A.N.: Rushed rushed rushed...Man this is so rushed, but you people were asking for it!
Chapter 5
A race with lava
Link pulled up at Kakiriko village, which was placed right down the trail of Death Mountain. It looked like from a Western movie, almost like Cool Ranch: old buildings, contained farmers and smithies, there was a cemetery at the very end and the only water source was this little pond, fed by a mini waterfall. People dressed more in leather and Native American(-ish). The village was a pretty quiet getaway from the usual grass and chirping birds.
'' We'll have to climb up to the goron mines,'' Link explained, leaving Epona tied to a hitching post. He and Ashley walked up the trail, till they reached a straight canyon wall. It wasn't high, a few good jumps and grabs and they were at the top. As Ashley was waiting for Link, she felt a rumbling on the ground. It might've been the gorons up ahead, but the rumbling seemed too strong to relate to them. Link, at the very edge now, exchanged looks with the girl. If he thought it wasn't normal, then it definitely meant trouble.
The elf almost fell over the side as an earthquake went by. Ashley pulled him further away from the edge.
'' What the heck is that?'' Ashley wondered.
'' Well, this is a volcano. And I think it's waking up,'' Link muttered with concern. The girl's eyes widened. As far as she knew, lava was a minor problem to the creatures. But it still didn't look natural. Another quake burst out.
Ashley followed link to a dark tunnel. A bummer that they didn't have a light source, but it wasn't impossible to find their way around. Shrieking sounds sometimes emerged from the dark, similar to bat calls. We already know that some animals are totally different from the appearance that we are used to, and that can be confirmed by Ashley, as she spotted one of the ''bats''. Her eyes adjusted and annalysed the creature hanging above from some stalactites: Their yellow pupils poppet out of their head, which seemed to big for the small body and wide wings. Kinda like Bat Masterson from the Magnificent Seven, huh?
Link noticed where Ashley was looking and explained:
'' Those are keese,'' he whispered through the darkness.'' Pretty annoying, I should say, especially when they are alarmed and start shrieking uncontrollably,''
'' And they are able to spit rocks and lava and stuff?'' Ashley checked. Link sneered.
'' Depending on the breed, but yes,''
Close to the tunnel's end, the air got a bit more clear and soon the heroes saw some light further ahead. Their steps got faster, eyes wishing to see the sun again, but then that rumbling returned...or should I say, approached. For a few seconds, the light ahead was covered by something round. It took moments to realize it was rushing their way. Link's and Ashley's jaws dropped and they quickly planned their own way of dodging.
Link pressed against the wall, while Ashley ran up it and flipped over the rock...who's texture seemed oddly like a goron's. The girl landed back to the exit, watching as the guy disappeared into the deep. It sounded like it managed to wake up the keese back there.
'' Ashley, there's another one!'' Link pressed her to the wall. It wasn't another one, but three smaller gorons rolling by. One of them jumped up and a voice emerged.
'' Wait up,dad!'' When they were also gone, Ashley's mouth was still wide open.
'' Ok, what is happening?'' she muttered. Link ran towards the exit with the girl. She wasn't expecting a massive pit when she reached it, Ashley balanced over the edge, her hands waving like mad.
Ashley managed to fall back into the dust, gazing at the other side of the pit. It was formed out of different layers of earth (it was clearly seen how the lighter dirt turned blacker as in reached the end of the dig), connected by trails and bridges. The place was lit up by the crater opening above, where the sun rays shown. There were various entrances around the pit's surface, lined up just like the homes in Sidi driss. And right now, tons of gorons were getting in and out of them. It seemed like they were panicking...
'' Sooo I'm guessing the tremors aren't natural,''
'' Apparently,'' Link sighed.'' Come on, Darunia's this way,'' He led the shorter way and jumped down to one of the trails. They continued to do so until they reached the bottom, where the soil was black as coal. Link moved towards a single cave entrance, which probably was supposed to lead to the goron king. To be honest, it was surprising to see that even the guards have left their posts. The path way wasn't so dark this time, it was perfectly lit up by hanged torches. The heroes eventually reached the enormous red doors, decorated with gold ivy, behind them sat the tired guy (which is surprising because he usually had the energy to flip a mountain) - Darunia. His skin was yellow and he had huge muscles most men would only dream to have. Brown tattoos, probably representing the goron symbol, were etched on his arms. Darunia's head was halfway bald, but the remaining white, spiky hair connected with his (also spiky) beard. His body structure was surely uncommon...as I said, he had muscles, but also a hanging belly.
Ashley swore she only saw him being all happy-go-lucky-or-I'll-break-your-back in the games, but now he just looked down right miserable. His dark purple eyes raised once the door opened.
'' Link!'' he said in a slightly deep voice.'' To whom do I owe the pleasure? Cause the guy that let you through will probably get a knock-out outta me,''
'' I presume there are good reasons?'' Ashley tilted her hip and raised an eyebrow.
'' Didn't you feel the tremors?!'' Darunia looked at both of them.'' It isn't save here anymore, we survived lava leaks, but this...''
'' Darunia, what is exactly going on?'' Link asked.
'' The Underworld knows! Some power-hog barged in and took the last Wishing stone, he settled under the dungeons, threatening that if anyone who passes his force field, besides The Hero of Time and his companion, he'll send the whole mountain sky-high! Also if he wouldn't come in time...ironic, I should say,''
'' Holy...'' Ashley swallowed.'' Wait, how could he possibly know I was with you?''
Link shrugged.'' Who was this person? Ganon?''
'' Nooo, not even close. Although he might be his ally. He was simply covered by a red robe, with a red beam of light emerging from it,'' The Earth girl was blown away by this description. She had no record of what creature might match it, and that made her even more worried.
'' If there's a threat like this, why didn't you go searching for Link?''
'' Are you kidding?! We gorons have to protect our self-esteem!''
'' Please, tell me you're kidding,'' Ashley rubbed between her eyes.'' Dude, your whole race are rolling away from this place!''
'' They are evacuating to the smaller mountains till this all blows over,'' Darunia leaned down to the girl.
'' You forgot to add ''literally'' to the sentence,''
'' Who are you coming to my home and talking like this to the goron chief?!'' Link, who tried to shrink for the past few minutes, suddenly got between the two.
'' Alright, break it up! Listen, I admit we came here for the ''Triforce's cousin'' also, but in this situation we will be willing to help, of course,'' Darunia frowned at the boy. The heroes quickly explained their goal with getting Ashley back to her friends.
''Hmmmh,'' Darunia's fingers ran through his beard.'' It explains the girl's action towards me...fine, I didn't want you, Link, to go through all the trouble. But if you'll rid or that idiot and take back ''The Triforce's cousin'', you're more than welcome to use it,'' the last words were for Ashley, who has already forgiven the king for his arrogance. '' This way, I'll show you where the force field begins,''
Dungeon...ok, so it's a dungeon then! Ashley was trying to be optimistic. The deeper they went down, the higher the temperature rouse. She already imagined how much lava they'll have to endure. Darunia stopped next to that field he mentioned, which was letting out a golden glow. The heroes approached it slowly and stretched their hands towards it. Ashley felt a tingling sensation as the glow excepted her and let her and Link go through. The heat blew into her face, forcing her eyes to slightly water.
'' Good luck,'' Darunia wished them before walking away the path they came. Link and Ashley exchanged looks.
'' Right then...no pressure,'' she said a bit nervously. Link straightened.
'' There has to be a clue to who that thief is,''
'' I'm sure there is buuut...'' Ashley rubbed her neck.
'' What?''
'' You know those instincts I have? Well, they're telling me the most obvious clue is right in front of us, we're just missing it,''
'' Oh?'' Link rushed by the path, probably hoping to see Ashley's meaning. Finally, getting through an opening, a lake of burning lava swirled below them. They stood on a promontory with a wooden bridge to the other side. A wooden bridge.
'' Ooo boy,'' Ashley breathed when she saw it.'' That doesn't look secure,''
'' Afraid?'' Link grinned at her. The girl's eyes just narrowed.'' If you are, you may go on ahead, I'll be a few feet behind you,''
Ashley sighed, but took the offer. She grabbed the rope railing an walked over the planks, watching how the lava spits almost reached the bridge's level. Making to the other side, Link said:
'' That wasn't so bad, now was it,''
'' I just have a thing with lava under my feet, ok?'' before they could continue further, a huge wall of magma burst outta nowhere, swallowing their only way back.
'' Yep, I totally have a thing with lava!'' Ashley looked down at the liquid with wide eyes.'' Where did that thing even...!?''
'' I'm not sure, but I think we better move. Now!'' Link said. Apparently the lava was now quickly rising. In a matter of seconds it will reach the exits. Ashley was the first to hightail to the new path. She didn't even feel the ground as her legs just rushed, Link was keeping up from behind. The path got lit up shortly by the flowing magma. The teens ran fast as they could, turning left and right, till the environment suddenly changed: the rocky ground became plain stone, the walls evened up and were painted, but they didn't have time to stop and admire the art.
They passed a few doors, till Link stopped for some reason.
'' Ashley!'' the swashbuckler had to stop as she was halfway through the corridor till the nearest turn. The lava was about to overflow it all and she wanted to move, but she quickly joined her teammate, who was trying to raise and obsidian door. He was pulling onto grip, literally putting his back into it. Minecraft rules, the first thing came to Ashley's mind. She took by the other handle and used all her strength to help. They managed to get the door over their heads. Link whispered through his gritted teeth:
'' Go...'' The girl let go and rushed into safety, Link had to roll in before the door could shut on him, sealing them away from the magma. The heroes fell to the stone floor and panted. Few minutes into the ''dungeon'' and they were already almost fried. Managing to catch her breath, Ashley turned her head to Link.
'' You ok?'' she asked.
'' Yeah...where are we?'' he raised on his elbows and looked around.'' This is...much different from what we just saw,'' Ashley pushed herself up and whistled. The whole place wasn't like a cave, but like a palace in ruins. Course, there were still lava rivers, but luckily they weren't rising. They were separated by a chasm from a statue on the other side. If I'm correct, Ashley thought, those were the goddesses that are said to create the world she's in right now. The statue version of them were going in a circle around the Triforce's replica...which let out an oddly dark glow.
Oh yeah, apart from the lava rivers, there were also twisting balancing beams over the chasm. The lava trickled on some of them, making it difficult for the person who's planning on using them.
'' Looks easy enough,'' Ashley raised her eyebrow.'' I wonder if that statue triggers a way out,''
'' Might be possible,'' Link shrugged.'' Think you can do it?'' he added analyzing the tangled metal beams.
'' Ha!'' The swashbuckler cracked her knuckles.'' Watch me,'' she ran towards the obstacle, avoiding the lava of course. Her grip tightened around one of the beams, swinging her legs and gracefully straightening on it. Ashley then reached for another one over her head, pulling herself up. Then it got difficult. It wasn't the twists or leaking lava in the way...but the creatures.
As Link watched Ashley work her magic, he noticed something crawl in the hot rivers. His eyes narrowed, wanting to make out if what he saw was real. Link pulled out his sword and, just then, being a few feet away from the lava, a centipede, nearly the size of a normal teenager, with a burning shell and angry emerald eyes, shot out from it. It jumped at Link with a screeching cry. The Master Sword chopped it in half, but it's wielder saw that it wasn't over - the centipede's little friends wanted to avenge the fallen.
But they were going not only for the elf, they also crawled up the beams Ashley was on, hissing and clanging with their sharp feet. The girl speeded up, she lunged, grabbed and twirled, managing to kick off a few of the nasty creatures. Link below, was keeping them off the beams as much as he could. One of the centipedes lunged at his back and burst into flames, making the hero to gasp in pain. Link dropped it off, finishing it and a few others with a single blow.
'' Dude, there's a chest a the top!'' Ashley suddenly shouted from above.
'' Get...'' he was cut off when another of the creatures grabbed his arm. Slicing it, he finished.'' Get it! Perhaps there's something to defeat these monsters!''
Ashley nodded and leaped a few beams higher, kicking off another flaming centipede, till she finally reached the platform the chest was waiting on. It was sky-blue, embroidered with silver leaves. Opening the lid, inside were two clawshots, resting on a velvet pillow. Frowning, Ashley took both of them - one in each hand. She looked back down at Link, who was still struggling with the monsters. Ashley began looking around where she might use her new equipment and the first thing her eyes caught on was the Triforce's replica. Although her body protested to do so for some unexplained reason, she aimed for it and released the chained claw. It placed right into the empty spot, the chain tugged it's user towards the Triforce. Ending up on one of the statue's legs, Ashley was facing the dark glow in the middle, where an upside-down triangle was carved out. She heard Link's call from behind, but, out of instinct, her left hand clutched the glow. Immediately a massive breeze rushed through her hair, covering the room. Ashley was thrown aback because of the increasing force.
The girl groaned. She couldn't hear anything, only something mumbling over her. The clouded vision slightly sharpened, revealing Link leaning over her. He looked...scared.
'' What?...What did I just do?'' Ashley muttered. And then she felt her hand touching something cold. Her eyes widened. It was ice. Looking back at the beams and monsters, she saw them all frozen solid. The walls were covered in frost, forming vicious claws and even the lava rivers were covered by the thick ice. '' Wow...''
'' Ashley,'' Link said helping her up.'' What was that? The thing you did?''
'' I don't know! I just...reached for that glow in the Triforce's middle and...'' she was pointing at the statue, only to see that the empty Triforce's spot was now covered up. Ashley frowned, her hand slowly lowered.
'' Now that - is weird,'' There was complete silence, not a wind, not a hiss. Everything in this room just went quiet as the heroes stared at the statue curiously. Ice, why ice? And what is the purpose of the goddesses' statue? Was it really just a memorial for Farore, Nayru and Din?
'' Have you ever been the magical sort?'' Link suddenly asked.
'' Not really,'' Ashley shook her head.'' I usually try to avoid it. Why?'' the elf shrugged. He climbed up to the Triforce and looked at it's center. It was plain, not a sign of change.
'' Hey, I think I can move it!'' Link pushed on the stone and rotated it. But then it started spinning on it's own uncontrollably. The wall in front of them cracked, along with the statue. Link had to jump off before one of the statue's arms could hit him. The room rubbled as the crack got wider and wider, until the statue of the three goddesses fell apart. The heroes walked towards their new path, deeper into the unknown. Shamefully that none of them saw one single thing that changed on Ashley...an upside-down triangle hovered over her left gloved hand for a few seconds, then faded, awaiting it's time when it could shine on the surface once more...