All right, let's see here, last we left off, Link had finally entered the depths of the Goron Mines, ready to take on whatever is poisoning everyone.

Let's dive right in, shall we?

Chapter 13

The Goron Mines

Stepping into the heat of the Goron Mines, Link couldn't help but stagger back a tad bit. Gorons could handle heat like this, but he was just Hylian. Removing his mask and hood, he ventured deeper into the mines. Long ago, the mines had shifted from one of the underground magma pools formed by Death Mountain to the crater itself due to more valuable materials such as Goron Steel and higher power explosives being found within the crater.

Link was currently standing on one of the metal support structures that lined the sides of the colossal opening. Looking up, Link was disheartened to see that the pathogen blotted out the sun from within the crater, whatever rays making their way in being blocked out before they reached the magma below. Speaking of which, Link could see that there was something... moving throughout the magma, as he could see more bubbles in the center than others.

"Looks like we found our monster," Link declared as he began making his way down the spiral.

The Goron Mines were more of a maze than mines. Link saw that there were many locked doors on the way to the bottom, which was actually covered by a large metal grating, likely to keep people from falling into he bubbling magma.

Or to keep something in, Link thought for a moment.

"All right, let's see here," said Link as he started going through clearing as much of the poisonous haze as he could, as there were no guarantees that when he killed the beast that the pathogen would be purged.

He came to a sort of bridge leading from one side of the crater to the other, and on his end was a sealed door, though on the other was a locked door preventing him from going any further. Walking onto the bridge, he was relived to see that the entry wasn't sealed off in order to fight random monsters. Instead, he was tasked with finding some way to unlock the barred door on the first end of the bridge. To that means, he called upon Marze.

"Hey, buddy, I need you to do something for me real quick," Link said to the Stardrake on his shoulder.

"What might that be?" Marze asked.

"I'm gonna need you to scout the area, see if there's a switch or something to unlock that door," Link said.

"Can do!"

And with that, Marze flew off in order to search for anything that seemed suspicious enough to open a door. He came back a few minutes later with good news.

"Right under the bridge, there's a switch that looks like you can activate. But giving how small the holes in the grating are, I don't think either your sword or bow could reach it..."

Link nodded, raising his hand to his chin contemplation. Right after he went through with such action, he looked at his hand and nodded.

"Got it. Sparks!" he called as he snapped his fingers at the switch in question, triggering it and opening the gate from earlier. Pumping his fist, he ran over to the door and opened it, glad to see there was nothing but a chest and a few pots. For some odd reason, he found the urge to break them, finding that some had money within them, and others some kinds of ingredients.

"Neat," said Link as he put all of his new stuff away, grabbing the small key from the chest and heading back towards the locked door, quickly getting through. Oddly enough, both the keys from Skyview Temple and here both broke after one use.

Definitely strange.

As he continued his way down, he saw that a special type of Keese known as Fire Keese had made its home in the crater. Hence their name, it was only sensible to assume they were engulfed in flames. Quickly getting out his bow, Link let fly several arrow, killing each that he hit with one shot.

"Goddesses, I love this bow," Link declared as he put it back in his pouch. He continued down before coming to another side room off of the crater. Despite the fact that the area ahead was clear of any obstacles, he still went in, simply because you never knew what would happen until it happened.

Entering the room, Link was greeted by a heavy gust, the air in the room being vastly cooler than the air outside it, resulting in the air differential that he felt just them. He deduced that this room must not have been used often. He gave the area a quick once-over, seeing that this was a room filled with Hylian-made gear such as swords and shields. Most of said gear wasn't as well made as his sword and shield, however a few pieces caught his eye.

Going deeper into the room, he grabbed a sturdy iron shield off the wall, and behind it was a large claymore and ax. Usually he didn't consider wielding weapons such as that, but... Well, the world definitely never stayed the same, so why should he?

Grabbing the ax along with the shield, Link left the room, having put the ax on his back for the time being, putting his Demon's Blade into his pouch for now.

"Give this a shot," Link said as he made his way further throughout the mines.

Unknown to him, Cisia was close behind him, having followed him all the way to the mine's depths. She utilized a bandanna tied tightly around her face to keep whatever pathogen was killing her people out of her lungs.

"He didn't have those weapons before... maybe he got them from that room," she said as she quickly slipped in, quietly such that Link wouldn't hear her.

He didn't.

Link merely continued on his way to the very core of the mountain, happy to test his new ax on the beasts that dwelled within. Though it was slower than his sword, it did possess more than enough force to throw nearly anything he hit off-balance with its sheer weight. In the end, he determined it to be a fine weapon.

"I'll definitely keep this," said Link as he shouldered the huge ax. Continuing on, he came across what appeared to be a storage area, though most of the cargo that was there was strewn throughout the area by several Dinalfos, which quickly noticed Link as he got close, flicking their tongues out to catch his scent.

"Well... I won't say no," said Link as he took his ax back to hand. One Dinalfos charged him, though he quickly brought his ax down upon it, taking a limb off and disarming it as it staggered back off the platform and into the volcano below. The other two grew more cautious after witnessing Link best one in a single hit, both charging him at once. One swiped at him, though Link easily managed to block with his ax, though the other attacked while he was distracted. To his luck, however, it struck the iron shield on his back, the blade bouncing off harmlessly. He smirked as he grabbed onto his ax firmly before unleashing a hammer blow spin attack, throwing the other two off of the platform. Smiling at the effectiveness of his new weapon, he looked around to see that there was a table nearby with what appeared to be a map of the mines, somehow untouched by the Dinalfos.

"I'm surprised how much stuff is just sitting around for me to take... I'm not complaining," Link said to Marze, who returned to his shoulder after the fight.

"I know. I find it rather strange," Marze agreed.

"Well, so long as it helps me out in the end, then why should I care?" Link asked as he looked over the map. "According to this, the bottom platform is usually locked off. Additionally, the key appears to be... at the top?"

Link looked up, surprised to see that enough of the gas had cleared due to his presence to see up to the top.

"I need some fresh air anyway," Link said as he began to make his way up.

Cisia had been trailing behind him, and barely had time to hide as he walked past her. From the mini armory, she had taken a short sword fit for a girl her size, as well as a small round shield.

"Why is he going that way?" she asked herself, Link hearing her this time.

"Did you hear something, Marze?" Link asked as he looked around.

"Must have been some mining equipment," Marze stated as he looked around. There were plenty of mining carts that looked ready to move with the slightest touch, some even carrying ore within them.

"I guess you're right. Just keep an eye though, just in case."

"Got it."

Cisia released her breath. Link didn't notice her, leaving her free to keep following him further into the depths of the mines. The moment she got the chance, she'd take Link out of the picture and purge the temple herself to both prove that she could handle herself and that they didn't need people like Link to solve their problems for them.

Thank the Goddesses, she thought.

Link continued his trek upwards, and once he got to the entrance of the mines he could tell that there was a large metal grating covering the top. Man, the Gorons and their metal gratings.

Before he could reach the top, however, he was stopped by a barred door. Those were always the tricky ones, as he never knew if he had to slay monsters or find a switch.

"Marze?" he said as he gestured to the door.

"Yep," he replied before flying off. It took a little longer than last time, but he still returned with good news.

"There's a switch on the other side of the crater, but there are a few walls with tiny holes that might block your shot."

"Well," thought Link, "how small are the holes?"

"Um... two inches in diameter?"

"Two inches?" Link asked as he grabbed his bow and readied an arrow. "Piece of cake," he said as he found a small gap in the walls that eventually led to a glowing red switch, the same as the one under the bridge. Letting the arrow fly, he was satisfied to hear a loud 'click' as it struck the switch, and the door opened.

"All right, let's go get our key," said Link as he continued up the stairs, Cisia right behind him.

Link got to the top of the volcano, and was quite relieved to both see plenty of sunshine and breath fresh air.

"Ah... I needed this."

"What you need is to leave!" Cisia shouted as she ran after Link with her short sword at the ready. Link just sighed and stepped easily to the side as Cisia tried to swipe at him.

"What are you doing?" Link asked, annoyed.

"P-Proving that Kakariko doesn't need people like you!" she shouted before singing at him again, though Link caught her wrist and squeezed just hard enough to cause pain and make her drop the sword.

"No, seriously, what are you doing?" Link asked again as he grabbed the short sword before she could.

"My father trusts outsiders more than his own blood... By clearing the mines I could prove that we don't need the likes of you!"

Link shook his head and let Cisia go. "And what if you died in the process? What about all of the people who feel the same? One of Remono's own dying would eliminate any chances of any other heroes like you. The reason he has outsiders do this like this is because he can take the pain of losing someone he just met. He can't take the pain of being the reason his daughter has died."

Cisia was about to say something, but she really let his words sink in.

"I-! I guess you're right..."

"Good," Link said. "Now, let's make sure you don't die on your way out."

"Wait," said Cisia as she gestured towards the entrance to the top platform, "we'd need to find another way. That door closed."

"Wha-? Oh, Goddesses damn it," said Link as he grabbed his ax, looking around. From the corner of his eye he saw movement, though when he checked he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. However, Link wasn't going to drop his guard that easily.

"Cisia, stay near me. I can't let you get yourself killed after a speech like that."

"Got it," said Cisia as she hid behind Link. Link kept looking around, eventually making direct eye contact with... a moving wall?

"What the Dark Realm...?" Link asked himself as he approached the wall. However, when he got close enough, he could tell it wasn't a wall when it lashed out at him, Link barely dodging back.

"What am I even looking at?" Link asked as a huge creature that blended in with the wall slowly approached him. It had fur and whiskers, and had a long, slim body with a furry tail.

"Aw, it's cute!" Link heard Cisia yell.

Before it lit on fire, that is.

"Nope, not cute!" Link shouted as he leapt to the side to avoid the huge creature's lunge. "Why is always a huge monster?" shouted Link as he jumped up, bringing his ax screaming down onto the beast's head. Despite feeling that he made solid contact, he could tell that didn't hurt the beast much, and it threw him away before his feet hit the ground. He landed easily enough, and quickly raised his ax again.

"Let's go, you big lug," Link said as he charged in again, swinging upwards at it's midsection in order to topple it. To his satisfaction, it fell on its side and stayed there long enough for him to land a few solid blows on its underside, which he noted to have significantly softer fur. The rest of its fur likely acted as armor to both soften heavy blows and protect against sharp strikes. After a few seconds, however, the beast rose and spun in place, throwing Link away with its flaming tail, lighting his tunic on fire.

"Oh, hot hot hot hot hot!" shouted Link as he dropped to the floor, rolling around to put himself out. It worked, and his tunic received little damage.

"No one lights my dad's tunic on fire and gets away with it!" Link shouted angrily before raising his ax over his shoulder, charging in at the beast. It bit at him, though Link smacked the creature in the face with the blunt side of his ax, staggering it as he smacked it again, knocking it the the ground again, leaving it open for more blows from his ax. It tried to get up, though Link brought his ax down on it right as it tried to right itself, forcing it back to the ground.

"Is he always like this?" Cisia asked Marze, who had joined her while Link fought the beast.

"Nope. This is the first I've seen him this furious," Marze confirmed.

Link leapt again, bringing his ax down hard on the beast. It rolled away this time, having learned that staying close to Link would result in him continuing his enraged assault.

"Burn my tunic, will you?" Link asked again as he charged the beast, which purged the fire from its body in order to repel Link, though he charged through as quickly as he could such that no fire would catch his tunic again, slamming his ax into the side of the beast's face once again, this time hearing a distinctive 'crack' as its head snapped to the side. It fell a moment after than, Link landing one last blow to its underside before it fell, defeated. Shouldering his weapon, Link scoffed at the beast.

"No one burns my clothes," Link stated again.

"Well, that was... something," Marze stated as he landed on Link's shoulder not occupied by the ax.

"It tried to burn my clothes. It needed to die," Link said.

Link was about to say something else when the creature caught fire, burning away to reveal a treasure chest, sitting on top of it... a miniature version of the beast?

"What?" Link asked.

The animal, now the size of a cat, ran away, though Cisia scooped it up in her arms.

"Awww, now it's the size of a kitty!" she cooed as she nuzzled against it. The most disturbing part was that it accepted her affection.

"I have no idea what the Dark Realm just happened," Link said as he put his weapon on his back, walking over to the chest.

"Well, let's see what we have this time," said Link as he opened the chest.

"What? Clothes?" he asked as he pulled a red, black-armored tunic with golden threading from the chest. Also within the chest were a pair of black greaves and gauntlets with golden detailing, as well as a silver mask with golden detailing that would only cover the bottom half of his face when worn. Not only that, but there were also silver underclothes with golden chain mail with a matching cloak.

"Why would I need clothes?" Link asked as he picked them all up, feeling the fabric.

"What the... The cloth feels super cold, like ice. You know what? You guys, uh, give me a minute. I'll be over there," said Link as he pointed to a pile of storage crates.

"Adults," said Cisia as she rolled her eyes, Marze doing the same while mumbling "Hylians."

It took about a minute like he said, but when he came back, he gave off a sigh of relief.

"Whoa... This clothing makes it feel as cool as the forest," Link said as he looked around. "It's almost as if I weren't standing in the middle of a volcano. All right, I admit, I needed this."

"So, are you ready to go?" asked Marze, rather annoyed.

"Yeah, let's go," said Link as he checked his gauntlets. His Demon Armor was much lighter than this new armor, and it was heavier than what could be called medium armor, so it was obviously heavy armor.

Ending his new armor's inspection, he looked around to see a smaller, jeweled chest sitting on a nearby table.

"And that's going to be our key!" said Link as he opened the chest, pulling the key to the lower area from within.

"That should be it. Let's get you out of here, Cisia," Link said as he walked over to the now-open exit from the top. Making their way back to the entrance, Link checked to make sure that the pathogen hadn't spread back to the outside. It hadn't and he was free to let her make the rest of her way on her own.

"Now don't go trying to get yourself killed again, all right?" Link asked as she made her way out of the mines, mini beast in tow.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," she said as she kept walking with her back to him. "I'm keeping Zuba though!" she declared as she held up her little monster, now named Zuba.

"O-Okay?" Link half-asked, not wanting to continue the conversation with the girl who took in a miniature version of a fire breathing creature. Walking back inside, Link didn't hear Cisia's final comment.

"Please save my village..."

"Okay, heading down?" Marze asked.

"Yep," Link responded as he made his return to the storage platform he found the map on, from their continuing down until he came across a mining cart with a track that appeared to make its way down to the bottom of the crater.

"Looks like this thing is going to be our only way down," said Link as he noted the path up ahead had been crushed, meaning he couldn't walk any further. The mining cart, however, seemed to make its way down to the bottom, just not in one straight shot, instead having a few platforms to switch carts. He quickly got it moving, hopping in such to ride it down to the next area. Getting out of the cart, he was disheartened to see that there was a gate in front of the next cart, and on the platform was a dodongo, a fire-breathing creature with a heavily armored skull likely capable of defending even against his new ax.

Of course, he was still going to try.

Before the dodongo noticed him, he quickly ran up and brought his ax down onto its spine, nearly cutting the beast in half and killing it.

"Well, that was quicker than anticipated," Link said in surprise as the gate blocking off the next mine cart opened. Hopping in, he rode down to the next platform, and all that was on this one was a few pots.

"Really? Do I have to break them all or something?" Link asked as he walked up to a pot, only for it to levitate up to eye level.

And then fly towards him and break against his face.

"WHAT THE DARK REALM?!" Link shouted as every pot on the platform flew towards him.

"Owowowowowowowow," was all Link managed to say as the ordeal happened, each pot flying in surprisingly fast to break against his body. The onslaught eventually ended, however, leaving Link bruised.

"Why does this always happen to me?" Link asked, in pain.

"Because you're the Hero," Marze replied, patting him on the one part of his back that wasn't bruised. "Anyway, that was the last one. All there is left is to clear the mines," he explained, as they were on the second lowest level.

Link nodded, hopping into the final cart down to the bottom, rolling it along. He came to the bottom, and got out to stand in front of the massive bejeweled door that stood between him and the beast that had plagued the Goron Mines.

"You ready for this?" Marze asked as Link unlocked the door, stepping out onto the final platform. He looked around for a while, but he didn't see anything.

But he could feeling it.

He felt powerful tremors throughout the entirety of the area, originating from beneath the magma. In the center, he soon saw subtle bubbling, though it eventually escalated to the point of sending drops of molten stone at him, though he managed to get out of the way as a cataclysmically large creature burst from the volcano, appearing to be a huge insect, though it had what appeared to be armor coating its entire body, which was red and fleshy in appearance. The creature looked at Link, several orange eyes staring at him. The beast made its way out of the hole it had made in the grating, crawling such that its whole body was out of the volcano, revealing its immense length, easily enough to cover the width of the crater.

Rearing back at Link, the beast let loose an ear-shattering roar, causing the magma beneath to bubble.

Grabbing the handle of his ax, Link made eye contact with the beast, a determined glare on his face.

"Looks like I don't have a choice... Let's make this count!"

Awwwwwwwwwwww yeeeaaaaaaahhhh! Goron Mines, pretty much done! Aside from one thing, that is.

Just the boss.

OniHelix out!