Author's Note: Why am I torturing poor Link? Well, I wanted to validate this chapter without making it too video game-y. This part was always one of my favorite quests of young Link's. I don't know why, but the final part of the Death Mountain sequence was always very attractive to me. Anyway, Mudora will stop rambling...

Oh, btw, if you, the reader, have some free time, please check out Ocarina of Time: A Princess' Destiny. It is Mudora's other story which runs parallel to Hero's Path. It's been getting very little traffic of late, but Mudora thinks it is at least just as good as this story (it's a little shorter so far, too). It is Zelda's side of the adventure, but don't take that to mean it is boring. It is filled with Hylian lore and Sheikah martial arts! Trust me, it is really good!

A Hero's Path

Chapter 14: A Time for Healing

Link opened his eyes to see a rocky ceiling above him. A large, dark brown face came into his vision. Big, black, beady eyes and lips that extended from one side to the other. Definitely a Goron. He wore a white headband. "Oh! He's waking up!"

"Link!" Navi said. She was standing on his pillow.

Link sat up and looked himself over. He was dressed in his large tunic and his hat was resting on the bedpost. His legs and arms were wrapped in bandaging, and he felt a bandage on his chest, too, restricting movement. "Ooh!" he said as he winced in pain. It all hit him suddenly.

"You can't get up yet!" the Goron said. "You need your rest!"

"I disagree," another, deeper Goron voice said.

Link looked over to the tunnel entrance to see Darunia standing there.

"Darunia!"

"What were you thinking! You could have gotten killed!" the boss of the Gorons said. "You very well might have!"

"I thought somebody had to get your mine back," Link said. "After all, you weren't going to end starvation by whining about it!"

"Whining!" Darunia roared. He rushed over to the bed and put his arms on Link's shoulders and stopped suddenly. "We are forever in your debt, Link, for your bravery and actions. Thanks to you, we can once again eat the delicious rocks from the Dodongo's Cavern until our stomachs burst! Your fairy here told us all about your journey. What a wild adventure! It will make an incredible story..."

"I made it into a story?" Link said. "I always wanted to be one of those knights that fought the dragons!"

"Well now you are the great Link, who fought the fire-breathing lizards! I can't believe the Dodongos suddenly appeared like that, and in such great numbers! And that big rock blocking the cave..."

"Navi blew that up, Big Brother!" Link said. "Make sure she's in the story too!"

"All this trouble must have been caused by that Gerudo thief, Ganondorf!" Darunia said.

"That's exactly what I thought," Navi said.

"He appeared around the same time as the Dodongos," Darunia said. "He dropped that rock and said, 'See, I saved you! Now give me the Spiritual Stone!' I told him, 'The Dodongo's Cavern is our only source of food! We will now starve to death because of you!' He said,'Fine. Give me the stone! Only then will I open the cave for you!' At his ultimatum, I decided he did not have the pure heart required for this Stone, the key to the Sacred Realm." Darunia showed Link the Goron's Ruby, a red stone the size of the Kokiri Emerald. "You, on the other hand, risked your life for us..."

"Nah, it was nothing," Link said.

"Kid, I like you," Darunia said. "How about you and I become Sworn Brothers?"

"Is there some big ceremony?" Link asked.

"No, no! Just take this as a token of our friendship!" He held out the Spiritual Stone of Fire. Link took it in his left hand and dropped it in his pack, which was propped up against the bed.

"Thank you so much!" Link said. "I have already made a promise to use this stone to stop Ganondorf!" Link said.

"Brother, there is something I must tell you," Darunia said. "All your wounds and burns were easily healed."

"That's good," Link said. "Why do they still hurt?"

"Because you've only rested half a day!" the Goron who appeared to be Link's physician said.

"All but one," Darunia said.

He didn't have to say which one. Link knew.

"That wound on your right arm will never heal. It is infected with an unidentifiable poison, Brother. Several Gorons were bitten by those creatures, and not a one survived. There is no way for us to heal you. As is, you could die anytime."

"What!" Link and Navi said together.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Navi shouted. "You said he was doing fine!"

"I knew you would fret, little one," the doctor said. "It was best to tell you both together."

Tears welled up in Link's eyes. He was still so young!

"There's nothing you can do?" Link said.

"No. But there is something you can do," Darunia said.

"No!" the physician said. "If he goes, his injuries may never heal!"

"Hush!" Darunia said.

"Big Brother, the crater is about to-"

"I know!" Darunia turned back to Link. "If this wound isn't healed soon, you will die."

"But you said..."

"At the top of Death Mountain, the Great Fairy lives."

"The Great Fairy?" Link said.

"Leader of the fairies!" Navi said happily.

"If you go see her, she may heal your wound," Darunia said.

"Then I must do it!" Link said. "I have to get these stones to Zelda, and if I die along the way, there's no telling what will happen to them!"

"Then you must go," Darunia said.

"Are you aware that if the fairy doesn't grant your wish, you will die from your wounds?" the doctor said.

"I don't have a choice!" Link said. "If I don't go at all, this wound will kill me!" He tried to push himself up on his arms, but his right couldn't handle the weight, and he tumbled off the bed. The doctor helped him up.

"Someone should go with him!" the doctor said.

"No," Navi answered. "The Great Fairy doesn't like multiple visitors. Fairies don't count of course!"

"C'mon, Navi," Link said.

"Uh, Link?"

"Yeah?"

"I still can't fly on my wing."

Link picked her up and put her on his shoulder. He put on his hat, and had Darunia strap on his bandoleer strap, belt, and with them his Hylian Shield. Darunia also put his boots on for him and the doctor put his right arm in a sling to keep him from using it. Darunia presented him with Link's own bottle, filled to the top with cool spring water. He put it on a strap for easy access.

Finally, Link was ready to go. Darunia led him out of Goron City and saw him off on his journey. "Come back soon, Brother!" he said. And with that, Link was off.

Link began up the slope, traveling toward the dark cloud circling the peak, for about three or four hours. All the while, the cloud grew darker and larger.

"How close are we, Navi?" he said, taking a drink of water.

"We're getting there. Keep moving."

"Is it just me, or is the cloud growing?" Link said.

"I've been wondering that myself," Navi said.

"What does it mean?"

"I don't know, but it sure looks menacing!"

"Thanks. Why don't we keep heading toward it?"

They continued onward. The path included some climbing, which Link managed with some difficulty with his one arm. They continued on their tiresome journey for a few more hours. They started to see stars coming out before they entered under the canopy of smoke. Instead of growing colder as they climbed, it seemed the closer they got to the top the warmer it was. Finally they reached a scary point of their climb. In order to continue toward the peak, Link had to walk across a narrow ridge in the mountain. Straying to either side meant he'd fall hundreds of feet. He took the last swig of water and started. About mid-way through the walk, the earth started shaking.

"What's going on!" Link shouted over the rumbling.

"It's some kind of earthquake!" Navi answered. "Grab hold of the ground so you don't fall!"

Link dropped to the ground and held on as tight as he could with one arm. A great shadow came over Link. Moments later, a rock half his size came crashing onto his back. It split on his shield and fell on either side of the ridge.

"Link! The volcano's erupting!" Navi shouted.

Link tucked his head and legs under his shield, still doing his best to hold the ground. For several minutes, rocks continued to fall on his shield, and all around him. His back was aching and he wanted to just fall flat. All of his wounds were starting to ache. After ten minutes or so, the rocks stopped falling.

"Link, the sky's clear... for now. Run for it!"

Link forced himself up and dashed toward the end of the ridge. The ground started shaking again and he dropped. The mountain spewed ten to twelve minute sessions of rocks a couple more times before he reached the end. And it really was the end. A dead end. At the end of the path he traveled was a cliff wall, leading the rest of the way up to the summit.

"Great!" Link said. "Just great! Now what!"

"We can't get to the top?"

"Well... I guess it depends on how determined I am!" Link said.

He grabbed a rock sticking out of the cliff with his left hand.

"You can't be serious."

Determined, Link looked up to the top of the cliff. Placing his right foot on another rock, he began climbing. He slipped and nearly fell more times than he could count with his good hand. Finally, he grabbed the top and pulled himself up with a triumphant shout. Every muscle in his body ached, and every wound hurt twice as much, but he was there. The summit. Skirting around the crater, he found a cave entrance. A faint blue light glowed from within.

Link walked inside and found the entire little cave gave off the blue glow. In the back was a small, shallow pool of water, and the same symbol he saw everywhere of the three yellow triangles.

"The crest of the Royal Family!" Navi said. "Show your affiliation!"

"What?"

"Play the song!"

"Oh, right!"

Causing himself more pain to his right arm, he removed it from the sling and played the three notes twice, then dropped his arm straight, holding it with his left.

They heard some faint laughter that grew louder and louder, until a woman flew up out of the pool. She had long, red hair and was dressed in a tunic of leaves.

"Welcome, traveler Link," the woman said. "I am the Great Fairy of Power!"

"How did you know my name?"

"Link, this is the Great Fairy! Show some respect!" Navi said.

"Oh. Right." Link dropped to one knee. "Great and powerful Fairy..."

"You need not treat me like a queen," the Great Fairy said. "You are weary from battle..."

"Yes, that's why we're here," Link said.

"Most travelers have a wish, but you need not state yours," she said. "I will re-energize and completely heal you both."

"And the poison?"

"Gone. But for a price."

"What kind of price?"

"Your immunity will be down for several days, Link."

"What's an immunity?"

"Is that all?" Navi said. "We'd be happy to accept, Great Fairy!"

"What's an immunity?" Link repeated.

"Are you sure?" the Great Fairy said.

"Well if Navi doesn't think it's important..."

"You see, Link," the Great Fairy said. "While I am the Great Fairy of Power, I am not all-powerful. Only the goddesses hold that claim. In order to vanquish the poison, it will take all the illness-fighting ability your body has. That will take some time to regenerate. Your immunity is what keeps you from getting sick."

"Oh, is that all?" Link said. "I've never been too sick before. I'll be fine!"

"If you are sure..." the Great Fairy said. Just then, a bright blue light came down and encompassed Link and Navi. They were taken up in the light and moments later it disappeared.

"Whoa! That was cool!" Link said. "Do it again!"

"Remove your bandaging, Link," the Great Fairy said as Navi leaped off Link's shoulder and took to flying again. Link untied and unwrapped his right arm. The terrible yellow wound was completely gone. He moved his arm around. It no longer hurt! With his newly restored arm, he removed the bandaging from his left arm, which no longer bore burns, bruises and scratches. He then proceeded to remove the bandaging from his legs, which were in perfect shape too. His muscles no longer hurt from his climb, either.

"Thank you!" Link said. "You have saved my quest!"

"No, Link. You saved it by coming here. When battle has made you weary, remember me. Take some of my fountain's water with you. It will aid your journey." After these words, she descended back into her pool laughing again. Link filled his bottle and corked it, then left the Great Fairy's fountain.

"You've done well to come all the way up here, Link," a familiar voice said as they came out, startling Link. Link looked above him. Perched atop the cave's entrance was Kaepora Gaebora, the great owl. "It is said that the clouds surrounding this peak reflect the condition of Death Mountain. When they look normal, it is at peace. Climbing all the way up here just proves your determination and how clever you truly are!"

"Well I'm sure I owe a lot of it to Navi," Link said humbly. Navi glowed brightly.

"Well it looks like you've grown up a little bit since last we met. Was it the Great Fairies power? Or have your journeys made you mature?"

"Really, you think I'm mature?" Link said, looking himself over.

"But you still don't look like the hero who will save Hyrule. At least not yet!"

"Hey! You're a mean cucco!"

"He means you still have some growing to do," Navi said. "And he's not a cucco!"

"Are you going back down the mountain now?" Kaepora asked.

"Well, first I was thinking of jumping around the top of the mountain..." Link got some funny stares. "Kidding! I was being sarcastic! Navi, you should know a lot about that!"

"Well you need to be heading down now," the owl said. "Those eruptions are growing closer together. Soon it will start spewing lava."

"What's lava?" Link asked.

"It's that red stuff we saw in the Dodongo's Cavern," Navi explained.

"Oh. I didn't know what it was, it just looked really hot and painful!"

"But Kaepora Gaebora, if it erupts lava, won't Goron City and Kakariko Village..." Navi started, but the owl interrupted.

"The rock formation is such that it keeps the lava from flowing in that direction. It goes over the backside and down the ridge you climbed across to get here. We must hurry, though. I can lend you a wing so you don't get caught in the eruption. Grab my talons and hold on tight!"

He began flapping his wings and lowered to Link. Navi flew under Link's hat and Link grabbed the great owl's mighty talons. With one strong flap of his wings, they were airborne and gliding down along the mountain range. It was the greatest sensation Link had ever felt. With all the falling he'd done, he always wondered what it would be like not to fall, but to fly in the sky. They heard the rumbling of the volcano, but they didn't tremble with the earth, for they were high in the sky. Kaepora looped around and let Link see the lava come spewing forth from the top of the mountain. They continued gliding down; past the Gorons, who waved to Link and the great bird; over Kakariko Village, where all the townsfolk stared in amazement at the boy who flew with the birds.

Link couldn't help but cry out, "Woohoo!" as they soared over the Hylian town. Kaepora Gaebora passed the village and started to fly along the Zora's River, against its gentle current, heading back up into other foothills. Finally, he stopped and set Link down beside the river where the current was a little stronger. The owl flapped up to a branch on a nearby tree. Navi came out of Link's hat as the bird began speaking again.

"Just ahead lies Zora's Domain, up at the source of the Zora's River. The Zora's serve Hyrule's Royal Family by protecting the land's main water source. Their door will not open for anyone except those who have some connection with the Royal Family."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Link asked.

"You are collecting the three Spiritual Stones aren't you?"

"Yes..."

"And you have one more to find?"

"Yes..."

"King Zora, ruler of Zora's Domain, is the rightful owner of that final Stone!" And with a "Hooo hoo hoooot!" he was off into the sky and out of sight.

"It's late, Link," Navi said. "Let's camp under the stars and get our rest. We've got another stone to get tomorrow."