Link, following Navi's words, was now heading for the goron city on Death Mountain. When he got there, he found it empty. Save for one small goron rolling around on the second floor. Link went to the second floor and waited in the stairway for the goron to roll by, hoping it would stop and tell him what happened to the others.

Link saw the goron and noticed that once it passed the corner and spotted him it sped up and aimed at him. He dodged, but his ankle was hit on the goron's hard back. Link winced as he fell to one knee and braced himself for another hit. But luckily Navi piped up "WAIT! We're not here to hurt you! Please!" the goron stopped but stayed in a tight, tense ball and replied "who are you? You're one of Gannon's servants aren't you!" Link sighed and asked Navi to tell the goron what he wanted to tell him:

(Ok, humour time, what Link says and what Navi tells the goron are just gonna be one on top of the other)

-I'm Link-

"This is Link"

- I've been cursed, beaten, electrocuted and now YOU tried to kill me first and ask questions later and I really don't wanna deal with brats like you. So tell me what happened here so I can fix it and leave-

"Link is really worried about the missing gorons and would like to help"

-And kid... I REALLY need to get going so keep the long winded stories to a minimum-

"Uuuuuuuhhh... could you tell us what happened?"

After the goron told his name (which was ironically Link) and the story of Volvagia (whom Ganondorf resurrected and has planned to eat all the gorons as warning to all other races). Link sighed and tried to smile for the kid, but found it harder than when he forced a smile for Navi's sake in the Forest Temple. Link-g held out a red tunic for Link and said "here. This'll keep you from burning up in the Temple

When Link found the entrance to the Death Mountain crater from Darmani's room he surveyed the area, murmuring to himself much like he did in the forest temple -two rickety bridges over lava... one will lead to the temple, but a portion of the bridge has collapsed at the front, I can see that from here... the other leads to unexplored territory... I best explore there first and see if I can find anything of use- After exploring, Link found some supplies and headed to the broken bridge.

Link used the hookshot against a wood plank hanging over the bridge where it had collapsed and pulled himself over. He landed safely, but sensed another presence nearby. Link continued across the bridge cautiously, but stopped as he watched Sheik fall from what seemed to be the sky -Sheik... look I don't have time for one of your speeches about memories of what else you may have, so can we skip that and just teach me the song?- Sheik was shocked at the hostility in Link's voice, but he did as was requested and just taught Link the Bolero of Fire and said "Link... I'll see you again..." suddenly, fire bursted in between Link and Sheik. When the fire died Link saw that Sheik had disappeared.

Navi flew over to a cave entrance and yelled over for Link to follow. Link entered the shallow cave and found a square well in the floor with a ladder against one side. The 'well', of course, didn't have any water in it but instead lead to the Fire Temple. Link started down the ladder but suddenly lost his footing and started to fall. He tried to grab the ladder again but only succeeded in pounding his arm against the wall. Link landed on his already injured arm and cried out in pain. Navi went to speak but Link interrupted -I'm fine Navi... I want you to hide in my hat since you don't have any protection from the heat- Navi tried to protest but Link wouldn't let her, so she reluctantly hid in his hat.

Link was forced to fight with his right arm since he broke his left arm after his fall. The fire Keese gave him a little trouble, but he defeated them and continued through the temple. Link had found Darmani, but Darmani wouldn't wait for Link to get a better weapon and went to fight the temple's guardian on his own.

Link rushed through the temple, not caring about monsters chasing him through each room Darmani's in trouble! I don't have time to waste with them! Was all that went through Link's mind as he dodged flames, fangs and claws.

Link entered a small, circular room with a chest atop a pedestal in the center. He carefully stepped forward as flames engulfed the pedestal and a Flame Dancer appeared from the flames. Link tried to fight but to no avail. The Flame Dancer was too fast and his dominant arm was broken. Link fell to his knees. He lost. His body was worn and over-heated. He could fight no longer.

When all hope seemed lost and the Flame Dancer was about to strike, Sheik appeared. He protected Link and defeated the Flame Dancer. Sheik went to Link's side and helped him to his feet. Sheik shook his head at Link and said "Link... why did you try to fight when your dominant arm is broken?" Link just looked away and replied -Darmani went after Volvagia without me. I had to find the legendary hammer and help him fast- Sheik studied Link's face and saw that something was bothering him other than the heat.

With the Megaton hammer in hand, Link entered the guardian's room with Sheik by his side. There was no sign of Darmani anywhere and Sheik's silence only confirmed Link's fear. Darmani wasn't there and could very possibly be dead.

Sheik grabbed Link's shoulder and nodded towards the large cylindrical arena before them. Link followed Sheik and found that Volvagia was waiting for them. Link studied the arena carefully -Ok... the arena is circular with large holes through it that are filled with lava. Likely a system of tunnels for Volvagia- Sheik nodded but held Link back when he tried to leave. Link turned to Sheik in shock, Sheik had a worried look in his eye as he said "Link, I want you to sit this one out"

-W-what? Why?-

"You had trouble with the Flame Dancer. Are you really capable of fighting Volvagia?"

-But what about you? You don't fight with weapons like long swords or hammers!-

"I am capable of using my dominant hand and I am fast. I'll tie you to the ground if I must"

Link growled as he looked at the make-shift sling Sheik made for his arm before handing Sheik the hammer. Sheik jumped onto the arena as he readied the Megaton hammer for battle.

Volvagia emerged from one of the holes and let out an enraged roar in Sheik's face before diving into another hole. Sheik waited for Volvagia to emerge again before taking action. It didn't take long; Volvagia's force through the lava would make which ever hole he was going to emerge from overflow. He waited close to the overflowing hole and as Volvagia's head emerged, Sheik used all his strength to strike his head. The strike was enough to send Volvagia back into his hole, but soon after Volvagia emerged again and wrapped his serpent-like body around Sheik with great speed. Volvagia began to squeeze the life out of Sheik, and Sheik was helpless to defend himself. Link desperately wanted to help, but he wouldn't be able to jump far enough to land on the arena.

Finally, Sheik took his last breath. It was over. Volvagia seemed to cackle with glee as Sheik's limp body fell to the ground. Link fell to his knees. Sheik was gone. He couldn't hold back his tears. But when he looked to the ground beneath him he watched with curiosity. His tears fell and left black marks on the ground. Suddenly, a deep voice resembling Sheik's voice rang through the air "AS THE TEARS OF THE HERO FALL, I SHALL ARISE!" Then shadows erupted from Sheik's body and began to form a shadow giant. The giant let out a loud, deep bellow before swallowing the dragon whole.

Link was frozen. He was terrified by this new creature that so easily defeated Volvagia, but he soon realized the creature was a friend when it lifted him and placed him beside Sheik before disappearing. Link lifted Sheik's head and laid him on his shoulder. He got a canteen of water out of his pocket and gave Sheik a drink. Sheik coughed some of the water up, but he was awake. He was alive. Sheik shifted so he could face Link comfortably and asked in a weak voice "Thank you. But I'm fine now" Link tightly closed his eyes, trying to hold back tears, as he said -Why? Why would you fight a battle alone like that? You could've… You could've…- Sheik sighed. He placed a hand on Link's cheek before saying "Hero… how have you survived this darkness?" Link couldn't hold back the tears. He started to explain -In the forest… The Great Deku Tree was the only one in the forest… no, in the world, who treated me like family. Even Saria. She only thought of me as a friend… Outside the forest I was either a nobody or a hero…- Sheik looked at Link inshockAll this time… and his only connection to a family died before him Link didn't seem to notice Sheik's look, he continued –But you actually help me… while everyone else pushes me to be a hero I'm not… I'm just not…- Sheik got up, still a bit wobbly, and said "go meet the sage… I'll be right outside waiting for you". Link got up and nodded before leaving to meet the Sage of Fire. Darmani.