Link wiped the sweat from his brow and wrapped his fingers around the iron bars. How long had he been unconscious? Minutes? Hours?

He was certain of one thing. He knew how he got there. When he descended into Eldin, he felt a rumbling, and the sky became unusually dark with ash. It was a massive volcanic eruption. Link was tossed about, and the sailcloth did little to break his fall. When he came to, he discovered he'd been captured. A bokoblin stood outside the small hut where Link was being held.

Link took a moment to check out his surroundings beyond the hut. The sky was still darkened. The only light came from what appeared to be a ball of fire hovering over the volcano.

Link sat down, trying to gather his thoughts. He began to brainstorm a way out, but nothing came to mind. He didn't have any of his equipment, not even his sword. Initially, he planned to visit the Fire Dragon, who would give him another part of The Song of the Hero. He had hoped that the Fire Dragon wouldn't give him a test like the Water Dragon. Link chuckled, thinking back on it. The Water Dragon had been pretty skeptical of him. At the moment, however, he had bigger worries. Just how long would he be stuck in this hut before he could find a way out? Zelda depended on him, he reminded himself.

Link realized that he did have one piece of equipment – Zelda's sailcloth. The irony. He must have been holding it when the monsters found him, and yet they didn't take it. Perhaps the bokoblins hadn't realized what an important item it was. After all, to one of them it would appear only as a simple cloth. He already missed Zelda sorely and prayed the seal would hold out for just a little while longer.

The bokoblin outside the hut began to grunt, taking Link out of his thoughts. Link looked up and saw the reason – Ghirahim was approaching the hut. The bokoblin jumped up and down proudly.

"Ah, you've done a fine job capturing this bothersome pest for me. Now let him go for me, will you?"

The bokoblin grunted in confusion.

"Yes...let him go."

The bokoblin scratched its head, still confused. The pig like creature produced a key, unlocked the padlock, and rolled the gate away.

"You've proven yourself quite useful today, but you know...there is one teensy tiny thing..."

The bokoblin's grin turned into a look of sheer terror. Ghirahim grabbed it by the back of its vest with two fingers, holding the monster in front of him like a dirty rag. Ghirahim began to walk towards the nearest lava pit.

"You forgot to address me by my full title, 'Lord Ghirahim'...and well...I'm not in the best mood today...not at all, you see."

The bokoblin shrieked and twisted around violently as Ghirahim held it a few feet over the lava.

"You know...I must take my frustrations out on someone. I'm sorry, my friend, but today it's going to be you." Ghirahim grinned widely, the falling embers cast a red glow over his grey features.

Ghirahim dropped the bokoblin. It let out a blood-curdling screech when it made contact with the lava. It was already dead before its skin began to char and it sank below the bubbling hot liquid.

Link approached Ghirahim, now free of the small hut.

"What are you doing here?" Link asked, there was a tone of suspicion and uncertainty in his voice. Embers rained down, some landing on his skin, burning him momentarily. Ghirahim seemed unaffected.

"I've been tracking you, Sky Child. I may have lost my powers, but don't think I'm completely helpless. As I said, I'm feeling quite...frustrated right now, and I needed someone to vent to. Any questions?"

"That doesn't answer the question of why you're here. I don't know why you're helping me."

Ghirahim sighed. "Of course you do, Sky Child. Your lovely friend, your Zelda is the best thing that ever happened to me." Here, Ghirahim gave Link a devilish grin.

Suddenly Link wanted out of this conversation, he turned and began to walk away quickly, but he was far too slow, and Ghirahim much too quick. Before he knew it, Ghirahim was leaning over his shoulder and whispering into his ear.

"Everything about her is exquisite. Why, the thought of her makes me positively giggly. Her body...her voice. She was...quite delicious."

Link knew what was coming next. He pushed Ghirahim away before he could extend his long tongue like he had when they first met.

"But, don't get any ideas, Sky Child. She's mine. Run along now."

Link was more than happy to get away from Ghirahim.

"Oh...and one more thing, Sky Child..."

Link bit back the urge to swear.

"In the future, I'd very much like it if you addressed me as 'Lord Ghirahim'."

"...No," Link said firmly.

Ghirahim gave an annoyed sigh. "I'll let that slide just this once, but that will certainly have to change once Demise is defeated. Am I clear, Sky Child?"

After recovering the last of his stolen equipment, Link finally set out to talk to the Fire Dragon. Slowly, but surely he was piecing together the Song of the Hero. His next destination would be Lanayru, and he knew he had to hurry.