And It Was Beautiful

Link woke up to the deep drawl of Goron men outside the guest homestead. He heard them through the red rock walls but couldn't pick up their words. They sounded like they forgot their city was close to a famine.

Link saw Navi smiling and glowing in the dark of his guest room. Her aura was always kind and bright.

"Up and at 'em?" she asked.

A groggy Sheila and Trevor dragged themselves into Link's room. Sheila smiled, but Trevor mustered a mere smirk and groaned.

"They're all loud here," he complained. "What's the big idea?"

"Didn't you hear about the festival?" Sheila pointed out. "They're going to celebrate their traditions tonight. And there's going to be a fire..." Sheila's eyes widened in the dark for a moment. "I don't know where it will come from, but it's going to be there I can see it."

Trevor yawned. "That's cool. Do you know when Jerome's going to remember us?"

Sheila shook her head. "My powers don't work like that."

"Bummer." Trevor scratched his head. "I don't remember the stuff about the festival, but sure...I guess we can waste our time doing that."

"Oh, get a grip!" Navi said while rolling her eyes.

Trevor scrunched his face in the fairy's direction. "I'm going to feed the chicken and look for Jerome. Or Maruko. Whatever they call him. I'll conk him on the head and see if that helps." Trevor sulked out of the room.

Navi shook her head. "His attitude is astonishing . He's so miserable."

Sheila looked at the door as if Trevor were still there. "He's upset about Jerome. Kids used to pick on Trevor in school because he was small. Then Jerome came along and stood up for him. They became friends on that day and no one hurt Trevor at school again. Somebody was always by his side, helping him."

Navi's expression softened. "I didn't know he went through all that."

"He doesn't like to talk about tough stuff."

Link's heart sank when he heard of Trevor's problems. It made him think of the Kokiri Forest and everything he went through. Mido's unkind words still hurt him to this day, even with the way they got along when Link came back to visit. Trevor was often impatient, but there were moments where he didn't care about himself.

"Poor kid," said Navi. "I can be a little nicer to him. At least for a while."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Link said. "Let's see what's out there."

Trevor searches for Jerome.

He asked many Gorons about his friend, using Jerome's full name, only to get blank stares in response.

"Who's Jerome Bailey?" several Gorons asked.

Trevor sighed every time he heard this. "The human kid you took in," he said. "He's, um, black and tall."

The Gorons would raise their hands in the air once they realized who Trevor was talking about.

"Maruka!" they all exclaimed. "The chosen boy! Why didn't you call him by his real name?"

Trevor kept his temper in check. That's NOT his real name, he wanted to say. QUIT CALLING HIM THAT. He held his tongue and stormed off instead, not wanting to argue.

Trevor finally found Jerome at the bottom of the city. The citadel square was decorated with silk banners bearing the Goron symbol.

Jerome sat against a wall, staring at the large Goron vase that towered over everything. Trevor sat down beside him and joined him in sightseeing.

He admitted in his mind that the vase's many faces were fascinating. Whoever made the jar had a great talent in art, in showing the feelings of Gorons.

"Uh..."

Trevor didn't know what to say, but knew he had to try.

"Hey." Smooth, Trevor. Smooth.

Jerome looked in Trevor's direction with sad eyes. He could have been one of the faces on the jar.

"Hello." Jerome said. Even his voice sounded different, like he didn't know what feelings were anymore.

"That's a pretty cool looking jar," Trevor said. "What does it do?"

"They use it for the festival," said Jerome. "I'm supposed to be part of the ceremony with it."

"Nice," said Trevor. "What are you going to do?"

"Guide a flame into the opening."

"...Are you going to use a ladder?"

"No."

Jerome pointed up at the platform high above the city.

"I'll throw it down from from up there" said Jerome. "And guide it into the jar."

"How?"

"You'll see."

"That sounds scary...Are you—you know—scared?"

Jerome shook his head. "I'm learning not to be."

"Good." Trevor sighed, knowing he had to bring it up. "Hey Jerome—I know you don't think that's your name—but I swear we're your friends. I want to help you get your memory back—"

"I know."

"And we'll take as much time as we—" Trevor paused. "What?!"

"I believe you."

Jerome looked at the strange mark on his left shoulder.

"Here," he said. "I'm Maruka. But wherever you're from...I think my name really is Jerome."

It started with a dream.

Everything was dark at first. Maruka felt like he was standing and floating all at the same time. He hovered in a space that wasn't the air or any part of the red earth he came to know. His eyes were open but his sight was pitch black.

Then, there was a flame. It glowed and brought warmth Maruka hadn't felt before. The fire was wondrous and felt familiar. Suddenly, a voice spoke from it.

Jerome.

Maruka looked around. He almost corrected the voice, trying to tell it that he was someone else, that maybe there was a mistake. His name wasn't Jerome. It was—

Jerome. Your mind was lost when you came here. When we protected you, damage was sustained. It's why one of you is lost. It's why all of you were scattered. It's why now, you can't remember who you are. A great evil tried to destroy you.

It was hard for Maruka to understand what was happening. He heard words, but they came at him so quickly that he didn't understand it.

Do not feel lost. The truth will come out and you will know exactly who you are.

Soon, Maruka saw faces. The first belonged to a woman who looked much like him.

She was tall and skinny, and had curly black hair.

She wore multi-colored headband and smiled in a way that reached Maruka's heart.

He was stunned by how similar the two of them looked.

"There's my baby."

The woman reached out to Maruka. He flinched at first, but stayed still once her hand gently cupped his chin. She pressed her lips against his forehead and Maruka's fear went away, as if she were simply made to take away his fear.

"Look at you," said the woman. "You are a chip off the block. And you look so much like me, Jerome Jackson Bailey—but in your eyes I see..."

Suddenly, she was gone. He looked around in the dark space, hoping she would show up and finish what she had to say.

What did she see? Maruka didn't know. The woman he looked like was gone before he could find out.

"We're both alone, aren't we?"

Maruka turned around and he saw the forest boy Link with his fairy, Navi. They stared at Maruka as if they were meeting him for the first time.

Maruka nodded before Link continued.

"I guess we are," Maruka admitted.

"I wish I could go home," said Link. "Do you know how to find yours?"

A tear fell down Maruka's cheek. "I don't what home is."

Link pointed behind Maruka. "Maybe they can help you."

Maruka turned around and saw the red eyed girl and strange boy. They stood side-by-side and like Link and Navi, stared at Maruka like he was something brand new.

"Someday," said the girl. "You're going to do something wonderful. You're going to change the mountain."

"What's your name?" Maruka asked.

The red eyed girl put a hand over her heart. "You know me," she said. "I'm Sheila."

"My name is Maruka."

"It's Jerome. You lost yourself. Didn't you hear the voice?"

"It...it can't be right."

The strange boy rolled his eyes. "Why would we lie to you? Just because you don't remember doesn't mean what we say isn't true. I'm Trevor, by the way. Get it together, bro. We need you."

They were right. Before Maruka asked any more questions, a new girl appeared. She had fiery hair and blue eyes. Her smirk seemed to try its best to hold back words.

"Do you want to know a secret?" the fiery haired girl asked. "About Sheila, I mean?" Maruka kept silent, but the girl continued as if he said he wanted to. "Sheila likes you. A lot. She always followed you around, but she didn't want you to know. So I pretended I wanted to go around the playground and explore stuff. But she was always looking at you."

Maruka felt his face burn.

"Go after her! You two would make a good couple!"

"What's your name?"

The girl gave a look as fierce as her curls. "Aw, c'mon hermano! Rebecca. You know that!"

No, I don't. Or I don't remember. I'm sorry—

Before Maruka could say this, the girl disappeared. Darunia took her place, along with Tuba, Maui, Maleek, Dominic and the elders.

"Darunia..." Maruka lost his words. The Goron Chieftain lifted a hand to stop the boy from speaking regardless.

"Save it," he said. "Make a choice, my boy. Choose to believe in the truth. In your destiny. Everything else will fall in place by then."

Then, there was only the fire. It rose from Maruka's palm, becoming a flaring pillar.

Awe filled Maruka's heart and mind. He knew this was his doing and also knew that it wasn't. It was beautiful, it was brilliant, it was his gift.

It was something he had to share with the world and he would do just that. A shining new world surrounded him as the fire lit the sky.

Then, the dream ended. Maruka wandered from Darunia's home and needed to be alone for a while. He was glad he wasn't now.

"I think my name really is Jerome," Maruka said to the strange boy. "And your name—it's Trevor. We're best friends."

When Trevor smiled , Maruka knew. It hurt his heart in some ways, but he was also glad. Everything was now being found out.

A group of Goron women made the children sit on stone stools in Tuba's home. They weaved many small green leaves together into wreaths while others painted red crescents on their faces.

Once the women were done, the children spent their time speaking with Maruka, who brought up memories that kept returning to his mind.

He remembered the football game and the bet that came before it. There was the time he met Trevor, Sheila, the girl named Rebecca and so many other things.

Soon, so much time passed that the festival was ready to start. When it did, the children all left together and went into the citadel square.

The citadel square was a sight to behold. The crimson banners smiled on the wall encircling the space. Goron men and women filled the square wi TV festive robes. Torches carried joyful mounds of flame.

All the Gorons chattered with one another, wearing merry looks on their faces, forgetting about the troubles that should have weighed them down.

Maruka's stomach was still a storm. His palms were damp from the nerves he built up since the late morning. He was very quiet—something the visitors always claimed him to be, a quiet boy with few words to say.

It was especially true now. In a lonely corner of the square, Maruka stood by himself. He'd glance at the festival for mere seconds, then quickly stared at the ground.

The elders were nearby. Xin, Qiang and Yoa had serious looks on their faces, unlike the people they led.

When others approached them, they acknowledged the Gorons with a small smile and conversation. Then, like Jerome, they were silent and stern. Maruka was glad they at least ignored him.

"I wish you were older."

Darunia yanked Maruka from his thoughts. He stood beside the boy, leaning on the wall.

At first, he had the same serious look as the elders, but when he peered down at Maruka, he smirked.

"I'd give you a little bit of the ale we've saved from trades with the Hylians," he said. "We only take it out once a year, for this very occasion. You look like you could use some."

"Is that a good idea?" Maruka asked.

"No. But it'd give you some courage."

Maruka tried to have a smile of his own. Darunia gently patted the boy's shoulder.

"You'll do fine," he said. "We'll all be inspired tonight and you'll help us remember who we are. A people forged by fire. There's nothing more beautiful than the sight of many flames flying from the ancestral vase!" Darunia gestured toward the large clay jar. "When a chosen one comes to partake in the festivities, our courage increases tenfold."

"What if I can't get the flame in the jar?" asked Maruka.

Darunia wouldn't stop smiling. He kept his hand on Maruka's shoulder. With his free hand, the Goron Chieftain pointed toward the crowd. His index finger searched the crowd until the visitors were found.

Trevor, Sheila, Link and Navi were bundled together, enjoying themselves in the midst of the partying.

"Your friends are already growing used to the place," said Darunia. "Soon, we won't be able to get rid of them! I wonder—do any of your friends know how to dance?"

Maruka shrugged. "If I remembered anything, I'd tell you." Maruka pauses, realizing he had to speak up about today. "I...remembered a couple things today. Names. Another friend who's out there, missing. I remembered a lot. I even had a dream."

Darunia scratched his straw-colored beard. Then, he clapped his hands together and went towards the group.

"I'm going to ask them if they'd like to join the dancing," he said. "Make them feel real welcome! You better join us as well, boy! Loosen your muscles before the miracle!"

Maruka watched the Goron Chieftain approached the visitors. He spoke to Trevor first.

Trevor looked away from Darunia as the leader spoke words Maruka couldn't quite hear. The boy shook his head and slowly pulled himself away from the rest of the group.

Sheila was next. She took Darunia's words in a better way, even smiling as the two interacted. Still, she shrugged and blushed. Maruka saw her mouth the words "I'm sorry" before she shrank into herself and didn't seem to know what to do.

Link was last. He had a calmer face, a face as quiet as Maruka's was. He wasn't a child of many words or smiles, but one could go up to him and let him speak.

Darunia and Link spoke for quite some time, then the boy dug into his satchel. He pulled out an instrument of wood and walked to the center of the square.

"Gorons!" Darunia's loud voice boomed throughout the space, bringing silence to the crowd. "One of our honored guests is going to play his ocarina for us! He says he has a song in mind for us to enjoy."

Link stood by a band that had been playing music for quite some time. He was given a place where he could stand out amongst them. After taking a deep breath, he pressed his lips against the ocarina's mouthpiece and started playing a joyful melody. The melody was fast yet delicate, a mixture of free and controlled.

It was the kind of song that made the heart leap and caused the body to follow. At first, the crowd was mesmerized by what Link played. Then, as time passed, the band joined in. They added their instruments and the song was fully accompanied into a realized piece of wonderful art.

The onlookers caught on as well. One Goron couple started to dance together, spinning each other around before getting into a wild dance where they flung their arms and legs out. Their fellow citizens copied the movements and the square was filled with many dancing people.

Darunia clapped along to the band's music. Navi bounced up and down, causing Maruka to imagine how the fairy looked as she danced in her own orb of light. Sheila and Trevor looked on, staring at the crowd, grinning at what they were seeing. Soon, Trevor found himself disappearing into the group, getting involved with the festivities.

Maruka remembered Darunia's advice and took it to heart. He was about to simply dance on his own, but realized Sheila was still alone. She was happy, but seemed unwilling to move.

Maruka walked up to her and offered a hand. When she realized what was happening, the two met each other's eyes and they both seemed very shy. Maruka felt nervous again, but the ritual was far from his mind. All he wanted to do was make sure he didn't embarrass himself in front of Sheila with bad dancing.

He remembered another day in that moment; Sheila was in the vision, sitting on a strange looking chair attached to a small table. She was drawing a picture on a piece of paper with some kind of pencil—a small, colorful pencil that wasn't exactly that.

Before Maruka could turn around and ask Sheila what she was drawing, she turned around as if to read his mind and showed it to him.

The drawing was far from perfect. Who could easily draw somebody else in a perfect image anyway? It was just impossible.

Still, she had everything right about how Maruka looked, from his puffed out hair to the clothes he seemed to wear fromhome. From where he came from.

"It's for you," Sheila said in the memory. "Do you like it, Jerome?"

Maruka didn't tell Sheila any of this. He hadn't said anything yet. All he focused on was bringing Sheila to the dance floor where they joined the Gorons in the joyful music.

They laughed together, spinning in circles as the music continued. When they found Trevor, Maruka playfully pulled him into the happy fray and they all spun around and around until they became dizzy.

"This reminds me of a man who wanted to play a song in the mill in Kakariko!" Sheila giggled.

"I'm thinking of the Merry-Go-Round," said Trevor. "The one in the carnival that comes to town."

Maruka scratched his head. "Horses, right? They were white and brown and gold. With...saddles. They had saddles to hold onto."

Trevor and Sheila stared at Maruka, astonished.

"Buddy," said Trevor. "You're remembering?!"

Maruka nodded. "I think I am."

Trevor and Sheila hugged Maruka.

"This is great!" said Trevor. "Now we don't have to worry about you having to learn everything all over again when we get home!"

Maruka felt guilty. He didn't want this new revelation—that he was Jerome after all—to change his connection with the Gorons.

Before he could say anything about it, he felt a hand on his shoulders. It was Darunia.

"Now's the time," Darunia said. "Let's get you up to the top to drop the flame."

Maruka nodded. He started to follow the Chieftain to the top, but before continuing, Maruka looked back at his friends.

"Darunia," said Maruka. "Can I bring the others with?"

Darunia paused and gave it thought. Then, he smiled and nodded. Maruka waved Trevor, Sheila, Link and Navi over to join them. They traveled to the top of the city where several Gorons with a torch waited for them.

"We'll go to the center," said Darunia. "Then, you'll guide flame down into the vase."

Maruka was ready to carry out Darunia's instructions. He didn't feel any nerves as he looked down at the square below.

All the Gorons stopped dancing. Their eyes were upon him and all they wanted to do was see a fire that could inspire them.

He knew the miracle would happen.

The flame seemed to speak to him. It flickered on the top end of a darkwood torch, crackle as it charred the wood.

Maruka reached out to the fire and held his fingertips inches away from the flame. The heat could have seered his skin, but the warmth soothed him instead.

When he gathered his courage, Maruka reached into the fire. He pulled away and looked at his right hand; not a single part of his skin was burnt. At this point, there was no reason for Maruka to be surprised at this.

"That's crazy," he heard Trevor whisper under his breath.

"Good luck Jerome," Sheila said. "I'm sorry—I'm going to call you Maruka. The one of fire."

Maruka thought of the Gorons down below. They watched in collective silence as he prepared himself for the big moment. Tuba caressed her belly, the elders watched in their sternness and the Calvary held their breath.

Every pair of eyes in the citadel was on the island above the square.

Maruka gathered the flame in his hands. It rose from the torch and hovered between his palms. As the fire came to life, Maruka smiled.

He raised the flame toward the sky. For a moment, the world stopped.

The dreams Maruka had rushed through his mind. Every face he cared about—the face of the woman he looked like, the face of the four friends around him and the Gorons—they filled his heart with unbelievable amounts of love.

Soon, the fire soared from the boy's hands and fell toward the square. Maruka held his breath.

The flame was swallowed by the jar's opening. Silence continued to take the city until sparkling lights shot out from the opening. Loud popping noises filled the air and the Gorons suddenly hollered. They cheered, danced and jumped up and down in the air. Then, there was a chant.

"MARUKA! MARUKA! MARUKA!"

It was his name. Maruka. The one of fire.

To the Gorons, that was who he was, a chosen hero.

Maruka turned to Link, Navi, Trevor, Sheila and Darunia.

"Jerome!" said Trevor. "Bro, is everyone made of magic! That was AMAZING!"

Jerome. That was his name too. These were his friends.

His friends beamed at him, joyful at what had just happened. In one night and one day, everything changed. It didn't seem to matter who Maruka was.

On this night, there was just the fire. Everyone was together. Everybody smiled because the fire came to life on the mountain.

For the rest of the evening, there was only dancing. There was only joy. There was only the grand group of friends Maruka could call a family and it was beautiful.