Chapter 7

I stopped spinning, and found myself just outside the entrance to the pyramid. I looked around for Nayru, but I was alone for a few seconds before she joined me. She warped into thin air, about three feet up, and... promptly fell to the ground.

"Ouch."

She stood up, a little wobbly from the dizziness.

"I forgot. Here, things can't fly without wings," she said to herself, and shook her head. Concentrating, she suddenly grew a pair of gossamer wings, and buzzed them until she was hovering again.

"Forgive me Malon, it's been a while since I abided by the laws of physics. I will undoubtedly be running into walls from time to time, thinking I can go through them."

"Why did you bring us here instead of straight to my ranch?"

"To witness something important. Look at the pyramid behind you."

I turned, and the pyramid started rumbling again. It suddenly shattered into the individual bricks, which reformed into a mile-high cylinder. I could see Gohdan rising up out of sight, high above the desert. The entrance shifted to about half way up the tower, and closed with a seal bearing the Triforce, er, Quadriforce.

"It is now the Tower of the Gods. No one will enter it for six thousand years. It is time to return to your ranch."

Still staring at the tower, I spun around and phased out, phasing back at the ranch. Nayru whirled in, still dropping a foot before catching herself. I ran into the stables, where Zelda was asleep, leaning against a support next to Link. I took out the pendant, and touched it to Link's forehead as the Fairy had instructed. Warmth came from the diamond in the middle, and the whole room was bathed in it. The sudden pleasurable feeling startled Zelda awake. She looked around wildly, then noticed me.

"You got the medicine for him?"

"Yes, but it will do little good. He is under an accursed sleep like your father."

"What can we do then?"

"The Goddesses have instructed me on what to do. But it involves much lonely travel to gain several things. At the same time, I will be gaining possessions that will stop Ganon."

"I do not mind, but, you cannot go dressed like that. It will only hinder you.

I looked at myself. The boots were fine, but the long dress was frayed at the hem, and yes, it did limit my running. The apron flying around would be of no help either. I looked back to Zelda.

"I'll be right back. Just a sec."

I ran out to the stable and retrieved my large shoulder quiver from Royalty's saddle. Going back into the house, I looked through my wardrobe until I found a knee-length skirt with matching blouse. Changing, I decided the boots were tough enough to work for the journey. I left my usual apron off. Finally, I attached my bow to the quiver, behind my left shoulder; and put my grandfather's rapier into my belt.

I looked at myself in the mirror. Considering, I tied my hair back (except my bangs, which always hang next to my face) into a ponytail, to keep it out of my face.

I(OA/N: Think Medli's hair, but Malon's bangs. This resemblance will take meaning much later...)/I

I stared at the mirror. I looked completely different. I was no longer a humble farm girl, I looked... adventurous. Brave. Seeing that in my reflection made me feel it all the more.

I walked back outside, where Nayru was waiting, hovering in midair.

"Come child. Mount your horse. We head for Kakariko Graveyard."

"The graveyard?!"

Nayru's voice was indignant. She put her hands on her hips. "Well, where else would you expect to find a book of ancient spells? Certainly not your bookcase?"

"It's just - "

"I know that's where Link was staying. Oh, and now that you mention it, you may want to pick up some of his weapons while you're there."

Sighing loudly, I mounted Royalty, and with a "Hah!" we galloped out, Nayru zooming along next to us.

ZOOM!****************************************************

We reached the gate to the village with no trouble. It was inside Kakariko that the trouble was. As soon as I stepped over the town barrier, a deep rumbling sound arose from somewhere above.

The townspeople looked up at the dormant Death Mountain with worried glances. As if on cue, the ring of smoke that constantly circled the summit blazed to bright, orange life. Another rumble, and the horrendous sound of cracking rock, and the closest face of the volcano broke apart, releasing a flood of molten rock.

It was pandemonium. The women were screaming, the children were crying, and the men were yelling to each other, trying to organize an evacuation. And the whole time, I stood there looking stupidly at the mountain.

Another rumble, and something long and lithe shot out of the crater. It flipped over, and started flying down the mountainside to Kakariko. Wherever the thing went, lava followed under it.

Then I realized it was a dragon! The legendary fire dragon, Volvagia! And it was directing the lava down the mountainside!

Just as people were escaping out the main gate, Volvagia flew in front of it with the high-pitched shriek that served as its roar. Several people were burned, and the dragon cackled with delight at the cries of pain and terror. It now began burning the buildings with its fire, and came straight towards me.

Then I felt the anger well up within me. It was doing this for fun! It was destroying and killing for pleasure! As it glided towards me, all my anger gave me strength, and I let out a roar to rival that of any dragon.

"Stop now, Volvagia!!"

The dragon slowed, and came right up to me.

"Who do you think you are, to order me around?!" It said in an angry, yet unmistakably female, hiss.

"She may be just a girl, but I am Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom!" She flew in front of me. Her voice was hard. "Who resurrected you?"

"I shall not tell you, ssssso-called Goddesssss... but I will sssspeak to thisss brave girl. She is one of the few to sssstand up to me." Volvagia glanced at me with what might have been slight admiration.

"Very well. I shall take leave for the time being." Nayru went to try to calm the panicking villagers.

"Now, girl... why did you not flee?"

"I needed to do something to help. I was not going to allow you to continue destroying."

"I ssssee. And if I had not sssstopped... what would you have done to ssstop me?"

I looked at my boots. "I... didn't really have a plan."

The dragon reared back with a cackle. "There iss a fine line between bravery and sssstupidity... but I admire your actionsss. Ssssadly, my ordersss were to annihilate Kakariko."

"But why? Who gave you those orders?"

"I do not know. I received them telepathically, right after I wasss reborn."

"Then you are not bound to them?"

"No. But at the time, I felt ssstrangely compelled to follow them. That feelig isss not ssso sssstrong here."

"Then stop. The people here have done you no harm."

"Yessss... now that the ssspell has been dissspersssed, I should be able judge clearly." She started to glide back towards Death mountain, then turned and said, "Farewell, Priessstesss of Purity."

With that, she rocketed up to the crater, and the lava reversed flow to follow her. The gash in the side of the mountain closed up, and the ring of fire turned back to smoke. I turned to see all the villagers staring at me.

"How did you do that?" asked a carpenter.

"Do what?"

"How did you talk to Volvagia? It only speaks Draconic. Dragon-tongue."