Hey readers! It's CHAPTER 10 and I've got over 400 hits!! YAHOOOOOOOO!! Thanks to those of you awesome enough to review! You guys are awesome! I've got chapter 20 done on my other computer, so once I get to chapter 30 done, that'll be on! Wow...I'm on a roll with this story!

Moriko: Can we let them read now? I'm eager to get on with the story.

Me: Fine...fine. Hoep you like it, cause the net chapter was the hard one to write. Enjoy!

Chapter 10: The Gorons

"Hey, Tanner, are you sure you know where you're going?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Stop asking."

"…really?"

"Yes. Stop asking."

Silence.

"That's the second time I've seen that boulder.

"How would you know?!"

"I've been paying attention! Unlike you!!"

Moriko and Tanner had been bickering over what way to take ever since they left Kakariko Village. The sun was beginning to go down and tension was high.

"HEY!! Let's just try walking, people!" Navi eventually yelled, ending the argument there. The rest of the way up the mountain was utter silence, along with the occasional shriek when a boulder nearly flattened someone, followed by the other person laughing.

Navi passed the time by telling Moriko about the Gorons she'd encountered while she had been with her Link. They had been nice, especially since Link had become a Goron brother. The Gorons fed on rocks from deep inside the mountain and made special weapons made out of extremely hard substances, such as hammers and decent shields that wouldn't catch on fire.

"So they're miners?"

"In a way, yes."

"What do they look like?"

"You'll see, we're almost there," Tanner said, pointing to the mouth of a cave a few meters away. Moriko put on a burst of speed and ran up to it, almost colliding with a rock that dropped in front of her.

"Yikes! What the?! Stupid rock!"

Navi was about to yell at Moriko when the rock shifted and stood up. Moriko's eyes went wide as she fell backwards, her eyes glued to the giant in front of her.

"Trespassers! Get off the mountain, now!" the rock shouted, taking a step forward. The ground shook and a crater formed where its foot came down. Moriko pushed herself backwards, bumping into Tanner's legs. She looked up at him to see his eyes filled with annoyance.

"Brother Raga! It's me, Tanner! We need to get into Goron City!"

The Goron paused, then grinned, scooping Tanner up into a huge hug.

"Brother Tanner! It had been only a few months since we Gorons last saw you!" Raga placed Tanner on the ground next to Moriko, where he sat in a daze. "I'm sure Gor Cormon and the elders will be glad to see you! This way!"

Moriko helped Tanner inside the cave as Navi floated alongside Raga, asking about the Gorons. The Goron only told her to talk with the elders once they were inside the city. Taiki on the other hand, was busy hiding behind Moriko and Tanner, obviously frightened by the Goron.

"Does it eat fairies?" he asked Tanner. The teen sighed and shook his head. That had been the third time Taiki had asked.

"For the last time, Taiki, the Gorons eat rocks, not fairies."

"It's okay, Taiki," Moriko said, allowing the skittish fairy to land in her hand. "No Goron will eat you with me around."

"For the last time, Gorons don't-"

"Quiet, Tanner!" she hissed. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. She was babying the fairy and acting like a freaking mother. Bipolar

Raga lead them deeper into the mountain, following the worn down path until he led the group into a larger area. It was built like a tower, circular with a wide ledge winding around the side. Moriko wandered to the ledge and looked down. It was at least a six story drop, and the bottom level glowed eerily. She quickly scooted away, and stood up, careful not to get too close to the edge again. A fall from this height wasn't acceptable.

The group made their way down the slope as carefully as possible. The slope of the path may have been somewhat level, but it was pretty smooth, and easy to stumble on. While they managed not to fall, Moriko's eyes wandered from the ground to the walls. There were tunnel entrances every ten feet, and they all felt hot. In fact, the farther down they went, the hotter it got. The heat came in waves, and no Goron seemed to mind as much as Tanner and Moriko.

Finally, they made it to the bottom, only to be sent backwards by an enormous gust of volcanic air and dust. Both hylians began hacking their lungs up in an attempt to clear their air passages out, though the fairies seemed fine. Navi floated over to the largest Goron and began chatting animatedly to him, and Taiki stayed by Moriko, concerned for his friend.

"You should drink something," he said after a bit. Tanner nodded and opened his bag. He stuck his hand inside and pulled out a bottle labeled Hot Spring Water. He took a sip, then offered it to Moriko, who took a gulp. It was hot at first, but it felt great in the long run. She made a mental note to buy some when she had the chance.

"Welcome, Brother Tanner and friend," the large Goron said at last. "We are happy to have you here in Goron City. I am Gor Cormon."

Tanner straightened himself and stuck his hand out. "Brother Cormon, it has been too long! I have been waiting for the day my travels would take me back here. The King of Hyrule sends his blessings."

"And we return them with our own," Gor Cormon said warmly, shaking Tanner's hand. When they released each other, Gor Cormon crossed his arms. "So, what brings you to Death Mountain?"

"I'm looking for my next paycheck, brother," Tanner said, scratching the back of his head like a child. "I'm a sort of bounty hunter now."

"So you finally quit the army? Good. They were far too hard on you anyway." Gor Cormon turned to Moriko, an eyebrow raised, if he had one. "And what brings your lovely friend here?"

"I'm Moriko. I'm from Ordon Village, to the south," she said, standing up straight. "I'm looking for the sacred item called the Rod of Seasons."

The Gorons stiffened and narrowed their eyes at her. Only Gor Cormon spoke.

"Is that so? I'm sorry to say that the rod is no longer here."

"What?!" Navi shouted. Gor Cormon shook his head.

"I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous, even if it was there." he explained. He watched the girl's face darken as she looked at the floor. "I'm sorry, but after what you just told me, I'm going to have to ask you to leave Goron City."

Moriko clenched her hand into a fist to keep it from shaking.

"So you're saying I should just go home?"

"Yes. A girl like you would be killed in the volcano. Go home."

Moriko was silent now, her shoulders shaking. Tanner rested a hand on her shoulder, only to have it brushed off.

"I knew I shouldn't have left home," she whispered, turning and trudging back up the ramp. Tanner made to follow, but was blocked by Navi and Taiki.

"Just let her be for a bit. She needs to cool off." With that the fairies flew off after Moriko, unwilling to lose her again. Tanner stood there and watched his friend run upward, her eyes hidden by her bangs. What exactly did those fairies expect of her?

Moriko ran as fast as her legs would allow without tripping, succeeding in getting her out of Goron City in a few minutes. It was dark now, and the stars were hidden by the smoke coming out of the volcano. She'd really wanted to go, but she'd chickened out in the end. She could've run right past them and run to the rod, then explained what the light spirits had told her to do. She should've done something besides give up, but she knew she was weak. She'd never wanted to leave home, and she'd been forced into it.

She stopped walking, staring at the village lights below. Did she really want to go home so badly? The only ones there she loved dearly were Tabatha, Laura, and Gabe.

Gabe.

She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her skin. She had to protect him. If she went home now, Kaiser would go after her until she died, and he'd do anything to hurt her.

She turned and stalked back up the hill, glaring at the figure who emerged from the cave mouth. It was Gor Cormon. He was smirking, and stepped aside as she came up to him. She looked at him and her gaze soften as she realized what he was doing.

"If you feel you must, go ahead. If you hadn't turned around, I wouldn't have let you come back. Feeling better?"

"Yeah," she said, heading back in. Taiki was waiting just inside, his fairy light flickering slightly.

"Moriko!" he shouted when he saw her. "I thought you wouldn't come back!!"

Moriko allowed him to fly around her a few times before letting him land in her hand.

"Taiki, calm down. I wasn't going to go. I just needed to think."

"Okay! Let's go!" Taiki said. Moriko let him go and reentered Goron City, following the path back down to Tanner, who was standing in front of a large round boulder.

"Ready to go, Moriko?" he asked, smiling. She nodded, joining him where he stood. Navi and Taiki fluttered beside them as the Gorons pushed the boulder over until the door to Death Mountain was completely unsealed. Both hylians took one last deep breath of cool air and headed though the door, entering the volcano known as Death Mountain.

Yay! Hope you liked it. So I got kinda depressed at the end, I was sad at the time...Anyway, the next chapter will be entirely Death Mountain fun, so I hope you buy a Goron Tunic! RxR please! I'm getting lonely...T.T