A/N: Whoa! An update! Well, no excuses really. Football, track, finals, vacation, a pet's death (R.I.P. Spot ): ), and more. I mean, really. Once I get started on something else, sometimes I forget about updating my stories. So, leave reviews as always. I put a lot of though and effort into this chapter, and I'd like to know what you all think.

Like I promised, after this chapter, this story is going to get a lot better. So, even if it takes like friggin' months, be on the lookout for the next chapter. Cause, I haven't given up. On ANY of my stories. I just have so many of them, it'll take awhile between updates. But I'm trying

-Sam

A Voice in Onyx

After finally escaping the mines, Link found himself face to face with an upset elder.

"What is the meaning of this young Hylian?" he snapped, "I guess it was too hard and you came to-"

"No!" Link said quickly, cutting him off, "Look, I came to the temple entrance… but it was blocked off by huge statues. I couldn't move any of them! I came to ask if there was anything I could use…" Link asked.

The elder thought this over for a long time. The guards all glared at Link as he waited uncomfortably. Time seemed to drag on for forever. Then, the elder spoke:

"Alright… It seems you are out of luck, because the special bracelet we had for a Hylian like you has been melted… to prevent a Hylian - like you - from using it. Although… I could give you some muscles…" he said.

"What do you mean?" Link asked him.

"Well, I figure since you made it to the temple entrance, I could lend you some help…"

"We have one week to train you, Hylian, so be ready for little sleep, and lots of work," the tall, powerful Goron said to Link in a booming voice.

"Okay," Link said.

"Basically, it is simple. Do you see that rock over there?" he asked, pointing to a large rock about as big as Link.

Link nodded.

"Pick it up, and walk back to me." the Goron instructed.

"Wha-"

"Do it!"

Link turned to the rock, and ran over to it. Bending down, he managed to slip his fingers into position to lift it. He tugged with all of his might, but hardly leaned it forward. He let it go, and fell back, panting.

"Don't give up! Lift it NOW!" The Goron roared, waving his fists in the air dramatically.

Link grabbed the huge rock again, and began to tug and heave with every ounce of strength he possessed. He managed to get further than last time, but he did not quit. He kept working at it. He had it an inch in the air, two inches, three inches…

"WORK!"

…six inches, seven, eight, a foot….

"Don't quit!"

…two feet…

Link managed to use his knees to hold some wait, and he started to shamble over to the Goron, his muscles straining and burning. He felt like some travelers he had seen enter his village on occasion, who had ridden their horse so much that their legs were all spread out and bent all of the time.

Link grunted as he got halfway to the Goron, trying hard not to let the rock drop. He yelled as he came up on the last few steps, and let the rock go. It hit the ground with a tremendous force, shaking the whole ground. The exhausted boy fell back, spent from his hard work.

"Rest one more minute human, because that was the easy part of our training!"

Link spent the next few days running up and down mountain passes, climbing up and down rock walls, lifting more and more rocks that got bigger and bigger. He ran with rocks tied to him, climbed with rocks to him, and rested very little all the while.

By the time his training was over, Link was already several times stronger. But tired. So tired, that he slept his last three hours of free time in deep sleep, not a light nap.

He woke up, and climbed back up into the elder's chamber. His nap had given him some strength, but he could still feel his muscles straining as he climbed back up to the chamber. He was nervous about what would await in the temple. The traitor no doubt. But why did the mysterious Goron betray his people? The elder blamed the Hylians, but Link still wasn't so sure.

A Goron is a very proud creature. Link's father had taught him that at an early age. They practically worshipped their elder, second the three goddesses. So why would this one just turn just because of what the 'Hylians' said to it? Link would soon find out.

"There. I gave you a week. Now you must go back in and remove those blasted stones… and hurry, my patience is failing," he snapped at Link the second the Hylian walked through the entrance.

Link passed the elder without a word, and with a deep breath, entered the mines once again.

When Link arrived back at the gathering of statues at the temple entrance, he felt much more confident. Digging in, he managed to move one aside with his new strength. He took on the second, which took more time to move than the first. By the fifth statue, Link felt like it was training all over again. He managed to move them all to the side eventually.

He opened the heavy stone door, and entered the temple.

He was in a long hallway, with massive pillars that stretched all the way to a cave-like ceiling several stories above him. At the very end, was an altar. Link jogged rather slowly to the altar, and saw several jagged pebbles on it.

"One of my brothers died there," a voice said, echoing throughout the chamber, making Link jump.

"Of course, his death was no accident. I… killed him. Yes, and the others too. Although, I think the altar should have some blood on it, too… so it that way, you could help me out… I know why you're here, child. Too bad you won't be here in the flesh much longer. Heh…" the voice said in a strange, mad voice. It sounded like the voice of a person who had lost their mind.

Link turned slowly, to see a large, once-proud Goron staring at him hungrily. The door Link had come through was now shut and locked.

Link drew his sword and shield, ready to put up a fight. The Goron started to laugh.

"Heehee! The boy has a since of humor!" he said laughing, "…I'm made of rock." he said seriously, gaining his composure.

Link sheathed his sword, realizing how stupid that was. He kept his shield at the ready, though.

"Well… attack me!" the Goron snapped.

The Hylian stared at him unsurely. Was this a trap?

"NOW!"

Deciding to just go with it, Link charged forward with a terrific battle cry, ready to ram the fiend with his shield. Just as he was about fifteen yards from the Goron, the ground lurched, making his legs buckle underneath him. The ground was still shaking as Link managed to stand up. When he regained his composure, the shaking had stopped, and Link gasped.

They were now on a circle of ground, looking like an arena. They were now very close to the ceiling. Link looked down, to see the altar far, far below him. If he jumped, there would be no chance of living.

He turned back to the Goron, who was laughing hysterically.

Getting angry at this one's nonchalant move, Link strapped his shield to his back, staring at the Goron all the while. He dashed forward, slamming into the beast with his shoulder. The boy was sent sprawling, his shoulder in pain. But, to his pleasant surprise, he saw the Goron had been knocked over, too.

He got to his feet, and came at the Goron again, who was more prepared this time. Sticking out a stiff, muscular arm, he smirked at the charging Link. Before Link could stop himself, he hit the Goron's palm, falling flat on his back.

He couldn't get up, the wind being knocked out of him. He gasped for air, and inched backwards, trying to recover fast enough. He managed to stand, just to get shoved back down by the waiting Goron.

"It's like bullying a child!" he said hysterically.

Link got to his feet quicker this time, and ducked when the Goron tried to push him back down. As the traitor started to fall forward, Link threw all of his weight into him, wrapping him up and tackling him, The entire 'arena' shook with the Goron's falling force.

"Ack! You are getting smart, little one!" said the fallen one, slowly standing back up.

Link stood his ground in a defensive stance, preparing himself for the Goron's next move. The Goron lunged at him, and grabbed him up in mid-jump. Link was carried to the edge of the pillar they fought on. The boy struggled furiously, but to no avail. Even though his arms were free, and his muscles stronger, he couldn't take on a Goron like this. He was screwed.

"Thanks for helping me with the blood!" he said, laughing.

Just as Link felt him letting go, he grabbed the Goron's muscular forearm, holding on even after the traitor had let go.

"What the-"

Link pulled downwards with all of his strength. The surprised Goron didn't even resist as he was thrown over Link's shoulder. He fell helplessly to the ground, where he landed with a huge crash!

Link grabbed onto the edge, and pulled himself back up. Once he was safe, he started to catch his breath. He had beaten the Gor-

Just then, the ground shook, and Link fell forward. The Goron was back, but this time angrier.

"Okay… this 'game' is over. You've got yourself a fight, kid!" he roared.

Link stood. In the next instant, he found himself on the ground, skidding backwards. He wasn't sure what had happened. One moment he was on both feet, and the next he felt like he had been hit by a sledge hammer. The whole right side of his head felt like it was on fire.

Link coerced himself to stand, looking up just as the Goron was throwing another powerful punch. He just managed to duck as the fist sailed over his head, dangerously close. In his squatting position, Link kicked off, slamming into the Goron's knees and wrapping them up with his arms. He successfully tackled the huge enemy again.

Both Link and the Goron stood up at the same time, and the Goron threw a lightning fast punch at Link's stomach. The boy just managed to roll to the side. The fist missed him by possibly an inch.

Before he could unleash another tackle, the Goron lashed out with his rock-solid foot. Link was hanging off the edge with a broken nose before his brain could decipher what had happened. The Goron was leaning over, glaring at him hatefully.

"I figure you've put up enough fight to know my name, Hylian. My name is Dorango. I had another name, but was given the current one for killing over a hundred Dodongos. Sorry, kid, but I've been through worse fights than this." he said nonchalantly, raising his foot to stomp down on Link's clinging hand.

Grabbing the edge with his other hand, Link got ready. As the Goron brought his foot down, Link dug into the side and pushed off with everything he had. The foot landed right after he jumped into the air. Dorango, caught off guard, started to stumble backwards. Link slammed into him, pancaking Dorango on the ground.

Link was on his feet in a crouching stance, ready for the worst. The Goron slowly stood. The two charged at each other simultaneously, locking hands. It was going to be a straight-up battle of strength, and will. No tricks. One would either fall off and die, or shove the other over the edge.

Both started to push, and Link found himself loosing very quickly. He had done a lot of work in his village, and saved the Lost Woods, and had been trained by a Goron. But he was still out-matched. He dug in with his feet, trying to slow the Goron, who was hardly struggling.

Link grunted as he gave a powerful shove, receiving no result at all. He continued to be pushed, closer and closer to the edge. His muscles were burning, every inch of him straining just to keep on the platform. His teeth were clenched; sweat was getting everywhere, including his eyes.

"Fall, little one!" Dorango roared. How could such a tiny thing be putting up such a fight?

As they fought on, Link noticed something. He wasn't being pushed back anymore. They were both pushing each other, but neither one was giving any ground up. Now came the will. Link could tell Dorango was becoming frustrated, pushing harder with every second. His eyes were wild.

Link kept his ground, his breathing becoming strained, like someone's hand had seized his lungs and were slowly crushing them. He kept pushing though. He couldn't quit. He would sooner die trying than to give up and be pushed off of the platform.

Every bit of Link screamed at him to stop, to give up, to admit defeat. But he would have none of it. He kept battling. That was when he started noticing that he had gained an inch. This gave him the hope to keep pushing against the massive Goron. His arms hurt the most. He would have to end this quickly. Only if it was him winning, though.

Another inch. Two inches. Five. A foot. The two realized that Link was winning. Link, who wasn't even tall enough to reach halfway past the Goron's rock abdomen, was winning the battle of strength. They were now in the middle, and the Goron was now straining as well. Neither moved again.

And then, just like that, Dorango started to get pushed again. Harder, this time. In less than half of a minute, the Goron was on the edge, struggling weakly, as if his determination was draining. With one final heave, Link sent him flying over the edge. The Goron crash landed, and Link heard something clatter away. But he saw nothing from high up.

The platform lowered, and Link saw the Goron had hit his head hard, and had been knocked out. There were several cracks on the top of his head.

But what of the clattering Link had heard? It was like light metal hitting the stone floor, not a hefty Goron. Link scanned the ground carefully. He spotted something glinting over by a pillar's base.

Jogging over and bending down, he saw a bracelet. It was a strange floral design, made from genuine silver. At the top, there was an unusual dark gem, like onyx or something of the sort. Link reached down, and touched it.

Kill.

Link jumped back, looking around for who had spoken. No one was present.

"Hello?" he called out into the empty chamber.

No response.

He reached down again, and this time, picked up the bracelet.

Kill the Gorons. Hylians sent you. Kill them. Kill. Gorons are evil. You wish to separate from them. Kill them. Fight back. Destroy the elder. Hylians are where your loyalties lie.

Link flailed his arms, yelling for the voice to stop. It consumed him, It was yelling over his voice now, driving him mad.

Don't resis

Link, in his frenzy, dropped the bracelet. The voices stopped at once, but now he felt like a boulder had split his skull.

Injuries from the dungeon, training, fight, and the feeling after the bracelet, all weighed down on Link. He was out before he hit the ground.