Series Title: How To Tame Your Volga
Disclaimer: Still don't own Hyrule Warriors.
Author's Notes: After having the worst day at work where basically everything bad that could have happened, including an accident that was entirely my fault, did happen, I came home and had to channel my stress into something. I'm very much a believer in Neil Gaiman's advice that when things happen, make good art. For me, it's either make something or wind up physically ill and I'd rather have the drabble.
While I was writing this, I had two thoughts of where this scene might go from here. First possibility was Link choosing to stay with Volga and becoming outlaws and traitors of the kingdom and somehow Linkle becomes the Legendary Hero for the Hyrulean forces. The other was that because he's the Hero, Link sides with Hyrule but Volga has to flee or face execution. Not knowing the reason behind his attack and still devoted to Volga, Link does his best to keep Volga alive and safe until matters can be sorted out, if they can be. Not that this scene is going to go anywhere else, though.
I'm not sure if the title is entirely applicable to Link and Volga's situation, but it was definitely cathartic for me. Volga is more than likely OOC at the end but I just needed to write this... As always, thanks for reading.
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Story Title: Catharsis
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Lantern in hand, Link followed the claw and char marks marring the mouth of the cave and made his way slowly down into the belly of the mountain. He shouldn't be here and he knew it. It was not just a matter of Lana telling him not to go after Volga—Link felt more out of place, uncertain, anxious, and afraid to be here with every step. Following a dragon consumed by rage into narrowing underground passages scared him far less than knowing that Volga was in need of help, Link knew not where he was, and his allies refused to search, insisting that they could not trust Volga any more and neither should Link. The Hyrulean forces preferred to let Volga die. The only reason they would help search for him would be to execute him themselves.
He didn't know what had happened and he couldn't get a straight answer from any of his allies. No one seemed to know what had happened and everything they could tell him, Link had seen with his own eyes. Half of their war tents were on fire, at least forty soldiers were dead and more would succumb to their burns before morning, and Zelda's palms and the right side of her face and ear were entirely scorched—it was by the Goddesses' blessing that it was not more than that.
Volga had attacked them and no one could tell him why.
Reaching his hideout, Link stopped as the dragon knight in dragon form rumbled low in his throat. Volga lay coiled with his folded wings facing the entrance to the cavern and his head lay facing the mountain wall. With each step Link took, his rumbling became louder and stronger—Link felt the vibrations shake the earth around him—and the dragon knight began to uncoil himself. Raising and turning his head toward him, he bared his fangs and hissed in warning. Volga didn't want him here. He didn't want to be found, not now, not yet.
While there were plenty of times that Volga had wanted to be left alone, there were just as many times he needed help but was too stubborn to seek it, preferring to stoically sulk and shoulder all his problems. Even so, Volga was growling and snarling far too much at Link and when that wasn't enough, Volga swiped at him and roared, the force of which knocked Link to the ground but did not deter him.
As Volga backed away from him and pressed himself against the mountain wall, Link had no idea why he would be giving him so much warning to stay away. He seemed unharmed but he was breathing rapidly and his heart was visibly pounding against his dragonskin. While their allies wouldn't see a change, Link knew something was wrong. Volga didn't panic and Volga never backed away from anyone, especially Link. Link was relieved to see that he was all right and was glad that he had found him but he was confused and worried about Volga. Volga didn't act this way, like he couldn't trust himself around Link.
As the dragon knight opened his jaws, Link's eyes widened as the inside of Volga's mouth and throat glowed red. He dropped his lantern and rolled to the side just in time as Volga filled the mountain tunnel with fire. Before he could spread his flames throughout the cavern, Link scrambled to his feet and ran toward the dragon knight. Link was not afraid of Volga. He had no reason to fear him.
Leaping up and grabbing a hold of one of his horns, Link hugged his other arm underneath his neck and held on tightly as he leaned into Volga's view. There was nothing Link could do to keep Volga from swinging his head to the side and slamming him against the mountain. If he had his gauntlets, maybe Link could pin his head down but even then he wouldn't be safe. All he could do was hope his arm strength didn't fail him and that Volga was not forever lost in a blind panic of unknown origins.
As soon as Link peered into the dragon knight's eye, his slit vertical pupil shifted back and Volga stared at Link. Feeling the heat of his fire breath singe his exposed skin, Link grimaced but refused to let go, even as glowing cinders and blown ash flew into his face and wisps of smoke stole his breath. Gradually smothering his flames and closing his reservoir, Volga remained transfixed on Link. While the dragon knight did swing his head from side to side, it was not strong or fast enough to do anything more than sway Link along.
It would have been easier to communicate with Volga if he had brought Proxi along but Link had never really needed his fairy companion to talk to Volga. With his left arm still holding onto a horn, Link swept his right hand down along the dragon knight's neck. He rested his head beside Volga's eye, knowing that he could feel his press even if he could no longer see his face. There he laid dangling, uncertain if he could or would hang on if the dragon knight did not calm down and thrashed him.
It didn't matter to him what Volga had done or even why, not yet—not until he heard Volga's side. At this moment, all Link wanted was for Volga to come to his senses, for things to be right again between them before they were forced to face the aftermath of Volga's rampage and whatever that would entail.
Link smiled softly and rubbed circles against his upper jaw as Volga slowly crouched and laid down onto his stomach. He was still breathing heavily but the constant sight of Link gave him focus. As his scales grew hot and glowed, Link stepped down and backed away as Volga shifted into his human form with a burst of fire magic. As the energy dispersed, Volga was not the proud, roaring dragon knight. Volga sat slumped to the side on the ground and stared distantly into the earth, still lost in his racing thoughts.
Thinking that he had calmed down now that he had changed back into a human, Link's happiness faded and he hurried to the dragon knight's side. Link dropped to his knees and removed Volga's helmet. Sweat was pouring down the side of his face. To his complete shock, Volga grabbed him and pulled him into a crushing hug. Link winced and gasped in pain as he squeezed him closer and tighter while bending forward until he had crumpled over and around him. Volga buried his face into the crook of Link's neck and shoulder. His breath was hot and ragged.
When the dragon knight finally eased up, Link raised his head and filled his starved lungs with a deep breath of air. His eyes were wet, from both pain and Volga's palpable, overwhelming emotion. He asked Volga what had happened.
Volga could not answer him.
They sat in the belly of the mountain with only Link's flickering, fading lantern providing them light. Link wrapped his arms around the dragon knight's neck and the two held one another in silence as they felt and listened to one another's steady breaths.
"I can't go back. You know that," Volga said as he ran a trembling hand through Link's hair and pushed his green cap off the back of his head. "I'm sorry."
His voice cracked,"...I'm so sorry."
"Forgive me."