A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

A Pair of Time

Chapter 41- Bolero of Fire, Part 1

Lon Lon Ranch; Day

"Dad… Please… just try to work harder," Malon pleads to Talon.

Our young heroes decided that maybe one last visit to Lon Lon Ranch before the seven-year travel has to be called to order. So, they refreshed themselves at the farm, remembering the good times (even those in the future), and have some fun playing around since Malon and Link are back to being their ten-year old selves.

However, time flies, and soon, it is time to go.

"Of course I will!" Talon replies to this strange request. "After all, that's what got this ranch goin', didn't it?"

"I know… but, work hard anyway. And don't be so lazy, Dad. Go to sleep earlier."

"What's all of this? I'm fine by myself, Malon. Why do you suddenly hafta tell me what to do?"

"Well… it's… it's for the better. You know… When I return?"

"I can take care of myself, sweetie. You hafta worry about takin' care of yourself."

"I'm okay. I've been through a lot. I just hope that you're okay, too, Dad."

"I will."

"And… take care of Epona, okay, Dad?"

"She'll be fine and dandy when you come back."

"Thanks, Dad." Malon gives her father a hug.

Just then, Link comes in riding on Epona.

"Hey, I think Epona is good to be ride on." Link strokes her neck. "She's strong and fast enough, don't you think?"

"She's staying here, fairy boy," Malon said sternly.

"Really? Aw, great."

He lowers himself from Epona to the ground.

"Well, Mr. Talon, we have to be going now," Link said as he shakes his tunic.

"You two be careful, alright?" Talon said.

"Don't worry a thing, Dad! We're fine!" Malon then strides over to Epona. "And you, too, Epona. Be good here, okay, while I'm gone?" Malon asks while she caresses Epona's face.

The colt lets out a small snort, then nuzzles Malon in the face.

"Okay, then!" Malon lets go of Epona, heading for the ranch's entrance. "Bye, Epona! Bye, Dad! See you… um, later!"

Temple of Time

"Right, so if we could go backwards in time…" Link recalls as he treads over to the Master Sword, "we could go forward…"

"Easy enough," Malon said.

Link puts his hands around the hilt of the fabled blade, feeling its familiar energy. It hums mysteriously, and seems to vibrate in his hands. Even though he knows this feeling already, it still feels new. His left arm drags as he feels Malon's arms around it.

"Okay, pull it!" Malon yells.

"Urgh! Huh? Hey, it won't budge!"

"What?"

"It won't move!"

"It won't move? WHAT? You can't pull the Master Sword out?"

"No."

"But… But… that means we're stuck here!" Malon begins to panic. "That means we hafta wait for seven years before… And also, without the Master Sword, we can't-"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

"What?"

"I was just playing around. I didn't even pull on the blade for one thing. I just thought that maybe a little humor could-"

SLAP!

"Ow!" Link finds a burning in his cheek from Malon's slap.

"Do you know how serious this is, Link?" Malon snaps. "If you can't pull the sword out, that would have been a big problem!"

"You didn't have to slap me for it."

"Well… I was panicking from your joke."

"Right. Anyway… hold on."

With that being said, Link pulls the sacred blade from its pedestal. Like before, the blue light encompasses the two, swallowing them in an eternal white light. Again, Malon and Link's bodies float in vacuum as they feel it change into something else. Like a dream, they leave the light in a daze, seven years later. They've grown back into seventeen-year olds. Link, finding the Master Sword in his hand, kneels down as Time Sickness gives its course on him. A sound of a collapsing body next to him gives word that Malon isn't doing too well, either.

"Okay…" Link pants a little. "Where to now?"

"I have no clue…" Malon replies.

"I do." Navi appears above them. "You remember those clouds over Death Mountain at this year?"

"Yeah… They were… sorta red, right? Like they're… on fire?"

"Strange, no? Let's check it out. Ganondorf may have done something on Death Mountain already…"

Goron City; Night

It took them long enough, but Link and Malon made it up to the famous city of the rock-eating cave people. Death Mountain, even though anybody can clearly see the unusual red clouds, still has the same features. Although, more rocks are around, mostly red, and boulders coming from nowhere are tumbling down the mountain at dangerous intervals. Still, Link and Malon successfully found their way through.

The indoor city of the Gorons is still the same, too. Great carvings, old and new, cover the place. Stairs still are accessible to reach certain levels. Holes leading to somewhere in the mountain are around. The bad thing? No Gorons.

Well, maybe except a small one rolling around on the third floor.

"I won't let you get me!" the Goron cries. "You probably work for Ganondorf!" it spins around quickly and rolls in the other direction, away from Malon and Link.

"Now, just hold on a minute," Malon said. "Since when do we look like Ganondorf's men?"

"You tell me…" Link shrugs.

"I mean, we don't even dress the part of big, evil, and dark."

"Stereotype," Navi concludes. "I'm telling ya, the world is so stereotypical."

"Judging a book by its cover."

"What?"

"Nothing, fairy boy… So, what, maybe we should stop him?"

"Bomb?"

"Okay, but you're handling it."

"It's not so scary. Just drop a Bomb and run."

"Well, anything that goes boom ain't what I do. I leave it for you."

Link rolls his eyes. He picks up a Bomb Flower nearby and drops it where it would explode just as the Goron comes within range. Just like he predicted, the Bomb gives the Goron a shock and stops him.

"How could you do this to me?" the Goron yells a second later. "You, you two are Ganondorf's servants!" the Goron uncurls itself, revealing his small body to them. "Hear my name and tremble! I am Link! Hero of the Gorons!"

"Whoa, whoa…" the real Link gives a look, making his way up to the Goron Link. "Did you say your name is Link?"

"Yes, infidels!" he roars, throwing his arms up. "I am the courageous Link! You shall not stand before my might!"

"Look, um…" Malon struggles for a second. "'Link,' my friend over here just happens to have your name."

"What?" Goron Link rears his head back a little. He takes a second glance at the real Link. "Your name is also Link?"

"Um, yeah." Link nods.

"Then…" Goron Link stares at the real Link's clothes, amazed by the similarity of it to what he's thinking, "you must be the legendary Dodongo Buster and Hero, Link!"

"Uh… Dodongo Buster?" one of his brows rises.

Goron Link turns his gaze over to Malon. "And… And… you must be the other Dodongo Buster and Hero, Malon!"

"… Sure…" Malon slowly accepts the title. "Dodongo Buster and Hero, Malon."

"My dad is Darunia… Do you remember him?" Goron Link asks.

"Yes," Link answers. "He's our Sworn Brother, if I remember correctly."

"Dad named me Link after you, because you're so brave!"

"Oh."

"It's a cool name! I really like it!"

"Really?" he couldn't see how his rare name could be so neat.

"Yeah! Link, Malon, you two are heroes to us Gorons! I'm so glad to meet the both of you! Please give me your autographs! Sign it: To our friend, Link of the Gorons."

"A… A… Autographs?"

"Look, Link…" Malon starts.

"Yeah, Mal?"

"Not you, fairy boy. The other Link."

"Yes?" the Goron Link perks up.

"Where's… Where's everybody?"

"Oh… That… I guess it's not a good time to ask you for the autographs… Malon, Link, please help everyone! My dad, Darunia, went to the Fire Temple. A dragon is inside!"

"Dragon?" repeats Link.

"Yes, yes! If we don't hurry up, even my dad will be eaten by the dragon!"

"Whoa, slow down!" Malon commands. "Your dad went to the Fire Temple? And there's a dragon inside?"

"Yes! He's going to be eaten!"

Goron Link begins to sniff, then couldn't control himself as he starts to sob.

"Calm down!" Link said. "We're not going to get anything done if you're crying. First of all, about this dragon… What can you tell us about it?"

"The dragon…" Goron Link stops sobbing, but his body now shakes greatly. "A long time ago there was an evil dragon named Volvagia living in this mountain. That dragon was very scary! He ate Gorons!"

"Ate… Gorons?" Malon's head tilts a little. A dragon that eats these people? Must have a good digestive system or something.

"Uh-huh! Volvagia eats Gorons! But, the hero of the Gorons back then destroyed it!"

"How?" Link continues to ask.

"Using a huge hammer… BOOOM!"

"Hammer?"

"A hammer! Destroyed it just like that. This is a myth from long ago, but it's true! I know, because my dad is a descendant of the hero!"

"What about the Gorons?" Malon switches topic. "What happened to them?"

"Everybody was taken to the Fire Temple…"

"Taken? By who?"

"Ganondorf! While my dad was out… Ganondorf's followers came and took them all away! All of them will be eaten by Volvagia!"

"Darn it!" Malon curses. "If we don't get there soon, it maybe too late!"

"But, Link, how did Volvagia come back?" the real Link asks.

"Dad said that Ganondorf has revived Volvagia…"

"Figures," Malon said.

"As a warning to those who might oppose him, Ganondorf is going to feed them all to Volvagia!"

"What about your dad?"

"He went to the Fire Temple all by himself to try to save everyone…"

"Fairy boy, we know what we gotta do, right?"

"Right," Link replies. "Help our Sworn Brother save the Gorons before Volvagia gets to them."

"You would help them, right?" Goron Link asks.

"Sure, we will!" Malon nods. "We're not gonna let anything bad happen to them."

"Thank you! I don't know how I could help, but I'll give you this heat-resistant tunic and dress!"

Goron Link pulls out a red tunic, along with a dress of the same color.

"Heat-resistant what now?" Malon stares at the garments after she takes them.

"We make these Goron Tunics and Dresses for Hylians who are going to hot places. Mostly Death Mountain Crater," Goron Link explains. "It can stand up to the heated air near the lava very easily! It just feels like normal when you go in there!"

"How… convenient," Link compliments.

"Here, let me slide the doors down there open."

Somehow, Goron Link manages to make the carved doors open with an unnoticeable switch somewhere.

"Dad told me not to let anybody follow him into the temple, but… only you, Link and Malon, can save everyone! I'm sure that the shop owner down there will help you, and that Medigoron over there can help you also!" Goron Link said.

"Thanks," Malon expresses her gratitude. "By the way, how do we get to the Fire Temple?"

"There's a secret passage to it. Try to move the statue inside Dad's room!"

"Thank you, Link," the real Link expresses his gratitude. "We promise we'll get the Gorons back here safely. Don't worry about a thing."

"Okay, Link! Save everyone, and come back safely, too!"

Death Mountain Crater

After a preparation of supplies (plus a very expensive Giant's Knife by Medigoron, finally done after some long years) and donning of the Goron-made clothes, the two moved the statue mentioned by Goron Link, and found the steamy, choking air of Death Mountain Crater rushing in through the opening. The red garments are insulated enough, as they found out, to halt any intense heat to move through them. But, the material those are made out of somehow let hot body air flow through the clothing outward and set the cool air in. Very comfy, and it still has the same versatility of their same old clothes.

"Well, I can see why Goron clothes are expensive," Malon comments. "But, I don't understand why you have to buy that Giant's Knife."

"It's… a two-handed sword," Link explains simply, as if he could make it clear with just that sentence. "Can't get any better than that."

"Uh-huh… And how is a two-handed sword better than a one-handed?"

"More… power… okay?"

"… Nope. Don't see the point when you can just be satisfied with the Master Sword."

Link sighs. "It's a swordsman thing. You wouldn't understand…"

"Then, why did we spend all our money on it?"

"Because…"

"… Right… Because?" Malon eyes him curiously.

"… Because."

"Thought so. Wasting away all our money on that piece of weapon that I think could break. How did I agree to letting you buy that thing?"

"You didn't. I brought it while you were changing."

"Oh, right. And I smashed your foot after that because you didn't consult me."

"Painfully, yes."

"Why can't I buy nice things for myself?"

"Well, you never bother to buy them. How was I supposed to know you wanted to buy things for yourself?"

Soon, they reach a wooden bridge. A wooden bridge in a volcano just hanging meters above the bubbling lava below. Utmost strange. And the bridge is out, because it's disconnected ahead several centimeters.

"Great. Now, what?" Malon peers over the edge, grimly looking down at the orange, glowing liquid lake below.

"Hookshot."

"… Hookshot? Over this?"

"I won't let us fall. After all, my life is on the line, too."

"You better not. Else…"

"… That was pretty stupid to start with."

"Oh, shut up."

With Malon holding onto him, Link fires his springy gadget at the first beam above the other side of the bridge. Crossing the gap, Malon almost lost her grip midway. Luckily, Link's other arm is held nice and tight around her slender waist.

"Eek!" she quietly lets out when they reached the other side.

"… Was that a shriek?"

"… No."

"Hmm…"

It's times like these that something should just break up the moment. And today, their something is Sheik mysteriously landing at the far end of the bridge. He walks forward, skipping his greeting towards Malon and Link.

"It is something that grows over time…" he begins, "a true friendship. A feeling in the heart that becomes even stronger over time…"

He pauses, keeping his eyes on them. But, unnoticeable to their eyes, he lets a small smile emerge behind his cover.

"Um, yeah…" Malon nods slowly. "I guess… our bond with Darunia hasn't gone stale, has it? We still share our sworn oaths to each other."

"Yes, it is in a way as you put it. Friendship, no matter with who, will grow as long as the people stay true to one another… Grow as close… as close as my vision can see."

That sentence strikes Link with embarrassment as he realizes Malon hasn't let go of him. With a little touch to her foot, Malon realizes this, too, and they both let go of each other. Quickly, they straighten themselves.

"Ah-hem," Link clears his throat. "We apologize for that."

"… I would not be as so disapproving of your… discountenance," Sheik contradicts. "What you have after all is a resolute virtue you and Malon share with persevere, no?"

"… Sheik?" Malon almost couldn't control her mouth from opening wide. "What…?"

"… The passion of friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power and through it, you will know which way to go…" Sheik then pulls out his harp, reflecting the yellow and orange colors below. "This song is dedicated to the power of the heart… Listen to the Bolero of Fire…"

In the mist of the volcano's earthly sounds, a loud, marching music from the harp bounces off the lava and rides the hot air up and down. The crater cast back the rhythm of the song, striking the waves of the Ocarina of Time and Malon's voice just as they hover in the air. Again, the rhythm hits the crater's wall, then continues back for another performance by the three melodious sounds. It lets the lava's hot air levitate the music up, then slows down to a decrescendo as it falls back.

"Malon, Link… I'll see you again…"

"Oh, no, you don't!" Malon quickly reacts. "You're not just gonna let us do this by ourselves!"

She dashes forwards, but abruptly stops as a wall of fire that spurted from the bridge blocks her. Link and Malon watch uselessly as Sheik steps back a few paces, then disappears with a flash.

"Damn!" Malon, after the fire died down, examines the spot Sheik has just left. "And I thought I was going to get him this time."

"A bit too bad." Link shrugs, then walks past her towards a metal structure that signifies the Fire Temple's entrance. "C'mon, let's get in and get this over with."