"It is about time we meet, Princess Zelda and Midna Twilight." Pale skinned, donned in a purple tunic, cloak and red pants and sandals, a golden belt with a buckle shaped as an eye, a purple headdress that covered his light purple hair, and the single red eye exposed to the world that bore down on the two girls. His mouth etched into a smirk, sitting smugly on the throne of Midoro.

Zelda stepped forward cautiously. "You are him, aren't you? The Imperial King, the one Link and Ganondorf faced on Death Mountain. I saw you in my vision… You are Vaati."

The man, Vaati as he was, chuckled lightly. "Vaati...now that's a name I haven't had spoken to me in a long time. You are correct, Princess. But I think I have another name, one your father and your leaders would know. It would strike the deepest chord in their heart, as it did your mother before I sadly ended her."

Zelda tensed up, but Midna put her small arm in front of Zelda. Moving her angry eyes to Vaati, she sneered at the king. "You turned my brother."

"Actually, he was who he was before I knew him. Quite honestly, I was once like him, having a sickness for beautiful women such as yourselves and a drive for power and vengeance, but with that sickness, came purpose. Once he found out his sister was alive, it motivated him. I can say that, without him, we wouldn't be here today. He had potential, now wasted on his death. He went out like a king, the King of Twilight."

Zelda pushed Midna aside, drawing her sword. "Everything is your fault! How is it you can sit there with yourself? You killed hundreds without remorse! You destroyed two kingdoms! All the people want is freedom and justice, and you've taken that from them!"

Vaati smiled, then stood up. "Justice? Freedom? Do men want justice and freedom? You poor girl… Men don't want that. What humanity desires, humanity corrupts. I've seen the hearts of men, and there is nothing pure about it. Even in your own heart Zelda, I see bloodlust, vengeance...and is that a hint of power? You want my throne, and the only way to get it is to kill me. So, Hylia Reborn has a black heart, and so does her beloved humans. You cannot rule that world, but me? I can. I have the power I so desired many millennia ago."

Midna frowned. "Your desired power? You don't have the Triforce."

Vaati nodded. "True, but I have the power blessed by a wish I made when I first ravaged Hyrule, to become the world's most powerful sorcerer. Not even your ancestor could match me, Zelda. Then there was an even greater power, called the Light Force. It is the raw power of the Blood of the Goddess. The princess back then had it…the next one did...but it wasn't 22 years ago that I got what I wanted. Tell me Zelda, have you summoned such raw power? Oh yes...Remember Clock Town, when your fury at Zant unlocked your true potential? Of course you do. Because that power, the one you need most right now, is not the one you have from being of Hylia, that's the power that gives you the right to banish all evil. The power that makes the royal bloodline stronger than even the most trained magicians, that is the mystical Light Force, unwritten in all of your history. My people gifted it to yours once...and I took all except a little back. You were born and gone before I could extract it from you, but it didn't matter. I had already extracted it from your mother and it gave me the power to surpass all, even Ganon. Surpassed him, I did. Tumbled down Death Mountain, he did."

"Ganondorf lives," Midna shouted, "and he will come back for you! Link will come for you! We all will! We will deny your darkness, even at the expense of our lives!"

"I'm sure you will, but it is folly. I am as powerful of Hylia, maybe as powerful as Din! You won't stand a chance against me, Midna." Vaati stretched out his arm and waved it to the left. Midna felt her body moved out of her control, tossed into the right wall before falling to the ground. Zelda screamed her name and began to go to her friend's aid, but the same telepathic powers that held Midna took over Zelda. Her body didn't move to her will, nerves paralyzed to her thoughts. But move she did, at the will of Vaati, right into his cold, lavender hands. The King of Hyrule laughed, which to Zelda, was unnaturally high for such a villain. However, she was not in the situation to make humor, as Vaati's free hand caressed her cheek.

"Don't touch me."

"You're beautiful, just like all the other Zeldas… The first one, I...turned to stone for a while, until I was ready to take her power. The next Zelda, I just kidnapped her, but at that time, I was in a different form, my ultimate form, so… I don't know how to tell you how I returned to this world, and in my real body. I just came back many years ago of noble birth to the Inish Family. In the years leading up to Ganon's return, I was just that, a noble boy of high standing, a great candidate for the throne. But deep down, I knew something was off. So after the Ganon ordeal, I started doing research and behold, I found myself. I knew who I really was. I was a member of the long-gone Picori race. I was Hyrule's first great threat after Midna's ancestors ravaged the land. I was before Ganon, and I am around after him. I am not Vatis Inish, I am Vaati, the Wind Mage!" Vaati stepped forward, setting Zelda in the throne of Zant.

"So once I figured myself out, I knew what I had to do, but you see, I learned from Ganon. History often repeats itself in Hyrule, and I found a pattern in which you three embattled souls fall into. You always get kidnapped, Link always saves you and you two save the world afterward, but why is it that Ganon has never ever killed either of you? Why does he let either of you live when he has the opportunity to end his mortal enemies? Yes, he killed the Hero once, but what good that does him after the Hero of Time already assembled the Sages? So I learned. Kill Blood and Spirit. But not outright, no. When the moment is right, I would do it."

"So...you waited until you were king to do it?"

Vaati chuckled. "You know, that development was never part of my plan, but it aided immensely. "I did want to be the backstabber, did want your mother to look at me with betrayed eyes and ask me, "You too, Vatis" with her dying breaths. But the Council, they want me to become king in a more legitimate way. Thus the race for the crown between your father and I began, but I might have cheated at the end. Did your father ever tell you the last time he was in North Castle?"

"Yes, he said he went to Death Mountain to fight off some monsters which kill workers of yours."

"I almost regret that day. Had I not...remember myself, Link and I could have coexisted as acquaintances, maybe friends. He said such sweet words that I haven't forgotten, and the words I said back were just as sweet. But it wouldn't melt my black heart. Sending Link to Death Mountain was the trap to break Link's spirit. There were monsters, and they were there when Link made it to. But as expected, he had to be sure that Ganon hadn't returned. He dawdled way too long, and it was more than enough time for me. Such a shame that he never knew Zelda was pregnant, not that she showed much to begin with, but had he known, he probably would have made it back to save her. That, he hadn't. And that day, oh such a day. Your mother fought hard against the invaders, protecting her throne. I remember her facing Veran, my beloved queen and conspirator, in the room. Then I walked in, and the joy of Zelda's face when she saw me come to her side, unforgettable." Vaati turned around, seeing the princess' pink, wet face. "Oh, excuse me. I know this is a hard story to hear. I will stop if you-"

"No." Zelda glared at Vaati. While her tears spoke sadness, her pupils raged. "Continue, so I may remember these words when I smite you."

Vaati widened his eyes in shock, then amusedly chuckled. "Oh, you got spunk! I like you. Alright. So I walked beside her, my sword in hand, ready to defend our throne. Then, as quick as a rabbit, Brutus betrayed Caesar. I took her life, her power, and her hope. My dream was nearly complete, but some nerve she had to not fulfill it. Her final words were not what I wanted. They were instead 'She was born.'" Vaati's face relaxed, and he waved his hand. Zelda felt her muscles relax, returned to her control. She looked back at the king, heavily dumbstruck.

"You're not going to kill me? After all that?"

"No. Not yet. You want the Triforce, so I will allow you to get it, just to even the odds. I figured out why Ganon wouldn't kill either of you outright, and it is because an honorable death is reserved for the likes of you and Link. You want me dead? Then you must make the relic your blood is sworn to protect yours. But you'll need this." Vaati flashed his hands, summoning a small, yellow medallion above his hand. "This is the Medallion of Light, belonging to the Sage of Light. Zant killed that man and took this. There are six of these in total. The Imperials possess four, all except Shadow which I allowed the remaining Sheikah to keep, and Water, which is with your Zora. To open the doors of the temple in which the Triforce resides, you'll need to place each medallion on its pedestal in the ruined city of Rauru Town. I hope you succeed in getting there."

Zelda stood to her feet, almost reaching out for the medallion, but her instincts knew that'll be too easy. "You're not going to give it to me."

Vaati chuckled, smirking wickedly. "No." He pushed the medallion away, a dark aura growing around it. "You know how this goes. You want it, you're going to have to steal it back. And Zelda, make Uncle Vatis proud." The Imperial King vanished as the Light Medallion began to take form.

Zelda drew her sword, expecting the worst from the changing medallion. That "worst" ended up becoming the ethereal form of Midna's deceased brother, Zant.

Hilda knelt on her knees, catching her breath. She reached into her pocket, popping open a bottle of blue potion and drinking it entirely. Her energy and health were restored in just a few moments, and the Princess of Lorule got back on her feet. She looked at the mess of bodies around her, all slowly decaying into a mist. Putting away her staff, Hilda sighed and turned to the entrance to Midoro. Zelda and Midna hadn't returned nor had made communication with her since entering the dungeon. But she could sense their life, though Midna's was a lot fainter than Zelda's. And the Hyrulean princess...something else was close to her. A new presence...altered, but so familiar to Hilda it made her blood boil.

"Zant."

Zelda raised Nayru's Love as Phantom Zant battered her with a volley of dark energy from the air. The shielding was holding but Zant's attacks were depleting her strength quickly. There was no room for cover, and no way to even hit the ghost. She tried her sword and her arrows, all passing through Zant like he was air. And no, he didn't act like a Poe and "solidify." He was totally ethereal, a faint but powerful presence in her face. None of Zelda's wits could figure out a way to put Zant down.

Crack. Her shield was breaking. Dropping it would be the smart move if only Zant would tire out, but instead, his volley seemed to increase. She felt her will sap as the crack began to spread across Nayru's Love. "Goddesses...sisters, fortify me." If the goddesses had listened to her prayers, it went unanswered as the shield finally broke, disabling Zelda as a result. She fell to her knees, looking up to her oppressor. Zant had both arms raised, powering a huge ball, chuckling like the maniac he is.

"Die!" He threw the ball, missing Zelda by a few inches, but she still felt the impact. She was launched out the throne room, breaking through its doors and landed many meters away from where she was. When she finally came to a stop, she found herself back in the mask museum, bruised and bleeding. She coughed up some blood and looked forward. Zant stalked towards her, chuckling some more. Raising his head, he forced her to her feet but kept her immobilized. Then he leaned to the left, and an unseen object rammed into Zelda. She didn't know what hurt most, not seeing what hit her or not being able to move due to the second law of forces. Zant leaned the other way, and the force returned. Despite the pain ransacking her body, Zelda fought to not cry out, though the tears in her eyes betrayed her. She managed the ability to look to Zant, also finally seeing what was hitting her. It was a giant hand, dark in color with red highlights similar to the palace. Zant was going to finish her with a punch to her face.

Where was the power she summoned at Clock Town? The power she nearly overtook an alive Zant with and came to Link's rescue against Gyorg? Why couldn't she summon it? Hell, how had she done it in the first place? Not that it would matter. None of her abilities were working, but she had enough in her to summon Nayru's Love if it would save her one more time.

The phantom leaned forward and hurled the fist towards Zelda. She whispered the chant for the shield and was in the mind of conjuring it when the fist suddenly stopped in its path, held back by another large hand, though this one was orange in color and seemed to stem off from somewhere. She looked to where the "arm" came from, gasping as she saw its owner. "Mi...Midna?"

The hand of Midna, an extension of her hair, crushed and threw the hand of Zant off to the side before returning to its mistress. Phantom Zant turned around, facing a blank-faced Midna. "Zant."

"Midna." Zant threw his arm forward, blasting Midna with beams of magic. Midna shielded herself with her hand, slowly getting pushed back by her phantasmic brother. Zant stepped forward, laughing. "You came to die. No one can save you. No Mother, no Auru, no Ganondorf. I couldn't have you in life, so I'll have you in death! C'mon Midna! Seize your destiny!"

Midna whipped her arm, blasting the sides of the room with Zant's attack. Her eyes glared at her brother, her true hands forming fists. "I do have a destiny, and it is one with you in it. I couldn't end you on Death Mountain, but the goddesses have granted me this moment, along with the power to do so, thanks to you."

Zant unmasked himself, smiling. "I can feel the power of our ancestors within you. Good." Zant reached out, and Midna felt her strength suddenly begin to sap. She fell to the floor, groaning as Zant chuckled. "You did exactly as I wanted. You took it, the Fused Shadow. With the power of our ancients, I shall return to the world with the power of a god, just under my master. Sadly, my dear sister, you will die, but not in vain."

Midna summoned whatever power Zant wasn't taking to spot her brother. "No."

"No?"

"The power of the gods...doesn't belong to you...or to your king. You're not worthy to have it."

Zant, having taken some power that he now had some form, temporarily halted his path to resurrection, intrigued by his sister. "Why is that, Midna?"

"It is your eyes, Zant. I don't understand it, but I see it, even the power of our ancestors, this 'Fused Shadow,' saw it, a lust for power burning in your pupils. You couldn't claim it, so it sat here in a display, but when you found out I was alive, you thought I could claim it. I have done that, and now I can hear the voices of our people. Did you think they'll forget that we lost our right to live in this world to such greed?" Midna pushed herself to her tiny feet, trying her best to fight back. "You have called yourself the King of Twilight, haven't you? Mother must have been royalty once, in a world I never knew. Then I guess that makes me the Twilight Princess, and as such, I won't let you bring our people's name to any more shame."

Zant shook his head. "Then like Mother, who brought us to this world from that despicable realm, you are just as foolish." Zant reached out his hand again, but immediately put it down as an attack battered him from the back. Incensed with anger, Zant whipped around, only to be struck-actually struck with a blade. He cowered back, holding his chest, gazing at his attacker. "...Lorule."

Hilda stood between Zant and Zelda, holding her sword in one hand and crackling shadow magic in the other. "I don't know what Midna and you were talking about, but it seems you did another world wrong, Zant. That is unsurprising. But I'm here for my world."

Zant shook his head. "I didn't destroy Lorule, as I told the boy. You did."

Hilda nodded. "I know my crime, and I live with it. But you… That first attack was from Ravio and me." Hilda jutted out her left hand, sending tendrils of pure shadow magic towards Zant, wrapping his up. She pulled back, launching the phantom towards her, and cut him with a spin attack. He fell at her feet, gasping. "That was for my father, King Yuga. This is for my people." She used her magic to raise him up and repeatedly thrust her sword until her arm couldn't put up with it anymore. She was dissatisfied with the lack of blood, but hearing Zant howl was enough for her.

Panting for air, Zant looked up to Hilda. "Are you done?"

"I am. The last strike is for Midna. This time, stay dead." Zant was turned to Midna, who had her hair turned into tendrils, ready to end Zant once and for all.

"Midna… Hilda… Zelda… Traitors, all of you. My god will resurrect me, and I will have my vengeance upon Hyrule. I will make you bow to me and to my every whim. And you, dear sister, are a traitor to your own blood and to your people! They struggle in a world without purpose, and you fight against their king!"

"You claim to fight for a people I do not know, but if my destiny led me here to their power, then I shall find the land they live. This twilight realm you spoke off, where Mother came from, I will find it, and I'll do them right, in a way you could never. You have betrayed your people, Zant, by allying with darkness. Goodbye Zant Twilight, my brother."Fragments of the Fused Shadow appeared around Midna before covering her face. She sent the tendrils forward, impaling Zant in his core. He cried out before puffing up and exploding, leaving nothing but the Light Medallion remaining.

Hilda looked to Midna, who turned her head to the ground. Most of her mask was still on her, covering the upper portions of her head and an eye. "Wow."

"That was only a fraction of the power within me. A fraction of my ancestors' power."

"Wel, I'll hate to see the full power." Hilda walked over to the fallen medal, picking it up. "What's this?" The sound of something collapsing behind Hilda stole their attention. Zelda was planted on the cold floor in her back. "Zelda!" Hilda and Midna raced over to Hyrule's princess, Lorule's checking the blonde's vitals.

"Is she…"

"No. She is beaten but alive. Thank Nayru we came in time. She'll need a red potion, we'll let her magic restore on its own, but she's drained of that as well. We need to get out of here."

Midna nodded. "I can manage that. You got that medal?" Hilda held it up, wrapping it around her neck. "Good. I have a feeling we'll need it."

"She lives."

Vaati stood on the balcony outside the North Castle throne room, gazing out to the darkened starry skies of North Hyrule. Behind him walked out Veran, her arms crossed. He sighed, halfway turning to his queen. "Barely, but yes."

"You let her live. You gave her the Medallion of Light, and scattered the others we owned to where her friends can get them. You want them to get the Triforce, do you?"

"...Yes."

"That will give them hope. Rebellions are built on hope, as you should know."

"And so are the best-made plans."

Veran dimmed her eyelids. Scowling, she walked up to the king's side. "You know something I don't."

Vaati smirked. "Yes I do, but don't you have a date to attend to in East Hyrule?"

Veran snaked her arms around her king. "Oh yes I do, but he hasn't arrived yet. So I got some time to chit-chat. It is such a beautiful night. This girl likes beautiful nights, and standing out here with you is way better than where I have to go."

Vaati chuckled, then turned around. "Good, because it is about to get better. Ghirahim." The couple was faced with the white-haired Demon Lord coming upon the balcony, bowing before the rulers. "Your Majesties."

"It is time. Take Naboris, and at sunrise, use her against the people of her name. I want Ganondorf furious, so furious that fate will drive him."

Ghirahim smiled. "As you wish." The Demon Lord vanished, Vaati turning back to the skies.

"My lovely Veran, you want to know my plan? Onox was right. Fate will play out, and in that idea, I have hope."