29

Of Flame and Ice

"Morpha denies all suspicions, Lord," Bongo-Bongo whispered. "My confrontation brought no clear evidence, yet I sensed its tones to be somewhat covert."

"It brings no concerns with me," Ganondorf muttered. "My Water Guardian has thus-far proved its loyalty. I shan't revoke the privileges I have bestowed upon it for several long and enduring years."

"Your word is law, Master," said Bongo-Bongo. "Yet being Morpha's equal in rank, I cannot turn a blind eye to its movements. It has contacted Volvagia in the same manner as I speak to you now."

"Perhaps these methods have distorted your judgement," said Ganondorf, still not looking directly at the Shadow Guardian's visual portal. "Speaking freely between dimensions can often send false messages, as water distorts light."

"I merely report my findings, Lord," said Bongo-Bongo. "Interpret them as you wish. I shall not intervene."

"You speak to me directly. Explain why you haven't contacted your superior."

"Lord Kanakana was impossible to reach, despite my efforts," Bongo-Bongo clarified. "He must have cast a dimensional rift barrier about himself before I attempted to speak with him. He obviously intended not to accept my findings, despite the fact that they were urgent. I had no choice but to instead contact you directly, Lord, due to the magnitude of this information's importance."

Ganondorf continued to look toward the lumbering darkness. "It has been noted. Yet despite the conditions of which the other guardians are practicing under, it has little to no influence on the operation currently in progress. I trust you understand?"

"Lord, you have mentioned this operation numerous times in recent days. What of it?"

"I certainly hope you are not freely attempting to gather information from me, Shadow Guardian," Ganondorf remarked calmly, lifting a wicked sneer.

"It was not of my intention. I don't believe I stated my inquiry under the influence of a well-conscious mind. My apologies, Lord."

Requesting information from the king in these days was considered a sign of treachery when the report was not verbally offered from the king himself.

"Dark times creep ever closer," Ganondorf mumbled. "For too long our world has prospered, and even now a great evil threatens to engulf its very providence." A bolt of lightning flashed from behind the castle windows. "A storm rises in the northeast. A storm of fire. The very symbol of the peace of Death Mountain has been replaced with the ominous roar of crimson light, shining down on near lands as a desperate attempt of warning."

"Of what?"

"Impending doom, perhaps?" Ganondorf chuckled. "What Volvagia is planning is most likely not of my interest, since he has denied direct conversation with me. Somehow, I'll let him continue. I'm sure it will be a lesson for all of us to learn." He turned to Bongo-Bongo. "Enough of this. What of you, Shadow Guardian? How long do you plan on staying in that dimension of yours?"

"Not much longer, Lord," Bongo-Bongo explained. "These are careful proceedings. I was sealed in the sewers of Kakariko not by physical force, but by powerful ancient Sheikah curse. Not only did it attempt to seal me away far beneath the settlement, but to also entrap me in our plane of the universe. I managed to break past the spell's secondary purpose, and am currently attempting to re-enter the living world. The incantation takes time, Master. Please be patient."

"And what of the sewer's cloacae?"

"Upon my confinement in the chasm, my very presence corrupted its life signature," Bongo-Bongo muttered. "Dark things now dwell in those tunnels. The Hylians are blissfully unaware of the lurking presence perilously close beneath their doorstep. The surviving Sheikah that attempted to imprison me there has done far more damage than she realizes."

Ganondorf paused. "Very well, then. I shall expect you returning to this dimension within a few days?"

"I shall not disappoint you, Lord," said Bongo-Bongo. "The gate opens ever wider, and my servants anxiously await my revival, possibly more eagerly than you, Master. All of the inhabitants of my realm shall be made fully aware of my recrudescence. However, most of all, the wretched Sheikah that attempted to seal me away will be the first to meet my black hand."

Ganondorf turned away. "And so it shall. Begone – you have served your purpose for now."

"As you wish, Master," Bongo-Bongo whispered.

The Shadow Guardian's portal snapped shut, sending a dimensional shockwave reverberating through the chamber. Although these were not physically powerful enough to even extinguish candlelight, they could be strongly felt by the mind.

The Great King of Evil turned toward the bottle and glass waiting on the far table and proceeded towards it. He poured himself a drink – red wine, made with grapes picked from the western fields, just outside the border of the dry desert.

Sipping his glass, he looked out towards the opaque windows, observing the calm, crimson flicker of Death Mountain's corrupted halo, all the while bearing a knowing grin.

---

There was a violent updraft of searing hot air emerging from the depths of the cavern. Link shielded his face from the steaming gales as he struggled to move forward, protecting himself from the danger all around him.

He was now in the heart of Death Mountain's crater. It was larger than Link had anticipated, complete with a series of tall plateaus and natural rock bridges that spanned great distances, made of material much more heat-resistant than the molten rock below. How they survived thousands of years' worth of powerful eruptions, Link had yet to discover. There was a constant roaring of energy rumbling from the crater's depths, light being distorted by the rising air and the stone walls of the cavern acting as mirrors to its pulsing red glow. Geysers of magma rocketed past him, spraying fine mists of molten rock outwards, splattering dangerously close to Link's position, all with devastating force.

Of all the unique and strange atmospheres Link had been in, this one was by far the most intense. With everything and anything being a potential fatal hazard, he was forced to be as cautious as possible as he progressed forward on the narrow bridge that connected the hidden tunnel towards Goron City and the obscure destination ahead. It was hard to see in the distance, but there was not much further to go. Beyond there were two rows of tall, handcrafted pillars, timeworn and charred jet-black. They most likely marked the path towards the hidden Fire Temple, but to properly distinguish what was really behind them was impossible at the moment.

Sheik, struggling just as hard as Link was to progress forward, managed to catch up. "We're getting close!" he shouted over the intense noise. "I can sense the guardian's energy signature!"

"You think?" Link mocked, ducking his head as another fountain of fire launched past, dangerously close to the small bridge they were attempting to cross. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!"

"Get used to it!" Sheik yelled. "The temple itself won't be much different!"

After a few more moments, they managed to make it across the narrow bridge unharmed and onto a large mesa where the prominent pillars Link noticed earlier stood, being licked occasionally by stray flame. Seeking to rest from the infernal bridge crossing, Link scrambled towards one of the larger ones. He put his back to the pillar and sat, away from the raging inferno creeping up behind.

He sucked in as much of the hot, dry air as he could, but only now did he realize that he needed water more than anything else.

Sheik approached and kneeled down beside him, and as if reading his thoughts, offered a small water canister. Link took it with gratitude, and sucked down as much as he thought he needed, but left a decent amount left for later. He screwed the lid back on and gave it back to its owner.

The path ahead was veiled by a thick wall of smoke billowing up from the sides of the elevation, making it hard to tell how far away from the temple they actually were. However, amidst the billowing black curtain, he saw odd movement. It was quick, a shadow moving within shadow, but Link didn't believe that he was seeing things. Feeling suspicious, he stood up from his resting place, and peered into the smoky abyss. Now he saw not one shadow, but several, all getting closer.

One by one, Lizalfos burst out of the black shroud, all armed and all thirsting for blood. These seemed to be the ones that pursued Link and Sheik earlier on the outer slopes of Death Mountain. As Link drew out the Master Sword, he saw a few Dinalfos emerge as well, but the Stalfos that were part of the group previously were unaccounted for, possibly due to their frail bodies not being able to withstand the high temperatures.

It didn't take Sheik long to notice the ambush as well. He reached for his sleeve and quickly shot his forearm outwards, sending a spray of poisonous barbs flying in the enemies direction. Most didn't make contact, but two Lizalfos and one Dinalfos collapsed to the ground, each having a needle protruding from their necks.

Link met swords with an angry Lizalfos while Sheik attempted to delay the rest, which amounted to four or five by Link's judgement. After a few blows from his enemy, Link saw an opening and slashed the lizard's gut, sending his foe to the ground. Wasting no time, Link rushed the hoard that Sheik was desperately trying to fend off.

He aimed for single Dinalfos, near the back of the group, since he didn't want to get in the way of Sheik's swift knife. The large lizard didn't see him coming, for it was only trying to get around the others in order to get its hand at a defending Sheik. Link rammed the Hylian shield against its shoulder and forced all of his body weight into a struggling push. The Dinalfos yelped, embers escaping from its throat. It tripped, stumbled, and ultimately fell off the edge of the plateau, plummeting towards the churning magma below. Link could just barely see the traces of its fiery breath float over the edge as it fell.

Link turned around to see Sheik finishing off the last of the Lizalfos with a quick stab to the chest, right through the steel plate protecting it. It slumped motionless onto the ground, along with the two others it had previously been fighting with.

Link was now realizing the danger he was in. Like the day before, he was at the doorstep of a guardian's stronghold. He shouldn't have been surprised by the ambush, yet now he was rudely awakened from his carelessness. He rushed over to his companion.

"We need to get out of here!" he called to Sheik. "The Fire Temple can't be far away. They'll be plenty more where they came from – as long as we aren't seen by any reinforcements, they might think we're still lurking around Death Mountain when we are in the depths of the sanctuary."

"Haste, then," the Sheikah called back, hopping over the fallen bodies. "Volvagia has many henchmen to spare – I wouldn't doubt all but a short delay before they organize themselves."

"Too late!" Navi cried over Link's shoulder, pointing in the direction of the sweltering bridge behind them. Once the two turned, they were face-to-face with a straight line of battle-hungry soldiers, all weapons drawn, the saliva dripping off their teeth reflecting the pulsating fiery glow of the surrounding area. Their numbers had increased significantly, and this time they had many Stalfos accompanying them.

"Stop where you are!" shouted the middle Dinalfos, pointing its cruelly serrated sabre from a distance – they were far from arms reach. "You fools almost gave almost gave us the slip back on the outer slopes, but it seems you forgot that the spider knows its web better than the fly that dares venture near."

"These have to be the ones that were chasing us earlier," said Navi.

Sheik had his knife drawn. "A spider's web can only snare those that are weaker than the spider itself. It would be torn to pieces were it to encounter the strong." He paused. "Much like written laws."

The Dinalfos spat. "Sheikah…even in extinction, their survivors still dribble metaphors and pathetic analogies as if the whole world is securely contained within their minds."

Fine mists of airborne magma sprayed upwards behind them, every time momentarily increasing the throbbing temperature.

"Where's the Fire Temple?" Link demanded. "Tell me where Volvagia is, and we'll spare you!"

A wicked grin appeared on the Dinalfos' face. "Do you expect me to comply? We have the upper hand here. This time, you have nowhere to run to. We've swept this place – there's no one here to come to your rescue. You have nothing…nothing but your bloody swords and your fancy heroic gimmicks. We have the strength of many dedicated soldiers. Archers!"

Several Stalfos came forth and drew back their jagged bows, all pointing a gleaming black arrow.

"I could kill you both in the manner of an executioner," cooed the Dinalfos. "And yet you still stand there, determined as ever. You might think that the web of a spider is weak, Sheikah, but when spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion."

"What now?" said Link through his teeth. "We can't just say he's lying. They've got us cornered."

"Have faith," Sheik whispered back. "He won't make his move just yet."

The Dinalfos was laughing. "You're that kid everyone's been talking about, aren't you? You can't hide anything from me, Hylian! Here you stand, at the mercy of my bowmen. This was exactly what Volvagia wanted. Now I understand why the mountain erupted…Volvagia wanted to get you to come to us. You've fallen right into his trap! And I, of all of his servants, will be the one that will do the honours! I'll make Commander for this!" It stepped forward. "You'll die where you stand!"

It raised its arm to issue the command to fire, but as if it directed it itself, a giant blast of magma rose from behind the enemy, a massive tower of molten rock looking down upon them. It was as if they were overhead, looking down upon the churning pools of fire below. The wave, in its seconds of existence, continued to rise up, bearing colours that ranged from fiery red to a blinding yellow near the peak of the blast. It was as if it had facial features; a yawning mouth, flaring nostrils and burning eyes.

The Dinalfos, along with its patrol, did not entirely notice the great danger behind them until the fire began to rapidly descend. The face that Link thought he briefly saw within the fire melted and disappeared. He only watched the Dinalfos spin around, and had never seen such a look of terror on the face of the creature's ilk. The reptile only had a fraction of a second to scream out in horror along with all of its companions as the brutal liquid mountain of fire descended upon them. The giant wave touched down on the plateau and instantly submerged and incinerated them all, as though it had grabbed their legs and pulled them down beneath the rock and dragging them to the hellish pits below where they belonged.

The group of enemies was definitely taken care of, but unfortunately the danger wasn't. What used to be a tower of magma was now rushing towards Link and Sheik like a river breaking through a dam. The flow had easily cut off the route by which they entered, leaving the only route of possible escape as an obscure, smoky abyss marked only by the ruined pillars that stood in its shroud.

There was no time to consider options. Link, while cautiously keeping the Master Sword unsheathed, took a few steps backward before pivoting and bolting into the unwelcoming black haze with only the sound of the rushing hot magma pursuing him to keep him running. Everything quickly turned black, the menacing red light of the crater subsiding and consumed. He lost sight of Sheik, yet he never distinctly saw him turning and fleeing as Link was. He drew up his collar over his mouth and nose to filter out some of the smoke leaking into his lungs, and put his forearm in front of his eyes to protect them from the stinging particles.

He continued to blindly sprint through the gloom, still hearing the rush of liquid rock behind him. Navi had safely hidden under his cap to protect herself from the poisonous fog, but as of right now he couldn't confirm how she was faring.

Just when the sound behind him was beginning to fade, he took one more step forward and the ground disappeared beneath him. If he had not been protecting his eyes from the smoke, he would've hit his head on the rock as he tripped. Instead, the blow was cushioned by his forearm, and the next thing he knew he was bouncing and ricocheting off of a small, narrow, vertical tunnel descending deep into the volcano's rock. In the small seconds of descent, Link thought horribly of a fiery doom below, waiting to swallow him just as it had the group of enemy soldiers. He attempted to slow his fall by pressing his feet against the quickly passing walls, but the hole was so uneven it was hard to maintain a proper hold. He clawed desperately at the ashy rock, only to have his fingers painfully slip off of the surface. During his struggle, he accidentally lost grip of his sword, which was sent clattering off the dark surfaces, drawing its distance above him and eventually vanishing from sight.

Link's shoulder took a heavy blow from a protruding surface, sending a crackling pain through his left arm – the one that was up until recently carrying the Master Sword. Cringing, screaming as loud as he could, he only fell faster and faster, taking blow after ruthless blow from the never-ceasing pitfall with no possible way of stopping. He could feel a steady, rising heat flowing from the deep. It pierced the thick soles of his boots, and Link could almost picture the end of the hole: a small opening overhanging the lava pits of Death Mountain.

There was no light in this hole, at least until a menacing red radiance began to leak from below his feet. He could now see the walls rushing past him, seeming to close their way in on him. In a final effort, he rammed every single limb he could spare into the reddening rock as hard as he could. His knees almost immediately buckled under his own weight, his left arm couldn't retain much of its strength, and the Hylian shield sprayed out bright sparks as it viciously grinded against the rough surface of the rock. The conflagrant light reached an utmost intensity, and Link expected the worst.

Without warning, the pitfall suddenly levelled out sharply, and Link was spat out horizontally not above lava, but of copper-coloured brick. He made painful contact with the ground, and slid to a stop. He was on his back, fists clenched and eyes squinted shut. He heard a small, rising clanging from behind, and then a long dragging sound of metal against rock as the Master Sword slid back to his side as if it has some kind of spiritual bond.

Still having his eyes shut, he felt for and found the hilt of the blade, turned onto his stomach, and began to lift himself up. Once he was hoisted onto a knee, he opened his eyes, and was startled to see a face staring back at him from the floor. It was a primitive engraving in the brick, filled in with a contrasting burnished metal. It definitely had the unmistakable features of a face, complete with two bulging, alien-like eyes, and a large open-mouthed smile. It seemed to be frozen in hysterical laughter, as it were some kind of mocking welcome.

He stood up, looked forward, and marvelled at this place's obscure yet captivating beauty. The first thing he noticed was the tall ceiling; at least twenty feet above his head. The room was scattered with brightly-lit torches, some hanging from the walls, some the ceiling, and some atop of incredibly well-crafted pillars with every sort of detail and statement of power. There was a distinguished set of stairs that led up to a one-story elevation in the room, and at the top of them three familiar faces continued their silent and motionless laughter, the only difference being these were vertical statues, each with a roaring fire instead of a stone tongue.

The room was silent, yet it had a moaning, almost roaring atmosphere to it. The only sound to be heard was the crackling of fire and the tranquil howling of wind escaping from his point of entry.

Link knew there was a possibility of him being mistaken, but from the looks of things, he was quite certain he was in the lobby of the elusive Fire Temple.

He ran over to the small entry hole and called into it.

"Sheik!" he cried. He waited for a response, but all that followed was eerie silence. He tried calling his name again louder, but with no more success than his previous attempt. He pounded his fist into the brick and quickly turned around. He thought for a moment before lifting up the front of his cap, signalling to his guardian fairy that she was needed.

"It looks like I'm without a partner," said Link.

"What are you talking about?" Navi growled, not looking at him directly. "I've been your partner since the start!"

"I didn't mean it that way," Link apologized. "What I meant to say was I'm afraid we lost Sheik during all the commotion."

"Is he okay?" she asked, turning around.

"I hope so. If it's of any comfort, I think that if I somehow managed to escape, he probably found a better route than I did."

"Speaking of which," Navi said as she rubbed her forehead. "It wasn't the most glamorous getaway, was it?"

"No," Link admitted. "But look where it got us…I have a good feeling this is the lobby of the Fire Temple."

Navi took a brief survey of the room. "It certainly looks suitable. The only thing I would point out is the lack of guards. Where is everyone?"

Link began to look around as well. "That's a good question."

Now that Link thought about it, the place was oddly empty to be the dwelling of a guardian. He thought that there should've been at least a few guards, but they were definitely not making themselves known. One possibility might've been the fact that a decently-sized patrol was sent after them for the past while, and they might have distinctively disturbed the normal tour of duty.

Looking to the right of the prominent staircase, he discovered a protruding scaled appendage leaning out from behind the bottom of the rail.

"Or, in this case, who came here before us?"

He rushed forward, but still kept quiet – he had a hard time trusting silence. As he made his way around the corner, a full view of the recently fallen Lizalfos slowly swung into view. Beyond its body, a short corridor with a reinforced barred door at the far end shivered in the intensely heated air. The lizard's sword had been drawn, and was lying closely by its outstretched hand, as if it was reaching for it in some kind of struggle. Its back was leaning up against the taupe brick, head lopped over to one side with a nasty bruise on the right temple.

"He's still breathing," said Navi, observing. "It looks like somebody knocked it unconscious."

"It doesn't look like he's suffered any stab wounds, either," said Link. "Whoever it was, it doesn't look like he was looking to start a war."

"He wasn't moved; his sword is still close to the body. Even if he isn't dead, judging by the bruise's swelling, he's been here out in the open for a long time."

"And that means they should've found him by now," Link sighed. "Maybe they chased this person in?"

"Or maybe it was someone amongst them."

There were many possibilities as to why they found the Lizalfos in such a state. Link continued to observe him, hoping to find some clues as to what happened and how to get to Volvagia.

The dust around the body was heavily distributed. Streaks marked the floor with how the combatants moved their feet before the final blow. As Link scanned the markings, he began to notice something else. Almost like a path cleared in sand, there were dragging marks on the floor, leading away from the body more towards the center of the room. Feeling curious, Link paced away from the slumbering Lizalfos and followed the trail. His footsteps echoed across the room, seemingly increasing the activity of the otherwise dead silent room.

"It looks like he was dragged after all," Link mumbled. "His body left a trail in the dust. Even if this person was smart enough to place its weapon close to it, he didn't really pay attention to the markings he left on the floor."

"But why is there dust in the first place?" Navi asked. "If this is the Fire Temple, shouldn't there be high activity? Dust would be scarce in a place like this."

Link knelt down in the center of the room, where the marking seemed to represent more that of feet than of entire bodies. He dragged his index finger along the floor, collecting a small amount of dust, and brought it close for examination. The dust was oddly grey, and when Link rubbed it in between his fingers, it seemed as if he ground it up into even finer grains, leaving a rubbed-on pale stain on his skin.

He stood up slowly, flicking the substance back to the ground.

"That's because it isn't dust – it's ash."

Link figured it was due to the violent eruption just a few hours ago that caused everything in at least this part of the Fire Temple to be covered in a fine layer of it. The grains seemed to be too coarse for normal dust, and their distinctive grey colour was also another giveaway.

"So…is all this ash from Death Mountain erupting?" Navi asked.

"I'd figure," said Link. "It must've sanded down the rocky inner-walls of the mountain, letting this stuff fall all over the place. I'd guess it would've come down in large amounts through the hole we just came in from."

"Hey, wait a minute," said Navi suddenly. "If this ash came in just a few hours ago, then wouldn't that mean that all these streaks in it would have to have happened after then?"

"Exactly," said Link, smiling. "Who would've come in here almost immediately after Death Mountain's eruption? Link – not me, the Goron – said that the mountain erupted after the city was attacked, so the tribe would've been in the place where they're being held long before this person came in. He also said that his father left for the Fire Temple very shortly before the eruption."

Navi drew in a slow breath of realization. "Then…it must've been…"

"And if I may point out one last thing that I noticed when I came over here," Link continued. He pointed towards a large footprint just outside the site, bearing five sizable toes and similar characteristics of a human, only twice the size. "That doesn't look like the footprint of one of Ganondorf's subjects, wouldn't you say?"

"It was Darunia, then," Navi agreed. "I guess we should've expected to see signs that he arrived early."

"And look – it's as if he expected us to follow." Link gestured towards the series of identical tracks left in front of the initial print. They led up the stairs.

"Are you going to trust where Darunia went?" asked the fairy. "I mean…he couldn't possibly have a clue what he's doing, right?"

Link, as if in an ignoring state, calmly began to proceed up the conspicuous staircase. As he climbed, he calmly looked over his shoulder at his guardian fairy. "I'm sure he had at least a better clue than me. Let's go."

Seemingly holding back a snarl, Navi reluctantly caught up with the Hylian. "Why do I even bother?"

The three overlooking faces at the top of the stair began to appear over them, as if peeking out from under cover. Their stone eyes flickered in the triplet flames that blazed within their open jaws. At the closer distance, it no longer looked as if they were laughing, but screaming instead. Their facial expressions were as a warning to deter the foolish ones that had come this far only to step in the largest inferno of all.

As Link reached the final step, the brewing, rising moaning from deep within the temple was clearly audible, sounding like high winds blowing over a ceiling vent in a cave, but with more of a distinctive voice calling out from the depths.

The footprints turned left sharply, heading towards a blackened steel door at the other end of the room. When Link turned his head in the other direction, he spotted another door of similar stature. Darunia's footprints didn't look like they had any moment's hesitation in them, as they immediately turned towards the former door. Looking around briefly, all the while scanning for possible threats, Link continued to follow the tracks to the left. As the door got closer into view, the light bended by the steaming air began to slowly straighten out. Link reached for the doorknob, but then suddenly hesitated before his fingertips touched the metal. He reached back and instead grabbed the hilt of the Master Sword.

"And what's that for?" Navi asked.

"Just in case he got killed halfway there."

Link was fairly doubtful about directly grabbing the intensely heated metal of the doorknob, but was thankful to discover that the Goron tunic even protected the exposed parts of his skin. Whatever the merchant used to create it, it was certainly a rarity. He pressed the rusty door inward, causing a distinctive squeak to rudely break the room's churning silence. A considerable surge of warm air escaped from the opening, and the airy moaning heard echoing in the lobby almost doubled in magnitude.

He poked his head cautiously around the metal gate, trying to get a decent view of what waited in the chamber beyond. It was quite dark from where Link was standing, with a blood-red glow rising and falling from various dark pits. As far as Link could see, there were no moving bodies or visible threats.

Keeping his eyes and ears open, he quietly sidestepped through the opening, keeping the Master Sword in a place where he could still effectively use it. The walls here didn't seem like they were made from the same sandy brick in lobby, but of natural volcanic rock instead. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he began to realize that he had arrived in a natural lava tube, probably formed many years ago. The walls were a glossy black, shimmering with what little light was available in the cave. The floor was rough and rocky – a result of an ancient lava flow that once crept through this chamber, most likely before the Fire Temple was even built. There was no visible ceiling, but wherever the walls curved inward, there were long, orange strings hung from where they were suspended, rather fragile, created from dripping lava that once covered the walls of this cavern thousands of years ago.

Link cautiously crept forward, hoping to see something at the end. There was no more fine ash in here, so he was on his own to locate the Goron chief. As he proceeded and stumbled over the unsound floor, he frequently passed several pitfalls, each with its own ominous red glow from the magma that still flowed freely many feet below where he stood.

The air was noticeably hotter here, as even the Goron tunic was beginning to struggle keeping Link cool. He could feel drops of sweat build up near the roots of his hair, some even beginning to drip down his forehead. He could only imagine how much the metal of the Master Sword's blade had heated up due to the atmosphere, and if it was dangerous for even him to touch it.

Something began to manifest itself at the other end of the cavern, something solid and large. Link's heart stopped suddenly, halting him in his tracks. A brief mental flash of the gargantuan dragon he intended to draw arms with flew past him, a shaky reminder of what he was here to do. He could only assume that Darunia intended to settle the score with the Fire Guardian, but Link had nothing to confirm that he was still alive or not. Tightening his grip on the sword's hilt, he once again skulked forward, squinting into the darkness ahead and kept close watch of the large thing up ahead.

As he drew closer, the object began to get clearer. He started to lose his suspicions of it being Volvagia, and began to realize what it truly was. It was noticeably tall, but oddly square to be anything of an organic nature. It was close to the wall, as Link could see the shimmering surfaces surrounding it.

It was a giant door. It was almost twice Link's height, now apparently made of the same dark metal he had seen earlier on the other door. On the metal's surface, a large engraving of flame was strongly perceptible, and if Link's eyes didn't deceive him, it seemed as if it was coated with pure gold. Around the perimeter of the gate, another engraving of an entwining dragon wrapped its way around the entirety of the surface. There were other carved designs filling in the gaps between them, but the room was too dark to properly determine what they represented.

Link stopped once again. There was something else standing between them and the door. At the foot of the gate, a large body sat silently, barely moving but alive enough to give Link the impression that this was something a lot more dangerous than an inanimate object. He could see a rather large head, and arms bent outwards only to come back to the knees of its crossed legs.

Link's heart went from almost dead silence to skipping a beat once he realized what he was looking at. The sudden emotion that washed over him temporarily caused him to forget his situation and openly called out across the room.

"Darunia?"

The Goron jumped and scrambled to his feet, his fists clenched and at the ready. His dark eyes gleamed in the room's red glow, and widened at the mere sight of what stood before him.

"Who's that?" he called out. "Who's there?"

Link stepped over the volcanic rocks that littered the floor in order to get into view of the aging Goron. Once he was in full light, Darunia looked as if he was turning white.

"You…" he stuttered. "Is it…really you? Link? Is that you?"

"It's been a while since we've done business together, Darunia," said Link with a smile.

Darunia lit up. "It is you! Oh, it really is the old Link!" He jogged over from where he stood. "Did you hear me? Did you hear my calls?"

Link raised an eyebrow. "I would remember if I did…"

A slight look of disappointment came over the old Goron. "Are you sure? I've been sitting here, praying for your arrival, and then all of a sudden you arrive just when I need you the most. Oh well, it doesn't matter…you're here! We have a fighting chance now!"

He approached the Hylian and wrapped his bulky arms around his torso. His grip was overwhelmingly painful, lifting Link off his feet. Link struggled, but it was useless against the Goron's superior strength.

"Darunia…" Link wheezed. "Let go! You're hurting me!"

Darunia flinched suddenly; eventually loosening his grip and setting Link back down on the ground. "Sorry. It's just been so long since I last saw you. Look how big you've gotten since then! The last I saw you, you were just a lad. Where have you been all these years, brother?"

Link paused. "Hiding, mostly. Ever since Ganondorf took over, it's been hard for me to really show my face, what with my efforts to stop him in the first place and all."

Darunia nodded, the increased wrinkles on his face showing. "I should've thought so. I haven't seen a Hylian since that day. I've been kind of worried about them, but we have always managed to maintain our health whenever there is a dispute on their side of the court."

"They're managing fine, as far as I can see," said Link. "Most of them are taking refuge in Kakariko Village…the one that used to be Sheikah exclusive?"

"Good to hear," said Darunia, smiling. He paused momentarily, losing his grin rapidly. "Well, Link, I'm really glad you're here, and I know we have a lot of catching up to do, but I'm sure you know now isn't the time to be having a man-to-man talk, as much as I would enjoy one."

"Right," Link mumbled, straightening his posture. "So, this is the Fire Temple, right?"

"Yes – I'm glad you managed to find it. Very few that aren't of Goron blood know its exact location. Normally, we Gorons would visit here annually to pay homage to the fire spirits and our ancestors, whose souls make their way here, deep within the temple's secret chambers for judgement. Yet, once Ganondorf took the Hylian throne, this place has always become a dangerous place to go. Monsters started appearing in great numbers from the depths, attacking anything that moves. We didn't lose anyone when we first discovered this, but we were forced to hold the annual ceremonies within the sanctity of Goron City." He began to cringe. "If only I knew what would eventually manifest itself here, we wouldn't be in this mess right now."

"What's the situation, then?" Link asked, feeling safe enough to put the Master Sword away.

"It's a lot similar to why you were here before, brother," said Darunia. "Although I would wager that this time it isn't just rocks and Dodongos. It's the work of Ganondorf, nonetheless, and this time he's planning to get rid of us directly instead of simply taking away our food source. I believe it was a few days ago that Ganondorf revived the ancient dragon, Volvagia. Have you heard the legend?"

"Your son took the liberty of telling it to me," Link replied.

"Oh, so you've met Link?"

"The name flattered me."

Darunia laughed. "Anyway, I'm not an expert on this kind of stuff, but Ganondorf is using Volvagia's exceptionally strong life essence to fuel some kind of invisible magical barrier that supposedly spiritually connects this world with Heaven. It's Hylian lore, so we don't have a lot of records on it. However, it must be some sort of defensive strategy on Ganondorf's part, since the Fire Temple only started to behave like this when he crowned himself king. Whether or not it was within Ganondorf's knowledge, I'm not sure, but what he released back into the world is something that our ancestors sacrificed much to prevent from existing. I'm sure you saw the eruption – you've seen what that dragon is capable of when it comes to harnessing Death Mountain's explosive power. If that creature ever finds a way to escape these chambers, I'm afraid Hyrule would very quickly become a burning wasteland."

Link didn't say anything. He knew that Volvagia was powerful enough to be given the rank of Guardian, but it was also powerful enough to resist Ganondorf's influence. If what Darunia was saying was true, the Gorons might not have been the only ones endangered by the dragon's presence in the volcano.

"I'm sure you see the door behind me," said Darunia, issuing towards it. "The infernal creature resides just behind it. I'm sure he is expecting me."

"Volvagia is behind that door?" Link blurted. "Why? Why so close to the temple's entrance? There weren't even any soldiers guarding this place."

"I suppose he like's his space," Darunia joked. "It seems he has half the temple reserved for him and him only. I guess he feels he's capable enough of defending it without the help of weak underlings."

"Half?" said Link. "How large is the Fire Temple?"

"I can't say; only so much of Hyrule's temples are charted. The accessible parts of the Fire Temple, though, are actually quite large. The temple is built as two large, five-story columns. Before the temple was built by the ancients, it was just two natural spires of volcanic rock that protruded out from the lava chamber. I'm sure you saw their peaks as you were crossing Death Mountain's crater. Before the temple was built, it used to be known as Spectacle Rock."

"So Volvagia occupies one tower, while the other is guarded by his soldiers?"

"That's correct, as far as I know," confirmed Darunia. "The spire occupied by Volvagia, just beyond this door, is known as Gor. The other, where I believe my people are being held, is in most cases referred to as Goh."

"What's Gor and Goh?"

Darunia sighed. "Does no one care for Goron culture anymore? When the Fire Temple was built, Gor and Goh were the prominent twin fire sprits living in the volcano, and the first recorded in our history. Their twin fires they rested upon always caused the mountain to erupt without cease, but Gor and Goh used their power to always cause the lava to pour to the north, away from the inhabited part of Hyrule. Somehow, the spirits died away, and it was never discovered how. The twin lava spouts they sat on, however, solidified into an enchanted rock that was extremely resistant to normal lava flow, but as soft to dig through as Dodongo's Cavern itself. More of this rock became present around Death Mountain's crater, and this structure around and including the sister towers became the basis of which the Fire Temple was constructed. Something about Gor just attracted Volvagia more, I guess."

"Then why are you here?" asked Link. "If this is the tower where Volvagia is, shouldn't you be going to the tower where your people are? Isn't that why you're here?"

"That's where you come in, brother," said Darunia. "I need you to do a big favour for me. The others should be somewhere in Goh, and knowing the nature of Volvagia's servants, I doubt they'll last long in this kind of environment. The problem is if I took too long to find, release, and guide all of them out of the temple, who knows what the dragon could do with no direct threats? Link – I'm asking you to do this as my sworn brother. While I go deeper inside to try and deal with Volvagia, I need you to go to Goh and find a way to release my people from wherever they're being held, and help them out of the temple."

Link's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? I'm not going to let you try to take out a guardian all on your own! You'll get killed!"

"I'm concerned as well," the Goron admitted. "I'm not sure how I'll be able to seal away the dragon, since I don't have the legendary hammer, but I have no choice. If my fate includes sacrificing myself to give my people more time to escape and get help, I'll willingly accept it. I know it's hard to allow, but you just have to trust me, brother. Not far from here are many souls who are counting on you to save them from a fiery fate. If there's anyone here that needs to be living at the end of all this, it's you. The legendary hammer that once defeated Volvagia long ago is rumoured to be harboured somewhere in the Fire Temple. I wouldn't doubt it's heavily guarded, but if the rumours are true and you do find it, it just might be both our tickets out of here."

Link shifted nervously. He would've thought the situation would be the exact opposite, with him taking on the dragon and Darunia going ahead to save his people, but it honestly only felt appropriate for the descendant of the ancient Goron hero to be the one that seals the fiend away for good.

"Is it the only way?" Link asked under his breath. "If this is how it has to be done, I'm all for it. It's just that I'm worried that it isn't the best choice."

"Let me put it this way, brother," said Darunia. "It's my fault all of this happened, so if it's my punishment to die at the hands of the one who fell by my ancestors hammer, then it only seems right."

"I don't believe it does," Link growled. "I've seen too many good people fall under the influence of sacrifice. It's almost never worth it in the end."

"Then we'll make it worth it!" Darunia exclaimed. "We've done it before, brother. It'll just be like Dodongo's Cavern, only this time we're fighting together. Please, Link – this will be the last thing I'll ever ask of you as a sworn brother. I have no intention on dying; it's just a risk that I have now come to accept, and you have to accept that risk too if you ever want to become a great warrior."

Link inhaled deeply. "I really hope you're sure about this."

"I'm not," Darunia admitted. "What I am sure of is that if we do this any other way, there'd be an even greater risk of Volvagia carrying out something unexpected and catching us off-guard."

"Then let's not let that happen," said Link, forcing a grin. "I'll go find everyone else. You'll be in my thoughts."

Darunia breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Thank you, brother. I honestly can't think of anything I can do in the future that'll satisfy my dept to you."

"Then let's not waste anymore time. We can't give the Fire Guardian the chance to flush us out of the temple – our work has yet to be completed."

Darunia bowed. "Then we'll go our separate ways, for now at least. Please hurry, brother. Don't let my effort go to waste."

His fists painfully clenched, Link turned and began to head back towards where he came in. If the path he chose led to Ember tower, then the other door he saw on the opposite side of the lobby had to be the way to the Gorons' holding place. His goal was now different, but his attitude towards it was still the same.

"Oh, and one more thing, brother," Darunia called from behind. "If anything happens to me…please look after my son for me."

Bearing these final heavy thoughts in mind, Link continued to make for the exit. As he approached the small door, he could hear the slow, grinding sound of the large metal doors opening, along with a blast of pure heat pelting on the back of his neck. It was the hottest temperature he had ever felt.

---

Keep running.

She told it to herself over and over again. She could only hope that her lungs would be able to keep up with her mind as she raced down these familiar tunnels and caverns. She could hear it – coming closer, entrapping everything its icy fingers could touch. Reluctantly looking behind her every few moments, it was hard for her to see exactly where it was, if it had fallen behind or had hopefully stopped all together.

Corner after corner, stretch after stretch, the tunnels were deserted, no one to help her. She could feel the surface beneath her feet slowly give in to her pursuer, each step feeling noticeably colder than the next. Her body heat could only keep her so warm, even if she was running at the optimal execution of her physical ability.

At every chance, she would take a turn down an untouched hallway or cavern in vague hopes of breaking free of the chase, but she knew that there was no shaking it before she even got there.

Even more discouraging was the fact that she began to notice her breath struggling. Air, as abundant as it was, was only satisfying enough for long relaxing days near calm shores, quiet walks alongside the riverbanks, or the simple admiring of the moon on clear summer nights. Now, however, was not a situation where it was most useful.

Something tugged at her arm. It locked a firm grip around her wrist as it drifted behind her in her hurry, feeling as if it was attempting to rip her shoulder off. Barely able to let out a scream, she was helplessly sucked back, away from the hall she was rushing down and into a dark place. As she fell and stumbled over her own footing, she felt a further embrace surround her, as if in comfort but with a frantic urgency.

The faceless hold rapidly lost its grip as she was involuntarily lowered to the freezing floor. She could still see the small opening in which the hall was still visible, but felt the sudden urge to cower and hide as the light was swiftly veiled with a considerable slam.

Some shifting, and then silence. She was huddled quietly away from where she had entered, fearfully unaware of what had pulled her in here, and where it had gone off to.

She began to notice mumbling coming from ahead of her, as soft as the slightest breeze flowing through silk drapes. They were whispers, shaken yet effectively concealed.

"Please…"

It was the voice of no monster. It was of a familiar tone, and upon hearing it, she felt much less in danger than she originally anticipated.

There was a hideous crackle from the darkness beyond, instantly followed by thousands of other tiny chips and breaks, all with crushing force and a fierce cold that threatened to pierce the haven-like atmosphere of this obscure sanctuary. The sensation of her fingers tensing came over her as the icy wind rushed over, her eyes watering as they struggled to keep moist and as tears of terror began to leak from their ducts. She felt frail, her limbs quivering even as she struggled to keep still, her head seeming to lessen in weight. She knew that the thing chasing her before was now knocking on her front doorstep, determined not to let her get away that easy. She curled up defensively on the floor, trying to keep warm despite her blood chilling to a frosty degree.

The sound of spreading ice began to die down, waver, and then roar again down the adjacent corridor, again losing its ear-splitting magnitude as it drew more distant. Her eyes were closed; the only thing keeping her going was her sense of hearing as she concentrated on the sounds around her. The sound of the ice was all but a faint echo resounding within the depths of the domain.

The only sound remaining was of her hurried breath, some of it carrying faint traces of her vocal cords. The room was still pitch black, and noticeably colder than it was before.

Faint memories of her childhood drew themselves to the fore of her mind as she continued to silently anticipate the danger. She recalled hiding in dark rooms from her father whenever she got into trouble, whether he had already found out what she had done or not. Any room would do, as long as it was secluded and preferably in a place where she thought he wouldn't decide to look. Sometimes, when he got close to the door or seemed to be moving in her direction, she would curl up and close her eyes in hopes that he would turn and go away so she could escape one of his extensive lectures. She could wait for hours as long as she didn't open her eyes – she would escape to distant lands, away from threat and perhaps fatherly lessons. She wasn't particularly open about her mental escapes; she deemed them cowardly and not something to be proud about.

Yet here, years after the last time she was reduced to a pathetic, trembling coward, she was once again dragged back to the recesses of what remained of her childhood, no longer facing a wagging of the finger from her father but death itself in its coldest form, long after she assumed she had gotten over her cowardice with age and maturity.

"…princess?"

She opened her eyes.

The room was now dimly alit with soft sapphire highlights, emanating from twin flames of blue fire burning steadily on the wicks of tall candles. It was now confirmed that she was not alone in the room, for a figure held them firmly in his hands as he calmly got to one knee and placed them before her. He looked up, his black eyes gleaming in the fire's unusually bright radiance, suddenly realizing that he had made eye contact and swiftly receding into a bow.

"My apologies, your highness," he blurted. "Forgive me for being so rude."

Her limbs began to relax, her sense of danger quickly fading. She gave him a stern eye before speaking to him. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

"Princess?"

"Grabbing my arm, dragging me backwards, throwing me to the floor without a word or a sound only to shut the door and leave me in the shadow confused and afraid? How dare you!"

"Please understand, my Lady," he whimpered. "You were in danger. I saw you running from the flowing ice and could only find it within myself to assist you; it's my duty as your servant. Beyond the path you were running down was a dead end – you would've been killed had I not said anything. Please forgive me for being so rough, but it was necessary to keep you out of harm's way."

She paused, her eyes still showing signs of annoyance. "And yet you still have the audacity to not properly introduce yourself?"

"Yes, of course," he said, lowering his head once again. "I am Maekau, one of your humble royal servants. I intend on nothing but ensuring your survival and safety."

"Judging by your uncouthness, Maekau, I have my doubts that you know who I am as well," she muttered.

"You are mistaken, your highness," Maekau proclaimed. "You are Princess Ruto, daughter of King Zora and heiress to the throne."

Ruto lifted a smile upon the mere hearing of her relished title. "Perhaps I misjudged you. I will trust you to your word, Maekau; you seem honest. But tell me…considering how far away we are from the royal quarters, what were you doing all the way out here when your duties lie solely to my line?"

"I was summoned by a superior of mine," he explained. "I was covertly informed of the approaching danger. I was told that the ice was spotted forming at the bottom of Lake Hylia just hours before, and our stationeries down south reported it actually moving against the current towards our domain. Since he was a good friend of mine, I was instructed to lay low and anticipate the oncoming disaster while he and his other accomplices raced to inform you and King Zora of our impending fate."

"Upstream?" said Ruto. "Impossible. How could ice freeze over in the opposite direction of a river's flow, and that fast?"

"It's the reason why we weren't prepared for such an event," Maekau admitted. "What happened to my friend and his group, I am uncertain, but the important thing is that you managed to escape. All that matters now is that you stay alive while I try and figure out what caused the dreaded chill. Are you all right, Princess? You look shaken."

"I wouldn't be surprised, just narrowly escaping death and all."

"Please try to relax, Princess," said Maekau. "We should be safe in here for now. The door managed to keep the ice from coming in, but unfortunately I doubt we'd be able to open it again."

"How long are we stuck in here for?"
Maekau shook his head. "Something like this has never happened before, so I can't really say. It's definitely not natural, to say the least. One of the only things I can think of to cause such an unnatural catastrophe would be actual sorcery."

"Are you joking?"

"I wouldn't joke with royalty unless I was given direct permission. Unlike normal ice, this magic has the ability to transfer from water to land when necessary, and from what I've seen, . Many strange things have been occurring at Hylia's water deposit since the Hylian incident. I'm sure you've wondered why you and your father are nowadays generously accompanied by our guards whenever you visited the lake. Strange creatures began crawling out from the shores, some we haven't even seen before. Over many months the situations got worse and worse…do you recall the period where you hardly left the domain at all, Princess?"

"It wasn't too long ago," Ruto mumbled.

"Hylia's shores became rampant with wild beasts for a time," Maekau continued. "We were forced to secretly send out dispatches to try to keep them contained within the area – we didn't want to have any issues with the other tribes if they managed to escape to the plains."

"Why are you telling me all this information?" Ruto snapped. "I am royalty! How dare you and your like to keep information from the royal line? How long has this been happening? Why did you not inform us of what was happening? We could've prevented this!"

"Please, Princess…try to understand," Maekau groaned. "These were matters far beyond King Zora's understanding. If all the evidence fits together, we knew we could be dealing with an ancient evil within the water's depths. The gate to the Water Temple was closed to prevent any of the monsters to get in, yet somehow I fear things have gotten rather foul within the sanctuary. Now that we've seen what this brewing power is capable of, I feel it's best that we take extra precautions when trying to deal with it; we're obviously looking at something extremely powerful. Although with Zora's Domain in the state it's in right now, I'd be willing to wager that the wicked there has already seized a significant victory."

"How many are still alive?" Ruto asked. "Surely there must be others. We managed to stay out of its way, didn't we?"

"As optimistic your hopes are, I can only fear the worst. You know how fast the ice moves. By now even the throne room should be encased in frost."

"I'm not concerned about my father," Ruto replied with a hint of sadness. "From what he's told me, he's gotten out of tighter situations than this one – situations involving violent malice far greater than freezing temperatures."

"If that is so, Princess, then I strongly suggest you realize your standpoint as far as the future of the Zora tribe is concerned. You were born an only child and have always been intended to act in your father's stead. Your father wouldn't have been able to escape its icy grip, but you have proven you have the agility and skill to take matters into your own hands and help our home recover from this distant onslaught." Maekau looked away, the twin lights from the blue fire lighting his face differently as they shivered in the cold air. "Although my intent was to investigate and reverse this curse all the while protecting you from further harm, I believe it's not my place to do such a thing."

"What…are you saying you're not going to do anything?" said Ruto.

"I'm saying I can't do anything."

"And why not?"

"I am your servant, Princess Ruto. It is my job in life to ensure you do what is best for yourself and our people. You are royalty – there is no question in that, but even some of the great Kings and Queens of the Zora tribe have made mistakes only from internal weaknesses. You are the future Queen of your people, Princess, and now that you're old enough to think without assistance or act without supervision, it's time for you to assume your responsibility to these souls trapped under a thick layer of biting ice. I know it's confusing and I know you're afraid, but those are thoughts that will not help returning the tribe to its original state and will not help deter whoever is attacking us."

Ruto remained silent, eyes rarely averting from the floor.

"There is only so much I can do or say to help comfort you in dark times," Maekau continued. "I will assist in any way I can, but I'm warning you. In every life there is a defining moment that pinpoints where we take the final step into adulthood. If I may guess, Princess, I'm sure it is dwelling within your mind as well if this is the time where you prove yourself to your people and establish that you are truly fit to rule."

"And what am I supposed to do?" Ruto blurted suddenly. "I don't know what this…I don't even know how to stop it. And even if I did, how would someone like me be able to stop it when the entirety of my tribe failed to do so?"

This time it was Maekau who sat silently. After a moment's hesitation, he rose and began to pace around the candles, past Ruto, and towards the back of the room. As Ruto's eyes followed him, she noticed a large drapery on the far side of the room, pinned up against the wall by several pieces of antique Hylian-made furniture. Maekau began moving the chairs and tables one at a time, only a about a foot away from the stone wall.

Ruto stood up, bringing her arms close to her torso, shivering in the rising cold. "What are you doing?"

"Assisting you," Maekau replied over hurried breath. "I chose this room to take refuge in was because of the back entrance to the main chamber of Zora's Domain."

"What…behind the drapery?"

"That's a given," Maekau breathed. "The ice hasn't travelled up this way yet, so it should be safe to enter and hopefully escape to the fields."

"But the ice could come through any time…" Ruto mumbled. "If I was still running from it, I would've long gone through the main chamber by now."

"Some of the more informed soldiers managed to seal off all access points to the royal chambers," Maekau explained as he tossed an old wooden chair to the other side of the room. "They reported that the ice was expected to come all the way up the river and into the main entrance to the domain via the waterfall. What we didn't realize that there are a series of small networking water tunnels that drain directly into Lake Hylia. They were built and designed by the founders of our tribe in order to drain excess water flowing down from Zora's Fountain in heavy rainfalls to prevent the caverns from flooding. Once the ice started forming in Lake Hylia, it must've travelled much faster up these small tunnels as opposed to a river's opposing current. So ironically it was the royal chambers that got frozen first and it was the main chamber that was isolated from the ice flow, for now."

"Do you think there are others within the main chamber? What of the sentries in the South?"

"I'm not sure," Maekau sighed. "I was not made aware of what transpired there. I have reason to believe that the domain guards would've told the civilians to flee to the royal quarters, though I could be wrong as well. As for our southern sentinels, well…perhaps you will find out for yourself?"

Tearing away a stack of old, waterlogged wooden stools from the wall, the drapery was uncovered. Red, with the Hylian crest as the centrepiece surrounded by a hand-woven golden border.

Possibly pillaged from an emptied Hyrule Castle.

Maekau grabbed its pointed end and ripped it off the wall. Revealed behind the falling scarlet was a considerable hole in the rock, a tunnel leading downwards beyond the room.

Maekau, now rid of the tattered Hylian hanging, stepped aside from the hidden passage and gestured with his hand in the direction of the sloping tunnel, as if formally. "I have now shown you the door," he said. "Walk through it, leader."

Ruto wasn't sure how to stand at the moment. She trembled unsteadily, partly because of the cold, partly because of fear. Before her was a path to apparent safety, yet a chilling sense came over her that beyond it lay a danger not fathomed by the history of her tribe. By Zora tradition, all heirs and heiresses to the throne were required to be thoroughly educated about the history of the tribe's growth and struggles, and despite her generous knowledge of the race's past, Ruto did not recall massive sheets of ice ever invading the sanctity of Zora's domain. The ancient halls of her ancestors had switched their occupants frequently during the warring years of pre-unified Hyrule, some with bloody outcome, but its current state was growing increasingly obscure.

The air behind her maintained its chill, causing her back to tense, yet at the same time the air emerging out of the tunnel bore no warmth either.

Ruto cautiously stepped forward, intently watching the depths of the descending tunnel in almost paranoid anticipation. The ambient sound of the room droned out as the deep subtle howling of the opening became evident, showing that it was indeed connected to the cavern's main chamber, where light breezes originating from the waterfall's rushing current flowed freely. She extended her hand to grip the right wall of the breach, feeling its heavy moisture being absorbed through her fingers as she silently stepped in past Maekau's outstretched arm.

The tunnel felt colder than the room behind her, but a sense of optimism washed over her as her nostrils caught the familiar scent of churning fresh water against smoothed rock, plentiful with fish ready for the catch.

Although this was the first time she had met the fellow Zora, Maekau had proved to be loyal and useful to his princess. With his apparent knowledge of the current situation, he could continue to prove his worth if he were to accompany her as she attempted to escape her home. She turned her head in the opposite direction to speak to him, but found him staring onward toward the sealed door on the far side of the previous room.

As if noticing something, he began to silently pace toward it, probably not noticing Ruto was watching.

"Maekau?" she called out. "Is there something wrong?"

The Zora pressed his ear against the door for a moment, and then suddenly recoiled. With a shaky hand, he felt its surface, scanning it with his webbed fingers. He paused, and then slowly looked down towards the floor before his feet. He began to back away from the door, not daring to take his eyes off of it. His shoulders rose and fell as his breath increased, his stance becoming more urgent.

Loud cracking noises began to sound from the door, much louder and quicker than the initial ones Ruto heard before.

The temperature began to drop considerably.

Maekau then spun around, his eyes overtaken with panic and urgency. "Princess Ruto!" he cried. "Run!"

An ear-splitting crash boomed from behind the exposed Zora, along with fine sprays of shredded snow and a torrent of freezing gales. The air paled as the back wall was nearly instantly coated in a thick ice sheet while the remnants of the supposedly sealed door crashed to the frosting ground. Maekau was already attempting to run in Ruto's direction, but was already too close to the door to be helped. The ice encased his body as fast as it did the rest of the room, starting from his feet and working its way up. Ruto was already turning to sprint in the opposite direction, but not before she caught the briefest of glimpses of his black eyes frozen shut with two cruel snaps. As she faced the dark tunnel and began to sprint forward, the same image flashed over and over again in her mind. She doubted she'd ever forget it.

The rough ground was hard on her exposed feet. She would lose her footing every so often, but didn't take the chance to slow down in order to regain her balance. She once again felt the ice's burning cold breathe up against her back as it raced after her in dangerously close pursuit.

This ice sheet had successfully broken down a reinforced stone door of one of the royal dormitories – she found no reason now to believe this was ordinary ice. Maekau mentioned that he believed that it was from some sort of curse, and as far-fetched as that initially sounded to her, with each passing second the possibility became more believable. The Zora tribe had long been peaceful ever since the King of Hyrule unified the country under a single banner. In days long forgotten when Hyrule was divided into several warring states, the Zoras were merely river dwellers, as the caves of Zora's Domain had yet to be hollowed out by the rushing currents, only fighting to defend their homeland if need be. Dwellers as they were, though, they weren't without connections between the other races of Hyrule. There had been dealings between the proud Zora race and the settlements of the Gorons in the Northwest; though there was never friendship. In those days their bounds were away south beyond the pass to Hyrule Field; and Death Mountain, the nearest of their colonies, acknowledged their sway. But that was long since. Many lives passed to and fro between them during the long years of war, and some wondered if it would ever end. As the constant violence waned as the immanent unification of the land drew near, they learned that the common enemy, hoards of organized monsters serving under a faceless leader, had gone over to them and offered assistance in battle for covert agreements. It was not until later that it was realized by the tribe that the same group had presented similar proposals to other races of what was soon to be Hyrule. Upon hearing the treachery of these newly-arrived creatures, the six major races turned against them in massive numbers. The monsters were caught off guard and driven to the depths of the land's deep grottos, networking caves that dug so deep beneath the earth that it bore creatures even the wisest of the land dwellers knew not of. It wasn't until after the land was unified the Gerudos were found to have been secretly cooperating with the enemy for reasons that they would rather die staying silent than submitting, ultimately being banished to their new home in the barren desert wastelands in the west, often disputed whether or not those lands were to be considered part of the new Hyrule at all.

She tripped. The walls she was feeling with her hands to guide herself through the blackened channel fell away from her, the chilled air rushing past her ears in howling gusts. The sudden changes in temperature all around her distorted her perception of which way she was falling, whether it was toward or away from the danger. She didn't know if she twirled once or twice, or simply fell flat on her face, but the next thing she knew she found herself sliding down a steeper slope in the small tunnel. The rock felt smoother here, yet it still had unnatural bumps and jags. Her body began to take the effects of the roaring surge of ice just above her head.

Light. She could suddenly see again, aware of which way she was facing and which direction she was going. She found herself still sliding, but due to her panic couldn't see if she was still in the tunnel or not. She still felt the ground slide painfully below her, and her instinctual urge to slow down began to kick in. She consciously forced herself not to, since the faster she was getting away from the ice, the better.

There was a bump on the slope, and in a fraction of a second it disappeared from beneath Ruto's belly. Her fingers missed the edge of the fall by mere inches, and she began to plunge down deeper into the cavern. The rush of air curled against her plummeting body as if she were falling through fine curtains of fabric lighter than silk into an uncertain doom.

That uncertainty turned into a watery chamber, where Ruto was quickly submerged when her feet broke through the waves' surface tension. The air bubbles rapidly rising in front of her made it impossible to see initially, a veil of escaping air in an otherwise familiar setting.

What the water didn't do was render her vulnerable. Now in her tribe's natural hunting habitat, Ruto quickly turned herself upright before shooting up toward the surface with a swift kick of her leg fins. It was not the sight of the area that made her realize where she was, but the smell. Cool moistness with the scent of a country-blown breeze, one that kissed the pedals of Hylian blossoms and skimmed the shores of Lake Hylia. It seemed that Maekau had indeed served her well despite his fate, and the passageway did in fact lead directly into Zora's Domain's main chamber.

Directly above on the hall's now distant ceiling, between the cavern's massive stalagmites and ever warping water reflections, the ice perusing her before became preoccupied with the up until recently untouched water-eroded surface. It could barely be seen in the morning light, as the only entrance that allowed it to enter was the main passage, guarded by the Sleepless Waterfall, facing southwest and away from the rising sun.

Although for the moment feeling like she had been given a large gift of time, Ruto's instincts quickly sent her into a horizontal dive, just inches below the water's rippling surface. Brief and shifting rays of light poured into her eyes as she maintained speed in her chosen direction. Averting her eyes forward, she made sight of her destination and hastily broke her approach, mere feet from the large stony wall before her.

Above the waves, her path was easily confirmed. In earlier days, while spending time with her friends in the royal entourage, she discovered several secure protrusions in the rock, all within a semi-shallow groove in its surface. It did not take her long to realize that it was definitely climbable for someone her size, and at the top awaited the main entrance to Zora's Domain. For many years she would exit the cavern by diving from various points of entrance in the main chamber into the water below, in order to utilize her newly found shortcut. Eventually she stopped using it, as since the years went on, she found less courage to exit the sanctuary walls.

It had been several years since the last time the Zora princess could remember stepping onto the stones. The mere sight of them up close was extremely nostalgic on its own. She was not confident, as she feared they had become weak in her absence. Hesitation would not be of use in this situation, as she could already feel the chilling silence of the ice come over her. Without stopping to think, she desperately reached forward, and managed to get the first stone firmly clasped within her fingers.

She lifted herself out of the water and began her ascent. At first she managed to make her way up fairly quickly; her memory of where the footholds were coming back to her as if it were playing in her head. The rough surface of the wall bore a chilling bite, enough to eventually numb one's hand. It seemed as if the ice could soften its targets before striking. The cold only told her that time was beginning to run out, and quite possibly also her luck if she were not careful. The air around her began to whiten, the ominous pale frost, a smoke screen of the ever approaching attacker.

She was surprised she had not slipped thus far. She could feel her hands tingling as the cold began to seep through to her. She could feel her body react and begin to recoil, yet with all her might she stopped herself from shivering. Now feeling more desperate than ever, she looked up determinedly at the proximate top of the climb. Throwing all of her energy into her legs and arms, she rapidly dragged herself upward into the cooling haze. She looked up and around as she raced towards the top, trying to spot the ice and where it was coming from. As she looked, however, she slowly began to discover that the ice had yet to descend down the walls. Nevertheless, the rapidly cooling atmosphere denied her observations, and it was far too significant of a chill for her to assume it was only her imagination.

Stretching her shoulder slightly, she managed to clasp her right hand around the lip of the cliff. After getting a higher step, she succeeded in doing the same with the other hand, and began to pull her body up to safety. Looking straight ahead, the mouth of the exiting tunnel howled in an almost beckoning yawn, the dim mid-morning sunlight barely shimmering amidst the freezing darkness. The tunnel seemed to be breathing an extended exhale of chilling air, with the force of a considerable breeze. She continued the lift herself over the edge and onto safe grounds, but stopped. Her body began to shake beyond her conscious control, her eyes feeling as if they were freezing over. The passage ahead roared in a powerful screech, one that rattled the Zora princess' eardrums. Looking ahead in fear, she watched the tunnel freeze in the distant light deep within, the ice rapidly approaching Ruto's vulnerable location. The ice had travelled all the way up from Lake Hylia's deposit to the very source of Hyrule's water supply, and it now closed in on its precious target.

Her body felt hollow, the only remaining thing being the violent pounding of her heart. She began to get overwhelmed as the deafening noise smashed against her eardrums, too nervous to act against it. Forgetting all critical thinking, Ruto let her body weight drop backward, her torso falling past the ledge and bringing her legs down with it. The first thing she initially saw was the rushing surface of water below her, and in the split seconds of her rapid descent towards it, she looked at it as a haven. She plunged beneath the waves, sucked deep beneath the surface and hitting the bottom, just soft enough not to cause injury. Finding her balance and averting her eyes at the surreal liquid ceiling above her, she saw ice smash against the pool, the impact alone sending a forceful shockwave through the water, knocking the Zora princess back.

She felt chilled, but not frozen. When the ice hit the surface of the water, it rapidly spread across its surface, as it had done to everything else. However, although it was in its nature to freeze the surface of everything in its path, Ruto knew, it had not shown the ability to spread itself through the objects themselves. Evidently it was no exception with the water at the bottom of Zora's Domain, and Ruto was effectively protected from the cold. Bearing a satisfied smile, the young Zora kicked off from the rocky bottom toward the now solid surface, coming face to face with what had plagued her home. There was nothing unnatural about its appearance, to say the least. No fine detail that distinguished it from normal ice. It seemed thin, perhaps breakable.

Zoras are predominantly the most advanced aquatic life forms in Hyrule, excelling in agility and navigation in hazardous situations. However, if unarmed, one wouldn't have much advantage if their last option was to retaliate. In other words, they were easy targets when caught underwater without a weapon. Although they were carnivorous, they did not rely on primal instinct to catch their prey, but technology instead, much like the Hylians becoming dependant on their own inventions for virtually every task.

This natural disadvantage came at a very bad time for Princess Ruto, as she pondered how she would be able to smash through the ice with nothing but her own strength. Furthermore, she had no way of knowing whether or not it was safe to even touch it in the first place. She looked up hopelessly at its clouding transparency, thinking of any other possible solutions.

Shadows. She peripherally saw movement to the left of her, not in the water but on top of it, travelling across the ice. Floating away from the surface, she took a more careful look. Something was definitely above her, and it seemed like it was running. Toward her.

She wasn't sure how to think or act. The image was so distorted from the angle and medium that she had no way of telling of whether or not it was of urgent or hostile intent. Not trusting the incredible speed of this presence, she pulled further away from the top, making sure she'd be out of reach if it were to attack.

The shadow was now directly above her. It had stopped suddenly, not slowing down beforehand but halting as if in a sudden realization. It scrambled, shifted, almost disappeared momentarily before making the exact shape of a hand pressed against the ice's surface. Behind it, and harder to make out, was the outline of the person above the water, including the shape of a head, shoulders, and legs. They seemed to be looking down, possibly crouching. The barely shimmering light behind it outlined its shape, yet caused it to shift along with the rest of the otherwise moving water.

Ruto was deep below, far from the guessed arm reach of the being, yet something suspicious tempted her to halt herself, not feeling the need for retreat. She floated in the darkening depths of the cavern's floor, staring upward at the mysterious individual looking back down. Shadows closed their way in between them, Ruto's vision of the surface waning. As the still silhouette faded out of sight, Ruto no longer felt safe in the dimming water, and felt an uncontrollable urgency to surface, regardless of who was watching her.

She launched skyward, the large layer of ice and its dark inhabitant swiftly reappearing. The water rushed past her like a thunderous gust, so fast that even her adapted eyes were forced to squint as she focused on her target. She wanted to get close enough to see the characteristics of the presence, even if it meant risking herself to its desires. She closed in, and the image of the dark figure began to sharpen and become more distinct. She could definitely tell that it was looking down at her, and had no threatening or hostile stance. It certainly had a head, yet its facial features were all a shifting blur.

The water felt cold. It had chilled significantly when the ice initially made impact on its surface, but since then the temperature had dropped considerably further. Although Ruto never saw anything wrong with a cold swim on the odd occasion—she rather enjoyed them—sudden temperature drops were anything but a welcoming sign.

Rumbling. Below her, the explanation was perfectly clear. The numerous pools in the depths of Zora's Domain were generally comprised of the outpour of Zora's Fountain, as was the rest of the cavern. Although water collected in the many basins of the cavern floor, it did not remain there. Various tunnels and rock-carved drains of a range of sizes allowed the fresh water to slowly leak into deeper underground aquatic caverns, uninhabited by the Zoras or any other known creature. Supposedly these small cavernous waterways branched out in several directions and distributed small amounts of the domain's water, such as small ponds and streams. They acted similar to the drains in the royal halls that flowed directly south. Some of these small bodies of water were connected to the Hyrulean River, which was what most of Hyrule called Zora's River after it crossed the boundaries of the ruined Hylian metropolis, mainly due to the fact that only a small portion of its entire length was within Zora territory. The large canal distributed much of Hyrule's water supply and poured directly into Lake Hylia.

The ice flow had not excluded these convenient passageways. Ruto only now noticed the shoulder-wide opening at the bottom of the chilling pool, and the ice had already broken through the exit. It could not penetrate the water body from above, but from below it spread rapidly, swiftly overtaking the rocky floor and beginning to thicken itself, slowly building higher and effectively trapping the Zora princess between two walls of ice, her space quickly running out.

Her instincts were all that she had left. The shock of seeing the ice gush from the opening and relentlessly devour the surrounding water caused her to panic and rush up to the surface, the only thing blocking her way an unknown thickness of ice. She immediately found she could touch it, as she began clawing at it desperately, looking for some sort of way out. She tried hitting it, smashing her hands against it as hard as she could bear, yet her disadvantage got the best of her; she barely made a dent.

The dark figure above her raised its head, as if seeing an opportunity. It stood still momentarily, while Ruto continued to try and smash her way through with brute strength alone just below it. The shadow suddenly shifted its position, and to the princess' surprise, raised its left hand. It came crashing down swiftly and made hard contact with the top of the ice's surface, cracking it. Ruto, startled, flinched and floated away from the ice, realising the individual's true intent as it raised its fist once more. The impact was stronger than the first, fracturing the surface it several places with a spreading crackle. Ruto looked down below her, watching the massive wall of frost closing the gap between them, with wide eyes and tense nerves. She was now left at the mercy of the cursed ice and the dark figure breaking through it to get to her.

The silhouette struck the ground once more, sending a crashing noise reverberating through the water. The ice broke apart before her, instantly replaced by a stream of air bubbles rushing in her direction. Emerging from their veil, a hand came into view, reaching out towards her, palm upturned. Ruto could've assumed that it was trying to lure her into a trap, but something about its gesture suggested otherwise. Considering the alternative, it did not take her long to reach up and clasp a firm grip around it with both hands.

She was lifted up. Her head burst through the clearing in the ice layer, where she lost grip of the hand that had got her here. Before she slipped back underneath the waves, she found herself being dragged up by two identical hands gripping underneath her shoulders. She was slid across the slippery ice while sitting, her legs being pulled out of the water by her own doing. She scrambled to get away from the opening, causing the hands to let go of her. Scurrying away without bothering to get up on her own two feet, she kept her eyes fixed to the currently silent hole. She could feel vibrations in the surface below her, getting stronger. There was a large force that shook the floor, sprays of water and mist gushed out of the small opening, along with a horrible screeching sound that echoed throughout the cavern's frozen depths. The opening was replaced with a frozen spike of ice, about Ruto's height. Other splashes of ice stood frozen in place from the main spray, while the base around it seem fractured and drawn up, yet frozen solid once more due to the water spurt.

There was utter silence. Ruto had never heard her home so quiet. She was used to the echoes of water running across stone walls, thrusting itself into the lower grottos and crashing down into Zora's River, all with the many voices of the Zoras themselves as they carried through their daily business. Even the air seemed to stand still, as if it were frozen as well. The only sound remaining was that of her hurried breath, turning to white plumes that seemed to maintain their visibility for unusually long.

There was an almost frightening view of what remained of Zora's Domain from where she was sitting. Everything gleamed. Even off in the dark distances that weren't usually visible, there were distinctive highlights, shining in their glacial armour. The devastation was clearly visible where she was, many things she once knew here destroyed. The entirety of her home was lost and crippled, and she was the only one who escaped the onslaught, all the weight of the less fortunate carried on her shoulders.

"A princess is forced out of her own domain against an evil that has already conquered her. How cruel indeed our world has become, yet it is almost familiar."

She spun around, seeing the man in front of her. Quickly rising to her feet, she could finally see who it really was. Suddenly, her heart felt like it was slowing down to gradual beats, time itself decelerating. She felt the breeze again, the familiar scent of Zora's Fountain in the late morning, the sound of streams. All was focused and darkened, and then everything was alit by golden strands of hair. There, in front of her, the familiar colour of Hylian hair shone brilliantly in the gloom, possessing their own light. An overwhelming feeling came over her, overtaken by its familiarity. She had to see his eyes. She had to see their colour. The man lifted his head, revealing one amidst his drooping bangs—red.

His hair seemingly lost its unnatural glow upon seeing his scarlet iris, mirroring back the soft daylight. Time regained its pace, her heart resuming its pulse. The room was once again visible, the icy highlights emerging from the black like stars fading into view on a dark midnight canvas. The overpowering feeling was gone, vanished, leaving her in a state of loss.

"Are you all right?" the man asked. Even a voice as soft as his managed to echo throughout the empty halls.

Ruto focused on him, trying not to look drawn away from the one who saved her life. "Yes…" she breathed. Her attention was still somewhat fixated on the man's hair. She couldn't help but ask. "A Hylian, are you not?"

The man's visible eye widened, evidently taken aback. "A Hylian? No. You assume incorrectly. Zora royalty has much to learn about other cultures besides their own, I'm afraid."

"I know of no other race that resembles a Hylian so closely. What are you, really?"

"I am Sheik, survivor of the Sheikah," he said. "It has been long since my kind set foot within these walls."

The Sheikah was wearing a veil around his nose and mouth, his chin barely moving when he spoke. His voice was hardly muffled, however.

"A Sheikah?" said Ruto. That ancient sect? She knew they were at least associated with Hylians, fighting alongside them in many wars. "I thought you and your cult died out a long time ago."

"The Sheikah race is not a cult," Sheik growled. "Though it is not unnatural to think so; many have accused us of being demon worshipers. Yet, from one who knows of our existence, I ponder how you unaware of the insignia I bear."

"I've never seen it," said the Zora princess, looking at what looked to be crying eye on the Sheikah's clothing. She paused. "Look, I'm sorry, all right? You just…I thought you were someone I knew. That's all."

"Near-death experiences can cause one to revaluate their life. It must have been someone you knew long ago."

Feeling uncomfortable talking about these things with a stranger, Ruto commented no further on the subject. "But…a Sheikah. What would bring you to this place? We've never had direct dealings with your like."

"You'd find my reasons to be largely connected with yours, Princess Ruto."

"You know my name," said Ruto, grinning. "Yet I don't believe we've ever met."

"And it is an honour to finally make your acquaintance," said Sheik, lowering his head. "To speak to you in person is more than I would've requested. I have met and have befriended many other leaders of our land, but I have yet to have personal relations with the Zoras."

"Personal relations?" said Ruto. "Then tell me, what attaches you to us so greatly that you risk yourself to save me, in a personal conflict?"

"Despite what you may think, Princess, your sentries have not been the only ones watching the developments from the lakebed. It has been a concern for quite some time."

"What do you mean? Others know of it?"

Sheik chuckled. "When it comes to the enemy, many should know within the next few hours. They have many eyes. Besides them, I've been monitoring Lake Hylia's situation long before your tribe began to notice changes."

"You?" said the princess. "Since when do you think you've been responsible for the well-being of the lake? My tribe has protected it for ages!"

"I should explain," said Sheik as he put his hands behind his back. "I'm a guardian of sorts. Let's just say the prosperity of Hyrule is of my top priority, my life dedication." He lowered his tone. "I know of the evil that lurks within the deep. It is ancient, once suppressed but has risen anew. Its power was unrestrained at one point, but it serves a new master now. It's still extremely dangerous, to say the least. More importantly to you, however, it's the same evil that caused this rapidly spreading frost to appear."

"Our watchmen were the cause of it," Ruto scowled. "They didn't trust my father with the knowledge."

"Not trusting their own king?" said Sheik. "I find that disturbing."

"But you claim you knew of it long beforehand. Why was there no warning from you or any other outside messenger? Did you not tell anyone?"

"I must admit, the attack took place far sooner than I originally anticipated, as if something triggered it off early. I always had my doubts, thinking I was paranoid, so to let out an unconfirmed warning that early would be risking too much. Recently I've been…preoccupied with things of great importance, and have been forced to turn a blind eye. By the time the attack commenced, I was in the crater of Death Mountain, whose inhabitants have just as bad, if not worse, a state of affairs as you. Upon sensing its force, I had no choice but to abandon my partner who was fighting with me at the time, and made my way here as quickly as I could. It was no small feat."

"You abandoned someone in the middle of a battle to aid us?" said Ruto. "Why?"

"There was no other option. It would've been too great a blow to Hyrule if we lost the entire Zora tribe, even if it meant saving only one of them. The spell placed upon your home is what is known as a blood curse."

"Blood?"

"Not literally speaking," Sheik clarified. "It's called so because it preys upon those of similar genes, this one in particular flourishing in moist areas, making Zora's Domain a perfect target. One of this magnitude, however, I did not anticipate. I have greatly underestimated this being's power; I thought it had weakened significantly since its submission to the King of Evil, yet it seems it still possesses the same power worthy of its title."

"What did you mean by preying on similar genes?" Ruto asked. "You don't mean…"

Sheik nodded. "Yes, a genocide curse—one of the most forbidden spells known to Hyrule. One hasn't been cast since ancient times, whether or not it was successful remains unknown, and I doubt that will ever change."

The very thought of it sent chills up Ruto's spine far greater than any cold could cause. She could not bear the thought of her thriving tribe wiped out in the blink of an eye; it was too horrible a concept to consider.

"Impossible…" she muttered, not believing a word of it. "My tribe couldn't have been destroyed…not by this."

"And due to your fortunate timing, it has not."

She looked up. "My timing?"

"There are reasons why this curse has almost never been cast, besides its forbiddance," Sheik explained. "It was crafted by ancient interlopers who excelled at magic and sorcery. It was a forgotten race; no historical records make any reference to who they or their ideals were. One could only assume they died out a long time ago. When the curse was crafted by their ilk, it was designed, as the term implies, to exterminate those of the same blood. However, the curse could only work if it managed to kill every last one of the race it was intended to exterminate, and if only one did not fall to its fate, then the race would continue to live."

Ruto hesitated. "…you're saying that they're all still alive? Those trapped under the ice?"

"Supposedly," Sheik replied. "This was the very reason why they were rarely cast, as they were useless unless the exact right conditions were met. There are a series of these spells, this one in particular seeming to be greatly attracted to moisture. Your tribe has long adapted water as the basis of your lifestyle, and in a confined area such as Zora's Domain, you were the perfect target. Whoever cast the curse certainly knew how to choose their mark, but the fact that you survived, Princess, is extremely fortunate."

"But if I managed to live and the curse didn't work, then why is everything still entrapped in a layer of ice?" Ruto asked. "They would still die even if they were all breathing right now."

"Unfortunately, it is beyond my understanding," said Sheik glumly. "I only know so much about the curse's nature—fine details such as those are something that I intend to investigate further. If I were to stumble across anything, Princess, I would make it my top priority to inform you of the development, especially if it is vital."

"So what exactly do you expect me to do?" Ruto growled. "Sit here and wait for you to get some kind of direction?"

"Not at all," Sheik corrected. "Being of your high stature, Princess, you have just as great if not greater tasks to carry out than I."

Ruto straightened her posture. "What am I to do?"

"For starters, rest," Sheik assured her. "The events of today have taken a heavy toll on you. It would be unwise to begin to take action in your current state. Although the attack is over, I wouldn't recommend staying here long. If I were to think logically, there would be a dispatch sent here shortly after dusk to make sure the spell worked properly. If they arrived and found no presence within these halls, the enemy would think that the Zora race had been entirely exterminated, including its heiress. We could possibly use this to our advantage. I trust you know of a place outside your home where you can shelter yourself?"
Ruto said nothing.

"I'll take that as a 'no.'" Sheik sighed. "Very well. You may remain here for the time being if you wish it so, but you only have now until the late evening to regain your strength and whatever else you deem necessary. Before sundown you must take leave; we cannot risk you being apprehended by the enemy should they arrive on schedule. However, what this also means is that you will be forced to travel across the plains of Hyrule Field under the cover of night."

"You want me to go out there? In the dark?" said the Zora. "I have not been outside my tribe's boundaries without accompaniment. It was customary that royalty was to have protection on all outings."

"Then it's about time you learn to move on your feet," Sheik advised. "Trust me – crossing open areas during the night will be the least of your worries once you arrive at Hylia."

"Is that where you want me to go?" asked Ruto.

"It shouldn't come as a surprise to you. The source of the curse was the lake, and at least the commencement of your investigation should take place there. As of its current state, I cannot assure anything. It would be best if you approached the waters with extreme caution."

Lake Hylia was rumoured to be the emergence place of the Zora tribe as the first living beings that could naturally survive both underwater and on land. Its shores had long been sacred, blessed by shamans and paid homage to by those who admired its majesty. It was by far the largest body of water in Hyrule, yet due to its underwater inhabitants was rarely used to collect drinking water, which was alternatively collected from Hyrule River. Long had the lake stood as a symbol of peace and tranquility, but never had Ruto thought of approaching it with any form of caution. Whatever had mustered there had fouled its beauty and poisoned its waters, leaving only the mystery of what lay down in wait below the surface.

"I was informed that the inner sanctity of the Water Temple had been corrupted," said Ruto after a pause. "Should I have reason to believe that it would be worth the while seeing what I could find within?"

Sheik raised an eyebrow. "You know of it."

"Know of it? I've been there," said Ruto. "A long time ago, mind you, but I do have clear memories. I was a child."

"If it truly has been that long," Sheik muttered, "then I would expect the temple will be a lot different from what you remember. I'm sure you're aware of the temple's spiritual values to your tribe?"

"Of course."

"Besides acting as spiritual ground for the Zoras, it, like the other temples of Hyrule, also has other roles to play. I'm in no position to lecture Zora royalty about their own temple, thus I feel this is something you should discover on your own. I know someone who had to do it the same way, not too long ago."

Ruto lowered her head slightly. "All right," she said. "If I don't, there's not much left for me here…"

"It is your duty to change that," Sheik said sternly. "You have my sympathies, don't get me wrong, but time is of the essence. I know that this is abrupt, but so was the attack, and I'm forced to act, do you understand?"

Ruto nodded.

"Have I humbled you, Princess? You don't seem as resistant. I didn't mean to intimidate."

"No, it's not you," Ruto said quickly. "Trust me. There's…lots I need to think about."

Sheik nodded. "I understand. I have seen the devastation that happens to people after their homes were destroyed, all of them looking back on their previous lives. Unlike them, your domain is not beyond repair, not yet anyway. Dedicate yourself—focus on it and nothing else. When the time comes, you will know what to do."

The Zora princess nodded her head again slowly, looking away.

"Maintain that dedication; there's still hope," said Sheik. "I will leave you to your preparations, but don't neglect your rest; it is perhaps the most important."

The Sheikah paused, looking at the young Zora momentarily. He then backed up a few paces, gaining distance. His hand reached into a pouch close to where his hand dangled, grabbing something.

"Good luck," he said. "You will not be alone. I promise."

He suddenly threw the object in his hand towards the ground before shielding his eyes. Before Ruto could react, there was a bright white flash, replacing any vision she had with a bright haze. She managed to shake it off quickly, but by the time she managed to regain her sight, the Sheikah was already gone. It was chillingly silent, leaving her only to think of the meaning of his final words.

She never got the chance to thank him.

---

"Behind you!"

Hearing Navi's warning, Link spun around to be met with smoking fangs in a flurry of flaming wings. He released his grip and let the arrow fly, piercing it through the torso, the sheer momentum of the projectile sending it flying into the darkness and out of sight.

He had seen many of them since he had parted with Darunia and ventured deep within the temple's darkening caverns and halls. A sea of fire awaited him between the main lobby and the tower of Goh, and although initially intimidating, the intricately placed bridges managed to give him a speedy approach. It was not perfect, as the path was fractured in many places, forcing him to jump the gaps. Since entering Goh, he managed to make his way up at least one level, and was now heading down a straight hallway. Giant torches blared on either side of them, illuminating the rocky tunnel in an orange glow, the black walls basking in the wash of amber. As for major enemies, he had not seen many. He did see movement, nonetheless, but far too distant to pinpoint. Many odd creatures, however, were spotted on the way here, such as giant red masses of slime carrying large flames on their backs, which Navi described as Torch Slugs. Besides their perpetually burning flesh, they seemed to pose little threat; fortunately those he had seen so far he had spotted from a distance.

A dark door lay before him, rust encrusting its steel surface. The knob, however, was safely distanced from the corrosion, still functional. Link grabbed and turned it quickly, nervous the heated metal would burn through his gloves. Almost kicking in the door as he entered, he found himself in a small room, with enough space to fit ten or so other people Link's size.

There was nothing of particular interest at a glance. The walls were laid bare, save for torches flanking both sides of a text engraving on the opposite end. Feeling almost a slight disappointment for the lack of excitement the chamber offered, Link glumly sheathed the Master Sword. As he approached the brightly lit characters vigorously carved into the dark stone facing him, Navi fluttered ahead, eager to see what was written on the tablature, sending trails of cyan sparks behind her wing.

"I would've expected something more," Link commented. "Looks like we've come to a dead end."

"Not all dead ends can be bad," said Navi, briefly turning from her study of the words. "Any information would be helpful."

"You think Volvagia's guards took the time to carve out the exact location of the Gorons here?" Link asked. "Because that's the kind of information I'd be looking for."

"No need to mock," the fairy sighed. "You're so impatient."

Link paced a few steps toward the passage displayed at eye level on the wall. There was a fine golden border around it, curling around itself, its gleam wavering in the firelight. Upon closer inspection, however, the Hylian realized that it was in the shape of something, a long serpent wrapping its way around the tablet's perimeter. A golden, foul lizard with raging eyes cruel horns, its claws sinking into the rock as if it were helpless prey. Link had never had the misfortune to see a real dragon with his own eyes, but he was already beginning to get an idea of what they looked like.

Drawing his attention away from the design, he focused more on the strange characters in the centre. He recognized them somewhat, recalling those of similar design on the altar in the Temple of Time.

"Do you know what it says?" he asked.

Navi inspected the letters more carefully. "Ancient Hylian…yep. I can read it."

"I thought I recognized the letters. Must be the same language as the text in the Temple of Time."

"Not exactly," Navi corrected. "The language varied depending on region. And since this was carved here on Death Mountain, it's worded differently than say Hyrule Castle Town."

Link paused. "Translate it, will you?"

"Everything's so rushed with you!" she shouted. She looked back up at the lore. "It's a poem. Shame…I never liked poetry. Oh well, I'll translate as best I can.

"Awaken, Lord, thou reclaims thy throne
Run down the weak, mere flesh and bone
The blood of the mountain is thine to command

Yet old fear shall again strike by new hand

One brings the weapon, before dawn of moon

The blow of the hammer will decide thy doom."

"The blow of the hammer?" said Link almost immediately after the poem was finished. "Why do I keep hearing about a hammer?"

"What do you mean?" Navi asked.

"The Goron who shares my namesake mentioned that an ancient hero of the tribe wielded a legendary hammer. Darunia also brought it up…he said he was concerned because he didn't have it. Now some strange poem within the Fire Temple uses it in its final line, and hints death in the same sentence. Do you have any idea what it is?"

"Somehow I get the feeling it won't be long until I do," Navi mumbled. "Hey…do you think it's a hammer of some sort?"

"Hey…what was that thing you were saying earlier about not mocking?"

Navi sneered at him.

"And furthermore," Link continued, "This was written in ancient Hylian. How did it rhyme in the translation?"

Navi's facial expression was wiped clean save but a blank stare. "I…well…I don't know…"

There was a noise behind him. His senses rapidly shifting, he found the Master Sword's hilt, and swung blindly in the opposite direction, making contact with hard wood. He saw the eyes, and, to his own surprise, immediately recognized them.

"You!" he growled. The one blocking the longsword's blade with a familiar staff weapon glared back with similar fury.

"No…" it snarled. "Not you…"

They broke their weapons off from each other, bother immediately scrambling to opposite ends of the dangerously small room. Link kept the Hylian shield close to himself, the Master Sword at the ready in his other hand. The Lizalfos opposite him maintained its defence, pointing the blade of its zanbatou at the Hylian, the tattered and torn scarlet flag bearing the old arms of King Dodongo waving in the scorching air.

Link didn't think there were too many differing features between Lizalfos, but somehow he knew who this one was. It was the same fiend who captured him in Dodongo's Cavern. Those flaring yellow eyes once glared into his many years before, their flicker upon the glance of the Kokiri's Emerald still glistening in the back of its pupils. He recalled it being beaten up by the very same weapon it wielded now.

"You should be dead," said Link.

"Should be," the Lizalfos replied. "But no feeble Goron would get the best of me, not while I still had my wits intact. Wretched Hylian folk, striding about glorifying their accomplishments and brilliance, defiant of the truth! Obstinate, too – a small victory gives you the audacity to strike the heart of this mountain and the core of its power!"

"It was no small victory!" Link protested. "It cost the lives of the oppressed, just so they could eat. We wiped out the evil that lurked inside the cavern completely, the remnants fleeing for their lives."

The Lizalfos sneered at the accusation of evil.

"You should've died along with the hoard."

"Inferior minds, all of them!" hissed the lizard. "Thanks to the favour done for me by my former superior, I was taken deep into the cavern's mining stations. There I was held for questioning as to my disobedience, when the Goron's excuse for an attack took place. Of course Dodongo's poorly organized forces fell to their spears…a bunch of dependent dogs, needing their master to spoon-feed them in order to combat a frail tribe. By the time it was over, my cell was left unguarded, leaving me to gnaw at the bars until I painfully gained my freedom. Upon entering the chamber where the main part of the battle took place, I found the fallen weapon of the beheaded officer that humiliated me, and wrenched it from his claws. For years I hid in the mountain, living off stray Tektite and Keese…until I found an entity of great power, hidden deep within the volcano's crater."

Link's eyes widened, his grip ever tightening.

"Kvaris, his name was," the Lizalfos went on. "He eventually became the Guardian of Fire, under service of the Great Ganondorf. I was forced to become his subject, although I objected to his visions. The glorious day came when our king arrived at the Fire Temple and obliterated his pitiful existence in an instant, such tremendous power…It wasn't much longer until I served my new master, and the new Fire Guardian. Volvagia has proved thus far that he is far more capable than any other banner I have served under. King Dodongo would tremble before him, Kvaris bewildered by his tactics. In such short time he has regained complete control of Death Mountain, after endless years of internal conflict. If what remains of the Gorons aren't torn apart by his maw, they will merely rot in their cell, a fate that I had the fortune of avoiding."

"He's the reason I'm here," Link stated. "And if your loyalty lies where you claim, it puts us in a similar position as before."

"This is much better, I must say." It bared its dagger teeth. "No longer kicking around a helpless kid, but a possibly competent warrior. No others to run in and break the fight. This is what I had wished for on that day!"

The Lizalfos threw his spear forward, slamming its razor sharp blade into the centre of Link's shield, with forceful impact. His arm unfortunately could not withstand the shock, and his torso was exposed as he stumbled back. Trying desperately to regain his footing, he could already see his enemy making its next move. It drew its staff behind him, winding up for a horizontal slash, aiming for Link's unprotected chest. The wall behind him broke his fall, allowing him to swing the Master Sword forward, slashing the base of the blade as it drove for him. He knocked it back, causing his enemy to lean to keep its balance with the cumbersome weapon. The Hero of Time rushed forward from his pinned position, watching the Lizalfos bringing down the spear double-handed, its red flag waving behind it like a spray of blood. Seeing the opportunity, Link pushed forward with his hind leg as he crouched down low, his boots sliding across the dusty floor. He raised his shield over his back, letting the blade bounce off harmlessly, although rattling him. Now at his enemy's scrambling feet, he jabbed the Master Sword up, making contact, his foe flinching. There was a moment of silence, Link still holding his position, not moving his blade from where he had thrust it.

The staff fell to the floor, clattering violently before falling silent, its silk flag the last thing to touch the topaz brick. Link watched a thin trail of blood run down the shining metal of his sword, and upon sight, withdrew it from the Lizalfos' stomach. The Hylian now stood, the lizard motionless on the ground.

It body had fallen through the doorframe, and was lying outside of the small chamber. It had still left behind, however, its stolen weapon. Subsequent to picking it up off the ground, Link tossed it out of the chamber, its shaft landing on the Lizalfos' limp arm. Thus finally ended the influence of King Dodongo, his army obliterated and an old battle won in entirety.

"It looks like we're dealing with a Guardian," said Link. "Volvagia seems to have dedicated minions."

"Link…that was amazing," said Navi, her face ridden with shock. "When did you learn to do that?"

"I don't think I learned…" Link mumbled. "It was instinct."

"That's definitely something I haven't seen you do. If I know anything about swordplay, it takes years of dedication. With you, though…it's as if you gain a year of training with every passing day." She shifted uneasily. "I don't know. It doesn't seem natural to me."

"I haven't thought about it," Link admitted. "Honestly, Navi, I can't explain it. But I think I know someone we can look to for answers."

Navi nodded.

"Let's concentrate on getting to the Gorons," he suggested. "Maybe if we study the poem better, we might find a clue of how to move forward with this." He approached the metal door, still standing ajar. He took hold of the knob. "I think we can leave old problems behind us." The door slammed shut, its crash ringing throughout the chamber.

Vibration, from below. Varying light began to emerge from the four sides of the room, where the walls met the floor. Small sprays of white, yellow and red bubbled in the corners – magma. There seemed to be a large pressure build-up, the floor shaking violently as it struggled to withstand the force.

Suddenly, the ground was lifted up, rocking back and forth, somehow sustaining its balance and the aggressively churning lava. Link lost his balance, falling to all fours, the Master Sword almost escaping his fingers. He remained low, trying desperately not to roll off the swaying platform as it revealed more and more molten rock beneath it, its heat penetrating even the Goron tunic.

There was a surge of energy below him; he found himself forced against the hot bricks of the floor, unable to raise himself as a howling gust blew down on his back, pinning him down. The floor rocketed upwards, propelled by the projectile magma underneath it. He saw Navi's light amidst the overwhelming shaking, just stray sparks as she hid underneath his cap for safety. Link clutched to the brick as if it were his lifeline, not wanting to let go of what was perilously driving him up into the obscurity above, and into the unknown.

He now knew what he was up against. If only a fraction of the mountain's power could be used to such an intense level, Volvagia had mastered it enough to harness it and utilize it to his will. This is what he was planning to use against him. There were no troops. They were outside the temple, where they were needed. Within the Fire Temple itself, they were scarce. The temple itself was its protection, only the strongest making it through alive. Link was not encouraged, however, as he had a gut feeling that there were things lurking above that were far worse than standard troops.

The wind slowed, the platform beginning to lose its momentum. He found the strength to cock his head towards the ceiling, and saw four narrow walls fall down past him and the floor that carried his weight. The floor grinded against the black rock, yet maintained enough momentum to travel upward still.

The walls disappeared, opening up into another equally sized room, with a square hole in the center wide enough for the platform to fit through. Realizing he only had a split second to act, Link dove off the square and landed on safe ground. He spun his head; just in time to see the brick floor start to plunge back into the tunnel from whence it came, leaving a spray of dust in its wake.

He was now in a similar room, slightly larger than the first, with another heavy steel door looming on Link's right. There was no text to be read.

"I think I found it," Link sighed.

"Oh, you think?" said Navi, leaning her head in front of his face, her hair drooping past. "We should move. The more we delay, the less likely we are to make it through this."

Link hoisted himself up. "Right," he breathed. "Let's just hope we aren't too late."

He approached the door and swung it open. A rush of hot air made its presence known, yet beyond the opening, the flame-lit room yielded something of more significance.

In the dimness, the sheen of holding cell bars stood wavering in the torchlight.

---

-Author's Notes-

That's right, I'm back. Probrably one of the slowest progressing chapters I've ever had to write is finally finished after a five month lag. I literally just finished dancing around my computer. Hope it was worth the wait. Chapter 30 commences production immediately!

On a side note, the semi-rare Zelda enemy, the Dinalfos, was incorrectly spelled in this work as "Dinofos." I have made the necessary changes to the document saved on my hardrive, yet it has not been changed on the previous chapters here. I will try to get around to updating them as soon as I feel in the mood to upload and replace all the chapters to this point. Not a big deal, anyway.

- Crimson Water