A/N: Yay, more things happen in this chapter! For one, finishing the fire temple, YAY. For two, our two favourite people (or, maybe not favourites, but Link and Rose) have a nice little talk. Well, I say talk, but one of them won't really remember it so I don't know if it counts.

Rewritten as of 3/03/14, completed as of 9/03/14

Chapter 17: Understanding

Watching the battle with Dangoro was actually quite exciting, but I was glad I was on the sidelines. I knew the only thing keeping Link from tumbling into the lava was the iron boots, so I was quite happy just watching from above. I felt a little bad that Link had to resort to throwing the Goron into lava, but it really wasn't prepared to listen to reason quite yet.

I was tempted more than once to try and jump onto the large Goron's back when Link was knocked down, but every time I kept the temptation in check. Were I to miss, or get hurt, that wouldn't be any good for either of us. The urge subsided when Dangoro submitted.

"Ugh... That...hurt a lot. Who knew that humans were capable of such feats of strength..." the goron mumbled, rubbing his head. Standing up, it appeared he was trying to work out what we were doing there in the first place. "Uh... Maybe...you are...going to see the patriarch of our tribe?" I saw Link nod. "...Ah! So that is why you are here! In that case, take the weapon of the Hero of the past... But in exchange, you must save the patriarch of our tribe!"

As he finished, the semi-spherical platform began to rise with the lava, returning it nearly perfectly to where it had sat before the chains were broken. Along with that, the screeching sound of metal-on-metal also signalled that the doors were no longer locked. Link beckoned me forward, and I followed him - nearly slipping on the glass-smooth surface of the magnet - into the next room. I swore I heard Dangoro chuckle behind us, but wasn't sure.

From there came the Hero's Bow. Just looking at it, I knew Link would have the same trouble I'd had with the new bowstring.

And what better target practice than a Torchslug and a bunch of Beamos?

I instructed Link to stand in the very middle of the room with the Beamos before going to the one that activated the rest and nearly burning my foot in the process of avoiding it's lazer thing.

From there, Link got more than enough target practice and took the Beamos out. Now it was time to see the last elder, Gor Liggs. I didn't follow what the Goron said, I found myself feeling rather light-headed, it was hard to focus on much of anything. But, I knew that we now had the full key, and were leaving to go fight Fyrus.

In the room with the Beamos, I asked if we could stop and rest. Even with all the shortcuts I'd helped make, we had to be nearing the end of the day by now.

"S-Sorry, I just... need to rest a little. Feeling...drained." I mumbled, blinking in an attempt to clear my vision as I lowered myself to the floor against a wall. Link joined me, I vaguely noticed he looked as tired as I was before dropping into an uncomfortable but much-needed sleep.

Link was tired, but didn't permit himself to fall asleep like Rose had. That aside, the infernal heat made it hard to even consider falling asleep. And, he didn't want to be ambushed while sleeping, should some foul creature lingering nearby come across them. He would rest, he'd just stay awake.

He stubbornly stuck with this for the better part of two hours before Rose seemed to wake up. He wasn't expecting what she had to say.

"Link... 're you mad at me?" she asked. "F'r not tellin' you that I knew... stuff." Her voice was thick with sleep and muffled by her arm, but he made the words out well enough. Link thought on that for a moment, but wasn't able to respond before Rose continued. "'Cause it's... okay, if you're mad... I'm mad at me too." her voice was clearer, but it was also clear she still wasn't fully conscious.

"I...was." Link answered.

"...Not 'nymore?" Eyes still closed, Rose's eyebrows pulled together into a sleepy, curious frown. Seeing one eye slowly peeking open, Link shook his head. "M'kay. Good. 'M glad you're not mad at me... hate when people're... 'M sorry..." her sleepy voice trailed off quietly. After a few seconds' thought on the last, incomplete sentences Rose had mumbled, Link pieced the general idea together.

Link hadn't lied in his answer to her sleepy question -which he was sure she wouldn't remember when she woke up. He had been angry when she told him about Twilight Princess. Colin -who had grown up with Link, who had come to see him as a brother- and Ben had been taken by that green...thing, because she hadn't thought to warn the villagers about the attack when they left.

But then he'd started to think after they had their talk. The younger teen had truly looked remorseful when she'd sworn she had forgotten the attack, truly sounded afraid when they'd seen the bulblins, and the questionable trust he'd still held built up again as he convinced himself that she could still, indeed, be trusted. That only strengthened as he saw how her foreknowledge had helped them fight their way up the mountain, helped him against the Goron guarding the Hero's Bow. And, as the numerous shortcuts she'd introduced had shown, said foreknowledge also cut their time in these infernal mines down by at least half. He didn't want to think about how long he'd have been stuck in that...maze on the ceiling, without her; Ooccoo would have remained in the hero's pouch as he crossed on his own, suspended above a pool of magma.

No... Link decided he was glad for whatever celestial force - goddesses, or perhaps something else? - that had allowed the stories of Hyrule to be brought to Earth.

Rose didn't speak in her sleep for the next several hours, save for a few incoherent mumbles - one of which Link had distinguished as 'Too hot'.

I didn't feel much better when I woke up, but sleep had done some good, if it only meant I could use my magic without fear of passing out. The heat still made me restless and uncomfortable, taking the first opportunity to jump into semi-cool water when we were able. The room that formerly held tektites was devoid of life, and was the nearest place with water.

Upon reaffirming that there were no monsters waiting to attack us, I ungracefully fell into the water. I let out a blissful sigh when I resurfaced, going under for a few more seconds and running my fingers through my knotty hair.

When said knots proved somewhat manageable, I unwillingly got out of the water on the other side by the door, tying my hair back into a loose braid to keep my hair away from my face, if only for a few minutes. I also stopped to fill my one empty bottle with more water while Link readied his bow to open the gate.

Several Bulblins and three Beamos later, it seemed the cooling effects of the water were wearing off. I was still wet, no doubt about it, but it wasn't relieving as it should have been. On the way to Fyrus' chamber there was another magnet crane...thing, and my range wouldn't allow for me to use Farore's wind to cross. So, as I'd had to before under similar circumstances, I held on to Link as he wore the Iron Boots while being carried to where we needed to go by the crane.

We had to go back after he shot the rope holding another bridge up, for another 'circuit', and I let go the second I knew it was safe. I did not like being upside down. At all.

"Archers." I quickly warned upon entering the next room, nearly to the boss chamber. I'd managed to scrounge up some arrows on the way here, so I would be able to help Link to take the irritating buggers out.

Snap!

The tension in my bow released completely, and I felt my cheek suddenly begin to sting like it'd been stung by a hornet. I took a second to process this before ducking into cover, completely confused.

"Did that really just-" my thoughts screeched to a halt as I saw the reason for my loose bow, and the fiery stinging on my cheek. "My bow!" I yelled. The bowstring had snapped, and the broken ends were scorched; one of those stupid trolls had somehow managed to catch my bowstring when I was getting ready to shoot. "What the hell!"

"Rose, you're bleeding!" Link called out, still firing on the Bulblins. Reaching instinctively for my stinging face, I confirmed what he'd said, feeling the wetness on my face and seeing the red on my hand when I pulled back.

"It's just a scratch." I said, trying to think of all the ways that shouldn't have happened. The Bulblin's aim must have been pretty spot-on to hit the bowstring, let alone get anywhere near my head. As for the bleeding, did the string scratch me when it snapped or something? Did the arrow nick me? Either way, that stupid thing had good aim.

Didn't mean under any circumstances that I was happy my bow was broken.

The lock for the Boss chamber was much more decorated and intricate than the game let on, I observed as the key was inserted into said lock, twisting and falling into a heap on the floor with a crash that made the ground shake.

The large door was just as difficult as the last to open, but after a few minutes' effort we were finally in the boss chamber. Darbus appeared to be asleep, breathing quietly. I saw the stone helmet with the obvious jewel - the common weak spot in Legend of Zelda is always obvious - atop the Goron Patriarch's head, and observed the heavy chains that held Fyrus stationary.

Before Link could walk forward, I grabbed his arm.

"Link, I've got a plan. Can you let me use the iron boots?" I whispered, knowing this could be much easier with two people. Curiously and quietly, Link pulled the heavy items out of his pouch. "Thanks. Quick words before he-" I stopped to glance again at the 'Twilit Igniter', seeing he was already beginning to wake. "Aim for the jewel!" I pointed to his helmet as the jewel started to glow brightly, Fyrus' eyes lighting up. He began roaring at us, pulling at the chains to get closer to us.

Realizing he was chained, Fyrus pulled at the ones holding his arms up before bursting into flame. The second he did so, the manacles glowed red-orange. It would not be good if one were to get hit with that. The monster jerked the chains harder until they snapped from the walls, both still attached to his wrists. Roaring one last time, Fyrus began attacking.

It was much quicker than the game, Link and I very nearly got hit with the hot chain as he swung them towards us.

"Quick! Arrows!" I yelled, as the room had grown noisy with the living inferno. Fyrus started lumbering towards us, preparing to take another swing. While Link distracted him, leading him one direction, I was darting in the other, preparing the iron boots for when Link hit him.

The telltale roar was my signal. Practically jumping into the Iron boots, I grabbed the chain attached to his ankle, pulling as hard as I could as he lurched in the other direction. For a faint few, painful seconds, I thought my arms might actually be ripped from their sockets. Moments after this thought occurred to me Fyrus fell to the ground, and Link wasted no time in attacking the jem in his helmet. He got several good hits in before Fyrus got back up.

When the monster reignited, I wisely backed away from where I'd stood when he fell, should I accidentally draw his attention. From what little of Link I could see from where I was, I saw he was readying another arrow, and Fyrus was moving towards him. Before he could dodge, Fyrus took a swing and sent him flying to the ground.

Battle plan be damned, I started yelling at the Igniter to get his attention away from Link.

"Hey! Over here!" Pausing mid-swing, Fyrus turned to me. "That's right, I'm over here! Come and get me!" With another roar, he charged - well, if it can be called charging, he was moving pretty slow - towards me. Right as he would have taken a swing, I ducked between his legs, running towards Link. I wasn't expecting him to spin; that was definitely not an attack I remembered him using.

I didn't raise my shield in time - my concentration was scattered, it was weak enough as it was, but given the little time I had to form it, the barrier shattered like sugar glass when the chains hit it. Before the shards dissolved, one nicked the scabbed-over cut on my cheek, and I felt blood trailing down my cheek again.

Either way, Nayru's love had half-done its job, the chains had been stopped long enough for me to get away and to Link. Fyrus roared in outrage, turning in our direction again. He stopped a short distance away, rearing back for a moment before breathing fire at us.

"Oh, great, he breathes fire now!" I exclaimed, Link and I safely behind a proper barrier I'd been able to raise before he attacked. The fire spread harmlessly around us, until they receded when the Igniter tired himself. "Perfect opportunity, I wouldn't wait til he's up and moving again," I suggested, running to the other side to take the position for when Link hit him.

Save for feeling like my arms were going to be ripped off - again - our second attack went off without a hitch. Fyrus seemed even angrier now, and the two of us discovered he had a fourth attack; essentially a wave of fire, it wasn't easy to avoid since it spread in all directions. The two of us caught on fire, collectively, at least five times.

Fyrus was becoming less and less predictable, spinning and swinging and spitting fire whenever he felt like it. And it seemed, with his anger came speed. He was faster now, it was getting hard to run far enough away to get an arrow ready, or avoid being set on fire. More often than not it became necessary to use magic to avoid these attacks, and we were both quickly draining. We were burned, scraped, bruised and just plain tired. The odds weren't exactly in our favour.

If I wasn't fighting for my life, I'd have taken the time to appreciate the Hunger Games reference.

"This has to stop.." I said to Link, gasping for breath. He right there with me, looking just as tired. He nodded. "He usually... has to stop for a few seconds after spitting fire, you think you can get him then?" I asked. Another nod. "Okay..." 'Time to play diversion again,' I thought.

Stepping out to one side of the pillar Link and I had taken cover behind, I whistled loud enough for it to actually hurt my ears. Fyrus, who'd taken to wandering the other half of the room to find us, quickly turned.

Turned out Link didn't need to wait for the igniter to tire himself, but was able to catch the gem as the monster was storming towards us. It cried out, fiery hands flying to its face.

'Just one more time...' I thought, getting into the Iron Boots once I was behind Fyrus. It was harder to keep a hold of the chain, the muscles in my arms wanted nothing more than to become useless noodles, but I held tight and pulled back as hard as I could, until he fell. It was only a few more seconds, I felt my knees just waiting to give out as I stood stationary in the iron boots.

Then it was done.

Fyrus roared and thrashed, sending little pieces of rubble flying and falling from the ceiling. Then he was collapsing to his knees. The body that once looked like burning embers went completely black. Shards of the Twilight exploded outwards, leaving an unconscious Goron Patriarch on the ground and coming to form the second Fused Shadow in front of Link.

Regaining the ability to walk - somewhat - I managed to make my way over so I was closer to Link. I didn't want to try getting the boots off yet, my legs were in danger of turning into jelly, and I worried I might fall over if I bent them too much.

Midna came up from Link's shadow, a delighted look on her shadowy face.

"Eee hee hee! Well done! Now we have two Fused Shadows..." I didn't pay attention to what she said next, having heard it before. this was the part where she told him Zant's name, and a little about what she thought about Zelda ruling. I paid attention again when Darbus came to, looking dazed and confused.

"Uhhgh... Urrgh... Hmm? What am I doing here? Unngh... My head, it aches.." the patriarch rubbed his head as he mumbled. I wasn't surprised. Link had done a number on Fyrus' head. Then again, he did a number on us too.

"Welcome back..." I said quietly. No doubt there was quite a bit that needed to be explained to Darbus, but Link and I wouldn't be there for it.

"You ready to get out of here?" Midna asked us. The two of us nodded, and I realized now would be a good time to get out of the boots. I managed to stay mostly upright, thank the goddesses. I didn't need to be passing out again, yet anyways. Once we were back in the village I was going to either swim in the relieving cold water, or sleep for as long as I was able. I wasn't sure which was more appealing.

I stand corrected; the most appealing thing, from the second we reappeared in Kakariko, was that it was cold. I let out an involuntary sigh at the refreshing wind.

"Heroic Link, Brave Rose..." I heard Faron's voice whispering with the wind. "North of here, across the plain and past the great stone bridge, in the lands guarded by the spirit Lanayru... You shall find the ones you seek... In the same lands, the final traveler from another world awaits..."

The voice faded, as did the breeze, and I nearly whined at the loss of the refreshing coolness.

"Hey! Link and Rose are back!" I heard Talo holler. Link and I shared a look as the village kids - including Colin and Ben, who already looked better than when I'd come to say goodbye before we left for the mines - came out of the sanctuary to greet us.

"You look like crap," I suddenly said before they reached us. Scorched, scabbed, scratched and bloody, I really wasn't lying. "I can't imagine I look much better, though." I added, feeling every single bruise, scrape and burn on my body.

Bethany made the same observation I have, tacking on an, "Are you alright?" at the end. Renado was one of the last to greet us, looking almost disapproving at our current state. We were led into the motel, given food and water and told to go to the bedrooms upstairs and get some well-needed rest. I don't know about Link, but I didn't quite make it upstairs. I nearly fell asleep at the table.

Someone brought me upstairs, I was too out of it to try and guess who it was, but I felt tiny, gentle hands start tending to the accessible burns and cuts I'd accumulated. Briefly cracking open one eye, I saw it was Luda. I reminded myself to thank her when I woke up, before the welcoming darkness of sleep overcame me.

A/N: HOLY CRAP. I wrote this in less than a week! That has to be some kind of record, holy crap! (This is kind of a big deal, considering my longest writing-time on this story took 3 months...for one chapter, and I usually take at least two weeks to finish a chapter.) Either way, it's currently 4:00 AM and I am definitely ready to sleep. Friendly reminder I also have a tumblr page dedicated entirely to this story. The url is Links-rose, and it's your best bet for getting info on characters and whatnot, save for reading the story.