Chapter 36: Summit

~~~Link, Zelda, Medi, Auru, Mikau, Darmani, Uryan, Nid, Eroraf, Dumande, and an army of Gorons made their ascent through the core of Death Mountain. Link was gripping his right arm, thinking about the danger that he now found himself in.

"What do you mean, cursed mark?" asked Uryan.

Link removed his gauntlets, revealing the curse.

"That's impossible," muttered Eroraf.

"It is all too possible. Dogoro, the leader of the traitor faction, branded many of the Gorons who defected from the tribe with these markings. Many more were turned into darkly abominations-."

"Silhouettes," interrupted Nid.

"You know of these creatures?" the Goron asked.

"Yes. We encountered many in the Lost Woods," said Auru.

"They have managed to reach farther than here?" he asked.

"They were created by a different man, not by the one you call Dogoro," Nid said.

Uryan approached Link and grabbed his arm, examining it.

"Are you able to do something?" asked Medi.

"No. Nothing we can do will save him. In about four days, the darkness inside of you will take you over and you will become something of terrible destruction and greed. Always wanting; never satisfied."

'Always wanting; never satisfied.'

'In about four days, the darkness inside of you will take you over.'

Link formed a fist with his right hand. "In four days, I need to get to the Temple of Time with the stones or Hyrule-I will die."

"There is a way though," muttered Zelda.

"What way?" asked Auru.

"The Master Sword is said to be 'the Blade of Evil's Bane'. It purges all evil that touches the blade. If Link were able to touch it, the darkness in him would flee," she explained.

"That's just a legend. How do you know that that would work?" questioned Auru.

"As a Shiekah, I know things about the history of Hyrule that most scholars wouldn't have any idea about. I have extensive knowledge about the Master Sword."

"If that's true, then I need to get to the Master Sword as soon as I can!" said Link.

"But to do that," Eroraf began, "We will need the Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire."

Dumande's eyes widened. "The Goron Ruby? Then that would explain it. Your green clothes, you are the Chosen Hero, are you not?" he said.

Link nodded.

"If we can win this battle, then I'll be one step closer to the sword."

Link looked up the heart of Death Mountain, seeing a spot of blue sky through the smoke and rock and exploding lava.

"It's not a matter of 'can' or 'can't', it's 'do' or 'don't'."

Uryan, Nid, and Eroraf used their magic to protect them all from the harsh environment that the inside of Death Mountain presented to them. The Gorons who accompanied them needed not the veil of protection, being born of the mountain and immune to its dangers.

"Link, are you ready for this?" Medi said, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah," he nodded, "The Goron Ruby will be ours if we can crush this rebellion."

Darmani approached them. "Steel yourself, Link. The horrors hidden in this mountain are not to be taken lightly."

"And remember," began Eroraf, "If you change into Dark Link, your time will be cut shorter than just four days. Keep yourself, no matter what happens."

"I know."

Dumande halted and turned to the army of Gorons. "Brothers, prepare yourselves! We have arrived at the summit! Today, we claim our freedom, our heritage! Let the rock of your warrior's spirit be tried of fire that it may burn bright by end!"

Dumande began beating his chest, letting out the scream of a crazed berserker. The rest of the Gorons did the same, psyching themselves for the battle. Darmani participated as well. Link let out a slight smirk at their display, and then joined them. Magma bursts high above them as they did this, as though the mountain's spirit joined with them.

The army of Gorons accompanied by Link and his group marched out of Death Mountain through an opening in the mountainside. Though the afternoon sun was bright in the clear day, the ash of the mountain formed a veil around the summit, making the day seem like dusk. For the altitude that they were at, the wind was serene, not like the cacophonic gale that one would expect. A path led them to the top, where the mountain's fate would be decided.

The top of the mountain was occupied by legions of Silhouettes and darkly Gorons who stood around the opening of Death Mountain's core. They were all fixed on Dogoro, who was levitating above the opening.

"Dogoro! We have come for your head!" shouted Dumande.

"Dumande, you cur. You saved me the trouble of going to you! Kill them all, my brethren!" Dogoro yelled.

"TO BATTLE!!!"

Every Goron charged after the darkly legion. Just as Link prepared to run, Uryan held his hand out, signaling him to halt.

In a matter of seconds, the air was filled with deafening war cries as both forces clashed. Dumande fiercely punched out every enemy he faced. He continually tossed aside every foe he felled, moving swiftly towards Dogoro. If he could take out Dogoro, the battle would easily be won. The trick was to get him to the ground first. In an instant, Dumande began to roll, speeding up intensely. Every Goron and Silhouette in his path was mercilessly crushed as the friction of his rolling set him ablaze, making him a destructive force.

Dumande cleared the crowd, passed the backlines of the battle, and began rolling swiftly up the incline of the very top of the mountain. Dogoro appeared not to notice Dumande's approach. He seemed to be chanting something with his eyes closed. Dumande let out a berserker's cry as he flew off the peak of the summit, clearing the great opening of Death Mountain's fiery core. A loud boom sounded as Dumande collided with the unsuspecting Dogoro. They both crashed to the ground on the other side of the point Dumande jumped. Dumande stood erect and took form to fight.

"Prepare to die, traitor!"

The chaotic sound of battle. The feeling of numbing fear. The smell of bloody deaths. They all beckoned painful memories of the horrible fights that Darmani had been forced to take part in for the sake of freedom. The very scene he hoped to forget had now, once again, been placed before him. He stood amidst the battleground, watching brother fell former brother. Each of them, fighting for the very freedom he once fought for. The very fight they fought now was the one he passed off.

What made him change? What stole his zeal for life, his urge for liberty? Was it that he chose to give it up, or was he trapped in misery? Perhaps that's why he felt an admiration for Link. He carried the weight of the future of the world on his sword, yet he pursues to the end, despite the sorrows and uncertainties he has, or will face. The fear of feeling grief was what stayed his fierce fist now.

Suddenly, a nearby Silhouette knocked Darmani to the ground. Instead of countering the beast, he simply laid there. He had lost the will to fight. It was over. Before the Silhouette could make its strike, it was struck down, exploding in particles.

"Darmani! Get up! Are you wounded!?" yelled Mikau, standing over him. Without warning, Mikau was tackled to the ground by a darkly Goron. The Goron, then, raised its fist, preparing to smash Mikau's head. Suddenly, Darmani bounded from the ground to the Goron and landed a fiery punch that sent him flying into the crowd.

"Thanks, Darmani!" Mikau got to his feet and ran further into the battlefield. Darmani finally remembered why he fought. He did so not for gratitude or for his freedom, but for the freedom of those around him.

'It is the pride of a warrior to defend his brothers with his life. For me, there could be no greater end. That is what the Gorons hold to heart.'

Darmani charged into the crowd, fists raised high.