Sorry everyone for such a late update! I bought a house, got a new job, went on vacation… You know, that stuff that takes up your free time?

On to the next!


Chapter 5 – Death Mountain


What.

I stood frozen, among the flames of lava and burning rocks. My mouth moved slowly as my brain raced to comprehend just what had been said.

"W-What is g-going on?" I slowly sounded out, as if my teeth were chattering from the cold.

But I wasn't cold in the least.

I was sweating. A small river ran down my spine. My forehead dripped in front of my eyes, blinding me and giving me an excuse to play dumb.

But Link's eyes gazed desperately back at mine, as if he were terribly sorry for some reason.

For what?

Everything was blurry.

My mind was foggy as I was led by someone through Goron City. I could see bridges and houses, all constructed of metal and minerals found deep within Death Mountain. But the details were hazy. I looked around at the city inhabitants, trying my best to remember as it was over one hundred years ago.

All of the figures seemed genderless. No one wore clothes – or if they did, they were minimal.

Was everyone a male?

No, I was certain I had learned about Hyrulian race reproductivity during my schooling. But what exactly happened up here in the volcano? Was it quite the same? Were there ever any females?

My mind raced as my brain tried to catch up. But my brain always came up short, never truly solving the missing link between the two.

But I was surrounded now, enclosed by a fence of male Gorons – their rocky chests and stony legs cemented into the ground before me.

But I had a job to do.

"My name is Zelda Bosphoramus Hyrule. I am here to observe the great Divine Beast Vah Rudania."

As if it had somehow heard, a loud wail echoed from the dark and dim mountain of lava to our northeast.

The young, eccentric Goron from earlier who wore the scarf, the very one I had knitted for the one and only Champion of Vah Rudania, looked between Link and I nervously. I could tell he sensed an immense aura of something incredibly awkward and unsaid.

The blush on his face revealed he knew he had said the wrong thing.

And with a quick mumble about making sure Vah Rudania was alright, the young Goron sped away from our small gathering. I jerked my head to follow his movements, if only in curiosity, that led him further and further away.

And not towards Vah Rudania in the least. Link snorted slightly next to me, as if he knew something I didn't.

But then again, didn't everyone right now?

A thick silence hung in the air after he departed. The Goron elder must have sensed something was off – something more than just the status of the Divine Beast – and quietly dismissed the other Gorons.

My face flushed as I stood in the presence of the Goron elder and the Champion of Hyrule. Link's eyes were still avoiding mine, but I could tell it was a struggle. I wanted so desperately for him to look into mine, to tell me, finally… that everything I had felt for him had been reciprocated after all of these years.

But he remained as motionless and silent as usual.

Goddesses be damned! Why the HELL was he torturing me like this?

I KNEW he loved me.

I knew it.

He… had to.

"The name is Bludo," the Goron elder spoke, finally diverting my dangerous thoughts. He held out his large hand to shake mine.

It felt like my hand was being smothered by rocks.

"Please, follow me." Bludo led the way through the paths and over various bridges that wound their way through the mountain city. "I know you are anxious to see Vah Rudania, but I figured you both might want to freshen up in our honeymoon suite," Bludo said excitedly, pointing the two of us towards a large living space cut into the northeast side of a cliff.

For the second time… What.

Link stood still. "Thanks," he muttered quietly, his voice echoing in his metal helmet. He was deeply embarrassed and deeply disturbed by something he must have said or did during his journeys. Clearly these Gorons were convinced I was the girlfriend – nay, the wife! – of the Champion of Hyrule!

But why? What did he say?

Did he… did he actually have a girlfriend and I was being mistaken for her?

I wracked my brain, but everything I could come up with was nothing more than fuzzy memories of dreams I may have had in previous lifetimes.

A rabbit. A fairy. A wolf.

But I once again returned to the present, the anger and confusion splattered across the delicate features of the hero of Hyrule.

I sank to my knees in utter exhaustion, awaiting the arrival of whatever emotional storm was to come.

I was tired, so incredibly tired. The elixirs I had taken were still in full effect, but the heat was really getting to me. I continued to kneel on the ground, unaware of what was exactly going on. But I knew, deep down. It was the heat. The pressure. The overwhelming desire to just…

"If you'll excuse us, Bludo." Link's voice cut through the thick, hot haze.

Bludo's eyes went wide, clearly getting the wrong idea. "Oh ho ho, Link, I could sense it from earlier. I knew you two were just dying to be alone!" He smiled broadly at the two of us. "Please come see me when you are ready to go to the Divine Beast."

And with a quick bow and flourishing of not much clothing at all, the Goron elder departed, leaving us casually, dangerously alone at the entrance to our honeymoon suite.

I was still on my knees, staring forward and focusing hard on the dark interior before me. I stared at the lone bed before us.

My eyes watered in the heat, possibly also in anticipation of a good night's rest.

Neither Link nor I had moved. We remained in silence for another few minutes before he finally spoke. "Would you like me to carry you?" He was looking at me out of the corner of his eye, an obvious flash of genuine concern flooding his features.

I looked up to him, part of me in shock at the act of chivalry he was currently displaying. But the moment my eyes caught his, we both flushed in utter embarrassment, the reason for which I couldn't quite explain.

"I… would really like to rest," I spoke with a rather shakiness to my voice that I really did not expect. I was still kneeling on the ground, my eyes locked with his.

Link's eyes widened slightly before he coughed heavily, trying to avert his gaze and focus on something, anything other than me. My heart dropped.

"I think I can get you something to help with the heat," he said softly, the genuine concern betraying itself through the cracks in his voice.

And before I could answer, before I could respond with a 'thank you', he was gone – out the door and down the path in Goron City that lead to who-knows-where.

I made my way slowly over to the bed, my breath becoming heavy as the elixir began to wane. I stared at the rocky ceiling, the ancient carvings and paintings dancing around my thoughts as my vision began to blur and the haze began to set in.

I was about to lose it.

The heat finally got me.

No more elixirs, no more potions. Nothing could save me from the inescapable heat of Death Mountain.

I couldn't tell if minutes or hours or years went by as I stared at the ceiling, waiting. Waiting for…

"I finally got it!" Link bellowed as he burst back into the small room. My gaze remained at the rocky outcrop-of-a-ceiling until it was obstructed by a large, metallic object being shoved in my face.

"W-what?" I exhaled, feeling the last of my strength drain with it.

But Link grabbed me by the hand suddenly, his other hand gently, yet urgently, pushing me up into a sitting position. "I know they might not be the most fashionable, but I know this will help." He bent over to pick up the metallic object which he had apparently laid on the floor. Everything was getting blurry.

His other hand was still on my back. He shook my shoulders to get me to focus again, but I was fading quickly.

"You should be able to fit these over what you already have on." My vision focused long enough that I could finally tell that he was holding a pair of pants and armor – similar to the ones he was wearing, only a little smaller. "I'm sorry it took so long – I had to help Rogaro put the finishing touches on them for you."

I shook my head to clear myself once again. "Y-you did?" I managed. I shakily reached out to take the articles of clothing from him. The armor wasn't nearly as clunky or gaudy as his was, and it was surprisingly light. "Thank you," I added before he could answer. My hands trembled as I ran them over the royal blue tint of the chestplate.

Link bent down quickly at my feet, and before I could ask what he was doing, he removed one of my boots. "Let me help," he said quietly for some reason. His bright blue eyes looked up into my own green ones and I immediately felt myself flush – not from the heat, not from exhaustion, but from the unexpected closeness and his firm yet light touch.

I looked away before I could become more embarrassed. "Thank you," I whispered.

I decided to then busy myself with getting the lightweight armor over my arms and head, trying not to focus my mind on Link's hands brushing against my other leg and foot.

But the moment the top slipped over my body, I felt an instant rush of relief. I was wearing much more clothing now but felt somehow cooler, my mind somehow clearer. Soon, after much more awkward moments, I had both pieces of clothing on and finally feeling like I could operate like a normal person again.

It was then that I realized Link had not been wearing his helmet.

And I didn't have one.

"Don't we need helmets?" I suddenly asked, concerned this feeling of relief would be temporary once again.

"Well… no," Link responded slowly.

I blinked at him. "Oh."

He must have noticed where my line of thought was going. "Wearing all of them makes you impervious to fire, but you really only need one piece of the set to survive up here."

So he could have given me one of his armor pieces this entire time?

My face flushed as I felt a scowl creep across my eyebrows. I was quiet.

He must have noticed because a confused looked quickly dominated his features. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. Nothing is wrong, Champion of Hyrule," I replied. I could feel the tone in my voice getting sour. "I was just wondering when you would have finally acted like the chivalrous knight everyone else thinks you are and offered me something to wear earlier?" My lips were pursed and I tried to put my hands on my hips but I couldn't quite find them beneath the heat-resistant armor. I settled for clenching my fists at my sides.

Link's eyes went wide.

Ha! Does he think I'm dumb?

He opened his mouth as if to respond before closing it again. He looked away from me, clearly trying to think of some lame excuse.

Oh this is going to be good.

"To be honest, Princess, I thought the elixirs would last long enough until we made it up here."

Oh, really? Ha.

He looked back at me, a hint of pain and guilt behind his eyes – something I didn't quite expect. I cleared my throat and stood up straight, trying to stand my ground. "Well, that didn't quite work out well. I nearly died!" My fists were still at my sides, clenching as tight as they could through the thick gloves of the armor.

"I'm sorry! Alright?" he suddenly yelled. "It was supposed to be a surprise."

A surprise? ALMOST DYING? My mouth opened as if I were about to breath fire – and I very well may have if he hadn't interrupted me.

"The only armor the Gorons make is big and clunky and I knew you would have a hard time walking in it. Several months ago, I started making you some armor – from what I could remember of you."

My mouth had snapped shut and my blood ran cold.

He sighed and sat down on the bed and ran his gloved hand over his helmet-less face in what seemed to be a mixture of embarrassment and regret. "I'm really sorry, Zelda. I was hoping Rogaro would have finished it by the time we made it up here, but I had to jump in and help him finish it." He was staring at the ground, clearly ashamed.

My stomach rolled. Here I was, yelling at him, when he had slaved away making something for me for… months?

"You… started working on this months ago?" I asked quietly, avoiding eye contact as well. I remained standing next to the bed, afraid to get too close – or too far away.

Link breathed heavily, finally turning to look up at me. "I was hoping to take you to see the Gorons and Vah Rudania once everything… was over." He shrugged. "I know it's not the most comfortable outfit in the world but it's a lot better than taking elixirs every few minutes."

I sat down next to him on the bed, looking over the armor he had made – specifically for me! – and feeling guilty as hell for berating him for not being more chivalrous.

He was clearly the most chivalrous man I had ever met.

I finally turned to look at him and instinctively leaned in closer, my heart thumping loudly in my ears, drowning out the sound of heavy breathing, clanking armor, pounding footsteps outside the room…

"Link! Princess!" Bludo blurted as he burst into the room. I snapped away from Link – and could have sworn he had been leaning in as well – and shot up on my feet.

"What's going on?" I asked much louder than necessary.

Bludo bent over slightly, rubbing his back. "It's," he breathed, "Vah Rudania again." He stood back up straight. "She's finally gone out."


Link and I raced towards the Eldin Bridge, the tension and awkwardness of what had transpired only moments ago seemingly years and years in the past. We knew something terrible was going on. The lights on the Divine Beasts went out on the Sheikah Slate. Vah Rutah went silent.

And now Vah Rudania.

I could only imagine that the other two were suffering the same fates.

I paused on the Eldin Bridge, suspended over the moat of lava that separated me from the active volcano and the rocky terrain. I stared at the screen in front of me, wishing and willing them to come back to life. But I turned back towards the volcano. Vah Rudania was dark, as if she were sleeping on the mountainside.

Link was across the bridge when he turned back to me, his expression one that I was quite familiar with, but deeply regretted.

There was nothing we could do.

At least not now.

The mountain sat hauntingly silent in the absence of the lizard beast. Link crossed back over the bridge towards me, Bludo and the young Goron – Yunobo? – following closely behind. His bright blue eyes shined into mine, confirming there was nothing more to do.

But there had to be.

Why was this happening?

The Divine Beasts lasted for thousands of years after Ganon had been sealed away. Sure, they vanished into obscurity, being buried by rock and earth over the years. But they functioned and were important nonetheless. Did no Ganon really mean they stopped working? Was Ganon truly the only threat to the future and well-being of Hyrule?

I couldn't believe it.

At night, I dreamed of a purple-skinned man who used the force of wind to take over Hyrule. I dreamed of a mask in a land quite similar to ours that turned those who wore it into evil. I dreamed of oceans of despair, deserts of ruin, and fields overtaken by twilight.

Ganon wasn't the only evil in the world. I knew from history classes that the spirit of Demise would endure, as long as the spirits of the hero and the goddess endured.

I glanced over to Link. He was by my side now, his brows furrowed in frustration. I know how he felt. He had saved the Divine Beast before by defeating the four blights of Ganon. He didn't understand why this was no longer the case.

Something else was at work.

Something much more dark, powerful, and ancient than either Link nor I had ever encountered. Ganon had existed from the era of the Hero of Time, that much I knew.

But the evil that filled Ganon's heart lasted from the beginning of the era of the Sky, an era that was often brushed over as small, insignificant, and inconsequential to the history of Hyrule. All they did was reintroduce Hylians to the surface world, right?

Nothing else was written or recorded. But the oral history remained. The only thing written about was that the royal lineage of Hyrule was re-established through the line of the Hero and the Goddess Incarnate. That was when the Goddess Hylia gave up her immortality to be with the Hylian hero, the Hero of the Sky, the one who had given up on his own future to protect those he loved on the surface. He forgave those who imprisoned him and made him pay for the false crimes he was inevitably accused of. But he nonetheless fought for them, and ultimately died for them.

But it was a small paragraph in the History of Hyrule. I doubt anyone outside the royal family truly knew of their country's history, much less that of their patron goddess. They were bedtime stories, told when the regular ones about the Hero of Time or the Hero of Winds had gotten old and tiresome.

For who remained that cared more about the past than the present?

My mind flashed, showing me images of the various Heroes of Hyrule.

Sky. Time. Ages. Seasons. Twilight. Winds.

The feel of the swift breeze on my face, the smell of autumn leaves, the sound of wolves howling in the distance, the scent of salt dancing across the strong, seaward winds.

I needed to see the last of the Divine Beats, that was certain.

Vah Medoh, flying high in the skies above Tabantha and Hebra. Vah Naboris, traipsing across the deserts of Gerudo.

Vah Rudania was lost. Vah Rutah was inoperable.

One of these two had to hold the key to the mystery that was plaguing the Divine Beasts.


KnT (brigette)