Ok, so just a quick note. I've tweaked the ages a little bit (Link is 21, not 16-17 like people usually make him). Thanks for reading and I appreciate any and all feedback :)

Chapter Two: The Child

"…You see, that's why we should get a cow."

"A cow, huh?" Link hoisted himself up and over yet another large brown rock blocking the pathway up the side of Death Mountain, grunting as his muscles strained from overuse. Navi hovered slightly to his left, talking incessantly and having absolutely no problem keeping up with his inferior human pace.

"Yes. I mean, it'd be a hassle dragging it around with us, but the milk would be worth it and I'm sure that girl from the farm would have no problem hooking us up with one."

Link made a face and smiled slightly. It wasn't unusual for his fey to come up with crazy schemes - some of which have actually helped him out in the past – but this time she was just talking out of her head for the sake of talking.

"And who would feed it? Or take care of it, for that matter?"

"Why, I would, of course. I may be small but I can talk to cows, and with all the traveling that we do it will get plenty of grass and exercise. I will not tolerate a fat cow."

Link snorted and dropped to the ground on the other side of the boulder, brushing the dirt from the white of his pants but not succeeding in much but spreading it around and grinding it in. They were currently about half way up the mountain – a three day trek and a full day and a half spent climbing hard rock had gotten him here and, as he reached a blocked portion of the path, Link gave an exasperated sigh of frustration. The mountain was indeed sick. He could feel the radiating heat on his palms whenever he touched the mountainside, something that did not happen years earlier. Stone from the crest of the land form was crumbling down to block the paths, caused by a deep wracking tremor that periodically coursed through the mountain…like something was inside it. He ran his hand over his forehead, wiping away the sweat. "No, Navi," he stated, pulling his hat away from his head and letting the breeze flow refreshingly through the follicles of his hair. "We can't get a cow."

"But it would be a smart move," she argued. Link shook his head.

"No, Navi. I'll get you one when we're done with this, okay?"

She huffed audibly. "Fine," she said, but her tone suggested strongly that she wasn't going to give up on this one. For the moment, though, she landed on her charge's shoulder and pulled the folds of his loose green tunic about her legs to secure herself in. Link leapt lightly over a crevice in the path where the ground had split, marking a slight increase in the steepness of the trail. Almost there,he recalled, remembering when he'd first climbed this mountain. Everything was so massive and wonderful to him then, like although evil did exist it would never actually take over. Ha, that's a thought,he thought bitterly, pausing momentarily to look over the town below him. It was probably the only untouched place left…it was exactly as it had been before, barring the graveyard at least. Yes, it did have a few more beggars in its streets as it did before, but the same general cheerfulness of its folk hung in the air in a way that one could no longer find anywhere else. And it was refreshing; even just passing through Link felt a pickup in his mood that, as Navi had pointed out, was a bit needed.

"You're all broody now, Link,"She'd told him days earlier."What the hell happened?"

"Well, have you seen this place Navi?" He'd responded with a wave of his hand over the dead field before him, speckled with the aimless and wandering souls of deceased Hylians. Navi just shook her head and gave a smalltsk, proving herself to be ever the optimist.

"Well, that's why you're here, isn't it? It won't be like this forever."

High enough now to see the landscape beyond Kokoriko Village, Link nibbled his bottom lip and gazed past the cheerful town to Hyrule Field, the massive expanse of land that connected all of the Hylian races. The great crumbling walls of castle town sat jauntily atop the horizon in the distance, surrounded by a darkness that even the Din's Eye, which harshly illuminated the rest of the land, couldn't quite penetrate it. Instead a sick, roiling sky hovered above the walls like a disease, spilling over into and spreading slowly, very slowly, into the rest of the sky. His heart skipped a beat, alarmed for a second as he noticed the visible movement for the first time. It was barely noticeable, but there, definitely. Time is precious,he told himself, and turned away to jog up the remainder of the trail. It was steep, sweaty work, but he had himself over the remaining boulders and, slowing to a walk, to the rocky crag that marked the door to the Goron fortress several minutes later. It was like a tumor in the side of the mountain, protruding jagged into the path and covering a good three fourths of it. He approached it warily, watching for any lurking tektites, and pulled the Ocarina out of its pouch on his hip. It's blue, stone body glinted in the sunlight, tiny flakes of silver flickering beneath its finish. Even after being in possession of the instrument for at least a month, the Hero was still in awe of it. He'd always been musically inclined, even as a child before all this "chosen one" bullshit had begun, shirking his chores in order to sneak off with Saria to practice on their own less impressive instruments. Saria's ocarina accompanied the Ocarina of Time in its pouch, and it was the one that he took out on dark nights to keep him company and give some joy to the listening creatures off in the darkness. But, as he raised this one to his lips, Link had to admit that the fairy ocarina didn't even compare. As the first clean note of the royal family's secret password slid out through the open holes of the instrument, goose bumps rose on his skin and it was like the ocarina was playing for him, taking over his mind and drawing the notes from his memory like it was picking berries from a bush. When it was finished, Link lowered the instrument and the last, echoing strains of Zelda's Lullaby disintegrated neatly into the air. They were followed by a moment of silence, and then, as expected, a loud grinding noise sounded from the inside of the protruding rock structure and an uneven portal was rutched open in front of him. Link glanced at his fey with a smile.

"I haven't lost my touch, eh?" He joked, enjoying the playful slap she gave his cheek. He ducked down and stepped carefully inside, making sure there were no loose stones beneath his feet that may cause him to slip. It was dark inside, but as he traveled further into the mountain a dim light began to form in a pin point before him, marking the end of the entrance tunnel. Navi's light was sufficient enough that he didn't knock himself silly on the stalactites hanging from the ceiling, and within moments he stepped, straightening, into what was known as the Goron's fortress.

It was like a massive bubble inside the mountainside, cylindrical in shape with levels, like shelves, running circular along the walls with lighted stairways connecting them. It would be impossible for Link himself to follow each staircase, many of them leading so deep into the mountain that proficient oxygen would be unavailable and he'd pass out. But this was no problem for the rock eating, lava dwelling race of the Gorons, who lived deep beneath the mountain in groups that dated back to the ancient days. No, Link had only ever been in this, the center of the fortress, where all of the Goron weaponry was stored and built and where the Goron royalty dwelled. Link had emerged on the top level, and he walked to the edge of the floor to gaze down at the massive statue of Goron Royalty that stretched upward toward the ceiling, at least several hundred feet tall and still barely brushing the second to last level. He whistled low, having forgotten the pure size of this fortress, let alone the genius architecture that kept it from caving in and the ancient carvings that decorated the walls. He felt puny kneeling on the edge of the shelf-like floor, and suddenly very fragile compared to all of the strong stone around him. But what came foremost to his mind was how devastatingly empty it all was. At his last visit, the place was swarming with giant, sweating Gorons, working their hands to the bone, talking and laughing and throwing things at each other, creating an all around ruckus that had frightened his twelve year old self half to death. But now…now it was completely silent, save the random echoing drip of condensation running down the walls and hitting the floor. There was no sign of any life except the torches on the walls, which were lit and maintained.

"Well, someone is here, anyway," Link muttered, stroking his chin and stepping away from the edge of the floor. He gazed around and located a staircase, and headed over to it to skip down the steps two at a time. "Remember the last time we were here, Navi?"

"Yes," she said softly. Even she had been gazing around in wonder, and Link could detect sadness in her voice. "It's so…empty, now. Where did they all go?"

"I don't know," he said. His gaze swept the dust covered floor before him, looking for tracks of something other than himself, but he found none. As he reached the platform of the second highest floor he noticed several overgrown bomb flowers lining the walls. "No one has been here for a while, that's for sure." He walked foreword a few steps and placed his hands to his mouth.

"Hello?" He called. His voice bounced alien like off the walls, causing several pieces of rock to crumble off and fall to the floor with muffled thunks. He waited a moment, listening, then cupped his mouth again and called, "Hello? Is anyone here?"

He listened, straining his ears for any sort of movement, but…nothing. No one. The last resounding echoes of his voice resounded off the walls and disappeared, leaving silence in their wake. Navi inhaled and sighed, placing a hand on her charge's neck.

"I suppose we could go to the top of the mountain to see how the Great Fairy fairs," she said thoughtfully, and shifted on his shoulder. Link nodded in agreement.

"Good idea. Let me just check –"

Ping!

"Ow!" Link's hand flew up to his forehead as a sharp pain exploded in his skull and a small, sharp rock clattered to the ground beside his feet. "What the hell was – "

Ping!

Another rock hit his head, this one drawing enough blood for Link to curse and duck back inside the tunneled staircase. "What the hell!" He exclaimed, gazing out and up just in time to see a small, brown hand disappear over the ledge of the fortress' top level. He whirled around and ran up the steps, leaping over them three at a time and rounding the bend to the top opening in seconds. With his left hand he reached over his right shoulder to yank the master sword from its sheath, which hung strapped to his shoulder in a leather contraption that was attached to that of his shield. As he emerged into open air another stone, bigger this time, hit him square in the chest and he was knocked several steps backward. Still, the sight before him was certainly one to behold, as a tiny Goron slung yet another rock at him from behind an over grown bomb flower. Link side stepped this one and, seeing that there was no immediate danger, re-sheathed his sword. He let out a short laugh, his eyebrows shooting up to the center of his forehead as he took in the little child that, yet again, tried to knock him senseless with a rock to the head. The expression on the Goron's face was one of pure unaltered fury, twisting his small features into a mask of cold revenge. It looked alien and, Link had to admit, a little comical, on such a wide and innocent face.

"Stand back, fiend!" The small thing ordered, his voice a mere squeak compared to that of a fully grown Goron, who's voice sounded more like rock grinding against rock. Link put up his hands and stepped back a bit, keeping his face open and, he hoped, kind looking.

"Calm down little one. I mean you no harm," he said, but was forced to duck as another stone flew toward his face.

"You dare talk to me, man? To speak to the Hero of the Goron's himself in such a careless manner? I know you for who you are, a worker for Ganondorf! Now DIE!" The Goron hissed and flung another projectile, one that narrowly missed Link's face. He tried to stay rather stationary to avoid alarming the child, but it was becoming increasingly difficult as he had to dodge rock after rock. He kept his hands up and open, but began to move closer to the small Goron.

"Who are you, may I ask?" He asked softly, stepping forward. The child hissed again and fled a few steps backward toward the opposing tunnel downwards.

"I am Link! Hero of the Gorons! And don't you step near me!"

Link furrowed his brow, taking a moment to re-examine the Goron before him. His round, stocky body was unmistakably very young, and his large brown eyes held nothing but fear. There was no threat held by this creature, but…was that a royal crest tattooed on his shoulder?

"Well, may I introduce myself as Link, also?" He said, and crouched down so he was eye level with…well, Second Link. "And may I show you something?"

Link reached foreword tentatively to hold out his left hand and pulled the straps of his gauntlets so that they loosened and fell to the ground, exposing the skin of his hand. Pulling back his chainmail sleeve to give the child a better view, he looked once again at the Goron's face. He stared back at him, his head turned slightly in an attitude of wary curiosity, and stepped forward just enough to peer at what Link had to show him. The mark of the triforce, burned deep into his flesh, flared slightly red in the firelight and Link felt it pulse in its suddenly exposed state.

"There, you see? I'm Link, too. I know your dad, Darunia."

Child Link's eyes grew huge, bigger than they had been, and for a moment Link thought he was going to cry. But oh no, he didn't cry, he laughed, a sound that bounced off the ceiling and walls like it was rejoicing in being let loose. After he'd done it the child's hands flew to his mouth, like he couldn't believe he had let himself make such a sound, and he stepped back again in alarm.

Link sat back on his heels. "It's okay," he said, trying to keep his tone even. "I'm here to help... Where is your dad?"

"My dad isn't here. No one is here." The child's voice cracked, and Link knew that this time those huge brown eyes were going to fill up with tears. He was right; in moments they were spilling over and the kid was straight out bawling. "They all got taken. Ganondorf's army came here and took them and they went to the fire temple, where there is this big dragon and he's gonna eatthemall,– " And here he let out a long, rock crumbling wail that resonated through the entire fortress, grinding against Link's eardrums as he tried to keep his calm around this hysterical young one. Fighting monsters and world changing evil, that was one thing, but dealing with children…

"Okay, okay, calm down," he said, and shot Navi a desperate glance. She just shrugged her shoulders.

"What do you want me to do?" She hissed into his ear. "Ask him about the dragon!"

"Alright, Link," Link crept foreword to put a hand on the Goron's shoulder, "Everything will be okay. I'm gonna help your people. But you need to tell me about the dragon."

Child Link sniffed. "The dragons name is-" hic"-Is Volvagia. She is –" hic "A subterranean lizard, I guess. At least that's what my dad always-" hic "-told me." The Goron sniffed, snorting back a bunch of snot and swallowing. Link waited for him to go on. "Dad told me a man named Ganondorf woke her up and said he'd feed all of our people to her as a warning to the other races too…too…" Here Child Link's face crumpled and he started wailing again, covering his small face in his hands. "And my Dad went so save them but he hasn'tbeenbackinsolooooooonnnggg…"

Link shot a glance at Navi, who looked back at him with just as much worry. So Darunia is in the Fire Temple,Link thought, wondering exactly how big that temple is and how long it would take him to find him. And we are working on a time clock…

"How long has he been gone?" He asked the child, who continued to weep loudly in front of him.

"Ma…months…I don't even know anymore. Will you save them, Link? Will you?" The Goron raised his round liquid eyes to Link's face, who straightened and looked down at him with quiet resolve. He took his marked hand and wiped a tear from beneath the child's eye.

"Yes, I will save them. You're Dad will be back soon, I promise."

At these words Link felt Navi slap him sharply on the neck, but he ignored it and looked down to where the door of Darunia's throne room hulked in the darkness.

"Oh, thank you!" Child Link exclaimed, and threw his arms around Link's legs in a tight embrace. "Thank you! But you need something first! I'll be right back!"

He released Link from his grip and scampered out of sight down the stairs in search of Goddesses-knows-what, and Link was left standing biting his lip and considering his plan. Obviously, finding Darunia was the most pressing issue. That, and preventing the entire Goron race from meeting their demise in the jaws of an evil dragon. He shook his head quietly, blinking fast to moisten his dry eyes. Not to mention the fact that he had to awaken the sage of fire. And who the hell knows who that is, he pondered bitterly. Navi huffed from his shoulder.

"Why did you promise that kid he'd see his dad again? Darunia could be dead for all we know!" She scolded quietly, keeping her voice barely above a whisper incase small ears were within earshot.

"He's not dead, Navi." Link responded stubbornly, and crossed the floor to lean against the wall. He felt tired, and he closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against the stone. "And anyways, the kid needs hope. Who knows how long he's been here all alone."

"I found it!"

Link opened his eyes and saw Child Link running toward him, holding out a red piece of fabric scrunched up in his fist. He took it from him and held it out. It was a red tunic, much like his green one in design, except that this one was made of a soft, grainy fabric that, when it caught the firelight, seemed to flicker like flame. Link sniffed it curiously, holding it to his nose and inhaling. It smelled like dirt and rock…like the Goron race.

"What is this?" He asked curiously. Child Link smiled – he had dimples in the side of his round face.

"It's a Goron's tunic. It is very hot in the Fire Temple, and only the Gorons can survive inside it without protection. This tunic has an ancient spell cast on it, so it will protect you from the heat." He paused, giving the Hero an up-and-down with his eyes. "And I looked, but I couldn't find one of those hats. So unless you want that one to burn up I would leave it here."

Link made a face and shrugged, giving Navi a nudge with his hand so he could take off his sword and shield as well as his belt. He stripped off his green tunic – as much as it had been through, Link had developed a sort of mental attachment to this beat up, dirty scrap of clothing, it being his only connection to his past in Kokiri Village. It was the same with his hat, which joined the tunic on the ground at his feet.

"Thanks, Link," he said, pulling the red tunic over his head. It was loose on him, looser than the green one, but if it kept him from being burned to a crisp Link couldn't complain. He strapped on his belt again, as well as the sword and shield, which were both attached to a leather strap that went over his shoulder, across his chest, and through a clew on his belt for support. His head felt awkwardly exposed without the hat and he ran a hand through his sweaty hair. I need a bath,he thought decidedly, but shrugged it off and, lastly, strapped his gauntlets back onto his hands and wrists. Child Link smiled up at him while he waited for him to finish dressing, and clapped his hands avidly when he did.

"Perfect!" he exclaimed, smiling big. "I just know you'll save my dad and my people!"

Link couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks, kid. Care to point me toward the closest entrance to the Fire Temple?"

Child Link nodded, and motioned to the darkness at the bottom of the fortress. "Inside my dad's throne room," he said excitedly. "Behind the statue. You know what I'm talking about?"

"Yeah, thanks. I'll see you," Link said, and began toward the staircase.

"See you, Link!" The child replied, and watched as Link rounded the bend to the stairs. Once out of sight, he bit at his lip again and sighed. Navi, sensing her charge's sense of doubt, patted his neck and kissed his cheek lightly.

"It's okay, Link. We'll just get this over with and then we'll go see Malon, okay?"

Link snorted, taking the stairs two at a time again to save time. He'd been wondering about that farm girl ever since he'd awoken, but he'd never mentioned it to Navi.

"Can you read my mind or something, Navi?" He asked jokingly, and she just shrugged.

"I know you, is all. And I know you liked the ranch."

And he did, for that matter. When he was still a child he'd spent several weeks there recovering between temples, nursing wounds and developing a friendship with the farmer's daughter. Nowthatis a fiery one, he thought with a smile, recalling her flaming red hair and who-gives-a-shit personality. He'd run castle town rampant with her, terrorizing the street mutts and old people on the corners, stealing apples to feed to the horses. She'd let him ride a horse named Epona, the only horse there that seemed to tolerate him. Funny thing was, he was the only one that she could tolerate, also, and he was the only one that could ride her. Link wondered what both the girl and the mare were up to, and hoped, prayed they were safe. He hadn't had a chance to check in on the ranch since he'd awoken, but given the state of the rest of Hyrule…he didn't know.

"That's a great idea, Navi." He said, and quickened his pace. "After this, we'll go to Lon Lon Ranch."

He reached the bottom level and grabbed a torch from the wall, crossing the expansive floor to the corner where, carved tall into the wall, was the door of Darunia's throne room. Placing his hands along its surface, Link heaved and, with some effort, was able to push the great stone fixture open enough for him to slide through. A rank, sulfuric scent slammed into his nostrils and he jerked his head back in alarm as a cloud of hot air was released, like a breath, into his face, strong enough to ruffle his hair some.

"This place hasn't been opened in a while," Navi commented, and clung to his neck as he shook off the surprise and stepped forward into the circular room. It was dark except for a red light emanating from the far wall and, as he grew closer, it took the shape of a door. The great Goron's statue that usually guarded the entrance was already pushed aside, and the portal exposed radiated a burning heat. Link tossed the torch aside, knowing he wouldn't need it, and ordered Navi to wrap herself in the folds of his tunic. The last thing he wanted was for his fey to meet her end by being burned to a crisp.

"This is gonna suck," she commented as she snuggled into his shoulder. He just nodded and stepped carefully into the temple.