A/N: *sighs* it's been a busy day guys… I'm pretty pooped but the show must go on! So I'm listening to some extra creepy music (for the upcoming Shadowfell part of the D&D campaign that I run) and if that bleeds over into the chapter… uh… I apologize.

Down the Mountain

The Fused Shadow drifted down and Midna popped up from Link's shadow, the magical hand-like appendage appearing from behind her head and grabbing it.

"Well that's one more down…" she said, the hand and the Fused Shadow disappearing, probably into a pocket dimension.

"How many are there?" Dante asked and the imp grinned

"Would you like to know?" she asked with a cackle then disappeared back into the teen's shadow. The half devil was about to give her hell when he heard the rousing of something else in the room. He shifted into a fighting stance, ready for whatever else had decided to drag itself from the depths of this mine. Link put out a hand

"Wait." the teen pointed, the monster had shrunk from a colossal beast into a larger than average Goron, Dante still gripped his sword tighter, waiting for it to rise up and attack. The Goron grunted and put a hand to his head.

"Ooohhh… what happened?" he muttered, not seeming to notice that anyone else was there. So it was possession, the half devil thought, that's rough… He'd dealt with his fair share of possessions and the artifacts that often caused them. He winced as he thought back to the poker game that ended with Lady shooting him.

"You nearly killed us is what happened bud." Dante said instead, placing his sword back against his back. Link shot him a glare but the hunter paid it no mind, he wasn't sure if he cared what this guy thought of them after dealing with his angry ass, plus the entire mine they had fought their way through prior to this. The Goron looked at them then, the greyish stone on top of his head looking very much like a flattop haircut. This got Dante wondering whether these things considered those growths like hair and if they cut them in any way shape or form. He shook the thought from his brain just as the Goron spoke up.

"My apologies, my name is Darbus, I'm the leader of this clan of Gorons. What happened here?"

"You were possessed," Link spoke up then, shooting another glance over his shoulder at Dante, who raised his hands, probably best to leave the diplomacy to the kid "we managed to free you from the possession," he continued "but we have a favor to ask of you."

"Of course, anything in thanks for saving me." Darbus said, managing to get back to his feet.

"The village down the valley, you've cut off contact from them, they would like very much to reestablish that. These are hard times for everyone, we need to all help each other." The teen explained, surprising Dante, who had actually nearly forgotten why they'd climbed into this mountain to begin with. The Goron gave the hero a critical look, taking in the strange clothing, the sword on his back and the bow in his hand.

"It would be my pleasure. We had cut off contact because the mountain was acting up, spewing fire unlike it has for hundreds of years. Of course, I went to check it out, I got down here and then… well I don't remember." He looked to the door and then turned back to the duo.

"I should be getting back to tell my people that I'm okay." he said "Do you want me to guide you back? You made it here but the path through the mines is treacherous on the best of days." Link waved him off

"Go ahead, we'll catch up, I think we both need a minute to breathe." The Goron shrugged his shoulders

"Suit yourself." he said and walked over to the door, giving a mighty grunt and heaving it open, it didn't roll back closed. Dante looked at the teen then.

"You okay?" he asked. Link just shrugged.

"Better than I was, I guess, I'm just worried that the longer we spend away from the kids from, the more likely something will happen to them. You saw, they weren't safe even in the village under Renado's protection. And Ilia… we haven't even found her yet…" Midna appeared at his shoulder then.

"I'm sure she's still around, she's likely more useful as a prisoner than dead." she said. Link took a shaky breath and shook his head, probably trying to keep himself from getting more upset. Dante just patted his back, he'd been there.

"You ready to get the hell out of here?" he asked, looking out the massive door that Darbus had so thoughtfully left open for them. The half devil heard another shaky breath and then

"Yeah, Midna, can you get us out?" The imp grinned and floated a few feet away, appearing to concentrate for a moment before firing something at the ground. There a very familiar portal opened up. The hunter paused.

"That was the kind of portal that brought me here…" he said and then he looked at the imp "Did you bring me here?" he asked, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword. Midna looked at him, startled and backed away slowly.

"What? No, what are you talking about?" she said, any sense of bravado lost. Link looked between the two of them with concern.

"Dante?" he said, the half devil simply leveled the sword with the imp.

"Explain. Now."

A/N: Well that's a good point to end on… so… yeah I'm starving so I'm gonna make dinner.

Till next time,

-Winged Element