Chapter Four My Reputation Goes Up in Smoke (to the Dismay of the Dodongos)

Link silenced his alarm and yawned. The day of the field trip had finally arrived, and Link had to be at the school by 4:30 in the morning. Half asleep he changed out of his pajamas and tried to go through his checklist of what he had packed.

"Are you going to remove the sigils so that I may join you?" The ghost asked. Link nodded and peeled a sticky note off the door. "I will remain in your back pack."

Link shook his head. "I won't always have my back pack. I can keep my slingshot bag in my pocket though." He yawned. "I can't bring my slingshot though. I'll get in massive trouble."

"In time you will be able to summon your equipment at will. For now trust your sword. It will appear when you call for it."

"Heeereee sword… Come here boy." Link smiled and left to wake up his grandma.

"Your blade is not a dog!"

After annoying the ghost a bit more and convincing his grandma to make muffins for him and his friends, Link sat at the end of the stairs waiting for the "infamous pirate leader" Tetra to pick him up. In all fairness he was the last one being picked up since he lived closest to the school.

"Link?" Aryll stood at the top of the stairs. "Are you leaving?" Link nodded. His sister yawned and took a seat next to him. "Don't get crushed by a Goron hug." She said sleepily, leaning on him. Link snorted.

"Looks like Tetra's here." Their grandma said. Link stood up and stretched, to the dismay of Aryll who had been using him as a pillow. He gave his grandma a hug. "Watch out for your friends okay? That Midna's mouth is gonna get her in trouble." Link stifled a chuckle.

"Have fun Link." Aryll yawned and gave her brother a hug. Link ruffled her hair, grabbed his suitcase and the muffins his grandma mad, and headed to meet his friends. He managed to fit his suitcase in the trunk of Tetra's car and plopped down in the back seat.

"My grandma made muffins." Link offered. Midna groaned in appreciation and grabbed one.

"Maybe later." Zelda said. Sheik had fallen back asleep.

"I'm good kid." Tetra smiled. The ride was silent, as the four were too tired. The middle school was teeming with sleepy kids. For most of them, this was their first time going far away from home. After a bag checks the four piled on to the charter bus, being firmly reminded by one of the parent chaperones that boys and girls were to sit in separate aisles. Sheik took the window seat, putting a pillow on the window and falling back asleep, leaving Link the aisle. Midna took the window seat on the pair of seat opposite the boys, leaving Zelda the window seat.

"If anyone wakes me up before the sun is up I will-" Midna's empty threat was cut off by a chaperone trying to get the attention of the kids. She huffed while the chaperone went over the rules. Boys and girls can't sit next to each other after dark, you're representing the school so be on your best behavior, bla, bla bla. Link tuned most of it out, Zelda would keep the three of them in check anyways. With a lurch the bus started and their field trip began.

"Link?" Zelda asked. "You awake still?" Link nodded. "Good."

"Have you learned anything else?" He asked.

Zelda nodded. "He left me in Faron province because he was afraid his political opponents would target me, but he lost contact with the woman taking care of me. That's when Tetra's crew took me in. When I went missing my picture ended up in the papers in Castletown. Apparently I look just like my mom."

"Isn't Gonzo your guardian though? He's the adult of her crew." Link asked.

"Gonzo gave me up." Zelda's voice caught in her throat. "He thought I should be with my "real" family."

"But Tetra's crew is your real family." Link frowned.

"I know." Zelda sighed. "But there's nothing I can do." Sheik snored loudly making Zelda smile. "I'm really glad I got to know Sheik. You know, you guys will have to visit."

"Us small townies in Castletown?" Link snorted.

"I'm just as small town." Zelda pointed out. "This is the first time I'm leaving Faron… Well the first time since…"

"Yeah." Link chuckled. "So are you going to school there then?" She nodded.

"Yeah. It's a private school. There are dorms on campus, I wish you guys could go too. Your grades are good enough, there are scholarships." She chewed on her lower lip.

Link stifled a laugh. "With my grades? Zelda my grades are only good because you help out so much."

"Nah." She smiled. "You're really smart Link. You're just lazy." Link covered his mouth to try and quiet his laughter.

"Shaddup." A groan came from behind them.

The two glanced down the aisle and then back at each other. "What time is it?" Zelda yawned.

Link shuffled around his bag and pulled out his phone. "Like 6:30 am." Link yawned. Zelda nodded. "What time are we arriving again?"

"Around 4 pm. The first stop is at 8 am. We're stopping at a McTalos for breakfast." She yawned again. "You'll have to come visit me in Castletown this summer."

Link really didn't want to think about summer. "Yeah. I might see if I can start working on the ranch. Fado said he'd hire me when I turn fourteen."

"Yeah but that's not until the end of July." Zelda leaned back in her seat.

"So?" Link pulled out a blanket from his back pack. He yawned. "I might fall asleep."

"I'm surprised you're still awake." She teased. Link grumbled but soon fell asleep.

He was awoken by Sheik. "Come on, breakfast." Link rubbed his eyes and stretched. Zelda had fallen asleep on Midna's shoulder. Link offered a hand to Zelda and the four followed the line of students trickling out of the bus. Before they knew it, they were back on the bus. Link took the window seat and stole Sheik's pillow. He fell back asleep.

Flames flickered around the walls. His arms were strung above him. In front of him was a set of iron bars. The room was cold. Very cold. A sound caught his attention, the sound of footsteps on hard stone headed his way. There was a cold chuckle that bounced off the stone walls.
"Well well how far you fell." A man stood on the other side of the bars.

Link awoke with a start. With a yawn he stretched, narrowly missing Sheik's head. "Sorry." He mumbled.

"We're playing the Alphabet game, wanna join us?" Sheik offered.

"No Sheik you're gonna throw me off I have all my answers planned out!" Midna protested. "Next round!"

"Naw I'll stay out of this one. Will you hand me my backpack? I wanna work on some homework."

"Nerd." Midna teased as Sheik passed Link's bag to him.

"Pretty sure you have a math packet to be working on Midna." Zelda looked up from her book. "We should all do our homework now so we don't have to after the trip."

"Naw."
"Nope."
"Not all of it." The three countered. Zelda rolled her eyes.

"Fine but I won't help you out."

"Zelda I'm at least starting!" Link protested.

After several more rounds of the alphabet game and a break for lunch they finally made it to the hotel the school was staying at the base of Death Mountain.

"You're from here aren't you Sheik?" Zelda asked as the four enjoyed dinner at the hotel.

Sheik nodded. "I grew up in that town we passed through, Kakarico, but I've spent a lot of time in the mountain thanks to my aunt."

Link got an idea. "Do you know of any sacred sites in the mountain?" He tried to ignore the funny looks from Zelda and Midna.

"Yeah, there's a couple. The mine is technically one." Sheik wrinkled his nose in thought. "The Gorons that live in the mountain view the whole place as a sacred site."

"So does that technically make us trespassers?" Midna raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head no. "Not it's not that black and white. They like to share with everyone, they tend to be really welcoming to strangers. There's a few sections that they don't like non-Gorons in, although their patriarch can make exceptions. He usually does so for the PM as a show of brotherhood."

"Have you met the patriarch?" Link asked.

"Once or twice." Sheik snorted. "I'm mean, my aunt is a Peacekeeper, and she worked primarily in this area."

"What exactly does she do as a Peacekeeper?" Midna asked.

"She keeps the peace." Link said, earning an elbow from Zelda. "Ow."

"I mean you're basically right." Sheik said. "She tries to keep the relationship between different people strong. She studies the different cultures of Hyrule and works with the people and reports to ambassadors to help them do their job without upsetting anyone or accidentally causing a war." He took a bite of his food. "She also acted as the ambassador for the Sheikah when she was the matriarch but she had to step down for a bit. Knowing her she'll probably go back to being the matriarch but probably not until I leave for college."

"Does that put a lot of pressure on you?" Zelda asked. Her brow was furrowed, to anyone else it would seem like she was just asking a question but Link knew that face. Sheik was in a position that she was going to be in soon. She was looking for comfort, begging for a no.

Sheik shrugged. "Kinda. It's complicated…"

"Can I get your attention?" The vice principle was standing at the front of the dining hall. "We will be transitioning to the ballroom for your first workshop of the weekend." A mixture of groans and murmurs of appreciation filled the room. Students slowly started to finished their food and headed to their first workshop.

Link flipped through his packet for the uptenth time and chewed on his lower lip. Tomorrow they were going to tour the Goron mines, so tonight was one of his two opportunities to try to get to the temple. The problem was, he still wasn't any closer to figuring out where the temple was. Sheik's answer only broadened his search to the whole mountain. "Hey you never really answered my question." He looked over at the couch where Sheik was lounging. Sheik looked up from his book and raised an eyebrow. "Are there any sacred sites on the mountain?"

"Link the whole mountain is a sacred site." Sheik rolled his eyes. "You didn't listen."

"Gee thank metal mouth." It was Link's turn to roll his eyes. "Be more specific."

"Why do you even care snaggle tooth?" Link was silent. "Well?"

"I'm just curious!" Link defended.

"Really? You're "just curious" about sacred sites on the mountain?" Sheik frowned.

"Never mind." Link sighed and crawled under the covers. Hopefully Sheik would pick up on the hint and go to sleep as well. Then he could sneak out and purify the temple.

He woke up to the sound of Sheik getting ready for the day, meaning he had fallen asleep and missed his chance…

"Wake up sleepy head." Sheik teased. "You snore in your sleep."

"Shut up!" Link launched his pillow at the other boy, who ducked.

"Think Midna'll be my partner when we explore the mine?"

Link snorted. "In your dreams."

The students had been split into smaller groups led by either a teacher or adult chaperone, or a Goron volunteer. Link and Sheik were in a group with a Goron, who was apparently the patriarch Darunia.

"You should feel special. We're with the leader of the Gorons." Sheik elbowed the grumpy Link. Unfortunately, Darunia seemed too good at keeping track of the students he was in charge of, and after "wandering off" too many time Link was stuck under the watchful eye of the patriarch.

"Maybe if I could go off an explore by myself." He grumbled.

"Maybe if you didn't keep trying to sneak off." Sheik pointed out.

Link clenched his fists and felt a tingling power surround his left hand. In shock, he unclenched it and look at his it.

"Take a left." The ghost jarred him out of his pout. "Now."

Link stole a glance at Darunia, who was really getting into explaining a section of the cave. He looked over his shoulder and saw a small passageway. Confident that the large Goron wasn't going to follow him into the small passage, Link darted into the passage.

"Link!" Sheik hissed and followed. "Link!" As Link hurried down the path, as spectral figure emerged from his pocket.

"There is a Dodongo, a large one, that needs to be dealt with." The ghost explained. "Your friends are in danger."

"You went ahead without me?" Link feigned hurt. "Why haven't we found the rest of the temples then?"

"Call your sword." The ghost stopped.

"How?" Link skidded to a halt.

"You almost had it earlier."

"Link?! What are you doing?! Is that a ghost?!" Sheik had caught up to the teen and the ghost.

Link and the ghost exchanged looks and Link looked as pale as the ghost. "We do not have time for this. The Dodongo is around the corner."

"Sheik stay here." Link squeezed his left hand and found his sword appear in it. Both he and Sheik looked at the sword in shock.

"KID!" The ghost shouted. Link felt an approaching heat blow past.

"They breathe fire!? You didn't tell me that!" Link peeked around the corner. A large Dodongo was pacing the room. Suddenly there was a large explosion. The two teens ducked as the mine shook.

"That was a bomb flower." Sheik said.

"I don't think I can hurt it with my sword." Link chewed on his lower lip and glanced around the corner again.

"Link! We have to get out of here!" Sheik grabbed his friends arm and pulled.

"Sheik stay here. It's dangerous." Link looked down the hall where the fireball ended. Sure enough two bomb flowers were growing at the end of the hall. "Can I blow it up by feeding it a bomb flower?" He asked the ghost.

"That should work in part. It should at least force it to expose its weak underbelly." The ghost agreed. Link took another glance at the Dodongo and ran to the bomb flowers. The Dodongo began to suck in air. "Hurry!" Link threw the bomb as hard as he could into the Dodongo's mouth. Comically the Dodongo suddenly stopped and swallowed the bomb, and then fell over on its side when the bomb exploded. With a cry Link surged forward and split the Dodongo's stomach open. With a whine the Dodongo died.

"Yeah!" Link punched his sword into the air. "I did it!"

"Not all the monsters you face will be so easy." The ghost reminded.

"HELLO?!" Sheik shouted. "When are you going to explain what in Demise just happened!?" Link opened his mouth to answer only to be cut off by the sound of a very concerned Goron.

"Link and Sheik? Are you here little Hylian? Sannhetssoker?" Darunia was on the other side of the passage.

"We're here! A Dodongo set off a bomb flower and caused a cave in!" Link half lied.

"A Dodongo!? Is it still there little Hylian?!" Darunia asked.

Link looked over at Sheik, who was glaring at him. "No, I think it got squished by the cave in."

"Are you both okay?" Darunia asked. Sheik responded in Goron, to which Darunia also responded in Goron.

"Release your sword." The ghost reminded. Link jumped at the ghost's reminder and dropped his sword. Instead of clattering to the ground, the weapon disappeared. "You will have to explain to your friend what has passed on your own."

"Gee thanks." Link sighed as the ghost disappeared into his pocket.

Soon the passageway was cleared enough for the two boys to safely exit. Darunia embraced Sheik and said something to him in Goron, who responded in turn.

"Come little Hylian." Darunia led Link away from the crowd of concerned students and teachers. "Sannhetssoker said you killed the Dodongo yourself. He said you threw a bomb flower into its mouth and cut the stomach open."

"He-he must have gotten hit in the head…" Link stammered.

Darunia shook his head. "Sannhetssoker is a truth seeker from a long line of truth seekers. He does not lie." Link chewed on his lower lip. "Little Hylian, you have shown as much courage as the great Dodongo buster of legend. He also had much on his mind that he could not tell every soul. If you ever need help I will offer my assistance. Little Sannhetssoker will assist you as well." Darunia patted Link's shoulder. "The time will come when you need many friends. Make as many as you can, and make sure they are true." Darunia steered Link back to the crowd.

"Link!" Zelda caught the boy off guard with a gut squeezing hug.

"Link are you okay?" Midna pulled Link away from Zelda and looked him over. Seeing no obvious injury, she smacked his head hard. "Why'd you go off the path you idiot!"

"Midna!" Zelda protested.

"Leave him alone." Sheik sighed. Aside from some dust and being a little shaken, he seemed okay too.

"Ew what are you covered in?!" Midna noticed the monster guts all over Link.

"Oh ew!" Zelda tried to flick remaining monster guts off her shirt.

As soon as the two boys were alone in their room Sheik punched Link in the arm. "Alright, you have some explaining to do!" Link rubbed his arm and gave Sheik a hurt look. "Don't you dare. I just saw you take down a giant monster. There's no way that hurt."

"Fair enough." Link shrugged and sat down on his bed. "Where should I start?'

"Uh… The beginning?!" Sheik crossed his arms.

Link made a face in agreement. "Fair enough…" Link started from the beginning; from the ghost appearing and telling him about Zelda going missing, to his ongoing search for the temples.

"So that's why you were asking about sacred spots in the mountain." Sheik sighed. "Well?"

Link was confused. "Well what?"

"Well was that a temple? Did you purify it?"

"It wasn't a temple." Link shook his head. "And I don't know if I purified it." The two were quiet for a moment.

"My aunt might know." Sheik offered.

"No." Link stood up. "No she can't know. You can't tell anyone. Sheik this is dangerous, I can't have anyone helping you." Sheik rolled his eyes.

"How are you going to find all the temples?" He raised an eyebrow. "You aren't going to find them without my help."

"Sheik-" Link started.

"No. Link I can help you. I won't get in your way, I'll just help you figure out where to go. I won't tell anyone." The two stared at each other for a long time. "There's no way you can do this alone. Every hero had help. Well… Every successful one…"

"There were unsuccessful heroes?" Link paled. The ghost decided to make his presence known.

"You will be successful kid." The ghost said, glaring at Sheik.

"Wait is he the reason why you were asking Impa about sealing ghosts?" Sheik pointed at the ghost. "Is that why you didn't want her to come over and purify your house? I thought you had a ghost in your grandma's house not your pocket."

"To be fair he stays in my backpack most of the time." Link said.


Hey I had this chapter all ready to go a day EARLY. Now I'm three days late... Opps...