Fan Fiction ❯ Professional Hero ❯ The Ice Cave ( Chapter 29 )

Chapter 29 - The ice cave

The woods were dark and silent, although it was day and lots of animals were around. It seemed the woods somehow soaked up all the light and sounds, or maybe it was just to set the mood for the man who had just gotten here. He descended of his black horse and removed his once black cloak to lay on the ground as a blanket. He thrust his two handed sword in the ground next to it so he could easily use it in case of an emergency, and this seemed like a man who had many emergencies to use his sword. He removed his pitch-black helmet that seemed to consist of a skull with wings and shook his head, letting his long blonde hair fall down. He reached in his saddlebag to take out a small sack and sat down on his cloak. Just as he opened the sack to take out some food he looked up. On a branch on the tree next to him sat a small owl. It looked at him and shook its head, keeping its eyes on him.

"Fucking hell," the man laughed out loud, "Kaepora! Where the hell have you been?"

"Reincarnating, Link," the owl squeaked, "I was killed by Twinrova shortly after you I saw you when you got the silver gauntlets at the Spirit temple. That's why I couldn't be around when you ran around saving Hyrule as an adult, although I always kept my eye on you."

"You were in those statues?"

Kaepora seemed to nod.

"I appreciate you help, old friend," Link smiled, but suddenly looked down and seemed embarrassed, "I think… I think you don't really like what I've been doing lately, do you?"

"What are you talking about?" Kaepora asked as he flew closer and landed on Links helmet, "I'm sorry to say that you have done exactly as I hoped you would."

Link looked back at the owl with a raised eyebrow.

"Sure, I don't think the Goddesses would have approved of such bloodshed, but you have freed all those countries of Zelda's influence."

"You mean…"

"Basically, you've been had," Kaepora said with a touch of mock in his voice, "either way, it is time for you to return to Hyrule."

Links mood seemed to drop again.

"What's in Hyrule? There's nothing there for me anymore since my wife and kids died."

His voice seemed nothing more than a whisper.

"My dear friend," there seemed to be a glint in the owls eye, "who ever said they were dead?"

The woods were bright and full of noise. Four children and two small fairies emerged from the thick bushes and ran towards a specific goal.

"Where do we go first?" the youngest one, completely dressed in green asked.

"I would have to say the Gorons," the boy with the red cap answered without slowing down, "since even Mikau can't dive deep enough to reach the tunnel to Zora's fountain."

The children made a sharp turn left to a small path that went slightly upward and stopped before a stone doorway that led to a tunnel which disappeared in the first mountains right next to the Lost Woods.

"This is it," Mikau said, "the entrance to the Goron village."

"I can't recall how many times grandfather said we weren't allowed to enter because he was scared that the soldiers of Zelda would spot us." Darmani thought aloud.

"Well, we don't have a choice now," Mikau turned to his twin brother, "the great Deku tree asked us and we have to do it to save Hyrule."

The four children nodded and ran into the tunnel.

After a long while the four kids emerged in the large inner chamber that was the centre of the Goron village.

"By the Goddesses," Malon whispered, "I've never seen anything so big with a roof. There's rock above us."

"Okay," Dekaru asked as he looked around in awe, "now what?"

Darmani who was also impressed by the size of the suddenly looked at his youngest brother.

"I…I have no idea," he admitted, "we have no clue of what it is that threatens the Gorons."

"It's amazing," Malon continued, "just a shame that it's so cold in here."

"Yeah, you're right," Darmani said, "that's strange, Dad used to say that it was always warm in here since it was located next to a volcano."

"You think something is causing the coldness?" Mikau frowned.

"Could be," Dekaru nodded, "let's go find somebody and ask him."

They ran to a nearby door and passed a rock that, startling the kids, suddenly got up.

"Hey, who are you?" the rock asked in a low booming voice.

"I'm Darmani, and these are my brothers Mikau and Dekaru and this is my sister Malon. It's our first time here and we would like to see the …elder?" Darmani guessed.

"You mean the Big Brother?"

"Yeah, that's the one," Darmani sighed with a smile.

"He's outside, in the Dodongo's cavern," the Goron pointed towards the exit, "ever since the lava cooled down ice has been forming in the cavern and it has been really cold. Darunia has gone to see what the problem is so he can fix it."

"That's it guys," Malon whispered, "we have to find a way to stop the cavern from freezing."

"You're right," Darmani nodded, "let's go and help Darunia."

The four children ran off while Navi lingered for a moment.

"Let's hope there won't be anymore of those flashbacks," she sighed and flew after the boys.

The Gorons looked surprised to see the four children run through their village but paid not much attention to them, after all they had bigger problems. Just as they ran outside, a large Goron with light brown hair sped past them, knocking them over.

"Wow, what was that?" Darmani asked as he got up.

"That was the Big Brother," a nearby Goron said, "he heard that there was trouble at the fire temple and that kind of trouble is worse than what's happening in the Dodongo Cavern."

"Well, in that case, we can go check out the Dodongo Cavern in peace," Mikau concluded, "where can we find the cavern?"

The four kids, followed by the two fairies, ran through the dark tunnel and came into the great hall. The ground was covered in a thick layer of ice and the giant Dodongo skull laid cracked at the end of the hall, blocking the path.

"Okay, now what do we do?" Mikau asked.

"We shoot that metal thing," Malon replied as she readied her bow.

"That's a Beamos, it can only be defeated by a bomb."

"We shoot that metal thing," Malon repeated as she shot her arrow.

The arrow just graced off the Beamos who rotated as nothing had happened.

"Okay, new plan," she shrugged, "we run past him and try not to get hit by his eyebeam. Maybe after all this time it doesn't work anymore."

"Which way?" Dekaru asked as he looked at the sides of the hall.

Darmani took out a rupee and flipped it in the air.

"Head is left, tails is right…we go right."

The kids nodded and jumped to the centre pillar. Quickly they ran to the moving pillar at the right as the Beamos noticed them and started to shoot his eyebeam. Malon and Mikau jumped to the ledge on the right but Dekaru got stuck on the pillar as it went down. Darmani was to late to jump and let him fall at the edge of the centre pillar, holding on the edge.

"Darmani!" Malon shrieked.

"Shut up!" Darmani shrieked back, "tell me when he looks the other way so I can get up again and make the jump."

"Go! Now!" Mikau yelled.

Darmani hoisted himself up and jump up the pillar as it got up. Dekaru caught him and together they jump to the ledge. Darmani sat himself against the wall to catch his breath.

"Oh great, another one," Dekaru gulped as he pointed to the second Beamos standing in the way.

"Like they're that bad," Mikau pushed Dekaru, "we just throw a bomb at them and it's done."

"Go ahead," Dekaru shot back, "you got a bomb?"

"No," he admitted, "but we take one of these bombflowers and throw…nng… at… nng…"

"A bit heavier then you thought?" Malon smiled.

"So we run past them," Darmani said as he got up, "and hope for the best."

As the Beamos looked at the wall, the four children ran as close to the ledge as they could and

jumped the last way when the Beamos shot his eyebeam.

"Okay," Dekaru panted, "if it now turns out to be to the left, I'm gonna…"

"You're gonna what?" Darmani interrupted his little brother, "you're a little wuss, you know that?"

"Shut up," Dekaru frowned.

"Will you boys stop," Malon sighed, "let's go on to find what's causing the cavern to freeze over."

The four children ran into the sandy corridor. Dekaru shrieked as he felt something move.

"What is it?" Mikau asked.

"Something's underneath here," he said as he kept a close eye on the ground, "there! What's that?"

A baby Dodongo dug its way up and darted towards the children. Darmani struck out with his sword and killed it.

"Better than a Deku stick," he grinned, "now was that so bad?"

"Didn't dad tell us something about those things?" Mikau frowned.

"Don't know it's been too long ago," Darmani shrugged, "besides, there are more of these critters."

From all around them the small Dodongo's appeared and the four children started to ran to the end of the tunnel. Just as they set off, the killed Dodongo exploded.

"Oh yeah," Darmani looked back, "they explode."

They reached the ledge and raised themselves to higher and safer ground. There a door was on a platform with parts of statues scattered all over the place as if something huge had exploded there.

The kids got up the platform and opened the door. They passed a large corridor and came out in a large room where the ground was covered in ice. Two Lizalfos emerged but there was something strange about them.

"They're not real," Malon said as she pointed, "look at the ground they stand on, it's red."

Suddenly Link seemed to emerge out of Dekaru, making them all jump up. The young boy caught the blow of one of the Lizalfos on his deku shield and thrust his sword under his opponents defence. They all faded and a large Lizalfos appeared from out of the back of the cave.

"Is that one real?" Dekaru gulped.

"I think so," Darmani whispered, "the ground beneath his feet is blue, so that means he's real."

"Let's get him then!" Mikau shouted and took out his bow.

As he and his sister shot arrows at the monster, it jumped over the large iceblocks, using the claws on its feet to stay steady and not slip. The two arrows hit it in the shoulder but it didn't slow down. Dekaru could barely dodge the huge blade of the Lizalfos and Darmani jumped forward with his sword ready. He was able to scratch the Lizalfos but the monster just threw him to the ground with his tail. Malon jumped back to get to save distance while Mikau unsheathed his sword and jumped in the fight. Dekaru got his deku stick out and hit the back of the monsters knees. It fell down and Darmani kicked its jaw, just before Mikau slashed its tail with his sword. The monster shrieked and jumped up, kicking the two boys down. Dekaru tried to fence off the Lizalfos with his Deku stick. The Lizalfos shocked twice when two arrows entered its back and he turned around slowly to let out a loud roar. He started to run towards Malon but fell when Darmani jumped before its legs. Mikau jumped on top of the monster and let his sword come down in its neck. The Lizalfos jumped up and shrugged Mikau off whilst trying to stop the bleeding. Dekaru got out his sword and stuck it deep in the back of the monster. It let out a final roar and fell down.

"Wow," Mikau said, "that was heavy."

"No crap," Darmani tried to get up, "I was under that."

"Oh yeah," Mikau grinned.

"Look!" Malon shrieked.

The boys followed her gaze and saw Link kill one of the Lizalfos and do a summersault and land in front of the other one. Before he could do anything however the Lizalfos hit him with his sword across his stomach. Link fell down but somehow forced his sword up, deep in the chest of the large reptile. It fell down and Navi fluttered around the fallen boy who dragged himself to the edge of the platform, leaving a red trail.

"You did it!" the fairy sang.

"I'm dying," the boy whispered.

"What?"

"I'm dying here," the boy yelled, turning on his back, "that thing slashed my stomach! I'm holding my guts in my hands! I'm dying!"

Blood gushed out of his wound despite Links efforts to keep the wound closed. Navi suddenly fluttered nervously around.

"What about a fairy?"

"Don't have one…" the boy whispered.

"What?"

"I don't have one!" he said, louder now, "I didn't think I would need one, since I got through this without one the previous time."

"How could you be so stupid."

"Not now!" the boy cried, "I'm dying here! Help me!"

Navi flew to a pot at the side of the room and got one of the heart shaped fruits.

"Eat this, you'll feel better."

Link ate the fruit and seemed to relax. He closed his eyes and his breathing slowed down a bit.

"What?" Navi said, "No Link! Stay away, don't fall asleep, you here me? Link!"

"I'm here," Link opened his eyes again, "but I'm tired and cold…"

"Stay with me, let the fruit do its magic, but stay awake! You'll be better soon…"

Their voices drifted away and disappeared.

Malon turned to Navi.

"He almost died?"

Navi seemed to nod and looked the other way.

"The first run went smooth with only a few minor problems. But at the start of the second run he had gotten cocky. This brought him back to ground level, hard as you can see. If it wasn't for me he would have died. We barely made it alive this time. Ever since, the first thing he did was get a fairy with him to heal him when he was almost dead."

"We don't have a fairy…" Dekaru whispered.

"Don't worry, that's why I'm here," Navi turned around to look at the boys, "I have lived a long and adventurous life thanks to Link. The only way to repay him is by giving my life to you when it is necessary."

"We can't ask that of you." Mikau said.

"You won't have to, I'll just do it."

"In that case," Darmani seemed to reach a conclusion, "we'll make it out of here in one piece and stop in Kakariko to pick up some bottles."

"We'll see," the fairy seemed to smile, "either way, we should leave. It's getting too cold in here."

Darmani stopped his brothers and sister when they came into the great room.

"Shh, Dodongo's." He warned them.

A large Dodongo was slowly crawling through the long room with his back turned to the four children. Mikau whispered something in the Darmani's ear and his brother nodded. Quietly Mikau advanced in the room, staying close to the wall, disappearing in the shadows. Malon and Darmani got their bow and shot the monster in the tail. It let out a roar and turned around. Just as it passed Mikau's hiding place, he jumped out, slashing the huge tail. The monster fell down and Mikau ran away looking for safety from the eminent explosion. He suddenly stopped and turned, running back to the Dodongo. Right behind him came another Dodongo, enraged by the loud noise. Mikau jumped over the dead Dodongo with the other one on his tail when the dead Dodongo exploded. Mikau was thrown against the ground and didn't move. The second Dodongo staggered and fell down. Darmani left his hiding place to pull Mikau to safety.

"Mikau, talk to me bro."

Mikau opened his eyes.

"I'm… I'm fine," he panted, "just got the wind knocked out of me, that's all."

"Do you…" Dekaru started but was interrupted when the second Dodongo exploded, "do you think there's another one?"

"Could be," Navi said, "there were three ones guarding this corridor all those years ago, so it's possible."

"Well, Malon, Dekaru and I will deal with that one," Darmani said to Mikau, "in the mean time, you stay here and rest a bit."

"And get you blown to bits? I don't think so."

"You have no choice," Darmani pushed his brother back down, "we'll be fine, I promise."

Mikau nodded. He watched his brothers and sister leave and got up, supporting himself on his sword.

"Like hell I'm gonna stay here."

The Dodongo snapped at Darmani who could easily jump out of the way since the monster couldn't decide who to turn his attention to. Dekaru was at the back slashing at the tail, but a sudden move threw the boy back. Just before the monster turned however, an arrow pierced the armour of the monsters tail and the Dodongo let out a shriek. Dekaru scrambled up and ran to a safe place. The monster exploded and he got out of his hiding place.

"Everyone alright?" he shouted.

"I'm fine!" Darmani replied as the smoke cleared up.

"I'm okay!" They heard Malon shout from somewhere in the back.

"What would you guys do without me?" Mikau grinned as he appeared next to Dekaru, holding his bow.

"I don't know, and I don't think I wanna know," Darmani grinned, "now we'll rest a bit to get our strength back. Navi, what's behind this door?"

"A switch to open the door at the other side," The fairy said, "then we can go to the second level."

"Damn, we're only half way?" Dekaru sighed.

"What? It's getting too much for you?" Darmani grinned.

"Hey," Mikau panted, "go easy on him, remember he's three years younger than we are."

"I know," Darmani roughed up Dekaru's hair, "I was just teasing him, I think he's doing great."

"Thanks bro." Dekaru grinned.

"Well," Mikau got up, "I'm feeling better now. Ready to continue?"

"We might as well," Malon sighed, "this cold is getting too much to bear."

"On to the next level it is then." Darmani nodded and opened the door.

AN: Part one of two (well, kinda). This seemed a bit too big to fit all in one chapter (plus, I want to see you begging for more) so I stretched this in two chapters. But to be honest, I'm kinda stuck, well not on the story, but on time. I seem to have less time than I used to have, so don't be surprised when I miss my weekly update. I have almost finished the story (just need to fix some glitches in my mind about it, but most of it is already set), but it seems hard to write it down on paper (so to speak), especially if I don't have any incentive (that means reviews, hint hint). Bottom line, I would really appreciate what you think about the story, what you like and dislike, who you think rocks and who I should kill off (if you say the kids, I'm gonna hunt you down and beat you senseless!). The thing is, I have an idea for a sequel (sorta) but if my work seems in vain, that might never happen (or not as soon as I would like).

Remember, be kind, rewind- view! I mean review!