Fanfiction back on! Yay! Now I can update until the computer explodes like King Dodongo! Muahahahahaha.....the graveyard is next....(evil grin)

Let's see...oh yes, I think I'll start another story later on, maybe on chap 40? Whaddya think of that?

Once more, Link fell, flat on the ground, leaving behind his imprint.

Navi rolled out as Link's hat came out on the rough ground.

"OW! Link! Get me! I'm rolling away!"

Link, however, was still buried in his imprint.

"Hold on Navi!" Link cried out in a muffled voice. "Nearly out!"

With a nasty popping noise, Link managed to get out, only to see Darunia right in front of him, and dozens of Gorons behind Link.

Navi, however, was still rolling through the Gorons feet. She bumped into a Goron and finally came to a stop. The Goron, suprised, picked her up.

Darunia's face broke into a huge, watermelon smile.

"You did it, boy! By the way, what's your name?"

"Link," the Kokiri squeaked, backing away.

"Well, now we can eat all we want again! Peace has returned to Death Mountain, to Goron City! I will gladly give you the Spiritual Stone of Fire."

Link blinked, and in a instant, a ruby bopped him on his head.

Surprisingly, Link didn't fall down, but just stared at Darunia.

"It's plastic," Darunia explained, taking out the real Spiritual Stone.

Link frowned.

Darunia shrugged. "Eh, just wanted to see how you'd react."

Link placed the Spiritual Stone in his pouch. "By the way...who sealed up the cavern in the first place?"

Darunia's face darkened. "That ugly green guy named Ganondorf...honestly, he looks so green...that's what happens when you eat too many green rocks...and he wears black clothes. That guy has no sense of fashion, I tell you! Black and green. Bah!"

"Navi?" Link called out. "Where are you?"

A Goron stepped out and in his cupped hands was Navi, bickering.

"Couldn't you hear me screaming?!? I was half scared to death I'd roll into Kakariko Village!"

Link quickly placed Navi on his head and put his hat on.

"Thanks, Darunia."

"Oh, hey, Link, wanna become Sworn Brothers?" Darunia asked eagerly.

Link stared blankly. "Brothers? But, I mean like, you have your mother and well I, you know, we're not related!"

Azarn stepped out from the crowd. "No, no," he chortled. "Lord Darunia simply is asking you for your friendship, to help him in his need."

Link turned pale at, "to help him in his need."

Shoot, I'm going to have to kill another Dodongo for him! Link thought desperately.

"Um, no thanks."

Sensing Link's discomfort, Azarn continued.

"He will help you too," he added.

Link relaxed. "Yeah, sure, why not?"

Darunia smiled. "Ok, my people, let's see off our brother with a nice hug!"

A Goron started to hug Link tightly, and Link gasped and wheezed for air.

"Hehehehehe," Azarn chuckled. "Did I tell you I went easy on you?"

"No!" Link choked.

Navi was laughing insanely.

When every Goron had given Link a hug, they all started marching towards Dodongo's Cavern.

Darunia was the last. "Goodbye, brother!"

He waved and entered the cavern.

Link collapsed into a heap, dozens of bruises covering his face, legs, arms, and there were smears of brown on his Kokiri tunic.

Navi, inside Link's hat, looked carefully at her injured wing. She knew that fairies healed quickly, and hoped that the few hours in Dodongo's Cavern was enough. Navi floated up slowly, steadily...

"Yes! I can fly again! I'm not confined into a hat anymore!"

Navi bumped out of the hat and examined the brown smears.

"Looks like some younger Gorons were experimenting with face-paints," Navi explained to an unconscious Link.

Link grunted, opened up his right eye a tiny fraction, and then got up, satisfied that no more Gorons were left.

"I think I broke something," Link groaned, rubbing his back.

"Stop lying, Link." Navi scoffed.

Crraacckk.

"Ok, maybe you weren't lying."

Link gingerly rose up and started staggering to Kakariko Village.

"Wait, Link! I have a strange feeling...like a tingle..I feel like...like there is a strong scent of magic nearby..."

Link stopped and slowly slumped to the ground.

"If it involves hiking up to the top of the mountain, then I'm not interested," Link grumbled.

"I'm sure that there is a Great Fairy of Magic there. She'll give you a nice...um...magical...gift..."

In truth, Navi wanted to have a chat with the great fairy residing there to make sure she was paired with the right partner. But first she needed to convince Link.

"Um. Hmmm. How. About. No?" Link said angrily, getting up and heading towards the steps to Kakariko.

"Oh...and...um...did I mention she gives out er....rupees?" Navi asked, faking a huge smile.

Luckily, Link didn't notice. "How much?"

Navi tried to float as inconspicously as she possibly could to Link's rupee pouch. When she was close enough, she swiped about seven.

"Lots," Navi replied, nodding.

Link scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Well, okay. At least ten nice rupees."

Navi swiped three more from his pouch and grinned. "Yes, yes."

Link got up, clambered up the higher ledge, and started walking up.

"Ok, lead the way, Navi."

Navi, in truth, didn't really know where to go, but if it it was at the top of the mountain, they should go "up", right?

But Navi made a few mistakes and ended up leading them back to Goron City.

"Navi, look! We've been going on and on for ages and I bet we're going in circles!"

"Maybe I don't know the way," Navi admitted.

Link exploded in frustration. "We better go get a Goron guide,"

On perfect timing, a Goron marched out of Goron City.

"Hey, I thought all the Gorons were in Dodongo's Cavern!" Navi exclaimed, flying over to the Goron. Link followed.

"Oh, it's you two again," the Goron scoffed.

Navi was surprised by the Goron's attitude. "What's your name?"

"I don't know why I'm telling my name to outsiders, but I guess Darunia would command respect to you two filthy things. My name is Balai."

The name rang in Link's mind. Wasn't that the Goron who said no, who refused to let them have the Spiritual Stone?

"Well, can you help guide us to the top of the mountain?" Navi asked, recovering from her faint moment of shock.

The Goron rolled his eyes. "Whatever, just follow me. I really don't know why I'm helping you, I should never help outsiders. Ugh."

He led them up the mountain path muttering things angrily and kicking rocks.

"Disgusting things," Balai commented coldly, "don't even have enough brains to make it to the top of the mountain."

Navi resisted the urge to slap the Goron in the cheek for being so rude. Silently she ignored him.

"Anyways, I'm suspcious. How come you can beat the all-mighty King Dodongo when you can't even get up to the top of the mountain?"

"Hiking skills are not the same compared to the way Link killed the Dodongo!" Navi snapped angrily. "I have a question too, mister, how come you weren't waiting or in Dodongo's Cavern!?!??!"

The Goron seemed taken aback. He quickly recovered. "I have an eating disorder. I don't eat rocks. I feast on...regular food. As for the other question, I refused to wait for two, digusting little things."

"Who delivers your food?" Navi asked back immediately.

"The King of Hyrule is very kind. He is Sworn Brother of Darunia, and every month when the Royal Messenger comes, he also brings a package of food that will last for another month for me." Balai answered coldly.

Navi felt some pity for the Goron-he wasn't like the others of his race-rejected.

"But don't feel pity for me, little fairy," Balai said viciously, as if he had read her mind, "I don't need it."

Navi's sense of pity vanished instantly. "You don't deserve it," she spat out.

Balai clenched his fists and suddenly stopped. He smirked.

"Here you go, the top of the mountain, as I promised, now, good luck getting down!"

He curled up into a tight ball and started rolling down.

Navi gazed up at the wall. There were tight little footholds, good to climb.

"Let's go, Link. Climb up."

Link obediently swung his foot up and the his hand, then another foot, and then another hand...

Navi waited as Link regained his breath at the top, panting. Finally, he got up, still taking deep breaths.

"Where do we go now, Navi?"

Navi floated over to a small crack in the wall. "Hit this with your sword."

Kashnnng

"Bomb it."

Link rummaged through the bomb bag and with some effort, managed to pull it out. He put it near the wall and rubbed it gingerly, causing the fuse to...

"Um, Navi, that's how you light it right?"

"Hopefully."

A tiny spark blossomed into a flame and started running down the fuse.

KABOOM!

The wall blasted to pieces, and there was Link, standing in the middle of it all, his clothes covered in ash and soot.

"Oh, dear. C'mon, Link, let's get inside. The Great Fairy will fix you up." Navi sighed.

Link started walking, leaving behind an ashy trail.