Shadow: Here's another update.
Static: We don't own a thing.
Chapter 11: Goron it up
Dawn of the First Day.
Reappearing in the basement, Link took off the Deku Mask and placed it in his bag. Taller and stronger in his Hylian body, he rolled his shoulders. Nadai stretched, reaching down to touch her toes before standing on her hands. After a second she came back to stand on her feet.
"Where to go next?" Link asked.
Tatl shrugged. "There's a temple in each of the four cardinal directions from Clocktown. The one to the south was held by the Dekus. The northern temple was for the Gorons. The one in the sea to the west was the Zoros. The east is now abandoned."
"If magic isn't the same in Termina as it is in Hyrule, who says our scales will help us in the ocean?" Nadai touched the glittering scale that was embedded into her neck.
"Good point. But I think we should go north." Link started out the door, climbing the stairs.
"To the Gorons?" Nadai followed right behind him.
"If the swamp represented the forest in Hyrule, then wouldn't the mountain here represented Death Mountain?"
"I'm not following." Tatl settled herself on Nadai's shoulder.
"In Hyrule, we went from the forest to the mountain to the river. I think we should follow the same pattern here." Link turned and opened the door to go outside. "Besides, there's some strange storm clouds to the north, right?"
Tatl nodded. "Now that you mention it," she muttered. "You think Majora has his hands in it?"
"Maybe." Nadai nodded her head and closed the door behind her. "The Gorons also didn't attend the festival. Maybe the storm is more than a storm."
Link took out his Ocarina. "Knowing Majora, it's far more than a normal storm."
He played the tune, and large wings sprouted out of his back. He pushed off the ground and launched into the air. Nadai followed suit after a second. Ignoring the sudden gasps and shouts from the people below, they flew up high and to the north. It was so much easier to fly up and over the wall than deal with the guards. To the north, the storm clouds they had seen days before were already large and dark. Nadai shuddered as they came closer to it. These must have been there for days already.
Then the winds blew hard against them. Link fluttered against the hard winds, struggling to keep altitude. Nadai tucked in her wings and fell, coming up close to the ground. She waved her hands, and got his attention. He came down and landed on the ground by her. She landed a moment later. Their wings went away.
"This wind isn't natural!" Nadai shouted to be heard over the rushing winds. "It was on a normal path a moment ago, but now it's pushing us away!"
"Then we climb up the mountain!" Link shouted back.
"You two are going to climb up a snowy mountain in the middle of the storm, just wearing that?" Tatl shouted at them.
They looked at her then down at themselves. They shrugged. Tatl sighed, and sat back down on Nadai's shoulder. Link went first, being only slightly taller and broader than Nadai. She went close behind him. But despite their careful planning, the wind and the cold were devastating to them.
Their tenacity was something much stronger, however, as they pressed on up the mountain. Death Mountain took them several hours, about half a day really, to get to the halfway point where the Goron City entrance was. This particular mountain they were climbing was one of many, and all of them were very, very tall.
Luckily, while there was snow it wasn't as deep as they thought it would have been. The path hewn into the mountainside was clear. The snow instantly became thicker and deeper off of the path. The Gorons, or someone else, must have cleared the path recently enough for the path to be this clear of snow.
By midafternoon, they stopped for a small break at the fork in the road. One leg of the fork went to the right, headed to what looked like to be another, taller mountain. The other one looked to go further up the mountain.
"Tatl!" Link shouted. "Which way to the Gorons?"
The fairy peered out from behind her hands. She looked up the left path and the right path. She shivered; the protective bubble of light that all fairies had could only do so much to keep her warm and dry.
"The temple is to the right, we have to go to the left!"
Nadai shivered, and leaned into the wind. "The wind is coming from that mountain!"
"Then it's from the temple!" Link shouted back. "Majora definitely has his hand in this!"
Tatl gripped onto Nadai's clothes, as a gust of wind threatened to blow her away. "That's the tallest peak in the mountain chain! It's blowing all the western wind from the sea towards us!"
Link shuddered, and repositioned his footing. "We go up the mountain to the Gorons! I think it'll be more complicated than just wind blowing from the sea!"
Nadai nodded. "Well, get a move on! We should hurry before the sun sets!"
Link plodded along once more. As they gradually got higher up on the mountain, the more and more the wind died down. Soon enough it was only snowfall that came down at them. The wind was no more, but it still was bitterly cold. Shivering, the two kids walked side by side. They hurried where they could, but the going was still rough. The snow was piling higher here than at the lower altitudes. It came up to Nadai's waist, and they struggled to plow through the snow.
Just as the sun set, they came upon a crest in the path. Below them was a large flat spot, carved into the mountain side. Large stone huts dotted the clearing. A very large hut dominated the center. There were windows in some of the huts, and the lights were on. The ground here was clear of snow.
"We're here." Tatl said softly. "This is the Goron Village."
Link breathed heavily, his exhales trailing up into the sky. "Where are the other Gorons?"
"This is it." Tatl looked at him. "Are there more in Hyrule?"
"Just a tad more." Nadai answered. "I take it we go to the center hut?"
"That's where the Chief should be." Tatl nodded.
Link started down the path, keeping careful footing as spots were icy. Nadai watched and giggled silently as Link slipped more than once on his way down. She followed suit once Link had made it down the path. She made it down without a hitch.
They walked into the village. No one stirred, no one moved from the huts. They padded across the fresh snow, leaving footprints. They came to stand at the main hut's entrance. The door was closed, and it looked like it opened upwards. Link knocked, and the two of them waited for a minute.
"No one's coming." Nadai shivered. "Try again."
Link shook his head. "I'd rather just open the door."
He bent down and dug his fingers under the door. He lifted. He forced himself to lift the door. But to no avail. The door wouldn't move. Nadai followed suit before Link even had a chance to ask. The door wouldn't budge an inch.
They tried again, and the door opened with a rush. They fell backwards onto their backs. Holding open the door was an old Goron, his arms spindly and thin for a Goron.
"Hrrm, hrrm. Terminians? At this hour?" He said softly. His voice was definitely as low and grumbling as a Goron's, but it was softer and creakier.
"Hylians, actually." Nadai got up. "What happened here?"
The old Goron seemed to sigh, but came more out as a huff of air. "Hrrm, hrrm. We can talk inside, young ones."
He ushered them inside the hut. He let go of the door, and it fell with a loud clang that reverberated throughout the hut. It was far warmer inside, and the two kids could feel their limbs beginning to thaw out.
"By the fire, young ones. Hrrm, hrrm. Now tell me why you have come here at this hour?"
"You guys weren't at the festival. I want to know why." Link asked.
"Oh?"
"What he meant to say was that you aren't yet at the festival." Nadai corrected. "What's going on?"
"I fear it's far more complicated than you would think. Hrrm, hrrm."
"I assume it has to do with the strange weather coming from the temple." Link said. He rubbed his hands together, warming them.
"Hrrm, hrrm. You would be right, young one. This storm started up a few weeks ago. It is most unnatural."
"Snow in summer is unnatural, but not unheard of. What is the real problem?"
"It is an ungodly snow." The old Goron said softly. "Hrrm, hrrm. The snow and wind has prevented us from properly praying at the temple. The amount of cold is because of our hot springs."
"Hot springs?"
"It has been frozen, or blocked. We don't know for certain. Hrrm, hrrm."
"You don't know?"
"The cold has been crippling. Us Gorons are used to the cold, yes. Hrrm, hrrm. But, we can prepare for winter. We aren't prepared for a summer storm of this magnitude."
Nadai cocked her head to the side. "That's not all, isn't it?"
"Hrrm, hrrm. Not at all, young one. My son is missing. We fear him dead."
"Son?"
"The former Chief. Hrrm, hrrm." The old Goron stared into the fire. "He left a week ago to pray at the temple, and to solve our hot springs problem. He hasn't returned since. Hrrm, hrrm. We fear that he is dead."
"I'm so sorry." Nadai whispered.
"Don't be. Hrrm, hrrm. It isn't the fault of one so young." The Goron turned back to them. "My grandson had been made Chief when his father left. I am the Elder, an adviser only to the Chief."
"So, Elder," Link said. "How can we help?"
"Hrrm, hrrm. How can young ones such as yourself help?"
"We can stop the cold and the snow and the wind." Link said.
"I do not think so." The Elder sighed once more. "My grandson is rooted with fear. He fears the snow will pile too high for us to return if we leave. Hrrm, hrrm. He fears the cold will kill us if we stay. He is scared and without a father. It is a bad time for him to become Chief."
"And if we placate those fears?" Link pressed on. "We can solve these problems."
"Hrrm, hrrm. How can young ones succeed when my son has failed?" The Elder stood up tall. "You couldn't even open the door, how could you stop this unnaturalness."
"By trying until we succeed." Nadai said softly. "What do you have to lose? Trust us."
The Elder frowned. "Trust? Hrrm, hrrm. It is a hard thing to come by from Hylians these days."
Tatl fluttered about. "If I may," she flew in front of the Elder so that he may see her properly. "I would trust them if I were you. I've known them long enough to know that they will keep well on their promises."
The Elder bowed his head. A few long, silent minutes passed. "Hrrm, hrrm. Very well."
"So what do we do first?" Link asked.
"The first thing to do is this blasted cold." The Elder looked up. "Hrrm, hrrm. My grandson has stated that if the cold wasn't here, he would be willing to go to the festival."
"And not the snow?" Link asked.
"The snow should melt, if the warmth returns to our mountain." The Elder said. "Hrrm, hrrm. Go up the mountain. There will be a cave towards the top. There will be a hot spring there. Find a way to unblock it. If you do that, I will convince my grandson it is fine to travel down the mountain and to Clock Town."
"Thank you." Nadai smiled and bowed.
"Hrrm, hrrm. Now, why do Hylians worry about the affairs of Termina?"
Nadai looked up at him. "Why wouldn't we?" She asked. "We're all a part of this world. Why wouldn't we help each other out?"
The Elder smiled. "Such things warms an old soul such as myself." He walked to a chest. "Hrrm, hrrm. If only more of you young ones are like yourself." He brought out two bundles and gave one to each of them. "These are cloaks made from the furs of the mountain goats. Hrrm, hrrm. They will keep you plenty warm in the cold up ahead."
"Thank you." Link donned the cloak. It was the right length for him, surprisingly. It certainly would help with the cold coming up ahead.
"It's only going to get colder. We'd better go." Nadai bowed once more. "Thank you for the cloaks."
"Hrrm, hrrm. No, thank you young ones." The Elder opened the door for them, and they left the hut.
They wrapped their cloaks even tighter around themselves as the cold came back at them. As if it knew they were going to stop it, the cold was even harsher than before. Link looked up the mountainside.
"I think I can see the top from here."
"Almost there." Nadai shivered. "We should be there before midnight if we hurry."
Tatl sighed. "Looks like another restless night."
"We just went back in time and were healed and rejuvenated." Link said. "We'll be fine."
"But-"
"Welcome to saving the world." Link continued, coldly. "Now let's go, the sooner we do this the sooner we can get warmer."
Link hurried ahead, leaving Nadai and Tatl behind. The two exchanged glances before hurrying on. For Nadai, she knew roughly what was going on in Link's mind. For Tatl, she felt only confusion.
There was a reason why Tatl hadn't sat on Link's shoulder. Link and her didn't mesh, they didn't connect. Nadai knew that it was because of Navi, Link's fairy. Nadai however still didn't know the truth. Link had spent far more time with Navi than Nadai could have possibly imagined. And the more time Link spent with Tatl, the more it reminded him of his dearest friend.
And that wasn't what he wanted.
He wanted Navi back. He needed to talk to her about their shared past together. Consequences be damned, it was the end of the world already if they didn't rouse the giants and stopped Majora. Link needed, no, he craved to know the truth. He needed to be set free of the thoughts and agonizing truths that haunted him.
Link had been a monster, and still felt like a monster. His actions had showed it again and again. Only by keeping his attention on the task at hand made it possible for him to ignore the brooding questions in his mind. That made existing bearable.
And then came the obvious relationship question between Link and Nadai.
He swallowed and hurried forward. He loved Nadai. How could he love her though if they were both children? Or were they still even that? More than kids, but less than adults. He was trapped between two different places physically and mentally. And he didn't know how long he could survive without getting it all of his chest.
Because no matter what, he wouldn't become a monster again. He wouldn't lose himself to the rage that had consumed him in his previous life. He wouldn't lose himself to the rage that had almost consumed him if Wanderer hadn't intervened. He would survive this; as a man and not as a monster.
He started to sweat, and not because of the questions and worries that stressed him. It was getting…warmer? He loosened his cloak, and looked about. The snow here was melting, even at so high up. Without even realizing it, he had gone almost to the peak, and saw in the near distance a dark cave.
Nadai came up next to him. "You okay?"
He nodded. "I'll be fine." He whispered.
"You've been silent for hours."
"It isn't time to talk, yet." He said. He pointed to the cave. "We're here."
"I guess this is the hot spring, or at least its source."
Tatl flew up from the side. "Did you notice the riverbed?"
Link glanced to the side to the sunken path in the mountain. "Riverbed?"
"I think the hot springs originates here, but it flows down the mountain." Tatl said. "I think that's how it warms the whole of the mountain."
"Which is why it would cease the young Chief's worries." Nadai said as she pieced two and two together. "We unblock the spring with whatever is stopping it, and we set a flow in motion to warm the entirety of the mountain."
"Let's see this blockage then." Link opened up his cloak fully. He drew his sword. "Careful, we don't know what's ahead."
The dark cloaks fluttered in the slight wind, and the two heroes walked steadily forward. The cave had no icicles hanging from the front of it like they had expected. Instead of snow, hard stone met their feet. A steady pattern of their footsteps echoed back at them as they entered the cave. It was dark inside, and they couldn't see much. Perhaps if it was day, they could have seen further in. But it was close to midnight, and even the moon couldn't shine very well through the clouds that drifted snow down.
Nadai stopped. "We need a torch."
Link nodded, stopping as well. He brought out a few Deku Sticks, which they set alight with their flint and steel. The impromptu torches lit up the immediate area around them. The cave itself wasn't that large. But it was large enough that they couldn't see the center of the room. It ran in a circular pattern, with spots for torches along the outer walls.
Nadai went one way around the room, while Link went the other. The torches were lit within moments. The torches set a low light for them, but it was enough for them to see. In the center of the room lay a Goron on its chest.
"Must be the Chief." Nadai said softly. "Someone killed him."
They went to the body. Two large horns were in the Goron's back.
"Gored to death?" Link asked.
"Looks like it. Though he was stabbed through the front." Nadai crouched. "Help me turn him around."
Together, they rolled the heavy Goron over so they could see his front. As they had suspected, the Goron had been stabbed through the chest in two spots. It certainly was a goring. What was strange was that there was no blood leaking from the body or around it.
"He died somewhere else, and was brought here." Link touched the Goron's face. "He looks like he is in a lot of pain."
Nadai sighed. "If I was here earlier, I could have healed him. Maybe."
"You could heal him?"
"I could try." Nadai answered. "I did pretty well with the monkey."
"That you did, that you did." Link looked at the Goron's face. "Seriously though. He looks like he still is in pain."
"Kinda impossible for that." Nadai stood up. "He's dead. He shouldn't be able to feel anything."
"Then why do I feel like he's crying?" Link stood up as well.
Tatl settled upon Nadai's shoulder. "I think you guys should play that Healing Song again."
"And why should we do that?"
"It eases spirits?" Tatl said. "Nadai, what did you feel when you heard the song being played."
"I felt at ease."
"Exactly! Whatever is happening to the Chief, it certainly isn't normal. I would bet anything that it came from Majora. I think if you played the song, you could give him closure of sorts."
Link could feel the frustration and anger rising in him. He pushed it down before he spoke. "Alright, we'll give it a shot. It won't hurt if we do."
He took out his Ocarina and Nadai took out her Flute. They played the easing song. It took them a few passes until it came out right. Then the song took effect. It was immediate. There was a bright light, and a warm glow. When the light faded, a Goron stood beside them.
"Thank you."
Link's eyes gravitated to the Goron, while Nadai stared unceasingly at the body. Tatl too looked to the Goron, confused. "What?"
"Link who are you talking to?" Nadai asked.
"The girl can't see spirits like yourself, I see."
Tatl's eyes widened. "Spirit?"
"Have the young one open my pack, and take out the lens. She can see and hear me then."
"Hey, Nadai?" Link said softly, keeping his eyes trained on the Goron Spirit. "In his pack is a lens. You'll need it."
Nadai looked in the Goron's pockets. "Impossible," she whispered as she brought out a purple lens. "There's only one of these." She brought it to her eyes, and saw the Goron Spirit. "Ah, you."
The Chief nodded. "Thank you." He said. "For saving my soul."
"Saving?"
"I was captured by this demon." The Goron Spirit explained. "I wanted to protect my village, but a part of me knew that I would die if I were to leave. But a Goron completes his duty. It doesn't matter the cost."
"Why don't you hrrm, hrrm?" Tatl asked.
Link groaned mentally, and even Nadai closed her eyes and shook her head.
"I never have." He answered. "I left the village and headed to Snowhead. But I was blocked by the wind."
"Wind?"
"With the Lens of Truth, I could see that the wind was caused by a giant, spirit Goron. It was blowing wind, pushing the cold wind back to my village. Before I could stop the spirit, I was set upon by a demon."
"If you were solve the hot spring problem, why were you at the temple and subsequently dragged here?" Link asked.
"It is custom for a Goron to pray at the temple before undertaking a dangerous task. And that was what I did. I did not, however, expect to face my doom at the temple entrance."
"So how can we help you?" Nadai asked. "You stayed, but because you were trapped by this demon?"
"It's been calling up all of the spirits of my dead ancestors." The Chief clenched his fists. "Since I died, I was one of those spirits. If you can, help my people!" The chief pointed to the middle of the room. "My resilience has shown me the answer to the problem. Using the lens, you should be able to solve the problem."
"And what about you?" Nadai asked. "You're dead now, what now for you?"
"I pray my father helps my son." The Chief sighed. "I will move on to the afterlife now that you have saved my soul. Take my bag, and my lens. May it prove more useful to you than it did for me."
The spirit disappeared. Link and Nadai looked at each other, while Tatl clutched at her head.
"Why can I see dead people, why can I see dead people, why can I see dead people?" She repeated.
"Well, I can see some spirits, you can see all spirits, and while Nadai has that lens, she can see all spirits too." Link answered. "Now, how do we stop that blockage?"
Nadai ignored the headache from the lens that was slowly growing in her temples. She glanced about with the lens. "There. In the center of the room is an invisible boulder."
Link walked forward until he was stopped. He could feel the boulder, but couldn't see it. "So how do we bust it? I don't have a bomb."
"Or do we?" Nadai pointed to the ground.
Link followed her finger. On the ground where the Goron lay were instead two items. A small bag and a Goron shaped mask.
"A mask?"
Tatl shrugged, but continued to rock gently. "The Song of Healing turned Majora into a mask. Maybe it turns troubled souls into masks too?"
Link shrugged, and picked up the bag. He peered inside. "Yep, bombs alright." He tried to pick up the miniature bombs, but they wouldn't move. "I guess the Goron Bracelet doesn't work here either."
"You'd need a substitute bracelet, or to be a Goron yourself." Nadai smiled. "We do have a mask."
Link picked it up. "I'm done with transformations."
"Well, my turn." Nadai took the mask from him. "It's my turn for some fun." She put on the mask. She waited a moment. "Nothing's happening."
Link nodded, trying to hide his grin. "You look like a girl wearing a Goron mask."
She took it off. "I thought it would work."
"Maybe it's just a mask."
"No, it isn't." She thrust it at Link. "Try it."
"No."
"Try it."
"Nadai…"
"Just do it. For me."
He narrowed his eyes. "Fine." He said after a moment. He put the mask on.
He felt himself grow taller and broader. His skin tightened and turned from skin to callous to rubble to stone. He felt facial hair pop from his chin. His weapons disappeared. His Ocarina on his belt changed shape, becoming a metal drum.
"Woa." His voice came out far deeper than before, even when he was and adult. "So why does it work for me?"
"Maybe because Majora cursed you?." Tatl asked. "Maybe it was an opening for you to use the masks to change yourself."
"I hope not all masks." Link sighed. "Alright, Nadai, where's that boulder? I'll blow it up."
"It's right ahead of you." She said. "You blow it up, I'll try to solve the lens."
"Solve?"
"If it's like the Hylian version, there should be a way to make it glasses. I'll figure it out, you get the boulder blown up."
Link shrugged. "Sounds good."
He reached into the bag and brought out a bomb. The magic on the bag faded from the bomb, and it lit and grew in size. Link held it in his hand. It felt extremely light. He threw it at the boulder, but misjudged the weight of the bomb. It flew from his hand faster than he wanted. It exploded against the far wall, making a small hole.
Nadai looked up from her work. "Careful."
"It's really light." Link grumbled. "I'm not used to this strength."
Nadai nodded absently, and looked back down at her task. Now that she looked closely at the Lens of Truth she could see small, hairline cracks in the handle. She ran her fingers delicately along the handle, looking for a button or a switch or something that she could press. On the third pass she found a minute hole by the connection where the handle met the glass. It would take a needle or something like that in order for it to work. And right now, she was needleless.
A large explosion grabbed her attention. Link had stepped back several paces, and had destroyed the invisible boulder. Now that it had broken apart, she could see the remnants spread about the room. Water bubbled up from the hole that the boulder had covered. Steam rose from the water, and the Lens fogged up almost instantly.
The water rushed around her ankles. It filled up the room, which she could now see had a slight indention into the floor. It had to be no deeper than her ankles. This must be a natural pool. She followed the water as it flowed past two small breaks in the wall. It flowed into small channels by either side of the entrance to the cave.
She walked outside to watch the water. From the light of the torches in the cave, she could see the water rush down the channels to where Tatl had pointed out the riverbed. It was too dark from there to see what was happening, or where the water would go. If what was happening by the channels was any indication of the riverbed, the snow was melting, and the air was warming.
"That was much easier than it looked." Link grumbled next to her. No, he hadn't grumbled that was just his voice as a Goron.
"If that demon hadn't stopped the Chief, I think that he would have been able to solve this problem on his own." Nadai said.
"He shouldn't have gone off to pray at the temple, not with this mysterious storm about." Link said.
"Gorons are arguably the most spiritual of the races in Termina." Tatl explained. "They wouldn't stop tradition just because of a little wind and snow."
"Well, maybe it's time to set aside traditions," Link said. "If we are to make good time to the temple, we'll have to hurry."
"It's past midnight already. We only have two days left," Nadai pointed out. "Most of the time has been traveling."
"Well, we could run down the mountain," Link said. "Run down it and we could be down to that fork by dawn."
Nadai smiled. "I've got it."
"What?"
"You're a Goron right now."
"Yeah, your point is?"
"Roll down the mountain."
Link's face screwed up as he thought about it. "Even if I did, what about you? You won't be able to keep up with me."
"I could try."
"There's no way. Even flying would be too hard with that storm." Link countered. "What would you do, run on my back?"
Nadai shrugged. "Why not? I could move fast enough."
"Maybe as adults, but we're kids right now."
"Speak for yourself." Nadai smirked. "I can do it. Trust me."
Link narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't." Nadai smiled. "Promise."
Link was silent for a long moment. "Fine. But I still don't like it."
"I know."
Link grumbled some more quietly as he got to the ground. His hard, rocky back was facing the sky as he curled into a ball. Nadai jumped up, and scrambled onto his back. Link nudged himself forward, and stopped.
"What's the hold up?"
"It's weird. I can…see myself?"
"Uh, what?"
"It's weird. It's like an out of body experience. I can see myself from behind and you're on my back."
Nadai rolled her eyes. "What do you think then? Goron magic like the Deku Spit Bubble?"
"Yes, and don't roll your eyes."
Nadai blushed slightly. "Alright, so you can see yourself go then?"
"As best I can in this darkness."
Nadai jumped off. "Hold a second, lemme get a torch." She came back a moment later with a torch from the cave. "Alright, roll on."
"Don't fall," Link warned.
Before Nadai had a chance to respond Link began rolling forward. Nadai back pedaled, keeping upright on his back. Then Link began to build up speed as he rolled down the mountain. Her legs began to fly out from under her and she had to really concentrate and move in order to stay on top of Link.
Then she began to tire. Link was right, if she was an adult, this wouldn't as much as an issue. But as a kid, she might have taken a bit more than she could chew. She jumped up, and her momentum kept her moving forward. She landed on Link's back, and jumped again. With the extra momentum from Link, and her own impressive jumping strengths, she could clear enough distance to jump from Link to Link.
She smiled; this was a lot more doable. And they descended down the mountain to the Goron Village. Instead of four or so hours of hard climbing, they descended from the summit in just over an hour.
However, their landing was a bit rough. Unable to slow down his momentum, Link crashed into one of the huts, making a large spider web crack into the largest hut. Nadai jumped off of Link, off of a hut, to roll along the roof to fall to the ground to roll again until she stopped next to Link.
Every bone in her body protested her as she got up from the ground. Rolling to a stop was not the most productive method. Link also got up, his eyes slightly unfocused as he tried to make them stop spinning. Both of them regained their balance in a few minutes. However, no one during that time came out to see them. Everyone was quiet and asleep still.
"Good thing Gorons sleep even through earthquakes." Tatl whispered.
"Right." Link grumbled. "Let's talk to the Elder to let him know he's all good to go and head for that Temple."
Nadai nodded. "And this time, you can get the door."
Link smiled, showing rows of large white teeth, "yes I can."
They walked around the hut to the large stone door. Digging his fingers underneath it, Link lifted the door easily. "Being a Goron has it strengths." He said softly.
They entered, and Link let the door drop gently behind him. That's when the heard the music. It was soothing, it was calm; it reminded Nadai vaguely of Zelda's Lullaby. The tune wasn't the same, but it did do the same kind of result.
Following the music, they found the Elder crooning in a doorway. They waited silently, listening to the simple tune until the Elder was done singing. The Elder closed the heavy stone door, and turned to them, stopping in his tracks.
"Hrrm, hrrm. Son, is that you?" The Goron's voice was soft.
Link shook his head. "Sorry, not him."
"You look just like my son." The Elder closed his eyes, as if he was fighting to keep back tears. "Hrrm, hrrm. Sorry. I'm sorry for—"
"Don't be," Link interjected. "Honest mistake."
Nadai stepped forward. "We've cleared the hot springs. The water is on its way down."
The Elder opened his eyes, and they were indeed filled with tears. "You have done what?"
"We did it." Nadai repeated. "We're headed to the temple."
The Elder smiled, and the tears fell down onto his cheeks. "I never thought that you young ones would have been able to do it. Hrrm, hrrm. Thank you so much!"
"No problem."
"Where is the young lad? Where is he?"
"Still on his way down," Link said.
"Of course of course. Hrrm, hrrm." The Elder nodded. "I've just set my grandson to sleep. When he wakes, we shall see if we are ready to go to Clock Town."
"Sounds good." Nadai smiled. "We head to the temple now."
"Hrrm, hrrm. You go to Snowhead? Normally we would pray there before going down the mountain, but—"
"Your son died there." Link said. "He died because of some demon."
The Elder's face went dark. "I see. Considering circumstances, I think we shall not pray at the temple. If my son was killed by a demon, my brothers wouldn't stand a chance. Hrrm, hrrm."
"But we will." Nadai said. "And, if it's any consolation, we think he might have been attacked from behind." She lied.
The Goron looked down at her. "Hrrm, hrrm. After succeeding where my son has failed, I do think that you could. And yes, my dear, it is a consolation." He turned away. "Make sure to kill that demon. Hrrm, hrrm. It doesn't deserve to live after fighting so treacherously."
"Of course." Nadai nodded. "Before we go, do you have a needle I could borrow?"
"A needle? Hrrm, hrrm. Yes, if you go and look in that chest I got those cloaks from, there should be a little sewing kit in there."
"Thank you." Link grumbled. "Safe travels to the south."
"You do not join us, outsider?" The Elder asked softly.
"No, my path is on another road."
"I see. Travel well, brother. Hrrm, hrrm."
"You as well, brother."
Nadai left first, and headed to the chest. She opened it, and dug around for the sewing kit. Taking out a needle, she stuck it in the tiny hole. The Lens of Truth gave way, and unfolded slightly. It took some muscles, since the thing hadn't been moved in a long time, but she managed to unfurl the tool.
The handle split into two, and doubled in length. A thin, white cord stretched between the two ends. The glass split into two, and rotated until it faced the same direction. The end result was a pair of tiny glasses that could hang from her neck when she wasn't using them.
"Well, this certainly disappointing." Nadai muttered.
"They look like a pair of spectacles."
"I think that's what they are." She placed them around her neck, and put them on experimentally. "They are spectacles. They barely even cover half of my vision."
"Half is better than none." Link smiled. "Now, if we hurry, I think we can make it to the temple by dawn."
Nadai raised an eyebrow. "By dawn? You certainly have faith in yourself to go down that fast."
"No, it's that I have another idea for you."
She looked to what Link had in his hand. "That's a sled."
"Yes it is."
"You're going to pull me along with that?"
"That's the general idea."
"Your funeral."
"It's all of our funerals unless we get this done," Link reminded. "I think this will help."
Nadai threw her hands up in the air. "Alright, I give. Let's go."
They went back outside, and to the top of the hill that led down. Link held onto the rope, and Nadai jumped onto the sled. Then Link began to roll down hill, and the two of them were off. Even without the torch light, Link could make out the path they had forged to go up. Snow flew up into the air with their passing, and Nadai could only sit and watch as they passed it all.
As they came up to the fork in the road, Link slowed a little, and angled himself to turn. He managed to turn somewhat successfully, and they went off the path. But with Link's momentum, they went up the path without a hitch. From there, their momentum died bit by bit. Here, the snow was deeper and the cold was still biting at them. However, it was certainly warmer than it had been before.
They stopped when the wind started to hurt. Link wasn't as affected as Nadai, whom had wrapped her cloak around herself as tight as it could go. With his huge Goron body, Link took point and cleared a path. Nadai followed behind him before the swirling winds covered up the path he had just made.
Link was right, they had made good time with the sled. They arrived at the next mountain just as the sun was cresting the horizon. Before them, they could see a large structure built into the mountain.
"I guess that's Snowhead." Link said. His voice was loud enough to carry over the wind without needing to shout.
"That it is!" Shouted Tatl. "But there's something blocking our way up ahead!"
Nadi put on the spectacles and tilted her head back to see properly. "By the Goddesses…"
"What do you see?" Link asked.
"It's a whole bunch of Gorons!" Nadai shouted. "They're literally blowing the air towards us!"
"How the hell do we stop that?" Link asked.
"You're asking me?" Nadai shouted back. "I don't know!"
"Play that lullaby!" Tatl shouted.
"What?"
"Didn't I tell you I would help you guys out as much as I could?" Tatl looked at both of them. "Play the lullaby that the Elder sang! That lullaby might be able to send those spirits to sleep!"
"But that song and not the Song of Healing?"
"The Song of Healing wouldn't work, I think! These spirits are from the dead, and not the living! I hope," she added softly.
Link sighed. "Alright."
"My flute won't be heard over the wind!" Nadai shouted. "Link, what do you got?"
He pulled at the drum on his side. "I got this thing."
He held the metal drum under one arm, and tapped at it with his free hand. It made a sound, and it echoed over the wind. He tapped again, and it made a different pitched sound. He played around, finding the different notes and different spots they came from.
"Alright," he finally said. "You ready for this?"
He played the steel drum, replaying the song that the Elder sang. At first it was clunky, but as the song continued it mellowed out. One by one the Gorons blowing the wind stopped and fell asleep. Before Nadai's eyes the Gorons disappeared. The wind stopped blowing. At the end of the song, it was dreadfully quiet.
"That was very easy." Link said softly when it was done.
"There's still the actual temple to do."
"True." Link yawned. "Catch a nap before we head in?"
Nadai nodded. "That would be nice. Can we afford it?"
Tatl sighed. "You guys do whatever you want. I'll keep guard if you are going to sleep."
Link nodded. "That'll be nice."
And with that the two kids fell asleep in the snow.
Wang: It's so long!
Time Stop: Please Review!