Continuing their investigation to look for Princess Zelda, and their quest to stop Ganondorf, the Hero Alliance now head to their next destination, Goron City.
Goron City is the home village of the Goron Race, large creatures who make a living mining precious ores in the Eldin Region. After Calamity Ganon was destroyed, Death Mountain has long since laid dormant. This allowed the Eldin region to change drastically. New roads were formed from the lava's cooling, and travel to and from Goron City was now more manageable thanks to Death Mountain not giving off its extreme heat. On the way to the City, they found something wrong with one of the Gorons at a new Bistro the Gorons had opened.
"His eyes…they glow the same color as the malice." Natyal said.
"Wow, he's… really digging into that rock roast." Makoto said, waving in front of the Goron's face. "Look at him, he's not even paying attention to me."
"Amazing. He's really focused on that rock roast." Mayumi said.
"It matches the same color as his eyes. Whatever this rock roast is, there has to be a connection." Al said.
"Think Ganondorf has something to do with these rock roasts?" Nemo asked.
"It's too soon to jump to that conclusion. There seems to be no signs that the Gorons have been harmed." Mirror Match said.
"I wouldn't recommend trying these rock roasts just to be sure. With how hard they look, that is a one-way trip to the dentist." Cheetah said.
"She's right. These things are hard enough to shatter every tooth in your mouth." Leia said.
"The fact that you had to suggest we don't eat the rocks has me concerned." Rista sweatdropped.
"Eh, I've eaten rocks." Moltar shrugged. "Don't think I'll be eating these ones, of course."
"We won't know for sure what the whole situation is until we've also checked out Goron City. Let's meet up with the Advance teams from XDR and Ginhana Sky, then check out what we're dealing with in the town." Hope said.
"Hmm…" Paimon hummed while looking at the mountain area.
"Something on your mind, Paimon-chan?" Hibiki asked.
"Well, Paimon's wondering why this place is called Death Mountain. Shouldn't it be called Goron Mountain or something?" Paimon asked.
"That is a very good question. And the answer is simple: it fit the mountain before it was dormant." Scarlet said.
"And it still fits here. Do you know how many people die of heat stroke every year?" Kazuma asked.
"Do you?" David asked.
"...Well, I think it's around the million mark." the otaku answered. "Point is, the name's a good fit."
"Hey look, we get it. You're just afraid of dying again, like you have the last few times." Garfiel said.
"...Well, you're not wrong." Kazuma stated. "I mean, just because we've beat a demon army doesn't make us invincible or anything. Am I right?"
"No, you're right. But you gotta learn to enjoy the dangers sometimes. Otherwise, you'll fall back into old habits and end up like…that guy, right there!" Grantz pointed to a Goron laying on the ground, with the same red eyes the other one had before. "Oh hey, we're here!" he said, the group having arrived in Goron City.
The Goron Grantz noticed was laying next to a rock stovetop piled high with the red rock roasts. With him were two younger Gorons, and the familiar sight of the Goron Village Elder, Bludo. Also with them were the Ginhana Sky advance team of Charmander, Fuecoco, Teddiursa and Machoke. Not only that, Lumine, Noelle, Charlotte, Kirika and Shirabe, members of Team XDR, are also there.
"Hey, there you guys are!" Riolu said. "How's the situation?"
"Not good. Almost half the city's been taken in by the spell." Charmander said. "And almost an outsider…" he said looking to Teddiursa.
"Just one bite…" Teddiursa drooled at the seeing the roasts.
"Knock it off, y'little tyke! You'll end up just like Krane here!" Bludo said. "And after all the warnins we gave about the marbled rock roast too."
"But they look so good…pretty please?" Teddiursa asked using big adorable eyes on him and the group.
"Umm… no." Lumine sweatdropped before noticing the group. "Oh, Aether, Paimon, everyone, you're here!"
"Sorry we're late, sis, We had to take care of the situation in Rito Village." Aether said.
"Good news though, the monster is gone and the village is no longer a blizzard." Paimon added.
"Thank goodness for that, dess." Kirika said with relief.
"Hey, Kirika, Shirabe! Long time no see." Connor slaluted.
"Connor-san! Long time no see, too." Shirabe greeted. "Everything okay on your end?"
"Smooth sailing. Can't say the same for things here in the city." Connor siad.
"I'm afraid so. We can't keep up treating the sick Gorons." Noelle said. "Anyway, my name is Noelle, a maid from the Knights of Favonius." She greeted with a curtsy. "I'm also good with a claymore and a Geo Vision Bearer, so don't hesitate to ask for my assistance."
"And I'm Lumine, looks like you met my twin brother Aether and Paimon already." Lumine greeted.
"Oh! Bonjour, Hero Alliance! Nice to see you again." Charlotte greeted.
"So it is the Rock Roast then." Natyal said, unfazed.
"Aw…he's such a cute little guy. I wanna give all our food and ship security to him right now." Stoj said in awe.
"Stoj, snap out of it!" Klonoa said.
"So Teddiursa and everyone in the village are acting weird…" the first young Goron started.
"'Cause of the marbled rock roast that President Yunobo is mining." the second young Goron finished.
"Hey! What'e you mumblin' about over there?!" A familiar voice demanded as the group turned and saw Yunobo, now sporting a goatee and dressed like a rich mafioso, along with a strange mask on his head. "You all talkin' about Marbled Rock Roast, are ya?"
YUNOBO
YunoboCo President
The young Goron then looked to the Goron that had recently eaten the rock roast, and was now in a stupor. "There's nothing to worry about, in my opinion." he brushed it off, turning to the younger Gorons. "Now stop flapping your rock chompers, and get over here, goro!"
This caused the two child Gorons to run over to him.
"Yunobo!" Thorani chided.
"Wait… no way! Yunobo, is that really you?!" Glimmer asked in shock.
"Huh?" Yunobo then took notice of the group. "What could YOU want?"
"Easy, big guy. You remember us, right? It's us, the Hero Alliance, and Link." Zephyr said.
"Oh, it's you guys? You're all so tiny, I barely even noticed ya." Yunobo said.
"Talk about abrasive." Ajna said.
"Yunobo! What's the big idea? Talkin' like that to our esteemed guests!" Bludo said.
"Bludo. Or should I say 'Boss'? You really don't know your place, do ya?" Yunobo asked.
"Why you! How dare ya…ooh!" Bludo said as his back gave out.
"See what I mean? The Goron's future is my job now. And that future is Marbled Rock Roasts." Yunobo said. "So, you guys. What's your business in Goron city, huh?"
"We need your help. Princess Zelda is missing and we need someone like you to help us? So…help us?" Izuku asked.
"Huh…let me think about…no." Yunobo said. "Now scram unless you wanna have some marbled rock roast." he said as he prepared to leave.
"Oh…I see how it is…you're just some wimp hiding behind that dumb mask." Garfiel said as Yunobo stopped in his tracks.
"What did you just say to me, goro?" Yunobo asked.
"Uh, Garfiel, I don't think-" Lily said.
"No, let him do his thing. Something definitely isn't right with Yunobo, he's not acting like himself." Ethox said.
"I was just saying how a big chicken like you could go around giving out orders and not taking any responsibility for himself. That makes you really weak." Garfiel said.
"You calling my authority into question, goro?" Yunobo asked.
"I guess I am. Now what are you gonna…" Garfiel said as he quickly raised his arms as Yunobo threw a punch. "Now that's what I wanted."
"I dunno what's going on with Yunobo, but clearly we have to do something to snap him out of it. Garfiel, can you knock some sense into him?"
"You're talking to the strongest shield in Mythos Hearts…of course I can…" Garfiel said as Yunobo rolled into him as they were being forced into an open area.
"That's a new trick…" Vashyron said.
"At least Yunobo forced Garfiel out of the city. Now he can go nuts without hurting people." Legolia said.
"Hmm…" Zi-O observed the mask Yunobo is wearing. "Hey guys, wanna bet his change of behavior is because of that mask? Because I've seen plenty of anime and cartoons to know what that means."
"Yeah…and we've seen our share of evil masks." Jexi said.
They watched the fight as Yunobo rolled at Garfiel only to find himself being lifted into the air.
"Take…this!" Garfiel said, slamming him into the rocks and causing his mask to start to crack.
"Yunobo's mask is breaking!" Connie noticed.
"Think we should tell Garfiel to keep going for it?" Nemo asked.
"Nah, he's got this." DJ said.
"We've seen the dude up close. He does NOT need our help." Theo said as they watched Garfiel pounding away at the Goron until finally breaking the mask.
"And that…is how a real fighter wins it." Garfiel said stomping on the masks remains.
"Nice one, Garfiel!" Hagakure said as everyone came down to his position as Yunobo was coming to.
"What happened…" Yunobo asked, his pattern of speech now back to its kind and compassionate self. He had also discarded the leopard spot jacket and rings, now just in his chest armor.
"There's the Yunobo we all remember." Cure Starlight smiled.
"You okay, big guy? Your headgear really had you going." Zephyr said.
"What? No way. I got that from Princess Zelda." Yunobo said.
"Zelda gave you that? That sounds fishy. Are you sure it was her?"
"Not sure. Everything's a blur after I put that mask on once she gave it to me." Yunobo said.
"You sure acted like a different person once you put it on. Not only that, but you were pretty dead set on selling these Marbled Rock roasts to everyone in Goron City." Ragna said.
"Uh… guys?" Entrapta said, coming up after having finished scanning a Marbled Rock Roast she 'appropriated' for study off the Grill in the city. "According to a quick study I took of the Marbled Rock Roasts, I just made a concerning discovery. These Rock Roasts are filled to the brim with Gloom. Any Goron who consumes one gets immediately addicted to it, and all they can think about afterwards is eating more!"
"Yep. Totally the right call to avoid them, then." Leia said.
"I thought you and Cheetah warned us away from them for the sake of our teeth." David said.
"Well… That too." Leia said.
"The point is, if we don't find and destroy the source of the Marbled Rock Roasts soon, the entire Goron population will be turned into gluttonous slackers, and that's going to have a nasty negative impact on development in their mining operations." Entrapta said.
"Where did you even find those again?" Pit asked Yunobo.
"Uh…I think it was close to the top of the mountain." Yunobo said.
"Then that's where we'll go." Aether said. "And maybe there could be a temple just like the one above Rito Village."
"So you're saying a monster was responsible for those Rock Roasts?" Lumine asked.
"I think so." Aether replied.
"Can you lead us to the top of the mountain, Yunobo?" Houki asked.
"Sure I will! I was actually plannin' to come along with you guys. Maybe we can find Princess Zelda at the top of Death Mountain, ask her about the Rock Roasts and how to stop them." Yunobo said. "I mean, it is kinda my fault this is happening, so I want to do my part to stop it."
"Then it's settled. Climbing up Death Mountain's gonna be a major pain, though. There's gotta be a better way to get up there."
"We can use the minecart rails I had installed and ride up to the top." Yunobo suggested.
"Yay! Mine car race!" Luffy cheered as some of the heroes jumped into the cars.
"Well that's one solution." Simon said. "PARM!" he chanted as he danced and summoned Wartrain Gouon before hopping onto the first car. "Anyone want to join?"
And so, with some riding on Minecarts, and others riding on Gouon, the heroes raced up Death Mountain.
"Gotta hand it to ya Yunobo, you sure know how to make things better so people can get around!" Connor said.
"And more fun too!" Piccoletta said.
"Well…thanks. I'm just doing what I think my ancestor would have done." Yunobo said.
"Speaking of…where is Daruk anyway?" Nami asked.
"He's gone to deal with swarms of monsters invading Hyrule." Yunobo said.
"Really? It's not like him to avoid a problem that was happening back in his home. Didn't he hear about the Marbled Rock Roast?" Hope said.
"Hope, not everyone can be here for everything. This probably happened after he left." Jexi said.
"Good point." Hope said. "Anyway, we'll be at the peak soon."
"Let's hope so…not sure how much farther we…can…" Ochako said as she and the others looked towards the top where they saw a blond haired woman in white standing right there.
"It's the princess!" Yunobo said as the woman departed towards the volcano's mouth.
It wasn't long after that the ground started to shake as the volcano's top was covered with hardened magma as emerging from it were three large magma dragons.
Rising from the Death Mountain Crater
MORAGIA
"Well, this is something." Balthus said.
"Zelda must have gone into the mountain but it looks like the only way we'll get in is by blowing up that monster." Cobalt said.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Or we could smash its heads too." Simon said as Hekatoncheir's glyph appeared on his back. "UPMEDANYDA!" he chanted as he danced and summoned Hekatoncheir who began pounding into Moragia's heads and destroying it, opening the volcano's mouth in the process.
"Alright, thanks for the sequence break, Simon." Kazuma said.
"Now then, let us make our way into the mountain." Mirror Match prompted, as the group went up to the top of the mountain, looking down at the large, deep hole as malice leaked out.
"I think we just found the depths of Death Mountain." Al said.
"And now…" Jexi said as they all jumped down into the mountain as they descended into a molten section of the Depths.
"I never imagined that it would look like THIS inside Death Mountain…" Yunobo said.
"Not inside, Yunobo. Underneath. Right now, we're in a subterranean portion of Hyrule called the Depths. We're underneath Death Mountain, where all the lava's been going since it stopped erupting." Adora said.
"Oh…so that explains why it's hot as freaking hell down here…" Kazuma said, sweating a bit.
"Sorry Kazuma. I didn't realize followin' the princess would lead us down here-" Yunobo started before he looked and saw Homura sweating profusely. "Whoa! Homura, are you alright, goro?!"
"She can't handle hot temperatures." Rebecca said.
"We need to get you outside, it's too risky for you here." Ace said.
"That's for the best… apologies, everyone. Even with fireproof gear, I'll just be slowing you all down." Homura said.
"Don't apologize. Just rest outside so you can be ready for the next region." Balthus said.
"He's right. Tokoyami, Odd…go with her to protect the city in case of an attack." Jexi said.
"Right." both heroes said.
"Thank you." Homura said.
"So… now what? We came all the way down here, but there's no sign of Zelda anywhere." Makoto said as Homura, Tokoyami and Odd departed.
"Uh, I'm not sure. Maybe we should-" Yunobo said before the same sensation that came over Tulin, came over him just now. "Huh? What's that?"
"Come…Come…to me…"
"You guys heard that too, right?! Cause I definitely heard someone speaking just now!" Yunobo said.
"That was exactly what happened with Tulin before…that must mean there's another Temple nearby." Alear said.
"Maybe." Kokoro said.
"Looks like I was right after all." Aether said. "But where is the voice leading us this time?"
"I think it was coming from thataway." Yunobo said. "Maybe this has to do with Zelda. I've got a heapin' pile of questions for her, so let's hurry to where Zelda is!"
The group headed in the direction Yunobo was looking in, and they eventually stumbled upon a massive stone temple.
"So there really is a Sage Temple down here. This one must be the one corresponding to fire." Glimmer said.
"The Fire Temple, yes?" Charlotte guessed, earning a nod from Glimmer.
"You know, I think some Gorons talked about this place. Something about a Lost City of Gordonia?" Scorpia asked.
"This temple was built back during Rauru's time, so it probably would count as a Lost City by now." Hope said.
"But why is somethin' like this inside Death Mountain?" Yunobo asked.
"Beats us. I haven't even heard about this until now." Cheetah said.
"I see a door." Todoroki said seeing a blocked door.
Link activated the mechanism which would lower the door into a drawbridge to another area, but five padlocks were keeping it from opening all the way.
"Did you see that? The gate, it moved a little just now, goro!" Yunobo noticed before something called to them again. "Hear that? There it is again!"
"Young, little rock…the gate you must pass through is firmly locked with five padlocks. You have the power to unlock them all. Do so, and the gate should open. Heed my words…"
"So we need to set free these padlocks with a flaming charge and then we can get inside." Theo said.
"But what do we even need to hit to knock these Padlocks loose?" G. Aqua asked.
"Hmm… I do see some giant gongs scattered around this place. Perhaps we can use those to open the padlocks." Cheetah said.
"You doing okay there, Cheetah? I don't blame you and your guys for wanting to back out. Most of them don't seem to do well in volcanic areas." Kokoro said.
"We're doing well, Kokoro. Don't worry, we'll tell you if we need to back out." Rhatla said.
"Good thing some of us can handle hot temperatures thanks to our battlesuits." Zi-O said.
"Thank goodness for Samus giving our IS frames the varia suit function like her battlesuit." Houki said.
"Still, we don't wanna be down here any longer than we have to. Lets find those gongs, hit them hard, and unlock the way forward." Zephyr said. "Then we can find the source of the Marbled Rock Roasts and blow it the hell up so the Gorons will stop eating them."
"I like that plan, Zephyr. Cmon lads and lasses, let's find some stuff to hit." Yangus said.
The group navigated around the fire temple and located the five corresponding gongs to hit. Striking them hard released a corresponding padlock, and it wasn't long till all five were released. The group then returned to the entrance of the labyrinth as Link touched the glyph once more, causing the gate to drop and allowing the group to enter.
They crossed into a large arena with a bowl-like shape and ramps that allows certain things to reach to the ceiling. Up above, they saw a large clump of Marbled Rock.
"Look there! That must be what's causing the Marbled rocks." Jin said.
"Ajna, I'll give you a boost up so you can smash it." Kendo said.
"Right." Ajna said.
Kendo enlarged her hand as Anja leaped on it. She then tossed Ajna up to the ceiling where Ajna drew her axe and swung at the red rock clump, smashing it apart.
"Where's Zelda?!" Yunobo asked. Just then, something moved from the remaining stone that was plugging up a hole on the scaling, revealing a single red eye. "That's…"
"Now there's a monster we find familiar." Al said as the stone formed into a rock-like four legged arachnid as it let out a roar.
Scourge of the Fire Temple
MARBLED GOHMA
(Cue- Never Surrender- Valkyrie Profile 2)
"A Gohma…" Zi-O observed the one-eyed monster. "Haven't seen something like this in a long while."
"Oh no! Is Zelda inside the monster?! Everyone! We gotta save her, goro!" Yunobo said.
The Marbled Gohma started firing red rocks from its mouth, causing everyone to dodge as the rock spider stomped around with its rock legs.
"Every Gohmas got the same weakness! We gotta go for its eye!" Glimmer said.
"And how are we supposed to get up to it?!" Catra said as she avoided a stomp from one of the Gohmas legs.
Adora spotted the Marbled Gohma's rock legs and how it was the only thing supporting its main body. That was when she realized. Destroy the legs, make the eye vulnerable.
"Take out its legs!" Adora called.
"Hibiki, Noelle!" Geiz ordered.
"Right!" The two nodded and rushed towards each leg while dodging the Gohma's attacks. Once they got close, Hibiki took out one of the legs with a powerful punch from her war gauntlet while Noelle broke another one with one swing of her Whiteblind claymore. With two of its legs destroyed, the Marbled Gohma's main body fell to the ground while the two girls withdrew.
"Charl, let 'em have it!" Houki ordered.
"With pleasure!" Charlotte complied, rushing towards the downed Gohma with her IS frames pile bunker armed. And once she got close, she thrust her bunker onto its eye and fired six shots before withdrawing and reloading her ammo.
"Is that enough?" Paimon asked as they glanced at the damaged Gohma.
The Gohma's eye looked around before it regenerated its legs and jumped onto the ceiling.
"That will not help you in the long run. At the very least, I can grant you a quick death." Selena said as a blue aura surged around her. "If ye shall accept the benediction of beauty, then yea, let these chains of aster surround thee! Absolute Zero!" she chanted as shards of ice were seen in the sky before raining down onto the Gohma, forming into a large glacier before shattering, dealing massive damage.
The Marbled Gohma still endured the hit though, still clinging to the ceiling.
"Impossible! That should have been enough to vanquish it." Selena said.
"We're underneath a volcano, and it's crazy hot! Your ice attacks don't have the same punch down here!" Kazuma said.
"In that case, maybe I should lend a hand." Nesma said. "One more hit should do it, I believe."
The Marbled Gohma heard Nesma and wasn't ready to let her destroy him. So it launched red rock from above the ceiling right at her.
"Nesma, look out!" Captain Cold called.
But before the rock could touch Nesma, Aether and Lumine used their Geo powers to stop it.
"You okay?" Lumine asked.
"A little dusted, but otherwise unharmed." Nesma said.
"Hop onto the rock. We'll launch you to the monster." Aether instructed.
Nesma nodded as she climbed onto the rock. Afterwards, with Aether and Lumine's power, they launched the rock right towards the hanging Gohma as Nesma prepared herself.
Nesma lit her claws on fire. "You think you can dodge this?" Nesma asked as she fired two fireballs at it before forming a bow of light as she winds an arrow. "Farewell!" she said as she released the arrow of light.
The arrow hit the Marbled Gohma's eye dead on as it shrieked in unbearable pain. It dropped from the ceiling and crashed to the ground. It started to get up, but stumbled as it started to leak malice before it soon exploded. The ceiling above then shined as a Sacred Stone descended from it.
"Good going, everyone." Noelle complimented. "With the monster defeated, those dark Rock Roasts should vanish soon and the Gorons will be alright."
"Before we head back to Goron City though, we got a Sacred Stone to examine." Aile said, turning to Yunobo. "Yunobo, that one's for you."
The Sacred Stone then shrunk down and flew up to Yunobo before engulfing him and the group in a bright light as they now found a Goron wearing a mask similar to the Sage of Wind standing before them as he wore the sacred stone as a belt.
"Yunobo, little rock…" the Goron said.
"I've heard that voice…Are you the one who's been talking to us this whole time, goro?" Yunobo asked.
"Yes. I am your ancestor from a time long past. I served the first king of Hyrule as a mighty warrior and as a sage who, like you, could command fire. You fight using your body as a weapon… Impressive! You ARE my descendant, the pride of the Gorons. You defeated that monster, the source of those foul rocks. But it was the Demon King who summoned it." the Sage of Fire said.
"He wanted to stop us from getting your Secret Stone, right?" Flamberge said.
"Yes." The Sage of Fire said.
"Secret Stone? Demon King?" Yunobo asked.
"Hah, so this is the first you've heard of any of this." the Sage of Fire said.
"It's best we explain everything to you now, Yunobo. It's like this. The Demon King is a really powerful warrior named Ganondorf. He lived WAY back when Hyrule first began, and wanted to take it over. Rauru, the first King of Hyrule, stood against him, and gathered five other warriors from across Hyrule and from every race, to take him down. They fought against Ganondorf with all their might but…. He was too strong, even when they all faced him together." Ethox said.
"Indeed. Even my strongest blows weren't enough to break him." the Goron sage said.
"It was then Rauru had another idea. If he and the other sages couldn't beat Ganondorf, then he'd seal him away. So Rauru sacrificed himself and imprisoned Ganondorf below Hyrule Castle for thousands of years." Ethox said.
"And then, some time later… The Sage of Time, one of the six sages, came to me. Her visit would set the Gorons' duty in stone." the sage said.
"Uhh… sorry to interrupt Mr. Sage, but… what did the Sage of Time look like?" Paimon asked. "The only thing we know about the Sage is that she's a girl."
"She wore the same clothes as us, and had a sacred stone similar to Rauru's around her neck. Other than that, the only thing I can remember about her, is that she had short blonde hair." the sage recalled. "She came to me to warn me of the Demon King's return years in the future, and how a swordsman named Link, and a band of brave heroes, would oppose him. She asked if the Gorons' power of fire would be lent to your cause. In that moment, the duty of the Gorons was clear. Wanting nothing more than to smash the Demon King, I swore that when the time came, the Sage of Fire would awaken again. The Goron sage and the Gorons themselves would fight alongside you all."
"And that means as your descendant, Yunobo will become the Sage of Fire by right." Hope said.
"Sure makes a lotta sense to me. Yunobo already has another ancestor who's a great Hero." Gemini said.
"That is very true. He carries the blood of Goron Heroes. Yunobo, little rock…take up my Secret stone and honor the pledge I made to the Sage of Time long ago. Fight alongside the swordsman Link…and the Hero Alliance!" the Goron sage said as he vanished.
"Well…what's it gonna be?" Ruby asked.
"Did you even need to ask? I've already fought alongside you guys so many times…of course I'll do it all again." Yunobo said as he took the Secret Stone. "And I'll do it this time as the Sage of Fire!"
The Secret Stone, turning red and gaining the symbol of the Gorons, attached to Yunobo's waist, forming into a sort of Yokozuna belt.
"I am the Sage of Fire! I've got an awesome new power, goro!" Yunobo declared, summoning a spirit avatar of himself as it performed his rolling charge attack, rocketing all over the arena before coming to his side. He then walked towards the group. "Link… Hold out your fist!" he requested as he and Link did a fist bump. "You guys can count on the Sage of Fire. I'll fight by your sides till the very end! And take this! It's proof I stand with you." he added as Rauru's arm glowed red and a ring appeared on his thumb. Just like with Tulin, this ring allowed Link to call forth Yunobo's avatar.
"That charge ability will be useful against armored foes." Grey remarked. "Anyway, I think our work here is done. Let's return to the city and see how the Gorons are doing."
The group soon exited the Fire Temple, and surfaced from the depths to make their way back to goron City, meeting up with Homura, Odd and Tokoyami. All the Marbled rock roasts had vanished, and the Gorons who were eating them were back to normal.
"Well…all is finally well again with the Gorons." Lucy said.
"Still a little shocked that Zelda would have been involved with this somehow. Wonder what that was all about?" Jexi said.
"We've known her and her other incarnations for a long time. There's no way she'd purposefully undermine the Gorons and turn Yunobo evil, right?" Frosta asked.
"Not willingly." Roy said.
"Not unwillingly, either. Zelda's a tough girl, Ganondorf couldn't control her if he tried." Emo said.
"Yeah. She's not evil. Anyway…maybe we can get more answers when we go over to Zora's Domain." Jexi said.
"Still, I'm not sure if that was actually her that we've been seeing." Laura A. said.
"Must be another one of Ganondorf's tricks." Shirabe assumed.
"Anyway…" Kirika stretched her arms. "I think Shirabe, Charlotte, Noelle and I are done for now, dess. We're gonna head back to Lookout Landing to rest, dess."
"Alright, thanks for the help, girls!" Kiana smiled.
"Anytime." Charlotte smiled back.
"We'll meet again soon, I'm sure of it." Noelle smiled at the alliance and bowed before she, Kirika, Shirabe and Charlotte left the city.
"Okay. Now it's on to Zora's Domain." Hope said. "To be honest, I've been worried about Sidon. He must be wearing himself out trying to deal with that sludge all by himself."
"Isn't Mipha there helping him?"
"I don't think so. Maybe like Daruk, Mipha's out and about helping anybody she can." Sakura said.
"Plus with the king missing, the pressure is probably mounting on him." Usopp said.
"Wait, Dorephan's MIA?" Vashryon asked.
"Oh… did we forget to mention that?" Meowth asked. "Wait, no we didn't. We mentioned it during the debrief!"
"With Dorephan gone, guess we'd better double time it to Zora's domain." Hope said. "Thankfully, it's not that far from here."
"We'd best go then. I am concerned about how Sidon is faring." Thorani said.
"Let's hope we're not too late." Lumine added as the team quickly left the city.
"Hang on, Sidon. We'll help however we can once we get to you." Hope said.