Hyrule Castle
"Don't you two looks so beautiful, yet so lonely? What is it that you miss? Your masters or your sister?" Vaati chuckled as he lowered his marked hand, the Triforces of Courage and Power dim on their glow but ever present. The Wind Mage walked alone down the corridors of North Castle, heading down into the dungeons. Darknuts guarding the hallways lowered their head as he passed, paying their king his respects. "Shame for them," Vaati thought as he looked at each dark knight, "that none of you remember me. Then again, you all died that day, and memories aren't something the dead hold on to. And I am your king, as Vatis and as Vaati."
Finding his way into the dungeons, Vaati opened his way inside. He passed the empty cells that once housed Hyrule's criminals, and at the early onset of his reign, the nobles that wouldn't bow to him. The perception that Castle Town, the city that surrounded the castle, was a death trap is true in a sense, but the civilians here live just as any other. For the first ten years, Vatis ruled as a king of Hyrule, and to the normal Hylian, it was no different than Queen Zelda or King Daphnes' reign. World dominion was always his goal, but he had hoped to conquer the world through less obvious means.
Contrary to popular stories, the throne was not "dark" and "mysterious" as Vaati suspected the Hero and Princess might have heard; everyone alive 18 years ago knew Vatis survived the siege of North Castle, though no one beside him, Onox, Veran, and a few other dead people knew he was the cause. The initial days of his rule were muddled with questions, all that he had prepared to answer. Monsters had infiltrated the castle, killing Her Majesty. They came from the southern mountains, which meant that the Hero had failed as well. Vatis, however, managed to rally his troops and defeat Ganon's minions once and for all. The Council, oblivious except for one member, accepted his answer. To further cement his role as king, he held a state funeral for the former queen right before his coronation.
Next came his marriage to Veran, the woman he truly loved. The military was shaken up, with Onox replacing Auru as High General of the Royal Army, the latter forced into retirement. The Sages themselves were sent to their homes. The Sheikah were dismissed from their service. Many soldiers, unwilling to serve King Vatis, departed from service, but the numbers staying were still high. High enough that Vatis could still accomplish his goal.
For ten years, his rule was peaceful but understandably uncertain. He knew that those close to Link and Zelda had a feeling he had something to do with it, but nothing came of it. He took a backseat in the ruling, allowing the Council to do as they saw fit while he and Veran planned to find the Triforce. For ten years, Hyrule was at peace. There were no Imperials. There was no monster army. There was no reason for it. That all changed in the tenth year of his reign when five of the Sages attempted to take the Triforce themselves.
Days earlier, he had met his first champion, the eccentric Zant Twilight.
"What is it that you come to me for, young man?"
"Sire… I have news about a conspiracy against the throne. Something about a Triforce."
"…And why come to me about this?"
"I give you this, in exchange for something for me. I desire a throne of my own, but my kingdom is inaccessible to me. I help you secure Hyrule, you help me."
That following day, Vatis was replaced by Vaati, and the Imperials, siphoned from the souls of the remaining Hylian military, were born. Zant, with his powers given by his king, razed Rauru Town, killing the Sage of Light, and over the next three years, four other sages in North and East Hyrule. In the time, Vaati discovered the hidden Yiga Clan in Parapa Desert, and learned of their powerful technology. The construction of the robotic soldiers known as Guardians began, as well as the four machines of war, Naboris, Medoh, Ruta, and Rudania. The army, initially of Darknuts, became more varied in monsters after each conquest. The Bulblins initially joined the Imperials, during the raze of Rauru, but after finding out what Vatis did with the kids captured from the town, disappeared for years until Ghirahim found their king. Their mantra of serving the stronger side apparently didn't pay off.
As for the Council, Vaati took over their duties and…relieved them.
Ghirahim was the first person Vaati and Veran had resurrected, for unlike them and Onox, he wasn't reborn as they were. His submission didn't come easily, ranting about how he only served one lord, and that was Demise. Vaati then showed the Demon Lord his reborn master throughout the ages, telling him that if his master considered him a loyal servant, he would have been brought back ages ago. Now with a second chance at life, Ghirahim served Vaati.
Horsehead was the second, added right as the rebellion that would become the Resistance started to become a nuisance in South Hyrule. The rest of the story of the Imperial rise is history as known. Ordon was attacked, hoping to draw the Resistance out. Clock Town would be the first battleground. Death Mountain would give them complete control of the south. Rauru would send them back.
As for those kids the Bulblins picked up, well… Veran was convinced that the reborn Hero could be there, and Vaati had to test out whether or not Zelda could be reborn out of the royal line. Neither appeared. None of the kids lived.
The next time children entered their castle, it was Zant himself who brought three of them. This time, Veran took pity on the young pair of children instead, noting that the rulers hadn't begotten an heir. Vaati agreed, sending the older child with Zant at his request. As Vaati looked upon the younger children, he saw potential. He could sense their power and sought to use it for himself. But as he trained them, he was not invincible to succumbing to love, and apparently, neither were they.
He had avoided using them in the war, trusting his champions could finish the rebellion. Even after goddesses' chosen appeared, he had hoped. But, despite his unwillingness, they were ready. His generals would take care of the war and him, Zelda. He needed something else from them.
So, as he stepped into the large, dark room at the end of the line of cells, he spotted the red-robed wizard Agahnim finishing his work, he gazed upon a large pod in the room's center. Leaning on it was one of his children, dressed in blue clothing similar to her father, minus the head cap. Instead, a blue jewel topped her forehead, surrounding her icy blue hair. She noticed her father's presence and immediately proceeded to bow.
Vaati regarded her, turning to the wizard. "So, the Yiga's technology worked?"
"Yes. Resurrecting me, Horsehead, and Zant was one thing, but increasing our powers and that of your daughters are another." As Agahnim finished, the pod's top opened, and out came the other. She was dressed the same as her sister, but where there was blue, orange took over.
The eldest join her sister, bowing before her father. Vaati turned back to Agahnim, gesturing for him to leave. As the wizard slammed the door shut, Vaati walked to his children. "A princess can have anything if she is willing to do anything and everything to get it. When I took you two in, you made an unspoken vow. You were brought before me with nothing. Your old titles and privileges…meaningless. In the coming days, ambition shall be your guide. Oaths sworn to each other, promises made, they belong to you. Your freedom is this war, your birthright challenged by this war, your entitlement taken after. There is a darkness out there, and you will find it. You will face it…together, as one." Vaati outstretched his hands to each girl. "Your time has come. You will snuff out a dangerous enemy. Find that person, and return it alive, if possible. If death is the unfortunate end, I want the body, charred or frozen."
The red-robed one spoke up. "Is it the princess?"
"No. She's too strong now, even for your mother. In due time, I will face the princess again. Your mission is due south, to the town of Saria. You will know that person when you seem them, but if you need a hint, the name is very well known to you. Go and prepare yourselves immediately."
"Yes, Father." The two girls bowed to Vaati, then walked out the chamber. Vaati stood in the darkest, staring down at his feet. In that darkness, he could feel another presence creep up on him. He looked up, not turning to face the newcomer. "Zant. I was just thinking about you."
"Is that so? Master, you have the wizard here doing his thing, Ghirahim has the Gerudo, Horsehead and Yuga are with Her Highness, yet I am here still. Is there no need of me?"
"The opposite. The girls are heading to Saria Town. You are too."
Vaati could hear his most trusted champion's disappointment. "Am I to babysit?"
"Yes, now that you ask, but that's not my intent. Ghirahim relayed news earlier about a rider leaving the area around Mido. She was heading south and would have taken care of it had not it been your sister."
That got Zant's interest. Vaati didn't need to see that. "Orders?"
"She has a reason to go off alone. In Midoro, she and her girlfriends fought a phantom of you. Do you have the memories? The Light Pedestal was also near your home in Rauru. She might have gone inside. Whatever the case, she knows the truth of her heritage, and possibly is seeking a way to the Twilight Realm. If you have learned anything from me, let the children do as they please, and then when the climax of their goal is near, take what's yours."
"Heh heh heh. Thank you. I'll be off."
"Zant." This time, Vaati turned around, allowing his red eyes to target Zant. His mask was raised, allowing the Minish to see the Twili's yellow orbs. "It is no secret that I value you like my own son. In many ways, you are. Your death hurt me in a way I've never been hurt. The future of our kingdom is uncertain, and the power I possess could be surpassed. I accept that possibility, and so, I might fall before our goal is realized, and Veran might too. That will leave you as my heir to my throne. So, I ask you, not command you, to watch over the girls. Lead them, guide them, and let them enjoy destroying their enemy. But, knowing your…tendencies, I have overlooked it in the past, as long as it didn't interfere with my ambitions. This time, I take exception. Do not, under any circumstance, touch them. I know them and their blood, their genetics, their natural mindset will get them to that way of thinking, but as my son, as my heir, I ask you to not be you. I ask you to protect them as well. Can you do that, Zant Twilight?"
Zant fell before Vaati. "There is only one I desire. I swear, on second life which you have granted me, I will not touch them. They will return as they came, victorious." Zant stood back up, dusting himself off. "Vaati, if Midna is heading to Saria, and the girls and I are heading to Saria but that isn't their mission, who are they going for?"
Vaati raised his hand to his cheek, narrowing his eyes as he remembered the hands that touched him. "Who else?"
"But…you said…"
"I know. But emotions are a very strong thing, and the one emotion that caused all this ruckus is the sole reason for this situation. However, we must deal with the Resistance as quickly as we can."
"What's the problem?"
Vaati's face darkened as he dropped his hand, walking to the side of Zant. "We will have another war on our hands, now that the queen and the hero are both dead. It is now just a matter of time…and we'll have our song of storms."
