Chapter 7: March Of The Gorons
disclaimer: Zelda and all characters of the game are property of Nintendo. In no way do I expect to get paid for this.
A few goblin soldiers stood in front of a large cave entrance, pacing about the area. One was sharpening his sword with a rock while the others socialized. Suddenly from above, an arrow darted its way toward the one tending to his blade, puncturing his head and sending him to the ground. The other goblins searched the skies and one of them went inside shouting out to the other soldiers inside. The goblins that remained outside found nothing on the high rocks above them. After a few minutes, many goblin foot soldiers ran outside charged for battle. Above them, dozens of Goron soldiers stood looking down upon the enemy goblin horde. They were surrounded. The Gorons shouted their war cry and threw many small bombs at the goblins. The enemy tried to retreat back inside. As they did, the Gorons ran down the rocky hills and charged their enemy. Among them was Link and Darmani. They attacked their enemy with great force, showing no mercy. Link and Darmani made their way to a secret entrance and entered the cave, leaving behind the Goron soldiers to fight the goblins.
Darmani guided Link through the massive cave with haste. As they made their way into a room with torches to give it light, a metal gate dropped form the entrance and five man-sized reptilic creatures dropped from the high ceiling. They all had large blades to fight with and would screech at Link and Darmani. Link readied his sword and shield while Darmani held his hammer and battle ax. Two of the green lizard men charged at Link while the other three ran towards Darmani. Link swung his sword at the right lizard man, delivering a vertical slash at the chest of the vile creature. As it screeched its death cry, Link quickly raised his shield to defend against the other's sword. Link then traded attacks with the lizard man, both striking hard and fast.
Darmani swung his ax at the three lizards, connecting with the head of one of them which decapitated it. He then spun around and collided his hammer with another lizard, knocking it down. The third snuck up behind him and swung its blade at his armored back, bouncing the blade back. Darmani dropped his ax and grabbed the foolish lizard man's throat. He then tightened his grasp to the point of crushing neck of the lizard, causing blood to ooze out of its mouth. All of the sudden, the once knocked down lizard pounced on his back and began biting at his shoulder. Darmani grabbed the lizard and threw it to the ground. He then charged with his hammer and delivered a powerful blow to the face of the lizard, killing it instantly.
Link defended another blow from the fast lizard man with his shield. He then quickly delivered a vertical slice at the wrist of the over grown reptile, chopping off the hand that carried its sword. The lizard dropped to his knees and Link swung his sword at the neck of it, chopping off its head and claiming Link the victor.
They looked around the room for anymore enemies and saw that there were no others. Link sheeted his sword and latched his shield to his back. Darmani picked up his ax and walked up to a barricaded wall. He then swung his weapons at the wall with great force, causing the wall to crumble. Link grabbed a torch and followed Darmani into a tunnel. They heard a voice talking in the distance. They stopped to listen to what the voice was saying.
"Stay here and watch over the entrance to Volvagia's chamber," said one of the guards. "I'm going to make sure the intruders are dead."
Link drew out his bow and waited for the guard to appear. As soon as the goblin guard appeared at the end of the dark tunnel, Link fired an arrow at his throat to keep his death silent.
Link and Darmani then quickly made their way through the tunnel and Link fired another arrow at the remaining guard. As Link attempted to open the chamber door, Darmani placed his hand on Link's shoulder. Link loosened his grip on the door knob and faced Darmani.
"What troubles you," asked Link.
"The guard mentioned the name Volvagia. If he spoke the truth, then a great evil awaits behind that door. A giant, fire breathing dragon thought to have been destroyed a long time ago."
Link turned his gaze to the door. "If that is what's behind this door, then it must be stopped. It must not be aloud to leave this mountain alive." Darmani readied his weapons and Link kicked down the door.
The chamber was massive and extremely hot. Link and Darmani cautiously crossed a bridge that led to a rocky land mass surrounded by a moat of lava. When they crossed the bridge, it was raised so that they could not escape, causing Link to draw out his sword out of reflex. They both turned around again at the sound of a thundering roar above them. They looked up and a giant snake-like creature appeared from the shadows, flying through the air without visible wings. Its red scaly body reached thirty feet in length and it had two small arms with large claws. It had two large horns upon its hard head crest, and flame flowed above its neck like a horse's mane.
Volvagia landed on the rocky surface and slithered its way towards the two warriors, growling at them to intimidate them. Link ran towards the gigantic dragon with his sword and shield ready. Volvagia threw a horizontal swipe at Link, one that Link rolled under. Link then leaped at the dragon's head to perform a vertical slice. Volvagia lowered its head so the blade would hit its head crest, bouncing the blade back and causing Link to fall to the ground. Before he could get up, Link was pinned to the ground by Volvagia's left paw. The dragon then opened its mouth in an attempt to eat Link but was stopped when Darmani hit its head with his war hammer, causing it to let go of Link. Link got up as Volvagia began to fly in the air. Link dropped his sword and drew out his bow, firing arrows at the beast's under belly. Only a few arrows hit the dragon. Link was an excellent marksman, but Volvagia was a swift and agile flyer. He fired his last arrow at the dragon and then picked up his blade. Volvagia then took a deep breath.
"WATCH OUT!" shouted Darmani as he rolled away. Link raised his shield as the beast launched a stream of fire at him.
Link held his ground as the dragon continued its attack until finally, Darmani threw his ax at the shoulder of Volvagia. The dragon fell to the ground and Link quickly charged the massive beast. Darmani was the first to strike by colliding his war hammer with the dragon's head, causing it to flinch. Link drove his sword into the heart of the beast and Darmani removed his ax from its shoulder. The dragon roared in agony until it was silenced by the removal of its head by Darmani's ax. The dragon's body flopped about the land mass for a moment until it finally went limp.
Darmani looked at Link, who was covered in sweat and dirt and breathing heavily. He approached the brave Hylian and put his hand on Link's shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Link nodded at him with a smirk. "Never in my time have I seen such bravery," said Darmani. "You are a true warrior." Darmani kneeled down. "You have helped save the people of this mountain. I am eternally grateful for your valor. Until the day I die, you will always be my sworn brother."
Link placed his hand upon Darmani's shoulder. "Thank you, Darmani. Let us make haste to the cave's entrance. The battle's outside."
"Ay!" said Darmani as he rose to his feet. Link pulled out an arrow from the dead dragon and fired it at the ropes of the draw bridge. Darmani took the creature's head and they left the great chamber.
Outside the cave, the Gorons rejoiced in victory as the remaining goblins fled down the mountain. Link and Darmani emerged from the cave's entrance and shouted in victory as Darmani held the head of Volvagia in the air.
The Gorons joined their victory shout and Darunia held his son in a fatherly embrace. "Well done, my boy. You have saved the city and have once again proven your valor."
"Give thanks to Link, dear father. Without him, you would have lost a son."
Darunia looked upon Link. "I thank you, Sir Knight, for your courage. Come with me to my chamber to receive your just reward. Come men! Let us make way to the city!" The Goron soldiers shouted their war cry and headed back to the mine city.
In the throne room, Darmani presented a small chest to his father. Darunia opened the chest to reveal a small red pendant. "I give you the sacred Pendant of Power, our race's most prized possession. Take it with you so it may serve a greater purpose in your hands."
Darunia took the pendant necklace and put it around Link's neck. "Let this day be remembered as the day we conquered our enemies and regained our land from the goblin horde!"
The Gorons behind Link shouted their war cry and Link bowed his head to Darunia.
"Where to now, valiant knight," asked Darunia. "What can we do to help your cause?"
"I go to collect the two remaining pendants," said Link. "My only request is that you be ready to fight for King Daphnes Nohansen, if he should call upon you."
"We will fight for your King to the death. You have my word."
Darmani stepped forward. "I go with the Knight. He is now my sworn brother, and I shall aid him in his quest."
He looked at his father, who gave him a bright smile of approval. They hugged each other and the two warriors were on their way.