Ch. 31- The Journey to Goron City, Part 1
The Legend of Zelda © Nintendo
Maudi and Dusty © Me
It was the next day, and bright and early, Link and Umbra had woken up to get a headstart on their climb to the Goron City. Though it might have been easier if they had Buck to go with them, Link couldn't risk getting his horse set on fire. After all...he didn't want to cause the death of another steed.
Thus, the duo walked onward, and they soon found themselves surrounded by shrouds of steam that emerged from the springs of water around them. They had been told that the area around Death Mountain was actually famous for its hot springs. People came from far and wide just to take a dip in the rejuvenating waters. In fact, the stable at the mountain's base made good money off of them.
Perhaps when Link and Umbra were done here, they could take a bit of a dip, themselves. After all, even heroes needed a break every now and then. For now, they had to focus on the task at hand.
Emerging from the mists, they continued on the mountain trail, keeping an eye out for any monsters along the way. The place already looked rather foreboding enough with all the rusted Guardian bodies around. As they walked, they soon came upon a tall and rather stout-looking figure. It looked too large to be a Hylian, and its skin was quite dark...and it had a shell made of rocks on its back, and whatever it had was tied back in a topknot.
It was then that Link realized that it was a Goron, who hummed a tune as he made his way down the trail.
"Well, hello, stranger!" he greeted Link and Umbra. "Where you headed?"
Link pointed up toward the mountain summit.
"Ah, headed up the mountain, I see," the Goron said. "Well, just make sure you got plenty of fireproof elixirs with you...although if you ask me, it'd be best if you just turn back the way you came from."
Link tilted his head in confusion.
"Listen, it's nothing against you," the Goron explained. "We Gorons are a friendly, welcoming race! It's just...Death Mountain has become a little unstable as of late. Every now and then, magma bombs come raining down from the volcano. It's getting to be that us Gorons can't even making a living selling precious ore! I think it might have something to do with that Divine Beast or whatever it's called roaming around the mountaintop."
Link gasped silently as he looked toward the distant mountaintop...and just barely, he could make some sort of shadow slowly crawling around on it.
"I mean...I'm just trying to give some friendly advice," said the Goron before he turned and headed down the trail. "If you and the wolf wanna keep going, that's your business. Good luck to you! Just don't get roasted!"
Link waved the Goron off in thanks before he looked to Umbra, who nodded his head. The task at hand was perfectly clear. With that, the duo soon carried on, climbing up the rocky slopes. As they continued to ascend, that's when Link spotted something out of his peripheral vision: a Sheikah Tower.
A map could actually be of great use, right now. He'd need it if he was going to keep climbing up the trail.
Umbra turned to Link, helping him climb up by pulling him with his teeth and being careful to lead him to slopes that weren't too steep for him. They also made sure to avoid any Red Chuchus. Seemingly harmless until they explode in fire.
It seemed a lot of fiery foes made their home here.
It wasn't too long before they managed to reach the bottom of the Sheikah Tower. Well...it was more like half the tower since it was jutting up from the ground and the bottom disappeared below. This should be an easy climb.
Link gave Umbra the signal to wait for him, then began to climb up the tower. As he thought, it wasn't really much of a climb. He stopped to rest at certain points before he kept going, of course, but he soon reached the top in almost no time at all. He soon approached the pedestal and placed the Sheikah Slate in its slot.
Sheikah Tower activated...
Soon, the tower's antennae unfolded and its orange lights flashed blue, indicating its activation. Not long after, the blue platform behind him flashed, as did the guidance stone.
Scanning area...
Just like before, that little drop of blue light dripped down from the stone and fell on the Sheikah Slate's screen, and as Link took a look, he saw a map of the area appear.
Regional map extracted.
Nodding in satisfaction, Link took the Sheikah Slate out of the pedestal and placed it back on his hip. Not long after, Umbra soon appeared at his side out of thin air. However, Link noticed that he was panting rather quickly, his tongue dangling out of his mouth as saliva dripped from his open jaws. It was then that the Hylian Champion started to realize just how hot the air was getting to be.
Link looked down below to the mountain trail and he could see embers floating around in the air from pools of bubbling lava.
It seemed now was a good time to use one of the fireproof elixirs that he got from the stable.
First, Link popped open a bottle and took a quick sip, drinking half the elixir, then gave the other half to Umbra, who lapped the potion out of his hand. Once they did that, the heat didn't feel so bad.
After that, Link soon used the paraglider to descend from the tower and landed on the trail below, and Umbra soon used his powers to appear at his side as the pair continued onward, once again...but as they did, they suddenly an all too familiar beeping sound that made both their hearts jump into their throats. They barely had enough to duck behind an outcropping of rocks as they heard a loud zapping sound, obliterating the ground nearby. As they looked up, they gasped upon seeing a Guardian come crawling down from the rocky wall to the right.
Knowing that they were ill-equipped to fight the mechanical monstrosity, Link and Umbra did the only they could do at that moment. With a cry of alarm, they bolted as fast as they could, but the Guardian was already in hot pursuit, firing its lasers at them as they tried to find cover behind rocks and burnt trees, but whatever hiding place they could find was quickly obliterated. By now, it was starting to get close, and Link was starting to think it was time for a change in plan. He quickly notched an arrow into his bow and turned back to take aim, just as the Guardian was charging up its beam again. Then, with a grunt, he shot the Guardian in its eye, stunning it for just a few seconds.
Those few precious seconds were all that Link and Umbra to jump down under a cliff and pin themselves against the rock wall. They both stilled their breathing, looking up nervously as they waited. They could hear the Guardian's footsteps drawing near, making that ominous whirring sound as it searched for the pair...but after what felt like hours, they heard its footsteps recede.
They still waited with bated breath...but once the sound had completely faded, they both heaved sighs of relief before they began to climb out from their hiding spot. Link surveyed the area, making absolutely sure the coast was clear before he and Umbra came out of hiding.
Needless to say, by now, having no way to fight these Guardians was becoming more of annoyance to Link than anything else. It seemed the only thing that phased them was an arrow to the eye, and that only stunned them for a few seconds before he could escape.
If only there was some way he could turn the tide, somehow...but for now, he had to deal with running away for the time being.
Thus, Link and Umbra pressed on, following the mountain trail as they continued on their way to Goron City. Hopefully, they wouldn't run into any more surprise attacks along the way. There was only so much they could handle.
XXX
It seemed their troubles were far from over. Link grunted as he held up his metal shield, bracing himself against a jet of flames that a lizalfos was spewing from its mouth. Unlike most of the reptilian creatures that Link had encountered, this one had more of a red and orange coloration, not to mention it was swimming around in lava, which was how it and its fellow lizalfos got the jump on Link in the first place as he and Umbra were passing through.
Still, he wasn't going to let these things get the better of him.
While Umbra was busy with the other two Lizalfos, Link slammed his shield into the leader and then stabbed at its chest with the Lightscale Trident, causing it to screech in pain as it was impaled before he threw it over his head. As for Umbra, he barked as he lunged at one of the lizalfos, sinking his fangs into his neck, and with a quick twist, he soon snapped the reptilian monster's neck as it fell limp on the ground. The other lizalfos attempted to skewer him with a metal halberd, but Link jumped in the way and blocked it with the Lightscale Trident, causing it to growl bitterly.
Link pushed the creature back before he drew his Vicious Sickle and stabbed its blade into the lizalfos' head, causing it to let out a gurgling screech before it fell to the ground. Panting heavily, Link sighed as he soon withdrew the trident and went over to the three treasure chests that the monsters were guarding. Must have been something rather precious if they wanted to keep outsiders from looking inside.
Monsters always did seem to have this affinity for treasure...not that they had much use for it, though.
One-by-one, Link opened the chests and found some rather useful items: a steel knight's bow, a set of arrows with what looked like ice spikes on the tip (and were rather cold to the touch to boot), and finally, some Rupees- about 500 in total!
No wonder these lizalfos were guarding the treasure.
Link smiled at his luck before he glanced over at Umbra, who panted from the heat of the mountain rather than the heat of battle, and Link was starting to feel it, a bit himself.
Luckily, he had two more in hand...but he had to use them sparingly. So, he took one quick sip of the elixir, then let Umbra have a little sip, as well, then they both continued on.
They just hoped they could find a way to continue on to Goron City before the elixirs ran out.
Yeah, I know I took a very time updating this and I'm sorry for the long wait. Hopefully, the next one won't be as long.
Review, please!