(A/N: Hai guise, miss me? I'm rather far ahead of schedule with Soul Chess and while I should be writing Blades of Destiny, I just had a flash of inspiration to write this and this is why I have so many projects: so I can pick and choose what I want to write depending on the mood I'm in. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy chapter 4 of the Legend of Zelda, Dragon's Roar).
Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the Legend of Zelda franchise
Ganon's Castle
After Ganondorf dismissed his elemental generals, Cylonilia made her way to where Zelda was being held captive. The princess was in the castle's lowest dungeon. Ganondorf had not yet acquired the means of utilizing the power he needed Zelda for, so he decided to let her live comfortably: as comfortably as one could live an irremovable anti-magic collar while sitting in a cold, stone dungeon.
Zelda could do naught but sleep constantly and eat the meals she was brought. Ganondorf didn't need her starving to death and Zelda would never let herself die of starvation so long as there was hope that Link would come rescue her. Cylonilia walked in front of Zelda's cage. "It's good to see you in one piece."
Zelda, who had been resting on the stone slab that was her bed, heard the voice and approached the magic wall that kept her boxed inside the dungeon. She recognized the voice. "C-Camilia?"
"It's Cylonilia now," the general said as she pulled down her hood revealing her long tangerine locks and former identity as Lieutenant Camilia.
"Camilia, I don't care what sort of alias you were given. You are a member of my guard and you will do as I command," Zelda ordered.
Cylonilia banged the back of her fist against the wall and lightning shot forth, surged into Zelda's collar and shocked her and forced her to her knees in pain. "I don't serve you. I serve Ganondorf."
"You've," Zelda heaved, "been brainwashed."
Cylonilia laughed. "Brainwashed? I joined his lordship of my own free will, Zelda. You see, he doesn't need to kill you to get what he wants." Cylonilia put her hand on the barrier. "When everything is all over, I will have you to myself." She banged on the wall again and shocked Zelda again. "You could've prevented this Princess Zelda, you could have chosen me, but you chose that commoner filth instead."
"So that's what this is about," Zelda mumbled to herself.
"It's always been you and Link. Well no more, I won't let him take you from me. You're mine, Princess Zelda. I was raised to serve you. It's my duty, not his. He wouldn't even be in the army if Commandant Bastion hadn't born witness to his skill. I am the only one capable of protecting you."
"Yet you would see me harmed."
"You won't feel a thing. Ganondorf said I could protect you when he has conquered the world."
Zelda's face turned cross. "You talk about knighthood, but you are no more knightly than a darknut."
"How dare you!" Cylonilia banged her fist hard on the barrier and sent even more volts into Zelda's body.
A hand reached out and placed a hand on Cylonilia's shoulder. The wind general looked behind her to see Keisa. "His lordship wants Zelda alive. Control your temper, Cyolnilia."
Cyolnilia cleared her throat and fixed her collar. "Yes, of course. I don't know what came over me."
"Lord Ganondorf would like your assistance in the kitchen in preparing our guests' meals."
"Understood," Cylonilia prepared to leave.
"Camilia, wait!"
"Camilia is no more. Knil killed her. I am Cylonilia, general to Ganondorf Dragmire. You'd best remember that. You will see though. You will see that I am the only one capable of protecting you when I manage to kill the man you asked to be your knight," Cylonilia then climbed the winding staircase back to the upper levels of the castle.
Keisa watched her go and then turned her attention to Zelda. "If it was up to me you'd be naked with your arms strung up along the wall. Be thankful that his lordship is so kind to you."
Zelda was taken aback by Keisa's tone. The light general's hatred seemed personal for some reason. "If it were up to me," Keisa looked over his shoulder and stared at Zelda with a menacing eye, "I would show you the lowest pits of hell possible and you would feel true despair." Keisa then marched up and away from Zelda leaving the princess to wonder what in the world that was about.
Death Mountain Base
Link, Trixie and Epona headed up the mountain trail, taking note of the Gorons, all of them in good spirits. As their altitude increased, Trixie and Link began hearing the latest Goron gossip. Apparently the gorons had captured a thief and had locked them in a stone prison. Curious, Link asked for directions towards the prison to see this so called prisoner. Sitting in the dark with her arms chained to a wall and her legs attached to two chains connected to two large boulders, there sat a young woman with tan skin and red hair in a very bushy ponytail with a golden hair clip used to create the ponytail. At the front of her head she had a widow's peak and red eyes. She was wearing a sleeveless pink leotard that went almost down to her knees and terminated into frilly cuffs. On the left side of the leotard there was a design of blue triangles running vertically down her body. Off the sides of her legs there were two ribbons attached shaped like flames. She was wearing a gold-plated choker around her neck. On her feet she was wearing laced up, orange leather boots. There was a locked chest nearby her and she seemed puzzled as if trying to find a way to get herself uncaptured.
An armored goron stood by the shallow cave where she was residing in. "We captured this woman as she was trying to take the goron's sacred treasure, goro." The goron said, upon sighting Link's party. "Don't even think about releasing her or we'll lock you up to, goro."
Since the goron didn't say that Link couldn't at least talk to the thief, Link dismounted Epona and went up to the young woman to speak with her. Trixie followed.
"Hmmm, what's this? Those rock munching giants capture you too?"
"Sorry, but we're not thieves," Trixie said, folding her arms.
The woman chuckled. "Of course you aren't." She crossed her legs and glanced upward at the ceiling. "I can't believe they tied me down like this. I wasn't stealing much, only 50 rupees." The young woman looked at the treasure chest nearby her. "Even went and locked up my power bracelets they did. If I had those on I could bust myself out of here in no time." She looked back up and sighed. "What I wouldn't give for some freedom." She looked at Link and Trixie. "Well then if you two aren't here as prisoners, what are you here for?"
"My partner here is a knight of Hyrule and the prophesized vanquisher of Giganolais."
"Oh yeah, heard about that. It's one of the reasons I ran off from home."
"Where is home?" Trixie asked her.
"I guess you sky fairies don't know much about defining species by their appearance. Can't you tell from the tan skin and the skimpy clothes? I'm a Gerudo…or half so anyway. My father was Hylian."
"But…" Link began indicating that since the Gerudo were an all-female species, with only one male born every hundred years, wouldn't most of them be half breeds.
"You…really don't want to know the details," the gerudo woman said. "It would blow your mind."
"Well, I think we've wasted enough time here, Link," Trixie said to him, "Let's get going."
"W-wait, you're just going to leave me here?" the girl asked.
"Well you're a thief, what do you think? We're not exactly looking to make enemies of the gorons."
The girl blew a strand of hair that came too close to her eye. "Yeah, but you just said tunic boy here is the prophesized vanquisher of the chaos dragon. You ever think maybe some of us would like to help, given the chance?"
"We don't need help from thieves," Trixie snapped. "Come on Link, let's go."
Link brought his finger to his chin and thought carefully about the situation before responding with. "She could prove useful."
"What? Liiiink!" Trixie whined.
"Yes! Yes. Yes," the girl nodded her head. "See I knew you were a man with an eye for talent. But yeah, going against the gorons would be a bad idea. So here's the deal, talk to the elder and see if you can't barter for my release, mmkay? I promise if you get me free I'll help you in any way I can."
"It's a deal," Link told her.
"I'd shake your hand, but that's kind of impossible. Snap to it tunic boy, I crave to stand in the sunlight."
With that, Link and Trixie headed off to meet with the goron elder about freeing the strange half-gerudo girl. They had to trek up the entire mountain pathway and across a narrow naturally formed bridge with large sharp rocks adorned on either side of it, forming guard rails that even a giant could use for balance if he tripped. The elder of the gorons, Saruna, made his residence out in the open, behind a fire pit, in front of a fancy tent, along with some other gorons, most of them eating rocks.
At the edge of the settlement there was a locked gate that led to slanted path angled to go to a lower altitude and subsequently the Fire Temple. Link spoke with the elder.
"Hmm, travelers? This is quite rare for our tribe. What brings you here…?" Link gave the goron his name. "Link? Judging by your clothes and your equipment I take it you're a Hylian Knight. So, Sir Link, what can I do you for?" Link explained to Saruna the situation regarding the captured woman. "Hmm, you want to release our prisoner into your custody. Why should I do something like that?"
"Because I am the prophesized vanquisher of Giganolais," Link answered.
"Wahahaha!" Saruna laughed. "Surely you jest. Even if I were to don my ancestors armor and pick up our sacred hammer, even I could not hope to stand against the mighty dragon of chaos. What makes you think a scrawny Hylian young man like yourself stands any better a chance."
"Because he's the man chosen by my people's prophecy. He is supposed to overcome harrowing trials and defeat Giganolais."
"Ah, a wind fairy, we don't see very many of your kind around here. Hmmm, you believe this boy is part of your people's prophecy, eh, goro? Well, let's see you both put your money where your mouth is. Ahead is the path to the Fire Temple. If you can prove your worth as the 'prophesized hero', I'll grant any request within my power to grant. How does that sound?"
"I hope you're prepared to fork over a lot then," Trixie teased.
"Wahaha," Saruna laughed again, "You've got confidence, young lady, I like that. I wish you both the best of luck. I feel you're going to need.
That was the last thing Saruna told Trixie and Link before he asked one of the other gorons to open the gate to the temple. Link and Trixie headed down the path until they reached a river of lava. Epona whinnied in her displeasure and refused to move forward, even to hop onto the small rising slabs of stone in the middle of the lava flows. Link and Trixie had no problem though. The knight had no trouble jumping from platform to platform and he and Trixie continued like nothing was wrong.
Link and Trixie crossed a rickety bridge over a large gorge that ended in what appeared to be a whole ocean of lava. The bridge was shaky, but it was stable enough to cross without any trouble. The real trouble came when the entrance to the temple was visible, but it was across a much shallower canyon with lava at the bottom. Link looked around and took notice of the overhanging rock formations jutting up out of the ground. The formations were all spread out in an X-formation towards the top with very thin edges. Link took out his grappling hook and twirled it. Link launched the grappling hook forward and, as he suspected, he managed to get it to secure itself around the rocks. By using his grappling hook, Link was able to successfully swing his way across the canyon. Trixie simply flew across. She could have just as easily flown Link across by carrying him, but it would've really tired her out and Link felt he'd need her to help him fight his enemies.
Link and Trixie entered the temple and in the first room found that the temple was crawling with dodongos and keeses. Trixie and Link burst into action. Link had studied monster lore enough to know that Dodongo's weak points were their tails. A couple of good slashes and his silver sword forced the scaly beasts to explode. Trixie meanwhile took out the fire keeses with her wind magic. She was easily able to rely on her novice level spells so she didn't have to expel too much magic power.
She and Link continued into the second room which was built like a labyrinth with a low ceiling. At the start of the maze a valve opened in the rock above them and lava began pouring into the room, bringing with it a sense of urgency. Link had only his intuition to rely on as he made his way through the maze. As he ran down the passageways he began to notice strange paintings of eight-pointed stars along the wall in random places. The stars each had different prongs lit up depending on which one Link was looking at. He came up with the guess that, perhaps the direction being pointed as was the direction of the exit. As it turned out, he was right.
Of course, Link and Trixie had just found themselves out of the lava labyrinth and into the gaze of a gigantic dodongo. It snorted at them both. The room they had entered was huge, but this massive creature made it look tiny. Link gulped and ran around to another part of the room as the massive beast charged after him. He began recalling his monster lore. Dodongos of massive size did not have the Achilles heel weakness in their tails and would chase down their prey without remorse. Link knew that his silver sword would not cut it against such a massive creature. He began running around only for Trixie to throw something towards him.
"Link, catch!" A bomb flower landed at his feet and Link saw Trixie standing by the plant where she had plucked it from. "Try throwing that in its mouth."
Taking his partners advice, Link picked up the bomb flower and dodged out of the way as the massive dodongo tried to chomp him. The creature then turned towards him and sucked in a deep breath. Link took that as a cue to throw the plant into the creature's mouth and it ignited within the massive monster. The dodongo shook it off like it was nothing though.
Link ran towards another bomb flower plant in the room only to feel a breeze at the back of his neck. He turned around to see a large whirlwind surrounding the massive monster caused by Trixie's magic. Expending massive amounts of magical energy, Trixie lifted the monster off its feet with enough wind power and slammed it down onto its back. The dodongo's mouth hung open as it gasped for breath. "Quickly Link, gather up all the bomb flowers you can and throw them into its mouth."
Link sprinted around the room and plucked as many bomb flowers as he could, chucking them into the mouth of the creature one by one. After force feeding the monster three more exploding flora it blew up and died. Recognizing Link's success a shaft of light shone down and created a chest in the center of the room. Upon opening the chest, Link was surrounded in a weird orange light. His grappling hook transformed into a wrist mounted chain-hook mechanism with a claw-like head. The mechanism had a flame-like color scheme to it and a carousel loaded chain with a maximum distance of more than 5 times his grappling hook.
"Wow, not bad." Trixie said, admiring the item. "That's a pretty tricked out weapon you got. I bet you could get to all kinds of alcoves and locations with that."
Link nodded and he and Trixie proceeded into the door they hadn't entered from. Inside there was a large gorge that lead straight into lava along with several small platforms and a bullseye above each of them. At the far end of the room there was a door adorned with glass made to look like flames, signaling it as the final room.
"Oh, I see what we have to do here," Trixie said and floated to the first small platform. Try firing your grapple gun thingy at this target, Link."
Link looked at the target, looked at the grapple gun and then looked at the distance between him and the door at the far end of the room. He looked at the rocks above the door and then fired the grapple gun into the ground. The weapon's claw caught hard into the dirt and ripped out a chunk of it. Link tapped his finger to the blades along the claw. Those things were sharp and the bent ridge towards the tip signaled that it could really hook into anything it could penetrate.
So, ignoring Trixie, Link took careful aim and fired the gun as it hooked into the rocks above. Link then tugged a few times to make sure the gun was secure and then let himself get carried over to the door. Trixie was speechless as she caught up with him.
"What? But! You can't do that! You can't just bypass a puzzle like that!" She said, gesturing to the rest of the room behind her and Link with both arms.
"Nothing says I can't," Link quipped.
Trixie sighed, "Let's just see what the guardian is like. I imagine your sword skills are going to be put to the ultimate test."
She and Link entered the final room, finding the corners of the walls adorned with the same fire-resembling glass and the center of the room looking like an arena, which floated over a pit of lava and was connected to the walls by the chains attached to the corners of it. Link stepped towards the center of the arena.
"You, champion of the temple that would seek the great power of this temple, you are about to be tested by the great might of the dragon Argant. As the hero of fate you must embark on this task alone."
"Guess that means I have to sit this one out," Trixie said, sitting by the door and making herself comfortable.
"Prepare yourself, hero of fate. You must defeat me to prove yourself to the dragon, Argant." Suddenly the edges of the arena went up in flames, sealing Link onto the arena. Before him a skeletal warrior with a bone structure like that of the gorons, wearing flaming red and orange armor and wielding a sword imbued with flames and a small buckler, stood before Link. "I am the eternal champion of the gorons, Darmaka, Hero of fate, show me your skill!"
Link whipped out his sword and shield as the battle began. Darmaka charged at Link and swung his sword at him, creating a trail of flame that followed. Link dodged the strike and ran forward towards Darmaka, taking a swing at the inside of the skeletal creature making a precise strike at his pelvic bone before executing a spin attack, which Darmaka blocked with his buckler and was knocked off balance. Link took to the offensive and struck fiercely several times with his sword until Darmaka's back collided into the flaming barrier. The skeletal champion was forcefully teleported to the center of the arena and this time stood still with his shield ready, waiting for Link to come at him.
Sword crossed over his body, Link ran forward and performed his anti-air spin attack as he took to the skies. He then dropped down from the air sword aiming towards the ground. Darmaka jumped back and blocked and sent out a blazing trail of flame towards Link with his blade. Link side jumped the strike and ran up to Darmaka before rolling around him along the ground, jumping up and slicing his chest plate right off by slicing the straps that kept it on the skeleton's body. Link then made several successful strikes at the bones and then, with a fearsome spin attack, sliced Darkmaka in half.
However, the goron champion was not beaten just yet. His individual bones began floating as the sword began flying towards Link, creating a ring of fire as it spun towards him. Link dodged out of the way and tried to get a location on Darmaka's head. He noticed it on the far side of the arena. Switching out to his grapple gun, Link grabbed Darmaka by the helmet, but in the fierce pincers of the claw, it shattered with a bit of pressure. The skull bounced away, desperately avoiding Link as it tried to attack him with its weapon arms and disembodied legs.
Link swiftly dodged and parried each incoming strike before letting loose his grapple gun again at the skeletal head and pulled it towards him. Then with a powerful strike he split the skull in half, taking victory.
The rest of the bones dispersed into blasts of flame. The flame barrier dissipated and the large gate on the other side of the arena shone with magnificent brilliance.
"Well done mortal," Darmaka's disembodied voice called to Link. "You are truly worthy of being the new champion to Argant. Take what it is you have come for."
The gate opened and inside there was a stone statue of Argant looming over an altar. Upon the altar there was a bright, orange-red multi-faceted rounded crystal. Link put his weapons away and he and Trixie approached the altar.
Link went up to the crystal and grabbed the crystal. Instantly his silver sword began to glow and wobble. Link unsheathed and the sword flew out of his hand, merging with the crystal. The blade turned orange and became edged on both sides. The handle was now dark red and a gem, the same color as the crystal, was embedded in the hilt. The sword floated in front of Link. He picked it up and hoisted it above his head.
Link had obtained the Fire Blade. With Argant's powers used to transform Link's silver sword, the weapon was now imbued with Argant's fiery wrath and could now launch forth trails of flame utilized by feelings of righteous fury.
"Right on cue."
Link and Trixie turned around to see a gerudo woman in a red short skirt and a red breastplate barely covering her supple body. She had bushy orange pigtails with red tips and was wearing laced up ruby red fishnet boots on her feet. She wore a gold circlet around her forehead with a ruby embedded in the center.
"Who are you?" Trixie asked, taking a defensive stance.
"Name's Koume, fire general to Lord Ganondorf's armies."
"If you're here to stop us, you're too late," Trixie told her. "Link already obtained the fire crystal."
"Au contraire," Koume stated, stepping forward, swaggering her hips as she did so, "Waiting until that kid obtained the fire crystal works to my advantage. I am a general of fire, the sword burns with such bright flames that I am resistant to your attacks now." Link scowled. "Also waiting until after you clashed with the temple guardian has left you tuckered out a little. HA!" Koume set a fire barrier between Link, Trixie and the exit. "This shrine will be your tomb. With my fire I will burn you both to your bones." Koume caught on fire and suddenly her hair was blazing hot and fire crackled along her hands. "Let's have some fun, kid." With a twirl she teleported and attacked Link from behind with a fireball. Link dodged out of the way.
Trixie attacked with her wind magic, sending gusts of wind at Koume, knocking her back with every shot. Link ran around and sliced at the Koume from behind, but barely made a scratch.
"I told you," Koume said, telekinetically lifting Link off his feet and throwing him, "That won't work."
Link screamed as he was thrown back and caught fire. He rolled around on the ground to put out the flames.
"Take this!" Trixie said, conjuring up some powerful magic, "Spiral Twister!"
A gust of wind shot up from beneath Koume's feet and sent her hurtling into the air. She was about to have a harsh landing from gravity, but she teleported and attacked Trixie. Link however was quick enough on his feet to block with his shield.
Link looked back at Trixie momentarily and nodded and she nodded back, understanding his strategy. Since Link's attack would barely impact Koume at all, the two decided Trixie would do most of the legwork while Link defended her from any incoming unfriendly spells.
From the opposite side of the altar Koume unleashed a concentrated blast of flame at Link and Trixie. Link blocked the incoming strike with his shield while Trixie conjured one of her spells. She attacked Koume with some blasts of wind, knocking the sorceress off balance and finally ending with gathering some magic power and creating several blades of air that dove in to strike the No Man's Land twisted Gerudo.
Koume was considerably injured by the strike and that gave Trixie the advantage she needed to prepare the final blow. "Let's see you survive this: Astral Hurricane!" Turbulent winds formed beneath Koume, blowing her around as fierce, powerful blades of wind smashed into her with tremendous force. Koume was thrown to the ground, defeated.
As she caught her breath, and Trixie did the same from using such a powerful spell, the sorceress lamented her failure. "Damn, that was such high level wind magic. Who are you?"
"Trixie Mescearl, princess of Hyrule's sky fairies."
Koume panted. "Hah, hah, I see. I dreadfully underestimated you."
"If I had been at full power this would've been over in seconds."
"Au contraire, I took it easy on you. Next time I will show no mercy. I must report this to Lord Ganondorf." Koume then disappeared.
Trixie then dropped to her hands and knees. "You okay?" Link asked her.
"I'll be fine. I probably shouldn't have used such a high level spell when my magic isn't at full power. We'll have to make a visit to the kingdom soon or I'll just be dead weight to you. Just give me a few minutes to catch my breath. Finish the pact with Argant."
"How do I do that?"
"See the altar where the crystal was. There's an insert for your sword. Place your sword in the pedestal and you will be able to complete the pact."
Link walked forward, but saw that Trixie was still slumped over.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," she told him, "The pact is most important right now."
Link went over to the altar and placed his sword in the pedestal. Instantly there was a fierce rumbling as the eyes of Argant's statue began flowing with lava into the mouth of the statue which poured into an indent in the floor that then surrounded the pedestal. Orange-red light surrounded Link and stretched towards the ceiling and everything went white.
When Link could see again, he was in a very strange place. It looked like the temple, but everything was new and laiden with crystals and there were tall windows strewn about the shrine that showed that the shrine was isolated and surrounded by the inside of an active volcano. However, the most obvious difference was that Argant's statue was no longer a statue.
Instead, in place of the stone statue was a large, red dragon with triangular spikes running down its back and tail. Each of the dragons' claws had three talons and it had three bones in its thin wings. It had an elongated jaw and a thick torso. Its horns extended far back like a cat with its ears bent backwards. It had a set of three smaller horns along the opposite end of its mandible heading towards its neck. The dragon's mouth was full of sharp, pointed teeth. Link wasn't even bigger than the dragon's head. This was, without a doubt, Argant.
"Well done, mortal, you have proven your courage and become my champion." Argant spoke to Link, standing tall with its forelegs fully extended and its hind legs bent with his tail curled clockwise towards Link with the tip stopping just in front of Argant's left forward claw. "I congratulate you and accept this pact, which we have made. Let it be known that you, hero of fate, have selected I, Argant, the Fire Dragon, to be your partner to vanquish the dragon of chaos. But first, let my roar empower your spirit."
Argant tilted his head towards the ceiling and roared loudly. Link glowed with a bright orange glow as his fatigue disappeared. Argant looked back at Link. "With my power added to yours, by stealing your spirit you can restore your fatigue, though damage you have suffered will still take its full course. And now, Link, Hero of Fate, let us return together to your world."
In a flash of light Link was back in the temple. In the next moment, Argant's statue began cracking until the beast himself broke free of the stone prison and was there in its stead. Argant shook off the gravel and dust. He extended his wings and flapped them twice. He then roared and his roar opened the ceiling revealing the sky above. Argant walked forward towards Link. "Ah, how good it feels to finally be able to leave the land of the dragons after so many years. I'll be able to stretch my wings. What's say I start by carrying you and your friend here to wherever it is you want to go? As your partner it is my solemn duty to aide you in any way I can."
"So I get a dragon for a partner? Cool," Link admired.
"Indeed," Argant said and lowered his wing for Link and Trixie to climb aboard. "My wings may look frail, but the cartilage is quite firm. Don't be afraid, climb aboard."
Link and Trixie loaded up onto Argant and took to the skies. Link was in awe of the landscape of Hyrule from being so high up in the air.
"So beautiful," Trixie took note, "I normally don't fly at this altitude. This is amazing."
"Your world is very aesthetically pleasing," Argant said to her and Link, "That is why we visit and why we balance it. We love this world as many of you do. Now then, where shall I take you?"
Link directed Argant to the Goron's camp where Saruna stood in shock as the dragon lowered himself. Argant inquired if the horse he had seen as he made his way here belonged to Link, to which Link acknowledged that it was. Argant wanted to know if, now that Link had him for transport if he'd like Epona returned to the stables. Link agreed. With that Argant flapped his wings and took off, signaling that he'd be back soon.
Link then went to talk to Saruna.
"I don't believe my eyes, was that Argant the Fire Dragon?" Saruna asked.
"It was now, pay up," Link said, rubbing the truth in Saruna's face.
"Of course, of course, I'll keep my end of the deal. To think you truly were the here of fate. I'm absolutely amazed. Of course as the hero I'll grant any request I can. Just don't take advantage of my generosity."
"We want the Gerudo girl set free."
"Ah, yes of course. Saruna turned around and plucked a key from the rock in his tent. "Here, this key will open the chest near her. The item in there should allow her to free herself. However, if she steals anything again, I'm going to hold you responsible."
Link obtained the chest key, which allowed him to open the chest to free the gerudo girl. He opened the chest and found a pair of bracelets inside.
"Oh, hey, my bracelets! That old rock muncher gave you the key to that chest huh? Quick, give them here!"
Link handed the girl the bracelets and she slipped them onto her wrists, but they seemed rather big on her as they loosely hung on her forearms, but that seemed to be all she needed to rip off her wrist shackles. Her bracelets then hugged tightly to her wrists as she slipped them on.
With a fierce yank, the girl ripped her legs free from the chain that bound her to the boulders. She then ripped the anklets off her with her bare hands.
The girl then wiped her brow. She then put her left hand on her hip. "Whew, much better." She smiled widely at Link. "Thanks a lot tunic boy, I owe you one."
"Don't forget your part of the deal," Link told her.
"Darn, and here I thought I could slip one by you. You're sharp, I like that. So since we're going to be working together, let's exchange proper greetings. What's your name tunic boy?" the girl asked him. Link gave the half-gerudo his name. "Link huh?" The girl extended her arm towards him. "Name's Din, nice to meet you." Link shook her hand. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine."
She turned towards Trixie. "And what's your name?"
"Trixie Mescearl, Princess of the Sky Fairies," Trixie told her extending her arm for a handshake, which Din readily accepted. "You better watch yourself though, Miss Thief, Link here's a knight of Hyrule. Commit any crimes and he'll haul you into jail."
"I wouldn't dream of causing trouble for you guys after you just got me set free. Although," She shifted her gaze upwards and put her right index finger on her chin. "If it's not too much trouble I do have one request."
"What's the matter?" Link asked.
Din put both her hands on her hips. "It's regarding the reason I was chained down in the first place. I came to Death Mountain hoping to snag the goron's sacred treasure, the Megaton Hammer. With my power bracelets I can lift pretty much anything. I figured that hammer would be good for defending myself. I have some fire magic too, but it's not as potent as say," she gestured her hip towards Trixie, "a princess of the sky fairies. I'm only a mid-level spellcaster."
"We pretty much have the goron elder in our pocket. I'm sure there's no harm in asking."
"Hey, he did say not to take advantage of his generosity."
"Yay," Din pumped her fists as she took one of her legs off the ground for a moment, "I knew you were a good guy, Link." Din said, putting her left arm on her hip and letting her right arm hang at her side.
"Well, as long as we're still waiting for Argant, I guess we might as well go and ask."
"Argant? Did you guys get another partner before you came to free me? Speaking of which," Din looked towards the mouth of the cave with the side of her hand over her eyes, "what happened to your horse?"
"We sort of…upgraded," Link joked.
"Oh, well I guess I'll see when I see then," Din said. "Come on," she darted out into the sunshine where Link and Trixie followed. Din then stretched her arms up over her head. "Ah sunshine, so warm." She then yawned. "Well, no use dillydallying, let's go."
Link, Trixie and Din headed back up the mountain pathway towards Saruna's encampment and Link asked for Saruna about possibly being given the Megaton Hammer.
"WHAAT?" Saruna thundered causing a couple of the gorons to turn their heads. "You want me to turn over my people's sacred treasure? I-I know I said to grant any request, but I also said not to take advantage of my generosity."
Din put a hand on her hip. "Oh come on, do you really need to keep it locked up in the vault like that? We're on a journey to vanquish a dragon of chaos. We should get any advantage we could need, don't you think?"
"I doubt the hero of fate could even wield it. It's quite heavy."
"Din said she could wield it."
"WHAAAAT?" Saruna bellowed again. "You would put the sacred treasure in the hands of this thief?"
"Din's loyalty is to me. Also, I'm a knight. If she does anything suspicious, I'll arrest her on the spot," Link told Saruna.
Saruna sighed. "Well, when you put it like that. I suppose there's no harm in handing it over. At least try to see if you can wield it first." Saruna looked towards one of the gorons loitering about. "You there! Bring the sacred treasure here, goro!"
"Right away, goro!"
The megaton hammer was brought before Link, Din and Trixie on a smooth, polished rock. Link went to pick the hammer up only to struggle with all his might. He struggled several times, but could barely make the hammer budge.
"Link, are you even trying?" Trixie asked. "That hammer is smaller than your sword. How heavy can it be?"
"Wahaha!" Saruna laughed. "The Megaton Hammer isn't called the Megaton Hammer for no reason. It weighs several tons. Some of the members of our tribe have trouble just lifting it. That's why we leave it on our sacred stone. The hammer is hard to lift on its own, but on a separate surface it can be lifted as if it weighs nothing at all."
"Yeah well, watch a master at work." Din said enthusiastically. She rubbed her hands together on one side of her body and then rubbed them on the other side. Then, smiling politely she reached down and firmly grasped the hammer and lifted it with ease.
"G-GOROOOOOO!" Both the goron that had brought the hammer and Saruna were shocked as Din wielded the incredibly heavy hammer with ease, even juggling it like it weighed as much as a 3lb dumbbell. "H-how is she doing thaaaaaaat?!" Saruna bellowed.
Din chuckled mischievously. "Kishishi," she smiled and held up her arm, pointing to her bracelet with a single finger. "These bracelets are a lot more augmentative than you thought, huh?"
"G-goro," Saruna stuttered.
"With these bracelets, as long as it's not nailed down I can lift practically anything. Din then took one of the ribbons on her outfit and tied the hammer to it to create a makeshift sheathe. "There, that should secure it properly for now, though I should really get a proper harness attachment or something."
"Will that be everything?" Saruna asked.
Link took out his rupee wallet and showed how empty it was.
"Hmm, that's an awfully small wallet. I think we can properly accommodate you for that. Now that isn't any trouble. And while I'm at it, as you said, you should get every advantage you can. Let me get you a bomb bag capable of holding our special crop and regular bombs as well. It should prove useful."
In no time at all, Link was outfitted with a bigger wallet and nearly 1,000 rupees as well as a goron-patented bomb bag with twenty bombs in it. By this time Argant's shadow was looming overhead. "Look's like our ride's here," Trixie noted.
"Good luck you three, especially you, Hero of Fate. Come back if there's anything more I can do for you."
With that Link signaled Argant to land. "Wow, nice ride," Din said jumping onto Argant's back. Link and Trixie saddled up onto Argant and the large dragon took into the air.
"Where to, my master?" Argant asked Link.
"Link, I don't mean to be a bother," Trixie said to him, "But it would be nice if we could go to my kingdom, I need to replenish my magic power, plus we are the keepers of one of the dragon crystals."
"It's a very humble request, though it is entirely up to you master? Shall we set course for the Sky Kingdom?"
Link pointed over the horizon, up above the clouds and let out a grunt, indicating where he wanted Argant to fly.
"Understood, Sky Kingdom, here we come." And with that, Argant took off into the air.
Ganon's Castle
"I see, so he is being aided by one of the sky fairies," Ganondorf said as he faced the stained glass wall of his grand hall. Koume was behind him, kneeling before him in allegiance and apology. Koete was standing nearby, listening in as were Knil, Keisa and Cylonilia with the two latter down by the hall entrances and Knil standing with his back against the wall across from Ganondorf's left side.
"Please forgive my error of judgment, Lord Ganondorf. I would not have taken them so lightly if I had known he was being aided by such a powerful ally."
"You are pardoned this once," Ganondorf told her. "Do not fail me again."
"I told you, you should have sent me," Knil stated, "I don't show any mercy."
"Koume is faster on her feet and if she had acted according to plan the hero would be dead. Still, if the princess used such a powerful spell to defeat you, she would obviously have to go to the sky kingdom to rest."
Cylonilia pushed off the wall, "Shall I go and pursue them then my lord?"
"No, let them go. The time they spend there will let me spread my influence across Hyrule's lands. Keisa?"
"Ahn?" Keisa stated, acknowledging being called upon.
"I have heard Commandant Bastion is looking for the princess. I want you to intercept him and eliminate him."
"It shall be done," Keisa said and began to leave.
"Anything I can do my lord?" Knil asked, getting down on one knee.
"Nothing for now Knil, though I appreciate the readiness you show. You are all dismissed."
With that Ganondorf's generals left, leaving Ganondorf alone. He parted the stained glass wall with his magic and entered a hidden chamber within his palace, leading to a winding staircase that he climbed up and allowed him to survey No Man's Land. "So, Hero of Fate, you have managed to collect a single crystal. Don't get too assured of yourself. Rest assured before you have collected all eight, I will have you and your allies eliminated." Ganondorf then reared back his head and let out a dark, manic laugh. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!"
To be continued…
(A/N: And that'll about do it for chapter 4. I've now added Din to the party and before anyone asks I have the feeling she won't be the last to join. As with any Zelda game: expect a harem lol. However, if this was an actual Zelda game there'd be dialogue options allowing you to earn or gain approval from your party members to ultimately seek out an alternate romance from Zelda. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I have some studying to do before my exam at 6:30. Au revoir, my dear readers. See you next time).