Chapter 28- Into the Fire

Chapter 28

Into the Fire

By the time Malon finished going over how to care for Epona's tack, the sun was dipping beyond the western horizon. The wind whispered of war, carrying the scent of smoke and the distant sounds of people on the road beyond the ranch. Navi checked each time they heard riders, but every time she returned, she reported that no one was heading towards the ranch.

Unnerved by the smell, Epona stomped her hooves, ears flat as she whinnied nervously.

"It's all right, girl," Link said, gently stroking her muzzle.

Epona returned the gesture with an angry nip, and he jerked back.

"Epona, be nice!" Malon scolded her. "Did she bite you?"

Link shook his head. "No. Besides, I've had worse."

He shared a dry smile with Navi.

It took Malon's quiet humming to calm Epona down, and even then, the frazzled mare stomped impatiently while Link busily secured his saddlebag.

Once he was confident Epona was ready, Link turned his attention to Blaze and knelt beside the stallion to bid him farewell. Not that the horse seemed that interested.

Link gently stroked Blaze's nose, the stallion's breath warm against his skin. I hope he will be all right.

Malon joined him, crouching down beside the injured horse and stroking its mane. This prompted Epona to announce her disapproval by nudging Malon in the back, nearly causing her to stumble forward.

"Hey," she exclaimed, turning around as Epona tried to push her again. "Stop that!"

"Do you think he will be okay?" Link asked, watching while Malon distracted Epona with some feed and then came back to crouch next to Link.

"The swelling has gone down since this morning," she observed, surveying the bandaged wound with a critical eye.

"That's a good sign," Navi said.

"Let's hope," Malon said. "I'm sure he will make it through."

"He couldn't be in better hands," Link told her, smiling as he did so.

Malon blushed and mumbled, "Thanks."

Navi coughed and flew closer to the pair. Link stared at her, feeling a flush of annoyance, but was rewarded with an equally irate glare. Something made her pause, however, and she looked past him, towards the window.

"What?" he asked, following her gaze and seeing nothing of interest. There was no sign of life from the farmhouse, which Link took as a good sign.

"Have either of you noticed Ingo's vanished?" Navi asked. "I had a look while I was checking the road, and I couldn't see him."

Now that she mentioned it, Link realised he had noticed. At first, he'd been glad to see the back of Ingo, but the complete lack of noise or disturbance was odd. The rancher's horse was in its stall, and Link could've sworn it was sulking.

"I wouldn't worry about him," Malon said, looking up. "He'll be around here somewhere, simmering quietly, I imagine."

"I hope you're right," Link said slowly, uncertainty nagging at him like an all-too-persistent itch.

"Do you want me to find him?" Navi asked.

"Make sure he doesn't see you," Link said, knowing Navi would probably do so regardless of any objection he made.

Predictably, she flew off without hesitation.

"Are you ever going to tell me what you've been up to since the last time I saw you?" Malon asked.

Link tried not to stiffen or let the stab of guilt show. He wanted to tell her everything, but he wasn't sure how.

"I will, but not right now." Link tried to deflect the question. "It's..." he hesitated.

"You could try me," Malon said, putting a hand on his arm.

"I can't..." Link said solemnly, not meeting her eyes. "I'll tell you everything later, I promise."

"I'll hold you to that." Malon let go, not quite managing to hide the disappointment on her face.

Link almost sighed. He wanted to tell her he was the Hero of Time, but it would have sounded haughty, and he wasn't sure she would believe him. According to Impa, claiming to be the Hero Reborn had been common during the early years of Ganondorf's reign. The Gerudo let the false heroes run loose for a time and then executed them. No doubt, in doing this, Ganondorf hoped the people would lose faith in their beloved Goddesses. To Malon, Link was just another member of the Hyrulean resistance; the Master Sword and Triforce were nothing more than symbols of his defiance. Navi would've known what to say, but she wasn't back yet.

That worried him.

Link rummaged through his saddlebag and pulled out his coin purse. He counted out the red and blue gems he would need for his own journey, then poured the remaining larger stones into his palm. Impa would understand. Even if he just gave Ingo a portion now, he could pay the rest later. He hoped.

"What-" Malon started, but he didn't let her finish.

"Eight purple Rupees," he told her. "It's not quite what I wagered, but here..." He pushed the Rupees into her hand before she could object. 

"You're paying Ingo off?" Malon asked, sounding taken aback. "He might calm down if I pay him, but I wouldn't count on it."

"Then use it to get out of here if you have to. Just... be careful."

"That's rather rich coming from you."

Deciding he should not delay any longer, Link mounted Epona. The mare disregarded him. Instead, her attention was fixed solely on Malon.

"No final goodbyes then, fairy boy?" Malon asked, pouting her lips in mock offence.

"Don't look at me like that," Link said, feeling flustered. "I hate goodbyes. I've said it to too many people lately."

He hadn't meant it to come out like that. Malon must have caught the implication in his voice because she looked dismayed, her smile wilting.

Link sighed. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean it like that."

"It's all right," Malon said quietly. "Just look after yourself. If you have to ride Epona hard, give her plenty of feed and rest, and make sure she doesn't start limping... I'm sure Navi will remind you at any rate. Most people seem to think horses don't tire." Then her face brightened as she added, "Ingo has family in Kakariko. His brother runs the inn there - the Dancing Goron."

"He does?" Link asked, surprised.

Guess that explains why Master Evert is such a jerk, he thought.

"Yeah," Malon continued. "Stop by the inn when you can. I won't be far away... and don't worry, I can handle Ingo."

Link's eyes strayed to the faint blemish on her cheek.

"Really," Malon said. "He's all talk, usually. He won't really try to hurt me unless he wants the staff at the inn to murder him, and they would. I had to talk them out of it when he hit me, and now if you're around..."

Malon flashed him a smile, leaned closer and kissed him affectionately on the cheek. Link felt a moment of dizziness as the heat rose in his cheeks. He wasn't the only one blushing; even Malon looked a little abashed.

"Thank you for taking Epona," she said softly.

"You're welcome," he mumbled, still shaking off his surprise and unable to hide his rising blush. Why was he so flustered?

Malon smiled, stroking Epona's silver mane. "Be careful, and take good care of him, girl."

Epona's ears twitched, and she nuzzled Malon affectionately. She was still staring expectantly at her owner, as though waiting for Malon to jump into the saddle.

"Go on, girl, you be good now," Malon said. "You... uhh, going to tell her to move?"

"What?" Lost in a brief trance, Link snapped to attention.

He managed a meek, "Oh," and tried putting his heels to Epona's side again. She didn't budge, nor did she appear to have any intention of moving. Instead, her ears pricked up as she heard something outside the stables. Link heard it too.

Voices.

They were coming from the yard. It was Ingo, and he wasn't alone. Link could hear two women, and when he recognised their accent, his heart sank.

Gerudo.

Oh no.

With a horrible sinking feeling in his gut, any thoughts of kisses forgotten, Link jerked his attention towards the door. Malon looked too, worry creasing her face as she listened.

Ingo got the Gerudo after all, Link thought, biting back a curse.

Before the reality of the danger could sink in, Navi zoomed in through a window.

"There are Gerudo outside!" she exclaimed.

Without wasting a second, Link twisted around in the saddle. "Malon, hide!"

"You're not planning to attack them, are you?" she asked, her eyes going the size of saucers. "You only have a bow. Have you ever even tried mounted archery before?"

"I have," Link said, almost indignant.

Against a dragon.

The doubt in his voice must've shown because Malon wasn't having it.

"Is that bravado I'm hearing?" she asked.

"Once," Link amended, not blushing this time.

"That's a no then," Malon said with a small sigh. Before Link could protest, she grabbed his hand. "Please, let me help you. Let me try and talk to them... maybe you can get away if I distract them."

Link looked at her, his mind racing with all the possible things that could go wrong. He shook his head, eyes darting towards the doors. "No. Malon, you need to get out of here."

The hurt in her eyes made him feel ashamed, but he would not let the Gerudo harm her. He pushed her away, not hard, but enough to make her step back. "Malon, go! Please!"

"But-"

"Malon, listen to him and go," Navi prompted her firmly. "We'll be fine."

Malon nodded, scurrying off through a small side door. If Link was going to escape with Epona, the only way out of the stables was the main door. Straight towards the Gerudo.

"Are there only two?" he asked Navi.

"Yes," Navi answered. "Ingo must have roused them from the village. There's bound to be more."

"What do we do?" he asked, looking at Navi, who seemed to have run out of ideas.

He thought about dismounting and running, but there would be little chance of escaping on foot, and most of his equipment was in the saddlebag. Epona could easily outrun the Gerudo, and it was dark enough that they would soon lose him in the night. By now, the voices were close enough that he could make out what they were saying. Ingo was telling the two Gerudo that Link had attacked him and his daughter.

His daughter? Link thought with disgust. That liar threatened to kill her.

"I have an idea," he said, eyeing Navi as she looked between him and the door.

"What?" Navi asked.

"I'm going to charge Epona into the Gerudo. A little surprise may be all we need," Link said, gripping Epona's reins tightly.

Navi's eyes bulged. Epona pawed the ground impatiently as though she agreed with his plan. At least someone thought it was a good idea, Link thought.

"Are you crazy?" Navi exclaimed. "Do you have any idea how badly this could end?"

"I can manage a few broken bones," Link said, not really believing his own words. He was definitely sure Epona couldn't manage a few broken bones.

"I'm really not talking you out of this, am I?" Navi said. The voices in the yard were getting closer. They'd stopped walking, but Link still caught a snatch of their conversation. One of the Gerudo had seen the red-haired girl before - she was a singer at the inn, and a good one.

Was that admiration in the woman's voice?

"Any other ideas?" Link said, keeping his voice low.

"There's a lot at stake if you get captured," Navi said. When Link glared at her, resolute and determined, Navi sighed, "Alright, fine. If you ever get us killed, I am never speaking to you again!"

With that, she zoomed into the pocket of Link's shirt. He quickly barked a command to Epona, prompting her to break into a gallop.

"What was that?" someone asked from outside.

Gripping the horse for dear life as she charged out of the stable, Link almost went toppling out of the saddle. He was able to avoid losing his seat, knees hugging Epona as she shot towards the open door.

The two Gerudo were just outside the stable doors. They recoiled in shock when they beheld the boy bolting out of the stable upon his crimson mare. Ingo was standing beside them, and he was the first to yell and dive for cover.

With loud shrieks and what might've been curses in Gerudic, both Gerudo leapt clear of the charging horse. They recovered their composure within moments, raising their veils across their faces, weapons at the ready.

"Stop him!" Ingo roared.

Link didn't look back to see what they did next. Up ahead, the wooden gates were shut, barring the way out.

Link groaned.

Ingo must have been expecting him to try and escape. There was nothing for it now, except hope Epona didn't crash right into the barricade. She could jump that easily, couldn't she? Malon had told him horses could jump higher than that.

Navi was right, Link thought. This is a crazy idea!

Behind him, the livid ranch owner was brandishing his pitchfork wildly, hollering all the while.

One of the Gerudo reached for the sleeve of her tunic, spinning around as she did so. Amidst the blur of motion, a blade shot out from the woman's outstretched hand, slicing towards Link.

Link noticed Navi dash from cover, right before the Gerudo threw her knife.

"Link, duck your head!" Navi screamed.

Link did, getting a face full of Epona's mane. Something hissed through the air above him, and he guessed what had happened.

"Don't hurt the horse, just stop the damned thief!" Ingo was bellowing. "You will never leave this ranch, boy!"

Link raised his head, wary of another knife, but none came. Epona showed no sign of faltering. Now just a few paces from freedom, the crimson mare jumped, and Link clung to her as his stomach dropped. He watched her front hooves clear the gate, and there was an exhilarating release as her back legs cleared, and then the earth rushed up towards them. 

There was no time to think. Link pressed his heels down and shifted his weight back, bracing himself for the landing.

Epona landed with a jarring thud. The impact shot through Link's boots, but he kept his weight back and somehow, by some miracle of Farore, he stayed in the saddle.

Finally, with all four hooves on the ground, Epona whinnied in triumph and broke into a fast canter.

Link glanced back at the ranch to see the gate swing open. Ingo was shaking a fist furiously, while the two Gerudo stood behind him. They didn't give chase. They just watched as their quarry rode on.

Epona slackened her pace once Link was sure the ranch had disappeared from sight and the last light of day began to fade. They were relatively safe, so long as no other creatures attacked them. He just hoped Malon would be all right. He certainly didn't trust Ingo to keep his word.

"I can't believe it," Navi exclaimed once she settled on his shoulder. "You actually pulled that off."

"Nor can I, Navi," Link replied, his thoughts still on the ranch. "Nor can I." 

He glanced back at the distant hill and the silhouette of the restored farmhouse. "I just hope Malon will be okay," he added, not feeling completely certain he had done the right thing. 

"She's looked after herself so far," Navi assured him as they both turned their attention to the road ahead. "I'm sure she'll be fine. I can get one of my kin to check on her, if we find them."

"I just hope you're right," Link muttered, unable to shake his gnawing guilt. Was it the right thing to do? They couldn't go back. Malon would have to flee to Kakariko, confront Ingo, or ask the Gerudo for help. 

He forced his thoughts forward, eyes rising to the mountain ahead - its peak wreathed in a stormy red haze - as he drew slowly closer.

~ 0 ~

Epona managed to keep a steady canter, carrying Link to the main road towards Kakariko. He soon found himself lingering on the edges of an entire caravan of sorry-looking, travel-worn people. Men stumbled along the road, some with wagons or barrows, while others led pack animals that grunted and bellowed their displeasure. Women clutched small children, while older ones sat in wagons, an all too familiar expression on their tired faces. Torches and lanterns illuminated ragged cloaks and garments, all covered in grime and smelling of dirt and sweat. Other folk wore rusty and dented armour, and the weapons they bore were in no better condition than their clothes. 

Farmhouses that once stood tucked against the roadside were nothing more than blackened husks with shattered roofs. In some places, emaciated livestock with little flesh to their scrawny hides scratched and grazed upon the barren earth. The steady trickle of people, all heading east, grew into a throng that wandered amongst the ransacked farms.

There were figures lurking in the night: Bulblins trailed the column, probably hoping to pick off stragglers. Seeing no Gerudo amongst them, Link ignored Navi's objections and tried more than once to intercept the creatures, but they always slipped away before he could close the distance. Eventually, they disappeared altogether, and with the deepening night, Link was forced to keep to the column of people, rather than risk his horse.

Most of these travellers stopped at the outskirts of Kakariko. Flickering campfires dotted the hill that flanked the small town. Of the people Link could see, there was desperation in their eyes, the dull, hollow look of people who had nowhere left to go. 

Hyrule is dying.

Sheik's words seemed to take on a whole new meaning for Link as he made his way to the gates. Unlike last time he was here, there were watchers stationed at the entrance. Link nearly tensed at the sight of the Hylian and Gerudo guards, doing his best to appear inconspicuous. Even then, he had to stop himself from scratching his left hand.

Link caught snippets of conversation about a battle in the southern provinces. He was sure it was the one Malon mentioned, the one at Faron's Glade. Other people spoke of seeing a dragon flying to the south.

Squeezing Epona through the crush of people without injuring anyone, Link began to wonder whether he should find another way to get to the Gorons' home. A tall and burly Hylian man stopped him at the gate, striding over to Link and thrusting a lantern in his face. Link flinched, feeling the intense heat of the lantern against his face. The man looked him up and down, not in the least bit apologetic.

"It's a hundred Rupees to enter," he said gruffly.

Link flinched. A hundred Rupees just to enter the village? He thought of the purple gems he had left with Malon. He had kept enough to buy supplies, but he hadn't expected this. Quietly, he dismounted and approached his saddlebag.

"You should've asked me before deciding to give Malon half our money," Navi hissed from beneath his cap. "It wasn't even ours, and we might need it!"

"I wasn't going to leave her with nothing," Link shot back, checking to make sure the guard wasn't listening. In the darkness, Link leaned over the saddlebag and searched for his coin purse. "Ingo's already looking for an excuse to punish her. Besides, aren't you meant to be hiding?"

Navi grumbled a response, but Link ignored her. 

He approached the guard again and reluctantly handed over five Red Rupees from his purse. 

A Gerudo standing near the guard eyed Link with casual interest, but she made no move to intercept him. Doing his best not to look suspicious, Link waited for the guard to check the money. With a grunt, the man let Link go. Link remounted Epona, and without chancing a second look at the Gerudo, he rode through the gate and into the town.

Inside the walls, the town was quiet. Link was greeted by shuttered windows and bolted doors. Nobody was outside, save for a handful of soldiers and a few refugees. Navi stayed in his hat, just in case the sight of a fairy roused any suspicion. 

At the northern side of town, the windmill rose above the dilapidated town, its sails creaking and groaning in the wind. Link rode towards it, quickly reaching the town's well. Something within the well's depths seemed to call to him, an almost indiscernible whisper, and it left him in a cold sweat. Epona must have felt it too - a wrongness coming from somewhere far below - for she shied, resisting Link's efforts to calm her. This nearly caused Epona to go straight into a villager who stumbled out of the way.

"What was that?" Link suppressed a shiver, unable to shake the growing feeling that something was watching him.

"Scary, ain't it?" asked a red-haired woman who was standing beside the door to what Link assumed was her house. Link nearly jumped, and Epona shied. "My da' used to say it was haunted."

"What?" Link asked, bringing Epona to a halt. The woman was carrying a bucket that reeked of something putrid. Seeing him stare, she offered an apologetic wince. 

"That well. Folk won't go near it," she said, nodding towards the well. "Nor will any beast, same as your horse... only the darkest of curses does something like that."

"Curses?" Link repeated, glancing at the well, now barely visible in the gloom.

"That's right," the woman said, following his gaze and then turning to Link with an inquisitive expression. "Are you planning to take the pass to Mithira? You'll want to be careful. Folk have been seeing monsters on the mountain, and there's a dragon lurking around too. Hasn't stopped these folk from trying to cross..." She nodded towards the gates. "Most of them make it, from what I've heard, but not all."

"Thanks for the warning," Link said, aware that Navi was tapping him from the inside of his hat. With a nod, Link spurred Epona on towards the mountain trail.

Once they were out of the village, Navi helped guide Epona along the trail, keeping the mare from straying too close to the cliff's edge. Link did not dare ride Epona fast now; she was skittish on the narrow trails, and it took some reassuring to calm her down. These treacherous hills were meant for a mountain pony, not a horse of Epona's build.

A faint red glow cast an eerie light across the trail, growing brighter as Link rode higher up the mountain. An ominous rumbling came from deep within the earth, like the growling of a hungry beast, causing the ground to vibrate beneath Epona's hooves. 

"What is that smell?" Link wondered as he climbed still higher along the path. Something lingered on the edge of awareness, an odour like that of a stagnant pond. It grew steadily stronger, and there was something familiar about it, an oppressive energy that threatened to drag him deep into despair.

I sensed it in the woods, Link thought. He knew what it was, or rather who was responsible for it. Ganondorf's magic was here too. Link could feel it seeping through the mountain, the same foul presence he'd sensed in the woods. 

Beyond the mountain, the lights of campfires twinkled upon distant hills. There were many of them.

"It's just like Hyrule's civil war," Navi murmured, looking at the distant fires.

"What happened in that war?" Link asked.

"I don't know exactly how it started," Navi answered. "They say the king's advisor was a Sheikah, and he poisoned the monarch's mind. Some of the Sheikah clans rebelled and overthrew the old king and his court. Many were forced to flee... just as it is now."

"Where would they all go?" Link wondered. It wasn't like anywhere was safe. He remembered what the woman in the village had told him. "Mithira?"

"Either that or over the northern mountains," Navi answered. "But the roads there are dangerous in winter."

"What is in the northern provinces?" Link asked. He knew almost nothing of the countries beyond Hyrule's borders or even the northern provinces, save what Sheik had told him.

"The Snowpeak Mountains. Most of the land along the fringes is farmland watered by the melting snow. The farms are owned by the various lords and ladies of Hyrule," said Navi. "Or were."

She didn't elaborate. She didn't need to; Link could already guess what had happened to them.

"And what's beyond those mountains?" he asked, glad for something to distract him from their arduous journey.

"The northern kingdoms of Tabantha and Akkala," Navi replied. "The Snowpeak Mountains are treacherous to cross except in summer, so merchants and envoys are rare."

Link tried to process all of this, but most of what Navi said went in one ear and out the other. Fatigue was beginning to plague his every thought. He knew there was nothing to be done - resting here was not an option. He tried to remember everything that Sheik had told him about the state of Hyrule, but nothing came to him.

There was something else about the Gerudo king that Link hadn't considered, and now it was bothering him. 

"What do you think happened to Ganondorf?" he asked, hoping some conversation would help keep him awake. "I thought the Triforce was supposed to turn the entire world into a reflection of someone's heart when they touch it."

"It is," Navi said. "In theory."

"In theory?"

"Rauru said Ganondorf's plan didn't go the way he wanted," Navi continued. "Otherwise he would've won by now. There wouldn't be a war."

Link stared silently at the road for a while, or what little he could see of it. He had no idea what armies or battles looked like. Not the kind he knew from stories, where knights fought valiantly against a horde of foes and won. He imagined the reality was far less glamorous, especially given his own experiences.

And Hyrule was losing this fight.

Navi and Link lapsed into a long silence as they climbed along the side of the mountain, high above the sprawling valleys and rugged hills of Hyrule. Epona became more skittish the further up the path they travelled, her gait becoming laboured. Deciding to let Epona have her way, Link dismounted and led her slowly by the reins. He was not entirely sorry to leave the saddle; painful abrasions marked his skin where the saddle had rubbed against his leggings.

The road was well traversed. Wagon ruts cut through the dusty trail, and hoofprints pocked the ground. At one point, they came upon three burnt wagons. There was no sign of the horses or their riders, and the burnt remains of their caravan lay strewn across the road like the tattered wreckage of a storm.

Navi found a single pendant amongst the wreckage, bearing the Hyrulean Crest upon it. More wagons lay further up the path with no sign of the steeds that had pulled them or anyone else.

Why did Volvagia kill them?

It became more apparent than ever why Darunia was so eager to stop Volvagia from getting loose.

Before Link could get much further, the wind picked up, and soon it rose to a howling gale that threw ash and dust into the air. Link's eyes stung, and he shivered, the chill wind biting at every part of him that wasn't protected by his clothing. Navi took shelter in his bag as the blustery gale threatened to blow Epona off the road.

Knowing he wasn't going to get any further without risking himself and Epona, and feeling foolishly annoyed that he'd been beaten by the weather, Link quickly sought shelter. He found one - a small cave, not far from the ruined wagons.

There, in the cold confines of their little cave, he waited for the wind to blow itself out. It howled through the night, wailing like a wounded animal. It was freezing, and Link tried to find anything that resembled firewood or kindling. His search along the edges of the cave turned up nothing, so he resigned himself to setting up a blanket on the stone.

Doubting that anyone would come across him now, Link changed back into his tunic with his chainmail underneath, then strapped his sword and shield in place.

"Do we have much to eat?" he wondered, his stomach grumbling.

He rummaged through his saddlebag and came across the food Malon had given him. It was very simple: some fruit, bread, and cheese. It wasn't enough to satiate his hunger, and he offered part of one loaf to Epona. She glared at him, as if to express her displeasure at being offered such a bland treat, and then snatched the bread from his hand.

"Fussy horse," Link muttered. She probably wanted carrots.

"You should sleep until this wind dies down," Navi suggested as she watched him. "I will wake you when it does."

That was if he could sleep with the wind's incessant moan. Before he went to sleep, he searched for a shallow depression in the cave floor. He found one that looked suitable and poured the contents of a waterskin into it so Epona could drink. She snorted disdainfully but drank anyway.

Link settled down on his cloak, sword beside him. It was hardly comfortable; the rocks dug into his side, and if he hadn't been so tired, he probably would not have slept at all. Death Mountain trembled with a faint yet unceasing vibration. It made the volcano seem like a living thing, a sleeping behemoth that could stir at any moment, unleashing its wrath upon the world beyond its treacherous flank.

Eventually, when sleep finally took him, Link tossed and turned, haunted by images of blood and the distant roar of a dragon. 

~ 0 ~

When Link woke up, the first fingers of light were touching the fields of Hyrule. Gone was the vista of shimmering green grass waving gently in the early morning breeze. Now Link beheld hills of brown grass, withered and parched. Tiny white dots, no bigger than rupees from his vantage point, lay scattered around the outskirts of Kakariko.

Tents, Link realised. Hundreds of them. It had never occurred to him just how many people there were in Hyrule, or how many were fleeing from the south. Ganondorf seemed more determined to crush their morale than kill them - a warning to any who sought to oppose him.

The once-wide expanse of the Zora River now resembled a tiny thread of water snaking across the land, and the grey stones of the riverbed were almost completely exposed. Nearly the entire river was dry, leaving Link wondering how the Zora were faring. There seemed to be far more snow blanketing the mountains near their domain than Link remembered.

Epona traversed the road at a walk. Death Mountain continued its endless rumbling, and the clouds above blotted out the rising sun, casting a hellish glow upon the world beneath. After several hours, they were almost at Goron City, arriving at the fork where the trail led up to Dodongo's Cavern. A sign by the road warned of wild Dodongos and Tektites, but Link suspected Volvagia was keeping them away.

Still expecting to see the dragon, Link kept his eyes on the roiling mass of red clouds. Impa's ring might protect him, but he did not know how Epona would react to the sight of a dragon. The last thing Link wanted was for her to take fright and send them both hurtling down the side of those jagged cliffs.

Epona stopped walking with a derisive snort. Link blinked and looked up - Navi was hovering inches from his nose. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed her speaking. Not that he could hear much over the incessant wind. 

"What is it?" he asked, right before spotting the answer. Two Gorons were ambling down the path towards them, both grim-faced and serious.

"Ah, if it isn't the legendary Dodongo Buster," one of them said.

Dodongo Buster?

Navi snorted with amusement, prompting Link to shoot her a death glare that only made her grin.

"My name is Jemite," the first Goron boomed. "I believe you have met my companion before, Onyx."

Link looked at Onyx. The burlier Goron was less welcoming than his companion. "We have been expecting you," he said. "Darunia told me you were coming to help fight Volvagia."

"Where is he?" Link asked.

Staring at the ground rather than at him, the two Gorons growled solemnly. Link's heart sank.

Onyx held out a scroll tube clutched in one hand. "This is from Darunia. He left it for you and was quite adamant that you get it."

Link frowned as he grabbed the scroll tube, his throat going dry. "What do you mean?" he asked slowly, and then more firmly, "What's happened to him?"

The Gorons exchanged another uncomfortable glance.

"He has gone to fight Volvagia," Jemite told him. "He said the dragon was badly injured and could be slain now. He also said that, failing that, you have something that would help. Pardon my curiosity, brother, but may I ask what that is? Darunia mentioned some sort of sword."

Link unrolled the letter from the tube, too focused on reading the scroll to answer. He looked down at the large, squiggly mess scrawled on the parchment.

"Sheik was right. Darunia's handwriting is atrocious," Navi muttered as she began to read.

Link,

When I was told you were coming, I wanted to have a Goron-to-man talk with you. When I learned of Ganondorf's threats and that Volvagia had once again broken the chains we bound him with, I knew this could not wait any longer. He has already attacked the road, and no doubt Kakariko will be next. I have gone to the Fire Temple. I mean to make sure Volvagia does not return to full strength so that you can slay him when you arrive. I know Volvagia cannot be killed without the sword you wield, but at least I can make your task easier. It is likely Ganondorf will try to stop us, as he did before. If I do not succeed, Ganondorf will use Volvagia to turn the Ten Kingdoms into a wasteland. I have another plan to make sure Volvagia never escapes should we fail to stop him. As a sworn brother, I ask you to help my people. Some of them may still be trapped in the temple, as Ganondorf attacked us a few days ago and took them prisoner. I am counting on you. 

Darunia

"How long ago did he leave?" Navi asked when she finished.

"Not that long ago," said Jemite. "You might still catch him if you hurry."

"Which way is the temple?" Link asked.

Jemite pointed down the switchback path to the trail that led further along Death Mountain.

"Go that way, and you will see stairs leading up to the shelf where the temple resides," Jemite said. "There is a landslide partway up, so your horse won't make it." At Link's worried look, Jemite added, "Darunia had a stable built to accommodate guests. We can take her there."

Link handed Jemite Epona's reins.

"Please take good care of her," he said.

Jemite nodded. "Don't worry, Dodongo Buster, she is in good hands. Be careful; it's likely to be messy up there."

Onyx stepped forward. "The main entrance should be clear; you will have no trouble going in that way."

"You seem certain," Jemite observed, looking sideways at Onyx. 

"It's the quickest route. If Volvagia is revived, you won't have time to take one of the tunnels," Onyx said. 

"It might be dangerous," Jemite objected. "There's more than just Volvagia guarding that temple."

"What else is in there?" Navi demanded. 

"Lizalfos, mostly," Jemite answered. "Perhaps Moblins."

"And the prisoners?"

"Still inside, as far as we know."

Link's stomach tightened. Every moment they stood talking was another moment Darunia was fighting without him.

"What about the tunnels?" Navi asked. 

"That would take too long," Onyx replied. "The main entrance is your best chance of reaching Darunia in time."

Before Navi could say anything, Link was already off running up the path, towards the mountain summit. 

~ 0 ~

A battle raged within the Temple of Din -  the Fire Temple, as the Sheikah would have called it. The entire structure trembled as the Gorons tried in vain to vanquish the evil within it. Lizalfos, bipedal lizards that looked almost human except for their heads and clawed limbs, charged through the labyrinth of corridors towards the entrance. Darunia led his clan in the temple's defence, much to the discontent of the other Goron Elders. His wife would not have approved either; thankfully, he'd sent her on an errand deeper into the mountains.

Ganondorf himself led the reptilian beasts but did not join the fray. He seemed to be waiting. For what, though? Volvagia. It didn't matter to Darunia; he intended to kill that snivelling coward or at least knock the living daylights out of him. To the Goron chieftain's immense annoyance, his path to the Gerudo king was blocked by the man's minions. It was a minor dilemma as far as the Goron leader was concerned, but he still itched to get close enough to slam his hammer into that demon's face.

First, I shall deal with you lot, he thought, turning his full attention on Ganondorf's minions.

Darunia let out a bellowing roar, charging with his brethren into the beasts standing between them and the Gerudo king. Darunia smashed his hammer into the armour of a Lizalfos, slamming it into a pillar with a bone-snapping crunch. Another Lizalfos crumpled beneath a blow to its head, and a third tried to leap away, only to have its leg smashed a moment later, followed by a second blow to its skull.

A fourth lizard tried to fight Darunia with nothing but its sword. Darunia's hammer met it easily. A clash of metal, a shriek as clawed fingers were crushed, and the blade went flying. The Lizalfos barely had time to react before Darunia's hammer pulverised its head. Another of the lizards thrust a spear at Darunia, shattering the shaft against Darunia's rocky hide. The force of the impact stunned the spear-wielder, just long enough for Darunia's hammer to slam into its side.

"You cannot win, Darunia," Ganondorf's voice boomed from across the room. "I would have left your kind in peace, but you had to make this difficult."

"So long as we served you, you mean?" Darunia growled, raising his voice to a roar. "Come and face me, demon! You call yourself a king, but you refuse to challenge me alone! Coward!"

Ganondorf chuckled as Darunia noticed motion out of the corner of his eye. A Moblin was charging at him with a spear, intent on making the same mistake as the lizard Darunia had just slain.

"Is this all you can threaten me with?" Darunia scoffed. "Where is your dragon now, Gerudo king?" The title was delivered with mockery, and Darunia raised his hammer to strike down the pig-faced monster in front of him.

CRACK!

Another Goron took the monster down. Ordinarily, that might have annoyed Darunia, but he nodded his thanks instead.

Grabbing the dead beast's spear, Darunia hurled it towards Ganondorf. The Gerudo laughed at the spectacle, raising his hands to send a stream of fire into the spear, reducing it to ashes.

Damn that Gerudo and his magic tricks.

Something seemed to get Ganondorf's attention, for the next moment he grinned, opening a purple vortex which disappeared when he stepped through it.

"Coward," Darunia repeated with a roar. "Come back here and fight me!"

The Lizalfos stopped fighting, turning their attention to a hallway beyond a large archway opposite the main entrance. Everyone froze.

A deep, booming roar echoed through the temple.

Volvagia.

The Lizalfos went into a frenzy; some ran, some attacked each other, and the rest scrambled to get out of the hall.

"Hmm... this could be problematic," Darunia said, his voice a deep rumble.

Impa had said that Volvagia was almost killed. It should have taken longer to revive him. Darunia's plan had been to keep Volvagia from returning to full strength and seal him in the temple as a final resort. There was no time to ponder how Volvagia had been revived so quickly.

"I have a bad feeling about this, brother," grumbled the Goron next to Darunia.

Darunia scowled, clenching the hammer in his hands.

"You've always got a bad feeling about something!" Darunia replied in his gravelly tone. He pointed back at the fleeing Lizalfos. "Are you a Goron or not? Fight them!"

The Gorons charged, and Volvagia burst out of the hallway with a roar. To Darunia's dismay, the dragon had indeed returned to full strength.

Definitely problematic.

"Run, brothers!" he bellowed. "Head for the tunnels and find the others! I will take care of Volvagia!"

Some of the Gorons hesitated, looking dismayed at the prospect of abandoning their leader. When he repeated the order, they reluctantly obeyed.

"GO!" Darunia roared as Volvagia closed in.

"Darunia," one of the closest Gorons said. "I won't leave you. Not with that thing!"

A column of fire erupted from Volvagia's mouth, incinerating one Goron. Darunia gripped his hammer tighter, trying to banish the final, dying scream. 

"Leave me and get out of here!" Darunia roared. The last of the Gorons obeyed, fleeing for the hallways that ran off the side of the atrium. All of them knew not to go near the main entrance.

Darunia turned back to Volvagia and hollered to get the dragon's attention, sprinting as fast as was physically possible for a Goron.

Volvagia was a menacing sight up close now that Ganondorf controlled him. Once, Darunia might even have considered riding Volvagia, but that was long ago, when the dragon had still been his friend. Now, there was no sign of the dragon Darunia had raised from an egg. It was only an empty shell, a thrall of the Demon King that stomped towards Darunia with a guttural roar. Darunia lunged forward, giving a bellowing cry as he brought his hammer down towards the dragon's snout. The beast's steel-like talons lashed forward, and Darunia stepped aside, slamming his hammer into Volvagia's face.

He leapt for the horns protruding from Volvagia's skull and hauled himself onto the dragon's head, intending to slam his hammer down once again. Volvagia shook his head vigorously, but Darunia managed to hold on and slam his hammer into its skull. Dazed, the dragon stopped trying to shake him off and staggered. The effect only lasted an instant before the dragon bounded to the nearest wall, and Darunia had only a second to register what it was doing.

This is going to hurt.

Crunch!

The blow knocked the wind from Darunia's body. Stars filled his vision as his body slammed painfully into the wall. The hammer dropped from his grasp, striking the wall with a ring as though it had struck an anvil.

Crash!

A second time, Darunia's head struck the wall with a painful crack, and his vision darkened. His hand went to the medallion on his neck. He tried to draw on its magic, but just like the last time he'd tried, it didn't work. He slipped, clawing at Volvagia's scales as he tried to find some purchase. He managed to snatch hold of the ridge above the dragon's eye. With one desperate punch, he slammed his fist into Volvagia's eye. The beast roared in agony and threw him off.

Darunia landed on his back, looking up at the bloody mess that had once been Volvagia's left eye. The dragon opened its mouth, lunging in for the kill. Maybe, Darunia reflected, he would get lucky and break every one of its teeth on the way out.

Someone shouted his name, distracting Volvagia, and Darunia turned in time to see a green-clad Hylian at the temple's entrance, holding a blade that he'd only heard of in legends: the Master Sword.

Link.

Only Link did not realise the danger he was in. Two chests of bombs stood on either side of the door, intended to ensure Volvagia would be sealed forever in the temple should Darunia fail. The kid was not even supposed to come this way. Onyx was meant to warn him.

"LINK! GET AWAY FROM THOSE CHESTS!" Darunia roared. Link obeyed, or perhaps Navi had warned him, for he was running, trying to put some distance between himself and Darunia's trap. He bolted through the entrance and onto the rocky trail.

Acting quickly, Darunia spotted his fallen hammer beside the wall. Scrambling towards it, he seized the weapon and swung at Volvagia's injured eye, hoping to keep Volvagia from attacking. But he was too late. Volvagia unleashed a stream of fire just as Darunia's hammer struck its injured eye. The blow jerked the dragon's head sideways, sending the flames sweeping across the entrance and straight towards the chests.

With a boom so loud it might have deafened the Goddesses themselves, the treasure chests exploded.

~ 0 ~

It was as though the very side of Death Mountain had exploded. Moments earlier, Link had been gazing upon the sunlit rose-red stone pillars of the Fire Temple. Now the temple vanished beneath a cloud of dust, fire and rubble.

The roar of the explosion deafened him, driving through his ears with the force of daggers. It was a sickening boom that reverberated through the mountain like a cataclysmic eruption, followed only by the roar of stone and masonry crashing to the ground.

The shockwave hit Link with such force that he was tossed into the air like a leaf before a storm. He didn't even have time to scream before he hit the hard, rocky trail beneath him. Somewhere, a fairy screamed his name.

Next Chapter

Reviews

SunPraiser31 chapter 29 . Feb 1, 2017 And the hate train for Ingo shall continue to chug merrily on its way. Here's to hoping Malon will be okay being stuck there with him. Hyrule really has taken a turn for the worse, hadn't it? You do a good job of painting the image of that desperation in your descriptions of the land and the people, good job. The pressure of having to save all those people can't be doing wonders for him. I'm hoping Darunia makes it out alive, he's a pretty great guy. But going up against a dragon doesn't give me much confidence in his survival. That and the fact that they just collapsed half the mountain. So that's a problem. No noticeable grammar or spelling errors in that one, good job. This story is much better polished than almost any other story on this site.

Guest chapter 29 . Nov 5, 2014 Megaton hammer! Awesome fanfic

Guest chapter 29 . Nov 3, 2014 Cool! Please hurry up Lord Darth Yoda chapter 28 . Oct 27, 2014 Crazy chapter! I enjoyed Darunia v Volvagia, I wish the games included stuff like that. Have you been playing Hyrule Warriors? The Darunia v section feels like it.