Chapter Twenty-One

Malon was dying. "Is there nothing I can do?" Link cried to Navi.

"I don't know, Link. I don't know."

Talon was crying over his daughter.

Ingo whispered some encouragement to Link. "True friendship will never die, Link. It'll be alright."

The passion of friendship… Link thought. Oh, Malon… Link took out his blue ocarina and began to play the Malon's song. As Link concluded the song, he began playing the song dedicated to the passion of the heart. "The Bolero of Fire." As Link played the melody on his woodwind instrument, he was magically accompanied by a harp and a drum. The melody lifted Talon's head from his tears. A strange red glow emanated from the ocarina and encompassed Link and Malon. When the glow faded, Link found that the two of them had been transported to the entrance of the Fire Temple. "What?" Neither of the two were wearing a fire tunic and the heat was already getting to Link. Link picked up Malon. "I'm getting us out of here, Malon. Hold on." Link dashed for the exit of the volcano that led to Goron City, but when he reached the exit, it was sealed off. "NO! Let me in! Help! We're trapped! Help! Navi, what do we—" Oh great. Navi's not here… Link thought. Time was running out. He and Malon would burn up if he didn't do something quickly. Taking out his blue ocarina, he played Saria's Song.

Meanwhile, Goron Link, who was in Goron City, heard that upbeat song that the Gorons loved so much. He began dancing as he sought out the source of the song. When he found that it came from the volcano's entrance, he pushed the statue the sealed the door out of the way. Goron Link was shocked to have found Link the Hero holding Malon. "What are you two doing in here without Goron Tunics?"

Link rushed into the city and immediately felt a cool breeze. "Ah! Much better!"

"What happened?"

"I don't know. One minute, I'm playing the "Bolero of Fire," the next, Malon and I are transported to the volcano!"

"What happened to Malon?"

"She's dying. Her house caught fire and she was inside. I don't know what to do!"

"Hold on!" Goron Link left Link and ran to the other side of Goron City. Finding a shop, he purchased an item and ran back to Link. He held a bottle with a pink fairy inside. Smashing the bottle on the ground next to Malon, the fairy was free, but it noticed the dying girl. Using all it's power, the pink fairy swirled around Malon, administering it's healing powers upon her. The fairy vanished with it's work completed. "Ever since you freed the Gorons, our shop has stocked itself up with bottled fairies. There healing powers have been key to making sure that everyone here is okay."

Malon began to stir. It wasn't long before her breathing returned to normal and her heart began to beat at a proper pace. "Fairy Boy?"

"Oh, Malon! You're alive!" Link embraced Malon in a hug. Malon was already back at full strength and she hugged him back.

"What happened, Fairy Boy?" Link smiled. It had been a while since she called him that. He really did miss it. After explaining the full story, Malon stood up and said, "We'd better get going back to the ranch then."

Goron Link spoke up, "So, your house has been destroyed? Miss Malon, you saved our hero's life. The least that we Gorons can do to repay you is to rebuild your house!"

"Oh, young Link…I couldn't possibly accept!"

"Nonsense!" Goron Link ran around rounding up all the Gorons and explained the situation to them. All the Gorons were eager to get to work. Taking up wood and stones, an army of Gorons was led to Lon Lon Ranch by Link and Malon. It took three hours on foot, but with all the Gorons carrying more than their share of materials, they were able to bring everything needed for construction of the house in one trip. Talon, Ingo and Navi were overjoyed to see Link and Malon alive and well. They were shocked to see the entire Goron populace following them. Goron Link took command with ease. He ordered that the debris from the last house be swept away and that construction begin ASAP. After assigning every Goron his own job, work began. Link, Malon, Talon, Ingo and Navi watched with astonishment as the Gorons did the job of a construction crew in under two hours. Thanks to the great strength, organization and teamwork of the Gorons, Lon Lon had a brand new house with bedrooms for everyone. The house was much bigger than the last one. There was no way the Gorons could have installed, let alone created, any appliances for the house, so the house was missing things such as an icebox, as well as mattresses and paint. However, furniture was built. Rooms were carved out. All-in-all, the Gorons did an excellent job. In the most literal sense, Link, Navi and the ranchers were all speechless. When they were done, the Gorons all marched of the property, waving good-bye to their friends. Still speechless at what had just happened, the five people waved good-bye to the Gorons, dumbfounded at what had just gone on.

Finally, Malon spoke up. "This house…"

Link opened the door and looked inside. "Look at all the space! Woah! They built furniture! This place looks great!"

Ingo walked through the living room. "You wouldn't be able to tell they were such good architects by looking at that cave!"

Navi was surprised to find a miniature room suited for herself. "I've never seen something like this!"

Talon went straight to his room to test out his new bed. Despite the lack of mattress, he fell fast asleep.

"This is great!" Malon exclaimed. "Where's dad?"

"I think he just fell asleep."

"What? I almost die and he goes to sleep?"

"I think he figured that you're alright."

"Oh! How sensitive!"

"Hey," Ingo asked, "What are you doing back here anyway? Weren't you supposed to head to Zora's Domain?"

"Yeah. I went there only to find out that I need to head to Lake Hylia. I called for Epona, but I think the fire interfered with her. She didn't show, so I walked over her to get her. That's when we smelled smoke."

"Well, Epona's yours to take now! You'd better head out there! It's gonna get dark soon. That, and you've got another sage to wake up, right?"

"Right! Let's go, Navi!"

"Be careful, Link! You too, Navi!"

"We will, Malon."

"Don't worry, Malon. I'll watch after him! Tee hee!"

Link mounted Epona and took off for Lake Hylia.

On the way there, Link worked up the courage to ask Navi a question. "Navi? Do you remember when you asked me that question?"

"What question, Link?"

"…You know. What is it between Malon and I."

"Um…yeah. I remember. Why?"

"Well, it wasn't like this before, but…" Link hesitated to continue. "You know…every time she calls me 'Link…' it hurts."

"…Why? That's your name, isn't it?"

"I miss 'Fairy Boy.'"

"…Oh, I see what's going on here."

"You do?"

"You, my friend, are falling in love."

"I am not!"

"Aren't you? Because if it's just the name thing, I'd be happy to call you 'Fairy Boy.'"

"Please don't."

"So, you see? It's not just the name thing. What else could it be?"

"It could be anything! It could be…"

"Be what?"

"…It could be…"

"Link, why are you even bringing this up if you don't want to talk about it?"

"Well, obviously because I want to know why I feel this way."

"I'll tell you what you should do."

"What? Tell me!"

"Ignore those feelings."

"What? Why?"

"Not permanently! Just ignore them until we can figure out how to return to the past. Maybe then things won't be so weird for you."

"I hope so… wait? We're going to go back to the past?"

"If we can? Why? Do you want to stay here?"

"Absolutely not! I just didn't think we had a choice! I hate being a grown-up! I just want to be a kid again!"

"I-I had no idea you felt like that…"

"Oh yeah, I mean…at first I thought it was cool to be a grown-up and all, but it's so confusing! Plus, everyone expects so much more of you!"

"I see. It's a little scary, is it?"

"Well…yeah…a little." Link was getting a little scared. "I mean…I know I'm Hylian, and need to grow up eventually. But…not so fast. I mean, maybe over time, I could grow up. Things might be easier and less confusing, you know?"

"I know. That's exactly why I want you to wait until we get back to the past before you concern yourself with your feelings, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good."

"Hey, Navi?"

"Yeah?"

"…Thanks."

"…Your welcome, Link."