Gisella was exhausted. It's been three days, and she never got a single break.
"Let me get those!"
"Thanks Avice." Avice takes the plates away to wash them.
Three hours later, both collapse on the hard wooden chairs, but for both, were as just luxurious as the King's Throne.
"I don't know what I would have done without you." Gisella was a goron, but felt like a limp noodle. "Look at me, I should be up and about like my fellow gorons."
"You're allowed rest. You been working hard for the last three days." Avice scolded. "You helped us back in Kakariko, this is my way of paying you back."
Gisella nods tiredly.
"My grandma, she wants to retire soon, that home I bought in town should be suitable for her."
"At least you'll be close by, that way I could have someone to talk to."
"You mean to coral your cuccos." She laughed. Gorons usually didn't handle small creatures, but she had a knack for handling birds. Most of the cuccos adored her. The ones that ran when they saw her were those blue mini cuccos.
"Every little bit helps." She thanked Gisella when she got handed a satchel. "So generous. I can put up a higher fence for them." She waved at the little boy who walked in. "Hi! We made you dinner, go and eat." Avice tells the young boy. Once he picked up his plate and walked out, she gets up to sweep the floor. "He's a hard worker." That child, once he saw how busy the inn was, he started helping. Busing tables, taking out trash, cleaning the yard, he even helped do laundry.
"He is. I tried stopping him, but he insisted he help. I appreciate it, even with you, no way can we do all the extra work ourselves. He gets all the meals he wants for free, plus stay as long as he wants." Gisella liked him, he was more mature than any children his age. "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure."
"That boy, he is carrying a large burden on his back." Gisella's granny told Gisella while he was out taking out the trash.
"They are pretty heavy. I tried taking the bags from him, but he insisted on doing them himself. He didn't even flush when the guests laughed at him." That kid, he had a hard time taking out the trash.
The old lady shook her head.
"No child. The weariness in his eyes. That boy, he will change the world."
Gisella didn't know what she meant, but when she looked closer, she saw how "heavy" he carried himself. Those eyes, last time Gisella saw them was from her late father. He was a warrior that fought in a land far away from here, he died when she was a small child. Those eyes, she never seen them in such pain. That small child, he had the same eyes.
"He's probably an orphan."
"The Great Tree, It adopts small children. I heard stories though. That only the kokiri can stay. Outside children usually are sent away once they grow up."
"Grow up? He's just a boy!" Avice couldn't believe it. "Poor thing " She seen him around Kakariko a few times, he caught her cuccos for her every once in awhile. "No wonder he doesn't say much." Both pretend to close their eyes when he walked back in.
"Put your dish in the sink. Don't worry about washing them." Thank goddess their guests were out for the day. "Kid, before you head out, Granny left your book. If you want, I can read what she translated. She left us a pie to enjoy."
Link eagerly sits down on the comfortable couches. He was very grateful it was Gisella reading and not her grandma. He liked the old woman, but she tended to drone on and on for hours on end. He wasn't alone, Navi finally came back to finish. Both were sitting with plates of pie slices, Navi was enjoying hers with a tiny toy plate and fork Avice made for her.
Gisella let her friend read the diary with Link's permission, and once she was caught up, Gisella read where her grandmother left off.
"I was gravely injured. That earthquake, it wasn't just a regular earthquake. It was the volcano getting ready to erupt. I wasn't worried, this place was part of the volcano, but thankfully it wasn't in danger of getting filled with lava. We were trapped inside, but the boy, he surprised me, not by saving my life, but his ingenuity."
"Ow!"
"I'm sorry, but I have to stop the bleeding. Stay still." Hutchin ordered. He peeled off his a piece of his shirt. He knew his father wouldn't be happy that he's destroying his silk shirt, it cost him a fortune from the seamstresses down in Termina. But the injured Goron needed it more. "Give me your arm." Leoric tried not to grimace as his broken arm got put in the crude sling. "There." The sling was made out of deku sticks and Hutchin's shirt, but it was the only way to keep Leoric comfortable. "How do you feel?"
"Like I broke my arm." Leoric started coughing. Immediately he felt a canteen go on his lips.
"Drink. You need this." Hutchin ordered. He waited till the Goron finishes drinking. "We need to move. Can you walk?"
"My legs still work." He slowly and painfully gets up. His injury from his shoulder blade wasn't that bad. Once he ordered the boy to push his bone back in, and after his screams stopped, he was able to move. "Take me to the back, it's way cooler inside. There's a small water stream there."
Hutchin and Leoric walked slowly towards the back. They did encounter some monsters, like a few keese and some baby dogondos, but Hutchin easily defeated them with little ease. After what seemed like forever, they reach the dark room.
"Thank goddess you left the camping equipment here." Hutchin was eating some jerky a worker left behind. Both were drinking black coffee, they both needed it. They were using the ale they found to treat Leoric's wounds.
"Usually we don't. The monsters in here don't have picky appetites. But since everyone is working inside everyday, it's easier to get started on the work instead of unpacking and repacking every night. That's why we sealed this room." Leoric coughs.
"You okay?"
"Yep. Just ate too fast." Leoric was grateful he wasn't alone, the kid, he was so wrong about him. "What you were asking about earlier."
Hutchin's face was pink.
"Forget about it. Because of me, we're both trapped in here."
Leoric shook his head.
"You hadn't lived long enough to know the mountain. She isn't happy about the changes we're doing." He yawned. "Let's get some sleep, I'm sure we'll be free by tomorrow. Us gorons, they won't let one of their own die. Especially a outsider."
"Okay." Hutchin was getting tired anyways. "Have a good sleep. If you need the bathroom, I'll help you." Hutchin seen a empty bottle.
"That won't be necessary. Have a good sleep. May Volvagia watch over us."
"Amen."
What we didn't know, there was a shortage of bombs. There was none in town or at the village below. The chief ordered that the entrance be opened manually, with everyone using picks and their fists, but I know that will take at least three days. I wasn't worried, there was plenty to eat down here. But the boy, he wouldn't last inside for very long. But what happened during those three days, the kid became a man.
"What was that!" Hutchin and Leoric were trading stories. Hutchin was currently telling Leoric about how his father obtained his fortune. There were monstrous screams coming from far away.
Leoric looked grim.
"The sleeping dodongo. She's awake." He was afraid of that.
"Why is it so loud?" Hutchin was spooked. "I didn't think they were so loud." The baby dodongos were pests, but only had a husky voice.
"Most dodongos don't grow up to be very big. Most die before they fully grow up, they compete with one another for territory. Those screams you hear, it is the King."
"The King?"
"Or queen. But around here we call the adult King. It's a fully grown dodongo, it's massive. We trapped it deep inside, hoping it starved to death."
"You starve a trapped creature? That's horrible." Hutchin hunted and ate animals, but he wasn't cruel.
"I understand why you are so hesitant. We don't like doing it. But those creatures must never reach full size." He groaned as he gets up. "I have to kill it before it escapes. Once it does, it is impossible to stop."
"How big exactly?" The ones Hutchin and his sister seen were big, they were about the same height as them.
"You met my friend Biggern."
"That huge goron sitting outside?" Hutchin seen him sitting on top of the mountain. He asked why he couldn't work, he was big enough to finish everyone's work in one day. When he asked, the only answer he got was the large Goron was a master swordmaker. His hands were too delicate for labor work. His work wasn't cheap, his swords and weapons were expensive for a reason. "What about him."
"The dodongos usually only grow up to be a certain size. Like I said, most are competitive in nature. Those that aren't killed, are hunted by us or any outsiders. Many Hylians and Gerudo come here for extra training. Didn't your school send your students here?"
Hutchin sheepishly shook his head. He skipped school to see a girl. Leoric just sniggered. This boy, he reminded him of himself when he was a young goron.
"Anyways, most never reach adulthood. The ones that do, they grow up to be massive. One male, one female. Usually the female survives, the male dies after they mate. The female or in a rare case, the male are very protective of the eggs and will kill the other to protect them. In this case it was the female that survived."
"Okay. Then why seal her?" Hutchin asked.
"Usually we don't, the creature usually dies after laying their eggs, or if it's a male, dies of old age. This one, it ate most of her eggs, making her feral."
"Ew."
"Yeah. We had no choice. We never let outsiders hunt King Dodongos, they are too dangerous." Hearing the roar, Leoric flinched. He slowly and painfully gets up.
"What are you doing!" Hutchin was dismayed to see his new friend getting up. "You're hurt!" Before his mom died, she worked as a doctor in the town. She was hoping that one of her children would carry on the family tradition, but neither Ellasia or Hutchin were interested. Ellasia wanted to be a actress, and Hutchin was hoping to take over their father's store when he got older. "You need rest."
"Believe me kid, I want nothing more." He groaned in pain. "But that monster, she will escape and cause havoc. I don't have a choice." The Goron was surprised when the Hylian jumped in front of him with his arms spread.
"No offense Sir Leoric. But as a Student of the Knights, I have to do my duty." He picks up his sword and sheath from the floor. "I will not put a injured man in harms way. Father always told me when it's time I do my Knightly Duty. This monster, tell me where it is."
"Wow." Avice was on the edge of her seat. "I always heard the stories about King Dodongo, but I always assumed there was only one."
Link remembered his own fight with the huge dragon, it was a tough fight. He was just a little kid when he fought it. He had to assume that kid was only a few years older than him, presumably the same age when he was "grown up" as an adult.
"Usually. Most Kings don't show up for many decades or even centuries. I heard there was one in the cavern, but I heard rumors that a young hero defeated it. Usually it is one of the gorons that kills it."
Navi had to hide her smile. She remembered being proud of Link when he defeated it.
"So spill! What happened next?"
"I was very hesitant. He was very well trained, I remember him and his sister when they fought those Lizalfos. I didn't really need to jump in to help, they handled themselves quite well. But King, they cannot be defeated by swords, or any conventional weapons. Even magic was useless. There was only one way, but I wasn't sure if he was ready."
"Kid, you are a good fighter, but King is nothing that you can't handle."
"If it's a danger, than I have my duty. The Knight's Code, it is a dishonor to put innocents in unnecessary danger. Just tell me how to defeat it. I won't let you fight. Sorry."
Leoric was going to knock him out, he may have a broken arm, but he was way bigger and stronger than the boy. But he remembered Hutchin asking about the Goron Trails, how he could prove himself.
"Fine. I doubt you'll let this go anyways. There is only one way to defeat King. Your sword won't make a scratch on the scales. You remember the bomb flowers?" When the boy nodded, Leoric continued. "Conventional bombs will work just as well, just have to remember to light them when you throw them in its mouth."
"Wait. What?"
"Mm hm. They dine on bomb flower roots when they are young, but as a adult those are deadly. They are dragons you see, and bombs explode in their body. In simple terms, find some bombs and throw them in. A few won't hurt them, they do eat, but only raw. When the root is exposed, ssssssst. BOOM! Their bodies can't take it. If only we had bomb flowers." Leoric shook his head.
"We have no bombs either." Hutchin remembered the workers using them all the day before. "Wild bomb flowers, is there any other place they grow?"
"I know of only one place. The room where King is in."
This was the ultimate test. When I was just a boy, maybe when I was twenty nine, I heard of a goron named Bahram that killed the last King. That was the day he became a member of the Goron Tribe. He was the father of the current leader we have now. I confess, I hid the truth about King. We sealed her in because we were electing a future leader of the Goron Tribe. Our current leader, he wanted to step down, even before his daughter died. He was getting disillusioned about the King of Hyrule. But we were open about a regular election. Killing King was just a suggestion. If I'm being honest, I didn't want him hurt. But looking in his eyes, I knew he'll win. Once I prayed to Volvagia, I sent him on his way.
"You sure about this?" Leoric gave him a crash course about bomb flowers, and how to handle them.
"My father sent me here to be more responsible. That being a playboy and a spoiled kid won't get me far in life. Sir Leoric, it is a honor training with you." He saluted him with a Knight's Salute. Leoric saluted him back with a traditional Goron Salute. "I won't fail you, and won't dishonor the Knight or Goron Code of Honor by dying." Hutchin, he took a oath to protect the gorons and his country.
"Good luck kid." Leoric gave him a red potion he found in one of the piles on the ground. He refused to take it, saying the kid needed it more. Kings were deadly. "I'll be right behind you. If you need me, just shout."
The kid, no, Knight Hutchin. He didn't need me after all. When we were rescued, everyone was shocked on what they saw.
Hutchin was terrified. He was only a student. He never saw combat in his life. But his friend was in danger, especially when he told him that adult dodongos eat gorons when hungry. But he had no choice. He had his sword, and easily defeated any monsters that came his way. Once he reached a small opening, he knew the monster was on the other side. Giving the Goddesses a quick prayer, he goes inside.
ROAR! The dragon gave a huge roar when it saw the boy.
Hutchin wanted to pee his pants. The dragon was HUGE! Probably bigger than that goron on top of the mountain. When it moved closer to the boy, its footsteps made him fall from the ground shaking. Taking a deep breath, he dives out of the way when the dragon opened its mouth.
Leoric was on the other side. All he heard was roars. He was dying to go in, but even without his injuries, he was stuck. The walls that sealed King was used by bombs, and the fallen rocks were too large for him to move away. He had no choice but to pray.
Holy crap! That was close. That bomb flower almost exploded in his hand, it was only seconds before it went off. Thankfully the dragon's mouth was open. It was almost dead, the dragon's blood was dripping out of its mouth. Just one more. Dammit! He used up most of the flowers. He had to win, otherwise he and Leoric were dead. Quickly downing the red potion, he got his stamina back. One more. Just one more.
'Great Volvagia. Please.' Hutchin prayed. When he saw a pile of garbage, he quickly dives underneath the dragon just before he was crushed. 'Bomb. Please. Just one.' Then he saw one. The wick was gone, he had to assume a worker threw it out.
'Beggers can't be choosers.' Luckily he knew how to repurpose one.
'Thank you dad.' His dad was a master recycler, he knew how to repair and repurpose almost everything. That's how he got his fortune. Luckily the dragon was slow, and gave him a few seconds to break the bomb open and make a homemade wick out of a strip of shirt he tore off himself. Once he finished, the dragon opened his mouth.
"Eat this Mother F..."
Leoric fell on the ground with the explosion.
"Nooooooo." He was devastated. "Why! I'm old! He's just a kid! It should have been me!" He didn't bother getting up, he was too lost in his grief. But when he heard footsteps, he was overjoyed to see the Hylian.
Hutchin had no choice but to dive behind some rocks. He prayed he didn't get crushed any flying rocks. He heard the dragon swallowing the bomb. He didn't bother lightning it up, the inside was exposed. The dragon's fire breath will instantly ignite it. Quickly laying on his stomach, he curled up in a ball and covered his head and ears with his fingertips.
"ARRRGGHHH!" King screamed. With its final breath, it rolls in a ball and explodes.
Hutchin waited for a few minutes before he gets up. When he saw the hole in the ground, he quickly runs out to tell Leoric.
You should have seen everyone's faces. At first they assumed it was me that killed King Dodongo, but when I told everyone what the boy, no Hutchin did, they all surrounded him. Once I was patched up, they took us both back to the village. Hutchin, he became a member, no a Brother of the Goron Tribe.
Hutchin was beet red. All day he was getting congratulated by his friends, his father, sister and the gorons. Because of his efforts, by saving Leoric's life, and especially defeating King, he was getting a sworn oath. It wasn't a huge ceremony, but Leoric insisted on giving him one.
He was blushing when he was given a sword.
"This is for you. Made by the finest blacksmith in Hyrule." Hutchin bowed as the audience clapped. The Goron Leader handed him a large sword. "Because of you, we are safe from King. Plus you risking your life saving a fellow brother."
"Thank you. I humbly accept." He gratefully takes the sword. Whoa! This sword was a lot lighter then he expected. Sure, he needed two hands, it was long. But it was light as a feather. "How?"
"I told you I'm one of the best. If not THE best." The large Goron said watching the ceremony.
"Not since this mountain was conquered by our ancestors that we accepted a outsider as a Sworn Brother. Only the King of Hyrule ever gets a title. Today and for the rest of your life, you are a member of our tribe."
"Wow." Avice was in awe. "I only heard the Royal Family gets that honor. That Hutchin kid, he really became a knight." Avice sighed dreamily. "If only he was alive today." Avice dreamed about finding her own knight in shining armor.
"Usually. But I heard a young boy got that honor when he opened that cavern up on Death Mountain." Gisella looks at the diary. "Listen to this. It says he and his sister quit working, and he returned to town to train as a doctor. His sister, Ellasia took over the family store when their father retired. Hutchin said he wanted to open a clinic in the mountains to treat and save lives for everyone, not just Hylians, Sheikah or Geruldos. He really became a hero." She puts down the book. "My granny told me stories. That there was a Hylian doctor that opened his own clinic. Not just in the mountains, but also in Hylian Lake. Him and his children, they saved countless lives during the War in later years." She hands Link the diary. "Here kid. The Goron story ends here. As much as I love to read more, I have to get back to work. Plus get ready to move. Granny, she said ill times were ahead."
"Wait. What happened to King's body?" Avice asked. Link, he was curious himself.
"In Death Mountain, the cavern has a dodongo head as a trophy."
"You're kidding."
"I always thought Granny was losing her mind. She said a hero mounted that head. She was half right. But King Dodongos are heavy, even when dead and stripped to the bone. It sits there as a warning to the other dodongos to behave. I have to assume the other gorons mounted it."
"You said your granny moved away?"
"Her memories were wrong. Her parents did live in Death Mountain, but they were pregnant when they moved away. Her father, Leoric, he died helping his family escape. Her mother, she died in childbirth."
"Oh no." Navi teared up.
"I'm so sorry." Avice was saddened for her friend who looked sad.
"That's probably why Granny doesn't talk about the past very much. Her adoptive parents probably found her crying in Hyrule and took her back to Termina." Her granny probably told her those stories to avoid the awful truth.
"And Volvagia?"
Gisella sighed.
"I'll tell you later." Her granny, told her what happened.
Link shakes her hand in a goodbye, he said he was checking out.
"Maybe we'll see each other again. You are a good kid." Link's eyes brightened when she handed him a huge bag of rupees. "You earned it. Sworn Brother." She winked at his red face. "Don't worry, I won't tell. Good luck with your adventure."
"I'm gonna miss him." Gisella and her granny were waving at him when he and his fairy friend walked away. "Will he be okay?"
"The Goddesses wouldn't have chosen him if they think he couldn't handle it. Come child, come help me pack. We must leave this city, bad times will be here soon."
Link already took a sneak peak, it was the story about the Boots. Both the heavy ones, and the light ones. As tempting as it was to stay in the past, he had to fix things in the future first. Like those dumbasses that took off to be thieves. Their ancestor, she had some adventure.