Chapter 17
Link and Charlie passed the entranceway where they helped Argus with the stone slab and started to explore the Dodongo's Cavern. Link realized that he never asked Darunia what a dodongo was, but he was certain that he would see one with his own eyes soon enough. Before entering the first room, Link had an idea. He called a halt. He turned to Navi with a request.
"Navi, I need your help with something. Can you fly into the room ahead and scout it out for me? Let me and Charlie know if there are any enemies or surprises waiting. I cant quite put my finger on it, but I have a feeling we are being watched."
Navi nodded and flew into the room ahead of them.
Charlie looked at Link strangly.
"Being watched? By who? I think you may be a little paranoid, Link. I doubt anyone besides the gorons knows we are in here."
Link scratched his chin.
"You may be right. I guess we will find out later. Here comes Navi to report in."
Navi flew up to Link.
"There isn't any monsters on the first floor of this room. There are Lava pits though so watch your step both of you! I flew up higher and discovered a second floor. There was a strange green creature that I couldn't identify."
Link scratched his head in confusion. A second floor with a strange green creature up on that floor? Link couldn't imagine what it might be. It may be some sort of reptile, but he was unsure because Navi's description wasn't very good. Link decided to question her about the creature.
"So, Navi? What did this creature look like? I need more details!"
Navi groaned.
"Gee Link what do I look like, a detective? Hmm.. Well, it had a very large tail and the creature looked to weigh at least three hundred pounds. I guess the best way to describe it is a big lizard. It spotted me as I was flying high above it. It had very thick looking green skin as well. That's about all I can tell you, Link. The thing was eyeing me up and about to chase me."
Link smiled at Navi.
"Thanks, Navi. That's a better description. I think that thing was a dodongo. I may be wrong, but I don't think I am."
Charlie looked into the room nervously.
"I don't want to go anywhere near lava! I'm afraid I will fall in!"
Link smiled and tried to reassure Charlie.
"Don't worry, bud. If you are too nervous, I will help you cross the lava pits."
"That might be a good idea. Thanks, Link!", replied Charlie.
Charlie, Link and Navi went inside the room. As soon as they entered, they noticed the temperature was higher. Link wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Man, is it ever hot in here! It must be those cursed lava pits! Let's not stay in this room any longer than we have to! Agreed?"
"Agreed!", replied Charlie and Navi.
Link looked around the massive room. It was very large and it had multiple doors. The one thing that really stood out in the room above everything was the massive skull at the very back of the room. Link started walking straight ahead and he wasn't paying much attention where he was going. Suddenly, he looked down and gasped. If he kept walking, he would have fallen into a lava pit! There was pillar ahead of Link with a strange statue on it. Link couldn't figure out how to reach it. It was too far to jump. He would surly fall in the lava pit. Jumping was obviously out of the question. Link looked down into the lava pit and noticed that there was a rock platform sitting in the lava. Suddenly, Link heard a whooshing sound and the platform rose right up level with the floor Link was standing on. Link realized it was being held there by a geyser in the lava pit. Instead of spraying water out, it was spraying hot lava out! It stayed up in midair held by the geyser for almost five seconds and then the geyser dropped. Link had an idea. He and Charlie would quickly jump onto the platform and cross to the pillar. He also noticed that there were two bridges leading off the pillar. One to the left and one to the right. Link turned around and walked over to where Charlie and Navi were sitting down resting. He sat down beside them. Charlie laughed nervously.
"I guess I'm ready for the lava pits, Link. I'll try to listen to your advice."
Link looked over at Charlie and smiled.
"That's all I ask. If you listen to me, you will make it across just fine. There is a pillar we have to jump to. After that, there are two bridges going to the left and the right. We better get started. Let's go Charlie! You two, Navi!"
Navi got up and flew behind link grumbling to herself.
"My wings are killing me! I sure hope Link knows what he's talking about!"
As soon as Charlie reached the lava pit, he gulped nervously. The pillar Link spoke of was way out of reach! There was no way he could jump THAT far! He turned to Link.
"Okay, how am I supposed to get to that pillar? I will never make that jump!"
Link smiled.
"Of course not. Look in the lava pit and wait."
Charlie stared down into the lava pit and suddenly, the lava started to bubble and a platform shot out of the lava and into the air. The lava kept spewing underneath the platform to keep it in midair. After five seconds, it dropped back into the lava with a loud splash Link explained his plan in more detail.
"We wait until that small platform shoots back out of the lava and quickly jump on it and over to the big pillar. Timing is key. I don't want to see you fall in the lava! I will go first! I will then give you advice to make the jump yourself!"
Navi giggled.
"It's too bad you boys don't have wings. You could just fly over there! It would be a lot easier!"
Link glared at Navi.
"Shut up, you flying lightbulb! You're not helping!"
Navi sighed.
"I'm sorry, Link. I didn't mean to strike a nerve. I was only kidding."
Link sighed at Navi. There was a time and place for jokes and this wasn't the place!
"No jokes right now, Navi! This is serious! If we don't time this right, one of us could fall to our deaths!"
Navi flew over to one corner of the room muttering to herself in anger.
Link walked over to the edge of the lava pit. He waited for the platform to shoot out the lava. He quickly jumped on it and jumped over to the big pillar! The small platform fell back into the lava behind him. That was simple! Link thought about Charlie's fear of lava. It might be a little harder for him. Link saw Charlie walking over to the edge of the lava pit nervously. He looked at Link nervously.
"Wow, Link. You made that look so easy. I guess it's my turn now! Haha!"
"Don't worry about a thing, Charlie! It's not as hard as you think! Just wait for the platform to rise out of the lava!", link yelled to Charlie.
Charlie did as he was instructed to do. He waited for the platform. He didn't have to wait long. It shot out of the lava and was held in midair by the lava geyser. Link yelled over more instructions.
"Now! Quickly jump onto that platform! Afterwards, quickly jump over to where I am!"
Charlie leaped onto the platform and then he quickly jumped over to where Link was. Afterwards, Charlie sighed with relief. Link patted Charlie on the back and chuckled.
"See, bud? I knew you could do it! That wasn't so hard, eh?"
Charlie smiled at Link.
"Now that you mention it, I guess it wasn't too hard after all. Now, which way do we go now?"
Link and Charlie looked both directions. The door on the left had bars across it vertically and the door on the right was free of any bars. Link pointed to the right.
"Let's go this way. The door doesn't have any bars across it at all. I just hope the door isn't jammed! Let's go, Navi!"
Navi came flying over from the corner of the room.
"Okay! I'm coming! You wouldn't want to leave your flying lightbulb behind! Hrmph!"
Link gave the door a hard shove and it creaked open slowly. Charlie, Link and Navi made their way into the next room. As soon as they entered, Navi flew ahead to scout out any enemies or traps. Charlie nudged Link.
"What's with Navi, Link? She seems annoyed at something."
Link laughed. He knew what was bothering Navi.
"Yeah she hates it when I call her a flying lightbulb! She doesn't even know what a lightbulb is, but it still bugs her!"
Charlie giggled.
"That's funny, Link. Look! Here she comes!"
Navi flew over to Link to report her findings.
"Seems clear, Link. The room is a big long corridor. All I can find are some statues."
The good news of no enemies nearby made Link feel happy. He walked ahead of the group and started to walk down the corridor. Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake. A small green reptilian head popped out of the ground and turned to the travelers and hissed angerily. The reptile resembled an iguana. It had green scaly skin and a small long tail. It started to hiss louder and then it banged it's tail on the ground rapidly. It was only making a small thumping on the ground, but a couple minutes later, more lizard heads were popping out of the ground. Before long, Link and his party found themselves surrounded by hissing lizards. Charlie nudged Link nervously.
"Link? What do we do now? We are surrounded by these vile lizards! What do they want?"
Link sighed and looked over at Navi.
"Gee, Navi! You did a terrific job finding enemies in this room! Besides the statues you saw, there is a big hoard of lizards in here! What are you going to miss in the next room if we survive this? A hoard of undead skeletons?"
Navi had put up with enough. First, Link got mad at her for making a joke and now this? Navi flew over to Link and hovered in front of his face. She smacked Link on the nose.
"Listen to me you annoying human! Stop getting mad at me all the time! I try my best to do what you ask! You have to accept the fact that I'm not perfect! I didn't know these lizards were in here! You must have alerted them with your walking! If you don't stop getting mad at me all the time, I'm leaving! I will go back to Kokiri Village and live with Valerie!"
Link sighed. He knew Charlie would be mad at him if he told Navi to go. Sometimes, Link found Navi to be an annoying nuisance. However, she was useful at scouting rooms to make sure there were no enemies in them. Except this one. Link apologized to Navi.
"I'm sorry, Navi. I'll try to take your feelings into consideration before I get mad at you again. Now, how are we going to get out of this mess? The lizards haven't moved a muscle and they are still hissing at us!"
Charlie had an idea.
"What if you used one of the sword techniques Brad taught you?"
Link nodded. That seemed like a sensible plan, but there was one problem. Link voiced his concerns.
"I think I know which one to use, but I don't want to hurt you or Navi. Can you two exit this room for a minute? I am going to attempt a spin attack and I don't want you guys getting caught in it!"
Charlie and Navi nodded and exited the room. Charlie swung the door closed behind him. Link watched them go and when they left, he turned his attention to the lizard hoard.
"Well, time to spill some lizard guts!", said Link as he began to slowly spin with the Kokiri Sword in hand.
End of Chapter