The final part of the Earth Temple turned out to be unexpected. A long slope came down from above, lava sluggishly sliding away down one side, on the other a broad path, five flagstones across. Some of the flagstones were brighter than others, and I couldn't see any explanation for it.
"Fi," I called, then once she'd appeared, "What do you make of this?"
Fi regarded it with her usual serene calmness, and probably a lot of calculating going on in her mind, then answered, "I conjecture there is a high probability that several of the stones in this ascent will trigger a form of trap. The probabilities also indicate that such traps are likely designed not merely to impede your progress, but to place you in danger of entering lava. There also appear to be cavities in the western wall that will prove useful should you require cover from assault. I recommend advancing with caution, Master Knuckles."
"Didn't think it was just me that found it suspicious. Any idea what the traps are likely to be?"
"I am unable to ascertain that at this time," Fi replied. I'd expected that, to be honest. The first hole in the wall was clearly visible from here, but any trap mechanisms were not. Not without crossing to the base of the slope and putting myself right in the path of them.
I checked the wall, in case it was something I could climb instead, but the rock used here was tough stuff and not something I could use. Probably Link was responsible for that, and I suppose I can't really blame him for it.
So I started up the slope, having to run because of the steepness and because it was a fair way to the first alcove, let alone the second one I could see. Barely half way to the first one and a stone shook underneath me, a large metal grate higher up tipping over and dumping rocks on the slope. There was a gap between them, so I veered across to it.
I passed the first gap with energy to spare, carrying on only to trigger another one. This grate dumped larger boulders and left me no gap to get through. I headed to the left for the second alcove, quickly realizing I didn't have long to make it. I managed to grab hold of one edge and use that to anchor myself, punching the nearest boulder. I couldn't get enough force behind it to shatter it, but it shifted it away from me, trailing after the other boulders now.
A few moments were well-spent catching my breath and looking further up, now I see up there. There didn't appear to be anything else waiting for me, so I took the chance and made for the top. Which was not, in fact, the top. It was a turning to the left, where it continued up. Oh, and the lava here emerged from a small tunnel on the left, having travelled through a small lava river to get from that side of the path to the other, just so it could flow down. And now you know why the lava crossed the road.
Yeah, I know. Try to resist the urge to slap me for that.
The second incline had no lava beside it, and the first alcove was blocked off by a wall of bombable rocks. Through the heat haze and distance I guessed there were at least three, maybe four traps waiting for me, and possibly a second alcove further up. It got too hard to tell the further up I looked.
Almost missed by me, probably because of my lame pun there, was a small hole in the wall beside me. This was where a huge lava fall passed by, but it was also where some dirt had been disturbed, further disturbed by me to reveal another air jet. That took me up to a higher ledge, and then some interestingly well-maintained stairs, complete with a railing that looked perfectly new.
The top of it overlooked the second ascent like a kind of viewing area, as if someone could stand here to watch people try to get up without getting caught by the traps. It also provided the perfect place to launch bombs from, taking me only three bombs before I managed to blow up the rocks. Which, also by convenience, happened to be the number of bomb flowers that had been growing back beside the air jet.
Then as if on purpose now I'd found the solution, I somehow managed to avoid triggering any of the traps at all on the way up. Almost doesn't seem fair to find the solution and not need it.
At the top of this second ascent was a giant dragon's head carving, spewing a whole lot of lava, mounted above the Boss Door. Which I still didn't have the key for, if you can call the puzzle pieces keys. I suppose it's more original than just a key, at least.
A large circular platform remained stable in the lava around it, immediately opposite the boss door. Quite naturally, the lava from the dragon blocked my path anyway. The nearby bird statue showed signs of having occasionally being caught by splashes of lava, but was still functional, at least. Two staircases nearby led back south, but not back to where I'd already been. These led up, to a narrow path, indented slightly. As if a ball were supposed to roll along it.
At the top was the final chest, which had the puzzle-piece-key for the Boss Door. An intricate mess of some shining metal that was going to have to be inserted into the lock somehow as a last puzzle before I faced whatever was waiting to try and beat me up this time.
Further above this area was another dragon sculpture, though this one was painted and had arms, among other things. I noticed it only after I started back down, hearing the rumble of moving stone and seeing the mouth open to release a boulder. I knew the path had been shaped appropriately!
That worked for me too though. I leapt forward, landed on my front and used it like a slide instead. A rather rough and painful one, but the chain-mail saved me from the worst of it, and pulling myself along to keep up speed only helped. I still had only moments to roll clear before I reached the upward turn at the end, which launched the boulder into the first dragon's mouth, effectively cutting off the lava. A few dribbles still managed to get past, and a part of the wall was blasted out as the built up lava found a new path to emerge, but it was safe to cross to the Boss Door and face the master of the Earth Temple.
As I unlocked the door I heard the sound of stone again. For a moment I thought the dragon above me was spitting out the rock, but instead the mouth closed further. A faint sound of rumbling suggested the stone was moving somewhere else, and now there weren't even dribbles of lava.
Behind the door a much more shallow staircase led up to yet another large platform, again with suspiciously new railings around the edge. Above, stuck in the ceiling, a set of large bony ribs formed a natural tunnel – where the stone, still dripping bits of lava, rolled along.
But no boss, no Ghirahim, no Zelda... just a few bomb flowers and a chain.
"Master, I detect Zelda's aura in the vicinity," Fi informed me. "I have detected an especially strong reaction from this chain. The probability that Zelda was recently bound to it stands at seventy-five percent."
"Then Ghirahim managed to get here before us? Or are there others at work here too..."
"I cannot offer any conjecture on that at this time, Master Knuckles. However, I surmise that Zelda was able to escape and proceed along this path. Yet I sense a powerful presence ahead. Caution is once again advised," she told me, not that I ever really paid attention to that last advice.
The path went on some more, then broke. I had to drop down to a lower path made of some darker stone. In place of railings here, there were sharpened points leaning out, giving the path a more menacing look. Above them, yet another dragon's head, and-
"You!" I snarled, recognizing Ghirahim, stood atop the head. He simply laughed, the sound of it echoing about the long chamber, almost giving it a life of it's own.
"Oh, yes," he said eventually, voice dripping with amusement. "Me! Let me see now..." He paused, looking or feigning thought. "No, that's not it," he said to himself, sighed, then said, "This is so very embarrassing, but I seem to be at a loss for your name."
"It's Knuckles," I told him flatly. "Not that a Demon like you really cares."
"How very true. You see once again I find myself feeling rather frustrated, and in need of someone to vent to."
"Or on," I added. Ghirahim ignored that. "I'm sure you're just dying to tell me what's ruined your day this time."
"Since you mention it, of course I will. It seems that my loyal minions had finally managed to capture the spirit maiden, so of course I rushed over here. I was so excited at this turn of events, flustered even..."
"But she'd got away, hadn't she?"
"Aided by that goddess-serving dog!" he exclaimed, turning to a rage. "How am I supposed to resurrect my master if she'll insist on going around and freeing the spirit maiden when I need her!"
"By the sounds of it, not at all. Thanks for telling me what you're up to, by the way. Helps so much in putting a stop to you."
Ghirahim actually paused, staring into space for a moment. He took a deep breath, restoring his composure. "A little carried away, perhaps," he conceded. "I don't deal well with complications to such carefully laid out plans. Something of a character flaw, you might say. But at least something good can still come of it."
"Wait – don't tell me," I interrupted. "You're going to say something like 'now you're here I can take it out on you', and we'll have a repeat of last time. Only worse for you, because I know what you're going to do this time."
"Now why would you think that? I just want you to meet someone special. Such a delightful character. Just a few moments with my dear friend, and you'll be charred to a very satisfying crisp. And that, let me tell you, would most certainly put a spring in my step!"
"Hate to disappoint you, but you're forgetting one very important thing – I'm the damn Hero in these parts, and we take a lot of killing!"
"Then lets get started, shall we?" he asked viciously. A snap of his fingers and he vanished, the rock I'd seen before dropping out of this dragon's mouth and coming right for me! This path was wider though, and I had plenty of room to get out of its way. It shot down, smashing into the area before and raising a cloud of dust. The dust cleared to reveal a molten core to the rock, which turned out to be alive – it formed legs first, then a long crack opened like a mouth to give a piercing screech, turning the lava that made it so hot I could feel it even from where I was!
I might not have had Ghirahim on my hands again, but I was certainly going to have a challenge with this beast!