Chapter 5: The Dungeon & the Dragon

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Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda etc.

 He-he! Didja catch the joke in my title?? … Okay, so maybe it wasn't that funny…

This chapter is dedicated to shike77, who has been kind enough to review TWO of my works!! (Yes, I do read my reviews!)

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Link peered around the corner, one hand warning Rae to stay behind him. Rae was peeking around the opposite corner, keeping an eye out for boulders. "The coast is clear." Rae said.

"All right." Said Link, turning. "Go!" They dashed across the hall, leaning up against a wall on the other side. A blue glow flew down from over the wall, and dropped in front of Link's face.

"Guess what I found!" Navi nattered excitedly. "The Gorons are all being held on the other side of this maze!"

"Good job," Link said to the faerie. "Show us the way!"

"Follow me!" She flew off in a trail of glowing sparkles. Link and Rae kept close behind the faerie, dodging the dangerous boulders of the maze. They had to stop at a four way crossing at one point when three large rocks came rolling in from every direction. 

"Watch it!" Rae pulled on Link's scabbard, making him stumble backwards. The three boulders hit each other at the same time, and exploded into many tiny shards. Link held out his shield over him and Rae.

"Link, are you alright?" Navi fussed as Link tried to wave her off.

Rae brushed herself off. "Nice to know you care about me."

"Are you all right?" Link asked gently. He smiled kindly at her, his blue eyes glittering in the light of the room.

Rae felt her face grow hot, and it had nothing to do with the heat of the temple. She flicked a stone fragment off of Link's shoulder. "Yeah, I'm cool."

"Hey! Look!" Rang Navi. The two heroes turned to see a large cage set into an alcove in the wall. They rushed over, seeing that the Gorons were inside.

"Link! I never thought that I would see you again!"

"Darunia?" Link's voice was uncertain. A larger Goron came to the front of the cage, his beetle black eyes wide in amazement. Large fists folded around the steel bars.

"Brother, can you get us out of here?"

Link scratched his head, looking around. "I dunno. Is there a switch or something?"     

A small Goron near the front of the cage spoke up. "When they brought Darunia, one of Gannon's minions pressed a hidden panel on the wall."

Rae and Link set about feeling the wall for a hidden switch. Rae felt her fingers press in one of the stone clocks. There was a loud grinding sound as the iron bars grated aside. Rae suddenly found herself squished against the broad chest of a Goron, Link to her other side. Darunia let them go.

"Ah, thank you!" Darunia bent to discern who it was that just saved him. "Brother, who is this?"

"Darunia, this is Rae." Link said. "She's travelling with me."

"You bring a woman into the fires of Death Mountain?" Darunia questioned. "She must be a strong one to get this far." He winked at Link. "A fine choice."

Link muttered something incoherently, moving from one foot to the other. Rae hid a smile at his embarrassment.  Darunia clapped a large hand to Link's back. The Hyrulian stumbled forward a bit. "Once again I, and my people are in your debt. I will take my people back to the city and return to help you vanquish the Dragon!" He led the Gorons out of the cage and into the maze. "Come! I know this place like the back of my hand!"

The same small Goron that had told them about the switch, stayed behind. "If you want to defeat the Dragon, you should look for the Megaton Hammer."

"Megaton hammer?" Repeated Link.

The small Goron nodded. "When the legendary Goron hero finished off Volvagia, he left the hammer to rest in this temple somewhere." He began to jog after the rest of his friends. "Look for it!"

"Megaton Hammer, eh?" Link said. "I wonder where that is…"

~*~*~*~

"Go! Now!" At Link pressing the switch, Rae sprinted up the stairs, arms out to keep her balance.

"This isn't good, this isn't good…" Rae repeated over and over, trying to ignore the long drop to the lava filled room below. Leaving the top step just as the fire barrier sprang up, she skidded to a stop before she ran into the fire ring. Rae thumped back down the narrow stairs, wearily flopping on the bottom one. "Your turn."

They repeated the motion a couple of times over, before giving up entirely. Navi floated near-by, watching them with much curiosity. She flittered over to land in Link's lap. "This trap is made to keep out one person, why doesn't one of you just stand at the top and wait until the other pushes the switch before opening the chest?"

Link and Rae stared at each other. Rae rolled her eyes, wiping the back of her forehead with a hand. "My god, are we stupid…" So concerned with keeping to the plotline of the story, she forgot that there were some things that she could skip.

"No…" Link sighed, reaching into his pack. "Just tired. Drink this." He tossed her a bottle of green liquid. 'It's an energy potion."

(A/N: Yes, I know that green usually equals magic, but I've changed it to energy. For example, if Link cannot summon the power of Din's Fire, it's because he doesn't have the energy to do so, not the magic power.)

Rae caught the bottle in one hand, uncorking it with the other. She tipped the drink down her throat, and tossed it back to link half empty. It tingled as the liquid ran down her throat, sending the feeling through her limbs. She blinked and suddenly she felt like she just had ten hours of sleep. She stood. "I'll go to get the hammer."

Link nodded, wiping his mouth on the back of one hand. "Okay, tell me when you're ready."

A few minutes later, they were both walking out of the room with Link carrying the Megaton Hammer in both hands. They slowly moved through the dungeon and because of the weight of the hammer, Link could not run. Coming back to the rusty-chained door that was in the main room, Link swung the hammer at it. With a loud clatter and a heavy vibrating thud, the door collapsed inwards and Link and Rae were allowed to step over the thresh hold.

They came into an empty room, bare except for the Goron design on the floor.

"This looks suspicious…" Navi said.

Rae let out a half scream as the floor beneath her suddenly dropped. Link yelped, holding the hammer out to one side so it wouldn't squish him when they landed. In a short period, they connected with the hot floor of another cavern. This one was almost like a dome, with a single platform in the centre of a lava pool. Rae braced herself on her staff as she stood.

A deep vibrating, like thunder rang through the area, and Link and Rae dove out of the way as a wall of lava was sent onto the platform. It sizzled on contact, melting the secure stone of the rising. From out of the wave, a large creature surfaced from the fiery river. Long and narrow, and as red as the deepest sunset, a dragon hovered above the two heroes, unaided by wings. Letting out a roar of flames, she dove into the magma again. There was a low rumbling as she swam around.

"Where is she?" Rae yelled.

Navi circled the room. "I can't see her!"

"Look out!" Link cried, one arm reaching for her. "Behind you!" Rae spun, scrambling backwards at the same time. Volvagia reared her head, shooting a thin flare of fire. She half-crawled onto the stone platform. "Rae!"

Rae screamed as the fire hit her legs, sending her to the ground. "Link!" She writhed in agony, her pants aflame. "H-help me!'

Link dug into Rae's pack, pulling out her coat and smothering her legs. A thunderous roar drew Link's attention. With the flames out, he stood protectively over Rae. Volvagia snarled at him.

"By the Goddess!" He cried, swinging the Megaton Hammer with all his might. It smashed against the dragon's jaw with a sickening crunch. Volvagia staggered, stunned. With another angry yell, Link sung the hammer again, using a strength he didn't even know he possessed. Volvagia collapsed, her skull smashed in. Link laboured to breathe, trembling as he picked up Rae. The Megaton Hammer dropped to the ground with a loud thump. Making for the blue portal that was slowly appearing, he gave the dragon's body a kick for good measure. Dead, the body was already disintegrating, burning up from the internal fire in Volvagia' belly. Link stood in the blue light and waited as it encased him and Rae in its transporting jewel.

~*~*~*~

Darunia appeared on the symbol of the Gorons, a slight grin on his face. This disappeared when he saw Rae, limp in Link's arms. "Brother, what happened?"

"She was taken by surprise be Volvagia." Link said. "She needs a healer! Quickly!"

Darunia thumped one fist to his chest. "Say no more! As Sage of Fire, I have the ability to transport you to Kakariko Village." A red fire glowed in Darunia's hand and a small red disc materialized. "As a sign of my gratitude, I'll give you my power contained within the Medallion of Fire."

Link shifted Rae's weight long enough to snatch the medallion from the Goron's hand. "Thank-you." Rae whimpered, nails digging into Link's chest. "Darunia – if you could?"

He waved a hand, and the Hero of Time was lifted off of his feet. Encased in the blue jewel once more, he heard Darunia call out to him.

"Don't forget, now you and I are true brothers…"

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Duh –duh- DUH!! What will happen to our heroine? Will she ever walk again? Find out in the next chapter!!

Sorry that it took so long to get this out. I was revising other stories and school just started up again… Plus, this is my least favourite dungeon, so it was hard to write for me. Next chapter will be a long one! I promise!

OracleVortex

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