"Zelda?"
"Princess!"
"Zel?" Link stepped forward, raising her downed head to face his. Tears flood her eyes and face, her breathing hitched as she lowered her head again on Link's shoulder. He raised his arms to comfort her, then looked at the others. Everyone had the same look in their eyes, the unsaid reality of their situation. The entire purpose of coming to Rauru Town, risking their lives and the rebellion, had been for nothing. Link turned back to Zelda, placing his chin on her head. "Zelda, it is going to be okay."
"No… No Link, it won't be alright! There are men and women out there, fighting for a cause they believe in, against an enemy much stronger than them, dying in the hope their sacrifice means something, and… It is all my fault. Our only hope for defeating Vaati and his Imperials is lost because I couldn't harness the cursed power of the gods! Everything...everything we've done up to now… Every decision I made, every order I had given, every trial I made you go through… It was all for nothing. I promised you that I would make everything better, but I couldn't even do that! If I can't even possess the Triforce like my ancestors, how can I truly rule a country? Nothing is alright, because I am a failure!. The Resistance, the other kingdoms, my friends… I tried, and I failed them all. I rallied them...to their deaths."
"And they will welcome it. They all will." Everyone besides Link and Zelda turned around and drew their weapons or powers as Vaati himself walked down the very center aisle of the Temple of Time. He chuckled as he stopped, gazing up at the seven young rebels with malicious glee. "My dear Princess, I should thank you. You have succeeded where others have failed, to bring the Triforce back to this very realm. I heavily regret that the nine of you won't be alive to see the new world order I have planned. Or, at least, four of you will die."
"I don't think you can count, Vaati." Link said, replacing Zelda with the Master Sword, standing in the lead of the group. "You don't have the Triforce, as neither do we. There are seven of us, eight if we include Ganondorf, and he will be happy to see you."
Vaati chuckled, then waved his hand towards the group, launching a projectile towards them. "One, I will have it. Two, I believe I can count. Forgot about someone?" The projectile landed behind the assembled rebels. They all took a look, for it was a young female person around their age. She was light-blue skinned, light orange-haired, and she looked very familiar to everyone except Riju. It would be Ravio, with his powers, to deduce who the person was.
"By the fire of Din… It's Midna." A thud behind the group forced them around. Link had jumped to level ground with Vaati, ready to do battle with another dark being as he threw again an empty glass bottle. It contained the rest of his blue potion.
"Everyone, stay back."
Vaati chuckled, "You wish to face me, alone? After all that talk about numbers?"
Link found his Hylian Shield, discarded long ago in his earlier battle with Ganondorf, strapping it on. "Yes. Yes, I will."
"Heh heh heh. It would be a shame to kill you, Link. Yes…you would make a nice decoration, to remind me of this very war. You, all nine of you would be great stone statues!" Vaati thrust his hand forward, send a concentrated ball of power towards Link.
Zelda leaned over the balcony. "Link! Move!"
Link stood his ground and swiped at the ball of energy. A bright white light emitted on contact, blinding everyone except Vaati, who wished to see his enemy vanquished even if it hurt his eyes. Link's scream shook his friends' bones, and they were helpless to save him as his screams and the light died out. The rebels looked down, seeing the light ensnare Link's form.
"No… Not Link."
"We got to do something."
"There's nothing we can do, Rabbit Boy."
"There's always something!"
Vaati, however, crossed his arms as he waited for his magic to finish turning the Hero into stone. "Heh heh heh….Huh?" Out of the white light, a glimmer of gold radiated, and immediately outshone the magic of Vaati. It spread throughout the room before dying out, shimmering on Link's left hand. To everyone's surprise, the Hero himself was well, standing with a smirk on his face and his weapons in battle position. Curious, he looked on his left hand where the gold light lingered, spotting the mark of the Hero upon his gauntlet. He turned to his friends, flashing it to them. "Hope is not lost. It was merely waiting to be found." He turned back to an angered Vaati, showing the hand to him as well. "You know what this is?"
Vaati seethed as he glared at a third of his goal. "The Triforce...of Courage."
"Exactly. Then you know what comes next. Hiyaaaah!" Link sprung forward, slashing his sword at Vaati, renewed by the power and vitality the Triforce was granting him. He didn't know what exactly made the Triforce choose him, besides him being the Hero, or how it just made its presence known, but he wasn't going to complain. He felt stronger, moved faster, thought smarter, and overall felt like a better warrior. It made it all the better that Vaati was immediately thrown on the defense. The Imperial leader didn't have a sword on him, but his powers of wind gave him enough speed to dodge Link's strikes, but not enough time to fight back.
However, Link was getting faster by the swing, and finally, the blade of evil's bane made contact with Vaati, grazing him on his face. "Gah!" Vaati surrounded himself with a gale of wind, stopping Link from advancing and tending to his wound. Blood slowly seeped from the cut, angering Vaati. "How dare you touch me!"
Link smiled, then disappeared from sight as Vaati's view became blocked...by dirt? Confused, Vaati increased the power of the wind, unsuspecting of an attack until it was too late. "Fire!"
"Ice!" A mix of the elements dropped down in the eye of the torrent where Vaati was placed, encasing him in heat and cold. Vaati yowled like a wolf under the moon, while the Sages of Water, Earth, and Fire concentrated on their powers. Leaping down, Riju and Hilda rushed towards Vaati, drawing their blades and slashed Vaati through the mixed attack; he was forced out his own wind, meeting an unfortunately placed Link, his blade charged and ready. Link spun on his foot, delivering a powered-up spin attack.
Vaati fell to his knees before Link, lowering his head while Link brought the tip of the Master Sword to his chin. "Yield, Vaati."
"You are assuming this is over."
"It is over. Yield."
"Why don't you just kill me? You've killed Zant, Horsehead, and Onox. You will kill Ghirahim and Veran. So go ahead, Link, kill me. End the war."
Link desperately wanted to end the king's life; instead, he looked up to Zelda, wondering what she would want. Understanding his message, Zelda teleported to his side, looking down at the murderer of her mother and her mother's subjects. "Vengeance is the easy way, Vaati. I would have no problem with Link killing you, and nobody else would care either. However… My mother would probably spare mercy upon you, for now. I will grant you the same. Call off your forces, and surrender."
This time, Vaati looked up to Zelda, chuckling. "Surrender? You foolish child!" A huge blast of wind knocked the rebels off their feet and away from Vaati, who stood up as a dark aura began to surround him. He turned to the five sages, who were back on their feet first. Ralph charged, but before he could get to Vaati, the latter swiped his arm, throwing Ralph high in the air and against a wall in the and Ravio used their elemental powers to attempt to slow the king down, but to no avail. Vaati brushed aside their combined attack, then used the wind to bring the two together and fling them apart to the side. He immediately attended to Riju and Hilda, both attempting to redo their earlier maneuver, but Vaati grabbed them by their neck, then removed the air around them as he dropped them, letting them pass out from a lack of access to oxygen. He smirked as he walked passed a disposed Zelda and came to a downed Link, kicking away the Master Sword, stepping on the Hero's chest and pressing down hard as he reached for Link's left hand. "You should have killed me, or you could have attempted to. Now, look at what you have done. Your friends are going to die. Your beloved Princess is going to die. Your Resistance is going to die." Holding Link's marked hand, Vaati held it up, Triforce side facing Link so that the Hero could watch the king take it. "This will hurt, as I am to believe. You might die in the process. Is there anything you would like to say?"
Link, noticing something new about the marking on his hand, nodded slowly. "Yeah… Power."
Vaati frowned, then turned Link's hand, seeing the top and bottom left Triforces filled in. he was too late to react, as a stroke of lightning struck Vaati, knocking him off Link. Vaati held his ground, groaning as he turned to the conjurer. "Of course it would be you."
As Link got to his feet, he watched in awe as a revived Ganondorf flew down to the ground, holding up his right fist marked with the Triforce of Power. He chuckled as he landed, taking in the fury of the Imperial King with satisfaction. "I have the power I need to defeat you now. I would prefer the full Triforce," he said as he cut his eyes at Link's hand, "but my right to this Triforce is more than enough. You will pay for what you have done to me, all of it...with your life."
Vaati, amused by Ganondorf' statement, laughed it off. "And what exactly am I paying for?"
Ganondorf turned to Link again, this time looking at him in the eyes. "My father. My mother. My sisters. My best friend. My people. You will pay for each of them."
Vaati roared at that, then folded his arms at the pair before him. The Hero and the Thief standing before him once more...and he will beat them again. "You know what happened the last time you stood against me. What makes this time different? A Triforce? Pah!" Behind Vaati, four miniature Keese-like figure flew behind him, flapping their wings expectantly. Vaati ceased his laughter, adopting a more serious face. "Very well then…Ganondorf. Link. Today will be the day the legend ends. Ha!" The bats opened up, revealing a singular eye composing most of their body. Those eyes glowed bright red, firing a single beam each at Courage and Power. The two dove in opposite directions to avoid the beams. Link rolled to his knees and held up his shield, parrying the next wave of beams in his direction, disposing of two of the eye-bats. Looking to Ganondorf currently dealing with a pair of his own, Link willed the Triforce of Courage to empower him. He charged the King of the Imperials, who outstretched his hands and summoned a sword to it just as Link nearly hit him. It was Ralph's Noble Sword, and Link felt disgusted that such a fine blade was in the hands of a vile being such as Vaati. Vaati himself didn't care as he pushed Link away just as Ganondorf came from the air, clashing with the Wind Mage. Vaati, with his free hand, formed a fist and punched Ganondorf right in the liver, disabling the prince that he fell to his knees. Vaati flicked him away with some wind, then was hit with a barrage of bomb arrows. Link combined and fired every bomb and arrow he had until he ran out of the explosive half of the combo, rocking the temple with every explosion. Ganondorf joined in, throwing multiple small energy orbs before charging a huge one up and throwing that in.
Catching his breath, Ganondorf stepped up to Link, both boys' eyes on the billowing smoke that hid Vaati's fate. "You think we got him?"
"I wish I could say yes. I'm praying though."
Link's prayers went unanswered, as the smoke was forcefully expelled. Vaati stood before Link and Ganondorf, covered by a shielding spell. Vaati chuckled as he lifted the spell, mockingly dusting his robes. "All that, and not a single scratch. You didn't even break my barrier. It seems that even the gods have abandoned you with their power."
Ganondorf scoffed as he and Link engaged. "You aren't going to declare yourself one, are you?"
Vaati shook his head as he traded blows with the rebels. "Ha. Your goddesses are disappointing beings. Din, Nayru, Farore, Hylia. Failures, all of them. I am beyond them. For one, I wouldn't trust you lot with the Triforce." Moving swiftly, Vaati grabbed both Link and Ganondorf's weaponized hands, holding them at bay. "However, if ruling Hyrule requires me to become one, then it shall be done. I will have your Triforces and the little amount of the Light Force your Zelda has. I will be complete. I will be reborn. There will be no Farore, no Nayru, no Din, no Hylia. Not even a Demise. All there was, all that is, and all that will be is Vaati." He threw the boys back, Link falling on his back while Ganondorf used his ability to fly to steady himself.
"If you becoming a god is your goal, if that is truly what you desire...then I shall do everything in my power to deny you!"
Link got back to his feet, dusting himself. "And so shall I!"
"Your courage is commendable, Link. Your power is exhilarating, Ganondorf. But it'll be a day most unfortunate when you two beat me. It's impossible."
"Maybe for the two of them." Heels clicked on the floor, Link and Ganondorf parting as they turned to a standing Zelda, her hand glowing just as bright as theirs. She stood to the right of the other bearers of the Triforce, her face set on Vaati. "But the three of us, we can win. We will win."
Wisdom caught Vaati's eye on Zelda's right hand, with the other two slots filled in as well. Zelda might have failed to take the Triforce for herself, but she had assembled it between three people. Hyrule's history stood before him...and though he feared it days earlier, it was exciting to see it firsthand. "And thus the unimaginable happens. Who would have ever foreseen that Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf would stand side by side?"
Link scoffed. "I bet you did."
"And if you did," Zelda called out, "you know the threat."
"I hope you're shaking in your bones, Vaati, " Ganondorf said as he landed on the ground, "because now it is your darkest hour!" Ganondorf charged again, followed by Link. Vaati blocked Ganondorf with his looted sword, and Link with his free hand. As the boys fought the king, Zelda took her bow in hand, and let the power of her Triforce flow through her. She watched the others fight, impressed in how their abilities had grown thanks to the power of the gods. Link, already an admirable fighter, seemed to be even better than ever; Ganondorf's strength was more overwhelming than it was earlier. Zelda felt the Triforce change her as well, as it provided her with nearly an infinite pool of mana to use. That pool she will draw from with her attack. All she desired was an opening. She raised her bow, aiming for Vaati. "Link. Give me an opening."
Link caught Zelda's move and nodded. "Got it." As Ganondorf was brushed aside by the king, Link sheathed his sword, holding his shield out as Vaati turned his attention to him. "Hey! Mouse face!"
"Foolish boy!" Vaati ran towards Link, just as the Hero wanted. Vaati got in close, almost enough to strike Link, but in his hastiness, the king didn't realize he was set up. By the time he knew it, Link had redrawn the Master Sword, leaving a clean cut across Vaati as the hero hit the mortal draw. As Vaati tried to hit back, Link ducked for the ground and rolled around, slashing Vaati's back. As he tried to face Link again, the hero bashed his shield against the king's face, stunning him momentarily.
Zelda took that moment. "Spirits of the light! Wielders of the great power that shines far and wide upon the lands of our world, in my hour of need, grant me the light to banish evil!" An arrow of pure light formed between Zelda's fingers and the grip, which she immediately released. It struck Vaati in his chest, closer to his right lung than his heart, but it was enough to get him to kneel on a leg. Zelda turned to the wielder of Power returning to battle. "Get him!"
"You're mine!" Ganondorf channeled the Triforce of Power, then soared towards the Imperial King. Ganondorf fought with a tenacity he had never achieved before, for a reason he didn't know why. His time out after his fight with Link made him realize that the Hero was right, that he had lost the true reason for why he wants to fell the Imperials, instead becoming the very being he hated. He struggled but managed to push the wicked thoughts Ganon had fed him, and returned to his earlier mindset.
The raze of Nabooru, the reason he wants vengeance upon the Imperials. The death of his family, the slavery of his queen, and the remaining people of his race in Mido... He remembered them all.
The meeting with the Resistance, the bonds he forged with Error, Bagu, Auru, Ralph, Ravio, and Hilda... Remembered.
The one thing that fought to stay away was his love for Midna, and it fought hard to stay away. But eventually the fight had to be won...this time, love was strong enough.
Ganondorf trapped Ralph's blade in the forks of the trident, and both men fought to break the hold to their advantage. With a grunt, Ganondorf twisted the trident, forcing the sword out of Vaati's hand. Noticing the disarmed mage, Ganondorf turned and smacked Vaati with the lower end, then disarmed himself and began to punch the Wind Mage relentlessly for each person Ganondorf knew that Vaati had hurt.
Link, to Vaati's right jaw. Zelda, to the left jaw. Hilda and Ravio, to the nose and chin. Ralph, Oren, Riju, Error, Bagu, Auru, and the Resistance as a whole, to the torso. The other kingdoms within and outside Hyrule, more punches in the face. For the Gerudo people, Ganondorf charged up his fist with as much power as he could, and rammed his fist into Vaati's face. Vaati flew in the air, Ganondorf right after him. He grabbed Vaati's face, slamming it into the wall of the Temple of Time (doing a lot of damage in the process) and flew straight for the other side to do the same thing. Next, he took Vaati towards the ceiling, slamming him there repeatedly then threw the king to the floor. Ganondorf cupped his hands, and with a loud yell, fired a huge energy blast down to Vaati.
Link, back on the ground, had to shield himself from the debris flying around. That shield was covered by another one, much larger than his own. Link looked up to see Zelda and the Sages, all six, up and around him, watching the spectacular power of the Gerudo Prince until the beam died out. Smoke made visibility nearly impossible until Ganondorf flew down, displacing the airborne particles. He landed in front of the eight others, eyeing the downed Vaati.
It would be Riju who would be step up to Ganondorf's side, folding her arms as the Gerudo royalty turned to each other. "You came, though for a different reason."
"You are here too, for the reason you should be." Ganondorf smiled, placing a hand on Riju's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Mareeha Riju, Sage of Spirit." He lowered his hand, turning to three of the four friends he made in the Resistance. "Ralph, Ravio, Hilda. Hi."
Ralph stepped up to Ganondorf, slugging him in the arm. "You son of a bitch, making us worry about you going all crazy and shit."
Hilda smiled. "He's still mad that the last time he really saw you, you caught him 'milking.'"
Ravio shook hands with Ganondorf. "I knew you were still on our side. I knew it."
Ganondorf nodded, then faced the Zora in the room. "I don't believe we know each other."
Oren nodded. "Oren, Zora Princess, Sage of Water."
"Ah, more princesses. And speaking of Princesses…" Ganondorf walked to Princess Zelda, standing before the other half of Hyrule's legendary protectors. "Princess Zelda."
"Prince Ganondorf. We meet under a less than threatening-each-other circumstances.'
"Mmm…" Ganondorf looked to his right hand, staring at the Triforce at the back of his hand. "Tell me, Princess, can you really do whatever it takes to win this war?. Link and I, we're killers of men and monsters, and as we fought, I could see he would do anything, even break a promise to a friend just to protect you. Have you taken a life from a man? If not, could you do it? Could you break a promise to ensure your world is safe, even if the world hates you for it? Could you..." Ganondorf stole a glance Midna's way, finally recognizing the blue-skinned beauty beside Zelda. He turned back to Zelda, finishing his question. "...hurt the one you love the most to achieve your goals? Can you do all that, Wisdom?"
Zelda glanced at Link, who had his eyes on the incapacitated Vaati a few meters away, then at her own right hand, then back to Ganondorf. "I don't know my place in this destiny of ours yet. But if it means that my country will be safe, I will do anything for it." Zelda outstretched her hand to Ganondorf, holding it out in hope. "Ganondorf, will you join me?"
He looked to Zelda's hand, glowing with the three crests. He had one more question. "Was it true, that had you made your wish, you would erase the damage the Imperials had done?"
"Yes. Yes, that's true."
"Then we can work together." Power took Wisdom in hand, and for a moment that set the timely looking Link on edge. He still didn't trust Ganondorf, and knowing how he could easily take Wisdom now unsettled in. However, after a few shakes, Zelda was still in possession of the Triforce of Wisdom.
Ganondorf dropped Zelda's hand, then turned away, walking towards the unmoving body of Vaati. He reached out for the Trident of Power, catching it as he stood over the Imperial King. He twisted the weapon so the three prongs pointed down, holding it above his head. Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke to the one person he had ignored. "Midna… I am sorry."
"I know" was all Midna said back. It was all Ganondorf needed for her to say. Taking another breath, he looked down on Vaati, then screamed as he brought the trident into the king's heart. "ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!"
Link, Zelda, Midna, and the others watched quietly as Ganondorf stood hunched over Vaati, the boy breathing heavily and grunting, but unmoving. It didn't concern them as much, as he was probably standing over Vaati just to soak in the fact he had finished the Imperial King. However, when it became prolonged, that was when the worry began. It was Riju who began stepping Ganondorf's way, but it was Ravio who saw it first, screaming Ganondorf's name just before laughter rocked the walls of the temple. The eight watched as Vaati stood up, one hand holding the prince's hand, the other...impaling him through his heart.
Midna gasped as she saw this. "Ganondorf!" Angered, she directed her hair towards Vaati, but the mage swatted it away. Vaati chuckled as he made a tighter grip on Ganondorf's right hand, causing Ganondorf to scream as he felt the Triforce of Power painfully ripped from him.
Zelda stepped forward, drawing her rapier. "Attack him now!" The eight ran, but a powerful gale kept them at bay. Helpless, they all watched as Vaati dropped Ganondorf's hand, revealing that he now possessed the Triforce of Power. The prince now served his purpose, Vaati removed his hand, letting the Gerudo fall to the ground, rolling towards the rebels as the wind caught him. He stopped near the broken Altar of Time, unmoving but still alive. Riju and Midna departed from the group to check on him.
Link saw the discarded Ganondorf struggle for his life, then turned to the proud Vaati, flashing the Triforce of Power as Link did Courage before. "You… You bastard!" Link, now angered, raised his shield up, hoping it would protect him from the wind. It did so, and the Hero gradually picked up speed. He leaped, hoping to strike the taunting Vaati, but the Wind Mage moved at the last second, leaving Link open for a powerful punch to his gut. Link collapsed immediately, unable to defend himself. Once more, Vaati picked up Link's left hand, and this time, began to siphon the Triforce of Courage.
"AHHHH!"
"No!" Zelda and the remaining Sages unleashed their powers on Vaati, but the mage blocked them all with his free hand. Zelda, desperate not to let Link lose his Triforce, increased her output, but it was to no avail. Tears ran down her face as she watched Link slip into an unconscious state, and Vaati claim the second Triforce. As he did with Ganondorf, he threw Link towards the group, their combined attack diminished as the Hero's crumpled body dropped unceremoniously before them. Zelda immediately dived down, calling out Link's name as Ravio checked his vitals.
"He's alive. Thank Farore." Zelda continued to cry, though not for Link as she looked up to the maniac before her. She realized who was next, as there could be only one person with the Triforce of Wisdom. It had already appeared, back when Link and Ganondorf began fighting Vaati, in response to the presence of its sisters. Zelda masked it with her concealing magic, but as Vaati bore down his eyes on her, it began to slip, slowly revealing the third crest. However, she ignored all of that, focusing her anger at Vaati. "You monster!"
Vaati smiled. "I've been called worst. Now Princess, make it easy. Give me Wisdom and your Light Force."
"No." Zelda turned around, looking at a somehow still alive Ganondorf. He faced Vaati, breathing hard as he fought for his life. "You...have done...it. You've...made me...mad. You...I hate you… I hate you… I hate you!" Ganondorf fired a powerful ball of magic at Vaati, hitting him directly. All could hear Vaati grunt as he was impacted by the blast. Satisfied, Ganondorf chuckled weakly. "And my hate will never perish."
"Ganondorf." Riju pushed down Ganondorf's hand, trying her best to compose herself. "You…you know what you just did."
Ganondorf nodded, then turned to Zelda, coughing as he spoke. "Princess...you said you don't know your place in our destiny. You are a liar. You know…Link and I… History...will forget our names, but yours will live on forever. You...can beat Vaati. You...can save Hyrule. You...and you alone...can save this world. You...Princess Zelda...is the legend. So promise me...you will kick his ass."
Zelda, her face soaked with tears, nodded. "I will."
Ganondorf nodded, then turned to face Midna, placing his hand on hers. "Midna...say it."
Midna's red eyes went wide with realization, then she slowly joined her forehead with Ganondorf's. "Please don't leave me again. You can't."
"Say it."
"No! You are not going to die!"
Ganondorf breathing hitched as Midna placed her free hand on his cheek. She continued to plea to him while his free hand rose to her chin, cupping it for the first time in a long time. He looked at her for the first time ever with fear, for he knew his fate. Only to her with his eyes would he admit that, and he didn't want to die knowing that some words could have been said. So he took the initiative. "Midna Twilight, I love you."
Midna sniffed at that. "I'm a princess too. A real one, of a realm not from here."
Ganondorf smiled. "Alright then. Princess Twilight...no… Twilight Princess, I...love you…"
"I love you too, Ganondorf Dragmire, so don't you dare die!" Midna continued to cry and plea, until a hand on her shoulder brought her attention to Riju. The Gerudo Chief, eyes ruby red, gestured to the man she also loved.
"He's gone now."
Midna looked back to Ganondorf, noticing his breathing stopped, eyes closed, and head limp in her hands. Sadness was immediately overcome with anger, and she stood up, summoning the power of her ancestors to her. She turned to where Vaati was last seen standing, the purple-clad villain smirking with his arms crossed as he looked at the mourning group. "Such a riveting moment. But if you wish to join him, I'll be glad to assist."
Ralph ignited his recovered sword with a blaze, angrily shouting at Vaati as he stepped to Midna's side. "We will avenge Ganondorf!"
"And what makes you think I am beatable now?"
"The most powerful of men have been beaten before," Hilda said, followed by Ravio and Oren. "Today, that can still be possible."
Riju was the last Sage on her feet, drawing both her scimitars. "On my honor, I will make sure that's possible."
Vaati watched as the Six Sages created a barrier between him and the Princess, his face devoid of emotions. He admired their determination, despite the fall of their two strongest warriors. They knew they could die and probably welcomed it if it meant to protect Zelda and her Triforce. Or maybe they weren't doing it to protect Zelda… They had countries and kingdoms of their own. They had friends and families. They had everything to lose, but everything to gain. It reminded him of a person long ago, who was once a mentor to Vaati and joined with the Hero of the time to put a stop to him. They had his determination to be in Vaati's way, like the annoying cap the mentor became. Maybe he will kill them quickly with the honor they deserve.
A resounding pop and blinding flash disabled Vaati, grunting as his vision became distorted. From what he could see, he spotted a figure appear in front of the Sages, rounding them and the two disposed warriors before the group vanished. He growled as his vision came back, realizing just what happened and who was responsible. "Impa…"
"Vatis!" That voice... Vaati turned to the entrance to the Temple of Time, seeing a lone man walking inside. His jaw dropped as he gazed at the man in the patched green tunic, holding a blade of pure white metal. Of all the things he had known, it was this one fact that avoided his attention. It was unexplainable how he survived the events 18 years ago, inconceivable that he was standing right here right now, and...no, Vaati was not afraid. He was beyond feeling fear. He was caught off guard.
For before his very eyes was the Hero of Hyrule, Link of Calatia.
