Repaying a debt

Disclaimer: The fact that I'm writing something called a disclaimer makes it obvious. Not mine - d'uh.

In the last chapter - they did sod all basically. There was a bit of a bitch fight with Sheik and our heroine. And she got some bad news from Loki. It was a dark chapter - but I enjoyed writing it, so, whatever.

Well, she's still called Blaise - Sheik still hates her - she and Navi are still thinking sarcastic things. And now, they're off to kill some more dark thingies out in the big mountain! I'm sorry for the last chapter, it didn't have much action really - and it went from light to dark in one big sweep [grins]. And I know, it was confusing (sorry Kadros!) But, it will all wrap up perfectly in the end, and you'll see why I bust out with all the confusing stuff.

It's not like you can do much about it really - I'm just writing it for the hell of it...

Onwards!

[] = Alexis' thoughts

{} = Navi's thoughts

~/*\~/*\~/*\~

Obviously, I fell asleep eventually, because the next time I opened my eyes, it was nearing morning. I shivered up in the tree, feeling the cold washing over me as a brisk breeze blew through the town.

Looking around, I saw that there was no one about yet, and climbed down from the tree. I stood in the middle of the main field, leaning on the tree, and waited for signs of movements in Eloise's house, so I would know when the others were awake. [I just hope he's cooled off...] I thought, shivering slightly, and not just from the cold either.

Eventually, the movement that I had been waiting for began, and I strolled over to the house. After straightening myself out a little, and weeding my hair of a few stray leaves, I reached out and rapped on the door. It swung open, and I looked into the face of Sheik, which immediately darkened when it saw me. I shrank back a little, took a deep breath and stood up straight again.

"Sheik," I began, and then noticed that he was more than obviously not listening. "Hey!" I snapped, and he looked at me. "Look, I'm sorry OK? Whatever it is that you think is so weird about me; can't you keep the grudge and investigation until after we finish this? Killing me now wouldn't help the situation much!" His hands moved to his waist, and I thought for a moment that he was going to withdraw his scimitars. Instead, he took out a bottle, and handed it to me.

"You must be cold. Come in," he said shortly. "That's strong mead - drink, it'll wake you up at least." He moved out of the way so that I could come in, and then shut the door against the cold of the outside. My hands were suddenly regaining feeling, and it wasn't pleasant as invisible needles were poked into my fingers. I unscrewed the bottle, and took a large swig. It felt like burning, and I coughed as it went down my throat.

"I see what you mean about wake up," I said hoarsely as I handed Sheik back the bottle. He just made a condescending sound in his throat, and went off down the hallway to the front room. I made my way down to the hall, where Link was slouched in one of the chairs, looking awful. [He looks like death warmed up...] I thought to Navi.

{Yeah - he's not much of a morning person, and after last night...He was up most of the night worrying about you.}

[Really?] I was surprised.

{Yes - neither of us have any idea what by the three holy Goddesses happened with Sheik.}

[It was mostly my fault - don't worry about it. And he's being civil to me, which is a start at least.]

{Well, if he isn't, I'll sort him out for you!}

[Thanks!] "'Morning Link," I said, sliding into a chair across from him. He looked up blearily, and grunted back. I just shook my head, and leaned back, rubbing my hands, which were slowly returning to normal. "When do we move on?" I asked him, but he didn't seem to have the presence of mind to answer.

"As soon as he gets off his lazy ass, and sorts himself out!" Navi said, with just a slight hinting in her voice, as she looked at the dishevelled Link.

"Shut up Navi. And, you're wrong - we have to get Blaise a shield as well."

"Huh?" I looked up at him in shock, and saw that he had managed to bring up enough strength to lift his head. "But, I don't have any mone-"

"Yes, well I'll buy it for you."

"But-"

"Look, don't worry about it!" he smiled. "You're going to need one up on the mountain - and I have loads of money. You just find it lying around out on the field, and I have a lot of savings." He looked over my shoulder. "And Sheik's getting a shield as well, aren't you?" There was a sound of the affirmative, and then Sheik came, and sat as far away from me as possible. "So, it'll just be that one stop, and then up the mountain we go."

"OK," I nodded, looking through the gap at the side of my glasses at Sheik. He didn't seem to be happy with the fact that I hadn't suddenly and mysteriously died. I didn't say anything. I didn't really fancy another fight with him - I was still shivering from the last one. The tense silence was broken by our wonderful as ever hostess, Eloise. She came into the room balancing a tray full of toasted bread, ham, water and also three small packages.

She put the tray down, and then handed us each a package. Within them was enough food to last us for a couple of days, plus a couple of red potions each. "Don't worry about the cost dears," she said brightly. "I get them for free in exchange for clothes for the owner of the potion shop's family." We nodded, and put the carefully prepared packs down, before each taking a plate and eating until we were full.

"Well; I suppose we should be going again," Link eventually said, blinking his eyes rapidly and looking more awake than he had before. "Thanks Eloise, we'll be seeing you again soon I should think," he got up with the food package, and hurried up the stairs to get his pack and weapons and so on. Sheik just nodded, picked up his food package and went up the stairs also. I sat there, fingering the package, and looking at the red potion.

Eloise suddenly snapped her fingers. "Your pack! I'm afraid the black one isn't quite dry yet. Shall I look after it for you? You've got two spare in there anyway."

"Yeah, thanks! And, thanks for being crazy enough to put up with us," I smiled up at her. I noticed a worried frown crease her forehead, and she plopped down next to me on the chair.

"Dear, I heard that you and the young Sheikah had a fight?" she inquired. "Are you all right?"

I nodded, even though I knew I wasn't. "It was nothing - just a silly squabble really," I injected a little grin. She still looked worried, and pressed,

"Are you sure?"

I nodded fervently. "Oh, yes - we fight, but it's nothing serious. Don't worry!"

"Really?"

"Really!" she seemed satisfied, and got up, to go back to her work. The guys came back down the stairs, laden with all their stuff. I realised that I had worn my sword for the entire night, and shrugged my shoulders a little, so that it sit better there. Then, I picked up my pack, put the food and two potions in it, and shouldered it. "Going shopping first then?" I asked, and Link nodded his assent.

*

"Well, let's see - two shields you say? Your gentlemen friend will be easy enough, but this young lady - I'm not sure whether I have anything that will do." We were standing in the Bazaar, and the man behind the counter was looking perplexed about what to do for my shield.

"Come on, you'll have to come out back and have a look around. Just pick out something young man, and young lady, I'll see if I can find something that fits you well in the eaves."

He led us through to the back of the shop, which was like a whole army's armoury, instead of a simple shop. He waved his arm around casually, "Have a look around, see if there's anything you like." Then, he swung himself up the rungs of a ladder, which led up the eaves and extra storage space.

I leant against the only patch of empty wall I could find, and watched as Sheik and Link searched through the shields. Soon enough, Sheik found one that bore the same insignia as on his chest - The Eye of Truth. He lifted it up with his left arm, checking the weight. "Yeah, I think this one will do." He put it back down, leaning it against his leg, and Link looked around at the rest of the room.

So did I. Every available space was packed with weaponry. Wall brackets with staffs and spears, stands full of swords in their sheaths. In bundles all over the floor were arrows, and in one corner was a pile of carefully sealed bags of bombs. In the opposite corner, were crates of deku-nuts and deku-sticks. Also, there was a small rack full of miscellaneous weapons, like nun-chucks and maces. I noticed a beautiful belt of four throwing daggers, and admired from afar the fine smith-ship on each dagger.

"Do you need any other weapons?" Link asked. "I've got a lot of money with me to burn. And it would help me out, cos I'd weigh less," he looked around. Feeling a little guilty, I walked over to the rack, and took down the belt. It was a weighty piece, and the belt was much longer than I'd need it to be. The daggers however, were indeed crafted well.

"Wow," Link said, taking the belt from me, and studying the daggers as well. Then, he looked back up at me. "I don't think I've ever met a woman with a good eye for weaponry before," he sounded a little awed, and I shook my head.

"I just noticed good workmanship - the join is barely visible, which means they'll withstand a hell of a lot," I said offhandedly, and he nodded, handing them back to me.

"Sure, I'll get them. Now, where is this man with a shield?" He looked up impatiently, and I craned my neck as well to see the shadow of the man moving back towards the ladder. It was bulkier than I remembered, then I realised that he was carrying a total of six different shields of varying sizes.

"I wasn't quite sure what you'd need, so I bought a selection," he puffed, distributing the shields over the floor.

"Thanks," Link and I said at the same time. We laughed for a short while, and then I got down to studying the shields.

"Wooden will be no good," I muttered, knowing we'd be going into the Fire Temple next. "That one won't be strong enough - a bad join. And that one's more decorative than is necessary." The shop keep looked amazed, as I didn't even allow him to run off his selling spiel. "That leaves three. Right." I picked up the first, which was a Hylian shield like Link's. I pulled out my sword, and parried an imaginary enemy.

"Hmm - maybe." I noticed the other three watching me, and looked down, blushing. Then, I put the Hylian shield down, before picking up the second. This one had simply a golden Tri-Force embossed upon it. I lifted it upwards, and almost tipped over forwards.

"That'd be a no," the shop keep grinned apologetically, and pulled the shield gently off my arm.

"Thanks. Well, last one I guess." I looked at the remaining shield - it didn't look all that promising to be honest. It had an unpolished surface, and the straps were made of rope instead of leather. However, when I picked it up, it felt as though it had been made specifically for me. "This one," I said simply, and Link looked a little unsure.

"But - well, it's not exactly what you'd expect from a shield," he said in a low voice, as the shop keep cleared away all the other shields.

"It fits perfectly!" I hissed back. "That Hylian one was too light - a toy shield for young trainees. I need some weight on my arm." The shop keep returned, and I looked up, smiling. "We'll take this one!" He nodded, and led us back into the front of the shop.

"Right, that'll be - sixty for the gentlemen's shield. Fifty for the lady's, and forty-five for the dagger belt." Link drew in a breath of shock, and then began to haggle. The shop keep smiled. "Ah, back to the good old days! I haven't had a haggle for years!" They proceeded to barter prices back and forth, until agreeing on fifty for Sheik's shield, forty- three for mine, and thirty-eight for the dagger belt.

Link handed over the money, and the man gave him his change. "Thanks. Have a nice day, and if you need anything else, don't hesitate to come over!" We left the shop, and Link bounced as he walked. He turned around and walked backwards, smiling.

"That was fun, wasn't it?" he said happily, and Navi flew around his head, making 'cuckoo' noises at him. He reached out as though to catch her, and then seemed to think better of it, considering what had happened the last time.

"Hey, give Blaise her dagger belt stupid!" she trilled, and I noticed that he was indeed still holding it.

"Oh - right. Here you go!" he dumped it into my outstretched hands, and I threw it over my shoulder as I finished tying on the shield. Then, I put the belt around my waist, and did it up on the smallest hole - it fell down to my feet at the first step.

"Ah. This would be a problem," I said, stopping abruptly and swaying to stop myself falling over. Link turned back, and pulled Sheik around as well. Sheik just sighed, and walked over. I flinched ever so slightly as he bent down and picked up one of my legs, and then the other, from within the circle of the belt. Then, he handed it to me again.

"Wrap it around twice, and then do it up then," he advised me, and then set about adjusting the length of his shield strap, which was currently attempting to strangle him. I did as he had said, and wrapped the belt around twice. Then, I put the hole at the very end of the belt through, and it sit snugly around my waist. "See, now you won't fall over every step you take - hopefully," he sniggered, and then stepped forwards to lead.

"Heh," Link laughed a bit at the sight of me. "You're too damned small - we should have gotten him to cut the belt and put some new holes in it for you. I suppose the daggers still sit OK though." I looked down, and saw that he was right - now, instead of going all around me, I had two daggers each side at the front. They were set just apart enough so that I had access to each one of them really easily.

"Yeah. Come on, or we'll get left behind," he looked around, to see that Sheik was already ahead of us by quite a way.

"Hey, Sheik, wait up!" Link called, and Sheik stopped dead, turned around, and waited for us to catch up. Still playing with the rope strap of my new shield, I followed Link up to him. It felt odd, but satisfying, to have something at my waist. I never usually had anything more than my sword, and sometimes a shield on adventures. The daggers were a nice addition.

Adventures. For all I knew, this one could be my last one. If Loki couldn't find another master angel to help testify against Lucifer, then I was doomed to a life worse even than the fallen angels who worked the gates of hell. The house of courtesans - where fallen angel maidens were used for pleasure until they died, went mad, or killed themselves.

I could not go there - I could not leave behind all the worlds that yet needed my help.

I stopped musing upon it, and carried on after Link, finally getting the strap just right.

Finally, we both fell into stride with Sheik, and carried on to the gate, which led onto the mountain path. There was no guard in the usual post by the gate. It was hanging open, and slightly rusted from lack of movement. "It must have been open ever since I first came here," Link breathed, looking at the old gate.

The blue eyes were wide as he thought of the old times. Then, he seemed to shake himself of old memories, just as I did sometimes. "Come on, let's get moving. We should try and make our way to the city before night falls. I just hope there hasn't been a slide recently." And, with that less than optimistic sentiment, we headed through the gate, and then up the steep incline which branched upwards to meet the mountain path.

When we rounded the corner, I could fully appreciate how far it was we had to go. The path stretched forwards for hundreds of yards, before disappearing around a bend. Then, it reappeared some twenty feet up, twisting from side to side, before again disappearing to the other side of the mountain. I hoisted my pack, sword and shield into the most comfortable and easy to carry positions I could. The others did the same.

Then, feeling that we had done all we could in preparation for the climb ahead, off we went.

*

"It's freezing!" I yelled above the howling storm we had walked into. One moment, the sun had been blaring down, and then all of a sudden, the light had been obliterated by a huge cloud.

"Keep moving then! And why didn't you think to bring a cloak?" He held his own tightly around him, that sneer on his face again.

"Well, I didn't know it was going to rain, did I?" I bit back. He shouted something back, but it was covered by a crack of thunder. It was probably rude, so maybe it was best that I didn't hear it. However, after the thunderclap, it really began to rain. In an instant, I couldn't see through the raindrops on my glasses, and my hair wasn't helping any.

Link, who had been walking behind me ever since I had almost fallen backwards down the mountain, came to walk beside me. A particularly strong gust of wind attempted to make me literally fly off the mountain this time, and he grabbed my arm. "Here, share my cloak - then you can keep a bit warmer, and I can stop you falling off the mountain," he had to yell this over another thunderclap, but I got the general gist of it.

Shivering, I ducked my head under his arm, and he wrapped it and the cloak around me, propelling me up the hill and after the seemingly untiring Sheik. "How does he do that?" Navi asked, peeking out from Link's hat, teeth chattering. "He just keeps going and going and going..." she wrapped the sides of the hat around her, so that when I looked up, I could only see her eyes.

"Who knows?" I laughed, and then sneezed. "Ow - my nose..." I muttered, and Link laughed this time.

"Come on, I want to get out of this storm!" Sheik yelled back over his shoulder, and we sped up. A huge fork of lightning flickered across the sky, and left a dazzling rainbow of light in my eyes for a few seconds. Under the cloak, I felt a little safer, and I reasoned to myself that if lightning did hit, it was more likely to hit Sheik since he was higher up. This cheered me up - and Navi as well, as I had the channel half-open.

{Ah, a Sheik shish kebab would be a sight to see.} She said wistfully, and I agreed. {Eurgh, I hate rain. I'm going back in the hat to sleep until this is over.}

[Fine - lucky!]

{You haven't seen the dandruff in here.}

[Gross! Navi!] She giggled, and then the link was shut as she went to sleep.

Link and I reached a crest in the path, and even the two of us together had a problem pushing against the wind. Finally, we just had to kind of jump forwards right onto the wet ground on the slope downwards. Then, Link's cloak now covered in spatters of mud, we looked up to see Sheik waiting under the cover of a huge overhang.

A sign off to the left pronounced 'Way to Goron's city,' and a huge arrow pointed to the overhang. "We're here!" I said happily, and we stumbled the last few yards to the covered area. Within it, there was no rain, and no wind. The rumbles of the storm and sounds of the wind cracking were amplified inside, but at least it was dry! There was a stirring in Link's hat, and Navi shot out.

"YAY! Dry at last!" she wrung out her small dress, and then spun around to dry off. Water splattered everywhere, but it really made no difference, we were all so wet as it was. I slipped out from under Link's cloak, and did the same thing with my hair. Then, I used the dry part on the inside of one of my sleeves to wipe my glasses, keeping my eyes closed until I put them back on.

"If I'd known there'd be so much water, I would have worn my Zora tunic," I said wryly, straightening up. "I take it we go in there?" I pointed to a doorway, which had huge steel doors clamped to the walls with huge boulders to keep them open.

"Yeah. Goron city," Link nodded, beginning to walk towards the doors. "I wonder how much this place has changed..." he pondered, and then looked back over his shoulder. "Come on you two - I'm sure that Darunia will know how we can get to the Temple." We followed him in, a wave of heat running over us as we stepped into the huge light filled cave on the other side of the doors.

[Wow] I thought, twisting my head from side to side to try and take it all in. Link was looking a little perplexed, as he stared around the huge, many- tiered city. "What's wrong?" I asked, noticing that Sheik too was looking around slightly worried.

"The Gorons; I can't see any of them!" Link answered. "There's usually a guard at the gate, and one on the platform out there. But - I can't see any!"

"Link," Sheik called from where he was looking down over the edge of the level we were standing on. We both walked over, and peered down as well. "Look - down there," Sheik pointed to the middle floor. I could see a track of dust coming from a small rolling boulder-like thing. "That's one, isn't it?" he asked, and Link nodded.

"We'll go and ask it what happened," he said surely, and then headed around the level until we came to some stairs. He and Sheik took them three at a time, whilst I had to go for a daintier two. However, all three of us managed to reach the middle level at roughly the same time, and see the small boulder roll across in front of us.

Link leapt out into its path, and was knocked flying. "Ow - by all the demons!" he swore, rubbing his head and looking after the rolling thing. "It looks like I'll have to use bombs like last time," he said.

"Bombs?" I yelled incredulously, the sound echoing around the otherwise empty city. Link nodded.

"It's the only way to stop them rolling. Sheik, think you can help me light these?" Sheik moved over, flint and shard of metal already in his hands.

"We'll wait until it gets to the beginning of the rope section there before I light it - then you run forwards and throw," Sheik decided. I went forwards and stood on the small wooden pole, so that I could shout back at them to get ready. The boulder thing was nearing the end of the tunnel, and bounced slightly as it came to a rut in the otherwise perfect road.

{Oh, I hate all this waiting,} Navi complained.

[Me too - but it's nearly there. Right, GO!] "GO!" I shouted the word both to Navi in my head, and the guys through my mouth. Turning around, I saw Sheik hurriedly creating sparks with the flint and scrap metal. The fuse was lit, and Link ran forwards just as had been planned and threw the bomb into the path of the creature. It seemed to notice the bomb just a second too late, and attempted to turn.

The blast caught it, and the rolling boulder thing uncurled to show itself to be a young Goron. It stood up, and took a defiant battle stance. "I am Link, hero of the Gorons!" he proclaimed in a high-pitched voice, glaring at us. Link looked startled to hear that, and signalled that we put down our weapons.

"Well - I'm called Link too," he said, moving forwards warily. "I used to know Darunia - we became sworn brothers a while back." The kid's eyes opened wide, and then it ran forwards and caught him in a deadly Goron hug. Link's eyes bugged out a little, but he looked touched all the same.

"You're the brave person that saved the Dodongo's cavern!" the kid said in awe when he finally let go of Link. "Dad told me all about it - but he's gone now," the little Goron's lip quivered. "He went to the Fire Temple. There's a dragon inside!" he wailed, and sat down heavily, causing the floor to shake.

"A dragon?" Sheik pried, moving forwards to stand by Link. I decided to stay back - I'd probably scare the kid with my glasses and weapons. "But - Volvagia was killed long ago!"

The kid shook its head. "No, a big bad man came and woke it up. And when Dad refused to join him, the man took all the others and said he would feed them to the dragon as an example!" Huge pearly tears spilled over the kid's eyes. "My dad-ad-dy went after them. And he hasn't come back!" He was bawling now.

"We'll find him," Link said stoutly, and the kid looked up.

"Really?"

"Really - but," Link held out his hands as the kid made to get up, "only if you promise no more hugs." The Goron Link tittered at this, and wiped the tears from his face.

"OK. But, you and your friend will need to be protected from the heat in the crater," he said. "Here," seemingly from mid air, two Goron tunics appeared in his hands. "I see your girlfriend already has one," the little boy said, and Link turned scarlet.

"She's not my..." he trailed off, and I sniggered quietly. The kid didn't seem to notice, and carried on.

"If you go into Daddy's throne room, I think there's a secret passage in there." He began to curl up again. "Now I'm going to race and pray some more for him!" his little voice sounded determined, and all three of us moved out of the way as he trundled off.

"Well, you heard what he said," Navi piped up. "We got to go to the throne room, come on!" She tugged on the point of one of Link's ears, and pulled him along by an earring.

"Ow - ow - ow! Let go Navi!"

"Well, hurry up then," she landed on his head, and pointed towards the stairs. "Let's go already." And we did - down more stairs, more slowly this time, until we reached the very bottom level. A stone door was wide open, with a detailed rug standing at the entrance. Link led us through it, into a dark, winding passageway.

When we came out into the room at the end, it was a shock as so much light suddenly appeared again. When I had stopped being dazzled, I could see that Sheik and Link were already looking around for this secret passage. "Damn," Sheik sighed, running his hands over the wall. "We should have asked the kid where the passage was."

I walked forward to the throne, and noticed a change in temperature as I stood next to it. On a semi-hunch, I leant my shoulder against it, and pushed. As I had suspected, the carved seat moved, and a blast of hot air rushed to meet my face. The Goron tunic counteracted it at once, and it just felt as though I was standing on a hilltop on a warm spring day. "I think I found it," I called, and the other two moved forwards.

"Whoa, it's boiling," Sheik said, backing away.

"Uh - we'll change into our tunics," Link stated, and I could hear rustling sounds behind me as they did just that. I stared forwards at the tunnel into the crater, the walls of which were bathed in a pulsating glow. It was beautiful.

{I feel so glad I don't need one of those things.} Navi said, coming to land softly on my shoulder. {I have my fairy protection, hah!}

[Lucky. Well, at least Eloise didn't manage to get me into a dress. That would have been fun to try and fight in.]

{Yeah - I can imagine it now. You, the brave quick warrior - and then you step on your dress and fall flat on your face,} she laughed.

[Hey!] I objected, before laughing as well. [Are they done yet? Of course, you don't have to look, it would be 'unclean'] it seemed that she remembered that as well as I did, and she giggled guiltily. [I feel for you - that must have been awful.]

{Oh, it was, believe me!} she said wisely, and then we both fell about giggling in our heads.

"OK, we're done," Sheik's voice came at my shoulder. "Go on, move will you," he pushed me forwards, and I stumbled a bit before regaining my balance. "They obviously didn't give you very good balance training," he hissed in a low voice so that Link wouldn't hear. Then, he straightened up, and said in a normal voice, "Looks like we're in luck - the thing isn't erupting at least."

I walked up the tunnel into the glowing light of the crater, heat waves making the whole scene hazy. Looking up, all three of us saw that it was nighttime. "Come on," Link walked forwards to the bridge which led to a platform on which a Tri-Force mark was. "Oh crap." He stopped, and looked down into the lava far below. "Umm - slight problem here." He turned around and came back.

"Well, we could use the hook shot," I suggested, and Link nodded fervently. "If we fire it into that wooden beam." I pointed at it, and Link nodded again.

"But what if when one of us throws it back over, they miss?" Sheik asked, hands crossed sulkily over his chest because he hadn't thought of the idea.

"Ah - good point," Link's face looked downcast again. And, yet again, it was Navi to the rescue.

"I'll carry it back over!"

"Are you sure you can lift that heavy a load?" Sheik looked sceptical, and the small fairy sighed. She whizzed a circle around him, and grabbed him by a single finger. He looked down to find himself many feet in the air, and the vermilion eyes widened. Then, he managed to regain his composure and say, "I suppose that's a yes then?"

Navi laughed, and then just dropped him back down, so that he landed on his butt. "That'll teach you to doubt this fairy!" she giggled, and then whizzed back under Link's hat before Sheik could try and kill her. Instead, he just got up, dusted himself off in a dignified and thoroughly pissed off way, and looked at Link.

"Shall we go across then?" Link nodded, and we made our way across as per the plan.

*

On the other side of the bridge, all of us stood upon the raised platform that bore the symbol of the Tri-Force. When Sheik took out his lyre, Link took it as a cue to take out the Ocarina of Time. I thought it would be best if I got out of the way whilst Sheik taught Link the melody to open the Temple. So, I stood off to the side, leaning against a conveniently placed pillar, and watching.

Navi remained with Link, flying slow circles around his head - I let my eyes un-focus, slipping into a quiet trance. This one was the one that I did not mind - one of the happier times, when I still had everything around me, and had not even heard of the name Diabola.

~ "I'll race you to the trees!" Tarin called back to me, skimming low, his feet barely above the ground as he flew off.

"Wait!" I giggled as I tried to catch up with my own tiny wings. "I can't fly as fast as you yet!" He flew backwards so that he was facing me. "Hey, watch out!" I warned, but it was far to late. Tarin collided hard with two figures, which were sent sprawling onto the floor. He turned around, face scarlet, and landed softly. I managed to catch up, and realised that the people he had knocked over were none other than the master angels Loki and David.

"Oh by the Powers, I'm so sorry!" Tarin was babbling, but they just picked themselves up and smiled.

"Don't worry, just be a bit more careful when you're flying Tarin," Loki chuckled, ruffling his hair. I fluttered a little closer, and stood behind Tarin, peering around him at the two tall angels. David knelt down on the grass, seemingly unaware of the dirt that he was getting on his robes, and smiled at me.

"Is this your new sister then?" he glanced up at Tarin, who nodded, then back at me. "Hello, young lady. What's your name?"

"Al-Alexis sir," I stammered, and his grin widened.

"Hey, it's David - and that tall funny looking one there is Loki," he pointed his thumb over his back, and Loki scowled good-humouredly. I laughed slightly, and then he stood back up. "Well, we'll see you later - goodbye Tarin - bye Alexis!"

"Bye!" we both called, waving after the two master angels. Then Tarin turned around and picked me up, hoisting me onto his shoulders in a piggyback. "C'mon sis, we'd best get back too." Then, we sped off back home, where mother and father were waiting for us. They hugged us in greeting, and then tucked us into our beds with care.

"Goodnight, our little angels," Mother said as usual, smiling that graceful smile, and then turning away with father, who blew out the candles.

"Goodnight you little monsters," he'd contradict her, and then close the door. ~

There was a grating sound, which drew me out of my nostalgic trance, and I looked up to see that they had opened the door to the Temple. "C'mon Blaise," Navi flew back over to me and landed on my shoulder. "Let's go!" I padded over after the other two, and entered into the ominous entrance hall of the Fire Temple.

~*~*~*~

[An author note tramples in: Oops, I was meant to do action in this chapter, wasn't I? It looks like I'll just have to draw out the fire temple into two chapters, because I don't want to compress it. Then my careful plans would be ruined. So - this may be a cliffhanger. SHOCK, TERRIBLE HORROR! Lol. Well, it'll be my first proper cliffhanger for a while. Oh well, I've been too kind recently, rounding off all my chapters in a pretty way - so, cliffhanger it shall be! Now to remember what I was going to make happen..

Oh yeah, and that trance was sickeningly happy - icky. Thank God I decided to make her more interesting, or she might well have been a [shudder] Mary Sue. Yuck. I hate them so much. Oh, ranting again - back to story, go muses, go, go! Give you little muse powers to help me write!]

~*~*~*~

The sound of Keese flapping around above us echoed all around the huge entrance hall. Two ancient statues stood at the top of a flight of stone steps, which we ascended, looking around cautiously in case the Keese decided to swoop down. The door to the right on the small landing was locked, which left us with only the one on the left as an option. So, ever wary of the Keese above, we made our way over to it.

Before going through, we unsheathed our weapons - you never knew what creatures would jump out at you. Link pushed the door open, weapon raised, and we all moved forwards into the room. Everything was covered in a heat haze, and we had to squint to make anything out around us. Link suddenly stopped dead, and I walked straight into him. "What is it?" I asked, and he just raised an arm and pointed over to the other side of the magma filled room.

I stared over, and saw the impressive outline of a large Goron - the Big Brother of the Gorons to be exact. Darunia. He whirled around as Navi let out a small sneeze, and his face broke into a grin. "Brother," he called over the magma lake to Link, who lifted a hand in greeting.

"Dark times have come, my brother, dark times. The dragon Volvagia has been awakened, and the hammer of the great hero who destroyed it I do not have. However, I have no choice. I must fight Volvagia." He turned away, and Link's desperate voice rent the air.

"No! It will be suicide sworn brother!" The great Goron looked around again. He answered as though he had not heard Link,

"While I am trying to deal with the dragon, please save my people!" And with that, he slipped through the large door, which automatically locked behind him. Link leapt from platform to platform to the one with the door that Darunia had gone through. He leant his shoulder against it, and tried to open it. Of course, it was a lost cause - without the key, there was no way we could open it.

"Link, come on, we can't waste time here," Sheik yelled sharply, but Link ignored him. Sheik let out an aggravated sigh, and crossed his arms over his chest petulantly. "Fine, just let the whole world fall around us because you, the hero, are being an idiot," he muttered. I turned back to Link, who was still locked in his fruitless combat with the door. Shaking my head at the stubbornness of both of them, I followed the path Link had taken to the other side.

"Link," I said softly, and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up, and I could see desperate tears stream down his face.

"I have to get this door open!" he grunted, and then assaulted the door again. I laid a hand on his forearm, and said again,

"Link," again he looked up. "Much as I hate to admit it, Sheik is right. The more time we waste here, the less help we will be. Darunia is strong - he can fend off whatever beast is there long enough for us to save his people and come to his aid." Link looked convinced, but didn't take himself from the door. "Come on, look, there is one of the ones we must save over there," I pointed to the wall in which a cell indeed stood, containing a Goron.

He nodded, and wiped his face. "All right. Navi, get up, we'll need you awake from now on." There was a stirring under his hat, and a sleepy looking Navi flew out.

"What I miss?" she yawned, and Link managed a small grin.

"Not much. Now, come on, things to kill, people to save and all that," he said, and we headed over to the cell of the first Goron we were to save. Looking around, I noticed a switch, and went over to stand on it - it didn't depress all the way. I jumped up and down on it a few times, but to no avail. Link came over, and put one foot on it, "here, I'll help." The switch went all the way into the ground, and the Goron ambled out happily.

Link and I stepped off the switch to go and talk to it; in the background, I noticed Sheik still waiting at the entrance to the room, looking grumpy as always. The Goron yawned and stretched. "Thank you so much for releasing me!"

"No problem," I smiled up at the amiable looking creature.

"Glad to help," Link tipped his hat, and Navi just tinkled in a 'your welcome' kind of way.

"For rescuing me, I will tell you a secret," the creature lowered its voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "In order to reach Volvagia, you must find a way to release the great column to create a pathway. You will be heavier after your travels, and there is no way to leap so far with so much more. Do you wish me to repeat that?" we both shook our heads, and I was amused to see Navi writing notes on a scrap of parchment.

[So that's how you keep track of all this.]

{What, you expect me to remember all those prophesies off by heart?} She asked incredulously, and I snorted quietly. Before us, the Goron began to walk away, and slowly disappeared as a portal transported it back to Goron city. "That's one down, and the rest of the population to save," Navi said, and Link sighed.

"Well, yes, Sheik is right," he grumbled, and we made our way back to the entrance.

"At last, get a move on will you - hey, you forgot the chest in the cell!" he exclaimed, and literally flew off to the cell. In about ten seconds, he was back, clutching a small key. "Right, this will take care of the door across the way. Let's go," and with that, he loped off across to the door on the right of the staircase. Link, Navi and I looked after him, then at each other, and all of us shook our heads.

[He's so weird.]

{Don't I know it.}

"How does he keep on going - he is so strange," Link mused, before pulling into a run to catch up with him.

[Great, more running. I'm beginning to think they want to ditch me.]

{Just keep up - I need someone sane around.}

[Sane - what does that mean?] I quipped. [If I were sane, I'd be back home, asleep, and not having to worry about the evils in other lands. Oh well, at least I met another telepath.]

{Exactly - it was a great idea.} I made an indecisive sound, and then managed to catch up as the room on the right opened out before me. A huge bridge ran across a sea of lava, which was scattered with large chunks of solid rock and fallen wooden beams. There was a fluttering sound, and I could distinguish fire Keese flying around - making me all the more glad I hadn't gone for that wooden shield.

Navi flew off, dodging the fire Keese, and I could see her being caught in warm up draughts every now and then as she scouted the area. She disappeared from my sight after a few seconds, and I looked back to the room as a whole. I don't know how Sheik managed to keep himself looking cool with all that lava around...

Navi came whizzing back a few minutes later, to find Link and Sheik shooting at fire Keese whilst I used Link's hook shot. She flew down, and confused the Keese by flying circles around them. When they were disposed off, she half flew, half fell onto Link's shoulder. "There's more Gorons down that passage - on the North wall," she panted, fanning herself with her hands.

"Show us the way," Link commanded, and I could see as his face set into fighting mode. I fixed my glasses firmly upon my face, and set off after him and the small light, which was Navi. I leapt from platform to platform, hoping against hope that I wouldn't loose my balance and suddenly fall straight into the bubbling lava below. Sheik of course made the whole thing look effortless, and soon overtook us both.

I caught up with Link, who was having trouble spanning the gap between a huge slab of rock, and the stable floor of the passage. Standing on the block one behind him, I could see what he could not - it was sinking. Navi had already disappeared around the corner of the corridor, and by the time she got back, it would probably be too late. "Link, jump for Goddesses' sakes!" I yelled, taking a leap onto the block with him.

With strength I didn't think I had, I managed to get him into the corridor, in a half throw on my part and half jump on his. But, now I had gotten myself into a pretty little dilemma - I was on the slab instead. Looking down, I could see that I only had a couple more seconds to go before I became toast - looking up, I could see that Link was panicking. [Navi!] I called out in my head, even though I knew she wouldn't get there in time.

Desperately, I backed up to the very far corner of the block, and ran hard, feet pounding across the softening rock. At the end, I pushed off as hard as I could, and lifted my arms up high. Link reached out, and I could hear Navi screaming {NO!} in my head.

~/*\~/*\~/*\~

Oh, wow, it's like so not obvious that she won't die or anything...but, I could mangle her, so is a semi cliff-hanger I suppose. Pretty naffy one - oh well, it means I can start the next chapter on a high, and keep you all hanging for a long time - mean old me, hey?

OH! [Guilty look] for any of those out there who have read Untold Tales: Sheik - I may not be able to put up that Ganondorf one as quick as I hoped - you see, there's this story, and then that xmas special, and it's all piling up and [explodes].

Sheik: Excuse me, I just have to put the author back together...

[Five minutes later]

Sheik: Ummm - I think that's right.

Soda: Then why have you put my mouth on my elbow you idiot! [Waves the magic wand she stole from Fred and George, care of Harry Potter, and goes back to normal] Right, as I was saying, I'll try to keep my updates coming, but if I don't...sorry, OK?

Sheik: Yeah - her - sorry - that'll be the day.

Soda: O.O Right. So, I cast you as a bastard, and now you act like one 24/7

Sheik: Hey, it's Christmas and you're making me work! I'm allowed to be grumpy!

Soda: F-I-N-E

Sheik: I'm just going to sashay over to my trailer and get some beauty sleep thank you very much! [Does just that]

Soda: [Watches] You never realise how much justice bandages can do a guy until you see it for yourself...[grin]

Well, I'll be off, because you all must be sick of the sight of me - bye y'all!

R+R dammit!

And Oracle, I know you got nothing against the Brits - but it was funny just to get you to write a flustered review [devilish looking grin] That was my plan all along! Anywho, on to write some more stuff - la la la and all that!