The gate he'd jumped earlier had been destroyed.
There was a scream from the village that sounded like Beth.
Tails didn't stop to think. They were in trouble. He spurred Epona on, rushing into the village.
Once there, he was greeted by an ominous, and equally strange sight.
Colin was tied up on a pole that was strapped to the back of a large, blue creature. It looked like a giant... hedgehog?
Sonic?
The creature, Sonic or not, turned at the sound of Tails and Epona charging right at it, and took off at speed, heading for the north exit.
He followed, trying to keep pace. It kept just ahead.
Bulbins atop boars assaulted him, but in his anger he lashed out with the sword, carving them up while they still rode, and cutting down any of the boars that came close. Kargaroks wisely chose not to interfere after one was sent off with a sharp blow to it's beak.
He pulled out the slingshot, and shot the at the creature, but it seemed to ignore it.
It changed course, heading for a bridge. He followed, unaware of the bulbins that stood with arrows. Arrows draped with oil soaked cloth, and tinder to light it.
He followed onto the bridge, leaping over some boxes. The creature stood at the far end.
The bulbins shot their arrows into the boxes at either end, setting them alight and trapping them.
Tails shot the nearest one down, then charged toward the creature, sword at the ready.
They charged at each other, not unlike two knights jousting.
He spurred Epona, and pulled over to one side as they came close, slashing away. Only a few blows connected, but it definitely felt them.
They both stopped, turned, and charged again. Tails missed entirely this time, having to pull further to avoid collision.
The third time again, he missed, but spotted on the back of the creature, what was unmistakably a shadow bug.
On his fourth pass, he swung hard at it with the flat of the blade. It fell off, and off the bridge.
The creature and the pole fell to the ground. He stopped Epona nearby, and untied Colin, throwing the pole off after the bug.
The blue creature seemed to darken, and shrink. Finally, the darkness broke off, vanishing, and left a familiar blue hedgehog groaning beside him. There were a few cuts and bruises, evidence of their battle.
Tails checked Colin, who was still unconscious, then moved back to his friend.
"Huh? Tails? Is that you?"
"Hey, Sonic."
"God, I hurt. What happened?"
"Don't you remember?"
"Ugh... no. I remember something weird happened, and I found myself in front of some weird castle... then this freaky dude in armour that made him look like a squid appeared."
"Zant," Tails identified grimly.
"You know him?"
"I've been selected to fight against him."
"Selected?"
"It's a long story. What after then?"
"It's kinda blurry... sorry, buddy. I don't remember anything after that."
"You were manipulated by him into kidnapping this kid from Kakariko Village, and then into attacking me. I just snapped you out of it."
"Wow. Never realised you had it in you."
"I've been busy here. Give me a hand with Colin, I'll get him back to Kakariko. You up for some running?"
"Like this? No chance, mate."
"Hop on up then." He turned to Epona. "You don't mind taking the three of us do you?"
Epona neighed, then nibbled a stray bit of Tails' fur.
"Hey," he laughed. "Stop that."
The others in Kakariko were relieved to see Tails ride into the village with Colin safe, and curious when they saw Sonic. They gathered between Eldin's spring and Renado's house.
Sonic jumped down, and helped bring Colin down. Tails held him as everyone gathered.
Colin woke up, and saw him.
"Tails? Is everyone alright?" His voice was weak but clear.
"Everyone's fine."
"Good." He turned to Beth. "Are you mad at me for shoving you?"
"Of course not... you saved me from that thing."
"I think I understand now. Father told me I had to be strong. He didn't mean like lifting big rocks. He meant like you, Tails, being brave."
"Take it easy... you've been through a lot."
"You saved me, didn't you?" He nodded. "You can do anything... You can do something about the Gorons too, can't you?" He nodded again. "I believe in you," he said finally, before falling back into sleep again.
Renado approached, picking him up from Tails easily.
"I will take care of him. Fear not for him, or the others. No harm shall come to them so long as I breathe."
"Wait a moment?" Tails asked Renado before he left.
"What troubles you?"
He moved over to Sonic, and rested one gauntleted hand on his shoulder. "This is my friend, Sonic. He was transformed into that beast by the same dark shadows that brought the beasts."
Renado nodded. "You are welcome with us, Sonic."
"Tails? You sure about this?" he objected.
"You're hurt. You need to recover. Don't worry, as soon as I'm done with Gorons, I'll be back again."
"Alright. Be careful."
"I wish people would stop telling me that," he complained. "It's not like I haven't heard it enough times before."
He watched as everyone departed again. Malo, unlike the others, wandered into the building opposite Renado's. He followed.
Inside was the general store, but the signs now read 'Malo Mart' outside.
"I took on this unmanned store," he said by way of explanation. "Buy something. It helps everyone."
Tails glanced over the merchandise, spotting an ornate shield. He'd seen it before. Link had it.
He'd strapped the new shield on, and Midna had taken the old Ordon shield, keeping it safe, like she had the Iron boots.
She was watching him as he made his way back to where he'd met the Goron. He'd left Epona with the residents, they'd take care of her for him.
"You know that... thing?"
"Sonic? Sure I do. He's from my world."
"Don't you people wear clothes there?"
"Things are just a bit different, that's all."
"We can trust him?"
"Of course we can, I've known him for years. We've worked together many times before."
"So why did you get him to stay back?"
"He's not used to this world yet, and he's still hurt from our fight."
"You looked rather courageous then."
"I was angry mostly. I said I'd take good care of them."
"And when you saw what happened, you felt responsible."
Tails nodded.
He looked up at the cliff. From down here, he couldn't tell, but he knew the Goron was still there.
"I'm going to need the Iron boots."
"You won't be able to climb."
"Well, you'll have to be quick then."
The Goron wasted no time in rolling down again. This time though, with his new shield, and the Iron boots planting him firmly on the ground, the Goron stopped, stunned.
Midna quickly retrieved the Iron boots, allowing him to move on.
Several more Gorons tried to roll into him, each time stopped by the shield.
The volcanic eruptions hurled rocks at him as well. Each time, he sheltered under the shield. The rocks impacted hard, but it was better than them hitting him instead.
They reached the area where the shadow beasts had attacked, the portal still in the sky.
After the eruption finished, there was a giant volcanic rock that had embedded itself uncomfortably close to him.
"Is this that traditional Death Mountain welcoming? Looks dangerous."
"It doesn't look like there's any way up..."
"Maybe you'll have to fly it?"
"With those eruptions?"
"So fly short and quickly."
That made sense.
He made his way down, avoiding rocks and Gorons alike. After the next eruption, he made his way up to the hot springs, and took shelter again.
Dodging more Gorons and eruptions, he made his way further up, until he found the entrance into the cavern of the Goron Council.
They all rolled up, about to charge him, but a commanding voice called out.
"Enough! Is this small, young one such a threat that you must all gang up on him? I think not, brothers."
They stopped, standing aside. Another Goron pushed through.
"I am Gor Coron, of the Goron elders. I lead the Gorons in place of our patriarch, Darbus."
"I'm Tails."
"Welcome then, Tails. Do you hail from the village below?"
"I just came from there, but it's not my home."
"Ah? And where would that be?"
"A lot further away. Believe me, you won't have heard of it."
"I see. And your business here?"
"I was told by the light spirit Eldin to remove a dark power from your mines."
"I cannot permit that."
"But it could help you all!"
"It is not possible."
Tails thought. "What exactly is wrong with your patriarch?"
"Darbus? He went into the mines in order to settle the volcano, but was consumed by evil."
"Oh."
"Indeed. You see one of the reasons I cannot permit you into our sacred mines."
He thought some more, then remembered Bo's letter.
He handed it to the elder. "I think this might help."
Gor Coron examined it closely.
One of the other Gorons approached him, a fist raised.
"Do not think I will not notice," Gor Coron said, not looking up.
"But Elder, he clearly seeks to deceive you."
"Enough. I will decide that for myself." He finished reading the letter, and looked up. "Very well. Bo tells me you have been chosen, correct?"
"That's what I was told by Ordona. Faron and Eldin also said that."
"If it were not for that, and for Bo's letter... I would not permit it. However, in the circumstances..." he turned. "Guards! Aside. The Hero of the gods is to be allowed entry."
"You've got my honest thanks," Tails told him.
"You will have our undying gratitude if you can save our patriarch, Tails. Best fortune."
He walked on into the mines, feeling the heat from them already.
"This is going to be hot work."
"Be brave, wolf boy. Remember your friend."
"I can hardly forget. I'm just not used to this heat."
"You're not used to much, are you?"
"Have you ever gone into a volcano?"
"Fair enough. Call me if you need me, wolfy."
