Zelda and Kass strolled into Goron City, the steam of the lava rising and the sun shining off the large ruby-like gems that sat atop many of the rock-like houses of the Goron. The many deep crevices of the volcano, filled with lava, had been connected with what seemed to be metal bridges. The clanging of pickaxe to ore could be heard in the distance as the air burned Zelda's nostrils and fiery embers filled the air. This was truly Death Mountain.
Zelda looked up towards the volcano, wiping sweat from her brow. There it sat: Divine Beast Vah Rudania. Its face was still wide open as it aimed towards the castle, yet no red beam came from the beast's now protruding tongue. The Hylian nodded, confirming her mission as she turned back towards the city.
"Alright then, best course of action as of now is to check if anyone has noticed anything weird with Vah Rudania," Zelda said, looking up at the tall Rito. Kass nodded with a smile.
"Lead the way, Marin," the birdman said happily. Zelda couldn't help but envy the Rito's cheeriness.
The girl turned her attention back towards the rocky city as she took a deep breath. She usually had Link with her, however she had to do this on her own. She could do this. With a look of determination, she began to take a step forward towards one of the metal bridges only to have her foot run over by a rolling rock.
Zelda's foot seared with pain as she brought it up, sucking air through her teeth as she lost balance, falling to the ground with tears forming in her eyes. The rolling rock suddenly stopped, springing up to reveal a little Goron.
"Sorry 'bout that," the little Goron said before turning to Zelda's rather feathery companion. "Ah! Kass!"
"Hello there, Offrak," Kass said happily, patting the little Goron on the head. The Goron smiled, shaking his head as Kass lifted his wing, his white ponytail shaking along with him.
"Did you come to buy more fireproof elixirs from me?" Offrak asked excitedly, hoping he would be able to sell to a returning customer. However, Kass shook his head.
"Not today, Offrak, though maybe another time. However," the Rito tilted his head towards the Hylian on the ground, now massaging her toes from under her Hylian boots, "...maybe if you watch where you're going, you may have another customer later on."
"R-Right. Again, sorry 'bout that," Offrak said once again towards Zelda. Zelda forced a fake smile as she looked at the little Goron. "You're okay though, yeah?"
"Quite alright," Zelda said, doing her best to contain her frustration. The Goron nodded before contracting back into its little ball and rolling away.
"Welcome, my dear Hylian, to Goron City!" Kass laughed as Zelda stood, wincing as she put pressure on her foot. Zelda gave Kass a look.
"Did you know that would happen?" Zelda asked. The Rito shrugged.
"Not at that very moment, but please believe it has happened to me before. At least you had boots, my talons were caught bare!" he laughed. Zelda frowned before turning away, now cautiously looking both ways before heading across the bridge. The girl looked around the town, her eyes wavering to the many shops located in the center of the village.
"Come stay at the inn! Stay at the Rollin' Inn, rest yer head a bit!" an older Goron called out in front of one inn. Other Gorons called out from their own places while a singular Gerudo woman wandered, seemingly looking around at which shop to head to next.
"If I remember correctly, if things haven't changed in the last hundred years... the boss's house should be just up ahead, right?" Zelda asked, pointing towards the large house with the Goron symbol painted in yellow on top. Kass nodded. The two made their way up towards the large boulder-like house where an even older, more experienced looking Goron stood.
"Kass? Kass, is that you?" the large, bearded Goron asked as he got within viewing range, staring at them with his uncovered eye, the other being covered with a metal eyepatch. "Come to ask more questions about Daruk? I know he was famous an' all tha', but I dunno if I have more ter tell!"
"While I would love to, I actually came to guide a friend of mine here up the mountain pass," Kass said, gesturing towards Zelda. "This is my friend Marin, and she has some questions regarding the mountain."
"H-Hello there," Zelda said nervously. "I was wondering if you could tell me about Divine Beast Vah Rudania? As in, if it's been acting strange recently?"
"Ol' Rudania eh?" Bludo questioned, stroking his beard. "Daruk and Rudania... popular subjects these days. Well, Rudania was runnin' rampid a few months back causing us Goron loads a trouble. He was firin' down magma bombs at us! I was gonna go take care of 'em myself, but a Hylian came and boarded the Beast! Crazy little feller, wouldn't have guessed a Hylian could do it. Of course he had a bit of help from Yunobo, but that's neither here nor there. After that Hylian wen' in there, Rudania perched up there an' has been calm since. However, about two months ago, the Beast shot a huge laser! Ever since then, no one has been allowed up the mountain. We dunno what Rudania could do next."
"Wait, no one is allowed up to Rudania?" Zelda burst out. "I need to get up there!"
"Wha' reason might you have going up there, little Hylian?" Bludo asked the Hylian girl. "You listen here, even that other Hylian shouldn't have gone up there. Until we kno' was goin' on with the Beast, no one is permitted."
"But that's what I'm trying to research!" Zelda said. "It's not just this Divine Beast, it's all of them. Something is wrong, and I need to figure it out!"
"All a' you Hylians must have a death wish!" Bludo said. "The one Hylian was one thing, but you look frail, girl. I can tell: barely even know how to handle a sword, yeah? And you think research is gonna do wha' for Rudania?"
"Well, I-" Zelda stuttered. What was she supposed to say? She couldn't tell him that she was on a legendary quest that some ancient, should-be-long-dead-yet-somehow-still-alive Sheikah were guiding her. While Zelda stuttered, trying to find words, Kass stepped in with a smile.
"I do believe that this girl's research is to discover if the beast will fire again or not. She mentioned to me that Divine Beast Vah Ruta to the south of here has shut down after its firing. It seems they have fired in response to the ancient evil Calamity Ganon's return."
The boss's eye squinted.
"Calamity Ganon, the same monster that killed the Goron Champion Daruk?" Bludo asked. Zelda nodded.
"Yes, the Beast defended us. It was actually that same Hylian Champion that has destroyed the Calamity alongside the Divine Beast. I am friends with that Hylian. Link and I are on a quest to determine if the Calamity is gone once and for all..." Zelda said, doing her best to make the story as truthful as possible without giving too many details.
Bludo stroked his chin, turning back towards the beast.
"And where is Link now? You said yer with him, but I don' see him around," Bludo questioned. Zelda's face filled with grief.
"He... He's handling something else at the moment," Zelda said, trying her best not to allow her sadness through into her tone, "but I promise I can do this without him."
"Sorry little Hylian, but yer askin' me to put a lot of faith inter someone I jus' met," Bludo said, shaking his head. "I can't permit ya to get near Divine Beast Vah Rudania. I can't trust this so-called research."
"But I have to get up there!" Zelda exclaimed, however the old Goron shook his head.
"These blasted Hylians," he muttered as he took a deep breath before a large crack could be heard. The Goron doubled in pain as he lifted a hand to his rocky backside, now grumbling even more. "Look here girl, unless you can prove to me yer research is worth somethin' then yer best be on yer way. I got more to deal with in me own backside than yer wants."
Zelda, her face now full of frustration, opened her mouth to argue however a feathery hand rested on her shoulder. The girl looked up at Kass, who remained cheerful, a smile on his face.
"If she can prove to you that her research is truly worthwhile, you would let her up the mountain, yes?" Kass asked with a smile. The grumbling Goron matched his gaze with the bright Rito as he frowned.
"Thas wha' I said, innit?" Bludo growled, getting more and more frustrated having to repeat himself. "Now scram, the both of ye. I needa rest while Yunobo brings my painkillers."
The Goron turned towards his large home, leaving the travelers alone on the rocky path.
"Well, there you have it," Kass said. "It looks like it's time to show your skills in the art of research."
"Show my- Kass, what am I supposed to research!?" Zelda exclaimed, now pacing in front of the boss's home. "I don't have anything to research that'll prove to him I'm worthy of entry to Vah Rudania. If only Link were here..."
"Link?" a voice called out. The two turned, to see a large rather muscular Goron. While built very sturdy, his rather soft face didn't seem to match his build. "I heard Link's name! Is he here?"
"N-No..." Zelda said, rather confused at the sudden questioning of her friend's whereabouts. "Who are you?"
"Oh! Pardon me. My name is Yunobo, descendant of the Champion Daruk! Though, most don't seem to think I live up to the name. However, after watching Link save us from Divine Beast Vah Rudania, I'm doing my best to live up to the name!" the white-blonde Goron said, adjusting his blue scarf. "Do you know Link?"
"Yes, I do, in fact," Zelda said. "You're Yunobo? The Goron that helped Link get up to Vah Rudania?"
"More like he helped me," Yunobo said, playing with his fingers. "I saw you talking to the boss... Did something happen?"
"Your boss won't let us up to see Vah Rudania..." Zelda muttered, beginning her pacing yet again. "At least not unless I prove to him my research will ensure to him we won't blow up anything..."
"You do research? Oh that's perfect then!" Yunobo said. Zelda stopped pacing, giving Yunobo a strange look.
"How so?" Zelda asked. Yunobo reached behind him, pulling out an empty bottle.
"These are the boss's painkillers! At least, they used to be..." Yunobo explained looking down at the bottle. "He used them all up! And now I don't know what to do... The boss is scary when he's cranky, and if I give him this, there's no telling what he'll do! I don't wanna think about it."
Yunobo looked up worriedly at the large rock-like house behind them before smiling down at Zelda.
"If you do research, maybe you can study how to make more painkillers! Or even fix his back!"
Zelda's eyes grew wide at the request.
"Create more painkillers? I don't know anything about Goron anatomy..." Zelda said. "I don't know if I could make painkillers that would work, much less fix his back entirely..."
"I believe this may be something that can be studied..." Kass spoke up. Zelda turned towards Kass, her face worried.
"Kass, what if I can't fix it? We won't be able to get to Divine Beast Vah Rudania..." Zelda asked disheartened. However, Kass's smile remained strong.
"We will find a way, however my teacher has told me much about your hobby of research and studying. I have no doubt in my mind that you can make this work." Kass said happily. "Besides, I believe Link left you something... Maybe in that something, there are ingredients you could use that would work on all races? Just a thought?"
Zelda's hand immediately went towards the Sheikah Slate that was tucked behind her Hylian Hood. She took a deep breath before turning towards Yunobo.
"Alright then, I'll do my best. Lets see if I can help your boss's back," Zelda said with a confident smile. Yunobo cheered, however Zelda felt a sweat drop fall down her face. She couldn't help but wonder what in the world she was getting herself into... and how Link was fairing.
...