Rewritten as of 2/20/14, completed as of 3/02/14

Chapter 16: Blasted Heat

Previously...

I'm not sure how long I sat on the roof, but next time I was consciously aware, the sun was much lower in the sky, and a cold wind was blowing in from the North.

"Rose."

I gasped, practically jumping to my feet and turning to face the person who'd startled me;

Link.

My tense pose dropped, and I gave a heavy sigh. Just Link..

"Hey," I greeted, sitting down by the edge of the roof again.

"Your friend Carmen woke up, and Colin and Ben are going to be okay." he said, sitting down beside me. Though I already knew the latter, I sighed in relief.

"That's good... How about you?" I asked, remembering I'd left him to get the boys back on his own, with the pack of Bulbins.

"Could be better. I got hit by a club once or twice, but I'll live." he answered. I bit my lip. I knew it wouldn't have been as bad if I'd been there. I was getting better with my bow and arrows every time I practiced, I would have been able to take out at least some of them from a distance.

"I'm sorry. I should've stayed with you, helped you out." 'It would've been the least I could to, considering...'

"You were worried for your friend. It's understandable. Coming down to it, it's probably better that you stayed here." Link went on to tell me about the joust on the Bridge of Eldin with the king Bulblin, how he'd nearly been knocked off the bridge a number of times, but - obviously - came out on top. I nearly apologized again, but held my tongue. Or, at least I thought I did.

'I could have stopped it, warned them before we left...Before I forgot. I shouldn't have forgotten, we could have left earlier. I should have remembered...'

I didn't realize as the thoughts swirled in my head that I'd been mumbling them aloud. I thought they were just thoughts.

"You knew the attack was going to happen?" Link asked, his voice caught with suspicion and confusion. I left my face fall into my hands. This could go south really quickly if I didn't explain properly.

"...Yeah. Just-.. Just let me explain, please." I lifted my head, holding one hand out pleadingly. Link nodded, though he was frowning. "I suppose there's a few things you've been wondering about since we met. Like Bethany's reaction when you first met, how we know where things are without even looking at the map, like the Tears of Light on Death Mountain..."

I took a deep breat. Why was I so nervous? I mean, what was the worst that could happen? ...Okay, not the best way to think about it.

"On Earth, there's these... stories, of Hyrule through the ages. Usually they're centered around the various incarnations of the Chosen Hero, and his fight against whatever evil is plaguing Hyrule. There's... one in particular I liked more than the others; Twilight Princess."

Briefly looking at Link, I saw the understanding look come to his face.

Pushing on before he could comment, I said, "I knew about the attack, and what happened in Ordon, and the Forest temple, because of that story. But... I swear on the lives of my family -here and on Earth- that if I'd remembered before this morning, I would have warned everyone. Please, trust me on that." my voice sounded brittle, but the words were clear.

After a painfully long silence, Link spoke, standing up.

"We should go inside, it's almost dark. We can head up tomorrow."

Now I'd done it. Link was upset, I knew it. I wondered if telling him had made things better in the long run, or ruined them.

I supposed only time would tell.

"You two'll be careful, right? We don't need either of you coming back hurt." Carmen was the one to say this as I prepared to leave. Link was in Malo's newly-opened shop, getting the Hylian Shield I'd suggested upon mentioning that his wooden shield would probably burn in the mines. I'd gotten a few healing potions from said shop earlier, but left the shield for Link. I already had a metal shield, he didn't.

Link... He hadn't really been talking to me that morning, aside from when he had to. Seeing as we were doing some pretty important stuff, we kind of needed to coordinate and organize together. But, aside from that he avoided speaking with me. Politely. If that makes any sense. I wondered yet again if he was angry with me over yesterday. If he was, I... honestly didn't blame him. His brother-figure and another innocent boy had been hurt because I didn't tell anyone about the attack that I'd known was going to happen. I'd be mad at me too.

Whether he was mad at me or not was an issue that would have to be contemplated another time. I still had work to do.

"I can't make any promises on that, knowing what Link and I are up against." I sighed apologetically to my younger friend. "But, I'll do my best. You take it easy down here too, got it?" I quickly amended, adding my own when I remembered that Carmen had a mild concussion.

"Right. See you soon." I was quickly caught in a hug by the blonde before she went to help Aren, Luda and Beth with the two sleeping boys upstairs, more likely to let Aren sleep. She'd been up through the night worrying for her young son.

Remembering the woman's hysterics the previous day, a fresh stab of guilt assaulted me, and I forcefully moved it aside as I pulled my boots on, tightening the laces just below my knees to fix them where they sat on my calves. The last piece was the cloak that I easily slung over my shoulders, pinning it where it was meant to rest on my collarbone. I didn't bother with the hood. Higher up on the mountain, the wind would surely blow it off anyways.

Outside, Link was saying goodbyes to the kids and, similar to my farewells with Carmen and Bethany, promising them he'd be as careful as he could. Beth leaned over and whispered something to him. He hesitated a moment, before nodding again with a small smile. I couldn't help my sigh. He had a nice smile, he should smile more often, I mused. I blinked, confused by the thought. Sure, his smile was nice, but did I actually just go all romantic-longing-sigh over it?

...Nope. I wouldn't accept that. Besides, I wasn't seeing romance in mine and Link's future. At least, not together. Maybe with Ilia, who he'd known since he was a child. Or Midna, even. Though, with her departure to the Twilight at the end of the game, that was less probable.

During our ascension of the volcano, I was sure to keep thoughts of romance - or certain discussions - out of my head. My head was, figuratively, right in the game, though I found myself ogling when Link went up against the rolling Gorons often headed straight for us as we fought our way up. As I found myself doing quite often, I also marveled at the differences between Twilight Princess and living the event out.

Like, dodging the large pieces of volcanic rock hurtling towards us. I almost wasn't fast enough to move out of the way a number of times, and once would have been completely crushed if Link hadn't grabbed me and pulled me to the ground near safe cover, himself as a partial shield. Seeing the fragments of cooling volcanic rock so near where I had been standing were a huge wakeup call, and I stayed sharp in case I needed to dodge again, or use Nayru's Love. I was still unsure of my strength with that ability, it all depended on keeping my focus. Me being as scatterbrained as I was this particular day, I didn't want to chance it.

However, with Farore's Wind I didn't have to worry about using Gorons as springboards like Link did when we began our ascent to the mines themselves. I would shift up, wait for Link and do it again, though it got harder when I had to go farther to avoid Gorons when the platforms started getting closer together.

Then it was done, and we were ready to enter.

"Link... Maybe you should put the iron boots on before we go inside. There's no telling what's waiting in there for us."

I got a raised eyebrow in response, before Link followed my suggestion. I found myself becoming irritated.

"I don't follow the events of the story like a bible, Link. It's not word-for-word, it missed things. There's things that it didn't account for, like Aren, Ben, Twill, and probably more. There could be something worse than I think there is, I don't know. It certainly doesn't account for human error, and it didn't account for how things change with me and my friends here."

Contrary to my worries, the events in the entrance to the Goron's Mines followed quite closely with Twilight Princess; we entered, the Gorons reacted defensively, a good dozen at least preparing to ram and kick us out. Link was stood defensively, slightly sidestepping as though to block me from their view, as I prepared to use Nayru's Love. Nearly right before they would have reached us, the gorons halted at the call of an elderly voice.

The first Goron Elder, Gor Coron appeared.

"Are these young ones such imposing enemies that you must all gang up on them? I
think not, Little Brothers." he murmured, beckoning us forward. The introduction of the former-patriarch went as it was supposed to, right into the wrestling match. This one was a little more nerve-wracking to watch, since I knew our entrance into the mines hinged on Link winning. When at last Link won, the ground shook as Gor Coron fell out of the ring.

"Young warrior... You have a strong will...and sharp eyes. Fine traits... Want to see how well you can use them?" Gor Coron was impressed, it was clear. The elder went on to explain the happenings of the mine, with the Fused Shadow, Darbus' transformation into Fyrus, and the subsequent sealing of the Goron patriarch away where he couldn't harm anyone. He asked for our help, in hopes that we would be able to restore Darbus to his former state, and let us pass with the final word of the other elders, and the three pieces of the Big Key.

Neither Link nor I spoke until we were out of the Gorons' hearing range, and Link removed the Iron Boots.

"Well, I'd like to think that went well. Oh gods, it's hot..." I mumbled when the real mines came into view. The first thing I registered was the heat; Lava. Everywhere. Though I already knew that, there was nothing like experiencing it firsthand. Lava was flowing like water, splashing up in geysers, and glowing ominously below us.

Descending to the lower level and the crossing, Link halted when he saw we would have to jump a rather sizable gap between land strips. Knowing how well that had gone over in the forest temple, I really didn't want to chance trying to jump that here. Fear curled in the pit of my stomach as I saw Link preparing to jump.

"No!-" I grabbed his arm before I could stop myself, using Farore's wind to bring us both safely across to the platform between geysers. "S-sorry, I just... think it'd be safer to do it this way." I stammered, repeating my action and skipping the first almost-lava-bath instantly. I felt the instant -though minute- drain the magic had on my energy, but couldn't bring myself to care.

"Bloody...freaking fire-breathing geckos..." I grumbled under my breath about twenty minutes later, holding a singed elbow protectively to my person as we entered the first room with the magnet-walls and water. Blessed water, cold or not. Three tries later with the stone sliding door later, a few minor burns and a stinging arm later, we were in the clear for the moment.

The water was not, unfortunately, cold. It was still a relief after the copious fire and lava in the previous room, but only barely. I nearly whined when we had to leave the water, but another part of me knew that that just meant we were one step closer to getting out of this wretchedly hot place.

The next room only held a lone Goron -and Ooccoo, but that came later- in the middle of another sumo ring. He appeared small and... slightly frail, if such a word could apply to a being made of stone, though he greeted us with warmth and curiosity.

"Ah...I thought I felt a presence...but what a surprise to find two young humans... Word has come to me of you...and if Gor Coron has faith in you, then your hearts must be true."

I wasn't sure how true that was to me, as the previous Goron elder had all but ignored me earlier.

"...I am one of the four Goron elders. Gor Amoto is my name. You are heroic and brave, young humans. Please, you must lend this tribe your power." From seemingly nowhere, the elder goron handed Link a piece of a key. "That is one of the three key shards that, when merged together, form the key to the room where Darbus is being held. You must hurry to the other elders, they have the other shards!"

From there, we reunited with Ooccoo, and proceeded back through the water room and to the upper level of the room filled with Dodongos. Or, fire-breathing geckos. And up came the... magnet ceiling maze. Oh... no...

"No, no, no. I'm sorry, but just... No." I waved my hands in front of me in the universal 'No way,' gesture. "Heights, I can cope with. Heights over lava while upside down, I can't." The pitch of my voice increased as anxiety threatened to take hold. My wrist twitched, a nervous tick I'd had for years. "Farore's Wind won't reach. It's not that I don't trust you, but...walking upside down held up by magnets on your feet... gh... I can't..."

"What's all this talk about upside-down lava?" a familiar voice squeaked. Ooccoo. Her head was poking out of Link's bag, and she was looking right at me. "My son and I would be glad to help you two, dearie."

Hopping out of the bag completely, the bird-woman ordered me to tell her where we needed to go in the room. I pointed to the doorway across the room, usually reached by navigating the maze on the ceiling.

"Oh, no problem, dearie." With that, Ooccoo introduced her son, instructing him to warp us over to the door we needed to get to, saving us time and me the near panic I'd been in. Ooccoo herself rejoined us soon after.

"That was... helpful. Thanks, Ooccoo..." Really, that cut down the time we'd have to be here quite a bit. Less heat stroke, and quicker to get back to cold. The heat was sweltering, and worse in the atrium of the mines, where only grated metal floors stood between us and the lake of lava.

"Bulblins. I count four." Link pointed as we entered the atrium, on the upper level now, drawing his sword. I tiredly nodded in acknowledgement before doing the same. The heat was taking its toll, I was really starting to feel it. With that came lack of focus, and a badly bruised back in my case. I'd been in a power-struggle against one of the Bulblins' clubs, and the one behind me that I'd thought I'd taken out knocked me in the back.

Before it could take another swing I remembered what the shade had taught me the day before, about using Nayru's Love as an attack. It was tricky, but I did it; separating the crystal shield into shards was harder than it would have been outside the mines, requiring more concentration and energy to take out the two Bokoblins.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, slowly getting to my feet. My back was throbbing.

"Those things have a hell of a swing.." I grumbled, wincing as I rolled my shoulders. "But, I'll live."

"Rotating platforms. This looks fun." I said sarcastically. Having bypassed several rooms sooner than in the game, we were nearly to the second elder. The second water room with the Tektites had been dealt with easily, using old-fashioned swords to take out the insect monsters, and an arrow to hit the crystal switch that opened the gate. From there, the room with the Beamos and Bulblins, also easier. However, the 'outside room' with the Bulblin archers was not so easily dealt with. I had run out of arrows, but at least neither of us were hit by theirs.

This room, however, had the two rotating platforms, the larger of which dominated nearly half the room, and had magnet-pieces on it. The first platform was crossed without difficulty, but the second one promised to be very disagreeable. See, the issue of only one pair of iron boots persistently showed itself off, as did my problem with heights. The distance was too far to run in one standing, and too far to use Farore's Wind - not that I could do that right now anyways.

The situation was made no less problematic when Link said he could carry me, that just made it awkward. We argued - well, I say argued, but it was more just talking in circles around the suggestion - back and forth for a few minutes before I agreed.

And oh how I regretted agreeing.

On the first magnetic section of the platform, my face was buried into Link's tunic and my legs were straight and stiff as I tried to ignore the feeling of my blood rushing to my head, and then back down as we flipped again. Two more times, this happened, and on the third flip things went sour.

I'd made the mistake of relaxing my lower body -accidentally- mid flip, and I felt myself falling, came to a swinging stop when Link grabbed my arms, upside down as well. My heart was thundering in my ears, I heard the Tektites splashing around beneath us in the background, and Link was saying something; I've got you. Was that it? ...It sure sounded like it.

"Link, don't-" My sentence was interrupted with a jerk and a girlish yelp on my part, then I was right-ways-up again. We went for one more rotation, I did not relax at all until we were entering the chamber Gor Ebizo waited in.

This elder seemed more frail than the last, little more than a skeleton and rocks, hunched over with long arms keeping him mostly upright.

"Ah... The young humans. I am pleased to see you make it this far... I am one of the four elders of the Goron tribe. I am called Gor Ebizo. You have heard of the plight of our patriarch. Otherwise you would not have come to see me. Here, take this..." From his left hand, the withering elder handed us the second piece to the key, which -when held in proximity of the other- fused with the first piece.

The old Goron went on to tell us about the weapon left by the hero of old, which I knew was the Hero's Bow, and where to find it.

"There are limits to what we elders can do to contain Darbus now that he has
been overcome by evil... You must aid us, humans, please, take the Hero's weapon and head deeper as quick as possible."

I waited until we were in the next room -or, the previous one- to speak up.

"The guard isn't going to be nearly as welcoming as the elder would think. I'm going out on a limb and saying he didn't get the memo the elders did, about us being here to help." I warned him. Link nodded, and turned towards the door we'd have to go to- oh. More magnet walls. Too far to use Farore's Wind, and I was too drained to do so.

It wasn't that I disliked Link carrying me, but I did. I hated feeling useless, and burdening him while he walked sideways on a place no human should ever walk. I let go at the nearest opportunity, grabbing the yellow rupee that was sitting innocently in a chest, waiting for Link to join me.

I was reluctant to enter the next room; it had lava in it, and this room was such a pleasant relief from the sweltering heat. Nevertheless, I gave Link the lowdown of what was going to happen with the mini-boss, Dangoro, and how to defeat him.

A crude metal portcullis slammed into the ground in front of the door once we were in the circular room, effectively locking us in with Dangoro. I hung back, not wanting to be on the tippy platform once it was in the lava. Dangoro noticed Link quite quickly, and met him with anger.

"Whoa... Human?! What business does a human have coming here?! None! No business! This is a forbidden place!"

He seemed like a real peach.

A/N: I'm sorry I'm skipping over the fun stuff, I'm just really tired at the moment and most of this was written over the course of three hours. The rest of it just kind of sat there for the last ten days. If there's any grammatical or spelling errors, I apologize. I didn't sleep well last night. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading!