TOTK: The Lonely Hero

Yunobo of the Gorons

As Link entered the cave, he was greeted by the two Goron children: Slergo and Offrak. Both were standing guard by the entrance. Offrak attempted to keep a smile as he stood in position, while Slergo didn't even bother.

The two let out a small gasp when they saw Link enter the cave.

"Is Yunobo here?" he asked.

"H-he is..." Slergo said, "Mining more of the rock roast."

"Please don't hurt him, Mr. Link!" Offrak asked, "He was always kind to us before he wore that mask! He would share his family's special prime rock roasts with us!"

"I don't intend on doing so," Link told them, before walking past the two children. Curious, the duo glanced at one another, before tailing the swordsman down into the mine.

As he descended further, Link could feel the temperature rise dramatically, as sparks flew about the cave. The flamebreaker armor worked like a charm though, successfully keeping his whole body from being set ablaze by the air alone.

Exiting the main tunnel, he found himself in a large chamber, illuminated by torches. The walls were lined with massive deposits of marbled rock roast.

As he walked in, he found Yunobo, his eyes blank, as he was staring down at another figure in front of him, hidden from view due to his large size. As Link attempted to get a closer look, the Goron boss turned his attention to one of the marbled rock deposits. Curling himself up into a ball, he began spinning in place at tremendous speed, his body engulfing itself with fire as he did.

In a flash, he shot forward, rolling into the rock deposit, causing a small burst of flame upon contact. The great rock was shattered into smaller pieces of marbled rock roast, scattering them all over the cave floor.

As the dust cleared, Link finally got a good look at who Yunobo had been conversing with. His eyes suddenly went wide, as he let out a gasp.

"Zelda?"

The sound of his voice caused Yunobo to turn around, alerted to his presence as he let out a small gasp in return. The woman standing beside him made no sound, not even turning her face towards Link. Though her face remained unseen; her white and green dress, short stature and golden hair were all just like the Zelda from his visions.

"What are you doing here? I told you to leave! Everyone is happy without your help!" Yunobo barked.

"I've left this place alone long enough," Link told him, keeping his hands lowered so as to not appear threatening, "You have to stop this, Yunobo. Can't you see what these rocks are doing to the other Gorons?"

"It. Makes. Them. Happy!"

"Is this what Daruk would have wanted?!"

"Daruk..." Yunobo repeated. For a moment, Link saw a flicker in his eyes, as though for a brief second, he had snapped out some kind of trance.

"He's right, cut it out already, President Yunobo!" Offrak chimed in with the swordsman.

"We want you to take off that weird mask so you can go back to the President Yunobo we know and love!" Slergo added.

"Boys..." Yunobo muttered. Before he could say anything more, however, the woman beside him outstretched her arms, as an odd, haunting melody filled the cave room. The mining president groaned, as he gripped his head in pain, as the markings surrounding his eyes began to glow the same red-purple as the marbled rock roast.

"Get back!" Link ordered the two children, as he drew his blue moblin smasher and soldier's shield.

Lowering his arms, Yunobo's eyes snapped open, his glowing like the marbled rock roast.