Warnings: See Chapter 1
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Chapter 6: The Burning Path
It was high noon before they made it to the town of Kakariko nestled at the base of an ominously smoking mountain. None of the villagers seemed bothered by the grey-black cloud billowing above their happy little livelihoods nor the occasional rumbling that was most certainly not thunder.
Kurama peered up at the sky in nonchalant concern. "How can they be so oblivious to their impending doom?" he asked quietly. "This volcano is sure to erupt any day now."
"That is why they call it Death Mountain, you realize," Hiei commented, inspecting an overpriced shield in boredom before replacing it with the shake of his head.
"You don't seem very concerned about being blown to bits," Kuwabara observed with a flat stare at Hiei.
"I'm pretty sure I can withstand fire," Hiei answered drily.
Yusuke dared to poke Hiei's shoulder as he taunted lowly, "Yeah, but you forget that you don't have your demon powers here. You'd melt just like the rest of us."
Hiei slapped Yusuke's hand away with an annoyed glare. "My powers may be gone, but my body is still fire-proof, you twit."
Kurama nodded. "We may not be able to utilize our powers, but our body chemistry is the same. We will not be as affected by the things that we are biologically immune or resistant to. Do you understand?"
"You lost me at chemistry and again at biocology," Yusuke said.
"It's like my battle with Touya in which my powers were locked inside my body," Kurama sighed, not bothering to correct Yusuke's words.
"So mine are locked inside, too?" Yusuke asked thoughtfully, examining his hand as if to see the power trapped within.
Link pushed his way out of the crowd gathered at the potions stand and took a deep breath before making his way back over to his new travelling group. "Did you guys get all that you needed?" he asked, straightening his hat and placing his newly purchased potions inside his pouch.
Hiei nodded, shouldering a shield and handing the irritated shopkeeper eighty rupees. He would rather not pay such an outrageous price for an item he did not particularly want, but a sturdier shield was a must for the trials they would surely undergo.
"Yeah, let's get out of here," Kuwabara said, eager to get away from the mountain and the awful feeling he was picking up from it.
"Um, about that," Link said, looking slightly guilty.
Yusuke had a flat look on his face, expecting what was coming.
"You guys might have to go on to Castle Town without me," Link told them all.
"You're not thinking of going up that mountain, are you?" Kuwabara asked worriedly.
Link nodded seriously. "Someone told me that no one is able to go up the mountain pass because there was a rockslide that blocked the path."
"I'm so sure that's why," Kurama muttered.
"Not like it has anything to do with it erupting or anything," Yusuke said.
Kuwabara tried to convince Link again. "Look, I've just got a really bad feeling about that mountain. I don't think you should go up there."
Link smiled kindly, but turned with a wave. "I appreciate the concern, but I can't just stand around and watch."
"Weren't you dying to go on another adventure a moment ago?" Yusuke asked slyly. "What's wrong? Is Kuwabara chickening out?"
Link had done no more than take a step when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, and turned to see the very determined form of Kuwabara, his eyes blazing.
"Look, if you're going up there, you're not going alone!" Kuwabara said firmly. "We already decided to stick together until Castle Town, and real men don't go back on their word!" he exclaimed, punching a fist into the air, and then added as an afterthought, "No matter how many bad feelings he may be getting from that mountain…"
"Okay then," Link said with a shrug. This Kuwabara guy is really into adventuring…
OOO
"Come on, Kuwabara! Hurry it up!" Yusuke's voice shouted from farther up the path.
"Easy for you to say," the psychic groaned, panting from the safety of an alcove in which he had ducked, having nearly been flattened by a boulder that resembled Risho from the Dark Tournament careening down at him. The mountain certainly had deadly aim for the falling rocks to be random.
"Okay, you're good!" Yusuke called.
"That's what you said last time, and I almost got squashed!" Kuwabara yelled back.
"It's a lucky thing that you're already ugly, then," Hiei commented, loud enough for Kuwabara to catch.
"What was that?!" Kuwabara exclaimed, forgetting about the danger of boulders, and dashing across the pathway where the others waited to grab Hiei by the collar of his tunic.
"If you're done dawdling, we can finally continue," Hiei said in monotone, pushing away from Kuwabara and brushing off.
"Where are we exactly?" Kurama asked, shielding his eyes from the sun as he gazed at the dusty scenery cast in an ashen haze.
"It's like snow," Kuwabara said in wonderment, inspecting the grey-white flakes that landed in his palm.
"It's ash," Hiei said gruffly, though he did not insult Kuwabara.
"The mountain is getting pretty close to erupting," Yusuke said, breathing in the smoldering air.
"Oh, no," Link moaned from where he stood above them on a higher ledge.
"How'd he get up there so fast?" Yusuke asked himself. He could have sworn Link had been standing next to him just a moment before when he had been mocking Kuwabara.
"What's wrong?" Kurama called even as Link was jumping back down the ledges to reach them.
"Goron City looks like it's been burned to the ground," Link replied, finally rejoining the rest of them. "It doesn't look like we can get down on the other side."
"How bad is it?" Kuwabara questioned, squinting through the hazy air.
"Pretty bad," Link answered, his boots crunching on the loose dirt and gravel as he approached.
"How bad is 'pretty bad'?" Yusuke wondered.
"Well, there's a huge crevasse in the ground beyond the boulders," Link said, looking back up to the top of the rock wall beside the boulder pile in defeat.
"You think it was the flaming rocks that caught the city on fire?" Yusuke thought aloud.
Kurama shook his head dismissively, ash flakes flying from the red tresses at the motion. "I doubt it, Yusuke. If the Gorons have been living up here for this long, then surely their city was built to withstand any potential eruption of the mountain."
Hiei nodded in agreement. "They may appear to be primitive creatures, but they are the most technologically advanced race in Hyrule, not to mention the most respected metal workers."
"We'll just have to go around," Link sighed in defeat, beginning down the rough trail that lead to the right.
Kuwabara eyed the trail before hesitatingly following the others. Geysers were shooting hot clouds of steam at random, and the ground seemed unlevel and unused. Link had been right, he thought. Whatever had caused the rockslide in the main mountain pass could not have been natural. If it had, then surely this pass would also be hopelessly blocked off. This feeling… Were they all walking into a trap?
Suddenly he ran into Yusuke, who turned to give him a dirty look. Link had stopped and was peering cautiously around a corner. "Why are we stopping?" Kuwabara whispered.
The rest of the group crept forward and peeked around the corner as well.
"An… owl?" Yusuke asked incredulously with a raised eyebrow.
"I really wish there was another path," Link sighed, ducking back around the corner.
Kurama asked Link, "Will it prevent us from going through?"
"Not exactly, but I want to avoid it," Link grumbled, folding his arms.
Kurama looked at Hiei for an explanation. Hiei appeared to have the same look of distaste on his face, but caught the fox's questioning stare. "It's an old guardian from the Spirit World. They usually take the form of owls here."
Kurama groaned and ran a hand over his eyes. "Sages think they're so wise."
"There are sages here?" Kuwabara asked with a sparkle of excitement in his eyes.
"Don't get excited just yet, idiot," Hiei snapped, though he added as an afterthought, "unless you want to be used as a sacrifice."
Yusuke scratched his head, peering around the corner again at the dozing bird. "I don't get why you're all makin' a big deal over an overgrown chicken. How about we just kick its ass and move on?"
Hiei deadpanned. "Don't even speak to me about chickens," he said in a low voice.
"It's not that easy," Kurama continued, waving off Hiei's comment.
"Of course it isn't" Yusuke muttered.
"Okay, here's what we do," Link whispered. They all huddled closer to listen to him. "We're going to walk slowly as close to the far wall as possible and hope he doesn't see us."
There was a long pause in which they waited expectantly.
"That's it?" Yusuke asked. "That's your plan?"
"Well, er, yes," Link replied, fidgeting under the stares. "He tends not to talk to you if you stay very far away from him."
"Supposedly sages gaze far into the future and don't take notice of things happening around them unless a person wanders in very close proximity," Kurama explained.
After more low-toned whispering for many more moments, Link convinced the rest of the company to follow his careful instructions. They crept out from the corner and towards the far wall and moved very slowly at Link's pace. Someone accidentally kicked a pebble, and the line froze. All eyes turned to the owl, but the large eyes continued to stare unblinkingly into the distance. Everyone exhaled in relief and continued their trek to the path beyond. They were so close. More than halfway there, in fact, when Yusuke broke.
"This is stupid!" he said, ignoring the shushing noises Link was desperately making.
He marched up to the old owls perch. The owl cocked his head and his yellow eyes began to wander.
"Yusuke, get back here!" Kurama whispered furiously. "Hiei, we have to drag him back! We can still make it!" He double glanced ahead of him. That bastard.
"Hell, no!" Hiei whispered back, far ahead of Kurama, sneaking furiously toward their destination.
"Hiei? Hiei!" Kurama called as loudly as he dared, sneaking after the fire demon and Link.
Kuwabara glanced back and forth between the divided group. Which way should he go?
"Hey, you overgrown—" Yusuke began, but the owl cut him off.
"Ah, young man!" he breathed in his deep, booming voice, flapping his wings several times, the gusts knocking Yusuke off of his feet. "I see a destiny!"
"Shit shit shit," Hiei whispered. He was almost clear—
"A destiny for the five of you, brave lads!" he proclaimed, hooting and gazing at them all.
"Damn it all to hell!" Hiei cursed, realizing there was no hope for any of them now.
"All of you! Come hither and harken to my tale!" the owl beckoned.
No one moved.
"Do not be frightened. Come hither," the owl insisted. His eyes flashed bright gold, and everyone gathered around the owl, their bodies moving under the influence of a will that was not their own.
"W-what's goin' on?" Kuwabara asked nervously.
"My name is Kaepora Gaebora," he said, hooting again softly. "I have a tale most fantastic and terrible to reveal to you. Will you listen?"
"No," said Yusuke rebelliously.
Kaepora cocked his head and regarded Yusuke sideways for a moment. "Don't be so rash to rush into danger, young man! Now, harken to my tale." His eyes flashed again, and Yusuke's mouth clamped shut.
Kaepora took a deep breath and in his slow, drawling voice spoke thus:
"In the beginning, the goddesses created the earth and the sky. Din, in her great power wrought the red earth out of the seas and created land. Farore, with her rich soul created the creatures of the earth and all living things who would uphold the law and care for the land. Nayru, through her wisdom brought order and law to the world that the earth and its inhabitants may obey. When the goddesses found that their work was done, they left the world, the only remnant of their presence, the golden triangles—the Triforce!
"And yet, though peace has reigned through Hyrule for the past three-hundred years, a fell wind has begun to blow! Beyond this path you shall find a dismal sight, for, I tell you, the Goron City no longer stands. It has been burned to the ground. No ordinary flames can accomplish such a feat! Unnatural fire springs from the mountain top and clouds gather in a most menacing manner. You must make your way to the summit where your destiny lies. However, I must also advise that you use the path ahead, for the normal path has been collapsed by the same great force!"
The owl ruffled his wings and shook his head. "Thus ends my tale. Would you like to hear what I said again?"
"No," everyone said collectively, except Kurama who offered a polite "no, thank you."
"Yeah, could you repeat that? I didn't quite get it," Yusuke muttered sarcastically.
Hiei whirled around to the detective. "I will murder you in your sleep."
The owl took a deep breath and ruffled his feathers as if he were pleased to have an audience appreciate one of his foretells. "Very well, young man! Now listen carefully as I recount my telling!"
"In the beginning, the goddesses created the earth and the sky."
"Damn you, detective!" Hiei bellowed with rage.
"…great power wrought the red earth out of the seas and created land. Farore…"
"Of all the irresponsible shenanigans, Yusuke!" Kurama scolded.
"…all living things who would uphold the law and care for the land…"
"Don't talk to strangers, Link," Link muttered to himself. "And you took them with you, too."
"…through her wisdom brought order and law to the world that the earth and its inhabitants may obey. When the goddesses found that their work…"
"Is he really going to repeat the whole goddamn story?" squawked Kuwabara in disbelief, struggling to override the spiritual energy pinning him in place.
"…was done, they left the world, the only remnant of their presence, the golden triangles—the Triforce!"
"Of course he is, you fool!" Hiei snapped.
"And yet, though peace has…"
"Stop yelling at him just cuz you're pissed off!" Yusuke shouted.
"…reigned through Hyrule for the past three-hundred years…"
"Thanks, Urameshi," Kuwabara grinned.
"…a fell wind has begun to blow! Beyond this path…"
"Hey, you shut the hell up!" Yusuke yelled at Kuwabara, whose grin fell.
"…you shall find a dismal sight, for, I tell you, the Goron City no longer stands…"
"Shut the fuck up, Urameshi! It's your fault, not his!" Hiei shouted, making Kuwabara now wear a confused expression.
"…It has been burned to the ground. No ordinary flames can accomplish such a feat!"
"Would all of you just stop your bickering!" Kurama interjected.
"Unnatural fire springs from the mountain top and clouds gather in a most menacing manner..."
"If it weren't for the rest of you, I'd be gone by now!" Hiei fumed.
"You must make your way to the summit where your destiny lies…"
"You're right, you would be," Kurama said dangerously, his eyes narrowing.
"However, I must also advise that you use the path ahead…"
Hiei and Kurama were silently glaring at each other. Yusuke and Kuwabara backed down. This shit just got personal.
"…for the normal path has been collapsed by the same great force!"
"Is that what you think?" Hiei asked quietly.
"Would you like to hear what I said again?"
There was a long pause. Finally, Kurama said just as quietly, "Yes, I do."
"Then listen well!" sang Gaebora, shaking everyone from their thoughts. "In the beginning, the goddesses created the earth and the sky…"
Everyone turned to gawk at the large owl again.
"We're going to be here forever!" Kuwabara groaned with despair.
Kurama heaved a great sigh, "That was my mistake, I'll take the blame for this one."
The owl told his story again, ending with a screech and a hoot. Once again he regarded them, seeming to have taken great enjoyment in restating the monologue. "Thus ends my tale. Would you like to hear what I said again?"
"No!" they all shouted.
"I assure you our paths will cross again… Take courage, lads!" he called, flying off with a final 'hoo-hoot'.
"Now that that's over," Link sighed in relief, tapping the toes of his boots behind him to regain feeling.
"Again," added Hiei, shooting a glare at Yusuke.
"Who knew he didn't know sarcasm?" Yusuke defended.
"Words of wisdom! He told us stuff we already knew!" Link said to himself.
"That story about the Triforce… is it true?" Kuwabara asked in wonderment.
Link shrugged, "Supposedly."
"The belief in the Triforce is at least the organized religion of Hyrule," Hiei told him, dusting himself off and deliberately moving past Kurama to stand at the other side of the group. "Other than replicas and legends, there is no proof that it actually exists."
"It's also the crest of the royal family," Link chimed in. "There are many ancient temples that had once been dedicated to the worship of the goddesses, but many now lay in ruin. There is still one that serves its purpose, though."
"There is?" Kuwabara asked eagerly.
Link nodded with a smile. "The Temple of Time in Castle Town."
Kuwabara's eyes widened, and he broke out into a grin again. "Do you think I'll get to see it?"
"I don't know for sure, but I imagine so," Link replied. "I have never been outside of my province, actually," he admitted.
"The Temple of Time stands at the eastern side of Castle Town," Hiei said. "It is plainly visible as you pass through the marketplace."
"Can we go inside, do you think?" the red-haired man asked, looking ahead as if to imagine what they might possibly find there.
"It may actually be a good idea to venture inside," Kurama suggested stiffly, taking notice of how Hiei stood as far away from him as possible without leaving the group. "For now, I think we must simply focus on one goal at a time."
"Yeah, let's leave all that planning ahead crap to Kurama!" Yusuke said, trying to break the tension in the air. "We should probably save this mountain volcano thing before it erupts."
"Point taken," Kurama replied, smiling although his eyes remained serious.
With that, they continued their trek up the mountain path to the remains of what was once the great Goron City.
OoOo
Somewhere in the deep darkness of the mountain's heart a tremor rumbled like some monstrous purr. Slithering sounds began, slowly at first, but then more vividly. Hot breath flew from large nostrils that sniffed the air in search of something.
Not here… I cannot find it, Master! I will find the one who has taken it…
Hissing jaws snapped somewhere in the dark threateningly.
…and end him!
The beast had awakened.
OoOo
Word Count: 3,197
*This chapter is a remake with some dramatic bonus content!
Wow, it has been a while indeed! I have wanted to continue this for so long, but I just couldn't find the time. I hope you guys enjoyed the ending scene! I threw it in there when I figured that nothing really exciting had happened in this chapter besides the telling of the Triforce Legend.
Zelda stuff…
Goron City: In Twilight Princess, the Gorons seem to have the most advanced technology of Hyrule, or understanding of mechanics I should say, having fashioned entire walls out of magnetic material and creating elevators. In Ocarina of Time, they don't have these things, but that moving jar… What makes it go? Also, in Skyward Sword, the Gorons seem to be scholars and very intelligent despite their appearance. And in Wind Waker, so many of the original tribes from the land below had either to adapt or be destroyed… yet Gorons survived. The list goes on.
Kaepora Gaebora: The idea of him being a sage actually comes from the suggestion that this very owl is the form Rauru (Sage of Light) takes when he visits Link to guide him on his quest. The whole thing about sages gazing into the future? I just have to make stuff up to work with Zelda logic. I hope nobody minds.
Huh. Spryte didn't have any lines in this story. Well, what can I say? She's shy.
Next Chapter: The heroes arrive at the ruins of Goron City where they must find and enter the flaming mountain den. What is this foreboding feeling Kuwabara keeps getting? Could they be walking to certain doom? Find out in "The Gorons' Plight"