Shampoo, Ukyo and the fairies followed Link outside, where Darunia and Coro were already waiting for you.
"You did well, young heroes," the Goron leader smiled. "Look above you!" The others followed his gesture and saw how the fiery ring that had surrounded the volcano was once again replaced by a ring of clouds. "The evil has left this place, and the dragon is slain. My people are free again, thanks to you. You have my gratitude."
"Thanks, just doing our job," Ukyo grinned. "But say, Darunia... did you know that Ryoga was destined to become the Sage of Fire?"
Darunia stroked his chin. "So that's why he didn't come back out with you..." he murmured. "No, I did not know that. I knew that the Fire Temple is a holy place created by the goddess Din, and that the Sage of Fire is responsible for protecting this place. And you say Ryoga has become the new sage? Well, this is a surprise..."
Ukyo looked at the chief's face and saw how proud he was of his student.
Just then, Darunia remembered something. "Yoiko... where is my daughter? Ryoga wouldn't have left her all alone when he followed me into the temple..."
"You no worry, Ranma is back with Yoiko and panda-man," Shampoo explained. "Your daughter is in good hands, Elder Darunia."
"Well, that's good to hear," Darunia smiled. Then he frowned. "Say, you are a Gerudo aren't you?"
'Uh-oh,' Shampoo thought. 'Here we go again...'
"You have problem with that?" she asked.
"Of course not!" Darunia answered quickly. "I am just surprised. Ganondorf has been the only Gerudo who has put his foot on this mountain for years, I just wasn't expecting one of your tribe to help us like this. But seeing that you did not just help me, but also all of our people, you are more than trustworthy in my eyes."
That made Shampoo smile. "Thanks. You is not too bad for Goron either."
Darunia laughed. "Well, maybe this is the first chance for members of our races to get to know more about each other. But first, we should leave this place. This is still a volcano, and I know how sensitive you Non-Gorons you are to heat. I invite you to stay with us at our town, where the other Gorons will probably want to show you their gratitude as well."
"Good idea!" Tatl sighed. "You heard the man, let's get out of here! I have the feeling I'm gonna turn into a barbecue fairy if I stay here for much longer."
And so, they followed the Gorons back to their city.
Link realized that going back meant meeting up with Ranma again, and he feared that Ukyo might still hold that dangerous grudge against him.
"Say, Ukyo..." he carefully asked her. "Don't you think you should try and forgive Ranma for what he did back then? I mean, it's obvious he didn't know what he was doing, and his father..."
"Don't you start that now!" Ukyo hissed. "And thanks for destroying my mood. I wasn't trying to bring up all that negative stuff right after we fought through the temple. I can't forgive him, don't you see? Even if I tried, I will always remember the grief he and his father caused. My father is dead because of them, don't you get it? If not for them... he would still be alive!"
"I know that," Link said. "But, Ukyo... I doubt that was what Ranma wanted. I believe that if he knew what was going on, he would have never agreed to act like his father wanted."
"You can't understand me," Ukyo whispered. "You never knew your parents... and Ranma... I doubt he'd understand how I feel either, not until he realizes how someone feels whose family is gone..."
"OUT OF MY WAY, POPS!"
"Boy, don't be a fool! You don't know if they are really in danger, that was just a dream..."
"It wasn't just a dream, I saw them suffer! Let me go, or I'll kick your ass!"
"What in Din's name is going on there?" Darunia grumbled as they approached the back entrance to his chambers, which connected Goron City with the crater.
"That sounded like... Ranma!" Navi said.
Yoiko welcomed her father with a massive hug. "Daddy, you're safe!" she sobbed. "I was so worried..."
"Now, now, I'm back and everything is all right. Well, maybe... what is going on here?" he asked again.
Ranma and Genma were standing in front of each other and glared at each other dangerously.
"I'm stopping my son from doing something foolish," Genma explained without really looking at the Goron leader.
"Damn you, old man! Don't you get it? If I hesitate much longer, Mom and Ruto will die!"
"Airen, what is it?" Shampoo asked. "Your sister and mother are safe in Zora's Domain... how you know they in danger?"
"I felt it," Ranma tried to explain as he looked at his fiancee. "When I turned back into a Zora, I... I felt Ruto's thoughts, somehow. Don't ask me how, but... I could feel that she was in danger. Not just her... all of Zora's Domain is in trouble. And I need to get back to help them!"
"Just storming out there is foolish, Ranma!" Genma shouted. "You know General Onox is after us... do you want to step into a trap he and his henchmen have prepared? A good martial artist uses his head before he strikes."
"Something you would know nothing about, Pops!" Ranma grumbled. "I swear, if you don't get out of my way, I'm gonna..."
"That's enough!" Darunia shouted in a commanding tone. "I will have no squabbles in my chambers! As chief of the Gorons, I demand that you either calm down and let us think about this problem together... or you go and take it outside!" And his rocky finger gestured at the exit.
For a while, Ranma really looked like he was going to take his anger out on Darunia now, but then he winced and sat down on the ground.
Shampoo sat down next to him. "Airen, be strong," she whispered. "If mother-in-law and sister Ruto are in danger, Shampoo will help you save them."
"Yeah, me too," Link nodded.
"Me three," Tatl spoke up.
"You can count on me, too," Navi smiled.
Ukyo didn't say anything. She was torn... one part of her wanted to feel pity for Ranma, while the other part still wanted to strangle him for what he did.
'I said he couldn't know how it is when everyone in your family is dead...' she thought. 'But, would I really wish something as horrible as that for anyone? And what if he truly feels sorry for what happened? What should I do? He is responsible for my father's death...
But he also called me cute...'
Ukyo shook her head. "Fine," she finally sighed. "I'll help you, too."
Ranma looked at her in surprise. "Ucchan?" he asked.
"Now don't give me that 'Ucchan' yet," Ukyo grumbled. "I'm still mad at you. But it would be wrong to let your family suffer because of that. I'm ready to help anyone who is suffering from Ganondorf's cruelty."
Ranma smirked and nodded. "Good enough for me," he finally said before turning back to his father. "Well, Pops? Do you still think it's foolish to go? In that case, you'll have to stop four fools from leaving."
"Hey, why do you guys always forget to count us fairies?" Tatl asked. "We're people, too."
"So you think we're fools as well?" Navi snickered.
Genma just glowered at them. "You know that it could be a trap, son," he finally said. "That hag Koume is not the only one of Ganondorf's servants capable of using magic... what if they just fooled you with those images?"
"I won't take any chances, Pops," Ranma told him in a fierce voice. "As long as I know that Mom and sis could be in danger, I'm gonna go and save them. And besides, if anyone tries to stop me, I'm just gonna have to kick his butt."
"And Shampoo help," the amazon said.
Genma sighed. "Fine... I still think it's foolish to go just because of some silly dream, but if you want to go... I guess I'll have to come along. Besides, Nodoka would never forgive me if one of her children is in danger because of my choices..."
"Then I guess it's settled," Link said. He turned to Darunia. "I'm sorry we can't accept much more of your hospitality, but we have to leave again."
"Yes, we should leave now," Ukyo agreed. "The longer we wait, the more dangerous it will be for Ranma's family."
"I understand," Darunia nodded. "And I wish you good luck on your further quest." To Ranma, he said: "As for you, I hope you will save your family in time. From what I was being told, you and your father protected my Yoiko while I was away, therefore you will always have the support of the Goron people."
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Ranma replied. "Say, could we have a few supplies? I mean food, water, and whatever we could need..."
"Certainly, my boy! Coro, please bring these youngsters whatever they need for their journey."
"Right away, chief!" the Goron nodded and left to get the needed supplies.
"I really hope we'll make it in time..." Ranma sighed.
"If we go quickly, we will be back at Zora's Domain in a few hours," Genma said.
"I think I know of a much faster way to get there," Navi pondered.
"What way, Navi?" Link asked his fairy friend.
"Well, we used an ancient teleporter to travel from the woods to the Death Mountain... but I have heard of another teleporter in the woods, one that is supposed to take you directly to the source of all the water in Hyrule... And both you and me know about that place, right?"
"Of course!" Tatl shouted. "Zora's Domain!"
"In that case, we would only need a few minutes to reach your home, Ranma," Link smiled.
"That would be great," Ranma said. "Maybe we can make it in time. Still I have this weird feeling... as if something terrible already happened..."
'Hang in there, Ruto, Mom,' he thought to himself. 'I'm on my way.'
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(Posted Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:56)
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