Chapter 38: Dodongo Hunt
"Are all your possessions identical, color scheme aside? Both your bows are exactly the same!" Malgorg exclaimed as he, Link, and Dark Link strolled through the mountains, in search of any dodongos that might be foolish enough to try and sneak up on them. "The only thing that isn't identical about the both of you is your swords. Nimoran's has a hilt resembling bat wings. Now that's something I haven't seen before!"
Link looked at Dark Link's sword and wondered how he had obtained a weapon just like the Master Sword. Then it struck him. Could Dark Link have stolen the Anti-Master Sword from Ganondorf? Could he have the Triforce of Power? No, he heard a voice in his head say. This is only a shadow of the original Master Sword and not either of the weapons you seek. It is made of metal from the same ore, but the blade itself holds not the purity of the Master Sword.
Dark Link! Link thought. Is that you?
Indeed it is me, the voice answered. So was the dream. Our minds are melding, unfortunately.
Why is this unfortunate?
There are still things inside my mind that I wish to keep private from everyone, even you.
You'd practically be hiding it from yourself, you know, Link thought.
Exactly, Dark Link thought back matter-of-factly. Link didn't communicate further with Dark Link. He was aware that he could perceive what was in Dark Link's mind any time he wanted to, but he decided against it for the sake of Dark Link's privacy.
"Why so quiet?" Malgorg asked.
"I don't really know," Link said. "Would you prefer we filled every second of the day with speech?" he asked.
"No, it's fine."
"So, what do dodongos taste like?" Link asked.
Dark Link was fiddling with an arrow. "We'll find out," he said.
"You'll find that their meat is actually quite sweet," Malgorg said. "It tastes a little bit like Cucoo, in fact."
"I've had Cucoo a lot," Link commented. "I used to hunt for those birds all the time."
"Shh! I heard something," Dark Link snapped. "It might be a dodongo!"
They heard some rocks grating against each other, and then a roar, followed by the crackle of something burning. The sound was coming from the top of a small incline to their left. Malgorg smiled. "It sounds like a dodongo just set fire to a bush just above us," he said quietly. Careful not to make any loud noises, the three backed up until they could see the reptilian creature atop the hill. Indeed it had set fire to a bush, and it seemed to revel in watching the destruction it had caused. It was staring at the shrub, eyes gleaming and tail flailing to and fro. "What a strange creature," Link murmured. It was two legged, with a stubby little body that seemed to be comprised of no more that a head and a scaly tail.
"You want a shot at it, either of you?" Malgorg asked, gesturing to them both. Link and Dark Link simultaneously raised their bows.
"Alright, you can shoot at it first, if you want," Link said, lowering his weapon. Dark Link aimed. "Shoot it quickly though, because it's starting to wander away." Dark Link fired. He barely missed.
"Oh, I almost hit that!" he said through clenched teeth. Link thought the dodongo would run. Instead, it turned towards them and charged, roaring. Fire streamed everywhere. Link still had an arrow nocked, so he quickly aimed it at the charging animal and fired. He saw his arrow disappear among the tumultuous flames before the dodongo dropped dead with an ear splitting shriek. It skidded along the ground several feet before it stopped before the toes of Link's boots.
"Well, there's our breakfast," Malgorg announced. Link saw his arrow protruding from the creature's throat. He shuddered, as it reminded him of his elbow jammed into the Lizalfos' mouth so many years ago. He had fought and killed many things since then. He shouldn't have been frightened by that childhood memory, yet he still was. "Hey, Link, are you okay?" Malgorg asked, noticing Link's face.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Link said. "Let's take this home and cook it up."
The three hiked back to the Goron's house, where Malgorg showed them the sausage making process. It was quite a long process requiring several large, clunky machines, and Link was awfully hungry by the time Malgorg was done, but the sausages were well worth it. "These are delicious," Link said as he took a bite out of a sausage.
"Aren't they, though? Dodongo meat is the best out of any animal around here," Malgorg said. "What do you think, Nimoran?" Dark Link was completely oblivious to the conversation at the moment. He ate his sausage solemnly, hunched over the table.
"Looks like he's in deep thought," Link said. Link couldn't help but take a peek inside Dark Link's mind. He saw Dysor, Aola, and himself in Faron Woods, sitting in a tree branch, talking and laughing merrily. They were all very young back then, perhaps seven. He realized that Dark Link had been watching from another tree, spying on Link through the foliage. He was greatly disturbed by this, to see that his counterpart had been so close and he didn't even know it.
Suddenly, the three of them heard voices above. "Hello? Who's there?" Malgorg called.
A Goron poked his head into the hole leading into Malgorg's dwelling place. It was a Goron Link recognized. "Grythyn!" he exclaimed.
Grythyn lowered himself into the room. "It is good to see you again, brother. I see you still remember that day when I rescued you from the Lizalfos."
"Yes. How could I forget that day?"
Malgorg rose from his seat, serious now. "Grythyn, why are you here? Has there been an attack?"
Grythyn nodded gravely. "There are Lizalfos swarming our mines and factories within Eldin Volcano. They're holding Darunia hostage."
Malgorg's expression suddenly became determined. "I will help fight."
Dark Link scanned the newcomer up and down critically. "Who are you?" he asked.
"I am Grythyn, general of the Goron Army. Who might you be? Will you assist us in battle?"
"I am Nimoran. Unfortunately, I cannot fight for you. Link and I have a mission of our own and it's quite urgent."
Link stood. "No, Nimoran. I owe Grythyn. He and his army saved me from a horde of Lizalfos once. If you like you can head back to Kakiriko Village by yourself, but I will go to battle." Already, Link could feel the adrenalin coursing through his veins.
Dark Link considered for a moment. "Then I will come," was his final conclusion. Besides, I think everyone would find it quite strange if their hero were to show up with a dramatic change in color scheme, he added silently. They emerged from Malgorg's home to find another Goron, this one sitting in a cart filled with black, spherical bombs and pulled, strangely, by dodongos.
"You have a lot of firepower, I see," Link said.
"We'll need it," Grythyn replied. Grythyn, Link, Dark Link, and Malgorg piled into the cart. The driver yelled a command to make the dodongos run, and they were off, speeding to Eldin Volcano and to battle.