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 26 – Vaati

Slowly the youngsters made their way through the dark tunnel, vigilant for a sudden ambush by the Minish sorcerer. Bones that crumbled beneath their feet were proof their father preceded them all those years ago. Finally they reached the final part of the cave, a large cavern, lit by fourteen torches placed along the walls. In the middle, in a circle of black debris, stood a large horned figure, with a single red eye in the middle of it's face.

"Time to see what you are worth…" Vaati's voice came, seemingly from all around, probably because he didn't seem to have a mouth.

Vaati unfolded his wings and seemed to fill the room, his golden claws glistening in the light of the torches.

Dekaru tried to fire of a bolt again and now he succeeded. A white light hit Vaati straight in the chest but it only fazed him slightly. He plunged forward, but the kids jumped out of the way, each heading to another corner.

"Spread out!" Darmani shouted, "our only chance is to surround him!"

Vaati turned and growled. He shot forward towards Darmani and was only stopped in his tracks because Mikau slashed him with his sword. Vaati quickly reacted and lashed out with his claws. Mikau jumped back but was still hit. Three red scars were visible through the rips in his tunic.

"Are you okay?" Dekaru yelled.

"Yeah," Mikau grunted as he stopped another attack with his shield, "I'm fine… don't worry about me, just get this piece of…"

Vaati grabbed the shield and crushed it. Thanks to his quick reflexes, Mikau was able to cut the leather straps of his shield with his sword or his arm would have been mangled and ripped off when Vaati threw the shield away. Malon ducked out of the way of the shield and planned on attacking Vaati as she got up, only to find the demon in her path. In a mix of instinct and skill, she raised her sword, causing the nearing claw to hit the blade. With a loud roar Vaati pulled back, giving Malon the opportunity to roll out of the way. Vaati started to go after her, but Darmani jumped forward and slashed at the demon's leg, nearly cutting it clear off. Vaati roared again and his wing shot out, knocking Darmani against the wall. Dekaru held himself ready to jump in front of Vaati if he decided to go after his older brother as he got up, but Vaati simply remained where he was, allowing the wounds on his leg to close.

"Damn it," Darmani cursed, "he's not bleeding!"

"You're right," Mikau nodded, "our attacks seem to have no effect at all!"

"Raven was able to defeat him with these swords," Malon said, "so we should be able to do the same."

"Too bad he had an advisor," Dekaru grumbled as he circled around Vaati, "and we have no one. For all we know there's an order in which we have to stab him."

"The swords used to be one, remember?" Darmani reminded him, "so that means… oh crap…"

"What is it?" Mikau frowned as he dodge Vaati's claw and tried to wound the demon.

"What if the whole sword the Minish made were indeed capable of defeating Vaati," Darmani continued as he lashed out with his sword, "but the four swords separately aren't?"

"I just said Raven was capable of defeating him with the four swords," Malon shook her head slightly, never taking her eyes off the black monster, "so there goes that theory."

"No it doesn't," Darmani countered, "remember, all the four swords were in Vaati's prison, so maybe we need to hit him all at once to defeat him."

"Good plan," Mikau sighed as he watched Vaati heal again, "because this doesn't really seem to have any effect."

With renewed vigour the youngsters attacked, but hitting him on the same time proved harder than initially thought. Each effort of the kids was foiled by Vaati, either lashing out to one of his attackers, or dodging a blow. Malon jumped back, and pulled out Pacci's Cane. Just as she hit the ground with it and a shockwave rushed towards Vaati, the demon jumped up and clapped it's wings to stay airborne. The shockwave simply passed the demon and threw Mikau to the ground.

"I know your little tricks," Vaati's voice came, again from all around.

His claw suddenly shot forward and impaled Mikau's chest. As Vaati withdrew his claw, Mikau slowly stood up, with the wound closing quickly thanks to a fairy.

"Even that one," Vaati seemed to laugh, "so you might as well give it up. You can't win."

"Like hell we will," Darmani spat and jumped forward, striking the demon mid-flight.

The demon roared and punched Darmani out of the way.

"If you know our tricks, then we'll have to find some new ones," Malon growled as she raised her bow.

She let go of a powered arrow, but Vaati ducked under the arrow.

"I know your tricks," Vaati repeated, "you used that against Macleus."

"And this one against Tellin," Dekaru said as he shot his slingshot.

The trajectory Vaati had used to dodge Malon's light-arrow made it impossible to dodge the Deku Nut and it exploded in a flash of light right in Vaati's eye. He roared with pain, and even more so when Mikau and Darmani pinned his wings against the wall with an ice- and fire-arrow. His left wing was frozen and his right wing was burning heavily. He placed his feet against the wall to pull him free, even if it meant pulling his wings off. His red eye kept blinking to get all the pieces of the Deku Nut out of it, and when he finally regained his vision, he saw the youngsters standing before him, ready to strike with their swords.

"You can't win!" Vaati yelled out as the kids struck.

The demon roared a final time and then petrified. Slowly he seemed to crack and as he crumbled to dust, they could hear a faint "you can't win…" in the air.

"We did it," Darmani sighed as he sat down on the cavern floor.

"We were lucky," Mikau said as he kicked away the pile of dust, the only thing that remained of Vaati.

"Let's hope it's really over," Malon growled while she still firmly gripped her sword.

"Don't worry, it is done," a voice behind them said.

All turned and saw a Minish standing in the entrance of the cavern, with a large hawk next to it.

"I no longer feel his foul presence in this cave," he said, "it is all over."

"Not exactly," Dekaru sighed, "we still have to deal with Mertok. No doubt has he already reached the mountain."

"I hope Franklin is alright," Malon said, "I don't think he's a match for the wizard."

"Or his fifty guards," Darmani nodded.

"You don't have to worry about your friend," the Minish said, "I have already taken care of him. The Minish Elder has given me a magical aid that allowed him to transport back to the forests. If you wish, you can go to."

"That's a good idea," Mikau smiled, "I think it's best if we avoid Mertok for the moment and get out of Mendrova as soon as possible."

The Minish nodded and took off his backpack. He opened it and retrieved a huge blue pearl out of it. The Minish threw the pearl on the ground before the four kids and it splashed open, forming a large puddle of dark blue liquid.

"Just jump into the liquid," he told them, "and you'll emerge in the forest."

"Are you sure it's safe?" Darmani raised an eyebrow.

"That's what your friend said," the Minish chuckled, "but still he leapt."

"Here goes nothing," Mikau sighed and jumped.

He went through the blue portal as if he had jumped in a large hole. The liquid didn't even ripple as he passed.

Darmani shrugged and followed his brother. Quickly Malon and Dekaru followed. The puddle returned to it's pearl-shape and the Minish put it back in his backpack.

"Well, Razorbeak," he told the hawk, "it's time we return to the forest. There's nothing left for us here."

The hawk turned around to give the Minish the opportunity to climb it's back and flew off.

AN: I know this seems a bit short, but I've never been good at fights (I can only think of so many moves for them to use before coming repetitive). Anyway, this is nearly the end of this part. I think I've said it before that it wasn't going to be as big as Professional Hero, since it's only supposed to be an interlude. I know all of you are curious now, but I will tell you people more in the Author's Note of the next and last chapter.

Also, I'm a bit disappointed that I haven't gotten any reviews for the previous chapter. It seems you people really don't care for Link's family, do you? I mean, I reveal that Madakar is actually Link's father in Professional Hero and not a word of it in any review, I announce that Raven is the original Hero of Time, and not even a "Wow... so Raven was Link's ancestor? Cool!"... Guess that means it's no use to introduce Link's half-brother in the next part, then. And I will have to find a new villain too instead of his grandfather. Oh well... you guys decide I guess.

Anyway, review, damnit! So I can start writing on the next part again.