Izzy: Next chapter! Hurray! So excited!

Scrubs: So intense!

Roecliff: So exhilarating!

Oni: So old! Can we go on now?

Izzy: Okay people! There's a LOT of trust issues from the Gorons from the last chapter. Now, there's a rumbling noise within the mountain. Whatever could it be?

Scrubs: Start the story! I'm getting impatient!

Izzy: Calm down, little warrior. We're going to begin-

Oni: After the disclaimer...

Roecliff: Which will say, *changing to girly voice* "I don't own Zelda whatsoever! Oh, how sad is that? If only in my dreams! Booooo hoooo!"

*Oni and Scrubs snicker*

Izzy: T-T Really?

When Mystia, her friends and the Goron leader entered the mountain, the first things she noticed was how hot it was. She felt as if she was on fire from the intense heat. Before and below her, a lake of lava flowed. To the right was a rope bridge leading to a ledge above them. To the left was a bridge made of iron grates, which connected to the huge floor below.

She looked at the Goron next to her.

"This place is huge," she told him.

"And hot!" Scrubs said wearily.

"This is Death Mountain Crater," the Goron said proudly. " It's a sacred ground for us Gorons."

And a death trap for many, Oni stated.

"What are you called, giant?" the Goron asked Mystia.

"Oni Mystia," she replied, "but Mystia is just fine. What is yours?"

"Link, hero of the Goron tribe."

Mystia curiously glanced at the Goron. "Link?"

"I was named after the Hero of Time himself," the goron said proudly.

"Cool!" Scrubs said with a hop.

"It must be quite an honor to carry that name," Femur guessed.

"It is," Goron Link replied. "I always looked to him as a role model."

His eyes suddenly turned sad.

"You don't seem too happy about it," Mystia pointed out.

"It's just my father," the Goron replied with a sigh. "He and the Hero of Time were good friends a long time ago. They were Sworn Brothers. Then when Link disappeared and the Dark King took over Hyrule, he had become isolated. His temper has grown since and now he doesn't trust anyone anymore, except his people."

Goron Link sighed sadly. "He won't even talk to anyone except for diplomatic issues."

"Sounds like your father has been in mourning for years," Femur concluded.

"And he shows it," Goron Link pointed out. "He has never acted this way before. His bitterness and sadness is causing him to be weakened physically and emotionally. I worry for him."

Mystia placed her hand on the Goron's shoulder.

"Don't worry," Mystia assured. "Maybe we can find a way to cheer him up."

"I hope so," Goron Link said.

Then, a rumble was heard. The ground shook harder.

"Feel that?" Goron Link stated. "That's the noise."

"It sounds like it's coming from over there," Femur said, pointing to the floor below.

"Let's check it out," Mystia said before turning to Goron Link and adding, "You stay here while we take a look. If a white shadow is down there, it might be too dangerous for you."

The young Goron nodded his head. "I'll wait here for you."

Mystia, Scrubs, Femur and Fetch crossed the iron bridge to the bottom floor. Mystia noticed a distant rock bridge leading to a grand stone doorway. On the ground to her right was a similar white platform she saw in the Sacred Meadow, only this one had a fire symbol.

On it, she noticed a black-and-white figure. She knew right away who it was.

"Takaro?" Mystia asked.

"Oh, good!" said a different voice. "More company!"

From behind Takaro's figure stood a familar face of a man with a scar on his lip.

"Ashasti!" Mystia hissed at the familiar person nearby Takaro.

"Mystia!" he replied with a crooked grin. "So nice of you to join us!"

Takaro looked back, his gold eye glaring at her.

"Mystia!" he said harshly. "Get out of here!"

"Oh, come now, boy," Ashasti spoke slickly to Takaro. "She should get to have some fun, too! Can't hog all the attention."

He passed Takaro and approached Mystia. "Did you enjoy my welcoming present?"

"Barely," Mystia snarled.

"Glad to hear!" He looked down at her side and tisked. "Aw! Had a bit of trouble with the Dark Nut?"

"Actually," Femur interjected, "that came from Gometh."

Ashasti's eyes gleamed in amusement.

"Gometh, hmm?" Ashasti spoke, his crooked grin growing into a smile. "Had a nice visit to the graveyard, I see. Well, how did you enjoy your visit?"

"Took my breath away," Mystia commented sarcastically.

"Well, you certainly look lively, deity," he sneered. "How ever did you escape from Gometh?"

"Thanks to some assistance," the part-deity said with a smirk, "he was sent away from the graveyard. Then, I got rid of your demons and saved the village."

Ashasti's eyes widened in anger.

"VILE LITTLE RAT!" he yelled. "I knew from the moment I saw you that you were more trouble than you're worth!" He shoved a finger in her face. "Just you wait! One of these days, you'll really suffer!"

Why not just kill him and get it over with? Oni suggested logically.

Ashasti leaped into the air and landed behind Takaro, who was still standing on the white platform.

"One of these days, boy!" Ashasti hissed to him. "You're time will come. Just...you...wait!"

Ashasti floated in the air and out of the mountain.

White shadows carried him away, Oni informed Mystia.

No surprise, Mystia stated.

"Din, Mystia!" Takaro swore.

Mystia looked down toward Takaro, who was glaring more intensively at her. He quickened his pace towards her.

"What is wrong with you?!" he asked harshly. "I would have had him if you hadn't shown up! Why don't you ever listen?!"

"How was I supposed to know YOU were going to be here?" Mystia replied angrily. "Which brings to question of what you were doing with Ashasti? And don't tell me that you can't explain it!"

"It doesn't matter now! He's gone!" Takaro pointed out.

"I think it does matter! Otherwise, you wouldn't be yelling at me!" she countered.

"You let him escape! Of course, I'm going to yell at you!" he hotly replied.

I think we are on to him! Oni pointed out.

"Are you working with Ashasti?" she asked accusingly.

"No! I—" Takaro started to say

"I what?" she pressed.

"I...I can't—" the boy tried to speak again.

She then fumed, "By Din's Fire! Tell me what's going on!"

"What is all the arguing about!?" Another voice called.

Mystia looked over at the voice and saw Goron Link standing nearby on the floor.

"Well?" he insisted.

"Just trying to straighten out something," Mystia replied as she looked rudely back at Takaro.

Takaro leaned into Mystia's ear. "Not...here," he whispered harshly.

Then, he backed away and took off.

"HOLD IT!" Mystia shouted, but he disappeared again. "In the name of Farore! TAKARO!"

Suddenly, another loud boom was heard, making the ground shake violently.

"This is starting to remind me of the giant mole," Scrubs mentioned.

"It's coming from underground," Mystia confirmed.

"That can't be," Goron Link denied. "It just couldn't be Volvagia."

"Volvagia?" Scrubs inquired.

"He's the fire dragon that lives in this mountain," Femur informed him.

"More like 'lived'," Goron Link corrected. "When he tried to cause terror to our city several years ago, I went with my father to find the serpent. I saw him kill it."

"What's under us?" Mystia asked.

"The heart of the mountain: The Fire Temple."

"Can you take us there?" Mystia asked.

Goron Link waved his hand motioning them to follow. "This way."

The Goron lead everyone across the stone bridge and through the stone doorway. Inside was a room with a hole in the ground. They could see the top of a ladder jutting from out of the dark pit.

"It's down there," Goron Link told them.

"I...can't...TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Scrubs complained in agony. "It's too hot in here! I feel like I'm going to catch on fire!"

Fetch whined in agreement. The poor wolfos was panting with exhaustion and thirst.

Really? Oni stated incredulously. What wimps!

"Okay," Mystia spoke. "Scrubs, Fetch. You stay in the city until we return. Goron Link, Femur and I will check out the temple."

"Fine by me!" Scrubs agreed and hopped on Fetch. "Let's get out of here, Fetch!"

The wolfos turned around, taking off in a leap toward Goron City.

"Let's go," Mystia said to the Goron and the Stalfos. She climbed over the ledge of the hole and started down the ladder.

After a very long climb down, Mystia, Goron Link, and Femur made it to the bottom and walked down the hallway leading into the Fire Temple. A set of stairs was before them, which was flanked on both sides by blocky totem-pole-like statues. They could see two with doors on either side of them.

The rumble from before started again, and was getting louder and rougher. The trio ran up the stairs, only to be nearly knocked down by the shaking of the ground.

"It feels like an earthquake in here," Femur commented.

"It feels more like a volcano eruption," Goron Link stated.

"I think it's coming from that side," Mystia said, pointing to the door on their left.

The group went through the door. Before them was a giant door and in between was a stone pillar in the middle of a pool of lava.

The ground shook again with the sound of thumping louder than before.

Mystia leaped onto one pillar and then another to get on the other side. She leaned against the door and listened. She heard shuffling and pounding.

"It's in here!" she called to the others.

"But that's where the Goron's Ruby is!" Goron Link shouted in worry.

Not good! Oni stated nervously.

"Then we mustn't waste time!" Mystia shouted back. "We need to get inside!"

Goron Link and Femur leaped toward the door and all three went through.

Inside, it appeared normal with no lava. Everything was rock. Nothing was there.

"Okay?" Mystia said, confused. "I heard it in here. Where is it?"

As she stepped forward, a wall of fire flowed up behind her and separated her from the entrance...and Femur and Goron Link.

"Skull and crossbones!" Femur exclaimed.

"Oni Mystia!" Goron Link called out. "This could be a trap!"

Now you tell us! Oni said, annoyed.

The rumble happened again, this time coming from above her.

"What in Farore-" she started to say.

Then, a large, white ball crashed to the ground. An enormous one. It shook the ground harshly as it made contact to the floor, knocking Mystia off her feet. She quickly got up and pulled out her weapon.

The ball unrolled and Mystia could see that it had hidden a giant albino armadillo.

A possessed armadillo? Mystia thought.

Lovely! Oni remarked in frustration.

"Careful, miss!" Femur shouted to her. "He looks really deadly!"

You think? Oni stated sarcastically.

"The Goron's Ruby!" Goron Link yelled.

Mystia looked at the armadillo. She noticed a red, fireball-shaped ruby stuck in the creature's forehead.

"You have to get that from him!" the Goron told her.

With a squeal the albino monster reared up, pulled itself into a ball again, and rolled full speed at Mystia. She dodged it and the creature slammed into the wall of fire.

"How am I supposed to kill it with all that protection?" Mystia said in frustration.

The creature, still in its rolled up form, hopped up, then down, causing the ground to shake. All against the wall, the floor collapsed, revealing a canal of lava all around them.

How's that for your answer? Oni asked.

Not getting what you mean by that, Mystia told him.

Knock it into the lava! It might do some damage, Oni instructed.

Exasperated, she asked, How?

Pull out your shield, he insisted.

What?! she exclaimed.

Just do it! Oni demanded.

After dodging another attack from the possessed monster, she pulled out the shield. It looked bigger than she remembered…and whiter. Now instead of being adorned with the symbolic Hylian bird and Triforce, it bore a triangle on its left half and a half moon on its right. She was surprised by its appearance, but she still had no clue what she was supposed to do with it.

Now hold it up! Oni commanded.

Mystia obeyed and quickly ground her feet into the earth before holding up the shield in defense.

The tightly-packed creature charged once more; but this time its attack was stopped short from slamming into the unyielding shield. Mystia's arms and the shield trembled under the force.

Then, as if the shield had suddenly come alive, it started to shake even more violently. Mystia grunted but still tightened her hold on the shield. A moment later, a blast of energy bellowed out from her transformed armor and smacked into the creature with such intensity that it ricocheted off the blow and plunged right into the canal of lava. She heard a shriek of pain from the armadillo as it scrambled to get out of the canal.

Now it's exposed! Oni quickly stated. Use your sword!

Mystia didn't delay. She deftly swung her sword. Energy beams flew towards the monster, which knocked it back into the lava. Another shriek was heard. Then the albino beast flew out of the lava and crashed back down in the middle of the room. It was gasping in pain.

I have an idea, Mystia declared in thought.

"Femur!" she shouted back at her boney friend. "Got anymore Deku nuts?"

"Sure thing, Miss Deity!" Femur answered.

She then saw three Deku nuts flying through the air. Mystia ran to catch each nut in her hands. She then turned to the beast and saw that it was on its feet again. It quickly curled back into a ball and rolled at her.

Mystia got the shield out and its energy drove the creature back into the lava. The creature struggled to get out, but the energy beams from Mystia's sword shoved the armadillo back in. It flew out of the canal and landed in front of Mystia. It was breathing heavily.

That was her cue! She threw the Deku nut at the armadillo, which exploded in the creature's face.

The armadillo shrieked and shook its head wildly.

Oni switched Mystia's vision and before her was a white shadow in a daze. A quick swing of her sword was all she needed to shatter the monster into pieces.

The armadillo shrunk to normal size. The Stone of Fire fell off of its head and landed on the ground.

The creature looked around. Frightened by Mystia's appearance, it took off, but it fell in the lava with a shriek.

That's depressing... Mystia thought.

"Excellent work, Oni Mystia!" declared Goron Link.

Mystia turned toward Goron Link who was standing behind her with Femur. She put away her sword and shield and nodded.

Bowing in respect, Mystia said, "Thank you, sir."

She glanced at Femur. "And thank you for your help."

"Not at all, miss!" Femur commented with a salute. "Glad to be of service!"

The Goron leader passed her and picked up the fireball ruby. He examined it, and then smiled at Mystia.

"The Goron's Ruby is safe once again, thanks to you," Goron Link told her. "Come. We must let my father know what happened."

Izzy: YAY! One stone down!

Scrubs: That was intensifying!

Oni: That albino was nothing! It never stood a chance.

Izzy: So the deity, the Stalfos and the Goron managed to get the Stone of Fire from the possessed armadillo...

Oni: No! Mystia and I did!

Femur: Technically, it was Goron Link who picked up the stone-

Roecliff: It doesn't matter! They got the stone!

Izzy: But don't forget that Darunia still won't give it to her until she proves he can trust her.

Scrubs: That stinks!

Oni: No...you stink!

Scrubs: Grrrr...

Izzy: So will Mystia gain Darunia's trust because she rescued the stone? What is going on between Takaro and Ashasti?

Oni: That's what I want to know!

Izzy: Find out next chapter!

Roecliff: Also R&R for the authoress's sake!