Link's POV
The first light of dawn filters through the window blinds, casting a gentle glow. I wake up to find myself still wrapped in Dark's arms, the warmth of his body a comforting presence. Dark's face is relaxed, free from the usual tension and anger that seems to be haunting him lately. I shake him gently until he starts to stirs and his eyes flutter open, I lean in to kiss him gently, and get up to start readying myself for the long trek up Death Mountain.
As we are exiting the Inn, Ilia runs up to see us off, her eyes filled with concern. "Link, please be safe" she says softly, her hand resting on my arm. "And if you ever need help, you know where to find me."
"Don't worry Ilia," I reply, forcing a smile. "I'll be careful."
Dark stood a few paces away, his eyes narrowing as he watched our exchange. His eyes still flashed with a hint of jealousy, but it was not nearly as intense as the day before. I am hopeful that leaving the village behind will help him relax.
The sun is low in the sky, as we start our hike up Death Mountain. The air grows hotter as we climb and as we near the base, the air has also grown thick with the smell of sulfur. Near the tunnel to the temple entrance we encounter a Goron, a member of the mountain-dwelling race of rock people.
"Human!" the Goron calls out, rolling over to us. "It's good to see your kind. What brings you to Death Mountain?"
"We're headed to the Fire Temple," I reply, wiping the sweat from my brow. "We need to gain access to the inner chambers."
The Goron nods, his expression serious. "Be careful, the path is dangerous. Continue to follow the tunnel deeper into the mountain, and you'll find the entrance. We've had trouble with Dodongos and Fire Keese inside so be careful."
Our destination reaffirmed, we hike onwards into the tunnel, the Goron rolling away to attend to other duties.
Eventually we reach the entrance to the Fire Temple, a massive structure carved into the mountain. I pause to catch my breath and take in the sight before me. The entrance is flanked by two towering statues of ancient Goron warriors, their stone faces stern and unyielding.
"This is it," I say, not allowing myself time to second guess. "Let's go."
Inside the temple the heat is even worse and the rivers of molten rock cast an eerie red light on the temple walls. The ground is uneven, with pools of lava scattered throughout. Almost immediately upon entering, we encounter a large rock blocking our path.
"Great, how are we going to find a way past this." Dark says, frustration creeping into his voice.
We change direction and search the chamber to our immediate left. After carefully jumping between a few rock platforms surrounded by lava, we find a chest containing a bag of bombs. We make our way back to the main entrance and I use our new treasure to blast open the rock that was initially blocking our path.
As we venture deeper into the temple, we encounter Dodongos—large, four-legged lizards with a weak spot in their tails. They are formidable foes, but Dark immediately jumps into action, fighting them with an intensity that bordered on ferocity, his movements aggressive and almost reckless.
"Keep up, Link," he growls, slashing through them with such brutal efficiency that it sends chills down my spine.
"Dark, be careful," I warn as he delivers a brutal blow, the creature's tail flailing uselessly.
"I'm fine," he snaps, his eyes flashing with anger. "They're just overgrown lizards."
Great, I think. We are back to dealing with angry Dark today. I sigh and follow him onwards.
The next room has us navigate moving platforms, jets of flame, and shifting floor tiles. Along the way, we encounter Fire Keese—bat-like monsters engulfed in flames. Their attacks are more annoying than harmful, and we manage to fend them off with a few quick strikes.
In one of the larger chambers, we find a key hidden behind a wall of rock. Using my bombs, I blast it open and retrieve the key, hoping it is the one that will unlock the door to the main boss room.
"This is it," Dark says, eyes narrowing with determination. "Let's go kill the final temple guardian."
We make our way back to the main chamber and unlock the massive door. The room we enter is located in the center of the volcano and I can see the night sky far above us. There, perched on a ledge opposite the entrance, was Argorok, a massive fire dragon. Its scales glow red and its eyes burn with a fierce intelligence. As it takes to the air, it releases a stream of fire.
"We will have to watch out for his fire breath," I warn, drawing the Master Sword. "The underside of its chin looks unprotected, so let's aim there."
Argorok continued to fly around the chamber, constantly battering us by breathing fire and swiping its deadly claws. Dark and I continued to dodge its attacks, looking for any opportunity to strike.
Putting away my sword, I grab a bomb and throw it at one of the armored sides of the dragon. It explodes, causing enough damage to make the monster land. We encircle it, stabbing away at its defenses. With a well-placed sword strike, I hit the soft spot under Argorok's chin, causing it to roar in pain and thrash wildly, blood spraying.
The dragon's movements became more erratic, and I could see the exhaustion in its eyes. With a final, coordinated effort, Dark and I deliver the finishing blow, the Master Sword piercing through Argorok's vulnerable spot. The dragon lets out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing in defeat.
As Argorok dissolves into the lava, a strong power surges into the Master Sword, the blade glowing brighter than ever before. Dark and I stand together, breathless but victorious, the weight of our accomplishment settling over us.
Normally, after a victory like this, there would be a moment of celebration, a shared sense of triumph. But this time was different. Dark just stood there. He didn't look happy; if anything, he seemed agitated.
"Dark, we did it," I say, trying to break through his mood. "We defeated Argorok. That means the Master Sword has enough power to defeat Ganondorf."
"Yeah," he replies tersely, sheathing his sword with a rough motion. "Let's just get out of here."
His response sends a chill through me. I don't think I have ever seen him this indifferent. I can't shake the feeling of unease, the hero's warning from my dream echoing in my mind.
As we leave the Fire Temple, the sun rising over Death Mountain, I feel a growing sense of worry. Dark's aggression and irritation are not going away, if anything his feelings are becoming more pronounced, and I fear what that might mean for our journey ahead.