Darunia

Veran stood with a smile on her face, though she was quite unaware of it. There was just something about easily conquering a town that made her facial muscles that formed the smile contract. The town surrendered as soon as the Imperials deployed troops, but luckily for them, Darunia was not on the evisceration list. She was looking for a very specific group, namely the three remaining Sages within the town.

Forest. Water. Time. And to add to the list, the Hero himself.

She cut her eye to the Lorulean mage beside her, the man obsessing with the trapped painting of Princess Hilda. She didn't know the original Yuga, but like many of her subordinates, seeing the reflections of heroes from their past brings out a certain joy. Horsehead was thrilled the first time he defeated the chosen ones back outside Ordon. Zant had it with his sister. Ghirahim expressed joy defeating the reincarnation of his old master. Veran herself was dead set on vanquishing Labrynna when Onox attacked it, to sever the Ambi lineage and the Oracle of Ages. Vaati enjoyed ending the life of the Hero of Hyrule, easing a pain in his side from years prior. So, Veran could relate to Yuga's amusement with Hilda, and why capturing Hilda is a highlight of his reincarnation.

She allowed him to continue minding his business as she looked ahead, the hooves of Horsehead clicking against the ground. In his hand was a large man who looked quite familiar, but in many ways wasn't the same. He was, as stated, a very large man, with muscles defining him as a strong man as well. He had grey hair around him, despite his midlife appearance. He wore tattered clothes, most likely resulting from a battle with the warlord carrying him, given the wounds that were under them. The huge man was dropped at Veran's feet, and from his neck, a necklace stood out. Veran eyed it, recognizing the footprint that was once the symbol of a race no longer in Hyrule, now the symbol of Darunia's chief. Veran smiled as she looked across the scared faces in the crowd.

It has been centuries since she's seen a Goron.

"Good morning! People of Darunia do not fear. You know who I am, but you may or may not know as to why I'm here." Veran shifted her form, losing a few inches in height, her skin and hair lightening until she became the perfect clone of the missing Princess Zelda, voice included. "Have you seen this girl or someone that resembles those painting over there in the last week? They are fugitives, members of the rebellion, and if an end to the war is to be seen, they must be captured." Veran shifted back to her normal state, stepping up to the elder of the town. "This town has paid once for harboring an enemy of the throne, is it ready to do so again?" She knelt down to the chief, leaning to his ear. "Speak…or else. I'll start with the littlest babe and work my way up."

The chief closed his eyes, bowing his head. "I will not betray my brothers. The mighty Daruk will not let the darkness swallow light."

"Daruk, huh? So be it." Veran stood up, turning around the crowd until she spotted what she wanted. "Bring me that baby." Her soldiers centered on where Veran pointed, taking a baby from an old woman and handing it to Horsehead. While the crowd protested, the champion stepped up to Veran's side. "Now," she said, taking the wrapped babe in her arms and rocking it gently as it cried, "what is your name?" She looked back to Daruk, who she could tell was fighting the desire to stand up and fight. He knew this baby more than she thought. "Your grandchild isn't it?"

"His name is Yunobo."

"Yunobo, huh?" Veran raised her free arm, holding a small dark orb in her hand and hovering it above the baby. "Now, Chief Daruk, for the second time, where is Princess Zelda? You have already betrayed your people by allowing her to be here. Now either rectify your mistake or suffer the bloody consequence."

Daruk looked between Veran and his grandson, sighing as he made up his mind. "I don't know a lot, but I do know that Impa planned on leaving if you attacked. She didn't tell me more."

"Hm…Yuga, did the Princess leave?"

"No. The Sages of Time, Forest, Shadow, Fire and Water engaged me in battle. I never saw the Sheikah or the Hero."

The Hero didn't fight? So…is he still disabled or is he dead? If the Sheikah escaped, he was with them. Two of the sages were with Yuga. That left three remaining in the city… "Horsehead, Yuga, they wouldn't have abandoned the city or their friends. Find Ravio, Oren, and Zelda. The Princess is for the king, so keep him alive. Yuga, do as you please with the other Lorulean." Removing her hand from the baby, she held it out towards Daruk. "I am a mother, so I know how it is to do anything for my children, even if I'll regret it later. So, as an exchange for sparing the young Yunobo, I will give you three days. If they're not found, I will blow this city off the map. Oh, and that time began when we invaded last night. You currently have...60 hours remaining."

Daruk took the child, apologizing to him while the queen turned around, a smile forming on her face as she looked at the hand she held the babe in. The dark glow faded, the hand forming a fist as she chuckled to herself. Three days, she had given on orders of Vaati, and those days will either bear fruits in the form of Princess Zelda or Darunia will finally join Nabooru and Rauru as rubble and dust.

In the meantime, she had a special prince to entertain, for her personal mission to end the line of Ambi was on.


Saria

"GAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Ganondorf cried as the powers of fire and ice made a joint attack on him, barely holding the powers back with his bare hands. He could feel his feet sinking into the dirt road, further proof that his former strength had waned considerably since his death. He hadn't expected to be strong, but…this was pathetic.

Nevermind the fact that his sisters were alive and well. Zant had lied, for whatever reason but to anger Ganondorf, then Vaati sends the two to kill him? If the entire situation Ganondorf was in wasn't a cruel twist of fate, he would feel honored. Now he understood Midna's betrayed feeling when she met Zant again. To believe for years that your family was dead, just for them to appear on the side of the enemy? They have the nerve to call Vaati "father?"

Speaking of family, where the hell was his ancestor?

"Something wrong, Ganondorf?" Ganondorf turned his head to see Koume standing to his left, unable to react as she punched him in the face. It was powerful enough a punch that Ganondorf was launched off his feet, hitting his back on something cold and hard. He landed back on the ground, shivering as the crackled laughter of his sisters echoed across the road. That angered Ganondorf.

He was being made a fool. Yes, they come from the same bloodline, as descendants of Ganon, so he wasn't surprised they were as strong as they were. But when they were young, they barely could use their powers. Whatever Vaati had them go through in the last five years surely woken their potential. They weren't holding back against their brother…or so he hoped, because if they were… He was really being made a fool. He tried to push himself up, body still recovering from the cold feeling coursing through his blood. "Ganon… Ganon…help me."

"Look at your brother, Koume. Father said he would be a threat, but he is being beaten like a Bokoblin." Ice crept around Ganondorf's neck, causing him to wince as his head was raised to look at the twins. Their traitorous smirks were enough to enrage him.

Koume held her hand out. "Kotake, I think he doesn't want to fight us. He still sees his precious little sisters. The King of Thieves should know no mercy to traitors, even to family. Isn't that what Malladus taught you? You, brother, betrayed us." Fire erupted from her hands, searing Ganondorf's torso. He fought hard not to scream as skin, muscles, and nerves were agitated.

"You left us to die in Nabooru. You were supposed to protect us, yet you left us with Aveil, who you discarded for that whore in Mido. Now she's dead, and you live. We shall honor her by making this right." Kotake tightened the ice around Ganondorf's throat, and the Gerudo male began to find it hard to breathe. However, he saw a lack of logic in their statement. It was Zant who killed Aveil, not him. Vaati's right-hand man committed the crime, yet he is being punished? What did Vaati tell them?

"Let him go, ladies."

"I would do what she says very quickly."

Koume and Kotake turned around, dropping their attack on their brother. He collapsed but retained consciousness as he looked to his saviors. He could make out a woman who wore too much red, and…General Bagu? Archers, mages, and swordsmen surrounded the royal family of Nabooru, weapons, and projectiles trained on the sisters. Koume and Kotake, however, didn't look fazed at all. They nodded to each other and unleashed their power. However, the defenders of Ganondorf were unscathed, due to a barrier between them and the sisters. The twins ceased their attack, Koume stepping up as far as the barrier would allow her to the Gerudo-like woman in red and the general. As she looked to the distant south, she could see a similar barrier, one that possibly contained Zant. "So, this is where the Resistance was hiding."

Bagu smiled. "In plain sight. We noticed your presence before you entered the city and quickly rallied to get here. Just in time too, you really did a number on Ganondorf and Midna."

Koume scoffed, then turned to her brother, who was now getting back to his feet. He was clutching his wounds, clearly in a lot of pain, but she could see the yellow anger in his eyes. That matched the excitement in her own. "We shall meet again, big brother." Fire swirled in the barrier, ceasing seconds later without the sisters behind it. A similar occurrence must have happened at the other barrier, for that group was dispersing as well.

Ganondorf sighed as he knelt down, using his magic to slowly heal himself. He looked up to Bagu, the general looking back. "Thank you."

"You're supposed to be dead, but I guess we are all supposed to be. Din, are we done here?"

The Oracle of Seasons nodded. "Yes sir. No more no-good-doers here. Not a speck of evil. However, I do sense a slumbering darkness in you, Ganondorf. Not evil, it seems."

Ganondorf glared at the Oracle. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"None?" Midna joined the group, followed by the Oracle of Ages. She looked at Ganondorf, eyeing him with suspicion. "Not a single signature of malevolence."

Din shrugged. "Not in the city, though the mountain over there has a weak one. The only darkness left is Ganondorf, but it isn't evil. Why do you keep asking?"

Ganondorf and Midna traded glances. Both had the sinking realization that something was very, very wrong. Midna helped Ganondorf back to his feet, then spoke to Bagu. "You need to get to Darunia as quickly as possible. Zelda, Ravio, and Oren are there alone. Ralph and Hilda have been captured. Ganondorf and I have a mission in South Hyrule, so we won't be able to assist if we could." She glanced at Death Mountain, a cold shiver going down her spine. "As for us, Ganondorf… I think we won't be alone in there."


North Castle

The report from Koume and Kotake was unsettling. He didn't care much that Ganondorf and Midna had escaped, their impact on his current plans was insignificant for him to care. In the report, the sisters claimed that their brother was weaker than expected, which would normally not mean anything to Vaati since he bested the prince twice. It wouldn't have meant anything since the girls were very powerful themselves.

But it means a lot, and it wasn't in a good way. Though he wouldn't admit it, the battle of Rauru had scarred the Imperial King. His nightmare had come true, that Link, Ganondorf, Zelda and their sages would rise together against him, despite the plan to bring the three to the city working tremendously. He had successfully, compared to the competition, made the Triforce of Courage and Power his, beating Link to the state he currently resides in now and temporarily killing Ganondorf. He had Zelda on the run, closing the walls on her within the next three days. He killed the elder Link, finally erasing the problem that shouldn't have been one. All in all, he shouldn't be as fidgety as he presented himself to the dark wizard known as Agahnim.

Four days ago, Vaati felt the presence of Ganondorf once more. It wasn't a gradual sense, but it was a spark of rage and hatred that woke the king in the middle of the night. He hadn't shared this with Veran, her only knowledge of their adopted children's mission is that they're assisting Zant. If she hadn't sensed it herself, he will fill her in later. Ghirahim was quiet too, but unlike Veran, the demon was quite unoccupied in his time.

But the red robed mage behind him… Vaati knew that if he felt it, the other had to as well. It would make some sense for Ghirahim, who hadn't been around for millions of years since he and his master fell, not to feel the hatred, but for Agahnim, it's been 22 years. He knew Ganon's scent when he began terrorizing Hyrule by spreading monsters across the land to kill the Hero of Hyrule for his blood, and when he made several bids for the Triforce before his demise. Whether or not this was the same Agahnim who almost brought Ganon from the Dark World, his connection to the Prince of Darkness is closer than anyone.

"My lord?" The wizard spoke, Vaati unable to determine if he was being genuine or mocking his title. "Is everything okay?"

"Answer me truthfully, Agahnim. Can you feel the presence of your old master, Ganon?"

Vaati didn't have to turn around to know the wizard was going through a rollercoaster of emotions. Surprise, then confusion, then fear, then joy. If Agahnim was smart, he would know Vaati was probing his reaction, else he wouldn't be feeling joyful. The wizard dialed back, answering Vaati. "No, I have not."

That was clearly true. "I have good faith that the Demon King has returned or will do so sooner than I expect. How… well, we both know that the seal of Ganon was tied to his subjugators' state of consciousness. You put the then-Princess under a spell, I stoned her. You tried to kill the Hero, I did it. Ganon was already a problem before Rauru, but now… I need to know if I can trust you, Agahnim. Ghirahim proved his loyalty by not siding with the Gerudo boy, but can you do the same?"

"How might I prove my loyalty?"

"Confirm that what I sense is Ganon himself, not his descendant. Once you do, let me know. But Agahnim," Vaati turned, letting his red right eye linger on Agahnim in uneasy silence for a moment, "betray me…"

The rest of the message was loud and clear. Agahnim bowed and immediately left Vaati alone in the throne room. The king faced forward, looking to the world outside North Castle. He had a feeling Agahnim will betray him, but he'll be prepared for the Demon King.

In three days, Vaati will possess the Light Force, the hidden power of Zelda, and the full Triforce, the power of the gods.

Nobody, not even the pure embodiment of hatred and malice, will touch him.


Somewhere in Darunia

"Three days. That's not a lot of time." Zelda rested her head on her legs, sighing as she processed the news Ravio announced. It had been eighteen hours since Yuga's attack, eight since Ravio determined that the order Veran made was issued, and Zelda's plan to fight the Imperials had just hit an unforeseen obstacle. She had planned to rally the citizens, but now, with the threat lingering literally above them, the people won't side with a girl who they think is claiming to be their princess.

Ravio dropped on his butt, looking up to the ceiling of their new hideout in hopelessness. "So what do we do? Ganondorf, Midna, Link, Ralph, Hilda… All the big planners are gone. We can't fight back without risking the city, and we can't get them to join us. The Resistance is our best chance, but we don't know where Auru or Bagu. Even with our Sage powers, it's hopeless."

"What would you do Ravio? If you were in my position?"

Ravio shrugged. "Honestly, Zelda, years ago I would have run. But they got Hilda, and I think the other boys rubbed off on me. So, I think we just need an alternative. We got time."

"Until you have to surrender yourself." Spryte, Zelda and Ravio shared a look that said more than words ever could. Zelda's surrender, the choice that'll save more lives, will cost the world their last hope. But neither was set on that decision. Only when it was truly known for a fact that Darunia was going to be destroyed will she turn herself in.

"Until then… what shall we do?"

"We wait." Oren, who had silently sat away from the others, finally decided that her opinion was needed. "If the gods are with us, we have two days to plan to get Ralph and Holds back, to pray that the Resistance does arrive and that we can drive back the Imperials. And if Vaati shows himself, we pray that we'll beat him or die trying."

"No," Zelda spoke harshly, still eyeing her legs. "No. Vaati is mine, and mine alone. Link will need you all once he returns. Veran, Yuga, they're fair game, but if…when Vaati comes, do not make such a suicidal attempt. I am the only one strong enough to face him, and I will face him. You too, Spryte." The Princess regarded the fairy, who looked ready to interject. "Link is your master, and I need for you to watch over him. The Imperials will not fall with Vaati, and I… When Link returns, he will need you. I won't let another person he cares about dying at the king's hand."

"Zelda… Are you saying—"

"Yes." Zelda stood up, gathering the Master Sword, still unable to look at Ravio or Oren's puzzled faces. "You guys were right, and as…princess, should I be first in battle and die for my country, if it spares my people? Every encounter with the Imperials I was protected by everyone else. Link himself would rather take the hit for me. But now we're at the point I cannot stand in the back any longer. He has Courage and Power. He wants what I have, and if it will save the world, I will give my life for it, but not without a fight too." Now she glanced at each of her friends before heading for a staircase, hoping it'll lead outside. "Too much blood has been spilled in this war, on our side. The final drop shall be mine, Vaati's, or both of us."

She left the others downstairs, walking out the door that led to an outdoor balcony. She took Link's weapon off her back, setting it by the door and walked out to the railing that lined the outer edge of the balcony. She leaned over it, sighing as she let her arms draped freely over the rail, holding her body by her armpits. She looked out to the city of Darunia, the vast war machine flying in the sky above the city. The city was under siege, and it was her fault. Though she had spoken that she was ready to give her life to correct this wrong, she wasn't so sure if she was truly ready. Once she sees Vaati, she isn't sure if she'll fight him or run. Her anger wanted her to fight, but her more rational side was the opposite, that protecting what Vaati wants is more important than battling him. "Hmph… What are the chances I could beat him anyway? No matter what I do, he will find me."

She heard a soft sound come from behind her but ignored it. Three times the sound was made, but it didn't bother Zelda enough for her to turn around. What did make her turn was the unknown robotic voice afterward. "I can determine that there's a low chance, at your current state, you could beat the Imperial King."