It took some time but Vaati finally arrived at the Lost Woods via his tornado. After reaching the ground, his knees almost went as he started panting.

"Without… my… mage's cap…" He said between breaths. "My magic isn't as strong, nor does it last as long."

This is true, the mage's cap he once wore was the source of his power. This new cap, while he liked it, wasn't proving him much outside of a good look. Once he caught his breath, Vaati stood upright and saw what looked like some kind of fog inside the trees. He paid no interest in this, and marched confidently into the trees.

"Once I get my hand on this so-called legendary weapon…" At this point he's officially entered the forest. "I'll return to the castle. Holding it in my hands might give me the edge, no pun intended, that will make my plans easier to finish." He rubs his chin in thought with a big smile. "I might have to wear a shiny suit of armor for the princess. It'd be out of a storybook for the two of-" At this moment, Vaati notices something wrong. He's somehow past the trees and fog. "What?" He looks around and notices his surrounding are oddly familiar.

This is the exact same area I entered. I didn't walk for much long.

He turns around and recognizes the exact same trees he saw. Curious, Vaati steps back in and walks in a straight path. After about 10 seconds of walking, he finds he's returned. This time, he turns around chooses to walk backwards, looking as the fog surrounds him as he sees the trees again. Now getting annoyed, Vaati entered again. This time, instead of walking in one path, he makes several turns. He forgets how many, because he once again ends up in the same spot as before after about a minute of walking.

"WHAT?!" He shouts in anger. He then takes a deep breath, managing to think clearly. "This fog must be magic that keeps me out." He turns to face the forest before raising both arms, ready to clap. "Not for long!" He claps with his extended arms, creating a large gust that was meant to blow the fog away. His confident grin fades when it does nothing. Now losing patience, Vaati looks above the trees. This gives him an idea. "Perhaps there's a different path I can take."

This time spent walking has replenished his power. Now he decides to use his wind power to create a tornado to ride above the Lost Woods. Smug that his plan worked, the wind mage sees a larger tree in the very center of this forest that is somehow bigger than Hyrule Castle Town. It's as if he's a Minish again when he sees the tree. He now lands in front of the tree, looking around. He notices what looks like a field, with few flowers. But it was all vacant.

I remember hearing from Ezlo there was a race of forest children. Either it was just a story or they're extinct.

It was now he noticed a sword. This sword was embedded in a pedestal not too far from him. Walking to it, Vaati bends down to take a closer look.

"Hmm…" He hums as he observes the hilt. It had a blueish, purple-like tint to it. "It looks like a blend of blue and purple, just like my princess and I." He smiles. He then stands up and reaches for it. "I now claim this blade!"

"Stop villain!"

This surprises Vaati. "What?!" He looks around to see the booming voice. "Who?!" There's no one around. He sees no one who could have spoken so loudly. "Where are you?!"

"Look behind and above you!" It bellowed.

This must be how Zelda felt. I can only hope this figure does not kiss me, it doesn't sound like a lovely maiden.

Turning, Vaati looks to the tree, seeing up at what appears like an old man's face, with a large bump resembling a nose and bushes of some kind looking like eyebrows and a mustache. "Where are you?!" He asks out loud. "Behind this ugly-looking tree?"

"I am the tree!" The face of the tree says in the voice he's heard.

"Whaa?!" The wind mage cringes at the sight of the face speaking, stepping back in his surprise. "H-How?!"

"I…" It spoke again. "am known as the Deku Tree."

"The Deku Tree is real?!" Vaati asks in complete disbelief.

"You ride on the wind and are shocked that I exist?"

"Point taken…" Vaati says. He then places his hand near his chest in a form of introduction. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am the wind mage, future king of Hyrule, and future husband of Zelda. I am none other than-"

"I know who you are, Vaati." The Deku Tree cuts in. "I know much about the world outside of this forest, including the evils that plague it. You are among them, second only to Ganon."

I'm getting very tired of people caring so much about that pig.

"Then you know why I'm here. Are you planning to intervene?"

"I am not." He responds.

Vaati eyes the tree curiously. "Then you seriously aren't going to stop me?"

"I am the sword's observant, not its guardian. You are free to try and pull the Master Sword from its resting place."

"The Master Sword eh?" Vaati says and he looks over his right shoulder. "I like the name. It's certainly more elegant to look at than the Four Sword, though that's probably just my bias." He turns around and walks to the sword. "With this blade, Hyrule and its princess are all mine." He places his hand on its hilt. "Now, I'm already coming up with ideas for names Zelda and I can-" Before he can finish his sentence, he quickly notices the sword he tries to lift isn't budging one bit. "What?" His smile now dropping. "What is this?"

Vaati grabs the hilt with both hands and tries to pull, using his legs near the blade to give him extra push. When that isn't helping, he tries a different angle, but to no avail. Now he tries pushing it out by bending down and lifting from underneath. Still, no such movement. Now annoyed, Vaat looks at his reflection on the blade. Feeling as though the sword is mocking him, he pokes the dull side of the blade.

Once he makes contact, the blade flashes briefly. Not bright enough to blind anyone, at best it's just the light of a candle in a dimly lit room. But along with it is a sort of crashing sound.

"Ow!"

Vaati retreats his hand. His finger in pain. It's pain he can't even think of as he tries to blow on it and even puts it in his mouth to soothe the pain. Nothing, it fades away after he pulls his finger out and leaves it be. Now that he looks at his finger, he sees it isn't cut or anything. He can't understand why it was in pain. It was as though it was crushed, zapped, burnt and stabbed at the same time.

Vaati gets up and glares viciously at the Deku Tree. "What happened?! You said you were the sword's observant, not guardian! Why do you prevent me from claiming it?!"

"I did not. The sword itself rejects you."

"What?!"

"The Master Sword chooses its master by looking into his or her heart. Like it, I too can look into yours. I see a light growing. It is a light that grew since meeting Princess Zelda. However, I can also see the darkness grow in the exact same way, from meeting her as well. You have the ability to redeem yourself, but there is too much darkness in you. The sword will not accept you."

"Make it so." Vaati growls.

"I cannot. The sword cannot be convinced unless you alleviate your evil."

"Then I will destroy it!" Vaati boasts as he aims his arm and fires a small ball of dark energy at the sword. Instead of destroying its target, the ball of energy hits some kind of invisible shield, causing it to fade away. "What?!" Vaati is now furious.

"The sword cannot be destroyed. It was forged by the flames of the Goddesses Nayru, Din and Farore, and wielded by the goddess Hylia. Your power is like a mosquito against a mountain."

Vaati looks back to the Deku Tree, looking surprised by this statement. "They're real?!"

"Indeed." The Deku Tree answers. "In fact, Hylia once reincarnated as a mortal woman, she was the first Zelda, one of the founders of Hyrule. The female descendants inherit her power, the one you know has the potential to be the strongest."

"The princesses are descended from a deity?!" His frustration gone for this brief moment. "No wonder I'm constantly drawn to them. It's also no wonder this one feels so… divine." He mutters to himself with a smirk. That smirk goes away when he does back to talking to the Deku Tree. "Regardless, even without this large letter-opener, I will still conquer Hyrule!"

"A better man than you has tried many times before, and his name is Ganon!"

"Enough about Ganon!" Vaati now yells. "Why is that boorish boar so easily remembered?! I plagued this land twice before he was ever a thing!" He now points his finger at the Master Sword. "Can Ganon do this?!"

His finger shoots a beam that creates a series of chains that wrap around the hilt while also connecting to the ground. As if the chains are keeping the sword from unsheathing itself and rising.

"What have you done?!" The Deku Tree asks.

"A spell the Yiga clan has been working on, one only I could make work." Vaati answers. "It may take a while before the Master Sword's power can dissolve the chains, but it may take too long. Until then, the country and Zelda will be mine!" Vaati then gives a sarcastic bow. "It's been a pleasure meeting you."

With one snap of his fingers, Vaati disappears.

"This is not good." The Deku Tree expresses his concern. "Makar!"

Not far from the Deku Tree, a small, wooden creature with a leaf on its face, one with holes resembling eyes and a mouth, pops out of the ground.

"Is he gone? This Makar asks.

"He is. It seems the time has come for us to find the chosen wielder of the Master Sword. You must find him. Try by find the princess and seeing someone you believe may be right based on his heart. We must be prepared by finding the Hero of Hyrule."

Makar nods.


It feels like a bad dream. The dancing, the attack on her guards, and especially the kiss. Zelda is starting to feel a little better. While on her way out of Castle Town, she saw some couples kissing. She looked away, not wanting anything to trigger the memory.

They're out of the town now, they have been for about 2 hours. The clear skies and fresh air do her good. She's slightly uncomfortable with the wind, but at least she knew it was natural compared to Vaati's disappearing act.

At least now I'm free of him.

"It's going to be sundown in a few hours, should we not find some place to rest and eat first?" One Sheikah male asked.

Purah was the only female of the guarding group, so Zelda knew it wasn't her.

"You may be right." She looks around and sees a small group of trees, with one large tree in the back to provide shade. "We can eat there." She points to where she sees.


"Ugh, so close!" Vaati snapped. "I almost had it all, but that butter knife is too picky! And that pompous wooden windbag!" The Deku Tree reminded him of Ezlo, but not in a good way. How he talked to him like he was a clueless child. But he managed to forget that when he remembered his spell. "As long as I can complete my plans before it weakens, it should be fine. But still, I should try and prevent it from weakening sooner in case they find the idiot to take it to undo my spell."

Vaati thinks about books he read through that the Yiga host gave him earlier when he got free boarding. He had an idea of what might work, so he had to make sure it didn't happen. He had an idea where it might be, based on a location he once visited during his early days of looking for the Lightforce. He figured it was worth a look and a try to teleport.

It was like a miracle. Vaati arrived perfectly. This area didn't look that different, albeit there were more hills than he remembered. Clearly the land has been changed by nature. He took a brief moment to look around at the grasslands he sees around him, surrounded by hills. While looking at the clear skies above him with a bright sun above him.

It reminds me of her.

He thought of Princess Zelda once more. It calmed him from his earlier frustrations. The green hills reminded her of his eyes, the blue sky reminded him of her dress, and the golden sunlight reminded him of her hair. He remembered when he danced with her how soft her hair felt. He wanted to see her again soon.

"Princess!"

A woman's voice calls out. This caught his attention. He turned in the direction it came from and ran up the hill. At the top he saw what looked like Sheikah and a single Hylian girl. Upon closer inspection, she had long blonde hair and a blue top. She also had black, form-fitting pants and boots.

"It couldn't be…" He whispered.


Purah called her over to give Zelda a small tray of food. Zelda knew the Sheikah's cuisine and was fond of it. It isn't fruitcake, but these meat-filled rice balls were delicious. Her tray had about 4 of them.

"Thank you, Purah." She was thankful of her friend bringing food.

While the Sheikah eat in a pile, Zelda chose to do so at the large tree. It was decently shaded and she could lean on since the other trees in the area were rather thin.

"This is rather nice." She admitted to herself in person as she was eating her lunch. She's nowhere near him. She's feeling a bit better now since last night. The kiss still bothered her, but she's reminding herself there's more to deal with than one madman.

He's nowhere near me.


Vaati couldn't believe it, she was here. He wanted to reunite with her and she's here. He wasn't even looking for her and she was here.

I must get to her.

He decided to put his plans to prolong the Master Sword's freedom on hold. He had to see her. But he was cautious, he figured the Sheikah were harder to deal with than some poorly trained guards. With that, he chose to go around the hill rather than descend. He ran down from where he ran and went to his right, Zelda's left, and sneak in. He slowly tip-toed until he got behind a smaller tree that was thankfully not as thin as the others besides the large one that she rests on. He was able to peak around and see her halfway done with her food. Even her side view was beautiful.

"Still lovely even out of your gown, I see." He whispered. He didn't want her to be aware of his presence, not yet. "Now to distract those idiot guards…" Vaati snaps his fingers.

He creates a small gust that goes past all of the sentient beings and startle the horses. This caught the Sheikah's guards attention, as three of them got up to calm the horses down. Purah and the only other male remained behind, though their attention was to their teammates. As was Zelda's.

This is my chance.

Vaati quickly runs. Thankfully, the tree he used was still far out of her peripheral vision, letting him avoid her attention. He was now behind her tree. He was about ready to slowly inch his way around the tree when he heard her get up.

"Well, that's that." Zelda gets up, having set the tray aside. "I suppose I should wait until they finish."

Wow, the girl can eat.

They now leaned on the tree, from opposite sides. Vaati couldn't help but smile. It was like the two were small children, playing with each other. Slowly easing his way in, Vaati could see Zelda's hair and her left shoulder. He also sees her hand, open and free. He decided this was the best way to let her know of his presence, by holding her hand. He then reaches for it. He pulls back when he hears her yawn.

It looks like I'm a bit drowsy from that food. I guess I'll rest my eyes.

She thought this as she did so. Her hands now behind back as her eyes shut.

Great. I was so close.

Vaati scowled that he took too long. He returned to his previous spot, thinking how else he can make his move. He peaked and noticed the Sheikah are still occupied with their steeds. He decided he should come close to Zelda and did so. He inched in from her left. He got a good look at her as her eyes were shut.

Her face, so relaxed and pretty. And her hair looked so lovely. He wondered if it smelled as good as it looked. Feeling confident, he came in and quietly smelled her hair. It was lovely. He exhaled. He realized his mistake. He breathed on her. He bolted back to the other side of the tree.

"What?" Zelda asked. She almost drifted to sleep before she felt a sort of warm breeze on her left side, touching mostly her hair and cheek. Once he eyes open, she heard something move quickly, away from her. She was curious, thought a bit unsettled given what happened the night before. "Hello?" She asks.

She can't know I'm here now! Despite his growing lust for her, he knew she'd sick her guards on him after what he just did and he was in no mood to fight. He came to his senses once she became aware someone was nearby. He heard her steps. He quickly though about teleporting, but he did not want to leave her so soon. At this point, he felt like he could just shrink from the embarrassment of being caught this way. Him, the future ruler of Hyrule, caught like a little pervert outside a girl's bathroom. Suddenly, without warning, that's just what happened.

He shrunk.

"What?" He says outloud. He covers his mouth with his hands before noticing something. Zelda was no where to be seen, only grass. Large grass that once went up to his ankles that now were somewhat taller than him.

"Hello?" He heard Zelda speak again, only somewhat louder. He looked up in the direction she could be heard from, only for him to look up and see Zelda, as a giant. She looked to where the wind mage was, only to see no one there. "Hmm, perhaps it was my imagination, or a squirrel of some kind." She says, and then sighs with relief.

I'm starting to feel paranoid.

"Princess Zelda." One of the male Sheikah says, walking up to her from behind. "We realize that we're a bit short of food for the trip and Mabe Village is past those hills." He points towards the hills Vaati came from. "Shall we restock supplies?"

"Good idea." Zelda smiled.

As his prized princess and her guard entourage leave, Vaati stared at them. Notably, his eyes darted to Zelda, her lower region. He noticed how form-fitting her pants are. As he stared dreamingly at her, it took him a moment more to remember that he's the same size as he was as a Minish.

"What happened just now?" He observed his current condition. He hasn't been this small since he was a Minish. Then it dawned on him, clearly, he had to change size after his transformation. He also had gaps in his memory. "I must have unintentionally used my size alteration ability." He thought of how he felt so small at the idea of her catching him after sniffing her hair and her guards nearby. Perhaps if he thought himself big, that might happen. "If I think big, I might grow. It's worth a try."

He closes his eyes, and it works. He's returned to his previous size. But he was so close…

"Now… to find Zelda."


Mabe Village isn't known for being anything like Hyrule Castle Town, but it is lovely. It's one of Zelda's favorite stops when she out doing her archaeological research. It's also where they could an intact Guardian underground. That and they always served such lovely tea, so she figured while they gather food, she should have a cup.

These people knew her very well, they always knew her favorite and provided her with her cup quickly. She was their best customer. Zelda took her sip.

"Ah, this hit the spot." She says, in a relaxed tone. Leans back for a moment, finally feeling like she has nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately for her, someone is watching her.

Using his rediscovered shrinking ability, Vaati made his way to her outdoor table on the grass. Now underneath, Vaati looks up at her legs.

"If only you were wearing your skirt again, my darling."

He had no issue using it for perverted reasons. He did sniff her hair earlier after all. Albeit he wanted to avoid being caught since he heard the Sheikah guard were the best trained of their kind. He saw Zelda then cross her legs and used his wind power to move to his right, her left, and see her left leg on top of her right. His size made it so she can't see him or be aware of his wind bursts. He didn't mind this, so he sat down, legs crossed, and observed her shapely legs as he heard her enjoy her tea.

Their enjoyment was short lived.

"So did you hear? The princess was dancing with a villain at her party?"

One of two men nearby said as they were nearby during their walk.

"Really? Why would she do that?"

"Apparently, no one knew it at first."

"That's good, the princess may have failed to awaken her powers, but even the heir to a throne of nothing should have known better."

"Exactly, imagine if she had kissed him too. She should be lucky that he was-"

"Is that her?"

Both men stopped when they noticed Princess Zelda. Afraid of what would happen next, they both turn and walk away without muttering a single word.

Hearing this broke Zelda. She was reminded some think her a failure of a family of greatness, not to mention reminded her of that kiss.

"Why can't I just have one day without being reminded of my failures?" She asked quietly. Not many people were around to hear her, as far as she knew, but Vaati heard her. "At least people don't know what else happened."

Vaati would have cursed those two idiots for daring to speak of her that way, but something else caught his mind. They don't know, they don't know I kissed her. He looks to the princess, her legs anyway, and ponders again. She's told no one. But why?


She paid her drink once she finished. She's now away from her table, away from the little café. There's a small shade for donkeys to rest while the human they travel with go elsewhere for food or other needs. It has walls keep sunlight from touching its sides. Zelda rests on the left side, her back on it. She's deep in thought.

No matter what, I can't seem to avoid people thinking I'm not the princess they want.

She's so deep in thought that she doesn't notice someone on the other side of the wall, in where the donkey would be standing. Vaati has since grown back to human size and rests his back on the wall. He thinks how if there weren't a wooden barrier between them, they'd stand with their backs against each other like this. He was eager to make himself present when he heard her talk to herself.

"I've been trying hard, very hard, to fulfill my family's legacy. I tried finding a different way to make people have their faith in me, but I always get treated as in the wrong." She's beginning to tear up. Vaati, though confident in his attempt to see her, actually feels some sense of familiarity in her issues.

I wanted to be more than just the rest of my people. I found interest in darkness like she with her precious magic machines. But they shunned me as they her.

He hears Zelda lightly hitting the wall with something behind him. She turned around and is resting her forehead.

"I just want someone, anyone, to understand me. I want my love of learning and talents to be appreciated and for someone to help me not feel like a failure."

Hearing this, Vaati turned around and rested his own forehead like her. He actually felt bad for her to a degree, recognizing how similar their pasts were. He too enjoyed to learn and do more than what his race wanted, but Ezlo always stifled it in favor of following their traditions. Here he was, so close to her, this girl whose issues are so close to his own. Then it donned on him, and a smile formed. He knew a way to get her interest.

"Zelda!" Purah's voice calls out. Zelda turns and sees her Sheikah friend now some feet away. "We have the supplies, we're ready to go."

"Okay." Zelda gave a light smile. "Let's go." She hopes that maybe their trip will yield good results. As she takes some steps away, a gust of air behind her occurs that blows her hair. "What?!"

She quickly turns around, wiping some of her hair out of her face to see the post she was leaning on. She sees no way the wind could have affected her if there was something in the way. Feeling nervous, since last night had a mage with wind powers, she slowly inches to see the inside. She sighs with relief when she sees nothing there.

She didn't realize someone was so close.


Vaati returns to where his village once was. Now remembering his size alteration, he shrinks back down to Minish size. He decides to return to his home, which only he can actually enter, due to his Minish origins. The village, the one he remembered as having many Minish, was empty, vacant homes and empty spaces. This does not interest him, only the place he once called home. Upon entering it, he made his way to what was once Ezlo's study. It was almost perfect for him. The old fool didn't take them with him. They must have left in a hurry.

Yes. This would help him win Zelda's heart.


Vaati's a stalker. He's okay with holding her hands, but he came too his senses almost too late.

But what could he have found would he think help him in bringing Zelda to his side?

Also, that making love/out thing from chapters ago. I've been rewatching Pepe Le Pew cartoons and explain to millenials that the term didn't mean sex back then, like how "gay" didn't use to mean "homosexual". Just something I thought to add.

Anyway, what's coming next?