Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

Chapter 15 - Volvagia

"Saria… you know a lot of things, right?" Said a little blond boy, hacking and slashing in the air with his wooden make-shift sword. "I mean, you're the smartest person I know."

"Heheh, that doesn't mean much. You don't know a lot of people." The green-haired girl giggled in her reply, forcing a little pout in her friend's chubby face. "Don't pout Link. If you want to ask something, I swear I will listen properly."

Clumsily swinging his little sword, Link gave his only friend a long glance. After considering if she would truly hear him seriously or just find something to tease him with, Link stabbed the tip of his weapon on the grass and sat with his legs crossed.

"I… hm… I found this book…" Link began, fiddling with his fingers as he trailed along with his words.

Saria tried to hold in, but her giggles escaped past her lips. Her reaction making Link frown lightly. "To think we would live to a day where Link is interested in books."

"Saria! I'm serious here." Link cried out, his little glare only pushing his green-haired friend to laugh even louder.

"Sorry, sorry." She waved one hand at him.

Puffing air out angrily, Link folded his arms close to his chest. "Anyway… in this book. I read about a… kneght… no, it's… ahhhh…. It was a man in armor that fights with a sword."

"A Knight." Saria corrected him.

"Yes! That!" Link beamed. "It was very boring, most of it. But there was something he said all the time. When he was tired or hurt, he always mentioned it."

"And you're confused about it?" She asked. "What is troubling your little head?"

Raising his bright blue eyes to his friend, Link chewed on his lower lip for a while but made his mind with a little nod. "Saria… what is love?"

For all the silly things and questions Link had asked her from the years she has known him; this was the first time the little blond boy managed to rob Saria of her words.

Blinking at him a few times, she tried to weigh his question. As simple as it sounded, the deeper meaning of that single word made her pause and consider for a few silent seconds.

"Hm… Love. Love is a sentiment present inside of every living being. Most of the time is subtle, sometimes is loud and bright." Pressing one finger to her lips, Saria let her eyes trail to the verdant color of the leaves hovering far high in the branches of Kokiri's large trees. "Love is one of the most powerful emotions in life. It can push you past your limits to achieve even the impossible."

Link's cerulean eyes sparkled with interest, his boundless curiosity guiding his mind to a proxy topic.

"That sounds weird but cool at the same time." He said back with a little giggle. "You said love is one of the most powerful emotions. There are others?"

Saria glanced back at him, a faint shadow of memories showing in her sapphire eyes. "Hatred…" She mused a bit too loudly, not sure if she wanted to branch into this topic. But one look onto Link's quirked eyebrow and she knew he wouldn't lay it to rest. "Hate is almost a rival to Love. Equal in its power over people. Someone filled with hatred can become ruthless… unstoppable. But hatred also blinds them to everything else. Lost in it, one would not hesitate to harm even people they like."

Clearly oblivious to the deeper meaning of his friend's words, Link just looked down to his hands resting on his lap. He clenched the right one and spread the left one open; taking turns to look from one to the other.

"Love and Hatred…" He said quietly. "There is a way to tell which is stronger? I mean, nothing can be as strong as the strongest right?"

Saria couldn't help but giggle at Link's childish reasoning. Always trying to compare things on a power scale, like every other boy tries to do. "Emotions are not as simple as that. You can't put a number on them or measure which one is tougher. Like you try to do with Mido every day."

"He's the one bullying me every day!" Link protested very loudly.

His little outburst was mostly ignored as Saria just shook her head and continued. "But to answer your question in a way you would understand. It depends on which sentiment your heart leans on. If you are full of love, then hatred is null. The same can be said on the other way around. In the end, it is your choice which one is stronger."

"Love or Hatred…" Link looked down at his hands again, this time opening his right hand to mirror his left one. "If I can choose, I would choose Love… I think."

Leaning closer to her small friend, Saria giggled and tapped her finger against the tip of his nose. "Then, in your heart hatred has already lost."

"Over here!" Vahn yelled pointing at the narrow opening at the end of the hallway. "Put those skinny legs of yours to work, we don't have time to waste here!"

Ordering the Gorons around, he is doing his best to get these people out from the temple and away from the dangers that lurkers in here. However, despite how urgent and terrible this situation in its feel, his agitated tone and angst look on his face is due to their overwhelming worry over his blue-eyed friend.

"MOVE ALREADY!" The poor frightened Gorons got startled even further after Vahn's heated shout.

Growing very anxious with their pacing, Vahn is getting more and more upset. However, before he could shout or try to push the group of Goron past the small hall, a firm hand grasped him by the shoulder.

"Stop yelling at them." Sheik warned sternly.

"But if we keep wasting time here!" Vahn tried to counter.

"Vahn, it is not their fault. They are just scared; we can't keep adding to their stress." Looking forward to the group of tall yellowish people walking up the stairs, Sheik narrowed his eyes. "We… we just have to trust him. Link asked us to save the Gorons and that's what we can do now."

"But… I…" Vahn sighed, his gaze shifting downwards to the broken ground beneath his feet. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare them. Is just that we may have left Link with a burden he can't carry on his own."

Sheik had to use every inch of self-control to refrain himself from nodding along with those words. He knows that if for any reason he comes to regret his decision, it will only push him to make an even worse one.

"If I've learned anything about Link, is that he can carry so much on his shoulders. Much more than anyone would give him credit for." Even if Sheik is saying this to Vahn, he is trying to convince his mind just as much. "Just trust him."

Looking back up to his friend reassuring red-eyes, Vahn felt a small amount of relief taking the dread weighing on his chest. The shadow of a small but sincere smile appearing on his lips.

But then the world around them shook with a devastating quake. One blasting sound echoing from within the ground, as if the mountain itself roared loudly in rage.

Not soon after, another crushing quake assaulted the walls and floor, sweeping Vahn out of his feet.

"W-W-WHAT NOW?!" Vahn yelled in shock, doing his best to try and get back on his feet.

Giant pieces of stones came crashing down from the ceiling, dotting this floor with small points of pure destruction.

With wide eyes almost fleeing out from their sockets, Sheik grabbed onto Vahn and helped his companion back up.

"We have to move." He stated almost in a panic. "The temple is collapsing onto itself."

Grabbing tight onto the Sheikah's robes, Vahn yelped in distress as a large boulder collapsed right beside them. "Why is everything just getting worse. Link... We have to find him."

Sheik couldn't agree more, at least his heart couldn't. His rational mind on the other end. "We can't. Right now we have to move these people away from this mess."

Vahn was ready to fight back, but the thundering sound of part of the entire ceiling falling made him gulp down his words and just frown.

Hugging very closely the form of his blond friend, Vahn could only help and be helped by Sheik as they hushed out from this middle floor.

Not soon after their crossed the section to the other floor, the room behind them collapsed in a storm of stones and fire.

Covered by dust and bruises, Sheik and Vahn finally reached the main room of the Fire Temple. Cruising the burning chaos that has become this place was a challenge that even the young Sheikah barely had enough wits and energy to overcome.

But after one of the most excruciating and panic-filled minutes of his life, they crossed the final door leading to the three giant statues on the entrance.

"Is that the rest of them?" Vahn pointed to the large number of Gorons waiting at the entrance, receiving their brother with crushing hugs as the group Sheik and Vahn led run down the stairs.

Following after the weeping rock people down the steps, the duo eagerly asked the Gorons about the whereabouts of the Hero; Their high hopes however soon faded when some of them traded glances and looked very sad afterward.

"We saw Link, The Hero. Yes, we did!" One of them replied.

"He saved us from the cages. They were burning hot, even for us." Said another one.

"But he didn't come back with us. The hero went after the legendary hammer. He asked where to find it…" A third Goron said and the fourth soon followed.

"We didn't know. Not exactly. There are only rumors, that the sacred hammer rests at the top of the temple. Above the heart of the mountain."

A fifth stepped forward, an older-looking Goron, his white hair a lot longer than his younger brothers. "Up the hero traveled. Claimed the hammer perhaps. But an honorary Goron he is, not a real one. I feel that the spirits are angry. The whole mountain is responding… Ohh… what will happen to us?"

In what has become a bit of a habit for them, Sheik and Vahn traded a concerned glance with one another. The red-haired boy looking very distressed and scared in his expression; the blond Sheikah as composed as ever, but a small hint of worry curling his brown.

Still ranging and thrashing wildly, the old temple gave no quarters for anyone to settle in and think. This last haven inside the burning walls soon turned into the same mayhem the rest of this place has transformed itself into.

Bursting out in a furious explosion, the middle giant in the set of statues broke into pieces as fire and lava poured out from the hole behind the wall.

"W-We have to leave…" Sheik said with his heart sinking to the ground. "It's not safe to linger here any longer."

Vahn was ready to voice the loudest 'But' he has ever uttered, when another forceful quake assaulted the mountain, startling the Gorons out to the exit.

"At this rate, the entire Death Mountain will blow up," Vahn stated in shock. "The Gorons, Master, and Ledhal… Even Kakariko. Everything will be swallowed by lava."

"However, there is little we can do," Sheik said back, almost startling his friend with how cold he appears to be despite the urgency of the situation. "This place… it's different from Hyrule as you and I know it. This is a sacred temple, one of the seven temples made by the goddesses. I feel… I feel as if this aftermath you detailed just now; hangs on the outcome of the Hero's Trial."

"Then… if Link fails…"

Sheik looked down onto Vahn's green eyes and smiled ever so faintly. "Let's hope and pray that he doesn't."

Gently pressing one hand at Vahn's small back, Sheik dragged his friend out of this collapsing nightmare made with fire. But as they reached the last tiled floor within the hallway, his red-eyes traveled back to the ruined room he left behind him.

'Just come back safely to us, Link.'

Ranging with fire, the ancient Temple trembles with a roar. A loud echo travels across each floor, and at each thunderous boom, the walls shake.

Yet as much as chaos spread itself thoroughly everywhere, the flow of one single lava river stays the same. The single red line acting as a breach impeding passage to the dragon's lair remains stable and firm only dancing back and forward in a tune of its own.

It was only when the loudest of the echoes invaded this room that the flow was disrupted. From above on the ceiling, a massive stone pillar came crashing down from the floor above.

Crashing down angrily, this pillar washed the lava river everywhere, mostly overwhelming the door leading to the temple entrance.

Standing on top of the square-shaped pillar, the Hero used the most unusual way of traveling to cross three floors in one go. Wielding the fabled Goron hammer in his hands, Link shoved his way down, recklessly racing against the collapsing structure that surrounded him.

Shifting his gaze down to the giant door of the dragon's lair, Link jumped from his tall platform and landed in front of the barely open entrance.

Tightening his hold on his new weapon, the hero steeled his nerves with a single long sigh. Then, he walked in, shielding his eyes from the ominous red light shining from within.

"Oh. Do my eyes deceive me?" A male voice got Link's attention. As he lowered his hands from his eyes, he saw the single form of a tall man standing on top of a circular rock platform surrounded by lava. "The Hero of Time himself. What an unfortunate honor to meet such a stellar individual. But then again, I half expected your presence here today… Given my intentions."

Recognizing not only the dark painted armor but also the insignia on that man's chest, a deep frown twisted Link's expression.

With one single large leap, the hero landed on the same platform but directly across from that person.

"Who are you?" Link asked. "Why are you tormenting the Gorons? They are peaceful people, never done anything wrong to you."

Reaching with one hand towards his metal helmet, the man pulled his headgear away and tossed it down onto the red ground; revealing a rather young face with deep black eyes and his short raven hair.

His lips curled into an unsettling smirk. "Hah, why would I ever care about the Gorons' feelings? Don't take me wrong, this is nothing personal. They only serve as a means to an end."

Link glared daggers at the man, already feeling the faint ache in his chest troubling him again. "WHAT END?" He roared. "Nothing justifies THIS!"

Acquiring a puzzling look to his expression, the knight just shook his head and sighed. "Pardon my rudeness, fair hero. Let me start again properly this time. My name is SonHe, a humble captain in Lord Ganondorf's army." Despite his very formal and respectful tone, his mocking sneer and bow show the true nature of his words. "But that title is so very close to a change… a promotion if you will."

Seeing the man taking a few steps along to the left, Link followed in this dance by tracing his steps on the opposite side; both warriors circling each other.

"You see, mister Hero. Under our Lord's rule, only power matters. He doesn't care for your past, your race, or your deviant desires. Our king only values those with the ambition to claim their destiny." SonHe came to a full stop when he reached the point where Link had landed before, they practically exchanged position by this point. "Today, I will rise to be one of his commanders. I only needed this…"

Wearing one very sickening grin on his lips, SonHe pulled a shining object from behind him.

Took Link only but a moment to recognize the Goron's Ruby, the red jewel still as bright as ever. But seeing this memento of his sworn-brother, Link's brown furrowed.

"Darunia… Where is he?" He asked the other man.

Quirking one eyebrow at the blond warrior, the brunet captain shook his head with a stupid silly smirk and shrugged. "That muscled Goron guy? He was a bit annoying, scratch that, very annoying. But he served his purpose." Raising the stone in the air, SonHe's smirk grew into an almost maniacal smile. "As will you and the rest of his filthy people. Your deaths will grant me the ultimate power!"

Once more Link had to shield his eyes from the blinding light assaulting his vision. By the little glances he could get, he saw SonHe press both hands firmly onto the Red Spiritual Stone.

"HEED MY CALL; VOLVAGIA, KING OF ALL DRAGONS!"

Answering his heated shout, the room itself trembles in response. One pillar of raging lava after the other began spitting up from the river below, almost splashing that lethal liquid upon the quaking platform.

It was then, from within one of the gigantic pillars of lava rising from the mountain core itself, that a solid form appeared in a rage of storming fire.

The first sight that robbed Link's attention was the sparkling green light coming from two orbs. Right then the dragon's full head poured out from the leaking burning red fluid, letting out a deafening roar, the creature flew out in the air, revealing in fully its long and gargantuan serpentine body.

"Hah, HAHAHAHAH! Look, Hero!" SonHe cried out in a power-induced ecstasy. "A legendary beast from ages of yore. Something even my Master fears and respect. With it at my command, I will become a god!"

Waving the Ruby in the air as if was some kind of wand or even commanding whip, the delusional captain set his heated glare onto Link. "Come, Volvagia. It's time for your second feast."

Hovering very close to the ceiling of this dome, Volvagia seemed to respond even if faintly to the man's command. The dragon turned and began to float casually down onto the platform, almost as if enjoying the moment before swallowing another victim of its endless hunger.

This little leisure pace quickly came to an end. Soon enough, the dragon's shining green eyes landed on the imposing form of the Megaton Hammer laying on the blonde's hands.

Volvagia instantly threw a fit of anger. Roaring, trashing, and even bashing its head on the loose rocks above it, the dragon lost any resemble of calmness or even cohesion at the sight of its hated nemesis.

"W-What are you doing?!" SonHe yelled in distress, trying to dodge the countless broken pieces of rock falling onto the platform. "STUPID CREATURE! I command you to stop this-" The young captain had only but a few moments to rant before a large piece of rock came and nailed him firmly against the red-floor, piercing a giant hole in his chest.

On the opposite side of this arena, Link is battling for his safety against the chaotic rumble of stones falling on him. Using his shield and new hammer to block and smack the projectiles away, the hero managed to withstand through the dragon's enraged fit.

However, as the rocks ceased falling, a giant shadow took their place as the Volvagia itself came diving in rage.

Rolling to the left, Link dodged in time to let Volvagia swoop into nothing, dragging its metal-sharp claws into the ground, tearing large chunks of it in a single slash.

Jumping back to his feet, Link aligned himself properly as the dragon flew to the back of the room and turned to fly right down onto him.

Staring directly onto Volvagia's roaring open mouth, he noticed a few signs of blood and mangled flesh. That sight made Link's heart fall to the ground and his expression took a grim look onto it.

"You…" He clenched his hold onto the hammer's handle, both hands pressing tight onto it. "I WILL DESTROY YOU!"

Waiting just until Volvagia was few steps away from him, he swung both arms into a wide arc, bringing the hammer upwards into a furious charge.

At this moment, the entire Death Mountain felt the connection of that strike onto the dragon's head. One very deep and muffled sound echoed everywhere within and above the mountain, a sound of metal clashing against something just as hard. It was then followed by the pained and enraged cries of the Dragon King's voice.

Each and every single Goron on the steps leading to the wooden bridge above the mountain's open mouth fell to their knees and brought their hands to their ears. Everyone trembled in confusion and fear when the loudest noise they have ever heard shook even the ground they are standing on.

Also suffering from the infernal ringing sound plaguing their hearing, Sheik and Vahn took support with one another; their startled gazes going everywhere to try and find what was coming after them.

"S… Sh…. Sheik!" The Sheikah finally could hear his red-haired friend shouting his name. "What in Din's blaze was that?"

Sheik had no idea how to respond. He found himself just as confused and lost as Vahn. But even then, his gaze knew to travel to one spot in particular. And that was the nightmarish sight right above them all.

The once dark and gloomy clouds taking over the sky of the Death Moutain, are now completely red. An eerie miasma charged with energy and malevolent feeling. It was almost like staring down at the burning throat of a dragon ready to spit fire into the world.

"By the goddesses… what is happening here?"

Link groaned painfully.

As gasped for air, he winced silently. Puffs of dust flying up in front of his eyes. Blinking a few times in his daze, he noticed the firm texture of hard ground pressing against his chest.

It happened so fast that he didn't even register how he ended up laying on the ground.

This lazy stupor, however, was forcibly jolted out from his senses when he heard the ever-increasing sound of the dragon's growls.

Punching his left fist down, Link shoved himself to his knees and then back up to his feet. Feeling the lack of weight on his right hand, he looked down only to see the handle of the Megaton Hammer, the weapon destroyed after his first hit against the dragon's head.

Shifting his gaze ahead of him, Link saw the serpentine form of Volvagia also lingering on the ground. Slowly and steadily, the dragon began to stir, its growls gaining in volume and intensity; to only then explode into a full-blown roar once again.

As Volvagia unleashed its voice against the hero, Link saw the disfigured shape of the dragon's face. Or more precisely, the hard carapace that served as a mask for it.

With each little movement Volvagia makes, the mask crumbled and falls, revealing the pure bright red scale that is its true face. Those furious green eyes entirely focused on the hero's form.

Link prepared his footing to dodge at any moment when the dragon dive-bombed at him again. But as he carefully began to pace backward and around Volvagia, he felt a sudden change in the air around him.

His bright blue eyes widened in realization when he saw Volvagia open its mouth wide open, a tornado of flame already forming inside the dragon's throat.

"That's Ba- AAAGHH!" Even with his almost unnatural reflexes, Link barely had any time to jump to the side before an infernal breath of fire stormed forward, burning even the hard rocks into a mushy puddle.

Following the hero's image with a turn of its head, Volvagia took a long breath in and then unleashed another wave forward.

Link leaped to the left to evade once more, then he was forced to jump even further as the dragon began to follow him with one continuous fire-breath.

Dodging, rolling, and skipping to the side, Link eventually reached the edge of the arena. Sliding his boots against the very tip, he eyed as the red spiral continued to come after him. Deciding to ditch the now useless broken handle in his hand, Link pulled the Master Sword and jumped as high as he could.

Weaving his body just above the burning stream, Link managed to evade Volvagia's breath one last time. And luckily for the hero, the dragon's breath began to fade away as it gasped loudly for more air.

Trying to take this moment of an opening, Link rushed forward as fast as his legs would carry him; aiming his sword purposefully onto those hateful green eyes.

But before he could get into striking range, Volvagia's long body swirled around, and its tail came flying in the blink of an eye; swooping Link's legs out of balance.

Crashing down with his side on the very warm, borderline burning hot, floor; Link rolled to the right and jumped back up. But his moment of distraction gave enough time for Volvagia to regain its breath and upper position.

Link's eyes widened when he saw the spiral of fire already inches away from his face.

"Goddamnit!"

Raising his shield, Link tried in a desperate last resort to block the flames away.

Surprising even himself, his Hylian Shield managed to withstand the dragon's hot stream; however, the shield could only prevent so much.

The longer Link stood his ground against Volvagia's fire breath, the more his arms and legs trembled in pain. His gloves, most of his tunic, and even his left boot have already burned away.

His slightly tanned white skin getting nasty pinkish spots onto them, fresh burning marks getting worse by the moment.

And as the Hylian Shield itself began to crack at the upper base, Volvagia's breath ceased once more. The dragon already taking another long breath in, to try and finish its pray once for all.

Panting heavily in exhaustion and pain, Link glared at the creature in front of him; his mind racing a thousand miles a moment to try and find a way out. Resting his damaged shield on his back, his left hand tried to reach for anything that could help him against that thing.

Right then, his fingers brushed against a slight cold metallic surface.

His eyes widened as an idea crossed his mind.

"A monster like you cannot be allowed to be free." Link said loudly, trying to overpower the sound of gushing air entering the dragon's mouth. "I don't care about trials; I don't care about being a hero… But I will destroy you today. No one else will die by your flames. That I swear!"

Pulling the Hookshot from his belt, Link aimed it forward and let the chains loose.

The metal head of the Hookshot firmly attacked itself onto Volvagia's face, pulling Link readily onto the dragon's head.

Growling in panic and exasperation, Volvagia began to trash and swing its head wildly trying to shake the hero away from it.

Responding to the dragon's aggression by sticking the Master Sword on its flesh, Link hang on tight and firm, giving no quarter as the dragon grew more desperate by the second.

Releasing all the air it had inhaled into a pointless scream raging with fire, Volvagia took up to the air again. Flying into a blind rage, the dragon pointed its read upwards and never stopped; going at full speed towards the bruised and damaged ceiling above them.

"B-By the spirits! You have to be JOKIN-" Link's voice was muffled by the sound of stone crushing and breaking.

Disregarding safety or cohesion, Volvagia flew headfirst into the stone, sinking deep inside and disappearing into the mountain's body with the Hero attached to its head.

Watching as the last Goron climbed up the bridge and ran inside their city, Sheik let himself get caught by the creeping exhaustion that has been taking a toll on his body.

Taking a surprisingly clean piece of cloth from his pouch, he wiped the dust and dirt from his face, even cleaning the sweat-stained marks on his forehead. Sighing deeply to vent out some of his frustration, Sheik sought out his red-haired friend that is sitting on the Temple's pedestal with a blank stare.

Gently squeezing himself next to Vahn, Sheik leaned backward on his hands, letting his gaze float upwards to those scary red clouds in the sky.

"Four hours?" Vahn suddenly said quietly, making Sheik give a curious look at him. "At least three hours, right?"

"Mind elaborating on those words?" Sheik said back quietly, chuckling softly at the smaller boy.

"Oh, I'm just thinking that It's been three hours that I've joined you guys," Vahn explained. "And so far, I almost died at least five times. Six, if you consider the mountain that is about to explode."

At the first moment, Sheik wore a small look of worry on his face. But seeing the playful way that his friend is shaking his head, he just smiled and went along. "Regretting it already?" He asked shortly.

Vahn laughed, way louder and warmly than he had expected to be. "Not really. I feel that some years of my life have slipped away in each jump scare I suffered down there. But hey, I knew where I was putting myself into. Just like I said to my master, one can't truly know the reality of history without living through it."

Sheik smiled at Vahn again, then he drifted his eyes back up the sky. "You're a brave one, Vahn. Not everyone would still follow us after today."

"It's about time you learn that I'm not like everyone." Vahn replied with a cheeky grin.

The pair of boys shared a peal of good-hearted laughter; and if any person out of their circle could see them right now, laughing and smiling right next to a raging volcano, they would call those two insane.

But their small moment of reprise was interrupted by another roar of the mountain. This one louder, stronger, and almost too powerful to bear.

"AHHH, IT'S THE SIXTH TIME, IT'S THE SIXTH!" Vahn yelled in distress, taking both hands to his head as he laid down and curled into a ball on the metallic platform. "The Mountain is blowing up."

Just as startled as his red-haired companion, Sheik shot up to his feet. His ruby eyes glancing all around them, watching as the bulky of the mountain in front of them began to crack and break.

"Goddesses help us… did Link fail?" He unconsciously asked away, his words only making Vahn yelp and curl even more.

Sheik pulled his short sword from its sheath at his waist. Even if felt futile, he wanted to feel armed, at least ready to attempt to engage whatever is tearing the mountain open.

Biting his lower lip furiously, the young Sheikah stepped down the ancient platform. He poised himself with his sword-arm in front of him and waited for this threat to finally appear.

As he breathed in, blinking in reflex just to rest his eyes for a split second; stone and fire exploded out, parting half the wall into a gaping hole. From within this chaotic outburst came a gigantic serpentine form of a dragon.

Sheik felt his breath leave his lungs. As a Sheikah he has faced many threats in his young life, survived so much for the sake of his princess; but nothing compares to his monstrous being in front of his eyes.

Swallowing dry in anxiety, Sheik steeled himself for the brutal end that would surely come for him.

However, contrary to what the red-eyed blond was dreading, the dragon turned its head up and flew far high and away from the two of them.

Blowing out the air he didn't even know he was holding, Sheik sheathed his sword and watched as the dragon continued to rise.

"Is that…" He said narrowing his eyes. "Farore's mercy, that's Link?!"

"Wha- Where?!" Vahn jumped next to Sheik, he moved so fast that almost felt like he wasn't the one curled into a ball just moments ago.

Too dumbfounded to reply with words, Sheik just reached with his hand to Vahn's chin and pointed his head upwards.

"Sheik… I know that a giant flying lizard is absurd as it gets… but how am I be able to process Link doing THAT?"

Sheik snorted light-heartedly, even if his chest is pounding with anxiety. "When I learn how to grasp it myself, maybe I can teach you."

It hurts… everything hurts.

The burning marks on his arms and legs hurt so much that Link could cry right about now. However as mind-numbing as the pain of Volvagia's flame inflicted on him, it feels like a little drop of water on the ocean of pure pain that are the harsh cuts and bruises on his bare back.

Despite Volvagia's almost suicidal effort to crash through the mountain, Link still held in place. Even as his back tackled and brushed harshly against the breaking earth, he never let go.

As a result, what was left of his tunic got totally ruined, leaving Link only on his white leggings and one boot. His bare back is painted with brown and red, dust and earth glued on his skin with the lines of blood leaking from his wounds.

"I…" Link used his left arm to grapple at the dragon's nose. "Will not…" Pulling his right arm back he tore the Master Blade out from Volvagia's scaled flesh. "LET YOU WIN!"

Pushing his arm back, he almost fell out from the sky, but using his legs he managed to stay wrapped onto the dragon.

Letting his voice roar louder than the blowing winds crashing on his back, Link plunged his weapon far into Volvagia's forehead, sinking the sword so deep that he only stopped at the sword-guard.

Volvagia excruciating screech echoed in the sky, making waves on the red clouds, pushing them away enough to make a single clear spot. The dragon trashed, twisted, and clawed at its head, trying hard to pull the hero away from it.

Link twisted his weapon with enough strength to break some bones on Volvagia's head. "AAAARRRRGGHHH!" With one last tug, he pulled the weapon out and plunged it back onto another spot right next to the first hole.

Another scream exploded away from Volvagia. The dragon's whole body twitched, in one last large spams of pain. Then the bright green light of its eyes began to fade as its mouth laid wide open.

Letting out one final gasp of life, Volvagia began to glow, a light that became stronger and stronger.

Then, an explosion assailed the sky.

Volvagia, King of Dragons; death incarnate bound within this mountain, was vanquished.

Sheik and Vahn watched in horror as their friend disappeared inside that massive explosion above in the clouds.

They both screamed and cried the hero's name, but their voices were utterly overwhelmed by the bombastic sound thundering from above.

Falling to his knees, Vahn brought both hands to his face; hot tears already running down his cheeks.

Sheik, however, kept his gaze fixated on that bright ball of fire.

He couldn't believe it would end like this; he would never accept it. A cold and piercing pain scratched at the door of his heart, but he refused to acknowledge it. Their journey, Link's journey would never end this way.

But as the light slowly died out, leaving a giant hole within the red clouds, his tears began to escape his control.

"N-No… It can't… L-Lin-"

"aaaaaAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Startled out of his thoughts, Sheik felt too stunned to move after he heard a familiar scream that is getting louder and louder.

Blinking his confused stupor away, he saw by the corner of his eyes what resembles the head of that dragon, but charred and jet black. Attached to said head, is a terrified blond, screaming for his life as he holds very tight to his only safety spot.

Unable to even breathe, Sheik could only watch as that giant skull came crashing down on the edge of the volcano and bounced almost comically up in the air, just to fall on the steep outer side of the mountain.

"Did I hear things?" Vahn asked, sounding just as stunned as Sheik feels. "That voice… was that?"

Crouching down with one hand clenching his chest, Sheik felt even more tears grace his eyes; his lips trembling into a short smile. "Thank the goddesses…" Allowing himself at least a few seconds with this overwhelming sense of relief, Sheik then stood up and looked as poised and composed as ever.

"Hah… Hahah…. Hahahah." Vahn's tears of sorrow soon got washed away by tears of relief. "I-I swear. If not even a giant dragon thingy can take on Link, he must be invincible."

Shaking his head ever so slightly, Sheik gave Vahn a light tap on his shoulder and smiled. "Come, we have a hero to retrieve."

"Link..." A familiar voice called out to him. Soft and warm, carrying the winds of spring in each spoken word.

"Link…" A second one echoed within the same colorless void. Strong and loud, powerful as the brave man that once carried the weight of his people.

"Saria…? Darunia…?" Link replied with soundless words, his eyes too heavy to open and look anywhere.

He heard an echoey giggle, exactly like his longtime friend always did.

"Don't lose your path." Saria said sadly, a tone Link has never heard in her voice.

"No matter what happens, I'll always be proud to have called you my brother." Darunia boomed loudly as he has usually spoken. Still, lingering underneath his fiery personality, Link could notice a deep sense of sadness just like Saria before him.

'Why are they so sad?' Link tried to force his eyes open but to no avail.

"Saria… Darunia… Sorry I couldn't save you guys… I am so sorry…"

"Link."

"Link."

Both called out to him at the same time, their sense of sadness turning into grief and then into sorrow.

"Link!" Another voice called out to the hero. This one feels real, closer. "Can you hear me? Vahn, help me lift this thing away from him."

Groaning quietly in pain, Link was finally able to open his blue eyes to the sight of the raging red sky.

"Sheik…?" Blinking away the gloom and blur from his eyes, Link saw both of his friends struggling to roll Volvagia's skull to the side, pushing the huge thing away from him.

"Link…" Sheik said softly as he kneeled next to Link. "You look awful… Please be careful." He warned as he slowly helped the hero sit up.

Taking the spot on the opposite side of Link, Vahn sat down and held the hero by his arm. "Why is your hand glowing?" He asked, pointing at Link's ungloved hand.

"Huh? What is… ghh…. ARRGGHGHHH!" Arching forward in pain, Link grabbed the side of his head with his left hand, holding his right one in front of him as he screamed.

Both Sheik and Vahn jump startled. The Sheikah moving forward to pull Link into a deeply concerned embrace, while the young Chronicler tried to still his blond friend's feverishly warm trembling hand.

With a jolt of his body, Link pushed himself free from both of them. Slowing rising to his feet, he closed his eyes and shot his right hand far high in the air.

The golden form of his Triforce shone with a blinding light. Expanding its glow into a full triangle in the air, this light began to sizzle and crackled with power. From Link's extended arm, a beacon of pure light flew up to the sky, storming against the darkness and malevolence impregnating the air.

Spreading in a show of blue and golden, the Triforce's light slowly faded, restoring the sky to its normal blue color.

Finally, the people living near Death Mountain can see the sun slowly setting far in the back.

Utterly exhausted, Link fell to his knees while panting heavily for air. At the same moment, Sheik and Vahn moved closer to keep the hero from falling forward.

"Are you okay?" Sheik asked still overwhelmed with worry.

"That… that… WAS AMAZING!" Vahn yelped like an overexcited little boy. "Look, the sky is all blue and fine again. Does that always happen after a Temple? Is that how this works? Link just shoots some light and everything bad goes away?"

Sheik rolled his eyes at the red-haired boy, then turned his attention back to Link. "How are you feeling?" Then his gaze fell on the hero's bloodied back. "Your back… goddesses, what happened to you down there?"

A soft but carefree chuckle sounded from Link's lips. "I am fine… I am fine." Wincing in pain, he slowly pulled himself back to sit down and shift his gaze to the beautiful blue color of the sky. "It's almost as if I removed a giant boulder from my shoulders. Even with the pain, my body feels so light and easy to move." Turning his gaze to Sheik's pretty red eyes, Link smiled. A sincere and elated smile. "Sheik. I feel so… free."

The still glowing symbol on the Hero's hand slowly faded into a slumber once again, leaving only a faint glow in the shape of a half-filled triangle, the upper half almost too faded for anyone to see.

As the golden and blue light of the Triforce dissipated from the Death Mountain, its glow traveled across the sky.

This ripple flew across Hyrule like a straight arrow with a clear target. After arriving above the giant Lake Hylia, the streak of light stopped and swirled around itself.

Turning, changing, and spinning. This stream of light transformed into a big ball of pure energy. Then with a flash of light, it came crashing down upon the dried lake.

With no one to see or witness. The Triforce of Courage light invaded the earth, traveling with a purpose.

With not a soul to see, the destiny of Hyrule has shifted into another direction once again.

End of Part I - Awakening