Dodongo's Cavern
The trio walked on through darkness, Navi's aura and Link's Deku torch flickering light. Every step around a curve was more anxious than the last, Link expecting a reptilian maw to emerge howling.
The wimpy Goron looked back nervously, forehead sweaty, and pointed. Link and the horse also turned back, her ears pricked, the boy uneasy yet also stern. They blankly stared at some spheres sitting amid foliage.
Link stuck his torch forth, looking beneath the lit end. "What's this?"
The Goron answered, "A famous product of Dodongo's Cavern, Bomb Flowers! Goro."
"Oh... They're flowers?" Link grabbed the plant's small crown of leaves.
PLUCK
P
S
S
S
H
T
KA
BOOM
Fortunately, this Bomb Flower had less charge. Once the smoke and dust settled, Link's Deku torch obliterated, he just stood there. Grumpy. Dusty. Smoky. Scruffy.
"If you pluck them, they explode. Goro."
Link's expression didn't change. "You could've told me that sooner."
Navi hovered before him, now the only source of light. "Um, Link... We literally learned about Bomb Flowers not even twenty minutes ago. These are the same as the ones you had played with in Goron's City."
Link rubbed soot off his face. "Oh? I thought these were different."
SHDUMP SHDUMP
Link and the Goron—even the cave—shook.
A massive maw emerged from around a corner.
SHRIIEEEK
The monster's howl ripped into air and eardrums. The Goron reared. Link lunging to keep the wimp from falling. The pony remained behind the corner, mouth agape, eyes big, sweatdropping, ears and mane low.
Link was brave for a boy. Yet the immensity of the beast startled him, mouth open, face wary. "It... It's huge!"
The giant lizard, horrible and horned, could probably eat all three of them in one bite. He pulled his cumbersome body by two forelegs, noisily dragging his torso and tail along. The monster placed his feet aside, giant haw hanging open...
GRRR
O
AR
A current of flame blasted forth from the monster's maw, expanding in size while flying down the cave. Link looked away to shield himself from the heat as the flames billowed overhead. The monster lowered his huge head, jaw repeatedly opening and closing, lower teeth clacking against uppers. Monstrous eyes scanned the darkness for food...
The pony charged from the corner, neighing. She leapt, dropkicking the monster's fang, tooth ringing aloud. The monster snorted, rearing his head, surprised by the sudden pain.
"Run for it!"
Arms up, eyes wide, the Goron scurried away...even though Gorons usually roll.
The pony scooped Link up with her head and neck; he sat on her back. Ears pricked, determined, she galloped.
Link looked back. "I can't do anything against something that big with a sword or slingshot."
Navi flew alongside Link. "King Dodongo must be pretty hungry to go after such small prey!"
Link's noble steed ran down a pathway, leading to a lower tier while the reptilian monarch stood atop the path.
R
R
R
O
AR
A torrent of flames blasted forth, fortunately way off to the side from where Link galloped.
PHEW!
Puffs of dust behind them, Link looked back. "Hey, he's pretty slow."
King Dodongo jumped, curling up into a ball...
R R
O O
L L
L L
Faster than Hot Rodder but way bigger, the king rolled with mighty mass and beastly bulk, shaking the cave with every revolution.
R R
O O
L L
L L
Eyes huge, legs extended, sweatdropping to and fro, the pony galloped desperately, her rider and Navi equally sweatdropping and startled as King Dodongo tumbled after them. Various rocks along the cave floor shivered from the momentum.
Link raised his legs. "He's fast! He's fast!"
Epona hauled and heaved, though King Dodongo steadily gained speed. She felt little rocks flicking into her hooves and tail. She abruptly dove onto her belly, briefly sliding before crossing her forelegs above her head.
Link's heels thudded against her sides but she didn't budge. "This is no time to lie down!"
ROLL ROLL
Link fell facefirst, crossing his arms above his forehead, left eye closed. "?"
A trail of dust and flicking rocks followed King Dodongo...
KRASSSH
He left cracks and fissures in the cave wall.
Navi flew by Link's face. "So there is someone with a head denser than yours..."
Link panted. "I see! He's big, but he's not very bright!"
He ran away, King Dodongo turned his huge head, eyes glaring through darkness.
SH
D
U
M
P
Farther up the cave, two Bomb Flowers sat dramatically. Link dove forth, extending his right arm...
Sizzling fruit in hand, Link leapt up the cave wall.
T
O
K
Link jumped upwards again—thrice—he gained significant subterranean altitude.
Navi rang aloud. "How will he throw a bomb mid-air!?"
Link soared towards King Dodongo's opened mouth, a vast encirclement of pointy teeth awaiting him. The reek of breath both bad and smoky emerged as flames began swirling.
"Hey, you big salamander, let's see how you like..."
FWO
O
SH
"...a mouthful of this!"
FWOOP
The Bomb Flower, hurled mid-air one-handed, plunged into the depths of King Dodongo's maw.
CHOMP
King Dodongo's mouth snapped shut, expelling air up and down. He stood, eyes shut, quite proud of himself.
KABOOOM
The monster reared, a bellyfull of smoke and fire exploding out his mouth, cracking off his right fang and several other teeth. The explosion erupted through his chest and lower back, his tail thumping against the floor as debris and shrapnel flew out.
Navi's aura brightened. "Score! !"
Link clenched his left fist victoriously, the pony trotting by and smiling.
King Dodongo groaned, collapsing heavily. After the dust settled, blood trickled out his dim eyes and smoky mouth.
The pony softly thumped her hooves, nickering gleefully.
Navi hovered by her boy. "Link! You performed all of that spectacularly! All the while figuring out how to throw a bomb mid-air!"
Eyes shut, Link grinned, stroking his cap back. "Yeah! I'm learning new things everyday, all because you helped me think better. I feel so lucky to have the best teacher around!"
Navi's wings wilted. Aww...
The wimpish Goron rolled by. "Whoa! We did it! I can't believe it!"
Link high-fived his friend. "Now you're a real man!"
The Goron stood proudly. "Now that I think about it, I feel that I was always a real man. I just never got the chance to go up against King Dodongo face-to-face. When I return to Goron City, everyone will know."
The friends looked over—the king's head was level to theirs, eavesdropping right beside them.
Navi jingled. The pony reared, wheezing. The Goron jumped behind Link and sobbed.
Link withdrew sword and shield, glaring at the regal reptile. The beast's maw clacked, blood dripping from broken teeth.
Navi whizzed past King Dodongo and, like a firefly, zigzagged across many clusters of fruity fuses. A Bomb Flower from several clusters sizzled, the flickering flames revealing a vast ring of fruits ready to explode.
King Dodongo hissed. He spun around, swiping his tail. The pony jumped over the incoming Tail Whip, though Link and the Goron were knocked over.
"Oof!"
"Oh-whoa!"
The boys got up, the clusters of Bomb Flowers flashing all around them.
Navi rang aloud. "Run!"
The girls and boys fled, King Dodongo curling up and rolling the opposite direction just as the bombs exploded.
Link and his friends staggered from the blasts, rocks and dust flying about. King Dodongo kept rolling, a chain reaction of explosions following him as he hissed.
Coughing, the girls and boys got up, the echoes of explosions still shaking the caves.
Link looked at Navi. "Didn't you say something about being careful with bombs?"
Navi crossed her arms. "Around people..."
The Goron stretched. "I'm just glad you scared him off, little one!" He looked around. "I know these caves well. They soon reach a spot that's too narrow for King Dodongo to squeeze into. If we head there now, we can get around him before he comes back!"
The young horse wasn't pleased, blowing air through her lips. "Pfffbthlthlthl..."
The group walked on, not hearing the monstrous monarch anymore.
Soon, they reached a section of cave that, somehow, was rather bright. The ground was dirt, the white cave walls yellow-stained and partly cracked. Before them was a section of cracked brown walling. The upper corners had more dirt, platforming a Bomb Flower each.
Link's ears pricked. "Why is it bright here?"
The Goron shrugged. "I think the air down here makes its own light. Goro."
From beyond the walls, something rustled, reminding Link of the forest.
"Alright," Link said. "I just gotta blow up one more wall, Navi." He ran to the side, plucking a fruity explosive and throwing it over...
The explosion toppled the cracked wall. Once flames and dust dwindled, a vast chamber was revealed, masonry buttressed by humongous ribs, various passages and gigantic doors amid them. Embedded in the far end of the wall was a huge reptilian skull, empty eye sockets watching the entranceway. Beneath the skull, blackened stonework cooked around a platform flanked by smaller platforms rising and descending through the molten rock...
Dodongo's Cavern
The ground sloped down from the sides of an unfinished bridge, Link's little boots tapping along. Some sort of statue with a revolving head stood on the larger platform...
"Listen!" Navi stated, hovering before Link. "It looks like there are many lava pits around here, so watch your step!"
The Goron and pony skidded to a halt by Link, looking over the ledge as a third platform arose from below. The pony's nostrils flared; she quite disliked such a creepy place.
Link walked over, blinking in confusion. "Why did you Gorons build this place like that? Can you even jump onto the platforms?"
The Goron shrugged. "I don't even know if Gorons actually built this place... But when the platforms lower, we can roll onto them. The lava actually doesn't bother us much. But that thing over there..."
The strange statue stood on two tiny legs, balancing an armored, bulbous body with an angry mouth on its torso. Mounted atop the body was a head always swiveling clockwise, plated eyelids protecting a blue eye always glaring...
The Goron gulped. "...That thing scares me."
Link watched the statue's head moving around. "That is pretty creepy... I will go check it out." He pulled himself atop the horse, though she sat down. "C'mon, horsie, let's go jump over there!"
She put her chin on the bridge. "Pthhbuhbuhbwuh..."
"I think she's scared after everything she's been through, Link," Navi said.
"Aww, Fine..."
"Don't worry! I will stay behind and keep her company. Goro."
Link went back to his feet. "I will go
Link jumped onto the descending platform then towards the island. "Uh-whoa!" He caught the ledge and pulled himself up. A weird sound came and something hit him. "Nnuh?!" Link fell down, gasping as the heat of the lava flowed—he landed on a sloped rim circling the island, saving him from the molten rock.
Navi rang. "Link! Be patient before jumping!"
He frowned.
The Goron and the pony looked over the descending pillar. "Are you alright, Link?"
Link turned around, eyes wide, face blank. "I'm trapped..."
"Just walk over it!" The Goron encouraged, "You'll be OK!"
"What?! It's too hot! I'm not a Goron, I'm a Kokiri!"
"Just do it! It's not as dangerous as it looks!"
"Ohhh! Fine!" He slowly walked forth... His boots squelched against the hot rock. "Uh!" He scurried across, shielding his face from the heat as he arrived on land. He sighed with relief.
Link returned to the bridge, his steed pricking her ears. He frowned. "What happened?"
"The statue," the Goron explained, "it's not just a statue."
Link clenched his teeth. "Well, I'll show it a thing or two..." He leapt twice, landing on the island.
Navi flew over. "Beamos
Watch out for its searching beam! I bet it doesn't like smoke to get in its eye!"
The statue's head made a weird noise, blinked once, twice—a blue beam zapped Link.
"Nnyehh!" He reared from impact.
The Goron gasped. "Watch out, Link!"
The beam came again. Link hid behind his shield, the impact sliding him back a bit. "It's eye!" After he blocked the beam, it vanished. Link withdrew his slingshot—the beam hit him again. "Ow! That hurts a lot more than I expected!"
He rolled to the side as the beam burned the ground, leaving a long black mark as it followed him. He ran around and around, though the statue was not easily confused, relentlessly glaring. He struck it with his blade though it just bounced off. "Gah! Its too tough!"
He ran along the rim of the island, rolling into the stony indent beneath the giant skull. He took cover, the beam trailing after him but stopping just in front of the indent, the single step blocking it.
Bemused, Link stood without defending himself. "Ha! The Beamos is too stupid to raise its head!"
After a while, the beam stopped, though the Beamos blinked another beam out, releasing its annoying noise.
Secure, Link withdrew his slingshot, shooting a few Deku Seeds into the Beamos' eye, but nothing happened. "Hm... It sure has a hard eye..." The eye reminded him of someone. Memories of Queen Gohma came. "Ah-hah!" Link threw down a Deku Nut, the flash stunning the statue's eye shut. He scurried out his cover, leaping onto the next pillar then to the left side of the chamber.
A Bomb Flower waited for Link. Though, to the right was a huge metal door, barred off. To the left was a crumbly wall and...
"Another Beamos?!" Link grumbled. "Ughhh! I hate those things so much already!" He noticed Navi turn green above the Bomb Flower. "Oh, right! Let's just blow it up!" He threw a live Bomb Flower over. The Beamos exploded, head flung off before landing with a blast.
The Goron over yonder raised his arms. "Ooooohhh! Way to go, Link!"
The pony neighed happily, hooves thumping against the bridge.
Link grinned. "Now I know how to destroy those things!" He grabbed the next Bomb Flower that grew, jumped to the island, and threw the bomb—it exploded mid-air, destroying the Beamos with it. Link rubbed his hands together. "Take that!"
Navi sighed with relief. "I thought you would not be able to grab the ledge with the bomb in your hands! But you made it."
Link smiled. "Of course I did!" After blowing up the next crumbly wall, he found a big chest which he opened. Inside was a glowing blue outline of multiple floors, almost looking like a tiered board game made of glowing magic. He noticed his pouch pulsing blue. "Hm?" He pulled his map out; the outline in the chest flowed into the paper.
"Look, Link! The magical ink in your map is growing!"
He smiled, examining the new shapes forming. His Map now also showed the various floors of the Dodongo's Cavern. "Now I kinda know how the floors of this cave are shaped like... This'll help me explore."
He jumped to the right side of the cavern. From the bottom of the left, a ladder's rails peeped over the ledge. Down the right side of the cave, a crumbly wall, the case of a rib, and a large passageway too high from the ground for Link to reach. A Bomb Flower grew before the high passageway, a Beamos standing guard nearby, soon receiving a fruity blast.
Link then blew up a nearby wall, another one-eyed but benign statue awaiting him. He raised an eyebrow. "What's that doing here?"
Navi chuckled. "They sure like hiding in strange spots."
The next wall to blow up led to a passageway, darkness briefly blocking vision halfway thru. The next area had huge pillars of piled stones, held back by timbers and rope. The stonework farther up seemed smeared with red paint. Up above, the immense ribs seemed to jut across the darkened expanse.
To the left, a few pots. Up ahead, a legless green thing emerged from the ground, eyes red, underside white. It squirmed towards Link.
"Baby Dodongo
Watch out for its leaping attack! It will explode after it's defeated!"
The creature wiggled towards Link, he blocked the thing with his shield. Another such creature wiggled out the dirt, wheezing aloud as it leapt, mouth open. "Neeooo!" it hissed mid-air.
They weren't difficult to block, though a third appeared while the first nibbled Link's foot. "Ow!" He kicked the dumb thing away, the second one leapt and biting his head. "Arr!" Link grabbed the thing's tail and whipped it against the wall. After swinging his sword like crazy, the creatures flopped over and...quite like a Bomb Flower, flashed red before exploding, staggering Link.
Link dusted himself off. "What is it with everything in Death Mountain always blowing up..." Another trio of little lizards assailed Link farther up the path, though he stunned them with a Deku Nut. They flopped over haplessly, Link passing them and climbing up the next tier—"Neeoooo!"
Link screamed, hurled over the ledge and landing on his front. The Baby Dodongo hadn't leapt high enough to reach the tier, though nevertheless had hit Link hard enough to throw him up there. The creature burrowed back underground before Link could shoot it.
The two other Baby Dodongos recovered, turning onto their bellies and squirming around before disappearing into the ground.
"Stay down there," Link grumbled.
Farther up the pathway, to the left, was a huge barred door atop a platform similar to the bridge at the entrance. A pair of oblong, horned statues guarded the platform. Their foreheads were indented with the Goron symbol, below that engravings surrounding a zigzagging pattern looking like teeth. Each gripped a small sword and shield with stubby arms, but even if they could move, what would they do without legs?
Before the platform was a grey switch. Link stepped on it; the bars raised. Link stepped off; the bars slammed back down. "Hmm..." He looked around, but Navi didn't say anything. He stood before a statue and, grabbing its shield, pulled. Bit by bit, the statue slid along the ground, until squishing the switch down.
Link stated, "The statue is heavy enough to keep the switch down for good!"
"Indeed, Link!" Navi replied, "You are becoming smarter and smarter every minute!"
Link ran around, grabbing the other statue and pulling it out. He pushed it sideways, until against the other statue.
"Um, Link," Navi said, "you only needed one statue for that."
"I know, but I wanted to do it anyways. Looks better this way." Link climbed up the platform and went through the door. The next passageway was not long, though two creatures were mounted on either side of the wall. They looked like black bats with red eyes.
Navi explained, "Keese
When you get close to it, use Z Targeting. Even if it flies away, you can still target it."
The Keese flew at Link. He swung at them but missed, the Keeses poking him. Link kept swinging at them, though he was a bit too short, and couldn't reach them and they flew away. "Rrrrr..." Link withdrew his slingshot and loosed a few seeds. The creatures squeaked when shot them down. Link moved on through the next door.
The door slammed behind him, blocked by bars, Link flinching and looking back. Uh-oh...
Link had entered a rather big chamber, clusters of platforms circling a large pillar with a base reddened from heat. Molten rock bubbled below the platforms, resounded throughout the chamber, while lavafalls flowed to his right. He did not have time to get much of a view, though...
"Nyehh!"
The strange call echoed from the throats of two tall, bipedal creatures as they fell from above, landing on either side of the chamber. The two monsters, green and reptilian, each wore partial armor, also green except the left spaulder which was red and spiked.
Wuh-woh!
Wuh-woh!
They jumped awkwardly though moved quickly, their blank eyes and gaping mouths so absurd to stare at. Link loosed a few Deku Seeds, though they dodged them with slight side hops. One Deku Seed hit a monster, who turned around and jumped away. Link shot a few more seeds though they were dodged. The other creature hopped to Link's platform, emitting high-pitched honks.
Navi flew above the monster. "Lizalfos
Use your shield well and fight with Z targeting techniques!"
Link kept his eyes on the monster, feet always softly tapping as his foe scampered side to side.
The Lizalfos honked aloud, swinging his sword. Although agile with their legs, their arms lacked quickness. Link blocked easily and slashed back, though the damn thing leapt over him. Link gasped as he lost sight of the creature, which slashed the back of his head.
"Uhih!" Link staggered, feeling blood leak from the back of his head and trickle down his shirt. He glared, turning around to keep his eyes on the beast, its friend just hopping up and down like a demented frog at another platform.
The nearby Lizalfos honked, sword swung, blocked by Link's shield. Link swung repeatedly, yet the reptile's small but swift legs always kept it just beyond Link's blade.
Link clenched his teeth. "Quit moving around!"
The Lizalos leapt over Link, though he turned, blocking the attack and thrusting.
The creature reared, blue blood spattering out. "Eurr!"
Link kept swinging but the monster hopped away. Link went after it, though the Lizalfos outran his Jump Attack.
"Watch out!" Navi warned, aura yellow as she flew over.
The other Lizalfos pranced forth. Link intercepted it just as it landed on his platform, slashing wildly. Honking aloud, the lizard leapt over Link, raising its blade—Link rammed his sword hilt-deep into the reptile's sternum.
"Bwehhih!" The lanky lizard collapsed backwards.
Link spun around as the initial Lizalfos returned. It hissed, blade raised. Link lunged. The Lizalfos jumped; Link swung a Deku Stick, nailing the beast mid-air. It flopped over amid fluttering bits of wood. Link leapt atop the stunned creature, gripping his shield two-handed by its sides.
Link repeatedly rammed his shield rim into the monster's throat. "Hoh! Hoh! Hyah! Hah! Hyyaahh!"
The lizard was limp.
Link caught his breath, standing up and slinging his shield over his back. At the end of the chamber, the huge door slid up. Link jumped over and passed through.
The next area contrasted the previous, cave floor blue. After a left turn, the passageway led to an oblong chamber, walls and floor blue, rib-like beams extending from the walls into the pillars on both sides.
Bomb Flowers grew at either side of the entranceway to the chamber. Yet more big reptiles showed their faces, crawling around with only forelegs, heads bobbing as they moved. A single horn grew from the top of the head, spine and tail protected not only by green scales but also ridges.
Link frowned. "I hate this place..."
"Look!" Navi flew forth. "Dodongo
Watch out for its fiery breath! Use Z Targeting techniques!"
She really wants me to use Z Targeting today...
The creature crawled over and slowly heaved his head back, taking a deep breath. Link heeded the cautions to avoid getting eaten. So, Link swung and stabbed, sword bouncing off the monster's metallic hide. Expecting a bite, raised his shield—the monster howled out a bellyful of fire.
Link reared from the heat. "Nnuh!" Although his grip tightened, he realized his shield fell of its handle!
"Your shield is gone!" Navi cried.
It landed on the ground, burning up. Link's eyes widened. "Oh no! No, no, no!" He picked up the flaming shield as the Dodongo inhaled again. Link rolled away, the monster's fire billowing at him but he easily outran the danger.
The boy grimaced and winced as his flaming shield burned his hand. Once he ran back to the entranceway, he used his hat to smother the burning shield, Navi helping. While smoke drifted, Link pulled his sooty hat off his shield, bark blackened. Link couldn't believe what happened, hands partly raised and shaky.
"I, I... I carved that from the Great Deku Tree... Now it's ruined..." The boy sniffled, eyes shiny.
Navi hovered closer. "Link, I'm sorry."
Teardrops rolling down his face, Link glared at the fairy. "You told me to use Z Targeting! Now look what happened!"
Navi reared, wings wilting. She had never seen him angry at her. It was quite alarming. "Link! I meant techniques! Just like with the Lizalfos, I wanted you to think about techniques!"
Link wiped his face, unable to look at the shield. "I should have..." He looked at his ruined shield, ears drooping. "When I saw how slow he was, I thought he'd be easy. I should have..." He sighed, chin low.
Navi raised his chin and twinkled, her aura reflecting from his eyes. "Link...
Try to keep moving! !
The Deku Tree would not want you to give up. I don't want you to give up. He chose you. He is counting on you."
Link took a deep breath. "You're right." He grabbed the remains of the Deku Shield, just a chunk of wood that fit in his pocket. Shieldless, Link gripped the Kokiri Sword and approached the Dodongo...