Hola!

Blaze: Huh?

--0 That's Spanish for hi.

Blaze: Oh… why didn't you just say that?

Hits head on wall Just shut up! Now, I've been working on my new story, the Bermuda Triangle Part One: Hyrule. Check it out! Now I shall update Epona's Ocarina! Yay! Sorry for the long update and short chapter. I have stupid writers block. So, I'll put the first have of what was supposed to be chapter eleven. Sorry, guys! I don't know when the next part will be up. Okay, WINGS!

Wings: I thought I would get out of this:P

Oh, shut up and do the disclaimer!

Wings: Fine, fine. Blazestarre doesn't own the Legend of Zelda. There, happy?

:) Much.

"Talking"

"Animal Talking"

Thoughts

Of Allies and Promises

Death Mountain Crater certainly lived up to its name. If Epona and Link did not have protective gear, they probably would be dead within minutes of the severe heat. Epona could just see the rock near the lava melting and heat radiating off the rock that was far away from the burning lava. So of course the mare would be surprised by a wooden bridge connecting the ledge where the trio was and the island-like area in the lava.

Link walked toward the bridge and stopped. He wept sweat off his forehead, but that was in vain because even more beads of sweat fell. Epona realized she was not sweating near as bad, or sweating at all. She thought back to what the Deku Tree Sprout had said and what the ruby in the chest strap did. While she had much endurance, she should be sweating. Could the ruby really be the blood of Volvagia? She shook off the thought and walked up to Link.

"So, why'd you stop?" Link simply pointed to the bridge as an answer and then put his hand on his chin.

Epona looked at the bridge and saw what Link was worried about. The bridge, though still suspended, was broken in the middle, about fifteen planks were missing. Not only was it broken, but it also looked unstable to walk on. Epona's eyes widened and she stomped on the ground once. She felt like stepping on Navi to vent her frustration (Din knows the fairy deserved it), but Epona decided against it.

"All right, now what?"

"Link, you think you could get across with your hookshot?" Epona looked at the blue fairy in surprise. Hookshot? Since when did Link have a hookshot?

"I know I'll be able to," Link said.

"Then what's the problem?"

"How will Epona be able to get over?"

"Can't you jump that far, Epona? I mean, if you run fast enough?"

"Uh, no Navi. I can't. The bridge won't be able to support my weight." Actually, Epona didn't know that. She was just terrified by the looks of the bridge and the vision of her tumbling to the burning lava below.

"Epona's right, Navi," Link said. "Just look at that. The wood is rotten or burned. It probably can barely keep me up, let alone Epona."

Navi flew down to the bridge to take a look at the wood and came back up to bob in agreement. Epona just stared at Link.

"Uh, sorry if I insulted you Epona." Link grinned sheepishly, like the kid he really was.

"It's not that, Link. I just find it strange that you can switch from being completely immature," Link gave her a look, "to all quiet and mysterious to being very mature and smart."

"Well, being raised in the forest, you tend to learn a few things about wood."

"True."

"Can we get back to the problem at hand, you two? How is Epona going to get across?"

Epona closed hers eyes and lowered her head some so she could think. She thought she felt a breeze coming through the crater, but shook it off as her imagination. There really wasn't going to be a breeze in a crater. Not thinking of any good ideas to get across, Epona snorted and lifted her head.

Looks like I'll have to go back.

The mare opened her eyes to turn around, but was surprised that the bridge was no longer in front of her! Epona brought her head back in shock and let out a whinny. She turned around to see Link and Navi in shock as well, at the end of the bridge. While Epona pondered on what had happened, Link grabbed a hookshot, silver hook glowing red from the lava, and aimed it at a ledge above the gap in the bridge. He swung across the boiling lava and landed a few steps from the end of the dilapidated bridge. The bridge swung, threatening to plummet to the lava below.

Epona looked at Link worriedly. He looked like he was balanced, but was very close to losing it. The Hylian slowly walked to the end of the bridge, while putting away the blue hookshot. Epona was about to run up to him, as he was only a step away from land, when a person, a young man by the looks of it, dropped down from the ceiling or a ledge. Link stepped back a little in surprise, but seemed to recognize the person.

The person's outfit was the strangest thing Epona had ever seen a human wear, and they wore some pretty strange things. This person wore a blue outfit that clung tightly to his body, most likely for easy movement. Bandages wrapped around the young man's hands and covered his face, though the mare couldn't see the face all too well for long bangs of golden blond hair covered it. The stranger looked over towards Epona and Epona was surprised by the man's eyes. They were a piercing crimson and held many secrets.

The man turned back around and seemed to say something Epona couldn't hear which surprised her. Normally, she could hear someone speaking quietly thanks to her acute hearing. He must be using magic.

The man then took out a harp and began to play a steady march. The ruby in Epona's strap began to softly glow at the song. Epona began to bob her head up and down, following the rhythm. The song stopped abruptly and began again, this time by an ocarina. Link copied exactly what the other human played.

As soon as Link finished the song, the man nodded, threw something onto the ground, and disappeared in a puff of smoke. The blond human walked over to Epona and past her, continuing a mildly steep cliff, down to the bottom piece of ground. Epona cantered so she was standing right next to her companion.

"Link, before we go in, uh, where're we going?"

"The Fire Temple," Navi answered.

"Yeah, before we go in the Fire Temple, can you at least tell me who that was and what he wanted? I know you don't like telling me things, but…"

Link gave a glare but answered anyway. "All I know is that his name is Sheik, he's part of the Sheikah race, and he disappears only a couple minutes after he arrives." Epona could sense Link's annoyance since he accented the last three words.

"And another thing?"

"What?"

"You tell me everything about this journey. From the beginning to now. And I won't stop pestering you until you do."

Link gave a smile and said, "Deal."

Tbc

Yes, crappy and short. Boring, too. I just felt something needed to be up.

Ariana, aka Nereid-Hey, what's up! Is Epona actually going INTO the temple, or just the crater? Link never did tell Epona about the Deku Tree or Saria... she must feel jiped. Oh well. MORE! - Yeah, she does. This whole trip is annoying her. And, yes, she is going into the temple. This is AU and I wasn't even planning on it! Here's a little bit more. The rest should be up next time it is up. What? That didn't help?

Lisilgirl-That was a great chapter! That was a little shocker though, with the Blood of Volvagia Ruby...I was like o.0? No really. Anyway, GREAT! I LOVE IT!- Yeah, the name gives it away. Link-goro didn't think about how obvious it was to figure out what the ruby was. I thanks for saying it was great. Glad you LOVED it. :)

R&R