Chapter Twenty-One - The Battle to Save Darbus

"Look out!"

Link grabbed me by the arm and pulled me down the rusted ramp just as a barrel exploded behind us. Both of us were knocked to the ground a few feet away as debris from the explosive barrels rained down. Another few fire arrows lodged in the wall next to us, barely missing the next set of barrels.

"Where the heck is that coming from?" I asked as we both sat up.

"I don't know. I thought we'd gotten rid of all of them." He picked up his bow and got to his feet. "Stay here. I'll look again."

Okay. While he's looking for the last archer, let me explain what's been going on since we left Dangoro's chamber. The temple has gone pretty much as planned, which makes me feel a little bit better about things. Although the room where he had to get me across the ceiling was not fun. Knowing we could fall any moment into deadly lava wasn't comforting. I'm never doing that again if I can help it.

We got the third key piece and rested another few hours or so before moving on. We made it to the last chamber before Darbus with no major problems.

Until now, that is.

Bublin archers were waiting to ambush us with fire arrows when we entered the room. I used the Hyperwing and Link used the bow to quickly take several of them out, but it seems we'd missed one or two.

"Ah-ha! Found you!"

There was a shriek across the room as the last one was shot and its weapon clattered to the floor.

"Is that all of them?" I asked, standing and brushing my clothes off.

He lowered his bow. "I think so. But stay close to me just in case."

Midna floated up from the shadows on the floor. "The Fused Shadow is just ahead. I can feel it. Just a little way through there." She pointed a finger down at the drawbridge.

As we made our way down there, she disappeared through the bridge and then came back out. "There's a huge locked door through there."

"A huge door?" I tried my best to act like I knew nothing. "Any monsters?"

"None."

I frowned. "Are you sure?" There should've been at least seven waiting for us on the other side.

"Are you suggesting I'm lying?" Her eyes narrowed.

"No." I sighed.

"It's a good thing, Amanda." Link raised his bow to shoot at the rope. "Get the other one, would you?"

We both let out shots at the same time and the ropes broke, causing the drawbridge to come crashing down with a loud boom that reverberated throughout the cavern. Up ahead the massive door with it's equally massive lock loomed above us.

I stood there, just staring at it. "What does that say about how big their patriarch must be?"

He shot me a look. "No Goron is that big." The guy had a point, but I remember the game very clearly. Darbus was bigger than Dangoro even, and he'd been huge up close. Things may have changed a little in terms of, well, everything...but I was sure of that much, at least.

Somehow that thought didn't relieve me of my worries.

"Would you two hurry up already?" Midna was propped up on her elbow in midair and yawning. "I'm getting bored here."

Since when was it our job to entertain her? I was tired, sore, and she was starting to aggravate me. She's lucky I'm not able to grab her or she'd be in that pool of lava right now. "Well, excuse me, your highness."

The twilight creature gave me a toothy grin. "Finally you learn my proper title, clumsy. I was wondering when you'd get it right. Eee hee!"

"Why I oughta–"

Link grabbed me by the shoulder to stop me. "Come on. I'll lift you up and you can the unlock the lock." He handed me the key and whispered in my ear, "The sooner she gets what she wants, she'll stop bothering you."

"For now." I muttered.

He grabbed me by my legs and I yelped in surprise as he hoisted me onto his shoulders. He kept a tight grip on me as I got my bearings. He grinned up at me. "Hang on tight and don't let the lock drop until I tell you to."

I nodded. "Okay."

Link handed me the key I'd dropped when he'd picked me up. I slipped it into the lock and waited until he backed up before turning it and catching the chains that fell. I tossed them aside and he slipped me off his shoulder, still holding me. "Thanks."

I smiled up at him. "Sure. Just warn me before you do that next time."

"Deal." He set me down on my feet. "I'm going to go in there and help Darbus. You stay here where it's safe. I shouldn't be in there too long. If something happens to me, get out of here as fast as you can and return to the village."

"You know I'm not going to do that, right? Leave you here?"

He laughed. "Yeah, I know. It was worth a shot, though. Come on. Help me with this door."

I put my hands next to his in the grooves of the door and we both pulled. Dust and pebbles dislodged from the ceiling as the door rolled open. Whoever thinks these doors are easy to open are crazy. There's no way he could've done this by himself in the game. Even if Link was usually strong.

He hurried in as the door started to roll shut. "Be careful!" I called after him.

"Of course! When am I not?"

"Try always!"

The last thing I saw before the door shut completely were his features settling into a determined look and a shadow of a large beast, which I assumed was Darbus.

It was quiet now, which means Midna must've slipped in there with him to help. Well, actually...help was too strong a word. I doubt she was thinking about anything but that Fused Shadow, which wasn't a bad thing because she needed them. But still...she didn't need to drive us crazy in the process.

My boots made a soft tapping sound on the ground as I paced back and forth. I was fine to wait outside the chamber until Link had defeated Fyrus, but there was a familiar unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach that was making me restless.

I sighed and slid down the wall next to the door. The lock from the door was lying several feet away and I scooted over to examine it. The detailing and design of it was really amazing. There was even a Goron symbol carved on each of the three of the points. I held it up and took the key out of it, tucking it in my pouch. The elders would probably want it back.

I tossed it aside and stood up to stretch. There were no sounds coming from the chamber behind me. Maybe that was a good thing? Or maybe the door was just soundproof.

Splish.

I snapped my head over in the other direction.

Had the monsters had come back?

I took out my halberd from its case and went in the direction of the lava, checking out every angle. The walls had a red-orange tint to them and it was bright enough that nothing could really hide. Just to be double sure, I went all the way around and back up and down the ramps.

But there was nothing there. Not on any platforms or cliffs or anything. I turned to go back to the door, but something in the red-orange pool of lava rippled and caught my attention. Bending down near the edge, I waited for a moment, but nothing else happened.

"Strange..." I sat back on my feet. "Almost as strange as seven Bublins vanishing."

Come to think of it, didn't something like this happen before? No monsters where there are supposed to be several?

"They couldn't have just disappeared into thin air...so where...?"

I was so lost in thought, I didn't notice it at first. The lava rippling again, I mean. Then again, wider this time. As if something was trying to surface.

Something I didn't know had been watching me the whole time, waiting until I was alone to strike.

The ground shook, knocking me on my back and rattling the cavern almost exactly like the earthquakes that had been plaguing the village. The lava exploded in front of me and I scrambled for my halberd and dove behind a rock. Drops of the red-hot stuff started to rain down, causing me to have to run back across the drawbridge for cover.

"What the heck was that?..." I leaned on my weapon to catch my breath.

"Kyaaaargh!"

I whirled around to find myself face to face with a large bird-like monster. Its red-orange feathers dripped of the lava and it's black talons went tak tak against the ground. It stared at me with crimson-red eyes, eerily similar to the ones on the oversized goat back in the Faron Woods.

Uh-oh.

I knew I'd forgotten about something.

The bird opened it's large beak and reached down into the cave to grab hold of me. One swipe of my halberd and it backed up enough for me to slip behind a pillar and along the wall to avoid being caught. If I could just stay back here until Link got Darbus back under control, then maybe I'd be okay...

"Kyaaah!"

The monster was angry that it hadn't gotten hold of me.. It stuck it's beak back in the cave, turning it's head so it fit between the pillars. I hit it on the head and ran to the other side, safe for the moment. But it wouldn't be very long before the bird got smart and caught on to what I was doing.

I had to think of something and fast.

"What the heck is going on out here? Did you break something, clumsy?" Midna asked as slipped from under the door and out. "Whoa!" She ducked into my shadow to avoid the beak that snapped at her. She popped back up when the bird pulled out of the cave again. "What is that?"

"Good question. It appeared after you two went into the other chamber."

"Didn't Mr. Hero tell you to stay put?"

"I didn't do anything!"

Her eyes widened and she pointed behind me. "Well, you sure as heck better do something right now, then!"

"What?"

The monster dove back in and grabbed me tightly in it's beak before I could move. I struggled against it, but it was no good. The grip it had on me was ironclad. I reached back for my halberd and wanted to smack my forehead when I realized it was back down on the ground.

And Midna was nowhere in sight. She must've gone back into the other room.

"Some help you are!" I shouted to the closed door. "Whoa!"

The bird yanked me back as if to get an even tighter grip (if that was even possible. I felt like the circulation to the lower half on my body had been cut off). It had a funny look in it's eyes than didn't sit well with me. It used it's powerful black talons to push off from the ground and fly over the boiling lava.

Was it going to drop me in? I really didn't want to be fried food for this thing.

Instead of dropping me, it lowered it's head and launched off of the cavern wall, folding his red-orange wings so it could fit into the cave. But it didn't. The bird was way too big and took down the walls around it. With a mighty crash, it broke down the door to Darbus' chamber.

I was so startled I couldn't help but scream. "Ahhh!"

"Amanda!"

I looked over to the corner of the room and there was Link, holding the chain to Darbus–er, it was Fyrus now. He'd wrapped around one of the stone pillars that stretched in a circle around the room. He dropped the chain, making his way through the debris of several of the fallen pillars.

"What are you doing?" I cried as Fyrus began to tug on the chain holding him to the pillar.

Link rummaged through the stones and pulled something out, tossing it up to me. "Here! Catch!"

I stretched and reached for the object–my halberd. My fingers wrapped around the handle tightly and I looked up at my captor. "Take this, you stupid bird!" I swung my weapon in an arc, making contact with it's eyes and leaving the monster blind.

It gave a screech and the beak opened. I fell to the ground among the rubble, landing hard on my back.

"Ouch..." I sat up and rubbed my lower back. I'm really going to feel that later.

Link was at my side in an instant. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

"What happened?"

"I–"

"Hold that thought." He scooped me up in his arms and jumped out of the way of falling pillar. Fyrus' chain was still attached and he was tugging on it hard. He was about the same size the bird and ten times stronger, not to mention completely on fire, but that didn't stop the monster from trying.

We moved out of the way as Darbus swung his massive arm at the bird and took the pillar swinging with him.

"That's their patriarch?" I cried as we took cover on the other side of the room.

"The gem on his head is what seems to be giving him the trouble. I tried to break it, but it's no good."

The gem won't break? That can't be a good sign. "What about arrows? Or your sword?"

"I've tried. Believe me. Nothing seems to be working."

I turned to watch the bird and Fyrus battle it out. He was having a hard time pushing back the other giant monster with one of his arms still tied to the pillar. The only time he could lift the massive piece of stone was when he took a swing at something.

If only there was a weapon of some sort hard enough to break the gem...

"Amanda? What are you looking at?"

He looked in the direction I was and studied it, too. After a minute or so, he said quietly. "I think I've got it."

"Huh? Got what?" I hadn't gotten anything.

"Stay here."

Link took out his bow and a few arrows. Turning to the left, he launched a few past Fyrus' left arm. The Goron turned and swung with his right arm, causing the pillar to shoot up and hit the gem on his forehead. He roared in pain and grabbed his head. The chains on his arms swung around wildly, knocking everything down in sight.

Including the giant bird.

It gave one last screech before slamming into the wall and disappearing in a burst of light. Fyrus slammed down to the ground and Link drew his sword, charging at it. With a cry, he leapt up into the air and brought his sword down into the gem.

It shattered in an even brighter burst of light than the bird monster had vanished in. Fyrus turned completely dark, and the black faded into several pieces of twilight, which in turned formed into a Fused Shadow.

Link twirled his sword and sheathed it, breathing a sigh of relief.

"I'll take that." Midna appeared out of nowhere and grabbed it with that weird hand of hers.

I shot to my feet angrily. "You!"

She gave me a look of total innocence. "Hmm? What's the matter?"

"So this is where you went!"

"Yeah. I asked her to check on you earlier. She's the one that warned me you were in trouble. I had time to get Darbus out of the way so that bird wouldn't hurt him. And so he wouldn't hurt you." He folded his arms. "Their leader isn't evil, he was just being used for it. No sense in hurting him because of that."

"Link, I honestly don't know where that monster came from. One minute it was quiet, and the next–"

"I believe you, don't worry."

There was that jealous glare again. I could feel it even before I saw it. Midna might give Ilia a run for her money. "I hate to break it up...well, actually I really don't, but there's more you should know. You've been rather helpful servants, so I guess you've earned it."

Link shook his head at me when she said it. "Don't even."

"Don't worry. I don't have the energy."

"Anyway...The King of Darkness who cast this pall of shadows over your world...his name is Zant. His strength is unmatched and it'd be pretty foolish to challenge him in your current state..." She was furious now as she continued. "But Zant will never by my king! I have nothing but scorn for his supposed strength. Not that your Zelda is much better. It still appalls me that this world of light is run by that princess. A carefree youth, a life of luxury...How does that teach duty?"

"Midna! That's not fair!" The princess I'd met the last night hadn't seemed the least bit spoiled. Quite the opposite. Zelda's life had helped her to be strong and wise.

Midna snorted. "I wasn't finished yet. I was going to say that I guess I shouldn't begrudge her the circumstances of her life. She didn't choose it after all, and I would never wish harm on her..." She looked like she was thinking something nice for a change, but she just shook her head. "No, as long as I can get my hands on the Fused Shadows, I'll be just fine."

"If you're sure."

Her hand disappeared into her helmet as did the Fused Shadow. "Well, just one more left...Shall we? Eee hee hee!"

"Yeah. Let's go." Link stepped into the circle of light that Midna had created.

I looked over my shoulder at the still unconscious Goron. "What about Darbus? Will he be all right?"

"I think so. He'll wake up soon enough." He took my hand. "Come on. Everyone in the village is probably wondering where we went."

I let him pull me into the light with him.

"Ready to go?" Midna asked. We nodded and the light got brighter. The sensation of being teleported is one I won't soon forget. I felt my body float upwards and then the space around us went completely white. It made my head spin, but I was steadied by Link's arm. It was a matter of seconds before my body became heavy again and the light faded.

The spring's water lapped at my feet as my vision came back and a voice echoed around us.

"You shall find one you seek north of here, across the plain, and over the stone bridge...in the lands guarded by the spirit Lanaryru...Be cautious, for the twilight has overtaken that area as well."

One he seeks? "...Could the spirit of Eldin mean Ilia?"

"Maybe..." Link said thoughtfully.

"Amanda!" There was a sound like a door bursting open and before I could turn full around, I was nearly bowled over by Maya, who hugged me tight around my neck. "Thank goodness! You were gone forever!"

"I missed you too, Maya." I laughed and hugged her back.

Hane walked up and gave Link a friendly pat on the back. "We were all wondering when you two were going to come back. It's been nearly a four days since you left."

"All?" He said as we exchanged looks.

Behind Maya and Hane, people poured out of the sanctuary. Jillian and the children came out first. Renado and Luda came a bit slower, with one kid in particular who I was relieved to see up and walking.

"Colin!" Link said with a smile. "You're finally awake!"

"Link..." Luda and Renado were supporting him as he took a step. He took a few more and managed to stay upright until he reached the hill. His foot went sideways and he stumbled.

Link moved forward quickly to help him up. 'Whoa. Careful, Colin. Don't push it."

He looked up with his bright blue eyes. "You've got to save Ilia! Those monsters left me with Amanda and the others, but they must've taken her somewhere else! Whenever I couldn't go on, I'd think of you and Ilia and hold on, Link..." He bowed his head and pushed himself up from the ground. "See? I...I'm fine now. Remember what I told you back in Ordon, Link?"

I grinned as I remembered. He was such a cute kid.

"Of course I do. You want to be just like me, right?"

"Right! So don't worry about me! Focus on saving Ilia!"

Renado came up beside Colin and placed a hand on his small shoulder. "Do not worry about the children. I will look after them. I swear it. Do not let their fates trouble you.

Jillian added, "You will always have a place to rest here, as well. The inn will always be open to you."

"Thank you, Renado, Jillian." He ruffled the Colin's hair gently. "Don't worry. I'll save Ilia no matter what."

His blue eyes that glanced in my direction were saying the same thing to me, too.

And I completely believed him.