Chapter 12: All Seems Lost
Link had spent the night there in Goron City so he could regain some of his energy and heal his wounds. While there, he spent his time getting to know how the Gorons lived, and gain their trust. The Gorons gave Link a pair of Power Bracelets to show him their gratitude. One Goron that Link spent most of his time with was Dominic, the leader of the Goron Race. Dominic was a kind-hearted Goron, and he seemed like the type that didn't want to start any kind of trouble. This personality concerned Link, seeing as how he needed the Goron leader to be out-spoken and quick to fight back, otherwise it would be hard to convince the Gorons to help.
Two days after Link's clash with Brick, Link was speaking with Dominic's assistant, when Dominic entered.
"Ah, Link…..how are you this fine day?" asked Dominic, slapping Link on the back.
"I'm doing well Dominic," replied Link. "Say, can I ask you to do a favor?"
"Sure thing brother," replied Dominic. "Anyone who saves the Gorons from slavery can have whatever they wish for from the Gorons."
"Hyrule needs to you fight the Evil army from Gerudo Valley while I sneak into the valley and kill the leaders," said Link, looking down.
"Except that," replied Dominic. "There has been enough death among the Gorons already, and we don't need to have any more. Sure you saved us, and even avenged one who was unarmed, but now you want us to go into a war that…that we don't have a chance?"
"I know that it's a lot of monsters to fight, and your only purpose would be to distract them, but all you have to do is hold them off for at least thirty minutes," pleaded Link. "Then you can retreat."
"For what?" bellowed Dominic. "For them to hunt us down and kill us? I refuse to send my kind to battle!"
"And how many do you think will survive if you stay here?" spat Link. "Do you think they won't come back? They took this mountain once, and you think they won't do it again? This is the high ground; you can see all of Hyrule from here! And you think they won't come back? The only Hylian warriors we have are the Royal Guard! Gods know that the Zoras won't fight because they can stay in their little domain! The Kokiri are perpetually children and can't even leave the forest! And now you won't even help?"
"I can understand that you are in a dilemma, but I just can't send my kin into a war where they'll die."
"Either way they'll die!" retorted Link. "Wouldn't you want them to die with honor? Instead of dieing in this hole while the enemy stands outside waving a sword at you? They catch you in here and they could plant bombs all around the mountain and cave you in! Is that what you want…to die cowering in a hole?"
"We'll leave Hyrule," replied Dominic.
"Oh, that's a good answer," said Link in a sarcastic tone. "And say they do take over Hyrule. Not only will the people who have to endure they're cruelty suffer because of you, they'll also despise you. Could you live with that guilt? Oh, and who's to say they'll stop with Hyrule? What'll stop them from taking over neighboring countries?"
Dominic turned away from Link, clenching his fists, "Assistant, escort Link to the remains of Kakariko Village."
"I don't need an escort," replied Link in a low tone. "I don't need help from a cowardly race."
With out an answer from Dominic, Link left Goron City and made his trek back to Kakariko Village. Once Link made it to Kakariko Village, he saw that carpenters were there, rebuilding some of the houses. Three of the houses were rebuilt. Link continued on to the gate which led to Hyrule field where he was stopped by a Royal Guard.
"Hello there Link," said the Guard. "I was ordered by the Queen to tell you to go to the Lon Lon Ranch in the middle of Hyrule Field. There you will receive a horse."
"Why would the Queen want me to have a horse?" asked Link.
"She said that a horse would transport you faster than if you went by foot," replied the Guard. "It'll save time too."
"Oh, I guess that's a good idea," said Link as he continued towards the gate.
"Hey, you can take this cart the carpenters used to get here in," offered the Guard.
Link headed for the cart and left for Lon Lon Ranch. After a very boring ride, Link made it to Lon Lon Ranch. He walked a few yards till he came to a corral with many horses in it.
"Is your name Link," asked a young girl, about the same age as him.
"Yeah," replied Link.
"My name is Malon. It's been in the family for years. Since the Queen ordered me to give you our best horse, you should follow me over to the stable where we keep her."
Link, without giving a reply, followed Malon over to a small building where the prized horse was kept.
"This is Epona, the fastest horse we have," stated Malon. "Nothing seems to spook her at all so she'd be faithful in battle."
"Hey, I'll take whatever horse you give me," replied Link. "I've had a very disappointing day, and I'd like to get back to the castle. So just put a saddle on her and let me get on my merry way."
Malon went over to a saddle resting on the ground, and brought it over to put on Epona.
"All of Hyrule has heard of what you did for the Gorons," stated Malon. "People in town are saying that they're beginning to have faith in you."
"You mean they didn't have any to begin with?" asked Link.
"To begin with, they were rather angry with you," replied Malon. "With you endangering them and all. But with you being able to regain control of an enemy infested area, and take down one of Evil's top warriors…they're starting to believe in you."
"That's good," replied Link with a smile. "News travels fast around here."
"Well, when the Queen has her messenger hawks flying around all the time, things get reported pretty quickly," replied Malon as she finished strapping the saddle on Epona. "There, she's ready to ride."
Link led Epona out of the building and got onto her, "Well, thanks. I'll guess I'll see you around? Oh, and don't stay here too long, whoever is running this show could surround you and kill you if you don't watch out."
"Thanks for the advice," thanked Malon. "You take care of yourself. You're one man against an army."
Link nodded his head and put Epona into a gallop as he left for Hyrule Castle.
After yet another boring ride, Link made it to Hyrule Markey Place, where he was met by a crowd of people. All of which were cheering for him. Many cheered for his accomplishment of freeing the Gorons, others where cheering because they felt he could actually pull them through this.
Link soon got through the crowd and made it to Hyrule Castle where the Queen was actually waiting for him. She was surrounded by guards, while Link could see archers around the area.
"I have some bad news," stated Link as he got of Epona. "They refused to help."
"I figured as much," replied Zelda. "I also have some bad news."
"What?" asked Link.
"All of my messenger hawks came back reporting the same news. Coming out of every fairy fountain, at least twenty moblins and dark nuts, all of their weapons were bloody. One of my hawks actually went into the fountain, and do you know what it reported?"
"No," replied Link.
"The Great Fairy was dead; all of the Great Fairies are dead!"
"So I can't get my weapons upgraded," stated Link, as he looked down.
"Yeah, and while you were at Goron City, they took over Zoras Domain."
"I can tell you one thing, Evil sure isn't playing around," said Link. "They really are pulling out all of the stops so they can come out on top."
Zelda nodded, then looked down at the cast on her leg, "Come inside, we'll have to find a new plan, and maybe in the castle, we can hide it from the ears of Evil."
Link, without an answer, followed Zelda as she hobbled into the Castle. Although the crowd of the Market cheered for Link's victory, Evil truly did seize the day.
