A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Pair of Time
Chapter 13- En Route of Fire
Death Mountain Trail; Day
"All right, Miss and Mr. Hero!" the gatekeeper yells out to them as Malon and Link run up the slope of Death Mountain. "Be careful up there. You two make sure you're properly equipped."
Which means that they should have at least a Hylian Shield on their backs. So, there they are, the heavy, iron shields that bear the symbol of the Triforce on them.
"Red Tektite!" Navi screams. "Dead ahead!"
One large red, four-legged bug jumps over the two, missing their heads. Link does the only thing and finishes it with a Jump Attack.
"Pretty weak thing, this Red Tektite," Link examines its chopped up body, bloody with green liquid.
"Pretty weak, yep," Malon said as she snipes off two more Red Tektites farther along the trail.
"Must you show off?" Link asks as they walk along the path.
"Hey, if you can show off with your sword, I can show off with the slingshot."
"Yeah? I have it more dangerous than you do."
"Is that so? Then, why do I kill the monsters much faster than yo- OW!"
A Red Tektite hidden above drops down on Malon, landing on top. Link quickly gouges the only eye of the monster, thrusting the sword forward even more. It shrieks madly, twisting its limbs around. Green blood starts to pour from the damaged eye. Link grabs the monster and literally shoves his sword through it, feeling the soft, wet inside with his arm. He then pulls his arm and sword out of the Red Tektite, seeing the pouring of blood from the hole he made, and the green liquid dripping from his arm.
"Ugh…" Malon shakes her head.
"You okay?"
"Yeah… Eeewww! You have that thing's blood all over your arm!"
"Uh, I did a stupid thing and shove my sword and arm inside its eye," Link explains as he shakes his arm free of the blood.
"Oh, how stupid…"
Farther along, they find a large boulder on a turn of the trail. A sign among the smaller rocks nearby bears,
'Dodongo's Cavern
Don't enter without permission!'
"Dodongo," Link repeats the word. "I think that's some sorta fire-breathing lizard…"
"Lizard?" Malon laughs. "I know dragons breathe fire, but lizards?"
"Hey, I'm just going with my resources."
"What, those books of yours?" Malon refers to as she sits on a nearby rock.
"Yeah. They haven't failed me once, and they aren't going to fail me now."
"Well, some books do lie, you know. I remember this one book that said that there are six Sages in the world. I don't believe even a word fro- Wha?"
The rock underneath her stirs, then groans out.
"Hey, how rude of you!" are the words that come from the rock. "Why are you sitting on me? And while I'm sleeping, too."
Malon jumps off, seeing that this is no rock. A dusty colored, huge being sits up, seeing the two before him. He stands up and looks down to their short height.
"Uh… Who are you?" Link asks.
"I am one of the Gorons, the stone-eating people who live on Death Mountain." the Goron proceeds to scratch itself. "Look at that huge boulder over there!"
"That?" Malon points to the only huge one around.
"Yes, that. It blocks the entrance to the Dodongo's Cavern, which was once a very important place for us Gorons…"
"Why is it blocked if it's so important?" Link doesn't see the point in preventing a way to something important.
"Many Dodongos suddenly appeared inside the cavern one day. It became a very dangerous place!"
"So, you sealed the entrance off because of that?"
"No, it was still too important to seal it. A Gerudo in black armor used his magic to seal the entrance with that boulder!"
Ganondorf… Link reminisces.
"If you want to hear more Goron gossip, head up to our city!"
"Where, sir?"
"Goron City is just a little way up the trail. It won't take much longer to get there, even on foot."
"Okay, thank you, then."
"It's Ganondorf, right?" Malon questions after a while. "The Gerudo in black armor?"
"Yeah. If you ever see a male Gerudo dressed like that, it's him."
A Goron ahead is awoken by the disturbance of their footsteps.
"Hello, Mister," Malon greets. "Is this the right way to Goron City?"
"Oh, no. This leads up to the summit of Death Mountain. You wouldn't want to go up there, believe me."
"Oh, okay, then. Thanks, Mister."
"But… however, they say that a beautiful fairy lives on top of Death Mountain."
"A fairy?" Link repeats the word.
"Yes. Must be powerful to live somewhere up that high. But, beautiful, too. Don't you want to see her?"
"Uh, no, sir. We're just headed for Goron City, if you don't mind."
"It's over there, right of the flagpole." the Goron points the way.
"Thank you."
A peaceful walk on the trail is disturbed as a Goron is seen rolling… toward Malon and Link. Easily, they scoot out of the way, letting the Goron continue rolling until it… blows up?
"YAOW!" the Goron yells out in pain.
"Are you okay, sir?" Link asks as he runs up to him.
"Yes. It's nothing," the Goron replies.
"Why did you just… blow up like that?" Malon asks.
"I was carrying a Bomb."
"A Bomb? Um… isn't that just a bit dangerous?"
"I'm fine, unlike Hylians." the Goron does a hand gesture. "I wish I could roll down the mountain like a rock, though, with a Bomb Flower and…"
The Goron expresses an explosion with his arms.
"BOOOOOOM! Blow up that boulder down there!" the Goron points to the sealing boulder. "If I could do that with a Bomb Flower, I could become a real man."
"Um… how long does this Bomb Flower have before going off?" Link asks, using his knowledge of Bombs from the books.
"10 seconds. It's not enough to roll from up there…" the Goron points to where he just rolled down from, "to down there." he points to the boulder.
"Well, where is this Bomb Flower?"
"Just a bit up the trail. You'll see it on your left when you reach an opening."
The opening the Goron mentioned has but a small, carved platform in the middle like a podium, with stones on top. Beyond that is a decorated entrance, to Goron City, Malon and Link figure. On left is a plant that has a Bomb growing out of it. A Goron is nearby, his shadow over the plant.
"Hey, that must be the Bomb Flower!" Malon points.
"So, it is what it is," Link examines. "A flower… with a Bomb."
"That is correct," the Goron said, standing up. "I'm standing here to shade the Bomb Flower from the sun. Do you two want to ask me any questions?"
"Yeah, this Bomb Flower over here. Could you tell us more of it?"
"Yes. Bomb Flowers are 'mining plants' that grow only on this mountain. They usually grow only in dark places, like caves, so Bomb Flowers that grow in a place like this are extremely rare. The Dodongo's Cavern is very dim, so the Bomb Flowers grow crazy in there!"
"So, that's why you're standing here…" Malon nods slowly. "Can we pick it up?"
"I wouldn't recommend doing that, because the fuse will be lit the moment somebody picks it up." the Goron taps the sign next to him. "That's the reason why this sign is here. A natural wonder, yes, but you really shouldn't uproot it. Then again, you two Hylian kids wouldn't be able to lift such a thing."
"Why?"
"It's a bit too heavy. If you have the Goron's Bracelet, it'll be easy for you, since it strengthens the person who wears it."
"Where can we get this Goron's Bracelet?" Link asks.
"I forgot. I think you should ask around in Goron City."
"Okay, we will, then."
Goron City
"Well, this must be Goron City, then." Malon looks around. "Check out all the Gorons!"
The city itself is inside a large cave. Gorons are littered around the many levels of their home. Holes and tunnels leading to goddess-knows-where speckle the cavern. And, on the walls, are paintings made by the Gorons and maybe the ones before them.
"Oh… I'm so hungry…" a Goron nearby moans.
"Then, get something to eat, then!" Malon advises to this dumb complaint. "Eat your food, er, rocks, or whatever."
"I wish I could. But, I can't. You see everybody here?"
"They look a bit… dazed…" Link observes.
"Everyone feels faint from hunger because of the food shortage in this town." the Goron then holds his stomach. "We are in danger of extinction!"
"So, why can't you just eat the rocks around you?" Malon sees the simplest answer.
"We can't. It's not nutritious, nor delicious, so it doesn't help. And, it's our home. The only rocks we can eat aren't here." the Goron shakes his head to relieve his vision. "This food shortage… It's all because we can't enter our quarry, the Dodongo's Cavern."
"So, that's your… feeding place?" Link puts together.
"I wouldn't call it as rude as that, but yes, it's a place where Gorons eat. All rocks. It's the Goron's diet." the Goron's eyes now have the same look as Malon's when she knows something's dreamy. "And the most delicious and nutritious rocks around are found in the Dodongo's Cavern! But that seems like ancient history now… We've become such gourmets that we can't stand to eat rocks from anywhere else!"
"Picky, all of ya?" Malon said.
"Call us that if you want, but… we just want those rocks so badly!" a sigh is heard from the Goron. "I want to eat the top sirloin rocks from the Dodongo's Cavern…"
The Goron drools, leaving a big splash underneath his mouth.
"Say… since you are a Goron…" Link starts, "do you happen to know anything about a Spiritual Stone of Fire?"
"Spiritual Stone of Fire? Hmm… I think it's that stone that used to lit up our city. I think it's somewhere on that piece of rock suspended there."
The Goron points to the small, floating island held up in the air by three ropes.
"Thanks, then." Link hurries off.
"You aren't going to-"
But, Link's already on one of the ropes, tight walking his way to the island. Malon sits on the edge, next to the rope, deciding that it's just better to let Link do the hard things.
A Goron and a stand are on the island. The stand seems to have been built to hold something, but nothing's on it. The Goron next to it sees Link and stands up.
"Hey! It's dangerous for a little kid like you to come out here. You might fall down!"
"But, I got here, didn't I?"
"Oh, smart kid, aren't you? If I'm not mistaken, you came out here to eat the red stone! Well, too bad! It's not here!"
"Red stone? Here?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'm not here to eat any stone, much less a red one…"
"What? That's not why you're here?"
"No, I'm looking for the Spiritual Stone of Fire."
"You must mean that delicious-looking red stone that was once displayed here!"
"What happened, then? Why isn't it here?"
"Well, let's see… I think I remember. I was so hungry that I thought it would be OK to just give it one tiny little lick… so I snuck out here. But, it was already gone!"
"Who took it?"
"I think Big Brother did."
"Who?"
"Big Brother! You don't know him?"
"No. I'm new around here."
"Well, Big Brother always says that everyone is after that red stone!"
"Well, where is he?"
"He shut himself up in his room saying, 'I will wait in here for the Royal Family's messengers!'"
"Okay, thanks, then."
"But… how are you going to get off?"
"Easy."
Link jumps from the island to the third floor of the city. Malon jumps down next to him.
"So? Is it there?" Malon asks.
"No. A Goron by the name Big Brother has it. Apparently, he took it because everyone else is trying to get it."
"You don't think…?"
"Yep, I bet Ganondorf tried to get his hand on the Goron's Ruby. He blocked the Goron's food supply because he couldn't get it."
"This Ganondorf sure is smart, I'll give you that."
"Yeah… We've got to get into Big Brother's room and talk to him."
"Where is it?"
"I don't know. But, I do know he's waiting for us."
"How do you know?"
"That Goron said he heard him saying about waiting for the Royal Family's messengers."
"This sounds almost too easy…"
"Probably… Look out!"
Link shoves Malon out of the way of a huge Goron rolling through.
"Hey, watch where you're going, you big lug!" Malon yells after it.
On the second floor, they find a Goron standing next to two unlit torches.
"Hey, sir!" Link greets. "Do you know where Big Brother's room is?"
"Big Brother's room?" the Goron then grabs his stomach. "Ohhh…"
"Are you okay?" Malon asks.
"I'm sorry… I'm so hungry that I can't think about anything but food!"
"Well, okay, then. Do you know where Big Brother's room is?" Link repeats. "He has the Spiritual Stone of Fire."
"Spiritual Stone of Fire? That red stone that was lighting up our city?"
"Is it that bright?" Malon asks, never seeing a stone that bright except Link's Kokiri Emerald.
"Yes… Oh, man, Big Brother Darunia just had to take it away, shutting himself up in his room like that and won't come out."
"Is that his name? Darunia?" Link asks.
"The great Darunia, yes. He's our leader. But still, taking away the Goron's Ruby… Since then, it feels like all the lights in the city have gone out… Everyone seems so… depressed… Say, you two… could you bring fire from Big Brother's room back here? Just light the torches, that's all."
"That's the place we were asking earlier. Where is his room?"
"Down there." the Goron points at bottom floor. "Just find the soft carpet and the entrance should be beyond that."
Behind the giant pot with Goron faces on it is the entrance the Goron pointed out. The thing is, the way is blocked. A door with the symbol of the Gorons shows how completely shut up Darunia is.
"Great… Another door blocking the way." Link rubs his face to relieve stress.
"This carpet… It feels so plush underneath!" Malon shuffles her feet on the entrance's carpet.
Malon lies down on the carpet, stretching herself.
"It's so soft…"
"Come on, Malon. We've got to figure out how to open this door."
"But, it's so soft…"
"I know… But?" Link's hand gestures to the door.
"It's still so soft… I think I'll go to sleep…"
"Have you ever thought what's been on this carpet?"
Malon immediately jumps to her feet.
"Good point," Malon said as she dusts herself.
"We can't push the door… There's no mechanism that can be shot at… Nothing to kill…"
"So, if all else fail, sing, I say!"
"I guess… Zelda's Lullaby can show our connection…"
A play on Zelda's Lullaby, and the door slides open. The two make their way inside to find a Goron who looks a bit overage.
"What the heck!" he exclaims with anger. "Who are you two!"
Not to mention a bit grumpy.
"I'm Link, and this is Malon," Link introduces despite the anger. "We're the messengers of the Royal Family."
Grumpiness turns into great disbelief.
"When I heard the song of the Royal Family, I expected…" Darunia said slowly and with struggle, "some people who are older,but… you two are just little kids!"
"Hey, little kids can do more than you expect, you know!" Malon said with the same anger.
Darunia smacks a hand to his forehead.
"Has Darunia, the big boss of the Gorons, really lost so much status to be treated like this by his Sworn Brother, the King?" Darunia loudly talks to himself, remembering all the things he had to do.
"No…" Link disagrees. "In fact, the King hasn't even sent us… He doesn't even know you're in trouble, I think."
"What! My Sworn Brother didn't…? Then… who are you two sent from!"
"Princess Zelda."
"The daughter of my Sworn Brother? Has Darunia lost THAT much status? ARGH!" Darunia thunders. "Now, I'm REALLY angry! Get out of my face, now!"
"Why do you have to be in such a bad mood?" Malon asks without a tremble.
"WHY? Ancient creatures have infested the Dodongo's Cavern! We've had a poor harvest of our special crop, Bomb Flowers! Starvation and hunger because of the rock shortage!" he booms.
"Okay, then… I see the problems…" Malon said after removing her hands from her ears.
"But… This is a Goron problem! We don't need any help from strangers!"
"But, sir!" Link pleads. "You've gotta let us help!"
"No!"
"Fine, then." Malon differs in thought of Link. "C'mon, fairy boy, let's just get the fire from here and leave…"
Malon and Link both lit a Deku Stick and lit up the torches of the bottom floor. The giant pot suddenly budges and then spins around the floor, making a rather interesting scene.
"What a weird thing the Gorons made of such a pot." Malon sees the object spin around almost aimlessly.
"I guess strangeness is not limited to Hylians…" Link shakes his head.
They both lit the torches on the second floor, lighting up the city greatly.
"Thanks, you two," the Goron next to the torches said. "It's plenty bright here now. Maybe it won't be so depressing here…"
"Anything to help you people." Malon smiles.
"How was Big Brother?"
The two retell their tales to the Goron.
"I see…" the Goron puts a hand to his chin. "I guess Big Brother won't give in that easily."
"Anything that can change his mind?" Link asks.
"I can't think of a way."
Suddenly, Link catches the music coming from… inside the tunnel by the two torches.
"Hey… That song…" Link finds its familiarity in the back of his mind.
"What song?" Malon asks.
"You can't hear it? Stand right here."
"Okay, but I don't know what… Is that Saria's Song?"
"Oh, this music from the end of this tunnel?" the Goron notices. "We all like this music. It's so unique…"
"Is this tunnel connected to somewhere?" Link tries to see beyond the rocks blocking the way.
"I'm not sure."
"So, do you really like this music?" Malon asks.
"Yes. Every Goron, including Big Brother, likes this music very much."
"Hmm… Hey, fairy boy! I think I've got an idea! Let's go back to Darunia's room!"
Darunia isn't still happy to see them. On the contrary, he looks even angrier.
"What are you two still doing here!" he still carries the same booming voice. "I told you that we don't need help from strangers!"
"Why can't you relax?" Malon said with annoyance.
"WHY CAN'T I RELAX! I TOLD YOU WHY! ALL OF THE GORON PROBLEMS ARE NOT MAKING ME RELAX!"
Malon sighs, then whispers into Link's ear.
"Okay, just play Saria's Song right now, you hear me?" Malon suggests.
"Why?"
"I think it'll help relax Darunia."
"How would-"
"Hey, every Goron likes the song. Darunia must like it too, right?"
"Right…" Link nods slowly.
Saria's Song is heard echoing throughout the Goron City, filling every Goron's mind with ease. They don't worry about their hunger; they just want to listen. Darunia, however, has this urge inside him. An urge that shakes his head like a rattle. An urge to…
"WHOO!" Darunia starts to boogie. "Oh, yeah!"
What in the world… Malon thought as she sees the big, angry Goron dances to the beat of Saria's Song.
"Mmm! Yeah, shake that booty! Shake it! Uh-huh!"
Link and Malon starts to back away slowly, just backing away from the boogieing Goron… the hip-hop Goron that used to be angry…
"Oh! Oh-oh! C'mon! Come on!"
This should be the illustration of 'strange' in my dictionary… Link thought. No, 'freaky'…
"Ha ha! Whoo! HOT! What a hot beat! WHOOOOAH! YEEEEAH! YAHOOO!"
Darunia stops with a hard stomp, ending his boogie.
"Heeey!" Darunia grins widely. "What a nice tune! Just like that, my depression is all gone! Something just came over me! I suddenly wanted to dance like crazy!"
"Great…" Link nervously grins back. "We're just glad to help get rid of your depression."
"So, um…" Malon gestures.
"Oh… Well, I am Darunia!" he pounds his chest with a fist. "I'm the big boss of the Gorons! Was there something you wanted to ask me about earlier?"
"Um, Darunia… could we…" Link stands up straight, "have the Spiritual Stone of Fire?"
"What? You two want it, too?"
"Yes." Malon nods. "That's all we're asking."
"The Goron's Ruby is our race's hidden treasure, if you have to know…"
"We still need it nevertheless, Mister!"
"Hold on! I'm not going to give it to you two that easily. If you want it so badly…"
Darunia crosses his arms.
"Why don't you two go destroy the monsters inside of the Dodongo's Cavern and prove you're worth it?"
"Done." Link nods.
"Fairy boy…" Malon drags Link off to a corner.
"What now, Malon?"
"Destroy the monsters in that cave?" Malon whispers. "You can't seriously think we'll do that just for the Goron's Ruby…"
"Why not? It doesn't look like we have any other choice."
"Oh? And what choices do we have?"
"Well, let the Gorons die from hunger and Ganondorf will easily get the Spiritual Stone of Fire from them… Or, clear their quarry for them to eat and harvest those Bomb Flowers… I think the second choice will get us the Goron's Ruby much faster and maybe easier?"
A sigh hits Link's ear. "Fine." Malon sees no other way. "Clear the monsters in the Dodongo's Cavern. But, make sure you're careful in there, okay?"
"I can't say the same for you."
"Whatever. I'm gonna be fine, you just watch."
Malon and Link walk back to Darunia.
"Look, everybody will be happy again if you just destroy the monsters in that cavern, okay?" Darunia points out. "If you do it, I will give you anything you want, even the Spiritual Stone.
"Right, Mister!" Malon nods. "We'll do it for the Spiritual Stone!"
"Thank you. Before you go, I have something for you."
Darunia hands them two bracelets, each marked with the symbol of the Gorons.
"I'm not really giving you this in return for anything, but take it anyway."
"What are these, sir?" Link observes the shiny, yellow bracelet.
"These are our specially made Goron's Bracelets. They will increase your strength when you wear them. Makes you little kids strong enough to even pick up Bomb Flowers."
"Thanks, sir."
"Now, do as you said. Destroy those monsters!"
Death Mountain Trail
Link puts on his Goron's Bracelet, comforting it around his right wrist. He can feel invigorating energy striking through his wrist and into his muscles. Not entirely the strength of a Goron, he figures, but still stronger than his usual self.
"Hey, this feels great!" Link said as he stretches his arms in the air. "C'mon, Malon, try it!"
"It looks a little too much to try it on."
"It's not so bad. Actually, it's good."
"Well, if you say so…"
Malon puts on her bracelet, feeling the same energy as Link. Like that, she feels strong enough to take down anybody, like a certain boy she knows…
"Oh… It's good, all right. But, I really don't care that much about extra strength," Malon lies.
"Okay, now the issue to open the entrance of the Dodongo's Cavern."
Link walks up to the Bomb Flower on the edge of the cliff nearby, where the same Goron is still shading it.
"Well, we can't run down the trail." Malon remembers the Goron that did that. "It'll take too long."
"Hmm…"
"Hey, how does this work again? Do you just grab the Bomb Flower?"
"Yeah."
"So, if I just do it like so…"
Malon uproots the Bomb Flower, setting off its fuse. Link stares in a scene of insanity.
"Oh, it's so easy to pick up this Bomb Flower…" Malon said, holding the Bomb over her head.
"Malon…"
"What?"
"It's… the Bomb's lit…"
"WHAT!"
"Throw it! Throw it somewhere!"
"WHERE!"
"ANYWHERE BUT HERE!"
Malon frantically scans the area, but the fuse is about to-
"JUST THROW IT!"
Malon tosses the Bomb over the cliff, making it land perfectly next to the boulder blocking the Dodongo's Cavern entrance. Next second, an explosion is heard. Link peers over the edge, seeing a clearing where the boulder should be.
"Hey, Malon… I wouldn't mind you being the smart one from now on…"