Hi guys! I know, I know, it's been a VERY long while. But, I got the Christmas holidays now! Two weeks of writing my story! YAY!
I also wrote this two days previously, but I wanted to give it to you today (coz it's Christmas eve today, and I have no idea how time zones work, so I am hoping this will arrive to you on Christmas day- so my present to all of you!)

I am also having writers block here, or lazy syndrome. because yesterday I spent 8 hours watching Fairy Tail.

That's not healthy.

(1)- I have a soft spot for lemons. Shhhhhhh...
(2)- DEFYYYYYYYIIING GRAAAAVVVITEEEEE

Chapter 21

Vaati's Arrival

I looked around me and saw the familiar woods that we had stayed in for so long. The sun was pouring through the crown of the trees, giving the frozen ground a mystic feel. I shivered, my clothes not thick enough to keep my body warm. I was on a bank of a river, and on the other side stood two people. It was Shadow Link and Violet, and they were running across the bank. I smiled as I saw their playful banter, Shadow running at Violet with a water capsule. I could see Shadow laughing, Vio trying to persuade him not to throw the water on her. They were already a bit soaked, as if they had been splashed by water. I felt a bit overprotective when Violet fell over on the ground, but when Shadow fell onto her, I took a step forward in anger. I saw Violet's eyes widening, followed by a subtle blush. She talked. So did he. But instead of rolling off her like a good little Shadow, he slid his hand to her neck and forced her face up to his. After a few seconds of this, my anger was so great that I was clenching my fists, but my feet refused to run forward. Just as I thought that it was too much to bear, another figure appeared into the scene. Across the bank, Jasmine stood in shock, clearly betrayed just like me. She left as soon as she came, and I watched her go. When I turned back towards the other two, the pain far greater than I had ever experienced before. My will to move finally came back to me, and just as I left the scene, I caught my reflection in the river. Those red eyes were unmistakeable. I was Vaati.

I opened my eyes in shock, and it took me a while to recognise where I was. I looked to my right, and saw Shadow sleeping with his back against a tree. No-one else was there, and then I remembered that I had slept out to avoid any of the awkwardness between me and the others. Why shadow was here with me, I had no idea. I lifted my head from the pillow of leaves, and saw that it was early in the morning. Sighing, I got up and brushed off all the dirt off me, and shook him awake. His eyes were unresponsive, but then they focused on me, and he gave a tired smile.

"Mornin'" He mumbled, and stretched. I let go of his shoulder.

"Mind if I ask why you are here?" I crossed my arms, and fixed my glare on him as he got up.

"I came to tell you something, but you were asleep so I figured I'd wait 'till you woke up." He clicked his back.

I was still not impressed. "What you were going to tell me?"

He was hesitant to reply, either still gathering his thoughts or deciding what to say. "I was going to tell you the plan." He sighed, and turned to me with his hands on his hips. "First things first, I have to tell you this. Before we set out on our journey, Vaati said he would join our party when we draw near Ganon's castle. We're about a mile away, so he'll be arriving sometime today." I literally froze. Vaati's coming? At first I was overjoyed, but then I remembered that I had cheated him on him. My joy crushed with guilt, I nervously listened to the rest of what Shadow had to say. "Once we reach the castle, Vaati will pretend he is going to make alliances with the fat pig. Most likely he will ask him to dine, and this is when we will sneak in, and climb to the top of the castle. There is an array of beams to keep the castle structured, right above the dining hall. We must slip the elixir Vaati will give us into Ganon's drink, which will instantly paralyse him. From there, we will have all three of the treasures, and return to Vaati's castle." He paused, and looked at me. "Got that?"

I blinked. "You've got that all figured out." I wasn't expecting that from Shadow. I scoffed on the thought that he thought all that through. "Vaati made that plan, didn't he?"

Shadow smirked. "Of course he did, only Vaati would think of something so interconnected and risky as that. Oh, and you girls need to perfect that spell before Vaati comes." Damn it. Like Shadow to only give us a day to get it right. Good thing I practiced for the rest of yesterday. It took me hours of practice to hold the barrier for more than 10 seconds. Sighing, I broke my trail of thoughts. Then I snapped my head up in realisation. "Shadow! The prisoners! They could have escaped!" his eyes widened in shock, and we both bolted for the camping site.

"dammit Shadow! You were supposed to watch them!" I shouted as we ran, jumping over every obstacle that the forest threw at us. Soon we were back at the campsite, our fears confirmed.

...Almost.

Jasmine and Raven looked up in fear, frozen in the act of untying Link and Zelda. The rope fell to the floor an Link rubbed his wrists where the rope had gnawed at his wrists whilst standing up. He helped Zelda up, and stepped forward. Defiance was etched on his face, like so many times before. He is so narrow-minded. I looked over at Shadow, who was absolutely furious. No kidding, he just found two of his friends betray him. Me, I just stood there like a lemon. Heh, lemons... (1)

"And WHAT do you two THINK YOU ARE DOING?" Shadow shouted. Jasmine gulped. Raven blinked. Then they all bolted for it. But they only got so far before they all jumped out of their skins, when they all came face-to-face with a massive eyeball, with a blood red iris. The whole thing was levitated due to wings attached to the arms. How he was defying gravity, I do not know (2). But I knew who it was, and you would be a fool not to. The massive eyeball was Vaati, in his demonic form, of course. The four runaways froze in their tracks, and had to crane their necks up to make eye contact with him. And from even my viewpoint, it was clear he was angry.

"It appears your control over these two maidens is limited, Shadow Link." Vaati spoke, and with his magic he bound all four in chains, joined at the ankles and cuffed at the hands. The four were dismayed, chains being far worse than ropes, and now Raven and Jasmine were tied down too.

I laughed. "Well that backfired at you, didn't it?" I walked towards Jasmine with a smile. Hurt lingered in her eyes, and for once I was glad it was there. Shadow bowed down to Vaati, and muttered an apology. Vaati sighed, and then transformed back into his former self. I turned to Vaati, and smiled. "Long time, no see."

Vaati laughed. Goddesses, I had missed him so much. How could I have possibly had a crush on Shadow? Vaati is so much better than him. I thought. Vaati smiled also, and walked towards the runaways.

"This party is getting too big." At that he clicked his fingers, and as a result Link and Zelda disappeared. Raven and Jasmine gasped in shock, at which Vaati only laughed again. "Spare your concern for them, I have merely sent them to the palace. There they are of no nuisance to us and from- well, I'd be lying if I said if they were from harm!" I rolled my eyes. He hadn't changed at all. Shadow and I looked at each other. We both smirked, and walked towards the two traitors.

"So what do we do with them?" Shadow asked Vaati, whilst looking down on the shaking girls. They were huddled together, trying to gain courage from one another.

Vaati scoffed, and turned away from them to inspect his surroundings. "What do we do with them? Nothing. They're still important. Bu what I do need to know, Shadow, is if you've taught them the spell." Shadow froze.

"Well, I have but..." He searched for the right words to say. "They haven't...necessarily...mastered it yet." An awkward smile came across his face, and even I hoped that Vaati's reaction wouldn't be too back.

Vaati turned around to respond to Shadow. "That's not a problem." we all gave a sigh of relief, even Jasmine and Raven. "Show me what you all have got. Violet, you can go first."

I gulped, and turned to Jasmine and Raven. They would be my test subjects. I smiled, and remembered what I had practised all day yesterday. Focus, and reach your inner strength...

"here and now I cast this spell,

onto you, I'll now impel,

a prison of the strangest kind,

where you'll stay, your fate defined!"

A sudden gust of wind orbited me, sending everyone in shock. The black flames grew around the two, until they were completely encircled. The red glow made it look eerie, truly mystical. I let out a sigh of relief, all that hard work had paid off. I nervously watched as Vaati walked up to my barrier, and knocked on it. But it held firm, not even disappearing under his touch.

"Not bad, Violet. Now take it down." he turned to me.

I caught my breath. "Take it down?" Was there a second part to the spell? Vaati looked at my confused expression, and turned to Shadow Link who was trying to sneak out. Vaati looked seriously pissed, and crossed his arms.

"Shadow, you did teach them how to take the spell down, didn't you?" He raised an eyebrow.

"...No." Shadow replied, and returned to the scene meekly. Vaati face palmed, and I saw him trying to work things out.

"No matter. I'll do it myself." He then walked to my barrier and disarmed it. Jasmine and Raven were standing up now, clearly offended by my actions. Then he took away the chains binding them. "Raven, you're up next." I saw the brief look between Raven and Jasmine, one of those reassuring looks they use to share with me. I felt a bit guilty, but I just buried it down deeper.

Raven faced Jasmine, and performed the spell. I had seen neither her barrier or Jasmine's before, so I wanted to see what Raven's would be like. I was surprised when I saw a blue lightening surround Jasmine, much brighter than mine. Raven had clearly ben practicing too, as her barrier held like mine. Vaati was impressed, and this gave Shadow something to hold onto. It seems that if we failed, it would be his fault.

"You surely have been practicing, Raven." Vaati then took the barrier down, and ordered Jasmine to go next. She faced Vaati with a plain face.

"Vaati, I will not perform the spell Raven. I would prefer Violet to be my test subject." Vaati looked at her in shock, as did everyone else.

I laughed, and crossed my arms. "I'm fine with this, you'll fail anyway." Jasmine set her glare on me, and started to perform the spell. A green light appeared this time, and I laughed when I saw that her barrier was made of tree roots. Jasmine was always a down to earth girl. But the barrier only lasted for a few seconds, before it disappeared. I saw Jasmine out of breath, and aggravated that she hadn't completed the spell. There was an awkward silence before Vaati spoke up again.

"Slightly disappointing." He mumbled. Jasmine snapped her head round, and I knew this wasn't good.

"I don't need your approval!" She hissed, and I took a step back in shock. This wasn't Jasmine at all. "Why do we have to do all this anyway?"

I expected Jasmine to be beaten, but instead Vaati only laughed. "I was wondering when you would begin to get curious." He crossed his arms. "I might as well tell you now why I want these three sacrifices."

I gasped. "You're going to tell us? Now?" I took a step forwards. Was my question really about to be answered?

Vaati shrugged. "Might as well. I'm sure one of you saw the correlation between the three trials and the sacred force, called the triforce? You all represent a part of the triforce. Raven, you are the maiden of power. Jasmine, you are the maiden of courage. And Violet, you're the maiden of wisdom. You will each sacrifice the triforce bearers, in order for me to gain the holy force and rule this land. I am sure you have all heard the fairy tale of 'the three friends'?" He smiled when Raven and Jasmine gasped at the secret that I had known for so long. So the treasure was the triforce? That's why he had gone all this length to achieve it. The triforce was a power held by the gods, and if gained the bearer can grant one wish. If Vaati got what he wanted...

"Violet, you seem a bit phased." Vaati declared.

I snapped out of my trance, and smiled. "This is certainly a very intelligent plan you have come up with, Vaati. I wonder how many days of research it took for you to figure it all out."

Vaati looked a bit shocked. "You already knew you were the maiden of wisdom from the tale?"

I scoffed. "It didn't take much to put two and two together. It used to be our favourite bed time story. Isn't that right girls?" I looked over at the other two, who nodded in agreement.

"Well well, you certainly live up to your name, Violet. But now that I have said that, has Shadow told you all of the plan to attack Ganondorf?" I nodded and so did the others. Shadow must have told them earlier. I thought. I looked over to Shadow, who I haven't heard of in a while. I rolled my eyes when I saw him eating the food stock. Boys will always be boys.

"Without further delay then, we shall travel to Ganon's castle." Vaati said simply, and with that, we had teleported to the front gates of the rumoured castle.

It was absolutely massive. Black stones built the monstrous building upon a levitated fragment of land, putting a massive ditch between the castle and the landscape. It must have taken a lot of magic to lift the whole castle off the floor... I thought. I suddenly started to doubt whether we had a chance against Ganondorf.

There! it's done! I hope you all are happy, coz my brain is totally frazzled.

Vaati told his secret! Will this change eh three maiden's contributions to his plan?