It appeared the Kokiri Emerald's ability to calm creatures didn't extend to the Dodongo, or perhaps Ganondorf's curse was controlling it. Link tucked the Emerald into his tunic, trying not to drop it, then grasped the bomb-filled hat with both hands, checking the knot as he did so. The beast roared, and taking his chance, Link threw his hat and its explosive contents towards the beast's hungry maw. It landed straight in the Dodongo's mouth, and the unsuspecting creature inhaled the deadly meal. Deep in its throat, an orange glow began to kindle.

Not waiting to see what happened, Link half-hopped, half-limped back into the side tunnel. He had barely rounded the corner when the explosion came.

BOOM!

A rush of air knocked him to the ground. A gory mess of flesh, blood, viscera, and bone splattered the walls of the tunnel, covering him from head to toe. Rocks rained down on the Dodongo's remains, forcing Link to scramble out of harm's way.

When the roar of falling rocks finally ceased, it took Link a second to realise what had just happened, and exactly what he was covered in. His stomach heaved, and he vomited onto his boots.

Weak and sick, Link staggered away from the mess and clutched the wall for support as he limped towards his bag and Navi. When he made it to his satchel, falling beside the metal cart, Link took out the bottle with Navi's listless form inside.

"I did it," Link told her.

She was still emitting the same ethereal glow she always had, so she was still alive. He just had to get help. He gently returned Navi's bottle to his satchel, slipped the Kokiri Emerald inside, and pulled the strap over his shoulder.

He had to get help.

And soon.

Somehow. It took all his will not to break down in a crying heap, fear clenching an iron grip around his throat. He was breathing in shaky, shallow breaths, trying to calm himself, but all too aware of the darkness pressing in on him from all sides. Coiling. Crushing...

Just breathe... he thought, fighting against a rush of purest terror. Just breathe.

"Navi?" he called, momentarily forgetting where she was, forgetting that he was alone in this desolate cavern. "Saria?"

Memories stirred, rushing to claim him.

"It's all right. I know it hurts, but you'll be okay... Saria will look after you... c'mon, up you get."

Slumped against a tree, still aware of how sore he was, Link gazed at her with big eyes, one broken arm held in a crude splint. He was breathing raggedly, still frightened after being alone for what had seemed like forever since falling out of a tree he shouldn't have been climbing. In reality, it hadn't been long.

"Just relax your breathing. You're safe now. In and out, in and out... that's it."

"You're not mad at me?" he asked in a small voice, barely able to catch his breath.

"I could never stay angry at you for long, my brave little warrior. Come on." She caught Link by his good arm and helped him up. "That's it."

Link lay gasping on the stone floor, a violent spasm of pain tearing through his leg. Biting his lip to stop himself from screaming, Link stood up, and every muscle in his leg screamed. Clutching the wall for support, he limped back into the tunnel. The rockfall hadn't blocked the way forward, but it had buried the Dodongo, preventing any more of its kind from pursuing him.

Link started up the tunnel, his leg throbbing angrily, each step sending an agonising wave of pain through him. The tunnel seemed endless. He stumbled, dragged himself onto tired feet, and then stumbled again. At one point, he nearly gave in to a fit of weeping, but somehow he managed to pull himself upright. Every bit of him hurt.

"I can't do it!" Link snapped, almost throwing his ocarina in frustration. He doubted Saria would like that very much.

Saria gazed patiently at the small child seated on the tree stump beside her, sighing at the sight of his flushed face.

"You're almost there," she said lightly. "Just one note at a time... after me... that's it... see, you can do it!"

Link sagged to the cave floor, sobbing from pain and fear. He just wanted to collapse in a heap and let fate have its way. He didn't remember taking out Saria's ocarina, but he sat there, rubbing its wooden frame beneath sooty fingers. It would be dirty, he realised. Saria wouldn't like that.

"Keep going," her voice seemed to say from some distant part of his mind. "Just one more step... another... you're nearly there..."

Choking back yet another sob, his body in more pain than he could ever recall, Link pushed himself to his feet once again. He screamed through clenched teeth, his injured leg nearly causing him to topple over. Placing Saria's ocarina in his bag, he focused his thoughts on Navi. Gazing at the bottle that contained her, he saw her familiar glow, so faint... so weak. He remembered her encouragement and Saria's, tried to bolster what little strength he had, and he kept stumbling on, half-delirious with pain.

"I'm ready!" Link peered out from around a tree, eager eyes darting about to see where the other Kokiri had gone. "Ready or not, here I come!"

Only silence answered him, but that was to be expected; they were playing hide-and-seek, after all. It was the first time Mido's friends had offered to let him play with them. They'd even let him try using a slingshot, much to his delight.

Still no sign of the other Kokiri. They couldn't have gone that far. Link spotted a hollow log, partially hidden by shrubs. It was the perfect hiding spot! He looked inside, but to his disappointment, there was no one there.

As the afternoon waned into dusk, worry was forming a tight knot in Link's gut. He'd scoured every hollow log and thicket, but there was no sign of the boys he was looking for. Just him and an endless vista of trees. Was he even going in the right direction?

"Guys?" he called, worry turning to fear as night settled. His initial excitement was gone, and Link was growing desperate. "Guys? Where are you?"

He'd taken too long. They'd given up on him finding them. Link was truly afraid by now. Confused, even. Saria would be back home, and once she knew he wasn't there, she'd be upset. Birds called their evening tunes, insects chirped, but no one noticed the young boy staring wide-eyed and lost in the woods. He knew now that the others had gone. Why would they leave him? Maybe they'd lied.

The young boy didn't know why some of the Kokiri mistreated him. Maybe he was bad, maybe he just didn't have a fairy yet, or maybe it was because something was different about him.

Remembering Saria's advice to stay put should he become lost, Link settled against a tree and hugged his knees, shivering now. Why hadn't the others waited for him?

"The Stalchildren might get you," Fado's voice mocked him in some distant memory. "That's what happens to Kokiri who don't have a fairy. The Stalchildren come in the night and snatch them away."

Link wrapped his arms tighter about his legs, shivering. It was cold, and the night was full of strange sounds. He couldn't see anything, and every creak and groan of the windswept trees seemed deafening. What was that crunching noise? It sounded like something treading through the undergrowth. An animal? He could hear it breathing. Or maybe it was a Stalchild, its bone-white arms reaching for him.

"Sa!" he cried out, screaming so hard his throat hurt. "Sa!"

Was that laughter he could hear?

Eyes watched him from between the tall sentinels. Dozens of them, some peering closer. Skeletal shapes stirred amidst the trees, and he thought he could see those forsaken children, claws extended, arms reaching to drag him away...

Saria found him after nightfall, a rather unhappy-looking Mido beside her. He seemed relieved to find Link but offered no comforting words.

"It's okay," Saria soothed, gathering the small boy into her arms and rubbing his back, trying to calm him down. "It's all right, Saria's got you now. You poor thing, you must have had such an awful fright."

"They left me!" Link choked, forcing back a sob. "I was playing, and they left me..."

"Shh... Saria's got you. I'll never let anything bad happen to you again, okay?"

If only he could hear her now. If only he could wrap his arms around her and know he was safe. But she wasn't there. There was no Saria to comfort him. Nothing but this endless darkness. Shaking, cold, and frightened, Link trudged on, his body screaming in protest all the while.

The journey seemed as though it would never end. Cuts and bruises added to his injuries, but he hardly noticed. Sometimes he thought he heard creatures in the dark, or saw something move in the shadows of the tunnel, but there was nothing but him and his injured fairy. 

Just a little further, Link told himself.

Then, finally, he saw light further up the tunnel.

Light. 

Link scrambled towards it, the tunnel narrowing until his shoulders and chest were grazing against the walls. He completed the last stretch at a crawl, wriggling like a lizard as the stone pressed in on all sides. It was almost over, and he looked back down at his bag.

"We're nearly there, Navi."

A faint fear nagged at the back of his mind, and soon it was too loud to ignore. Once he was free from the tunnel, he had no way of knowing what to do.

Worry about that later. Just get out first.

Perhaps this tunnel would bring him out close to the Goron settlement. There might even be more than one village. Or perhaps he'd find one of Navi's kin, unlikely though that seemed.

Slowly, Link dragged himself closer to the light. He could see the blue sky, and a faint breeze ruffled his singed hair. 

Exhausted, he pulled himself slowly across the rock, crawling closer and closer towards daylight. With each heartbeat, he came close to passing out from the pain.

Almost there.

He reached the lip of the tunnel entrance and hauled himself through, landing flat on his face as he did so. The last of his strength left him, and he lay listless on the ledge. Finally, he rolled onto his back, blinking as his eyes adjusted from the gloom of the cavern to the light of the sun-scorched mountainside.

We made it, Navi.

In the corner of his mind, he felt Volvagia's consciousness touch his own. A sense of amazement flooded the bond. "You live?" Volvagia's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a profound sense of relief. "When the mountain collapsed, I thought the earth had swallowed you. But then I sensed the Emerald you carry. I felt its magic call out, and I was certain that you still lived."

Link paid no heed to a word of what was said as warm, sweet relief swept through him.

"Get the Gorons to help Navi. Please help her," Link thought desperately. "She is in my bag."

"I come."

He didn't have to wait long. A flicker of movement caught his eye, and a serpentine creature soared into view, great black wings spread wide as it rode gracefully upon the wind.

Volvagia.

Next Chapter

Reviews

SunPraiser31 chapter 13 . Nov 8, 2016 Hot damn. That was tense. That actually had me on the edge of my seat. That's a hell of a way to kill that thing, rather gory. As concerned as I am for Navi, and as dad as Jasper's death was, I'm far more distraught over the loss of Link's hat lol. Of course it's probably too much to ask for him to just be given the Ruby. To the Fire Temple! Wooo!

Vergil1989 the Crossover King chapter 13 . May 23, 2015 That's one way to kill that thing I suppose lol. But did you have to take out Link's hat to do it? Lol joking aside, this was another great example of a chapter done right.

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 13 . Aug 23, 2014 Poor OoT fairies. No one ever seriously uses your design. Not exactly a and thing lol The Ganon Nabooru stuff is still great , I like how you've given him a twisted get kind of reasonable explanations for want he's doing and how it's obvious it became more about the means than the end. Nabooru stuff is quickly becoming my second favorite after Navi (sorry link the fight with the owl elevated her) and I honestly can't wait .to see how things fall apart for the .Gerudo as twisted as that is.