Hi everyone! Thanks as always for the reviews!

I completely agree with you about the heat in here, Birdie, it just doesn't make sense. As for Ghirahim's work on the monsters, Mimi, I figure he's had a thousand years or so to work on it, and he was always the less… straightforward of the two, in this series: per Hunger, Demise isn't stupid, but he is very, very direct, and has a hammer big enough that he can get away with treating almost everything like a nail. Ghirahim – my version of him, at least – is much more internally complex and strategically minded, something that will continue to be relevant in a variety of ways, up to and including [SPOILERS]. ;-)

Chapter 31: Scaldera

Link had ducked into a narrow, winding passage that seemed really no more than a natural crack in the rock given a rough floor. In places it was only just wide enough for him to walk along, one hand on the wall as he looked down at the uneven ground below him, rubble that tilted beneath his feet. The subtle yet insistent sense of Zelda's direction called him on, however much the ground beneath him threatened to betray him.

Eventually he'd escaped the tight, twisting passage, its fractured path leading into another room off the main hall proper, with a staircase leading up to what Link guessed would be a balcony, and a dead lizard, sprawled on the floor with one of its eyes a bloody ruin. He'd skirted the corpse cautiously, pushing the door open to find himself back in the opposite end of the hall to the one he'd come in by.

The torches that had been lit at this end seemed to have gone out. Guided by Fi and the light of his lantern, Link made his way along the end wall to what proved to be a flight of steep stairs, leading up to a door set halfway up the back wall, leaning forward strangely at its top. Link looked it up and down dubiously as a trickle of dust spilled from one edge of the gap, and all at once that soft chime sounded in his mind as Fi sprang from the blade beside him.

"A report, Master."

Link looked around at her, listening with part of his attention to the faint, echoing sounds further back in the huge hall.

"I detect a recent rockfall upon the other side of this door. My analysis suggests a 95% probability that it was deliberately caused as a barricade to prevent pursuit."

But we have to get through there! Link frowned, dropping his hand to Ledd's bomb bag. He'd found a few more of the explosive flowers along the way; picked them against future need despite the fact that carrying them made him feel decidedly uneasy. "Do you think I can use these, like before?"

"I predict that they will be effective, Master. However, the sound will be likely to draw hostile attention. You will need to move quickly once the bombs have detonated."

"I understand."

Fi returned to the sword as Link took a deep breath, studying the door ahead of him. He couldn't be sure how large the rockfall was, how much debris lay on the other side.

I'll use two, he decided, reaching into the bag – it clung strangely to his hand, as if it were a glove despite its shapelessness – and cautiously taking out a bomb flower. It sat in his hand silently, inert, and Link knelt to gently, gently lay it down at the base of the door, thanking the goddess in the back of his mind as it remained silent.

The next one would be harder. He sheathed the Goddess Sword before withdrawing another bomb, just as carefully as the one before. This one he hefted in his left hand, looking up. He'd only get one shot…

Bracing himself, he leapt as high as he could, tossing the bomb flower overhand at the apex of his jump, hearing that frightening hissing; seeing it vanish into the gap as he hit ground again; hearing what might have been the sound of it rolling as he spun around and leapt from the stairs, hitting the ground hard and rolling to take some of the shock from the fall as well as get further away, faster; scrambling another couple of paces on hands and knees before huddling down, hands over his ears.

In the vast hall, the explosion and its echoes were deafening. Tiny fragments of rock rained down on Link, clattering off the shield on his back; pattering against his hands. Nothing hit with any real force, the stairs shielding him as he had hoped, and as soon as the sounds seemed reduced to echoes he got back to his feet, jumping up to haul himself onto the thankfully railingless stairs.

Everything seemed muffled beyond the ringing in his ears as he ran to the doorway, footsteps on the ground and breath that should have been loud in his ears oddly silent. It gaped open, a ragged opening with a small pile of rubble at its base, rocks blasted in all directions.

Master, Fi said, her unheard voice the only thing that 'sounded' normal, I detect a number of the demonic lizards advancing towards this location. In order to avoid a battle in which you are significantly outnumbered, I suggest that we continue with all possible speed.

"You said it," Link whispered, or thought he did, scrambling over the rubble. The hall beyond sloped steeply upwards, alcoves on either side holding broken remnants that might once have been statues, and he dashed up the slope without looking back. A corner loomed ahead of him, the only respite from the steep climb, and he hurled himself around it, thinking as he did that he could just about hear the lizards' strange shrieks echoing from somewhere behind him.

A crash and a rumble echoed in his ears and through his feet, and in the dim half-light beyond his lantern's radius Link saw motion like a rolling cloud that all at once coalesced into a series of rolling boulders, tumbling and scraping down the steep slope, partially silhouetted against another flickering light behind them, even the least of them over half his height across. With barely a moment to think, he threw himself into one of the alcoves, pressing himself flat to its back as the rocks tumbled by, dust and stone chips struck from the floor by their passage. More shrieks sounded from somewhere below, and Link hoped that had been the falling rocks hitting the lizards that were chasing him. He edged forward to peer cautiously out: there were no more tumbling rocks, and the light he'd thought he'd seen for an instant – was it there? He squinted into the gloom: yes, it… it was there, but fading.

"Do you see that, Fi?" he whispered.

I perceive the light source, Master. I detect a single demonic lizard, retreating at speed. I deduce that there is a side passage joining this ascent. It is 90% probable that this lizard was the cause of the rockfall.

"Huh…" So it sprang a trap on us, and now it's running away, Link thought. Well, as long as it stayed away, he had no interest in chasing it. If anything, if the rocks had hit the lizards chasing him, it had probably done him an unintended favour.

Thinking of his pursuers spurred him on, and he sprinted up the slope, hoping to put as much distance between them and him as he could. Finally reaching a level area, he stopped, panting, for a moment before crossing hastily to the door on the far side, setting his shoulder to it and heaving it open. A hot wind rushed through the gap, sticking strands of hair to his already sweaty face, and as Link slipped through, the heavy door beginning to grate ponderously closed behind him, he realised that he had stepped outside. He was standing on a ledge in a deep ravine, ominous dark smoke tinged with red from beneath all that could be seen high above, a single steep stone bridge extending implausibly across the gap to a huge, chipped, ash-stained dragon head on the far side.

A chill ran down his spine in the instant before Fi spoke, tonelessly rapid and clipped, so unlike her usual musical inflection that Link knew what she would say even before she had finished saying it.

Master Link, I detect the aura of the demon Ghirahim.

Link snatched the Goddess Sword from its scabbard, unslinging the shield from his back only fractionally slower. The heavy thud of the door closing behind him made him jump, but he didn't spare even a moment to glance back at it, all his attention focused on the steep bridge and the dragon's head, searching for- there! A paler shape moved atop the ancient carved rock, and even across the full width of the ravine Link recognised Ghirahim, sauntering forward and stopping with hands on his hips, looking down at him. Some trick of the wind, or of his power, carried his words to Link across the ravine and the rumbling of the volcano and the fading ringing in his ears.

"Oh, it's you."

Link stared back at him, shield up defensively, and felt a cold shock as the demon met his eyes, the intensity of it utterly at odds with his lazily mocking voice.

"Let me see… No, that's not it. This is so very embarrassing, but I seem to be at a loss for your name."

The weight of his gaze seemed to slide ever so slightly off Link. Was he looking at the sword in his hand? He began to edge carefully up the slope, step by terrifying step.

"Not that it matters, really. To tell you the truth, I'm feeling a bit frustrated, and right now I just need someone to vent to." He gestured dramatically with his right hand, tossing the fall of white hair back from his face, jagged red cape blowing in the volcanic wind, only to end with hand to his heart, head bowed. "I learnt my underlings had finally captured the spirit maiden, so of course I rushed over here. What can I say? I was excited. Flustered, even…" Somehow, the conversational, almost confessional tone seemed even more cruelly taunting in its unwanted and unwelcome intimacy. "But what did I find when I arrived? That agent of the goddess…"

Ghirahim's voice dropped to the point that it should have been impossible for Link to hear it, though it sounded in his ears as clearly as if the demon lord stood only a pace from him. "She had once again…" The full weight of his attention fell back onto Link as he continued to murmur. "You see, what I'm trying to say is…"

Abruptly the demon flung his hands wide, clenched momentarily into fists only to fly open again at the end of the motion and shouting in a voice that echoed about the ravine. "That goddess-serving dog escaped with the girl!"

Despite the weight of the demon's stare, a sudden burst of hope washed across Link's heart. Breathing deeply, Ghirahim drew his right hand back to his chest.

"I musthave the spirit maiden! I must have her!"

The echoes of his voice bounced around the chasm, only slowly dying away as he straightened once again.

"…I got a little carried away there, didn't I? I don't deal well with… complications to plans I've laid out so carefully. It's a character flaw of mine." Ghirahim leant forwards. "Ah, but something good can still come from this day! I've had all this bottled-up anger smouldering inside me, and now I can release it." Once more, his tone had turned lazily, mockingly cruel. "Of course, you still don't understand that sort of thing, but perhaps all this experience will be good for you. Now, there's someone special I'd like you to meet. Oh, don't be shy! I need to vent all this unhealthy anger, and the thought of your agony will be such a great stress reliever."

Straightening again, Ghirahim looked Link in the eye, a malicious smile curving his white lips. "I doubt it will take more than a few moments with my friend before you're charred to a satisfying crisp. And let me tell you, that will put a spring in my step!" Again, his attention seemed to shift subtly. "Next time you find a new wielder, do pick one a little less… delightfully flammable."

Smirking, Ghirahim raised his hand above his head, snapped his fingers – and vanished in a scatter of diamond shards. Link looked around wildly, remembering the last time he had used that trick to appear behind him, but the demon was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a rock seemed to rise from the depths of the ravine, hovering almost lazily above the top of the bridge before suddenly dropping with a tremendous crash that felt as though it would break the entire thing. On the steep slope, it began to roll inexorably towards him, picking up speed deceptively fast! Link spun around, diving desperately for the edge of the bridge: the door was shut and far too far away! He barely stopped himself from going over the edge, looking down and down into a ribbon of sluggish lava far below as it rumbled inexorably past, slamming into the rock wall at the end of the bridge with such force that cracks spidered across both wall and boulder. Link pushed himself to his knees – and froze.

Jets of lava gouted out from the cracks in the boulder, but instead of falling they somehow remained straight, almost solid. Before his disbelieving eyes, they folded like a spider's legs, planting themselves solidly on the bridge and raising the shattered boulder high. It split almost in half to roar, all mouth, all yellow-orange lava with implausible stalagmite teeth, and Link slowly rose to his feet, bracing himself. Whatever this thing was, it was clear he had no choice but to somehow fight it.

"Fi?" he whispered, backing up the sloping bridge step by step. Her reply was swift – far swifter than she could have spoken – but musically fluid once again. Had Ghirahim gone?

I categorise this demon as a Pyroclastic Fiend. It is a ball of molten rock imbued with demonic power, sufficient to grant it a rudimentary intelligence and a relentless hunger. It is able to cool the outer layers of its substance to act as a form of crude armour; however, its existence depends upon the integrity of its molten core. It has formed a single eye to perceive the world around it in its search for beings to consume. Master, I calculate the probability that my power will slay the demon if you are able to strike the eye at 100%.

Strike the eye, thought Link. Got it. He stared at the crusted ball of molten rock, forcing fear and the threat of panic to the back of his mind. Something seemed to float behind two of the congealed plates, but he wasn't at all sure that he could drive the blade home through the tiny gap unless the demon held perfectly still.

Even as he thought that, it started towards him, ungainly yet scuttling with an unsettling speed. He backed up as fast as he dared, acting half on instinct as he delved into Ledd's bomb bag once again, snatching out one of the deceptive blue bulbs and tossing it frantically at the demon! The bomb flower hit its outer shell and instantly exploded, knocking the thing from its spindly legs and sending it rolling back down the bridge. Heartened by this unexpectedly rapid success, Link took several steps downhill – only to see it righting itself, seemingly completely unharmed by the blast. He'd knocked it back, but had he done anything else to it at all?!

As the lava fiend advanced on him once again, Link backed away faster still, retreating to the very top of the bridge. A quick glance behind him showed him a golden door, just like the one he'd seen barring his way to Skyview Spring. Did that mean that Zelda was safe behind it? He looked around desperately for any other opportunities: the ledge was wide enough that he might be able to dodge around the demon, but there was nothing-

A heat haze shimmered above the monster as it hauled itself to the top of the sloping bridge, pausing just before the flat with a single baleful glint reflected from its hidden eye. Link reached for another bomb flower, frantically trying to remember how many he'd picked up: were there three left? Or only two? He was out of options and out of time: the demon opened its whole body wide into a gaping maw that spilled forth blistering heat, and somehow began to inhale, a raging funnel of hot wind that seemed blissfully cool tugging at Link's clothes, tugging at him, threatening to yank him from his feet-

Link let go of the bomb in his hand, releasing it to fly through the air as he tried to drop to the ground while still keeping his feet set against the relentless gale, strong as the storms that could sweep the incautious from the edge of islands and woe betide them if their loftwing wasn't near. He was sliding, fingers pressed into frantic claws against the stone – and then, suddenly, with a crashing explosion followed by a shuddering, rolling rumble, the wind stopped, so suddenly that Link fell on his face. He shot back to his feet at once, turning to see the demon rolling down the bridge, hitting the far side with another tremendous impact that shook the ground beneath his feet. This time, as it uncurled, Link could see that several of the rocky plates covering it were missing; could see the almost watery-looking eye slide into view and dart away again. The fiend trembled for a moment, not getting up immediately, and Link took a pace forward, then another – only for it to hoist itself back to its feet with a bone-shaking roar, exposed lava glowing almost white-hot.

"Come and get me!" Link yelled, raising his sword to the sky in challenge, feeling power flood through it, feeling a moment of

-desperate determination stronger than life itself-

or perhaps an echo of his own. It was ridiculous, it was insane, he was banking on it trying to eat him and if it so much as brushed against him even once he'd probably be burnt to a crisp just as Ghirahim had predicted, protection from the volcano's heat nothing like enough to shield him from direct contact with its lava – but when it had eaten the bomb that flew from his hand it had hurt it, downed it for long enough that if he'd run down after it he'd have had a chance to strike!

Driven by hunger and hate, the demon charged the irresistible blaze of life and power before it, scuttling singlemindedly back up the slope it had so recently tumbled down, its one eye squinting balefully at Link, half-lidded by crusted rock. He pointed the shining blade of the Goddess Sword directly at it, fighting every natural impulse that bade him turn and run, sharp shallow breaths not feeling like enough. Thundering footsteps sending tremors through the bridge, it was suddenly almost on him, still coming, snapping at him as he leapt back and back again, so close he barely dared dart his right hand into the bomb bag and snatch out another deadly, precious flower. His own motion set it off: it was hissing, and as the lava fiend opened its mouth once again to snap at him he threw the bomb forwards and himself backwards as hard as he could in the same desperate motion! The bomb went off while he was still in the air, and burning heat scalded his hands, his face; he could have sworn he smelt hair burning in the instant before he hit ground flat on his back, knocking the wind from him, several paces further than the demon than he could possibly have jumped without a strong tailwind. It shuddered convulsively, lava half bursting from it only to be sucked back in – and collapsed.

Link forced himself back to his feet as the monster began to roll back down the slope, ponderous but picking up speed; forced himself to chase after it as fast as he could though his legs felt shaky and he was afraid he would trip on the steeply sloping bridge. He nearly did trip as the demon's impact with the bottom wall shook the entire structure, several small rocks bouncing down from somewhere above, and for a moment, just like before, it stayed down, trembling, the eye rolled into almost complete visibility, and instead of slowing down Link sped up, almost unaware that he was yelling as he struck, using the impact of the Goddess Sword itself to stop his uncontrollable run as it sank into the watery eyeball up to the hilt! The demon jolted, stiffened; Link threw his weight back with all his might to pull the sword free, succeeding just in time as it opened its mouth and roared in what sounded like agony, unbearably hot air scorching his skin a second time as he lay on his back, trying frantically after a half-stunned moment to pull himself away. The six legs flailed around frantically, jerkily, before juddering convulsively inwards like a dying spider, and the lava of its body began to darken, cooling, cracking, at the same time beginning to lose shape and spread out into a congealing pool.

"Fi…" Link breathed. He almost couldn't believe they'd done it. Abruptly looking at the sword, he saw with relief that it was unmarred by its experience, palely shining metal unmarked even by the faintest tinge of heat.

He rolled over, forcing himself back to his feet, and started somewhat shakily back up the slope, towards the door, leaving the remains of the demon Ghirahim had summoned behind him. Ghirahim himself had left, and all he could do as he wearily raised the sword once more…

-looking upon a closed door and hesitating before opening it to step into the light beyond-

…was hope that this time, Zelda was still there on the other side.

He touched the sword to the door, and it dissolved into light.

What ho chaps, it's a chapter! And only a… good few hours later than usual… sigh. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!

Patch Notes:
- Magma still removed; levitating magma bridge replaced with narrow winding path. I repeat the phrase levitating magma bridge. Over an endless drop. Just Say No.
- Ball-rolling giant button-pressing puzzle in magma also removed. After that thing's rolled over once in the magma, I don't want to think what it would do to Link's feet! And what non-Goron makes a button it would take at least two Gorons to press anyway?
- Rolling boulder trap given actual activation mechanism.
- Weird rolling-boulder-train-track-spine that rolls boulders uphill removed. The temple's builders are unlikely to have needed such a mechanism.
- Slightly amusing easy boss in game terms rendered clearly dangerous and actively frightening.
- Giant internal chasm on the edge of the volcano now giant external chasm on the edge of the volcano.
- Ghirahim continues to talk to Fi.
- Ghirahim no longer pauses to plotdrop his end goal in the middle of an angry rant.