Fan Fiction Friday: The Era Without A Hero – Part 18

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As they crossed the final peak on the Death Mountain Trail to Goron city, they came to a landing where a statue of the Hero of Time and a tall Goron with a mane like a lion stood. The Hero of Time was posed in his iconic stance, the Master Sword extended out towards the heavens and his shield at his side, always protecting him. The Goron stood right beside the Hero, their backs together, holding a hammer out in line with the sword.

“The Goron there looks a bit like Huron,” Osmond remarked.

“He should, that’s Darunia, Huron’s grandfather,” Fado smiled looking up at the tall statue, “he was a phenomenal person. Truly a great leader.”

“That name sounds familiar,” Zelda said.

“Probably because he was the Sage of Fire. Having your classic upbringing dear, you no doubt studied the old Sages.”

Before Zelda could confirm anything, a large stone gate just ahead began to rumble up into the mountain. A hulking silhouetted figure came walking out from glowing red light that emitted from inside the cave. As it came closer, Osmond realized it was a Goron in heavy plated armor.

“In the name of Erie, acting Chieftain, I demand you halt and return to the city below,” the Goron said, his voice deep and firm.

“In the name of Huron, actual Cheiftain, and their mutual sister, Claire, I demand you return to your post and munch on some gravel,” Fado retorted.

The Goron froze and turned his head. He lifted the metal face shield and blinked in slow confusion.

“Gora-Claire sent for you?”

Fado nodded slowly.

“Ah brimstone…” his shoulders slumped, and he turned slowly back to the cave. “Look, I’m jus’ doin’ as I’m told.”

Fado ran alongside him and patted his side as opposed to his back which he couldn’t quite reach, “I know goro-san. Don’t worry. Erie may be seated on the Chief’s throne, and it is your duty to follow his orders, but it is also your job to do what is right. I trust Lady Claire has said as much.”

Osmond and Zelda followed the now sobbing Goron and seemingly amused Kokiri into a sweltering cavern. Even through the fire magic, it was still hot.

The reason though was clear. Where the far wall would have been in the cave, was a large open hole that looked down into the mountain’s core of bubbling and smoking lava. The rest of the cave was massive, having walkways circling the outside on several different levels. Hallways were cut into the stone with stairways reaching between floors. At the bottom was a large gathering area, with a large pot in the middle.

“This way,” Fado said leading them to a nearby stairwell.

As they descended into the city, Goron’s were stopping and looking at them with confusion and amazement.

“Have they not seen Hylians or a Kokiri before?” Osmond asked.

“Not during one of Erie’s lock-in tantrums,” Fado responded, the sound of irritation clinging tightly to the words.

They arrived at the lowest landing and crossed the dark stone floor, passing the giant pot that now was clearly just an oversized kiln of some sorts. At the far end, they came to a heavy looking stone door, engraved with the seal of the Goron people. Before the door, was a very old rug that was still soft under their feet and bore the Seal of the Royal Family, along with a few scorch marks.

“Best I go in first,” the Goron guard said, approaching the door. He stopped though, when a husky yet feminine voice called out from the floor above.

“Drop Darunia’s hammer and call me a pebble!”

Fado turned and smiled, “hello Claire!”

The Goron woman leapt joyfully over the railing and landed in ball before the trio. As she stood up, her dress flowed around her chiseled stone body and her face turned upward in a genuinely happy face. She threw her arms around Fado and carefully embraced the small fellow. Her eyes then shifted to Zelda, and they lit up even more.

“Your Grace!”

Claire’s embrace of the princess was less delicate due to the enthusiasm.

“Hello Claire-“ Zelda strained to say, “good to see you!”

The Goron released Zelda, and she gasped heavily for air.

“Got my letter did ya?”

“Yes, we got it and came right away. What set him off this time?” Fado asked.

“Hard to say. Since that attack on Castletown, he’s been awfully… well, awful. He’s always been the paranoid type, but since then, he’s been saying things like ‘how can’t we trust the Hylians’ and ‘we need to worry about ourselves.’ It’s bad.”

“I see,” Fado pressed his chin into his palm, then shrugged. “Suppose we should have a talk with him then, ya?”

Claire grinned and flexed her muscles, “follow me.” She thumped her hand on the door a few times and leaned in close to it, “oh brother!”

There was a clamber from inside followed by a voice barking orders. Then a new voice came, deep and gravely like most Goron’s, except a register deeper.

“What do you want?”

“I’ve got news and our brother has returned!”

More chaotic noises came from within and when the voice spoke this time, it had risen in pitch.

“One moment!”

Claire winked to Fado and the others. A moment later, the door opened.

There was a short dark hallway that led to another door, this one opening as soon as they got past the first door. The room it led to was smaller than Osmond had expected. A table on the right side of the room with some jars on it was only other furniture besides the throne, which was on the wall opposite the door. Along the walls were drawings of moment’s in Goron history. They stretched all along the room, looking as if they reached back all the way to the creation of the world. Osmond’s admiration of the artwork was cut short by the large Goron seated in the throne standing up.

“Liar!”

“I didn’t lie, Fado is a sworn brother.”

Fado puffed up his chest triumphantly.

The Goron with dark stones on his head and shoulders sat back on the throne and scowled. This was Erie. He was Huron’s younger brother, though more ambitious and accomplished in the eyes of himself. He wore a crimson cape similar to Huron’s, but this one bore only a sigil of a dragon. This matched the tattoo that they both had. Claire had one too, but it was obscured by the sleeves of her dress.

“Why are you here?” Erie seethed through his teeth.

“Because you’ve locked down the city and made life difficult for everybody… Again,” Fado responded.

“Because I’ve made life difficult? Do you know how much stone we have had to pull out of these mountains in the past weeks?”

“Yes,” Fado said almost laughing, “enough to rebuild a city that was partially leveled. The same city that has sworn to aid in your protection through an alliance dating back more than a century.”

“My people have been worked to starvation!”

“Your people?” Claire chimed in. “Your people are doing just fine. It’s the rest of the tribe that’s suffering. Erie, you cut off most of the work when you shut this city down!”

“Mind your place little sister!”

“Excuse me!” Claire stepped forward, eyes wide with fire.

Zelda stepped forward and held Claire back, as Fado continued.

“Erie, you are a steward in the stead of your brother, who was named Chief. You do not have absolute authority here, and as a member of the Sage Counsel, I demand to hear why you feel it necessary to close off Goron City.”

“I closed it off to keep the weak Hylians out. All their problems eventually become Goron problems. I’ll not have that happen.”

“So, you think by weakening the alliance, and Castletown itself due to a lack of stone, you’re insulating yourself from further dangers?”

“Goron’s handle Goron problems, Hylians should handle theirs. I see no gain in working with them, beyond what is necessary.”

“Do you realize how foolish that sounds?”

“I am no fool! I know the might of what came to that city. I won’t sit by and let it come to ours.”

“What about the mines? Why did you seal them off as well? Shouldn’t Hylians be able to come and mine on their own, even if you’re refusing to help?”

“There are thousands of other mountains in Hyrule, let them mine those!”

“It’s taken centuries to dig deep enough to find the stones necessary to support Hyrule. Open the mines at least!”

“The mines and all of Death Mountain belong to me!”

Fado stood with his mouth open and eyes blinking.

“I am familiar with our history, and will see to it that no matter the outcome, the Goron people will sit atop Death Mountain forever.” He thudded his fist on his chest, flexed his muscles, and let out an overly masculine grunt.

“You have truly lost sight of your values, Erie,” Fado said coldly. He took a step towards Erie and lowered his head slightly, “I had hoped you would be reasonable. Now I understand why Huron worries so much about you.”

“Get out!”

“I pity you,” Fado said, ignoring the massive finger in his face, “so much potential, wasted. So many opportunities to shine like a diamond, yet you’re as clear headed as a chimney.”

“Out!” Erie roared.

When Fado stopped, he was standing just before Erie’s legs. Fado pulled a single deku nut from his pouch and placed it in the Goron steward’s lap. Slowly, he backed away, then turned and nodded for the others to leave.

“A powerful fury, from a small thing, leaves those closest dazed but unchanged. Is that all you aim to be in life?”

Fado walked through the door and closed it, just before the erupting sound of a deku nut filled the air.

*          *          *          *          *

“I really am sorry,” Claire said once they were back outside the city.

“It’s alright,” Fado sighed, “I expected as much.”

“Why is he so angry?” Zelda asked.

“It’s complicated. In many ways, he’s just like Huron. He tries hard and has the best of intentions at heart. However, he loses sight of what’s important far too often. Friends and allies, his people, his family…”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Osmond asked.

“Not unless you wanna blow open the mines for us,” Claire said with a chuckle.

Osmond looked to Fado. Fado looked at Osmomnd. Instantly, a grin grew across both their faces.

“How would we go about doing that?” Zelda asked, wearing the same devilish grin the others were.

“Officially, I can’t say…” Claire winked, “unofficially though, there’s an emergency access tunnel two peaks north of here. Once inside, it’s a lift ride down to the main level and a sprinkling of some Goron special crop.”

“I suspect Erie wouldn’t be too pleased about that happening,” Fado grinned.

“Guess we’ll never know…”

Claire turned with a laugh, and headed back inside Goron City. As the gate closed, Fado, Osmond, and Zelda turned north.

North, towards the Goron Mines.

 

*Author’s Note: A 12-track album is now available over on YouTube with songs (some covers, some originals) from the Podcast version. Check them out here!

David Wayne Nystrom is a Staff Writer for Zelda Dungeon. This story is an imagining of the final days in Hyrule prior to the Great Flood talked about in the opening cinematic of The Wind Waker. His top three Zelda games are Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Link’s Awakening. The first six chapters of the full story are available in podcast form, with future chapters in the works. To find it and learn more about the project, head to erawithoutahero.wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter. Every Era Has Heroes…