Chapter 16
Link and Charlie followed Argus towards Kakariko Village. Both Link and Charlie could see the stairway up to the village when Link suddenly remembered something vital. He stopped and shouted to Argus who was still heading towards his home in the mountains.
"Wait! I have to get a better shield before I can go up the mountain! I only have a small wooden shield!"
Charlie stopped in his tracks and turned around and faced Link.
"You're right, Link! I completely forgot about that!"
Argus stopped rolling. He uncurled and turned to the two and started waving his arms.
"Make it quick, you two! I don't want my people to die!"
Link and Charlie both nodded and ran towards the Castle town. They entered the castle town and quickly made their way towards the Bazaar. When they entered, there was a huge muscular man behind the counter. Link walked up to the counter and talked to the man.
"Excuse me, I need two Hylian shields. The Kakariko Village Guard sent me."
The huge man grunted.
"He sent another bunch my way did he? Argh! I honestly wish he would quit doing that! You two will make ten people that I gave discounts to! Most of the others were Hyrule soldiers and they should have been told to pay full price! Fine! One hundred twenty rupees please! The two shields are now sixty rupees a piece!"
Link handed the man the correct amount. The big man turned around and lifted two shields off the wall and handed them to Link and Charlie.
"May these shields serve you well! They are a little big for you kids! You should've waited to buy these shields until you're older! If you two break your backs, don't come crying to me!"
Charlie and Link nodded at the shopkeeper and walked out of the shop.
Outside the shop, Link and Charlie were helping each other with the shields. Charlie took one of the shields and strapped to Link's back. Charlie smiled with satisfaction.
"There! I fastened the shield on your back out of the way! Try to walk now!"
Link took a couple steps and it started to feel like he had a rock strapped to his back! Link grunted.
"We will never be able to carry on with these on our backs! They are way too heavy!"
Charlie nodded in agreement.
"Yea I think you're right! But what are we going to do? We can't exactly cut them up until they're smaller!"
A passing man overheard the complaining and called them over.
"Hey, kids! I see you are having problems with those shields! Follow me! I may have a solution for you!"
Link and Charlie grunted as they carried the shields and followed the man down the back alleyways. The man suddenly stopped in front of an old house.
"In here, kids! I think you two will like what I'm going to offer!"
The man opened the door of the house and walked in with Charlie and Link following behind. The man cleared his throat.
"My name is Felldohr! You'll have to excuse the mess. I got back from Lake Hylia yesterday. I felt like I needed a break. What a clean and cool lake! I went swimming in the lake and later on, I traveled over by boat to a nearby fishing hole and tried to catch some fish! I didn't catch anything of course. The owner told me to be more patient and I told him to shut up. Anyway, let me get some light in here!"
Felldohr walked over and lit three candles around the room. There was a shattered chair in one corner. Charlie gasped in disbelief. This was the same house that he and Max were held captive! Charlie looked over at Link.
"Link! This is the same house that Jaska and Ganondorf held me and Max prisoner! Ganondorf broke that chair in the corner with his magic!"
Link looked over at the man.
"Did you know anything about that, Felldohr?"
Felldohr looked at Link with a puzzled look on his face.
"My house? Used as a prison?! No! I was gone for a two week vacation at Lake Hylia! I'm going to have a chat with the guards later! They are very helpful, but how did they overlook that? Anyway I got something for you two if nobody stole them!"
Felldohr walked over to a big chest ahead of him. He opened it and pulled out two small steel shields. They looked similar to the Hylain shield, but they were more suitable for smaller people.
Felldohr smiled fondly as he related a story to Charlie and Link.
"About ten years ago, I used to be a blacksmith here. I was forging a lot of swords and shields for the Hyrule guards. I was working on a rather large sword order for the guards when two short guards walked in. They weren't much taller than you two! They walked up to me and requested two shields that weren't too heavy. They couldn't lift the normal Hylian shields. I agreed and that night, I got to work and crafted the shields. I stayed up late and made them look very nice and fancy. I also reinforced them with some strong steel I had for special requests. They were built to withstand the hottest fires and the sharpest sword or spear! Sadly, those two short guards never came back to get their shields. A day later, a guard walked into my shop and said his name was Corporal Viscen. He asked me if two short guards came in here the previous day. I told him yes. He explained to me that they were killed in action. They didn't raise their shields quick enough and they both took arrows in the throat. I bowed my head in sadness. If they came to me sooner, I could've saved their lives! These smaller shields could've saved their lives! Anyway, I want you two to have these smaller shields! I will trade you for the larger ones! Use them with pride!"
Link and Charlie traded shields.
Link smiled at Felldohr.
"Thank you very much, Felldohr! If those two guards could see you now, I bet that they would be smiling! Take care and thanks for sharing your story!"
Felldohr waved at Link and Charlie.
"Bye, kids! Enjoy those shields!"
As soon as they were outside, Link and Charlie tried the shields. They had a nice balanced feel to them. They weren't as heavy as the large Hylain shields, but they were just as durable. They also strapped on their backs with ease. Charlie and Link walked out of Hyrule Castle town. They could hardly tell that there were shields on their backs.
Argus was beginning to get impatient. They had told him that they had to get shields. Fair enough. However, it shouldn't take so long just to buy two shields and come back out of the place the humans called Castle Town. Argus was thinking about going into the human town when he saw the two humans emerge from the town. He curled up and rolled over to them. He put his hands on head in frustration.
"What took you humans so long? My tribe may be dead already! Let's not waste any more time! Follow me quickly!"
Argus curled into a ball once more and rolled towards Kakariko. Link and Charlie followed Argus into Kakariko. They followed him until Argus stopped in front of the gate guard to the entrance to the mountain. The guard looked at Argus.
"Oh you're the goron kid! So, I see you found assistance! If it isn't Mr. Hero! Wahahahaha! So, do you and your friend have shields?"
Link and Charlie rolled their eyes and turned their backs to the guard. The guard looked at the shields closely.
"Ah! These shields are very similar to the Hylian shields only smaller... You got these from Felldohr didn't you? That guy has helped me out a lot in the past. Alright! You and your friend and the goron kid may pass, Mr. Hero!"
The guard snickered and opened the gate. Link, Charlie and Argus made their way toward the mountain. Argus lead them to the huge boulder. It had a lot of large chunks out of it, but it was far from being broken. Argus turned to Charlie and Link.
"See, you guys? This is the boulder we need to move somehow. Follow me! I will take you to our home!"
Charlie and Link followed Argus up a winding path until they came up to a large entrance to a cave. Argus turned to his two friends.
"You two stay here! I am going to see if everybody is alright!"
Argus walked into the cave. Link and Charlie walked around. Link noticed there was another path leading somewhere. He indicated Charlie to follow and the two walked the path. They quickly came to a dead end. It was ledge. Link looked down and he could see the big boulder! If only there was something he could throw on top of the big rock to break it! Link sighed and sat down. Charlie walked up to Link and followed suit. Charlie noticed something weird beside him. It looked like a plant with a black rock in the center of it. Charlie poked Link in the shoulder.
"Hey, Link! Take a look at this strange plant!"
Link got up and looked at what Charlie was talking about. It was a very strange looking plant. Link looked at Charlie.
"What do you think it is? Should we pick it and find out?"
Charlie merely shrugged his shoulders. Link scowled.
"Thanks for your invaluable input!"
Argus walked out of the cave and noticed that the two humans were gone! He walked a few steps and suddenly, he began to hear voices coming from the path overlooking the cave. He walked the path and saw Charlie and Link. He gasped in alarm. The one human called Link was about to pick a bomb flower! Argus shouted at Link.
"Wait! What are you doing? That is a bomb flower! Don't pick that! It will explode!"
Link immediately left it alone. Argus sighed with relief.
"That was close. The fruit of bomb flowers are the raw ingredients for making bombs. They are unique to this mountain and grow like crazy in shaded areas!"
A plan began to form in Link's mind. Link put a hand on Argus's shoulder.
"Stand back, Argus. I'm about to save your food supply!"
Link went over to the bomb flower and picked the fruit and ran over to the ledge overlooking the boulder and threw the fruit towards the boulder. Boom! The blast shattered the boulder into many pieces and unblocked the entrance to Dodongo's Cavern! Argus came over and looked down at the result of the blast. His people were saved! He picked up Link and hugged him.
"Thank you so much, Link! You have saved our people!"
Link struggled to get away from the hugging goron. Argus released him and walked towards Dodongo's Cavern.
"Follow me, guys! My people are desperate for food and we had a lot of rock stored just inside the cave!"
Link and Charlie followed Argus to the cave. They went in and immediately saw a large pile of rocks! Argus ran over to it and grabbed a large slab. He grunted with exertion.
"I'm going to need your help with this one, guys!"
Link and Charlie rushed over to Argus's aid. The huge slab was five feet in length and three feet wide. Link and Charlie grunted as they tried to help carry it. Argus made them carry it outside the cave. All three were breathing heavily. Argus had a solution to their problem.
"Hey, guys! I am going to borrow some pickaxes from the chief and tell him the good news! I will return!"
Argus curled up into a ball and rolled towards his home. Link and Charlie sat on the huge rock slab. Argus wasn't long gone when suddenly, Link and Charlie heard a lot of loud cheering. A group of gorons were walking down the mountain slowly and cheering loudly. Some of them were groaning from hunger. The goron in front looked older than the rest. He walked over to Link and patted him on the back. The goron's "pats" sent Link flying off the rock slab. Link turned around and the goron was grinning.
"Sorry about that, brother. I got carried away. Thank you for saving my tribe! Argus has informed me that you singlehandedly pulled the fruit of a bomb flower and threw it on top of that boulder! How heroic! We owe you a debt of gratitude! My name is Darunia! I am pleased that Argus succeeded in finding help!"
All the gorons were cheering at Link. Even Argus was cheering at the back of the crowd. Charlie smiled and got up and walked over to Link and patted him on the back.
"Congratulations, Link. You're a hero!"
Link smiled at Charlie.
"I'm not about to take all the credit! You gave me the idea in the first place! Everybody! Listen up! You have Charlie here to Thank as well! If he didn't notice the bomb flower, I would've never thought of doing that! And then there's Argus! If he didn't explain to me what bomb flowers were, I would have never got the idea either!"
Link, Charlie and Argus were congratulated by the gorons. Darunia smiled and poked Link.
"So, Link? Is there anything our tribe can do for you and your friend?"
Link remembered his quest. He tried to ask about the Spiritual Stone.
"Actually Darunia, Princess Zelda sent me to collect the Spiritual Stones. Her attendant told me that your people have the stone of fire."
Darunia thought about this for a minute. He nooded at Link.
"OK, tell you what. Since you saved our people from starvation, I will give this stone to you if you can clear out the Dodongo's Cavern for my tribe! Do this for me and I will freely give you the stone! Those dodongos are a huge problem! They were attacking my people every time we went to get the weekly rock supply. I want you to eliminate them so my tribe can come in here without being attacked!"
Link nodded.
"That sounds fair enough. We will get to work right away!"
Link and Charlie were about to enter the cavern when suddenly, Navi came flying out of nowhere. Link looked at her suspiciously.
"Navi! Where have you been?"
Navi cleared her throat.
"I was summoned by the Great Fairy! Sorry I took off again, but I can't disobey the Great Fairy! She wanted to know if the fairy spirit helped you or not! I said it worked great and she told me and you guys to come to her home anytime we need healing!"
Link frowned.
"Well, if you put it that way, I'm not mad at you this time. You missed it, Navi! I saved the gorons here and I'm about to clear the Dodongo's Cavern!"
Link turned around and the gorons were busy breaking up the huge slab with pickaxes and fists. As soon as it was broken up, a random goron would grab a piece and eat it. Link snickered at their appetite and entered the cavern.
End of Chapter