Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

Chapter 13 - Bolero of Fire

Link has never paid attention to the minute details involved in battles. Sound, image, or even tact. Fighting always came as natural to him, ever since his younger years of Deku Baba hunting.

It never occurred to him how mind-numbing the echoes of battle can be. At least until now.

At each bash of the soldier's sword at his shield, his whole arm twitches as his ears tingle with the overwhelming sound rushing over him. With his entire focus directed at the other soldier running up ahead, this close-up exchange feels a lot more stressful and infuriating than anything Link has faced before.

His opponent is not even remotely close to being a match for him. The difference between them is so enormous, that despite the relentless assault coming from the dark-armored knight, Link has yet to draw his sword. Only matching the man's blows with the body of his shield.

This apparent lack of respect for the knight's strength is driving the man crazy. He snarls, curses, and screams at each strike, desperately trying to urge the blond to take up his sword.

From the corner of his eyes, the Hero saw the knight up ahead finally catching up to the rolling ball; instantly a dark frown dawns at the hero's expression.

Using the pole of his spear, the knight bashed the poor small Goron out from that curling form, cornering them in the corner.

Raging anger flared up inside Link's chest, his frown deepening, his teeth gritting painfully tight.

At the same moment, the sword-wielding knight jumped upon the hero again, lashing out with three more vicious strikes crashing heavily against the Hylian Shield.

"Stop running, blondie." Snarled the man on top of Link. "Keep holding back, I'll carve a nice little scar on that pretty face of yours."

The knight's hateful voice sounded little more than background noise to Link. His blue eyes practically glued to the exchange just ahead of him, his boots grinding against the floor almost with a will of their own to run forward.

However, with the soldier still pinning him in place, Link is growing ever more frustrated with the situation. His self-control starting to give in, losing ground to the now-familiar sense of fog that tries to overwhelm his thoughts.

"STOP IGNORING ME, YOU CRETIN!" Howled the swordsman, as he once again threw all his strength into another blow.

'Kill... him...' The dark and familiar voice whispered with sweet words despite their grim meaning.

"I'll gut you!"

'They are little more than ants… born only to be stepped over…' At each little word, Link felt his right-hand twitching, inching ever closer to the handle of the Master Sword.

Shaking his head from side to side, he reigned in the urge that would destroy his heart later. "No…" He said softly, almost like a whimper.

'KILL THEM!' Like lightning crashing in the storm,the booming voice overwhelmed the hero's senses. A pair of red-eyes flashing in the mind-scape of Link's thoughts, peering down at his own self.

However, as strong as this feeling of ache in his chest has become, Link managed to regain his sense of control. Forcing his thoughts away from that dark corner of his mind, toward the memory of a smile that certain red-eyed blond had shared with him.

Little by little, the fog and darkness started to fade away. Giving clarity and space for Link to regain his upper hand in the 'battle' against the dark knight.

Determined to disarm the other man only with his shield, Link calmly turned his attention to the now fuming man.

"Is the little blondie girl tired of running?" Said the knight, readying his sword for another strike.

Despite the urgency still beating in his heart, Link allowed himself a short mocking grin. "Are you tired of tickling my shield?"

Link's word had an instant effect at the man's composure, only a glance to the open part of his helmet, and anyone would see the furious beet-red tone of his face.

"You… CHEEKY FUCKER!" Jumping in a furious charge, the dark knight threw not only his sword but his entire body onto Link. Practically a suicide leap if Link was willing to take up his sword and strike back.

"WAAAAHH!" A cry filled with pain and distress echoed from behind Link, the tip of his pointy ears twitching startled by the sound.

Disregarding the man falling onto him, Link turned his head only to catch a glance at the tip of a spear painted with blood.

After that sight, there was no more color in Link's vision. No more sounds to his ears, no more whispers in his head. Only a very faint and distant echo of laughter seeping from the darkest corner of Link's mind.

"Wha-?!" The swordsman had little time before the Hylian Shied came crashing upon him like a meteor.

Struck by the sheer force of Link's bash, the knight went flying like a ragdoll towards the wall. His back crashed and bounced, sending him spinning uncontrollably down the large circular hallway.

Link's first step sounded more like the stomp of a giant beast. Even the hard stone beneath his foot cracked under its weight.

Distracted by the awful sound coming from his right, the spear-wielding knight released his hold on the small Goron he had just poked in the leg with his spear. One single glance at the blond marching his way, and the hardened soldier of Ganondorf's army dropped his weapon and turned to run.

He ran, he ran as fast as his feet would carry him. Never in his life, not even in the height of this blasted war he has seen eyes quite like that. Cold, dull, and completely merciless.

'Screw this rotting mission. A shitty reward is not worth my life.'

Reaching the turning angle of the circular hallway, a trepid smile appears on the man's lips.

However, this glint of hope disappeared behind the scream flying out of his own mouth. Something hard and cold pierced at his right shoulder, entering from the back and lodging at his skin from the front.

Looking down at the metallic tip sticking from his flesh, the knight felt a type of pain he has never experienced before, as his body got pulled backward with the ringing sound of chains.

Sparks flew from the ground, as the armored tall soldier grinded his back against the floor. Then another painful cry exploded from his mouth when the tip of the Hookshot forcefully pulled itself back from the same spot it entered his shoulder.

As the pain dulled enough for his eyes to open fully again, he saw the same blue eyes that made him run. Hovering above him, impassive and terrifying, the green-wearing blond is just there staring down at him.

"P-Please… D-Don't kill me…" The knight pleaded pathetically, a stark contrast to the oppressive voice he was using against his Goron victim.

Link, who was moving in autopilot the last few seconds, came to a full halt after dragging the knight right back to him. Still holding the Hookshot in his right hand, he can just stare down at the crying man, his fingers tightening into a fist even with the tool in their hold.

'I should put him down…' Link himself echoed the words in his head. 'Leaving this… thing alive will only harm others later.'

Letting the Hookshot slip away from his fingers and onto the ground, Link began to reach ever so slowly to the Master Sword's handle at his back. At each inch his hand moves closer to his weapon, the bigger the conviction of his decision gets.

But, before he could touch his weapon, Link heard a whimpering little sound coming from the side. There he found the small Goron curling and scared, rubbing the wound at his thin leg.

Right then all the fire vanished from Link's eyes. His right hand fell to the side, leaving the sword back in its sheath.

"F-Fuck… Thanks. I promise I will never-" As the knight began to babble without control, Link's fist came crashing on his face, knocking the lights out of him.

Forcing himself to ignore this person's existence, Link turned away from the unconscious soldier. His attention now on the shivering little Goron on the floor.

"It's… okay. You're safe now." He said calmly, reaching slowly with one hand towards the terrified child, who continued to ignore him behind quiet whimpers. "Can I look at that wound?" As Link tried to get closer to them, the juvenile Goron jumped back and yelped, hugging the wall with huge glassy eyes staring at the blond hero, absolutely frightened.

Raising both hands to show he means no harm, Link noticed the streak of blood staining the knuckles of his gloves, making him cringe. "I'll not harm you; I promise." He said gently, this time his voice getting through enough to make the Goron lower his hands and just stare at Link; his body still trembling like crazy.

Seeing the small improvement in their exchange, Link felt his lips curling into a short smile. But before they could make any more headway in their conversation, the sound of two sets of steps came from the corner of the hallway, prompting the Goron to hide his face behind his long arms again.

With just a few days passing, Link has already grown attached and accustomed to the unique warmth that comes with Sheik's presence, knowing that the blond Sheikah is the one walking towards him without even looking back to check.

As the sound of their feet pressing on the tileset came close enough, Link lowered his head and sighed. "Is that man… dead?" He asked with a tingle of remorse, remembering the grotesque way that soldier collided against the wall.

"The tin-head you left behind?" Vahn was the one to reply with a question of his own.

Link only nodded back.

A loud snort escaped Vahn, not really reading the mood in Link's voice, the young Chronicler beamed down at the hero with eyes of awe. "Can't be more dead. Dunno what you did to the guy, but his body is a pure mess." He chirped with no signs of stopping. "Never seen someone's head sitting on their own crotch like that."

"VAHN!" Sheik's yell made Vahn jump at least two feet backward, startled by the volume of the blonde's voice. He has never seen the composed Sheikah yell like that.

Reaching to Link's cherish Hookshot laying with a bloody tip on the ground, Sheik took the tool in his hand. Once again, his gentle and pure hero is hurting.
Hunching shoulders, a look of pure self-loathing on his face.

However, as he went forward to try and put a comforting hand on Link's shoulder, Sheik hastily stopped after a glanced down.

"Link…" He called the hero, to which Link raised his head to look at him. "Your right hand."

Following the Sheikah's comment, Link glanced at his gloved right hand. And there he found the still glowing triangle, the symbol of the Triforce. His eyes that were sad and gloomy, shifted into a heavy glare down that golden figure.

Clenching his hand painfully tight, Link forced the Triforce to fade away. Looking at it again left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Every time…." He wanted to whisper just to himself, but Sheik was easily able to hear the words. "Every time that voice tries to take over, this stupid thing appears on my hand…"

"Link." Sheik frowned slightly, more than worried about the mention of this voice taking over.

However, before the Sheikah had time or space to deliberate on any question he has in his mind, two very loud outbursts overpowered him and the hero.

"LINK?!"

"THE TRIFORCE?!"

One scream; loud high-pitched voice, carrying the spark of youth and the innocence of a Goron.

The other one is just a loud, but melodic like a breeze; the singing voice characteristic of the red-haired boy.

"You're Link! The Hero of the Gorons, Destroyer of Dodongos, Honorary Goron Brother, LINK!" Changing very fast from his frightened and quiet self, the young Goron turned very energetic just with the mention of Link's name.

"By Din's fire, that was the real deal Triforce!" Vahn's enthusiasm went to one-hundred percent, his eyes practically shining with a blazing spark. "Please, pleaseeee, make it come back. Link, please let me touch it at least once."

"Link!"

"Triforce!"

Quite literally jumped by both the Goron and Vahn, Link fell with his back on the floor. More than overwhelmed by their pleas and cries; with Vahn rubbing his cheek against Link's right hand, and the small Goron giving one of their rock crushing hugs, pressing themselves against the hero's abdomen.

Stiffen frozen with confusion, Link looked at Sheik with desperate eyes, screaming silently for help.

Feeling rather glad for the change in their mood, Sheik decided to let Link suffer a little bit more under their adoring chants.

It wouldn't be right to pass one chance to tease the hero, would it?"

"Boy, oh boy! I can't believe I'm speaking with the Link!" Now with their wounded leg cared for and wrapped with a thin layer of bandages, the young Goron is excitedly wobbling around Link. Big purplish eyes shining with adoration. "Papa always speaks of you. The legend of a brave boy who saved all the Gorons!"

"Your papa?" Vahn chirped in with a quirked eyebrow.

"Yeah, my father. Darunia!" The little Goron responded. "He and everyone here knows about this story. You know, my name is Link too! In honor of our hero!" Goron Link glanced at blond Link and smiled. "That's why I want to be strong and brave, just like Link!"

"Link," Sheik called, and the hero hummed a reply at him. "No… erh… Goron Link." This time the small Goron responded with some happy noises. "Can you tell us what happened here? We heard those bad men yelling that you had escaped. Where are the rest of your people?"

A soft whimper escaped the young Goron, his gaze falling to his hands joined together in front of him. "The servants of Ganondorf took them. We were living our lives like normal… I was just eating a very delicious rock when I heard all the screams. They took everyone to the inside of the mountain. I… I… could just hide and watch during all of it."

Sheik nodded his head softly and continued. "If they took everyone into the mountain core, why were still so many of them here? Did they know there was at least one of you hiding still?"

"Oh… I remember, yes. They didn't take everyone inside, only all the Gorons they snatched." Goron Link rubbed the side of his head as he spoke. "While Papa fought all the way to try and rescue everyone, there was that guy from the shop place hiding like a coward."

"You were hiding too, no?" Vahn said with a little grin.

"I'm small, he is a big Goron!" Rebutted the very offended chubby small Link.

"If Link saved your people seven years ago, it means he was small back then too." At this point Vahn was saying this just to irk the little Goron, which worked very well, the kid is glaring daggers at him.

Pitching the bridge of his nose, Sheik took a long breath and tried to continue his talk with the Goron. "It's okay, Link. No one expects you to face an army of soldiers on your own. Now, can you tell us if anyone else escaped Ganondorf's minions?"

Small Link raised his chin in a very pensive way, scratching the top of his head while doing it. "Well… I don't think they really escaped the bad men. But I saw some Hylians locked in a room on the lower level. I guess they were left there while the bad guys moved to the mountain. That would explain the few that stayed here."

"That would indeed…." Sheik replied calmly, giving a glance at Vahn who has a very hopeful look in his eyes. "Can you take us to where you saw the Hylians?"

"Sure." Curling himself into a ball, Goron Link began to casually roll away into one of the stairways leading to the bottom level.

"I… I can't believe it." Vahn said quietly, taking one hand to his mouth. "You think master and everyone else is safe like the little Link said?"

"He has no reason to lie." Link, the tall blond one, replied this time. "The Knights wanted your master as a hostage to reach the Goron City. I can't see why they would keep a close eye on them after that."

Sheik nodded quietly, sharing the hero's opinion.

"What about him?" Vahn pointed one finger at the soldier knocked down on the floor. "Should we…"

Link winced, his heavy frown returning. "We bind his arms and legs. He should be judged by the people he wronged, not us…"

"Someone will have to patch him up, then." The red-haired commented. "That wound in his shoulder looks nasty." Promptly his jade eyes shifted to the Sheikah with folded arms at his side.

Noticing the look he is getting from Vahn, Sheik snorted and frowned himself. "I am NOT touching that scum."

A low sigh flew past Link's lips as he searched for something to secure the man's limbs. "We bind him… Even if I don't like saying this, we let fate decide his future." Gently accepting the firm roll of rope that Sheik produced from somewhere, Link moved over to the knight. "Maybe someone will show him the mercy he has not shown to others."

After doing at least three knots on the hands and then at the ankles of the unconscious man, Link casually lifted him, resting the man over his shoulder. Making Vahn and Sheik share a baffled look with each other.

"Isn't that… heavy?" Vahn asked. Referencing the fact that Link, despite being tall and athletic, is carrying a man bigger than him and still dressed in full plate armor.

"A bit." Was the hero's short reply. "Come, the little guy is waiting for us."

Nesting the way too heavy luggage in a secure spot on his shoulder, Link quietly began to pace forward, following after the rolling ball that disappeared down the stairs.

"Oh by the grace of Farore's light… It's so good to see you again, Vahn my boy."

As soon as Vahn stepped inside the small confine room, he found himself tackled by his grizzled master.

"We feared for your life, son." One of Vahn's scholar companions waved at him, a disheartened small smile resting on his lips.

Pulling back from his master awkward hug, the young Chronicler noticed not only the depressing mood settling in the room but also the lack of another person's presence here.

"Master, what's wrong?" Vahn asked, shifting his gaze back to the balding old man in front of him. Those tired old eyes shifting downward in sadness.

"Nóbi… They killed Nóbi." Losing the strength on his legs, the old Chronicler master fell with his knees on the ground, his battered robes more than dirty enough by all his ordeal to stay unchanged with the constant rubbing against the dusty floor.

Despite the numerous complaints and fights he had with the aging men, Vahn never wished any bad on his companions. Learning about the fate of the air-headed Nóbi made his chest hurt like someone was squeezing his heart with an iron grip.

"How… Why?" Vahn's words hovered in the air, his pained eyes going from one man to the other.

"When they exploded the wall at the feet of the mountain." His fellow apprentice replied, as their master felt too overwhelmed by the memories to answer. "When it happened, everyone got blasted out of our feet. Those ignorant fools can't even calculate the radius of a bomb's explosion. Nóbi was the first one to get up on his feet. He reached for one of the Knights' swords and… and…"

"He tried to fight back." Their master said. "The fool. He thought, he alone could brand a sword and threaten those thugs to release us." Taking both hands to his face, the old man sobbed quietly. "One of them pierced his chest with a spear… Those monsters didn't even have the decency to bury his body. They tossed Nóbi into the river and forced us to enter into that horrible tunnel."

"The cruelty of Ganondorf's army has no bounds. I am deeply sorry for your loss." A serious and calm voice sounded from the open door, making the two scholars notice the other presence they had yet to acknowledge.

Shifting uncomfortably in his spot, the other apprentice raised a suspicious eye at the masked man standing over the entrance. "W-Who are you?"

"It's okay, Ledhal. They are friends." Vahn raised a hand in reassurance as he walked over to Sheik and Link. "They found me in our camp. In fact, they rescued me from the tin-heads they left there." Standing between both blonds, the small red-haired tugged at their arms and smiled, even if faintly. "This is Link and Sheik. They helped me find you guys here, and even took care of the tin-heads patrolling this place."

"Goddesses be praised…. Is this nightmare over?" Ledhal, the grey-haired apprentice pressed his hands together in prayer, his shoulders deflating of all their tension.

"You're safe now sir." Sheik said with a short nod, giving very much needed peace to the fatigued man.

"Y-You… young man…" Vahn's master slowly raised from the ground, his gravel eyes staring shakily towards Sheik. "Are you perhaps… a Sheikah?"

Instantly Sheik frowned under his mask. It was not the question that made him react like this, it was the look of fear and the shaky waving of the old man's voice.

Closing his eyes to dissipate his own turmoil, Sheik nodded in reply.

At the confirmation of Sheik's heritage, not only the old master's fears became apparent but of his apprentice as well. Ledhal, who was preparing himself to stand up and leave, suddenly cowered back in his corner.

'Typical of Hylians…' The young Sheikah vented in his thoughts.

However, before his temper could worsen or Link's for this matter who watched both men slide away from Sheik like he was some kind of monster, Vahn broke the tension with an ear-piercing screech.

"YOU ARE A SHEIKAH?!" Skipping around the red-eyed blond like a spring let loose, Vahn clearly doesn't share the fear of his other two scholar companions. "I knew something was different about you. GAAAH! I'm so dumb! Look at this." He tapped the giant red eye in Sheik's chest. "It was right here, looking at my face quite literally all this time. I can't believe I've been traveling with a surviving Sheikah and The Hero of Time. This is beyond amazing."

"Hero of Time?!" At the same time, both grey-haired men looked at each other, echoing the same words.

"YOU BET!" Screaming ever so loudly again, Vahn jumped in front of Link, raising both hands in the blonde's direction. "Link here is the fabled Hero of Time. And before you two start berating me on trusting things without evidence, I SAW THE TRIFORCE ON HIS HAND WITH MY OWN EYES!"

Ignoring the two blonds almost completely, the three Chroniclers jumped into a heated argument in a world of their own. The two older scholars debating the implications of these revelations, while Vahn is practically shouting his own opinions on the matter.

Sheik, who feels too stunned by the short red-haired boy's antics, felt a gentle tap at his arm. Glancing at Link, who has a cheeky little smile on his lips, he quirked an eyebrow.

"I told you not everyone is the same." Link said. "Vahn sounds very happy about you being a Sheikah."

Sheik snorted, rolling his eyes a bit. "That boy is not normal, he is almost the very definition of being quirky actually."

"Does it matter?" Link replied with shrug. "Normal or not, there are still people willing to accept what's different. You know what… I like him even more now."

Looking back at their loud new friend, Sheik felt his dissatisfaction disappear. He even allowed a small smile to press against his mask. 'That little loud-mouth does know how to grow on people.'

"Sheik… can you watch them for a while?" Link said in a quiet request, his tone regaining its serious edge.

The Sheikah glanced at the hero feeling a certain uneasiness at those words. "Would you mind explaining why?"

"I'll go rescue the Gorons… Alone." Link stated with finality, no room for argument.

"Absolutely not." Sheik's reply was even firmer as he turned to face Link.

"Sheik… I have to. This will be way more dangerous than what we did here." Link explained.

Folding his arms against his chest, the young Sheikah didn't look convinced. "More reason for me to watch your back."

"You don't understand, there is this feeling I've about it-"

Before Link could try to stand his point in exasperation, a little chubby form walked in between them.

"You guys can't go in there…" Goron Link said while picking his nose. "It's too hot for not Gorons to enter."

"Well, you said those Dark Knights went in there." Link said back.

"Weird right?" Goron Link said as he scratched his head. "Papa always told me that no other people could go in there but us Goron… AAAHH! I know!" His sudden shout startled even the three scholars arguing in the back, making them change their attention to him. "The Goron from the Shop. He knows how to make magic work on clothes, makes them not catch on fire. Maybe the bad men have someone who can do magic too?"

"They have more than one…" Sheik answered, thinking of the various warlocks under Ganondorf's command. "Link, do you think this Goron friend of yours can help us enter the center of the mountain?"

"If you have those shinning Rupees, he can." Little Link's childish features turned into a funny frown. "That Goron can turn water into rocks if someone pays him to do it."

"Then we go visit mister shop Goron." Blond Link said with a sheepish smile. "His shop is still that one room close to your father's chamber?"

"Mm, yeah." Goron Link said nonchalantly, returning to his important task of picking his nose.

"Master… I want to go with them." Vahn announced boldly, to the horror of the older scholars.

"Vahn, my boy. That is not a place for people like us." His master pleaded. "Aside from the evil soldiers, there are dark creatures inside this volcano. The writings said so."

"I know, but isn't this what are we suppose to do?" Vahn argued back. "We preserve and write down history. I just think, that maybe I should be studying the present instead of focusing only on the past. And what better way of learning today's history than follow the only person at the center of it all."

"Are you sure about this?" This time Sheik was the one asking him. "We reached your colleagues. The path for your freedom is open. If you follow us, it will only be more dangerous."

At his side, Link snorted quietly at the irony of Sheik's warning.

Looking down at his hands and then up towards Sheik again, Vahn smiled and nodded. "For the first time in my life. I feel absolutely certain of something. I want to be with you guys… if you let me."

"That's stupid." Link's words echoed in the room, heavy like a wall of bricks. Vahn looked at him with wide eyes, almost tearing up. "You don't need to ask anything Vahn. You are a friend. Even if I still don't want NEITHER of you coming with me, I will never turn you away."

"Link…" Biting his quivering lips, Vahn's quietness lasted only long enough for Sheik to raise an eyebrow at him. Not long after he sprinted across the room, to bash himself against Link's chest. "You're the best. Both of you!"

Gently pealing Vahn away from Link's body, by grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. Sheik dropped him on his feet and sighed. "We appreciate your person as well. Now let us meet this Shop Goron. Time is more than wasting."

Turning on his heels, the blond Sheikah walked out of the room dragging away with him chubby Link, who just stared confusedly at his tall blond hero.

"Mister Hero…" Vahn's master called out to Link, who did his best to not roll his eyes after being called mister again. "I beg of you to take care of young Vahn. He is a smart boy, but very reckless in his curiosity."

"Look who's talking…" Vahn grumbled quietly in the side.

"You have my word, erh…"

"Phô… My name is Phô."

"You have my word, Master Phô. I will do everything to keep Vahn safe and sound." Giving one glance to the bronze-skinned boy, Link grinned and continued. "Even if I'll have to tie him up sometimes."

"Not funny…" Vahn grumbled again, this time his cheek growing slightly reddish.

"Then, may the Goddesses watch over you, Link." Adjusting his sitting position to cross his legs on top of each other, Master Phô rubbed his beard and chuckled. "But I guess they are already watching you, isn't that right. Hero of Time."

Giving back a good-hearted shrug, Link smiled and bowed his head ever so slightly. With one last wave of his hand, he turned and left the room.

"Vahn…" Phô now called out to his apprentice, who glanced at him with bittersweet eyes. "Take care of yourself out there, my boy."

"I will master. But this isn't a goodbye, well at least not forever. When this is all over, I will come to find you guys and share everything I learned." As he spoke, Vahn felt a few involuntary tears come to his eyes, which he quickly brushed away with the back of his hand.

"And I will be eagerly waiting for that day." Giving one last long look at his young apprentice, Phô nodded and waved the boy away. "Go to your friends. They seemed to be in a hurry."

"Until another day; Master, Ledhal…" Vahn bowed to both his master and his fellow apprentice.

"Goddesses watch over you, Vahn." Ledhal bowed back, despite still be sitting on the floor.

As the young man he has known for more than ten years ran away and left the room, old Master Phô felt a tug in his chest. Still, a warm smile found its way to his lips. "Your grandfather would be proud of you, young Vahn. That he would…"

"Welcome to my shop. Feel free to browse anything you want, but just take what you'll buy." Living to its fullest the persona of a Shop owner, the big Goron welcomed the trio inside his building with a friendly smile on his face.

Sheik and Vahn eyed the man suspiciously, a little wary of his easygoing tone despite the peril of his people.

Link on the other hand just walked in with a friendly expression of his own. "Good day, or afternoon… Don't know what time is now. We heard you can put some magic on our clothes that make us able to enter the mountain."

The bald Goron reached for his clean chin, rubbing it with two fingers as he studied the blond Hylian. "Let's say I could do that. It wouldn't be cheap."

Stepping forward, Sheik pulled a very heavy looking pouch that made a familiar tingling sound as he waved in front of him. "Rest assure that whatever the cost, we can cover it."

Those large purple eyes widened with a glint of greed as they dangle from one side to the other following the waving of that little bag. "Two hundred Rupees for three sets."

"We take it." Replied the Sheikah. "But I will pay it only when we see them done."

"Of course, I guarantee the quality and the effectiveness of my work." Declared the tall Goron.

"So… how does that work?" Vahn raised the question. "Do you sprinkle some dust on us or something?"

Looking down at the red-haired young man, the Goron shook his head. "Don't ask a man to share his business secrets. But to answer your question, I'll be needing your clothes to work on them. Can't put anything on them while there a person inside."

"Wait, we have to get naked?" Link asked, a funny frown on his face.

"You can always partake in our healing hot water bath while I work on them." The kind Goron promptly offered. "I'm not a Goron that likes to brags, but the hot pools of my Inn are the best in all of Hyrule."

Sheik narrowed his eyes at the smiling bald yellowish man. "Let me guess, that would not be cheap."

The Goron looked at him with that annoying friendly smile and rubbed his hands. "It comes included with a bedroom for the night."

"Just how big is this tunnel cave of yours?" Vahn asked loudly, glancing at the doors sitting at each side on the back of the room.

While not verbally responding to the question, the big Goron looked at Vahn and gave him a thumbs up.

"Can't you work extra fast on this order?" Sheik asked in his stern tone. "This is an emergency, as you may have noticed by the state of your city."

"Sorry, I can't really spit on your shirt and protect you from molten lava heat. Takes a lot of work to make something so complicated."

"A bath doesn't sound too bad…" Link said as he raised one hand to brush the back of his head. Feeling more than dirty after a few days of running everywhere.

"Link, don't let the man swindle us out of more money." Vahn cried out, pointing one finger at the smiling Goron.

"Oh… I forgot to mention this. But I have only one pool of these special waters." Explained the Shop owner, looking a little apologetic in his mistake. "It's a public bath."

A blur of red moved across the shop, stopping right next to Link. "We should always take care of hygiene. You look a little tense and battered, Link. Maybe a healing bath will do us very well." One very serious looking Vahn raised this point, looking at Link with the most pristine poker face someone has ever used.

"You can use the door on the right, it leads directly to the bath." Said the Goron. "Just leave your clothes in the dressing room and I'll take them."

"We appreciate your good work, sir. Come Link, let's leave the shopman to work his magic." Wrapping his right arm in Link's left one, Vahn began to lead the blond with him towards the door.

That is until Sheik yanked him back by the collar of his shirt again. "You're not going anywhere, your sly kit."

"What?! The man said the bath is public." The red-haired complained as he tried to wiggle away from the Sheikah's grasp.

"Link will take his bath first, then we will take our turns." Sheik stated firmly.

"But I'm scared of taking baths alone." Vahn chirped, still wiggling away.

"Then I will hold your hand while WE take our bath." Sheik promptly replied.

"This is a bonding time for me and Link to strengthen our friendship." Vahn continued.

"Oh… but it seems our friendship needs more bonding time than you two." Sheik countered.

"I don't really mind… all three of us can share the pool." Link tried to put his own two rupees on the conversation, feeling a little weird by their even weirder argument.

Growing a little red in his cheeks, Sheik sighed and shook his head. "Link, please just stay quiet and go take your bath."

Still utterly confused by their behavior, Link just shrugged away at their silliness and stepped inside the room.

"Ah… You two can use the door on the left." Said the Goron, also feeling a little confused about their scuffle. "There is a spare room on the entrance, on the left side of that hall. It has towels you can use. Just leave your clothes on the door."

Taking heed of the Goron's words, Sheik dragged Vahn with him to the hall on the left. The red-haired cried and punched the air all the way, desperately doing his best to try and follow after Link.

After being shoved inside the small changing room, Vahn turned and glared at Sheik. "That was not cool."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sheik chuckled as he began to undo his complicated turban.

"Aaahhh, why couldn't we just go take a bath with him?" Vahn cried in exasperation, shooting both hands in the air.

"What's all your fascination in… taking a bath with Link?" Sheik had to berate himself for the dirty ideas that his own mind came up with after that question.

"Seriously? Have you not seen Link?" This comment still surprised the blond, despite the forthcoming Vahn is displaying non-stop since a minute ago. "Imagine taking a gander under that silly green tunic."

"A-Are you even old enough to be having thoughts like that?"

"Excuse-me? I have you know that I'm twenty years old."

Sheik almost strangled himself with his undershirt when Vahn said that. The blond was in the middle of taking his upper clothing out when he was bombarded with that revelation.

"T-Twenty?" He repeated to try and see if he heard the red-haired right.

"Yeah, why?" Vahn tilted his head as he glanced at Sheik, the red-haired practically bounced off of his clothing and is now sitting butt naked on a wooden bench. "How old are you?"

"S-Seven…teen…"

"Reeaally?"

Throwing his vest and undershirt to the side, Sheik had to take a moment to breathe and take in what he learned. 'Why does he look so young… Twenty years...'

"You know, I have a feeling that I'm the oldest of our little group." Not even one minute after and Vahn has started with his cheekiness. "You kids better pay proper respect to your elder."

A second after he had started laughing away, a shirt came flying to Vahn's face to shut him down.

After pulling that piece of soft cloth from his face, Vahn tried to glare at Sheik, but instead, he whistled almost unconsciously. "Wow… most girls I've met would kill to have a pretty face like yours." Seeing the red tint taking over the blonde's face, he laughed. "Hey, no need to get shy. You're not really my type."

'I already regret so many decisions…' The blond Sheikah cursed quietly while he tries to take off the rest of his clothing without jumping at Vahn's throat.

Twenty minutes in a very personal-space invading time with a talkative red-haired almost drained Sheik out of his sanity.

Before he had joked about their need to spend bonding time together to strengthen their friendship. His little way of keeping, the now known to him, indecent Vahn away from Link. Unfortunately for the Sheikah, that boy took way too seriously that comment and decided to share and ask away so many private details.

Sheik can't still shake the image of Vahn asking him to poke that mole in his left thigh.

That promiscuous boy truly defeated Sheik in their small exchange, as he seemingly has not a drop of shame on his person. So, the poor Sheikah decided to retreat and left for the bedroom the Goron Shop owner prepared for them.

Still wrapped in a set of two towels, one for his body and the other for his long blond hair, Sheik entered their room just to find Link sitting on a single bed quietly practicing with his Ocarina.

Fully dressed in his 'new' clothes, which is mostly the same save from the dark red color of his tunic and hat, Link paused his melodic training and looked at Sheik.

"Hi…" Shiek said quietly as he covered himself a bit more with his arms, feeling very shy and exposed at the moment.

"Hey. Did you guys have fun?" Link's innocence still surprises Sheik. Even more so when he remembers that Link was so mature just the other night.

"I prefer not to comment about it…" Sheik replied with a grimace and Link chuckled at him. "That pretty and innocent face he has, yeah, don't let him trick you with it."

"That bad?" Link asked back.

"You can't imagine. The kid has no shame. Oh, forget about the kid part. Apparently, Vahn is twenty years old."

Link's cerulean eyes widened in surprise. "Vahn… our Vahn? Twenty?"

This time Sheik was the one chuckling. Leaving Link to dwell on it for a while, Shiek searched the room and found his clothes neatly folded sitting on a bed. Taking his Sheikah suit in his hands, he noticed the small contrast to what it was.

Just like Link's tunic, his body armor looks almost the same. The great difference being the colors. Where it once was dark blue and white, now it's black and grey; with the red-eye symbol of his people shining with a golden color.

"Why the color change?" Sheik asked loudly, not aiming for an answer.

But Link replied anyway. "Dunno… I liked my green outfit." The Hero frowned, a very cure and sincere frown. "But I guess it's something to do with his magic. To tell the truth, I don't really feel fireproof."

"Let's hope this change in color works. Would be a shame if they catch on fire with us inside of them."

Both blonds shared a peal of good-natured laughter, even if the gloomy joke didn't feel very funny to them.

"Link… would you mind closing your eyes?" Sheik asked, once again looking shy. A very different look to the cool Sheikah that he always portrait himself to be.

Quickly understanding the meaning of such request, Link nodded and closed his eyes. Being who he is, the hero shut his eyes properly and didn't even try to cheat any peeks at Sheik as the blond let his towel fall on the floor.

"I think I've finally learned the notes to that song." Link breathed the words out to try and distract himself. The silence paired together with the shuffling of clothes making his imagination run a little wild.

"Is that so?" Sheik replied with a little hum, letting his undershirt slid casually down his chest. "You want to show me?"

Such an invitation was all that Link needed to proceed. Taking the Ocarina back to his lips, Link played a few stray notes to regain his composure and then started Sheik's song from the start.

Having his eyes close, and feeling Sheik's presence so close to him in the small room, Link felt the song playing in his heart, guiding his fingers with perfection. It was like seeing the notes dancing in front of his eyes, dancing to the tune of his Ocarina.

Listening to Link's version of that song felt breathtaking. Sheik could only stay still in wonder of how amazingly the hero is performing.

This scene felt so perfect, so dream-like. That Sheik felt like his mind was playing tricks on him. Nearing the end of the melody, he began to see Link shining with light. Little spirit orbs floating and dancing around him, gracing the Hero with an ethereal glow that makes his handsome face even more beautiful.

Then, as the last note flew from the Ocarina, the little spell waved off from the red-eyed blond. However, the light and orbs still remained around Link, glowing brighter and closer to him, swirling around his body like a small storm.

"Wait… what are the-"

With a hush of a breeze, Link disappeared in thin air. Leaving only the bump where he was sitting on the bed.

"L-Link…?" Sheik blinked a few times. Startled, confused, and lost at what just transpired in front of him. "LINK!"

Reviews:

James Birdsong chapter 12 . 22h ago - Indeed, those were two chapters.