A Rose for the Crown

Chapter 24

Link's POV

Was this the end? The pain, the heat, everything around me seemed so far away. . .

Two hours before. . .

The final room was definitely the warmest of the three. The sweltering heat rendered the air humid and hard to take in. The others weren't taking it any better. All covered in sweat clothes sticking to their skin.

This enemy was special. It blazed like an inferno sporting an ember crown. Its entire body burned, boiling all surrounding air. It too was sweating, bothered by its own heat. Scorching drops of lava poured on the sand. The more I looked, the worse it seemed to get. We all clearly saw that he was intent on keeping that crown of his.

Rose's POV

While I ran around the entire map, grabbing every shield in sight, the boys tackle the boss. Every now and then I glanced at the boys to see how they were faring. So far it wasn't so bad. They were hitting a ball back and forth between each other. Did I mention that it was on fire? Well, now I did. I picked up the pace towards them but brutally stopped to avoid a flame thrown my way.

"Rose, you doing alright over there?" asked Link.

I didn't answer but instead handed them all the shields. I moved out of the way giving them much needed space. The beast roared throwing the flaming coloured sphere. It flew to Link, singeing his clothes when he returned the burning orb. It changed blue making Ocean lunge in desperation. He barely reached it but nonetheless continued the pass. Red was the next one. Flame went and successfully sent it soaring. I thought it would go Star, in fact, it seemed we all thought that. The ball returned to Ocean instead. He stumbled and was hit. I rushed to his side looking at the new set of burns that latched on his skin.

"Are you okay?" I questioned.

He nodded and groaned moving up to fight. The same thing repeated over and over again until they finally smacked it back towards the boss. His extravagant fires calmed and revealed a smaller, scrawny enemy. When Flame slashed, he received burns harsher than Ocean. He screamed in pain dropping his weapon in the process.

"Flames!" we chorused.

He almost collapsed then and there, but we held him up.

"How are you going to deal damage if you can't touch it?" I asked extremely worried. If Flame got this damaged with one slash imagine the consequence for more.

"I don't know but until then, we'll keep fighting. Rose, take care of Flame for a moment while we figure something out" said Link.

I grabbed hold of our little spark and went to the side. I gave him a fairy I caught earlier and he healed instantly. He ruffled my hair and went back to the fight. Even then, no progress was made. They staggered in their position not even extinguishing the small fuse.

I spent a good five minutes pacing around thinking. There had to be a way out of here. If not, this entire quest would be for nothing and I would never see my sister again.

No, I will see her again no matter what. A call from Link brought me back. I gasped when I took notice of their states. The burns, the crackling, peeling flesh was everywhere. Not a piece of skin was untainted.

In my moment of shock, I failed to join them and aid.

"Hurry up Rose! We're getting run over here!"

The anger I felt was insane. I've never been this mad before but for some reason, I found comfort in my rage. The warm burn was all I needed to know what to do.

"Flammis, ardere indignatione mea!"

An explosion, a column of fire shaped around me. Not harsh like the boss, but rather warm like a fireplace burning in the winter. In the wind the flames went and there I was, ready to lend a hand.