Chapter Four: Hello…anybody home?

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Disclaimer: If I DID own Zelda etc. than I'd make Link talk a whole lot more!! Plus, I'd change that whole Zelda/Sheik thing…grr that makes me so mad…

YAY!!! My favourite character appears now!!! YAY!!! *Does the happy dance* Boo-ya!

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"…Thank you for making my cucco so happy!" Anju said, face alight with joy.

"Aww, no problem." Link said. Rae had to agree. Taking the unhappy cucco and waking the snoring Talon was like hitting two birds with one stone; they had fulfilled both of the promises that they had made to Malon and Anju.

Anju gestured to the door of her home. "Why don't you stay for lunch? It's the least that I can do."

"Sure." link accepted.

They went inside, leaving their equipment and shoes at the door. 'Equipment…' Rae thought with a grin. 'Never thought that I'd say that…' Earlier that day, Link had taken her to a shop, where he bought her bombs, bombchus, Deku sticks & nuts, and a bottle of healing potion. They'd paused at a weaponry to pick out a proper staff, but Rae had drawn the line at a shield; she didn't need to have her arms all-clumsy with a metal sheet.

Anju set out three bowls, all containing a thick broth. "So, you're adventuring with Link, are you?"

Rae nodded. "Yes." she dipped a spoon into her soup. "We're heading up to the Goron City."

Anju smiled at Link. "Seems that that's the only reason you ever come through Kakariko."

"I have things to do." Link said apologetically. "Otherwise I'd visit more often."

"Must have a lot of things to do, to not visit for seven years." Anju sipped from a mug. Link was silent.

Rae gulped down the rest of her meal. "Fantastic, Anju." She complimented the Hyrulian, trying to steer the conversation away from an uncomfortable silence.

"Thank you, it's my mother's recipe."

Rae pushed away from the table. "Well, we'd better be going, right Link?" There was a non-committal grunt as he slid into his boots, hefting his shield onto his back. Anju saw them to the door. "We'll stop in on our way back, okay, Anju?"

Anju hugged her tightly. "Of course! Stop by whenever you need to! I have extra beds if you ever need a place to stay."

"Thanks for lunch." Link mumbled. Rae pushed him out of the door, steering him through the village and depositing him at the passage to the mountain.

"Hey, you all right?" Rae asked carefully, looking directly into Link's eyes. He didn't answer. "Hello?"

"BIG DODONGO!!"

Link and Rae sprang apart as the loud and sudden cry sounded in the air. Link had the Master Sword out, his eyes snapping to attention. Rae half-crouched in a guard position, her staff before her.

"Where?" Link demanded to the unseen person.

Navi flittered by, saying in a casual voice, "Never mind…false alarm." Link growled, sheathing his sword. Rae blinked. If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn that the faerie was trying to help her.

"You alright, there, Link?" Rae called to him.

"Fine. Let's go." He said shortly.

"Nuh, uh." Rae said, putting a restraining hand on his arm. "Something's up."

"I bet it was what that Anju lady said, wasn't it, Link?" Navi said. "She made you feel bad about not visiting, didn't she?" The faerie buzzed angrily.

Link sighed. "That's just it. She thinks that I neglected to visit in seven years, and yet I have memories of visits to Kakariko!"

"But they really didn't happen." Rae said gently.

"But I remember it all the same." Link said.


~*~*~*~

The distance from Kakariko Village to Goron City was a two-day journey. Link and Rae entered the city just after noon, stomachs full from a brief lunch.

"Huh. Where is everybody?" Navi floated around the circular main chamber, bell-like voice echoing.

"Don't know." link replied. "Let's talk to Darunia." Rae followed him through the city, their footsteps ringing on the stone floors. They went down four levels before they finally reached the ground floor.  Rae stopped to examine the large, 3-faced Goron pot as Link opened the door to Darunia's room and went in. She, of course, knew he wasn't there.

"Rae," She heard Link's voice, "Come in here."

Rae did, entering the room, surprised to find a tiny Goron at Link's side.

"This is Darunia's son." Link looked embarrassed. "Uh – his name is Link."

"Yep!" The Goron said proudly. "My dad named me after the great Dodongo – buster, Link!"

Rae smiled. "Hello. Where is your dad?"

"Oh." The Goron's face dropped. "He went to the Fire Temple to fight the Dragon."

"Dragon?!" Navi exclaimed.

Goron – Link squinted at the faerie, but continued. "Yep. A long time ago, a dragon called Volvagia lived in this Mountain. He ate Gorons!" He shuddered. "Scary, huh? Anyway, the hero of the Gorons lifted a big hammer and BOOM!" He made a pounding motion with his hands "Destroyed Volvagia just like that!"

"Where are all of the Gorons?" Link asked. "This place is deserted."

"My dad was at the Temple when Gannon's followers came and took them all to be eaten by Volvagia! They said it was to teach a lesson to all who opposed Ganon!" Goron Link looked up at them with a sad look on his face. "Dad went to save them, but u think he'll need help! Please!" The Goron pleaded. "Help my dad!"

Rae laid a hand on the little guy's shoulder. "Don't you worry, we're on it." Goron Link went to a table and opening a drawer, he pulled out a pair of red tunics.

"Here." He said. "These are specially made so that you will keep cool in the heat. Take them."

"Thank you." Link said, passing one to Rae.

"There are two ways into the volcano, but this is the easiest." Goron Link pointed at his father's stone chair. "Pull it forward. Go ahead! Try it!"

Gripping one side of the chair, Link gave a great heave. There was an ominous creak, and the chair slid forward. Rae took hold of the other side, sdding her strength to Link's. Together, they revealed a passage behind the grand stone throne.

Both took a second to pull on tunics. Link shoved his green hat into a pocket, and Rae traded in her long black cloak, folding it neatly into her pack.  

"Good Luck!" Goron Link said as they went through the hidden passage. "Please help my people! And my dad!"

~*~*~*~

"Now what?" Navi said sarcastically. They had come to a bridge that led to the Temple, however, the centre had fallen out and it was too far to jump to the other side.

Rae watched Link's face as every possible solution crossed his mind. Eyes judged the distance, looked around and above for helpful handlings and landed on the pole on the opposite side. Link pulled out his hookshot.

"Grab onto the bridge when we hit the other side, all right?" Rae nodded, one hand tightly grasping his tunic at his chest as he slid one arm securely around her waist.

"Hey!" Navi called out. "What are you two doing?" Link aimed the hookshot. Rae connected with the bridge, fingers digging into the planks. Link let go of her, imitating her action. They pulled themselves onto the bridge instantaneously.

There was the sound of footsteps, and Link and Rae looked up to see a young man of about their age approach them. He had blonde hair that stuck out from under the edge of his head-wrap, and his eyes were a disturbing and yet haunting shade of Brandy-red. He had a scarf that covered the lower half of his face, and a white over-shirt that bore the eye of truth. He wore a skin-tight body suit of violet and black, and tight, hard-soled boots. There were white wrappings in place of gantlets, and there was a leather case barely seen, hanging on his back. The boy was well muscled, and yet slim and limber at the same time.

Link introduced him. "This is Sheik." Link introduced Rae. "This is Rae."

Sheik's crimson eyes narrowed as he quickly, and obviously, looked Rae over. "You are not supposed to be here."

Rae shrugged, her gaze never wavering from his. "Yet I am." She twirled her staff almost nervously. Damn! That costume is so real! And how did he know that I didn't belong?

Sheik looked at her for a long moment. "You remind me of…" He broke off, reaching behind his back to pull out his harp. He turned his attention to Link. "I will teach you the melody called the Bolero of Fire. When you play it, you will be transported here. This song is dedicated to the power of the heart." With one slender hand, he strummed the six notes that made up the song. Link repeated it a few times, memorizing it.

Sheik stepped back a couple of paces, his harp put away. His eyes once again sought out Rae's. She winked at him, mouthing 'I know your secret.' Link was examining his ocarina, so he didn't see. The Sheikah blinked a few times. A ring of fire suddenly appeared around him, and it raged until he couldn't be seen. Link and Rae stumbled backwards, and when it dimmed, Sheik was gone.

"Goddess." Link mumbled. "I hate it when he does that."

Rae clapped him on the shoulder. "Aw, he's just a stiff. C'mon—onward to the Fire Temple!" She led the way through the entrance.

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Okay, for those of you who just may be a teensy-tiny bit confused…NO, it's not Anju that's my fave, but rather SHEIK!!! And yes, I do know that in the game that 'he' is really a 'she' that is really 'Princess Z,' (ha- that rhymed) but this is my story and I've CHANGED IT!!! MU-HA-HA!!!!

A-hem…

Please review.

*OracleVortex*

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