Chapter 7: Sworn Sibling

Honro ran as soon as he saw the King Dodongo roar, he ran all the way back to the city, screaming. Many of the gorons looked in question as Honro ran into the city and towards Darunia's chamber. Darunia did not like this noise, "What's with all the noise!"

Honro finally stopped screaming in order to stop in front of Darunia and explain, "The hylian girl's in Dodongo's Cavern and she's facing the king dodongo!"

Darunia burst into laugher, "That kid couldn't even beat the creatures at the bottom of the mountain!"

Honro then yelled in rage, "It's true! She's going to die if we don't help her! She's risking her life, you've got to help!"

Darunia looked over Honro for a second and realized he was telling the truth, "I'll send a few warriors in with you. This better not be a lie!"

Honro nodded as he heard the footsteps of three warriors come behind him. He turned to them and quickly lead them back to the cavern, "She's deep inside! We have to hurry!"

Honro and the warriors curled themselves into balls of rocked and rolled into the cave with tremendous speeds. They came across the hole in less than a minute. They heard nothing in the hole, but one of the warrior's jumped down to see the king dodongo on the cavern floor, unmoving. The warrior also saw a blue light near an unconscious hylian girl. The blue light, which was revealed to be a fairy, came up to the goron and spoke in worry, "Please! She won't wake up! She needs help!"

The warrior walked over towards the hylian girl and saw blood slowly pour out of her head and back where they currently rested against the rock. The warrior heard his other three companions land in the cavern, and the patter for Honro's feet coming up to him and the hylian girl. Honro looked at the girl in worry then turned to the fairy, "What happened?"

The fairy still was in worry, "She beat the king dodongo! But she used the last bomb when she was inside its mouth and it ejected her from its mouth and onto this wall!"

Honro was shocked; the hylian girl was quite resourceful and daring. He nodded to the warrior beside him and the warrior gently picked up the unconscious girl and hung her over his shoulder. Another one of the warriors took up Zelda's backpack. The team exited the cave to see Darunia waiting for them along with half of the city. The goron holding Zelda, now bridal style, presented the unconscious girl to Darunia and explained what happened. The fairy assisted with details she did not tell before. Darunia was in shock that a small hylian girl could stand up to a king dodongo and survive at the end, "This girl is a hero!"

The gorons around them all cheered as the hero was taken back up the mountain to tend to her wounds and wait for her to wake.

Zelda dreamed during this time, she saw flashes of very different places. She saw a vast sea of sand, wind carrying sand so that visibility was low. She saw a vast lake with ruins at the edge and small islands within the lake. She saw a red dragon-esque creature jet up from a geyser of lava. She saw ruins that were covered in leaves, dust, and vines. Then, she saw the same dream she's seen many times before, but this time the figure that was always blurred was finally revealed; it was Gallendora.

Zelda woke up with a startle, as she always does when she has that dream. She calmed herself down and looked around the stone room she was in. Other than the bed she was laying on, there was no furniture. She then noticed a small goron at her bedside, sleeping, undisturbed by her startle. She then quietly pieced together what happened; she defeated the king dodongo, then she was brought here. She looked over herself to see in there were any bandages; none were on her body anywhere, it was as if she was healed by magic.

After she finished looking over herself, she heard a yawn from the goron next to her, it lifted it's head up and looked at her; it was Honro! He at first didn't seem to care, but after a few seconds he fully awakened and gasped, "You're awake!"

Zelda smiled, "Yea, I'm awake. Where am I?"

Honro calmed down and explained, "You're back in the city! Everyone's been waiting for you to wake up!"

Zelda was confused, "All I remember is my bomb exploded and I was thrown against something… then nothing."

Honro smiled, excited to tell the tale, "Well, I ran away when the king dodongo roared, but I knew you'd need help so I ran back here, convinced Darunia to allow some warriors to come with me and we rescued you! But you didn't need our help, you defeated the king dodongo all by yourself! You were injured pretty badly too, so we took you to the great fairy!"

Zelda blinked, "The great fairy?"

Honro nodded, "Yea, she lives near the top of the volcano, and Darunia said she could heal your wounds. Sure enough she did, you became as good as new! So we put you in this room so you could rest, you've been unconscious for two days!"

Zelda's eyes widened, "Two days?"

Zelda immediately thought this was bad, Gallendora could have made her move already and she didn't even have the Sacred Stone from Darunia! Honro saw the shock in her face, "You ok?"
Zelda blinked, disturbing her thoughts, "Y-yea! It's just… I hope that I can gather the Sacred Stones before it's too late."

Honro decided not to ask, "Well anyway come on!"

Honro then pulled Zelda out of bed and started to lead her out of the room, "Everyone's been waiting for you!"

Honro led the confused Zelda out off the room and into the center of the city. Many gorons on the way looked at Zelda with either awe or respect as she passed them by. This confused Zelda even more, she even felt nervous from all the gorons gazing at her. When they reached the center of the city Honro let go of Zelda's hand, "Wait here, I'll tell Darunia you're up!"

Zelda was left in the center of the city with many gorons closing in around her, until Darunia came out of his chamber along with Honro, who went into the crowd. Darunia approached Zelda with his arms behind his back and a serious look on his face, which turned to a grin, "Thanks to you we can once again eat the delicious rocks from the Dodongo's Cavern! To think all of this was caused by that Gerudo thief, Gallendora!"

Zelda's eyes widened for a second, realizing this all really was Gallendora's fault! Darunia continued, "She demanded the spiritual stone in exchange for opening the cavern. You on the other hand, risked your life for us!"

The gorons around them cheered after this was said, some holding up some rocks from the cavern. Darunia then patted Zelda, making her fall and quickly stand up as Darunia continued speaking, "I like you kid, how's about you and I become Sworn Siblings? No big ceremony involved!"

Darunia then revealed what he was holding behind his back, the Goron Ruby! Zelda eyed the stone in shock as Darunia spoke again, "Just take this as a token of our friendship and thanks!"

Zelda looked up at Darunia, unsure if she really was allowed to take the Ruby. Darunia nodded, signaling that she indeed was allowed to take it. Zelda smiled as she grasped the Ruby, covered in gold in a different way than the Kokiri Emerald. She raised the stone above her head, causing the gorons to once again cheer for their new sister. Honro came up to her an smiled, "Looks like I'll be calling you little sister from now on!"

Zelda was not amused, "I'm probably older than you!"

Darunia broke the fighting before it started, "Now, now. You two are siblings now. But Zelda… that is your name right?"

Zelda nodded, to which Darunia continued, "You should probably go thank the Great Fairy of Power for healing you."

Zelda then blinked, "I probably should."

Honro realized something, "But wait, she'd have to use the aboveground route because she can't stand the heat of the volcano!"

Darunia shook his head; "We've been developing a cloth that can help Hylians stand the heat we can for some time now. It's not finished…. And it'll be big on her, but she can use it to get up there."

Zelda was in awe, "I'll bring it back for sure."

Darunia and the other gorons dispersed from the middle of the city, each for their own reasons. Zelda decided to wait, thinking that Darunia was getting the tunic he spoke of. As she waited, Zelda realized something and looked around, "Speaking for fairies… where's Navi?"

Honro, who still remained, smiled, "Don't worry, she's with the Great Fairy."

This made Zelda feel better, knowing where Navi was, she couldn't wait to see her again.

After a few minutes Darunia came back with the tunic he mentioned and said Zelda could keep it for when she'd come back and visit them. Zelda nodded, quickly put the tunic over her own, and followed Honro through a volcanic path to the Great Fairy. The Great Fairy was inside a fountain that rested inside a cave at the top of the volcano. Stone torches were lit at each side of the fountain, giving a soft glow in the reflection of the water. Zelda approached the fountain, confused as to where the Great Fairy was, but as she approached the fountain she heard a joyous laugh. As if from thin air, the Great Fairy appeared, hovering over the fountain, "Welcome again, young one. I see you have come despite you have no wounds. Are you perhaps here to thank me for healing you?"
Zelda stiffened up and nodded, "Y-yes ma'am!"

The Great Fairy chuckled, "Relax, child. I'm glad you came this way. In fact I believe I have something that may help you in your journey."

Zelda was confused, but the Great Fairy beckoned her closer as she lowered herself to seem as if she stood on top of the water. Zelda stood at the edge of the fountain and saw the Great Fairy create something in a ball of light. As quickly as the light appeared, it disappeared and revealed a scroll, "Take it. It is a scroll for a sword technique."

Zelda nodded and took the scroll, "Thank you."

The Great Fairy floated up to her original spot, "Before you go, I believe you should wake your companion."

The Great Fairy motioned towards the side of the fountain, near one of the torches, and Zelda saw Navi there, sleeping peacefully. With that the Great Fairy disappeared, much to Zelda's confusion. She then poked Navi, hoping she'd wake up, "Navi."

Navi stirred and slowly opened her eyes, letting out a gasp, "Zelda! You're awake! Oh how long have I been asleep? And what are you wearing?"

Zelda shrugged, "I don't know, but Honro told me I was asleep for two days, and this is a tunic that suppose to have me stand the heat gorons can."

Navi then mused, "I guess I just slept for the night, but anyway! Did you get the stone?"

Zelda pulled the Goron Ruby from her backpack, making Navi smile, "Two down, and one to go."

Zelda nodded before she put the stone away, along with the scroll, and turned around, "Let's go then, to Zora's Domain, right?"

Navi then nodded and sat on Zelda's head, "Onward!"

Zelda then rushed out of the cave, only to stop as she saw an owl perched on a sign next to them. She and the owl locked eyes, confusing Zelda. Navi, however, was not amused, "Owls, never liked them."

The owl then hooted, flew up and grabbed Zelda's shoulders by its talons. This scared Zelda, as the owl seemed to pick her up into the air, "What's happening?"

Navi blinked, "I think it's giving us a lift down to Kakriko Village."

The owl dropped them off near the southern gate, hooting once again before it flew off back towards the volcano, taking the fire-resistant tunic with it. Zelda waved to it, "Bye mister owl!"

Navi groaned, "I hope that never happens again."

Zelda smiled and let out a small, amused laugh, "Let's get going. Follow the river, right?"

Navi spoke with confidence, "Yep! Soon we'll have the Zora Sapphire as well!"

Zelda started to walk down the path that lead back to Hyrule Field, "Then back to Prince Link!"

Navi and Zelda then spoke with confidence, "Then we'll defeat Gallendora!"

Both became shocked by Zelda's sudden boost of confidence, something that has been rarely seen in this adventure. Navi cracked a smile, knowing she was molding Zelda into the courageous hero she'd need to be.

It took nearly all day to get to the entrance of Zora's Domain, the sun hung in the sky at an angle that told evening was approaching. In front of Zelda and Navi, a raging waterfall blocked the only entrance Zelda could safely venture into. Navi had an idea, "What about the song?"

Zelda blinked before taking out Saria's Ocarina, "Okay, but I'm not sure it'll work."

Zelda then played Link's Lullaby and watched as the water seemed to split in order to show the entrance. Zelda did not know, or ask, how that happened; all she knew is that she finally could enter Zora's Domain.