~100 Years after the Events of Ocarina of Time~

[Sacul]

A proud and well-mannered Goron if there ever was one, Sacul Relsieg looked up to the massive stone door in front of him. The door, which led to the Leader's Chambers, was covered in colorful tapestries and a large painting of the Goron symbol. Today was the day that he would meet up with the Resistance that he promised he would be a part of, and he was feeling invigorated because of it. As he was lost in his thoughts about once again fighting for Hyrule's tranquility, the massive door rumbled as it slid open against the stone floor below.

"Elder Link will see you now, Brother Sacul," a Goron not too much larger than Sacul told him from behind the entryway. He beckoned for Sacul to follow him, and the anxious Goron stepped across the threshold and into the hallway which led to the Elder's room. Link, who had been the ruler long before Sacul was born, looked into the Goron's eyes, his own eyes aged and beaten. Sacul bowed his head slightly, honoring his leader, before looking up expectantly.

"It is a great thing you are doing Sacul, you know how much I appreciate that," Link started, but his tone was hesistant. Sacul narrowed his eyes, wondering why his leader sounded uncertain. "But, are you sure this is the right thing for you to do?"

"With all due respect, Elder Link, I absolutely believe that this is the best thing for me to do," Sacul replied with a courageous tone. He knew what Link was getting at, just as he knew that this conversation was inevitable. But he had thought about this for months now, and had spent time preparing to be a member of the Resistance. "I served in the Goron army for ten years, Elder. I know how to work with a team."

"A lot has happened in ten years," Link said swiftly, his eyes not once wavering from Sacul. "Brother Sacul, I am well aware of your ability to battle, but I have other concerns. You know how your emotions can get the best of you sometimes." Sacul opened his mouth to protest, but Link held out a mighty rocky finger to silence him. "I know I am old, Sacul. But I have seen evil like this before, and I know what exposure to it can do to us. It is something you haven't been trained how to deal with. Respect my words when I say I am weary of how you might handle such a situation."

Sacul flinched at the words of his Elder, but he was not surprised. He knew that this talk was coming, but he wasn't planning on backing down. He was personally asked to be a part of this mission and would make sure he had a hand in bringing about the downfall of Dhanim, with his wicked and evil ways. "Elder, I assure you. I have been training myself for these past few months rigorously for this opportunity. I am prepared. I won't let you or the Goron race down, and I will redeem myself for what my lack of emotional control has led me to do in the past."

Link's brow furrowed, as he mulled over the Goron's words. "That all sounds refreshing, Sacul, but I'm afraid there would be no way of knowing for sure. I expected you to be stubborn in this matter, and I will respect you as a soldier enough to allow you this mission. However, due to my and some of the other Elder Gorons' concerns, certain precautions were taken regarding this mission."

Sacul's eyes widened as he looked at his Elder. "What sort of precautions, Elder?"

"You will not be the only Goron going on this journey," Link said slowly. He looked at Sacul to gauge his reaction, but quickly spoke up once more. "The Elders and I will select one of the older, more seasoned Gorons to join you. I understand this mission is supposed to be a secret, and I can assure you that only few within this mountain know of the existence of this Resistance. Please understand that this is a precaution we had to take."

Sacul had to fight the urge to scowl in the Elder's presence, but he was extremely unhappy at the notion that he needed to be babysat within this mission. He was an adult, and he had served in the military; he did not need an older, 'more seasoned' Goron watching over him as if he were a teenager who just learned how to spike-roll. However, he was being allowed on the mission, and he knew better than to disrespect the wishes of the Elder, however ludicrous he thought the idea was. He sighed, somewhat dejected. "I understand, Elder. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to join this Resistance."

Link's expression softened a little as he advanced forward. "That was easier than I expected, but I know you too well, Sacul. Trust our decision, and prove to us that you're worthy of our trust once more. Now, I understand your guides will arrive at the gates of Goron City to escort you to the meeting point soon. I will send your fellow member a bit later, as he is preparing for a possible journey at the moment. I wish you the best of luck for the upcoming journey, and I want to thank you for doing this as a representative of the Goron race. Show Dhanim that we are not to be tampered with."

Sacul smiled briefly before bowing and turning around to leave, his pack tied securely to his mighty, rocky shoulders. He would indeed prove that he was capable of being the champion of the Goron people. As he reached the stone door that led to the center of Goron City, he paused. "I will make sure that Goron City will return to its former peaceful and humble nature. I will put an end to this war and violence, on behalf of Darunia and the Goron People."

With that, he made his way into Goron City and headed straight for the gates to Death Mountain. As the vast entryway came into view, he noticed the string of guards surrounding the edges of the city, both Goron and those appointed by Dhanim to monitor the Goron race. He nodded to one of the Gorons he recognized and made his way out. A little ways down the path of Death Mountain was a circle of large boulders. This was where the guides were intended to meet him to bring him to the desired location.

He sat down on one of the larger rocks, awaiting his visitors. The area was out of view of the guards stationed outside of Goron City, helping to avoid suspicion when the guides did arrive. He picked up a small pebble and tossed it over the side of a nearby cliff, from which one could see the path to Dodongo's Cavern directly below. The area reminded him of when he was much younger, growing up before the usurpation of Hyrule had started. He and his friends would play pranks on travelers walking the pathway below by making strange noises or throwing things over the edge. He smiled; it was one of the few happy memories that he had.

He turned back to view the gates of Goron City, his home since birth. While it used to bring him happiness to look at the wide, homely gate of the city, recently it has just brought him to sadness. Since Dhanim's takeover of the land of Hyrule, all of the races had to be modified to fit in accordance to the new laws. Unfortunately, the Gorons were no exception, and though Link had been in command before the sorcerer was even born, he still resigned to the will of the wicked king. Sacul felt like it was a cheap move to make by Link, and that the Gorons should have fought to preserve their rights.

He sighed, looking down at the hardened earth beneath his feet. More than three-fourths of Hyrule's minerals originated on or within Death Mountain, and for this reason Dhanim took great interest in the Goron race. He would spare them the fate of the Sheikah if they would forge weapons and armor for his ever-growing army. Even though Link and the Gorons in general were strongly against war and violence, they were forced to accept these terms. Soon after, the Goron army was created in secret, in case Dhanim ever went back on his word and attacked the Gorons.

Sacul's body suddenly went rigid when he noticed two men advancing toward him on the lower path from Kakariko Village. He tensed his bulky arms and had his hands balled into massive, boulder-like fists. He was unsure if these were his guides or Dhanim's men, but he couldn't let his guard down in the case of the latter. The kept walking toward him at a disciplined, although leisurely way. Their weapons were at their sides, undrawn, which led Sacul to believe that they were his guides, as Dhanim's men normally had their weapons in their hands. The two men reached the outermost rock and halted.

The first one nodded in Sacul's direction, appearing slightly uncomfortable when he realized the Goron had his fists balled. "Uh," he started, coughing into his hand nervously. "Sacul Relsieg?"

Sacul relaxed at the mention of his name, his hands uncurling and his breath returning to normal. "Aye. I take it you're my guides to the meeting point."

"Correct," the second man stated, having a much more stern and sure voice than the first. "However, it is the advice of our superior to keep talk about our doings low while we are travelling. Anybody could potentially be an enemy, and we can, under no circumstances, risk discovery. We will never achieve success that way."

Sacul nodded, a puzzled look on his face. "Your superior?"

The first guard coughed once more, and the second looked up, meeting Sacul's eyes. "The one who is organizing this secret group, of course. We guards were assembled and tasked by him to lead all of you brave individuals to the meeting point. I'm to understand he's going to meet you there once the lot of you are assembled."

Sacul felt a tinge of excitement reel through his spine. This was it, he was actually going to do this. Serving in the Goron Army had its own perks, of course, but this was something on an entirely different scale. This was a life-changing experience that could also potentially change the future of the land of Hyrule. This was something he had been seeking for a very long time. "I understand."

The first man spoke up. "Alright, well we must start soon. The longer we loiter around, the more at risk we are of exposure. We should start heading to the location." He nodded to the second man, who repeated his gesture, and then motioned for Sacul to follow them. They headed down one of the many trails that lead from Goron City to Kakariko Village. This particular one was far less traveled than most, and it was a bit more dangerous. These men were really taking all of the risks to avoid discovery.

"The meeting's in Kakariko?" Sacul asked in an uncertain tone, noticing that they were headed toward the quaint village. If so, he immediately thought poorly of the decision. Due to the former high concentration of Sheikah in the area, it has been heavily guarded by Dhanim's troops. To meet there would be insane.

"Of course not," the second man replied quickly, only half-focused on navigating the dangerous path down the mountain. "It's in a secure location in northeast Hyrule Field, not too far from the southern entrance to Kakariko."

Sacul nodded, feeling relieved. So maybe these guys did plan ahead. Their ability to traverse the mountain impressed him as well; he knew some Gorons who had trouble using it, and for Hylians, this was truly a remarkable feat. These men were a different caliber than Dhanim's normal guards, which was a good thing, in case they were discovered.

They reached the northern entry to Kakariko promptly, and Sacul noted that it was still fairly early in the morning. "And now we need to go through Kakariko. You two have a plan for that without causing a scene?"

"Note our attire," the first man said dryly, as if Sacul had asked the stupidest possible question. "We are masking as the new Royal Guard, and these guys are fooled easier than you think. Just keep quiet and watch."

As they approached the gate, two more guards walked up to the trio, their spears in their hands. "Got a Goron, eh?" one of the asked, a vile grin on his face. "What'd he do?"

"Assaulted one of our men in the mines," one of Sacul's guides replied. Sacul smirked, raising an eyebrow. These guys certainly had everything planned from the get-go. This Resistance was going to be full of epic members. He clamored in excitement.

"It's a shame that these rocks are so stupid, eh? They really have a talent, but they're idiots. I don't know why Dhanim wants so much to do with the dumbest race in Hyrule, it makes no sense," the man snickered, his partner scowling at him disapprovingly. "Well, come on, to the Dhanim's Castle he goes."

Sacul scowled and grit his teeth. Those remarks made about his race made him want to crush the guy's skull with his fists. And he could do it too. But he refrained, for the sake of the mission. He couldn't wait to see idiots like that once Dhanim was gone. He would have a field day "relieving" these assholes from their duty. The two men at the gate signaled for the guard at the lever to open it. Sacul's guides gave nods, and proceeded to walk through the threshold of the village. "We'll see to it this scum gets what's coming to him," the first guide called as the gate was closed once more.

Sacul forgot his anger as soon as he turned behind him, the hulking Death Mountain looming for miles above his vision. He was leaving the mountain for the first time in over fifteen years, and this was the first time he pondered if it was the last time he would be there. He was slightly saddened by this sudden revelation, but turned to the village once more. It had even been a good amount of time since he had seen Kakariko, despite how close in proximity the two towns were.

Unsurprisingly, much had changed in the village since Sacul had last seen it. The villagers all seemed agitated and fidgety as they went about their morning tasks, and even the clucks of the cuccos were more melancholic than he had recalled. Dhanim's militia was also vastly present, keeping a watch on the villagers as if they were interesting experiments. As Sacul passed through, he was receiving incredulous and surprised looks from many of them, as if they hadn't seen a Goron in just as long. He scowled, beginning to feel like the prisoner that he was masquerading as.

Nearly an hour of an awkward, silent walk later, they had arrived at the gates to the village, the pathway that led into Hyrule Field. As the descended the stairs, Sacul felt relief at being out of the village, and anger that the once peaceful town was now in that condition. The first guide turned to him and held out a rolled up parchment.

"What's this?" Sacul asked.

"A map from this point to your meeting point," the second explained, his blank look never faltering from its emotionless gaze. "About two miles due south of here, in a little crest in Zora's River. It's an enclosed area, well hidden from any of the busy paths. A small hole in the covering will allow you to see the entirety of Lon Lon Ranch, that's how you know you're in the correct location."

Sacul took the map, but still had a confused look on his face. "So, let me get this straight. You're not coming with me? I thought you were supposed to be my 'guides'."

"We are, and we've guided you through the dangerous part. There are few of us and many more of you to guide. If we are to meet in a timely faction, then we can not afford to go with each of you the entire way. We trust you have the ability to follow a map, sir?" the first one asked, a bit of a sneer to his voice.

"I, erm, of course," he said, sounding a bit put off. "Well then, I guess I'll head off." He nodded to the guards, and they returned the salute, before turning back and heading up the steps into Kakariko.

"May the goddesses be with you," the second man replied, before they moved out of sight.

Sacul looked down at the map, and studied it momentarily. He raised his vision to the field, which was now stretched out infinitely before him. Hyrule Field, the portal to everything in the country. A truly colossal plain. Deciding he knew the map well enough, he brought himself down to one knee. A last pang of excitement and a bit of an adrenaline rush sent him into his rolling mode, his limbs tucked into his abdomen and his rocky hide ready to roll. The fastest form of Goron transportation. With no more need for incentive, Sacul rolled forward and was picking up speed on his way to the destination.

He would reach the location and meet their new leader in no time flat.