Darunia was near the passage that led from the Goron city to the Lost Woods listening to the Forest sage's beautiful melody. Nothing calmed his soul more than Saria's song. When he listened to it, he was in a state of eternal bliss. It was hard for him to tear away from it, but as the leader of the Goron race, he couldn't just think only of himself. There were always times when he would have to leave this pleasant state of mind in order to take care of his people.
"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! There's a really weird looking guy climbing the mountain!" Darunia turned around to see his young son bouncing up and down. "Someone is climbing Death Mountain? That doesn't make sense… What reason could he possibly have for going to the top of the mountain…? Hm. Perhaps he just wants to see if the Great Fairy will give him power. Well, regardless I shall see what this stranger is after."
His young son, who he named after his sworn brother and the Hero of Time, looked at his father with anxious eyes. "I-I dunno Daddy… he seemed really scary. I don't think he's a nice guy…" Darunia looked down on his little son. "I see. Well, don't be concerned for my safety. I will be perfectly safe." Young Link nodded and went of to play. Darunia curled up into a ball and rolled at alarming speeds to the top of the mountain.
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Ryu had finally climbed up the wall where Big Goron slept. He looked through a tunnel that seemed to lead to the crater. "Hm. I guess this must be where the infamous Fire Temple lies." Ryu began to walk forward but was stopped when he heard a rolling sound. 'What IS that?' He thought. It sounded almost like a small earthquake, only it sounded like the cause of the sound was coming closer.
He looked intently at the direction he heard it coming. In an instant, the curled form of Darunia had rolled into sight. Ryu took a step back, putting a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike when ever necessary. Darunia uncurled so that he could get a good look at his new visitor. "Hello, there young fellow." The great Goron said to this strange swordsman. "Is there something you'd like? It is far too dangerous to go any farther into the mountain. You'll burn to a crisp." Ryu looked at this strange specimen that stood before him. "You…" His eyes narrowed. "You are Darunia, Sage of Fire, are you not?"
Darunia, who was a bit taken aback looked at him in the eye and said "Why, yes. Yes I am. Can I… help you with something?"
Ryu gave him a look of twisted amusement. "Why, yes… You can…" Ryu said while slowly drawing his weapon. Darunia looked at this strange boy and thought that he was only here to attack the Fire Temple. 'No doubt one of Ganondorf's old, loyal followers wanting revenge.' He thought.
Ryu rushed forward, getting ready to unleash an onslaught of slashes on the old Goron. But the Sage of Fire didn't move at all. He didn't even try to block the sword from hitting him. Ryu gave the Goron one huge, diagonal slash. 'Heh. Too easy.' He thought. But then he looked at where he had hit him. His sword didn't even leave a mark on the hard-skinned sage. Darunia looked at Ryu with an exagerated look of boredom. "Is that all you've got? Just leave here and never return. There's no way you can defeat me with that sword of yours."
Ryu felt a rush of anger come over him. How dare he insult his swordsmanship? Ryu wasn't one to be mocked. He rushed forward again. But this time, slashing many times on all sides of Darunia. Darunia just stood there, not even feeling Ryu's attacks. Ryu finally stopped, seeing that he needed a better strategy for defeating this chunk of rock.
Darunia turned to him, extending his hand with his palm up. "This has been fun, but I think it's time to bring this to a close." A large ball of fire appeared in Darunia's hand. "Now you shall feel the wrath of a sage! This is an ability that only I am capable of using. This should teach you a lesson! HYAAA!" Darunia threw the fire ball using his Goron strength. Ryu tried to block it but he wasn't fast enough. The flaming sphere hit him and his entire body ignited into flames. He screamed in agony but he refused to fall. Seeing this, Darunia said "You're very persistent, I'll give you that. But that's not nearly enough!" Darunia held both of his hands out and shot a fiery beam at Ryu that sent him flying. Ryu was shot all the way down into the small river outside the entrance to Kakariko Village. Once he vanished out of sight Darunia turned back and walked back to the Goron City.
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It was a while before Ryu had enough strength to resurface. He coughed up some water that he swallowed and was on his hands and knees trying to catch his breath. The burns he received were aching uncontrollably. "Gr… It seems these ridiculous sages are going to be more difficult to defeat than I imagined." He scowled. "Perhaps it would be best if I take the power of another sage before I fight him again." He looked in the direction of the Kokiri Forest. "Yes… SHE is the weakest of them all… I can feel it." Ryu picked up the sword he dropped from the fall and walked towards the majestic forest.