Author's note: I failed to mention this earlier, but there are going to be spoilers for a lot of stuff, since I'm going to be writing about Link's adventures getting boss pictos, meaning he's gonna have to fight the bosses too. I'm gonna try to keep this from becoming a guide, but I'm going to be writing about all the dungeons and temples.
According to the dungeon map of Dragon Roost Cavern, Link was on the very top floor. He was currently standing at the bottom step of a small gray staircase outside of the cavern, away from the dreaded heat. He felt the wind cool his face as he studied the map and-
The stair he was on began to slip down off the staircase into the abyss below. Realizing that he would fall with it, Link, in a panic, started to run up the stairs, taking two stairs at a time. It was a rather long staircase, but Link focused his attention at ascending the steps as fast as he could, feeling rather unnerved at each stair that would gave way a second after he would step on it.
Finally, he reached the end of the stairs and set his foot on sturdy rock. Looking behind him, his eyes widened in shock as he noticed the huge gap where the stairs once were. Guess I'm not going back, Link thought. He fervently hoped that there would be a way out, especially since he was on the top floor of the dungeon. He panted and spent some time catching his breath. Annoyed at himself for lowering his guard earlier, he turned and brandished his sword, and entered the room ahead, which was rather spacious.
The first thing he noticed was Valoo, perched atop the peak of the mountain, roaring and flailing where he sat. Until now, Link had never noticed how enormous he was. Link wondered why he didn't just fly away or something, but it almost seemed as if something was keeping him stuck there or something.
In the room, to the left was another staircase, Link noted with wary. It led to some sort of platform. Link also noticed that besides from the the entrance there was no other way out. Tall walls made the borders for the chamber. Link was about to leave, seeing that he was at a dead end, but then remembered that the path for the only way back collapsed and fell into the abyss, so he had no choice but to stay where he was. Lining alongside the walls were small blue pots. Link wondered what were inside them.
Straight ahead, were two green bokoblins, wielding shields and machetes. Weirdly enough, they didn't seem to notice Link. They were both guarding a wooden fence. Behind it was...Medli! She looked distressed, but could do nothing about the bars that were keeping her imprisoned. She, like the monsters, didn't appear to acknowledge Link's presence. Personally, he was surprised she even got this far, though.
Link's thoughts were quickly disrupted as a gate dropped behind him, closing off the only escape. At this, the bokoblins quickly focused their beady eyes on the intruder.
The signs of a mini boss fight were all present, but for a moment Link didn't believe it. This was way too easy. Only two bokoblins? It was almost an insult. Link couldn't dwell on it long though, as they both scuttled for Link.
Since Link already had pictographs of them, Link didn't need his pictobox. He just had to focus on not getting overwhelmed by the two enemies who were attacking at the same time.
They both screeched and brought their weapons up before slashing down at Link. So Link took this opportunity to use a spin attack on them. Both of them flew back, their machetes falling from their grasps. Link knew that even without weapons the imps would attempt to fight hand-to-hand with him. He dashed to the closer one and unleashed a series of attacks on it. The bokoblin was defenseless against his attacks and crashed onto the ground. Again, Link felt a weird urge and his hand went to a pocket. But Link controlled himself this time and kept his guard up, so when the bokoblin managed to get up again Link slashed it one more time to end it.
Unfortunately, his exchange with this bokoblin gave more than enough time for the other one to recover, regain his weapon, and run up and cut Link, much to his surprise. Link's back was hurt, but the boy managed to turn around and raise his shield just in time to block the next blow. Link saw a precious opening and jumped high in the air, readying himself for the jump attack. It connected, and with the monster disoriented, Link did a series of attacks. He didn't even complete his attack series when the monster exploded into purple dust, leaving behind a red heart that flitted through the air before landing on the ground.
Link panted as he tried to recover after the skirmish. He had long stopped wondering why or how the heart could appear after an enemy would be defeated and was about the walk up and collect it when a new surprise flew through the air.
A Kargaroc flapped its wings heavily to accommodate for the weight of the Moblin it was heaving. Link, with dread, recognized this type of monster almost immediately. It was the one who patrolled the halls of the Forsaken Fortress, the one Link had to be quite careful with. However, Link's experience with avoiding them did help him a little. He remembered how dumb and unwary they were, never noticing a barrel that would move. Although there were a few close calls, the Moblins never discovered Link unless he made very big, obvious moves.
The bird clumsily flew around the arena once before letting go of the monster, right in front of Link. It looked just like he remembered. It had small eyes on its pig head, and its ugly snout protruded from its head. Its mouth hung open, revealing its large jaws and teeth. Around its meaty neck was a large orange necklace with a skull in the center. Its skin was a strange dark turquoise color. It had burly arms, and its hands were wrapped around a large spear. Its wore orange trousers, and its legs were incredibly short.
Link didn't believe that he had gotten a picto of this yet. He whipped out his pictobox and was about to take a pictograph of it when the Moblin raised his spear and swung it in a big circle on the ground.
That spear has a huge range! Link thought as he turned on his heel to avoid the attack. He saw the heart from earlier. It was blinking, meaning it was about to disappear, so he quickly ran up to it and collected it. As he felt it heal himself to full health, he turned back to his opponent.
He yelled as he charged at the Moblin. He went for a vertical cut, but was shocked to see the monster block it easily with the shaft of his weapon. The monster was on the defense. So Link tried a jump attack. This was much more effective, as it knocked the weapon from its grip and sent it sprawling. Link ran to it, preparing to deliver the death blow.
However, the Moblin just got back on its feet. Then, it delivered a massive punch that sent Link flying into the air before smashing into the ground.
Link's head was spinning as he slowly got to his feet. Never had he felt anything so powerful! Now this was the real mini boss. Link had severely underestimated this monster's power. As of the moment, it was running for its spear. Link suddenly remembered about taking pictographs of monsters. Weakly, he snapped a picto of the Moblin as it turned around to face Link. Now he was free to murder the thing.
When the Moblin saw Link, he charged at him faster than he'd expected. However, Link sprinted back at him, ready to fight back. Link tried a series of vertical slashes again. The first few were batted away by the shaft of the spear, but the other ones succeeded in harming it. It showed no response to being injured, so it tried to push Link away with the shaft again. Link tried a spin attack, which did end up hurting the Moblin, but it didn't seem to be affected much. Then, the Moblin raised its spear, and swept Link off his feet.
Link was seriously injured by now, so he had to retreat from the duel. He slashed at some pots and found precious hearts in it. When he healed up, he returned to fight the enemy. Why didn't it die already? Any other monster would have died by now.
He did the same as before: slash, slash, uppercut, spin attack. Link could tell that his enemy was getting worn down. It tried to sweep him again, but Link knew its fighting style. It mostly stayed on the defensive, using the shaft of the weapon to stop attacks. It would push Link away, then use a sweep attack. If it was on the ground, it would get up and punch. So as the spear descended, Link crouched and held up his shield.
The spear slicing the air made a loud whoosh sound before it met the shield with a dull thud. Link was pushed back, but unharmed. With a loud cry, Link jumped and slammed the blade into the monster.
The Moblin flopped onto the ground. Link back pedaled, not wanting to be attacked, but the enemy finally died. In its place stood a glowing ball. Unbeknownst to Link, the gates to the entrance and Medli's cell also rose.
Link studied the curious-looking orb. He couldn't seem to pick it up, so he broke it open with his sword. Treasure burst from it. As Link collected the rupees, and some hearts to replenish his health, he came across the skull necklace. He decided that it was the spoil from Moblins, so he kept it in his spoils' bag.
Then he noticed Medli. He ran up to her. She was delighted to see Link. After thanking him for rescuing her, she told him what she had discovered.
"Some creature from the mountain is doing something terrible to the great Valoo's tail!" Medli exclaimed. "That's why he is so angry!'
Link was mildly surprised that his guess from earlier was correct. He had also vaguely noticed in his fights Valoo roaring loudly and wildly thrashing from time to time.
"The monsters who captured me may have something to do with it," Medli concluded. "So here, take this. It's what I used to get this far. It's called a grappling hook. You can use it to escape." After briefly explaining how to use it, Medli ran out, shouting that she was going to tell her people what was happening.
The grappling hook was basically a rope with a metal hook on one end. Still, it felt familiar in Link's calloused hands. He threw the hook out, and caught it back in his hands with the rope. Then he looked at a ledge. Attached to a wall near the ledge was a stake. Link looked at the stake and back at his grappling hook. This was going to be very, very useful...
Author's note: I was planning to write the boss and mini boss fight in one chapter, but this was way longer than I'd thought it would be, so the boss fight will be on the next chapter.