Chapter 24: No Sanctuary in the Fire Sanctuary
Like the Earth Temple, this new temple is filled with intense heat and pools of lava around. Two statues in the colors of blue, white, and a hint of gold of what appeared to be bird-like creatures stood along the path. The eyes of the states had large red gems of sorts. There are also strange plants growing with spiky exteriors.
"Masters, we are located within the depths of The Fire Sanctuary." Fi addressed the remaining trio. "Many types of monsters linger within the temple. These also include monsters that can cast spells and those proficient with the bow. As previously stated, your current selection of pouch items is survival-focused. Suitability to the current location is 75%. You are equipped to take several blows, but you all must remain cautious. There are a large number of strong foes in the area."
Fi turned her direction solely to Link. "Master Link, I have memorized enough of Master Fledge's aura to help detect him. Would you like for me to set him to dowsing?" Link nodded his head. "Very well. I have set Master Fledge to dowsing."
Once Fi vanished, Link pulled out his sword to activate the dowsing feature. Pointing to a door across the room, the blade tip rapidly dimmed.
"Let's get our friend."
The trio walked across the room. A pool of lava lay in between them and the next platform over. It was too wide to jump across. Pipit's Farore's Gale allowed him to teleport everyone across.
"Ugh…That is nauseating," Link groaned as he held his stomach.
"As I said before, you do get used to it," Pipit rubs his honorary brother's back.
Before Link responds, he notices Karane gazing upon the strange round plant above the lava pool they teleported over.
"What an interesting-looking plant," The female senior muttered.
Link, deciding to satisfy his friend's curiosity, asks Fi for information on the plant.
"This plant is known as a Water Fruit. It collects moisture within its hard shell. This feature is vital to its survival here."
"A Water Fruit, eh? Hmm…" Karane glanced at the plant and then the lava.
"Something on your mind?"
"Just a quick hypothesis I want to test."
Karane stuck her hand towards the plant. The outer shell peeled back, revealing a clear substance that resembled water. Karane pulled the water out, and the outside closed out and got large again. Karane releases the water into the lava below. A hard surface appeared above the pool before it sank below seconds later.
"And my hypothesis was correct. The properties of the water were cool enough to allow itself to create a hard surface, one sturdy enough to walk on in case it's needed."
"That might be helpful in a place like this. But no more testing hypotheses. We need to hurry and find Fledge." Link told her.
The trio found another lava pool to teleport across until they finally reached the door. There was a lock blocking the way. High above was a blue chest where the key was more likely. Pipit teleported above to get the key, taking notice of the pathway with unsuspecting Bokoblins separated by the bars. Pipit rejoined his friends with the key in hand.
As they were about to unlock the door, the sounds of digging caught their ears. On their side crawled out another Mogma. Unlike previous Mogmas they've encountered, this one had long gray hair and a long gray beard, indicating that this Mogma was leaning into its elderly years.
"Ho ho ho…Ahh! The exit at last!"
"Hello…" Link is the first to speak to the old Mogma.
"Whoa! Don't scare me like that! I thought for a moment you and your group were one of those monsters creeps!"
"Sorry, sir."
The old Mogma sniffed the air, and his interest suddenly peaked. "...Oh hey, what's this? You and your group got yourselves a swanky pair of Digging Mitts, dont'cha? Who are ya, anyway? Whatcha doing here?"
"We're searching…." Link disclosed.
"Hmm, I see."
"Who are you?" Pipit asked the Old Mogma
"Huh? Me? Oh yeah, the name's Guld. I'm the big boss of the Mogmas! And those Digging Mitts you all have there. I invented 'em!"
"You really did?" Karane responded.
"That I did, little lady! Hahaha!" Guld proclaimed with joy.
"This may sound odd, but have you seen a human here? Blue scarf, dressed in orange?" Link inquired from the Mogma.
"Hmm…Sorry, I haven't seen anyone like that here. I'm guessing that's who you're all searching for." Guld briefly halted his words. "Though, I'm not sure how much luck you would have looking here. No offense, but none of you don't look like the kind of individuals I'd send in here on a treasure-hunting mission…But what do I know, ya might just surprise me. If you're looking for your friend who got lost here, chances are he somehow got somewhere deep within this temple. So here's the deal…Word in the tunnels is there's a huge treasure hidden in these ruins…But nobody who's ever seen it has come back to tell the tale. Countless treasure hunters have disappeared here! Poof! Gone. Chances are the same thing probably happened to your friend."
"We're not leaving this place until we find him…." Link firmly declared to the Mogma.
Guld let out a defeated breath. "As a treasure digger, I gotta warn you to just turn around and enjoy the many peaceful years of diggin' left to you, but…you're all gonna do this no matter what I say, aren't ya?"
All three knight students did not respond. The expressions on their faces showed that they were dead set on this decision. Guld seems to get the idea.
"All right, then…I'm gonna let you three in on an ancient treasure-hunting legend passed down among generations of Mogmas. Every Mogma worth a handful o'dirt knows this one…."
"Ye who seek the entrance to the king's treasure, look for the two statues that face one another. Show your bravery and jump into the mouth of the sleeping statue. Do this, and the path will be open before you."
"You remember all that, and you're golden."
"I have committed the Mogma's words to memory masters," Fi told Link
"Some of my guys are searchin' around here for the treasure. If you get lost, holler at one of 'em." Guld said the group. "Chances are they might know about your friend better than I do. But in case I see 'em, I'll pass the word to be on the lookout for your friend."
"Thank you. That means a lot. You have no idea." Link expressed gratefully.
"Good luck to you guys!" Guld dug back beneath the ground.
The group unlocked the door, gaining access to the other side. They all entered an outside portion of The Fire Sanctuary. A stone bridge resided in the middle of a chasm. Located straight across from the trio's standing lies a large structure with a door in the color of gold. They could faintly make out a strange shape in the center of the door. Link pulled out his sword, dowsing activated. The blade's tip glowed rapidly at the enormous structure.
They have finally found where Fledge is located. Now all they have to do is find a way other there.
The trio of students followed along the stone path on the side. They've encountered creatures known as Dark Keese. According to Fi, these Keese can emit dark magic that makes their victims unable to fight back for several seconds. Link found that out the hard way when a Keese got him. Thankfully, Karane & Pipit ward off the Keese until the effects of the dark magic on Link wear off. Some Bokoblins attacked afterward, but they were swiftly defeated.
The trio of Senior Knights entered an indoor section. Going deep inside, they discover a chamber with a metal grate on the floor, showing the hot lava below. There is a ripple moving on its own. Whatever it was, the trio did not stick around long to find out as Pipit teleported them all to the exit on an elevated platform across the room. They went outside on the stone bridge, where they encountered a Lizalfos. Not just any Lizalfos, but a Dark one, much like the Dark Keese. With the combined might of the trio, the Lizalfos became no issue to take down, allowing them to move forward.
They found themselves in another indoor section filled with monsters and a lava river. With no path seen to teleport on, they would have to travel to the end another way. Fortunately, there was an abundance of Water Fruit, therefore creating the platforms needed to move through the room. After avoiding arrows from Bokoblins & eliminating them, the trio reached the end, where two doors lay. One was locked, prompting them to go to the other door without the lock.
Inside the room, they see a Mogma with blonde hair dangled over a lava pool by the chain, flailing its arms around. Fi identified the Mogma to be named Silva.
"That stuff looks HOT! I wouldn't mind a little hot bath for my sore shoulders, but this is too much!" Silva took notice of the trio of humans. "What've we got here? Another new guard! Hah! You all can't break me with interrogation! You'll never make me talk! I'm not some sideshow for you to gawk at! Get lost! Shoo now!"
"Can we help him?" Pipit wondered.
"Scans show a mechanism around the area that may help lower him. But I suggest we drain the lava from here before doing so." Fi mentioned.
The trio found a key after searching around the room. No doubt it was for the locked temple door. The now unlocked chamber was littered with Water Fruit growing around. Despite the name, they quickly found out just how sharp the fruit's outer shell is. A familiar frog head statue hanging above a fire-covered pathway. Getting the path cleared was easy.
Moving forward on their trek, the trio entered another chamber. It was the same one with the metal grates floors showing the lava. This time two mysterious ripples were moving on their own. A large clang startled the trio as they saw iron bars blocking their exit. They need to find a way out.
The ripples started moving towards them when they jumped on the grate floor. The trio had barely enough time to move out of the way before two large lava hands, a lefty and a righty, as big as the most enormous tree in Skyloft, emerged from above.
"Am I the only one getting some serious deja vu?" Karane said to the guys.
"What are those?" Link spoke to Fi.
"These are both Magmanos. These hand-shaped monsters dwell in fiery lava. Its body is made up entirely of flowing magma. As such, it is invulnerable to most attacks. Theoretically, you could inflict damage on the monster if you could solidify its body.
"Question is: How?"
"There's Water Fruit up there!" Karane pointed to an elevated section that had an abundance of Water Fruit. "If the water from there is cool enough to make platforms, maybe they can harden those hands. I need to get up there!"
"Way ahead of you!" Pipit placed his hand on Karane's shoulder. "Keep those things busy, Link!"
As Pipit & Karane teleported away, one Magmanos attempted to smack Link. The green-clad senior knight dodged out of the way. Though a small fire did grow on his tunic before he quickly put it out.
"No problem."
The senior knight couple warped to the Water Fruit. As Karane tries to establish control of the water within the shells, Pipit watches Link, trying to do everything to not get hit by the lava's hands.
"Hurry it up, Karane," Pipit urged his girlfriend.
"Telling me to hurry up is not helping…." Karane gritted through her teeth. Seconds later, the shells of all the Water Fruits present peeled back, allowing Karane to control the water within the plant. Combining each of them, Karane made a large ball of water. She moved the giant ball of water right above where both Magmanos were.
"Let's make it rain!"
The ball broke apart, the water going onto the lava monsters in the same manner as rain. Within seconds, both of the hands harden like a rock. Link quickly destroyed both of the lava monsters. The bars on the door they came in, and another door moved up. The room dimmed as the lava pool drained out below the metal grate floor.
"Hey!" The voice of Silva the Mogma called out from the adjoined room. "I was watching you three! Ya socked it to the lava thingers! Amazing stuff! And if ya'll don't mind doing one more thing while you're at it, how about ya get me down from here!"
Karane & Pipit jumped back down to where Link was. All three entered through the door, taking them back to the room where Silva was being dangled. The lava pool below him was drained out, granting safe passage to walk in. In the former lava pool was a switch. With one swift whip move, the chain holding Silva was lowered. The Mogma was finally freed.
"Oh yeah! I'm saved! I don't know who or where you're from, but I owe you big time! Are you all looking for treasure too?"
"We're looking for a friend." Link told the Mogma.
"A friend, you say? You're not here because of the 'legend of the sleeping statue,' then? That's a first."
"Never mind that. Have you seen anyone that looks like us with a blue scarf and dressed in orange?"
"Sorry, I haven't seen anyone like that. Although, I did hear something…unusual."
"Like what?"
"Y'all probably notice that big structure at the center of the place. It's all fancy looking, pretty designs, large golden doors, all that stuff. I searched around there with my brothers for treasure earlier when we heard a scream."
"A scream?"
"That's what it sounded like, but I could be wrong. What I am sure of was that it was loud. Scared the fur outta me. I fled from that place. While doing so, I was captured by those monsters, and that's how you found me dangling on that chain."
Link glances at his friends. They both had the same worried expressions in their eyes as he did. Fledge's aura reacted strongly to the structure they'd seen in the temple. And now, with the newfound info about Silva hearing a scream coming from a large structure in the Fire Sanctuary was enough to make all of them anxious.
"It's crucial that we find him." Link stated.
"Seems like you're dead set on this, huh? Your friend is lucky to have you guys if ya'll be willing to go through this place." Silva sniffed the air. "I see you all have some digging mitts, including you, greenie. But those are some busted old digging mitts. A place like this needs something more advanced. As a token of thanks for getting me down, I'll give you a replacement pair from my secret stash. I only have one, though, so ya'll gonna have to share it. Sorry."
"Any help is appreciated. Thank you."
Silva reached into his pack, pulling a pair of digging mitts that looked bigger and had much sharper blades than the ones the group had throughout the adventure.
"These here are Mogma Mitts. These aren't the kind of things that you can easily get your hands on just anywhere, so you take good care of 'em."
"We will," Link promised Silva.
"Right, then, I'm outta here! Good luck finding your friend! So long."
Silva dug beneath the ground. Link stood silent, his mind going through the information Silva shared. Most certainly, the chilling detail of Silva's claims of hearing a scream.
Karane placed a gentle grip on his shoulder. "We'll find him, Link."
The trio discovers another adjacent room previously covered by the lave. Thanks to the Mogma Mitts, Link dug an underground pathway for him and his two friends to crawl through. The room had two new doors, one with a lock and one without one yet again. Like last time, they started with the unlocked door. They transverse through another stone bridge on the outside, which was littered with Bokoblins armed with Archer Bows. Through Link's skill with his bow, Pipit teleporting to the Bokoblins on the higher ground, and Karane using her power of Nayru's Grace to create barriers to reflect the arrow's attacks and straight back to the point of origin, none of the Bokoblins landed a single hit on them.
In the next room they entered, they saw another Mogma with a small bag tied to his head dangling from a chain above.
"Ohhh ya! You all came at the right time! My name's Bronzi and I'm in a bit of a tight…situation. I don't know who all of you are and where you came from, but what I need right now is for ya'll to get me down from this chain. If you want something in return, I'll tell you what I know about this temple, including a big, gigantic secret about this room! You just gotta get me down!"
Figuring it could be helpful info to traverse through the temple, the trio decided to help out the Mogma. Through traveling through underground tunnels to flip switches, gaining access to more Water Fruit to put into another frog head statue, they found the switch to lower Bronzi.
"Hooo-yah! This is the sweet, sweet flavor of freedom! Thank you for taking the trouble to free me!" Bronzi exclaimed.
"Since we did do that, it would be fair that you tell us how to navigate through. We could use that info," Karane said.
Bronzi let out a laugh. The senior knights glance at each other in confusion.
"What's so funny?" Karane inquired from the Mogma
"You really think I would divulge that type of super-secret info? I lied about that just so you could free me, you suckers!"
"You mean we wasted time that we could've spent getting through this place just so we can get you down based on a lie?" Pipit growled at Brozni
"Of course! My momma didn't raise no patsy! I spent too long finding that info! You know I say: Kinder keepers, loser weep-"
Link grabbed Bronzi from the ground, holding him by the straps of his backpack. Bronzi grew startled as Link stared him down with an intense death glare. This caught Pipit & Karane off guard as well. Very rarely did they see Link this angry.
"H-hey, pal! Take it easy now," Brozni stuttered as he lifted his arms.
"You listen here! A friend of ours is being held somewhere in this temple. He could be alive, or he could be dead for all we know! And if something happened to him because we wasted our time helping your unhelpful ass-"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! I see you guys are in some serious stuff!" Bronzi glances at the Mogma Mitts still in Link's hands. "Wait. Those gloves are from my brother's secret collection! Are you friends with Silva?"
"We helped him! Unlike you, he helped us out in return!"
"I see. Okay, maybe I got the wrong idea about you guys. But if you put me down, I promise I'll tell you the info!"
Link set the Mogma back onto the ground. Brozni took several moments to compose himself.
"Okay, this is what I know. This here's some super secret info that I put together. Took some real sweat and work too. I had to survey this place nearly a hundred times to figure it out. Ya'll ready for this? Now don't go faintin' when I tell ya. Right around here, there is…A hidden room! Exciting stuff, eh? So in return, please don't tell anyone that I was captured. It'll just be our little secret. Okay?"
All three humans gave an unimpressed look down at the Mogma.
"Sheesh. Y'all seem very cheerful. And here I thought y'all were polite-Oh-Uh oh!"
Bronzi's eyes suddenly widened as he spotted something behind the trio. The Mogma hastily dug back under the ground. The seniors turned around to see Silva.
"Hey! We all meet again! Hehehe… Sorry, but I kinda happened to overhear that whole conversation. I can see you met my brother, Bronzi. It seems like he was giving you a hard time. Sorry about that. I'll be sure to talk to him later." Silva scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment. "But all that stuff he was sayin' was true. There's a breeze coming from somewhere in this room. I tell ya. I can smell it. This room has a fake wall somewhere…And on the other side of that wall, there's another room. Or so I hear. The ground underneath us is full of monsters, so we don't go down tunneling too much down there, but if you're all feeling really adventurous, there might be just a hidden route."
"We'll find it," Link vowed.
"And another thing, I heard that my other brother, Plats, stuck around where he heard the scream. Chances are, he might still be around. Maybe he has a bigger idea of what went on in there."
The Mogma bug back into the ground. Link pulled out his magic map to learn more about this fake wall. The map showed a section of the room next to this one, but no passageway existed. Link then placed a Bomb Flower where he deduced the fake wall. His theory was correct when the Bomb Flower exploded, revealing the secret room. There was a large patch of dirt, making it easy for Link to dig, discovering the secret tunnels Silva mentioned. Link instructed Pipit & Karane to stay where they were so he could go underground.
There was a sizeable centipede-like monster lurking in the tunnel. With Fi's assistance, Link found the monster's weak spot and used it to destroy it. With the threat eliminated, Link navigated through the tunnels. He emerged in another room where he found a chest. In it, he found another key.
Regrouping with the couple, the trio quickly returned to the large chamber with the locked door. On the other side stood the structure seen from a distance. Only this time, they got a closer look. Link pulled out his sword and dowsed it for Fledge's aura. It had a powerful reaction.
"He's in there. We gotta hurry."
Link dashed over to the structure, with Pipit & Karane following. Upon their arrival at the golden doors, they see another Mogma staring at the door. This Mogma was on the chubby side and was equipped with a large pack of rupees.
"…What is going on in there? What was the scream?"
"Hello?" the Mogma jumped in fright when Link greeted him.
"Gah! A green monster! Don't hurt me!"
"Easy. We're not monsters! Are you Plats? We know your brother, Silva."
"You know my brother?" Link confirmed with a nod which seemed to relax Plats. "Oh, thank goodness! I was getting worried about him. Nice to know he's okay. To tell you the truth, I'm starting to think coming here wasn't such a good idea after all. What with all the monsters lurking around here and that terrible screaming I heard from in that place."
"What kind of screaming?"
Plats hesitated to answer as his expression was painted with disturbance. "It was an awful one. The kind of one would express when they're in excessive pain. It went on for several minutes until it finally stopped. I waited around to see what it was. So far, I haven't, and I don't want to anymore. That's gotta give me nightmares for weeks." Plats gave a shiver. "I don't know what you guys are doing here, but I'm regrouping with my brothers and heading back to the boss's place. You all take care and don't get skewered."
Link didn't budge even after the Mogma dug out of sight. He stood as he comprehended the information Plats shared. Pipit & Karane looked at him apprehensively, waiting to see what their friend intended to do. They got their answer when Link ran up to the gold doors. The green-clad senior knight slammed onto the door, using his body to ram into it several times, all of which was a desperate attempt to open it. Link yelled out as he slammed himself into the door.
"You let him go, you bastard! I swear to Hylia, Farore, Nayru, and Din that if you do ANYTHING to him, I'll make sure you'll regret it, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
Pipit ran over to Link, grabbing him by his arms to calm him. Pipit firmly looked at Link in his eyes. "Dindammit, Link! Get a hold of yourself! That door isn't going to open by you acting all like a crazed, feral Loftwing! And it certainly won't do Fledge any favors!"
Several deep pants escaped from Link as he took several seconds to calm down. "I…I promised Fledge I wouldn't let anything happen to him." Link choked back a sob. "If that monster hurt him in any way, or worse, I…I don't-"
"Fledge will be fine." Pipit held his honorary brother's shoulders. "He's tougher than he lets on. You know this. He took on an Aeralfos. I'm sure he can get through this. But like I said, we need a clear head if we're going to help him."
"You're right. You're right…." Link breathed out. He then glances up at the large golden door. "Seems like we're gonna find a special key again. The question is, where do we look."
"I think I might've found a way."
Both boys turned to see Karane standing before a large stone slab. On the other side lies a metal grate bridge. They could make out the words carved into the stone when they joined up with her.
"The bridge of decision…Choose the path you believe in…Move forward bravely."
The trio proceeded on the metal grate bridge. Below the bridge were two states that appeared to be identical. Surrounding them was enough lava to fill up a lake, with no sign of solid ground. In the end, lied about sections that weren't fenced off.
"We just…jump down there?" Pipit glances down at the lava lake.
"So it would seem," Link clarified.
"The stone said we need to choose the path we believe in. Which statue do we jump into?"
Link looks at the statues in the lava lake. Now at first glance, these statues look entirely identical. However, upon further examination, Link discovered one detail that made these statues different. What made these statues different were their eyes.
"The eyes on both statues are different. Look!"
"You're right, Link. The eyes on the statue on the right are wide open," Karane observed.
"And the eyes on the one to the left are closed. It looks like it's…sleeping," Pipit trailed off.
The realization hit Link's eyes, which both widened. "Fi! Didn't that old Mogma mention something about a sleeping statue?"
"Guld's words were: Ye who seek the entrance to the king's treasure, look for the two statues that face one another. Show your bravery and jump into the mouth of the sleeping statue. Do this, and the path will be open before you. Those were the exact words he shared. There is a 95% chance that the statue here is the same one Guld mentioned."
"And there's one way to find out." Link walked over to the left end of the bridge. "Pipit, Karane, you both stay here. If I'm wrong, you're Fledge's best bet in getting out of here."
The couple gave an understanding nod. Link's gaze was brought to the sleeping statue below him. Taking in a deep breath, he made the jump.
The descent to the statue felt slow. The heat of the lava struck his skin, getting more intense as he approached the lava lake. Link silently prayed that this was the right statue, his heart beating rapidly the further he fell. Pipit & Karane watched their friend with equal amounts of apprehension. Karane held her breath while Pipit muttered, 'Please be the right one' repeatedly. Link was less than ten feet away from the statue when he started to think he had picked the wrong one.
In the last few seconds, a crystalized platform with a mosaic design appeared before Link reached the statue's level. It formed just in time for Link to safely land. Pipit & Karane were very much relieved that their friend didn't take a dip in the lava. Not as much as Link was.
After taking a few minutes to catch his breath from the tense several minutes of the freefall, Link proceeds down the path ahead. After several minutes of walking a long flight of stairs, stopping some more monsters on the way, Link finally made it to the final room where a familiar large white chest which the jewel. It had the one thing Link needed to find Fledge. The key seemed to be some mysterious crystals. This mass is made up of faintly glowing square crystals. Several appeared to be missing.
"We're coming now, Fledge."
Link found the exit, which led him back to where Pipit & Karane were. The couple ran up to him when he rejoined them.
"That jump right there was intense. For a moment, I thought we had the wrong statue," Pipit said.
"It wasn't, thank Hylia. And I found this," Link held up the key.
"You found the key! That means…" Karane trailed off.
"We can finally get to Fledge."
All three friends' eyes are glued upon the gold doors. They had no idea what lay in store for them beyond there. Whatever fear and apprehension they may have, Fledge was their top priority. He needs them now.
"What's our next move?" Karane asks Link as the trio walks up to the door.
"When I say go, we all run in there together. We must stick together to help Fledge and deal with Ghirahim if he's still there."
"Whatever happens, we're with you." Pipit declared.
They arrived at the base of the door. Link's eyes darted between the key and the gap to where it goes. Slowly, he put the key in. All three friends stood ready as they watched the door slowly open.
"Okay. Ready…Set…Go-"
A sudden invisible force lifted Link from the ground. A pattern of diamonds wrapped around him like a rope. Pipit & Karane were shocked at what was happening and didn't know what to do. The sound of a finger snap echoed from inside the room. The invisible force then yanked Link into the room. Pipit & Karane tried to follow Link in, but an invisible force knocked the couple several feet from the door. The gold door slammed shut. Appearing in front of the door were large black chains and a black lock, both of which had those familiar diamond patterns that were placed similarly to the other entries they all unlocked.
Pipit & Karane were locked outside, while Link was stuck in there dealing with Hylia knows what.
We get through the Fire Sanctuary but it seems the trouble is only just beginning.
And just a fair warning. If you guys like Fledge, y'all probably gonna hate Ghirahim (but more likely me) for what I am about to do for these next few chapters...
Thanks for reading and have a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!