Rhomson and Riju immediately headed towards the main exit of the desert. Patricia pulled them through the sands into the loose dirt of the path between the canyons. Once arriving at the stable, they looked around and found a Goron sitting down.

"You there," Rhomson called out.

The Goron looked over at them. "Yes?"

"Did you just come from the desert?" asked Rhomson.

The Goron shook his head. "No. I just arrived at the desert."

Riju then stepped forward. "Then did you see another Goron passing through here? He was carrying a young man."

The Goron rubbed his chin. "Oh yeah...I did see that. Said he passed out from the heat. Then headed inside. Didn't see them after that though."

Rhomson checked inside the stable. Link nor the Goron in question was found.

"They are not here," Rhomson called out.

Riju glared at the Goron. "You sure you didn't see them leave?"

The Goron nodded. "There was a wagon here that did leave."

Rhomson rejoined Riju. "They couldn't have gotten too far. I'll get on a horse and see if I can catch them. Link and I left our horses here."

Rhomson went to the stable handler. "I need the horse I left with you ready to leave immediately."

The handler shook his head. "No can do. All the horses are asleep."

Riju turned toward the handler. "Excuse me? Just wake up the horse she needs."

"I'm afraid that won't do you any good," the handler replied. "I gave them a powerful sleeping medicine. They will be out for a few hours."

Riju sighed. "So...you are on the Goron's side?"

The Goron munched on some rocks.

"This Age of Calamity has gone on long enough," the handler replied. "We need the hero to do his job now that he is finally awake. The Yiga cleared out one of our stables. We don't know which one will be next. News travels fast about a large group traveling with hero doing unimportant sight seeing instead of training to fight the Calamity."

Riju glared at the handler. "...Rhomson let us fall back for now."

"But-"

"We've hit a dead end here," Riju continued. "Back to the desert."

Riju and Rhomson sled back to Kara Kara Bazaar on Patricia. Once they arrived, Riju screamed in frustration.

"It feels like the entire world is out to get Link for some reason or another," she said in a huff.

"What should we do?" asked Rhomson.

"Sand Seals aren't as fast in the soil as they are in sand," Riju replied. "I have to assume all the stables are on the Goron's side. Hm...there must be a way to beat them to Death Mountain."

Around fifteen guards from the city arrived in Kara Kara Bazaar led by Liana.

"The guards have assembled Chief," Liana said as she knelt down.

"The Gorons have taken Link," Riju stated. "Not only that, they have harmed our people. Liana and two others will accompany me to Death Mountain. We need to talk to their elder. While the others will divide up and help defend this Bazaar and Gerudo Town."

"Yes Chief!" shouted the guards.

Rhomson approached Riju. "Chief, what about the fairies to heal Princess Mipha and the others?"

"Buliara is tending to that herself," Liana replied.

Riju smiled. "Wonderful. Rhomson, how fast can you get back to Princess Mipha?"

Rhomson looked at the Slate. "I believe I can use this to teleport back. So once I have the fairies, I will be back with them quickly."

"Good. Princess Mipha needs to know of this as soon as possible. As well as heal to assist in the rescue."

The sun was peaking over the horizon as Buliara appeared sledding behind a Sand Seal. She rushed up toward Riju and knelt down.

"Chief Riju, there are no fairies at the fairy fountain."

Rhomson gasped.

"How can that be?" Riju asked. "This time of year they migrate to the desert fairy fountain."

"I don't know Chief," Buliara replied. "The fountain was closed and flowers were beginning to wilt. I fear that the Great Fairies may be losing their powers."

"This is terrible news," Riju stated.

"What should we do?" asked Rhomson.

"I still want you to return to Princess Mipha," Riju replied. "Tell them what has happened. Meanwhile, I have a trip to get ready for immediately."

Rhomson nodded. She stepped away from Riju and took out the Slate. She used the teleport feature and was sent away with blue light.

Riju rubbed her temples. "This is going to be a long day."

WwwwwwW

The sounds of wood on dirt stirs Link from slumber as he is in the back of a wagon. The first thing he sees is the canopy of the transport. He slowly sits up rubbing the back of his head.

"He's awake," a unfamiliar voice called out.

Link looked at the back of the wagon to see a Hylian garbed in dark blue worn cloth and patch work armor. Yet the weapon this individual held close by was a spear made of dark metal.

"Ah great to hear," spoke the driver of the wagon.

Link turned around to see a young woman Hylian holding the reins of the two horses pulling their wagons. She had brown hair and floral patterns on her clothes.

"Who are you two?" Link asked, still feeling a little dazed.

"People who care about your well being," the driver replied. "Saw that a Goron was carrying you. So when he set you down to take a break, we smuggled you onto our wagon."

Link blinked a few times. He looked around for the Slate, yet couldn't find it.

"Oh no."

"Hm? What is wrong?"

"Did that Goron have something of mine on him? It was a rectangular device with a handle. It was mainly brown with the Sheikian symbol on the back."

The armored one shook his head.

"Can't say either of us say it," the driver replied.

"I have to go back and get it," Link said.

"Sorry but can't turn around at this point," the driver replied.

"That device is very important to me," Link stated. "Please. I need to get it."

"She said no," the armored one spoke sternly.

Link flinched.

"Sorry about Brigo," the driver apologized. "He means well though. Name is Magda."

"Okay," Link replied. "My name is Link."

"Oh we know," Magda replied.

"How do you know my name?"

"You are the Hero of Hyrule," Magda replied. "The one foretold to be able to defeat the Calamity and save Princess Zelda."

"That is what me and my friends were working on," Link replied. "And I need that Slate in order to save this land."

Brigo grunted. "No."

"What do you mean no?" asked Link.

"Well the Goron is most likely mad that we took you from him," Magda answered. "So going back is only going to put you back into their hands."

"But I need that Slate," Link retorted.

"I heard you the first time," Magda stated. "Right now, we are on the road. Staying on the move is our best bet to avoid the Yiga and Gorons."

Link tapped his finger. "...then how about going to Lurelin Village?"

"Why there?" asked Magda.

"That is where the rest of my friends are," Link replied. "They were injured in a Yiga attack so we were going to the Gerudo Desert to get fairies to help them heal faster."

"Smart move," Magda stated. "That is where they should be this time of year. Well, I think that is going to be doable."

Link smiled. "Thank you."

"You are welcome," said Magda. "Just sit back and enjoy the ride as best as you can."

Link leaned his back against the wagon wall. "I...will try."

WwwwwwW

Hudson limped into the room where Gaddison and Mipha were resting. Teba joined shortly after.

"Glad to see you aren't too badly injured," Teba stated.

Mipha shook her head. "You took a worst blow than I did."

Gaddison looked around. "Where is Rivan?"

"A quick swim," Hudson replied.

Gaddison sighed. "Would be nice to have one right now."

Mipha nodded. "I'm with you there. Any word from Rhomson or Link?"

"No," Teba replied. "Pyle and Bargoh are on patrol right now. Midna is staying close to the hut for the time being."

"A solid construction plan," said Hudson.

Mipha looked out the window, her eyes brimming with concern.

"I'm certain they will be back soon," Gaddison encouraged. "After all, Link can use the Slate to teleport back."

"She is right," Teba stated. "Let us be patient for a little while longer."

Pyle peered inside through the window. "Hey guys. Blue light just flew down to the shrine."

"Wonderful news," Teba spoke with a smile.

They waited yet looked troubled when only Rhomson returned, with the Slate in hand.

"Where is Link?" asked Gaddison.

Rhomson glared at Pyle. "Perhaps our Goron 'friend' over there would like to answer."

Pyle blinked. "Me?! I didn't do anything!"

Rhomson held up the Slate. "Then explain how one of your Goron friends attacked my people at Kara Kara Bazaar and kidnapped Link."

Mipha slowly turned her head towards Pyle.

"What is going on?" asked Gaddison."

"Pyle and Bargoh only joined us to take Link to Death Mountain," Rhomson answered. "Clearly though, they weren't the only ones to be given such orders."

Teba scowled while a vicious snarl was heard outside from Midna.

Pyle's face remained still and stone like.

"Yes," came Bargoh's voice from a different window. "We did have such orders."

"But it seems one of our brothers got to him first," Pyle added. "We had nothing to do with it."

"Like we believe that," Gaddison retorted.

"You think that we teamed up with the Yiga clan to ambush us, injure you all, and lure the hero away so that we could take him to Death Mountain?" asked Pyle.

Mipha's fist clenched tightly.

"Get his name right," Hudson spat. "Link."

"He is the hero with the responsibility to save this land," said Pyle. "Everything else doesn't matter. His duty to that title comes before anything else."

Bargoh was silent.

"You are trying to force him to do something he isn't ready for," Rhomson stated. "I feel like we have had this conversation five times at this point, but you just don't listen."

"Oh we've listened and say that your way is wrong," Pyle retorted.

A voice spoke against Pyle. "Is it though?"

The group turned toward the source, Bargoh.

"Brother?" Pyle said in confusion. "You...you are taking their side?"

"Do you remember when we confronted the...Link?" Bargoh asked. "How terrible he was at fighting?"

Pyle scoffed. "Of course. A Hylian kicking a Goron was never going to go well for him."

Bargoh nodded. "And yet just a few days ago, how he handled the Yiga ambush after beating the shrine. He had improved faster than I thought he could. At the very least, faster than I thought he should going along with Princess Mipha's plan."

"It was a lucky move," Pyle argued. "We need more than luck to beat the Calamity."

"Normally I would agree," Bargoh stated, "but in order to have proof that it wasn't, we would need other experiences. Yet we can't see that for ourselves due to the...Link getting kidnapped."

The others there were silent.

"I can't believe that you think that this way is the correct way," Pyle stated.

Bargoh crossed his arms. "I never said that. I just think that if we had the chance to see more of his growth, we could have made that call."

"Princess Mipha just wants to spend time with him, which puts the land in further danger!"

"Yet the growth the...Link has made is noticeable and without further information we can't know for sure if it was luck."

"It was! Have you forgotten that the next Blood Moon is right around the corner?!"

"No."

By the front door, Rivan had returned and was listening in.

So he is heading toward Death Mountain. We need to do something.

Rivan thought about how many were injured, he then walked into the hut. "We can use the fairies that Rhomson has and find a way to cut them off."

"I would be able to fly and start gaining some ground," Teba suggested.

"Would you be able to before I break your wing?" Pyle asked aggressively.

Bargoh glared at Pyle. "You'd go that far? We've already are risking a war with the Gerudo after what one of our own did to their people."

Pyle reached for his weapon. "So long as we beat the Calamity, nothing else matters."

"Swim Rivan!" ordered Mipha. "Back to the domain! Tell them what happened!"

Rivan looked at Gaddison who nodded.

Rivan smiled. "Yes Princess Mipha."

Pyle drew his stone slab, he leapt towards the front door to block Rivan, yet he was pushed back by Bargoh.

"Go!" Bargoh shouted.

Rivan sprinted past them making a bee line towards the shore line.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Pyle asked with a growl.

"I should be asking you that," Bargoh replied.

Pyle shoved Bargoh aside and charged forward towards Rivan, who was nearly at the docks. Bargoh slammed the flat side of his stone slab against Pyle.

Rivan reached the shore line, ran up on a dock, and dove into the water.

Pyle growled. He turned to face Bargoh. "Now look what you have done."

"What I have done?" Bargoh asked in disbelief.

"We had orders to bring the hero to Death Mountain for training," Pyle explained.

"Aye we did," replied Bargoh.

"And now you let Rivan escape," Pyle continued, "to tell the Zora's what has happened. This could lead to distractions that we don't need right now?"

"You mean like a possible war with the Gerudo?" Bargoh asked. "That one of our own has nearly done?"

"Then they should have just let the hero go with our brother! Bargoh, you aren't making any sense!"

"No you are the one who stopped making sense Pyle. The result of getting the...Link to Death Mountain shouldn't come at the cost of a possible war. The ends do not justify the means."

"The Calamity doesn't care. It only wants to destroy Bargoh. Not to mention that Princess Zelda is still holding the beast at bay, alone for one hundred years!"

Their arguing was heard across the entire village. Back at the hut, Mipha glared out the window at the two Gorons.

"Rhomson, heal us with the fairies so we can rescue Link," Gaddison pleaded.

Rhomson shook her head. "I can't. The fairies haven't migrated to the desert."

Gaddison, Hudson, Teba, and even Mipha looked at her.

"What do you mean?" asked Hudson.

"The fountain was closed and looked wilted," Rhomson explained. "I'm afraid we don't know where the fairies currently are."

"But this has never happened before," Gaddison stated. "They have always migrated from fountain to fountain."

"Clearly a flaw has appeared in the foundation and had to be halted," said Hudson. "What should we do then? We have to go save Link, but in our conditions we wouldn't get far."

Mipha rubbed her chin. "There is a fairy fountain at Kakariko Village. Link has been there, so you could warp there and check on their fountain."

Hudson nodded. "I agree. Quickly leave before Pyle returns."

"Are you guys going to be okay?" asked Rhomson.

"Yes we will," Gaddison replied.

Teba walked toward her. "Let me come with."

Rhomson shook her head. "No. You are injured. You wouldn't be able to fight."

"I need to get word of this to my people," Teba replied. "If the fairies are there, then I can heal up and fly to them at a shorter distance."

Mipha nodded. "That is a good idea."

A clash of stone rang through the area. Mipha looked outside to see Pyle and Bargoh fighting each other with their weapons locked, trying to over power the other.

"Please Rhomson," Mipha pleaded. "We don't have time. Please."

The desperation showed through Mipha's eyes, her worry for Link, her plan falling apart in front of her.

Rhomson nodded. "We'll sew this back together and save Link."

She stood next to Teba.

"Sew?" asked Teba.

"Following some advice Hudson gave me," Rhomson replied.

Both disappeared in blue light.

Hudson smiled. "Needs a little work on timing though."

Mipha and Gaddison blinked twice.

Back outside, neither Pyle nor Bargoh could push the other back. Each gave one final shove before backing off. Neither said a word to each other as they put their weapons away. Their silence continued on as they glared each other down.

Midna barks at them. The two Gorons turned as the faithful hound snarled at them. This wasn't the time nor the place for such a fight.

"Clearly we realized that you mutt," Pyle spat.

Bargoh turned toward the road.

"What?" asked Pyle. "Going after the hero?"

Bargoh shook his head. "Princess Mipha is still injured and open to Yiga attacks."

Bargoh then began patrolling the area.

Pyle scoffed. "Finally something you say and do make sense."

Pyle began his patrol in a different direction of Bargoh. The shouts and weapons were done, but the air still felt tense, thick enough to cut.