Kelleo
Secret Sword of Justice
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Okay, I think I'll get chapter 14 up now. :3
Chapter 14: Return to the Fire Temple
As Link contemplated these latest enigmas, he began to idly pace back and forth in blind arcs. He was still puzzled, and concerned, by what Malon had told him. If Judo was with the Royal Knights, then Daphnes surely knew that; and yet, he not only hadn’t shared this information with Kelli but claimed he had no idea where Judo was. This left Link confused, and worried. Why hadn’t the king revealed Judo’s whereabouts? One likely reason sprang to mind, and left Link all the more troubled.
Perhaps Judo had been killed during his mission, and the king did not want to tell Kelli?
Link could understand this, and could even sympathize. While in Termina, he had encountered the restless ghost of the Goron hero Darmani and the dying Zora guitarist Mikau. Darmani had been in anguish after dying in an attempt to end the terrible blizzard that had struck his homeland and was tortured by the knowledge that he could do nothing to aid his people in their time of need, while Mikau was in despair after failing to recover the eggs of Lulu, the Indigo-gos’ lead singer. Link had been able to help both of them and had inherited their powers in the form of the Goron and Zora Masks. But, he’d unwittingly inherited their identities as well. The Gorons had believed him to be a resurrected Darmani, and had even clamored for him to become the new patriarch of the Goron tribe after Snowhead Temple had been cleansed of evil and the blizzards stopped, while the Zoras believed him to be Mikau and were eager for him to rejoin the band. In both cases, much to his chagrin, Link could not find it in himself to confess the truth to them. What had happened after Majora had been defeated, Link had no idea, but he still regretted that he had not been truthful when he had the chance.
If King Daphnes has found himself in a similar position, Link knew better than most how unenviable it was.
Link’s thoughts continued to meander, though in a darker direction. What if Judo had betrayed Hyrule and sided with the enemy? That seemed unlikely, as everything Link knew about him suggested he was upright and honorable. But, then again, many people had believed the same thing about Ganondorf before he’d launched his attack on Hyrule Castle. Link irritably shook himself back to reality. Perhaps he was looking for a motive which did not exist? For all Link knew, the reason the king had no answers was quite simple. Perhaps the mission to Mayia was secret and he couldn’t share the details? Or, more likely, the present chaos had cut the lines of communication between the knights and Hyrule, and the king had no information to give her. Either way, Link knew this train of thought was a distraction he could ill afford and he resolved to keep his focus on his mission. He was about to make his way to the pasture to check on Epona when the sound of stomping feet echoed behind him and the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end.
That meant only one thing: danger.
“LINK!” a female voice thundered.
“Oh no…” Link uttered fearfully, slowly turning around.
He soon saw Malon approaching, her expression livid as she led Epona by the bridle. Link gulped, knowing that this only meant one thing: she had discovered Epona’s injuries. This made Link rather hesitant to speak at all, but when Malon came to a halt in front of him, he braced himself for the worst.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Malon demanded, leveling a finger at Epona’s injuries.
“A-Alright, I can explain…” Link stammered, raising his hands defensively and then telling Malon about how the enemy had stolen both Epona and Sunfire.
“So they were taken hostage by the monsters?” Malon inquired when Link finished, her tone softening slightly.
“Exactly. I swear, neither Kelli nor I meant to leave the horses alone for that long! We’d gotten trapped in a cave, and… I’m so sorry! But I treated the wounds as best as I could.”
“Ah. Don’t worry, I can see that this wasn’t your fault. Besides, it could have been a lot worse. We don’t have any medicine left, but these injuries aren’t as bad as they look. She’ll be fine, but you might want to leave her here to rest for a bit. In fact, maybe you should stay the night as well. Traveling on foot is dangerous these days.”
“Well, I would, but I’m kind of in a hurry,” Link replied. “I’m on an important mission right now, you see. I decided to stop here along the way because King Daphnes asked me to. And, of course, to see you again.”
“Ah… I see. Just go easy on Epona. Please?”
“Of course. I was going to do so anyway.”
Malon nodded and then turned to face Link, a curious expression dawning her features. Relief, worry, longing and burgeoning hope all played out on her face and, before Link could react, she had thrown her arms about his torso once more. To his further consternation, her face began to drift towards his. Link felt himself tense and he fought down the urge to push Malon back. Granted, she was certainly lovely and he cared for her very much, but something deep inside the core of his being told him that some manner of peril was upon him. The minute distance between him and Malon continued to diminish, until he could clearly see the shade of red of her lips, and a husky sigh escaped her mouth. At the last moment, she angled away and craned towards his ear.
“Please be careful,” she pleaded with a desperate, almost sobbing whisper. “I’ve lost so many friends since these troubles began, and I don’t want to lose you and Epona too.”
“You won’t,” Link replied, once he could get his breath. “And, that’s a promise.”
Malon pulled back, a sad smile on her face, and then went back to tending Epona. Link puffed out a discreet sigh of relief, though he wasn’t truly sure what had alarmed him so. Navi, however, buzzed about him with a smirk on her face.
“Two-timer,” she quipped.
“Shut up,” Link growled.
Moments later, Talon and Ingo had finally emerged from the barn. Both of them looked quite harried from the ranch’s recent hardships and, amazingly, Ingo looked to be in an even fouler mood than usual.
“Hey, sorry we took so long,” Talon apologized, handing Link a tattered sheet of parchment with an enormous hole torn into it. “And, for that too. We haven’t been able to let the cows graze with all the monsters out there and, with them so hungry, we’re worried the cows will pick the grazing land clean. One of them was right angry and tried to gore me; I was lucky all she got was the parchment with that last lunge.”
“Oh…!” Malon opined, her face scrunching. “Not again. The livestock’s been getting so foul tempered, being cooped up here with nothing to eat. I was trying to clean the muck off of a horse’s hoof the other day, and she kicked me so hard that my shoulder popped out of the joint. We needed to get a doctor over here from Kakariko to put it back.”
“Yet another stupid mess just waiting to get worse!” Ingo grumbled. “But, the list is still good.”
“Thanks,” Link replied and took the sheet of parchment Talon had handed him. “Sorry about your livestock, though.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll handle it…somehow,” Talon assured. “You just focus on gettin’ back our tools and feed and the rest o’ the kingdom too.”
“But of course,” Link agreed.
“Oh, and when you find the stuff, take this to carry it in,” Talon advised and handed Link a sack of sturdy burlap that smelled strongly of onions.
“I will. I’ll have it all back as soon as I can.”
“I hope so,” Ingo grumbled. “But I’m not getting my hopes up!”
“What, you don’t think that I can take care of this?”
“He means that we hope the monsters haven’t already broken the tools or used up all the feed,” Talon elaborated. “We’d be in fer rough times if that happens.”
“Ah, I see. For a moment there, I thought your ranch hand didn’t think I could handle this. Sorry about that.”
“Think nothin’ of it. Well, we’ve gotta go see to the animals, so good luck to ya!”
“Thanks, and see ya.”
With that, Talon and Ingo returned to the barn, leaving Link, Malon, and Epona alone once again. Malon heaved a heavy sigh as she stroked Epona’s neck.
“What’s the matter?” Link wondered. “Wait, that was a dumb question. Hyrule’s being overrun by monsters, who are getting smarter and more dangerous, for crying out loud.”
“True, but it’s more than just that,” Malon admitted. “I’m worried about how many people are holding up with these troubles. Not just myself, but my dad, Mr. Ingo, King Daphnes, the Gorons and Zoras and the other tribes, even you and Kelli. And, of course, the Royal Knights…”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you. I’ve already helped the Gorons and my old Kokiri friends, but who knows if they’ll be attacked again. And by the way, I’d like to know more about those knights. I’m just curious, is all. I know I’ve heard about them before, but that was a long time ago.”
“Well, I don’t know a whole lot myself, but anyone knows that they’re the pride and joy of Hyrule. They’ve fought to protect us and our kingdom for generations, even before the land’s different races were unified. And they’d never refuse to help an ally in need, as they didn’t when Mayia needed aid. They’d give their lives for this country and its people.”
“I see. They’re definitely admirable, then.”
“Oh, yes. Especially their charming and handsome leader. He’s wonderful. I don’t actually know him by name yet, though, as he was only promoted to general a few months ago or so. I’ve only seen him speak a few times, usually when they rode off on training exercises or missions, but I have to admit that I’m already quite taken with him.”
With that, Malon’s cheeks turned a faint red.
“Heh,” Link replied, somehow relieved that he wasn’t the object of her affection after all. “Well, I should get going. I’ll come back as soon as anything comes up regarding the missing goods, though.”
“Okay. Thanks so much, Link.”
“No problem. Well, good bye for now. I’ll see you later.”
With that, Link mounted Epona and departed the ranch, waving good bye to Malon as he passed through the gate.
He was not more than a yard outside when Navi struck again.
“It’s probably just as well,” she snickered. “We all know who you like.”
“Oh, not again!” Link groaned. “Shouldn’t we focus on, oh, say, saving the kingdom?!”
“You won’t have that excuse forever. Sooner or later, you need to tell Zelda how hard you’ve fallen for her. How about from below her balcony? What about on a little boat on Lake Hylia…when there’s actually water in it again?”
“You’re crazy. No, strike that, you’re insane!”
“And you’re stuck on Zelda!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“Am—whoa!”
Link and Navi’s bickering was suddenly cut off when Epona abruptly reared to her full height, nearly throwing Link from the saddle. Just as suddenly, she bucked viciously and only a white-knuckle death grip kept Link from hurling all the way into the ranch a second time.
“Whoa! Ouch! I think I twisted something. Easy, girl!”
This went on for several long minutes until Epona finally calmed down. Carefully, wary of riling her up again, Link gently stroked her neck. The mare let out an irate snort but otherwise remained docile.
“Ha!” Navi piped up. “See? Epona even agrees with me! Isn’t that—EEEK!”
Navi had been hovering about Epona’s nose, ready to hug the mare for her seeming support, when Epona suddenly gnashed her teeth and very nearly swallowed the gloating fairy. Navi darted behind Link’s ear, trembling such that it tickled.
“I think Epona doesn’t like this talk,” Link suggested.
“I think you’re right,” the terrified Navi agreed.
“Okay, Epona, we can take a hint. Now, can we please go to Zora’s River?”
As Epona’s temper cooled and Link rode across Hyrule Field, the mysterious inscription and staff from the Fortress of Ice still rang heavily upon his thoughts. He still had no clue what it could possibly mean or how it would help him reach the rest of the dungeon in order to seek out the next jewel and, unfortunately, Ruto. When he approached Zora’s River, Link slowed Epona down to a trot and brought her to a halt at the river’s edge. He eagerly dismounted the chestnut horse and followed the riverbanks to Zora’s Domain. Because he needed to work fast, Link made his way up to the waterfall that always blocked the entrance as quickly as he could. Now that the waterfall was flowing again, Link needed to use the Ocarina of Time and Zelda’s Lullaby to gain access to the domain. Once he did so, the flow of the waterfall seemed to part like a curtain being opened and entrance revealed itself. Link leapt across and made his way inside.
With the thoughts of the staff and Ruto still lingering in his head, Link wondered if King Zora really could help him figure out the strange inscription. After all, the staff was obviously ancient, and it was quite likely that the information on it had been lost to the vagaries of time. Still, with no better solution having presented itself, Link could only speak to the Zora King and hope for the best.
“King Zora, I’ve returned,” Link greeted when he climbed up to the dais in the throne room and presented himself to the Zora king.
“Link?” King Zora replied in a surprised tone. “What brings you back here so soon? Did you find my dear, precious Ruto?”
“Well, no, but I’m working on it,” Link assured him, a slight nervousness in his tone. “I got inside the Fortress of Ice, but I hit a dead end. There’s a large section of it that I can’t reach right now.”
He then explained what he had seen on the dungeon map and that the second entrance was blocked by ice. King Zora looked rather puzzled by this and asked if Link could show him. Link climbed over to the Zora king’s side, pulled out the map of the Fortress of Ice and traced a finger over the area that was blocked off.
“How strange,” he commented. “Indeed, much has changed since we were forced to abandon our former home.”
“You mean it wasn’t always like that?” Link wondered, arching an eyebrow.
“Not exactly.”
King Zora then explained that when the Zoras still made their home in what was now the Fortress of Ice, they had built a canal that had served as a passage between the two different regions of the domain, making any area accessible from anywhere else inside. The waterfall that Link had discovered was, in truth, where a section of the canal had been destroyed.
“I see. So there was once a way to get to the other areas from where I was?” Link replied.
“That’s right,” King Zora confirmed. “The entrance you said was blocked by ice, though, is simply that. A second entrance.”
“I see. There’s something else I need to ask you about, though. Do you know anything about this staff? I found it in a room that was hidden behind a statue of what I think was an ancient Zora king.”
Link then produced the staff from the fortress and held it to King Zora. When the Zora king saw it, his eyes nearly popped out of his head and was astonished by the sight. Even more than that, Link could see clear recognition in the King’s eyes. Link was now certain that he knew something.
“Oh, Link…” King Zora began, when he could find his voice. “You found my great-great-grandfather’s staff. I had a feeling you would. And, as you may have surmised, that statue you saw was of him as well.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes. He was one of the few Zoras in our history to possess superb combat skills. And his staff was an heirloom of our tribe that was passed on to future generations when his time came.”
King Zora went on to say that because no Zora after his great-great-grandfather desired to learn to use the weapon, all they did was enshrine it with care and hang it in a hidden room behind the old king’s statue. The statue had been sculpted in his honor, as he was often considered the greatest Zora warrior in the history of the tribe.
“Then his daughter inscribed something on a pedestal in the room,” King Zora went on. “She foresaw that the staff would be needed again, and left it to guide the next warrior to take up the weapon.”
Link’s eyebrows instantly rose.
“Oh, I saw that inscription! I have no idea what it means, though I think now the part about the desires of royalty was referring to a desire of your great-great-grandfather.”
“Precisely,” King Zora verified.
King Zora then went on to explain that the staff was not only a weapon, but was also enchanted to help his people to survive catastrophe. During a terrible winter which struck many centuries ago, the domain had frozen over. Many Zoras who had been trapped under the ice sheet succumbed to the cold and died while others, trapped inside the domain, had starved to death because they could not harvest kelp or catch fish for food. King Zora’s great-great-grandfather, knowing that the tribe would not survive many more such winters, wished for the power of fire to be blessed upon the staff so that the domain could be thawed out in case such a crisis happened again. However, it couldn’t be carried out during his lifetime and his daughter decided to inscribe the clues on the stone pedestal in the hidden room in hopes someone in the future would fulfill that wish.
“Oh! That pretty much explains it,” Link replied. “The courageous one wielding the staff, me, has to bless the power of fire upon it for the old king. The only question is how…”
“My great-great grandfather had done extensive research on that, actually. But, all I know is that you have to go to the Fire Temple,” King Zora instructed. “Beyond that, I’m not sure.”
“The Fire Temple? That makes sense. But, how was he going to survive in there? And for that matter, what did he have to do in the Fire Temple to enchant the staff?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know. I have a partial copy of my ancestor’s memoirs, which imply that he had discovered the answers you seek. But, the remainder of the memoirs were lost when the Gerudo forced us from our former home.”
“I see. Well, I guess all I can do is go to the Fire Temple and see what I can find. And one more thing. I found this pendant in the fortress as well. Do you know anything about it?”
Link then produced the mysterious pendant around his neck.
“Oh… That doesn’t look familiar to me at all, I’m afraid. Still, I hope you find out and I wish you good luck on your quest.”
“Oh, thanks anyway. I’ll return with Ruto as soon as I can.”
With that, Link bid farewell to King Zora and departed the throne room, glad he’d at least found the information needed to continue his search for Ruto. King Zora’s information wasn’t much to go on, but Link had a thought about what to do nonetheless. Perhaps once he revisited Death Mountain and Goron City in order to get to the Fire Temple, he could ask Darunia for assistance. Although Link doubted that the mighty Goron leader would have any knowledge on the staff at all, he knew that Darunia would likely know much about the Fire Temple. Perhaps he knew where the staff could be enchanted to wield the power of fire?
Link raced past the other Zoras and made his way up to the waterfall entrance again. As he hopped out through the gateway, it occurred to Link that now would be a good time for another of Kelli’s lessons and decided to visit her in Kakariko on his way up to the Death Mountain Trail. He also felt it would be best to report his progress to Daphnes as well. The information Link had found was too valuable to keep from the king. He hurried along the banks of Zora’s River and immediately raced towards Hyrule Field to rejoin Epona as quickly as possible. After having lost her once, Link was not about to leave her alone again any longer than he had to. He let out a long sigh of relief when he spotted her calmly grazing on some grass right by the river’s edge, gathering that she must have been hungry.
After feeding his horse a couple of carrots, Link swung back into the saddle and gently snapped the reins. Epona gave a light snort and began to trot towards the village. He had told Malon that he would go easy on her, and he was going to make good on that promise. Much to his relief, no monsters waylaid Link on his journey and he soon brought Epona to a halt at the village’s entrance. As he dismounted and started up the stairs, he deliberated over whether he should tell Kelli what he’d heard from Malon or if he should take the matter up with the king. He decided that it would be best to get the answer from Daphnes. He had no concrete proof of anything untoward regarding Judo’s absence and he didn’t want to worry Kelli needlessly, which would surely happen if he took his grim hunches to her. As he’d learned the hard way, she could be quite dangerous when she was angered. On the heels of that thought, however, came another. He also found himself wondering if Kelli had seen anymore action since he had last been in Kakariko. It had been a while since the enemy last attempted to strike the village, and Link was worried that their luck would soon run out. As he climbed the stairs, a strange sound reached his ears. At first, it was very faint but, as he climbed further up, it became clearer...sort of. It was a melody of some sort, having no lyrics, but very beautiful. It had a soothing rhythm, much like the fluttering of flower petals on the wind that eased a smile from Link’s worn features. As Link listened to the comforting music, he knew there was only one person the voice could belong to. When he approached the well in the center of the village, his guess was confirmed. Kelli herself was sitting upon it, humming her song beautifully. She soon noticed Link and stopped.
“Hey, Link!” Kelli greeted, somewhat surprised. “I saw that you rescued Sunfire! I’m so relieved! Thank you so much! Oh, but what about Epona?”
“You’re very welcome,” Link replied with a smile. “And yes, I freed them both. Epona is with Sunfire now. By the way, your voice is amazing.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. And thanks! I always hum when I get bored. Did you find Ruto already too?”
“I wish I could say yes, but…”
Link then explained everything he had learned in the Fortress of Ice as well as from King Zora.
“I see. That does sound strange,” Kelli commented. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about either the staff or that pendant, though. And, I’m drawing a blank on how the ancient Zora King was planning to reach the Fire Temple.”
“That’s alright. I think I have a lead to go on anyway. So, I came by to talk to you and his majesty. I have new information for him as well, plus I was wondering if you had anymore skills you could teach me.”
“Ah, of course. There is one technique I believe you’ll be needing soon, but I think we ought to see his majesty first. I gather what you found out is important?”
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
“Then let’s go. I was going to check on him soon anyway.”
Link nodded and with that, he and Kelli headed for the stairs that led up to Impa’s house, where Daphnes still resided. It was then that Link remembered that the Hylian king’s health was deteriorating due to the stress of the present crisis and concern over his daughter and kingdom. He could only hope that the ailing ruler could hold on until Hyrule was safe again, and that his condition had not worsened. As usual, when Link and Kelli gently opened the door, they found Daphnes in his chair in front of the fire. However, this time, a heavy quilt had been draped over his shoulders. At first, Link thought the aged monarch might have dozed off. He was about to leave when the king stirred and turned to see the two heroes.
“Ah, Link, Kelli…” he greeted, though his voice quivered and was hoarser than it used to be.
“Your majesty, are you alright?” Kelli inquired worriedly as she approached him. “Here, let me feel you.”
The king had been about to reply, likely with an objection, but his words were lost amidst a fit of racking coughs. Not giving Daphnes a second chance to decline, Kelli brought a hand to his forehead and gasped as she felt the near scalding heat of his flesh.
“Oh, you’re running a fever!” she cried. “That cough could also be a bad sign.”
“That’s not good,” Link added, his eyebrows rising.
“I know… But don’t worry too much about me,” Daphnes assured. “There are people in worse danger right now.”
“True,” Kelli agreed.
“And that reminds me, I found out something troubling,” Link reported, eyeing Kelli warily. “I paid Lon Lon Ranch a visit on my way here, and Malon told me about the Royal Knights having been ordered to go to Mayia’s aid after they had been invaded. I think Mayia was attacked by the same creatures that are terrorizing Hyrule.”
“What? Mayia is in danger too? How come I never heard about this?” Kelli inquired.
“I apologize, Kelli,” Daphnes replied. “I didn’t want to worry you two any further. But, yes, a Mayian messenger was here not too long ago and alerted me to the situation. As I recall, however, theirs isn’t nearly as bad as ours. I suspect that we shouldn’t have anything to fear regarding their safety. Ours, however, I fear is another matter entirely.”
“Can’t we call the knights back to Hyrule? We could use more help too. Link and I really have our work cut out for us. We’ve been lucky in gathering the Elemental Jewels and protecting Kakariko so far, but that could change any time now. And, the castle soldiers aren’t as seasoned as the knights.”
“I fear you are correct. Leaving the kingdom without its best defenders was, admittedly, a grave mistake on my part. If I could call them back, I’d do so at once. But, ever since this crisis erupted, our lines of communication have been cut. No couriers have brought news of the knights for months now, and all those I’ve sent forth to find them were never heard from again. Now, I cannot spare another man when one less warrior could mean our deaths.”
“I understand and agree, but I realized something else when I spoke with Malon,” Link continued. “Everybody assumed that the attack on Mayia was a random event, and that it was just coincidental that these new monsters attacked while the knights were away. But, that’s not so. The enemy which invaded Mayia must be the same one that’s attacking us now; or an accomplice, at least. The attack on Mayia was meant to lure the knights away. I’m sure of it. If Kelli once rescued the kingdom from these creatures, then it makes perfect sense for them to know of Mayia’s alliance with Hyrule, and to know we’d come to their aid if they were in such danger.”
“Th-That’s right!” Kelli gasped fearfully. “Back then, some of Hyrule’s knights had been sent to Mayia’s aid as well. But, there was little they could do against the monsters. When I stepped in though, everything changed.”
“…I fear you are correct,” Daphnes admitted. “Our enemies plotted a simple diversion, and I fell for it. I only wish I had seen this coming. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change our situation now. Link, I trust that you’re making progress?”
“Yeah, but I need more assistance before I can track down Ruto,” Link replied and explained once more what he had learned in the Fortress of Ice as well as from King Zora. He also showed both Daphnes and Kelli the staff and pendant.
“Hmm…” Daphnes contemplated. “I do know of the staff’s existence, but I’m afraid not even I know how to bestow the power of fire upon it. I agree that going to the Fire Temple is the logical course, but I can offer nothing else. That pendant also looks somewhat familiar, but unfortunately, I can’t quite place it. I desperately wish there was more I could do, Link, but I’m afraid there’s little I can tell you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to figure this out.”
“Good. But before you go, I need to speak with you privately. Kelli, please wait outside.”
“Understood,” Kelli obeyed and then departed the house.
“So, what did you want to say?” Link wondered, though he could not help but feel that he already knew the answer to that question.
“First of all, Link, this conversation must be kept between us, is that clear?” Daphnes warned, his tone brooking no argument despite another fit of coughing.
“Yes, of course.”
“Now then, have you heard anything about Judo aside from what you’ve learned from Kelli and I?”
“No. Also, if I did, I would have told Kel right away. They are close friends, after all. Why do you ask?”
Here, the king let out a long melancholy sigh that quickly turned into yet another coughing fit, and Link could not help but fear the worst.
“Communications with the Royal Knights broke down some time ago with the present crisis,” the king began, his voice low and raspy from coughing. “This, you know. What you do not know, and what I wish for you to keep secret, is the subject of the last letter from the Royal Knights that reached me. It was a report of a battle that had taken place in Mayia. It described an attack that had splintered the Royal Knights, leaving them scattered. While most of the knights managed to regroup and drive back the assault, several of them, along with some messengers as well, are missing and presumed dead. And Judo…he and his mother were with them. So in truth, I did know where Judo had gone when he left, but now, I truly do not know where neither he, nor his mother is. He had taken her with him so he could guard her more closely.”
“I see,” Link replied simply, though he was saddened by the news and the likelihood that Judo was gone. “I take it that Kelli doesn’t know?”
“I didn’t have the heart to tell her,” Daphnes admitted.
“I can relate,” Link confessed in turn.
“Judo was a fine and dedicated young man. He had achieved much in his life, and he was quite eager to surprise Kelli with his accomplishments when he returned. The notion that he might be lost to us deeply saddens me.”
“But it is just a notion? They haven’t found a body?”
“I do not know. It has been some time since we’ve had reliable communications with our knights. Whether Judo has been found, dead or alive, is unknown to me. But, I have seen the enemy’s handiwork and, if Judo has fallen into their clutches, I see little hope that he yet lives.”
Link was about to protest the king’s grim assessment, but reality choked away his words. Though he was loathe to admit it, there was nothing Link could do to disprove what he had heard. And, even if he or Kelli did depart to discover Judo’s fate, then whatever evil infested Hyrule would have the kingdom by the throat. Left with nothing else to offer, Link simply laid one hand upon the monarch’s shoulder.
“The enemy will pay for this,” he vowed. “I swear it.”
“I hope you are right,” the king replied. “And, as I have said, what has been said must stay between us.”
“I see. I promise not to say anything.”
“Thank you. That is all.”
“Alright. And please get well soon.”
With that, Link departed the house and rejoined Kelli, who awaited him at the top of the stairs nearby.
“Well, now that that’s taken care of, shall I teach you a new sword technique?” Kelli inquired with a smile.
Kelli’s smile, Link suspected, was only a mask to conceal her true anxiety over her friend and, though Link’s conscience seethed, he remained silent. Neither he nor Kelli was in a position to do anything about the missing Judo, and telling Kelli what the king had revealed would only make her more upset. Instead, Link simply nodded in reply.
“Sure. But do you think his majesty will be alright?” he inquired.
“…I really wish I had an answer to that,” Kelli somberly replied as she led Link down the stairs and towards the well. “The best that we can do for him now, though, is to keep fighting against whatever evil is plaguing Hyrule.”
“Right.”
“Anyway, this area should do fine.”
Kelli halted when they arrived at the well. Link wondered what she had in mind this time around as she turned to face him.
“Now, to show you this technique, I’ll need to you stand still and hold your shield over your head,” Kelli instructed.
“Uh, okay…” Link agreed, puzzled, and un-slung his shield. He then raised it over his head, with some difficulty, as if to guard against an attack coming from directly above. “Like this?”
“Yeah. Now watch closely.”
With that, Kelli then stood atop the rim of the well and drew her sword and shield.
“You’re taller than me, so this’ll be easier if I give myself a boost,” Kelli explained. She then leaped into the air towards Link with her sword raised. While airborne, she flipped forward over Link’s head and struck his shield, landing behind him afterwards. Link turned around after slinging his shield across his back, utter shock on his face.
“Whoa! What was that?! You could probably slice someone’s skull clean in half with that move!”
“That’s pretty much the point, actually, if the target isn’t wearing a helmet,” Kelli replied with a chuckle. “The technique itself is, rather aptly, called the helm splitter. It’s handy for taking off a target’s helmet or inflicting serious damage to their head, as you just pointed out. And, if this technique doesn’t somehow kill the target, you’ll end up behind them anyway, thus leaving them thrown off while you can strike them from behind.”
“I see. This should come in handy against deadlier foes.”
“Indeed. Now try it on me. I’ll hold my shield over my head just as you did, just so this doesn’t get ugly.”
Link nodded and waited for Kelli to raise her shield over her head as he had previously done for her demonstration. He then attempted to repeat the helm splitter exactly as Kelli had shown him. Since she was shorter, he chose not to use the well for elevation and began his performance right away. As soon as Link struck Kelli’s shield, he landed safely behind her.
“Yes! That wasn’t too difficult. Not for me, anyway.”
“That’s probably because of the difference in our heights. It would be difficult to pull it off against a taller foe. So, if that happens, look for anything you can stand on to even out the difference.”
“Ah, good tip. I’d also imagine it to be tricky to use against something that has a ranged attack since you’d need to get in fairly close.”
“That’s right. I’ll teach you more next time. You should get going if you’re to finish what you started at Lake Hylia.”
“Yeah, good idea. I’ll see you later then!”
Link then waved goodbye to Kelli and headed towards the Death Mountain Trail once again.
Since Link had already cleansed the mountain of the evil that once overwhelmed it, traversing the trail was much less hazardous this time. Very few monsters inhabited the area, the air was clean and fresh, and there were no more dark clouds and bolts of lightning to trigger rock slides. In fact, it almost seemed as if it had never been attacked at all. Link continued up past Dodongo’s Cavern, fending off the occasional red Tektite that dared to appear, and chose to practice with his new staff along the way. After quickly examining the staff, Link decided it would be best for him to wield it one-handed, somewhat like a lance, except he wouldn’t stab and thrust at his enemies. Link had never used such a weapon before, so he knew that then was the time to teach himself how to best use it. He also changed into his Goron Tunic since he was going inside the crater again. When he finally spotted the large entrance of Goron City minutes later, the hero brought the weapon to rest on one shoulder and entered the city depths to seek out Darunia.
Unlike Link’s last visit, Goron City bustled with activity. The recently liberated Gorons were going about their business once again, greeting Link happily as he passed by. After evading several Goron hugs that might’ve broken him in two, he reached the deepest portion of the city and entered Darunia’s room. Inside, Darunia himself stood in front of the large statue which once blocked the secret entrance to the mountain crater. The Goron leader noticed Link’s presence almost immediately and smiled.
“Ah, Link!” Darunia greeted. “There you are, Brother. What brings you back here?”
“Hey again. King Zora directed me here, actually,” Link replied, unsheathing the staff and showing it to Darunia. “It’s about this staff. He said I need to go to the Fire Temple so I can bless it with the power of fire.”
Darunia’s eyes widened when he saw the staff.
“Hang on, that wouldn’t happen to be the staff that belonged to King Zora XI, would it?”
Now it was Link’s turn to be surprised.
“Uh…yeah. How’d you know?”
“Ah, you see, he left instructions for my own great-great-grandfather,” Darunia explained.
“The same one who defeated Volvagia using the Megaton Hammer?”
“The very one. Unfortunately, the blessing never happened. The scroll containing the instructions mysteriously vanished a day later.”
“Huh. Is it still missing?”
“Sadly, yes,” Darunia replied. “Both Gorons and Zoras have looked all over for it, but it remains missing to this day. Dirty thieves, I’m guessing. Luckily, I might have just recently discovered a lead for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, while we were inside the crater clearing away the damage those monsters caused, we discovered that the first few rooms in the Fire Temple had gotten banged up as well, so everyone pitched in to help out there as well as in the crater. While a few of my tribesmen and I were working on the chamber where Volvagia once dwelled, I found a hidden door behind the back wall.”
“Go on.”
“When I went inside, I found a tiny room that appeared to be much older than the rest of the temple. The walls were rugged and made of only rock, but in front of me, I saw an altar flanked by two unlit torches. I guessed it had something to do with the history of the jewels you’re collecting, because the altar had a slot that looked like the Jewel of Fire would fit into it.”
“Wow. Then that has to be the place I’m looking for. It just makes too much sense.”
“I agree. Just be careful, there’s still some debris lying around from the attack. There is simply too much work to do in one day, and I felt that it was time we took a break.”
“Got it.”
With that, Link entered the Death Mountain Crater. He nearly shook his head when he stepped foot inside. It hadn’t been more than a day since he was there last, and already it looked very different from before. The fallen rocks had been cleared away, the pillars that formed the entrance to the Fire Temple were standing again, and the bridges were repaired. There were still some boulders lying in the lava, but anyone could tell that the Goron tribe had put a lot of effort into fixing the place up after Link had driven the evil from the mountain. In a short time, the hero stood before the Fire Temple and entered via the ladder that descended into the fiery heart of the mountain, just above where the Magma Cavern would be.
“Wow, the Gorons really did a good job in here,” Navi commented. “It looks almost as if nothing ever happened.”
“Yeah. They care a lot about their home,” Link agreed.
As with the crater, the temple also looked vastly different than when Link had last been inside. Some of the walls had been rebuilt, small newly carved statuettes of Goron ancestors lined the staircase’s railing, and the floor had even been polished. The doors also looked brand new, with not one dent in the shiny metal that replaced the old wooden ones. When Link entered the room where Volvagia once dwelt, he saw that it too had been drastically altered. There was no longer a moat of lava encircling a lone round platform that sat in the center of the room. Instead, the platform extended all the way to the walls and was covered with the same polished marble floor as in the first room. At the opposite end stood the ancient, rusty door Darunia had been referring to. As he had also said, a few piles of rock and debris were scattered about to either side from when the door had been uncovered. Link ignored them and quickly made his way to the old door, eager to see what was behind it.
The inside looked just as Darunia had described it. Both the torches and the altar were there, and upon the altar was the slot where the Jewel of Fire could be placed. Behind this, however, was another, round recession that ran into the altar. Link guessed that that was where the staff was to be placed during the ritual. He then produced both it and the Jewel of Fire, and approached the altar. The jewel soon lit up radiantly, and its flame magic ignited both torches.
“Awesome,” Link commented with a smile. He then inserted the jewel into its slot and plunged the staff into the round recession, allowing it to lean against the wall behind it. Suddenly, as if on cue, the flames on the torches flared blindly and the jewel glowed once more, its light growing brighter and more radiant. The glow spread outwards until the staff was enveloped by the crimson light. The staff’s dull colors soon became a smooth orange embroidered with shiny gold, rather than the sea green and blue Link had expected, while red flame-shaped orbs burst into existence at either tip. The orbs themselves soon glowed bright orange and burst into flame for a split second, then returned to normal. The flames in the torches suddenly snuffed themselves out while the Jewel of Fire’s glow vanished as well.
“Wow…” Link murmured as he eyed the staff and slid it free from the altar. “Now this is cool!”
“Yeah! Test it out, Link!” Navi insisted.
“Definitely!”
With that, Link began to twirl the staff in his hands and sure enough, the orbs burst into a stream of flame, lapping at the air with arcing streams of fire, as if he were one of those performers who twirled batons with ignited tips. When he stopped, the flames became orbs again in the same instant.
“Awesome! Now we can take care of business!” Link exclaimed with delight.
“I’ll say! I wouldn’t be surprised if this staff’s fire could melt the whole fortress!”
“Ditto. Let’s get out of here now.”
With that, the pair rushed out of the Fire Temple and back to Goron City. Once Link reentered the bustling establishment, he was greeted by Darunia once again.
“Oh, Link! Looks like my find paid off!” he said when he saw the staff.
“It sure did. This staff is incredible now,” Link replied.
“I bet. It’s now become the Flame Staff, the weapon King Zora XI always dreamed of creating. He would be proud of you, Brother.”
“I can imagine. I’m in a hurry though, so I’m afraid I’ll have to get going. Farewell!”
Darunia merely waved as Link continued back to the top floor and out of Goron City. He definitely needed to show Kelli the staff again, as not only would she likely be impressed as well, she would probably also believe Link would be a stronger fighter with it. The hero excitedly raced down Death Mountain, eager to use his new Flame Staff to teach the icy inhabitants of the Fortress of Ice a lesson they would not soon forget.
Perhaps Judo had been killed during his mission, and the king did not want to tell Kelli?
Link could understand this, and could even sympathize. While in Termina, he had encountered the restless ghost of the Goron hero Darmani and the dying Zora guitarist Mikau. Darmani had been in anguish after dying in an attempt to end the terrible blizzard that had struck his homeland and was tortured by the knowledge that he could do nothing to aid his people in their time of need, while Mikau was in despair after failing to recover the eggs of Lulu, the Indigo-gos’ lead singer. Link had been able to help both of them and had inherited their powers in the form of the Goron and Zora Masks. But, he’d unwittingly inherited their identities as well. The Gorons had believed him to be a resurrected Darmani, and had even clamored for him to become the new patriarch of the Goron tribe after Snowhead Temple had been cleansed of evil and the blizzards stopped, while the Zoras believed him to be Mikau and were eager for him to rejoin the band. In both cases, much to his chagrin, Link could not find it in himself to confess the truth to them. What had happened after Majora had been defeated, Link had no idea, but he still regretted that he had not been truthful when he had the chance.
If King Daphnes has found himself in a similar position, Link knew better than most how unenviable it was.
Link’s thoughts continued to meander, though in a darker direction. What if Judo had betrayed Hyrule and sided with the enemy? That seemed unlikely, as everything Link knew about him suggested he was upright and honorable. But, then again, many people had believed the same thing about Ganondorf before he’d launched his attack on Hyrule Castle. Link irritably shook himself back to reality. Perhaps he was looking for a motive which did not exist? For all Link knew, the reason the king had no answers was quite simple. Perhaps the mission to Mayia was secret and he couldn’t share the details? Or, more likely, the present chaos had cut the lines of communication between the knights and Hyrule, and the king had no information to give her. Either way, Link knew this train of thought was a distraction he could ill afford and he resolved to keep his focus on his mission. He was about to make his way to the pasture to check on Epona when the sound of stomping feet echoed behind him and the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end.
That meant only one thing: danger.
“LINK!” a female voice thundered.
“Oh no…” Link uttered fearfully, slowly turning around.
He soon saw Malon approaching, her expression livid as she led Epona by the bridle. Link gulped, knowing that this only meant one thing: she had discovered Epona’s injuries. This made Link rather hesitant to speak at all, but when Malon came to a halt in front of him, he braced himself for the worst.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Malon demanded, leveling a finger at Epona’s injuries.
“A-Alright, I can explain…” Link stammered, raising his hands defensively and then telling Malon about how the enemy had stolen both Epona and Sunfire.
“So they were taken hostage by the monsters?” Malon inquired when Link finished, her tone softening slightly.
“Exactly. I swear, neither Kelli nor I meant to leave the horses alone for that long! We’d gotten trapped in a cave, and… I’m so sorry! But I treated the wounds as best as I could.”
“Ah. Don’t worry, I can see that this wasn’t your fault. Besides, it could have been a lot worse. We don’t have any medicine left, but these injuries aren’t as bad as they look. She’ll be fine, but you might want to leave her here to rest for a bit. In fact, maybe you should stay the night as well. Traveling on foot is dangerous these days.”
“Well, I would, but I’m kind of in a hurry,” Link replied. “I’m on an important mission right now, you see. I decided to stop here along the way because King Daphnes asked me to. And, of course, to see you again.”
“Ah… I see. Just go easy on Epona. Please?”
“Of course. I was going to do so anyway.”
Malon nodded and then turned to face Link, a curious expression dawning her features. Relief, worry, longing and burgeoning hope all played out on her face and, before Link could react, she had thrown her arms about his torso once more. To his further consternation, her face began to drift towards his. Link felt himself tense and he fought down the urge to push Malon back. Granted, she was certainly lovely and he cared for her very much, but something deep inside the core of his being told him that some manner of peril was upon him. The minute distance between him and Malon continued to diminish, until he could clearly see the shade of red of her lips, and a husky sigh escaped her mouth. At the last moment, she angled away and craned towards his ear.
“Please be careful,” she pleaded with a desperate, almost sobbing whisper. “I’ve lost so many friends since these troubles began, and I don’t want to lose you and Epona too.”
“You won’t,” Link replied, once he could get his breath. “And, that’s a promise.”
Malon pulled back, a sad smile on her face, and then went back to tending Epona. Link puffed out a discreet sigh of relief, though he wasn’t truly sure what had alarmed him so. Navi, however, buzzed about him with a smirk on her face.
“Two-timer,” she quipped.
“Shut up,” Link growled.
Moments later, Talon and Ingo had finally emerged from the barn. Both of them looked quite harried from the ranch’s recent hardships and, amazingly, Ingo looked to be in an even fouler mood than usual.
“Hey, sorry we took so long,” Talon apologized, handing Link a tattered sheet of parchment with an enormous hole torn into it. “And, for that too. We haven’t been able to let the cows graze with all the monsters out there and, with them so hungry, we’re worried the cows will pick the grazing land clean. One of them was right angry and tried to gore me; I was lucky all she got was the parchment with that last lunge.”
“Oh…!” Malon opined, her face scrunching. “Not again. The livestock’s been getting so foul tempered, being cooped up here with nothing to eat. I was trying to clean the muck off of a horse’s hoof the other day, and she kicked me so hard that my shoulder popped out of the joint. We needed to get a doctor over here from Kakariko to put it back.”
“Yet another stupid mess just waiting to get worse!” Ingo grumbled. “But, the list is still good.”
“Thanks,” Link replied and took the sheet of parchment Talon had handed him. “Sorry about your livestock, though.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll handle it…somehow,” Talon assured. “You just focus on gettin’ back our tools and feed and the rest o’ the kingdom too.”
“But of course,” Link agreed.
“Oh, and when you find the stuff, take this to carry it in,” Talon advised and handed Link a sack of sturdy burlap that smelled strongly of onions.
“I will. I’ll have it all back as soon as I can.”
“I hope so,” Ingo grumbled. “But I’m not getting my hopes up!”
“What, you don’t think that I can take care of this?”
“He means that we hope the monsters haven’t already broken the tools or used up all the feed,” Talon elaborated. “We’d be in fer rough times if that happens.”
“Ah, I see. For a moment there, I thought your ranch hand didn’t think I could handle this. Sorry about that.”
“Think nothin’ of it. Well, we’ve gotta go see to the animals, so good luck to ya!”
“Thanks, and see ya.”
With that, Talon and Ingo returned to the barn, leaving Link, Malon, and Epona alone once again. Malon heaved a heavy sigh as she stroked Epona’s neck.
“What’s the matter?” Link wondered. “Wait, that was a dumb question. Hyrule’s being overrun by monsters, who are getting smarter and more dangerous, for crying out loud.”
“True, but it’s more than just that,” Malon admitted. “I’m worried about how many people are holding up with these troubles. Not just myself, but my dad, Mr. Ingo, King Daphnes, the Gorons and Zoras and the other tribes, even you and Kelli. And, of course, the Royal Knights…”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you. I’ve already helped the Gorons and my old Kokiri friends, but who knows if they’ll be attacked again. And by the way, I’d like to know more about those knights. I’m just curious, is all. I know I’ve heard about them before, but that was a long time ago.”
“Well, I don’t know a whole lot myself, but anyone knows that they’re the pride and joy of Hyrule. They’ve fought to protect us and our kingdom for generations, even before the land’s different races were unified. And they’d never refuse to help an ally in need, as they didn’t when Mayia needed aid. They’d give their lives for this country and its people.”
“I see. They’re definitely admirable, then.”
“Oh, yes. Especially their charming and handsome leader. He’s wonderful. I don’t actually know him by name yet, though, as he was only promoted to general a few months ago or so. I’ve only seen him speak a few times, usually when they rode off on training exercises or missions, but I have to admit that I’m already quite taken with him.”
With that, Malon’s cheeks turned a faint red.
“Heh,” Link replied, somehow relieved that he wasn’t the object of her affection after all. “Well, I should get going. I’ll come back as soon as anything comes up regarding the missing goods, though.”
“Okay. Thanks so much, Link.”
“No problem. Well, good bye for now. I’ll see you later.”
With that, Link mounted Epona and departed the ranch, waving good bye to Malon as he passed through the gate.
He was not more than a yard outside when Navi struck again.
“It’s probably just as well,” she snickered. “We all know who you like.”
“Oh, not again!” Link groaned. “Shouldn’t we focus on, oh, say, saving the kingdom?!”
“You won’t have that excuse forever. Sooner or later, you need to tell Zelda how hard you’ve fallen for her. How about from below her balcony? What about on a little boat on Lake Hylia…when there’s actually water in it again?”
“You’re crazy. No, strike that, you’re insane!”
“And you’re stuck on Zelda!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“I am not!”
“You are too!”
“Am—whoa!”
Link and Navi’s bickering was suddenly cut off when Epona abruptly reared to her full height, nearly throwing Link from the saddle. Just as suddenly, she bucked viciously and only a white-knuckle death grip kept Link from hurling all the way into the ranch a second time.
“Whoa! Ouch! I think I twisted something. Easy, girl!”
This went on for several long minutes until Epona finally calmed down. Carefully, wary of riling her up again, Link gently stroked her neck. The mare let out an irate snort but otherwise remained docile.
“Ha!” Navi piped up. “See? Epona even agrees with me! Isn’t that—EEEK!”
Navi had been hovering about Epona’s nose, ready to hug the mare for her seeming support, when Epona suddenly gnashed her teeth and very nearly swallowed the gloating fairy. Navi darted behind Link’s ear, trembling such that it tickled.
“I think Epona doesn’t like this talk,” Link suggested.
“I think you’re right,” the terrified Navi agreed.
“Okay, Epona, we can take a hint. Now, can we please go to Zora’s River?”
As Epona’s temper cooled and Link rode across Hyrule Field, the mysterious inscription and staff from the Fortress of Ice still rang heavily upon his thoughts. He still had no clue what it could possibly mean or how it would help him reach the rest of the dungeon in order to seek out the next jewel and, unfortunately, Ruto. When he approached Zora’s River, Link slowed Epona down to a trot and brought her to a halt at the river’s edge. He eagerly dismounted the chestnut horse and followed the riverbanks to Zora’s Domain. Because he needed to work fast, Link made his way up to the waterfall that always blocked the entrance as quickly as he could. Now that the waterfall was flowing again, Link needed to use the Ocarina of Time and Zelda’s Lullaby to gain access to the domain. Once he did so, the flow of the waterfall seemed to part like a curtain being opened and entrance revealed itself. Link leapt across and made his way inside.
With the thoughts of the staff and Ruto still lingering in his head, Link wondered if King Zora really could help him figure out the strange inscription. After all, the staff was obviously ancient, and it was quite likely that the information on it had been lost to the vagaries of time. Still, with no better solution having presented itself, Link could only speak to the Zora King and hope for the best.
“King Zora, I’ve returned,” Link greeted when he climbed up to the dais in the throne room and presented himself to the Zora king.
“Link?” King Zora replied in a surprised tone. “What brings you back here so soon? Did you find my dear, precious Ruto?”
“Well, no, but I’m working on it,” Link assured him, a slight nervousness in his tone. “I got inside the Fortress of Ice, but I hit a dead end. There’s a large section of it that I can’t reach right now.”
He then explained what he had seen on the dungeon map and that the second entrance was blocked by ice. King Zora looked rather puzzled by this and asked if Link could show him. Link climbed over to the Zora king’s side, pulled out the map of the Fortress of Ice and traced a finger over the area that was blocked off.
“How strange,” he commented. “Indeed, much has changed since we were forced to abandon our former home.”
“You mean it wasn’t always like that?” Link wondered, arching an eyebrow.
“Not exactly.”
King Zora then explained that when the Zoras still made their home in what was now the Fortress of Ice, they had built a canal that had served as a passage between the two different regions of the domain, making any area accessible from anywhere else inside. The waterfall that Link had discovered was, in truth, where a section of the canal had been destroyed.
“I see. So there was once a way to get to the other areas from where I was?” Link replied.
“That’s right,” King Zora confirmed. “The entrance you said was blocked by ice, though, is simply that. A second entrance.”
“I see. There’s something else I need to ask you about, though. Do you know anything about this staff? I found it in a room that was hidden behind a statue of what I think was an ancient Zora king.”
Link then produced the staff from the fortress and held it to King Zora. When the Zora king saw it, his eyes nearly popped out of his head and was astonished by the sight. Even more than that, Link could see clear recognition in the King’s eyes. Link was now certain that he knew something.
“Oh, Link…” King Zora began, when he could find his voice. “You found my great-great-grandfather’s staff. I had a feeling you would. And, as you may have surmised, that statue you saw was of him as well.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes. He was one of the few Zoras in our history to possess superb combat skills. And his staff was an heirloom of our tribe that was passed on to future generations when his time came.”
King Zora went on to say that because no Zora after his great-great-grandfather desired to learn to use the weapon, all they did was enshrine it with care and hang it in a hidden room behind the old king’s statue. The statue had been sculpted in his honor, as he was often considered the greatest Zora warrior in the history of the tribe.
“Then his daughter inscribed something on a pedestal in the room,” King Zora went on. “She foresaw that the staff would be needed again, and left it to guide the next warrior to take up the weapon.”
Link’s eyebrows instantly rose.
“Oh, I saw that inscription! I have no idea what it means, though I think now the part about the desires of royalty was referring to a desire of your great-great-grandfather.”
“Precisely,” King Zora verified.
King Zora then went on to explain that the staff was not only a weapon, but was also enchanted to help his people to survive catastrophe. During a terrible winter which struck many centuries ago, the domain had frozen over. Many Zoras who had been trapped under the ice sheet succumbed to the cold and died while others, trapped inside the domain, had starved to death because they could not harvest kelp or catch fish for food. King Zora’s great-great-grandfather, knowing that the tribe would not survive many more such winters, wished for the power of fire to be blessed upon the staff so that the domain could be thawed out in case such a crisis happened again. However, it couldn’t be carried out during his lifetime and his daughter decided to inscribe the clues on the stone pedestal in the hidden room in hopes someone in the future would fulfill that wish.
“Oh! That pretty much explains it,” Link replied. “The courageous one wielding the staff, me, has to bless the power of fire upon it for the old king. The only question is how…”
“My great-great grandfather had done extensive research on that, actually. But, all I know is that you have to go to the Fire Temple,” King Zora instructed. “Beyond that, I’m not sure.”
“The Fire Temple? That makes sense. But, how was he going to survive in there? And for that matter, what did he have to do in the Fire Temple to enchant the staff?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know. I have a partial copy of my ancestor’s memoirs, which imply that he had discovered the answers you seek. But, the remainder of the memoirs were lost when the Gerudo forced us from our former home.”
“I see. Well, I guess all I can do is go to the Fire Temple and see what I can find. And one more thing. I found this pendant in the fortress as well. Do you know anything about it?”
Link then produced the mysterious pendant around his neck.
“Oh… That doesn’t look familiar to me at all, I’m afraid. Still, I hope you find out and I wish you good luck on your quest.”
“Oh, thanks anyway. I’ll return with Ruto as soon as I can.”
With that, Link bid farewell to King Zora and departed the throne room, glad he’d at least found the information needed to continue his search for Ruto. King Zora’s information wasn’t much to go on, but Link had a thought about what to do nonetheless. Perhaps once he revisited Death Mountain and Goron City in order to get to the Fire Temple, he could ask Darunia for assistance. Although Link doubted that the mighty Goron leader would have any knowledge on the staff at all, he knew that Darunia would likely know much about the Fire Temple. Perhaps he knew where the staff could be enchanted to wield the power of fire?
Link raced past the other Zoras and made his way up to the waterfall entrance again. As he hopped out through the gateway, it occurred to Link that now would be a good time for another of Kelli’s lessons and decided to visit her in Kakariko on his way up to the Death Mountain Trail. He also felt it would be best to report his progress to Daphnes as well. The information Link had found was too valuable to keep from the king. He hurried along the banks of Zora’s River and immediately raced towards Hyrule Field to rejoin Epona as quickly as possible. After having lost her once, Link was not about to leave her alone again any longer than he had to. He let out a long sigh of relief when he spotted her calmly grazing on some grass right by the river’s edge, gathering that she must have been hungry.
After feeding his horse a couple of carrots, Link swung back into the saddle and gently snapped the reins. Epona gave a light snort and began to trot towards the village. He had told Malon that he would go easy on her, and he was going to make good on that promise. Much to his relief, no monsters waylaid Link on his journey and he soon brought Epona to a halt at the village’s entrance. As he dismounted and started up the stairs, he deliberated over whether he should tell Kelli what he’d heard from Malon or if he should take the matter up with the king. He decided that it would be best to get the answer from Daphnes. He had no concrete proof of anything untoward regarding Judo’s absence and he didn’t want to worry Kelli needlessly, which would surely happen if he took his grim hunches to her. As he’d learned the hard way, she could be quite dangerous when she was angered. On the heels of that thought, however, came another. He also found himself wondering if Kelli had seen anymore action since he had last been in Kakariko. It had been a while since the enemy last attempted to strike the village, and Link was worried that their luck would soon run out. As he climbed the stairs, a strange sound reached his ears. At first, it was very faint but, as he climbed further up, it became clearer...sort of. It was a melody of some sort, having no lyrics, but very beautiful. It had a soothing rhythm, much like the fluttering of flower petals on the wind that eased a smile from Link’s worn features. As Link listened to the comforting music, he knew there was only one person the voice could belong to. When he approached the well in the center of the village, his guess was confirmed. Kelli herself was sitting upon it, humming her song beautifully. She soon noticed Link and stopped.
“Hey, Link!” Kelli greeted, somewhat surprised. “I saw that you rescued Sunfire! I’m so relieved! Thank you so much! Oh, but what about Epona?”
“You’re very welcome,” Link replied with a smile. “And yes, I freed them both. Epona is with Sunfire now. By the way, your voice is amazing.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. And thanks! I always hum when I get bored. Did you find Ruto already too?”
“I wish I could say yes, but…”
Link then explained everything he had learned in the Fortress of Ice as well as from King Zora.
“I see. That does sound strange,” Kelli commented. “I’m afraid I don’t know anything about either the staff or that pendant, though. And, I’m drawing a blank on how the ancient Zora King was planning to reach the Fire Temple.”
“That’s alright. I think I have a lead to go on anyway. So, I came by to talk to you and his majesty. I have new information for him as well, plus I was wondering if you had anymore skills you could teach me.”
“Ah, of course. There is one technique I believe you’ll be needing soon, but I think we ought to see his majesty first. I gather what you found out is important?”
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
“Then let’s go. I was going to check on him soon anyway.”
Link nodded and with that, he and Kelli headed for the stairs that led up to Impa’s house, where Daphnes still resided. It was then that Link remembered that the Hylian king’s health was deteriorating due to the stress of the present crisis and concern over his daughter and kingdom. He could only hope that the ailing ruler could hold on until Hyrule was safe again, and that his condition had not worsened. As usual, when Link and Kelli gently opened the door, they found Daphnes in his chair in front of the fire. However, this time, a heavy quilt had been draped over his shoulders. At first, Link thought the aged monarch might have dozed off. He was about to leave when the king stirred and turned to see the two heroes.
“Ah, Link, Kelli…” he greeted, though his voice quivered and was hoarser than it used to be.
“Your majesty, are you alright?” Kelli inquired worriedly as she approached him. “Here, let me feel you.”
The king had been about to reply, likely with an objection, but his words were lost amidst a fit of racking coughs. Not giving Daphnes a second chance to decline, Kelli brought a hand to his forehead and gasped as she felt the near scalding heat of his flesh.
“Oh, you’re running a fever!” she cried. “That cough could also be a bad sign.”
“That’s not good,” Link added, his eyebrows rising.
“I know… But don’t worry too much about me,” Daphnes assured. “There are people in worse danger right now.”
“True,” Kelli agreed.
“And that reminds me, I found out something troubling,” Link reported, eyeing Kelli warily. “I paid Lon Lon Ranch a visit on my way here, and Malon told me about the Royal Knights having been ordered to go to Mayia’s aid after they had been invaded. I think Mayia was attacked by the same creatures that are terrorizing Hyrule.”
“What? Mayia is in danger too? How come I never heard about this?” Kelli inquired.
“I apologize, Kelli,” Daphnes replied. “I didn’t want to worry you two any further. But, yes, a Mayian messenger was here not too long ago and alerted me to the situation. As I recall, however, theirs isn’t nearly as bad as ours. I suspect that we shouldn’t have anything to fear regarding their safety. Ours, however, I fear is another matter entirely.”
“Can’t we call the knights back to Hyrule? We could use more help too. Link and I really have our work cut out for us. We’ve been lucky in gathering the Elemental Jewels and protecting Kakariko so far, but that could change any time now. And, the castle soldiers aren’t as seasoned as the knights.”
“I fear you are correct. Leaving the kingdom without its best defenders was, admittedly, a grave mistake on my part. If I could call them back, I’d do so at once. But, ever since this crisis erupted, our lines of communication have been cut. No couriers have brought news of the knights for months now, and all those I’ve sent forth to find them were never heard from again. Now, I cannot spare another man when one less warrior could mean our deaths.”
“I understand and agree, but I realized something else when I spoke with Malon,” Link continued. “Everybody assumed that the attack on Mayia was a random event, and that it was just coincidental that these new monsters attacked while the knights were away. But, that’s not so. The enemy which invaded Mayia must be the same one that’s attacking us now; or an accomplice, at least. The attack on Mayia was meant to lure the knights away. I’m sure of it. If Kelli once rescued the kingdom from these creatures, then it makes perfect sense for them to know of Mayia’s alliance with Hyrule, and to know we’d come to their aid if they were in such danger.”
“Th-That’s right!” Kelli gasped fearfully. “Back then, some of Hyrule’s knights had been sent to Mayia’s aid as well. But, there was little they could do against the monsters. When I stepped in though, everything changed.”
“…I fear you are correct,” Daphnes admitted. “Our enemies plotted a simple diversion, and I fell for it. I only wish I had seen this coming. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change our situation now. Link, I trust that you’re making progress?”
“Yeah, but I need more assistance before I can track down Ruto,” Link replied and explained once more what he had learned in the Fortress of Ice as well as from King Zora. He also showed both Daphnes and Kelli the staff and pendant.
“Hmm…” Daphnes contemplated. “I do know of the staff’s existence, but I’m afraid not even I know how to bestow the power of fire upon it. I agree that going to the Fire Temple is the logical course, but I can offer nothing else. That pendant also looks somewhat familiar, but unfortunately, I can’t quite place it. I desperately wish there was more I could do, Link, but I’m afraid there’s little I can tell you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to figure this out.”
“Good. But before you go, I need to speak with you privately. Kelli, please wait outside.”
“Understood,” Kelli obeyed and then departed the house.
“So, what did you want to say?” Link wondered, though he could not help but feel that he already knew the answer to that question.
“First of all, Link, this conversation must be kept between us, is that clear?” Daphnes warned, his tone brooking no argument despite another fit of coughing.
“Yes, of course.”
“Now then, have you heard anything about Judo aside from what you’ve learned from Kelli and I?”
“No. Also, if I did, I would have told Kel right away. They are close friends, after all. Why do you ask?”
Here, the king let out a long melancholy sigh that quickly turned into yet another coughing fit, and Link could not help but fear the worst.
“Communications with the Royal Knights broke down some time ago with the present crisis,” the king began, his voice low and raspy from coughing. “This, you know. What you do not know, and what I wish for you to keep secret, is the subject of the last letter from the Royal Knights that reached me. It was a report of a battle that had taken place in Mayia. It described an attack that had splintered the Royal Knights, leaving them scattered. While most of the knights managed to regroup and drive back the assault, several of them, along with some messengers as well, are missing and presumed dead. And Judo…he and his mother were with them. So in truth, I did know where Judo had gone when he left, but now, I truly do not know where neither he, nor his mother is. He had taken her with him so he could guard her more closely.”
“I see,” Link replied simply, though he was saddened by the news and the likelihood that Judo was gone. “I take it that Kelli doesn’t know?”
“I didn’t have the heart to tell her,” Daphnes admitted.
“I can relate,” Link confessed in turn.
“Judo was a fine and dedicated young man. He had achieved much in his life, and he was quite eager to surprise Kelli with his accomplishments when he returned. The notion that he might be lost to us deeply saddens me.”
“But it is just a notion? They haven’t found a body?”
“I do not know. It has been some time since we’ve had reliable communications with our knights. Whether Judo has been found, dead or alive, is unknown to me. But, I have seen the enemy’s handiwork and, if Judo has fallen into their clutches, I see little hope that he yet lives.”
Link was about to protest the king’s grim assessment, but reality choked away his words. Though he was loathe to admit it, there was nothing Link could do to disprove what he had heard. And, even if he or Kelli did depart to discover Judo’s fate, then whatever evil infested Hyrule would have the kingdom by the throat. Left with nothing else to offer, Link simply laid one hand upon the monarch’s shoulder.
“The enemy will pay for this,” he vowed. “I swear it.”
“I hope you are right,” the king replied. “And, as I have said, what has been said must stay between us.”
“I see. I promise not to say anything.”
“Thank you. That is all.”
“Alright. And please get well soon.”
With that, Link departed the house and rejoined Kelli, who awaited him at the top of the stairs nearby.
“Well, now that that’s taken care of, shall I teach you a new sword technique?” Kelli inquired with a smile.
Kelli’s smile, Link suspected, was only a mask to conceal her true anxiety over her friend and, though Link’s conscience seethed, he remained silent. Neither he nor Kelli was in a position to do anything about the missing Judo, and telling Kelli what the king had revealed would only make her more upset. Instead, Link simply nodded in reply.
“Sure. But do you think his majesty will be alright?” he inquired.
“…I really wish I had an answer to that,” Kelli somberly replied as she led Link down the stairs and towards the well. “The best that we can do for him now, though, is to keep fighting against whatever evil is plaguing Hyrule.”
“Right.”
“Anyway, this area should do fine.”
Kelli halted when they arrived at the well. Link wondered what she had in mind this time around as she turned to face him.
“Now, to show you this technique, I’ll need to you stand still and hold your shield over your head,” Kelli instructed.
“Uh, okay…” Link agreed, puzzled, and un-slung his shield. He then raised it over his head, with some difficulty, as if to guard against an attack coming from directly above. “Like this?”
“Yeah. Now watch closely.”
With that, Kelli then stood atop the rim of the well and drew her sword and shield.
“You’re taller than me, so this’ll be easier if I give myself a boost,” Kelli explained. She then leaped into the air towards Link with her sword raised. While airborne, she flipped forward over Link’s head and struck his shield, landing behind him afterwards. Link turned around after slinging his shield across his back, utter shock on his face.
“Whoa! What was that?! You could probably slice someone’s skull clean in half with that move!”
“That’s pretty much the point, actually, if the target isn’t wearing a helmet,” Kelli replied with a chuckle. “The technique itself is, rather aptly, called the helm splitter. It’s handy for taking off a target’s helmet or inflicting serious damage to their head, as you just pointed out. And, if this technique doesn’t somehow kill the target, you’ll end up behind them anyway, thus leaving them thrown off while you can strike them from behind.”
“I see. This should come in handy against deadlier foes.”
“Indeed. Now try it on me. I’ll hold my shield over my head just as you did, just so this doesn’t get ugly.”
Link nodded and waited for Kelli to raise her shield over her head as he had previously done for her demonstration. He then attempted to repeat the helm splitter exactly as Kelli had shown him. Since she was shorter, he chose not to use the well for elevation and began his performance right away. As soon as Link struck Kelli’s shield, he landed safely behind her.
“Yes! That wasn’t too difficult. Not for me, anyway.”
“That’s probably because of the difference in our heights. It would be difficult to pull it off against a taller foe. So, if that happens, look for anything you can stand on to even out the difference.”
“Ah, good tip. I’d also imagine it to be tricky to use against something that has a ranged attack since you’d need to get in fairly close.”
“That’s right. I’ll teach you more next time. You should get going if you’re to finish what you started at Lake Hylia.”
“Yeah, good idea. I’ll see you later then!”
Link then waved goodbye to Kelli and headed towards the Death Mountain Trail once again.
Since Link had already cleansed the mountain of the evil that once overwhelmed it, traversing the trail was much less hazardous this time. Very few monsters inhabited the area, the air was clean and fresh, and there were no more dark clouds and bolts of lightning to trigger rock slides. In fact, it almost seemed as if it had never been attacked at all. Link continued up past Dodongo’s Cavern, fending off the occasional red Tektite that dared to appear, and chose to practice with his new staff along the way. After quickly examining the staff, Link decided it would be best for him to wield it one-handed, somewhat like a lance, except he wouldn’t stab and thrust at his enemies. Link had never used such a weapon before, so he knew that then was the time to teach himself how to best use it. He also changed into his Goron Tunic since he was going inside the crater again. When he finally spotted the large entrance of Goron City minutes later, the hero brought the weapon to rest on one shoulder and entered the city depths to seek out Darunia.
Unlike Link’s last visit, Goron City bustled with activity. The recently liberated Gorons were going about their business once again, greeting Link happily as he passed by. After evading several Goron hugs that might’ve broken him in two, he reached the deepest portion of the city and entered Darunia’s room. Inside, Darunia himself stood in front of the large statue which once blocked the secret entrance to the mountain crater. The Goron leader noticed Link’s presence almost immediately and smiled.
“Ah, Link!” Darunia greeted. “There you are, Brother. What brings you back here?”
“Hey again. King Zora directed me here, actually,” Link replied, unsheathing the staff and showing it to Darunia. “It’s about this staff. He said I need to go to the Fire Temple so I can bless it with the power of fire.”
Darunia’s eyes widened when he saw the staff.
“Hang on, that wouldn’t happen to be the staff that belonged to King Zora XI, would it?”
Now it was Link’s turn to be surprised.
“Uh…yeah. How’d you know?”
“Ah, you see, he left instructions for my own great-great-grandfather,” Darunia explained.
“The same one who defeated Volvagia using the Megaton Hammer?”
“The very one. Unfortunately, the blessing never happened. The scroll containing the instructions mysteriously vanished a day later.”
“Huh. Is it still missing?”
“Sadly, yes,” Darunia replied. “Both Gorons and Zoras have looked all over for it, but it remains missing to this day. Dirty thieves, I’m guessing. Luckily, I might have just recently discovered a lead for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, while we were inside the crater clearing away the damage those monsters caused, we discovered that the first few rooms in the Fire Temple had gotten banged up as well, so everyone pitched in to help out there as well as in the crater. While a few of my tribesmen and I were working on the chamber where Volvagia once dwelled, I found a hidden door behind the back wall.”
“Go on.”
“When I went inside, I found a tiny room that appeared to be much older than the rest of the temple. The walls were rugged and made of only rock, but in front of me, I saw an altar flanked by two unlit torches. I guessed it had something to do with the history of the jewels you’re collecting, because the altar had a slot that looked like the Jewel of Fire would fit into it.”
“Wow. Then that has to be the place I’m looking for. It just makes too much sense.”
“I agree. Just be careful, there’s still some debris lying around from the attack. There is simply too much work to do in one day, and I felt that it was time we took a break.”
“Got it.”
With that, Link entered the Death Mountain Crater. He nearly shook his head when he stepped foot inside. It hadn’t been more than a day since he was there last, and already it looked very different from before. The fallen rocks had been cleared away, the pillars that formed the entrance to the Fire Temple were standing again, and the bridges were repaired. There were still some boulders lying in the lava, but anyone could tell that the Goron tribe had put a lot of effort into fixing the place up after Link had driven the evil from the mountain. In a short time, the hero stood before the Fire Temple and entered via the ladder that descended into the fiery heart of the mountain, just above where the Magma Cavern would be.
“Wow, the Gorons really did a good job in here,” Navi commented. “It looks almost as if nothing ever happened.”
“Yeah. They care a lot about their home,” Link agreed.
As with the crater, the temple also looked vastly different than when Link had last been inside. Some of the walls had been rebuilt, small newly carved statuettes of Goron ancestors lined the staircase’s railing, and the floor had even been polished. The doors also looked brand new, with not one dent in the shiny metal that replaced the old wooden ones. When Link entered the room where Volvagia once dwelt, he saw that it too had been drastically altered. There was no longer a moat of lava encircling a lone round platform that sat in the center of the room. Instead, the platform extended all the way to the walls and was covered with the same polished marble floor as in the first room. At the opposite end stood the ancient, rusty door Darunia had been referring to. As he had also said, a few piles of rock and debris were scattered about to either side from when the door had been uncovered. Link ignored them and quickly made his way to the old door, eager to see what was behind it.
The inside looked just as Darunia had described it. Both the torches and the altar were there, and upon the altar was the slot where the Jewel of Fire could be placed. Behind this, however, was another, round recession that ran into the altar. Link guessed that that was where the staff was to be placed during the ritual. He then produced both it and the Jewel of Fire, and approached the altar. The jewel soon lit up radiantly, and its flame magic ignited both torches.
“Awesome,” Link commented with a smile. He then inserted the jewel into its slot and plunged the staff into the round recession, allowing it to lean against the wall behind it. Suddenly, as if on cue, the flames on the torches flared blindly and the jewel glowed once more, its light growing brighter and more radiant. The glow spread outwards until the staff was enveloped by the crimson light. The staff’s dull colors soon became a smooth orange embroidered with shiny gold, rather than the sea green and blue Link had expected, while red flame-shaped orbs burst into existence at either tip. The orbs themselves soon glowed bright orange and burst into flame for a split second, then returned to normal. The flames in the torches suddenly snuffed themselves out while the Jewel of Fire’s glow vanished as well.
“Wow…” Link murmured as he eyed the staff and slid it free from the altar. “Now this is cool!”
“Yeah! Test it out, Link!” Navi insisted.
“Definitely!”
With that, Link began to twirl the staff in his hands and sure enough, the orbs burst into a stream of flame, lapping at the air with arcing streams of fire, as if he were one of those performers who twirled batons with ignited tips. When he stopped, the flames became orbs again in the same instant.
“Awesome! Now we can take care of business!” Link exclaimed with delight.
“I’ll say! I wouldn’t be surprised if this staff’s fire could melt the whole fortress!”
“Ditto. Let’s get out of here now.”
With that, the pair rushed out of the Fire Temple and back to Goron City. Once Link reentered the bustling establishment, he was greeted by Darunia once again.
“Oh, Link! Looks like my find paid off!” he said when he saw the staff.
“It sure did. This staff is incredible now,” Link replied.
“I bet. It’s now become the Flame Staff, the weapon King Zora XI always dreamed of creating. He would be proud of you, Brother.”
“I can imagine. I’m in a hurry though, so I’m afraid I’ll have to get going. Farewell!”
Darunia merely waved as Link continued back to the top floor and out of Goron City. He definitely needed to show Kelli the staff again, as not only would she likely be impressed as well, she would probably also believe Link would be a stronger fighter with it. The hero excitedly raced down Death Mountain, eager to use his new Flame Staff to teach the icy inhabitants of the Fortress of Ice a lesson they would not soon forget.
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