Link's POV:

I hurried across the stone bridge and up the stone stairs that led to Kakariko Village.

I am getting seriously tired of all the running I'm doing. 

When I reached the village, I decided to have a look around. There was an inn, a potion shop (with a creepy old hag), a windmill, and several houses. One of said houses was filled with skulltulas.

Before I was able to draw my swrod, the largest one begged me to lift the curse placed on his household by killing all the golden skulltulas. As it so happened, I had already killed quite a few. And so a man (previously a skulltula) thanked me and gave me a larger rupee bag.

I found a sign that pointed the way to Death Mountain. Unfortunately, a gate blocked my path. Along with a single guard.

I had run straight up to the gate, when the guard pulled me back by the top of my tunic.

"Just where do you think you're going?" He asked gruffly.

"I need to get up to Death Mountain." I replied urgently. "Under Princess Zelda's orders."

The guard looked at me a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "BWA HA HA!" He guffawed. "ZELDA'S ORDERS! BWA HA HA HA...eh?"

I had held up Zelda's letter and was waving it in front of his face. The guard took it and read It carefully. The Letter said: This is Link. He is under my orders to save Hyrule. - Zelda.

The guard again burst into laughter. "BWA HA HA! Well then "Mr. Hero"...you had better shimmy on up to Death mountain. Wonder what the Princess is going on about THIS time." He wiped at his eyes, but opened the gate.

"Thank you sir." I began to run towards the gate, but again was held back by the man.

"Just a minute Mr. Hero." He grabbed my tunic AGAIN. "You can't climb Death Mountain without a proper shield." He eyed my wooden Deku Shield. "Go on back to castle town and tell the man who sells the shield that I sent you. He'll give you a discount."

I sighed and trudged ALL THE WAY back out of Kakariko Village to get the stupid Hylian shield.

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Not ten minutes later, I finally made it back to the gate and passed through. Making sure the guard could see my shield.

I started the uphill climb. There were a few monsters but I decided to just dodge them.

I was walking up the mountain when I heard a rolling sound. All of a sudden a huge yellow boulder burst from around the corner and came rolling towards me. I leapt to the side, almost leaping off the mountain, to avoid being crushed.

I went around the corner it had appeared from and saw a dark cave-like opening. Maybe this is where the Goron's lived?

Inside the cave, I was greeted by a large yellow...uh...goron. With purple eyes. "Hey there. Need help with something?" It's voice boomed.

"I'm looking for the spiritual stone of fire." I explained quickly.

"Ah! You must mean that tasty looking red rock." The goron gripped his growling stomach. Hopefully gorons don't eat people...

"Boss Darunia took it so no one would "eat it". I think he just ate it himself. And now he's shut up down there." The goron pointed to a door on the lowest level of the huge cave village.

"Thanks." I called and went to find some stairs.

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I ran down SEVERAL flights of stairs until I came to the bottom level. There stood the stone door with a small rug in front of it. I tried to open the door, but it was too heavy.

"Can you help me with this?" I asked a passing goron.

"Boss Darunia won't open the door to anyone 'sept the messenger he says will come from Hyrule." The goron shrugged and continued on its way.

A messenger from the royal family? I wonder...

I took out my ocarina and played the Royal Family's song. Sure enough, the door opened.

At the end of the short hallway was a small room. In this room stood a tall, angry goron. "YOU!?" He stormed. "I opened the door expecting a messenger from the Royal Family, and yet they insult me by sending a small boy!?"

Now I was thoroughly insulted. "Please sir..." I began.

"NONE OF THAT!" The goron growled, his voice shaking the room. "You scoot out of here now. I have bigger problems to deal with."

I was about to object but the goron looked at me so threateningly that Navi deemed it wiser to let him cool off.

"Boss Darunia has been temperamental lately." Two gorons were gossiping on the stairs.

"Too bad he can't hear any of that green music he liked." The second goron replied. "On account of those boulders getting in the way of the tunnel to The Lost Woods."

The Lost Woods! That's where me and Saria would always play. Maybe the song that Darunia liked was Saria's song! Only one way to find out I guess...