Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda, or any of their franchise products, including the Four Swords on which this is loosely based (very loosely thanks to the Minish Cap, though this on a side note).
Chapter 25 – Raven
He clenched his fist around the handle of his sword and stepped inside the darkness. Enemy after enemy he had bested in this foreign castle, and now he had reached the throne room. The door slammed shut behind him and torches along the wall suddenly lit up.
"Ah… Raven… you've returned…"
On the high throne at the end of the hall a young man was sitting. The only thing that betrayed the fact he was actually a Minish were his ears that protruded his dark blue shoulder-length hair. Unlike Raven's ears (and everyone else's), they didn't end in a pointed tip facing up, but seemed to go sideways. His red eyes however had a soft colour so they could easily be mistaken for brown.
"I'm not alone this time," Raven spat as his cap seemed to stir.
"Ah yes…" Vaati hissed, "my old mentor who escaped his prison… what good do you think your cap will do?"
"Granted," Raven seemed to agree, "not as much good as this."
Raven held up the white sword he had received from the Minish and was pleased when he saw Vaati's eyes grew wider and redder. But quickly Vaati narrowed his eyes, though the intensity remained.
"So," Vaati responded, "I see he has been able to lead you to the Minish, despite my best efforts to shield you from them. And they've created this weapon for you."
Slowly Vaati stood up, creating a black sword with the flick of his wrist and stepped down off the stairs leading to the throne.
"Still, it's no use," he continued, "I defeated you once and I can do it again."
Raven slowly advanced, holding his sword ready for an attack of the Minish sorcerer. Though the sword was a powerful weapon, Raven still would have felt more confident with the Master Sword. But that would mean returning to Hyrule and that required time he didn't have. And he wasn't ready to return there yet, not when he still had a job to do. He knew he'd return to his beloved after he killed Vaati and would finally marry her and raise a child. But after he became the Hero of Time, he felt like he needed some time to think, so he started to wander and found himself in Mendrova, where Vaati had taken over. Raven involuntarily blinked to chase these thoughts away, as he knew he couldn't afford them now.
With a swift motion, he charged the Minish, but Vaati was able to parry. Raven didn't give up though, and unleashed an onslaught of blows, making Vaati fall back. Vaati grunted and let out a roar of rage. Dark energy crackled through the air and threw Raven back.
"You've certainly improved," Vaati grumbled, "it seems you've become the better swordsman now… but can you fight four opponents at the same time?"
Vaati started chant in an unknown language and seemed to blur. Dark shadows sprouted from him and he split himself up in four persons.
"Now," the four Vaati's said in unison, "let's see you handle this…"
"Fear not," Ezlo inside Raven's cap said, "what he can do, I can do as well."
Raven paid not much attention to his Minish helper, but dodged the four Vaati's as best as he could, and only barely registered Ezlo beginning to chant. Suddenly a bright light surrounded Raven and he saw himself three times.
"I've used the powers of the swords to split you up in four parts," Ezlo explained as the four Ravens each turned to a different Vaati, "but unlike my no good apprentice, your power isn't diminished. You are all exact copies of the original Raven, it's just the swords that's split up."
Raven seemed to nod as he noticed each sword he (or they) wielded had a different colour of handle. One of the Ravens slashed a fiery blade while another seemed to freeze Vaati's blade with his own. Quickly the Ravens had the upper hand and forced Vaati back.
"Curse you, Ezlo!" Vaati spat, "but that's not the only trick I have up my sleeve…"
The four Vaati's started chanting again and all four changed into a dark ball of shadow. The four balls flew into each other and formed one large ball. Slowly the ball changed into a demon, with golden claws at his hands and feet, and large wings protruding it's back. A single red eye, burning fierce, was centred in it's head.
"Now you die!" Vaati boomed.
"Quick!" Ezlo shouted, "come together so I can reform you!"
"No," the Raven's said simultaneously, "we got him now."
"You fool," Vaati laughed, "you can't beat me now…"
Suddenly he let out a shriek of pain when one of the Ravens slashed him from behind. As he turned around, another Raven struck him.
"This won't help you!" Vaati raged, "you can't beat me with your pathetic swords. All you'll do is just make me more angry!"
"He's right," Ezlo agreed, "you can only beat him with the power of the four elements. This may cause him pain but it won't kill him!"
"All part of the plan," Raven hissed as he dodged Vaati's claw, causing an opening for another Raven.
Vaati shrieked in pain again and turned to the new threat. Unlike the other Ravens, this one didn't dodge but struck forward. Just as he was about to strike, Vaati saw another Raven make his move in the corner of his eye. Suddenly he felt two swords enter him from behind him as the two Ravens in front of him struck. Deep inside him the swords connected and seemed to burn him deeply within. With a loud shriek, a white light burned him from the inside.
Raven opened his eyes and blinked. What had happened? Oh, right, now he remembered. The light… He looked around and saw he was now just one Raven again. In the middle of the throne room stood a large black stone with one of the swords deep in each side of the stone.
"You did it," he heard Ezlo laugh under his cap.
He smiled and took it off, giving the old Minish the space to evaluate the situation.
"Ah yes…" the Minish nodded, "you've trapped Vaati."
"Trapped?" Raven frowned as he looked at the stone, "he's not dead?"
"No," Ezlo shook his head, "it seems his magic was too powerful, even for the sword. This has weakened him, and entrapped him into his own darkness. He's still alive inside, but the swords prevent him from escaping. As long as no one removes the swords, he'll be trapped forever."
"Then it's over?" Raven asked.
"It's over," Ezlo nodded, "I would like to thank you for your help, Raven."
"It's okay," Raven smiled, "I told you, I am the Hero of Time. It's what I do. But now I will return to Hyrule, get settled down and raise a family. I promised my father I would continue our lineage, and I intend to keep that promise."
"Good luck to you then," Ezlo smiled, "and may your offspring grow strong and courageous like yourself."