The Legend of Zelda: The Dream Walker
Chapter 4
"The mine"
By MEGAMANX411

Link headed downstairs, and saw that Jess was working on a new weapon. He was a blacksmith after all; it was his profession. Jess gave Link a pleasant smile.

"Oh...hello Link," he said as he was making the finishing touches on his work.

"Good morning," Link replied. "What are you doing?" he asked as he curiously eyed the work of Jess.

"I'm working on this," Jess replied as he lifted a large explosive and placed it on the counter. "I don't know why, to be honest. It's a mining bomb. Well, it's just a bomb, but because it's used for mining, that's what they call, it, you know what I am saying?"

Link nodded, and smiled at the antics of this old man. His presence was ratherwarming, because he acted like such a fatherly figure.

"Yeah," he responded. "Why did you make it?"

Jess shrugged, but wasn't too concerned about his lack of ability to find an answer.

"I'm not quite sure," he replied, scratching his head a bit. "Just after Olen died, I felt compelled to make it, like his spirit demanded that I make the finest weapons once more. I came down here and started working without thinking."

Link gave Jess a curious look, but decided that it might be interpreted as rude, so he thought better of it.

"Do you plan on checking out the mine to see if the others are alive?" he asked.

Jess shook his head slowly.

"No, I plan to leave that to Kline, and I don't want to see you getting involved Link..." he warned.

Jess turned around, and headed off, probably for a nap. He hadn't slept all night, and seemed very tired.

Hm, Link thought. This bomb seems to be a bit stronger than my standard ones. It may be against my better judgement, but this may come in handy, he reasoned. So, Link snuck the bomb away in his pack, and headed off towards the mine.

When Link arrived, he saw that the local hunter, Kline, was already there.

"Why hello Link!" Kline shouted, trying to look friendly despite his gruff appearance.

"Hello," Link replied.

A smirk came over Kline's face as he eyed Link.

"What are you doing here lad?" he asked.

"I've come to help investigate the mines!" Link replied, sounding eager.

"And how do you plan on helping, hm?" Kline teased.

Link laid down the mining bomb at the entrance where the rocks blocked the way. Kline's eyes widened as he saw the massive explosive.

"Is that a mining bomb?" he asked.

"Yeah, Jess made it!" Link replied happily.

As the bomb was lit, everyone tensed in apprehension. The bomb suddenly ignited, and rocks were flung in all directions. The powerful explosion rocked the surrounded area, and opened up the previously sealed mine entrance. The entrance was now present, and it exhumed cold, dank air.

Link started walking towards the entrance, but Kline barred his path.

"Please move Kline," Link requested.

Kline shook his head in protest, and apparently intended to protect Link.

"Look here Link, it's pretty dangerous in there, you shouldn't go," he warned.

Link gritted his teeth from frustration. He was no simple child, he could take care of himself, and besides, he wanted to help.

"I have to help!" he shouted.

Kline was a man of honor, and he could see the determination in Link's eyes.

"I guess there's no stopping you," he replied, sounding slightly proud. "Go on ahead. Be careful!" he warned.

Link nodded, eagerly accepting Kline's sudden outburst of respect, and walked into the mine. As he walked into the cavernous depths, Link began to remember the segments of Olen's dream. The memory of the worker pulling a level was ringing throughout his mind, and the remembrance of the Murgg was ever present. Link took a look around, and noticed a mining cart. He also noticed that the mining cart needed to be released from a lock that was activated by a mechanical system set up in the mine.

"Maybe those levers that the workers were using can release the lock on the cart," he thought aloud.

Link went up to the levers, and remembered Olen's dream.He thought deeply for a moment, and placed a hand on his chin as he pondered.

"OK, in the dream, it was the left switch, the left switch again, and then the right switch," he recited.

Link pulled the switches in order, and sure enough, the mining cart was released from the lock. Link jumped in the cart, and steadied himself in it. He breathed deeply.

"So," he thought aloud. "I guess I should just push myself, and let momentum take care of the rest."

Link heaved forward in the cart, sending it flying down the rails. It was rather exhilarating actually, Link observed. But that was until he noticed that he was headed straight for a giant rock on the rails.

"OH MAN!" he shouted, as he braced for impact.

Link ducked in the mine cart to avoid damage to himself, and the mining cart busted through the rock, sending pieces of shattered stone everywhere. Soon, the cart began to slow down, and eventually came to a halt when it reached the end of the tracks.

"Looks like I'm going on foot from here," Link said to himself.

Link got out of the mine cart, and slowly made his way into the next room, which appeared slightly flooded. As he entered, he thought he saw someone laying face down in the waters, but he couldn't tell. He went deeper into the room and got a closer look. He saw that it was one of the workers! Link rushed over to the inured man's side, but then Link was greeted by some unwanted company. The Murgg. Link eyed the beasts furiously.

"Get away from him!" Link shouted, trying to protect the severely wounded man.

The Murgg could only chant in a hideous manner.

"Oh, furless one!" they cried. "Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"

Link was disgusted with their horrific chanting, and quickly prepared himself for battle. One of the Murgg tried to attack Link by diving at him, but he was cut short by a throw from Link's boomerang, which smashed against the Murgg's head. The monkey was sent back down to the ground, and the impact of the boomerang left a trail of blood down its head. Another Murgg came in from the side, but Link blocked the attack with his shield.

Link shoved forward with his shield, and pushed to monkey over, and then stabbed it with the Master Sword. The last Murgg was taken out by a shot from Link's hookshot, which shot through the Murgg's chest. As the enemy fiends lay before him lifeless, Link knelt down beside the worker.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

The worker forced a very weak smile despite the massive pain and blood loss.

"Ugh....thank..you," he said hoarsely. "I'm afraid..that I can't make it out....."

Link's eyes widened at the statement from very evident concern. He didn't journey this far just to let someone die.

"I'll carry you out!" he protested.

The worker shoved Link away as best he could, although he didn't exactly manage to push Link back due to the serious lack of energy.

"Sorry...please try to help the other worker..." he muttered as he winced in pain.

Link looked at the poor man in horror, and then looked on in sadness as he saw the man drew his final breath. Link nodded slowly, and bowed his head in reverence for the man.He slowly brought the man out of the water, and laid him to rest.

"Goodbye," Link muttered.

He didn't know the man, but no one wants to see anyone die. Link explored further into the cave, and luckily for him, it remained somewhat uneventful, save for the lack of lighting in the cave, which made finding the appropriate pathway a bit difficult. As Link drew closer the exit, he noticed the body of the other worker. He was face down in the dirt, his back torn up by savage claws.

"He must've been killed by the Murgg when he tried to escape," Link said, sadness evident in his voice.

He bent down and took a closer look at the man, now completely sure he was deceased. Link closed his eyes, and said a little prayer for the man, but then made his way out of the mine. As Link was greeted by the graceful touch of sunlight, he saw the form of Jess.

"Link!" the old man shouted. "Are you ok?"

Link shook his head slowly, but still had a defeated look on his face.

"I'm fine," he replied. "The workers..."

Jess' face had very clear signs of worry.

"Are they...alive?" he asked.

Link dropped his head down.

"No," he muttered quietly.

Jess joined Link in his sentiment.

"That's unfortunate," he replied. "Well, it's good to hear that you're fine..." he added.

"Thanks Jess," Link responded.

He knew the old man was trying to think of something positive at the moment, and Link didn't want to shatter the old man's attempts, so he played along.

"Well," Jess began. "I think we had best be going back. Come along now Link."

Link shook his head in confirmation, and both he and the others headed back to Inoa.