The Boy Who Remembered His Name

His name was Jerome Bailey. He was from Oak Shire, Illinois.

He was born to a woman named Beverly. Jerome looked just like his mother; tall and lean, soft in the face, gentle and strong all at the same time. They had a hard life in the south side of Chicago. One day, they were finally able to leave.

When they did, Jerome's life changed. He didn't have to hear gunshots outside his window or wonder if a stray bullet would cut through the wall and do some damage. His mother didn't have to run in his bedroom to see if he was fine after a shootout. In Oak Shire, Illinois, everything was peaceful. You didn't have to worry about a thing.

Jerome didn't have to worry about dying. He only needed to think about his new life. Jerome had new friends soon enough. They were the three closest friends he had ever had in his life. He was glad to be by their side.

He remembered them all at long last. They had to fight for their lives against the horde of Dodongos attacking the Goron Calvary.

Droves of the scaled creatures filled the hall behind the steel door inside the Dodongo's skull. Many of the beasts breathed fire out their mouths, lighting the expansive dark space surrounding the children. Jerome's heart pounded. It drummed over the sound of his thoughts, over the soothing advice he heard throughout the years and throughout his stay in Hyrule. He had to swallow his fear to actually hear himself.

Fight. That's all he could hear. Fight and protect what you hold dear.

And so he did. The group seemed to follow him and Link, who was already prepared for battle. His blade was always drawn, gleaming at all times, shining like the beacon the forest boy was supposed to be. Link fiercely charged the Dodongos, interfering with their battles against the Calvary, protecting them with every slash of the Kokiri sword. His battle cries were bold and loud.

Jerome was bold as well. He charged a Dodongo that cornered Maui, having taken out his dagger. After raising the knife above his head, Jerome leapt in the air and plunged it into the Dodongo's brow, right before it could douse Maui with a flame.

"You youngins weren't supposed to be here!" said Maui, breathing heavily. He seemed to be in battle for quite some time. His hulking form didn't have the usual proud stance but was hunched over, as if something heavy weighed down his back.

"We couldn't leave you behind," said Jerome. "Link's supposed to help you. We decided to help him. Got a problem with that?"

Maui scoffed and smirked. "No," he said. "But Darunia's going to wish you chose to go out. We would have liked it better that way. It would have kept you safe."

"Who's going to save you, big head?"

"Ha! A jokester."

"Your girlfriend's around, by the way. She'll be glad to see you."

Maui raised an eyebrow. "I got a lady?"

"She has wings."

"Ooooh, that girlfriend." Maui grinned. "We'll talk to each other after we beat these Dodongos out. She seems nice!" Maui swung his fist at an oncoming Dodongo. It flew in the air and didn't have a chance after it hit the ground hard.

Link, Jerome and Maui led the other children, Navi and the Calvary to a spacious room. A square hole was carved in the center, outlined by dark blue tiles. Several more Gorons were there was well. They struggled against more Dodongos that surrounded them. Amongst the warriors was Maleek and Dominic.

"HEY!" Jerome shouted.

The monsters turned in the group's direction. They whirled around, snarling at the newcomers. As the Dodongos stormed towards them, they showed their fangs and tusks.

"Why did you do that?" Trevor groaned. "I don't have a weapon!"

"Too late now," said Navi. "Hide behind my 'boyfriend.'"

Trevor rolled his eyes. "OK, I deserved that one."

"We'll be OK," said Link, who jumped down from the short ledge that hovered above the room's floor. He rushed the Gorons along with the other Calvary members. It wasn't even a battle at that point. Two young boys and a fairy somehow turned the tide for a group of large creatures who trained themselves for battle. Soon, many Dodongos were sprawled across the floor.

"Splendid job!" said Dominic. "That was a fantastic effort indeed!"

"We wish you didn't come though," said Maleek. "De Chieftain tried to protect you!"

"We're sooooo sorry," said Trevor, who crossed his arms over his chest. "We'll just try not to save your lives next time, OK?"

"Don't ruin our clean slate," said Maleek. "I was starting ta like you, boy! And you didn't do nothin' at all ta save us anyway!"

Trevor shrugged. "Fair."

"Where are the others?" asked Jerome. Darunia couldn't have been far.

Dominic gesturing toward a new pathway. "They're trying to guide a block to the switch in the center of this room. There's fear that—" Dominic seemed to shudder at a certain thought. "—That…an ancient beast from long ago may have laid a dormant egg. If this egg hatched, this child of the beast would have grown to grand proportions…to the point of being able to spawn new offspring to an unhealthy level. Like what we're seeing here."

Jerome felt ill after hearing this. He looked at Link and the others, keeping a brave face.

"Let's help them out," he said. Jerome hopped up the ledge for the new pathway, followed by the others. They dashed along the path as it curved to a room with a large stone hedge and flaming keeses flying around. Of course, Dodongos plagued this area as well, battling more Calvary Gorons. Jerome looked for Darunia.

"Don't hold back!" Maui shouted. "Help the Chieftain at all costs!" The Calvary charged, barreling into the hordes and doing their duty as always. Link and Jerome slashed through the Dodongos as well, rallying to the other side of the room's stone hedge.

There, the boys found the Chieftain. He stared down three Dodongos at once. One actually had leapt on him, digging its teeth into his arm. Jerome's heart darted up his throat until he saw Darunia yank the Dodongo away. He bashed it's jaw against his knee before tossing it to the side.

Jerome and Link wasted no time. Link rolled forward and held his shield up against a Dodongo's fire breathing attack. The flames engulfed everything but the forest boy, who waited until its attack was done to make good on protecting Darunia. One jab of the sword later and he defeated the Dodongo had a sword between its eyes.

Jerome did the same, cutting into the Dodongo's side with his knife. As soon as the Dodongo collapsed and passed away, Jerome turned his attention to Darunia, ready to ask if he was OK. He was silenced when Darunia glared at him, none too pleased at the boy's presence.

"I didn't want you out here," he said firmly. "Turn back. Now."

"I can't," said the mountain boy. "And I won't. I made a promise to save the mountain."

"The harvest is possible," said Darunia. "Isn't it? You fulfilled your destiny. What more do you need to do? We can handle the battle. You even helped with that. But you will not go any further."

"But Darunia, I'm good for it—"

"Enough!" Darunia gritted his teeth. "This isn't about my pride or my thoughts, boy! It's about your protection! My responsibility is bigger than I am! You found the people you belong to. We're grateful for you and if you have to stay with us, you're welcome to. But right now, this is a Goron matter. Please, obey my instructions." The Chieftain placed a hand on Jerome's shoulder. The touch was gentle as opposed to firm. The tenderness in his eyes showed Jerome where Darunia was coming from.

"I'm proud of everything you've done," he said. "Let us do the rest now, Jerome."

Every part of Jerome fought against Darunia's commands. However, he held his tongue and nodded.

Darunia walked over to the block Dominic spoke and pushed it through the hall, bringing it into the room with the switch. The Calvary patiently guided it into the opening and a steel door's silver bars whipped themselves upward, making entry into the room beyond it possible. Darunia wrapped a cloth around the wound made by the Dodongo that attacked him.

"Calvary," said Darunia. "The final fight awaits us. Let's not waste our time." He turned to the children. "It will be unsafe for you all here. Don't worry—I haven't forgotten my promise, Link. You'll get what you asked for. You deserve it, brave lad. May your quest to save Hyrule succeed. Let us help you with the task."

Link nodded, acknowledging Darunia's kind words. He patted Jerome on the back, offering him a smile.

"We did what we had to," said Link. "And we won. Isn't that awesome?"

Jerome nodded, realizing Link was right. They were able to save the mountain. The ancient beast may have rested beyond the door, but Jerome was sure they could handle it. Soon, peace would return to the mountain and everything would be alright. The Goron Ruby would go to Link. Jerome could join him on his quest. Then, they could all find a way to get home to Oak—

The cavern rattled. Many Calvary members screamed.

Jerome ran toward the trouble. Trevor tried to pull him back, warning him about his injuries from earlier. Jerome didn't care. He rushed past the Gorons who fell from the tremor. When he dashed into the next room over, he ignored the immense amount of heat filled the space. He just had to find Darunia and the others.

They were sprawled on the ground. Bruises riddled their bodies. Jerome ran up to Darunia, who was lying beside the edge of a gaping hole in the ground. It was a jagged crevice, an unnatural opening. The quake must have caused it.

"Help!" Jerome shouted at the others, who rushed to his side. They helped turn Darunia over on his back. He was unconscious. When Jerome tried to wake him, the Chieftain didn't respond. He was barely breathing.

"What happened?" Jerome asked in a somber voice.

It seemed as if the cavern's troubles heard him. Everything shook once more, taking the children off-balance. Jerome put two and two together in that moment. He knew the source of this latest bit of trouble.

It came from down below, in what rested beneath everyone. It was the ancient beast, alive and thriving.

The decision wasn't one Jerome made. He merely chose to respond to what happened. When another tremor plagued the cavern, it caused him to flail. He tried to keep his footing, but couldn't as he tumbled into the hole in the ground. A hand clasped itself around his bandage wrist before he took the fall.

When Jerome looked up, he saw Link straining to keep him up. The forest boy gritted his teeth, trying to hoist his friend back to safety. Before he could, the ancient beast made its intentions known with one more booming rattle of its world.

Link lost balance. He and Jerome fell. They plummeted down to the ground below. When they hit the surface, pain followed. Jerome felt the sting of red rock striking his skin. He favored himself as he went up on his feet. Link was sprawled beside him, though he quickly recovered as well.

"Are you OK?" asked Jerome.

"Yeah," said Link. "What in the world caused that to…happen…? Oh, no…"

Jerome felt its presence. He slowly craned his body around and saw the hulking beast in the corner of the round lair he was trapped in. Its form was darker than any other Dodongo in the cavern thus far. His clawed feet could have crushed any homestead beneath its gritty soles. The beast's breath was rank and foul and caused the space to swelter.

Link and Jerome were trapped down here with the beast. In the middle of this chamber, a large pool of bubbling lava rested. When the gargantuan figure took a step, the pool seemed to come alive, its contents sloshing about. If any of it touched the boys, that would be it. They would be gone and they'd melt down to their very bones. Both of them had to be careful.

After all, they were dealing with the King Dodongo now.

"Careful now!"

Navi came down to the join the two. She was by Link's side in an instant, keeping her eyes on the ancient beast.

"Be ready!" Navi exclaimed. "It'll attack by rolling! Dodge and duck under your shields! You'll be safe that way, trust me. It can't pierce through metal so easily."

Jerome trembled, but trusted Navi. What other choice did he have? The King Dodongo curled its gargantuan body into a ball before barreling toward Link and Jerome. Obeying Navi's words, Jerome crouched beneath his shield. He felt the King Dodongo's ungodly strength forcing him out of position. Searing heat surged beneath Jerome and he realized he was at the lava pool's edge. Jerome's skin singed. He scurried away once he realized the King Dodongo passed.

When he regathered himself, Jerome looked for Link. He found the forest boy in the corner, staving off death by dodging the King Dodongo's focused stomps. It's claws seemed intent on crushing the forest boy. Its lair rattled every time it tried to take Link out. Jerome stumbled in the direction of the battle.

Before Link could get crushed again, Jerome pushed him out of the way. A large burst of crimson dust billowed like a cloud. Some of the grains filled the boys' lungs. Both of them coughed while escaping their foe. Not too long after, the King Dodongo gave chase. It curled into a ball again and rolled. The boys found themselves at the giant's mercy again, avoiding death by a thread.

After the boys survived a second onslaught of rolling, the King Dodongo seemed to lose sense of its surroundings. It slammed head first into a wall and seemed to go unconscious, though the boys and Navi knew it wouldn't be for long. The King Dodongo started stirring seconds later, slowly pulling itself up.

"Navi," Link said quietly, his gaze glued to the beast. "What else does it do?"

"It's a bigger version of the other dodongos," Navi explained. "It breathes fire. The flames are just larger—it could probably take out cities."

Like Goron City, Jerome thought. He balled his hands into fists, enraged at the thought of such a tragedy. The monster couldn't leave, no matter what had to happen.

"Can we beat it like the Dodongos?" Link asked.

Navi looked worried for the first time. "It's hard to tell. Honestly, Gorons are better suited."

"But the Gorons aren't around." Jerome hoped that Darunia and others would wake up, but he only heard silence high above the lair. The Calvary wouldn't be able to help in any way, at least not now. The boys were on their own.

"It's up to us," Jerome said. "It's up to us..."

The King Dodongo recovered. As it turned around, with its blue-white eyes emotionless yet full of rage, Jerome looked at the corner it slammed itself into. In the midst of all the rubble, he saw a polished black dome with a fiery blossom sprouted from its top. His heart leapt. It was a bomb flower, unused and unnoticed.

"Link," Jerome whispered, gesturing toward the bomb flower. When the forest boy noticed, his eyes brightened and Jerome quickly laid out the plan: "We take one more attack—let's hope it's not fire—and book it for the bomb flower."

The two waited for one last attack from the King Dodongo. It seemed to pause, as if it forgot how to fight. Then, it took a deep breath. The two didn't think it would try while they were unable to strike, but it was clear that they were wrong. Both boys and the fairy leapt out of the way as a large geyser of fire flew toward them. The air was hotter than ever. Sweat poured down Jerome's face and he thought his entire body was melting.

"We need to run!" Link shouted. "Follow my lead, we'll get there!"

Link, Navi and Jerome evaded the King Dodongo. It kept shooting fire at them, giving chase all the while. Its strides were larger than they would have liked. Somehow, the King Dodongo gained on them and rattled the lair with a forceful step. It caused the boys to lose their footing. The King Dodongo loomed over them and they thought the battle was over. They thought they had lost.

Then, two small thuds struck the scaled back. The King Dodongo whirled around and Jerome's gut wretched. Trevor and Sheila somehow made it down into the lair. They threw stones at the King Dodongo, using the rocks near the bomb flower as ammunition.

"Get away from them!" Trevor shouted at the top of his lungs. Jerome heard the fear in his voice, the quiver he never got rid of in his life. Sheila simply looked at Jerome, offering a sad look in her red eyes. He never thought such a stare would be so beautiful, so kind and so gentle. It wasn't the kind of stare that belonged to someone who needed to do battle. Jerome wondered how any of his friends belonged in Hyrule.

Their distraction was enough to turn the King Dodongo in his friend's direction. It stomped their way, roaring as it advanced to vanquish them. Jerome quickly got up, unable to bear what could happen next. It couldn't happen. He wouldn't allow it.

He ran as fast as he could. Memories coursed through his mind like a river. He thought of the first time he met Trevor. He was a little shorter back then, his body more bony than slim. A thin red line of blood had just been wiped away from his nose—Jerome helped him stand up to some bullies and the bullies realized Jerome was big enough to beat them both up. They didn't want to mess with him.

They shook hands and said each other's names so they wouldn't forget. On that same day, Jerome and Trevor spent an afternoon together, bonding over common interests. They liked climbing trees, running races, video games and football. They both liked the Chicago Bears.

Sheila drew a picture of Jerome two weeks after he moved into Oak Shire. The nose was a little off, but everything else actually looked good. It was like Sheila knew how everyone looked, and how everyone was. She guessed Jerome's name without him saying a word, and even guessed who his mother was. The girl with sunglasses was quiet, but made of magic. Jerome always thought she was pretty nice.

He hoped they would find Rebecca. She was a fierce girl with red hair, a hot head with a feisty mouth. Rebecca said swear words in Spanish to people who were rude. She stood up to every bully who tried to hurt her, Sheila, or Trevor. Rebecca always wanted to show she could do anything and everything as the very best at it. Her spirit was so strong. She was out there in Hyrule, waiting to be found.

The King Dodongo cornered Trevor and Sheila. They crouched in the corner and covered themselves, as if they realized their mistake. As the King Dodongo inhaled a gust of air, Jerome leapt between it and his friends. He remembered who they were. He wouldn't lose them. After all, he had a name he had to stay true to.

His name was Maruka. He was the One of Fire. Maruka would protect his friends on the mountain. He would protect Darunia, Maui, Dominic, Maleek, Tuba, Sajiro and the Elders. When he held his hands up, they were the shield his friends needed, the wall that would protect them, the very space that would save their lives.

As the King Dodongo breathed out its fire, Jerome thought of his mother. He thought of her wise words. He thought of her smile. He wished he had a chance to reach out and hug her just one more time. In the end, that would have been nice. It would have been better than anything else to tell his mother he loved her.

Jerome smelled the fire the King Dodongo breathed—it truly charred everything in its path. The flame changed the ground, giving it a toasted scent. Then, there was a smell Jerome didn't want to think about. It had something to do with his arms, which were consumed by flames. He felt the heat on the right side of his face as well. Jerome heard one more thing before his vision blurred and became unrecognizable.

He screamed. Jerome heard himself scream. He felt himself fall and wondered if he would feel himself hitting the ground.

A/N: Wow, super glad to see this story 1,000 views! It's been encouraging being on this story for close to a year. I can't wait to finish this and move on in the series. Thanks for the support!