The Next Day...

Link did not sleep very soundly that night. He had never been a deep sleeper since losing his family; but after he fell in love with Zelda, and especially after the Yiga Clan kidnapped her, his sleep was atrocious. Even in the relative security of that small cave Link spent the night with one eye open, watching for monsters, yiga, or approaching wasteland coyotes that could harm his princess. When morning came he looked exhausted...Zelda was quick to notice.

"Link, did you sleep at all last night?" Link closed his eyes as he spoke.

"No...I am just too damn (YAWN) paranoid, Zelda. Just paranoid about keeping you safe..."

"We should go to the Outskirt Stable and rest there. It should be safer than the Gerudo Canyon Stable, so close to Yiga territory...you should be able to get a good kip there. We do not have to travel very far today if you do not feel up to it..."

"Alright. It will just be a short nap, though...maybe an hour or two. Then I'll be ready to keep going..."

"You sure, Link?"

"The entire Kingdom of Hyrule is depending on us, Zelda. I can't afford to spend an entire day sleeping."

"Very fair...let us get going, Link." They got up, packed their things, mounted "Coal", and hurried to the Outskirt Stable so Link could rest. The last time they had crossed the Digdogg Suspension Bridge a hinox had knocked Zelda into the lake below the bridge and she had nearly drowned; this time the crossing went without incident, though Zelda slammed her eyes shut and clung tightly to Link regardless. A short while later they arrived at the Outskirt Stable, where Link payed for a bed and took an hour long nap...as Link slept Zelda sat by the cooking pot, pondering recent events...

I have grown so much since I started traveling with Link...I am not a defenseless Princess anymore. I am a skilled bowswoman, a warrior...but it still feels like I depend so much on others. The other day...would that yiga have murdered me had Matilda not shown up when she did? I know I will probably never be as skilled as Link - he is the Hero, after all - but can I be more self sufficient? Can I defend myself from monsters without Link's help? Zelda almost fell asleep by the cooking pot...then someone gently shook her awake. Zelda spooked and jumped awake, but it was merely Link.

"Guess I'm not the only one who didn't sleep great last night...anyhow, I am ready to leave when you are, Zelda."

"Alright." Zelda got up, mounted Coal without Link's aid, and then watched as Link mounted the beast and directed it south. They flanked the Great Plateau, the birthplace of Hyrule, before passing through the Gatepost Town...next they veered through the Forest of Time before passing the Riverside Stable. They did not bother stopping at the stable but instead kept moving northeast until they reached the wooden Horwell Bridge, above the Hylia River. From a distance they could see the forest around Batrea Lake...the trees were soot covered and denuded of leaves.

"Wanker bokoblins..." Zelda mused under her breath. They continued southeast for a short while before veering northeast to cross the Eagus Bridge,..and then it began pouring. The incessant rain made it unbearable to continue traveling, so Link and Zelda quickly ran uphill and took cover under a nearby tree. They waited several hours as the rain just kept coming down in buckets...

"I sure hope this damn rain stops soon..." Link observed.

"Link?"

"What's up, Zelda?"

"It seems that wherever we go you always seem to know which direction we need to travel in...were you touring Hyrule before we met?"

"Sure did. Without a family I was just wandering all over Hyrule looking for some kind of purpose...I didn't find it until now, but at least I have a good grasp of Hyrule's landscape. Speaking of which...I know you really hate water, but Eldin [the region where Goron City is located] has a bunch of fantastic hot springs that I thought you might like to relax in for a while."

"Nononono...no water for me, Link! Do not forget that water has already almost killed me three times in my life...two of which in the past month or so..."

"You sure you don't want to try the hot springs out?"

"Link!" Zelda was getting irritated, so Link let it go for the moment. Eventually the rain stopped, but it was getting dark, so Link and Zelda spent the night under that tree...

The Next Day...

Link woke up early and prepared some bird drumsticks for himself and Zelda. They were delicious, as per usual, and before too long the two had mounted Coal and resumed their journey to Goron City. They continued north for a while, passing the ruins of the Wetland Stable as they did so, and then veered east at the fork near Rebonae Bridge, continuing north past Crenel Peak and south of the Crenel Hills; they next veered east across the Thims Bridge, after which they went southeast. After crossing the sandbar around Zelo Pond they hit the fork in the road leading to Zora's Domain; this time they took the north fork, leading through a hill with scattered coniferous trees. Soon they approached yet another fork near Ternio Trail, which - had they taken the east path - would have taken them back to Akkala (where they started), but this time they stayed on the north fork as they continued on towards Eldin. As they went the massive Death Mountain, inactive when they approached, loomed increasingly large in the distance...

The trio soon passed the Foothill Stable...they did not stop, however, instead continuing down the increasingly bare, red, stony path to Goron City. They had soon entered the Maw of Death Mountain, littered with numerous hot springs, and continued northeast until they approached a cave. Normally they would have gone through that cave, swung northwest in it, and continued uphill to Goron City...however, someone else had arrived first.

"We meet again, sister..." It...was the Dark Prince, now surrounded by a sickly blue aura. His voice sounded weak...

"Brother, please stop! It is not too late...stop the Plague and work with me to restore Hyrule!"

"You are most wrong, my sister...the Plague is slowly but surely eating me alive. I cannot stop it now...but I will live long enough to revive mother!"

"If you revive her now she will get the Plague too! Please, Daphnes, let me help you...I can cure you..." Daphnes seemed to consider it for a moment...but his crazed resolve eventually won out.

"I don't care...I WILL revive mother, and she WILL be perfectly fine, even if I am not. As for you...you will not interfere with my plans any longer. Behold!" The Dark Prince cast a massive bolt of sickly blue fire into the cave ceiling, causing it to shake in a most violent manner. Link hurried to move "Coal" away from the cave...by the time he had "Coal" turn around again an avalanche of boulders had blocked off the cave entrance and thus the route to Goron City; the Dark Prince, meanwhile, had disappeared. Zelda was crestfallen.

"NOW how are we going to get to Goron City?!"

"I know another path, Zelda...it is near the Lost Woods. I think we will need our paragliders, but otherwise it will work just fine. Let's go back to the Foothill Stable and rest overnight." Link had "Coal" head south towards the Foothill Stable...soon they were passing by the Maw of Death Mountain again.

"You sure you don't want to try these hot springs out, Zelda? You're missing out if you never try them...believe me, few things are as relaxing as sitting in a hot spring after a hard day's work."

"We have already talked about this, Link...me and water are not friends! No matter the temperature!"

"Couldn't I just teach you to swim? Wouldn't that solve the problem?" The idea of trying to learn to swim again stressed Zelda out even more.

"Cut it out, Link!" Link gave it a rest. They soon reached the Foothill Stable, where they payed for two beds, boarded "Coal", and began settling in for the night. Link, knowing he was on Zelda's bad side, prepared spicy pepper seafood from three hylian bass and two spicy peppers...he presented the meal to Zelda.

"It looks very good, Link...cheers." Zelda tucked into her dinner...it took her about half an hour to finish it. Link was very nervous the whole time...

I know I'm a good cook...but with someone I care about as much as Zelda, I don't think I'll EVER get used to having my food critiqued. Eventually Zelda finished eating...

"That was really lush, Link! Just my level of heat...thank you for listening last time you made this meal for me." Zelda embraced him.

"Zelda...I'm sorry about getting on your case about this whole water thing..."

"Do not mention it...it is my problem, not yours." The two prepared for bed.

The Next Day...

"WHERE...IS...SHE?!"

Zelda jolted awake to discover a dozen infected soldiers bullying the stable hand into betraying her. A month prior she would have relied on Link to deal with these monsters...but not that morning.

Here is my chance! I can prove to everyone – Link included – that I am not a helpless little girl anymore! Far from hiding under the bed this time, Zelda strode up to the entrance of the stable, her hylian hood obscuring her face...then, without any warning, she opened fire, taking out two of the soldiers in a single move. With that she threw her hood behind her head.

"YOU WANT ME, COME AND GET ME!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. The soldiers rushed Zelda...Zelda ran back towards the Maw of Death Mountain and used her bow to snipe one soldier after another, leaving a trail of swords and halberds strewn across the path. Eventually the remaining three soldiers drew too close for Zelda to effectively shoot at them...she quickly grabbed one of the knight's halberds off the ground. With unexpected skill Zelda fought the three soldiers with the halberd, striking two down after a scuffle...the third, however, leaped at Zelda, sending them both plunging into the hot springs around the maw. Zelda wanted to freeze in terror...but this time she refused. With tremendous strength she used the halberd underwater, finishing off the last soldier just in time for her to be pulled out of the water by Link (who had woken up when she had yelled at the top of her voice and had been following the soldiers).

"Zelda, what the hell was that?!" Link cried out. "You almost got yourself killed!"

"I am not a helpless princess anymore, Link! I am a warrior just like you are, and I can fend for myself! I just proved it!" Link paused and took a look back at the swords and halberds the defeated soldiers had left behind...

"Holy cow you're right...well played, Zelda..."

"Now, shall we get going?" The two returned to the stable, retrieved "Coal", and departed towards the Woodland Stable, near the alternate path to Eldin. They backtracked south until they reached the Zora River, then veered northwest, passing the Thims Bridge and shortly thereafter reaching the stable. When they reached the stable they handed "Coal" over to the care of the stable hand before taking a short break...

"Have any worries about climbing up into Eldin, Zelda?"

"Well...I am not so much worried about the climb up as I am paragliding back onto the route. I loved paragliding the first time we used the paragliders, but I will admit it is inherently dangerous..."

"True that..." Link agreed. "But you are quite the badass now, Zelda...I am sure you will be fine." Zelda was surprised to hear that from Link...

"You really think I am epic?!"

"Yep...you are definitely not a helpless princess anymore. If I ever seem to treat you like one I apologize...I am just obsessed with keeping you safe." Zelda smiled.

"Aw, thanks, Link..."

"Ready to go, Zelda?" The two abandoned the stable and began climbing north. They soon hit a fork in the road, with the eastern road heading to Eldin and the western to the Lost Woods...needless to say they took the east fork. The terrain quickly became quite steep and rocky, dominated by the red rocks characteristic of Eldin...partway up they were accosted by a foursome of fire breath lizalfos, a red version of the reptilian monsters which – surprise! - breathe fire.

"You take two, I'll take two!" Link barked out. Link ran to attack two with his savage lynel sword while Zelda pelted them from afar with her savage lynel bow. They quickly dispatched one lizalfos each, at which point the other two began breathing a stream of fire at the two heroes, forcing them to run to avoid becoming roast dinner; eventually the lizalfos tired out and Link finished off one lizalfos with his sword, while Zelda took the other out with her recently acquired halberd. With all four lizalfos dead, Link hurried to gather their horns, elbow talons, and tails to sell later...Zelda, meanwhile, was deep in thought.

"Link, I thought you defeated Ganondorf already? So why are these monsters still appearing?" Link's mind was blown by that question...

"...maybe...maybe they don't need Ganondorf around to survive, just to be produced?"

"Or maybe...my brother has gained the ability to produce Ganondorf's monsters?" Link seemed quite disturbed by that possibility...

"Damn it...if he's already absorbed Ganondorf's power we are in serious trouble. We need to keep moving, pronto!" Link and Zelda continued hurrying uphill until they reached a precipice lying above the path to Goron City. It was a long way down to the path, the solidified lava flows surrounding it, and the occasional hot spring or scattered plant...

"Ready?" Zelda asked Link. Link nodded, at which point they leaped off the precipice and pulled out their paragliders. Zelda had no trouble reaching the ground unharmed...Link, however...

"CRASH!"

"Link!" Zelda rushed to Link after he had a horrendous crash landing. On closer inspection one of the handles of his paraglider had snapped while he was using it...just as broken was Link's left leg. Link could not support his weight on that leg at all...he yelped in pain whenever he tried.

"Zelda, go on without me...I'm useless now!"

"Absolutely not! After all that we have been through, do you think I am going to abandon you now?!" Zelda placed herself under Link's right shoulder and helped him stand up. Together they slowly trudged towards Goron City, to their north...they eventually hit a vertical wall of solidified lava that would require them to climb up it. Not something Zelda could do while carrying Link...

"Damn it, we're stuck!" Link blurted out.

"Let us just rest here for a while, Link...maybe someone will come along to help us." Zelda set up a campfire, and they waited...and waited...and waited some more, until it was pitch black out. Suddenly Zelda heard someone coming...she drew her halberd to fight.

"Whoa whoa whoa, sister, calm down!" It was just a passing goron, a race of heavyset stone people who have lived in the vicinity of Eldin for tens of thousands of years. Zelda breathed a sigh of relief, then put her weapon away.

"Thank goodness you have showed up...my friend here broke his leg earlier today and we need to get to Goron City so he can rest. Can you carry him up this wall for me?"

"Sure thing!" the goron replied with a beaming smile. He, with impressive gentleness for a being made of stone, lifted Link up with one arm and then climbed the wall with the other, with Zelda following close behind. At the top they soon reached the Southern Mine, where gorons were mining for rocks (which they eat) and gems (which they sell to other races).

"It is late out, my friends!" the goron told Link and Zelda. "Let me carry the young man to Goron City for you. Just a small favor on my part!"

"Thank you dearly, good sir," Zelda replied. "What is your name?"

"Daruk! After the legendary goron champion of many moons ago...I hope I am as strong as him someday!"

"I have heard many tales about Daruk and the other ancient champions...it is such a shame what happened to them..." Eventually they reached Goron City. Zelda payed the local inn for two beds and then set about attending to Link, wrapping his leg up in heaps of cloth to ensure he could not move it.

"Did your mother teach you to do this, Zelda?"

"Yes, she did. She always encouraged me to study medicine in the event I ever needed it after she was gone...since father was uncomfortable with me studying Hyrule's past, I focused on medicine. I actually became quite good at it, according to mum..." Zelda returned to her own bed.

"Get some rest, Link...we are going to be stuck here until your leg heals up. It will probably take a few weeks at least..."

"A few weeks?!" Link blurted out. "But we don't have a few weeks!" Zelda sighed.

"I know...but we cannot fight my brother like this. Sorry." By then it was almost daylight...it didn't matter; Link and Zelda spent the entirety of the next day sawing logs.